1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,920 Welcome back everyone. 2 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,220 Hope you're all ready for another deep dive. 3 00:00:03,220 --> 00:00:05,680 We're getting close to Christmas 2024, 4 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,120 but things are getting pretty heated in DC. 5 00:00:08,120 --> 00:00:09,280 You said it. 6 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,360 It's definitely not feeling very peaceful 7 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,040 and full of goodwill right now. 8 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:15,280 Definitely not. 9 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,400 Well, we're gonna try to unpack some of that today. 10 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:22,400 Electoral-vote.com has a news roundup from December 23rd. 11 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,840 And let's just say there's a lot to unpack. 12 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:25,680 Yeah, buckle up. 13 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:26,880 This one's a doozy. 14 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:27,720 It really is. 15 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:29,520 I mean, just to set the stage a little bit, 16 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,840 we've got this unusual situation 17 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,320 where you have Donald Trump winning the 2024 election. 18 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,840 But the Democrats still clinging to the Senate 19 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:38,780 for a few more days. 20 00:00:38,780 --> 00:00:40,760 Right, until January 3rd. 21 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:42,720 So you can imagine the tension that's creating. 22 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,400 Oh yeah, it's like a political pressure cooker. 23 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:46,880 And the sources we're looking at today 24 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:48,000 cover a ton of ground. 25 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,400 I mean, we've got everything from this house battle 26 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:51,560 over a spending bill. 27 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,320 Who are the winners and losers there? 28 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,320 Right, and what does it mean for Trump's second term? 29 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:56,160 Exactly. 30 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,000 Plus, Laura Trump's surprise exit from the Senate race in Florida. 31 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,400 Well, and there's legal drama brewing in Arizona. 32 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,720 Then we've got some judge appointments, Biden's legacy, 33 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,720 a controversial ambassador ship pick, 34 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,000 and even a potential scandal brewing. 35 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,240 Oh, there's always a scandal brewing somewhere. 36 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:13,320 Always. 37 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:14,400 All right, let's dive in. 38 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,640 First up, this house battle. 39 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,720 Can you walk us through what happened? 40 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,680 They were trying to avoid a government shutdown, right? 41 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,120 Right, so to avoid a shutdown, 42 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,800 they needed to pass a spending bill, a continuing resolution, 43 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:27,480 a CR, it's called. 44 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,320 Basically, it's just a temporary measure 45 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:30,840 to keep the government funded. 46 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:32,760 Until they can agree on a longer term budget. 47 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:33,320 Exactly. 48 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:35,200 But it sounds like things got pretty messy. 49 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,240 Oh, they did. 50 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,520 The article lays out this whole list of winners and losers 51 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:40,760 from the whole ordeal. 52 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,440 And some of them are pretty surprising, like Elon Musk. 53 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:44,760 He ends up coming out on top. 54 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:46,480 Elon Musk, I'm intrigued. 55 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,200 What does a tech billionaire have 56 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,680 to do with a government spending bill? 57 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,920 Well, so Speaker Mike Johnson, right, 58 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,440 he'd carefully put together this bipartisan deal, 59 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,960 and then Musk goes and tweets that the deal's a swamp monster, 60 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:01,800 urges Republicans to vote against it. 61 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,320 And they actually listened to him. 62 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:04,080 They did. 63 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,400 Enough Republicans defected that it actually killed the deal, 64 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,840 which is, I think that really raises some questions 65 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,200 about the power dynamics here. 66 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:13,360 Absolutely. 67 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,440 I mean, wow, so a tech billionaire 68 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,800 can just sway votes in Congress with a tweet? 69 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:19,880 That's kind of unsettling. 70 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:20,240 It is. 71 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,200 And then you've got Marjorie Taylor Green of all people 72 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,160 suggesting that she'd support Musk for Speaker of the House. 73 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:27,520 He can't make this stuff up. 74 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,320 But who are the real losers here in this House battle, I mean? 75 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,080 Well, I think Trump, for one, he actually backed the CR, 76 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,640 but 38 Republicans defied him, voted against it. 77 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:40,440 It's not exactly a good sign for party unity going 78 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:41,720 into a second term. 79 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:42,720 Definitely not. 80 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,560 And then Speaker Johnson, I mean, 81 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,400 he really took a hit here, too. 82 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,960 Look weak, unable to control his own caucus. 83 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,520 So not a great look for him. 84 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,440 And what about Biden? 85 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:53,800 Where was he in all of this? 86 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,000 That's the weird thing. 87 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,040 He was strangely absent from the whole drama, 88 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,880 almost like he was just sitting back and watching 89 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:01,720 the Republicans tear each other apart. 90 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:02,320 Interesting. 91 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,240 It does seem like everyone's trying 92 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,560 to figure out where they stand in this new landscape. 93 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,160 But with the Democrats about to lose control of the Senate 94 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:15,240 in just a few days, why was this House battle such a big deal? 95 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,720 I think it's a preview of the challenges 96 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,400 Trump's going to face in his second term. 97 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:20,880 Even with the Senate on his side. 98 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:21,840 Even then. 99 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,080 Because he can't even control his own party in the House. 100 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:25,160 He's not going to get anything done. 101 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:25,960 Exactly. 102 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,360 That razor-thin majority they have, it's just, I mean, 103 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,080 it's going to make things incredibly difficult. 104 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,000 The article specifically mentions the salt deduction 105 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,680 as a potential flashpoint among Republicans. 106 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,360 Can you remind us what that is and why 107 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:40,720 it's causing so much friction? 108 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:41,220 Right. 109 00:03:41,220 --> 00:03:44,040 So salt stands for state and local tax deduction. 110 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,120 It's basically, it lets people deduct their state 111 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:49,880 and local taxes from their federal taxes. 112 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:50,680 OK. 113 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,800 And some Republicans, they see this as like a giveaway 114 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,240 to wealthy people in blue states. 115 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:57,480 So they want to get rid of it. 116 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:58,120 Makes sense. 117 00:03:58,120 --> 00:03:59,520 But then you've got other Republicans 118 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,720 who represent those very same people who 119 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,320 benefit from the deduction. 120 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,440 So they're going to fight tooth and nail to keep it. 121 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:05,920 Ah. 122 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,400 So it's a classic case of competing interests 123 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:09,320 within the party. 124 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:10,200 Exactly. 125 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,320 And the article makes this comparison 126 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,960 to Trump's first term when he tried and failed 127 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:17,760 to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 128 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,880 So are we seeing history or repeat itself here? 129 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,560 It's definitely possible. 130 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,200 I mean, this whole House battle just 131 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,960 shows that governing is a lot more complex than just issuing 132 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:27,920 orders. 133 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,800 Trump's going to need to build coalitions. 134 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,200 He's going to need to compromise. 135 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,320 He's going to have to like navigate some very tricky 136 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:35,320 political waters. 137 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,520 Hooray, if he wants to actually get anything done. 138 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaking of tricky waters, let's move on to Lara Trump 139 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,480 bowing out of that Senate race in Florida. 140 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:43,400 Oh, yeah. 141 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:44,280 That was a surprise. 142 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:45,240 It was. 143 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,840 But to be honest, her candidacy always felt a little strange. 144 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:50,160 Can you remind us why? 145 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:51,960 Well, I mean, she doesn't even live in Florida. 146 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,480 The whole thing was really about Governor DeSantis 147 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,160 being able to appoint a Trump loyalist to the Senate. 148 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,520 When Rubio becomes Secretary of State. 149 00:04:59,520 --> 00:04:59,840 Right. 150 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:00,840 It was a power play. 151 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:01,080 Yeah. 152 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,160 But it seems like it just completely unraveled. 153 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:03,760 It did. 154 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,440 And the article throws out a bunch of possible reasons why. 155 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:12,160 What strikes you as the most plausible explanation? 156 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,400 Well, there's one theory that Trump didn't actually offer 157 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,880 DeSantis anything substantial in return for the favor. 158 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:20,920 And these guys, they're both transactional. 159 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:21,920 They like to make deals. 160 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:22,840 Good bro quo. 161 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:23,960 Exactly. 162 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:25,840 And then there's this speculation 163 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:29,080 that DeSantis saw Lara Trump as a liability. 164 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,160 Like, she could actually lose the special election in 2026. 165 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,000 So it was more about protecting himself. 166 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:35,880 Possibly. 167 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:37,280 And then, of course, there are the whispers 168 00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:39,640 that DeSantis is already playing his own game, 169 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,400 setting his sights on the 2028 presidential run. 170 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,800 So the whole Lara Trump thing was just a distraction, 171 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,240 a smokescreen to cover up his own ambitions. 172 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:48,560 Maybe. 173 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,720 But it definitely adds another layer of intrigue 174 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:51,640 to this whole saga. 175 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:52,320 What do you think? 176 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:53,400 I think it's fascinating. 177 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,800 I mean, are we seeing a rift forming between Trump and DeSantis? 178 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,280 Are they going to be rivals in 2028? 179 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:00,960 Could be. 180 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:02,560 I guess we'll have to wait and see. 181 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,640 But it's definitely something to keep an eye on. 182 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:05,880 It is. 183 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,120 OK, let's shift gears now and delve into some legal drama. 184 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,040 We know the Georgia case against Trump 185 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:12,920 has been put on hold for now. 186 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:18,080 But this Arizona case against his inner circle is heating up. 187 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:18,560 Right. 188 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,480 So what makes this Arizona case so significant? 189 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:24,720 Well, you've got the Arizona Attorney General obtaining 190 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,760 these search warrants for the Apple, Google, and Twitter 191 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,040 accounts of some pretty big Trump allies, Rudy Giuliani, 192 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:32,120 Mark Meadows. 193 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,640 They're looking for evidence related to that whole fake 194 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:35,440 elector scheme. 195 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:36,400 Wow. 196 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,520 Sounds like something out of a political thriller. 197 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:39,480 It does, doesn't it? 198 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,120 But there has been a bit of a hiccup. 199 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,280 Yeah, the judge on the case recused himself. 200 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:44,080 And? 201 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,200 Well, and the new judge might delay things further. 202 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,120 I'm curious, why could a delay actually hurt Trump? 203 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,200 Well, think about it, having a trial of his top aides 204 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,720 in the middle of the 2026 midterms. 205 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,160 It's not going to look good. 206 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,480 It could remind voters of all the reasons they dislike him. 207 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,120 Ah, so it becomes a political liability. 208 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:02,600 Exactly. 209 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,480 OK, here's something that I think might surprise 210 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:06,160 some of our listeners. 211 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,280 Joe Biden has actually appointed more judges than Trump. 212 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:11,680 How is that even possible? 213 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,440 I mean, the Republicans currently control the Senate, right? 214 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,760 Right, but it all comes down to timing. 215 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,920 See, federal judges often plan their retirement strategically, 216 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,520 trying to give a president from their preferred party 217 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,920 the chance to appoint their successor. 218 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,320 So a lot of judges who thought Hillary Clinton was 219 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,920 going to win in 2016 ended up retiring 220 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,800 during Biden's presidency. 221 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:33,480 Exactly. 222 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:34,960 It's a bit of a numbers game. 223 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,080 But it's important to understand why judicial appointments 224 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,160 are so important. 225 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,200 These are lifetime appointments. 226 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,920 So the judges, Biden has appointed, 227 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:44,880 they're going to be shaping the legal landscape 228 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:46,160 for decades to come. 229 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:47,000 That's a great point. 230 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,840 The article also mentions this blue slip tradition 231 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:50,600 in the Senate. 232 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,320 Can you explain what that is and how it actually benefited 233 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:53,880 Biden? 234 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,000 So the blue slip tradition, it basically 235 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,120 gives senators from the state where a judge will 236 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,560 serve a kind of informal veto power over the nomination. 237 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,120 And the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 238 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,520 Dick Durbin, he upheld this tradition during Biden's term. 239 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,000 Even though it meant some of Biden's nominees 240 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,440 were blocked by Republicans. 241 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,200 So it was a kind of a double-edged sword. 242 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:16,680 It was. 243 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,240 But now, the incoming Republican chairman, Chuck Grassley, 244 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,000 he says he'll do the same thing. 245 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:22,760 Which means? 246 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:24,480 It could end up backfiring on Trump 247 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,240 if he tries to appoint some of his more controversial judges. 248 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:27,800 Interesting. 249 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,040 So this tradition that was meant to foster bipartisanship 250 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,400 could actually end up hurting the Republicans in the long run. 251 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,160 It's possible. 252 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,200 Let's talk about one potentially controversial pick, 253 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,400 the ambassador to the Vatican. 254 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:43,920 Trump has chosen Brian Burch, who runs this pretty right-wing 255 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,560 Catholic group and has been openly critical of Pope Francis. 256 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:51,160 Why on earth would he pick someone who, I mean, 257 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,280 openly disagrees with the pope to represent him at the Vatican? 258 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:55,480 It's a headscratcher, isn't it? 259 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:56,160 It is. 260 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,560 There are a few possible explanations, I guess. 261 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:02,040 Maybe he's trying to appeal to conservative Catholics 262 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,800 in the US, or maybe he overestimates 263 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,720 Burch's actual influence within the church. 264 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,200 Or maybe it's just classic Trump, 265 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,680 stirring the pod and relishing the controversy. 266 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:15,200 That's always a possibility. 267 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,760 But I think this appointment could really backfire. 268 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,080 What happens if Burch and the pope clash publicly? 269 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,200 Yeah, that could be a diplomatic nightmare. 270 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:23,520 It could. 271 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,320 OK, let's wrap up this section of our deep dive with Kristi Noem. 272 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:28,800 She's the governor of South Dakota, 273 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,200 and she's been nominated for secretary of Homeland Security. 274 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,680 Which that's a massive department, right? 275 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:35,720 Huge. 276 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,040 And our sources are suggesting she is utterly 277 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:39,600 unqualified for the position. 278 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,360 I mean, the article straight up says 279 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,600 she has zero experience in this area, 280 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,760 knows nothing about the department. 281 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,320 So why would Trump nominate her? 282 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,440 I mean, is it really just based on loyalty? 283 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:51,840 Well, loyalty is certainly a factor. 284 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,520 I mean, there's no question about that. 285 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,000 But the article suggests there might be other motives 286 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,160 at play here, too. 287 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:58,240 Like what? 288 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:00,800 Well, one theory is that Trump actually 289 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,040 wants to keep immigration policy under his own control, 290 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,160 maybe even operate it from outside the department 291 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:07,600 altogether. 292 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,680 Almost like a shadow government for immigration. 293 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:10,360 Right. 294 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,640 And the article specifically mentions Steven Miller 295 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,880 as a potential player in this. 296 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,760 He was a key figure in Trump's immigration policies 297 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:18,920 during his first term. 298 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,120 So Noem might just be a figurehead. 299 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:22,240 Possibly. 300 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,880 With others calling the shots behind the scenes. 301 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,680 But then that doesn't really explain why Trump wouldn't 302 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,840 choose someone who at least appears qualified. 303 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,600 For such a high profile role, it's strange. 304 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:34,320 It is strange. 305 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,080 And then there's the whole Corey Lewandowski factor. 306 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,040 Why is he so involved in all of this, 307 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,840 even though he doesn't have an official position 308 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:41,760 in the administration? 309 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,120 Well, the article suggests he's advising Noem 310 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,520 on personnel choices, making sure everyone is sufficiently 311 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:48,640 Trumpy. 312 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,680 But you have to wonder about his true motivations. 313 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:53,440 Especially with those persistent rumors 314 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,320 about their relationship. 315 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,040 I mean, this whole situation is just, it's tangled. 316 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:00,240 It really is. 317 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,200 But it does highlight how personal relationships and power 318 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,080 dynamics, I mean, they really complicate 319 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:06,400 the political landscape. 320 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,920 Sometimes it's not even about policy or ideology. 321 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,200 It's about who you know and who you owe favors to. 322 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,080 It's all very House of Cards-esque, hopefully, 323 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:15,760 without the murders, of course. 324 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,440 But we'll dive deeper into all of this after a quick break. 325 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:19,400 Welcome back. 326 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:20,680 Before the break, we were discussing 327 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:23,720 Christy Noem's surprising nomination for Homeland Security 328 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,040 and the lack of experience she brings to the table. 329 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:27,280 It's a massive department. 330 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,000 I mean, they have such a huge impact 331 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,640 on national security immigration policy. 332 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,120 But the source mentions that might be exactly why 333 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:35,480 we Trump chose her. 334 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:37,600 It's one of the more interesting theories here. 335 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,560 The Trump actually wants to keep a tight grip 336 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:42,440 on those policy areas. 337 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,840 Maybe even operate them from outside the department 338 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:45,560 altogether. 339 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:47,880 Almost like a shadow government for immigration. 340 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:49,520 And the article mentions Stephen Miller 341 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:50,880 as a potential player in this. 342 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,360 He was one of the architects of Trump's immigration policies 343 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:54,360 in his first term, right? 344 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,400 Exactly. 345 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,600 Miller's a hardliner on immigration. 346 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,120 And someone Trump trusts. 347 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:01,960 So if Noem was just a figurehead, 348 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,960 Miller could wield considerable influence behind the scenes. 349 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,200 Which raises some serious concerns, I think, 350 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,440 about transparency and accountability. 351 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,480 But even if Trump wants to pull the strings, 352 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,200 wouldn't it make more sense to just appoint someone who, 353 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,120 at least appears qualified? 354 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,800 This nomination just seems so strange. 355 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,240 It is an unorthodox move, even for Trump. 356 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:24,800 But it really speaks to this idea 357 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,600 that loyalty often trumps competence 358 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,360 in this administration. 359 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,600 And we can't ignore Corey Lewingowski's role 360 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:32,680 in all of this. 361 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:35,720 The article suggests that he's helping Noem select her staff, 362 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,960 making sure everyone is sufficiently Trumpy. 363 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,720 Lee Vendowsky, he's Trump's former campaign manager, right? 364 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:42,200 But he doesn't have any official role 365 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:43,200 in the administration. 366 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:44,960 So why is he so involved? 367 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:47,240 It's unclear what his motivations are. 368 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:48,800 But it's worth noting that Lewingowski 369 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,160 has a history of controversial behavior 370 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,880 and has been accused of using his proximity to Trump 371 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:55,040 for personal gain. 372 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,040 And then there are those rumors of a personal relationship 373 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,840 between him and Noem, which just adds another layer 374 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,720 of complexity to this whole situation, 375 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,920 starting to feel like a political soap opera. 376 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,960 It really does highlight how, I don't know, 377 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,600 how personal relationships empower dynamics. 378 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,640 They can really complicate the political landscape. 379 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,760 Sometimes it's not even about policy or ideology. 380 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,320 It's about who you know and who you owe favors to. 381 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,960 It's all very House of Cards-esque. 382 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:22,960 Hopefully without the murders, of course. 383 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,200 But I think it's time to zoom out for a moment 384 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,920 and consider some of the broader themes that 385 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:30,200 emerge from all these stories. 386 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,000 We've covered a lot of ground, haven't we, 387 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,040 from a Christmas tree battle to potential scandals, 388 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,720 from judge appointments to a pope's skeptic ambassador. 389 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,240 What are the key takeaways here? 390 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,560 What do you think our listeners should really walk away with? 391 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:45,880 One thing that really stands out to me 392 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,280 is the fragility of Trump's power. 393 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,000 Yes, he won the election. 394 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,400 But he's entering his second term 395 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:53,720 with a historically weak mandate. 396 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,280 And he's facing resistance from within his own party. 397 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:58,520 That House battle was a prime example of that, right? 398 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,120 I mean, he couldn't even get his own party 399 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,120 to support a spending bill that he backed. 400 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:02,840 Exactly. 401 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,720 And there are a Trump situation, the Arizona legal case. 402 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,160 I mean, these all suggest that Trump's not 403 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,960 the all-powerful figure he might project himself to be. 404 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,560 So what does this mean for his ability to govern effectively? 405 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,480 The source seems to suggest that even basic tasks, 406 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,680 like passing a budget or raising the debt limit, 407 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,960 could become major battles. 408 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:23,560 Absolutely. 409 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,440 I mean, governing requires compromise. 410 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:27,960 It requires building coalitions. 411 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,400 It requires a willingness to work with the other side. 412 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,960 And those are not qualities that Trump is known for. 413 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:34,120 No, they're not. 414 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,080 And the article points out how divided the Republican Party 415 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,480 is. We talked about the salt deduction as one example. 416 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:41,920 But there were so many other issues 417 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,000 that could fracture the party even further, like immigration. 418 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,680 Which is always a hot button issue. 419 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:47,640 Always. 420 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,280 And the article mentions that Trump's plans for tax cuts 421 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,920 and border security could also face opposition 422 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:54,640 from within his own party. 423 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,080 Plus, there's always the wild card of the Freedom Caucus. 424 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,400 That group of hardline conservative Republicans 425 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:00,200 in the House. 426 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,080 Yeah, the ones who helped tank that spending bill, 427 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:04,680 even though it had Trump's support. 428 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,160 So they're a reminder that Trump can't just assume 429 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,680 he has the unwavering support of his party. 430 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:10,040 Right. 431 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:11,720 He's going to have to work for it. 432 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,200 Which could make things, well, let's just say, 433 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,200 his second term could be even more chaotic than his first. 434 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,600 It's certainly a possibility. 435 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,280 And I think it raises an important question for our listener 436 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:22,960 to consider. 437 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,760 How will these internal divisions 438 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,320 within the Republican Party, how will that impact Trump's 439 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,880 ability to govern effectively? 440 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,000 It's a question worth pondering. 441 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,560 And speaking of pondering, the source also 442 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,880 reminds us that Trump's claim of a mandate from the people 443 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,120 is, well, pretty weak. 444 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,400 He won the Electoral College, but more people 445 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:44,880 voted against him than for him. 446 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:45,800 That's a good point. 447 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,320 It really undermines his ability to claim 448 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,400 that he has this widespread support for his agenda. 449 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:51,920 It does. 450 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:53,800 And without that perceived mandate, 451 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,200 it becomes even harder to rally people to his side. 452 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,320 Especially when you factor in how narrow his victories were 453 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,080 in those key swing states. 454 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,640 So even though he won, his grip on power 455 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,000 is, well, it's more tenuous than it might appear. 456 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:07,600 Exactly. 457 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,600 And that just makes the next few years all more unpredictable. 458 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,680 Which brings us back to the purpose of these deep dives. 459 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,040 To equip you, our listener, with the knowledge and insights 460 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,880 to navigate this incredibly complex political landscape. 461 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,080 We're giving you the tools to cut through the noise, 462 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,680 understand the forces at play, and hopefully make some sense 463 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,600 of this whole political roller coaster. 464 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,280 We've covered a lot of ground today, 465 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:31,880 but it's just a snapshot. 466 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:32,380 Right. 467 00:16:32,380 --> 00:16:34,600 Of a much larger story that's still unfolding. 468 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:36,200 And that's what makes it so fascinating. 469 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,240 I mean, we're witnessing history in the making. 470 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,400 And we can only speculate about the twists and turns 471 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:43,360 that lie ahead. 472 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,360 The beauty is there's always more to learn, 473 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,200 more to understand. 474 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,600 Well, I'm ready to unpack some more. 475 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:53,240 Let's dive back into this news roundup after a quick break. 476 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:54,680 And we're back. 477 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:56,600 I don't know about you, but my head is spinning a bit 478 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,840 after all of that. 479 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,280 It's crazy how much is happening in DC, 480 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,200 even with the holidays right around the corner. 481 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:03,640 It never really stops, does it? 482 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:03,960 Yeah. 483 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:05,840 That constant whirlwind of activity. 484 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,080 And every move seems to have consequences 485 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,400 that ripple outward, affecting everything 486 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,120 from policy decisions to the balance of power. 487 00:17:13,120 --> 00:17:13,560 It's a lot of. 488 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:14,240 It really is. 489 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:18,080 So as we wrap up this deep dive, what's the, I don't know, 490 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,120 what's the one thing you really want our listeners 491 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:21,400 to take away from all of this? 492 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,520 What's the so what of all these political power plays? 493 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,080 I think the main takeaway is that we're entering a period 494 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,160 of, well, significant volatility. 495 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,280 We have a president entering his second term, 496 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,400 but with a historically weak mandate. 497 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,240 And he's facing resistance not just from the Democrats, 498 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:40,680 but from within his own party. 499 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:40,960 Yeah. 500 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,800 I mean, that was clear from that whole house battle 501 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:43,280 we talked about. 502 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:44,120 Exactly. 503 00:17:44,120 --> 00:17:46,360 And you've got legal challenges swirling around. 504 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:48,880 The political landscape is shifting constantly. 505 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,760 The global situation is anything but stable. 506 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,320 It's a lot to keep track of. 507 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,440 It's like trying to build a house on shifting sand. 508 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:57,880 And this is just a glimpse, right? 509 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,440 This is just what's happening right now as 510 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:00,840 2024 comes to a close. 511 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:01,320 Right. 512 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:02,760 We didn't even have time to touch on everything 513 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:03,800 from the news roundup. 514 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,360 I mean, there's that whole saga with Matt Gaetz 515 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:08,200 and the attorney general nomination, 516 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,320 the potential fallout from that Georgia case being halted, 517 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,200 the speculation about Biden's legacy. 518 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,000 It's a lot to process. 519 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:16,920 It really is. 520 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,360 But that's kind of the point of these deep dives, isn't it? 521 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:21,080 I mean, we're trying to give you the tools 522 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,080 to understand what's happening, cut through the noise, 523 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:25,640 get to the heart of the matter. 524 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,640 And ultimately, we want to empower you 525 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,320 to form your own conclusions. 526 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:30,840 We're not here to tell you what to think. 527 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,120 We just want to give you the information and analysis 528 00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:36,760 you need to be, well, an informed and engaged citizen. 529 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,520 So to everyone listening out there, 530 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:42,360 don't tune out and go back to your holiday cookies just yet. 531 00:18:42,360 --> 00:18:45,040 Keep paying attention because these stories matter. 532 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:45,960 They affect your life. 533 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:46,880 They affect your community. 534 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:48,120 They affect your future. 535 00:18:48,120 --> 00:18:49,720 And remember, this is just the beginning. 536 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,400 We're at a real turning point in history. 537 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,720 And what happens next is up to all of us. 538 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,160 So stay informed, stay engaged, and stay curious. 539 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:58,920 Couldn't have said it better myself. 540 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,800 Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into, well, 541 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,960 into the wild world of politics. 542 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,440 Happy holidays, everyone, and stay tuned for more 543 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:29,880 in the new year.