Tangle Podcast Summary
Episode: Trump grants George Santos clemency
Host: Isaac Saul
Date: October 20, 2025
Episode Theme & Overview
This episode centers on President Donald Trump's decision to commute the prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos, a high-profile case blending legal, political, and ethical issues. Isaac Saul and the Tangle team dissect what happened, reactions from across the political spectrum, and what the saga implies for American justice and politics. The episode also features nuanced exploration of solitary confinement, presidential clemency, political loyalty, and prison reform.
Key Developments & Facts
- The Event: President Trump commuted the sentence of George Santos, who had been sentenced to over seven years for fraud and identity theft (08:17). Santos was released from federal prison on Friday night and will not be required to pay $370,000+ in restitution to his victims (08:37).
- Background: Santos, elected in 2022, was quickly embroiled in scandal involving fabricated personal and professional claims, leading to a House expulsion and federal charges including embezzlement and identity theft.
- Santos' Response: Post-release, Santos thanked Trump and pledged to focus on prison reform, citing his negative experience in solitary confinement (08:37).
- Political Reactions: Reactions broke along partisan lines, with some Republicans supporting the move as merciful, while Democrats and some Republicans decried it as a miscarriage of justice or a demonstration of political favoritism.
Detailed Discussion & Analysis
1. Recap of the Santos Case (08:17 – 08:37)
- Conviction Details: Santos was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He fabricated elements of his background, defrauded donors, and misused campaign funds.
- Timeline: Elected 2022 → NYT exposes fabrications → Indicted 2023 → Expelled December 2023 → Guilty plea August 2024 → Sentencing in April → Prison July 2025 → Commutation October 2025.
- Santos’ Appeal for Clemency: Santos directly appealed to Trump via social media and op-eds. Support from allies like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who slammed his treatment as excessive (08:37).
“George Santos was somewhat of a rogue, but there are many rogues throughout our country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison… Santos has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and by all accounts has been horribly mistreated.”
— Donald Trump on Truth Social (08:37)
- Restitution: Commutation relieves Santos of having to pay victims back.
2. Political Reactions (08:37 – 11:32)
Democratic Critiques:
- Former rival Robert Zimmerman called it illustrative of “lawlessness.”
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY): “Insulting.”
- Some Republicans, like Rep. Nick Lalota (NY), also expressed outrage:
“Santos didn’t merely lie, he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes for which he pled guilty warrant more than a three-month sentence.” (08:37)
GOP Defenses:
- House Speaker Mike Johnson: “We believe in redemption. I hope Mr. Santos makes the most of his second chance.”
- Marjorie Taylor Greene thanked Trump and called solitary “torture.”
3. Arguments from the Right (13:30 – 15:44)
- Mixed Reactions: Some support, others skeptical or bewildered by Trump’s rationale.
- National Review (Jeffrey Blahar): Criticizes Trump’s “team sport” approach to justice.
“This week began with Trump opportunistically targeting John Bolton...and ends with him commuting the sentence of a felon who accepted a plea deal on 24 federal charges... That’s just the sort of presidency we’re living under right now.” (13:45)
- PJ Media (Catherine Salgado): Sees possible political motives in Santos' prosecution, suggesting harsher treatment compared to others in Congress, and questioning selective justice (14:32).
- New York Sun (Dean Karyanis): Highlights Trump’s knack for political misdirection and points to politicized justice.
"Critics will see it as short-circuiting justice. Supporters will delight that Mr. Trump stands by his friends no matter what." (15:23)
4. Arguments from the Left (15:44 – 18:50)
- Universal Condemnation: The commutation is seen as an egregious abuse of power and another blow to justice system norms.
- Newsday Editorial Board:
“Trump is exercising one of the more regal privileges of the presidency... He will not be held accountable for this amazing disgrace.” (16:10)
- Kauffman Chronicle: Emphasizes scope and brazenness of Santos’ fraud.
“He didn’t just pad his resume, he invented it. … After all the damage, all the lies, all the theft, the man who let him walk didn’t point to a procedural flaw or new piece of evidence or even a disproportionate sentence. Instead, Donald Trump offered he’s always voted Republican. That was the reason. Loyalty. Not truth. Not justice.” (17:35)
- Mother Jones (Noah Leonard):
“Perhaps the most notable thing … is how unsurprising it is in the end. One felon from Queens has come to the aid of another… The lesson is clear: There’s one set of laws for the President’s supporters and another for those who have run afoul of him.” (18:50)
5. Isaac Saul’s Take (20:55 – 27:24)
Initial Reaction:
- No sympathy for Santos, calling him a brazen fraudster:
“The former Republican member of Congress is a fraudster. He falsified records and lied about donations … to steal money from his donors and the Republican Party.” (20:56)
On Prison & Solitary:
-
Saul is genuinely moved by Santos’ op-ed about solitary:
“In that suffocating shoebox, there is no room to walk, no hint of the sun, ... I keep asking myself, will this barbaric confinement ever end?” (22:07)
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Saul advocates generally for prison reform and is cautiously optimistic if Santos dedicates himself to reform:
“A former member of Congress … humbled by an experience in prison—what better spokesman for reform could you ask for?” (23:10)
On Trump’s Motivation & Political Implications:
- Sees the act primarily as political patronage:
“These acts of clemency are a different side of the same coin of political prosecutions, the president playing the justice system like a team sport to punish enemies and grant allies … mercy that nonpartisans rarely, if ever, receive.” (24:38)
- Explicitly notes commutation waives $370K+ in restitution; calls the politics “gross, slimy” and doubts Santos’ sincerity.
“Put differently, what are the odds that in six months Santos is a dedicated troll on social media, taunting his political opponents? … I hope I’m wrong, and maybe my cynicism is getting the best of me these days, but that’s my honest read.” (26:30)
- Final jab:
“If Santos had a D next to his name, he would have been left rotting in solitary confinement.” (27:22)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Donald Trump | “George Santos was somewhat of a rogue, but there are many rogues … that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison…” | 08:37 | | Rep. Nick Lalota| “Santos didn’t merely lie, he stole millions, defrauded an election … his crimes … warrant more than a three-month sentence.” | 08:37 | | Newsday Editorial| “Trump … will not be held accountable for this amazing disgrace.” | 16:10 | | Kauffman Chronicle | “He didn’t just pad his resume, he invented it... After all the damage, all the lies, all the theft, the man who let him walk... Loyalty. Not truth. Not justice.” | 17:35 | | Isaac Saul | “While a seven year sentence felt harsh, three months, which is how much time he ultimately served, feels like a slap on the wrist.” | 21:45 | | Isaac Saul | “Trump, meanwhile, can hardly be thanked for being motivated by some kind of earnest mercy… If Santos had a D next to his name, he would have been left rotting in solitary confinement.” | 27:22 |
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Episode intro & preview: 02:18
- Quick hits (news roundup): 04:01
- Main story: Santos commutation explained: 08:17–11:32
- Arguments from the right: 13:30–15:44
- Arguments from the left: 15:44–18:50
- Isaac’s take: 20:55–27:24
Tone & Language
Isaac Saul and contributing writers maintain a direct, candid, and sometimes acerbically humorous style, blending sharp critique with a clear-eyed reflection on systems and norms. The overall tone is engaged but careful, with a strong emphasis on bipartisanship, transparency, and skepticism of political self-dealing.
Conclusion
This episode provides a thorough, non-partisan breakdown of Trump’s commutation of George Santos, drawing sharp lines between the moral, political, and procedural aspects. The Tangle team delivers a lively discussion packed with perspectives from both ends of the spectrum and concludes by questioning the integrity of the pardon process and the sincerity of calls for reform, leaving listeners with skepticism, hope, and a challenge to think critically about justice and political loyalty in America.