Jake Sherman

Yeah, so it was actually just pregnancy, right?

Yeah, so it was actually just pregnancy, right?

Yes. OK.

Yes. OK.

Well, you know, maternity and paternity. Basically, what she did is a discharge petition is a way for for somebody who is being ignored by the leadership to get something on the floor. She got 218 signatures, which is the prerequisite. And then that triggers an automatic vote. So Mike Johnson didn't like that. This bill that she triggered a vote on would allow 12 weeks of proxy voting.

Well, you know, maternity and paternity. Basically, what she did is a discharge petition is a way for for somebody who is being ignored by the leadership to get something on the floor. She got 218 signatures, which is the prerequisite. And then that triggers an automatic vote. So Mike Johnson didn't like that. This bill that she triggered a vote on would allow 12 weeks of proxy voting.

So you could vote from home. Sure. For new dads, new fathers, and expectant parents. And new mothers. So if you have a complicated pregnancy and you can't travel or you're in your last weeks of your pregnancy and you are just not allowed to travel overall, most women don't travel in their last X number of weeks. I don't remember for my three kids, but but, you know, in your last.

So you could vote from home. Sure. For new dads, new fathers, and expectant parents. And new mothers. So if you have a complicated pregnancy and you can't travel or you're in your last weeks of your pregnancy and you are just not allowed to travel overall, most women don't travel in their last X number of weeks. I don't remember for my three kids, but but, you know, in your last.

Right, right, right, right, right. So, OK, so what happened is Johnson doesn't like that, doesn't like proxy voting. So he indebted in a in I'm sorry for the this is like getting the full capital.

Right, right, right, right, right. So, OK, so what happened is Johnson doesn't like that, doesn't like proxy voting. So he indebted in a in I'm sorry for the this is like getting the full capital.

No, no, no, no, no. This is the action.

No, no, no, no, no. This is the action.

Texture. Yeah. So it's the sausage. Mike Johnson put in a unrelated bill, a provision that would kill that that petition. He lost. Annapolita Ludo won, which was very surprising that a member of the rank and file was able to defeat the speaker. She had she held her coalition together. And Johnson said, forget it. We're going home. We're going to regroup next week.

Texture. Yeah. So it's the sausage. Mike Johnson put in a unrelated bill, a provision that would kill that that petition. He lost. Annapolita Ludo won, which was very surprising that a member of the rank and file was able to defeat the speaker. She had she held her coalition together. And Johnson said, forget it. We're going home. We're going to regroup next week.

He said this on a Tuesday afternoon. They'd only been in session for about 20 or so hours at that point. So in cancel the week, he was really upset. And he has two different things pulling at him.

He said this on a Tuesday afternoon. They'd only been in session for about 20 or so hours at that point. So in cancel the week, he was really upset. And he has two different things pulling at him.

Why couldn't they?

Why couldn't they?

So, yes, exactly. What he did is he said what he said. And I don't know that this is 100 percent true. There's some truth to it. The House Freedom Caucus, the hardline members, the House Republican Conference said we're not going to vote for anything, any procedural matters. while this discharge petition is live. So if you want to vote, you need to kill this discharge petition.

So, yes, exactly. What he did is he said what he said. And I don't know that this is 100 percent true. There's some truth to it. The House Freedom Caucus, the hardline members, the House Republican Conference said we're not going to vote for anything, any procedural matters. while this discharge petition is live. So if you want to vote, you need to kill this discharge petition.

So he has, on the one hand, Anna Paulina Luna, who's pissed off that he's trying to kill her discharge petition. And on the other hand, he has people that are saying, in his narrow majority, he has people who are saying... I'm not going to vote for anything until you kill this discharge petition. So he's torn between these two polls and he felt frozen.

So he has, on the one hand, Anna Paulina Luna, who's pissed off that he's trying to kill her discharge petition. And on the other hand, he has people that are saying, in his narrow majority, he has people who are saying... I'm not going to vote for anything until you kill this discharge petition. So he's torn between these two polls and he felt frozen.

Now, this was a little I don't I haven't said this to Johnson directly, but he this is a little bit for effect because he does have some things he could bring up. For example, on the floor this week was the Save Act, a new voter ID requirement. He could bring that up to the floor. He has a special procedure that he could use to bring that to the floor at any point.

Now, this was a little I don't I haven't said this to Johnson directly, but he this is a little bit for effect because he does have some things he could bring up. For example, on the floor this week was the Save Act, a new voter ID requirement. He could bring that up to the floor. He has a special procedure that he could use to bring that to the floor at any point.

I think it was for a little bit of effect and he wanted to let things cool down. And I don't blame him for that part.

I think it was for a little bit of effect and he wanted to let things cool down. And I don't blame him for that part.

Now, he lost by nine. He really needs to find a way out. That's actually what we're what we're report what we're trying to figure out now. What are the ways out here? How could he bridge this gap? But for Anna Paulina Luna, there's basically no incentive for her to give in because she's won. So Johnson needs to find his himself an off ramp that Luna will accept effectively.

Now, he lost by nine. He really needs to find a way out. That's actually what we're what we're report what we're trying to figure out now. What are the ways out here? How could he bridge this gap? But for Anna Paulina Luna, there's basically no incentive for her to give in because she's won. So Johnson needs to find his himself an off ramp that Luna will accept effectively.

Yeah, I mean, let's put it this way. Anytime Mike Johnson has had a big victory, Donald Trump was instrumental in it. And that is that that goes for his speakership. He won the speakership when when Mike Johnson when Donald Trump waited on his behalf. He won. He got a budget resolution, a very difficult spending blueprint through with Donald Trump twisting arms.

Yeah, I mean, let's put it this way. Anytime Mike Johnson has had a big victory, Donald Trump was instrumental in it. And that is that that goes for his speakership. He won the speakership when when Mike Johnson when Donald Trump waited on his behalf. He won. He got a budget resolution, a very difficult spending blueprint through with Donald Trump twisting arms.

He's gotten everything through with Trump. And listen, again, Whether you are a righty or a lefty or somewhere in the middle, we could just say this about Donald Trump. He is the a singular political figure. I mean, you you you never seen anything like this with a political party.

He's gotten everything through with Trump. And listen, again, Whether you are a righty or a lefty or somewhere in the middle, we could just say this about Donald Trump. He is the a singular political figure. I mean, you you you never seen anything like this with a political party.

Obama struggle. If you'll remember on some free trade deals, he had to work with Paul Ryan and and the right because his party was revolting against him. Donald Trump is just I mean, it's remarkable what he can make Republicans do.

Obama struggle. If you'll remember on some free trade deals, he had to work with Paul Ryan and and the right because his party was revolting against him. Donald Trump is just I mean, it's remarkable what he can make Republicans do.

It doesn't. And I will say this, and I'm not talking about policy. Let's just talk about procedure and politics for a second. The biggest strategic problem that Trump has is that he has made himself so toxic among Democrats to work with for a million reasons that we could talk for 10 podcasts and 10 hours about.

It doesn't. And I will say this, and I'm not talking about policy. Let's just talk about procedure and politics for a second. The biggest strategic problem that Trump has is that he has made himself so toxic among Democrats to work with for a million reasons that we could talk for 10 podcasts and 10 hours about.

Because at the truly and we saw this a little bit in the first term in very short spurts, he wanted deals with Democrats. It was something that he was pining for. You know, you saw this. You remember he had all these Democrats at the White House on immigration and he was like, let's do it. Dianne Feinstein, let's do it. And Kevin McCarthy was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Because at the truly and we saw this a little bit in the first term in very short spurts, he wanted deals with Democrats. It was something that he was pining for. You know, you saw this. You remember he had all these Democrats at the White House on immigration and he was like, let's do it. Dianne Feinstein, let's do it. And Kevin McCarthy was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Like he is somebody that is that is. you know, wants Democrats, but he just, it's at this point. Not anymore.

Like he is somebody that is that is. you know, wants Democrats, but he just, it's at this point. Not anymore.

There might have to be if Democrats win the majority. And I don't you know, in the House, but I don't I don't know.

There might have to be if Democrats win the majority. And I don't you know, in the House, but I don't I don't know.

I don't want some basic functions like keeping the government open. He's going to have to do something. Right. But but but short of that, I agree with you. And this is what I tell my friends who are working in other in other industries like in Wall Street and, you know, or watching markets and live and die by markets. which is a few things. He has no election in front of me that we know of.

I don't want some basic functions like keeping the government open. He's going to have to do something. Right. But but but short of that, I agree with you. And this is what I tell my friends who are working in other in other industries like in Wall Street and, you know, or watching markets and live and die by markets. which is a few things. He has no election in front of me that we know of.

He has no election in front of him. He's not constrained by typical political considerations that any other politician is constrained by. And he believes based on my limited understanding, I mean, from the people around him, meaning I'm not talking to him every day that he, um, he's more sure in his decision-making process and his gut and his instinct than ever before. And I think that shows.

He has no election in front of him. He's not constrained by typical political considerations that any other politician is constrained by. And he believes based on my limited understanding, I mean, from the people around him, meaning I'm not talking to him every day that he, um, he's more sure in his decision-making process and his gut and his instinct than ever before. And I think that shows.

Now, when I've talked to Johnson about this, this has been this has been whittling and been been, you know, decreasing for some time. Congress's power not only on things like tariffs, but on on every on a whole host of everything.

Now, when I've talked to Johnson about this, this has been this has been whittling and been been, you know, decreasing for some time. Congress's power not only on things like tariffs, but on on every on a whole host of everything.

For sure. And we haven't seen that since. I mean, you could make an argument since Jim Wright, to be honest with you.

For sure. And we haven't seen that since. I mean, you could make an argument since Jim Wright, to be honest with you.

For sure. So, yes, there's no appetite to do that. There's no appetite for Congress to say, well, I mean, listen, there's a there is a vote. And again, as you said, we're talking on April 2nd. There's a vote today on the floor to pass a symbolic, a largely symbolic resolution to disapprove of Trump's national emergency with Canada, which is going to pass Mitch McConnell.

For sure. So, yes, there's no appetite to do that. There's no appetite for Congress to say, well, I mean, listen, there's a there is a vote. And again, as you said, we're talking on April 2nd. There's a vote today on the floor to pass a symbolic, a largely symbolic resolution to disapprove of Trump's national emergency with Canada, which is going to pass Mitch McConnell.

In the Senate. Exactly. Right. And so it's mostly symbolic. But no, I mean, we did it. We wrote this week about this, about how Republicans are worried about the tariff, don't agree with the tariff situation. And but there are those like Jim Jordan and Jason Smith, the ways it means to say we should just let him do what he's going to do because he knows better than we do.

In the Senate. Exactly. Right. And so it's mostly symbolic. But no, I mean, we did it. We wrote this week about this, about how Republicans are worried about the tariff, don't agree with the tariff situation. And but there are those like Jim Jordan and Jason Smith, the ways it means to say we should just let him do what he's going to do because he knows better than we do.

So, you know, and maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. But that's how they think.

So, you know, and maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. But that's how they think.

I think it's going to be, you know, you don't want to we don't we can't predict elections. Right. I don't want to. But. Republicans have a very narrow majority.

I think it's going to be, you know, you don't want to we don't we can't predict elections. Right. I don't want to. But. Republicans have a very narrow majority.

And and that is why, by the way, the shaky economy is why Republicans are pushing this tax bill so quickly, because they want they feel like in 2017, they waited too long to get the bounce that they thought would happen from their tax bill.

And and that is why, by the way, the shaky economy is why Republicans are pushing this tax bill so quickly, because they want they feel like in 2017, they waited too long to get the bounce that they thought would happen from their tax bill.

That's that's what he was.

That's that's what he was.

Yeah, there there there's an argument to be made that he should have spent all of his political capital and all of his energy getting the tax and spending cut bill through the House and the Senate first and see where that netted out. If it gave him some economic cushion and then moved on to the rest of his agenda, he bought credibility with the business community who desperately wanted this. Yes.

Yeah, there there there's an argument to be made that he should have spent all of his political capital and all of his energy getting the tax and spending cut bill through the House and the Senate first and see where that netted out. If it gave him some economic cushion and then moved on to the rest of his agenda, he bought credibility with the business community who desperately wanted this. Yes.

And listen, at the end of the day, I do believe that all the taxes will be extended. I think he will get much of what he wants in the tax space. I don't I don't know about getting as much as what he wants in the spending space. He says he wants to balance the budget. That ain't going to happen. So I don't I don't want to mislead here. He's not going to get a balanced budget.

And listen, at the end of the day, I do believe that all the taxes will be extended. I think he will get much of what he wants in the tax space. I don't I don't know about getting as much as what he wants in the spending space. He says he wants to balance the budget. That ain't going to happen. So I don't I don't want to mislead here. He's not going to get a balanced budget.

But but no, the tariff situation is is and it is as well. bad as it could be for House and Senate Republicans who are having a president do something out of their control that will directly impact them.

But but no, the tariff situation is is and it is as well. bad as it could be for House and Senate Republicans who are having a president do something out of their control that will directly impact them.

Right. Unbelievable. I mean, John Thune said to me or said to one of my colleagues this week said to us, I don't know what's going to happen. Mike Johnson basically said, not sure, you know, he's going to do what he's going to do.

Right. Unbelievable. I mean, John Thune said to me or said to one of my colleagues this week said to us, I don't know what's going to happen. Mike Johnson basically said, not sure, you know, he's going to do what he's going to do.

Yeah. He was on one of the shows last weekend and said, you know, he has all the information in front of him. I think he's going to make the right decision. I mean, this is not the typical decision-making process that we've seen with a president, you know.

Yeah. He was on one of the shows last weekend and said, you know, he has all the information in front of him. I think he's going to make the right decision. I mean, this is not the typical decision-making process that we've seen with a president, you know.

Completely. And there is... There is a, you know, Trump see, I don't know how he sees it, but let me put it the way I see it, which is there is tremendous benefit. And I see this in my own everyday job leading a company. There is tremendous benefit in. Getting people to buy into your plans before you announce them publicly and before you put them into place.

Completely. And there is... There is a, you know, Trump see, I don't know how he sees it, but let me put it the way I see it, which is there is tremendous benefit. And I see this in my own everyday job leading a company. There is tremendous benefit in. Getting people to buy into your plans before you announce them publicly and before you put them into place.

And for members of Congress, it makes them a free agent. Right. So they could be like, yes, there's actually some benefit for them. They could be like, this isn't me. I didn't have anything to do with this. But it also deprives you of the allies that you need when you need them. And I don't. So that's a really difficult that's a really difficult dynamic.

And for members of Congress, it makes them a free agent. Right. So they could be like, yes, there's actually some benefit for them. They could be like, this isn't me. I didn't have anything to do with this. But it also deprives you of the allies that you need when you need them. And I don't. So that's a really difficult that's a really difficult dynamic.

Yeah, probably. I will say this. I found this very interesting. Stefanik, who I've covered since she got to Congress, you know, was offered a leadership post by Mike Johnson and Donald Trump. She relinquished her number four post in the House Republican.

Yeah, probably. I will say this. I found this very interesting. Stefanik, who I've covered since she got to Congress, you know, was offered a leadership post by Mike Johnson and Donald Trump. She relinquished her number four post in the House Republican.

It are plus nine ish and meaning Republicans in this environment. Yeah. Yeah. And especially you have the the Democrat has already raised two million dollars for a special election in a in a in a general election. I don't think Democrats could win. But, you know. To be fair to Mike Johnson, he told Trump not to do that.

It are plus nine ish and meaning Republicans in this environment. Yeah. Yeah. And especially you have the the Democrat has already raised two million dollars for a special election in a in a in a general election. I don't think Democrats could win. But, you know. To be fair to Mike Johnson, he told Trump not to do that.

make a true social post and end it yeah lippin i think randy fine will be sworn in as soon as possible because they need that cushion along with jimmy patronus who's replacing matt gates and patronus and find both our long time you know pretty established figures in florida politics who by the way i assume chuck will run away with their seats in november 2026 oh 100

make a true social post and end it yeah lippin i think randy fine will be sworn in as soon as possible because they need that cushion along with jimmy patronus who's replacing matt gates and patronus and find both our long time you know pretty established figures in florida politics who by the way i assume chuck will run away with their seats in november 2026 oh 100

Yeah, well, yes, I agree with everything you said. I was talking to Max Cohen, who covers in part House races and Senate races for us. And he said this morning the same thing. They both underperformed and which tells him it's also a structural problem for Republicans right now. And I think that's that's worth keeping in mind.

Yeah, well, yes, I agree with everything you said. I was talking to Max Cohen, who covers in part House races and Senate races for us. And he said this morning the same thing. They both underperformed and which tells him it's also a structural problem for Republicans right now. And I think that's that's worth keeping in mind.

And I saw out of the corner of my eye, I didn't study personally, but I think the military and government heavy parts of that that first district where the military base is. Underperformed even more so in that patron, the former gate seat.

And I saw out of the corner of my eye, I didn't study personally, but I think the military and government heavy parts of that that first district where the military base is. Underperformed even more so in that patron, the former gate seat.

And that's a different world than it is now. That's the world where there were, I don't remember, but there were many Florida Democrats. There were people like Alan Boyd who were representing. That must have been Florida. Yeah, that was the adjacent district. Right. The adjacent district. Right. So, yeah, I mean, here's my thing. We were talking about this this morning.

And that's a different world than it is now. That's the world where there were, I don't remember, but there were many Florida Democrats. There were people like Alan Boyd who were representing. That must have been Florida. Yeah, that was the adjacent district. Right. The adjacent district. Right. So, yeah, I mean, here's my thing. We were talking about this this morning.

If you are a Republican right now. And you look at Wisconsin and you look at Florida and you look at the nationwide poll numbers and you look at the tariffs and you look at all these things and you say we're in a great political position that I just I can't take you that seriously.

If you are a Republican right now. And you look at Wisconsin and you look at Florida and you look at the nationwide poll numbers and you look at the tariffs and you look at all these things and you say we're in a great political position that I just I can't take you that seriously.

Agree. And I think on top of that. Yeah. There are a lot of people that I talk to on an everyday basis, members of Congress who are kind of run the gamut from like, first of all, Democratic, Democrat and Republican who run the gamut from new to old. And I mean, new meaning, you know, in their 30s to in their 50s and 60s age wise, who are just like, man, this job sucks. It just sucks.

Agree. And I think on top of that. Yeah. There are a lot of people that I talk to on an everyday basis, members of Congress who are kind of run the gamut from like, first of all, Democratic, Democrat and Republican who run the gamut from new to old. And I mean, new meaning, you know, in their 30s to in their 50s and 60s age wise, who are just like, man, this job sucks. It just sucks.

Yeah, basically. But also just like if you like if like we're just like if this doesn't get better, like I'll do one more term. But like I could spend my life in a more enjoyable fashion. You don't have to do this in this in this institution where it's just all about nonsense all the time. And listen, I still find a ton of fulfillment with covering Congress. I love it.

Yeah, basically. But also just like if you like if like we're just like if this doesn't get better, like I'll do one more term. But like I could spend my life in a more enjoyable fashion. You don't have to do this in this in this institution where it's just all about nonsense all the time. And listen, I still find a ton of fulfillment with covering Congress. I love it.

I think the stories are interesting. I think it's like the American story in many ways. But if you are, think about it. I mean, you know this better than anybody. You're coming here. You're leaving your family for three, four or five days a week. You have to raise millions of dollars to keep your seed.

I think the stories are interesting. I think it's like the American story in many ways. But if you are, think about it. I mean, you know this better than anybody. You're coming here. You're leaving your family for three, four or five days a week. You have to raise millions of dollars to keep your seed.

And you're dealing with such nonsense with with, you know, with censures and and, you know, just it's just it's tough, man. It's a tough and I'm not crying to these people like we all have free will in this world, Chuck, and we could all do what we want. They're choosing to be here. But some of them are like, yeah, this isn't fun anymore.

And you're dealing with such nonsense with with, you know, with censures and and, you know, just it's just it's tough, man. It's a tough and I'm not crying to these people like we all have free will in this world, Chuck, and we could all do what we want. They're choosing to be here. But some of them are like, yeah, this isn't fun anymore.

No, and I think that criticism of the Senate by Bennett's a little bit off because you do have, especially in a narrow... Senators have some.

No, and I think that criticism of the Senate by Bennett's a little bit off because you do have, especially in a narrow... Senators have some.

Yeah. But with Trump, it's difficult because everything is blue and red, right? Everything is... You're either with him or you're against him on everything. You're not really a free agent. But yeah, that's right. I mean, there is nothing... Yeah, I agree with that in the House. You know, this time it's a little bit different because in the House, everyone's Joe Manchin right now.

Yeah. But with Trump, it's difficult because everything is blue and red, right? Everything is... You're either with him or you're against him on everything. You're not really a free agent. But yeah, that's right. I mean, there is nothing... Yeah, I agree with that in the House. You know, this time it's a little bit different because in the House, everyone's Joe Manchin right now.

Everyone could sway the outcome in the Republican conference, whether it's Anna Paulina.

Everyone could sway the outcome in the Republican conference, whether it's Anna Paulina.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah. Yeah. There are not there are not as many like people who have come up from through the state legislature or through local county politics or. Yeah. And it's people. And again, this is nothing against any of these people, but it's someone like look, it's good long term to have a diverse set of life experiences.

Yeah. Yeah. There are not there are not as many like people who have come up from through the state legislature or through local county politics or. Yeah. And it's people. And again, this is nothing against any of these people, but it's someone like look, it's good long term to have a diverse set of life experiences.

I would I would need to triple the size of my team. The yeah, no, you have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who came out of nowhere to become right. By the way, quite influential and thoughtful member of Congress on the Democratic side. On the Republican side, you have the same thing. You have people who have just decided to jump into the mix and jump into the fray and get into Congress.

I would I would need to triple the size of my team. The yeah, no, you have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who came out of nowhere to become right. By the way, quite influential and thoughtful member of Congress on the Democratic side. On the Republican side, you have the same thing. You have people who have just decided to jump into the mix and jump into the fray and get into Congress.

And you might not agree with their politics, some of them, but they bring interesting experiences. And I think that's good. And, you know, It's not great sometimes because you have people who could just basically say, I'm going to dump two million dollars of my own money in this thing and I'm going to get into Congress, which, by the way, it allowed.

And you might not agree with their politics, some of them, but they bring interesting experiences. And I think that's good. And, you know, It's not great sometimes because you have people who could just basically say, I'm going to dump two million dollars of my own money in this thing and I'm going to get into Congress, which, by the way, it allowed.

It's maybe I would I would argue maybe not great, but maybe some people would say it is great. So anyway, that it is a different dynamic for sure.

It's maybe I would I would argue maybe not great, but maybe some people would say it is great. So anyway, that it is a different dynamic for sure.

Yeah. Yeah. I think. Listen, I think Elon Musk is making the cardinal sin that is that committing the cardinal sin that a lot of people commit in who come to Washington for the first time and think they could just rule the world, which is he is like he's cutting stuff.

Yeah. Yeah. I think. Listen, I think Elon Musk is making the cardinal sin that is that committing the cardinal sin that a lot of people commit in who come to Washington for the first time and think they could just rule the world, which is he is like he's cutting stuff.

And he had, you know, Tom Cole said to me a couple of weeks ago, and it was one of the one of the more telling quotes that I've that I've had in this era, which is like he He you know, who is he to tell me about the, you know, Justice Department or the U.S. attorney office in my district? Like, I know my district. I've been in every federal building in my and I might not have been U.S.

And he had, you know, Tom Cole said to me a couple of weeks ago, and it was one of the one of the more telling quotes that I've that I've had in this era, which is like he He you know, who is he to tell me about the, you know, Justice Department or the U.S. attorney office in my district? Like, I know my district. I've been in every federal building in my and I might not have been U.S.

attorney, but I've been in every federal building in my district. And I could tell you why it matters and why it doesn't. But he's just going in there and axing things. And like, maybe we should take it under consideration. But like and by the way. he's going to be gone probably after a hundred, you know, 90 or whatever, however many days it is. And let's see what Doge has come up with.

attorney, but I've been in every federal building in my district. And I could tell you why it matters and why it doesn't. But he's just going in there and axing things. And like, maybe we should take it under consideration. But like and by the way. he's going to be gone probably after a hundred, you know, 90 or whatever, however many days it is. And let's see what Doge has come up with.

I mean, there's no question that this government is that and bloated and as all sorts of waste, but like, sure. You know, but this is not I don't know. This doesn't seem like the most efficient. Speaking of efficiency, the most efficient way to root some of this out. I just know I'd argue.

I mean, there's no question that this government is that and bloated and as all sorts of waste, but like, sure. You know, but this is not I don't know. This doesn't seem like the most efficient. Speaking of efficiency, the most efficient way to root some of this out. I just know I'd argue.

And, you know, I don't know. He would probably have a challenger, but there people are really loyal to him and like they might disagree with him on this thing. And I God, I think Democrats mishandled the CR to the government funding situation from soup to nuts from beginning to the end. So true. I mean, they asked for things in the negotiations that were unrealistic.

And, you know, I don't know. He would probably have a challenger, but there people are really loyal to him and like they might disagree with him on this thing. And I God, I think Democrats mishandled the CR to the government funding situation from soup to nuts from beginning to the end. So true. I mean, they asked for things in the negotiations that were unrealistic.

And Republicans have made so many blunders over the years that I've covered in such detail. The one thing one of the things they were good at was trying to drive a wedge between Democrats and ask for things in negotiations that Democrats would have a hard time saying no to. Yes. we would have a hard time defending saying no to. I do think Schumer would win.

And Republicans have made so many blunders over the years that I've covered in such detail. The one thing one of the things they were good at was trying to drive a wedge between Democrats and ask for things in negotiations that Democrats would have a hard time saying no to. Yes. we would have a hard time defending saying no to. I do think Schumer would win.

What Brez always puts it this way, the largest group of people in the Senate Democratic caucus still are Chuck Schumer supporters. And in a 50% plus one race, a secret ballot, I think he still wins.

What Brez always puts it this way, the largest group of people in the Senate Democratic caucus still are Chuck Schumer supporters. And in a 50% plus one race, a secret ballot, I think he still wins.

Yeah, and that's how we described it then, right? He was still the most popular candidate

Yeah, and that's how we described it then, right? He was still the most popular candidate

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Listen, I thought Schumer had a bad hand and Jeffries had a bad hand and they didn't. And I would I would argue, you know, it's easy from the cheap seats. I'm in the cheap seats, probably more expensive than some who criticize, but still the cheap seats. I just think they mishandled it a little bit. I think they should have said, OK, Donald Trump.

Listen, I thought Schumer had a bad hand and Jeffries had a bad hand and they didn't. And I would I would argue, you know, it's easy from the cheap seats. I'm in the cheap seats, probably more expensive than some who criticize, but still the cheap seats. I just think they mishandled it a little bit. I think they should have said, OK, Donald Trump.

OK, Mike Johnson, you say you're not going to touch X, Y and Z in your reconciliation bill. Let's. put safeguards around X, Y, and Z in the spending bill. So you really can't do it. And then that would have been a winning argument. Of course, that's more difficult, but like, that's how I would have played it.

OK, Mike Johnson, you say you're not going to touch X, Y and Z in your reconciliation bill. Let's. put safeguards around X, Y, and Z in the spending bill. So you really can't do it. And then that would have been a winning argument. Of course, that's more difficult, but like, that's how I would have played it.

If I have having watched about 5 million of these fights in my life is make it, you got to give them something. They can't, they can't say no to.

If I have having watched about 5 million of these fights in my life is make it, you got to give them something. They can't, they can't say no to.

So, you know, Mike Johnson, this is a long running disagreement Johnson and I have. I think I'm with you. I think a little bit earlier. I think August recess is the true backstop. But I would not bet any amount of money that they won't go into the fall. Zero dollars, I would bet. I guess they wouldn't go. It's the fall.

So, you know, Mike Johnson, this is a long running disagreement Johnson and I have. I think I'm with you. I think a little bit earlier. I think August recess is the true backstop. But I would not bet any amount of money that they won't go into the fall. Zero dollars, I would bet. I guess they wouldn't go. It's the fall.

And last time it was December that Trump signed it into law.

And last time it was December that Trump signed it into law.

Great. And the big problem here is – The debt ceiling can come up any time from May to August. And they want to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, which is enough to get it through the midterms. And first of all, they haven't agreed on that number. There's still plenty of skeptics and doubters and people who are against that number. And I don't know that they could finish it in time.

Great. And the big problem here is – The debt ceiling can come up any time from May to August. And they want to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, which is enough to get it through the midterms. And first of all, they haven't agreed on that number. There's still plenty of skeptics and doubters and people who are against that number. And I don't know that they could finish it in time.

And if they don't finish it in time, it gives a hell of a lot of power to Democrats who will be able to better dictate the terms of that debt ceiling agreement. All right.

And if they don't finish it in time, it gives a hell of a lot of power to Democrats who will be able to better dictate the terms of that debt ceiling agreement. All right.

So, yeah, I wonder about this a lot. And I think, Chuck, a few things. I think, number one, in some weird way, if they are willing to spend the money that they should spend, they should be able to put a good program together. Now that's up to the president of the university and that's up to the athletic director.

So, yeah, I wonder about this a lot. And I think, Chuck, a few things. I think, number one, in some weird way, if they are willing to spend the money that they should spend, they should be able to put a good program together. Now that's up to the president of the university and that's up to the athletic director.

I tell them all the time. And I'm sure, and I know you do too, because we've had this discussion offline. It is the front porch to the university. So either do it or go D3.

I tell them all the time. And I'm sure, and I know you do too, because we've had this discussion offline. It is the front porch to the university. So either do it or go D3.

We interviewed Charlie Baker a couple of weeks ago at a big conference we hosted in D.C. And one of the big. So I don't know that they I don't want to. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it doesn't seem like they want Congress to step in. And of course they don't. And no, no, no. Sorry. And realign the conferences or anything like that.

We interviewed Charlie Baker a couple of weeks ago at a big conference we hosted in D.C. And one of the big. So I don't know that they I don't want to. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it doesn't seem like they want Congress to step in. And of course they don't. And no, no, no. Sorry. And realign the conferences or anything like that.

But they do want some. Right. Well, they're going to need something on employment status because if universities could directly pay players, then that calls into question what their employment status is. And and there are people going to get a waiver, an anti some sort of exemption for sure.

But they do want some. Right. Well, they're going to need something on employment status because if universities could directly pay players, then that calls into question what their employment status is. And and there are people going to get a waiver, an anti some sort of exemption for sure.

And there are people who are going to want Congress to centralize or make open NIL deals and give transparency to the process. Because, you know what, if you're a player, let's use GW for an example. If you're a player that's coming into GW and GW offers you two hundred thousand dollars and the player says, actually, boredom offered me six million dollars. Like there's no transparency there.

And there are people who are going to want Congress to centralize or make open NIL deals and give transparency to the process. Because, you know what, if you're a player, let's use GW for an example. If you're a player that's coming into GW and GW offers you two hundred thousand dollars and the player says, actually, boredom offered me six million dollars. Like there's no transparency there.

And so I listen, Chuck, Congress is so bad at all this. And it just it's a brave new world. And it will take Congress years to figure out how to get into the middle of this.

And so I listen, Chuck, Congress is so bad at all this. And it just it's a brave new world. And it will take Congress years to figure out how to get into the middle of this.

We have a lot of problems in this country. GW has two players in the portal right now. Darren Buchanan, who is a D.C. kid, is in the... As long as Castro is not in the portal. Castro, they got to keep and they got to keep. They got to get Garrett Johnson back this year. They will get I would love them to keep Castro. I like, you know, the two guards. Hutchinson's good.

We have a lot of problems in this country. GW has two players in the portal right now. Darren Buchanan, who is a D.C. kid, is in the... As long as Castro is not in the portal. Castro, they got to keep and they got to keep. They got to get Garrett Johnson back this year. They will get I would love them to keep Castro. I like, you know, the two guards. Hutchinson's good.

I like a lot of these guys and I like the coach. We both like Chris Caputo, my former Miami guy, Chuck. So it scratches two inches for you. Yes, it does. And.

I like a lot of these guys and I like the coach. We both like Chris Caputo, my former Miami guy, Chuck. So it scratches two inches for you. Yes, it does. And.

It doesn't count. It doesn't count.

It doesn't count. It doesn't count.

All right.

All right.

Yeah, well, thank you, Chuck. We started God. We started almost four and a half years ago now. Myself, Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan all worked on Rachel Schindler. We all worked together at at Politico for many years. And in 2020, COVID, we were just like, we got to we got to do something on our own. We had written a book, which our first appearance was on was with you, Chuck.

Yeah, well, thank you, Chuck. We started God. We started almost four and a half years ago now. Myself, Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan all worked on Rachel Schindler. We all worked together at at Politico for many years. And in 2020, COVID, we were just like, we got to we got to do something on our own. We had written a book, which our first appearance was on was with you, Chuck.

So that was very nice in 2019. And we were just we just kind of were willing, were ready to spread our wings. This was at the end of 2020, 2021. I mean, we said, what would we do if we started a publication like with our own with when we could do anything and we could cover Congress anyway? And we said we would focus on the leadership.

So that was very nice in 2019. And we were just we just kind of were willing, were ready to spread our wings. This was at the end of 2020, 2021. I mean, we said, what would we do if we started a publication like with our own with when we could do anything and we could cover Congress anyway? And we said we would focus on the leadership.

And kind of the circles that run around the leadership and the incentives and the inside game and use that to illustrate policy and politics. Power people politics are a motto. So that's number one. Number two, we've now expanded into a bunch of new areas. Financial services and tech were our first two kind of verticals. And we cover that like we cover politics.

And kind of the circles that run around the leadership and the incentives and the inside game and use that to illustrate policy and politics. Power people politics are a motto. So that's number one. Number two, we've now expanded into a bunch of new areas. Financial services and tech were our first two kind of verticals. And we cover that like we cover politics.

everything else, which is focus on the people that matter, not the noise. So like on the main like with us, we don't cover like Marjorie Taylor Greene as much as we cover Mike Johnson. Right. We cover Mike Johnson, the leadership in tech. We cover the chairs, the committees. And now we've moved into a new realm. And this will be my last part of the elevator pitch.

everything else, which is focus on the people that matter, not the noise. So like on the main like with us, we don't cover like Marjorie Taylor Greene as much as we cover Mike Johnson. Right. We cover Mike Johnson, the leadership in tech. We cover the chairs, the committees. And now we've moved into a new realm. And this will be my last part of the elevator pitch.

We've acquired about 18 months ago, 20 months ago, maybe a data company, data about Congress called Electo. And we've turned that into something called the portal. which is a data platform for everything Congress. And we've built something called NBlockAI, which for you, you would love a ton because what it basically does is it combines all the databases in D.C.,

We've acquired about 18 months ago, 20 months ago, maybe a data company, data about Congress called Electo. And we've turned that into something called the portal. which is a data platform for everything Congress. And we've built something called NBlockAI, which for you, you would love a ton because what it basically does is it combines all the databases in D.C.,

legislation, directories, soon regulations, congressional record. And you could just type in show me every time Marjorie. I'm going to use Marjorie Taylor Greene because she's on the tip of my tongue. Marjorie Taylor Greene voted with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And it comes up with an answer. So like things that would take you otherwise hours to find out. And we built it with our brains in mind.

legislation, directories, soon regulations, congressional record. And you could just type in show me every time Marjorie. I'm going to use Marjorie Taylor Greene because she's on the tip of my tongue. Marjorie Taylor Greene voted with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And it comes up with an answer. So like things that would take you otherwise hours to find out. And we built it with our brains in mind.

If you were building something like this, you would know what you would be looking for. So Brez and I sat down and just were like, how would we build this? And we went about doing that.

If you were building something like this, you would know what you would be looking for. So Brez and I sat down and just were like, how would we build this? And we went about doing that.

Yeah, we know where our bread is buttered and who our audience is. And our audience is the Speaker of the House, his staff, the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Minority Leader, and everybody who needs to understand granularly what they're thinking and what they're doing.

Yeah, we know where our bread is buttered and who our audience is. And our audience is the Speaker of the House, his staff, the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Minority Leader, and everybody who needs to understand granularly what they're thinking and what they're doing.

And what Anna, who is my co-founder and CEO, always says, if my mother in North Dakota, and her mother is in North Dakota, wants to read and come along for the ride, then like, great. If not, we're never going to be for the masses.

And what Anna, who is my co-founder and CEO, always says, if my mother in North Dakota, and her mother is in North Dakota, wants to read and come along for the ride, then like, great. If not, we're never going to be for the masses.

No, no, no. That's not the business model. That's not the business model. The business model is this building that I'm sitting in now, the Capitol, and all of the concentric circles that revolve around the Capitol, which, by the way, include Wall Street, include Silicon Valley, include the oil and gas business, include all sorts of parts of the country. Those are the people that we really target.

No, no, no. That's not the business model. That's not the business model. The business model is this building that I'm sitting in now, the Capitol, and all of the concentric circles that revolve around the Capitol, which, by the way, include Wall Street, include Silicon Valley, include the oil and gas business, include all sorts of parts of the country. Those are the people that we really target.

Yeah, so it was actually just pregnancy, right?

Yes. OK.

Well, you know, maternity and paternity. Basically, what she did is a discharge petition is a way for for somebody who is being ignored by the leadership to get something on the floor. She got 218 signatures, which is the prerequisite. And then that triggers an automatic vote. So Mike Johnson didn't like that. This bill that she triggered a vote on would allow 12 weeks of proxy voting.

So you could vote from home. Sure. For new dads, new fathers, and expectant parents. And new mothers. So if you have a complicated pregnancy and you can't travel or you're in your last weeks of your pregnancy and you are just not allowed to travel overall, most women don't travel in their last X number of weeks. I don't remember for my three kids, but but, you know, in your last.

Right, right, right, right, right. So, OK, so what happened is Johnson doesn't like that, doesn't like proxy voting. So he indebted in a in I'm sorry for the this is like getting the full capital.

No, no, no, no, no. This is the action.

Texture. Yeah. So it's the sausage. Mike Johnson put in a unrelated bill, a provision that would kill that that petition. He lost. Annapolita Ludo won, which was very surprising that a member of the rank and file was able to defeat the speaker. She had she held her coalition together. And Johnson said, forget it. We're going home. We're going to regroup next week.

He said this on a Tuesday afternoon. They'd only been in session for about 20 or so hours at that point. So in cancel the week, he was really upset. And he has two different things pulling at him.

Why couldn't they?

So, yes, exactly. What he did is he said what he said. And I don't know that this is 100 percent true. There's some truth to it. The House Freedom Caucus, the hardline members, the House Republican Conference said we're not going to vote for anything, any procedural matters. while this discharge petition is live. So if you want to vote, you need to kill this discharge petition.

So he has, on the one hand, Anna Paulina Luna, who's pissed off that he's trying to kill her discharge petition. And on the other hand, he has people that are saying, in his narrow majority, he has people who are saying... I'm not going to vote for anything until you kill this discharge petition. So he's torn between these two polls and he felt frozen.

Now, this was a little I don't I haven't said this to Johnson directly, but he this is a little bit for effect because he does have some things he could bring up. For example, on the floor this week was the Save Act, a new voter ID requirement. He could bring that up to the floor. He has a special procedure that he could use to bring that to the floor at any point.

I think it was for a little bit of effect and he wanted to let things cool down. And I don't blame him for that part.

Now, he lost by nine. He really needs to find a way out. That's actually what we're what we're report what we're trying to figure out now. What are the ways out here? How could he bridge this gap? But for Anna Paulina Luna, there's basically no incentive for her to give in because she's won. So Johnson needs to find his himself an off ramp that Luna will accept effectively.

Yeah, I mean, let's put it this way. Anytime Mike Johnson has had a big victory, Donald Trump was instrumental in it. And that is that that goes for his speakership. He won the speakership when when Mike Johnson when Donald Trump waited on his behalf. He won. He got a budget resolution, a very difficult spending blueprint through with Donald Trump twisting arms.

He's gotten everything through with Trump. And listen, again, Whether you are a righty or a lefty or somewhere in the middle, we could just say this about Donald Trump. He is the a singular political figure. I mean, you you you never seen anything like this with a political party.

Obama struggle. If you'll remember on some free trade deals, he had to work with Paul Ryan and and the right because his party was revolting against him. Donald Trump is just I mean, it's remarkable what he can make Republicans do.

It doesn't. And I will say this, and I'm not talking about policy. Let's just talk about procedure and politics for a second. The biggest strategic problem that Trump has is that he has made himself so toxic among Democrats to work with for a million reasons that we could talk for 10 podcasts and 10 hours about.

Because at the truly and we saw this a little bit in the first term in very short spurts, he wanted deals with Democrats. It was something that he was pining for. You know, you saw this. You remember he had all these Democrats at the White House on immigration and he was like, let's do it. Dianne Feinstein, let's do it. And Kevin McCarthy was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Like he is somebody that is that is. you know, wants Democrats, but he just, it's at this point. Not anymore.

There might have to be if Democrats win the majority. And I don't you know, in the House, but I don't I don't know.

I don't want some basic functions like keeping the government open. He's going to have to do something. Right. But but but short of that, I agree with you. And this is what I tell my friends who are working in other in other industries like in Wall Street and, you know, or watching markets and live and die by markets. which is a few things. He has no election in front of me that we know of.

He has no election in front of him. He's not constrained by typical political considerations that any other politician is constrained by. And he believes based on my limited understanding, I mean, from the people around him, meaning I'm not talking to him every day that he, um, he's more sure in his decision-making process and his gut and his instinct than ever before. And I think that shows.

Now, when I've talked to Johnson about this, this has been this has been whittling and been been, you know, decreasing for some time. Congress's power not only on things like tariffs, but on on every on a whole host of everything.

For sure. And we haven't seen that since. I mean, you could make an argument since Jim Wright, to be honest with you.

For sure. So, yes, there's no appetite to do that. There's no appetite for Congress to say, well, I mean, listen, there's a there is a vote. And again, as you said, we're talking on April 2nd. There's a vote today on the floor to pass a symbolic, a largely symbolic resolution to disapprove of Trump's national emergency with Canada, which is going to pass Mitch McConnell.

In the Senate. Exactly. Right. And so it's mostly symbolic. But no, I mean, we did it. We wrote this week about this, about how Republicans are worried about the tariff, don't agree with the tariff situation. And but there are those like Jim Jordan and Jason Smith, the ways it means to say we should just let him do what he's going to do because he knows better than we do.

So, you know, and maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. But that's how they think.

I think it's going to be, you know, you don't want to we don't we can't predict elections. Right. I don't want to. But. Republicans have a very narrow majority.

And and that is why, by the way, the shaky economy is why Republicans are pushing this tax bill so quickly, because they want they feel like in 2017, they waited too long to get the bounce that they thought would happen from their tax bill.

That's that's what he was.

Yeah, there there there's an argument to be made that he should have spent all of his political capital and all of his energy getting the tax and spending cut bill through the House and the Senate first and see where that netted out. If it gave him some economic cushion and then moved on to the rest of his agenda, he bought credibility with the business community who desperately wanted this. Yes.

And listen, at the end of the day, I do believe that all the taxes will be extended. I think he will get much of what he wants in the tax space. I don't I don't know about getting as much as what he wants in the spending space. He says he wants to balance the budget. That ain't going to happen. So I don't I don't want to mislead here. He's not going to get a balanced budget.

But but no, the tariff situation is is and it is as well. bad as it could be for House and Senate Republicans who are having a president do something out of their control that will directly impact them.

Right. Unbelievable. I mean, John Thune said to me or said to one of my colleagues this week said to us, I don't know what's going to happen. Mike Johnson basically said, not sure, you know, he's going to do what he's going to do.

Yeah. He was on one of the shows last weekend and said, you know, he has all the information in front of him. I think he's going to make the right decision. I mean, this is not the typical decision-making process that we've seen with a president, you know.

Completely. And there is... There is a, you know, Trump see, I don't know how he sees it, but let me put it the way I see it, which is there is tremendous benefit. And I see this in my own everyday job leading a company. There is tremendous benefit in. Getting people to buy into your plans before you announce them publicly and before you put them into place.

And for members of Congress, it makes them a free agent. Right. So they could be like, yes, there's actually some benefit for them. They could be like, this isn't me. I didn't have anything to do with this. But it also deprives you of the allies that you need when you need them. And I don't. So that's a really difficult that's a really difficult dynamic.

Yeah, probably. I will say this. I found this very interesting. Stefanik, who I've covered since she got to Congress, you know, was offered a leadership post by Mike Johnson and Donald Trump. She relinquished her number four post in the House Republican.

It are plus nine ish and meaning Republicans in this environment. Yeah. Yeah. And especially you have the the Democrat has already raised two million dollars for a special election in a in a in a general election. I don't think Democrats could win. But, you know. To be fair to Mike Johnson, he told Trump not to do that.

make a true social post and end it yeah lippin i think randy fine will be sworn in as soon as possible because they need that cushion along with jimmy patronus who's replacing matt gates and patronus and find both our long time you know pretty established figures in florida politics who by the way i assume chuck will run away with their seats in november 2026 oh 100

Yeah, well, yes, I agree with everything you said. I was talking to Max Cohen, who covers in part House races and Senate races for us. And he said this morning the same thing. They both underperformed and which tells him it's also a structural problem for Republicans right now. And I think that's that's worth keeping in mind.

And I saw out of the corner of my eye, I didn't study personally, but I think the military and government heavy parts of that that first district where the military base is. Underperformed even more so in that patron, the former gate seat.

And that's a different world than it is now. That's the world where there were, I don't remember, but there were many Florida Democrats. There were people like Alan Boyd who were representing. That must have been Florida. Yeah, that was the adjacent district. Right. The adjacent district. Right. So, yeah, I mean, here's my thing. We were talking about this this morning.

If you are a Republican right now. And you look at Wisconsin and you look at Florida and you look at the nationwide poll numbers and you look at the tariffs and you look at all these things and you say we're in a great political position that I just I can't take you that seriously.

Agree. And I think on top of that. Yeah. There are a lot of people that I talk to on an everyday basis, members of Congress who are kind of run the gamut from like, first of all, Democratic, Democrat and Republican who run the gamut from new to old. And I mean, new meaning, you know, in their 30s to in their 50s and 60s age wise, who are just like, man, this job sucks. It just sucks.

Yeah, basically. But also just like if you like if like we're just like if this doesn't get better, like I'll do one more term. But like I could spend my life in a more enjoyable fashion. You don't have to do this in this in this institution where it's just all about nonsense all the time. And listen, I still find a ton of fulfillment with covering Congress. I love it.

I think the stories are interesting. I think it's like the American story in many ways. But if you are, think about it. I mean, you know this better than anybody. You're coming here. You're leaving your family for three, four or five days a week. You have to raise millions of dollars to keep your seed.

And you're dealing with such nonsense with with, you know, with censures and and, you know, just it's just it's tough, man. It's a tough and I'm not crying to these people like we all have free will in this world, Chuck, and we could all do what we want. They're choosing to be here. But some of them are like, yeah, this isn't fun anymore.

No, and I think that criticism of the Senate by Bennett's a little bit off because you do have, especially in a narrow... Senators have some.

Yeah. But with Trump, it's difficult because everything is blue and red, right? Everything is... You're either with him or you're against him on everything. You're not really a free agent. But yeah, that's right. I mean, there is nothing... Yeah, I agree with that in the House. You know, this time it's a little bit different because in the House, everyone's Joe Manchin right now.

Everyone could sway the outcome in the Republican conference, whether it's Anna Paulina.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah. Yeah. There are not there are not as many like people who have come up from through the state legislature or through local county politics or. Yeah. And it's people. And again, this is nothing against any of these people, but it's someone like look, it's good long term to have a diverse set of life experiences.

I would I would need to triple the size of my team. The yeah, no, you have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who came out of nowhere to become right. By the way, quite influential and thoughtful member of Congress on the Democratic side. On the Republican side, you have the same thing. You have people who have just decided to jump into the mix and jump into the fray and get into Congress.

And you might not agree with their politics, some of them, but they bring interesting experiences. And I think that's good. And, you know, It's not great sometimes because you have people who could just basically say, I'm going to dump two million dollars of my own money in this thing and I'm going to get into Congress, which, by the way, it allowed.

It's maybe I would I would argue maybe not great, but maybe some people would say it is great. So anyway, that it is a different dynamic for sure.

Yeah. Yeah. I think. Listen, I think Elon Musk is making the cardinal sin that is that committing the cardinal sin that a lot of people commit in who come to Washington for the first time and think they could just rule the world, which is he is like he's cutting stuff.

And he had, you know, Tom Cole said to me a couple of weeks ago, and it was one of the one of the more telling quotes that I've that I've had in this era, which is like he He you know, who is he to tell me about the, you know, Justice Department or the U.S. attorney office in my district? Like, I know my district. I've been in every federal building in my and I might not have been U.S.

attorney, but I've been in every federal building in my district. And I could tell you why it matters and why it doesn't. But he's just going in there and axing things. And like, maybe we should take it under consideration. But like and by the way. he's going to be gone probably after a hundred, you know, 90 or whatever, however many days it is. And let's see what Doge has come up with.

I mean, there's no question that this government is that and bloated and as all sorts of waste, but like, sure. You know, but this is not I don't know. This doesn't seem like the most efficient. Speaking of efficiency, the most efficient way to root some of this out. I just know I'd argue.

And, you know, I don't know. He would probably have a challenger, but there people are really loyal to him and like they might disagree with him on this thing. And I God, I think Democrats mishandled the CR to the government funding situation from soup to nuts from beginning to the end. So true. I mean, they asked for things in the negotiations that were unrealistic.

And Republicans have made so many blunders over the years that I've covered in such detail. The one thing one of the things they were good at was trying to drive a wedge between Democrats and ask for things in negotiations that Democrats would have a hard time saying no to. Yes. we would have a hard time defending saying no to. I do think Schumer would win.

What Brez always puts it this way, the largest group of people in the Senate Democratic caucus still are Chuck Schumer supporters. And in a 50% plus one race, a secret ballot, I think he still wins.

Yeah, and that's how we described it then, right? He was still the most popular candidate

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Listen, I thought Schumer had a bad hand and Jeffries had a bad hand and they didn't. And I would I would argue, you know, it's easy from the cheap seats. I'm in the cheap seats, probably more expensive than some who criticize, but still the cheap seats. I just think they mishandled it a little bit. I think they should have said, OK, Donald Trump.

OK, Mike Johnson, you say you're not going to touch X, Y and Z in your reconciliation bill. Let's. put safeguards around X, Y, and Z in the spending bill. So you really can't do it. And then that would have been a winning argument. Of course, that's more difficult, but like, that's how I would have played it.

If I have having watched about 5 million of these fights in my life is make it, you got to give them something. They can't, they can't say no to.

So, you know, Mike Johnson, this is a long running disagreement Johnson and I have. I think I'm with you. I think a little bit earlier. I think August recess is the true backstop. But I would not bet any amount of money that they won't go into the fall. Zero dollars, I would bet. I guess they wouldn't go. It's the fall.

And last time it was December that Trump signed it into law.

Great. And the big problem here is – The debt ceiling can come up any time from May to August. And they want to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, which is enough to get it through the midterms. And first of all, they haven't agreed on that number. There's still plenty of skeptics and doubters and people who are against that number. And I don't know that they could finish it in time.

And if they don't finish it in time, it gives a hell of a lot of power to Democrats who will be able to better dictate the terms of that debt ceiling agreement. All right.

So, yeah, I wonder about this a lot. And I think, Chuck, a few things. I think, number one, in some weird way, if they are willing to spend the money that they should spend, they should be able to put a good program together. Now that's up to the president of the university and that's up to the athletic director.

I tell them all the time. And I'm sure, and I know you do too, because we've had this discussion offline. It is the front porch to the university. So either do it or go D3.

We interviewed Charlie Baker a couple of weeks ago at a big conference we hosted in D.C. And one of the big. So I don't know that they I don't want to. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it doesn't seem like they want Congress to step in. And of course they don't. And no, no, no. Sorry. And realign the conferences or anything like that.

But they do want some. Right. Well, they're going to need something on employment status because if universities could directly pay players, then that calls into question what their employment status is. And and there are people going to get a waiver, an anti some sort of exemption for sure.

And there are people who are going to want Congress to centralize or make open NIL deals and give transparency to the process. Because, you know what, if you're a player, let's use GW for an example. If you're a player that's coming into GW and GW offers you two hundred thousand dollars and the player says, actually, boredom offered me six million dollars. Like there's no transparency there.

And so I listen, Chuck, Congress is so bad at all this. And it just it's a brave new world. And it will take Congress years to figure out how to get into the middle of this.

We have a lot of problems in this country. GW has two players in the portal right now. Darren Buchanan, who is a D.C. kid, is in the... As long as Castro is not in the portal. Castro, they got to keep and they got to keep. They got to get Garrett Johnson back this year. They will get I would love them to keep Castro. I like, you know, the two guards. Hutchinson's good.

I like a lot of these guys and I like the coach. We both like Chris Caputo, my former Miami guy, Chuck. So it scratches two inches for you. Yes, it does. And.

It doesn't count. It doesn't count.

All right.

Yeah, well, thank you, Chuck. We started God. We started almost four and a half years ago now. Myself, Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan all worked on Rachel Schindler. We all worked together at at Politico for many years. And in 2020, COVID, we were just like, we got to we got to do something on our own. We had written a book, which our first appearance was on was with you, Chuck.

So that was very nice in 2019. And we were just we just kind of were willing, were ready to spread our wings. This was at the end of 2020, 2021. I mean, we said, what would we do if we started a publication like with our own with when we could do anything and we could cover Congress anyway? And we said we would focus on the leadership.

And kind of the circles that run around the leadership and the incentives and the inside game and use that to illustrate policy and politics. Power people politics are a motto. So that's number one. Number two, we've now expanded into a bunch of new areas. Financial services and tech were our first two kind of verticals. And we cover that like we cover politics.

everything else, which is focus on the people that matter, not the noise. So like on the main like with us, we don't cover like Marjorie Taylor Greene as much as we cover Mike Johnson. Right. We cover Mike Johnson, the leadership in tech. We cover the chairs, the committees. And now we've moved into a new realm. And this will be my last part of the elevator pitch.

We've acquired about 18 months ago, 20 months ago, maybe a data company, data about Congress called Electo. And we've turned that into something called the portal. which is a data platform for everything Congress. And we've built something called NBlockAI, which for you, you would love a ton because what it basically does is it combines all the databases in D.C.,

legislation, directories, soon regulations, congressional record. And you could just type in show me every time Marjorie. I'm going to use Marjorie Taylor Greene because she's on the tip of my tongue. Marjorie Taylor Greene voted with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And it comes up with an answer. So like things that would take you otherwise hours to find out. And we built it with our brains in mind.

If you were building something like this, you would know what you would be looking for. So Brez and I sat down and just were like, how would we build this? And we went about doing that.

Yeah, we know where our bread is buttered and who our audience is. And our audience is the Speaker of the House, his staff, the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Minority Leader, and everybody who needs to understand granularly what they're thinking and what they're doing.

And what Anna, who is my co-founder and CEO, always says, if my mother in North Dakota, and her mother is in North Dakota, wants to read and come along for the ride, then like, great. If not, we're never going to be for the masses.

No, no, no. That's not the business model. That's not the business model. The business model is this building that I'm sitting in now, the Capitol, and all of the concentric circles that revolve around the Capitol, which, by the way, include Wall Street, include Silicon Valley, include the oil and gas business, include all sorts of parts of the country. Those are the people that we really target.