2WAY Morning Meeting – November 3, 2025

Episode Theme: Raging Uproar Over Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes; Trump Says Shutdown Ends When Democrats Bend

Overview

This episode of the 2WAY Morning Meeting—hosted by Mark Halperin (former ABC News political director), Sean Spicer (former Trump White House Press Secretary), and Democratic strategist Dan Turrentine—dives into a high-stakes week leading up to Election Day. The conversation highlights:

• The political uproar around Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes, and the Republican establishment’s recoil
• Trump’s hardline stance on the ongoing government shutdown and its impact
• Analysis of pivotal races in New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey
• The growing influence of progressive candidates like Zoran Mandami
• Listener call-ins addressing party coalitions, extremism, and media responsibility

The roundtable maintains its signature banter and audience interactivity while dissecting the day’s most contentious political controversies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Biggest Election Week

• Election Day looms with significant scrutiny on New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey races.
• The federal government shutdown continues, with SNAP benefits and government services in limbo.
• Mark frames the week as hyped—“the biggest week of all time”—but suggests restraint in embracing that hyperbole. (05:00)

2. Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, GOP Backlash

• Sean and Dan probe the GOP’s sudden public rebuke of Tucker Carlson for giving a platform to Nick Fuentes, a far-right extremist notorious for antisemitic views.
• Mark questions, “Why is this the moment the Ted Cruzes of the party are drawing lines?” (32:05)
• The consensus: A combination of rising generational rifts in the GOP, fears over the party base drifting from Israel, and leadership contests post-Charlie Kirk’s death may all be contributing.
• Notable exchange:
  • Sean: “I kind of was trying to figure out, like, suddenly it was almost like…there’s some degree to which I feel like it’s manufactured. Not that, but like, why was Tucker suddenly the straw that broke the camel’s back?” (32:31)
  • Dan: “Young Republicans aren’t kosher, no pun intended, with being in lockstep with Israel. They saw the Democratic Party’s snowball and fear it could happen here.” (33:17)
• Mark floats a “vacuum of leadership” post-Charlie Kirk as one possible cause. (35:02)

3. Elections Preview: Upset Watch & Trends

• Mark presents polling averages:
  • New Jersey: Democrat up ~3 points; Virginia: Democrat up ~9; NYC mayoral: Mandami up ~15.
• Sean and Dan both pick New Jersey as the likeliest state for an upset, citing ground game and turnout worries. (11:16)
  • Sean: “Cheryl continues to be on her heels…she’s not on offense; at best she’s treading water.”
• Discussion around New York’s unique dynamics: an “independent” Cuomo, a controversial frontrunner (Mandami), and what his potential win would mean—including Republicans using him as a boogeyman in national campaigns. (12:30 – 14:27)

4. The Zoran Mandami Factor: Populist Politics in Practice

• Mark plays clips showing Mandami’s charismatic campaign style—including “petting an Arabic cat” in a bodega, draped near a Palestinian flag. (15:10)
• Trump comments on Mandami, terming him a “communist” and suggesting he’d cut federal funds if Mandami’s elected mayor:
  • Trump (16:38): “It’s going to be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”
• Dan compares Mandami’s style to Trump’s:
  • Dan (17:34): “He’s talked to Obama and Clinton about how to govern…but the question is, does he take this energy to policy or just stay in the news cycle?”
  • Sean: “He looks authentic…it’s not staged. But the people behind his videos are a different breed—22–26 year olds, not consultants in DC.” (19:08)
• Both warn: If Mandami can’t deliver, like Obama’s coalition, his support could quickly erode. (20:04)

5. Shutdown Politics: Blame, PR & Fatigue

• The shutdown’s impact spreads—SNAP being cut off, disruptions in air travel, Head Start closings.
• Trump’s stance: No negotiations until Democrats “bend.”
  • Trump (22:59): “They’ve lost their way. They become crazed lunatics. All they have to do…is say [yes to our deal].”
• Panel discusses the parties’ PR efforts:
  • Sean: “This PR campaign by the Republicans has been pathetic…The Senate should go down in textbooks as the worst PR effort ever.” (25:20)
  • Dan: “Trump doesn’t look good…He acts like there’s nothing going on. Democrats think he is starting to pay [a price].” (26:02)
• Everyone agrees: Polls show Republicans are blamed more, but not by a wide enough margin to make a settlement imminent. Thanksgiving remains a likely/hopeful deadline. (24:28)

6. Polling and “Trump Fatigue”

• NBC’s House generic ballot shows a startling 10-point Democratic lead; panelists are skeptical of its reliability given midterm mechanics.
• Dan: “Democrats feel that the Trump fatigue…the frustration with Trump among independents is taking hold.” (27:48)
• Sean: “Having a national midterm poll is somewhat irrelevant…There are maybe 20 districts that will actually decide who controls the House.” (28:12)

7. Media, Extremism, and the “Big Tent”

• Listener Tara (Roswell, GA) voices anguish over the permeability of extremism in the GOP, referencing her personal grief (son lost to an overdose) and the insensitivity of Carlson platforming Fuentes. (39:58)
  • Tara: “I don’t think we should have a big tent party that includes people like Nick Fuentes…”
• Sean: “I want anti-semites, racists, people who support violence…out of the party. But I’m a big believer in more free speech—to expose them for what they are.” (41:45)
• Dan: “Winning campaigns need a big tent…but it’s hard to hold coalitions together. At some point, it all falls apart.” (41:46)
• Sean draws what he sees as a false equivalence between the outrage over Fuentes and Democratic leaders backing Mandami; Mark counters that Carlson’s reach is arguably greater than a NYC mayor. (43:33, 43:50)

8. Callers on Party Identity, Policy, and Media Responsibility

• Tara describes her journey: a Clinton Democrat who voted for Trump three times due to border, crime, and disillusionment with elite drift. (44:21)
• Rebecca (Michigan) asks what a Mandami mayoralty means outside NYC.
  • Dan: “It may impact Michigan because it’ll energize similar candidates in your state and others.” (48:56)
  • Sean: “Practically, you can’t hide as an executive. If his policies flop, everyone sees it. Politically, Republicans will make him a national symbol in every race.”
• Caleb (UK) asks why the President is blamed for shutdowns when Congress controls appropriations.
  • Dan: “Every President would agree with you! But Trump’s central role in GOP politics makes his involvement unavoidable.” (54:17)

9. Tone & Notable Moments

• The show features a blend of sharp analysis, campaign-warroom nostalgia, and wry humor.
• Sean jokes about “double-dosing” CBD for a marathon injury and the price of New York falafel balls as his inflation barometer. (03:23, 31:15)
• Host Mark sharply moderates banter, keeps the discussion moving, and is quick with TV/press anecdotes (e.g., George W. Bush lobbying Pelosi for her vote). (62:49)
• Listeners share deeply personal stories—Beth speaks movingly about Scott Adams’ terminal illness and Trump’s acts of kindness. Dan clarifies: “I wasn’t saying Trump is heartless, just tone-deaf on inflation as a political problem.” (57:42, 58:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [11:16] — Sean & Dan predict surprise upsets in the coming elections
  • “Jack Cittarelli wins in New Jersey…Cheryl continues to be on her heels…” — Sean
• [16:38] — Trump reacts to a possible Mandami mayoralty:
  • “If you have a communist running New York…all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”
• [25:20] — Sean on Republicans’ “pathetic” shutdown PR campaign
• [32:05–35:02] — Dissecting GOP backlash to Tucker/Fuentes: causes and consequences
• [39:58] — Tara calls in, explaining personal reasons for rejecting GOP extremism
• [44:21] — Tara’s “Clinton Democrat to Trump” story
• [48:56] — Dan on the national impact of a Mandami win
• [54:17] — Dan on why presidents get blamed for shutdowns
• [57:42] — Beth’s story about Scott Adams and Trump’s acts of kindness

Notable Quotes

• Mark Halperin [32:05]:
  “Why is this the moment…Ted Cruz and others are drawing lines? Is this because Tucker’s so close to Trump and Vance?”

• Sean Spicer [32:31]:
  “I kind of was trying to figure out…why was Tucker suddenly the straw that broke the camel’s back?”

• Dan Turrentine [33:17]:
  “Young Republicans aren’t kosher—no pun intended—with being in lockstep with Israel…the snowball could get going here as in the Democratic Party.”

• Trump (on Mandami as mayor) [16:38]:
  “If it’s going to be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I’m going to pick that bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you.”

• Sean Spicer [25:20]:
  “The PR campaign by Republicans has been pathetic…the Senate should go down in textbooks as the worst PR effort ever.”

• Dan Turrentine [27:48]:
  “Democrats feel that the Trump fatigue, the frustration with Trump among independents, is taking hold…”

• Sean Spicer [41:45]:
  “I don’t want anti-semites, racists, people who support violence, in my tent…But I’m a believer in free speech: expose them so we know who they are.”

• Tara (caller from Georgia) [39:58]:
  “I don’t think we should have a big tent party that includes people like Nick Fuentes…I canceled my Tucker subscription.”

• Dan Turrentine [58:45]:
  “I wasn’t saying Trump is heartless, just tone deaf on inflation as a political problem.”

Conclusion

This episode provides a lively, sometimes raw look at a transformative political moment: rifts inside both parties over extremist rhetoric, debates over party identity, and the relentless lens on 2025’s election cycle. Through candid panelist exchanges, listener calls, and pithy quotes from political players, 2WAY Morning Meeting lays out the day’s key controversies—and the stakes for the coming days.