From Mamdani to MAGA: Reactions to the midterm ‘blue-nami’

You've been a kingmaker in New York politics. All three House candidates that you backed are going to become members of Congress. in January. Two of them were democratic socialists, but they're going to be joined. by a lot of moderates who are also elected. Last night, whose message were voters endorsing, do you think. last night when Democrats got this huge sweep? You know, I think last night what we saw was a reflection of the fact. that working class. Americans are tired of being told that their needs are unrealistic. by politicians who have been bought by the wealthiest people across the country.

And what we saw in state after state, no matter how a candidate might describe. themselves, is a platform and an agenda that speaks to the crisis. in working class Americans lives. If we're looking at Texas, we see James Talarico. running on a message of universal pre-K. If we're looking at South Carolina, we see any Andrew's stomping about the need to end endless wars. If we're looking at Michigan. Not only do we have Doctor Abdullah Al Siad, but we also have Jocelyn Benson running on a moratorium for data centers.

And then if we're looking at Georgia, we see Keisha Lance bottoms running on a message. about the need to streamline affordable housing construction. These are the kinds of platform points that unite Democrats. from last night's victories, and they're the ones that also characterize. a lot of what we've been focused on delivering right here in New York City. When you were first elected, a lot of Republicans were giddy. They thought you could make you something of a boogeyman, they could use to hurt Democrats across the country. How do you think that went? Well, I.

didn't see much of myself in a lot of the ads across the country. And I think what that speaks to is the fact that our record over. ten months has been one of delivering $1.2 billion towards universal child care. It's been paving over 220,000 potholes. It's been winning the largest labor settlement in New York City's history, $130 million for 260,000 workers. And I think what Republicans have found is that their agenda of betraying working. class Americans is one that is growing tired, with many across the country. And what we're seeing now is a mandate to drive down costs, a mandate to deliver.

change working class Americans can feel in their wallet, and a mandate to fulfill. the trust that those same Americans have put into Democrats. What agenda items would you like to see. the Democratic House and Senate take on? When they take office? What do you think their priorities should be? I want to give you a pop quiz, but would you say, you know, make the Pentagon budget. smaller, pass a federal minimum wage, or make it increase the federal minimum wage?

Like what would what would you like them to do? Well, I think, as we say in New York City, pork does. it is important for us to pursue every single aspect of an agenda. that speaks to an American fatigue with the status quo, a status quo where people have been told, I'm sorry, we can't meet your needs. And by the way, let me introduce the world's first trillionaire, Elon Musk. And those same American voters came forward to say that. it doesn't matter that Elon spent $440 million in these elections.

It doesn't matter. that crypto, an AI, an online betting company, spent $517 million. American voters were still going to show up and vote for the future. they want to see. So to me, it has to be change that is urgent. It has to be change that speaks to the crisis in working class Americans lives. And it has to be change that can be measured. in the day to day lives of those same Americans, something that isn't just. an ideal or a value, but something that is also what they're struggling. to afford every single day, be it rent, be childcare, be groceries.

It is interesting how closely you've been able to, at least on the at least publicly, get along with President Trump. Given the givens, do you think that. Well, there's a lot I don't have enough time. to go through all the reasons why it's surprising, but do you think that, soon to be, you know, we presume Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, your fellow New Yorker, do you think he should follow your lead and figure out ways to get along with him?

That it's a lot easier than people might think? Or do you think he was elected to be much more aggressive. and assertive when it comes to getting along with the president? Well, I trust that that he will find a way for it to be most productive. What I can say is that when it comes to my relationship with the president, the two of us are very open and very honest about the fact. that we have an immense. number of policy disagreements, as you said, given the givens. And yet what we've focused on in the meetings and conversations. we've had is finding those few areas of commonality. For the two of us, it's been the welfare of New York City.

Through those conversations, we've been able to free in New Yorker. for my detention. We've been able to secure a visa. for a grieving mother so that she can bury her son. without having to watch from thousands of miles away. And we've been able to take steps to build what would be the largest. housing development in New York City had seen since the early 1970s. And I think that in many ways, it's indicative of what. our responsibility is as politicians work with anyone and everyone, so long as the focus is for the benefit of the people we represent. What is the first piece of legislation you want to champion when you get there?

There are three goals that we have to have that all map back. to affordability and the president's frank failure. As a leader in this moment, the first is we need to get some accountability. around the war in Iran. That war needs to end. We need to go back to a diplomatic path that had worked in the Obama. administration to get us to a place where we had to contain the nuclear threat, and we weren't paying so much, whether it was in the lives of our service members. at the gas pump, at the grocery store, or in our tax dollars. The second, this tariff war in Canada is insane.

It makes zero sense. There is no economic reason. why we are having a tariff war with our biggest trading partner. That has to end. And then the third, we are about to watch the equivalent of a health care nuclear. bomb go off in the middle of our health care system with these Medicaid tax cuts. and the president in his party, they deliberately made sure that the worst. of the big ugly bill didn't take hold until after the midterms. Well, we are after the midterms and in January, Medicaid is going to get cut. And I want to explain this to folks because it's really important. to understand. It's not that when you cut people off their Medicaid that they don't get sick,

they still get sick. They just get their health care in the emergency room. when it's the most expensive. So where do those costs go? Well, those costs get passed on into your insurance premium. We're going to watch insurance premiums spike yet again. And that's going to be very dangerous for the system as a whole. So those three things we need to address. During your, victory speech, you you called out the vice president. specifically. It's a something it's a moment that has definitely gone viral. And people are talking about, let me play this to remind everyone,

JD. I've. even said. there is this delicious. irony in the fact that you're. Constitutionally. Obligated to swear me in and January. So, you know, that. Means. Wolverine one, Buckeye zero.

Yeah. I mean, as a Michigan family, any any. You know, Buckeye comparison is welcome to be had. But what this also gets to is everyone watched during the campaign. It was there was a series of back and forth attacks. between you and the vice president. I mean, he calls you evil and and then some. My question now is, as Senator elect, how are you going to approach. working with or not working with the vice president and the president? Yeah, well, in his role as vice president, if he's interested in advancing things.

that are going to get money out of politics, put money in pockets. past Medicare for all, I'm looking forward to working together. He is the vice president. Donald Trump is the president. I'll work with anybody to serve the people of the state of Michigan. And if they're serious about doing that, let's get some stuff done. in their political roles, in the ways that they behave outside. of their actual roles as president and vice president, I find them odious. They've taken us down the path. You see JD Vance now, he's sprinting as hard backwards as he can from this. terrible, disastrous war in Iran. I'm like, now's not the time. My guy would have been eight months ago.

You should have spoke up, but you never will, because of course you have. You are a coward who has decided that whatever Donald Trump says should go. Until, of course, Donald Trump is now a loser at the ballot box. And now you're trying to find a different way. I'm looking for people who stand on principle, and it's important for the American public that they see who their elected. officials are because, look, it's no, I don't have to is not breaking news. JD Vance is going to try and run for president. And I want folks to understand exactly who JD Vance is as a person. as he tries to do that. And I'm going to take every opportunity to be able to differentiate between what.

JD Vance says and what JD Vance does, because I think it's important. for the American public to know who their leaders are. Debbie Dingell was on often saying how she was really distressed, how. how much hate and what happened and how divisive, especially the race in the campaign in Michigan became. And I'm sure it. with that, we've heard from CNN, heard from voters on Election Day. who said that they felt real fear, talked about the fear that they felt.

and the hate that they felt. We saw a rise in Islamophobia and a rise in anti-Semitism. And they spoke to CNN on why they did not. Democratic voters did not vote for you. Let me play a little bit from them. They don't feel like Abdul is ready to be in the Senate. I also am a Jewish, member of this community. and feel very strongly that he does not support the Jewish community. I'm sorry I voted for Jocelyn Benson, for Democrat for governor. And, did a lot of ticket splitting throughout the rest of the ballot.

Why could you not vote for al safe? Because I'm against hate. Was it hard to. Cast a vote for a Republican? I'm sorry. They're your constituents now. And what do you say to them? Well, I am for love and against hate. I understand what it's like to be demonized because of how you pray. And I want to. Michigan, where nobody feels that way, where you drop your kid off to day. school or synagogue. and you know that. they're going to get home safely and be respected in their community. That's something that we can all work on together.

A lot of the frustration that people felt has more to do with my position. on Israel, and even then, that is about love. I believe that our tax dollars should not be used to subsidize weapons. Military that is used to do the worst things to Palestinian children. You can love and appreciate and Revere Palestinian. children and love and appreciate and Revere Jewish children. In fact, I believe that you have to do both. And so when it comes to Jewish safety, I'm as committed to the safety. of the Jewish community as I'm committed to the safety of my own children.

I hope that I can lead in a way that over the next six years, they can. Folks who didn't vote for me say, you know, he was a hell of a senator. He worked really hard and he was there when I needed him. But I am not going to back down on the question of whether or not our tax. dollars should be used to subsidize genocide or apartheid or war, and I think we have to be able to differentiate between the safety. and security of the Jewish community in Michigan and across the United States, from our foreign policy approach to the government of Israel. Has it hit you yet? I don't know. I didn't get much on tonight.

I think maybe later today it will. I can see you again here. So. So, you know, I'm. I'm just looking here because obviously I met you in person. for the first time a couple weeks ago at your town hall here in Texas. And, it was at the time maybe you'd seek it out. Maybe you wouldn't. That was the projection. You're ahead by 12 points right now as all these final votes are being counted. Senator elect 12 points. Trump won the entire state of Texas by 14 points.

That's basic math. That is a swing of 26 points from Trump. and a red Texas to Talarico and a blue Texas. You had obviously access to your own internal numbers. I'm just curious, are you surprised by the scale of your victory? I am, we saw incredible momentum on the ground. over the course of the last year all over Texas. We saw it.

Coalition coming together. First time voters, young voters, three time Trump voters. And so I knew that we were building something special. I didn't know we were going to win Texas by double digits. But I really do believe that the reason we won. is that we forged a new kind of politics, not a politics of hate. or fear or division, but a politics of love, one that brings people together rather than pulling them apart.

And I think that can be a model for our politics as a nation going forward. You spoke a lot about love, in your speech last night. And do you believe that that resonates. I was standing there and I was struck by the signs. People had the love thy neighbor. Right? Obviously, you have made your faith and your religion a crucial part. of who you are and your candidacy. But but hearing love as that word, so front and center from a politician is extremely unusual.

Yeah. And it's the most important word in all of our lives. It's the most important word in the English language, and we rarely hear it spoken in our politics. My granddad was a Baptist preacher in South Texas, and when I was little, he told me that we follow a barefoot rabbi. who gave us two commandments to follow love God and love neighbor. because there is no love of God without love of neighbor. And I, I was raised to love all of my neighbors,

not just my neighbors who look like me, or pray like me or vote like me. And that kind of love has been missing from our politics, from our communities, from our country for too long now. And and I think this election was really a response. to the kind of division that we've seen over the past decade. So you're going to be the. senator for a guy named Ken Paxton. Has he called you yet?

He hasn't, but I saw his concession speech. last night, and I appreciate his kind words. I'm glad that he's acknowledged the results of this election. And I look forward to being a senator for all 31 million Texans, including Ken Paxton, including the Texans who didn't vote for me. I want to serve them, too. I want to fight for them, too. I want to make their lives easier and better and less stressful. I am not going to Washington to represent the Democratic Party. I'm going to Washington.

to represent this beautiful state and every person who lives here. And so I look forward, and it's working on a bipartisan basis to serve all Texans. All right. So that is really interesting because it was something. I remember from when you and I spoke at the town hall. You said the same thing. I'm not going as a Democrat. I'm not going as a Republican. I'm going as a Texan. But you are walking into Washington, D.C., where a lot of people are going. with their jerseys on, right? Even in your own party, Abdel-Aal said that race has been called. He is on the far left of of your party.

There are a lot of things he may believe in that, that you may not share. Are you going to stand up? And I remember the gentleman at our town hall who asked you that? Right. He was talking, they were talking about voter ID in that particular case. But are you going to stand up to the Democrats in Washington? Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to vote against your own party? I will. stand up to anyone I have to to defend the people of Texas, and I will work with anyone I can to help the people of Texas.

and this is what I've done for four terms in the state House. long before the Senate race. Long before I was doing interviews on CNN, I was working quietly. in the halls of the legislature, with both parties with far right. Republicans and far left Democrats to pass 60 bipartisan bills, bills. that raise teacher pay, bills that lower the cost of housing. and childcare and property taxes and prescription drugs like insulin.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do in the US Senate. I'm going to build bridges with with all of my 99 colleagues in the US Senate. I'm going to build bridges, or at least try to with President Trump. Because my mandate is to deliver for working people in my state. to make their lives easier and better, to lower their costs, to root out corruption and get this economy back on track. Some of you were undecided when we first met you. Others were decided. Jasmine, you ended. You were undecided going into the town hall and you voted for. Absolutely. I voted for Talarico.

I shared, you made, you shared. But I was. Happy for you. Hold you on your nose. The middle of the. And you were. You're a Republican? Yes. Undecided. You told me you don't want to share who you voted for. Share what I voted for. But what was that process getting? So that process was really all year long that I, looked at the candidates and. did a side by side, not just Talarico versus Paxton, but every single candidate.

And I tore them apart and them personally. Right. And so one of the reasons. why I wanted to share before is to I didn't want to sway other people's vote. And I was doing my own research. So, a lot of that had to do with a lot of my Paxton, research had to do with the things that he was accused of. And, you know, some of the Talarico research. was the things that, you know, with these sound bites that were horrible. And I read them and I don't like them.

So I just dug in to see what was right. Got it. And, Paul, how about you? I went into the town hall pretty, walked on Talarico, and between the town hall. And election day, he only. Further increase my desire to vote for him. So I had to have a 20% electorate. Go, Rodrigo. Oh, no. I, I'm I'll say it here. I'm maga, I've been maga and I voted, red down ballot. I did want to talk to El Rico, and I was glad it was hell. Rico. And that Jasmine Crockett and and I voted for Paxton because I wanted Cornyn out.

So that if you want to hear about how that turned out. But I really, really wanted to point it out. So we got that. But yeah, we got to tell Rico. So and Rabbi Holly, we'll get to you here. So I voted for color Rico. And I really like a lot. of what he stands for and his values. I thought yesterday when he talked about love and the kinds of things that we need. in our world, you know, and that he's. I hope this will turn out to, you know, works across the aisle.

And that brings a lot of peace to our government right now. If we really need that healing. And I think he can do it. Yeah, I got I got hopes too. I think he's going to I think he's going to do okay. You're conservative voter MAGA. You don't want to be called Republican. I can't imagine that. You did not imagine a world where Republicans would lose. the governor, lieutenant governor, flip the Texas House of state race. That's crazy. I'd imagine.

So my, thought going into the night was there was a good chance. that Paxton would potentially lose and maybe Abbott, but it seems like it went down. Party. Yeah, that's crazy talk. That's crazy, because now we're not having that happen here. That's a great question, because I've talked to a lot of folks. who said their conservative and they were going to vote against Paxton, but I there's no world where I see they would have said, hey, we're all going to vote down that blue down ticket.

That's crazy. Yes, that is absolutely crazy. If you're if you're going on gas alone, that's crazy. So Tina TV here, if you're a Republican conservative voter. Yes. Why do you think this happened? Well, I believe that it happened because, the campaign rhetoric was not in line. with what the American people and Texans are feeling. So I think that even though we have a, a conservative state, you still have to listen to what people are, what people want and,

and, and make them feel heard and take action in that direction. And leaders just forgot about that. I think that I mean, if you look at what the campaign messaging was, it looks like. they just forgot about that. So all of the messaging was against Talarico. A lot of that messaging was against Talarico. But I think what happened, in my opinion, I think, Talarico. messaging was hitting even me as a conservative. I'm like, how am I like believe in what he says? You know, I'm a conservative.

But his messaging was hitting home, and I think that the Republican messaging just was not hitting. him, was not addressing what what what needed to be said. Let me throw this out at the, our Democratic voters here, Democrats. haven't been in any kind of control in more than 30 years in the state. Now, they control almost everything. And it's a party that hasn't been in power in more than 30 years. Are you worried about how they're going to handle it? Just because they haven't been in control to me. doesn't mean they don't know the strategy they need to put together to go forth.

I think, like any party they're going to meet and decide what the priorities are. And right now, we're getting to the point where our nation. is getting to some sense of normalcy, of getting back in the gray. It is not black or white. You have to have and or, but also inside of making decisions. And so for a long time, you know, in Texas, you just had one option for 30 years. It's a new day. It's a new dawn. Now let's see what this blue wave is going to produce.

Happy, happy, happy. I'm so happy. Listen, this is way bigger. This is like Christmas and and birthday and the Easter bunny and Halloween is. This is this is the repudiation of Trumpism. that people have been hoping for, seeing American democracy stand up. Sometimes you have kleptocratic, rulers that get in power. And they it's got themselves for decades in America. 24 months later, knock it off. You don't want it. And by the way, if you join a cult,

at some point, the cult leader takes you to Jonestown. and tries to get you to make the Kool-Aid. This is Jonestown for the Republican Party. They drink the Kool-Aid, and they have candidates that are dropping. like flies across the country because they did not stand up to this guy. when he was doing things that were wrong, when he was violating the law, when he was running over, our system, they didn't stand up to him. They're paying the price. It's Jonestown the night you join a cult, at some point, you go to Jonestown. That's where you are tonight.

Republicans. Scott, I, I don't know if you want to check what's in your glass. You realize I'm sitting right? I can hear everything you're saying. I've been here the entire time. Well, look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. There's a political science term for what's happening. It's called a country ass whopper. And that's what's happening right now. Yeah. Across the board. Kentucky. I think what our. In term, Scott, is to, Look. You know, that there's a lot of, a lot of a lot of reasons.

For, what's. Happening right now. The most immediate issue is cost of living and gas prices. and that that is the bottom line. You can read into a lot of other things. You can be jubilant about this now to the other. But at the end of the day, the American people have here and now concerns. And that's really the lesson you got to take away from this. And that's the thing that the Democrats are going to have to take away from this. They didn't really run on a a platform. They didn't really run on any legislation heavy as the head that wears the crown. And now they partially wear it in Washington.

I can only to pick out a silver lining. Look back at 2010. The Democrats in the. white House where I was took a bit of a shellacking. I think President Obama called it, and he turned right around. and learned from it and ended up getting reelected in 2012. There's a way to learn from nights like this. That's what the Republicans are going to have to do. Democrats are going to celebrate tonight, but Republicans have to wake up tomorrow. and realize that, you know, great thing about America. is there's always another election and the work starts tomorrow.

We have arrived at perhaps the most pivotal moment of the night. CNN now can make a major projection in the battle for control of the US Senate. Huge consequences here in Washington and across the nation. CNN can now project, that Democrats will win control of the U.S. Senate. CNN can project Democrats will win control of the US Senate. We can make this call because CNN is also projecting. what you saw a little sneak preview up there a second ago, that Democrat Josh Turek will win the Senate seat.

in Iowa, defeating Ashley Hinson. Democrats have now picked up. enough seats to reclaim the majority they lost two years ago. A week ago, I talked to some top Democrats. and they thought it was only 50, 50, that they would recapture the Senate. They thought they were definitely going to win the House. They didn't. They weren't predicting these numbers, but they were going to win the House. But even Senate Democrats weren't sure that this was going to happen. But it has happened. A week ago. How about just like 24 hours ago?

They weren't really sure this is absolutely monumental, given the fact that this time last year, the way that the math looked was frankly impossible for Democrats. Because as us. All of us, right, all of these states that that we're. calling tonight for Democrats or Trump plus. high double digits. And now you have a situation where, I mean, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, has gotten a lot of, you know what?

From a lot of people out there, I. Don't want not what. You know, the thing, And, guys, can I read you something? Sure. A lot of. Flack, a lot of flack as well. Please. We have some talking about, Texas going blue, the stunning races with James. Talarico, but also Greg Abbott going down, obviously a huge ally of the president. President Trump just posted and said if. Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, had become a rhino. in the last six months of political life, he wouldn't have lost the president. Continue.

He went back to his original formula and it wasn't pretty. Now, that is someone who, on data centers, of course. Yeah, that's his taste. Course. After it was clear where the electorate was going, how voter. sentiment was really turning against them, especially in places like Texas. After vowing to make it the data center stronghold of the country, the president just called Greg Abbott one of his biggest allies, a very popular Republican governor. Until what happened tonight, a rhino loyal, taken in name only loyalty is a one way street. But you're seeing the one thing coming out of the white House,

despite what we've been talking about all night. and what their polls have been showing us for months, which is that voters don't like the president's tariffs, they don't like the war in Iran, and they don't like paying more for gas. right now, the president's response to this tonight, from what we've been hearing from sources. and what he himself is saying on Truth Social, he's blaming. the Republican candidates themselves here, even Greg Abbott of Texas. And let's just be really crystal clear on this. It is all of the voter polls tonight showed what you were hearing.

all across the country, is that it is not Greg Abbott, necessarily. It is not any of these Republican candidates necessarily. Maybe some, but it is the president's the terrain. that they were having to run on, which was so bad. because of the president's promises that didn't go fulfilled, and also his policies that turned the economy so bad. And I just quickly, I want to go back to the Senate. because the the fact that Democrats have now.

taken control of the United States Senate, it does deserve a moment. Given the fact that, oh, all of these Republican, seats were thought, thought of as, like, absolutely unwinnable. And it was because the environment just fell out from under the Republicans. But also they were prepared with the Roy Coopers and, North Carolina, with the Sherrod Browns, in Ohio with the Adam Hamilton. and and James Talarico, who were candidates who fit.

their states as much as any Democrat could fit their states. And that was yeah, kind of set the table to prepare for this possibility, not ever really thinking that it could go as far as what's happening. I'm just showing John King what the president also just wrote. He said, I'm going to become a political pundit, both good and bad, on the reasons these candidates won or lost. Yeah. So let me let me help you, sir. As you start your new career, the president. president went here and said, vote like I'm on the ballot.

He went here and said, vote like I'm on the ballot. He went here several times and said, vote like I'm on the ballot. He went here, said, vote like I'm on the ballot. I could go on. He went to states. He won by double digits and said, vote like I'm on the ballot. Well, they did. Just a point in time just the way it is. There was a mood in the air, I guess. And, you know, if you look, I shouldn't feel. guilty because virtually, I saw you on your show. the other night saying that almost never does the sitting president,

no matter how good or bad or Republican. or Democrat he or she is. But no matter how good the president is, you lose. I don't know why nobody's explained that. I had no choice. Ken Paxton was a good guy. And I just wasn't a fan of calling him. You know, I just wasn't a fan. I found him to be a disloyal guy. He was not, a fan of mine. When, you know, to be honest, when it wasn't fashionable, he wasn't there.

You know, I can say that about a lot of people could say that about you. When it wasn't fashionable to be with Trump, he wasn't there when it was fashionable. He kissed my ass. All right. But, you know, I remember the. I remember the other days, and I just felt I couldn't endorse him. The president now taking questions at the ballroom. Let's listen. I lost last night. Was the war in Iraq. Well, I think it's largely true because it.

drove the gasoline up a little bit short term. And probably that's probably true. But at the same time, if I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again, because long term, it's the only answer. You can't let Iran have a nuclear. If you like it, it's worth it. I do. Yeah. I mean, well, you have no choice. I mean, I thought the oil would go up a lot more, and I did it on that basis. You have no choice. You have to do it. You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon or everything that you see here. someday might not exist. And, maybe this, but this really might be the only one that does.

So yeah, I think that, look, I mean, I'll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive, but the power of the veto. So if we don't like what they're doing, like, they'll they've already called. and they want to talk about things and that's fine. But yes, people, the Iran thing we had to do. and we continue to do it, we have tremendous oil flowing out of the harmless right now. At the beginning, there was none. And, probably that's.

the primary reason the the price, not the war, the price. Sir, are you. Calling 30 rallies. Across the country like in front of the. Navy for about a week now? You know, look, I mean, if I were on the ballot, we would have won. You saw the people that were packed. Thousands and thousands of people that every rally. And if I was on the ballot, we would have won. But they just. You couldn't transfer that love. There was such love at those rallies. It was incredible. And, we weren't able to transfer the love to candidates.

Did you get any for me to try to talk about it? It was great that that. Speech on Monday. Which one are we talking about? Acting 20. Three. Trying to rise. You know something? I heard it was a very good speech. Great, great reviews. That was only a speech on the reflecting poor. that had nothing to do with anything else. That was a speech very much like this is today. on this incredible place that we're building at the white House. It's going to be here for many, many years and serving our country well.

That was only a sort of a ribbon cutting, because the reflecting pool hasn't worked since 1922. It's, you know, over 100 years. It's never worked. So it was leaked and it was always a mess. And we fix it. We made it great that. that was not a speech that was just talking about the reflecting pool. And then a couple of other comments. I mean, our speeches were really the speeches made at the 30 rallies, and those speeches were that was tremendous love. It was it was pretty amazing.

When you speak two words, I can't tell you that they may tell you, but I can tell you. Each minute all. No. No no, no. Are you concerned about it? Not even a little bit. It would I think it would destroy. I think it would destroy the Democrat Party if they did that. Because impeachment for no reason. What? We're having a successful country. Our country is more successful now than at any time in its history. Yeah. Here's Ted Cruz, with his take about what happened.

2026 was not simply a blue wave. It was a blue tsunami. It was an ass kicking. It was not simply a bad 2006 midterm election. It was a Watergate level repudiation. The problem wasn't turnout. Instead, our voters, Republicans, libertarian and independents showed up and vote.

and rejected our candidates. The top issue cost of living. is very real. to many in politics. Dismissed it. Ted Cruz podcast speaking very slowly. They're saying as a fellow radio host, what what is your thought about what he's saying? Yeah. I mean, generally he's correct. I think he's probably underplaying the, you know, the turn out a little bit or overplaying. I think he's he's talking about look, I think independents Carly like voted for the Democrats.

I think there were some Republicans too. But I think Republicans just generally we have to listen to history. We know what happens when the party in power goes into the midterms. They just don't perform well. That does not dismiss our voters. Republicans also talking. About independents showed up and voted and rejected. But they are candidate. So he's wrong there because they didn't actually show up. Not in the numbers that he. So yeah, same or. What did you guys see. Well we have already seen that the number of Harris voters versus Trump voters,

it was like close to 57% of the voters who showed up were Harris voters. Most 44% were Trump voters. Republicans stayed home. This was a turnout election, as most elections are, and Republicans. stayed home. They were not excited about the candidates. They didn't like the prices. They weren't in. They did not behave. As if Trump was on the ballot, whereas Democratic voters absolutely. Did. Okay, here's Thom Tillis, Republican from North Carolina, who's been out every time you want him to. And this is his take on Wednesday.

We have to learn from history here. In 2006 and 2008, Republicans got a beating. some of what happened in 2008 probably could have been avoided. if we were just smart enough to recognize the American people are forgiving people. If you recognize where you made the mistakes. and you explain what you're going to do differently, but if you double down on dumb, you're going to get the same result. I have to say, parties are not good at autopsies. Do you know what I mean?

They're actually not that good at reflecting on what they did wrong. So what are you looking? Sure. Well, look, it's a little early. The body is not yet cold, right? I mean, we don't really know. the full extent of their losses in the House, for example. And there's still some important Senate races that haven't been decided. Rather than rush to judgment. They knew this was coming. They have good pollsters. They knew that there was going to be a problem. Polls that they now believe are real. But I'd say as a first cut, it's a mistake to compare this to 2006 or 2008. because the economic problems, especially after the 2008 crash,

were caused by the market in this case, the economic problems were all self-inflicted. It was caused by tariffs. It was caused by a deliberate decision to go to war. It was caused by. the incompetent management of that war and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, and then. The voter drawing a straight line between the two, instead of it being kind of like, I don't know, supply chain. The vibes are bad, right? They were like, oh, I know who who did this. Well, also. On that point, too, I think, you know, Donald Trump said that.

this was going to be a 4 to 6 week war and then continued to. Lie to the American people that it's going to get better. Prices are going to go down as soon as we end the war, they're going to plummet. And this Fox News Bears responsibility. for losses by constantly and consistently. putting on the Democrat opposition and worse. Well, I mean, he's not wrong that when you give a lot of airtime. to folks who are using Partizan talking points. during an election, that it's going. to have an impact on the election, I mean, especially when it comes to enthusiasm,

which was already low. And they tend to. Say, now that's the promise of the showcase. And you correct to suggest that simply having those voices. on, in and of itself will determine an election. I think he's he's been consistent in this, and I'm actually glad that he's saying. what he's saying, which is, yes, I acknowledge that this war caused. this midterm election to turn out, for the most part, the way that it did. However, he said he would do it again. because he actually believes in what he's doing.

And I think that that is to his credit, because there were a lot of people who imagine, even if they thought this was the right thing, they would say, okay, no, we're going to pull back just purely for political purposes. And that's a cowardly move to take. And this president chose not to go down the line of being a coward. We have new CNN reporting this morning here in the Situation Room. After Democrats truly stunning victory on Tuesday, conservative media had its own reckoning on election night. Listen. It's not a red wave.

I don't think we're going to get our $5,000 checks if we. As a country did not go into the war in Iraq, and that was not on the agenda tonight. Is this a much different race tonight? I think 100%. I don't think there's any doubt about it. I would argue on Iran. There was. Unfortunately, it's the best thing for our children and. Grandchildren. But higher gas prices, how people feel, I think is the more dominant feeling for us right now.

All right. Let's go live now to CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter. So, Brian, tell us more. How these pundits. in the conservative and MAGA media are talking about Tuesday night's results? Well, in the five stages of grief, it starts with denial. And we are seeing some denial and disbelief followed by anger. So it's following the five stages of grief. Notably, we're not seeing voter fraud, lies or outright election denialism, the kind that characterized Trump's 2020 loss.

You might say this was too big to rig. That's what some of those right wing commentators are claiming. So they are accepting defeat and they are in disbelief and angry about it. There's also some disagreement about the best path forward. Now, Sean Hannity, for example, last night. discouraging the GOP from finger pointing and circular firing squads. But there are some signs that that finger pointing is underway. And notably, although most of the outside analysts are blaming Trump for. his party's loss, MAGA media commentators are tiptoeing around that idea.

They're being very gentle there. They're acknowledging that the Iran war and the trade war and the economy. all contributed, but they're largely faulting the people around Trump. for the loss, blaming lazy GOP lawmakers who didn't do more. when they were in the majority or blaming Trump's aides in the white House. This is a default setting for MAGA media saying that Trump's not wrong. The people around him are wrong, that Trump can't be wrong, but he can only be wrong. So we're seeing some of that narrative yet again in the wake of the midterms loss.

But there are some right wing figures like Tucker Carlson, who are celebrating what he calls the end of the Trump era. So there are some signs of that GOP civil war underway. on the podcast, on TV and online. So let's listen to what President Trump had to say on election night. when he called into Fox News. And then I read on Fox that. I'm not popular, you know, I mean, the Fox polls are terrible. You ought to get yourself a good pollster because your pulse is the worst. But tonight, actually, the results are pretty close to what the. Fox polls show. Well, I don't know about that.

I can just tell you about speaking for myself. And, the results with Fox with me were wrong for 12 years. I mean, they've gotten me wrong for 12 years, but I don't care. It doesn't matter. So what does that tell you about the shifting relationship. with the media, especially organizations that are typically in his corner? Well, on that night, Trump was railing against Fox all evening long. But at the end of the day, at the end of the night, he called into the network because he needs the network's attention.

more than the network needs him. Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch are already thinking about the post-Trump. era, thinking about the 2020 election, and they're starting to move on. So Trump certainly wanted the networks platform on a night like election night. There's something, I think, even more interesting about Trump's claims, about the polls. We heard a lot ever since 2016, 2017, when Trump first won office, about this. being a post-truth era, about Trump imposing his own truth, his own reality, calling real news, fake calling real polls hoaxes, recently. pushing reporters out of the white House.

Well, in some ways, truth has reasserted itself this week. Kind of like political gravity is reasserted itself. You know, up until Tuesday, you could have suggested. this is what Nate Silver wrote in his blog earlier this week. You could have suggested that all the approval rating polls. showing Trump's unpopularity might have been off. The. Maybe Trump voters were not picking up the phone when pollsters called them. Maybe it was a huge polling mess. Well, now we know through the voter polls, through the election. results in these red states that Trump really is deeply unpopular. It's harder to deny that reality.

So it seems to me all of this is a reaffirmation of some core truths. As much as Trump has tried to deny those as much as he lied about the polls, well, this week, the it's very clear what's happened. And the truth has been reaffirmed. In some ways, it totally seems like. A vote of no confidence as far as Trump is concerned. Brian Stelter thank you very, very much. And as we continue to follow out the aftermath of last night, Republicans. are searching for answers. Democrats are celebrating their seismic wins. The world is also reacting.

Some of them are saying that last night was. a, quote, political catastrophe of historic proportions. And they're demanding that the Senate's Republican leadership resign. for what they say is lazy, incompetent, and completely braindead leadership. Others in the world are predicting the next two years will be, quote, pure hell. CNN senior correspondent Antonio Sullivan has been sifting. through the reaction all day and joins me now. And Tony, obviously, this was, I guess, inevitable.

because a lot of people in MAGA were not happy with the trajectory. that the Trump administration was taking in the second year. What else are you hearing from them tonight? Hey, Caitlin. Yeah. I mean, just to pull back a little bit and I think this really speaks. to how extraordinary and unusual. American democracy has been operating for the past half a decade. There was a lot of people who were fearful and frankly, expecting that. we would be in a very different situation tonight in this country than that. We are one whereby, the president of the United States.

would indicate that he's not going to accept the results of the election, and that the whole MAGA universe behind. him would get behind him and we'd have that sort of crisis, that we saw in 2020 and 2021, attempted coup, insurrection. So that's not happening. We're seeing a sort of more, I guess, what you would describe. as a as a normal, reaction, from a political party. where there is the blame game, is happening,

very much sort of playing off this, the idea that the Democratic Socialists. are coming and taking over Washington, DC, and Steve Bannon, who is the sort of central player in the MAGA world as still, he indicated today that while the president. right now might be talking about potentially working, with Democrats, he's not holding out much hope for that. Here's what he had to say. It's going to be Fort Apache, right? It's going to be Fort Apache.

They're coming. And the reason is, just like Nancy Pelosi ran on. Impeachment, I told me with, oh, no, she's not going to do it. She'll never do it. They don't want to risk it. That's what the people that knock the doors, the people that were there hammering all the time. They are the ones that, they want that that that's that, that's that killed Trump and killed Trumpism. So the white House is going to turn to Fort Apache on the investigation. So they're very ready for a very big fight over next two years. But they have started focusing and turning their attention to, 2028.

and trying to win back some of these seats. and of course, trying to hang on to the presidency. And by Fort Apache, he is referencing the 1948 Western. Yeah, he's. it's, In that a the white House should not be cooperating. The president, should basically be on lockdown and, as he, as you could probably get from bad and their ad. does not see any hope of any cooperation, between,

the president and the Congress to spice, what Trump might be indicating right now.