AMERICA'S VOICE LIVE WITH STEVE GRUBER - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025

Summary

Real America’s Voice Live with Steve Gruber – November 12th, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of America's Voice Live dives into the ongoing government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—focusing on Democratic Party infighting, debates over healthcare subsidies, the impact of political maneuvering on American families, and broader questions of affordability. Host Steve Gruber delivers pointed commentary and interviews several guests to unpack the day's top stories, ending with a spirited discussion on education, AI, and financial markets.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: The Democratic Divide ([00:00]-[13:10])

• Theme: Democrats are internally fractured over the government shutdown, with progressives publicly criticizing party leadership, especially Chuck Schumer.
• Steve Gruber lampoons the left’s drama, highlighting the chaotic Senate votes and public spats.

Notable Quotes:

• “This week the Democrat Party is eating itself alive on live television. And frankly, it's kind of glorious.” — Steve Gruber ([01:36])
• “Ro Khanna, Silicon Valley's favorite socialist in a $3,000 suit, just declared open season on the Senate minority leader.” — Steve Gruber ([03:48])

Democratic Debates:

• Ro Khanna (paraphrased): Schumer is out of touch with the party's progressive base, citing support for wars and reluctance on healthcare reforms. ([02:55])
• Bernie Sanders: “Schumer and I have very fundamental disagreements about where the Democratic Party should be…I am strongly supporting candidates for the Senate who are not part of the Democratic establishment or believe in Medicare for all, who are prepared to take on the big money, interest, and fight for working people. All right.” ([04:12])
• Steve notes: “The left wants his [Schumer’s] head on a pike outside the Capitol for all to see.” ([04:48])

2. Democratic Meltdowns & Media Criticism ([05:00]-[12:50])

• Video and media clips are used to mock mainstream Democratic commentators.
• Hakeem Jeffries and TV hosts like Sunny Hostin are cited as further evidence that Democrats are panicking and divided.

Notable Quotes:

• “America is too expensive and far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. They can't thrive. They can barely survive.” — (Hakeem Jeffries paraphrased by Steve Gruber) ([05:30])
• “Trump was busy cutting deals with world leaders while you were rage tweeting in your pajamas. Nice job.” — Steve Gruber ([07:39])
• “And now the Capitol Police and all the air traffic controllers—they haven’t been paid. That's made flying less safe.” — John Fetterman ([10:45])
• Steve’s quip: “Why is one of the only sensible Democrats the one who had a stroke? It shouldn't take a brain injury to admit the obvious.” ([11:25])

Moderate Dissent:

• John Fetterman and Dick Durbin break with the far left, citing the real pain endured by Americans during the shutdown.
• Dick Durbin: “I cannot accept a strategy which wages political battle at the expense of my neighbor's paycheck or the food for his children.” ([12:15])

3. Trump’s Shutdown Strategy & GOP Perspective ([13:10]-[15:57])

• Trump’s team allegedly used the shutdown to cut spending on “wasteful” Democratic programs.
• The party rift is painted as “victory” for Republicans, but Steve cautions his own party: “Don’t ignore affordability.”

Notable Quotes:

• “President Trump didn’t just survive the shutdown. He used it. He used it to his advantage.” — Steve Gruber ([13:01])
• “The Democrat Party isn't a big tent anymore. It's a cage fight.” — Steve Gruber ([14:03])

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4. Interview: Rep. Mark Harris on Shutdown and Party Leadership ([15:57]-[20:28])

Key Segments:

• Harris lambastes Democratic infighting and extols the handful of moderates who helped reach a deal.
• Harris shares optimism for reopening and touts Trump-era legislative achievements ([17:20]).

Memorable Quotes:

• “It seems the Democrat Party has been hijacked by the far left. Your thoughts?” — Steve Gruber ([15:57])
• “Just grateful that there were eight Democrats that came to their senses and stepped up and did the right thing…A little late, but at least they did it.” — Rep. Mark Harris ([16:48])
• On affordability: “It's going to be on the mind of voters come midterm election time. So how do we return affordability…?” — Steve Gruber ([18:23])
• Harris: “We’ve got to make policy decisions that are going to benefit the American people, not continue to punish them.” ([19:52])

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5. Healthcare Policy: ACA Subsidies and Lobbyist Influence ([20:28]-[26:14])

Guest: Tommy Aiello, National Taxpayers Union

• Debate over extending Covid-era ACA/Obamacare subsidies and their fiscal impact.
• Critique of insurance company profits and political donation cycles.
• Discussion on alternatives: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), prescription drug reform, competition, and telemedicine.

Memorable Moments:

• “They passed Obamacare 15 years ago…Health care hasn’t gotten any more affordable in those 15 years.” — Tommy Aiello ([22:32])
• “We can't just say we want to repeal and replace. We need to have real solutions.” — Tommy Aiello ([23:59])
• “There's nothing more important to the American people than their house…having affordable health care.” — Tommy Aiello ([25:40])

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6. AI Technology, Generational Challenges, and Education ([27:51]-[32:54])

Guest: Zachary Marshall, Editor in Chief, Campus Reform

• The potential of AI: a tool vs. a crutch—especially for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
• Marshall urges parents to encourage reading and research, warning of literacy and academic declines.

Notable Quotes:

• “If you never learn how to do something or understand something, you just use a machine to get to the answer. What have you accomplished?” — Steve Gruber ([28:15])
• “It's not just good enough to be able to use ChatGPT. You have to have a solid foundation in learning and reading and writing in order to use AI to your advantage.” — Zachary Marshall ([28:35])
• On fact-checking: “I encourage the whole world to fact check what they find on the Internet.” — Steve Gruber ([29:28])
• Marshall: “Every year students are less proficient in reading and writing and parents are not putting enough books in front of their children.” ([30:55])

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7. Financial Markets, Affordability, and Audience Reactions ([35:20]-[47:27])

Guests: Philip Patrick (Birch Gold Group), Eric Bolling

Discussion Points:

• Trump’s plan for $2,000 tariff dividends, government debt, and inflation.
• Central banks buying gold as global currency confidence shifts ([37:11]).
• Debates over 50-year mortgages proposed by Trump to make homeownership more accessible—audience shares mixed reactions ([41:41]).
• Crypto and gold market updates, with a lighthearted “diamond hands” chat between Gruber and Bolling ([46:02]).

Notable Quotes:

• “What are we doing with the tariff money? Are we paying down the debt or are we giving it to Americans to go out and spend and help bolster? There isn't enough to do both.” — Philip Patrick ([36:30])
• “Gold and the dollar are directly inverse. So central banks around the world are de-dollarizing.” — Philip Patrick ([37:11])
• “It’s the greatest appreciating asset in world history. Bitcoin, it is not even any comparison to it.” — Steve Gruber ([46:00])
• Bolling: “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.” ([46:25])

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Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “This week the Democrat Party is eating itself alive on live television. And frankly, it's kind of glorious.” — Steve Gruber ([01:36])
• “Schumer and I have very fundamental disagreements about where the Democratic Party should be.” — Bernie Sanders ([04:12])
• “Why is one of the only sensible Democrats the one who had a stroke? It shouldn't take a brain injury to admit the obvious.” — Steve Gruber ([11:25])
• “We’ve got to make policy decisions that are going to benefit the American people, not continue to punish them.” — Mark Harris ([19:52])
• “Health care hasn’t gotten any more affordable in those 15 years. It’s been quite the opposite.” — Tommy Aiello ([22:32])
• “The future is going to be run by people who know how to use AI and are better than AI.” — Zachary Marshall ([28:35])
• “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.” — Eric Bolling ([46:25])

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Audience Q&A and Listener Involvement

• Listeners share thoughts on homeownership and affordability, emphasizing concerns about long-term mortgages and high costs of living.
• Steve reiterates that “affordability” will be the defining issue of coming elections.

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Summary & Takeaways

• Democratic Party in Disarray: Deep internal conflicts over the shutdown strategy, with moderates and progressives clashing publicly, especially over Chuck Schumer’s leadership.
• Trump’s Advantage: Shutdown used by Trump’s administration to cut spending on Democratic priorities and reinforce the “America First” agenda.
• Affordability as the Battleground: Voters are concerned about healthcare, housing, and basic costs. Both parties are pressured to address these tangible issues before the midterms.
• Healthcare Debate: Skepticism over extending Obamacare subsidies due to fiscal concerns and the perceived enrichment of insurance companies. Alternatives like HSAs and market reforms discussed.
• AI and Education: Cautions over generational overdependence on technology and the need for foundational skills.
• Financial Markets: Discussion spans tariffs, gold, and crypto, with guest experts weighing in on macro trends and everyday impacts.
• Engagement: The show invites real-time audience participation on affordability and related policy issues.

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Timestamps: Important Segments

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------|-------------| | Democratic Party Meltdown | 00:00–13:10 | | Trump’s Strategy & GOP Cautions | 13:10–15:57 | | Rep. Mark Harris Interview | 15:57–20:28 | | ACA Subsidies & Health Lobbying | 20:28–26:14 | | AI, Gen Z/Alpha, and Education | 27:51–32:54 | | Tariffs, Debt, and Gold Discussion | 35:20–39:00 | | Audience Q&A on Mortgages | 41:41–44:00 | | Crypto & Gold Market Chat | 45:04–47:27 |

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Tone & Style

• Bold, irreverent, and skeptical of left-leaning narratives.
• Mix of sharp commentary, humor, and policy critique, with an emphasis on “real world” impacts for everyday Americans.
• Frequent use of sarcasm for effect, particularly when lampooning political opponents.

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For those who missed the episode:
This rundown captures the sharp political drama dominating Washington, critiques of healthcare and economic policies, and the anxieties of American families squeezed by today’s cost of living—all framed in the unapologetically combative, populist style that defines America’s Voice Live.

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast. This is America's Voice live. And welcome to America's Voice Live. I'm Steve Guerrero. The pulse of the people. We need somebody that's going to hear the people's voice, the truth the mainstream won't touch. This guy is by definition a globalist. And the stories that matter. Rav's own Ben Berklam right up over this Hill cartel. I see him.

[B]

I see him.

[C]

I see him.

[A]

Live. Breaking news right now here on Rio Libert. America's Voice filtered. These people are domestic terrorists and unapologetic. We're here to take a stand for God and country. Let's feel good. America's Voice live starts now. Welcome to America's Voice Live. I'm Steve Gruber. It is Wednesday, the 12th of November, in the year of our Lord 2025. Let's get to the day's top stories. As always, thank you for joining me here on Real America's Voice. The House of Representatives set to vote sometime today on a stopgap funding bill aimed at ending what's now the longest government shutdown in history. And the Democrats are losing their minds over it. I'll bring on Congressman Mark Harris to discuss that in detail shortly. Also, Democrats want to promise to extend Covid era Obamacare subsidies in the deal to reopen the government, a move Republicans say would add up to $400 billion to the national deficit. Instantly discuss the importance of not extending these subsidies today as well. And then later, I'll discuss the pros and cons of AI. AI can be used as an effective tool for multiple purposes, but it can also be a major crutch. And it's important that we teach the younger generations not to depend on artificial intelligence. All those details coming your way. But first, I want to talk about the Democrat Party, because this week the Democrat Party is eating itself alive on live television. And frankly, it's kind of glorious. Senate Democrats just voted to end the government shutdown. Yes, the same shutdown they swore was a moral imperative to protect their sacred cow programs. And the radical left is having a Category 5 meltdown. They're not just mad. They've gone feral. They wanted this pain to drag on for months, maybe years, just to bleed Trump dry politically. But even some of their own moderates finally grew a spine and said, enough. And now the long knives are out. For Chuck Schumer and some others, too, here is Representative Ro Khanna listing all of his grievances with the Senate minority leader. Listen to this. This was the straw that broke the Camel's back. You had Chuck Schumer cheerleading into the war in Iraq. You've had Chuck Schumer cheerleading for a blank check to Netanyahu. You've had Chuck Schumer betraying us on the first shutdown. You then had Chuck Schumer given multiple opportunities after Zoran won the primary to at least endorse him, even if it was a pro forma endorsement. He doesn't do that. And now he's not even willing to fight to make sure that the ACA subsidies don't increase. So, to your earlier question about are there difficult questions on SNAP benefits and group pay? Of course there are. And maybe if this was the only context, Chung Truman would have some grace and goodwill and say, okay, we disagree with. We disagree with this deal, but it's not enough to call for you to step down. But this is the culmination of someone who just doesn't get it, who doesn't get how much people are hurting, who doesn't get where the base of this party is, who doesn't get how upset this party has been that we're giving all this money to overseas wars and not doing health care here, who certainly is never going to support Medicare for all. He's just. He's not the future of the party. Hmm. Ro Khanna, Silicon Valley's favorite socialist in a $3,000 suit, just declared open season on the Senate minority leader. And he's not alone. The Bernie Bros are circling, too. Here's the senator from Vermont himself, and he is not happy Schumer voted no or is going to vote no along with you. He did last night. He's going to do it again.

[C]

But a lot of Democrats are blaming.

[A]

Him because he is the leader of.

[C]

The Democrats in the Senate. And some of your allies, like Congressman Ro Khanna of California and others are. Schumer should step down from his position.

[A]

As Democratic leader in the Senate.

[C]

Do you still have confidence in him as leader of the Senate? Schumer and I have very fundamental disagreements about where the Democratic Party should be. And I am strongly supporting candidates for the Senate who are not part of the Democratic establishment or believe in Medicare for all, who are prepared to take on the big money, interest, and fight for working people. All right. I have a very different vision of where the Democratic Party should go. If Schumer steps down, who is going to take his place? The truth is, progressives in the Senate right now are a. I think they're about eight or nine of us. We are pretty much of a minority.

[A]

Now. I am Surprised he didn't have his mittens on. Guess you could say the gloves really are off. He wanted the shutdown to be a crucible, to forge the revolution in the fires of federal employee misery. Chuck Schumer blinked, and now the left wants his head on a pike outside the Capitol for all to see. Bernie says he's in the minority, but that minority is starting to hold the rest of the party hostage. Hakeem Jeffries, Mr. I'll impeach Trump on a Tuesday. Wants to prevent being ripped apart by the radical left as well. So here he is, vowing to keep the pain train rolling in the House. Listen, America is too expensive and far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. They can't thrive. They can barely survive. And that's why Democrats have been waging this fight. And we'll continue to wage this fight no matter what comes over to us. From the United States Senate to the House of Representatives. At some point this week, our position as House Democrats has been crystal clear. We will sit down with any Republicans anytime, any place, anywhere, in order to find a bipartisan path forward. But we're not down with their my way or the highway approach to governance that's failed the American people. It's been a disaster for the American people and the American people know it. Democrats still trying to sell this shutdown. This 42 day shutdown is a fight for Americans. But news flash, Americans are just trying to buy groceries while federal workers do everything short of pawning off their wedding rings. Thanks a lot, guys. But Jeffries acts like he wanted to ride this shutdown like a mechanical bull all the way to 2026 in the midterms. Too bad the Senate just yanked the plug. He blames Republicans for the disastrous state of the health care industry. As if Obamacare isn't their invention. Not a Republican, not one voted for Obamacare. Now for the meltdowns. Oh, the meltdowns. Here's this guy having a full blown psychotic break. Enjoy. It is time to end the era of the feckless Democrat. Too scared to unify the party and stand up to Donald Trump to stand up to lawlessness and in this case, to fight for Americans. And let's remember, what Republicans are doing is robbing millions of Americans of their health insurance. It is horrible what Republicans are doing, and it is equally bad that Democrats have lost their spine in standing up to it. But this is the moment when we recognize that is the old Democratic Party and it is time to make way for the new Democrats. Who are born of courage and. And battle for the American people, not for bowing down out of fear. I think we may know whose Coke it was at the White House. Just saying. Democrats thought they were close to breaking Donald Trump. Breaking him? Sir, the only thing breaking is your grip on reality. Trump was busy cutting deals with world leaders while you were rage tweeting in your pajamas. Nice job. Here's Sunny Hostin on the View. You know, the program you try to miss every day, doing the same thing on national television. Enjoy this, too. I want an opposition party. I think the Democrats caved. I think the Democrats let down the American people. And like you, Whoopi, I have absolutely no faith that the Republican Party will come to the negotiating table in good faith. You know, you do something like this, shame on you. The first time you do it twice, three times, four times, shame on me. Shame on the Democrats. The bottom line is the Democrats went into this after a blue wave out of the American people saying, we do want the opposition. We, the working people, want the Democratic Party to fight for them. And now they just caved and surrendered. I think Chuck Schumer, his days are over. I can't. If he cannot put that. If he cannot keep his caucus together. If he cannot keep his caucus together, he needs to go. He needs to be. You know, it's pretty sad when standing on principle means letting 800,000 federal workers go without paychecks for a month while AOC and Bernie collect theirs without pause, all for trillions in funding for what amounts to a health care scam, as far as I'm concerned, and millions more feel the same. Democrats love to talk about the American people while conveniently forgetting that it was the American people who voted Donald Trump into office and are behind his agenda and not the agenda of the party that consistently takes the wrong side of 80, 20 issues. But the real gut punch, the real gut punch for the left came from two of their own, John Fetterman and Dick Durbin. First, the man in the hoodie really wasn't difficult for me personally compared to the 42 million Americans now that they had their snap suspended. And then the military, the military not getting paid. All these government workers now that are sitting at the desk right there in the Senate chambers, they haven't been paid in five weeks. And now the Capitol Police and all the air traffic controllers, they haven't been paid. And that's made flying less safe. So for me, that's been incredibly difficult for all of those folks and this kinds of chaos. So for me, you know, I that was. This was the 16th time tonight to vote to keep our government open. And that's just. I see doing my. My job. And it's the country over the party on this. And I know there's many people in my caucus are upset that we decided that, hey, I think it's wrong, and it's always wrong for me, and that's where I am. And after 41 days, I think we can agree that it wasn't worth the kinds of chaos and trauma for our nation. Why is one of the only sensible Democrats the one who had a stroke? It shouldn't take a brain injury to admit the obvious. Fetterman might look like he just rolled out of bed, but he actually said the quiet part out loud. This was hurting real people, real Americans. Air traffic controllers sleeping in terminals, TSA lines snaking out the door, veterans waiting on paychecks. But the squad, or maybe it should be the firing squad, and the Socialist caucus didn't care. They're too busy drafting their Medicare for all and also your dog in case their manifesto. Dick Durbin, the number two man in the Senate for the Democrats, the elder statesman of the Senate admits that Democrats knew the shutdown would starve children, but did it anyway. Why? To protest Donald Trump. Here he is. Many of my friends are unhappy. They think we should have kept our government closed indefinitely to protest the policies of the Trump administration. I share their opinions of this administration, but cannot accept a strategy which wages political battle at the expense of my neighbor's paycheck or the food for his children. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Mr. Durbin's been in Washington since about the time they invented the telephone. And even he couldn't stomach the carnage. The moderates are peeling off, the radicals are screaming traitor. And Schumer's hiding under his desk about now. I'll predict it now. These moderates are getting primaried next year, all of them. All for being reasonable after more than 40 days of insanity. But here's the kicker, the part the media won't play on a loop for you. President Trump didn't just survive the shutdown. He used it. He used it to his advantage. Listen, honestly, can I put it in plain words for you? And you're a smart guy, so you all understand, but a lot of people don't. The Democrats are getting killed on the shutdown because we're closing up programs that.

[C]

Are Democrat, programs that we were opposed to. So we're being.

[A]

And they're never going to come back in many cases. So we're being able to do things that we were unable to do before. Now, while the Democrats were shutting down the government for more than 40 days, the administration was shutting down their wasteful programs right in front of them. No more funding for DEI czars. No more billion dollar slush funds for sanctuary cities. It's called training the swab, one furloughed bureaucrat at a time. Trump turned their tantrum into a scalpel, carving out the rot they've been feeding for decades. And the left knows it. That's why they're not just mad at Schumer, they're terrified because the moderates are waking up, the base is fracturing. And the American people, they're done being pawns in this circus. The Democrat Party isn't a big tent anymore. It's a cage fight. You've got the AOC Bernie Wing demanding purity tests and prolonged suffering and the non socialist remnant begging for a truce. Schumer's caught in the middle trying to thread a needle with a sledgehammer. And Jeffries, he's still in the House vowing to continue the fight for health care for illegal aliens. This isn't leadership, it's cannibalism. The left wanted to hold 330 million Americans hostage despite one man. But even their own couldn't stomach the ransom note. And Trump, he's already signing the executive orders. Patriots, this is what victory looks like, not with a bang, but with a whimper from the other side. The shutdown. The Schumer shutdown is over and the Democratic Party is tearing itself apart. On camera. Grab your popcorn because the show is just getting started. It's going to get worse. But a bit of warning for the Republicans, which we will talk about tomorrow. Don't ignore affordability. You do so at your own peril. Coming up after the break, I'll bring on Congressman Mark Harris to discuss the potential deal to reopen the government after being closed now 43 days. I'll have details straight ahead on America's Voice Live. Well, I just learned the House of Representatives set to vote tonight around 7 o' clock on that stop gap funding bill aimed at ending what's been the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. And I want to bring on Congressman Mark Harris of North Carolina. Congressman, thank you for being here. It seems the Democrats are as mad as a hornet's nest that got hit by a lawnmower. I mean, the infighting is remarkable. Chuck Schumer, they want his head on a pike and a few more to go with it outside the Capitol for all to see. It seems the Democrat Party has been hijacked by the far left. Your thoughts?

[C]

Well, I agree with you, Steve. It does seem like they've been hijacked. And I think that what you're seeing are the results of just very, very poor leadership. But again, you know, they had somebody like Joe Biden in the White House for four years and we saw what it was like to live without leadership. And they're seeing that in their own party right now here in Congress. And listen, it's really ashamed when you stop and consider the pain of that the American people have been dealing with now going into the 43rd day. And yet the reality is they ended up at the same deal that they were offered on September 30th. Senator Th kept telling them that they would have an opportunity to have the debate, to have a vote. We would do all of those things, just open the government. And they have ignored it and ignored it. They ended up with nothing. And in the midst of it here we are just grateful that there were eight Democrats that came to their senses and, and stepped up and did, did the right thing. A little late, but at least they did it.

[A]

Now I can guarantee AOC will challenge Chuck Schumer for that Senate seat. I don't know if she can win statewide. She went in New York City. We'll see how that plays out. But do you have any concerns right now? You just went through it for me. You'll have some procedural votes and a debate. The vote should come sometime around 7 o'. Clock. Any concerns that there will be Republicans that don't go along with you?

[C]

Well, there's always some concerns. You never know. We tend to be an independent minded group of people, but everything I'm hearing is looking that for sure. People recognize it is so important for us to get this government open so that we can get back to the America first agenda. I mean, listen, as a freshman congressman, it was a great time for me to have the privilege to come in and serve the people of the 8th district of North Carolina with Donald Trump in the White House. And we have been moving at just record speed, doing things, getting things accomplished from the, the one big beautiful bill all the way to the rolling back the different types of challenges that were being created and it was just happening over and over and obviously they've tried to slow down the momentum, anything to try to stop the work of government. And here we are. And I'm just excited to be able to get back and let's get this passed tonight and get the government moving so we can continue to try to move the president's agenda forward.

[A]

Yeah. My warning to Republicans right now though is do not overlook this word affordability. It's what got Mamdani elected in New York City. It's really what got Donald Trump elected in 2024. It is going to be on the mind of voters come midterm election time. So how do we return affordability? Make sure that people can buy houses before they're 40 years old so they can pay the rent, pay the groceries, pay child care. What can the Republicans do to move that needle before the midterms?

[C]

Well, I think the president over the weekend even, you know, we talk about this whole issue of health care. I think the conversation needs to be held and it's going to be held because this whole ACA was never we called the Affordable Care Act. It was everything but affordable. It never has been. And Republicans tried to say this from the beginning and that it would collapse on itself without incredible government spending that was just unsustainable. And I think that's exactly what we've seen. And so this was the deadline that the Democrats put on themselves. It's coming the end of December with these Covid era subsidies. I think the president is looking at it correctly. He's talking about putting money back in the pockets of Americans instead of the insurance companies which are taking our money and then continuing to raise rates out the yazoo. I just believe that if the people Republican Party is understanding that we've got to make policy decisions that are going to benefit the American people, not continue to punish them. And I think this is the opportunity we have. So there's lots of conversations of what we're going to do to continue to roll back regulations, continue to help small businesses. Looking at this health care issue as we talk about some real solutions, I think there's a number of things that are on the horizon as we get back to work here.

[A]

Well, Congressman, I know you have a very busy day and you carve some out for us. We truly appreciate you taking a moment. We'll watch the vote tonight and we wish you well, sir. Thank you.

[C]

Thank you, Steve. It's always a pleasure to be with you.

[A]

Thank you, sir. All right, there you have it. Congressman Mark Harris from North Carolina 8. It's an important vote tonight, 7 o'. Clock. Of course, we'll have all the updates right here on Real America's Voice. We look forward to that and you joining us throughout the evening. Now coming up after the break, I'll continue the discussion of the government shutdown Specifically on the COVID era Obamacare subsidies that the Democrats want extended. Extended. They were supposed to be temporary. They voted for them to be temporary. And yet here we are. More straight ahead. All right. Continuing the discussion of the government shutdown. As I said, the continuing resolution passed the Senate Monday. As you know, it's in the House. A final vote expected tonight. According to the congressman from North Carolina, about 7 o' clock tonight is about the time he thinks that they'll get to a final vote. The Democrat shutdown is now in its sixth week and has been a total mess. They demanded $1.5 trillion in new spending but are expected to get only a few billion, if that. We'll see how it all plays out tonight. Of course, Democrats wanted a promise to extend, to extend their Covid area Obamacare subsidies that were supposed to be temporary. Temporary. A move Republicans say would add up to $400 billion a year every year for 10 years and just keep adding up. It would add favoritism to the insurance companies over Americans. By the way, tomorrow I'm going to have a list of the politicians that get the most money from the insurance companies. There are Republicans and there are Democrats, both more Democrats, but a lot of Republicans lining their pockets as well. Here to discuss, senior director of government affairs at the National Taxpayers Union, Tommy Aiello. Tommy, nice to see you today.

[D]

Good afternoon. Thanks for having me.

[A]

And by the way, some of the top five recipients politicians voted for Obamacare, all Democrats, of course. I know you're shocked to hear that. And they want to extend these subsidies because these insurance companies and their lobbyists put tremendous amounts of money in their pockets every election cycle and sometimes more often than that. That's part of the problem in Washington, isn't it?

[D]

You know, it really is. They passed Obamacare 15 years ago and it's supposed to be the Affordable Care Act. Health care hasn't gotten any more affordable in those 15 years. It's been quite the opposite. So here we are on the verge of the government reopening, which is a great thing. But Democrats, they're still asking for an extension of these Covid era pandemic health care policies that are too expensive, don't improve care and really only impact a handful of people. So, you know, we'll have to see what happens. But we should be prepared that this could come up for a vote next month.

[A]

Yeah. So when you talk about Obamacare and all this insurance money, look, all the insurance companies have been setting record profits here where I live in Michigan and don't feel too Badly for the guy. The CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield here in Michigan just took a pay cut last year. His total compensation package was only $14.5 million, more than a million dollars a month. They're all setting record profits. And so the idea, and I think this is a great idea at least to have a discussion about sending the money directly to American citizens so they can open health savings accounts specifically and only for health care items, be it insurance premiums, prescription drugs, a visit to the doctor's office, whatever it may be. Would that not save the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money?

[D]

It would save a significant amount of money. We have to, you know, realize the fact that the federal government sends billions upon billions of dollars every single month to these insurance companies and they're the ones that are making the money. It really is not helping the American people that much. So when we say we need to repeal and replace Obamacare, Republicans also need to come up with solutions that will actually help people as well. And we need to be able to tell people what our solutions are. We can't just say we want to repeal and replace. We need to have real solutions. You know, at ntu, we're a big fan of health savings accounts. That's pre tax money that Americans are able to keep and spend on health care related items. We need to have reforms to prescription drugs. You know, pharmacy benefit managers. These are the middlemen that negotiate drug prices far too often. It's too expensive and it costs federal taxpayers too much money. And then of course, telemedicine, that's the ability to see a doctor online. That'll be a game changer for rural communities who don't have access to doctor's office the same way people in the city or suburban areas do. All of that will help actual people.

[A]

You know, Trump rx the idea of cutting the cost of prescription drugs for the American people, something this President has worked on a number of times. In fact, his idea was so good that Mark Cuban, an open Trump hater, a guy that was totally never Trump, said, you know what, that's a pretty good idea. I'll bring my company over to see if we can make it even better. You've got that, you've got lowering of insulin prices. You've got the President coming out and saying GLP1 too many people need this drug, it's too expensive, let's lower that price. So he is working on lowering health care in different places. And that's also a step in the right direction.

[D]

Isn't really is we need more competition in the health care spot in the health care space. And President Trump recognizes that. He recognizes that health care costs, whether it's your premiums, whether it's your co pay, whether it's your prescription drugs, it all costs too much money. And we need to bring the, bring the cost down that we can. People can actually feel the benefits in their pocketbook. You know, you and your last guest talked about affordability. There's nothing more important to the American people than their house or their apartment, having affordable payments there and having affordable health care. So the more that we can deliver for the American people in both of those regards, the better it will be and the more people will be rewarded next year in the midterms when we talk about it and more importantly than talking about it, delivering on both of those things.

[A]

Absolutely true. Tommy Aiello from the National Taxpayers Union. Always appreciate you being here, Tommy. Thank you.

[D]

Thank you.

[A]

And I want to hear from you, by the way. I want to hear from you. Send me an email, go to stevegruber.com, send me an email and tell me about affordability where you are. What is your biggest concern? Is it gas? Is it groceries? Is it rent? Is the mortgage? What is it? Stevegruber.com Send me an email. We really want to hear from you now. Coming up after the break, I'll discuss the heavy use of AI technology, particularly in Gen Z, and how Gen Alpha can avoid this bleak dependence. More on that coming up. So at its best, AI could be used as a tool for kickstarting an idea or to isolate and gather specific information on a particular topic. I do it every day here to do work for you so you have the best information. But at its worst, AI can be used as a crutch, especially for young folks who are in middle or high school, as the technology makes it so they don't have to strengthen their minds and actually learn or understand a topic. It leads to a decrease in literacy, particularly for Gen Z. Gen Alpha, however, has a chance to turn the tide compared to their Gen Z cohorts if parents are more involved in teaching them in the old ways where a topic in its understanding was earned after voracious reading. Furthermore, screen time should be assessed and limited by parents. We do it here. You should as well. Join me to discuss is the editor in chief of Campus Reform, Zachary Marshall. Zachary, nice to see you.

[B]

Great to be back.

[A]

So my mother taught school back in the days when Texas Instruments was just coming of age and these fancy calculators were coming around and she said they're great to have if you know how to do math already, but if you don't, you should never be allowed to use a calculator. And that was like 100 years ago, it seems. Boy, was she right. If you never learn how to do something or understand something, you just use a machine to get to the answer. What have you accomplished?

[B]

Yeah, I used those calculators in middle school, and that seems like a lifetime ago. And you know, you bring up a really good point. I wrote this op ed in Daily Wire encouraging parents how to limit screen time and introduce more books into their Gen Alpha children. Because the future is going to be run by people who know how to use AI and are better than AI. It's not just good enough to be able to use ChatGPT. You have to have a solid foundation in learning and reading and writing in order to use AI to your advantage. And what I think parents can do now is find the stuff the students are gravitating towards on their computers, on their tablets and, and find books on those topics. It doesn't matter really what a book is on, as long as it's well written. Give to your children. Try to introduce the same kind of stimulation that students that children get from Candy Crush or different games on their phones and find books that have that same topic. And that's a way to kind of teach them habitually how to read and how to stay ahead of this AI curve.

[A]

Yeah, you've got to research, Zachary, because look, there is so much garbage from all directions on social media, on the Internet, on YouTube. Look, claims are made all the time. Deep fakes are created. And so what I use AI for regularly now is I'll go and I'll say, I'll take a post on Twitter or wherever and I'll say, is this true to an AI machine, to an engine? And they'll say yes or no. Oftentimes it's no, because you'll see something outlandish and go, that does not sound right. I encourage the whole world to fact check what they find on the Internet. Do you think that's a good idea?

[B]

It totally is. And that's something that I was researching earlier this year with ChatGPT and perplexity and others when seeing how good their fact checking is. And it's not really that good. It confused a lot of people in the first and second Trump administration. So if I put in generic copy, it would tell me that Betsy DeVos is still the Secretary of Education when that is completely wrong. So while we can use the tools to make Our work more efficient. We still need to be smarter than it and still have to have critical logic and knowledge skills. And that only comes from reading and writing. And I've taught writing and reading for over 10 years, from middle school to PhD students. And what we're seeing right now is that every year students are less proficient in reading and writing and parents are not putting enough books in front of their children. So they need to find a way how to trick their children, if it comes down to that, to read more books, kind of like putting medicine in chocolate syrup. You know, find books that are somewhat on topic to what the kids want to do online and have them learn that way that they can supplement tablets with more traditional forms of entertainment and reading.

[A]

Yeah. Let me ask you this, Zach. When you talk about this whole thing back and forth, how big of a challenge is it for the teachers that are in the classroom and they know the kid didn't write this, but they can't necessarily prove it? I mean, it's a challenge for teachers to say, wait a second, Johnny, this is not your work. Because if you know, Johnny's a C student and suddenly he turns in an A paper that's just mind blowing, you're like, wait a second. So the challenge is on the educators as well, at all levels, isn't.

[B]

Is. And, you know, it's a conundrum for Those K through 12 educators, because at an individual level, you can say it's your fault for not, you know, upholding standards in the classroom. But then we are talking about individual employees here who then, you know, if they make a complaint or accusation against a student, they have to defend it against the parents defending their students. They are also under pressure from their districts, from their unions, to have certain good rates. So there has been an incentive at public schools to fail students forward for fall far too long. And sometimes it's more convenient for teachers to fail people forward even though they know they're not ready for the next grade. And this all comes to a head with higher education when you have professors.

[C]

Inheriting.

[B]

High school graduates who are failed by the education system, and professors, as we've documented campus reform, are not doing their job to confront students that are lacking standards. We have covered rate inflation, we've covered alternative grading that makes students feel better about the grades they're getting. Nothing to do to make them better people or better readers or better writers.

[A]

You know, we actually covered this on this program last week. The average graduation grade point from Harvard today is 3.8. 50 years ago is 2.6 2.6. Anyhow, grade inflation is real as well. Zachary Marshall, always appreciate you being here. Thank you. By the way, folks, it's why I fish. I can trust that. And send your kids outside, would you? They'll learn more out in the yard than they will from any screen they sit in front of for too long. That I believe it's the one time of the year that Birch Gold Group gives away free gold with every qualifying purchase. That's right for Black Friday when you convert an existing IRA or 401 into a tax sheltered IRA. And Gold Burchgold will send you free gold to your home. To your home for every $20,000 purchased. Look, gold started this year around $2,600 an ounce. By October it was over $4,000 an ounce. It's over 4,000 again today. Why? Global Uncertainty 2025 has been defined by trade wars. Central banks are pulling from the US Dollar as the global reserve currency and military tension continues to build in a variety of places. Gold thrives in times of uncertainty. And if you're looking to diversify your savings, Birchgold can help you. Plus now through November 30th, get free gold. Free gold with a qualifying purchase. Just text America to 9,898 98. Claim your eligibility and get a free information kit on gold. But your opportunity for free gold is limited. It ends on November 30th, so don't wait. Text America to the number 989-898 for full details. Don't go anywhere. America's Voice Live will continue in a moment. President Trump recently announced that his administration plans to issue $2,000 to tariff dividends to Americans while using the rest of the money to lower America's national debt. My good friend Grant Stenchfield recently discussed this with precious metals expert Philip Patrick from the Birch Gold Group. Take a look at the conversation. What do you make of this idea that the tariff money is going to bring down the debt? But we've got a spending battle going on that's going to go through January 30th. My guess is government spending is not going anywhere yet.

[E]

Listen, tariff money is great. We didn't have it under Biden. This is 3, 4, $500 billion we didn't have a year ago. So we are edging in the right direction. Is it going to reduce the national debt? Doesn't look like that. We're still running a $2 trillion annual deficit. The tariff revenue looks enough to offset the tax cuts implemented by President Trump, which will obviously help boost the economy. What I don't see them doing anytime soon is closing that $2 trillion deficit. And in order to reduce the national debt we're going to have to do that. So we'll have to wait and see. All right.

[A]

If he carries through with his plan to send middle income folks $2,000, I don't know if it'll be mandated, used for health care or how he's going to do that. But what does that do for for gold? Putting an extra $2,000 in in the pockets of everyday Americans.

[E]

What does it do for everyday Americans is the question. I think it's going to help them, right? They've been feeling the squeeze. Even the government shutdown I think cost them 140 bucks a week on, on getting hit everywhere. Wages haven't been keeping pace with inflation. So putting money in the pockets of Americans would be a good thing. But what are we doing with the tariff money? Are we paying down the debt or are we giving it to Americans to go out and spend and help bolster? There isn't enough to do both. So it's one or the other. It's going to help families around Christmas. Like I said, it's money we didn't have a year ago. But we got a bigger problem when it comes to the national debt and that I don't see the solution for on the horizon.

[A]

You and I have talked about central banks around the world buying up gold, right? And I see that this is still going on. Can you explain to me why they are buying up gold?

[E]

Yeah, I'll try and do it quickly. So first of all they set a new record for the third quarter of this year. This was the single biggest quarter in world history. It beat the previous quarter record by 28%. A lot of motivations for the world. Basically they're looking at our fiscal situation. Debt to GDP over 110%. We're running deficits. The dollar as a long term store of value isn't looking good. Gold and the dollar are directly inverse. So central banks around the world are de dollarizing. US dollar holdings are still at 35 year lows. There isn't a better currency than the dollar out there. So they're using gold as a means to de dollarize. It became the number two Global Reserve asset last year. 20% of Global Reserve. I want to remind people in the 80s gold constituted 70% of central bank reserves. I think we're heading back to that long term.

[A]

All right, last question for you because I get this for people when I talk to folks on the street they'll Talk to me about Birch Gold and, and my relationship with you guys and Rev. And the number one question I get is, well, I'm worried I can't unload it. Once I have it, I can't. It's not liquid. What do you tell people who say.

[E]

That there's a demand for gold, whether it's central bank, whether it's institutional, it is at all time highs today. Gold is incredibly liquid. People don't think about it. Listen, when you sell a bond, you have to buy, find a buyer for that bond, right? It's the same with gold, but there's always buyers. This is a global market and we're in a period of all time high demand. When clients buy from Birch, it's very simple. You give us a call. You say, we need to sell it and Birch Gold Group are here to buy it back. So we make it very easy. But even without us, it's easy to sell gold anywhere in the United States and globally.

[A]

Well, you heard them text the word America to the number 989898 today. Learn how to diversify your savings with gold. Again, America to 98. 98. 98. Do that today. Now after the break, we'll have a story that reminds us of how wonderful America is. Plus, your answers to the America's Voice question of the day. This is a big one. Do you agree with President Trump's reasoning that a 50 year mortgage could make homeownership more affordable for Americans? Why or why not? We'll be right back. Trump Media just signed a massive $6.4 billion deal with Yorkville Acquisition Corporation and Crypto.com the crypto platform trusted by millions of users worldwide. They're teaming up to acquire up to $6.4 billion in CRO to establish America's first publicly traded CRO. Treasury. Trump Media Group CRO strategy. Once complete, this new company will be the largest publicly traded CRO holder out there ready to join the crypto revolution. Head to crypto.com today. Be part of this historic move. That's crypto.com and don't wait. For more information on the proposed business combination, check out Yorkville Acquisition Corp's public filings. What makes America wonderful? We do it every single day here with the hope of putting a smile on your face. I hope it works. Most days I think it does. Today's story comes to us from Lafayette, Louisiana, where a high school football player showed humility toward the custodian by giving him a hand. The game between Turling's Catholic High School and St. Thomas Moore saw a huge turnout as the stadium was packed and certainly filled with a lot of highlight reel worthy moments. But as you all know said, you turnout ends up with a big mess to clean up at the end. Well, the game ended and everyone left to celebrate, leaving one custodian to pick up the entire mess all by himself. That is until number 23 of Turling's Catholic, Hudson Clavell showed up to offer a helping hand and later recounted that he was moved by the custodian's effort to get the job done regardless of who was there to help or not. Humility. It's the theme of today's story and Hudson's kind gesture was certainly worthy of a mention as today it reminds us of what makes America wonderful. Great young people with great attitudes. All right, so the question of the day, it's going to be a fiery one. Do you agree with President Trump's reasoning that a 50 year mortgage could make homeownership more affordable for Americans? Tracy Beauchamp the interest rates being lowered would help more than anything, she says. Evelyn Ferguson Bankers win, not homeowners. Sam Foles III if you want to be a slave to debt your whole life, cut out the Starbucks 5 streaming services and the $1,500 phones and save for a down payment. You know, I agree with that so completely. Sam we are an entertainment driven society. We've got Roku and we've got YouTube TV and we've got all these different things. We've got the phone and the computer and all these services. You're right. Save some money, stop entertaining yourself all the time then complaining that you're broke. Dennis Paul writes, depends on the interest rate. There's truth to that. Mark Connor it will help for the monthly payments, but not good in the long run. No, because your interest rates will be staggering overall. Pretty remarkable. Barbara Ann writes, 50 years would make cheaper payments. Yes, but Barbara Ann, you want to be paying a mortgage in your 80s or 90s. Tim Paul no, it's setting people up to have mortgages way beyond 65 years of age and having very little equity 10 to 20 years into their mortgage. Horrible idea, he writes. Horrible idea. Tom Folkmayer writes, this doesn't fix the problem. If anything, this will increase home prices because homes will become more affordable. Not thrilled with this. John Hogan agreed that it would allow for younger buyers but not for older people. What would it do for the people that are almost 40 right now and still don't have a home? That's the big question in America today. Alaskan Sourdough writes, with the average age of first time homebuyers at an all time high of 40, the majority who opt for a 50 year mortgage be dead before it's paid off. It should be called the Perpetual Mortgage Loan or pml. Yeah, not going to work very well, is it? A lot of people against this. I don't know if it's a great idea either. But what I will say is this. At least there's a discussion going on, a discussion of how to make health care more affordable by sending the money directly to you, the American taxpayer. I think that's a conversation worth having. Health savings accounts are a good idea because think about this. If you're young and you start putting into an HSA because the money's not being sent to insurance companies directly, who then give that money to political candidates and office holders, well then that money, if you don't use it, will roll over and roll over and roll over. And that is a good idea for you, the American. I don't know about the $2,000 checks coming from tariffs. Maybe that happens, maybe it doesn't. But these are all conversations that must be had because here's the bottom line. Affordability. That is the word that's going to carry the midterms. That is the word that's going to carry 20, 28. If you didn't learn that from New York City, you are not paying attention. All right, now I want to hear from you. When it comes to affordability, what is the most important thing on your list? Is it the mortgage like we've talked about? Is it groceries? Is it gas? Is it electric? Is all of it? Is it all of it? Affordability? Send me an email stevegruber.com stevegruber.com Send me an email. Tell me what your priorities are, what your concerns are, what your fears are and what your hopes are. We want positive here as well. Speaking of positive, I've got Bowling up next. Bowling for dollars, he is, every single day. Here he is, everybody. Eric Bowling, how are you?

[C]

I'm good, I'm good. So you know, the stock market's been pretty good, Steve, pretty darn good last few days. Can't say the same for the crypto market. But gold, gold hit 4, 200 an ounce today. I don't know. Yeah, you guys are talking about what about crypto? Yeah, I don't know. I think you're just seeing a lot. You know, it's had a massive run up. A lot of people are, you know, in year end of the year, they're just taking some profits, want to put some money in their pockets being pushed down. I think as soon as this mess is cleaned up a little bit, last probably three weeks of selling, you probably see a nice move. I think most of the big players want to see the bitcoin price around 130 by the end of the year. I think we see something like that. But hey, you know, that's why they call it markets.

[A]

We'll see what happens. Gambling.

[C]

Exactly.

[A]

Look, it is the greatest appreciating asset in world history. Bitcoin, it is not even any comparison to it. But some people say it's over, some people say it hasn't even begun. We'll see.

[C]

You know, Yogi Bear said it ain't over till it's over. Steve, I'm gonna go with Yogi on the bitcoin price.

[A]

I agree because I've got, I've got.

[B]

A bit of it.

[A]

I, I hope it's not over because you know, you and I will both be crying together.

[C]

So what do you got over when we both get out of our bitcoin and they go straight up afterwards? That's just.

[A]

I thought about that too. Should we get out now? No, don't get out now. Don't.

[C]

You know, they, there's a thing on the trading floor. I'd spent 12 years on trading floors in New York just trading my own. Got my, you know, butt handed me once in a while. And sometimes you, sometimes you're a windshield, sometimes you're the bug, sometimes you're the bug. And it's almost like every single time you can't take the pain anymore. You sell out of position, it's going down. You sell it literally as you're selling the last piece of it straight back up. That's why it's so difficult to make money in markets. The mentality is it takes a really, really long time to, to get a hang of it, so to speak. But yeah, that's what we.

[A]

Yeah, be patient out there. Yeah. What do you got?

[C]

I hold, as they say, and in, in crypto the thing called diamond hands. It's just, it's one of the memes called diamond hands. Means I'm a holder, I'm not selling. My hands are holding like diamonds.

[A]

So yeah, that's, Well, I can't, I can't deny, I mean I can't sell now, I'll tell you that because I just can't. It'd be silly. So I'm going to wait for it just like you.

[C]

I'll have diamond hands 2,017. I'm in Miami. I bought my first bitcoin at 10,000.

[A]

Between 10 this is an I Heart podcast.