Pod Save America — “Trump (Literally) Destroys White House”

Podcast by Crooked Media | October 24, 2025
Hosts: Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, Alex Wagner
Special Segments: Tommy Vietor with Denise Ferriozzi (Pipeline Fund)

Episode Overview

This episode provides a sweeping and deeply critical look at a tumultuous week in American politics under Donald Trump’s second presidential term. The crew discusses Trump’s unprecedented demand for $230 million from the Justice Department, his demolition of the White House’s East Wing to build a massive ballroom, ongoing mass firings amid a government shutdown, escalating corruption, and the dangerous appointment of election deniers to powerful federal posts. Alongside these national crises, the hosts break down key races in several states and highlight urgent organizing efforts to build the Democratic bench at local levels. The show closes with Dan, Jon, and Alex’s classic witty banter, balanced by a passionate call to action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alex Wagner’s New Podcast & Personal Reflections

[02:51–05:49]

• Alex launches “Runaway Country,” focusing on the human stories behind politicized headlines—her first episode features an immigration judge fired under Trump and DOJ analyst Andrew Weissmann.
• The hosts agree on the importance of narrative storytelling to make policy consequences personal and accessible.
• Alex:

  “It’s really important. I have friends who are like, ‘I don’t even know how to parse it.’ I think one way is just on the human level.” (05:13)

2. Trump’s $230 Million DOJ “Settlement”

[05:50–13:17]

• Trump filed claims that the government owes him $230 million, supposedly as compensation for DOJ investigations into his crimes.
• He claims he’d donate any settlement “to charity,” but the system is rigged: his own lawyers now run DOJ and will process the claims.
• Trump’s own words:

  “It’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself, but I was damaged very greatly…” (07:22)

• Legal experts say this violates the emoluments clause of the Constitution; the hosts debate whether the Supreme Court might nonetheless greenlight such self-dealing.
• Dan:

  “He’s put the right people in place.” (07:25)

• Alex highlights the cynicism of using a law meant for Americans wronged by ICE to enrich Trump, while actual victims get nothing.

3. Pardon for Crypto Terrorist Financier

[13:17–17:35]

• Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao (“CZ”), founder of Binance, after he was convicted of enabling terrorist money-laundering.
• The obvious quid-pro-quo: Binance then invests billions in Trump’s family crypto firm.
• Trump’s response to Kaitlan Collins’s question:

  “He was not guilty of anything. … You know nothing about crypto. You know nothing about nothing. You fake news.” (14:15)

• Dan skewers the corruption:

  “Give billions of dollars to Trump’s family, get a pardon.” (18:16)

• Alex analyzes the broader shift: the U.S. is now openly facilitating terrorist funding for Trump’s personal gain—"full-blown kleptocracy."

4. Handing Elections to Deniers & Looming Federal Interference

[21:04–26:50]

• Trump installs election deniers in the Department of Homeland Security. Notably, Heather Honey, a “kooky” conspiracy theorist, is now point person for federal election integrity.
• Trump suggests he could declare a “national emergency” to impose new election rules on states.
• Dan dispels legal myths but warns:

  “He can’t cancel elections, but he has great power to cast doubt on them and mess with the counting...” (23:34)

• Alex flags the risk that National Guard troop deployments could depress the vote in blue cities/states in 2026 and 2028.

5. Destruction of the East Wing: The Trump Ballroom

[28:13–40:03]

• Trump demolishes the centuries-old East Wing of the White House for a gaudy 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom, funded by massive corporate “donations” (Apple, Google, Lockheed Martin, crypto firms).
• Jon Favreau:

  “Every president puts their own stamp…Nothing has come close to what Trump is doing.”

• Dan Pfeiffer laments:

  “It’s not Trump’s house. Not the president’s. It’s the people’s house.” (29:11)

• Alex Wagner:

  “They're putting Confederate statues back up in the name of history and tearing down the East Wing for…a corporate event space. This is a monument to ego. This is his Versailles.” (31:04)

• The hosts demand corporate accountability and transparency, calling for citizen pressure on donors.

6. Maine Senate Primary Drama: Grassroots vs. Establishment

[41:02–58:33]

• Maine’s Democratic Senate race heats up between outsider Graham Platner (who has apologized for a problematic tattoo and old Reddit posts) and establishment pick Janet Mills.
• Alex and Dan argue over the value of outsider appeal versus establishment security, drawing parallels to the 2008 Obama campaign and warning against reflexive distrust of charismatic figures.
• Dan:

  “Sometimes [the grassroots] will like a candidate who isn’t the best. Sometimes they will like a candidate who is the best one—like, I don’t know, Barack Obama.” (48:51)

• They agree we should let voters decide—no one knows which profile is more “electable” in the post-Trump era.

7. State & Local Race Round-Up: What to Watch

[60:42–76:51]

• Georgia Public Service Commission, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, California Prop 50 among key upcoming elections.
• In NYC, charismatic lefty Zoran Mamdani faces off against Andrew Cuomo, with unpolled but possibly substantial “silent Cuomo” voters.
• Congressional and statewide races in NJ and VA remain hotly contested; Democratic messaging remains overwhelmingly anti-Trump, for better or worse.

8. The AI Debate: The Bizarre New Normal

[76:51–78:49]

• In Virginia, a GOP candidate debates an AI clone of his Democratic opponent after she declines to show up.
• The team riffs on the surreal, dystopian future of politics:

  “Stop this train. I want to get off.” – Alex Wagner (77:45)

9. Building the Bench: Tommy Vietor Interviews Denise Ferriozzi

[82:19–97:58]

• Discussion with Denise Ferriozzi (Pipeline Fund) on efforts to recruit and train Democratic candidates for local/state office nationwide.
• Key takeaways:
  • State-based, grassroots recruitment is essential—especially in red states lacking infrastructure.
  • Virginia & Florida highlighted as success stories.
  • Small investments in local races (e.g., school boards) can yield massive impact.
  • The Republican “bench” is more established, better funded (“They’re playing the long game”), but Dems are catching up with new energy and organizing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on DOJ settlement:
  “It’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself, but I was damaged very greatly…” (07:22)

• Dan Pfeiffer on White House demolition:
  “To just destroy it for literally no reason… and he’s just going to put his name on it. It says something about his view of everything. He doesn’t care about anything that came before him.” (29:11)

• Alex Wagner on the Trump era:
  “Everybody’s gotta stop thinking about the Trump administration in terms of election cycles. … He’s trying to change the course of American history.” (31:04)

• John Favreau on “Outsider” candidates:
  “On the Obama campaign, it was like, ‘this guy has no experience, has a foreign name, what’s he ever done…’” (51:44)

• Dan Pfeiffer on Democratic messaging risks:
  “The party is continuing to run the same playbook since 2017…” (72:16)

• Alex Wagner on AI debate:
  “Stop this train. I want to get off.” (77:45)

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• 02:51–05:49 – Alex Wagner’s new podcast and reflection on storytelling
• 05:50–13:17 – Trump’s DOJ “settlement” self-dealing and emoluments fallout
• 13:17–17:35 – The Binance pardon/corruption scandal
• 21:04–26:50 – Election deniers, national emergency powers, and threats to democracy
• 28:13–40:03 – Demolishing the White House East Wing: symbolism and sponsors
• 41:02–58:33 – Maine Senate primary, outsider-vs-establishment debate
• 60:42–76:51 – State and local race run-down, Democratic messaging strategies
• 76:51–78:49 – The “AI Debate” moment in Virginia
• 82:19–97:58 – Tommy Vietor interviews Denise Ferriozzi: Democratic “bench” building

Final Thoughts & Tone

The hosts’ tone throughout is fiercely critical, angry but also grimly amused at the surreal excesses, corruption, and democratic backsliding on display. There’s nostalgia for past Democratic excitement, but also a resolve to fight back, build new infrastructure, and center the conversation on real people—their needs, injustices, and stories. As always, the episode closes with both urgency and characteristic wit.

Action Items

• Subscribe to Alex Wagner’s “Runaway Country” (Thursdays).
• Check VoteSaveAmerica.com for resources and to volunteer.
• Consider running for local office—see Pipeline Fund or Vote Save America’s “Run” program.
• Watch for corporate sponsors abetting government corruption; demand accountability.
• Remind friends/family in key states to vote in upcoming elections.

“Everything Dan said. This is a monument to ego. This is his Versailles. This is monarchical behavior. Maybe funded by the taxpayer. … It's so absolutely fucking disgusting.”
— Alex Wagner, on Trump’s White House destruction (31:04)

For listeners: This episode is an essential primer for understanding the stakes of U.S. politics in late 2025 and the breadth of the anti-democratic strategies now in play, with a strong call to pay attention, get involved, and fight back at every level.