Michael Cohen Opens Up | PBD 728
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Michael Cohen advised 100 university presidents, including Yale's head, to settle early with Donald Trump in litigation, citing Trump's unyielding negotiation tactics.
- ❖Cohen feels 'canceled' by both the far-left and far-right for refusing to lie about his experiences with Trump, leading to significant personal and professional isolation.
- ❖He expresses deep emotional pain over Trump's 'ultimate betrayal' and the subsequent abandonment by Trump's children, despite years of close personal and professional ties.
- ❖Cohen is actively promoting a 'Trump Emancipation Proclamation Order' aimed at restoring rights and opportunities for 70 million non-violent felons in America.
- ❖He reveals that Trump decided to run for president in 2015 after Cohen's 'shouldtrumprun.com' website garnered 10 million responses in 72 hours in 2011.
- ❖Cohen still 'loves' Donald Trump but is 'insanely angry' about Trump allowing others to interfere with their relationship and abandoning him during legal troubles.
Insights
1Trump's Unchanging Negotiation Style and University Litigation
Michael Cohen, drawing on his extensive experience with Donald Trump, advised 100 university presidents, including the head of Yale University Business School, to settle early in any litigation with Trump. He states Trump's negotiation style remains consistent with his Trump Organization days: he will relentlessly push for more, using leverage like government funding, and will not stop once engaged. Cohen cites Harvard's large endowment as an exception, allowing them to resist, but warns smaller institutions will face immense pressure.
Cohen recounts a call with Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, head of Yale University Business School, and 100 university presidents discussing how to deal with Trump's litigation against institutions like Harvard. He states, 'My recommendation is to settle and settle early because if you don't, Trump doesn't stop. He will keep going. He will keep pushing the envelope farther and farther.' He notes Trump uses government funding as leverage.
2The Personal Cost of Political Independence: 'Canceled by Both Sides'
Cohen describes being 'canceled' by both the far-left and far-right political factions. The far-left, including Midas Touch, cut ties with him after he stated he felt 'compelled and coerced' to provide testimony that satisfied the government's desire to convict Trump. The far-right despises him for his criticisms of Trump. This dual cancellation has left him feeling isolated and without trust outside his immediate family, highlighting the extreme polarization of current political discourse.
Cohen states, 'I also get tremendous push back from the far left. Because I will not sit here and I will not make up stories about a man who I was in very close with... I will not make up lies within which to appease their desires.' He details Midas Touch cutting his podcast due to 10,000-20,000 subscribers threatening to unsubscribe over his comments about coercion.
3The Ultimate Betrayal: Abandonment by Trump
Cohen recounts the moment he realized Donald Trump had abandoned him, which he describes as the 'ultimate betrayal.' This occurred when Trump's legal team stopped paying his bills, and Trump publicly referred to him as 'one of my attorneys' rather than by name after the FBI raid on Cohen's home and office. Cohen views this as a profound breach of loyalty, akin to a mob boss throwing a 'cappo' under the bus, especially given his prior unwavering loyalty and the legal matters he handled for Trump.
Cohen states, 'I still love [Trump]. I'm still insanely angry with him for allowing others to interfere with the relationship.' He describes Trump's failure to pay legal bills and referring to him as 'one of my attorneys' after the raid as a clear sign of abandonment. He recalls pleading with Trump to 'shut this [expletive] down' to prevent mutual harm.
4The 'Trump Emancipation Proclamation Order' Initiative
Michael Cohen is advocating for a 'Trump Emancipation Proclamation Order' (TEPO) aimed at providing a second chance to 70 million non-violent felons who have completed their sentences. This order would remove the stigma of a felony conviction, enabling individuals to secure employment, open bank accounts, and reintegrate into society. Cohen co-authored this proposal with former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who is also a felon.
Cohen details his initiative: 'I'm asking a pardon for 70 million Americans who are nonviolent felons here in America right now that are treated like second-class citizens.' He explains it would remove the 'scarlet letter' of a felony conviction, co-authored with Jesse Jackson Jr., and sent to the White House.
5Cohen's Role in Trump's 2016 Presidential Run
Michael Cohen played a pivotal role in encouraging Donald Trump to run for president in 2016. In 2011, after seeing a poll where Trump had 5% support for a 2012 run, Cohen created 'shouldtrumprun.com.' This website garnered 10 million responses in 72 hours, demonstrating significant public interest and convincing Trump to seriously consider a presidential campaign, which he then plotted daily with Cohen until 2015.
Cohen recounts showing Trump a newspaper survey in 2011 where Trump had 5% support for the 2012 presidency. He then created 'shouldtrumprun.com,' which received '10 million people responded' within 72 hours. He states, 'from 2011 on... to 2015. We talked about it every single day. Plotting it out every single day.'
Bottom Line
The extreme polarization of political discourse leads to 'cancellation' from both sides for individuals who refuse to adhere strictly to either narrative, even when stating factual, lived experiences.
This creates a chilling effect on nuanced public commentary and can drive individuals with unique insights into isolation, limiting the diversity of perspectives in media.
There is an opportunity for media platforms or public figures to create spaces that value factual reporting and personal experience over partisan allegiance, fostering genuine dialogue even on contentious topics.
Donald Trump's negotiating tactics, characterized by relentless pressure and escalating demands, remain consistent across business and political arenas, making early settlement a pragmatic strategy for opponents.
Understanding this consistent approach allows institutions and individuals to anticipate Trump's moves and strategize more effectively, potentially mitigating adverse outcomes.
Advisors specializing in 'Trump-style' negotiations could offer unique value to entities facing legal or political challenges involving him, focusing on pre-emptive settlement or strategic resistance.
Lessons
- For those in litigation with Donald Trump, consider early settlement to avoid escalating demands and prolonged, costly battles, as his negotiating style is consistently aggressive.
- Recognize that expressing nuanced or fact-based opinions, especially about highly polarized figures, can lead to 'cancellation' from both political extremes; prepare for potential social and professional isolation.
- If you are a non-violent felon who has completed your sentence, research and support initiatives like the 'Trump Emancipation Proclamation Order' to advocate for the removal of felony conviction stigmas and better societal reintegration.
Quotes
"A fact is a fact. Whether you like that fact or you don't, a fact is still a fact."
"We are a country of laws, but we're not a country of justice. Depends upon who sits at the level of power determines who ends up getting screwed and who ends up walking."
"I would have taken a bullet for him. Someone pulled out a gun, I would have jumped in front of it. The only time I would not if he's the one that was pulling the trigger."
"I'm insanely angry with him for allowing others to interfere with the relationship."
"I'm asking a pardon for 70 million Americans who are nonviolent felons here in America right now that are treated like second-class citizens."
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