Podcast Summary: The David Pakman Show

Episode: Presidency New Lows as Trump Humiliated in Davos

Date: January 21, 2026
Host: David Pakman
Special Guest: Maryland Governor Wes Moore

Main Theme

This episode unpacks the recent and dramatic unraveling of Donald Trump's presidency, highlighting collapsing polling numbers, domestic and global humiliations (most notably during his Davos speech), erratic governance impacting the economy, and the increasingly vocal calls—including from within his own camp—for a psychiatric evaluation of the president. David Pakman holds an in-depth interview with Maryland Governor Wes Moore about federal overreach, state-level resistance to Trump’s policies, and successful crime reduction under his leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Damning New Polls & Public Sentiment ([00:00–08:56])

• Polls Reveal Deep Discontent
  • 61% of Americans say U.S. is on the wrong track under Trump.
  • 71% think the country is “out of control”.
  • Public has little trust (just 34%) in economic data released by the Trump administration.
• Specific Policies Rejected
  • Only 37% support sending federal troops to Minneapolis.
  • 47% approve of protests against ICE, but this rises to 77% if the protests are peaceful—a notable gap showing confusion or discomfort with First Amendment rights.
  • Minimal support for interventionist foreign policy moves:
    • 31% support invading Venezuela.
    • 9% support taking Greenland by force.
• Low Approval on Signature Issues
  • Crime: 42% approve of Trump’s handling.
  • Immigration: 43% approve.
  • Inflation/prices: Just 34% approve.
  • “Only 32% of Americans believe Trump to be honest and trustworthy.” ([07:43])
  • A majority, 53%, see Trump as “dangerous.”
• Buyers’ Remorse & Latino Support
  • Trump’s support among Latinos "has been almost cut in half".
• Electoral Implications
  • With these numbers, Pakman predicts a "40, 50, or even 60-seat swing” in the midterms, referencing his recent CNN appearance. ([08:13])

2. Market Turbulence Tied to Trump’s Behavior ([08:56–13:54])

• Stock Market Plunge
  • S&P 500 fell >2%, Dow nearly 900 points after Trump’s rants and new foreign threats.
  • Trump brags about record highs as the market tanks in real-time—a moment CNN displays side-by-side.
    • QUOTE: “As Trump is bragging about the stock market, the stock market is rapidly collapsing.” ([09:09])
• Bizarre Diplomatic Moves
  • Trump threatens tariffs (200%) on France over Gaza Board of Peace participation.
  • Feud with Norway about the Nobel Peace Prize leads to delusional threats to “take Greenland from Denmark.”
    • QUOTE: “Because Norway didn’t give me the Peace Prize, I am going to take Greenland from Denmark. Demented. It doesn't make any sense, but it is so erratic that it shook up the stock market.” ([11:38])
  • Posts on “Truth” about the US taking Greenland surface, using NATO in the statement and touting military strength.
• Implications for Everyday Americans
  • Pakman notes, “If Trump loses 5% of his wealth, it’s not a huge deal. If… firefighters and police officers lose 5% of their 401k, that is quite different.” ([09:21])

3. Trump’s Deterioration on Public Display ([13:54–21:06])

• Press Conference Meltdown
  • Trump slurrs, brings out a “book” of accomplishments, dumps it on the floor, and rambles incoherently.
  • Struggles to read, confuses “loved one” and “lover”; visibly disoriented.
    • MEMORABLE: “Here’s the book… I’m glad my finger wasn’t in that sucker. That could have done some damage.” ([15:25])
  • Anecdote about nearly injuring his finger with a paperclip; Pakman jokes this is a failed “assassination attempt” by "Antifa or maybe even Black Lives Matter."
• Rambling Personal Anecdotes
  • Tells a story about his mother and a mental institution near his childhood baseball park—goes nowhere, showing confusion.
• Callous Comments on ICE Shooting
  • Trump trivializes Renee Good's shooting by ICE, implying it's only tragic because her father was a supporter.
    • QUOTE: “I hope that the father of the woman my goons killed is still a fan of mine. That’s what Trump is trying to say here.” ([19:13] – Pakman)
• Delusions of Grandeur
  • Insists he should have received eight Nobel Peace Prizes.
  • Claims “God is very proud of the job I’ve done.” ([20:47])

4. “Easy Interview” Goes Off the Rails ([26:51–32:43])

• News Nation Interview: Stream of Consciousness Answers
  • When asked for 2026 legislative priorities, Trump fixates on straws and water pressure rather than substantive policy:
    • QUOTE: “And I’d like to have all of that confirmed by Congress if we can.” ([27:56])
  • Boasts repeatedly about “rebuilding the military.”
  • Portrays himself as “the hunter” this term, not the “hunted”.
  • Fails to recognize the name of an American hostage ("Dennis Coyle") and says he will “do some things on the Internet” to resolve it.
    • QUOTE: “Well, you give me the name Dennis Coyle. Okay, well, you give me some information, I’ll take care of that.” ([30:29])
  • Speaks of building a “golden dome” over the US—appears to think it’s literal.
    • QUOTE: “We’re building a golden dome, which we’re going to have a dome over the country. Somebody wants to shoot missiles. It’ll knock them out of the air like matchsticks. It’ll go very nicely. It’s amazing.” ([31:12])
  • Admits Insurrection Act would "make things very easy," showing autocratic impulses.
    • QUOTE: “It does make life a lot easier for Trump. You don’t go through the court system. You don’t, you know, it’s just a much easier thing to do.” ([32:08])

5. International Humiliation at Davos ([33:37–36:24])

• Davos Speech: Bumbling and Silence
  • Trump slurs through speech, mistakes Greenland for Iceland repeatedly; room is "dead silent."
    • QUOTE: “Remember, Donnie, Iceland is green. Greenland is ice. Getting very, very confused. The room just mostly silent. It’s...sad.” ([35:26] – Pakman)
  • Audience laughs at “friends and a few enemies” line—not out of respect, but disbelief.
• Claims of Historic Economic Boom & Manufacturing
  • Overstates domestic steel production and job numbers.
  • Pakman fact-check: only one plant actually broke ground (under Biden, not Trump).
  • Global perspective: Pakman shares that international contacts now see the U.S. under Trump as “no longer legitimate,” predicting soft power will be slow to recover.

6. In-Depth Interview: Maryland Governor Wes Moore ([38:30–52:12])

• First Segment: Trump's “Greatest President” Claim Debunked ([38:30–40:16])
  • Moore recounts Army-Navy football game encounter where Trump later falsely claimed Moore privately praised him as “greatest president”.
    • QUOTE: “Somehow that conversation in his own mind turned into me telling him that he was the greatest president of my lifetime. So it was fascinating hearing his recollection of something that just never happened.” ([39:50] – Moore)
• Baltimore Law & Order: Data-Driven Results ([41:06–45:01])
  • Violent crime in Maryland is down nearly 50% since Moore took office—a record drop.
  • Moore emphasizes collaboration with local officials and data-driven, not ideological, crime reduction: “Increase accountability and increase opportunity.”
• Rejecting Federal Militarization
  • Moore rejects Trump’s political deployment of the National Guard, stressing gubernatorial authority.
    • QUOTE: “I am the commander in chief of the Maryland National Guard, not the president. The governor is the commander in chief. They move on the orders of the commander in chief.” ([45:30] – Moore)
  • Expresses concern that state leaders must now seriously consider the possibility of ICE versus National Guard conflicts—once unthinkable scenarios.
• 2028 and Political Future
  • Moore reiterates: “I'm not running for President in 2028,” citing a deep focus on Maryland, not personal political ambition.

7. Calls for Trump’s Psychiatric Evaluation ([52:16–End])

• Growing Alarm Inside Former Inner Circle
  • Former Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham’s public plea:
    • QUOTE: “[This] presser is bizarre even for him...it's low energy and feels like he's mentally slipping. Congress, please wake up.” ([52:40])
  • Pakman compares Trump's mental decline to late-stage Reagan, underlining that even former defenders now express concern for Trump’s cognition.
• Conservative Off-Ramp from Trump
  • Right-wing radio host Erick Erickson, a hardcore conservative, warns publically that Trump's Greenland obsession could rupture international alliances and harm the GOP’s electoral future.
    • QUOTE: “Trump’s obsession with Greenland risks driving the Europeans away from the US... That would break up Naito, have Europeans demand we get our troops out...” ([~58:30])
  • Pakman frames this as “permission” for Republican elites/donors to finally abandon Trump.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• Pakman on American sentiment:

  “Only 32% of Americans believe Trump to be honest and trustworthy. And 53% of the country, a majority, believes that Donald Trump is straight up dangerous.” ([07:43])

• Donald Trump on 401ks:

  “Sir, you're making me look so good. My 401k through the roof. My wife thinks I'm the greatest genius, that I'm a financial genius like Warren Buffett.” ([09:12])

• Pakman on Greenland:

  “Trump deciding the US must take control of Greenland. We just, we must have it. And Trump issuing threats in a truth post...” ([11:22])

• Stephanie Grisham (ex-Press Secretary):

  “It's all the usual rambling, off topic tales, half truths, lies, I fixed everything, no one has ever seen anything like it stuff, but it's low energy and feels like he's mentally slipping. Congress, please wake up.” ([52:40])

• Pakman, on the international scene:

  “It's not even haha, Donald Trump anymore, it's... the US is just not seen as legitimate under Trump.” ([36:24])

• Governor Wes Moore on his encounter with Trump:

  “Somehow that conversation in his own mind turned into me telling him that he was the greatest president of my lifetime. So it was fascinating hearing his recollection of something that just never happened.” ([39:50])

• Moore on resisting federal militarization:

  “I am the commander in chief of the Maryland National Guard, not the president. The governor is the commander in chief. They move on the orders of the commander in chief.” ([45:30])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:00] – Pakman opens with polling data, “presidency collapsing”
• [08:56] – Market crash discussion; Trump stock market brag clip
• [13:54] – Trump’s disastrous press conference; finger injury anecdote
• [26:51] – News Nation interview with Trump: straws, water pressure, “golden dome”
• [33:37] – Trump’s speech in Davos—“friends and a few enemies”, Iceland/Greenland gaffe
• [38:30] – Governor Wes Moore interview
• [52:16] – Stephanie Grisham calls for congressional intervention
• [~58:30] – Erick Erickson’s right-wing critique; discussion of potential GOP “off ramp”

Summary Tone & Analysis

David Pakman uses his signature dry wit and factual, progressive lens to deliver a precise, at times caustic analysis. The episode blends critical commentary, real-time fact-checking, and pointed satire—without resorting to hyperbole beyond what the news itself warrants. Governor Wes Moore brings measured, solutions-oriented, and non-ideological pragmatism, offering a sharp contrast to the chaos described in D.C.

For listeners new to the show or this topic, this episode offers a sweeping survey of the dysfunction and danger of the current administration, underpinned by hard data and voices both from within and outside the halls of power. The careful selection of clips and robust interview with Gov. Moore provide rare clarity amidst political fog.