← The Briefing with Jen Psaki
The Briefing with Jen Psaki
MAGA regret: Trump's failed policies, broken promises drive supporters away
00:41:03
Jen Psaki looks at catastrophic polling data about how Americans feel about Donald Trump and his handling of issues like the economy and his war with Iran Jen also shares interviews from MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet with frustrated Trump voters who turning away from Trump.
Loading summary
Transcript78 lines
- [00:00]
Commercial Narrator
America is an idea. For 250 years, that idea has helped expand our rights and our freedoms. But progress isn't guaranteed. Today, those founding principles are being challenged by efforts to mix religion and government. The Freedom From Religion foundation is working to protect the Constitution and keep power where it belongs, with we the people. Visit FFRF US MSNOW or text MSNOW to 511511. Text MSNOW to 511511 and keep state and church separate. Text fees may apply. Hey everyone, it's Olivia Culpo. And I can't wait to tell you all about Abercrombie's new summer collection. All their new dresses in colorful swim feel perfect for a Euro summer. And Abercrombie has a new 100% linen collection. It's the perfect mix of looking put together and elevated with the lightness and comfort of linen shop Abercrombie this summer in the app, online and in stores.
- [00:58]
Show Host
You know that feeling? We've all had this feeling when you buy a cute pair of shoes or something like that you saw on Instagram and then they show up and you wear them for a day or two and they're just not what you hope they'd be. Or when you buy a movie ticket and halfway through the show, you think to yourself, ugh, I should have stayed home or maybe gone to see a different movie. We've all been there. We've all had versions of buyers remorse. And right now, it feels a lot like a lot of Trump voters are entering their very own buyers remorse era. I mean, think about it this way. Back in 2024, Trump won the support of 81% of voters who ranked the economy as their number one issue. He won. 80, 81% of them, he won. That was their big issue. But fast forward to present time, and a new poll out just this week found that a record 63% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy. Just take a look at this chart. There it is right on the screen. The light red line at the top that you can see right there is Trump's economic approval rating during his first term. It's essentially hovering around the same place the whole time. Pretty consistent. That dark red line you can see kind of on the one side of the screen is Trump's economic approval rating during his second term. And as you can see there, it's basically plummeting off of a cliff. And it's not just the economy that is driving feelings of buyer's remorse for Trump voters. I mean, Trump ran for president, repeatedly promising that as president, he wouldn't get us into any new wars. A promise, by the way, he now insists that he never made.
- [02:42]
Layperson Interviewee
One of your consistent campaign promises was
- [02:46]
Show Host
no new wars going all the way back to 2015. Did you break that promise?
- [02:51]
James Talarico
Promise to the American people under Trump,
- [02:53]
Show Host
we will have no more wars.
- [02:55]
James Talarico
I didn't guarantee no war.
- [02:57]
John Brennan
If Trump comes back, you won't have any wars.
- [02:59]
Show Host
You won't have any wars.
- [03:01]
James Talarico
So when you say, I promise, I didn't promise anything.
- [03:05]
Show Host
They said he will start a war.
- [03:06]
Norm Eisen
I'm not going to start a war.
- [03:07]
James Talarico
I'm going to stop wars.
- [03:10]
Show Host
Trump absolutely did promise repeatedly that he would not start any new wars. It was kind of a shtick, he'd said all the time. He also promised that he was the great dealmaker and that he could negotiate an end to any conflict. That was also part of his regular shtick. But now he's failing on both counts. I mean, for the past two days, we watched Trump's ceasefire with Iran fall apart as the two countries resumed fighting. Then this morning, Trump once again teased a big, devastating strike against Iran and threatened to take over their oil industry, only to back away at the last second, claiming once again, till that a peace deal was imminent. There is no imminent peace deal. Clearly now, tonight, he's claiming that Iran is ready to sign a deal with Iranian. While Iranian officials are publicly denying any such thing. The man is basically stuck and in way over his head. That is very clear. More than 100 days into this war. It's the same thing we've seen over and over and over again since the beginning of this conflict. And the people who bought Trump's no new wars pledge now also have buyer's remorse. In that same new poll I mentioned earlier, almost the entire country, a full 92% of voters, say they think the war will last another month or longer, rejecting Trump's claim that an end to the war is imminent. And two thirds of Americans, 67%, think Trump has been ineffective in negotiating with Iran. When it comes to Trump and his policies, there are signs of buyer's remorse. Basically everywhere you look, people who voted for him who are thinking, this isn't what I voted for or this isn't what I want, even take the things Trump himself is excited about, like the big UFC fight he's planning to host on the South Lawn of the White house for his 80th birthday on Sunday. A new Reuters Ipsos poll found that only 16% of Americans think it's appropriate for Trump to hold that event, which means that most of the people who voted for him are not on board with his big birthday party. And we're seeing that kind of buyer's remorse is not only evident in the polls, but also in conversations with real people in places that were key to Trump's victory. In states like Ohio, for example, which have become so red in the last several years, it almost felt outside the grasp of Democrats. Like Democrats are being unrealistic and trying to compete in the state. I mean, in the 200820 election, he won it by 8 points. Trump did. Then in 2024, he won Ohio by 11 points, in large part because of repeated promises to boost the economy and bring back manufacturing jobs. No more shipping jobs overseas, but guess what? That's exactly where Ohio's jobs are going. In January, several Ohio factories announced plans to close, including this Kahn Selmer instrument plant in East Lake, the one you can see there on your screen. The plant's billionaire owner, John Paulson, a close ally of Trump, I would note, offshored all of those jobs to China. Annette Dombrowski is a three time Trump voter and a janitor at that Eastlake Ohio plan. At the end of the month on June 30, she's going to be officially out of a job. MSNAV reporter Alex Tebbitt went to her house this week and asked her how she felt when she was laid off and whether she think Trump understands what she is going through.
- [06:27]
Layperson Interviewee
I actually have panic attacks. I've had a couple this past week and I get very emotional over it. I don't want to work anymore, but I can't afford to retire.
- [06:43]
James Talarico
Obviously, President Trump is immensely wealthy, has been wealthy since he was born.
- [06:47]
Layperson Interviewee
Yep.
- [06:48]
James Talarico
Do you think he understands?
- [06:49]
Show Host
No.
- [06:51]
Layperson Interviewee
No. He hasn't lived it to understand it. He sees it. He has not lived it. He needs to live it. Wear the clothes. Wear the shoes. Wear your Walmart clothes. Wear your Walmart shoes. Do your thrift, thrift store shopping. Don't eat steaks. I don't get to go out to dinner. It's not an overnight thing, but it's been two years now. You said you'd bring down the grocery prices. Literally. I must be the most angry person when I grocery shop because I buy the same things every week and I see it jump every week. It is not every couple months. It's literally every week.
- [07:35]
Show Host
Our reporter Alex Habit also spoke with another three time Trump voter, a man named Chris Tackett, a trucker from Ohio who expressed deep frustration with Trump's broken promises.
- [07:46]
James Talarico
When President Trump said he wasn't going
- [07:48]
Show Host
to start foreign wars.
- [07:49]
James Talarico
When he said he was going to bring down prices, did you believe him?
- [07:51]
Chris Tackett
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, his, his first term, he, I think he held true to everything that he said he was going to do. I think he fought for everything he said he was going to fight for this time around. I haven't seen it. It's, he's literally, he's backtracked on every, every single pitch point he had during his election. He's backtracking on. All we heard was drill, drill, drill during the election and now all we're getting is drilled into the dirt with these prices. So I'm not a fan of him. I voted for Trump all three terms, to be honest with you. I'm not a big supporter of him at this point.
- [08:29]
Show Host
Three time Trump voter. I'm not a big supporter of him at this point is what he had to say. Now, that Ohio voter also had another message for Trump.
- [08:39]
James Talarico
If you could talk directly to President Trump, what would you tell him right now?
- [08:42]
Chris Tackett
Get it together, man. The average American is struggling to make ends meet right now and nobody wants to hear the war is almost over. Nobody wants to hear it's going to get better. You've had a year to make it better at this point. Make it better, make America great again. Right?
- [08:58]
Show Host
More, more than a year, to be exact. And there was also a one time Trump voter who had a more explicit message for Trump, which I think kind of encapsulates the buyer's remorse we've been seeing lately on a number of issues.
- [09:13]
James Talarico
If you could talk to President Trump directly right now, what would you tell him? Should you want me to really say it on, on air, I said you. And I don't mean to be disrespectful to any leader, but he's disrespectful to us and he doesn't care.
- [09:28]
Show Host
So he's disrespectful to us and he doesn't care. That again, a guy who voted for Trump. Trump's disrespect for his own supporters is essentially destroying the coalition that put him in the White House to begin with. And it's not just voters he's pushing away, it's also Republican politicians who have loyally supported his agenda. Sometimes embarrassingly loyal. Now, Trump upended his party's plans last month when he decided to snub Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas and endorse his scandal plagued primary opponent, Ken Paxton, who then defeated Cornyn. Now, for the first time since his bitter Primary loss. John Cornyn is putting his own Trump buyers remorse on full display in a new interview with the New York Times. And among other things, he's predicting that Trump's final two years in office will be the most miserable of his life. And he's warning that, quote, I think it's going to be a pretty bumpy ride for the next seven months. Which is of course referring to the remainder of Cornyn's own term in office. Cornyn also made reference to the famous incident in the Oval Office where Trump berated Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, saying as the president told President Zelensky when he was in his office a year or so ago, he said, you don't have any cards. Well, we've got some cards to play. There we go. And when asked about Trump's post election claim that Cornyn would remain his friend, Cornyn told the Times, if that's the way friends treat you, you wonder about his enemies. Hell hath no wrath like a Republican scorned, I guess. And look, we shouldn't suddenly expect a profile in courage from Senator John Cornyn anytime soon. But Cornyn's public breakup with Trump comes at the worst possible time for the president because Texas voters are also starting to show signs of buyer's remorse. A recent poll from Texas A and M University found that Trump now has a net negative favorability in the Lone Star State, a state he carried by 13 points in the last election. He's underwater by nine points on his handling of wars around the world, and he's underwater by 16 points on making prices more affordable. And Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is doing everything he can to capitalize on Trump's broken promises and messy public breakups. After Cornyn lost his primary, Talarico reached out to Cornyn supporters, telling them they have a place in his campaign. And his outreach to disaffected parts of the Trump base appears to be working to some degree. I mean, this week Talarico picked up the endorsement of one of the lawyers who defended Ken Paxton during Paxton's impeachment trial before the Texas Senate. And that same Texas poll that I just mentioned shows Talarico is now polling dead even against Ken Paxton in the conservative state of Texas as voters grow more and more dissatisfied with Trump and his party. And that's what it looks like is happening even in places where Trump's support was once strong. Can candidates like James Talarico convince voters to choose another path? That is the question. And joining me now is James Tallarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. senate in Texas. It's great to see you. You're right smack in the middle of a hell of a race, so thanks for being here. Part of your path I wanted to start. Yeah, it's great to see you. Part of your path of winning, which you're, again, right in the middle of, is getting Trump voters, people who voted for Trump, independent voters on your side. You've talked about that publicly, and we all know the state of Texas that's gonna be required. I just played some sound of Trump voters in Ohio that I think was pretty fascinating. People who sound, frankly, exhausted and angry and at the very least, disappointed with Trump's second term. As you're traveling around the state of Texas are, you hear similar things on the campaign trail in Texas, and what are they saying?
- [13:12]
James Talarico
Yeah, I'm hearing the exact same thing. And it's from folks all over the state of Texas. It's from people in my family, it's my friends who voted for Donald Trump in the last election. They thought he was going to lower costs. They thought he was going to end the wars. They thought he was going to drain the swamp. They thought he was going to release the Epstein files. And now they're feeling pretty disillusioned because on all four counts, the president and this administration has failed them. And so what we're trying to do in this campaign is extend an open hand rather than a closed fist to our neighbors who feel like they've been conned, who feel like they've been let down. And I think we're seeing the, the. The fruits of that movement already in the state of Texas. You know, we have 45,000 volunteers signed up to help us organize in communities across the state. We've shattered grassroots fundraising records, all without taking a dime from corporate PACs. And we're leading in the polls against Ken Paxton. So I feel like this, this big tent that we're building in Texas is really going to shock the world in November of this year when we win our state.
- [14:22]
Show Host
One of the issues I've been really wondering how it's playing is, of course, the war in Iran. And you and I have talked about this before, much earlier, which started right around the time of when you became the nominee. It feels to me like one of the reasons people are frustrated is because, well, it's been over 100 days, and Trump has claimed nearly 40 times that the war was close to an end. It's clearly not. I just wonder, as you have been talking to voters and they're digesting the war, have you seen a breaking point, or have you seen a decrease in support even over that period of time since the war began, people who may have wanted to give him a chance on it in the beginning?
- [15:01]
James Talarico
Oh, absolutely. And the skyrocketing gas prices all over our state is the straw that is breaking the camel's back in Texas, because Texans were already struggling to afford the basics, groceries and utilities and insurance and prescription drugs, childcare, the things that we need to get by. And now you add these high gas prices on top of it, and again, you're seeing a bipartisan backlash to these crazy policies. Whether it's this disastrous war in the Middle east, whether it's these crazy tariffs that are driving up prices at the grocery store and across the state, people are just, they're ready for serious leaders who are going to bring both parties together to actually improve the lives of Texans, to make our lives easier and better and less stressful. That's what politics should be about. It should be about serving our neighbors. And instead, you've got leaders like Ken Paxton who only seem interested in serving themselves at the expense of the people. And I think that's what you're going to see Texans stand up against in November of this year.
- [16:13]
Show Host
There are times when things happen in Washington and everybody's heads explode, and then I wonder if, is it resonating and is it. Are people hearing it in states across the country? And one of those things, I mean, Trump said something yesterday, you may have seen this that I just could not get over. He said, I love the inflation, which led me to believe maybe he doesn't know what inflation is, but certainly he doesn't know how it's impacting people. Are those type of comments things that are breaking through to Texas voters? I mean, do they repeat that kind of stuff back to you or how does it resonate?
- [16:46]
James Talarico
I mean, this is the thing I hear about in every corner of the state, whether it's East Texas or West Texas, North Texas, South Texas, across the political spectrum, too, Democrats, Independents, Republicans, it's that everyone feels like we're drowning, that we can't afford those basic things that we need to live. We're not spending our money on nice cars or nice clothes or nice vacations or nice houses. We're just struggling to make those ends meet. And I think what we're trying to communicate on the campaign trail is that our inability to get ahead, our inability to afford the basics, that is because we have a corrupt political system that only serves the wealthy and the powerful at our expense. And so if we're going to start to lower costs, if we're going to start to raise pay, if we're going to start to unrig this economy. We have to tackle this corruption in our government head on. We have to transform this broken, corrupt political system that Ken Paxton represents. So this is a lot bigger than any one politician. It's a lot bigger than any one political party. It is about taking on and transforming this broken system itself, because that's the only way that we're going to start to realize our potential as a state and as a country.
- [18:10]
Show Host
It was only, believe it or not, I know you know this, but for people watching, it was only about two weeks ago that Senator John Cornyn lost his primary race to your now opponent, Ken Paxton. You've mentioned a few times for good reason. There's a lot to be said about that guy. And since then, John Cornyn, he's had a, he's had a lot to say, I mean, including today in the New York Times. And he said this in reference to Trump endorsing Paxton instead of him after he basically bent over backwards to deliver Trump's agenda. And I just want to read this to you and to people who, in case they haven't seen it, if he would do that to me, he would do that to anybody. There's never going to be good enough for him other than 100%, you know, slavish adherence to whatever he wants. But obviously that's not what the senator's role is supposed to be, especially in terms of checks and balances. Now, that is true. To me, that sounds like it could be a warning to Paxton, like Cornyn would be saying that this is who Paxton. It could be. He's saying this is Paxton, who Paxton is. How did you hear it? And is that part of your message out there that Paxton is a mini Trump, essentially?
- [19:14]
James Talarico
Well, on runoff night, I thanked Senator Cornyn for his many years of service to our state. He and I don't agree on everything, but I think we both believe that elected officials are supposed to serve their constituents, not themselves. And so I said on that runoff night to all of Senator Cornyn's supporters, if you believe in that old fashioned idea of public service, if you believe that public officials are supposed to serve their neighbors, not their mega donors, then you have a place in this campaign. And we've heard from a lot of Senator Cornyn's supporters who are joining this movement that we're building. Again, this is a, a movement that's a lot bigger than any one political party. It's a lot bigger than any one politician. This is really about all of us coming together to defeat the most corrupt politician in America so that then we can defeat this entire corrupt system.
- [20:12]
Show Host
I would be remiss. First of all, Ken Paxton is definitely the most corrupt person that is on the ballot. I think there's hardly a competition for that. But I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about his former attorney endorsing you in this race. What was your reaction to that when you saw. Why do you think he chose to do so?
- [20:30]
James Talarico
Well, Ken Paxton's own party impeached him. His own staff reported him to the FBI, and now his own defense attorney is endorsing our campaign. Those closest to Ken Paxton know that he's unfit for office. They know that he is everything that's wrong with this broken, corrupt political system. You know? Since taking office, Ken Paxton has become a multimillionaire. While our pay has remained stagnant for years, for decades. He now owns 11 homes while most Texans can't afford one. He has traded favors with wealthy donors, all while he blocks our overtime payment. And guts are health care. And so we are uniting Texans onto one team to take on this broken system that Ken Paxton represents. And in these divided times, there seems to be one thing we can all agree on, which is that Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America and should be nowhere near the United States Senate.
- [21:33]
Show Host
I'm also enjoying Giolo John Cornyn, as I call him at this point in time. Okay, we've got to take a very quick break. You know how this works. But before you do, I just wanted to play. Before we do, I should say I wanted to play you something that really speaks to the nasty and kind of, in my view, bizarre way that Republicans in Texas have tried to go after you.
- [21:56]
James Talarico
Got to say, if you were making a list of a thousand adjectives to describe this guy, masculine would not be one of them. I mean, this guy, if a stiff breeze came by, it would blow him over like a feather.
- [22:10]
Show Host
I'm gonna get your response to that and more in just a moment. Foreign.
- [22:17]
Commercial Narrator
I'm Hannah. I've lost 75 pounds in 20 months. With GLP1s diet and exercise on row, I've gone from struggling to run a mile to running farther every day. You can access FDA approved GLP1s online, get the support you need to reach your weight loss goals. Go to Ro Co Weight to see if you qualify. I'm a paid row partner. 20% average weight loss in one year and non diabetics with obesity or overweight with a weight related medical condition versus 3.1% in placebo arm RX only. To stay informed about serious side effects, go to RO Co Safety hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of Angie and one thing I've learned is that you buy a house but you make it a home. Because with every fix, update and renovation it becomes a little more your own. So you need all your jobs done well. For nearly 30 years, Angie has helped millions of homeowners hire skilled pros for the projects that matter, from plumbing to electrical roof repair to deck upgrades. So leave it to the pros who will get your jobs done well. Angie the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find a pro for your project@angie.com parents
- [23:19]
Mathnasium Advertiser
have you heard your kids say I'm not a math kid? Well, with Mathnasium, every kid can be a math kid. They customize their math instruction so kids who are struggling are able to catch up and get ahead. And advanced kids are challenged to reach higher. Mathnasium makes math fun, so kids learn to love it. Parents say that Mathnasium has not only improved their kids grades, it's given them a new level of confidence in math and in school overall. Visit mathnasium.com to find a location near you.
- [23:57]
Show Host
We are back with James Tallaricco. He is of course the Democratic nominee for U.S. senate in the great state of Texas. Okay, I just played for you right before the break. One of the themes that Texas Republicans have decided to attack you on. You've of course kind of embraced the Talafrico crazy name, I'm sure. I'd love to know how much money you're making off selling those T shirts. You can tell us. But Ted Cruz basically, I mean, I loved that. It was a great play. But Ted Cruz basically said he wouldn't use the word masculine to describe you. It seems pretty clear to what they're trying to do here, at least to me. Not only are you they going after you, but they're really trying to attack groups of people you've defended in the past, including trans people and others. What do you make of that?
- [24:42]
James Talarico
Yeah, there's been a lot of talk in this race about what it means to be a real man. And recently on the campaign trail, I told the story of my adoptive dad, the man who gave me his last name, the man who raised me as his own. Every Saturday morning, Mark Talarico would mow our lawn, whether it was rain or shine, whether he wanted to or not, he insisted on mowing our lawn himself. And then without anyone asking him to, he would go next door and mow our neighbor's lawn. Because our neighbor was elderly, she was a widow. And my dad never talked about it. He just did it because that's what a man does. A man takes responsibility. A man upholds his commitments to his family and his neighbors. A man does what's right even when no one is watching. And here's what real men don't do. They don't lie and cheat their way through life. They don't sell their soul to the highest bidder. They don't steal from other people in order to enrich themselves. And so I've said before, and I will keep saying that real men serve others, weak men serve themselves. And so I welcome this debate about what it means to be a man. And I don't think Ken Paxton or Ted Cruz are in a position to tell anybody what a real man is.
- [26:06]
Show Host
Part of this has also been kind of revealed, this focus on your own dating life. Your girlfriend has had their pictures been out there. People have dug into your own personal. I know that you knew that people would dig into your life when you ran for office, but what has that even been like for you?
- [26:26]
James Talarico
Well, I mean, it's nothing compared to what Texans are going through every day. You know, again, I travel all over the state and I get to talk with Texans from all different backgrounds from all across the political spectrum. And Texans are struggling right now in a way that we haven't struggled before. And again, it's not to afford nice things. It's to afford the basic things, the necessities. Groceries and gas and insurance and childcare, prescription drugs, higher education, housing. We can't even afford our rent or our mortgage. And so the fact that politicians, including our sitting United States Senator Ted Cruz, are throwing embarrassing, cheap nicknames at their political opponents instead of focusing on improving Texans lives, to me, that, that is, that's everything that's wrong with our politics. And it's why people are so fed up with this broken system, is it's because it doesn't serve them. It doesn't actually improve their lives. It's. It looks a lot more like professional wrestling, right? You've got these old guys lathered up in their fake tan, throwing cheesy nicknames at each other. And those nicknames, they don't lower the cost of groceries. They don't lower the cost of gas or utilities or insurance. And so I'm going to keep talking about the things that Texans actually care about. I'm going to keep proposing solutions to make their lives easier and better and less stressful. And ultimately I think that's going to win the day in our state in November.
- [27:58]
Show Host
It does tell you sometimes the attacks sometimes tell you more about the attacker than they tell you about the person they are attacking. James Talarico, thank you as always for joining us. Appreciate it.
- [28:09]
James Talarico
Thanks for having me.
- [28:12]
Show Host
Coming up, as the White House prepares for a UFC cage match on the South Lawn. Can't wait for that. Here's a question. What is wrong with this picture? Was the White House ethics star for President Obama? And I'm going to ask him next.
- [28:32]
Commercial Narrator
Want a thousand dollar weight loss medication for $50? It all starts with Ro's free GLP1 insurance check. Just upload your insurance card to see if you have coverage, then relax. Over 200,000 people have qualified for a $50 copay through Roe. Go to Roe Co Health. Half of covered patients have a $50 per month copay or less for medication plus $1.45 monthly ROE membership fee. Deductible costs may apply and final cost varies by insurance plan. For safety information about GLP1 medications including boxed warning, go to ro co safetyrxonly@DSW
- [29:05]
Show Host
we ask the important questions like what
- [29:07]
Commercial Narrator
shoes are you going to wear?
- [29:09]
Show Host
Whether you're prepping for wedding season, festival season, or just planning the ultimate vacay, the right shoes can make or break an rsvp. So own the moment. You've got big plans and we've got just the shoes at the perfect price of course. Get ready to get ready with Designer Shoe Warehouse. Head to your DSW store or dsw.com today and let us surprise you parents.
- [29:33]
Mathnasium Advertiser
Have you heard your kids say I'm not a math kid? Well, with Mathnasium, every kid can be a math kid. They customize their math instructions so kids who are struggling are able to catch up and get ahead. And advanced kids are challenged to reach higher. Mathnasium makes Math fun, so Kids learn to love it Parents say that Mathnasium has not only improved their kids grades, it's given them a new level of confidence in math and in school overall. Visit mathnasium.com to find a location near you.
- [30:08]
Show Host
Today we got our first close up look at the stage the UFC has built for the cage match on the White House South Lawn this weekend that just so happens to fall on Trump's 80th birthday. Now, beyond the obvious insanity of the whole thing, what it jumped out immediately were the ads. I mean the Ring itself featured ads for companies like Polymarket, Pit Boss Grills, Toyota Tires, Crypto.com, ram Trucks, and Bud Light. Yes, Bud Light, the beer brand that conservatives were once so mad at. That Kid Rock posted video of himself. You can see it on the screen shooting cases of of their cans with a submachine gun. Now Bud Late is advertising Feet from the Oval Office as part of a White House cage match. The whole thing will air exclusively on the paid subscription service Paramount Plus, a service owned by the Trump allies David and Larry Ellison, who have been steadily remaking huge chunks of American media to be more Trump friendly and who still need the Trump administration's regulatory approval on their 111 billion merger with Warner Brothers Discovery. Now, both the White House and the UFC say this fight is not political in any way and say that the UFC is footing the bill and expects to actually lose money on the fight. But these UFC sponsors are still getting to associate their brands with the White House. They are still getting to be very publicly support Trump's birthday party for himself. And while the UFC says that they expect to lose money on the fight in the short term, they also say that that it will be worthwhile in the long term, saying that they expect a Super bowl level of media exposure to their brand and to the Paramount plus streaming service. Now this week we also learned that despite the UFC insisting that they will foot the bill for this whole thing, US Taxpayers do appear to be subsidizing the event. A spokesperson for Washington D.C. told ESPN that the city expects to incur Somewhere between 10 and $12 million in supplemental security costs, which will be paid for by a federal fund, AKA your tax dollars. Now, if you're among the teeny, teeny, teeny tiny percentage of people in this country worried that Trump might not personally profit from this event, there is no reason to be concerned because the Trump family has licensed their brand and Trump's likeness to a series of $12,000 commemorative coins. And Trump's super PAC got a million dollar donation from the co founder of one of the cage Matches co sponsors while he was promoting not just the event but that specific sponsor. And then there's the fact that while Trump has been promoting this UFC event, he also bought stock in the UFC's parent company. Now, the White House likes to point out that Trump's stocks are in a third party trust, but the fact remains that what is good for the UFC is quite literally and directly good for Trump's pockets. And wouldn't you know it, the Trump administration is being very Good to the ufc. This week, UFC fighters have been at the FBI quarters training FBI agents in hand to hand combat. It's part of a partnership between the UFC and the FBI's Cash Patel, one that he announced earlier this year, which is quite the boon for the UFC's brand legitimacy, isn't it? Then today, Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, signed a memorandum of understanding with the CEO of the UFC to create public private partnership with the company. A public private partnership between the State Department and the UFC to promote what Rubio called sports diplomacy, which is a thing, but this is kind of a weird version of it. Now, to state the obvious, this cage fight at the White House and everything around it stinks to high heaven. But is it just completely awful or is it actually completely unlawful? Joining me now is Norm Eisen, executive chair of the Democracy Defenders Fund and former Obama White House ethics star. Okay, we are waiting, Norm, for a ruling anytime now from a federal judge in a case brought by two Virginia residents and the Public Integrity Project to try and stop the UFC fight. Help us understand what their argument, legal one, against the fight, is.
- [34:14]
Norm Eisen
They're arguing that this appropriation of federal property, federal personnel, and the federal policy process is against the law because our government is supposed to serve the public interest and not the special interests. And there are a variety of laws on the books that say you can't exploit the government to benefit a business. Jen, when you and I were working in the White House together and President Obama and I worked on these rules, I remember a conversation I had about whether or not we would allow, when we were in the transition writing the rules about whether we would allow gifts from lobbyists. And Obama said to me, norm, I don't want Eric Holder had just been named. Aggressive said, I don't want Eric Holder accepting a pencil from a lobbyist. So to turn over the White House grounds, the precious brand of the White House, the association running through the government to make it a massive telemarketing scheme for the ufc, is so offensive to the letter and the spirit of the laws that our friends at the Public Integrity Project have sued to stop it. And bless them for doing that.
- [35:49]
Show Host
I mean, they're very close to selling, like, parts of trees and rocks on the White House lawn at this point. It's so gross. So this event is scheduled, it's three days from now, essentially less than three days. Is there any chance that this could be stopped legally before then, do you think?
- [36:07]
Norm Eisen
Well, we'll see what the judge does with the matter here in D.C. federal court. But whatever may happen in the next couple days is not the end of this story because this is part of a rampant scheme. The definition of corruption, using the public resources for private gain. This is part of a rampant scheme. We're in court fighting it. We had 35 bipartisan judges put a stop to the $1.8 billion fund filing in Florida, getting the judge to investigate it. There we are in a brawl right now, legal brawl, about Trump appropriating the Kennedy Center. Think of it, Jen, a precious memorial to a slain president slapping his name on there, priceless. That is a corruption issue as well. And he said twice the president has suggested he may leave this claw, this fighting ring on the White House ground so the legal battle will continue. It's so offensive and the American people aren't falling for it. He's got historic Nixonian level unpopularity. That was the corruption scandal. That pales in comparison to the Trump administration grift.
- [37:40]
Show Host
Yeah, that claw is not well liked. Norm Eisen, thank you as always for joining us. Okay, up next. Up next, Donald Trump just picked a guy named Jay Clinton to run the nation's intelligence agencies. I think I might know why. Former CIA Director John Brennan joins us to talk all about it when we come back. Donald Trump has been facing quite the bipartisan outcry ever since he selected this guy, Bill Pulte, the country's top housing official and self described degenerate, to serve as the acting director of national intelligence. And we've talked a lot on this show about how Pulte has no known national security or intelligence experience. But what he lacks in credentials, he makes up for with loyalty and a willingness to use his power to go after Trump's perceived enemies. But as I mentioned, ever since Trump named Poldie last week, both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have revolted, even threatening to derail the extension of the key US Foreign surveillance program known as fisa. But Trump refused to budge on Poldie's appointment. And today the House rejected a short term extension of the law, making it all but inevitable that FISA will expire as scheduled tomorrow. Then earlier today, and likely too little, too late around the whole thing, Trump appeared to cave to that bipartisan pressure, announcing he would nominate Jay Clayton, the current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the next permanent director of national intelligence. The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled Clayton's confirmation hearing for next Wednesday. And even key Democrats, some of them have expressed support for his nomination. But while Jay Clinton may be far less in some ways offensive choice than Bill Pulte. I have a few guesses as to why Trump thinks he's a good one. I mean, Clayton appears to be one of Trump's frequent golf buddies. And perhaps more importantly, he's already publicly endorsed Trump's baseless election fraud conspiracies.
- [39:39]
Chris Tackett
On the integrity side.
- [39:41]
Show Host
We're doing an absolutely terrible job and the American people are right to question it.
- [39:46]
James Talarico
Do you think that it helps, given where you sit in the world, to speculate about fraud or potential fraud without any direct evidence of said fraud? Because typically if you were to bring a case historically, wouldn't want to speculate about the case.
- [40:08]
Show Host
I am not speculating about fraud. I'm not saying there is fraud. Okay. I am saying that the opportunity for fraud makes no sense to me. The opportunity for fraud. Joining me now is former CIA director under President Obama, John Brennan. So you spent so many decades in the Intelligence Committee. What do you think of Jay Clinton's nomination?
- [40:32]
John Brennan
Well, certainly he is far, far better than Bill Pulte. And as the U.S. attorney and son just New York, he does have some a national security exposure. The Southern District does prosecute cases of international terrorism. And when he was head of the sec, he acquitted himself reportedly well in terms of leadership management. So from that perspective, I think he is far, far better. Now, he doesn't have the deep national security experience that is called for in the statute for the for a nomination as Director of National Intelligence. And it's clear that he is a close personal friend, a golfing buddy with, with Donald Trump. And one thing that's clear to me is that Donald Trump does not want independent, objective, nonpartisan apolitical intelligence community and leadership. So I think it's going to come down to how well Jay Clayton is going to be able to carry out his duties and not just kowtow to any type of political direction or entreaties that Donald Trump might make about trying to find any evidence whatsoever about fraud in US Elections even though they're they're there has not been any to date.
- [41:37]
Show Host
That seems to be his key qualification, loyalty and a willingness to do that for him. And as of now, and I just mentioned this, Clayton's nomination hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday, the 17th. Pulte is supposed to begin his role as acting director on Friday the 19th. We will see when a confirmation vote actually happens. But it looks like Pulte could still serve in the acting capacity for some time. We also don't know what the rest of his future future is. Trump has said that Pulte may find out some things about the rigged elections and that he has directed him to downsize the agency. As you think about Bill Pulte and his intentions and his total lack of qualifications, how much damage are you worried that he could do during even. Even really a short time as acting director or with some sort of senior role in the agency?
- [42:22]
John Brennan
You could do a lot of damage. Even in 24 or 48 hours, you could decide to fire a whole host of folks in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He could release fil. He could get into databases, other types of things. He could direct some collection. So there is a lot. Now, I think the Democrats in the congressional committees have spoken highly of, of Jay Clayton, and I think they want him in place quickly. And so if Pulte does some damage there, as the question is whether or not Bill Pulte, Jay Clayton will undo that. But again, I think it's a very, very dangerous time. The fact that the committee wants to hold hearings so quickly, I think it shows the concern on both sides of the aisle that we need to keep Bill Pulte out of that very important position, particularly a time when we're still at war with Iran and there's so much going on. Russia, Ukraine and China. You don't need an incompetent and a person who puts fealty to Donald Trump above all other ethical and legal obligations. You don't want someone like that at the helm of 18 intelligence agencies.
- [43:29]
Show Host
You mentioned this, and this is part of the direction that Trump has given to Pulte to cut staff. You mentioned some of the crises in the world. Of course. What kind of. I mean, give us a sense, if he did a massive cut of staff, what impact that could have. What kind of damage even that particular piece of this could have?
- [43:47]
John Brennan
Well, one of the roles of Director of National Intelligence is to make sure that the intelligence collection and analytic capabilities of the Interior Agency are coordinated and are well orchestrated. But also, I think that Donald Trump and others don't have an understanding of what the office Director of National Intelligence does. The National Counterterrorism center is in the Office of Director of National Intelligence. The National Intelligence Council that produces the National Intelligence estimates are there as well. They have a lot of very important functions, and a lot of people believe that they're large and bloated. Sure, there could be some cuts or whatever else, but you need somebody who really understands the mechanics of the office and the work of these individual components so they don't come in there and just, you know, fire a lot of people with deep expertise that cannot be replaced. And right now the morale I think in large places areas of the intelligence community is bad and you could have further sort of demoralization if Bill Pulte goes in there with a hacksaw and just starts to cut off the limbs of the community.
- [44:47]
Show Host
Certainly hope that doesn't happen. We'll see. John Brennan, thank you as always.
- [44:52]
John Brennan
Thanks, Jen.
- [44:53]
Show Host
That does it for me tonight. You can catch the show Tuesday through Friday at 9pm Eastern on Ms. Now. And don't forget to follow the show on Blue sky, Instagram and TikTok.
- [45:02]
Commercial Narrator
Why have I asked my H Vac
- [45:03]
Show Host
guy I found on Angie.com to change
- [45:05]
Commercial Narrator
my grandpa's trachea tube? I was so amazed at how he replaced our air ducts. I knew I could trust him to change Pop Pop's tube.
- [45:11]
James Talarico
I think we should call a doctor, Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home projects@angie.com.