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They discuss the political fallout from the Trump administration’s Iran negotiations. Matthews argues that Trump and his allies are already looking for ways to shift blame if the deal proves unpopular, while also examining how White House messaging strategies are used to manage political damage and shape public perception.

The conversation also turns to the economy, with Matthews contending that rising prices, inflation, and voter frustration are tied to recent administration policies rather than inherited problems. The two discuss Republican reluctance to publicly challenge Trump, growing signs of voter dissatisfaction, and whether those frustrations could lead to major political consequences in upcoming elections.

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Donald Trump praised his potential Iran agreement, despite the fact that it only commits to future talks rather than a final deal. The proposal offers sanctions relief and economic access while granting Iran more nuclear flexibility than the Obama-era accord.

Multiple videos from the G7 summit showing Donald Trump appearing out of sync with other world leaders have gone viral. There is a sharp contrast between how critics treat these moments versus the intense scrutiny previously aimed at Joe Biden.

During a G7 photo session, Donald Trump appeared visibly distracted. He later claimed that Qatar shares a direct land border with Iran, despite the two being separated by the Persian Gulf.

Also at the G7, Trump blamed Democrats for inflation and threatened to bomb Iran if talks fail. He also insulted Barack Obama and made a bizarre comment about falling "deeply in love" with Egypt's president.

Megyn Kelly pressed JD Vance on what recent military strikes against Iran actually achieved and why key Epstein records remain classified. The debate also centered on war powers and the White House’s defense that the conflict wasn't a "full-scale war."

A multimillion-dollar reflecting pool renovation has turned bright green due to severe algae growth. CNN reports that testing revealed high phosphate levels, turning the costly cleanup efforts into a public symbol of Trump's mismanagement.

During a tense appearance on The View, JD Vance clashed with co-hosts Ana Navarro, Whoopi Goldberg, and Joy Behar while defending Donald Trump over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his conflicting statements on inflation.

Finally, Amy Action, former director of the Ohio Department of Health and Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio, joins us to discuss the campaign.

On today’s bonus show:

Some Republicans are angry that Trump may end the Iran war, Trump's pick loses in the Georgia gubernatorial primary, a poll shows many don't believe America will last another 250 years, and much more...

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Donald Trump built much of his political brand on the promise that he could negotiate better deals than anyone else.

That promise was central to his decision to withdraw from the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear agreement in 2018. Trump called it a disaster. His supporters described it as a surrender. Republicans spent years arguing that America had been outmaneuvered and that a tougher approach would force Iran into a far better agreement.

Now, after months of military conflict, economic disruption, and repeated demands for “unconditional surrender,” we may finally be getting a glimpse of what Trump’s alternative looks like.

And if the details reported so far are accurate, it raises an uncomfortable question: What exactly was all of this for?

The emerging framework reportedly outlines a 60-day negotiation process rather than a finalized agreement. Even if the memorandum is signed, it would simply begin a new round of talks rather than conclude them.

Read the leaked letter

Much of what is currently known about the proposal comes from a leaked memorandum that has been circulating publicly.

Read the leaked letter ➡️ click here

Based on reporting about the document, the agreement under discussion appears to place fewer restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program than the Obama-era deal that Trump abandoned.

One example involves Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

The Obama agreement imposed strict limits on the amount of low-enriched uranium Iran could possess. Reports about the current framework suggest considerably softer language, stating that the issue would need to be “adequately addressed.” That may sound technical, but in international negotiations, wording matters. The difference between a concrete limitation and a vague future commitment can be enormous.

The same pattern appears elsewhere.

The Obama deal restricted Iran’s stockpile, limited the development of certain nuclear technologies, and created an extensive inspection regime that gave international inspectors significant access to Iranian facilities.

By contrast, key questions about inspections under the current proposal appear unresolved. Administration officials have offered conflicting answers about what inspection authority would ultimately look like and how compliance would be verified.

At the same time, reports indicate that the United States could lift sanctions, release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds, and potentially support broader economic rehabilitation efforts.

That should sound familiar.

When the Obama administration released frozen Iranian assets as part of its agreement, Republicans treated it as a national scandal. The rhetoric was relentless. Critics argued that the administration was enriching a hostile regime and giving away leverage.

Now, many of those same voices appear far less concerned about similar provisions when they are attached to a Trump-negotiated agreement.

The double standard is difficult to ignore.

But the larger issue is not hypocrisy.

The larger issue is that the justification for abandoning the original deal was always that something dramatically better would replace it.

That was the promise.

Instead, after years of escalation, months of war, enormous financial costs, rising energy prices, damage to international relationships, and the loss of human life, the result appears to be a negotiation centered on many of the same concepts that existed before.

Restrictions on nuclear activity.

Sanctions relief.

Inspections.

Diplomatic agreements.

In other words, diplomacy.

The irony is hard to miss. Trump spent years insisting that the Obama agreement was unacceptable. Yet the framework now being discussed reportedly resembles that agreement far more than it differs from it.

The difference is that the earlier deal was already in place.

If the ultimate destination was another negotiated arrangement, Americans are justified in asking whether the detour was worth the cost.

That question becomes even more important when viewed through the lens of Trump’s own rhetoric.

This was not supposed to end with compromise. It was supposed to end with unconditional surrender. It was supposed to demonstrate overwhelming American leverage and produce a dramatically stronger agreement.

Instead, the administration now appears to be negotiating from a position shaped by political deadlines, economic pressure, and growing public exhaustion with conflict.

That is not what was promised.

And if a Democratic president had withdrawn from an existing agreement, presided over months of war, and then returned with a deal that looked weaker than the one they scrapped, there is little doubt what the reaction would be.

The criticism would be immediate and relentless.

The real test is whether the same standards apply when the president involved is Donald Trump.

Because beyond the partisan arguments, that is ultimately what this story is about: accountability.

If the Obama deal was unacceptable, then why is a weaker version of it acceptable now?

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Here’s what we’re talking about today.

This is a quick rundown of the topics we’ll be covering on today’s show. You can hit play to listen, or read the transcript below if that’s more your style.

Transcript:

Today on the show, some sad news. We may have seen this administration spend four months bombing, threatening, and negotiating their way to an Iran deal—maybe—that is way weaker than the Obama deal that Trump tore up, which got us into this in the first place. “Premature exaggeration” may be the right term for what’s happening.

Plus, a bizarre string of moments at the G7. Trump wanders off, has to be brought back, seems disconnected from reality during a group photo, delivers rambling comments that left other diplomats scratching their heads.

And we will also look at the growing cracks in the administration’s Iran messaging. Even Trump-friendly voices have started asking good, obvious questions. And JD Vance can’t seem to answer them in anything approximating a coherent way.

Later, Trump’s latest vanity project, the reflecting pool, is turning literally green, an algae-ridden mess.

And JD Vance pounded on live TV by a group of middle-aged women. And it doesn’t go well for JD Vance.

All of that and much more today.

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Donald Trump and his allies spent years condemning Barack Obama’s Iran deal as a giveaway that funded America’s enemies. Now JD Vance is defending an agreement that could provide Iran access to hundreds of billions of dollars while admitting many key provisions remain unresolved.

During multiple television appearances, JD Vance acknowledged that important elements of the Iran agreement are still being worked out even as the administration prepares for a signing. Issues involving inspections, enrichment, and enforcement should already be settled before a major international agreement moves forward.

Footage from Trump’s meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron shows Trump tired and speaking with a strained voice. Trump defended his Iran agreement while also discussing the World Cup and performing his familiar public handshake routines.

At the G7 summit, Trump said the agreement’s central purpose is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and promised to release the text later. He also suggested that some previously important issues, including Iran’s enriched material, may not matter as much.

Workers begin removing algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool almost immediately after a renovation project that greatly exceeded its original cost estimate. Spending millions of taxpayer dollars without permanently fixing the underlying issue has become a feature of the Trump administration.

Gavin Newsom publicly challenged Trump after reports indicated federal investigators are examining matters connected to him and his wife, Jennifer. Newsom argues that the investigation reflects political retaliation against a rival.

Finally, Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor and bestselling author, joins us on Substack Live to discuss a possible plot to remove Donald Trump from office via the 25th Amendment.

On today’s bonus show:

Elon Musk's net worth soars to $1.3 trillion, Eric Trump allegedly asked about rigged fights ahead of the UFC event, a challenger who shares a name with Senator Dan Sullivan is ruled ineligible for the ballot, and much more...

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Here’s what we’re talking about today.

This is a quick rundown of the topics we’ll be covering on today’s show. You can hit play to listen, or read the transcript below if that’s more your style.

Transcript:

MAGA spent a decade attacking Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal. They said it’s a giveaway. It’s a disaster. It’s surrender. And now Trump’s administration is admitting that Iran could get access to hundreds of billions of dollars, while they admit that a whole bunch of the details haven’t even been worked out, even though Donald Trump has already declared victory. Wait until you hear the Vice President, JD Vance, explain what’s actually in the agreement.

Then, a bizarre G7 appearance raises new questions as Donald Trump is struggling through meetings. He’s making confusing comments about Iran. He contradicts his own negotiators.

And I will be joined by Robert Reich for a fascinating conversation about authoritarianism, about populism, what Democrats should do, what he believes is going on with Donald Trump.

And later, the reflecting pool. After millions of your taxpayer dollars pour in to fix it, the algae is back and it looks just as bad as ever.

Oh, and by the way, Trump is now having Gavin Newsom and his wife investigated.

Let’s record this one. We might as well publish it, I think.

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Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that a historic peace deal with Iran is complete, though the actual physical agreement will not be signed for days. This pattern of celebrating a premature announcement mirrors previous unfulfilled Trump administration promises.

Vice President JD Vance immediately managed public expectations by stating that learning the ways of peace will take time. He admitted that the removal of the naval blockade and the halting of a nuclear program depend entirely on Iran following through on future promises.

A controversial UFC event was held on the White House lawn to celebrate Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The night turned highly partisan when fighter Josh Hokit used the microphone after his bout to shout derogatory insults about Michelle Obama.

Donald Trump fell completely asleep during a UFC match at the White House and had to be physically slapped awake by Dana White. The president managed to sleep even during a spectacle custom-designed around his favorite hobby.

The official television broadcast of the White House fighting event featured live commercial advertisements promoting World Liberty Financial and its new stablecoin. The event commentators further shocked viewers by announcing that the competing athletes would receive their official payouts through this private family business.

Writing for The Atlantic, journalist Tom Nichols argues that the secret Iran treaty represents a humiliating failure because the intact Iranian regime retains its ballistic missiles. The lack of international transparency gives Tehran an immediate incentive to sprint toward a nuclear bomb.

Venezuelan asylum seeker Bryan Jose Rojas Galofre was arrested on a honeymoon trip to Trump National Doral Miami after police found a recreational airsoft gun and a marijuana grinder. The arrest triggered a three-month federal immigration detention based on unproven gang allegations, ruining the couple financially.

Finally, leaked footage shows Riley Gaines relying on an off-camera script rather than speaking from genuine conviction. The video undercuts her brand as an authentic, grassroots truth-teller.

On today’s bonus show:

Gas prices will take a while to fall, Trump scolded Charlie Kirk over Epstein before his death, Britain to ban children under 16 from social media, and much more...

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The conversation also focuses on what Democrats should stand for moving forward. Reich makes the case for a more populist economic message centered on inequality, corporate power, and political corruption, arguing that these issues offer Democrats their strongest opportunity to connect with voters and challenge Trump’s movement.

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Here’s what we’re talking about today.

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Transcript:

After ending the war ten times, is the Iran war finally over? Well, Trump says the deal is done, historic, and finished, except nobody signed it yet. And JD Vance immediately starts lowering expectations. He says, you know, peace isn't going to happen overnight. You've got to be patient. We've got to see what happens.

Then, Trump's White House UFC birthday spectacle turns into a national embarrassment as a fighter says Michelle Obama is a man and Trump falls asleep during the fight, only to be slapped awake by Dana White. Even people beating the crap out of each other wasn't enough to keep Trump awake. Imagine if that happened to Biden.

And then stunning conflict of interest as Trump's crypto venture is promoted during coverage of the UFC fight. It turns out the fighters will get a bonus in Trump's crypto coin. It's disgusting. It's insane. It may be the most embarrassing moment for the United States in a very long time.

And that's not even all of it. The husband of a woman who loves Trump is arrested by ICE and she says, “I still love Trump.”

All of that and more today.

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Global data shows mortality rates rise 7% to 14% on birthdays, especially for people over 60, due to celebratory stress. Donald Trump faces these exact physical stressors as he plans a massive 80th birthday party on the White House lawn.

Reacting to a social media post by Mark Levin, Donald Trump launched an attack on Truth Social. Trump labeled Congressman Jamie Raskin a loser in life and argued he should be jailed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio bizarrely praised the planned White House UFC event by comparing it to the historic Apollo moon landing. This is part of a growing trend where political allies substitute entertainment for actual governance.

Donald Trump routinely falls asleep during mid-afternoon meetings multiple times a week. During a recent appearance, he falsely claimed Americans had to travel to Japan to get Maine lobster and proposed a state-funded fertilizer bailout for farmers.

Donald Trump is facing visible mobility challenges, including an unsteady gait and difficulty climbing stairs. To accommodate these limitations, White House staff are structuring his events around sitting down and shrinking his daily schedule to a five-hour window.

Representative James Comer publicly claimed that rampant voter fraud is occurring specifically within minority communities in blue states. He provided no empirical evidence, official statistics, or court cases to support this serious accusation.

Finally, the Justice Department recently initiated rare denaturalization proceedings against 17 citizens who allegedly concealed past criminal convictions during their application process. Simultaneously, Trump is targeting birthright citizenship via executive order for children born to undocumented parents.

On today’s bonus show:

A Fox host refers to Trump's "reign," a Newsmax guest says California's voting system is invasion-worthy, right-wingers attack Graham Platner, and much more...

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Here’s what we’re talking about today.

This is a quick rundown of the topics we’ll be covering on today’s show. You can hit play to listen, or read the transcript below if that’s more your style.

Transcript:

Donald Trump turns 80 years old this weekend, and he’s going to throw himself a little party with a UFC fight on the White House lawn that we are all paying for, unfortunately.

We’re also going to talk about the strange but real statistical phenomenon that people are more likely to die on or around their birthdays, which links this weekend’s events to some pretty interesting scientific research.

Trump then melts down over growing calls for his impeachment, and says that our friend, Congressman Jamie Raskin, should be expelled from the House of Representatives. Not going to happen.

And we will hear from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who embarrasses himself by comparing the UFC fight on the White House lawn to when man landed on the moon. A little bit is missing there in that analogy.

There are also reports that Donald Trump can no longer stand for long periods of time, and that this is why all of his events are now sitting down.

And James Comer, the congressman, revives election fraud claims aimed at “it’s the blacks.” What an old reliable trope for them. We’re going to break it all down.

Plus the latest push to denaturalize 17 citizens.

All of that today.

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Donald Trump resumed military operations against Iran after a brief pause following a phone call from Iranian officials. He publicly claimed total control over Iranian oil markets. The escalation comes 15.5 weeks into an operation projected to last under a month.

The consumer price index hit 4.2%, outstripping average worker wages. Conservative media networks have begun attributing the price hikes to complex global factors like Middle East shipping routes, when they’re due more directly to Trump’s war and tariffs.

The White House refuses to comment on why Donald Trump required twenty-two separate medical specialists. This unusual surge in medical visits contrasts sharply with the standard physicals of past presidents.

When asked about rising prices, Donald Trump denied any concern and stated he loved the inflation. He later shifted to comparing the length of the reflecting pool to the height of skyscrapers.

During a tense town hall meeting, an audience member asserted that all working and retired Americans deserve medical coverage. Republican Congressman Mike Flood responded by declaring the program financially unfeasible, triggering instant boos from the crowd.

Donald Trump derailed a televised phone interview about Iran attacks into a monologue about his local political endorsements and 2020 election fraud claims. Fox host Brian Kilmeade repeatedly attempted to steer the discussion back to the Iran war.

During a debate about political media double standards, Fox host Emily Compagno claimed that reports of Donald Trump insulting military heroes were a hoax. Jessica Tarlov immediately silenced the panel by bringing up the president’s past insults against John McCain.

Finally, a New York Times report outlines an internal battle between Susie Wiles and JD Vance regarding unverified allegations against Donald Trump. The administration ultimately chose to withhold the files to avoid public embarrassment.

On today’s bonus show:

The Trump "anti-weaponization" slush fund is back, Trump's arch will require 3 years of 20-hour-a-day construction, Alabama's nitrogen gas executions ruled cruel and unusual, and much more...

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Donald Trump campaigned on a clear promise: he was going to bring prices down.

Not just inflation, but actual prices. Gas, groceries, energy, housing, and the everyday expenses Americans face each week were all supposed to cost less.

Affordability was one of the most effective messages of his campaign because it tapped into something real: people were frustrated by rising costs and wanted relief.

The latest inflation report tells a very different story.

Inflation has now climbed to 4.2 percent year over year, the highest level in more than three years. Energy costs have been a major driver, but they are not the whole story. Food prices continue to rise, and the broader trend is moving in exactly the opposite direction from what voters were promised.

There is an important way to understand just how significant this number is.

If we set aside the extraordinary inflation spike associated with the COVID pandemic, inflation today is higher than it has been at any point in more than a decade. That is not what Americans were promised when they were told that affordability would return on day one.

And the problem becomes even more serious when wages are factored into the equation.

Inflation is rising while purchasing power falls

One of the ways economists evaluate the impact of inflation is by looking at wages adjusted for rising prices.

If inflation is increasing but wages are growing even faster, consumers may still come out ahead because their purchasing power improves. That is not what is happening right now.

Real average hourly earnings have turned negative. Real weekly earnings have also turned negative. In other words, inflation is rising faster than wages.

For ordinary Americans, that means paychecks are buying less.

This is the distinction that often gets lost in political messaging. Inflation is not just an abstract number reported on financial news programs. It affects what people can afford at the grocery store, at the gas station, and when paying utility bills.

When prices rise faster than income, households feel it immediately.

What happened to “we solved inflation”?

The political challenge for the White House is that Trump’s own statements are now colliding with the economic data.

Earlier this year, Trump declared that inflation had effectively been solved. He claimed prices were coming down and that affordability had returned.

The numbers tell a different story.

Inflation is now more than double the Federal Reserve’s long-term target of 2 percent.

That creates a credibility problem.

Voters may disagree about the causes of inflation. They may disagree about the best solutions. But if a president repeatedly tells people that prices are falling while their bills continue rising, eventually people notice the disconnect.

This was not inevitable

Every president faces economic challenges that are largely outside of their control.

The COVID pandemic is a good example. Leaders around the world were forced to navigate a global crisis that disrupted supply chains, labor markets, and consumer demand. Some handled it better than others, but no political leader created the pandemic itself.

This situation is different.

Trump's defenders often point to global factors when discussing inflation. But many of the pressures Americans are experiencing today are tied to policy choices made by this administration. The tariffs Trump championed have increased costs throughout supply chains. The administration's involvement in Iran has contributed to rising energy prices.

These are not simply unavoidable economic forces. They are the consequences of decisions made by political leaders, and those decisions deserve scrutiny.

That distinction matters.

Different coverage, similar reality

CNN and Fox News approached the inflation story very differently this week.

CNN focused on what rising prices mean for ordinary households. The report highlighted increases in food costs and noted that wage growth is no longer keeping pace with inflation. When prices rise faster than paychecks, purchasing power shrinks. People find themselves relying more heavily on savings or credit cards just to maintain their standard of living.

Fox News covered the inflation report differently.

Their reporting emphasized energy prices and disruptions tied to events in the Middle East. That explanation is not entirely wrong. Energy costs have been a significant contributor to recent inflation, and supply chain disruptions can absolutely affect prices.

But there is an important distinction that often gets lost.

Fox News presents these developments as if they are simply external events that happened to the administration. In reality, many of the factors contributing to rising costs are connected to policy choices.

Tariffs are a policy choice.

Military escalation is a policy choice.

Trade restrictions are a policy choice.

When those decisions increase costs for businesses, consumers eventually feel the effects.

One example mentioned during Fox’s coverage was fertilizer. Rising fertilizer prices matter because they increase costs for farmers. Those higher costs eventually work their way through the supply chain and appear as higher food prices at the grocery store.

In other words, some inflationary pressures have not fully reached consumers yet.

Accountability cannot be selective

One of the most revealing aspects of this debate is how standards change depending on who occupies the White House.

When gas prices increased under Biden, many conservatives argued that presidents should be held responsible.

When groceries became more expensive under Biden, many conservatives argued that presidents should be held responsible.

When inflation rose under Biden, many conservatives argued that presidents should be held responsible.

Now inflation is rising under Trump, and the explanation has shifted. Suddenly it is regional conflicts, shipping disruptions, fertilizer costs, or broader market forces.

Some of those factors are real. Economic outcomes are rarely caused by a single person or a single policy.

But if voters were told during the campaign that the president has the power to bring prices down quickly, it is reasonable to ask whether that promise is being fulfilled.

So far, the trend is moving in the opposite direction.

What voters actually notice

Political messaging can only go so far.

People know what they are paying for groceries.

They know what their rent costs.

They know what their utility bills look like.

They know whether their paycheck stretches as far as it did a year ago.

No amount of partisan media coverage can completely override those experiences.

The central promise of Trump’s campaign was that affordability would improve. Whether voters believe that promise is being kept may become one of the most important political questions heading into the midterms.

The numbers are moving in the wrong direction.

The question is whether enough voters are willing to acknowledge it.

What do you think? If voters blamed Biden for high prices, should they apply the same standard to Trump now? Or do presidents get too much credit and too much blame for economic conditions in general?

We’re reaching over 150 million people every month across YouTube, podcasts, Substack, and beyond. But algorithms can change. Platforms can fold. And when that happens, this newsletter is how we stay connected.

If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, please consider joining.
If you’re already paid on one platform, consider supporting us on both Substack and our website.

You can subscribe on our website and right here on Substack.

And if you’re really on fire, consider gifting a subscription—we’ve got thousands on our waiting list ready to read, watch, and fight back.

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—David

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Here’s what we’re talking about today.

This is a quick rundown of the topics we’ll be covering on today’s show. You can hit play to listen, or read the transcript below if that’s more your style.

Transcript:

The most ended war in American history, Donald Trump’s war with Iran, is now fully back again. We have bombing. They’re talking about taking control of Iran’s oil infrastructure. Trump says he’s been stealing Iranian oil. I guess it’s just not quite over.

In the midst of this very obvious stress on Trump, he suffers another public glitch, telling reporters, “I love the inflation,” as inflation is crushing Americans and may indeed crush Republicans at the ballot box in November.

We also see a Republican congressman booed at a mostly Republican town hall when he says, we just can’t afford to give everybody health care. Which raises a very interesting question about where even Republican voters are moving on that issue.

Plus, a Fox hosts defense of Trump instantly collapses when Jessica Talavera asks a single question about John McCain.

And a bombshell report reveals that Donald Trump was seen by 22 medical specialists during his recent physical. The White House won’t say why, they won’t say who, and they won’t report out their findings. A very strange thing.

And also a weird report involving nipples. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s just what it is.

All of that and more today.

Don’t miss the full show with these stories and others, plus all of our analysis.

🎧 Tune in at 3:00 pm Eastern on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

👉 Consider becoming a paid Substack supporter to support extras like these news episodes. Thank you.

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