Transcript

Everything That Can Go Right and Wrong In 2026

From Pod Save America · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 1 h 4 min · 13,154 words · 245 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Everything That Can Go Right and Wrong In 2026", an episode of Pod Save America published January 11, 2026 (1 h 4 min, about 13,154 words). It mentions 8 people, works and ideas, including Donald Trump, Zip Recruiter, ICE, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Methopristone.

What this episode is about

The discussion centers on the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming year, 2026, emphasizing the introduction of weekly episodes of Pod Save America, new host Alex Wagner, and the evolving format and content of the show, including healthy snack options and the introduction of Wagner's new show, Runaway Country. The hosts aim to engage their audience with humor and camaraderie while addressing current events and personal touches.

Key takeaways

  • Pod Save America promises a Sunday sprawl—200 fresh episodes to match the 200-year-long feel of 2026.
  • Healthy snacks at the studio? It's the moral victory we need amid political chaos—balance, not removal!
  • America turns 250 this year, and somehow, a disgraced autocrat still occupies the White House—talk about aging like milk.
  • With a riled electorate and looming investigations, 2026 is shaping up to be a soap opera in real-time.
  • Forget predictions; the true question is which White House villain gets grilled in the House—betting odds open.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: Donald Trump, Pod Save America
  2. – 20:00: Donald Trump
  3. – 30:00: Zip Recruiter, Pod Save America
  4. – 40:00: Donald Trump, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Pod Save America
  5. – 50:00: Donald Trump, Methopristone
  6. – 1:00:00: Donald Trump
  7. – 1:04:11: Donald Trump, Pod Save America

Notable quotes from "Everything That Can Go Right and Wrong In 2026"

  • Welcome to Pod Save America. I'm John Favro.
    about Pod Save America · at
  • At, some, point, at, some, point, though,, it probably does have to go to the Justice Department. Yes. Which is Donald Trump's Justice Department.
    about Donald Trump · at
  • MAGA preferences totally and, you, know, we're, sitting, here, in, the week that I think the Pittsburgh Post Gazette closing down shuttering, because, two, psychopaths, who own it are trying to own the libs that work for the paper basically.
    about Pittsburgh Post Gazette · at
  • Mccari they have you know they pledged to conduct a full review of Methopristone safety. This is a gimme to the hard right. Kennedy has proven himself absolutely shameless when…
    about Methopristone · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

Companies & orgs

Products & tech

Sponsors

Full transcript with timestamps

Welcome to Pod Save America. I'm John Favro. And, I'm, Alex, Wagner. I, can't, I, love, saying, that, when, I'm, here with you. It makes it even better.

It's, so, great., This, is, our, first, Sunday show of the year. You, guys, asked, for, more, Pod, Save, America and, you, got, it., There's, going to, be, a new episode in your feed every Sunday of 2026.

Oh, my, god. How, exciting, is, that? And, this, year, has, been, 200, years, along. So there should be 200 extra episodes of Pod Save America. Uh, we're all going to take turns hosting, including our newest host, but longtime pal, Alex Wagner.

Right, here, in, studio., How, lucky, am, I? Listen,, you, got, to, kick, the, year, off, right? When the world is melting, you go to a hot place. You go to Cal Foria. And I'm so thrilled to be here.

Come, more, often. There, the, snack, selection's, gotten, a, lot better since I was last here. I got to say, I don't know whether that's related to my contract or what.

We, um, we, tried, to, ask, for, some, healthier snacks. Oh,, well,, I, don't, know that, I'd, say, that that's what happened. There's just more of them. Well, we tried to get We didn't want to take away the unhealthy snacks. We, just, wanted, a, little bit, more, of, a balance.

Yeah,, I, knew, candy,, but, anyway,, I, guess we're all blind to I mean, I'm blind to the healthy snacks. They're just seemed a bounty and I was grateful.

Um,, I'm, biased,, of, course,, but, I'm, a huge fan of your new show, Runaway Country, the newest addition to the Crooked Network.

Oh,, it, is, such, a How's, it, been, going? Oh,, well,, it's, great, because, you're, on it this week. That's why you might be buying.

It, was, so, good, this, week., That's, why particularly, excellent, episode, if, I, do say so myself.

Yeah,, I, got, to, say, flu, ridden, Ben Rhodess is the best Ben Rhodess. Yeah,

hot, hot, on, the, mic, this, week., Everyone was hot. I mean, we came back to a of, a, year, really., I, mean, what a what a what a what a series of events uh to bear witness to. And um Runaway Country this week focused on Venezuela. We talked to some Venezuelans about their opinions of all of this which is interesting and not exactly what you think. And then we got hot spicy hot takes from John Favro and Ben Rhodess.

It's, always, great, being, um, a, guest on, a, show, like, that, because I'm, more, measured, as, a, as, a, host.

You, let, it, rip, as, I'm, moderating. Yeah,, you, let, it, rip. And, that, I, didn't, have, any,, you, know, just

you, you, saw, that, train, with, no, breaks. You, throttled, it, up. No, Um,, as, you, mentioned,, uh,, you know, the first week of 2026

has, felt, like, several, lifetimes,, none, of which I would enjoy living again. Uh but somehow we have a huge year ahead of us.

Yeah. Uh,, it's, America's, 250th, birthday. That's, what, I've, been, thinking., That's what I thought. New Year's Day, man. I thought, America, you look great for 250.

250., The, country, is, uh, being, run, by, an aging autocrat who is engaged in mind-boggling corruption uh and hemispheric domination. He's got an army of masked agents on the streets. One just killed an unarmed American citizen. But in November, this November, he will face for one of the very last times in his life

an, electorate, make, it, so., uh, an, electorate, that, has never been this angry with him. Y

uh, over, how, he's, handling, the, economy and their votes will decide just how much of a lame duck Trump is and what the race will look like to finally replace him.

So, chill, year, ahead. Chill. Uh what, could, go, wrong? And, as, everyone, knows, here, at, Pods, of America, we're we're still not in the prediction business. Um though it seems that's like literally become quite a business now. The prediction business. I mean that's people want any kind of map to

now, we're, just, betting, now, we're, making bets. Yeah., Yeah., Poly, market.

Um, but, I, thought, what, could, be, useful, is uh we're not going to do predictions but we could talk about the biggest political questions on our minds for the year ahead. What we think will be the most consequential. What we'll be paying closest attention to. What we think will tell us the most about where we're headed. That kind of thing. Um so we're each going to do six questions for 2026. Maybe six and a half.

Unless, we, have, more, right? And, aren't, you, tied, for, the, 6, to, 26, bit?

Oh,, good. Then, it's, just, chaos. That's, right. We, can, do, what, we, want., We'll, call, it, 6 for 26. We'll call it 8 for 26.

Dude,, it's, the, era, of, Trump., Everybody can do whatever. We, can, do, whatever, we, want., Exactly.

But, I, thought, it, would, be, fun, to, do, some questions. Um, so why don't we you can start us off.

Oh, my, god., Okay. What's, the, first, question, you, have, for 2026? Well,, I, do, think, the, Dems, are, going to take back the house, right? So my first question involves the interregnum period in and around lame duck sort of we're already at the end of the year. We're going to go rewind to other parts of the year, but I think in terms of like sort of pressing issues when the Democrats take back the house, I'm interested to know which White House official becomes the subject of the first house investigation. And I specifically am interested in whether it's Pete Haggath for the boat murders, Cash Patel for the FBI purges and what he's done to the department, or maybe Pam Bondi for Epstein. I mean, there's a lot to choose from. Um, and I do think that there's going to be an enormous amount of interest in terms of how the House Democrats organize themselves, and I'd like to know how they sort of process

the year and think about which villain to um sort of investigate and and haul before Congress first.

That's, such, a, good, question,, and, it raises a number of other questions in my mind, which is

um, do, the, officials, comply? Yep. Um, do they decide that it's Congress and Congress?

Yep., Uh,, you, can, send, your, subpoenas, and we can ignore them and then what are you going to, do?, Get, the, Justice, Department.

And, what, do, Democrats, do, if, that happens? And, what, do, Democrats, do?, Because, isn't there some kind of a congressional sergeant of someone can do something there?

Yes., I, think, well, they, can, be, held, in contempt of Congress, right? And we know Steve Bannon. I mean, there's there are

at, some, point, at, some, point, though,, it probably does have to go to the Justice Department. Yes. Which is Donald Trump's Justice Department.

Yes,, it's, true., Which, is, ironic, because we might be investigating Department of Justice officials and potentially the head of the Justice Department. I did look into like the strength of a a preemptive presidential pardon and as it intersects with a congressional investigation. It doesn't matter. They're separate branches of the government. Um, you know, I think the question of accountability is going to be a big one if we lose any of Trump's uh murderers row of idiots. That's such a weird combination of metaphors. Like if Pete Hexith leaves or is fired, if Cash Patel leaves or is fired, if Pam Bonnie leaves or is fired, do they get um pardons on their way out the door? I would assume so. public if there are departures this year. I think it'll be interesting to see what Trump's strategy is for this administration has absolutely committed crimes and this could be a good test year to see what

the end of the Trump administration might look like in terms of that. So the other option for aside from them just saying we're going to defy the subpoenas is what they have been doing this year when they're before Congress which is they just go and they treat it as a way to perform Donald Trump and the Fox audience and right-wing audience beyond that um and just say whatever they want to say. The value to me in the subpoena power is less about um you get the and then the documents you get

the, documents and, that, I, wonder, about, because, there's gonna there's a lot of documents that you can get from the

administration, that, is, the, substance that is the meat as it were John and that stuff really matters and that's not something they can prevent from coming out

and, then, there's, the, question, that they're going to have to wrestle with and you're going to start hearing because Democrats will run on affordability

and, uh, let's, say, we, win, Right. Then, uh, it's, going, to, be, like,, well,, did you win the House and now all you're going to do is just investigations and then there's the whole impeachment question.

Well,, right., That, is, that, was, like, a secondary concern because that's obviously front of mind with regards to Trump. He's already talked about it in front of uh the House Republicans who gathered at the Trump Kennedy Center earlier this year. He's terrified of being impeached for a third time. And it's going to be I mean I do think that there is it is without question a better thing for the health of our democracy to have an opposition party in charge of one branch of government and specifically the Democrats. Uh and if they, control, at least, the, lower, chamber, there's going to be I think it'll be a shot in the arm for Democratic organization. And I think the the movement right now has proven really robust at the grassroots level. Right.

The citizen engagement in our politics is undeniable. But you do need a tip of the spear that has investigatory power subpoena power, and just is in government. So, it will be helpful to have Democrats up there in in control of the lower chamber. But the there are going to be a lot of questions about how the part how aggressively the party looks backward to this year um and to the year before and in terms of what Trump has done and manages that question of accountability and whether that's something they want to tackle um which increasingly seems like an academic exercise even though I don't think it is. I think it is essential to the work of democracy to hold people in um accountable who occupy positions of power. If not for this generation then for the next

especially, after, this, last, year, that we've had and especially what we learned from the uh administration between the two Trump administrations

you, know,, as, Merrick, Garland, and, the Justice Department. Well,, right., I, mean,, we, learned, nothing,

right?, Um, All right., Here's, my, first question. Yeah., Yeah,, man., How, do, most, midterm voters feel about the economy this summer?

Because, to, me,, uh,, there's, a, lot, of political science research around this that impressions harden

two, to, three, months, before, the, election, maybe a little before that. There's always exceptions, of course, but that's usually when it happens. And I do think how voters feel about the economy is highly highly correlated with how they feel about Donald Trump. um and will be highly correlated to how they vote. Yep. Um whether they vote for Republicans or Democrats in the midterm and particularly

the, voters, who, have, not, made, up, their mind. Who, are, those, voters?, My, god., But anyway yes.

And, they, could, make, up, their, not, just should I vote for a Republican or should I vote for a Democrat, but should I vote at all? Should I even come out to vote?

And, those, people, will, make, up, their minds most likely on economic, issues., Well,, we're, going, to, be a wash in Venezuelan oil this summer. So,

so, yeah, travel's, gonna, be, super, cheap, and, I,, you know, bully for Trump. I think, you know, it'll be interesting. I I kind of wonder whether that old thinking holds true for a year like this just because we've been the American public has been so both naturally interested in affordability because they're broke um and there's a sort of the economic pain has been so ongoing right like January is a month of premium insurance hike insurance premium hikes and that's an affordability issue as it as much as it is a question about health insurance and ethics

and, I, I, feel, like, there's, going, to, be, a collective burden in terms of the economy that is with the American public in a way that maybe in other more economically healthy years there necessarily hasn't been.

So,, you, know what, I, mean?, Like, I, think the summer is going to matter as it always does. We have the what is it? Attention span of of a anat.

Yeah., But, I, do, think, it's, like,, you know, it's it's it's it's the the the the question of economic health and the the the the the sense that Americans can not afford to live the lives they led even two years ago, I think, is pronounced and it is emotionally resonant through the other months of the year in a way that it isn't necessarily in in other years. So yeah,

I'm, not, trying, to, refute, your, question. No, no. I'm But, I, wonder, I, wonder, how, meaningful that traditional period of decision-m is given, how, bad, things, are, going to, be, for the rest of the year. Wow, that was a really long way of saying

No,, no., I've, been, thinking, about, this cuz here's the challenge is that like so I don't know for 80 90% of the midterm electorate election's probably already baked.

Yeah,, totally right., It's, already, decided., So, the people we're talking about and and for for Democrats to win the House, uh it's not going to take many seats obviously but to to to get, you know, the number of seats that would feel like blue wave territory, which is obviously going to would be smaller than it would be even in 18 just because there are fewer competitive seats because of Jerry Mandering.

Um, but, that, means, that, Democrats, are going to have to win uh districts that Trump won.

Mhm., where, a, Republican, is, sitting, in the House district right now and Democrats needs to win and Donald Trump won in 2024 and beat Kla Harris by five six points, right? Not just like one or two.

Yeah. And, um, so, then, you, have, to, find, people who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 who were like, "Fuck this."

Um, this, is, not, what, I, voted, for., And again, we're like "What do you what did you think you were voting for?" But maybe they were like "I thought he was crazy. I didn't like him. I think he's an but I thought he was going to manage the economy. So, you need those people. And the question is, how many of those people do you get? And I think the another answer to that question depends on a couple things. Um, the Supreme Court is going to decide.

That's, my, two, question, number, two. I, know., And, and, also,, we're, recording this everyone.

I, know, tomorrow. It's, going, to, be, tomorrow., We're recording this Thursday afternoon everyone. So, if you hear something No that's fine. We can just People know what we're doing here. That's fine. that we're not living living for podcast.

You, might, be, listening, to, this, and, then maybe after this conversation, maybe there's some kind of an extra extra interview., That's, I'm, going to, let, you behind the curtain if we get a if we get a tariff decision tomorrow. We might we might do something extra on this.

Well,, the, I, mean, that, that, was, my, that was my second question which folds directly into yours, which is what happens with the Supreme Court and Trump's tariffs because by every indication, first of all, Trump's already giving the money away, right? He's already saying like we're gonna cut checks to the American public from all this. The uh how much did he say? We have of six 600 billion dollars he said. Yeah. 600 bill we have taken in and will soon be receiving more than $600 billion in tariffs. That's what he said this week. Um just a word to the wise. I think I believe the official number is 1,000 companies have already preemptively sued the federal government to get their money back once the Supreme Court rules that the tariffs are not constitutional. That includes companies like Costco, Reebok, Dole, Xerox Revlon, and Goodyear. You may have heard of them. They're not upstarts.

Unfortunately, they're not in our ad roll this season. These are massive companies that have had to fork over lots of money if they haven't passed it on to the consumer and are like, "Give us our money back. This was illegal." So, you know, it's one thing for Trump to be promising the money. It's first of all, it's one thing for Trump to think the tariffs are going to stay in place. It's another thing for him to be promising the money and it's a third for him to actually give it away. Question is like if he does give it away, if he does cut checks um or if he does earmark it like what happens if it needs to be returned? Does the Supreme Court let the tariffs that were already in place stand? I mean there's so many questions and also what we hear from inside the White House is like they're going to figure an endunner on these tariffs, no matter, what.

Yes. Which, is, like, how, do, you, do, that? And, the, so, so, SCOTA's, decision, whatever it may be big deal for sure. Um but some of the tariffs uh aren't subject to their that decision. Number one. Number two, he was just saying to the New York Times in that interview that he wants to try licensing fees and and it's

like, Trump, stakes. Yeah., If, that, doesn't, work., Um, and, of course some of the tariffs have already been lifted. He's already backed off some of the tariffs. So it's a little it's it's muddled there. I do think and you alluded to this. He also told the New York Times that he does want to send $2,000 tariff checks. Yes.

Um, and, he, thinks, he, can, do, it, without Congress. And, for, timing,, he, said, towards, the, end of the year.

I, know., I, know., So,, I, am, wondering, if they're going to like in October just decide, we're, going to, send, out checks. Go ahead, sue us and see if you you be the people that say, "Uh, we're going to take back $2,000 checks for the public." So, I do I have a little a little concern about that. I'm just trying to think of what could change about the economy because I think right now

if, the, election, was, held, right, now,, we would see some of the results we saw in 2025.

Absolutely. And, I, keep, I, keep, wondering, like, how could the what levers does the administration have to change the economy and what exigent circumstances are out there that could uh change the economy, or, at least, change, how, people Yes. So he's going to appoint a new Fed chair. Uh so you could get a new Fed chair that I don't know feels pressured to lower rates. Obviously, if it's

I, think, you, don't, even, need, to, say, I don't know. I think Express will be forced like literally they'll he'll have to wear a t-shirt to the interview that says I will lower interest rates. Give me the job.

And, then, the, question, is, um, do, what there's another Supreme Court decision on whether the president can just fire Fed chairs for no reason or Fed just Federal Reserve members for no reason. And if Trump just gets the Fed chair which he already is going to have, then the rest of the Fed can say, "Well, I don't care. Trump's crazy new Fed share. I'm just I'm gonna vote how I want to vote. But if he's now able to fire people and he puts a whole new Fed in then we're in uncharted territory., I, don't know, if, that's actually going to improve the economy or destroy the economy, but that's that's a big one out there.

Well,, I, mean,, what, it, does, to independent agencies and the balance of power is shocking. We actually this was a subject of runaway country before we went left for break. We talked to two people who were um plaintiffs. one person who is plaint the the plaintiff she is one of the lead plaintiffs in the case is going to the Supreme Court that will determine whether or not Trump can just fire pe you know the independent heads of these agencies and it has repercussions of course for the Fed and for the American economy but it's for any agency that serves in an oversight capacity to make sure that the American public are not is not getting over by the federal government and political appointees and if the Supreme Court says yeah go for it I mean that basically guts any real oversight of this particular administration and any over any administration. It's really really really bad. I mean I it at at at

the risk of becoming a watered down very very poor imitation of strict scrutiny like the what is happening at the Supreme Court in the course of the next six months is going to be hugely determinative not just for this year but for the f the immediate future of our democracy.

Yeah., I, I, think, that, the, the, ideal political scenario for the Trump White House, and this is not all necessarily things that they want, they just don't know what's good for them. But the ideal political scenario economically for the Trump White House is the Supreme Court um strikes down the tariffs.

Yeah. Um, the, ACA, subsidies, deal, goes, through. Yep. They, get, some, kind, of, compromise., the tax cuts, even though they are somewhat meager for lower and middle inome people, um are felt in the spring and then um you know, maybe the job market it's sort of up hums even if it doesn't get worse, right? Like maybe it just sort of putts along.

Sure. Um, and, then, the, uh, AI, boom,, the, AI bubble doesn't pop, doesn't crash. I mean that's like that it doesn't seem that far from

that's, what, I, say., And, then, like, if people feel even a little bit better than they do now then I would I would have some concern heading into

Yeah., But, don't, don't, forget, Trump's ability to to royally the I mean he he's on a streak right now and we say this in the week of Venezuela and the ICE shooting of an unarmed American citizen in her Honda uh where he can he doesn't give a actually. I mean he cares about not getting impeached right? that's that's his main interest in midterms, but he's in the sort of latestage autocrat um e he's running the latestage autocrat ego playbook where it's just about like big guns being cruel, owning the libs, um politics be damned. So even if I mean I don't know you'd think that we we've been here before and people voted him back into office. Even if the economy is like, eh okay. The fact that there could be National Guard troops, the fact that in in a city near you, the fact that American citizens are getting assassinated by ICE agents in masks, the fact that there are immigration drag nets that are up just

communities and labor forces, you know all of this contribute and the fact that we may be invading Greenland. All of this contributes to a feel of feel of chaos, lawlessness, and insanity that I don't know., It'll, be, interesting, to, see how American I mean I that stuff is I think tangible in a way that talking about

you, know, fascism, as, a, sort, of, academic thesis as as it was perhaps in in the 2024 election. I think that stuff because it's unfolding on videos and on streets and in cities all over the country. It resonates in a way and is therefore maybe more meaningful than um you know the the the discussion about Trump's autocratic tendencies was in uh the Biden years. Pod Save America is brought to you by Zip Recruiter. If you're hiring for your company, this is a busy time of year for you because you've got new 2026 goals, which means finding the right people to accomplish them. Unfortunately, you also have a new hiring challenge for 2026, like filling specialized roles or identifying qualified candidates from a huge pool of applicants. Thankfully, there's a place you can go that can help you conquer these challenges and achieve your hiring goals. Zip Recruiter. And right now, you can try it for free at

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Again that's ziprecruiter.com/crooked.ziprecruiter. The smartest way to hire. Pate, of, America, is, brought, to, you, by Sundays. Out with the old, in with the new. It's that time of year, right? Question for you. How old is that giant bag of kibble you bought for your dog that you're still serving to them? I bet you don't even know. And that's a problem. The solution, Sundays. Sundays was founded by a veterinarian and mom Dr. Tory Waxman, who got tired of seeing so-called premium dog food full of fillers and synthetics. So, she designed Sundaes. Air dry real food made in a human grade kitchen using the same ingredients and care you'd use to cook for yourself and for your family. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from 100% meat and superfoods with no kibble.

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Oh,, good., take, his, domestic, war, against people who don't look like him or uh believe what he believes.

Do, you, think, I, will, be, a, resident, of, the United States of America by the end of I mean I certainly don't look the way he thinks Americans should look.

Did, you, catch, the, Atlantic, profile? I, caught, it, on, uh, I, caught, the, first, two paragraphs of it. John

brutal. Steve, Bannon, calls, him, this, prime minister which I think is the prime minister of the government which I think is apt.

Yeah., Um,, there, was, a, an, anecdote, from 2024 debate prep. Um,, and, I've, heard, that, I've, heard, the Trump side of this before. I hadn't heard the Miller side of this one before.

I, don't know, if, it's, new, or, not,, but, uh there was Steve Miller was going back and forth with someone who was a little more moderate on immigration with him during debate prep. And Trump was frustrated and interrupted the two men and said, "Stephen, if you had it your way, everyone would look exactly like you." Someone familiar with the exchange told The Atlantic. and then Miller responded, "That's correct." before turning back to continue sparring. Uh so I do wonder we are, you know, again, we have seen this week sort of the chaos of Miller's um vision becoming realized of a mass deportation force rounding people up. And I wonder what the country looks like if they they've come very close to defying the courts. In fact, you could say they have defied the courts here and there, but outright defiance of a Supreme Court, you know, uh, you've made your decision, John Roberts, now enforce

it kind of thing. We haven't seen that yet. Yeah. Will, we? Um,, birthright, citizenship,, speaking, of Supreme Court decisions

uh,, is, is, is, out, there. Uh,, Trump, said, to, the, New, York, Times this week that they he confirmed that they're taking steps uh to strip Americans of citizenship. Um denaturalization. He said Somali uh of Somali descent and but he said others if they deserve it.

Yeah., Well,, if, you, get, it, on, his, wrong side, you. You have to get out of here.

Now,, denaturalization, is, a, it's, it's, a it's uh a difficult uh standard to meet legally.

Uh, you, have, to, basically, have, lied, or committed fraud on your um citizenship application process, right? It's not just so some of like Tom's like

talk, to, Tish, James, about, how, much, fraud you actually need to commit to be found in the fra the crosshairs of

like, I, heard, I, heard, Tom, Emmer, over, the a couple weeks ago be like oh all these all these Somali Americans who committed who are caught in the fraud ring like they should be denaturalized like that's not what the law says that like if you are a naturalized citizen and you commit a crime yeah

then, you, can, be, denaturalized, that's, not what um, but, if, you, lied, somehow, but, I, but like you know they they they asked for u I believe Steven Miller and DHS have asked for like 100 to two like they ask for a certain minimum number of denaturalization cases every month.

That, is, that, should, send, a, chill, down everybody's spine and actually my question five was how many migrants have been um well killed and how many American citizens deported by the end of the year because those are the that's the collateral damage of all of this. You everybody like the problem with the Trump administration it's like they the it is the frog boiling slowly. remember when he was just going to get the criminals out and now it's everybody's accepted that if you came here without papers you're a criminal and therefore subject to deportation like that was not the litmus test even like I'm old enough to remember last year I should say like in 2024 when that wasn't going to be the the criteria by which these drag nets were, going, to, operate, you, were, going to have to be a violent criminal not supposed to be here and then they were going to take you out not that I agreed

with that but all of a sudden the standard is just if you came here and you didn't have your papers then we're going to tear you from your family even if you are in court to try and follow the process we are going to find you. We may take family members who are here legally and also deport them. I mean and so when the Trump administration or when the law says you have to have committed some crime or fraud like everything is funible everything is movable. The goalposts are not stationary on any of this. And so while denaturalization may be legally complicated, it's a fool's errand to believe in the adverb legally with this administration, right? They change the game all the time. And if they decide they want to take naturalized citizens and rip their passports, and, their, papers, away from them, then they will. And like the courts be damned. I will also say this court has been a gross enabler of the

worst, most racist impulses of this court, right? The Kavanaaugh stops. you can now just stop someone on the street cuz they're brown. Like that's a crit. That's the world in which we live. And it is very difficult for me to imagine at the end of 2026, I almost forgot what year it is, that this is not a whiter country than it is as we sit here today in early January.

A, a, whiter, country., And, I, worry, um, just more state sponsored violence totally

and, chaos, in, the, streets, because, I, do think there is a um and you know this this is the issue that I fear the most. This is what keeps me up at night. But there is a temptation. I felt the temptation over the last couple months before this week where it's like, okay the uh the Chicago the Midway Blitz wound down, the the ICE, right, uh raids here in Los Angeles sort of it went like city by city for a while. And then we saw that they lost on the National Guard in court and so they and they announced they were taking the National Guard out of all a lot of these cities, but they're still like, you know, then they sent them to Minneapolis and now we're dealing with this in Minneapolis and now they're going to go to other cities. And what they want is a reaction.

Yep., They, absolutely, want, they, want, to provoke reaction. You hear JD Vance in an interview this week saying like, "Oh well, we got to JD Vance and Stephen Miller think they have done poorly on deportations.

They, think, that, they, are, getting, heat. They're they're not listening to the people who are upset about this uh on the on the left or the center.

No,, they're, listening or, the, center, right., They're, listening to the far far right who's like, "You have not deported enough people. You've not rounded up enough people. and there are too many people who are still have citizenship who shouldn't have citizenship here. And JD Vance is like "Well, once now we got the system in place and the money's coming from all the from the uh the funding and the big beautiful bill for ICE, now we're going to start going doortodoor, right?"

Uh, he, said, on, Fox, and, I, think, I, I, worry a lot about this for this year because I I there's no reason for the administration to stop doing it because they don't give a what the courts say. They don't give a about public opinion on it. public opinion has turned hard against them on deportations.

Yeah. Um, and they, enjoy, they, enjoy, the, violence, and the cruelty. Yes. Right., That's, why, you, see, when, they, kill uh an American citizen on videotape, the reaction is not even let's let the investigation play out. The reaction is let's smear her memory. Let's degrade her humanity and let's suggest that her death was warranted. I mean, whoa.

Yep. Right., Like, that's, where, we're, at. According to the numbers released by DHS in December of 2025 um, in President Trump's first year back in office, more than 2.5 million illegal aliens, their term, not mine, have left the US, including an estimated 1.9 million self-deportations and 622,000 deportations.

I, would, love Hard, to, trust, those, numbers. Very, hard, to, trust, those, numbers., But also, that's not

in, the, self, deportation. Exactly., Is, that, people, that, like, went to go see family and then just couldn't get back in the country? It's hard to know what that actually means. Also 622,000 deportations is a ton of deportations. How many of them were actually people who had papers to be here?

But, also,, that's, not, the, number, that they wanted. Yeah. So,, like, that, should, send, a, ch, They, are very interested in meeting their targeted numbers and they will stop at nothing to um to reach them. So, the fact that 622,000 isn't even close to what they wanted should scare us all. In the other shoe that hasn't really dropped yet is if you remember after Charlie Kart's assassination there was the like we're going to go after Antifa and all the left-wing groups and really crack down on opposition. Yeah. And it was a lot of like sound and furer and not much came of it. And now this week we've seen, you know, it's like kicking back up again because after they have um decided to kill uh an unarmed American citizen. Um, you know, JD Vance at the White House briefing today was like we're going to find the the people who fund this and we're and you know, I I still don't know how much of it is

to, scare, people, or, how, much, of it is like suddenly subpoenas are going out and, you know, uh, people are getting sued and dragged to court and that that worries me too. Well, yeah and I didn't put this in as a question but they are all doing everything in their power to you know, consolidate the the media landscape and and the information landscape to suit their own ends, right? Whether it's going to be my next question.

Okay,, you, go., You, go., Get, away., I, didn't put it on. I didn't know. No, that was perfect. Our segways are so natural now so we don't even have to go like next question.

It's, like, we, work, at, the, same, office., My question was what kind of impact will the Trump MAGA war on independent objective media have? and that you know there's there's a couple dimensions to that right that now again to the boiling frog thing like after a year um they so Tik Tok is is back right uh you know the the Chinese gave us Tik Tok and now there's some consortium right that like so there's some Trump allies are in there uh Elon's still got X

yeah, and, Grock right, and, Grock, uh, and, the, AI, overlords uh have uh kissed Donald Trump's ass.

Yep. So, you, know, what, happens, when, you, kiss, ass, John? You just ass., So,, you, guys, have, to, listen, to, who don't know that reference, you have to listen to Runaway Country. It's a deep cut.

Yeah,, it's, a, deep, cut., Um,, so, they, are he's got them on on the team. He's got the Ellison's uh who now have uh CBS and are looking to also take uh Warner Brothers and and CNN

or, maybe, just, CNN,, who, knows?, um, and right-wing propaganda uh network that's bigger than ever. And I guess my question is like it's happening. How much of an impact does it have this year? Um and that you like when does it start when do you start and maybe we'll never know but like when do you start seeing it having an influence on public opinion, you know?

Yeah., I, mean, I, think, the, CBS, stuff, is, a great test case for that, right? Because that's the most insidious right there. You have legacy brand. You have someone installed Barry Weiss who is clearly doing the, you know, handy work of the Trump, administration, and, in, and, in in the most I suppose we can call it skillful because she's Barry Weiss is smart. She's very articulate.

Um,, you, know,, she, ran, a, very, successful independent news organization. Not as successful as the money they paid her for it, but you know, she's not she ain't Sean Spicer, right?

And, so, in, that, way,, it's, much, more, um malignant, I think. And Tony Dopal is not a malignant actor necessarily, but the language he's using, the stories he's covering, the favor he's curing with the administration is incredibly detrimental.

Marco, Rubio,, we, salute, you. I, know., I, mean,, right., I, mean,, I, giving it Yeah.

This, has, surprised, me, and, like, you, can call me naive. It wasn't necessarily as naive, but I'm just like Barry Weiss whatever. Like CB like who first of all is it really going to be that blatant what's going to happen? the the Tony Dyl stuff in this last week is like are you kidding, me?

I, know., It's the, Margaret, Ruby, stuff, is, so, I, mean it's just I don't think that's effective first of all, but I also think it's just like so embarrassing.

It's, so, embarrassing., I, think, the, great hope is that and I say this as someone who worked at CBS and um you know took pride in working at CBS for a while that the evening news is become so utterly irrelevant that they can't actually change. It's it's more watching a car slowly crash.

Lack, of, of, intense, concern, was, coming from. Not that I didn't think they would try, but I was like, who's really watching the evening news?

Well,, I, don't, think, it's, bad, that, it it's like I don't think it's bad that it gets poisoned on the way down, though. Do you know like

that?, I, don't, think, it's, bad, to, have news gathering organizations, you know and the poisoning of it, the irrelevance of it. It's just all bad for information health in our democracy. And that part is really distressing to me. you know, destroying CBS, even if it doesn't have an immediate and practical im impact on the, you know, the the sort of citizenry, it's just not a good thing for democracy. And to get away with it is, you know, that's that's just another way of destroying the fourth estate is to just make it so unwatchable and so gross that it doesn't matter anymore. And that's a model for, you know, linear cable, which is increasingly irrelevant. Just like map that on to C CNN, right? and then like destroy that and you're done. Like it's what happened in Hungary. They chose to close these newsrooms, right which is more aggressive than what the Trump administration is doing, but by

installing talentless hacks that nobody believes in in a medium that's increasingly irrelevant. Well, then you get rid of like institutional media in a pretty um adept way.

Yeah., I, mean,, there's, the, there's, the question of, you know, the sort of right-wing uh media conglomerate propaganda network out there versus uh opinion that is more left-leaning analysis that's more left-leaning and and we obviously think about that a lot here.

But, my, big, question, is, how, many, people are out there paying for news gathering?

Totally., how, much, news, gathering, is going on and how uh how much of it will be able to continue um that is not tainted by fear of Trump or just uh you know opinionated um to sort of match MAGA preferences totally

and, you, know, we're, sitting, here, in, the week that I think the Pittsburgh Post Gazette closing down

shuttering, because, two, psychopaths, who own it are trying to own the libs that work for the paper basically

and, and, I, do, wonder, like, just, From, a news gathering perspective if we're going to be all uh takes and opinion and then AI slop and you know creators who God bless them, but like are people getting you know like I just I worry about actual gathering.

Where, does, that, leave, us, and, who's, going to pay? It's, just, me, interviewing, some, people, on Runaway Country. That's not new. The guy that's that's just me interviewing people.

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Positive, America, is, brought, to, you, by Ziotics. Let's face it, after a night with drinks, I do not bounce back the next day like I used to. I have to make a choice. I can either have a great night or a great next day. That is until I found pre-alcohol. Ziotics pre-alcohol probiotic drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. It's a buildup of this byproduct, not dehydration, that's to blame for rough days after drinking.

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it. Something that Chief Justice John Roberts has wanted to make real since he was a staffer in Ed Mis's Department of Justice under Ronald Reagan. The conservatives have hated the Voting Rights Act for a long time. And now you have a bunch of white people basically suing and saying it's reverse racism to have districts that uh prioritize minority voices and voters and give them representation in Congress. That's where we're at. Um and I just think you do away with that and well, first of all the South is gone. Um and one of the most important sort of um reparative mechanisms for our long and checkered institutional racism disappears. And uh at this moment when we no longer have affirmative action, we have like uh an administration that says that any kind of civil rights gains are wokeism that need to be reversed whether they happened in World War II or yesterday.

Yeah. Um, it's, a, dangerous, time., It's, a dangerous time for people of color. It's a dangerous time for people who believe in a more inclusive society. And I think the Supreme Court decision could have like profoundly profoundly traumatic um after effects on American society.

Yes., And, I, I, I, don't, think, it, will, go well. And I I mean clear from oral arguments, at least., And, um, I, do, think the only uh optimistic part is that I I I I think it's going to be tough for whatever decision they make to be implemented

before, these, midterms. Yes. Um, but, that's, cold, comfort, for, you, know generations to come.

Um, I, also, think, and, we've, seen, that, this year with redistricting that what's, going, to, happen, then, is, sort, of, a gerrymandering race to the bottom. Yeah. where if we lose another 10, 15 whatever seats in the South because of this decision, then the blue states again are going to go back and be like "All right, well, we're going to just wipe out all the Republicans, right

in, our, district,, and, then, you're, going to just have this country that is completely, split."

Yeah. Bad., What, could, go, wrong? Yeah., Um,, all, right., I, have, will a challenger emerge

who, seriously, threatens, JD, Vance's chance at the Republican nomination in 2028? Oh, I love this question. It's so juicy. Isn't it uh isn't it Viceroy Rubio that's going to be the challenger or is he the running mate?

I, think, he's, the, running, mate., I, think he's the running mate. Wait,, say, more., Okay,, who, else, do, you think could be that person?

So,, I, think, one, of, the, reasons, that, JD Vance is just the biggest you've ever seen uh in public. saying something just really is I I think his his running theory is no enemies to your right

because, that's, where, the, challenge, would come from. Right., Got, it. And, he, is, not, as, charismatic, as, his, boss Donald Trump. He is not as charismatic as many of the figures on the right.

He, can't, order, donuts,, John., He's, like the least charismatic human being in America.

But, like, he, needs, to,, you, know,, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, right? like all of the saying they're

who, knows, maybe, but, like, he, needs, those people to like him to not just like him but to love him

or, at, the, very, least, not, to, challenge him or not to find challengers for him and so you have a JD Vance who is in some ways his political fortunes are tethered

to, Donald, Trump, as, are, Marco, Rubio's and, so, if, you, know, Trump's, popular, or middling then like maybe they're fine but if Trump gets even worse gets even less popular then then JD Vanch's ambitions are are and he can't break from Donald Trump

right? Um, and, so, he, has, to, be, as, extreme, as possible., Um, and, I, I I, think, he, happens to believe most of it too, but even if he didn't, he would have to be if he wants to uh be president. And I think that someone on the right could say if if the Trump administration if Donald Trump's sitting at like in the 30s

by, the, end, of, the, year, by, the, end, of next year there's, going, to, be, people, on, the, right who are like that's JD Vance that that is saddled with that. Yeah.

And, I'm, not, me., And, he's, a, pud who uh is can't can't excite a crowd. Uh awkward.

He, is, no, I, mean, here, say, this, about Trump. Many things can be said. He is incredibly authentic. And JD Vance does not have an authentic bone in his body. The other thing we're discounting is the sickness of Trump. He is going to enjoy the sort of uh hunger games of the inheritance. Like much like he does with his children. Very succession vibes. He will love playing Rubio and Vance off of each other. And I would guess if there is a challenger from the right, he will entertain that person at Mara Lago just to make JD Vance and Marco Rubio beg and scrape that much harder. I mean, it will be sick and twisted.

We delicious. Love, it., And, I, did, uh, John, Hilleman's podcast uh right before

I, was, going, to, say, you, did, a, show, with him or two uh, right, before, the, break, and, he, he, was down on Vance as a nominee but was like "What about he thinks like Don Jr.? What do you think about Don Jr.?

I, maybe I think they kind It's It's interesting. I, think, that's, tough,, too.

I, think, they, like, making, money., I, mean, like, I really think they like being rich, right? I really think they like being rich, although he seems a little drunk on power. I would not be surprised. I It will be Sophie's choice for Donald Trump because I don't think he actually likes his children, you know?

And, I, think, that's, a, I, think, it's, a, I think the Vance Don Jr. thing is hard to like tease out because I don't think Trump Jr. goes after Vance and I don't think Trump sort of allows that kind of thing. I really do think it if there's a challenger to Vance, which I think is very possible, it is an outsider. It is a Tucker. It is a

TC Megan. No,, let, me, tell, you., No, way., She, likes that podcasting studio.

They, all, like, it., Wouldn't, you, like, a You know she, likes, She, likes, being, Charlie, of Charlie's Angels. She likes being the voice in the box. I can't see that. TC TC from the barn to the barn storm. I can see it. I can see that. Austin just held up a picture of Marjorie Taylor Green.

MTG, flash, in, the, pan., I, feel, like, she's come back to me at the end of the year when she's a nominee. Uh I just feel like she she can't get like she's done the thing. She's come out too early against Trump. I just think that that's just a very hard road to hoe. And I saw her yesterday on TV, not in real life. And

I, was, just, talking, to, her, yesterday. She's like, "I'm not into Nicolo Vultra at the local bar. And uh she just she's already I feel like a discomfort there that is going to get even more pronounced the more real her bid becomes. But you know what? I I should shut the up because I also didn't think Donald Trump was necessarily going to win in 2015. I got one that is just a complete downer, but it's real relevant. Will medication abortion still be legal by the end of the year?

Oh, god. Sorry., I, know, we, were, talking, MTG,, but this is so real because this is a week in which psychopath bear killer like creatine monster, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has changed the sort of vaccine recommendations for children getting rid of what did he get rid of?

Flu,, RSV,, rotoirus,, hepatitis, A,, and menitis. Who needs to be vaccinated against those things?

Um,, he's, he, has, done, everything, he, said he wouldn't do in his Senate confirmation. and um he never said he wouldn't get rid of uh mythristone and he under the head of the FDA Marty Mccari they have you know they pledged to conduct a full review of Methopristone safety. This is a gimme to the hard right. Kennedy has proven himself absolutely shameless when pandering to the political right and has totally politicized the FDA and HHS um and the CDC. And I could absolutely see a world in which they get rid of um methopristone which is the drug used in most medication abortions which account for as of 2023 63% of all abortions. Um, we don't talk about abortion. And I think there are a lot of reasons for that, not least among them because it didn't win Democrats 2024 but that doesn't mean the issue isn't insanely urgent. And it is a matter of like national health concern, and it is just as urgent as vaccine schedules and

mRNA research and everything else he's doing to with American bodies over at his cabinet agency. So, I'm curious to know whether that's something that you know, people can choose by the end of the year. you know, as you started that uh answer, I thought, okay, I could see it happening. If I were to bet, I would bet against it only because Donald Trump has seemed skittish

um, in, going, too, hard, right, on, that, issue for purely political reasons. Um, and, a, bunch, of, Republicans, in, more competitive areas feel the same way for either

real, reasons, or, political, reasons., Um but to our whatever question we asked a couple before this on the uh the gerrymandering race to the bottom as the country gets more polarized. Yeah.

And, there, are, and, it's, like, oh, there, a bunch of Republicans in blue states that we're worried about now

pro, less, certainly, less., And, you, start to worry that like wouldn't the wouldn't the right who have now outlawed abortion in most red states love to stick it to the blue states?

You, can't, get, pregnant, and, have, a miscarriage in a red state. Right. Right., Like, that's, where, we're, at., So the idea that they would make it if not very difficult to access medication abortion seems very possible to me.

It, would, be, a, stupid, thing, to, do in a midterm year, I will say. But, could, happen, in,, you, know,, December. Yeah. Yeah.

Or, in, early, January. Yeah., I, I I, if, I, was, I, bet, Susie, Wilds and and Trump himself are like, "Hey, we want to win the midterms. Let's cool it down. Let's just make sure kids can die of polio." Right. Yeah, that that we're okay with. But who knows? Who knows?

Pods, Save, America, is, brought, to, you, by Strawberry.me. You know that feeling when a new year starts and you tell yourself, "Okay, this is the year work is going to be great and then two weeks later you're already burned out again."

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Is, Gavin, Newsome, still, the, frontr, runner at this time next year? Big, question.

How, was, his, podcast?, Um, you, just, you, were, just, up, there. I, was, just, up, there., He, told, me, about this tour of the governor's mansion.

Very, nice., For, people, who, are, art, people who like street art, there is um a rotating series of art exhibits in the governor's mansion, including a collection of Barry McGee surfboards. If you know who Barry McGee aka Twist is the former graffiti writer who now is part of the collection at LACMA, he's amazing. And I walked in and I was like "This is awesome." And he was like "You know who Barry McGee is?" And I was like "You know who Barry McGee is?" And then I was like "You are never going to get elected president." Like you cannot know who Barry McGee is and get elected president. That's too street, smart., Uh, Gavin, Newsome is a delightful interviewer. I will say we had a great time.

He's, really, good, at, it. He, is, very, good., Surprisingly, good because most people who are politicians are completely self-involved and he I think surprisingly like deeply curious. Um and he's a chatter, you know. I think he has a lot of passion for the job. I think there's gonna be just a massive question about the California of it all right?

It's, the, biggest, one, for, me. It's, the, biggest, one. Um, and I, you know, I I I have long thought that you need someone that is as memeable as Don or or can can drive the meme machine the way that Trump does and has the Zer Fox yuseity Sam style arsenal. And he's that dude. He's establishing himself early as the by far the most joyful warrior in the pack. I just wonder if it is off-putting to the very earnest Democratic party that looks at the stakes and it's just like it's it's hard to know. I mean, it's very hard for me to understand how he plays um to a party that right now is largely oriented against Trump and has definitely not declared what it is for and how it wants to be for those things.

Do you know? So, I'm not answering your question. No, but I mean I've been thinking about this for a while because I

again, the, more, I, watch, Gavin, Newsome, get to know Gavin Newsome, like talk to you know, interview him, be interviewing, the more I like him.

Yeah. And, I, really, appreciate, like, what, he, has been doing to fight not just in California but nationally for the party. Um, as we get closer to an actual Democratic primary

I, do, there's, part, of, me, that, always thinks like, oh, this is a California governor. this California. Yeah. Is like so California

and, that, it's, not, about, him, necessarily. It's just about like although, I, did, think, like, should, I suggest he wear his hair differently like if he wants a better shot.

That's, something., That, is, something. Cut, it, shorter. But, like, did, did, you, read, did, you, read the Atlantic profile on

I, did, I, started, to, but, I, was, literally going to meet the man and I just had like a heavy dose of Gavin Newsome that day and I much respect Governor. I just was a lot of you. It's just um there's a couple things in they they talked about the California of it all and they were like, you know, another reason for hesitation might be that California has other laws that must have the makers of Republican attack ads salivating with anticipation. In 2020, the state passed SP132 allowing male criminals to selfidentify in women's prisons into women's prisons. One of those transferred, Tmaine Carroll, is awaiting trial on charges of raping two female inmates. It's like, okay

there, you, go., Again,, this, is, just, like Kla Harris. I, know., And, and, and, again,, when, I, first heard that story, I was like, "Well that seems" and you like look it up and you're like, "Okay, well, there's a law." And you get it and you like "Okay, well, if you're going to provide everyone medical care and then you're going to say that transition care is medical, you know, like one thing leads to another and it makes sense in context, but then when you see it you're like, "Oh, okay. That's going to be a challenge."

Yeah., Um,, and, he's, just, very, like, he's he's very California. Yeah. Like, he, fits, the, bill, of, a, Cal,, you know it was like they talked about his wedding to um to uh his his his current wife and it was like, you know, the ceremony was conducted by Carol Simone a modern day mystic whose website describes her as a medium and astrologer. Just like the most California shed ever

right?, And, like, we, elected, a, serial philanderer like he has been married a trillion times and had affairs with porn stars. And yet we're like don't you get dare get married by a mystic.

Donald, Trump, is, a, is, a, good, code switcher and, that, like, he, is, you, know, Manhattan but he's not Manhattan. He's out of burrow and he's rich but he's sort of like uh he's got a chip on his shoulder about being rich. So he's sort of, you know, so there's he's got that Barack Obama had his feet in

10, different, worlds, like, Bill, Clinton, Oxford, Arkansas, right? Like the pe Joe Biden even, right? Like the people who succeed in politics nationally

can, identify, with, the, other, part, of, the country if not by resume and identity than by just some experience in their life, some feel. Yeah.

And, maybe, he, has, that., Maybe, maybe, he can do that. you know, we haven't seen I mean, we haven't seen this sort of talking tour yet. He is going to have a memoir come out in February. He will be on tour for that and it will be an interesting case study in um his his his what is it? Press the flesh skills.

Yeah. But, who, else, who, else, do, you, think, for for the uh, listen, I, had, a, conversation, with, uh uh you know Big Dem and she was saying JB Pritsker is who she liked.

Okay., Okay., We she, thought, she, had, been, taking, regular doses of Mjaro in preparation for that.

Her, words,, not, mine. Okay. Uh, I, think, they're, going, to, see, some governors. Uh Josh Piro is going to be up in the mix. Maybe Gretchen Whitmer raises her hand. I think Wes Moore is absolutely going to be on people's uh dance cards.

I, mean,, it's, a, it's, I, think, it's GGO, is, out, there. Maybe., Maybe., Maybe., I, mean,, I, think it's going to be a pretty big field. Hopefully not like so big as to be unwieldy. But listen No one's no one's no one's popping out for me ahead of the pack right now.

Well,, I, mean,, that's, why, it's, just, a Gavin Newsome in his tote bags with Kid Rock and the laying of the hands. I I think that that is the greatest meme I've ever said. If you're listening to us, Gavin Newsome's uh social media team, please make that into a tote bag. People will buy it.

All, right,, I, got, my, Is, this, Is, this, my sixth? Yeah,, I, I, don't, even, know, which, number, I was on.

I'm, gonna, This, is, my, Well,, this, is, my sixth, but I can continue to ask questions. What will the White House actually look like? Okay, so guess here's the news. Here's the news, John. Today, actually, this is news of the week, but there's always news about the White House. The ballroom is going to be now as tall as the main mansion itself.

Oh,, yes., Which, means which, means we, also, have, to, add, on, to, the, West, Wing. Did you?

Well,, exactly., So, there's, they're considering a one-story addition to the West Wings colonade in an effort to create symmetry with the two-story colonade that would lead from the White House to the ballroom. And then there's going to be maybe an office suite for the first lady, which would be nice since they destroyed any office she once had and a reconstructed White House movie theater. Well, thank God they can screen more Sly Stallone films at I guess in full 4K HD or whatever the it is. Point is, he is completely rebuilding the White House. Yeah

it, is, not, going, to, resemble, itself, by whatever whenever construction is complete. It's shocking.

It's, going, to, look, like, another, Trump Tower. And, I, would, not, be, surprised, if, he, just puts the name Trump.

I, mean,, I, made, this, joke, to, to, Dan, on Thursday's Friday. It's, okay. Yeah,, it's, the, we, we, did, this, for, the 2011 correspondents dinner. We had a big slide up, big picture of oh god, if Donald Trump did run for president, this is what the White House would look like. And

it's, we, should, put, it, up, on, the, screen. It looks very close to where, you, were, you, in, the, predictions business.

Yeah., Right., To, what, it's, what, it's where Well,, he's, got, to, remember, who, lives there, right? Isn't that what they're saying? is the reason that everything's labeled right now in the White House with this hideous gold lettering that really looks like the kind of lettering you'd see on a restroom door is because he's so adultled and so forgetful and his brain isn't working right that he needs reminders about like this is the Oval Office, this is the situation room and this is the White House where Trump lives. This is where you live. So

but, the, you, know, I, mean, it's, no, surprise that architects keep resigning from this project. It's so controversial. And without being like the worst downer in America, it's also symbolic of the work it's going to take to rebuild our country, after, this, person, is, out of office, right? Like he is fundamentally changing institutions. He's re he's rebuilding our democ I don't want to say rebuilding because he's destroying the democracy, but he's rebuilding American society in a very in his image

in, his, image., And, it's, going, to, take time. just like undoing his hideous renovation of the White House is going to take. I don't know how long is that going to take, who's going to do that and, who's, going to, do, it, with, what money. Uh, you know, it's it's a metaphor for for everything else he's doing. So, I'm curious to see what it looks like in uh December.

Well,, I, it, made, me, think, too, sort, of, my last it's like a smaller question, but I I I started the episode by mentioning this like the 250th birthday for America. And I do wonder how much the birthday, the anniversary is going to matter in 2026 because they are going to go all out for that.

And, I, think, that, in, an, election, year, and in a year where people are starting to think about 2028, there is and this happens in America when there are centennials, bicesentennials, like there is going to be a debate over the meaning of America, the meaning of what it is to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Donald Trump is going to be in control of that. Unfortunately, he's got the White House thing. They're going to do firework.

This, is, going, to, be, a, big, thing. Dingoism, run, a, muk. It's, going, to, be, a, big, thing, in, the summer and they're going to want to bait, you know, they're going to, you know, America hating libs and they talk down the And so, we're going to have to have a good response to that about why the America that we love.

And, also,, nobody, owns, the, flag., Nobody owns the flag. Yeah., Nobody, owned, the, White, House either but

Well,, I, know,, man., I, see, how, that, went. You know, I I I wonder if there's a drug that will induce a Rip Van Winkle like state for all of us so we can just wake, up, at, the, end, of, the, year instead of living through all of it. Like if this is the first week, stop this train. I want to get off.

I, look, forward, to, our, end, of, the, year Pod Save America episode where you're going to have to come for that and and and we can talk about you and I doing these question.

We, need, to, run, it, back. MTG, will, be, running, the, official nominee. We're, going to, have, so, many, clips, to play.

Oh,, If, we, miss, any, good, questions also and you're listening, let us know please., I, mean,, we, if, we, we, definitely definitely miss it.

There, was, one, that, I, wanted, to, not, to freak everyone out, but um I mean, maybe it won't. You'll know you'll know that the Republicans are legitimately worried about losing the Senate. Yeah.

Not, just, the, House if, if, we, start, getting, retirement, from announcement from our friends Sam Alo and or Clarence Thomas.

Oh,, I, they, are, definitely, going, to do that. They are definitely going to Let me just say they are go they are going to and the end of this term there will be two vacancies in the Supreme Court. No question. I think that's almost

well, if, they, lose, the, So, but, it's interesting because if they lose the Senate

Well,, but, they, can, No,, but, if, they, if they announce their retirements in June they can get confirmation started in September. And you know

but, it's, it, is, a, g, it's, a, gauge, a, little bit of how confident they'll get the

I, think, they're, I, think because, they, could, do, it, in, the, lame duck even if they lose the Senate. But that's also imagine imagine Samolito and or Andor Thomas announcing retirement in like November and then they suddenly get I guess they could yeah nominate they're going to do it at the end of the term. The problem is like will the conservative zygote that is going to replace them be uh fully hatched for them because they're going to nominate someone in Udero?

It's, just, going, to, be, like, an, AI, chatbot like a right-wing AI chatbot that's been like trained on Alex Jones.

Live, forever., Live, forever. That's, it. Live, forever., Anyway,, on, that, note,

happy, 2026. Oh,, boy. Alex,, this, was, fun. Was, it? Thanks. I, had, a, good, time.

I, did., I, did., I, did., Thank, you, for having me, buddy. Thanks., Uh,, thanks, everyone, for listening. We'll be back in your feed with a new episode of Pave America on Tuesday.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Everything That Can Go Right and Wrong In 2026"?

John Favreau (Host), Alex Wagner (Host).

What is "Everything That Can Go Right and Wrong In 2026" about?

The discussion centers on the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming year, 2026, emphasizing the introduction of weekly episodes of Pod Save America, new host Alex Wagner, and the evolving format and content of the show, including healthy snack options and the introduction of Wagner's new show, Runaway Country. The hosts aim to engage their audience with humor and camaraderie while…

What is mentioned in this Pod Save America episode?

8 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Donald Trump, Zip Recruiter, ICE, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Methopristone, CBS. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Everything That Can Go Right and Wrong In 2026"?

The episode runs 1 h 4 min; the transcript is about 13,154 words in 245 timestamped sections.

More from Pod Save America

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.