Podcast Summary
Authoritarian manipulation tactics: Authoritarians make supporters feel worthless then offer control through small gestures, as seen with Trump's denial of past actions like the 'lock her up' chant.
Authoritarians, including former President Donald Trump, use tactics to make their supporters feel worthless and then offer small gestures as a means of control. Trump's pattern of throwing his supporters under the bus and denying his own past actions, such as the "lock her up" chant during his campaigns, is a clear example of this tactic. With his own potential sentencing coming up, Trump now denies ever leading the "lock her up" chant, despite it being a prominent feature of his rallies. This manipulative behavior is a common tool used by authoritarians to maintain power and loyalty from their followers.
Trump's ambivalence towards Clinton's imprisonment: Trump acknowledged having the power to prosecute Clinton but chose not to due to potential negative consequences, expressing ambivalence towards his past calls for her imprisonment
During an interview, Donald Trump expressed his past calls for Hillary Clinton's imprisonment as something driven by his supporters rather than himself. He acknowledged that he had the power to prosecute her but chose not to, citing potential negative consequences. Trump also emphasized that the country was doing well before the pandemic and that they were returning to similar policies. However, he insisted that these claims were false, as evidence would show. Ultimately, Trump's interview revealed his ambivalence towards his past calls for Clinton's imprisonment and his belief that his leadership had the potential to unite the country.
Political Scapegoating: Trump used his supporters as scapegoats for his own political goals, including attempting to seize authoritarian power, by urging them to 'lock up' political opponents but later distancing himself from their violent actions
Donald Trump has consistently called for the imprisonment of his political opponents, such as Hillary Clinton, but now blames his supporters for his inflammatory rhetoric. During the 2016 election, Trump frequently urged his crowds to "lock her up" in reference to Clinton. However, when it came to the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, Trump encouraged his supporters to go to the Capitol, but did not join them. Later, he distanced himself from the violence and blamed his supporters for his earlier calls to action. Trump's actions demonstrate a pattern of using his supporters as scapegoats while pursuing his own political goals, including attempting to seize authoritarian power.
Trump's actions during Capitol insurrection: Trump prioritized his own interests over supporters during Capitol insurrection, shown by his lack of pardons and encouraging actions at Ellipse
During the Capitol insurrection, former President Trump used his supporters as pawns for his own self-preservation rather than pardoning them before he left office. This is evident in his words at the Ellipse before the insurrection, where he encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and "cheer on" certain congressmembers, but did not show similar support for those facing legal consequences for their actions. Additionally, Trump's failure to pardon his supporters despite having the power to do so highlights his prioritization of his own interests over theirs. It's important to remember that those involved in the insurrection should be held accountable for their actions, which were an egregious assault on our democracy. However, it's also worth noting that there are alternatives, such as supporting family farmers and reducing environmental impact through companies like Moink, that offer positive solutions for individuals looking to make a difference.
Moink's Impact on American Farming: Moink empowers consumers to choose high-quality meat from family farms and supports American agriculture, while some Trump aides were inactive during the Capitol insurrection
Moink is a farm-to-door service that allows consumers to have total control over the quality and source of their meat, with the option to choose specific cuts and cancel at any time. Moink's commitment to family farming has resulted in high-quality meat that has been praised by industry experts, including Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary and Ring Doorbell's Jamie Siminoff. By signing up with Moink, consumers not only get access to delicious meat but also help support American farming. During the J6 committee hearings, it was revealed that some of Donald Trump's top aides were watching the Capitol insurrection unfold from the White House, doing nothing to intervene. This contrasts the proactive and positive impact of supporting companies like Moink. So, join the Moink movement today and enjoy a year of the best bacon for free by visiting moinkbox.com/MidasTouch.
Trump's prioritization of political gain: Trump prioritized political gain over addressing the Capitol insurrection, using the situation to his advantage by urging the release of those involved and considering pardons for some leaders.
During his discussions with someone on January 6th, Donald Trump was in the dining room watching television, where images of the Capitol violence were visible. Despite having the power to pardon those involved in the insurrection, Trump instead used the situation to his political advantage, calling them "hostages" or "prisoners" and urging their release during campaign events. Trump even went as far as considering a pardon for Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was present at the White House before the insurrection. These actions suggest Trump's prioritization of political gain over addressing the seriousness of the events unfolding at the Capitol.
Pardon for Proud Boys leader: The harsh sentencing of Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and the possibility of a pardon was discussed, with criticism of former President Trump for using them as pawns, while acknowledging the need for compassionate immigration policies and border control.
The discussion revolved around the sentence given to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in jail, and the possibility of a pardon. The speaker expressed their perspective on the situation, acknowledging the harsh treatment of the Proud Boys and J six people, while also criticizing former President Trump for using them as pawns. The conversation then shifted to the topic of border security and immigration, with a call for compassionate policies and respect for the law, while also acknowledging the need for border control and a lawful process. The most significant bipartisan immigration bill in US history, led by Senator James Lankford, was mentioned as an example of potential agreement on the issue. However, the speaker's criticism of Trump's handling of the situation and his supporters was a recurring theme.
Trump's disregard for national issues: Former President Trump admitted to sabotaging a bill to deny Biden a win and criticized illegal immigrant funding, but failed to act on several key issues during his presidency, such as declassifying files and passing bipartisan deals, showcasing inconsistency and disinterest.
During the discussion, it became clear that former President Trump admitted to sabotaging a bill aimed at improving the country, simply to deny President Biden a win. Trump also criticized the use of taxpayer funds for illegal immigrants' legal representation, but failed to act on several key issues during his presidency, such as declassifying certain files and passing bipartisan deals. These unfulfilled promises, along with Trump's self-admitted disregard for the United States and its values, highlight his inconsistency and disinterest in addressing important national issues.
Fiscal policies under previous administration: The previous administration's fiscal policies, including tax breaks for billionaires and handling of COVID-19 pandemic, significantly contributed to inflation
The previous administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with tax breaks for billionaires and an increase in national debt, significantly contributed to inflation. This was a point made in a recent video, which also highlighted specific examples of these actions. The video's creator emphasized that these issues were the root causes of inflation, which President Biden had addressed. The video ended with a call to action for viewers to subscribe and sign up for the Midas Touch newsletter for more updates. Overall, the key takeaway is that the previous administration's fiscal policies played a significant role in causing inflation, which has been a major economic challenge in recent times.