Steve Schmidt joins me to break down my reporting on the private Republican alarm over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s war strategy, and the growing sense that no one is really in control.
Republicans might have regrets, but the only way to prove their true concern is for disgruntled Republicans to get on board to pass the 25th Amendment. Otherwise, we need to table this discussion until the November midterms. I think time is of essence.
You think the remaining Republicans might have regrets; that is really decent of you. They should remember the last time they went along with highly illegal agendas. Democracy means we are all guilty for what the United States does.
Embedding journalists is BS too though! Journalists in Viet Nam got the real stories because they were free and running around wherever they wanted to go. This "embedding" journalists with the military was started by Bush as a way to control the narrative. Trump has just taken that even further.
That’s the problem. Private republicans. They have no spine. They are afraid of him. The irony is that saving the Republican Party would be speaking out on him. But they think going along is just going to get them votes. It will give the democrats the house and senate and the presidency. Americans want change. Because they think one party is lying to them. And they think that party is consistent with the lie. That’s just facts. That’s the way it works. It happened with Bush when we elected Obama. Americans thought the war was a lie and they took it out on the party. If Americans see a party with no spine they don’t trust that party. Politically for republicans they are just handing it all over the Democrats.
No matter how much fear gets pumped into the system, no matter how many flags get waved over cruelty, no matter how many loud men in suits call domination order, something stubborn and ancient in people keeps reaching for dignity, breath, truth, movement, choice. That is the flaw in every authoritarian fantasy.
Control looks invincible right up until the moment it starts to rot from the inside. Because freedom is not just a political condition. It is a biological urge. A spiritual instinct. A signal buried so deep in the human animal that even terror can only suppress it, never erase it.
You can disappear dissidents, flood the networks with lies, turn neighbor against neighbor, militarize the streets, rewrite the laws, and stage your little theater of absolute power, but somewhere under all that static, people still remember what it feels like to stand upright. And once enough people remember, the spell breaks.
That is why tyrants fear artists, truth tellers, workers, students, mothers, weirdos, outcasts, and anyone else who keeps the inner flame alive.
Because people will always want freedom. Always. And in the end, that is the force that outlives every empire built on fear.
Of course Steve Schmidt should be on once a week, they’re always good shows. Totally solid podcast guest on quite a few topics. Also, saw the Tangle thing - it is now very clear to me that Michael Tracey is your nemesis. In a way this makes you very fortunate because he’s just such an unbelievable dumbass, sometimes you get a nemesis that is sharp and clever and it can be very challenging.
Republicans might have regrets, but the only way to prove their true concern is for disgruntled Republicans to get on board to pass the 25th Amendment. Otherwise, we need to table this discussion until the November midterms. I think time is of essence.
You think the remaining Republicans might have regrets; that is really decent of you. They should remember the last time they went along with highly illegal agendas. Democracy means we are all guilty for what the United States does.
Embedding journalists is BS too though! Journalists in Viet Nam got the real stories because they were free and running around wherever they wanted to go. This "embedding" journalists with the military was started by Bush as a way to control the narrative. Trump has just taken that even further.
That's true, that's why I suggested that it was mixed
That’s the problem. Private republicans. They have no spine. They are afraid of him. The irony is that saving the Republican Party would be speaking out on him. But they think going along is just going to get them votes. It will give the democrats the house and senate and the presidency. Americans want change. Because they think one party is lying to them. And they think that party is consistent with the lie. That’s just facts. That’s the way it works. It happened with Bush when we elected Obama. Americans thought the war was a lie and they took it out on the party. If Americans see a party with no spine they don’t trust that party. Politically for republicans they are just handing it all over the Democrats.
Take the $200B out of ICE's budget
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Tho come to think of it, the whole Cabinet plus potus are worthless.
People will always want freedom.
No matter how much fear gets pumped into the system, no matter how many flags get waved over cruelty, no matter how many loud men in suits call domination order, something stubborn and ancient in people keeps reaching for dignity, breath, truth, movement, choice. That is the flaw in every authoritarian fantasy.
Control looks invincible right up until the moment it starts to rot from the inside. Because freedom is not just a political condition. It is a biological urge. A spiritual instinct. A signal buried so deep in the human animal that even terror can only suppress it, never erase it.
You can disappear dissidents, flood the networks with lies, turn neighbor against neighbor, militarize the streets, rewrite the laws, and stage your little theater of absolute power, but somewhere under all that static, people still remember what it feels like to stand upright. And once enough people remember, the spell breaks.
That is why tyrants fear artists, truth tellers, workers, students, mothers, weirdos, outcasts, and anyone else who keeps the inner flame alive.
Because people will always want freedom. Always. And in the end, that is the force that outlives every empire built on fear.
Two of my favorites. Love your joint streams.
Thanks Tara & Steve Schmidt : Hegseth wants the 200 billion for lobster tail and crab meat.
I enjoy how relaxed you and Steve converse on air
Of course Steve Schmidt should be on once a week, they’re always good shows. Totally solid podcast guest on quite a few topics. Also, saw the Tangle thing - it is now very clear to me that Michael Tracey is your nemesis. In a way this makes you very fortunate because he’s just such an unbelievable dumbass, sometimes you get a nemesis that is sharp and clever and it can be very challenging.
💙💙💙
“WAR”
So maybe we have a version of Eric Trump as the new Iranian Ayatollah - that's just great!
Always a great civilized conversation.