Podcast Summary: "Marjorie Taylor Greene screws over Trump on her way out"

No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen
Date: November 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "No Lie" explores the unraveling relationship between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Donald Trump, focusing on Greene’s abrupt resignation and its impact on Republican control in the House. Host Brian Tyler Cohen analyzes what her immediate departure signals about Trump’s waning grip on the GOP and the growing chaos within the party. Interviews with Tommy Vitor (Pod Save America), Peter Hamby (Puck News), and Afton Bain (Democratic nominee for Tennessee’s 7th district) provide in-depth commentary on party fractures, recent electoral shifts, and campaign strategies for Democrats going forward.

Main Discussion & Analysis

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Resignation: A Blow to Trump and the GOP

[00:01 – 07:27]

• Breaking Point: Greene’s resignation—rather than retiring at the end of her term—creates an immediate vacancy, shrinking the GOP’s already slim majority in the House.

  • "Her decision to take that route undoubtedly screws Trump and Mike Johnson, because now the already razor slim margin in the House just got even smaller for the GOP." — Brian Tyler Cohen [00:31]

• Trump’s Diminishing Power: Greene, once fiercely loyal, openly criticizes Trump and causes strategic headaches for GOP leadership.

• Republican Vulnerability: The host frames Greene’s resignation as part of a wider trend:

  • Republicans lost off-year elections recently.

  • GOP lawmakers defied Trump by overwhelmingly voting to release the Epstein files.

  • Loyalists like Ted Cruz are now contemplating 2028 presidential runs.

    "Even Ted Cruz didn't say no when he was asked about a 2028 presidential run. That would have seemed unfathomable a month ago..." — Brian Tyler Cohen [02:37]

• Consequences for Enablers: GOP lawmakers are now forced to own the political consequences of Trump's unpopularity—they can't easily distance themselves after years of silence and support.

Interview: Tommy Vitor (Pod Save America)

[07:27 – 21:33]

Epstein Files Vote and Trump’s Waning Threat

• Unanimous Congress vs. Trump: The lopsided (427-1 House, unanimous Senate) vote to release the Epstein files defied Trump’s will.

  • "All of these members of Congress saw Donald Trump fighting tooth and nail...then the entire Congress voted to do something he didn't want them to do except for one person." — Tommy Vitor [07:57]

• Effect on Trump's Authority:

  • Refusal to back Trump by Greene and others demonstrates his threats are losing power.
  • "Courage begets courage. And Marjorie Taylor Greene, of all people, being able to tell Donald Trump, 'No, I am not with you. I'm standing with the victims.' I think that's a big deal." — Tommy Vitor [09:23]

• Symbolic Holdouts: Clay Hagan (the lone dissenting "no" vote) faces criticism for pointlessly siding with Trump.

  • "It makes absolutely no sense...It just makes the whole story look ridiculous. It makes Trump seem odd." — Tommy Vitor [10:44]

• Gerrymandering Boomerang: Trump’s push for Texas to redistrict backfires, with court losses there costing the GOP seats while Democrats in California withstand challenges.

  • "It could be a big self-own for Donald Trump here...this is not a scenario I ever would have imagined." — Tommy Vitor [12:24]

2028 and the "Lame Duck" Effect

• Republicans Eye the Post-Trump Era: Ted Cruz and others feel emboldened to think about 2028, something unimaginable until Trump’s recent stumbles.
  • "The fact that he [Cruz] wasn't to just cave to the wishes of Donald Trump...is pretty interesting." — Tommy Vitor [15:47]

Handling the Epstein Files Release

• Cynicism About Transparency: Even if the DOJ releases the files, the administration may withhold damaging evidence under "ongoing investigation" claims.
  • "We still then have to trust Trump's DOJ to actually release these files. And I don't have much confidence that his team would ever put out anything damaging to Donald Trump." — Tommy Vitor [17:11]

Right-Wing Media Drama

• Cash Patel’s Reputation Falters: Once a darling of the far-right, Patel faces ridicule for misusing resources and failing to deliver on promises.
  • "The right-wing media is killing Cash Patel...he’s just not up for the job. He is treating the FBI job like a fantasy camp." — Tommy Vitor [18:38, 19:22]

Notable Moment

• Lighthearted banter on memes and political optics, ending with a promotional nudge:
  • "Subscribe to Brian's channel right now. Subscribe." — Tommy Vitor [21:27]

Interview: Peter Hamby (Puck News)

[22:44 – 48:43]

Gen Z Men: Swing Voters and the Cost of Living

[23:12 – 30:11]

• Youth Shift Away from Trump: There was a marked swing of young men towards Democrats in recent off-year elections after Trump narrowly won them in 2024.

  • "In October...only 24% of young men said Trump would make a positive impact on their lives—a huge drop from earlier in the year." — Peter Hamby [25:57]

• Key Issue: Economics

  • Gen Z men prioritize "the economy, prices, cost of living, and access to the economy." Trump's trade wars and broken promises are rapidly eroding his support among independents and young men.

Biden, Midterms, and the Challenge of Governing

• Nature of Referendums in Elections: Incumbents pay the price for unaffordable economies.

• Elastic Electorate: There’s much more movement among Gen Z, minority voters, and disengaged "drop-off" voters than traditional narratives suggest.

  "Young men are swing voters...like Latinos. It doesn't mean Democrats have them back...but it does show Democrats have an opportunity to make a pitch to young men again." — Peter Hamby [27:52]

• Caveat about Recent Election Data: Higher turnout among college-educated, highly engaged voters in special elections may not reflect the U.S. electorate in a presidential year.

The Democratic Brand and Need for Youthful Candidates

• Importance of Youth: Dems need younger representatives to connect with younger voters and rebrand the party.
  • "The brand gets fixed when...older establishment Democrats...are replaced by people who can better relate to the electorate." — Brian Tyler Cohen [41:11]

Refreshing Campaign Tactics

• New Media and Street-Level Outreach: Citing newer formats like "man on the street" interviews as ways younger candidates are energizing and connecting to voters.

Interview: Afton Bain (Democratic Nominee for TN-07)

[49:05 – 61:05]

Competitive Race in a "Deep Red" District

[49:16 – 50:56]

• GOP Alarmed: Trump’s Super PAC is spending in TN-07, a district he won by 22 points, signaling Democratic inroads.

  "We have narrowed the margin to six points...a testament to the grassroots energy, the organizing muscle we've built..." — Afton Bain [49:42]

• Core Message: Affordability

  • Focus is on organizing and delivering a clear affordability agenda—health care, cost of living, and support for working families.
  • "The key is organizing...the message of affordability, make living affordable again..." — Afton Bain [50:16]

Reaching Disenchanted Voters

• Populist Approach: Bain targets voters let down by Trump’s broken promises and rising costs.

  • "We are building a coalition of the disenchanted, those that feel politics aren't working for them." — Afton Bain [50:41]

• Republicans’ Hollow Promises: GOP incumbents now echo the affordability message but lack results and policy specifics.

  • "There is no impediment...to stop the Republicans' 'affordability' agenda...yet all we've seen is prices go up, health care get cut, food assistance get cut..." — Brian Tyler Cohen [56:47]

Grassroots Momentum & Party Renewal

• Youthful Leadership: Bain represents the push for new, diverse, energetic leaders in the Democratic Party, especially in the South.

  • "We're hungry for new leadership...I hope that courage is contagious to see young people step up..." — Afton Bain [55:19]

• Strong Voter Engagement: Reports of enthusiastic turnout amongst previously disengaged voters.

• Utility Rates & Privatization: Bain warns of the Trump administration’s push to privatize the Tennessee Valley Authority, risking soaring utility prices.

  "Our utility rates are the lowest in the country right now because of the Tennessee Valley Authority...if that goes away, our utility rates triple..." — Afton Bain [58:28]

Notable Quote

• "It's not about left versus right, it's about top versus bottom. And that could not be more true in a state of Tennessee that has been bought and sold to the highest bidder." — Afton Bain [54:01]

Final Reflections

• From Host: Democrats have a unique opportunity as Republicans are hampered by overpromising and underdelivering, while internal fractures reduce Trump’s leverage. The focus must remain on organizing, affordability, and fielding new, relatable candidates.
  • "Now it's up to the Democrats to run the kind of campaigns that were successful in New York and New Jersey and Virginia and replicate them across the country." — Brian Tyler Cohen [06:15]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – 07:27: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and GOP chaos analysis
• 07:27 – 21:33: Interview: Tommy Vitor (Epstein vote, GOP fractures, redistricting, 2028 talk)
• 22:44 – 48:43: Interview: Peter Hamby (Gen Z voters, electoral behavior, media strategy)
• 49:05 – 61:05: Interview: Afton Bain (Competitive TN-07, grassroots organizing, affordability focus)

Notable Quotes

• "Her decision to take that route undoubtedly screws Trump and Mike Johnson..."
  — Brian Tyler Cohen [00:31]

• "Courage begets courage. And Marjorie Taylor Greene, of all people...telling Donald Trump, 'No, I am not with you.'"
  — Tommy Vitor [09:23]

• "This isn't new...young men trusted Trump last year...but that went away very quickly."
  — Peter Hamby [26:52]

• "We are building a coalition of the disenchanted, those that feel that politics aren't working for them."
  — Afton Bain [50:41]

• "It's not about left versus right, it's about top versus bottom."
  — Afton Bain [54:01]

This episode offers a detailed, engaging look at Republican instability post–Trump, internal party dynamics, reasons for Democratic optimism, and the centrality of affordability in upcoming elections.