The David Pakman Show: Episode Summary

Date: September 22, 2025
Title: Charlie Kirk Funeral Goes Fascist as Trump Threatens Everyone
Host: David Pakman
Special Guest: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

Overview of Episode

This episode of The David Pakman Show opens with David's raw and incredulous reaction to what he describes as the “fascistic and disgusting” memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, where speeches by Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, and others "dialed up the temperature" on political rhetoric and threats. Pakman provides pointed analysis of the event, examines Trump's anti-democratic messaging, exposes MAGA hypocrisy, discusses attacks on free speech and transparency in government, covers new state-level pushback against secret police tactics, highlights corruption within the Trump administration, and interviews Governor Josh Shapiro on the threat of political violence and the collapse of American institutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk Funeral: An Orgy of Authoritarian Rhetoric

• Funeral as Political Rally:
  The service, featuring speeches by Trump, Stephen Miller, and Don Jr., is described as "one of the most fascistic and disgusting events" David Pakman has seen (00:07).

• Selective Forgiveness:
  Pakman contrasts Erica Kirk’s forgiveness of the shooter (as heralded by right-wing commentators) with the backdrop of vitriol.

  “The Erica Kirk forgiveness of the shooter, if sincere, is arguably a great thing. But the question is, what is the overall impact?” – David Pakman (01:28)

• Trump’s “Christian” Message:
  Trump proclaims he “hates his opponents”—directly contradicting Christian teachings.

  “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry.” – Donald Trump (02:49)

• Ranting About Tariffs:
  Trump veers into claims of tariffs making America rich during a eulogy, providing little comfort.

• Threats of Military Action Against American Cities:
  Trump boasts of “invading” cities with military force in Kirk’s name (05:12).

  “We’re going to go to Chicago and we’ll have Charlie very much in mind when we go into Chicago and we’ll get that one straightened out.” – Donald Trump

• Vows to Target the “Radical Left”:
  Trump promises DOJ investigations against “networks of radical left maniacs” during the memorial (06:23).

• Stephen Miller’s Authoritarian Rant:
  Miller dehumanizes the left, declaring, “You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are hatred. You can build nothing. … We are the ones who lift up humanity.” (07:18)

• Pakman’s Response:
  Pakman condemns the eulogies as inflammatory and “sickening,” warning they risk further political violence.

  “I am against the killing of Charlie Kirk, and I denounce it, but I also have to denounce anything that turns up the temperature and is likely to incite more political violence.” (08:15)

2. Trump’s Post-Funeral Press Conference: Sweaty Authoritarianism

• Pam Bondi And “Suppressing Speech”:
  Trump says AG Bondi should “focus on everybody,” regardless of evidence.

  “Focus on everybody. There are a lot of crooked people... If I didn’t win this election, our country would be destroyed.” – Donald Trump (09:48)

• Previewing Anti-Vaccine/Anti-Tylenol Conspiracy:
  Trump hints at a coming announcement alleging a link between Tylenol, vaccines, and autism, recycling debunked claims and attacking standard public health practices (11:34).

  “It’s like you’re shooting up a horse. You have a little body, a little baby. And you’re pumping this big thing. It’s a horrible thing.” – Donald Trump (11:55)

• Pakman Notes The Pattern:
  Pakman highlights the administration’s strategy of manufacturing health panics as political tools.

3. State Pushback: California’s No Secret Police Act

• Gavin Newsom’s Legislation:
  Newsom signs a law banning anonymous law enforcement except in rare cases, denouncing “masked men snatching people off the streets” as fascistic (13:58).

  “Masked men snatching people off the streets are Trump’s America. It’s meant to terrorize.” – Gavin Newsom

• Implications and Legal Battle:
  California aims to challenge the legality of secret police tactics, likely leading to major court battles over state versus federal authority.
• Comparison to Authoritarian Dictatorships:
  Pakman draws lines to historical secret police regimes (Stasi, Franco, Pinochet), and the hypocrisy of MAGA opposition to COVID masks versus support for ICE anonymity.

  “If you have state power carried out by people hiding their identities, the concept of the rule of law completely breaks down.” – David Pakman (14:38)

4. Collapse of Transparency: The Disappearance of Caroline Levitt

• Press Secretary Goes Missing:
  Trump White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt stops holding briefings, after months of promising maximum “transparency” (17:55).
• Double Standards Exposed:
  The administration previously attacked Biden for limited press access, now reverses itself.
• Pakman’s Analysis:
  The administration likely has no positive news or is hiding scandals (tariffs, deportations, Epstein files, etc.), leading to the “scaffolding of communication collapsing.”

  “This is what a transparency collapse looks like. … The basic sort of machinery, the scaffolding of communication is collapsing.” – David Pakman (19:19)

5. Trump’s Softball Media: The Peter Doocy Interview

• TikTok Sale and Right-Wing Media Control:
  Trump brags about an American takeover of TikTok involving the Murdochs, Larry Ellison, Michael Dell (27:06), warning of right-wing media consolidation.

  “Do you want TikTok turning into TikFox? The current situation is bad enough.” – David Pakman (27:44)

• Media Landscape Critique:
  Pakman references Pod Save America’s Tommy Vietor:

  “Murdoch’s and Trump supporters will own TikTok. Elon Musk owns Twitter. Mark Zuckerberg is an amoral chode...” – Tommy Vietor (28:40)

• Trump Jokes About Violence, Promotes Greg Gutfeld:
  Jokes connect drug cartel violence with late-night hosts losing their jobs; Gutfeld is praised as the lone survivor (31:19).
• Trump on AOC:
  Vague praise (“she’s got a little spunk”), but patronizing and distant (32:19).
• Business and Ferrari Talk:
  More puff questions showcase the coziness of the interview, with no pressing policy discussion.

6. Covering Up Corruption: Trump’s Deportation Czar Bribery Scandal

• Tom Homan Caught:
  Trump’s “deportation czar” Tom Homan caught on video accepting a $50,000 bribe; DOJ probe quashed by acting AG (35:29).
• MAGA Hypocrisy:
  Trump’s “drain the swamp” rhetoric contrasted with direct interference to protect loyalists from prosecution.

7. Interview: Governor Josh Shapiro on Political Violence & Institutional Breakdown

Start: [40:45]

Key Points:

• Condemnation of Political Violence:
  Shapiro calls for “moral clarity,” universal condemnation of all such violence, and warns of attempts to weaponize these incidents for censorship (41:31).
• Exploitation of Tragedy for Authoritarian Purposes:
  Shapiro draws parallels to post-9/11 erosion of rights and to Trump’s attempts to cherry-pick which violence "matters."

  “What’s really different now though is our institutions have been so battered and so weakened by this president that I’m very, very worried…” – Josh Shapiro (43:49)

• Chilling Effect and Self-Censorship:
  Not just Jimmy Kimmel’s firing, but broader intimidation and self-censorship among journalists and entertainers (46:14).

  “The act of doing something bold... then ends up having a chilling effect on your speech. … Limiting your speech, limiting the speech of a late night comedian … limits my ability as an American to hear different perspectives and that erodes our freedoms.” – Josh Shapiro (46:14)

• Right-Wing "Freedom" Claims Debunked:
  Shapiro accuses MAGA Republicans of systematically restricting actual freedoms (reproductive, free speech, healthcare, parental rights).

  “These guys cloak themselves in the blanket of freedom all the time. … Look, David, these guys are completely full of shit when it comes to freedom.” – Josh Shapiro (47:46)

• Addressing Root Causes of Violence:
  Discussion about why young men, in particular, are disproportionately responsible for political violence (49:12). Shapiro advocates for media literacy, discernment tools, and transparency around algorithms.
• What Real Leadership Looks Like:
  Shapiro outlines how a real president would have responded after Kirk’s killing:

  “A President … would have pulled us together … made clear that we’re better than this, that we’re not going to leave any room for this.” – Josh Shapiro (54:33)

8. Attacks on Free Speech and Media

• Jimmy Kimmel vs. Roseanne Double Standard:
  Pakman details MAGA attacks on his tweets, explaining the crucial difference between private company firings vs. government intimidation via FCC (59:51).
• Trump’s Efforts to Criminalize Criticism:
  Trump claims negative media coverage against him is “really illegal” (62:43).
  Pakman refutes this:

  “The First Amendment protects exactly this—media criticism of the president, especially when it’s harsh. That’s kind of the whole point.” – David Pakman (63:21)

• Historical Precedent:
  Pakman references New York Times v. Sullivan as a bedrock protection for criticism of public officials.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Kirk Funeral:

  “One of the most fascistic and disgusting events of any kind that I have seen.” – David Pakman (00:07)

• Trump on “Christian Values” at the Funeral:

  “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.” – Donald Trump (02:49)

• Stephen Miller’s Rhetoric:

  “You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are jealousy... We are the ones who build.” – Stephen Miller (07:18)

• Pakman’s Critique:

  “Nothing brings people together like telling half the country that they are worth nothing and do nothing…” – David Pakman (08:15)

• On Secret Police:

  “Masked men snatching people… are Trump’s America. It’s meant to terrorize.” – Gavin Newsom (14:12)

• Shapiro on Political Violence:

  “They are continually restricting the freedoms of Americans. I think the Democrats are the ones who are standing up for freedom.” – Josh Shapiro (47:46)

• Pakman on the Media Environment:

  “Do you want TikTok turning into TikFox? The current situation is bad enough.” (27:44)

Key Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:07] — Opening: Pakman’s reaction to Kirk memorial event
• [02:49] — Trump: “I hate my opponent.”
• [07:18] — Stephen Miller’s dehumanizing speech
• [11:34] — Trump foreshadowing Tylenol/autism conspiracy
• [13:58] — Gavin Newsom signs No Secret Police Act
• [17:55] — White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt goes missing
• [27:06] — Trump on TikTok sale; right-wing media consolidation
• [31:19] — Trump jokes about violence, late night hosts
• [35:29] — Trump’s deportation czar accepts bribe, probe quashed
• [40:45] — Interview: Governor Josh Shapiro on political violence
• [46:14] — Shapiro on chilling effect and institutional collapse
• [54:33] — Shapiro: What a real president would have done
• [59:51] — Kimmel vs. Roseanne—free speech double standards
• [62:43] — Trump pushes to criminalize criticism
• [63:21] — Pakman explains First Amendment protections

Episode Tone & Style

Pakman’s tone throughout is incredulous, analytical, and sharply critical of right-wing authoritarianism, GOP hypocrisy, and the Trump administration’s anti-democratic tactics. The episode mixes biting sarcasm, rigorous legal explanation, and a sense of alarm for the future of American democracy. Governor Shapiro brings a thoughtful, urgent warning about the weakening of institutional guardrails and the urgent need for moral leadership.

For Further Listening

• Pakman references a previous interview with Sarah Matthews, former Trump deputy press secretary, for more on White House transparency.
• Expanded analysis of the California No Secret Police Act, the future of content moderation and media independence, and institutional resilience planned for future episodes.

Summary prepared for those seeking a substantive, insightful take on the latest from The David Pakman Show.