The David Pakman Show: “Governor urges Trump’s removal as shutdown drama escalates”

Date: October 2, 2025
Host: David Pakman
Main Theme:
This episode delivers a sharply critical, in-depth analysis of the ongoing government shutdown under Donald Trump, focusing on allegations of targeted retribution against Democratic-leaning states, the legal and constitutional crises this provokes, calls for Trump’s removal under the 25th Amendment, and the wider collapse of democratic norms and economic stability. David Pakman interweaves breaking news, blistering commentary, notable quotes, and key moments from politicians, press briefings, and media coverage.

1. Government Shutdown as Political Retaliation

Timestamps: 00:07–19:00

• Targeted Funding Cuts:

  • Trump is accused of weaponizing the shutdown by cutting off federal money predominantly to “blue states” that didn’t vote for him. Russ Vought, Trump’s budget director, brags about slashing nearly $8 billion in green energy projects and freezing $18 billion for vital New York transit infrastructure.
    • Quote (00:26): “Trump is cutting off federal money, not across the board, not fairly, but to states that voted against him in the presidential election. ... This is just about authoritarian punishment.”

• Legality and Congressional Authority:

  • Pakman emphasizes these cuts violate constitutional principles, with Congress—not the president—holding spending power.
    • Quote (02:52): “Congress decides how money gets spent. President doesn’t have the power to cancel [funding] because he wants political revenge. It’s illegal. It breaks the idea of equal protection under the law.”

• Broader Economic Impact:

  • Pakman points out that blue states are economic engines, and harming them sinks the entire country. He warns that today’s cuts to infrastructure and climate projects could soon target schools, healthcare, and disaster relief.

• Christian Nationalism & ‘Colloquial Civil War’:

  • Pakman links these policies to Christian nationalist ideology, where only one group of Americans “is real.”

• Action for the Left:

  • Lawsuits by state attorneys general and cities.
  • Congressional hearings and subpoenas, regardless of being in the minority.
  • Governors and mayors taking the fight public and emphasizing the human costs.
  • Winning the messaging war: “Do not let Donald Trump call this some form of triage. ... Call it what it is. This is retaliation. It is revenge. It’s certainly un-American and it appears to be illegal.” (08:31)

2. The Epstein Files and the True Motive for the Shutdown

Timestamps: 15:51–21:00

• Shutdown as Delay Tactic:

  • Pakman alleges the real reason for Trump’s casual attitude is to prevent the release of the “Epstein files.”
    • Donald Trump and MAGA House Speaker Mike Johnson are accused of refusing to swear in Adelita Grijalva, whose vote could force the release.
    • Quote (18:15): "For as long as the government is shut down, the release of the Epstein files won't happen. ... Delaying or preventing the release of the Epstein files is what Donald Trump really cares about."

• Trump’s Past Statements:

  • Pakman highlights hypocrisy, noting that Trump previously argued shutdowns were always blamed on the president.

3. Erosion of Democratic Institutions & Trump’s Fitness

Timestamps: 18:40–26:00

• Confrontation with MAGA Mike Johnson:

  • Congresswoman Madeleine Dean calls Trump "unhinged" and "unwell." Johnson’s flippant response is to say there's unstable people on “your side too.”
    • Key Clip (18:40):
      • Dean: “The President is unhinged. He is unwell.”
      • Johnson: “What are you doing on your side?”
      • Dean: “I don’t control...that performance in front of the generals...is so dangerous. ... Our allies are looking elsewhere. Our enemies are laughing.”

• Republican Accountability:

  • Pakman excoriates Republican leaders for enabling Trump privately while deflecting publicly. He calls for voters to hold them accountable in future elections.

4. Jobs Crisis under Trump’s Shutdown

Timestamps: 22:00–32:00

• Stunning Job Losses:

  • The ADP private payrolls report shows 32,000 jobs lost in September—worst in over two years. August’s numbers revised down, revealing losses rather than small gains.
    • Quote (24:09): “Private sector payrolls have now dropped in three of the last four months, according to ADP.”
    • Sectors hit hardest: leisure and hospitality (-19,000), professional/business services (-29,000), and construction (-5,000). Small businesses lose 40,000 jobs.

• Tourism Down, Blame on Trump:

  • Declining tourism and hospitality blamed on Trump-era policies making the U.S. less attractive internationally.

• Narrative Control:

  • Trump is accused of attempting to manipulate job numbers by firing the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner.

5. Growing Movement for Trump’s Removal

Timestamps: 31:50–39:00

• Governors Speak Out:

  • California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker publicly claim Trump has dementia, calling for his removal via the 25th Amendment.
    • Quote (32:06): “There is something genuinely wrong with this man and the 25th Amendment ought to be invoked.” — Gov. Pritzker

• Pakman’s Take:

  • He applauds their frankness, noting Trump’s cognitive decline is impossible to ignore, and the case for both impeachment and removal is “as strong as it has ever been.”

6. Censorship and Self-Censorship in Big Tech

Timestamps: 39:00–44:00

• Google Search Anomalies:
  • Pakman highlights Google's “AI Overview” summarizing Biden-dementia queries, but not for Trump, suggesting corporate self-censorship due to Trump’s legal attacks.
    • Quote (40:50): “This is very clearly an instance of self-censorship. ... This is what actual conservatives used to say is bad.”

7. Authoritarianism in the Press Room: Caroline Levitt & J.D. Vance

Timestamps: 44:00–58:00

• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt:

  • Kushner & Middle East Conflicts of Interest:
    • Levitt stonewalls, calling questions about Kushner's ties to Gulf money “despicable.”
  • Trump’s Med Bed Deepfake:
    • Dodges substantive responses about Trump’s sharing of AI-generated, misleading videos.
  • MAGA Communism/State Capitalism:
    • Levitt defends controversial government stakes in private firms as “creative solutions” for debt, contradicting traditional GOP small-government rhetoric.
  • Affordable Care Act Cuts:
    • Non-answers regarding hundreds of thousands set to lose coverage, mostly in Trump-voting states.
  • Treatment of Migrants:
    • Flat denial of any “inhumane treatment,” against well-documented evidence to the contrary.

• VP J.D. Vance’s Participation:

  • Defends Trump’s racist, AI-generated memes as “fun,” missing the seriousness and inappropriateness, and trivializing criticism as over-sensitivity.
    • Quote (57:20): “You can negotiate in good faith while also poking a little bit of fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats...” — J.D. Vance

• Pakman’s Conclusion:

  • The administration is accused of embracing gaslighting and obfuscation, failing the basic tests of transparency and ethical governance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On weaponized funding cuts:

  • “It’s not America first. This is Trump first. ... Winners and losers will be decided based on loyalty to Donald Trump.” (12:45, Pakman)

• On the shutdown’s real motive:

  • “Shutdown isn’t a crisis for Trump. It’s protection. It’s cover.” (20:12, Pakman)

• On AI summaries and censorship:

  • “Authoritarianism is...make an example out of some people and then they will self-censor.” (41:23, Pakman)

Key Takeaways

• The Shutdown: Is used as a partisan weapon, targeting Democratic-leaning populations and violating norms of governance and legality.
• Legal Challenges: Governors and prominent Democrats are calling for urgent action through lawsuits and congressional oversight.
• Trump’s Fitness: Growing bipartisan acknowledgement, even among governors, that Trump is mentally and morally unfit for office.
• Press Hostility: The White House openly dismisses questions of ethics and transparency, stonewalling reporters and dodging accountability.
• Economic Fallout: Job losses, declining tourism, and government dysfunction have direct repercussions for ordinary Americans, many in Trump-voting states.
• Media Manipulation: Big Tech self-censors to avoid Trump’s wrath, undermining public dialogue.

For Further Discussion

• Will state lawsuits or Congressional action slow or reverse the shutdown’s most harmful impacts?
• Is the “Epstein files” theory plausible, or just a compelling political narrative?
• Can governors’ and public officials’ blunt warnings about Trump’s mental state break through partisan divides?

Listeners are encouraged to send feedback to info@davidpakman.com or comment on Substack.