National Report: From the Podium to the Exit—KJP Jumps Ship

Byline: Olson Strategies Staff
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The political world was shaken by a bombshell announcement: Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announces she’s releasing a book and is leaving the Democrat party. The move sparked speculation and scrutiny from all sides—including from Olson Strategies’ Dustin Olson, who joined Newsmax’s National Report with Jon Glasgow and Emma Rechenberg to react to the news and broader implications for Democrats in 2025 and beyond.

A Surprising Break with her Party

KJP's decision to pivot from the Democrat Party left many stunned.

Dustin Olson put it into perspective: “This was shocking for a lot of people—but maybe not too shocking,” he said, referencing the backdrop of declining Democratic approval in recent polling.

Olson didn’t mince words about KJP’s tenure at the podium:

“She did lots of terrible things when she was press secretary and definitely wasn’t known for telling the truth.”

But he acknowledged the strategic value of her exit: “This is one smart thing that she’s done, which is leave a sinking ship, and I commend her for that.”

Democratic Fractures and the Possibility of a Breakaway

Olson noted that the implications go far beyond a single book deal:

“Democrats really have a bigger problem here—that they have people who are prominent leaders in their party wanting to leave.”

He continued with a striking suggestion: “If there’s ever been a moment that the few sane Democrats could maybe break away and create a new party, this might be the moment.”

The Autopen Investigation and Presidential Authority

The discussion turned to a developing story: questions over the Biden Administration’s use of an autopen to sign so many documents—an issue that could have major legal ramifications.

Olson weighed in:

“This is a legitimate investigation... these are issues that are not going to go away.”

“If people were basically the President instead of the actual person who was elected, that’s a big problem.”

With firsthand knowledge, Olson shared:

“I can tell you, as someone who’s actually run an autopen in a presidential administration, there are usually a lot of sign-offs and different things [approval procedures] that have to happen to do that. It’s not something that happens easily.”

If procedures were similar in the Biden administration as they were in previous administrations, there will be a paper trail, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding White House transparency and Biden’s mental fitness.

The Bigger Picture

These unfolding developments—high-profile departures, internal fractures, and ongoing investigations—highlight a turbulent period for Democrats. And with polling already showing dissatisfaction, the road to 2026 may be even rockier than expected.

As Olson concluded, even longtime media allies may not be able to contain the fallout after what Americans saw during the Trump-Biden Debate last year:

“For a lot of Americans, that was the look behind the curtain and the ‘aha’ moment.”

Time will tell.