Schumer and Democrats Under Pressure Over Shutdown as Trump Warns of Steep Cuts, Mass Firings

Summary

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2WAY Morning Meeting

Episode: Schumer and Democrats Under Pressure Over Shutdown as Trump Warns of Steep Cuts, Mass Firings
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Mark Halperin (A), with Sean Spicer (C), Dan Turrentine (B), and guests
Main Guest: Rep. Mike Lawler (E), (R-NY)
Podcast Theme:
A deep-dive into the government shutdown standoff, with a focus on the pressure on Democratic leadership, Republican messaging, and how the shutdown battle is being shaped by Medicaid, health care politics, and ongoing partisan divides.

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EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode centers around the high-stakes government shutdown, exploring the growing pressure on Senator Chuck Schumer and Democrats, dissecting Republican strategies, and examining how health care, specifically Medicaid, is being leveraged in political messaging. The show features boots-on-the-ground commentary from Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), real-time annotation of a negative campaign ad, and spirited debate among top political strategists Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, and Dan Turrentine. Listener questions and reflections on larger political trends wrap the episode, making for a rich, incisive take on the current news cycle.

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KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. The State of the Shutdown | [05:35]-[08:30]

• Congressional Deadlock: Halperin and the team lay out the expectation that the shutdown will likely continue through the weekend, with little hope for resolution until next week. Votes in the Senate are expected to fail along partisan lines.
  • "Everybody's expecting them to take the weekend off, no votes, and to come back Monday and see where things stand." (A) [05:00]
• Pressure Points:
  • Senate Democrats are not appearing on Sunday shows, signaling discomfort.
  • The looming threat of funding shortages for WIC and potential layoffs intensifies urgency.

2. Rep. Mike Lawler Interview: The Republican Perspective & Ad Rebuttal | [05:33]-[17:51]

• Shutdown Blame Game:
  • Lawler frames the shutdown as the "Schumer shutdown," blaming Democratic Senate inaction and internal divisions.
    • "It's entirely dependent on Chuck Schumer. This is the Schumer shutdown. It was entirely avoidable. ... he's allowed this to happen." (E) [07:40]
  • Predicts government will reopen "by middle of next week." [17:39]
• Medicaid & Negative Ads:
  • Live annotation of a new negative ad against Lawler, with Lawler rebutting claims line-by-line.
    • "Anybody with autism or disability is not losing their Medicaid. ... I voted to keep the government open and funded." (E) [13:46]
  • Asserts Democrats expanded Medicaid to illegal immigrants, claims are "absolutely ludicrous and laughable on its face." [12:57]
• Constituent Sentiment:
  • Most constituents are "disgusted by the whole episode," not particularly angry but want it over. [14:07]
• Infrastructure Cuts & Party Unity:
  • Lawler opposes proposed cuts to NY infrastructure; confirms GOP conference is "very unified" and will not budge for the Freedom Caucus or Democrats. [15:02-15:45]
  • Opines on Sen. Kyrsten Gillibrand's potential flexibility: "in a little bit of a predicament" due to NY's shifting political landscape. [16:13]

Notable Moment:
Live, real-time debunking of a negative ad:
“Never seen this, a Congressman rebutting a negative ad in real time. Here we go. Roll it.” (A) [10:24] “I voted to keep the government open.” (E) [13:46]

3. Health Care Politics: Democrats on Offense | [20:03]-[24:20]

• Democratic Messaging (Hakeem Jeffries Clip):
  • Democrats frame the shutdown as "an unprecedented Republican assault on healthcare," citing largest cuts to Medicaid and impending Medicare cuts.
  • “Largest cut to Medicaid in American history, triggering a possible $536 billion cut to Medicare ... because of what Republicans did in their one big ugly bill.” (F) [21:00]
• Strategic Landscape:
  • Democrats believe Republicans are deeply vulnerable on health care, aiming to portray them as endangering coverage for millions.
  • Both parties are defensive—Democrats seeking to protect ACA gains, Republicans lacking a unified alternative:
    • “There isn’t [a Republican health care plan]. I think in general, principally we’d like more market-driven forces. … There’s no consensus.” (C) [23:38-24:20]

4. Congressional Inaction & Public Perception | [25:30]-[27:29]

• Frustration Over Congressional Inaction:
  • Outrage at legislators leaving for the weekend while critical workers go unpaid:
    • “Members of the United States Congress ... are by law being paid, do your damn job. … The idea that Senate Republicans are going home is disgusting.” (C) [25:42]
  • Constituents are not yet pressuring their lawmakers to end the shutdown, but interest groups are "lighting up the phone"—battle lines drawn.
  • “No Democrat feels pressure other than we know we will start to feel pressure soon.” (B) [27:05]

5. War Powers & Cabinet Drama (Rapid Fire Q&A) | [28:18]-[30:27]

• Presidential War Powers:
  • Consensus is that Congress will NOT reassert itself, even with the President's aggressive posture:
    • “Will this mark any sort of change in Congress’s decades-long failure to stand up for its war powers? ... No effing way.” (A) [28:18-29:00]
• Peggy Noonan's Hegseth Critique:
  • Lively debate on whether Pete Hegseth will remain Secretary of Defense (aka “Secretary of War”)—split predictions, general skepticism about his longevity.

6. Winners, Losers, and What to Watch | [30:48]-[38:38]

• Winners of the Week

  • Dan: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (“a serious force going forward.”) [30:48]
  • Sean: Pope Francis (for calling the faithful to prayer). [31:26]
  • Mark: Tie – Taylor Swift fans & VP J.D. Vance for shutdown messaging. [31:52]

• Losers of the Week

  • Dan: Pete Hegseth ("history is going to be scathing"). [32:27]
  • Sean: FDA & Netflix’s “woke” rebranding ("not all of Hollywood got the message"). [33:29]
  • Mark: Schumer & Jeffries, noting never before has internal party disappointment been so high. [33:48]

• What to Watch This Weekend

  • Senate Democrats’ reaction to pressure
  • The shutdown’s effect on public services and the possibility of imminent resolution
  • Key sporting events and media appearances

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LISTENER INTERACTION & BROADER THEMES

Authenticity in Politics & Voter Frustration | [38:50]-[46:40]

• Voters’ Calls for Honesty:
  Listeners Melinda and Karen speak for the “silent majority” yearning for politicians to tell the truth and acknowledge the enormity of the nation’s problems.
  • "Why don't politicians believe that we can hear the truth...that we are in for the fight because we were going the wrong direction?" (H) [41:08]
• Pushback Against Cancel Culture:
  Panelists validate that more Americans feel able to speak openly in today’s environment, noting a “culture and society shift that has allowed people on the right to openly express themselves.” (C) [43:46]

Reflections on Political Identity, Cancel Culture, and 'The Shameless' Right | [47:10]-[52:16]

• Rise of 'Shameless' Political Figures:
  • Alex ties the Trump phenomenon to Caldwell's Age of Entitlement—the idea that large swathes of the right, long shamed by cultural elites, are now becoming “shameless” and assertive.
    • "Is it we are finding shameless characters to lead us out of an era that 50% of the country felt shamed for for 60 years?" (D) [49:21]
  • Dan observes that the left has not adapted to having lost cultural hegemony, while the right has responded creatively and energetically.

Turning Point USA and Faith in Politics | [53:17]-[54:53]

• Younger Conservative Voices:
  • A listener highlights a recent episode featuring Turning Point USA students, commending their faith-driven optimism and sense of purpose.
  • "Charlie [Kirk] went in and challenged that narrative and really brought faith back to the center of this country." (E) [54:02-54:53]

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TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

| Time | Segment / Quote | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:35 | Shutdown standoff: expectation of little progress | | 07:40 | Lawler: "This is the Schumer shutdown..." | | 10:24 | Live negative ad rebuttal by Rep. Lawler | | 13:46 | “I voted to keep the government open and funded.” – Lawler | | 21:00 | Jeffries: "Largest cut to Medicaid in American history..." | | 23:38 | “There isn’t [a GOP health care plan]... there’s no consensus.”– Spicer | | 25:42 | "Members of Congress... do your damn job." – Spicer | | 28:18 | "Will Congress finally reclaim war powers? ... No effing way." | | 30:48 | Winners and Losers of the week | | 41:08 | "Why don't politicians believe that we can hear the truth..." – Melinda | | 49:21 | "Is it we are finding shameless characters to lead us..." – Alex| | 54:02 | "Charlie [Kirk] brought faith back to the center..." – Theo Gray Bell |

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MEMORABLE QUOTES

• On Blame for the Shutdown:
  “It's entirely dependent on Chuck Schumer. This is the Schumer shutdown. It was entirely avoidable.” – Rep. Mike Lawler [07:40]

• On Medicaid Claims:
  "Anybody with autism or disability is not losing their Medicaid. ... I voted to keep the government open and funded." – Rep. Lawler [13:46]

• On Congressional Accountability:
  "Members of the United States Congress… are by law being paid, do your damn job." – Sean Spicer [25:42]

• On Political Authenticity:
  “Don’t try to tie themselves in knots.” – Sean Spicer [41:58]

• On Dem Health Care Strategy:
  "Right now, it's defensive. It is protect the gains the party feels they made in the last 15 years." – Dan Turrentine [22:13]

• On Right-Wing Political Identity:
  “We are finding shameless characters to lead us out of an era that 50% of the country felt shamed for for 60 years.” – Alex [49:21]

• On War Powers:
  "Will this mark any sort of change in Congress’s decades-long failure to stand up for its war powers? … No effing way." – Mark Halperin [28:18]

• On the Next GOP Wave:
  “I feel like we're going to the World Series ideologically.” – Sean Spicer [49:23]

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TONE

• The episode is peppered with humor, inside baseball (figuratively and literally), and sharp but collegial debate.
• Mark Halperin maintains a lively, irreverent moderator's tone, efficiently moving between news analysis, listener engagement, and banter.
• Rep. Lawler delivers talking points with clarity, showing both policy command and a willingness to push back against attacks.
• The recurring motif is frustration—both with dysfunction in Washington and with political parties that seem unable to deliver either clear solutions or candid communication.
• Engaged listeners elevate the conversation, pressing for authenticity, truthfulness, and ideological courage from politicians.

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EPISODE STRUCTURE

1. Opening News & Banter – Casual introduction, wardrobe humor, and news rundown.
2. Guest Segment: Rep. Mike Lawler – Shutdown, ad rebuttal, unity, and negatives
3. Health Care Roundtable: Clips, Democratic/Republican policy discussion
4. Quick Hits: Winners, losers, and what to watch
5. Listener Q&A: Authenticity, political culture, faith, and generational shifts
6. Wrap-Up: Upcoming events, plugs, and sign-off

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CONCLUSION

This episode of 2WAY Morning Meeting offers an in-depth, fast-paced look at the shutdown drama, with sharp partisan analysis, candid lawmaker interaction, and philosophical musings on America's political future. It delivers insightful, sometimes biting exchanges and valuable context for both the news of the day and the larger trends shaping American governance.

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign. Everybody, welcome to the morning meeting on the day of the release of My Life as a Showgirl. That's in quotes. It's not actually my life as a showgirl. It's Taylor's life. And we'll be devoting most of now. We're going to talk about the shutdown. Congressman Mike Lawler of New York, a fabulous political analyst, will join us and we'll pepper him with questions.

[B]

And he's not a swifty analyst.

[A]

We didn't tell him this, but there's a new negative ad running in his district against him. And we're going to give the Congressman a chance to annotate it with what we call Political Science Mystery Theater. So stay tuned for that in just a moment. Not much else going on except for the shutdown. But we'll talk a little bit about the President's deciding that once again, Congress is not a co equal branch. And he can declare whatever war he wants without hesitation. Or co equal branch. Checking. What do you call that? Ballot separation of powers. Pete Hegseth. Peggy Noonan has written a seminal column about the Secretary of War. We'll talk about that. And then, of course, it's Friday. And this show is nothing if not a stickler for tradition. So we'll have our winners, losers of the week and what to look for this weekend. And Dan, what I can't help but look at now is that beautiful quarter zip that you're wearing. Tell folks about it.

[B]

Oh, it is bottle green. Very, very in for fall here with foliage starting and super comfortable. Had it on all morning. It's cool up here in New York.

[A]

What does it say on the sleeve, Dan?

[B]

It says no smack in the chat. Yeah, that goes for our house, the show, anywhere.

[A]

Mine says conversations like another. Sean, do you feel bad for our community that they can't own stuff like this? You know, they watch us wear it and they're like, man, that's so nice. I'd love to be part of the two Way family and get that stuff. Do you feel bad for them?

[C]

I don't, Mark, because I've got great news. Everybody can be part of the Fairway family. Today is Fairway Friday, Mark. That means if you want to join us by wearing one of these beautiful polos quarter zips or. Or so many of the fine products available at Fairway and Green. All you need to do is go to 2way TV, 2way TV Fairway, and enter the promo code 2way20. And Mark, guess what? That gives you 20% off all items on the Fairway and green site. That means two way, the morning meeting or any of the other exceptional products. And as we hit fall and head towards those holidays and nothing says I love you like a fairway and green product.

[D]

Limu Emu.

[A]

And Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual.

[E]

Fascinating.

[A]

It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[C]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[A]

Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com. liberty Liberty, Liberty. Liberty Savings. Very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company affiliates excludes Massachusetts. All right, if you missed two way tonight. Last night we tried to be forward looking here, but we had Mark Caputo and Rachel Badon. My dad made a cameo to explain how reconciliation, the history of the reconciliation process. And then because we have zero credibility with you, but the fellow members of the community do. Here's a guy who just came on last night sporting some fairway and green merch and here's what he says about the quality of the fairway and green two way morning meeting items. Yes, sir. I'm.

[E]

I really enjoyed this pullover, by the way.

[A]

Oh my goodness. Which one did you get? Oh, that's a.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

I love that one. And Mike, have you owned any fairway and green clothes before now?

[E]

I have not.

[A]

But I will just tell everybody how high quality it is.

[E]

It is extremely high quality. I'm a fan for life. I'm going to buy more.

[A]

Yeah, I'm all right. Don't believe us sitting there.

[C]

I know he works out, but he needs a new polo for goodness.

[A]

Go to. Go to fairway. Go to two way TV slash fairway. You'll see how to access the full list of products you can buy. All right. Congressman Lawler is here in just a moment. President's attending a swearing in ceremony for the U.S. ambassador to Sweden at 11:30. And that's it for now. Caroline Levitt briefs at 1.

[C]

Oh, wait, wait, wait. Come on. Who's the you?

[A]

I don't know. You tell me, Christine. Oh, yeah.

[C]

Former RNC committee woman from Pennsylvania, previously nominated to be ambassador to Malta.

[A]

Yeah, it's a big deal. It's a huge deal. Anyway, it's closed press.

[B]

Very different.

[A]

But we'll see. The President. The president stayed off camera a lot of the week. He's done a couple interviews, he's done a few photo ops, but has not been out every day. We'll see. House is out still. Mike Johnson and th hold a press conference at 11. Senate Democrats are having lunch and then they're going to vote again, they say. And that. And the House, the Republican version will be filibustered and there won't be 60 votes for the Democratic version. And then it's possible Thune and Schumer will talk and have a massive breakthrough, but no one's expecting that. Everybody's expecting them to take the weekend off, no votes, and to come back Monday and see where things stand.

[B]

And by the way, I notice on the tv, on the schedule for the Sunday shows, there are a lot of House Democrats. There is not a single Senate Democrat right now.

[A]

Yeah, I know. Said too. Thank you for mentioning that. But there are some pretty big Republicans. And here with us now, the.

[B]

Oh, it's almost a morning meeting. Sure.

[A]

One of the best, one of the best political analysts we know also happens to be a member of the U.S. house of Representatives. The gentleman from New York, Mr. Congressman Lawler. Mike Lawler. Welcome. Thank you for coming back.

[E]

Well, thanks for having me, Mark. I hope you and Sean enjoyed the Yankees Red Sox game last night. I did.

[A]

Not want. It's all the time we have. I know. Didn't enjoy it a bit. Although. Although the kid who struck out 12 Red Sox is from the Boston suburbs. So I consider that a moral victory.

[E]

He got smart and became a Yankee. Yeah.

[C]

Thanks for being with us.

[A]

It's good. I'm focused. Now I'm just rooting against the Yankees for this Congress.

[E]

You know, before, before I ever got into politics, I was a vendor at Yankee Stadium.

[A]

So seriously, did you sell the one thing over and over or different stuff?

[E]

It would change day to day, but because it was seniority based, I would, I would never get beer. So it was hot dogs, Cracker Jacks.

[B]

Did you go up and down?

[C]

What is the hierarchy?

[B]

What is the hierarchy?

[A]

Yeah, what is the hierarchy?

[E]

A lot of, you know, a lot of those guys have been there. 30, 40.

[A]

I know, but what if people don't beer? What do they want? Yeah, what do you want.

[E]

If you don't have beer? Probably hot dogs.

[A]

Yeah. Are people big tippers at Yankee Stadium? If you sell them a hot dog.

[E]

It was all based on the pri. It's all based on the pricing. So if the hot dog is $4.50, you generally get the 50 cents.

[A]

There's a guy, Dodger Stadium, who throws the peanuts with startling accuracy. Is that something other people do or is it just that one guy? You know what I'm talking about?

[E]

No, some, some people are, are pretty good at it. And was that it?

[A]

Was that in the Lawler arse, you passing it down the aisle?

[E]

There's a reason I'm in politics and not Short Stop for the.

[A]

Have you been at Dodger Stadium and seen that guy? You know what I'm talking about.

[E]

I've not been to Dodger Stadium, but I know who you're talking about.

[A]

This guy. I'm sure it's on YouTube. This guy's incredible. He will throw peanuts like, a whole section over and. And he also throws it with, like, a softness. So it's like it's not whacking you. It's like Nestle's right in your. Right in your hands, right in your.

[C]

Hand on the angle.

[A]

Congressman, we all have a lot of questions for you. I'll start. When's the shutdown ending?

[E]

It's entirely dependent on Chuck Schumer. This is the Schumer shutdown. It was entirely avoidable. And unfortunately, he's so petrified of AOC in his left flank that he has allowed this to happen. But look, I think by next week, this will come to an end. I suspect we'll be back on Monday. I suspect today's vote in the Senate. Maybe they'll pick up somebody, maybe not. Maybe they'll just keep the three that they had from the Democratic side voting with the Republicans. But I suspect this will head into next week, and at some point it's going to have to come to an end because you're going to run out of funding for wic. I think layoffs are going to start coming, and I think the pressure is going to mount on Schumer and the Democrats.

[A]

The Wall Street Journal says that there's some people in the White House who are feeling pressure on health care and on the shutdown generally. Do you have a sense that the White House feels any pressure or they're happy to let this go as long as. As long as it might.

[E]

Look, I think if you look at, you know, folks like me, I've already signed on to legislation to extend the ACA subsidy, which was put in place during COVID by a year. I'm open to a negotiation on that. I think many of my colleagues are. Senator Thune has said he is. So, you know, at the end of the day, open up the government. Let's get back to work, finalize fiscal year 26, approach, negotiate on the ACA subsidy. But some of the other things that they're demanding are just never going to happen. So to me, this is wasted time and effort. I think the White House, you know, has the upper hand here. And, you know, again, Democrats have been on the record for years about the need to keep the government open and funded, to not hold the American people hostage, to not pound your fist on the table and demand your way, and to pass clean crs. And so now they have entirely changed their position, and it's not going to go well. I have been very consistent in this, no matter the struggle from living without insurance, and I've supported them with Donald Trump as president, because shutting down the government is stupid. It doesn't do anything.

[A]

One more for me, then I'll turn you over to Dan and Sean. Probably Dan first, since Dan's a Democrat. Have you seen this new negative ad that ostensibly running in your district?

[E]

I did, yeah.

[A]

Is the lady in the ad an actress or an actual constituent of yours? Do you know?

[E]

I don't know.

[A]

You know, I mean, I always assume actor. I always assume actor, and I'm usually right. Or actress or actress. Actor sometimes is used generically for both. Usually.

[E]

Usually in these super PAC ads, they.

[A]

Tend to be actors. So here's what I want to do. It's 30 seconds. Play it. And we call it Mystery Political Science Theater. You just annotate it. Your audio will be up. Just say that's a lie. Whatever you want to say. Got it? And if you say. And if she says something true, you say, good point. Whatever. Okay, here we go. Congressman, you've never seen this, ladies and gentlemen. Never seen this. A Congressman rebutting a negative ad in real time. Here we go. Roll it.

[B]

We need to get him a telephone.

[C]

My son Gabriel is 35. He has autism and mental health challenges. Medicaid is my son's lifeline. Congressman Lawler promised us he wouldn't cut Medicaid. Then he voted for the cuts anyway so billionaires could get even more tax.

[B]

Breaks.

[C]

Even more expensive.

[A]

Expensive.

[C]

And he shut down the government instead of lowering costs. Call Mike Lawler. Tell him to stop raising health care costs and end the government shutdown.

[E]

So I voted. I voted to keep the government open. Along with nearly every member of the Republican conference, only one Democrat joined us, Jared Goldin of Maine. Every other Democrat voted to shut the government down nearly two weeks ago. In fact, actually, two weeks ago today, when we passed the CR through the House in terms of Medicaid, I was very clear from the start that I would not take away benefits from those who were eligible and that we would protect the program for the disabled, including those who have autism. That we would ensure that illegal immigrants are not getting Medicaid benefits in New York. Kathy Hochul came and testified before Congress over the summer. And I asked her point blank, did you expand Medicaid to allow illegal immigrants access to taxpayer funded health benefits? And she said yes. And what Democrats, what Democrats are saying when they're saying now that they're not trying to do that, number one, every single Democrat running for president in 2020 raised their hand and said that they support giving illegals health care benefits in the United States. Number two, we put a provision in the one big beautiful bill that would require citizenship verification and allow for lawful permanent residence as well. The Democrats in their CR that they put forth would reverse that. They would undo that. Number two, number three, you know, they're trying to hem and haw emergency Medicaid has been used in perpetuity to provide health benefits and coverage for illegals in the emergency rooms in California and New York. It is exponentially greater than the rest of the country because of what California and New York have done in terms of allowing access for illegal immigrants to Medicaid. So this whole notion that my Democratic colleagues have put forth that they're not doing that is absolutely ludicrous and laughable on its face. But the main thrust of the point that this ad says, number one, anybody with autism or disability is not losing their Medicaid. Number two, I was very clear about what I would support and why, and I did in the bill. And number three, I voted to keep the government open and funded.

[A]

It's not the first false negative ad run against Mike Lawler and he still has a seat. Dan.

[B]

Congressman, sometimes these shutdowns really resonate at home and sometimes they don't. Are you hearing from constituents or so far, are they not really feeling and paying much attention to this?

[E]

I think they're just disgusted by the whole episode. It's unnecessary. I think most people know that I voted to keep the government open and that I've always been consistent in that, regardless of who the president is, whether it's Biden or Trump during my time in office. So I haven't heard, you know, a lot about it in terms of, you know, the response or anger. I think most people are just waiting for the show to be over and for the government to get back open.

[A]

Sean, I have three things.

[C]

I'll just ask them all at once. To Dan's point, President Trump's talked about canceling that New York, New Jersey tunnel. Is that resonating at all? Two, there's thought that Kirsten Gillibrand may be one to fold do you sense that that's true or not? And then three, how unified do you think the conference is?

[E]

Great. Questions. I came out against the proposed cuts to Gateway and the Second Avenue Tunnel, as well as the Homeland Security grant cuts to New York. I've been working with the White House and OMB to reverse that.

[C]

Yeah, but I guess the question might be, do people. Yeah.

[B]

No, no.

[E]

But people are definitely aware of it, and people are raising it as concern. I've spoken to my locals, my sheriffs, my police departments. Obviously, a bunch of labor is concerned about the infrastructure cuts. So I've been fielding a lot of calls on that and working with the White House and the administration to push back on that. Is secondary.

[A]

Unified.

[E]

Conference is very unified. I don't see the conference moving at all. Nobody, you know, nobody's willing to negotiate with the Freedom Caucus when they do this, let alone the Democrats. So I don't see anybody budging on this. It's going to be a clean cr. And the other one, Sean, I just said there's.

[C]

There's some belief that Gillibrand may.

[E]

Oh, Gillibrand, sorry. Yes.

[C]

Does that have any resonance?

[E]

Look, I think Kiersten at times is. Is been a little bit more bipartisan than some of her colleagues and is willing to work to get things done. I'm not sure where she is on this, though. I mean, you know, she's the chair of the dscc, so she's got to kind of toe the party line in some respect. And if Schumer isn't there, I'm not sure that she's going to budge. So we'll see. I would hope Kirsten would. Would open up the government because this is really foolish and she's always supported clean CRS in the past, but we'll see. I. I think she's kind of in a. In a little bit of a predicament, too, given some of the changes in New York with Zoran Mandami and AOC and others.

[A]

Yeah. All right, before you go, Carson, Great team here. Found some video of you from your days at Yankee Stadium as a vendor. So here it is. This is Mike Lawler at Yankee Stadium. 201, please.

[B]

Oh, this is the guy from Dodger Stadium.

[E]

Yeah.

[C]

Behind the back. Yeah, that's legit.

[A]

I saw. I saw him throw.

[B]

Those are good seats, by the way.

[A]

Really? I saw him throw, like, really far. Congressman, thank you for joining. Please come back regularly and keep us posted on the show.

[E]

Yeah.

[C]

If you had to look into Crystal Ball.

[B]

What.

[C]

When is this over in your Mind.

[E]

I would say by middle of next week.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. I say deal. Tuesday consummated Wednesday.

[E]

Yep. Mark, I just want to end with one thing.

[A]

Yes, sir.

[E]

Yankees win. Yankees win.

[A]

Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We should thank you. Congressman. Great to see you. Come back. Right.

[B]

Those who don't know that would be Michael K. Yankees radio for many years.

[A]

Thank you, Congressman. Grateful to you. All right, reminder, if you want to get in on.

[C]

So good till then. So good till then.

[A]

If you want. Yes. You ruined the whole thing. Don't have him back. If you want to get in on the conversation, you're here on the two way platform. Please raise your hand if you're watching on X or YouTube. We're happy to have you here. We'd like you to show, as Congressman Lawler always does, peace, love and understanding towards all. Presumption of grace towards all. And Dan, what's our policy on smack in the chat?

[B]

Don't do it. No smack in the chat.

[A]

Oppose. We oppose smack in the chat. All right, we're gonna. I got a few more elements. We have a few more elements. Go ahead.

[C]

Are we going to move on before we. Just tell me before we move on to shutdown, I just want to make one point.

[A]

No, no. I got some shutdown elements to show the Congressman's appearance here. Scuttle the normal schedule. Got to remind everybody this program is sponsored by the good folks at Take Lean. Fad diets are out. What's in for some people are Those injectables, the GLP1 injectables. But trust me, that's not for everybody, to say the least. Oral supplement Lean, created by doctors is not an injectable. And it's something that will help you maintain healthy blood sugar, control your appetite and cravings, and burn fat by converting it to energy. You can get a discount. Now go to takelean.com, use the promo code mark for 20% off. This is going to allow you to control all those things in a way that will keep you from doing the last thing in the world you should do, which is weight cycling. Lose weight in a medically guided way, slowly, steadily, rather than gaining and losing weight with a fad diet. So again, try the products now. Take lean.com, use the promo code mark to get 20% off your entire order. All right, as I said, a few more things we want to show you. This is Hakeem Jeffries. I don't know what record he's trying to set, but I believe the most cable news hits in A in a five day period, I think he shattered the record. Here he is this morning on Morning Joe again, he's like taking Lemire's job. He's just on every day.

[F]

Our position is cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care. And that has to be done at this moment in time in the context of this unprecedented Republican assault on the health care of the American people. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history, triggering a possible $536 billion cut to Medicare at the end of this year if Congress doesn't act because of what Republicans did in their one big ugly bill. We know that hospitals and nursing homes and community based health clinics all across the country, including in rural America are closing down right now because of the Republican assault on the health care of everyday Americans. And, and they refuse to extend the Affordable Care act tax credits, which is going to result in more than 20 million Americans receiving notices, many that have already gone out, indicating that their health care premiums, co pays and deductibles are about to skyrocket. And we already live in a high cost of living environment. America is too expensive. Donald Trump hasn't lowered costs on day one, which he promised. They're making life more expensive. That's why this has to be dealt with, as Dr. King once observed, with the fierce urgency of now.

[A]

So first of all, Dan, it was not Michael Cage. John Sterling. I know you know.

[B]

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

[A]

I know you know that. Okay. Health care. The Democrats pollsters tell them Republicans are vulnerable on health care. The president's pollster, Mr. Fabrizio tells the Republicans where our party's vulnerable on health care. That's why the Democrats are trying to make this fight about health care and it's why they think they have some leverage and to get a negotiation and it's why. What's her name? Kim Strassel's Wall Street Journal. Com, which I recommend if you haven't read it, is all about how the Republican Party, if they negotiate on this stuff, is, is, is basically validating once again the Affordable Care act and they need a policy on health care. So here's my question because again, nothing's going to happen today except another vote and then we go into next week. Dan, what is your party's position on health care? Not right now in general. What do you support? Do you support the current law? Do you support expansion, single payer? What is the Democratic Party position on federal health care policy?

[B]

Well, I think there's, there's two parts to that, which is right now they, it's defensive. It is protect the gains the party feels they made in the last 15 years. I think going into 2028, that is going to be a huge issue, which is, I think you will have people talking about nationalizing health care, I think. And we actually talked about this on the group chat yesterday and Amber Duke made this point. This is where the kind of really populous wing of the MAGA movement and the Democratic Party, potentially you can see a synergy which is if we're making all these investments in the working class and we are talking about people not going to college and becoming a plumber and electrician and all of these kind of skilled working class jobs, the absence of healthcare for a lot of those is a huge issue. And I think Trump knows this and it's why he's flirted with the idea of we need to own healthcare. But then of course, there's the actual details of it. So I think going forward, it's gonna be a big debate in our party. I suspect it may even be a little bit of a big debate in the Republican Party. But right now in the immediate, it's defensive.

[A]

Sean, that Kim Strassel piece, just extremely powerful and. But Joe, what's the name of the guy on Squawk Box? Joe Kernan. Joe Kernan was. Because he has good feel for this stuff. He was talking about it this morning. What is your party's position on health care? Is there one?

[C]

There isn't. I don't think there is a position on health care. I think in general, principally we'd like more market driven forces. But I don't, I mean, that's been the problem. That's beyond.

[A]

But, but, but you have unified control now.

[B]

I know we had unified 16 and.

[C]

We didn't do anything.

[B]

I think this is the. One of those issues that, and this is where Democrats can try to split. The Republican Party is the MAGA wing and the old Bush wing, like, that's the schism. Because to your point, Shawn, of like the free market, I don't think you guys believe in free markets at all anymore. Right. The Trump wing is not about that at all. So now you have a problem of the biggest issue for a lot of Americans is Trump's instinct is how can we help you?

[C]

Well, that's. I think this is the problem. Right. I mean, and again, we could do an entire show on this. Fundamentally, health care is so broken and wrong and misguided. I mean, like. And I think probably to your point, Dan, we all can agree. I mean, it is just. You can't see a primary care physician. What we cover, what we don't. It's employer driven. It's so horribly set up. Okay, so to your question mark, I mean, what I believe we should do with healthcare is probably, is not there is no consensus. And this is literally the problem we had when we came in, in the first Trump administration and goes, we need to undo Obamacare. And then we all looked at each other and said like, and then what? And there was no unified plan. There's no consistent thought of where we are as a party except to admit that we don't like the current system. It's too right. And so that's, that's the problem and I think that's what's going to be guileless right now is that we're going to say we're not going to support these ACA things. But, but we've got nothing to replace it with. There's not. I mean, so this is the fundamental problem right now and where we really need some leadership and some thought put into it.

[A]

All right, you're, both of you just whatever closing remarks you want to make on shutdown, then we'll cover just lickety split a couple more topics, winners and losers look for this weekend and then we'll get to everybody's questions. Sean.

[C]

So right now the plan is for the Senate to vote later this afternoon. Likely it'll, it'll fail again and then they're going home for the weekend. I will say this to every Senate Republican. TSA is working without pay. Border Patrol is working without pay. Active duty military is working without pay. And military reservists can't even work. They cannot drill under current law. Right. You members of the United States Congress, House and Senate are by law being paid, do your damn job. Stay and vote over and over. The idea that Senate Republicans are going home is disgusting. Stay, show leadership, vote.

[B]

Well, by the way, they're not all going home. There's 20 of them going to Sea Island, Georgia for an NRC retreat this weekend.

[C]

Let's hope I wasn't going to bring that up, Dan.

[B]

Let's hope some party we're not.

[A]

Let's hope some DNC tracker is working as a waiter at Sea island and has like a GoPro.

[B]

I mean, the lobbyists will be posting photos on Instagram and anything else you.

[A]

Want to say about the show?

[B]

I, I just, I, I actually think going home I'll be very. And that's why I asked Congressman Lawler, when I've talked to Democrats, including last night, some Some chief of staff. Nobody's hearing from home that like, end this right now.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

So very little.

[B]

What Democrats are hearing is the interest groups are lighting up the phone saying, don't cave, don't cave, don't cave. So I think if they go home and to Sean's point, if, like trash is starting to not be picked up, if the TSA lines start getting a little longer, then I think Democrats will feel the pressure and this could end in 48 hours. But as of now, no Democrat feels pressure other than we know we will start to feel pressure soon.

[A]

And there's some, there's some Senate Democrats who are saying the, the Trump vote show of cuts and threatened cuts is making them dig in. It's not making them back down. Sean, go ahead.

[C]

Yeah, I just, I mean, look, I think the White House in terms of optics is playing this beautiful. They, they've trolled the Democrats really well. They've made the point, they're putting out all sorts of stuff. They actually are working with interest groups across the aisle. There's a story out in Axios today about how they're working with the Teamsters and other groups. You got to give the White House a lot of credit for how they've messaged this. Now Senate Republicans need to do their job, though, and actually show up and stay talent because the idea of, to your point, whether it's tracker or just nothing happening is really sad and pathetic. I mean, I don't know who thinks this is a good idea, but fundraisers.

[A]

All right, two, Two yes, two yes. No questions for each of you. And then winners and losers, Wall Street Journal, New York Times reporting and others matching it that the President's basically saying we're at war with drug traffickers. Try to stop me. I don't need a declaration of war from Congress. Will yes or no? Will this event. Will this. Because some members of the Republican Party and Democratic Party are concerned about the justification the President's using for killing civilians, using the military. Will this mark any sort of change in Congress's decades long failure to stand up for its war powers? Making responsibility? Will this. Will this because change or no? Dan, yes or no?

[B]

No, Sean, no.

[A]

The correct answer was no effing way. No effing way. All right, lastly, Peggy Noonan. Com on. Pete Hegseth follows some other reporting and writing, including my own, about just how he's viewed. Headline from the Wall Street Journal. Peggy's calm the embarrassing Pete Hegset. The Pentagon needs sober, judicious leadership, not a drama queen who makes things Jarring and fevered. Will Pete Hegseth be Secretary of Defense on Christmas Day? Sorry? Secretary of War on Christmas Day? Sean.

[C]

Whatever the opposite of what you just said. Yes. A hundred percent effing way.

[A]

100. Yes. Dan.

[B]

By the end of the calendar year. No, I think he'll leave sometime between Christmas and New Year's, potentially.

[A]

Waba, waba. If I had said New Year's, you would say gone. But you think.

[B]

I mean, I, I just think they're not, they're not going to humiliate him. So I think when he leaves, it's going to be kind of trying to hope the tree, you know, doesn't. People don't hear it too much. Yeah, I mean, he's a joke. I mean, it's an embarrassment at this point.

[C]

I don't think embarrassingly appreciate that the President, from everything I know, really appreciates Pete's leadership.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So the idea of when you say they. I don't know who they are because the only one that can. Would be able to fire him would be the President who's.

[B]

He's not going to fire him. I think they'll, they'll show. It'll be coordinated and it won't look like he was fired.

[A]

Okay. Is the inspector general report still pending on the signal thing?

[B]

Are there. Are there. Inspector general, I think fired them all. I'm serious.

[A]

They hired new ones. All right, here we go. Hands up. Winners, losers, what to look for. And then your questions, please. If you've never raised your hand, today would be a good day. And if you want to hear more about Dan's wardrobe, you're welcome to ask about that. Dan, Winner of the week.

[B]

My winner is aoc. I. I think that video just reminded people that she's a great communicator. She's having fun doing it. She gets the modern world. And that guy next to her, Bernie Sanders, is still the most popular Democrat in the party. She's a serious force going forward.

[A]

Sean, winner of the week.

[C]

I would just say, Dan, I will give you. I don't agree with everything for a lot of politicians, but I will agree with you. I think she's had probably a great week. And a lot of it probably has to do with the lack of leadership from the other folks, but I will admit, so great.

[A]

She's your winner too. Or.

[E]

No, no, no.

[C]

I know we had some comments about the Pope earlier this week, so I will give him some credit. He said that he's going to ask all of us to pray the rosary every day in October. I think that's something that, especially in light of Charlie, that we can all find some way to re examine our faith and our relationship with God. So I, I will join Pope Francis in this call to pray the rosary every day in October.

[A]

All right, My winner of the week. It's actually a scientific tie, an exact tie. Taylor Swift fans and Vice President J.D. vance. His role in messaging on the shutdown once again shows it is going to be very difficult. Despite others whose opinions I respect saying there'll be a contested fight for the nomination, I believe that he is going to be endorsed by Donald Trump and win the nomination by consensus. And this week showed both how firm his hold is on the whole thing and why. Because he's, he's. He's stepping into the exact role that the party wants him to play. Dan, Loser of the week.

[B]

Well, we just talked about it. My, My loser of the week is Pete Hegseth. Whether or not he remains in. And Donald Trump loves him, I think history is going to be scathing.

[A]

Sean.

[B]

All right.

[C]

I obviously don't share that there's stiff competition this week. The FDA had some really horrible actions in the last couple days. So I will say that we had some stiff competition between that Democrat social media. But this was a tie for me, Mark, and I've never done a tie before. But I think Maxwell House's rebranding, and it's not a joke. They're calling themselves Maxwell Apartment. I mean, honest to God, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard because more people are living in apartments now, so they're rebranding themselves. But. But that also was, Was. Was also a tie with, with my.

[A]

You. You fell for that hoax?

[C]

Yeah, I mean, I, I just can't believe it. It's silly. It's the.

[A]

But the other.

[B]

Wait, wait, is it really. Or is that a joke?

[C]

But it's. It's dumb.

[B]

Okay, got it.

[C]

But I mean, that's my point. Is the marketing joke. But my next one is real, which is Netflix. I mean, these guys. I, I cannot believe that Netflix doubled down on Woke. And they're paying the price for it in their, in their stock price this. This week. It just shows that not all of Hollywood got the message.

[A]

Yeah, mine is Schumer and Jeffries. Never in my career have I seen two leaders so dismissed not just by the media, which normally loves Democrats, but by. Privately by Democratic members of the House and Senate. They're really just. People just are just rolling their eyes and throwing their hands up and, and saying, you know there's nothing we can do. We're not going to depose them now. But they are not leading us in the view of Democrats. They're not leading through this, through this confrontation. I've never, I've never seen two leaders. The, the senior Democrats in both chambers are Republicans. I've never seen attitude like this.

[B]

Mark, I think one of the interesting things is going to be whether the conversation really does start in earnest after this about when Schumer is going to be gone. And I think the question of to your, this was always the issue with Pelosi, if not her, then who?

[A]

Right.

[B]

But there, I mean there are people around and I am going to be very curious about Jeffrey's leadership team because you look around there and do they keep hugging him and saying we're all one team or does caucus start to kind of filter apart?

[A]

Sorry to interrupt. Jump over to FOX News please.

[C]

Mike Johnson for illegals in the Democratic cr they said no.

[A]

What do you say?

[G]

Well, welcome to day three of the Democrat shutdown. You've got the Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats have now voted three times to reject the clean, simple continuing resolution that we passed out of the House two weeks ago to keep the government operating for the people, real pain for real Americans. And they're claiming breathlessly, Dana, that they're not trying to restore free taxpayer funded benefits and health care to illegal aliens. And it's simply not true. I would direct everybody right now go to speaker.gov okay, that's my official website. We put right there on the first page the evidence. I have the receipts. Okay. As Bill said earlier, Chuck Schumer filed a counter proposal, a counter continuing resolution when they voted ours down. And what is in that? If you go there on the, on the page, you'll see, go to page 57. It's buried in their document. But it says in that section 2141 right there, Chuck Schumer filed it. It says they want to repeal the health provisions of the one big beautiful bill bill, the working families tax cut that we Republicans passed earlier this year and that President Trump signed a lot on July 4th. Now why is that so important? Because, Dana, that's where you'll find they want to add back in almost $200 billion of taxpayer funds to give free stuff to illegal aliens. 100% in writing. Not a Republican talking point. It's Chuck Schumer's own document.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So you've got that and you've got.

[E]

A few moderate Democrats in the Senate who may crack.

[A]

We'll see when this vote goes down and they may stay strong.

[E]

Jean Shaheen is one of them, and.

[A]

She came on FOX yesterday and was.

[E]

Talking about, well, there are a lot.

[A]

Of people in districts where President Trump.

[E]

Won who could be in peril if.

[A]

These health care subsidies lapse.

[E]

Here's what you said. Here's your argument right now.

[D]

Health insurance companies right now this month.

[C]

Are setting those rates.

[D]

So we need to get together, we.

[C]

Need to address this. This is an issue that affects both Democrats and Republicans.

[D]

You know, over 70% of people who are getting those health insurance subsidies are.

[C]

In states that President Trump won, 56% of them are in Republican districts.

[A]

That would seem to be pretty overwhelming. And I'm sure you're aware of this, and I imagine a lot of those.

[E]

Folks live in Louisiana.

[A]

What would you say?

[G]

Yeah, Bill, we're all aware of this. It's a total red herring. The Democrats have grasped onto a December policy issue. What she's referring to there doesn't expire until December 31st. We have three months in Congress to work through that issue. It has nothing to do with this September stopgap funding measure.

[A]

Okay.

[G]

We dump out of this open for the.

[A]

Well, we'll monitor what he says. Dan, what are you looking for this weekend?

[B]

I am looking at Senate Democrats to see, but we just talked about this a minute ago, whether or not they start to feel a little bit of pressure because like you, Mark, I think Tuesday of next week is when I expect this to start moving.

[G]

They want to kill that.

[A]

Okay, Sean, I'm looking for Navy to.

[C]

Go 4, 5 0. They're playing Air Force tomorrow at noon. And I've also got an exclusive interview with Kamala Harris tomorrow on her book that's dropping midday on YouTube. So I know that's going to be a shocker.

[B]

But by the way, the report of Harris talking to Schumer about the shutdown, I mean, what.

[A]

Yeah, I am. I'll be looking to see which of you are talented enough to watch baseball and listen to the Taylor Swift album at the same time.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[A]

It requires iPad. IPod coordination. Melinda.

[B]

Multiple screens.

[A]

Yes, Multiple screens. Melinda, welcome in. Thank you for being part of Two Way Tell folks where you are and what's on your mind. For Sean and David.

[H]

Longboat Key, Florida.

[A]

Nice place.

[H]

It's a nice place to live. I'm very lucky and I consider myself an independent. I voted twice for Obama and three times for Trump. And I like to call myself an independent because otherwise people won't talk to you on either side of the equation.

[A]

Right.

[H]

So I have this idea about Trump's. So I'm doing a kind of a lane change of what we've been talking about on Trump's comic side, that this whole business with the sombrero and the mustache is really a takeoff on when they were calling him taco. And he's been simmering that taco thing for, you know, months now. And this is his way of getting back. Like, now who's. Now you calling me chicken? Now who's playing chicken with them? So I just like that. That's kind of a funny thing that I think is going on with him. I did write one of the questions for your poll that you did a number of months ago. Wonder when you're going to be doing another poll. It was kind of hard. I did that one about how many of your friends vote differently than you do.

[A]

Yeah, that was a good. Thank you for that.

[H]

And I kind of like to see some polls again, because I found those really interesting, except they got so detailed, it was hard to really decipher where the answers were and where they came from. So if they could make it a little more simple, that would be great.

[A]

All right, well, we'll tell our friend David Brow we want another poll, and we want it simpler. And Melinda says so.

[H]

And then at the end is, earlier this week, you had a gal on. I think her name was Karen, and she was talking about how there are those of us that are willing to go down some bumpy roads to get the country back on track. And I think that this plays to the middle, and it plays to the right and to the left, that we're willing to do some things. And why don't politicians believe that we can hear the truth, that we know that this ship, to get it righted is not going to take 60 seconds, 60 minutes, like an episodic TV show. How do we let y' all know that we are in for the fight because we were going the wrong direction, and we want to see it turn around.

[A]

Great question, Melinda. Really good, Sean.

[C]

I think the funniest part about this is when people ask me about how do I be more like Donald Trump? I'm like, what? Donald Trump is just. Just raw and authentic, and he's. I mean, he is who he is. And then everyone goes, that's great. So, like, it's almost like they can't get the message through. And this is. I. I think this is what I'm getting out of your question, which is like, why can't they just be themselves and Every time you talk to one of these guys, it feels like there's a switch that goes on. And it's just like, you know, the CR section 427 will mandate that OMB reverts back to. And you're like, okay, Like, I agree with you. I think so many of these guys could do themselves just. Just a ton of benefit if they actually spoke a little bit more real and clear and. And not tried to tie themselves in knots.

[A]

We happen to have Karen right here. Karen. Karen, have you gotten a lot of feedback from your appearance?

[B]

How's your campaign?

[D]

Well, it's funny because I kind of, like, for a normal person, I went viral a little bit.

[A]

Yeah, you did.

[D]

Yeah, it was kind of. My husband was at work, and I got a text like, what the hell? You're on my Twitter feed. So that was pretty fun. I would say the feedback I got was exactly what Melinda is saying. I was talking to. I was showing my parents, who I've really never talked about it with, my in laws, and they were like, that's how I feel. Why doesn't anybody. You know, just like Melinda is saying kind of the. The same thing.

[H]

I think there are 70% of us in the middle that feel this way. And it's the end. Either. Both ends are so loud that the 70%, the silent majority, doesn't get heard.

[D]

Melinda, are you. Are you married with kids?

[H]

Married, no children. I have two dogs, though. Does that count?

[C]

I think one of the things that I have found over the last several years, and it's kind of through Covid and coming out, is that people didn't feel like they could speak out. Right. And one of the things I remember, there was a case in Northern Virginia of a woman who worked at Verizon, and privately, she was telling people certain things that she felt, and somebody started to call Verizon HR and say, this woman works for you. She's a threat to our community because she believes she's spreading conspiracy theories, and the woman had action taken against her regard, none of which had happened at her work, et cetera, et cetera. But the point is, is that for so long, people have felt like I can't say anything. And I think what's happened over the last 12 to 20 months is that there's been a feeling that I can say things. Finally, I can speak out.

[B]

And.

[C]

And there's a. There's an ability to feel like I'm not gonna lose stuff. And we talked about this months ago, but, you know, the idea of walking safely down a Street in D.C. with a MAGA hat was like a death sentence. And now they literally sell the MAGA hats at the vendors on the corner. It's so the, there's been an entire culture and society shift that has allowed people on the right to openly express themselves. That hasn't been the case for, for many years.

[A]

Karen, go ahead.

[B]

I was just going to say, I think this is always an issue of how long is the silent majority willing to give the leader time to make the change. I mean, this, this, every president, I agree with you that the two wings scream, well, January 21st, you didn't fix everything. So that's it. You're full of it. Like, you should be gone. And most Americans say, no, no, no, no. I'll, I'll, I'll give you a period of time. The issue is once there's a break, it's really hard to regain it. And so I think, you know, for Joe Biden, it was, I think the withdrawal from Afghanistan started this idea of you're incompetent and you don't really, you know, you had run on experience, etc. And it was so vivid and jarring to so many people that if you look at his numbers, they just never recovered. Like they went down and certain groups lapped and then you had inflation. So to your point, I think most Americans are willing to give Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt. Most Americans are rooting for him to be successful because that means we are successful as a country. You, as a citizen will be better for it. The question is just at what point? Right. Like the talk about bailing out farmers. Farmers are getting frustrated, really frustrated in parts of this country, and they know it. So they're like, how can we get them $15 billion to try to satisfy them?

[A]

Yeah, Karen, that's the challenge. Karen, you know that one of the greatest political consultants alive today, Dave Carney, lives in New Hampshire. I don't know if you know that or not, but I think we should all get together with Dave. And I'm shifting my focus to having you run for Senate to running for governor. Two year term. It's a two year term.

[D]

That's better. I can stay in New Hampshire.

[A]

Exactly, exactly. You got to spend some time in Concord. But whatever, it's more viable.

[D]

I'm right near Concord.

[A]

Melinda, just a quick survey. Would you be willing to donate to a super PAC to help Karen get elected governor?

[H]

Absolutely.

[A]

And would you come up and volunteer door knock for her?

[H]

Well, that might be a stretch.

[A]

Okay. I don't know if I would doorknock.

[D]

So don't worry.

[H]

My heart would be with her.

[B]

That's a long way.

[A]

Karen, are there flights from the Manchester airport to Florida? I think there are.

[B]

You have to be.

[A]

Yeah. Melinda, it's very easy. Just bring up. Bring a book, read on the plane. Ladies, love, love having you both on. We'll be meeting with Dave Carney soon, and we just got to get the right slogan and get moving. Karen. But I'm very bullish on this. It's two years. It'll be over in a blanket if you like it.

[D]

When I watched the episode, I didn't know you were trying to get back in touch with me, like during the thing about that email.

[A]

Yeah, that's all right. That happens. It happens. Thank you both. Come back regularly. Have a good weekend. Taylor Swift album, if you haven't listened to it yet, I recommend, by the.

[B]

Way, what do you guys make of Corey Lewandowski flirting with it? I assume that's just a complete sound.

[A]

Play, but it's not real. Not real. All right, here's Alex, and we've talked to Alex in a while, and Alex may want to run for something, too. Alex, what do you want to run for?

[D]

I actually already ran a Board of Ed campaign back in 2021, so I did my.

[A]

How'd that go?

[B]

You're in Greenwich. Is that where you are?

[D]

I'm in New Canaan. I'm in New Canaan.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's awesome.

[D]

Yeah, actually, it's very different.

[B]

I'm actually from Wilton. Right in between the two, so.

[D]

Okay. Yeah, we're more similar to Wilton, but Yeah. So thank you for calling on me. I want to thank you for the Charlie Kirk episode yesterday. When my son was diagnosed with T1D, Charlie really helped me through that, so I'm grateful to him for helping me get back to my faith. And then when he was assassinated, I decided that I was going to read every book on his books to Read list. And I just finished Age of Entitlement. And at the end of the book, it said, in a culture that has shamed people for 60 years, the only way out of that is to find someone who will be shameless. And it was the lead up to Trump 2020, 2015 election. And in 2015, Trump was the shameless person to lead us out of what had felt like 60 years of shame. And then in 2020 through 2022, it wasn't just 2020, 2020 through 2022, a lot of us. And I wrote a book about it. 50% of us decided we were done, too, and we were going to be starting starting to be shameless, too. And I guess my question to you is, is the disconnect here? Like, I love what Pete Hickstaff said the other day, and I'm loving the memes. And I think the reason a lot of people say the left can't meme is that they were never shamed. The left wasn't the party that got shamed. It wasn't the people that got shamed. And so if you're not shameless, it's hard for you to kind of take on that character of the shameless, like the Trump trolling. And so my question is this actually what's happening? Is it we are finding shameless characters to lead us out of an era that 50% of the country felt shamed for for 60 years?

[A]

Yep. Great, great question, Sean.

[C]

First actually, I think the way you framed it was fantastic. It's sort of if you haven't felt it, if you don't know what it's like. And again, as I've said before, this isn't something that started yesterday. For me, it goes back to 1993, when my college speaker was canceled because they didn't like a view that he had. I mean, this has been going on for decades. And so to suddenly see us back on top and willing to fight back and doing it well and funny and all this, it's like a team that you never thought would have a winning season suddenly being like, we're going to the World Series again. This is the wrong metaphor today of all days, but it's like, I feel like we're going to the World Series ideologically. And so you're right. Anyway, by the way, what's the makeup of the New Canaan? Is, is, is what is that, Republican or nonpartisan?

[D]

It's, it's kind of funny. It's been a town run by Republicans for 60 years.

[C]

That's what I would, I would have guessed. It's, it's a very.

[D]

I will say that I am part of the new right, and New Canaan is a stronghold of the old right. And so and there's major infighting there. And then also after Covid, every liberal that hated the policies they voted for in New York moved to Connecticut towns and are now turning us more purple than I'd like. So.

[A]

Dan, question or comment?

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I think it's interesting because, you know, in the 70s with the Nixon silent majority, in the 80s with Ronald Reagan, even in the mid 2000s with George Bush, after 9 11, like it was cool to be a Republican. Like it was not, it was not the cancel culture. Like at least that's, you know, my, my perception of big parts of this country.

[D]

If you haven't read this book, it actually explains, it actually explains how the cultural power never actually manifested in those administrations on a cultural level like Hollywood and college campus. And it's a fascinating.

[C]

What's the book's name again?

[D]

The Age of Entitlement by Christopher Caldwell.

[B]

Yeah, I think what is true though is to your point, when you feel, can, when one feels canceled and feels boxed in, you get very creative and you're very energetic and one figures out a new way to do something to compete, to be heard, to get into the marketplace. I think Republicans have done that incredibly well. We've been fat and lazy because we've had these institutions like the New York Times and traditional media that was so on our side. And Mark has talked about this a lot. The party still can't square the fact that those institutions, we don't control them as much anymore and they're not as effective anymore. So what is the next iteration? And we will get desperate ourselves in the long run.

[A]

Alex, thank you for listening to nextup and for, and for saying what you did. I'd love for you to explain to people what this episode consists of and what you found compelling about it.

[D]

And the Charlie Kirk one.

[A]

Yeah, the one that just dropped yesterday.

[D]

For someone who's a mother of two young kids, I have been, I mean, I pull my hair out over the future that it looks like.

[A]

Just explain who was on.

[D]

Oh, sorry. It was the use of the Turning Point USA Community.

[A]

Three college students who are active in Turning Point.

[D]

That's right. And to hear them have a positive outlook for their lives, for their purpose, for a higher calling than themselves. I mean, the thing I struggle with a lot is seeing kids always be forced to turn inward. Me, me, me, me, me, me, me. And these kids really were looking outward and towards a higher, higher God, a higher meaning faith. I mean it was, it was really inspiring. And it, it, I just, I just loved it.

[A]

I appreciate that. It's an extended conversation with three college kids who, who, who are active in Turning Point. And as Alex said, they're just, they're lovely. You can totally disagree with their politics, with their point of view, that's fine. But if you want to see people who have taken a tragedy, an assassination of someone who really inspired them. Two of them had met Charlie and turned it into being forward looking and inspirational. It's inspirational if you believe what they believe. But it's educational. If you are a Democrat who doesn't care at all about Charlie Kirk, watch it, because you'll learn what's going on in the other half of America. Here's just a quick sound bite from one of the young folks on this is Theo Gray Bell goes to Kansas. Theo, what would you say to someone who said, what's the big deal? Just one guy?

[E]

Yeah, I think again, to piggyback off the faith thing. Like I said earlier, in the beginning, you know, faith had been pushed on the down low. The schools preached this whole First Amendment, separation of church and state, all this stuff. And Charlie went in and challenged that narrative and really brought faith back to the center of this country. That's what our country was built on. Regardless of what anyone says, our country was built and founded on the Christian faith. And we understood that our Constitution was fit for a moral society, but that immoral society was going to struggle with this Constitution. And that's what we've largely seen as an immoral society that struggles to love America in our Constitution. And Charlie really stood up for his faith and challenged that, but he did it for his country as well. So he brought those two things together. They're not separate.

[A]

I did the show for everybody. But I'm telling you, if you're not a believer in Charlie Kirk, if you're not someone who understands him, it's more for you because it'll give you an understanding of why he was so influential, from the president down to the grassroots. Alex, thank you for being on it and for.

[D]

And to be a shameless Republican. If Karen wants to buy my book, she will love it. So, Karen, this.

[A]

What's the drive time from your house to Manchester, New Hampshire? Alex? Like three hours?

[D]

Probably.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Oh, I don't know, four out. Yeah. Four hours. Yeah.

[A]

All right, you're gonna be in.

[C]

Is your book available on Amazon?

[D]

It is, yes. It's called she Didn't Start the Fire.

[A]

Yeah, by. By Alex Sullivan. Everybody buy that one too, Alex. But thank you, Alex. Thank you, Alex. Grateful to you. Thank you, Sean, what do you have on tonight?

[C]

I'll tell you what, Alex, by the way, is your. Do you. Can I ask you a personal question?

[A]

Hold on. Right, let her go. Yes. Oh, hold on, hold on. I'll bring her.

[C]

We gotta. I just. If we can. If we can. Mark. Alex, are you there?

[B]

She was.

[D]

Yes, I am.

[C]

There we go again. Without getting personal, is your husband large or medium?

[D]

He is six two and I am five two.

[C]

Okay. Do me a favor. DM me. It's fairway Friday. I'm sending him a fairway in green.

[D]

Oh, cool. Okay.

[C]

So you put that in the chat. I will send this to you. Thank you for sharing with us. This is my I felt fair way inspired today.

[D]

Thank you.

[A]

Thank you, Al.

[C]

Tonight we're going full MAHA. We're talking with Dr. Robert Malone. Should be a fascinating conversation about vaccines and other things that are going on in the Trump administration. And then tomorrow, as I said, my exclusive interview with Kamala Harris.

[A]

What's exclusive about it?

[C]

I don't. Everyone says that, so I just figured I could say okay.

[A]

All right. Dan, anything you want to share for the. For tonight or the weekend? No.

[B]

No.

[A]

All right, two o' clock Eastern time today. This is an event just for the two way community. Will not be on YouTube. David Bonson, the Bonson Group and I will be talking about the tariffs, the economy, and you're welcome to ask David questions about macroeconomics, but also about personal investing. David runs the Bonson Group, which does wealth management and advice. So go to 2way TV TBG. You can sign up to join the event. Again, the only way to join it is to sign up at 2way TV TBG today, 2 Eastern. You can also sign up for David's newsletter, the Dividend Cafe. I read it daily. You should too. And then tonight, closing out the week two way tonight, great guests. Sean's very close personal friend Hogan Gidley and Democratic consultant Ashley Etchen will. Will join me and we'll have all the day's news and spidey sense, plus a little reporting. I think we'll have some news to discuss at 6 o' clock that will have developed during the day. Not related to the shutdown necessarily. But don't, don't miss us at 6 o' clock if you want to be up on the.

[B]

Was one of your questions earlier in the show?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Related to what may happen later today?

[A]

How so?

[B]

Just.

[A]

Just what was the question?

[B]

We were talking. Well, it would be too obvious.

[A]

No, you can say, you can say.

[B]

You can say it's not a personnel announcement.

[A]

I'll be pocus for poker face. No, it's not a personnel announcement.

[C]

Is it not the color of Dan's pullover?

[A]

It's not. Although again, I'm just. I'm so struck by that color. Dan. It's like a black gray.

[C]

Yeah, I, I was not going green.

[A]

I don't know if your cameras. Your camera's not adjusting.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In any event, we're very grateful to all of you for, for another wonderful week on this program and we're happy to have you be part of the two way community. Love to have a mix of old and new as always. And we we'll be back Monday morning, 9:00am Eastern Time. And, and, and certainly by then there'll be a lot of shutdown news. And how many games, how many Yankee, how many Yankee games are there between now and Monday?

[B]

Just the weekend. It starts tomorrow. Saturday, Sunday.

[A]

Yeah, but Saturday, Sunday. So the Yankees could be down to nothing to Toronto or they could be up to nothing. Yeah. I will say it's football season.

[C]

Who cares?

[A]

This, I would say this system where all three games are in one stadium.

[B]

Is, well, they had to make the regular season matter. That that was the big thing that the owners.

[A]

Yeah. Let, let them have two. They don't.

[B]

No, no, no. That's the idea. Like go, go earn it during the regular season.

[A]

All three is ridiculous. You might as well not play. How are they supposed to win two out of three on the road? It's ridiculous.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Ridiculous. Thank you for watching. Have a great weekend and we'll see you Monday. We'll see at 6 as well. Good. Good day.