The Huddle | Wednesday, April 29th

Ajouté : 2026-05-06

[00:00:26][music] [music] All right. Well, good morning everybody.

[00:00:45]Uh, it's a big day today on Wednesday if you can't tell.

[00:00:50]Rachel, you're not at home. Uh, tell everybody if they can't guess, where are you, Rachel?

[00:00:57]>> I am standing, uh, just outside the White House. It's my pool day today for new and independent media. So, uh, I am here on standby in case something big happens and the president decides to call us in to just gaggle for an hour, which would be amazing.

[00:01:12]>> Did you bring a towel?

[00:01:14][laughter] >> Good one. Uh, I am set, we are set to go in, I believe, at two o'clock today where the president's going to be meeting uh with the the astronauts from the Artemis. So, that'll be fun.

[00:01:25]Hopefully.

[00:01:26]>> Oh my god. Did you bring a copy? It would have been I'm just saying it would have been a nice thing if you had brought a copy of my book to give to the astronauts.

[00:01:33]>> Oh, Sean, I I didn't do that. I'm sorry.

[00:01:36]Next time.

[00:01:37]>> Sean, maybe your book can be on the next one and can actually be in space. I mean, that that would be And of course, ladies and gentlemen, Sean is not in his kitchen. Those are not hydrangeas behind them. Sean, how were first day book sales and where are you, >> Dan? They were probably the greatest ever. Uh, more people downloaded the book from It was uh, it was very humbling. A lot of I stopped in California here. We got a couple stops.

[00:02:03]I will literally be back in DC tonight.

[00:02:05]Uh, I'm not enjoying any of the beautiful California weather. I'm staying away from their politics, but getting their weather. Um, but it was humbling. So, thank you to everyone. As a reminder, if you order Trump 2.0 in the next few days, uh we'll send you a free book plate. So, you can stick it in and have it signed to whomever you want.

[00:02:22]And apparently, people really like that.

[00:02:24]So, I will be signing a lot of books this weekend or book plates and then we'll sending them off to you and you can stick them in your book. Um but it's been a it was a really humbling first day. So, thank you. I'm excited. Uh unless my family bought all of those books.

[00:02:39]>> Well, and folks, before we came on today, you know, Rachel's at the White House. We have a war going on. Lots of big things. Five minutes out, Rachel says there's a bird stuck in a bush. And Rachel went and found somebody to help.

[00:02:53]The poor bird was caught in string.

[00:02:56]Rachel, give everyone an update. How is the little bird at the White House?

[00:03:01]>> The the robin is is out and and flown away.

[00:03:05]>> We're good now. So, first day I I am very happy because I could I could hear its misery and it was caught in a bush and it couldn't get out and I was like very upset about this. Uh, but we're good now.

[00:03:16]>> We got to put you in for some kind of presidential medal.

[00:03:19]>> Yeah, exactly.

[00:03:20]>> I'm I'm a bleeding heart, guys. I'm a bleeding heart. Can't deal with animals in distress. So, >> well, on that note, the bird is free.

[00:03:26]So, all is well in the Republic. All right. Coming up today, folks, uh the first topic is going to be there was a lot of of red meat yesterday. Tossed a maga, Todd Blanch, the FCC, uh one of um Fouch's uh I don't know what uh colleagues indicted. So, we're going to talk was it a flex or was it a flop? And I have a movie clip that I am going to bring up for that will give you my opinion. Uh number two, uh Capitol Hill.

[00:03:57]Uh Sean, you've said this now for weeks.

[00:04:01]Republicans just reflexively these days wait for Trump and to bail them out. It looks like yes, the playbook is Donald Trump needs to come and rescue the Republicans. We'll talk about that.

[00:04:11]Third, uh we're going to talk about Iran. This kind of, you know, blockade versus resuming the bombing. Trump seems to be sounding people out, trying to think through his options. Where does that go? The Virginia Supreme Court.

[00:04:24]Sean may be on the west coast, but he's keeping a close eye on the east coast, they issued a stay in the redistricting decision um or the redistricting certification and and moving forward.

[00:04:35]We'll talk about that. And then lastly, because we are getting closer and closer to November, a bunch of polls both uh in the h for competitive house races, also various senate races. So, we'll talk about that. Um, let's just uh before we get to the daybook, let me uh talk about um the American Petroleum Institute.

[00:04:55]They are our title sponsor for the month. Again, the blockade versus bombs.

[00:04:59]A lot of that has to do with Trump wanting to know what will happen with oil and the and gasoline prices here at home. But we have, you know, are always talking about the fact that the US has more natural gas reserves than almost anywhere on Earth. We literally have 100 years of natural gas uh in our ground.

[00:05:18]We're the top exporter of liqufied natural gas but um and our competitiveness it's helping to drive you know US innovation. One of the reasons people are reshoring is the abundance of natural energy that we have. The problem is we can't build pipes and and um uh facilities fast enough because often permitting is broken. Reviews drag on for years. One state can block an interstate pipeline.

[00:05:45]Activists try to reset the clock constantly and fight. In New York here, there was the Constitution pipeline was tied up for seven years. But API has a a blueprint. Streamline reviews, limit obstruction, get infrastructure built, tell Congress to pass permitting reform now. Go to permittingreform now.org.

[00:06:06]Thank you. The American uh Petroleum Institute. Um Sean, you want to talk about your uh cozy or uh Rachel, are you going to do you >> I'm going to go with that one. Yes.

[00:06:18]Today.

[00:06:20]>> Yeah. So today, >> but you look good.

[00:06:23]>> Uh I'm definitely not in cozier right now. Uh although I did have my robe on this morning when I did my makeup. Super comfortable, soft, feels like a weighted blanket. Highly recommend for a mom when you look for Mother's Day presents. But today, uh I'm going to give a shout out to my dad. It's his birthday. Happy birthday, dad. He watches show all the time and he may may have gotten a present from a certain place. We often town on this show. Uh Cozy Earth. I am not going to say what I bought him because I don't want to spoil it and I bet he's watching uh right now. But look, if you've got a birthday for a parent, Mother's Day is coming up.

[00:06:54]Father's Day is coming up, too. Uh highly recommend, guys. Super comfortable pajamas. Uh the bedding is incredible. I mentioned earlier this week that the sheets that I have from Cozy Earth, my bamboo sheets are dirty.

[00:07:07]They're in the wash. Unfortunately, I'm back to linen right now and I'm really regretting it and I'm going to go order uh another set of cozy earth sheets so that I can rotate those instead of going back to the linen again. The robes are amazing, the slippers. Sean will tell you how great the eye masks are. Uh Sean, for the record, how many of those do you own? Because yesterday I think I said you own three, but I wasn't sure if you own two or three eye masks from >> currently currently own three. One is on loan to someone who sleeps next to me. Um, and it's is is [snorts] it's a lease program that she will um that could expire at any moment.

[00:07:49]And then I bought two more. Um, >> and and will you put on the plane coming home?

[00:07:53]>> Will you wear one on the plane coming home?

[00:07:55]>> Yeah. Actually, there's part to be honest with you, Dan. That's part of the reason I bought two more is that I was like I have one that I travel with just so I can throw down and you realize if you're used to like I have to have it completely dark in the room to fall asleep, especially in hotel rooms, it has to be cold and dark. And uh and again, I I I learned the lesson last night. I have one that I travel with and I was like that's why I I when I ordered the two the other day, part of what was to have one to put in the travel bag. I used to work for a candidate who will remain nameless, but when she didn't want to talk to you on the plane anymore, she just put the eye mask on and that was her way of saying [laughter] conversation's over. If you had a picture of Hillary with that no names, no names, no names.

[00:08:32]>> It had to be there had to be female.

[00:08:35]>> Um, awesome guys. Well, obviously they're good because uh Sean has five of them, which is frankly quite insane. But anyway, Cozy Earth, go to cozyear.com.

[00:08:44]Use our code huddle for 20% off. Again, cozyear.com. Use our code huddle. 20% off. It's great stuff and anything you need to buy people. You can find a lot of different stuff on there. So, check it out.

[00:08:55]>> All right. All right. The daybook. You know, this the springtime is flying season on Capitol Hill, and that's because a lot is usually going on, and uh today is no exception. Uh we have Interior Secretary Bergam is on the Hill testifying about his budget. At 10:00 a.m., the Supreme Court is going to hear a case Mullen vers D, which is the Trump administration's effort to revoke temporary protected status. Get ready to hear the acronym TPS quite a bit. Uh, this has to do with 350,000 migrants from Haiti and 7,000 from Syria that are here. Um, I know that some people have thought the court may be a little skeptical of this case, but it would be huge. uh depending on on on how they rule. Uh so those arguments get underway at 10:00 a.m. Also at 10:00 a.m. This is going to be big. Secretary Hegsth is going to testify before the House Armed Services Committee. It's the first public testimony since the start of the Iran War. I I I mean look, you have JD Vance's, you know, the story in the Atlantic about is the Pentagon being totally truthful? You have the issue of of the nuclear weapons, the um how much uh our resources uh our munition supplies have gone down. I I mean Sean Hegsth is very comfortable in front of a camera, very comfortable being uh confr, you know, kind of confrontational.

[00:10:26]Do we think he is like is is Pam Bondi the model here? Like what do you think he does? Because it may not just be Democrats that go at him. There may be some Republican questions about the firings. The chairman uh of the House Armed Services spoke very highly of the Naval Secretary after he was dismissed.

[00:10:44]Um you have any thoughts on this, Sean?

[00:10:48]>> Yeah, actually I I think the new uh standard might be Lee Zeldon yesterday.

[00:10:51]His back and forth with Rosa Delora. Um Lee was very uh calm and fact. I mean, it was actually a really good exchange with Rosa Delora and uh if you just judge on the merits, I think he got the best of her because he he is a smart guy. He's a lawyer. But um here here's what I would say to the question you asked. I think tone and tenor matters, right? So Bondie liked to go to like eight or nine right off the bat and be like, "How dare you ask this question?"

[00:11:16]I I don't know that that comes across great. Um maybe to some of the base, but I think that like the more like Bobby Kennedy actually does a really good job of sticking to, you know, here are the facts of this and here's what you he comes prepared. I I I would think Pete definitely has much more of a um >> of that fiery in him, but I would I would suggest the Armed Services Committee generally has been more of all of the committees outside of Intel been the most bipartisan.

[00:11:46]>> And I would I would reserve that sort of eight nine scale for when it's welld deserved. Uh let's see if he's actually listening to that advice, Sean, because I would say HGth is more of a pan bondi type figure than uh than Lee Zeldon, which by the way, I saw that exchange.

[00:12:03]Very well done on his part in terms of how to respond to Democrats on the Hill.

[00:12:07]Uh but Hegath has a short fuse. I mean, like >> Well, that's why that's right. I mean, that's >> all right. So, let me ask both of you then just quickly.

[00:12:14]>> Yeah. Heg Seth at any risk that if this goes off the rails, Sean, he could like Christy Gnome, it it his job could be in jeopardy or no way any change right now.

[00:12:27]>> There's always a way. Um I think [laughter] we're but but we're at we're at war.

[00:12:32]>> Yeah.

[00:12:33]>> Right.

[00:12:33]>> And um and so I and the problem is that there really isn't an air appearance.

[00:12:38]Steve Fineberg, the deputy, is is a civilian in the sense that he's never served. Uh I I I'm almost positive on that. I I apologize to Mr. Fineberg if I'm wrong. Um but but my point is >> you'd have to not I mean you you could but again it would be that would be a big shift to sort of pull the army secretary out. It's a very different dynamic. The way the service secretaries operate is not operationally the same as sect def. So uh I'm just saying I >> I think that he's got a little bit of latitude but I' I' I'd be careful that I don't go too far. Well, and of course I want to flag what you Sean very smartly flagged uh a while ago when it came to gnome, which is are any questions from the Hill sanctioned from above? We'll have to stay tuned. We have much to talk about. All right, 10 a.m. the Senate Banking Committee votes.

[00:13:26]>> Well, and Dan, real quick, who are they sanctioned from?

[00:13:29]>> So, with no, it was it was pretty clear there's two people that occupy >> Yes. the the uh White House senior leader ranks and uh and I think there's some questions about either either one of them where they stand and so I I I it's it's you're not you're not just worried about a John Kennedy running it by certain people like you now worry about two different staffs up there potentially Rachel mentioned Driscoll Driscoll very aligned with JD Vance >> all right we will we will stay tuned I was say Kevin Worsh to be chair of the Federal Reserve uh it's likely that that this is going to go through now um because because of the president or the department of justice stopping the investigation of Jerome Powell. 10:15 the House Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing on building AI data centers while protecting taxpayers. I think you're going to see more of these.

[00:14:18]This is the first, you know, kind of shot. This is a Republican committee that is, you know, starting to talk not in the most positive way about AI data centers. 10:30 the House is going to try to consider the rule the whole house on the FISA bill. Uh we're going to talk about this in a second. Uh there are a lot of nervous people on in in Republican leadership today. Uh we'll talk about that. 2:00 the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee announces its latest interest rate decision.

[00:14:48]They're expected to hold steady, but of course there will be a new chair. at 2:30. This will be Jay Powell's last press conference. I think it'll be interesting because he is likely going to be asked if he will stay uh after, you know, Ke assuming Kevin Worsh is confirmed by the whole Senate, you know, very soon uh to become the new chair.

[00:15:09]What does Pal say on that? And does he take any parting shots? Um he's gotten more and more comfortable uh speaking up here. So, we will see. Uh two o'clock the president hosts Artemis 2 astronauts at the White House. It really should say also hosting Rachel Bade. Uh new media um she will be there. [laughter] Um it'll be interesting because the open market committee will be making a decision. Likely not going to drop interest rates. Rachel, he may be a little frisky um coming in here. And of course if Powell says something while you're in there, keep an eye on X and other things here um to see what he does. And then Lee Zelden, who that you guys both just mentioned, is on the other side of the Capitol today testifying before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. And tonight, folks, if this isn't enough, if you're in Tallahassee, Florida, uh Florida lawmakers are expected to to vote on the new proposed congressional map uh that would obviously add or is that they're hoping to add four Republican seats. Um Sean, you have any any any you know people feel pretty good this is going to move forward down there?

[00:16:19]>> Yeah. So everything that I've heard there's a little some people are a little disgruntled depending on where you shook out district-wise, but he's not getting the same push back that he did last time um from Senate I mean excuse me from House Republicans in the legislature. So I don't know if it's just because they know that the White House needs this because they saw what happened in Indiana. they don't want to.

[00:16:40]But, uh, I think this is largely going to just go through. Uh, there's not the opposition that there was the last time they tried to play this game where everyone wanted to flex their power.

[00:16:49]>> So, I I assume it it goes through. And >> here's the funny thing. I I got a kick out of all these other people, Hakee Jeff, Gavin Newsome, talking about gerrymandering.

[00:16:58]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:16:58]>> Uh, and I'm like, I'm sorry. You guys literally just spent $90 million in Virginia uh making Virginia the most gerrymandered state after a constitutional amendment prohibited it.

[00:17:09]And you want to lecture us? It just it >> Oh, yeah. We we talked about this yesterday. It it it was hilarious.

[00:17:15]>> The both sides completely flipped and and you know, as we said, >> but I don't and I I I know that sometimes it's like, you know, if you're losing, you're explaining. I will say there is a big difference about the constitution uh of each state and what it requires and what it allows and that's the law right and and so what Virginia did and it was funny because Jay Jones the attorney general yesterday in Virginia couldn't there's a thing in Virginia beyond the procedure having an intervening election between uh general assemblies um that you have to follow which that that was a big question but one of the other questions that the court was looking at was the 90-day statute that says you have to wait until after the legislature passes for a second time 90 days before it goes to the ballot there. It it just didn't happen, right? We didn't wait 90 days.

[00:18:01]And >> J we'll get to Virginia here, but I'm just saying there there's a difference between following the law and not following the law.

[00:18:09]>> The court the Virginia Supreme Court will rule on what the law is. And as we've seen in many instances both at the federal and many state levels, courts do what courts do and sometimes we like it and sometimes we don't. All right. So, speaking of uh government action, we'll go to our first topic here. Um, so yesterday uh was a big day. Uh Rachel, you tweeted uh Todd Blanch, it seems to would like to be the uh permanent attorney general, not just acting. Um, and in that vein, it does not hurt that uh Todd Blanch uh put forward uh charges against uh Jim Comey um uh over sea shells uh saying that it was a threat to uh the president of the United States.

[00:18:54]At the same time, the FCC moved to re to formally begin a review of Disney's license on the or ABC owned by Disney on uh the the airwaves in response to you know Jimmy Kimmel. Um and then one of uh Dr. Fouch's aids was also charged for using non-government uh email u to communicate obviously kind of across this you know these are the type of things the president has wanted to see.

[00:19:21]These are things that his base has wanted to see. Sean, I I know you were traveling and busy, but but obviously this is stuff that people have wanted to see. This comes on top of Blanch's, you know, other moves that that he has made recently on the Southern Poverty Law Center. Like what are your, you know, thoughts here? Is is is MAGA happy or are people like >> Yeah.

[00:19:44]>> So, I I would rank the Fouchy one higher than the Comey one. Okay. uh the amount of feedback that I got yesterday online and and otherwise from people about Fouch's aid getting indicted. There is a I mean people want accountability for what happened during CO and uh so so yeah the Fouchy one frankly took off more than I thought. The Comey one to be honest with you I I I look at it and um and I go okay are we doing this to tie Comey up uh to make him expend resources to make him example? I'm not a lawyer, so but but I know people who were reading the the indictment who did not feel it was strong. Um, now again, I I will admit economically, legal, health-wise, don't take advice from me.

[00:20:30]But I I do think that when people start saying, "Hey, this is a pretty weak indictment." Um, you know, I I'll we'll see what happens. And and you mentioned this earlier, but the the problem is that if Blanch goes out there and does all this again, and this wasn't agreed upon, right? Uh I I talk literally in my book about the case Spicer v. Biden. We wanted to lose that case to set a legal precedent. Like the goal was to actually lose the case so that we had the administration arguing in the affirmative that they could do something. Maybe they went to President Trump and said, "Hey, look, we're going to do this again, but he'll he'll win the case on the merits." And and Trump says, "Great. Just tie him up for another two months. Make him ex I mean, and and if that was the case, he's fine.

[00:21:09]But if they go down this rabbit hole again and lose, I think you're going to upset the president who said, "Why did we do this again?"

[00:21:16]>> Yeah. Rachel.

[00:21:18]>> Yeah.

[00:21:18]>> No, I was just going to jump in and say like how much of this is is really about winning, right? I mean, like, right.

[00:21:23]>> Clearly, he's performing for an audience of one, and that is the president. He wants this job. He doesn't want to just be acting ag.

[00:21:31]And so, he's per he is going out there.

[00:21:33]He's going after the president's enemies. The president made very clear that he was not happy with Pam Bondi because she didn't do enough. And so number one, the point being like just showing you tried. Sean, you often talk about we have to show we tried. Like perhaps this is just that. Even if you have Republicans out there saying, you know, it's a thin case. The other thing I was going to say, and you sort of hit on this, Sean, um Katherine Herage, who former former Fox News, then CBS, and now independent journalist, she was tweeting about this a little bit yesterday, talking about how even if a case like this fails, like it ties up these people for a really long time.

[00:22:05]They have to deal with legal bills. they have to do like it literally turns people's life upside down for a time and perhaps that is the point here which is like they don't know they they can win the case uh but they're going after Comey because like the president doesn't like him and they just can't do it. They want to be pits and like you know ruin these people's lives for a time. So um and I just want to say something else about the the FCC case with with Brendan Carr because that to me feels different.

[00:22:30]I mean, like, I know we're talking here about like being aggressive and all these investigators going after, you know, the president's enemies, but the the car case, this the FCC case is actually not about Jimmy Kimmel. It's about DEI stuff, right? Like apparently there's a concern at Disney. You know, Disney like has not uh you been like that they've engaged in some sort of discrimination. Like that's a whole different case. So, even though a lot of people are out there saying this is like BS and it's about Jimmy Kimmel. I mean, the timing certainly doesn't look great, right? uh a little little uh ironic on the timing there after Jimmy Kimmel wasn't in a fight with the White House, but like this is about something different. So anyway, just want to get those >> No, it's actually a really good point because it goes back to the merits of these things whether you can win them or not. And I think that they've got a much stronger case this time against ABC on behalf of those affiliates that they were forcing DEI stuff down to. Um and that would be a big win for for Carr and for a lot of social conservatives who really believe that um ABC went too far.

[00:23:28]I will just say a side note on the Kimmel thing. I think it's funny how one of Jimmy's explanations is, you know, they knew what I meant. And here we go with a bunch of people who have perpetuated lies and hoaxes on behalf of the president who knew better. And now the excuse from Kimmel is, come on, guys. You know, I didn't mean that. That wasn't the intent. And I'm like, how many times do people on the left take something that President Trump says, ex exacerbate it, exaggerate it, exploit it, and suddenly now it's them on the other side. And and that's you know and and the last point I'll make is to Rachel what Rachel said I wasn't a target of Mueller but I was in the process of writing my first book when when that happened and my lawyers were like you've got to be careful what you say when's this going to come I mean every aspect of your life and again I wasn't a target suddenly becomes like them worrying about interviews that you do public engagements that you do because you might say something that they that they can further draw you in on. So, you're right. I mean, this this really just ties up somebody's life in a way that people who've not been a target of something or involved in a massive prosecution or witch hunt don't fully appreciate.

[00:24:32]>> Yeah. And this, of course, has been going on for for almost 40 years now in DC. All right, Kevin, bring up this clip. This is this is >> just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this.

[00:24:49][laughter] AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF.

[00:24:53]>> THANK YOU, KEVIN. YEAH. I mean, as a Democrat, I just want to like high-five the administration. This is one of the most ridiculous I mean, politically, it's a gift to Democrats. I I mean, I >> You mean the Comey thing specifically, Dan, right? The Comey thing specifically. You mean the thing?

[00:25:12]>> I mean, look, just let's start with the one that the right is most animated about. For those who don't know, the allegation is that not Fouchy, who's been the target for years, but an aid to Fouchi used a non-government email about the origins of COVID. So, we're going back seven years. This was during the Trump administration, right? This wasn't the B administration. This was the the Trump administration.

[00:25:40]I think we talked about Signal Gate. We all know the number of people in the administration who do not use government emails at all. It's comical. You're like, that is what you are focused on to go after Comey on seashells.

[00:25:58]Like all we've heard is Russia hoax. Oh, we're going to get him. He's he's guilty across the board.

[00:26:05]Seashells.

[00:26:06]And by the way, this is from a president of the United States who has retweeted so many ludicrous things. What was fascinating to be serious for a moment was to Democrats this week more and more are now starting to go at Republicans to say, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no."

[00:26:24]Right? Don Jr., he should be arrested.

[00:26:26]He put up a hammer and underwear and said, "I now this is what I'm going to have for Halloween to go at Paul Pelosi." Don Junior going to get arrested? He said it was a joke.

[00:26:38]I mean, you're seeing time more and more Democrats saying to Republicans like the dog doesn't hunt. And then for Carr to go after Disney, I mean, for a Republican and Trump to talk about inappropriate comments and jokes. I mean, you can hear the country laughing at him. It it's like I I go back to Dana Perino saying Gavin Newsome's conduct was unbecoming when he started rage tweeting to mock Trump and everyone like just laughed.

[00:27:10]>> So to me for a party that's losing and and has a problem with with voters who say you're not focused on us. This is unbelievable. It's unbelievable.

[00:27:19]>> I was going to say the FCC thing though.

[00:27:21]I mean, we talked about this yesterday or maybe it was the day before, but like if if this was all because of Jimmy Kimmel, like obviously some Republicans like Ted Cruz would have a problem with this because it is a slippery slope when you talk about censorship. And I know taxpayer dollars are involved and that sort of complicates the argument. But again, Dan, this case is not like hung on that. It's hung on the Disney DEI thing, which is like >> you think it's a coincidence they launched that right now? Oh, I totally think it was again flip a flip of the finger, a flip of the middle finger in terms of the timing, but like it's a that's a totally different case saying people are discriminating in a company based on, you know, race and gender and look, we've got to move on, but let me just say this. I I think that we're we're misreading this is that right now the Republican base heading into a midterm that is a base plus election needs to see some action and some fight. And to them when when I like I said when I saw the Fouchy indictment yesterday it was a proxy. It was yes we're fighting back.

[00:28:23]Yes we're getting some justice finally.

[00:28:25]It doesn't m I mean that that's what's getting missed in this. And >> here would be my worry Sean for for you like in all seriousness you're going to lose every one of these by the fall.

[00:28:35]>> So now you're going to go to the election with the base saying we're 0 for 11 I think when all all these get Sean you're gonna lose every one of these.

[00:28:43]>> Okay. I'll take that bet.

[00:28:45]>> Okay.

[00:28:45]>> Yeah. All right. Um, let's go to the next topic then. Capitol Hill. So, Republicans, uh, we're Wednesday. It seems to Sean have gotten worse as the week has gone on. The infighting, the the the fingerpointing, Mike Johnson kind of just flopping all over the place. And now you have, you know, reports that literally the House Republicans and the Senate Republicans are saying to Trump, you need to come in and get everyone in line.

[00:29:13]Sean, he hates doing this. the White House does not want to have to be doing this and I don't know if they're going to listen to him. Is Trump going to lean in this week and try to solve this?

[00:29:24]>> Well, he's going to have to at some point whether it's this week or the beginning of next the FISA stuff. I mean, they they may do another short-term extension. Um but but we're at an impass and I think at some point they're going to have to show him x number of times that we've tried we tried this time. We tried to get this.

[00:29:39]We offered them that and here's where we are. So, let's let's see what another vote or two does or another uh offering from the leadership to the rank and file. But you look down I mean at some point you just have to figure out what the math problem is. How many is it? Is it five? Is it 10? Um and and there's members that you know you can get right.

[00:29:56]There's a bunch of holdouts that always are hold outs that eventually cave. So I think what the job of leader you know speaker Johnson uh Scaliz and then obviously the whip Emmer is to kind of come up with a a universe and say these are the five. So, it's either the president calling them or here's what we're going to have to do to tweak this to get them over the finish line. Uh, but that's that's there's really not that many choices at the end of the day because the intelligence community is very clear that this is what they need.

[00:30:24]>> Rachel, what are you hearing?

[00:30:27]>> Yeah, look, I mean, they try to wait until the last minute to bring in the big guns. Uh, and sorry, I have a lawn mower behind me, so I was distracted for a minute part of Sean's answer. So, sorry if I repeat you, Sean. Um but yeah, I think so they they started with the truth. Like he was truththing about this last night. That was very intentional. They had a memo last night saying, you know, Republicans need to get on board. Um but like getting a call from the president and saying no is a whole different thing than ignoring a tweet, right? And the president has been able to do this like in terms of getting legislation across the the finish line.

[00:30:58]They just basically they hold the vote open and they pull these Republican lawmakers and they pull them into the cloak room and then they call the president, put them on speed on on um speaker phone and he like leans in and gets them to to change their vote. So, I mean, I don't know how this is going to go down. My guess is we could see sort of a repeat of what we've seen before, which is they have the vote early, they can't get the votes, and then they either hold it open for a very long time until they get there or they reschedule it again for later in the day. Uh but they're running out of time. I mean, lawmakers are supposed to go on recess, and we know how they love their congressional breaks, so they do not want uh to miss their congressional breaks, but they have things they've got to get done before then. And then last thing I want to say on this is um >> one of my first headlines after the president, you know, came back into office was something about the reluctant referee. Like that's basically what I called him last January. It's this notion that he doesn't like to sort of get his hands dirty on this and he has a lot of things on his plate right now.

[00:31:54]So, um I I mean he'll do it if he needs to as Sean said, but um they definitely wait until they actually need him.

[00:32:01]>> All right.

[00:32:02]>> Well, let me let me just say the other one thing is that this is a this isn't some budgetary thing, right? So, for a lot of members, they believe FISA is a is a huge personal issue. It's a movement issue. So, I think the the difference is the president can move people when it comes to small policy differences or a number. I want to get rid of that or I want you to fund this or um you know an appropriations bill.

[00:32:25]But these FISA is like too too many members. You think like Tim Burchett and others. This is like a core issue to them. And I'm just not sure. That's why I said the number problem is going to be interesting when they start squeezing it down. Let's say the number is 10. I think you can probably get to five pretty easily, but those last five are going to be a problem.

[00:32:43]>> All right. Let me ask you both. Do if they can't get it, do does do House Republicans adjourn for their 10-day recess on Friday?

[00:32:50]>> They can't.

[00:32:52]>> They need they need FISA. Like, are they just, >> right? So, they'll do a they'll do a short-term, you know, >> extension. Sure.

[00:33:01]>> Yeah.

[00:33:01]>> And then and then recess.

[00:33:03]>> Yeah.

[00:33:03]>> Okay. All right.

[00:33:04]>> I mean, Johnson's already Johnson's already floated, just to be clear, that he the short term. So, I mean, he he he wouldn't I mean, I don't think this is the choice that they want and it's not a way to operate. As I said, whether when you're doing like I you know, whether it's funding or temporary legislation like this, it's not when you're running an agency, this is not a way to do business. It's not helpful. It's not healthy. It it really screws stuff up.

[00:33:29]So, I think that it it might be the last resort issue, but but that they'll get it done.

[00:33:34]>> Yeah. Uh, but I was going to say just reminder though, Mor Wayne Mullen has said they do not have any money to continue to pay people do any more executive orders to pay people into May.

[00:33:44]So like their last paycheck is is basically now if they don't get this done. So >> well and I think Yeah. All right. Well, this this will be interesting because if they do just do a short-term extension and and adjourn, of course, it's 10 more days of circular firing squad. So we will stay tuned. All right. Let's go to the to the to the third topic here.

[00:34:03]Iran. I mean, we've kind of moved it down because to some extent now there it's it's it's stagnant and and there are reports the Wall Street Journal, other Bloomberg, I I think Politico, Trump is sounding out people about this kind of do I continue the blockade?

[00:34:19]Should I resume bombing? There was a story that he met in Axios with um energy executives. It was not on the official public record yesterday, which tells you something that they didn't want this story necessarily, you know, being talked about all day to sound them out. Hey, if we resume bombing, how much higher would would oil prices potentially go if the straight, you know, remains blockaded? How much higher will it go? Um, anyone I mean I I Does anyone see any sign that anything other than the blockade that we're just going to remain in this status quo of no war, no peace?

[00:34:56]>> There the the the problem fundamentally and and I read this through some of the comments is that there's a belief at least by some that this is a negotiation. Yeah.

[00:35:04]>> Um, you know, and and and the Iranians aren't don't want a negotiation. I mean, they don't this is not this is not a a deal to them. This is a way of life. And so I don't see anything happening. And I've said this before, I'll say it again. Uh I know the president is trying to figure out some of the the strait of Hormuz issues in in oil flow, but this the only way this gets resolved and the only things the Iranians will uh adapt to is additional strikes. So they've got to get in there and just go.

[00:35:34]>> Yeah.

[00:35:35]>> Yeah.

[00:35:35]>> Yeah. I I I agree with Sean. I just feel like it's hard for me to see the Iranians like fudging and caving at all on this. Like even if we wait another two months of the blockade like and you know their economy is you know in tatters. I mean they're already struggling now. It's just like they don't business leaders they don't care like if their people are suffering. They just shot like tens of thousands of them in the streets like you know it's just um I don't know one thing I like I have I've wanted to ask and like Sean maybe you have some insight into this. you know, there was a belief that that China would start to really, you know, feel this and we've got the summit coming in a couple of weeks. Um, like what happened to that theory that, you know, the blockade would force would get China to force Iran to the table in a way that they otherwise would not? Like, is that still the thinking that it's going to be China that leans on them?

[00:36:25]>> And you think he goes to China, Sean? We talked about this yesterday. You No, you don't.

[00:36:30]>> No, no, 100% he's going.

[00:36:32]>> Oh, yeah. He's going. Um, second to to Rachel's question, I I think there's a little bit of uh a balancing act that they're doing here. They've got to be very careful like how much they they they s they push this because they they so they're not it's not as black and white as I think initially was seen.

[00:36:51]I've talked to a bunch of economists that sort of think that they they can they can weather this a little, but they're they're very careful with what side they weigh in on. They want this meeting to take place. uh they've got additional leverage with rare earth minerals. Um I'm hearing less about the Taiwan. There was initially a whole thing about Taiwan being an issue that they were going to trade off of. That seems less so the case because they don't believe the US will do it. But I do think that they're going to try to do some kind of deal on rare earth, give them some access. But uh the Chinese seem less uh affected by what what were at least initially people's beliefs that they would they would shift.

[00:37:26]>> Well, they got the huge oil reserves, right? Like huge amounts of them. So, we'll we'll see um how much the blockade affects them. And maybe that's part of the deal that that Trump strikes is that certain ships can get out because that Iranian oil, it's like 90% of it goes to China. Uh so, there's an incentive for these guys to to get it together.

[00:37:45]>> Well, we will see. I will say it does.

[00:37:47]There are more and more stories about Iran struggles and so we'll it be interesting to see if at some point they don't start to crack a little bit. Um all right, to be continued. Let's go before we go to our next one. Sean, you are in California, which means you cannot be at the pharmacy in your neighborhood in Virginia. Um, but thank goodness you have something like All Family Pharmacy. It >> It's a It's a godsend, Dan, because if you go to allfamilyfarmmy.com/huddle, uh, you could actually do this wherever you are. So, I could sit here right now and say, "I'm not feeling well. I need a replenishment, and it'll probably be back in Virginia when I get there." Cool part is if you use huddle 10, you get 10% off. So all you have to do is go to allfamilyfarm pharmacy.com/huddle.

[00:38:31]Use code huddle 1010% off. But as you mentioned, what the cool thing is whether or not you're looking to move over a prescription because you want the convenience of it delivered to your house, whether you're getting into the whole wellness space with NAD plus peptides, all the other stuff that people are st now starting to really get into, they've got it all. Uh so thyroid medication, heart medication, whatever you want. And and like we've talked about before, it's not just going to the pharmacy, but more and more pharmacists are becoming short, like their hours are getting shorter, the operating hours. So when you go there, is it in stock? Is there a long line? Uh are they on break?

[00:39:05]All family pharmacy takes that all out of the equation because if you go to allfamilyfarm pharmacy.com/huddle, use our code huddle 10, you fill it out, the the medical uh professionals review it, and then boom, it is at your door. I mean, life is easy. So whether you're live in a rural area, you're in an urban area, you just want the convenience of it delivered to your house and making sure that you can get that. And plus, with 10% off using our code huddle 10, you're getting a deal.

[00:39:30]>> And look, when you're to be efficient with your time, not only do you want to get your your medications, but who doesn't love a green thumb? Who doesn't like some color in their house or a nice fresh plant outside or inside? You can just go to fast growing trees. You don't have time to go down to a nursery, walk around, look, you know, see if it's dead, you know, how do I have to deal with this? No, no, no. It just comes right to your door. Instructions are simple. You read the email about how to care for it, you know, whatever is convenient for you. Look, they have everything you need. You they'll tell you what zone you live in. Uh you can determine, you know, if it needs light, if it doesn't get a lot of light. Um all Fast Growing Trees is just fantastic. Um they they have a massive selection of stuff. This is the perfect time. Spring is the planting season. We've talked about Mother's Day coming up. For some of us, Father's Day, we would love a good plant opportunity.

[00:40:22]>> And look, I'll just say I know, you know, like our kids are like, "God, we got to get Dan something for Father's Day. Take care of mom first. That's always, you know, it's coming up first, right? You don't want to offend people.

[00:40:32]All politics is local." But you want to go to fastgrowingtreees.com.

[00:40:37]You want to use the code huddle for 20% off. Go to fastgrowingtreees.com and use our code huddle. All right, let's get to the next one here. Sean Virginia, >> this is interesting. I said, >> just as a side note, I was just looking because between all these things we talked about, cozy earth, all family, like we do have plenty of time. Place your orders because I was making sure I'm good on Mother's Day. So, just FYI.

[00:41:01]>> Yeah. Well, yeah. Yeah. But don't you don't want to be that person who waits till the last second, Sean. You want to just just do it now. Get it in. Um, all right. Virginia Sean Supreme Court uh they issued a stay. They did not issue it based on the kind of merits of the the substance of it.

[00:41:17]>> Yeah. Let me let me just let me back up because cuz here's the thing that you have to understand. There's two separate issues at stake. Uh Ken Cuchinelli puts it really well really well. There's the 2025 issues and there's the 2026 issues.

[00:41:31]So what the court heard the case on Monday was what we called the 2025 issues. That primarily comes down to did the legislature in Virginia, House of Delegates and the Senate follow the procedure which in Virginia law says that the general assembly has to have a pass a constitutional amendment in one session. There must be an intervening election in the second between that and then the general assembly must follow it. Um there's a couple other issues that were in that case. Those are the 2025 issues that the Virginia Supreme Court heard on appeal Monday. That's all they heard. Okay. So, and and by all estimates, again, just to be clear, they didn't the procedures were not followed.

[00:42:14]The question is, do the courts agree with that? Uh or you know, uh because there's a definition of when election day. What happened separately are the 2026 issues. What do I mean by that? The Tazwell Circuit Court, Judge Hardy, issued a ruling saying that two things.

[00:42:32]One, the wording of the law of the constitutional amendment by Virginia law must be clear and explained the ultimate intent. And the the cutesy language that they use said it would be fair and temporary. That's just simply not true.

[00:42:46]The second thing is that in Virginia, the law says after a constitutional amendment passes the general assembly, there's a 90-day window before voters can get it. Okay, that's so so they the general assembly voted for the second time in February and then they had the ballot measure in April. I didn't take math in college, but the reality is that clearly wasn't 90 days. And so the court was said, the Tazwell court said it didn't follow this. It didn't wait 90 days. That's what the Virginia law says they have to give voters. The court issued a stay yesterday. So the so Jay Jones, the attorney general of Virginia, went to the Supreme Court and said, "Stay that opin opinion from Tazwell.

[00:43:30]Allow us allowed the results from the election to go through." And in a huge win for conservatives, the Supreme Court did not uphold that and said, I mean allowed it to go forward. meaning right now in the law in Virginia is that that election is still nullified. Now, the Virginia attorney general and I'm sure the governor will appeal that and try to get an expedited review. So, there's two separate parallel tracks that this is working on. The court will probably rule on the first 2025 issues first, which would then make it very clear what they're going to do on the 2026 issues.

[00:44:08]But just remember there are two separate parallel issues happening at the same time in the Virginia Supreme Court.

[00:44:14]>> Sean, end of the day, you you you you think what what would you put the odds the that this re that the redistricting initiative does not go through?

[00:44:24]>> It's funny. Ken Coochinelli believes that it'll get completely thrown out because it's so obvious, right? But no one else that I've talked to, no one, like zero other people believe that.

[00:44:36]Now, not not because of the legal reasons, just because the court is so political. So again, I mean, look, cuz because you got to admit, Dan, I mean, just on its face, if the law says you have to wait 90 days, and you didn't.

[00:44:50]>> Well, look, I I I think the number of states, Democratic and Republican, that have gone through pretzels to ramrod these things through. Both sides, in my opinion, are totally guilty of find, you know, I I agree with you on on paper, Democrats have a huge problem. I will be curious What?

[00:45:10]>> But but that's the fundamental question, right? The court doesn't say, "Oh, well, here's what happened in California, Texas." It's going to say, "What's what does the Virginia law say?" And and and the question that comes down to me is is that it's a no-brainer. 90 is 90 no matter how you how much math you took.

[00:45:25]>> Well, as I say, I think a lot of states I mean, look, the courts are becoming political. I I I don't >> But that's not But again, you you're you're taking this to a new level. The bottom line is the court in Virginia only can look at Virginia law and Virginia law is very >> I Sean but I mean look the reality I mean I could say the same thing about the Supreme Court etc. Funny how certain things happen. Rachel, you have any thoughts on this or we'll go to our last thing here.

[00:45:50]>> Hey. Hey. Yeah. No. Uh just one little anecdote to share and again apologies that they're mowing the grass behind me so I've been muting myself while you guys talk.

[00:45:57]>> Well maybe fast growing trees are arriving. By the way, can I >> I would have thought, by the way, that with the king, they would have mowed the grass the day before, right?

[00:46:05]>> I have to say the grass looked pretty good before they started mowing it. I mean, better than the grass at my house.

[00:46:10]So, uh, it look it it's it's it's looking pristine. Um, but no, I was going to say like when so when this went down last week, I I there was a lot of really upset Republicans and and one person called me and said to me as a way to sort of throw, you know, Trump political team under the bus that a certain pretty high level Trump official had been asked, "What happens if Democrats retaliate on redistricting?"

[00:46:32]Had been asked very early on and the answer was something along the lines of they can't like they can't do that. Like we've looked at the states and like they have rules against it. there are procedural things like they just can't.

[00:46:44]And so this person was upset uh that you know the Trump team had not taken serious the the notion that Democrats might change the rules or just ignore procedures and do their own redistricting effort to counter what Republicans had done. So like if Republicans are victorious on this and you know this whole thing this new map gets thrown out by the court. I mean that would be I mean that would be surprising number one surprising to all of us but like apparently that is what some of the Trump team thought per this person who by the way told me this because they were upset with the Trump team but now like if this ends up happening and gets thrown out like this is clearly where their brain was.

[00:47:20]Anyway, I just want to share that.

[00:47:22]>> I I I brought this up the other day and I can confirm in additional conversations um if they are successful and I hope to God they are. I mean again just on on the legal front um but but also just because I live there um is if they are all of these cases were financed by the RNC like and they and and cases are not cheap and they require a lot of like and I can tell you just from my discussions if these cases and frankly it's now you know two that are that the court is dealing with are successful and this is thrown out I think you're going to hear a lot about the RNC and the Trump team and what they did to get ahead of this to say you guys talk about investment we were we were the ones that didn't wait because all these things have to be filed weeks months in advance and so you will hear the Trump team and the RNC who finances the case in Tazwell is is literally called you know the the lead pliff is the RNC it's not like they're financing it and and uh some like you know an amicus brief this is them leading the way on this so I do think if you u are paying you know if if this thing is victorious and I I think there is a slim chance that the justices do the right thing in Virginia. Um then uh then the RNC and the Trump campaign will go out and do a huge victory lap and say we're the guys who funded this. We're ahead of the curve. We told you so.

[00:48:45]>> Victory.

[00:48:46]>> Just keep in mind I was going to say just to remind people a lot of Republicans not happy with the RNC and not happy with the Trump team after Virginia. So this would be like >> turning this on their head. But but remember I mean look look can I just real real quick pause for before we get to the last thing Virginia is considered a net loss of four right now on paper right because that's that's although we'll see where Tazwell goes but I mean I think for the expectation wise we feel like we lost four four there we'll likely pick up four in uh and and right now Alabama uh has said they're going to they're going to K Ivy the governor there is ready to go with respect to redistricting uh as soon as the voting rights act case comes They they can go anytime. They've called they've notified they're doing a special session. That's plus two. Louisiana will be plus one.

[00:49:33]And there's a potential now the governor of Mississippi is saying they're going that's another plus one. So I say all this because if you take the Virginia number back to the Republican side, you go plus four in in uh Florida, plus two in Alabama, plus one in Mississippi, plus one in Louisiana. Suddenly, >> you know, it's real. And and and yeah, exactly. And that's now you're at about 10 seats of a Republican cushion going into a headwind. Uh I I think that really changes the dynamic of potentially keeping the House. So this ruling is huge because it goes from, you know, a a two or three seat potential upside to a 10 seat.

[00:50:12]>> Yeah. We'll have to stay tuned. I I'm not even sure that would save you right now. But but you're right. You're right.

[00:50:16]And so let's let's go. I mean, speaking of >> get your get your next Dumb and Dumber quote and say now there's a chance because there's a chance. Yeah, we'll we'll we'll get to this. So, just um let's bring up quickly here. There were a bunch of polls yesterday as we kind of continue to, you know, track the the the all these races. Um Kevin, let's bring up the poly market on Texas. We haven't talked about this race a lot, but uh you know, coming up here is the Republican primary. Um we don't I think if you saw the the graph, this is narrowed a little bit. I mean I think mo it shows here 57% uh of folks on poly market think that Ken Paxton will win 42% John Cornin Sean I think we all thought at first you know Paxton would win then when Trump didn't endorse people thought Cornin may may may pull this out um it's been all over the place it does there's some polls that have shown you know Cornin up some shown Paxton poll came out yesterday here that showed that Taler Rico leads Cornin by seven and leads Paxton by eight. Most people think that Republicans would still hold this seat.

[00:51:27]Sean, what is the word in the party on Texas these day? It just has not gotten a lot of talk the last couple weeks.

[00:51:34]>> Yeah. I mean, first of all, I think Talerico is about to get lit up like a firecracker on Fourth of July to quote Toby Keith if that was it.

[00:51:41]>> Wow.

[00:51:41]>> Um I mean like he has said so much.

[00:51:44]There's so like the the people who are digging up oppo on that guy have more stuff. Every time I talk to somebody like did you know that he has you know eight fingers on his left hand. It's [laughter] like they've got >> Sean give us a preview. Let's break some news.

[00:51:56]>> Yeah.

[00:51:57]>> But let me ask you, do you think there's a risk that I mean like we look at Graham Platner, right? They just dumped every and his numbers haven't >> Yeah, but there there's a difference in Maine. There's the the the Maine mentality and the New England mentality is very different. Graham Platner is a, you know, oyster farmer. I mean, he he has a much more connection to the average guy in Maine. James Terico is a far-left. I mean, again, I I don't think he would deny he is he's a very strong progressive. He has said some very interesting religious things that are probably anathema to a good chunk of Texans, his views on guns. And I mean, so once they light this guy up uh with political opposition research, I I don't I actually think it's going to go like it'll be a five, six, seven point Republican victory. No one's worried about it, Dan, to your question. They're worried about how much money they're going to have to spend on it. Yeah.

[00:52:48]>> Um and and that's the key thing. One of the other things is there's been about three polls that come out in Texas and they've shown that basically Cornin doesn't fare that much better, if any, than than Paxton. So, I I here's the million-dollar question. Every Texan that I've asked and at a serious level when I've said, "Give me the status of the race," they give me the same one. uh Paxton has all the grassroots support.

[00:53:11]Cornin has all the money. And and um and this is where the the the the sort of the challenge is one polling is ridiculous there because how do you figure out when you do your screen, how do you get somebody at that level who says, "Yeah, I'm going to run in the runoff to like that's a really tough voter to find in a in a polling screen.

[00:53:31]Secondly, um you know, you you you think about Paxton and he's got the grassroots support. There's no question about it.

[00:53:39]But but you have to do some kind of organizing in a state that's that big.

[00:53:44]You have to do your get out the vote effort. You can't just hope that it all works. And if you don't have that much money, and he doesn't. Uh that's that's the one X factor that I think is still in play.

[00:53:55]>> Yeah. Um and then so the the other one that obviously is people are watching on the Senate side is Michigan. Let's bring up the poly market on Michigan. Yeah.

[00:54:04]You can see the graph here if you're if you're listening to it. Uh it shows that 50% think Abdul Elsed is going to win.

[00:54:12]Uh 35% think uh Mallerie Maroy is going to win and 12.9% think Haley Stevens. And you can see this stuff has gone all over the place.

[00:54:23]Well, here's the thing. There >> it's also the trajectory, right?

[00:54:27]>> Yeah. There have been several polls now that have shown this race to be extremely close. And another one came out yesterday that showed Haley Stevens at 25. El at 23 and Mcmorro at 16. There have been ones that show Mcro in the lead. There have been ones that show El in the lead. This race remains extremely close. Nobody appears to have broken out. The good news if you're Els, you know, you had all the hubbhub about Per, but it does not appear that it knocked you out. If you're Stevens, you got booed at your, you know, the state party convention and most people are writing your obituary, and yet here is a poll that shows you up. I I I'll just I continue to be so fascinated by this race. Um it's one that I think, you know, when we think about getting the majority, this is an Achilles for us. Uh >> I would just urge every Republican move to Michigan, register as a Democrat, and vote for Abdul Al in the uh primary.

[00:55:24]Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[00:55:26]>> Dan, you think he can you think he can win statewide in Michigan? So God no >> I don't think so either. But you know I mean there is that Dearborn area that's like pretty I mean super heavily populated but like I don't think that can out run the rest of the state. So >> I mean here's what I would say Rachel. I would have told you that I six months ago there's no way Graham Platner can win in Maine ever.

[00:55:51]>> And look at him. Look at him now.

[00:55:53]>> Now now so you're right. Michigan has no history of electing statewide super progressive candidates. Rogers is a very strong Republican candidate who is more like Dave McCormack in Pennsylvania than, you know, a a a kind of really right-wing candidate. Um, but funny things are happening right now and I don't I would not say knee-jerk. People who have seen Al say he is a very strong campaigner. He's very engaging. But just like Taller Rico, the oppo file on on and there I think they budgeted over 170 million already in spending Republicans have in Michigan. It you know that may be one where money takes them out. Um >> all the campaign ads write themselves. I mean you just put this guy next to >> Yeah. And and remember each state has its own environment. you Graham Platner couldn't I mean he can get Maine is a much more attractive electorate for him but Michigan's not ready to elect someone like him just the same way Texas is not going to elect Tyler Rico this is not some you know like if if if Tai Rico were like a moderate Dem or something like that maybe but like when you go that extreme in certainly these states you it's not going to happen. Well, we'll have stay stay tuned because the one thing about Texas is I've not seen polls with Terico getting blown out and some of that oppo is hit. Now, I I hear you. It's not backed up on TV yet, but we'll have to stay tuned. All right. And then just quickly, bunch of House polls came out. Conservative conservatives for America, a political organization uh linked to the to to the RSC, the Republican Study Committee, went into the field for a bunch of House Republicans from fairly red states.

[00:57:34]These were all our districts, all districts that Trump won uh in 2024.

[00:57:39]Obviously, the Republicans won them.

[00:57:41]Look, the the top line takeaway is Trump is underwater in almost every one of these districts. Um some of these Republican candidates themselves are pulling six, seven points better than Trump. The question is, and Sean, this is always true, >> can a candidate outrun the top of the table?

[00:58:01]>> Yeah. You know, 100%.

[00:58:03]>> To to to what extent can you do it? The one thing that I find fascinating about these polls, and I've said this a little bit more and more recently, there are no states or districts where Democrats are already blowing out Republican incumbents. These races are two, three, four points either way, which is margin for error. Why do I say this? We think because of special elections and the history of challengers pulling away in a in a kind of environment like this, but if I'm a Republican, there is no evidence yet in these individual races, which is all that matters, that our candidates are getting blown out and and and this is gone. So, public perception, Democrats are going to win the House.

[00:58:45]The data doesn't quite back it up yet. I mean, that's the difference between like the national ballot and like looking at these these local areas. I mean, like there was a s silver lining in and all that polling that we looked at this morning. Um, and and that is, you know, even though the president's numbers have have sunk drastically in a lot of these districts, like you said, these guys are still beating their Democratic challengers. And I mean the >> of course the you know the catch here is that the Democratic campaigns a lot of them haven't gone on air to introduce themselves to voters like they still have time to sort of set you know their own narrative and story. But that's why Republicans if you're smart you're out there defining them for them right now.

[00:59:25]Like you have your solid local brand. Um you know you're popular with your constituents and you have to define your Democratic opponent as an extremist and as too far left. And so you know if they're smart they're out there doing that before these guys can do it for them. Yep. Yep. So, we'll see. All right. Why don't we take one question and then we'll go here. We'll be quick.

[00:59:43]929. All right. Uh, what impact does the UAE leaving OPEC plus have for US interest? This is J Schwarz 91. And can the US Navy operate a a blockade and escort operation simultaneously?

[00:59:58]Sean, as our naval uh correspondent, you want to uh >> Well, first of all, >> can the Navy walk and chew gum?

[01:00:05]>> Yes, that's that's actually easy. It's not a question of escort though. I mean, it like we've done it in the 80s. Uh so that the Navy knows very well how to do it. The same it's whether or not the threats still exist or not. The small boats, the drones and stuff like that.

[01:00:19]Uh and the mining the mines. Uh and although there is a route, I mean the problem is you do the there's two routes out of that channel. Uh the second route brings you a lot closer to Iran. So it's which devil do you want to dance with?

[01:00:30]Uh and then I do think that there's a big question about the impact of the UAE leaving uh OPEC. And it'll be interesting to see where that goes.

[01:00:38]>> Yeah, I think that I I agree that the APAC UAE leaving OPEC seems to be somewhat of a big deal. The people in the oil industry say this is, you know, anytime that much volume kind of exits the collective uh control. It it it's a and of course there always been allegations that OPEC members cheat and you know put stuff out behind people's backs and so we'll just have to stay tuned here. Um all right, it's 9:30. Uh Sean, what do you have coming up tonight on the show?

[01:01:08]>> Two things. Uh Molly Hemingway's got a brand new book out about the Supreme Court, Sam Alto. Obviously, a lot to break down about how the court's acting.

[01:01:15]So, she'll be here. And then, uh Congressman Chip Roy of Texas give us a little bit of an update on what's going down there in Texas. So, big show headed your way and obviously continuing. Two events today in California. Uh and if you're coming, if you're interested in going to the May 15th event at the Trump Kennedy Center, it is free. You just have to go to shanunpicer.com to sign up. But go buy your book right now on Amazon.

[01:01:36]>> I I I got mine yesterday.

[01:01:37]>> I know. Thank you. And I've been trying to repost it. Thank you for the unboxing. It was very beautiful.

[01:01:42]>> Yeah.

[01:01:43]>> Mine has still not arrived, by the way.

[01:01:45]So, >> I will call Jeff uh Jeff [snorts] Bezos.

[01:01:48]Jeff like a real influencer unboxing.

[01:01:52]Like, of course, I I didn't know how to really do it, so I just held it in my hand. Rachel, >> good luck today uh at the uh White House today. Knock them knock him dead. um if you guys get brought in. And um folks, we will see you tomorrow uh on Thursday 8:30. Have a great day.

[01:02:10]>> Take care.