WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.100 It really hits you every day, doesn't it? Just 00:00:02.100 --> 00:00:05.299 this constant flood of political news, policy 00:00:05.299 --> 00:00:07.379 changes. Yeah, it's overwhelming trying to figure 00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:09.679 out what actually matters. Yeah. It's tough. 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:11.960 Exactly. And that's why we're here, to try and 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:13.980 cut through some of that noise for you. And we've 00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:16.120 got this great source today, the Electoral Vote 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:20.859 News Briefing. It's from April 28th, 2025. So 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:23.579 that marks day 97 of the current administration. 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:26.800 Day 97. OK, so let's really unpack this briefing, 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.440 because it covers a lot of ground, doesn't it? 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:30.809 Oh, definitely. It's not just a surface look. 00:00:30.969 --> 00:00:33.810 Right, we're talking presidential approval, these 00:00:33.810 --> 00:00:36.090 questions about executive power getting maybe 00:00:36.090 --> 00:00:38.570 a bit out of hand. Yeah, potential overreach, 00:00:39.030 --> 00:00:41.570 reported missteps, the whole tariff situation 00:00:41.570 --> 00:00:45.210 and the economy. And even like new fundraising 00:00:45.210 --> 00:00:48.409 tactics, party politics, how Canada's reacting. 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:51.179 It's all in there. And what's interesting, I 00:00:51.179 --> 00:00:53.579 think, is how these things are starting to connect, 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.219 even this early on. So our mission here, really, 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.780 is to pull out the key stuff, connect those dots 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:00.899 for you, help you feel informed without drowning 00:01:00.899 --> 00:01:03.539 in every single detail. Exactly. Give you that 00:01:03.539 --> 00:01:06.019 clearer picture of what's happening and, well, 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:08.040 maybe why you should care. All right, let's jump 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:10.819 right in then. Public perception. The briefing 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:13.379 suggests the honeymoon period, if there was one, 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.310 might be fading fast. That's putting it mildly, 00:01:17.310 --> 00:01:19.650 I think. The numbers show a pretty noticeable 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:22.329 drop in the president's approval. Specifically. 00:01:22.489 --> 00:01:24.090 Well, take the economy. That was a huge focus, 00:01:24.150 --> 00:01:26.430 right? The polls cited average out to around, 00:01:26.430 --> 00:01:29.769 what, 40 % approval? Oof. 40 % on the economy. 00:01:29.829 --> 00:01:32.650 That's not ideal. Not really, no. Especially 00:01:32.650 --> 00:01:34.569 when it was such a cornerstone promise, it becomes 00:01:34.569 --> 00:01:36.689 a real vulnerability, you know? And it's not 00:01:36.689 --> 00:01:38.569 just the economy. Immigration was another big 00:01:38.569 --> 00:01:42.250 one. Same story there. One poll shows 51 % disapproval 00:01:42.250 --> 00:01:45.420 on his handling of immigration. Wow. And it's 00:01:45.420 --> 00:01:48.040 across the board, strong disapproval from Democrats, 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:50.620 but also a majority of independents weighing 00:01:50.620 --> 00:01:53.079 in negatively. Even on specific things like that 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:54.980 idea of sending gang members to El Salvador, 00:01:55.579 --> 00:01:58.620 the briefing mentioned pushback there, too. Significant 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:01.760 pushback, yeah. It suggests maybe a disconnect, 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:04.000 even with parts of his base on some policies. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:06.159 OK, but here's where the language gets really 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:10.419 interesting. That New York Times, CNN poll uses 00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:13.810 words like scary. and chaotic. It does. And it 00:02:13.810 --> 00:02:15.750 says voters aren't really buying what Trump is 00:02:15.750 --> 00:02:18.129 selling. That feels like it goes beyond just 00:02:18.129 --> 00:02:19.930 policy disagreement, doesn't it? Yeah, it speaks 00:02:19.930 --> 00:02:23.210 more to like temperament, leadership style. I 00:02:23.210 --> 00:02:27.229 think so. And look at independence. Only 31 percent 00:02:27.229 --> 00:02:29.930 feel he understands the problems facing people 00:02:29.930 --> 00:02:32.879 like you. That's a tough number. Because independents 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:35.020 are often crucial, right, if they're skeptical. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:37.479 It makes broadening that appeal really difficult. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.379 It suggests the administration might struggle 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:42.840 to reach beyond its core supporters. And the 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:45.439 briefing puts this in context. Comparing his 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:48.060 numbers now to other presidents around Day 97, 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:51.259 how does that look? Not great, according to the 00:02:51.259 --> 00:02:53.960 briefing. It mentions that even some administrations 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.000 considered to be struggling were actually doing 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:58.360 better at this same point. So it really raises 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:00.830 questions about the trajectory. Big questions. 00:03:01.090 --> 00:03:02.870 And you remember all that talk right after the 00:03:02.870 --> 00:03:05.569 election about a permanent Republican majority? 00:03:05.750 --> 00:03:07.830 Yeah, seemed like everyone was saying it. Well, 00:03:07.889 --> 00:03:09.629 the briefing notes that talk has pretty much 00:03:09.629 --> 00:03:12.449 faded away suggest those assumptions might have 00:03:12.449 --> 00:03:15.349 been premature. OK, let's shift gears a bit. 00:03:15.810 --> 00:03:18.009 The briefing also flags these growing worries 00:03:18.009 --> 00:03:21.590 about executive power. And the numbers here are 00:03:21.590 --> 00:03:24.729 really quite stark, actually. How so? There's 00:03:24.729 --> 00:03:27.699 significant public support. We're talking anywhere 00:03:27.699 --> 00:03:31.139 from 54 percent up to 76 percent for limiting 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:33.659 presidential power in specific areas. Like what 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:38.120 kind of areas? Things like ignoring Supreme Court 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:40.819 decisions, sending citizens off to El Salvador 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:43.500 without due process, deporting legal immigrants 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:46.520 just for protesting. Wow. Imposing tariffs without 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:48.840 Congress signing off, even getting rid of congressional 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:52.020 programs unilaterally. So across the board, people 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:53.900 seem to want those checks and balances firmly 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:56.620 in place. That's the clear message. The briefing 00:03:56.620 --> 00:03:59.219 basically concludes voters do not want the president 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:02.379 to usurp the powers of Congress. Pretty blunt. 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:05.080 And it mentions the heavy reliance on executive 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:07.439 orders for a lot of this stuff. Yes. And that 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:09.259 some of those orders are already facing core 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:11.979 challenges. Plus, it points out that some of 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:15.080 these big moves, like the trade war or targeting 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:18.600 universities, they weren't exactly front and 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.639 center campaign promises. Interesting. So maybe 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:24.100 a shift in approach after getting elected. Could 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:27.160 be. or maybe just leaning heavily on executive 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:29.600 authority to get things done quickly. Which brings 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.500 us to another section in the briefing, these 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:35.259 reported mistakes. It paints a picture of, well, 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:37.519 maybe some competence issues. That's one way 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.060 to put it. The briefing lists several incidents 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:43.639 that feed into a narrative of disorganization, 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:46.240 maybe poor judgment. Like the Secretary of Defense 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.350 situation. Exactly. The reports of security breaches, 00:04:49.649 --> 00:04:52.610 secret war plans on insecure devices. The briefing 00:04:52.610 --> 00:04:55.050 draws that parallel to the Hillary Clinton email 00:04:55.050 --> 00:04:57.430 scrutiny. Right. Highlighting the potential double 00:04:57.430 --> 00:04:59.889 standard, but also the actual security risks 00:04:59.889 --> 00:05:01.589 involved. Real risks, yeah. Then there was that 00:05:01.589 --> 00:05:03.550 Harvard funding threat. Which they then walked 00:05:03.550 --> 00:05:06.290 back, calling it a mistake. Right. But as the 00:05:06.290 --> 00:05:09.589 briefing asks, was it a genuine mistake? Suggesting 00:05:09.589 --> 00:05:13.069 carelessness? Or was it, you know, an intentional, 00:05:13.490 --> 00:05:15.709 maybe authoritarian style move that they backtracked 00:05:15.709 --> 00:05:17.860 on? Neither option looks particularly good, does 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:19.680 it? Not really. And the list sort of goes on. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:21.620 The IRS commissioner thing. Yeah. Appointed, 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:23.939 then fired almost immediately. Apparently after 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:26.759 Elon Musk got involved and then Treasury Secretary 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:29.860 Besant stepped in, seems chaotic. It suggests 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:34.839 a lack of maybe internal coherence and potential 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:37.620 outside influence on really key appointments. 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:41.019 And the tariffs. The initial rollout based on 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:44.620 AI errors. The Penguin Island tariff. Yes. It 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:46.579 sounds almost comical, but the briefing uses 00:05:46.579 --> 00:05:50.100 it to question basic competence in just making 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:52.480 policy. They had to revise things quickly. And 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.740 the president claiming 200 trade deals when there 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:59.100 aren't 200 countries. It just stretches credibility. 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:01.060 It makes you wonder about the attention to factual 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:03.220 detail. And some of these things have serious 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:05.399 potential consequences, like those budget cuts 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:07.819 pushed by Musk. The ones affecting nuclear safety 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:09.899 and power grid security personnel. Yeah. That's 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:12.060 genuinely concerning. Especially when the briefing 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:15.040 points out the claims savings were tiny compared 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.620 to the potential risk, and then they had to reinstate 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:20.339 people anyway. It raises serious questions about 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:22.339 the whole decision making process there. And 00:06:22.339 --> 00:06:25.459 if you tie this back to the economy, the briefing 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:28.459 notes, negative impacts already showing up? Yeah, 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:30.560 on the stock market, the bond market, the dollars 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.420 value, it suggests these policies or maybe the 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:36.480 uncertainty they create are starting to bite. 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.319 particularly for businesses relying on imports, 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:42.740 right? Seeing costs rise, supply chains getting 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:45.300 shaky. Definitely. It ripples through. And then 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:48.639 on top of all that, there's that frankly bizarre 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:51.600 story about HHS Secretary Noem's purse being 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.500 stolen. With all that cash, blank checks, passport. 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:56.920 Yeah, it's an odd one. It raises eyebrows. Plus 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:59.199 her showing up at that El Salvador facility with 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:02.149 expensive stuff, given the context. The briefing 00:07:02.149 --> 00:07:04.810 notes, it seemed kind of tone deaf. It all adds 00:07:04.810 --> 00:07:06.790 up, doesn't it? The briefing sort of captures 00:07:06.790 --> 00:07:09.269 the feeling by asking, can't they do anything 00:07:09.269 --> 00:07:11.490 right? Which feeds right back into those approval 00:07:11.490 --> 00:07:13.370 numbers we talked about earlier. It creates this 00:07:13.370 --> 00:07:16.089 narrative of instability, maybe? I think so. 00:07:16.389 --> 00:07:19.110 It raises those fundamental doubts about effective 00:07:19.110 --> 00:07:21.529 governance and sound judgment. OK, let's dig 00:07:21.529 --> 00:07:24.050 a bit deeper into the terrace specifically, because 00:07:24.050 --> 00:07:26.610 the briefing makes a strong point. Even if they 00:07:26.610 --> 00:07:30.240 stop tomorrow, some damage is already done. That's 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.379 a really crucial takeaway. The disruption, especially 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:36.379 with China trade, is already happening. China 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:38.639 restricting rare earth exports is a big deal, 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.720 too. And you can physically see it, like fewer 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:45.100 ships at ports. Exactly. The briefing mentions 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:47.519 fewer cargo ships at places like Long Beach. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.399 That's a tangible sign the supply chain is under 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:52.560 strain. So this isn't just abstract numbers. 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:55.699 It's hitting businesses, maybe inventory shortages, 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:58.430 potential closures. Could be. And that means 00:07:58.430 --> 00:08:01.269 fewer hours or jobs for dock workers, truckers, 00:08:01.610 --> 00:08:04.350 retail staff. Yeah. It affects real people. And 00:08:04.350 --> 00:08:06.649 that Philly Fed manufacturing survey dropping 00:08:06.649 --> 00:08:08.930 sharply. Yeah, because businesses can't get the 00:08:08.930 --> 00:08:10.970 imported parts they need. That could genuinely 00:08:10.970 --> 00:08:13.389 lead to factory shutdowns, layoffs down the line. 00:08:13.550 --> 00:08:15.389 Plus, businesses are holding back on investment 00:08:15.389 --> 00:08:17.569 because everything feels so uncertain. Makes 00:08:17.569 --> 00:08:20.209 sense, right? Why commit big money when you don't 00:08:20.209 --> 00:08:21.870 know what the economic landscape will look like 00:08:21.870 --> 00:08:25.089 next month? The briefing also mentions the president's 00:08:25.089 --> 00:08:27.329 negotiation style might not be helping things 00:08:27.329 --> 00:08:30.569 with China, or even allies like Japan and the 00:08:30.569 --> 00:08:34.009 EU. Right, it suggests his more confrontational 00:08:34.009 --> 00:08:36.570 style might clash with how countries like China 00:08:36.570 --> 00:08:39.470 prefer to negotiate, which is often more long 00:08:39.470 --> 00:08:43.190 -term, less abrupt. And other countries pushing 00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:46.929 back too. Expected resistance, yeah. So navigating 00:08:46.929 --> 00:08:49.429 out of this trade mess looks complicated. The 00:08:49.429 --> 00:08:51.730 briefing seems to imply some economic pain is 00:08:51.730 --> 00:08:53.990 now unavoidable. So the focus probably needs 00:08:53.990 --> 00:08:57.370 to shift to just managing the fallout. Mitigating 00:08:57.370 --> 00:08:59.570 further damage, probably yes. Okay, switching 00:08:59.570 --> 00:09:02.210 gears completely now. This executive branch club, 00:09:02.389 --> 00:09:04.610 tell us about that. Sounds interesting. It definitely 00:09:04.610 --> 00:09:09.370 has an air of exclusivity. Basically, a $500 00:09:09.370 --> 00:09:13.330 ,000 membership fee gets you access to the president, 00:09:13.529 --> 00:09:15.490 other top officials. It's being run by Donald 00:09:15.490 --> 00:09:18.789 Trump Jr. and Omid Malik, a big GOP donor. Half 00:09:18.789 --> 00:09:20.909 a million dollars for access. That immediately 00:09:20.909 --> 00:09:22.950 raises questions about buying influence, doesn't 00:09:22.950 --> 00:09:25.129 it? Absolutely. The perception is pretty clear. 00:09:25.570 --> 00:09:27.950 It looks like a way for the wealthy to pay for 00:09:27.950 --> 00:09:30.429 privileged access. And the briefing mentions 00:09:30.429 --> 00:09:34.730 potential for like... private deals, maybe even 00:09:34.730 --> 00:09:37.330 different tiers of membership later. Yeah, suggesting 00:09:37.330 --> 00:09:40.190 it could become even more transactional. It kind 00:09:40.190 --> 00:09:43.029 of feeds into this idea of a two -tiered system, 00:09:43.529 --> 00:09:45.870 one for big donors, one for everyone else. Which 00:09:45.870 --> 00:09:48.049 could really erode public trust, you'd think. 00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:51.509 You would. While fundraising is normal, this 00:09:51.509 --> 00:09:54.870 specific model, the price tag... It looks like 00:09:54.870 --> 00:09:57.450 selling influence, plain and simple, to many 00:09:57.450 --> 00:09:59.730 observers. Now, despite all these controversies 00:09:59.730 --> 00:10:01.750 bubbling up, the briefing suggests Republicans 00:10:01.750 --> 00:10:04.049 aren't exactly rushing to criticize the president 00:10:04.049 --> 00:10:07.350 publicly. Generally no, which makes Senator Grassley's 00:10:07.350 --> 00:10:09.549 comments on Russia and Ukraine stand out. What 00:10:09.549 --> 00:10:12.490 did he say? He was quite critical, urging a tougher 00:10:12.490 --> 00:10:14.789 stance, and actually said Russia is playing America 00:10:14.789 --> 00:10:18.029 as a patsy. Wow, that's strong language. It is. 00:10:18.190 --> 00:10:20.710 Especially when, according to the briefing, many 00:10:20.710 --> 00:10:22.690 other Republicans share concerns about Ukraine, 00:10:22.690 --> 00:10:26.210 but they're just keeping quiet. Even senators 00:10:26.210 --> 00:10:28.129 who are retiring soon, you'd think they'd feel 00:10:28.129 --> 00:10:30.950 freer to speak out. You might think so, but it 00:10:30.950 --> 00:10:33.190 really shows the kind of hold the president seems 00:10:33.190 --> 00:10:35.629 to have over the party right now. So Grassley's 00:10:35.629 --> 00:10:38.169 comments are notable mainly because they're so 00:10:38.169 --> 00:10:40.850 rare. Pretty much. It highlights that there are 00:10:40.850 --> 00:10:43.210 different views within the party, even if they 00:10:43.210 --> 00:10:45.149 aren't often voiced publicly. OK, let's look 00:10:45.149 --> 00:10:47.669 at the Justice Department. AG Bondi seems to 00:10:47.669 --> 00:10:50.070 be making some big changes quickly. Very quickly, 00:10:50.250 --> 00:10:52.889 yes. The briefing details the abrupt cancellation 00:10:52.889 --> 00:10:56.769 of at least 350 nonprofit grants. Worth how much? 00:10:57.009 --> 00:11:00.950 About $4 .4 billion total. These were grants 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:03.580 funded by the previous administration. Supporting 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:06.659 what kinds of things? A really wide range. Victim 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:09.019 support services, mental health programs for 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:12.600 police, anti -human trafficking efforts, stuff 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:15.139 like that. So cutting funding for those programs 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:17.220 could have a pretty big impact on communities, 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:20.100 right? A huge impact. The briefing specifically 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:23.139 mentions concerns about victims of crime, losing 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:26.940 access to legal aid, housing, medical care, even 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:29.639 help with funeral costs. Has A .G. Bondi addressed 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:31.850 that? The briefing notes Barndy stated victim 00:11:31.850 --> 00:11:35.169 services won't be affected. But, well, given 00:11:35.169 --> 00:11:37.590 the scale of the cuts, there's skepticism. And 00:11:37.590 --> 00:11:40.830 there was another policy change mentioned about 00:11:40.830 --> 00:11:43.830 journalists. Yes, reversing the policy that limited 00:11:43.830 --> 00:11:46.009 subpoenaing journalists to find their sources 00:11:46.009 --> 00:11:49.409 in leak investigations. So making it easier to 00:11:49.409 --> 00:11:52.820 go after leakers? Essentially, yes. The briefing 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:55.460 suggests the priority seems to be punishing leaks 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:59.100 over maybe addressing the potential wrongdoing 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:01.620 the leak exposed. How's that going down? Not 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:03.879 well with some state and local officials, according 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.960 to the briefing. They're worried about the chilling 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:07.879 effect on the press and government accountability. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:11.019 So it feels like a shift in DOJ priorities towards 00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:14.480 maybe loyalty and information control. That's 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.620 certainly one interpretation presented. These 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:18.740 changes seem likely to ripple out quite widely. 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:20.990 Okay, even though Democrats in the minority in 00:12:20.990 --> 00:12:23.570 the House, the breathing outlines a strategy 00:12:23.570 --> 00:12:25.950 they're planning. How are they pushing back? 00:12:26.029 --> 00:12:28.610 It's a classic tactic, really. Using the committee 00:12:28.610 --> 00:12:31.590 process specifically, the markup of that big 00:12:31.590 --> 00:12:34.129 kitchen sink bill the president wants. The markup. 00:12:34.429 --> 00:12:36.690 That's where they debate amendments in specific 00:12:36.690 --> 00:12:39.929 parts. Exactly. So the plan is to force votes 00:12:39.929 --> 00:12:43.129 on specific, potentially unpopular parts of the 00:12:43.129 --> 00:12:46.860 bill. Like what? Like cuts to Medicaid. or SNF, 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:50.120 or maybe tax breaks that mainly benefit the wealthy. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:53.000 And the targets are? Republicans in swing districts, 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:55.299 especially those sitting on the key committees 00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:57.559 where these votes will happen. So they force 00:12:57.559 --> 00:13:00.460 them to go on the record. Yep. And then those 00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:04.100 votes get used in campaign ads for the 2026 midterms. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:06.779 Congressman X voted to cut your health care, 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.600 that kind of thing. We saw that work before, 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.379 didn't we, in 2018? It was very effective then, 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:14.629 yes. So they're dusting off that playbook and 00:13:14.629 --> 00:13:17.190 the narrow margins on some committees mean just 00:13:17.190 --> 00:13:20.049 a few Republicans flipping could actually change 00:13:20.049 --> 00:13:22.789 things it could potentially adds another layer 00:13:22.789 --> 00:13:25.549 of pressure It shows that even in the minority 00:13:25.549 --> 00:13:27.929 you can still try to shape the debate and hold 00:13:27.929 --> 00:13:30.029 the majority accountable But it's not all unity 00:13:30.029 --> 00:13:32.350 on the Democratic side either. Is it the briefing 00:13:32.350 --> 00:13:35.309 talks about some internal friction? Definitely. 00:13:35.450 --> 00:13:38.840 There's this push led partly by DNC Vice Chair 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.919 David Hogg to challenge older, more moderate 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:44.899 Democrats in primaries with younger, more progressive 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:48.159 candidates. Hogg's group, Leaders We Deserve, 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:51.259 is funding these challenges, specifically in 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:54.259 safe Democratic seats. So the idea is to shift 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:56.919 the party leftward from within. That seems to 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:59.879 be the goal. get more progressive voices in Congress, 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.159 reflecting what they see as the energy of the 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:04.519 party's base, especially younger voters. And 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:06.559 how's that being received by the incumbents? 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.820 Not well, as you can imagine. The briefing mentions 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:13.200 pushback, and even DNC chair Ken Martin giving 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:16.240 Hogg an ultimatum. So real tension there. Yeah. 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:19.539 Hogg points to examples like AOC's primary win 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:22.399 as the model, and it mentions a specific challenge 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:26.000 to rep Jan Schakowsky by a TikToker, Kata Bugazala. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.840 Tchaikovsky is expected to retire, but it shows 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:31.279 the trend. It really highlights that ongoing 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.799 dynamic within the Democratic Party, the establishment 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:36.580 versus the progressive wing. Exactly. These primaries 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:38.759 could really reshape the party's future direction. 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.940 Now, over in the Senate, Adam Schiff is mentioned 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:42.879 as taking a different approach for a new senator. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:45.500 Yeah, he's not really following the traditional 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:48.379 seen and not heard path for freshmen. How so? 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.720 He's been openly critical of leadership, apparently, 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:53.620 and he's using procedural tools like putting 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:56.019 a hold on a nominee. That's pretty assertive 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:58.159 early on. Does his background in the House give 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.820 him more leeway, maybe, being a lead impeachment 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:04.759 manager? The briefing suggests that's a big factor. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:07.580 He has name recognition, political capital that 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:09.779 most newcomers don't. And he's focusing on oversight. 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:12.720 Very much so. Aggressively questioning nominees, 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:14.919 working with other former House members now in 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:17.440 the Senate to hold hearings. It sounds like he 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:20.440 plans to be a major player in scrutinizing the 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.539 administration. Bringing some House energy to 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:25.600 the Senate, as the briefing puts it. That's the 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.220 phrase used, yeah. A more confrontational, proactive 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:30.820 style, perhaps. OK, one more. Senator mentioned 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:32.820 Susan Collins in Maine. Things aren't looking 00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:34.940 great for her, according to the poll cited. No, 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.960 the numbers are pretty brutal. 71 % of Maine 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.659 voters saying she doesn't deserve re -election. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:43.960 Wow, is that a cross -party lines? Yes, majorities 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.220 of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:49.759 That signals a really broad dissatisfaction in 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:52.840 a state that used to reward her moderation. And 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.960 there are potential challengers lining up. Strong 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.100 ones, potentially. Governor Janet Mills, representative 00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:00.399 of Chilly Pingree, are mentioned as possibilities. 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:02.960 So she could be facing a very tough fight. Looks 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:05.580 that way. Although... Interestingly, the same 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:08.259 poll found a surprising number of Maine voters 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:11.419 think leftist politicians are the state's biggest 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:14.620 problem. Huh. So it's complex. Always is, isn't 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:17.279 it? State politics often have their own unique 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.480 dynamics separate from the national narrative. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:22.580 But Collins definitely seems vulnerable right 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:24.799 now. Finally, let's look north. The briefing 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:27.580 says the U .S. president is actually a big factor 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:30.179 in the Canadian election. A huge factor, apparently. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.970 Past comments, current policies. they're causing 00:16:33.970 --> 00:16:36.830 a stir. In what way? There's this reported surge 00:16:36.830 --> 00:16:39.590 in Canadian patriotism, even a backlash against 00:16:39.590 --> 00:16:42.210 some US products. Really? Yeah. And the liberals, 00:16:42.490 --> 00:16:45.070 led by Mark Carney, are predicted to win. His 00:16:45.070 --> 00:16:47.289 whole campaign pitch includes Trump -proofing 00:16:47.289 --> 00:16:49.789 Canada. So the election there is partly about 00:16:49.789 --> 00:16:51.909 the relationship with the US and specifically 00:16:51.909 --> 00:16:54.029 the current president. It seems to have become 00:16:54.029 --> 00:16:58.210 a major dividing line. almost creating a de facto 00:16:58.210 --> 00:17:01.730 two -party system based on views of the U .S. 00:17:01.809 --> 00:17:04.430 president. A big liberal win would definitely 00:17:04.430 --> 00:17:07.130 be seen as a rebuke. It just shows how interconnected 00:17:07.130 --> 00:17:09.369 everything is, doesn't it? Actions here have 00:17:09.369 --> 00:17:11.950 real ripple effects internationally. Absolutely. 00:17:12.190 --> 00:17:14.730 The Canadian election is a prime example of that. 00:17:15.130 --> 00:17:17.250 OK, so let's try and wrap this up. Looking back 00:17:17.250 --> 00:17:20.450 at this day 97 briefing, what are the big takeaways? 00:17:21.250 --> 00:17:23.390 Well, we've seen a president facing declining 00:17:23.390 --> 00:17:26.490 approval serious questions about executive power 00:17:26.490 --> 00:17:29.990 and basic competence. An economy already feeling 00:17:29.990 --> 00:17:32.809 the pinch from tariffs. Some really interesting 00:17:32.809 --> 00:17:35.109 political maneuvering from both parties internally 00:17:35.109 --> 00:17:37.329 and against each other. And clear international 00:17:37.329 --> 00:17:40.109 fallout like in Canada. Exactly. It's a snapshot 00:17:40.109 --> 00:17:42.809 of an administration facing significant headwinds 00:17:42.809 --> 00:17:45.329 early on with strategy shifting on all sides 00:17:45.329 --> 00:17:48.029 and real world consequences starting to emerge. 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:50.339 Hopefully diving into this briefing like this 00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:53.099 gives you, the listener, a clearer sense of the 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:55.200 landscape without getting totally bogged down. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.819 That's the goal, to connect those dots and highlight 00:17:57.819 --> 00:18:00.160 what seems most crucial right now. And it leaves 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.400 you thinking, doesn't it, about the longer term? 00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:05.240 What does this level of early controversy and 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:07.940 falling trust mean down the road? How resilient 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:10.019 are institutions when faced with these kinds 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.200 of pressures? Definitely something to keep mulling 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.420 over.