Trump’s Second Term, the Democrats & Today’s Political News

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Morning Meeting – “Trump’s Second Term, the Democrats & Today’s Political News”

Date: May 6, 2026
Host: Mark Halperin (with Larry O’Connor and Kevin)
Network: 2WAY

---

Episode Overview

This episode launches Season 7 with Mark Halperin, now joined by permanent co-hosts Larry O’Connor and Kevin, plus a rotating team of contributors. The discussion focuses on major breaking political news: policy machinations over Iran, Trump’s dominance in down-ballot GOP primaries, developments in the California gubernatorial debate, the Michigan Senate primary, and the ever-looming 2028 presidential field. The tone is lively and conversational, with frank banter and audience interaction.

---

Key Segments & Discussions

1. Show Updates & Community Announcements

(00:34-04:21)

• Permanent Co-Hosts: Larry O’Connor and Kevin are officially named permanent co-hosts.
• Rotating Panel: Other familiar voices (Yemassi, Eric, Steve Elmendorf, Hyma Moore, Hogan, Trish McLaughlin) will appear as needed.
• Community Engagement: Host Mark Halperin emphasizes the show’s open format and rules: raise your hand to participate, and no “smack” in the chat.
• Quote: “Larry and Kevin are beloved by the community. But, but, but everybody loves the other six as well.” (Mark Halperin, 03:49)

---

2. Iran Negotiations Whiplash

(09:36–18:34)

• Background: President Trump suspended US naval operations to open the Strait of Hormuz, citing hopes for a new Iran deal. Media reports surface about a 1-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran. Iranians publicly deny such an agreement.

• Debate on Trump’s Strategy:

  • Mark: Questions the logic of suspending pressure on Iran before a deal is final.
  • Larry: “Can a deal be had? Yes. Are the right players in place and can they be trusted? I don’t think so.” (12:41)
  • Kevin: Criticizes “letting up after just four hours” of pressure, argues tougher actions might be needed.

• Key Issues Raised:

  • Trustworthiness of Iran.
  • Economic leverage — potential oil sales if the strait opens during negotiations.
  • Skepticism about Iran’s negative messaging.
  • Military presence likely to remain.

• China’s Role:

  • “A lot of this has to do with the President’s summit with Xi next week and wanting the war to be in a better and different place by then.” (Mark Halperin, 11:09)

• Notable Exchange:

  • [16:41] Mark: “Will there be face-to-face talks between US and Iranian officials in the same city before the China summit next week?”
  • Kevin: “Yes, and I would not be surprised, honestly, because the President loves the optics...”
  • Larry: “Yes, I think so… I would be very surprised if the President himself showed up.”

---

3. Trump’s Dominance in Indiana GOP Primaries

(18:34–23:38)

• Election Outcomes: Trump-backed candidates won 5 of 7 targeted Indiana state Senate races; seen as a major victory for Trump’s influence.
• Money’s Role: Mark notes huge spending and White House involvement in recruitment.
• Larry: “Sometimes you gotta hand it to Trump, for God’s sake. What more does this man have to do?” (21:58)
• Kevin: Asserts Indiana is unique; questions if similar tactics would work against established candidates like Bill Cassidy.
• Redistricting Impact: Success may push other states to redistrict following changes in Voting Rights Act.

---

4. California Gubernatorial Debate Analysis

(23:38–29:55)

• Debate Highlights:

  • Becerra, viewed as a frontrunner, targeted by both the center and left.
  • Lack of gladiatorial moments except focused attacks on Becerra.
  • Mark expects Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton to make the runoff.

• Key Quotes:

  • Kevin: “I think Matt Mahan… did a very good job of acknowledging the frustrations, especially California is a Democratic state, right? There’s high frustrations with the cost of housing, gas, what have you.” (28:37)
  • Larry: “California has 99 problems, and Donald Trump ain’t one of them.” (28:05)

• Ad Wars: Katie Porter’s debated ad performance panned by both hosts.

---

5. Michigan Senate Primary and Democratic Tensions

(29:55–33:36)

• Stabenow Endorses Stevens: Former Sen. Debbie Stabenow endorses moderate Haley Stevens, seen as a move by Democratic establishment against more progressive candidates.
• Electoral Dynamics:
  • Kevin: “Most polls show 30% of Michigan Democrats haven’t made up their mind.”
  • Larry highlights tension over Israel: “The elephant in the room is that Stevens is running third because she supports Israel and the Democrat Party... would have trouble getting this nomination herself.” (31:40)
• Broader Implications: Debate over whether Mike Rogers’ candidacy means Democrats have lost Michigan completely.

---

6. Rubio’s Breakout as Trump’s Potential VP/2028 Contender

(33:36–41:34)

• Rubio’s White House Press Briefing: Rubio’s poised, humorous press room performance sparks widespread speculation about his future.

• Media Reaction:

  • Mark: “My colleagues treated Marco Rubio like he was the incoming president of the White House Correspondents Association.” (35:54)
  • Larry: “I think you are [underappreciating him]. Who in the Biden administration – Kamala Harris couldn’t have done what Marco Rubio did yesterday?” (36:46)

• Rubio vs. Vance VP speculation:

  • Kevin: “If you ask the 20 smartest Democratic consultants… you’d get 20 people saying [they fear] Rubio.”
  • Mark: “The media loves Rubio now. Don’t worry, they won’t if he’s going to be the Republican nominee.” (41:08)

• 2028 Dynamics:

  • Larry: “Having run before is a huge advantage.” (41:15)
  • Discussion of who would run, who might defer, and the establishment/media’s wish for a less MAGA VP pick.

---

7. Audience Q&A: Rubio vs. Vance, Strengths and Weaknesses

(43:55–47:55)

• Nicole (listener from Tennessee): Asks “Rubio vs Vance: what’s each one’s strength and weakness as a potential nominee?”
• Larry: Rubio’s strong pro-Israel resume helps him with Republican primary voters; Vance has private sector experience; Rubio bridges establishment-MAGA gap.
• Kevin: “No one has effectively gone from the establishment to being embraced by MAGA like Rubio… Both have that MAGA embrace, but who can they pull in additionally?”

---

8. Rubio as a Debater and Digital Fundraiser

(53:05–56:23)

• Marque (listener from Australia): Questions Rubio’s debate prowess.
• Kevin: Argues Rubio has improved significantly since 2016, citing strong committee hearing performances.
• Mark: Raises doubts about Rubio’s grassroots fundraising ability – “He was a horrible Internet grassroots fundraiser, digital fundraiser… I’d be curious to see if he does run, can he raise hundreds of millions of dollars online?” (55:34)

---

9. Community, Show Vision, and Upcoming Content

(48:38–64:12, select)

• Community Engagement: Listeners call in from Tennessee and Australia; Mark affirms focus on community, including non-political topics and a vision for children’s programming.
• Platform Expansion: References to trivia games, aftershow, upcoming events, and integrating broader interests beyond politics.
• Show’s Future: Larry and Kevin express excitement for the new hosting era and plans for growth.
• Mentions: NextUp (with Megyn Kelly/Molly Hemingway interviews), upcoming shows, and audience invitations to join the aftershow or related content.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Iran Negotiations:
  • Mark Halperin (on the confusion): “Man, it’s confusing about Iran… The President has an amazing four-point plan and he’s going to win the war… Then… said, I’m unplugging one of the four prongs…” [06:09]
• On Trump’s Endorsement Power:
  • Larry O’Connor: “What more does this man have to do?” [21:58]
• On California’s Problems:
  • Larry O’Connor: “California has 99 problems, and Donald Trump ain’t one of them.” [28:05]
• On Media Fandom:
  • Mark Halperin: “My colleagues treated Marco Rubio like he was the incoming president of the White House Correspondents Association.” [35:54]
• On Campaigns Changing:
  • Larry O’Connor: “Republican political candidates are very different now, post Trump… They don’t want to be handled.” [55:11]

---

Timeline of Critical Segments

• 00:34–04:21: Co-host and panel line-up announcements.
• 09:36–18:34: Iran nuclear talks/Suspension of pressure.
• 18:34–23:38: Indiana GOP primaries/Redistricting.
• 23:38–29:55: California gubernatorial debate.
• 29:55–33:36: Michigan Senate primary/Democratic divisions.
• 33:36–41:34: Rubio’s briefing, media buzz, 2028 speculation.
• 43:55–47:55: Audience Q&A—Rubio vs Vance.
• 53:05–56:23: Rubio debate skills/fundraising.
• 48:38–64:12: Audience calls, platform vision, and show close.

---

Tone & Final Thoughts

The show combines rapid-fire, analytical journalism with dry humor and audience interactivity. The co-hosts candidly critique politicians across both parties, keep the analysis forward-looking, and infuse their commentary with media and campaign insider know-how. Emphasis is placed on how today’s developments shape the broader 2026 and looming 2028 electoral landscape.

Transcript

[Mark Halperin]

Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings, there's a money side to every story. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe [e-mail]. Broadcasting live at 9am from the capital

[Kevin]

of conversations like no other. Introducing your new permanent host of the

[Mark Halperin]

two Way morning meeting.

[Kevin]

In this corner, standing tall at morning driveway radio, razor sharp, Broadway born and navy proud.

[Mark Halperin]

From the Schubert stage to the WMAL

[Kevin]

cage, Laurie O. Connor. And in the opposite corner, calming the chaos, Fox News veteran, West Wing walk and talk warrior. Never put him in the corner, never mute the mic. And on the drums, the steady hand, the man who definitely does not read

[Larry O'Connor]

the chat,

[Kevin]

but somehow knows exactly what you're saying. The one, the only mark.

[Mark Halperin]

Welcome everybody to the new morning.

[Kevin]

Welcome. Look at that.

[Mark Halperin]

Impressive. Thanks to our friend in Ohio for producing that along with I guess maybe AI was involved. Was not entirely handcrafted by Keebler Elves. Larry and Kevin are here as they've been. We're very grateful to you all for the patience you've shown as we've worked through the process and heard from many of you. And we couldn't be happier to have Larry and Kevin as we launch into a new era of the morning meeting with all sorts of things in the works, but primarily nothing in the works in the sense that the show will be the same as it's always been. And you've seen Larry and Kevin here. Gentlemen, welcome to a new error of the morning meeting. Larry and Kevin. Thank you both.

[Kevin]

Season 7 kicking off here and we did. We didn't even coordinate our quarter zips here. I wanted, I want folks to know

[Larry O'Connor]

you both look great for months just in case this happens.

[Kevin]

Same, actually. Same.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. Well, I'll say thank you and congratulations to you both. Lots of great feedback from the community about possible new permanent co hosts and Larry and Kevin, our new permanent co host. But many of you also like some of the other folks who've been filling in here over the last few months. And so we also want to announce that six of our friends will continue along here on the occasional day when Larry and Kevin are unable to be part of the program. We've got options, folks, and really happy also to announce that. Do we have that graphic? I think we do that Yemassi and Eric and Steve Elmendorf and Hyma Moore and Hogan and, and Trish McLaughlin will also be appearing here on a regular basis. Sometimes an additional person maybe around elections and then again when one of Us can't be here or two of us can't be here. You'll see other folks as well. So we're super delighted to have this great team of contributors who will be part not just of the morning meeting, but of two way overall. And of course super happy for me to be partnering with Kevin and with Larry on the show going forward.

[Larry O'Connor]

What a team. Look at that lineup, for crying out loud.

[Mark Halperin]

A lot of strong people and again, great voices and Lori Blackford, who's, who's stage managed the whole process here has found a way. They're like granibles, so mix and match. Literally. I'm happy mixing matching any of the eight in any combination, you know, as circumstances dictate. So, yeah, thanks to everybody again for your patience and for all the feedback. And I think Larry and Kevin are beloved by the community. But, but, but everybody loves the other six as well. So thanks to everybody. Thanks to everybody.

[Kevin]

We tried to get the A team theme but you know that, that, yeah, it was too expensive with those royalties.

[Mark Halperin]

Anyway, thanks. Thanks again to Dean from Ohio who, who put the, put that video together. Awesome job giving me the red guitar

[Larry O'Connor]

and Kevin the blue guitar.

[Mark Halperin]

Exactly. Expect more of that. And, and, and our goal is. What's the name of that guy who's running for mayor in la? Spencer Pratt. Our goal is to have better AI videos supporting Larry and Kevin Rat videos, which is revolutionized. Welcome to the show. Same format as usual. If you're here on the platform, want to raise your hand, please? No smack in the chat, but raise your hand. Uh, those are the two. Basically, we have two rules. Uh, nothing on my sleeve today, two rules. Uh, raise your hand if you want to get in the conversation and no smack in the chat. We'll, we'll run through the daybook and then as always, we'll, we'll kick things around. And man, it's confusing about Iran. I'm hoping Larry and Kevin know more about it than I do because last night I went to sleep. If you saw two way tonight last night I said, the whole thing's about to be solved. The President has an amazing four point plan and he's going to win the war now because they finally have a great plan. And then a couple hours later, the President went on Truth Social and said, I'm unplugging one of the four prongs here and trying to get a deal. So we'll get to that in a minute. All right, here we go. Daybook. The President's at the White House again today. Here's the pool, the griot is the print pool. Wall Street Journal is the secondary print pool. And Military Times is the new media seat. NBC, the correspondent, main correspondent there. All right, the president. 8:00am executive time policy meeting close press at 11. President, the first lady are doing a military Mother's day event at 12:30 in the East Room open to pre credentialed media. We'll see if he takes questions at that thing because that is his only open press event. 330 intelligence briefing. Kind of late in the day to get his intelligence briefing and just saying. And then 5:30 he's got a reception with the first lady for the trust for the National Mall. That's in the Rose Garden. Vice President back from his trip to Iowa where he did not take questions from the traveling press. Marco Rubio, fresh off his triumphal performance in the briefing room. Oh my God. He heads to Italy for meetings with Italian officials. And the Pope. House and Senate continue to be out, but House oversight is taking a private position today with Commerce Secretary Ludnick about his Jeffrey Epstein relationship. And be curious to see if his answers are any clearer now than they were when he testified in a regular hearing and got asked about it. The 2026 ASEAN. Is that how you guys pronounce that? ASEON summit in the Philippines brings together Southeast Asian leaders from all over to. To discuss economics and regional security, etc. Okay, quick word from a sponsor before we get into solving the whole Iran mess. Sponsor today is Cozy Earth. We love the people at Cozy Earth because they give you 20% off for being a member of the community. Go to cozyearth.com use the promo code. Morning. Get yourself today. Don't, don't delay. Maybe even during the show. Go to cozyearth.com put in the promo code and get yourself a jogger set. Ultra soft, breathable, viscous from bamboo. It's made from that material that all the Cozy Earth stuff's made from. That kind of. Again, it's like voodoo. It's magic.

[Kevin]

It.

[Mark Halperin]

It doesn't exist in nature, but somehow they do it. Viscous from bamboo. Relaxed fit, tapered finish. You can wear it anywhere. I'm going to. I'm going to try to wear it to Lutece. Is that, Is that still a restaurant? Lutess.

[Kevin]

Is that still a place?

[Mark Halperin]

I don't know. I'm gonna try to wear it to a fancy restaurant, see if they kick me out and. Because they shouldn't, because it's very nice. But again, you could also sleep in it. You could wear it to the beach and you could pair it with the Cozy Earth clogs. And if you did that, you'd be so comfortable even if you were hosting a live program, you'd probably fall asleep. Go to cozyearth.com buy yourself a jogger set by the clogs. Buy anything you want. If you buy the sleep stuff, you get 100 night free sleep trial risk free 10 year warranty. It's all available to [e-mail] promo code morning for 20% off.

[Matt Ebert]

I started with one shop. No college degree, no big investors. It was just a willingness to work. Over time that one shop turned into a multi billion dollar business called Crash Champions. All the lessons I learned along the way came from the grind. And that's what my show Pod Crash is all about. We have real conversations with people who've built things the hard way. We talk to founders, athletes and blue collar leaders who kept going when things got tough. You'll hear stories of grit, leadership and growth. Plus real world lessons you can take back to your team and your life tomorrow.

[Mark Halperin]

When you get momentum, you step on the gas. That's how you get separation from everybody else.

[Kevin]

I was at Harvard Law School, I was blah blah blah.

[Mark Halperin]

I looked up, let me tell you something, there's kids in my neighborhood putting

[Kevin]

in sheetrock that is smarter than you.

[Mark Halperin]

AI is going to disrupt a lot of stuff. It is never going to disrupt physical blue collar trade skill. And the guy just looked at me and he said it's bloody impossible.

[Kevin]

So I asked him this question.

[Mark Halperin]

I said it's impossible.

[Matt Ebert]

Unless that's podcast with me Matt ebert. Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Halperin]

All right guys, as I said last night, the President unilaterally said he was suspending the operation to get ships through the strait because he was hopeful about talks. And then this morning Axios reports that there's a 20 page or 1 page MOU 105 please Barak Ravid. Others have now confirmed this that there is such a report. Some Iranians on some websites and social feeds are saying ain't so. There is no such thing as a one page agreement. But Barack Ravid reports the White House believe it's getting closer to an agreement with Iran on a one page memorandum of understanding to end the war. The issues laid out in that one pager are all the things you've seen before having to do with Iran nuclear program, the enriched uranium as well as sanctions relief and unfreezing of assets and the strait. The President not that long ago scrambled the Board again with this post on Truth social. This is 121, please. Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is perhaps a big assumption already. Just the 18 words I've read already. There's a lot going on here. I'll start over. Assuming Iran's. To Iran agrees to give what is agreed to, which is perhaps a big assumption, the already legendary epic fury will be at an end and the highly effective blockade will allow the Hormuz. Hormuz Strait to be open to all and including Iran. If they don't agree, the bombing starts and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Trump, the Iranian foreign Minister, has had meetings in Beijing. It's not clear to us if he is still there or not, but he did have meetings. The Chinese put out a statement saying that they'd like all this to be solved. They want an end to the hostilities. All of this in the context of assumptions on the part of some of my sources that a lot of this has to do with the president summit with Xi next week and wanting the war to be in a better and different place by then, and a lot of skepticism that in some quarters that there's a deal to be done. And of course, one pager is not going to deal with all the questions about Iran's honesty. So I could ask you guys a million questions. Larry, I'll start with this. Is the president correct, not just telling the truth, but, but his, his, his sense of reality? Is he correct that there's a, there's a deal to be had here and that therefore it was worth suspending something that three hours before his secretary of state was a moral imperative? Is he?

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, I mean, I've adjusted my microphone, by the way, so tell me if it is better.

[Mark Halperin]

Sounds good. Sounds good to me.

[Larry O'Connor]

I think it's correct that there is a deal to be had. The question is, as has always been, the question is, is the other side willing to. To have it? And you're right, that first sentence. If Iran agrees to give up everything that's already been agreed to. In other words, they have agreed, but there's some question as to whether they will actually follow through with what they.

[Kevin]

But they're also liars. They're also liars the whole time.

[Mark Halperin]

But they're also. But they're also reasonable. They're reasonable. They're untrustworthy, but they're reasonable.

[Larry O'Connor]

Leaves they're reasonable. It appears or he's still operating from A position that they're reasonable and he's also operating from a position or there seems to be some skepticism in that statement that the people who are agreeing actually have the ability to follow through on what they agreed to. So can a deal be had? Yes. Are the right players in place and can they be trusted? I don't think so.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. Kevin, what do you think? Why do you think the President did what he did? Because somebody said to him, hey, Iran will only move forward with the one pager if you take off the escorts. Not the escorts. Operation, whatever they call it.

[Kevin]

Yeah, I think the President likes to sweeten a deal beforehand before we know the contours of it. I think it was actually a mistake. We escorted two ships through. I think if you want to keep the pressure up, you continue to do that. There was some reporting of limited Iranian strikes on US forces as part of this. Again, it's like speedboats and things like that. But I think as part of this, you just continue to escort those ships through our flagships, our allied flagships and keep the pressure campaign on. Don't let up after just four hours of doing this with 1500 ships waiting to get through the strait.

[Mark Halperin]

But I mean, there's so many angles to this and the Chinese role and the Pakistani role. It's also unclear. But here's to me, the central issue right now. I think we don't trust the Iranians. Right. We don't trust them as a general matter. And we don't. We. The United States government. And the United States government doesn't trust them because the way they've conducted themselves in the last year as relates to all of these things. Right. So. So the goal, the idea is you got to put pressure on. And they seemed for the last few weeks to really be keen on the economic pressure. If the strait is open during a 30 day period of negotiation and Iran can start selling oil to the Chinese again and the Japanese and the Koreans

[Kevin]

does at a likely higher rate too. At a potential.

[Mark Halperin]

At a high rate. Doesn't that undermine the whole thing here? You don't trust them, you need pressure on them, but you're going to allow them to pretend they're going to do a nuclear deal while selling oil. What am I missing here, Larry?

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, well, again, the proof is going to be in the details, I guess, or the devil for that matter, which I think is an operative euphemism in this case. And there's quite a few of them

[Kevin]

on the other side.

[Larry O'Connor]

Let's see what ends up on the other side. Of this thing. I get the sense though, that as this develops, and I hate to say it because I want our boys and girls to come home, men and women who are wearing the uniform, but I get a sense that to enforce this at the beginning, whatever ends up on the other side, Mark and Kevin, that I think we're going to have a somewhat permanent position there of our military to sort of keep watch and be able to respond if anything gets screwed up. That means I think we, we're going to see our vessels there and our, our planes, I think involved quite a bit. I'm sort of stammering as I say it because I don't want that to be the case, but I do.

[Kevin]

Larry, do you?

[Larry O'Connor]

Constantly on watch, Larry, as part of

[Kevin]

these negotiations, the President has got to go beyond what the JCPOA was with Obama, right? I mean, There was a 15 year moratorium on enrichment, I think, and like $20 billion, you know, if, if it's more than that, right. In terms of sanctions relief and things like that, I think he's got it. He's going to face an issue at home.

[Larry O'Connor]

Oh, Kevin. Yeah, but, but listen, hold on. There was no moratorium. My understanding of the JCPOA is that they could still do some enrichment under

[Kevin]

limited enrichment I, the nuclear capability for 15 years.

[Larry O'Connor]

I think we saw the Secretary of State in that brilliant performance at the briefing room, which I know we're going to get to. He kept repeating that over and over and over again. This is about eliminating a nuclear program and nothing else will be acceptable.

[Mark Halperin]

Okay, will either of these two things. Well, assuming the China summit occurs in a week as it's scheduled, will either of these two things happen, yes or no. Before the summit, will there be face to face talks between us and Iranian officials in the same city? Even if they do the Marx Brothers thing or the Threes Company thing and they go room to room with the Pakistanis? Kevin, will there be face to face in the next week?

[Kevin]

Yes, and I would not be surprised, honestly, because the President loves the optics. If he flies and does this deal on the front end and then goes to Beijing.

[Mark Halperin]

Okay, good one, Larry.

[Larry O'Connor]

Potentially, Larry, face to face, Yes, I think so. Based on what we know this morning, it could change in an hour. Mark. Yeah, but I would be very surprised, given the security factors involved, I would be very surprised if the President himself showed up.

[Mark Halperin]

Okay. And then second, again, if you look at everything Iran has said, both before since the President's Truth Social post last night and since it was reported that there's there's allegedly a one page mou. Every statement coming out of Iran has been negative. It's been, there is no one page mou. This will not be done in the US Terms. It's all being negative. So between now and next week, Kevin, will, will someone official from Iran acknowledge that they're negotiating with the United States on the terms laid out in that MoU, will that will be some public acknowledgment between now and next Wednesday?

[Kevin]

I think public, yes, to the Western world, I think it's a different matter what they tell folks inside in terms

[Mark Halperin]

of Larry, will there be to the Western world acknowledgment? Yes, we're negotiating with the US over, over a deal to restraint that includes restraining our nuclear program. Will they say that?

[Larry O'Connor]

I don't think that. No, they won't use those words. They won't use those words. I don't think so. I think that the, the face is too important in that culture for them to acknowledge that.

[Kevin]

And let's not forget that the, the Iranian foreign minister has been on Special Report a number of times with Brett Bear. He's looked at as not one of the most hardliners in that administration. And if he's the one already throwing cold water on it and saying it also has to be comprehensive, that we've got to get all this sanction relief and all this as part of it, that's not even coming from the hardliners in that government if he's already booing that publicly.

[Mark Halperin]

Right. Well said. All right. We may come back to Iran because there may be developments. But let's move on to some other topics. Again, if you want to get in on the conversation and you're here on the platform, please raise your hand. Here's The Indianapolis Star homepage 109 Big story in Indiana yesterday in at least five of the seven House, State House races that the president's team targeted for members who did not support redistricting efforts, the president's candidates won. One, the president's candidate. You guys tell me if I'm wrong. I believe this is the updated information. In one, the president's candidate lost. And in one, it's too close to call. And winning five of seven, maybe six of seven, is widely being seen as a victory. Here are the two headlines, applicable headlines from the Indianapolis Star. Five Trump endorsed Indiana Senate Challengers Prevail. One Too close to call. It was the ultimate test of Donald Trump's endorsement. Low level Indiana. All right, go back to Indianapolis Star, please. I just want to read that Second headline, it's a Politico headline with Indiana Trump asserts his grip on the gop. The other Indianapolis star, the columnist James Briggs, says, sometimes you got to hand it to Trump. President Trump made it rain on Indiana's obscure state Senate races and drowned out almost everyone who stood in his way. Now, this is the Politico headline and elsewhere widely being attributed to the president's sway and maga. It's also attributed to the fact that they raised and spent a fortune much more than is normally spent in a state legislative race. As Politico says, it was a show of force in the year's first major test of Trump's power over the gop. Trump aligned groups dumped millions against the eight GOP lawmakers who blocked his effort to gerrymander to the state. And on Tuesday night, at least five of them lost. It says there are eight. What? So one is one they won five they lost one one's undecided. Are there eight?

[Kevin]

One he didn't endorse in, but he said this guy should lose.

[Mark Halperin]

Got it, got it, got it. Okay. So thank you for that. So again, we try to be forward looking here. Does this, does Kevin, does this change your view of Bill Cassidy and Massie and their chances of winning, or was the Indiana situation appreciably different?

[Kevin]

Listen, I think it's likely appreciatively different. As you said, the amount of money spent in those races just overwhelmed these state Senate districts. They did a strong job. You know, John Blair, you know, James Blair rather coordinating from the White House in terms of candidate recruitment. I think Bill Cassidy is a separate issue. Again, he's, he, you know, he's been in office decades in terms of the Senate and is, you know, going up against Julia Letlow in that race. He's a known entity. Both sides will raise a bunch of money and run. So, you know, Larry makes this point all the time. Candidate quality also matters on both sides. And I think that was more of the factor here. And the Republican Indiana is a strong Republican state. This is a Republican primary. Jim Banks says, you know, as he said coming out of it, that the president remains incredibly popular in the state and had a very good night in Indiana last night.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, Larry, the headline from Indiana, well, wait, sometimes you got to hand it to Trump. So he's defied the odds. He beat Hillary Clinton when everyone said he couldn't. He's appointed justices to the Supreme Court to get rid of Roe v. Wade. He's enforcing the border and locked out illegal immigration. He won again after they tried to throw him in jail and keep him off the ballot. Sometimes you gotta hand it to Donald Trump, first Republican to win the popular.

[Kevin]

We also raided his house, too. Larry, thank you.

[Larry O'Connor]

Thanks for the reminder, Kevin. And thanks for saying we. I'll remember that. Sometimes you gotta hand it to Trump, for God's sake. What more does this man have to do? And the political headline, you know, Trump asserts his grip on the Republican Party. Here's the unspoken story. In this entire thing. These arrogant state senators in Indiana ignored their constituents, the voters, the population of Indiana wanted this redistrict and they refused to do it. When you defy your voters, you're gonna lose. The money didn't hurt. The Trump endorsement helped. But that's the underlying message here. And I hope Republicans take note. The political team was amazing. They called this yesterday. They were telling everyone, if we get five, it's a six, it's a success. And they got their five, they might get six. They knew that this was going to happen. It was very brilliantly done. And right now, candidates that still face primaries, they're praying two prayers. One, please give me the Trump endorsement, or two, please let Trump not endorse anyone if I don't.

[Kevin]

In deeply red states where that endorsement will matter.

[Mark Halperin]

Some. Some analysts are saying this makes it more likely that the states that are thinking of redistricting will go through with it in the wake of the Voting Rights act change. That's four or five states. Do you guys agree with that?

[Kevin]

Yes, potentially. But again, you have to look at the timeline, too. Again, you know, South Carolina is one of those on the list, and we're five weeks out from the primary. Early voting starts in three weeks.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, but, but, Kevin, your. Your state's districts have been found to be unconstitutional. How could you in good conscience want your.

[Kevin]

Well, we. South Carolina is special because we've had multiple Supreme Court cases too separate from this, so overrides them.

[Mark Halperin]

All right, we could talk more about this, but let's move on. California gubernatorial debate last night. Did you guys watch all or most of it? Some of it. Any of it? I did sleep.

[Kevin]

I did.

[Larry O'Connor]

I was sleeping. I watched some of it later.

[Kevin]

There's some good television.

[Mark Halperin]

It was some good television. There's some good television. Seven candidates on stage. Again, it's all the candidates, the two Republicans and the five Democrats. And the moderators. Let them have at it. We could show you tons of clips. I came away from a big. A big thing that happened was Becerra, Xavier Becerra, who some call the front runner, just Outright Democrats went after him. They very critical of his record. Some criticized him mostly from the center, a little bit of criticism from the left and on performance. But to me it was a tell that the other Democrats really went after him throughout the night. Here's just one exchange between Becerra and the others. 122, please. I think we should police Donald Trump's masked mercenary force that they call ice. I think we should prosecute any of the forces that violate the law. And I think we should jail anyone who has violated the law. That goes all the way to the top. I agree. One has violated the laws of California. They should serve time.

[Kevin]

And I'm telling you, no one has.

[Mark Halperin]

So Alex Castellanos correctly has told me for years, the Republican strategist debates are about gladiatorial moments. Kevin's candidate, Mayor man, had plenty of great moments and touted his record and super, you know, calm and respectable. I'm not sure why he's got like five o' clock shadow, but that's I guess a style thing. But, but there were no gladiatorial moments. So except for Californians, we got an actual beer. That guy just didn't shave for a couple days. True. Unless. Unless, unless you watch the whole thing, he wasn't going to break through. And I've said for a while, a while meaning like four days that I think unless man breaks through soon, including the debate last night, that it will be Becerra and. And what's his name, Steve Hilton in the, in the runoff. And nothing I saw last night changes my view of that. Kevin, who's gonna make, who's gonna make the Final Two?

[Kevin]

Well, I hope it's Matt Mahan and I've been supportive of him and I think he had a great performance yesterday. I think you're right in terms of when you saw the incoming, it was all trained on Becerra. I thought Becerra's most effective moment was the commercial that he ran, which was 30 seconds of Zen, just beautiful California landscape saying, here's your break from Tom Steyer ads during the debate, which I thought was actually pretty effective. But it's also, you know, I want to see the ratings. I want to see how many actually Californians tuned in. It started at 6pm Pacific 9 on the east Coast. How many folks are stuck in traffic, probably not watching it. So I don't know the dynamics necessarily changing coming out of it and where the money's going to actually, you know, get their ads out now that ballots are in people's living rooms. And I thought Hilton actually, you know, effectively portrayed himself to be in the top two last night. He did no harm. Chad Bianco was all over the place. And Kitty Porter obviously didn't do herself any favors either, especially with her new ad that's out there.

[Mark Halperin]

Well, yeah, Katie. The Katie. People do not like the Katie Porter ad. I think it's actually, compared to her performance in the debate, I think the ad's pretty good. Larry, who's the final two?

[Larry O'Connor]

I. The final. Well, right now it looks like it's Hilton Becerra, but I would still like to see Bianco make a move here. And I thought he was pretty strong last night.

[Mark Halperin]

He was.

[Larry O'Connor]

The problem is Bianco's.

[Kevin]

It's not going to be two Republicans in the top again. We've got the cardboard issue.

[Mark Halperin]

It's not.

[Kevin]

Larry, one of them is going to be up there with.

[Larry O'Connor]

I gotta hope. I gotta hope a little bit. But here's what's interesting to me, is that when you look at the Democrats, you look at Katie Porter's ad, which is. Mark, how could you call that ad a good ad? She reminds everybody at the end of the ad the thing that we all hate about her.

[Kevin]

And she doesn't do it in a funny way, you know, like, she can't sell the humor of that either.

[Larry O'Connor]

I mean, she. She served my show, my radio show and my podcast. I, I want more Katie Porter every day. I can get her.

[Mark Halperin]

I know, I know. I shouldn't need to say this. I'm grading on a curve. I thought her debate performance was abysmal. The ad has some. The ad has some decent moments in it. I'm not saying the whole thing's good. It has some decent moments. And her debate performance, I thought was. I thought was abysmal. I really, I really. Again, people can say it's sexism. People can say, you know, if a man did what she did, it wouldn't be as big a deal. And there's some truth to that. But, I mean, she's so unselfaware about how she comes off, if I may.

[Larry O'Connor]

And you're right about her. But, but my point about her ad and my part about what you just heard from Becerra, and sadly, because it's on cnn, what most of the Democrats said during this debate and how it's playing out, the campaign's playing out. California has a lot of problems, if I may coin a phrase. They have 99 problems, and Donald Trump ain't one of them. If you ask your regular California. I Don't care what their political party is. The problem in their life right now is not ICE agents. They've got a lot of other problems and none of these candidates are talking about them except Steve Hill.

[Mark Halperin]

Let me, let me take this. Go ahead, go ahead.

[Kevin]

I was just gonna say, I think Matt Mayhem did a very good job of acknowledging the frustrations, especially California is a Democratic state, right? There's high frustrations with the cost of housing, gas, what have you. I think he effectively said, you know, we've got to change what we're doing. MAGA isn't the answer in a deeply blue state.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yes.

[Kevin]

Let me, as a pragmatic problem solver, do this. Acknowledging the anger and frustration that a lot of Democrats have right now about the current administration, saying, again, Trump isn't the answer. Let's put forward pragmatic solutions. And here's my three years of experience doing it. I think that is an effective argument if it can get out there.

[Mark Halperin]

If every Californian watched the whole debate, man would be the governor. But they're not going to watch the whole debate. And I will say this, it's hard to be the governor of California. The legislature is incredibly incompetent and obstructionist and liberal. So I'm gonna ask you one more question. You can answer in five words or fewer. If Becerra wins, what are the chances that he'll be a great governor for California? What are the chances he'll be a great governor, Larry?

[Larry O'Connor]

Close to nil. Honestly, it just seems like a political stepping stone. For what? He hasn't done anything good in his entire political career other than win an election.

[Mark Halperin]

All right, Kevin. What are the chances Becerra is a great governor?

[Kevin]

I knew Jerry Brown. I served with Jerry Brown. Javier Becerra is no Jerry Brown.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah, I'm really worried. I'm really worried. He seems like a nice guy and he did pretty well in the debate, but I'm really worried about it. All right, A big endorsement potentially in the Michigan Senate race, even as Democrats become increasingly bullish about taking the majority in the Senate, even as Republicans become increasingly skittish about it. And even skeptics like myself have switched to saying today Democrats would take control of the Senate, which would be a big deal, ladies and gentlemen, if they take the House and the Senate, even as that happens, eyes on Michigan and Maine, where Democrats may be nominating people who can't surf a blue wave, who will lose. And in Michigan, you've got a three way Senate primary between a very liberal candidate, a slightly liberal candidate, and A liberal but more moderate candidate. And the establishment would like that liberal, more moderate candidate to be the nominee. Her name is Haley Stevens and she was endorsed overnight by Debbie Stabenow who rarely is endorsed in Democratic primaries.

[Kevin]

The senator, she never has. I think this is the first time, right?

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. Former U.S. senator Stabenow is backing Haley Stevens. Stevens in most polls is in third. She is not in step with the mood of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Kevin, can Stevens still become the nominee at this point or is she just swimming against the tide?

[Kevin]

Yes, in that Most polls show 30% of Michigan Democrats haven't made up their mind. So in a three way race, that's a huge margin that folks still haven't decided and she can make up that ground and hopefully beat both of them.

[Larry O'Connor]

Larry, elephant in the room is that Stevens is running third because she supports Israel and the Democrat Party.

[Kevin]

She's got a lot of flack for that.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah, that's right.

[Larry O'Connor]

And Debbie Stabenow, by the way, also was a strong supporter of Israel. This is the Democrat Party from just about four or five years ago where that was okay. I venture to suggest that Debbie Stabenow would have trouble getting this nomination herself.

[Mark Halperin]

Totally agree.

[Larry O'Connor]

I don't know. I don't know if it'll make a difference, sadly. It makes me sad.

[Kevin]

She would get the nomination, but she would face a far left attack certainly.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

And a tough primary challenge.

[Mark Halperin]

She would. I'll be curious to see if this is the start of an attempt by the establishment to rally once again behind Stevens because the establishment's convinced that she, she would win and the other two might win, but probably would. Mike Rogers is a strong candidate, so.

[Kevin]

But Rogers is a very strong candidate. And again, look at just what happened in Maine with the establishment. Again, we've got, we've got some issues when Washington gets involved sometimes in these primaries.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Larry O'Connor]

Kevin, can I ask you a quick question and a follow up? Number one, would you agree that if, if Mike Rogers wins Michigan, all hope is gone for Democrats to win this 100%?

[Mark Halperin]

I don't agree with, I don't agree with that anymore, by the way.

[Larry O'Connor]

Oh, interesting. Well then follow up if it's critical. Do you think Obama will chime in and endorse and if so, who will he endorse?

[Kevin]

I think he's too focused on his new presidential center and stuff like that. He hasn't, I don't think he's made endorsements of this cycle just yet. You saw Joe Biden come out for a few candidates the other day.

[Mark Halperin]

He's afraid of, he's afraid of the base.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, that's right.

[Mark Halperin]

He's afraid of bass. He won't. I, I'll say this, Larry, to answer the question you asked, Kevin, if, if, what's the name of the guy Al said, Is that how you pronounce? If said is the nominee and Mike Rogers beats him, that could just be a product of, of the candidates quality. I could, I could still see Democrats again winning, winning everything else if it's a big blue wave. But that one could be the exception. And that happens in Senate races. They make their own wind and weather. They're not as subject to the national tides as a House race would be.

[Larry O'Connor]

I got to talk you off the ledge on Talarico, Mark. It's, it's not happening.

[Kevin]

And we talk, and we talked on Larry's show yesterday about, you know, the graveyard of Christine o' Donnell and Sharon Angle and, yeah, all those kinds of folks.

[Mark Halperin]

Larry, Larry, I was the biggest Talarico skeptic in the world until, until we started to look at the president's approval rating in Texas. Until we started looking at the prospect

[Kevin]

where the Hispanics are.

[Mark Halperin]

Where the Hispanics are. And also, and also the, and young voters and also the prospect that the attorney general Paxton will be the nominee. And Paxton, Paxton's not a shoe in over Talarico in the current climate. He's just not.

[Larry O'Connor]

Well, there's a big difference between the two of them. Paxton has won multiple times statewide in Texas and Talarico has never won outside Boston.

[Mark Halperin]

I understand.

[Kevin]

Also never been impeached. Tal's never been impeached either by the state Senate.

[Mark Halperin]

All right, couple more topics and then to your questions, please raise your hand if you want to get in. The Rubio briefing was great, ladies and gentlemen. He was great. If you haven't watched it, masterclass, whatever. But I mean, please, he did not walk on water. It's all being overstated and it just wasn't that great. But here's the Wall Street Journal headline about the Rubio briefing. Number 117, Rubio Stin in the White House briefing room sparks 2028 chatter. In Washington, it wasn't long before political strategists were privately discussing what Rubio's stint behind the lectern might signal for his political future. In recent months, Trump has been polling advisors and friends on the former Florida senator's political strengths. Compared to JD Vance, Vance's trip to Iowa, he was fine. But everybody in politics is talking about Rubio and everybody in the donor Class, some members of Congress, they're all saying, like, well, look, sure, he's vice president, and sure, the president might like Vance, and sure, we like JD Maybe, but, I mean, if we pick Rubio, he'll be a great president. He'll be a great nominee. It's been going on for months, as someone just said in the chat, but yesterday's performance was. It was good. It was good. And my colleagues treated Marco Rubio like he was the incoming president of the White House Correspondents Association. Here is his entrance, and I'm surprised. You may not be able to see it in the shot, but reporters strewn rose rose petals to welcome. Welcome Marco Ribo. Number 118, please.

[Kevin]

Like a honeymoon bed right here.

[Mark Halperin]

Ha ha ha. Oh, isn't he handsome? Isn't he smart? Oh, my God, he's so.

[Kevin]

Isn't he tall?

[Mark Halperin]

Exactly six, eight.

[Larry O'Connor]

I'll be filling in. So, little Mercury, brief remarks here, and

[Mark Halperin]

then we'll get to your questions. You know, freeze it right there. Don't take it down. I have to say, just in spirit of full disclosure, I'm sometimes asked to recruit, recuse myself from covering Marco Rubin because some say we look a little bit like each other, have the same haircut at least, and I do have a tie like that. In any event, I will not recuse

[Kevin]

and I will just say, poor man's Mark Halpern.

[Mark Halperin]

I will say that's what people say. I like to go against the conventional wisdom. He was fine yesterday. But the notion that a guy who can joke about not knowing the names of the reporters is suddenly the second coming of Thomas Jefferson is a little bit rich for me. Larry, Am I. Am I underappreciating Marco Rubio?

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, I think you are. I mean, all right, so let's just compare apples to apples. Who in the Biden administration. Kamala Harris couldn't have done what Marco Rubio did yesterday?

[Mark Halperin]

Tom Vilsack.

[Larry O'Connor]

Tom Vilsack in the Biden administration. Who in the Biden administration?

[Mark Halperin]

Tom Vilsack, believe it or not, was the Agriculture Secretary.

[Larry O'Connor]

That's right. I didn't even.

[Mark Halperin]

16 years. It's the biggest and best office in Washington. You ever been in the office of the Secretary of Agriculture?

[Kevin]

It's beautiful.

[Mark Halperin]

It's the size of building.

[Larry O'Connor]

The building is phenomenal.

[Mark Halperin]

But the secretary's office is the size of, like, a small high school gym. It's just massive, and it's beautiful, and Tom Vilsack could have done it. So there you go. Any further. Any further questions? Your Honor?

[Larry O'Connor]

Could. Could the Vice president or Secretary of State or Secretary of defense under Joe Biden have done what but what your look like your doppelganger did yesterday. I mean, I think it matters.

[Kevin]

I love that split screen. Right?

[Larry O'Connor]

That's amazing. It really is.

[Mark Halperin]

Wow.

[Larry O'Connor]

You got a real, he's got a real Halperin thing going. No, I think it was a big deal. I also think you are right. The gushing, the, the, the marcasms that we're seeing this morning right now from the media and from. I think it's fueled by a couple of things. It's fueled by Wall Street Journal, more establishment leaning and Trump. They favor Trump, but they're still Trump reluctant.

[Mark Halperin]

They are looking for the next, the next big thing.

[Larry O'Connor]

Marco's the off ramp. They are skeptical, if not a little fearful of J.D. vance. And so anytime Marco does well, they jump on it. And of course, you're seeing from the left, they love just sort of messing things up. They try to pit Marco against JD and they want to.

[Kevin]

Yeah, but the President, the president loves to do this too. It's not just Democrats.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

The president is actively calling people because he, he runs it like the Apprentice.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yes. And he loves it because he wants to bring the best out of it.

[Mark Halperin]

Larry, Larry, what happened? What happens, Larry, when, when they start to say, well, let's go back and review what Marco Rubio's position was on immigration when he was in a gang and was trying to pass a gang of 14 baby call an immigrant amnesty bill. What happens when we scrutinize his past position on government spending? I mean, again, I don't want to be cast as a Marco Rubio hater or even a Marco Rubio skeptic. I think he's extremely talented. I fought his career closely since he was a speaker in Florida. But I'm just saying I just think people are just all blue skies for this guy right now and no scrutiny.

[Larry O'Connor]

I would defer to Secretary Rubio acknowledging that himself and saying that the things have changed with regard to his time with the gang of 14 and getting illegal immigration under control, especially the influx of illegals under Joe Biden and the criminal element and Trump's ability to lock down the border. So he's himself conceded that he has changed. And by the way, if you want to play that game, well, you might want to look at what J.D. vance said about Donald Trump in the past and Donald Trump's policies.

[Mark Halperin]

So they both have.

[Kevin]

You're making my case. You're making my case. Kevin.

[Mark Halperin]

Kevin, I will say this about Rubio. Versus Vance. And again, I think Vance may not run because he's having a kid. I've said that before. I think Trump, if he does run, I think Trump will endorse Vance and Rubio won't run against him. So it'll be academic. However, I do think, I want, I want you to respond to this proposition. If you ask the 20 smartest Democratic consultants besides you, who would you fear more in a general election, who would you fear running against more? I think you get 20 people saying Rubio. In other words, Rubio. I think Democrats, one, a stronger general election candidate. And that matters. And that matters a lot.

[Kevin]

The second question in any presidential debate is going to be maybe about immigration. He answers in perfect Spanish.

[Mark Halperin]

Right.

[Kevin]

That game over, we're done, Democrats are done. And I also think Rubio also, you know, JD Comes off kind of stilted and manufactured in my estimation. You look at Marco, I've seen more videos of him DJing this wedding or on cue saying fireball, you know, in Mar a Lago to the pit bull song in my newsfeed, which is mostly Democrats, than any other clips that I've seen. So also, the, the bar is so low, they coming off as a normal guy, you know, also, I think to some degree propels you.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

And propels you in the Washington media establishment, too.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. Great sense of humor, Huge sports fan.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah. No, you're right. He's got. But let's just be real here. The conventional wisdom is often wrong, and they've been wrong quite a bit recently. They feared Rubio. You asked Team Hillary back in 2016. Rubio is the one that they feared the most. And who was the one candidate that they wanted? Who was the one candidate they really couldn't wait to run?

[Mark Halperin]

Donald Trump. I'll say this, I'm glancing at the chat a little bit. The media loves Rubio now. Don't worry, they won't if he's going to be the Republican nominee.

[Larry O'Connor]

That's right. They used to love John McCain.

[Mark Halperin]

Exactly. They'll turn right against him. But I'll say this underestimated, and this is why I'm talking about Bernie. For the Democrats, underestimated by a lot of people having run before is a huge advantage. It's a huge one.

[Kevin]

And having won primaries before, too, which is why Buddha judges on that list.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

And I was, I was interested to see you add Bernie for the first time to your 828. In a mid midway position, too. Not at the bottom.

[Larry O'Connor]

All right, we're gonna. Now that I'm Wearing the shirt, I cannot help but ask you guys questions. So do you, do you think Rubio would be JD's running mate and vice versa? Do you think JD would stay on the job for Rubio?

[Mark Halperin]

Yes and no. Rubio will run with Vance. Vance wouldn't run with Rubio. I don't think.

[Kevin]

Agreed. Yeah.

[Mark Halperin]

Okay. We were going to talk about Barack Obama being on Colbert, but let's skip that. I'll just, we'll go to your questions in a minute. Just a few things on the market. Market loves, of course, the fact that there's a one allegedly a one page mou and, and the fact that the, that the President took off the. Well, actually they probably like the thing being on because boats get through. In any event, the markets are soaring on the Open S&P 514th record this year. NASDAQ 10th record. Crude price falls below West Texas crude falls below $100 a barrel. But gas is up 6 cents since yesterday. Those gas sellers just like to raise private payroll. In April added 109 jobs, the highest since January of 2025. And mortgage rates hit one month high.

[Kevin]

We say this all the time. It is amazing to see what the President has thrown at the world economy.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

And the fact that you're seeing that, that job growth.

[Mark Halperin]

Just soak it in, baby. Soak it in.

[Kevin]

You know, the resilience of the, the. I credit our, our economy more than anything.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. Great American spirit. All right, ladies and gentlemen, the economy

[Larry O'Connor]

is not being directed or influenced.

[Kevin]

Hey, we've got Nicole now we've got Nicole questions.

[Mark Halperin]

Nicole, welcome in. Tell folks who Don where you are and what you think of the teaming of Kevin and Larry.

[Nicole]

I am calling in from Tennessee today. I'm so happy with Larry and Kevin. They have been my favorite pairing so far. I think that they bring awesome conversation and a really good sense of humor and the chemistry between the three of you is great to watch. So I'm super happy.

[Kevin]

Magnetic. Many people have said magnetic.

[Mark Halperin]

Everybody pause for a two second beat so we can cut that cleanly for the promo. One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. All right, Nicole, thank you for being here. Thank you for being part of the community. What's on your mind for Kevin and for Larry on season seven episode one.

[Nicole]

Hey, my question is about the J.D. vance and Marco Rubio situation. I know we just hashed it out a little bit but I watched Rubio yesterday and he was like funny and relatable and I was a little goo goo Gaga coming from like as a MAGA voter. Okay. So I know you don't feel the same way, Mark, but I don't want to be misunderstood.

[Mark Halperin]

I thought he was great. I'm just saying he did not walk on water, that's all.

[Nicole]

Fair enough. You know, to me, I thought he was, like, given the new. A new name for a Latin king up there. But I guess what I'm curious about is when you compare J.D. vance and Marco Rubio, what do you think each has as a strength and a weakness as a presidential candidate against each other? Like, what do you, what, what aspects of each do think would.

[Mark Halperin]

So, Nicole, you're, you're talking about if they ran against each other in a Republican nomination fight, right? Not about the general election. Okay, right again, I'll just, I'll just stipulate we're going to play your hypothetical because that's what we do here. I, Rubio will never run against Vance. If Vance runs, Rubio will step aside. I'm, I'm so sure about that. I just, I just.

[Larry O'Connor]

Confident.

[Mark Halperin]

But let's say somehow they ran against each other. Maybe the President said, I'm going to endorse you both and have it out. Larry, what would be the strengths and weakness, main strengths and weaknesses of each in that contest? Great question.

[Larry O'Connor]

I keep saying, don't make me choose. And by the way, I spoke with someone who worked in the Secretary of State's office over the weekend. I got a sense that depending on how things roll out in the next year, I wouldn't equivocally or unequivocally say that Rubio wouldn't run. Certain things could happen that would compel him potentially to run.

[Mark Halperin]

Against.

[Nicole]

I'm with you, Larry.

[Mark Halperin]

Against.

[Nicole]

I'm with you. Yeah.

[Larry O'Connor]

Just going to leave.

[Nicole]

I think that if Dance dirties his name enough and Rubio rises above guess what? A winner is going to rise.

[Kevin]

I. I don't know. It's a pretty nice plane. It's a pretty nice helicopter. You know, it's hard to say.

[Mark Halperin]

Larry. Larry, that would be like saying if the three of us were doing an event at the Hollywood bowl, you would fight with Kevin over who got the bigger dressing room. Just would not happen.

[Larry O'Connor]

I would have had my agent negotiate.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

All right. It's in his writer. It's in his writer.

[Larry O'Connor]

Let me just. I, I will. There is. I, I think it's on. I think it's unwarranted, but I think that there is some suggestion that J.D. vance is not a strong enough supporter of the State of Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a very strong Supporter of the state of Israel.

[Mark Halperin]

And you think that would help in the primary?

[Nicole]

Yeah. Strength or weakness?

[Larry O'Connor]

I think it would be an issue for both of them in the primary, but I think that helps Marco in the Republican primary. I also think, by the way, depending on how things play out, that that could be a compelling reason for the Secretary of State to engage in potentially a primary if in fact people's concerns about J.D. vance are true. Also, I think his experience, resume wise, he's got the strongest resume in the world. It's absolutely fantastic. That said, I like the fact that J.D. vance actually lived and worked in the private sector and had a real life before he got into politics. But some people like people who, who have a strong resume. And Rubio, I mean, Secretary of State, Senator, speaker of the House in Florida. Phenomenal, right? Great resume, Kevin.

[Kevin]

Nicole, great question. And thank you for your kindness at the outset too. I think the core strength for Rubio is no one has effectively gone from the establishment to Matt being embraced by maga. So he still has appeal to the Haley, you know, the Nikki Haley voters, the establishment, and bridge that gap. Conversely, JD has incredible experience in terms of the MAGA base, but then also kind of the America first base, being able to bridge the, the Tucker Carlson now out on, you know, a week ago, Tucker Carlson before he went full on nutso, bridge that kind of base of support. And again, it's kind of, they're on opposite sides of the Republican primary. They both have that MAGA embrace, but it's what, who can they pull in additionally in some of these primaries? It's a really good question as a hypothetical for sure.

[Mark Halperin]

Kevin, you're from New Jersey originally, correct?

[Kevin]

Originally, yeah. I claim South Carolina now.

[Mark Halperin]

Man, you're, you're, you're so polite. Kevin is so. Kevin always remembers to thank everybody. And thank you, Nicole. Thank you, Nicole.

[Nicole]

Thank you. Just as a shout out, I'm hosting the Post show today, so if anybody wants to come and continue this conversation, we'd be happy to have you.

[Kevin]

Chat opens at 10 and then join the conversation at 11. Yeah.

[Mark Halperin]

And it's in the chat. Here to go the link. If you've never gone. Nicole, thank you. Break a leg.

[Kevin]

Thanks, Nicole.

[Mark Halperin]

All right, Clint, welcome in. Tell folks who don't know where you are and what's on your mind for Kevin and for Larry on their maiden, maiden voyages. Permanent co hosts.

[Clint]

Thank you for having me. I don't have a question for Larry or Kevin. Yeah, I have a comment for you, Mark.

[Mark Halperin]

Yes. Yes, sir.

[Clint]

I came, I came. I Became familiar with two Way by watching your speech at Hillsdale.

[Mark Halperin]

Yes, sir.

[Clint]

And in that speech, you said. And you talked about two way. And I've been monitoring two way now for over 60 days to understand it. Okay, I think I do. You said one of your original visions was, I want a quoting. I want a weekly show for every childhood disease, for every childhood issue, so that every week they can be on with kids and families and experts to talk about it, but more to see on camera. Other kids like that. Great information, but feel part of a community. Okay, so here's the deal. And I have put this in my comments twice to your organization and heard nothing.

[Mark Halperin]

How'd you put it in the comments? What does that mean?

[Clint]

You've got the comment section. You write your name in here.

[Mark Halperin]

Here in the. Here in the chat, you mean?

[Clint]

No, no.

[Mark Halperin]

All right, all right, all right. Keep going, keep going.

[Clint]

Okay.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Clint]

So there is a network of 60 pediatric hospitals that share content and pay for it.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Clint]

Those pediatric hospitals would be interested in your original vision for childhood diseases.

[Mark Halperin]

You mean in the abstract or you're speaking on their behalf?

[Clint]

I'm not speaking on their behalf, but I used to be in. In governance of the Organizing Org, the organization that organized this.

[Mark Halperin]

Okay, what's it called? What. What's the name of the organization?

[Clint]

Off site. We'll talk about that.

[Mark Halperin]

All right. My point is. Yeah, Clint, just tell you what.

[Clint]

Google me and you can find the organization.

[Mark Halperin]

All right, in addition to that, Clint, do you know how to use a DM on. On Zoom? Do you know how to get direct messages on the zoom? Do you know how to do that? Yeah. Yeah. All right. One of my colleagues is going to DM you and ask you to send us your contact information. And apologies we didn't get back to you. I'll look into why we didn't. We're a startup, so stuff falls through the cracks. But we should get back to everybody who writes in, and we'll do a better job on that. But look at your DMs right now. You should have a message from my colleague, send her your. Your email address and. And we'll be in touch. And we're grateful to you. And it is an important vision for me because Two Way is a business. We're here to make money, but we're also believe it will revolution. As I said in that speech, we're going to revolutionize media by allowing people to be part of communities, all sorts of things. And my. My biggest. My biggest goal is to bring kids together, as you said.

[Kevin]

It's. And it's far beyond politics, too. It's across all kinds of different conversations.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Clint]

This has implications for your series B. All right.

[Mark Halperin]

Well, it could, but. But I'd like. I'd like some. Some philanthropy to give us $100 million to do the kids thing. That'd be good. You know, it's just a matter of the resources to do it, but we'll do it. It's going to get done. And I appreciate your support for it, and thank you for being here. And please, we'll be in touch. So thank you. Grateful to you. It's really important, really important to us to make that happen. All right, let's do double marks here, Mark. And Mark, welcome in. Thank you.

[Larry O'Connor]

Can I quickly just recommend everybody watch that speech that Mark gave at Hillsdale. It really. It was a remarkable appearance.

[Kevin]

And our friend Dean put a link in the chat so everyone can access that. It's really great in terms of where we're headed.

[Mark Halperin]

Appreciate it.

[Kevin]

Organization.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. You see the link in the chat. If you're watching on YouTube, just on YouTube, just put in Mark Halpern, Hillsdale speech, and. And you'll call it up. Marque, you first. Thanks for being here. Tell everybody where you are. What's on your mind for Larry and for Kevin.

[Marque]

Big fan of the show from Sydney, Australia. Big Trump supporters. Maybe, you know, like, Australian Maga. I just actually finished texting my friend in Iran. I'm so happy that she's still alive.

[Larry O'Connor]

Oh, God bless.

[Marque]

Yeah. Finally she had to buy the VPN because they have, you know, Internet. So, yeah, she's still alive, but it's very, very unterrable situation there. My question is about Marco Rubio. I believe his biggest weakness is, is as great as he looks. He's still, to me, a bad debater. Just watching 2016.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Marque]

He's not good in debate, so maybe this will be like, you know, like his bug. So.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah. Okay.

[Marque]

I think.

[Mark Halperin]

Thank. Thank you, Mark. Thank you. A little hard to hear you. So I'm gonna. I'm gonna go to Kevin. Kevin, he wasn't a great debater. Chris Christie just schooled him. Thoughts on whether he'd be any better. Any better if he does it again?

[Kevin]

Yeah, Mark, it's a good question. Good comment. I go back and watch those tapes all the time. Who could forget? Also, little Marco. Right. And hand comparisons and all that kind of stuff. I will say, looking at the Secretary of State now in hearings before the Senate and House Foreign Relations, Foreign affairs, you know, it's almost like A debate like format where it's rapid fire. And I think he's certainly increased his quality on that front. So we shall see how he performs in 2028 if he runs.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah, I mean that. You're right about that New Hampshire. By the way, trivia question. Go back and watch that New Hampshire debate in 2016 and you'll see a 10 years younger Larry O' Connor asking one of the questions of the candidate.

[Mark Halperin]

Well, my mama had you called on just by fluke or is it inside job?

[Larry O'Connor]

No, no, it was prearranged because the website I worked for at the time, Independent Journal Review, was a co sponsor that the RNC under the guidance of Sean Spicer actually made sure that right of center websites were digital platforms, were connected with each of the network's debates. And that time I was with IJ Review and I was sort of the elder states.

[Mark Halperin]

Well, I'll just tell you quickly, I was in the room that night too. And because I, I was on the board of the Institute of politics at St. Anselm College, which sponsored the debate. Sean was very angry that I was in the hall because, because the press was.

[Larry O'Connor]

That's right. You should have been in the media room.

[Mark Halperin]

And, and I had a very, at a very good seat. And you remember that Chris, Chris Christie dismantled Rubio in two separate segments and during the commercial breaks, after each of those segments, he came over to me at the edge of the stage and on my iPhone, I debriefed Chris Christie in real time about his, his decimations. And they're incredible videos. And because of how fast the story moved, I never got to put them anywhere, but they'll be in my memoirs.

[Larry O'Connor]

Typical Christie, you know, cozying up to the mainstream media.

[Mark Halperin]

Exactly, exactly. That's what he did.

[Larry O'Connor]

But, but that debate is a good example because that Marco Rubio was very controlled and handled. He had his talking points and he kept going back to them. This is a different Marco Rubio. And by the way, Republican political candidates are very different. Now post Trump, you don't. They, they don't want to be handled. And we can see handled a mile away.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah, 100, 100%.

[Larry O'Connor]

I'll say this is going to be different.

[Mark Halperin]

I'll say this. And again, every interview I do and I ask people who's the funniest member of the cabinet, they all say Rubio, super funny, love sports. As I said. Here's the thing about 16 that under commented on, he was a horrible Internet grassroots fundraiser, digital fundraiser. He raised next to nothing. He had, he had Pool House, which is the best digital team in the Republican Party, making his videos. He did a bunch of videos with sports and family and stuff. I'd be curious to see because this is an ineffable thing. It's really hard to know. It's one of the things. If I could clone myself, I'd write a book about this. What separates someone who can raise money online from someone who can't? If you lead a movement like Trump or Sanders, you can raise money online. But why couldn't Marco raise money online? He should have been young, digital, savvy guy, you know, funny. He couldn't. So I'll be curious, if he does run, can he raise hundreds of millions of dollars online?

[Larry O'Connor]

Larry, I think, I think his, his organization and his strategy was very 2008 instead of 2016. And I think it will be different. Different going forward.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah, well said. All right, here's what we're going to do because I got to get over to Sirius xm. I'm going to say a few more things and Mark and Larry and Kevin will close you out and including telling you what else is coming up. And Larry will tell you in great detail about the new episode of NextUp that's on because I won't even waste my time doing that now. I will just say this. I couldn't be more grateful to all of you, as I said, for the patience you've shown in this process. And we couldn't have ended up with a better result. Not just Kevin and Larry, but the eight good folks you see total behind Mark. And I look forward to building the show with you two guys and so grateful to be partnering with you on it in the future. And I'll be over at SiriusXM, which Larry will tell you more about. And I'll see you at 5 o'. Clock. Have a great day, everybody.

[Larry O'Connor]

Same here.

[Kevin]

Thank you. Thanks, Mark.

[Larry O'Connor]

Thrilled. And yeah, to now to our new

[Kevin]

and improved Mark with that great background.

[Unknown Guest]

Best question at the press conference. Marco, what's your DJ name?

[Mark Halperin]

It was pretty good.

[Unknown Guest]

I got the answer. I got the answer. Marco Grande, right?

[Kevin]

Plays on the small hands. Yeah, I like that.

[Larry O'Connor]

Right?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. So just go ahead.

[Larry O'Connor]

No, go ahead, Marc. I love that moment, but I also love the question in Spanish and the response in Spanish that as you mentioned, Kevin, that must devastate Democrats looking at that moment and realizing that Markov's capable of doing that.

[Unknown Guest]

If you want to go back, you should watch the full tape of Marco meeting with the from El Salvador, from Bukele. There's A great video of him walking through the house, talking in Spanish. That kind of relationship with Western Hemisphere, I just think. And you said it. I mean, being able to talk to Spanish voters in Spanish as reporters are going crazy trying to figure out what he says. But just some other things on this.

[Kevin]

He's. He's Nicole's Latin king, as we know,

[Unknown Guest]

you know, And Rubio Vance, just on the thing I've said for a long time, Vance may not run because of the new kid, but that's why if he stayed as the VP on the ticket for one, he would be the first VP in history. In history. To serve more than two terms. And if you have four small children, I've heard. I don't have kids, but that moving children from one house to another can be very disruptive to their lives. And he's talked about how sweet a pad that naval observatory is, you know, hundreds of acres and surrounded by Secret Service.

[Kevin]

Mark, Mark, I would only do this because I now consider myself a South Carolinian, but John C. Calhoun was vice president under two in two different elections, under two different presidents, but not for three terms, so.

[Clint]

Right.

[Kevin]

Just for two terms.

[Larry O'Connor]

Yeah. All right. There you go. Mark, thank you so much. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for that. Great.

[Mark Halperin]

That.

[Larry O'Connor]

Great.

[Unknown Guest]

I won so much money on Poly Market with picking you, too.

[Larry O'Connor]

Wait, was that a thing? Because we. We definitely had inside information.

[Kevin]

We would be under investigation. We would be under investigation.

[Unknown Guest]

But just the last thing is a quick shout out to the new two way trivia game we've been doing. Trivia. It's a great. A great thing. And. Yeah. And next time you call on me, I'm gonna have the best political trivia

[Larry O'Connor]

question for all of you.

[Unknown Guest]

But I'm saying Mark's got to be in on it, too, to see Mark. All right.

[Kevin]

Thank you, Mark, and thanks for. For being part of that. We're starting to roll out these different platforms and programs, and the. The game show is embedded beta testing, and Mark and a few devoted community members were part of that first kind

[Unknown Guest]

of test on her first time out. So.

[Larry O'Connor]

Of course she did.

[Kevin]

Of course she did.

[Larry O'Connor]

Haley always wins. Thank you, Mark.

[Kevin]

Thank you, Mark.

[Larry O'Connor]

And. And. And, yeah, this has been. This has been quite a journey, Kevin. And to paraphrase President Trump in 2016, sorry for the delay. Complicated business. But it was. It was a little complicated to get everybody on the same. Literally on the same page and able to. To make this happen. And it. It's a testament to Joe Ruffalo, the CEO of. Of two Way that he was able to get everybody sort of in line and signed and sealed and delivered legally.

[Kevin]

What Larry's not telling the community is that he is a big diva and does have a writer with a bunch of requirements. I say yes to everything, including the dress. So, you know I'm just kidding. But it is so awesome to be on this journey. It's been awesome to be on this journey the last part of the year and going forward now into season seven, could not be more excited to be with you, Larry.

[Larry O'Connor]

The upside is going to be huge. And the reason why we're so excited about this is because we were just like you. We consumed this product before we were ever asked to participate in it. We are huge fans of the morning meeting. We know what made it work in the past and we plan to continue and even grow it further than that. And for anyone asking, Sean and I are still terrific friends. I promise you. We have a great relationship. We talk all the time. And we're doing an event together on May 15th at the Trump Kennedy center where I'm going to be going one on one interviewing him about his new book. And then we're going to have a cocktail party on the rooftop. So go to the Trump.

[Kevin]

You're back on message because you did call at the Kennedy Center a few times earlier.

[Larry O'Connor]

Did I?

[Kevin]

But now, now you're on message.

[Mark Halperin]

Yeah.

[Kevin]

A few weeks.

[Larry O'Connor]

It's going to be one of the last events at that building before it goes under renovation. So no, we have a great relationship. In fact, he gave this to me for my debut. So this the two way shift. So all is well. All right, here's the promo for today. Next episode. Oh, the new episode of Next up is out. Kevin, you talked about it before his new 8 for 28 Democrat primary rankings.

[Kevin]

It's, there's some interesting additions. Yeah. And some changes. And we'll, we'll let you all listen in on it. I certainly recommend obviously it's on Spotify and podcast everywhere you get your podcast, but watching on video is even better. So check it out if you can on YouTube and across other video platforms. Great, great conversation. Not just on the 8 for 28, but also with Megyn Kelly and our friend Molly Hemingway. Two other great conversations as part of that next up episode.

[Larry O'Connor]

Molly Hemingway, an absolute force of nature. And her new book about Samuel Alito is a must read. You got to get that.

[Kevin]

It is a must read.

[Larry O'Connor]

Live today at noon, welcoming the CEO of Pizza Girl Incorporated, Caroline d'. Amores. I don't know anything about Pizza Girl. So there you go. This is gonna. I bet Hayley knows about pizza.

[Mark Halperin]

Girl.

[Unknown Guest]

Girl.

[Kevin]

Yeah. How about it? That sounds tasty.

[Larry O'Connor]

Two Way tonight, Live at five. Probably, I'm guessing the latest on Iran and other things going on. And I think that that does it. Anything.

[Kevin]

And again, we previewed again. Switch over to serious right now. Join Mark over there. You can always call in members of the two Way community. The chat is open for the official after show. I'm super excited for that. Obviously, that kicks off at 11 today.

[Larry O'Connor]

And Kevin and I will be back tomorrow and Friday with our winners and losers of the week.

[Kevin]

Yes, we will. And again, thanks to everybody that has reached out, said something, posted, tweeted, X'd, sent DMs. Whoa. All right.

[Larry O'Connor]

Do I have to wear this every day?

[Kevin]

Save that for the after show, okay? Whoa, whoa, whoa. All right. You got. You got the job. You don't need to show anymore.

[Larry O'Connor]

Simmer down there, cowboy. Simmer down. This is not my style. I just don't. Do I. Am I going to. Do we have to wear these every day or can I just.

[Kevin]

That's in your rider as well.

[Nicole]

You can wear whatever you like. Larry.

[Larry O'Connor]

Thank you very much.

[Mark Halperin]

I appreciate that.

[Larry O'Connor]

All right, everybody.

[Kevin]

Thanks, everybody. Have a great day.

[Larry O'Connor]

Can't wait. Onward and upward. Take care.

[Kevin]

Amen.