Trump’s Vibing Approach To Governing

Summary

---

What a Day – "Trump’s Vibing Approach To Governing"

Date: May 1, 2026
Host: Jane Coaston
Guest: Keith Edwards (Democratic strategist, host of The Keith Edwards Show)
Episode Theme: A wild political week defined by Trump’s personal obsessions, political messaging, media spectacle, and the ongoing challenge of responding to his dominance—and distraction—in American politics.

---

Main Theme and Episode Purpose

In this lively episode, Jane Coaston explores President Trump's unique, almost whimsical way of governing, with attention focused on his strange post-assassination attempt behavior and his fixation on building a White House ballroom. The discussion with strategist Keith Edwards zooms in on why Trump's style dominates headlines, the internal workings of right-wing media, and the messaging pitfalls and opportunities for Democrats heading into the next election cycle.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Post-Assassination Attempt Ballrooom Obsession

[00:03–02:06]

• Jane opens with the bizarre fact that after three assassination attempts, Trump refuses to wear a bulletproof vest, joking, “I don’t know if I can handle looking 20 pounds heavier.”

  Jane Coaston: "But also, I don't think that would be the vest, Mr. President." [00:19]

• Primary White House response: Trump’s focus is not security, but building a $400 million White House ballroom, with GOP backing.
• GOP leaders, like Lindsey Graham, push legislative support for the ballroom.

  Lindsey Graham (via Keith Edwards): “We’re going to introduce legislation that would authorize $400 million to...build the Presidential Ballroom.” [01:07]

• Jane and Keith mock the call for private donations to buy “China and stuff like that.” [01:21]
• Jane: “This is nuts, right? Not enough people are saying it, but it is.” [01:22]
• They discuss how Trump’s narrow, self-serving vision continues to dominate the agenda, even as his party holds substantial power.

---

2. Right-Wing Media Infighting & Branding

[02:06–04:51]

• Keith highlights the spectacle of right-wing media infighting as political performance.

  Keith Edwards: "It's kind of my bread and butter. I enjoy it. We need more of it on our side...I’m kind of serious." [03:14]

• Notable tangent: Erica Kirk’s (widow of Charlie Kirk) viral DC moment, dressing “like Janet Jackson in the Rhythm Nation video.” [02:45]
• Keith points out that the right builds personal brands through infighting, raising influence and “name ID”—even if it’s used “for evil, dark purposes.” [04:09]
• Jane and Keith lament that the left lacks similar characters and media visibility, possibly to its detriment.

---

3. Trump’s Mastery of Messaging & Democratic Lessons

[04:51–08:30]

• Keith emphasizes Trump’s relentless repetition.

  Keith Edwards: “We’re all talking about the ballroom. Why? Because he won’t stop talking about the ballroom. Nonstop.” [05:28-05:32]

• Trump’s sheer repetition and focus keep issues in the public eye, diverting discussion from mainstream priorities.
• Jane asks Keith: What can liberals learn from Trump’s approach?
• Keith suggests:
  • Embrace repetition.
  • Redefine and reframe issues in ways that resonate with both base and moderate voters.
  • “Cut him down in size”—e.g., calling Truth Social “just his blog.”

  Keith Edwards: “It’s a blog. What’s a blog? It’s a place where one person goes to write and then people comment. No one else is on Truth Social going viral.” [06:37–07:13]

• Blending seriousness with mockery: Highlight the threat but also deflate Trump through ridicule. [07:32–07:45]
• Jane and Keith share a tentative optimism that Trump, while still a threat, may have missed the moment for total autocratic takeover due to declining popularity and heightened civic resistance.

  Keith Edwards: “I think he’s become too unpopular. Authoritarians have to be popular in order to gain control of government.” [08:30]

---

4. Democratic Messaging: The Importance of “Why”

[10:08–12:26]

• Jane: Ongoing challenge of Democrats “lecturing” vs. actually connecting with voters. [10:14]
• Keith:
  • Dems are “good at explaining the what and the how”—but not the “why.”
  • Republicans, despite using “fairy tales,” are adept at providing narrative explanations, e.g., via figures like Laura Loomer and Candace Owens.
• Keith urges the left to use engaging storytelling and offer voters the context and reasons behind current issues.

  Keith Edwards: “I think Democrats are really good at explaining the what and the how. I think we could get a lot better explaining the why. Why is this happening? Why is this happening to you?” [10:28]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Trump’s priorities

  Jane Coaston: "Trump’s whims direct the news cycle...his apparent vision is so small. Just keep cashing in as much as possible as the headlines get crazier and crazier." [01:22]

• On personal branding in right-wing media

  Keith Edwards: “It creates brands and brands create name id. And then when you have name id, you can command attention...” [04:09]

• On Democratic storytelling

  Keith Edwards: “We are inherently storytellers...it’s not as hard as we make it out to be. Just tell a compelling story.” [11:49]

---

Additional Segment: The Week’s Headlines

[16:15–22:48]
With news editor Greg Walters, Jane dives into recent headlines:

Trump’s Ballroom Fixation

• Trump continues to publicly obsess over technical ballroom details—even choosing between marble and onyx.

  Trump (paraphrased): “You know when you have a thousand rooms sitting on top of a ballroom...that’s on time, on budget, actually ahead of time, ahead of budget, depending on finishes.” [16:39–17:05]

• Jane: “I’m always saying that.” [17:03]

DHS Shutdown Ends

• House GOP leadership ends the historic Department of Homeland Security shutdown under looming threat of TSA delays and voter anger.

  Greg Walters: “We were just days away from...TSA employees missing a paycheck. This Bloomberg headline sums it up: ‘House votes to end DHS shutdown as threats of airport chaos loom.’” [17:43–18:02]

• No new funds for immigration enforcement—a Democratic win after recent federal agent violence in Minneapolis. [18:14]

Surgeon General Nominee Drama

• Trump pulls the nomination of Casey Means, seen as too new-age for the base, replacing her with Dr. Nicole Saphire, a Fox News contributor. [19:09–19:45]
• Ongoing split between the MAGA base’s “healthy living” trends and Trump’s well-known fast food habits.

Alina Habba’s Combative Media Appearance

• Former Trump advisor Alina Habba’s tense, fact-challenged interview on The View, called out for misunderstanding slang and ducking responsibility for inflammatory Trump posts.

  Alina Habba: “What do you think 86 means? To kill the president. To get rid of the president, that's what...” [20:50]

• Greg Walters: “My mama always told me not to pick a fight with the dictionary and lose. And if I do, don’t do it on TV.” [21:35]

Final Trump-ism

• Trump continues to tout his own popularity, regardless of polls or reality:

  Trump: "Everyone says if I was on the ballot, we'd win in a landslide. I have the best. I have some of the best poll numbers I've ever had." [22:42]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:14] President Trump avoids bulletproof vests post-assassination attempts, prefers not to "look 20 pounds heavier."
• [01:12] GOP proposes $400 million for White House ballroom.
• [02:45] Erica Kirk’s “Janet Jackson” moment goes viral.
• [04:09] How right-wing media infighting builds brands and influence.
• [05:28–05:32] Trump’s messaging superpower: “Nonstop” repetition.
• [06:37] How to “cut Trump down in size”—call Truth Social “just his blog.”
• [08:30] Keith’s take: The window for an authoritarian takeover has likely passed.
• [10:28] Dems need to answer the “why” for voters, not just the “what/how.”
• [16:39] Trump’s marble vs. onyx ballroom musings.
• [17:43] DHS shutdown ends under threat of TSA disruption.
• [19:09] Trump pulls Casey Means Surgeon General nomination.
• [20:50] Alina Habba’s gaffes on The View.
• [22:42] Trump: “Everyone says if I was on the ballot, we’d win in a landslide.”

---

Summary: The Big Picture

Jane Coaston and Keith Edwards frame a political era where spectacle outweighs substance—and where Trump’s personal fixations, relentless messaging, and shameless self-promotion keep both friends and foes constantly reactive. The right’s embrace of infighting and vivid personalities fuels their influence, while Democrats, by contrast, may be hindered by a lack of compelling narrative or internal drama.

Edwards challenges progressives to worry less about perfect consensus and more about building memorable, resonant figures and stories. If Trump can leverage repetition, personal branding, and spectacle for political power, Democrats need to get better at explaining not just their policies, but the emotional and social “why” behind them.

The episode balances biting satire and genuine analysis, sounding an urgent—but not panicked—call for smarter communication, less hand-wringing, and a little more “running amok.”

---

For Further Listening:

• [12:26] Jane wraps the core discussion with Keith Edwards
• [21:35] Notable humorous exchange about Alina Habba’s dictionary fight on The View
• [22:42] Classic Trump: “Everyone says if I was on the ballot, we’d win in a landslide...”

---

Tone:
Witty, irreverent, but earnest—calling out absurdity while looking for ways to fight fire with sharper, more human narrative skills.

---

Useful For:
Anyone coping with the news cycle’s Trump-driven turbulence, political strategists, or listeners curious how to break through the haze—without buying into the groupthink or hype.

Transcript

[Jane Coston]

It's Friday, May 1st. I'm Jane Coston, and this is. What a day. A show that finds it strange that this is why President Donald Trump doesn't want to wear a bulletproof vest after three assassination attempts.

[Donald Trump (implied, voice or quoted)]

I don't know if I can handle looking 20 pounds heavier.

[Jane Coston]

Look, I get it. But also, I don't think that would be the vest. Mr. President. On today's show, the Department of Homeland Security's longest shutdown ever finally comes to an end. And somehow we missed Alina Habba joining the View for a cage match. I mean, interview. But let's start with Trump's very strange week. On Saturday night, the President survived an attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents Dinner. And in response, the President appears to have one singular thought. We gotta build that White House ballroom. He even got the GOP on board. Here's South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Earlier this week, we're going to introduce

[Keith Edwards]

legislation that would authorize $400 million to

[Jane Coston]

be spent to secure the. To build the Presidential Ballroom. Private donations can be used, but I think they should be used for buying

[Keith Edwards]

China and stuff like that.

[Jane Coston]

Yes, those private donations that we're supposed to be paying for the entire ballroom. This is nuts, right? Not enough people are saying it, but it is. Donald Trump is one of the most powerful people on Earth. His political party is in charge of Congress and arguably the Supreme Court. But even though his power is immense, his apparent vision is so small. Just keep cashing in as much as possible as the headlines get crazier and crazier. So how did we get to this place where Trump's whims direct the news cycle? How does he get his base to buy in? And how should Democrats respond? To find out, I chatted with Keith Edwards. He's a Democratic strategist and host of the Keith Edwards Show. Keith, welcome to Water Day.

[Keith Edwards]

Hey, how are you?

[Jane Coston]

I'm good. So you, like me, follow politics, follow the news day in and day out. And I know that because you are reacting to it on your YouTube channel. And I have to say, this week has felt crazier than most, which is really saying something. In your view, what is the wildest thing you've seen this week?

[Keith Edwards]

Oh, my God, there's so many. I think the wildest thing so far is. It's a small thing, but Erica Kirk's random.

[Jane Coston]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

[Keith Edwards]

Pronouncement about how she went to D.C. to confront reporters, but she was dressed like Janet Jackson.

[Jane Coston]

Yes. Erica Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, did a video about like, she was going to come to D.C. to confront reporters, but. But she was dressed like Janet Jackson in the Rhythm Nation video.

[Keith Edwards]

Rhythm Nation, that's right.

[Jane Coston]

I don't think that that's what she was going for, but, like, what was she going for?

[Keith Edwards]

Like Ninja Spy? What was the. Did she not think about these things?

[Jane Coston]

I don't know. I think that that's something. I mean, I wanted to ask you how much like MAGA media infighting do you observe getting to. A lot.

[Keith Edwards]

A lot, A lot. It's kind of my bread and butter.

[Jane Coston]

Okay.

[Keith Edwards]

I enjoy it.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah.

[Keith Edwards]

We need more of it on our side. I'm just gonna say we need left wing influencers attacking each other. I'm serious. I'm kind of serious. Yeah, there's a whole. There's a whole like, beat.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah.

[Keith Edwards]

Where the right wing influencers are covered by like, the bulwark.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah.

[Keith Edwards]

We don't have that on the left.

[Jane Coston]

No.

[Keith Edwards]

I think that's to our detriment because then we don't have people that are really like, garnering attention in the way that they are.

[Jane Coston]

What do you think that kind of attention does for conservatives? Does for the right? Because I think that there's people on the left who would be like, we all gotta be in lockstep. Cuz otherwise it's just gonna be like they're gonna find like the most irritating person among us and then pretend that we're all them. Like there's a real. I think that there's kind of a fear. There's a lot of fear and anxiety among liberals on the left. What do you, what do you think that the infighting on the right does for them?

[Keith Edwards]

Well, it creates brands and brands create name id. And then when you have name id, you can command attention and. Sure, like Laura Loomer is using that to, like, to ruin lives. Yeah, to ruin lives. And to talk about the things that she thinks are really important. But she really does have the capacity to like, draw attention to the things she's interested in. And so Candace Owens does too, again. But this is like, for evil, dark purposes. But I do think if we had folks on the left that could garner attention and actually like, if we just had characters that were running amok. We need more people to run amok on the left.

[Jane Coston]

I've always been saying we need more running amok. People need to be out in the metaphorical streets. But I think that that gets to something I've been thinking about a lot, which is that Trump has obviously the biggest name ID of all. He's still super unpopular with most people, but still holding steady with his base. What do you think makes Trump such a good messenger? Not a messenger of good things, but good at messaging.

[Keith Edwards]

I think he. The thing he's really good at is he's. He repeats it a lot. Like, we're all talking about the ballroom.

[Jane Coston]

Right?

[Keith Edwards]

Why? Because he won't stop talking about the ballroom.

[Jane Coston]

Nonstop.

[Keith Edwards]

Nonstop. So there is. And that's how advertising works. You don't just, like, buy one commercial and run it, maybe for a Super bowl ad, because you're expecting that to make a bigger impact, but you have to repeat a message over and over and over again in order for it to stick. And he's been. I don't know if he just intuits it or if he just. It's something he's learned over time, but he really does methodically say the same thing over and over. And I think there's a purpose to that. And it's because he wants us to listen to the thing he wants to talk about. He doesn't really talk about the things that the media wants to talk about,

[Jane Coston]

or, I mean, I would argue the things that, like, everyday Americans would want him to talk about. Like, you know, he doesn't really talk about the economy except to talk about how it's amazing and perfect and everything's great. But if we're borrowing from Trump in that way of, like, bringing up things or trying to develop better name ID and thinking about how to communicate better as liberals and Democrats, what should we be learning from Trump?

[Keith Edwards]

I think repetition is one thing. I do think redefining things in the way that resonate not only with our voters, but, you know, the. Maybe the more moderate voter who's not necessarily paying attention as much could work, too. I like to call, like, for instance, like, my little version of this is I call True Social. Donald Trump's blog, you know, you want to cut it down in size. Everyone calls it his social media platform. Please.

[Jane Coston]

It's just him.

[Keith Edwards]

It's a blog and it's a blog. What's a blog? It's a place where one person goes to write and then people comment. Okay. No one else is on True Social going viral.

[Jane Coston]

Right.

[Keith Edwards]

So I think there are those things that we could be doing as a party to one just kind of change the perception of what's happening, but it to also just cut him down in size. And I think cutting down someone who appeals or at least wants to be an authoritarian. One of the best things you can do is try to like Shrink them.

[Jane Coston]

Do you think we need to be like, how do we blend that with, like, he's trying to do some terrible things and has done really terrible things, but also, like, they're really. He's incredibly thin skinned and very easy to make fun of.

[Keith Edwards]

So I think it's a yes. And I don't think you have to do one or the other. Right. I think there are going to be some people who lean on, raising the alarms on, like, the threats to our democracy and our freedoms. But I think there's going to be other people who are really good at just like, cutting them down in size and, and I think they're both really valuable. I personally was one of the people who was raising the alarm for a long time. I don't know how you feel. I kind of feel now I might regret saying this. I kind of feel like we're like, it's. I think we're going to be okay. That's how I feel today.

[Jane Coston]

I have also. I mean, again, this is all one of those things where I'm just like, knock on wood, like, don't make this be like a thing. I regret saying, but I kind of agree. I want to hear more about what you're thinking, though.

[Keith Edwards]

Well, I do think there was a moment where if Donald Trump had the desire or if he had the capacity, he could have probably overtaken most aspects of our government. Like, I really do believe there was a moment where that could have happened. I think he's become too unpopular. Authoritarians have to be popular in order to gain control of the government. And I also think we've seen that folks don't like what he's doing, and they rise up in numbers that are pretty impressive. And when you have those sorts of things, it's. It's kind of impossible to fully take over a government. Now, I'm not saying he wouldn't be able to, but I just, it just feels to me like that moment has passed now. I don't know what's going to go on in the midterms. I'm preparing for shenanigans. I'm saying this wherever I can because no one remembers in 2024 for the election day, there were bomb threats in Democratic voting areas, precincts. And I don't, like, the margins were so close in these states. Could that have changed? I don't know. But who did it? Why did they do it? What did they do? You know, we don't know any of that. There's been no investigation. And so, like, I'm looking forward to voting Republicans out in the midterms. But like, what was that? And is there going to be like an echo of that in November?

[Jane Coston]

I was really excited to talk to you. Not just to talk about kind of the politics here, but because thinking about messaging is really important.

[Keith Edwards]

Yes.

[Jane Coston]

What can Democrats, can liberals, progressives do better to message to Americans? To talk to Americans, not lecture them. There's been way too much of that coming from liberals, I think. But how can we better talk to Americans?

[Keith Edwards]

I think Democrats are really good at explaining the what and the how. I think we could get a lot better explaining the why. Why is this happening? Why is this happening to you? Why. Why are things more expensive? Why do Republicans focus on trans people and immigrants instead of the things that actually affect your day to day life? I don't know you. A trans person has never affected my life positively or negatively. It just does not impact me. And yet it's something that we talk about a lot. And I wish Democrats would go on the offensive and say why. Why? That is because they don't want us to actually talk about things that we could be fixing right now.

[Jane Coston]

Right.

[Keith Edwards]

So that's something that Republican creators like Laura Loomer, Candace Owens, Ben Shapir, they're really good at giving us the why this is happening now. They're lying and they're telling a fairy tale. But that's something that I think Democrats just don't. I don't know. Is there like, is there something different with our mind? I don't know. Like, are we just like. I think that like differently.

[Jane Coston]

I think that there's like an over, like explanatory, but not in a way that like reaches people. Like there's a real. Like, we're gonna give you a bunch of PowerPoint slides.

[Keith Edwards]

Yes. It's like if I told you enough facts, you would see it my way.

[Jane Coston]

Right.

[Keith Edwards]

And that's just not. We, we are, we are inherently storytellers. We've been telling stories for. Since we've been humans. Right. Cave. Aren't there's like cave art.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah.

[Keith Edwards]

Right. So I just think it's not as hard as we make it out to be. Just tell a compelling story. Graham Plattner, I think has been doing that pretty effectively. I think James Talarico has been doing that pretty effectively. I'm not going to name names and other Democrats who have been telling the what and the how, but I think you can fill in the blanks on that. So it's to great success as well, is if you can tell a compelling story that actually happens to be true.

[Jane Coston]

Keith, thank you so much for coming in and joining me.

[Keith Edwards]

Thanks for having me.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Keith Edwards, host of the Keith Edwards Show. We'll link to his YouTube channel in the show notes. We're doing our best to get the word out that there's a better way forward for this country. If you want to help, make sure to subscribe, leave a 5 star review on Spotify and 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 Delete Me. Deleteme makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online. At a time when surveillance and data breaches are common enough to make everyone vulnerable, DeleteMe does all the hard work of wiping you and your family's personal information from data broker websites. And DeleteMe isn't just a one time service. DeleteMe is always working for you, constantly monitoring and removing the personal information you don't want on the Internet. The New York Times wirecutter has named DeleteMe their top pick for data removal services. I'm active online and that means I need to take my privacy seriously. That's why Deleteme is so important. Take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Deleteme now at a special discount for our listeners. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com wad and use promo code WAD at checkout. The only way to get 20% off is to go to JoinDeleteMe.com wad and enter code wad at checkout. That's JoinDeleteMe.com wad code wad wad a day is brought to you by oriframes. I take a lot of photos. Like I have more than 67,000 photos on my phone right now, so instead of letting them get lost to my text threads, I send them to my Aura Frame. With Aura Frames, you get free unlimited storage. Add as many photos and videos as you want and you can share your photos and videos effortlessly. Download the free Aura app or text photo straight to your frame. Auraframes the easiest way to share memories named one by Wirecutter. You can save them the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com for a limited time. Listeners can get $25 off their best selling carbon mat frame with code WADE. That's auraframes.com, promo code WAUD. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Terms and Conditions apply this episode sponsored by Hume Health. You ever wonder if your routine is actually working or if you're just hoping it is? The Hume Band gives you real answers. It tracks your body 247 heart rate, sleep stages recovery, stress, even blood oxygen so you can see exactly how your habits impact your health, not just steps. Real data. You'll start to notice patterns like how a bad night of sleep affects your recovery or how stress is holding you back. And instead of guessing what to fix, the app gives you clear, personalized insights based on your data so you can stop second guessing and start making smarter decisions for your body. Visit humhealth.com to get the Hume ban today.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

This episode sponsored by Good Ranchers. Good ranchers delivers 100% American meat straight to your door. Every cut is sourced from local US Farms and ranches and the entire packaging and fulfillment process takes place right here in America before it's delivered to your doorstep. No imports ever. Just high quality 100% American beef, chicken, pork and wild caught seafood. I'm a subscriber and my plan is incredibly easy to manage. Traveling need to skip a delivery? You can pause, move or adjust your order anytime in just a few clicks. Right now when you start your plan, you'll get free meat in every box for life plus $25 off your first order. With code RANCH25. Go to goodranchers.com and use code RANCH25 to start your good Ranchers plan today.

[Jane Coston]

Here's what else we're following today. Head of Lines. Joining me is Crooked's news editor Greg Walters to talk about the big stories. Hey, Greg.

[Greg Walters]

Hey, Jane.

[Jane Coston]

Greg Trump was once again locked in on the most important issues of the day on Thursday. Those issues being the ballroom, the ballroom, and also the ballroom.

[Donald Trump (implied, voice or quoted)]

You know when you have a thousand rooms sitting on top of a ballroom and you have the elevators coming down right near the entrance, it's a pretty tough situation. Now, right outside, we have something that's on time, on budget, actually ahead of time, ahead of budget, depending on finishes. You know, finishes is a big difference between marble and onyx.

[Jane Coston]

I'm always saying that, but it's right

[Donald Trump (implied, voice or quoted)]

on budget, right on time, and that's built to the highest standards of security.

[Jane Coston]

Anyway, some actual news. Just as Trump was waltzing away on his presidential twinkle toes in the ballroom of his dreams, choosing between marble and onyx, wouldn't you know it, the longest government shutdown in history actually ended.

[Greg Walters]

Which is, Jane, why we need a ballroom, obviously.

[Jane Coston]

While Trump was pounding the table for his ballroom, AKA his new favorite pastime slash obsession. House Republican leadership caved and agreed to fund the Department of homeland security, ending a 70.

[Greg Walters]

Yeah, and to point out the elephant in the ballroom here, Jane, we were just days away from Transportation Security Administration employees missing a paycheck. And this Bloomberg headline sums it up. House votes to end DHS shutdown as threats of airport chaos loom.

[Jane Coston]

Greg, why does something always have to be looming before Congress can do anything about it? I'm so tired of looming. I hate looming. I don't want to loom.

[Greg Walters]

Me, too. But, you know, no matter what is looming, this plan does not include funding for federal immigration enforcement, which Democrats were refusing to fork over after federal agents killed Alex Preddy and Renee Goode in Minneapolis without new safeguards. So some folks are calling this net net a win for Democrats.

[Jane Coston]

You know what else I'm tired of? I was really tempted to make a tired of winning joke here, but it's 2026, and I'm tired of making jokes about being tired of winning. Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I need to reawaken my feminine power and light. But there's bad news on that front, too, Greg.

[Greg Walters]

Damn.

[Jane Coston]

I don't know if you're into psychedelic mushrooms, raw milk manifestation, and the divine feminine, but if you are, I have some very sad news I must tell you.

[Greg Walters]

I cannot wait to find out how you're going to link all those things together in one headline. Jane.

[Jane Coston]

On Thursday, President Donald Trump pulled the nomination of Casey Means to be Surgeon General.

[Greg Walters]

Ah, yes, that story. I should have guessed. Okay, so Trump is claiming that this is because Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, whom he called, quote, a very disloyal person, was holding up her nomination over her views on vaccines. But I gotta say, this seems to me like another big break with the Make America Healthy Again people after Trump's decision to boost the production of glyphosate, a very controversial pesticide for people who hate pesticides.

[Jane Coston]

Now, according to Trump's true social post, means replacement is Dr. Nicole Safire, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York and a Fox News contributor. And like I said, of course, she's a Fox News contributor who thinks RFK Jr. Is a, quote, visionary. It's Trump, but I'm guessing she spent a lot less time talking about using psychedelics to find love and doing full moon ceremonies in Casey Means has. So there's that.

[Greg Walters]

I mean, the Trump alignment with the Make America Healthy Again people has always been a little sketchy from my point of view. I mean, this is the most famous fast food president since Bill Clinton jogged to McDonald's back in the old days. But speaking of people who don't have the job they wanted, Alina Haba joined the View on Wednesday. You might remember Alina Haba as the former White House counselor and former acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. Anyway, her appearance on the View didn't go what you might call very well.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah. Here are some selected moments of greatness.

[Alina Habba]

What do you think 86 means? To kill the president. To get rid of the president, that's what. By the way, his word's not mine if you look at his late night show. But the diction, the dictionary disagrees with you on that. The president also posted Death to Democrats. Do you think the president should be held responsible for that when you all do? Respect, I haven't seen that post. I will tell you what I did. It does exist. The Department of Justice brings real cases. We are not Jack Smith. We are not Letitia James. We bring real cases of people.

[Jane Coston]

I can see two things here, why Trump really liked her and why she was not very good at lawyering.

[Greg Walters]

You know, Jane, my mama always told me not to pick a fight with the dictionary and lose. And if I do, don't do it on tv.

[Jane Coston]

Greg, your mother did a wonderful job. Thank you so much for hanging out.

[Greg Walters]

Thanks, mom. And thanks Jane.

[Jane Coston]

And that's the news. Before we go on this week's Hysteria, Erin and guest host Naomi Ekparigan break down the chaos at the White House Correspondents Dinner after a thwarted shooting attempt and the conspiracy theories that took off after. Then they get into the Internet's obsession with missing American scientists. Plus how Megan Thee stallion handled her breakup fully on her own terms. Listen to Hysteria now wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, enjoy some delusional thinking and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading a not just about how if Donald Trump can believe what he said on Newsmax Thursday,

[Donald Trump (implied, voice or quoted)]

everyone says if I was on the ballot, we'd win in a landslide. I have the best. I have some of the best poll numbers I've ever had.

[Jane Coston]

You can believe absolutely anything. Like me. What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coston and run an ultra marathon. Go after that new job. Ask that person out. Because if Donald Trump thinks he's super popular, you can think whatever you want. Have a great weekend. What a Day is a production of Crooked Media. Our show is produced by Caitlin Plummer, Emily Foer, Erica Morrison and Adrienne Hill. Our team includes Haley Jones, Greg Walters, Matt Berg, Joseph Dutra, Johanna Case and Desmond Taylor. Our music is by Kyle Murdoch and Jordan Kanter. We had help today from the Associated Press. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

VRBO makes it easy to claim your dream summer spot with early booking deals from homes with pools to poolside loungers. When you book a vrbo, you don't have to reserve any loungers. They're all yours. All you have to do is book early book with vrbo. When you buy lg, you get so much more than just an appliance. You get more done, more cost savings, more peace of mind and more control. Because LG appliances are designed to do more like washers and dryers with AI tech to take out the guesswork Refrigerators that fit in tight spaces and keep food fresher longer or ranges with precise induction cooking and easy cleanup built in, all with the style you want and reliability you can count on so you can get more from your home every day. LG appliances so much more make life easier with LG. See the latest models and savings [e-mail]

[Sponsor Voice 3]

this episode sponsored by Marathon Sports Running shoes online can feel like a guessing game, but Marathon Sports makes it easy to get the right gear without stepping into a store. At marathonsports.com you'll find the same trusted brands runners and walkers rely on, including Brooks Hoka, New Balance, Asics, Saucony, and more. Whether you're training for a race, walking for fitness, or just need everyday comfort, Marathon Sports has the shoes, apparel and accessories to keep you moving. Their online shop is built for athletes and everyday movers. Easy browsing, detailed product guidance and fast shipping help you find exactly what you need without the hassle. Because the right gear doesn't just improve your run, it improves how you feel every day. Shop [e-mail] and get moving.