Transcript

11.6.25 · Washington Post

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Speaker 1: Welcome to the reading of the Washington Post for Thursday,
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November the sixth of twenty twenty five. Your reader is
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Alice Stainer, with the reminder that RADIOI is a program
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for those that are blind or have other disabilities and
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difficulties in holding a reading printed material. And I start
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with today's front page of the Washington Post. To the
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far left, justices question legality of new tariffs. Court seems
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skeptical of Trump's authority to levy vast array of import
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taxes by Justin Jovenal. And then in the very center
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across the top in big bold letters, left is lifted
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by verdict of voters, and there is a picture of
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New York Maya elect Zoron Mundami attending a news conference
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Wednesday in Queens. Mandami, a Democratic socialist and the city's
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first Muslim Maya, ran on such policies as rent control,
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free buses, and universal childcare. And he is in front
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of the World Wheel that was at one time part
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of the World's Fair a long time ago and back
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in the sixties, of which I happened to go to it.
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Below the picture, which takes up the whole center section
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of the paper. To the left a sprint to decide
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which winner best personifized Democratic Party by Naftali, Ben David
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and Yasmin Abutels. In the middle of that, mapping a
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Democratic sweep across Virginia, New Jersey and New York and
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different people I'll read that later. Republicans split on path
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forward as they are twenty twenty six mid terms by
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Liz Goodwin, Cleve R. Woodson Junior and Marianna so Tomayo.
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And then to the far right of the picture, talks
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heat up to break impass. Democrats divided on shutdown deal
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election ROMP, Motivate summ In Party to dig In by
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Raleigh Began and Theodoric Mayom. And then at the very
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bottom for profit industry fuels boom in veterans claims unregulated firms,
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along with influences and VA itself are behind a surge
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and one hundred percent disability ratings by Lisaine Craig Whitlock,
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Caitlin Gilbert and Aaron Shaeffer. At first article after election wins,
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Democrats split on how to end government shutdown. A band
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of moderates has been talking about reopening the government in
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exchange for a vote on healthcare subsidies by Riley Began
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and Theodoric Mail. A handful of moderate Senate Democrats are
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considering voting to end what has now become the country's
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longest government shutdown, splitting the caucuses. Some colleagues to their
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left urged them to hold out for a better deal.
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A bipartisan group of Senators is working to craft an
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agreement in which Congress would pass three full year appropriation
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bills to fund some agencies, along with a short term
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bill that would reopen the rest of the government. According
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to four people familiar with the talks, who spoke on
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the condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. In exchange,
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Senate Republicans would agree to hold a vote at a
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set date on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that are
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otherwise slated to expire. Democrats have insisted throughout the shutdown
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that the subsidies be extended. About a dozen Senate Democrats
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are open to backing the proposal three of the People estimated,
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which is still being hammered out more than enough to
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break the impass and reopen the government, but Democrats' victories
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by double digit margins Tuesday in the races for governor
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in New Jersey and Virginia, which President Donald Trump attributed
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in part to voter disatisfaction with the shutdown, renewed calls
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on Capitol Hill for the party not to sen for
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what Republicans are offering. Senator Bernie Sanders, independent of Remark,
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who has urged Democrat for days not to cave to
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GOP Pressia, said the election results show that voters want
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Democrats to press for lower health care costs. What people
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want is for the Democrats to stand up and continue
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to fight. Sanders told reporters. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer,
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Democrat of New York, described the election results a bolting
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of light and a wake up called a Donald Trump
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to start working with us to extend ACA's subsidies. Last
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night should make it clear to Republicans that they simply
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cannot continue to ignore not only US, but the American people,
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Schumant told reporters. Trump told Republican Senator's Wednesday that the
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shutdown was a big factor that hurt the party in
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Tuesday's elections, but rather than encouraged bipartisan talks, Trump pressed
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Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to allow them to reopen
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the government without Democratic votes, an idea that Senate Majority
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Leader John Thune of South Dakota and other Republicans have
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rejected repeatedly. The government has been shuddered since October one,
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when funding ran out and Congress failed to agree on
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a funding extension. Democrats have demanded Republicans work with them
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to extend pandemic Era ACA subsidies that will expire at
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the end of the year, raising health care premiums in
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some cases sharply. Republicans have refused, saying they won't negotiate
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on health care while the government is shut down. They
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have repeatedly offered a bill that would fund the government
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through November twenty first, which Democrats have defeated fourteen times.
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But as food aid remains uncertain, flight DeLay's mount and
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federal workers continue to miss paychecks, some moderate Democrats are
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looking for a way out of the empass. Senate Democrats
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met for lunch Tuesday for nearly three hours to discuss
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the path forward. Those involved in the talks updated their
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colleagues on where they stand afterward. Senator Gary Peters, Democrat
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of Michigan, who has been part of the negotiations, said
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it was a thoughtful discussion. It was one of the
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better caucus meetings I've been in in a while. Democratic
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senators will meet again Thursday. Republicans who have been seeking
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to persuade Democrats to end the shutdown argue that a
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vote on a handful of appropriation bills could provide enough
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cover of them. They're tired of this, so if they
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can see a path forward, such as something more than
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just a vote up or down on ending it, that
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gives him another reason to vote for something, said Senator
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Mike Ronds, Republican of South Dakota. Republicans, who control the
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Senate fifty three to forty seven, need the support of
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at least eight Democrats to reopen the government because Senator
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Rand Paul Republican of Kentucky opposes the bill, and it
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would take sixty votes to break a filibuster. Senator's Angus King,
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Independent of Maine, Catherine Cortes Mostow, Democrat of Nevada, and
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John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania have voted for the Republican
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funding bill. Some Democrats are more ready than others to
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strike a deal in coming days. Senators Dick Durbin of
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Illinois the number two Senate Democrat noted after lunch Tuesday
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that there were differences of opinion among his colleagues on
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what to do. Some Democrats are arguing their colleagues not
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to reurging their colleagues not to agree to reopen the
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government without a concrete agreement to extend the healthcare subsidies
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rather than a promise to hold a vote. Sanders and
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Wednesday that Democrats should insist has speak of Mike Johnson,
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Republican of Louisiana and Trump endorsed the subsidies before they
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vote to reopen the government. Senator Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont,
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described Democrats' victories on Tuesday as when at our back,
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this hold shutdown is about Trump's insistence on letting healthcare
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premiums explode. So the eglection results are an affirmation to
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us that we're doing the right thing by fighting for
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health care, Welch said Wednesday. Senator Lisa Mkowski, Republican of Alaska,
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said she thought the election results had made some Democrats
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more reluctant to accept a deal that doesn't deliver everything
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they want. Mkowski told reporters, I think some of them
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are looking at this and saying, okay, shutdown was tagged
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on the Republicans. We just saw evidence there, so maybe
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we have a better bargaining position. Hosts Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,
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Democrat of New York, and Schumer renewed their demand Wednesday
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for Trump to meet with them, which the President has
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ruled out until the government reopens. Jeffries told host Democrats
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on a caucas call Wednesday afternoon that they will continue
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to urge the Senate to stay the course and hold
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the line. Said that Tuesday's election was an affirmation that
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Democrats are on the right side of the issues, according
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to a person on the call, speaking on the condition
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of anonimnity to describe a private conversation. In another sign
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of democratic confidence, Representative Chrissy Hullihan, Democrat of Pennsylvania, interrupted
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Johnson's daily press conference Wednesday to ask if he was
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ready to negotiate. I'm asking if you're ready to have
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conversations with the other side, she yelled from behind stanchions
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where reporters were standing outside of the Cample Capital. You
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have an obligation to call the leadership on both sides
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and bring them together. More Americans blamed Trump and Republicans
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for the shutdown than blame Democrats. On Washington Post, ABC
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News and IPSOS poll found last week, Democrats warned that
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millions of Americans who receive the subsidies will see their
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insurance premiums rise unless the subsidies are extended in coming weeks.
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That's causing some members of the caucus to bulk at
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a possible deal that does not guarantee the subsidies will
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be extended. Senator Reuben Galago, Democrat of Arizona, said he
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wouldn't vote to end the shutdown unless there's somehow insurances
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that insurance rate premiums aren't going to double for twenty
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four million Americans. The idea that we should have some
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level of trust that they're going to deal with us
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and deal with the American people in an equitable way,
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I think is just laughable, he said. Senator Richard Blumenthal,
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Democrat of Connecticut, said I'm willing to accept a vague
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promise for some vote at an end point in the
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future on a bill yet to be determined. Let me
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repeat that, I'm unwilling to accept a vague promise for
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some vote at an indefinite point in the future on
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a bill yet to be determined. Republicans have said any
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bipartisan deal would require extending funding levels into December or
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January rather than November, but Senators disagree on how long
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the measure should last. More than six hundred and fifty
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thousand federal workers have been furloughed since the shutdown began,
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and an additional six hundred thousand have been forced to
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work without pay. Many of those workers are struggling to
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make ends meet as bills come do after two missed paychecks.
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Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, known as SNAP
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or food Stamps, is in flux, jeopardizing food security for
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millions of Americans. A court ordered the Trump administration to
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fund November SNAP benefits. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt
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said the administration is fully complying with the order, even
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though Pump posted on social media Tuesday that SNAP benefits
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will be given only when the radical left Democrats open
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up government. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on Wednesday announced
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the administration will reduce flight traffic by ten percent in
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forty markets across the country to ease pressure on air
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traffic controllers. He warned earlier this week of mass chaos
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in the skies if the government shut down drags on,
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potentially causing air traffic controllers to skip work as they
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continue to miss paychecks. Staffing shortages have already cost flight
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delays across the country. Supreme Court appears skeptical of legality
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of most of Trump's tariffs. The Supreme Court held arguments
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on one of the most important cases of its term,
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testing whether the president has authority to impose wide ranging tariffs.
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And there's a picture of Donald Trump in a court
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leaving a podium with a stand and a didim and
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it looks like there's a table for signing something. The
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day on April twod the day he announced sweeping tariffs
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that are now being legally challenged. This is by justin juvenal.
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The Supreme Court appeared skeptical Wednesday that President Donald Trump
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has legal authority to impose tariffs on a vast range
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of goods from your all countries, sending the justices could
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strike down or sharply limit the administration's signature economic policy.
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Liberal justices were expected to be critical of Trump's tariffs,
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but several of the Court's conservatives joined them in sharply
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questioning an attorney for the Trump administration. During more than
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two and a half hours of arguments, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch,
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for example, wondered aloud about the implications of granting the
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president tariff authority with few bones. The constitutionist signs Congress
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the power to levate taxes, he noted, appearing rary of
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such a dramatic expansion of the power of the chief executive.
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If Congress can hand off its tariff power to the president,
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what would prohibit Congress from just advdicating all responsibility to
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regulate foreign commerce all for that matter, to clare Wall
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to the president, Gorsich asked Solicitor General D. John Sauer,
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who argued for the administration, Congress decides tomorrow, well, we're
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tired of this legislative business. We're just going to hand
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it off to the president. What would stop Congress from
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doing that? Saua said that Congress could not go that far.
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That would really be an abdication, not a delegation of power,
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he said. Gorstch appeared unconvinced. The case is the most
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significant dispute over the president's policies to reach the High
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Court to date, and the first in which the justices
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could be called on to render a final decision, and
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the stakes could hardly be higher. The nonprofit Tax Foundation
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says that Trump administration has already collected eighty eight eight
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billion dollars in International Emergency Economic Powers Act EPA tariffs
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through September and is projected to take in two point
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three trillion over the next decade. The decision could affect
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global trade, the US economy, inflation, businesses, and the wallets
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of every American. Is the first major test of whether
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the Court will embrace or limit Trump's assertions of broad
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executive power in his second term. The ruling could also
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be a make or break political moment for Trump's presidency.
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He has made tariffs central to his tenure, wielding them
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as a leverage not only in trade gat negotiations, but
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also in a wide range of disputes both large and small.
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He called the case one of the most important in
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the history of the country in a truth social post,
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and later called it literally life or death for our country.
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Life or death is in capitals. If a president was
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not able to quickly and nimbly use the power of tariffs,
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we would be defensive, leading perhaps even to the ruination
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of our nation. Trump wrote in the earlier post, Trump
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could use other laws to reimpose some of his tariffs
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if he loses the current case, a point that some
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of the justices noted. Most of those laws, however, impose
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procedural and substantive requirements that don't allow for the sort
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of free wheeling, wide ranging power Trump has claimed the
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international Emergency law gives him. The importance of the case
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is underscored by the fact that the Justices agreed to
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hear it on an expedited basis. The quip timeline could
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indicate that they may issue a decision in the coming
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weeks or months, rather than at the end of the
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term in June or July, when they typically release major rulings.
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Beginning in February, Trump began announcing major tariffs, claiming authority
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to do so under iPAH, a nineteen seventy seven law
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that has typically been used to impose sanctions on foreign
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countries that pose a threat to the United States. No
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president has previously claimed that the law gave them the
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authority to impose tariffs, and the law does not mention tariffs.
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The law allows the president to declare an emergency to
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regulate dot dot dot importation of foreign goods to deal
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with any unusual and extraordinary threat to national security, the
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foreign policy, or economy. In that February round of tariffs,
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Trump lavied import taxes between ten and twenty five percent
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to China, Mexico, and Canada for allegedly failing to stem
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the flow of fentanyl and other drugs across the border,
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which he cited as an emergency. In April, at an
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event he dubbed Liberation Day, Trump announced a universal ten
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percent tariff on nearly every American trading partner, and higher
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levels on some individual countries. In that case, the emergency,
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Trump said was trade deficits that he claimed have decimated
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American manufacturing. By some measures, the average teriff rate is
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higher than at any period since the Great Depression. Trump
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has repeatedly imposed levies, then delayed or revoked them, which
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is un settled financial markets, businesses, and global trade. Sour
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framed Trump's use of the tariffs in the same dire
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terms as the President saying Wednesday that exploding trade deficits
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had undermined the US economy. They threatened the bedrock of
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their economic security, Sour said. He argued the economic emergency
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laws language of a regulating importation covers tariffs. To bolster
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of that argument, he highlighted that a court had upheld
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President Richard M. Nixon's power to impose tariffs under a
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statute that was a predecessor to AIBA and used the
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same language. The justices, however, repeatedly interrupted him to push back,
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noting that lack of any language in the Economic Emergency
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Law that would specifically authorize the tariff. Liberal Justice Elena
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Kagan told Sauah, if you look at dot dot dot
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all the tariff's statutes that Congress has passed, I mean
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they use language about revenue raising tariffs and duties and taxes,
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all the language that does not appear in the statute
23:19
you rely on. Saah repeatedly responded to such criticism by
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saying the tariffs were not a tax, but a means
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of regulating trade. The money they raised was only incidental,
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he said. Small businesses in states that sued over Trump's
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tariffs say he has greatly overstepped his authority. Neil Katio,
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an attorney who represented the businesses, pointed out that no
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previous president understood the Economic Emergency Law to grant the
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authority Trump claims trade deficits, which have existed for decades,
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do not meet the definition of an emergency necessary to
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invoke the law's powers, he argued. He also said Congress
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had been clear in other laws that granted the president
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the power to impose tariffs and always included strict limits.
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This is an open ended power to junk the tariff laws,
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Cadiol said of Trump's use of a EPO, Conservative Justices
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Bret M. Cavanaugh and Samuel A. Alito Junior were most
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skeptical of the arguments made by the states and small
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businesses challenging Trump's policy. Kavanaugh questioned their contention that the
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law's language allowing the president to regulate trade could give
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him power to ban trade with the nation but not
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allow tariffs, a point also raised by Justice Amy Coney
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barrin your interpretation, would allow the president to shut down
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trade with other countries but not impose a one sent tariff.
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Kevanaugh asked, that doesn't seem to have a lot of
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common sense behind it. Oregon Solicitor General Benjamin Gutman, representing
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the states that challenged the tariffs, responded to that argument
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by noting that the government would be significantly more likely
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to levy a tax than to impose an embargo. To
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be blunt about it, one of them there's going in
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it for the government, and one of them there isn't,
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Gutman said, noting that tariffs bring in tens of millions
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of dollars. Adding actions that bring in revenue from the
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pockets of taxpayers to the treasury pose a different set
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of concerns, he said. Several justices also suggested that Trump's
25:53
claim of broad power to impose tariffs would violate the
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Court's Major Questions Lead dorine, which holds that if the
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executive branch claims authority under a statute to carry out
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a policy that has major economic or political consequences, the
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statute has to explicitly grant that power. Chief Justice John G.
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Roberts Jr. And Justice's Clarence Thomas and Gorsuch each returned
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to that point during the arguments. The Court's conservative majority
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invoked the Major Questioned doctrine to strike down Biden administration
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initiatives on student loan forgiveness, coronavirus vaccine mandates in climate change.
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Roberts expressed skepticism that Trump's use of AIPA could pass
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the Major Questions test because the President has interpreted the
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law to provide him virtually unlimited tariff powers. It does
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seem like that's a major authority, Roberts said. The administration
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says the tariffs are restoring America's industrial base and have
27:08
induced trading partners to make deals and invest in the
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United States. It also says a ruling against the administration
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will force the Treasury to refund tens of billions of dollars,
27:20
which would put a strain on the nation's finances. Barrett
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picked up on that argument, saying that unwinding the tariffs
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by requiring the tragedy to issue tens of millions of
27:32
dollars in refunds would be a logistical mess. Critics say
27:38
the tariffs are leading to higher inflation and are a
27:41
major drag on the US economy. Consumer prices rose in
27:46
September and increase many economists attributed in part to Trump's tariffs.
27:53
The Tax Foundation estimates the average US household will pay
27:57
a an extra thirteen hundred dollars and taxes in twenty
28:01
twenty five, while the Yale Budget lab It calculates households
28:06
will have to sholl out about twenty four hundred dollars
28:08
this year for terror related markups. The tariff case is
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the first of three that will determine how far the
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Court is willing to go in accommodating Trump's claims of
28:21
expansive presidential powell. In December, the Court will consider whether
28:27
to overturn a nineteen thirty five precedent that insulates independent
28:33
agencies from political interference by the White House. In January,
28:38
it will explore whether Trump can file a member of
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the Federal Reserve. Trump had indicated initially that he would
28:48
attend the Court's argument, but later backtracked. Secretary Treasury Scott
28:54
Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik did attend. Christine abbe Ably,
29:02
a law professor at the University of New Hampshire, said
29:05
the court's decision will have enormous implications, especially if the
29:11
justices side with the president. This would really be a
29:15
fundamental shift in I think what a lot of legal
29:19
scholars view as the president's authority to impose tariffs, Ably,
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said Daniel Ehrman, a professor of law at Northwest Eastern University,
29:30
said he thinks the justices will also weigh considerations beyond
29:35
the legal ones. The Court which is granted win after
29:39
win to Trump in his series of temporary cases, may
29:42
be looking for a chance to check the president. With
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two other major cases dealing with president of power on
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the horizon. I don't think five plus justices want President
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Trump to get his way on all the executive power visions.
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I do think they care about public perception, Erman said.
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Republicans shaken by election losses and split on how to
30:14
fix things. Trump urges GOP to pass legislation to make
30:20
them unbeatable. Vance says no more infighting. Others in the
30:25
party have different views. By Liz Goodwin, Clevar Woodson Junior,
30:31
and Marianna so To Mayor, Republicans are reeling after Democrats
30:37
swept off year races in several blue and purple states
30:41
across the country on Tuesday, blaring a warning siren that
30:46
their party may be in trouble ahead of the twenty
30:48
twenty six midterm elections, but they appear divided on how
30:53
to course correct and what lessons the losses could hold
30:56
for the mid terms, with some strategists in a feis
31:00
believing President Donald Trump needs to flex more muscle and
31:04
upcoming contest to fire up the base and others, believing
31:09
Congressional Republicans need to develop their own distinct brand on
31:13
the economy ahead of twenty twenty six. In the base
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of Trump's tariffs, Trump, who faces low approval ratings and
31:22
polls less than a year into his second term, offered
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his own prescription, blaming his party's bruising election night losses
31:31
on the ongoing government shutdown and urging Republicans to end
31:35
the funding gridlock, which is the longest in US history.
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Vice President J. D. Banch said in a social media
31:43
post that Republicans need to work harder to make a
31:46
decent life affordable and also stop in fighting with each other,
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even as he downplayed the significance of the losses. We
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have to get the country open, and the way we're
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going to do it this afternoon is to terminate the filibuster,
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Trump said during a meeting with Republican senators at the
32:07
White House, referencing a procedural rule in the Senate that
32:12
requires sixty votes to pass most legislation. We will pass
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legislation that you've never seen before, and it will be
32:20
impossible to beat us. Trump said. Both parties have been
32:25
reluctant to eliminate the rule, which historically has served as
32:29
a potent check on the majority in the Chamber, where
32:33
the balance of power frequently ships. Senate Majority Leader John Thune,
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Republican of South Dakota, told reporters later Wednesday that it's
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just not happening. The tone of urgency from the very
32:47
top of the party comes as Democrats found success in
32:51
keys contest across the country, including in New York, New Jersey,
32:56
and Virginia, where they criticized Trump's second term agenda and
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vowed to pursue policies to address the high cost of living.
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Teesday's wins also extended in the key purple states such
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as Pennsylvania and Georgia, where Democrats retained several state Supreme
33:15
Court seats and hos did two GOP incumbents on a
33:20
state utility board, respectively. The electoral drubbing also raised and
33:26
issue Republicans have continually faced in the Trump era how
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to get MAGA voters who reliably show up for Trump
33:35
in presidential election years to turn out to vote for
33:38
GOP lawmakers when Trump is not on the ballot. It
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just remains to be seen whether working class, low propensity
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voters turn out to vote when Donald Trump is not
33:50
on the ballot, said Senator Josh Harley, Republican of Missouri.
33:56
I don't know, they haven't yet. That can pose an
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existential issue for the party with Trump in his last
34:05
term as president. One GOP strategist involved in midterm races,
34:10
who like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to
34:14
disclose internal discussions, said the president must be more involved
34:18
in the mid term elections to fire up the base
34:22
and make the case that he has kept core campaign
34:25
promises such as securing the bottom. He has a platform
34:31
and a megaphone that no candidate can out rival, the
34:35
strategist said, adding having him brought in and on the
34:40
ground is going to be very important for his part.
34:45
Trump did little to campaign or fundraise in many of
34:48
Tuesday's marquee races, including declining to personally get involved in
34:53
the fight against the California ballot proposition that counts his
34:57
redistracting push in Texas and of the the red states,
35:01
Republicans were significantly outspent in both Virginia, where top Republicans
35:07
complained about the electability of Lieutenant Governor wins some earl Seers,
35:13
and New Jersey. Another Republican strategists noted that the president's
35:19
campaign has raised about two billion and must open up
35:23
the coffers if they want to hold onto the Senate
35:26
and House in twenty twenty six. House Speaker Mike Johnson,
35:31
Republican of Louisiana, said he told Trump on Wednesday morning
35:35
that he is effectively on the ballot in twenty twenty
35:38
six because Democrats crats will try to impeach him if
35:42
they win the House in twenty twenty six. The President
35:47
needs four years to complete his agenda, not just two,
35:50
so he's in a very real sense on the ballot.
35:53
He's fiercely committed to us winning, Johnson said. Another key
36:00
learned for Republicans as Trump's approach to the economy. The
36:03
president has liberally levied tariffs on a host of other countries,
36:09
increasing the cost of some goods in the United States.
36:13
The Democrats who won on Tuesday, Abigail span Berger in Virginia,
36:19
Mickey Chryl in New Jersey, and Zoron Mndami in New York,
36:24
all focused much of their campaigns on bringing down cost
36:27
in their regions. The President just needs to tune back
36:32
the dial on anything that's going to increase the price
36:35
to the consumer. Senator Tom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina,
36:41
who is not seeking reelection, said of the tariffs. Another
36:46
GOP strategist involved in House races urged Republicans to separate
36:52
themselves from some of the administration's policies, like indiscriminate tariffs
36:57
that are increasing costs for the American people. Ahead of
37:01
the midterms. It is unclear if Republicans will focus on
37:06
cost cutting measures in the Capitol, which have largely ground
37:09
to a halt because of the shutdown. The benefits of
37:13
the tax cut's bill that Republicans passed in July will
37:17
not be felt until Americans do their taxes early next year,
37:22
which some strategists say they hope will boost voter's perception
37:26
of Republicans on the economy, but others said the party
37:30
must do more to tackle costs legislatively to show voters
37:34
they are trying to address the issue that Trump campaigned on.
37:38
In twenty twenty four, Trump's political strategist James Blair faulted
37:44
some GOP candidates for not focusing enough on affordability in
37:49
the face of Democratic candidates who centered their campaigns on
37:53
those issues. Why did Zorn Mondami do so well last night?
37:59
He relent focused on affordability. People talk about communists, they
38:05
can say all these things, but the fact is he
38:09
was talking about the cost of living, the strategists told
38:13
James Blair told Politico. Republicans, while spooked by the strong
38:19
showing for Democrats, also said that the midterms are a
38:23
year away and that they were prepared for the GOP
38:26
to have a bad night given that many of the
38:28
biggest contests were taking place in blue states. They planned
38:33
a time on Dammy a Democratic Socialist to other Democratic
38:37
candidates running in more purple races to try to paint
38:41
them as radical. Poles also showed the Democratic Party overall
38:46
has low approval ratings as they struggled to find their
38:49
identity after Kamala Harris's bruising loss to Trump. You go
38:55
back to twenty twenty one and Glenn Youngkin winning governor
39:00
in Virginia, and people thought, oh no, this is bad
39:03
news for Democrats, said Senator Steve Danes, Republican of Montana.
39:09
But look what happened in twenty twenty two. It was
39:11
not a good cycle for us. Danes ran the Senate
39:15
Republican's campaign arm in twenty twenty four, but at Wednesday's
39:20
breakfast with senators, Trump urged the lawmakers to overhaul their
39:24
chambers rules to be able to pass legislation without Democratic
39:28
votes and deliver on more of his campaign promises. He
39:32
warned that if they do not move to eliminate the filibuster,
39:36
Democrats would, and when they do abolish the filibuster, they're
39:42
going to pack the court, Trump said, in an apparent
39:45
reference to the US Supreme Court, which has a conservative
39:48
six' to three. Majority democrats had said they will not
39:53
fund the government Until trump And republicans agree to EXTEND
39:56
covid era subsidies to prevent health insurance preians from increasing
40:02
gop ly to say they will not negotiate Until democrats
40:06
vote to reopen the. Government democrats said the results showed
40:10
voters are unhappy With trump's second. Term What democrats have
40:15
done all across the country is leaning to the issue
40:18
of affordability because of the fact That america is too.
40:21
Expensive costs are too, high Said House Minority Leader Hakim,
40:27
Jeffreys democrat Of New. York Donald trump and The republicans
40:32
not only have they not done anything about, It they've
40:36
made it, worse who best personifies The Democratic Party, Mundami
40:46
spamberger Or. Chryl republicans have begun seizing on The Democratic
40:52
Socialist New York maya elect as the embodiment of The Democratic,
40:56
party but others say the governors elect or more moderate.
41:01
Examples and there are pictures Of lieutenant Governor Virginia governor
41:07
Elect Abigail, Spanberger she's a blonde and she's in a
41:12
blue jacket with a sort of black shirt, Underneath New
41:18
York mayor Elect Zorn, mandami who's in a black, suit
41:23
sort of a cream colored striped shirt with a polka
41:27
dot black and cream colored. Tire And New Jersey Governor
41:32
Elect Mickey, ryl who is in a white. Shirt she's
41:38
got ash blonde hail and she's in an open collar
41:43
and they're all smiling very. Happily By Naftali Ben david
41:49
And yasmin Abdu. Tableb tuesday's election results kick off a
41:55
year long fight over who best personifies The Democratic party
41:59
as it heads toward crucial mid term. Elections Zorn, mandami
42:04
The Democratic socialists who will Run New York, city or
42:08
moderates Like Abigail, spanburger the centrist with The Cia, background
42:13
who was elected governor Of. Virginia repucoplicans have already begun
42:19
seizing On mandami as the embodiment of Today's Democratic, party
42:24
saying his elevation confirms that the party is enthralled to
42:28
the left wing. Extremists democratic, leaders eager has shed the
42:32
woke label that dogged their party in twenty twenty, four
42:36
say the heart of their party is people Like spanburger
42:40
And New Jersey governor Elect Mickey, cheryl A navy veteran
42:44
who also won On. Tuesday both Span burger And cheryl
42:49
are centrist whose national security credentials helped them win Longtime
42:54
republican seats when they first came To, congress and they
42:58
Prevailed tuesday in state, that while Generally, democratic have strong
43:03
pockets of. Conservatism if you're trying to win national campaigns
43:08
that bring in a whole slew of swing, voters is
43:12
The Test Park, Slope brooklyn or what happens In New
43:16
jersey And, virginia said Former Chicago Mayor Ram, emmanuel a
43:21
potential twenty twenty eight presidential. CANDIDATE i am less interested
43:26
in The upper West side and more interested in The Upper.
43:29
Peninsula that is how you. Win emmanuel was referring to
43:35
a politically contested region Of michigan that went For trump
43:40
in twenty twenty. Four republicans Say democrats will be unable
43:45
to distance themselves From ndamie and his leftist identity given
43:49
his care chari risma and automatically high profile of The
43:54
New york. Mayor it's not like The MISS usa, pageant
44:00
where judges get to decide who represents the, party SAID
44:04
gop Strategist Matt. Gorman mandami is where the energy of
44:09
the party. Is he won for a. Reason he will
44:12
be governing in the media capital of the, world so
44:15
the media doesn't have to look too. Far republicans immediately
44:21
seized On mendami as a, foil saying they planned to
44:24
use him in ads across the country in their effort
44:28
to maintain control of The, house where they currently hold
44:31
a narrow two hundred and nineteen to two hundred and thirteen.
44:36
Advantage The National Republican Congressional, committee which coordinates THE gop host,
44:43
campaigns launched an Ad wednesday morning in forty nine battleground,
44:48
districts warning That mandami's victory revealed the extremism of The Democratic.
44:53
Party a radical left earthquake just Hit. America The Epicenta
45:00
New YORK a narrator warns in The republican ad now
45:05
the socialists are. Celebrating they call it. Progress we call it.
45:09
Chaos this is the future Host democrats, want and your
45:14
city could be. Next mendami calls himself a democratic, socialist
45:20
which adherents describe as a commitment to both democracy and
45:24
greater economic, equality and he favors such policies as rent,
45:29
control free, buses and universal. Childcare, republicans, however have made
45:35
it clear they will portray him as A soviet style.
45:38
Communist n a memo released last, week THE nrcc framed
45:44
Host minority Leader Hakim jeffrey's endorsement Of mandami as evidence
45:49
that The Democratic party has been hijacked by leftist. Radicals
45:55
mandami is a socialist hostile To, america supports an agenda
46:00
ripped directly from the pages of The communist, manifesto is
46:05
openly anti, police and is funded by groups with ties
46:09
to terrorist, organizations the memo. Said some, progressors, however say
46:15
they welcome efforts to Make mundami the face of The Democratic,
46:19
party noting his ability to electrify an array of voters
46:25
with an unpologetically liberal. Message While New york is famously,
46:31
liberal it has also elected centrist or even conservative mayors
46:35
in the, past From Rudy giuliani To Michael. Bloomberg New
46:42
york is obviously different Than, Boise. Idaho BUT i THINK
46:47
i kind of think that with proper leadership and, courage
46:51
that's what's happening In New. York in, fact it can
46:54
happen all over the. Country Senator Bernie, sanders independent Of,
46:59
vermont said in the, interview, adding AND i Suspect i'm
47:03
not the only one who thinks. THAT i Think Donald
47:06
trump understands. THAT i think The democratic establishment understands. THAT
47:12
i think that's what they're afraid. Of Other democrats said
47:17
they are skeptical That republicans can connect the candidates in
47:20
swings districts with the policies of the mayor of an unrelated.
47:24
City it is one thing to link candidates with the
47:28
president of their own, party Like Donald trump Or Joe,
47:31
biden they, Said but Man dommy will not be serving In.
47:34
Congress let and loan The White. House Former Congressman Steve,
47:39
Israel democrat Of New, york who ran The Democratic Congressional
47:43
Campaign committee from twenty ten to twenty fourteen said midterms
47:48
are going to revolve almost exclusively around voters feelings About.
47:52
Trump Mid term elections are always referendums on a sitting.
47:57
President israel Said democrats Like Abigail spanberger And Mickey cheryl
48:03
would be premier surrogates For house And senate, candidates not
48:08
because they counted the portrayal of Zarn, mundami but because
48:12
they are common sense contrasts To Donald. Trump democrats are
48:17
under pressure to retake at least one chamber Of congress
48:20
in twenty twenty six and establish a rival power center To.
48:25
Trump In. Washington The republican Led congress has almost uniformly
48:31
backed the, president so that even some of his most
48:35
unorthodox moves imposing goebul, tariffs infringing on congress spending, authority
48:41
and abruptly tearing down The East wing have gone mostly.
48:45
Unchallenged control of The house would Let democrats hold, hearings issue,
48:50
subpoenas and even pursue impeachment Of trump officials if they
48:54
chose actions that are currently beyond their. Power parties that
48:59
suffered the other stating election losses as The democrats did
49:03
in twenty twenty four always face the lack of leadership
49:07
and a struggle to define their, identity but the dynamic
49:11
also creates challenges for the, winners who get the blame
49:14
for the nation's problems and struggle to convincingly point the
49:18
finger at the other. Side trump's solution since taking office
49:23
has largely been to attack cities And democrats who run,
49:27
them decrying urban sinners as dystopian crime winners stepspools as
49:34
priorly left leaning mayor of an Iconic american. City mandami
49:38
is likely to become an even bigger. Target during the,
49:42
Campaign virginia gubernatorial Candidate Winsome Earl, Sears, republican told a
49:48
rally That New york had nominated a, socialist promperting an outpouring.
49:54
Abuse Virginia Governor Glen, Youngkin, republican campaigning And spanburger said
50:01
she reminds me very much of our mayoral candidate for
50:05
The democrats In New. York and On, Sunday Jack, siderelli
50:12
The republican candidate For New jersey, governor Told Fox news
50:16
that his state would roll like the welcome mat For
50:19
new York as seeking to Escape New york If mandami became.
50:23
Mayor Many democrats see a not so subtle element Of
50:29
islamophobia and racism at play in The republican demonization of
50:34
the mayor. Elect Since mandami is A muslim Of South
50:38
asian descent who was born and raised In uganda until age,
50:41
SEVEN gop leaders say they have focused solely on what
50:45
they call his extreme policy. Agenda tuesday's results could suggest
50:52
the attacks On mandabi will have a limited, effect given
50:56
that both Span berger And cheryl also, Won but many
51:00
of the midterm races will unfold on territory less friendly To,
51:04
democrats and some party leaders are scurely clearly skittish about
51:09
getting too close To. Mudamie, Jeffries democrat Of New, york
51:15
asked recently ON cnn Whether mundamie is the future of
51:18
The Democratic, party said, no pointing instead to Host. Democrats
51:24
jeffries did not Endorse mndamie until last, week Despite mndamie's
51:28
clear win In june mayoral. Primary When jeffres did give
51:33
the candidate his official Backing republicans immediately pounched he is
51:38
the head of their party. Now Representative Steve, Scalise republican Of,
51:43
louisiana told reporters last, week adding when he gets elected
51:47
mayor Of New, york he's giving the marching orders to
51:49
the rest of The, democrats and they want to raise
51:52
taxes on. Everybody in, contrast Span berger And cheryl have
51:58
backgrounds that seem almost talem to rebut The republican caricature
52:02
Of democrats as unpatriotic and. Soult, spanberger whose father served
52:09
in The, army became A cia case, officer working under
52:14
cover on terrorism and other. Threats she flipped a long
52:19
Time Republican house seat in twenty, eighteen where she presented
52:23
herself as a centrist and once to Warned democrats never
52:26
to use the word. Socialism cheryl attended THE Us Naval
52:32
academy and spent nearly ten years on active duty before
52:36
becoming a. Prosecutor, then Like, spanberger she captured a Longtime
52:42
Republican house. Seat one challenge For democrats is that While
52:47
mundami's national name recognition is, Limited spamberger And cheryl's is
52:53
even more. So, Still democratic strategist say that had become
53:01
examples for Other democrats to, follow particularly political newcomers in battleground.
53:07
Districts these are the type of people we're trying to
53:12
recruit dot to train people who have never done politics
53:17
before to look up to and mimic styles of what
53:20
it means to be a common sense democrat and how
53:24
to win in super competitive, races said One democratic operatuivet
53:29
who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss. Strategy
53:34
Some democratic strategists contend that for all the obvious, contrasts
53:39
the similarities Between mondammi And spanberger in, particular are as
53:44
notable as their. Differences both are skilled campaigners who understood
53:50
their constituencies and ran. Accordingly they. Said both focused relentlessly
53:56
on the affordability of basic items like food and, housing
54:00
and both found effective ways to convey their criticisms Of
54:04
trump's signature, Legislation The One Big Beautiful. Bill israel said
54:11
That Wauman dami's policies are unlikely to sway midterm voters
54:16
in far away. Places the exception could be if he
54:20
overreaches as mayor Of New. York if he governs too
54:25
far to the left and there are daily headlines about
54:28
his going too, far then, yes the narrative continues and
54:34
could affect certain districts in the midterm, Election israel, said
54:39
adding if he governs more reasonably with less controversy over his,
54:44
views it becomes a big zero in the midterm. ELECTIONS
54:50
i don't have time for all of, it but Span
54:52
berger's unlikely journey from THE cia To virginia's first female,
54:57
governor the Former house member r and a centrist campaign
55:01
focused on, affordability health, care and, education providing a potential
55:06
roadmap for Other. Democrats By Karen. Tumulting in twenty, Fourteen
55:12
Abigail spamburger had a decision to. Make her young family
55:16
was living In Los, angeles where she was A cia
55:20
officer working drug cartel, cases and the time had come
55:24
to put in for her next. Assignment she and her
55:27
Husband adam handed the toy globe to their five year
55:31
old Daughter, claire and described endless possibilities for. Adventure where
55:36
should we? Go they, Asked, England, Costa, Rica. Kenya claire
55:42
had another, Idea. Virginia. No spamberger, retorted it's mommy's. Job
55:49
we're not going To. Virginia why wouldn't we go To,
55:52
Virginia claire, said everyone we love lives In. Virginia, well Come,
55:59
January spanberger will be the first woman to step into
56:04
a line of men going back To Governor Patrick Henry
56:09
henry in seventeen seventy, six and while making, History spanberger
56:14
will also be looked to as a blueprint for resurrecting
56:17
a party suffering historically low a public approval and shut
56:23
out of. Power In, Washington democrats are desperate for a
56:28
formula to regain control Of congress and The White. House
56:31
For tuesday's, elections though bringing welcome, victories also sent a mixed.
56:37
Signal centris picked Up gubernatoria winds In virginia And New,
56:41
jersey which Elected Representative Mickey. Cheryl cheryl of Former navy helicopter,
56:50
pilot is a close friend Of. Spanberger when they were In,
56:54
congress they spent four years as weeknight roommates in a
56:59
spartan capital. Apartment both elected in twenty, eighteen they were
57:04
part of a tight knit cadre of women lawmakers with
57:08
national security credentials who dubbed themselves The Badasses speinberger's triumph
57:16
on the ballot is only a, beginning she said in
57:19
an interview aboard her campaign bus a week before the.
57:22
Election my goal is for people to, say oh my,
57:27
goodness look at. This we can, win and we will,
57:31
win and then to demonstrate what does that actually look
57:35
like and what does good governance look? Like spanburger, said
57:41
hers has been a dazzling political. Trajectory spanburger came To
57:46
congress on an Anti trump wave in which more than
57:49
one hundred women one host, seats a. Record as a
57:53
thirty nine year old novice, candidate toting pragmatism and promising
57:57
to protect The Affordable Care, Act spanburger flipped A richmond
58:02
area congressional district that had been In republican hands for
58:06
nearly half a. Century, well that's my home state AND
58:12
i would read it because of. That thank you for.
58:15
Listening please continue listening to programming For Radio ile for
58:20
the rest of the. Day thank. YOU i will be
58:23
back On. Saturday. Bye