Bob Cusack joins Allen Jackson to discuss current events.
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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: Shutdown Showdown | October 20, 2025
- Well, good evening and welcome to nashville.
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- I'm alan jackson.
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- If a picture is worth a thousand words,
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- Then this is all we need to say
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- About the political times we're in.
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- First, a rare photo from cairo, egypt 30 world leaders
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- Demonstrating their support
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- For president trump's peace plan for the mideast versus this,
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- The democratic leader in the u.s.
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- Senate,
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- He's trying to defend
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- What's been called the schumer shutdown, claiming
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- That his leverage gets stronger every day.
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- The government shutdown goes on
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- Even while people are not working and not getting paid.
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- So while president trump was signing a plan to stop a war.
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- The senate democratic leader was taking a one man victory lap
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- For shutting down the us government.
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- Well, our guest tonight
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- Is the veteran political editor, bob cusack.
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- Welcome back, bob.
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- Thanks for having me, allen.
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- The gap between chuck schumer and president trump is as wide
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- As the eye can see.
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- The senate republican leader, john
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- Thune, had this to say about why it's happening.
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- And chuck schumer saying this is getting better for us
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- Every day.
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- That's not somebody who wants to see this get resolved.
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- And they are pandering
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- To the left
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- Wing special interest groups out there who have demanded this
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- And demanded this showdown
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- With the president of the united states.
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- Bob, it's hard to imagine why anyone would think
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- A shutdown is a winning strategy.
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- Do you agree?
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- Yeah, i would.
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- I mean, i've covered
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- A lot of shutdowns, but the way schumer is handling
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- This one is a bit head scratching
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- Because democrats, as republicans have noted,
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- Have supported this type of bill,
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- A so-called clean bill, many times, 13 times before.
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- But democrats want their health care provisions in there.
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- And, of course, republicans want their,
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- Certain things that they want in the bill.
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- But they're saying, no, we just let's fund the government.
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- And this is interesting.
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- I mean, this is the democrats are the party of government, and
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- And the government is going to be shut down, i think, for,
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- For quite some time.
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- I think it could go, to halloween or maybe thanksgiving.
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- This could be the longest one ever.
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- As speaker johnson has said, i agree with him.
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- Or cairo's a long way from washington,
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- But do you think the leadership that the president has shown
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- Internationally will eventually have an effect on
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- At least some of the democrats
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- Who are holding up the funding bill?
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- Possibly.
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- I mean, democrats thought that they were going to be able
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- To pressure trump into folding,
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- And in, in prior shutdown.
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- Some of that strategy has worked.
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- It's not going to work here.
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- Trump is flying high, after his peace deal in the middle east.
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- And, certainly some democrats, including,
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- Senator fetterman from pennsylvania,
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- Have sided with, republicans
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- On this that don't agree with their leadership.
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- You know, even without the additional health care spending,
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- The latest budget still adds $2 trillion
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- To a national debt that's closing on $38 trillion.
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- The committee continues to make cuts,
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- And the president says there will be more cuts.
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- But is there anything on the table
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- That will not just slow the spending,
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- But help us genuinely shrink the debt?
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- I don't think, i don't hold your breath.
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- Alan, i mean, when you think about
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- Compromises between the two parties
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- Over the last couple decades, 25 years, what happens?
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- One side gets what it wants
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- And the other side get what it wants.
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- And what happens is the debt goes up, as you mentioned.
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- We're going to soon be headed for 40 trillion.
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- So unless congress gets serious,
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- And deals with entitlement programs
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- Like medicare and medicaid and social security, medicare
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- And social security headed for bankruptcy,
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- We're going to have a big debt problem.
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- But it's not going to be tackled anytime soon.
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- You know, there was a time and it's been a season
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- When congress actually worked together to solve problems.
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- Do you have any hope that we're going
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- To return to that kind of a functional approach
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- To congressional activity?
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- I don't i don't think so.
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- It's just a basically a game of shirts and skins right now.
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- And i
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- Don't think
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- The parties are in a situation
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- Where they can actually work together,
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- Because it's become so polarizing.
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- And you're
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- Right, ten, 15 years ago, it was a different situation.
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- You know, as usual, it's really hard
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- To sort the truth from the spin on the shutdown.
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- But isn't the heart of it the fact that the democrats
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- Are trying to extend government
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- Health care at the higher limits
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- That were put in place for the covid crisis
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- And for some additional health
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- Care for people who are here illegally.
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- Well, without a doubt, it's a complicated issue.
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- And definitely subsidies went up during covid.
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- Democrats say, hey,
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- No, we're not paying for money for for illegal immigrants.
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- But in their proposal, they're counterproposal to republicans.
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- They didn't explicitly say that.
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- And that's what republicans have said.
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- Well,
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- If you weren't going to put the money in there
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- For that reason, then why didn't you say explicitly?
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- And it also, when you're dealing with emergency treatment,
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- Experts have said, yes,
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- There would be some money for illegal immigrants
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- In there for health care.
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- Well, let's stay on the topic of people who are here illegally.
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- The white house says that there have been
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- A record number of arrests.
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- It's up 250%.
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- And that crime is down about 20%
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- Have been cleaned up. washington
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- And now working on memphis, los angeles and chicago.
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- The president has raised
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- The idea of moving it on san francisco next.
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- You would think that keeping people safe
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- Would be a winning agenda in any political race.
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- But schumer and others continue to push back.
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- Do you see any political benefit for the democrats
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- As they fight the plans for a safe america?
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- Not in the big picture.
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- I don't, and it's interesting.
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- Chuck schumer
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- Has this fictional couple from long island
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- That he's written about in his book,
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- And he acknowledged, after the 2024 election,
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- That that fictional couple that's kind of an independent
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- Minded couple voted for trump y because of crime.
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- This is what schumer said.
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- So, this is a winning issue for republicans.
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- And i think democrats who are going to,
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- Go after trump on this.
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- I think it's a losing issue for them.
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- And that's why the white house has been so aggressive on it.
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- They're it's confusing to me.
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- I'm certainly an outsider when it comes to dc.
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- But with the last election results
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- And the move towards the center,
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- It seems the democrats have moved even further left.
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- You know, are they just ignoring the trend from the public?
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- What is driving that shift?
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- Allen, i've been baffled.
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- You know, we've seen both parties after elections
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- When they lose and both parties have lost big time, wave
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- Elections, over the last few decades.
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- What they do is they analyze why they lost.
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- I haven't seen a lot of, introspection
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- From democrats of why they lost the 2024 election.
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- I keep hearing from,
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- Kamala harris and other democrats
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- Like nancy pelosi saying, well, we only
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- We only
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- We picked up
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- One seat in the house, but they didn't win the house
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- And they didn't win the presidency.
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- And they haven't come up with a winning strategy yet.
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- They're still flailing.
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- And it's been a while since trump won a second term.
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- It is, but there's a lot more to discuss.
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- Can you stay for another segment?
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- Absolutely.
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- All right.
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- Well, if you want to jump in on this conversation
- 00:07:11.789 --> 00:07:13.024
- With bob cusack, you can log on to aj now.com.
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- Send me an email.
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- We can use your ideas for our future shows.
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- I'll be right back.
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- I'll be right back.
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- We're back
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- Now with the veteran political editor, bob cusack.
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- I'd like to ask about a couple of off year races, beginning
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- With the one in your state of virginia.
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- The democrats have been setback with the public release
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- Of some very damaging text from their candidate
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- That said he wanted to put two bullets
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- In the head of his opponent.
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- I know the text were from three years ago,
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- But he hasn't dropped out of the race.
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- What does the race look like now?
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- With just a few weeks to go?
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- It's a close race.
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- It's closer than i expected.
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- And, as you mentioned, the jones, controversy is
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- Is really hurting abigail spanberger, who is
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- Who is a democrat in the race.
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- She is winning right now.
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- And virginia has gotten more blue over the years.
- 00:08:12.692 --> 00:08:15.595
- Now, remember, like virginia and new jersey,
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- I know we'll talk about new jersey a little bit.
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- Democrats have to win both of these.
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- These are blue states for the most part.
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- New jersey has gone a little more red, but it's still blue.
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- And democrats have to sweep these races.
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- But at the same time, in virginia,
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- You got to watch this race because spanberger has not,
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- Really distanced herself, i think effectively from the jay
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- Jones controversy. and he's running for office.
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- He's in a tight race.
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- And and he's dragging her down
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- Right now that there's no doubt about it.
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- Well, it seems like with some
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- Of the very public expressions of violence we've seen,
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- That kind of rhetoric would just not be tolerated.
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- But they seem to be managing
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- To sweep that under the rug for the most part.
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- Yeah, that's another issue where i just don't understand
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- Why democrats and some do.
- 00:09:01.073 --> 00:09:02.541
- But but why can't all of them say violence is not right?
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- And violence is something
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- That we condemn all the time.
- 00:09:09.915 --> 00:09:12.618
- And what jay jones was texting was,
- 00:09:12.618 --> 00:09:16.389
- Was violence and the threat of violence.
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- And that has,
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- Really dominated politics and how i think people have
- 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:23.362
- Soured on politics and politics in recent years
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- Because it's become more violent.
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- And that's extremely unfortunate,
- 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:29.335
- Has led to a lot of tragedies,
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- Including the assassination of charlie kirk.
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- Well, the new york mayor's
- 00:09:34.173 --> 00:09:35.174
- Race has tightened since we last spoke.
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- The current mayor dropped out.
- 00:09:37.410 --> 00:09:38.711
- Now andrew cuomo has pulled
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- Closer to his socialist communist opponent.
- 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:43.349
- Zoran mamdani has found himself getting pressed on his negative
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- Comments about the mideast peace plan.
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- He said it offers only a glimmer of hope,
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- But that we've watched our tax dollars fund genocide.
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- Even cnn has tried to press him on giving president trump
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- Some credit. listen to their comment.
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- So at what point would you decide
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- That he does deserve credit for it if the genocide ends?
- 00:10:03.102 --> 00:10:05.738
- And i think that's something worthy to be praised.
- 00:10:05.738 --> 00:10:07.406
- And if the hostages are returned,
- 00:10:07.406 --> 00:10:08.874
- Those things together have to be done in tandem.
- 00:10:08.874 --> 00:10:11.944
- You know, he's getting
- 00:10:11.944 --> 00:10:13.212
- Tougher questions, but there are still two others in the race.
- 00:10:13.212 --> 00:10:15.748
- Cuomo and curtis sliwa.
- 00:10:15.748 --> 00:10:17.650
- So i guess
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- Unless one of them drops out,
- 00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:19.418
- The anti-socialist vote will be split.
- 00:10:19.418 --> 00:10:22.121
- Do you think new york city will eventually have a socialist
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- In charge?
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- Probably.
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- Allen and mamdani is, he's leading in the race,
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- As you mentioned.
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- The other two candidates, cuomo and steve, are dividing
- 00:10:31.097 --> 00:10:34.633
- The anti-socialist vote.
- 00:10:34.633 --> 00:10:36.736
- This is a really a win win for republicans.
- 00:10:36.736 --> 00:10:39.205
- If if mamdani somehow loses his lead, while republicans
- 00:10:39.205 --> 00:10:43.642
- Can say, well, democrats at least came to their senses,
- 00:10:43.642 --> 00:10:46.979
- If, danny wins,
- 00:10:46.979 --> 00:10:48.280
- That's going to be the story of the 2025 election.
- 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:51.250
- Is that,
- 00:10:51.250 --> 00:10:52.418
- They're going to say he's the face of the democratic party
- 00:10:52.418 --> 00:10:54.386
- Now, and he's a socialist.
- 00:10:54.386 --> 00:10:55.688
- And that i mean, there are a number of,
- 00:10:55.688 --> 00:10:58.090
- Prominent, politicians that as we speak,
- 00:10:58.090 --> 00:11:00.960
- Chuck schumer is still not, endorsed, him. why?
- 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.230
- Because he doesn't
- 00:11:04.663 --> 00:11:05.931
- He wants to distance himself from the socialists.
- 00:11:05.931 --> 00:11:07.833
- So this is really dividing the democratic party.
- 00:11:07.833 --> 00:11:09.869
- And republicans are, are enjoying, that division.
- 00:11:09.869 --> 00:11:14.106
- It baffles me.
- 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:15.674
- What's the mindset of new yorkers?
- 00:11:15.674 --> 00:11:17.610
- I mean, giving serious consideration
- 00:11:17.610 --> 00:11:19.211
- To electing someone
- 00:11:19.211 --> 00:11:19.979
- That has no life experience
- 00:11:19.979 --> 00:11:22.081
- To lead the largest city in america?
- 00:11:22.081 --> 00:11:23.949
- That's confusing to me.
- 00:11:23.949 --> 00:11:26.418
- It is.
- 00:11:26.418 --> 00:11:27.119
- I mean, cuomo has some baggage.
- 00:11:27.119 --> 00:11:28.420
- There's no doubt about it.
- 00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:29.655
- Cuomo made a big mistake, alan.
- 00:11:29.655 --> 00:11:32.291
- He just thought he was going to glide, to the victory,
- 00:11:32.291 --> 00:11:35.094
- And he was not out there shaking hands.
- 00:11:35.094 --> 00:11:37.563
- He's doing that now as an independent.
- 00:11:37.563 --> 00:11:39.532
- But he should have been doing that in the democratic party.
- 00:11:39.532 --> 00:11:41.433
- He just thought he was going to win.
- 00:11:41.433 --> 00:11:42.802
- And new york city,
- 00:11:42.802 --> 00:11:43.936
- Especially parts, certain boroughs of new york city,
- 00:11:43.936 --> 00:11:46.906
- Are, are very, very liberal and obviously
- 00:11:47.807 --> 00:11:50.876
- Some of them are socialists.
- 00:11:50.876 --> 00:11:52.011
- And they want to see this guy win.
- 00:11:52.011 --> 00:11:53.612
- So this is a base election only.
- 00:11:53.612 --> 00:11:55.748
- Usually people
- 00:11:55.748 --> 00:11:56.816
- Who vote in these type of elections are hard core.
- 00:11:56.816 --> 00:11:59.552
- And that's usually the extreme voters.
- 00:11:59.552 --> 00:12:01.921
- And in new york that's extreme left.
- 00:12:01.921 --> 00:12:03.522
- So madani that's why he's winning in the polls right now.
- 00:12:03.522 --> 00:12:05.925
- Well, the new jersey governor's race is getting closer.
- 00:12:06.992 --> 00:12:09.728
- The blue state voters are apparently having
- 00:12:09.728 --> 00:12:11.797
- Second thoughts about the democratic candidate,
- 00:12:11.797 --> 00:12:14.233
- Mikey sherrill, after a number of
- 00:12:14.233 --> 00:12:16.335
- Questionable issues about her time
- 00:12:16.335 --> 00:12:17.803
- At the naval academy have surfaced.
- 00:12:17.803 --> 00:12:19.839
- Issues that she hadn't cleared up publicly.
- 00:12:19.839 --> 00:12:22.341
- Is the state getting purple enough
- 00:12:22.341 --> 00:12:24.109
- Where the republicans could take new jersey?
- 00:12:24.109 --> 00:12:26.879
- Well, one of the most surprising results of the 2024
- 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:30.716
- Presidential election was that trump
- 00:12:30.716 --> 00:12:32.751
- Only lost by a handful of votes in new jersey.
- 00:12:32.751 --> 00:12:35.387
- He's always eyed a win in new york.
- 00:12:35.387 --> 00:12:37.122
- That was not going to happen.
- 00:12:37.122 --> 00:12:38.858
- And he's talked about winning jersey.
- 00:12:38.858 --> 00:12:40.359
- He almost won new jersey.
- 00:12:40.359 --> 00:12:41.660
- So it's getting certainly more purple.
- 00:12:41.660 --> 00:12:44.363
- And as you mentioned, there are some controversies
- 00:12:44.363 --> 00:12:46.665
- With sheryl taxes
- 00:12:46.665 --> 00:12:47.900
- A big issue in new jersey as they've gone up over the years.
- 00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:51.070
- She's also made a lot of money as a member of congress.
- 00:12:51.070 --> 00:12:53.839
- Had to pay a fine, relatively small fine, for,
- 00:12:53.839 --> 00:12:57.610
- A law that prevents, insider trading.
- 00:12:57.610 --> 00:13:01.714
- And she's dodged some questions about how much money
- 00:13:01.714 --> 00:13:04.283
- She's made.
- 00:13:04.283 --> 00:13:05.484
- As a member of congress.
- 00:13:05.484 --> 00:13:07.386
- Over the last several years.
- 00:13:07.386 --> 00:13:08.821
- And that has hurt her.
- 00:13:08.821 --> 00:13:10.923
- And that's why i think this is if you're looking for an upset
- 00:13:10.923 --> 00:13:14.260
- In new jersey is more likely, the republican wins than
- 00:13:14.260 --> 00:13:17.763
- In virginia.
- 00:13:17.763 --> 00:13:18.664
- But again,
- 00:13:18.664 --> 00:13:19.598
- If democrats don't win both of these races,
- 00:13:19.598 --> 00:13:22.067
- It is a devastating night for democrats.
- 00:13:22.067 --> 00:13:25.137
- Well, if we
- 00:13:25.471 --> 00:13:26.138
- Will look down the road a bit,
- 00:13:26.138 --> 00:13:27.273
- The midterms are just about a year away.
- 00:13:27.273 --> 00:13:29.708
- But while the president is on a roll right now,
- 00:13:29.708 --> 00:13:32.244
- I wonder if the voters will remember that next november
- 00:13:32.244 --> 00:13:34.914
- When they're only voting for house and senate members
- 00:13:34.914 --> 00:13:37.449
- And not the president?
- 00:13:37.449 --> 00:13:38.851
- What do you think?
- 00:13:38.851 --> 00:13:40.386
- Yeah, it's a problem that the white house
- 00:13:40.386 --> 00:13:42.621
- And the president have to deal with.
- 00:13:42.621 --> 00:13:44.223
- He lost the house, in 2018, in his first term.
- 00:13:44.223 --> 00:13:47.960
- And it does have an effect
- 00:13:48.527 --> 00:13:50.429
- On when you don't have trump on the ballot,
- 00:13:50.429 --> 00:13:52.431
- When you have trump on the ballot, he usually wins.
- 00:13:52.431 --> 00:13:55.634
- So this is going to be a challenge.
- 00:13:55.634 --> 00:13:57.136
- It's going to come down a lot to what the courts say.
- 00:13:57.136 --> 00:13:59.939
- And these redistricting fights that both parties are engaged
- 00:13:59.939 --> 00:14:03.375
- Right now.
- 00:14:03.375 --> 00:14:04.576
- I think the senate is likely to stay in republican hands.
- 00:14:04.576 --> 00:14:08.180
- I would i would bet on that.
- 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:09.848
- The house is a toss up.
- 00:14:09.848 --> 00:14:11.350
- That could go either way.
- 00:14:11.350 --> 00:14:13.152
- And again, if democrats don't win the house
- 00:14:13.152 --> 00:14:15.387
- Based upon historical trends, it's a rough night for them.
- 00:14:15.387 --> 00:14:18.624
- They should pick up at, if you look at the party
- 00:14:18.624 --> 00:14:21.760
- Not in power of the white house, they should pick up, 20.
- 00:14:21.760 --> 00:14:25.230
- Maybe 24 seats.
- 00:14:25.230 --> 00:14:26.899
- All they need is a handful of seats.
- 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:28.634
- So if they don't get it,
- 00:14:28.634 --> 00:14:30.302
- There could be some changes in democratic leadership.
- 00:14:30.302 --> 00:14:33.305
- I think we all remember the line.
- 00:14:33.305 --> 00:14:34.573
- It's about the economy, stupid.
- 00:14:34.573 --> 00:14:36.475
- Do you think there will be
- 00:14:36.475 --> 00:14:37.676
- Enough economic momentum to carry the republicans to hold?
- 00:14:37.676 --> 00:14:41.180
- I love that question.
- 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.848
- And the white house has said there are a lot of people.
- 00:14:42.848 --> 00:14:44.683
- And you look at polls,
- 00:14:44.683 --> 00:14:45.884
- They're not satisfied inflation is still there.
- 00:14:45.884 --> 00:14:48.921
- But the white house says 2026 is going to be a banner year
- 00:14:48.921 --> 00:14:52.891
- For the economy.
- 00:14:52.891 --> 00:14:53.792
- So, they want to make sure
- 00:14:53.792 --> 00:14:56.228
- That they're doing the things, whether it's deregulation,
- 00:14:56.228 --> 00:14:59.565
- Or certainly lowering interest rates with president
- 00:14:59.565 --> 00:15:02.167
- Trump has certainly
- 00:15:02.167 --> 00:15:03.635
- Pressured, jay powell at the federal reserve,
- 00:15:03.635 --> 00:15:06.572
- To lower interest rates.
- 00:15:06.572 --> 00:15:07.806
- They're saying the economy's going to get better.
- 00:15:07.806 --> 00:15:10.109
- And i think that's going to be the one to watch
- 00:15:10.109 --> 00:15:12.578
- Where we're going to be.
- 00:15:12.578 --> 00:15:13.846
- Where is the economy in one year from now?
- 00:15:13.846 --> 00:15:16.749
- Remember, trump just got started.
- 00:15:16.749 --> 00:15:18.017
- So that's what the white house says.
- 00:15:18.017 --> 00:15:19.418
- We just got started. give us a little more time.
- 00:15:19.418 --> 00:15:22.421
- Well, bob cusack, thank you for your time again today.
- 00:15:22.421 --> 00:15:24.890
- We all benefit from your inside washington view.
- 00:15:24.890 --> 00:15:28.060
- Thanks, i appreciate it.
- 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:29.895
- And in a moment, the hope that exists well beyond
- 00:15:29.895 --> 00:15:32.798
- The beltway.
- 00:15:32.798 --> 00:15:33.832
- I'll be right back.
- 00:15:33.832 --> 00:15:42.012
- I'll be right back.
- 00:15:42.012 --> 00:15:46.452
- You know,
- 00:15:46.752 --> 00:15:47.753
- While democrats insist on spending more than $1
- 00:15:47.753 --> 00:15:50.156
- Trillion of your money to expand health care coverage,
- 00:15:50.156 --> 00:15:53.325
- Including money for people who are here illegally,
- 00:15:53.325 --> 00:15:55.995
- There was a real concern
- 00:15:55.995 --> 00:15:57.163
- That our military community might not get paid.
- 00:15:57.163 --> 00:16:00.533
- Well, i'm grateful that the trump administration
- 00:16:00.533 --> 00:16:02.268
- Intervened and reshuffled some pentagon funds in order
- 00:16:02.268 --> 00:16:04.937
- To provide a temporary reprieve for active duty troops.
- 00:16:04.937 --> 00:16:08.474
- They didn't have to miss their first paychecks as a result.
- 00:16:08.474 --> 00:16:11.844
- Well, unfortunately, we as christ followers,
- 00:16:11.844 --> 00:16:14.146
- We have some complicity with this out-of-control
- 00:16:14.146 --> 00:16:16.649
- Spending that has taken place over recent years and decades.
- 00:16:16.649 --> 00:16:20.586
- We didn't pay enough attention to all the foolish things
- 00:16:20.586 --> 00:16:23.022
- That our taxpayer money was being allocated toward.
- 00:16:23.022 --> 00:16:25.658
- Recently, house speaker mike johnson called out
- 00:16:26.592 --> 00:16:28.727
- Some of these line items,
- 00:16:28.727 --> 00:16:30.396
- Listing a few demands the democrats are insisting on
- 00:16:30.396 --> 00:16:33.365
- In order to win the government shutdown.
- 00:16:33.365 --> 00:16:35.601
- These include 3.9 million of your hard earned tax dollars
- 00:16:35.601 --> 00:16:39.538
- For lgbtq plus democracy grants in the western balkans,
- 00:16:39.538 --> 00:16:45.177
- 2 million on organizing for feminist
- 00:16:45.177 --> 00:16:47.713
- Democratic principles in africa, 24.6 million
- 00:16:47.713 --> 00:16:52.184
- To climate resilience in honduras.
- 00:16:52.184 --> 00:16:55.387
- I'm grateful that speaker johnson
- 00:16:56.122 --> 00:16:57.523
- Has exposed these expenditures,
- 00:16:57.523 --> 00:16:59.558
- But i caution you
- 00:16:59.558 --> 00:17:00.759
- Not to look to the politicians to be the agents of change.
- 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:03.762
- Let's just add value to what we represent in the culture.
- 00:17:03.762 --> 00:17:06.799
- Be informed.
- 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.633
- Be engaged. speak up.
- 00:17:07.633 --> 00:17:09.034
- Use your voice. pray.
- 00:17:09.034 --> 00:17:11.270
- We are god's ambassadors in the world.
- 00:17:11.270 --> 00:17:13.606
- So let's be bright lights in the darkness
- 00:17:13.606 --> 00:17:15.541
- And have the courage to stand up for biblical values.
- 00:17:15.541 --> 00:17:18.944
- If we'll do that, i assure you there will be more reasons
- 00:17:18.944 --> 00:17:22.181
- For hope than despair.
- 00:17:22.181 --> 00:17:24.750
- We'll be back in just a moment
- 00:17:25.351 --> 00:17:26.952
- With your emails.
- 00:17:26.952 --> 00:17:35.013
- With your emails.
- 00:17:35.013 --> 00:17:39.635
- Just a quick reminder.
- 00:17:40.102 --> 00:17:41.270
- If you miss a live broadcast, you can always go to aj.
- 00:17:41.270 --> 00:17:44.439
- Now.com.
- 00:17:44.439 --> 00:17:45.474
- There's a full archive of our programs there.
- 00:17:45.474 --> 00:17:48.177
- You can watch them at your leisure
- 00:17:48.177 --> 00:17:49.411
- And make them easy to share with a friend.
- 00:17:49.411 --> 00:17:51.146
- Choose your favorite and share it with somebody else.
- 00:17:51.146 --> 00:17:53.682
- The more the merrier.
- 00:17:53.682 --> 00:17:55.217
- Thank you for your emails.
- 00:17:55.217 --> 00:17:56.251
- They're always a highlight.
- 00:17:56.251 --> 00:17:57.719
- Jonathan wrote
- 00:17:57.719 --> 00:17:58.554
- Thank you for standing firm on the word
- 00:17:58.554 --> 00:18:00.222
- And traditional values in america.
- 00:18:00.222 --> 00:18:01.924
- I love to watch.
- 00:18:01.924 --> 00:18:03.492
- Well, jonathan, i appreciate it.
- 00:18:03.492 --> 00:18:04.693
- Our biblical worldview, our judeo-christian values
- 00:18:04.693 --> 00:18:08.130
- Have brought strength to our nation,
- 00:18:08.130 --> 00:18:09.631
- And it's going to take courage
- 00:18:09.631 --> 00:18:10.899
- To live them out in this current climate.
- 00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:12.734
- But it is worthwhile.
- 00:18:12.734 --> 00:18:15.003
- A viewer on youtube noted the current shutdown is nothing
- 00:18:15.003 --> 00:18:18.941
- More than partizan gamesmanship and the blame game.
- 00:18:18.941 --> 00:18:22.411
- The democrats want to continue funding things
- 00:18:22.411 --> 00:18:25.113
- That should not be funded.
- 00:18:25.113 --> 00:18:26.949
- The republicans are going to use this shutdown
- 00:18:26.949 --> 00:18:30.085
- To reduce the size of government.
- 00:18:30.085 --> 00:18:32.554
- The republicans could have prevented this
- 00:18:32.554 --> 00:18:34.723
- By changing the vote threshold to a simple majority,
- 00:18:34.723 --> 00:18:37.292
- Like they did during the trump nominee's confirmation vote,
- 00:18:37.292 --> 00:18:40.529
- To avoid obstruction by the debates.
- 00:18:40.529 --> 00:18:42.564
- Scratch.
- 00:18:42.564 --> 00:18:43.699
- Change the vote threshold now.
- 00:18:43.699 --> 00:18:45.734
- You know, i'm not sure about the vote
- 00:18:45.734 --> 00:18:47.069
- Threshold, but changing the words keeps me focused.
- 00:18:47.069 --> 00:18:50.572
- Just now learned to spell republican or democrat,
- 00:18:50.572 --> 00:18:52.874
- And you've given me a whole new set of vocabulary words.
- 00:18:52.874 --> 00:18:55.911
- But thank you.
- 00:18:55.911 --> 00:18:57.212
- Aubrey from texas wrote.
- 00:18:57.746 --> 00:18:59.381
- Why did it appear the major tv news channels
- 00:18:59.381 --> 00:19:01.783
- Were showing the release of palestinian prisoners
- 00:19:01.783 --> 00:19:04.987
- Instead of the hostages from hamas?
- 00:19:04.987 --> 00:19:08.724
- Well, i think there's probably several components to that.
- 00:19:08.724 --> 00:19:10.826
- There's a reluctance to allow president
- 00:19:10.826 --> 00:19:12.461
- Trump to take a victory lap.
- 00:19:12.461 --> 00:19:14.463
- They would rather try to remind us
- 00:19:14.463 --> 00:19:15.797
- That there was a genocide they've been promoting,
- 00:19:15.797 --> 00:19:17.899
- And not celebrate the release of people
- 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.701
- Who have been brutally held for more than two years
- 00:19:19.701 --> 00:19:22.271
- In tunnels beneath gaza.
- 00:19:22.271 --> 00:19:24.506
- It's been fashionable and chic for a bit
- 00:19:24.506 --> 00:19:27.175
- To be anti-semitic, even in mainstream format.
- 00:19:27.175 --> 00:19:31.446
- It's unfortunate,
- 00:19:31.446 --> 00:19:33.081
- But i think in spite of all of that,
- 00:19:33.081 --> 00:19:34.783
- We can all be celebrating the release
- 00:19:34.783 --> 00:19:36.918
- Of those hostages, their return to their families,
- 00:19:36.918 --> 00:19:39.921
- The joyful sights of those emotional reunions.
- 00:19:39.921 --> 00:19:43.225
- God is moving in the earth, and we've had front row
- 00:19:43.225 --> 00:19:45.494
- Seats to be witnesses to that this week.
- 00:19:45.494 --> 00:19:47.829
- It should bring all of us a note of hope.
- 00:19:47.829 --> 00:19:49.698
- God's watching over us,
- 00:19:49.698 --> 00:19:51.199
- And he'll bring victories
- 00:19:51.199 --> 00:19:52.267
- In the face of horrible expressions of evil.
- 00:19:52.267 --> 00:19:55.704
- Thank you for spending a few minutes with us,
- 00:19:55.704 --> 00:19:57.673
- And i pray you have a good evening.
- 00:19:57.673 --> 00:19:57.673