LIVE: Jim Acosta drops BOMB on Trump

Look at this guy right here. >> [applause]. >> Thank you so much, everybody. >> So, we figured, because we do breaking. news so often, that we would jump in by. discussing a little bit of breaking. news. >> Yeah, I don't see Mitch McConnell in the. audience tonight. I was looking around. >> You know what? It's fine. I did talk to Scott Jennings. He had a 20-minute conversation with. him. >> Oh, very good. That's perfect. Excellent. And I don't know if you you. saw this, Brian. First of all, Brian's. brand new book is right here, The Day. After. Very cool. Very, very cool. We'll.

talk about that. >> [applause]. >> But I don't know if you saw this, but. apparently Senator Ron Johnson was on. one of these talk shows and said that he. did not believe that this was Mitch. McConnell. So, we are now faced with the. prospect of who do we believe? Scott. Jennings or Ron Johnson? >> Let's have a round of applause, depending on which side you want to be. on. Do you Do you agree with Scott. Jennings? No. Lot of Ron Johnson fans in. here, I guess. >> I never thought this kind of audience.

existed. >> I I saw that picture. I am I am one of the least. conspiratorial people out there. I saw that picture, and Mitch McConnell. looked really good for a guy who's just. in the hospital for like a month. >> Yeah, and Elaine was happy. She was. like, "Hey, this is great. We're. >> Apparently the Apparently the hospital. gown is like a nice pressed shirt from. from The Gap. >> And then they had that little newspaper. off to the side. >> I mean, how sad a a commentary on on the.

state of things that you need proof of. life in a photo of Mitch McConnell, that. he had to hold a proof of life. newspaper. >> I It's so true. And you and I were. having this conversation the other day. that Democrats need to sort of find. their inner Mitch. >> Yes. >> That, you know, what would Mitch. McConnell do if we had this Mitch. McConnell situation going on? >> Yeah. >> And it's kind of true, right? >> It is true. I mean, look, I don't know. >> [applause]. >> Yeah.

>> I know that there are probably no fans. of Mitch McConnell in this room, but I. don't know that we would find anybody. who doubts his effectiveness. in terms of what he's been able to do in. the Senate. And so, you know, that was. in large part a big impetus for writing. this book. I mean, the book really talks. about the way that Democrats need to. wield power. We have watched Republicans. abuse power for so long. Meanwhile, we. have the Democrats who who certainly. mean well, but have become the party of.

strongly worded letters. And. that ain't going to cut it, especially. in an era where we have somebody like. Mitch McConnell. and the rest of these Republicans who. wield power so aggressively, so. shamelessly. And that asymmetry has kind. of landed us in the position that we're. in right now. >> Yeah, and I mean, it this is a great. segue to your book. Let's talk about the. book, why you decided to go down this road. I. mean, it it's the question that. everybody it's one of the questions that. I think everybody is asking, which is.

what the hell do we do when this is all. over? How do we fix this? Can we fix it? >> Yeah. I think it's important to have. this conversation now because. you know, I've noticed that when Democrats have. full control of government, to get. majorities in the House, the Senate, the. White House, already a Herculean feat. unto itself. And we have those. opportunities that that we contend with. so infrequently. And so, I want to use. this opportunity right now having that. conversation and setting the stage so.

that if and when we get into power, we're not wasting time and paneling. commissions that meet for 12 to 18. months and then come back and bring. their findings and then Democrats can. make a determination in 6 months based. on those findings and the and whatever. we determine will be put into place 6 to. 10 years into the future. I mean, like, you know, this is Democrats have. a. a proclivity to do that. And I mean, an. example of that is when we had.

when Joe Biden was in office and we. finally had the ability to negotiate. lower drug prices for 10 drugs. And. first of all, it was a a limited group. and they said that that was going to. basically be the test group and then we. can broaden it to other drugs, but 10. drugs out of God knows how many. And I. don't think that it went into effect. until years out into the future. And and. meanwhile, if Trump wants to give. everybody $10, he sends it out on. Tuesday, slaps his name on it, puts a.

picture of his face on the check, and. everybody has it by the next week. And. so, I think there's a lot we can learn. from how to not only etch these wins, but do it in a timely manner so we get. credit for them and and make sure that. people know that you have Democrats in. power who are actually willing to. deliver. >> Yeah, and speaking about stuff that's in. the news, I mean, it's just been. reported in the last couple of weeks, Brian, that Trump made what, $2 billion. in 2025? Much of it on crypto. Yeah, and.

it and and on the backs of people who. were suckered by him, his own people. And I I think it raises the question, you know, to to hell with this immunity. thing that the Supreme Court came up. with. How do we have accountability in. this country to clean up what's. happening here in Washington? >> [applause]. >> You know, I've spoken to a lot of folks. who have asked the question because this. book focuses on a post-Trump world, but. we're also contending with midterms,

which are just a few months away. And. so, more immediately, I've been posed. the question, what does it look like if. Democrats are able to take control of. one or two branches of government after. midterms? And for the record, I. absolutely believe the Democrats are. going to win the house, and I believe. they're going to win the Senate. >> [applause]. >> But I think what we can do and what we. have to do is use the power that we.

have. I mean, this again lends itself to. what I wrote about, to use the power. that we have to make sure at a bare. minimum, even though we're in a position. where we won't be able to pass. legislation, to use that power to. investigate all of the corruption that. we're contending with right now. I mean, >> [applause]. >> the fact that these people are. using foreign governments to funnel. money into World Liberty Financial's. cryptocurrency.

is insane. The fact that we have Trump. trading on foreign real estate in. exchange for relief on tariffs is. insane. And the fact that this is a. Republican Party that sits idly by while. this happens when they clutch their. pearls about Hunter Biden selling. artwork is even more insane. Like, this is a political party that has. groomed the country into believing, and. rightfully, I would add, that any.

corruption at the hands of a a president. or their family members is absolutely. disqualifying, but only up until the moment that it. happens at the hands of the Trump. family. Only up until the moment that. they're making money hand over fist, adding. billions of dollars to their bank. accounts, and then suddenly it's just. crickets from these from these defenders. of of of the Constitution and. anti-corruption. >> Yeah, I'm old enough to remember chance. of lock her up. I'm old enough to. remember references to the Biden crime. family.

But. >> I I do have to ask on that. You know, there were. a lot of these rallies that you. attended, rallies at which those chants. would take place. What was it like for. you being in there? Did you ever feel. unsafe? Did you Did you ever feel like. your life was in danger? >> Yeah, I mean, it it was totally crazy. And you know, what would happen is Trump. would go into these events and there. would be 10,000 people, 20,000 people. and he would whip everybody up into a. frenzy uh not only against people like.

Hillary Clinton, but against us. I mean, he before the term fake news and the. enemy of the people, he called us the. disgusting news media, the dishonest. news media, liars, scum. And it would. get so heated that we would have his. supporters coming up to us in our press. cage as we lovingly called it cuz they. put bike racks around us to protect us. They would call us traitor and. everything else and they would be. screaming at us as we were racing off to. our cars after the events were over. So, and and all of that has stayed kind of. baked into our politics ever since the. that time. And I guess that's the other.

part of this is how do we drain that. poison out of our politics? >> You know, I thought about that a lot. I. I actually don't think we're going to. get into a world where the most die-hard. MAGA supporters, you know, like in What. was it? Stranger Things when you kill. like the main. the main alien and the other aliens just. like die off because now the spell is. lifted. Like that's not going to happen. when Trump is out of office. But I do. think for a lot of people, you know, Trump was a vehicle for.

not only anti-establishment, anti-status. quo sentiment, but a vehicle for not. everybody because I do think there are. people who just like the toxic brand of. politics and. you know, just the shitty things he. would say. And and those people are. going to be die-hard MAGA anyway. But I. do think for another portion of the. population who voted for him, he kind of. rode on this anti-establishment, anti-status quo sentiment. And I think. that may have worked for a little while,

but now when you ran a campaign. predicated on. reducing the cost of housing, reducing. the cost of rent, reducing the cost of. groceries. He got so granular, so faux. populist that he was talking about the. price of eggs only for him now to have. launched a trade war where he raised the. price of everything, where he engaged in. a foreign war that he swore he would. never engage in, where he failed to. release the Epstein files and instead. engaged in a cover-up of the Epstein. files, where inflation's 30% higher than.

public enemy number one of inflation, Joe Biden, and even refused to sign the. housing bill that he campaigned on. I. think suddenly, you know, the veil is. lifted for a lot of people who viewed. him as their vehicle to usher in a new. kind of government that actually works. for working-class Americans. And so, you. know, I think that we're going to have a. rare sliver of time here, um if and when. Democrats take control in the aftermath. of 2026 and 2028, where we can pick up. the mantle and and actually start.

creating a government that delivers for. people and doesn't let institutions and. norms and traditions and the. parliamentarian and the filibuster and. any little speed bump stand in our way. from actually delivering for Americans. >> Yeah, and it seems to me, you know, if. and when the Democrats take over in. 2029, that feels a long way off. Um I'm. guessing that in your book there is no. no loving reference to Merrick Garland. You're not calling for another. appointment of Merrick Garland as. Attorney General in this country.

>> No, shockingly, uh Merrick Garland. hit Merrick Garland's tenure did not age. well, at least in the uh at least in the. eyes of this book. >> Yeah. >> Um look, I think in large part the. failure of Merrick Garland to hold. Donald Trump and Republicans to account. has kind of created the atmosphere that. we find ourselves in right now. The only. reason Trump feels emboldened and the. rest of these Republicans by. association, by extension, feel. emboldened to commit the commit the the. the crimes, the the actions that they. commit right now is because they have.

this idea that they can do this with. impunity. And frankly, they're right to. feel that way because there's been no. reason not to feel that way. Merrick. Garland refused to to do his job because. he was more focused on preventing the. optics of politicization. God forbid we did anything to prosecute. to to properly prosecute any Republican. because then we might look politicized. And I would argue there is nothing more. politicized than than a DOJ that refuses.

to prosecute people because they have an. R next to their name. And obviously. Republicans got the message and and now. the corruption that we're living through. today, I think is a direct response to. Merrick Garland's DOJ's failure to hold. these officials to account when they had. the opportunity to do so. >> Yeah. >> [applause]. >> And and so I. >> Yeah. >> I have I have.

two proposals in terms of who I think. might be a good replacement for the next. Democratic administration. And I want. them to stand up. And. >> Ah. >> And we have them right here. So, if. >> I think we have some ideas. >> Mark Elias and Glenn Kirschner. >> [cheering]. [applause]. [cheering]. [applause].

>> The men in black. >> Men in black. Yeah. You know what? I'm. I'm [applause]. I think this moment calls for something. a little bit different. So, this will be. our first ever. co- attorneys general. >> [applause and cheering]. >> We'll go We'll go Mark Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Glenn. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. >> And what do they do with those Trump. banners that are on the Department of. Justice exterior? Do those stay up or do. they come down? What happens? Do those.

go in a closet somewhere? >> Burn it. >> Yes. >> You guys are tough, man. >> I'll tell you, the first thing that I. want to see done is is have the ballroom. renamed the Barack Hussein Obama. Presidential Ballroom. >> [cheering]. >> You can even leave You can even leave in. the Husseins that you have a little nod. to Donald Trump. That'll be our homage. to Donald Trump. >> That'll be his contribution. >> That'll be his contribution. That's. right. And by the way, I know I had. these guys stand up, but uh a huge thank.

you uh to to Glenn and Marc for for the. work that that you all do. I I am. >> Yeah. >> beyond proud. >> [applause]. >> So true. Yeah. >> [applause]. >> Why not? >> [applause]. [applause]. [applause]. >> Beyond proud to to to be partnered with.

both of you. Beyond proud to be able to. call you guys my friends. And uh and you. know, on behalf of everybody here and. everybody in this country, thank you for. the work that you do to protect this. democracy. So, thank you. >> [applause]. >> Yeah, and Glenn. uh Glenn is is obviously busy these days. with his excellent uh. podcast Justice Matters and Marc Elias. with Democracy Docket. I feel like Marc. is going to be very busy potentially on. Thursday night. I You heard about this primetime address.

to the country that he wants to give, which I'm sure will be completely. factually accurate. >> As as it always is. >> And the fact-checkers' brains will not. explode. >> Yeah, poor Daniel Dale. I mean, just. uh just. >> You think I think my Lexapro dose is. high. >> Crack a Crack open a cold one for him. But But I. >> We should would be. great. >> he you know. Don't give him time. Hey, he's not going to be running on my. show or or Brian's, that's for sure. But. I mean he wants to talk about election.

integrity, which is obviously election. BS and conspiracy theories, yeah. >> So I think that Thursday is going to be. the culmination of a lot of different. exercises that Trump has been focused. on. For example, we've seen the Director of. National Intelligence now end up. in Fulton County, Georgia, where they. seized those ballots. The only reason. for the for the ODNI to be there is if. there is some international. implications. Meanwhile, we know that, you know, Donald Trump is engaged in all.

of this. scheming with Nicholas Maduro, who's now. in the United States and his replacement. in Venezuela. And so there's some. concern that, you know, maybe they cook. up some deal, some agreement. with Nicholas Maduro or some other world. leader. and and basically come out and say that. there was election interference in 2020. Now, we all know that that's complete. but the merits of this stuff. don't matter. Trump just needs some thin. veneer of truth, some pretense to be.

able to say that this is what happened. Remember, in the aftermath of the 2020. election, we now found out, thanks to. the January 6th subcommittee, Donald Trump said, you know, just just. say the election was rigged and leave. the rest to me and these Republican. congressmen. So he doesn't need it to be. true, he just needs a thin veneer. of pretext to be able to say that it's. true. And so there's some concern that. he's going to do this by saying the 2020. election was in fact rigged and as a. result, we have to take extraordinary.

measures to prevent this from happening. again. Again, the this is not a real. thing, but doesn't matter. And so that. could mean a number of things. I mean we. already know that he's trying to to ban. mail-in voting. Luckily, that was blocked in court. >> Something that he does. >> Some Something that he himself takes He. himself takes advantage of. Um we know. that the administration refuses to rule. out sending ICE to the polls. Uh and of. course, you know, as we continue to. watch uh these ICE agents kill Americans.

with impunity and kill people in the. streets with impunity, um that becomes. uh an increasingly dangerous prospect. It just happened in Maine. uh uh days ago. And I think that's in. large part by design. I I I I think that. the administration actually benefits. from having people feel afraid of what. ICE can do. And the fact that we don't. see um any accountability for those. folks also lends itself to this idea. that, you know, if they're at the polls. and goes sideways, then, you know,

there's not going to be any. accountability for that. Um we also know. that they're trying to get the voter. rolls. And, you know, again, a a big. thanks to the work that Mark Elias's law. firm is doing, they're now uh 13 and 0? 15 and 0? >> [applause]. >> 15 and 0. >> [applause]. >> 15 and 0 in court preventing states from. from preventing the federal government. from being able to seize private voter.

data from the states. And this is 15 out. of 31 cases so far. Um so so but that's. not for lack of trying by this DOJ. And. then of course, the Save America Act is. another effort by the administration to. basically nationalize elections, which. for the entirety of our history have. been run by the states. And it would. basically. um allow the federal government to be. the one to be the authority that uh uh. offers up the documents that you need to.

vote. Uh it would force the states to. hand the voter rolls to the Department. of Homeland Security. Uh and they would be the arbiters of who. gets to cast ballots. Um and then of. course, it would effectively eliminate. mail-in voting except for a narrow list. of exceptions. So, not for lack of. trying. I mean, there are a lot of. things that this administration is. trying to do. And I actually think just. a few days ago uh Trump's refusal to. sign the housing bill, a bill that he. himself advocated for on the campaign.

trail, a bill that his own party passed, a bill that was so popular that they had. planned a whole celebration uh in. advance of its signing. I think that his unwillingness to sign. that, because he was so hell-bent on. on instead using it as a hostage to pass. the Save America Act, is really. instructive because people saw that and. they said, "You know, this guy is just. giving up on the midterms. There's no. way that you bail on your own housing. bill if you care about the midterms.". But I disagree. I don't think he's.

giving up on the midterms. Um I I just. don't think he's trying to win the. midterms on the merits anymore. I think. he's trying to win the midterms by the. Save America Act shows us by just. rigging the rules of the game before a. single vote is even cast. And so that is. his priority. He he he's so. ham-handed that he put it on full. display. And it So instead of the. housing bill, which would have, you. know, at least offered him some some. pretext of populism, he instead said, "No, I just want to pass the Save. America Act where I can where I can rig.

the rules of the game in my favor." So I. think that that's what they're looking. to do. And again, none of this none of. his failures are for lack of trying. >> Yeah, you would think if he cared about. housing that much, you know, you he put. Bill Pulte over the director of national. intelligence, you know, you one would. think he cares about housing a little. bit. Um but I and I will say as an aside on. the primetime address, shame on the. networks, shame on the news networks in. this country. if they carry that [applause].

live. There is no way and I I assume what. they're going to do. I assume what they're going to do. heading into Thursday is they're going. to say, "Oh, well, now he's going to. talk about Iran a little bit." They'll. put like a, you know, like a little. sheen of something that resembles. normalcy at the beginning of the speech, and then he'll just, you know, dovetail. right into all of his crazy nonsense. But, you know, we talked about ICE for a. little bit there. I I I did want to go. back to it for a second because I don't. see how you could have a future in the.

Democratic Party without talking about. abolishing ICE, without ending ICE as we. know it. Okay? >> [applause]. >> I don't I don't see how you I don't see. how you get the nomination. >> No. No, you can't. And I think that. having the courage of your convictions. and being able to come right out and say. it is going to be absolutely essential. moving forward. I don't see how you are. a Democrat who can waffle on the idea of. abolishing an institution that is so. broken, so beyond repair. Which is not. to say that you can't have immigration,

you know, enforcement, but ICE ain't it. There is no way to salvage anything with. that agency. >> Yeah. That's it. >> [applause]. >> By the way, I. We were talking about the housing bill. just a moment ago. >> Yeah. >> What about the fact that Donald Trump. decided to come forward and say that. Lindsey Graham's last words were that he. really wanted the Save America Act. passed? >> Yeah. >> he just He said, "Come closer, Donald.". And I came closer to the I came closer.

to the phone, and he said, "A little bit. closer." And I came, and he said, "I. really want you to pass the Save America. Act. That's my dying wish.". >> Yeah, I mean. >> Yeah, I mean, talk about a heartfelt, uh, you know, note that he, you know, let left for. Lindsey Graham in all of these different. network interviews. He made the rounds. in all of these network interviews, and. each and every one of those he would. chastise the anchor when they would try. to go on to other topics, but yet he was. bringing up the Save America Act. And I. I think I think. >> He's like, "How dare you leverage, uh,

exploit Lindsey Graham's death for your. own partisan gain? That's my job. That's. what I do. >> That's what I do. And I seem to recall I I seem to recall. one network where he went on one network. and he said, you know, we're trying to. move you in a normal direction. Did. anybody see that where he said that. about CNN? Did you see that, Brian? >> So, not only did I see it, I was seated. across from Jake Tapper. >> Oh, you were. You were there at that. moment. Okay. >> the first time I've ever. I I first time I've ever done Jake. Tapper's show. So, I'm I'm out here. I'm. I'm based in Los Angeles, but came out.

here obviously for the book tour. And. so, I was on that panel and we're. supposed to have our hit at, you know, 40 past the hour. I actually can't. remember what hour it was, but 40 past. the hour. And then all of a sudden they. said, we have we have the president. calling in. And so, obviously, you know, you get you get bumped for the. president. And I was I was kind of. fascinated at the chitchat because. that's what I was. the the regular conversation was going. to happen on air and everybody would be. able to hear it, but I was really. interested to hear what he would say.

to Jake, you know, on the on the. earpiece that that everybody's wearing. And it wasn't much. He was just. basically like, oh, we have to get. together one of these days. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah. Yeah, he doesn't like those guys. And I. I seem to recall some of that. >> Yeah. So, but then, you know, it was funny. because when he said that Lindsey Graham. not only wanted to pass the Save America. Act, but is starting to really think. about abolishing the filibuster. Lindsey. Graham's like the ultimate. institutionalist. And he's like, you. know what? Even even abolishing the. filibuster was something that he told me.

last night. Never said it publicly, but. he told me last night. Everybody at the. table just rolled their eyes to the back. of our heads, but. >> Yeah. >> You're right. I mean, just like fully. fully exploited this dead man before his. body was even cold to advance his. political interests. >> Yeah, and and it's because he has. nothing to run on. I mean, this is what. you were I think alluding to earlier, Brian, is that what what is he supposed. to run on heading into the fall? Of. course, he's going to try to turn the. midterm election cycle into a 52-car.

pileup. >> Yeah. >> And. >> the uh he's got the the pedophile vote, so. >> Well, he's. he's about as popular as Jeffrey Epstein. these days, so that that goes hand in. hand. But, you know, to me it it does. raise this question as to what do we do. about him, you know, when this is all. said and done? I mean. >> About Trump himself? >> About Trump himself. >> Look, so I actually I I dealt with this. question a lot because while I was. writing this book, and I wanted this to. be a blueprint for for what Democratic. governance looks like in in a new era of. Democratic politics,

there was kind of what felt like this. these these conflicting um ideals, one. of which is like, we just have to look. forward and have a proactive agenda, and. there are a lot of people in this. country who do not give a flying. what happens in the political arena, they just want to make sure that they. can put food on their table and afford. their medical bills and and and pay. their rent and and and be able to stay. in their house and just live their. lives. And in large part, that's what. fueled Trump and Republicans to victory. in 2024, and I think that's important.

And at the same time, we have all of. this corruption that's happening right. now, and I think that there is a lot of. risk in ignoring it, and I just. explained how. uh Merrick Garland's unwillingness, his. inability to confront these things is. what set the stage for so much rampant. corruption in Trump 2.0. But, I think. the answer, the only answer is that you. can and must do both. You have to. absolutely have a proactive agenda and. be willing to deliver for people on all. of the issues that we spend so much time. talking about, on healthcare, on.

climate, on voting rights, on making uh. life more affordable in this country, on. making sure we have a minimum wage. that's livable, and on and on. But, at. the same time, nobody can have faith in. a government that is so steeped in. corruption that you don't even know if. they're acting on your behalf or on. behalf of some foreign country or some. billionaire or some donor, or some PAC. >> [applause]. >> Yeah. No, it's so true. And I think there's. also the question, what do we do with.

the Supreme Court? It's the Supreme. Court that gave Trump this immunity. decision that, you know, when you hear. the the experts will say, "Well, it's. not total immunity. There's a little bit. of this and a little bit" and it's like. Donald Trump took that immunity decision. and said, "Yes, I have absolute" and not. only does he want absolute immunity from. the Supreme Court, he tried to cut this. crooked deal with the IRS when he was. essentially suing himself. And he said, "You know, Trump, you really screwed me on that IRS thing. You know, Trump, you're right, I did. So, how about I just give you the whole.

bank? We just open up the bank and you. just start loading gold bars into the. back of a truck. I think that sounds. really good. I think I should do that.". I mean, you know, like the Supreme Court. just totally opened the floodgates to. this, it seems to me. >> the answer, in my opinion, is you. absolutely must expand the Supreme. Court. That is the only answer. >> [applause]. >> Here's why. First of all, nine justices is not. sacrosanct. Nine justices is not in the. Constitution. Throughout the entirety of our history,

the number of Supreme Court justices has. comported with the number of federal. court circuits. In the 1800s, I think. 1837, there were six Supreme Court. justices and we had six federal court. circuits. Eventually, that number went. up to nine. Now, we have nine Supreme. Court justices and nine federal court. circuits. Now, we have 13. So, but we. still have nine Supreme Court justices. So, it would make sense. It would lend. itself to reason that we can raise the. number of Supreme Court justices up to. 13. It's also so not sacrosanct that. even in modern times that number has.

changed. Mitch McConnell brought it from. nine to eight when he was holding that. seat open for an entire year to prevent. Merrick Garland from getting his seat on. the US Supreme Court. So, not only is. there historical precedent, there's. precedent just in the last few years in. our lifetimes. But then, there is a moral imperative to. do so as well. And that is, if Democrats. are able. to win the House, which is difficult, win the Senate, which is difficult, win. the White House, which is difficult, and. actually pass progressive legislation,

which is difficult, all of which tough. to do, then if we decide not to expand the. Supreme Court, we are making a conscious. decision to leave in place a veto on any. and all legislation that makes it up to. them. And mark my words, >> [applause]. >> they will 100%. shut down or strip or gut any. legislation that makes it in front of. them. They did it with Roe, even after. all of those people swore up and down.

that they uh respect precedent and stare. decisis. And Roe is precedent upon. precedent, and we wouldn't possibly we. could we couldn't possibly do that. How. dare you even insist that we could do. such a thing. And as soon as they had. the opportunity to do so, gutted 50. years of precedent. They did it with the. Voting Rights Act, another thing that. was precedent upon precedent. And now. we're at a point where uh Republicans. immediately jumped off and started. drawing uh black uh black.

members of Congress out of these. districts. And I wouldn't be surprised. if in the next few years we see no black. representation in Republican-led states. in the South. Uh in fact, not just the. South, they're going to be any. Republican-led states that benefit from. opportunity districts uh who won't have. any black representation or black or. brown representation. So, again, if if. we do this, if we allow this 6-3. conservative court to stand as it stands. right now, then we're basically saying, "You know what? We know everything is. going to be struck down, but hey, at.

least uh at least we uh we tried, right? At least we got caught trying. At least. we have a symbolic victory." And that's. not good enough. Like we have done. symbolic victories. We've done messaging. wins in the past and in an era where. people are already disillusioned with. government and its ability to deliver, it ain't good enough for me to just say, "Hey, I tried." So, if we want. meaningful, lasting change, change. that's going to uh persist even after a.

Supreme Court gets its hands on it, then. the only option to do so is to expand. the Supreme Court. >> Yeah. >> [applause]. >> Yeah, and it. and it takes me back to our earlier. conversation about Mitch McConnell. I. mean, it was I remember I was at the. White House when uh Ruth Bader Ginsburg. passed away and I had left for the. evening and I ran back so fast that I. dropped my tie outside of Lafayette Park. and I was on the air that evening. without my tie on and it was Mitch. McConnell who reportedly was the one who.

was really pushing the White House, "Let's get Amy Coney Barrett in as fast. as possible." The same Mitch McConnell. who said, "We can't do this during an. election. We can't." So, you I mean, it. to me it. We're we're past the point of saying we. give, you know, I was talking about this. backstage, giving the other side the. benefit of the doubt. >> Right. And and, you know, that is I. think the most frustrating part is for. so long it feels like Lucy pulling the. football away from Charlie Brown, like. this idea that if only this time we. confer goodwill to the Republicans, uh.

if only we decide to compromise with. these people, if only we we offer up. something, then they'll reciprocate the. next time and the reciprocation never. comes and we keep saying, "Let's just. keep being good governance partners with. the Republicans." But, the Republicans. never. are good governance partners back and. we're just in a position where not only. do we not get anything done, not only is. there this massive asymmetry, but. frankly, you lose the support of your. own base who fails to to view you as an. effective vehicle to get anything done.

because only one side is compromising. >> Yeah. And I think part of the reason why they. have packed the court themselves is. because they are beholden to interests. that are not in line with the with the. Democratic Republic. They're They're. They're beholden to corporate interests. You have people like Clarence Thomas on. the Supreme Court who, you know, he. He might as well have a. >> some fans. >> Yeah, it's a Yeah. But, I mean, you know, the point I'm making though that you can. I feel free to chime in on is that I.

mean, listen, you have a situation right now where. interests of the people are not being. taken into consideration, it seems to. me, over at the Supreme Court right now. And so, how else are we supposed to. accomplish this? How else And And when. you have issues like dark money flowing. through our politics, PAC money, I mean, we mentioned Glenn and Mark, we have. another uh hero here tonight, Harry Dunn. is here tonight. >> [applause and cheering]. >> Harry's here tonight.

We love Harry. >> [applause]. >> Ran for Congress. Ran for Congress twice. Was, you know, met with an avalanche of dark. PAC money that made it extremely. difficult to win those races. And so, how do we get folks like Harry in the. Congress when you have those kinds of. forces aligned against him and you have. a Supreme Court who will protect them. >> Right. And I And I think that, you know, it's going to require the courage of of. of our convictions of a new class of.

Democratic politicians and the help of. an activist base who, you know, who who. has to demand it at this point. Um. because, you know, the reality is that. we have seen the extent to which the. this this flood of outside money and. it's only going to get worse with the. uh Mark, help me out here. What is the. decision? The FEC decision. NRSC versus FEC decision that will. basically open the floodgates for even. more.

And And this is I I always have Mark. around just to just to say something. >> Yeah. Line. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. We'll fly back to LA. tomorrow and I'm just, you know, walk. around the house and just Mark it Mark. grabs grabs uh, court names court uh, case names for me. >> Yeah. But now we've talked. >> Yes, exactly. >> And we talked about legislative reform. We talked about uh, Supreme Court. reform. The executive branch is kind of the. whole ballgame and this and you know, the Republicans, MAGA, their allies on. the Supreme Court, they really are.

pushing this notion of a unitary. executive, an all-powerful executive. branch of the government contrary to. what the founders envisioned to the. point where Trump thinks he can knock. down part of the White House and. >> Yeah. >> and do whatever he wants. And how does. that get solved, do you think? >> I what what I think um, would be a very. important place to start is a reform of. the pardon power. >> Mhm. >> I think that we have seen the extent to. which. >> [applause]. >> Totally out of control.

>> It is so abused. I mean, it it it is uh, you know, how can anybody have faith in in what. government does if you know that. everybody can commit as much criminal. behavior as they want and there is a. pardon waiting for them at the other. side of this thing. >> Yeah. >> And do you do you think that Trump is. going to pardon everybody on his way. out? >> Yeah, I think he is. I think he's going. to try to imagine every possible person. I think he said something like whoever. is within 150 ft of the White House. >> Yeah. >> You know, or is it 350 ft like the gash.

in the reflecting pool? I don't know. It's It's one of those numbers. >> my my concern for those people is if he. said anybody within 150 ft of the White. House, it's come to our attention that. he doesn't have a great grasp on. measurements. >> Yeah, that's right. >> It's only going to be like three people. at the end of the day. >> Yeah, but size matters is. that's a different part of that whole. conversation. >> Although I think Stormy Daniels put a. put a kibosh to put put put put. >> She she might have had something to say. She had something to say there. That's. true. >> a true. Um. >> but no, I I I think you're absolutely.

right. I think he is going to try to I. think he's going to try to pardon. himself. I think he's going to pardon. his sons. I think he's going to pardon. And Stephen Miller, obviously. The. question becomes, you know, whether or. not Yeah, exactly. Please. Should we just take a a moment of. silence to hiss at Stephen Miller? Um. Yeah. Um they're not they're not saying go. Stephen. They're not saying that. No. >> Um Boo urns. Go Boo. >> But no, but it does raise the question. of whether states and state attorneys.

general should be conducting these kinds. of investigations. I think there's one. happening in Wisconsin. There was a news. I article that came out today that that. Wisconsin is looking at going at. somebody in the Trump circle. So, maybe. that's where this heads. >> And they have to. And frankly, yeah. No, I mean, we we should applaud for that. because. these state prosecutions are going to be. really the only avenue that we have in. the aftermath of this stuff. And and. frankly, the the. the ways in which Trump benefited in the. in the aftermath of.

you know, the whole the whole 2020. cycle, where he was able to run out the. clock on the Georgia prosecution, for. example, the New York prosecution, because he became president and OLC. guidance suggests that you can't indict. a sitting president, that won't apply. anymore because Trump will be term. limited. And and I think it's going to. be incumbent upon these states to take. aggressive action to even if they've. pardoned themselves at a federal level, to for the states to step in in the. absence of the federal government and.

actually seek some accountability for. what they're doing right now. >> Yeah. And this is all this is. >> I do know that by the way, I I've I've. spoken to Letitia James. Um and. you know, there is so much corruption in the stock. market where, you know, we'll see this. big pop of short sales or whatever it. may be on the market. And then all of a. sudden, Trump comes out and makes some. announcement that sends the market. surging or crashing. You know, that is. all under the jurisdiction of the New. York Stock Exchange, which is under the. jurisdiction of the New York Attorney.

General. So, Letitia James, she's. probably going to be pretty busy for the. next few years after Trump leaves. office. >> Yeah, because a lot of investors got. hosed. I mean, if you you weren't in on, you know, which stocks to buy and when. because, you know, Trump was limiting. that to his the people around him, you. probably lost some money and you got to. frauded in all of this. There's no. question about it. And the other the. other thing that I think will take place. in addition to what happens at the state. level, we saw a glimmer of this is kind. of out of Glenn Kirschner's wheelhouse,

where the judge down in I think it was a. federal judge just recently said, was it. yesterday, that this so-called slush. fund was just a crock of crap and that. the attorney for Trump should be. referred to the local bar. >> Yes. >> And that, you know, that gets attorneys'. attention. >> [applause]. >> You know, that's another one. >> It's an interesting point because Donald. Trump really is where law licenses go to. die. >> Yeah. That's so true. >> I mean, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Rudy. Giuliani. >> Oof. >> So, I but but I mean, you know, good on.

good on these judges. That has been. um one surprising bright bright spot. >> The lower court. >> The lower courts and the appellate. courts. Uh not so much the Supreme. Court. >> Not so much there. >> But but the lower court judges, I mean, even Trump appointees are ruling against. him in in a raft of these cases. And so, that has been the the one pillar of. government that's that's held up to a. lot of the the attacks that we're seeing. right now. >> No question about it. Well, all right, so we've reached the portion of the. program where we go into audience.

questions and I have some questions that. have been submitted in advance from the. audience. And as the late John McCain. once said, questions, comments, and. insults. So, they're they're all in. here. No, just kidding. They're just. questions that are in here and I've got. to get my glasses out or else this is. going to be not good at all. Um this is a good one. I thought this. was a good one to get into. This is from. Douglas. What messaging can sway people. who voted for Trump who were. independents, MAGA Republicans, or the religious. right? What message could sway sway them.

back. to the real world, I guess. >> Yeah, I I think that's a great question. and it's something that we're going to. be contending with over the next couple. of years because I think those people. are going to be gettable. And you know, the the question is. just look at what you're contending with. right now. Are your food bills cheaper? Are is your electricity bills cheaper? Is health care more accessible or more. affordable? Is your are your rent. payments, your mortgage payments lower. than they were before? And the answer to. all of this stuff is no. There are no. material conditions in this country that.

are better right now under Donald Trump. than they were under the previous. administration. And the previous. administration was, according to. Republicans, so disqualifying that it. warranted voting for Republicans in the. first place. So if that was bad and this. is worse, what does that say about the. Republicans' ability to be able to. campaign here? So I think you don't have. to talk about some theoretical ideas. All you have to do is ask people to look. at what their own lives are like. And. the reality is, Donald Trump has been so.

singularly focused on himself. that on on on his ballroom and his. reflecting pool and his arch and. encrusting the Oval Office in gold and. making money for himself and World. Liberty Financial and opening up real. estate ventures overseas. He's done all. of these things that he hasn't done a. single thing for regular people. And. even when it was delivered to him on a. silver platter, as the housing bill was, he refused to sign it because he was so. focused on consolidating power and. consolidating control of government for. himself. And that is all an easy story.

to tell people. And and especially given. the fact that we have been groomed, the. American people have been groomed to. recognize that that is the litmus test. issue. >> Yeah, no, I agree with you. It's so. true. And I this that leads me to this. question, which I think is actually a. very important question and and and. something that is direly or very much. needed. Uh this is from Kelly. Uh are. the Democrats coming up with an action. plan that they can begin implementing in. January assuming they flip the house and. or the Senate? Is there agreement on how.

they will convince the American public. that they have solid plans to fix the. affordability crisis? And this I think. this is a great question. I don't think. we've heard enough of this. And it sort of brings me back to and the. folks who are a little bit older in the. audience will remember this. This was in. the '90s when Newt Gingrich had his. contract with America. Remember that. whole thing? And it's and if you know, please, but uh. I think they called it a contract on. America. I think is what folks called. it. But it sort of reminds me of this uh. project uh 2025.

uh question that comes up from time to. time. Why don't Democrats come up with. an array of policy proposals that they. can put out there to the American. people? And I don't think the Democrats. have done that up until this point. There's talk of this here and this. there, but not a hey, we're doing we. want to do all of these things. Vote on. this. >> Yeah, and and I think look, in large. part that's what I seek to do with with. the book. Um by putting putting out into. the zeitgeist a lot of the stuff that I. think Democrats should run on. I. understand why we haven't seen it yet.

because I think in large part it is so. difficult to break through with a. forward-leaning agenda, a proactive. agenda when everybody is just contending. with the cavalcade of that is. falling on us on a daily basis from this. White House. But, you know, after. midterms, uh I I do think that that. there Trump is so unpopular and. Republicans who let him do everything. he's doing um. with by offering no check on his power, all of these people are so unpopular.

that I think at least up until midterms. that will be enough. But I I after. midterms, if there's no proactive. agenda, it's not going to be enough for. people for whom anti-Trump has been the. the prevailing theme. I think. Well, I appreciate it, but I. I don't think so. I've I cover these people every day. They're they're out of their they're out. of their minds. I would never subject. myself to that cuz then I would have to. deal with people like me. Um. >> Yeah. And me.

>> And and you, yeah. >> Yeah. Nobody wants that. >> Yeah. Um but I think I think, you know, in large part it's it's. on on every issue we there are things. that Democrats can and must do. I think. on the issues of democracy, I mean, I. talked about expanding the court. I. talked about passing a. a new iteration of the Freedom to Vote. Act. We need election day to be a. national holiday. We need to ban. partisan gerrymandering nationwide. >> [applause]. >> Uh we need to make sure that we have. automatic voter registration and we need.

to make sure we get this done. because that is the foundation of our. democracy. On issues of healthcare, I. advocate in this book for Medicare for. all. I think it is crazy. that in the richest country in the. world, we don't have universal. healthcare, but we have a hundred and. twenty-five billion dollars to to go to. war with Iran again in the aftermath of. a campaign where they campaigned. expressly on avoiding foreign wars, forever wars in the Middle East. I think. just two days ago Trump posted on Truth.

Social that we're going to be the. guardians of the Hormuz Strait. That's. what he said. Okay, so we're going to be. the guardians of the Hormuz Strait. To. be the guardians, that means you have to. have a presence there permanently and. Iran is a hostile nation compared to the. United States, which means we are. basically what what he's saying is. effectively that we need to be in a. forever war. >> Yeah. >> So it is just crazy that we have money. for this stuff. It's crazy that we have. money for a ballroom that by the way we. were told we wouldn't have to pay for. and lo and behold we're paying for it.

It's crazy that we have money to pay for. the retrofitting of a Qatari jet that. Donald Trump gets to keep after he. leaves office. >> can't even fly in because it's not safe. Yeah. >> We always have money for this. but we never have money to pay for the. thing that actually impacts regular. people. So, I think we are so far past. the point where we can say, "How do we. pay for it?" when the reality is, "How. can we afford not to pay for something. like that?" So, >> [applause]. >> Yeah, I'm with you. I don't know how.

anybody can argue that [applause] the. healthcare system in this country is. working. I mean, you get you get these. these bills from your doctor's office. and it says the insurance company took. this part out and this went out over. here, but now you owe $65.84. Does anybody know what what that $65 and. none of it makes any sense. And so, I I. I think that's another one of those. issues where if Democrats are getting. out there on the campaign trail and. they're not talking about universal. healthcare in this country. I mean, what. are you doing? Like. >> And I think actually. >> tired of the half loaf.

>> 100% and I think I think Trump has been. instructive in that sense because again, when you have somebody who has shown. zero deference to institutions, he's shown how easy it is to blow. through this stuff. Now, he does it. again to get what he wants, but I think. that there is less adherence to any of. our institutions of which our healthcare. system is one. So, I I was in favor of. and appreciated this getting into the. conversation to the national discourse.

in the 2020 election. I think Medicare. for all I mean, look also 2016 was was. another instance in which we were. talking about it, but I think that's an. idea whose time has come. And I I think. we are in a moment where we're going to. see a major political realignment and. and the. the rebuilding of our government and our. institutions and I think healthcare is a. major component of that. And so, I do. think that that is a moment who who an.

idea whose moment has come. >> Yeah. No, I agree with you 100%. Uh I. think this is another great question. This is from Kay. This gets into what. voters can do other than standard things. like campaign donations, voter. registration, phone banking, door. knocking, letter writing. What are other. things citizens can do to elevate. impact? I hear this question all the. time. >> What do you think? You take this one. >> Well, I I will tell you I you know, and. I was thinking about this during our. 250th birthday in this country. I know. people were down in the dumps because. Donald Trump was the president during. our 250th like do we have to really have.

this guy for our 250th birthday and so. on? And the thing that I came up with. and and it really is just the bare. minimum. uh that we need to ask everybody. And I. I I would love to see a commitment from. everybody in this audience that you just. you just say to yourself, I can outlast. this moment. You just say to yourself, we can get. through this. No more it's over. No more. it's all going down the tubes. No more. are we actually going to get to the. other side. No. You just say to.

yourself, I can outlast this moment. I. can get through this. I think that's a. good place to start. We can we can worry. about all the other stuff, bringing. people to the polls and driving a bus, you know, to make sure. everybody at the nursing home gets to. the to the polls and so on. And all of. the and getting out on no kings day and. those kinds of things. But can you just. at least at the very least not give up. >> Yeah. That's what I say. That's what I. say. >> [applause]. >> But maybe you have more to offer on.

that. >> I think I think another idea is, you. know, when I was uh during the pre-order. period of this book, I I um made a. decision along with Marc Elias that I. would donate a portion of the proceeds. to the Free Election Fund. The Free. Election Fund is Marc's 501c3 that. focuses on election litigation. We have. we were just speaking about the the fact. that the courts have have been the last. bullwark for democracy. And in large part, these attorneys who.

are showing up every day and fighting. these battles and winning. are why we're still in a position where. we can succeed. The work that Mark does, the work that somebody like Norm Eisen. does, these are these are folks who are out. there fighting these battles on the. front line right now. So, I think, you. know, in terms of looking for places to. to offer up. you know, some some contributions for. those who are looking to help, the Free. Election Fund is is something that that. I think is particularly important in. this moment,

especially as we get closer and closer. to. to midterms where we see that the. Republicans are throwing everything they. have at these cases. >> Yeah, you know, you're so right. Mark's. group is terrific. And you mentioned. Norm Eisen, too. Norm Eisen defending. the the man who's been falsely accused. of vandalizing the reflecting pool. I I. just went down there today. There is no. gash in the middle of the reflecting. I. just hope everybody understand. I know. that comes as a surprise that Donald. Trump was lying about this. But I went. down I was like, I should just go The. pool has been drained. I couldn't First.

of all, I couldn't believe they drained. the reflecting pool cuz I was like, if. you drain the reflecting pool, we're all. going to see that he's been lying this. whole time. [laughter]. And as it turns out, he has been lying. this whole time. >> I wonder if driving a 7,000 lb. >> [laughter]. >> cavalcade of SUVs over the not yet dry. reflecting pool had any impact on the. reflecting pool's inability to dry. properly. >> I tell you that's a good point. >> looking for the elusive vandals, I think. we found them. >> Yeah. But no, it raises a good point in.

that I mean, we've seen up until this. point the Justice Department being. weaponized and going after people like. Jim Comey and Letitia James and so on. But now they're just going after people. like David Hearn. Now they're just going after an Olympic. canoeist because they have to prove that. the dear leader is right and that there. there have been people vandalizing the. reflecting pool when that's not the. case. That doesn't that piss you off? Doesn't that make you mad? It makes me. so mad. >> even uh Kilmer Abrego Garcia. >> Yeah. >> that that whole situation where they. knew they up. They even had a DOJ.

lawyer come and say this that this was. done as the result of an administrative. error, but because they needed to make. an example of them, because they are. they are fueled solely by ego, they. continued to prosecute this guy and make. this guy's life a living hell because. it's not about the merits, it's just. about, you know, making sure that the. thin-skinned president has uh has his. win. And so yeah, I mean the the extent. to which the DOJ has been weaponized and. this this. uh federal government has weaponized.

even regular people. I mean, hell, if. you go on whitehouse.gov, you'll find my. name under the media offenders list. >> Yeah, oh boy. >> [applause]. >> And I'll tell you what. >> Yeah. Welcome to being one of the enemy. of the people, you know. >> I'll tell you what. Once that happened, um once that happened, I promoted the. everlasting out of that because. [laughter] I was like, "I'm selling I'm.

selling shirts that say media offender. on my on my website. >> If anybody wants to buy them, I I wanted to make it so that. that would become such a. such a backfire for this administration. that it becomes so toxic. I used that to. promote the hell out of myself because I. wanted them to know that if you're going. to try and chill content creators into. silence in the same way that you've been. effective at doing so with law firms and.

universities and tech CEOs and legacy. media companies and all of these people. who presumably have so much power and so. much money and so much influence and yet. they bend over backwards and capitulate. to Trump the second they have the. opportunity to do so because they are. leveraged by the financial by the. federal government. We are not. Independent media doesn't answer to. anybody. Like, I don't need anything. from the White House. I know you don't need anything from the.

White House. And so. >> Thank god. >> The question is, what's the point of. having you money if you can't say. you to this administration? >> Good point. >> [applause]. [cheering]. >> And the interesting thing is, in the. aftermath of of that moment, um where I. just, you know, wore it as a badge of. honor publicly as much as I could, and I. know my friend David Pakman did the. exact same thing. He was also on that. list. They didn't add anybody else to. the list. There was no There was no, you. know, broader campaign to to create a.

whole faction of content creators who. were they who were they were going to. target because they realized that all. we're getting is free publicity. All. they're doing is giving free publicity. to the critics of this administration. So, the list just stands at like three. people right now. >> Yeah, as I as I used to say, where do I. send the check? You know, where do I. send the check? >> I mean, I'm I'm They're not taking it. down because I think that would be an. admission of defeat and the last thing. this administration is going to do. So, now I just have a living living memorial.

to this administration's. temporary efforts to target independent. media. >> Man, I mean, well, on that note, I just. want to say, Brian, I it's It's been an. honor for me to be here with you this. evening be all with all of you this. evening. And there there has been a an. expression that courage is contagious. Brian, you bring so much passion to the. table to this subject to to rescuing our. democracy, saving this country, saving. this country from a very dark moment. that we're in the middle of right now. I. just I I just hope that the passion you.

bring to this is infectious, is. contagious, and that all of you have. picked up on some of this tonight. Really appreciate [applause] it. Thank. you. And thank you. Best of luck. >> Thank you. I I I I want to thank you, Jim, for. being here and taking time out of your. schedule to to help me out tonight. And. you know, I know you have fans in in. every single person in this room. >> They're all paid. I paid them all. >> Not not just not just for the work that. you're doing right now, but also for. being a voice for so many people.

throughout the entirety of this. administration. It was It It's an honor. to be able to sit here with somebody who. stood up to this administration when. they were. uh fighting against media figures in the. early days. And you were you were chief. among them. So, thank you for the work. that you've done. >> Thank you, man. Appreciate it. Brian. Tyler Cohen. Buy his book The Day After. Yes, there will be a day after. Don't. worry. And Brian's going to show us how. Good to see you, man. >> Want to say one more thing if I can. And. that was thank you thank you thank you. thank you thank you thank you to the. team at Sixth & I for making this.

happen. And thank you to you all for. being here. I know that there are a. million reasons to check out with this. the despair that I think is is. purposefully engineered to make us feel. So, the fact that you all showed up, took time out of your busy schedules, and are staying engaged and involved in. this stuff is the singular thing that. gives me hope for the future of this. country. So, thank you to everybody for. being here. >> Thank you. [applause] Well said. Well. said. Thanks, guys. Nice to see all of. you. Nice to see all of you. Thank you. Nice work, Jim.

>> Good job. Good job. >> [music].