Summary
Overview
Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer discuss Donald Trump's political setbacks, including Republican backlash against his ballroom funding request and January 6th restitution fund, which has caused chaos in the Senate. They also cover the delayed release of the DNC autopsy report and Ken Martin's credibility issues, new polling on Democratic voters' priorities, and Texas Senate politics. Tommy Vietor interviews San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan about his California gubernatorial campaign.
Trump's Senate Majority Melts Down Over Ballroom and Slush Fund
Trump's political operation faces a major crisis as Senate Republicans revolt against his $1 billion ballroom funding request and controversial $1.776 billion restitution fund for January 6th defendants. What was supposed to be a week of political dominance after primary victories quickly collapsed when Senate Majority Leader John Thune canceled votes and sent everyone home. The fund would have no oversight and could pay violent insurrectionists, including those who assaulted police officers, leading even Mitch McConnell to condemn it.
- Senate Republicans in revolt after Trump demands $1 billion for ballroom and creates $1.776 billion slush fund for January 6th defendants
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancels ICE funding vote and sends Senate home until June after tense meeting
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche refuses to rule out payments to violent insurrectionists who assaulted Capitol police
- Trump admits in Oval Office: 'I don't know' if he's losing control of the Senate
" Our majority is melting down before our eyes. "
" I'm the acting attorney general. The fact that I used to be President Trump's lawyer is just a fact, but I'm the acting Attorney General. So don't say the President's former personal lawyer will do something. The acting Attorney General will do something. "
" If you do the right thing in the face of evil, you will be rewarded for your bravery and patriotism. "
The Political Disaster of the January 6th Restitution Fund
Dan and Jon break down how Trump's decision to create a restitution fund for January 6th defendants represents one of the worst political moves imaginable. Instead of just personally pocketing billions from an IRS settlement, Trump created an unaccountable fund that could pay violent criminals, including a convicted child sex abuser and white supremacists. The fund has no oversight, with Trump appointing the board members who can distribute money with no public reporting requirements.
- Jake Lang, who admitted using a bat to attack police, is a white power activist expecting to apply for the fund
- Andrew Paul Johnson, serving life for sexually abusing children, promised victims 'Trump bucks' from restitution fund
- Fund has zero accountability - Trump picks board members, can fire them anytime, no public reporting required
- Two January 6th police officers filed lawsuit to try to stop the fund
" So instead of giving billions of dollars to one criminal, they're going to give $1.776 billion, which is so clever, to an untold number of criminals, many of whom committed violent offenses, assaulting the Capitol and assaulting police officers. "
" So the nation's top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong, take your pick. "
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