12 May 2026 | Special People

Steve Friend, host of The American Radicals Podcast, delivers a blistering critique of government 'special people'—those who exploit their power, access, or status to reward allies, punish enemies, and bypass accountability. He argues that policies like the proposed 'Trump IRA' are not genuine financial reform but a fusion of socialism and fascism, redistributing taxpayer money to 'forgotten workers' while enriching big tech and financial firms. He mocks the idea of teachers as uniquely deserving, pointing out they earn $10,000 above the national average despite inflation. The episode escalates with a condemnation of the Trump administration’s reversal on fast-track ICE training, framing it as a betrayal of border enforcement for political optics. Friend exposes a web of pay-to-play pardons, where wealthy individuals pay millions to secure clemency, wiping nearly $2 billion in victim restitution. He also reveals a DOJ policy shift allowing $400 million from a TikTok privacy lawsuit to fund D.C. beautification instead of victim compensation. A shocking FBI inspector general report details a senior agent brandishing a gun at a hotel worker and lying about it—yet facing no criminal charges. Finally, Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s investigation into a congressional sexual harassment slush fund exposes a culture where predators are protected and victims are silenced.