The David Pakman Show

Episode: 12/1/25 — “War Crimes Begin as Demands for Trump’s MRI Explode”

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: David Pakman

Overview

In this post-Thanksgiving episode, David Pakman provides an unflinching analysis of escalating crises within President Trump's administration. Topics include bombshell allegations of possible war crimes in a recent U.S. military strike, mounting bipartisan concerns over Trump’s cognitive health, the administration’s handling of an asylum-related tragedy, Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior, his threats of denaturalization, and financial disasters among Trump’s most loyal supporters. The tone is grave, sharply critical, and laced with facts, media soundbites, and pointed commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alleged War Crimes in Trump’s “Anti-Drug” Campaign ([01:00]–[13:00])

• Background

• A Washington Post report alleges that after a U.S. missile strike destroyed a suspected Venezuelan drug boat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a second strike to kill survivors in the water—a potential war crime.
• Notably, both Republicans and Democrats are raising alarms, moving from questioning the legality of the strikes to discussing outright war crimes.
• Over 80 people reportedly killed in these operations since September.

• Political Fallout

• Trump, when pressed, distanced himself:

  “I know nothing about it. Hegseth said he didn't order that strike of the people in the water… I don’t believe he did it, so I don’t have to think about that.” —Donald Trump ([04:57])

• Pakman sees Trump laying blame groundwork: “Trump being clueless… more as Trump laying the groundwork to say I didn’t commit the war crimes. It was only Pete Hegseth.”
• Bipartisan concern is rare, and senior Republicans (Rep. Mike Turner, Sen. Roger Wicker) acknowledge the gravity.
• Hegseth calls the report fabricated, but doesn’t deny the second strike.

• Legal & Moral Context

• Killing survivors in water is universally recognized as a war crime.
• Pakman to his audience:

  “This is not about self-defense… this is an order to execute people in the second strike… If American military officials, acting on a verbal order, executed survivors… it’s a war crime.” ([08:27])

• Calls for oversight and investigation in Congress.

2. Asylum Tragedy and Political Blame-Shifting ([13:00]–[18:00])

• Incident Recap

• An Afghan national, granted asylum under Trump, shot two National Guard members in DC, with one fatality.

• Kristi Noem (DHS Secretary) on Fox News attempted to blame Biden for poor vetting, despite the Trump administration granting asylum in April 2025.

  “His asylum was approved in April of this year on the Trump administration’s watch… but the vetting… all happened under Joe Biden’s administration.” —Kristi Noem ([14:18])

• Pakman debunks:

  “You aren’t vetted for asylum when you first come into the country if you haven’t asked for asylum… She’s lying. There was… no evaluation for asylum before someone’s asked for asylum.” ([14:55])

• Wider Context

• Trump and affiliates are in “full damage control mode,” yet their arguments expose contradictions on “extreme vetting.”
• Pakman notes right-wing panic, lack of accountability, and that the deployed troops were only in DC due to Trump’s “absurd scheme” of National Guard mobilizations ([15:53], [17:45])

3. Trump’s Cognitive Decline and Demands for MRI Results ([22:59]–[42:42])

• Public Meltdowns

• Trump rebuffed a journalist with “Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?” for questioning his blaming Biden over the asylum case ([23:48]).
• Thanksgiving posts included a slur against Gov. Tim Walz (“seriously retarded”) and wild rants about immigration, “Somalian gangs,” and conspiracies against Ilhan Omar ([24:00]).

• Expert Opinions

• Clinical psychologist John Gartner: “This is dementia—period. And it’s dementia combined with [Trump’s] toxic personality disorder that is beyond repair… As this deepens, the underlying personality traits… get amplified.” ([27:45])
• Dr. Vin Gupta: White House’s insistence on perfect health is “complete and utter nonsense,” pointing to Trump's obvious struggles: “Slow reactions, confusion… incoherence, fatigue.” ([29:45])

• Pakman’s Commentary

• These meltdowns are not simply “Trump being Trump,” but evidence of a “gross decline” in fitness to serve:

  “The big story is that this is not a mere tantrum… We are being told by credentialed experts, the president seems to be breaking down.” ([30:58])

• The public deserves MRI results; Trump’s obfuscation is unprecedented.

• Direct Excerpts

- Trump when asked about the MRI:
    > “If you want to have it released, I'll release it… I have no idea. It was just an MRI.” ([40:36])
- Pakman to audience:  
    > “How does anyone have no idea why they got an MRI or what body part it was for?” ([42:40])

4. Administration Policy Confusion, War Ethics, and Drug Trafficking ([44:35]–[49:18])

• In press conference, Trump waffles on alleged war crimes:

  “I don't know anything about it. He said he did not say that. And I believe. Would you be okay with that if he did? He said he didn't do it, so I'd have to make that decision.” ([44:35])

• On drug policy, Trump boasts of drug price reductions “500, 600, 700%” ([45:24])—Pakman points out the nonsensical math.

• Trump, asked if he stands by slur against Gov. Walz, doubles down:

  “I think there’s something wrong with Wallace.” ([46:31])

• On pardoning drug traffickers (e.g., Hernandez in Honduras), Trump claims it's a Biden setup with no evidence:

  “They said it was a Biden setup… And I looked at the facts and I agree with them.” ([48:13])

5. Trump’s Threats of Denaturalization ([52:54]–[54:00])

• Trump again signals willingness to target naturalized citizens:

  “If I have the power to do it, I’m not sure that I do, but if I do, I would denaturalize them.” ([52:54])

• Pakman, as a naturalized US citizen himself, reassures listeners: actual denaturalization is legally very difficult and exceedingly rare (single digits per year).

  “The scariest part is that Trump seems to think he can snap his fingers and start proceedings to take away your citizenship. But you realize that's just not true.” ([53:46])

• The real effect is a climate of fear.

6. Financial Disasters for Trump’s Base ([55:00]–[60:54])

• Wall Street Journal reports Trump Media and Technology Group shares crashed 75% since Inauguration Day, and Melania Coin dropped 99%.

• Pakman:

  “It is a bloodbath… the results of investing in Trump’s various schemes aren’t just bad, they are financially disastrous for the people who thought… I’m going to support the President and get rich doing it.” ([55:00]–[56:00])

• “Greater fool theory” described as the driving force—early entrants profit, later MAGA loyalists lose big.

• Serious policy effects: tariffs instilling market instability, gold up 60% on fears over Trump economic policies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• War crimes concern, bipartisan alarm:

  "If that occurred, that would be very serious and it would be an illegal act." —Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) ([07:30])

• Trump’s denials:

  “I don’t know anything about it. Hegseth said he didn’t order that strike of the people in the water… I don’t believe he did it, so I don’t have to think about that.” —Donald Trump ([04:57])

• Pakman’s ethical framing:

  “None of this is about self-defense... This is an order to execute people in the second strike. People who have been neutralized as a threat, their boat’s been destroyed, and they’re floating in the ocean.” ([06:24])

• Kristi Noem ducking responsibility:

  “The vetting… all happened under Joe Biden’s administration. That’s the irresponsibility that has completely devastated her.” ([14:41])

• Trump’s public meltdown:

  “Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?... you’re just asking questions because you’re a stupid person.” —Donald Trump ([23:48])

• Clinical psychologist assessment:

  “This is dementia—period. And it’s dementia combined with [Trump’s] toxic personality disorder that is beyond repair.” —John Gartner ([27:45])

• MRI confusion:

  “I have no idea what part of my body they were looking at. Sir, were your feet in the machine or was your head in it? Come on.” —David Pakman ([40:42])

• On threats to naturalized citizens:

  “If I have the power to do it, I’m not sure that I do, but if I do, I would denaturalize them.” —Donald Trump ([52:54])

• Trump’s stock market fiasco:

  “It vaporized. It’s like when you pour water on cotton candy and it’s gone.” —David Pakman ([56:55])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:00–13:00] — Allegations of war crimes and bipartisan response
• [13:00–18:00] — Asylum tragedy, right-wing blame-shifting, “extreme vetting”
• [22:59–42:42] — Trump’s public and cognitive unraveling; rising calls for MRI transparency
• [44:35–49:18] — Trump statements on strikes, slurs, drug pardons, and authoritarian impulses
• [52:54–54:00] — Threats of denaturalization; legal realities
• [55:00–60:54] — MAGA investment disasters; Pakman’s analysis

Summary Table

| Segment | Topic | Notable Quote/Point | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|------------| | Trump’s War Crimes Allegations | US missile strikes, Hegseth order | “Kill everyone aboard and then go after those in the water.” —Washington Post report | [01:00] | | Political & Legal Responses | Bipartisan alarm, Hegseth, Trump deflections | “If that occurred, ...it would be an illegal act.” —Rep. Turner | [07:30] | | Asylum Murders & Blame Games | Afghan shooter, vetting blame game | “His asylum was approved in April of this year on the Trump administration’s watch.” —Kristi Noem | [14:18] | | Trump’s Unraveling Publicly | Thanksgiving meltdown, cognitive decline | “Are you stupid? ... you’re a stupid person.” —Trump | [23:48] | | Professional Assessments | Dementia charges, Dr. Gupta, Dr. Gartner | “This is dementia—period...” —Dr. Gartner | [27:45] | | MRI Mystery & Public Health | Trump’s confusion about tests, transparency demanded | “I have no idea. It was just an MRI.” —Trump | [40:36] | | Financial Meltdowns | Trump Media, meme coins crash | “It vaporized. It’s like when you pour water on cotton candy and it’s gone.” | [56:55] |

Tone & Style

Pakman’s delivery is direct, unsparing, and often incredulous at the administration's incompetence and obfuscation. Humor and sarcasm underline moments of absurdity, but the overall mood is serious, cautionary, and urgent—reflecting the gravity of current US political events.

For New Listeners

This episode exemplifies David Pakman’s fact-driven, progressive perspective, with a focus on accountability, legal norms, and the peril of unchecked executive power. Although deeply critical of Trump, Pakman frames his arguments with detailed sourcing, bipartisan context, and appeals to basic standards of transparency and decency in governance.