Overview of That’ll Leave a Denmark
This episode of Pod Save America (hosts: Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor) covers a full week of Trump-era foreign and domestic chaos on the one‑year mark of his second term. The show focuses on: Trump’s Greenland gambit and trade/tariff threats against multiple NATO/EU countries; a controversial domestic security escalation in Minneapolis (ICE raids and possible invocation of the Insurrection Act); a string of politically connected pardons; midterm polling and Democratic vulnerabilities; intra‑party news (Shapiro book, Mary Peltola in Alaska); and a long interview with Jason Zengerle about his new Crooked Media Reads book on Tucker Carlson, Hated by All the Right People.
Key topics discussed
Trump, Greenland, and tariffs
- Trump announced new tariffs (10% initially, planned to rise to 25% by June) on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland — tied publicly to pressure on Denmark to allow the U.S. to buy Greenland.
- Trump texted Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre saying, among other things, he “no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace” and ended with: “The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”
- European protests (including at sports events) and rapid diplomatic reactions followed; Denmark deployed troops to Greenland.
- Hosts condemned the logic and legality (and practicality) of trying to acquire Greenland; reminded listeners of U.S.–Denmark treaties recognizing Danish sovereignty over Greenland (U.S. purchase of Danish West Indies noted historically).
- The hosts discussed economic consequences: Wall Street Journal finding that ~96% of recent tariffs’ costs have been paid by Americans; concern about executive abuse of emergency trade powers; possible Supreme Court review and more tariff plans.
“Board of Peace” and international credibility
- Trump floated an international “Board of Peace” (initially framed around Gaza rebuilding) with a $1 billion fee for permanent members, a draft that doesn’t mention Gaza, and invitations reportedly including Vladimir Putin.
- Hosts saw it as an attempt to replace or subvert multilateral institutions with crony‑run structures and criticized the invitation list and governance structure (Trump veto power, lifetime chair).
Pardons, patronage, and DOJ capture
- Recent pardons/commutations raised quid‑pro‑quo concerns: a Venezuelan banker pardoned after large donations to Trump’s super PAC; re‑pardons of repeat fraudsters; commutations tied to political or personal connections.
- Hosts argued the pardon power is being abused and protected by congressional and DOJ complicity. They called out Senate Republicans and a captured Justice Department for enabling impunity.
- Examples referenced: pardons/commutations for high‑profile figures (Ross Ulbricht, Juan Orlando Hernández) and stories about a downstream “pardon industry” charging for access.
Minneapolis, ICE raids, and domestic militarization
- Reports that active‑duty paratroopers in Alaska and National Guard units in other states were alerted for possible deployment to Minnesota if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act.
- Large federal deployments (ICE and other agencies) in Minneapolis continued despite a federal judge’s ruling limiting use of tear gas and arrests of peaceful protesters.
- Graphic case discussed: a family driving home from basketball practice was tear‑gassed; an infant required CPR; public video contradicted DHS/ICE initial claims; DHS social posts were misleading and later deleted.
- The hosts criticized DHS leadership (Kris Noem referenced in transcript; likely Kristi Noem mentioned in context), Department of Justice rhetoric that criminalizes local elected officials (investigations into Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey), and the broader erosion of norms/impunity.
Polling, midterms, and Democratic party challenges
- Trump’s approval stuck in low‑40s; he trails historical benchmarks at this stage of a second term.
- Generic ballot: Democrats ahead by ~4–5 points on average; among voters “deeply motivated to vote,” Democrats led by ~16 points in at least one poll.
- Voters still favor Republicans on immigration and the economy in some polls — underscoring Democratic messaging/brand problems.
- Hosts debated prospects for 2026/2028: Mary Peltola in Alaska creates a narrow path for Democrats to win the Senate (if they can flip Maine, North Carolina, and one of Ohio/Iowa/Texas), but the party needs a better, clearer positive narrative on core issues (esp. immigration).
Inside‑party news
- Josh Shapiro’s upcoming book leaks: Shapiro explored a post‑Biden presidential bid that his wife shot down; he disputes some claims in Kamala Harris’s 107 Days (particularly that Shapiro assumed he'd be VP).
- The hosts discussed vetting, political friction between potential 2028 contenders, and the need for Democrats to articulate a stronger philosophical platform.
Interview — Jason Zengerle on Tucker Carlson (Hated by All the Right People)
- Zengerle explains why Tucker is a useful lens on modern conservative media: his career tracks the incentive structure of right‑wing media and populist politics.
- Key points from the interview:
- Tucker’s early magazine career, his reputation as a skilled writer, and a strong bullshit detector helped him predict and leverage political trends (criticism of Bush, early attention to Trump).
- The Jon Stewart/Crossfire takedown (2004) damaged his establishment media standing and contributed to a long‑term grievance against the elites; that resentment helped fuel his later populist voice.
- Tucker’s Daily Caller founding intended a fact‑focused outlet but pivoted when audience demand favored nativist/populist content.
- At Fox, Tucker’s monologues were crafted like magazine pieces — he devoted heavy attention to writing, which differentiated him from many cable personalities.
- After leaving Fox, Tucker had no corporate “guardrails” and increasingly booked and normalized extreme guests (Putin interview; Nick Fuentes). Zengerle sees this as partly audience‑driven and partly ideological.
- Tucker’s relationship with figures like J.D. Vance and his capacity to move/shape parts of the Republican movement make him a political operator as much as a media star; Zengerle considers a Tucker candidacy for office plausible if he thought it necessary to achieve his goals.
Notable quotes & lines
- From Trump (as read/discussed in the episode): “The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”
- Hosts’ framing: Trump “creates the emergency” then uses emergency powers (tariffs, military posturing); the administration has “absolute impunity” on pardons and prosecutions.
- On media/strategy: Jason Zengerle: Tucker “tailored his positions to the incentive structure” of conservative media and has a “radar for where the audience is.”
Major takeaways
- The Greenland/tariff episode is emblematic: erratic presidency + personal ego + abuse of unilateral authority = real diplomatic, economic, and reputational damage.
- Domestic security escalation (ICE raids, troop movements, threats to local officials) shows how federal power is being used to intimidate domestic critics and communities; legal checks have had limited effect so far.
- The pardon power and Department of Justice are functioning as instruments of partisan protection, enabled by a compliant GOP in Congress.
- Democrats lead modestly on generic ballots but suffer from a persistent brand problem; midterms and 2028 competitiveness hinge on messaging, candidate quality, and turnout.
- Tucker Carlson’s trajectory exemplifies how media figures can reshape party politics, normalize extremist voices, and evolve into political powerbrokers.
Recommended actions / next steps (as implied by the show)
- Follow coverage of Greenland tariffs / Supreme Court rulings and monitor any congressional steps to rein in trade/emergency authorities.
- Track legal developments in Minneapolis (court rulings, ICE/DOJ investigations) and local reporting on federal deployments and civil liberties impacts.
- For those concerned about the pardon power and DOJ capture: pressure Congress to hold hearings, demand transparency, and consider structural reforms (host suggests constitutional amendment debate).
- Read Jason Zengerle’s Hated by All the Right People for a deep dive into Tucker Carlson’s career and influence (pre‑order available via Crooked Media Reads).
Episode sources and context: Pod Save America (hosts Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor), guest Jason Zengerle; reporting referenced from New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Politico, and public statements from Trump administration and European leaders.