Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway & Jessica Tarlov

Episode: MAGA in Turmoil: MTG Out, Mamdani In, and Major Legal Blow
Date: November 26, 2025

Overview

In this lively, centrist take on the week's political upheavals, Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov dissect the chaos within the MAGA movement, scrutinize rising populist economics, analyze the legal stumbles in Trump-world, assess Ukraine-Russia peace talks, and dish out unfiltered commentary on America’s transportation woes and political culture. Opining from "somewhere between the center left and the center right," they combine sharp policy critique with irreverent humor and memorable asides.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. MAGA World in Disarray (03:05–06:57)

• Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) Resigns

  • MTG abruptly steps down after Trump brands her a traitor, leaving MAGA world confused and upset.
  • At the same time, Trump conciliates with NYC mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani (whom he previously attacked), signaling turmoil and shifting alliances.

• Legal Setbacks for Trump Allies

  • A federal judge throws out indictments against James Comey and NY AG Letitia James because Trump-appointed prosecutor Lindsey Halligan lacked legal standing—her appointment had lapsed.
  • Galloway: "Jesus Christ. All this is happening as Democrats face what James Carville called a brewing populist revolt driven by rising costs." (03:40)

2. Economic Populism and Democrat Strategy (04:50–10:49)

• Carville’s Argument: Democrats get a "second chance" if they lean into economic populism and focus on affordability for everyday Americans, not establishment elites.

• Bonding Over Populist Outsider Status: Trump and Mamdani’s unexpected camaraderie is attributed to their outsider personas and shared focus on affordability.

• Messaging Shift: Moderates and establishment Dems urged to channel “economic rage” to capture voters feeling the squeeze of inflation and inequality.

  • Jessica Tarlov: “The only color that matters to people is green.” (04:54)
  • Scott Galloway: “For me, if you look at America over the last 50 years, the delta between the life that the middle class and the rich get to live is extraordinary.” (06:57)

• Critique of Both Parties:

  • Galloway slams Dems for dishonest promises and calls for structural reform: more competition, a higher minimum wage, breaking up monopolies, and honest dialogue about long-term economic change.

  • Quote: “Be honest with the American people. This is going to take a while. These are structural changes, not me promising to put money in your pocket and take it out of someone else's.” (09:46)

3. Moderate vs. Progressive Wings within Democrats (11:56–20:16)

• Rise of the "Fight Club":

  • New group of Senate Dems (Murphy, Van Hollen, Warren, et al.) is pushing the party to challenge corporate power and the status quo, rather than sticking with establishment picks.

  • Tarlov: “They're calling themselves the Fight Club...pushing back on the type of approach we have heading into the midterms.” (12:10)

• Debate on Billionaires vs. Shared Opportunity:

  • Both hosts argue Americans are less interested in demonizing billionaires than having a fair shot at prosperity.

  • Galloway: “Majority of Americans, like you said, don't have a problem with billionaires. They just want to make sure they pay their fair share.” (15:40)

• The Need for Real Policy, Not Virtue Signaling:

  • Desire for concrete proposals on health care (fixing Obamacare or Medicare for All) and strategies for the economic impact of AI.

4. Healthcare System Overhaul (14:49–20:16)

• Galloway’s Radical Proposal:

  • Lower Medicare eligibility by two years each year for the next decade until most medical expenses are nationalized.

  • Critiques both parties for being captured by special interests and shying away from big healthcare reform.

  • Galloway: “Somebody needs to raise their hand and go, if you're really serious about deficit reduction and reducing the anxiety of the average American household...we are going to, over the next 10 years, massively reduce the cost and the anxiety delivered by your US Healthcare system.” (19:22)

• Tarlov's Realism:

  • Notes the size and diversity of the U.S. make a single-payer transition daunting, arguing incremental partnership reforms are more realistic for now.

5. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Legacy and Broader GOP Frustration (20:16–32:43)

• MTG’s Departure as Canary in the MAGA Coal Mine:

  • Disaffection among GOP members; McCarthy warns of a wave of retirements.

  • Galloway harshly eviscerates Greene’s conspiracist, bigoted record and financial improprieties, labeling her “one of the most vile people to ever walk the halls of Congress.” (24:44)

  • Quote: “And in sum, good fucking riddance...She is vile. And the notion somehow that, you know, she did this for character, integrity. Someone told her she was gonna lose, and she's trying to figure out a way to re-emerge, go into the swamp and come back Godzilla after a radioactive bomb.” (26:57)

• Enablement and Lack of Courage in GOP:

  • Criticizes Republican enablers unwilling to challenge Trump while in office.
  • Galloway: “I love Republicans when they go on Bill Maher after they've left office, that's when they find their backbone.” (23:56)

• Political Culture of Threats:

  • Growing acceptance that threats are “the price of doing business” in politics, a trend both hosts find alarming.

6. Legal Blow to Trumpworld—Comey & Tish James Indictments Tossed (32:43–37:33)

• Halligan Team’s Incompetence:

  • The prosecution’s mishandling in Trump’s bid to legally pursue his enemies is emblematic of broader government dysfunction.

  • Tarlov: “It was a big egg on the face moment...shows how much pushback there is within our DOJ...the incompetence is staggering.” (33:28)

• Loss of American "Competence Brand":

  • Galloway laments how these fumbles erode U.S. credibility at home and abroad.
  • Galloway: “The whole confidence brand association is going out the window. We look like asses.” (35:07)

7. Ukraine–Russia Peace Talks: False Dawn? (40:06–48:07)

• Status of Talks:

  • U.S. mediating purported progress in Abu Dhabi; Ukraine signals some agreement, Russia remains obstinate.

  • Actual fighting and strikes continue in Ukraine, undermining any optimism.

  • Tarlov: “It feels like we're on a never ending merry go round, except that we're losing lives every day that this happens.” (41:55)

• Galloway’s Take:

  • Deep skepticism—sees the terms as capitulation to Putin, worried that appeasement will only embolden future aggression.

  • Galloway: “Anytime you appease a murderous autocrat in Europe, it just does not end well...Give them everything they want, throw a couple bones at Ukraine to pretend they got something, and this will only result in more death and disability.” (45:02)

• Comment on U.S. Negotiating Teams:

  • Concerns about experience and worldview of American officials at the negotiating table.

8. Civility in Air Travel, or Rearranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic? (50:00–57:34)

• DOT "Golden Age of Travel" Campaign:

  • U.S. Department of Transportation launches campaign urging civility and good manners among air travelers.

  • Tarlov: “You can only make that ad when air travel is working. Like, that's the cherry on top. But if the entire sundae is actually just shit sludge, you cannot be leaning into civility. You should be leaning into efficiency and fairness.” (51:02)

• Systemic Issues Ignored:

  • Shrinking seats, chronic delays, lack of enforcement on passengers’ rights are the real causes of passenger frustration and bad behavior—not just manners.

  • Galloway notes seat pitch has shrunk from 35 inches (2011) to 31 inches.

  • Advocates regulation ensuring minimum standards and real consumer rights.

  • Galloway: “We’re putting consumers in what feels like near inhuman environments... The friendly skies will get less and less friendly.” (54:44)

• Need for Big Ideas:

  • Galloway argues the real fix is massive investment in infrastructure, like high-speed rail.

  • Galloway: “If you wanted big structural solutions and big ideas, I think a candidate could run on... We are the wealthiest nation in the world. We are going to have the most efficient, advanced high speed rail in the world.” (57:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Marjorie Taylor Greene:

  • Scott Galloway (26:57): “She is vile. And the notion somehow that, you know, she did this for character, integrity... She's the problem, not the hero.”

• On Democrat Messaging:

  • Jessica Tarlov (04:54): “The only color that matters to people is green.”

• On Economic Frustration:

  • Scott Galloway (06:57): “The delta between the life that the middle class and the rich get to live is extraordinary.”

• On Air Travel Reform:

  • Jessica Tarlov (51:02): “If the entire sundae is actually just shit sludge, you cannot be leaning into civility. You should be leaning into efficiency and fairness.”

• On Billionaires and Opportunity:

  • Scott Galloway (15:40): “The majority of Americans... don’t have a problem with billionaires. They just want to make sure they pay their fair share.”

• On U.S. Global Brand:

  • Scott Galloway (35:07): “The whole confidence brand association is going out the window. We look like asses.”

Timestamps & Segment Guide

• 03:05 — MAGA upheaval: MTG out, Trump-Mamdani olive branch, legal loss for Trumpworld
• 04:50 — Economic populism: Carville’s op-ed, Dems’ second chance, big tent strategy
• 06:57 — Middle class vs elite: U.S. wealth gaps, failing systems
• 11:56 — “Fight Club” Dems: party rift, candidate selection, challenge to Schumer
• 14:49 — Healthcare policy: calls for a serious Medicare/Obamacare/A.I. conversation
• 20:16 — MTG as barometer for GOP discord; Galloway’s excoriation
• 23:08 — GOP enablement, moral cowardice, culture of threats in politics
• 32:43 — Trump's Halligan legal debacle and the cost of incompetence
• 40:06 — Ukraine-Russia update: peace talk skepticism, U.S. negotiating dynamics
• 50:00 — Air travel woes and the "Golden Age of Travel" civility campaign
• 54:44 — Real fixes needed: consumer protection, infrastructure investments
• 57:56 — Vision for high-speed rail and bold American infrastructure

Tone & Style

Scott and Jessica combine mock-seriousness with sardonic asides, employing irreverence and self-deprecating banter as they navigate issues. Their humor is barbed but their policy critiques are substantive, aiming at both the hypocrisy of political elites and the inertia of establishment politics. The language is frank, peppered with “shit sludge” metaphors, F-bombs, and sharp analogies.

Conclusion

This episode offers a tour through the political minefields of 2025: the implosion of MAGA's internal order, the urgent need for economic populist messages, the ever-festering U.S. healthcare debate, legal blunders in Trumpworld, doubts about the Ukraine peace process, and American air travel’s descent into dystopia. At every turn, the call is for real ideas, structural solutions, and honest conversations—because, as Galloway quips:
“Big ideas, not indignance.” (29:36)