Trump's 747 Media Huddle, Ordnance Over the I-5 and Predictions on What’s Next for the Shutdown

Summary

2WAY Morning Meeting: Trump's 747 Media Huddle, Ordnance Over the I-5, and Predictions on What’s Next for the Shutdown

Date: October 20, 2025
Hosts: Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, Dan Turrentine
Episode Overview:
This episode convenes top media and political veterans to preview the major events and narratives shaping the day's—and week's—news cycle. The trio moves briskly from unfolding drama in the Middle East and high-level White House huddles, to shutdown politics, 2028 race dynamics, and colorful stories from the campaign trail. Trump’s marathon media session aboard Air Force One, the ongoing government shutdown, Governor Newsom’s clash with the military over I-5, and the tangled New York City mayoral race receive deep dive analysis. Lively audience Q&A closes out the meeting.

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Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. White House & International Schedule (00:57–04:15)

• President’s busy day includes greeting the Australian Prime Minister and celebrating LSU baseball champions.
• Sean: Teases potential “fireworks” in the White House bilateral meeting with Australia.
• Mark/Dan: Discusses the nuances of LSU and Louisiana baseball victories.

Quote:
“Sub talk. Presumably bilateral meeting...shrimp on the barbie, etc.” – Mark (01:34)

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2. Middle East: Gaza Talks, Hostages & White House Players (05:15–09:14)

• Trump’s “tough but proper” rhetoric on Hamas and maintaining the ceasefire after a fiery weekend.
• The diplomatic value of VP presence: not everything can be solved by Zoom—physical meetings signal US commitment.
• Hosts debate whether the VP will engage in high-profile or subdued photo ops on his Middle East trip.

Timestamps & Quotes:

• [05:50] Trump on Gaza:
  “It’s going to be handled toughly but properly.”
• [07:53] Sean, on in-person diplomacy:
  “There's something about having the Vice President in the room at critical moments.”

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3. Russia-Ukraine: Zelensky, Trump, and the Art of the Deal (10:08–14:07)

• Reports of Trump pressuring Zelensky to accept current battle lines; hosts debate if Trump is now “back on Team Russia.”
• Dan speculates Putin’s manipulating Trump’s desire for a peace deal.
• Sean doubts a Trump-Putin summit is imminent, noting both leaders’ caution.

Timestamps & Quotes:

• [11:06] Trump on Ukraine:
  “What they should do is just stop at the lines where they are, the battle lines. The rest is very tough to negotiate.”
• [12:15] Dan:
  “A master class in how to insert yourself in with Putin's call…Trump wants a deal.”

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4. US-China Relations: Xi, Trade, and Tariffs (14:54–20:32)

• Scott Bessant recounts tense talks with a “slightly unhinged” Chinese trade official and hints the US has leverage beyond rare earth minerals.
• Trump vows to demand China buy US soybeans and take action on fentanyl—otherwise, no deal.
• Discussions on Xi’s concerns about tariffs and pressures from China’s economy.

Timestamps & Quotes:

• [16:16] Bessant:
  “China would unleash chaos…We have things more powerful than the rare earth export controls.”
• [17:55] Trump:
  “I want China to stop with the fentanyl…they're going to buy soybeans. Otherwise, I'm not going to make a deal.”

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5. Government Shutdown Chess (20:32–23:47)

• Dan predicts a deal by November 1; Sean is skeptical, noting shifting Democratic “win” definitions and lack of public urgency.
• Sean emphasizes the shutdown’s uneven impact: most Americans unfazed, but federal workers are hurting.

Timestamps & Quotes:

• [21:25] Dan:
  “This is going to end around November 1, the end of next week is my prediction.”
• [23:14] Sean:
  “You still gotta pay your rent this week, you gotta pay your car payment…life goes on.”

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6. Ordnance Over I-5: Newsom vs. Vance (23:47–26:46)

• Military accident prompts a political clash: Newsom ordered I-5 shut over Marine objections, then claimed political victory.
• Sean sees Newsom’s move as political gamesmanship; Dan says the facts favor Newsom for now.

Quote:

• [25:39] Sean:
  “Newsom was trying to play a game of political chicken…I think he lost and we’ll see where it turns out big picture.”

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7. NYC Mayor’s Race: Mandani, Cuomo, and Sliwa (26:46–31:01)

• Close polls, negative press vs. positive spin, and Andrew Cuomo’s fiery response at a recent debate.
• The only scenario for a Cuomo upset: Sliwa makes a public deal to endorse and serve in Cuomo's administration to bring Republican voters over.

Timestamps & Quotes:

• [28:45] Cuomo:
  “Freeze the rent is his answer, which is there’s no such thing…The Democratic Party…have become disconnected from mainstream working families.”
• [30:11] Sean:
  “What you would have to do is…Sliwa would have to go out and say, I’m not only endorsing Cuomo, but when you vote for Cuomo, you’re kind of voting for me…”

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8. State Races: NJ & VA Governor Contests (31:49–38:25)

• Both parties project uncertainty in NJ; ground game and turnout key. Sean: “It’s Cheryl’s to lose.”
• VA: Abortion emerges as a pivotal late-breaking issue.
• Speculation over which national figures (Obama, Trump, JD Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, Josh Shapiro) will stump for whom.

Quotes:

• [33:31] Sean:
  “I think it’s Cheryl’s to lose…but this is all going to be about get out the vote…”
• [38:46] Sean:
  “It’s Obama, Obama…in Virginia, it’s going to be Vivek Ramaswamy.”

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Notable Audience Q&A Highlights

9. Argentina & Venezuela (39:04–41:20)

• Question about Scott Bessant’s plans and US strategy.
• Sean unclear on Argentina, sees symbolic moves to support allies; Dan suggests “regime change” agenda in Venezuela, possible collision with Chinese interests.

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10. JD Vance, Leadership, and Republican “Tribalism” (43:24–49:10)

• Caller Michelle criticizes Vance’s weak response to MAGA young Republicans’ offensive chat texts, urging higher moral leadership.
• Sean defends Vance’s authenticity but acknowledges differing approaches; Dan agrees with the caller, warning that mimicking Trump could cost Vance politically.

Quotes:

• [46:36] Dan:
  “JD Vance keeps this up, he too will pay a political price for behaving like this.”
• [50:22] Michelle:
  “You have to actually be more forceful…Everybody hates what about-isms…we need to have some actual standards.”

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11. “No Kings Rallies” & Political Energy (51:14–55:10)

• Crowd observations: peaceful, aging, “therapeutic” energy.
• Dan sees rallies as base-mobilizing, but maybe just preaching to the choir. Sean jokes the energy might be misdirected, more therapy than activism.

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12. Marijuana, Guns, and the Supreme Court (55:10–56:57)

• Hosts weigh Supreme Court’s upcoming case on firearm rights for marijuana users; consensus: likely to strengthen gun rights, as with alcohol.

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13. New York Mayoral Front-runner Mandani’s Ties to Controversial Imam (57:02–60:13)

• Caller David expresses surprise at Mandani’s associations and tepid reaction in NY.
• Sean: Troubled by Mandani’s “failure to denounce” extremism and controversial views; Dan notes how political winds and voter priorities have changed.

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Other Noteworthy Moments & Quotes

• [06:44] Mark, on Leslie Stahl:
  “Leslie Stahl did an interview with Donald Trump, which is really one of the biggest outrages in television history as far as I’m concerned.”

• [22:06] Dan:
  “Daddy’s got to come in.” (On shutdown resolution, meaning Trump must intervene)

• [37:07] Mark:
  “I need four names...Who will be the highest profile surrogates who do rallies between now and Election Day?”

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Closing Remarks

As usual, Monday’s Morning Meeting delivered rapid-fire, high-level analysis leavened with banter, colorful inside stories, and candid disagreement. Whether handicapping Trump vs. Xi or dissecting campaign faux pas, the hosts aimed to forecast not just headlines, but the deeper threads at play. Audience questions provided grassroots texture, pushing the panel on accountability, leadership style, and the meaning of political movements. In the final tally, the episode captured the tense mix of drama, strategy, and uncertainty that defines a busy news week in modern American politics.

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Episode Navigation (Timestamps)

• 00:57: White House/Global Events Preview
• 05:15: Trump on Gaza Peace Deal
• 10:08: Russia-Ukraine Negotiations
• 14:54: China Trade, Soybeans, Xi Meeting
• 20:32: Shutdown Prognosis
• 23:47: Newsom/Vance/Ordnance Scandal
• 26:46: New York Mayor's Race
• 31:49: New Jersey & Virginia Races
• 39:04: Argentina & Venezuela Q&A
• 43:24: JD Vance & GOP Accountability
• 51:14: “No Kings” Rallies
• 55:10: SCOTUS: Marijuana & Gun Rights
• 57:02: Mandani Controversy/NYC

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If you missed this episode, this summary captures both the play-by-play and the color that makes 2WAY’s morning conversation a must-listen for the media and political insiders—and those who enjoy watching them spar.

Transcript

[Mark]

This is it.

[Dan]

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

[Sean]

It's not about to be over.

[Dan]

It's over.

[Sean]

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.

[Dan]

I was wrong.

[Sean]

There's a longer term existential threat that will arise when we create digital beings that that are more intelligent than ourselves. We have no idea whether we can stay in control. While others say that AI will usher in unfathomable abundance, I've always believed that it's going to be the most important.

[Justin]

Invention that humanity will ever make.

[Mark]

This really will be a world of abundance.

[Sean]

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.

[Mark]

Foreign welcome. It's a new week. It's the morning meeting. Thank you for joining. We have a big show ahead for you. Surprises, twists, turns and everything else. Raise your hand if you want in on the conversation. Presence at the White House today iheartmedia is the radio pool and the present schedule begins at 11. Public schedule when he greets the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia who hopefully will come bearing soft licorice.

[Sean]

I gotta be honest with you, I normally we just glaze over these things. This one could be fireworks, my friends. Trust me on that.

[Mark]

Yeah, a lot of sub talk. Presumably bilateral meeting which is currently open to the pool at 11:15. So stay tuned for a lot of gabbing, shrimp on the barbie etc. President has a bilateral lunch. Closed press after that and then the president meets with the LSU and LSU Shreveport baseball champions. Now what is that? Is that different divisions or different genders?

[Dan]

What are the two baseball teams?

[Mark]

Anybody know?

[Sean]

Okay, if you're Louisianan, put it in the chat. I, I under. I didn't know if that was like one one one division and one one the other like Shreveport's Division 2 or something.

[Mark]

Somebody will let us know. JP Vance presumably because he loves the Australians, but he had scheduled to head to the Middle East. We'll talk about that in a moment. Later in the week to join Jared Kushner and Witkoff. House is out. Mike Johnson has his usual 10am press conference with his colleagues and the leadership. Senate has another vote this afternoon on Groundhog Day to see if there's any change. No one expects there to be. The shutdown continues. Courts today, custom and border protection and ice officials here before a federal judge in Chicago to address use of force allegations. James Comey and the Justice Department Both file legal briefs today. Comey's team asked the case to be dismissed because of being selective and vindictively prosecuted. And the Justice Department's trying to get respected attorney Pat Fitzgerald off the case. He's a friend of Comey's and he's actually related to the case in terms of this practice. Comey has him using his friends to leak stuff to the press. So the Justice Department saying he shouldn't be allowed to be the defense lawyer. Gretchen Whitmer is in Florida for another day of fundraising and helping her party in other states later in the week. As I said, J.D. vance expected to head to Israel, Middle east tomorrow. Donald Trump at the end of the week heads to Asia, stops in South Korea, Malaysia and Japan, where he's expected to perhaps have his first face to meeting with President Xi since 1920. 19. Scott Besant is supposed to meet with the Vice Premier of China in Malaysia later this week. Amongst Jimmy Kimmel's guests this week, Tom Hanks and Ryan Reynolds. And Stephen Colbert's guests include Karine Jean Pierre, Emma Stone and Anderson Cooper. Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen. The Middle East.

[Dan]

Who does Gutfeld have? Do we know?

[Mark]

Don't know the answer to that. Is it you? Are you on Gutfeld? No. Okay. President United States talked up a blue streak on Air Force One flying home from Mar? A La yesterday. We'll play a bunch of that for you on various topics in just a moment. Again, if you here on the two way platform would like to be part of the conversation, please raise your electronic hand if you're watching on x or on YouTube. No, smack in the chat. Follow Dan's example, Sean's example. Peace, love and understanding. Presumption of grace to all. And gentlemen, I see you're both adorned in handsome gear from Fairway and Green. Available at a discount to members of the 2way community if they use the promo code 2way20. 20% off, go to fairway and green dot com. Or 2 go to 28 TV Fairway for the page on which you can enter the promo code and shop for not just products adorned with our logos and catchphrases, but on the entire site. 20% off using the promo code 2way20. Sean, what color are you wearing today? It's hard for me to see on my.

[Sean]

Oh, I knew that. It's like a purple. Yeah, I'm in Dan mode now. I'm in.

[Mark]

I don't. I don't. I don't have that one. I like that one.

[Sean]

I do too. I normally am not a pattern guy, but I Like color the pattern.

[Mark]

Very handsome.

[Sean]

Yeah, thank you.

[Dan]

And Dan, just, just classic blue today.

[Mark]

Classic Monday again, ladies and gentlemen, you'll never buy more comfortable clothes. Go to two way TV fairway right now. All right. As I said, the President talked up a storm. If you were looking at the facts on the ground in the Middle east over the weekend, you might say the deal is falling apart. But Jared Kushner and Mr. Witkoff either there or headed there, Vice president to follow. And actually all parties for the most part, are saying the deal's still on and they'll figure it out. Here's the President on Air Force One last night talking about Gaza 108, please.

[Donald Trump]

Well, we're going to have to see what's happening. We want to make sure that it's going to be very peaceful with Hamas. And as you know, they've been quite rambunctious. They've been doing some shooting and we think maybe the leadership isn't involved in that, you know, some rebels within. But either way, it's going to be, it's going to be handled properly. It's going to be handled toughly but properly.

[Sean]

Is the ceasefire still in place?

[Donald Trump]

Yeah.

[Mark]

Yes, toughly, but properly. Sean, I believe the Vice President was planning to go before the events of the weekend. But what, what's the purpose? Why does he need to be there? The Vice President, United States. Why does, why can't he just do it all by Zoom or Cisco Telepresence?

[Sean]

Interesting question. Jared and Witkoff had a really. I, I'm not a huge fan of 60 Minutes, even under the new ownership, but there was a really good interview last night and I got, I gotta.

[Mark]

Stop you there for this sidebar that how could Leslie Stahl be given a.

[Sean]

Dude, I, I, I was being kind.

[Mark]

I mean, Leslie Stall. Leslie Stahl did an interview with Donald Trump, which is really one of the biggest outrages in television history as far as I'm concerned. And yet she's rewarded with the exclusive.

[Sean]

I know.

[Mark]

In any event, continue down the path to explaining why, I think why the Vice President has to go to the Middle East.

[Sean]

Equal, equal outrage on that pin in it. Yeah, but, but I will say the one thing that was interesting is Jared shared this anecdote about when they were in the room and sharing how they sort of, I came to common understanding about some issues and there is something about having the Vice President in the room being able to work through any short term stuff, showing the US Commitment. There's a lot of fear about will the US Stand by stuff. And I think it's a huge symbol, and there's something to be said for being in the same room with somebody at critical moments. So I actually, it was a great anecdote that Jared shared about these moments and where Witkoff was able to bond and to identify with these folks through shared experience of losing a son. And those powerful kind of moments can happen over a zoom.

[Mark]

Yeah. Dan, are you bullish or bearish on the deal holding together at this point?

[Dan]

Bullish, because Trump wants it to happen. So I think the question is just how long is he tolerant of Hamas, and how long are the Middle Eastern partners tolerant of Israel's patrolling of the neighborhood? We'll see. I mean, I think he wants this deal. So Trump flips on a switch. Just question of how patient and tolerant is he gonna be?

[Mark]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Can I just say the one funny thing about this. Wrong word. The one interesting thing about this is we talked about the leverage fact that the hostages are released. So it's in Hamas's interest right now to really get this thing on, to keep it on track, because they've got the most to lose as far as I can see. If Israel goes in full bear, they're screwed.

[Mark]

Okay, sidebar or diversion. Doubling back. I took the question. You guys both consider yourself sports fans, don't you?

[Dan]

Yes.

[Mark]

Yeah. You do.

[Dan]

Very much.

[Mark]

Yeah. Apparently, both ignorant of the fact that the lsu, Shreveport.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mark]

Division.

[Donald Trump]

Division.

[Mark]

First perfect season in college baseball history. 59. 0. They went 59.

[Dan]

Not bad.

[Mark]

That's not bad.

[Sean]

59.

[Mark]

I mean, not bad. Anyway, so that's what. That's. That's what.

[Dan]

Yeah. And LSU won the nca.

[Mark]

That's what that's about. All right, just a quick yes, no question. Will the vice president, if he does, go to the Middle east, yes or no, will he do high profile photo ops, or will this all be private? High Prof. Photo ops, Sean, yes or no?

[Sean]

Medium profile photo ops. I mean, I don't think it's gonna. Because they. They got to be careful. You don't want to go too over.

[Mark]

The top, but he'll talk in public. He'll. He'll talk to the press? Yes.

[Sean]

Yeah. I mean, remember, he'll carry a small contingent on his plane. It's not the same size, but he will, Dan.

[Mark]

Will he? Will he. Will he be on camera talking to the press on this trip, or it all be private?

[Dan]

100%. And there will be little 20, 28 banners in the background. I think they're bringing him out there to start giving him the gravitas and Put him on that stage, start building the relationships. That is something no 20, 28 or can, can replicate.

[Mark]

Yeah, I think, I think that's part of it, but I think it's more as, as, as much credibility and stature as Jared and Witkoff have. They really want the, you know, as top of presence as they can have to try to hold some of these governments to the deal. Okay, Russia, Ukraine. The Zelensky meeting on Friday was painted as very positive with the President. Then the FD and then others reported that the President engaged in non stop screaming and profanity laced pressure on Zelensky after his conversation with Putin to basically fold and, and give, and give, give Russia a bunch of territory. The President played down the notion that the meeting was contentious on that now famous Air Force One press conference. This is the President. 109 please.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Friday you said you had a cordial meeting with President Zelensky. During that, during that meeting, did you tell him he needed to cede all of the Donbass region to Russia?

[Donald Trump]

No, we never discussed it. We think that what they should do is just stop at the lines where they are, the battle lines. You have a battle line right now. The rest is very tough to negotiate. If you're going to say you take this, we take that. You know, there's so many different permutations. So what I say is they should stop right now at the battle lines, go home, stop killing people and be done.

[Sean]

What do you think should happen with the Donbas region?

[Donald Trump]

Let it be cut the way it is. It's cut up right now. I think 78% of the, the land is already taken by Russia. You leave it the way it is right now, they can, they can negotiate something later on down the line. But I said cut and stop at the battle. I go home, stop fighting, stop killing people.

[Sean]

What do you think?

[Mark]

So Politico reports that the Ukrainians are talking about trying to get into the EU as opposed to NATO by the end of the year, which would threaten the Russians a lot. Two dogs not currently barking. Haven't heard the European reaction publicly on the record to what the President said or where John Thune is on the possible sanctions bill. Dan, I know you'll say it's no surprise to you, but it appears The President after 12 hour conversation is back on Team Russia.

[Dan]

Yeah, it's amazing. I mean a master class in how to insert, you know, yourself in with Putin's call. I mean, think about what Trump was saying.

[Mark]

You think you remind him of the pee tape. Like what do you Think he said no.

[Dan]

I just think Trump wants a deal. Right. He's feeling his oats, he's on a roll. He likes the idea that he's the global peacemaker here and this is driving him nuts. And I think Putin dangled the prospects of again, we may be getting close here, but you need to get them to stop talking about driving us out. And Trump jumped on it and Putin has said he wants all of donbas, not the 78%. So you know, it, it just, you go back to the same thing. Is he going to try to put pressure on Putin, Sean? I mean I, yeah, I just shake my head.

[Mark]

Where are we in terms of Putin Trump meeting? Is that in the cards currently or no or too soon to say?

[Sean]

I think it's too soon to say. I mean I, I think going and having his, he and the, and his aides probably realize if you go to Budapest, have a meeting and it, and it turns out like Alaska, that's not a good sign. So you know, I, I, I have a feeling that we're at a standstill right now and look over the next two weeks ahead of APAC and asean, there might be some, some further discussion on this. But I, I just, as I said last week, the, the issue that no one gets is that you go full Tomahawk on this and, and you're basically willing to admit that or put us in a potential World War III situation. I think everybody with a brain recognizes that. So this is one of those things where I think Trump felt like Putin would feel the pressure a lot more than he does. And I think Putin realizes that Trump doesn't want to go that far.

[Mark]

Yeah. The Washington Post ed board is blaming Hamas which conservatives find better late than never. Witkoff is busy with the Middle east and so Rubio is now taking the lead on trying to lay the groundwork with some pre, preco deliverables for a potential Trump Putin meeting. Several news organizations, Sean, have reported that, that the Europeans and the, and the Ukrainians are happy about that. Is there some notion that you know of that Rubio is more pro Ukraine than, than Witkoff is? I know, I know they, I know they see Woff as pro Putin in the sense that he spends, has spent a lot of time with Putin. But, but is, is Rubio thought to be, I mean he is hawkish on Russia. I'm just wondering is this change just because with Kaz busy or is there more to it?

[Sean]

I've not heard any rumblings that that's the case and I do think that There are a lot of people within the inner circle that feel like again that Europe needs to stand up a little bit more before we continue to do all the work. So I don't know if that's part of it or not, but there's definitely a little bit of rumbling about why hasn't you know, Europe's great at talking and telling everyone, telling the US what to do, but it needs to stand up a little bit more on its own.

[Mark]

Dan, if you were an advisor to John Thune, what would you tell him to do with the sanctions bill?

[Dan]

I mean it's meaningless. It's whatever Trump tells him to do, right? He has no power and he will never take on Trump ever.

[Sean]

Also, just remember the legislative process, whether it's Epstein or this, the bottom line is the president would have to sign it and he's not going to sign a sanctions bill undermining his own hand.

[Dan]

Thune serves at the pleasure of the president. President turns on him, Thunes out he is okay.

[Mark]

China president still a couple weeks away or not a week a week away from headed to Asia and and ostensibly meeting with Xi. Scott Besson, as I said, goes to Malaysia to meet with his counterpart. Here is a couple sound bites that are interesting. First, here's Scott Bessant talking about a Chinese trade official who he was dealing with who was reportedly just axed. This is 111 B please.

[Scott Bessant]

The A, B and C therefore we had to do D and that's not true is there was a lower level trade person who was slightly unhinged here in August. I think his name is Lee Kwong Gong and you know, threatening, saying that the China would unleash chaos on the global system if the US Went ahead.

[Mark]

With.

[Scott Bessant]

Our docking fees for Chinese ships. And this is clearly something that they were planning all along. I think that things can de escalate that we don't want to have to escalate. We have things that are more powerful than the rarers export controls that the Chinese want to put on. And sir, to be clear, this is China versus the world. It's not a US China problem. Good news is that this is IMF week. A lot of my counterparts or all my counterparts are here. We're going to be speaking with our European allies, with Australia, with Canada, with India and the Asian democracies and we're going to have a fulsome group response to this because bureaucrats in China cannot manage the supply chain or the manufacturing process for the rest of the.

[Mark]

Interesting that he says we have stuff more powerful than the rare earth. Wonder what that list includes. Here's the president last night on Air Force One talking about soybeans in China.

[Michelle]

President, on soybeans, are you confident that.

[Donald Trump]

You'Ll be able to get to buy soybeans? One of the things I want is China is going to buy soybeans. I want China to stop with the fentanyl, very, you know, normal things. I don't want them to play the rare earth game with us.

[Michelle]

But you want them to. But do you think they will make a deal on soybeans?

[Donald Trump]

I do believe, yeah, because otherwise I'm not going to make a deal. No, I want them to buy. Our farmers have been boycotted by China as a negotiating point. I don't want that. Our farmers are great, and in particular our soybean farmers, and I want them to start buying soybeans, beans, at least in the amount that they were buying before. And I believe they'll be able to do that.

[Mark]

Dan, will the president have a successful meeting with Xi?

[Dan]

I mean, if that's what the definition of success is in terms of, quote, we'll stop with fentanyl, which they keep saying, like, yes, we'll work with you on. They'll buy soybeans, which they'll say yes, and then they often just don't follow through. I mean, if that's what the definition is, then I guess, yes. But supposedly all of this is about a much bigger grand deal. I don't think that's going to happen here anytime soon.

[Mark]

Sean, what is Premier Xi come into this meeting worried about?

[Sean]

I mean, to some extent, I think the only thing you have to really worry about if you're him is will he actually put tariffs on and hold them on? I mean, they have a bit of a fragile economy right now, and I think he's got to worry. Will he keep them and put them on? That would be probably the only real. I mean, the docking fees and stuff like that, the interruptions in supply chain, because that affects them. That's really the bigger issue that I would worry most about if I were from the Chinese side. But I think we have a lot more issues that we need to be worried about. The president listed them off. You've got, as I've said for weeks now, a massive Midwest farming issue with the soybean problem. There's no other market they can turn to now. Latin America has been largely shut off. So this is a big, big problem for Argentina.

[Dan]

They're buying them from Argentina?

[Sean]

No, no, they're buying and that's there's.

[Dan]

A, well, there's all for us to us to export.

[Sean]

Right. But, but they, China's largely shut us out of that market as well as a, as a place that will purchase them. So we're now largely dependent, not largely, almost entirely dependent on China for the soybeans, which is a huge problem for, for our folks in the Midwest, which is largely Trump country, by the way. And then you've got the rare earth issues, there's some IP issues. I mean like we've got a longer list than they do is the bottom.

[Dan]

Line is and we have elections coming up and they don't.

[Mark]

Yeah. Although there's a good story today in the Times about the, the succession process for Xi and who might replace him someday. Someday, Someday. Okay, shut down. There's some Democrats who say we've talked about this before that maybe the way to end the shutdown is to basically say, okay, it's Republicans fault the premiums are going up, not get anything substantive, just get the political issue and put it in sharp relief. But my, my reporting suggests that's not, that's not that it's not a dispositive position right now. And they're certainly concerned that if they did do that, they'd be criticized by the base and, and they'd have given up. They'd have, you know, they'd done all this without getting anything in return. Let's just, because none of us know. Let's just one, one question, then we'll move on. Dan, does a shutdown move towards inclusion this week, move towards conclusion? In other words, is there any, is there any progress towards a deal?

[Dan]

Yes, I think below the surface. And this is going to end around November 1, the end of next week is my prediction.

[Mark]

Sean. Progress this week.

[Sean]

I, I, I, I got, I mean, I'll go with Dan. I hope it does. I just don't see it. And the reason is I, I, I've asked this question over and over again. Someone Thune has given them the vote, okay. And said you get what will guarantee you a vote. And then they keep saying but we need trillions in dollars and all of the Doge stuff brought back and a guaranteed on I mean Johnson, they need.

[Dan]

Johnson to agree and he won't. That's the problem.

[Sean]

But, but once Thune really does, I mean, I think Johnson will by the way, once the President tells him that that's going to happen, that's it.

[Dan]

Daddy's got to come in. Right, right, right.

[Sean]

But the bottom line is, the bottom line is that, that if Thune is giving you a vote. You have to decide on the Democratic side what is, what does a win look like? Because it's. This is not. They don't like, they're not saying that that's a win anymore. They're changing the goal.

[Dan]

They are. They, I mean, I hear you, but they are. It's Johnson.

[Mark]

Neither, neither side thinks they're losing the shutdown, to the contrary. So I'm not sure.

[Sean]

I don't. I'll tell you when you talk to people out. And I'd be interested in when people come on today, whether they. I keep asking people who don't live in the Beltway, do you know the government shut down? Do you feel it? And the answer largely is what are you talking about? Right. I mean, yes, if you have to get like a Social Security something or other, you do know. But for the most part, essential services have been open. Not people aren't feeling it in the same way. And therefore I don't feel there's this critical push unless you are a federal worker or in the armed services.

[Mark]

And I know I speak for such. I want to say we know some people are being affected. We're not saying no one is, we're just saying it's not.

[Sean]

Well, right. And I don't mean to be. Like I said, there are people who are seriously hurting because they're not getting their paychecks.

[Mark]

Yeah, exactly.

[Sean]

And it's not, and I will say this, I get it. I've been there before as a person who, you know, you get to take a loan or whatever, that's not how you want to live your life. So even if in the back of your mind you're thinking, I'm going to get paid, you still got to pay your rent this week, you got to pay your car payment. I mean, there's things that like life goes on for you and I get how difficult this can be. So it's. And which is why I think I'm still pissed about how some of this is being handled process wise. Because this affects a lot of people's lives in ways that people don't know. Like not being able to pay your bills. Yes, you might be able to go get a short term loan. It's not how you want to live.

[Mark]

Yeah. Okay. This weekend there was a contretemps between Vice President vance and California Governor Gavin Newsom. 10117, please. Basically, I'll read the LA Times headline to you. How military's quote, safe plan to fire munitions over I5 the big highway there went off the rails with a California highway patrol cruiser hit an artillery round exploded over Interstate 5 at Camp Pendleton, cutting short the military's live fire status. I don't want to, since we're a forward looking show, I don't want to relitigate what actually happened. But Dan, who got the better of this and who, who has the stronger hand in a 2028 matchup right now between Newsom and Vance?

[Dan]

Well, who got the better of the weekend is Newsom. Because the shell, you know, they closed the highway because they were fearful of something and something happened. So in that regard, like the facts are completely on his side. Right now it's a draw. I, I mean if they've been. Polls show it, it's a 5050 country and it's a 5050 race with 10% undecided. And they're both not really defined to the broader public, Sean.

[Sean]

So I just wanna make sure that the audience understands before we jump into this. There is an event. Marines are celebrating the 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton this weekend. Gavin Newsom publicly said that the White House should shut the interstate down. The Marine Corps said, we practice this all the time. We don't need to shut it down. Then Newsom said, then fine. So, but just to be clear, Newsom was critical saying, you guys are gonna shut down i5. This is ridiculous. Da da da da da da. He started complaining about it. The Marine Corps said, we do this all the time. We're not gonna request that it be shut down. Then Newsom flipped and said, well, I'll shut it down then if you guys won't. So he shut it down after saying.

[Dan]

That they were going to did the right thing.

[Mark]

But, but, but Sean, you can have 20 more seconds.

[Sean]

No, but this is why it's forward looking because I think that this is a game where Newsom was trying to score political points. At the end of the day, there is questions about what actually happened. Colonel Kurt Schlichter was there. He denies that this account by the New York Times and whatever ever. You know, there was no evidence that that occurred. We'll see what the investigation holds out. But the broader point is this Newsom was trying to play a game of political chicken. And I think that what it showed is that he's not in that league yet. He played a little game. I think he lost and we'll see where it turns out big picture. But this is a game where he's trying to be a little cute by half, trying to accuse the White House of something. Then Flipping his position. I don't think he's there yet.

[Dan]

All right, I got to jump in. This is the White House with their stunts, right? They like to do big stunt like flight decks. Put on your bomber jacket. You were shooting live munitions over one of the most active highways in America. Guess what? 5%, 1% chance something could go wrong. So if the shrapnel technically hit the highway or right next to the highway.

[Sean]

Shooting, and an investigation will prove whether that occurred or not. But the bottom line is.

[Mark]

Yeah, okay, I know it's New York City mayor's race. By all, all indications, it's over. Early voting starts next week. There's a debate on Wednesday. The New York Post single handedly is trying to hold Mondami accountable for controversies, et cetera. The Washington Post and New York Times are running pieces about how cool he is, how much he's charmed people, about what a great coalition he's built. Here's a new poll, 113 showing if it's effectively a two person race, new York Post calls it a bombshell. It's within the margin of error. Cuomo is much closer than he's been in two new polls than he was previously. Now, Sliwa may still get out of the race, I'm told, but even if he doesn't, Cuomo's theory is his vote total will go down so low that it will effectively be a two person race. Here's a fired up Andrew Cuomo on morning Joe this morning. 120.

[Andrew Cuomo]

So it's not a new issue. They're right about the problem. The rent is too darn high. But he has no real solution. You know, these are gimmicks, these are slogans. And freeze the rent is his answer, which is there's no such thing. You have to build affordable housing. It's supply and demand. We have a 1% vacancy and if you don't build housing, the rents are going to go up. And that's shame on you Democratic Party, because you haven't delivered the Democratic Party, I think the two main issues, they have become disconnected from mainstream working families who were our base, my father's base, Bill Clinton's base, President Obama's base. We're not at their kitchen table, number one. And number two, we don't produce.

[Mark]

Dan, has the is the opera over and the fat lady has sung or is she just still warming up and there's still time for a surprise new act?

[Dan]

I mean, until the election happens, there's always time. I'll just say, where's that Andrew Cuomo been. I mean, you had a debate the other night, like, and by Andrew Cuomo standards, that's passion. And I think his argument's a pretty darn good one. Look, you never say never. That poll post has a lot of, like, if the electorate's like, 20, 21, which I don't think it will likely be, you know, Slee was going to, I think, make the argument Cuomo should drop out. He's only a few points behind Cuomo. You never say never. I do still think that a lot of New Yorkers have not fully, you know, dialed into this. And when they sober up, it is possible that people just say, at the end of the day, I'm not going to just. I don't mean they're drunk, but, like, their lives are busy, you know? Yeah. Rhetorically speaking.

[Sean]

So two quick points. One, the idea that we in Virginia have been allowing early voting for weeks in New York, a liberal state, a liberal city, hasn't even started again, reminds me how ridiculous and out of hand early voting has gotten. That's. It's insane that it starts this early. That's my PSA on that. Here's the only scenario in which I will say that there's a possibility. If Mondami were to get taken down, Cuomo needs to go to Sliwa. Sliwa and promise him, make a deal where he's in the Cabinet. Give him something. Director of Public Safety, Overseer of all guardian angels. Okay, kitty cats.

[Mark]

He's boss.

[Sean]

Kitty cats. Here's why the idea of Sliwa dropping out. There's enough Republicans like me that still would not vote for a Democrat. Okay? So what you would have to do is to say sleep. Would have to go out and say, I'm not only endorsing Cuomo, but when you vote for Cuomo, you're kind of voting for me because I will be part of that administration. I'm going to have a seat at the table. And therefore, you can have. You can have a clean conscience and vote. But the only way this works, it's not just dropout. Dropout will get you most of Sliwa, but it could keep you 5, 6, 7%. Who of Republicans that want to commit their civic duty but will never vote for a Democrat. If you can believe that you are actually still voting for Sliwa because he's made a deal with Cuomo, then it works. That's the only scenario in which I possibly believe that there could be a different outcome. Otherwise, welcome, Mayor Mandami.

[Mark]

Okay. All right. Political Popery. And then your questions. If you're here on the platform, please raise your hand. We'd love some new folks to raise your hand. So if you've never asked a question before, please raise your hand. Platner, the main Senate candidate, the boys from Pod Save America, who normally like to cancel people for anything they say, found it refreshing the five minute video that Platner made to express regret over his recent statements. Bernie Sanders hasn't unendorsed him. So let's ask again, Sean, is Platner dead or. He's alive.

[Sean]

Oh, he's very alive in today's Democratic Party, Dan.

[Dan]

He's alive, but I don't think his odds of winning the primary are helped. Like I think now he's in trouble politically, but I don't think he's getting out.

[Mark]

Okay, let's talk about the two governors races. Interesting. My New Jersey Republican sources say it's still a blue state. We're going to fall just short. And my New Jersey Democratic sources say it's all over, we've lost. And so the parties are not in their normal mode of trying to project confidence. And then in New Jersey, Virginia, we'll talk about second, here's President Trump on the governor's races. 119, please.

[Michelle]

That's in a few weeks. Do you plan to endorse the lieutenant governor?

[Donald Trump]

I think the Republican candidate is very good and I think Virginia, she should win because, because the Democrat candidate's a disaster. So I haven't been too much involved in Virginia. I love the state. I did very well in the state. But I will tell you, I think the Republican candidate is excellent and I think the Democrat candidate is a disaster. I mean, I watched her in the debate. She couldn't answer the most basic question. And you know, a big thing with that race and also the race in New Jersey is going to be energy. Both of the Democrats are going to, to drive the energy prices through the roof. Through the roof.

[Mark]

Your energy turned off.

[Donald Trump]

If the.

[Mark]

I don't know that energy is a big issue in the races. But whatever. There's polling all over the map in both these races. Most of them show it close enough that any, either candidate could win. But, and here's a, here's a Republican poll done by Kellyanne showing she's from New Jersey showing the Democrat up by three and under, under 50% within the margin of error. Sean, who do you make the favorite in these two races currently and why?

[Sean]

I think it's Cheryl's to lose. That being said, this is all going to be about get out the vote. Who's got a better ground operation? This is within a field goal. This is where you're. So that benefits the Democrats. I think you've got a much bigger thing in North Jersey in particular where the machine can get out and go nuts and probably a little in the Philly suburbs as well. That sort of. Oh, my God. Who's the. Anyway, But I think that this is where the ground game is going to matter. Do they put enough boots on the ground to turn people out to go through that data?

[Mark]

Make sure you talk about the guy with the long hair. Is that you're talking about?

[Sean]

No, no, no. Who's the big boss?

[Dan]

Are there multiple bosses in Britain?

[Sean]

I know. No, no, no, no. In like Cherry Hill?

[Dan]

I don't know.

[Sean]

Anyway. All right, doesn't matter.

[Dan]

But.

[Sean]

But that. That whole machine in North Jersey and sort of the Philly suburbs, if they do their job. This is. Charles. To lose Cittarelli and the RGA and some of the outside groups. The key is, do they have. Have they put the investment in turning out the folks, making sure that there's a strong get out the vote operation on election day. I think that this is. I mean, all the polling shows this. The public polling, the private polling all shows it margin or error. But I think because of history and everything else, the edge goes to Cheryl. It's hers to lose. And we'll see. The momentum's with Jack Ciarelli, and I think there's a really good shot he pulls this thing out. But it's all about who gets their people out on elections.

[Mark]

Are you more bullish on your chances in Virginia?

[Sean]

I would say that I feel like it's a. Like I barely. I feel like if you look back to the last election, everybody got pulled over the line in Virginia. At the same time. We either, you know, I think it's actually, to be honest with you, it's the opposite. I think the bottom of the ticket right now, Miaris, is going to almost certainly win. I think John Reed is a. Is a push right now. He can put it over the top. And then Winston's. The tracking the. Not the. The opposite of the leading indicator, the trailing indicator right now, which is in a better spot than where Cittarelli is. I think she's closer. And the machine in Virginia is a little bit better to get out the vote.

[Mark]

Dan. It sounds like Sean is where I am, which is the base case is a Democratic sweep, which is what they should do in the year after the presidential. Is that where you are?

[Dan]

Yes. And I was texting with some people who are pretty familiar with New Jersey. I think they feel like Chitterella or I'm mispronouncing his name. The GOP candidate in New Jersey has stalled. That he has kind of hit 44, 45%. And to Sean's point and that polls point, Cheryl has stopped coming down. So you're frozen at this, like, 3% split. There's still some time left. But they're encouraged that his momentum, unlike, let's say, Youngkin in Virginia four years ago or something, has stalled. So. And they feel okay about Virginia at the top of the ticket right now. So cautious optimism, I think that they're going to win both and maybe the worst is behind. Cheryl.

[Sean]

You can see the shift in the ads in the last 48 hours on TV here in Virginia. You can tell Spanberger is definitely a lot more. She has gone much harder on winsome. The abortion issue is huge in Northern Virginia, and from what I gather from people in, like, the Tidewater area, they know that they're in trouble. And the one issue that they've gone back to is abortion. That tells you a lot about where the race is, in my opinion.

[Mark]

I need four names. Who will be the highest profile surrogates who do rallies between now and Election Day for each of the two candidates. Who are the highest profile for Election.

[Dan]

Day this November, not midterms.

[Mark]

Yeah, yeah. Who are the highest. Who will do the highest profile rallies between now and Election Day? I need two names, two Republicans, two Democrats. For the two candidates, Dan?

[Dan]

I think for the Democrats, Bill Clinton and Josh Shapiro.

[Mark]

Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton and Virginia. Josh Shapiro, New Jersey.

[Dan]

No, I think in both. I think I just.

[Mark]

I want one name for each state. For each.

[Dan]

Oh, all right. You didn't say that.

[Mark]

Well, I did. You just didn't understand me.

[Dan]

For Virginia, then I'll say if it's one, I'm going to say Barack Obama. For Virginia, I'll say Josh Shapiro. On the D side, I'm going to say. I mean, on the r side. Sorry, J.D. vance in Virginia, I'm going to say Trump in New Jersey and who's the Democrat?

[Mark]

And you're saying Shapiro, New Jersey and Trump in New Jersey.

[Dan]

Shapiro in Virginia.

[Mark]

I thought you said Barack Obama in Virginia.

[Dan]

No, Obama. Well, because I didn't realize how you were asking this Obama to New Jersey to try to get that north.

[Mark]

Obama and Trump, New Jersey. Vance Shapiro, Virginia.

[Dan]

Correct.

[Mark]

Sean.

[Sean]

Obama. Obama. I think he goes both. I mean, he's the highest profile guy you got, and frankly got out the base. I'll say JD In New Jersey or Trump, I don't think they've got whatever. And in Virginia, it's going to be Vivek Ramaswamy.

[Dan]

To get Northern Virginia to try to get.

[Mark]

It's Obama. Obama. And then I agree with Dan, it's Trump in New Jersey, Vance in Virginia. All right, now for your questions, please, as you come in, tell folks where you are who don't know what's on your mind for the great Dan Turnheim and the spectacular Sean Spicer. Justin, welcome in. Thank you for joining.

[Dan]

Boy, I guess you're a bull.

[Justin]

Thank you for having me. I am in Tyler, Texas, and my question is, what is next up in Argentina? What does besant have cooking? And also what, what's the end game in Venezuela?

[Mark]

Yeah, we've, we've neglected those issues more than we should have. There's just so much going on, Sean, those two countries, what's, what's up next?

[Sean]

You know, the Argentina one, I don't, I'll admit I defer to my colleague here. I don't fully appreciate what the play is if it's just helping out a buddy in Malay or if there's a bigger strategic, like. So I'm not entirely sure what the play is there. I mean, it literally could just be like, Malay's been a friend of the president and they're trying to help him out in Venezuela. I mean, clearly it's a signal that we're, we're going hardcore on people that we feel pose a threat to the United States. And they're, they're not willing to back down at all on that. And, and I, I mean, from what I understand in terms of, like, they feel like they're on solid legal ground on this. So I think you're going to see more of this.

[Dan]

Damn.

[Sean]

By the way, thanks to Sebastian and Aaron, it was George Norcross that I was thinking of. Thank you very much.

[Dan]

Isn't he in jail?

[Mark]

Yeah, I think he's in jail, Sean.

[Sean]

Yeah, that's still who I was thinking.

[Dan]

New Jersey.

[Sean]

It's New Jersey. Of course, you can still run a political operation from jail.

[Mark]

Probably easier.

[Dan]

Yeah, right. Dan. Dan, one of us has raised Argentina a few times. I cannot believe. I mean, this is to, like, Trump's point that he could rhetorically shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. Not one, but two bailouts of a country. And not that Argentina is unimportant, but. And not a peep. The base just goes, eh, okay, in Trump we trust Venezuela. I think there's going to be. I think we are somehow some way working on regime change. Be fascinating to see what the rest of the region says, because you know who has a lot of investment down in that area, not Venezuela, is China. Military installations in the mountains with satellites and other things. I'll be curious. It's our own backyard.

[Mark]

Justin. Thank you, Michelle. Welcome. And tell folks who don't know where you are what's on your mind for Sean and Dan.

[Michelle]

I'm in Virginia. Can you guys hear me? Okay.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Michelle]

Okay, let me. I'm gonna get rid of the chat because I'm gonna piss off a bunch of MAGA people. I was thinking recently about the Young Republican text and JD Vance's response. You guys may have covered this. I haven't been on in, you know, a few days just due to work and other conflicts and things. Started thinking about JD's response to that really, really rubbed me the wrong way. And there are a lot of sort of the Republican influencers and things like that that are actually, I. I don't like the response on it. I think that response is very, very easy. All you had to say is, that was gross. That was disgusting. That's a minimal. That's a minuscule part of the Republican Party. It doesn't represent the overwhelming constituency of the. The Republican Party. The Magda base, conservatives in general. They're disgusting, and they're nothing. They're nothing. We're moving on. And I just feel like this tribalism is. It's problematic and like, the MAGA slash conservative movement has worked so hard to kind of get the message out, to open the tent, to widen the base. And suddenly we have, you know, these little shitheads, I'm sorry, like, you know, up in New York or whatever, you know, saying terrible, terrible things. And I'm like, that's not us. That's not like the general. The general, you know, conservative base. So I'm really, really frustrated with Vance's response because he sort of just blew them off, and it is a problem. And the other piece of that is that I think Vance is making a really, really big mistake. And I think it shows immaturity. His mistake is. So I think he, you know, he's seen as the heir apparent, Right? And this is where I'm coming from, from that angle. His mistake is that he's trying to be somebody. He's not just like Newsom. They're both trying to be Trump. They're both trying to be combative, hostile, because Trump was effective. But That's Trump. Everybody liked Vance early on because he was this happy warrior, really articulate, really effective. He made his case in sort of a more of a gentleman way and very, very effective in that way. And he's breaking away from that pattern and he's more hostile, name calling, cursing. And I think that his, it's becoming less effective. He needs to go back to his, his, the, the original strategy, kind of his own kind of natural way of responding to these things. He's making a huge mistake and I think that he's immature in that way. And I worry a little bit about his leadership when I look about, look at Vance and Rubio, for example. I mean, Rubio has led team after team after team. I'm a little bit worried about that. I really think that a true leader is one that can actually delegate very effectively. Trump has proven that. Rubio has clearly proven that. I don't know about Dick Vance. So I just have kind of a general comment on what you guys think and how you respond to Michelle.

[Mark]

Michelle, let me ask you one question and then have Dan and Sean respond. It's usually difficult to know someone else's motives, but why do you think he's doing it?

[Michelle]

Why do you think Vance is responding in this way?

[Mark]

Yeah, why do you think?

[Michelle]

I think that he assesses like, you know, Trump is effective and I, it's feeding off of him. I, you know, Trump's effective in this way, I want to be effective in that way without actually realizing he is effective. He's effective in his own way, not in Trump's way.

[Mark]

Right. Okay, let's let Sean respond and then Dan. Sean.

[Sean]

Yeah, I, I mean, obviously Michelle, I respect your, your point of view and how you're seeing this. I, I, I think that he continues to be one of the most authentic people for exactly the, I actually see it a very different way. I see him, who he is, I think he's very authentic, very real. He doesn't hide it on a whole host of things. You look at how he reacted to Charlie Kirk, it was emotional, it was real, it was raw. I get sometimes, to Mark's point, we try to intone on what are they really thinking and why they do it. You know, he responds in the moment. Look, and I will say just big picture wise, the big difference between the two issues that came up, the individuals involved in that whole MAGA or Young Republicans. Young Republicans, they all have faced, every one of them, to my understanding, from some of the follow up reporting, has lost their job and fired, been canceled, which they Should. By the way, I'm fully in support of people who say this kind of insensitive, stupid, inane things facing consequences. Right? You look at what's going on. On the flip side, you have. We just had this discussion about Planter in Maine, and it's like, oh, okay, he blamed it on his army service, which is complete bs. It was racist. It was inappropriate. The language he used and did. Ken Martin, the DNC chair, comes out and says, you know, it's okay. You look at Jay Jones down in Virginia here. I mean, there is a big difference writ large and how we treat these outrages. So it's excused on one side, you face the consequences on the other. And so that's the bottom line on how both sides handle issues like this.

[Dan]

Damn, Michelle, I think you subconsciously, even though you weren't watching on Friday, heard my winners and losers of the week, because I 100% agree with you. He failed the common sense test, and he hasn't done it very often. But his behavior recently, it's an audience of one. It is trying to appease and mimic Donald Trump. The give no inch, always attack, front foot, belittle, put down. And I agree with you, that has not been J.D. vance's secret sauce. Marx likes to say he's MAGA with a suburban accent that reeks of more the other side of Trump. And as you say, for Trump, it's authentic. It's also part of what people don't love about Trump. They may say, okay, you know, it is who he is, but God, I wish he would stop. I totally agree with you. And I'll just say, Sean, all the other people you mentioned, they also failed the common sense test and are paying political prices. JD Vance keeps this up, he too will pay a political price for behaving like this.

[Mark]

Let me ask a question, okay? These guys wrote about race and Nazis, right? They didn't just write immature things. Is there anything. Given Vance's stand on unequal treatment and given its stand on, you know, anti cancellation, do you think there's anything that someone could, a Republican could put in a chat? The Vance would say, well, that goes too far. It's hard to imagine.

[Sean]

Well, just to be clear, just in fairness to the vice president, I have a feeling that if you asked him, JD Was making at that point a very political point, which is, we treat our side one way, you guys treat us. The difference you're not condoning. They have not canceled Jay Jones for threatening to kill his political opponents.

[Mark]

But as many people pointed out, he could Say, look at what happened to Jay Jones. The Democrats didn't do that. I'm gonna set an example, right?

[Sean]

No, no, and I agree with you. But my point is actually this, which is I think if someone were to ask him, say Mr. Vice President, you said this tweet, what do you think he would absolutely, in my opinion say, you know, God, what they wrote was reprehensible. I have no, they shouldn't be in this party. But I believe da da da da da. The point he was making in that single tweet was it is ironic to look at the difference between how one side treats folks and how the other side does.

[Dan]

I just respectfully disagree.

[Mark]

He doesn't need an invitation to do the right thing.

[Dan]

He had a few days before he responded. He had I. There is no way that he was caught flat footed when.

[Sean]

No, no, no, no. I'm not saying he was. You're missing my point. I think he was making an analytical point.

[Mark]

Hold on.

[Michelle]

I think so. Everybody here is a political consumer and the three of you are political commentators and experts. The, the pace of, of news feeds and media and the things that are thrown at us when you go to X and you're scrolling or wherever, it's, it's, it's, it's unmanageable. And so one tweet makes a difference, right? Like I'm, I'm speaking of that from a pretty like politically in tuned person. And jd, he, it was the wrong approach because I'm consuming his tweet and I'm saying what are you doing? What are you saying? You have to actually be more forceful and say rape's disgusting, Gas chambers are disgusting, these guys are disgusting. They don't represent us. And forget them. Like that's the point. It's not the what about isms. Everybody hates what about isms. It's a problem and we need to have some actual standards. You can still be forceful, you can still fight when it's okay to fight. You can still have accountability, but you have to be effective. And that might be the one message that somebody sees like me. And I'm like, what? Why did he do that? Why did he, you know, kind of thread the needle and have this political, you know, angle to it. I'm a complete, I'm a consumer of that. That's a problem.

[Dan]

And you, you voted for Trump three times, Is that, is that correct? And where in Virginia? You're in Virginia, is that right?

[Michelle]

Central.

[Mark]

Okay. Yep.

[Sean]

Have you voted early, Michelle?

[Michelle]

I did.

[Sean]

Did you vote for the whole, all the Right, people?

[Mark]

Yeah. Michelle. Michelle, thank you.

[Sean]

Just so we're clear, that's Abigail Spanberger.

[Dan]

Thank you for your vote. Thank you very much, Michelle.

[Mark]

Thank you, Michelle. Okay. Interesting question and conversation. Wallace, welcome in. Tell folks who don't know where you are what's on your mind.

[Dan]

I gotta. Wallace, you look a little like Phil Mickelson.

[Wallace]

Well, I'm not, I'm not much of a golfer, so. But I'll take it. So anyway, Wally Wood from Southern California. I was going to show you Mark that, you know, based on the interview the other day you did of Leland Bitters. I don't know, I can't show you this. I ordered the book that he, that he wrote.

[Dan]

Nice.

[Wallace]

My wife and I are going to read it anyway.

[Mark]

Great. It's great.

[Wallace]

I wanted to ask you about, just make a comment about the no Kings rally. Just get your general take on it. I hadn't really paid much attention to it, but there was over the weekend, there was two, two rallies close to us and we just happened to be in the area so we decided to drive by and kind of observe and you know, my general, my general view of it looked like they were all pretty happy warriors, if you will, peaceful, but also, I guess for better lack of words, a blue haired crowd, very older crowd and pretty much everybody looked happy except for the gentleman who had a big sign that said F Trump. So he didn't look quite so happy. But I wanted to ask you, you know, moving forward with this, how this, this maybe movement, if it really is organic and if it will affect.

[Mark]

You.

[Wallace]

Know, the, any elections.

[Dan]

Moving forward?

[Wallace]

I. Yeah, because it also kind of seemed to me like maybe it was a big gigantic support group. You know, they may be mourning because of, you know, things haven't gone their way when they had a great 50, 60 years run as far as Democrats and now suddenly things have really switched and maybe they were mourning. So anyway, I'll leave it at.

[Mark]

Thank you all. Stan, going forward, impact of, of the rallies this weekend, protests.

[Dan]

I mean, look, I, I had family at one in Washington D.C. look, I think anytime you're getting tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands or some people say millions of people to turn out in support of a cause, that's great, right? That's energy, that's people willing to volunteer their time to go down, make their signs and march, I do think a part of it was therapeutic, as you said. I think the challenge is looking forward. The question is, are new people coming out to join this rally either who haven't voted or were not on Team Blue, let's say, and joining the cause. I'm suspect of that. I think it is kind of a therapeutic talking to ourselves. But that's not unimportant when you go to turn out voters for an election. But I don't think it's polling. I don't think someone was like, aha, you know what? He is a king. I'm switching and joining Team Blue and whatever. Michigan.

[Mark]

Does your party look at these rallies as, like, Tea Party energy?

[Sean]

No, I was trying on the spot. Think of another liquid that would be like Tang rallies. I mean, they. They. It was. Look, it was, I think, amusing. It was kind of sad to see how people spent a beautiful Saturday day in this region. I love the fact that 16 days out of a massive election, everybody's hanging out at a big rally, talking to each other instead of knocking on doors, which would have maybe helped the cause, because as I like to point out, I went to my no Kings rally last November, and it turned out just well. So the idea that people stood around on a. Around these cities, talked to each other and told each other Kumbaya stories was awesome to me, because instead of actually doing something political that could affect change, they talked to each other, which was a huge waste of energy.

[Dan]

Well, I wouldn't say that that's. In your area of Virginia. There's a race. But around the country, I mean, to get, you know, 100,000 people in New York City is not, you know, an unimportant.

[Sean]

No, it's great.

[Dan]

I wouldn't belittle it. I mean, I would not belittle that energy. You need it. Trump did rallies in 22. I mean, in 21, I think.

[Mark]

Yeah.

[Sean]

And he got all the data for it, and he used it. Political. These.

[Dan]

Don't think outside groups are not monitored. I would be.

[Sean]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, and just to be clear, this was not organic. This is. I mean, you look at the organic.

[Dan]

It is organic. Someone's organizing it. Someone's always organizing a rally.

[Wallace]

Well, I will. I will say, even though I. I don't agree with their cause or their, you know, why they're doing it, I will say that they were a positive group out there. They look like they were having a good time. Positive energy is my. Is that my take on it?

[Sean]

Can I just make one point about. I love the idea that they were out there testing no Kings in democracy. And you had President Trump, who kept the National Mall open during a government shutdown, which is not what Obama did, to allow these people to exercise their First Amendment rights, which is somewhat ironic considering the theme was democracies under attack, and they were there celebrating their First Amendment rights during a government shutdown on a piece of property that was shut down when the previous Democratic president had a shutdown. So little irony there.

[Mark]

Wallace, thank you. The Supreme Court has taken up a case just announced, that will decide whether people who smoke marijuana regularly should be allowed to own guns.

[Dan]

Boy, there's a question.

[Mark]

How would you rule in that case? Justice Spicer?

[Sean]

I wish they wouldn't. How's that? But I don't see how that you could infringe on the Second Amendment because they engage in a, in most cases.

[Dan]

Can you. If you use, if you're, if you're using alcohol, you're allowed, I assume, to have a gun? Like.

[Sean]

Yeah, not only that, I mean, look.

[Dan]

I don't see how you'd split the two.

[Sean]

Yeah, I don't see how you like the court's going to rule in favor of allowing this. You can't say because somebody engages in illegal activity, although wrong, that it's not illegal.

[Dan]

A lot of places, though, that's the problem too, now.

[Sean]

Right. But again, you can't infringe. It's not like it's a licensing issue. It's either you have the right to bear an arm, to own a gun and bear arms, or not.

[Mark]

David, welcome Intel.

[Dan]

Mark, what is your sense?

[Mark]

I don't understand why they took the case, but. No, I agree. Sean.

[Sean]

Well, I think they took the case because it's going to strengthen gun rights. I mean, I think there's an aspect of making it very clear what the Second Amendment says. And so you continue to strengthen the.

[Dan]

Right to own elector, Democratic Congress, they could take your guns. Right. That's all they're missing.

[Mark]

David, welcome in. Thanks for joining. What's on your mind after you tell us where you are.

[Justin]

Morning, gents. Yeah, I'm, I'm David. I'm, I'm from the uk but I live in, in Georgia in the United States now, greatest country in the world. And I wanted to ask you guys initially about the no Kings protest, but the gentleman before me asked about that. So I'd like to ask you guys about the controversy that Zora Mandani responded to this Sunday with him meeting with the imam who was tied to those allegedly terror, tied to the terror plots and everything in New York City. You know, I'm a Christian man, and so my, my views on Islam are certainly, you know, biased in one direction. But I think it's, I find it Fascinating. As somebody who doesn't live in New York City, I've visited there, I understand what New York is like from an outsider's perspective. And my impression of it is that New York and the people who live there have always been a very proud people, very proud city to vote in somebody who is associating themselves not only with controversial Islamic figures, but is embracing slogans like globalize the Intifada and things like that. Not only is it surprising to me to see that New Yorkers are embracing that, but the America is not pushing back against that sort of thing aggressively. I think if you went back a decade and said New York City is going to vote in a mayor who embraces extremist Islam tendencies and beliefs, I think people wouldn't believe you. Now it seems like it's going to happen and I'm curious about what you guys thoughts are on it.

[Mark]

Sean.

[Sean]

This goes back to like, I actually can't believe that this is where New York is. His policies, the associations he's had, the things he's failed to denounce, his stance on Israel, his embracing of controversial figures. I actually, I mean Dan and Mark keep talking about. Well, there's a possibility, I mean I see no cracks. The idea that there's a guy that's basically teetering around 50% support. We'll see what the election holds out with these kind of views is a sad state. Not just of the Democratic Party but for the country as a whole, that that's an acceptable.

[Mark]

Dan, be real quick because we're up against the clock.

[Dan]

Sound like Democrats talking about Trump 10 years ago. People have other priorities. You're right. 15 years ago. No, no one in New York gets elected with some of these stances. Different world.

[Mark]

I'll say two things I think are nuts. First of all, the madame met with this guy on Friday. Like I don't know why you would take the risk. There's something weird going on there. And two, he claimed that this guy met with Michael Bloomberg. I can find no evidence of that. It's.

[Sean]

And, and also, even if that's true, who cares?

[Mark]

Well, right.

[Sean]

That's like, that's your.

[Mark]

No, no, I think that would matter. But, but I, but I. Respectfully. But I, but I condemn the media if the guy's defenses. He also met with Mike Bloomberg. He also met with Eric Adams. Make him prove it and they're.

[Sean]

Or ask them.

[Mark]

Yeah, I see nothing in the media that says that he did. David, thank you. Grateful to you.

[Dan]

He's not backing down on so much of this stuff.

[Mark]

Yeah. Dan, anything you want to share for later?

[Dan]

Oh, no, no, no. Happy Monday.

[Mark]

Sean, what do you have tonight?

[Sean]

Alan Dershowitz is going to join us to break down all these big legal issues that we have from Epstein to the Venezuelan cartels to the government shutdown.

[Mark]

All right. Noon today, Megan McCain, George Santos. Don't miss it. Noon today. Whoa, Citizen McCain. Megan has George Santos on and you'll be able to ask George Santos questions only conversation like no other where you can get in on the conversation. So if you want to ask George Santos what prison was like or anything else, join Megan at noon. I'll see you at six o' clock for a two way. Tonight we'll have full coverage of the President's public event with the Aussie PM and we'll be back in 23 hours. Thank you everybody. Have a great day. Take care.