That'll Leave a Denmark

What It Covers

Pod Save America examines Trump's first year in office, focusing on his threats to invade Greenland and Minneapolis, new tariffs on European allies, corrupt pardons for campaign donors, and ICE raids terrorizing American citizens. The hosts analyze polling showing Trump's approval stuck in low forties, Democratic leads in generic ballot tests, and discuss 2026 midterm prospects plus emerging 2028 Democratic primary tensions between Shapiro and Harris.

Key Questions Answered

• •Trump's Greenland Strategy: Trump imposed 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Finland, threatening to raise them to 25% by June unless Denmark sells Greenland. He texted Norway's prime minister stating he no longer feels obligated to think purely of peace after not receiving the Nobel Prize. A 1916 treaty already recognizes Danish sovereignty over Greenland, and the US signed a 2004 defense agreement acknowledging this. The tariffs function as a tax on Americans, with studies showing 96% of tariff costs borne by US consumers, only 4% by foreign exporters.
• •Minneapolis ICE Operations: Over 3,500 armed federal agents deployed to Minneapolis despite Governor Walz mobilizing state National Guard. Pentagon ordered 1,500 active duty paratroopers from Alaska's 11th Airborne Division to prepare for possible deployment under Insurrection Act. ICE agents arrested US citizens and legal residents based on accents or skin color, used tear gas on a family van containing six children including a six-month-old infant who required CPR. Federal judge ruled ICE cannot use crowd dispersal tools against peaceful protesters. Department of Homeland Security falsely claimed 70% of detainees had violent crime charges when actual figure was 47% with any criminal convictions.
• •Pardon Corruption System: Trump pardoned Venezuelan banker charged with felony bribery after his daughter donated $2.5 million to Trump's Super PAC. He pardoned a convicted fraudster for the second time after she committed fraud again following her 2021 commutation and 2024 reconviction. Trump-connected officials started businesses charging up to $1 million in fees to facilitate pardons. He pardoned Ross Ulbricht who founded Silk Road facilitating $1 billion in drug sales and was accused of hiring hitmen to kill five people. No congressional hearings or investigations planned despite clear quid pro quo evidence.
• •Board of Peace Initiative: Trump announced international Board of Peace charging $1 billion for permanent membership, with first three years free. Charter no longer mentions Gaza despite original purpose being Gaza reconstruction. Trump personally serves as chairman in perpetuity with power to veto decisions even if approved by majority. Executive board includes Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, Tony Blair, and business executives like Mark Rowan from Apollo Global Management. Vladimir Putin received invitation despite being international war criminal actively waging war in Ukraine. France and UK declined participation.
• •2026 Midterm Polling: Democrats hold 4-5 point lead on generic ballot, with CNN finding 16-point Democratic lead among deeply motivated voters. Wall Street Journal shows Republicans trusted more on immigration by 11 points and economy by 6 points, but Democrats trusted more on healthcare by 15 points and caring about middle class by 3 points. Trump's approval stuck in low forties, worse than Obama or Bush at same point in second term. Special elections in 2025 showed Democrats overperforming generic ballot by 7-11 points in Tennessee, Arizona, Virginia, and Florida with midterm-level turnout.
• •Senate Path to Majority: Mary Peltola entering Alaska Senate race gives Democrats narrow path to majority if they flip Maine, North Carolina, and one of Ohio, Iowa, or Texas. Harris lost Ohio by 5.7 points, Iowa by 6.7, Alaska by 6.8, and Texas by 6.9, making all competitive with strong candidates and Democratic overperformance. Iowa offers multiple opportunities with open Senate primary, three to four contested House races, and strong gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. Average Democratic overperformance in 2025 special elections of 7-9 points suggests these margins are achievable with proper investment and candidate quality.
• •Shapiro-Harris VP Vetting Conflict: Josh Shapiro's new book reveals contentious VP vetting process where Harris team asked if he ever communicated with undercover Israeli agent or was himself an agent for Israel, standard security clearance question given his six months working for Israeli embassy and IDF volunteer identification. Shapiro lived in Israel during high school and traveled there extensively. Harris's book "107 Days" claimed Shapiro was presumptive about selection, wanting to be in room for every decision and asking Smithsonian to lend Pennsylvania art for VP residence. Shapiro called these accounts "complete and utter bullshit" and "blatant lies" in response to Tim Alberta.