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[00:00]
Host/Commentator
Republican leaders are panicking and they are panicking on live TV as the last remaining group supporting Donald Trump, non college educated white voters are no longer supporting him. Donald Trump is deeply underwater among non college educated white voters. He's deeply underwater amongst all groups here in the United States. Inflation continues to rise. The never ending wars continue. Donald Trump wakes up one day threatening war crimes against Iran, then wakes up another day and says, gonna deescalate and we're just gonna leave Iran, can you please open the Strait of Hormuz? And Iran said, nope, you break it, you fix it. You started this catastrophic war. You better pay us reparations. And then Donald Trump's like, I'm just gonna low key it, okay? I'm just gonna do a semi negotiation. And people are like, what the heck are you even talking about? People are suffering here. They can't afford anything. And all Donald Trump is doing right now is trying to talk about the communism.
[01:02]
Political Analyst Bo
Bo,
[01:04]
Host/Commentator
take a look at what's going on. I want to show you the data which shows Donald Trump losing among non college educated white voters at this point. I mean, we are at the home stretch or at least getting to the home stretch right before the midterms. But first I want to show you the reaction. How are these Republican leaders responding? And as noted, they are panicking on live tv. Let's take a look at the chair of the rnc, Joe Grutters, and his response is kind of the typical MAGA response. It's kind of an A or B at this point, right? Either say communism, socialism, boogeyman and maybe boogeyman and then maybe say Hassan Piker or put that in there. That's kind of one route that the MAGA Republicans do. And the other is blame Joe Biden and just say it's all Joe Biden's fault. Gas $4 a gallon. Inflation rising. GDP slow. Blame Joe Biden with watch the RNC chair here on live TV. Let's play it.
[02:04]
Republican Critic
But here's part of the record. Inflation, three and a half percent that is now, according to government figures, higher than the 3.2% for nationwide earnings. Gas not $2 a gallon, as we all know, it's Double that at 4. Electricity prices haven't been cut in half as the President talked about. They continue to go up and to the right and GDP is at 1.5%. Why do Republicans deserve to keep power in Washington if that's part of the scorecard?
[02:32]
Republican Supporter
People have short memories and they forget that Biden's economic disastrous reign led us to the much Higher inflation, higher gas prices. And this president from day one has been working on getting these things under control. If it wasn't for the inflation was
[02:50]
Republican Critic
3%, inflation was 3% when he took office, 2.2% by the time voters went to the polls in November 24th. And now it's higher than that, Joe.
[03:00]
Republican Supporter
Inflation was at 9% under Biden though. But then I think there was a delayed feeling of all that pent up price increases. And now that we have to deal with it, this is certainly Biden's prices that we're still dealing with and we're still getting under control. This president.
[03:17]
Republican Critic
So is it the Biden economy then? I mean, if it's Biden's prices,
[03:23]
Republican Supporter
it's Biden's disastrous economic record. This present the working family tax cuts, no tax on tips and overtime has had a big impact, impact across this country. He's been working at $19 trillion worth of investments that you're not going to see right away. This president's gone to work for the American worker. That's what the Republican Party is. We are the working person's party now. He has a lot of empathy for people that are paying these high gas prices. And he is doing everything he can to get these prices down. Sometimes these national security issues come up. Listen, he's a piece through strength guy. We've had eight different peace deals around the world. He's going to get this under control. We're going to get prices back.
[04:03]
Republican Congressmember Troy Downing
Yes.
[04:03]
Republican Supporter
People need to have faith that the Republican Party and this president cares about them. And we're going to move this forward.
[04:09]
Host/Commentator
More from RNC chair Joe Grutters right here. And he's like, look, the bottom line is we all know Donald Trump is super popular amongst the base, super popular among maga, and that's why we're going to win this because of Donald when all of the data shows the exact opposite. Play this clip.
[04:30]
Republican Critic
Does he need to look in here a little bit?
[04:33]
Political Analyst Bo
No.
[04:33]
Republican Supporter
I think that the President's beloved by the base. As a matter of fact, the reason why we're going to win in November is because the President's still super popular and probably the most popular president in the history of the country. Within our base. He's the one person that we know could deliver these low propensity voters. That's why we're having this midterm convention for the first time ever. It's going to be a Trump a palooza. And then we're going to go out there and I talked to him. I was Traveling with them. We're going to maybe do 30 rallies together in some of these districts to help try to drive turnout to make sure that come out and vote.
[05:03]
Host/Commentator
You then have Republican Congressmember Troy Downing who says, look, we all know Iran is losing right now because time is on our side. MAGA Republican Congressmember Downing says each day Iran gets weaker and weaker and soon they're just going to collapse and they're going to break. Do you all remember what was it? Was it in April or. It may have been May, but it may have been April or May where Donald Trump said in exactly three days, he said Iran's oil facilities are gonna blow up because the blockade is working so great that they can't even hold the pressure anymore, whatever that means within the oil production facility. So they're gonna just explode. Doesn't it kind of remind you of with COVID where Donald Trump's like, one day it's gonna go, in two days there's only go be one case. That's it, it's all going away. Dude lies about everything. But here's Republican Congressmember Troy Downing. You can see for yourself, play this clip.
[06:10]
Republican Congressmember Troy Downing
Eventually they're just going to run out of resources and have no choice. You know, some of the positives, but again, take this with a grain of salt is we've heard that Iran has been in talks with Oman about opening the strait. They're making some demands on, on the United States in terms of compensation for the cost of the war and some other things which I think are non starters and I hope they're non starters for this administration. And then on the other hand, we just heard from Vice President Vance very recently that Iran is saying that they have no plans on imposing tolls in the strait, which is obviously good because that's something that I don't think anybody on this planet is willing to do. It's completely contrary to maritime and any kind of international law there. So really the thing is we've got them against the ropes and they're going to continue to bleed out resources until they can't do this anymore. And I understand Americans are concerned. We've got $4 gas at the pumps right now. I think that's about the average and that will all come back to equilibrium.
[07:22]
Host/Commentator
Then you have MAGA Republican Congress member Emmer, one of the leaders in Republican Congress. He says, look, the bottom line is that our enemy China is trying to stop us from beating them in the AI war by frustrating our ability to build data centers. We need to build data Centers everywhere. But our enemy, China is stopping us from what our goal is. What Trump's goal is data centers in everybody's backyard and on state, regime, media. Maria Bartiroma's like, this is industrial revolution part two. All of the CEOs, I speak to all of these data centers. That's what's making us rich. These are like some sick people. This is their message though. Here, play this clip.
[08:11]
Republican Congressmember Emmer
We believe in local control and I think people have to start reporting and talking about the fact that not only are we in a race with China when it comes to AI, when it comes to computing, we're competing with China every day. And you know what they're doing? They're pumping money in with misinformation to this country. They're using our freedoms against us. Our enemy China is trying to stop us from beating them in the air war by frustrating our ability to build data centers.
[08:39]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Yeah, I mean, it is an industrial
[08:41]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
revolution part two with the amount of
[08:44]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
jobs and build out from these data centers.
[08:47]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
And it's certainly helping the economy as well.
[08:49]
Host/Commentator
Yeah, we're not buying that. We're not, we don't, we don't want that. We don't want data centers in our backyard. Trump and maga. But that's what Trump's saying. So they gotta go all in on it. And so now let me just share with you some of the data as I promised I would. Um, you have Harry Enton over on CNN showing that Donald Trump's approval with non college white voters and non college voters in general, right? Now think of this number with non, non college educated white voters, he's net negative 8. Non college educated voters in general, net negative 19. So net negative 8 to net negative 19. And then in the 2024 election, he was plus 13 with that group here. Watch what Enten says. Let's play this clip.
[09:37]
Political Analyst Bo
Well, is the MAGA movement was built among the working class non college Americans. And take a look at this trend line that we're looking at in the data. Here we go. Okay. Net favorability rating, the MAGA movement, non college adults back in October of 2024. Look at that. On the plus side of ledger, positive plus six points down we go into the Atlantic Ocean. Now look at this movement now, minus 22 points. That is a shift, Johnny B. Of 28 points away from the MAGA movement, away with non college Americans. So the bottom line is the group at which the Trump movement was built upon, they are shifting away and saying, we don't like MAGA anymore.
[10:18]
Host/Commentator
Same question Same poll here.
[10:19]
Interviewer
This is really interesting to see these numbers move like that.
[10:22]
Political Analyst Bo
Yes, exactly. Right, so same question, same poll.
[10:24]
Interviewer
All right, so how about what the same group is saying about Donald Trump specifically?
[10:29]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Yeah.
[10:30]
Political Analyst Bo
Okay, so you know what, the idea being, okay, maybe they've soured on maga, but they haven't saved. Soured on maga, but maybe they haven't soured on me. Donald Trump might be saying ain't the truth. Take a look here. Okay, non college voters on Trump. Hello. Okay. In the 2024 election, he won him by 13, right. That was the reason he won. He won among non college voters, a very strong performance amongst them. And that, of course, was the reason he was able to win, because college voters were against him. But look at this now. Minus 19 points. Minus 19 points. We're talking about an even bigger shift here. We're talking about. What is this? This is a 32 point shift away from the President of the United States when it comes to his key core political group. This is why he's in so much trouble. It's not just that college voters are against Trump now. It turns out that non college voters, the ones that he built his presidential bid on, have waved adios, goodbye. See you later, Mr. Trump, we don't like you anymore.
[11:23]
Interviewer
So what impact might this have on Republican House members?
[11:26]
Political Analyst Bo
Okay, Johnny B. Is asking the key question here because maybe they're abandoning President Trump, but you know what, the midterm elections, they may not like Democrats either. Well, if you're a congressional Republican, you wish that to be true. I have bad, bad news for you because it turns out that the non college voters are turning on you two. And it may in fact turn you out of power in the congressional elections coming up in the midterms choice for the House non college voters, 2024 election. Look at this. Republicans plus 13 points. Now Democrats, Democrats actually lead among non college voters in an average of polls. It's just a point. But you know, when it comes to a point, and given how well the Democrats are doing among college voters, these are the types of numbers in which blue waves are built. And therefore we can say that the key group that put Donald Trump in the White House, the key group that he built the MAGA movement upon, is leaving him and it's leaving congressional Republicans too.
[12:15]
Republican Supporter
Harold, then.
[12:16]
Host/Commentator
And as you see Donald Trump's polling crash like that, I'm reminded by the incredible cross examination of a very sweaty Pete Hegseth and a very equally disoriented Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary. Hegseth is the Defense Secretary, unfortunately. Both unfortunately have cabinet level positions. The cross examination that was done to them by Democratic Senator Gillibrand, it was one of the best cross exams I've seen in a while. Now, mind you, with everything we know that just is taking place right now, as Donald Trump's just saying, I'm just gonna low key my negotiations with Iran. We're just gonna do semi negotiations and we're just gonna walk out. And Iran's like, you ain't gonna walk out until you pay us reparations. You lost the war. You think you're just gonna walk away and dec. We're not even gonna give you that. I'm reminded by what took place three weeks ago when you had Hegseth and Rollins being cross examined by New York Senator Gillibrand. Watch this. Especially now with everything we know. In the past three weeks, we've learned more about how the Trump regime has depleted all of our weapons. We don't have interceptors, we don't have ATACMs. We, the, our military bases have been abandoned in the Middle East. So this cross exam from three weeks ago takes on a new meaning right now. Here, watch this.
[13:38]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
And what would you say to them who are seeing their health care bills rise because massive cuts to Medicaid, They've
[13:48]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
seen their grocery and gas bills rise
[13:51]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
and this unpopular and unauthorized war abroad is a higher priority to this administration than their ability to feed their families and provide health care to their loved
[14:02]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
ones who are sick.
[14:05]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Well, Senator, you're talking about political trade offs. And our job is to deliver for the United States military and the President. United States. And we look at the cost of a nuclear Iran and we want to prevent that for future generations. And that requires funding and supplementals and this budget and next generation capabilities. And that's why we're here today to request some of that to ensure we can ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear.
[14:26]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
So you're essentially saying you're asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President Trump said he already won. You're asking for $1.5 trillion unlimited money for bombs, but insufficient money for the American people for their health care, their food, their housing and our farmers. Secretary Rollins, who we have cut SNAP program. We are not funding the losses from farmers emergencies that have happened in blue states, particularly when we had cross.
[15:01]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
That's not true.
[15:02]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
False. You're not funding it.
[15:03]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
But back to you, Secretary Hegseth and
[15:06]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
I would like to respond to the fertilizer.
[15:08]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Have your chance, Secretary Hegseth.
[15:10]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
There's no Reason to be.
[15:11]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people.
[15:23]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Not unlimited bombs, Senator. I'm asking for the right bombs at the right time to ensure we can deter our adversaries into the future. And that's how. This is a generational investment. And it was the previous administration that didn't fund this department.
[15:35]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Why they are so upset with you and this administration is because the words you have used in the past don't add up. About Iran specifically. You said that we had obliterated, quote, unquote, Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons. The President made the same claim. Yet eight months later, in February of 2026, the President launched an act of war claiming Iran was within two weeks of having a weapon. So when you say two very different things, the American people don't know who to believe or what to believe. They just know they can't afford their health care, they can't afford their food, they can't afford housing, and our farmers are continuing to suffer. So which is true? Was it obliterated or wasn't it? What's the status?
[16:18]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The nuclear sites under midnight hammer were obliterated. But Iranians foolishly continued to attempt to pursue nuclear capabilities, which is why we destroyed their defense industrial base and so many of the other capabilities to ensure they can't get to a nuclear weapon. So we're staying laser focused on the objective and you're trying to make campaign commercials. No, we're not, and that's fine.
[16:38]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
So listen to this. You also say that you made the missile program, quote, destroyed and made combat ineffective, quote, Iran's entire ballistic missile production capacity, every company that builds every component of those missiles has been functionally defeated and destroyed. And that the missile program, existing stockpiles, were depleted and decimated, almost completely ineffective. So why are there missiles left to hit Jordan and result in the loss of life of our brave men and women?
[17:07]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
As we stated from the beginning, the Iranian defense industrial base is effectively gone. But they do have underground facilities because they're the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. And they've spent 47 years trying to hide their missiles under mountains. Just like their. Thank you.
[17:21]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Thank you.
[17:21]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Just like their nuclear capabilities because they would like to get a nuclear weapon to wield it against us.
[17:26]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Of the war, to believe. Because it's either over or it's not over. It's within two weeks or it's not two weeks. We have no missiles or we have missiles. And that consternation is why so many New Yorkers are perplexed, stressed out and find this war to be incredibly unpopular because they don't understand the choices that the President's making. They don't agree with those choices. Secretary Rollins, so you have cut over 160,000 New Yorkers have been kicked off snap. What do you have against hardworking New Yorkers? Children who need SNAP and seniors who need SNAP.
[17:59]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
Well, first of all, diesel is down under Biden versus today 581 versus 480. Gas is down from Biden today from 484 to 386 today. Today fertilizer is down 56% from Biden.
[18:13]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Highs prices higher than when you took office. Well, all of those prices are higher than when you took office. So you are not.
[18:20]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
That is not true. For that is not true, Senator. And let me tell you what New York is stressed out about is the fact that your state is taking prime farmland and turning it into a solar farms. That is absolutely inexcusable. I have visited the New York farms two times. Two times.
[18:39]
Republican Supporter
You know what?
[18:40]
Host/Commentator
I want to bring in my interview with Senator Gillibrand from New York. Let's bring in that interview.
[18:47]
Interviewer
Senator Gillibrand, great to see you. We were showing before your cross examination of Defense Secretary of Pete Hegset. That was back on July 21st where you were calling him out, where he showed up. He wanted $1.5 trillion after claiming they won the war. Four months then. Now we're learning even more alarming information about the interceptor stocks being depleted. The Navy destroyers don't have the anti ballistics. Our attacks have been depleted. Donald Trump announces fake negotiations with Iran. They're just mocking us now. I mean as an American to see Iran mock these fake negotiations. And I'm watching the fake negotiations and I'm like, we're getting mocked by Iran. Like what is going on? It's, it's all very embarrassing. But just as Trump bankrupted casinos, it seems like he's bankrupted our military. Now also we're out of weapons. And Iran knows it. Everyone knows it. What do you make of this?
[19:38]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Well, Trump has brought this country into a deeply unpopular, unauthorized and illegal war. And he has literally unlimited money. A blank check for bombs and he will is unwilling to pay for healthcare, unwilling to pay for our seniors to get their prescription drugs, unwilling to pay for Medicaid, unwilling to pay for food stamps. It's disgraceful. And so he's making choices for the American people that they have no say in. And I think that's what's making these elections as game changing as they are. Because people want a different type of leadership. They want someone who cares about the challenges we have here at home, who cares about the cost of groceries or the cost of housing or the cost of healthcare, which continues to rise under Trump.
[20:22]
Interviewer
A lot of people talk about, oh, he's doing the Golden Ballroom, he's doing the heliport, he's gilding the statues gold, he's doing the reflecting play. And when you talk about what Hegseth was asking for $1.5 trillion, they're reporting that now they're building out these Trump class battleships because Trump likes the way World War I battleships looked like. And so they wanted to put 200 billion and then it's 300 billion, and then the numbers just keep on going up to do nuclear battleships because he likes the way they look. And you know, and it's like, what, what? They're lying all the time. And to your point, it's like that's where the trillions of dollars are, are going. And while the American, Americans are having their health care ripped away. Because, dude, like battleship in World War I, when we know that right now drone warfare, unmanned submersives can knock out a Trump class battleship, you know, very easily.
[21:13]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Battleships, ballrooms and bombs. That is what Trump is fixated on. Not the cost of groceries or housing or our health care. And it's a disgrace.
[21:23]
Interviewer
Let's talk about also, you know, Trump's also plan. I guess we can add a V there. Voting and trying to take away people's vote. Talk about your campaign finance bill. It's a big deal. It needs to be getting more attention.
[21:36]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
There's too much money in politics and the people who have the money get to control everything. And so we need money out of politics. When In America today, 100 billionaire families are responsible for one in every six dollars. That's an outrage. It means that they have an outsized voice in our democracy. And it means they set an agenda that doesn't respond to the needs of the American people. We need the American people's voice to be heard. And I think if you get rid of money in politics, people will campaign differently. Instead of going to those fancy living rooms and asking for money, they will be going to subway stops, they will be going to corner stores, they'll be going to community centers and talking to voters directly about what they care about. And if their campaigns are funded through these democracy dollars of everyday voters, investments by everyday voters, as opposed to the wealthiest among us. It changes everything. And that communities that have had this done where they've actually used democracy dollars or other really good, innovative campaign finance systems, it changes who votes, it changes who runs, and it changes who wins. And I think that's meaningful.
[22:47]
Interviewer
I mean, you see the contrast between, in our system, Trump propped up by the oligarchs. And on the other hand, in Canada, you got someone like a Prime Minister Carney, someone like is experienced and diligent and articulate, you know, and, and, and who has now kind of taken the mantle, it seems, of, of fighting for values and principles that I once thought, you know, the United States president would focus on international. But I want to talk about that for a second as well, because Canada obviously very close to New York, both in geographic location and economically and relationship wise. And I think one of the most damaging things Trump has done amongst many, his constant attacks on Canada, Canada, just the other day he said, they're nasty. They're nasty people, you know, and the
[23:34]
Host/Commentator
tariffs for the wildfires versus normally we would help them.
[23:37]
Interviewer
They help us out. We have Midas Canada, a whole Canadian division, you know, and the people there are just livid. They've gone elbows up after what they've seen. Trump do, you know, to Canada. Talk about that from your perspective, you know, being a senator from New York, given the proximity.
[23:51]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Well, we have a lot of businesses that work cross border. We have a lot of communities that benefit from Canadians coming down to go shopping, to come to Lake Placid, to tour the Olympic Center. We have a lot of businesses in Buffalo that people come from Canada to come see Niagara Falls. So we have a lot of tourism and economic engagement and entanglement. And Trump's reckless tariffs have resulted in a lot of those businesses suffering. Businesses costs have gone up. People have not been able to go across the border in the way they used to go because of these tariffs. A lot of Canadians have just stopped coming to America because Trump has been so rude towards them. And it's very hard for these border communities where they rely on visitors and they rely on tourism. On top of that, the tariffs on Canada affect our everyday spending. We import a lot of things from Canada, things like lumber that make our housing costs go down. Making lumber cost more and putting those tariffs on Canada, it means the houses and apartments can't be actually built for low cost, and it costs everybody much more to afford it. The same with food. We get a lot of food from Canada. We just do a lot. And so his chaotic tariffs is creating just Higher costs for New Yorkers and Americans and ruining a lot of community businesses.
[25:15]
Interviewer
You know, he seems to try to, he always wants to punch down. And he thinks, and I think he
[25:20]
Host/Commentator
thought that Canada would just submit to
[25:22]
Interviewer
the crazy 51st state. They didn't dace it up. And it seems like when people stand up, he can't take it when you stand up to him, you know, but then, but then he always loves punching down. I mean, you know, it's like, what's the latest? Up, he goes after endangered species. Like, that's what we're gonna do. Let's go after the endangereds. Like, that's one of their big initiatives. What's the other thing? Medicare Part D. You know, it's like, okay, it wasn't enough just to rip away Medicaid from people and the Obamacare subsidies. Like, what now can we do? Let's go after a very important thing, Medicare Part D, and let's just screw over people. It's like, what are you doing? And I know this is a big issue, you know, for you.
[25:57]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Talk to us about how Medicare patients, because if they have Part D and don't get that subsidy, that could mean hundreds of dollars every month for them, it's real money that they will not be able to have to afford their prescription drugs. And if you have anybody that you know or love on Medicare, you know that these medicines is what keep them, keeps them comfortable, alive, functioning, well, thriving. And without access to medicine, their life, their lives will be lost, their quality of life declines. It's just really callous and cruel to treat our parents and grandparents that way and ourselves. I mean, I'm 59, I'm not quite 65, but boy, it's, it's very hateful towards a lot of Americans who need those resources to live.
[26:44]
Interviewer
Before we go, just get your perspective on these. Just the different hearings. We've highlighted a lot of your cross examinations of people, whether it's Hegseth or one of these Trump stooges. And it just kind of feels like an alternate reality to watch. On one hand, we've got you and people like that asking questions, and then we've got these people here who. It would be parody and it would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous to see these people show up. How they answer and they can't speak in sentences because they're thinking, I need to say what's going to make Dear Leader happy? And then I watch some of your Republican colleagues who treat them with, like, kid gloves. Like, I'm like watching this whole thing, I'm like, to me, this is not a political thing. I'm just watching this and I'm like, I'm like. And I wonder what goes through your mind when you ask these people questions. I'm like, how are these real people? Like, what the hell are they? What the hell are they even talking about? Like, what. How is this America of Hegseth?
[27:40]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
He's complicit. I mean, he is. He is literally just whatever Trump commands, he does. And he's not prepared for the job of Secretary of Defense. He's not focused on making sure our military is strong. You know, when we started this war against Iran and they had insufficient information to make appropriate targets and hit a girls school in Iran, I grilled him on how was that targeting done and why are we putting at risk civilians. That is against all laws of war. It's against all human rights. And we had a whole division in the military whose job was to make sure we don't have civilian harm. He fired all those people. We have protections within the military to protect against cyber interference, cyber crime, cyber espionage. And we had all these protections to make sure foreign countries didn't undermine our elections. He fired all those people. Every type of senior person that is in place to protect our service members and make sure that when we do engagements, we do them right. He continues to fire them all under the auspices of we need to be more lethal or we don't have enough testosterone. Like these issues and ideas that he keeps bringing up are absurdities. And he's leading us down a reckless path. And we are much less safe because of the decisions that Hegstaff has made and his unwillingness to stand up to President Trump when he's wrong.
[29:13]
Interviewer
Senator Gillibrand, it's first time appearing on the Midas Touch network. We got to make sure you come back on more. We appreciate you fighting. I certainly appreciate your cross exams. I show them because, you know, you don't. A lot of people like to listen to themselves talk and they. It's like you ask the questions and put them on the spot. And we need more of that. I appreciate it.
[29:37]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Thank you. Well, I'm going to keep fighting as
[29:39]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
hard as I can because I've never
[29:41]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
seen a more corrupt, self focused, irrational, reckless administration. And what they're doing is harming New Yorkers every day.
[29:50]
Interviewer
Yeah, no, I appreciate it. And sometimes the language doesn't even. It's, it's, it's, it doesn't even capture it. Like, it's just. You look at you like what the F is the hell is what, what is this?
[30:02]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Yeah, his new, his new idea that he wants to sell people on truth, social early access. He's basically offering insider information. He's actually encouraging trading on non public information and offering that for $100,000 a pop. It's one of the reasons why I want to ban stock trading by all members of Congress, by the President, the Vice President, that the senior administration officials, nobody should be getting rich off of the access to the non public information their job is giving them. And so we need to ban all stock trading and all access to markets because the truth is they have non public information. And Trump right now is selling it. So going even the next degree of not only trading on it for himself, but that's selling that non public information.
[30:45]
Interviewer
But your Republican colleagues, Senator Loomis, Senator
[30:48]
Host/Commentator
Scott, they go, we've never seen it.
[30:49]
Interviewer
More ethical. They go, we've never seen them.
[30:52]
Host/Commentator
That's what they said today. We've never seen a more ethical administrator.
[30:55]
Interviewer
It's crazy stuff. Crazy stuff. Thank you. Thank you everybody. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Before you go, our book, WTF America
[31:07]
Host/Commentator
is available for pre order now. It's the story of how we got here and how we fight our way back. To pre order, scan the QR code or click the link in the description.
[31:15]
Interviewer
Let's do this.
[31:16]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
This.

Summary6 min read

The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Senator Gillibrand on Trump's Midterm Challenges
Date: August 10, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Guest: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the unraveling political fortunes of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement ahead of the 2026 midterms, particularly focusing on their loss of support among non-college-educated white voters—a demographic previously central to their success. The Meiselas brothers use their signature blend of sharp news analysis and humor to break down the shifting political landscape, Republican messaging crises, and the impact of Trump’s policies on key voter concerns like economics, foreign policy, and healthcare. The highlight is an in-depth interview with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who provides a scathing critique of Trump’s administration, details her cross-examination of cabinet officials, and discusses her legislative proposals on campaign finance and anti-corruption reforms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. GOP Panic Over Shifting Voter Base

Host Analysis (00:00-01:01): The episode opens with commentary on Republican leaders “panicking on live TV” due to Trump becoming deeply unpopular, especially among non-college-educated white voters, a major shift from past elections.
Economic Frustrations (02:04-03:16): Clips highlight the Republican narrative blaming the Biden economy for inflation and high gas prices, despite current data showing those claims are either exaggerated or inaccurate.

“People have short memories and they forget that Biden's economic disastrous reign led us to...higher inflation, higher gas prices.”
— Republican Supporter (02:31)

RNC Messaging: "MAGA Denial" (04:08-05:02): Party leaders remain publicly loyal to Trump, scheduling massive rallies and doubling down on his popularity—contradicted by polling data.

"As a matter of fact, the reason why we're going to win in November is because the President's still super popular...the one person that we know could deliver these low propensity voters."
— RNC Chair Joe Gruters (04:32)

2. Trump’s Foreign Policy (Especially Iran) and GOP Defense

Middle East Missteps (06:10-07:22): Republican Congressmember Troy Downing claims Iran is weakening daily, comparing the administration’s rhetoric to Trump’s failed COVID predictions.
China, Data Centers, and Tech Wars (08:10-08:46): Rep. Emmer launches a tirade against China, blaming them for America’s technological anxieties while pushing for widespread data centers.

“Our enemy China is trying to stop us from beating them in the AI war by frustrating our ability to build data centers.”
— Rep. Emmer (08:10)

3. Data Reveals MAGA Movement’s Decline

Harry Enton Polling Segment (09:36-12:14):
- Non-college voters: Once a Trump stronghold, now shifting to net negative for both Trump and congressional Republicans.
- Key Figures:
  - October 2024: MAGA net +6, now net -22 among non-college Americans.
  - Trump: From +13 (2024) to -19 in 2026.
  - Congressional Republicans: From +13 to Democrats now slightly leading.

“The key group that put Donald Trump in the White House…is leaving him and it's leaving congressional Republicans too.”
— Political Analyst Bo (11:14)

4. Gillibrand’s Cross-Examinations: Cabinet Under Fire

Recap of Senate Hearing (13:38-18:39):
- Senator Gillibrand grills Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins about prioritizing military spending over healthcare and social services.
- She presses Hegseth on contradictions about Iran’s capabilities and Rollins on cuts to SNAP and support for struggling farmers.

“You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people.”
— Sen. Gillibrand (15:11)

"Was it obliterated or wasn't it? What's the status [of Iran's nuclear program]?"
— Sen. Gillibrand (15:35)

5. Senator Gillibrand Interview: Inside the Policy Fight

Condemnation of Trump’s Priorities (19:37-21:13):
- Gillibrand denounces Trump’s “deeply unpopular, unauthorized, and illegal war” and his “blank check for bombs.”
- Critiques the administration for slashing domestic support programs while pouring trillions into military boondoggles like "Trump class battleships."

"Battleships, ballrooms and bombs. That is what Trump is fixated on. Not the cost of groceries or housing or our health care. And it's a disgrace."
— Sen. Gillibrand (21:13)

Campaign Finance Reform (21:35-22:46):
- She details her bill to get money out of politics, advocating for “democracy dollars” and pointing out:
  
  “100 billionaire families are responsible for one in every six dollars. That’s an outrage.”
  — Sen. Gillibrand (21:36)
Cross-Border Frustrations and Tariffs on Canada (23:50-25:14):
- Gillibrand explains how Trump’s tariffs and insults toward Canada—vital to NY’s border economy—have harmed local businesses, increased costs, and reduced tourism.

“His chaotic tariffs is creating just higher costs for New Yorkers and Americans and ruining a lot of community businesses.”
— Sen. Gillibrand (25:14)

Medicare Part D & Health Costs (25:57-26:44):
- The Senator highlights the real-world impact of Trump’s attempts to cut vital prescription drug subsidies.

“It’s just really callous and cruel to treat our parents and grandparents that way...it’s very hateful towards a lot of Americans who need those resources to live.”
— Sen. Gillibrand (26:28)

On GOP Cabinet’s Competence & Ethics (27:39-29:13):
- Gillibrand accuses Defense Secretary Hegseth of following Trump's orders blindly, firing oversight and cyber teams, and endangering both military and civilian lives in pursuit of reckless policies.

"He is literally just whatever Trump commands, he does. And he's not prepared for the job of Secretary of Defense."
— Sen. Gillibrand (27:39)

Ban on Elected Official Stock Trading (30:01-30:45):
- She calls for expanding the ban on stock trading for all high-ranking officials, blasting Trump’s scheme to sell “truth social early access” as a new form of corruption.

"Trump right now is selling [non-public information]. So going even the next degree of not only trading on it for himself, but that's selling that non public information."
— Sen. Gillibrand (30:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Republican Messaging in Crisis

“Play the communism, socialism, or boogeyman card—or just blame Joe Biden for everything.” —Host (01:04)

Data-Driven Shifts

“This is a 32 point shift away from the President of the United States when it comes to his key core political group. This is why he’s in so much trouble.” —Political Analyst Bo (10:29)

Gillibrand’s Rhetoric

“I don’t know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people.” —Sen. Gillibrand (15:11)
“Battleships, ballrooms and bombs. That is what Trump is fixated on. Not the cost of groceries or housing or our health care. And it’s a disgrace.” —Sen. Gillibrand (21:13)
“He is literally just whatever Trump commands, he does. And he's not prepared for the job of Secretary of Defense.” —Sen. Gillibrand (27:39)
“Trump right now is selling [non-public information]...That's selling that non public information.” —Sen. Gillibrand (30:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

GOP Losing Non-College White Voters: 00:00–01:01
RNC and GOP Messaging Meltdown: 02:04–05:02
Shifting Polls and Trump’s Base: 09:36–12:14
Gillibrand Senate Hearing Cross-Exam: 13:38–18:39
Gillibrand Interview (Military & Economic Critique): 19:37–21:13
Campaign Finance Reform: 21:35–22:46
Tariffs on Canada & Local Impact: 23:50–25:14
Medicare and Healthcare Cuts: 25:57–26:44
GOP Leadership Accountability: 27:39–29:13
Ban on Stock Trading and Ethics: 30:01–30:45

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode blends sharp, irreverent criticism of Republican contradictions with passionate advocacy for economic justice, ethical governance, and democracy. Senator Gillibrand emerges as a forceful voice against Trump’s policies, highlighting the disconnect between GOP priorities and ordinary Americans’ needs. The underlying message: The 2026 midterms are shaping up to be transformative, as Trump’s once-solid base turns away—catalyzed by war fatigue, economic precarity, and perceptions of deepening corruption at the top.

Listeners are left with a sense of urgency but also hope for change, as the hosts and guest stress the necessity of accountability, transparency, and renewed civic engagement.

Loading summary

Transcript91 lines

[00:00]
Host/Commentator
Republican leaders are panicking and they are panicking on live TV as the last remaining group supporting Donald Trump, non college educated white voters are no longer supporting him. Donald Trump is deeply underwater among non college educated white voters. He's deeply underwater amongst all groups here in the United States. Inflation continues to rise. The never ending wars continue. Donald Trump wakes up one day threatening war crimes against Iran, then wakes up another day and says, gonna deescalate and we're just gonna leave Iran, can you please open the Strait of Hormuz? And Iran said, nope, you break it, you fix it. You started this catastrophic war. You better pay us reparations. And then Donald Trump's like, I'm just gonna low key it, okay? I'm just gonna do a semi negotiation. And people are like, what the heck are you even talking about? People are suffering here. They can't afford anything. And all Donald Trump is doing right now is trying to talk about the communism.
[01:02]
Political Analyst Bo
Bo,
[01:04]
Host/Commentator
take a look at what's going on. I want to show you the data which shows Donald Trump losing among non college educated white voters at this point. I mean, we are at the home stretch or at least getting to the home stretch right before the midterms. But first I want to show you the reaction. How are these Republican leaders responding? And as noted, they are panicking on live tv. Let's take a look at the chair of the rnc, Joe Grutters, and his response is kind of the typical MAGA response. It's kind of an A or B at this point, right? Either say communism, socialism, boogeyman and maybe boogeyman and then maybe say Hassan Piker or put that in there. That's kind of one route that the MAGA Republicans do. And the other is blame Joe Biden and just say it's all Joe Biden's fault. Gas $4 a gallon. Inflation rising. GDP slow. Blame Joe Biden with watch the RNC chair here on live TV. Let's play it.
[02:04]
Republican Critic
But here's part of the record. Inflation, three and a half percent that is now, according to government figures, higher than the 3.2% for nationwide earnings. Gas not $2 a gallon, as we all know, it's Double that at 4. Electricity prices haven't been cut in half as the President talked about. They continue to go up and to the right and GDP is at 1.5%. Why do Republicans deserve to keep power in Washington if that's part of the scorecard?
[02:32]
Republican Supporter
People have short memories and they forget that Biden's economic disastrous reign led us to the much Higher inflation, higher gas prices. And this president from day one has been working on getting these things under control. If it wasn't for the inflation was
[02:50]
Republican Critic
3%, inflation was 3% when he took office, 2.2% by the time voters went to the polls in November 24th. And now it's higher than that, Joe.
[03:00]
Republican Supporter
Inflation was at 9% under Biden though. But then I think there was a delayed feeling of all that pent up price increases. And now that we have to deal with it, this is certainly Biden's prices that we're still dealing with and we're still getting under control. This president.
[03:17]
Republican Critic
So is it the Biden economy then? I mean, if it's Biden's prices,
[03:23]
Republican Supporter
it's Biden's disastrous economic record. This present the working family tax cuts, no tax on tips and overtime has had a big impact, impact across this country. He's been working at $19 trillion worth of investments that you're not going to see right away. This president's gone to work for the American worker. That's what the Republican Party is. We are the working person's party now. He has a lot of empathy for people that are paying these high gas prices. And he is doing everything he can to get these prices down. Sometimes these national security issues come up. Listen, he's a piece through strength guy. We've had eight different peace deals around the world. He's going to get this under control. We're going to get prices back.
[04:03]
Republican Congressmember Troy Downing
Yes.
[04:03]
Republican Supporter
People need to have faith that the Republican Party and this president cares about them. And we're going to move this forward.
[04:09]
Host/Commentator
More from RNC chair Joe Grutters right here. And he's like, look, the bottom line is we all know Donald Trump is super popular amongst the base, super popular among maga, and that's why we're going to win this because of Donald when all of the data shows the exact opposite. Play this clip.
[04:30]
Republican Critic
Does he need to look in here a little bit?
[04:33]
Political Analyst Bo
No.
[04:33]
Republican Supporter
I think that the President's beloved by the base. As a matter of fact, the reason why we're going to win in November is because the President's still super popular and probably the most popular president in the history of the country. Within our base. He's the one person that we know could deliver these low propensity voters. That's why we're having this midterm convention for the first time ever. It's going to be a Trump a palooza. And then we're going to go out there and I talked to him. I was Traveling with them. We're going to maybe do 30 rallies together in some of these districts to help try to drive turnout to make sure that come out and vote.
[05:03]
Host/Commentator
You then have Republican Congressmember Troy Downing who says, look, we all know Iran is losing right now because time is on our side. MAGA Republican Congressmember Downing says each day Iran gets weaker and weaker and soon they're just going to collapse and they're going to break. Do you all remember what was it? Was it in April or. It may have been May, but it may have been April or May where Donald Trump said in exactly three days, he said Iran's oil facilities are gonna blow up because the blockade is working so great that they can't even hold the pressure anymore, whatever that means within the oil production facility. So they're gonna just explode. Doesn't it kind of remind you of with COVID where Donald Trump's like, one day it's gonna go, in two days there's only go be one case. That's it, it's all going away. Dude lies about everything. But here's Republican Congressmember Troy Downing. You can see for yourself, play this clip.
[06:10]
Republican Congressmember Troy Downing
Eventually they're just going to run out of resources and have no choice. You know, some of the positives, but again, take this with a grain of salt is we've heard that Iran has been in talks with Oman about opening the strait. They're making some demands on, on the United States in terms of compensation for the cost of the war and some other things which I think are non starters and I hope they're non starters for this administration. And then on the other hand, we just heard from Vice President Vance very recently that Iran is saying that they have no plans on imposing tolls in the strait, which is obviously good because that's something that I don't think anybody on this planet is willing to do. It's completely contrary to maritime and any kind of international law there. So really the thing is we've got them against the ropes and they're going to continue to bleed out resources until they can't do this anymore. And I understand Americans are concerned. We've got $4 gas at the pumps right now. I think that's about the average and that will all come back to equilibrium.
[07:22]
Host/Commentator
Then you have MAGA Republican Congress member Emmer, one of the leaders in Republican Congress. He says, look, the bottom line is that our enemy China is trying to stop us from beating them in the AI war by frustrating our ability to build data centers. We need to build data Centers everywhere. But our enemy, China is stopping us from what our goal is. What Trump's goal is data centers in everybody's backyard and on state, regime, media. Maria Bartiroma's like, this is industrial revolution part two. All of the CEOs, I speak to all of these data centers. That's what's making us rich. These are like some sick people. This is their message though. Here, play this clip.
[08:11]
Republican Congressmember Emmer
We believe in local control and I think people have to start reporting and talking about the fact that not only are we in a race with China when it comes to AI, when it comes to computing, we're competing with China every day. And you know what they're doing? They're pumping money in with misinformation to this country. They're using our freedoms against us. Our enemy China is trying to stop us from beating them in the air war by frustrating our ability to build data centers.
[08:39]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Yeah, I mean, it is an industrial
[08:41]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
revolution part two with the amount of
[08:44]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
jobs and build out from these data centers.
[08:47]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
And it's certainly helping the economy as well.
[08:49]
Host/Commentator
Yeah, we're not buying that. We're not, we don't, we don't want that. We don't want data centers in our backyard. Trump and maga. But that's what Trump's saying. So they gotta go all in on it. And so now let me just share with you some of the data as I promised I would. Um, you have Harry Enton over on CNN showing that Donald Trump's approval with non college white voters and non college voters in general, right? Now think of this number with non, non college educated white voters, he's net negative 8. Non college educated voters in general, net negative 19. So net negative 8 to net negative 19. And then in the 2024 election, he was plus 13 with that group here. Watch what Enten says. Let's play this clip.
[09:37]
Political Analyst Bo
Well, is the MAGA movement was built among the working class non college Americans. And take a look at this trend line that we're looking at in the data. Here we go. Okay. Net favorability rating, the MAGA movement, non college adults back in October of 2024. Look at that. On the plus side of ledger, positive plus six points down we go into the Atlantic Ocean. Now look at this movement now, minus 22 points. That is a shift, Johnny B. Of 28 points away from the MAGA movement, away with non college Americans. So the bottom line is the group at which the Trump movement was built upon, they are shifting away and saying, we don't like MAGA anymore.
[10:18]
Host/Commentator
Same question Same poll here.
[10:19]
Interviewer
This is really interesting to see these numbers move like that.
[10:22]
Political Analyst Bo
Yes, exactly. Right, so same question, same poll.
[10:24]
Interviewer
All right, so how about what the same group is saying about Donald Trump specifically?
[10:29]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Yeah.
[10:30]
Political Analyst Bo
Okay, so you know what, the idea being, okay, maybe they've soured on maga, but they haven't saved. Soured on maga, but maybe they haven't soured on me. Donald Trump might be saying ain't the truth. Take a look here. Okay, non college voters on Trump. Hello. Okay. In the 2024 election, he won him by 13, right. That was the reason he won. He won among non college voters, a very strong performance amongst them. And that, of course, was the reason he was able to win, because college voters were against him. But look at this now. Minus 19 points. Minus 19 points. We're talking about an even bigger shift here. We're talking about. What is this? This is a 32 point shift away from the President of the United States when it comes to his key core political group. This is why he's in so much trouble. It's not just that college voters are against Trump now. It turns out that non college voters, the ones that he built his presidential bid on, have waved adios, goodbye. See you later, Mr. Trump, we don't like you anymore.
[11:23]
Interviewer
So what impact might this have on Republican House members?
[11:26]
Political Analyst Bo
Okay, Johnny B. Is asking the key question here because maybe they're abandoning President Trump, but you know what, the midterm elections, they may not like Democrats either. Well, if you're a congressional Republican, you wish that to be true. I have bad, bad news for you because it turns out that the non college voters are turning on you two. And it may in fact turn you out of power in the congressional elections coming up in the midterms choice for the House non college voters, 2024 election. Look at this. Republicans plus 13 points. Now Democrats, Democrats actually lead among non college voters in an average of polls. It's just a point. But you know, when it comes to a point, and given how well the Democrats are doing among college voters, these are the types of numbers in which blue waves are built. And therefore we can say that the key group that put Donald Trump in the White House, the key group that he built the MAGA movement upon, is leaving him and it's leaving congressional Republicans too.
[12:15]
Republican Supporter
Harold, then.
[12:16]
Host/Commentator
And as you see Donald Trump's polling crash like that, I'm reminded by the incredible cross examination of a very sweaty Pete Hegseth and a very equally disoriented Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary. Hegseth is the Defense Secretary, unfortunately. Both unfortunately have cabinet level positions. The cross examination that was done to them by Democratic Senator Gillibrand, it was one of the best cross exams I've seen in a while. Now, mind you, with everything we know that just is taking place right now, as Donald Trump's just saying, I'm just gonna low key my negotiations with Iran. We're just gonna do semi negotiations and we're just gonna walk out. And Iran's like, you ain't gonna walk out until you pay us reparations. You lost the war. You think you're just gonna walk away and dec. We're not even gonna give you that. I'm reminded by what took place three weeks ago when you had Hegseth and Rollins being cross examined by New York Senator Gillibrand. Watch this. Especially now with everything we know. In the past three weeks, we've learned more about how the Trump regime has depleted all of our weapons. We don't have interceptors, we don't have ATACMs. We, the, our military bases have been abandoned in the Middle East. So this cross exam from three weeks ago takes on a new meaning right now. Here, watch this.
[13:38]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
And what would you say to them who are seeing their health care bills rise because massive cuts to Medicaid, They've
[13:48]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
seen their grocery and gas bills rise
[13:51]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
and this unpopular and unauthorized war abroad is a higher priority to this administration than their ability to feed their families and provide health care to their loved
[14:02]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
ones who are sick.
[14:05]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Well, Senator, you're talking about political trade offs. And our job is to deliver for the United States military and the President. United States. And we look at the cost of a nuclear Iran and we want to prevent that for future generations. And that requires funding and supplementals and this budget and next generation capabilities. And that's why we're here today to request some of that to ensure we can ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear.
[14:26]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
So you're essentially saying you're asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President Trump said he already won. You're asking for $1.5 trillion unlimited money for bombs, but insufficient money for the American people for their health care, their food, their housing and our farmers. Secretary Rollins, who we have cut SNAP program. We are not funding the losses from farmers emergencies that have happened in blue states, particularly when we had cross.
[15:01]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
That's not true.
[15:02]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
False. You're not funding it.
[15:03]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
But back to you, Secretary Hegseth and
[15:06]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
I would like to respond to the fertilizer.
[15:08]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Have your chance, Secretary Hegseth.
[15:10]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
There's no Reason to be.
[15:11]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people.
[15:23]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Not unlimited bombs, Senator. I'm asking for the right bombs at the right time to ensure we can deter our adversaries into the future. And that's how. This is a generational investment. And it was the previous administration that didn't fund this department.
[15:35]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Why they are so upset with you and this administration is because the words you have used in the past don't add up. About Iran specifically. You said that we had obliterated, quote, unquote, Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons. The President made the same claim. Yet eight months later, in February of 2026, the President launched an act of war claiming Iran was within two weeks of having a weapon. So when you say two very different things, the American people don't know who to believe or what to believe. They just know they can't afford their health care, they can't afford their food, they can't afford housing, and our farmers are continuing to suffer. So which is true? Was it obliterated or wasn't it? What's the status?
[16:18]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The nuclear sites under midnight hammer were obliterated. But Iranians foolishly continued to attempt to pursue nuclear capabilities, which is why we destroyed their defense industrial base and so many of the other capabilities to ensure they can't get to a nuclear weapon. So we're staying laser focused on the objective and you're trying to make campaign commercials. No, we're not, and that's fine.
[16:38]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
So listen to this. You also say that you made the missile program, quote, destroyed and made combat ineffective, quote, Iran's entire ballistic missile production capacity, every company that builds every component of those missiles has been functionally defeated and destroyed. And that the missile program, existing stockpiles, were depleted and decimated, almost completely ineffective. So why are there missiles left to hit Jordan and result in the loss of life of our brave men and women?
[17:07]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
As we stated from the beginning, the Iranian defense industrial base is effectively gone. But they do have underground facilities because they're the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. And they've spent 47 years trying to hide their missiles under mountains. Just like their. Thank you.
[17:21]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Thank you.
[17:21]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Just like their nuclear capabilities because they would like to get a nuclear weapon to wield it against us.
[17:26]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Of the war, to believe. Because it's either over or it's not over. It's within two weeks or it's not two weeks. We have no missiles or we have missiles. And that consternation is why so many New Yorkers are perplexed, stressed out and find this war to be incredibly unpopular because they don't understand the choices that the President's making. They don't agree with those choices. Secretary Rollins, so you have cut over 160,000 New Yorkers have been kicked off snap. What do you have against hardworking New Yorkers? Children who need SNAP and seniors who need SNAP.
[17:59]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
Well, first of all, diesel is down under Biden versus today 581 versus 480. Gas is down from Biden today from 484 to 386 today. Today fertilizer is down 56% from Biden.
[18:13]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
Highs prices higher than when you took office. Well, all of those prices are higher than when you took office. So you are not.
[18:20]
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
That is not true. For that is not true, Senator. And let me tell you what New York is stressed out about is the fact that your state is taking prime farmland and turning it into a solar farms. That is absolutely inexcusable. I have visited the New York farms two times. Two times.
[18:39]
Republican Supporter
You know what?
[18:40]
Host/Commentator
I want to bring in my interview with Senator Gillibrand from New York. Let's bring in that interview.
[18:47]
Interviewer
Senator Gillibrand, great to see you. We were showing before your cross examination of Defense Secretary of Pete Hegset. That was back on July 21st where you were calling him out, where he showed up. He wanted $1.5 trillion after claiming they won the war. Four months then. Now we're learning even more alarming information about the interceptor stocks being depleted. The Navy destroyers don't have the anti ballistics. Our attacks have been depleted. Donald Trump announces fake negotiations with Iran. They're just mocking us now. I mean as an American to see Iran mock these fake negotiations. And I'm watching the fake negotiations and I'm like, we're getting mocked by Iran. Like what is going on? It's, it's all very embarrassing. But just as Trump bankrupted casinos, it seems like he's bankrupted our military. Now also we're out of weapons. And Iran knows it. Everyone knows it. What do you make of this?
[19:38]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Well, Trump has brought this country into a deeply unpopular, unauthorized and illegal war. And he has literally unlimited money. A blank check for bombs and he will is unwilling to pay for healthcare, unwilling to pay for our seniors to get their prescription drugs, unwilling to pay for Medicaid, unwilling to pay for food stamps. It's disgraceful. And so he's making choices for the American people that they have no say in. And I think that's what's making these elections as game changing as they are. Because people want a different type of leadership. They want someone who cares about the challenges we have here at home, who cares about the cost of groceries or the cost of housing or the cost of healthcare, which continues to rise under Trump.
[20:22]
Interviewer
A lot of people talk about, oh, he's doing the Golden Ballroom, he's doing the heliport, he's gilding the statues gold, he's doing the reflecting play. And when you talk about what Hegseth was asking for $1.5 trillion, they're reporting that now they're building out these Trump class battleships because Trump likes the way World War I battleships looked like. And so they wanted to put 200 billion and then it's 300 billion, and then the numbers just keep on going up to do nuclear battleships because he likes the way they look. And you know, and it's like, what, what? They're lying all the time. And to your point, it's like that's where the trillions of dollars are, are going. And while the American, Americans are having their health care ripped away. Because, dude, like battleship in World War I, when we know that right now drone warfare, unmanned submersives can knock out a Trump class battleship, you know, very easily.
[21:13]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Battleships, ballrooms and bombs. That is what Trump is fixated on. Not the cost of groceries or housing or our health care. And it's a disgrace.
[21:23]
Interviewer
Let's talk about also, you know, Trump's also plan. I guess we can add a V there. Voting and trying to take away people's vote. Talk about your campaign finance bill. It's a big deal. It needs to be getting more attention.
[21:36]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
There's too much money in politics and the people who have the money get to control everything. And so we need money out of politics. When In America today, 100 billionaire families are responsible for one in every six dollars. That's an outrage. It means that they have an outsized voice in our democracy. And it means they set an agenda that doesn't respond to the needs of the American people. We need the American people's voice to be heard. And I think if you get rid of money in politics, people will campaign differently. Instead of going to those fancy living rooms and asking for money, they will be going to subway stops, they will be going to corner stores, they'll be going to community centers and talking to voters directly about what they care about. And if their campaigns are funded through these democracy dollars of everyday voters, investments by everyday voters, as opposed to the wealthiest among us. It changes everything. And that communities that have had this done where they've actually used democracy dollars or other really good, innovative campaign finance systems, it changes who votes, it changes who runs, and it changes who wins. And I think that's meaningful.
[22:47]
Interviewer
I mean, you see the contrast between, in our system, Trump propped up by the oligarchs. And on the other hand, in Canada, you got someone like a Prime Minister Carney, someone like is experienced and diligent and articulate, you know, and, and, and who has now kind of taken the mantle, it seems, of, of fighting for values and principles that I once thought, you know, the United States president would focus on international. But I want to talk about that for a second as well, because Canada obviously very close to New York, both in geographic location and economically and relationship wise. And I think one of the most damaging things Trump has done amongst many, his constant attacks on Canada, Canada, just the other day he said, they're nasty. They're nasty people, you know, and the
[23:34]
Host/Commentator
tariffs for the wildfires versus normally we would help them.
[23:37]
Interviewer
They help us out. We have Midas Canada, a whole Canadian division, you know, and the people there are just livid. They've gone elbows up after what they've seen. Trump do, you know, to Canada. Talk about that from your perspective, you know, being a senator from New York, given the proximity.
[23:51]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Well, we have a lot of businesses that work cross border. We have a lot of communities that benefit from Canadians coming down to go shopping, to come to Lake Placid, to tour the Olympic Center. We have a lot of businesses in Buffalo that people come from Canada to come see Niagara Falls. So we have a lot of tourism and economic engagement and entanglement. And Trump's reckless tariffs have resulted in a lot of those businesses suffering. Businesses costs have gone up. People have not been able to go across the border in the way they used to go because of these tariffs. A lot of Canadians have just stopped coming to America because Trump has been so rude towards them. And it's very hard for these border communities where they rely on visitors and they rely on tourism. On top of that, the tariffs on Canada affect our everyday spending. We import a lot of things from Canada, things like lumber that make our housing costs go down. Making lumber cost more and putting those tariffs on Canada, it means the houses and apartments can't be actually built for low cost, and it costs everybody much more to afford it. The same with food. We get a lot of food from Canada. We just do a lot. And so his chaotic tariffs is creating just Higher costs for New Yorkers and Americans and ruining a lot of community businesses.
[25:15]
Interviewer
You know, he seems to try to, he always wants to punch down. And he thinks, and I think he
[25:20]
Host/Commentator
thought that Canada would just submit to
[25:22]
Interviewer
the crazy 51st state. They didn't dace it up. And it seems like when people stand up, he can't take it when you stand up to him, you know, but then, but then he always loves punching down. I mean, you know, it's like, what's the latest? Up, he goes after endangered species. Like, that's what we're gonna do. Let's go after the endangereds. Like, that's one of their big initiatives. What's the other thing? Medicare Part D. You know, it's like, okay, it wasn't enough just to rip away Medicaid from people and the Obamacare subsidies. Like, what now can we do? Let's go after a very important thing, Medicare Part D, and let's just screw over people. It's like, what are you doing? And I know this is a big issue, you know, for you.
[25:57]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Talk to us about how Medicare patients, because if they have Part D and don't get that subsidy, that could mean hundreds of dollars every month for them, it's real money that they will not be able to have to afford their prescription drugs. And if you have anybody that you know or love on Medicare, you know that these medicines is what keep them, keeps them comfortable, alive, functioning, well, thriving. And without access to medicine, their life, their lives will be lost, their quality of life declines. It's just really callous and cruel to treat our parents and grandparents that way and ourselves. I mean, I'm 59, I'm not quite 65, but boy, it's, it's very hateful towards a lot of Americans who need those resources to live.
[26:44]
Interviewer
Before we go, just get your perspective on these. Just the different hearings. We've highlighted a lot of your cross examinations of people, whether it's Hegseth or one of these Trump stooges. And it just kind of feels like an alternate reality to watch. On one hand, we've got you and people like that asking questions, and then we've got these people here who. It would be parody and it would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous to see these people show up. How they answer and they can't speak in sentences because they're thinking, I need to say what's going to make Dear Leader happy? And then I watch some of your Republican colleagues who treat them with, like, kid gloves. Like, I'm like watching this whole thing, I'm like, to me, this is not a political thing. I'm just watching this and I'm like, I'm like. And I wonder what goes through your mind when you ask these people questions. I'm like, how are these real people? Like, what the hell are they? What the hell are they even talking about? Like, what. How is this America of Hegseth?
[27:40]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
He's complicit. I mean, he is. He is literally just whatever Trump commands, he does. And he's not prepared for the job of Secretary of Defense. He's not focused on making sure our military is strong. You know, when we started this war against Iran and they had insufficient information to make appropriate targets and hit a girls school in Iran, I grilled him on how was that targeting done and why are we putting at risk civilians. That is against all laws of war. It's against all human rights. And we had a whole division in the military whose job was to make sure we don't have civilian harm. He fired all those people. We have protections within the military to protect against cyber interference, cyber crime, cyber espionage. And we had all these protections to make sure foreign countries didn't undermine our elections. He fired all those people. Every type of senior person that is in place to protect our service members and make sure that when we do engagements, we do them right. He continues to fire them all under the auspices of we need to be more lethal or we don't have enough testosterone. Like these issues and ideas that he keeps bringing up are absurdities. And he's leading us down a reckless path. And we are much less safe because of the decisions that Hegstaff has made and his unwillingness to stand up to President Trump when he's wrong.
[29:13]
Interviewer
Senator Gillibrand, it's first time appearing on the Midas Touch network. We got to make sure you come back on more. We appreciate you fighting. I certainly appreciate your cross exams. I show them because, you know, you don't. A lot of people like to listen to themselves talk and they. It's like you ask the questions and put them on the spot. And we need more of that. I appreciate it.
[29:37]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Thank you. Well, I'm going to keep fighting as
[29:39]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
hard as I can because I've never
[29:41]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
seen a more corrupt, self focused, irrational, reckless administration. And what they're doing is harming New Yorkers every day.
[29:50]
Interviewer
Yeah, no, I appreciate it. And sometimes the language doesn't even. It's, it's, it's, it doesn't even capture it. Like, it's just. You look at you like what the F is the hell is what, what is this?
[30:02]
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Yeah, his new, his new idea that he wants to sell people on truth, social early access. He's basically offering insider information. He's actually encouraging trading on non public information and offering that for $100,000 a pop. It's one of the reasons why I want to ban stock trading by all members of Congress, by the President, the Vice President, that the senior administration officials, nobody should be getting rich off of the access to the non public information their job is giving them. And so we need to ban all stock trading and all access to markets because the truth is they have non public information. And Trump right now is selling it. So going even the next degree of not only trading on it for himself, but that's selling that non public information.
[30:45]
Interviewer
But your Republican colleagues, Senator Loomis, Senator
[30:48]
Host/Commentator
Scott, they go, we've never seen it.
[30:49]
Interviewer
More ethical. They go, we've never seen them.
[30:52]
Host/Commentator
That's what they said today. We've never seen a more ethical administrator.
[30:55]
Interviewer
It's crazy stuff. Crazy stuff. Thank you. Thank you everybody. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Before you go, our book, WTF America
[31:07]
Host/Commentator
is available for pre order now. It's the story of how we got here and how we fight our way back. To pre order, scan the QR code or click the link in the description.
[31:15]
Interviewer
Let's do this.
[31:16]
Senator Gillibrand (questioning)
This.