Real Coffee with Scott Adams

Episode 3026 CWSA – November 22, 2025
Main Theme:
Scott Adams examines the week’s political stories through a persuasion lens, focusing on Trump’s recent decisions, political maneuvering, economic disruptions, and the deeper power of language and framing in public debates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Revokes Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis

[03:00]

• Adams describes Trump’s move to end TPS for Somalis, noting the significance for both immigration policy and political responsiveness.
• Credits Christopher Rufo for breaking stories of Somali-centered fraud in government programs and directly influencing Trump (“Trump actually reads the room… He literally reads the people in the room.” [05:20])
• Highlights Trump’s agility: “Just the fact doesn’t make you feel good that somebody could identify a problem, put the work in… then, I guess, [it’s] solved. How often does that happen? Pretty cool.” [06:15]

2. Marjorie Taylor Greene Resignation: Weakness or Masterstroke?

[07:00]

• Discusses the news that MTG is resigning from Congress, parsing various theories—policy disagreements with Trump, personal benefits, Israel, and political strategy.
• Cites @MarioNawfal (X) suggesting MTG is “playing the long game” to exit before a primary loss and maximize future influence (“She saw an opportunity for the biggest move… and so she took it because she’s smart.” [10:10])
• Adams frames her as potentially becoming “the next Tucker Carlson or Ben Shapiro… her influence just magnifies.” [11:00]
• Encourages audience speculation but sees her as acting “from strength, not weakness.” [11:40]

3. ICE Raids and Potential Construction Crisis

[12:40]

• Cites Matt Van Swall’s report of empty construction sites in Charlotte, NC, after ICE removed workers—questions the scale but acknowledges observable effects.
• Raises the dilemma: Is it a short-term disruption or a threat to the construction industry’s viability nationwide?
  • “If it were this problem once, …that’s his problem. But what if it really is hundreds… all over the country?” [13:45]
• Predicts training American-born workers for these jobs will be difficult: “I don’t think people understand how woefully undertrained American born workers are.” [15:05]
• Philosophically: “Sometimes you have to just jump to the next rock without knowing if there’s going to be another rock there.” [16:05]

4. The Trump–Zoran Mamdani Oval Office Meeting: Persuasion at Work

[17:00]

• Analyzes Trump’s meeting with activist Zoran Mamdani:
  • Outlines Trump’s use of “high ground” persuasion, remaining the most interesting figure in the room—even against a strong adversary.
  • “Trump made himself the star of the event and makes you insanely curious about what did they actually say.” [20:25]
  • Notes Trump’s general respect for talent: “Trump likes, really likes talented people…it completely changes how he operates.” [21:50]
  • Trump “rescues” Mamdani during a CNN question about whether Trump is a fascist: “Just say yes. It’ll be easier.” ([23:40])
• Reiterates how Trump uses “the show” framing (everything is performance and optics, even genuine respect).

5. Persuasion Lesson: Co-opting “Affordability”

[27:20]

• Adams praises Zoran’s political use of “affordability” as a core campaign word, calling it “a high ground killer word.”
• Highlights Trump’s unique skill: “He credited them. And then he embraced it. And he fully embraced it. He borrowed it, he stole it, he co-opted it, he embraced it.” ([28:25])
• This act, Adams insists, is “three for three of the hardest things you could do in persuasion: recognize the word, know that you have to deal with it, and then totally embrace it…”

6. Polls and Trump’s Popularity

[36:43]

• Responds to CNN’s Harry Enten’s numbers showing Trump’s collapse among independents (from -4 to -43 since January).
• Offers a “mental exercise”:
  • If Trump failed, his numbers would collapse—but if he succeeded at solving all unique “Trump-only” problems, his popularity would also drop because “business as usual is Marco Rubio… Only Trump can do [the really hard things].” ([39:30])
  • Predicts Trump might finish with the lowest approval ratings but, if solutions are clear, could have “the best poll numbers of any president of all time. Of all time.” [43:20]
• Shares a personal story where Trump called to check on his health—blending the surreal with the ordinary— spotlighting the “show” aspect of Trump’s interactions. [45:22]

7. Trump’s Ukraine Peace Proposal: 28 Points Summarized

[47:40]

• Details the process of extracting AI-generated summaries of Trump’s 28-point Ukraine plan (struggled to get brief, actionable sentences).
• Key Plan Points (paraphrased):
  • Ukraine’s sovereignty confirmed, but Crimea and several eastern regions remain Russian.
  • Ukraine commits to neutrality; no NATO.
  • Army and weapons capped; joint US/EU/China security guarantees.
  • Immediate ceasefire and phased withdrawal/sanctions relief.
  • Joint energy projects, debt relief, delayed EU accession.
• Analysis: The deal is only as workable as the leaders’ appetites for peace. “You would not be able to look at the plan to know if this could work or not. You would only be able to look into the hearts and souls of the people involved.” ([52:45])
• Persuasion angle: Trump’s plan is broad, bold, and sets up a narrative for deal-making.

8. Supreme Court and Texas Redistricting

[57:40]

• Describes the pattern of activist district court blocking GOP-favored redistricting maps and the Supreme Court stepping in to block the blocker: “Just sounds like the same story every few days, doesn’t. Because it is.” [58:50]

9. Derek Chauvin’s Legal Appeal & Training Evidence

[59:27]

• Reports that 50+ (current and former) police officers now attest under oath that Chauvin used training techniques taught by Minneapolis PD.
• Argues if this was true and kept from the jury, “that should be really, really important. …If you were on the jury… you had convicted him …and you learned that… you wouldn’t feel too good about that at all.” ([01:00:40])
• Skeptical about whether legal action will succeed but finds the development relevant to narrative complexity.

10. Bill Maher on Education and “Information Bubbles”

[01:01:40]

• Recaps Maher’s and Donna Brazile’s exchange on red states’ educational performance.
• Adams is less interested in policy nuances and more impressed that Maher correctly frames the issue as a bubble effect—“reasonable people who just happen to be getting different information.”
• Sees this as Maher internalizing “Republican language” and teaching “how to think, not just what to think.” ([01:04:00])

11. Dan Bongino, FBI, and the Trump Rally Shooter: Bubble-Busting Facts

[01:05:30]

• Notes FBI/Bongino’s conclusion that the Trump shooter acted alone, undermining prior rumors of encrypted, unbreakable devices.
• Observes: “Once you adjust for the fact that you had the wrong facts, it does look pretty believable that it was a single shooter.” [01:06:45]

12. JD Vance on Canadian Immigration & Stagnant Living Standards

[01:08:00]

• Comments on Vance’s link between high immigrant population and Canada’s stagnating living standards; Adams suspects it’s “part” of the cause but doubts it’s the whole story.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump and Strategic Listening:
  “Trump actually reads the room… He literally reads the people in the room.” [05:20]

• On Talent Attraction:
  “Trump likes, really likes talented people. Doesn’t matter if it’s sports, doesn’t matter if it’s politics…He calls it out, he follows it, he tries to incorporate it, he tries to be around it.” [21:50]

• On Leadership and Influence:
  “She’s operating from strength and she has lots of options.” – on Marjorie Taylor Greene [11:40]

• On Words as Persuasion:
  “He credited them. And then he embraced it. And he fully embraced it. He borrowed it, he stole it, he co-opted it, he embraced it. Now what? Now what do you do?” – on the word “affordability” [28:25]

• On Problem Solving and Popularity:
  “If he does a really terrible job, his poll numbers would look like they do now. … But if Trump solved all the problems that could be solved… once it’s solved, then the next Republican can certainly maintain.” [39:30]

• Personal Anecdote:
  “The president called me while I was watching the president.” [45:22]

• On Learning How to Think:
  “Republicans teach their base and their followers how to think about things, not just what to think.” [01:04:00]

Important Timestamps

• [03:00] Trump’s Somalia TPS revocation and Christopher Rufo’s influence
• [07:00] Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and strategic analysis
• [12:40] ICE raids and construction industry consequences
• [17:00] Trump–Zoran Mamdani meeting breakdown
• [27:20] Language mastery: Co-opting “affordability”
• [36:43] Poll numbers, political cycles, and empathy as a luxury
• [47:40] Trump’s Ukraine peace plan: 28 points summarized
• [57:40] Redistricting court battle pattern
• [59:27] Derek Chauvin appeal: Police testimony and implications
• [01:01:40] Bill Maher and the “information bubble” insight
• [01:05:30] FBI/Bongino: Debunking shooter conspiracy details
• [01:08:00] JD Vance and immigration’s economic effects

Summary Tone

Adams maintains a conversational, irreverent, and analytical tone, often inviting his live chat to speculate and challenge his takes, while using humor and personal anecdotes to humanize his policy-focused observations.

This episode offers a persuasive analysis of current events, with special emphasis on narrative-shaping, influence techniques, and the unpredictable outcomes of political disruptions. Whether discussing high policy or viral news, Adams frames each story as an example of how mastery of language, timing, and showmanship can redefine both individual careers and national debates.