Left Pushes "Constitutional Crisis" Narrative, and Trump Brings Back Plastic Straws, with Charles Cooke, Rich Lowry, and Carol Swain | Ep. 1005
Feb 11, 2025
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Charles C.W. Cooke, a senior editor at National Review, and Rich Lowry, its editor-in-chief, dive into the media's exaggerated claims of a 'constitutional crisis' involving Trump. They highlight Trump's popularity amidst overreactions and explore absurd spending by USAID. Carol Swain, author of 'The Gay Affair,' discusses plagiarism at Harvard and the racism she faced from progressives. The group critiques the hypocrisy of the left while touching on lighter topics like Trump's return of plastic straws, underscoring the cultural battles playing out in the political arena.
The podcast critiques the narrative of a 'constitutional crisis' regarding Trump's administration, suggesting that legal challenges do not meet this alarming designation.
Discussions highlight a double standard in media and political criticism, contrasting responses to Trump's actions versus those of President Biden concerning court rulings.
Carol Swain sheds light on the racial dynamics in academia, addressing the challenges faced by Black scholars amidst pervasive progressive ideologies and plagiarism accusations.
Deep dives
Overview of Trump Administration Legal Challenges
The current legal landscape surrounding the Trump administration is marked by an overwhelming number of lawsuits filed against it, surpassing 40 cases so far. Many of these lawsuits are characterized by temporary restraining orders that prevent the enforcement of certain laws until a full evidentiary hearing takes place. Critics claim this reflects a constitutional crisis, alleging Trump's administration is operating above judicial oversight. The discussion suggests that while there are legal challenges, the situation has not yet escalated to a true constitutional crisis, as Trump has complied with the courts in the majority of cases.
Responses to Biden's Actions Contrasted with Trump's
The podcast draws stark comparisons between the actions of President Trump and those of President Biden, highlighting how Biden has faced little backlash for similar acts. Specific examples include Biden's blatant disregard for court rulings regarding student loan forgiveness and eviction moratoriums, portraying him as directly interacting with both the judiciary and legislative processes in a way that draws criticism from some. The conversation posits that Democrats have shown a blind spot in their reactions to Biden's actions, while they are quick to condemn Trump. The framing suggests a deeper political hypocrisy in how both leaders are treated by media and political opponents.
Constitutional Crisis Debates
A significant portion of the discussion centers on whether the current situation represents a constitutional crisis, with speakers asserting that such a declaration is premature. It's argued that a true constitutional crisis would only emerge if Trump actively defied a court order from the U.S. Supreme Court, which has not yet occurred. Most legal disputes remain at the district court level, and both commentators agree that the executive branch historically has a considerable amount of discretion in financial and administrative matters. If Trump continues to cooperate with the courts, the situation is unlikely to warrant the alarming label of a constitutional crisis.
Criticism of Democratic Legal Strategies
The discussion highlights criticism of the Democratic Party's legal strategies, suggesting they are engaging in a form of 'lawfare' to impede Trump's agenda. The focus is on how the Democrat-led lawsuits aim to limit the reach and effectiveness of Trump’s initiatives, particularly in areas related to federal spending and executive orders. This legal maneuvering is seen as a political tactic rather than a genuine concern for adherence to the law or constitution. The speakers argue that if the roles were reversed, with Democrats in a similar position, they would likely not face the same level of scrutiny for their actions.
Public Opinion on Trump's Actions and Policies
There is a conversation about public opinion regarding Trump’s policies, especially in light of recent polling that suggests a significant portion of the American public supports his administration's direction and decisions. Trump's approval ratings have risen, particularly among younger demographics, suggesting that many Americans resonate with his messages on traditional values and less government intervention. The dialogue indicates that despite the media's negative portrayal, Trump retains substantial grassroots support, underpinning the notion that public sentiment could be shifting back in his favor. This is seen as evidence that his administration's policies, like the removal of certain federal spending practices, align with what a large segment of the electorate favors.
Reflections on Racial Dynamics in Academia
The conversation explores the racial dynamics within academic institutions, touching on the challenges faced by Black scholars like Carol Swain in a landscape dominated by progressive ideologies. Swain discusses her experiences with plagiarism accusations directed at a Black colleague who has a contrasting ideological perspective to hers, questioning the integrity of academic standards. There is a poignant reflection on how racial identity plays a role in perceptions of success and advocacy, particularly for Black women in academia. The speakers express concern about a culture that downplays the achievements of individuals who do not conform to prevailing progressive narratives, highlighting the need for a renewed focus on meritocracy.
Megyn Kelly discusses the new narrative and talking point from the corporate media and the establishment Democrats that President Trump is bringing us to a “constitutional crisis,” their hypocrisy related to former President Biden when he said he defied a court order on his student loan forgiveness plan, and more. Then National Review's Charles C.W. Cooke and Rich Lowry join to discuss the legacy media’s approved narrative about Trump’s "constitutional crisis," the absurd overreaction and the reality of the situation, the outrageous things USAID has been paying for under past administrations, why Trump is so popular currently with Americans based on new polls, why the establishment and corporate media hates him, the "scholars" and "experts" who supported Biden, FEMA execs fired for defying Trump and sending funds, the executive order Trump signed to get rid of paper straws and bring back plastic straws, the hypocrisy from the left criticizing him for focusing on common sense issues, and more. Then Carol Swain, author of "The Gay Affair," joins to discuss former Harvard President Claudine Gay blaming racism for her plagiarism scandal rather than taking responsibility, what she plagiarized from Carol herself, the epidemic of plagiarism in academia today, how she overcame actual racism from white progressives in her past, CNN pundits whining and playing the victim in 2025, the targeting she gets as a black conservative, and more.
