Jon Stewart "Can't F**king Believe" Democrats Caved on the Shutdown | Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat Ryan

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: Jon Stewart “Can’t Fking Believe” Democrats Caved on the Shutdown | Rep. Chris DeLuzio & Rep. Pat Ryan**
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jon Stewart and The Daily Show team dive into the recent government shutdown and the Democrats' surprising decision to cave before achieving their main policy demands—particularly the extension of ACA tax credits. Stewart delivers his signature blend of incredulity, satire, and sharp critique at Democratic leadership, likening the situation to a sports team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Joined by Rep. Chris DeLuzio (PA) and Rep. Pat Ryan (NY)—members of the Democratic Veterans Caucus and House Armed Services Committee—the discussion shifts to the real-life impact of Congressional decisions on constituents, the military, and American veterans.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Democrats Cave on the Shutdown

[00:50–17:00]

• Main Theme: Stewart expresses disbelief that, despite recent electoral victories, Democrats ended the shutdown without securing their key demand of extending ACA tax credits—settling instead for a vague promise of a future vote.
• Mocking Leadership: Stewart lampoons Democratic resolve:
  "Democrats will not back down. Do not stop fighting. We're in this fight until we win this fight...So Democrats have three words for this. No way. Well, funny story. Yes." [01:55]
• ‘Empty Promises’ and the Reality of Congressional Procedure: Stewart sharply criticizes the value of a Senate “promise to vote”:
  "What good does a promise of a Senate vote even do for you Democrats? You don’t control the Senate…Do you even know how this shit works?" [06:15]
• Parodying ‘I’m Just a Bill’: Stewart uses the Schoolhouse Rock! "I'm Just a Bill" song to detail futility in the legislative process when you don’t control the necessary chambers. [06:40]
• Highlighting Tim Kaine and Jeanne Shaheen: Stewart points out that Democrats like Tim Kaine and Jeanne Shaheen (who once championed ACA tax credits) were among those who voted yes to end the shutdown:
  "Jeanne Shaheen decided to vote yes. That was the most weirdly coordinated bear. Not only was it coordinated, here was the most beautiful part about that boo. It started at a low timber and then it grew..." [10:30]
• On Chuck Schumer’s Leadership: Stewart accuses Schumer of orchestrating a behind-the-scenes collapse:
  "Chuck Schumer worked behind the scenes to give in to the Republicans while still protecting vulnerable Democrats, including himself." [12:10]
• Comparisons to Sports Failures: Stewart likens Dems’ performance to the New York Giants' repeated sports collapses:
  "This is a world class collapse by Democrats. It would be like being up 10 points with three minutes left to go in a game and still finding a way to miraculously lose..." [14:05]

Notable Quote

"Democrats, you sold out the entire shutdown not to get what you wanted, but for a promise to not get what you wanted. Later."
— Jon Stewart [04:56]

---

2. Impact on Constituents & the ACA Tax Credits

[17:00–23:30]

• Stewart laments the unmet promise for ACA tax credits:
  "Because it wasn’t working. It wasn’t working. He’s trying to fucking. First of all, how are we being ruled by the only old people who don't stubbornly cling to shit whether it's working or not?" [16:25]
• Disconnection from the Public: The gap between government actions and the needs of everyday people is sharply critiqued. Stewart notes:
  "This shutdown has focused America's attention away from [Trump’s] gift for distraction and onto stark actualities and seeing through many, for the first time, his bald-faced lying." [17:44]
• On Lost Opportunity: Stewart sees the shutdown as a moment where Americans finally saw through Trumpian disinformation, only to have Democrats squander the advantage:
  "Instead of pressing that advantage...the Democrats just suddenly went droids. I guess we aren't looking for those droids, but you'll help us find them later, right?" [19:31]

---

3. Interview: Reps. Chris DeLuzio & Pat Ryan

[23:31–42:00]

Initial Reactions to the Senate’s Decision

• Pat Ryan on Senate Democrats:
  "It's pathetic." [26:09] "I literally have folks in my district getting letters in the mail. Their premiums are doubling, tripling…They are like, folks understand actually what’s happening. I’ve had many folks just last weekend home say…hold your ground." [26:10]
• Chris DeLuzio’s Take:
  "There's not even an agreement to have a vote in the House. Even if they had this agreement…there is nothing making Mike Johnson give us a vote on that to extend the tax credits." [27:07]

Power, Leverage, and Party Leadership

• Pat Ryan on Tactical Weakness:
  "At least [Republicans] understand when you have power, use it. Right now, they're using it…truly for evil." [27:47]
• Stewart on Democratic Moderates:
  "The theory of their case, as far as I can tell, is people like you will lose if you stand your ground on principle…Not realizing they didn’t reach across the aisle, they surrendered across the aisle." [29:15]
• DeLuzio on Constituent Demands:
  "I don't know any constituents of ours that want us to just wilt. They want us to stand our ground for something that matters." [29:39]
• Ryan on Political Labels:
  "There's this old theory of left, right, progressive, centrist, moderate. It's bullshit. People want to know, are you going to actually fight for me when it matters or are you gonna cave?" [30:06]

Veterans’ Issues and the PACT Act

• Pat Ryan Thanking Stewart for PACT Act Advocacy:
  "You came down and destroyed Ted Cruz…a million veterans signed up after that bill. I'm telling you, I'm so happy. It would not have happened [without you]." [31:05]
• DeLuzio on Government Hostility:
  "A lot of politicians who voted to send guys like us to places like Iraq spending trillions, all of a sudden want to count pennies when it’s time to care for the veterans they sent." [32:05]

Patriotism and Political Divides

• Both guests criticize the performative patriotism of the right and stress their authenticity as veterans serving in Congress.
• Chris DeLuzio:
  "We serve with people who I think are oath breakers who are part of trying to overthrow the Constitution...So we don't take a lecture from patriotism on guys like that. No way." [33:36]

---

4. Military Budget, Defense Contractors & Corruption

[34:00–39:30]

• Veterans and Food Security:
  Pat Ryan: "We have tens of thousands of active duty service members and millions of veterans on SNAP food stamps right now in the United States of America." [35:41]
• On Defense Contractors:
  Chris DeLuzio: "There used to be 51 prime defense contractors. Back in the 90s. There were five [now]... We could spend the whole night talking about different ways we get gouged. Let's take the C17...Soap dispensers...7900% markup." [36:34]
• Lobbyist Influence and Boondoggles:
  Pat Ryan recounts lobbying pressure against efforts to get taxpayers access to intellectual property on defense equipment: "We pay them trillions of dollars and Lockheed Martin keeps the intellectual property for the stuff that our tax dollars pay for...We didn’t succeed [with our amendment] because we just got overwhelmed." [38:21] Jon Stewart: "It’s like the worst episode of Shark Tank ever." [39:17]

---

5. Final Reflections for Veterans Day

[39:52–41:21]

• DeLuzio:
  "Stand solid for a strong and funded VA that is there to take care of veterans for care that we have all earned, for those benefits that we've earned." [40:12]
• Ryan:
  "Trump ran on supporting and helping veterans and on ending the forever wars. Right? He has done the 180 degree opposite...don't send our most precious resources, our young men and women into harm’s way on some chicken hawk BS from a five-time draft dodger who does not understand what selfless service means whatsoever." [40:28]
• Stewart:
  "And hold them accountable for them. Let me feel it better myself." [41:21]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jon Stewart: "Democrats, you sold out the entire shutdown not to get what you wanted, but for a promise to not get what you wanted. Later." [04:56]
• Pat Ryan: "At least [Republicans] understand when you have power, use it. Right now, they're using it...truly for evil." [27:47]
• Chris DeLuzio: "I don't know any constituents of ours that want us to just wilt. They want us to stand our ground for something that matters." [29:39]
• Pat Ryan: "There's this old theory of left, right, progressive, centrist, moderate. It's bullshit. People want to know, are you going to actually fight for me when it matters or are you gonna cave?" [30:06]
• Chris DeLuzio: "We serve with people who I think are oath breakers...So we don't take a lecture from patriotism on guys like that. No way." [33:36]
• Pat Ryan: "We have tens of thousands of active duty service members and millions of veterans on SNAP food stamps right now in the United States of America." [35:41]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:50–10:30 | Stewart Recaps the Shutdown and Democratic Collapse
• 10:30–17:00 | Critique of Senate Democrats & Loss of Political Leverage
• 23:31–27:19 | Reps. DeLuzio & Ryan Interview: House vs. Senate Response
• 27:20–33:57 | Political Strategy, District Demands, and Genuine vs. Performative Patriotism
• 34:00–39:32 | Military Budget, Corruption, and Defense Contracting
• 39:52–41:21 | Final Thoughts for Veterans Day and the Ongoing Fight

---

Summary Conclusion

This episode offers a scathing, comedic breakdown of how Democrats, despite holding meaningful leverage from recent electoral victories and the government shutdown, caved under pressure and received only empty promises in return. Stewart and his guests, Reps. DeLuzio and Ryan, expose the deep disconnect between Capitol theatrics and the urgent needs of constituents, especially those most vulnerable or who have served the country. Criticisms of defense spending, corporate lobbying, and political cowardice are woven throughout, balanced with a call for authenticity, real representation, and accountability—especially in honoring veterans not just with words but action. The result is both an entertaining and sobering reminder of what’s really at stake in Washington.

---

Transcript

[Jon Stewart]

This holiday. Discover meaningful gifts for everyone on your list at K. Not sure where to start. Our jewelry experts are here to help you find or create the perfect gift in store or online. Book your appointment today and unwrap love this season only at k. You're listening to Comedy Central from the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, John Stewart. Hey, welcome to John show. My name is Jon Stewart. We've got an unbelievable show for you tonight. We're later on. We're going to be joined out here as Veterans Day is coming up by Representatives Chris d' Aluisio and Pat Ryan, co chairs of the Democratic Veterans Caucus. They'll be out here in a little bit. Why not? They'll be showing us how to make their favorite dishes for Veterans Day. But let's start tonight. Let's start tonight's show with the big news out of Washington on the shutdown. By the way, tonight's show will be brought to you by. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. For when the I can't believe it, Edvard Munch scream emoji doesn't quite convey how much you cannot believe it. And what you ask is it? Well, it is. The Democrats. You remember the Democrats. They shut down the government last month for very particular reasons. Any deal must secure the extension of the ACA tax credits. This is about my party saying enough is enough. Democrats will not back down. Do not stop fighting. We're in this fight until we win this fight because we know we're on the right side of this fight. It's literally life or death. So Democrats have three words for this. No way. Well, funny story. Yes. Charles Schumer's three words were no match for these five other words. Democrats cave on the shutdown. Excuse me? Cave on the shutdown. Not this forceful, young, authentic Democratic party that hangs out down by the river and curses in what appears to be a cerulean blue blazer. And I say in a way, no, they caved on the shutdown. Not even. Not even a full week removed from the best election night results they've had in years. Seven Democratic senators and in voted with their Republican counterparts to end the shutdown and reopen the government. And did they get their extended health care subsidies? Democrats wanted the deal to include extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Instead, they got a promise to vote on it and a later date. I cannot believe it. You had the wind at your back. Election victories all over the country the new Sydney Sweeney movie box office Pupkiss. Apparently her new MAGA fan base didn't show up in droves to see a biopic about a lesbian professional boxer who overcomes domestic violence to live her truth. Who could have seen that coming? Democrats. You sold out the entire shutdown not to get what you wanted, but for a promise to not get what you wanted. Later. Where in the art of war. Hold on. Where in the art of. Okay, here it is. I got it. Sun Tzu said, never press your advantage. It's unseemly. Fighting's hard. How about a snack? I can't believe. And by the way, what good does a promise of a Senate vote even do for you Democrats? You don't control the Senate. Do you even know how this shit works? Let's just say for schnicks that you managed to win a vote in the Senate, which you haven't done all year. Do you know what happens then? I need. Give me. Hold on one second. Give me the thing. I want to show I'm just a bill. Yes. I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. I can't stay mad at bill. But the point is, let's say. Let's just say you pass a bill out of the Senate that you don't control as Democrats, guess what happens then. Now I go to the House of Representatives and they vote on me. They go to the House of Representatives, but they don't vote on it because Democrats don't control the House of Representatives either. But let's live in your eight senator fantasy land. And you do. Let's say you somehow convince old Cowlick mcbabyface to hold that House of Representatives vote and you win that one as well. Guess what happens then? Well, then I'm off to the White House where I wait in a line with a lot of other bills for the President to sign. The president? Yeah, yeah. You get it past the Senate, you get it past the House, and then the President of the United States, right? You remember him? This guy. Obamacare is a disaster. Yeah, that guy, the Obamacare is a disaster guy. The guy who spent the weekend posting about how Barack Obama is collecting millions of dollars in royalties from Obamac, A fact that Trump picked up from an eight year old satire article. Democrats, you gave up the only leverage you had without getting commitments from Trump or Mike Johnson. I cannot believe it. Surely someone in the party understands that offering a vote in the Senate without a commitment that it would pass or that the House would even take it up Is an empty offer.

[Pat Ryan]

Offering a vote in the Senate without.

[Jon Stewart]

A commitment that it would pass without.

[Pat Ryan]

A commitment that the House would even take it up is an empty offer.

[Jon Stewart]

This guy gets it. Tim Kaine. Tim Kaine. You don't see him as one of the eight voting yes. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine was a yes. I can't believe it. And for what? There's gotta be someone in this party who understands what's at stake with these expiring subsidies. Senator Dean Shaheen. I had a meeting with some constituents last Friday when I was in New Hampshire. One was a man. He said, if I didn't have that insurance through the Affordable Care Act, I would not have gone to the doctor, I would not have gotten my cancer treated, and I would be dead by now. That's what this fight is about. Now, that's somebody who's not going to roll over. That is somebody who has the moral clarity. And she voted yes, didn't she? Jeanne Shaheen decided to vote yes. That was the most weirdly coordinated bear. Not only was it coordinated, here was the most beautiful part about that boot. It was. It started at a low timber and then it grew, and then a staccato gahaine. And you know what she did? That's almost worse. After a month of standing on principle because of the needs of her constituents, she now uses those same constituents as her cover for cowardice. When I talk to my constituents in New Hampshire, you know what they say to me? They say, why can't you all just work together to address the problems that are facing this country? Really? Even the cancer guy? He's saying that now. That's not what he was saying before, but now he's like, look, what I said earlier about wanting to live, I didn't know that the alternative was a spirit of bipartisan cooperation. I was just thinking, I want lungs. And by the way, doing exactly what the Republicans wanted isn't working together. That's not working together. That's just doing what? Oh, Mr. Sawyer and I worked together to paint this fence. No, he made you. And then he just jumped in at the end and was like, we can't free Jim. It's not bipartisan. Yeah, that's what happened. You don't remember the book? That's what happened. I didn't remember it either. But one of the writers, and you might be wondering to yourself there, well, where's Democratic leader Mr. No way. Chuck Schumer during all this? Well, ladies and gentlemen, he is on your social feeds. Glasses in the ready position, putting on A show Democrats have been fighting to get the Senate to address the health care crisis. This bill does nothing to ensure that that crisis is addressed. I am voting no and I will keep fighting. I don't believe this and I mean that now literally. Chuck Schumer, your protestation be not believable. Look, either all eight senators who voted to capitulate coincidentally are not up for reelection in 2026, or Chuck Schumer worked behind the scenes to give in to the Republicans while still protecting vulnerable Democrats, including himself. You know that's right. You know, humorously, after the election I mentioned to a couple of political analysts in the Afterglow Post Coital about how the Democrats were going to squander their hard earned electoral victories. And I guess the question next for both of you is how will they squander it? How? How will they piss this away? You know, the only thing I love more than seeing my face on TV is seeing it on a webcam with no filters. Talk about needing health care. My God, is jaundice contagious? What the. But it's a fair question. How would Democrats piss this away? Apparently they did it something like this acting. This is a world class collapse by Democrats. It would be like being up 10 points with three minutes left to go in a game and still finding a way to miraculously lose it for the fourth time in just one month. For those of you who don't follow the New York Football Giants because let's say you value your time on this earth, this is a football team that on three separate occasions this season has blown games that statistically speaking, based on their size of elites vis a vis the amount of time left in the athletic contest, they had a 95 to 99% chance of winning. I refer you, for instance, to this win probability chart from Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears where you can see the New York Giants chance of victory climbs to 97% before they trip on their own dicks and fall down a flight of stairs. And again, I don't want to get too inside football here, but you're not supposed to do that. I have not had a good weekend. Now, for those of you who believe that professional sports and politics are an inept comparative not only did the Democrats and Giants lose in the same I can't believe it manner, they sound the same doing it. It's natural and appropriate to feel deep disappointment, disappointing, disappointing outcome. It was not the result many of us wanted. Want to get the results that you hoped for and came up short. It never feels good to come up short. We came up short.

[Pat Ryan]

And that was a.

[Jon Stewart]

That was a tough one. You learn and you prepare to do better in the future. You're always learning and trying to be better. Well, not enough wins. Not enough wins. We will win. We will win.

[Chris DeLuzio]

We.

[Jon Stewart]

We won't rest. We won't rest. Inspired yet? So please, Democrats, I do not understand. Explain this to me like I eat with my feet. Why. How do you explain, though, to your constituents why it was worth it to put up this fight for so long when in the end you did not get your key demand? Because it wasn't working. It wasn't working. He's trying to fucking. First of all, how are we being ruled by the only old people who don't stubbornly cling to shit whether it's working or not? That's the whole point of being an old person. What, what kind of an old person are you? Well, maybe it is time to give up my driver's license. I mean, to be fair, I am a menace. And second of all, it was working. It was working. Never, never, never has the gap between this administration and the people it claims to serve been so disgustingly visible than during this shutdown this week. While the Trump administration was at the Supreme Court demanding that the court let them withhold food stamps from hungry Americans, Trump himself was at Mar a Lago with an all you can eat shrimp and synchronized swimming buffet while the President of Argentina danced the night away, securing the $20 billion we recently gave his country. And I gotta say, for $20 billion, you'd think he'd dance better than leprechaun jerking. By the way, apologies to the elephant. I am not trying to disrespect. Probably an elephant watching that, going like, who's, Whoa, what kind of an elephant dick. Point is this, don't get distracted. Americans were finally seeing the gap between how Donald Trump bends reality and actual day to day reality. This shutdown has focused America's attention away from his gift for distraction and onto stark actualities and seeing through many for the first time, his bald faced lying. Can you just answer that question? That tariffs have led to inflation. They have led to an increase in costs. They haven't led to inflation. We have no inflation. We have no inflation. Except that we have inflation and normally we have no inflation. Goes the way of they're eating the cats and dogs and I'm suing Rupert Murdoch because I'm not on the Epstein list. And all of the other lies that Trump deported in his reality distortion arsenal. But miracle of miracles, during the shutdown, the old songs ain't hitting like they used to. Football fans loudly booed as Trump was shown on the Jumbotron during halftime at the Lions and Commanders game. I am seeing your name. Do you know how unpopular you have to be to be booed by football fans while swearing in troops? And by the way, not just any football fans. Football fans who still use the term Redskins and not even with respect to the team, just casually. This is what the Democrats have squandered. A country finally shaking off Trump's Jedi mind tricks and saying, no, these are the droids we're looking for. And instead of pressing that advantage, perhaps neutralizing Trump's reality distortion field for good, the Democrats just suddenly went droids. I guess we aren't looking for those droids, but you'll help us find them later, right? They squandered their leverage, sapped their voters enthusiasm and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. And it's just too bad that we are now stuck with these leaders that we have on that side and there's nothing that can be done about it. This just in. The New York Giants have just fired head coach Brian Gabriel. So you're saying there's a chant when we come back, Congressman Chris d' Aluisio and Congressman Pat Ryan will be joining us. Don't go away. When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] what about your program tonight? My guests are ARAF veterans who now serve in Congress and are members of the House Armed Services Committee. Please welcome to the show. Representatives Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania and Pat Ryan of New York. Come on, gentlemen. Welcome to the program.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you. Thank you for coming. We want to have you guys on you. If Veterans Day is tomorrow and wanted to see you guys. I did. Also. I'd be remiss by asking you guys. The Senate caved. The House Democrats did not.

[Pat Ryan]

No.

[Jon Stewart]

Is there any kind of, I don't know where you guys connect in the, whatever representative's gym or any of that kind of thing. When you walk by Schumer, is there ever any, you know, pussy. You know.

[Chris DeLuzio]

There may be a little more this week.

[Jon Stewart]

All right.

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

How now the House has not been in session at all since the shutdown.

[Pat Ryan]

It's been like seven. Seven weeks. Pathetic.

[Jon Stewart]

Have you guys spent your time in Washington or just back in your districts?

[Chris DeLuzio]

Back and forth. And we're on the Armed Services Committee, so we've had some work to do down there, but we haven't had votes since the middle of September.

[Jon Stewart]

No votes.

[Chris DeLuzio]

No votes.

[Jon Stewart]

And, you know, the big. Obviously, the conspiracy theory is, oh, Mike Johnson doesn't want to swear in the representative who was from Arizona, because that's the vote that makes it so that they have to then vote on releasing the Epstein files. Is that. I mean, that's. Or is that. Is that plot? You don't have to answer this 100%. It's plausible.

[Pat Ryan]

More than plausible. They're waiting to run out the clock. There's another special election happening in Tennessee, and if that guy gets sworn in with Adelita Grijalva from Arizona, then it neutralizes the numbers. So they are running. Yes.

[Jon Stewart]

Agree.

[Pat Ryan]

Agree with the response.

[Jon Stewart]

You guys are like some sort of weird old timey Greek chorus. They're like. It's like in a peanut cartoon where every now and then you cut to the audience and they're like, yay. Boom. Yeah, they're all doing something. Let me ask you this. How surprised were you, how taken off guard were you by the developments of this weekend from the Senate? Did it take you off guard?

[Chris DeLuzio]

I wish I could say it did. And yet I think this is what we've come to expect from this leadership and from what the Senate's been doing. They did not stand their ground. And it's a deal that. I think it's a bad deal. I think it's weak.

[Jon Stewart]

It doesn't even seem like a deal. It seems like a nothing.

[Pat Ryan]

It's pathetic.

[Jon Stewart]

I mean.

[Pat Ryan]

I mean, I literally have folks in my district getting letters in the mail. Their premiums are doubling, tripling. And they are like, folks understand actually what's happening. I've had many folks just last weekend home say thank, like, hold your ground.

[Jon Stewart]

Right?

[Pat Ryan]

Hold your ground. We know this is hard. We know it's complicated, but we. We literally cannot afford to pay triple. I mean, it's already way too high as it is. So.

[Jon Stewart]

And what gives them any confidence that the Republicans will all of a sudden go like, oh, okay, you reopened it. So now we're going to reach across the aisle in bipartisan agreement. They haven't done it once. They've run the table. You know, 74, 75 million Americans voted for the Democrats. They have zero representation in Senate, House Judiciary and Executive. You guys in the House, it's the closest that I can remember it being. And yet you're not allowed to bring up any votes, don't have any committee chairmanships. It's unconscionable.

[Chris DeLuzio]

And there's not even an agreement to have a vote in the House. Even if they had this agreement, there was going to be a vote in the Senate and somehow passed. There is nothing making Mike Johnson give us a vote on that to extend the tax credits.

[Jon Stewart]

None of it.

[Chris DeLuzio]

To me, I mean, that on its own, tells you this is a weak deal for something. We were fighting for our constituents in their health care.

[Pat Ryan]

And I think we both learned, me in the superior service of the Army.

[Chris DeLuzio]

The Navy guy, him in the Navy.

[Jon Stewart]

You had no idea what was going on backstage between these two. We got. We got army giving me swag on Army. We got Navy giving me swag on Army. I turn around, noogies, headlocks.

[Pat Ryan]

It was terrible. We both learned when in charge, take charge.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Pat Ryan]

And I strongly disagree with everything that the Republicans are doing, but at least they understand when you have power, use it. Right now, they're using it.

[Jon Stewart]

Use their leverage.

[Pat Ryan]

They're using it truly for evil.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Pat Ryan]

But we have to understand, I think we get this. A lot of our younger colleagues, frankly, get this. When in charge, take charge. Like, let's be clear what we're against, but also make clear what we're gonna fight for when we're back and when it's gonna be.

[Chris DeLuzio]

When.

[Pat Ryan]

When we're gonna be back in charge.

[Jon Stewart]

I don't doubt that for a second. What astonishes me, I think the space was created for Donald Trump because of the disconnect between the sort of insulated world of Washington, the disconnect between the lawmakers and the needs of the people they purport to represent. I think that gap is what allowed his rise, that dissatisfaction. To see these folks in Senate leadership not understand that, honestly, I think might be the most shocking part of this equation. And does the leadership in the House understand that? Do you deal with the Senate at all?

[Chris DeLuzio]

Look, our states are both different, Right. And so there's some of it.

[Jon Stewart]

Pennsylvania, New York, but both swing states. You guys are not in deep blue areas.

[Pat Ryan]

Our district's. No. We're most competitive.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, right.

[Chris DeLuzio]

The majority in the House runs through whether we can hold and win in these districts, and we do. And by the way, we know how to win in tough districts.

[Pat Ryan]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

But the theory of their case, as far as I can tell, is people like you will lose if you stand your ground on principle. That you have to be the so called moderate centrist that is going to reach across the aisle. Not realizing they didn't reach across the aisle, they surrendered across the aisle.

[Chris DeLuzio]

I don't know any constituents of ours that want us to just wilt. They want us to stand our ground for something that matters. Our health care of our, of our region and yours. Like people's health care is a real thing that is bankrupting families. They're going to roll the dice on buying a, paying for a policy they may not be able to afford or maybe showing up in the emergency room because they skipped out on health care.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Chris DeLuzio]

That is something they want us to fight for. And we have been. And to see what happened on the other, the other side in the Senate is just, it's weak.

[Pat Ryan]

And I think like there's this old theory of left, right, progressive, centrist, moderate. It's bullshit.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Pat Ryan]

People want to know, are you going to actually fight for me when it matters or are you gonna cave? And that is the thing that matters, especially in this moment. But the folks that have been in the bubble of D.C. for longer than some of us have been around, they don't.

[Jon Stewart]

Longer than even I've been around. I'll be honest with you. I could go down there and kick their asses physically. Many of them are hollow like birds.

[Pat Ryan]

If you will allow me. I think, please. And you have. And I actually like coming into Veterans Day tomorrow.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Pat Ryan]

I just want to like personally your fight for the PACT act. You came down and destroyed Ted Cruz.

[Jon Stewart]

Shamed those Republicans.

[Pat Ryan]

And I'm telling you, I had not. Both of us had toxic exposures in our service.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh really?

[Pat Ryan]

And I had not gone to the VA for over a decade. And when the PACT act finally passed.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh wow.

[Pat Ryan]

Really meant a lot to me. It meant a lot to, you know, a million veterans signed up after that bill. I'm telling you, I'm so happy. It would not have happened.

[Jon Stewart]

It's a fantastic program. And are they, you know, and thank you both for, for signing up for that duty. Because that's the thing. And veterans, I think understand this in a way that maybe some of the legislators don't. Because when you guys came home, the idea that you had to fight for benefits that you had earned, a lot of Americans are all of a sudden realizing, oh shit, the government is antagonistic. Not just agnostic to my needs, antagonistic. And that's something that I think I found with the veteran communities. It was really dispiriting for them. And I don't know if you guys felt that way, but that the government's antagonistic.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Well, and look, it's not just. It's tough to get into the va and the PACT act made that better. And I echo what Pat said. Thank you for your work to help make it happen. You know, a lot of politicians who voted to send guys like us to places like Iraq spending trillions, all of a sudden want to count pennies when it's time to care for the veterans they sent to fight, man.

[Jon Stewart]

You know, that's why.

[Chris DeLuzio]

And it's, look, it's a lot of the punishment politicians we are battling with now in Washington. Right. Are people who wrap themselves in the flag and they're, you know, the chicken hawks and the draft dodgers vote for a war and then won't vote to fund the health care for the guys they sent the fight. That's who we're up against.

[Jon Stewart]

It's. It's wild. It must be frustrating. So, and this is interesting for you guys because you are in those swing districts, you guys serve the idea that somehow Democrats have to prove their love of country versus this sort of paper patriotism that I see on the right, it's performative oftentimes. And the idea that the onus is on you guys. Do you feel that as well?

[Chris DeLuzio]

I mean, I think people on the right, who we run against and who fund elections against us would have that. I know both of us, we take no lecture from anyone who, number one, tried to overthrow the government on January 6th.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, okay, sure. A little blick. A little blick.

[Pat Ryan]

The vast majority of them did.

[Jon Stewart]

Right, Right.

[Chris DeLuzio]

And we serve with people who I think are oath breakers who are part of trying to overthrow the Constitution.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Chris DeLuzio]

There's a guy in Pennsylvania, a member of Congress who was central to that scheme, voted against certifying the results in Pennsylvania, a congressman named Scott Perry who went on some radio interview and said that Democrats hate the military, said the guys and gals who served who then go into elected office did it for just a credential. It's an oath breaker. So we don't take a lecture from patriotism on guys like that. No way.

[Jon Stewart]

Let me ask you a question. When you're on the retreat for Pennsylvania House of Representative lawmakers and you guys are in the tents at night, does that. How personal does this get? Is it hard when you have somebody that's saying something like that along you and your feelings about that are clear? How personal have these divisions gotten?

[Chris DeLuzio]

I think probably in Olden days you'd have a scotch and work it out. Well, I decided I'm going to the guy's district, holding a press conference and coming for a seat.

[Jon Stewart]

So that's the way to run it. Now let's get to some of the priorities. I'm fascinated now that so much of the talk about these programs, whether it be SNAP program or these things that for the most part are people that work jobs or are elderly or are disabled or are children and veterans. And veterans, the vast majority are that there's a very small percentage, some say 5%, 6% of able bodied Americans who are getting these things. But we don't know what their situation is. They could be felons who have trouble getting work. Whatever it is that seems to be for them. The core of their. This is the tragedy of this country is these moochers and this is the waste, fraud and abuse in America. And this is what we have to stop. Yet they hand a trillion dollars to a defense department that's never passed an audit. And the rank and file that you guys know this. Suffer from oftentimes food insecurity themselves that are serving in the military. How the does that compute?

[Pat Ryan]

It just for veterans. We have tens of thousands of active duty service members and millions of veterans on SNAP food stamps right now in the United States of America, number one. Number two, as we speak the President of the United States is actively suing in the Supreme Court to block food going to Those veterans and 42 million Americans, one in eight people.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Yeah, it's.

[Pat Ryan]

And they're the patriots. They're the ones that stand up for liberty and justice for all. It is bullshit.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

No, the whole thing is so mind boggling. How. What is the pressure? You know, in terms of that military budget. Like what is the. Where does the pressure come. Is it defense contractors? Who is it that lays the hammer on everybody to get these things through?

[Chris DeLuzio]

Well, look, there's very little competition. There used to be 51 prime defense contractors. Back in the 90s there were five.

[Jon Stewart]

Now five. Five.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Okay. And I could cite. We could spend the whole night talking about different ways we get gouged. Let's take the C17. Okay. Transport aircraft.

[Jon Stewart]

Sure.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Soap dispensers. The report that we saw 7900% markup on soap dispensers.

[Pat Ryan]

Okay?

[Chris DeLuzio]

So imagine what happened there with everything.

[Jon Stewart]

Else I have flown on a C17. My hands were never cleaner.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Think about the cost of. We are all paying for that.

[Jon Stewart]

Here's the crazy thing about a C17 and you guys know like it's this giant cargo plane and you fly in it and there's no. Like, they didn't put up paneling. Like, sound like. We went on a USO tour in a C17 and they were like, you know, bring a winter coat and shorts. Like they said, the weather changes in a C17 depending on the altitude you're at.

[Pat Ryan]

I never even knew you could actually use the bat in a scene like I never had. What were you doing?

[Chris DeLuzio]

I held it.

[Pat Ryan]

No, I mean. But you hit on something else, though, John, which is that it is a corrupt system. Yes, there are. These five companies have tremendous power of their purse after Citizens United in particular, they pour money in. And both of us have refused to take corporate PAC money for this exact reason.

[Jon Stewart]

And it puts you at a disadvantage.

[Pat Ryan]

It doesn't, though, Honestly, it doesn't because. Because one, we can both sleep at night and know we're doing the right thing. But two, our constituents actually understand how corrupt the system is and they want leaders that are going to actually stand up to that. So when. I mean, I actually remember in the armed services committee two years ago, the F35 jet program is probably the biggest boondoggle of my lifetime.

[Jon Stewart]

2.7 trillion, something like that.

[Pat Ryan]

It's insane. And their operational readiness rate is like 30%. And so a bunch of us younger members, and it was actually bipartisan, all veterans who had served were saying, this is crazy. We have to get leverage on Lockheed Martin, who is the company. The amount of like swarm of lobbyists that descended on us as we tried to ram through this amendment. And we didn't succeed in getting it through because we just got overwhelmed. Now we've continued the fight, but that's just one example.

[Jon Stewart]

Now what was the amendment attempting to do?

[Pat Ryan]

So specifically saying, and this is the crazy part, we pay them trillions of dollars and Lockheed Martin keeps the intellectual property for the stuff that our tax dollars pay for. So all the amendment did was say, we're paying you an ungodly amount of money. We Americans should own the intellectual property that we're paying you for. And that was not able to be passed through.

[Jon Stewart]

This is. It's like the worst episode of Shark Tank ever. What do I get for the trillion? I'm asking for a trillion dollars for my company. And you don't get anything. Yeah.

[Chris DeLuzio]

Yes.

[Jon Stewart]

You get planes that don't actually work and you don't own them.

[Chris DeLuzio]

And like, this problem is a. It plays out on a bunch of systems and you name it, where the troops can't even fix their own stuff because of these contracts where it's got to be repaired by the company or their subcontractor. It costs the public a lot of money. It hurts readiness for the troops because they again, they can't fix stuff that they would know how to do because of these contracts.

[Jon Stewart]

So this Veterans Day coming up, instead of anything performative, what do you want to say to the American people? What do you ask of the American people for those that have been brave enough to sign up to take that oath to do that, those who are doing it actively and those who have done it in the past, what would you say?

[Chris DeLuzio]

Look, stand solid for a strong and funded VA that is there to take care of veterans for care that we have all earned, for those benefits that we've earned. Let's make sure the VA is strong and there for veterans all over the country.

[Pat Ryan]

Agree with that. And I have to say Trump ran on supporting and helping veterans and on ending the forever wars. Right? He has done the 180 degree opposite. He has fired 80,000 people at the VA. In my own VA, 20 beds closed that deal with mental health crisis and addiction recovery closed that we've been fighting for to get reopened. And that, you know, and that happened, I know in Pittsburgh. It happened around the country. And then I think the most serious thing I would say to the country is don't send our most precious resources, our young men and women into harm's way on some chicken hawk BS from a 5 time draft dodger who does not understand what selfless service means whatsoever.

[Jon Stewart]

And hold them accountable for them. Let me feel it better myself. Gentlemen, thank you, Representative Pat Ryan, Representative Chris d'. Aluzio. We're gonna take a quick break. We'll be right back after this. Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 247 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time to with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care. Everybody. That's our show for tonight. But before we go, we're going to check in with your host for the rest of the week, Mr. Josh Johnson. Josh. It's Josh Johnson. Josh Johnson, what do you got planned for us for the week? Well, we will be diving into more of these crazy airplane cancellation stories. They say that even after the shutdown ends, it could take weeks to get back to normal. And, I mean, if this isn't fixed soon, then who will I spend Thanksgiving with? Well, Josh, I'm sure it's gonna be fixed. They said it just a couple of weeks, you're not probably gonna have to worry about it. So I. Yeah, but what if it's not? I mean, I'll need to find someone local to spend. Give me your hand. Spend Thanksgiving with maybe one of my lovely Daily show coworkers. All right. You can come to my house for Thanksgiving if you want. That's your house? Jewish people do Thanksgiving. You do. You're not gonna have ham, though? No, we're not gonna have ham. No, I was talking about Ronny Chieng. I heard he got good. I was hoping you could ask him for me. Cause he can't say no. You're his boss.

[Chris DeLuzio]

All right.

[Jon Stewart]

I'll do my best. Josh Johnson, everybody. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus, this has been a Comedy Central podcast.