Breaking: Trump Furious as Mass Boycott Planned for State of the Union

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Parnas Perspective – "Breaking: Trump Furious as Mass Boycott Planned for State of the Union"

Host: Aaron Parnas
Guest: Alison Jaslow (congressional candidate, NC-3)
Date: February 18, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Parnas Perspective covers the unprecedented mass Democratic boycott of President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address—his first since returning to the presidency. Aaron Parnas examines the political implications of the boycott, Democratic lawmakers’ motivations, Trump’s eroding support, and what this means for congressional oversight in a polarized era. The episode features a timely interview with Alison Jaslow, a veteran and North Carolina Democratic congressional candidate, who discusses accountability in government, Congress’s abdication of war powers, and her vision for public service.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Democratic Boycott of Trump’s State of the Union

[00:33 – 03:55]

• Widespread Boycott Announced:
  Multiple Democratic lawmakers and organizations declare they will neither attend nor watch Trump’s State of the Union scheduled for February 24, 2026.
• Notable Democratic Lawmakers Announcing Boycott:
  • Senators: Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Murphy, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen
  • Congresswomen: Yaseen Ansari, Bekka Bolland, Greg Cesar, Pramila Jayapal, Delia Ramirez
• Reasoning:
  • Historical decorum dictates attendance, but “this year feels different.”
  • Lawmakers assert the need not to normalize Trump’s attacks on democracy.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Sen. Chris Van Hollen:

    “Trump is marching America towards fascism and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution and democracy. This cannot be business as usual.” ([01:42])

  • Rep. Ami Bera:

    “After watching President Trump run roughshod over the Constitution, display utter disregard for Congress, and openly engage in corruption ... I will not give him the dignity of having my presence.” ([02:32])

• Political Climate:
  • Trump's approval “in the gutter” among independents, Democrats, and faltering with some Republicans.
  • Growing sense that “business as usual” is no longer acceptable in Congress.

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2. Interview: Alison Jaslow, Congressional Candidate (NC-3)

[03:55 – 11:44]

Background and Motivation

• Jaslow, a former military service member and veterans’ advocate, frames her campaign as an act of continued service.
  • Quote:

    “My life has been one that’s been defined by service. ... I want to make sure families like mine ... have an effective voice in Washington.” ([04:01])

The State of Democratic Prospects in a GOP-Leaning District

• NC-3, now R+6 after redistricting, is “absolutely winnable” due to disaffected unaffiliated voters and moderate Republicans turned off by political chaos.
  • Quote:

    “There are more unaffiliated voters in North Carolina than there are Democrats or Republicans. ... My hope is that I am that reasonable alternative and we will pick the seat up in November.” ([05:23])

Foreign Policy, War Powers, and Congressional Oversight

• Concerns about “another long Middle Eastern conflict,” especially with Iran.
• Jaslow calls out Congress for “abdication of war powers authority” and the lack of meaningful oversight on military engagements.
  • Quote:

    “Congress has basically abdicated its war powers authority. ... There’s not appropriate oversight ... It would be nice if Congress was even just asking questions.” ([06:41])

• Emphasizes that Americans “have got enough problems here at home that we need to be addressing” and questions the focus on new overseas military actions.
• Predicts elected leaders out of step with the public’s priorities “are going to end up paying the price in November.” ([07:46])

The Challenge of Reining in the Executive

• Parnas asks how to hold a resistant president accountable.
• Jaslow stresses the need for “members of his own party ... to show some courage in this moment,” and criticizes the lack of basic congressional oversight (e.g., hearings).
  • Quote:

    “Even tough questions aren’t being asked. ... There’s an absolute leadership failure happening right now.” ([08:29])

Top Priorities if Elected

• Advocacy for working families and economic fairness, prioritizing “the general populace.”
• Continued support for veterans and military families, given the significant military presence in the district.
• Quote:

  “Working people and average Americans ... making sure families like the one that I grew up in ... have the fighter in Congress they need is priority number one for me.” ([09:33])

Boycott Question: Would Jaslow Attend?

• Jaslow is uncertain but emphasizes her history of “showing up to testify and advocate,” even when others didn't.
  • Quote:

    “I respect anybody’s right to protest ... but I have every intention of being a very engaged member of Congress. So we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” ([11:02])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sen. Chris Van Hollen:

  “Trump is marching America towards fascism and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution and democracy. This cannot be business as usual.” ([01:42])

• Rep. Ami Bera:

  “I will not give him the dignity of having my presence at the State of the Union.” ([02:32])

• Alison Jaslow:

  “Congress has basically abdicated its war powers authority ... It would be nice if Congress was even just asking questions.” ([06:41]) “Even tough questions aren’t being asked. ... There’s an absolute leadership failure happening right now.” ([08:29])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33 – 03:55: Framing of the mass boycott, statements from lawmakers
• 03:55 – 11:44: Interview with Alison Jaslow
  • 04:01: Jaslow’s motivation for running
  • 05:23: How a Democrat could win NC-3
  • 06:41: War powers and Congressional oversight
  • 08:29: Party courage and legislative accountability
  • 09:33: Jaslow’s legislative priorities
  • 11:02: Jaslow’s hypothetical attendance at the State of the Union

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Episode Tone

Aaron Parnas offers a fast-paced, insider-y yet accessible analysis, blending legal, political, and activist perspectives. Jaslow speaks personally and pragmatically, emphasizing duty, service, and realistic channels for reform—offering a forward-looking, solutions-oriented counterpoint to the episode’s focus on dissent and institutional failure.

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Summary

This episode of The Parnas Perspective uses the high-profile Democratic boycott of Trump’s State of the Union as a lens to explore deep frustrations with the current state of American democracy and governance: the normalization of anti-democratic rhetoric, crumbling bipartisan norms, and a Congress perceived as toothless in the face of executive overreach. Guest Alison Jaslow offers grounded insight into why she’s stepping up to run for Congress, highlighting a need for practical service-oriented leadership, tougher oversight, and a focus on working families and veterans. The episode paints a picture of a Democratic party recalibrating its approach—choosing resistance and visibility over decorum—while grappling with big questions about accountability in an era of unprecedented polarization.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

We have some big news this afternoon. A mass boycott of Donald Trump's State of the Union address next week has been launched. Several Democratic lawmakers and organizations say they will not be in attendance of the speech. They will not be watching the speech. They will not be promoting the speech scheduled for February 24. And while the White House the White House isn't too pleased because historically every lawmaker, if they can attend, they do attend the State of the Union as a kind of decorum. As decorum. And yet this year feels different. Donald Trump's first State of the Union of his second presidency will be met with boycotts, a emptier chamber, one that he a crowd that is smaller than he has seen in the past. Make sure to like, comment, share and subscribe. The more you like, the more people see this. And please support my work. Subscribe to my substack click the link below. The People State of the Union presented by Midas Touch and Move on will feature a number of lawmakers who are boycotting the State of the Union. Senator Ed Markey, Senator Jeff Merkley Murphy, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen, Congresswoman Yaseen Ansari, Bekka Bolland, Greg Cesar, Pramila Jayapal, and Delia Ramirez, among others. Senator Van Hollen had this to say. Quote, next week, Trump will deliver a State of the Union address. I won't be there. Trump is marching America towards fascism and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution and democracy. This cannot be business as usual. Another member of Congress, Ami Berra, made this announcement. As a senior member of the House of Representatives, I feel an obligation to attend the State of the Union out of respect for the president. As they outline their vision for our country this year, I feel different. After watching President Trump run roughshod over the Constitution, display utter disregard for Congress, and openly engage in corruption as he and his family use the office to enrich themselves and tarnish this country that I love, I will not give him the dignity of having my presence at the State of the Union. It is clear that this chamber this year will be a little more empty than usual and well in the past essentially, Democrats and Republicans go to State of the Union addresses, sit, clap, stand if they want to, and kind of move on. And it's the president's kind of ability or president's moment to share their vision for the country for the next year and talk about the past year. But this year feels different. This year, Donald Trump's ratings are in the gutter across the country among independents, among Democrats, and they're even faltering among Republicans. And now it is not business as usual in the House of Representatives. Now, this afternoon, I spoke with one woman. Her name is Allison Jaslow. She's running for Congress in North Carolina. She's a former military service member. She's running for Congress in North Carolina's third Congressional District because she doesn't believe it is business as usual. She thinks that there needs to be a Congress that'll hold the president in check. I want you to listen to what she had to say. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Make sure to, like, comment, share and subscribe. Here's my interview with Alison Jaslo, excited to be joined this afternoon by Alison Jaslo, who is running for Congress. Now, Allison, I really just want to get right into it. Why the heck do you want to go to Washington, D.C. why the heck are you running for Congress?

[C]

Well, you know, my life has been one that's been defined by service. And so to me, this is a natural, you know, next step after leading the nation's post 9 11, leading post 911 generation veterans advocacy organization, to be able to actually be an advocate in Congress on behalf of not just a community that I belong to, but also for people who come from backgrounds like mine. I am the child of a working family. My stepdad was a grocery store worker. You know, if it wasn't for his great union contract, I don't know where we'd be today. Among some other great Democratic policies that played a role in my life. And I want to make sure that families like mine and kids like I once was and, you know, also other individuals who have my lived experience have an effective voice in Washington, you know, and it's a, it's a complicated place these days. You're right, Aaron. But I think, like, if some of some of us who are in it for the right reasons don't step up in a moment like this, then, you know, we're never gonna have the Congress or the leadership that we all deserve. So here I am.

[B]

Well, you mentioned in a moment like this, and I think a lot of people right now are looking for folks who are gonna go to Washington and actually do something, actually hold folks accountable, actually take action. Now, North Carolina start congressional district. It's an R plus, I believe, nine or 10 seat. It's a bit of an uphill battle for any Democrat. Why do you think you can flip it this year?

[C]

Well, Cook actually has it rated as R plus 6 after redistricting. And I would say in a year like the year that we're in, not only is it absolutely winnable, you know, I think that there are a lot of Americans who either are unaffiliated. You know, there are more unaffiliated voters in North Carolina than there are Democrats or Republicans and even reasonable Republicans that are over the chaos that's happening in our country right now and are just looking for any reasonable alternative to step up and, you know, be able to give them some other option to what is, you know, happening in the country right now. So, you know, my hope is, is that I am that reasonable alternative and we will pick the seat up in November.

[B]

I got to ask you right now, we are on. You served in Iraq. You served in the United States military. We are potentially on the verge of another long Middle Eastern conflict in Iran right now. Got to get your take. Are you at all worried with the use of the military and the way the military has been used over the past 12 months or so overseas in kind of these more elongated armed conflicts that really, to a lot of folks, draw parallels to what we saw in the early 2000s in Iraq?

[C]

You know, I'm glad you asked that, because something I'm super passionate about is the fact that Congress has basically abdicated its war powers authority. And this isn't something that's new. It's been happening for years. And I think that this is, you know, now is the time for Congress to step up and rein the executive in. There's not appropriate oversight that needs to be happening on some of the, you know, military action that's taking place not just outside of Venezuela, but or in Venezuela, but across the globe. And it would be nice if Congress was even just asking questions. I'm not somebody who, especially because I have served in wartime, who is so naive to think that there aren't threats that we have to, at minimum, keep at bay, but might have to combat across the globe. But we have to be engaging the American people in a conversation around why and where US men and women in uniform might be deployed or where we as a country might engage. So we not only could do a better job of that. I also think that many of the people who elected the current president feel like we've got enough problems here at home that we need to be addressing. And if we're not focusing on those, how can we not or how can we be focusing on potentially going to war with another country? And so honestly, not only do I not want to be engaged in a war that maybe we shouldn't be engaged in, but I also think that it's going to be unpopular because folks here at home are hurting. And if that's not a priority to current leaders, I think they're going to have to pay the or they're going to end up paying the price in November.

[B]

Well, you mentioned something at the beginning of that answer that I think is interesting to a lot of folks is that reining in the power of the executive. I think right now we have an executive that goes unchecked in a lot of ways. Congress doesn't really do anything. How do you rein in an executive that doesn't want to be reined in?

[C]

Oh, you know, I don't know the answer in real time. Except for members of his own party need to show some courage in this moment. There's the occasional moments of courage here and there, very few. But they're the ones who are in a position to actually stand up to him. Again, like I said, even tough questions aren't being asked. Why aren't certain administration officials being pulled into Congress and having to answer to Congress in hearings to help the American people actually get clarity on some of what's going on in this country right now? But there's an absolute leadership failure happening right now. And so to me, the only way we can change that is for Democrats to win back one or both chambers of Congress to have some kind of check on the insanity and chaos that's happening in this country right now.

[B]

Well, so let's say you win and Democrats are in charge. You get to Congress on day one. What's your first objective? What are you trying to pass?

[C]

Well, it takes more than one day to pass a bill, I think. Erin, you know, I said this before. It is really important for me that working people have a voice in Congress that I just don't think they have enough of. One working people and average Americans are the general populace. And making sure that families like the one that I grew up in and kids like I used to be have the fighter in Congress that they need is kind of priority number one for me. And being able to engage in the fights that are going to happen in Washington on their behalf is sort of the way that I'm walking into not just this campaign, but also would walk into Congress. And to answer your question more broadly in terms of priorities, economic fairness is very important to me. And then, you know, North Carolina's third District has, is home to two military bases, significant military and veterans population. And so I hope to be able to continue what has now been my life's work, which is advocating off on behalf of our nation's military, all volunteers, by the way, and our veterans who need to be taken care of after their service.

[B]

Now this is a bit of a hypothetical question and before I let you, I just want to know, because next week President Trump say to the union, there are many Democrats are saying they're not going to go, they're not going to watch. If you were in Congress, would you attend the president's State of the Union speech?

[C]

I don't know, to be honest with you. But you know, what I can tell you is I testified before Congress. The last time he addressed Congress, it was the same day. And I showed up on behalf of the post 911 generation of veterans. And my opponent in this race, the incumbent Republican member of Congress, didn't even show up to that hearing. So, you know, I have a track record of showing up. I think I respect anybody's right to protest how they want to, but I have every reason, or excuse me, every intention of being a very engaged member of Congress. So we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But I don't know that I would be among the protesters.

[B]

Alison Jaslene, thanks so much for joining me.

[C]

Yeah, thank you for having me.

[B]

Hey folks, thanks so much for watching. Feel free to add this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you watch for the latest breaking news and daily hits throughout the day. Make sure to follow subscribe. See you soon for more.