3572 - Progressive Packs Maine Arena; Tariffs Take Toll

Summary

The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Episode 3572: Progressive Packs Maine Arena; Tariffs Take Toll
Date: September 2, 2025

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Brief Overview

This episode returns from Sam's vacation for a jam-packed Newsday Tuesday, tackling major political headlines, in-depth analysis of the progressive surge in Maine, and the economic realities of Trump’s tariff regime. The team—Sam Seder, co-hosts (possibly Michael Brooks and Brian), and contributors—mix signature wit with informed commentary on legal, economic, and political developments, while highlighting the shifting U.S. political landscape, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and rampant corruption under Trump’s administration.

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Key Topics & Insights

1. Political Rundown & Announcements

[02:11–05:18]

• Breaking News Highlights:
  • Federal judges rule many Trump tariffs illegal; possible Supreme Court appeal pending till October 14.
  • $800 de minimis exemption for duty-free imports expired.
  • Another judge rules Trump's military deployment in L.A. violated federal law.
  • House returns from recess; Epstein files and government shutdown loom.
  • Rep. Jerry Nadler and Sen. Joni Ernst set to retire.
  • International Association of Genocide Scholars declares Israel’s Gaza campaign meets the definition of genocide.
  • Multiple federal judges halt fast-track deportations, including a case involving 800 Guatemalan children.
  • Labor Day marked by anti-Trump protests; federal regulators pull back banking oversight.
  • New report: highest violent crime rates are in rural red states.

Memorable Quote:

"Trump to provide proof of barely life today in an anticipated announcement of the Defense Department becoming the War Department."
—Sam Seder, [03:38]

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2. Progressive Wave in Maine: The Fight Oligarchy Tour & Graham Platner

[09:07–22:12]

• Maine Rally Packs Civic Center:

  • Graham Platner addresses a massive, energized crowd as part of the Fight Oligarchy Tour.
  • Event seen as transformative for Maine politics; a year and a half ahead of the general, with primary nine months out.

• Platner’s Key Speech (Quote):

  "Our taxpayer dollars can build schools and hospitals in America, not bombs to destroy them in Gaza.
  ...an economy and government that works for the 99% and not just the 1%."
  —Graham Platner, [13:00–14:30]

• Notable Observations:

  • Watershed moment as support for Gaza becomes a major applause line—signaling shifting sentiment among Democrats.
  • Platner’s momentum could deter establishment favorite Janet Mills from running.
  • Discussion on how opposing AIPAC and centering progressive foreign policy now mobilizes the base.

Memorable Exchange:

"The more momentum Platner gets from things like this, the less chance of her [Mills] jumping into the race."
—Sam Seder, [11:26]

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3. Tariffs, the Courts, and Financial Shadiness

[39:27–61:24]

• Federal Judge Strikes Down Tariffs:

  • Trump’s use of “emergency powers” to impose widespread tariffs is ruled illegal by a D.C. appeals court; effects continue at least through October.
  • The $800 de minimis exemption sunsets, affecting retail prices on consumer goods.
  • Real-world effects: massive direct cost increases for everyday imports (e.g., tech items jump hundreds of dollars overnight).

• Consumer Fallout:

  • Inflation for goods, especially those under $800, is up; everyday items like cameras and shoes are used as examples.
  • Tariffs are described as a regressive tax, mostly hitting consumers.

• Who Pays for Tariffs? (Memorable Segment):

  • Rep. Barry Moore evades the basic question “Who pays the tariff?” from a frustrated Alabama constituent.
  • Attempts to deflect with a rambling Marshall Plan anecdote, failing to answer as audience presses him.

Quote:

"You know that because it took him five minutes to answer the question, who pays tariffs? ...goods are definitely getting more expensive."
—Sam Seder, [43:51]

• Shady Financial Deals:
  • Cantor Fitzgerald subsidiary, run by the Lutnick family, buys up the rights to “tariff refunds”—essentially betting with inside knowledge that Trump’s tariffs will be legally nullified and refunds paid by the government.
  • Connections drawn to further Trump-family grifting, including Eric Trump’s crypto ventures.
  • Discussion on the scale of wealth extraction and corruption compared to robber baron/Gilded Age eras.

Quote:

"He is the most impactful president of my lifetime. And it’s not close."
—Co-host, [56:42]

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4. Legal & Civil Rights: Due Process, Immigration & the Courts

[30:30–39:27, 33:18–37:10]

• Federal Judges Halt Fast-Track Deportations:

  • Rulings emphasize that even non-citizens are owed due process under Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments—contradicting right-wing talking points.

• Alabama Town Hall Showdown:

  • Rep. Barry Moore confronted by constituents over due process and ICE’s overreach; Moore “rage-quits” when out-argued by a knowledgeable audience.

Notable Quote:

"That's what in the gaming community we call a rage quit."
—Guest, [37:00]

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5. Israel/Gaza: Genocide Scholars’ Resolution & Shifts in U.S. Sentiment

[64:51–71:34]

• Historic Declaration:

  • International Association of Genocide Scholars passes a resolution: Israel’s military campaign in Gaza qualifies as genocide under the 1948 Convention.

• Ms. Rachel’s Viral Plea:

  • Popular kids’ show host Ms. Rachel appeals directly to Congress for allowing formula and aid into Gaza, emphasizing the non-political, humanitarian crisis.

Quote:

"And this isn’t about politics. This cry of hunger is the same everywhere. It’s absolute cruelty to have formula miles away."
—Ms. Rachel, [71:34]

• Shifting Democratic Terrain:
  • Public pressure and the progressive base moving away from unconditional support for Israel—seen in congressional primaries and policy shifts.

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6. Corruption, Economic Instability & Regulatory Rollbacks

[56:07–61:24]

• Regulators Back Off, Risk of Financial Crisis:

  • Trump administration cancels banking stress tests; the panel draws parallels to pre-2008 instability.
  • Crypto now accepted as mortgage collateral; panel ridicules the growing financialization and looming volatility.

• Billionaires Warn About Wealth Inequality:

  • Even establishment figures like Ray Dalio admit the system is heading for a breaking point.

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Notable & Memorable Quotes

• "Folks seem to appreciate what he had to say there about Gaza too. ...this is a moment where the ground is moving underneath the feet of Democratic politicians."
  —Sam Seder, [15:11]

• "The more momentum Platner gets from things like this, the less chance of her [Mills] jumping into the race."
  —Sam Seder, [11:26]

• "If you wanted to build industry in this country, you wouldn't just do willy nilly tariffs across the board on products that will never be built in this country..."
  —Sam Seder, [46:33]

• "It’s so obvious... Lutnick Sons basically betting that the tariff regime is illegal and that the federal government’s going to have to pay back all this money."
  —Sam Seder, [58:34]

• "He is the most impactful president of my lifetime. And it’s not close."
  —Co-host, [56:42]

• "We want all kids to be safe, fed and loved. And they know that's the best thing for our children as well. I feel like politicians aren't hearing us, that we don't want children to suffer this way."
  —Ms. Rachel, [71:34]

• "The level of corruption is so astronomical... you have to go back to literally the robber baron era, I think, to come close."
  —Sam Seder, [59:49]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• Program News Rundown – [02:11–05:18]
• Maine Progressive Rally/Janet Mills Decision – [09:07–22:12]
• Platner’s Maine Speech Audio — [12:58–15:11]
• Democratic Party and Israel/Gaza Shift – [15:11–19:00]
• Legal Battles over Fast-track Deportations & Due Process – [30:30–39:27]
• Alabama Town Hall: Rep. Barry Moore, Due Process Showdown – [33:18–37:10]
• Tariffs, Who Pays?—Alabama Town Hall Fumbles — [42:09–46:33]
• Cantor Fitzgerald/Lutnick Sons Tariff Refund Grift — [53:50–61:24]
• Genocide Scholars Declare Gaza Genocide – [64:51–69:39]
• Ms. Rachel’s Plea for Gaza Aid – [71:34]

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Tone & Style

This episode blends irreverent humor and sharp progressive analysis, combining news updates, on-the-ground political momentum, legal education, and in-depth economic critique. The hosts maintain an engaging, conversational, and sometimes sardonic tone, juxtaposing serious issues—like genocide, economic upheaval, and corruption—with moments of comic relief and running gags about Sam’s vacation “curse,” inside jokes about “Cumbies” convenience stores, and lighthearted panel banter.

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Summary Takeaways

• The progressive movement is gaining real momentum, as evidenced by massive rallies in Maine and shifting priorities within the Democratic Party.
• Legal challenges are mounting against Trump-era policies—tariffs ruled illegal, deportations blocked, and government corruption called out.
• Economic policies (tariffs, deregulation) are creating both pain for consumers and windfalls for connected elites.
• The Gaza crisis is finally drawing wider acknowledgment as a genocide—both in international scholarly circles and American public opinion.
• Public pressure and grassroots movements are driving evolution on entrenched issues, including Israel/Palestine, labor, and economic justice—signaling a new blueprint for progressive politics.

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Recommended Clips/Segments:

• Graham Platner’s rally speech on Gaza and economic justice ([12:58–15:11])
• Rep. Barry Moore’s public town hall breakdown ([33:18–37:10], [42:09–46:33])
• Discussion of Cantor Fitzgerald/Lutnick tariff refund scheme ([53:50–61:24])
• Ms. Rachel’s emotional appeal for Gaza aid ([71:34])

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A can’t-miss episode for anyone tracking the front lines of U.S. progressive politics, economic policy debates, and the seismic shift in both party strategy and public consciousness around war, inequality, and corruption.

Transcript

[Sam Seder]

Hi, folks. Today's episode brought to you by sunsetlakesabaday.com if you use the code left is best, you get 20% off. I'm back from my vacation and guess what I did. I spent a lot of time drinking some of their new lifted teas. Whoa. Yes. I was on vacation so I could. Some of us get hit a little harder than others. But you got to try these out. They come in two flavors, mint and regular tea. They're very tasty. And they got what, 5.555 milligrams. Yeah, Brian knows. But they have so many other great sab a day products. They've got tinctures to help you sleep. They've got tinctures to help you relax. They've got gummies to help you focus or calm yourself. With a little bit of Tahasha as well. That obviously more fun. Yes. They've got, they've got lotions and salves and they've got all sorts of smokables. Great Saba day products, all third party tested, none with use of pesticides. They use integrated pest management. They have great farming practices, regenerative farming that they work with the University of Vermont to implement. They have great movement politics. They have done things like mutual aid up in Vermont in the wake of the floods. They've donated tens of thousands of dollars to things like carceral reform and Planned Parenthood and strike relief funds, refugee resettlement. On and on. Just an all around great company. Check them out. 20% off with the code left is [e-mail] okay, now time for the show.

[Brian]

The Majority Report with Sam Cedar.

[Sam Seder]

It is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. My name is Sam Seder. This is the five time award winning Majority Report. We are broadcasting live steps from the industrially ravaged Gowanus Canal in the heartland of America, downtown Brooklyn, usa. On the program today, federal judge on Friday rules many of Trump's tariffs illegal pushed off until October 14 for possible appeal. This says the $800 de minimis exemptions expired on Friday. Meanwhile, another federal judge rules that Trump's use of the military in LA was a violation of federal law. In D.C. the House is back from recess. Ready's action on Epstein files this as a government shutdown looms. And speaking of the House, Gerald Nadler, sort of a progressive within the periphery of Democratic leadership in the House announces that he will retire at the end of his term.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Good job.

[Sam Seder]

And speaking of retirement, Joni Ertz also set to announce her retirement during this week. Sucks. She also plans to eventually die. International association of Genocide Scholars declares Israel's assault on Gaza quote meets meets quote the legal definition of genocide. Trump to provide proof of barely life today in an anticipated announcement of the Defense Department becoming the War Department. Another federal judge halts Trump's fast track deportations. And another federal judge stops the deportation of 800 Guatemalan children. Labor Day features anti Trump protests across the country. This as a half a million federal workers have been stripped of their union rights in August alone. US Regulators cancel bank exams as part of a Republican regulation rollback. Abundance of an opportunity for a new financial crisis. And as the Trump regime queues up invasion of Chicago. New report shows highest violent crime rates are in rural parts of red states. All this and more on today's Majority Report. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

It is Newsday Tuesday.

[Sam Seder]

Tuesday.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Welcome back, Sam.

[Sam Seder]

Thank you for noticing. I was actually gone for the past week and a half.

[Guest or additional co-host]

People are saying this is proof of life.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah, people weren't sure. There was like bruises all over my hands.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah, you were wearing a big baseball cap with your mout.

[Sam Seder]

Like people see me after the show and I walk around with my mouth agape.

[Brian]

There's diaper debates.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Make sure you're charging the cattle prod.

[Sam Seder]

I could settle the diaper debates. Those are still happening. But everything else was a lie. I am, I am still here. I also want to make it clear wasn't anywhere near Washington, D.C. wasn't involved in any of that.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

No laser gun for Havana syndrome or.

[Sam Seder]

Anything like that there. I have longtime listeners of this program will know that very often when I go on vacation, like right wing figures.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Die or like October 7th happens, for example.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah, well, I wasn't on vacation and that was in Vegas.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh, sorry. So you couldn't.

[Guest or additional co-host]

But Limbaugh being. Limbaugh being maybe the most famous one.

[Sam Seder]

Limbaugh, I think even Breitbart kicked when I was gone, too. I mean, what do you.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Kissinger died when you were out?

[Sam Seder]

Kissinger? Yep. Maybe you should just retire. I mean, it might save the country. Dobson, I don't think. I think Dobson died when he couldn't. When I was. Or did Dobson die when I was. Yeah, that's maybe who it was. You know who Dobson was the focus of the family. Were you on vacation?

[Brian]

What do you say?

[Sam Seder]

I think I was on vacation when he died. I think he died last week. Yeah. James Dobson. I can write. I don't know anyways, but we'll see if Trump doesn't show up today or if they bring out a body double. We'll see.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I mean, I want to. It'll. It would be fascinating if he's struggling with his speech. Speech in some way because, I don't know, I mean, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but he's been off out of like the public eye and off camera for a week. When's the last time that happened?

[Guest or additional co-host]

I'd also just say it'd be the second issue. They've really hoisted themselves on their own petard, first being the Epstein files, saying like we're gonna expose all that and they get. Actually we're really implicated if they go after saying, how could you. When did you know Biden's decline was what it was? And then now they're trying to weaken at Bernie Sim already.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Remember the auto penny. We're going to. Trump has the auto sharpie.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah, we'll see. And I mean, I suspect he'll be out there with a very brief announcement that it's going to be that God did that. That it is now going to be the apartment of war.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah. War is not an easy way. Easy word to say with a droopy lip. I'll just say.

[Sam Seder]

I mean, listen, I, I am sympathetic. I'm getting up there in age myself. And you know, the. There's some like, rumors that he's had like a series of small.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Strokes.

[Sam Seder]

Yes, thank you.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I just had Sam's mid one.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly. But we'll see. We shall. We shall see. Trump will be making that announcement supposedly at 2pm today, so maybe we'll cover it live if it's. If it actually happens.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yes.

[Sam Seder]

A lot of news happened while I was out and I will be honest, I did a fairly good job of keeping things at like 3/4 arm's length.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Sorry for texting you all that stuff.

[Sam Seder]

So, you know, in the fun half, we'll talk about some of the stuff that I missed, but one of the things that I missed that I regret. And we're going to have them back on because this guy is great. There was a speech yesterday in Portland, Maine, as part of the Fight Oligarchy Tour. Let's play number 10. Just to give you a sense of the size of this rally. Brian knows this facility well. Right. What is it?

[Brian]

This is. It used to be called the Cumberland County Civic Center. Now it's got some corporate name and debt. Right.

[Sam Seder]

In debt because Cumberland County Civic Centers so like sounds.

[Brian]

It's so iconic. You know everybody.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah.

[Brian]

Like the Garden.

[Sam Seder]

You go to Cumbies. Is that. Where would they say, are you going to Comebies?

[Brian]

Comebies is a Corner store in Maine.

[Sam Seder]

No, I know. Yeah, you go to Cumby's.

[Brian]

All right.

[Sam Seder]

But here, take a look at the size of this. This is, I mean this is a lot of people to be in a political rally. Right. I mean come, this is, this is like the biggest facility in Maine.

[Brian]

Yes. Largest arena good.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

For a primary challenge. And the primary isn't for another nine months.

[Sam Seder]

And well, I mean it's also. This is part of the fight Oligarchy tour.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Right.

[Sam Seder]

And. But Graham Platter, I would imagine this is the biggest audience he's probably addressed. I don't think I've ever addressed an audience. This, I did one really bad stand up thing at Syracuse University with Janine one time that was. But that was, that's another story. And he killed it. This is really important stuff too because with Mills announcing that she was going to wait until November to make her decision about running, what she's looking for is is she going to have a clear field in the primary. And my sense is if she's not going to have a clear field, she doesn't want to deal with it.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

She's going to be 78 at the end of the year.

[Sam Seder]

She would battle test 75 young 78, battle tested years. And so the more, more, the more momentum Platner gets from things like this, the less a chance of her or jumping into the race. And then you know, the Democratic establishment to stop him if that's what they want to do. And I'm sure their inclination is now to do that. I don't know what that inclination will be in three or four months. Will have to rely on like one of those mothership guys or something supposedly that's floating around. We spoke, I guess it was two weeks ago about the mothership being basically some of the scam pack type of situation. But here is Platner. And on top of the fact that it seems like the folks in this arena again a year and a half out, we're in August when this speech and. Or September 1st, whatever, a year and a half out from the general election, like at least a half a year out from the primary. I mean this is, I don't ever remember seeing anything like this.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

And the biggest applause line here also gives an indication of what this energy.

[Sam Seder]

Well, that's another story. Watch, we'll get to that in a sec. Watch this.

[Brian]

Everyone in Maine knows in their bones that the system is screwing us. And we know it because we can see it. We watch from a sidelines of struggle as incomprehensible amounts of wealth and power are consolidated by very few. We are all looking in that and we all wonder why cannot we all share in that success. Our taxpayer dollars can be build schools and hospitals in America, not bombs to destroy them in Gaza. We can take back the wealth that belongs to us that has been stolen by corrupt politicians and the corporations that bought them. We can use government to usher in a golden age for unions and workers, not double down on gig work and union busting for the benefit of Wall street and CEOs. And we can have an economy and a government that works for the 99% and not just for the 1%.

[Sam Seder]

Folks seem to appreciate what he had to say there about Gaza too. The, that is what I think is fascinating about that line. I mean it was the, the reaction was huge and obviously the, the idea that we should be doing more with our tax dollars and we shouldn't be, we shouldn't be funding a genocide this issue. And I think what happened with Richie Torres while is gone on the Adam Friedland show and maybe we'll have him on later this week, not Torres. I don't think he'll find.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

You don't think he'd agree.

[Brian]

I sent an invite.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah. But during the 2024 election, Israel and Gaza was a wedge issue that cut against or cut in favor of Donald Trump, I should say. And I think what we're starting to see with that's an, that reaction is an example the fact that Richie Torres did not understand. I mean this is a moment where the ground is moving underneath the feet of Democratic politicians. And that Torres interview was an example of them not realizing it and waking up. And some are going to wake up and fall flat on their face like Torres did. There was that, I think he's a Kentucky lawmaker or a Democratic congressman who announced some backbencher. I hadn't quite heard of him.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I saw in North Carolina it was a woman who, who was a moderate who said she's not taking APAC money.

[Sam Seder]

There was another guy in I think in Kentucky who said the same thing this past week. There are some who realize the feet, the terrain has shifted underneath their feet and they're moving towards it. There are others like Torres who get flat footed and end up on their face. And then there are going to be some who I think are going to get elected because they are coming out so forcefully for this and forefronting it or at the very least not shying away and being full throated about it.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

And we Zoron staffers are working on Graham's campaign Right. At least one. So you can see, I think Zoron's answer about the one Democratic state was the blueprint for Democrats going forward. And he'll give that answer and you'll hear mainstream Democrats say, like, oh, he's not representative of the party. It's just commie New York City. But they never talk about how both the House Democratic leader and Senate Democratic leader are from New York City, New York state. You're not going to like analyze that at all. But whatever. This is the, I think, blueprint for how to run on this kind of issue more broadly. Because when you just basically make this case, we're saying, why are your taxpayer dollars going to bombing schools? Let's build schools at home. It's a very simple message that cuts across not just the Democratic base, but with independents as well. And so I think that's the blueprint going forward for there's going to be more and more of these kinds of candidates.

[Sam Seder]

And now is a good time to go and show your support for Platner.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yep.

[Sam Seder]

This is, this is the time where if there is an opportunity to give him at least, you know, breathing room in this primary, now is a great time to go and show support.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

He benefits a lot from a head start and crowding out the rest of the field. I mean, what's been so encouraging is that he's already, he's not even talking about the other Democrats in the race. From what I've seen so far, for the most, and there are a few, they're just very lower name recognition and Janet Mills is the highest name recognition who could jump in. But he's basically already running against Susan Collins. And I think that's another lesson just rhetorically for progressives, candidates who are running without the advantage of corporate money is that if you just kind of act like you can win and that there's an inevitability to it, it draws people in because for so long, I don't think that the obstacle to getting the Democratic base to support left wing ideas is as ideological as is portrayed by the consultant class. A lot of folks just want to bet on a winner. And people felt because the party told them effective and they were effective with this propaganda that Bernie could never beat Trump or left wing candidates could never beat Trump or Republicans. And you can't imagine more Platner creating this sense that like this is already a race between him and Collins allows people to imagine for more.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Although maybe that's too much of a story being told for the abundance.

[Sam Seder]

Guys, I will also Say I was very bummed to miss his appearance on the program.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

He was bummed to miss you as well.

[Sam Seder]

So we're gonna have him back on and soon, I would say even maybe before Mills makes her decision. You know, November, we got a little time.

[Guest or additional co-host]

He had the main. And nurses united in the background and the international, the IAM Union, which I believe the International association of Manufacturing or Machinist. International association of Machinists. It's over. Don't enter the race. We got our candidate.

[Sam Seder]

I. It is very encouraging that Mills is waiting until November because if you're definitely going to run, you don't do that. And if you, if you're desperate to win, you're. She wants to see that there's going to be no big hurdle for her. And as you start to see like, it's going to be interesting to see what happens. Like, I know these two things seem completely unrelated, but Andrew Cuomo, he goes down in New York City, former governor of New York State, can't win in the biggest city in his. In his state. That's a sign. Even like with, with the idea of Nadler retiring, it starts to create a sense of like, of where the momentum is and what makes, just generally what makes sense. All of these things will influence that decision. But exciting to see Platner already out there. Thousands of people in Maine going and hearing him speak and giving him standing ovations. Really impressive stuff. And Brian's just beaming.

[Brian]

I'm fired up. I was gonna go, but I didn't want to get back at four in the morning to New York.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

We don't have high speed rail to get you there, unfortunately.

[Sam Seder]

You know all the ways to get into Cumbies, like in the back doors, right? At Cumbies.

[Brian]

I've mostly bought things in the parking lots of Cumbies, not really inside them.

[Sam Seder]

All right, we've got a lot more to talk about. Got a couple of words from our sponsors. Delete Me is a product that I've been using for 10 years because basically because I do the show. And that was the, my, the first impetus for me to do it was I don't want. I want to be able to limit my public information as much as possible.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I was using Delete Me before I even started here too. It was recommended to me by people on my old gig.

[Sam Seder]

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[Brian]

So.

[Sam Seder]

But thank you but the service overboard, I mean but the thing that's great about Delete Me too is they, they go in and they keep doing it. So they send you a monthly digest of what they've removed because these data broker sites repopulate anyways. Take control of your data. Keep your private life private by signing up for Delete Me now at a special discount for our listeners. Get 20% off your delete Me plan when you go to join delete me.com/majority. Use the promo code Majority at checkout. The only way to get 20% off is to go to join deleteme.com majority. Enter the code majority at checkout. That's joinedeleteme.com Majority code is majority. We'll of course put that in the podcast and YouTube links. This episode also sponsored by Liquid IV. This is the one of the easier promos I do because every day, every day I do this show. I have at least one bottle of Liquid IV that I drink during the course of the show and it keeps me hydrated over my vacation wasn't as hot as I had hoped it would be, but it was warm. I'm moving around, I got to drink my my Liquid IV and and the beauty is super easy to carry with you because it comes in little packets. You can ditch the glitch with zero sugar and zero crash from Liquid IV's new energy. Oh, I didn't know this. This was one of my favorite ones, the energy multiplier and now they have it in sugar free.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Wow.

[Sam Seder]

I've been using the sugar free raspberry lemonade. You know, raspberry melon too, but I'm on the raspberry lemonade now. That's my big thing. But I didn't realize they had the energy multiplier. It is scientifically formulated to support physical energy, hydration, focus, mood and social stamina. I wonder if that's with the Matcha because I love that one but I decided to do just the sugar free but visit liquidiv.com use the code majority rep at checkout for 20% off your first order. Just one stick in 16 ounces of water hydrates you better than water alone. It is powered by LIV Hydro Science, which is basically just an optimized ratio of electrolytes, essential vitamins and clinically tested nutrients that turn ordinary water into extraordinary hydration. Eight essential vitamins and nutrients always non gmo, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and soy free. And I'll tell you something, I really do feel a difference. There's on some weekend days I don't have it and I feel it by the end of the day. Staying hydrated is super important. Ditch the glitch with zero sugar and zero crash from Liquid IV. Tear poor, live more. Go to liquid IV.com get 20% off your first order with code majority rep at checkout. That's 20% off your first order with Code majority rep not majority report but majority [e-mail] of course we'll put the link in the podcast and YouTube descriptions. Check them out. Both those products worth checking out. All right, let's go to I guess it was Friday federal judge halted the fast tracking deportation authority that Donald Trump has been using. Of course, you know I think there's something like 1 million now folks missing from the labor market. People are afraid. You know we still have the Trump administration trying to convince. I think in California I used to have the ability federal judge for ice to have the ability to essentially racially profile if you look brown, if you're not speaking English, maybe an a game point or if you're working at certain jobs they can just pull up on you with just cause and that's what's happening. Let's this is number. Just give me one second, folks. Yeah, well I want to play that clip in a second. But on Sunday, a separate federal judge prevented the Trump administration from sending a group of migrant Guatemalan children that had already been boarded onto a plane and hundreds more in government shelters from being deported. The judge, Sparkle Suknan, said she had been awakened at 2:35am and alerted to the case. She issued a temporary restraining order halting removal of the children who are ages 10 to 17 for 14 days. She expanded the order to include any Guatemalan unaccompanied minors in the custody of the U.S. department of Health and Human Services. This group could number in the hundreds of children.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Kidnapping.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah. Meanwhile, a federal judge on Friday had blocked the Trump administration from carrying out fast tracked deportations, which essentially was a denial of due process. Due process that was established both by statute and arguably constitutionally due process. Again, let's not forget the Constitution is not that it bestows certain rights onto people. It is it requires certain actions of our government in relationship to people in the United States, not just citizens. And the whole point of due process is not that you're granted some type of like special privilege. It is to establish whether the government is accurate or telling the truth in justifying the actions that it takes. You understand that if you Due process is not something that's bestowed upon people like we're going to bestow it on citizens but not bestow it on non citizens because you can't establish that disparity without requiring due process by the government. This is a, this is a constraint on the government. It is an attempt to prevent tyranny. It is an attempt to prevent some, you know, whether it's Obama or Trump being a king who decides you go and you don't know. The government must justify its actions.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Although tell that to Kristi Noem. Remember in May. I was just reminding myself she thought that it was exactly what you're saying, that it's not trying to constrain the government from impinging on your rights. It's a like a luxury granted to people.

[Brian]

Yes.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

There's no. They flip that on its head because it benefits their abuses.

[Sam Seder]

Of course. And and if it were a luxury or a privilege granted to people, you still couldn't determine who.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah.

[Sam Seder]

Who is worthy of it unless the government was required to provide due process.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

But they claim that the Constitution is only and in their perversion of what due process is, their central claim is is that people who are not here as full citizens as of right now are not allowed to have those protections.

[Sam Seder]

So without due process you still can't even establish that.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Agree. It's just an amazing how many different layers of bastardization of the constitutional text that are present here.

[Sam Seder]

It feels like let's take a trip down To Alabama, shall we? And here is Representative Barry Moore. He is a representative in Daphne, Alabama. I'm not sure what district that is in Alabama.

[Brian]

Second.

[Sam Seder]

The second district. And I don't know, are there pockets of wokeness in Alabama of, Of libs? Because apparently people aren't too happy with Barry Moore's conception of things like due process.

[Brian]

There are those cases now where they're trying to clean up, and I think.

[Sam Seder]

We'Re going to have to look. Clean up. We want it here. We don't want you here.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

We want them here.

[Sam Seder]

All right, pause it. Here you go. You're. You're seeing people in his audience who have undoubtedly lost neighbors, friends, I don't know, storekeepers, folks, work colleagues working with them, folks working for them, being deported. People are starting to catch on. Like, hey, wait a second. This whole. I thought we were only going to.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Get rid of Trent Agua gang members and rapists.

[Sam Seder]

The grandmother living next door to me, she was an MS.13. And they're starting to realize that this whole program is just out and out xenophobia and racism and an attempt to purify the country.

[Brian]

He literally said clean up.

[Sam Seder]

Well, what he's trying to do is he's responding to them saying like, you've arrested citizens, you've arrested non criminals. And he's. We're working on cleaning that up. That's, that's his point. He's not talking about we're trying to white purify everything that I don't think they're.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

But, but in practice, this is an ethnic cleansing campaign. Let's be real. I mean, like, this is ethnic cleansing. It's just not in like the final stage that it is in Gaza or whatever.

[Sam Seder]

We must maintain the purity of the, the American heritage, which goes back almost over 200 years.

[Guest or additional co-host]

And the response from the crowd indicates that they're edgy about that sort of stuff for reason.

[Brian]

We don't want you here.

[Sam Seder]

We want them here.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Why are people not getting due process?

[Sam Seder]

So due process for a citizen and.

[Brian]

A non citizen are different.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

There you go.

[Sam Seder]

False, false lies.

[Brian]

The Fifth and 14th Amendments allow for it.

[Sam Seder]

The Supreme Court is back at many times.

[Brian]

Shame, shame. What?

[Sam Seder]

What, that's it? Not even a goodbye? Hi, man. Bye, Felicia. My God, that is so embarrassing. Did he not realize that there were people with video cameras there?

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I love that that guy came armed with, with the right defense there, which is that the Fifth and 14th Amendments do apply to all. The Fifth Amendment explicitly, explicitly says persons. And that is for the federal government on like these rights that are protected for those folks. And the 14th Amendment applies that to the states as well.

[Guest or additional co-host]

So people are so engaged.

[Sam Seder]

But what's also amazing to me is, like, this guy just, like, screw it, I'm just out of here. Like, he doesn't even give, like, a goodbye.

[Guest or additional co-host]

That's what in the gaming community. Community we call a rage quit.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah.

[Sam Seder]

He just throws his controller on the ground.

[Guest or additional co-host]

I'm done.

[Brian]

Take the ball and go home.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly, baby. Now, to be fair to Representative Barry Moore, who ran out the back door after his constituents apparently were aware of the Constitution, and that there isn't two sets of due process for two different categories of people in the country, categories of which you cannot establish without due process in and of itself.

[Guest or additional co-host]

They should have thrown a smoke grenade.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly. He could have done like one of the, like, oh, my God, is that a fire over there? And then just like, run out or something.

[Brian]

It's a squirrel flying.

[Sam Seder]

What? But here he is earlier in that meeting, and this is. This is coming on August 29, which was the day that Donald Trump had essentially, he had announced it prior, but the exemptions for de minimis tariffs was revoked on everything. All of the tariff regime that Trump has imposed up to this point still allowed for, I think, except for China. But I'm not. I'm not 100% sure on that. Allowed for what was known as a de minimis exemption. If you purchase something that was less than $800, you would not get a import tax imposed on it. That's what a tariff is. It's just an import tax. And while you had corporations who would stock up in anticipation of potential tariffs, while you would have some stuff, some products not available and the supply chain was starting to absorb some of the import taxes, the rest passed on to consumer. In de minimis situations, it's almost all absorbed by the consumer. And you're going to start to. People are going to start to see this right now. That video camera that you want to buy is going to be more expensive. I mean, everything.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

The stuff. I mean, shoes, the stuff. We had an immer last week talk about a tool, and I think that had parts that were either steel or aluminum. Those are going to be severely impacted because that's some of the highest tariffs that were put on earlier. So that is meaning, like, those effects are already being felt. And it's just like a preview for the rest of the tariffs that are being imposed.

[Sam Seder]

A buddy of mine showed me a camera that he bought for doing podcasts, has like a little tripod. It tracks you I asked him how much it was. He said it was 630 bucks. But he checked it again. It's now up to 900, literally a couple of weeks later. And this as a judge, another federal judge, or I should say a panel of federal judges, on Friday, I believe it was federal appeals court in the U.S. court of Appeals in D.C. 7 to 4 ruled against Trump and his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers act to impose all these tariffs. Generally, you need laws to pass these tariffs and you need congressional approval. He claimed that there was an emergency in this country because of fentanyl, and then willy nilly started levying these tariffs. And it looks like they may get rolled back. But again, the.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

The impacts are already being felt. The impact, I mean, as you find that, I just gotta say, like, even if some of them get rolled back, we have now frozen economic development in this country for over six months with this back and forth with the tariff thing. I mean, that is gonna chill the economy, regardless of the outcome of the, of this challenge on the legal front.

[Sam Seder]

And just to be clear, these tariffs are not going to be rolled back until mid October so that the Trump administration go to the Supreme Court. Now, I wouldn't necessarily count on the Supreme Court ruling against Trump, although there are some people who have, and we'll get to that in a moment. But here is that same Representative, Barry Moore, and the reason why he ran out of the room after people started quoting the Constitution to him about due process is because prior that, they also were basically schooling him on tariffs and trade. Here's that clip. They want to know who pays the.

[Brian]

Tariff as a consumers or a true exporting country. So right now, what we just saw in a report is that we haven't seen inflation at all. That was the question.

[Sam Seder]

That wasn't a question.

[Brian]

If there was inflation pays the tariff.

[Sam Seder]

Who pays the tariff?

[Brian]

Who pays the tariffs? Who pays the terror? Who pays the terrorists?

[Sam Seder]

Can I at least tell you about the terrorist, Please?

[Brian]

No.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Tell us who pays it and then.

[Sam Seder]

You can tell a couple things you.

[Brian]

Need to know about terrorists. But do y' all realize that after World War II, the Marshall Plan coming out of World War II, said, okay, Germany and Japan, in order to help you rebuild. We're not going to. We're not going to. You can sell your cars in America, but we're not gonna. We're not gonna force US Autos to sell into foreign countries. And so that's why when you go to Berlin, Germany, you do not see a General Motors product.

[Sam Seder]

When you go to Japan, you do.

[Brian]

Not see in Tokyo, you don't see Fords, but you see.

[Sam Seder]

It'S been going.

[Brian]

It's been going on a long, long time. What's the question? So Trump asked the mer L. The Chancellor of Germany said, why is that? She said, I don't know.

[Sam Seder]

Nobody's here.

[Brian]

Ask a question. And so we'll start seeing as we just cut the taxes on all the cars, the interest on the taxes that you. You'll get tax credit on any cars you buy. That helps the auto industry in Alabama, because. No, it looks like the. The shipping companies from the foreign nations are playing because we see any inflation in goods. Yes, you're seeing Inflation is 0.2%.

[Sam Seder]

Okay. Understand that the inflation measures that he's talking about do not take into account imported goods. And to the extent that there has been any downward pressure on inflation, inflation is up. Make no mistake about that. It has been from things like oil, because economic activity is also down. And so things like gas and oil get cheaper, but goods are definitely getting more expensive. And you know that because it took him five minutes to answer the question, who pays tariffs? And he starts talking about the Marshall Plan and how there's no, there's no big SUVs in Japan or in Germany. Like, like vehicles that would literally get stuck on these roads because they're so big. It's fascinating. Like, they must sit around. I mean, here the guy's gone in. He surely has seen videos of other people, of other town halls. He's going into this town hall. He knows he's going to get asked this question. But they must live in such a bubble where it is literally just driven by some weird resent that US Cars don't exist in Europe.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh, well, they're also working backwards from Trump's fixation on tariffs. I mean, do you think the Republican what gives you hope about the Supreme Court is probably what would be happening if Trump wasn't in power again, which is it would be more free trade, more, you know, allowances for corporations to make more money and offshoring jobs here in the United States. I mean, that has been Republican economics for years and years. But he has to work backwards from Trump's kind of insane Ron Vera calculation.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Why are American cars not being sold in Europe and why are Chinese cars being sold there? It's because they have central planning and they've decided to make the car of the future, and we've still been making the car of the American suburban past.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I mean, we are viral jokes when you look at our infrastructure and you compare it to say China or Japan or Europe elsewhere. I mean, and that's what he probably doesn't understand is that there isn't pride, I think, in the products here that he's trying to rely on that's gonna overcome people's economic hardship. He's using 1950s patriotism to appeal to people here. I mean, it's ridiculous.

[Sam Seder]

And let's be clear. If you wanted to build industry in this country, you wouldn't just do willy nilly tariffs across the board on products that will never be built in this country, that you wouldn't want built in this country, that you can't grow in this country. You would have targeted tariffs and you would then have the other half of the policy, which would be investment in these industries to grow them. But they're not doing that.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

They're scrapping the act.

[Sam Seder]

This is just a way to collect regressive taxes. That is what it is. It may be something else. You know, in Donald Trump's mind, it's like some type of, I don't know, a penis measuring contest. But for everything else, it is just a regressive tax. Here is Scott Bessant on with Lara.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Trump for, you know, because of journalism.

[Sam Seder]

And this is like, it's good that he was on with Lara Trump because no Secretary of Treasury could ever say this in front of anybody who was even slightly interested in the topic and get away with it. This is one of the dumbest things I've ever like. This is, this is not junior high, this is grade school reasoning.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Why did they even bother? They should have just had Besson in front of a mirror and that would have been the same effect.

[Sam Seder]

I think it would have been tougher because then he'd have to see himself saying self reflection. In this point at least, Lara Trump is like, I heard exactly good.

[Ms. Rachel]

Of course you have critics and they.

[Sam Seder]

Will say that the tariffs are a hidden tax on the consumers here in the country.

[Ms. Rachel]

But give us the reality.

[Brian]

If they're so bad the, and the American consumers paying them, why do we hear the European companies or the Chinese companies or the Chinese complaining about tariffs if it's all being borne by the American people? It's just, it's just not happening. When I talk about President Trump's let's.

[Sam Seder]

Let'S think about why a country and the producers in that country selling stuff to Americans would complain that all of a sudden the price is 10, 20, 30, 40% higher for that consumer and they don't see any of that money. It's just the consumers are going to stay away and not going to buy it, and it's not going to be worth it for them to ship it. That's why they would complain about it. I mean, it's.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah, it's bad for their business. That's why they would complain about it.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly. I don't know why, like, why would I complain if. If the iPhone started charging members of the Majority report an extra $2 a month? Because people will be like, wait a second, why is this so expensive? And.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

But if you're complaining, then the Majority Report listeners must be getting a real great deal out of it. That's what. That's what. That's his worldview. It's. If a Chinese company is complaining, that must mean that we are doing a good job. It's like the Chinese companies versus the American public. Don't you understand?

[Guest or additional co-host]

Again, it's like they only see the money going out and not the thing coming back.

[Sam Seder]

Right. But it's.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

They buy it all in bulk.

[Sam Seder]

He knows the truth here.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yes, of course.

[Sam Seder]

And it's just. I don't know if she does. She may not. She may not. But he certainly. You have haters.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Why are they wrong, Sir?

[Brian]

Give us the reality. What a funny question.

[Sam Seder]

And here's the interesting. One more interesting point about this. Tariffs before we go.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Go.

[Sam Seder]

So the tariffs are starting to be imposed in spring, you know, Independence Day or whatever you called it, Retribution Day or Liberation Day.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

How could you forget?

[Sam Seder]

How could you forget, like, ten of them? Exactly. It's called Juneteenth for business. Re.

[Brian]

Re.

[Sam Seder]

Liberation Day is here today. Ultra super liberation nation. Like everything in this country, the idea of tariffs, there has been a sort of secondary market on this. So if the tariffs ultimately are found to be illegally imposed, all of this money that has been collected by the federal government has to go back to these producers. Now, the amazing thing is these producers may get off pretty good because they may have passed on a certain percentage of that money to somebody else, the consumers, whatnot. Now, I don't know if they're obligated in any way to then pay back the consumers. My guess would be no. So you've got this potential of a tariff refund in the event that a court rules, the Supreme Court rules against these tariffs and finds that they were illegally imposed. So you have this thing called the tariff refund. Right? Now, let's say your tariff refund is worth $10, but it's hypothetical. It's almost like you're a creditor of a company that has gone bankrupt. You may get your $10 that they owe you back, or you may not. And what happens in those situations and has happened in this situation is that people came in over the past six, eight months and said you've got a potential tariff refund for 10 bucks. But you're relying on the court to say that these tariffs are illegal. You don't know if that's going to happen right now. I will pay you $3 and you give me the right to collect that $10 refund if it happens. And so you've got people buying up these tariff refunds. They're hypotheticals, but they're selling them for real money. That's what happens with bad debt, too. You get people coming in, going like, I'm going to pay you 10 cents on the dollar for that debt that you have. You don't even know if you're going to collect. I'm willing to take the risk. Well, it turns out the biggest, one of the biggest players in purchasing up tariff refunds really early in this process back in, like, May and in June, was this subsidiary of a financial firm called Cancer Fitzgerald, which up until Donald Trump became president, was run by Donald Trump's now commerce secretary. What is it? Howard Lutnick?

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah, but it's not run by him anymore, right?

[Sam Seder]

No, it's not. It's completely out of his independent. It is run by the Lutnick sons, and they have bought up a ton of this tariff refund credits. And the idea of, like, these financial, these financial products is not terribly, you know, shocking. People buy bad debt all the time. And this is what it is. It's like potential debt. But even if, understand, 25 cents on the dollar, 30 cents on the dollar. Wired reported on this over the summer, in June or May or April. Today, after this initial ruling by the courts, that's probably worth 50 cents on the dollar now. So as it stands, we don't know exactly how much of this debt they bought up. And remember, there's like, what, $100 billion worth of tariffs that have been collected at this point. Taxes that may have to be refunded, they may have bought, I don't know, half of $50 billion. For 25 cents on the dollar, they could turn around and sell that. They just like made billions of dollars. There is no doubt in my mind they're dumping half of it right now. They're covering everything that they paid for, plus a little more, and then holding onto the rest in the event that it, that it pays off.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yep. And one of the Lutnick Suns, I believe was, is doing business with Eric Trump on their cryptocurrency venture. And as of this morning, the Wall Street Journal reported, or yesterday at least, the Trump family has officially amassed $5 billion after their crypto launch, World Liberty Financial. Hopefully later this week we'll have on Molly White to talk about that insane level of corruption, but it's just amazing that this is accepted right now.

[Sam Seder]

Oh, the amount of money that these people have extracted from our economy is just, I don't, I don't know if we'll ever be able to fully sort of like absorb it. There'll be a little disturbance, but we're okay with that. It won't be much between the, you.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Know, being president when the COVID collapsed economy and this like, he's probably one of the most individually catastrophically or catastrophic person from a economic standpoint.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh, yeah. I mean, he is the most impactful president of my lifetime. And it's not close.

[Sam Seder]

Oh, yeah. And I have a feeling like, like the number of things that are just sort of propped up, you have these bank regulators backing off, basically testing more or less stress testing banks, which was a key feature in the wake of the 2008 crisis, making sure that they have the right amount of capital relative to what their investments are, making sure that they're not engaging in risky financial schemes with essentially depositor monies. I mean, all those type of things, all those woke things. You've got the idea that the floating around now that they're going to provide crypto as collateral for mortgages.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh, that's.

[Sam Seder]

Crypto is a little bit volatile.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

That's what we need. We need, that's the lesson from 2008. We need more volatility and speculation. And people are asking if we have a dog there. Sometimes you'll hear this. There's a dog in the hallway that likes to bark. So that may be.

[Sam Seder]

Yes, we don't have a dog in.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Studio, but there's someone that does on our floor. But am I hearing you correctly that basically Cantor Fitzgerald bought the rights to this refunding, essentially hedging on and with an understanding or a belief that there's a good chance that the tariffs are nullified by the court?

[Sam Seder]

It's about.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Ludnick has inside information about the tariff policy and the legal standing behind it, and his sons just happen to hedge on the tariffs essentially and get a piece of the tariff refunds. That's, that's, that's how this is.

[Sam Seder]

Oh, no, not a piece. Yeah, yeah, yeah. In the event that it is. Lutnik Sons basically betting that the tariff regime is illegal.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yep.

[Sam Seder]

And that the federal government's going to have to pay back all this money or a significant portion of it. And they have purchased the rights to those refunds for pennies on the dollar.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah. And it's probably. They're probably just freelancing and their father's the commerce Secretary. Right. They're just.

[Sam Seder]

Oh, I.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Going in blind and making that assessment. I mean, it's just. It's so obvious.

[Sam Seder]

If. If Wired published this, I have no doubt if Howard Lutnick saw this.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yep.

[Sam Seder]

Had no idea what his sons were up to. Yeah, that's. Are you kidding? I would never. I'm sure he sat there and instead of thinking, oh, my God, all of this business that I built up and gave to my sons, they're going to ruin it by buying all this worthless refund opportunity. I wish I could contact them in some way, but I know that would be wrong.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I have to let them fail on their own.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

They have to build their own pile.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly. It is their mistake to make. I'm sure that's what's going on there. He doesn't talk to his sons, only his grandmother, who never complains about her Social Security being cut off. The level of corruption. And the thing is, the level of corruption is so astronomical. I don't know. You have to go back to, literally the robber baron era, I think, to come close. And really, it's debatable. Yes, it's debatable as to whether this is worse than that.

[Guest or additional co-host]

I think this, like, Teapot Dome looks like, you know, good government.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Well, I read analysis saying that the level of incoming wealth inequality has exceeded the worst of the Gilded Age. So that's where we're at.

[Sam Seder]

There was. Where is this guy? Some, like, billionaire hedge funder is in the news for saying that wealth inequality has gotten out of control.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah. His name is Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates. He basically said that classically, increased wealth and value gaps lead to increased populism of the right and populism of the left and irreconcilable differences between them that cannot be resolved through the democratic process.

[Guest or additional co-host]

He says we're back in the 30s and 40s.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I mean, he's right.

[Sam Seder]

And it's leading to more autocracy.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Billionaire says what people have been saying for a while, but because he's a billionaire, there's a news story about it.

[Sam Seder]

Of course, you got to listen to him. And despite all of this, like, how massive this corruption is, within the context of the history of the United States, I'm sure that there's been much more extreme looting of various countries around the world. But in terms of the United States, we're probably in the most extreme sort of like looting phase of this country. It's still probably maybe the second or third, fourth headline.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah.

[Sam Seder]

When you talk about like, we're destroying the hundred and some odd years that it took to build up the premier institutions that deal with public health being destroyed within a context of a month in terms of like, labor rights being destroyed, in terms of like, safeguards for consumers and the economy being destroyed in terms of like, rolling up and building. We have now net negative migration into this country, and yet we are on the eve of increasing ice so that it's larger than some government's army, a domestic federal militia essentially, that is going around and going to be rolling up grandmoms and dads and kids and just your neighbors. I mean, so like the number of stories and we are funding a genocide and an ethnic cleansing and the annexation of the west bank and also destroying what appears to be the vast majority of our relationships with the other great powers and emerging powers in the world. China, India.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I mean, did you see that in the images out of brics? I mean, Putin, Modi and G were like basically doing a three way hug. Yay. America's destroying itself here. Let's come together.

[Guest or additional co-host]

This is exactly what we've been.

[Sam Seder]

All it took was $750,000 worth of Facebook ads. And look what we did. If only we had.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Now.

[Brian]

That'S why I say Newsom Slotnick, 28.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh, thank you, Brian.

[Sam Seder]

We will talk about Brian.

[Guest or additional co-host]

We have to check his bank account.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah, exactly. Brian is wearing a hat that says 1630 funds. Well, weird.

[Guest or additional co-host]

1630.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

But that counts as disclosure, right?

[Brian]

Exactly. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Guest or additional co-host]

It's like a NASCAR suit on it.

[Sam Seder]

All right, we got to take a break. We're gonna head into the fun half, folks. Just a reminder.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Did you want to plug that one thing? Just reminding you. Sorry, I am do. It's right there. Ms. Rachel thing.

[Sam Seder]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, shoot. Yeah, let's play this. I want to play this video. The. And this seems. I don't know, this seems about as definitive as you can get without a ruling from the International Court of Justice. Now, of course, the International Court of Justice has now been basically rendered almost completely ineffective between Israel and the United States. Threatening of multiple prosecutors, threatening of sanctions, threatening of people in this country who are going to Uphold any of those rulings. But the International association of and like literally countdown until, until Israel starts their own or the ADL starts their own. International association of Genocide Scholars, I should say it was a resolution passed on Sunday. The International association of Genocide Scholars, who consist of the world's most foremost genocide scholars, oddly enough, passed a resolution saying that Israel's nearly two year military campaign in Gaza meets, quote, the legal definition of genocide. It's sort of fascinating that this is not getting that much attention. Like, remember when it was a big deal? Like it was a completely and every. All these people would, would argue on Twitter it's not genocide completely.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Like, we're anti Semitic, we hate Jews because we would say so. How could you say that about people who were victims of the hostage.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Words have meaning.

[Sam Seder]

Killing tens of thousands of children as if leveling cities into rubble, as if bombing hospitals, bombing universities, bombing power plants, cutting off water, cutting off food. If it, if it's not legally the definition of genocide, it's okay, right? Like, that was the sort of, like why they would focus exclusively on the question of whether the word is appropriate. Well, the association has roughly 500 members, 86% of members who voted on the resolution approved it. The. One of the administrators said we were very surprised at the level of consensus there was really.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I'm not.

[Sam Seder]

The resolution states that the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel and prompted the campaign in Gaza constitutes international crimes. But it also concludes that Israel's Response violates all five conditions set out in the 1948 convention, including killing members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or part. That is according to one of the members of the association's executive board. The 1948 convention, of course, is. Was in the wake of where these, I guess, principles were drawn up in the wake of the Holocaust.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Yeah.

[Sam Seder]

The resolution accused Israel of carrying out, quote, indiscriminate and deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. The destruction of a substantial part of group constitutes genocide. The association concluded. Here is a clip from Ms. Rachel. As you know, we spoke to a doctor, I guess it was like two or three weeks ago, who had come back from Gaza or.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

No, he was in Gaza. Dr. Lubon.

[Sam Seder]

Right. I'm sorry. No, it's while he was in Gaza, he was also aware that the baby formula was being prevented from entering Gaza.

[Brian]

Now that was Amber Salimi who talked about that.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh, I'm sorry. So I wasn't there for that one.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah. Okay.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Okay.

[Sam Seder]

And she had a call who was stopped with baby formula and she had told us that baby formula was not allowed into Gaza. I'd be fascinated by anyone's argument as to why you can't let baby formula into Gaza. But here's Ms. Rachel, who has asked people to share this video. Pressure members of Congress, like we say the, we said this earlier, whether it is, you know, Richie Torres finding out that, like, oh, maybe the ground is shifting a little bit in terms of people's disposition towards Israel and what they're doing, whether it's Congresspeople deciding they're no longer going to take AIPAC money or Graham Platner getting huge applause in saying we shouldn't be using our tax dollars to destroy Gaza. Things are beginning to shift, at least within the context of the Democratic Party. And so passing this around, maybe we'll also see it shift to, in the Republican Party, at least in the context of providing baby formula for babies.

[Ms. Rachel]

Members of Congress, thank you so much for listening to me and Susie today. About 20 minutes ago, little Susie got hungry and I just grabbed formula and gave her a bottle. As I was feeding her, I thought about moms in Gaza that can't get formula and, and they can't breastfeed because they're too malnourished. I can't imagine the anguish of hearing that same cry, the cry of hunger and not being able to to feed my baby. And this isn't about politics. This cry of hunger is the same everywhere. And it's absolute cruelty to have formula miles away. Please sign the letter to get formula, food and aid into Gaza. We will remember who signed it. It doesn't matter if you're Democrat or Republican. This is about babies having formula. A few words to the Christian members of Congress. If you're not going to sign this, I would just like to know why. Because Jesus is so clear that we need to feed the hungry. He says when we feed the hungry, we feed him. He says to love your neighbor as yourself. And he's clear that your neighbor is everyone. And we would never want our baby to starve. We need to love our neighbors as ourselves. A chance to do something great and be one of the people that wanted to get the formula to these starving babies. Very connected to a huge number of parents having the number one kids show in the US and people don't want this. They don't want to be part of kids starving. They don't want to be part of 18,000 kids being killed. They're devastated. Moms are commenting that they want to send their own breast milk to Gaza. Everyone's saying, how can I help? How can I get these babies to fed? And you have that power and we just are begging you. And I think so many parents, parents in my community, their compassion for kids doesn't stop at borders. They want all kids to be safe, fed and loved. And they know that that's the best thing for our children as well. I feel like politicians aren't hearing us, that we don't want children to suffer this way. We want to be helpers like Mr. Rogers told us to be. When you were a kid and you dreamed of what you could be when you grow up and you decided to go into public service eventually, I know that you didn't want to be part of starving any child. It's not who we are. And I know deep within in your heart and soul, you know that that's wrong and we have to do something about it. History is going to look back on this time and say, who did something. Be part of this group that did something. I sat with a mom from Gaza, isra and I would to love, love for you to meet ESRA and I. We're both teachers. We both have little girls, but her daughter doesn't have legs anymore. Her daughter is Rahaf. The whole world has fallen in love with Rahaf. She is the sweetest, brightest, most loving little girl. Kids are our whole world and every child is a universe. And putting politics aside, Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter. We have to do something. Let's not let one more baby or child die of starvation. I'm sorry. So honored to have had the chance to talk to you and I want to thank you so much for listening. Thank you.

[Sam Seder]

We'll put a link to where you can pressure your congress people to sign that letter in the podcast and YouTube description. Gonna take quick break, head into the fun half of the program. Just a reminder, it's your support that makes this show possible. You can become a member. Join the majorityreport.com when you do. You not only help this show survive and thrive, but you also can IM the show and feel like you're supporting us. I don't know, just coffee co op, fair trade coffee and help us incubate. Exactly. Help us incubate. Just coffee dot com. Fair trade coffee. They're a co op and got great politics. They got a bunch of different coffees including the majority port blend. Use the coupon code. Majority get 10% off. That's going to be helpful. Price of coffee going up. Matt left Reckoning.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Yeah, Left Reckoning. We got a show tonight, very special show featuring the face reveal of. To some people anyway, who don't follow you.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Oh no.

[Brian]

What Low number episode for Left Reckoning coming.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

Wow.

[Sam Seder]

This is before you don't roll out any new products until the first week of September type of situation.

[Guest or additional co-host]

It's just like. Yeah, but actually we're going to be talking about this elephant graveyard sort of disemboweling of the Rogan Sphere. Rogan verse. I'm not sure which one is really taken off, but it's sphere.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

I think Rogan.

[Sam Seder]

Somebody's gonna lose their green room Pass.

[Brian]

Yeah, exactly.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

At the mothership.

[Sam Seder]

Somebody's gonna lose the green room.

[Brian]

I've linked up with a different mothership, so.

[Sam Seder]

Exactly.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Yeah. And I'm in a shake. Also talking about some organizing for unions against. For support again for support of Palestine and more. So check that out. Patreon.com left reckoning.

[Sam Seder]

Quick break. Be right back with the fun F.

[Brian]

You are in for it.

[Sam Seder]

All right, folks. 646-257-3920. See you in the fun F.

[Brian]

Are you ready?

[Sam Seder]

Who sent us this?

[Brian]

Alpha males are are back, back, back, back, back Boy is back and the alpha males are back, back Just as.

[Sam Seder]

Delicious as you could imagine the alpha.

[Brian]

Males are back, back, back, back, back Boy back and the alpha males are back, back, back, back Just want to degrade the white man Alpha males are back, back I take all of it to my throat Alpha back, back Snowflake says what? The alpha males are. You are a madman. And the alpha males are back, back. Oh, no. Sam Cedar. What a. Wow. What a nightmare.

[Sam Seder]

Yeah, or a couple of them. Just put them in rotation.

[Brian]

DJ dinner.

[Guest or additional co-host]

Well, the problem with those is they're like 45 seconds long, so I don't know if they're enough breaks.

[Co-host (possibly Michael Brooks or another Majority Report co-host)]

That's nonsense.

[Brian]

You see white people doing drugs they look worse than normal white people and all white people look disgusting and the alpha males psycho them. Snowflake says what? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? A lot of bank. Hell of a lot of bank A hell of a lot of bank okay, I'm making stupid money. Hell of a hell of a lot of bank A hell of a lot of bank all lives matter. Have you tried doing an impression on a college campus? I. I think that there's no reason why reasonable people across the divide can't all agree with this psych. And the alpha males are back, back, back, back, back, back and the Africans are black, black, black, black, black, African. And the alpha males are black, black, black, black, black, black? And the Africans are back, back, back, back. Do you think that America deserves to be taken over by jihadists? Keeping it 100. Can't knock the hustle.

[Sam Seder]

Come on.

[Brian]

Them. Them things I do for the bigger game plan. By the way, it's my birthday. My birthday. Happy birthday to me, Jew boy. I have a thought experiment for you. And the alpha males are back, back. Africans are black, black. Alpha males are black, Black Africans are back. Come on, come on, come on. Someone needs to pay the price for blasphemy around here. I am a total pussy.

[Sam Seder]

Pussy, pussy, pussy, pussy, pussy, pussy, pussy, pussy.