Tuesday special elections test voter anger at Trump, Musk

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Tuesday Special Elections Test Voter Anger at Trump, Musk"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
• Host: Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC
• Episode: Tuesday Special Elections Test Voter Anger at Trump, Musk
• Release Date: April 1, 2025
• Description: Lawrence O'Donnell leverages his extensive experience to delve into the most pressing political narratives, offering weekly insights into the nation's political landscape.

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1. Introduction

In this episode of "The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell," host Lawrence O'Donnell explores the mounting voter frustration directed towards former President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk, particularly in the context of upcoming special elections. The discussion centers on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, where both Trump and Musk are perceived to exert significant influence, potentially undermining democratic processes.

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2. Senator Cory Booker's Plea on the Senate Floor

The episode opens with a critical moment from the Senate floor, where Senator Cory Booker passionately addresses the nation’s crises:

Senator Cory Booker (00:55): "In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans... These are not normal times in America and they should not be treated as such."

Booker's speech emphasizes the dire threats to American democracy and calls for collective action, encapsulating his message with the poignant phrase:

Senator Cory Booker (02:14): "If it is to be, it is up to me."

He urges citizens to reflect on their role during national crises, questioning their participation and urging proactive engagement.

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3. Elon Musk's Influence in Wisconsin's Special Election

Lawrence O'Donnell transitions to the significant involvement of Elon Musk in Wisconsin's Supreme Court election:

Anchor (02:15): "We are less than 10 hours from polls opening in the state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, where Elon Musk is on the ballot. Not literally on the ballot, but you wouldn't know from Musk's rally this weekend in Green Bay."

Musk’s rally garnered attention by distributing substantial monetary incentives to voters opposing activist judges, sparking accusations of attempting to "buy" the election:

Voter (03:35): "He's trying to buy the election. It's illegal."

Political analysts and voters express skepticism and concern over Musk’s motives, highlighting his influence as the world's richest individual leveraging his wealth to sway judicial outcomes.

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4. Voter Sentiment and Representative Mark Pocan’s Insights

Representative Mark Pocan provides a deep dive into voter anxieties and the Democratic response:

Representative Mark Pocan (09:25): "People are really concerned. They're afraid they're going to lose their healthcare through Medicaid and through the Affordable Care Act... People are, to put it bluntly, pissed."

Pocan underscores the populace's fear of policy reversals under Trump and Musk's influence, particularly focusing on healthcare, education, and economic stability. He predicts that Musk’s overt meddling will likely backfire, galvanizing voter opposition against perceived oligarchic interference.

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5. Attacks on the Judiciary and Democratic Responses

The conversation shifts to the Republican-led attacks on federal judges, aiming to undermine judicial independence:

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (15:00): "It's an effort to sow discontent among the public, to discredit these judges in the eyes of the public... when they delegitimize the judiciary, everything crumbles."

Melissa Murray, legal analyst, elaborates on the implications of these attacks, emphasizing the judiciary's critical role as a check on executive power. The discussion highlights the Democrats' strategy to restore and protect judicial legitimacy amidst increasing political pressure.

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6. Republican Strategies and Democratic Countermeasures

Lawrence O'Donnell draws parallels between Trump’s tactics and historical disinformation campaigns:

Congressman Eric Swalwell (17:18): "We need democracy to live long enough to live forever... If he keeps delegitimizing judges, we need to know what the judges are willing to do."

Swalwell emphasizes the necessity for clear consequences against attempts to undermine democratic institutions. The dialogue reflects a broader concern about maintaining the integrity of the judicial system against manipulative political maneuvers.

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7. National Implications and Urgency for Democratic Action

The urgency of addressing these democratic threats is a recurring theme:

Representative Mark Pocan (11:45): "We have to fight. People want us to defend American values, stand up against an unelected billionaire and a president who thinks he's king."

Pocan calls for a unified Democratic front to oppose the consolidation of power by Trump and Musk, advocating for policies that protect vulnerable populations and uphold democratic norms.

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8. Colonel Pam Stevenson’s Senate Campaign in Kentucky

A pivotal segment features Colonel Pam Stevenson, a Democratic candidate aiming to replace retiring Senator Mitch McConnell:

Colonel Pam Stevenson (39:47): "I was running for the United States Senate because this administration is coming after all of it."

Stevenson outlines her platform focused on healthcare, education, and veteran support, positioning herself as a counterbalance to the entrenched Republican leadership. Her campaign strategy leverages widespread voter discontent with Trump and McConnell's legacy, aiming to make significant gains in the Kentucky Senate race.

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9. Concluding Remarks and Future Outlook

As the episode wraps up, Lawrence O'Donnell reinforces the theme that America is at a crossroads:

Anchor (45:23): "These are not normal times. That is tonight's last word. Lawrence will be back tomorrow."

The discussion sets the stage for ongoing coverage of the evolving political battle, emphasizing the critical nature of the special elections in determining the future trajectory of American democracy.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Senator Cory Booker (00:55): "These are not normal times in America and they should not be treated as such."
• Senator Cory Booker (02:14): "If it is to be, it is up to me."
• Voter (03:35): "He's trying to buy the election. It's illegal."
• Representative Mark Pocan (09:25): "People are, to put it bluntly, pissed."
• Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (15:00): "It's an effort to sow discontent among the public, to discredit these judges in the eyes of the public."
• Congressman Eric Swalwell (17:18): "We need democracy to live long enough to live forever."
• Representative Mark Pocan (11:45): "We have to fight. People want us to defend American values..."
• Colonel Pam Stevenson (39:47): "I was running for the United States Senate because this administration is coming after all of it."

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Conclusion

This episode of "The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell" provides a comprehensive analysis of the intersection between voter anger, political maneuvering by Trump and Musk, and the broader implications for American democracy. Through incisive interviews and critical discussions, Lawrence O'Donnell underscores the urgent need for democratic resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Transcript

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[Anchor]

Have breaking news at this hour. Senator Cory Booker has just started his fourth hour of disrupting business as usual on the Senate floor. Yes, there's Senator Booker right there. He's a member of the Judiciary Committee and he rose just after 7pm Eastern to speak out. And here's why.

[Senator Cory Booker]

In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans. Safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy, and even our aspirations as a people for, from our highest offices, a sense of common decency. These are not normal times in America and they should not be treated as such. The threats to American people and American democracy are grave and urgent and we all must do more. We all must do more against them. But those 10 words, if it is to be, it is up to me. All of us have to think of those 10 words, 10 two letter words. If it is to be. If it is up to me. Because I believe generations from now will look back at this moment and have a single question. Where were you? Where were you when our country was in crisis and when American people were asking for help? Help me. Help me. Did we speak up?

[Anchor]

Did we speak up? If it is to be, it is up to me. The threats to American democracy are grave and Senator Booker hadn't even mentioned Elon Musk. Tonight. We are less than 10 hours from polls opening in the state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, where Elon Musk is on the ballot. Not literally on the ballot, but you wouldn't know from Musk's rally this weekend in Green Bay. What's happening on Tuesday is a vote for which party controls the U.S. house of Representatives. That is why it is so significant. And whichever party controls the House, it to a significant degree controls the country, which then steers the course of Western civilization. So it's like, I feel like this is one of those things that may not seem that it's going to affect.

[Political Analyst]

The entire destiny of humanity, but I think it will.

[Anchor]

See, Elon Musk was there in Wisconsin this weekend, at a rally of about 2,000 people, he wore a Green Bay packers cheesehead hat and gave out two more $1 million checks to voters who signed a petition against activist judges, including the chairman of the Wisconsin College Republicans. Now, some Wisconsin voters, they are not buying must stunt.

[Voter]

He's trying to buy the election.

[Political Analyst]

He's trying to pay people to vote.

[Voter]

It's illegal.

[Anchor]

He can't be doing it.

[Voter]

It needs to be stopped. It's just a political move to try to advance his own, his own agenda.

[Anchor]

He's the richest man in the world. He's got endless amounts of money. Who else is he gonna try and buy next? Who is he going to try and buy next? That's from the mouths of ordinary voters. Now, while Musk wants us to think he's the one running for Supreme Court in Wisconsin, he isn't. On the ballot is liberal candidate, former prosecutor and current county judge Susan Crawford, and conservative candidate Brad Schwimmel, who is the former Wisconsin State Attorney General, who's also now a county judge. Here's what both of the candidates said about Musk. You said this is a campaign essentially against Elon Musk, that you're fighting. Well, it sure feels like it some days.

[Voter]

Elon Musk is coming into the state.

[Anchor]

Of Wisconsin to try to buy a.

[Political Analyst]

Seat on a Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. I think people across the country should.

[Representative Mark Pocan]

Be pretty worried about that.

[Voter]

He can do whatever he wants with his money. That's his money.

[Representative Mark Pocan]

It's not my business. If there's a problem with this, that's somebody else's problem to work out. It's not mine.

[Anchor]

It's not my business.

[Political Analyst]

Hmm.

[Anchor]

A sitting judge. It's not my business. Okay, you know what? If Elon Musk's meddling was popular with voters, do you think that the Republican he's supporting will be responding to opportunities to talk about Musk with lame dodges like it's not my business. That's what's being exposed in these special election campaigns and in the town halls Democrats are holding across the country. Elon Musk may look invincible in his bro social media bubble, but in the real world, it is very different. Just ask Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, who held a town hall in Indiana this weekend. Will you demand the immediate resignation of Pete Hetsag?

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

No, I would not demand their resignation.

[Voter]

My question is actually related to all of the immigrants that are being rounded up and deported. Are they entitled to due process?

[Anchor]

A lot of these people, what President.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

Trump did it last time when he tried. If you seek asylum, wait in the.

[Anchor]

Other country, not get it here in the country.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

So there is, there is no diploma. You violated the law.

[Anchor]

Period.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

You violated the law. If you violated the law.

[Anchor]

That was the suburbs of Indianapolis, folks. And let me just tell you, it was a ruby red district, Indiana's congressional fifth. It is not, it is not a bastion of Democratic liberalism. But you see, this is the way make the Republicans meet reality, the voters, the reality of the spending cuts and their impact on state and local governments, on people. Senator Booker read letters from his constituents tonight.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Sally and Mike. We rely on Medicaid for our two adult children with disabilities for long term care. Especially for my daughter who will just, who just finished her two and a half year chemo treatment regime. We will need it for monthly checkups and prevention of a relapse. We use the funding to provide the much needed care she needs at home. We also have 90 plus year old parents who need Medicaid in order to survive. We are the real sandwich generation caring for two adult children with special needs and two very elderly parents who couldn't survive on their own. Please do everything in your power to help fund and not cut Medicaid in any way. Thank you for your time and your commitment helping the more vulnerable population. I mean, Sally and Mike, you're not alone. That sandwich generation taking care of children and parents. You're taking care of adult children.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

And.

[Senator Cory Booker]

90 plus year old parents. I hear you. I hear you, Judith. She goes right to the point. Please stop Trump. Please stop Trump. Now he is going after Medicaid. I have an adult severely autistic granddaughter who relies on Medicaid for her special needs program. A country is judged by how it meets the needs of the weakest people. She writes. Please stop him. I want to read your words again, Judith. A country is judged by how it meets the needs of the weakest people. A country is judged by by how it meets the needs of the weakest people.

[Anchor]

We are continuing to watch Senator Booker's speech and we will bring you more later. But first, joining us now is Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan. He serves on the Appropriations Committee and is co chair of the Labor Caucus. He held a town hall on Friday. Okay, Congressman, thank you for being here tonight. What did you hear from the voters in your district?

[Representative Mark Pocan]

Well, thank you, Simone. You know, people are really concerned. They're afraid they're going to lose their health care through Medicaid and through the Affordable Care Act. They're afraid they're going to lose food subsidies for people who are less well off. They're afraid they're losing funding for education. They're afraid they're losing many of the things that people in the middle class and aspiring to be in the middle class have benefited from in this country simply because Elon Musk and Donald Trump want a tax break. So people are, to put it bluntly, pissed. They're nervous and they want to speak out and they want someone to listen to them. And I've seen that at every town hall I've done this year and I've done quite a few.

[Anchor]

You know, I was on the train today and it really struck me how so many people are paying attention. People are very tuned in. And I could imagine folks are hyper tuned in. Given the election in Wisconsin on tomorrow, what is the feeling on the ground and what is just your take on the fact that Elon Musk is a key player, a central figure, if you will, in this Supreme Court election?

[Representative Mark Pocan]

I think that's going to backfire. You know, Elon Musk is this unelected billionaire who's going around taking away programs from people, firing people. He's kind of a central casting villain in many ways. And now he's coming to Wisconsin, spent $20 million on behalf of the conservative Supreme Court justice candidate and just gave away a couple million dollars in this kind of election scheme. Look, Wisconsin's a very fair state. You know, we're so ethical that when I was in the legislature, you couldn't even take a cup of coffee from a lobbyist as the state legislature, not even a cup of coffee. And here you got a guy spending billions of dollars and he's not from Wisconsin. I think it's going to backfire. People are very upset with what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing. They don't want some outsider coming in trying to buy a Supreme Court justice. And I think come tomorrow, people are going to speak out.

[Anchor]

You know, to your point, Trump won about 90, 49.6% of the vote in Wisconsin. I am struck by the split screen tonight on the eve of this election. You've got Senator Cory Booker, Senator, holding court in the United States Senate for as long as he's physically able. He said he rises tonight because our nation is in a crisis. Do you share that concern, Congressman? And if so, what is your message to the voters of your state tomorrow?

[Representative Mark Pocan]

Yeah, absolutely, I share that concern. And that is the biggest thing we have for people right now. They're just concerned about what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing to this country. So whether it be what Senator Booker is doing right now and very much appreciated at the Senate, whether it's us doing town halls and neighboring Republican districts because they're all hiding in their basements and afraid to talk to their constituents and admit they're going to cut their Medicaid. This is what we need to do. We have to fight. People want us to defend American values, stand up against an unelected billionaire and a president who thinks he's king. And when you do that, that's what people are asking for in these town halls. They just want to be heard. They just want to know that this country won't change in a negative way just for the richest and for the billionaire class. This really is oligarchs versus the rest of us.

[Anchor]

Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan, thank you very much for your time tonight. Joining us now are Congressman Eric Swalwell of California, who also sits on the Judiciary Committee, and Melissa Murray, professor of law at New York University. She is also an MSNBC legal analyst. Rev Swalwell, Not Normal times. Senator Booker quoted noted. If it is to be, it is up to me. Not Normal Times. Elon Musk out here trying to buy a state Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin. House Republicans plotting about federal judges. What is the Judiciary Committee planning tomorrow?

[Congressman Eric Swalwell]

We are going to show that this is nothing. This has nothing to do with any philosophy around the judiciary or our Constitution. It's just a power grab. These guys want to impeach judges who disagree with Donald Trump, period. It doesn't even matter if they were appointed by Donald Trump. And that exact philosophy goes completely against how this country was founded and how this country has continued and endured for 250 years. And so, yes, we're going to call it out. But I just want to give, you know, credit to Senator Booker because when I have town halls in my district or around the country, people are saying to me, I don't feel safe. And what are you willing to do to make me feel safer? And what he's doing right now by disrupting business as usual in the Senate is he's going one rung higher than he or any other senator has typically been willing to go. And that's what we all have to do. Because if we show a fight inside the Congress, people outside the Congress, they'll go one rung higher in their own lives to save our burning democracy.

[Anchor]

You know, Melissa, this hearing, this hearing tomorrow from the Judiciary Committee, and we should note it is the chair, Jim Jordan, that called this specifically to talk about ways to rein in federal judges whose rulings are unfavorable to Donald Trump. That's just what it is, period. And this seems crazy to me. And I think about the letter that Senator Booker just read from Judith that said a country is judged by how it meets the needs of its weakest people. Please stop him, Melissa. My earring, just my earring is like, stop him. What is your response to the Republicans attacks on federal judges?

[Voter]

So I think there are a number of different things you could draw from the Republican attack, Simone. So, one, there's this effort to impeach these federal judges who have stood up to the Trump administration and called out these actions for what they are, illegal, lawless, unconstitutional, anti democratic. And they have been faced with calls for impeachment. These calls for impeachment are not likely to work, as we saw with the impeachments of President Trump. It's very unlikely that they, even if they proceeded through the House with the majority, that they could get a super majority in the Senate to convict. So that's not what's going on here. Like, they have no way of holding these judges to account through the impeachment process. So what I think is going on here is that this is an effort to sow discontent among the public, to discredit these judges in the eyes of the public, so that ultimately you can either have stochastic violence against these judges. That is a very real threat that we've seen, and we've already seen it happen with the family of Judge Esther Salas in New Jersey. And also just generally, when this administration criticizes these judges, criticizes the decisions, you'll have a public that is prepared and receptive to believe that. And that's critically important for the judiciary, because unlike Congress, it doesn't have the power of the purse. It can't withhold funds. Unlike the president, it doesn't have the power of the sword. All the judiciary has to make us obey is the fact of its own legitimacy. So when they delegitimize the judiciary, then everything crumbles and this institution is formally removed. As a check on this president.

[Anchor]

Congressman, this reminds me of what Donald Trump attempted to do and frankly was successful in getting a large swath of the American public to believe as it relates to the 2020 election. And since then, January 6, he convinced an entire swath of people who follow him and believe him that he actually won the 2020 election when we know he did not. He convinced scores and scores, hundreds and hundreds of people to take up arms and go to the Capitol on January 6th to right the wrong that was a, quote, unquote, stolen election. When we know that's not true. If we've watched him do that to our electoral system, I mean, literally, people who are election deniers were running and are still running for office, I feel as though that he could also be successful doing that to our legal system.

[Congressman Eric Swalwell]

We need democracy to live long enough to live forever. And to your point and Professor Murray's point, this is an effort to delegitimize these judges. And so he just like the 2020 election, he doesn't need everyone to believe the election was stolen. He just needs enough people to believe it, so that way, the next time a ruling goes against him, he doesn't have to follow it. The courts are actually working right now, and we've won in dozens of cases, but we need those to be speed bumps or barriers along the way to an election where we can get a Congress that can truly hold him accountable. Now, here's the issue, though. If he keeps delegitimizing judges, we need to know what are the judges willing to do. They actually have their own powers to enlist their own prosecutors and their own police to enforce their orders. And state attorneys general and governors in California, New York, Illinois, Colorado, Democratic states, they have their own law enforcement powers as well if Donald Trump is going to disobey court orders. But you have to make the stakes clear now. You have to tell Donald Trump and his administration what the cost will be. I don't want these guys to have any ambiguity, and so we need to be clearer about what we're willing to do if he's going to continue this lawlessness.

[Anchor]

Melissa. Before we go tonight, Jessica Valenti is reporting this evening that the Trump administration is freezing close to $35 million in Title 10 funding that was set to be distributed tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, California, Hawaii, I believe Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee and Utah will receive zero title $10. Most of Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Alaska will lose access as well. Other states impacted include Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Talk about these cuts. This is family planning and this is health care funding.

[Voter]

That's exactly right, Simone. The administration has issued these orders to Title 10 providers throughout the state, saying that they are going to have their funding frozen until the administration has an opportunity to look into them. Apparently, some of these organizations are fighting systemic racism, according to their materials, and the administration may find that objectionable. DEI has been listed as one of the reasons for prompting the freeze. It's really important for the audience to understand that Title 10 has been in place since Richard Nixon. Nixon signed this into law. This is no liberal squish program. This is a Republican providing for family planning measures for those who are among the most indigent in society. Title 10 provides health care for cancer screenings, for birth control, for family planning, a range of different services for a number of people who cannot afford private health care. And again, I just want to emphasize what we are seeing in the realm of immigration, where they are going after undocumented persons and then individuals who are lawful visa holders, they'll eventually keep going. This is the same kind of playbook, starting with the most vulnerable among us, where the rest of us are like, I'm fine. I can go to my doctor. I can get birth control. I can get these screenings. But they'll start with them and they'll keep moving. And the entire plan as laid out in Project 2025 is to start here with the most vulnerable and to keep moving toward eliminating this kind of health care for all Americans.

[Anchor]

Melissa Murray, thank you. Congressman Eric Swalwell, thank you. Will be watching that hearing this week. Senator Booker, folks, is in hour four of his marathon speech because these are not normal times. We will come back to it. But coming up next, Vladimir Putin escalated his humiliation of Donald Trump today. And we'll get into that next next.

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[Anchor]

The administration doesn't necessarily want to be questioned on any of its policy. I think what we are seeing is Project 2025 in action. This is it coming to fruition.

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[Anchor]

The Oval Office, I will have the.

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Disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine settled.

[Anchor]

It will be settled quickly. Well, well, well. It has been, by my count, 70 days. How's Trump's attempt to flatter Vladimir Putin into a deal going well? Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a massive military draft of 160,000 men ordered into service, the largest conscription in 14 years. The new York Times reports the White House for two months has warmly embraced the Kremlin. But President Vladimir Putin of Russia has given little in return. His forces have carried on bombarding Ukraine both on the front and deep into the Ukrainian heartland. He has barely budged in peace negotiations, freighting an agreement to an unconditional 30 day cease fire with mirrored conditions. His subordinates have dragged out talks voicing requirements for a limited Black Sea truce in recent days. Then, during an Arctic appearance late last week, Mr. Putin suggested a temporary Ukrainian government might need to be installed. Trump says he plans to speak with Putin this week. But just yesterday, Trump told NBC News that he's, quote, angry and pissed off at Putin for attacking Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's credibility to govern. This from Donald Trump, who once called Putin a genius, has repeatedly downplayed Putin's aggression and, oh yes, attacked President Zelensky's credibility in that now infamous Oval Office meeting. In a new opinion piece for the New York Times, Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska, he's a member of the House Armed Services Committee, begs Trump to stand up to Putin. He writes, in recent weeks, too many of my FELLOW Republicans, including Mr. Trump, have treated Russia with velvet gloves, shying away from calling out Mr. Putin's flatly illegal war and even blaming Ukraine for starting it. Supporting Ukraine is also about sending a clear message to authoritarian leaders worldwide that America will not appease or condone the violent conquest of the weak by the strong. The administration must be crystal clear that we are aligned with democracy, free markets and the rule of law. If we stray from these values, we risk losing what makes America a great nation. The United States must also firmly oppose any approach that rewards Mr. Putin for his ruthless aggression. Joining us now is David Rothkoff. He is a. Well, I mean, just a guru, frankly. David, a foreign affairs analyst. You're a columnist for Daily Beast and he's the host of the Deep State Radio podcast. I want to know what you think about what Don Bacon had to say.

[Voter]

Well, I think he was right. I think he expressed the view that is held by a lot of people on both sides of the aisle. You know, it used to be foreign policy was bipartisan. It used to be that we recognized that Russia was a threat, an enemy, that we embraced our allies, that we defended democracy. The problem is that Trump has gone across every principle that we've had governing US foreign policy for the past 80 years. So it's good to see Representative Bacon standing up. I wish we saw more Republicans standing up for doing what was right and doing what, frankly, Americans have been fighting and dying for, for the past century.

[Anchor]

So it's very clear that the dominance guys are now being humiliated by Vladimir Putin. Do you think they understand that they are being humiliated. And now, does Zelensky have an opportunity here?

[Voter]

Well, it is a little bit of the kind of autocratic Russian nesting doll, you know, the smaller ones inside of the bigger ones, trying to make their impression on the ones that are even smaller than them. So Trump bullies people here. Putin bullies Trump. But, you know, as far as Trump's comment that he's angry at Putin, I don't buy it. I mean, he may be frustrated that he didn't get the big coup of ending the war as quickly as he wanted to. But the reality is every single thing that Donald Trump has done for each of those 70 days that you talked about has helped the Kremlin hurt Ukraine, hurt our allies, hurt our national security. He's shut down every program that was created to contain Russia, contain Russian threats. He's gone after law firms that once employed lawyers that once upon a time investigated his ties to Russia. We've grabbed somebody who was a Russian who was here on a student visa and who'd been critical of Putin, and we threw her into jail. You know, everywhere you look, you see the United States having switched sides from the side we've been on for the past 80 years and joined the Russian side. And I think the only thing that has made Trump angry is he's not getting anything in return. And guess what? He's not gonna. Because Vladimir Putin doesn't care about Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin cares about Vladimir Putin, and he will try to get every drop of juice he can out of Trump, and then he'll move on to the next plan to strengthen Russia and weaken the United States.

[Anchor]

You know, I am very struck by the fact, David, that a lot of the language that Trump uses to talk about Greenland and Canada is some of the same language that Putin has used to talk about Ukraine. So I wonder, what can Donald Trump, or what does he need to frankly deliver for Ukraine in this situation?

[Voter]

Well, I mean, look, Ukraine is fighting not just for Ukraine. They're fighting for Europe. They're fighting for the United States. And if the United States does not ultimately stand up for Ukraine, we won't stop there. Russia's already making moves against Georgia, making moves against Moldova, would like to make moves against the Baltics. But also, you know, as the Europeans stop trusting us, start depending on themselves to stand up to Putin, we may see other countries say they need a nuclear shield. We may enter a new nuclear arms race in the world, because people don't trust the United States to be the defender of last resort that we were. So the world has really turned upside down here, and I see no sign that Trump is in any way moderating that. So if he means what he said yesterday, okay, let's see sanctions. Let's not see the US Loosen sanctions as they said they were going to do. Let's see him turn up the heat on Putin in some meaningful way. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Anchor]

Do not hold your breath. David Rothkoff, thank you. You know, I think Donald Trump talked about Vladimir Putin because he didn't want us to talk about Signal. But coming up top, Trump officials accidentally texting attack plans inadvertently to a journalist, AKA the Signal. National breach might just have been the tip of the iceberg. We're going to get into new reporting on that next.

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[Anchor]

The administration does necessarily want to be questioned on any of its policy. I think what we are seeing is Project 2025 in action. This is it coming to fruition.

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[Political Analyst]

There's probably both messaging and policy issues, but as you look to kind of where the Democratic Party is, do you think it's more a messaging issue, more a policy issue?

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[Anchor]

Now is the time, so we're gonna do it.

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Providing her unique insight and analysis during this critical time.

[Political Analyst]

How do we strategically align ourselves to this moment of information, this moment of transition in our country?

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The Rachel Maddow show, weeknights at 9pm Eastern on MSNBC.

[Anchor]

The Trump brain trust accidentally texting attack plans to an editor at the Atlantic might just be the tip of the ice. The Journal reported, quote, Two U.S. officials said that Walz has created and hosted multiple other sensitive national security conversations on Signal with cabinet members, including separate threads on how to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, as well as military operations. They declined to address if any classified information was posted in these chats. I cannot explain to you all how not in protocol. This is Trump and Mike Waltz's so called explanations for how a journalist ended up in the chat. They are just getting desperate. Now. You've never talked to him before.

[Representative Mark Pocan]

So how's the number on your phone?

[Voter]

I mean, I'm not an expert in.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Any of this, but it's just curious.

[Representative Mark Pocan]

How's the number on your phone? Well, if you have somebody else's contact and then it, and then somehow, oh, someone sent you that, it gets sucked in.

[Anchor]

Jeffrey Goldberg dispelled that ridiculous answer on Meet the Press on Sunday.

[Voter]

This isn't the matrix. Phone numbers don't just get sucked into other phones. I don't know what he's talking about there Very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation my phone number was in his phone.

[Anchor]

Because my phone number is in his phone.

[Voter]

He's telling everyone that he's never met me or spoken to me.

[Anchor]

That's simply not true. In another exclusive report, the Wall Street Journal discovered that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brought his wife and brother to sensitive meetings. Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Hegseth, isn't a Defense Department employee. Defense officials said it isn't uncommon for spouses of senior officials to possess low level security clearances. But a Pentagon spokesperson declined to say whether Jennifer has one. Jennifer didn't respond to requests for comment. Jennifer Hegseth also attended a meeting last month at North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters in Brussels where allied defense officials discussed their support for Ukraine, according to two people who attended the meeting. Hegseth's brother, Philip Hegseth, has also been traveling with him on official visits, the Pentagon said. Joining us now is Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. She's a Democrat out of Washington State and she is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Ma'am, there's a lot here. Come on. Congresswoman. First of all, now, we should not ignore the news and what Donald Trump was saying about wanting a third term yesterday and speaking to our colleague Kristen Welker. My colleague Kristen Welker. Or talking about Vladimir Putin. But you know, as David Rothkopf said, put your money where your mouth is. You got to walk it like you talk it. However, I think he said all of those things to distract us from this thing right here. And now we know there's more to the story because where there's smoke, there's fire.

[Political Analyst]

I completely agree with you, Simone. All these crazy things that Donald Trump is saying and they come out every hour, right? But this is a distraction from the complete breach that happened with Pete Hegseth and the national security apparatus having a conversation on Signal. On signal about plans for an attack. And I was sounding the alarm back in December on Lawrence's show about why Pete Hegseth was wholly unqualified. What they have just done is complete amateur hour and shows that they are unfit to serve. But on top of this, they're trying to gaslight us.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

Right.

[Political Analyst]

Pete Hegseth, first response to this was trying to discredit Jeffrey Goldberg.

[Anchor]

Right.

[Political Analyst]

That was the first thing he said. He's not a real journalist. Then on top of that, you have Walsh adding his number into the Signal chat. You can't add a number to a chat if it's not in your contacts on your phone. Those are just facts. And so this is amateur hour. They're incompetent. They're embarrassing. But here's the deal. This is dangerous incompetence, and it's something that we should not stand for. Whether you're a Democrat or Republican, this is the United States of America. He's a Secretary of defense, and he is not fit to have this job.

[Anchor]

Not fit to have this job. You know, we have been watching Senator Booker, who is making a marathon speech about how these are not normal times and whether we are talking about our national defense information just on Signal or Elon Musk or the assault on civil service members, the assault on our. Not just our institutions, but truly the progress that was made. How are you thinking about that in your position in the House and specifically on the Armed Services Committee?

[Political Analyst]

So I'll say there's so much happening, and I thank Senator Booker for standing strong and reminding people of all the transgressions. To your point, all of these agencies that serve the public are there to help people. Everything from Social Security to Veterans affairs to clean air, clean water, food for children, funding to help people stay in nursing homes, a whole plethora of things that we know people expect us to do. On top of that, what's happening in national security now is just a complete embarrassment. You just did a segment about Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump claiming that he's mad at him. To your point, he's only mad because he's getting nothing and Putin is completely playing him. And what happened with Hegseth and the national security apparatus is something that is not going to go away. But I asked one question, Simone. There were only three Republicans who did not vote to confirm Hegseth. Only three. So while we're talking about Trump and Hegseth and what's happening, at some point, my colleagues who are in the Senate. Members of the GOP and my House colleagues have to say something. Right. Don Bacon spoke out about Russia. But where is the spine and the patriotism of Republicans I serve with? Their silence is shameful and it's un American.

[Anchor]

And I think that's why what Senator Booker is doing has struck so many people. I was on the train, still on the train, frankly, when he first took to the floor, and I, there was, there were so many people that were like, thank you. Because it's dire. And enough elected officials, it feels like, are not telling us what they really think, are not standing with the people talking about just how insane and crazy and unacceptable all of this is.

[Political Analyst]

No, you're completely right. I mean, you know, I did a town hall in a part of my district that I didn't really, I didn't win. I did a telephone town hall. 22,000 people showed up to hear about Social Security, Simone. And so what we're hearing right now, now from the American public is that this is not right. And as you know, they're telling Democrats, do something. And we're doing everything we can with the 215 members we have. When we go to court, we tend to win. But as I said before on this show, we have to hold the Republicans accountable. This is not just about Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth. This is about the entire Republican Party.

[Anchor]

And what they've become, the enablers that have propped up what we are seeing right now. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, thank you very much for your time tonight and your words. Thank you so much for help. With Mitch McConnell retiring from the Senate, Kentucky Democrats are eyeing his seat to make gains in next year's midterm elections. Meet the candidate who wants to make that a reality and become both the first woman and the first black person to be a senator from the state of Kentucky or the commonwealth. That's next. With Mitch McConnell retiring from the United States Senate and Donald Trump and Elon Musk trying to tear AP federal government from the inside out, one prominent Kentucky Democrat thinks that she has a real shot at a U.S. senate seat. Her name is Colonel Pam Stevenson. The Lexington Herald leader put it this the theory of Stevenson's campaign, the widespread anger over the actions of Republican President Donald Trump and respect for her service as a veteran and minister will launch her into office. Both Democrats and Republicans have approached me and said, you don't know me, but I'm so glad you're running, stevenson told the Herald leader. If her name sounds familiar, many of her impassioned speeches as a member of the Kentucky State House went viral, including this one from two years ago when she was arguing against a Republican bill targeting transgender youth. As protesters chanted in the House gallery.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

We have created an environment of hate. And then we look at them like there's something wrong with them. First you hated black people, then you hated Jews. Never hated everybody. So the question is, when it's the only people left, are you, will you hate yourself? Power concedes nothing. This house is for the people, by the people, to serve the people. And you won't listen. You go after everybody's kids but you your own. You make hate the way to go as long as it's not applied to you. You have to ask yourself the question, why would they be doing that? Who are we to cause that?

[Anchor]

Today, Colonel Stevenson released this campaign video to tell her story in her own words.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

I am Colonel Pam Stevenson. I live by three words. One, creed, duty, honor.

[Anchor]

Kentucky.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

For 40 years, Mitch McConnell watched Kentucky from 30,000ft. I cannot believe he ever looked our people in the eye, wielded all that power and retired without making more of a difference in their lives. I was born and raised in the Shawnee neighborhood of west Louisville. My dad was a union welder, my mom was a clerk. We couldn't afford much, but as a kid I thought we were rich. We lived down the street from my grandparents church and I am an ordained minister in that same church today. It is good to be home. I was an Air Force JAG officer for 20 years. Seven years I served in Africa, Europe, the Middle east and the Americas. It was a time when our allies mattered. I fight for our elders, children, farmers, veterans and the disabled. I fight for access to health care and for public education. My colleagues know they only have a problem with me if they go after them. I am running for the United States Senate because this administration is coming after all of it. But the Kentucky Republicans lining up to replace Mitch McConnell will vote exactly the same way he did. This is when the brave take a stand for the future. This is when we come together and we say, not on my watch will you destroy my family, my community or my country. Join me. Duty. Honor.

[Anchor]

Joining us now is Colonel Pam Stevenson, the current Democratic Kentucky House Minority Leader and a candidate for the United States Senate. Colonel Stevenson, thank you very much for joining us tonight. I guess my first question is you talked about in that article we read from in the Herald Leader. Why? What the theory of the case for your campaign is. What issues are you hearing about from voters when mitchma and I will just note for folks at when Senator McConnell announced that he was retiring, you were very quick to tweet and say you definitely intend to get into this race. You will have a formal announcement coming soon. We now see that formal announcement. But I'm sure you've been hearing from voters in the intro.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

Absolutely. Thank you for having me. I am thrilled to be here. And what I hear from voters is they want their children to do better than they. They want their families to thrive and they want to make a difference. So we've got to take care of all families. We've got to make sure that we make the economy is strong so that people can live the life they want to. We've got to make sure that we have access to not only public education but Medicaid and health care. As far as I can tell, if you're a human, you're going to need health care for your body and it should not be out priced for people. People shouldn't be choosing between eating or medicine. And then finally veterans, they give their lives for this country and then for them to come back with broken limbs, broken hearts, broken arms and not have the services they need to settle back into civilian life, it's a problem for me.

[Anchor]

You know, you mentioned Medicaid and we've been talking about Senator Cory Booker and he's been on the floor of the United States Senate. One of the things that he's talking about right now is Medicaid. And I want to read for you an editorial in the Lexington Herald Leader and it notes this Medicaid is vital for low income families, seniors and disabled individuals. According to the Appalachian regional commission, the 2024 median household income in Eastern Kentucky is $33,878, significantly below the state and national medians estimates suggest. More than 40% of eastern Kentucky relies on Medicaid, a critical buffer for rural hospitals operating on razor thin margins. Even a small drop in reimbursement can force service closures or outright hospital shutdowns. The United States House of Representatives has sent a bill up to the Senate and whatnot that had $860 billion cut to Medicaid. I think it's safe to say that you would not support cuts to Medicaid. But just talk about are we hearing from the Republican candidates about this issue? Are voters, I'm pretty sure again, 30 any drop would make a difference.

[Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland]

Absolutely. There are 1.49 about million people in Kentucky on Medicaid. We are one of the poorest states and when you are a poor state, you rely on the government to help you and give you a hand up. We have hardworking people in Kentucky and they need help to say that to cut Medicaid is a problem. It means you're not paying attention to the people that require that help. And then number two, we just passed a bill in the.

[Anchor]

Colonel Pam Stevenson, thank you. We'll be watching this race and we look forward to talking to you again. We will be right back. Folks, these are not normal times. That is tonight's last word. Lawrence will be back tomorrow.

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