Timcast IRL – October 29, 2025

Episode: GOP Declares Biden Pardons VOID Over Autopen, DOJ Announces Investigation w/ Dave Aronberg
Host: Tim Pool
Guests: Dave Aronberg (former State Attorney, Palm Beach County), Tate Brown, Seamus Coughlin

Overview: Main Theme and Purpose

This episode dives into the escalating political and legal battles surrounding President Joe Biden's use of an autopen for granting pardons, alleged cognitive decline, and associated GOP investigations. The show also dissects the DOJ’s public communications and investigations into media influencers (including Tim Pool himself) over supposed Russian propaganda, and finally, the looming "Snapocalypse" — the possible expiry of SNAP food benefits during a government shutdown. It’s an episode centering on the breakdown of precedent, rampant partisanship, and the legal arms race between US political parties.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. GOP Pushes to Invalidate Biden Pardons (05:14–17:31)

• Main Story: The GOP is demanding that the DOJ invalidate or review certain executive orders and pardons signed by President Biden via autopen, citing his alleged cognitive decline.
• Legal Analysis (Dave Aronberg):
  • No explicit law requires pardons to be hand-signed by the sitting president.
  • Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the President broad clemency powers — once a pardon is accepted, there's no mechanism for reversal.
  • Even if the president approved after-the-fact, it’s still valid. “If he validates it even after the fact, then it’s a done deal.” (11:11)
  • The actual legal issue would require clear proof that Biden never authorized a pardon and didn’t approve it later — nearly impossible.

Notable Quote

“So how would you now show that he wasn’t aware of it?... This is the smoke President Trump wants. He wants us to be talking about it.” – Dave Aronberg (08:56)

2. Politics of Precedent and Will to Power (14:00–15:45)

• The show pivots to a broader discussion about precedents being smashed on both sides, using examples like RICO charges against Trump’s lawyers, and the broad targeting of political opponents.
• Tim Pool asserts that arguments and even constitutionality seem increasingly irrelevant — political will is all that matters:

“Can you make an argument justifying your actions to enough people to get it done? ...I honestly think you don’t even need the argument at this point.” (14:04)

3. Trump Indictments and the Expansion of Legal Theory (18:31–29:10)

• Trump’s 34 Felony Charges in NY:
  • Tim Pool’s position: The charges (falsifying business records "in furtherance of another crime") are unprecedented without proof of the underlying primary crime.
  • Aronberg’s rebuttal: Statutes in NY only require that intent to further/conceal another crime be proven, not the actual crime itself. “You don’t have to prove the commission of another crime, just that it was intended.” (20:46)
  • Pool pushes the philosophical and due process question: “...if the government can impose a penalty on an individual at any point without proving they committed a crime?” (22:49)
  • Aronberg compares this to conspiracy laws, emphasizing that intent is enough for certain charges.

Notable Quote

“This is unprecedented. The idea that the state is going to say… we can create crimes and charge you with them… your penalty is upgraded because we implied without proof another crime happened…” – Tim Pool (21:07)

4. Prosecutions of Trump’s Legal Team (29:10–32:01)

• Focus on Jenna Ellis and other Trump lawyers being criminally charged for actions like writing legal letters.
• Tim Pool contends: This is the criminalization of legal representation:
  • “Show me the man, I’ll show you the crime… The bigger picture… is, they went after all of Trump’s confidants, his staffers.” (30:00)
• Aronberg replies: Participation in perjury or other crimes by lawyers isn’t immunity; “Just because you have a bar card doesn’t give you a get out of jail free card.” (29:41)

5. The DOJ, Media Influence, and Pool’s Personal Experience (44:25–63:18)

• Tim Pool recounts being publicly named by the DOJ (via a Merrick Garland press conference) in the context of Russian propaganda — without evidence and no follow-up apology once the case was dropped.
  • He views this as a weaponization of federal power for partisan gain ahead of the election and cites personal and financial fallout.
  • Aronberg’s defense: Indictment press conferences are standard on major cases, and Garland clarified Pool was an “unwitting victim” (50:57), not a perpetrator.
  • Pool maintains: “It was political. The only reason they did it.” (57:04)
• General distrust expressed in DOJ’s handling of both the Trump and Biden classified documents cases. Pool argues unequal application (Trump raided, Biden let off).

Memorable Exchange

“You will never convince me of the credibility of Merrick Garland or the Biden administration because Merrick Garland did something truly unprecedented.” – Tim Pool (45:11)
“I’m aware of what you went through, Tim… but in the press conference, Merrick Garland did say… the company never disclosed to the influencers… its ties to RT… They described you as an unwitting victim of it.” – Dave Aronberg (50:55)

6. The “Snapocalypse” – SNAP Food Benefits at Risk (65:25–86:21)

• As SNAP benefits are on the brink of expiring (three days from air date), states are suing the Trump administration to force release of funds.
• Debate over the legal authority for courts to intervene and whether any judge could actually compel the executive to act.
  • Aronberg: “States have sued the federal government for SNAP before... But this is different because this is during a shutdown.” (65:33)
• Predictions of mass instability, food riots, and ripple effects on low-margin grocers if benefits stop.
• Disagreement over which political party stands to lose more — pool and others suggest Republicans believe the fallout will hit Democratic districts hardest; Aronberg questions if this is a sound bet.
  • “It will disproportionately impact Democrat Congressional districts going into a midterm election and that’s all they need.” – Tim Pool (84:37)

Notable Quote

“If the government basically says we’re going to distribute these resources… when this cuts off you’re going to see a bunch of bodegas vanish overnight.” – Tim Pool (80:18)

7. The Death of Compromise and the Future of U.S. Politics (89:15–end)

• Broad consensus that U.S. politics is beyond compromise, with both sides simply seeking victory however possible — from gerrymandering to legal warfare.
• Pool: “There was a period maybe 30 years ago where the conversation was let’s figure out where we meet, compromise and then work together. We’re way past that.” (90:02)
• Growing divide over cultural issues (abortion, child sex changes, drag shows), with Pool asserting: “There is no reality where a conservative accepts that proposition… There’s no middle ground.” (101:35–102:04)
• Pool and Aronberg close on the importance of dialogue, frustration that liberals are reluctant to debate on such platforms, and reflections on media bias and generational divides.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• “If he validates it even after the fact, then it’s a done deal. You’d have to show that he was totally in the dark…it went against his will…” – Dave Aronberg (11:11)
• “No one should want conflict or crisis. Nobody should want war. It’ll be the worst thing you ever see come to pass.” – Tim Pool (97:54)
• “It seems like the only thing that’s going to matter in this is the willingness to use power in a way to benefit your side.” – Tim Pool (08:14)
• “This is the smoke President Trump wants. He wants us to be talking about it. It makes him look better, makes Biden look bad, and it keeps us from talking about other things…” – Dave Aronberg (08:56)
• “Can you make an argument justifying your actions to enough people to get it done? ...I honestly think you don’t even need the argument at this point.” – Tim Pool (14:04)
• “You just need to show the intent…to conceal it.” – Dave Aronberg (21:37)
• “Nobody should want conflict or crisis. Nobody should want war.” – Tim Pool (97:54)
• “We’re in uncharted territory here and I hope they can open it up. But the longer this goes, will the trends change?” – Dave Aronberg (73:32)
• “The idea that Trump kept track of literally every single document all the time is silly.” – Tim Pool (42:28)

Important Segment Timestamps

• GOP Moves Against Biden Pardons & the “Autopen” Controversy: 05:14 – 17:31
• Precedent, Political Power, & Legal System Breakdown: 14:00 – 32:01
• The Trump NY Indictment, Felony Upgrading Controversy: 18:31 – 29:10, deepening at 109:00 – 124:00
• Prosecution of Trump’s Lawyers: 29:10 – 32:01
• Personal DOJ Targeting/Media Influence Operation: 44:25 – 63:18
• SNAP Benefits "Snapocalypse," Legal & Political Fallout: 65:25 – 86:21
• Endless Partisan Warfare, End of Compromise: 89:15 – end

Tone and Language

• Tone: Conversational but intense, at times adversarial, largely uncensored, combative on policy and legal interpretation but personally respectful.
• Language: Blunt, unfiltered, with dark humor and repeated use of "unprecedented," “nuts,” and references to real political and legal terminology; at times, raw and emotional (especially in the first-person accounts).

Summary Table: Key Segments

| Segment | Subject | Key Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |---------|---------|----------------|-----------| | 1 | Biden Autopen Scandal | Tim Pool, Dave Aronberg | 05:14–17:31 | | 2 | Precedent & Political Will | Tim Pool | 14:00–15:45 | | 3 | Trump Indictments Debate | Pool, Aronberg | 18:31–29:10 | | 4 | Lawyers Prosecuted | Pool, Aronberg | 29:10–32:01 | | 5 | DOJ, Media, Pool’s Experience | Pool, Aronberg | 44:25–63:18 | | 6 | SNAP Benefits Crisis | Pool, Aronberg, Brown, Coughlin | 65:25–86:21 | | 7 | End of Compromise, Culture War | Pool, Aronberg, Coughlin | 89:15–end |

Final Takeaway

The episode is a snapshot of a country where legal and political warfare has reached new, uncharted levels. Discussion centered on not only how law is being stretched (“unprecedented” is the word of the night), but on how underlying trust in civic institutions is collapsing. The hosts and guests reflect on both specific headlines — Biden's autopen, Trump's charges, SNAP shutdown — and broader trends: weaponization of government, partisanship as the only rule of the game, and the end of any meaningful center in American life.

Listeners come away with the sense that not only is the system shifting dangerously, but also that even attempts at dialogue, like this episode, are increasingly rare and vital.