Trump Approval Sinks Amid Epstein Scandal and Guard Deployment

0:00Support for this podcast comes from Progressive, America's number one boat insurer. We've all made mistakes on the water, but there's one mistake you shouldn't make, being uninsured. With Progressive Boat Insurance, you can choose coverage for most mistakes you or other boaters could make, helping you float carefree all season long. Quote today, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, number one rating based on 2024 filings with State Departments of Insurance. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to.

0:30Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is? With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews all on the app. Download today. Welcome to The Beat, everyone. I'm Ari Melber. James Carville is here tonight. As we get back in the saddle, we also have new heat that Donald Trump is facing on the Epstein scandal, the protests over what he's trying to do in Washington, trying to normalize federal troops on your street so you get used to it, no matter what the reason.

1:01And we're going to show you right now what Governor Gavin Newsom is saying. He has been trolling Trump, going after him as a, quote, chicken, imitating Donald Trump's posts online. This matters because it's part of what's happening in the country, but it also shows politically how Newsom and other Democrats are trying different styles because there's kind of a trolling going on. He's even impersonating the way Trump tweets or posts online. And this afternoon, Gavin Newsom's office posted a video with masked officers outside his own press conference and then ripping into Trump. He's a failed president.

1:38Who else sends ice at the same time having a conversation like this? Someone who's weak. Someone who's broken. Someone who's weakness is masquerading his strength. More from the California governor here. I know they say don't mess with Texas. Well, don't mess with the great golden state. Here he is once again trying to rig the system. He doesn't play by a different set of rules. He doesn't believe in the rules. We have got to recognize the cards that have been dealt. And we have got to meet fire with fire. Fire with fire is absolutely the opposite of what we've heard so many times from Democrats, the opposition about dealing with Trump.

2:25So you're seeing that change, not from the far left, not from a street activist, but from one of the most prominent governors in the country who, it's no secret, is on these lists to be a future Democratic candidate for president. There's also the Epstein scandal, which won't go away. There are accusations of witness tampering from Democrats about the little that has come out regarding the controversial interview of Epstein accomplice Maxwell. House Democrats trying to use power to get more information, and this is an issue where many House Republicans have been afraid to disagree with any call for Epstein transparency.

3:00They say the transfer of Maxwell to that better prison appears to violate Bureau of Prisons policy, and they want details. Question also is whether Trump is using this, and Trump or his aides or DOJ, to shape any potential future words or testimony by Maxwell. Epstein's victims have said this all looks like a cover-up. Two sources who know what Trump has said have told Rolling Stone that he critiqued media appearances by Epstein accusers and their families and viewed it only through his own personal lens that they're trying to make him look bad. Trump said that some of these people speaking out are, quote, Democrats.

3:38The White House actually denies this report, so if that's a mechanism or a political strategy, it's not one they want to admit to. we heard from an Epstein survivor, Jess Michaels, discussing, that's an older picture of her, she's become an activist in these issues. We gave her the mic to hear directly from someone who's been affected by all this. I have not heard the words Epstein survivor out of the White House ever. It's not just that they're ignoring survivors when they're having meetings, when they're discussing, when they're talking with the convicted pedophile sex trafficker. I'm really shocked, and not, that this woman has been able to weasel her way into working towards a pardon, working towards leniency.

4:33Concern there, the prison leniency for Maxwell. Hill has been reporting on the flurry of action on Epstein that Congress is planning for September. It is summer. Regular people are living their summer lives and maybe following the news a little less, but the evidence is that for many different reasons, the news will stay on this issue and Epstein and Trump's problems with it well past Labor Day when everyone comes back to work. Indeed, it's one of the rare things we've seen have support from the MAGA podcast right to the anti-Trump left. And speaking of anti-Trump concerns, We're seeing fresh protests over the use of federal power and troops in our nation's capital without any great emergency.

5:16Of course, there are times where you welcome the National Guard, but this summer deployment has smacked of a pretext for autocratic tactics by Trump, according to many critics. Here's some of what we hear in the scene.

5:32Our streets! Yeah, our streets!

5:50Donald Trump has mused about using and abusing more federal power on our homeland for a long time. That's no secret. They didn't exactly brainstorm some big new reason or trigger for this set of actions. They just made vague references to crime, which, of course, goes up and down all over the country. many key crimes that are measured in D.C. are down. There certainly isn't a kind of a riot or ongoing emergency that would justifiably normally bring out the guard. There's polling that Trump's not doing well. He's actually dropped nine points, interestingly, among conservative leaning Americans, people who say they are either Republican or leaning.

6:2983 % is still a base, but we checked it's the lowest number of this second term. He's going in the wrong direction, while Pew shows overall 60 % of Americans disapprove of this. So what do you do with a hand this week in this long summer of Epstein for the Trump White House? James Carville joins me in 90 seconds.

6:52Support for this podcast comes from Progressive, America's number one boat insurer. We've all made mistakes on the water, but there's one mistake you shouldn't make, being uninsured. With Progressive Boat Insurance, you can choose coverage for most mistakes you or other boaters could make, helping you float carefree all season long. Quote today, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Number one rating based on 2024 filings with state departments of insurance. You know, recommendations can be great. Maybe someone recommended this podcast and here you are. But home projects are different.

7:24If a podcast isn't your thing, you lose a few minutes. If you hire your cousin's neighbor to mount your TV, you might end up with a lopsided screen and wall damage. Maybe I know a guy just isn't enough for your home. That's why Thumbtack works. It matches you with top-rated local pros with photos, reviews, and credentials all in one place. For your next home project, try Thumbtack. Hire the right pro today. She loves it hot. He loves it cool. The Pod by Eat Sleep is a smart mattress cover that fits on your bed and keeps each side at the perfect temperature all night long. By staying comfortably warm or cool, the pod helps you sleep deeper and wake up feeling more rusted.

8:05Every morning, you get daily health insights and a sleep fitness score. However you sleep, the pod by Aidsleep adopts to you. Try it at Aidsleep.com. We are back with longtime Democratic strategist James Carville. So, James, this is one of those news days where I took through a couple of things, but they all were going in sort of one direction. Your thoughts on any of the above? Well, the big thing that I watch today, as I watch every morning and what's going on with the cost of living, school supplies have gone up substantially year over year from this year to last year, which is something that a lot of people engaged in.

8:44Beef prices at an all time high. It's about 240 days since he declared that he would beat inflation. I remember on this network, Keith Olman, you said, was how many days since mission accomplished? I mean, watered to a thing. It's been 242 days since Donald Trump has promised to beat cost of living increases. You feel any relief? And that's his biggest problem overall. I mean, the depsing stuff. I mean, if they get an Emmy for acting guilty, he'd win in a landslide. I mean, if they act as guilty as you can be, you can be a daughter of mighty man. Well, you know, the link there, there was a New Yorker cartoon that shows the sort of dark autocratic imagery of soldiers in Washington.

9:28And then one observer is saying to another, boy, whatever's in those Epstein files must be really, really bad. You know, I watched the clip you showed of the people frustrated and yelling at air when you yell at these guardsmen. They're not there because they want to be there, because they're told to be. You ought to go across the Potomac and phone bank and walk precincts in Prince William or Bloudon County or Henrico or Chesterfield or one of those places because that's going to get the Virginia governor's race is going to get 5 ,000 times the amount of attention that's going on in the streets of Washington right now.

10:08And it's going to end very poorly for him. I promise you. There is the splintering on the right, which feels different than, as they say, back in your day, although you're still here, so I don't mean in any which way. But you're on the new mediums, which I always find interesting about you. You're posting online and you engage with the pods. You're engaging with more podcasts than, frankly, the Democratic nominee was last year. and they are less relentlessly partisan for the GOP than, say, Fox. So it is a different ecosystem, and I'm going to play Rogan for you and then get your thoughts. You know, on Fox, we monitor it.

10:49I support their free speech. They can say whatever they want. But hour by hour by hour, James, they say Donald Trump is handling immigration perfect. Couldn't improve on it. 100 % A-plus rating. And Joe Rogan, who, by the way, is a conservative and has supported some aspect of limiting new migrants into the country. That's his policies, has a very different take. Here it is. It was a visceral reaction that a lot of people had the idea of people just showing up and pulling people out of schools and pulling people out of Home Depot and pulling people that were just hardworking people that maybe snuck over here because they didn't have a legal way to get over here.

11:31But since they've been here, they've been good people and they're a part of communities. And that's what freaks people out, because what people when people thought about ICE, they thought, great, we're going to get rid of the gang members. They didn't think, great, you're going to get rid of a landscaper. From a Trump voter there with a lot of audience, your thoughts. Well, you know, Joe Rogan, that's smart. I never viewed him as a kind of doctrinaire, right winger. He's more into male resentment and being put on. And he knows his audience pretty good. And there's two things. It's a tenet of a lot of conservatives.

12:09There's something going on with this child sex stuff. And they feel like they're vindicated because the Epstein thing tends to prove that they had a point to start with. The other thing is I know a little bit about that ethic. They do. So not all of them. I don't know if most of them, but a significant part of the Joe Rogan audience kind of admires hard work. And, man, let me tell you, if you take a 10-year-old, an 8-year-old, you walk 400 miles to get in the United States, I'd say, come on in. Come on in, man. We got a place for you, Eddie, right here. And I think he understands. I think he's an instinctive marketer.

12:53And I honestly think he was a pretty good one. And I think we made a big mistake in going on his show. I don't think he's some modern day version of Rush Limbaugh at all. I think he's more sophisticated. Well, you bring it up. I mean, you know, we learn people learn over time. There was a loud I don't know how representative it was, but there was a loud liberal Democratic wing saying that for Bernie Sanders to engage with him or take his endorsement itself was bad. Pretty rare to take a powerful person, a lot of audience. You can disagree about many things and say, no, don't tell your people to vote for me.

13:29Yeah, the word is loud. They're not very effective. They really don't win elections. They have very limited cultural power. It's mostly in museums and foundations and academia and entertainment. I think that they just make a lot of noise and they try to latch on to anything. But if you're proud of what you are, as I am, I'm proud of my political philosophy. I'm actually a proud Democrat. I'll go on anywhere. Sure, come on, Ari Melvin, anytime you ask me. I'll go on Sean Hannity. I'll go on Jesse Waters. I'll go on anybody because I feel like what I have to say, people are going to want to buy, and they're going to be part of that.

14:11And what they're selling, this anger and boycott everything and boycott this, it's just people, that's not where people are. And they're not popular, and they're not very effective. I'll just say that. Yeah. Let it go. Well, it's funny you mention institutions because we've got something on that coming up. But, James, stay with me. I'm also going to show you more of what Newsom's doing. I'll tell folks coming up, there's crackdown at the Kennedy Center. We have a report on that. And Don Lemon joins us later in the hour tonight. What do you talk about? Oh, cookies and pretty much cookies. They're happening all over the country right here in New York.

14:50This is just a very big one downtown rolling from the west side to the east side.

15:00We cannot unilaterally disarm. We can't stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across this country. We need to stand up, not just California. Other blue states need to stand up. We need to be firm in our resolve. Well, Governor Newsom speaking today. We're back with James Carville. Are Democrats in the national stage finding a sharper, better message against Trump? Well, this is a good one. And I'll give an A in political campaign to Governor Newsom and also to Governor Prisca. I mean, they were given an opportunity and they stepped in and they stepped up to the plate and people are outraged.

15:43I mean, no one wants politics to be about drawing maps. OK, they want it to be about ideas and campaigning. But you're forced to it. It's like, well, they use chemical warfare. What do you expect us to do? And I think it's given him an opportunity to, you know, to command center stage. I think he's very aggressively and smartly taken that, as I think Governor Pritzker has. Now, is this going to decide the Democratic nomination in 2028? I don't know. It might. You know, people are more angry about it. And I think the more people find out about it, the madder they're going to get. And it's just not hardcore Democrats like me or, say, my friend Don Lemon, my Baton Rouge guy who's coming on after me.

16:24But I think people, this is something that's just not right. I don't think this is going to sit well. I bet you this doesn't sit well with Joe Rogan over a period of time. I think that guy has a better sense of justice than this. We'll see. And something you know a lot about, people can't keep track of everything. So what you're saying is the Democrats are actually boosting this and saying, put them back on defense because you're talking about writing the rules in the middle of the game because otherwise you'd lose. People can understand that. It's not a tricky one. As for whether this is a template for a Democratic leader, I'll tell you this, James.

16:59I know people come up to you because I've occasionally been out in the world with you. People come up to James Carbo. So I'm no James Carmel. But this summer, people come up to me. The top questions I get, not a poll, anecdotal, is I get questions about American democracy, what's going to happen in the future with Trump. I get a lot of Epstein questions. That's just a big topic. And then I keep getting questions about Momdana. And we got reports now Barack Obama himself reached out to a Democratic nominee for mayor, but he's not even elected yet in New York. Axelrod speaking on that I have the quote here says look you might not agree with every answer or every idea but he's asking the right questions how do we make the country work for working people and inspire young Americans who have this economic uncertainty is you've said you like Mom Domi on the economy what do you make of Obama reaching out the fact that we're hearing about it not everything's an accident in politics and what's coming down the pike in this race that's now pretty close in the fall Well, I think President Obama was wise to do this.

18:07Look, the guy's smart. He's young. Did he say stupid things in his 20s? Yes. All of you who have not said stupid things in your 20s, raise your right hand. But he costs a living. Understand that. He pounds it home. I give him very high marks for that. Very high marks. and, you know, he's got some energetic people around him. And I'm surprised, honestly, the number of young people I know, young people are grandchildren of people I know in New York are saying, you know, my kids are excited about this guy. Somebody wanted to bet me even money and I'm not going to take the bet that he tried a Jewish vote in the general election in November.

18:50He just might do that. I don't know if you remember this from all your days on the road. There are a fair amount of Jewish New Yorkers. I didn't know that I thought You know what Damn Well you're But you're speaking on something Which is What are we defined by Right And It's his detractors Who wanted to make His candidacy All about the Middle East Which is a big debate In the country In the world On the left On the right That's a whole debate But they wanted to go into that And you're saying He could actually hold the line With Jewish New Yorkers Who are mostly Democrats Partly because It's the affordability message That made him the most popular in the primary.

19:27Yeah, a lot of people who are sympathetic to the state of Israel, I would certainly consider myself one, you know, pretty uncomfortable about these images of these children and these pediatricians coming out. I mean, at some level, the humanity kicks in on this thing. And, you know, I've always been a believer that humanity will trump identity every time. But I do think people are uncomfortable with this and justifiably so. But again, I'm not I can't defend.

20:00So he doesn't mean that, but I think he has energy. Yeah, he's got the energy. I think he's got energy. Yeah. And as they say, both things can be true. People could have disagreements with, as you put it, something he said in his 20s, or even what he would do if he were the chief Mideast peace negotiator, which is not the job he's running for. So, again, you get into what's the issue, who picked it. James, we started the show with you. We continue the show with you. Two blocks in a row in the summer, my guy. Thanks for being here. Thank you so much. The young people are there. Coming on. See you, man.

20:34Take care. There they go. We'll keep watching. Our thanks to James Carville. Coming up, we have a veteran journalist with a lot of perspective joining me tonight. Here's what I noticed from my time here. That the young men said that they are automatically looked at by members of law enforcement as suspects. The way that they approach them is the way that the guys are going to respond to them. Veteran reporter, anchor, newsman, and now digital star, Don Lemon. We love it when he's around. He joins me live next. I'm pretty confident talking into a mic. Hey, I'm doing it right now. But home projects?

21:16I second guess everything. Is that noise normal? Is that water damage? Who do I even call? That's where Thumbtack comes in. Just upload a photo or voice note, and it uses AI-powered search to match you with the right top-rated local pro. So instead of guessing, you get clarity and can hire with confidence. For your next home project, try Thumbtack. Hire the right pro today. She loves it hot. He loves it cool. The Pod by Eat Sleep is a smart mattress cover that fits on your bed and keeps each side at the perfect temperature all night long. By staying comfortably warm or cool, the pod helps you sleep deeper and make up feeling more rusted.

21:58Every morning, you get daily health insights and a sleep fitness score. However you sleep, the pod by Aidsleep adopts to you. Try it at Aidsleep.com. You know that thing where you get an amazing pair of shoes at a really great price and want to tell everyone about it? Yeah, so do we. Here at Designer Shoe Warehouse, we'll give you something to brag about. Like the latest styles from brands you love. Or the trends everyone's obsessing over. Or shoes that make you feel like, well, you. So go ahead, show off a little. Find shoes that get you, and prices that get your budget. Head to your DSW store or DSW.com today.

22:38DSW, let us surprise you. President Trump seeking to abuse government power to shape culture and censor-free speech. The White House says it will do a review of Smithsonian museum exhibits so that they align with Trump's vision. They're admitting partisan abuse of a hallowed institution that is supposed to provide accurate history, beautiful art and truth, but not switch every four years based on politics. Renowned painter Amy Sherald actually pulled out of a Smithsonian exhibit to show by walking away that she was not going to put up with any such distortions. for example, her paintings, including one that imagined a sort of trans Statue of Liberty, facing pressure from this partisan big government anti-free speech administration.

23:26His attempts at a cult of personality are also becoming quite noticeable and at times bizarre. He said he will personally host this year's honors ceremony at Kennedy Center, obviously giving a tell to how he views not only his schedule, because you should be busy doing, you know, peace negotiations, but also that he sees himself on par with the usual approach and honorees. The Kennedy Center honors have been among the most prestigious awards in the performing arts. I wanted one. I was never able to get one. The hell with it. I'll become chairman. And I'll give myself an honor. The joke is not a joke.

24:04He is upset about his prior treatment and wants everything to be political. Remember, even if you are a traditional conservative, even a Republican or MAGA voter. Most people do not want politics rubbed and distorted over every single part of our American culture. Let the artists decide. That's why we go to see art. The broader backdrop is the abuse of power, the threats to companies, the misuse of the merger approval process that we've covered shows that now even Hollywood, which of course is just a bunch of businesses are chasing red state audiences and shows trying to go after what is a suddenly prized demographic.

24:44Reporters from the New Yorker chasing that story and entire corporations are bowing to powerful right wing actors, including cutting normal diversity programs or recruitment, Paramount Skydance merger as measured. And that is just the tip of the censorship iceberg. To get into this story, we have what we think is a great guest tonight, Don Lemon, who of course is a serious reporter and anchor. We showed him out in the field earlier in the program, but also quite frankly, a knowledgeable part of our culture. Many New Yorkers are not changing their routines despite the latest terror warnings. Are you racist?