Welcome to the deep dive.
We're gonna be diving into some fascinating news today
from after the election.
Oh yeah, this is always really interesting
to watch what happens right after.
Yeah, this is all from ElectoralVote.com.
Oh, cool.
You sent this in.
So, big thanks for that.
And we're gonna be talking about a little bunch of stuff,
but the one that's on everybody's mind right now
is Hunter Biden.
Yeah.
What's going on with these pardon,
and is this, you know,
people are saying is it justified or not?
Right.
Let's just like remind everybody,
like what are the offenses that we're talking about here?
Right.
Just so we're all on the same page.
Yeah, we've got the gun purchase form.
Right.
Lying on that.
While he was struggling with addiction.
Yeah.
And then there's that tax evasion charge,
which is a lot of money.
Yeah.
Like 1.4 million.
Yeah, so it's not nothing.
No, it's not nothing.
Yeah, but then it goes deeper into like,
well, why would Biden do this,
and are there actually justifications for this?
Right.
And like you said at the beginning,
there's always a lot of talk about this.
Did he do this? Did he do that?
Right.
But we have to remember that presidents do have
this broad power to pardon.
Yeah.
And it's been used for a lot of reasons throughout history.
It's been used for good, it's been used for bad.
And it's interesting because in this case,
the article suggests that maybe Biden was thinking about,
and well, what's Trump gonna do with this when he gets in?
Oh.
Like, is he gonna weaponize this to like?
Right, so is this like a preemptive?
Yeah, exactly.
So is this preemptive?
Is he trying to like stop Trump
from being able to use it as a political tool?
So he's like getting out ahead of it.
Exactly.
To try to get out ahead of it.
Like it went out of the sales.
Right, and maybe lessen the potential blowback too.
Right, and there's this whole double standard thing, right?
Like Woodhunter Jones, some random person
who's not related to the president.
Yeah, if this was Joe Schmoe, would this have happened?
Would he have gotten the same treatment?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
What do you think about that?
Yeah, and that's a big point that the article makes.
And it's a really compelling point.
Is there a double standard?
Is there some unequal treatment in the justice system?
Like it really makes you think about, you know,
are the scales of justice truly balanced?
Like is it really fair for everybody?
Mm-hmm.
And it's not just, you know, Biden the article
talks about all these other presidents
and some pretty questionable pardons
that have happened throughout history.
Right, so this is not a partisan issue.
Exactly, this is not a partisan issue.
This is something that goes way back.
It's much bigger than...
Yeah, way bigger than just Biden.
Yeah, and so you've got this whole thing with it,
pardon me, is it justified, is it not?
But then the article kind of throws in this whole other wrench,
which is like, well, what if Trump was the one handling it?
Oh, yeah.
And it paints a pretty, like,
kind of scary picture of what could have happened.
Yeah, because if you think about, I mean,
the article suggests that Trump would use this politically.
And I mean, knowing Trump and his history,
you can see how he would do that.
He would have used it to attack Biden
and maybe even push for Hunter to get, like,
worse punishments.
Right, so this is this whole, like, abusive power thing.
Exactly, like, how far can a president go?
What are the limits?
And especially with some of the things
that Trump has done in the past, it's really concerning.
Yeah, and you know what's interesting?
Because the article brings up the hypocrisy of it all.
Like, you have all these Republicans that are saying,
oh, this pardon's horrible.
But then you think back to Trump,
and he pardoned all these people, like, his allies.
Exactly, and it's like they have amnesia or something.
It's like they just forgot about all the pardons
that Trump gave out.
And that's what the article tries to highlight,
that there are these double standards,
like, depending on which party you're in.
And from the way that the article is written,
it almost sounds like Biden's playing this, like, chess game.
Oh, totally. It's like 40 chess.
He's like, okay, if I don't do it this way,
then Trump is gonna do this,
and it's gonna be so much worse,
so I'm gonna do the lesser two evils.
Right, yeah.
He's trying to, like, anticipate what Trump is gonna do.
Oh, wow.
And it's like, is that even justified?
Like, should he be doing that?
And this leads us perfectly into this next story
about Trump replacing the FBI director with Cash Patel.
Ooh, yeah, this was-
And this is just crazy.
This is a wild one.
So you've got Patel, who's been very outspoken about the FBI.
He's called them compromised.
He's said that they need to, like, go after people
who lied about American citizens,
and he even wrote a whole book.
Oh, wow.
Comparing the FBI to the KGB.
No way.
Yeah, and in the book, he talks about how the FBI
is this, like, deep state organization
that's out to get people.
And that's his book.
Yeah, that's his book, and, you know,
it's pretty extreme stuff.
Yeah, it sounds pretty intense,
and I wonder, like, what's the agenda there?
Like, what's he trying to do?
And the article was talking about how even some Republicans
are kind of like, oh, hold on a minute,
this is a little too far.
Yeah, it seems like even some Republicans
are hesitant about this nomination.
So even within the party, there's some...
There are some limits.
Pushback.
Yeah.
Yeah, and if he were to be the FBI director,
I mean, the article's bringing up some really big concerns
about, you know, is the FBI going to be independent, right?
Can it really, like, do its job?
Yeah, is it going to be able to uphold the law
without political influence?
Without someone, like, breathing down their neck.
Yeah, exactly.
And think about the freedom of the press, too.
Right.
Like, what happens to that?
What about people who disagree with the government?
Like, can they still speak out without being afraid?
Right.
So this is, like, the foundations of democracy
we're talking about.
These are like the cornerstones of a democracy.
Yeah.
And it makes you wonder what would happen
if those were shaken.
Yeah.
And speaking of shaking up the system,
this next thing about Trump and his cabinet,
Oh, yeah.
second term.
It's going to be interesting to see how he approaches that.
Yeah.
Because there's a lot of speculation
about what he might do.
Yeah.
So it looks like he might try to get around having
to have the Senate confirm people.
Oh, it's like.
Like appointing people without having them.
Like a loophole.
Yeah, a loophole, exactly.
So using more of these, like, acting secretaries.
Right.
Which are just temporary.
Right.
But they don't need the Senate to say yes.
Right, right.
So he can just put whoever he wants in.
Exactly.
And then there's also this idea of the kitchen cabinet.
Oh, I've heard of that.
Yeah.
So these are, like, his buddies, you know.
Unofficial.
Unofficial advisors, yeah.
OK.
But they don't have, like, official positions.
Right, right.
So they're just the people that he's, like.
They're the people he trusts.
Talking to behind the scenes.
Exactly.
OK.
It's like he's trying to bypass Congress
and just put his own people in all the important spots.
And even if they're not qualified.
Yeah, even if they don't have the experience.
Oh, wow.
It's more about loyalty to him.
Right.
Than it is about, you know, actually being good at the job.
Yeah.
So it's almost like he's running the country,
like it's his own business.
Yeah, exactly.
And the article was talking about how this is kind of like what
Andrew Jackson did way back when.
Oh, really?
Yeah, he had this whole kitchen cabinet thing going on too.
Yeah.
Hmm.
Interesting.
So it's not a new tactic.
Not a new tactic, no.
But the article says that it could be a lot worse this time
around.
Oh, like he's going to take it to a whole new level.
Yeah, exactly.
Like on steroids.
And the fact that he can just skip the whole Senate confirmation
thing?
Right.
That's what's really worrying because that's
supposed to be, like, a check on his power.
Yeah.
You know, the Senate is supposed to make sure
that he's not just putting crazy people in charge.
Right.
So it's like a safeguard.
Exactly, a safeguard.
And if that safeguard's not there, then.
Then what's to stop him?
Exactly.
Yeah, that's scary.
And the article saying that if the Senate doesn't push back
against this.
Right.
Then that could set a really bad precedent
for future presidents.
Oh, so it's not just about Trump.
It's about.
It's about the future.
The whole system.
Yeah, the whole system is at stake here.
It's wild how one election can just, like, totally
change the game.
Yeah, it's like a domino effect.
Totally.
One thing leads to another.
And speaking of wild, this next story,
I was not expecting this at all.
The court ruled that Texas can just keep doing their own
border control thing.
Yeah, that was a surprise.
Like, I thought that was the federal government's job.
You'd think right.
Yeah.
But it seems like Texas is just like, nope,
we're going to do our own thing.
And the court's like, OK, go ahead.
Yeah, and the article is raising some red flags
about this.
Like, our state's going too far.
Right.
Are they overstepping their boundaries?
And what about people's rights at the border?
Yeah, exactly.
What about human rights?
And it sounds like Trump is going to be all for this.
Oh, yeah, he's probably going to love it.
Like, this just plays right into his whole agenda.
He's like, Texas, you're doing great.
Keep it up.
And then who knows what other states
are going to start doing their own thing.
Right, it could be like a free for all.
Yeah, so this is like a whole other can of worms.
Gifts only.
So much for unity, right?
Yeah, so much for that.
And it sounds like Trump might even try to like,
bend the rules to get his way on immigration.
Yeah, the article was talking about how he might try to find
loopholes in the law.
So he can just do whatever he wants, basically.
Pretty much.
And it doesn't even matter if it undermines
the federal government.
Oh, wow.
So it's like he's putting his own agenda above everything else.
Yeah, it's like he's saying, I'm in charge,
and I'm going to do what I want.
And speaking of doing what he wants,
remember all that nepotism from his first term?
Oh, yeah.
Like, Tiffany Trump's father-in-law?
Oh, yeah, Jared Kushner's dad?
Come on.
He's like a family reunion in the White House.
Yeah, and the article is saying that we might see even more
of that this time around.
Oh, great.
Just what we need.
He just can't help himself.
Nope, it's all about loyalty, you know?
Right, but what about like actually having
qualified people in those positions?
Yeah, what about experience?
It's like he doesn't even care.
Nope, it's all about who you know and who you're loyal to.
And remember how RFK Jr. endorsed Trump?
Oh, yeah.
It looks like that didn't really get him anywhere.
It seems like Trump ignored all his suggestions
for cabinet positions.
Like he wanted to be Secretary of Agriculture.
Yeah, he thought that endorsement would give him some pull.
But Trump was like, nope, I'm going to pick my own guy.
Yeah, it just goes to show you that even an endorsement
from someone like RFK Jr. doesn't mean much to Trump.
So it's really all about loyalty.
Loyalty above all else.
Wow, so we've covered a lot here.
Partons, FBI shakeups, border control, nepotism.
What does this all mean for the average person?
Well, these articles are anything to go by.
It seems like things are going to be pretty crazy.
Buckle up.
Yeah, buckle up, Buttercup, because it's
going to be a bumpy ride.
Like we're talking about the very foundation
of our democracy here, like the rule of law,
the independence of our institutions, even just basic
ethics.
All of that is under threat.
It's pretty overwhelming, honestly.
Yeah, it's a lot to take in.
Like it feels like Trump is just pushing the limits.
Yeah, he's testing the boundaries,
seeing how far he can go.
And it's like he's daring someone to stop him.
Yeah, and the question is, will anyone stop him?
Yeah, that's the big question.
Like, are the checks and balances going to hold?
And the article did mention that there is some pushback,
even from within his own party.
Oh, yeah, that's right.
Like some Republicans are like, whoa, hold on a second.
Yeah, that's actually a good sign.
Yeah, maybe there's hope there.
Yeah, maybe they'll be able to hold him accountable.
We can only hope.
Fingers crossed.
Yeah, because this deep dive has definitely
left me with more questions than answers.
Oh, yeah, me too.
But it's good to be asking these questions, right?
Well, definitely.
Like we need to be aware of what's going on.
We can't just bury our heads in this hand.
Yeah, we have to be informed and engaged.
Exactly.
And we can't just rely on this system to fix itself.
We have to be part of the solution.
Yeah, it's up to all of us to make sure our democracy stays strong.
It's our responsibility.
It's a lot to process, isn't it?
This whole deep dive has really uncovered some stuff
that I really wasn't expecting.
And where do we even go from here?
Like it makes me wonder, what can we, as citizens, even
do when it feels like the people in charge are just
kind of doing whatever they want?
Yeah, it's like you said earlier.
It's almost like he's testing the limits.
Right.
Like daring someone to stop him.
Yeah.
But the article does suggest that maybe there's some hope.
Oh.
Yeah.
Because even within the Republican Party,
there are people speaking out against some of this stuff.
Right.
We talked about with the patella nomination.
Exactly.
And that could be a really important sign.
OK.
Because if there's enough pushback from his own party,
then maybe that will keep him in check a little bit.
OK, so we're not completely powerless?
No, not at all.
It's just that so much of this feels
like it's out of our hands.
Yeah.
I mean, a lot of it is we elect these people,
and then we kind of have to trust
that they'll do the right thing.
Right.
But we can't just sit back and do nothing.
Right.
So what can we do?
Well, for one, we have to stay informed.
Right.
Like we're doing now.
By listening to this show.
Exactly.
You got to know what's going on if you
want to have any chance of influencing it.
Right.
So we're doing our part.
Yes.
And it's not just about national politics either.
Oh, right.
It's about local elections too.
OK.
School boards, city councils, all of that.
So like getting involved in our communities.
Exactly.
Because that's where a lot of the decisions that
affect our daily lives are made.
Right.
So it's not just about the president.
No.
It's about holding all of our elected officials accountable.
And making sure they know that we're paying attention.
Exactly.
OK.
I like that.
So it's like, we're all in this together.
We are.
And we have to work together to make sure our democracy survives.
Yeah.
Because if we don't, who will?
Wow.
This deep dive has been a real roller coaster of emotions.
Oh, yeah.
Like I started out kind of excited,
you know, new administration, new possibilities.
Right.
And then it was like, oh my gosh, what's happening?
Yeah.
But I'm ending on a note of hope.
Good.
Like we're not powerless.
We can make a difference.
We absolutely can.
So thank you for sharing your insights and expertise with us.
My pleasure.
I think we all learned a lot today.
I hope so.
And to our listeners out there, thank you for joining us
on this deep dive.
Yeah.
Thanks for listening.
It's been a wild ride, but we're in this together.
We are.
And together, we can make sure that our democracy thrives.
That's the goal.
So stay informed, stay engaged, and keep fighting the good fight.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Thanks for joining us on the deep dive.