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Narrator/Advertiser
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Ben
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Clip/Advertisement Voice
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying.
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Political Analyst/Commentator
It's not just for celebrities, so do like I did and have one of
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do@mintmobile.com
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Narrator/Advertiser
Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only,
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Ben
then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees, extra fee, full terms@mint mobile.com Republicans are turning against Donald Trump in Congress and blocking major legislation that Donald Trump thought was absolutely going to pass. Republicans turning against Donald Trump is happening fast and it's happening. We previously reported how Republicans in the Senate joined forces with Democrats and in a 50 to 47 vote discharged a war powers resolution to block Donald Trump from engaging in further military operations in Iran. So it passed in the Senate, but the question is, is it going to pass in the House? This will go before the House of Representatives today. Jim Himes, the ranking Democratic member on the key military committee, says that they, they have the Republican votes and they have a lingering Democrat from Maine, Congressmember golden, who was previously voting against the Democratic position to block Donald Trump from having war powers. And Democrats believe, indeed in the House of Representatives, they will be able to discharge a similar war powers resolution as the Senate. Both chambers about to issue a stunning rebuke of Donald Trump's unlawful and catastrophic war in Iran. Now, Donald Trump still has the ability to veto it, and he probably will veto it, but it will be sent to his desk and it will become very clear that the American people, as represented in both the Senate and the House, want this war done. This war should never have happened. From the outset, it is crushing the American people, and Americans are sick and tired of it. We're gonna follow the vote in the House. It's never done. It's never a done deal until it's a done deal, but we're gonna be following that. There's other critical pieces of legis legislation where we see Republicans joining forces with Democrats to block Donald Trump's fascist and disgusting agenda. When it comes to Donald Trump wanting to create a $1.8 billion slush fund to pay January 6th insurrectionists arising out of a purported $10 billion lawsuit that Donald Trump brought in his personal capacity against the treasury department and the IRS for a purported leak of his tax returns in 2019 when he was in office as part of a broader tax return leak involving 450,000 other individuals whose tax returns apparently leaked, who didn't sue. Because there is no valid claim to be brought, it would also be brought against Trump's 2019 IRS. Trump filed this in January 2026, and he also built in a provision that he can't be audited and that he's exempt from any liability from past fraud or any past misconduct in not paying taxes. Well, in that situation, Republicans are also joining forces with Democrats, they say, and they're going to try to Come up with a mechanism to kill Donald Trump's ability to have this slush fund for $1.8 billion. Republican Congressmember Fitzpatrick literally use those words, I am going to work to try to kill this to make sure that this slush fund doesn't exist. And he told the Midas Touch network, the Midas Touc network has a whole D.C. bureau, as you know, on Capitol Hill. And here's what Congress member Fitzpatrick, Republican from Pennsylvania, told our Pablo Manriquez earlier in the day. Let's play this clip.
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Congressman, what do you make of this $1.7 billion fund for bad news?
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
We're going to try to kill it.
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Ben
You're going to try and kill it. Wow.
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Okay.
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Ben
And how. Well, we're considering legislative options.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
We're going to write a letter to
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Ben
the AG to start, but we're considering a legislative option. Okay.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
We're trying to unpack. Exactly, you know, what the legal machinations are, but can't do that.
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Ben
Right. Have you ever heard of any other
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Americans, like, other than. So Trump is an associates.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
I haven't.
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Ben
Who are unauditable by the irs? I've never heard that.
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Okay, so would that be part of the legislative. Of course.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
Of course.
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Yeah.
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Ben
You can't do that.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
Yeah.
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Clip/Advertisement Voice
Appreciate it.
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Ben
And you know, we have reporters everywhere on Capitol Hill. So then Fitzpatrick spoke with our head of our D.C. bureau, Scott McFarland. And here's what Fitzpatrick told McFarland. Here, play this clip. Slush fund for crooks and rioters is at risk of melting right here, right now at the Capitol. A key Republican here in the US House, Brian Fitzpatrick of suburban Philadelphia, a
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
frontline Republican, says he is keen on killing this thing. His constituents do not like it.
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Ben
We also spoke with Republican Congress member Schweikart. Again, very right wing guy. He's not happy about this slush fund either. This $1.8 billion slush fund. Here's what he had to say. Play this clip. Any thoughts on the $1.776 billion fund? Oh, it's. I'm very concerned about it.
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Political Analyst/Commentator
Deep concerns.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
Yeah.
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Ben
It's partially. I don't know structurally how you do that. There's already a statue to redress.
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Political Analyst/Commentator
Thank you, sir.
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Ben
And then you had Republican Congress member Kylie saying basically the same, that he doesn't understand what the heck this fund is about and nobody should be getting any money. Who participates in an insurrection. This is a Republican here. Play this clip.
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Republican Congressmember Kylie
Of course I have concerns. It's very strange, very unprecedented. It's very concerning.
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Narrator/Advertiser
Do you think that January 6th riders
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Ben
who have been pardoned should be able
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Narrator/Advertiser
to receive money from this fund.
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Republican Congressmember Kylie
I don't know why anyone is receiving money from this fund. That's not the way we typically adjudicate claims. If anyone has claims. And certainly I would think that those wouldn't be people that would be at the top of the list, even you, if, if there were a basis for such a payout. So I'm still learning about it. It's a very unusual arrangement. I think that there does need to be congressional oversight into exactly how this came about. And what exactly is going to be the criteria for any distributions.
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Ben
More on that slush fund in a moment. Now, the other area that Republicans joined forces with Democrats to kill Donald Trump's ballroom, $1 billion TRUMP Maga Mike tried to engineer this in a reconciliation bill to pay for this Golden Ballroom, where Donald Trump just ripped down the east wing of the White House. And now he's saying that this Golden Ballroom is actually a, quote, drone empire, whatever that means. It's a shield against drones and ballistic missiles. And there's going to be an emergency room hospital right there at Donald Trump's beck and call. You know, you've seen all the deranged things that he says. It's a gigantic drone empire. Well, the provision has officially been stripped from the reconciliation package. Now, you may be saying, Ben, didn't you report on this over the weekend? Don't give me old news. Not there's an update. So over the weekend, we learned that the parliamentarian who decides whether certain items, funding items, violate what's called the bird rule, it's called taking a bird bath. And you see whether you can pass things through reconciliation. The parliamentarian makes these decisions about the impact of certain things on the deficit and how it impacts things for purposes of a reconciliation bill. Anyway, the parliamentarian said that this $1 billion ballroom funding violates the Byrd rule in the bird bath and it needs to be removed. Democrats challenged the ability for it to be put into a reconciliation package. Then the question is, could Republicans try to revive it, make it less money, chop it up and put it in other pieces of legislation? And Republicans decided at their lunch yesterday, we're not supporting this thing. We're done with this thing. We're out. And we're not going to help Donald Trump fund the ballroom. He said it was going to be dealt with with private funds. So we are not jumping in this at all. Now, this is also, I think, one of the reasons that Republicans are doing this. It's also part of retaliation for Donald Trump not endorsing Texas Senator Cornyn, who's the current incumbent in Texas. Donald Trump instead endorsed Cornyn's opponent, a very, very, very corrupt Texas attorney general who lots of people think is going to lose in this upcoming election to the Democrat as the is significantly ahead. Right here you'll see Ken Paxton's the name of the Texas AG who was impeached. He's running against James Tallarico. I'll get to this in a moment.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
We've got some big news that is blowing my mind that it's not getting nearly enough attention. So right now, more than 60% of the United States is experiencing drought conditions and more than 20% of the country is in extreme drought. Honestly, have you heard about this anywhere? Front page headlines leading the nightly news. It seems like a pretty big deal to me is all I'm saying. According to climatologists, this is one of the most severe and widespread drought events that we have seen in decades. The main culprit is an unusual La Nina pattern which shifted storm tracks farther north and left huge parts of the country, especially the south, Southeast and Rocky Mountain regions, without the rainfall that they depend on. And here's the critical climate story in all this. Rising global temperatures are making this drought even worse. Hotter air pulls more moisture out of the soil and vegetation, intensifying dry conditions and putting enormous stress on crops, water supplies and ecosystems. Colorado, Georg, and Florida are among the hardest hit states right now with some areas facing exceptional drought. And relief may not come anytime soon. Experts say that meaningful improvement is unlikely until late summer or even next winter, when a potentially historic El Nino could shift weather patterns in the opposite direction so the Trump administration can ignore climate change all they want. Climate change sure is not ignoring us, and we need to make sure that we are keeping these issues front and center. That's it for this report. Now I want to hear from you, what are your thoughts on this news, on climate issues and on our climate coverage like this? There's so much chaos right now that they're trying to drown out what may be the most important issue of our time. So use your voice and speak out in the comments below. I'll be reading them. Okay, Ben, back to you.
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Ben
Let me share with you over here what what the congressmember, rather what Senator Cassidy had to say about the ballroom. Now remember too, Senator Cassidy has been a key vote against Donald Trump on all of these things that I've just mentioned and what just happened. Donald Trump threw Cassidy under the bus, told people to vote For Cassidy's primary opponent. Senator Cassidy from Louisiana lost his primary and now Senator Cassidy's out there working across the aisle, finally with Democrats. Watch what Senator Cassidy had to say about Trump's Golden Ballroom. Here, play this clip. There's no architectural plans. There is no environmentals, there's no engineering. There's no sense of when we ask, how did it happen cost exactly a billion. In my mind, that is, it could cost a lot less. It could cost a lot more.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
I just don't get it.
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Ben
Now, Senator Cassidy also posted the following message as well. People are concerned about paying their mortgage or rent, affording groceries and paying for gas, not about putting together a $1.8 billion fund for the President and his allies to pay whomever they wish with no legal precedent or accountability. This is adding to our national debt. If there needs to be a settlement, the administration should bring it to Congress to decide. So clearly you have Cassidy getting his revenge right there. Indeed. I mean, you also had Lindsey Graham calling Donald Trump out as well. You know, after certain news broke that Donald Trump was considering a letter of intent with Iran. Although, you know, this is often fake news. When Trump says letters of intent, we'll see what really happens there. Lindsey Graham lashed out at that idea. Lindsey Graham says, while I hope for a diplomat, diplomatic solution, it must be comprehensive to ensure that Iran is no longer the largest state sponsor of terrorism. It also must be real and the negotiations must be reliable. I appreciate everyone's efforts in the region to help this cause. I'm hearing that Pakistan's field Marshal may travel to Iran. What could go wrong? Maybe he'll report the status of Iranian military aircraft being housed in Pakistani air bases. Like so many, I'm watching very closely what unfolds regarding yet again another effort to reach a deal with the Iranian regime. I wish all involved success. That is real.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
That is real.
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Ben
Essentially mocking Donald Trump for fake deal after fake deal after fake deal. Now, we also Learned that the IRS previously prepared a 25 page memorandum outlining what they saw as flaws in Donald Trump's frivolous suit against the IRS and the Treasury Department. And they advised the Justice Department to move to dismiss it. This was a frivolous case. There's so many grounds, statute of limitation, immunity grounds. There's no valid cause of action under the IGBO and two pleading standards at all. I could go into this and do a whole hour video on it. But Trump's lawsuit for $10 billion, alleging he was emotionally distressed because his 2019 IRS had some contractor who leaked 450,000 people's tax returns. It ain't a lawsuit. It should be thrown out right away. In fact, you should get Rule 11 sanctions for it. Not enter into a collusive settlement agreement, then not tell the federal judge about your settlement agreement. Have the Justice Department say that they'll never audit you ever, and that any past tax liabilities you don't owe. This could be hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions of dollars in benefits to Donald Trump unjustly right there. And so that needs to, obviously, obviously needs to be called out. And then we have Mike Lindell, Donald Trump's buddy, the pillow guy, saying that he's going to be asking for $400 million from the fund. Here, play this clip.
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Clip/Advertisement Voice
We actually put into the government a couple following a process that they told us about then, now this is new and we are actually going to get, get it out there. I don't care which comes first to help my employees that lost, they lost millions upon millions of dollars. We had three third parties look and do an evaluation of my pillow, what it was prior to all these attacks and what it is now. And all of them averaged $400 million that it cost the brand and cost my pillow. And it's just horrific that our own government could do this to the American dream, this company that was built on the American dream and made in the usa. And to have this happen, this will be, it will be a blessing to actually get made. Some of these are my employees made whole that were stockholders because and in my pillow. And even a lot of them that have lost their jobs, you know, that were affected then and all this.
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Ben
Also, Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boy, says he's going to be asking for $2.5 million. And one of the things that I think from the fund, the proud boys, Oath Keepers, they taking our taxpayer dollars. Even Republicans right now are saying no, no, no. And also I think they're seeing the writing on the wall. What's happening in Texas right now where a Democrat, James Talarico, is leading Ken Paxton, who Trump just endorsed. And I think Republicans in the Senate and the House say, wait a minute, Trump is like, is he intentionally trying to destroy us right here, here, play this clip.
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Political Analyst/Commentator
It's simply put, they're looking at the numbers. They are looking at the numbers. And the idea that Democrats can't win in Texas, I want to put that to rest. They could very well do it. James Telorico could very well win in Texas. And I want to use a comparison point with 2018. Because there was all this talk about Beto O', Rourke, right? Oh, could he beat Ted Cruz? He could be Ted Cruz. The numbers at this point in that campaign, simply put, did not support that conclusion. But the numbers at this point absolutely support the conclusion that James Talarico can win. So take a look. Texas Senate polls in May of the election year. When you matched up o', Rourke, Beto o' Rourke versus Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz was up by seven points. He was clearly ahead. But look at the polling average now. When you max up Ken Paxton versus James Talarico, it's actually Talarico that's ahead by four points. And Johnny B. I was looking back at every single Texas Senate race that I could find. And at this point in the campaign, James Talarico is polling better than any Democrat in at least 24 years. You have to go all the way back to 2002 to find a Democrat even polling anywhere close to where Talarico is polling right now. Texas Democrats have dreamt about turning it blue this time. The numbers actually support the idea that they may actually be able to do it.
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Ben
I have to say, this is a difference that I have not seen before and I was not aware of. And a lot of people are making the comparison to 2018. One of the reasons is that Ken Paxton, if he's the nominee, not a super popular nominee, and people are like, oh, well, Ted Cruz as an incumbent senator, he wasn't that popular either. So what's the difference between Cruz and Ken Paxton?
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Political Analyst/Commentator
Yeah, the idea that Ted Cruz was not that popular, that's a falsehood. That is, simply put, a falsehood. You go back again, just look at these differences right here. Okay? Texas GOP candidate, net favorability. Ted Cruz's net favorability was actually plus seven points in my average. Look where Ken Paxton is the complete inverse of that. He was seven. He's seven points under underwater. So look again. You just look at the numbers. In 2018, Democrats had this dream of turning Texas. The numbers didn't support it in large part because Ted Cruz was actually decently popular. But Ken Paxton is anything but. In poll after poll after poll, he is underwater. No wonder Republican senators are running scared, especially after that Trump endorsement of Paxton yesterday.
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Ben
Then you had Donald Trump's Attorney General, Todd Blanch give this bizarre interview with CNN last night. Did you see it where Todd Blanche says, yeah, I have no issues giving money to people who attacked and try to kill police officers. That happens all the time. We always give money to people who try to attack and kill Police officers, like, quite literally. What the hell are you talking about?
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
What do you mean?
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Ben
We give. No, we don't. This is a deranged, idiotic regime. Here, play this clip.
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Todd Blanche (Donald Trump's Attorney General)
You're the nation's top law enforcement official right now. Would you be okay with people who were convicted of hurting police getting taxpayer money?
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Just to be clear, people that hurt police get money all the time. Okay? There's a process where, where if you are, if you are, if you believe you have your rights violated, you can, you can apply for funds, you can sue, you can file a claim, you can go to court. In some of those cases, the state, the government, the federal government settles those cases. It's abhorrent to ever, ever touch a law enforcement officer, which is why anytime anybody does that, and it's a federal officer, officer will prosecute them. But that's a completely different question with whether an individual is allowed to apply for a claim, whether they'll get a claim. Who? Depends. I, I can't. It's not, it would not be appropriate for me to, to talk about absolutes, like, absolutely not. Under no circumstances. I mean, we can talk about hypotheticals till we're blue in the face. But, but, but that really wouldn't be fruitful.
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Ben
Then CNN said, but don't you think the average taxpayer would be upset that, like, like, your taxpayer dollars are going to, like, insurrectionists and like, terrorists, like, you're like, and horrible people and people involved in J6 to which Todd Blanche says, no, I think Americans would love this. Here, play this clip.
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Todd Blanche (Donald Trump's Attorney General)
Now, he really doubled down, insisting not only is this legal, but this is something he says that taxpayers would support because they would want people who had been unfairly treated to be compensated. But, Aaron, you and I have been in this business a long time. Nobody who's ever been investigated by the Justice Department or by authorities has been happy or thought it was fair. So it's still a little unclear how they're going to prevent a feeding frenzy of taxpayer funds here. But they have about 30 days to select the members for this committee and lay out more ground rules for how they're going to vet this influx of claims.
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Ben
Whose idea was the audit addendum? Let's play this clip.
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Played no role in my decision except to do the right thing.
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Todd Blanche (Donald Trump's Attorney General)
Whose idea was this audit addendum?
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
What do you mean, whose idea was it?
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Todd Blanche (Donald Trump's Attorney General)
Who came up with this?
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Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
I mean, there was. The President has outside counsel and their counsel of the Department of Justice, not me. And there was negotiations and this was what was part of those negotiations included a discussion around the, you know, any pending audits.
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Ben
And by the way, even Republicans are not buying this. So on all of these fronts right here, war powers I believe you're going to have the House and the Senate both coming together today. Blocking that will keep you posted. $1.8 billion slush fund Republicans joining with Democrats blocking that $1 billion to the ballroom that's been stripped out of the reconciliation bill for good. Bye bye to all of that. There you have it. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers and thank you all so much for watching.
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
Watching.
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Ben
Seriously subscribe. You may not think you're subscribed. Double check that you're subscribed.
- [24:52]
Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
Thanks.
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Ben
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Ryan Reynolds / Mint Mobile Spokesperson
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