Archives for January 2019

Regulatory Rollback, Dem Funding Flop, Impeachment Obsession

January 4, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “Regulatory Rollback, Dem Funding Flop, Impeachment Obsession” on Spreaker.

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America applaud the Trump administration for keeping its word to aggressively roll back burdensome government regulations. They also roll their eyes as House Democrats pass a bill to end the partial government shutdown that has zero chance of becoming law. And they react to new Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib admitting, through coarse language, that she came to Washington to impeach President Trump.

China’s Moon Shot Part of Major Military Ambitions

January 3, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “China’s Moon Shot Part of Major Military Ambitions” on Spreaker.

While reporters and pundit made countless Pink Floyd references after China’s Change’e 4 probe landed on the far side of the moon Thursday, a leading expert on China says this achievement is part of a very ambitious military buildup that represents the greatest threat to U.S. national security.

“China is the number one threat, the number two threat, the number three threat,” said China expert Gordon Chang, author of “The Coming Collapse of China.”

Chang says China wants to do a lot more than just go to the moon.

“This is important. China has ambitions to mine minerals and the rest of it, but they’re also going to use the moon for military purposes,” said Chang. “Remember the Chinese space program is not civilian. It’s all military, dominated by flag officers. Everything they do has a military implication.”

One area of concern is the security of U.S. satellites. Right now, the satellites in high earth orbit can be tapped into by our rivals, but that could change it China can take action from the moon.

Chang is disheartened that the U.S. is pulling back from space by grounding our shuttles, relying on other nations to get our astronauts to space, and scrapping plans to return to the moon and eventually get to Mars.

He is hopeful that President Trump’s creation of a Space Force will reignite the push to be the dominant player away from the earth as well.

“Space is absolutely critical for success on the battlefield and we’re going to have to be able to dominate space,” he said.

Listen to the full podcast to hear Chang further explain why he believes China is far and away the greatest threat to national security and why China has some serious vulnerabilities that the U.S. may be able to exploit.

Cuccinelli: GOP Emboldened on Border Wall Fight

January 3, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “Cuccinelli: GOP Emboldened on Border Wall Fight” on Spreaker.

Democrats now control the House of Representatives, but former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says Republicans appear more committed than ever to funding the border wall demanded by President Trump.

A partial government shutdown has been in effect since Dec. 22 over a stalemate between Republicans and Democrats over funding the border wall. Prior to Thursday, the stagnation was due to the Senate’s inability to find 60 votes for the funding.

The House Democratic majority has no plans to even consider a bill with money for the wall, but Cuccinelli says the GOP seems much more resolute than usual.

“You don’t hear me say this very often. I was pleased to see (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell say we’re not going to pass along the House bill that doesn’t include this funding. So he has expressly sided with the president. And I think that’s a first on this issue,” said Cuccinelli.

“I think that show of unity between the new Senate Republican majority, which is bigger than the last one, and the president should be able to hold the line,” said Cuccinelli.

Cuccinelli expects Republicans to stand strong even as the post-holiday media pressure to end the partial shutdown intensifies.

“I don’t see a lot of the usual hand-wringing among Republicans, including establishment Republicans, that I’m used to seeing in circumstances like this. I think, at least for now, they’re girded for a bit of a haul and to salvage some good policy at the border out of this,” said Cuccinelli.

Listen to the full podcast to hear Cuccinelli’s advice for how the GOP’s Senate majority and House minority ought to focus their time and energy over the next two years and how the Trump administration is doing far more to roll back regulations and limit new ones than any administration in recent memory.

O’Malley Backs Beto, Trump & Afghanistan, Dems Already Push Impeachment

January 3, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “O’Malley Backs Beto, Trump & Afghanistan, Dems Already Push Impeachment” on Spreaker.

After noting the start of a new Congress with Democrats running the House, Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America applaud former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley for realizing he had no chance of winning the 2020 Democratic nomination and deciding not to run. They also note O’Malley is urging Beto O’Rourke to run for president, saying it’s time for a new generation of leadership. Jim and Greg also shudder as President Trump not only thinks that the Soviet Union collapsed because of its failed efforts in Afghanistan but thinks the Soviets were right to invade in the first place. And they practice their shocked faces as Democrats start pursuing the impeachment of President Trump on the first day of the new Congress.

GOP Congress: The Fiscal Hits and Misses

January 2, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “GOP Congress: The Fiscal Hits and Misses” on Spreaker.

On Thursday, a new Congress will begins with Democrats controlling the House and Republicans enjoying a bigger majority in the Senate.

So how did the GOP do in the outgoing Congress? What did they get right on tax and other fiscal policy? What did they leave undone? And what issues could be grounds for bipartisan action in a divided Congress?

National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp explains why the tax reform bill accomplished a lot more than lower taxes and why Republicans failed to finish the job on that legislation.

Listen to the full podcast to hear Sepp detail how the new Congress may work together to address the most oppressive parts of Obamacare and why he doesn’t expect a big push for “Medicare for all.” He also reveals whether Congress will ever get serious about spending restraint.

Mitt vs. Trump, Warren Ready to Run, Climate Change & 2020

January 2, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “Mitt vs. Trump, Warren Ready to Run, Climate Change & 2020” on Spreaker.

Happy New Year! Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are back and ready to tackle 2019. Today, they blast incoming Utah Sen. Mitt Romney for heading to the Washington Post and CNN to discuss his concerns about President Trump on the eve of being sworn in, although they share many of his concerns. They also sigh as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren launches her presidential exploratory committee by whipping up accusations of class warfare. And they discuss the strategy of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to run for president on the single issue of climate change.