The David Pakman Show

Episode: "12/10/25: Trump melts down as Dems win big"

Date: December 10, 2025
Host: David Pakman

Overview

This episode focuses on a cascade of Democratic electoral victories, deep Republican setbacks, and Donald Trump's public and political meltdowns in the wake of these events. David Pakman provides detailed analysis of recent election trends, critiques of Trump's recent economic messaging and behavior, and his ongoing struggles with both reporters and within his own party. The latter half features a nuanced interview with conservative thinker Ramesh Ponnuru on the state of the GOP and future directions post-Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wave of Democratic Victories

[01:00–09:30]

• Historic Win in Miami:
  • For the first time in almost 30 years, Miami elects a Democratic mayor, Eileen Higgins, who defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez by a substantial margin (59% to 40%).
  • “Democrats have taken Miami for the first time in almost 30 years. They have also flipped some other Republican strongholds and it has all sent MAGA and Trump into yet another meltdown.” – David Pakman [00:59]
• Downballot Successes:
  • Democrats also over-perform in key Florida state legislative seats and flip a Georgia seat previously held by Republicans.
  • Multiple races show double-digit shifts away from Republicans, confirming trends from recent cycles (Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey).
  • “20 point swings are wild. And the question is going to be: do Republicans take this seriously?” [05:20]

2. Republican Response and Party Crisis

[06:45–09:00]

• Republican and MAGA media minimize results, labeling Miami a “blue city,” but Pakman insists this ignores the city's long Republican history.
• Acknowledgement that unless Democrats aggressively capitalize on these trends, the impact may be muted.

3. Trump’s Economic Rally Disaster in Pennsylvania

[09:00–19:36]

• Trump's Rally Missteps:
  • At a “major economic speech” in Mount Pocono, PA, Trump instantly defeats his own message by declaring that “affordability is a hoax” and “prices are coming down,” which is patently false.
  • “Within minutes of starting...Trump ruins the entire point by saying, this whole affordability thing is a hoax. Prices are down. We've fixed everything.” – Pakman [07:35]
• Audience Reaction:
  • Local crowd is skeptical; Trump's assertions that prices, rent, dairy, and even Thanksgiving turkey costs are down don't match reality.
  • Trump insists Walmart meals are now 25% cheaper, a claim debunked by Pakman who explains the “discount” comes from dropping items and switching to store brands.
• Notable Segments:
  • Trump telling the working class: "You can give up pencils. ...Your kids don’t need that many toys." [13:22] – Tone-deaf advice from a billionaire.
  • Rants targeting Ilhan Omar, referencing xenophobic and false tropes, which triggers “send her back” chants in the crowd. [16:15–18:47]
  • Trump’s boastful, disconnected rhetoric gives Pakman occasion to highlight his lack of empathy for struggling people.
• Transphobia as Sideshow:
  • Trump interjects anti-trans rhetoric: "Transgender for every member in your family..." [19:36]
  • Pakman notes these “greatest hits” distract from genuine issues like affordability.

4. Trump's Media Meltdown and Interview Disasters

[23:25–31:41]

• Trump Interviewed by Dasha Burns on Politico Conversation:
  • When asked to grade the current economy: "A plus plus plus." [23:49]
  • Ignores realities of economic hardship cited by reporters; continues to tout falsehoods about inflation and gas prices.
  • Revisits the “rigged election” narrative—insists new evidence will soon surface.
  • Dismisses concerns about people's holiday finances with: "Look, don't be dramatic." [28:32]
  • Blames Biden and Democrats for insurance costs, proposes giving people money to “negotiate with insurance companies” – which Pakman debunks.
• Handling Scandals & Policy Questions:
  • On pardoning former Honduran president convicted on drug trafficking:
    "Well, I don't know him and I know very little about him..." [30:19]
  • Admits confusion regarding Ukraine, oscillates on if he would “walk away” from the conflict.
    • "It's not correct, but it's not exactly wrong." [31:17]
• Mental Fitness, Authoritarian Rhetoric:
  • Trump responds to speculation about cognitive decline with a long Truth Social post, claims it’s “seditious” and “treasonous” for journalists to report on it.
  • "If Trump were actually confident in his mental state, he wouldn't be writing midnight tantrum manifestos about how great his brain is." – Pakman [35:30]

5. Interview: Ramesh Ponnuru – 'Thinking Person’s Conservative'

[38:30–58:56]

MAGA vs. Conservatism

• Ponnuru: MAGA overlaps with traditional conservatism via tax cuts, deregulation, judicial appointments, but lacks an actual, consistent ideology:
  “Trump disrupted the prior Republican orthodoxy...but it is not obvious that he has replaced it with something.” [39:36]

On Tariff Policy

• Ponnuru opposes Trump’s broad, scattershot tariffs, favoring traditional free-trade conservatism but is open to national-security exceptions: “What we're seeing instead is just chaotic kind of spastic protectionism...they are creating some serious harms.” [43:07–44:25]

Immigration & Social Issues

• Calls first-term Trump family separation at the border a humanitarian disaster.
• On “trans issues”: suggests federal policy focus on fairness in sports but criticizes making it a top political issue. “You can be firm while also... acknowledging there are good people on the other side.” [47:47]

The Future of the GOP

• Expects J.D. Vance to be next Republican nominee, barring a catastrophe.
• Hopes for a new synthesis between pre- and post-Trump party that focuses on national interest and helps families.
• Discusses the party’s struggles with low-propensity voters and the need to keep the new coalition together without Trump’s personality.

6. Trump’s Obsession with Press Secretary Caroline Levitt

[61:01–62:26]

• At a recent rally, Trump fixates on Levitt’s appearance:
  “When she gets up there with that beautiful face and those lips that don't stop, like a little machine gun.” [61:19]
• Pakman: In most workplaces, this would be considered sexual harassment, but Trump’s cult of personality normalizes it.

7. Odd/Glitchy Moments and Media Recap

[63:27–63:56]

• Highlights Trump’s public glitches and strange moments (e.g., awkward statements about miners).
• Jessica Tarlov (on Fox News) shoots down GOP talking points blaming current economic woes on Biden, pointing to Trump’s own failed policies and the administration’s reluctance to release economic data.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:59] “Democrats have taken Miami for the first time in almost 30 years... MAGA and Trump into yet another meltdown.” – David Pakman
• [07:35] “Trump ruins the entire point by saying, this whole affordability thing is a hoax.”
• [23:49] “A plus A plus A plus plus.” – Donald Trump, grading the economy
• [30:19] “Well, I don't know him and I know very little about him...they asked me to [pardon] and I said, I'll do it.” – Trump on Juan Orlando Hernández
• [31:17] “It's not correct, but it's not exactly wrong.” – Trump on possibly walking away from Ukraine
• [35:30] “If Trump were actually confident in his mental state, he wouldn't be writing midnight tantrum manifestos about how great his brain is.” – David Pakman
• [39:36] “Trump disrupted the prior Republican orthodoxy...but it is not obvious that he has replaced it with something.” – Ramesh Ponnuru
• [43:07] “Just chaotic, kind of spastic protectionism that is not achieving its stated ends.” – Ponnuru on Trump’s trade policy
• [61:19] “When she gets up there with that beautiful face and those lips that don't stop, like a little machine gun.” – Trump about Caroline Levitt

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00–09:30] — Democratic wins & Republican meltdown
• [09:30–19:36] — Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania and messaging failures
• [23:25–31:41] — Trump’s disastrous media interviews and cognitive spiral
• [38:30–58:56] — Interview with Ramesh Ponnuru on the state/future of conservatism
• [61:01–62:26] — Trump’s inappropriate remarks about Caroline Levitt
• [63:27–63:56] — Unfiltered moments and media critique

Summary Takeaways

• The Democratic surge in the latest round of elections signals major problems for the GOP and especially the Trump-aligned MAGA wing.
• Trump’s attempts to spin away economic anxieties fail with both crowds and media, as his message and claims fall flat and alienate working Americans.
• His fixation on culture war issues and personal feuds is increasingly disconnected from voters’ material concerns.
• The interview with Ramesh Ponnuru highlights the ideological drift of the Republican Party under Trump and outlines a path forward that blends old and new priorities—but underscores the uncertainty about the GOP’s future after Trump.
• Ongoing inappropriate public behavior, odd physical and verbal glitches, and angry rants against the press and his own staffers further cement the sense of instability inside Trumpworld.
• The episode affirms a growing disconnect between Republican messaging and voters’ lived realities, and previews a potentially turbulent 2026 midterm cycle.