Podcast Summary: What A Day

Episode: “Sen. Sanders Slams the Surrender Dems”

Host: Jane Kostin (Crooked Media)
Date: November 11, 2025

Overview

This episode centers on the Democratic infighting following a critical Senate vote to end the longest government shutdown in American history—without securing an extension for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, the explicit aim of the shutdown. Host Jane Kostin interviews Senator Bernie Sanders, who sharply criticizes the compromise, discusses the repercussions for millions of Americans’ healthcare, and lays out his enduring vision for a single-payer, Medicare for All system. The episode also covers Trump's controversial early pardons, the Supreme Court letting same-sex marriage stand, and major problems in air travel amid the ongoing shutdown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democrats End Shutdown—But At What Cost?

[00:02–03:15]

• Eight Senate Democrats, joined by Republicans, voted to end the government shutdown, without a commitment on extending ACA subsidies.

• Senator Maggie Hassan and Senator Tim Kaine voiced optimism and framed the deal as a step forward, but others, in both the House and Senate, denounced the move, labeling it a capitulation.

  “So my Democratic colleagues and I have been ready to work on this issue on extending these tax cuts for months. With the government reopening shortly, Senate Republicans now finally have to come to the table. Or make no mistake, Americans will remember who stood in the way.”
  —Sen. Maggie Hassan [01:11]

  “I got the first good night's sleep last night that I've gotten since October 1st...”
  —Sen. Tim Kaine [01:47]

• Calls emerged for Chuck Schumer to resign as Senate Minority Leader.

2. Sanders’ Slam: Democratic “Surrender”

[03:15–14:16]
Main Interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sanders’ Critique of the Deal

• “A terrible message”: Sanders argues that the compromise telegraphs Democratic weakness to both opponents and their base.

  “What those eight people are saying is, look, we’re not prepared to stand up and take on Trump and the Republican Party...”
  —Bernie Sanders [03:53]

• The consequences:

  • ACA premiums will spike for over 20 million people.
  • 15 million could be dropped from Medicaid.
  • Sanders notes, “...some 50,000 of those people will die every single year because they no longer have health care.” [04:30]

On Promise of Senate ACA Vote

• Sanders calls the Republican promise of a Senate vote on ACA subsidies “bogus,” as House Speaker Mike Johnson is unlikely to consider it.

  “You can win the vote here by 100 to 0… It’s going no place, period.”
  —Sanders [05:13]

On Republican ‘Alternatives’ to ACA Subsidies

• Sanders mocks “flexible spending account” proposals as unserious, expressing deep skepticism of GOP health plans.

  “He was president for four years, had four more years to think about it, running again, and today they do not have any serious proposal.”
  —Sanders [06:22]

Why Not Universal Healthcare?

• Sanders compares the US unfavorably to Canada, highlighting lower costs and universal coverage.

  “If you’re in Canada… you have a heart transplant… you know what the bill is?… It is zero.”
  —Sanders [07:20]

  • He blames a “corrupt campaign finance system” and the outsized power of insurance and drug company lobbyists for US healthcare failures.

Short-term and Long-term Solutions

• Immediate need: Extend ACA subsidies and block Medicaid cuts (“incredibly cruel”).

• Gradual approach to Medicare for All: Lower eligibility age over five years.

  “We’re not going to transform the entire healthcare system… It is a five-year transition period…”
  —Sanders [09:07]

  • Year 1: Lower Medicare age to 55, cover all <18
  • Year 2+: Keep lowering the age

On Endorsing Candidates

• Medicare for All is the main litmus test for Sanders’ support in Democratic primaries.

  “For me, it’s not the only factor, but it is the main.”
  —Sanders [10:33]

• Emotional appeal: Sanders reflects on America’s wealth disparity, calling for renewed public hope and engagement.

  “We are the richest country on earth… why is it millions of families struggling to put food on the table?”
  —Sanders [10:58]

Will Congress Deliver on Healthcare?

“Yesterday’s vote was a real step backwards, I can’t say… It depends on how effective we are in rallying the American people.”
—Sanders [12:15]

On Chuck Schumer and Democratic Leadership

• Sanders, as an independent, is neutral but argues leadership change makes little difference absent a larger progressive shift.

  “To replace Chuck with somebody else whose views are not different, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference.”
  —Sanders [13:18]

3. Major Developments Covered Briefly

[17:03–22:43]

• Trump hosts Syria’s new president after a regime change; hints at normalizing relations despite the leader’s extremist past.
• Supreme Court upholds same-sex marriage by declining Kim Davis’s appeal.
• Trump issues controversial pardons to Giuliani, Meadows, and “a whole flock” of 2020 election conspirators.
  • The pardons are largely symbolic since most weren’t charged federally.
• FAA flight cuts affect travelers as the shutdown strains controllers.
  • Anonymous Delta pilot reassures nervous passengers (heartwarming moment: [22:17]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “We think Trump is too strong, too powerful. We can’t do anything. Let’s end this shutdown. That’s the message that’s getting out. I think that’s a terrible message.”
  —Bernie Sanders [03:58]

• “We don't talk about this enough, Jane. For 15 million people to be thrown off of Medicaid… studies suggest that some 50,000 of those people will die every single year…”
  —Bernie Sanders [04:41]

• “If the rest of the world is doing it, why aren’t we doing it? Well, then you’re into a corrupt campaign finance system in which the drug companies… have 1800 paid lobbyists right here.”
  —Sanders [07:36]

• “The issue is not the personality of Chuck Schumer… The issue is leadership which is progressive. We're not there yet by any means.”
  —Sanders [13:27]

• “Health care for all is not a radical idea. It exists all over the place. That's kind of what we're trying to do with our political movement.”
  —Sanders [11:18]

• Heartfelt reassurance from Delta pilot during shutdown-induced flight disruptions:

  “Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing unsafe comes in between me, that little girl and her ice cream.”
  —Captain Pennington [22:17]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Opening, Healthcare and Shutdown Headlines | | 01:11 | Sen. Maggie Hassan on the compromise | | 01:47 | Sen. Tim Kaine on the shutdown ending | | 02:36 | Sanders, Newsom, and progressive anger | | 03:36–14:16 | Jane Kostin interviews Sen. Bernie Sanders | | 03:53 | Sanders denounces Senate deal and its consequences | | 05:05 | Sanders on the “bogus” promise of an ACA vote | | 06:10 | Sanders ridicules GOP health proposals | | 07:20 | Sanders: Canada’s system vs. America’s | | 09:07 | Sanders explains phased Medicare for All plan | | 10:33 | Endorsing pro-Medicare for All candidates | | 13:18 | On Chuck Schumer and Democratic leadership | | 17:03 | Trump meets new Syrian president; sanctions, same-sex marriage ruling | | 19:52 | Trump’s early pardons | | 21:43 | FAA issues, Delta pilot’s message |

Tone & Language

Jane Kostin mixes sardonic news analysis with earnest interviewing. Sanders is pointed, indignant, and sometimes hopeful, returning often to “the heart” of the issue and the need for moral courage in American politics.

For Listeners: Why This Matters

This episode is a primer on the real stakes behind DC deal-making: millions losing healthcare and the power of political messaging in shaping public trust. Sanders’ appearance gives a window into progressive frustration—while the added news rundown reflects the tumult and dysfunction of this political moment.

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