Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative! Today, we’re covering two controversial topics: the Trump administration's new tariff policies and recent high-profile deportation cases, examining the media's portrayal and the underlying complexities of these issues. We’ll peel back the layers of mainstream media narratives, exposing the hidden details often buried beneath sensationalist headlines. Prepare for a no-holds-barred analysis that challenges conventional wisdom, breaks down complex economic strategies, and reveals the nuanced reality behind Trump's bold economic and immigration moves.

Highlights:

"Always look past the headlines, always dive into the details."

"The American dream was not built on cheap products."

"Is the news always fake? Are they always mischaracterizing the Trump administration's actions?"

"We're going to reconstitute all this manufacturing when a television goes from 400 to 600?"

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - Fake News and Media Mischaracterization 

3:04 - Detailed Analysis of Kilmer Amato Abrigo Garcia's Case

5:22- Legal and Immigration Details of Garcia's Case 

13:07 - Trump's Tariff Strategy and Economic Implications 

22:08 - Arguments for and Against Tariffs

25:05 - Media and Public Perception of Tariffs 

25:21 - Economic and Political Implications of Tariffs 

30:55 - Conclusion and Future Outlook

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Welcome to a new episode of The Prevailing Narrative podcast! Today, we’re covering the fascinating career arc of Doug Ellin, creator of the cultural phenomenon Entourage. From his impulsive leap into Hollywood to his fiery commentary on LA politics and his surprising pickleball obsession, Doug shares insights that are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. Whether you’re a fan of his work or simply curious about the inner workings of Hollywood and its shifting dynamics, this episode offers a unique perspective you won’t want to miss. Tune in to hear stories that blend humor, grit, and wisdom—perfect for anyone looking for inspiration or a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment world.

Highlights:

"Hollywood seemed unattainable back then; now it feels like anyone can DM a star or be part of it through social media."

"I became head of the mailroom at New Line Cinema in nine weeks, but what really mattered was writing my first script and making my short film."

"Michael De Luca handed me a $10,000 check from his own pocket after seeing my amateur stand-up night—that moment changed everything."

"Entourage wasn’t just about fame; it was about friendships and the struggles that come with success."

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

1:36 Doug Ellin's Career Arc and Early Influences 

5:48 The Culture of Aspiring Hollywood Actors 

9:08 Doug Ellin's Early Hollywood Experiences 

20:31 The Making of "Fat Beach" and Its Impact 

27:05 The Rise and Fall of "Kissing a Fool”

36:12 The Success of "Entourage" and Its Cultural Impact 

51:42 Doug Ellin's Political Observations and Podcasting 

54:27 Deterioration of Los Angeles and Personal Safety Concerns 

1:00:25 Impact of Crime on Residential Areas and Public Perception 

1:04:34 Ineffective Use of Taxes and Public Services 

1:06:29 Comparisons with Other States and Personal Decisions 

1:08:48 Final Thoughts on California and Future Plans 

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A wide-ranging conversation with Charles Fain Lehman of the City Journal on prominent news items this week including:

Deportation of Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalili and the battle over "free speech" that has ensued.

Charles' recent article on how violent crime has decreased but public disorder (and perceptions of crime) remain high.

Speculation on Trump's economic plans and the impact on his popularity, contrasted against the Democrats registering an all-time low Approval Rating of 29% last week.

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Last Friday witnessed a perhaps never-before-seen event with President Trump and Vice President Vance getting into hostilities with Zelensky in the Oval Office....just as major deal was about to be signed.

This situation is a Rorschart test with Trump fans seeing a powerful example of "America First" and Trump haters seeing a crass bully abusing a courageous ally.

Which version of reality is true? I breakdown the good and bad arguments on each side and try to put the conflict in broader context.

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Movie stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are in a fierce battle having exchanged multiple 9-figure lawsuits. The tipping point came with a New York Times piece in December attempting to portray Baldoni as harasser and abuser on the set of his film "It Ends With Us".

Now Baldoni's lawyer has filed a 224-page counter-suit against Lively, the NY Times, and others filled with copious evidence showing the original story to be just another in a long line of

"fake news" stories by the legacy media.

Ariadna Jacob had her career as a top talent manager ruined by a similar NY Times smear piece years ago, and has made it her business to analyze these topics. She has been covering the Lively/Baldoni/NY Times beef and joins me to breakdown the How, What, Why and everything in between.

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Donald Trump's 1st week was a flurry of Executive Orders aimed at destroying the liberal stranglehold over our institutions, and attacking progressive orthodoxies on immigration, DEI, gender ideology, and the size of government. I explore the nature and impact of these EOs.

Also - for the first time since the Reagan 80's the "Culture Wars" are moving right. How is this happening only a few years after BLM, DEI, and the Great Awakening peaked in progressive cultural hegemony?

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2024 was a "Vibe Shift" we cannot ignore. The cultural landscape has been indisputably altered, and we enter 2025 with different customs, norms, expectations, and permissions that we didn't have the last decade. Donald Trump was certainly one character in this "vibe shift" but it cannot be attributed to him alone. This episode I explore the transition in cultural eras we experienced over the course of the last year.

The fates of Daniel Penny & Luigi Mangione oddly intersected. It is very telling who celebrated the actions of which individual. What does Daniel Penny tell us about the progress we've made, and what does the vile celebration of Luigi Mangione's assassination of a healthcare CEO tell us about where we need to go?

Porn star Lily Phillips plans on filming herself having sex with 1,000 men in 24 hours. Many feminists claim she is an exploited victim, and that the men participating in this event are borderline criminals. What the hell is going on here?

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The most impactful feature of last week's election was Hispanic voters shifting +24 points towards Donald Trump. One heavily Hispanic county in south Texas flipped to Trump that hadn't voted Republican since....1892. Journalist Leighton Woodhouse went straight to the source and interviewed dozens of residents of Starr County Texas on how Donald Trump and the Republicans finally won them over.

Also - some quick thoughts on Trump's initial cabinet appointments. Mostly good with a couple flubs.

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Donald Trump with a shocking landslide win, completing the political resurrection of the century (at least).

So many storylines: Hispanics embrace Trump, Elon Musk's role, blue states shifting right on crime, Kamala falling flat, etc.

Comedian and podcaster Bridget Phetasy (Spokeswoman for the "Politically Homeless") joins me to explore all the themes and storylines around the 2024 election and the historical dynamics underlying it.

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Trump's staged shift at McDonald's has dominated the news cycle all week, with his fans wildly exuberant and the media predictably losing its mind. What does this tell us about how the race is shaping up?

The biggest story you are NOT hearing about is the exposure of falsehoods peddled by the transgender movement, revealed in a Supreme Court case. These are so scandalous they have even inspired notorious Trump-hater Andrew Sullivan to consider voting for him.

Katherine Dee is a brilliant culture writer and she joins me to discuss some of her best pieces including an exploration of Tumblr's role in the Woke revolution, her beliefs on claims of "cultural stagnation", and "politicians as social media personalities" and responsive fandom.

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