Trump Blames Democrats for "Affordability" Crisis as Democrats Claim "Trump Steamroller Is Broken"

Summary

2WAY Morning Meeting – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Blames Democrats for "Affordability" Crisis as Democrats Claim "Trump Steamroller Is Broken"
Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Mark Halperin (B), Sean Spicer (C), Dan Turrentine (D)

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Episode Overview

This episode of 2WAY’s "Morning Meeting" dives into the hot-button political and economic crises of late 2025, focusing mainly on President Trump’s latest attempts to shift blame for the ongoing "affordability" crisis to Democrats. Meanwhile, Democrats assert “the Trump steamroller is broken,” pointing to struggling poll numbers and mismatched messaging. The conversation is lively, layered with insiders’ views on economic policy, political optics, international affairs (notably Ukraine), and the shifting 2026 electoral landscape. A healthy dose of irreverent humor, sports metaphors, and pointed media observations keep the tone brisk and relatable.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Economic Crisis & Poll Numbers

[12:55–19:04]

• Mixed Economic Indicators: Hosts review lackluster jobs numbers and persisting inflation. Although headline growth looks strong, revision of previous months and high unemployment cast a shadow.
• Devastating Polls: Fox News data shows only 25% of Americans are satisfied with the economy and 46% report being personally hurt by Trump’s policies.
• Trump’s Deflection Tactics:
  • Trump Blames Democrats: At the Kennedy Center, Trump blames Democrats for “the worst inflation in history,” but claims he’s “making America affordable again.”
    • Notable Quote:
      “We're also making incredible strides to make America affordable again. That's a new word that they're using. Affordability.” – Donald Trump [13:59]
• White House Reactions: There’s skepticism both within and outside the White House about quick fixes: rebate checks are called “dead on arrival,” and substantial healthcare reform is seen as impossible before 2026.
• AI’s Double-Edged Sword: Sean Spicer flags anxiety around AI, which he says is simultaneously driving investment and job loss:
  “The big thing that I think is interesting that's overshadowing everything the president's doing is the acceleration of AI… that’s going to be a problem.” – Sean Spicer [15:48]

2. Political Messaging and Affordability

[17:29–19:04]

• Trump’s Messaging Problem:
  • Trump’s communication style—strength, simplicity, success—clashes with the public’s current mood, says Dan. If he “mocks” affordability concerns, Dems will loop it relentlessly.
    “They're going to replay that on loops of him mocking people that this is a made up issue.” – Dan Turrentine [17:59]
• Republican Fractures Loom: If things aren’t improving by Feb 2026, expect more GOP candidates to break ranks in the midterms.

3. Ukraine Negotiation Drama

[22:24–28:25]

• Leaked Negotiation Plan: Kushner, VP Vance, and others tried brokering a peace deal with Russia unilaterally, sidelining Europe and Ukraine, which prompts bipartisan and international outrage.
• Tom Cotton’s Take:
  “There's a lot of provisions in these leaks that probably no Ukrainian could ever agree to… Ukraine will not be able to give up vast swaths of territory that Russia has not been able to seize…” – Sen. Tom Cotton [23:06]
• Process Critique: Dan jokes he thought the news was “from The Onion,” suggesting Trump would own “losing Ukraine.” Both Spicer and Turrentine agree Europe’s opinion is dismissed outright by Trump officials.

4. DC Gossip, Tributes, and Political Odds

[10:39–12:55]

• Cheney Funeral: All living former Vice Presidents attend Dick Cheney’s funeral—except the current President and VP, who were not invited.
• Political Weight of Funerals: Media coverage and interactions at such events can be key bellwethers.
• Al Gore Watch: Jests about whether Gore will show up thin or with his beard.

5. Healthcare System Morass

[45:00–48:43] – Audience Q&A

• Listener ‘Bruce’ asks: How can government get out of healthcare to address provider shortages and system dysfunction?
• Spicer: Agrees the U.S. system is too employer-based and predicts only minor tweaks will happen without a crisis.
• Turrentine: Government inefficiency is real, but without public support, millions would not have care. “The whole system needs to be rebuilt,” but bipartisan effort is unlikely.

6. Immigration & Border Enforcement Optics

[55:37–60:20] – Audience Q&A

• Listener ‘John’ from Charlotte: Will visible ICE raids and child separations hurt Republicans in 2026?
• Spicer: While these crackdowns impress GOP base in blue cities, “a lot of people are very pleased that their cities are safer.”
• Turrentine: If narrative is crime-fighting, Trump is fine. If it’s family deportations, “it’s a loser for him. Candidates will walk away.”

7. Democratic 2028 Field and AOC’s Star Power

[38:37–41:11]

• Trump praises AOC’s “political instincts” in a recent WaPo interview.
• Spicer: Trump sees her as a fighter, but it also highlights how weak he thinks the rest of the Dem field is.
• Turrentine: “She’s a good political athlete” but questions whether Trump’s praise helps or hurts her.

8. Meeting Preview: Trump & NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani

[34:04–37:39]

• Mamdani’s Agenda: Focuses on speaking “plainly to the president” about NYC’s cost of living.
• Hosts’ Predictions: Debate whether meeting will be a lovefest or testy, with speculation about political optics (e.g., who sits on “the couch”—a reference to Oval Office messaging symbolism).
  • Notable Quote:
    “It's kind of rich to come down and start telling the President how unaffordable New York is for things that have nothing to do with the President.” – Sean Spicer [36:04]

9. Lighter Fare: The Ronaldo-Trump Height Mystery

[41:56–43:28]

• Discussion over why Ronaldo, listed at 6’2”, appears taller than Trump, listed at 6’3”; panelists joke about possible underreported heights in sports.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on Affordability:
  “We're also making incredible strides to make America affordable again. That's a new word that they're using. Affordability.” – Donald Trump [13:59]

• Dan on GOP Fractures: “…if by February this doesn't start improving, Republicans are going to start running for the hills from him.” – Dan Turrentine [18:31]

• On Ukraine Negotiations:
  “If this happened, and I mean this, Trump would have lost Ukraine. Like, it would be on his resume the rest of his life that he literally handed Putin Ukraine.” – Dan Turrentine [25:18]

• AOC’s Prospects: “I think that he does, like, respect the fact that she gets out there and mixes it up. And also...it's also an indictment about the rest of the field.” – Sean Spicer [38:56]

• Healthcare Realism:
  “The whole system needs to be rebuilt. But...as a country, everyone complains, but they don’t want change.” – Dan Turrentine [48:43]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------|-------------| | Economic news & polls | 12:55–19:04 | | Ukraine negotiation controversy | 22:24–28:25 | | AOC as Dem front-runner? | 38:37–41:11 | | Trump–Mamdani meeting preview | 34:04–37:39 | | Healthcare system Q&A | 45:00–48:43 | | Immigration/border optics Q&A | 55:37–60:20 | | Ronaldo-Trump height mystery | 41:56–43:28 |

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Tone and Style

• The discussion is brisk, candid, and full of inside-the-room banter, blending serious policy critique with irreverent humor and sharp political observation.
• The hosts don’t shy away from criticizing both parties and frequently reference poll numbers, media coverage strategies, and political messaging mechanics.
• Frequent sports and pop culture analogies make the analysis accessible even to non-wonks.

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Conclusion

This episode encapsulates current American political and economic anxieties, highlighting President Trump’s struggles with “affordability,” the hazardous polling landscape, contentious international maneuvering in Ukraine, the looming specter of healthcare reform, and raw nerves around immigration enforcement. Colorful sidebars (e.g., the Ronaldo height mystery, DC funeral gossip) round out a compelling, incisive look at the day’s news cycle.

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For more, tune in to 2WAY Morning Meeting weekdays or stream past episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[A]

I'm James Patterson. I write way too many books. Welcome to Hungry Dogs. The title comes from my maternal grandmother, Isabel Zelvis Morris. Nan used to always say, hungry dogs run faster, James. And I've been running fast ever since. Here's what will be coming your way soon. And this is a really terrific list. I think you'll hear from some incredible people like Stacey Abrams. Yay. BJ Novak.

[B]

Yay.

[A]

Kathy Bates. Dolly Parton, Josh Gad. And Pope Leo. Okay, maybe not Pope Leo, but who knows? Maybe he'll show up. Hungry dogs run faster. Thank you, Grandma, for turning me into a hopeless, obsessive, compulsive. Listen to Hungry Dogs with James Patterson. That'd be me on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[C]

This is it.

[D]

The world as you know it is over. Completely done.

[C]

It's not about to be over.

[D]

It's over.

[C]

Some of the scientists who helped build AI are now sounding the alarm. I was selling AI as a great thing for decades, and I was wrong.

[D]

I was wrong.

[C]

There is a longer term existential threat that will arise when we create digital beings that are more intelligent than ourselves.

[D]

We have no idea whether we can stay in control.

[C]

While others say that AI will usher in unfathomable abundance, I've always believed that.

[B]

It'S going to be the most important invention that humanity will ever make. This really will be a world of abundance.

[C]

And among these fears and these fantasies, we seek the story of our future. Listen to the last invention on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[B]

Choose your own adventure. So everybody's gonna vote. The entire show will be devoted to one of two topics. It'll be up to the community to decide. Either we're gonna get to the bottom of why Ronaldo, who's listed at 6 2, appears to tower over the present listed at 63 3. So that's. That's choice A or choice B is previewing the Mamdani Trump Oval Office meeting tomorrow. One topic show, nothing else. We won't talk about anything else. Nothing else allowed as a question. Let's vote now in the. In the chat, please. A, if you want to do Ronaldo's mystery height, and B, if you want to do the Donnie Trump meeting.

[D]

Here we go.

[B]

I see a bunch of A's. There's a bay, there's a B. There's an A, there's a B.

[D]

It's all over.

[B]

Oh, my goodness. Neck and neck.

[D]

All right, computer code.

[B]

You know what? Although we were determined to do a one episode show, a one topic show. Let's do it all. We'll cover this height mystery. It'll take every, the inner Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown of all of us to figure out how a guy listed at six two towers over a guy six three. And then the Oval office meeting. Man, this is, I don't know, Ali, Frazier, Knicks, Lakers. Sean, what for you in sports or politics or any realm of life business, what's the, what's the ultimate heavyweight bout that you've. That resonates with you?

[C]

Oh, that's a. I don't know, I'm not, I'm not a big boxing fan. I know, I know, but that would be Trump.

[B]

Clinton could be anything.

[D]

I was gonna say that was a big one.

[B]

What's the ultimate heavyweight fight in any realm of competition? How about, how about the Soviets versus the US in hockey? That's a, that's a big one.

[C]

That's all right, I'll give you that one.

[D]

But we were the underdog big time in that one. Yeah, that was, that was.

[B]

Dan, what's to you, the ultimate heavyweight fight.

[D]

I'll say USC, Texas, 2006, national title game one and two all season. They were cruising for each other and it was an epic, epic back and forth game.

[B]

Yeah, I'll go, I'll go with Clinton Obama. Clinton Obama, 8, 2000, 2008.

[D]

That's to me that, what was it, the third debate in Los Angeles where they just went at each other like from the go, like they just. It was health care and, and then.

[B]

And then Scott Bess and Bull Pulte is probably number two. Oh, yeah. All right. Good morning.

[D]

Wait, wasn't it Best and Elon, like the app.

[B]

Yeah, that was the undercard. The real one was Pulte, by the way, that. What's the name of that fancy place, that private club in Georgetown now?

[C]

The executive branch.

[B]

Executive branch, okay. They said you can't be a reporter and go to the executive branch. It's like absolute barrier. No reporters. Several people have said to me, mark, would you like to go to the executive branch? And I say, yes, but you can't take me even though you're a member because I'm a reporter. Then I read in Politico Brett Baer, reporter, right. Journalist, was reportedly at the executive club. So for all of those of you who'd like to take me, let's try again because obviously invoke the Bret Bear rule. Thank you for joining. This is the morning meeting. Dan, Shawn and I will take you through day read the day book to you in just a moment. And then after we discuss things, including our two top stories, the Mommy Trump visit and. And the Ronaldo mystery, we'll be taking your questions. If you're here in the two way platform, you want to get in on the conversation, please, please, please raise your hand. If you're watching on X or YouTube, you might want to put comments in the chat and you may be saying, should I write something in there? Scatological? Should I make fun of. Of Mark's jacket or the cut of his jib?

[E]

No, no, no.

[B]

No smack in the chat. Just positivity. Maybe. Maybe even a challenging question. Dan. Dan said something I didn't agree with, but no smack, no smack, no smack.

[D]

By the way, it only took 30 seconds for the chat to start talking about. Is Trump literally shrinking because he's almost 80? Here we go.

[C]

Is that. Is that a fairway and green quarter zip?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Andrew, is that. Raise your hand. That. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Handsome. If you want to. If you want to dress as sharp as Andrew, go to Two Way TV Fairway. Promo code is Sean, what's that promo code? BF30 for 30% off. Black Friday Sale Fair. Two Way TV Fairway.

[A]

I'm James Patterson. I write way too many books. Welcome to Hungry Dogs. The title comes from my maternal grandmother, Isabel Zelvis Morris. Nan used to always say, hungry dogs run faster, James. And I've been running fast ever since. Here's what will be coming your way soon. And this is a really terrific list. You'll hear from some incredible people like Stacey Abrams. Yay, BJ Novak.

[B]

Yay.

[A]

Kathy Bates, Dolly Parton, Jos? Gad. And Pope Leo. Okay, maybe not Pope Leo, but who knows? Maybe he'll show up. Hungry dogs run faster. Thank you, Grandma, for turning me into a hopeless obsessive compulsive. Listen to Hungry Dogs with James Patterson. That'd be me on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[B]

Anyway, Daybook, in a minute. I was going to say one other thing. Oh, reminder, we're off next week. No morning meeting. No two way tonight, as we are every Thanksgiving week. Much value time for all of us who produce the show and appear on the show. Spend time with the family, and then you can do that too. And we'll be back December 1st with both programs. Thank you for your attention to that matter. All right, quick word from a sponsor, then the Daybook, then a conversation like no other. Cozy Earth is also having a massive sale. 20% off everything is that 20% off? I got that wrong? 40% off. Sorry. 40% off everything on the site.

[D]

Double, double it.

[B]

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[D]

I like that reference.

[B]

Yeah, there you go. Wrap the ones you love in luxury with Cozy Earth right now. You can use the promo code 2WMM for 40 off everything. Blankets, towels, sheets, the jogger pants, whatever you'd like. And this won't last forever. And almost nothing lasts forever. Except what's something that lasts forever? The jets not making the playoffs. That lasts forever. But everything else, everything else is variable. So go to cozy earth.com promo code 2WMM right now for all your needs for betting and everything else.

[D]

All right.

[B]

The President in theory does not appear in public today, although last night he went on a truth social jag. He posted on a variety of topics, including previewing his all important meeting tomorrow with Mayor elect Mamdani today. Got nothing on the schedule. Intelligence briefing at a public schedule. Intelligence briefing at 11. Private meeting with the families and freed Israeli hostages and their families in the State dining room at 2. Marquee event then for public consumption at this time is Caroline Levitt at 1:00 clock briefing in the James Brady Room. POLITICO's Caroline Levitt and. And this man, J.D. vance, the president's two best surrogates. And Mr. Vance, during this hour, 9:30 Eastern Time, he will be sitting down with the great Matt Boyle, Breitbart's Washington bureau chief for a fireside chat at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. I'll be curious to see if there's a fire there because I'm a stickler. If there's no fire, ain't a fireside chat. Anyway. 9:30, the Vice President does that. House is in, Senate is in. They're doing a bunch of stuff that I won't bore you with. 11 o', clock, the chain. Dick Cheney's funeral. Kind of extraordinary. As we forecast here, every living vice President will attend. Former vice president will attend. But the current vice President and the President were not invited. They were not invited. Now, had they been invited, Sean, if they'd been invited, would they have gone? I don't think the President would have gone. Probably the Vice president.

[C]

I think J.D. might.

[B]

Yeah. But anyway, they weren't invited. So, Liz Cheney speaking. Some of the grandkids are speaking, 43 is speaking. And right now just a coverage prediction because everyone here is interested in the media. Dan, msnbc, cnn, fox, who will take it live in whole for the whole thing.

[D]

What time is J.D. vance's fireside chat?

[B]

9:30. That'll be long over.

[D]

They'll all, they'll, they'll all take it.

[B]

They'll all take the whole thing.

[D]

No, no, no, not the whole thing. No, no.

[B]

What will they take?

[C]

Part of it.

[B]

Who's someone everyone will take? Liz Cheney. W. Who will like, will everybody take.

[D]

W. I don't know. I don't know if Fox will. Yeah, I think they'll take people arriving and maybe. Yeah, maybe Liz Cheney. It's his daughter.

[B]

Yeah, well, FOX is going to take Liz Cheney, I can tell you that. All right, we'll see about that. And full coverage of the funeral. Noah, I want extended excerpts please of the funeral on two way tonight.

[D]

Who, who's sitting with who? You got all that down.

[B]

And the former vice president's club is an interesting group of people. You got your Al Gore, you got your, you got your Dan Quayle, you got your Kamala Harris. I'm missing one. Who's the other living vice president, by the way?

[D]

Kamala and Biden.

[B]

Oh, Joe Biden. Joe Biden.

[D]

The first time Kamala and Biden are together since they left.

[B]

Well, they, they claim they talk on the phone, but it'll be interesting to see what they do together. Pence. Thank you. Thank you very much. I forgot. Great. Mike Pence. Anyway, so you got your Indiana, your California, your Delaware, your Arizona slash Indiana.

[D]

And Al Gore sighting and Tennessee.

[B]

Yeah. Well, it be interesting to see be let's predict right now beard or no beard on Gore?

[D]

No, no beard.

[B]

Thin Gore or fat Gore. I bet he's on Olympic. So he's thin.

[D]

That's all relative.

[B]

I'm predicting he's thin. I'm pretty. He's thin and beardless.

[D]

Do you think he has some little circles under his like little bit of a certain pace going?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. The economy and the polls. Economic news out this morning. This is 117. The job figures are decidedly mixed. Some are positive, some negatives. This month's number was 119 jobs higher than expected by a lot. Way higher by a lot. But the previous months were readjusted down. The unemployment rate is up. The White House will tout this as a great thing because of the headline number. But this is a, this is a classic mixed, mixed. And although the though the Nvidia number Last night was massive. And everybody who likes the big frothy bubble breathed a sigh of relief. There's still a lot of concern, obviously about the economy, not just amongst egghead economists, but then there's that other group that matters too, the American people. Here is how Fox News covered what is the third or fourth consecutive day of truly devastating poll numbers for the President of the United States. This is the Fox and Friends coverage of a Fox poll 107, please.

[D]

So it comes on the heels of.

[B]

Brand new Fox News polls that reveal.

[D]

Americans are hurting financially.

[B]

Only 25% saying they're currently satisfied with the U.S. economy.

[C]

And part of that is because of inflation.

[B]

We also went through this big Shutdown.

[F]

More than 50% of Americans say that inflation is completely out of control.

[B]

Completely out of control.

[D]

Our polling shows 46% of Americans think.

[B]

They'Ve been hurt by President Trump's economic.

[D]

Policies, but hurt by them up the mess he inherited from the Biden administration.

[B]

Now, you can say a lot of that. 46% Democrats, of course, but only 15% say they've helped. And so that includes every Republican. So of course, what the President states is going to do when he's giving a big, high profile economic speech, knowing that these poll numbers are out there, he's going to, he's going to demonstrate his maximum capacity to feel the pain of the American people. Here's Donald Trump at the Kennedy center at the Saudi Business Forum yesterday doing his best. Clinton, feel your pain. Performance 106, please.

[G]

Great job. We're also making incredible strides to make America affordable again. That's a new word that they're using. Affordability. They talk afford. They had the worst inflation in history. They had the highest prices in history. The country was going to hell. The only thing that we're going up in is our stock market. Okay? The only price that we really have. I mean, we're bringing prices down. But they came up with a new word, affordability.

[B]

Affordability. They look at the affordability.

[G]

We are all about affordability. And everyone assumes that that meant that no, their prices were high.

[B]

Okay? So the two main ideas we've heard floated are something on health care. Now, everybody on the Hill, including Republicans, are saying you can't do substantial health care reform this year between now and Christmas. That's not possible. Then there's a big fight about whether to do a reconciliation bill or still try to reach out to Democrats. And then the President's $2,000 rebate from the tariff money is DOA on the Hill. They all think it's ridiculous and inflationary. And Scott Besant's trying to try to that comment's unbelievable. Square the Circle said, well, we'll give people $2,000, but we don't want them to spend it, we just want them to save it. So, Sean M. Spicer, what is going on with the White House substantively and message wise to try to deal with? Again, the polls are just a snapshot, but it's a hideous snapshot from the Fox poll and every other poll we've seen, not just for the president's ratings on the economy, but for the party overall. Lastly, I'll say the greatest bellwether in American politics is the House Congressional Campaign Committee for the party of the President. And it does not take much to reach a House Republican member or strategist today who is really worried about what next year is looking like currently. Sean, what's the what's the path out for Indiana Jones, AKA Donald Trump?

[C]

Well, the path out is hopefully to that these investments that people are making and announcing actually get through the pipeline in the next eight months so that the investment that the companies that he is striking deals with that have announced stuff comes to fruition. As we all know, whether you're building a factory or hiring people or making investments, it's going to take some while, a while to make it through the pipeline. They're just their whole I mean, I think the game, the goal is to say things and propose things that make sure that people understand that you're doing what you can and then hope that the investment that you've attracted actually pays out in time. I mean, the dirty secret is there's only so much you can actually do in the short term. You've got to set the right policies and hope that they stimulate the economy. The one big thing that I think is interesting that's overshadowing everything the president's doing is the acceleration of AI. So at the same time, you're getting a lot of investment. You know, a lot of this AI innovation is taking away jobs and it's they're kind of like crescendoing at the same time. And that's going to be a problem.

[B]

Yeah. And of course, the AI is all the polls show now. There have been several in the last few weeks. It gives people more anxiety, you know, regular people, because right now, and this is my strong amateur belief, AI is going to exacerbate the income disparity. It's going to help the rich get richer and corporations get richer. It's not going to help people at the low end, at least anytime soon. And to do the most authentic thing I could do to show that this is just like the network news division's morning meetings, I'm going to take three Advil. Dan, what's the President going to do to get out of this thing?

[D]

I don't know. Because he is wired to only do the what I call the three S's, which is strength, simplicity and success. That everything is through that prism. And so I wonder in all seriousness, if those remarks last night are up on the air in Tennessee by tonight on behalf of the Democrats, because what we're going to do is ask every Republican, is affordability a joke? Is it a made up word?

[B]

Affordability. Affordability, yeah.

[D]

I mean they're going to replay that on loops of him mocking people that this is a made up issue. So I mean, I think his problem is his own party is going to run away from his messaging the way we ran away from Biden. Digging in saying, you need to be grateful that I got you out of the COVID ditch. And, and people on the Hill were like, yeah, that's not happening. Give it a few months. Like I think, Sean, if by February this doesn't start improving, Republicans are going to start running for the hills from him.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

On this issue.

[B]

Yeah. Sean, obviously he's got State of the Union to try to get people, to keep people from running to the hills. And he doesn't do feel your pain very well. He just does. Biden sucks and everything's great under me. So if the White House believes that the President's State of the Union should be about feeling the pain and saying, here are some ideas, we need to do better, things are trending the right way, but we know we need to do better. What does that look like out of the mouth of Donald Trump, if he's even capable of it?

[C]

Well, I think that's why he's talking about the rebate checks. You know, he wants to be able to put money in people's pockets, but they're dead.

[B]

They're dead.

[C]

First of all, you know, the funny thing is I, I started to realize that like a lot of other things, if he digs in on this, I'm not sure that's true. I, I, first of all, the court is going to be the biggest, you know, input on whether that's even a possibility or not. So I, I, I think he, he will not let this go. As you can tell, he, I, I.

[B]

I say Respectfully, there's like 0% chance.

[D]

That I'll pass The Congress, what I've heard from, just, just to be clear.

[C]

I think it's like tax on tips and all that stuff, which is. Is a very narrow. They're going to be like people on Tuesdays who are born on Tuesdays that make under $85,000 from.

[B]

It's not going to hurt inflation.

[C]

I'm not, I'm not arguing whether. I think that like a lot of other things he's proposed, they'll be able to check a box and say it got done, but they're going to narrow the scope of it so that it doesn't.

[H]

It's.

[C]

He can say he did it.

[D]

I've. I've heard from lobbyists in Washington. The White House is calling around to industries, asking for ideas. I think they are putting together a bill that will be a stimulus bill. Now, whether it's really going to pass. They have to have something to point at positively that the party can say, this is what we're for, to help you right now. Now, whether they can cobble this together, you know, we'll see. But they are soliciting all over K Street for ideas to stimulate the economy and affordability.

[B]

K Street. Yeah, but how quickly could there be a reconciliation? There's not a lot of enthusiasm for it. Lindsey wants to do it, but we think this is something that happens in April. When would that happen?

[C]

Well, I mean, in theory, it can happen anytime they want.

[B]

No, but I mean, real realistically, the.

[D]

Question is, how big do you go? If it's small, you can move it pretty fast. Although Murkowski and others say no.

[B]

But I'm not talking exactly. I'm not talking theoretically. I'm saying in the real moment in which we're in right now, assuming the White House and the Hill and the Republicans. The Hill agree. They want to do that and what it should be. And they're far from agreement on either question. Like, are we talking about something that happens in the spring?

[D]

You could.

[C]

Well, the problem is it's not.

[B]

Yes, you could.

[C]

You have to back that up. Those goes back to my first comments. Passing a bill and then not having a stimulative effect is kind of worthless. So I think the key is they're going to want to get something done. You know, March, maybe, but you need to get it. You need to get this done.

[B]

So, all right, we could talk about this forever, just to close it up. Kara Swisher says Trump's going to resign. Oh, because he's. Fisher says Trump's sick and his administration is a disaster. And JD Vance will be president any day now. I swear I heard her say it. Maybe I dreamed it, but I think I did. On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being everything's just fine, and this is just the liberal media criticism. And 10 being Trump, Trump's president, second term, will be considered an absolute failure. Where are we now?

[D]

Say this again. Zero is.

[B]

Zero is everything's fine, it's just the media.

[D]

And 10 is terrible.

[B]

10 is apocalypse. Sean. Zero to 10.

[C]

2.5.

[D]

Oh, you took my number. I was gonna say the same exact thing. 2.5.

[B]

Interesting. I'll go with 2.6. Just because. Just because I don't really know what they're going to do to get out of this. All right, Ukraine.

[D]

Well, I also think the question isn't just are they going to get out of this. I think the question is if the party breaks on this, I think it just. That keeps going the next three years.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Ukraine. I don't know why Jared Kushner, the Vice President, the Secretary of State and Witkoff thought making a deal unilaterally with Putin would fly with Europe or Kiev or the US Congress. But some, somehow they did. And as the details of the plan, of the proposed plan come out, there's a lot of dissenting voices. Europeans are freaking out. Zelensky seems to be in a somewhat tough position, has not been as outspoken as I suspect he is privately. And here is the gentleman from Arkansas, Tom Cotton on Fox and Friends, pouring icy cold Slurpee temperature water on the deal number 110, please.

[I]

Yeah. And Brian, Secretary Rubio seemed to let some air out of that trial balloon last night when he characterized it as an exchange of ideas. The stories may be coming, in fact from Russians. What we do know is what President Trump has said and done recently. You just heard the clip where he said he's frustrated with President Put Putin. We're continuing to supply Ukraine with long range missiles that can strike key Russian military targets inside of Russia. President Trump has said he's ready to go forward with sanctions on Russia as well as secondary sanctions on countries that are buying Russian oil, which just shows that his he has a strong commitment to keep the pressure on Vladimir Putin to make a deal at the negotiating table to end this brutal, unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. So as you say, there's a lot of provisions in these leaks that probably no Ukrainian could ever agree to. There's obviously fighting going on today. Russians are gaining some territory. Ukrainians are getting some guaranteeing some territory, but Ukraine will not be able to give up vast swaths of territory that Russia has not been able to seize and probably more importantly have very critical defensive lines that are important for preventing a future return to hostilities.

[B]

Yeah, you do, Dan. I'm not Henry Kissinger. I'm not even Walter Isaacson. But what's the plan here? How did they possibly think that negotiating a completely one sided deal with the Russians would lead to an agreement?

[D]

I mean, I literally put on X. I thought it was the Onion at first. I could not believe what I was reading. And the fact that Tom Cotton literally just said that proposal might be a Russian fake, like let that sink in. I mean it's, it, it, we joked about this over the summer that the Russians were insisting Ukraine give up weaponry, no European or US Support and, and basically a, in exchange they would promise not to go any further even though they're totally untrustworthy. I have no idea other than they wanted to change the subject from all the bad news the last week and they were delusional thinking that the rest of the world would just get on board with this. It's insane. It literally would. I mean if this happened, and I mean this, Trump would have lost Ukraine. Like it would be on his resume the rest of his life that he literally handed Putin Ukraine. It'd be unbelievable.

[B]

Sean, I know you're pretty hawkish on Russia, so you probably don't like the deal itself, but just from the, from the process point of view, what was their, what was their thinking of striking the steel? That, that, that, that would lead to someplace productive?

[C]

I, I, the only thing that I can think of, because again, you get Jared involved is, is look at what we did with Gaza. We came up with this thing, we jammed it and it worked. So maybe we try that. I mean that's, that in my mind that's basically what they've done.

[B]

But that involved consultations with ironically both parties. Yeah, I mean they directly with Hamas, they negotiated it with Hamas. This was a completely one, as best we know, completely one sided deal and not, and the terms of it, I mean I've been a realist about this, what a settlement was going to be from the beginning. I just, it just, they're going to have to give up land and they're going to have to, they're going to have to reward Putin for his aggression from the beginning. But this deal is ridiculous. You couldn't, you couldn't possibly expect Europe to accept this deal.

[C]

Well, look, I will say this. I don't think anyone in the Trump administration cares what Europe thinks. So whether or not how they involve Ukraine in this deal is one thing, but the reality is, is that the general view is Europe is worthless. They add nothing to this, and they just get in the way. So I don't see any deal coming together where they actually care what Europe thinks. If, if they can get Zelinsky to sign off, which seems to me that the way that they're going is get, get the contours of something with Russia, jam it to, to down Zelinsky throat, and then tell Europe this is, you know, thanks for playing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right.

[D]

And then, and then, and then we're going to ask them to help us with China and everything else. That's, that's a brilliant strategy.

[B]

I know they don't give a rip what Europe thinks, but Zelensky is going to have Europe on his side and Tom Cotton on his side. And I just, I don't know.

[D]

And there's also the realistic thought that you would literally be giving. I mean, why would Putin stop at Ukraine? I mean, just ask yourself the legitimate question.

[B]

Yeah. All right, Just one more on this, by the way.

[C]

All you're doing is buying three years.

[D]

What happens? That is the irony.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Just get it off my plate and then I'll attack people.

[B]

One sentence each. Sean, what happens next on this story? Does Zelensky denounce it? Do they adjust it? What happens next?

[C]

I, I think Zinsky says there are some positive pieces to this. I've got to get some tweet. I mean, like, there's a level of reality there, but he can't, he can't take the first bite at this because there's, I mean, his, he'd get pummeled for, for accepting this right off the bat.

[B]

So he's got Dan. It's a next step negotiation.

[D]

No, I think he'll play his politics to Sean's point. He's not going to embarrass Trump if that doesn't serve his interest. But I think this dies a quiet death because the headlines will change.

[B]

Last night. 112, please. I forget what time. It was pretty late. The President went on Truth Social and said that he had signed the legislation. Incredible turnaround. Is this the right one? Is this the right thing? Votes were almost unanimous anyway. Yeah, True Social. He said that he signed the bill and now the clock starts ticking. And the Attorney general said yesterday they're going to, with proper redactions and withholdings, going to release the material. Dan, what happens next on this story?

[D]

I think this one actually kind of also starts to drift away from the headlines a little because DOJ will take the next 30 days to get stuff together. I would imagine they're going to start dripping it out at strategically smart times. They'll try to get some more Democrats in the House.

[B]

You think it'll be all at once, like right before Christmas?

[D]

No, I think they will drip and drab it to try to create a narrative again, this is politics. I don't blame them whatsoever. But I think you'll get some headlines about Democrats who are involved because they were. And the bad news will be on Friday nights at 10:00 clock at night.

[B]

Yeah, Sean.

[C]

So I had a conversation yesterday on my show with Jessica Reed Krause, who's been covering this like intimately and going and it blew my mind, like, because I actually think that, I think the opposite of what Dan's saying. I think that as we get stuff out people, the MAGA world, everyone else is going to say this is a joke. You're covering stuff up. You're over redacting the level of expectation of what people think they're going to get and what's going to come out are so out of kilter. And I think that that's going to be a huge problem because people think somehow they're going to get this amazing revelation of all of these lists and men that have done bad things. And that's at least from what I keep hearing now, that's not going to be the case. And I think from what Dershowitz has told me and what Jessica said yesterday, I just think that there's such a mismatch and people are going to get pissed that they thought they were going to get more and it's a huge disappointment what gets let out.

[D]

So I actually does this issue then dog Trump in 2026.

[C]

I don't know that it dogs him. I just think that like, I think the problem, like I said, is that there's this belief that it's going to be like every other conspiracy theory where there's a cover up, we're not getting everything that we thought. And so to certain people it will really matter. So some people will get it most. I think most people get over it. But, but for a lot of people it's going to be we knew it, we knew it, we knew it.

[B]

Okay, Comey, if you didn't wade into the details of what happened in the courtroom yesterday where Comey's team tried to get the case dismissed and the actions of the prosecutor were laid out, it's, I think the single greatest act of incompetence we've seen in this term. It just, just a complete incompetence. How it was handled. Not, not on the edges, but just fundamentally not following the rules of how you indict someone and threaten their liberty. We could wade into it. It's just, it's just comical. But, Sean, will the case be dismissed?

[C]

So, I don't know. I've asked a lot of people this question that you're asking now, and I've gotten a mixed result. Some people say it doesn't matter. Like it's, in other words, at the end of the day, it's like the, the substance is there. And then some people are like, it's a total process foul. You can't allow that to go forward. So I, I'll be interested to see how the judge rules. But I, I don't know enough. I mean, like, the people who are lawyers who do this have told me, some have said no big deal, it's sloppy, but that's what happens. And some people listen, you can't allow that to go forward.

[B]

Dan, here's two questions I don't know the answer to. Maybe you do. Our lawyers on one is can they refile it? Can they redo it?

[C]

No. So the statute's the problem. That's why they did it so quickly.

[B]

Yeah, because it. Statute of limitations. And then the other question is, I think this trial judge, based on everything that was said, is going to throw it out. But, but they can get it reinstated on appeal. But that's unlikely to happen. It's my sense of the law. So, Dan, this is going to be thrown out right now.

[D]

I mean, you. I had the. I was going to say it is the most incompetent thing I've ever seen.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And it's going to be the last one that's going to get tossed. Right.

[B]

What am I.

[C]

Actually, the one question that we're not, that we're not discussing is how does Trump react? Because it's one thing for a judge to rule like, hey, we went through a trial and he's off. But when the judge is saying, your team's the one that did this.

[B]

Oh, yeah. What, What? Ms. Now anchor will get the first comey interview after he's, after the case is thrown out. I'm thinking Rachel, he likes Rachel. You imagine how much fury Trump's going to feel watching that interview. Because he'll watch it.

[D]

Oh, and come he's going to rub it in his face. I mean, he is going to take a Victory.

[B]

So tomorrow in the Oval Office, extraordinary meeting of two game respects game New York politicians. Some people are predicting it's going to go be a love fest because Trump likes, you know, theatrics and Mondami's coming in, knowing what he's doing. Here's Mondami on the pregame show last night with Chris Hayes on MSNBC about his goals. 113Miss now. 114Sorry. 114. Do you think a lot of people go into meetings with Donald Trump? I think thinking they're going to be the one to get over on him. And I sometimes often think, I've watched this now for 10 years, they screw up because they think he's, they underestimate him. Like, what is your goal for a meeting with Donald Trump? What do you want to come out of a meeting with Donald Trump?

[J]

I want to just speak plainly to the president about what it means to actually stand up for New Yorkers and the way in which New Yorkers are struggling to afford this city. And frankly, cost of living is something that I heard time and time again from New Yorkers about why they voted for Donald Trump. And this is something that has only continued in the last few months of this year where we're hearing about childcare concerns, rent concerns, Con Ed concerns, even just getting on the bus, just $2.90. And just to make it clear to the president that this is what we're talking about. These are the stakes for New Yorkers and their ability to keep calling this city their home.

[B]

I'll just say, Dan, you've probably noticed this too, because people don't pay attention to politics. There's a bunch of New Yorkers who the buses are free now because all the buses in New York now have big, you know, on this, the electronic sign on the front that tells you what bus it is and what route it is. They all say fare required because people must be getting on the buses nonstop, saying the buses are free. Mondame1 I think the meeting is going to be a love fest, but I don't think there's any way to know. But that would be, my guess is it's going to be surprisingly warm with a few little jibes. Sean?

[C]

Well, first of all, I think the, the, the tell is, is J.D. vance on the couch?

[D]

When I was just gonna add that, I gotta put it for you. Does Manny bring some people and put on with him to be on his couch?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

What's that would bring a little delegation?

[B]

Yeah, he might bring, he might bring some socialists with him.

[D]

What if AOC showed up with them?

[C]

So there's two things that are interesting. One is I, you know, we talked about this a little yesterday, but it's funny. He wants the meeting, and yet he's calling him Communist mayor. Mundane, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

He's not giving up the moniker. But the thing that I found fascinating. You noted this. I was writing it down as he was saying it. Then, Mark, you picked it up. But, like, the bus is costing $2.90. Has the president, United States is now suddenly weighing in on the cost of a bus for New York City and Con Ed. That's your electricity system.

[G]

Yes.

[C]

It's kind of rich to come down and start telling the President how unaffordable New York is for things that have nothing to do with the President. United States.

[B]

Correct. Dan, how do you. How do you see this meeting playing out?

[D]

See, I'm not sure it's going to be a love fest, because what Madani said is, I'm going to kind of like educate Trump. And that is not what you do when you walk into the White House. Like, hey, let me tell you how things really are, because that'll just rub him the wrong way. I think the question is, is he going in there for policy politics? Because I don't think you can have both. So if he's going in there and his goal is to keep the funding flowing, then I think he shuts his mouth. He's gracious. He absolutely kind of understands I'm a little bit of the beggar. But if he goes in there with the idea of, like, I am your equal, I am representing my whole side of the tribe, and I'm. You have J.D. vance and Susie Wiles and, like, I don't know, Tom Holman.

[B]

Stephen Miller.

[D]

Yeah, Stephen Miller and Tom Holman. Does he walk in with aoc?

[B]

I think.

[D]

I think Jeffries.

[B]

I think we got to say that there's a 15% chance that he and Stephen Miller wrestle each other to the floor. I just don't think you can roll that out.

[C]

We all agree it's going to be an open pool, Right. I mean, they're going to bring in the pool.

[B]

Oh, my God. I think. I think they're all going to be wearing wireless mics and there'll be, like, a camera over.

[C]

The reason I say that is tomorrow's pool is going to be really important to look at.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Because who is the secondary and the new.

[D]

I hope it's very about immigration and they ask about crime. What does Mandani say? We welcome.

[B]

It's going to be great. It's going to be a great meeting. All right, couple more things.

[C]

Watch to see if Brian Glenn.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Real America's Voice is back in the pool.

[E]

Swarm.

[B]

No, that's a, that's a perennial for many of us now because of his relationship with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Okay, a couple more topics and then to your questions. Just pissed. Yeah, for now. I forgot to show something that I wanted to show. I'm just trying to decide to double back. All right. Our friend Selena Zito did an interview with the President. Great interview. You can read it in the Washington Post. Amongst the things she asked him about was Democratic presidential field. And as you can see if you're watching on YouTube, the President said of the current Democrats being talked about as contenders, it's AOC who has the best political instincts. Sean, feel free to do your Trump invitation or not. But what do you think he really thinks of aoc?

[C]

I think that he does it like.

[B]

Does he think she could be the nominee?

[C]

Yes, I think so. He. I don't think he thinks she can win, but I think he does, like, respect the fact that she gets out there and mixes it up. And also, I mean, like I've said before, it's also an indictment about the rest of the field.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

I don't think that he, like, particularly thinks that she's that awesome as much as the rest of them suck.

[B]

Yeah, like the Leo Durocher line. Can't anybody else play this game? Dan Trump speaking favorably about aoc, does that have any significance for people in the Democratic Party? People say, well, if Trump likes her, we don't want her. Or do people say, well, if Trump thinks she's good, maybe, you know, she's good. You know what I'm saying?

[D]

Like, I think there is a grudging acceptance and even not just amongst, like the progressives, that she is a good political athlete. I mean, that's why I've always said she's going to be a top tier candidate. And I do think she's got kind of piss and vigor and she's nimble and, you know, she's a good candidate. But I mean, if he had said Gavin Newsom's an impressive person, then the train may pick up some more steam because it's like when Bill Clinton said George W. Bush in the summer of 99 was a little more impressive than he thought he would be. It gave a little bit of gravitas to him. So, you know, he's not going to compliment. No, but.

[I]

Right.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, I will Say again, for those of you who say she's nimble and she's a great political athlete, tell me about the toughest interview you've ever seen her do. Go ahead.

[D]

Well, but, Mark, I think, though, the world's changed in terms of that stuff mattering. I think Trump has lowered the bar that you can just flip questions into a brawl. It becomes a tribal fight. I don't even have to answer your questions. I can just flip it to say, this is the status quo, it's rigged. This is what always. You're always asking about. I'm gonna talk about this. And I think she looks at that path and will say every time that you try to corner her on these issues, she just won't address them.

[B]

I agree, 20%, but I don't believe someone of her background and age is going to get denomination without doing tough interviews.

[D]

Oh, she'll do tough interviews, but she'll use them.

[B]

Have you ever seen. Have you ever seen her asked any tough questions? You ever seen her ask tough questions?

[D]

Can you think of a time, find a tough question? How would you solve Social Security? Or what do you think of Donald Trump?

[B]

I mean, something that involves substantively knowing how to be Commander in Chief and President of the United States. You ever seen her asked a question like that? Ever? Have you. You see her get asked a lot of political questions?

[D]

I've seen her asked about, like, legislation on Capitol Hill, sure.

[B]

Yeah. Okay.

[D]

I mean, look, was Trump deep on policy? No, he wasn't. And he made that an asset, not a liability.

[B]

Yeah, he wasn't in his 30s.

[D]

He was in his 70s and was a real estate developer. I mean, Mark, you can't pigeonhole her like that. Trump changed the game. Nobody cares. What? She isn't on the Senate Foreign. Foreign Intelligence, you know, Foreign Affairs Committee. She doesn't know foreign dignitaries. No one cares anymore. Nobody does.

[C]

I think that.

[B]

Save this. Save this tape. Good.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

Save this. Lastly, we got to solve this mystery, guys. Vitally important. 116AMichael Daly. How many followers does Ronaldo have on Instagram?

[C]

Like 40 million.

[B]

No, that's. Is it. Is it X or Instagram? Where's his big following, Michael? It's like he's got a lot. Michael will tell us in a second. So the President met with Ronaldo, and then Ronaldo, I think, was at the Kennedy Center.

[D]

Over 600, 148 million million. On Instagram.

[B]

On Instagram, yes. Over 600 million Instagram. Anyway, so the President knows how to hang out with people with followings. Ronaldo is uniformly listed at six two. The President is uniformly listed at six three. And I've never been in Ronaldo's presence, but I think the president is either 62 or 6 3. But if Ronaldo is 6 2, it doesn't make any sense. And we don't believe either of them was wearing, you know, cowboy boots or anything. So, Dan, your best Inspector Clouseau. Hardy Boys. What's the deal?

[D]

No, because I agree with you that I believe Trump is about 6 2, 6 3. So either Ronaldo wants to be shorter because in soccer you want to be fast and for years height was considered, you know, slow, or, you know, Heather Cox Richardson is going to write that Trump is shrinking as he's getting older.

[B]

I don't know, Sean, what's your best guess?

[C]

I fully believe Trump, 6 3. I mean, like, I. Yeah, extra. Plenty of time.

[B]

So is Ronaldo on minimizing his height by 3 inches? I mean, the perspective on this might be misleading, but he's clearly taller.

[C]

So there's a walk shot that they did from the oval to the residence. And you can, I mean, the same, same thing.

[B]

Yeah. So I mean, is, is Ronaldo under his under listing his height by 3 inches? The thing is, ladies, ladies and gentlemen, this is a mystery. It's a mystery. We don't have a solution. Quick word from a sponsor and then to your question. So please, if you're here on the platform and want to get in, raise your, raise your hand. Here's another great discount available to the two way community and it comes from our friends at CB Distillery. Go to CBDistillery.com use the promo code 2WMM for 25% off everything, products that can make real difference in your life. Over 2 million people have used the products from CB Distillery for all sorts of things. Whether you need more sleep, you're feeling aches and pains, whatever it is, the real win of CB Distillery products using the highest quality, clean ingredients, no fillers, premium CBD is to make you feel better. Here's an opportunity to try the products at a massive discount. 25% off your entire purchase. Visit CB distillery.com promo code is 2WMM. CBdistillery.com promo code 2W. If you're having trouble sleeping, relaxing, feeling good, it's an opportunity to try the products first time for you, 25 off your entire order. CBDistillery.com promo code 2 WMM. Here we go, ladies and gentlemen. Opportunity of a lifetime to question these two gentlemen. And I think it's going to go with the Bruce first because the pop. Bruce, welcome in Unmute. Tell folks Pup's name. All right, where you are and what's on your mind.

[H]

Glenn, this is Coda. We're in South Jordan, Utah and welcome in.

[B]

Thank you for being here.

[H]

Thank you for your, your show here. It's a great public service actually. And I grew up in politics watching the McLaughlin Group, so.

[C]

Love it, love it, love it, love it, love it.

[H]

My question is about how to get government out of our healthcare system in general. Where can we start? For example, you know, when you go try to get a doctor's appointment, it's a long wait, especially for specialists, very long wait. And part of the reason for that is that the government subsidizes residencies for doctors. They also are involved in student loans for education for doctors. And it's gotten so expensive, more doctors try to get into the specialties. You can't get into your internist or general practitioner. So where can we start to get out of this mess, Sean?

[C]

I mean it's a great question. As we talked about, I don't know, like you can't just pull, do one thing. I mean I feel like when you start putting your hands into the engine of healthcare, tinkering around, that's the problem, you either got to go all in. I mean I, I, I think, you know, as I've said before, it's an employer based system and that's part of the problem. Meaning if when you, it's all tied to your job. So there, there's a lot that's wrong. I mean I, I think we need to go in and head first really look at what, what's, how to, how to do this. I have no problem. Like I think actually if we wanted to end employer subsidies, make it tax write offs that people could have, you get your plan, you've got portability, you can take it wherever you want. I would be much more in favor of a plan like that. But the bigger question, Bruce, is like we've said before, there's no willingness to go do this kind of stuff, to dig deep. And so they're going to tinker around the edges. They're going to, you know, announce some write offs and tax benefits here and here and that's it. So until there's a major crisis, I don't see how this is going to get touched.

[B]

Dan.

[D]

So I agree with you that as a rule government really doesn't do much. Well, the private sector just is always more nimble and innovative and efficient. You start with the fact though, Bruce, what do you do. So 40% of this country doesn't have more than $300 in savings. They live paycheck to paycheck. What do you do for people who, if there was no government support, no government intervention, could not afford health care? Just what do you do? Because then when they show up in the emergency room, we are paying for them because we're not going to turn them away and have them die on the street. So ultimately an insurance pool works. When everybody is in, everybody is paying. But to Sean's point, the system is so dysfunctional, the incentives are dysfunctional. The insurance industry, most of the insurers who deal in Obamacare do not make money on that. They are losing money on Obamacare. So the idea that they're all getting rich is just not true on that front. So the whole system needs to be rebuilt. But to Sean's point, it would need to be bipartisan. There would be some painful trade offs. And as a country, everyone complains, but they want to keep. They don't want change.

[B]

Bruce, thank you. Grateful to you. Really good important question. Monica, welcome in. Tell folks who don't know where you are what's on your mind for Sean and Dan after you unmute.

[F]

Good morning. I am in northeast Florida and I wanted to get on and give a special thank you to Sean and Dan who've been part of my morning since the show started. And I'm going to miss them. And you've got big shoes to fill, Mark, whoever's coming on after them. So I just want to say thank you for that.

[B]

Yes, thank you for that.

[F]

A couple of other things is, I don't know, Mark, if you've had any feedback on the program, the Post show last night after the 6:00 clock show, I really felt bad for Ari, the host. He got completely bulldozed by Laura, which I kind of think ruined the impact of the show for many people that were on just is really important.

[B]

Thank you for watching. Thank you for watching Monica. And it would take too long to explain what Monica means, but go watch the show and you'll see Laura Loomer. Laura Loomer. Loomer. Ari. A little bit, but it was what it was. Sorry, Monica, Keep going.

[F]

No, and just a couple of other things on things, a couple of things that Sean mentioned about and Dan, you were talking about earlier with regards to affordability. I think it's the way the administration is describing it. The dismissive nature of their communication is really off putting to people who are out there struggling. And so it's just I think if they could change the way they communicate. And then the second thing is, is regarding the Epstein, I agree with Sean that the story is not going to go away in and of itself because it is emblematic of the feeling for many people about how elites and the well connected people within the country get away with murder, so to speak. It's just, you know, in euphemism. And so to me, unless there is another story, you know, say some big figure that is also important to the MAGA group, whether that be Comey or Brennan or something, if some other big individual was brought to justice, so to speak, and that became a big story that could divert from the Epstein. But unless there's something like that, I don't see the Epstein story going away. Just want to get your thoughts on that.

[B]

Monica, thank you. Really interesting perspective, Dan.

[D]

Yeah. You know, it goes to the point that Sean, you raised earlier, Mark, about Trump's reaction if the Comey case gets tossed and the Epstein stock keeps burning. That is a double whammy for the President. Monica, I agree with you about Trump being tone deaf. And to me, the danger, he's beginning to enter a danger zone, which is once people believe you don't understand them anymore, it's really hard to get them back in your camp. I mean, just the history, whether it's George W. Bush after Katrina and Iraq went sideways in 06, he just never recovered. People said, that's it. We just don't see you as very competent. You know, Trump had a little bit during COVID where people just said that's it. We, you're, you're crazy on this. He's got to be really careful here, really careful. Because if he keeps laughing in people's face and if all he references is the stock market and he's hanging out in Mar A Lago like I get, presidents are entitled to vacations, they're entitled to, you know, they're never off the job. But the optics of hanging out in a gilded country club in Palm beach while people are suffering and mocking them, it is, boy, that is brutal politics. Brutal.

[B]

Sean.

[C]

Sean So I brought this up the other day. I think two things, well, on the affordability, one, you can tell the president's trying, right? He's talked about the cost of drugs and some of the other things that he's, I think he's, where I understand his frustration is he's like, inflation went to 9 under Biden and everyone said it was transitory, it's not a big deal. And I come in and I'm bringing stuff down. And you guys want to talk about affordability.

[D]

When Biden left, it was 2.5.

[C]

It was, it went to as high.

[D]

As 9 and the went down to.

[C]

2.0 and told us that it was transitory.

[D]

And now it's up to three. That's his problem.

[C]

So I think there's a level of, you got to be kidding me. I'm doing all this stuff, I'm talking about it. Whereas their view was it doesn't exist. So there's a level of frustration that exists there. I, as I said the other day, though, Monica, I agree with you that they need to start upping the message to we're not done yet. We know that this is not high enough. Like, we're still fighting for you. We're still looking out for you. We're doing this because for a lot of Americans, again, it's not a question of blame. They're not saying you did this. But, you know, I always tell people in politics, it's like the cable guy, when the cable person, when you're paying for cable or whatever you pay for now and they come to fix it, you don't want a bunch of excuses, you know, you don't want to hear, well, here's the problem, your house isn't wired, or that. I mean, it's just fix it. That's what I pay you for. Fix the cable. And sometimes politicians want to explain why it's not working as opposed to just understanding the job. You know, voters elect somebody because they tell them they're gonna deal with their problems, they're gonna fix their problems, they're gonna make their life better, safer, and they don't want excuses. And so they need to up the game and not worry about who's responsible for it, but just make sure that the American people know that they're fighting for them. And there's more work to be done on Epstein. Again, as I said, I think if you go back and watch what Jessica Reed Krause said yesterday on the show, I was blown away on this because her whole point on this is that people are getting random headlines about Epstein and not really going down the rabbit hole of what's really there, who's really to blame, what's what really happened. I just don't. I think people are going to get very disappointed when the files come out. They'll say that there's a lot more that's not there. I don't think you're going to get the names that we all think. And that's going to be the problem.

[B]

Monica, thank you. Really great question. Very well framed. John, if you can try to unmute one more time, that'd be awesome. There you go. John, welcome in. Thank you for being part of the two way experience. Beautiful background. I wish it were real, but I fear it's not.

[E]

Oh, it's real, it's real. It's Yukon territory.

[B]

Yeah. Where you, where, where are you located, John? And what's on your mind for Sean and David?

[E]

Well, presently I'm in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hello to you all.

[B]

Hello.

[E]

The border patrol and ICE have started their. Have been doing their enforcement protocols. They've started in a few cities and they've publicized that there are a number of cities more to go.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[E]

Now, the optics of these operations, and we see them in Charlotte, they play locally. They may not play to San Francisco city across the United States, but locally they play the optics as justified as they may be with the huge Tahoes, the uniforms, the masks. And also what's a big news item here in Charlotte, as some news institutions have reported, principally CBS. Of the first 600 people that have been apprehended, less than 3% have criminal records of some kind.

[D]

Right.

[E]

Also.

[C]

Where they.

[E]

Whether the protocol is also apprehending people who have established themselves here, they're not recent immigrants, for example, and the separation children, it doesn't look good. Okay. I don't want to get into the morality of it. My question is this, as this happens from city to city, it's not isolated here to Charlotte.

[B]

Right.

[E]

Is this going to hurt? I realize it may not be the first, the highest priority for a voter.

[D]

Right.

[E]

But will this, if they continue this way, will this hurt Republicans in elections? You know, midterm elections?

[B]

Yeah, great, great question. Great question, John. Sean. And then Dan, People don't like it here. Yeah.

[C]

So there's an interesting stat that came out from the local news in Charlotte on Monday, the first day of enforcement. 20% of the total enrollment. 30,000 kids didn't show up that day, obviously out of concern that they weren't in the country legally. At least that's what the local.

[E]

That's not that. Not all those were illegals.

[C]

Okay. Yeah, that's.

[E]

Well, you just said they were in the country illegally.

[C]

I actually said local news was reporting that, so I'm quoting you. You know, again, this is.

[E]

No, there weren't. But go on.

[C]

I actually. John, it's not debatable. I have the clips from your local stations. It's not. It's not a debatable Fact, what they aired. You may, you and I don't have to agree.

[E]

I'm reading the Observer.

[B]

Okay, okay, John, John, hold on. Because, because we're up against the clock. So let Sean finish.

[C]

Look, I, I think at the end of the day, depending on how they execute this stuff, but if you look at how it's going city by city, a lot of people are very pleased with the fact that their cities are safer, Washington D.C. being one of them here. But there's a lot of folks that, when you talk to people in some of these areas, say, you know what, it is safer, it is better how they execute them. And I think that the administration has gotten better in each iteration. But the bottom line is, is, is, you know, look, every time you hear about somebody in this country getting killed, attacked, you know, drivers with CDL licenses that don't speak English, they, that's a problem. And I think that if we don't have a country where we have a rule of law, we have a problem. And so I think I get why people who don't like that, who want open borders, don't want it. But I think for most Americans who feel a sense of safety and concern for their community, and frankly, the other dirty secret about this, which I find kind of ironic, is if you think about these large cities, Charlotte included, these are not, these are blue areas. It's not like the President's trying to win reelection. He's actually spending a ton of political capital in areas and on voters that didn't support him.

[B]

Dan, real quick, if you can.

[D]

Yeah. I think if the conversation is about reducing crime, it's still friendly territory for Trump. If the conversation is about deporting people beyond criminals, bullshit, It's a loser for him. And this is another example. Closing the southern border is a win. This stuff is not popular. You'll see candidates walking away from it.

[B]

Yeah. Before we tell you about what's coming up, it's exclusive video obtained by Two Way in the morning meeting here. This is from the Oval Office. I don't think you all have seen this anywhere else, but more on the Ronaldo Trump relationship. Pretty interesting what they ended up doing in the Oval.

[D]

I mean, the hair is amazing for that.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

God bless.

[B]

Good, good footwork.

[D]

Oh, yeah, he's right.

[B]

Dan, tell us about the very special episode of the group chat at 4 o' clock today.

[D]

Well, we'll be breaking this video down, no doubt, as we always do, with our, you know, football segment here. Emma, Jo, Nina, Robbie and I will be on the group chat today. At 4 o', clock, we'll talk about Mandani in New York and other topics of the day. So join us live at 4 o'.

[B]

Clock today, 6 o' clock tonight. Amber Duke of the Daily Caller, Democratic strategist Jaime Moore will join me six o' clock on two WAY tonight. And we'll have a lot of coverage of the Cheney funeral. I'm super interested in that. And of course, Caroline Levitt's briefing. All the news today, 7 o', clock, Michael Moynihan streams on YouTube with Megan McCain, host of Citizen McCain on the Moynihan Report. Sean?

[C]

Well, we got we're going to break down the video, actually. I'll show that video from the local news in Charlotte tonight. We've got a lot of other issues like Epstein talk affordability, the courts. With the panel tonight, Adam Gillette, president of Accuracy and Media, Sarah Gonzalez of the Blaze and Caroline Downey of National Review.

[B]

All right, tomorrow, just to let you know now, Two Way tonight will be live at 4pm 4pm tomorrow, I'll be from a special location. See you at 4pm and then again, remember, next week, no, no morning meeting. No two Way tonight, Thanksgiving break for us as we do every year for next week. We'll be back December 1st, but the three of us will be back tomorrow, 9am Eastern time. And of course, we'll have winners, losers of the week and what to look for going forward. Gentlemen, looking forward to it. See you then.

[D]

Hello, Sa.