Podcast Summary: The Al Franken Podcast – "Mark Leibovich on the Week in Washington"

Introduction

In this episode of The Al Franken Podcast, hosted by Al Franken of ASF Productions, Al welcomes Mark Leibovich, a seasoned staff writer at The Atlantic, former New York Times contributor, and MSNBC analyst. The duo delves into the tumultuous political landscape of Washington D.C., focusing primarily on President Donald Trump's recent State of the Union address and its far-reaching implications.

Trump’s State of the Union Address

Mark Leibovich opens the discussion by critiquing President Trump's State of the Union address, highlighting its unprecedented length and unconventional elements.

• Unprecedented Length and Content

  Trump delivered what is considered the longest State of the Union address in history, reportedly lasting over an hour and a half. Leibovich notes, “It was like one hour, 30 minutes, even more maybe” (09:07).

• Overzealous Introductions and Unusual Guests

  The President broke records by introducing an unusually high number of guests from the balcony, a move rarely seen since Ronald Reagan. Among the notable introductions was Elon Musk, humorously dubbed the “head of Doge, the Department of Government Efficiency.” “He may be the richest person in the world who cut off life-saving aid from USAID” (02:45).

• Aggressive Rhetoric

  Trump’s address was marked by aggressive and predatory tones, particularly in foreign policy discussions. Mark remarked, “He reminded everyone that he still has designs on places like Greenland and what have you. I mean, this was kind of a classic separate the signal from the noise” (10:00).

Tariffs and Economic Policies

The conversation shifts to Trump’s economic strategies, specifically his use of tariffs.

• Impact on Inflation and Consumer Prices

  Leibovich explains, “When we place tariffs on goods from other countries, our importers are the ones who pay the tariffs and they pass that cost on to American consumers, which drives up inflation” (03:15). He criticizes Trump’s tariff policies, stating, “These tariffs are just, they're not good for either country” (03:30).

• Recent Tariff Suspensions

  Recently, tariffs on cars from Canada and Mexico were suspended. Leibovich notes, “But I mean, look, it’s gone down, straight down” (21:21), indicating the negative economic impact despite these measures.

Foreign Policy Shifts: Ukraine and Russia

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Trump’s abrupt shift in foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine and Russia.

• Reversing Support for Ukraine

  Trump has reportedly switched sides in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, halting military aid to Ukraine. Al expresses disbelief, saying, “It’s ridiculous. I mean, we have now changed sides” (10:48).

• Possible Motivations and Consequences

  Leibovich speculates on Trump’s possible motives, suggesting, “Perhaps Donald Trump owes some kind of debt to Vladimir Putin” (03:00). He warns of the potential for escalating tensions within NATO, stating, “If he decides to send a bunch of troops into Greenland, it’s not like they’re going to stop us… then it becomes a war against NATO” (09:36).

• Domestic Political Repercussions

  The switch has caused significant turmoil within the Republican Party. Senators like Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have stood out in opposition, with Mark noting, “McConnell has voted against three nominees” (12:00), highlighting internal dissent.

Internal GOP Dynamics and Key Figures

The episode delves into the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party and the roles of key figures.

• Senator Marco Rubio’s Decline

  Once a prominent Tea Party figure, Rubio’s influence has waned. Mark reflects, “Rubio, it’s been kind of this steady decline and kind of an avalanche over the last 10 years” (13:04).

• Tulsi Gabbard’s Controversial Stance

  Gabbard has questioned the shared values between the US and Ukraine, leading to speculations about her loyalties. Mark summarizes, “There’s a lot of talk around that… I don’t see any daylight between what you just said, quoting her” (12:24).

Impact on NATO and Global Order

Trump’s actions signal a potential realignment in international relations, particularly concerning NATO.

• Erosion of US Leadership in NATO

  Leibovich emphasizes, “This undoes the entire sort of foreign policy order since World War II” (24:15). The unilateral shift risks destabilizing long-standing alliances and the global balance of power.

• Zelenskyy’s Position and Ukraine’s Future

  Ukrainian President Zelenskyy faces the brunt of these policy changes. Mark notes, “Zelenskyy has basically completely apologized” (24:52), reflecting Ukraine’s precarious stance amid shifting US support.

Economic Concerns and Inflation

The duo touches on broader economic issues exacerbated by Trump’s policies.

• Rising Inflation and Cost of Living

  Al points out, “There’s the price of eggs has gone up because they’ve had to kill how many chickens” (36:21), using the avian flu’s impact on poultry to illustrate broader inflationary trends.

• Federal Employee Layoffs

  Cutting USAID has resulted in significant layoffs, affecting not just federal employees in D.C. but across the country. Mark expresses the human cost, stating, “The human toll of the people who are losing their jobs from USAID is significant” (34:09).

Upcoming Elections and Political Future

Looking ahead, the conversation anticipates key elections and the need for Democratic leadership.

• Governor Races in New Jersey and Virginia

  These elections are pivotal, especially Virginia, due to its substantial federal workforce and cultural shifts. Mark observes, “Virginia has a lot of trumpy and sort of culture war elements to it” (40:00).

• Democrats’ Need for New Leadership

  Al and Mark discuss the Democratic Party’s struggle to find emerging leaders post-Obama era. Mark reflects, “Since Barack Obama ascended now what, 16, 15 years ago, Democrats have not been called upon to find new leader” (39:23).

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Al and Mark expressing concern over the current state of American politics. They highlight the unprecedented nature of Trump’s policies and the resulting chaos and uncertainty both in Washington D.C. and nationwide. Mark concludes, “It was just very uncharted. It doesn’t seem to be going terribly well” (42:25).

Notable Quotes

• “Trump certainly treated it that way. I know he set a record for people he introduced in the balcony.” — Al Franken (00:35)

• “We have now changed sides.” — Al Franken (10:48)

• “These tariffs are just, they're not good for either country.” — Mark Leibovich (03:30)

• “If he decides to send a bunch of troops into Greenland, it’s not like they’re going to stop us… then it becomes a war against NATO.” — Mark Leibovich (09:36)

• “The human toll of the people who are losing their jobs from USAID is significant.” — Mark Leibovich (34:09)

• “Since Barack Obama ascended now what, 16, 15 years ago, Democrats have not been called upon to find new leader.” — Mark Leibovich (39:23)

Timestamps Reference

• [00:35] Introduction of Trump's balcony guests.
• [03:15] Impact of tariffs on inflation.
• [03:30] Critique of Trump's tariff policies.
• [09:07] Length of Trump's speech.
• [09:36] Potential war against NATO.
• [10:48] Change of sides in foreign policy.
• [12:00] McConnell voting against nominees.
• [12:24] Tulsi Gabbard’s stance.
• [13:04] Marco Rubio’s decline.
• [24:15] Erosion of US leadership in NATO.
• [24:52] Zelenskyy’s position.
• [34:09] Human toll of USAID layoffs.
• [36:21] Egg prices and inflation.
• [39:23] Democrats needing new leadership.
• [40:00] Upcoming governor races.
• [42:25] Conclusion on political chaos.

This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened. For a deeper understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.