AI Summary
5 min readTrump's Second Year Opens with Threats to Allies, Pardons for Sale, and a Crackdown in Minnesota
The one-year mark of Donald Trump's second term arrived with a weekend that felt like a fever dream even by his standards: the president texted Norway's prime minister to complain about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, announced new tariffs on Denmark over Greenland, and the Pentagon prepared paratroopers for possible deployment to Minneapolis. "It was really was a there's something about this weekend it being the one year mark and all these things overlapping kind of hit me at once," John Favreau said.
The Greenland Gambit and the Nobel Text
Trump announced a new 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, which he will raise to 25% by June if Denmark doesn't let the U.S. buy Greenland. The tariffs, like the purchase itself, would be paid for by American taxpayers. Then came the text: Trump messaged Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that because Norway decided not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize — a decision the Norwegian government has nothing to do with — he "no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America." The New York Times reported it was a text, later retrofitted into a letter. "
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:53) **Show Open & Topic Preview** - Hosts Favreau, Lovett, and Vietor introduce the episode's major stories: Trump's threats against Greenland and Minnesota, new tariffs, corrupt pardons, and polling.
- 2 (03:07) **Trump's Greenland Obsession & Tariff Threats** - Trump announces new tariffs on Denmark and other European nations, threatening to raise them if Denmark doesn't sell Greenland, and sends bizarre texts to Norway's Prime Minister about the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 3 (08:37) **European Response & the "Board of Peace"** - European leaders struggle to respond to Trump's threats, while Trump announces a new "Board of Peace" to replace the UN, charging a $1 billion fee for permanent membership.
- 4 (14:53) **Congressional Reaction & Cruz's Flip-Flop** - Republicans in Congress begin to break with Trump on Greenland, but some, like Ted Cruz, are already shifting to support the imperialist idea.
- 5 (20:43) **Corrupt Pardons and the "Board of Peace"** - Trump pardons a Venezuelan banker after a $2.5 million donation to his super PAC, and pardons a repeat fraudster, highlighting the administration's corruption.
- 6 (31:56) **ICE Raids in Minneapolis and the Insurrection Act Threat** - The Pentagon prepares paratroopers for possible deployment to Minnesota as ICE agents conduct aggressive raids, arresting US citizens and legal residents.
- 7 (46:18) **Jake Lang Rally and the Danger of Street Confrontations** - A Nazi-saluting January 6th pardoner, Jake Lang, attempts to lead a rally in Minneapolis but is chased off by a larger counter-protest.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Trump tells the Norwegian Prime Minister that he no longer feels an "obligation" to peace because he didn't receive the Nobel Prize and announces that he's imposing tariffs on a series of NATO allies until "a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland." Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss these latest developments and Trump's billion-dollar entry fee for the Board of Peace. Then, they cover the latest from ICE's occupation of Minneapolis, including the Justice Department's investigations into Mayor Jacob Fry and Governor Tim Walz, and break down some positive polling about the Democrats chances in the 2026 midterm elections. Then, Tommy talks to Jason Zengerle about his new book, published by Crooked Media Reads, that explores the rise of Tucker Carlson — "Hated by All the Right People."
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