2WAY Morning Meeting

Episode: Trump Trades Insults With Schumer; IRS Eyes Criminal Probes of Funders of Violent, Leftist Groups

Date: October 16, 2025
Panel: Mark Halperin (Host), Sean Spicer (Former Trump Press Secretary), Dan Turrentine (Democratic Strategist)

Overview

In this fast-paced episode, Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, and Dan Turrentine gather for their daily, insider “Morning Meeting,” offering a panoramic preview of the big political stories shaping the news cycle. Today’s discussion orbits three major axes: the anticipated NYC mayoral debate and campaign tactics, the evolving government shutdown and Senate wrangling, and a volatile new report that the IRS may be targeting progressive funders for criminal probes. Filtered through sharp banter and partisan ribbing, the show also tackles the latest in US foreign policy, Pentagon press freedoms, and viral stories from both left and right. The atmosphere is energetic, candid, and combative—just like a real roundtable inside a TV news executive suite.

Key Discussion Points

1. NYC Mayoral Debate: Preview and Tactics

Timestamps: 01:47–09:50

• Debate Mechanics: The debate features Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa, with coverage span across WNBC and digital partners. The team plugs their own pregame and postgame coverage alongside the New York Post.
• Candidate Strategy:
  • Cuomo's Challenge: Dan Turrentine notes Cuomo needs to undermine Mamdani’s authenticity and “bring him down into the mud” by attacking his flip-flopping on issues (04:42).
  • Moderator Focus: Spicer insists, “He [Cuomo] has to light himself on fire... something has to happen tonight that is either so drastically great for him or so horrible for Mandani that someone writes about it tomorrow.” (05:55)
  • Discussion about Sliwa’s unpredictable role: whether he will attack Mamdani, Cuomo, or both, and how that might shift the calculus (06:46).

Notable Quote:

“He [Cuomo] has to buy a fireworks show. There has to be something that someone tomorrow… writes about it.” – Sean Spicer (05:55)

2. The Shutdown: Senate Maneuvers and the House Impasse

Timestamps: 10:45–13:38

• Current State: The Senate faces another failed procedural vote on the Defense Appropriations Bill, with clear party split on the key sticking points.
• Negotiating Deadlock: Spicer likens the situation to an Austin Powers scene—“Why is no one asking the Democrats just give us exactly what you want... it becomes more and more amorphous.” (12:06)
• Who's Blocking What: Dan points out Speaker Johnson is the critical obstacle, not just Thune or Senate Republicans, accusing the House of refusing a vote on ACA credits.

Notable Quote:

“Trump’s got to go to Johnson and say, we’re gonna do this, and the Duma will salute.” – Dan Turrentine (13:02)

3. Israel, Gaza, and the Peacekeeping Dilemma

Timestamps: 13:38–18:42

• White House Position: Officials are vague about plans for peacekeeping forces and there’s ambiguity on all sides about demands for disarming Hamas and returning bodies.
• Time Pressure in Gaza: Dan summarizes: “Who controls the streets? ... If Hamas is racing to reestablish, you’re not trying to fill a blank slate. You have to dislodge them.” (15:00–15:26)
• World Reaction: Mark wonders if Israel’s threatened actions would trigger global condemnation, with Dan clarifying it depends on proportionality and civilian casualties.

4. China Relations and The Drumbeat Over India’s Oil

Timestamps: 18:42–20:41

• Prepping for Xi-Biden Meeting: Spicer recommends careful agenda-setting with China: “They don’t like surprises... you want to have a work plan. Especially with China, they tend not to like that kind of stuff.” (19:33–20:03)
• India Oil Sanctions: Trump claims India will stop buying Russian oil; Dan and Sean agree there’s no confirmation and skepticism is warranted.

5. IRS and Political Weaponization: Investigating Liberal Groups

Timestamps: 20:41–26:41

• Breaking News: Wall Street Journal reports IRS is restructuring to probe liberal funders tied to violent groups (e.g., Soros).
• Historical Parallels: References to both Nixon’s and Obama’s (Lerner & Lois) IRS scandals.
• GOP’s Dilemma:
  • Spicer: “I don’t like the IRS being weaponized for a million reasons because I know what the left will do.” (24:09)
  • Dan: “It’s crazy how blatant Trump is getting of like, yeah, we’re doing this. And you [Congress] ... will simply be mute.” (22:34, 23:26)
• Double Standards: Both sides lament how, when in power, the opposition’s outrage at politicized probes is “hypocritical.”

Notable Quote:

“The one thing that does appear to be new is we’ve never had a president overtly sit there ... in public to go get somebody.” – Dan Turrentine (26:00)

6. Pentagon Press Ban and the Fight Over Reporting ‘Privilege’

Timestamps: 26:41–38:53

• Reporting Restriction: New Pentagon policies sharply limit access; reporters are banned from moving freely or publishing classified info.
• Press Freedom Clash: Heavy disagreement—Mark rails: “To say that it’s a privilege to be able to cover the Pentagon is bullshit.” (33:03)
• Institutional Critique: Dan: “Government lies, government cheats, government does things they’re not supposed to do. You should never trust your government.” (34:16)
• Contrast with Other Departments: Sean points out reporters can’t just walk into HHS, but Mark and Dan insist Pentagon’s unique power demands transparency.

Notable Quote:

“It’s the ability of the American people to be confident that the press will hold accountable the Department of Defense ... which kills people and spends a ton of our tax money and is now running free with no reporters in the building.” – Mark Halperin (33:50)

7. Group Chat Scandal: JD Vance’s Response

Timestamps: 36:53–37:59

• Story Recap: A group chat involving offensive messages has caused firings; JD Vance claims “it's no big deal.”
• Political Fallout: Dan thinks the story is fading, but criticizes Vance for doubling down instead of denouncing divisiveness.
• Dem Contradiction: Sean highlights Democrats ignoring problematic behavior by their own (Virginia AG candidate), arguing both sides lack accountability.

8. Open Forum: Audience Questions & National Service

Timestamps: 42:50–54:42

• Audience Engagement: Topics include press freedom (praise for Bari Weiss), news business models, bipartisan discussions, and the merit of a national service program.
• National Service: Broad agreement that a military or civic national service would benefit “buy-in” and unity, with details to be worked out.
• Media Business Models: Dan is baffled news orgs don’t court a broader, cross-partisan audience—“Why would you not try to appeal to both sides and bring in a bigger audience?”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sean Spicer on Debate Stakes:

  “He has to light himself on fire. He has to buy a fireworks show.” (05:55)

• Mark Halperin on Pentagon Press Ban:

  “To say that it’s a privilege to be able to cover the Pentagon is bullshit.” (33:03)

• Dan Turrentine on Government Trust:

  “You should never trust your government. This is from a Democrat who spent a lot of time in government. I would not trust them.” (34:16)

• Dan Turrentine on IRS Weaponization:

  “It’s crazy how blatant Trump is getting of like, yeah, we’re doing this.” (23:26)

• Listener Greg Kelly (ex-military/pundit):

  “The military lies, but so does the media... They have disgraced themselves so many times.” (39:48)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Topic/Segment | Timestamp | | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------- | | NYC Mayoral Debate Preview | 01:47–09:50 | | Shutdown Dynamics – Senate & House | 10:45–13:38 | | Israel/Gaza – Time Pressure & Peacekeeping | 13:38–18:42 | | China Relations, India Oil | 18:42–20:41 | | IRS to Probe Liberal Funders | 20:41–26:41 | | Pentagon Press Ban Debate | 26:41–38:53 | | Group Chat Scandal – JD Vance | 36:53–37:59 | | Open Forum Audience Q&A (National Service, More) | 42:50–54:42 |

Tone & Takeaways

• Style: Fast-moving, pointed, with a mix of political insider expertise, Beltway cynicism, and humor. Friendly but tough sparring among panelists.
• Themes: Accountability—both parties’ double standards, the rise of media and government institutions working in their own interest, and the critical (but contested) role of a free press.
• Audience Value: Perfect for listeners wanting a “war room” perspective on what’s driving today’s news, with unfiltered debate, honest disagreement, and a sense of fun—even when the stakes are high.

For more context and the full debate coverage, tune in to 2WAY Tonight at 6pm, and join the Morning Meeting live each weekday morning!