1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,640 All right, so here we are back again. 2 00:00:01,640 --> 00:00:06,640 It's 2025 and Trump's back for round two. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:07,640 Round two, yeah. 4 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,000 It's, I feel like it's giving you a wild ride. 5 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,400 But today we're diving into this piece 6 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,680 from electoralvote.com. 7 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:16,520 Okay. 8 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,800 It's like a minute by minute account of, 9 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,360 well, Inauguration Day. 10 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:22,200 A play by play. 11 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,040 Yeah, play by play. 12 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:23,880 Yeah. 13 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:24,720 So let's just jump right in. 14 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,120 Okay, first up, the inaugural address, 15 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:29,640 they called it unusual. 16 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:30,800 Unusual. 17 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:31,640 Yeah. 18 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:32,960 I feel like, well, that's kind of putting it lightly. 19 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:34,400 Yeah, it was long, that's for sure. 20 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,360 And kind of all over the place, you know? 21 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:37,200 For meandering. 22 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,040 Yeah, meandering. 23 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:39,120 He's talking about, you know, 24 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,000 a golden age for America, economic prosperity, 25 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,160 global respect, all that. 26 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:47,280 But I don't know, it just felt disconnected, you know, 27 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,320 from the reality of his first term. 28 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,000 It's like he's promising a sequel, 29 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,600 but it completely ignores the plot of the first movie. 30 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:54,440 Exactly. 31 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,480 And then there's this whole manifest destiny thing 32 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:57,320 he kept bringing up. 33 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:58,160 Oh yeah. 34 00:00:58,160 --> 00:00:59,000 I mean, come on. 35 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,360 He's just loaded, you know? 36 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:05,360 Historically, westward expansion, American exceptionalism. 37 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,680 You know, it can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. 38 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,000 Some not so good. 39 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,840 Especially considering, well, his past interest in, 40 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,240 shall we say, acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal. 41 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:17,080 Yeah. 42 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:18,440 Makes you wonder what kind of destiny 43 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:19,920 he has in mind this time around. 44 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:20,760 Right. 45 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:22,320 It makes you wonder about his vision 46 00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:24,600 for America's role in the world. 47 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,920 And then there's this other thing, I don't know if you noticed, 48 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,120 but he really went after the Biden administration harshly, 49 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:31,520 like really laid into them. 50 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,200 Yeah, can you imagine being Biden sitting there 51 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,160 while your successor is basically listing 52 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,800 all your perceived failures? 53 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,360 The other former presidents, they look so uncomfortable. 54 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,280 You could just feel the tension in the air. 55 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,160 Yeah, but amidst all the serious stuff, 56 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,480 there was that hilarious moment when he mispronounced decline. 57 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,920 I swear, I thought I was hearing things. 58 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,280 Dicline was trending on Twitter, 59 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,280 all thanks to John Stuart, of course. 60 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,680 John Stuart, always good for a laugh. 61 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,560 But I think those kinds of slip-ups, 62 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,560 they reveal something about his communication style. 63 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:03,520 What do you mean? 64 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:04,480 It's impulsive. 65 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,240 He's not thinking things through, just learning things out. 66 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:10,680 It might be funny to some people, 67 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,480 but others see it as a lack of respect for the occasion. 68 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,840 Right, a disregard for careful language. 69 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,080 The article also points out this theme of, 70 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,880 Trump is a victim, which I found really interesting. 71 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,000 Yeah, the victim narrative, it's powerful. 72 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,160 I mean, he's incredibly wealthy, 73 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,080 holds the most powerful position in the world, 74 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:30,800 and yet he's still playing the victim card. 75 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,160 Constantly, he's being attacked, wronged 76 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,120 by the deep state, the media. 77 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,600 It resonates with his base, it really does. 78 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,800 It solidifies their loyalty, fuels their resentment. 79 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:42,200 It's a potent mix. 80 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,120 And let's not forget the falsehoods. 81 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:45,680 The article didn't hold back. 82 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,880 Calling out numerous lies in the speech. 83 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,320 Sounds like CNN's Daniel Dayle, the fact-checker, 84 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,400 had his work cut out for him. 85 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:52,320 Oh, absolutely. 86 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,160 I mean, truth is a fluid concept in Trump's world. 87 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,560 You know, fact-checking is important, don't get me wrong, 88 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,880 but sometimes it feels like a losing battle. 89 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,360 The misinformation spreads so quickly online, 90 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,240 it's hard to keep up. 91 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:04,480 That's like whack-a-mole, isn't it? 92 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:05,760 Exactly. 93 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:07,960 And an article ended the section on the speech 94 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,240 by saying that despite all its flaws, 95 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,280 it was received with cheers from his supporters. 96 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:14,800 Which really highlights, you know, 97 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,520 the deep divisions in our country. 98 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:17,440 Totally. 99 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,440 For some, this speech was a call to action, 100 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,000 a promise of a return to greatness, 101 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,960 but for others, it was a reminder of the dangers we face, 102 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,640 you know, populism, the erosion of democratic norms. 103 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:30,080 It's a stark contrast. 104 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:31,520 Okay, so let's shift gears a bit 105 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,960 and look at the inauguration from a different angle. 106 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:34,800 Right. 107 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:36,160 The visuals, you know, the photos. 108 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:37,480 They tell a story too. 109 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:38,440 Oh, yeah. 110 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:39,720 Images are powerful. 111 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,080 Sometimes they can say things that words just can't. 112 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:43,240 Exactly. 113 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,200 So first up, we have this photo of Trump 114 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,880 at the swearing end, right? 115 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:49,800 And he's not actually placing his hand on the Bible. 116 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:51,080 Oh, yeah, I saw that. 117 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:52,960 It's causing quite a stir online. 118 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:55,600 Legally, it doesn't mean anything, right? 119 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:56,640 No, not really. 120 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:58,000 It's more of a symbolic thing. 121 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,880 But symbolically, it's raising some eyebrows. 122 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,880 Some are calling you to deliver a power move. 123 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,360 Others just a simple oversight. 124 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:06,200 What do you think? 125 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,400 I honestly don't know. 126 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,040 But it's interesting to compare this to the reaction 127 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,600 when Obama had that minor oath flub back in 09. 128 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:15,520 Oh, right. 129 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,160 The right wing media went ballistic. 130 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,800 It does make you wonder about the consistency 131 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,800 or lack thereof of the outrage machine, doesn't it? 132 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:23,880 Definitely. 133 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:25,720 Okay, moving on to Melania's outfit. 134 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,080 I mean, what a statement. 135 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:28,680 Some people said she looked like she walked out 136 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:29,840 of a Wes Anderson film. 137 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:32,920 I saw comparisons to a futuristic space empress. 138 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,960 Right, it was definitely eye-catching. 139 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,480 Do you think there's a message there? 140 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,520 Fashion can be a form of communication, 141 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,840 especially for someone in her position. 142 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:43,440 Maybe it was a subtle protest or a way to express 143 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,800 her feelings about her husband's second term. 144 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,160 It's hard to say for sure, 145 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,040 but it definitely added another layer of intrigue to the day. 146 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,280 And of course, no inauguration would be complete 147 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:53,440 without Bernie Sanders. 148 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,240 Right, back with his signature grumpy look 149 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:57,800 and those mittens. 150 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,800 The man's become an inauguration meme. 151 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,320 A national treasure, honestly. 152 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,760 And speaking of fashion choices, 153 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,880 we have Senator John Federman attending the inauguration 154 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,840 in his, well, let's call it his trademark casual attire. 155 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:12,320 Yeah, the hoodies and shorts. 156 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,320 It was a bit jarring, considering the formality of the event. 157 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:16,160 I mean, I get it. 158 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,200 It's his style, but still. 159 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,040 Maybe he's trying to make a statement. 160 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,000 Or maybe he just really hates dressing up. 161 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:22,960 Who knows? 162 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,840 But it definitely made him stand out. 163 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:26,760 Okay, last image I wanna touch on 164 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,120 is this picture of the billionaire class 165 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,640 at the inauguration, Zuckerberg, Bezos, Musk. 166 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,600 They were all there front and center. 167 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,080 It's pretty striking, isn't it? 168 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,320 They're not exactly known for being politically active, 169 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,960 but they sure showed up for Trump. 170 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,320 It speaks to their influence, you know? 171 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:44,240 They're not just wealthy. 172 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,520 They have a lot of power in tech, in media, 173 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,560 and now it seems in politics. 174 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,080 And that's a little concerning. 175 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:50,920 It is. 176 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,320 It's like this whole other layer of power dynamics 177 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:54,360 we have to consider now. 178 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:55,400 Absolutely. 179 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:56,760 And it's not just their presence. 180 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,200 There was that photo of Elon Musk 181 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,160 making what some people perceived as a Nazi salute. 182 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:03,240 Oh, right. 183 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:04,520 That was, yeah. 184 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:05,960 It sparked a lot of controversy. 185 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:07,160 Some people downplayed it, 186 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,480 but many, especially Jewish leaders, were deeply concerned. 187 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,960 Especially given, you know, his past behavior 188 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:14,840 and his refusal to apologize. 189 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:15,680 Right. 190 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:16,680 It's hard to give him the benefit of the doubt 191 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:17,520 at this point. 192 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:18,560 And this is just the beginning. 193 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,720 We haven't even touched on the executive orders yet. 194 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:21,600 Boy. 195 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,920 The executive orders buckle up, everyone. 196 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:25,840 This is where things really get interesting. 197 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:27,480 So yeah, the executive orders. 198 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,040 This is where things get interesting. 199 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,320 The article calls it a slew. 200 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:33,600 I mean, that's an understatement. 201 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,880 85 executive orders on day one. 202 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:38,520 85? 203 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,880 Like seriously, he's making up for lost time or something. 204 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:42,720 Right. 205 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,000 That's a point to prove. 206 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,520 And yeah, immigration was a big focus. 207 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:47,360 No surprise there. 208 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,800 Not surprising at all given, you know, his campaign. 209 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:50,640 Exactly. 210 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:51,960 National emergency at the border, 211 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:53,080 sending in the troops. 212 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,720 He even tried to end birthright citizenship. 213 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:56,560 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on. 214 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,880 Ending birthright citizenship. 215 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:00,320 By executive order. 216 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,520 Is that like even legal? 217 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:03,600 That's a good question. 218 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:04,720 Probably not. 219 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,520 A lot of legal experts are saying it violates 220 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:07,800 the 14th Amendment, you know, 221 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,800 the whole born on US soil thing. 222 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:10,680 Right, right. 223 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,480 It'll probably end up in court. 224 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:13,320 Big surprise. 225 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:14,160 Right. 226 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:15,280 Yeah, another Trump legal battle. 227 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:16,120 Shocking. 228 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,680 So birthright citizenship, mass deportations, 229 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,960 crackdown on cartels, he didn't hold back. 230 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:21,800 Nope. 231 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,840 It's a hard line approach, that's for sure. 232 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,600 And there was that incident at the border. 233 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:27,440 The shootout. 234 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:28,280 Yeah. 235 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:29,680 It's not clear if it's directly related 236 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,080 to the executive orders, but you know, timing is. 237 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:32,920 That's your turn. 238 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:33,760 Yeah. 239 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:35,520 Concerning, to say the least. 240 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,280 Okay, moving on, there's also this executive order 241 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,360 targeting transgender Americans. 242 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,000 And the title is, well, a choice. 243 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Defending women from gender ideology extremism 244 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,800 and restoring biological truth to the federal government. 245 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:51,160 You can't make this stuff up. 246 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:52,040 I know, right? 247 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,800 It's like straight out of a dystopia novel. 248 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,840 And you know, the content is even worse. 249 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,840 It tries to define sex based solely on reproductive cells, 250 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,560 like denying the very existence of transgender people. 251 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:03,600 It's pretty extreme. 252 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,640 And the article connects this to like a wider attack 253 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:08,520 on DEI initiatives. 254 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:09,360 Yeah. 255 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:10,320 Diversity, equity, inclusion, all that. 256 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:11,160 Right. 257 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:12,920 And then you find another order basically ending 258 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,760 all DEI programs in the government. 259 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,040 But having the courts like upheld these kinds of programs 260 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,480 before, even in the military, they have. 261 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,760 So yeah, he's picking a fight he's probably gonna lose. 262 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:24,600 Again. 263 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,000 It's also performative, isn't it? 264 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,360 Appealing to a certain segment of his base. 265 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:29,200 Yeah. 266 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,840 But not really accomplishing much in terms of actual policy. 267 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:32,840 Maybe. 268 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:34,800 But the impact is real, you know? 269 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:36,160 And it's not just social issues. 270 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:37,840 He went after the environment too. 271 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:39,640 Pulled out of the Paris climate accords. 272 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,560 Again, revoked electric vehicle mandates. 273 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:45,040 Opened up Alaskan land for drilling. 274 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:46,440 So back to drill, baby. 275 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:47,400 Drill. 276 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:48,720 Pretty much. 277 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,240 But you know, the world has moved on a bit 278 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:52,640 since his first term. 279 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,960 The demand for electric vehicles is there, 280 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:56,600 with or without mandates. 281 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,360 And the commitment to the Paris Accord seems pretty solid. 282 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:00,200 Let's hope so. 283 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,280 What else did he target with these executive orders? 284 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,840 Oh, he rescinded a bunch of Biden's executive order. 285 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,360 Environmental protections, diversity initiatives, 286 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,800 government oversight, you know, the usual suspects. 287 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:10,920 The usual suspects. 288 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,680 He also specifically reduced oversight of the Supreme Court. 289 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:15,160 Yeah. 290 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,240 Hmm. 291 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:17,320 Makes you think, doesn't it? 292 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:17,920 It does. 293 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:18,400 OK. 294 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:19,520 International front. 295 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:20,600 WHO. 296 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:20,800 Yeah. 297 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:21,520 Gone. 298 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:22,400 Vaccine mandates. 299 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:23,120 Gone. 300 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,480 So basically doubling down on all the controversial stuff 301 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,160 from his first term. 302 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:29,400 All right. 303 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,400 What about DOGE? 304 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:32,920 Department of Government Efficiency. 305 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,640 DOGE. 306 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,840 Yeah, that's not going so well. 307 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:39,000 What happened? 308 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,760 So Vivek Rameshwamy, you know, he 309 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,160 was supposed to co-lead it with Elon Musk. 310 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:44,080 Right. 311 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,760 Yeah, well, he resigned like hours after being sworn in. 312 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:47,120 Wow. 313 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:48,680 What, did they have a falling out or something? 314 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:49,480 Seems like it. 315 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,560 Apparently, he was clashing with both Musk and Trump. 316 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:54,480 And the final straw was some disagreement 317 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:55,840 about H-1B visas. 318 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:56,920 H-1B visas. 319 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:58,520 Those are for foreign workers, right? 320 00:09:58,520 --> 00:09:58,960 Yeah. 321 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,000 So yeah, DOGE is off to a rocky start. 322 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,160 To put it mildly. 323 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,200 And on top of that, there are already lawsuits. 324 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,920 They're saying DOGE violates the Federal Advisory Committee 325 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:09,800 Act. 326 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,480 Something about not following proper procedures 327 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:13,240 when they set it up. 328 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:14,680 Yeah, more legal trouble. 329 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,200 But hey, it wouldn't be a Trump administration without it. 330 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,840 OK, so executive orders, check. 331 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,600 But we can't forget about the Partons. 332 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:22,600 The partonora. 333 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,080 It's like a last minute free for all. 334 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:25,960 Biden got in on the action too. 335 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,880 Yeah, he commuted Leonard Peltier's sentence. 336 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:29,680 Peltier. 337 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:31,880 That's the Native American activist, right? 338 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,440 He's been in prison for like 50 years? 339 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,080 Yeah, for the deaths of those two FBI agents back in the 70s. 340 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,840 It was a huge case, very controversial. 341 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,760 Activists have been calling for his release for decades. 342 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:44,440 Right. 343 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,320 But then Biden also went and pardoned, like his whole family, 344 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,480 the entire January 6th committee. 345 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,080 Fauci, Millie, I mean, the list goes on. 346 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:54,080 It was preemptive. 347 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,600 Protecting them from potential prosecution 348 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,680 from the Trump administration, a lot of them 349 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:00,640 had been threatened with legal action. 350 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,040 Yeah, but it isn't accepting a pardon, like admitting guilt. 351 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:05,160 It's complicated. 352 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,200 Legally, it's kind of a gray area. 353 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,960 The Supreme Court hasn't really ruled on it definitively. 354 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,840 So we don't really know. 355 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,520 But what about the people Biden didn't pardon? 356 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,440 The article mentioned Jack Smith and Mary Garland. 357 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,720 Yeah, they were conspicuously absent from the list, 358 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,600 which is interesting to say the least. 359 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,440 Maybe there were some backroom deals going on. 360 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:24,000 Who knows? 361 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,400 OK, back to Trump. 362 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,160 He pardoned a bunch of people involved 363 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:28,760 in the January 6th insurrection. 364 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:29,480 He did. 365 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:29,640 Yeah. 366 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,120 Kept his campaign promise. 367 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:32,680 But he didn't pardon everyone. 368 00:11:32,680 --> 00:11:33,680 Who didn't he pardon? 369 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:36,040 The Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tario, 370 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,480 and the Oath Keepers founder, Stuart Rhodes. 371 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,800 They were both convicted of seditious conspiracy. 372 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,880 Seems like even Trump has his limits. 373 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:44,640 Maybe. 374 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:45,160 Or maybe. 375 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,040 It was a calculated move to distance himself 376 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,560 from the most extreme elements of the attack. 377 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:53,440 Either way, it highlights how the pardon power is, like, 378 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:54,960 totally politicized now. 379 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,080 And that's scary. 380 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:56,720 Absolutely. 381 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,680 And the article really condemns Trump's use 382 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:01,600 of the pardon power. 383 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,480 They say it cheapens the institution, 384 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,280 sets a dangerous precedent. 385 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:06,840 It's hard to argue with that. 386 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,840 There's a clear difference between Biden's pardons and Trump's. 387 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:11,600 Biden was trying to protect people. 388 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,280 Trump was rewarding loyalty and consolidating power. 389 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:15,160 It's not the same thing. 390 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:15,960 It's not. 391 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,720 OK, ready to move on to the Senate. 392 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,960 They got right to work on Inauguration Day confirming 393 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:21,520 nominees, as is tradition. 394 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:22,440 How'd that go? 395 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,120 Well, not much got done, actually. 396 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,040 Only one nominee was confirmed. 397 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,160 Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. 398 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,640 That was Trump's first cabinet appointment for this term. 399 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:32,640 Rubio, no surprise there. 400 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:33,640 What about the others? 401 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,760 Well, Pete Hegseth got approved by the Senate Armed 402 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,520 Services Committee for Secretary of Defense. 403 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,440 But it was a party line vote. 404 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,520 So is he a shoe in for confirmation by the full Senate? 405 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:46,240 Pretty much. 406 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,120 I mean, it's rare for a nominee to get outright rejected. 407 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,280 They usually withdraw if they don't have the votes. 408 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,200 So yeah, Hegseth is probably going 409 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:54,640 to be running the Pentagon soon. 410 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,200 OK, and what else did the Senate do? 411 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,160 They passed the Lakin' Riley Act. 412 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:00,960 Oh, the one that mandates detention 413 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,440 for undocumented immigrants, even for misdemeanors. 414 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:05,240 That's the one. 415 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:06,560 Yeah, it's pretty controversial. 416 00:13:06,560 --> 00:13:08,720 Critics are saying it'll lead to mass incarceration, 417 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,800 violate due process rights. 418 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,040 It's bad news. 419 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,560 Didn't we talk about this bill in a previous deep dive? 420 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:15,880 I feel like we've been here before. 421 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:16,560 We have. 422 00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:18,760 It was first proposed during Trump's first term, 423 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:20,120 but it didn't go anywhere. 424 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,400 Now, with Republicans in control of the Senate 425 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:23,760 and Trump back in the White House, 426 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,480 it's probably going to become law. 427 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,640 And it passed with bipartisan support. 428 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,120 Yeah, 12 Democrats voted for it, mostly from states 429 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,280 with close election results in 24. 430 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,040 So they're playing it safe, trying 431 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,760 to appease anti-immigrant sentiment back home. 432 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:38,520 Seems like it. 433 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,080 It's all about reelection, isn't it? 434 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,400 It's just it's disheartening. 435 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:46,280 Seeing these Democrats cave to political pressure like this, 436 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,600 what does it say about the state of our democracy? 437 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:49,640 Yeah, I don't know. 438 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:50,560 It's a good question. 439 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:52,080 And it's not just the Lakin' Riley Act. 440 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:53,600 It's everything. 441 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,440 The pardons, the executive orders, the rhetoric. 442 00:13:56,440 --> 00:14:02,080 It all points to this growing sense of unease. 443 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,560 We're on the edge of something, something bad. 444 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:06,920 So we've covered a lot, the speech, the pictures, 445 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,480 the executive orders, the pardons, the Senate. 446 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,200 It's like a whole terms worth of stuff happen in one day. 447 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:14,200 It really does. 448 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,240 This electoral vote.com piece has been, well, a wild ride. 449 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,440 A fascinating snapshot of, I don't know, 450 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:21,680 this moment in history. 451 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:22,920 It's a lot to take in. 452 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:23,720 It is. 453 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,800 So as we wrap up this deep dive, what are the big takeaways 454 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:27,120 for you? 455 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:27,720 What stands out? 456 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:28,960 Well, concentration of power. 457 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:30,360 For one, I mean, Trump's back. 458 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:31,240 He's emboldened. 459 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,120 And he's not wasting any time. 460 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:34,560 85 executive orders. 461 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:35,720 That's a statement. 462 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,400 It's like he's saying, I'm in charge. 463 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,760 And I'm going to do things my way. 464 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:39,560 Exactly. 465 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,080 But can he actually govern like this? 466 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,080 I mean, executive orders are powerful, 467 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,480 but they're not a substitute for actual laws. 468 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:48,040 Right. 469 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,840 And with Congress divided, he can't just bulldoze his agenda 470 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:52,280 through. 471 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:52,920 Exactly. 472 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,040 So he's going to have to rely on executive orders 473 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,720 even more, which creates the sense of impermanence. 474 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,160 Because the next president can just come in and reverse them 475 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,240 It's a recipe for instability. 476 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,200 And then there's the division. 477 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:06,280 I mean, it's everywhere. 478 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,240 The reaction to the speech, the debates over the pardons, 479 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:10,440 the executive orders. 480 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,080 It's like we're two different countries. 481 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:13,320 It's really stark. 482 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:17,280 And it makes you wonder, how do we bridge this gap? 483 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,880 How do we find common ground when we can't even 484 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,480 agree on basic facts? 485 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,400 The pardons, they definitely didn't help. 486 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,360 It just poured fuel on the fire. 487 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:26,080 Right. 488 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,680 Everyone's accusing everyone else of hypocrisy. 489 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:30,560 It's all so, so cynical. 490 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:32,960 And it makes it impossible to have a real conversation 491 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:33,720 about anything. 492 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,240 It's exhausting. 493 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,400 And then there's this underlying feeling of dread, 494 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,040 like something bad is coming. 495 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,480 The shootout at the border, the lawsuits against DOGE, 496 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,360 the pardons, the Senate battles. 497 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,880 It feels like we're on the edge of, I don't know, 498 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:49,120 something really bad. 499 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,000 I know what you mean. 500 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,320 It's easy to get caught up in the negativity. 501 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,840 But we have to remember, we're not powerless. 502 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,560 We can stay informed, engage in these conversations, 503 00:15:57,560 --> 00:15:59,080 hold our leaders accountable. 504 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,640 We have to if we want to protect our democracy. 505 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:02,400 It's a lot. 506 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:03,080 But you're right. 507 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:04,320 We can't just give up. 508 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,120 So as we wrap up, what's the one thing you want our listeners 509 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:09,080 to take away from this? 510 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:10,920 I want them to understand the stakes. 511 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,480 The next four years are going to be crucial. 512 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:13,680 We all have to play a role. 513 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:14,520 We have to speak up. 514 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,200 We have to fight for what we believe in. 515 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,760 This is our democracy. 516 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:19,280 And we can't let it slip away. 517 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:20,240 Well said. 518 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,200 We have to stay engaged, stay informed, stay vigilant, 519 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:25,880 and try to have some hope. 520 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,320 It's going to be a tough road ahead. 521 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,080 But we'll get through it. 522 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:30,720 Thanks for joining us for this deep dive. 523 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,480 We'll be back soon with more analysis 524 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:50,440 and hopefully some glimmers of hope in these uncertain times.