Trump's Versailles on the Potomac

Episode of Pod Save America · June 5, 2026 · 1 h 20 min

Jon Favreau and Alex Wagner discuss Trump's building projects, the J6 slush fund, ICE detention, Blanche and Pulte nominations, California primaries, Graham Platner, 60 Minutes, and Favreau's mistaken UFC invite.

Summary

Jon Favreau and guest co-host Alex Wagner opened with Donald Trump's announcement of a Lincoln Memorial "Promenade" and his fixation on the renovated Reflecting Pool, which Wagner characterized as a vanity-driven legacy project she doubted would be completed. They then examined the Senate's failure to statutorily kill the proposed $1.8 billion January 6 compensation fund, with Wagner sharply criticizing Senator Bill Cassidy for offering a partisan alternative amendment instead of backing the Democratic one, and turned to the $70-plus billion ICE funding push, where Wagner described family separations, deaths and poor conditions in detention centers and the profits of the GEO Group.

The hosts discussed Trump's plan to nominate Todd Blanche as attorney general, noting that vacancy rules could let him remain acting indefinitely, and the appointment of FHFA director Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence. Wagner argued Pulte was installed to find grounds to contest election results, citing Will Sommer's reporting on Pulte's meme-stock past, while Favreau noted Democrats were using Section 702 reauthorization as leverage. They also mocked a Condoleezza Rice op-ed praising the Iran war and noted a House war powers vote.

On elections, Favreau reviewed results in Iowa, Montana and California's slow count; both hosts worried about a lack of inspiring Democratic communicators, with Favreau criticizing Karen Bass and Xavier Becerra. Discussing a new New York Times report on Graham Platner's past relationships, Wagner called some allegations disqualifying if true, while Favreau spoke about personal redemption but concluded that winning the Maine seat mattered more than Platner.

Wagner, a former CBS News employee, condemned Bari Weiss's overhaul of 60 Minutes and the firing of Scott Pelley as part of the Ellisons' effort to curry favor with Trump, urging Paramount's entertainment talent to speak out. The episode closed with Favreau recounting how TKO Events invited him to the UFC event at the White House, apparently mistaking him for filmmaker Jon Favreau, before rescinding the invitation.

Chapters

1:19
Introduction
Favreau welcomes Alex Wagner in studio in Los Angeles and previews the episode.
3:51
Trump's Promenade and vanity projects
The hosts react to Trump's Reflecting Pool boasts and his announced Lincoln Memorial Promenade.
9:13
The J6 slush fund vote
Discussion of Republicans' failure to pass language killing the January 6 compensation fund and criticism of Bill Cassidy.
13:39
ICE funding and detention conditions
Wagner and Favreau describe family separations, deaths and poor care in immigration detention and a threat to halt airport customs in sanctuary cities.
24:51
Todd Blanche for attorney general
The hosts discuss Blanche's nomination and how vacancy rules could keep him acting indefinitely.
27:13
Bill Pulte as acting DNI
Clips and discussion of Pulte's appointment, his meme-stock past, and Democrats' FISA leverage.
38:10
War powers and Condoleezza Rice on Iran
The House passes a war powers resolution and the hosts mock Rice's op-ed praising the Iran war.
42:58
Primaries in Iowa, Montana and California
Results and slow counts prompt worries about the Democratic Party's lack of compelling communicators.
50:24
New Graham Platner allegations
The hosts weigh a New York Times report on Platner's past relationships, redemption and the stakes of the Maine seat.
1:04:51
Meltdown at 60 Minutes
Wagner criticizes Bari Weiss's overhaul of 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley's firing, and the Ellisons' motives.
1:13:01
Favreau's accidental UFC invitation
Favreau reveals he was invited to the White House UFC event, likely by mistake, before being disinvited.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Alex Wagner
Wagner expressed doubt that Trump's announced construction projects, including the Promenade, will be completed, citing budget and schedule overruns.
“I don't know that any of this is going to come to pass. I mean, truly. First of all, he's over budget”
Listen from 7:38 · Lincoln Memorial Promenade
Alex Wagner
Wagner criticized Senator Bill Cassidy for squandering a chance to redeem himself by refusing to back the Democratic amendment.
“This was the one chance Bill Cassidy had to redeem his reputation, his stature as a statesman”
Listen from 9:30 · January 6 compensation fund
Alex Wagner
Wagner argued that Blanche's assurance the fund was dead is meaningless because he will do whatever Trump wants, so Congress must outlaw it.
“If Todd Blanch says on Monday – The slush fund is gone. And Trump says on Tuesday, I love it”
Listen from 9:48 · January 6 compensation fund
Jon Favreau
Favreau argued that Republicans who opposed the fund could prove it by voting against the final bill.
“if it really counted and they really didn't want the fund, they could vote against the final bill”
Listen from 13:04 · January 6 compensation fund
Alex Wagner
Wagner cited reporting estimating that about 200,000 deported parents have been separated from their children.
“By her estimate, I think 200,000 parents have been deported and separated from their children”
Listen from 14:58 · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Alex Wagner
Wagner said private detention operator GEO Group saw roughly an 800% profit increase from 2024 to 2025 amid a revolving door with the administration.
“GeoGroup has made, I think, an 800% increase in profits between 2024 and 2025”
Listen from 17:21 · GEO Group
Alex Wagner
Wagner argued detention conditions are deliberately made so harsh that detainees abandon their legal cases.
“one of the things they're doing is making life so abominable that people just decide I'm going to give up on my case”
Listen from 18:13 · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Jon Favreau
Favreau explained that vacancy rules allow the administration to restart the clock so Blanche could remain acting attorney general indefinitely.
“So like you can just play with the paperwork and Todd Blanche can serve forever”
Listen from 26:52 · Todd Blanche attorney general nomination
Alex Wagner
Wagner argued Pulte was appointed to help Trump claim fraud in the 2020 election and potentially contest the 2026 midterms.
“he's being put in there for one reason only, and that is to help Trump find a reason to say that the results of the 2020 election were fraudulent”
Listen from 32:20 · Bill Pulte acting Director of National Intelligence appointment
Jon Favreau
Favreau said that a Democratic Congress could use oversight powers such as subpoenas against appointees like Pulte.
“if Democrats have control of Congress, you haul this guy in for questioning”
Listen from 35:06 · Bill Pulte acting Director of National Intelligence appointment
Jon Favreau
Favreau interpreted Condoleezza Rice's op-ed as an attempt to flatter Trump about the war while steering him away from a deal that releases money to Iran.
“anti-anti-Trump Republican thing of being like, I think we can play him, right?”
Listen from 41:56 · United States war with Iran
Alex Wagner
Wagner said Spencer Pratt's strong showing shows Democrats are failing to address voters' concerns even in deep-blue Los Angeles.
“Democrats are having a really hard time articulating a message that is addressing people's deep seated concerns”
Listen from 46:33 · 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election
Jon Favreau
Favreau criticized Karen Bass for failing to communicate with urgency as mayor.
“Karen Bass didn't adequately communicate in the last couple of years on this job”
Listen from 47:04 · 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election
Alex Wagner
Wagner argued that if the allegations are true, Platner's masculinity is as toxic as what the right offers, undermining his appeal as an alternative.
“this kind of masculinity, if this stuff is true, is just as fucking toxic as everything being served on the right”
Listen from 53:58 · 2026 United States Senate election in Maine
Jon Favreau
Favreau said Platner's biggest problem is trust, and voters cannot be blamed for doubting him.
“The problem is, it's gonna be really hard to blame voters who wonder whether they can believe him”
Listen from 54:32 · 2026 United States Senate election in Maine
Jon Favreau
Favreau said he would welcome replacing Platner with Janet Mills because winning the seat is what matters.
“It's not about Graham Platner. It's about winning the seat”
Listen from 57:57 · 2026 United States Senate election in Maine
Alex Wagner
Wagner argued the Ellisons are gutting 60 Minutes to curry favor with Trump and secure the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
“the best way to do that and ensure that they can proceed with the paramount Warner Brothers discovery merger, which is supposed to happen as soon as next month”
Listen from 1:08:03 · 60 Minutes
Linked moment · 1:09:32Skip to 1:09:32 using a listen link in the info box.
Alex Wagner
Wagner called on Paramount's entertainment talent to speak out, arguing only they could pressure the Ellisons.
“It's another thing for everybody who's on a Tyler Sheridan show to say, hey, you can't gut the fourth estate just because you want to make money”
Listen from 1:09:32 · 60 Minutes
Jon Favreau
Favreau rejected claims that the 60 Minutes shakeup was about fixing a bad workplace culture.
“You're not going to tell me that she and Nick Bilton and all the rest of them are this fucking dumb”
Listen from 1:12:40 · 60 Minutes
Jon Favreau
Favreau recounted that he believes TKO's Ari Emanuel invited him to the White House UFC event by mistaking him for filmmaker Jon Favreau.
“Ari chose me because what I thought is he thinks I was the other Jon Favreau”
Listen from 1:14:32 · UFC White House event

People

In the conversation

Jon FavreauCo-host of Pod Save America and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama
Alex WagnerMSNBC host who hosts episodes in the Pod Save America feed

Discussed

Todd BlancheDeputy Attorney General named acting Attorney General
Bill PulteFHFA director named acting Director of National Intelligence
Bill CassidyRepublican U.S. senator from Louisiana defeated in a primary
Thom TillisRepublican senator Booker praised for questioning Kristi Noem
Susan CollinsRepublican senator who noted Congress holds the power of the purse
Graham PlatnerPresumptive Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine
Janet MillsGovernor of Maine who suspended her Senate campaign
Bari WeissEditor-in-chief of CBS News, criticized by Wagner over ratings
Scott PelleyCBS News correspondent for 60 Minutes
David EllisonParamount chief pursuing the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
Nick BiltonNew executive producer of 60 Minutes, formerly of The New York Times
Condoleezza RiceFormer U.S. Secretary of State linked to college coaching search rumors
Mark Wayne MullinHomeland Security secretary
Karen BassMayor of Los Angeles, referenced regarding city-level policy conflicts
Spencer PrattReality TV personality running for mayor of Los Angeles
Xavier BecerraFormer U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California attorney general running for governor
Ari EmanuelTKO Group executive
Will SommerReporter at The Bulwark who wrote about Bill Pulte
Caitlin DickersonJournalist reporting on immigration detention and family separations
Andy KimDemocratic U.S. senator from New Jersey
Jon OssoffU.S. senator from Georgia cited as connecting corruption and economics

Topics

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Dan Pfeiffer and Cook Political Report's Amy Walter assess the 2026 midterm landscape two weeks out, covering Senate and House races, polling, Trump, and redistricting.
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Live at the Texas Tribune Festival, the Pod Save America hosts assess Texas and national midterm races, Xi Jinping's visit, and interview congressional candidate Bobby Pulido.
The Search for an Exciting Moderate
Pod Save America · Jul 26, 2026 · 1 h 15 min
Jon Favreau and Matt Yglesias debate how a moderate, center-left Democrat could gain attention, win the 2028 presidential primary, and appeal to swing voters.
The Primaries Will Continue Until Morale Improves
Pod Save America · Jul 21, 2026 · 1 h 11 min
Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor discuss Trump at the World Cup final, the renewed Iran war, ICE killings, and Democratic primaries in Maine, Wisconsin and Michigan.
The Democratic Party's Civil War
Pod Save America · Jul 19, 2026 · 1 h 6 min
Dan Pfeiffer and Run for Something's Amanda Litman discuss Graham Platner's Maine collapse, DSA's rise, the Michigan Senate primary, AIPAC spending, and down-ballot recruitment.
The Race to Replace Graham Platner
Pod Save America · Jul 10, 2026 · 1 h 24 min
Dan Pfeiffer and Alex Wagner discuss Graham Platner's exit from Maine's Senate race and the Iran war, then Pfeiffer interviews North Carolina Senate candidate Roy Cooper.

From the publisher

President Trump announces yet another D.C. construction project — a renovation to the Lincoln Memorial dubbed "The Trump Promenade" — as well as the nominations of his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche for Attorney General and shitposter-turned-FHA Administrator Bill Pulte for acting Director of National Intelligence. Alex Wagner joins Jon Favreau to discuss the latest, including California's torturously slow primary tallies, new allegations against presumptive Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner, and Scott Pelley's dramatic last stand at CBS's "60 Minutes." Then, Jon reveals how he was accidentally invited to the UFC fight on the White House lawn. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Politics·News Commentary