It was a long night, but we’re here and we’re glad you could join us! Today, Jim and Greg unpack disappointing election results as Democrats win control of the Virginia legislature and Kentucky GOP Gov. Matt Bevin appears headed to defeat. But they perk up as they see conservative policy ideas like protecting taxpayers, rejecting sanctuary city status, and tapping the brakes on affirmative action winning in moderate to liberal parts of the country. And they have zero use for a Kamala Harris proposal that would keep create a 10-hour school day (8 a.m.-6 p.m.) so it lines up with the work schedule of parents.
Republicans
Florida Sidelines Scott Israel, Free Speech Fading, House Impeachment Drama
Listen to “Florida Sidelines Scott Israel, Free Speech Fading, House Impeachment Drama” on Spreaker.
Join Jim and Greg as they serve up three new martinis Thursday! First, they applaud the Florida State Senate for permanently removing former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel after his horrific leadership before, during, and after the Parkland high school shooting. They also shudder as a majority of Americans favor rewriting the first amendment and nearly half want to ban hate speech without ever defining what it is. And they discuss the high drama on Capitol Hill as Democrats conduct impeachment-related depositions in secret and Republicans hold a sit-in to protest what they see as a lack of transparency.
What Americans Don’t Know about Medicare for All
Listen to “What Americans Don’t Know about Medicare for All” on Spreaker.
A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows 51 percent of American adults favor a Medicare for All approach to health care. But 58 percent also oppose abolishing private insurance and even more oppose paying more in taxes to pay for single-payer health care.
After all these years, why is there such a disconnect between what Americans think they support and what they actually support once they know the facts?
In this podcast, we ask Galen Institute Pres. Grace-Marie Turner about this discrepancy and what she thinks about new reform ideas from the House Republican Study Committee.
Trump Abandons Kurds, NBA Grovels to China, Bleak Prospects in Virginia
Listen to “Trump Abandons Kurds, NBA Grovels to China, Bleak Prospects in Virginia” on Spreaker.
We’ve got nothing but bad martinis today. Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are frustrated by President Trump ordering the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, even as Turkey specifically says it wants us gone so it can attack our Kurdish allies who did more than anyone else in the region to confront ISIS. Jim and Greg also swat away the NBA’s pathetic apology to China after the general manager of the Houston Rockets tweeted out that people should stand with Hong Kong. And they groan as they see polls for the upcoming legislative races in Virginia looking very rough for Republicans.
Would A GOP House Actually Repeal Obamacare?
Listen to “Would A GOP House Actually Repeal Obamacare?” on Spreaker.
Congress is currently engulfed in impeachment hearings, subpoenas, and talking points. But House Republicans say if they regain the majority in 2020, they will reduce the debt and repeal Obamacare.
Should they be believed this time?
Republicans made Obamacare repeal the centerpiece of their campaign messaging from 2010-2016. After winning the House, the Senate, and the White House, Republicans tried to move on Obamacare. Ultimately, GOP leaders did not push a straight repeal. Instead they looked to repeal key mandates and make other reforms. The legislation passed the House but died in the Senate.
The individual mandate was ultimately neutered in tax cut legislation, when the Republicans voted to fine people zero dollars for refusing to purchase health insurance.
However, costs are still rising and Americans are deeply frustrated with their coverage. So would Republicans actually move to repeal Obamacare? What other provisions ought to be part of any plan to remove Obamacare but still cover pre-existing conditions, bring down costs, and address other major concerns?
Greg Corombos asks Chris Jacobs, a longtime health policy expert and the author of “The Case Against Single-Payer.”
As Democratic presidential hopefuls argue about whether to pursue single-payer or keep private insurance but add a government-run public option, Jacobs explains why he believes those candidates are debating distinctions without a difference. He reveals why a pubic option would also eventually lead us to government-run care.
Listen to the full podcast here.
Booker on the Brink, House GOP Exodus, ‘Shut Down DC’ Stupidity
Listen to “Booker on the Brink, House GOP Exodus, ‘Shut Down DC’ Stupidity” on Spreaker.
Join Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America as they serve up some strong martinis to start the week. First, they find an odd appreciation for Sen. Cory Booker’s campaign admitting it needs to raise $1.7 million by the end of the month to have any chance at being competitive for the Democratic nomination – and it makes Jim wonder why several other weak candidates haven’t already closed up shop. They also shake their heads as a lot of House Republicans don’t want to be there anymore. Many of them understandably hate being in the minority but Jim offers another, more serious reason for why a lot of conservatives want out of Washington. And they have no patience for the Shut Down DC climate protesters who snarled traffic in Washington this morning by demonstrating on several critical roads and intersections.
Trudeau in Trouble, Trump & the Whistleblower, House GOP’s Tired 2020 Agenda
It’s all crazy martinis today! Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America start with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau found to have used blackface on at least three occasions but the maddening part is how the left is urging everyone to calm down with respect to Trudeau when they would have cast a non-leftist to the wolves and even Trudeau himself says these sorts of stories ought to be judges on a case by case basis. They also wait for more information after reports say an intelligence whistleblower is accusing Trump of making a shocking promise to a world leader. Is this a major scandal in the making or just more media hyperventilation? And let’s just say they’re severely underwhelmed as House Republicans make repealing Obamacare and reducing the national debt their priorities if voters return to the majority – particularly when they did neither when they had the chance in the first two years of the Trump administration.
Steyer Set to Debate, Camp David Disaster, GOP Shies from Primaries
Listen to “Steyer Set to Debate, Camp David Disaster, GOP Shies from Primaries” on Spreaker.
Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are glad to see billionaire impeachment activist Tom Steyer lock in a spot in the October Democratic presidential debate – both to watch him push impeachment when the party wants none of it and to see better debates. They also react to President Trump planning a meeting with Taliban leaders at Camp David before abruptly cancelling at the last minute. Find out why Jim sees the Camp David invite as the “most morally abhorrent” mistake made by the Trump administration. And they scold Republican Party leaders in four states for planning to skip primaries and caucuses in 2020.
Cavuto Corrects Trump, Dems More Extreme on Abortion, Callous Canadian
Listen to “Cavuto Corrects Trump, Dems More Extreme on Abortion, Callous Canadian” on Spreaker.
Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America cheer Fox News host Neil Cavuto for rebutting President Trump’s claim that “Fox News is no longer working for us” and for reminding politicians and media outlets what the job of the press should be. They also cringe as new Pew poll numbers show 82 percent of Democrats believe abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances – a huge jump from last decade. And Jim has a lot of say after former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell states that she hopes Hurricane Dorian hits Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
Why Didn’t Republicans Get Health Care Reform Done?
Listen to “Why Didn’t Republicans Get Health Care Reform Done?” on Spreaker.
In the second part of our interview with American Commitment President Phil Kerpen, we examine why Republicans failed to coalesce around a health care reform bill despite controlling the House, Senate, and White House and having seven years to prepare.
Kerpen explains how close Republicans came on multiple occasions and why they landed on the best approach when it was too late.