Democrats Shut Down DHS

Summary

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Episode Summary: "Democrats Shut Down DHS"

Podcast: What A Day
Host: Jane Coaston
Guest: Burgess Everett, Congressional Bureau Chief for Semafor
Date: February 13, 2026
Duration: ~20 minutes

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Overview

This episode dives into a dramatic week on Capitol Hill, focusing on Senate Democrats’ decision to block a bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without addressing their major concerns on immigration enforcement. Host Jane Coaston and guest Burgess Everett dissect why only partial government shutdown is looming, explore the politics of Trump’s tariffs, analyze a key House vote on the “Save America Act,” and touch on several headline events including a tumultuous federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota and unusual Congressional indictments. Throughout, the show’s tone remains direct, skeptical, and engaged, with a strong focus on the practical realities and political chess moves behind the headlines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senate Democrats Block DHS Funding, Triggering a Partial Shutdown

Timestamps: 00:09 – 06:15

• Democrats refused to pass a DHS funding bill absent reforms to federal immigration enforcement, such as ending concealed ICE agent identities and racial profiling ([00:09], [01:49]).
• The shutdown is imminent: many Senators have left Washington as negotiations stall.
  • “The shutdown’s happening. The Senate is gone. These members are scattered all over, not just the country, but the earth.” – Burgess Everett [02:43]
  • Lawmakers’ early departure signals dysfunction. Everett notes, “They left at Thursday, at 4:15 before a shutdown, 36 hours later. So I, I can't recall ever seeing that in my time covering Capitol Hill.” [02:43]
• Democrats feel politically emboldened, believing public support favors their stance on ICE and immigration oversight.
  • “Democrats…think they have the high ground here politically and that that usually translates to the policy…They just feel the wind is at their backs on this issue.” – Burgess Everett [03:30]
• Many DHS workers are considered essential and must report to work without pay, echoing aspects of the 2018-2019 partial shutdown ([04:15]).
• Some federal funds might be creatively used to cover salaries, as occurred under previous Trump administration shutdowns ([05:00]).
• Negotiations are slow; while Democrats prepare a counteroffer, major movement is unlikely until the Senate returns after February 23 ([05:34]).

2. Congress Debates Trump’s Tariffs as House Rebels

Timestamps: 06:15 – 08:54

• The House, with a handful of rebellious Republicans, votes to rescind Trump’s tariffs on Canada, reflecting growing discomfort even among the GOP.
  • “Congress doesn't love tariffs either... In general, we're starting to hear more discomfort from Republicans about Trump's tariffs, specifically from members in battleground states.” – Jane Coaston [06:15]
• Senate’s prospective vote to override tariffs will likely also pass, but President Trump is expected to veto.
• Most Republicans are reluctant to oppose Trump due to fear of retribution:
  • “The number of Republicans willing to vote against the President...is not equal to the number uneasy with the tariffs. If this was some secret ballot vote, you’d see way more Republicans breaking with the President.” – Burgess Everett [06:55]
  • Trump uses the votes as "loyalty tests," threatening to primary dissenters ([07:45]).
• Retiring Republicans are key to any rebellion against Trump’s tariffs, as they are immune from political consequences ([08:08]).
• The ongoing pattern is more symbolic than substantive, but it signals crackling GOP tensions ([08:54]).

3. The Return & Revision of the SAVE (Save America) Act

Timestamps: 08:54 – 11:02

• SAVE Act morphs into the "Save America Act," requiring both photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote, enforcing a new federal standard if passed ([09:04]).
• Coaston notes, only one Democrat supported the bill, reflecting how polarized the issue has become.
• There's "false hope" among conservatives that this could pass the Senate, as Democrats (and some moderate Republicans) block such measures ([09:36]).
• “It also feels there's a little bit of a shirts and skins exercise to it at this point.” – Burgess Everett [09:36]
• Legislative filibuster remains a sticking point, with Trump calling for its removal to advance such measures, but GOP leadership is skeptical of sidelining it due to unintended consequences ([10:24]).

4. What’s Next: Predictions and Congressional Chaos

Timestamps: 11:02 – 12:22

• Everett predicts a year of "total chaos" rather than business as usual:
  • “It just doesn't feel like that kind of year. It kind of did a few weeks ago, but then the Venezuela operation happened. And ever since, it seems like it's been total chaos.” [11:25]
• Issues like the Federal Reserve chairmanship, surprise indictments of lawmakers, and the President’s unpredictable moves are likened to “reactive” governance rather than normal legislative process.
  • “They're having to react to these things in real time and it's affecting decisions for the entire government. So strap yourself in. I just think it's going to be a crazy year.” [11:25-12:22]

5. Other Headline News

Timestamps: 16:16 – 19:46

Immigration Surge in Minnesota Ends

• After a 2-month controversial crackdown, Trump’s immigration surge in Minnesota concludes, with both federal and local leaders at odds over its impact ([16:34]).
  • Governor Tim Walz labeled it “an unprecedented federal invasion.”
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry lamented, “This operation has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses...It’s time for a great comeback.”
• The operation was marked by deaths and arrests; two citizens, Alex Preddy and Renee Goode, were killed by federal officers.

Senate Hearings: Can Yelling at ICE Be Domestic Assault?

• Senate Homeland Security Committee confronts federal immigration leaders over enforcement conduct:
  • Senator Rand Paul asks, “Is yelling at ICE officers…a form of domestic assault on the officers?”
  • ICE leadership unanimously responds, "No, sir," clarifying the legal line ([17:34-18:09]).

Legal Battle: Senator Mark Kelly’s Censure Blocked

• Federal judge rules that the Pentagon overstepped by punishing Sen. Mark Kelly for urging troops to resist illegal orders ([18:58]).
  • Kelly: “This administration was sending a message to millions of retired veterans that they, too, can be censured or demoted just for speaking out.” [18:37]

Venezuela Update

• Venezuela, beset by turmoil after the U.S. captured former President Maduro, maintains a cooperative tone in diplomacy despite ongoing upheavals ([19:20]).

Polls: Voters Rethink Trump vs. Biden

• New polls suggest voters now favor former President Biden over Trump on many issues, including border security, where Trump has lost ground (NBC: 49% strongly disapprove of Trump’s immigration/border policies) ([19:46]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Congress’s Dysfunctional Shutdown Tactics:
  • Burgess Everett: “It's as dysfunctional as the institution can be.” [02:43]
  • “The Senate basically dipped.” – Jane Coaston [03:23]
• On Political Calculations:
  • Everett: “They're having to react to these things in real time and it's affecting decisions for the entire government. So strap yourself in.” [11:25]
• On Republican Reluctance to Oppose Trump:
  • Everett: “The President has shown that he is so upset when Republicans oppose him...he says, I'm going to primary anyone who votes against me, and only six of them vote for it. And I think, you know, 20, 30 might have been considering it.” [07:45]
• On Public Trauma from Immigration Enforcement:
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry (via Jane Coaston): “This operation has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses. And now it's time for a great comeback.” [16:34]
• On Legislative Deadlock:
  • Everett: “Usually that's a sign that negotiations have gone completely south. When somebody leaks an offer, they publish it and it just shows that things have fallen apart. Right. And so those two things kind of make me think, hey, there's still some positive momentum here.” [05:34]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• DHS Funding Blockade: 00:09 – 06:15
• Tariff Rebellion in Congress: 06:15 – 08:54
• SAVE Act Debate: 08:54 – 11:02
• Congressional Year Outlook: 11:02 – 12:22
• Minnesota Immigration Surge Ends: 16:16 – 16:54
• ICE Senate Hearings: 17:34 – 18:09
• Senator Kelly’s Court Win: 18:09 – 18:58
• Venezuela Update & Politics: 19:20 – 19:46
• National Polls & Closing Thoughts: 19:46 – end

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Tone & Style

Jane Coaston and Burgess Everett maintain a candid, sometimes darkly humorous, and deeply informed tone. Jane’s quick asides (“The Senate basically dipped,” [03:23]; “this is a show where we do get deep,” [06:51]) keep the pace brisk and the commentary relatable for listeners seeking clarity amidst political noise.

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This episode offers a sharp, accessible summary of a pivotal week in U.S. politics, highlighting the growing chaos on Capitol Hill and the ways party calculations are shaping the real-world impact of government action—or inaction. Listeners walk away with insight into not just what’s happening, but why, ready to follow the unfolding drama in Congress and beyond.

Transcript

[Jane Coaston]

Foreign. February 13th.

[Burgess Everett]

Ooh.

[Jane Coaston]

I'm Jane Coston, and this is what a Day. The show reminding you that Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I repeat, Valentine's Day is tomorrow. There's still time to get chocolates. On today's show, President Donald Trump is once again facing off with former President Joe Biden in the polls. America's missing its ex. And after a long two months, the immigration crackdown in Minnesota is finally ending. But let's start with Congress. Capitol Hill was surprisingly busy this week. Republicans and Democrats yelled at one another, Republicans yelled at other Republicans, and amazingly, some actual business got done. Sort of. But as of our recording, it looks like it wasn't enough to avoid a partial government shutdown. On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would have funded the Department of Homeland Security without reining in federal immigration enforcement and included no end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents hiding their faces, no requirements that they show id, and no end to racial profiling, which are just a few of Democrats demands before agreeing to fund dhs. But Senate Democrats aren't ready to back down anytime soon. What a day. Newsletter writer Matt Berg spoke to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday.

[Chuck Schumer]

This debate is killing Trump. 90% of Americans have seen the videos that show the brutal slayings of so many and have shown how they don't obey the law. They'll just knock in someone's door without a warrant. They'll say, we're arresting you. We're not telling you why.

[Burgess Everett]

And they're.

[Chuck Schumer]

And they put you in a dark cage with no, no ability to have a phone, have a lawyer, et cetera. And so, overwhelmingly, Americans are on our side.

[Jane Coaston]

Americans are also siding with Democrats against President Trump's tariffs, according to polling Pew Research center released last week. We mentioned yesterday that the House voted to rescind President Trump's tariffs on Canada Wednesday, an important sign that maybe, just maybe, Congress doesn't love tariffs either. So for more on a wild week in Congress, I spoke to Burgess Everett. He's a congressional bureau chief for Semaphore. Burgess, welcome to what a Day.

[Burgess Everett]

Hey, Jane, thanks for having me.

[Jane Coaston]

Let's start with the Department of Homeland Security. On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked a spending bill that would have funded the agency with no changes to immigration enforcement. And if Congress doesn't make a deal to fund DHS by Saturday, a swath of the agency will shut down. What do we know? Right now?

[Burgess Everett]

The shutdown's happening. The Senate is gone. These members are scattered all over, not just the country, but the earth. Right now, A bunch of them went to Munich. So the majority leader, John Thune says he'll call people back when there's a deal, but they're not really close to a deal at this point. And so we're heading into our third shutdown of this Congress. It's as dysfunctional as the institution can be. And if you want to kind of zoom out about how little effort there is being put to solve this problem, they left at Thursday, at 4:15 before a shutdown, 36 hours later. So I, I can't recall ever seeing that in my time covering Capitol Hill.

[Jane Coaston]

Okay. The Senate basically dipped. Like, why is so little effort being made to make a deal?

[Burgess Everett]

I mean, they're so far apart. And part of it is Democrats. Honestly, Jane, they think they have the high ground here politically and that that usually translates to the policy, Deb, as well. I mean, you see the polls, Americans think ICE has generally overreached. I know Republicans back Trump, but a lot of independent voters and certainly Democratic voters who our Democratic leaders are responding to here in Congress, they're reacting to that. And so they're really far apart. I mean, when you have the Democrats not even willing to entertain a two week funding extension for a critical, I would say, government agency, that gives you a sense of not only how far apart they are, but how kind of uncompromising Democrats are right now. They just feel the wind is at their backs on this issue.

[Jane Coaston]

I also, and I wanted to ask you, I don't think I've ever seen a partial government shutdown before where it's just like one agency. And technically I believe that 90% of the people who work for DHS across all of the departments are still going to have to come to work, even though only a small percentage are going to be paid. So has that ever happened before?

[Burgess Everett]

So the 2018, 2019 border shutdown, which now we have to be very specific about which shutdowns we're talking about because there have been so many. The one over the Trump's border wall was a partial shutdown, but a larger swath of the government. So that was not a full government shutdown like the one in the fall was. And you're correct, a bunch of these folks are going to have to come to work without pay. People, tsa, Coast Guard, fema, places like that. Now, I don't have a full answer on this yet, but I do know the Trump administration has $75 billion plus to fund ICE CBP operations across the country from the big beautiful bill last year. Now I saw how creative The Trump administration paying Defense Department officials and folks like that during the last shutdown. So I do kind of wonder, do they dip into that money to pay some of these other government workers?

[Jane Coaston]

So what's next? Like, it doesn't seem like anyone's moving on this. A lot of people are out of the country. Are we? At least in a week long partial shutdown.

[Burgess Everett]

That's what it looks like to me. The Senate's not supposed to come back until February 23rd. Now, I have two small silver linings moving forward. One of those is Democrats. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, just told me a few minutes ago that they're preparing an offer counteroffer to the Republicans this weekend. So, still talking, right? The other silver lining is no one's talking about the substance of these offers. I know that's a weird thing to say. Why is that a silver lining? Usually that's a sign that negotiations have gone completely south. When somebody leaks an offer, they publish it and it just shows that things have fallen apart. Right. And so those two things kind of make me think, hey, there's still some positive momentum here.

[Jane Coaston]

On Wednesday, the House voted to end Trump's tariffs on Canada, with six Republicans alongside most Democrats voting to do so. Most of those Republicans are probably not even running again. And it's worth noting that this is more symbolic because Trump obviously is going to not sign that. But in general, we're starting to hear more discomfort from Republicans about Trump's tariffs, specifically from members in battleground states. What are you hearing?

[Burgess Everett]

Yeah, I mean, the Senate was actually ahead of the House on this because the House had used this. I won't get too deep into it, but they'd used their own rules to shield their members from these.

[Jane Coaston]

Yes, we actually are going to get.

[Burgess Everett]

Oh, boy.

[Jane Coaston]

Because this is a show where we do get deep. But please continue.

[Burgess Everett]

And, and so this will come back to the Senate. The Senate will almost certainly pass it and it'll go to Trump's desk where he'll veto it. I do think the number of Republicans willing to vote against the President on this is not equal to the number of Republicans who are uneasy with the tariffs. You know, if this is some secret ballot vote, you'd see a way more Republicans breaking with the President. The policy, though, isn't always what motivates their votes. The President has shown that he is so upset when Republicans oppose him. You know, you go back a few weeks to this Venezuela resolution in the Senate where he says they should all be primaried for voting against me. And two of them flip this week. On the House tariff vote, he says, I'm going to primary anyone who votes against me, and only six of them vote for it. And I think, you know, 20, 30 might have been considering it. It goes to show how personal he takes these votes and the politics of them.

[Jane Coaston]

You mentioned this a little bit, and I did want to get to it because over the past year, Speaker Mike Johnson had basically barred any discussion of getting rid of Trump's tariffs. But Tuesday night there was kind of a Republican rebellion and now that bar is over, which could lead to more anti tariff votes. Can you tell me a little bit more about what comes next on that front?

[Burgess Everett]

The things that the Senate has passed, I think would translate probably to the House because again, you're only gonna have a handful of Republicans willing to break with the President. And the only reason that rule ended in the House was because of these retiring Republicans and Thomas Massie, who fears nothing from Trump at this point because they're in a blood war in their primary. I mean, Democrats can launch these votes now with some impunity. And so I think you'll probably see it on Mexico. Brazil has been another one. You probably would see it on European countries and things like that. All of our allies, at some point, they will lose their political salience. The more of them pile up, the more Trump vetoes them. However, when Trump vetoes them, that means they have to vote on them again. So these loyalty tests are only going to become more frequent and give Republicans more opportunities to break with the President.

[Jane Coaston]

Also on Wednesday, the House passed the SAVE act, which is actually just an updated version of legislation that the House passed last year. What's changed since then? And what does the SAVE act do?

[Burgess Everett]

Save America act, actually.

[Jane Coaston]

Yes.

[Burgess Everett]

Oh, the SAVE act turned into the Save America Act. Basically what happened was they fused the act ideas of needing photo ID to vote and also needing proof of citizenship. So, yeah, those pass the House.

[Jane Coaston]

And just to clarify, what would the Save America act change if it was signed into law? Because I know that as far as I can tell, it would mean that you would need a passport to vote, which if I'm a Democrat, I'm thinking that's actually kind of awesome based on if you look at the numbers as to which Americans have passports.

[Burgess Everett]

Yeah, I mean, I don't know the particulars of every state, but it would create that federal standardization to that. And I have heard some Republicans say, well, the coalitions have been so scrambled at this point that it may not actually hurt Democrats. But I've heard no budge from Democrats. Only one House Democrat, Henry Cuellar, voted for it. So it also feels there's a little bit of a shirts and skins exercise to it at this point. And there's a lot of sort of false hope, I would say, being built across conservative circles, that this could somehow pass the Senate.

[Jane Coaston]

Yeah, that was actually my next question because it seems really clear that it's not going to pass the Senate. You've already seen Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska announce her opposition. So, one, why is this false hope building? Is that just kind of a Trump thing? And two, why is it not going to pass the Senate?

[Burgess Everett]

Okay, I mean, Trump wants to kill the legislative filibuster. So that's the primary hurdle to a piece of legislation like this, which is that you have all the Republicans to vote for it. You still don't have 60 Democrats can block it. So just to begin with, Trump wants to get rid of that. Now there's other Republicans like Mike Lee, who want to kind of find a way around the 60 vote threshold. It's unworkable, at least in the eyes of Republican leaders, because it would open up all these other avenues to majority votes where if you have the Save America act, it also has Obamacare subsidies attached to it and also repudiation of Trump's tariffs. So nobody's actually entertaining doing it in the Republican leadership right now.

[Jane Coaston]

This was, compared to last year, a very eventful week in Congress. Lots of people yelling at each other, lots happening.

[Burgess Everett]

We didn't even get to the indictment, the attempted indictments.

[Jane Coaston]

I know, an attempted indictment of six members of Congress, which was based on a statute that I had to look up. What do you think we can expect from the rest of the year? What can we be looking forward to or fearing?

[Burgess Everett]

Boy, I mean, it's so hard to predict. I do think one thing I'm pretty confident is this is not the typical run the ball for 3 yards midterm year. Like, I'm not preparing for, like, nothing happening in them to just kneel the ball down and go to the midterms. It just doesn't feel like that kind of year. It kind of did a few weeks ago, but then the Venezuela operation happened. And ever since, it seems like it's been total chaos. We have a Federal Reserve fight right now in the Senate. Whether to replace the chairman is going to happen later this year. So there's going to be a lot of interesting stuff happening just in Congress. And then there's the X factor of what the President's doing and how does Congress respond to it? I mean, just that indictment piece that we talked about, Senator Kaine told me that was like the main thing Democrats were talking about this week when they should have been talking about the Department of Homeland Security. Like they are having to react to these things in real time and it's affecting decisions for the entire government. So strap yourself in. I just think it's going to be a crazy year.

[Jane Coaston]

Burgess, as always, thank you for joining me.

[Burgess Everett]

Thanks Tina.

[Jane Coaston]

That was my conversation with Burgess Everett, Congressional Bureau Chief at semafor. More news for you, but first, remember to subscribe. Leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Watch us on YouTube and in the spirit of Valentine's Day, please set us up with your friends. There are a lot of lonely Americans just looking for somebody they can fight fascism with and we think we'd be a great fit. Let us know more to come after some ads. What a Day is brought to you by Quince Quince is all about elevated essentials that feel effortless. Designed for layering and mixing, each piece helps build a timeless wardrobe made to last with versatile silhouettes and thoughtful details. They're the kind of styles you wear again and again. They've got the wardrobe staples with quality that's made to last 100%. Organic cotton sweaters Premium denim made with stretch for all day comfort Luxe cotton cashmere blends perfect for the changing seasons. Everything you need for a wardrobe that actually lasts. And quints works directly with safe ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're not paying for brand markup, just high quality clothing. Right now I'm wearing one of my favorite quince pieces, a cashmere sweater I've worn dozens of times and will probably wear hundreds of times. Refresh your wardrobe with quince Go to quince.com wad for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-E.com wad to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com wad what a day is brought to you by Aura Frames Aura Frames is the answer to every gifting moment your sister, your mom handled. Every person I've given an Aura Frame to has absolutely loved it. With Aura Frames, you can add as many photos and videos as you want, and you can preload photos before it ships. And you can keep adding from anywhere, anytime. Every frame comes packaged in a premium gift box with no price tag. AuraFrames the perfect gift every time. Named number one by Wirecutter, you can save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com for a limited time. Listeners can get $35 off their best selling cover mat frame with code WAUD. That's a U R A frames.com promo code WAD. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.

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[Jane Coaston]

Here's what else we're following today.

[Burgess Everett]

Head of Lines.

[Tom Homan]

I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude a significant drawdown has already been underway this week and will continue to the next week.

[Jane Coaston]

Border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday that the two month long surge of federal immigration enforcement into Minneapolis has ended. The decision comes after more than 3,000 federal immigration agents were sent to Minnesota as part of what Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz called, quote, an unprecedented federal invasion in all aspects of life. Homan argued that the surge had left the state, quote, safer and thanked state officials for their assistance. But Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Fry emphasized the trauma the surge had caused in the city, writing on Twitter, this operation has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses. And now it's time for a great comeback. In January, immigration officers in Minneapolis killed two American citizens, Alex Preddy and Renee Goode. While Homeland was in Minnesota Thursday, the leaders of three federal immigration enforcement agencies were back on the Hill, this time answering questions from the Senate Homeland Security Committee, questions from Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, like, can you be mean to federal immigration officials?

[Tom Homan]

With Alexander Pradi, he's filming in the middle of the street. We see two women that are, as you watch the video, job, boning, complaining, protesting, yelling. Maybe not being nice, but they're protesting away. Let's keep the videos stopped. And so my question to Mr. Scott first is, is yelling at ICE officers or border Patrol, is that a form of domestic assault on the Officers?

[Pod Save America Host]

No, sir.

[Tom Homan]

Mr. Lyons? No, sir, it's not.

[Jane Coaston]

Great. Glad we got that cleared up. After two people were killed and dozens of protesters arrested, a federal judge agreed to block the Pentagon from punishing Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly for participating in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders. The judge said the Pentagon, quote, trampled on Kelly's rights after threatening to take away his retirement rank and pay. Kelly, a former Navy pilot, spoke out after the ruling. In a video posted on Twitter today.

[Tom Homan]

A federal court made clear that Pete Hegseth violated the Constitution when he tried to punish me for something I said, but this case was never just about me. This administration was sending a message to millions of retired veterans that they, too, can be censured or demoted just for speaking out.

[Jane Coaston]

Kelly had sued in federal court to block his January 5 censure from defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The judge's order prohibits the Pentagon from implementing or enforcing Kelly's punishment while his lawsuit is pending. Hagseth said in a post on Twitter, quote, this will be immediately appealed because it's not like he has other things to do.

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[Jane Coaston]

Well, well, well. So much for regime change, am I right? Venezuela's acting president Delsey Rodrigo spoke with NBC News Meet the Press moderator Christian Welker for an exclusive interview in Caracas. Rodriguez became Venezuela's top Leader after the U.S. you know, captured Nicolas Maduro last month in the middle of the night from his compound and brought him to the US to face drug and weapons charges. But Rodriguez still appears to be playing the Trump administration's game. She met with U.S. energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday. Wright was in Venezuela for a firsthand assessment of the country's oil industry. The visit further asserts the US Government's self appointed role in turning around Venezuela's dilapidated energy sector. Because of obviously all of this is about oil, right? Rodriguez told NBC News she's been invited to the White House and expects to visit at some point. Sometimes you don't really know what you've got till it's gone or until it's left the White House. Axios has taken a look at several national surveys with the quote, same alarming trend. According to some recent polls, voters now think former President Joe Biden was better overall than Trump. And on top of that, an NBC poll found that, quote, 49% of adults strongly disapprove of how Trump has handled border security and immigration. That's about a 10% increase from last summer. In other words, Trump has frittered away his political capital on the key issues that got him elected. And that's the news. Before we go if you're looking for a smart, unfiltered take on this week's news, Hysteria has you covered. In the latest episode, Aaron Ryan reacts to the Bondi testimony, digs into the newest twists in the Epstein files, and breaks down why the right wing keeps picking culture war fights and keeps losing them. It's sharp, it's cathartic, and it's exactly the kind of context you need right now. New episodes of Hysteria drop every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe. Leave a review. Join us in hoping for the absolute best for the Guthrie family. And tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how, like many of you, we're thinking about Savannah Guthrie and her family after the kidnapping of her mother more than a week ago. Like me, what a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and subscribe. [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coaston and I am praying for Nancy Guthrie, Savannah and a good outcome from this whole tragedy. What a Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producer is Emily Foer. Our producer is Caitlin Plummer. Our video editor is Joseph Dutra. Our video producer is Johanna Case. We had production Help today from Greg Walters and Matt Berg. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our senior Vice president of news and politics is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Kyle Murdoch and Jordan Kantor. We had help today from the Associated Press. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America eas.

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[Burgess Everett]

Yeah, Clothed. Dan is very busy.

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