Rev. Mark Thompson speaks with Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries, diving into essentially the most urgent political occasions of the second. A transcript of the dialog is offered beneath.
Rev. Mark Thompson
Girls and gents, on this second, who higher to listen to from and discuss to so many issues
occurring within the nation? We noticed the joint session final evening, after which we acquired some very
surprising information this morning. Let’s get proper into it. We’re glad to have with us, our pricey
brother from the nice village of Brooklyn. He’s the Home Democratic Chief. He’s virtually our occasion chief, the best rating, so to talk, chief, and we welcome him now. Hakeem Jeffries, Congressman. Hakeem Jeffries, from the village of Brooklyn, my brother, Let’s start. We had been all shocked to listen to the information about Sylvester Turner this morning
Hakeem Jeffries
deeply saddened and shocked by the information. I acquired a name very early within the morning informing of his passing. It was sudden. It was sudden. He appeared sick somewhat bit yesterday, however was in a position to obtain some medical care and was decided to be on the ground of the Home of Representatives, to signify his beloved district in Houston. The individuals who despatched him to Congress and to be there to stare down the President within the face. And so he made it to the Home flooring, and instantly thereafter, even posted a video to his constituents, re
emphasizing his want to avoid wasting their well being care. Significance of profitable the Medicaid combat, we all know that Sylvester Turner was a legendary public servant. He went from the acre Properties neighborhood one of many hardest communities in Houston and within the nation, all of the the way in which to Harvard Legislation Faculty, after which got here again house, was a champion for social and racial justice, finally rising to turn out to be the mayor of Houston. After which on the sudden passing of one other warrior, Sheila Jackson Lee stepped in to proceed the illustration that’s nonetheless fiercely wanted at this second.
Rev. Mark Thompson
And and, after all, as you talked about, even along with his political profession, he was mayor for a few years within the state legislature. Y’all know politics is usually a soiled enterprise, however Sylvester Turner by no means compromised his kindness. He was , first rate man. You possibly can’t at all times say that about a complete lot of people in politics, however that was , variety brother, so I assumed some prayers with him and his household and with you and and the Home and the Democrats as nicely, so and that approaching the heels of final evening, your normal ideas in regards to the speech final evening. I not a variety of of us have talked about this within the media. They deal with different issues, however I discovered it fairly intriguing that Trump spent a while speaking about the way you and the Democrats don’t present him any love. He’s been up there 5 instances, and also you all have by no means embraced him. It’s like there’s one thing else occurring with that, and we all know that how that ego is. However I discovered that very attention-grabbing. What else are you alleged to WHY WOULD YOU?
Hakeem Jeffries
Was very attention-grabbing, and that wasn’t within the script, proper? In order that was one thing that got here into his consciousness on account of the style through which we have interaction, which was we weren’t
reacting in any favorable or optimistic approach to the issues that he was saying, as a result of the issues that he was saying foolishness, a variety of misinformation, and naturally, he’s championing causes which might be going to harm our neighborhood. But it surely was clear that he was feeling the absence of help for him, and most significantly, for his insurance policies. And felt so bothered by it that he truly injected it right into a speech. However on the finish of the day, I feel what was so deeply troubling to me. Me is that that is someone who promised to make life higher for the American individuals. His complete marketing campaign was in regards to the financial system and decreasing prices. He gave 100 minute speech and spent lower than two on the financial system as a result of he has no plan. There aren’t any concepts, and so they haven’t any intention of bettering the lives of the American individuals. They’re attempting to chop Medicaid, the most important Medicaid lower in American historical past, as a part of their Republican reckless price range proposal that’s going to harm kids, harm households, harm individuals with disabilities, harm seniors, harm nursing house care, and shut down hospitals.
Rev. Mark Thompson
And that final level is necessary as a result of some people hear Medicaid and so they assume, nicely, that’s just for individuals who truly obtain Medicaid, however what Medicaid does is, to a big extent, undergird the funding of hospitals for everybody, even those that don’t have Medicaid, together with these with Medicare and those that have their very own non-public insurance coverage, proper? That’s precisely
Hakeem Jeffries
Proper. It’s a vital and highly effective level mark. I respect you making that. Now, a few third of the American individuals depend on Medicaid for his or her medical health insurance. In order that’s an infinite variety of individuals in and of itself, however precisely as you indicated, as a result of so many Medicaid sufferers are served by these hospitals and nursing houses, for those who dramatically lower their Medicaid advantages, you will have an effect on the flexibility of the hospital or the nursing house to stay open. In truth, 66% by some estimates, of nursing house residents, our dad and mom, our grandparents, our family members of their golden years, 66% depend on Medicaid for his or her nursing house care and their long run care, and so for those who decimate Medicaid, nursing houses are going to shut, hospitals are going to shut, and everybody in that neighborhood goes to undergo.
Rev. Mark Thompson
That’s hospitals closing. Now let’s discuss these mass deportations and all of his assaults. If we go down that highway, we’re speaking about some companies closing…
Hakeem Jeffries
Precisely proper? And one of many issues that we’re already beginning to see and we perceive it definitely is necessary for us to safe the border, and everyone can help that in a robust and a secure in a humane trend. Now we have to safe the border. Now we have a damaged immigration system. We need to repair it. We imagine we have to repair it in a complete and bipartisan method, and we’re going to at all times shield our dreamers, shield our farm employees, shield legislation abiding immigrant households, and to the extent that there’s going to be enforcement exercise that needs to be targeted on deporting violent felons, not legislation abiding households. And what we see taking place in lots of cases is the precise reverse. And so on account of the worry that has been created, what we’re seeing is that farm employees aren’t displaying as much as work. We see meals processing employees not displaying up. We see development employees not displaying as much as job websites and so industries are being harm and impacted, and that affect goes to be felt by everybody. In truth, it’s going to be felt by the financial system cratering, which we’re already seeing in actual time. Issues aren’t getting higher, they’re getting worse for the American individuals beneath this administration.
Rev. Mark Thompson
Then the roles that we have now, even in our personal authorities. I used to be had the distinction of being invited to talk MC the rally that the American Federation of Authorities Staff had at workplace personnel administration yesterday, um, earlier than the speech final evening, Chris Van Hollen was there, and quaze and fumay and Glen Ivy and others had been there. Don Byer even got here by. The assault on our civil service, particularly nicely, actually, across the nation, however we all know within the DMV that’s makes up a variety of the tax base. These are the individuals who work and contribute to the to the nicely being of the complete DC, Maryland, Virginia space. However we have now individuals there from everywhere in the nation who’re dropping their jobs, who’re being summarily fired by an individual that we could as nicely name a co president, and never, if not, the true president. It who your legislature by no means had a possibility to vet or have a affirmation listening to? I imply, that needs to be we all know it’s unprecedented, but it surely should be unlawful.
Hakeem Jeffries
It’s outrageous. Is among the explanation why Trump administration has been repeatedly taken to courtroom. Greater than 100 completely different lawsuits have been filed by our companions, democratic Lawyer Normal, civil rights teams, advocacy organizations and others, because it pertains to at the least 35 or 40 of those unconstitutional and illegal govt actions, together with the engagement of Elon Musk and the Trump administration will not be profitable in courtroom. They’re dropping over and time and again, and we’re going to maintain the stress on them within the courts, similar to we’re preserving the stress on them within the legislature. Now, one of many issues that’s attention-grabbing is that Donald Trump spoke about unelected bureaucrats. Elon Musk is sitting within the chamber. He’s the most important unelected bureaucrat within the nation proper now, proper, proper. And he’s taking a sledgehammer, a blowtorch, a chainsaw, to the federal authorities and our means to really present individuals with the companies that they want. So as an example, they need to dramatically lower the variety of workers who’re a part of the Social Safety Administration. That’s going to affect the flexibility for on a regular basis People of their golden years to obtain their advantages. Now it’s additionally necessary mark to know that none of this exercise that Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Republicans are unleashing on the American individuals have been cemented into legislation. They haven’t handed a single invoice that cements their venture 2025, agenda as a result of Democrats are unified in opposition and we’re holding Republicans accountable, which is why they’re attempting to take these steps to govt motion, which then prompts us to sue them and cease them.
Rev. Mark Thompson
For people who heard that, that is simply the information of the day, principally contemporary for the time being, the Supreme Courtroom has struck down the Trumps, the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze international support funds. So we’re simply gonna should combat these battles sooner or later at a time. I do know you don’t have a variety of time left your ideas about your members who walked out final evening one after which notably about Al Inexperienced, and Are the rumors true? Ought to we be involved, or they only blowing smoke? Ought to we be involved in regards to the rumors that the Republican management would need to censure Al Inexperienced
Hakeem Jeffries
so understanding that they could attempt to convey a central decision to the ground afterward immediately, we as Home Democrats will transfer to desk that decision. It’s all an effort by Home Republicans to attempt to cover the ball from the American individuals. They did not ship on their promise to decrease prices. Prices aren’t happening in the US of America, they’re going up. Inflation goes up. The inventory market is collapsing. Persons are dropping their retirement safety. They’ve performed nothing to make life higher for the American individuals. They’re attempting to chop Medicaid, attempting to chop veterans advantages, attempting to chop dietary help for youngsters and households. They know that every one of that is unpopular, and so they’re doing it as a result of they need to present huge tax breaks for his or her billionaire donors and rich companies. However they’re working from that agenda. They need to cover it from the American individuals, and that’s why they’re doing issues like focusing on our Reena. I haven’t had the chance to speak to him but immediately, however I do plan to attach with him upfront of the vote afterward this afternoon.
