Ft:Prof Kenny. Shutdown Politics, Special Elections, Mid-Terms Prospects,Republican Civil War

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Gutshot podcast. Today we're going to have a very American centric episode. Uh I am Shamsul Sam, your host and with me is my friend from New York, uh Professor James Kenny, uh our for the host of the unaffiliated two-way posting show program and professor at the college of Staten Island in New York in in New York. Uh Professor Kenny, how are you? Rough?

I'm doing good. Sam, thanks for having me on. I appreciate it. You're welcome. So, this is going to be a conversation m mostly the way we're going to do it. And we go back uh and forth and see uh especially what is going on at the moment in America. Let me put it this way. I think let's firstly uh address the elephant in the room which is the shutdown that has recently about to be uh opened back again for the government. I think in my opinion actually it's almost like a waste of time if you ask me. I don't know what you think about it. What do you I mean it's like

what do you think? Yeah, it's it's a waste of time. Uh but we all knew this. You know the problem going into the shutdown and it was before these recent elections was that the Democrats were really on their heels and you know they don't have this at all. They don't have the House. They don't have the Senate. They don't have the presidency. They don't have the Supreme Court and they feel like they're getting beat on every every issue. So when it came to the shutdown, you know, the continuing resolution to fund the government, which by the way was the same Joe Biden continuing

resolution that they all agreed upon in the past, right? So they had to be performative to show their constituents that they're fighters because they were being treated as if they're not fighters and they're weak. So they found their issue to to to uh and that was the uh Obamacare subsidies which uh in the end we all knew that there would be a discussion on that and we also all knew that uh shutting down the government they were not going to win anything. So as you could see yesterday they got eight senators to capitulate and agree to the continuing resolution and then

with an understanding there'll be a discussion about healthcare subsidies down the road. So in the end, the Democrats took snatched vic snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory as we like to say in America.

I I I I really Yeah, I think they played it as best they could. But uh at the end of the day, I agree with you. There was it was inevitable. The only question was actually how each party is going to come out looking from the whole shutdown. you know, I mean, I Yeah, I I thought

and big push back already on the Democrats from their from their base, you know, their liberal base, you know, like the the mainstream media all pushing back last night. John Stewart and um Colbear, I guess it was. They all just went after the Dems for caving. You know, of course, not caring that people aren't getting their SNAP benefits or that air traffic controllers are not getting paid. They didn't care about that. But you know, so um yeah, so the Democrats uh lose again.

I I I really don't. But having said about that, I I I want to our conversation with this uh whole idea u I mean with what has uh what has transpired within the last week actually more than anything which is u I mean the the the wins uh by the Democrat um in the special elections we're talking about the New Jersey governatorial I believe the Virginia elections uh and I think there's some uh also Alo uh some post in Georgia as well if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah, there was uh two two uh I think um state um electors that that uh turned Democrat. But we have to understand and and by the way was a very big night for the Dems. We can't take that away from them as you know I'm a Republican.

I'm not a Trumper but I I support President Trump. Um, but we for the Republicans, they, you know, all politics is local. So it all comes down to getting out your base in in in election with on the ballot. And then it's also about um who are your candidates? If we look at uh the governor's race for New Jersey, right, Jack Chidarelli was the Republican candidate and Mikey Cheryl was the Democratic candidate and she won. She won big. Now, she's a a congresswoman and she's also a military helicopter pilot.

So, she has a nice resume. Um Jack, this is the third time he ran for governor and this is the third time he lost. So he came close his second time. Um but not close enough. Um and and we have to remember the blue state where the concern is is who voted for Mikey Cheryl and a large Hispanic vote came out for Mikey Cheryl and a and the African-American vote came out for Cheryl. So, if we look at what Trump did in in uh 2024, he he his he basically his black vote and Hispanic vote was very strong for for Trump. So, all of those gains under Trump kind of got wiped away and that's

a concern for Republicans. Yeah, I agree with you. I I think one of the concern I mean for me maybe if some of uh our American audience may be wondering why somebody from Gual Lumpo is so interested in the um in the American uh political situation. uh it's uh it's very much uh pro business uh the pro business uh policies in my opinion that and you know I do a lot of business with American associates and all that and a good uh business environment for America and a healthy economy for America is extremely good for the global business community. So that's basically where why we are so

interested what happens in America affects us a lot you know so people in the US may not understand that but that's the reality of the world uh that we live in so when that happens we what what I was looking at is uh is how do we I mean what are we looking at because the loss to the Democrat is a lot bigger than we expected, right?

Yes. Yeah. So, I mean, how concerned are you as a Republican um when you look at that uh at this trend? Does how does it how do you know um towards you know the midterms for example, especially towards the midterm? Yeah, I'm I'm very concerned because I don't know um how good our candidates are going to be and I don't know if Trump is going to be able to adjust politically to the climate in America. For example, um you know, these ICE raids are obviously not popular and he's doubling down on them. the the most recent interviews he's done, he's been asked about the big

issue which is now affordability, right? So, uh that's how Zoron Mandami became mayor of New York City, right? He ran on this idea of affordability, meaning everything is too expensive in America to live, right? We don't we're not making enough money a house. We can't buy houses anymore. Our groceries are too expensive. So the problem with Trump is he's pushing back on that and he's he's presenting numbers. He's like looking gas prices are down and he says food costs are down which is debatable and he calls it a Democratic hoax. That's a very big problem because

this is the same argument that Joe Biden made that when people were complaining about the economy under him, he was saying, you know, that's it's it's it's false. Are feeling pain in their wallet, that's what they feel and and they're expressing that box. So Trump has got to figure out a way to a make things more affordable or b make people feel like things are more affordable. You can't just dismiss it as a democratic hoax. So

yeah, my my my thoughts are I don't I've expressed on the on the post morning show or not but u I've always thought to a certain extent that all the work that he's doing as soon as he came into office will act I mean for example bringing down the price of gas uh bringing and uh dismantling regulation bringing in investments I've seen that happen already. The problem is actually I felt that and even the tariffs I am very supportive of the tariff actually to be honest. I mean it may sound weird but you know I I'll I've explained before why uh the tariffs is uh is a

negotiation that at the end of the day you have an import tax that has to be comparative for importers. So I think at the end of at the end of it I don't I I think what actually I felt was he ought to have done before he came in this may not be good politics though which actually to tell the American people that look we're going to have to sacrifice a bit to start off with because you only see results to be honest after 16 to 18 months you know so uh I mean I the fact that you got at least from the data you have a a lower than 3% inflation rate a GDP that that

is higher than forecast that already was a surprise to me. So I think from my standpoint I think from uh the messaging is also is is a problem if you ask

100%. Yeah. The Republicans and Trump's team are terrible at messaging. They did a bad job with Doge. They did a bad job with uh these trade deals. You know, the American people still don't understand these trade deals because they they're not being explained to to them. You know, Trump just we've made seven, you know, we've made whatever. Well, what does that mean for us? And he doesn't come out and say, "Listen, I've made all of these trade deals. I I'm I've changed the global climate into the trading for in America's favor. It's just not going to happen overnight and you have to be

patient. And he doesn't message that way, you know. So, what he's trying to do now is he's offering, which I've been saying all along he's going to do. He's saying, "Look, these tariffs were bringing in so much money. I'm going to give everybody $2,000." That's That's his new That's since we this election last week thing now is I'm going to give everybody a stimulus of $2,000. The way it's going to be though, it's it's going to be like part of your tax return. Which, by the way, in the big beautiful bill, the tax return for middle class Americans is huge. It's great. He what he, you know,

everybody that's like to argue, oh, he, you know, a tax cut for the rich. No, it's attack cuts for middle middle class Americans as well, you know. So, but they have to message and terrible at messaging. And when you when you when you're Trump go you call everything a hoax you you know and they watch they they see what's on TV and see what's on the internet you know and if if they see people complaining about um you know like the ICE raids are a big thing you know sending in the National Guard into cities is a big thing people don't like it you know he did fine with Washington DC

that's great but then to extend it to other cities I don't understand why he does that. I think he should just especially that he's sending them into blue cities. So, just let the blue cities hang themselves, you know, just just keep messaging Chicago, you know, here's our on Monday morning. Say, here's our update on Chicago. 40 more people were murdered. You know what I mean? Just keep putting that out there every every week. And and you know, it's a message that way. You don't need to send a National Guard in there. But the problem is ICE uh is is getting a lot of

push back. That's why he's sending in the guard. And uh you know, listen, that whole immigration thing is is is a real problem for for You really think so? You really think so? I thought that I mean, I'm looking from outside. I was in DC actually when the when the National Guards were made into DC. I honestly I don't know where they were. Um I only saw one um one military presence near the the monument. Uh but other than that I didn't feel anything different to be honest. So I enjoyed my one week in the DC. Yeah. But u I agree with you. I I don't know if if if that is an issue

um that you hear from domestically and that is a concern. But uh I think from an economic standpoint I think messaging Trump's administration is facing a wall because like it or not all the mainstream media is very much on the side of the Democrats and the message is not coming through if you ask me

right the message 100%. Yeah. So and and like for Go ahead. Well, I was just going to say the the um for example, uh with the shutdown, the big message from from Republicans was we're not going, you know, the Democrats shut down the government because they want uh illegal immigrants to get healthcare. That was their message right during the shutdown. Well, the media then did let the says, "Well, that's not really true. only x% you know 2% 3% of illegals are get healthcare whatever it is you know what I'm saying so that message that the Republicans live on becomes u antiseptic

over time and then it become it goes on deaf ears so you need a different message you know you just need to the the best message was listen this is a political ploy and just hammer home you know uh video after video of all of these these Democrats saying how a government in the past saying how government shutdowns are bad and you know what I mean like you you have Schumer and Pelosi and all these people saying where we should never shut down the government. Well, just keep playing that 24/7. Don't, you know, don't worry about the getting health care, you know,

when it's like it's, you know, you got a message and and they didn't and plus another thing is they they didn't stay in DC. A lot of them went home. So, that's not a good that's not a good look.

That was a big thing with Sean Sean Spicer on on on the GU program. He was very unhappy about that. So I mean so if you look right I think uh we've got a messaging problem as far as the Republicans are concerned. I think we also have if you ask me when I looked at it the candidates performance were not good or the ground game probably is not good as well. Would you agree with that or do you think that's the that's the and that is a concern if you think about it from the point of view of you've only got basically the V Virginia uh the okay the New York mayoral race I will give it one

thing I mean they've got a charismatic candidate but uh and there's really it's a Democrat city it's it's the Democrats it's a it's a gone game anyway right prof

yeah so New New York City. Uh, if we break it down, it's it's it's kind of simple. Most people that live in New York City aren't native New Yorkers, right? So, they're not born and raised in New York, you know? So, you have you have um a city that is, like we say about America, a melting pot, right? You got all different kinds of uh religions, ethnicities, and uh Zoran Mandami's message about affordability. First of all, he he's a he's an excellent politician. He started out with his his first video was about a food truck.

Yeah. You know, so that that that's that was a that was a good message message about like, do you want to pay $15 or $10 at your food truck? You know, that kind of thing. So, it was a good message. The here's the big problem. The Democrats ran Quuomo, right? You Adams is the mayor who's who's a failed mayor, right?

Then you have Quomo, a failed governor, didn't get to finish his governorship and and had a huge problem with COVID and, you know, people in nursing homes and all of this. And then you got this young guy, Mandami. So, you have three lousy candidates, but one of them's charismatic and young. So in in New York City, young people are going they they about you know if this you know what guy's nationality is or whatever he's talking about free buses and he's young and he's exciting and that's where the vote goes and plus they're not going to vote for Cuomo. They're not going to

vote for the Republican Curish Siwa because uh nobody votes Republican. So it was there was no way that um the push back on Mandami was going to was going to happen cuz then what happens is Cuomo loses primary and then runs as an independent. You don't change a candidate. So what makes you think he's going to win, you know? So

that was a yeah that's a that's a gone case for I mean the margins that and polling shows across the nation a zoron mandami would would never you know nationally carry and just like an AOC or a Bernie they don't you know these progressives they don't they don't poll well nationally so

really okay no I mean that comes off to the next jumping point that actually um looking at from going into the midterms and then the 2028. Um I sort of like if you were to ask me today um who is the most charismatic or or uh who would I pick to run for the uh the next presidential term? I'm looking at Nusam and AOC. I don't know what you think about it. And I I mean I I I I thought the same thing. AOC cannot cross uh state lines but I'm not sure whether I'm not sure anymore you know I mean Nome if you look at Nome I mean he's carrying a lot of baggage

from yes I mean being the governor of uh California with a lot of uh companies fleeing the state you've got loads of regulatory problems but um but he's I find it's almost like looking at me uh and saying he's achieved nothing. He's done nothing and and and yet he seemed to be whether that will carry Newsome along. I'm not sure. I don't know.

I think where Nuome is going to have a problem is with the Democrats when they start doing primaries depending on who else runs. But Newsome Newsome is very charismatic. He's a good-looking guy. He's good on his podcast, but he's the governor of California. When he came in as the governor of California, California's operating budget was at a surplus. They are now 68 billion in debt. And he's still trying to borrow money. They can't put out any fires. They have a problem with their water system. They're they have the worst immigration policy and and and uh problem in whole United

States. Now, they always say, "Well, you know, California's got the fourth highest GDP in the world or whatever." It's like, yeah, but you're not you're not building new, you haven't had a new oil refinery in god knows how many years, you know, 30, 40 years. You haven't, you know, done anything to to grow, you know, you just had big tech there. And like you, Sam, peop companies left. Look at Elon Musk. He up and and got out of there. So, I think what would happen to Nuome is though he's a he's a good political athlete, I think somebody on the Democratic party would would, you

know, they would just expose his record as governor of California and then he he he'd be uh toast. Why do you think Why do you think AOC will not uh will will not be able to um

She's she's very leftwing. Very leftwing. And I don't think that plays well the nation now. She's an attractive, exciting young woman. Um, so I think, you know, she'll she can get some juice going. Let's say, for example, if Newsome got through the, right, and let's say he becomes a Democratic nominee. I think AOC would be a good vice presidential choice because you want to lock Yeah. You would want to lock up that left that progressive wing of the Democratic party. So that would be good. but as a as a wholesale candidate. Plus, if if anybody's ever watched AOC in Congress, she she has a

lot of problems and she speaks. She gets she gets trip time. So, um you know, but listen, the to figure out there, you know, listen, anybody following Donald Trump is going to have a huge problem. Like, how does JD Vance, you know, he's going to have to come out and say what he doesn't agree with Trump on, right? because he's not you can't play the Kamala line and say, "Oh, I I wouldn't change anything." You'd have to say what you'd change. And we got a problem on the right, too, because you have these these uh MAGA or or even ultrarightwing like this Fentes who's got problems in

the Republican party. You know, you you have to deal with that. And if you embrace these Fuentes people, then you know, don't want to kick anybody out. You know, there comes a time when you you have to say no to certain people because they're just their ideology is just not American.

I I I want I was going to go there. Um I was going to go there, but let me finish out uh your thoughts on on on uh the midterms first. Um do you think that the Republicans are going to lose the House when the midterms come around? I I think they're at a time

to hold on to the house. Meaning when Trump gives his inaug, you know, his uh State of the Union in January, he's better be he better be able to show that prices are literally coming down and that the that the American people are starting to feel good. Now, I keep telling everybody, wait till people get their stimulus check and wait till they they do their taxes and they realize they got a lot more money in their pocket. That's help him. It's going to help him.

When when would that be approximately? That's usually, you know, April, April, May, June, but that's like the I would say June 1st is the cut off point. then we'll know exactly if the country turn back to Trump and say, you know what, Trump's actually doing a good job and he's shown us that these these trade deals are good, then I think uh the Republicans do can do well. But the problem, like I said, Sam, is it it's also about who's the candidate, the ground game. Right now, the Republicans have a lot of money, a lot more money than the Democrats, but look what just

happened. you know, you know, but the Republicans were smart enough to know that uh these governorships, which were basically blue states, you know, people call Virginia a purple state. It's really a blue state. Um they weren't going to win, so they didn't dump money in there. You know, they didn't waste any money in there. So, they know that they Trump's inner circle, inner ground game is good. His polling is excellent. It's just that I just think he served well by some of his adviserss because you could see Trump's face after that night of the elections. He looked like,

you know, he he looked like he was surprised that somebody lied to him and didn't truth that the way we're going to get our asses whipped in these elections, you know. So, well, I I thought I I I I thought um I mean maybe New Jersey is is a possibility. I didn't think uh so I'm I mean I agree with you no point to dump money in in a place that you're not going to win what's the point right if you ask me right now I would say I agree with you that June is the cut off point because I mean from a business standpoint we always know what the if you implement a policy so he comes in

even with hitting the ground running the way cabinet has done which has been quite amazing if you you ask me looking from the outside in, it is still going to take June up to I mean June is already an extremely good indicator of when things should be felt at ground at at the people's level if you ask me right and I was telling uh my co-host Chang I'm actually quite surprised that the GDP growth or the inflation rate were not uh the GDP growth was that high I was looking at 3.1 3.2 it went up to it was at 3.8 8 I expected the job numbers to be even worse to be honest

because uh you know when you let go of people from the federal government side and whatnot. Yeah. I expected also inflation to actually be a bit higher because the tariff starts up high but I've always recognized that the way he has handled the tariff as a businessman. I was remarkable if you were to ask me. uh I don't want to go into detail. I've already spoken about it quite at length on my other uh on the previous podcasts you know um but so June is cut off let's say so and that's what I see actually if even for the next term 2028 whatever Trump has done in

this term is going to make it whether it's going to be the real reason why you hold the house and then also 2028 election whether you're going to keep the presidency right Yeah,

because if you if you screw up the the with all that you've done now, there's no way that JD if he's the nominee to say that, you know, he's not part of it. It's got to be back to what Camala had to deal with,

right? No, you're 100% right. And that's why they these the problem is it's unfortunate that this Trump wasn't the first Trump and we didn't have co you know what I'm saying cuz then you could roll him into a second term. You know what I mean? So in other words, if whatever if Trump had another term coming and he was younger and all of the things he's doing now, you you eventually that the the things he's doing would start we the United States would start reaping was feeling the benefits back, right? because it takes time with with America is our electorate

is we're so divided and we're so fed up with the government that we want instant fix. We don't have patience. So when people say, "Look, Trump, you were going to you going to lower prices. The prices aren't coming down. You're out." He hasn't been president. He he he he what? He he just got elected a year ago, right? uh he hasn't taken office, you know, it's it January 20th is when he got office, right? So, we're not even a year into his presidency and people are already like, get out of here, you know? So, the American electorate is very fickle and and uneducated in many ways.

And uh it's a problem. It's a big time problem. Well, I think the the the other big problem that this administration what it has is that is that the mainstream media you talk you you take out Fox which is a cable news you know um it's all against him. So the messaging he he's got such a win against the messaging that they must find a way out of that you know and and get what is actually uh they are doing. I don't think they've done the messaging in terms of translating what they are doing and when you should be able to reap the benefit of it. It's not quite

as good as what it should be if you were to ask me. Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, yeah. Uh Prof. Anyway, I mean since we we've we've unpacked that there is the point that you made about other part going to be crucial for for the uh for the coming elections and whatnot. is this uh what seems to be now um is you know a few outlets has been calling the civil war within the Republican party right um you've got uh you've got um I think that actually when I look at it um you mentioned the name Nick Fuentes and the the the big huh about him being platformed by Taka Carlson Right.

I've heard your opinion of it on our last Zoom call in uh on the post morning show. I took the time and and just that twohour podcast you know between Kson and Nick Fuentes

and actually I came out with I don't know whether tell me whether you agree or how let's let's talk about it right what I actually let's it's no doubt is white nationalist thinking in I think that's a backlash to anti- uh uh to the far-left narrative of anti-whitness so to to speak, right? This is what I saw. But it is so but I also understand that from from the way I look at it why if you are to ask me why Taker didn't really go really that hard on on Fuentes because they were basically on the same camp with respect to foreign policy which is a first and

actually the other thing that has always been a bother for this America first crowd is u is is what they adopt as being uh whatever Israel is or whatever Israel wants to do it's can't follow and they're not on with that you know and I think that if you ask me the overall picture I think that is the overall big picture uh on the foreign policy front from this MAGA first um America first uh kind of thinking the the the white nationalist part of it. I would rather put it aside to be honest because I think that is a small small issue. It's like you know what

it's like it's like Bill Mah platforming Cornell West or or or or Al or Shton on his show because uh they they they are all out when they come and talks uh about the the the uh the anti and what I would call anti-white rhetoric. So anyway, that that's I come from that from is uh there is a big a big uh what do you call this a big within the pro-Israel faction and the America first faction. What do you think bro?

Yeah it it's a it's a problem. Um you know Daryl on our post show right? you know, Daryl Zand is real and you know, he's part he's like a Nick Fente. He's not a total Nick Fentes guy, but he understands Nick Fuentes

and I am not of that. So, uh, I am pro- Israel. I always have been. And I'm German. I'm Irish and German. Um, I just don't think people understand the history there. Um, last night we talked about it a little bit on Allen's post show. If people have a problem with Israel, then be specific. What is your problem with Israel? If you say, "Well, Israel's always been trying to expand their their land." All right, that's a legitimate right. And then so then make that argument and and and as Americans, if we say, you know what, Israel, you're going a little too far, then that's a fair argument could

probably come to a an understanding on. But what I see in this anti-Israel movement behind it is really anti-semitism. That's what I see. See uh 1933 stirring up all over again. When I when I saw Fuentes on Tucker Carlson and him and Tucker are both going, "What do we need Israel for?" They give, "Well, you know nothing about history and you know nothing about geography. Look where Israel sits in in in the world surrounded by all of these Arab countries. They are our number one ally, you know, and and strategically just where they're located for us is is is

everything. And then let me bring up a little thing. Gaza and Hamas and and the Palestinians, right? You know, people say, "Oh, look what Israel's doing to the Palestinians." All right. How come Jordan, Syria, Egypt, how about nobody wants to have anything to do with the Palestinian people? They've never proven the Arab Saudis, the Arab countries have treated the Palestinians worse than Israel ever could. And then Hamas, a tanbacked uh terrorist organization, takes advantage of these poor people in Palest, you know, the pal Palestinians in Gaza and then commits war on Israel

to provoke them to provoke a response so that it becomes Israel's problem and it's Israel's genocide on the Palestinians when none of these Arab countries come to their aid at all. It's a disgrace. And you know, the response that Israel had to October 7th, I think was more than I think was was appropriately proportional in the sense that how many times is Israel going to get attacked by these people? And you know, if you leave Israel alone, they're going to leave you alone. Now, if if there's expansion going on and we don't like it, then fine. Let's let's deal

with that. Let's let's put a a nail in coffin on that. So this way any of these Israeli any um Middle Eastern countries say look they can no longer say we fear Israel cuz look we say no there's no more expansion in Israel you know what I mean leave Israel alone we'll leave you alone. Um but it's in America my frustration is the the real anti-Israel movement is is a youth movement that doesn't understand history. They don't know 1933. They don't know Nazi Germany. they it's so far removed from them and they don't learn it in school anymore. So it's it's a for me it's a problem.

I mean I I've said this before uh I think I in the sense that I mean Egypt has a has a higher wall you know to ensure that the Palestinians don't go into Egypt. In fact, um I think um so I'm trying to figure Hamas knew exactly what they were doing when they when Octo uh with October 7th they what what they were doing was basically exactly what they expected to happen which is they that response and they hit for um what I call in the west I don't know who I got this from or they call it suicide al empathy, you know.

So, but I think actually if you ask me, I think Trump has played his cards as best he could with all the Arab countries come up with the accord in Shamal. The the the thing now is to implement it. Um and the thing that I find then I come back to the domestic issue um coalition is actually I think making the younger people understand that the interests of America in terms of its global commerce situation that makes you rich that makes you be able to uh actually become the economic power that you are with only about what how many people 300 plus 340 200 300 50 million people, you know,

right? And as the biggest economy in the world is because you are able to make the whole globe relatively safe for commerce, right? That's why you're so rich, you know? So, I think that is the messaging that is not coming through. That's number one. I don't know the other thing, bro. I wanted to talk to you about because I saw that when we were talking about the fuentes thing last night is when I saw how uh Tucker and I mean Ben Shapiro went on Megan Kelly's uh show there, right? And calling Tucker Carlson I'm I mean I don't know whether you agree but I would say this calling

Tucker Carlson anti-semite is not right. I think when you do such things when I listen to that two-hour podcast and I can see I don't think Tucker is an anti-semite. He just doesn't agree with uh I mean what's going on in Gaza and what not. But then you talk policy, right? But the reaction coming from the pro uh Israel uh side of the co coalition is if you disagree with Israel, you're an anti-semite. I think that's problematic if you ask me.

Well, that's the debate. But I I I see me me Sam, I personally believe that. I believe that a lot of this it's it's not anti-Israel and then anti-semitism. No, anti-semitism rolled up into anti-Israel. That's the way I look at it. When I hear like a Daryl, which is a great example on our shows, right? just he just puts down the Jews left and right and then he tries to say he's not he's not anti-semitic every word out of mouth is anti-semitic and if like I said if you want to criticize Israel then criticize government criticize Netanyahu criticize their expansion but these people were

invaded October 7th and children were taken and murdered and yet they're getting treated like they're the genocidal people it's not fair it's not right and in terms of the way America plays it. Like I said, the youth of America uh doesn't understand history and they they look at, you know, they watch the news and they see these, you know, pictures of Gaza, which looks like, you know, it's like the Holoca, you know, dystopian world because it's so right. It's all it's rubble. And they say, "Look what Israel did." But yet when when Hamas is returning the dead,

what do they do? A whole parade, you know, they they shoot their guns in the air, all of this stuff. It's it's just utterly ridiculous. It's ridiculous. I don't I I I I understand an anti-Israel movement without, like I said, without being specific. When they say, "Well, I'm anti-specific." when you're not specific that that to this anti-semitism stuff and and by the way these Fentes guys and Tucker Carlson they all hide behind uh well one of my best friends is Jewish yeah but funny though

that that doesn't excuse your rhetoric against the Jewish people you know so well I mean listen that was so classic it yeah you know this guy you know the things he said about the Jews is just it's It's Yeah.

Well, I I I I I I agree with you on this point guy on how he has framed the discussion. He's much u I I mean I come out of it and I I'm quite certain. I I said, "Okay, that's a white nationalist position, right? That's at a Jew position in terms of how he looks world." All right, I can argue with that. To be honest with you, I looked at it. I said if I was speaking with him, uh, and and I was in that discussion, I would push back and say, look, why are you thinking this way? Why are you not at it from, you know, this kind of way instead? But Tucker did nothing

of that sorts from that standpoint. But the only thing I would say that uh from from Tucker's standpoint is he's also coming from a biblical and I I'm taking him at his word right which is this is how I separate the two when I look at what what why I'm I tucker the benefit of the doubt is basically said that he accepts that the Jew Jewish people biblical standpoint are honored people that are honored by So in that sense he come he doesn't come as an anti-semite because he's already given them that position from purely from a Christian standpoint. But Fuentes

on hand and this is the thing that I think I don't know because I'm you're the Republican here. I'm looking at it from uh from the outside lens. I'm asking I I look at a young just like you say this is a h youth problem right they don't history okay

but you you've got a guy here and especially with the loss of Charlie Kirk I thought the loss of Charlie K is huge for the movement you know uh because he's so articulate he he knows how to merge these two together and I think there's the loss there so you've got this young guy who like we said that that particular He's not even 30, my friend.

No. And he's never had sex. He's never had sex. No, seriously. I I I I raised this issue yesterday. I don't trust anybody who's not interested in having sex. You know what I'm saying? Seriously. I mean, give me You're going to tell me about life and you don't know. You've never had sex. I think what Nick Fentis' problem is he's never had women would want to be with him, you know, and which leads me to think he might not he might not be into women. I don't know. But that's that's that's fine with me. Then enjoy a man. Like stop incel this celibacy You know, they're all

Listen, these people are I I think that I there was a great New York Times that Josh Johnson sent me and it was like they started it was the title and that the whole Nick Fentes thing, you know, is like everything he went against was because somebody challenged him on something and so his his his motivation was, well, you started it first, so now I'm coming back at you.

You think that much a younger generation thing? It's a younger generation thing. Like if you think of did you the the movie The Social Network about Zuckerberg, right? Facebook, right? Well, the opening scene is his girlfriend rejects him. So what does he do? He goes forms Facebook cuz he got rejected by women,

right? And then he he went in to take out revenge on women. That that that's that's a youthful, you know, problem. And by the way, here's another thing to bring up, Sam. Sure. America America first. Yeah. The problem with these America first people is it's not America first, it's America only. They don't understand global trade. They don't understand global. They think we could just stay on one side of the ocean and to hell with everybody else. They don't understand. And by the way, when when Trump uh sent the bucker bunker busters into Thran to blow out their

nuclear facility, that told everybody, "Don't mess with the United States. Don't mistake Mike for weakness. And that was a huge huge M. And it also put everybody on notice. Don't mess with Israel. It there's going to be no changing in our relationship with Israel. Okay? Like a lot of the Netanyahu Trump stuff is good cop, bad cop stuff. You know,

Trump tries to be the good cop. Netanyahu is the bad cop. You know, when Trump Yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. No, no. I was just going to say when Trump when Trump bombed Tyran that put everybody on the whole world on notice. It was a great move. It was a great move.

In fact, I think I I think that actually also translates to a message. Look, you know, oh yeah, play around, you know, they were coming to a point where uh Ping was probably looking at the US as being that Trump is all talk, you know. So

I think I think that was necessary and you know and that's the way and that's why I you know uh I guess if you come to the world there is an uh Asian sentiment so they are pro-China to a certain extent but uh you know I'm looking at things from a very objective um capitalist standpoint and maybe western educated and you see the the the world through a lens where um you know as I said before a few times where no where other country has there been has won world wars wars and given the country back to the people that lost it's only America nobody else has ever done that you know so

yeah so I I this is I agree with you that's the other part it's actually educating that portion of the coalition viewer told me uh them outright, you know, broth is a bit of a concern to me. And that's where I find when I look at uh this is where I think the Republican coalition miss person like Charlie Kirk and I can't find anyone within the coalition that can do that at this moment which is basically tell the young people how things ought to be or what things are. I think Charlie played a great part in that in in in providing that narrative for them

100%. And and what what but you what you notice happening now. So they're putting Charlie's wife out there always accompanied now with JD Vance. I Vance Vance is to go forward in terms of being the next president is you'll see him out front with those the uh what is it the what what's Charlie Kirk's thing is USA or whatever yeah turning point USA right

he'll be he'll be the main guy out front until the 2028 election she'll come out she'll do her thing always be a JD thing you know plus this Fuentes guy is trying co-opt these people and it's not going to work. You know, he's he's trying to gain a a foothold because he hated Charlie Kirk, by the way. So, um

he's trying to he's trying to co-opt that USA uh void that Kirk has left now. And uh you know, so that's what that's why him a little bit. But

yeah, but you you know what uh prof just us talking it this way actually on me and I'm I've been trying to think you're you you're about if you want to argue on the policy with respect to Israel be specific. Right.

Yes. Right. That's what I think if you were to ask me this is the problem with the side that is pro-Israel especially, you know, I was just listening to Shapiro and Magin. It's just they they need to really pull back a bit and be more like what you just said. Hey guys, be specific, you know, and just don't label people. Be honest with you. This is how I would do it as a tactical messaging and actually educating. I think Charlie would have done that, you know.

Yeah. I mean, Charlie Kirk had his problem with Israel, too. But, um, but he's very nuanced. Yes, 100%. He just he's not ambiguous. He's not just going to throw it out there like, oh, you know, we got to watch Israel or Israel's bad. I hate that. I hate No, I want specifics. If you got a problem with Israel, tell me what the specifics are.

Right? You know, like uh Daryl will argue, well, every problem we've ever had, meaning the United States, is it's always Israel that caused the problem. What you're going to blame Israel for the Iraq war, you know, like give me a break. You know, it's just ridiculous.

Are you going to blame Israel for how China has controlled the minerals? Right. Right. China, did Israel bring China into the the what is it? The the WTO, you know what I mean? Like, you know, it's like, give me a break, you No, not not everything uh around this, you know.

Yeah. No, it's just it's it it's a it's a to me it's a phony narrative, you know, and this, you know, of course Netanyahu went hard after October 7th, but I I they just had enough. Plus, forget Israel doesn't do anything without the US giving them the wink or the nod. You know what I mean? So, it it it's so that's why I say it's good cop, bad cop. Well, not only that, in my opinion, if you were to ask me, I pointed out this it was very telling how Trump had actually taken control of the narrative. Actually, he has. I have never seen for example I thought the the

uh the image of him calling the Qatar prime minister right and handing the phone to uh Netanyahu was was a great photo op for America this is who's the boss

you know so I think it's the problem with the within the Republican party right now as far as the coalition is how do you manage this moving forward because you can't fracture your coalition and you can't lose people because of I mean they are immature shall we say that for lack of better word right

no it's 100% correct the Zoran Mandami election it tells you everything you need to know about the youth in America they don't know anything well I mean my problem if you ask me I don't know how his uh I mean his belief systems are uh because I I think I I mean, it's uh his father. I think they were

Yeah, but Zoron's they have video of Zoron down Israel, you know, he's and then calling out um the NYPD as the IDF and stuff like that. There there are videos of him that so um he's

a Republican was if it was a Republican candidate, can you imagine how that would have been blown up on mainstream media? Yeah, it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. Um, listen, we're in we're in very volatile times, Sam. What I said last night on Allen's show,

I said what I would love to do with our people, including you, Sam, is a little, you know, after show people, which we're getting over 40 people now. Um, we can we can we can pull 10 heads together and and write a platform for America. You know what I mean? instead of being because this is the problem with America now. We're a two-party system, right? It and you but now both parties are being fractured, right? Progressives, liberals, moderates, you know, conservatives, ultrarightwing, MAGA, you know, all of that stuff, right? Well, why don't our own party come up with our own platform that's

very centrist which deals with social issues properly but focuses on the global trade issues and and also our role in the world as a military superpower. That's that's what I would love to do. Well, I think you know I mean that's one of the I mean the last time I was on uh I was up uh by Mark to put my point is uh I felt that I think the this region is Asia-Pacific region is a growing region that America should I know a part because the ASEAN summit was there Trump came over and what not and I thought that actually the photo not just the I would say that in that

just two days or three days he was here. uh the media coverage of America was excellent and uh and sort of like he flipped the narrative a bit for the for the region to be looking at America as a as an option, you know, um which has been very much left to China and that is not you talk if you want to keep your growth going and if you want to be able to actually um you know still have this business this this this economic supremacy that you have right because for for for for me what I'm looking at when I look at China my biggest concern is actually they have uh

overproduced everything so so now what they have done is actually because they've overproduced everything so cheaply and yet their GDP per capita does not increase they're trapped and their consumptions are there

so that makes it even worse so and then what is happening Then it becomes then they export their problems um through the to not just this region but they went because of the uh initiative the road uh initiative

right road. Yeah. So what you get actually the re uh all these countries that got involved in it got into a debt trap you know they're building infrastructure because

because third world economies developing economies can be very corrupt you know what I mean right so you throw money at the end of the day these countries end up dead you know and uh unproductive infrastructure because because the the Chinese need to export their um I mean they are people they have resources etc because they can't consume right so I think the world is unstable in that sense uh the only at the end of the day when you look at it right um only a smart superpower that we have had for so long must get its act together that's basically the concern coming from you know where I've

been saying all the while is this is what we need to happen which is uh which is why when I see how this uh Trump 2.0 administration came in and took the reign like nobody never seen a cabinet work this way ever in my lifetime right it's only that's why I'm saying I'm saying you know I wish they had just said okay the results going to right it's going to take some time messaging got to be right if he house and senate how you going to do your going to end up

he's a lame duck then he's a lame duck then he'll just veto everything and you know the next lo he won't lose could lose the house. Yeah. Yeah. And the next thing you find is that you're going to have an impeachment hearing.

Yeah. That you know that that get all that. See then the American people will turn against that because that's boring and old. You know it's the same. And that's why we're divided. You know it's just listen the people who are anti-Trump they hate him. You see on our shows they hate him. They they don't give him credit for anything

anything. Yeah. and you know they oh he's been in you know he's done absolutely nothing. Well he just made all of these trade deals. It's a little peaceful out there because he's talked to the countries and told them to knock it off but he gets credit for nothing. So I think his administration just better focus now on domestic stuff and get get uh the American people feeling better. get the get the media to when the when the numbers come out show, hey, inflation's down,

hiring is up, more, you know, interest rates are down, you uh prices of housing is coming down, of course, fuel is down, and which is great, but, you know, I don't know. I don't know if they're capable of doing that. Like I said, he's constantly on TV now calling uh affordability a hoax, and that's that's not going to that's not going to work. No, it's not a good good message. So,

but I I'm I mean I I can see that if you ask me interest down further uh which will make housing more affordable. That is not happening. I don't know. Um but then I don't know when power is going to be replaced. So that's probably what January, February next year that his term ends. And by the Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But by the way, Sam, here's here's another problem which should be part of the Republican messaging. Does anybody actually believe that if they if if they give Trump or get rid of policies, right, by bringing in Democrats, that Democrats are going to fix things and

makes things better. No, no, no. The the Democratic party is not polling better than Trump. Trump's poll numbers are in in in underwater right now, and the Democrats are still polling under him.

Yeah. So, you know, there might be a change. I don't see I don't think there'd be a change nationally, especially he's got time for these trade deals to finally sink in. But midterms could be a problem. Midterms could be a very big problem for the Republicans.

You ask me if if if by May, June, uh, things get better, you know. I mean, all those investments, some of them some of those investments that I see is real. the problem deployment of capital and then for for for work to start to kick off from construction and whatn not right those take time you're looking at at minimum eight months you know from the time they say do something you're looking at eight months at least to get things moving if that is you get all the approvals done right so that's the biggest issue in terms of employment because the government really can't do much uh from

what Trump is already doing you Yeah. And what's going to happen is whoever becomes president after Trump, let's let's just say for argument sake, it's Gavin Newsome, right? Let's say the Democrats somehow Nuomo will reap the benefits of all of the deals that Trump made. So Nome will be like, "Oh, look, we got all the look at how America is rebuilding about." Yeah, you didn't do it, Nuome. It was Trump who did it. You know, the guys that, you know, the the the left kicked out or or hated, he's the one who did it. Well, that's that's where I I feel to be to be with you, I

feel confident actually that those will be given. My only concern is actually whether uh will come enough. I will happen within the Trump's term. So I think by the time his second year rolls in, end of his second year, the Americans will reap the benefit. But uh I'm just concerned that actually it will be too late for the midterms. That's all. So that's where I'm looking at from from from that standpoint, you know.

Other than that, I mean the let's go back to this. Oh yeah. I one one other subject before we close out maybe right. um been coming up as as you said just now um subsidy by the uh was being made as an issue uh for the federal shutdown. I've been looking at American healthcare and I just can't believe how messed up it is. I mean really if and it's almost like I mean I don't understand how the Republic Republican can let Democrats get away with that when it's literally nicknamed Obamacare,

you know. Yeah. So the when you talk about premium going up, we just point to that side and say, "Look, that's your legislation. I don't care whether I mean it's you say it's Romney's plan or you know it's Obamacare, right? So the thing is I don't I think I wish this which is

um Republicans need to come land or how to fix right 100%. They don't, the Republicans won't go near it because they know it's such a mess and it's such a big deal to deal with that um nobody's willing to step up and figure out something. Um, as far as the Democrats go, uh it's it's no longer the Affordable Care Act. It's the unaffordable care act, which the Democrats uh which the Republicans were saying all along. Here's the difference between the Romney plan and care. In the Romney plan, Massachusetts, everybody had to be on the health insurance plan. Everybody. So, in other words, everybody

had to be had to opt in. Under Obamacare, he tried to do that, but then the Supreme Court cuz states sued and the Supreme Court ruled that people don't if they don't want to be in on Obamacare, they don't have to be. So once you don't have everybody in now that affordability goes up you know it becomes unaffordable and you need the government to subsidize it. So um it's a broken system and I don't know who is going to come forward to try and fix it. Throwing money at it doesn't fix it.

I think for the Republicans um they don't know how to message on it and they they don't know how to fix it. They don't have a plan to fix it for the Democrats. They just want to subsidize it and hope that nobody talks about it again, you know. So, it's it's it's a bad it's bad. It's bad. And it's a shame.

I always bring up Sam greatness. Like, somebody has to step up to greatness like a Trump, right? Which he will never do. And why don't you come together with a with a sensible healthcare plan for this country? Why don't you do that? and then you'll be considered, wow, we had Obamacare and that was a disaster and looked at in six months Trump, but nobody's gonna

rise to greatness to do that. I think the I think if you ask me the problem is more in the in in in Congress and uh and I don't know whether it is probably in Congress because why you're looking at the insurance lobby, you're looking at a big farmer disaster. It's it too many too many Yes. too many elements to deal with. That's why the Republicans never want to go near it.

Right? So that's the biggest actually stumbling block that you have there in the uh I mean the uh in the corporate sector uh which are making money off this and they are the ones who are actually feeding the congressional uh you know

Yeah. Yeah. And then the both sides both sides and the lobbyists the lobbyists are the ones who will you know no matter what health care plan comes out it'll be the lobbyists who actually write the law because they got to make sure that you know they people make money.

It's not about healthare it's about making money. Yeah. I think it's just way too expensive in America. I think you know you come down here you'll be surprised at the quality of health care that you get in Malaysia and Singapore. uh at the price that we pay comparatively speaking. It just makes no sense to me. You know, not everybody needs to have a I mean, you think about it, right? Not everybody needs to have critical care, right? But everything is almost um is is is uh baked into the cost of it, right? So that's why the premium the the the cost is so high and then you've got the HMOs

and then the insurance companies and you got a tonload of bureaucracy that's inflating all the cost two to three times more than what it should be easy. Yep. I can tell you. Yeah. So

it's it's not an easy thing to fix. Yeah. So anyway, I think uh that's been a long conversation, my friend. Yeah, I enjoyed it very much. Thank you. So, I'll see you uh we'll close out for now. We'll see each other again. Yeah. Thank you. I'll see you on the post show.

Thank you. Thank you for having me on. Hey, thanks a lot. Thanks very much. Bye. Bye. I'll see you later. Thanks, Sam. Take it easy. Okay. Bye. Bye. Okay. Five.