← The Beat with Ari Melber
The Beat with Ari Melber
Trump's Iran War Threatens Global Economy
00:40:46
MS NOW’s Jason Johnson sits down with economist Justin Wolfers and award-winning author Juanita Tolliver to break down President Trump’s sputtering economy. Plus, Congressman Seth Moulton to discuss the latest on the Iran war.
Loading summary
Transcript136 lines
- [00:01]
Dulce Sloan
Support is available 24. 7 with VRBoCare. We're here day or night, ready whenever you need help. Because a great trip starts with the right support. O O Ozempic.
- [00:18]
Jason Johnson
Hi, I'm Maria, salon owner. You know the jingle now discover the
- [00:22]
Dulce Sloan
facts about Ozempic, a GLP one.
- [00:24]
Jason Johnson
There's only one FDA approved Ozempic made by Novo Nordisk.
- [00:27]
Dulce Sloan
Learn about the real thing. Talk to your healthcare professional today. Call 1-833-O Ozempic or visit ozempic.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Ozempic. Semaglutide injection 0.5 milligram, 1 milligram and 2 milligrams.
- [00:45]
Jason Johnson
Welcome to the beat. I'm Jason Johnson in for Ari Melber. We start with Donald Trump's economy sputtering as he escalates a war with Iran that's threatening global energy and America's wallets. Today, the February jobs report. U.S. economy losing 92,000 jobs. The unemployment rate ticking up to 4.4%. Yes, here we go. This is the big Feb. Job job jobs report. Non farm payrolls minus 92,000. Minus 92,000.
- [01:22]
Seth Moulton
That is a biggie.
- [01:23]
Jason Johnson
Here we go.
- [01:24]
Juanita Toliver
So we have a negative number for February non farm payrolls of 92,000 jobs. We are also seeing the unemployment rate tick up to 4.4%.
- [01:38]
Jason Johnson
White House is clearly caught off guard and they're trying to spend the data any way that they can. Something of a surprise, but there's some weather. There are strikes on the west coast. And I think that we also have this birth death model. Yeah, I think it's consistent with everything else we're seeing, which is that the economy is really strong. The GOP knows a weak economy during a costly, undefined war in the Middle east isn't great economic pitch ahead of the midterms. So more than a year after Trump took office, his aides are still trying to blame, you guessed it, Joe Biden.
- [02:17]
Seth Moulton
The midterms are about roughly nine months away. How soon can we expect the jobs picture to pick up sharply More. More jobs coming into the economy. When are we gonna see that?
- [02:30]
Juanita Toliver
Well, I think we have seen that tick up a little bit.
- [02:33]
Jason Johnson
Again, this number in its raw numbers is not something we wanted to see, but overall, we're still better than what
- [02:40]
Dulce Sloan
we inherited from the Biden administration.
- [02:44]
Jason Johnson
Fact check false. Biden's last 13 months in office, the US economy created 1.4 million jobs, while Trump's 13 months back has seen the economy gained only 198,000 jobs. Meanwhile, there's no end in sight to the war with Iran now rattling energy markets, sending the price of oil up and pushing stocks down, down, down. The S&P 500 is now in negative territory for 2026. Qatar's energy minister is now warning of catastrophic consequences for the global economy. Quote, this will bring down the economies of the world. If this war continues for a few weeks, GDP growth around the world will be impacted. Everybody's energy price is going to go higher. And guess what? It's already happening. The average price of gas around the country has already surged by 34 cents in the last week alone. But Trump is firmly in his let them eat cake mode, not showing much empathy for struggling Americans dealing with high gas prices. Trump saying, quote, if they rise, they rise. But this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit. Joining me now to discuss is Justin Wolfers, economist with the University of Michigan and host of the Think like an Economist podcast. And Juanita Toliver, NAACP Image Award winning author of A More Perfect Party. Congratulations, Juanita. And host of the archival podcast. So, Professor, I will begin with you. A bad economy is defined by many things. Sometimes it's people not getting work, sometimes it's people working, but they don't think that they can make ends meet. But rising prices is something that is universally a part of problematic economies. Which of you things do you think is hitting Americans worse and is going to last the longest? These rising prices or these low job numbers?
- [04:36]
Justin Wolfers
Look, the rising prices, there's actually some reason to be optimistic that what'll happen is gas prices go up, they're going to stay up, but at least then they don't continue to rise. It's when prices continue to rise that we call inflation. Look, when I say people are going to hate that less, that's like having two terrible flavors, you know, like shoe leather. Ice cream versus what? I don't know what kind of ice cream you'd hate the most there, Jason. Licorice. Licorice is terrible. Yes, but we're in the middle of, look, today's job numbers, I really can't overstate this, have really fundamentally changed how I feel and I think many Americans feel about the economy. We are now at the point you showed, smiling, happy Kevin there before telling us about these numbers. We have lost jobs since Liberation Day. There is no one who stood on stage in Liberation Day and said, over the next 338 days, I'm gonna destroy jobs. They promised us a very, very different future. That future hasn't arrived and I am, frankly, angry. I'm angry that these folks won't own up. I'm angry they won't tell the truth. And I'm angry that this is a result of a series of absolutely insane policy blunders that my freshman students would have told him not to make.
- [05:53]
Jason Johnson
Juanita, you know, the midterms are nine months away, but I am of the mindset that people's decision making happens much, much sooner. If you think about the elections that we've seen, these primaries, that we've seen, the people who've been knocked out of power, how much do you think this bad economy is resonating even before you get to the fact that Trump is engaging in an extremely unpopular and illegal war?
- [06:15]
Juanita Toliver
I mean, Jason, people feel it every day. And I'll push back on one thing Justin said about people responding to these documents. Jobs numbers. No, people felt it in their wallets over a year ago. Jason, look, the reality is this Trump administration is. And Republicans have been behind drastic changes that impacted people's wallets, whether that's ending health care subsidies, which absolutely raise the rate that people are paying, or the struggle that they're having with housing costs, grocery costs. It's a laundry list. And I think we've seen that show up in especially special elections. Jason, think about Tennessee 7. Tennessee 7 was a district deep red. Donald Trump won it by more than 20 points in 2024, and that race came down to single digits. When I look at those numbers, what that tells me is that Democrats and independents are highly motivated to turn out against Donald Trump, and Republicans are not motivated at all to potentially engage in these elections. And because they're recognizing that Trump is harming their wallets, too. And, Jason, I think going into the midterms, the recipe for success in politics is absolutely going to be empathy and actionable solutions. I say actionable solutions because you absolutely need to tell people, how are you going to make their lives better? What are you going to do for them and deliver for them? But empathy comes in where Donald Trump is going full rocky force, saying, if the gas prices go up, they go up. Like what? Like that energy is not going to help anybody. It's just going to piss more voters off.
- [07:47]
Jason Johnson
You know, it's funny. I try to think of all the different ways in which regular people understand the economy, and one of those things is gas prices. But the other thing has to do with housing or job competition. Justin, you know, there's a piece out now talking about how there's members of the administration who are saying, oh, you know, some of this is AI, and AI is taking jobs. And. And that's why we're having these sorts of job issues. You know, do you think that that is something that Republicans are gonna be able to pull off? Are they gonna be able to convince people, hey, it's not our mismanagement of the economy, it's not our crazy tariffs. There's some robot program that's taking your job. See, be mad at that, not us.
- [08:29]
Justin Wolfers
Well, by the way, AI is actually something that the government can help regulate. Nothing is a foregone conclusion. We actually get to shape how these technologies change our lives. Look, I can't tell you about political rhetoric, but I can tell you about the truth. The truth is that AI is not yet having a market impact on the economy. A second truth is, it will. Absolutely. We should be preparing. We should be debating the issues at length. But if you look at data on how many companies have been fundamentally transformed by the emergence of AI, My university has not. Ms. Now has not. And the folks at home know that their lives have not yet, yet been fundamentally changed. What's happened is we're in a no hire, no fire economy in turn, that hurts young people the most. Yours and my students, Jason, they're graduating. If there's no hiring going on, they're the folks who are getting hurt the most. But it's not just that the unemployment rate has been drifting up. It's now up to 4 and a half percent. Was at 4% when the President was elected. It's been as low as 3.5%. This just isn't the sort of healthy economy that we were hoping for and
- [09:34]
Jason Johnson
not the one that they had been sort of bragging about. So, you know, here's the thing, and I think this is important. There is a way in which, which, Juanita, that a lot of people are saying, all right, look, Donald Trump has some crazy plans, but those plans are eventually going to work themselves out, right? You're going to get these better deals after these tariff situations. You're going to have the economy sort of slow down a bit after this war with Iran because we're going to have some stability one way or another. Is that something that the Republicans are going to be able to sell? I mean, look, 34% of the population is always going to be aligned with the president. But is there a way in which you can sell this war in Iran that actually makes sense to people? Not morally, but economically. That is something that'll actually be a boon to you and your family. And going grocery Shopping on a weekend.
- [10:20]
Juanita Toliver
I mean, not when the leadership in Qatar is saying, look, we stopped production earlier this week and the region is likely to stop production, and that's going to harm and disrupt global economies. No. And, Jason, I look at politics like every other relationship. So picture you've been off and on with a boyfriend. This is Trump's second term in the White House. So you've been off and on with him. And now he's saying, oh, it's been over a year, but more is coming. I'm going to be that rapper. I'm going to get that job. No, he's not. Walk away. And I think that's the reality check that a lot of Americans are going to confront, that we've already seen playing out. Look, Texas Democrats turned out at historic rates, right? Because they know how much is on the line. We know that Republicans have doubled down on voter suppression because they know how when people are pissed off, they're going to turn out at the polls. And I think that's something that American voters are going to contend with going into November. But any candidate who's running on this ballot, you need two things, empathy and actionable solutions to undo the mess that Donald Trump is exacerbating with every shock that he injects into this economy.
- [11:27]
Jason Johnson
And continue with your metaphor. I mean, look, you took the boyfriend back, but he's still obsessed with that guy you used to date, Joe Biden, right? He doesn't seem. He thinks you're still thinking about it. He thinks you're still thinking about it. He's very upset about it, you know, and don't, don't talk about that guy Barack. And he's wondering if you're still texting him. Justin, I'm having a problem with this because this is something I have seen with my students as well. There is a sort of, it's not ambivalence, but just sort of resignation about the jobs market that they're going into. And I say all the time that, you know, most people make judgments about the economy around the holidays, right? It's like, hey, we're all around. It's Thanksgiving, it's Christmas. Are the young people excited about graduating? You know, is such and such have a job if they come back. A lot of students are not looking at graduation thinking, hey, I'm gonna have a job. They're thinking, I might have to stay home or maybe I'm gonna go to graduate school because the economy is not looking good. What does that do to the American public when graduating? People who are supposed to be their most optimistic are thinking, hey, there may not be a place for me.
- [12:28]
Justin Wolfers
Jason, it's interesting. I talked to one of my favorite students this week. She knows who she is, a brilliant student who's working with me. And she said, she pointed out she graduated in 2016. So she graduated in 2016 into the first Trump presidency and all the madness that that entailed. Four years later, we end up in the middle of COVID and then she gets two years of the tail end of the Biden administration and then we're back to the madness again. She's a brilliant young woman who's got a great career ahead of her, but wow, what an introduction to grown up life and to just everything feeling a little more tenuous. America's place in the world, our values, our democratic values, her employment prospects. And then you're right. Beyond the purely political, we've got not only a pandemic, a once in a century pandemic. We've also got, you know, we've got war coming on and we've got this AI Revolution. I'm an optimist. I think AI there exists a way, if you could make everyone more productive, you create more cake. I think our problem is how do we make sure everyone gets a slice of that bigger cake. That I think is the policy challenge of our moment.
- [13:40]
Jason Johnson
And we got to figure out what kind of cake we like to eat. Justin Wolfers, Juanita Toliver, thank you so much for joining us tonight, starting us off on the beat. Pleasure. Coming up, Barack Obama speaks at the memorial for Jesse Jackson with strong words about our moment in this country.
- [13:58]
Barack Obama
Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions,
- [14:07]
Gina Hinojosa
another
- [14:09]
Barack Obama
setback to the idea of the rule of law. This man, Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, inspires us to take a harder path.
- [14:23]
Jason Johnson
But first, new Trump comments that suggest the Iran war could last a very long time. Congressman Seth Moulton is our guest. When we're back in just 90 seconds, it's Jason Johnson on the beat.
- [14:35]
Odoo Advertiser
Imagine relying on a dozen different software programs to run your business, none of which are connected and each one more
- [14:41]
Jason Johnson
expensive and more complicated than the last.
- [14:44]
Odoo Advertiser
It can be pretty stressful. Now imagine Odoo. Odoo has all the programs you'll ever need and are all connected on one platform. Doesn't Odoo sound amazing? Let Odoo harmonize your business with simple, efficient software that can handle everything for a fraction of the price. Sign up today@odoo.com that's O D O O.com ready for big fun. Start for free at Chumba Casino. Sign up and enjoy a welcome bonus with gold coins and sweeps coins to explore hundreds of online social casino games, all from your phone. Spin, play and discover something new whenever you feel like it. With no downloads needed. More games, more ways to play. Let's Jumba no purchase necessary. VGW Group Void where prohibited by log.
- [15:34]
Jason Johnson
See Terms and conditions for details. 21 plus here at Blue Apron, we've been thinking a lot about the whole cooking thing and we've decided you shouldn't have to cook. Introducing Dish by Blue Apron Pre made meals that are ready in five minutes or less, at least 20 grams of protein, a good source of fiber and no artificial flavors or colors. Shop Dish by Blue apron@blueapron.com Get 50% off your first two orders with code APRON50. Terms and conditions apply. Visit blueapron.com terms for more. Tonight, serious new questions about Trump's strategy, or lack thereof, in Iran today, for the first time, Trump calling for Iran's, quote, unconditional surrender. As the New York Times reports, it's yet another shift in the goals of the US Military actions, one that could pretend a much longer conflict. Also today, the Washington Post reporting the cancellation of an army exercise is fueling speculation within the Defense Department that soldiers specializing in ground combat and a range of other missions may be sent to the Middle East. Days ago, Trump pointedly declining to rule out sending U.S. troops, quote, unquote, if necessary. Pete Hegseth also asked about it. Are there currently any American boots on the ground in Iran?
- [17:02]
Justin Wolfers
No, but we're not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.
- [17:08]
Jason Johnson
Sources telling Ms. Now the war is now costing the US $1 billion per day. For context, the war in Afghanistan costs $300 million a day. So so much for Trump stopping inflation. Meanwhile, Trump asked bluntly whether Americans should fear Iranian retaliatory strikes in the United States. His answer, quote, I guess adding, quote, but I think they're worried about that all the time. We think about it all the time. We plan for it. But yeah, you know, we expect some things. Like I said, some people will die when you go to war, some people will die. All this as Trump becomes the first modern president to take the United States to war without public support. New Polling shows just 44% support for the war in Iran, compared to 51% support for Clinton's actions in Kosovo, 53% for Reagan's mission in Grenada, 83% for H.W. bush's war in Iraq, and 90% for. For W. Bush's war in Afghanistan. Joining me now to discuss is Congressman Seth Moulton, Democrat from Massachusetts. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a Marine Corps combat veteran who served multiple tours in Iraq. Congressman, I'm going to start with this. I usually avoid the what's the most terrible thing that Donald Trump has done this week? But what is your response as a veteran, as an American citizen, to the president of the United States? When asked if people could die, he shrugs his shoulders and says, yeah, I guess
- [18:45]
Seth Moulton
Donald Trump has never respected the troops. Never. I mean, not when he dodged the draft, making up a sore foot to avoid going to Vietnam and understandably sending someone in his place. It's not like there was just an empty seat someone went in his place to when he called John McCain a loser for getting captured, American hero. His own chief of staff, Marine John Kelly, documented that he called troops losers for signing up and suckers for getting killed. I mean, this is someone who has just never respected the troops of their families. And apparently he doesn't even really care about American civilians who could very well get killed in this crossfire as well.
- [19:31]
Jason Johnson
So I want to make clear that the impact of this war from a humanitarian standpoint is problematic, but also from a geopolitical standpoint. The Washington Post reports that Russia is helping Iran. Russia is providing Iran intelligence to target U.S. forces. Officials say the targeting information has included the locations of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East. The official said. Now, you know, Russia and Iran have long had a relationship. I believe it's Iranian missiles, some of what Russia is using, and their war against Ukraine. But how does the fact that Russia is assisting Iran complicate our ability to essentially fund or navigate two wars, a war in Iran and a, a war sort of protection or a proxy war in the Ukraine?
- [20:16]
Seth Moulton
Well, look, it just ties us down in the Middle east in a way that's incredibly helpful to our adversaries because we can't be as focused on Ukraine. We don't have the munitions to support Ukraine in a war that actually is really beneficial to us because they're doing the tough work against the Russ. It means we can't have a posture in the Pacific to prevent a war with China, which should be the number one threat everyone is concerned about around the globe. And so the point is that as bad as this looks in the Middle east, and let me be clear, it looks terrible and this is not going well for us in terms of achieving any of the goals that the president even laid out and it's gonna get worse before it gets better. But a lot of the focus is just on what's gonna happen in the Middle East. This has huge geostrategic implications. We heard about the economic implic earlier, but there are major national security concerns as well, which is why we've heard through the grapevine a lot of concern among the general officer corps, among senior officials in the Pentagon, even among the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, even from the chairman himself. Very concerned about doing this. It's pretty clear that this was either Trump's idea or Bibi's idea, but not the general's idea to go into Iran.
- [21:33]
Jason Johnson
I want to play you a quick sound bite and get your thoughts on the other side of the president talking about his potential next target for the US Military. What's happening with Cuba is amazing, and we think that we want to finish this one first, but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba,
- [21:56]
Justin Wolfers
hopefully not to stay.
- [21:57]
Jason Johnson
We want you back, and we don't want to lose you. We don't want to make it so nice that they stay.
- [22:01]
Seth Moulton
That was another one that wasn't supposed to happen.
- [22:06]
Jason Johnson
Venezuela, Iran, threats to Greenland, threats to Canada. Now potential threats to Cuba. What does this do, Congressman? Also about our ability to maintain information sharing and relationships with allies. The other people who we supposedly share military intelligence with have to be looking at this country and saying, I can't share things with these guys anymore. They're attacking everyone.
- [22:27]
Seth Moulton
Yeah. This is apparently his path to a Nobel Peace Prize President of peace right there. He's just completely untrustworthy. And it's trust with our allies, of course. I mean, that's pretty obvious. And we've already had some of our closest allies withhold intelligence from us that puts Americans in danger. I mean, just be clear, Trump's actions put Americans in danger because we're able to protect American citizens in part from the intelligence we get from our allies. But maybe what's less obvious is the fact that our enemies don't trust us either. My first Marine Division commanding general was James Mattis, who would later, of course, become Trump's Secretary of defense. And our division motto was, no better friend, no worse enemy than a United States Marine. Now, that meant if you were our friend, our ally, you could trust us to the end of the world. But it also meant if you were our enemy, you could trust us. You could trust that we would put up the worst fight you've ever seen. And so the point is that Russia and China are laughing at this. Xi Jinping is saying this will be great if they use all their missiles in the Middle East. Russia is saying, wow, Americans have been using their intelligence to target our troops. Now we get to target theirs. This is a great boon for our adversaries and it's really bad for our troops.
- [23:49]
Jason Johnson
Congressman Moulton, thank you for laying this out to our audience tonight on the beat. Thank you.
- [23:53]
Seth Moulton
Good to see you, Jason.
- [23:55]
Jason Johnson
Good to see you, too. Still ahead, Barack Obama eulogizing Reverend Jesse Jackson today and warning of the assault on democracy. Also, the other big story this week, Democrats dreaming big in Texas after surging turnout. I talked live to the candidate running to turn the governor's House blue and how Kristi Noem angered Trump and why the new pick is already triggering backlash. We'll be back soon. Jason Johnson on the Beat. We turn now to the firing of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem. She oversaw a string of controversies and abuses, including the killings of two Americans in Minneapolis. But reports suggest Trump only got angry when Noem told lawmakers he personally approved a $220 million ad campaign. The president approved ahead of time. You spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?
- [24:59]
Juanita Toliver
Yes, sir. We went through the legal processes.
- [25:02]
Jason Johnson
Did it correct the president not saying you're not telling the truth? It's just hard for me to believe. The president Noam is the first cabinet member ousted in Trump's second term. She'll be reassigned to a previously unknown job, special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. It sounds like something out of a Marvel movie. Here's how it played out on Late Night.
- [25:27]
Seth Moulton
Before we find out any more information about what happened, I just want to say with absolute certainty she is a domestic terrorist who deserves to go to Gitmo. I am being told that is not true. But you know what? I acted on the information we had at the time.
- [25:43]
Jason Johnson
You know it's a promotion. When the job was just invented 6 minutes ago using refrigerator magnets. Even the FIFA Peace Prize was like. That sounds made up. That sounds. That doesn't sound like a real thing. Yeah, it sounds less like a job, more like a title of a Borat movie. Coming up, Trump making his presidential debut at the White House Correspondents Dinner this year, the first time since taking office. But first, Democratic turnout surging in Texas primaries this week. I'll talk to someone at the center of it all when we're back on the beat. Abercrombie's new spring collection has every outfit you need for the season of long weekends, full of linen shirts, sweaters and coastal shorts designed to go from your desk straight to days off. For me, the collection's a must have are the baggy trousers with the casual fit and tailored look for endless versatility? Get your closet ready for spring plans. Shop Abercrombie in the app, online and in stores.
- [26:47]
Odoo Advertiser
Imagine relying on a dozen different software programs to run your business, none of which are connected, and each one more expensive and more complicated than the last. It can be pretty stressful. Now imagine Odoo. Odoo has all the programs you'll ever need and are all connected on one platform. Doesn't Odoo sound amazing? Let Odoo harmonize your business with simple, efficient software that can handle everything for a fraction of the price. Sign up today@odoo.com that's O D O O.com Tyler Redick here from 2311 Racing.
- [27:20]
Dulce Sloan
You think racing's tough?
- [27:22]
Justin Wolfers
Try getting your friends to agree on dinner plans.
- [27:24]
Jason Johnson
I'm in.
- [27:26]
Dulce Sloan
Wait maybe what time again?
- [27:29]
Jason Johnson
While they figure that out, I rev up Chumba Casino play on your browser.
- [27:32]
Seth Moulton
No downloads necessary.
- [27:34]
Jason Johnson
No need to negotiate.
- [27:36]
Seth Moulton
Why wait on them when you can spin for yourself?
- [27:39]
Jason Johnson
Play now@jumbacasino.com let's Jumba no purchase necessary. VGW Group voidware prohibited by law.
- [27:45]
Justin Wolfers
CTNC's 21 plus sponsored by Jumba Casino.
- [27:53]
Jason Johnson
Midterm primaries are now officially underway. The story this week was turnout. Democrats had record turnout in Texas, with those gains particularly pronounced in Latino majority areas. On social media, voters are sounding off about what all this might mean for the midterms this fall when Texas turnout
- [28:13]
Juanita Toliver
for Democrats was high.
- [28:14]
Odoo Advertiser
Congratulations James Tallarico and Gina Hinjosa.
- [28:17]
Dulce Sloan
I do think you guys can turn Texas blue. There is a viable pathway to success for Democrats in this country, even in deep red areas.
- [28:25]
Seth Moulton
The voter suppression in Texas, that's how Texas stays red.
- [28:28]
Justin Wolfers
Then five other Hispanic majority counties in
- [28:31]
Jason Johnson
South Texas, Talarico and Crockett, combined for more votes than Kamala Harris got.
- [28:35]
Juanita Toliver
2.2 million Democrats voted in this primary
- [28:37]
Dulce Sloan
and they outpaced Republicans.
- [28:39]
Jason Johnson
We are going to turn Texas blue. The governor's race is one of the marquee matchups with state lawmaker Gina Hinojosa facing incumbent Greg Abbott. The Houston Chronicle reporting quote, hinojosa, a relatively unknown challenger, is trailing Abbott by only single digits and a midterm election that is expected to be bruising for Republicans. Joining me now is Gina Hinojosa, Democratic candidate for Texas governor. Thank you so much for joining us this evening on the Beat. I'm gonna get right to it. You have won your primary. Now you gotta focus on going against the governor. What is your main argument to the voters? What are you telling voters that they need to know about you, about your platform to kick Abbott out of office and put you in at Austin?
- [29:24]
Gina Hinojosa
What they will know about me is that I am going to be the governor who works for the people of Texas and not the moneyed interests we have with Governor Abbott, a governor who has done the bidding of the billionaires to line their pockets. More and more. We are all paying the Greg Abbott corruption tax. After 12 years of Greg Abbott, people are struggling more, not less. He's had his time. It is more than enough. People want change. He offers more of the same.
- [29:53]
Jason Johnson
Representative One of the things that I think a lot of people don't understand, you know, social media is full of people who want to pontificate about what's happening in Texas, but they've never been there. They've never set foot in the state. They don't know the difference between Houston and Austin and San Antonio, but they have all these opinions. What's something that people should know, even consultants or volunteers who want to come to the state and work for you? What's something they need to know that's unique about Texas and Texas politics that you are going to be using to your benefit this fall?
- [30:20]
Gina Hinojosa
Well, in Texas, we are a very proud people, right? We understand our worth. We know that we are a world economic powerhouse and there is pride in that. And it is the people of Texas who have made that power. But Texans are struggling. Our incomes are rising at a slower pace than the national average. We have more people who are uninsured, more children, uninsured, more veterans, working people. Our electricity prices have skyrocketed after Winter Storm, where Greg Abbott did the bidding of the gas companies instead of the people of Texas. Now we're all paying about $40 more a month on our gas prices. On and on. Texans are struggling and we shouldn't be because we create that economic power in this state and we can turn that around. Right now we're feeding into a system with our own money that is working against us under Greg Abbott. We need a clean slate and fresh start to build a government that works for the people of Texas.
- [31:21]
Jason Johnson
Representative I mean, obviously from the national standpoint, the top of the ticket was the primary race with James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett earlier this week. Even though you are the top of the ticket because you're running for the chief executive of the state. Have you reached out to the Talarico campaign and will you be working with them, doing joint events, sort of barnstorming across the state as people who are trying to make sure that you don't necessarily turn Texas blue, but at least maybe flip it to purple?
- [31:47]
Gina Hinojosa
Right. Yes. James and I are good friends. I was, I'm great friends with Jasmine, too. We both have. We've all served in the Texas House together. And there we have fought back against Greg Abbott's disastrous agenda for our public schools and for our communities. And yes, James and I will be campaigning across the state. We're already planning for rallies across the state and it will take all of us to win the gains we need. This might be our last best chance. And so we're all in. And we need everybody all in. But our polling shows us we are in a statistical tie with Greg Abbott. As you mentioned, there was record turnout with Democrats showing up at numbers we haven't seen since 2008. More Democrats by a lot than Republicans. That bodes well for November. So, yes, we are all, all in all working together to amplify and maximize this opportunity.
- [32:44]
Jason Johnson
Gina Hinojosa, thank you so much for joining us this evening on the Beat. And we should note, Governor. Oh, thank you. And we should note Governor Abbott is welcome to come on the Beat anytime. Happy to talk. Up next, Obama rips the greed and bigotry in Trump's America. More on that when we're back on the Beat. This week we saw first from Donald Trump announcing he'll attend this year's White House Correspondents Dinner for the first time as president might still be reeling from that time he got roasted by Barack Obama way back in 2011.
- [33:20]
Barack Obama
No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest to ban the Donald. And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. Like did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?
- [33:51]
Jason Johnson
It is a villain origin story. And now Trump is returning to the dinner, but in a seemingly safe space with a mentalist hosting, not a comedian. It makes sense as comedians and artists have often been some of the loudest voices in standing up to the Trump administration.
- [34:07]
Seth Moulton
Donald Trump's administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV because all Trump does is watch tv.
- [34:15]
Jason Johnson
Connor is giving us a plane that Trump gets to keep.
- [34:21]
Seth Moulton
He's like the reverse Oprah.
- [34:29]
Jason Johnson
Okay, so then over Here is where you're going to have the big golden pillars that you guys wanted when your best friend was a pedophile. And you're losing bigly in the swing states. With an election coming up, what do you do? I'll tell you what you do. You fire the weapons of mass distraction. Joining me now is Dulce Sloan, an Emmy Award winning comedian and actress who spent seven years as a correspondent on the Daily Show.
- [34:59]
Dulce Sloan
Let's be clear about which trial this is. Is it the classified documents trial?
- [35:07]
Jason Johnson
No.
- [35:07]
Dulce Sloan
The January 6th trial? No. The Georgia RICO trial?
- [35:11]
Jason Johnson
No.
- [35:11]
Dulce Sloan
The sexual assault defamation trial? No. The real estate trial? No. It's the porn money, hush love, sex music trial.
- [35:23]
Jason Johnson
Dulce, thank you so much for joining us tonight on the Beat.
- [35:26]
Dulce Sloan
Thank you for having me.
- [35:27]
Jason Johnson
It's your first time? It's your first time?
- [35:28]
Dulce Sloan
No, it was my first time with you. I did it with Ari in la.
- [35:32]
Jason Johnson
Okay.
- [35:33]
Dulce Sloan
I was told he would be here. Is he hiding from me?
- [35:35]
Jason Johnson
He is hiding from you, actually.
- [35:36]
Juanita Toliver
That's so rude.
- [35:37]
Jason Johnson
I text him the biggest fan.
- [35:39]
Dulce Sloan
You told him I was coming and he brought you?
- [35:40]
Jason Johnson
Yes.
- [35:41]
Barack Obama
Wow.
- [35:42]
Dulce Sloan
Happy Black History Month. Thank you so much. Happy Women's History Month.
- [35:45]
Jason Johnson
He's an ally. He's an ally. That's how this works. That's how this works. So I gotta ask you, so this year we've got Donald Trump, he's actually gonna show up, he's coming out of his cave, he's gonna go to the White House Correspondents Dinner, which he had been hiding from before.
- [35:55]
Dulce Sloan
When he was president last time.
- [35:57]
Jason Johnson
When he was president last time. Fun. Yes. Ok. As just a comedian, what do you think is lost by the fact that we don't have a comedian there anymore? I mean, is it just because we have a humorless president, does it really take something away from the public? Because you've had colleagues who've, who've done the White House correspondence. What's your thought?
- [36:14]
Dulce Sloan
I think by not having a comedian host at dinner, then it's just what it always was, which is a boring ass dinner. And I think they started bringing a comedian because there are probably things that the journalists and everybody wanted to say, but it's like the jester was the only person that could tell the truth to the king and not face any consequences. And so I think the reason that he doesn't want a comedian there is because the comedian's not going to care. And it's like, well, I'm saying this in jest. I told you the truth, but I said it in jest. So you can't be mad at me, but it's just another coward move.
- [36:46]
Jason Johnson
So it's interesting, I noticed it's like the White House Correspondent's notice now. Like the reverse Super Bowl. Like, the super bowl ended with this mentalist that was so bad that they brought in Michael Jackson.
- [36:54]
Dulce Sloan
Right.
- [36:54]
Jason Johnson
And after years of comedians, we're now moving to a mentalist as a comedian. In this time where people are being threatened and shows are being canceled and things like that, do you think it's harder to do political comedy now when you've got this sort of authoritarian regime? Or you're just like, whatever, humor's. Humor doesn't matter what kind of people are running the government.
- [37:10]
Dulce Sloan
It's so funny because when I was on Daily show, it was when his first presidency, and we would always get questions about how. How much easier it must have been as a comedian to. In the. In that. In his first presidency, like, almost. He must be giving you so much material. And I remember we were in this interview, and Casa was like, no, it's not easier. It's not easier at all. Everything is hard. It's not easy at all. And y' all keep asking us these questions, and this is not easy. And then it's gotten even harder because it's so much. It's just so much worse than we thought it was ever going to get. And there's just certain things, you're just like, how do you add levity to another war? How do you add levity to another genocide? How do you add levity to what's happening in our economy? Because you can only be so funny until somebody's like, I'm legitimately hungry. I cannot listen to you about this.
- [38:08]
Jason Johnson
So you're in town to do a show. You're in town for the Blurred Con Convention, which I am also going to be at.
- [38:13]
Dulce Sloan
Yay.
- [38:14]
Jason Johnson
Blurred thing. Very excited.
- [38:16]
Juanita Toliver
Yes.
- [38:16]
Jason Johnson
One of the things that when I talk to Sims, they always say you can read where the audience is. Like, you got your own pollsters. You can tell when a joke gets groans when people are still with the joke. Like, how are people feeling about the state of the country right now? Are they just, like, when you go politically? Like, no, we'd rather you tell the joke about black women in Atlanta being in every country.
- [38:35]
Dulce Sloan
Travel.
- [38:36]
Jason Johnson
Yeah. How do. How are people responding to it now?
- [38:38]
Dulce Sloan
Well, here's the thing. When I'm on the road, especially when I was on Daily show, people would. People thought that I was just bringing them, like, a mini Daily show, and they're like, oh, we expected you to be more political. I'm like, no, that's Daily Show. I came to talk to you about my ministry of no longer sleeping with broke men. That's what I'm here is to share the good news of no longer being in situations with men with no money. That's what the Lord sent me out here. You see what I'm saying? To spread the good news.
- [39:03]
Jason Johnson
Yes.
- [39:04]
Dulce Sloan
Daily show does what they do, I do what I do. But you can see things in real time. Because also, also I realize that sometimes if you're talking about a topic and that somehow inherently becomes political, like my existence as a black woman in America. If you don't say the wor, Republican or Democrat, people don't think you're being political.
- [39:24]
Jason Johnson
Interesting.
- [39:25]
Dulce Sloan
And so I had a lady, I was doing a club down in Phoenix and this woman very like, kind of pushed to the front of the line, a woman who had never worked. So I was happy to talk to her.
- [39:34]
Jason Johnson
Goals, goals.
- [39:36]
Dulce Sloan
But also, it's like your brunette, calm down. And so she was just like, kind of threw her arm around. She's like, I'm just so glad you didn't talk about anything political. And I was like, I talked about the state of what's going on in the country, but okay, but I didn't say Republican or Democrat. So she didn't catch what I said because I didn't mention a political party. Which means that people are looking for key words because they think if they hear Republican, Democrat. Oh, that's the political thing. But if I'm talking about, you know, gun violence in America and trying to me process that with a joke or how, or talking about the economy and talking about how people, you know, people voting against their own interests. You didn't hear me talking about people voting against their own interests and think that was political. When that's very political.
- [40:22]
Jason Johnson
Right.
- [40:23]
Dulce Sloan
But since I didn't say say, people who vote for the Republican Party a lot of times are voting for their own interest. You didn't think I said anything political? So I think sometimes people are only listening for those like big indicator, dog whistle things. And they can take your message in and don't realize they're taking your message in because you didn't say Republican or Democrat.
- [40:42]
Jason Johnson
What is say? Is there a buzzword that if you do say it, people groan? Like if you say ice, if you say, you know, war, crime or something like, is there a word that you've said on stage where people are automatically offended or have a problem?
- [40:57]
Dulce Sloan
I'm talking about my mom living in my house. So no one, if anything, just like, I'm glad to be here because my mom's at my house and everyone's like, oh, yeah. So I'm not political inherently. So I don't get, I don't usually get a groan. If anything, I get sympathy and a pat on the back. I say thank you for a good job, but, no, I don't get a lot of groans because I don't. I'm not a super political comedian. I talk about how, if I'm talking about something political, it's how it affects me and people that look like me and not always as a whole, because I think the audience that comes to see me wants to hear about my experiences. And sometimes I don't need to speak on everything if I speak about myself.
- [41:37]
Jason Johnson
Dulce Sloan, thank you so much for being here. You're one of my favorite comedians. I'm super excited.
- [41:41]
Dulce Sloan
You're one of my favorite people.
- [41:41]
Jason Johnson
Thank you so much. Thank you. Still ahead, three presidents pay tribute to an icon. And Barack Obama offers a warning about Trump's America. You know that everybody says, keep hope alive because Jesse Jackson made that the major mantra of his mission. But it's not a coincidence that hope also became the major mantra of Barack Obama's presidential run. So this idea that no matter how things look today, what we think is possible today can be extended by the hope for what's possible tomorrow. Today was a historic day in Chicago as the last three Democratic presidents, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, were all in the same room to honor civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson. He was a monumental figure in the fight for progress and equality in this country. Today, Obama spoke about the challenges faced by people and Trump's America. Today,
- [42:49]
Barack Obama
each day, we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions, another setback to the idea of the rule of law. Each day, we're told by those in high office to fear each other and to turn on each other and that some Americans count more than others and that some don't even count at all. Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated and bullying and mockery masquerading as strength. We see science and expertise denigrated, while ignorance and dishonesty and cruelty and corruption are reaping untold rewards. Every single day, we see that.
- [43:43]
Jason Johnson
Despite both being power based in Chicago, Obama and Reverend Jackson didn't always get along. But on Obama's election night in 2008, Reverend Jesse Jackson was seen in the crowd in tears. And today, Obama paid him tribute this man.
- [44:01]
Barack Obama
Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson inspires us to take a harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope, to step forward and say, send me wherever we have a chance to make an impact. What a great debt we owe to him. May God bless Reverend Jackson. May he rest in eternal peace.
- [44:31]
Jason Johnson
RIP Reverend Jackson that does it for me tonight.
- [44:33]
Odoo Advertiser
Imagine relying on a dozen different software programs to run your business, none of which are connected, and each one more expensive and more complicated than the last. It can be pretty stressful. Now imagine Odoo. Odoo has all the programs you'll ever need and are all connected on one platform. Doesn't Odoo sound amazing? Let Odoo Harmony harmonize your business with simple, efficient software that can handle everything for a fraction of the price. Sign up today at odoo. Com. That's O D o o dot com.