Digital Social Hour | Ep. 1836: “They Lied to Us for YEARS” Officer Tatum Unloads Post-Election

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Officer Brandon Tatum
Date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly sits down for a post-election debrief with Officer Brandon Tatum. The conversation is raw, energetic, and at times controversial, as Tatum shares his candid reactions to the election results, critiques of current and past political leaders, cultural shifts in America, and the intersection of politics, media, and personal freedom. They also delve into issues of race, identity, government overreach, health, and policing, offering unfiltered takes aimed squarely at an audience tired of mainstream narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Election Results & National Sentiment

• Tatum’s relief at Trump's win: Officer Tatum opens by expressing gratitude for Trump’s return, describing an immediate uplift in national mood.
  • "I feel like the air is cleaner and everything is better. With Trump being the president? Yeah." (02:43)
• Frustration with the previous administration: Tatum argues that “they had been lying to us for so long… gaslighting us," referencing claims that Trump is a Nazi and minimizing Biden's physical and mental decline.
  • "It's almost as if we had a dead man as president, and they tried to act as if it wasn't happening." (03:19)
• Kamala Harris's loss: He relentlessly criticizes Kamala Harris, calling her “probably the worst vice president in American history” and dismissing her loss as inevitable.
  • "Kamala Harris is a nothing bird." (03:28)

2. Celebrity Endorsements, Pop Culture, and Voter Behavior

• Media & celebrity influence: The hosts debate the waning influence of endorsements from the likes of LeBron James and Taylor Swift.
  • "All of them giving endorsement. Now, we know they were paid but gave endorsements to Kamala Harris." (05:13)
• Voter priorities: Tatum notes that pocketbook issues like rent and groceries outweigh star power.
  • "You go to the grocery store, I don't care what celebrity say something to you... I can't survive on this rent." (05:57)

3. Racial Politics & Black Voter Trends

• Voting patterns: Tatum critiques Black Americans for overwhelmingly supporting Democrats despite feeling overlooked.
  • "If you vote 88 plus percent for one party and you still lose in a landslide, that means you have no voting power." (08:19)
• Kamala Harris’s identity: Challenges the notion of Harris representing Black Americans.
  • "Kamala Harris ain't black. They are lying to us... she's Indian and Irish or something." (09:23)

4. Democrat Messaging & Media Bubble

• Poor strategic outreach: Tatum critiques Democrats for avoiding popular platforms such as Joe Rogan's podcast.
  • "You gotta be completely stupid to not go on Joe Rogan show... because she can't add any substance. She will not be able to tell you what policy position she stands for." (10:37)
• Media bias: The duo highlight the negative coverage Trump received, citing numbers and public perception.
  • "I believe 96% were negative, which is crazy." (21:41)

5. Republican Momentum & Predictions for the Future

• New GOP faces: Praise for Trump’s cabinet picks, including Matt Gaetz, and young Republican leaders.
  • "Matt Gaetz is 41 years old... these people have a bright future." (16:23)
• Democrats' challenges: Doubt expressed about Democratic contenders' viability—especially women candidates.
  • "It's not misogynistic to expose what the reality is. Men have a perception of leadership." (15:02)

6. Immigration & Party Strategy

• Deportation debate: Tatum stresses the need for a pragmatic immigration approach and suggests a non-amnesty pathway to citizenship.
  • "It is impossible to deport 20 million... Donald Trump would do a tremendous job by deporting the criminals first." (18:02)
• Voter ID laws: Supports a federal requirement for voter ID in national elections.
  • "We should have a federal law for federal elections that say you must require an ID." (19:28)

7. Culture Wars: Transgender Rights & Parental Rights

• Critique of youth transition: Both host and guest strongly oppose allowing minors to transition.
  • "My six year old don't know what's going on in the world... how does a kid that young make such an irreversible decision?" (29:13)
• Celebrity trans kids: They cast suspicion on the disproportionate number of trans children among celebrities.
  • "Per capita trans kid in the wealthy white elites are like astronomically higher than anybody else." (31:11)
• Clarification on personal stance:
  • "I’m not against them. I don’t know what they’re going through... but let's not lie to people and get them in a position where we're telling them you'll be a woman one day." (34:12)

8. Covid-19, Vaccines & Healthcare Skepticism

• Vaccine mandates & health system critique: Tatum voices skepticism about vaccine efficacy and criticizes coercion.
  • "It's inconsequential at this point. Nobody has it. If you get the... it's not even the vaccine, technically, it's like a therapeutic." (46:25)
• Natural birth and medicine: Discussion about opting out of vaccines and mainstream birth practices, advocating for doulas and naturalistic approaches.
  • "We wrote a whole list of things that are nos and things we won't accept... the doula keeps one. And they're watching..." (48:23)
• Autism and vaccine concerns: Links between increased vaccine regimens and autism rates are suggested.
  • "There's very suspicious that all of a sudden... kids have autism." (52:28)

9. Policing & Mental Health

• Stories from policing: Tatum recounts his raw personal experiences with violence, trauma, and death as a police officer.
  • "So the first guy I got, he was stiff... His arms were stiff, and we could put him in the bag. Me being a rookie cop, never dealing with a dead body…" (65:23)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On relief after the election
  "I feel like the air is cleaner and everything is better. With Trump being the president? Yeah." – Officer Tatum (02:43)
• On media narratives
  "It's almost as if we had a dead man as president, and they tried to act as if it wasn't happening." – Officer Tatum (03:19)
• On Black voting power
  "That means you have no voting power." – Officer Tatum (08:19)
• On Kamala Harris
  "Kamala Harris ain't black. They are lying to us... she's Indian and Irish or something." – Officer Tatum (09:23)
• On the left and reality
  "They have a reality that they want to be true, but that's not the reality that people are actually existing." – Officer Tatum (35:44)
• On vaccine mandates for police
  "They coerced them into getting it. They were telling some cops in Tucson that if you don't get it, you can't promote, you can't work overtime." – Officer Tatum (43:48)
• On birth and natural medicine
  "We wrote a whole list of things that are nos and things we won't accept. They give that to the doctor and then the doula keeps one..." – Officer Tatum (48:23)
• On policing trauma
  "The first guy I got, he was stiff... Me being a rookie cop, never dealing with a dead body, I'm, like, trying to inch him in the bag." – Officer Tatum (65:23)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:38–02:36: Officer Tatum's opening monologue on American malaise and hidden economic opportunity
• 02:36–05:13: Post-election mood, authenticity in leadership, critique of Kamala Harris, and the role of celebrity endorsements
• 07:18–10:28: Black voter patterns, Democratic Party critique, and identity politics
• 14:00–17:12: Future Republican leaders and speculation about Democrat strategies
• 18:02–21:49: Immigration, party strategy, and media bias
• 29:13–34:27: Transgender youth issues, family, and cultural critique
• 43:48–47:40: Vaccine mandates, personal choices, and the impact on police
• 48:23–53:34: Birth practices, vaccine skepticism, and medical autonomy
• 55:53–66:10: Policing war stories, mental health in law enforcement
• 66:10–End: Outro, where to find Officer Tatum

Tone & Final Thoughts

The tone of this episode is blunt, passionate, and combative, aligning with the show’s brand of “no holds barred” social commentary. Tatum delivers pointed criticisms against mainstream narratives in politics, health, and culture, emphasizing personal responsibility, skepticism toward authority, and the enduring value of authenticity.

For those seeking an alternative perspective on post-election America, community, health, and the state of the right-wing movement, this episode delivers candid opinions and first-hand stories designed to both challenge and provoke.