

The David Pakman Show
David Pakman
The David Pakman Show is one of the most-watched independent progressive programs in the country. Hosted by David Pakman, the show offers a fresh perspective on the stories shaping our world through thoughtful commentary and compelling interviews with our nation's leaders.
With new episodes dropping every weekday, David delivers sharp, insightful, and fact-based analysis on politics, current events, and social issues. Whether you're looking for deep dives into major political events, in-depth conversations with experts and newsmakers, or sharp-witted breakdowns of the latest headlines, The David Pakman Show has you covered
With new episodes dropping every weekday, David delivers sharp, insightful, and fact-based analysis on politics, current events, and social issues. Whether you're looking for deep dives into major political events, in-depth conversations with experts and newsmakers, or sharp-witted breakdowns of the latest headlines, The David Pakman Show has you covered
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 16, 2026 • 54min
They're defending Insurrection Act as chaos hits the streets
-- On the Show -- Jesse Dollemore confronts ICE abuses directly after agents gas a woman in a wheelchair and refuses to retreat under pressure -- Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino struggles to criticize Donald Trump while entertaining the use of the Insurrection Act against Americans -- European leaders openly question whether the United States under Donald Trump remains a trustworthy democratic ally -- Speaker Mike Johnson deflects responsibility from Donald Trump and blames Joe Biden while unraveling during a Fox News interview -- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warns that Donald Trump is dismantling the postwar global order and isolating the United States -- Fascism scholar Jason Stanley leaves the United States citing authoritarian tactics and political pressure under Donald Trump -- The Friday Feedback segment -- On the Bonus Show: Maria Machado gives Trump her Nobel Peace Prize, Kristi Noem backs up the "show me your papers" policy, Karoline Leavitt gets angry with a reporter instead of answering a basic question, and much more... 🛍️ Shopify: Sign up for $1/month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/pakman 📜 Trust & Will: Save 20% on your estate planning at https://trustandwill.com/pakman 🤖 Sponsored by Venice: Use code PAKMAN for 20% off a Pro Account at https://venice.ai/pakman 🛌 Helix Sleep mattresses: Get 20% OFF sitewide at https://helixsleep.com/pakman 🛡️ Incogni lets you control your personal data! Get 60% off their annual plan: http://incogni.com/pakman 🥄 Use code PAKMAN for $5 off Magic Spoon at https://magicspoon.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 (01:13) Jesse Dollemore confronts ICE abuses (07:03) GOP wavers on Insurrection Act (15:25) Europe questions US democracy (21:25) Mike Johnson blames Biden (28:59) Germany warns world order collapse (34:14) Fascism scholar flees US (42:42) Friday Feedback segment

Jan 15, 2026 • 1h
Insurrection act threat made by Trump as he falls asleep again
-- On the Show -- Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. military troops against Minneapolis residents protesting federal immigration enforcement after an ICE agent killed Renee Good -- Senate Republicans claim they will block Donald Trump from seizing Greenland by force while avoiding direct accountability for enabling his broader foreign policy extremism -- Donald Trump appears confused and lethargic at a public event as he fixates on milk, struggles to answer basic questions, and defers repeatedly to Robert F Kennedy Jr -- Donald Trump suffers a forty-two point collapse in Gen Z approval as young voters turn sharply against his leadership on the economy, climate, and reproductive rights -- Trump surrogates including Pam Bondi lash out on television and fire federal prosecutors as protests intensify after ICE kills Renee Good in Minneapolis -- Donald Trump and his administration promote austerity diets and reduced consumption while refusing to address corporate price gouging, housing costs, and stagnant wages -- Trump adviser Peter Navarro falsely blames undocumented immigrants for nationwide rent increases using fabricated numbers and nonsensical economic math -- Representative Lisa McClain defends her husband's purchase of private xAI shares before a Pentagon contract announcement -- On the Bonus Show: Tensions escalate between Trump and Iran, the US to suspend visas from 75 countries, Rep. Moulton introduces a bill to defund ICE, and much more... ✉️ StartMail: Get 50% OFF for a year subscription at https://startmail.com/pakman 🛌 Helix Sleep mattresses: Get 20% OFF sitewide at https://helixsleep.com/pakman ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/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 (01:22) Trump threatens Insurrection Act (08:34) Senate GOP on Greenland & Trump (16:34) Trump appears confused, unfocused (25:09) Gen Z approval collapses (32:54) Trump surrogates lash out (39:48) Trump promotes austerity messaging (47:11) Navarro blames immigrants falsely (54:44) Lisa McClain defends stock purchase

Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 4min
ICE losing the country as Trump goes bad in Detroit
The podcast dives into the turmoil surrounding ICE agents following a tragic incident that has sparked fears within the agency. A spotlight is cast on Trump's chaotic speech in Detroit, highlighting his confusing economic claims and the awkward silence of the audience. Tensions rise as Trump reacts aggressively to a heckler at a Ford factory. Joe Rogan's condemnation of ICE's actions also makes headlines, amplifying public disapproval. The discussion wraps up with reflections on Trump's potential legal troubles and reckless statements about federal funding.

Jan 13, 2026 • 1h 4min
Republicans drop Trump as Noem impeachment is happening
Janet Mills, Governor of Maine and Democratic Senate candidate, shares her insights on the current political landscape. She discusses her viral exchange with Trump and the significance of her lawsuit regarding school lunch funding. Mills emphasizes the need for Congress to rein in unchecked executive power and outlines her policy goals for housing and minimum wage in Maine. Additionally, she addresses the ongoing impeachment efforts against Kristi Noem, focusing on allegations of abuse and public safety concerns.

Jan 12, 2026 • 1h 13min
Trump admin desperation explodes with criminal probes
-- On the Show -- Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, joins us to discuss the killing of Renee Good, and how to resist Trump and his ICE agents -- Donald Trump and his allies respond to scandals involving Nicolás Maduro and the killing of Renee Good by rejecting investigation and demanding absolute loyalty -- Donald Trump pressures the Justice Department to open a criminal probe into Jerome Powell after the Federal Reserve refuses to cut interest rates, and Powell publicly resists -- Newly released video of ICE agents killing Renee Good contradicts official claims of self defense and raises serious questions about the justification for deadly force -- Donald Trump abruptly leaves a high level meeting with oil executives to admire the White House ballroom construction project -- Kristi Noem repeatedly defends Donald Trump and law enforcement actions on television by rejecting video evidence and reframing any challenge to Trump as illegitimate -- Donald Trump delivers incoherent and contradictory answers to reporters on immunity, policing, health care, and foreign policy -- Congressman Jake Auchincloss confronts Fox News host Peter Doocy with the implications of defending the ICE shooting of Renee Good -- On the Bonus Show: Vivek Ramaswamy leaves social media after receiving racist messages, ICE shortens academy training to 47 days, the Pentagon moves to cut Mark Kelly's pension, and much more... ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/pakman 🥐 Wildgrain: Use code DAVID for $30 off & free croissants FOR LIFE at https://wildgrain.com/david -- 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 (01:29) Trump demands loyalty amid scandals (08:23) Trump targets Jerome Powell (19:23) ICE video contradicts self defense (26:45) Trump fixates on ballroom (31:12) Kristi Noem rejects video evidence (41:37) Josh Shapiro Interview (59:40) Trump rambles on key issues (1:08:24) Auchincloss dismantles Fox defense

Jan 9, 2026 • 1h 6min
Casual invasion announcement drops as Vance defends the worst
-- On the Show -- Donald Trump delivers rambling and contradictory remarks on Fox News boasting about Venezuela oil seizures and casually predicting Republican losses -- Trump announces plans to bomb Mexico over cartels while ignoring U.S. law international law and the reality of immediate retaliation -- David responds to a serious viewer argument about civil unrest personal safety gun regulation and the risks of asymmetric political violence -- JD Vance defends a deadly ICE operation attacks the media and recycles administration talking points while ignoring clear contradictions -- Jessica Tarlov confronts Fox News hosts by dismantling false claims about the killing of Renee Good and exposes the network's narrative collapse -- Tulsi Gabbard's credibility collapses after Donald Trump openly embraces regime change contradicting her confident public assurances -- Rand Paul dismantles Fox News justifications for Trump's foreign policy and exposes incoherent Republican standards on live television -- The Friday Feedback segment -- On the Bonus Show: the FBI shuts down the Minnesota assassination investigation, CBS News chief Bari Weiss stalls another anti-Trump 60 Minutes report, and Jesse Ventura attacks Donald Trump while hinting at a run for governor 🚀 Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://rocketmoney.com/pakman 🧠 Try Brain.fm totally free for a month at https://brain.fm/pakman ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/pakman -- 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 (01:31) Trump brags on Fox, predicts losses (14:08) Trump threatens Mexico bombing over cartels (21:04) Civil unrest fears, guns, and safety debate (27:06) JD Vance spins deadly ICE operation (33:51) Jessica Tarlov shreds Fox's Renee Good story (39:33) Tulsi Gabbard crumbles on regime change (46:24) Rand Paul exposes GOP standards chaos (54:56) Friday feedback

Jan 8, 2026 • 1h 8min
ICE murder terrifies country as Trump defends, Natl Guard prepared
-- On the Show -- Caleb Ragland, Chairman of the American Soybean Association, joins us to discuss how Trump's tariffs are reshaping the soybean industry and the economic future of rural America -- An ICE agent shoots and kills U.S. citizen during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis as Trump falsely claims self defense and blames the radical left -- Governor Tim Walz prepares the Minnesota National Guard after uncoordinated ICE raids kill a resident and escalate tensions between state authorities and federal agents -- A confrontation between Minnesota state power and federal ICE operations raises concerns about institutional breakdown as courts and political norms face direct strain -- Trump proposes raising the U.S. military budget to 1.5 trillion dollars while falsely claiming tariffs will pay for it and contradicting years of anti Pentagon rhetoric -- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt makes incoherent and contradictory claims about U.S. control over Venezuela and openly entertains buying Greenland -- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says Donald Trump has ordered obesity to end as new federal dietary guidelines reshape school meals military food and assistance programs -- On the Bonus Show: New reporting shows many patients regain weight after stopping GLP-1 drugs, raising questions about whether medical weight loss now requires lifelong treatment. Plus, Donald Trump says the United States could effectively run Venezuela for years, signaling an extraordinary expansion of U.S. control over another country's government and oil industry 🤖 Sponsored by Venice: Use code PAKMAN for 20% off a Pro Account at https://venice.ai/pakman 🛡️ Incogni lets you control your personal data! Get 60% off their annual plan: http://incogni.com/pakman ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/pakman -- 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 (01:41) ICE raid kills U.S. citizen (11:38) Walz readies guard after deadly raids (20:18) Minnesota-ICE clash strains institutions (26:45) Trump floats $1.5T military budget (34:39) Soybean chair on tariffs' rural toll (55:24) Leavitt riffs on Venezuela, Greenland (01:01:44) RFK Jr claims order to end obesity

Jan 7, 2026 • 60min
Trump seizes Russian tanker as impeachment calls grow
-- On the Show -- A United States Coast Guard team seizes a Russian-flagged oil tanker under Trump's orders, sparking escalation fears and suspicion of a choreographed standoff -- Trump warns Republicans about impeachment as Democrats argue his Venezuela raid violates congressional war powers and international law -- In a chaotic speech for House Republicans, Trump rambles, fixates on grievances, and dances, fueling fresh concern about his cognitive and physical state -- Trump floats canceling elections, repeats election denial on January 6, and tests authoritarian rhetoric in plain sight -- The "Trump is a puppet" theory gets tested: Trump is neither mastermind nor puppet, but the permission structure that enables the administration's worst actors -- Megyn Kelly criticizes Fox News regime change cheerleading on Venezuela and warns about American troops being sent into another quagmire -- Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts Donald Trump over Venezuela and the economy, accidentally delivering a left-coded critique of corporate-driven regime change -- Nancy Mace admits Republicans have not delivered results and signals mounting fear of a 2026 midterm backlash -- On the Bonus Show: we break down the chaos at CBS News, why Gavin Newsom is suddenly looking like the 2028 frontrunner, and how Pete Hegseth's moves in the military are raising alarms about religious freedom 👕 American Giant: Get 20% off your first order with code PAKMAN at https://american-giant.com ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/pakman 💪 AG1 is offering you $126 in FREE gifts at https://drinkag1.com/pakman -- 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 (01:18) Coast Guard seizes Russian tanker (05:45) Impeachment warnings after Venezuela raid (15:03) Trump rambles, gripes, dances onstage (23:06) Trump floats canceling future elections (29:25) Puppet theory: Trump is an enabler, not puppet (36:15) Megyn Kelly slams Fox cheerleading (45:23) MTG accidentally nails regime change critique (53:42) Nancy Mace signals 2026 backlash fear

Jan 6, 2026 • 1h 9min
And now the scamming of Americans begins
-- On the Show -- Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat from Georgia, joins us to discuss the Trump administration's Venezuela operation and the stakes for U.S. credibility abroad -- Trump tells NBC that U.S. oil companies could rebuild Venezuela's oil infrastructure and then be reimbursed by the U.S. government, shifting taxpayer risk to protect corporate profits -- Donald Trump and allies including Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, and Stephen Miller float military action against Iran, Cuba, Colombia, and Greenland after campaigning on "no new wars" -- Legal experts discuss whether Trump's extrajudicial kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro could trigger universal jurisdiction and expose Trump to detention risk if he travels abroad -- Fox hosts struggle to reconcile Donald Trump calling foreign military action "not war" while framing domestic drug trafficking as "war," highlighting contradictions even in friendly media coverage -- Donald Trump posts false claims about the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule and promotes misinformation about vaccines and acetaminophen -- María Corina Machado flatters Trump and floats sharing a Nobel Peace Prize with him as Sean Hannity presses for loyalty -- Gavin Newsom publicly mocks Mike Johnson's U-Haul-based claims about California, cites recent population growth and wage and tax-burden arguments -- Volodymyr Zelensky highlights the inconsistency of Trump targeting Nicolás Maduro while avoiding any comparable action toward Vladimir Putin -- On the Bonus Show: Colombia and Mexico brace for Donald Trump's next moves as flu activity surges in the U.S. and overwhelms communities across the country 🛡️ Incogni lets you control your personal data! Get 60% off their annual plan: http://incogni.com/pakman ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/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 (01:18) Trump's Venezuela oil plan sticks taxpayers with risk (07:34) "No new wars" to invasion talk: Iran, Cuba, more (19:31) Legal fallout: Maduro kidnapping, travel detention risk (25:13) Fox struggles: "not war" abroad, "war" on drugs at home (31:43) Trump pushes vaccine schedule lies (40:24) Sen. Warnock explains Venezuela raid, credibility stakes (53:59) Machado flatters Trump, floats shared Nobel Peace Prize (58:53) Newsom mocks Johnson's U-Haul dig at California (1:04:18) Zelensky flags Putin double standard in Trump's targeting

Jan 5, 2026 • 1h 1min
A blockbuster shakeup to the world order
-- On the Show -- Donald Trump orders a U.S. military operation that captures Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Venezuela and brings them to New York despite lacking clear legal authority -- Reporting says Donald Trump escalates to military action after Nicolás Maduro dances on Venezuelan state television and aides treat it as personal mockery -- Donald Trump bets the Maduro seizure will unlock Venezuela's oil, but allies, businesses, and markets resist a plan with no clear political transition -- Donald Trump gives rambling, conflicting answers about Venezuela, oil, and military escalation that raise questions about his decision making -- Donald Trump admits he did not brief Congress yet says he spoke with oil companies and calls the Maduro seizure a kidnapping -- The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump shows visible signs of decline, disputes doctors, and mislabels a CT scan as an MRI while aides manage optics -- The Wall Street Journal says Donald Trump takes more aspirin than doctors recommend and blames bruising on superstition instead of updated medical guidance -- Marco Rubio tells Kristen Welker the United States is running Venezuela but cannot explain elections, governance, or the legal rationale in real time -- Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham indicate Cuba is a likely next target after Venezuela, signaling escalation rather than containment -- On the Bonus Show: Oil markets steady after Trump's Venezuela strike shocks the world, speculation grows that Donald Trump Jr. is being groomed for a 2028 run amid tension with J.D. Vance, and Minnesota politics take a twist as Governor Tim Walz looks ready to exit and Amy Klobuchar eyes a comeback. ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/pakman 🛡️ Incogni lets you control your personal data! Get 60% off their annual plan: http://incogni.com/pakman 😺 Smalls cat food: Use code PAKMAN for 60% off & free shipping at https://smalls.com 🩺 Wild Health: Get 20% OFF your membership at https://wildhealth.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 (01:30) Trump kidnaps Maduro in midnight raid (08:31) Dancing "mockery" triggers raid (12:59) Trump's Venezuelan oil plan meets resistance (21:52) Confused answers, risky threats after strike (28:41) Trump admits to skipping over Congress (36:52) Trump's cognitive decline, scan confusion (44:17) Trump is stuffing himself with aspirin (49:37) Rubio claims U.S. runs Venezuela, no plan (56:33) Cuba floated as next target


