Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov - Trump’s Iran and Immigration Pivot Sparks MAGA Civil War

Episode Date: March 13, 2026

MAGA world is starting to crack. Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down the growing backlash against Donald Trump from his own base over the escalating conflict with Iran and a brewing fight inside the right over mass deportations. But first, they discuss two disturbing attacks this week: a man driving a truck into Temple Israel outside Detroit before exchanging gunfire with security, and a shooting at Old Dominion University involving a suspect previously convicted of attempting to provide support to ISIS. Plus, a bizarre new statue on the National Mall is once again putting Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein back in the spotlight. And longtime Democratic kingmaker James Clyburn announces he’s running again at 85 — reigniting the debate over generational change inside the Democratic Party. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the market due for a reckoning? Don't tell me about the probability or improbability if something happens because on certain moments, you can throw that all out the window. All assets become correlated. It doesn't matter what you thought the probabilities were. Given enough time, it's not that anything can happen. It's that everything will happen. I'm Prit Bharara.

And this week, former chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, joins me to discuss his new memoir and the economic impact of war with Iran. The episode is out now. Search and follow. with Preet wherever you get your podcasts. When is the AI bubble going to burst? How do you AI proof your job?

How should colleges handle AI and prepare students for a shifting job market? I'm Henry Blodgett, and on my show, Solutions, I've been exploring all of those questions and more with experts who have actual answers. We hear enough about our problems. Let's solve them. Follow Solutions with Henry Blodgett. What do you make of the immigration pivot and do you think it's going to work? I don't think it's going to work because I think the American people have the videos of Alex

Pretti and Renee Good kind of seared into their minds. And I also think the longer that DHS has shut down, the more it's in the news. So I actually don't think it's going to go away for them. And I also think it's not going to even work among their own base. Their base voted for that. Like, that's what they want. Welcome to Raging Moderates. I'm Jessica Tarlev.

And I'm Aaron Parnas. In today's episode, we're going to be discussing the latest terror attacks on American soil. Why MAGA is furious over Trump's Iran war and his latest immigration pivot and why James Clyburn is bucking calls for generational change. As a reminder, Raging Moderates is five days a week with new episodes dropping every weekday evening on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere else. In addition to being five days a week, Raging and Moderates is now on substack. Subscribers will get ad-free episodes, live streams, and a place to engage with me and Scott and other listeners. very fun community. Find us at raging moderates. Profgimedia.com.

And this weekend, we're going live on Substack from South by Southwest with James Talariko at 3.30 p.m. Eastern. We're super excited. Make sure that you tune in and subscribe. Let's start with the attack on a Michigan synagogue. A man drove a truck straight into a synagogue outside Detroit on Thursday, crashing through the doors of Temple Israel, before being confronted by security guards

in an exchange of gunfire. Authorities say the suspect, Iman Ghazali, a 41-year-old restaurant worker who entered the U.S. in 2011, and according to early reports, got married to a U.S. citizen for immigration purposes, died at the scene. A security guard was injured but is expected to recover, and more than 100 preschool students were inside the building and were unharmed. Aaron, what else do we know so far? I mean, that's kind of it.

We don't know too much. We don't really know the motivations behind why he did it. What we do know, though, is that that security guard, I mean, it was a hero. Without that security guard, a lot of kids would have been. died because I think the CNN was reporting that there were explosives found in the car as well and thankfully those explosives didn't go off and ultimately the security guard was only injured and will make a full recovery. So it's a very scary situation but I think a lot of and you know this as well as anyone. Americans are right now are I feel like everyone's has such heightened tensions

right now right like what's happening overseas and like the possible threats here at home. I know there are a lot of people who are worried about homeland attacks, also worried about so-called false flag attacks. I mean, there are a lot of issues that are circulating. And, I mean, this doesn't make anyone's nights any more kind of restful, if that makes sense. There was also a shooting at Old Dominion University, a 36-year-old named Mohamed Baylor Jala, a former Virginia National Guardsman and a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone, who pled guilty in October of 2016, to attempting to provide support. to ISIS. He was sentenced in 2017 and released in December 2024, which was five years early. One angle on this that I think is really important is the spike in these seemingly Islamic terrorist attacks on American soil and also the fact that President Trump has said that there are a bunch

of Iranian terror cells and that he knows where all of them are. He said he thinks. He thinks he knows. He thinks he knows. He thinks that he knows where they are. So taking that information and let's hope that it's true, right, that they do know where these people are. Do you think that we are going to start seeing law enforcement getting more aggressive about going to the source on these versus, I guess, waiting more for something to happen? Because a lot of these terror cells might, they might not be active at the moment or they might have just been activated. that's how obviously sleeper cells work. It's in the name. I struggle with this question because I think that on one hand, any American, any person would want to stop a terrorist attack before it even is planned, right? Like you stop it well ahead. But on the other hand, this gives credence to law enforcement to just go after people because they look Middle Eastern.

And we saw that after 9-11. And a lot of Muslim Americans were scapegoated, were attacked simply because of the color of their skin or where they're from or where they're from. families are from. And so even the term sleeper cell, like, yes, it is an accurate term to describe what these cells are, but also has been used to flame Islamophobia across the country. And so I struggle with the question of like, will we see more law enforcement? Should we see more law enforcement? Because yes, ultimately, if there is a viable threat, you want to neutralize a threat before it becomes an actionable situation. But at the same time, you don't want to just go after people just because they may have a connection to someone who may have a connection to someone who may have a connection to someone in the government of Iran, right? Like the federal government loves to do overreach and

prosecutors love to do overreach in the name of national security and the name of protecting the country. And a lot of the times you're actually infringing on constitutional rights when you do that. So it's a very delicate balance. Absolutely true. I think that we're going to be having this conversation a lot about what is overreach and what is protecting Americans. I want to shift gears and talk about the active war that's going on in Iran, the new Supreme leader vowed to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and avenge his father's death as Israel launched fresh strikes in Beirut, raising fears of a wider conflict and spiking oil prices. Did you see the Ayatollah's tweet storm?

I love that he started an account. And his dad was a big tweeter or someone tweeted for his dad. I think that tweet storm was just his statement that he gave public or that he gave through someone and because we don't even know. Because we still have no proof of life. Correct. We don't know if he's alive. There were reports that he had like his leg amputated and I saw another report that he was in the coma.

Like I mean, like you don't even know. I personally think the Trump administration miscalculated a little bit here. I think Netanyahu miscalculated here a little bit. I think they really thought that they just be able to like conduct this mass bombing campaign and within a few days. The Iranian regime would just kind of collapse because of the chaos within the country, lack of communication, et cetera, et cetera. But it really seems.

like the regime at least right now is kind of tightened up and has hardened and is a bit more united than they thought. And they are still in control of the Strait of Ormuz. They might be mining the Strait of Ormuz. I mean, there are reports of that. I mean, it is a very serious situation. They're bombing commercial tankers now. So I think it's time for Trump to look for an off ramp and to find one pretty quickly to reopen that straight. Because I don't know if you saw, but other countries, I mean, oil is still flowing through the Strait of Ormuz. I mean, it's not fully closed. And so I think it's time for Trump to figure out, okay, like, declare victory and move on. And maybe if he's really serious about like complete decapitation of the regime, go back and do this in a year from that or something.

I don't know. Someone who I think would agree with you is Joe Rogan. He went pretty hard at the president on this. Let's watch. Seems so insane based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? And he ran on no more wars and these stupid senseless wars. and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it.

I mean, when he's right, he's right. When he's wrong, he's also really wrong. Right. I just think to this day the fact that, like, they're still not just accepting that it's a war, like at a baseline point. Like, what are we doing here? And I said this on CNN the other night. The issue with the war is that in 2001, after 9-11,

the Bush administration had 80 to 90% approval rating, to go into Iraq and Afghanistan, right? They started out at such a high point because Bush went out during a state of the union in national addresses and prosecuted the case for why we have to go into the Middle East.

And whether it was true or not, most of it was false, but he went in there and he gave his narrative and the American people bought it. Here, what Trump is trying to do is what he's done with every single policy

since he came into office again. He doesn't care what half the country thinks, and so he's just going to do it the way he wants to do it. He's not going to explain it to us and he's just going to hopefully ram it through and hopefully it works.

That's not how this works. He started with a 45% approval rating on the bombings, and it's only going to go down. He didn't start at 90%. It's a very different situation. So he has—and I really think he miscalculated. Well, I think that's especially true because of the boots on the ground element. Like, you've seen this consolidation on the Republican side for what they're calling, like, surgical strikes. It's just—the problem is that's not what's going on here.

And now there are 14 countries that are involved. And there's this other element, and we'll see if it happens again. I'm sure you saw that the Energy Secretary Chris Wright tweeted this claim that the U.S. Navy escorted a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The White House says that that's false. There was a huge amount of confusion. The price of oil immediately went down. Then it spiked back up when it was deleted. I want to get your response to him kind of trying to clean up the mess this morning on Fox. Fortunately, the United States, we've produced more oil than we consume. We're a net oil exporter. So overall for the U.S. economy, this isn't bad news. But of course, who President Trump is worried about is not overall.

He's worried about every single American consumer. And so, yes, of course, he's concerned about the rising energy prices through this short-term period that people have to suffer. I mean, Trump literally sat on Thursday that he was not concerned about the oil prices and that they were a good thing because we'd be making some more money somehow. Who's we? Because I'm not making more money because of it. No. And you're not getting your tariff money back either. But you know who is making money? The people that bought oil when it fell, right? Are they also in the Trump administration? I'm so curious about all these investigations.

I feel like every day I see that there's a new inquiry into market manipulation for X, Y, or Z things with people who could only know them because they know somebody in the administration. Right. Like they got someone in the Pentagon. I'm not saying it's Pete Hegseth or whatever. and I feel like they're just going to go, it's going to go nowhere. No, I don't think it's going to go anywhere. I also think there are statute of limitations that are going to run pretty quickly after the Trump leaves office, right? Many of these crimes are five-year statute of limitations. So, I mean, unless you really have a very excited DOJ in three years' time,

you're not going to really have any investigations here. I think this is one of the biggest untold stories of the Trump administration is the market manipulation, whether it's with tariffs, whether it's with now we see this energy situation. Maybe it's not intentional, but between this and what's happening on the prediction market betting, I mean, at some point, like, what the hell are we doing? It's like just the rich get richer. Yeah, well, that is the name of the game. They were betting on whether a nuclear weapon would go off by the end of the year. That was like a polymarket bet. And it's like, how are you going to bet? And someone and someone bet, yes, it's going to go off like $100,000 or

something before the end of the year. Like, what are we doing? It's scary. One area that has been pretty quiet since Kristi Nome got fired is what's going on with immigration. And I'm sure you've been following this backtracking that they're doing. Mike Johnson even admitted that they were overzealous and lost some Hispanic Latino votes as a result. And he said that they're now on a course correction. What do you make of the immigration pivot? And do you think it's going to work? I don't think it's going to work because I think the American people have the videos of Alex Pretti and Renee Good kind of seared into their minds. And I also think the longer that D.A. H.S. has shut down the more it's in the news. So I actually don't think it's going to go away for them.

And I also think it's not going to even work among their own base. Many of their base voted for that. Like, that's what they want. So I don't think it's going to work. That was my question when they, I forget who in the administration said it, but it was like, oh, we're not, you know, we're not talking about mass deportations. And then it's flashed to all the signs with the rallies of the grandmas with the mass deportations now signed. It's like actually a big component of your base does want that. Correct. They do. And I think Trump's 2024 campaign spokesperson came out and was like, this is not what we voted for. We voted for mass deportations. Yeah, mass deportations and the SAVE Act seems like a really winning platform. But the SAVE Act phone pass.

I know. I did really appreciate Dick Durbin explaining to John Cornyn today why the SAVE Act disenfranchises voters. And then Cornyn's like, okay, well, let's amend it. And he's like, when was the last time a bill got amended like this? Yeah. And it was dead silence. Clearly thinking ahead to getting some conservative bona fides for the Texas primary runoff with Ken Paxton. But he looked a little silly. We've got to take a quick break. Stay with us.

And welcome back. I love the statue on the National Mall with Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in the Titanic pose. Did you see it? It's even better in person. Yeah. Oh, you've gone? I ran over there. Is there a picture of you there?

No, I didn't take a picture of it. I have me in there. That's like the one time you didn't take a picture of yourself. I was like all sweaty. You're like, here I am eating a sandwich and you don't take a picture with the Titanic. It's cool. This group for a secret hands it's cold or whatnot, they put up these statues every like few months in D.C., around D.C. They had one of them holding hands.

And, I mean, on a more serious level, what is the latest with the Epstein files? So Richard Kahn, the longtime accountant for Jeffrey Epstein, testified in front of the House Oversight Committee and dropped some names. he dropped five names of people who were associated with funding Jeffrey Epstein's empire, which was pretty revealing. The five names are Les Wexner, Glenn Dubin, Steve Sinovsky, the Rothschild as a family, and Leon Black. So those are the five names. He also said that Jeffrey Epstein had a financial tie with the Houd Barak, the former Israeli Prime Minister. So a lot of the stuff we already knew, but he also, he also, So apparently, like, facilitated a fake marriage on behalf of two women that were connected with Jeffrey Epstein.

And also, to me, the most revealing part was he impersonated Jeffrey Epstein to banks, which is a federal crime. But he admitted to that under oath. For the first time? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Oh. Well, I guess it's hard to break through on when there's a war going on with that news. But it does seem substantive.

But also, who cares if an accountant commits banks? bank fraud. Like, I mean, that's not like a huge story that happens like every other day in this nation, but... I mean, it shouldn't matter, especially if he was committing bank fraud for a massive sex trafficking pedophile who somehow had a grip on all of the biggest businessman and politicians in the country. But... It should have. I guess I'm asking for a lot. Yeah, especially in this DOJ. One thing I have been asking for besides accountability for Epstein is some bipartisanship. And we saw it in the Senate. the 21st century Road to Housing Act, which is a Elizabeth Warren Tim Scott mashup.

The bill aims to boost housing supply and cut costs and keep Wall Street from snapping up single-family homes, which has become a huge point of conversation and concern, I should say, more than conversation. But its fate in the house is still uncertain. What do you think about the bill and do you think it has any chance of getting through the house? It has a chance, I think. But you're talking about the least productive house in history, right? Like they passed 16 bills last year. For when everyone says, well, anything get through the house, it might, but the odds are very low.

I mean, like, I think they are going to, they have like, what, a couple more months left, and then they have their summer recess, and then it's midterm. So it's like they don't pass it in the next couple months. It's over. It's not going to pass until next year because they're all going to be out campaigning. And even if it passes the house, I think it'll get vetoed by Trump. He's already signaled that, so. because of the private equity angle to it.

Yeah, he was kind of dismissive of that part of it, which, I mean, you have a veto-proof majority right now, but you know how these Republicans are when from veto something. It'll go away pretty quickly. It does get swept under the rug, muddy fast. The last thing I wanted to ask you about is on the Democratic side of the fence. Jim Clyburn, major Democratic power broker, Kingmaker, largely responsible for Joe Biden, becoming the guy in 2020, kept us on the edge of our seats and then announced that he is running again for his 18th term. He's 85 years old. We have seen a lot of older members exiting stage left, but Clyburn is holding on. I think he was just going to pass the torch to his own daughter. But what do you make of Clyburn digging in and saying what do you think it does to this debate that we're having within the party about generational change? Well, he's an institution, right?

Like, so he's different from, like, your average congressman. My issue with him isn't his age. I don't care if you're nine years old. If you're functioning, you can serve. That's fine. My issue is the term limits aspect of it. No one should serve in Congress for 36 years. I mean, no one needs 30 years in Congress.

So that's my issue. Ultimately, I think that he should have retired a long time ago and could have still stayed as, like, this kingmaker in South Carolina politics. But part of me thinks the reason why he did this, I'd love to get your thoughts on this too. I think he wants to stay relevant in 2028. And if he's still in Congress for another two years, he could really play Kingmaker over the who wins up that primary.

Yeah, I think that that's right. And there's going to be this big fight also about the primary schedule that the DNC is considering. And there are powerful people making cases of why we should have, you know, states with bigger Latino populations that are coming earlier in the cycle. Iowa obviously wants it back. you know, New Hampshire wants to maintain their position as the first primary in the country. So, yeah, I think that's probably right. I also think not to get, like, too personal about it, but it's, I mean, his public information that his wife passed away a few years ago. And I do think it's just sometimes harder if you don't have the fullest life at home. Sure. To stay, I think that, you know, was a factor as well in Ruth Bader Ginsburg, staying in the job, arguably too long. not just arguably, and no one argues that it was the right thing to do.

Even people who love Ruth Vader-Gensberg like I did. And I do wonder about that balance where you're like, okay, well, what will my life look like, especially when you've had this awesome and full life to this extent. And you have been such a kingmaker or power player. It's a tough one. I do wonder if Pelosi, they're super close, like, weighed in at all because obviously she's going this cycle. Right.

And so is Steny. So like the real old guard is kind of leaving. Of the top leadership, yeah. I kind of equate him in like any of like these older folks to kind of like race horses. Like they have to go go, go, go, go their entire lives. And then the moment they stop, like a racehorse dies, right? Like pretty quickly. And the same thing is with like these very high functioning like politicians, executives, business people.

Like they have to work. And if they don't work, like they have nothing else to live for kind of like you were saying. So that could also be part of it. I don't know. But he's, I mean, he's an institution. What would be as fulfilling. Yeah, and he still is super sharp, too. For sure.

Which is one of, yeah, he gives a great interview still. It's not, it's not like when, like, his staff doesn't look nervous if he starts talking to the press. Right, right. And, you know, important guy and great. I just 85 feels old. But I'm not pushing anyone out the door. Are you going to watch the Oscars? Do you care?

No, I don't care. I actually, it's funny enough, every time I hate Oscar winning movies. and this is like a hot take. It's like any good movies that everyone loves, I usually hate. And then I love like the dumb movies that no one likes. You're a trash guy? Yes.

Or according to the critics, trash guy. Sure. Yeah, I'm different. I'm in it for the outfits. It was great to see you. Great to see you. If you aren't already, please make sure to subscribe to our YouTube page

to get up-to-date coverage on everything. As you know, we're five days a week. It's intense. I'm still loving it. It would make me feel better if you subscribed, just so I would really know you were there. Thank you.