Transcript
Darwin Kastle: Welcome! to Episode 9 of The Big Swing, Saving America. Part 1. The Manchurian candidate. Russia, Russia, Russia.
Darwin Kastle: When Donald Trump got elected in 2016, One of the first things I thought about... was the book and the movie, The Manchurian Candidate. The movie came out in 1962 starring Frank Sinatra, Lawrence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and Janet Leigh.
Darwin Kastle: It was a big enough deal that a new version was released in 2004 starring Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, and Jon Voight. The book.
Darwin Kastle: and the first movie center on two characters. a vice presidential candidate named John Esalen, and a war hero named Raymond Shaw. Both are being influenced by a joint soviet chinese communist organization based in manchuria Eastland is a senator who rises to political prominence by making false claims that communists work at the Department of Defense.
Darwin Kastle: The actual communists want Islam to become president so they can influence the leader of their biggest international rival. They've brainwashed Shaw to assassinate Eastland's running mate to make Eastland the new presidential nominee.
Darwin Kastle: While the details of the fictional story Don't directly match Trump's story. The reason I made the connection was because of two things. Trump's rise to prominence through false claims and Russia's obvious desire to get him into the White House.
Darwin Kastle: When Russia's campaign to help Trump get elected came to light in September of 2016. I thought his chance of winning were... over. To be fair.
Darwin Kastle: I thought the same thing. when the Access Hollywood came out. but Surely anyone that Russia was pushing to be our next president. was someone to avoid electing, right?
Darwin Kastle: I guess Hillary using a private email server was just worse? Ugh. Trump has good political instincts at times. when something really damning towards him comes out. which Seems to happen a lot.
Darwin Kastle: He understands the need to remake the narrative. and he's good at it The two most glaring examples of things that Trump twisted reality about our Russia's interference in the 2016 election and the capital riot he incited on January 6th of 2021.
Darwin Kastle: Despite what we saw with our own eyes on live television, and Trump being impeached for it. he did an excellent job of getting people to eventually downplay and in many cases be dismissive of the January 6th riot.
Darwin Kastle: It was largely due to three things. Number one. Many of his core voters. We're fine with the riot because they come to either believe Trump when he told them that the election was stolen,
Darwin Kastle: or they wanted him to stay in power so much. that the results of the election didn't matter to them. Only keeping him in power mattered. Number two.
Darwin Kastle: Like with the stolen election narrative, Trump lied about what happened on January 6. over and over. a That kind of repetition from someone who is constantly plastered all over the media.
Darwin Kastle: is incredibly powerful. Studies point to how effective repetition can be. no matter how blatant the lie being repeated. Number three.
Darwin Kastle: Because Trump retained the support of the Republican base, GOP politicians and right -wing media quickly pulled together to support his version of events. soon they were all over television downplaying what happened and eventually portraying the riders themselves. as victims.
Darwin Kastle: It's possible this reconstitution of reality works so well. Because of the practice Trump got, From Russiagate. or what he now calls Russia, Russia, Russia. na While the evidence of Russia's tampering in the 2016 evidence is voluminous and was considered conclusive,
Darwin Kastle: by our intelligence agencies. Trump was able to attack those things effectively. Because there was so much evidence. Republicans were able to pick out some of the weaker points to attack and ignore the larger amounts of strong evidence.
Darwin Kastle: Trump was also able to dismiss the conclusions of US intelligence. Bye. accusing them of deep state Partisanship. despite their historical apolitical practices and reputations.
Darwin Kastle: But the focus of Trump's defensive strategy came from the same playbook he uses for all of his big scandals, whether it's sexual abuse allegations, corruption allegations, his business fraud. You name it.
Darwin Kastle: He just lies and says that he, or in this case Russia, have been proven innocent. And then he says it. over and over. When the President of the United States says something repeatedly on camera like it's a clear matter of fact,
Darwin Kastle: it becomes hard not to accept that there might be some truth to what he's saying. The problem is is he never offers any evidence. A great example of this is his claims of being cheated out of the 2020 election.
Darwin Kastle: He constantly says there are mountains of evidence and that it's been proven that the election result was fraudulent. then why not present that evidence? He's not lacking the power or the platform to do so.
Darwin Kastle: And why does he lose over and over in court? when it comes to election. given that courts are places that require evidence. Well, it's terrible that the president of the united states gets into scandal after scandal with seemingly no consequences.
Darwin Kastle: When it comes to Russiagate The damage is still going on. A good example is the war with Iran. Iran is one of Russia's closest allies. Iran supplies.
Darwin Kastle: Russia with drones for their war in Ukraine. Russia supplies Iran with targeting information on U .S. bases in the Middle East. They both work to cooperate economically since they're both economic pariahs in much of the world.
Darwin Kastle: So... I imagine. Many people were surprised by what recently happened at the G20 Economic Summit in Asheville, North Carolina. The G20 presidency rotates each year between its member nations.
Darwin Kastle: This year. The US was in charge of setting the agenda. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Besson, The priority of this summit was to be tightening the economic noose around Iran.
Darwin Kastle: With the war against Iran going poorly, the U .S. had announced a new strategy on August 24th. an economic campaign against Iran called Operation Economic Outcast.
Darwin Kastle: According to Besant, this would be designed to sever the economic lifelines that sustain the Iranian Regime. Since we can't seem to win through military force,
Darwin Kastle: we were switching our focus to economic force. Bestin announced that the G20 would prioritize working to achieve the goals of Operation Economic Outcast. So imagine the shock of the representatives of the other G20 nations in Asheville.
Darwin Kastle: when surprise guests showed up at the invitation of the United States. Representatives from Russia. It was just another example of this administration's long -running habit Of having. Henhouse is... guarded by foxes.
Darwin Kastle: Hard to crack down on economic relationships with Iran if you give a pass to their friend Russia. especially when Russia is part of the group making decisions about the economic sanctions on countries like, well,
Darwin Kastle: Russia. Doesn't look like Iran will need to capitulate anytime soon. me But Trump... always gives a pass to Russia. When he sends people to discuss terms that would be needed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine,
Darwin Kastle: He sends them to talk to Russia and find out what Russia wants. not to Ukraine to find out what they want. When Trump declared Liberation Day and launched sweeping tariffs He targeted allies like Japan.
Darwin Kastle: Canada and the union European Union. He also put massive tariffs on our key trading partner, China. He put large tariffs on India, Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico.
Darwin Kastle: He put big tariffs on countries that we don't do large amounts of trade with, like Iraq. Syria and Libya. there These were just some of the countries he targeted with tariffs of 25 to 50%.
Darwin Kastle: But for the remaining characters, c for the remaining countries, He just had a baseline tariff of 10%. While we tariff allies like canada mexico and switzerland 25 % and more.
Darwin Kastle: You might be surprised to know that Russia just got the basic 10 % tariff rate. You shouldn't be. When Russian President Vladimir Putin was persona non grata during the Biden administration,
Darwin Kastle: Trump invited. Wow. That was the case during the Biden administration. Trump invited Putin to a meeting on American soil after he was re -elected. I might be able to understand why to talk with an adversarian person.
Darwin Kastle: But Trump literally rolled out a red carpet for Putin at the airport when he arrived. At this point, the pattern is clear based on Trump's six years in office.
Darwin Kastle: Trump. has made it clear that he would be fine with accepting Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine, and he's ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine. Trump's had multiple one -on -one meetings with Putin including in Helsinki in 2018, when he said that he believed Putin's denial of involvement in election meddling rather than believing US intelligence.
Darwin Kastle: He's also had meetings with Putin. without other Americans in the room. Trump has weakened NATO through criticism. threats to withdraw, and reduction of material support.
Darwin Kastle: He's even reduced US troop levels in Europe despite the ongoing war there. There is plenty of debate. about why Trump seems to admire Putin and why he does so many things that seem designed to make Russia happy.
Darwin Kastle: given Trump's many trips to Russia before becoming president. There are lots of possibilities. though seemingly Not much hard proof yet. But it doesn't matter.
Darwin Kastle: because whatever his reasons are. His actions are the important part. It doesn't matter whether he's being blackmailed, bribed. seduced in some way. or whether he generally just thinks.
Darwin Kastle: Dictators are great. because his actions are those of someone under Russia's influence. Even if he isn't. That's not good for America. and it's not good for the rest of the world.
Darwin Kastle: Part two. Hypocrite Mountain. Every accusation is a confession. In June of 2016, former President Bill Clinton met with then U .S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch at an airport tarmac in Phoenix, Arizona.
Darwin Kastle: According to Clinton, he saw her plane parked near his and decided to say hi. According to critics on both sides of the aisle, Clinton's actions compromise the neutrality of the Justice Department.
Darwin Kastle: In part, because Clinton's wife Hillary was under investigation by the FBI for use of a private email server while serving as Secretary of State. mm -hmm The criticism of both the former president.
Darwin Kastle: and Attorney General Lynch. for the meeting. Seems reasonable. But oh so quaint in hindsight First of all, Members of the current GOP administration have been caught using private communications for official business. several times.
Darwin Kastle: without any investigations being opened about it. Second of all, The neutrality of the Justice Department has been completely nuked by this administration. Attorney General Todd Blanche just gave a speech at the Republican Midterm Convention in Texas.
Darwin Kastle: in support of Donald Trump and the GOP. And this wasn't his first appearance speaking at one of Trump's political rallies. The Attorney General.
Darwin Kastle: In 2016. Vice President and later President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. wrote a letter to the US ambassador to Italy. requesting an introduction to the president of the Italian region of Tuscany on behalf of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma.
Darwin Kastle: Hunter was a member of REESMA's board and they were seeking regulatory help with a geothermal energy project in Italy. When this information came to light during Joe Biden's presidency, Republicans were enraged. They were in an uproar.
Darwin Kastle: They accused Hunter of trying to trade on his father's influence. They held hearings, subpoenaed bank records, and even launched an impeachment inquiry into his father related to the incident. Fast forward to the second Trump presidency.
Darwin Kastle: Things are li - little different. Donald Trump Jr. suddenly has his own economy of various businesses and companies.
Darwin Kastle: Adding him to their board and then suddenly getting contracts with the US federal government Not a peep of protest from Republicans. It came out recently that when Junior got married this May, his multi -day wedding reception on private islands in the Bahamas was paid for by russian oligarch Omar Kremlev.
Darwin Kastle: This is a guy who was personally awarded the Order of Friendship by Vladimir Putin himself. Kremlev. reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the event for the newlyweds, and several of Kremlin's Russian associates were in attendance.
Darwin Kastle: but What about Hunter's laptop? Am I right?
Darwin Kastle: When Trump was running for president in 2016, He's spent lots of time criticizing President Obama. One theme that he hammered repeatedly was Obama's golfing.
Darwin Kastle: He claimed that if elected, Unlike Obama. He would be too busy working for the American people. to golf. He said that time spent golfing was time Obama needed to convince Congress to pass bills.
Darwin Kastle: And as a result. Obama relied too much on executive orders. He also criticized Obama's use of Air Force One to go on golf trips. due to the expense to taxpayers and the carbon footprint. Because, you know, Trump really cares about climate change.
Darwin Kastle: According to Politico, Trump mocked Obama dozens of times for his golfing. Based on this You might expect... that when trump became president he might avoid golfing and relying on executive orders.
Darwin Kastle: During Trump's first term in office, He played over 250 rounds of golf. visiting golf courses about once every five days.
Darwin Kastle: Obama played about... 330 rounds of golf. But that was over eight years compared to Trump's four. Obama took three trips home to Hawaii in eight years.
Darwin Kastle: Trump took 30 trips to Palm Beach in just four years, giving him a significantly bigger carbon footprint with his leisure air travel. No. Over four years, Obama issued 277 executive orders in eight years in office.
Darwin Kastle: Oh. uh over eight years well you get the picture Trump. has already issued over 250 executive orders after less than six years as president When Obama was inaugurated in 2009,
Darwin Kastle: He signed two executive orders on the first day. On Trump's first day in 2025, He signed 25. Excuse me.
Darwin Kastle: During Trump's run for president in 2024, He spent lots of time ripping president President Biden for his energy level, constantly referring to him as Sleepy Joe. He made it clear. Biden was too old and too sleepy to be president and that America needed a high energy person like Trump in the White House.
Darwin Kastle: Energy levels aside... Since Trump has returned to office, he has developed a reputation for actually falling asleep during meetings and events he's attending.
Darwin Kastle: There's a website called Indy 100. that has an article where they show. actual videos of 28 different events. since just 2025.
Darwin Kastle: Of Trump. appearing to fall asleep.
Darwin Kastle: When Democrats are in the White House, Republicans rant and rave about the need to eliminate the federal deficit. Under this administration, We have the biggest deficit in U .S. history as the debt has skyrocketed because of Trump's policies.
Darwin Kastle: While Biden was president, Republicans ripped him for high gas prices, insisting that it was his fault. but things would be dramatically different. and better. with the geopean power. gas was $3 .12 when Biden left office. And now it's over $4 .30.
Darwin Kastle: Diesel prices have almost doubled. since Biden left. The prices are going up so fast that those numbers I just said, they're probably worse now as you're watching and listening to this podcast.
Darwin Kastle: When Democrats like Obama and Biden are in the White House, Republicans and right -wing media would insist they would become dictators and that they would be dictators.
Darwin Kastle: accusing them of trying to steal power from Congress and the judiciary for themselves, making the executive branch way more powerful than the founders intended. Yet every time Trump is in office, they like to talk about something called the... unitary executive theory that they say allows presidents to do whatever they want.
Darwin Kastle: Accordingly, Republicans in Congress keep looking the other way as Trump issues one unconstitutional executive order after another. Hopefully. you're starting to see the pattern.
Darwin Kastle: even though I've only scratched the surface. Hard to believe but true. When Republicans accuse the Democrats of something, it's usually the something that Republicans are going to be doing and doing in a way that's much worse.
Darwin Kastle: Welcome to Hypocrite Mountain. home of the GOP.
Darwin Kastle: Part 3. Only if it happens to me. GOP stands for me, me. Me. Conservative provocateur.
Darwin Kastle: Milo Yiannopoulos. was recently deported to England. While seemingly rare for ICE to deport white people, This actually wasn't the first time. But in this case...
Darwin Kastle: I... had their attention drawn to Milo's immigration status by his conservative rival, Laura Loomer, who has much greater influence to the president than Milo does. Being a white conservative, Milo probably never thought his stay in the United States was an any danger.
Darwin Kastle: In June of 2025, Milo wrote on X that the administration must Deport millions and millions of people. Even after it was obvious that ICE deportations under Trump were violent and not restricted to criminals,
Darwin Kastle: Hmm. Milo still reveled in the deportations on social media. But when it happened to him, Everything changed. After his deportation to the United Kingdom,
Darwin Kastle: And, you know, it's not like they were sending him to a brutal prison in Central America or anything. After his deportation to the United Kingdom,
Darwin Kastle: Milo was interviewed by Piers Morgan. And he described his time in custody as frightening and physically degrading. He even said that he was very ashamed of supporting Trump.
Darwin Kastle: It's worth noting that Milo's scary time in custody was much shorter than most of the people being grabbed. by ICE.
Darwin Kastle: This sort of reversal is not uncommon among conservatives. They often seem to support policies completely lacking empathy and compassion and until and unless they get a personal taste of those policies.
Darwin Kastle: Dick Cheney served as George Bush's vice president, and a key part of their platform in winning a second term was opposing gay marriage. When Cheney later revealed He was not opposed to gay marriage. I thought... Wow, maybe this guy isn't quite as bad as I thought.
Darwin Kastle: Then I learned his daughter Mary had gotten married to another woman in 2012. As usual. Even the staunchest Republicans can be empathic about a policy position.
Darwin Kastle: just as long as it involves them. or their loved ones. This all goes with the unspoken GOP mantra. Do as I say, not as I do.
Darwin Kastle: Divorce is bad unless a Republican man wants one. Abortion is bad, unless a rich Republican wants one. You might be familiar with Will Hoyt's Law.
Darwin Kastle: Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition. To wit. there must be in -groups whom the law protects but does not bind. alongside outgroups whom the law binds.
Darwin Kastle: but does not protect. The same is true for rules in general. The GOP love rules. They love laws. They love regulations.
Darwin Kastle: but only for other people. Republicans want total freedom for themselves and their corporations while being able to subject other people to whatever rules that suit their purposes.
Darwin Kastle: The law exists to serve them. not constrain them. When a hungry homeless person steals food, Republicans want them arrested. Yet when a corporation steals millions of dollars None of the people in charge ever get sent to prison.
Darwin Kastle: When Hunter Biden appeared to use his father's political career to benefit financially, Republicans freaked out. calling for him to be arrested and his father to get impeached. Now that Trump's family is making millions off of their connections to the White House.
Darwin Kastle: Republicans just shrug their shoulders. When a train derailed in Ohio during... Biden's presidency, Republicans wanted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign.
Darwin Kastle: There have been over... 200 plane crashes in the U .S. since Trump returned to office. And the GOP applauded as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy uses millions of tax dollars to take his family on a road trip slash reality show.
Darwin Kastle: The GOP... don't care about average Americans. even their own voters. And Republican voters. are starting to notice.
Darwin Kastle: Especially the ones who cheered for mass deportations but are now seeing friends, family, and neighbors getting snatched up by ICE. I just wish. we could all learn to care about other people.
Darwin Kastle: without something bad. happening to us first.
Darwin Kastle: This has been episode nine. of The Big Swing, Saving America. The Big Swing is written and read for you by me. Darwin Castle.
Darwin Kastle: Thanks for sticking with us. I hope you'll come back next time. But in the meantime, please remember to share, subscribe. Comment. Like.
Darwin Kastle: And thanks again.
