IHIP News: Trump Panics After Threats Against Blue Cities Backfires Release Date: June 20, 2025

Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie “Pumps” Sullivan

Introduction

In the June 20, 2025 episode of IHIP News, hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan delve into former President Donald Trump's latest political maneuvers aimed at blue states, particularly focusing on California and its governor, Gavin Newsom. The episode, titled "Trump Panics After Threats Against Blue Cities Backfires," offers a sharp, comedic, and insightful analysis of Trump's strategies and their repercussions.

Trump's Hostility Toward Blue States

The episode opens with Angie “Pumps” Sullivan addressing Trump's animosity towards California. She explains that Trump's actions are not merely personal grievances against Governor Newsom but part of a long-standing Republican strategy to demonize blue states and cities.

Pumps (00:04): "Donald Trump wants to be punitive to California because he doesn't personally like Gavin Newsom. He knows that in his base that he can lean into a decades long attack plan by the Republican Party to demonize blue states and to demonize blue cities."

Pumps further criticizes the Republican Party's approach, highlighting that the party's true shortcomings lie not with states like California but with Republican strongholds such as Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. She argues that these states suffer economically not due to their populations but because of Republican super majorities that prioritize the upper class over the working class.

Pumps (00:50): "The reason you can't have nice things is because Republican super majorities suck. They prey on the working class and only benefit the upper class."

Withholding FEMA Aid as Political Leverage

Jennifer Welch takes over the discussion by elaborating on Trump's threats to withhold FEMA aid to blue states. She emphasizes how Trump's actions are part of his broader strategy to consolidate power and exhibit authoritarian tendencies.

Jennifer (02:10): "Sucking up to the president should not be a requirement for him to do the right thing for the American people. Only a truly disturbed person would threaten to withhold aid from victims."

Jennifer highlights that Trump's selective withholding of aid disproportionately affects red states financially weaker than California, such as Oklahoma and Louisiana, exacerbating their vulnerabilities to natural disasters.

Jennifer (03:05): "Getting rid of FEMA hits red states the hardest. California can afford it. Oklahoma can't, Louisiana can't."

Conflict with the Federal Reserve and Jerome Powell

The hosts shift focus to Trump's antagonistic stance toward Jerome Powell, the Chair of the Federal Reserve. They discuss Trump's disdain for Powell's monetary policies, particularly the decision to reduce interest rates, which Trump perceives as detrimental to his economic agenda.

Jennifer (03:56): "One thing, one person who will not cow down to Donald Trump is Jerome Powell and reducing the interest rates. And Donald Trump is big, big mad about it."

Trump's frustration is evident in his comments about Powell's decisions, reflecting his broader challenges with economic policies that do not align with his own.

Trump (04:20): "Too late. I come too late, pal. Because he's always too late... Maybe I should go to the Fed. Am I allowed to point myself at the Fed?"

Jennifer criticizes Trump's business acumen, pointing out his multiple bankruptcies and fraudulent charges, contrasting them with Powell's responsible economic stewardship.

Jennifer (04:33): "Every single business he has been involved with has fraud charges, tax charges, bankruptcies... He has bankrupted his companies six times."

Performative Patriotism: The Flagpole Fiasco

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Trump's recent stunt involving the installation of oversized flagpoles at the White House. Jennifer and Pumps analyze this move as a blatant example of performative patriotism designed to placate Trump's base despite ongoing political and economic crises.

Jennifer (08:06): "A President of the United States putting up flag polls and having a news conference at the White House. It's just offensive because it's so stupid."

Pumps connects this action to nationalist propaganda, suggesting that such displays are intended to distract the public from more substantial issues.

Pumps (05:56): "They are going to do this performative patriotism with big flags. This is by design."

Hypocrisy Within the MAGA Movement

Jennifer and Pumps critique the hypocrisy within the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, particularly among MAGA Christians. They argue that Trump's policies, such as dismantling FEMA, conflict with Christian values of helping those in need.

Pumps (02:29): "Either you're a Christian and you're for helping those in need or you're a psycho capitalist..."

Jennifer further emphasizes the impact of Trump's policies on red states, reiterating how Trump's actions are detrimental to economically weaker regions.

Jennifer (03:49): "Everything Trump does is about him withholding and you have to come and kiss my ass. Getting rid of FEMA hits red states the hardest."

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up the episode, Jennifer underscores the dangers of Trump's authoritarian tendencies and his manipulation of political narratives through actions like the flagpole installation. She urges listeners to be vigilant against such performative acts that mask deeper issues of power consolidation and economic mismanagement.

Jennifer (10:21): "The 77 million people that voted for this are the easiest marks Donald Trump has ever grifted... It's absolutely stunning."

Final Remarks

Jennifer and Pumps conclude by encouraging listeners to stay informed and engaged, promoting tools like Ground News for unbiased information. They dismiss Trump's actions as part of a broader strategy of autocratic rule, urging the audience to recognize and resist these manipulative tactics.

Notable Quotes:

• Pumps (00:04): "Donald Trump wants to be punitive to California because he doesn't personally like Gavin Newsom."
• Jennifer (02:10): "Only a truly disturbed person would threaten to withhold aid from victims."
• Trump (04:20): "Maybe I should go to the Fed. Am I allowed to point myself at the Fed?"
• Jennifer (08:06): "Are you crazy? Is he just a lunatic out from the memory care wings?"
• Pumps (05:56): "They're going to do this performative patriotism with big flags. This is by design."
• Jennifer (10:21): "It's absolutely stunning."

This episode of IHIP News provides a comprehensive and critical examination of Donald Trump's recent political actions against blue states, his conflicts with the Federal Reserve, and his use of performative patriotism to sway his base. Through sharp analysis and engaging commentary, Jennifer and Pumps offer listeners a clear understanding of the implications of Trump's strategies and the underlying issues within the MAGA movement.