AI Summary
5 min readThe hosts open with a grim tally: the Iran peace talks are moving forward, but the terms look worse than the deal Trump tore up; the reflecting pool renovation has gone from farce to something more alarming, with federal agents arresting people Trump accuses of phantom vandalism; and the president has unveiled his new Qatari jet, a gift that keeps raising questions about corruption. Bill Pulte has taken over as acting DNI, and the outgoing DNI may have been taking direction from a cult leader. A New York Times story reveals the potentially criminal lobbying campaign behind Trump's decision to commute the sentence of a convicted fraudster. Then, New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan join Tommy to discuss their new book, Regime Change, which is full of revelations about Trump's second-term White House.
The Iran Talks: Better Than War, Worse Than Before
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:48) **Show Open & Iran Deal Update** - Hosts introduce the episode's topics: the Iran peace talks, the reflecting pool scandal, the Qatari jet, Bill Pulte's DNI appointment, and an interview with Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about their book *Regime Change*.
- 2 (04:11) **Iran Talks: Progress or Surrender?** - The hosts break down the latest from the Switzerland negotiations, including JD Vance's claimed three points of progress and the 60-day sanctions waiver on Iranian oil.
- 3 (10:56) **Republican Cope on Iran** - The hosts play clips of Republican reactions to the Iran deal, from Tucker Carlson's threat to leave the party to Lindsey Graham's call to seize the Strait of Hormuz.
- 4 (23:28) **Reflecting Pool Fiasco: From Farce to Fascism** - The hosts discuss the failed renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Trump's blame-shifting, and the arrest of random people for alleged vandalism.
- 5 (34:37) **Trump's New Qatari Jet: A Monument to Corruption** - The hosts discuss the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, and the secretive, costly retrofitting process.
- 6 (44:59) **Bill Pulte Takes Over as Acting DNI** - The hosts discuss the chaotic transition at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, with Bill Pulte taking over for Tulsi Gabbard.
- 7 (53:39) **The Corrupt Pardon of David Gentile** - The hosts discuss a New York Times investigation into the commutation of a convicted fraudster's sentence, which was linked to a priest friend of Trump.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Donald Trump says the Reflecting Pool will need to be drained for repairs to the coating he said would "last for at least 50 years" — blaming vandals for the peeling and algae blooms that have turned his pet project into an instant mess, and ordering federal agents to start making arrests. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to the administration's scapegoating then turn to the rest of the news, including the latest from JD Vance's negotiations with Iran, Trump's luxurious renovation of the Qatari jet set to become the new Air Force One, and the beginning of Bill Pulte's term as acting Director of National Intelligence. Then, New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan join Tommy to discuss their new book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," which offers an unparalleled look inside Trump's second term.
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