It Could Happen Here Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #36
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Oct 3, 2025 The discussion dives into the nuances of the government shutdown narrative, revealing misleading frames by Republicans. There’s a deep exploration of the Pentagon's renaming as the War Department and the implications of deploying troops in U.S. cities amid protests. The conversation also highlights recent ICE raids in Chicago and new border wall construction under questionable waivers, while a National Security memo sparks concerns about political violence and surveillance on ideological grounds. Activism faces scrutiny as government tactics evolve.
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Shutdown Framing Is Bad Faith
- The shutdown debate is being misframed by Republicans as Democrats defending healthcare for "illegals."
- Hosts explain Democrats actually seek to extend ACA subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts, not fund care for undocumented people.
War Framing Moves Domestic Policing
- The administration rebranded DoD as the "War Department" and uses wartime rhetoric for domestic policing.
- That language normalizes military framing for domestic operations and signals broader authoritarian intent.
Portland Looks Worse On Cable Than In Person
- Robert Evans describes Portland protests as mostly small, everyday actions rather than a war zone.
- He notes footage from 2020 is being reused to exaggerate current events for political effect.