
Loading summary
Jim Banks
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.
Tudor Dixon
Welcome to the Tudor Dixon Podcast. Today we have Senator Jim Banks with us. He was elected in 2024 to represent the state of Indiana. Oh, this is so funny. In my notes, Sarah, who works with me, is from Indiana and she wrote Go Hoosiers, which I'm not going to say, but I think it's funny that she put it in there to try to make me say Senator, thank you so much for joining me.
Jim Banks
Great to be with you, tutor. Thanks for having me.
Tudor Dixon
Absolutely. All right. You know, I am a Michigan girl, so I will just say that I have been wanting to talk to you for a while. We've been trying to get you on the podcast. I'm really excited about what you've been able to take to Washington from Indiana. And it is important to me because we are all in the Midwest here together. The reason I don't want to say go Hoosiers is because you've taken a lot of our business. And I do remember when you guys put up the billboard saying thank you.
Jim Banks
To Gretchen Whitmer for a lot of good reasons. And you know, it's sad because I love Michigan. I vacation in Michigan with my family every, every summer. I grew up going to Michigan. I live just 45 minutes from the state line and Michigan has so much to offer. But because of your current leadership in your state, you guys have slipped further and further behind in the, in the metrics that matter. And that's creating good paying working class jobs for the next generation. And Indiana's benefited from that. So. But I hope you guys turn the page and elect leadership in your state that will copy some of the things that we've done in Indiana and change that because a strong Michigan is good for the Midwest and good for Indiana too. And I think, I think Tudor, you're going to be a big part of that for a long time to come.
Tudor Dixon
Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And what you're saying, I, I have been saying this and actually we were just, last night we were at an event with a bunch of people from the middle of the state and we were talking about that exact message because I hear so many politicians going out and talking about we're going to have educated, we're going to bring education back and we're going to get lower taxes and we're going to do this and we're going to do that, but there's no how. And what you just said is so important. Bring high paying jobs, good paying jobs back to the state that is What Michigan has not had in so long. But Gretchen Whitmer has paid a billion dollars of our money, taken our money and paid it to corporations that promised those good paying jobs to the state of Michigan. And we didn't even get one fifth of what they promised for that money. So you've, you've been kind of talking about this lately of it's important that we don't turn our backs on who we are now, what this new Republican Party is. Can you kind of explain that a little bit?
Jim Banks
Yeah, I've thought about a lot about this over the years. I mean you think about Michigan's economy, it's a lot like Indiana's economy. And I come from the, the Fort Wayne area. Not we feed a lot off of Detroit. The auto industry. Actually Indiana has the most manufacturing jobs per capita of any state in the country. And there's a lot of reasons for that. I mean we're, it's the auto industry, it's the steel industry. Not far from where I live, we have the orthopedic capital of the world. Zimmer Biomet and Depew making medical dev. We have a rich manufacturing blue collar working class tradition in Indiana. And this is why Indiana is such a pro Trump state. I mean, I believe this through and through. Donald Trump represents my state as well as he represents any state in the country because he represents these blue collar working class voters that have felt for too long like politicians from all parties have abandoned them. But Donald Trump sees them, he hears them, he wants to build a better life for them. You know, Tudor, for me it's personal because I grew up in a trailer park. My dad was a union factory worker. He made axles at a factory in Fort Wayne called Dana. And my mom was here.
Tudor Dixon
They were one of my customers. That's crazy. We used to make the axle housing.
Jim Banks
There you go. It's a great example of what I'm talking about. My dad was, he was a part of the steelworkers union. He had a really good paying job for over 30 years. He got a pension out of it. He put food on the table. We worked our way up to the middle class because of my dad's good, his strong work ethic and a really good opportunity. But when you look at factory jobs today compared to 25, 30 years ago, my dad, my dad only retired maybe 10 years ago from the factory. But you go back in time a little bit to maybe to the 80s and these factory jobs today aren't keeping up with you. Don't make a whole lot more today in a lot of these factories than what you did back then. And, and that's because we've let that manufacturing base, those blue collar jobs, fall further and further behind until Donald Trump came along. And the trade policies that he's pushed for, the immigration policies that he pushes for, these tariffs, I mean, what President Trump is doing with reciprocal tariffs, this is just the beginning of reorienting the global economy to bring these jobs back, not to allow these jobs to go overseas any longer to save that manufacturing base. To me, that is in essence the new Republican Party. When we focus on those voters, when we focus on voters like my dad, who by the way, when Donald Trump came down the escalator, my dad was for him from day one. I told my dad, you're crazy, he can't win. I didn't see what my dad saw, but my dad saw it instantly. I mean, this was the guy who was talking about what he cared about, being tough on China, issues like that, that my dad cared about. And Donald Trump has transformed the Republican Party. This new Republican Party that you're a part of, that I'm a part of, that we're talking about, we have to keep our part. One day when Donald Trump leaves office three and a half years from now and hopefully J.D. vance succeeds him, he becomes the president and we keep a Republican in the White House. But when Donald Trump is gone, we have to make sure that the Republican Party stays firmly planted with that America first ideology, that the principles of Donald Trump and not go backwards to the Liz Cheney Republican Party, the corporate Republican Party that loves Wall street more than they love Main street and small towns and working class voters or we'll lose elections forever if we do that. So I, well, and then there's no.
Tudor Dixon
Distinction between us and the Democrats. And that's what we were talking about just last night. I said, you hear Democrats constantly saying, we've got to make people pay their fair share, don't give the money to the billionaires. But you look in the state of Michigan and there's almost been kind of this uni party that has been funding the billionaires over the small business owners. And the small business owners are really the job creators that are making the jobs that are the good paying jobs. There's one guy I know that had a small business in Grand Rapids and he probably had about 75 employees. He ended up selling his company for hundreds of millions of dollars. And when he sold the company, he gave every single employee a million dollars. Those are the kinds of people we want to grow we want them to want to be in our state. Instead, we have Democrats that are giving tax, tax relief, like the no property taxes to billionaire investors who are coming in from out of state, sometimes buying up all of our property. They get, they don't pay property taxes. That pays our schools, that pay, that pays for everything local. And somehow it's the Democrats giving the billionaires the break and we're getting blamed for it. But, but that's the party we don't want to be a part of. That's the, that's where I think we have to step away and we have to invest in the small businesses and the people who are creating the jobs that are creating wealth. Because as you create wealth for people, everything else will rise. Every, all of you will have more energy, you will have better schools, you will have more people building homes that will all rise.
Jim Banks
That's so true. If you go back to the election in 2012 when Mitt Romney ran against Barack Obama, Wall street supported Mitt Romney by about a margin of 3 to 1 in campaign donations over Barack Obama. And that is the old Republican Party. If you fast forward to today, go back to the election of 2020, for example, Biden versus Trump, he was the exact opposite. Wall street supported Joe Biden by a margin of 4 to 1 in campaign donations over Donald Trump because Wall street hates Donald Trump. They know that Donald Trump isn't going to let Wall street sell our jobs out to China any longer. And this whole tariff trade policy that President Trump is pushing for right now proves it. That's why they don't like him, because President Trump puts the working men and women of this country first. Those jobs for working class voters, blue collar Americans like my family. Donald Trump's a lot more focused on that than he is Wall Street. And that's what's different about today. In the past. And Tudor, like you're saying, to keep the Republican Party centered on that. And it becomes very important right now, because right now, as we speak on Capitol Hill, we're going through this reconciliation bill, the one big beautiful bill to extend the Trump tax cuts. And I think, frankly, I got elected in 2016 to the House when President Trump was elected the first time. And that first big thing that we did was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And there was a big difference back then. We had Paul ryan, we had McConnell leading the Senate, we had Republican majorities, but Republicans that were aligned with Donald Trump and his agenda. And one of the big mistakes that Republicans made back then was they overemphasized the corporate tax cuts, and they made those permanent. But they sunset the tax cuts on individuals, working class families, small businesses. And that's why now we're back here again today working on that. We can't make that mistake again. We got to make those tax cuts permanent. We have to focus all of the other tax credits and business tax credits, research and development, all that stuff is important for the economy. But what should be our top priority are the working men and women of this country making sure that they get tax relief and that we extend it permanently. And that's what Republicans on Capitol Hill are wrestling with at the moment. We have to get that right. We have to let these voters know that you gave us the white, you gave us back President Trump. You gave us majorities. The Republican Party today represents you more than we more and better than we've ever represented you before. And we want you to remain Republicans, not go back to becoming Democrats because we didn't get it right.
Tudor Dixon
Stay tuned for more of my conversation with Senator Jim Banks. But first, let me tell you about my partners at Ease Health. Today is a new day. And now you can replace your overpriced, lousy Obamacare with Ease for Everyone, the only group plan that any adult in the United States is now eligible to join. With Ease, you get a monthly cost as low as $262. Plus you get free unlimited prescriptions. 93% of all drugs covered are available at no extra cost, including insulin, with huge savings on brand names. You'll also get free unlimited primary care visits, unlimited urgent care visits with a $30 copay and a generous cash back reimbursement for emergency room visits, ambulance transportation and doctor visits. You can have affordable healthcare for as low as $262 a month. Today just visit easeforeveryone.com tutor and join today again. That's ease for everyone.com tutor now. Stay tuned. We've got more after this.
C
Hey, I'd like to change gears for a minute and talk about our friends in Israel now. It's now the month of May and 80 years ago this very month, the horror of the Holocaust, quote, the final solution, thank God, came to an end. But did you know that half of all Holocaust survivors, they now live in Israel? And the pain of the past now intensified today by what happened on October 7, 2023, and the rise of anti Semitism everywhere. Thousands live in Israel below the poverty line. There's no safety net. We have partnered with a great organization called the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Now the Fellowship provides a lifeline to these precious people in the form of hot meals and boxes, a healthy food and for only 25 bucks you can help provide a food box. And better yet, $335 provides hot meals for an entire year. Call 888-488-IFC J 888-488-IFCJ or online you can give to ifcj.org that's ifcj.org with.
Jim Banks
The American Express Platinum Card, you can.
Tudor Dixon
Unlock over 1500 dollars in value annually with statement credits on select purchases and other benefits. So you can access more jet setting.
Jim Banks
And more resetting and downward dog. Learn more at americanexpress.com us/explore-platinum TERMS APPLY.
Tudor Dixon
Well, and I think people like yourself and others who have become more involved in in Republican politics, but also have that background in manufacturing, have an understanding of the national security implications of this. And Donald Trump also has an a grasp on the national security implications of not having manufacturing. He's been going out talking quite a bit about the 90,000 factories that went out of business. You said your dad worked at a Dana shop. Dana actually closed a few factories in Michigan over the past few years. In the past two decades, we've had Dana shops close. In fact, the actual housing that we were making used to ship directly to Wisconsin. And then when we took it over, we actually took it from Michigan. This is how bizarre this is. This the state of global manufacturing is it went from Michigan to Lyon, France, back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for a military vehicle. We were making military axle housings for Dana. And this is and this is where it would go all across the world to come back to make sure that we had the vehicles to go over to Afghanistan. Now think about how bizarre that is. And if you're Donald Trump, I mean, even if you think about it from the automotive standpoint, like the automotive Six Sigma, it's like, you know, the least amount of touches, the least amount of travel for a part. Here you have a part that actually goes from the United States to France and back to a different state in the United States. It makes no sense. And that's why you see Donald Trump saying, bring it back home. And when people go, oh my gosh, it's going to cost so much more money. Wait a minute. Think of the logistics of that. If you've been in the industry, you know, you're paying for an entire container to go overseas and then come back and then travel back across the United States. The cost can be cut. It can be done in the United States. And Jobs like your dad's can be saved and also their, their wages can be increased.
Jim Banks
That's exactly right. I mean, you say save these jobs and the country is stronger for it. And it makes good business sense too. And a lot of it, as you know, Tudor, from your background, a lot of this is tax policy. You don't, you don't reward companies for sending these good, good paying, blue collar jobs to China and Mexico. In fact, when I was a kid, NAFTA was a four letter word because my dad, my dad always got this. He saw it firsthand. I mean, that Dana factory in Fort Wayne when I was a kid was booming. Three shifts every day, like overflow parking lots. I mean, it was. And then over the years, it's declined. You drive by, you drive by factories like that. Today, they're not doing as well. So when President Trump. I was in the Oval Office when. I think maybe you were too. When President Trump signed the Liberation Day, you were at the White House around that time.
Tudor Dixon
Yes. Yeah.
Jim Banks
He signed the reciprocal tariffs. And immediately we started hearing good news. GM in Fort Wayne made an announcement immediately that they were adding hundreds of jobs and they were adding more overtime for their workers. Eli Lilly, which is a huge part of Indiana Pharmaceutical company, they announced they were bringing $29 billion of, of pharmaceutical manufacturing out of China and moving it to the United States. Roche Diagnostics announced earlier this week $50 billion of investment that they're bringing back to the United States, including a big announcement in Indiana. We had a Made in America bicycle company in Columbus, Indiana make a million dollar announcement to make bicycles in Indiana. Honda announced they're going to make the next generation Honda Civic in Indiana. Not in Mexico, not in Japan, but in my home state because of the, because of the tariffs. Because this, these policies actually matter to, to incentivizing these companies to do what they need to do in the United States. It's good for our country, it's good for our workers. And it's a, it's a sign that this new Republican Party gets it. We represent these people that have become a big part of our voting coalition. We got to keep it that way.
Tudor Dixon
Yeah, we are these people. This is us. That's what, that's what I keep saying to people. I'm like, this is us. This is who we are. The people who come in and they tell you, you know, I've made billions of dollars over my lifetime and let me lead the state. Do they really know who you are? You know, you have to, you have to find out if the person understands who you are. And I think elections are different than they were years ago. We kind of just trusted who was in our party. But you make such a great point. The party is different now. You have to listen to what the people are saying. Don't let us go back to the past. Make sure we keep progressing into the future. Last night when I was at this event, one of the gentlemen came up to me afterward and he said I was sitting next to a lifelong Democrat. He said he just came over to the Republican Party. He said, I think he's really a Republican, but he's trying to figure out exactly, you know, people, so many people are politically homeless right now. Exactly where he fits. He said he listened to what you were saying. And I heard him going, oh, yeah, huh? He said at the end he was clapping. He said it was genuine. He really felt like you understood what he needed. And he's like, here's a guy who was a lifelong Democrat, but I was looking at the income in Michigan because you talk about Indiana and that is. I'm. I think it's great. I'm jealous of it. Why is it happening there and not here? And I look at the policies in Michigan and this is why elections matter, especially in the local level. We have so much red tape to get a business here. They don't even look at Michigan. Energy's too high. The barrier to entry is too long. You can't break ground, you can't build a building. Licenses are too hard to get and then they're expensive. The Democrat regulation, the regulatory system under their rule is so abusive that no one will come to the state. And so when I look at the, the income level, I was looking at the median income in all of our different counties. In the red counties, it has raised with inflation, but nobody's life has improved. It's just stayed the same in the blue counties, no raise. They have stayed at the same level they were at from the recession from 2008 to today. Can you imagine all of these years have passed. These are communities that are broken and it. And people complain. All it's because of education. How can you focus on your child's education when you are constantly in fight or flight?
Jim Banks
And, and that. And in Indiana, that's what. Under Governor Daniels and Governor Pence, we focused on creating that sort of environment in our state to attract these jobs. Laying the groundwork for what, For a moment like this. When manufacturing jobs come back, they're going to come to Indiana because we have a strong tax base, we have the education Reform efforts at our State House made our schools better across the board. We've created that type of environment. So those state policies, Tudor, really matter. But what President Trump is doing with the tariffs and what he's doing with this America first agenda is going to make our country at large, I think, stronger than it's ever been in our lifetime. And the big reason why is he understands that you can use trade policy to influence other countries around the world from a statecraft perspective, to put America and our interests and our shared interests with other countries ahead of China's interest. And what he's doing with tariffs is reorienting the global economy to diminish China, which is our biggest adversary militarily, economically, rock China back so that America can seize the moment and be that leader that we used to be in the world. But we've, we, the Democrats, over Obama and Biden especially, they, they, they were so pro China and sold us out to China. And the Democrat Party has become the, the, the pro China party. I mean, because they've married up with Wall street and Wall street interests. They've sold us out to China so much that President Trump is taking this moment to try to try to diminish that and get America back on its feet and bring these jobs back to our country so that we can be strong again. And that. That's what this agenda is all about. He's just getting started. He has three and a half years left to go. He's not going to miss a beat. Every single day, Donald Trump gets up and he reminds us we can't waste a single day. We got to seize every single day that we have to bring these jobs back and make this country what we know that it can be again. I'm proud to be a part of that.
Tudor Dixon
But tough on China is a rebrand for us, too, if we're being honest. Republicans were big on China. It was global globalization, and China was the next best thing. It was going to be low prices, and this is going to build up our economy and their economy. And I think John McLaughlin said, Trump's pollster, he came out and he said, right now, these are Trump voters, but the GOP is just renting them. And I think that's because their memories are deep on this stuff. You know, people know that this, this was what the Republican Party used to be preaching, and Donald Trump has changed that. However, you see the mainstream media attacking him regularly on these tariffs from China. They're saying that he doesn't know what he's doing now. He's Four months in, he's already cutting trade deals. He's got this 90 day trade deal with China. They're panicking because they've never seen, they've just never seen this in politics before. Someone who understands negotiating and understands how it impacts the country. So how do we convince voters we're not going back, we're going to be tough on China. And Donald Trump knows what he's doing with the tariffs.
Jim Banks
Yeah, I think it goes back to those fundraising numbers. I talked about how Wall street overwhelmingly supports Democrat candidates over Republican candidates. I think that's healthy, that's good for us. Take, take the band aid off and let Wall street know that we, we're not, we don't represent you. We represent real people. And when we figure that out and don't kowtow to corporate America, who, who wants to send, they, because they want to make more money. They want to send all these jobs to China. They, they want, they want, they're, they're beating up on all of us on Capitol Hill every single day to get rid of these tariffs because they know that it affects their bottom line because they've moved so many of their jobs and so much of their supply chain to China. And I tell them every day, well, move it back home. And one of the biggest pieces of news that hasn't gotten enough, enough attention is Apple bringing iPhone production out of China and moving it to India. India is an ally, so that's good. And it diminishes China, so that's good. So you'll see a lot of that happening as well. We want that production to come to the United States of America. But, but when we see announcements like that of major businesses pulling investments out of China, that's good for America and we should celebrate it. And that's good for working class Americans. That's good for this new Republican Party in our base to let them know that we care more about you, the Democrats care more about China. Remind them, remind them of that every single day.
Tudor Dixon
You know, it's interesting because the Democrats are running on all of these social issues and they have been for a couple years. It didn't work. In 24, they tried to continue their abortion narrative. Obviously, that was big for Gretchen Whitmer in 2022 and she made an interesting comment. She said, we're going to eat Indiana's lunch based on solely the access to abortion. She thought that businesses were going to move to Michigan because of that. And that was what she campaigned on. We are going to be dominating manufacturing because all of these Businesses will be so upset with Indiana, they will leave and they will come to Michigan based solely on social issues. Obviously that hasn't happened. Michigan just, just, they just, there was just a new report done that Michigan is 44th in best states to live in. That's the state of Michigan. Two years after she ran on, she was going to eat Indiana's lunch. What you just said earlier in this podcast about everything that's coming to Indiana, she can't catch a break when it comes to bringing a business to Michigan to save her life. She was literally on the tarmac at the airport waiting for Donald Trump with open arms the other day because he's saving the Air Force base here. Got nothing. What do Democrats campaign on in 26?
Jim Banks
They're so crazy, I mean that whether it's boys playing in girls sports or right now, they're, by the way, they're opposing this tax cut deal. And this isn't these, these, this isn't about corporate tax rates anymore. This is about extending the tax cuts on regular, normal, everyday working Americans. And Democrats are opposed to it. Remind them, remind everyone that you can that the Democrats want your taxes to go and it'll be the biggest tax increase in American history if Democrats get their way and we don't extend the individual tax rates from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. So how can you convince me or my dad or any blue collar American that Democrats are better for representing you better than Republicans do? It's just not the case anymore.
Tudor Dixon
Your colleagues are storming prisons to get illegal aliens out, right? What is that?
Jim Banks
The Democrats are a crazy town. I mean, that's that there are a few. Every now and then you talk to a Democrat privately on Capitol Hill and they know their party's crazy. They're trying to dig out of the hole, but they can't. They're stuck in the mud. The Democrats are the best thing that we have going for us. So we got, we got to seize the moment, work with President Trump and push the Trump agenda, the America first agenda, as far as we can. If we succeed at that, then we will be the party of the working class for a long time to come. It's not just something borrowed or loaned to us by President Trump, is something that we can cement for the Republican Party and that's how we win national elections for a long time.
Tudor Dixon
Let's take a quick commercial break. We'll continue next on the Tudor Dixon Podcast.
C
Hey, I'd like to change gears for a minute and talk about our friends in Israel. Now. It's now the month of May and 80 years ago this very month, the horror of the Holocaust, quote, the final solution, thank God, came to an end. But did you know that half of all Holocaust survivors, they now live in Israel. And the pain of the past now intensified today by what happened on October 7, 2023, and the rise of anti Semitism everywhere. Thousands live in Israel below the poverty line. There's no safety net. We have partnered with a great organization called the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Now, the Fellowship provides a lifeline to these precious people in the form of hot meals and boxes, a healthy food, and for only 25 bucks, you can help provide a food box. And better yet, $335 provides hot meals for an entire year. Call 888-488-IFCJ 888-488 IFCJ or online. You can give to ifcj.org, that's ifcj.org.
Tudor Dixon
People need to get in the mindset that we're going to win the midterms. The Democrats have been very good at gathering their activists and being out there and you see them, I think that you have to recognize when you see people on the street corner protesting, they are still organized. They are still getting people together. We've got to stay out there. We can't sit back and go, oh, we've got this. Donald Trump is this hero to manufacturers. And that's what you're saying. The working class is not going to just stay with us because Donald Trump is out there. We have to stay out there. Last night we went to Misaki county in Michigan. The room was full. There were people standing in the back. Stay out there or these people will be disenfranchised. They will be upset that you are not continuing to talk to them. If you are a Republican again.
Jim Banks
Yeah, I really believe this. I mean, my dad, again, is like my, he's my, my focus group. I mean, he was, he's one of these voters. He voted Democrat most of his life. He voted with the union because the they, the Democrats were the party of the working people is what the Democrat, what the unions would say. But over time, he knew that wasn't true. I mean, he was excited when Ross Perot ran for president. We had the Perot for President bumper sticker on the truck and was, I remember being embarrassed about that when I was a kid. But he liked that because Perot was talking about the same things, right? I mean, he was talking about China, he was talking about jobs, going to Mexico. And that resonated with my dad. And then the second candidate that my dad got really excited about wasn't me, it was Donald Trump coming down the escalator because he was talking about being tough on China and bringing these jobs back. And President Trump was talking about how bad of a deal NAFTA was. And my dad was right. President Trump has been talking about these things since long before he ran for president. He was talking about about our jobs going overseas, even back in the 80s when he never even dreamed of being president one day. So this is a new Republican Party, but we gotta keep these voters with us by doing what we said we were going to do. And that's where Republicans have fallen short for way too long before President Trump began to hold us accountable for it. We gotta extend these tax cuts on working class people. We gotta secure the border. We have to cut illegal immigration coming into our country, like the President is doing. But the Congress has to do it. We have to. President Trump is doing all this by himself. By executive order. The Congress has to pass these bills, pass these laws, so that the next time, you know, God forbid, if a Democrat follows President Trump, I don't think that's gonna happen. I don't want that to happen. But that the next Joe Biden can come along and just do away with everything that all the good things President Trump did with a stroke of a pen, we can't let him do that. We have to pass our bills and pass them into law so they can't be undone by an executive order by the next president.
Tudor Dixon
Absolutely. That's what we keep saying. And we are better right now because we have you in the Senate. Senator Jim Banks, thank you so much. Thank you for all you do. And thank you for being on the podcast today.
Jim Banks
Great be with you. Thank you.
Tudor Dixon
Absolutely. And thank you all for joining us on the Tutor Dixon podcast. For this episode and others, go to tutor dixon podcast.com, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have a blessed day.
Jim Banks
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show Featuring Senator Jim Banks
Episode: Tudor Dixon Podcast: The New Republican Party with Senator Jim Banks
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Host: Tudor Dixon
Guest: Senator Jim Banks
Platform: iHeartPodcasts
In this engaging episode of the Tudor Dixon Podcast, Senator Jim Banks joins host Tudor Dixon to discuss the evolving landscape of the Republican Party, the economic dynamics of the Midwest, and the pivotal role of manufacturing and trade policies in shaping America's future. The conversation delves deep into how Indiana's strategies under Republican leadership contrast with neighboring states like Michigan, emphasizing the importance of fostering blue-collar jobs and adopting an America-first approach.
Senator Jim Banks, elected in 2024 to represent Indiana, brings a wealth of experience and a personal connection to the working-class values he champions. Growing up in a trailer park and witnessing his father's role as a union factory worker, Banks embodies the ethos of the new Republican Party focused on real people and genuine economic development.
Notable Quote:
“My dad was a union factory worker. He made axles at a factory in Fort Wayne called Dana. And my mom was here.”
— Jim Banks [04:06]
Senator Banks highlights Indiana's robust manufacturing sector, noting it has the highest number of manufacturing jobs per capita in the nation. He credits policies favoring blue-collar workers and strategic economic reforms for Indiana's success, contrasting it with Michigan's struggles under different leadership.
Notable Quote:
“Indiana has the most manufacturing jobs per capita of any state in the country.”
— Jim Banks [02:51]
Banks articulates a shift within the Republican Party towards prioritizing working-class Americans. He emphasizes that Donald Trump's leadership has revitalized the party by focusing on issues that resonate with blue-collar voters, such as tough trade policies and protecting domestic jobs.
Notable Quote:
“That is in essence the new Republican Party. When we focus on those voters, when we focus on voters like my dad, ... we have to keep our part.”
— Jim Banks [05:15]
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the impact of trade policies on manufacturing. Banks praises Trump's tariffs and America-first agenda, asserting that these measures are pivotal in bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. He cites recent investments by major companies in Indiana as evidence of the effectiveness of these policies.
Notable Quote:
“We have a strong tax base, we have the education reform efforts at our State House made our schools better across the board. We've created that type of environment.”
— Jim Banks [20:00]
Banks contrasts Indiana's proactive economic strategies with Michigan's regulatory hurdles and high energy costs. He criticizes Michigan's leadership for failing to attract and retain businesses, leading to stagnation in median incomes and economic growth.
Notable Quote:
“The Democrat regulation, the regulatory system under their rule is so abusive that no one will come to the state.”
— Tudor Dixon [25:51]
The conversation delves into tax reform, with Banks advocating for the permanent extension of tax cuts for individuals and small businesses. He critiques the previous Republican focus on corporate tax cuts, which he believes neglected the needs of working-class Americans.
Notable Quote:
“What should be our top priority are the working men and women of this country making sure that they get tax relief and that we extend it permanently.”
— Jim Banks [06:47]
Banks connects economic policies with national security, emphasizing the necessity of reducing dependence on China. He lauds Trump's efforts to shift production away from China to allies like India, framing it as a strategic move to bolster America's military and economic standing.
Notable Quote:
“President Trump is taking this moment to try to diminish that and get America back on its feet and bring these jobs back to our country so that we can be strong again.”
— Jim Banks [22:00]
Both Dixon and Banks stress the importance of active voter engagement to maintain the Republican Party's momentum. They discuss strategies to prevent disenfranchisement and ensure that the party continues to address the needs of the working class, differentiating themselves from the Democrats' focus on corporate interests and social issues.
Notable Quote:
“We can't sit back and go, oh, we've got this. Donald Trump is this hero to manufacturers. ... We have to stay out there.”
— Tudor Dixon [28:26]
In the concluding segments, Senator Banks reiterates his commitment to the new Republican ideology centered on supporting the working class and maintaining an America-first stance. He calls for continued legislative efforts to solidify these gains and prevent policy reversals by future administrations.
Notable Quote:
“We have to pass our bills and pass them into law so they can't be undone by an executive order by the next president.”
— Jim Banks [30:00]
This episode provides insightful perspectives on the transformation within the Republican Party, emphasizing the critical role of manufacturing, strategic trade policies, and unwavering support for the working class. Senator Jim Banks effectively conveys the vision of a party dedicated to economic revitalization and national strength, contrasting sharply with opposing ideologies. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the current political dynamics shaping the Midwest and the broader national landscape.
For more episodes and detailed discussions, visit tudordixonpodcast.com or find the podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.