WAY THAT HE PROTECTS MUELLER. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SOME
HEARINGS THAT ARE NEXT WEEK.
I’LL GET TO THAT LATER IN THE
SHOW.
SHOW. BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BREAKING
A RECORD THAT WILL PUT HIM IN A
SAD PLACE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.
TONIGHT HE WILL BECOME THE
PRESIDENT OVERSEEING THE LONGEST
SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY, EVER.
21 DAYS.
21 DAYS. THAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT AS
THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF TRUMP
GETTING A CHECK FROM MEXICO IN
TIME TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING
TONIGHT OR ANY SIGNS OF AGREEING
WITH CONGRESS TONIGHT.
THE REASON THAT MOST SHUTDOWNS
END BY NOW, JUST A FEW WEEKS IN
AS YOU JUST SAW THERE IS WE ARE
NOW SITTING THE POINT WHERE
THINGS START TO REALLY HIT THE
FAN.
FAN. 800,000 U.S. WORKERS ARE MISSING
THEIR PAYCHECKS.
THEIR PAYCHECKS. SO THREE WEEKS IN, THAT’S A
FIRST.
FIRST. LET’S SHOW YOU A PAYSTUB
OBTAINED FROM AN AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLER.
CONTROLLER. YOU SEE RIGHT THERE THE ZERO
DOLLARS IN NET PAY AND OTHERWISE
EMPLOYED FAMILIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE NOW TACKLING
PROBLEMS, THEY SAY, SOME OF
THEM, ARE CAUSED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. SHORT ON RENT, TROUBLE WITH
MORTGAGES, CAN’T PAY BILLS FOR
FOOD AND MEDICINE.
>> THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS
WILL NOT GET PAYCHECKS TODAY
BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN.
>> 800,000 FEDERAL WORKERS ARE
SEEING THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS GO
LOWER AND LOWER AS THE SHUTDOWN
DRAGS ON LONGER AND LONGER.
>> I AM A BASKET CASE.
I DON’T KNOW HOW I’M GOING TO
PROVIDE FOR MY KIDS.
>> I’M STARTING TO GET SCARED.
I’VE BEEN A TRUMP SUPPORTER.
I THINK HE’S DONE A LOT OF
WONDERFUL THINGS, BUT THIS IS
NOT ONE OF THEM.
>> THE LAST PERSON THERE
OBVIOUSLY A TRUMP SUPPORTER HURT
BY TRUMP, HIS WORDS.
EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO
REOPEN TONIGHT, THE WORKERS YOU
JUST HEARD FROM THERE, THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING, AND
THAT IS A TINY DROP IN THE
BUCKET OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING.
SUFFERING. THOSE PEOPLE AREN’T GOING TO GET
PAID AGAIN FOR TWO MORE WEEKS.
SO SOME PEOPLE ARE GETTING
DESPERATE BUT DONALD TRUMP,
WELL, HE’S ONLY WORRIED, IT
APPEARS, ABOUT ONE GOVERNMENT
WORKER, HIMSELF.
WORKER, HIMSELF. >> MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT
AREN’T GETTING THEIR CHECK, THEY
GET IT.
GET IT. THEY’RE GOING TO GET IT SOON.
I DON’T NEED THIS.
I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING A
LOT EASIER.
LOT EASIER. I COULD HAVE ENJOYED MYSELF.
I HAVEN’T LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE
BECAUSE I’M WAITING ON THEM TO
COME OVER FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU KNOW THAT.
STAYED HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
I STAYED AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR
NEW YEARS.
NEW YEARS. >> YOU TWEETED CHRISTMAS EVE ALL
ALONE
ALONE ALONE.
ALONE. WHERE’S CHUCK AND NANCY?
>> AFTER HE SQUASHED THE
COMPROMISE PLAN FROM A GROUP OF
SENATORS INCLUDING REPUBLICANS
THERE’S BEEN NO OTHER MOVEMENT
ON ANYWAY TO BRING THIS VERY MAN
MADE AMERICAN CRISIS TO AN END.
THERE ARE THE REPORTS THAT
DONALD TRUMP IS LOOKING INTO HOW
HE COULD USE THE DECLARATION OF
NATIONAL EMERGENCY TO GET THE
MONEY HE PROMISED COULD HAVE
COME FROM MEXICO.
DIVERTING THESE POTENTIAL
DISASTER FUND WHICH IS ARE
SUPPOSED TO GO TO ACTUAL
DISASTERS ALREADY IMNUMERATED BY
CONGRESS AND WE CAN NOW SAY
DONALD TRUMP SAYS THAT’S NOT THE
COURSE HE’S TAKING YET.
>> NOW THE EASY SOLUTION IS FOR
ME TO CALL A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
I COULD DO THAT VERY QUICKLY.
I HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO DO
IT.
IT. BUT I’M NOT GOING TO DO IT SO
FAST.
FAST. >> SOMETIMES WHAT IS IMPORTANT
IS WHAT IS OBVIOUS.
HE’S TALKING ABOUT HOW HE MIGHT
DECLARE AN EMERGENCY LATER.
IF YOU CAN DELAY SOMETHING OR
SCHEDULE IT OR DECIDE LATER
WHETHER OR NOT IT EXISTS, IT’S
PROBABLY NOT AN EMERGENCY.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT
POINT TODAY.
POINT TODAY. I WROTE IT UP ON THE INTERNET AS
WE DO SOMETIMES AND ACTUALLY THE
FOLKS THAT RUN DICTIONARIES,
DICTIONARY.COM
DICTIONARY.COM DICTIONARY.COM.
DICTIONARY.COM. THEY WROTE THIS AN EMERGENCY BY
DEFINITION IS SUDDEN AND URGENT,
IT’S USUALLY UNEXPECTED AND IT
REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACTION.
IF YOU NEEDED A DICTIONARY FOR
THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY, NOW YOU
HAVE ONE.
HAVE ONE. I’M JOINED BY RNC CHAIR MICHAEL
STEEL TO GET INTO THE SHUTDOWN
PROBLEMS.
PROBLEMS. GOOD EVENING, MICHAEL.
>> BRILLIANT.
>> BRILLIANT. >> WELL, SOMETIMES YOU NEED A
DICTIONARY.
DICTIONARY. DOES THE PRESIDENT NEED ONE,
SIR?
SIR? >> THAT AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.
>> WHAT HE NEEDS NOW IS TO APPLY
COMMON SENSE TO THE SITUATION.
HE CAN FOLLOW THE TRAIL UP TO
THE CAPITOL, CLUES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIM TO END
THIS THE DEMOCRATS AND AT LEAST
8 REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE
OFFERED VARIOUS STRATEGIES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS PRESIDENT
TO MOVE OFF OF THIS SPACE.
TO AT LEAST PUT THREE QUARTERS
IF NOT MORE OF THE FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK SO THEY
CAN GET THEIR PAYCHECKS AS THEY
FOCUS ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY
THAT HE HAS CLAIMED EXISTS AT
THE BORDER.
THE BORDER. SO THERE ARE THE SOLUTIONS BUT
THAT’S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT
ARI AND THE WAY YOU WALKED INTO
THIS SEGMENT IS EXACTLY THE
REASON WHY.
REASON WHY. IT’S NOT AN EMERGENCY.
IF YOU CAN PUT IT OFF, IF YOU
CAN POSTPONE IT, THEN, GUESS
WHAT -- THAT’S LIKE HAVING, YOUR
APPENDIX IS A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW
WHAT, I’LL WAIT.
NO, IF IT’S AN EMERGENCY, YOU GO
TAKE CARE OF IT.
THAT’S NOT WHAT HE IS DOING.
>> HOWARD?
>> HOWARD? >> WELL, IT SNLT ALWAYSISN’T ALW
CASE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS THE
ONE BLAMED FOR THE SHUTDOWN.
I REMEMBER WHEN NEWT GINGRICH,
THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE WAS BLAMED AND IT HELPED
BILL CLINTON A LOT.
BUT IN THIS SITUATION, FOR A
WHOLE HOST OF REASONS, THE POLLS
CLEARLY SHOW THAT IT’S ON THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. PARTLY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SO
BRILLIANTLY SAID ABOUT, WHAT
EMERGENCY?
EMERGENCY? AND ALSO I THINK BECAUSE YOU’LL
SEE IN THE COMING DAYS AND AFTER
EVERYBODY DOESN’T GET THEIR
CHECK TODAY.
CHECK TODAY. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST
800,000.
800,000. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE
2.5 MILLION PEOPLE OR MORE
DIRECTLY EFFECTED LIKE THAT.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HALF A
MILLION TO A MILLION CONTRACTORS
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SOME STATES
AND PLACES WHERE THIS IS A HUGE,
HUGE DEAL.
HUGE DEAL. AND THE DYNAMICS OF IT NOW IS ON
THE PRESIDENT AND IT’S GOING TO
CONTINUE THAT WAY.
NANCY PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS
KNOW THAT SO THE WEIGHT IS GOING
TO GROW ON DONALD TRUMP’S
SHOULDERS.
SHOULDERS. >> THE WEIGHT IS GOING TO GROW
AND THIS IS REAL TALK, REAL
PEOPLE, REAL LIVES.
I WANT TO PLAY SOME OF THE
REACTION.
REACTION. WE LEAD OUR BROADCAST WITH THE
FACTS INCLUDING DOCUMENTARY
FOOTAGE ABOUT HOW THIS IS
PLAYING OUT OVER THE COUNTRY.
HERE’S SOME OF THE NATIONAL PUN
PUNDANTS THAT MAY BE OUT OF THE
LOOP AND SOME OF THEM MINIMIZING
WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT IN THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. TAKE A LOOK.
>> IT’S A PARTIAL SHUTDOWN AND I
KNOW IT’S DISRUPTIVE BUT IT’S
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.
>> I DON’T THINK THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE MUCH
SYMPATHY, UNFORTUNATELY, IF FOR
BUREAUCRATS AND PAPER PUSHERS IN
WASHINGTON D.C.
WASHINGTON D.C. >> YOU CAN SHUTDOWN HALF OF THE
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND IT WOULD
BE YEARS, IT WOULD BE YEARS
BEFORE THE NORMAL AVERAGE
WORKING AMERICAN WOULD EVEN KNOW
THE DEPARTMENT IS SHUTDOWN IN
TERMS OF HOW MUCH IT EFFECTS
THEIR LIVES.
THEIR LIVES. >> THAT TELLS YOU HOW BLIND AND
DEAF THAT DOG IS.
>> I FEEL SORRY FOR THE DOG.
>> THERE’S A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
>> WHAT IT HAS DONE IS IT IS
PROJECTING OUTWARD SOME SCARE
VISION AND VIEW OF WHAT A
FEDERAL WORKER IS AND WHAT A
FEDERAL WORKER.
FEDERAL WORKER. AND THIS BUREAUCRACIES EXIST AS
DO THESE LITTLE MINI KASTLES OF
THIEFDOMS THAT ACT ON TO
THEMSELVES.
THEMSELVES. NO, TO HOWARD’S POINT THEY’RE
REAL PEOPLE THAT NEED THE
SERVICES PROVIDED, THAT NEED THE
INFORMATION THAT THE AGENCIES
HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY NEED THEIR PAYCHECKS
THAT THEY GET FROM THE WORK THAT
THEY DO WITHIN THOSE AGENCIES.
SO THAT KIND OF THINKING, AGAIN,
IT’S LIKE, TAKE YEARS BEFORE
YOU’D KNOW THAT AGENCY WAS
CLOSED.
CLOSED. >> NO, APPARENTLY, IT TOOK ABOUT
24 HOURS.
24 HOURS. >> I WAS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE OF THE
BELT WAY IN MY HOMETOWN OF
PITTSBURGH AND ON THE LOCAL NEWS
LAST NIGHT, ONE OF THE LEAD
STORIES WAS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS.
MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN
PITTSBURGH THAT RELY FOR PART OF
THEIR RENT OR HOUSING ON SECTION
8 HOUSING PAYMENTS.
THOSE ARE STOPPING BECAUSE THEY
DON’T HAVE ANY PEOPLE TO PROCESS
THEM.
THEM. A SMALL EXAMPLE BUT A REAL
EXAMPLE THAT LEAD THE LOCAL NEWS
IN WESTERN PA, AND THAT’S GOING
TO BE MULTIPLIED BY A THOUSAND
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT IRS AND ATF
AND NOT ONLY PEOPLE GETTING
CHECKS BUT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT
SAFETY AND HEALTH.
FOOD SAFETY, AIR SAFETY.
I MEAN, THIS IS AN OBJECTIVELY
MORE DANGEROUS TIME TO BE FLYING
WITH A LOT OF DISGRUNTLED,
UNDERPAID, OVERWORKED PEOPLE AT
TSA.
TSA. >> IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE
DEBATES ABOUT HEALTH CARE IN
THIS COUNTRY WHERE YOU FAMOUSLY
HAD THE CRIES OF GOVERNMENT
HANDS OFF MY MEDICARE.
AND THEN YOU HAD THE SORT OF
LEARNING CURVE AS HEALTH CARE
GOT OUT THERE AND OBVIOUSLY
THERE’S LEGITIMATE DEBATES TO BE
HAD ABOUT HOW TO DO HEALTH CARE
OR HOW TO DO THE SIZE OF
GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT. BUT THE NOTION HERE, WE JUST
PLAYED THE SOUND, THE NOTION
THAT THIS IS NO BIGGIE AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN’T
EFFECT REGULAR PEOPLE’S LIVES OR
TRUMP VOTER’S LIVES OR WHAT HAVE
YOU, I WONDER YOUR VIEW OF WHAT
DOES IT LOOK LIKE TWO OR THREE
PAYCHECKS IN?
PAYCHECKS IN? DOES IT GET THEM REALIZING HOW
MUCH GOVERNMENT IS WOVEN INTO
MODERN LIFE.
MODERN LIFE. >> EVEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
REALIZED THAT WHEN THEY HELPED
FUND THE IRS REFUND CHECKS.
WE’RE TALKING ALREADY ABOUT 3 TO
BILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE
OVERALL ECONOMY.
OVERALL ECONOMY. THAT’S JUST IN THE FIRST COUPLE
OF WEEKS.
OF WEEKS. IF PEOPLE DON’T GET THEIR
PAYCHECKS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD,
THAT’S GOING TO MULTIPLY AND
IT’S GOING TO EFFECT AIR TRAVEL.
IT’S GOING TO EFFECTAGGRRECULTUR
AND THERE’S STILL A LOT OF
GOVERNMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
THINGS WORK AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE
REALLY UPSET ABOUT IS THIS IS
PROBABLY THE MOST GLARING
EXAMPLE OF A PHONY ISSUE THAT
RESULTED IN REAL PAIN.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE BALANCE
BETWEEN THE REALITY AND THE PAIN
IS COMPLETELY OUT OF WHACK.
THIS IS COMPLETELY MANUFACTURED
CRISIS AS YOU POINTED OUT AT THE
TOP.
TOP. >> HAVE TO GET TO ANOTHER GUEST
BUT MICHAEL, BRIEFLY.
>> HOWARD JUST NAILED IT.
THAT JUST SUMMED IT UPRIGHT
THERE.
THERE. THIS IS A PHONY CRISIS.
ONE THAT YOU CAN CLEARLY DELAY
AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR IT.
IN A REAL WAY AND I’M HOPING
THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND
OTHERS PUT PRESSURE ON THE
ADMINISTRATION TO GET OFF THE
DIME HERE.
DIME HERE. >> MAYBE THAT’S A LITTLE BIT
HAPPENING BECAUSE HE’S SORT OF
BACKBOARDING ON THIS IDEA OF THE
EMERGENCY CALL HE USUALLY
PRETENDS TO BE TOUGH.
HE’S NOT EVEN PRETENDING TO BE
TOUGH ANYMORE.
TOUGH ANYMORE. WHAT I LEARNED TONIGHT IS THE
FACTS ON THE GROUND MAY ACTUALLY
REALLY RATTLE THIS WHITE HOUSE
AS WE GO INTO THIS PAYCHECK
PERIOD.
PERIOD. WHAT I LEARNED FROM MICHAEL
STEEL IS I’M NEVER GOING TO ASK
YOU TO WALK MY DOG WHEN I’M OUT
OF TOWN.
OF TOWN. NOT A DOG PERSON.
>> NO, I AM.
BUT THE DOG HAS SOME ISSUES.
>> THAT PARTICULAR DOG.
YOU REACHED A JUDGMENT CALL
ABOUT THE DOG.
FOR VIEWERS WATCHING AT HOME OR
JOINING US LATE, NO ACTUAL DOGS
WERE HURT IN THIS SEGMENT.
THE DOG WAS A METAPHOR.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
I TURN NOW TO ANTHONY BROWN, THE
SON OF IMMIGRANTS HE LIKES TO
NOTE.
NOTE. HE’S ALSO A U.S. ARMY VETERAN
THAT SERVED IN IRAQ.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. >> IT’S GREAT TO BE ON AND THIS
HAS BEEN A TOUGH SEVERAL WEEKS
FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS AND, YOU
KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST HAS
TO OPEN GOVERNMENT.
THERE’S A CRISIS IN THE OVAL
OFFICE.
OFFICE. WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT’S
ABUSING POWER AND SHUTTING DOWN
GOVERNMENT AND TRYING TO USE
THAT AS LEVERAGE TO FUND A WALL
THAT EXPERTS SAY IS NOT ONLY
INEFFECTIVE BUT EVERYONE SAYS IS
TOO EXPENSIVE AND IMPRACTICAL.
>> WHAT IS YOUR VIEW FOR PEOPLE
WATCHING AT HOME THAT MAY THINK
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REOPEN BUT
THEY LIKE SOMETHING ABOUT THE
IDEA THAT A COMMANDER IN CHIEF
MAY NEED TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY
OR GO TO THE ARMY CORE OF
ENGINEERS AND THOSE THINGS THAT
WE’RE HEARING ABOUT.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH, IN YOUR
VIEW, WHAT THE PRESIDENT COULD
BE PROPOSAL.
BE PROPOSAL. >> FIRST OF ALL, THE FACTS
SUPPORTHE CASE THAT THERE’S AN
EMERGENCY.
EMERGENCY. MORE DRUGS COME LEGAL PORTS OF
ENTRY.
ENTRY. AND THE NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
MORE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE
DUE TO VISA OVERSTAYS THAN THE
SOUTHWEST BORDER.
SOUTHWEST BORDER. AND THE AGENCY HAS SAID THAT
NUMBER IS SIX.
IS YOUR VIEW THAT HE’S WRONG ON
THE FACTS SO THERE’S NO
EMERGENCY LIKE THAT HERE OR HE’S
ROLLING ON THE POWERS THAT HE
HAS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE POINTED
OUT IF ANY PRESIDENT CAN SAY OH
WHEN I DON’T GET FUNDING FROM
CONGRESS FOR WHAT I WANT I’LL
JUST TAKE IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE
THAT SEEMS TO BLOW A HOLE
THROUGH THE WHOLE SEPARATION OF
POWERS.
POWERS. >> I’M SAYING THE FIRST
THRESHOLD QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO
BE ASKED AND ANSWERED IS
THERE -- AND THIS WILL BE
CHALLENGED IN COURT, IF THE
CONGRESS IS UNABLE TO PASS A
RESOLUTION TO INVALIDATE A
PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARATION OF A
NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
NATIONAL EMERGENCY. IN TERMS OF THE IDEA THAT YOU
WOULD USE TITLE TEN, THAT’S
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS
WHEN RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND
BACKLOGS ON AIRCRAFT HANGERS ON
MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING.
ON CHILD CARE FOR MILITARY
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. SHIPYARDS.
SHIPYARDS. AND I HAVE BEEN HEARING IT
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT IS TALKING
ABOUT TAKING $5 BILLION FROM A
PROJECT ALREADY UNDER DISTRESS.
THAT WOULD BE A NATIONAL
SECURITY ISSUE IN AND OF ITSELF.