Chuck Schumer on Governing With (Or Without) Trump

[music]. >> From New York Times, I'm Michael. Barbaro. This is The Daily. >> Hello, we've met before. Hi, Michael. >> Senator. >> Let's see. >> [music]. >> Well, >> On Thursday afternoon, my colleagues and. I traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet. with the Senate minority leader, who is. now poised to become the Senate majority. leader. >> Chris, Rachel, Afeem. >> Afeem, nice to meet you. >> bringing in this rather elaborate.

contraption? >> Well, I know New York Times is very. pro-tech, so. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we've been quite a journey from. the printing press. Today, my conversation with Chuck Schumer about. his role in Tuesday's sweeping. Democratic victories, his plans to rein in President Trump, and the policy agenda that Democrats. will pursue. >> [music]. >> now that they're back in power.

It's Friday, [music] November 6th. >> I've given you the tour of this office, right? >> Yes, but it. >> That's only. Norman Rockwell of Lyndon Johnson. >> Um. >> That is I told you that one. When the. hooligans took over the Senate, took. over the. >> January 6th? >> Yeah, on January 6th. >> Just describe what you're pointing to. >> It's the tabulation of the electoral.

votes as they came in. >> of Joe Biden's victory. >> Exactly. And the hooligans we went the. leaders were put in a secret place. 5:00. we gathered, and this is McConnell and. McCarthy as well as Pelosi and me, and said, "We're going back to the. Capitol. We're not letting these. bastards take our democracy away." The. police said, "Don't go, there may be. people there." We went, and at 3:00 a.m. that was completed, and it certified Joe. Biden as president. >> made it the the rioters never made it.

into this office. >> Mhm. >> Did the writers make. >> make it into your office? >> But, one of my police. guards may have saved my life. We walked. out the Senate door when they invade. We make a right turn. We open another. door and we're within 30 ft of them and. one of them said, "There's the big Jew. Let's get him.". And he blocked the door. Shh. I went. away and he caught up and here we are. Still here. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Let's sit. Well, Senator,

thank you for making time for us. Thank. you for letting us come into your office. and. >> Thank you. >> outfit it with all this. audio tech. We really appreciate it. I just want to start with an. observation. 18 months ago, you can. correct me on the math, the situation for Democrats was. extraordinarily bleak. Your party was. arguably in the political wilderness. You had lost the White House by a lot, lost the Senate. Democratic activists. were calling for your head, arguing that. you had been insufficiently combative in.

your approach to President Trump and the. way he used power in the second term. Today, fast-forward, Democrats have. regained control of both chambers and by. a lot. You have won a 54-seat. majority in the Senate. It could end up. being 56 depending on what happens in. Mississippi and Alaska. And you are. poised to be reelected the Democratic. leader. That's quite a roller coaster. >> Yes, it is. >> This I mean. >> Yeah, well, look, you're right. When in.

January of 2025, right after we had lost the presidency, we had lost the Senate. I said, "We're going to take it back in. 2026.". And everyone rolled their eyes. Now, here we are. >> Mhm. >> It happened really for two reasons. The. first thing we did is we focused on what. the American people wanted, not what we. wanted, when not what someone else. wanted, but what they wanted. And we focused on the three issues they. cared most about, costs above all, the.

high cost of living. Corruption. You had. the most corrupt administration in the. in I think in history. And chaos. Chaos. on the streets here, chaos at the war. >> Well, you talked about the three C's. >> Three C's, yes. And I. we were talking about that since. a year ago, a year and a half ago. And. we were relentless. The House and Senate. worked with Hakeem on this as well. >> Jeffries. >> And. my North Star was winning back the. Senate and that was number one. Everything we did.

was focused on cost, chaos, and. corruption and relating it to people. The second thing we did, and really. important, we recruited candidates in reddish and. purple states. My goal has been for decade a decade. since about 2006. is to expand the map. And so we looked. at states where we might win, where. people never thought we'd win before. When Trump did the tariffs. and affected soybeans, we can win Iowa. When he [ __ ] around with the northern. border, we said we can.

>> believe that out, Senator. >> Okay, if you want, I don't care. Um I'm from Brooklyn, you know. Um we looked at Maine and we looked at. Alaska, we can win there. When Ohio went. way overboard on these data centers, we. said we can win there. But second, and I. got to give credit here, we recruited the best candidates. Not. who some political leaders said we want. them or this. We found candidates who. were fit their state. And just. every one of them.

was actually motivated by patriotism. Every single one. So when I recruited. Peltola and and uh Tuerck uh in uh Iowa, Sherrod in uh. >> Ohio. >> Ohio, Cooper in North Carolina, it was motivated by patriotism. Can I. tell you a quick story about Sherrod? So I flew out to Columbus three times to. see Sherrod and Connie. That's his wife, she's a Pulitzer Prize winner, but. they're a team. >> Sherrod Brown had been out of office at. the time. >> lost election the previous November. By.

about three, four points. >> Presumably he was retired. >> Yes, he was retired. And that's just. what I said to him. I said on the third visit, when he had. they hadn't said yes yet, I said to. them, Sherrod, Connie, look, you can have a great retirement. You've had a great legacy cuz you've had. a terrific career. But if you don't run and you're the only. one who can win in Ohio, >> You were recruiting him. >> Yes, and we lose the Senate by one vote, you're not going to enjoy your. retirement that much. >> [laughter].

>> I was I really wanted to get him. >> So you were working him over. >> I was, but he's my friend and you know, we did it in a. >> You guilt-tripped him. >> We did did it in a. >> Into running for US Senate. >> in a friendly way. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, a day later they called up and. said, "We're running.". >> Mhm. >> And you know, I tried to recruit in up. places people never thought. >> Uh Like where? >> Well, Scott Colom in um Mississippi. I. was always eager. to win in the South. We had won in. Georgia 2 years before. No one thought.

we could do that. And Scott had been rejected. by the incumbent Senator Hyde-Smith. He had been nominated to be the first. African-American federal judge in. Mississippi in a century. And she. blocked him. >> Mhm. >> And I went to him and said, "You got to. run." I actually had he and his father, I served them lunch in my house in. Brooklyn. And you know, they haven't declared his. um election at this point, but they're. counting the votes. He's ahead by 1,700.

A lot of the remaining votes are. provisional ballots, which usually go. Democratic. And he may make history and. be our AC. >> You had a few misfires if you're if. you're bringing up. >> Yes. >> recruitment. >> Yes. >> You wanted Janet Mills, the governor of. Maine, to be the nominee. The Democratic. primary voters in Maine did not want. that. Same with Haley Stevens in. Michigan. >> Michigan. >> Yeah. >> I mean, in the overall math, do you feel. good about your recruitment or do you. have some regrets? >> look, no. I I feel very good about.

>> regret Haley Stevens now? >> No, the bottom line is. >> After she turned and endorsed Mike. Rogers, Republican. >> knew from the beginning we had to win. Michigan. And Michigan hates Trump. because of the tariffs and with Canada. in particular, etc. And once Haley Stevens lost to Abdul, we put $60 million into help Abdul. And. he's very he's very appreciative of. that. We had to win Michigan. And my. North Star is winning the Senate.

>> Okay. Let me zoom out just a little bit. >> Okay. >> I appreciate. you talking about your very hands-on. approach to recruitment, the three C's, that strategy. I want to talk about. what just happened on Tuesday and how. much you think the actual candidates. mattered and how much of an affirmation. we should think of this. as for Democrats. Because every analysis. I've seen of this midterm election. concludes it was a referendum on Trump, his party,

on tariffs, on deportations, on the war. in Iran. And let's just be really honest. >> Yeah. >> The Democratic Party in the weeks. leading up to this election. deeply unpopular. Our polling showed. only 28% of voters were satisfied with. the party. My colleague put it this way. The only. people less popular than President Trump. are Democrats. So, did you win this election or did. he lose it and you were just a. receptacle and all these candidates you.

recruited were a receptacle for the. fury? >> It's a combination. But here's the amazing thing to me. As. bad as Trump was, and almost everything. he did was either irrelevant to the. American people's main concern, costs, or made it worse. What he did with. healthcare, what he did with energy, what he did with tariffs. And here's the amazing thing, and it's a. little bit of a a slight difference in. what you said. It's that the Senate. Republicans embraced him. >> Hm. >> And on the issues, by the way, they.

said, "Do you like the Democrats? No.". "Who's doing more for you on costs?". Democrats. "Who's doing more for you on. going after corruption?" Democrats. So, we did create a division. even that. shutdown which, you know, we didn't want. to do on healthcare, showed who was for. them on healthcare and who wasn't. So. the amazing thing to me is the Senate. Republicans who are savvy people, they just followed Trump over the cliff. And I always thought the way they can. deter us is break from Trump. And they didn't.

>> Not until the very end. Some of the. >> So it's certainly Trump. the upsetness with Trump helped. It's. it's a combination of the three. If we would have had lousy candidates, I. don't think we would have won. If we. wouldn't have focused on the issues, I. don't think we would have won. And if. Trump wasn't so bad, I don't think we. would have won. You needed all three to. come together. >> do you think the Democratic brand is. what it is? I'm asking this because. obviously a big part of your job coming. up is to fix that and to turn it around, the perception. Obviously winning the. midterm is a an important first step, but why do you think the Democratic.

Party's brand is as bad as it is? And. let me offer you a few possibilities. I. mean, you have under President Biden, under Kamala Harris, under you, growing unpopularity of Democrats'. approach to the border, to illegal. immigration, to the approach you all. took on social issues, trans rights, DEI, so on, which was a big priority. under the Biden administration. So when. you look back at all of that, just as a starting point, do you wish you all had done things.

differently? Do you Do you accept that. the party really erred? >> I would hang my I would. try to address the words what about. moving forward. >> But. >> No, because we didn't do it right, but. this year it's. >> That's important. We didn't do it right. >> Right. But this year we've done it much. righter. You don't hear the same thing. I don't I can't think. >> The three C's are very different. Cost, chaos, and corruption are very. different. >> decriminalizing the. >> Instead. >> illegal immigration and talking about. >> And look, they they What did they use.

this year? They. They couldn't use defunding the police. cuz I don't think any of our candidates. said that this time. But the one thing. they did try cuz they're always pulling. their horrible things out of their hat. >> Who's they in this case? >> was trans. >> You You talking about they being. Republicans? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. Trans operations. And. our candidates rebutted it in each in. his his own way, and it didn't hold. >> I I think I think this is important. You're saying there there was an error.

in emphasis and to some degree in policy. that preceded this decline in the. Democratic Party's reputation, and you. sought to. change that in this cycle. >> What we had to do. above all is not play on their field, but let them play on our field. >> arguably, they were playing on your. field. Maybe they were exaggerating it, but they were playing with a field that. Democrats had created. >> No, but what I'm saying here is. we shouldn't spend our time responding. to them and and all of that. We should.

spend most of our time on what people. want. And that's what we did in these 2 years. that was probably different than in 2023. and 2024. >> Mhm. >> Okay? You know, the political climate was much. different now. >> Yes. So, I think that brings us back to. the strategy you adopted in this. election and the candidates you picked. Let's talk about broadly the candidates. you both recruited and then ultimately. won and how you think about them and.

their and their success and whether it. was about them. How do you describe these candidates who. won? Because they're ideologically. speaking, they're not all the same, but. they have some commonalities. >> Exactly. You You're very. >> You hit the nail on the head. >> on the head. Yeah, you're good at this. The advantage was each candidate spoke. to cost, chaos, and corruption, but each. candidate spoke in their own way. So, you don't talk about it the same way in.

Maine as you do in Kansas. But, what did. happen is there was a broad theme of. these three things resonating from one. end of the country to the other, and it. sort of magnified. each other. >> Give me an example of what you're. talking about. >> Well, okay. You look in Michigan, they hated the. tariffs because of automobiles. In Kansas, they hated the tariffs. because of what it did to soybeans. And. different states took different. approaches. We didn't say there was one.

size that fits all, but the three issues. just resonated and our candidates, when. I interviewed them, were all for these. things. >> Is what you're saying that there is a. real consensus among Democrats right now. about policy and strategy if. >> Here's our strategy is simple. This job. is just begun. If we don't deliver, we're going to be screwed. >> you talking about a commonality in style. and message or an actual commonality in. >> It's It's really getting things done for. people, fulfilling our promises. And if.

we can deliver, not on everything, but. on some things, it's going to make a. huge difference and we can, you know, my. goal is to expand the map. Cuz I want a. durable majority. >> We're going to get to the policy, but I. just want to be clear on this. There For. example, there's a Tal Reco and then. there's a Abdul El-Sayed. People. perceive those two as being pretty. different. Are you saying actually. they're not very different when it comes. >> issues, of course, chaos and corruption, they're quite the same. >> And elsewhere they may have differences, but on the core.

>> Yeah. Look, I was I was doing the um. Morning Joe Am I allowed to mention a. competitor? >> Of course you are. >> Thank you. I was on the Morning Joe show. in the waiting room and right before me. were two Democrats who had just won. Cory Booker, progressive, New Jersey, and Hamilton, a uh moderate from Kansas. And when you heard them answer the. questions sitting next to each other, they were remarkably similar answers. when it came to cost, chaos, and. corruption. There's not that great a. divide.

on that wing in the party and we ought. to spend our time working with each. other, not shooting at each other. That's the way to beat Trump, beat the. Republicans, and expand our majority. >> [music]. [music]. >> We'll be right back.

Let's bring ourselves to the present. moment. Democratic Senate majority now. exists. It needs a leader, has to make a. lot of decisions about how to use its. power in Congress. And let me put this very simply to you. Do you expect to face any kind of. challenge. in the election for Senate majority. leader? >> No. >> You do not. >> No. I mean, look, our caucus is focused on. that moving forward. Everyone's very. happy with what we all did unified in.

the last 2 years, but the focus has to. be as I said before and I'll say it. again and again to my caucus, to the. country, to everybody. If we don't. deliver, all this will go away. This is. just the first step, but I think we're. united together to do that. >> good that there's no one running against. you? And let let me just let me just put. this in perspective. I've covered you. for a long time. You have been in the Congress and the. Senate for 27 years. I say this with lots of respect. You're. 75 years old. You're about to be 76. >> I feel a little younger than that. >> later in the month. Happy almost.

birthday. What responsibility do you feel to make. way for younger leaders in the party? >> When I say I'm the leader, I'm sort of. the conductor. I pick, you know, we we. make sure we stay on the same tune. But there's talented oboists and they. should be highlighted on their things. There's talented drummer, they should be. highlighted. So you've got to try to. make it into one tune, but let everybody. shine cuz I am so impressed. Really, almost almost out of breath. impressed with how good these people.

are. And now we have to make sure their. talents can be used productively. That's. a very important part of my It always. has been an important part of my job as. leader, but now more so than ever. >> Let me ask you one more, no doubt. slightly uncomfortable question because. people are people are are interested in. >> That's your job, as they say. >> You're up for re-election in 2 years. Does running for majority leader, the. intent of which you just established, mean you're running for re-election for. a sixth term? Almost by It doesn't mean. that. >> It means simply what I'm thinking of now.

as leader is focused on 2027. Delivering what we promised. >> for the first year of the majority in. the. >> Delivering it, creating unity, helping. these new younger members talents shine. >> I mean, look at us. >> established no time limit. >> later. I I worked with him. >> Mhm. >> He's great. I was like a little bit of a. teacher for him. The student has to pass. the teacher. >> I only ask this question because I think. there's fascination in succession. There's a lot of interest in how old the. Congress is and whether or not folks are.

making room for the next generation. And. that's why I'm pushing you. >> Yeah, it's the talent. If you look at. our people, you know, >> But you are sidestepping me. Are you. going to be running for re-election? >> I'm focused on 2027. >> I'm going to let you give that answer if. you don't want to answer my question, but I will note for the record that you. didn't answer my question. >> That's okay. That's That's what you I'm. I'm used to that. >> Let's Let's Let's turn to your agenda. And what you think your mandate is now. that you have this majority and. presumably will be its leader.

>> Yes. >> How much is it raining in Trump? That. seemed to be a huge message from this. midterm. How much of it is investigating. his administration? And how much do you. think voters want you all to focus on. that? >> Okay, good question. I've thought a lot. about it. >> I assume you have. >> First, start off with the premise this. is the most I'm going to curse again cuz. I'm so angry at this guy. He's the most. [ __ ] corrupt not only president, but. leader in America we have ever had.

That slush fund? >> You're talking about the fund for those. who were in his mind the victim of. government weaponization. >> just them. It's his own pocket. He's. president, but he sues the government. for 10 billion dollars for defamation as. a citizen. Then as president, he shakes. hands and settles and gives himself 2. billion dollars. Some of it would go to those people, but. some of it is going to end up in his. pocket. It's outrageous. So, we cannot. just turn away and say we're not. investigating it. So, we have to look. into the most egregious examples of.

corruption and of going against these. bad people. I would be for them kicking. Heksath out tomorrow. You know, >> be for him kicking Heksath out tomorrow. You In your mind, Heksath should. should be fired and impeached. >> Yes. Okay? But, number one, costs. The corruption is important, but costs. is number one. Meaning, focus on reducing the costs for. the American people and doing some If we. just did corruption, we'd be a loser. If. we didn't do any corruption, >> glad you raised that because.

>> You got to do some, but not let it. overshadow and take away what we can do. on the. >> Democrats impeached President Trump. twice in the first term. That in. combination with the prosecutions of him. in the period between his presidencies. seem to only fuel his and Republicans'. popularity. You're saying though that. you think Democrats can walk and chew. gum. They can work to lower costs and. investigate the president. Do you want. to see him impeached? >> Uh that's going to be up to the house. I'm not going to prejudge them. >> I don't see you. as the man who just cursed at him and.

called him the most corrupt president in. American history, I don't see you sounding averse to the. possibility. >> Let's see what the house does. >> Okay. I almost think I know the answer. to this because the tone of of your. relationship with him seems clear, but. have you spoken with the president in. the past few days since the midterms? Have you called him? Has he called you? >> No. No one has called me. >> If he calls you, will you take it? >> Of course I'll take the call. I'll. listen to him, but look, the bottom line is I've said this to my. caucus members. Okay? We are going to. push our agenda, what we believe in,

with him or without him. He's in a. certain sense irrelevant to us. No. matter what he does, we're going. forward. If he joins us, I doubt he. will, great. If he doesn't, we're still. moving forward. >> With legislation that he may veto. >> He may veto it. And if he vetoes it, it. will show the divisions, you know, as. much as we didn't want to shut down. When we shut down the government for a. month over health care, people knew we. were on their side. >> Right. We talked to you about that. shutdown. >> Yeah, you did. Same thing here. Okay?

>> But that sounds like potentially a. winning argument politically, but if you. want to lower costs, if you want. Affordable Care Act subsidies to be. restored, if you want life to be more. affordable, you're going to have to. legislate in a way that the president. would sign. >> I don't trust this guy. I don't think he. will. But if he does, great. I don't think he. will. >> doesn't, how do you lower costs? >> Take the Affordable Care Act. >> The subsidies. >> I think we're going to get Republicans. who voted no in the past and saw how. badly it affected their states and their.

electoral prospects. There are 15 or 20. Republicans who are Trump acolytes. Anything he does, they do it. And then there are two or three who had. the courage to resist him. Tillis who. lost his job, Thorn and who lost his job. because of Trump. But most of them. really dislike him, but have been afraid. to buck him. But this election should be. the handwriting on the wall. You don't. buck. >> Should be, but are you hearing these. lawmakers say that they will cross party. lines and work with you on legislation. >> We will We will but yes,

I am getting initial signs that way. On. certain issues, not on every issue. >> What piece of legislation. do you want to see get passed. no matter what the president does or. doesn't do with it, no matter whether. Republicans join you to get to. >> If I have my one wish on costs. [snorts]. >> Oh, on costs. >> ahead. Start with your wish, but then. let's get. >> My one wish is that we undo Citizens. United and the horrible amount of money. in politics. And if we could get. Republicans and. >> Trump has all that overrides the Supreme.

Court decision. Or or or or legislation. >> it. There are ways to curb it in line. with the Supreme Court decision. And it. relates to costs. The things are. intertwined more than, you know, people. might think. >> That's a somewhat abstract argument for. the average American. Getting rid of. money in politics lowering their costs. What when it comes to lowering costs. legislatively, do you want to see. rat-a-tat-tat that you guys. >> Okay. >> with a huge house majority that you laid. >> five areas that we want to go after. They were health care,

electric costs, groceries, and tariffs. related to the tariffs and how much you. pay, child care, and housing. Those. five. >> subsidies? >> There are four or five points under. each, but things we would do to lower. the costs on each of them. >> Are you going to try to legislatively. get rid of the president's tariffs? >> Mhm? Yes, and we we can. >> You think you can? >> Well, he can veto it, but yes, and I. think we'll get good Republican support. for that. >> How do you deal with gas prices? >> Mhm? >> The number one issue. >> And the [ __ ] war.

>> How do you end the war? >> Well, power of the purse. >> You deprive the the Department of. Defense of the money required to conduct. the war. >> Right. The Founding Fathers gave the. power of the purse to the Congress to. stop the president from wars that the. public didn't want. I think that was in. the Federalist Papers somewhere or. other. >> Congress has continued to fund the war. >> We needed five Republican votes. We got. three, then four. We'll get more now. >> You will. And you think you can bring. this war to an end that way? >> Well, we hope so.

>> Okay, so we covered. We covered health care, we covered gas. Are you going to do anything on housing? >> Yes, we're going to do more in terms of. both making it easier to build housing, and we realize you got to figure out new. ways for cheaper housing, to build it. quicker and easier, and we have some. proposals on that. >> Mhm. You're going to try all these. things, Senator Schumer, but if Trump. scuttles them, if he rejects them, if he. vetoes them, if Republicans don't give. you the votes to override them, you're.

going to be held responsible. I believe. the words you used were scuttled. >> line is that this year, when we fought. hard, people saw it. Look, when you have an overweening president, the Founding Fathers, the Federalist. Papers, you know, when they were worried. about a king. This guy's like a king. The first way was the Congress to stop. them. With the Republicans in charge, they. didn't. >> Mhm. >> The second way was the voters, and the. voters did. And if Trump blocks everything, and we.

are clear and united and relentless, we. don't just do it once and go home. >> Then voters will see you fighting. >> Correct. And 2028, we get the trifecta, and we can do a lot. I'd much prefer to. get it done now, but we will keep at it, and I believe it will hurt the. Republicans even worse. If they keep. doing those things, you will lose the. White House. The night of 2026 elections. look like a good night to them compared. to what will happen in 2028. >> If they keep fighting you tooth and. nail. >> Right on the things. >> In ways that are unpopular in your mind.

>> Yes. >> They will lose the White House on a. scale even more meaningful than they. lost these midterms. >> want to call it a win-win cuz I'd like. to do things the people are in such. anguish. >> You win either way. >> But you could put it that way. >> Huh. I hadn't thought of it that way. I. don't think. a lot of voters will see it that way. though. >> Well, they may not now, but they may. We'll make those arguments. >> How much do you feel this burden? And then let me just frame the burden. for you. Trump ran as the America First. president. And in two elections, a lot. of Americans believed he was the America.

First president. On Tuesday night, the coalition behind him began to. collapse. >> Yes. >> And the question for so many voters is, are Democrats here to simply slow and. try to stop the president. or to genuinely replace that broken. vision now? >> Yes. And I think people are beginning to. believe in it, and I think the election. showed that people are willing to take a. gander on us.

>> Mhm. For that. >> But I would also say if we don't. produce, then. we could lose it all. But it's not the. lack of where we want to go. We've made. that clear. The key for me is getting it. done, and it's not easy, but I'm a. legislator, and I'm somebody who fights, fights, fights. That's the Brooklyn in. me, and we got to get it done. >> There's something I wish I'd asked you. earlier. When I interviewed James Talarico, still. candidate, not yet winner, he said. >> an example of such a great candidate.

who's going to. help us keep Texas Democratic, I think. He would like the legislative filibuster. to go away. >> Mhm. >> Because in his mind and many Democrats'. mind, the filibuster prevents the ability of. even a majority of say you get 56 from. being able to get its will accomplished. If you get rid of the filibuster, you. don't need 60 votes. The obvious risk is. that the other side gets that and passes. the Save America Act, does things you. don't want around elections. Have you.

given deep thought to this question? Uh. Several of the incoming freshmen in your. caucus will want the filibuster to go. away. >> don't want it, but I would say this, our. focus has to be on reducing costs, and. we'll see the best and quickest way to. go. >> The best and quickest way if if if that. means. >> Um. >> ending the filibuster, are you even open. to it? >> Mhm. What I would say is I'm looking at. everything through the prism of. succeeding on our cost issue, as well as. chaos and corruption.

>> Mhm. Let me just ask a final question here. What metrics. do you think we should judge you by. in the next year, in next year and a. half? What metrics will you be judging. yourself. by when it comes to. accomplishing what you and this new. Democratic majority. >> getting some real accomplishments on. cost, chaos, and corruption. Second, keeping our caucus, our Democratic. Senate caucus, which has so much talent, making sure those talents are uh.

highlighted, but also keeping us. unified. >> Mhm. I didn't hear specifics though. I I. imagine you have them in your head. When. I asked you how you will measure. yourself. Is it Is there a cost? Is. there a gas price? Is there a I'm not. trying to do this to be clever. >> no, I know you're not, but it's a. question that you can't really answer at. the moment. We'll know over the next few. months, and you got to know is there a. war, is there not a war? What are the. you know, so look, you fight hard, you get things done, and.

you know, the people are going to be the. ultimate judge, not me or not you. And we want to show the people that we. have made their lives better and. actually make it better. And I am given. the success we had on election night. because of 2 years of hard work because. my North Star was always winning back. the Senate. Everything I did is seen. through that prism. It worked. But now. there's a new prism, produce. >> Well, Senator, as always, thank you. And.

I should just point out for the listener. that it somehow mysteriously this fire. that was not started that went out when. we got here. I don't believe it to be any kind of. metaphor, but it is roaring now next to. us producing a lot of heat and a lot of. sound. >> It is a metaphor. >> For? >> Take for our success. >> [laughter]. >> Well, Senator, I always appreciate your. time and your candor. Did not expect the profanity, but. it is what it is. >> [music]. >> You know,

I I'm from Brooklyn. I always used to. have to I wanted to say those words, but. I couldn't. And the world's changed for. a better. It's you know, if you want to. say them, you can and it doesn't offend. people the way it used to. >> Yeah, it's a little bit maybe 16. Pennsylvania rubbing off on the capital. >> I hope not. I hope not much rubs off out. of there. >> Thank you again. >> Take care. >> [music].

>> On Thursday night, the Times reported. that an analysis of outstanding ballots. in the Alaska Senate race showed that. the Democratic candidate Mary Peltola is. on track to win that election. Meanwhile, the latest count in. Mississippi showed the Democratic. candidate for Senate there, Scott. Colburn, with a lead of 1,800 votes. If. both Democrats are declared winners, it. would give Schumer and his party a.

56-seat. majority in the US Senate. >> We'll be right back. Here's what else you need. >> [music]. >> to know today. As vote counting from Tuesday's election. continued, the Democratic House majority.

surged past 250 seats, >> [music]. >> its biggest majority in nearly two. decades. One of the latest Democratic victories. declared on Thursday was in bright red. Montana, >> [music]. >> where Sam Forstag won a seat long held. by Republicans by running on a pro-labor. message that earned him an endorsement. from Senator Bernie Sanders. And. >> [music]. >> the US stock market suffered its worst. day in nearly two years on Thursday as. Democratic victories in Congress raised.

fears about new regulations on. artificial intelligence. And as investors bulked at the growing. debt numbers at big tech companies, the stock market sell-off [music]. erased trillions of dollars of value. from some of the country's biggest tech. companies, including Nvidia, [music]. Meta, and Amazon. Today's [music] episode was produced by. Astha Chaturvedi, Chris Benderev, Eric. Krupke, and Afiom Shapiro. It was edited.

by Rachel Quester with help from Paige. Cowett and Liz O'Brien. Contains music by Dan Powell, Marion. Lozano, and Alicia Batey, and was. engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by [music] Wonderly. >> [music]. >> That's it for The Daily. I'm Michael Barbaro. See you on Sunday.