Trump just had a very weird, maybe too-honest interview. Take a look:

What this episode is about

Trump’s interview touches on corruption, foreign investment in his businesses, and potential conflicts of interest, with questions about net worth, ongoing family business, and whether foreign interests influence his government. The discussion highlights perceived evasiveness, the interviewer's tough questioning, and critiques of the strategic focus during the exchange.

Key takeaways

• Trump’s $3B wealth jump deflects into PR spin; opposition insight hinges on real sources, not vibes.
• Interview strategy mattered; a single-topic deep dive on corruption would have yielded sharper, testable hinges.
• Missed openings: expose foreign deals, meme coins, and pre-presidency stock moves — the show skipped key trails.
• Heaven question underscores Trump’s moral ledger: honesty isn’t mere policy; forgiveness tests temperament, not posture.
• Ross’s control of pace mattered more than content; a tighter, data-backed follow-up would’ve changed the takeaway.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Ross (Host) · 4 min speaking
• Trump (Guest) · 9 min speaking
• Barry Weiss (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Stout (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Mimbo (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Donald Trump, 60 Minutes, Bari Weiss, Trumpcoin
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Heaven, Steven Little Miller
3. 10:00 – 15:00: PDS Debt, Donald Trump, DACA, Crooked Media
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Steven Little Miller, Iran war (2026), Iran, Strait of Hormuz
5. 20:00 – 22:13: Donald Trump, 60 Minutes, Bari Weiss, CBS

Notable quotes from "Trump just had a very weird, maybe too-honest interview. Take a look:"

• Donald Trump got his ass kicked in the midterms and so he ran into the warm embrace of Barry Weiss's new and improved 60 Minutes. let's watch some of what Trump had to say and…

  about 60 Minutes · at 0:00

• Let's just be hey, your crypto company, you guys sold 49% of it to the Emiratis in a secret deal before you became president. How is that not a conflict of interest? Or just get into.

  about World Liberty Financial · at 3:10

• Because any type of Christianity Catholicism Protestantism any of it any relig like if you believe in a heaven you believe that you must forgive your enemies that is like the…

  about Heaven · at 6:09

• Because Well, so do you think immigration hurt you in the midterms? Do you think the crackdown hurt?

  about Trump administration immigration crackdown · at 11:53

• Voters in exipul said they think the Trump administration's actions on immigration have gone too far. Latino voters went from 51% Democrats in 2024 to 64% Democrat this past…

  about 2026 United States midterm elections · at 12:58

• The economy. 75% of voters in exit polls said the economy was quote not good. 66% said tariffs hurt the economy. So if Trump ended the Iran war, that would help the economy. If…

  about Iran war (2026) · at 16:00

• Don't I can't tell what he's going to do. Like he could be saying this and just escalate tomorrow. The Iranians are not going to take a bad deal. They know that they are in a better position politically now than they were before.

  about Iran · at 18:18

• Yeah, it's good. finally, Trump was asked about how he plans to use his pardon power when he leaves office.

  about Donald Trump · at 19:33

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Donald Trump — Person · 9 mentions · first at 0:00
• Steven Little Miller — Person · 5 mentions · first at 9:44
  The labor force, doing construction, doing other things. But yeah, I agree with you. I think Steven Miller is going to block anything that seems reasonable. I will say too I…
• Tommy Vietor — Person · 4 mentions · first at 0:00
  Former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor.
• John Lovett — Person · 3 mentions · first at 0:00
  Former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor.
• Bari Weiss — Person · 3 mentions · first at 0:04
  Think everyone's grading on a curve here because we all assume like 60 minutes and Barry Weiss is kind of going to tilt it more conservative. the first question is like you made three billion more. How? It's well, we know how.
• J.D. Vance — Person · 3 mentions · first at 7:41
  Will pick a Republican candidate in 2028. here's his ringing endorsement of Vice President JD Vance.
• Marco Rubio — Person · 2 mentions · first at 8:08
  Well, I think Marco's great. I think is he staying by the way as Secretary of State?
• John Favreau — Person · 1 mention · first at 10:20
  Over TV and the internet after the Republican lost kind of explaining his theory of the case for why Ted Cruz is going to run every cycle until he dies.
• Dan Pfeiffer — Person · 1 mention · first at 0:00
  Former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor.
• Ron DeSantis — Person · 1 mention · first at 10:12
  Ronda Santis, Meatball Ron is clearly going to run for president. He was all over TV and the internet after the Republican lost kind of explaining his theory of the case for why Ted Cruz is.
• Joe Biden — Person · Referenced public figure · 1 mention · first at 21:06
  Mentioned in discussion about how Biden's actions affected political dynamics and potential consequences for Trump’s use of pardon power; referenced as previous administration/actor influencing current politics.
  I agree. It's it's interesting. Joe Biden made this a lot easier politically for Donald Trump.
• James Comey — Person · 1 mention · first at 4:45
  Enter paradise is feel love and forgiveness for James Comey, Nancy [snorts] Pelosi, anyone who you have expressed hate for over the years. Do you think you can do it?
• Nancy Pelosi — Person · 1 mention · first at 4:45
  Enter paradise is feel love and forgiveness for James Comey, Nancy [snorts] Pelosi, anyone who you have expressed hate for over the years. Do you think you can do it?
• Charlie Kirk — Person · Referenced conservative activist · 1 mention · first at 5:48
  Mentioned in passing as part of a discussion about forgiveness exemplars (Erica Kirk after Charlie Kirk) used to set up the heaven/forgiveness question to Trump.
  I am biased cuz like I'm I'm into the religious stuff. Yeah. But like what And the way that Ross set that up was talking about Erica Kirk after Charlie Kirk. Yeah. And she said, I forgive.
• Ted Cruz — Person · 1 mention · first at 10:20
  Over TV and the internet after the Republican lost kind of explaining his theory of the case for why Ted Cruz is going to run every cycle until he dies.
• Markwayne Mullin — Person · 1 mention · first at 13:29
  So someone asked Mark Wayne Mullen, reporter asked Mark Wayne Mullen about this. because so the result of that is Stephen Miller becomes chief of staff. the right, Megan Kelly, the.
• Brook Rollins — Person · 1 mention · first at 15:13
  Well remember last year when Brook Rollins the agriculture secretary convinced him to put out a statement saying that ICE would scale back enforcement against the farm workers and.
• Ben Rhodes — Person · Referenced panelist / expert · 1 mention · first at 17:00
  Mentioned as part of a panel discussing immigration and oversight — included to indicate subject-matter expertise on foreign policy and national security.
  Yeah, we had Yasmine and Sari on my panel with me and Ben Rhodess and Jason Crow and she's definitely super focused on this stuff and it's been going to these facilities for a…
• Jason Crow — Person · Referenced guest/expert · 1 mention · first at 17:00
  Named as part of a panel (Yasmine and Sari with Ben Rhodes and Jason Crow) focused on immigration and oversight — referenced to show credibility and sources on immigration oversight.
  We are benefiting from not having been born two weeks ago. We have watched Donald Trump since 2015, 2016. He has always tried to sound reasonable like this. He has flirted.
• Katie Miller — Person · Referenced media personality · 1 mention · first at 10:01
  Mentioned as having quit her podcast, noted jokingly as potentially directing downloads to the hosts' show; minor promotional mention.
  Also big news for us. Katie Miller's quitting her podcast. So all those downloads are coming this way. Yeah, we should reach out to Tens of downloads will be.
• Megan Kelly — Person · Referenced media commentator · 1 mention · first at 13:36
  Confirmed reference to a specific journalist with correct spelling; ensure consistent entity in context
  This. because so the result of that is Stephen Miller becomes chief of staff. the right, Megan Kelly, the Blaze, Tommy Lahren, all these people are No amnesty. What the fuck?
• Tommy Lahren — Person · Referenced commentator · 1 mention · first at 13:36
  Referenced as one of the conservative media figures reacting to immigration policy language — serves as example of media response landscape.
  This. because so the result of that is Stephen Miller becomes chief of staff. the right, Megan Kelly, the Blaze, Tommy Lahren, all these people are No amnesty. What the fuck?

Books & papers

• Old Testament — Book · 1 mention · first at 6:22
  Enemies that is like the most basic that's it that's basic Old Testament stuff he's doing here new testament it's all the Testaments, everything.
• The Case Against Socialism — Book · Referenced foundational document · 1 mention · first at 21:13
  Mentioned in a criticism of the pardon power as written by the Founders — used to contextualize concern about unconditional pardon power.
  Yeah. And look, unfortunately, the real blame goes to the founders on this one because having unconditional power, pardon power in the Constitution, it was always crazy, but now we're realizing over the last several.
• New Testament — Book · Religious reference · 1 mention · first at 6:23
  Invoked to argue that forgiveness of enemies is a core Christian teaching and used to critique Trump's answer about not forgiving his enemies.
  Because any type of Christianity Catholicism Protestantism any of it any relig like if you believe in a heaven you believe that you must forgive your enemies that is like the…
• Bible — Book · Referenced text · 1 mention · first at 7:27
  Mentioned as part of the critique of Trump's religious claims — referencing that Trump has purported to like the Bible though hosts doubt sincerity.
  Well, then you were giving up your whole shtick. You remember when he's like pretended to be a big fan of the Bible, said it was his favorite book.

Companies & orgs

• World Liberty Financial — Company · 1 mention · first at 3:44
• CBS — Company · 2 mentions · first at 0:11
  Improved 60 Minutes. let's watch some of what Trump had to say and see how CBS's new certified meimbo correspondent Stout did with the interview.
• Crooked Media — Company · 3 mentions · first at 11:03
  Pod Save America is a Crooked Media production. Our show is produced by Austin Fischer, Saul Rubin, McKenna Roberts, and Michael Goldmith with Reed Cherlin, Elijah Conn, and Adrien Hill.
• Forbes — Company · Referenced media outlet · 1 mention · first at 0:26
  Cited as the source of a story claiming Trump's net worth rose by $3 billion, which led into discussion of conflicts of interest and corruption.
  T-shirts getting all the interviews. the first exchange I want to play for you guys is about corruption. There's a Forbes story that said that your net worth, maybe it's…
• Intel Corporation — Company · 2 mentions · first at 3:33
  But it's well, what about then the examples of Trump buying stock in companies before the US invests in them, for example, with like Intel? The Trump's regulator approved an application for World Liberty Trust.
• YouTube — Company · 1 mention · first at 4:10
  Know, we will not pull any punches on corruption questions. Pot save America, which is why you need to subscribe here on YouTube. Please, we are trying to build a progressive…
• Better Business Bureau — Company · Referenced accreditation/organization · 1 mention · first at 11:32
  Abbreviation expanded to full organization name
  On your credit cards, it's costing you money every single day. No minimum credit score required. PDS is the top rated company in the industry with thousands of five-star…
• Facebook — Company · Referenced platform · 2 mentions · first at 0:00
  Listed in episode description among Crooked Media's social accounts (promotion/reference).
• Instagram — Company · Referenced platform · 2 mentions · first at 0:00
  Listed in episode description among Crooked Media's social accounts (promotion/reference).

Products & tech

• Trumpcoin — Product · 2 mentions · first at 2:42
  Spend no time on this? You had a dinner where the people who bought the most of the Trumpcoin, the top Trump coin purchasers got to sit at a dinner with you.
• World Liberty Trust Company — Product · Referenced business entity (case study) · 1 mention · first at 3:44
  Mentioned as an example of a company that obtained regulatory approval after Trump-related investments or actions; used to illustrate potential conflicts of interest.
  Examples of Trump buying stock in companies before the US invests in them, for example, with like Intel? The Trump's regulator approved an application for World Liberty Trust Company to be a bank.

Concepts & topics

• Trump administration immigration crackdown — Concept · 2 mentions · first at 11:55
• Heaven — Concept · 3 mentions · first at 4:25
• DACA — Concept · 2 mentions · first at 13:49
  Individuals can become maybe legal permanent citizens or something like this. There is no such thing as legal permanent citizens. There's legal permanent residents.
• Amnesty — Concept · 1 mention · first at 13:41
  Staff. the right, Megan Kelly, the Blaze, Tommy Lahren, all these people are No amnesty. What the fuck?
• Exit polls — Concept · 2 mentions · first at 12:55
  But look, obviously the biggest issue in the election was the economy. 75% of voters in exit polls said the economy was quote not good. 66% said tariffs hurt the economy. So if…
• founding fathers — Concept · 1 mention · first at 21:11
  Yeah. And look, unfortunately, the real blame goes to the founders on this one because having unconditional power, pardon power in the Constitution, it was always crazy, but now we're realizing over the last several.
• Purgatory — Concept · Metaphorical reference · 1 mention · first at 6:43
  Used in a humorous aside when discussing Trump's answer about forgiveness/heaven — part of moral/religious critique of Trump's stated unwillingness to forgive enemies.
  Well, then like when you're hanging out in purgatory that whole it was like a very funny aside. I think my reaction to watching that was first of all, I guess.

Places & events

• Iran war (2026) — Event · 2 mentions · first at 16:07
• 2026 United States midterm elections — Event · 2 mentions · first at 0:00
• Iran — Place · 2 mentions · first at 17:22
• Stephen Miller's Chief of Staff appointment — Event · Current political development · 1 mention · first at 13:25
  Referenced as a pivotal staffing decision that affects immigration policy direction; speakers note the appointment happened shortly after the interview referenced and interpret its implications.
  Steven Miller is the president now and you know Trump doesn't think that but Steven Miller is going to just like let Trump say whatever he wants to say and then Steven Miller is the smart guy who.
• United States (states) — Place · 4 mentions · first at 4:08
  But look, obviously the biggest issue in the election was the economy. 75% of voters in exit polls said the economy was quote not good. 66% said tariffs hurt the economy. So if Trump ended the Iran war, that would.
• Strait of Hormuz — Place · 2 mentions · first at 17:31
  So, what's the deal in the end with them that gets the straight open?
• United Arab Emirates — Place · Referenced international actor · 1 mention · first at 3:12
  Referenced in context of Trump’s business dealings (sale/ investment in crypto or company stake) — 'Emiratis' mentioned as buyers/investors that could create conflicts of interest.
  Two carrier strike groups, 50,000 troops in the region. Like it's wildly expensive. I'm sure it's probably news to the Qataris or the Saudis or anybody else that they're going…
• Minnesota — Place · Case reference · 1 mention · first at 16:51
  Referenced as an example where public reaction/oversight affected immigration enforcement/backlash — used to illustrate importance of oversight into detention/raids.
  Happening in some of these detention centers and some of these raids like the only way that they pulled back even a little bit was because of what happened in Minnesota. and so like I think that it's pretty important for Congress to get.
• Israel — Place · 1 mention · first at 17:56
  To pay us back any and all costs that we've had for the war because without us they wouldn't exist. Without us, Israel wouldn't exist.
• Midnight Hammer — Event · Referenced military operation · 1 mention · first at 18:56
  Mentioned in context of damage to Iranian nuclear sites and the broader Iran war discussion (used to question effectiveness of later escalation).
  Or whatever so we got them. I mean the problem with his explanation there is all the damage they did to the nuclear sites was done during the midnight hammer air strikes and…
• Qatar — Place · Referenced international actor · 1 mention · first at 18:09
  Mentioned alongside other Gulf countries (Qataris) in a discussion about who might pay for U.S. escort missions in the Strait and who might be surprised to learn they'd be billed.
  Two carrier strike groups, 50,000 troops in the region. Like it's wildly expensive. I'm sure it's probably news to the Qataris or the Saudis or anybody else that they're going…
• Saudi Arabia — Place · Referenced international actor · 1 mention · first at 18:09
  Mentioned as an example of Gulf states (Saudis) the speaker says would be paying for U.S. military protection — part of Iran war/escort mission discussion.
  Not very expensive. We can just leave them there. this whole thing. Those countries that we've protected are going to pay us back any and all costs that we've had for the war because without us they wouldn't exist. Without us, Israel.
• Oval Office — Place · 1 mention · first at 20:17
  I intend to issue tremendous numbers of pardons. In fact, I say oftentimes anybody that get got within a thousand miles of the Oval Office because I don't want people spending the rest of their lives.

Media & podcasts

• 60 Minutes — Media · 3 mentions · first at 0:04
• Pod Save America — Media · 2 mentions · first at 10:42
  Pod Save America is a Crooked Media production. Our show is produced by Austin Fischer, Saul Rubin, McKenna Roberts, and Michael Goldmith with Reed Cherlin, Elijah Conn, and Adrien Hill.

Sponsors

• PDS Debt — Sponsor · 3 mentions · first at 10:44
  Of what you owe on credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills. And it starts with a free 30 secondond assessment at pdsdebt.com/crooked.
• CrookedCon — Event · Promotional event · 3 mentions · first at 0:00
  Mentioned in episode-level promotion encouraging listeners to get tickets and attend Crooked Media's event.
  Head to CrookedCon.com for tickets, lineup announcements.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 Donald Trump got his ass kicked in the midterms and so he ran into the warm embrace of Barry Weiss's new and improved 60 Minutes. Uh let's watch some of what Trump had to say and see how uh CBS's new certified meimbo correspondent Stout did with the interview. Tired of all these hot guys in tight t-shirts getting all the interviews. Uh the first exchange I want to play for you guys is about corruption. There's a Forbes story that said that your net worth, maybe it's changed with the stock market recently, but your net worth went up by $3 billion since you returned to

0:36 Okay, you ready? So, everyone's my net worth did not go up by $3 billion stock.

0:41 I I should have You should had stock. I should have had stock. Excuse me. So, how did I how did it go up by

0:48 Let me explain. I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don't I make I have a lot of money and far more than I ever thought I'd have and I guess it's gone up. I don't even know.

1:00 But companies that are invested in by people in foreign countries, it seems like you could just walk away from that and then you know and then you would not be accused of corruption, right?

1:10 I have. But you have sons where they go around and they build buildings. That's what they do. That's what I did long before I became president. I did it better than anybody. Do you think the people the people who are investing in the company that you co-own with your sons who are coming from foreign countries who want things from your government, don't you think they think that they are buying influence?

1:32 Uh, I don't know. But that's true. Look, so Ross got a lot of flowers for asking this question. I think that Trump's answers were so bad that it was revealing, but it I I'll be honest, it left me wanting more. I can explain why, but what what do you think?

1:46 Well, I mean, I think Ross did a good job. I think that there was a overall question on strategy for the interview where it's like do you stick on one topic the whole time and really get them or do you move from topic to topic and Ross clearly had to pick a few topics. Um I think he could have start if he started there with that question he would have had more time um to do more follow-ups on the corruption. This is just thinking from like a pure interviewer kind of way.

2:16 By the way they had a lot of time. They end almost an hour on the extended cut cuz like when Trump said, "Oh, I don't spend any time on any of this stuff." Like Trump Trump's answer is basically people are investing all my money for me. I don't think about it. I have enough money. It's my sons. They want to build buildings. What am I supposed to do? And it's all just index funds, right? That's where my money. And Ross just had to have what what he could have said was like, "What do you mean you spend no time on this? You had a dinner where the people who bought the most of the Trumpcoin, the top Trump coin purchasers got to sit at a dinner with you.

2:47 Other Trumpcoin purchasers got pardons from you, right? You got a jet from uh this is where he was a missed opportunity, I think, cuz like I overall I think he did fine did a fine job. I think everyone's grading on a curve here because we all assume like 60 minutes and Barry Weiss is kind of going to tilt it more conservative. Um the first question is like you made three billion more. How? It's like, well, we know how. Let's just be like, hey, your crypto company, you guys sold 49% of it to the Emiratis in a secret deal before you became president. How is that not a conflict of interest? Or just get into the the meme the meme coins. Like they never talk about the meme coins, the dinners you just talked about there.

3:26 They like Trump pivots it to the the public stock trading, which okay, sure. But it's like, well, what about then the examples of Trump buying stock in companies before uh the US invests in them, for example, with like Intel? The Trump's regulator approved an application for World Liberty Trust Company to be a bank.

3:47 That's another fruitful path to go down. Yeah, the the key. You could have just done World Liberty Financial and nothing else.

3:54 Yes, you could have done that. I mean, look, it the answer was so bad. saying everyone made $3 billion was such a bad answer that it was sort of like defining for Trump. Uh I I just I did want a little bit more. You know, if we ever get Donald Trump on this show, John, you know, we will not pull any punches on corruption questions. Pot save America, which is why you need to subscribe here on YouTube. Please, we are trying to build a progressive counterwe to all the right-wing crap on YouTube. And when you subscribe, you help us get good information to people. You also help us grow and it's free. So, please subscribe. Then there was this utterly bizarre exchange about getting into heaven. Let's watch that.

4:26 Very rust. Very rust. Do you think you're going to heaven? Uh, I hope so. I don't want to go to hell.

4:32 Let's say you pass away. You're entering the next life. And all you have to do to enter paradise is feel love and forgiveness for James Comey, Nancy [snorts] Pelosi, anyone who you have expressed hate for over the years. Do you think you can do it?

4:52 Well, then I wouldn't be real, would I? I mean, if I said to you, "Sure." The easy answer to that, "Oh, yes. I could forgive.

4:58 No, I don't think it's an easy question. I found them to be extremely dishonest people. Very bad people. Very bad for our country. I love our country far more than I can love people and people like that.

5:07 Is the answer no? The answer is no. I want to be honest. You have had the most charmed and remarkable life of any American in my entire lifetime. And you are telling me you couldn't find it in your heart to forgive some of your enemies

5:21 uh after all that's been given to you? I mean, it's such an easy answer. All I have to do is say yes, I can.

5:28 I again, I don't think it's an easy answer. That's my Can I be honest? I probably cannot do that now because I do hate some of my enemies and I always will.

5:37 I think that was a remarkable fantastic question from Ross. And I know I am biased cuz like I I'm I'm into the religious stuff. Yeah. But like

5:46 what And the and the way that Ross set that up was talking about Erica Kirk after Charlie Kirk. Yeah. And she said, "I forgive."

5:54 And Trump got up and like I don't. and and Ross gave him the opportunity to be like now maybe that was a little bit of a joke but facts come through jokes and and Donald Trump is he first of all the guy and he and at one point Trump says oh well I am religious so yes I believe in heaven it's like you're not religious because any any type of Christianity Catholicism Protestantism any of it any relig like if you believe in a heaven you believe that you must forgive your enemies that is like the most basic that's it that's basic

6:22 Old Testament stuff he's doing here new testament it's all the Testaments, everything.

6:26 No, I mean his wrath is very old. You're absolutely. Yes, that is. It is very Old Testament. But like just unable to forgive. And then he's like, well, then I wouldn't be real. Well, then you're going to hell. But are you happier that you're going to be real but not go to heaven, right? You want to be mad about the seashells post instead of going to heaven.

6:43 Well, then like when you're hanging out in purgatory that that whole it was like a very funny aside. I think my reaction to watching that was like, first of all, I guess credit for honesty, you know, like she's not given any quarter on this one. If if I'm Donald Trump and I'm asked that credit, that question, I'm like, off with your hypothetical, St. Peter. Like, we'll we'll cross that bridge when we get there. You know what I mean? You're just like, there's ways to just not have to deal with a question like that that's kind of weird and annoying, but Trump wanted to be like, "No, I hate these people."

7:12 You know what the the the way to deal with that is to is to not make it a contradiction is just say, "I'm not really a religious guy. I don't believe any. I bet I believe once we die, we die and that's it. So, I don't really care.

7:23 Well, then you were giving up your whole shtick. You remember when he's like pretended to be a big

7:27 fan of the Bible, said it was his favorite book. I don't know if that shtick was well uh

7:31 was was very believable in the first place. Not a lot of people buying that shtick. Um Trump was also asked about whether he will pick a Republican candidate in 2028. Uh here's his ringing endorsement of Vice President JD Vance.

7:43 In two years, someone else is going to be the Republican nominee for president. I assume you're going to endorse someone for that.

7:51 Probably. Not necessarily. Not necessarily. What would make you What are you thinking about when you decide whether or not to

7:57 We have a tremendous bench. I mean, I have so many people that I have great relationships with and you know, not necessarily

8:05 who who would be on the list besides the vice president. Well, I think Marco's great. I think

8:11 is he staying by the way as Secretary of State? I think so. I mean, he certainly loves it and he's doing great. He's doing a fantastic job. The ones they think about, but there are many others and I'd rather not mention their names. There's some senators that are excellent. I know them all. I like them a lot. So, I may or may not get involved. I don't know. Maybe I'm better off not getting involved.

8:31 He just like loves to torture JD Vance. He's like a like a laser pointer with a cat just making him sprint around the room.

8:38 So, my new theory is it is not just JD Vance that he wants to torture. It is I don't think he wants a Republican to succeed him. And you'd think that like obviously he does because it's, you know, continuation of the Trump legacy. But if this thing goes on and some new Republicans are, you know, kicking the out of JD Vance in a primary and they're getting a lot of attention, does Donald Trump really want to risk the possibility that the next Republican president is more popular than him, is a younger, fresh face that's getting all the attention? Or would he be like, "Nah, you get whatever Democrat they give and I'm going to be the head of MAGA forever and beloved."

9:17 I think it's very possible. I also think he's just going to string this out as long as possible because he likes to play producer. He likes the suspense. He likes the power that comes with everyone kind of fighting over his endorsement. And um the Rubio piece is interesting because if Rubio really does want to run, he's going to have to leave relatively soon. I mean, could be next year, but it's got to be in the first half of next year. And did you see in I think it was playbook that there was a dinner that Stephen Miller convened after he became chief of staff with just Rubio and his wife and Bill Py.

9:51 Um it was like a very small chief of staff too. So it's like if you're if if you're Rubio and you're in that small like what's next meeting? It feels like he's going to stay but I don't know.

10:01 Also big news for us. Katie Miller's quitting her podcast. So all those downloads are coming this way. Yeah, we should reach out to

10:07 Tens of downloads will be will be heading our way for Spawn Con here. Please come on.

10:12 Ronda Santis, Meatball Ron is clearly going to run for president. He was all over TV and the internet after the um Republican lost kind of explaining his theory of the case for why Ted Cruz is going to run every cycle until he dies. Um

10:25 although he's going to have a problem now. He's gonna have a tough race and a rep Democratic governor. Yeah,

10:30 Gina. Yeah, Gina can appoint a Democrat to replace Ted Cruz. That'd be so cool. Oh my god.

10:36 I know. This is This is The Republican primary is going to be awesome. Yeah, it's going to be really good. It's going to be fun to watch. Pods of America breaking news is brought to you by PDS Debt. Are you tired of making monthly payments without seeing your balance go down? PDS Debt can help you break free. Minimum payments aren't designed to get you out of debt. They're designed to keep you stuck. PDS Debt is the way out. They can reduce up to half of what you owe on credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills. And it starts with a free 30 secondond assessment at pdsdebt.com/crooked.

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11:41 That's pdsd.com/crooked. Ross also asked Trump whether his immigration policies hurt Republicans in the midterms. Let's watch that exchange.

11:50 I'd love to do something on immigration. What? Because Well, so do you think immigration hurt you in the midterms? Do you think the crackdown hurt?

11:59 I think it both helped and hurt. I think I got an A+ for closing up the border. I get very high marks for getting the bad ones out. But I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs that that created one violation or breaking of the law. That was that they came into the country illegally. Now, there is a large part of the country that think that they should be put out and there's a large part of the country that think that they should be allowed to stay if they're good people working in a landscaping company or working in a hotel or doing something right and in some cases paying taxes

12:36 and there's a large group of people think that they should be allowed to stay. So, you think your deportation policy went too far? It was too tough.

12:44 I think it might be too tough. Yeah. What would happen? What does the deal look like with the

12:48 ultimately that hurt me? Well, the deal would be we would work something out and I think it's something I think that's something that's actually doable.

12:55 So, he's 100% right. I mean, 58% of voters in exipul said they think the Trump administration's actions on immigration have gone too far. Latino voters went from 51% Democrats in 2024 to 64% Democrat this past cycle. It's just that like that answer is so divorced from reality when you make Steven Miller your chief of staff.

13:17 Yeah. And you see that that Ross had to jump in uh with a voice over and was like this this interview was uh an hour before

13:25 Oh, really? he announced Steven Miller as chief of staff so pissed. So someone asked Mark Wayne Mullen, reporter asked Mark Wayne Mullen about this. Um because so the result of that is Stephen Miller becomes chief of staff. the right, uh, Megan Kelly, the Blaze, Tommy Lahren, all these people are like, "No amnesty. What the fuck?" The White House pushes back and says, "He never said the word amnesty." Someone asked Mark Wayne Mullen like, "What's going to happen now?" And he says, "Well, Congress, quote, can look at DACA and figure out a way that these individuals can become maybe legal permanent citizens or something like this. There is no such thing as legal permanent citizens.

14:03 There's legal permanent residents. There's people who get citizenship. That man is the That man is the Homeland Security Secretary.

14:11 He made a tub of creatine. The Homeland Security Secretary like does no idea what the he's talking about.

14:18 None of these people know what the they're talking about. Last time there was a DACA. Remember there was a DACA deal up in 2018 that they tried to do.

14:25 Yes. That whole thing fell apart. We We are benefiting from uh not having been born two weeks ago. We we have watched Donald Trump since 2015, 2016. He has always tried to sound reasonable like this. He has flirted with the idea of a grand bargain on immigration that would actually be quite popular, but that he knows his base would hate. It's weird that he would doing it again. I guess just get through the answer.

14:47 I think Trump a doesn't know enough about immigration policy despite it being like the issue that helped him win his whole base two terms. Um doesn't know enough about it to fully understand all the details here. Like remember and I think that he actually is more liberal on immigration than Steven Miller which is like most people.

15:06 I do too. I think he hears from the rich people who don't like his rich buddies are like hey look we need these people to work at our hotels and restaurants and whatever.

15:13 Well remember last year when Brook Rollins the agriculture secretary convinced him to put out a statement saying that ICE would scale back enforcement against the farm workers and the people in the hospitality industry. And then I don't know it was like two days later Rollins had to like take back the statement and Trump took because Stephen reportedly Steven Miller got really upset and just overruled Trump. Steven Miller is the president now and uh you know Trump doesn't think that but Steven Miller is going to just like let Trump say whatever he wants to say and then Steven Miller is the smart guy who knows policy and just going to do what Stephen Miller

15:45 always been his thing which is why wield power behind the scenes. If you want to do something on immigration and you're Democrats in the Senate, like the only way you can do this is to use the leverage you have over government funding.

15:55 Yeah. And and and oversight. But I mean, you know, look, obviously the biggest issue in the uh election was the economy. 75% of voters in exit polls said the economy was quote not good. 66% said tariffs hurt the economy. So if Trump ended the Iran war, that would help the economy. If he got rid of his own tariffs, that would help the economy. I do think the continued immigration crackdown is ultimately going to hurt the economy a lot as well because he's going to be just, you know, arresting people who would be part of the labor force, doing construction, doing other things. But yeah, I I agree with you. I think Steven Miller is going to block anything that seems uh reasonable. I I I will say too I was thinking like in terms of oversight investigations obviously the most popular investigations will be like a lot of the corruption and they should do that but in terms of what's actually could change something like change

16:41 policy like digging into what's happening in some of these detention centers and some of these raids like

16:47 the only way that they pulled back even a little bit was because of what happened in Minnesota. Um and and uh so like I I think that it's pretty important for Congress to to get involved.

16:58 Yeah, we had um Yasmine and Sari on my panel with uh me and Ben Rhodess and Jason Crow and she's definitely super focused on this stuff and it's been going to these facilities for a long time. So I think it's going to be important. Uh also getting uh the oversight scrutiny will be the war with Iran. Trump was asked whether he would escalate the war. Uh let's watch.

17:15 So you're not going to escalate the war now that the midterm Well, I'm not looking to. I don't think there's any reason to. I don't think there's any reason to. Look,

17:22 they still have nuclear material. They have nothing. It's buried under thousands of tons of rock.

17:28 So, what's the deal in the end with them that gets that gets the straight open? Because it's important. It's important to the straight is open. We have ships going.

17:37 But the ships that are going through are being babysat by a large US military presence. So, how do we make a deal that gets that gets that presence out of there?

17:45 Not very expensive. We can just leave them there. this whole thing. Those countries that we've protected are going to pay us back any and all costs that we've had for the war because without us they wouldn't exist. Without us, Israel wouldn't exist.

17:59 Uh so for what it's worth, the blockade, the escort mission cost 23 billion dollars a month.

18:04 Two carrier strike groups, 50,000 troops in the region. Like it's wildly expensive. I'm sure it's probably news to the Qataris or the Saudis or anybody else that they're going to be paying for this. I'm sure the Israelis love being told that they would not exist, but um I don't I can't tell what he's going to do. Like he could be saying this and just escalate tomorrow. The Iranians are not going to take a bad deal. They know that they are in a better position politically now than they were before. So I it all feels so murky.

18:28 What did you make of Rubio's statements like the last couple days, which seem like he's like doesn't seem like a deal is close at all.

18:34 I don't think they're anywhere near a deal. I I think the Iranians are going to be like we want uh the sanctions relief. We want all this money. like they're going to try to extract as much as they possibly can and just force a situation where Trump walks away and says like well we got the you know pickaxe mountain is under surveillance or whatever so we got them. I mean the problem with his explanation there is all the damage they did to the nuclear sites was done during the midnight hammer air strikes and then they decide to go to war in a full scale version a year later and it's like what did that do? Is it possible, you think, that we're just going to spend two to three billion dollars a month in perpetuity and then Trump just pretends that the war is over? Sure. Because there's no

19:14 I I think this could be handed off to the next president. Like there's no good answer to this escort mission. Like Trump

19:20 would have to bite down hard and kind of agree to some future status quo where like the I guess the Iranians and the Omanis are like, you know, charging a toll to everyone who goes through the straight move. So it's bad news.

19:32 Great. Yeah, it's good. Um, finally, Trump was asked about how he plans to use his pardon power when he leaves office. Let's watch that.

19:39 Do you expect to issue a lot of pardons when you leave office? Yes, I do. Do you expect to pardon yourself?

19:45 Uh, I don't, but I certainly uh Do you think you have the power yourself? I do. But but more importantly, uh I don't want to have good people that are serving this country and doing a great job spending the rest of their life like I had to do for four years defending myself by radical left lunatics, by people that were very nasty and mean. Uh I intend to issue tremendous numbers of pardons. In fact, I say oftentimes anybody that get got within a thousand miles of the Oval Office because I don't want people spending the rest of their lives.

20:22 So, will you pardon me? I I mean, we're very close to the Oval Office. After this interview,

20:27 I think I might have Ross, you got him there. [gasps] I guess no surprise that he's going to pardon everybody. But it's interesting that he's just saying it all. I know because there was reporting that like it is said that Trump has been saying that you know if you come close to the Oval and then he just says it.

20:43 Yeah. So it's like okay I wonder what the fee is going to be. How much do you have to give him the presidential library?

20:48 I just I want to hear from some uh legal experts on state crimes. Yeah. Because that's where the action is here. All these people that he's going to pardon that have been committing crimes, they better hope that they have not violated any state laws because agree can't save them there.

21:03 I agree. It's um it's interesting. I mean, Joe Biden made this uh a lot easier politically for Donald Trump.

21:10 Yeah. And and look, unfortunately, the real blame goes to the founders on this one because having unconditional power, pardon power in the Constitution, I mean, it was always crazy, but now we're realizing over the last several years just how crazy it was.

21:21 Would love to call them lead poisoned farmers. Yes. Founding fathers. Yeah. Uh all right. Well, that's it for us on this uh recap of CBS 60 Minutes. The Mimbo did fine. the member.

21:33 He didn't do bad. I do think it's, you know, kind of like post CBS change adjusted. I would have loved to seen like it doesn't Barry Weiss or or 60 Minutes. There's they still you know.

21:46 Yeah, they're bad. But uh well done. Good job. Talk soon. Pod Save America is a Crooked Media production. Our show is produced by Austin Fischer, Saul Rubin, McKenna Roberts, and Michael Goldmith with Reed Cherlin, Elijah Conn, and Adrien Hill. Our team includes Matt Degro, Ben Heft, Jordan Caner, Charlotte Landis, Kenny Moffett, Adam Liippard, Joseph Dutra, Desmond Taylor, Dan Ferrell, David Tols, Mia Kelman, Ryan Young, and Naomi Single. Our staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Trump just had a very weird, maybe too-honest interview. Take a look:"?

Ross (Host), Trump (Guest), Barry Weiss (Guest), Stout (Guest), Mimbo (Guest).

What is "Trump just had a very weird, maybe too-honest interview. Take a look:" about?

Trump’s interview touches on corruption, foreign investment in his businesses, and potential conflicts of interest, with questions about net worth, ongoing family business, and whether foreign interests influence his government. The discussion highlights perceived evasiveness, the interviewer's tough questioning, and critiques of the strategic focus during the exchange.

What is mentioned in this Pod Save America episode?

61 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Donald Trump, 60 Minutes, Iran war (2026), Steven Little Miller, 2026 United States midterm elections, Trump administration immigration crackdown. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Trump just had a very weird, maybe too-honest interview. Take a look:"?

The episode runs 22 min; the transcript is about 4,812 words in 90 timestamped sections.

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