100 Days In Trump’s America 2.0

Summary

Podcast Summary: "What a Day" Episode - 100 Days In Trump’s America 2.0

Release Date: April 29, 2025
Host: Erin Ryan (in place of Jane Coaston)
Guests: Jon Favreau, Co-Host of Pod Save America and Founder of Crooked Media

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Introduction

In the milestone episode of "What a Day", Erin Ryan, standing in for host Jane Coaston, delves deep into the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term. Entitled "100 Days In Trump’s America 2.0", the episode offers a critical analysis of Trump's administration, juxtaposing it against his first term and exploring its implications for both domestic and international landscapes. Joined by Jon Favreau, the conversation navigates through Trump's governance style, public perception, policy implementations, and the broader political ramifications.

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Trump's 100 Days in Office

Administration Performance

Erin Ryan opens the discussion by highlighting the stark contrast between Trump's first and second terms. She asserts, “Trump 2.0 is a bit different than Trump 1.0. Trump hasn't gotten any better at governing, but this time he surrounded himself with people who won't try to stop him but also cannot govern.” (00:00) This arrangement, according to Ryan, results in an administration that is more focused on flattery rather than effective governance.

Jon Favreau echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the lasting impact of Trump's leadership: “I think that he and Elon Musk have broken much of the government in ways that people are feeling immediately now, but also that I don't think we'll know the full extent of the damage for years and years.” (04:20) The duo critiques the appointments within the administration, describing them as individuals “with a lot of power and no shame,” referencing key figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Polling and Public Opinion

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Trump's declining popularity. Ryan mentions, “the latest round of polling paints a dismal picture for the president's popularity, the worst in modern history for a president this early into his term.” (03:30) Jon Favreau adds that these polling numbers could deteriorate further as the ramifications of Trump's policies become more evident: “I think that the polling could get even worse.” (05:42)

Despite Trump’s claims of economic improvements, Favreau counters with skepticism, noting that initial positive indicators like reduced tariffs may be short-lived if the trade wars escalate: “we're still a couple weeks away from shelves potentially being empty and prices really going up and people losing their jobs.” (06:20)

Policy Impacts

Trump’s administration has been marked by aggressive policies on immigration, tariffs, and government spending. Ryan critiques the execution of these policies, stating, “Trump just can't stick the landing. And his approach to these things has not gone over particularly well with Americans.” (02:45) Favreau further elaborates on the potential long-term consequences of these policies, particularly the global trade wars and strained international alliances, which could have enduring negative effects: “shattering most of our alliances all over the world and launching a global trade war, we're going to feel the effects of that for the next several years and maybe even beyond.” (04:20)

Notable Quotes

• Erin Ryan (00:00): “Trump 2.0 is a bit different than Trump 1.0. Trump hasn't gotten any better at governing, but this time he surrounded himself with people who won't try to stop him but also cannot govern.”

• Jon Favreau (04:20): “I think that he and Elon Musk have broken much of the government in ways that people are feeling immediately now, but also that I don't think we'll know the full extent of the damage for years and years.”

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Democratic Strategies Amid Trump's Presidency

Opportunities for Democrats

Despite Trump's low approval ratings, Jon Favreau expresses concern over Democrats' ability to capitalize on this sentiment. He points out that while Democrats have a lead in the generic congressional ballot, the margin isn't substantial enough to guarantee support: “it's still not, the margin is not as big as Trump's approval is low.” (09:41) Favreau suggests that Democrats need to actively offer alternatives and speak out against Trump's unpopular policies to sway voters: “they should talk about, you know, what Democrats would do if they get Congress back.” (10:31)

Risks and Challenges

Favreau warns of the pitfalls Democrats might face if they adopt an overly cautious or scripted approach: “the Democrats come across as too scripted, too poll tested, inauthentic, too cautious.” (12:03) He advocates for authenticity and relatability, urging Democrats to “talk like a normal person” to break through the political noise dominated by Trump. This approach is exemplified by figures like Jasmine Crockett, AOC, and Pete Buttigieg, who resonate with voters by offering fresh and genuine perspectives.

Notable Quotes

• Jon Favreau (09:41): “I do think that that means people are not ready to just support Democrats. And I think Democrats have work to do, not only speaking out whenever Trump is doing something that they know is unpopular, but to also offer an alternative as they attack him.”

• Jon Favreau (12:03): “I guess, yeah, I think. Look, I think the big risk right now is the Democrats come across as too scripted, too poll tested, inauthentic, too cautious.”

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Upcoming Political Battles

Favreau outlines the key issues that will dominate the next hundred days:

1. Legislative Battles: The passage of significant bills, potentially dominating the spring and summer agenda.
2. Judicial Challenges: Ongoing court battles addressing Trump’s actions deemed unconstitutional or unlawful.
3. Trade Wars: Continued escalation and eventual impacts on the economy and employment.
4. International Relations: The tense situation between Russia and Ukraine is expected to reach a critical point.

He humorously concludes with his personal strategy to cope with the intense political climate: “I will survive on very little sleep and lots of caffeine.” (13:27)

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News Highlights

Retirement of Gerry Connolly

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the retirement of Virginia Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly due to the recurrence of his esophageal cancer. Connolly, a 16-year veteran since 2008, has been a pivotal figure in Congress and on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. His departure opens the field for potential replacements, including high-profile Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, and Ro Khanna.

Russia's Temporary Ceasefire with Ukraine

Russia declared a three-day unilateral ceasefire from May 8 to midnight May 11, citing humanitarian reasons and the upcoming Victory Day commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany. However, skepticism remains as previous ceasefires did not hold. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the timing and genuine intent behind Russia's move, emphasizing ongoing distrust: “russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world trying to deceive the United States.” (17:16) The White House reiterated President Trump's stance, demanding a permanent ceasefire to end the conflict.

Massive Power Outage in Spain, Portugal, and France

A significant power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, leading to a state of emergency in Spain. The blackout disrupted transportation systems, hospitals reverted to generator power, and the cause remains unclear. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reported partial restoration, with full recovery expected by the end of the day.

Influential Group Chat: Chatham House

Erin Ryan sheds light on Chatham House, a private Signal group chat comprising over 300 members from Silicon Valley's elite. This clandestine forum influences American governance by discussing and debating national strategies. Jon Favreau comments on the dynamics within the chat, particularly targeting businessman Mark Cuban: “if you're good enough at arguing with Mark Cuban, maybe you'll get a job in the Trump administration.” (22:09) The group chat exemplifies the behind-the-scenes power plays shaping U.S. policies.

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Conclusion

In this incisive episode, "What a Day" provides a comprehensive overview of the tumultuous first 100 days of Trump's second term. Through expert analysis and critical discussions with Jon Favreau, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the administration's shortcomings, the deteriorating public perception, and the strategic avenues available to the Democratic Party. Additionally, the episode encapsulates pressing global and national news, offering a well-rounded perspective on current events shaping America's trajectory.

For those seeking to stay informed without the "hype, fake outrage, and groupthink," this episode serves as an essential guide to the complex political landscape of 2025.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Erin Ryan (00:00): “Trump 2.0 is a bit different than Trump 1.0. Trump hasn't gotten any better at governing, but this time he surrounded himself with people who won't try to stop him but also cannot govern.”

• Jon Favreau (04:20): “I think that he and Elon Musk have broken much of the government in ways that people are feeling immediately now, but also that I don't think we'll know the full extent of the damage for years and years.”

• Jon Favreau (09:41): “I do think that that means people are not ready to just support Democrats. And I think Democrats have work to do, not only speaking out whenever Trump is doing something that they know is unpopular, but to also offer an alternative as they attack him.”

• Jon Favreau (12:03): “I guess, yeah, I think. Look, I think the big risk right now is the Democrats come across as too scripted, too poll tested, inauthentic, too cautious.”

• Jon Favreau (22:09): “if you're good enough at arguing with Mark Cuban, maybe you'll get a job in the Trump administration.”

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For more insightful discussions and updates, subscribe to "What a Day" on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube.

Transcript

[Erin Ryan]

Foreign It's Tuesday, April 29th. I'm Erin Ryan in for Jane Coston, and this is what a Day. The show that will send a photo of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts the next time we RSVP no to an event because of scheduling difficulties. On today's show, Spain and Portugal enter a second dark age. I'll be it. One that lasts hours and not decades, and the surprise retirement announcement of another longtime Democratic lawmaker. But first, we made it 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term, down only 1,362 to go. Not that I'm counting. Trump 2.0 is a bit different than Trump 1.0. Trump hasn't gotten any better at governing, but this time he surrounded himself with people who won't try to stop him but but also cannot govern. So they can't really help him either. But what they can do is blow smoke up his ass all day, every day. Of all the leaders in the world today, no leader is working harder to.

[Jon Favreau]

Prevent wars or end them than President.

[Erin Ryan]

Trump is right now. President Trump has proven no one does it better than President Trump. There is no equal. It's not even close. You know you are overwhelmingly elected by the biggest majority.

[Jon Favreau]

He is the greatest negotiator and the greatest person who understands these are his.

[Erin Ryan]

Goals and his objectives and he is executing them. That was a nightmare mashup of Dyson levels of sucking up from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Border czar Tom Homan, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. That is people with a lot of power and no shame. The joke during President Trump's first term was that every week resembled a new verse of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire. His leadership this term has been so chaotic that I'm not sure it could even be arranged into a song that makes sense. What even rhymes with adult Tech billionaire accidentally cancels Ebola research or puppy murking Cabinet secretary travels to El Salvador for xenophobic photo op and poses pointing a machine gun at a law enforcement official's head. Too many syllables. The piano man would never I follow the news as part of my job, and even I'm having trouble distinguishing between Trump's bluster without follow through, the giant avoidable screw ups that will take years if not lifetimes to repair, and actual plans that were made and came to fruition. It doesn't help that the president could literally throw up all over a world leader and his acolytes would declare a major strategic victory here's what we know for sure, though Trump has made moves or announced that moves would be forthcoming on the issues that voters said they cared about during the 2024 election, things like immigration, cutting government spending and the cost of living. But he just can't stick the landing. And his approach to these things has not gone over particularly well with Americans. In fact, the latest round of polling paints a dismal picture for the president's popularity, the worst in modern history for a president this early into his term. There's no way even Trump can finesse that, though it's not for lack of trying. Here he is speaking to reporters Sunday next to Air Force One. The good news is costs are way down. Groceries are down, aches are down, gasoline is way down. It's all coming down. It's all looking good. The tariffs are strong. We're taking in a lot of money from tariffs. We were losing a lot before I got here. We were losing billions of dollars a day. And now we're doing great and we haven't even kicked in yet. The program that hasn't kicked in is doing great. Okay, dude. But also, if everyone around him has spent the last hundred days telling him what an exceptional president he is, maybe he does believe it. Here to help make sense of this milestone and where we go from here is Jon Favreau, co host of Pod Save America and founder of Crooked Media. John hi. Welcome to what a day.

[Jon Favreau]

Good to be here.

[Erin Ryan]

So it's kind of hard to wrap your head around everything that's happened in the last hundred days. Only feels like a hundred years, 100 days. But in what ways do you think Trump has actually changed the country since he took office in January?

[Jon Favreau]

Change the country, change the world. I think that he and Elon Musk have broken much of the government in ways that people are feeling immediately now, but also that I don't think we'll know the full extent of the damage for years and years. I think that shattering most of our alliances all over the world and launching a global trade war, we're going to feel the effects of that for the next several years and maybe even beyond. Ideally, if we have a Democratic president after this, repairing those relationships is going to be a lot of work, because who's going to trust us after this, especially after we reelected Trump for a second term? I also think that he's instilled fear in a lot of people. I think the idea that they're, you know, scooping people up off the streets and shipping them to a foreign gulag without any Due process or trial is, you know, hopefully the courts will continue to step in and stop that. But you do that enough, and that changes America, too.

[Erin Ryan]

Well, let's get into the polls. There are a ton from the New York Times, NBC, Washington Post, AP, and their various partners. And they all say the same thing. People don't like it. Not big fans.

[Jon Favreau]

This is the bright spot. If there is a bright spot, is that the, like, we haven't gone crazy. Most of the country still does not like this. And I actually think that polling is interesting because it's much worse than it was just a few weeks ago. And we haven't really experienced the full extent of the damage from the trade war yet. We're still a couple weeks away from shelves potentially being empty and prices really going up and people losing their jobs. And so this is like just based on the headlines from the trade war for the last several weeks. So I think that the polling could get even worse.

[Erin Ryan]

How would a normal administration be reading these numbers?

[Jon Favreau]

A normal administration will be reading these numbers worried about their agenda in Congress, because you have a bunch of vulnerable Republicans and a very tight margin in Congress, and he hasn't passed any bills yet, so. And he's got a very big one that he's trying to get past. So they'd be very worried about the vulnerable Republicans peeling away and not supporting them. You'd just be worried that you get into this vicious cycle where the polls show weakness, and so then more people are emboldened to speak out against you and disagree with you, and then your agenda gets stalled, and then your polls get even weaker, and so it continues. So, you know, look, no other president except for Trump has had polls this bad in the first hundred days. And of course, Trump never really recovered from that approval rating in the first term and did go on to lose that election. So I think if I was a Republican in Congress, I'd be most worried.

[Erin Ryan]

Okay, well, Trump won the popular vote, something that he cannot shut up about. And he's doing pretty much what he said he would do during the campaign, tariffs and deportation and retribution. Why do you think that people are so soured on the agenda that they voted for?

[Jon Favreau]

I think the people who put him over the top, particularly with the popular vote, are people who were not that tuned into politics. I always remember some voters and a focus group who said, you know, I don't like Donald Trump. I didn't like him in the first term, but I liked the economy, so I might vote for him and then just not watch tv, close my Eyes and just enjoy the Trump economy. And so I think for those people, they're like, well, we're not really enjoying the Trump economy anymore either. But even in the New York Times poll, you see still a slight majority of people who believe that undocumented immigrants who are here illegally should be deported, but they're also very against the way he's doing it. So I don't think they believed that people would be sent to a foreign prison without due process, that Trump would defy court orders. So I even think that the things he's doing that are still somewhat popular with people, in theory, the way he's doing them is turning a lot of people off.

[Erin Ryan]

Do you expect the administration to course correct or do you think he just really, you think he just doesn't care about Congress? And do you think that he hasn't played the tape for it and he doesn't understand, understand that if Republicans lose their majority in the House, then his entire agenda is basically dead in the water.

[Jon Favreau]

I mean, anything is possible with him. You never know. But I think that now that he has made this comeback and defied political gravity in his mind and particularly in the minds of the people around him, I think he and the people around him are like, we're just going to do what we want and, you know, we've been called dead before and then come back to life. And so who cares?

[Erin Ryan]

So, given all the polling, where do you see the best opportunity for Democrats to remind voters that they could possibly be the solution to the problems that the Donald Trump administration is causing? What are the political opportunities for Democrats here?

[Jon Favreau]

I mean, if they can't see the political opportunities in this, then they should hang it up and go home. But I do, I mean, you know, in the generic ballot for Congress, I think the New York Times has the Democrats leading by three, Fox had them leaving by seven, which is a lot more. But it's still not, the margin is not as big as Trump's approval is low. So I do think that that means people are not ready to just support Democrats. And so I think Democrats have work to do, not only speaking out whenever Trump is doing something that they know is unpopular, but to also offer an alternative as they attack him. So if they're going to attack him on the trade war, as they should, they should talk about, you know, what Democrats would do if they get Congress back.

[Erin Ryan]

Yeah, it feels like the party is a little bit at sea when it comes to just, like, breaking through the noise that Trump makes. Trump makes so much more noise than most Democrats on any given day, like, do these polls show any kind of path forward, like, for Democrats who want to cut through the noise? What does that look like?

[Jon Favreau]

I mean, it's interesting. In the Times poll, it showed all the issues that Trump's underwater on, which is all of them. And the issue that he's the most underwater on is the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, even worse than he is on immigration, worse than the economy. That is an issue that I remember when it first happened, I was like, why aren't any Democrats speaking out about this? And then, you know, Chris Van Hollen, Senator Chris Van Hollen goes down to El Salvador. Some people are like, ooh, is that. I don't know if this is a good issue. Democrats didn't do well on immigration, and it's one of the reasons Donald Trump won. And sure enough, Donald Trump is very unpopular on this issue now. And I think that should teach Democrats that when you speak up on an issue that even if you don't look at the polls, you just know in your gut is not gonna land well with the American people, like shipping people to a foreign prison without due process, then it is possible to break through and to make Donald Trump unpopular on a lot of these issues.

[Erin Ryan]

So where do you see risks for Democrats trying to break through the noise? Is there a way for them to get over their skis or to play hand too hard?

[Jon Favreau]

I guess, yeah, I think. Look, I think the big risk right now is the Democrats come across as too scripted, too poll tested, inauthentic, too cautious. And look, I don't think Democrats should, like, throw public opinion to the wind. Right? Like, I am a big advocate for, like, I think polls are very useful. I think knowing where people are is useful. But I do think to your point about Trump being someone who is able to break through and get people's attention. Like, Democrats need to figure out how to get people's attention. And the more they came off as sounding like typical politicians who are cautious and poll tested and have these canned lines that we've heard a million times before, they're just not gonna break through, you know, because it just sounds like the same static noise to people that they've heard before. So you just gotta talk like a normal fucking person.

[Erin Ryan]

Mm. Yeah. I mean, Jasmine Crockett has been saying as much, and I think that she's probably a good example of Democrats being true to themselves and speaking up.

[Jon Favreau]

And I think it's like, it's non ideological too, because you got someone like Jasmine Crockett AOC Pete Buttigieg. There are people from across the spectrum in the party who are breaking through and it doesn't necessarily have to do with what their ideology on the spectrum is. It has to do with are they saying something worth hearing that's different and refreshing than what you usually hear from politicians.

[Erin Ryan]

So what do you think the next big fights will be in the next hundred days and how are you going to survive?

[Jon Favreau]

Well, we're about to head into this, the big beautiful bill to see if they can get this passed. And I think that will be most of the spring and summer. I think we will continue to watch the courts take up a lot of Trump's unconstitutional unlawful actions and see whether the Trump administration will push back or not. I think that the trade war is going to get worse before it gets better. I think we're going to see what happens with Russia and Ukraine. That's going to come to a head. So I think, and that's probably all in the next hundred days. And I will survive on very little sleep and lots of caffeine.

[Erin Ryan]

Okay, there you have it. John, thank you so much for joining us.

[Jon Favreau]

Thanks for having me.

[Erin Ryan]

That was my conversation with Jon Favreau, co host of Pod Save America and founder of Crooked Media. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe, leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads. What a day is brought to you by the books. Mother's Day is coming up. I am telling you this now so that you are prepared. Mother's Day is coming up and the foundational bare minimum thing you have to do for your mother or any mother figures in your life you want to recognize. You need to get her flowers. You need to get her flowers. Send foolproof flowers from the Boox company and wow your mom or any maternal figures in your Life and get 25% off your entire purchase. Boox makes it simple. You just go to the website and with the click of a button get their best selling bouquet right on time. For Mother's Day there are many options. You can pick something a little off the beaten path. You can pick something that just says hey mom, here are some flowers for you. She will brag about it for weeks. 50 Ways to Wow your mom this Mother's Day. Drive mom wild. Or pick from their collection of unique modern designs. Or if you really want to be her favorite child all year round, go for their flower subscription. I did this for Christmas a few years ago and it is like just every month my mom gets flowers and she loved it and she just had a It was always an opportunity for us to chat and it was just a nice way to let her know that I'm always thinking about her. Be the hero every month. You really can't go wrong. Books aren't just any flowers. Their flowers are cut fresh from where they grow best so you get bigger, brighter blooms that last longer. Some are even grown on the side of a volcano. Moms love volcanoes. Go to boox.com, use my promo code WAD for 25% off. That's b o u q s.com, promo code WAD boucs promo code WAD. NetCredit is here to say yes because you're more than a credit score. Apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. Loans offered by Netcredit or lending partner banks and service by Netcredit. Applications subject to review and approval. Learn [e-mail] partners netcredit credit to the people this Mother's Day show the moms in your life just how much they mean to you with a stunning bouquet from 1-800-flowers.com for almost 50 years, 1-800-flowers has set the standard for high quality bouquets. Right now, order early from 1-800-flowers and save up to 40% on gorgeous bouquets and one of a kind arrangements guaranteed to make her day. Save up to 40% today at 1-800-flowers.com sxm. That's 1-800-flowers. Com sxm the official florist of Mother's Day. Here's what else we're following today.

[Jon Favreau]

Head of Lines.

[Erin Ryan]

It's a sad day. We will miss Jerry and his service upon his retirement from the United States Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, speaking there about Virginia Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly's announcement Monday that he will not seek reelection. In an open letter to his constituents announcing his departure, Connally said his esophageal cancer had returned after undergoing, quote, grueling treatments. The 75 year old Congressman announced his diagnosis late last year, shortly after he won reelection. Jeffries continued with more praise for Connally. He has been a tremendous leader for his district and on the Oversight Committee. Connally also said he plans to step down from his position as top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, quote, soon. This opens the floor for another Democrat to replace him. We could see New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez run for the position. She challenged Connally for the role last year and lost. Ocasio Cortez is no longer on the committee, but some House Democrats told Axios Monday that she's weighing a second bid. Representatives Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Ro Khanna of California have also been floated for the role. Connally has been in Congress for 16 years. He was elected back in 2008 to represent Virginia's 11th congressional district, which includes Fairfax County. Connally's district is deeply blue, meaning his seat is likely safe from Republicans who might want to flip it. His replacement will be elected in next year's midterms. Russia unilaterally declared a temporary three day ceasefire with Ukraine Monday, according to a statement from the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a stop to quote all military actions from May 8 through midnight May 11. The statement cites humanitarian reasons for the fighting pause and Russia's upcoming observance of victory day on May 9, the day the allied forces defeated Nazi Germany in World War II. This is the second ceasefire that Russia has declared on its own. Putin took world leaders by surprise earlier this month when he announced a one day ceasefire with Ukraine for Easter. That pause did not hold. Both sides accused each other of violating it. Ukraine expressed skepticism following Monday's announcement. In a video posted to Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky questioned why the ceasefire wouldn't be immediate. Here, he's saying, quote, russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world trying to deceive the United States. Now, yet again, another attempt at manipulation. For some reason, everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before ceasing fire just to provide Putin with silence for his parade. The White House responded to the Kremlin by repeating President Trump's demand that Putin sign onto a deal that brings an end to the war. Here's White House press secretary Caroline Levitt during Monday morning's press briefing. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first, to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed. And while he remains optimistic he can strike a deal, he's also being realistic as well. And both leaders need to come to the table to negotiate their way out of this. To quote our solemn leader Vladimir stop, a major power outage swept across Spain, Portugal and, for a brief time, part of France. On Monday, Spain's Interior Ministry declared a state of emergency as the blackout paused. Trains, planes and subways. Some hospitals were even left to run on generators. At the time of our recording, the cause of the outage was not clear. Head of operations at Red Electrica, Spain's power company, called the blackout exceptional and extraordinary. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday evening electricity supplies had been restored to about half of the country and the rest should be restored today. According to Portugal's electrical and gas supplier, power was also starting to return to parts of the country on Monday night.

[Jon Favreau]

Last summer a lot of these folks migrated to this giant chat called Chatham House. It's a signal chat with 300 plus members. I mean, you have a real pain tolerance to exist in that kind of space.

[Erin Ryan]

Ever thought the United States of America would be run by group chats? Well, neither did I. Yet here we are. Sunday evening Semaphore's Ben Smith dropped an article on Chatham House, a giant signal group chat that was born out of the COVID 19 pandemic. While Chatham House may not contain military plans, it does does contain how Silicon Valley's elite thinks America should be run. Fascinated by this secret elite group chat, Pod Save America co host and Crooked Media founder John Lovett spoke with Smith on Monday about why Chatham House is so influential and how the right wingers in the chat like to pick fights with businessman Mark Cuban.

[Jon Favreau]

He's like the big lip in there. And like a big part of what happens in that chat is people yell at Mark Cuban and he argues back and there's some level of like, if you're good enough at arguing with Mark Cuban, maybe you'll get a job in the Trump administration. Like that is a thing people think.

[Erin Ryan]

It's kind of terrifying that arguing with power libs could get you into the sit room. But then again, so does being a former Fox News morning anchor who, to put it mildly, does not seem like a good hang. To watch Lovett's full conversation with Ben Smith, head to Pod Save America's YouTube channel.

[Jon Favreau]

And I just want everyone listening to this to know I will respect Chatham House rules and if you want me in these chats, I won't give Ben Smith a fucking thing.

[Erin Ryan]

And if you don't want to add Lovett, absolutely do not add me. And that's the before we go, we're offering a 30 day free trial to friends of the pod, but it's ending tomorrow, so now's the time to join. If you're enjoying this podcast, chances are you believe in what we do, and subscribing to Friends of the POD is the best way to support crooked media. It's also the most direct way to help us keep building a progressive media ecosystem. As a Friend of the pod, you'll unlock a ton of great perks like ad free episodes of Pod Save America, exclusive content like Polar Coaster with Dan Pfeiffer and and access to our Discord community, which I'm a participant so we can chat. Subscribe now. To get your 30 day free trial to Friends of the Pod, head to crooked.com friends or sign up through Apple Podcasts. But don't wait. This offer ends tomorrow, April 30th. That's all for today. If you liked the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, be careful how you steer that aircraft carrier, and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just the Pentagon's explanation for why a $60 million fighter jet is now at the bottom of the Red Sea like me, what a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Erin Ryan and I repeat, do not add me to your insufferable group chat for whiny inside boys. Water Day is a production of Crooked Media.

[Jon Favreau]

It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor.

[Erin Ryan]

Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Aloy.

[Jon Favreau]

We had production help today from Johanna.

[Erin Ryan]

Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America. East Hanaday presents In the red corner, the undisputed undefeated Weed Whacker Guy, champion of hurling grass and pollen every. And in the blue corner, the challenger.

[Jon Favreau]

Extra Strength Hataday Eye drops at work.

[Erin Ryan]

All day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy allergy eyes. And the winner by knockout is Pataday Pataday. Bring it on. Did you know that parents rank financial literacy as the number one most difficult life skill to teach? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app for families with greenlight. You can set up chores, automate allowance and keep an eye on your kids spending with real time notifications. Kids learn to earn, save and spend wisely and parents can rest easy knowing their kids are learning about money with guardrails in place. Sign up for Greenlight [e-mail] podcast.