Alex Wagner: The Poster Child for Corruption and Grift
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Who is Alex Wagner and what is her new podcast about?
You would have usually found her hosting Alex Wagner tonight on MSNBC with me as a guest occasionally, but through April 30th, she's on special assignment for the limited MSNBC podcast series, Trump Land, with Alex Wagner, reporting on the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. It's Alex Wagner, and we're in Trump Land, I guess. How's that going?
I mean, we live in Trumpland. It's just the reality of the situation. I hate to break it to everybody. It may not be forever, but that's where we're at.
Do you have any pushback on the title? Just for mental health purposes? Or you just are accepting?
Well, there is a fine calculation between how much the word Trump in any given title is an attractant or a repellent.
Yeah.
So I do think, though, I mean, we're looking at Trump land not just through the lens of Trump, but the people also affected by Trumpism and his policies and promises. So it's not just about the dude. In fact, I would say it's a lot less about the dude and more about the sort of broader contours of the country he is creating.
Yeah, it's very little about the dude, actually. We're going to do a bunch on the pod. I was binging it yesterday. Love that. We have a couple news items we have to get to first, though, if you don't mind.
Please, go. It's your podcast.
We have a new... I like turning the tables. I love it. I relish.
What controversial changes has the Trump administration made regarding press freedom?
I'm a terrible guest. I am a terrible guest, but I'm telling you that now that I'm already booked and we've started this.
It's going to be great. I relish putting the host in the guest seat. I'll bring out the best guest in you, I promise. All right. We have a new edict from the Capitol. The dear leader's mouthpiece was asked about the banishment of the Associated Press from the press room yesterday. I want to take a listen to what she had to say about that.
I was very upfront in my briefing on day one that if we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable. And it is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America. And I'm not sure why news outlets don't want to call it that, but that is what it is.
That's a fact. That's a fact. That's a fact.
I mean, this is like my question. It's like, can you imagine, by the way, can you imagine the crowd sizes debate litigated in Trump 2.0? I mean, I feel like you have that clip.
Actually, let's go. Can we hear another fact? Can we get that other clip really quick?
This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.
I mean, can I just say the difference between then and now is it was just stupid Sam Spicer embarrassing himself, you know, like becoming a national parody. And now there's actual retribution. The idea that the AP is not being allowed in, is being punished for adhering to reality. It's not good, Tim. Very George Orwell. All of this.
I guess another difference is they're making their facts real, you know, like the Google machine and Apple have changed the name of the Gulf here as well.
What's next? I mean, what's next? Like when you talk about Trump, President Trump, you have to now by law say the greatest president in American history. When you when you print the words President Trump, I mean, like sky's the limit, right? It's a fact.
I'm shocked. I haven't tried to change anything to Trump. I'm annoyed that we went back to Mount McKinley. I want Mount Trump. I want to just go all in.
Listen, from your mouth to Trump's ears, I do not think this is the end of this. If he can win at renaming large bodies of water... Just on a whim? What's to stop him from calling it the United States of Trump? I mean, I kid, but I do think this sets an unbelievably bad precedent.
Or Trump land. I got to tell you, I know this is serious now. I know that the media, there's a free speech question here. The folks at FIRE, the good free speech advocates have been defending the AP, which I appreciate. This was just really funny. I don't know. There's something about her being like, it is a fact. It is a fact that I find it seems a little desperate and funny. No, is it not funny?
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Who is Alex Wagner and what is her new podcast about?
0:18–1:35
2
What controversial changes has the Trump administration made regarding press freedom?
1:35–7:28
3
Why is Tesla receiving $400 million from the State Department?
7:28–10:38
4
How does Elon Musk's involvement in government raise concerns?
10:38–22:23
5
What are the reactions to RFK Jr.'s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services?
22:23–33:01
6
What is the impact of tariff policies under Trump 2.0?
33:01–51:51
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from The Bulwark Daily
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