Dems Ditch Trump’s Yap Flap

Summary

Podcast Summary: "What A Day" – Episode: "Dems Ditch Trump’s Yap Flap"

Podcast Information:

• Title: What A Day
• Host/Author: Crooked Media
• Episode: Dems Ditch Trump’s Yap Flap
• Release Date: March 4, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this episode of What A Day, host Jane Coaston delves into the latest developments within the Trump administration, the evolving GOP stance on Ukraine, and the Democratic response to President Trump's upcoming address to Congress. The discussion features insightful interviews with Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and California Democratic Representative Latifah Simon, providing listeners with a comprehensive analysis of current political dynamics.

2. Trump Administration Updates

a. Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

President Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, effective March 4, 2025. Despite a one-month delay previously agreed upon in February, Trump confirmed at a White House press conference that there is "no room left for Mexico or for Canada. No, the tariffs, you know, they're all set." (17:00)

• Impact on Industry: Automakers like Honda have responded by shifting production to the U.S. to avoid tariffs, with Honda planning to manufacture the next-generation Civic hybrid domestically.

• Economic Repercussions: Wall Street reacted negatively to the tariff news, raising concerns about a potential trade war with the U.S.'s closest neighbors.

b. Pause on Military Aid to Ukraine

The Trump administration has paused military aid to Ukraine pending an assessment of the nation's readiness for peace talks. This decision follows Trump's tumultuous Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

• Republican Perspective: Some within the GOP argue the deal to exchange U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals for military support remains viable, despite conflicting reports from major news outlets like Bloomberg and CNN.

c. Confirmation of Linda McMahon as Education Secretary

Linda McMahon was confirmed as the new Education Secretary with a Senate vote of 51-45 (20:31). McMahon, a former wrestling executive, faces the challenging task of leading the Department of Education amid the Trump administration's intent to defund the agency and delegate school management to individual states.

d. First Lady Melania Trump's Capitol Hill Appearance

First Lady Melania Trump advocated for the Take It Down Act during her first appearance on Capitol Hill since Trump's inauguration. The proposed legislation aims to criminalize the non-consensual posting of intimate images online, including computer-generated deepfakes.

• Legislative Details: The bill seeks to make it a federal crime to knowingly post or threaten to publish pornographic images of individuals without their consent. It enjoys bipartisan support, backed by senators like Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar (19:10).

3. In-Depth Interview with Senator Chris Murphy

Interview Highlights:

a. Senate Response to Trump's Address

Senator Murphy discussed his decision to skip Trump's joint address to Congress, labeling Trump's State of the Union as a "MAGA pep rally" filled with "unending lies" rather than a sincere national dialogue (04:15). He emphasized the need for Democrats to adopt new tactics in confronting unprecedented challenges posed by the Trump administration.

b. Ukraine Policy and GOP's Stance

Murphy criticized the GOP's shifting position on Ukraine, highlighting their increasing sympathy towards Russia despite Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine. He argued that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Vladimir Putin to further destabilize global order, potentially leading to increased aggression from China and a return to imperialistic practices reminiscent of the 1700s (06:14).

• Quote: "If the United States abandons Ukraine, Ukraine will either be wholly owned by Russia or a vassal state of Russia... that's a really bad world for a country that has come to rely on the free flow of global commerce, on relative global stability." (06:14)

c. Debunking False Claims about Democrats and Ukraine

Murphy addressed false narratives circulating online, such as the unfounded claim that Democrats pressured Zelensky to reject the minerals deal. He explained that these allegations were fabricated by MAGA trolls aiming to undermine democratic integrity and promote Trump’s agenda of installing a kleptocratic oligarchy.

• Quote: "The propaganda is the point, because they're just trying to create a world in which people come to the conclusion the Democrats are evil... to allow Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. to rule forever." (10:54)

d. Domestic Implications of Foreign Policy

Highlighting the interconnectedness of foreign and domestic policies, Murphy stressed that America's global standing directly impacts national security and domestic stability. He warned that Trump's affinity for authoritarian leaders like Putin is not only a threat to international peace but also to American democracy and the rule of law.

• Quote: "What's happening between Trump and Russia is also about the domestic crisis... keep everybody asleep as all of a sudden the right to dissent gets destroyed." (13:06)

4. Working Families Party Response with Rep. Latifah Simon

a. Overview of Simon's Upcoming Speech

Representative Latifah Simon provided a preview of her response to Trump's joint address, focusing on the detrimental effects of the administration's policies on everyday Americans. She plans to highlight the struggles of diverse communities, including veterans, disabled workers, and low-income families, emphasizing the importance of maintaining federal support and safeguarding social services.

b. Addressing Trump's Policies and Impact

Simon condemned the Trump administration's attacks on social safety nets, portraying them as an effort to dismantle decades of progress in supporting vulnerable populations. She aims to contrast these actions with the real-world needs of constituents across red and blue states, advocating for a renewed commitment to government assistance and social justice.

• Quote: "We're seeing day after day, literally, minute after minute, hour after hour, these structures being forcefully attacked... to talk about the real stories of real folks... who are counting on the Department of Education because that mother has a child who is autistic and who deserves an aid in their classroom." (24:45)

c. Call to Action for Americans

Simon urged Americans to recognize their power to influence change by reclaiming Congress and pushing for policies that benefit working families. She stressed the urgency of defending democratic institutions and ensuring that the government fulfills its promise to support all citizens.

• Quote: "We have a nation that promised that we would have a separation in government and that there would be checks and balances. We are seeing those checks and balances collapse before our very eyes in real time." (26:05)

5. Looking Ahead: Trump's Joint Address to Congress

President Trump is scheduled to deliver his first major address to the nation since securing a second term. Democrats are strategizing their response, with some choosing not to attend the session to focus on constituent engagement rather than participating in what they describe as Trump's "alternate reality."

• Democratic Strategy: Senator Murphy and Representative Simon highlighted the importance of addressing tangible issues affecting Americans, such as Social Security, Medicaid, and veterans' support, rather than engaging in confrontational political theatrics.

6. Notable Quotes and Insights

• Chris Murphy on Trump's Leadership:
  "We have never, ever seen in our political lifetimes, at least, a president so brazenly try to deconstruct the rule of law, try to essentially turn our government into a machine of corruption for himself and his billionaire friends." (04:58)

• Latifah Simon on Government Responsibility:
  "We are seeing day after day, literally, minute after minute, hour after hour, these structures being forcefully attacked... how this administration is violating the American promise, which is very basic." (23:31)

• Chris Murphy on Global Stability:
  "If the United States abandons Ukraine, Ukraine will either be wholly owned by Russia or a vassal state of Russia... that's a really bad world for a country that has come to rely on the free flow of global commerce, on relative global stability." (06:14)

7. Conclusion

This episode of What A Day provides a critical examination of the Trump administration's policies and the Democratic Party's strategic responses. Through in-depth interviews and meticulous analysis, host Jane Coaston ensures listeners are well-informed about the significant political shifts and their implications for both domestic and international landscapes. Whether you're a regular listener or new to the show, this episode offers valuable insights into the current state of American politics.

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Note: This summary intentionally omits advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented in the episode.

Transcript

[Jane Coston]

It's Tuesday, March 4th. I'm Jane Coston and this is what a Day. The show that loves to hear fun, easy suggestions from the Trump administration on how to lower the cost of living for everyday Americans just trying to get by.

[Chris Murphy]

People are sort of looking around thinking, wow, well, maybe I could get a chicken in my backyard.

[Jane Coston]

And it's awesome, fun and funny. I'll put the chickens in my non existent yard next to my forge, you know, to get ahead of those steel tariffs. On today's show, first light former lady Melania Trump made her first appearance on Capitol Hill since President Donald Trump took office. And President Trump's cabinet is almost complete with the confirmation of Linda McMahon as education secretary. Tonight, President Trump will be giving his first major address to the nation since the inauguration of a second term. He will probably praise his new tariffs, which are scheduled to go into effect today. He will probably talk about how he's deporting undocumented immigrants. Who knows, he might even rant about the Russian influence investigation some more. In fact, it'll be just a few days since his bonkers Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And I've been thinking a lot about the aftermath of that meeting because a lot of the aftermath, especially from Republicans, has been odd. Here's an example. If you recall, Vice President J.D. vance spent a part of that meeting demanding that Zelensky, whose nation is in the midst of a titanic war against Russia that has killed thousands of Ukrainians and displaced millions more, say thank you more often. And unsurprisingly, that's become a big talking point on the right, that Volodymyr Zelensky basically needs to smile more. Here's Donald Trump himself on Monday arguing that Zelensky needs to show more appreciation for the United States.

[Latifah Simon]

What do you need to see from President Zelensky to restart these negotiations?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I just think he should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin with we've given them much more than Europe and Europe should have given more than us because as you know, that's right there, that's the border. This country really was like the fence on the border. It was very important to Europe. And I'm not knocking Europe. I'm saying they were a lot smarter than Joe Biden. Cuz Joe Biden didn't have a clue. He just gave money hand over fist.

[Jane Coston]

We have for the record, not given more than Europe. And here's national security adviser Mike Waltz on Fox News Monday, toeing the party line and saying that the disastrous meeting was Zelensky's fault for not being nicer.

[Chris Murphy]

What we need to hear from President Zelensky is that he has regret for what happened, he's ready to sign this mineral deal, and that he's ready to engage in peace talks. I don't think that's too much to ask. I think that's what's best for the American people, for the Ukrainian people, for Russia, and for the world to restore stability.

[Jane Coston]

Friday's meeting was supposed to be about a deal that would give the US Access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals in exchange for military support. According to some within the gop, that deal is still possible despite the fact that on Monday evening Bloomberg and CNN reported that the United States has paused military aid to Ukraine until the Trump administration determines whether Ukraine is ready for peace talks. I guess more smiling, but it's worth saying that the general consensus within the Republican Party right now is that Ukraine, not Russia, is the problem. Despite the fact that Russia invaded a sovereign country, despite the fact that Russia has worked to destabilize the United States and European countries over and over again. Apparently the GOP says, eh, that's cool. Now some on the right will say they just want an end to the war, bring peace, be realists. But is it realistic to think that Vladimir Putin will be satisfied with, say, all of eastern Ukraine? Even all of Ukraine? Another person who has been thinking about Ukraine and what Trump's actions against Ukraine mean for everyday Americans is Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. He joined us to talk about the war in Ukraine and why Trump has decided to become Vladimir Putin's new best friend. Senator Murphy, welcome to what a day.

[Chris Murphy]

Thanks for having me.

[Jane Coston]

President Trump is speaking before Congress tonight during the joint session you have decided not to attend. How did you come to your decision?

[Chris Murphy]

I remember Trump's last State of the Union speech, and it just wasn't a State of the Union speech. It was a MAGA pep rally. It was full of unending lies. It wasn't a sincere attempt to try to engage the country in a conversation about what was right and what was wrong with America. I don't need to be an extra in a Donald Trump political event. And I think there have to be some people engaging in real time fact checking. When you have somebody like this in the White House who is so unapologetic about not telling the truth, some Democrats.

[Jane Coston]

Say that skipping the session is the wrong thing to do and members of the party should be there to show strength. What's your response to that.

[Chris Murphy]

I just ultimately think that the old tactics don't work right now. I don't know that we can sort of run back the same plays that we've been running for the last five to 10 years. We have to understand that we are in a fight, and a fight that is unlike any fight that we've ever been a part of. And that means that you have to signal to the American people that we're going to do things differently because the threat is different. We have never, ever seen in our political lifetimes, at least, a president so brazenly try to deconstruct the rule of law, try to essentially turn our government into a machine of corruption for himself and his billionaire friends. And so we have to use tactics, we have to use words that convey the gravity of the moment. So to me, it just doesn't make sense for to be part of that event. I think I can better convey to the people I represent how urgent this moment is by being outside of that room.

[Jane Coston]

Let's talk about Ukraine and that disastrous meeting last week between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky. You said on CNN Sunday that the White House has become an arm of the Kremlin. What would it mean for the US to abandon Ukraine right now?

[Chris Murphy]

Well, Europe cannot ultimately support Ukraine in the way that is necessary to prevent Russia's takeover. So if United States abandons Ukraine, Ukraine will either be wholly owned by Russia or a vassal state of Russia. And that probably means that Putin doesn't stop. If after two and a half years he gets to control a European state, then he will likely move on to Moldova or perhaps to a NATO nation. China moves up its timeline to take Taiwan and maybe go beyond Taiwan. And we're back sort of into a 1700s world where big states expand their border by force. That's a really bad world for a country that has come to rely on the free flow of global commerce, on relative global stability. It also is confirmation that Donald Trump is going to do anything and everything possible to convert our own democracy to a sort of kleptocratic oligarchy in which the billionaires rule and steal from us. That's really why he is taking sides with Russia, because he wants to make it look normal what the Kremlin does. I think you gotta understand the Ukraine story, not just as a foreign policy story, but as a. As a domestic policy story as well.

[Jane Coston]

As a member of the Senate, what have you made of some of your Republican colleagues and former colleagues apparent flips on Ukraine? I'm thinking about Senator Lindsey Graham who has a reputation as a foreign policy hawk, but on Friday said he was proud of President Trump. Also, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who in the past called Putin a war criminal, but is now defending Trump's actions. How are you making sense of their positions now?

[Chris Murphy]

I think it's pretty easy to make sense of it. Their party is a cult of personality. There is no room for disagreement with the leader. Marco Rubio took that job understanding that he was going to have to throw out much of what he had believed previously. Lindsey Graham will never, ever be publicly crosswise with the leader. That's the modern Republican Party.

[Jane Coston]

What would it mean for US Foreign policy if the Republican Party fully abandons positions it's held and been very proud of since the Cold War?

[Chris Murphy]

Well, that China rules the world, you know, within the next several decades. We are in a contest with China when it comes to who controls the pipes of the international economy. That's the port infrastructure, the high speed data infrastructure, the flow of critical minerals. China wants to control all of that. And the Republican Party right now is sort of rolling up American influence and power around the world, which means it'll be Chinese product safety standards that will rule the day. It will be Chinese food safety standards, it will be Chinese data safety standards. America will be a inferior nation.

[Jane Coston]

Conversely, do you think Republicans have a point that this war isn't a stalemate and it's time to negotiate some sort of ceasefire here, even if it means giving Putin some of the things he wants, like control of eastern Ukraine?

[Chris Murphy]

Well, there's certainly no doubt that there's going to eventually have to be a diplomatic solution. But this isn't a negotiation that they're talking about. It's a capitulation. If you were going to engage in a good faith negotiation, you would negotiate from a position of strength. Right? You'd come to Congress and ask for an authorization of new military funding. You might even signal to the Russians that you're willing to increase the kind of weapons that you're going to give Ukraine if Russia doesn't come to the table. But that's the exact opposite of what Donald Trump has done. Donald Trump has parroted Russian talking points over the course of the last two weeks. They essentially telegraphed publicly their bottom lines, for instance, that Ukraine would never become part of NATO, would never get a security guarantee. And Zelensky knows it, which is why he asked at the White House, why would you ever trust Russia? Because what he is being asked to do is to agree to a ceasefire in which Ukraine would withdraw its troops from the front lines. Russia would not. And as soon as Ukraine was gone, Russia would move into the rest of Ukraine. That's a surrender. That's not a negotiation.

[Jane Coston]

I know you and I both spend, regrettably, a lot of time online, and I was so weirded out to see this false claim spread very quickly, that Democrats convinced or pressured Zelensky to reject a deal over minerals that Trump wanted in exchange for U.S. aid. It was a complete invention. You wrote on Twitter that these kinds of claims are a, quote, means toward an end, and that end is the destruction of democracy and the rule of law in order to install the Trump family in power permanently. Can you flesh that out for us?

[Chris Murphy]

So the ultimate claim was that Democrats had met with Zelensky in a number of different forums and told him that he shouldn't sign the minerals deal. Like, totally made up. I was in one of those supposed meetings, and not a single person in that meeting, and it was Republicans and Democrats, by the way, in that meeting with Zelensky told him that he should reject the deal. Everybody said that he should sign it. The other meeting, which was apparently a conference call with Tony Blinken, Susan Rice, and Victoria Nuland, literally never happened, right? It was just made up by some MAGA person, and it just spread virally in a matter of hours. And, you know, it ended up being parroted by Trump administration officials, by the U.S. attorney in D.C. who threatened to lock up the people that were on the conference call that never happened. Like, none of them went and tried to find the source of that rumor. I went to go find it, and within five minutes, I discovered that it was just some MAGA troll in her basement that posted her speculation that, of course, there must have been a conference call with Barack Obama and Tony Blinken and Zelensky, but they don't care about truth. They don't. The propaganda is the point, because they're just trying to create a world in which people come to the conclusion the Democrats are evil, that they are an existential threat to the Republic, and thus any means is necessary. Any means, including violence, is necessary and justified in order to destroy the left, in order to destroy Democrats, and in order to allow Donald Trump And Donald Trump Jr. And whomever else in the Trump family to rule forever.

[Jane Coston]

Senator, I was really struck by something. You've mentioned it a couple of times, that this isn't just about foreign policy. This is about domestic policy. There are millions of Americans who, to be honest, don't care about foreign policy. They are worried about what's going on at home. And on the subject of Ukraine, while very few Americans outside of the Internet support Russia, many Americans are pulling back from supporting Ukraine. And there are a lot of voters who seem to believe Trump and his allies when they say they want to focus on America first and on keeping Americans safe and that pulling back from the world is the right way to do so. What do you say to them?

[Chris Murphy]

We live in a globally connected world today and America has become the most powerful economic and political power in the world because over the last 75 to 85 years, we have not had big nation on big nation conflict. If Ukraine is gobbled up by Russia, big powers will invade smaller nations. And that's a world in which a the US Loses. And that is also a world in which the United States probably gets dragged into a conflict in which there is a risk that a nuclear weapon goes off. That's why we have been so careful after World War II in not allowing a country like Russia to do what it's doing to Ukraine. What's happening between Trump and Russia is also about the domestic crisis. The reason why he is hugging dictators like Putin is because he wants to normalize dictatorships where he decides what the law is on any given day. He literally calls himself a king sometimes. So the affection for people like Putin, it's dangerous to American national security. It may get a lot of Americans killed, but it is also very much connected to what he is trying to do domestically. And that's just keep everybody asleep as all of a sudden the right to dissent gets destroyed.

[Jane Coston]

Senator Murphy, thank you so much for joining me.

[Chris Murphy]

Thank you.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe. Leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads. This episode was brought to you by BetterHelp. Think about your favorite leaders, the people you look up to. They don't have all the answers, but they do know when to ask questions and when to seek support. In a society that glorifies hyper independence, it's easy to forget that we're all better when we have a support system behind us. Therapy can be a source of support for any area of your life. It's time to shift the focus from doing it all to knowing that we're better when we ask for help. Therapy isn't just for people working through major trauma. Everyone has something they need to overcome and deserves someone to talk them through it. BetterHelp is fully online, making therapy affordable and convenient. Serving over 5 million people worldwide, you can access a diverse network of more than 30,000 credentialed therapists with a wide range of specialties. You can easily switch therapists anytime at no extra cost. Build your support system with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com wad to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H E L p.com wade listen as.

[Chris Murphy]

Silenia tells us why she chose to vaccinate her daughter.

[Jane Coston]

I definitely felt like the pros far outweighed the cons. The diseases that I am protecting my child against. They're still here. And at the end of the day, it's my job as a mother to keep my child safe.

[Chris Murphy]

Talk to your child's doctor and learn [e-mail] brought to you by Merck.

[Merck]

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[Jane Coston]

Here's what else we're following today.

[Latifah Simon]

Head of lines.

[Donald Trump]

Tariffs 25% on Canada and 25% on Mexico and that'll start. So they're gonna have to have a tariff. So what they have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States.

[Jane Coston]

President Trump said Monday that 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will go into effect starting today. Trump initially agreed to a one month delay on the tariffs in February, but when asked by reporters at a White House press conference Monday if Canada or Mexico still had a chance to avoid them, Trump said, no deal.

[Donald Trump]

No room left for Mexico or for Canada. No, the tariffs, you know, they're all set.

[Jane Coston]

Trump partly blamed the tariffs on the, quote, vast amounts of fentanyl that's come into the US From Mexico and China. He also pushed for car manufacturers to build plants in the US to avoid being hit by the tariffs. According to anonymous sources that spoke with Reuters, Honda has already decided to make its next generation Honda Civic hybrid in the US Instead of Mexico in an effort to sidestep potential tariffs. After Trump's announcement Monday, Wall street took a hit. The tariffs put the US at risk of a trade war with its closest neighbors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Pentagon officials to stop any operations against Russian cybersecurity attacks over the weekend. The news outlet the Record was the first to report the news on Friday, citing anonymous sources. National Security Adviser Mike Walsh told CNN Sunday that he was not aware of the directive. Former Pentagon officials told the New York Times that it's not uncommon for the US to pause some military operations amid diplomatic efforts, such as the effort to end the years long war in Ukraine. But Hegseth's order seems aimed at pleasing the Kremlin as the Trump administration moves further away from Ukraine. We saw that in full force during last week's disastrous Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer commented on Hegseth's order Sunday, tweeting that Trump is, quote, so desperate to earn the affection of a thug like Vladimir Putin he appears to be giving him a free pass. Anonymous sources told the Record that Hegseth's directive will remain in effect until further notice.

[Chris Murphy]

It's heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content like Deepfakes.

[Jane Coston]

First Lady Melania Trump lobbied for a bill that would make it a federal crime to post non consensual intimate images, real or fake, online Monday. This is the first time we've heard from the first lady since her husband's inauguration. During a roundtable discussion with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the First lady discussed the Take It Down Act.

[Chris Murphy]

The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families and communities. Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people.

[Jane Coston]

The legislation would make it a federal crime to knowingly post or threaten to publish pornographic images of someone without their consent, including realistic computer generated images and videos that attempt to show real people who can be identified. The bill has bipartisan support with sponsors like Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. It passed the Senate last month and now heads to the GOP controlled House.

[Donald Trump]

The A's are 51, the nays are 45. The nomination is confirmed.

[Jane Coston]

It's official. Linda McMahon is the new Education Secretary. On Monday, the Senate confirmed yet another Trump nominee with little to no experience for a Cabinet job. The former wrestling executive is tasked with running the Education Department while the Trump administration works to get the agency dismantled. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to defund the department and let states run their schools. During her Senate confirmation hearings, McMahon claimed that all she wants to do is make the Education Department, quote, operate more efficiently. But if her definition of efficiency is anything like Elon Musk's, it's not looking good. Only two of Trump's Cabinet picks have yet to be confirmed by the labor secretary nominee Laurie Chavez Du Remmer and United nations ambassador nominee Elise Stefanik. And that's the news. One more thing. Tonight, Donald Trump is giving a joint address to Congress. No, it's not a state of the Union, because, believe it or not, he's just been sworn into office. Yes, just. But in any case, Trump's going to speak to the country and Democrats are trying to decide how to respond. Should they go and be a visible opposition or should they just do literally anything else? A handful of Democrats in both the House and Senate aren't going. Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden is choosing instead to talk to constituents. Here he is on CNN on Monday.

[Chris Murphy]

That's what my constituents want. That's what Oregonians, many of them, told me that they were interested in. They said, we want to hear about Social Security, we want to hear about Medicaid, we want to hear about fighting fires, we want to hear about our veterans. We're not interested in hearing about the Donald Trump alternate reality. So that's why we're doing it.

[Jane Coston]

We spoke to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy earlier in the show. He's not going either. But I want to know it's not just about go or not go. What will Democrats say to respond to Trump? Because Trump's going to say Trump stuff to America. He'll be racist and offensive while also being factually wrong and also weird. A combination I did not think I would have to keep seeing for another four years of my valuable lifespan. What can Democrats tell Americans? California Democratic Representative Latifah Simon will be giving the Working Families Party response to the joint address. She joined me to give me a preview of her speech. Representative Simon, welcome to what a Day.

[Latifah Simon]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Jane Coston]

You have only been in office a few weeks, but you've been very busy speaking out against the Trump administration and Doge's firings of every federal worker they can find. Why have you been showing up these rallies day after day?

[Latifah Simon]

I came from a background of organizing and being on the ground. I've been doing it for this work for 30 years. And when I say this work, it's standing in the gap when government is failing us. Being a voice, but also moving with my feet to support people that I care about those are veterans, those are disabled workers. Those are folks who are working right now in a Social Security office delivering death benefits to little children like my daughter Layla, when her father passed away from cancer. He was on Social Security for the last year of his life. You know, we have created in the last 30 years a pretty significant safety structure for poor people. And we're seeing day after day, literally, minute after minute, hour after hour, these structures being forcefully attacked, literally with a chainsaw by this administration. And so for me, the job here is to represent. The job here is not to just wait on what we should say. It's to talk about what we deserve, what we need, and really how this administration is violating the American promise, which is very basic.

[Jane Coston]

You're giving the working families response to Trump's address to Congress tonight. Can you give us a preview?

[Latifah Simon]

I already know what the president is going to say. He's been saying it every day during his campaign. And that was to do everything that he possibly can to go back to a 1950s America, a segregationist America, where only a small few got the benefit of government. I'm going to be talking about the real stories of real folks, both rural and urban, in red and blue states, who deserve basic health care, who deserve federal services, who are counting on the Department of Education because that mother has a child, who is autistic and who deserves an aid in their classroom. We're going to be talking about seniors who are living in care facilities right now who are at risk of not only having their Social Security ripped away, but the reality, not hyperbole, of their care being disrupted. You have farmers, you have low income white families in rural America who don't know what next month is going to look like. They did not sign up for this.

[Jane Coston]

You are going to be speaking to millions of Americans, millions of Americans who voted for Trump, millions of Americans who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, millions of Americans who may not have voted at all. What do you think is most important for Americans to hear right now?

[Latifah Simon]

I will be delivering a conversation that I believe that we all deserve in this moment, red or blue, that we have a nation that promised that we would have a separation in government and that there would be checks and balances. We are seeing those checks and balances collapse before our very eyes in real time. And folks need to know that they have the power to reset. We can take back the Congress, which means we can actually start working and getting things done. On behalf of real folks, real working folks.

[Jane Coston]

Representative Simon, thank you so much for being here.

[Latifah Simon]

Thank you so much. I appreciate you.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with California Democratic Representative Latifah Simon before we go. Trump's speech is tonight and we are sure it'll be super normal. We already know what to expect, flagrant lies, scare tactics, self congratulation and at least one nod to colonizing Canada and or Greenland. The good news? You don't have to endure it alone. Join John, John, Tommy and dan today at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern on the Pod Save America YouTube channel for a livestream preview of the speech. They'll break down what to expect and take questions from Friends of the Pod subscribers. Then at 6pm Pacific 9pm Eastern, head over to the Friends of the Pod Discord for a subscriber only live chat where you can process this freak show in real time with people who truly get it. No deranged Facebook uncles, no screaming into the void. Just a space to vent, fact check and remind each other that reality still matters. Let's get through this together. Sign up for Friends of the pod [e-mail] friends it's the best way to support Crooked and everything we do. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, contemplate your choices and decisions. If you decide to pay for ads on Twitter to promote your own tweets and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how seriously, there is no level of down bad worse than paying to have your stupid tweets shown to innocent people who don't need to know what you think about stuff like me. What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coston and don't give Elon more money. Don't do it. He's got enough. What a Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Aloy. We had production help today from Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.

[Chris Murphy]

Listen as Silenia tells us why she chose to vaccinate her daughter.

[Jane Coston]

I definitely felt like the pros far outweighed the cons. The diseases that I am protecting my child against, they're still here. And at the end of the day, it's my job as a mother to keep my child safe.

[Chris Murphy]

Talk to your child's doctor and learn more at yvaccines.com brought to you by.

[Merck]

Merck TaxAct knows you probably don't need help filing taxes, but if you get stuck, we have live experts you can talk to. And who knows, you could hit it off and become long term tax staying up late at night talking about deductions, refunds, personal exemptions. Heck, you could even fall in love and create a little dependent of your own one day. Or they could just answer your filing questions. Tax act let's get them over with.