REPOST: Gavin's Big Blunder; New data on midterm enthusiasm; Kamala, Tim, and Diet Mt. Dew

Summary

Podcast Summary: 10 Minute Drill – "REPOST: Gavin's Big Blunder; New Data on Midterm Enthusiasm; Kamala, Tim, and Diet Mt. Dew"

Release Date: July 16, 2025
Host: Matt Whitlock

Matt Whitlock delves into a range of pressing topics in this episode of 10 Minute Drill, providing listeners with a comprehensive analysis of recent developments in American politics and society. The discussion is segmented into key themes, each enriched with insightful commentary and notable quotes from the conversation.

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1. Immigration Raids and Governor Gavin Newsom's Controversial Remarks

The episode opens with a critical examination of recent high-profile immigration raids in California. Governor Gavin Newsom finds himself in the crosshairs as Democrats accuse ICE and the Trump administration of unfairly targeting immigrant families involved in agriculture.

• Illegal Activities Unveiled: Last week's raids uncovered an illegal marijuana farm operating as a sanctuary for violent criminals and potentially exploiting child labor. Authorities arrested 361 illegal aliens, including individuals convicted of severe crimes and eight unaccompanied minors at risk of child labor exploitation.

• Newsom's Tweet and Public Backlash: In response, Governor Newsom tweeted, "35% of Anaheim's residents are immigrants. Disneyland doesn't run without them. Enjoy their labor. J.D. Vance," (00:37) blurring the lines between legal and illegal immigrants. This lack of distinction has fueled discontent among Hispanic voters and highlighted broader issues within Democratic immigration policies.

• Economic and Social Implications: Whitlock emphasizes that while illegal immigrants are involved in illicit activities, legal immigrants contribute significantly to the economy, paying taxes and integrating into society. Newsom's policies, which reportedly include providing free healthcare and cash cards to illegal immigrants, are criticized for disadvantaging legal immigrants and straining resources.

• Impact on Voter Sentiment: The conflation of legal and illegal immigrants undercuts Democratic support among Hispanic communities. Whitlock states, "The failure to differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants is one of many reasons Hispanic voters are continuing to turn against Democrats." (02:22)

2. Joe Biden's Auto Pen Scandal Unveiled by The New York Times

Transitioning to national politics, Whitlock discusses revelations from The New York Times concerning President Joe Biden's use of the "auto pen" for issuing pardons.

• Lack of Direct Approval: The Times reports that Biden did not personally approve each pardon but relied on his staff to execute them via the auto pen. Jeff Zients, Biden’s former Chief of Staff, allegedly approved all pardons without Biden’s direct intervention, including controversial figures like Dr. Fauci (02:38).

• Congressional Scrutiny: This procedural opacity has sparked interest from Congress, particularly the House Oversight Committee, which has summoned former Biden aides to testify. Whitlock anticipates a surge in inquiries and potential political fallout as a result.

3. Kamala Harris's VP Selection and the Diet Mountain Dew Anecdote

Whitlock delves into insights from the book "2024," shedding light on Vice President Kamala Harris's selection of her running mate, Tim Waltz.

• Strategic Selection: Harris chose Waltz for his non-ambitious nature and his promise not to run for president, aiming to maintain her dominance within the party. This decision is highlighted by Waltz’s preference for Diet Mountain Dew during a final interview, symbolizing his appeal to rural voters (04:05).

• Demographic Targeting: The choice underscores the Democratic strategy to resonate with rural America, with advisors believing that such preferences could bridge gaps with traditionally conservative voters. Whitlock humorously notes, "Who knew that Diet Mountain Dew was the secret elixir of rural America?" (05:00)

• Party Strategy Critique: He critiques the party's approach, which includes allocating substantial funds to understand and appeal to men through unconventional means, such as partnering with influencers like David Hogg, potentially alienating traditional voter bases.

4. Diminishing Democratic Support and Midterm Election Prospects

Addressing the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, Whitlock highlights concerning trends for the Democratic Party.

• Fundraising Success of GOP Super PACs: Super PACs affiliated with House Speaker Mike Johnson, namely the Congressional Leadership Fund and the American Action Network, have raised unprecedented funds, outpacing Democratic efforts by $20 million early in the cycle (05:03).

• Polling Data: Recent polls from Unite the Country reveal declining support for Democrats, who are perceived as "out of touch, weak, and woke." Their approval ratings have plummeted to below 35%, with waning enthusiasm compared to post-2024 election sentiments (05:03).

• Voter Demographics: Whitlock points out that Democrats are losing ground among white men, Hispanic men, and working-class voters, indicating a challenging path ahead for the party in the midterms.

5. The New York Times on Family and Political Divides

Whitlock examines a provocative New York Times headline, "Is it time to stop snubbing your right wing family?", authored by former Obama speechwriter David Litt.

• Personal Anecdotes and Broader Implications: He shares his own experience of strained family relationships due to political differences, reflecting the broader societal issue of polarization. Whitlock criticizes the elitist stance that emerged during the Obama years, where differing political views are often dismissed rather than engaged with constructively (06:12).

• Call for Unity: Emphasizing the importance of maintaining personal relationships despite political disagreements, Whitlock urges listeners to "touch some grass, get outside and enjoy life a little more," advocating for bridging divides through shared experiences and mutual respect.

6. JPMorgan Chase's New Fees on Fintech Companies

In the final segment, Whitlock discusses JPMorgan Chase's announcement of new fees targeting financial technology companies.

• Impact on Fintechs: Companies like Venmo, Coinbase, and Robinhood will face exorbitant fees to access customer data for banking transactions, effectively acting as a "tax on innovation" and a strategic move to stifle competition (06:12).

• Historical Context – Operation Chokepoint: Whitlock traces the origins of this trend to the 2013 Obama-era initiative, where banks were pressured to sever ties with certain businesses under the guise of fraud prevention. This evolved into banks assessing reputational and political risks, leading to the "debanking" of conservative organizations and individuals.

• Current Implications and Future Outlook: The move is seen as an attempt by big banks to monopolize the financial landscape, hindering the growth of fintech startups. Whitlock anticipates congressional scrutiny and potential regulatory interventions, especially with the Trump administration's emphasis on consumer choice and opposition to restrictive financial practices.

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Conclusion

Matt Whitlock provides a thorough and engaging analysis of current events affecting immigration policy, political scandals, election dynamics, societal polarization, and the financial sector. By interweaving detailed narratives with insightful commentary and direct quotes, this episode of 10 Minute Drill offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the complexities shaping American politics and society in 2025.

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For more insights and updates, subscribe to 10 Minute Drill and stay informed on the stories that matter.

Transcript

[A]

Immigration raids turn ugly as Democrats ratchet up their rhetoric. New revelations in the Biden auto pen scandal and cover up. And the New York Times believes that it might be time to stop shunning your conservative family. We have all that. We have new polling and so much more today on 10 Minute Drill. Everybody get up. Get up. The story of America is the story of an adventure.

[B]

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. We are a nation under God and I believe God intended for us to be free.

[A]

Last week, there were high profile raids at farms in California. Democrats jumped in and attacked ICE and the Trump administration for targeting families picking our food. One protester even opened fire at law enforcement. Turned out it was an illegal marijuana farm and a sanctuary from some terrifying violent criminals and also potentially child labor. 361 illegal aliens were arrested, including criminals with convictions for rape, kidnapping, child molestation, burglary, hit and run and dui. And among them, there were eight unaccompanied minors potentially being used for child labor. California Governor Gavin Newsom used this inflection point to try and troll JD Vance, who was with his family at Disneyland. Newsom tweeted, 35% of Anaheim's residents are immigrants. Disneyland doesn't run without them. Enjoy their labor. J.D. vance, you'll notice there that Gavin Newsom doesn't differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants. In this case, illegal immigrants are the ones that are working at illegal marijuana farms using child labor, legal immigrants. So the people that are here working, legally, paying taxes, getting screwed by Gavin Newsom's immigration policies that are one, giving free health care to illegal immigrants and giving them cash cards so that they're incentivized to jump the line over the illegal immigrants and their family members trying to go through the process here. Another wrinkle that came out was the owner of this farm employing incredibly dangerous criminal illegal immigrants and potentially child labor from unaccompanied minors is also a Gavin Newsom donor. The failure to differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants the way that Newsom did there is one of many reasons Hispanic voters are continuing to turn against Democrats. And they're not alone. Here's another poll from cnn.

[B]

So what you're seeing essentially here is very clear indication that a majority of Americans, in fact, when they're asked this blunt question, which I believe gets at the underlying feelings, do in fact want to deport all immigrants who are here illegally.

[A]

New revelations from the New York Times about Joe Biden and the auto pen scandal. According to the New York Times, Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons. Rather than ask Biden to keep signing revised versions, his staff waited and then ran the final version through the auto pen, which they saw as routine. And then getting into who is making the calls and approvals for how the auto pen is used. New York Times reported that Jeff Zients, former Biden Chief of Staff, three minutes later, Mr. Zients hit reply all and wrote, I approve the use of the auto pen for the execution of all of the following pardons. So all the following pardons. There's a lot of questions about the paper trail between the generation of a list of people to pardon that included people like Dr. Fauci, who is in that final list that Zients himself approved that Biden himself did not necessarily give final approval to. So we're going to continue to hear. This is the kind of thing that will drive more Congress interest. The House Oversight Committee has already brought in a number of former Biden aides to speak about this, and I think this will drive a whole new wave of questions. Last week we talked about the new book 2024, which has had a lot of revelations about the Harris campaign. One of the latest stories that came out of that was the final stage of the VP selection process, where Kamala Harris landed on our favorite Tim Waltz. The book reports that Harris picked Waltz because he wasn't overly ambitious and that he promised that he would never run for president.

[B]

And I'm a knucklehead at times.

[A]

She turned against Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro because she was worried he might outshine her. But one of the more interesting anecdotes in this chapter was about Diet Mountain Dew. All three candidates did a final interview with Harris at her residence, the book explains, adding that when asked what they wanted to drink, Shapiro and Kelly chose water, while Waltz chose Mountain Dew. Appeal with rural voters was a top priority for the Harris ticket, and the book states that Harris advisors felt that Waltz was the best candidate to do that. Who knew that Diet Mountain Dew was the secret elixir of rural America? But it's not a surprise that the political party that spent $20 million to understand men based on their syntax has landed on things like employing David Hogg and effeminate TikTok influencers with floppy hair as their strategic outreach to men. We just hope they never stop leaning on the talent of the one and only Tim Waltz.

[B]

And I'm a knucklehead at times.

[A]

One theme that we've Talked about on 10 Minute Drill is that this 2026 midterm cycle we're moving towards feels a lot different than 2017 and 2018, President Trump's first term midterm cycle and one of the latest reasons for that bonkers new fundraising numbers from the Congressional Leadership Fund and the American action network. The two Super PACs tied closely to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Their strongest start to an off year cycle ever. $20 million more than Democrats best haul to start a non election year. Meanwhile, new polling shows that Democrats are continuing to struggle. The group Unite the country's latest poll, which was conducted with voters in 21 battleground counties across 10 battleground states, found that Democrats are still seen as out of touch, weak and woke. Their support with white men, Hispanic men and working class voters continues to drop. Their party approval rating is still under 35% and are seeing lower, lower, lower enthusiasm than they had in November 2024 when they lost the election. I think we all know the answer here, and it's more Tim Waltz and.

[B]

I'm a Knucklehead at Times.

[A]

New York Times had a headline over the weekend that turned a lot of heads, Is it time to stop snubbing your right wing family? And it was written by former Obama speech writer David Litt. Now we're unpack this just a little bit because I thought it was very funny. Not too long ago I felt a civic duty to be rude to my wife's younger brother. Now if you ever feel a civic duty to be rude to somebody, that's not your civic duty speaking, you're just kind of a jerk. I met Matt Kapler in 2012 and it was immediately clear we had nothing in common. He lifted weights to death metal. I jogged to Sondheim. I was one of President Barack Obama's speechwriters and had an Ivy League degree. He was a huge Joe Rogan fan and went on to get his electrician's license. So again, the juxtapos here of explaining why he is better than this brother in law highlights why Democrats are in such a tough position. This goes back to the Obama years as Democrats started shifting more and more towards that elitist position of either you agree with me and everything I have to say or you are lesser. Now the story overall has a valuable lesson. He learns to love his brother in law despite his toxic conservatism because they go surfing together and enjoy their time together. But earlier in the story, there's a moment where he thinks about breaking off all contact altogether because the brother in law had some concerns and questions about vaccinations. He writes, my Frostiness wasn't personal, it was strategic. Being unfriendly to people who turned down the vaccine felt like the right thing to do. How else could we motivate them to mend their ways? So once again he's approaching this from a position of I know more than you and am better than you and it is my responsibility to use our relationship to try and drive better behavior out of you first. Do we even know if the brother in law likes you enough to care if you leveraging your relationship to get him to do something is gonna work? But also, this just goes back to the fact that if you've ever felt motivated to cut off a relationship or treat someone differently based on a difference in political views, please touch grass, get outside. The differences we have in political views and understandings are really what makes this country work. So please again touch some grass, get outside and enjoy life a little More On Friday, America's biggest bank, JPMorgan Chase, announced new fees on fintech companies. Companies like Venmo, Coinbase, Robinhood will now have to pay new exorbitant fees to access the customer data that customers have decided to share with them so that they can do banking transactions. If you're splitting a check at a restaurant, there will be new fees on those companies. It is being called a tax on innovation and a power grab by some big banks by Public Policy Solutions, Wilhild said. Just in the big banks are making a desperate move to try to crush competition and preserve their power to debank conservatives. Their latest tactic? Effectively charging customers a tax to access their own personal data and provide it to fintech companies. That phrase debanking you may have heard before. It effectively began with a 2013 Obama era initiative called Operation Chokepoint where the US Department of Justice investigated banks in the United States and businesses they did with firearm dealers, payday lenders and other companies, while operating legally, were said to be at a high risk for fraud and money laundering. That changed the lens through which banks defined reputational risk to include political risk. And it allowed banks to deny any access to banking and funding to anyone on the conservative side of the aisle on a number of issues. What began with Second Amendment groups extended to pro life groups in a number of of different conservative organizations. And so, as Wilhild is describing there, this debanking trend is now being used by big banks to stifle the banking activities of anyone who uses these financial technology platforms. And we also know a lot of these big banks are run by people who are hostile to cryptocurrency, digital currencies and things like that. So this will be an interesting issue for Congress and the Trump administration to watch as these big banks attempt to use their power to push out smaller financial technologies that we rely on every day. And we expect the Trump administration to be particularly interested because of their focus on consumer choice and allowing people to use the home appliances they like, the financial technology tools they like, all the different things that make life easier that the Biden administration and other past administrations have attempted to limit. That is all the time we have for today. Thank you so much for joining us on 10 Minute Drill. Please subscribe like tell your friends. Thanks again.