
Loading summary
Narrator
Introducing Instagram Teen Accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt on.
Parent
All right, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job.
Narrator
Or ring the bell on their bike.
Parent
Okay, kid, give it a try.
Child
Nice.
Narrator
Or remember their elbow pads.
Parent
Knees too. Okay.
Commentator
Yep.
Parent
There you go.
Narrator
New Instagram Teen Accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teenage and the content they can see.
Advertiser
Time is precious, and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24,7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments. And shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care. You're listening to Comedy Central.
Michael Kosta
From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Michael Koskin. Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Michael Kosta. There's a lot going on in MAGA world tonight. Pam Bondi wins the war on drugs and reality. Mike Waltz has left the group chat. And Trump thinks Stephen A. Smith is the mayor of Harlem. So let's get into our ongoing coverage of Donald Trump's first 100 days.
Donald Trump
May there be a little disturbance?
Michael Kosta
Tuesday was Donald Trump's 100th day in office, and he celebrated the only way he knows how by getting together with the boys. Last night, the big party was at channel 372 on your cable service, News Nation.
Donald Trump
We've just gotten started. You haven't even seen anything yet.
Michael Kosta
Rock out with your out, huh? Which is actually how most of those people got fired from their previous job. So this was an event where Donald Trump phoned in, probably from the bathroom, and a bunch of people got to ask questions, including Stephen A. Smith. And there's a thing I've noticed that happens at parties where there's only one black guy, which is that no matter what he's talking about, a certain type of white person tries to steer the conversation into an awkward direction.
Advertiser
Mr. President, thank you for your time. It's interesting that you brought up Harvard, because when people think about Harvard, what they're basically talking about is they're asking, what do you say to those who view your actions as an attack on academic freedom rather than a defense of fairness? What do you say to that?
Donald Trump
Well, I say this. We had riots in Harlem. In Harlem.
Michael Kosta
Amazing. Amazing. Trump heard a black man say Harvard and he thought he meant Harlem. What a beautiful mix of racism and dementia. It sounded like you asked about Social Security, but I'm going to assume you really asked about Soul Plane. Not a great start, but maybe Donald Trump, maybe he can save it.
Donald Trump
We had riots in Harlem, and frankly, if you look at what's gone on, and people from Harlem went up and they protested, Stephen. And they protested very strongly against Harvard.
Michael Kosta
No, he didn't say that. He didn't say it. What is he talking about exactly? There were no riots in Harlem. They definitely didn't go from the non riots to protest Harvard. And none of that had anything to do with Stephen A's question about academic freedom. It's almost like he's talking about black stuff because Stephen A. Smith is black.
Donald Trump
You know, I got a very high black vote. You know that? Very, very high black vote.
Michael Kosta
I'm starting to think that maybe Trump shouldn't be choosing the curriculum for the smartest college in the world. The answer was so dumbfounding that Stephen A. Who is a professional interrupter, was left speechless for the first time in his life. By the way, this is not even the weirdest Stephen A. Smith moment from this week, because apparently the guy had a cameo on General Hospital a few days ago, and here's really the only moment you need to see.
Advertiser
Sorry to interrupt. I'm gonna need to see some id.
Michael Kosta
Of course. God damn. Is that what happens when you don't have your id? Man, things sure have changed now. We used to clap for nurses every day and now we quick draw them with a silencer. I had no idea that Stephen A. Smith even acted in soap operas. But now I can't wait to tune in next week to find out if he has an evil twin. Stephen B. Smith. I guess I gotta start watching General Hospital, or as Trump calls it, General Harlem. But let's move on because not everyone is having fun during this celebration week.
Commentator
We begin with breaking news. Sources are confirming to Fox News that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is out.
Child
Waltz has been in a precarious position with the President after he accidentally added a reporter to a group chat about upcoming military strikes.
Michael Kosta
Damn, what a shame for Mike Waltz. I wonder how they delivered the news. That's ice cold. You know what? You know what? You can't jeopardize military missions by adding journalists to your group chats. And to Donald Trump's credit, he realizes he can't have a guy this Incompetent working for his administration. He's gotta go.
News Anchor
This is CNN Breaking News.
Michael Kosta
President Trump just announcing moments ago that he will be nominating his current national security advis, Michael Waltz to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Like I was saying, he's got to go to the United nations to represent the entire country on a global stage. Congrats, Mike. You've earned it. I guess. Look, I don't know. This seems like pure chaos to me, but I'm sure this administration has been carefully planning the whole reorganization for days. As the State Department spokesperson will make.
Commentator
Clear here, the President has just written on Truth Social that Mike Waltz is going to become the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Child
Well, there you go.
Commentator
And in addition to that, he says that in the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Adviser while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Do you know how long he's going to be serving in both roles?
Child
It is clear that I just heard this.
Michael Kosta
You know what? Why don't you come up here and I'll ask you some questions, okay? By the way, if it sounds crazy that Marco Rubio has two separate jobs, that's actually only half of his jobs. Marco Rubio is very busy right now. Our own David Gura reminding us that he's right now Secretary of State, interim National Security Adviser, acting Administrator of usaid, and also acting Archivist for the United States. That's a lot of work.
Commentator
That is.
Michael Kosta
Those are a lot of jobs. Yeah. And I don't know how you balance working four jobs all at the same time, but I'm gonna guess it probably involves doing a shitty job. And he's actually working five jobs when you consider the hardest job of them all, which is being a father, which. Which reminds me, honey, you're gonna have to put the kids to bed tonight because I'm gonna go get drunk at Dave and Buster' surprisingly, Trump hasn't been firing administration officials all that much because partly, most of them have really learned a lesson about staying on his good side. Let me show you how bad it can get. Three days ago, Pam Bondi was on Fox News making an outrageous claim about Trump's success stopping fentanyl deaths.
Child
Since Donald Trump has been in office, DEA has seized over 21 million fentanyl pills. That's 21 million lives saved, in my opinion.
Michael Kosta
21 million people. 21 million people. Just for context, 70,000 people die from fentanyl in an entire year. But we're supposed to believe that in three months Trump prevented 21 million fentanyl deaths. I guess a lot more people were planning to try fentanyl this year, huh? Were you guys? Cause if everyone's doing it, I'll do it. I'm not a pussy. All right, this audience is pro fentanyl. To be fair to Bondi, she must have realized these numbers were way off, because two days later, she correct herself.
Child
Since he's been in office, DEA has taken 22.2 million fentanyl pills off the streets. This is 119 million lives Donald Trump has saved since January. Pretty remarkable.
Michael Kosta
Oh, my God. 119 million. He saved 100 more million lives in two days. Wow. Keep in mind, keep in mind, the entire population of the United States is 340 million. So she's crediting Trump with saving the lives of a third of the entire country. Pam, what are you talking about? Are you on the fence? Cuz, you signed high. You sound high as right now.
Advertiser
Okay.
Michael Kosta
All right. But you know what? Bondi sobered up. She checked her math, and she realized something was off again. Because during Trump's cabinet meeting yesterday, she came back and corrected herself one more time.
Child
President Trump, your DOJ agencies have seized more than 22 million fentanyl pills which saved. Are you ready for this media? 258 million lives.
Michael Kosta
258. 258 million. What is happening here? At the rate Trump is saving lives, death will cease to exist by August. Man, you gotta love the way she turns to the camera like, are you ready for this media? No, no, we weren't ready for that. We were not ready. There is no way anybody could ever have been ready for the number you were about to say. Even J.D. vance wasn't ready. Look at his face when he hears her say that shit.
Child
Are you ready for this media? 258 million lives. Kids are dying every day.
Michael Kosta
I've never seen a man blink. What the is this woman talking about? But of course he knows it's bullshit. He went to Yale, right? It's no Harlem University, but they know math. The point is. The point is, by the time we're done with the next hundred days, Trump will have saved. And are you ready for this media? 347, bajillion lives, which, if you ask me, 300. Yeah. 340 ba. Bajillion lives. What you've asked me is too many lives. Is there anyone we can call to thin the herd? When we come back, we'll show you the one product that can help you get through the next four years. That's all well.
Narrator
Introducing Instagram teen accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt on.
Parent
All right, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job.
Narrator
Or ring the bell on their bike.
Parent
Okay, kid, give it a try.
Child
Nice.
Narrator
Or remember their elbow pads.
Parent
Knees too. Okay.
Commentator
Yep.
Parent
There you go.
Narrator
New Instagram teen accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the content they can see.
Advertiser
Time is precious, and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments. And shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
Michael Kosta
Welcome back to D Show. If you're not a fan of Donald Trump, it's probably because you disagree with his policies. Maybe you're pro choice or support expanding renewable energy or maybe because you have a mental illness. So there's this condition called Trump Derangement syndrome. And every single Democrat has this Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Commentator
Anything with Trump's name attached to it, Democrats will automatically pre hate. No matter what it is.
Michael Kosta
Trump Derangement syndrome is stage five.
Commentator
No vaccine, no cure, no therapeutic.
Donald Trump
It's a horrible, horrible terminal disease. It destroys the mind before the body, but the body eventually goes.
Michael Kosta
Yeah, that's right. That's right. Trump Derangement syndrome. The only disease Trump can give you that doesn't require you to notify recent sex partners. Of course, in reality, Trump Derangement syndrome is a fake mental illness coined by right wing trolls on social media. But that's about to change. Republican lawmakers in Minnesota want to here in the state add Trump Derangement Syndrome as an official.
Child
The bill aims to change our state's definition of mental illness to include a form of criticism of the current president.
Michael Kosta
Yeah. So five GOP senators in Minnesota want to codify Trump Derangement Syndrome into state law. And look, I can already hear all the woke libs out there whining about this Minnesota bill. So let me just say, is this bill perfect? No. Is the disease totally made up? Yes. Is this a huge waste of time and taxpayer money? Yes. Did one of the Republicans behind the bill just get a. A 17 year old for prostitution? Well, as they say in Minnesota, oy, I betcha, officer. But still, you have to admit that these past 100 days have caused very real stress for a large percentage of Americans. And if that sounds like you, well, luckily there's a time tested product out there to help you deal with it.
News Anchor
After President Trump's first 100 days, a.
Advertiser
Dramatic escalation of President Trump's illegal immigration.
Commentator
Crackdown, safety concerns growing after another plane crash here in the US The US.
Donald Trump
Will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it.
News Anchor
Many people are scared of what's to come. The stock market and our economy are in a volatile free fall and free speech is under attack. You've tried everything to ease your mind, from booze to pills and even other booze, but nothing seems to work. That's why in these times of despair and uncertainty, you need the Hang In There poster. This uplifting poster of strength and hope features an adorable cat hanging from a rope with the timeless slogan Hang In There printed on the bottom. The Hang In There poster is the cute and comforting distraction we all need in times of political upheaval. Plus, the Hang in There poster goes where you go, meaning joy and comfort are just a glance away. So the next time you're worried about people losing their rights or the staggering amount of government corruption we're about to witness in the next four years, don't fret. Just hang in there. To order your official Hang in there poster, call 1-800-HANG ME. Call now and we'll throw in a second Hang In There poster, absolutely free for an additional $29.95. Call 1-800-HANG ME.
Michael Kosta
When we come back, Senator Alyssa Slacki will be joining me on the show. Stick around. Hang around. Hang in there.
Narrator
Introducing Instagram Teen Accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt on.
Parent
All right, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job.
Narrator
Or ring the bell on their bike.
Parent
Okay, kid, give it a try.
Child
Nice.
Narrator
Or remember their elbow pads.
Parent
Knees too. Okay.
Commentator
Yep.
Parent
There you go.
Narrator
New Instagram Teen Accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the content they can see.
Advertiser
Time is precious, and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments. And shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
Michael Kosta
Welcome back to Daily Show. My guest tonight is the junior US Senator from Michigan. Please welcome Senator Alyssa Slotkin. Yes, Senator Slotkin. That sounds nice.
Commentator
You know, it's pretty good.
Michael Kosta
Feels good.
Commentator
Yeah, it's good.
Michael Kosta
You speak Arabic, you speak Swahili, you speak English. How would you like me to conduct this?
Commentator
English would be fantastic.
Michael Kosta
English would be great. Okay, so some big news today. Mike Waltz is out. You are, and I don't say this very often, a Democrat with an impressive national security background working in the CIA security debriefing, Obama every morning, working at the Pentagon. How worried should we be now? Pete Hegseth is Pete Hegseth.
Commentator
He is Pete Hegman.
Michael Kosta
What's your take on how we are right now?
Commentator
I mean, you know, I don't think anyone feels great about where we are right now.
Michael Kosta
I don't feel like this is Marco Rubio's fourth job.
Commentator
Yeah, he has four jobs, you know, And I think that the truth is, like, there are some really serious international challenges, and we just can't have the B team in here. We need serious people. And I think that Pete Hagg said should resign and is just not where we need to be on a Texas defense.
Michael Kosta
Trump was just in Michigan for his 100th day. You won in Michigan on the same ticket as Trump. What do Michigan voters want, you think?
Commentator
Well, Michiganders are very independently minded people, as you know. And I think I'm a Michigander. Yes, he's a Michigander and very proud of him. Right.
Michael Kosta
Hold on. We gotta tell these coastals this is the shape of Michigan.
Commentator
Yeah, yeah. And, you know, I think so. We're independently minded. But I think the two things that really came through in the last election was, one, it was a pocketbook election. Right. People wanted someone who was gonna put more money in their pocket. And then number two, if I can be frank, is a little harder to grab onto. It's like people are looking for a little Alpha energy.
Michael Kosta
Yeah.
Commentator
And I think I had, like, a little bit more Alpha energy than the average Dem. And I want us to get more Alpha energy as a demonstration. Okay.
Michael Kosta
Okay. And this comes from my wife. What is Alpha energy?
Commentator
Yeah, I just think, well, okay, you're a Midwesterner. And let me explain for those who are not Midwesterners, like, think of who we identify with as like, our big leaders. Right. Right now, most popular man in Michigan is the coach of the Lions.
Child
Right.
Commentator
Dan Campbell. And Go Lions. And he is just. But he, like, he loves big. He's Tough with people. But he like will hug you and give, you know, and cries eyes out within. His guys do great. Like we want leadership, right. We're in a moment of crisis in the country and a moment of change as well. And so we want leaders who can like lead us through and light the tunnel so that we can get through this moment of our history. And that is like not a quiet, calm diplomat, you know, that is like let's go. And I think that is what Michiganders are looking for in their leaders in the state, but also across the country.
Michael Kosta
People are responding very well to that. You know my daughter finished a puzzle the other day, she's five. And I gave her this big hug and I was crying and she was like dad, Dad, I love this alpha male energy right now you've said adopt the alpha energy but you've also said that the Dems, there's a perception of the party as weak and woke.
Commentator
That's actually what Michigander said. There was a poll in February and those were the words identified most with the Democratic brand. Yes. And I think that, you know, again, I don't think it's just Trump voters who want something different. I think our government is a 20th century government and we're in the 21st century. It needs to change. No one loves our health care, no one loves how we do education. No one loves how our government works. So we need to change it. But we want responsible change, not reckless change. Not just breaking stuff to break stuff. But I think we need to hear that and I think that Michiganders understand that like we can't stay the same, we can't look backwards, we have to look forward. But we want to know who that is. And I think the Democrats, Democratic Party should be leading instead of just saying no, no, no, status quo, status quo, don't change. No, embrace change. But like put your marker down on what you think should happen. Talk about how we need a stronger middle class in this country cuz it's shrinking. It is like don't try to hide it. It is.
Michael Kosta
Yeah.
Commentator
So to me that's like the vision piece. And then because I'm from the national security world, like at the Pentagon you don't go to the bathroom without a plan. Right. Like you're constantly planning.
Michael Kosta
That's what I've been doing along all these years.
Commentator
So I think like Democrats need a plan. And I've been in the senate for like 112 or 15 days and I kept, I got tired of waiting for someone else to do it.
Michael Kosta
Yeah.
Commentator
So I Just like, wrote a war plan, decamped with a bunch of my closest, like, friends and advisors and wrote our best stab at what we should be doing as a country to push back on the threats to our economy and our democracy.
Michael Kosta
I love that. As a Michigander, I worry maybe that you are feeling a burden of a democratic national message when you're a junior senator representing Michigan.
Commentator
Yeah.
Michael Kosta
Are you. I mean, are Michigan first at this point? Yes.
Commentator
I mean, yeah, look, I got the chance to give the response to the State of the Union and I made a choice to do that from Michigan. Yep. Because if I could give a speech that could work in Michigan and not turn me into a Saturday Night Live skit, then I thought, I think it would work for the country. Like Michigan, I think, is a good bellwether, a good canary in the coal mine on what's going on, particularly on our economy right now. And so what? All I can do is like, take the lessons every single day from what is going on. No shit. No kidding. In my state. And then sort of express to people that I'm gonna go fight for them and fight for my state. And that means a good thing for us, but a good thing for the country too.
Michael Kosta
Donald Trump spoke for. Donald Trump spoke for an hour. You spoke for 10 minutes. Oh, yeah. And I think you said more than him, actually. But I wanna, I wanna get back a little bit to this woke word because it's not like Harris and Walz were out there saying they were woke. No one was campaigning. They were woke. The Republicans effectively targeted the Dems as woke. And I wonder if some of this alpha male energy you're talking about.
Commentator
I didn't say alpha male.
Michael Kosta
I. I'm adding the male because that's who I hope I am.
Commentator
Sure do. But it's Alpha. You don't have to be a male to be Alpha energy. Correct.
Michael Kosta
And thank you for correcting me. Thank you for correcting me. Is taking back how you're not allowed to label me. I will tell you what I am and who we are, and I wonder if the Dems can do that effectively.
Commentator
Well, that's what we have to do.
Michael Kosta
That's what you have to do.
Commentator
Yes. I think there's no choice. And I think you're right that the attack ads and framing your enemy, your adversary, is what happens in political campaigns. But, like, suck it up, buttercup. We gotta turn that around. Right. Like, you can't just let someone else define you. You have to say what you're about, not just what you're against.
Michael Kosta
Yeah.
Commentator
And I think Democrats, you know, what Trump is doing is unprecedented. And so we're on our heels, we're trying to figure out where to look first. So we gotta understand that we have to, to have a plan to know where we're going as a group. Right. And stop turning our guns on each other as Democrats. Right. Can we all agree that that, like, where the adversary is in this situation. So, you know, I think that is what we owe to the American people.
Michael Kosta
Actually, I loved when your rebuttal was from. Your rebuttal was from Wyandotte, Michigan. And as a Michigander, I said, oh, my God, Wyandotte. This is where, where people are actually building the cars, they're pressing the steel. And I thought I would be curious to ask you, what's the response there with the tariffs? Yeah, I mean, you're really in it. And this is America's car center.
Commentator
Yeah. Well, Michigan, I think, is like, uniquely positioned to be extremely vulnerable to these tariffs. One, because our manufacturing sector and how we've been working for a long time to build our supply chains with Canada, our neighbour, and then also our farming industry. Right. Who gets all the retaliation? What we're seeing right now is like peak uncertainty. People are just feeling like Covid times, like, I don't know what to do. Do I invest? Do I not invest? Do I build that factory? Do I not build that factory? Do I expand? Do I make those orders? And right now, the first sort of, like, tip off we're seeing is cut down in, like, orders. So trucking is down. Right. The number of hours our truck drivers are driving are going down. And I think that's just the start of this. And, and, you know, if you're lucky enough to be a bigger business, you can go cut a deal with the White House. Right. He's created this unbelievable marketplace of like, every country has to come to me, every industry. But if you're the small guy, the small business owner, the guy who owns the supermarket in my town, no one's cutting him a deal and he's at risk of going under. So he's slow rolling us into a recession. And we need to be clear about that because he promised he was going to put more money in people's pockets. It's the opposite. It's the opposite.
Michael Kosta
The UAW has backed the tariffs. Is that. Am I reading that correctly?
Commentator
I think, I think I would let them speak for themselves, but I think they're either going to be really right or really wrong.
Michael Kosta
Right.
Commentator
And I just don't have Faith that there's some wizard of Oz behind Donald Trump coming up with a grand plan that's going to make this all work. All I see every day is people are paying more for goods, no plan on housing, more for energy. I mean more, more, more, more, more. So if you're the guy who said you were going to actually bring money into their pockets, instead he's making you pay in every part of your life.
Michael Kosta
Correct? Yes and yes.
Commentator
It's weird to clap for that, by the way.
Michael Kosta
Well, this audience just keeps clapping over and over again. But they don't in your rebuttal. I love this. I want to make sure I get it right. You said, said don't tune out. It's easy to be exhausted, but America needs you now more than ever. Pick one issue you're passionate about and engage and doom scrolling doesn't count. The reason that connected with me was it feels so overwhelming. What do I respond to? What can I do? But the pick one issue is a nice action plan.
Commentator
Yeah, I think, look, I think part of what I worked on in this kind of war plan is if you're an activated person and you want to do something, do one of two things. Either go deep, particularly on an issue of democracy and corruption, because every single day he is threatening our democracy and he is like milking the cow of America as like a full time job. Right. Or go deep on the things that really affect people's pocketbooks. Right. So the economy, Social Security, health care, you know, VA benefits. So one of those two, one of those two categories are to me the place where people should go deep and you can't tune out. It feels comforting to stop reading the news and not be engaged. But I will just tell you, as I'm the youngest Democratic female senator right now, and I wouldn't be here.
Michael Kosta
Clap.
Commentator
Yeah, clap. I just have to say, like, like if previous generations had given up and been like, you know, it's really hard right now. Like, think of the women who fought for 100 years to allow me to get to this spot. Like, we don't have the right to tune out when previous generations fought and fought and fought. So not gonna do that.
Michael Kosta
If you tuned out after the election for a week. Okay, time to tune back in. Shit's getting real. So, Senator Alyssa Slotkin, thank you very much for being here. We're going to take a quick break. Be right back after this. Thank you very much, Senator.
Donald Trump
Appreciate it, sir.
Michael Kosta
That's our show for tonight. Now here it is, your moment of Zen. Donald Trump's first 100 days can be defined by one one big F word failure. Explore more shows from the Daily Show Podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount plus Paramount Podcast.
Advertiser
Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 247 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary
Release Date: May 2, 2025
Episode Title: Mike Waltz Leaves the Group Chat & Trump’s Town Hall Gets Racist | Sen. Elissa Slotkin
In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, host Michael Kosta delves into the tumultuous landscape of Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. The episode navigates through Trump's controversial actions, administrative shake-ups, and the broader political climate, culminating in an insightful interview with Michigan Senator Alyssa Slotkin.
Michael Kosta opens the discussion by highlighting Trump’s unconventional celebration of his 100th day in office. Rather than traditional festivities, Trump opted for a casual gathering with close associates, humorously suggesting he might have joined from the bathroom.
Donald Trump (02:03): "We've just gotten started. You haven't even seen anything yet."
This segment mocks the informal nature of Trump's event, contrasting it with standard political celebrations. Kosta also touches upon Trump’s interactions with notable figures like Stephen A. Smith, insinuating racial undertones in their exchanges.
A significant portion of the episode focuses on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz’s exit from his position. Waltz accidentally included a reporter in a sensitive group chat regarding military strikes, leading to his removal.
Kosta (06:04): "President Trump just announcing moments ago that he will be nominating his current national security advis, Michael Waltz to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations."
Trump's subsequent nomination of Waltz as U.N. Ambassador is portrayed as chaotic, with Kosta questioning the administration's organizational strategies. The episode also highlights Marco Rubio's overextended roles, humorously listing his multiple responsibilities.
Kosta (07:44): "Marco Rubio is very busy right now. Our own David Gura reminding us that he's right now Secretary of State, interim National Security Adviser, acting Administrator of usaid, and also acting Archivist for the United States."
The host critiques Pam Bondi’s exaggerated claims regarding fentanyl pill seizures under Trump’s administration. Bondi initially stated that 21 million fentanyl pills were seized, a number later corrected to 22.2 million, and then dramatically increased to 258 million.
Bondi (09:11): "Since he's been in office, DEA has taken 22.2 million fentanyl pills off the streets. This is 119 million lives Donald Trump has saved since January."
Bondi (10:55): "President Trump, your DOJ agencies have seized more than 22 million fentanyl pills which saved. Are you ready for this media? 258 million lives."
Kosta sarcastically acknowledges these inflated figures, emphasizing the implausibility and undermining Bondi’s credibility.
A recurring theme is the coining of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS), which Trump and his supporters dismiss as a legitimate condition. The episode satirizes Republican lawmakers in Minnesota’s attempt to codify TDS into state law, effectively criminalizing criticism of Trump.
Kosta (14:35): "It's a horrible, horrible terminal disease. It destroys the mind before the body, but the body eventually goes."
Child (15:08): "The bill aims to change our state's definition of mental illness to include a form of criticism of the current president."
Kosta ridicules the notion, calling it a fabricated mental illness used to delegitimize dissenting opinions.
Senator Slotkin discusses the economic repercussions of Trump’s tariffs on Michigan’s manufacturing and farming sectors. She highlights the uncertainty and financial strain small business owners face due to retaliatory measures.
Slotkin (27:55): "Michigan, I think, is like, uniquely positioned to be extremely vulnerable to these tariffs. ... So he's slow rolling us into a recession."
Slotkin emphasizes the need for the Democratic Party to adopt a proactive and strong leadership approach, which she refers to as "Alpha energy." She argues that Democrats must present a clear vision and actionable plans to address the country’s challenges.
Slotkin (21:07): "What we want is leaders who can lead us through and light the tunnel so that we can get through this moment of our history."
Kosta (26:17): "Trump Derangement syndrome is stage five."
She critiques the current Democratic strategy of primarily opposing Trump, advocating instead for defining and promoting their own agendas.
Slotkin (25:08): "I Just like, wrote a war plan, decamped with a bunch of my closest, like, friends and advisors and wrote our best stab at what we should be doing as a country to push back on the threats to our economy and our democracy."
The episode wraps up with Kosta reaffirming the necessity for active engagement in political discourse, urging listeners to focus on specific issues they are passionate about rather than succumbing to overwhelm.
Kosta (29:46): "What you've asked me is too many lives. Is there anyone we can call to thin the herd?"
Finally, the host commends Senator Slotkin for her efforts and perspectives, reinforcing the episode’s call for decisive and constructive political involvement.
Trump’s Leadership Style: The episode critiques Trump’s informal and chaotic approach to governance, highlighting administrative missteps.
Political Accountability: Emphasis on holding officials accountable, illustrated by Mike Waltz’s removal and Pam Bondi’s exaggerated claims.
Democratic Strategy: Advocate for a proactive and visionary Democratic approach, with strong leadership and clear policies.
Economic Impact: Detailed analysis of how Trump’s tariffs negatively affect key industries in Michigan, reflecting broader economic concerns.
Engagement Over Derangement: Encourages listeners to seek constructive engagement with political issues rather than being deranged by Trump’s rhetoric.
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the episode's exploration of Trump’s presidency, administrative challenges, and the Democratic response, enriched with notable quotes and structured to provide clarity and insight for both regular listeners and newcomers.