The David Pakman Show: "Police State Grows, Caroline Crashes" – August 13, 2025

In the August 13, 2025 episode of The David Pakman Show, host David Pakman delves into the alarming trends suggesting the rise of a police and surveillance state under the current administration. The episode, titled "Police State Grows, Caroline Crashes," offers a critical analysis of governmental actions, hypocrisy in political rhetoric, and the broader implications for civil liberties in the United States.

1. The Emergence of a Police and Surveillance State

David Pakman opens the discussion by asserting that the current administration is actively working towards establishing a police and surveillance state unprecedented in recent U.S. history. He highlights the irony in Democrats now embodying the very actions Republicans once warned them about.

"There is an attempt by the current administration to create a police state and a surveillance state, both to degrees we have not seen in the United States for a very long time." (00:07)

Pakman points out the hypocrisy where Democrats are now engaging in actions like placing individuals in camps and leveraging digital health surveillance—tactics Republicans previously decried Democrats for intending to implement.

2. Federalizing Law Enforcement Amid Declining Crime Rates

Despite significant drops in crime rates, the administration under President Donald Trump has declared crime emergencies in cities like Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Pakman underscores the contradiction between low crime statistics and the aggressive federal response.

"We talked earlier this week about Trump declaring a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. crimes at nearly a 30 year low. Crime in D.C. specifically, the murder rate, down 35% last year, down 26% this year." (04:30)

Pakman criticizes Trump for manipulating outdated statistics to instill fear, branding his governance as "fear-based authoritarianism."

3. Hypocrisy in Political Rhetoric

The episode draws parallels between Trump's actions and previous warnings by Republican figures about Democratic overreach. Pakman emphasizes that actions speak louder than rhetoric, noting that Democrats are now enacting the very policies they once criticized.

"Democrats are going to surveil you through technological means. Well, that's what the new digital health surveillance apparatus of Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doing." (02:15)

He also references the misalignment between Republican warnings of a deep state and the current administration's deployment of federalized forces domestically.

4. Future Surveillance Technologies and Civil Liberties

Pakman discusses the potential expansion of surveillance technologies, including AI-driven facial recognition and emotional state analysis. He warns of a future where such technologies are used not to preserve rights but to suppress dissent.

"We're clearly building to something here would be spy aircraft, spy drones, surveillance drones used domestically, cell tower spoofers and stingrays, AI driven facial recognition that can look at how you walk, your gait, gait and voice stress and emotional state and trigger responses based on that." (08:50)

5. Digital Health Surveillance Initiatives

The conversation shifts to the rollout of digital health surveillance by Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pakman draws attention to the irony of Republicans now engaging in the very surveillance measures they previously warned against.

"Donald Trump and the HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They're rolling out this wave of digital health surveillance." (12:10)

He expresses concern over the permanence of such measures, likening them to post-9/11 surveillance expansions that never fully recede.

6. Financial Gains Amid Presidential Claims of Costly Service

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing President Trump's financial enrichment during his time in office, contradicting his claims of personal sacrifice and financial loss.

"Donald Trump spent a long time telling Americans that the presidency cost him money... But the analysis shows that that's a lie. Trump has gained hugely, hugely, hugely, hugely." (14:30)

Pakman details the estimated $3.4 billion amassed through various ventures, including "Trump Coin" and revenues from Mar-a-Lago, debunking Trump's narrative of financial sacrifice.

7. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt’s Press Briefing Crash

The episode takes a closer look at a recent press briefing mishap involving Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. Levitt struggled to address critical questions about Trump's policies and personal health, revealing a lack of transparency and evasiveness.

Interaction Highlights:

• Question on BLS Job Reports:

  "If the methodology is bad, why are you issuing any like let's give bet we're still going to give bad reports but only quarterly. That doesn't make any sense." (21:25)

  Levitt's responses were vague, referencing qualifications without addressing the core issue of data reliability.

• Clarification on Trump’s Russia Trip:

  When asked if Trump's mention of Russia was a slip or a genuine plan, Levitt ambiguously responded:

  "Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia." (27:18)

• Trump’s Health Transparency:

  Levitt was unable to provide clear information about Trump's health, ultimately failing to commit to releasing his physician's details.

  "We are not going to be giving you an update about that, sir. We are not going to be doing that." (29:57)

Pakman criticizes Levitt for her evasive answers and lack of accountability.

8. The New Media Seat with Benny Johnson

Introducing Benny Johnson in the "New Media Seat," the episode showcases a surreal exchange where Johnson asks about awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to an individual nicknamed "Big Balls"—a stark contrast to the show's usual serious discourse.

"Given the heroic actions of a member of this administration just a few blocks from this building, will the President consider giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Big Balls?" (33:10)

Levitt's non-committal response and Johnson's subsequent anecdotal recount of personal crimes in D.C. highlight the dissonance between anecdotal narratives and broader statistical realities.

9. Real vs. Reported Crime in Washington D.C.

Pakman juxtaposes Johnson's personal anecdotes of rising crime in D.C. with actual crime statistics, emphasizing a significant decline in various crime rates under the current administration.

"Crime in D.C. is down significantly, down 35% last year, down 26% this year. Carjacking is down more than 50%." (35:03)

He argues that policy discussions often neglect root causes of crime, such as socio-economic factors, in favor of punitive measures.

10. Interview with Texas State Rep. James Tallarico on Gerrymandering

The episode features a brief analysis of James Tallarico's effective handling of questions on gerrymandering during a Fox News interview with Will Klein. Tallarico successfully defended anti-gerrymandering efforts, leaving the host struggling.

"James Talarico is really good and this was a complete and total domination. Will Kaine trying to catch him in little minutia and James Tallarico coming prepared here." (44:39)

Pakman commends Tallarico's performance as a model for effective political communication.

11. Governor Gavin Newsom’s Satirical Twitter Campaign

Highlighting Governor Gavin Newsom's mimicry of Trump's communication style, Pakman illustrates how Newsom's imitation underscores the absurdity of Trump's rhetoric.

Sample Tweets by Newsom:

• "Donald Taco Trump, as many call him, missed the deadline. California will now draw new, more beautiful maps. They will be historic as they will end the Trump presidency." (40:18)

Pakman applauds Newsom's strategy, noting that replicating Trump's style makes Trump's own communication appear even more erratic and nonsensical.

12. Trump's Planned Meeting with Vladimir Putin

The episode concludes with Pakman's critique of Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He argues that Trump's focus on personal victory and media optics overshadows substantive foreign policy outcomes.

"Trump is going to measure the success of a summit, not really by the strategic outcomes... It’s that very fixation on optics over substance." (45:00)

Pakman expresses skepticism about the meeting's potential for meaningful diplomatic breakthroughs, predicting it may serve as a mere photo opportunity.

Conclusion

David Pakman wraps up the episode by reiterating the critical need to address underlying social and economic issues to prevent crime and insurrection, rather than relying on surveillance and punitive measures. He calls for a shift in political discourse towards addressing root causes and safeguarding civil liberties against encroaching governmental overreach.

Notable Quotes:

• "This is a police state that is building. We do have the health front." – David Pakman (00:07)

• "Caroline Levitt just loves it." – David Pakman (17:51)

• "Given the heroic actions of a member of this administration just a few blocks from this building, will the President consider giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Big Balls?" – Benny Johnson (33:10)

• "Madison has nothing to hide." – Caroline Levitt (28:57)

This comprehensive analysis by David Pakman underscores the concerning trajectory towards increased surveillance and militarization of law enforcement, highlighting the need for vigilance and accountability in preserving democratic freedoms and civil liberties.