2WAY Morning Meeting | Sept 4, 2025

Episode: Trump Reported To Be Offering NYC Mayor a Job in Effort To Stop Zohran Mamdani: Will It Work?

Hosts: Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, Dan Turrentine
Theme: Trump’s intervention in the New York City mayoral race, the current state of U.S. politics, economic data, and Redistricting politics.

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This jam-packed episode dives into the day's hottest political intrigue: Donald Trump allegedly offering NYC Mayor Eric Adams a job to exit the mayoral race, aiming to clear the field against left-wing contender Zohran Mamdani. The hosts—across the political spectrum—run through breaking news, economic signals, legal battles on tariffs, and evolving dynamics in criminal justice and redistricting. The Morning Meeting provides a sharp, inside look at how the day’s news might unfold and what matters most for the parties involved.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Breaking: Trump’s “Job Offer” Maneuver in NYC Mayoral Race

• Background: Reports indicate Trump’s advisers are trying to lure Eric Adams out of the mayoral race with a federal job, potentially to clear the way for an Andrew Cuomo mayoral bid and block Zohran Mamdani’s momentum.
• Host Analysis:
  • Mark Halperin: Asserts the Morning Meeting broke this story first, highlighting that Adams’ evasive answers suggest almost certain withdrawal unless he "changes his mind"—noting Adams’ mercurial nature and questionable truthfulness.
    "He’s headed to get out of the race unless he changed his mind. He’s a mercurial guy and not a, not a guy with the strongest fidelity to the truth." (08:52)
  • Panel Play-Act: Hosts role-play Cuomo’s comms team strategizing how to handle Trump’s public support:
    • Dan Turrentine: Focus the message on “real lives of real people,” ignore the Trump endorsement rabbit hole. (12:13)
    • Sean Spicer: If you’re Cuomo, distance yourself: “I’m not seeking any [endorsement], the only endorsement I’m seeking [is from] New York every day.” (12:46)
    • Mark Halperin (as intern): “Other people can focus on jobs for politicians, failed politicians. I’m going to focus on getting jobs for real for you.” (13:13)
• Probability Bets:
  • Adams Exiting: 85–90% (Mark, Sean)
  • Likelihood Mamdani Wins: 55% (Dan, down from 60%), 75% (Mark & Sean), acknowledging uncertainty remains as field-clearing is still ongoing (15:33).

2. National Political News

• President's Day: President on a call with Europeans and Zelensky about Russia; reported stern words for Putin. Economic data is negative—potentially helping Trump make the case for Fed rate cuts. (05:52–08:09)
• SCOTUS Tariffs Case: Both sides seek a fast-track SCOTUS ruling on Trump's tariff powers.
  • Dan: Expects court will uphold tariff powers this year.
  • Sean: Less certain, highlights debate over Emergency Powers Act and constitutionality. (16:56–17:40)

3. Ukraine & Russia

• Tough Calls for Trump: Is Trump going all-in on sanctions and military support for Ukraine, or splitting the difference?
  • Sean: Thinks Trump may try to split the difference, with tone/tenor of ongoing EU calls being critical; asserts some land will likely end up with Russia as part of a deal (not endorsing, just analyzing).
  • Dan: Predicts Trump will ultimately support arming Ukraine over the winter, keeping options open until spring. (18:32–20:50)

4. White House Donor Dinner – Tech Elites Only

• Big private dinner for tech leaders at Mar Lago: Exclusions/inclusions analyzed; Musk not invited, Sam Altman present.
  • Sean: Frustrated at “rewarding” tech donors who previously shunned Republicans.
    “We should not be rewarding and moving up in the line people who treated them... horribly.” (23:32)
  • Mark: Notes some in tech are now “real converts.”
  • Dan: “This is just to cement financial support from the tech community for Republicans.” (21:48)

5. RFK Jr. & the CDC – Senate Finance Hearing

• RFKJ Targets CDC: Kennedy releases a video blasting CDC’s COVID response, calling out “politicized science” and “drift.” (25:27–26:23)
• Hosts’ Takes:
  • Sean: RFKJ’s messaging will rally the MAGA base, even as mainstream media cover him skeptically; “two different worlds” will view the hearing differently. (26:48)
  • Dan: Hits the hypocrisy—half of RFKJ’s list of CDC failures was “under Donald Trump.” Advises Democrats to defend Trump’s vaccine speed, use pro-science messaging, and challenge Republicans on vaccine requirements for public schoolchildren. (28:21)
  • Sean: Notes political risk for GOP as Florida ditches vaccine requirements. (30:21)

6. Epstein Case – Congressional Disclosures

• Brief Segment: Hosts discuss efforts to block further disclosures in the Epstein/Maxwell case. Consensus is that desire for secrecy is about "not wanting names coming out," and any resistance just keeps the story alive.
  • “Every time that there’s a resistance to this, it just continues the issue.” (34:20, Sean)
  • Dan notes Members of Congress could soon begin naming names due to Congressional immunity (33:28).

7. Media Industry News

• Barry Weiss To CBS News: Reports surface that journalist and free press leader Barry Weiss is being courted for a top CBS News role after a $200M acquisition, possibly to shake up the organization.
  • Dan: Key is whether she has power to “clean house.”
  • Sean: Sees her role as likely focused on digital and content innovation, not management.
    “To be honest with you, I’m actually disappointed... what she has built has been a real testament to the future of journalism and not being caught up in corporate legacy stuff.” (37:42)
  • Mark: Warns Weiss about the meeting overload at a TV network. (39:13)
  • Consensus: Deal likely to close.

8. Senate Races – Sununu Eyes NH

• John Sununu’s Possible Senate Bid: Sununu says he’ll decide within a month on returning to the Senate, seen as the White House pick.
  • Mark: Sununu likely wins the GOP primary with Trump’s support but could face a tough general against Rep. Chris Pappas.
  • Sean: Sununu name/brand still powerful statewide.
  • Dan: Democrats confident they can hold, but it will be costly in a blue-leaning state. (40:44–43:49)

9. Redistricting & Control of the U.S. House [Q&A]

• Audience Question: About the impact of redistricting and ballot initiatives in California and red states.
  • Dan: GOP could gain 7–13 net House seats if efforts succeed; CA ballot initiative faces tough odds but is crucial if Dems are to offset GOP gains elsewhere. (49:03–50:34)
  • Sean: California result is “huge”—could immediately negate Texas gains, citing $100M expected to be spent on the initiative. Trump’s team is “all in” on maintaining House control. (53:12)

10. Democrats, Crime, and Law Enforcement—Listener’s Point

• Listener Statement: "Democrats could easily and cheaply win back police and public trust by publicly backing law enforcement, which they have not done for ten years." (53:18–54:28)
  • Sean: Agrees, says recruiting is a “disaster,” and Democrats have made cops into a “boogeyman.” (54:28)
  • Dan: Admits party drifted too far in reform efforts post-2015 and after George Floyd, leading to a “quiet walk-back” of weak-on-crime policies; party must reconcile with mistake of treating police as a problem. (55:58)

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• "I would say 90, 85%. Because, because he's so mature. But, but it's, it's happening." —Mark Halperin on chance Adams exits the race (14:07)
• "Other people can focus on jobs for politicians, failed politicians. I'm going to focus on getting jobs for real for you." —Mark Halperin (as 'intern'), on Cuomo’s potential line (13:13)
• "We should not be rewarding... people who treated them right like horribly." —Sean Spicer, on tech donors getting access at White House donor event (23:45)
• "The Democrats’ chance to own an 80/20 issue because the vast majority of this country believes in science. They do not think the CDC is entirely corrupt and the deep state... Focus on transparency and accountability." —Dan Turrentine, on CDC debate (28:21)
• "I believe that there is a perception that they somehow believe this is against them." —Sean Spicer, on the resistance to Epstein file disclosures (33:07)
• "CA result is huge...could immediately negate the gains in Texas, but it would also shore up swing [Dem] seats." —Sean Spicer, on redistricting (50:35)

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• Trump warning, NYC mayoral race intrigue: 08:09–16:01
• Play-Act: Cuomo Messaging Strategy: 12:11–13:54
• Predictions: Adams, Sliwa, Mamdani: 14:07–15:58
• Tariffs, SCOTUS, and economic data: 16:01–17:53
• Ukraine/Russia status: 17:58–20:50
• White House tech donor dinner: 21:13–24:56
• RFKJ/CDC hearing preview: 25:27–29:55
• Epstein/Maxwell case, Congress disclosure: 31:45–34:53
• Barry Weiss, CBS News acquisition: 36:08–39:13
• Sununu, NH Senate race: 40:44–44:23
• Redistricting & California initiative: 48:05–53:12
• Democrats' law enforcement narrative: 53:18–57:42

CONCLUSION

This episode captures a pivotal political moment, both locally (NYC) and nationally, as Trump leverages every tool to reshape the political field ahead of the 2026 cycle. Through insider banter, play-acted strategy, and unfiltered analysis, the hosts break down the cascading effects of backroom deals, legal battles, and shifting coalitions. Whether it’s Trump’s maneuverings, SCOTUS, RFKJ’s congressional performance, or California’s critical ballot initiative—the team shows why following the day’s “morning meeting” is as close as you’ll get to sitting in the with the newsmakers themselves.