Episodes

  • Sen. Murphy: it's "downright disgusting" for Trump to blame DEI for tragic air accident

    Sen. Murphy: it's "downright disgusting" for Trump to blame DEI for tragic air accident
    Jan 31 2025
    Who? Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) LISTEN: Laslo & Murphy Press corps asks:Did you catch Trump’s press conference on this week’s collision over the Potomac River, the FAA and DEI? Key Murphy: “Yeah. I thought the president's press conference was disgusting. The idea that the crash happened because the FAA hires non white men is unconscionable, especially after he threw the FAA into chaos,” Sen. Chris Murphy vented to members of the congressional press corps Thursday afternoon. “He ousted the administrator. He fired the entire safety board.” Subscribe for FREEE to get our weekly post in your inbox!!!! ICYMI — this interview helped inform Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s story for Raw StoryCaught our ear:“He's in charge. This happened on his watch, and he has deliberately thrown the FAA into disarray in the first days of his administration,” Murphy said. “That may not have had anything to do with the crash yesterday, but it makes his statements at his press conference today even more alarming.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Chris MurphySCENE: On Thursday, after President Donald Trump wrapped up his press conference on the tragic and deadly collision of a Black Hawk helicopter and commercial airline from Wichita, Kansas over the Potomac River, Sen. Chris Murphy is senatorially livid when he stops to talk to a gaggle of reporters in the basement of the US Capitol. Reporter 1 (off mic): Did you catch Trump’s press conference on last night’s midair collision, the FAA and DEI? Chris Murphy: “Yeah. I thought the president's press conference was disgusting.”Reporter 2: “Yeah?” A senator rings the bell calling one of the two manually operate, old school trams that cart senators from their offices to the Capitol. CM: “The idea that the crash happened because the FAA hires non white men is unconscionable, especially after he threw the FAA into chaos. He fired the — he ousted the administrator. He fired the entire safety board.” “Doors closing,” says the robotic warning on the trams underneath the US Capitol. Source: C-SPAN via YouTube.CM: “He’s been waging a war on public employees for a week and a half, including those at the FAA.” CM: “We don’t know what happened, but for the president to claim that it's because the FAA hires women or Black people, is downright disgusting. So…“Every buck — or brew — helps! Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism — Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!CM: “He's in charge. This happened on his watch, and he has deliberately thrown the FAA into disarray in the first days of his administration. That may not have had anything to do with the crash yesterday, but it makes his statements at his press conference today even more alarming.” Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol politics at www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • AOC warns of emerging US oligarchy: “This is how fascism works"

    AOC warns of emerging US oligarchy: “This is how fascism works"
    Jan 25 2025

    Who?

    Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

    LISTEN: Laslo & Ocasio-Cortez

    Ask a Pol asks:

    How does your party combat what Biden called an ‘oligarchy’ in America?

    Key Ocasio-Cortez:

    “We have to take our gloves off and fight for the working class and line ourselves with labor and really show people what's going on,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exclusively tells Ask a Pol.

    Ask a Pol Subscriptions are FREEEEEEE! Unless you want the VIP perks we offer…

    ICYMI — AOC’s oversight priorities this new Congress

    Caught our ear:

    “It's true. It's happening. There is an oligarchy in America,” Ocasio-Cortez tells us. “This is how fascism works, you know.”

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

    SCENE: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is on her way to vote on the House floor when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo catches up with her…

    Matt Laslo: “Any thoughts on Biden's oligarchy framing and saying [inaudible]. I'm kinda shocked by the amount of billionaires. Like, I didn’t even know this many billionaires existed that Trump surrounded himself with, like...”

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “Yeah. I mean, it's true. It's happening. There is an oligarchy in America. And the American oligarchy is handed — this is how fascism works, you know.”

    ML: “Yeah? How does your party combat that going into this administration?”

    AOC: “Well, I think that it's really about, like, we have to take our gloves off and fight for the working class, align ourselves with labor and really show people what's going on.”

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    Find us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer.

    ML: “And I know you guys kinda lost sight of that party did in the last election, do you think party leaders get that now?”

    AOC: “You have to ask them.”

    ML: “You didn't hear it in the DNC pitches?”

    Candidates running to head up the DNC — or Democratic National Committee — recently pitched House Democrats on Capitol Hill.

    AOC: “I’m not sure, yeah. I’m sorry.”

    ML: “Yep, you have a job. Thank you, ma'am.”

    Andrey Beregovsiy contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPolPolitics.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    Get full access to Ask a Pol politics at www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • "Yes," MTG says, she wants to make Jan. 6 a national holiday

    "Yes," MTG says, she wants to make Jan. 6 a national holiday
    Jan 4 2025
    Who?Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)LISTEN: Laslo & Greene Ask a Pol asks:With the Jan. 6, 2021 anniversary Monday — I know your party wants to change the conversation on that in this new Congress — curious if you have any thoughts? Key Greene:“Oh, you mean, make it a national holiday?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene exclusively tells Ask a Pol through a big grin. ICYMI — This interview first appeared in Raw Story!Caught our ear:Democrats say your party is trying to rewrite history by pardoning the J6 folks… “Oh, you mean, like after Joe Biden pardoned sex criminals and some of the worst criminals, just letting em out of jail. We're the ones changing history? They're the ones that objected to three Republican presidents,” Greene says. “So you can't change history, unless we make it a national holiday.”Do you want that?“Yes,” Greene tells us through a broad smile.Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), slightly edited for clarity.SCENE: Ahead of the 119th convening on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo caught Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an aide and her boyfriend walking to the House via an underground tunnel before she entered the chamber to cast her vote for speaker of the House of Representatives. Matt Laslo: “Curious if you have any thoughts, with Jan. 6 on Monday, I know your party wants to change the conversation on that in this new Congress.” Marjorie Taylor Greene: “To what?” ML: “On Jan. 6, what happened in 2021.” MTG: “Oh, you mean, make it a national holiday?” Consider supporting our independent journalism — Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “You want to do it?”They all laugh. ML: “But your Democratic counterparts say that you guys are trying to rewrite history?” MTG: “How's that?” ML: “Pardoning the J6 folks.” MTG: “Oh, you mean, like after Joe Biden pardoned sex criminals and some of the worst criminals, just letting em out of jail. We're the ones changing history? They're the ones that objected to three Republican presidential candidates — or, presidents. So you can't change history, unless we make it a national holiday.”ML: “Yeah?”Greene heads to the House floor to vote. ML: “Do you want that?”Greene turns back to Laslo and smiles. MTG: “Yes.”Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol politics at www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • Sen. Grassley schools Musk & DOGE: “It costs money to shut the government down”

    Sen. Grassley schools Musk & DOGE: “It costs money to shut the government down”
    Dec 22 2024
    Who?Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — President pro tempore of the United States Senate (3rd in line for presidency)LISTEN: Laslo & Grassley Ask a Pol asks:What do you make of House Republicans following President-elect Donald Trump’s lead and scuttling the bipartisan measure to fund the government because it doesn’t raise the nation’s debt ceiling? Key Grassley:“It costs money to shut the government down,” Sen. Chuck Grassley exclusively tells Ask a Pol.ICYMI — Laslo used this interview in a Raw Story featureCaught our ear:“Government's a service to the people. You can't serve the people [shut down],” Grassley tells us. “So I just don't want the government to shut down.” ICYMI — Was a busy week in Washington… Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Chuck Grassley SCENE: Right after House Republicans rejected a year end bill to fund the government midweek, Sen. Chuck Grassley arrives at the historic Senate Carriage Entrance to the US Capitol for a Senate vote. Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo is outside the Capitol and tries to squeeze in a brief interview with the 91-year-old, but Grassley’s having none of the cold, damp night and ushers Laslo into the Capitol where he has to go through the magnetometer. After that, they continue their conversation on an elevator so Grassley can cast his vote on the Senate floor. Matt Laslo: “Look at this young man.” Chuck Grassley: “Hey, how are you doing?”ML: “Nice bow tie.” CG: “What are you doing outside when it's warm inside?” Every bit helps! Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism — Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “It's not bad.”CG: “Okay.” ML: “What do you think of House Republicans scuttling this year end bill?” CG: “Come on in here.” Grassley ushers Laslo into a temporary construction entrance to Capitol. ML: “But what do you think of…?”CG: “We’ll go through there now.” Laslo chuckles as Grassley sends him through security. ML: “Yes, sir.” Grassley waits as Laslo empties his pockets and heads through the magnetometer. ML: “Senator, what do you think of…?” Grassley’s now focused on catching one of six elevators in front of them. ML: “What do you make of your House colleagues scuttling….?”CG: “Can you walk so I can go up.” ML: “I can do whatever you want, sir.” “Preciate ya,” Laslo whispers to an officer at the security screening.“Yes, sir,” the Capitol Police officer replies. Grassley and Laslo enter an elevator. CG: “Let’s go up to two when you’re ready. I’ll be up there.” Laslo’s still putting his metallic objects back in his pockets. CG: “Your question is about the House?” ML: “Yeah. What do you make of them scuttling this year end bill?” CG: “What happens in the House I can't do anything about. I guess the bottom line for me is, like, I'll bet I've told you 100 — a dozen times, you can't shut government down. It costs money to shut the government down.”ML: “Yeah?” CG: “Even costs money this week to study what you want to do if you shut the government down.” ML: “Yeah?” CG: “And then it costs money to open up the government. And then government's a service to the people. You can't serve the people. So I just don't want government to shut down.” ML: “So it’s almost defeating your own cause with DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] and that effort?” CG: “Well, I'm not in a position to tell the House what to do. I'm just telling you the consequences of it, and I don't want those consequences.”ML: “Appreciate you.” CG: “Alright.”Grassley heads to the Senate floor to vote. ML: “Happy holidays if I don't see you.” Content posted at AskaPolpolitics.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol politics at www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • AOC: “I think we should be going after corporations”

    AOC: “I think we should be going after corporations”
    Dec 14 2024
    Who?Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — Vice-Ranking Member, Oversight CommitteeLISTEN: Laslo & Ocasio-CortezAsk a Pol asks:What are your priorities for oversight in the new year? Key AOC:“I think we should be going after corporations,” Ocasio-Cortez tells Ask a Pol. “We need to be going after corruption. Also, of course, there’s an incoming Trump administration that’s been bought out the wazoo, so we have to highlight that.”ICYMI — this interview first appeared in Raw StoryCaught our ear:“I think a lot of it has to do with using our bully pulpit to ring the alarm and let the American people know what's going on,” Ocasio-Cortez tells us. “I feel like we have so much leverage where we can do that much more thoroughly and much more expansively.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez SCENE: After voting on the floor of the US House of Representatives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and two of her aides are walking back to her office via the underground tunnel from the US Capitol to the house Office Buildings across the street. Matt Laslo: “How are you ma’am?” Ocasio-Cortez: “How’s it going?”ML: “Living the dream.” AOC: “That’s great.”ML: “What do you think the focus of your party needs to be in the new year when it comes to oversight, etc?” AOC: “I think we should be going after corporations.”ML: “Yeah?” AOC: “We need to be going after corruption. Also, of course, there’s an incoming Trump administration that’s been bought out the wazoo, so we have to highlight that.” ML: “Yeah? But then as the minority party that’s a little harder.” AOC: “It is, it is, but I think we've demonstrated this term, even being in the minority, we've been able to thoroughly dismantle a lot of the Republican initiative and really take the wind out of their sails and build new momentum.” Every bit helps! Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism —Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “It’s interesting though that you did lead with corporations and that stuff — that was kinda missing from a lot of Democrats this campaign cycle.” AOC: “I think so, and I think that we shouldn't be afraid to lean into the sources of a lot of people's economic pain, and we need to be forthright and we need to be forward and assertive about the fact that inflation doesn't come from anywhere, it's corporations that are trying to squeeze Americans for every dime that they've got in their pockets.” ML: “And now how worried are you that we’re seeing all, like, the billionaire class become part of [Trump’s] cabinet?” AOC: “Oh, of course, very, very. And what we’re seeing at the Los Angeles Times and the takeover of media, it's extremely concerning.” ML: “And how do you combat that, because, like, with Elon Musk is out here promoting DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency], but that’s not a part of the government.” AOC: “I think that there are areas where they do intersect. And I think a lot of it has to do with using our bully pulpit to ring the alarm and let the American people know what's going on.”ML: “Yeah?” AOC: “I feel like we have so much leverage where we can do that much more thoroughly and much more expansively.” ML: “Yeah. I’ll be watchin.” AOC: “Thank you.” ML: “Have a good weekend.” Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol politics at www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • Rep. Raskin on Trump's FBI, DOJ reforms: "They want to make it seem as if it's somehow normal and bipartisan. It's not"

    Rep. Raskin on Trump's FBI, DOJ reforms: "They want to make it seem as if it's somehow normal and bipartisan. It's not"
    Dec 7 2024
    Who?Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) — Ranking Member (ie, top Democrat), House Oversight Committee LISTEN: Laslo & Raskin Ask a Pol asks:Why do you want to be the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee and not the Oversight Committee come the New Year? Is all the action gonna be in Judiciary? Key Raskin:“Oh, I think it's going to be all over the place,” Rep. Jamie Raskin exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “The assault on the federal workforce and the professional civil service are likely to be headquartered in Oversight, but the attack on the Justice Department, the FBI and the rule of law are going to be centered in the Judiciary Committee.” ICYMI — Laslo’s interview first appeared in Raw Story Caught our ear:“They have been attacking the Department of Justice for ‘lawfare’ and for partisan ‘weaponization’ as preparation for implementing their own plans to do precisely that,” Raskin tells us. “They want to make it seem as if it's somehow normal and bipartisan. It's not. You know, you cannot find an example of — well, you really can't find an example of any president, with the potential exception of Richard Nixon, who directed the Department of Justice to engage in criminal investigations and prosecutions targeting his political foes.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s interview with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Jamie Raskin SCENE: After waiting for Raskin to finish an interview with a colleague just off the floor of the US House of Representatives, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo then joins Raskin for his elevator ride to the underground tunnel connecting the Capitol to the House Office Buildings across the street. Jamie Raskin: “Hey, how goes it?” Matt Laslo: “Living the dream.” JR: “Good.”Raskin laughs. JR: “Good.”ML: “I’m kinda curious why you think the action’s going to be in Judiciary [Committee] and not Oversight [Committee] come the New Year?” JR: “Oh, I think it's going to be all over the place. The assault on the federal workforce and the professional civil service are likely to be headquartered in Oversight, but the attack on the Justice Department, the FBI and the rule of law are going to be centered in the Judiciary Committee.” Elevator doors open to Capitol basement. Every bit helps! Consider chipping in to support our independent journalism —Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!JR: “So it's like they tell the little kids in soccer, ‘don't bunch, spread out’ — we need people everywhere, you know, defending constitutional institutions and principles.” ML: “And especially when it comes to their focus on the FBI and DOJ, how worried are you by what you — like the rhetoric that's become metastasized almost.” JR: “The problem is that I've not heard of any agenda other than instrumentalizing the Department of Justice and the FBI for purposes of political retaliation and revenge. You know, that's not generally advanced as a proper principle for US government.” ML: “Yeah?” JR: “I mean, and it's a sign of how far the discourse has shifted that this has become normalized.” ML: “Yeah? Just, like [Trump’s FBI nominee] Kash Patel — a name that I didn't even know a couple months ago…”JR: “Yeah.” ML: “…like does he worry you, particularly?”JR: “He's somebody who embodies the ethos of using the government as a partisan and political instrument for the will of the President. Again, that's a massive departure from decades of understanding that the President does not get involved in particular cases.” ML: “Yeah?” JR: “And we have to try to uphold that traditional understanding as much as we can.” ML: “Does it almost feel like they're becoming the rhetoric that they decry?” JR: “Bingo.” ML: “Like, they’ve become the ‘lawfare’ party.” JR: “Well, you know, they have been attacking the Department of Justice for ‘lawfare’ and for partisan ‘weaponization’ as preparation for their own — for implementing their own plans to do precisely that.”ML: “Yeah?” JR: “You know, they want to make it seem as if it's somehow normal and bipartisan. It's not. You know, you cannot find an example of — well, you really can't find an example of any president, with the potential exception of Richard Nixon, who directed the Department of Justice to engage in criminal investigations and prosecutions targeting his political foes.” ML: “Yeah?”JR: “Umm...” ML: “Now the role in the minority, as the Ranking Member, how does that change things? I mean, it's a lot different than being in the majority…”JR: “Yes.” ML: “…so you’ll be playing defense, but you see it as kind of offensive defense?”JR: “Well…” ML:“Or defensive offense?” JR: “Yeah. I mean, I hope that we're going to be advancing a strong vision of what it means to live in a free and democratic society, and that means playing defense ...
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    5 mins
  • Rep. Larson embarrassed w/ 118th Congress: "not much by way of getting things done”

    Rep. Larson embarrassed w/ 118th Congress: "not much by way of getting things done”
    Dec 3 2024
    Who?Rep. John Larson (D-CT) LISTEN: Laslo & LarsonAsk a Pol asks:How would you rate this Republican-led 118th Congress?Key Larson: “I don't think they've accomplished an awful lot,” Rep. John Larson exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “A lot of hearings and not much — not much by way of getting things done.” ICYMI — Interview first included in Matt Laslo’s Raw Story feature, “Dysfunction on display: Republicans complain Speaker Johnson is no Pelosi”Caught our ear:“You can see that within the context of their own caucus. And I think that's what's happened. They're struggling to pull things together,” Larson tells us. “You can go all the way back to [former Speaker] John Boehner and the Tea Party and when this all started to happen, now even become more solidified under [GOP presidential candidate] Trump because he places a whole other set of parameters around what they can do, and, you know, threatens people with consequences.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. John Larson (D-CT), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. John LarsonSCENE: Former high school history teacher and current Congressman John Larson is making his way to the US Capitol via an underground tunnel when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into him and asks him to grade the 118th Congress. John Larson: “How are you doing?”Matt Laslo: “How would you rate this Congress?”Rep. Larson laughs.JL: “I don’t.”ML: “Right?”JL: “You know, they don't — I don't think they've accomplished an awful lot, so it's — you know, a lot of — a lot of hearings and not much — not much by way of getting things done. Especially on the Ways and Means Committee, especially, I think, [Ways and Means Ranking Dem Richard] Neil goes into a whole list of things.”ML: “How — like, how do they make a pitch to the American public that ‘We can govern, send us back,’ when they can't even fund the government?”JL: “I don't think they're — I don't think they're overly concerned about governance. They don't see that as — they think — they try to wrap it in around the notion that, you know, that government that governs least governs best. Right?”ML: “Yeah?”JL: “They have taken out meaning of it.”ML: “Right?”JL: “So you can see that within the context of their own caucus. And I think that's what's happened. They're struggling to pull things together. You can go all the way back to [former Speaker] John Boehner and the Tea Party and when this all started to happen, now even become more solidified under [GOP presidential candidate] Trump because he places a whole other set of parameters around what they can do, and, you know, threatens people with consequences, and apparently, not knowing their caucus that well, but there's enough of them in their caucus to make a difference or at least — and you can tell that it's rattling a number of their own members. So, hopefully, I mean, the Congress also goes through these changes, you know, over time. So, but…”ML: “It feels like this...”JL: “It's hard to see on this [House Ways and Means] committee, for example, the oldest continuous, one of the largest, how little was done.”ML: “It almost feels like that's given rise to conspiracies cause that’s what they can agree on.”JL: “Well, so it's why, you know, everyone both on the committee and off says, ‘I never miss an opportunity to say yes.’ And so why aren't we voting on Social Security?”ML: “Yeah?”JL: “Why aren't we — I mean, it's only been 53 years since Congress has done anything.”ML: “Yeah?”JL: “I mean, it's an embarrassment.”ML: “Good talking to you. Have a good one, sir.”Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol politics at www.askapolpolitics.com/subscribe
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    4 mins
  • GOP Rep. LaMalfa: "I can't brag on" my party's record this Congress, "I've been really cynical lately"

    GOP Rep. LaMalfa: "I can't brag on" my party's record this Congress, "I've been really cynical lately"
    Dec 2 2024
    Who?Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)LISTEN: Laslo & LaMalfaAsk a Pol asks:What is your pitch to voters for this election, given that the 118th Congress has been historically unproductive?Key LaMalfa: “After these two years? I'm having a hard time,” Rep. Doug LaMalfa exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I've been really cynical lately.”ICYMI — Interview first included in Matt Laslo’s Raw Story feature, “Dysfunction on display: Republicans complain Speaker Johnson is no Pelosi”On some Republican colleagues and voters:“When you ask the initial question like, ‘How do you go about bragging on that?’ I can't brag on that, you know? But I can say all the bad things we blocked that would have happened had the Dems been in the majority,” LaMalfa tells us. “And we passed some good bills here and there, and we've kept the place going. I think we've curbed spending to a degree that would not have happened otherwise so we will put some breaks on some things here. But is that — you know, do people wanna hear putting breaks on things or do they want to hear great new things?” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Doug LaMalfaSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo interviews Rep. Doug LaMalfa as he makes his way to a vote on the floor of the US House of Representatives via an underground tunnel. Matt Laslo: “Do you know — how do you — what's your pitch to voters?”Doug LaMalfa: “Would you get on this side?”ML: “Yeah, yeah. What's your pitch to voters?”DL: “Pitch to voters?”ML: “Send me back…”DL: “Not a good one.”ML: “Send me back so I can not...”DL: “After these two years?”ML: “…fund the government. Yeah.”DL: “I'm having a hard time.”ML: “Why is that?”DL: “You've seen this — are we recording?”ML: “Yeah.”DL: “Okay. So I'll have to zip it some up.”Laslo laughs.DL: “(inaudible) your turn for it, but it ends in a show.”ML: “Yeah?”Laslo laughs.DL: “Okay.”ML: “But what — do you blame it on...”DL: “I mean, Republicans are basically have been — our majority has been stoppers.”ML: “Yeah?”DL: “As far as home run policy, we passed some good bills, but they — you know, nothing's in the Senate.” ML: “Yeah?”DL: “Yeah.”ML: “So do you think the problem is that the Senate's been Democrats? Or...”DL: “That's always a problem, isn't it?”ML: “But this time it seems like many members of your party...”DL: “The Senate is always a stopper for our stuff, you know. Even when we have the majority, they can't get 60 [votes] very often. So it has to use maneuvers like you know, re… — for budgeting. Reconsidering? What do you call it?”ML: “Reconciliation.”DL: “Reconciliation, there's a word, yeah. Reconciliation. So…”ML: “How disappointing is it that you guys can't even get the GOP on the same...”DL: “Very. We screwed around getting rid of the speaker. Thank you, appreciate it.”ML: “Yeah?”DL: “Yeah, so we wasted a few days in the beginning on that and about a month in the middle of it. Yeah, it's a problem. And then, you know, our — the package the other day, we had a CR with a SAVE Act in it.”ML: “Yeah?”DL: “And our folks on the — well, a lot of the people that write from — or comment from the right say, now that it's out, ‘Oh, [Speaker] Mike Johnson is a traitor because he took it out.’ Like no, hey, we passed the bill as a standalone in July or so. We had it included, and about 10-11 of us couldn't vote for it.”Subscribe for FREE. ML: “Yeah?”DL: “I gotta get this vote down.”ML: “Cool.”Rep. LaMalfa checks in on status of House vote.DL: “The vote has closed.”ML: “Did they?”DL: “Yeah.”ML: “What?”DL: “There’s two more. Hey, let's catch up.”ML: “There's still a lot of lawmakers coming in this home.”DL: “Yeah, they freaking closed it.”ML: “Weird.”DL: “There was 200 when I left the office and so that's usually enough.”ML: “Yeah?”DL: “I mean, I've been, you know, finding the number, right?”ML: “Yeah?”DL: “And when it's down to 100, I've been getting in trouble.”ML: “Oh, I know.”DL: “Now I got pinched on 200.”ML: “See, I always tell my interns, I'm like, ‘Never keep a lawmaker from their vote because then they're never going to talk to you again.’”DL: “Well, you know, it's our own discipline. We have to walk faster until you know. And you walked with me, so anyway.”ML: “Yeah. I'm sorry about that.”DL: “No, you didn't do it.”ML: “Yeah, it's strange. So how do you guys — is this growing pains for the party? Naturally happens historically? Or…?”DL: “No, I think this is kind of extraordinary.”ML: “Yeah?”DL: “Because, you know, we might have our battles where we usually have come together. This goes back to the state legislature when I was there, and here. And now ...
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    10 mins