Trump Dying in the Polls, Melania Shunned in Public Humiliation

Summary

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IHIP News: “Trump Dying in the Polls, Melania Shunned in Public Humiliation”

Podcast Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Date: August 28, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan, broadcasting from deep-red Oklahoma, offer their unapologetically progressive and comedic takes on the latest political happenings. The hosts dissect Donald Trump’s sinking poll numbers, the escalation of authoritarian tactics within his camp, and a Vanity Fair controversy involving Melania Trump. The show is peppered with sharp criticisms of right-wing strategies, discussions of bigotry in American politics, and reflections on the futility of placating extremists. Along with insightful commentary, the hosts share anecdotes from their own red-state experiences, advocating for feminism, accountability, and empathy in public life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Plummeting Popularity and Authoritarian Turn

(00:35 – 03:21)

• Jennifer unpacks Trump’s severe disapproval across crucial issues:
  • “He’s at minus 27 on inflation and prices, minus 20 on the environment, minus 18 on abortion, minus 15 on jobs and economy, minus 13 on education, minus 4 on immigration.” (00:49)
  • Especially poor ratings among Hispanic voters (-28) and young adults aged 18-29 (-37).
• The hosts link Trump’s reaction to these numbers with an uptick in “propaganda, fascism, and militarization.”
  • “The reason he’s doing all this is because he’s wildly unpopular…their only choice is propaganda and authoritarian plays.” – Jennifer (01:32)
• The show connects these moves to a broader strategy of distraction and suppression.
• Angie highlights staggering government spending on detention programs, e.g., “alligator Alcatraz,” set to close soon:
  • “$250 million. It’s going to be closed by the end of the month.” (02:27)
  • Continues, “They’re saying, we cannot afford education, we cannot afford to feed poor kids…yet we are spending all this money.” (02:45)

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2. Weaponizing Anti-Semitic Tropes & the “Soros Playbook”

(03:21 – 07:59)

• Jennifer reads and breaks down a Trump post threatening George Soros, noting its dangerous anti-Semitic undertones.
  • “He gets to lie social…the social media platform that he had to create because he got kicked off of all the others when he tried to overthrow the election.” (03:33)
  • “He’s threatening private citizens. And we have a right to assembly and we have a right to protest, but he’s priming the public right now.” (05:06)
• Analysis:
  • MAGA’s embrace of anti-Soros rhetoric taps into both anti-Semitism and a fundamental lack of empathy (“they cannot understand why you would have empathy if you’re rich.” (05:34))
  • Jennifer lays bare MAGA’s hypocritical “pro-Israel” stance, highlighting the anti-Semitic reality of many right-wing supporters.
• Angie calls out Elon Musk’s privileged government contracts yet how right-wing media paint Soros as a shadowy puppetmaster:
  • “After what Elon Musk did to the government…these Republicans could sit there and act like George Soros has his hand in the government…” (06:55)
  • Notable quote: “You cannot be pro-Nazi and then say, ‘Oh, we're against George Soros.’ I mean, it's—it’s the mental gymnastics. Like, I can't wrap my head around it.” – Angie (07:24)
• They agree the right uses Nazi symbolism, referencing “boat parades, Camp Auschwitz, and dinner with Nick Fuentes.” (07:56)

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3. Vanity Fair’s Melania Cover Backlash & Media “Pick Me” Mentality

(07:59 – 11:24)

• Jennifer reports Vanity Fair’s new editor’s push to feature Melania Trump, sparking staff threats to quit:
  • “One of the staffers says, ‘I will walk out the motherfucking door. This is an absolute nightmare for the image-obsessed Melania.’” (08:13)
  • Public attempts by brands and moderates to appeal to right-wing audiences are called “the biggest fool’s errand on the planet.” (08:32)
  • “Strongly support President Trump’s agenda…It’s 21%.” (08:58)
• Highlights the hypocrisy of mainstreaming MAGA figures while red states get harsher for minorities and women.
  • “To see the media…normalize this, when women in red states cannot go to Planned Parenthood because they’re all shut down…Utter insanity.” (09:26)
• Angie mocks Melania’s lack of real activism:
  • “She got $40 million from Jeff Bezos…she writes a letter to Putin like she is the most impotent first lady. She has no platform.” (10:42)
  • “Vanity Fair, when are you going to realize these people are racist? These people love cruelty.” (11:06)
• They sum up the futility of catering to the far right:
  • “They’re never going to like you…You give up a part of your soul and you give up a piece of your conviction for a group of people that are so empty…” – Jennifer (11:24)

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4. Misogyny, Fearmongering, and the State of Red-State Politics

(11:49 – 15:05)

• The hosts play a clip of an Oklahoma lawmaker’s bizarre plea for Taylor Swift to “Reject feminism. Submit to your husband. Taylor, you’re not in charge.”
  • Jennifer: “It is your responsibility to ensure that you don’t raise misogynists…Raise them to be feminists, because that truly is a sign of strength.” (12:07)
• Another town hall excerpt: wild claims about “Sharia law” in Oklahoma:
  • “I guarantee you there are zero Muslims in Pryor, Oklahoma. There is zero effort for Sharia law anywhere in the state.” (13:22)
• Jennifer and Angie debunk local fearmongering and frame the right’s entire campaign as one of fear and projection:
  • “All MAGA has is to scare you…Their fundamental campaign strategy is a campaign of fear.” (13:36)
  • Angie points out, “Not only do they live in fear, they talk about how big and tough they are all the time. And they don’t see the hypocrisy.” (14:50)
• Despite this, Jennifer observes slight changes even in rural red towns:
  • “I do think there is something kind of changing that isn’t getting covered in mainstream news, in legacy news.” (15:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|:--------------|:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:49 | Jennifer | “He’s at minus 27 on inflation and prices…minus 37 among 18 to 29 year olds.” | | 01:32 | Jennifer | “The reason he’s doing all this is because he’s wildly unpopular…propaganda and authoritarian plays.” | | 03:33 | Jennifer | “He gets to lie social…the social media platform that he had to create because he got kicked off of all the others…” | | 05:06 | Jennifer | “He’s threatening private citizens…priming the public right now that I’m watching. I have my eye on this.” | | 07:24 | Angie | “You cannot be pro-Nazi and then say, ‘Oh, we're against George Soros.’” | | 08:13 | Jennifer | “One of the staffers says, ‘I will walk out the motherfucking door.’” (re: Melania Vanity Fair cover) | | 09:26 | Jennifer | “Normalize this, when women in red states cannot go to Planned Parenthood because they’re all shut down…utter insanity.” | | 10:42 | Angie | “Melania…writes a letter to Putin like she is the most impotent first lady. She has no platform.” | | 11:24 | Jennifer | “You give up a part of your soul…for a group of people that are so empty…there is no bottom.” | | 12:07 | Jennifer | “It is your responsibility to ensure that you don’t raise misogynists…raise them to be feminists…” | | 13:36 | Jennifer | “Their fundamental campaign strategy is a campaign of fear. And MAGA people seem to be little scaredy cats.” |

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:35 – Trump’s poll numbers and authoritarian trends
• 03:21 – Discussing Soros and anti-Semitic propaganda
• 07:59 – Melania/Vanity Fair cover controversy
• 11:49 – Clips from Oklahoma lawmakers on feminism, Sharia law, and local politics
• 15:05 – Reflections on shifting red-state attitudes

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Language & Tone

• The hosts’ tone is candid, irreverent, and darkly humorous, often using sarcasm and colorful language to drive points.
• The conversation is rooted in lived experience (“We live in Oklahoma…there’s 0% threat of Sharia law” (15:05)) and appeals strongly to a progressive, reality-based perspective.

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This summary provides a comprehensive, structured walkthrough of this episode of IHIP News, encapsulating the outrage, humor, and urgency that Jennifer and Angie bring to the political discussion.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator 1]

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[Political Commentator 1]

If you're curious as to why the fascism is ramping up, I think there are several reasons. Number one, the cankles. Kanks has a muffin top cankle. I mean fluid out the wazoo. Dementia out the wazoo. Rage tweeting about late night comedians at 2am when he's the President of the United States, militarizing cities, attacking everybody and anybody that he can having three hour. Oh my God, you're so great. Circle jerks in the West Wing. The reason he's doing all of this is because he's wildly unpopular. So they ramp up the propaganda, they ramp up the fascism because here is the nut cutting right here, you guys. Let me show you how underwater Kanks is inflation and prices. He's at minus 27. He's at minus 20 on the environment. He's at minus 18 on abortion. He's at minus 15 on jobs and the economy. And you may remember according to all the exit polls, that's why, that's the narrative that everybody says he want. He's at minus 13 on education, he's at minus 4 on immigration. That's his bedrock thing that he has been all about for well over a decade now. And here we go. Hispanic Trump approval is at minus 28. And the 18 to 29 year olds, Trump approval is at minus 37. This is why they're trying to cheat. This is why he doesn't legislate anything. This is why he has show and tell in the Oval. This is why he's militarizing the cities. This is why everybody is constantly, all day, every day. Look at our reality show. Look at Kanks. You're so great. They're doing all of this because they're they. Their only choice is propaganda and authoritarian plays.

[Political Commentator 2]

It would be so interesting if these people knew how much money that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are spending to lock people up. Like this alligator Alcatraz. $250 million. It's going to be closed by the end of the month. I mean we're we're at the end.

[Political Commentator 1]

Of the month because they under his.

[Political Commentator 2]

New Kristi Noem, in addition to her GL team and her cosplay, she wants her own airlines. She's got this whole fleet of vehicles. Like, they're saying, we cannot afford education, we cannot afford to feed poor kids. We have to let people die in other countries because it's too expensive. Yet we are spending all this money. Guantanamo, alligator, Alcatraz. It's shutting down. And for what? And they're only at 4%. That amazes me. Minus 4%. I mean, I'm just like, you're cruel is what you are.

[Political Commentator 1]

Okay, so as he does this ramp up, you see the increase of propaganda and you see the increase of the militarization. A lot of authoritarian plays. The one thing that they're trying to check as well is the uprising of protests. That's why they're getting the military in the cities. And so he gets to lie social, the social media platform that he had to create because he got kicked off of all the others when he tried to overthrow the election. I can't believe everybody's just giving him a pass on that and reelected him. But we'll leave that up to the historians. Pop up this lie social post. George Soros and his wonderful radical left son should be charged with RICO because of their support of violent protests and much more all throughout the United States of America. We're not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America anymore. Never giving it so much as a chance to, quote, breathe and be free. Soros and his group of psychopaths have caused great damage to our country. That includes his crazy west coast friends. Be careful. We're watching you. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Okay. This is unhinged, dictatorial. And the reason that the George Soros stuff hits hard in the MAGA world are two twofold. Number one, George Soros is Jewish. And so there are anti Semitic overtones and undertones. And that's why. That's one of the reasons why that's been able to get traction for so long. Despite the fact that I don't even think George Soros, I don't think he can stand Benjamin Netanyahu at all. But that's aside from the point. The other point that this hits hard is because in MAGA world, they can't understand why you would have empathy if you're rich. They don't understand that. Like, they cannot understand, like, why do you give a shit about poor people if you have money? They can't Understand that. So that hits hard. But all of that lame language in there about we're watching you and his lying and his gaslighting about these radical protests and violent protests. It's all lies. All of that will probably not even hit the legacy news at all. And he's threatening private citizens. And we have a right to assembly and we have a right to protest, but he's priming the public right now that I'm watching. I have my eye on this. And we are going to shut down protests. That's what I read from that. And I'm going to make sure all my Nazi friends who know that George Soros is a Jew, I'm going to make sure that they know, too. Because here's something, too, that I want to point out about maga. On the surface, they act like, oh, God, we're so pro Israel. You know, Rob Ross has been bought. Benjamin Netanyahu. There's a big difference between MAGA people accusing people of being anti Semitic. When in maga. These are real Jew haters. Like, they are the ones who did the march in Charlottesville or Charleston, I can't remember. And a lot of the January six felons that he pardoned. All neo Nazis, Proud boys Nazis. A lot of the boat parades with 95,000 Trump flags on it. You know, it's all Nazi shit. And so that's why the Soros play in the right wing hits hard, because Soros is Jewish.

[Political Commentator 2]

I completely agree with what you said. And I, my, my comment is petty. And so I don't want to diminish what you said, but I, it, it amazes me. Like, it drops my jaw that after what Elon Musk did to the government, that these Republicans and Fox News could sit there and act like George Soros has his hand in the government. When Elon Musk literally worked for the government. He got all this.

[Political Commentator 1]

And he's a Nazi. And he's a fucking Nazi.

[Political Commentator 2]

You cannot be pro Nazi and then say, oh, we're against George Soar. I mean, it's, it's the mental gymnastics. Like, I can't wrap my head around it. Like, if you cannot see all of the things, like, what's the saying? Like, not all Nazis are. Not all Republicans are Nazis, but all Nazis are in the Republican Party. You know, it's just the boat parades, the camp, Auschwitz, it's dinner with Nick Fuentes. It's crazy to me that nobody is taking the next step.

[Political Commentator 1]

Okay, and next up, Vanity Fair has a new editor, and she sat down with her staff and thought, well, maybe we should put Melania on the COVID And here's how this went over. Kylie, pop this up. Melania Trump gets brutally humiliated as Vanity Fair staffers threaten to quit over a plan to put the MAGA first lady on the COVID of the renowned magazine. One of the staffers says, I will walk out the motherfucking door. This is an absolute nightmare for the image obsessed Melania. According to semaphore Mark Guiducci, the magazine's newly minted editor, has been scheming for a way to make the publication more appealing to right wing consumers. This right here, this desire by centrist Democrats or moderate people to try to appeal to right wingers is the biggest fool's errand on the planet. Kamala tried it when she trotted around with Liz Cheney, and it went over like a lead balloon. The poll that I want to bring up and keep bringing up and keep bringing up, I saw it come out a few days ago. People that strongly support. Strongly, not just support, but when you put the adjective strongly in front of it, strongly support President Trump's agenda. It's 21%. And you have these centrists, people that don't have a spine, that they want everybody to like them. It's the pick me mentality. And to see the media, some something like Vanity Fair, to want to put her on the front cover and whitewash and sane wash and normalize this. When women in red states cannot go to Planned Parenthood because they're all shut down. When LGBTQ + people in red states are fleeing because their governments are bullying them. This is utter insanity. And it's these people right here, like the far right freaks that have 95, you know, Trump flags on their car and Trump nuts and they buy, you know, they wear all Trump merch and they got the gold sneakers. I'm like, okay, at least you own it. It's this right, this duplicity that is so gross that you see, like, Tim Cook, a gay man, humiliate himself and, you know, do a show and tell with a demented kinks in the Oval. It's this shit that pisses me off the most.

[Political Commentator 2]

You know, Melania trump, she got $40 million from Jeff Bezos. She went to the Easter Egg Roll. And then I saw her on some stupid thing. She's got her be best campaign. She doesn't give a frog's fat ass about women. She's. Instead of being out every day pounding the microphones. Ukraine has lost 1.6 million children. She writes a letter to Putin like she is the most impotent first lady. She has no platform. And Vanity Fair. When are you going to realize these people are racist? These people love cruelty.

[Political Commentator 1]

And they never going to like you.

[Political Commentator 2]

They're never going to like you. They're never going to buy your magazine now.

[Political Commentator 1]

Never going to like you. You give up a part of your soul and you give up a piece of your conviction for a group of people that are so empty that there are not enough magazine covers that would complete them. That we live in a red state. You guys, I'm telling you, there is no bottom for these people. It just keeps moving and moving. And just a quick reminder, Charlie Kirk is still a prick. Pop this up.

[Oklahoma Lawmaker]

This is something that I hope will make Taylor Swift more conservative, engage in reality more, and get outside of the abstract clouds. Reject feminism. Submit to your husband. Taylor, you're not in charge.

[Political Commentator 1]

So, you know, this is the type of stuff that happens in the right wing. And this is why I encourage every single parent out there. It is your responsibility to ensure that you don't raise misogynists. That comes from the home. And these emotionally stunted people in the right wing were not. They're probably raised by toxic, broken people. And it continues generationally. And it is so important. Pumps and I are both mothers. It is so important that when you raise your sons in particular, that you raise them to be feminists, because that truly is a sign of strength. And I just want to give you guys a little gander into what happens in states like ours in states like Oklahoma. An Oklahoma lawmaker had a town hall, and this is what he said to the audience.

[Oklahoma Lawmaker]

We've got Sharia law trying to be set up in America today. Absolutely we do. You have Sharia law trying to be established in America today. The Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is the ideology. And you've got a turkey president. Guys, we cannot go turn into chaos. We've been really good to each other today.

[Political Commentator 1]

Okay?

[Political Commentator 2]

There.

[Political Commentator 1]

It says that this town hall was in prior Oklahoma. And I can pretty much give you a 99.9% fact check without actually having to fact check it. I guarantee you there are zero Muslims in prior Oklahoma. There is zero effort for Sharia law anywhere in the state of Oklahoma. It is white. Parts of it are still very, very segregated. And that is just simply not happening. But this is all they have. All MAGA has is to scare you. Oh, my God. People are getting raped and killed in the streets. Charlie Kirk went to New York. Oh, my God. I did not feel safe in New York. Not one Time. Listen up. Viewer pumps. And I've been in New York all day. We've taken the subway four times. Nothing fucking happened. We've had a great day. So then they, then they keep digging and now they pull out the Sharia law thing. The only people that want Sharia law is that little teeny weeny nut job. I guarantee you he's a tongue talker. I guarantee you he goes to a hand waving church. I guarantee you he does. He wants Sharia law in the form of Christianity. He wants to be a Shiite Christian. That's what that guy wants. And so, but they pull this out. They always. Their, their fundamental campaign strategy is a campaign of fear. And MAGA people seem to be little scaredy cats. I've never seen a group of people that live in so much fear as I have maga.

[Political Commentator 2]

Not only do they live in fear, they talk about how big and tough they are all the time. And they don't see the, they don't see the hypocrisy. It's. And I'll guarantee what else that is happening right there. Every single one of those watches Newsmax or Fox News.

[Political Commentator 1]

I mean, they're, the audience was kind of heckling back. They were like, oh no. Oh no. I mean, they were kind of pushing him back and he said like, wait, we've been getting along really well right now. They weren't buying it. And so I do think there is something kind of changing that isn't getting covered in mainstream news, in legacy news. I do think there is a little bit of a sea change that is happening even in rural towns, especially when you look at the seed that just happened in Iowa where a Democrat won by plus 10 in a county and a district that Trump won by plus 11. And then whenever we do get a bird's eye view into these town halls, these people, none of them, I guarantee you, in prior Oklahoma, no a Muslim. So Sharia law is so far outside of anything that's happening in prior Oklahoma. You guys, we know this because we live in Oklahoma, we live in Oklahoma City. But I'm just telling you, there is 0% threat or chance of any Sharia law ever happening in the state of Oklahoma. It is so in the tank for Jesus. It's not even, it's not even funny. I mean, you can't drive five yards without getting smacked in the face with some mega church. They're everywhere. So. All right, that's all we have for today. Please like and subscribe and we'll see you later.

[Podcast Host]

Pumps and I need to share with everybody that we have written a book. It's called Life is a Lazy Susan of Shit Sandwiches and believe it or not Pumps. And I have not always been so rock solid and we talk about all of our trials, tribulations, most of all our fuck ups. Yes, because fuck ups are relatable and a part of the human experience.

[Political Commentator 2]

I have gotten so much feedback regarding the book that because of my situation with the religion and addiction and all that that people relate to that. So I do think there's something to take away that's comforting about it because we've all been in very difficult situations.

[Podcast Host]

And listener what we want you to do this is the IT book for Summer Reading. So please get your copy of Life is a Lazy Susan of Shit Sandwiches and take a picture of yourself with the book in really great places and tag at I've had It podcast and we will share your images with our Summer it book. You can buy it in bookstores. You can buy it in the link in our bio. You can buy it at Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc. All the retailers. Happy Reading and Happy Summer.

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