Trump scoffs at rising prices for families while his inner circle cashes in on foreign deals

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Trump Scoffs at Rising Prices for Families While His Inner Circle Cashes In on Foreign Deals"

Published on May 8, 2025, on "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" by MSNBC

In this compelling episode of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki," host Jen Psaki delves into the intricate dynamics of President Donald Trump's recent tariff policies, their impact on American families, and the apparent benefits reaped by members of his inner circle through foreign deals. The episode features insightful discussions, notable interviews, and critical analysis, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the week's most pressing issues.

1. Trump's Tariffs and Foreign Dealings

Jen Psaki opens the episode by addressing President Trump's implementation of sweeping tariffs, which were announced over a month prior without yielding any substantial trade deals. Notably, the Washington Post's recent investigation reveals that while Trump has yet to secure a single trade agreement, his close associates have capitalized on these tariffs in unexpected ways.

Key Points:

• Lesotho and Starlink Deal: Trump's tariffs on Lesotho, a small African nation, coincided with Elon Musk's Starlink securing Lesotho's first-ever satellite internet license. Psaki highlights the improbability of this coincidence, suggesting potential favoritism.

  Quote:

  "Under Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed at least two cables asking department staffers worldwide to promote American satellite services, including Starlink, mentioned by name in both missives." (02:30)

• State Department's Role: Internal memos obtained by the Washington Post indicate proactive pushes by the State Department to favor Starlink in licensing deals, raising questions about governmental bias.

  Quote:

  "The only consideration in the Trump administration's trade negotiations with other countries is what's best for the American people." (06:06)

2. Impact of Tariffs on American Families

Psaki shifts focus to the tangible effects of Trump's tariff policies on everyday Americans, particularly families reliant on imported baby products.

Key Points:

• Rising Prices and Shortages: Tariffs have led to significant price hikes in essential baby items such as car seats, strollers, and cribs. With over 70% of these products manufactured in China, the tariffs have more than doubled import costs, causing retailers like Delta Children to halt shipments.

  Quote:

  "We're going to end up with bare shelves in another couple of months if things don't change." - CEO of Delta Children (10:15)

• Government Exemptions: Despite the growing distress, President Trump remains indecisive about exempting critical products from tariffs. During a recent Oval Office visit, he expressed uncertainty about granting exemptions for baby items.

  Quote:

  "I'll think about it. I don't know. I really don't." - Donald Trump (06:06)

3. Contrasting Priorities: Energy vs. Families

Trump attempts to justify the tariffs by prioritizing energy prices over the rising costs of essential family products.

Key Points:

• Energy Focus: The President argues that the reduction in gasoline prices is more crucial than mitigating the impact of tariffs on baby products.

  Quote:

  "Peanuts compared to energy. Energy is 60." - Donald Trump (09:04)
  "We're not looking to have so many exemptions that nobody knows what's doing. We have to make it very simple." - Donald Trump (06:19)

• Public Backlash: Psaki emphasizes the disconnect between Trump's rhetoric and the struggles faced by parents, highlighting the potential long-term socioeconomic divides exacerbated by these policies.

4. Interview with Governor Tim Walz

A significant portion of the episode features an in-depth interview with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who provides a critical perspective on Trump's administration.

Key Points:

• Corruption and Self-Enrichment: Governor Walz accuses Trump and his allies of using their political power for personal gain, citing the Starlink deal as an example of corruption.

  Quote:

  "It's about enriching themselves, enriching his sons, enriching those around him and his donors." - Governor Tim Walz (17:04)

• Democratic Response and Policy Successes: Walz contrasts Trump's approach with the Democratic Party's focus on policies that benefit the middle class. He highlights Minnesota's achievements, such as high graduation rates and substantial investments in education and child tax credits.

  Quote:

  "Our state announced our graduation rates are the highest they've ever been in our state history. That's no coincidence." - Governor Tim Walz (25:54)

• Future Strategies: Discussing the need for the Democratic Party to adapt and provide effective alternatives, Walz emphasizes the importance of bold policies and active engagement with voters, especially in traditionally red states.

  Quote:

  "We have to use it as an opportunity right now to talk to people, but more importantly, not just tell them we're for health care. Get it done." - Governor Tim Walz (28:32)

5. Media Manipulation and Disinformation

The episode also touches upon the Trump administration's influence on media outlets and the propagation of disinformation.

Key Points:

• VOA and One America News Integration: Psaki discusses how Voice of America (VOA) has been commandeered to broadcast content aligned with far-right perspectives, notably through partnerships with One America News (OAN), a known Trump ally.

  Quote:

  "After 15 prior administrations, Trump and Carrie Lake have taken what was supposed to be an organization that pushes back against disinformation and instead made it a platform for broadcasting disinformation." (32:45)

• White House Press Room Dynamics: Analysis reveals a favoritism towards right-wing media outlets in press briefings, limiting diverse viewpoints and fostering an echo chamber.

  Quote:

  "The Trump administration is narrowing it step by step to voices who are eager to please the person they consider their boss, Donald Trump." (35:24)

6. Conversation with Senator Raphael Warnock

Later in the episode, Senator Raphael Warnock discusses the Republicans' attempts to dismantle key social programs to fund Trump's tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

Key Points:

• Medicaid and Social Security Threats: Warnock highlights plans to cut Medicaid funding and close Social Security offices, which could disenfranchise millions of low-income Americans.

  Quote:

  "They want to cut $880 billion out of Medicaid. There's not that much waste, you know, so." - Senator Raphael Warnock (39:06)

• Democratic Defense of Social Programs: Emphasizing the moral obligation to uphold social safety nets, Warnock criticizes the Republican strategy as favoring the wealthy at the expense of the working class.

  Quote:

  "A budget is a moral document. Show me your budget, and I'll show you who you think matters, who you think is indispensable." - Senator Raphael Warnock (42:25)

7. Conclusion and Future Outlook

Jen Psaki wraps up the episode by underscoring the ongoing struggles faced by American families under Trump's policies and the resilience of Democratic leaders in combating these challenges. She teases upcoming episodes, including interviews with New York Attorney General Tish James and discussions on Social Security and Medicaid.

Final Remarks:

• Call to Action: Psaki encourages listeners to stay informed and engaged, highlighting the importance of policy advocacy and grassroots activism in countering Trump's administration's detrimental policies.

  Quote:

  "When you really believe it, [you] need to show him we are." - Governor Tim Walz (31:10)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Donald Trump on Tariff Exemptions:

  "I'll think about it. I don't know. I really don't." (06:06)

• Governor Tim Walz on Corruption:

  "It's about enriching themselves, enriching his sons, enriching those around him and his donors." (17:04)

• Senator Raphael Warnock on Medicaid Cuts:

  "They want to cut $880 billion out of Medicaid. There's not that much waste, you know, so." (39:06)

Final Thoughts

This episode of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" offers a thorough examination of President Trump's tariff policies, their adverse effects on American families, and the questionable benefits enjoyed by his inner circle through international deals. Through expert interviews and incisive commentary, Psaki highlights the stark contrasts between the administration's priorities and the needs of ordinary Americans, calling for vigilant Democratic action to safeguard essential social programs and promote equitable economic policies.

Transcript

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Ask their doctor today about HPV vaccination brought to you by Merck okay, so it's been more than a month, if you can believe it, since Donald Trump announced his sweeping and pretty ridiculous tariffs. But Mr. Art of the deal, as he calls himself, has not yet struck a single trade deal, not a single one with any single country. But someone very close to him has. This, you can see right here is Lesotho. It's a tiny, tiny country surrounded entirely by South Africa. It's literally in the middle of South Africa. Now, just to put the size of the country in perspective, which you can definitely tell from the map, it's roughly the size of the state of Maryland, has about a third of the population, so it's teeny tiny. But it was still hit with tariffs by the Trump team. And while Trump and the White House have not managed to strike a deal with the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Washington Post reports tonight that Elon Musk has this is from that brand new reporting. Less than two weeks after President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on goods from the tiny African nation of Lesotho, they even note the size. The country's communications regulator held a meeting with representatives of Starlink. Now Starlink, as you all know, was of course, Elon Musk's satellite communications company. And according to the Washington Post, Starlink had been seeking access to customers in Lesotho for some time. But it was not until Trump unveiled the tariffs and called for negotiations over trade deals that leaders of the country awarded Musk's firm, the nation's first ever satellite Internet service license. It's quite a coincidence, isn't it? Now, this deal even drew a mention in an internal State Department memo obtained by the Washington Post. And here's what that memo as the government of Lesotho negotiates a trade deal with the United States, it hopes that licensing sterling demonstrates goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses. The diplomatic translation of that for all of you is the government of Lesotho feels like it's being awfully generous with the Starlink deal and they're hoping that means something good for them down the road. Now, you may be thinking Elon Musk is the world's richest guy. Why would he care about landing the satellite contract for a country the size of Maryland? The answer to that question is that it's not just Lesotho. The Post also reports that Starlink has won at least partial accommodations from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam. And the Post even notes this is probably not a comprehensive count, which means everyone more coming probably. Now, it would be one thing if countries were just trying to fill the pockets of Elon Musk on their own accord. Maybe because they see Musk in the Oval Office a lot. He's close to Trump. You know, they're calculating a benefit. But the eye popping element of today's reporting in the Washington Post is that the Post claims to have obtained internal government messages that show US Embassies and the State Department proactively pushing nations towards Starling. I mean, it doesn't get much more blatant than this. And I'm just going to quote the story again here because I think it tells you kind of what you need to know. Under Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed at least two cables asking department staffers worldwide to promote American satellite services, including Starlink, mentioned by name in both missives. Now, Another cable from April 17 reported that Starlink was pushing for a license to operate in Djibouti. Embassy staffers in Djibouti responded that they would help Starlink as much as they could. When asked for comment, the State Department responded to the Washington Post with this. Here's what they said. Any patriotic American should want to see an American company's success on the global stage, especially over compromised Chinese competitors. Sure, okay, fair. I mean, the Washington Post also accurately notes that the Biden administration pushed other nations to work with American satellite companies, including Starlink. And that's true, they did. But here's the thing. As we all know, Starlink's owner was not one of President Biden's biggest donors, who was hanging out in the Oval Office all the time. Nor was Biden strong arming foreign countries to help that particular donor. Now, I should note that spokespeople for Lesotho and Starling's parent company, SpaceX, didn't respond to the Washington Post request for comment, but the White House did. And here was the White House's response to this story about Trump's biggest donor, the richest man in the world, potentially taking advantage of Trump's trade war to cash in abroad. Here's what they the only consideration in the Trump administration's trade negotiations with other countries is what's best for the American people. That is what a White House spokesperson told the Washington Post today. Sounds good, right? The only consideration in Trump's trade negotiations is what is best for the American people. Okay, I want you to keep that quote in mind. So I repeated it as you listen to what Trump said today in the Oval Office about the idea of creating tariff exemptions to help working families. The treasury secretary just told lawmakers that a tariff exemption for certain baby items like car seats is under consideration. Will you exempt some products that families rely on? I don't know.

[Donald Trump]

I'll think about it. I don't know. I really don't. I want to make it nice and simple. I'm not looking to have so many exemptions that nobody knows what's doing. We have to make it very simple. But I'll take a look at it.

[Host]

So, okay, again, their quote, the only consideration in Trump's trade negotiations is what is best for the American people. But should those people be able to afford car seats for their babies? Well, Trump doesn't know. He's going to have to think about it. And that piece about the State Department reportedly pushing Elon Musk's satellite company abroad while countries are trying to find their way out of Trump's tariffs wasn't even the only blockbuster piece about tariffs out of the Washington Post today. There was also this headline, trump's Tariffs Hit Baby Industry Hard, Threatening Parents with Price hikes Shortages. Virtually every car seat, stroller, bassinet and changing table sold in the US Is made in China. Now, the story also cites quite a statistic from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Here's what it more than 70% of the baby gear purchased by Americans is manufactured by US Companies in China. But with new tariffs more than doubling the cost of Chinese imports, prices on baby necessities are rising fast and manufacturers and retailers are suddenly slamming on the brakes. So they cite Delta Children, which is the country's largest crib and children's furniture brand. They paused nearly all shipments from China early last month as soon as the White House announced higher tariffs. And the CEO of that crib and furniture brand told the Post, quote, we're going to end up with bare shelves in another couple of months if things don't change. And the thing about baby products, and I have two kids, they're not babies anymore. But I know what it's like to buy baby products is if you have a baby, they aren't optional. If you have a baby, you need a crib. It's federal law that you cannot drive your baby anywhere without a car seat. Most hospitals literally won't even let you take your baby home out of the hospital unless you have a car seat. But should car seats be exempted from tariffs? Well, Trump doesn't know he's going to think about that one. Look, the reality here is that if Trump doesn't back down on his tariffs, or at least, very least, I should say exempt necessary products like cribs and car seats, a lot of parents aren't going to be able to afford basic necessities for their babies. A childhood studies professor at Rutgers University put it to the Post this if these tariffs stay in place, there's a good chance there's going to be a stronger bifurcation of children's haves and have nots of families with and without. It's perfect time to reraise their statement. Remind me, what was the White House's statement about Trump's tariffs? Again, here it is right there. The only consideration in the Trump administration's trade negotiations with other countries is what's best for the American people. Right? Some prices are going up. Tires, strollers, some clothing. In the wake of your tariffs, that's.

[Donald Trump]

Peanuts compared to energy. Energy is 60.

[Host]

But, sir, you campaigned, you campaigned on a promise to bring prices down on day one.

[Donald Trump]

Well, I don't know. When you say strollers are going up, what kind of a thing? I'm saying that gasoline is going down. Gasoline is thousands of times more important than a stroller someplace.

[Host]

But what do you, I mean, if you're a parent right now, or an aspiring parent, and maybe you're a grandparent or just an aunt who wants to help your friend out, and you are worried about the price of strollers, which a lot of people are, it's certainly not peanuts. President says he has bigger things to worry about than making sure you can pay for things for your kids. That's pretty clear but when it comes to his own two large adult sons, he seems pretty focused on making sure they want for nothing. I mean, take a look at this. This is a brand new hotel, an apartment building going up in Dubai. It is very, very fancy. Every window opens to the sea. It says it has a golf simulator, an infinity pool, and some weird looking treadmills in the gym. It's a place where you can apparently put on a gold dress, put your hands up against the big glass window and stop at nothing, whatever that means. This is obviously the new Trump Tower building being built in Dubai. And Donald Trump's kids do not need to worry about the price of strollers right now, obviously, because they just signed a lucrative deal to build this huge tower where individual units are selling for a $20 million price tag apiece. It's not just Dubai either. There's also the brand new building under construction in Saudi Arabia, which has some pretty freaky looking big cat art in the lobby for some reason. I can't explain that one. And hey, look, the same funky treadmills from Dubai. And also a brand new complex in Qatar where Eric Trump was just inspecting the miniature sized model like he is in Zoolander or something. And real estate may be the bread and butter of the Trump Organization, but these days the Trump boys have expanded the family business. Shall we say, they have not one, but two Trump branded cryptocurrency ventures. To put it simply, when anyone buys these Trump currencies, it helps the Trump kids make more money. I mean, right now the boys are running kind of a contest of sorts where the people who buy the most of Trump's meme coin get to have dinner with their dad, Donald Trump, not this weird cartoon drawing of him. The more money you pay the Trump kids, the more likely it is you get to have dinner with the actual President of the United States. Bloomberg News actually reports today that more than half of the people who own the most of the Trump meme coin are likely foreign. Meaning the Trump kids have not only built themselves a gigantic cash register to let people buy access to their dad, but they are essentially selling access to the President of the United States to foreigners. Now perhaps they can all hang out at the new private membership club in D.C. which happens to be co owned by Trump's oldest son. Seems to be quite a happening place. President's Attorney General, other members of his administration have already been seen at the club's events, which is perhaps why they are literally calling the club the Executive branch. They're not even trying to hide it here membership fees, and this is iPapping, are $500,000 just to walk in the door, half a million dollars to access the executive branch, and yes again, the name is just so on the nose. It's almost like they are trolling us at this point in some way. But brazen or not, and this is definitely brazen, the President's adult children and his best buddy Elon Musk are perhaps the only people in America actually making money off of this administration. That includes the President himself, who also financially benefits from many of these grifts being run by his two kids. So again, to recap, you can have two new Trump towers, you can have one new complex in Qatar, you can have multiple cryptocurrencies it seems, and a members only club. But you cannot, I repeat, you cannot have a new stroller or apparently a new doll.

[Donald Trump]

I don't think a beautiful baby girl needs that's 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls.

[Host]

Something tells me Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is gonna have some thoughts about all of this and a lot more, and he's gonna join me in just 90 seconds.

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[Narrator]

Parents of tweens, if you're familiar with far off drop offs.

[Host]

Dad, stop. Stop.

[Health Expert]

Stop right here or get DMs about what's for dinner? You may be experiencing tween milestones for your son or daughter. These can start at age 9. HPV vaccination, a type of cancer prevention against certain HPV related cancers, can start then too.

[Narrator]

For most, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don't clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers later in life.

[Health Expert]

Embrace this phase. Help protect them in the next.

[Host]

Ask their doctor today about HPV vaccination.

[Health Expert]

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[Host]

As promised. Joining me now is Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz. Governor, it's great to see you. I know you've been busy governing and on a red state tour. So thank you so much for taking the time.

[Governor Tim Walz]

Well, thanks for having me, Jen, and congratulations on your new show and time slot. Good to be with you.

[Host]

Thank you so much. Let me, I just, there's so many things I want to talk to you about. I just want to start by putting up the headline that I started this show with. And here it is. US Pushes Nations Facing Tariffs to Approve Musk's Starlink. What do you make of that?

[Governor Tim Walz]

Yeah, well, that whole segment was just, I think for many of us, not surprising. But I would cautious all your viewers, I know that don't normalize this. This is Donald Trump at the one he does best, grift, grifting. I say this, that I think the biggest myth that's been, you know, brought to the American public is this guy knows anything about business, running a good business, treating workers fairly, growing in terms of helping the economy. For others, it's all about the grift. And I think the frustrating thing is, is that we're dealing here in a legislative session that we deal with the fallout of what he does, what he's done. We're trying to figure out I was at a food bank today with partners, local, county, state, trying to figure out with the proposed cuts to the programs that most impact people who need it most. At the same time, you see this going on. So look, it's not surprising, but it's corruption. It's the things that, as you said, I love the example of Jimmy Carter gave up his interest in his family's peanut farm and most of us, and I'm very proud, I was one of the original authors of Stock act making sure members of Congress shouldn't trade stocks. And I think when you're in elected office, you shouldn't do that. The Trumps see it very differently. It's about enriching themselves, enriching his sons, enriching those around him and his donors. And I truly worry that the access to that office endangers not just our democracy. He is doing nothing to make a difference in people's lives, the people that we care about. He's not doing it.

[Host]

I think that the contrast, as you said, is the point here. Right? I mean, he's unwilling to commit to giving exemptions for strollers and things like that, but he is Allowing his best buddy in the Oval Office to seemingly make money. Let me ask you, you said something in the New Yorker in March I thought was really interesting. I mean, you said we should prepare for the worst case scenario. I think many of us feel that way. We're just over 100 days in, and I guess I can start. Are we in the worst case scenario right now or what are you exactly preparing for as governor?

[Governor Tim Walz]

No, I think it gets worse, Jen. I don't say that as a pessimist. I say it as about a realist. We will win this. We will win it because the Constitution will stay strong. We're still seeing the courts while they're under stress, upholding. I see Donald Trump and I said it many months ago that he will eventually try and incarcerate political opponents. We saw it. Whether, you know, threatening my neighbor and dear friend and a man of perfect character in Tony Evers next door to threatening people who don't fall in line. Look, we're going to have a military parade for him. I was only half tongue in cheek saying this guy will be in a military uniform before long. He is fully headed towards authoritarianism. It is fully about the corruption, about those who are around him. And we're still trying to function out here in the states and as governors in a way that I'm negotiating in good faith, faith with Republican legislators here. But it feels a little bit, you know, of bailing the Titanic with a thimble in terms of we're trying to make sure that our children eat, our schools are funded, our roads are built, and I hear nothing from them other than destruction.

[Host]

You know, one of the reasons I love talking to people like you and other governors is that you described your job as kind of being part of a firewall. And I think others have described it like that as well. A lot of people are wondering kind of what can be done to stop this. I mean, what does that firewall look like for you as you prepare for other things the Trump administration could be doing?

[Governor Tim Walz]

Yeah, I think using the existing laws to the best we can, making sure where state laws stand up for people, whether it's around reproductive freedoms, protecting, you know, our children from some of these policies. But I also think, and I've said this too, Jen, and I know I listened to you talking to my friend Pete Buttigieg makes a great point of this. We have to provide an alternative. All of what you showed in that first segment, what we're talking about here, I think what haunts me is, is that they still voted for this guy. And they didn't believe we were standing with the working class. And I had a great example today, something, you know, as a teacher and as governor, I'm very proud of. Our state announced our graduation rates are the highest they've ever been in our state history. That's no coincidence. We provided free breakfast and free lunch. We provided the nation's largest child tax credit. We invested more money in education, in our teachers than any time in our history. And the payoff we got for that was higher achievement and more students entering in with the skills necessary to thrive. That's the society we want to see, that's lifting up the American people. Those are policies that we should be very proud of, rather than Donald Trump advocating and trying to scare people. You know, say people are grifting off all of these programs that he's destroying. They are not doing any such thing. They're feeding their children. Their kids are going to school with full bellies, and lo and behold, they're learning and graduating. So I think what governors are doing is providing the alternative reality to this timeline that Donald Trump's in. And I think that's the best way for the middle class to see real results. Because he, you know, he told you he would end the war in Ukraine, he would bring prices down eggs. And now telling people, when did government get to tell you how many dolls your child has? I mean, this was my whole point about this. You know, government just big enough to fit in your bedroom, your womb, and apparently now in your toy chest. That is. It's insane. It's a command economy with him dictating. There's no free market principles. My farmers have worked years to cultivate markets in a free market around the world, and we have thrived at that. We feed the world. We clothe the world. We power the world. Donald Trump is now deciding that he gets to do all of that, and the real thing is to enrich the industries he chooses. He's picking the winners and losers, and in this case, the billionaires are winning. The rest of us are losing.

[Host]

I mean, you mentioned the dolls. What I'm having a hard time wrapping my head on. He seems bizarrely flippant, maybe about the impact of tariffs on families. I mean, there are many impacts. I mean, he gets mad. Got mad when he was asked about the price of strollers going up. You mentioned he makes creepy comments about how many dolls girls need. What is it about? It seems just so disconnected, but it seems like it must be about something more than that.

[Governor Tim Walz]

You know, I don't know this for my amateur psychologist, I think he listened to one class when he was back in the 80s or something at Wharton in his six months there or whatever. And he misreads this. It's a ludicrous philosophy. No one agrees with him. And then they come back to, well, Democrats put tariffs on. Yes, they're a tool, they're a scalpel. You can use them when you have unfair practices. But he's talking about the thing that drives me insane with working with Canada and Mexico. He's the guy who negotiated the deal and then he turns around and says, well, we don't care much about Canada. I was glad to see the prime minister coming in from Canada saying, are you out of your mind? Your biggest trading partner. They are our biggest trading partner in Minnesota. They're our dearest friends. We care about. He has no concept. This goes back to that idea. So many Americans thought, you know, we need to hire a businessman to run government like business. Two things about that are wrong. No, we don't need to run government like a business because we're not in the profit making. We're in the proving lives and looking towards the future. And this guy has a proven track record of being an absolute failure. And I think the opening for Democrats is, is to work with the business community. My, I am home to many large Fortune 500 companies that are put at risk by this. And I'll just say this, I'm calling these folks out. They need to stand up. He threatens them. He threatens universities, thank goodness, Harvard, standing up to them. But that's how he gets things done. He doesn't get it done through competency. He doesn't get it done through results. He gets it done through fear, intimidation, and I'm with you. I wish he could have been weirdly obsessed with like pickleball or something rather than tariffs. That's where he could spend his time. But it's on this tariff thing that doesn't work.

[Host]

I don't know what kind of a pickleball player he'd be, but we'll leave that now. Governor Walz, I have so many I want to talk to you about. Politics, so many things I want to talk about. We have to take a very quick break. We're going to be right back with Governor Walls. Stay right where you are.

[Advertiser]

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[Narrator]

Parents of Tweens if you're familiar with far off drop offs.

[Host]

Dad, stop. Stop. Stop right here.

[Health Expert]

Or get DMs about what's for dinner? You may be experiencing tween milestones for your son or daughter. These can start at age 9. HPV vaccination, a type of cancer prevention against certain HPV related cancers, can start then too.

[Narrator]

For most, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don't clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers later in life.

[Health Expert]

Embrace this phase. Help protect them in the next.

[Host]

Ask their doctor today about HPV vaccination brought to you by Merck.

[MSNBC Announcer]

Stay connected with the MSNBC app bringing you breaking news and analysis anytime, anywhere.

[Host]

All all the stories that we're covering are live and happening as we speak.

[MSNBC Announcer]

Watch your favorite shows live.

[Host]

What's happening right now is a hostile takeover of the US Government.

[MSNBC Announcer]

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[Host]

As promised, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Governor Walz, there's obviously so much going on right now with the impact of the Trump administration on people's lives right now in Minnesota and across the country. But I think a really important part of the story is also what the opposition is doing and the questions that the Democratic Party and others are asking themselves. And you've talked a lot about this. I mean, you said recently that you think the Democratic Party needs to fundamentally change and when you lose, I think that's, that's the right statement. But how do you think the Democratic Party needs to change?

[Governor Tim Walz]

Yeah, well, look, I'm not sure I have the answer, Jen, but I think all of us need to be on the field making the case. And I just, you know, I think it's self evident. Donald Trump talks to and expresses the frustrations of working people. And he's able to, and the numbers show that he's able to get them to vote for him, but he doesn't do anything for them. He works for the rich. And the perception amongst way too many Americans is, is that that Democrats talk to the rich, even though our policies, whether it's a child tax credit, affordable education, down payments for home ownership Those types of things. We just have to figure out where is the disconnect that our policies are popular. They do work to improve people's lives. But he is. He is hitting on them. And I've heard people say, the thing that I find fascinating is, and this is why I think action matters, that you need to get things done. When you're in power, you better move the needle to improve people's lives. Somebody said, I this, I think it was in Michigan. A gentleman said, look, I don't know if Donald Trump has the answers. In fact, I think he's probably wrong about some of these tariffs, but damn it, he's fighting for me. And I think now what Democrats first and foremost need to do, it's either capitulate or fight. I'm choosing fight. I think a lot of folks are. What that fight looks like is going to be different. Some people, folks are starting podcasts. Senator Booker took to the floor for 25 hours, inspiring people that there could be something done. I'm going to these town halls with people. I'm not bringing the answers. And as I've said, I might be the last guy. We didn't win in the fall, but I do believe the policies we're advocating for and the heart and soul of what it meant to be a Democrat. When I was growing up, you knew who the Democrats were and you knew what they stood for. I said, I never became a Democrat. They came to me and improved my family's life. And I think we've got to get back to that. We've got to use it as an opportunity right now to talk to people, but more importantly, not just tell them we're for health care. Get it done. And I'm making the case that Donald Trump is laying out a blueprint here. When we get back in power, we move fast and deep. We get health care. We make sure assault weapons aren't killing our children in school. We make sure we're attacking the issues around the environment. We bring fairness and don't stop because these things prove very popular. When people get paid family and medical leave, their life improves and their economy improves. And I think that's the lesson that, you know, I remember being in Congress and negotiating away some of the best parts of the ACA to try and get one or two Republican votes. I would love to help them be bipartisan with us on some of these things, but, boy, if you've got a majority or you're in a position to make a difference, improve people's lives, and the politics will follow, it sounds like.

[Host]

And this is such an interesting conversation, because I think it's. Some people think it's policy, it's message, it's how you're talking to people. Maybe it's all three. It sounds like some of what you're saying is it's policy, too, and having bold policies. I wanted to also ask you, I mean, you've been doing something pretty interesting, I think, which is talking with voters in red states on your tour about why they stayed home. And I do think that's a big part of the story. What are you hearing the most from people about why they stayed home? People who maybe are aligned with the platform that you and Vice President Harris ran on?

[Governor Tim Walz]

Well, I think part of it's a Trump strategy that you breed in just cynicism that it doesn't matter, then you get a lot of both sides ism. Will both sides do it? No. Both sides don't grift. I'm not trying to sell Starlink to get people here in Minnesota or whatever company that you want to own. And then I think it goes back to what I was just saying, Jen. I think when we've been in power, that we've incrementally changed things when, when life has become difficult for people. We were discussing here, you know, between the break that, you know, why do they side with these billionaires or whatever, because everybody wants to be wealthier. And it feels like you got to win the lottery now just to buy a house. It didn't used to be that way. Democrats need to get policies in place that make life truly affordable, that, you know, because Donald Trump's not going to do it. But I, I think the last piece of this that I'm hearing from a lot of these folks, they stayed home because they didn't believe that we were standing to our values. If you believe in a policy, the Republicans are going to call it whatever they want to call it, stand firm on it, sell it, go out there and make a difference. Because if you really believe it, and as a Democrat, we really believe that good social policy builds stronger, safer communities for everybody, get it done, then don't walk away from it or don't capitulate or don't wilt, the minute that they challenge you on it, make the case. And I think we do that to a certain degree. And some of it is because we believe in our institutions. I think we do believe in incremental change. Donald Trump is destroying programs that are in place for 100 years. He did it in 100 days. And I think we better learn from that, that this, we don't have 10 years to fix health care. We're going to get one more opportunity when we win back some of the power. Governors are doing it in their states, what they can do. But look, Trump's ability to squash things, to intimidate, to drag us in front of, you know, Congress or whatever it might be, he's going to continue to do that. But I think the thing that was missing to a certain degree is just the huge amount of fight that people want to see when somebody says, I think Donald Trump's fighting for me. He's not, he's not. They believed it, but he's not. We need to show him we are.

[Host]

Fight, fight, fight for the good causes. I think that's a big, a big dividing point right now. And I agree with that. Governor Tim Walls, thank you so much. I always enjoyed talking to you. We're going to take a quick break, but after that we're going to talk about what Carrie Lick and Caroline Levitt have in common. Right now. That's a scary question. It's got a scary answer. But I'm going to talk about it after a very quick break. When we come back, Voice of America was once the largest US International broadcasting network. It was established back during World War II to push back against Nazi propaganda. Now back in March, Trump attempted to dismantle voa, calling it anti Trump and radical and many other things. In an executive order, he put its more than 1000 full time staff and contractors on leave. As of right now, VOA has fewer than 20 staffers. They were dramatically diminished. So it's very hard to run a news organization with that number of people. And then yesterday, Carrie Lake, the Trump light ally and failed political candidate multiple times over who now runs the agency that oversees voa, announced that VOA will now carry programming from the far right news outlet, One America News, like it was a victory lap. Now, oin, as I'm sure you know, is one of the Trump aligned cable news networks that paid out defamation settlements for pushing 2020 election lies. And if you're not familiar, and you probably are, here's just a taste of what they offer. The fact is that Donald Trump won.

[Health Expert]

A second term last night.

[Host]

Democrats are tossing Republican ballots, harvesting fake ballots and delaying the results to create confusion. Now we have Nancy Pelosi's gazpacho police spying on members of Congress.

[Governor Tim Walz]

Major League Sports in and of itself is nothing but a psyop. Get kids plugged into the cycle of going to public indoctrination camps, playing sports for their school and going to games.

[Host]

Don't let transgender penguins fool you. And that's my final point.

[Governor Tim Walz]

We here at One America News would like to say thank you, President Trump. Your legacy as a patriot is unquestionable.

[Host]

I mean, it's hard to even follow some of it. But the point is this. I mean, after 15 prior administrations, Trump and Carrie Lake have taken what was supposed to be an organization that pushes back against disinformation and instead made it a platform for broadcasting disinformation, all neatly packaged together by oan. It will essentially be a shot of pro Trump nonsense into all sorts of international markets around the world. And that push for exclusively pro Trump messaging isn't a one off at all. I mean, it's pretty consistent with what is happening in the White House briefing room right now. According to a Media Matters review of White House press briefings through April 22, White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt called on right wing media outlets 41% of the time. And four of the five reporters called on the most frequently were from right wing outlets. The Trump administration also taken a special interest in bringing in new media influencers, as they call them, like podcasters, into the briefing room. Now, every president since Barack Obama has engaged in one form or another with online influencers. It's what they've all done. And I can also attest that the White House briefing room is very outdated. It should be modernized. There should be more outlets from across the country, online or otherwise. But what they are doing is not broadening and diversifying the voices who have access to the briefing room and the president. That's not what they're doing. They are narrowing it step by step to voices who are eager to please the person they consider their boss, Donald Trump, the president. Trust me when I tell you this has all led to some truly surreal moments, like one right wing influencer asking a 2 1/2 minute question that ended with this quote. Can you please let us know if and when the Trump administration is planning to suspend the writ of habeas corpus to circumvent these radical judges and to start shipping out illegals en masse? Literally the end of a 2 1/2 minute question. Can't say I've ever gotten a briefing question like that or any questions like these.

[Health Expert]

Will you guys also consider releasing the president's fitness plan? He actually looks healthier than ever before. Healthier than he did eight years ago.

[Governor Tim Walz]

And I'm sure everybody in this room could agree.

[Health Expert]

Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and is he eating less McDonald's? Thanks so much, Caroline, both for having us and for granting me the first question here.

[Host]

Sure.

[Health Expert]

And I can attest to the deportations in Florida. My Uber drivers finally speak English again. So thank you for that.

[Governor Tim Walz]

Do you think this, this latest incident with the president of Colombia is indicative of the global powerful respect they have for President Trump?

[Host]

Yeah, I mean, the questions are absurd. They're pretty freaking weird. There are a lot of things, but it's just a part of a larger, more dangerous strategy, which is to push out voices that are seeking the truth who are trying to hold the administration accountable. And that's what they've done for decades, as they have done for Democratic and Republican administrations for decades. And their goal here is to create a larger echo chamber for Trump and MAGA's version of reality. If that's not taking a page out of the Kremlin playbook, I'm really actually not quite sure what is. Coming up, we have a conversation with Senator Raphael Warnock. We'll try to get to the truth about what Republicans are trying to do to Social Security and Medicaid right now. All important stuff. We'll be right back. In order to pass Trump's tax cuts for the ultra wealthy, which he really wants to do, Republicans really have no choice but to make hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to programs like Medicaid, which of course provides health care coverage for tens of millions of low income Americans. At least one House Republican isn't on board with this. That's good news. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon, who's become a rare example of a Republican willing to criticize Trump, has said he's against it. Now, predictably, Bacon is reportedly being pressured in private by Republican leaders to drop his objections. And as a part of this behind the scenes pressure campaign of sorts, Bacon told the Wall Street Journal today that Republican leaders told him any steep reductions to Medicaid that are passed by the House would be blocked by the Senate anyway. Except that doesn't appear to be the case because according to Punchbowl News, at a closed door retreat today, Senate Republican leaders said their colleagues in the House aren't being aggressive enough. Those Republican senators reportedly suggested reducing a program called fmap, which is basically the federal match for states that participate in Medicaid. Expansion means states rely on this federal money. That move alone, according to a new report released today by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, would result in 2.4 million Americans being kicked off their health insurance. Joining me now, the Senator is Senator. Reverend Senator. Reverend Raphael Warnock, There are so many titles. So impressive. Democrat from the great state of Georgia, it's so great to see you. Senator Warnock, I know you're so thoughtful about all of these issues and how they impact real people's lives. And I just want to start with the CBO report and just the issue of Medicaid because I think people are trying to pull some wool over the eyes of the American public right now. Republicans are, some are claiming they're not going to make these cuts. What are you preparing for as you're seeing this all go down on the Hill right now?

[Senator Raphael Warnock]

Well, listen, they've got a problem. They've decided that the most important thing they can do for America is give billionaires a tax cut, a huge tax cut. So they're looking here and there high and low trying to find that money. And they want to cut $880 billion out of Medicaid. There's not that much waste, you know, so. And they know this.

[Host]

The math doesn't matter.

[Senator Raphael Warnock]

And here's how I know that they know it is because when we had the budget resolution discussion a few weeks ago when we went through the Votorama, I offered up an amendment that said, okay, you're saying you're not going to actually cut coverage. Vote yes on my amendment, which simply says what you just said, you're not going to cut coverage. Of course they voted no. So we know what's going on here. The math ain't mathing. They know it. And they've decided that they were sent there to represent Elon Musk and people like him. I'm focused on ordinary people.

[Host]

I know you are. And one of the other programs that is under threat right now that doesn't get nearly enough attention is why we're going to talk about it is Social Security. And there's lots of ways this administration is going after Social Security. One of them is trying to close Social Security offices across the country. And you did something that was pretty interesting. I mean, they posted basically that five offices in Georgia that they were planning to close. The Doge team and you kind of ran, you and your team ran an all out effort to pressure them not to close the offices. And you were successful. I mean, you come from an activist background. But I'm raising this because it kind of tells me and tells everyone that really pushing on these things matter. What should people know about how you effectively did that?

[Senator Raphael Warnock]

Well, I mean, they got a real problem. The things that they're trying to do are wildly unpopular, going after Social Security I mean, they know that these are very unpopular things. And contrary to the world's richest man who says it's a Ponzi scheme, let's just first of all recognize that people paid for Social Security. They held up their end of the bargain. You know, you see that little thing on your check, you know, called fica. I mean, I used to wonder as a kid, who is that? And you were paying into this thing. They paid for this. And so now they expect the government to live up to its side of the bargain. And so a few weeks ago, Doge announced on its website that it was going to close five offices in Georgia. I began to make some noise about this, and all of a sudden, the website got cleaned up a little bit, and so they said, no, we never said it. So that's fine. Just keep the offices open. So, you know, I just think it's important for us to call them out on these kinds of things.

[Host]

Yeah, and it's working. It's working. I mean, it's an example of it working. You see the protests out there. You see activism like that. I'm wondering, I mean, you and I have talked about this before, just how your ministry and your faith impact how you approach your job as a legislator and as somebody who represents people. And as we're looking at the threats to all of these programs, to the budget, to programs people rely on. And this must be particularly on your mind. I mean, you're obviously still a minister, but also you have a new children's book out, Leo's Lunchbox, which is also based on a biblical story. Everybody should go out there and buy. But I want to know, kind of as you're looking at a party, a lot of members of the Republican Party wear their faith on their sleeve in a way that they use it as a reasoning for their policy positions. How do you think about this?

[Senator Raphael Warnock]

Well, I often say that a budget is not just a fiscal document. A budget is a moral document. Show me your budget, and I'll show you who you think matters, who you think is indispensable. And if this budget that they're trying to pass right now were an ekg, it would suggest that many of my colleagues have a heart problem and are in need of moral surgery. I recently wrote a book called Leo's Lunchbox, and it's about the covenant that we have with one another. I'm a Matthew 25 Christian, where Jesus said, I was hungry, and you fed me, I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. I was sick. I was in prison. You came and visited me and someone said to the master, when were you hungry? He said, well, inasmuch as you've done it to the least of these my children, you've done it also unto me. So based on the miracle story where Jesus feeds the 5,000, I tell a modern day story where I'm trying to create for our children the sense that we have a responsibility to one another. While at the same time as I tell the story of this kid who is food insecure. I'm pointing to the fact that in the wealthiest nation on the planet, 1 in 5 children, 1 in 5 is food insecure and don't know where their next meal is coming from. We suffer that injustice not because of a paucity of resources, but a poverty of moral imagination and moral courage. We're better than that.

[Host]

We have to be. Let me ask you in the minute or so we have left, I mean, you're many things. You are a person of deep faith. You are a senator. You're also a successful politician. You won in a state that was.

[Senator Raphael Warnock]

Don't call me a politician, Jen. That's a cuss word.

[Host]

Successful. You won in a state that was considered a red state for a long time. You did that, I think, by showing up in places that surprised people. Do you think that's part of the. You're seeing people do that now? Is that a part of the strategy you would advise people to take as they look to running over the next year or two?

[Senator Raphael Warnock]

Oh, absolutely. My mom and dad told me that half of life is showing up. And so when I ran in Georgia, I ran all across the state and I went to rural areas. I didn't buy into this. Urban, rural Atlanta, the rest of the state divide. There are people all across rural Georgia, all across rural America, who feel forgotten about, whose communities have been hollowed out, particularly as they've slashed Medicaid. States like Georgia have refused to accept the Medicaid expansion, the hospitals. Almost all the hospital closures in Georgia are in rural areas. And so I wanted to talk to those folks and, and I want them to know that I'm fighting for them. And I'm fighting for them right now. Whether they voted for me or not.

[Host]

I'm fighting for them. You're still fighting for them. That's what a real leader does. Senator, it's great to see you. Thank you so much for joining me. Thank you. Congratulations on your book as well. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back. Okay, that does it for me tonight. But we are already working on a great show for tomorrow night. New York Attorney General Tish James is going to be my guest. She's going to join me after she co hosts A Town with other state AGs to hear from citizens about how their lives are being impacted by the Trump administration. I'm sure they'll have lots of questions about what these AG's are doing about it, too. Super interested in talking with her. That does it for me today. You can catch the show Tuesday through Friday at 9pm Eastern on MSNBC. And don't forget to follow the show on Blue sky, Instagram and TikTok for now. Goodbye from Washington and we'll see you next week.

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