Podcast Summary: Louder with Crowder – "Everything Wrong with Meet the Press' Trump Sandbag Interview"

Release Date: May 5, 2025

In this engaging and dynamic episode of "Louder with Crowder," host Steven Crowder delves into the recent interview between former President Donald Trump and journalist Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press." The episode is a comprehensive critique of the interview, focusing on Trump's statements, the subsequent fact-checking by mainstream media, and broader political implications. Throughout the discussion, Crowder incorporates humor, satire, and sharp political analysis to dissect the interaction and its fallout.

1. Introduction and Setting the Stage [00:00 – 04:15]

Steven Crowder kicks off the episode with his characteristic wit, referencing the live lineup on Rumble and playfully addressing his audience, the "Bongino army." He briefly touches upon contemporary issues such as white flight and gentrification before segueing into the main topic: Donald Trump's recent interview on "Meet the Press." Crowder expresses his intent to "fact check the fact checkers" who scrutinized Trump's statements post-interview.

Notable Quote:

"Today, we are fact checking the fact checkers because President Trump spoke with Kirsten Walker. Kristen. I said Kirsten will admonish me later, but I don't care because I don't like her even though she follows me on X." [00:00]

2. Satirical Road Rage Segment [08:01 – 13:04]

In a humorous interlude, Crowder and his co-hosts parody a road rage incident escalating absurdly to someone defecating on a car. This skit serves as a satirical commentary on societal tensions and the often ridiculous nature of certain disputes. The segment highlights Crowder's ability to blend comedy with political commentary, maintaining engagement while underscoring the absurdity of extreme reactions.

Notable Quote:

"What's so great about this next fact check is that he called them out on it before they did it. He said your next question probably be about due process." [29:17]

3. Donald Trump Reopening Alcatraz [14:00 – 18:50]

Crowder transitions to a mock-serious discussion about Donald Trump's whimsical proposal to reopen Alcatraz as a modern prison for America's most violent offenders. He humorously critiques the idea, blending fictional quotes from Trump with exaggerated scenarios involving celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg.

Key Points:

• Symbolism vs. Practicality: Crowder argues that reopening Alcatraz is more symbolic than practical, questioning its cost-effectiveness compared to modern prisons.
• Cultural References: He references Clint Eastwood's "Escape from Alcatraz" to draw parallels between the film and the proposed prison's functionality.
• Public Perception: Crowder suggests that the media and political opponents focus more on the symbolism rather than the actual implications of such a move.

Notable Quote:

"President Trump announced that he wants to put a 100% tariff on films that are produced outside of the USA. But his reasoning, if you haven't looked into it, is pretty sound." [59:22]

4. HR867 Anti-Boycott Bill Analysis [19:00 – 25:00]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting HR867, the IGO Anti-Boycott Act. Crowder explains how the bill is often misrepresented in media, particularly the false depiction of severe penalties for boycotting Israel. He clarifies the bill's actual intent: preventing foreign-directed boycotts that target U.S. businesses, rather than restricting individual opinions or actions.

Key Points:

• Misrepresentation by Media: Crowder criticizes media graphics that inaccurately portray the bill as imposing exorbitant fines and lengthy prison sentences for boycotting Israel.
• Legislative Intent: The bill aims to protect U.S. interests from discriminatory boycotts orchestrated by international government organizations, not to penalize lawful boycotts.
• Political Motives: He suggests that the bill serves as a "virtue signal" to certain constituencies, particularly those supportive of Israel, rather than addressing a broader issue.

Notable Quote:

"HR 867 is the IGO Anti-Boycott Act, which I don't like because just IGO International Government Organization. It's very broad." [20:30]

5. Fact-Checking the Fact Checkers [25:00 – 44:54]

Crowder employs a multi-layered fact-checking approach to scrutinize the media's assessment of Trump's statements during the "Meet the Press" interview. He highlights discrepancies and perceived biases in how mainstream outlets evaluate Trump’s claims.

Subsections:

• Investment Figures Contested [31:12 – 33:58]:

  • Trump's Claim: The U.S. is seeing $9 trillion in investments over a two-month period.
  • Media Fact-Check: NBC questions the validity of the figure, stating uncertainty.
  • Crowder's Rebuttal: He provides a breakdown of various investments and pledges that cumulatively approach Trump's figure, arguing that NBC’s fact-check is dismissive without thorough analysis.

  Notable Quote:

  "When NBC said it's not entirely clear where the 9 trillion figure comes from, I replied that it comes from a combination of investments and pledges from major corporations and foreign countries." [31:12]

• Doge Audit Findings [35:13 – 37:37]:

  • Trump's Claim: Doge has found $160 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse.
  • Media Fact-Check: NBC alleges there’s no evidence supporting such a sweeping claim.
  • Crowder's Rebuttal: He counters by detailing Doge’s transparency in publishing cost-cutting efforts and emphasizes the legitimacy of identifying fraud and waste.

  Notable Quote:

  "Doge has already published receipts for 30% of their cost-cutting efforts so far. Fact check. And they have pledged to release the remaining receipts when the rules and regulations permit it." [36:07]

• Illegal Immigration and Crime [38:26 – 47:07]:

  • Trump's Claim: Illegal aliens have killed and maimed many Americans.
  • Media Fact-Check: NBC states there is no evidence of a broad migrant-driven crime wave.
  • Crowder's Rebuttal: He introduces studies indicating that illegal aliens are disproportionately represented in prison populations and cites specific criminal cases to support his stance.

  Notable Quote:

  "Illegal aliens are two to five times more likely to end up in prison. That's a fact." [44:54]

• Border Security Assessment [47:07 – 54:21]:

  • Trump's Claim: The U.S. now has the best border in its history.
  • Media Fact-Check: NBC confirms the statement as true based on border crossing metrics.
  • Crowder's Rebuttal: He celebrates the affirmation but criticizes the underlying issues, suggesting that effective border security comes at the cost of cultural events like Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

  Notable Quote:

  "We have the best border we've ever had." [52:13]

  Crowder's Commentary:

  "How many drunk Mexicans do you need? Let me see your papers." [53:25]

6. Border Security and Illegal Immigration [34:00 – 48:54]

Continuing from the fact-checking segment, Crowder delves deeper into the issues surrounding illegal immigration and border security. He argues that the left conflates legal and illegal immigration, undermining the severity of issues related to undocumented immigrants.

Key Points:

• Due Process Distinction: Crowder emphasizes that due process primarily applies to legal citizens, while illegal aliens are subject to deportation without the same judicial protections.
• Public Support: He asserts that a significant majority of Americans support deportation and secure borders, positioning this as a crucial factor influencing electoral outcomes in key states.
• Government Accountability: The discussion highlights failures in government policies that allow criminal activities by illegal immigrants, urging for stricter enforcement and accountability.

Notable Quote:

"15 to 18 million people in this country are illegal immigrants who simply need to go home tomorrow." [49:05]

7. Movie Tariffs and Cultural Commentary [59:22 – End]

In the closing segment, Crowder addresses President Trump's proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign films. He critiques the idea through a blend of mockery and cultural commentary, reflecting on the perceived decline of American film quality compared to international cinema.

Key Points:

• Cultural Imperialism: Crowder suggests that banning foreign films is a misguided attempt to protect American cultural outputs, failing to acknowledge the global nature of the entertainment industry.
• Quality of American Cinema: He laments the state of modern American films, favoring blockbuster franchises over critically acclaimed international works.
• Satirical Predictions: Crowder speculates humorously about the impacts of such tariffs on cultural celebrations and international relations.

Notable Quote:

"We have the best border we've ever had. It was 99.999, and nobody ever thought that was possible." [52:13]

8. Conclusion and Final Remarks

Steven Crowder wraps up the episode by reiterating his critique of the media's handling of Trump's interview and the subsequent fact-checking. He underscores the importance of scrutinizing media narratives and encourages his audience to remain vigilant against perceived biases.

Closing Remarks:

"This has been fact checking the fact checkers. Tweet, check, fact, Trump, Trump, fact check, tweet, fact check news." [55:34]

Crowder also briefly mentions upcoming segments and promotions, maintaining the show's interactive and unscripted feel.

Overall Insights and Conclusions

• Media Bias and Integrity: Crowder maintains that mainstream media outlets exhibit bias in fact-checking, often undermining positive statements from conservative figures while scrutinizing liberal comments.

• Political Symbolism vs. Practical Solutions: The discussion on Alcatraz and HR867 exemplifies the tension between symbolic gestures and pragmatic policies in politics.

• Immigration Policies: A significant focus is placed on illegal immigration, advocating for stricter enforcement and highlighting safety concerns, which Crowder believes are inadequately addressed by current policies.

• Cultural Degradation: Through the movie tariff segment, Crowder expresses concern over the declining quality of American cinema and the impact of protectionist policies on cultural exchange.

Crowder's episode serves as a platform for critiquing media practices, advocating for conservative policies, and using humor to engage with pressing political issues. His approach underscores a call for accountability, transparency, and a reevaluation of current socio-political dynamics.

References:

• For more details and visual content from this episode, viewers are encouraged to watch the video version available on Louder with Crowder's website.