Something isn’t right in the inner circle

-- On the Show -- Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Gavin Newsom lead early Democratic polling for 2028, but none seem likely to unify the party -- Donald Trump builds support through identity and loyalty rather than policy, which allows contradictions, failed promises, and blame shifting to be accepted by supporters -- Trump allies increasingly reinterpret and manage his statements instead of repeating them, revealing a loss of internal confidence and a shift from loyalty to damage control -- Donald Trump's absence during key moments shifts real decision-making to figures like JD Vance and other officials, creating a fragmented leadership structure -- Trump's allies pursue rule changes and enforcement presence to tamper with the 2026 midterms, fueled by bogus claims of widespread voter fraud -- Donald Trump repeatedly announces aggressive policies that face immediate backlash and are then delayed, revised, or abandoned -- Donald Trump's policies like tariffs, war-driven energy spikes, and healthcare uncertainty, disproportionately raise costs and instability for his own voter base -- On the Bonus Show: Trump vows to send Iran back to the Stone Age in an unhinged speech to the nation, and much more... 🩳 Quince: Get free shipping & 365-day returns at https://quince.com/pakman 🩳 SHEATH Underwear: Code PAKMAN for 20% OFF at https://sheathunderwear.com/pakman 🩳 SHEATH Underwear: Code PAKMAN for 20% OFF at https://sheathunderwear.com/pakman 🧠 Try Brain.fm totally free for a month at https://brain.fm/pakman 💻 Sponsored by Private Internet Access: 83% OFF + 4 months free at https://www.piavpn.com/DavidP 🔊 Blinkist: Read a nonfiction book in just 15 minutes! Try it FREE at https://blinkist.com/pakman -- Become a Member: https://davidpakman.com/membership -- Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://davidpakman.substack.com -- Get David's Books: https://davidpakman.com/echo -- TDPS Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/thedavidpakmanshow -- David on Bluesky: https://davidpakman.com/bluesky -- David on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidpakmanshow (00:00) Start (01:21) Divided Democrats lack consensus candidate (09:01) Trump support driven by identity loyalty (19:17) Allies shift to managing Trump messaging (25:36) Trump absence shifts real decision making (34:41) Efforts reshape rules for 2026 election (44:04) Trump policies face backlash and reversals (50:32) Trump policies hit his voters hardest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices