The Rachel Maddow Show
Democrats not immune from voter wrath as pressure to impede Trump mounts
Tue, 25 Feb 2025
Rachel Maddow reports on Republican legislators being confronted at town hall meetings by angry constituents who want them to resist Donald Trump's dismantling of the federal government. But Republicans aren't the only focus of voters' outrage as Democratic legislators are being confronted to be more aggressive in obstructing Trump. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, top Democrat in the House, talks with Rachel Maddow about what Democrats are doing to get in Trump's way.
Why are Republicans facing backlash at town halls?
Thanks to at home for joining us this hour. So there is a town in California called Yucca Valley. It's a beautiful place. It's located in the Mojave Desert. And the good people of Yucca Valley have this man representing them in Congress. His name is Jay Obernolte. He is a Republican. He was first elected to Congress just a couple of terms ago in 2020.
And Obernolte had a pretty easy reelection this year. His constituents sent their Republican congressman back to Washington by a big margin, by more than 20 points. But although he had an easy ride in his district, overall, this isn't a bright red county in California. Yucca Valley is in San Bernardino County. Biden won there in 2020 by 10 points.
This past election, Trump just very narrowly won San Bernardino County just by just by a couple of points. So it's an interesting it's an interesting place. And over the weekend, Congressman Obernolte held a town hall in his home district and that sort of purple, interesting part of California and Yucca. And this is how it went pretty much right from the jump.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Oh, the big, ah, at the end there, they almost know what he's gearing up to do, right? Remember purple district barely went for Trump, but here's how, how Congressman Obernolte answered that question.
Great question and I'm glad you asked it. Answer it! I am very glad someone is looking at all of the waste... Get out! Get out!
Do your job! Do your job!
Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! Do your job! It's not up to months. You're surrendering to billionaires, you coward! The American people voted for change in November. Do this, man!
It's almost proud of it, right? I'll tell you this, the American people voted for change in November, and change is what they're getting, and then he gets shouted down by a couple hundred people booing him to his face. His constituents.
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