The David Pakman Show Episode: July 18, 2025 Title: White House Staffer Explains Trump’s Panic as Polling Gets Even Worse
Introduction
In this episode of The David Pakman Show, host David Pakman delves deep into the declining approval ratings of former President Donald Trump, particularly focusing on his immigration policies and the mounting pressure from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Pakman analyzes recent political developments, examines insider perspectives from White House staff, and discusses the broader implications for the Republican Party heading into the 2026 elections.
Trump’s Failing Immigration Policies
David Pakman begins by critiquing Trump's immigration strategy, highlighting how it has fallen significantly short of his campaign promises. He references a Fox News segment featuring Jessica Tarlov, a liberal commentator, who presents alarming poll numbers indicating Trump's plummeting approval on immigration:
- Jessica Tarlov (00:02:26): “His approval rating on immigration ranges from minus 27, that's in Gallup, to minus 19 in CNN and minus 15 in the new Quinnipia act poll that's out today.”
Pakman emphasizes that Trump's immigration policy was touted as a major achievement but has instead led to widespread dissatisfaction across the political spectrum. He outlines key failures:
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Selective Deportations: Contrary to Trump's pledge to deport only violent criminals, ICE has been detaining and deporting non-criminals, including farm workers and individuals with serious health conditions.
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Reduced Deportation Rates: Despite aggressive rhetoric, Trump's administration deported fewer individuals compared to the Obama administration. For instance, last month saw 30,000 ICE arrests and 18,000 deportations, which is lower than Obama's average of 36,000 monthly deportations in 2013.
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Civil Liberties Concerns: The tactics employed by ICE, such as raids in public places and lack of transparency, have raised alarms not only among liberals but also moderate Republicans, indicating a loss of support even within Trump's base.
The Epstein Scandal and Trump’s Desperation
A significant portion of the episode focuses on Trump's reaction to the ongoing Epstein investigation. Pakman discusses Trump's recent behaviors that signal panic:
- Trump’s Truth Social Rant (00:07:53): Trump accuses Democrats of fabricating the Epstein case, likening it to the Steele Dossier and other alleged false narratives. He states, “The Epstein case is not a hoax,” but offers no substantial evidence to support these claims.
Pakman argues that Trump's attacks on his own supporters reflect his desperation as the Epstein files remain unreleased. He questions the plausibility of the conspiracy theories Trump is promoting, emphasizing the lack of evidence and the impossibility of orchestrating such a widespread cover-up involving multiple high-profile figures.
Key Points:
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Internal Rebellion: Trump's base, traditionally supportive, is now expressing doubts about the transparency promised by the former president, leading to internal conflicts within the MAGA movement.
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Media Response: Fox News personalities like John Roberts are downplaying the Epstein scandal, stating that no such files exist, which contradicts earlier statements from Trump-appointed officials like Pam Bondi.
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Potential Political Fallout: White House staffer Sarah Matthews confirms that Trump's panic is genuine, citing concerns that if the Epstein files aren't released, Republicans could lose up to 40 House seats in the 2026 elections.
Analyzing Trump’s Leadership and Future Prospects
David Pakman scrutinizes Trump's leadership, arguing that his inability to deliver on key promises, such as immigration reform and handling of the Epstein case, has damaged his credibility. He contrasts Trump's current administration with previous ones, noting the chaos and inefficiency under Trump's rule.
Notable Quotes:
- David Pakman (03:02): “Why do you think that?”
- Jessica Tarlov (03:03): “Because he's not doing a good job of being president.”
- David Pakman (03:08): “Trump's approval on immigration is in the toilet. It's historically bad.”
Pakman also highlights the contradictory nature of Trump's promises versus his actions, pointing out that while Trump claimed to excel in deportations, the actual numbers tell a different story.
Consequences for the Republican Party
The episode outlines the potential repercussions for the Republican Party if Trump's polling numbers continue to drop. Pakman references insider perspectives indicating that the Epstein scandal could be a catalyst for significant losses in upcoming elections.
Key Takeaways:
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Erosion of Trust: Trump's failure to uphold his immigration agenda and his handling of the Epstein scandal erode trust among both his base and independents.
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Internal Struggles: As highlighted by Sarah Matthews, the Republican Party is grappling with internal divisions and a damaged public image, which could translate into substantial electoral losses.
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Media’s Role: Fox News’ mixed messaging—trying to maintain access to Trump while catering to a skeptical audience—further complicates the political landscape and the party's unity.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
In closing, David Pakman asserts that Trump's political influence is waning as his administration's scandals and policy failures become increasingly untenable. He posits that unless significant changes are made, the Republican Party faces a challenging road ahead with the potential for substantial losses in future elections.
Pakman urges his audience to remain informed and engaged, emphasizing the importance of independent media in uncovering and analyzing these critical issues.
Audience Feedback Highlights
Towards the end of the episode, Pakman addresses listener feedback, reinforcing his commitment to providing factual, opinionated analysis. Key comments include:
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Ye Assua: Criticizes the spread of divisiveness through Trump’s actions.
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Therese Longo Chubbuck: Misinterprets Medicaid cuts, highlighting misconceptions about policy changes.
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Darwin Engie: Questions the impact of the press not covering presidential actions, leading to a discussion on the necessity of media scrutiny in preventing authoritarianism.
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Christopher Back: Commends Pakman for his role in defending justice and democracy, emphasizing the importance of independent journalism.
Final Thoughts
This episode offers a comprehensive examination of Donald Trump's declining political stature, focusing on his failed immigration policies and the escalating Epstein scandal. David Pakman effectively combines statistical analysis, insider insights, and audience engagement to present a nuanced critique of Trump's impact on the Republican Party and the broader political arena.
Listeners gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing Trump and his allies, as well as the potential consequences for upcoming elections. Pakman's balanced approach underscores the critical role of independent media in holding political figures accountable and fostering informed public discourse.
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