Democrats in Meltdown Over Trump's White House Ballroom; Cuomo's AI "Jailer Mamdani" Creates Stir

Summary

2WAY Morning Meeting Episode Summary

Episode Title: Democrats in Meltdown Over Trump’s White House Ballroom; Cuomo’s AI "Jailer Mamdani" Creates Stir
Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, Dan Turrentine

Overview

The 2WAY Morning Meeting panel—Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, and Dan Turrentine—delve into top political stories shaping the day’s news cycle. Central topics include the emotional political reaction to Trump’s controversial demolition of the White House East Wing and construction of a ballroom, evolving tensions over the government shutdown, international updates on Ukraine and Gaza, and the stunning implications of AI-generated campaign ads, particularly in New York City.

The team takes audience comments, unpacks the shifting narratives, and offers sharp commentary and predictions on pivotal moments in American politics and the news media’s coverage.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The White House East Wing/Ballroom Controversy

• Public Reaction & Media Meltdown
  The show opens with a discussion on the disproportionate emotional reaction—especially among Democrats and media—over the White House East Wing’s demolition to make way for a new ballroom.

  • "Many were in tears over the building of the White House ballroom... I remain confounded by how emotional people are." —Mark [02:16]

• Symbolic Overtones

  • Dan notes the symbolic weight: "The White House is an American institution... it’s an overreaction, but I do get the symbolism." [03:22]
  • Both acknowledge Trump lied about the destruction, but Mark questions why this lie sparks more outcry than other presidential actions of greater consequence.

• Media Framing and Hyperbole

  • Memorable quote: “Democracy dies in demolition.” —Beverly Hallsberg, recounted by Mark [04:52]
  • Dan references media figures like Jim Acosta for dramatizing the event: “…watching him melt down like he’s like democracy is being destroyed. That’s maybe the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” [05:02–05:20]

• Political Fallout

  • The panel predicts that today’s White House briefing will be dominated by ballroom questions and debate whether the blowback is meaningful or an overblown distraction.

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2. Political Schedule & Legislative Updates

• President’s Schedule:

  • 3pm: Announcement in the State Dining Room—speculation on what it might entail [05:20]
  • Caroline Levitt briefing; expected focus on the “destruction of the White House orphanage."

• Congressional Activity:

  • Senate to consider Ron Johnson’s bill to pay active duty military and government employees during the shutdown—expected not to pass [07:56].
  • “This to me is an inflection point today on a messaging front…” —Dan, speculating how the messaging war will play out [08:04–08:08].

• Shutdown Politics:

  • Panel reviews the blame game in the shutdown, the GOP’s efforts to frame Democrats for government paralysis, and the political cost if SNAP (food stamp) benefits expire approaching Thanksgiving [19:46–21:19].
  • Notable observation: "If we get past November 1st, you cannot, as a politician, even think about having Thanksgiving dinner if you still have a government shutdown." —Sean [20:52]
  • Mark: "Sometimes the leaders make a deal, and then it turns out the rank and file don't go for it." [21:19]

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3. International: Ukraine, Gaza, US-Europe Relations

• Ukraine/Russia War:

  • New US and European missile and oil export sanctions trigger a strong Russian response.
    • Mark: “The US is green-lighting the use of European missiles by the Ukrainians and will provide intelligence help. So step up there.” [09:28]
    • Sean: "You can't argue that he didn't step it up...these will have an impact on...Russia." [11:39–12:30]

• Media & Political Priorities:

  • The panel laments how foreign policy, particularly the escalation with Russia, is sidelined in favor of headline obsession over the White House ballroom.
    • Dan: "It's so out of whack where the priorities of the mainstream media are...They're spending more time talking about the construction of a ballroom." [12:53]

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4. The AI Campaign Ad Shock — Cuomo vs. Mamdani in NYC

• AI-Generated Political Content:

  • The Cuomo mayoral campaign in NYC creates a viral, AI-generated attack ad against Jailer Mamdani, depicting dystopian scenarios and using fabricated audio/video.
    • Mark: “That’s an incredibly powerful use of AI…in 2026 and 2028, there’s going to be an explosion of AI-generated ads…" [24:02]

• Reaction & Concerns:

  • Dan: “There's no way for the United States to say, you know, halt this...The reality is it's going to keep marching forward.”
  • Sean: “I have this visualization of all the people that signed that letter standing on a mountain as an avalanche is coming…” [24:43–25:19]
  • Discussion on how both official campaigns and anonymous actors will muddy the information environment, predicting growing chaos and accountability problems for candidates [26:10–27:15].

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5. New York City Mayor’s Race: Debate Recap & Odds

• Debate Takeaways:

  • Cuomo’s strong performance debated against a “sweaty, evasive” Mamdani. The polimarket betting odds remain unchanged, with Mamdani a heavy favorite.
    • Mark: "He was so evasive on some really basic things...Let’s see if that works its way into the bloodstream." [30:18–31:10]

• Ad Fallout:

  • The consequences for Cuomo pulling the AI ad are debated; skepticism that Mamdani’s lead can be overcome with 11 days to go.

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6. Maine Senate Primary: Platner’s Tattoo & Party Turmoil

• Embattled Candidate:

  • Graham Platner is under fire for a tattoo with neo-Nazi associations; he posts a video explanation and gets the tattoo covered up.
  • Bernie Sanders stands by Platner: “Between you and me, there might be one or two more important issues...” [34:10]

• Polling Surprise & Party Dynamics:

  • Polls show Platner far ahead despite controversies, prompting debates over Democratic Party resilience—whether Platner’s support will harden “like Trump in ’15.” [35:04–36:20, 38:28–39:45]

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7. Obama & Redistricting, Media Impressions, & Cultural Notes

• Obama’s Increasing Involvement:
  • Washington Post story on Obama’s hands-on approach to redistricting and pushback on Trump’s policies [40:43].
• Cultural Coverage:
  • Noted is a viral story of a Chinese man learning English from "Friends" [41:10].

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Audience Q&A: Noteworthy Exchanges

On Trump’s Influence Over Future GOP Candidates:

• Joe (Seymour, CT): “Do you think at some point Vance or Rubio will be able to separate from Trump’s shadow?” [44:23]
• Sean: “I think the people, the MAGA base, is completely loyal to Donald Trump...as long as he's in the game…” [44:55–45:22]

On the White House Ballroom as Political Symbol:

• Dan (Caller): “The destruction of the East Wing is just a symbolism of what Trump is doing to the rest of the country...” [52:14]

On SNAP Benefits and Government Responsibility:

• Dan: “There are a lot of people posting about the elimination of their SNAP benefits and...that’s something that is not being covered and will rear its ugly head..." [55:14]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Democracy dies in demolition.” —Beverly Hallsberg, quoted by Mark [04:52]
• “This to me is an inflection point today on a messaging front…” —Dan [08:04]
• “You cannot, as a politician, even think about having Thanksgiving dinner if you still have a government shutdown.” —Sean [20:52]
• “That’s an incredibly powerful use of AI...There’s going to be an explosion of AI-generated ads…” —Mark [24:02]
• “I'm very concerned about this, kids. This is just the tip of the iceberg.” —Sean [25:19]
• “Between you and me, there might be one or two more important issues.” —Bernie Sanders on the tattoo controversy [34:10]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:16 – Emotional response to White House demolition/ballroom
• 03:22 – Symbolism of the White House; why the reaction is so strong
• 05:02 – "Democracy dies in demolition," and media overreaction
• 09:28 – US/EU missile approval for Ukraine
• 12:53 – Media focusing more on the ballroom than foreign policy
• 14:58 – Ad/promo break (skipped for summary)
• 16:08 – Shutdown politics; looming deadlines
• 24:02 – AI-generated attack ads in NYC mayoral race
• 31:10 – Analysis of NYC race odds and swing factors
• 35:04 – Platner’s tattoo controversy & primary polls
• 44:23 – Audience Q: Trump’s future influence
• 52:14 – Audience Q: Symbolism of the East Wing demolition
• 55:14 – Impact of SNAP benefits/federal shutdown on voters

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Tone & Style

• The conversation is brisk, candid, and often sardonic, blending sharp political analysis with inside jokes and competitive banter.
• The panel frequently comments on media coverage and message strategy, highlighting partisan narratives, political messaging, and the emotional landscape of American news.

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Conclusion

This episode foregrounds how symbolic politics—like the reaction to the White House East Wing demolition—dominate media and partisan narratives, sometimes at the expense of hard policy debate. The emerging role of AI in campaign messaging is previewed as a potentially disruptive force for future elections. Meanwhile, the ongoing government shutdown, US foreign policy maneuvers, and party infighting in primary races all combine for a portrait of American politics at a moment of intensity, anxiety, and technological disruption.

Listeners come away with a sharp, irreverent, but comprehensive guide to the day’s political theater—and warnings about what’s coming just over the horizon.

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(For more details, refer to the specific timestamps and attributions listed above.)

Transcript

[Mark]

This is it.

[Dan]

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[Mark]

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[Dan]

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[Mark]

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[Dan]

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[Mark]

Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan]

Foreign.

[Mark]

So I started the morning or bright and early preparing for the show to a Green Bay diner. And nice people recognized me, came over. Everybody just had two topics on their mind. One was they wanted to sort of micro analyze. What's the name of that lady from Massachusetts who's in the leadership?

[Dan]

Kathleen Clark.

[Mark]

Kathleen Clark. They wanted to micro analyze the things she said yesterday. Pros and cons and strategy and tactics. Very sophisticated group. And then many were in tears over the building of the White House ballroom. So we'll talk about those topics and more this morning on the morning meeting. Welcome, everyone. This is our morning meeting. Dan, Shawn and I will take you through the day. If you're here on the two way platform, want to get in the conversation, all you got to do is raise your hand as the song goes. Dan, how are you on the ballroom today? You fired up on the ballroom?

[Dan]

Sure. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.

[Mark]

Sean, I don't always, Sean, I don't always agree with Don Jr. But this morning I do. He was on Fox and Friends talking about the ballroom and the reaction to the destruction, the wanton destruction of the White House orphanage. They tore down the orphanage. They didn't even give the orphans ample time to, to get out of there.

[Dan]

There's a bald eagle in there, too. There was a bald eagle. A nest of them.

[Mark]

Yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, direct, ladies and gentlemen, I will be talking about the White House ballroom pretty much all day, including, including my monologue on Next up because I remain confounded by how emotional people are of the tearing down of the east wing. I just, I don't know if it's, I'm not being critical. I'm just confounded.

[Dan]

I'm with you. I literally was starting to write my Friday Column already. And I. I'm writing it entirely about the ballroom and using clip after clip after clip of. I think you guys are missing. Yeah, I think you guys are missing the mark a little bit on that. But please explain.

[Mark]

Happy to.

[Dan]

I think it's. It is. I think one of the biggest issues with it is the fact that he outright lied about touching the building. Your eyes. But it's like so many.

[Mark]

But, But Dan. But Dan. It is. That's my point. It is like so many other things that he's lied about. He lies about things of massive consequence, and they're not as. And they don't get as emotional about that as they are.

[Dan]

People don't have a connection to, you know, an individual going to a jail in the Congo or sending somebody.

[Mark]

You know, they have a deep connection to East Wing.

[Dan]

Yeah. Because the White House is an American institution. Like, everybody looks at it. Everyone has their own kind of connotation with that building. Again, I think it's an overreaction, but I do get the symbolism of one of the great literally pillars of the country, the White House. Right. And he did. He. He lied. He lied. We all agree about it. He lied. Right. He is funding it with. We heard yesterday that part of Google settlement with him was $22 million to this again, if Kamala Harris was doing this, certain networks would explode.

[Mark]

I don't, I don't. I don't know.

[Dan]

They are. Just to be clear, they are on the other side. I don't want to.

[Mark]

I don't want to toot my own horn, and I don't want to jinx myself, but my monologue is going to.

[Dan]

Be a barn burner.

[Mark]

Wait till you see what I have to say about that.

[Dan]

By the way. Just. Can I just. Here's the beauty of it. If they listened to Dan and wrote what he said. Okay, maybe. But every headline this morning, president destroys White House.

[Mark]

Exactly. Exactly. I should frame it that way and not roll my eyes. I just. What John said. Everything you said was right on point. Totally. But that's not what they're doing. They're talking about as. I can't remember anybody's name.

[Dan]

I mean, I'm.

[Mark]

What's the name. What's the name of the woman who was on too way tonight last night?

[Dan]

Yeah. What's her name?

[Mark]

Jesus, somebody.

[Dan]

I mean, the irony. Anyway, ballroom is kind of necessary.

[Mark]

Beverly. Beverly. Beverly Hallsberg is. Beverly Hallsberg said, democracy dies in demolition.

[Dan]

Oh, right.

[Mark]

That's a good line. Democracy watching.

[Dan]

But it's almost like I, I, you know, Again, I don't promote the New York Times very often and I don't promote Jim Acosta. But please go watch his video because it's so beautiful watching him melt down like he's like democracy is being destroyed. That's maybe the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Yeah, I agree on that front.

[Mark]

Democracy dies in demos. All right, I got to get that Jim Acosta video. Thank you for that tip. All right, here we go. Here's the day book. And again, raise your hand if you're here on the two way platform when again the conversation. What I don't want you to do, what we all agree you shouldn't do, is put smack in the chat on the YouTube chat, please. No smack in the chat, please. Peace, love and understanding, presumption of grace, all. Here's the White House pool for today. Our good friends at National Review online part of the pool. And I get to be part of a big announcement because here's the President's schedule. He's got one event today, 3pm announcement in the state dining room. I don't believe we know what that announcement is, but it will provide excellent fodder for Two Way tonight, which by the way, live on the Two Way platform at 4pm special time today and, and then we'll stream live on YouTube. Stream on YouTube at 6 normal and then 1 o'. Clock. A an opportunity for a Caroline Levitt briefing. Look forward to that. There'll be a lot of questions about, you guessed it, the destruction of the White House orphanage.

[Dan]

Actually that will be fun to see the balance in the briefing room today. How did they handle it? Because I do wonder if.

[Mark]

70%. 70% ballroom. There'll be some questions on say Ukraine, but 70% ballroom. The Vice President I believe just went wheels up from Israel. I believe I saw that on Twitter. But he spent the day in Israel second day doing a bunch of stuff including meeting with Bibi amidst some controversies. There's a floats float of the two things being reacted to. One is the float that there'd be two Gaza's, one where there'd be construction controlled by Israel and then Gaza controlled by Hamas wouldn't get any of the construction money until Hamas surrendered. And then, and then the Israeli parliament making a provocative vote about annexation. So things seem on track there like Germany and Korea.

[Dan]

They're just going to divide it and.

[Mark]

Yeah, for now, for now the tag team.

[Dan]

Do you remember when the, when they tore down that wall and destroyed democracy. I mean that's so similar to what's happening now.

[Mark]

Exactly. So as Vance leaves, Rubio shows up in Israel with an American delegation. Again, Witkoff and Kushner, I don't know if they're going back or they've stayed the whole time, but they'll be there. And Jamison Greer and Scott Bessant are in Malaysia to meet with their Chinese counterparts. The House remains out. And again, 10 o', clock, Mike Johnson, another press conference. 12:15, Ron Johnson advances. The Senate rather begins consideration of Ron Johnson's bill to pay active duty, military and working federal employees. It's expected, as I said, I believe yesterday, to not pass. But, but we'll see.

[Dan]

This to me, this is when the Democrats are going to offer one. To pay everybody.

[Mark]

Yeah, to pay everybody. And that, that definitely won't pass.

[Dan]

By the way. This to me is an inflection point today on a messaging front whether.

[Mark]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, you time at the shutdown. Hold on, we'll get to get to it. Keep running through the schedule and we'll get right to it. Rand Paul, Gary Peters are hosting a bipartisan lunch in the Kennedy Caucus Room with a menu inspired by the states of Kentucky and Michigan. Two, let's face it, two of our top 50 culinary states. Yes, there if you're not listening to the podcast, but watching on YouTube or here on the two way platform is the invite 1230 lunch. Kennedy caucus Room Kentucky style fried and baked chicken. I've been to Kentucky, gentle ladies and gentlemen, there's no baked chicken there. Mashed potatoes and gravy, fried okra, Michigan cherry salad and blueberry crumble bars.

[Dan]

I gotta be honest with you, there have been reports I've ever seen.

[Mark]

Yeah, it's the. What menu you've ever seen.

[Dan]

The worst enticing there. I mean I might try a little fried chicken. The rest of it I don't. There's nothing exciting.

[Mark]

Oh, I like a good blueberry crumble.

[Dan]

Really?

[Mark]

Yeah, I do. But let's make a guess now how many senators come to that thing of a hundred.

[Dan]

Well, you could do the dine and dash where you come by, you get.

[Mark]

How many make chicken, how many make an appearance in the room of the.

[Dan]

40.

[Mark]

40, Sean.

[Dan]

I'll go over that.

[Mark]

If it's price, I'll go on, I'll go under. Dan has exactly 40. I've got 0 to 39 and I'll take 41. 41 to 100. Okay. Mr. Zelensky has been in Brussels today meeting with European council officials to talk about stuff. Biggest news of the day in the last news cycle. Really Is Russia bigger, believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen, than the ballroom and the destruction of the White House orphanage because big new oil sanctions from the US they'll be evaded, but it's a big sign. There's Wall Street Journal story about Tomahawks, but. And the President went on true social and denied it and called it fake news. But really, I think what's happening, reading between the lines and talking to one official, is US Intelligence. The US Is green lighting the use of European missiles by the Ukrainians and will provide intelligence help. So step up there. And then the Europeans also putting on their own sanctions. So, Dan, I'm not saying the President watched the morning meeting yesterday, took notes on everything you said and said, let's prove Turrentine wrong. But they seem. They seem to be stepping up and doing exactly what you said they wouldn't do, but that they should do. Correct.

[Dan]

Ish. I don't put much stock in the economic sanctions because China's still their partner. So whatever needs they have, I think they can continue to access the military. One was interesting. British missiles that apparently can go like 200 miles or can go 200 miles. We've greenlit using them because they rely on our GPS systems and we've given them permission to launch into Russia. So that's something. The Tomahawks go 10,000 miles. These go 200, but still start somewhere. Okay, now let's keep doing it. Let's keep funding it, because at the end of the day, the only thing that Putin wants is territory. The only thing he cares about.

[Mark]

Sean, one of the great errors in judgment made about the President in this term was that he was creating a rupture between the United States and Europe that was unfixable. In fact, there seems to be a lot of shared sense here and unity and more effective unity than the vaunted Biden, Blinken, Sullivan suck up to Europe.

[Dan]

Yeah, look, I mean, I don't know about that. I think this. Look, Russia's response tells you that this was serious. I mean, they didn't. They came back hard at this, meaning that clearly they feel it's impactful. So I think on. You can argue that if they could have gone further or whatever, but the bottom line is both economically and to some degree, militarily, they tried to. They definitely upped the game. The military thing, I think, is getting a little cute by half. But because as Dan said, we're a little pregnant on this. And we're like, oh, we're. These aren't our missiles. We're just telling you where to use them, how to use them, what's a, I mean, where the intel suggests will be impactful. I, it'll be interesting how Russia reads that. But look, you can't argue that he didn't step it up and these will have an impact on him, on Russia.

[Mark]

Dan, just to clarify, there was plenty of unity between Joe Biden and Europe. They just didn't end the war.

[Dan]

Yeah, well, you can't end the war unless you knock Putin back. I mean, Trump hasn't ended the war. Right. So, I mean, nobody's ending the war because ultimately Putin doesn't care about sanctions and all this stuff.

[Mark]

Let's see if they do, by the way.

[Dan]

Can I just.

[Mark]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Dan]

Your point, Mike? I mean, look, in all seriousness, Democrats and a good number of Republicans have been asking for this type of stuff for a long time. Okay. And where are the headlines this morning in the newspapers and the morning shows? It's ballroom here. And oh, by the way, before we get to traffic and weather, here's what happened in Russia. This is so out of whack where, where the priorities of the mainstream media are and frankly, the Democratic Party, the idea that they're spending more time talking about the construction of a ballroom.

[Mark]

Yes.

[Dan]

Than something that they've cleared the priority.

[Mark]

Here, here, here, here, here.

[Dan]

Well, I think part of that, though, is Trump, and you alluded to this earlier, goes on true social and kind of says, no, we didn't. Right. So, I mean, part of this.

[Mark]

But I think, but I think he said, no, we didn't because he doesn't want to be in a fight with Putin directly when he doesn't have to be because we're not sending them Tomahawk. The US Isn't giving them Tomahawks.

[Dan]

Well, I, look, I agree with you. That was why he didn't, why he does that. But I think we all agree Trump, Trump has changed his public position five times in the last week. So if you're going to write about it, you need some consistency to be like, aha.

[Mark]

Also fair. Also fair. Two quick things. First of all, I'm very sympathetic to how upset some of you are about the destruction of the, of the East Wing. I truly am. And, and I, and, and, and my, my tone is based on just really confused about why people are so upset about it. But I understand that you are, don't mean to disrespect those of you who are very, very upset. The other thing is I don't read the chat, but I do glance at it. One of the things I love about the two way community. Guys, I don't know if you've seen this, but people are kind of upset that we haven't done the Fairway and Green promo yet. Find that kind of amazing. Very nice people. Demanding, demanding the advertisement. So here it is, ladies and gentlemen, our great partnership with the folks at Fairway and Green. They make the finest golf apparel you ever did. Put on five different brands under their umbrella. But Fairway and Green flagship brand products are incredible and you can get as a spokesmodel. Sean Spicer is wearing our own personal Vanna White morning meeting logo, two way logo. And Sean, you got anything on the sleeve there?

[Dan]

No, I'm still. Yeah. But here's my quiz for the day. What fairway in green color is my beautiful polo here?

[Mark]

I'm going with midnight blue.

[Dan]

Dan, want to weigh in on that? Navy, French Navy. I would have agreed with either one of you and in any other world. But this is what Fairway and green calls Mari. That's right, folks.

[Mark]

Mari. Yeah. Probably would have guessed that if I given 10.

[Dan]

I know that was a color. I didn't know it was a color yesterday.

[Mark]

Anyway, if you want to look like Vanna White or Sean Spicer, the best thing you can do, just a linear move, go to Two Way TV Fairway and use avail yourself of the discount. It's Two Way 20. Use the promo code discount Two Way 20, 20% off site wide, including the very handsome Two Way and Morning meeting gear. But also anything else you want on there and I recommend it all, as your fellow community members have testified here it is the most comfortable stuff you'll ever put on. It's so well made.

[Dan]

Quarter zip out last night and someone walked up to me and said, I going to guess that's fairway and green. And I said it's, it's, it's amazing how it's become part of the brand.

[Mark]

Yeah. All right. The shutdown, ladies and gentlemen, the shutdown continues. And so a lot of focus on November 1st when various things happen in terms of benefit cuts and rate increases on the insurance side where people think, well, maybe, maybe there'll be some movement there. But others say maybe not. Here is Speaker Johnson on squawk box moments ago. 120Paul talking about the notion of a vote on extending the Obamacare benefits border by one year under the careful and close questioning of Mr. Joe Kernan.

[Dan]

I think everybody saw Congressman New York, Congressman Lawler confront leader Jeffries with a one year extension. And now I understand that 13 House GOP lawmakers, led by Jeff Van Drew. Jen Kiggins did send you a letter saying we should do a one year extension.

[Mark]

I guess that that's what they're proposing.

[Dan]

Well, they did, but in the letter they acknowledge what I just said, that it needs real reform. Because is that a way this ends? Is that a way this ends, Mr. Speaker, or that's not what happens, do you think? Well, now, look this, Joe, it's a very important point. We were always planning. We always knew that October and November would be the time to figure that.

[Mark]

Out and build consensus around the reforms.

[Dan]

And get everybody together. But it's ironic that the Democrats have shut the government down and prevented that from happening. That is the whole point. We need the lights back on. We need government reopened.

[Mark]

We need troops paid TSA agents, Border.

[Dan]

Patrol agents and air traffic controllers and.

[Mark]

Veterans health services and nutrition services to young women and the elderly.

[Dan]

We need all that going while Congress is here doing its work. But Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are pleased. Explain politics again, because they need political cover for themselves. It is selfish and it is dangerous.

[Mark]

So October 1st is over a week away or November 1st, rather. Sean, do you expect any movement before November 1st or we just sort of see where we are November 1st?

[Dan]

Well, so as I said earlier, I think today's vote could be interesting on, on a messaging front, do how many Democrats break to pay active duty military and what they call essential employees? And so remember, we need what five more do we pick off too?

[Mark]

Well, maybe because you don't necessarily get the ones who've been voting to.

[Dan]

That's true. True. Yeah.

[Mark]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Okay, fair. But I have a feeling that Fetterman is going to. I mean, fair enough. We'll see. But I guess that's the broader point. Let's see what today's vote yields do. Republicans in particular put their foot on the gas on this and make a big deal out of the fact that they had an opportunity. Now they've really sort of. I was watching a couple of news things this morning. I mean, you've got people sitting in food bank lines right now, especially a lot of active duty military. And there were some reports on the TV showing it. And the more that that gets picked up, I think it starts to put a lot more pressure. If Republicans can message and sort of highlight this more, does that do that? Or as We've said, this November 1st issue is when a lot of states are saying the snap benefits are gonna probably expire. That again, a huge Democrat constituency. I know this is crass talk for some because it's politics, but those are the reality inflection points, and so does that. But I think we're in this point now between today's vote and that November 1st, when I think you're gonna start to see some fraying.

[Mark]

Dan.

[Dan]

Yeah, I agree. Because you now have Democratic governors saying, detailing the snap benefit problem in their states that they're running out of money. The number of people in these states that rely on these benefits to feed themselves, to feed their children, to feed their families. At the same time, there is increasingly press in states about health care rate increases. And so I think, again, for crass politics, as Sean said, I think Democrats will say to themselves, look, we've elevated health care as an issue for 2026. It's now in the press about the problem that we've warned about and been wanting to deal with. So mission is accomplished on that front, and we gotta cut a deal and reopen the government. I don't think anyone wants at Thanksgiving stories of snap benefits not being paid out, TSA lines getting longer. So I think that in the next week there may not be a deal, but the contours of it are going to start gelling. And I think once it does, this ends fast. And then I my big curiosity is how does the base treat Schumer and Jefferies? Yeah, can I just, to Dan's point, I will say this. If we get past November 1st, you cannot, as a politician even think about having Thanksgiving dinner if you still have a government shutdown. It just the optics are horrible. So there is we are starting to get to that point where there's one gate after another that you need to get through, and it's just going to become more and more untenable to have the government closed. Yep.

[Mark]

Dan, I agreed with everything you said. With one exception. I don't know that it's going to go fast. In other words, I think sometimes the leaders make it make a deal, and then it turns out the rake and file don't go for it. So I could easily see a kind of a tentative deal, and then it turns out the votes aren't there in one chamber or the other.

[Dan]

Okay, interesting.

[Mark]

Maybe sometimes it doesn't go as fast as we think when it goes from the leaders that everybody.

[Dan]

Mark, do you think Schumer's going to come out of this now in decent shape?

[Mark]

He could, because it's one of the newsletters I think was Punchbowl pointed out this morning. The conference, the caucus is pretty unified. You don't Hear a lot of carping about it. They. He's, he's, he's kept them informed and on board. So I think, I think he'll. He'll have problems with some of the net routes for sure. But, but, but, but if he doesn't have problems with the caucus, I think he's probably fine. All right.

[Dan]

A group.

[Mark]

A group of notable figures from around the world. What do these people have in common? Hold on, I got to get the list. What do these people have in common? Steve Bannon, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. Mike Mullen. Rapper Will. I am Meghan Markle. You know, there's the, there's the old thing. None of them are in my. Have ever been in my kitchen.

[Dan]

Kitchen.

[Mark]

That's one of the things they have. Fair.

[Dan]

Wayne Green.

[Mark]

Exactly. What they have in common is they've all signed on to this letter, hundreds of prominent people from around the world warning that there needs to be a slowdown on super AI because we can't get the point where AI is smarter than humans. And they want the world to just stop and say, we need to evaluate this. Proposals like this have been around, but this one is getting a fair amount of attention. What's also getting attention is a campaign ad made by the digital video team of Cuomo's campaign for mayor of New York City. You could never make an ad like this without AI because it would cost you 2. $2 million. But here's just a little clip. It's an ad about kind of spoofing what Mondami's New York would be like if he were mayor. But Mamdani says you're free to go.

[Dan]

Who cares if legalizing prostitution statistically leads to an increase for sex traffic? Trafficking of women and young girls by 70%? You can't have safety without equality for.

[Mark]

Unlawful, abiding citizens like us. Globalize the intifada.

[Dan]

I'm a criminal. I'm a criminal. I'm a criminal. I'm a criminal. Yep, I'm a criminal.

[Mark]

For Zoran, for Zara and Mom, Daddy. I didn't have a real job until I was 30, but sure, give me the keys to the city.

[Dan]

What's the worst that can happen?

[Mark]

Paid for by Cuomo for nyc. All right, now there's some controversy over the video. They've taken it down. They may put it back up, but that's not the point. The point is that's an incredibly powerful use of AI and people have been predicting this. I wrote our whole article about it regarding the presidential election. It really wasn't a dominant thing. But, but guys, in 2026 and 2028, there's going to be an explosion of AI generated ads, including, not just by campaigns that color, mostly between the lines, but by, by random people to try to get attention. So, Dan, how worried are you about this? Or you just think it's a great explosion of creativity?

[Dan]

Both. I mean, I think there's no way for the United States to say, you know, halt this, because you'd have to get China and India and Brazil and like the whole world to be like, yeah, you're right. And by the way, for our own national security and war machine, we won't, like, you know, out in the desert keep working on this because we want to win. So I think the reality is it's going to keep marching forward. There's another story today about what, and I was unaware of this, how potent the issue of energy consumption is becoming in local elections because these giant AI centers are consuming massive amounts of energy, which, of course, drives up the bill for everybody. Right. There's only so much energy to go around. So how AI impacts the future, I think in terms of public policy, the contours of what as a country we're comfortable with and not. It's going to be part of our politics. And I don't think one side owns this issue. I think both parties are a little like, how do we touch this, Sean? Yeah, I just have this visualization of all the people that signed that letter standing on a mountain as an avalanche kind of is coming, and then being like, slow down, like the horses left the barn, folks. Writing a letter telling everyone to just stop is not exactly going to be impactful. It's, it's. We're, we're already there. It's happening. I, I'm. It is. To your broader point. I'm very concerned about this, kids. And people are using it all the time already. Obviously, this is going to really take hold in politics. This is just the tip of the iceberg. By the time we get to the 2028 midterms, this is going to be really a big thing, not just for the candidates, but where you really get into this is outside groups who are less accountable, who will do a lot more, press the envelope, push the envelope on so many of these things where the candidate can say, hey, that wasn't me, that was a super pac. I had nothing to do with it. But I think we're going to get really bad really quick. And by the time we get to the next presidential level, that's this is going to be, you know, we'll look back on this tape and say that that is hysterical, that we. I don't even, I don't even think it's going to be super packed. I think it's going to be the person in their basement who's a supporter. And what's going to happen is candidates are going to be asked, hey, there's a photo of you and Mark Alperin, you know, in a photo line last week. And now, you know, Dan went out and made this video. Do you stand by this video? Do you stand by these? Both sides are going to be constantly, like having to deal with these headaches. Yeah.

[Mark]

Stay tuned. We'll talk a lot about this in the coming years. Raise your hand if you want to get in the conversation. A few more topics mentioned. New York City mayor's race debate last night pretty widely believed that Cuomo had a great debate that Curtis did. Probably the best debate Cuomo's ever had, at least as far as I've ever seen. Mondame was sweaty, he was defensive, he was evasive. Did it, did it affect the race? It hasn't yet. Here's the poly market. We'll probably market where we are now. And it's, it's virtually identical to where the market and the poly market betters had things before the debate. 92%, almost 93% odds of Mandami winning. But it, it did, it did get people fired up in the Cuomo side. Cuomo smart. Went to the Knicks game right after, got a lot of very good coverage. So we'll see what happens today. Curtis. Curtis watched Sliwa not getting out of the race. Here he is this morning on cnbc, Squawk box talking about Bill Ackman. Political pundit Bill Ackman, number 112, please. Bill Ackman has been wrong every step of the way about this race. And naturally he wants me out of the race, so he makes this, these charges against me. Yes, there are matching funds and, and I've raised more money than Andrew Cuomo and matching funds from New York City donors. So Bill Ackman, keep wasting your millions. Give it to Andrew Cuomo. You gave it to Eric Adams. You haven't been right about anything here.

[Dan]

This is a guy who's had a.

[Mark]

Midlife crisis, who goes up to Newport, Rhode island, and thinks he's a tennis pro, and he gets booed off the court. Well, guess what, Ackman, you're getting booed out of the political court.

[Dan]

Court. Stay in your lane.

[Mark]

Focus on Wall street your hedge funds.

[Dan]

And let the people decide who the next mayor is. That's what our democracy is taught in. Just to clarify that all of a sudden.

[Mark]

All right, the debate didn't revolutionize the rate. Curtis isn't getting out. Sean, just confirming the race is still over. Parrot's still there.

[Dan]

Yeah. I mean, in fact, if I were him, I would get start looking at artwork for Gracie Mansion.

[Mark]

Dan, where are you on the. On the poly market? Are you higher or lower than 93%?

[Dan]

I'm, I'm lower. I'm, I'm curious to see because I think people now are starting to pay more attention if last night and some of these ads now move people. The interesting thing for Cuomo is you can't put that out, take it down, and then kind of try to weasel out if you got to own this.

[Mark]

Well, they took it. They took it down because of one. One screen.

[Dan]

Yeah, whatever. But you should be front foot.

[Mark]

We'll see they put it back up.

[Dan]

Let me just ask this because I'm the guy at 100%. We are 11 days out from an election. I believe early voting has now started in New York. I don't start Saturday. I think. Okay, starts Saturday. I don't get. I cannot imagine a race that, and I'm doing this off the top of my head that has shifted, like from student council up by the amount that would have to shift in this race, in any race in history.

[Mark]

It depends on three things. As far as I'm concerned, be any race in history. First of all, Curtis has to collapse, which is less likely because he's had two great debates. So, so Curtis would have to collapse, number one. Number two, Mondami would have to make errors. Now, I will tell you, last night he was so evasive on some really basic things. Let's see if that works its way into the bloodstream. But. But he'd have to be. People would have to pressure him. So for instance, I'll be curious today if reporters on the trail go back to him, assuming he takes questions and says, last night you were asked of your position on three ballot measures and you said like you hadn't decided yet. Well, what's your position? Like he was evasive on things he doesn't want to take positions on. And if he's pressed, let's see if he makes a mistake. And then finally, we have to see if the Cuomo operation, from the negative ads, from the super PAC to the get out the vote, we have to see if that, if that's worth, you know, Five points. It could be, I don't know, but it could be depending on what they have and whether the Mondavi thing is like Howard Dean 2004.

[Dan]

I just have a hard time feeling like if you're. I mean, you'd have to have a billion dollars because New Yorkers, to me, I don't get the sense that you guys like the, the tactics that work in other places. New Yorkers are on the go. They're the kind you get up, you go do this. You're like, what, what, what advertising tools are at Cuomo's disposal?

[Mark]

Well, the super PAC. The super PAC.

[Dan]

Don't forget Mandani's still at 46%. He's not at 50.

[Mark]

He's not in almost any poll. In almost any poll. All right. If you're interested in the sort of the, the best analysis of the. Of the Virginia races, AG and governor and the New Jersey governor's race, I recommend Carl Rosecom in the Wall Street Journal and Tom Edel's comm in the New York Times. They're both excellent. Okay, Platner. Another day, another set of controversies. First of all, some stuff. More oppo. Very. The people who putting out that oppo are super sophisticated. And there's stuff he wrote that was anti gay lgbtq and they gave it to the Advocate or the Blade. I forget who. The Advocate. They gave it to a gay oriented publication which did an interview with him in which once again, he said, oh, I didn't mean it. Everything's great. It's really damaging stuff. And then he had his tattoo fixed. And the boys at Pod Save America are still all in. Bernie's still all in. Here is another direct to camera. I'm just a normal guy who went to GW and worked for. What's it called? Can't remember. Anyway, here's. Here's Platner explaining his tattoo change and warning some viewers might find many of these images disturbing.

[Dan]

And I got this to cover up the skull and crossbones.

[Mark]

All right, go ahead, play the whole thing. Start it over.

[Dan]

It's come to my attention that it has a stark resemblance to a symbol that is used by neo Nazis. And I want to say that was not the intent at all. And the idea that I've been going around with something like that utterly horrifies me. I know that symbols like this can be incredibly damaging to people. And the idea that I've had it all these years and it could have been read like that is incredibly troubling. I have lived the life dedicated to to anti fascism, anti racism and anti Nazism. I think that racism and anti Semitism are a long scourge on our society and a long scourge on our politics. And I think, is that how you pronounce it? Scorch in our world? For that reason, I have gone and gotten it covered up. Last night I went to a tattoo parlor and I got this to cover up the skull and crossbones.

[Mark]

Okay. Bernie Sanders is standing by him. Here's Bernie explaining why. 107.

[Dan]

You said yesterday you are still supporting him. Why?

[Mark]

I'm not overly impressed by a squad of media running around saying, what do you think about the tattoo on Grand Plotner's chest? Between you and me, there might be one or two more important issues. But let me go there. I'm not Graham's best friend. I met him several times. We did a rally in Portland, Maine, a great rally. I am impressed by the guy. Okay. Now, I, I don't read the chat, but I glance it. I see people put in the chat, he's cooked, he's dead. Here's some polling on the race. Here is 118. This surprises me. And obviously, you know, some of the platinum stuff is new, but Platner, 58. Janet Mills, 24. Dan, why is, again, this poll does not fully, I don't even know what dates it was done. It obviously doesn't fully reflect this full controversy. But why is Platner so far ahead?

[Dan]

Well, look, two things here. One, prior to all this controversy, there was a lot of talk about his narrative and his authenticity and his plain spokenness. So all the kind of attributes that in a candidate you, you would look for in today's age. The second thing now that I'm beginning to wonder is, is the Democratic Party becoming a little bit the way Trump was in 15, which is whatever he says, whatever he does, and the media says, aha, that's it, you're done. The party says, nope, we're standing by this guy. We believe in him for A, B and C, D reason. It is possible. And we've said, I don't think he's going to get out of the race, that this is going to harden his supporters, make them dig down and work for him harder. And Janet Mills looks like the establishment, you know, oppo research and other things to just shut it.

[Mark]

Sean, here's what I'm confused by. Schumer worked hard to get Mills in the race. Right? Now, that poll does not. At least they haven't put out general election numbers, but they must have Done polling before they decided Mills not only would be a stronger general election candidate, but could be the nominee. If that poll is even close to right. What is the CC thinking that to send. And what is Janet Mills thinking? She's running up against the Platner Buzzsaw.

[Dan]

That's what the Apple research is about, right?

[Mark]

Well, to try to correct it. But. But did they. Did they say, get in the race, we'll drop all this oppo and we'll kill him out. Like I was just going.

[Dan]

That is what would be my take.

[Mark]

Yeah.

[Dan]

It's to you a couple of things on this. Number one, the key in this. And Dan can correct me if I'm wrong on their side, but when you say Chuck Schumer and the D trip or the dscc, the thing that I always find interesting is sometimes the chair or the leader. I mean, obviously the Schumers has much more sway than anything else. There are days when they dig in, they say, I know the right. Like this is the best candidate because they think they know better. And they force that decision on the committee and saying, we will get behind him. I'm in charge. Right. So I think it'll be interesting if there's ever a bit. The story in my mind is who's really pushing this, who call the shots. I get the sense that Schumer is. And Schumer is saying, traditionally this would be the right thing. The governor would be awesome. Right.

[Mark]

Of course.

[Dan]

And not this newcomer Oysterman dude, who I don't know. And he's not beholden to me.

[Mark]

I would think all that would be sensible until you see a poll like this that shows Platner kicking her butt.

[Dan]

Right. But I would also. Sorry, can I. There's two more things that I want to say about his response because this is again where so one, he came out and said this was his. His text before he did the video, which was, I made a stupid mistake. I went out and got a Skull and Bones tattoo with my Marine Corps buddies on liberty. Right. That was his quote. Here's the thing. A simple search on the Internet of Skull and Bones does not look like what he has on his chest. Okay. That's number one. Number two, wrapping yourself in the cloth of the core. You better hope that your brothers and sisters that were in the Corps that were at those tattoo parlors with you. Agree with you. Because here's where the shoe is, I think going to drop. Someone's going to go out and find a group of folks that he was stationed with that went to that tattoo shop and said, yeah, we thought it was funny to get this or that. And if that story doesn't hold, he's in big trouble. This was a rookie mistake where he's starting to wrap himself in his unit and say we all went out and got tattoos one day when we were on liberty. And I guarantee you there's one or two people who aren't going to buy in on that story.

[Mark]

Fully agree. And that's not Graham Platner's top 10 problems.

[Dan]

But I think Mark, though, what, what may have happened at the DSCC is they, I'm curious because you said this in our pregame. There's no head to head with Collins. So it could be that Mills and is leading Collins and planter loses by 10 points today. And they said, look, here's the pile of opposition research we have on Planter.

[Mark]

We'll take Platner, Platner exact platinum.

[Dan]

We will grind him down, disqualify, discredit. You stay focused on Collins. Let us take care of your opponent, which is, I mean this is how you have conversations to recruit a candidate is to reassure him or her that like this is what all the tools we have that we will spend for you just could be. They misread the point, by the way. But here's the other question is, you know, if you're someone like Janet Mills, right. And reputationally you're looking at what we just showed and laid out and at some point you're like, do I really, at 77 years old want my career to be ended by getting shellacked? Totally agree, totally agree. So we'll see how. I mean there's, there's a lot more chapters in this. She have, does she have the stomach to lean into this? Will she hit the stump and keep hammering, hey, this is what he did and this is what he don't have, the stomach.

[Mark]

She probably assumes she doesn't need to because there's more coming and he'll get out.

[Dan]

Exactly it.

[Mark]

But your Trump thing's brilliant because if, if you just resolve. I don't care if they have video of me shooting someone on fifth Avenue. I, I'm not getting out at some point, you know, it just, it's self fulfilling. All right, two quick things because we're over time and we want to get to your questions. One is great story in the Washington Post about Barack Obama getting more involved not just in the redistricting efforts. Did an interview or conversation with Gavin Newsom yesterday. You can watch it online. But, but generally there were story says Upset that there's not more resistance to all the things Donald Trump's doing that he doesn't like, including redistricting. Good story. Lastly, New York Times has a profile of a guy named Brian Chen who lives in China, who learned how to speak English by watching Friends. And that's just where everyone around the world learns to speak English. And he's an extraordinary. Does an extraordinary impression. They're all over YouTube and Instagram. Here's Brian Chen of China.

[Dan]

Nowadays, a lot of good stuff is made in China. Everybody knows it, right? But somehow in other places, places, things made in China end up costing more.

[Mark]

I don't know why, I don't know.

[Dan]

Who did it, but frankly speaking, it's a little messed up. It's a little messed up. That is why today I've come to the very source of Chinese production, Senza. Look at this. Look at this building. Look at the streets.

[Mark]

Look at the vibe.

[Dan]

Look at the people. I love it. So powerful, so energetic, so clean. I love it so much.

[Mark]

Where do you recommend me to go.

[Dan]

To make the most of my trip? Thank you. Thank you.

[Mark]

All right. Anyway, they're all over YouTube. I find it compelling. He should be on Saturday Night Live this week. That's my prediction after Lorne Michaels reads his New York Times. Time for your questions. Thank you for being part of the two way community. As I call on you, please come on in and tell us what's on your mind for Sean and Dan, after you tell us where y' all at. Where all y' all at? All right, here we go. Joe, welcome in. Thank you for being part of the two way experience. Joe, you getting any of those tats covered over today or you're just keeping them clean?

[Dan]

Sorry. Unless one of them gets flagged, then no, I'm all right.

[Mark]

All right. They look good. Thank you for joining. Where are you, man?

[Dan]

I'm in Seymour, Connecticut.

[Mark]

Seymour, Connecticut. Dan.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mark]

Dan, where is Seymour, Connecticut? Do you know?

[Dan]

I believe Seymour is to the east of New Haven, over between Stonington and New Haven. Is that right? Yeah.

[Mark]

New Haven county.

[Dan]

I'm like 20 minutes from Sally's Pizza. Yep.

[Mark]

Yeah. What do you. What toppings do you get at Sally's?

[Dan]

Honestly, the cheese is the go to, but they got a potato, not mashed potato. It's almost like they slice and layer, like thin potato.

[Mark]

Yeah. Are you an anchovy guy at all?

[Dan]

Okay.

[Mark]

I like the keto on pizza.

[Dan]

Come on. Ah, trust me, it's good.

[Mark]

Yeah. Joe, welcome and tell us what's on your mind.

[Dan]

Thanks. I just had one quick question for you, Mark, and then just a general yes, sir question for the group. What. What flavor was the protein cookie?

[Mark]

Oh, the protein cookie was white. White chocolate macadamia nut.

[Dan]

Oh, I love it.

[Mark]

And follow up on, uh, on the, uh, bars from yesterday. That guy who came on didn't do his brother a big favor. He had the name wrong. So the picture we picked up. Picked up.

[Dan]

I was trying to order those.

[Mark]

Yeah, that company ran out of business two years ago.

[Dan]

That's why I couldn't find him.

[Mark]

The reason I know is the brother, not the guy who came on, but the actual brother, doesn't own the company. He's. He's an advisor to his friend's company. He, he got in contact with me through social media. And all I can say is, stand by, everybody. The bar experience is about to get intense.

[Dan]

Thanksgiving is going to be awkward.

[Mark]

So. So, Joe, stand by on the bars. But that's the answer on the protein cookie.

[Dan]

No. My general question, the group was, as somebody who voted for Trump the first time, he wore me out within a year, just again, I like most of the stuff he does, but I just got fatigued with them, just the nonsense. Didn't vote for anybody the second time because I didn't feel any good options. And then I voted for RFK Jr this time as more of just like a, hey, I'm in Connecticut, so it doesn't count. And it's just like a protest vote. But do you think that at some point the people who eventually, whether it's like a Vance Rubio ticket, are they going to start looking at him, saying, you might want to shut up a little bit because you're going to start tainting whoever is going to be the eventual nominee, or is he just incapable of tempering anything?

[Mark]

Sean or Dan, go ahead.

[Dan]

I think this is one of the big questions. It goes to the caller who came in, I think it was earlier this week about, about Vance, and I've said this before, I don't think Trump is going to allow Vance to go out and run his own campaign. I think he'll tell him he'll try, but I don't think Trump can help himself. He's going to be Trump. He's going to be 81 years old at that point. You're not teaching him. He's not going to suddenly change. And I think he's going to micromanage. And anywhere JD Vance, you know, tries to separate and, heaven forbid, criticize, I just think he can't help himself.

[Mark]

Sean?

[Dan]

Yeah. I'll take it the other way. I think the people, the base, the MAGA base, is completely loyal to Donald Trump. And so it's not just a question of what comes down, it goes up. Right. If you're out there trying to court it, the people who are hardcore maga, then you're looking to that bat signal to figure out where Trump is, what his view is. So I think he is here to stay as long as he's in the game.

[Mark]

Interesting. Joe, thank you for coming on. Great question. Really appreciate it.

[Dan]

And by the way, when everyone says, you know, measure the curtains for Vance, this is part of the issue that we don't know about. In three years, if Trump is popular, it's an asset. Trump is not. It's a massive liability. Yeah.

[Mark]

You guys ever heard of a shark News A, S H, a R, Q.

[Dan]

No.

[Mark]

They report, they cover the Middle East. Their Washington bureau chief, hiba Nasser, just tweeted this. Cairo is hosting talks between Palestinian factions to reach a Palestinian consensus as part of the second phase of Trump's plan. Came to my attention because my friend Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News retweeted it. So I assume it's legit. So that's interesting. Hadn't heard that anywhere else. At least I hadn't. John Carroll, welcome and thank you for being part of Two Way. Love the hat, love the beard, love to know where you are and what's on your mind.

[Dan]

Well, thank you. That's probably the best intro I've gotten, so I appreciate. I'm down here in Spring Hill, Florida, so it's starting to get a little cold down here. Thank God. I'm tired of the. Of the heat and the sun down here. You're native there, right? Where is Springfield, Florida? Spring hill. It's about 45 minutes north of Tampa. Okay. But to quote for Sean, you know, I'm not a native. I'm reluctantly originally from the People's Republic of New York. So, yeah, I kind of guess that. Yeah, I. I had originally a. A, I have a question, and I had a joke I was going to say about the hypocrisy of the media on the. The White House construction. But just to point out a quick thing on the main. On the whole thing with platinum in Maine is, you know, it's funny. You know, I'm a history nerd. One of my degrees is in history, And World War II is one of my biggest ones. You're talking about Sean, like you said, there's a skull and bones, like people know about bikers and pirates but yet the exact one that Platinum got is the exact skull and bones that the SS wore. Like on the covers right here. The totem compass, it's called, or the death head. So it's hard for him to weasel out of that. So I just want to make that fun point. But it's still crazy to think he's beaten the governor of Maine in the polls by that much.

[Mark]

So crazy.

[Dan]

I don't know what's going on with Maine Democrats. The question I had, the real question I had was what do you think the DNC is thinking about this whole New York City race? Bear with me for a second. You look at this whole thing with Mandani, it looks like the Democrats will win no matter what. Whether it's Cuomo, Cuomo of Mandani, most likely. But you know, they got the New Jersey governor's race going on right now, and it's, it's being viewed as neck and neck next year are the midterms. And then you saw how Trump did in New Jersey this last year and now you're looking at this and they're worried about a lot of people fleeing. I could tell you, I know some people in Florida real estate, they're looking forward to all the New Yorkers moving down here, as you've heard the puns, but like legit. How many people could be leaving and moving to New Jersey or moving to Pennsylvania that are Republicans, but also just in general, could Mandani do such a bad job that next year New York and New Jersey Dems do bad in the midterms? And then in three years, could New Jersey actually be in play? I think that's pushing too much, but it's getting closer than they want to be feeling comfortable with.

[Mark]

John?

[Dan]

Yeah. There's actually a bit of an irony, right. If you think about it post Covid, the people who weren't happy with the policies, which were probably right leaning folks, moved, making it a little harder from a mathematical standpoint to overcome that disadvantage they already faced. So there's a little bit of that. I think it's, look, New York's gone. It will. Unless you get another billionaire that rents the R, which is what Bloomberg did. I don't see you're going to see another Republican for quite some time. New Jersey is an interesting thing. I think that it's. I, you know, we've always said in the Republican Party, New Jersey is the Lucy with the football. Right. We get excited, we'll see. I think Cittarelli is the best person to possibly do this to Take it off if he wins. And I think there's a very good shot that he pulls this off, that changes the entire dynamic electorally going into 2028. It just does. I mean, like you would, you would be stupid not to put money in on either side. One on the Dem side to protect it or two on the Republican side to take a shot at it. But we'll see. But this definitely could be interesting because you look at those electoral votes shifting one way or another, that's a whole new dynamic in terms of how to get to 270.

[Mark]

Dan?

[Dan]

Yeah, we'll see about New York. I mean, there's so many variables here. Where I live on the Upper east side, yes, there's people talking about moving to Florida. My own wife texts me about the tax deltas here between everything. But on the other hand, as you know, a lot of people, myself included, love New York City. And I grew up outside in the 80s when this place had a lot of problems, but it's still home. New Jersey, I think is really interesting because Karl Rove makes this point. It's not just does Sheryl win, what if Trump's the margins and the improvement Trump made with non white working class people continues to show up in Newark, down outside of Philadelphia, Right. A lot of working class people can't afford to live in New York, Right. Go and live in Hoboken, in Jersey City. In the same with Philadelphia, you have the kind of upper middle class in the center part of the state. Let's say Cheryl wins by three points, but Trump or the Republican nominee shows this is durable, right? People continue to leave the Democratic Party. Come. I don't know how you don't make a play for this state. You're just making Democrats have to spend money in New York City and Philadelphia, which they're already doing. But I'll say this, Dan made this point yesterday when we were on Megyn Kelly. If you're thinking about the first district in New York, Long Island, a couple of those seats that the Democrats really need to take back the House majority, and suddenly you're trying to go after, you know, Andrew, I mean, Nick lalota's seat or something like that, they're going to go, yeah, look at what Democrats do. Here's Mondami, like he is going to be a weight around all those guys in the outer New York City burb areas, Westchester county, where they're going to be trying to look for seats to take over. And Mandami is just going to become the new poster child for what Republicans are gonna paint as the Democrats, particularly on that police stuff. Right. Those are the people that come into the city to go to the theater, to go to dinner, to come in with their children. And if he starts messing around with police and stuff like that, then they're gonna say, to Sean's point, that's who you're electing. And they'll undo the border. They'll undo, you know, all the stuff that Trump will say is an accomplishment.

[Mark]

John, thank you. All right, two New Yorkers with different perspectives on.

[Dan]

Dan, are you from New York?

[Mark]

Just about everything. Dan. Dan's from New York, aren't you, Dan? Maybe I've made that.

[Dan]

I mean, I know he's in la, but are you originally from New York, Dan?

[Mark]

No.

[Dan]

Oh, Dan, born and raised in la.

[Mark]

For some reason, I thought you were screwed that up. All right. By Coastal. Members of the community with very different views. Dan from la, Max from New York. Dan, first, what's on your mind then, Max?

[Dan]

No, I, I know you keep bringing up the, the White House East Wing thing. I think what you may be missing is that we were just coming off of the King's rally where 2 million more people came out and protested. And I think, you know, the destruction of the East Wing is kind of just a symbolism of what Trump is doing to the rest of the country. A lot of the things that we don't talk about, like him, what he's doing at the Smithsonian and the Kennedy center, all these things that he's doing, taking away, destroying, that's what people are reacting to, the, the imagery of that. Yeah.

[Mark]

Okay, thank you for that, Max. Well, Dan will respond to you in just a second. Max.

[Dan]

Yeah, on the, on the building or, or the remodeling of the East Wing.

[Mark]

Dan, I keep hearing you saying that.

[Dan]

You know, Trump lied. I think the problem that you have.

[Mark]

Is that for four years, while Joe.

[Dan]

Biden was walking around with the pension and drooling on himself, everybody stated that he was sharp as attack. Not everybody. This is the best, this is the best Biden I've ever seen. That's a Joe Scarborough kg KJP said she had to rest up to keep up with him because, you know, his, his gate was, was like Carl Lewis in 1984. So I don't think that your Trump lied. That doesn't work anymore. That like that dog doesn't. I would say the opposite. You can'. Bringing up Biden like Max, do you think Trump lied on this?

[Mark]

I think he's a construction guy as a builder.

[Dan]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Max, Max, answer the question. I think he probably misspoke.

[Mark]

I think he changed his mind.

[Dan]

I actually, I'm with Mark. I actually think that originally they, the plan was to do this and then they realized they're going to connect it. So I think the plan initially plans that would never be made public.

[Mark]

Hey guys, stand, stand by. Switch over to Fox News, please. Thunes on I think, I think Byron York has said, and I agree it should have been explained better and the president explained it kind of half heartedly yesterday. Let's listen to Thune real quick.

[Dan]

They live in a state that's represented by Democrat senators. Call your Democrat senators, tell them to open up the government and let you get paid. It's that simple. And if you're not in, if you're a state that doesn't have a Democrat senator, call Chuck Schumer. Call people who have it within their power to end this. Every Republican. Not every, all but one Republican are voting every single time. We've had 12 votes now to open up the government and the Democrats have block voted against it. We have had a few, I should say we've had three. We need five more. As you know it takes 60 in the Senate to do anything consequential. So we're at 55 right now. We need just five Democrats. Do the right thing for the American people and hopefully somebody will. All right, Senator, please come back as this goes.

[Mark]

Okay, thank you for that.

[Dan]

The only thing I wanted, big thing that I don't think you guys are watching on social media, Instagram, tik tok x There are a lot of people posting about the elimination of their SNAP benefits and a in a very, very visceral way. I think that's something that is not being covered and something that will rear its ugly head because there are people who come the first if they don't have their SNAP EBT cards will go and, and steal to, to feed their families. And I think that, that that's an optic that I don't know which way it affects more. I don't know it affects the left or the right more. But that's something that I think should be looked at because that's Republicans can come back to Washington and do their job and open the government. Can I just Dan this though? And I've asked this before but Dan, let me just ask this. If, if Thune literally said, hey Dan, what, what is exactly that you want me to do? Answer that question. What, what should they do today? We should secure health care for the Americans and Just make sure that it's not just a one year plan that after a year the Republicans are going to take away. So even though the Democrats created this problem. Right. I mean, they're the ones. I don't think they created this problem. No, that's a fact. It's actually, it's not debatable. They put a sunset in the subsidies. So, I mean, that, that's not debatable. All right, here we are. Not a single Republican voted for this. You can slap your hands, but that's a fact. The subsidies were passed by Democrats with no Republican. They sunset, huh? Nobody believes that, John, Whether you believe it, it's a fact though, right? I mean, tell me if you're saying, yeah, Sean, the end of the day it's a problem that has to be solved. No, but that's not my point. Just, it just. But you can't keep saying. I mean, it's like, it's like Max bringing up Biden. You own it now. You're almost a year in. You don't own anything. Republicans don't have a plan for health care. We don't lie. We own lying.

[Mark]

When.

[Dan]

When. Right, right. That's a good point. Thanks, Max. Yeah. When you're in charge, you, you, you own things, right, Max, The CEO can't sit there a year later and say, well, the other guy, a decade ago. Hold on, time out, time out. Time, time, time, time, time. This is the funny thing about the argument. You're saying we own it. And we are. We're basically saying, open up the government. And then you're saying, but you have to fix our problem. We're not. Where's the plan for health care? We have one, you guys, you never have had one commit to it. But the problem isn't. We're not the ones arguing that. That's the issue. You are. Open the government and then we'll talk about the problem that you created. Here's a simple Solomon, Dan, would you take them voting to fix health care but eliminating any money to illegals? You're asking which Dan? Both.

[Mark]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Oh, sure. Absolutely. There's a split.

[Mark]

The baby.

[Dan]

I, I agree.

[Mark]

All right, we settled it. I'll let the speaker know. Dano and Max, thank you, Max. I still owe you a call, dude.

[Dan]

Anytime.

[Mark]

I'll be in touch. Thank you. All right. Good episode. Thank you all who participated today. Coming up, four o', clock, two two way opportunities. The group chat. Kill that audio. Nina, Emma, Joe, Robbie, Dan, are you unavailable today?

[Dan]

I am unavailable. Our oldest son is having his right knee reconstructed. He got hurt.

[Mark]

Okay. Break a leg on that. Pun intended.

[Dan]

It's already broken.

[Mark]

Filling, filling in for Dan. There you see Michael LaRosa. Nice graphic. Michael LaRosa, Nina, Emma, Jo and Robby will be talking about today's news live at 4 o'. Clock. Please join them on the two way platform. Also at 4 o'. Clock. Another option for you, I will be doing live on the two way platform. Then early episode, Aaron Parnas of the Parnass Perspective and Ari David, founder and editor in chief of Upward News, will join me today at 4 o' clock to run through the day's news and then streaming live as usual on YouTube at 6 and on X and then the Moynihan Report at 7. Michael Moynihan joined by Danny Polischuk, co host of the Boycast Chats. Please join Michael at 7. Sean, what do you have? Also at 6.

[Dan]

Well, today's Thursday, so we got the panel. I'm excited, I'm giddy today because I want to. I'm calling it the Architecture show. We're going to talk about the East Wing construction and then the Obama library. We're going to talk about different. Yeah, Nan Hayworth, former congresswoman, she's going to join us. Alex Washington Times. And then Adam Gillette, accuracy and media. So am I the one who thinks the Obama library is ugly?

[Mark]

No, everyone thinks that it's.

[Dan]

No, that is everyone. No, it's terrible.

[Mark]

Everyone thinks so. All right, later today on Next up, my reported monologue on my vast confusion that remains still as to why people are so emotionally upset about the destruction of the East Wing. And I will give a sampling of some of what I've heard from you all with your theories about why. That is my favorite. My favorite one involves a metaphor. So join me for that. Amongst my guests will be Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. And if you want to sponsor, if you want to sponsor this program or any other program on two way, you have the opportunity to do that. Join. Join Fairway and Green and our other great sponsors and being part of the program. Send us an email Sponsorsway tv Sponsorsway tv. We're very interested in helping you achieve whatever your advertising goals are in a bespoke manner. So send us an email, let us know what's on your mind. We'd love to have you be part of the program. Gentlemen, have a great day. We'll be back in 23 hours. And remember tomorrow being Friday, winners and losers of the week, what you look for over the weekend, it's an exciting, exciting opportunity for you to be in on the ground floor of a conversation like no other to kick off your Friday. We will see you then.