The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Episode 3599 – GOP Lies About Shutdown Military Pay w/ Evan Simko-Bednarski, Josh Orton
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Sam Seder

Episode Overview

This episode of The Majority Report centers on the ongoing government shutdown, focusing particularly on GOP misinformation regarding military pay, the broader impact of the shutdown, and the weaponization of political process in Washington. Sam welcomes two guests—Evan Simko-Bednarski (journalist & Daily News union leader) and Josh Orton (president of Demand Justice)—both former producers of the show, to discuss local journalism's struggles and the fight over the federal judiciary in the face of rising authoritarian tendencies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Government Shutdown, Military Pay, and GOP Misinformation

• Democrats Holding the Line
  Sam notes the Democrats are refusing to meet GOP demands, leveraging public support and the reality that millions are on the brink of losing healthcare subsidies.

  "Democrats seem to be holding tight. Not caving to Republican demands, not providing them votes to open the government." (Sam Seder, 03:56)
  Discussion highlights that the core sticking points are the extension of ACA (Affordable Care Act) subsidies and the refusal to empower a president who disregards budgetary norms.

• Filibuster as a Shield
  The filibuster is again in the crosshairs, with Sam arguing both parties use it to avoid responsibility for politically risky votes.

  "The filibuster has been, in too many situations, a way to help both parties simultaneously avoid taking votes..." (Sam Seder, 07:34)

• GOP Misinformation on Military & Worker Pay
  A military wife calls into C-SPAN confronting House Speaker Mike Johnson about the GOP's refusal to ensure active-duty military pay during the shutdown. Johnson blames Democrats for not passing necessary legislation, denying his caucus’s responsibility.
  [10:15–13:07]

  "Every Democrat in the House except for one voted to close it. The Democrats are the ones that are preventing you from getting a check." (Mike Johnson, 12:07)

• Calling Out the Lie
  Sam meticulously exposes Johnson's dishonesty by playing clips where Johnson contradicts himself on support for military pay legislation.

  "Like, I mean, he. To get that good at lying, you almost have to live a lie in your private life..." (Sam Seder, 13:07; see also mocking at 16:06)

2. Local News Crisis: Evan Simko-Bednarski on the Fight at the Daily News

[24:34–39:49]

• History & Importance of the Daily News
  Evan details the Daily News' role as a pillar of local journalism, its 100+ year history, and its culture of public service journalism.

• Alden Global Capital’s Role
  The paper’s acquisition by Alden—a notorious private equity "destroyer of newspapers"—has led to staff attrition, fewer resources, and stagnating contract negotiations.

  "You buy it, you squeeze as much of that value out and then you drop it." (Evan Simko-Bednarski, 28:56)

• Demoralized but Committed Staff
  Despite profit, staff haven't had a contract in over 3.5 years, with morale low as pay cuts, loss of benefits, and lack of investment undermine their mission.

  "Morale has taken a hit because it's clear that our owners don't view us that way..." (Evan Simko-Bednarski, 27:05)

• Practical Impact:
  Gaps in Albany and political coverage shrink the paper’s reach and local influence.

  "If you're a regular reader of the Daily News and you pick it up, you'll notice that it's a little bit lighter." (Evan Simko-Bednarski, 31:59)

• Union Demands
  Evan testifies at City Council in support of a nonbinding resolution for a fair contract, simply asking for living wages, back pay, job security, and basic benefits (like jury duty and parental leave).

  "We want a living wage. We want to be able to, you know, live in the city that we cover..." (Evan Simko-Bednarski, 35:11)

• How Supporters Can Help
  Raise the profile of Alden's ownership, sign their petition, subscribe, and talk about the paper’s coverage (nydnunion.com).

  "Any demonstration of the value of this paper to this city is good for us... Anything as simple as subscribing to the paper, buying the paper, talking about the coverage we have..." (Evan Simko-Bednarski, 38:29)

3. Demand Justice and the Judiciary: Josh Orton Interview

[41:10–72:17]

• Background: The Left & Courts
  Josh recounts how Demand Justice emerged in reaction to the left’s historic inattention to the judiciary, contrasting this with the right’s generational strategy (via the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo) to stack courts with ideologically reliable, corporate-friendly judges.

  "We were a generation behind on the left... Finally, an organization was like speaking openly and truthfully about what was going on with the judiciary..." (Josh Orton, 43:02)

• Merrick Garland & Obama’s Strategically Lost Moment
  The nomination of Garland—a centrist—after Scalia’s death is cited as emblematic of Democratic unwillingness to fight for bold, progressive justices.

  "Rather than nominating someone who had a clear record... he ch[ose] someone that I think he and his political advisors would make the Democrats look reasonable on judges. And you know, that strategy was not only a failed one, but it has an audience of no people." (Josh Orton, 45:58)

• How the Right Does It: The Federalist Society
  Josh details how the Federalist Society acts as a farm system for conservative judges, creating an exclusive pipeline to high courts, whereas the left lacks an equivalent infrastructure.

  "Joining Federal Society is the path upward. If you ever... want to be nominated... to a federal judgeship... you cannot be appointed... unless you are a member..." (Sam Seder, 48:05)
  "Leonard Leo is essentially its head and has been, I think, the singular figure in Republican politics and nominations to the federal judiciary..." (Josh Orton, 48:23)

• Progress Under Biden, Growth of Demand Justice
  Biden’s judicial nominations are praised for greater professional diversity (public defenders, voting rights attorneys) under left pressure.

  "Joe Biden put 250 some odd justices on the court. And it was also justices that came that were sociologically, economically, legally correct..." (Sam Seder, 56:56)
  "That moved the whole conversation." (Josh Orton, 57:22)

• The Current Crisis: Trump Judges, Loyalty Oaths, and Dems Failing to Oppose
  Key New Problem: Under a second Trump term, federal judge nominees are expected to have never publicly acknowledged Trump lost in 2020, effectively creating a judiciary of yes-men.

  "Every one of these judges... to be nominated by Trump... you cannot have said that he lost the 2020 election." (Josh Orton, 62:38)

  Senate Democrats Still Voting for These Judges
  Demand Justice has launched a campaign targeting Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee (Durbin, Coons, Klobuchar, Hirono, Whitehouse) for voting to advance Trump-loyal judges without political cost.

  "They're essentially enabling the authoritarianism by saying these judges are qualified when they have to take political loyalty oaths." (Josh Orton, 65:01)

  • Political Incentives:
    Democrats feel no price for cooperating on these nominees, so Demand Justice's campaign is raising the political cost.

    "Make it costly for these Democratic senators to cast this vote." (Sam Seder, 67:00)

  • Call to Action:
    Listeners are urged to visit demandjustice.org to find petitions and learn how to contact their own senators.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On GOP Performance:
  "The truth goes through a meat grinder with this guy, honestly."
  — Sam Seder, on Mike Johnson (18:15)

• On Corporate Ownership of Journalism:
  "You buy it, you squeeze as much value out and then you drop it."
  — Evan Simko-Bednarski, on Alden Capital (28:56)

• On Democrats' Historic Failures:
  "Rather than nominating someone who had a clear record of protecting civil rights... [Obama] chose someone he thought would make Democrats look reasonable on judges. And that strategy... has an audience of no people."
  — Josh Orton, (45:58)

• On the Federalist Society:
  "Joining the Federalist Society is the path upward. If you want to be nominated to a federal judgeship... you have to join the Federalist Society."
  — Sam Seder, (48:05)

• On Democratic Passivity:
  "To me, this is... I can't believe that we have to do this. And I can't believe... especially, look, you're going to say, people are going to say, 'Well, why are you going after Dems?' You should be going after Republicans. Like, here's the thing... Part of this is this is in their own political interest to actually be consistent and plant their feet and do their job."
  — Josh Orton, (70:24 onward)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Start / Headlines & Guest Intros: 00:00–03:56
• Shutdown & GOP Military Pay Lies: 03:56–18:15
• Daily News Union Struggle (Evan Simko-Bednarski): 24:34–39:49
• Demand Justice, Judicial Politics (Josh Orton): 41:10–72:17

Tone and Language

The episode is marked by Sam’s signature blend of wry humor, candor, and frustration with political double standards (“You almost have to live a lie in your private life...”), matched by Orton and Simko-Bednarski’s earnest but direct style as they dissect both the macro-political and granular labor issues at stake. The language is accessible, occasionally profane, and thorough in its critique of status-quo politics.

Summary in a Nutshell

This episode exposes Republican misinformation about military pay and skewers Dems for their institutional complacency, especially regarding the judiciary. Through in-depth, vivid conversations with journalists and progressive advocates, Sam and guests highlight the immediate stakes of political gamesmanship—whether in the struggle of local news or the larger fight for democracy in the courts. Listeners are left with a clear understanding of the mechanisms of political sabotage, the need for public pressure, and how collective action remains vital.

Calls to Action: Support local journalism, sign union petitions, pressure senators on Trump’s judicial nominees, and stay vigilant about the real consequences of elite political maneuvering.