Tom Nichols

We weigh the pros and cons of everything endlessly. We obviously want to make sure everything we do is legal and that's good. We over-interpret polls. We've got consultants who say you should only take on issues that are already popular and only oppose things that are already unpopular. Be very careful. And if we keep going that way, Trump will have made 60 decisions before we even make one.

We weigh the pros and cons of everything endlessly. We obviously want to make sure everything we do is legal and that's good. We over-interpret polls. We've got consultants who say you should only take on issues that are already popular and only oppose things that are already unpopular. Be very careful. And if we keep going that way, Trump will have made 60 decisions before we even make one.

And we have to understand the kind of fight we're in. We actually need to learn some things from him. He is very good, I think, at psychological warfare. And Democrats are not.

And we have to understand the kind of fight we're in. We actually need to learn some things from him. He is very good, I think, at psychological warfare. And Democrats are not.

And we have to understand the kind of fight we're in. We actually need to learn some things from him. He is very good, I think, at psychological warfare. And Democrats are not.

I was known as a moderate Democrat in the House. I think government shutdowns are stupid for all the obvious reasons. But this is a very unique situation, right? The government is being shut down.

I was known as a moderate Democrat in the House. I think government shutdowns are stupid for all the obvious reasons. But this is a very unique situation, right? The government is being shut down.

I was known as a moderate Democrat in the House. I think government shutdowns are stupid for all the obvious reasons. But this is a very unique situation, right? The government is being shut down.

And if I'm still in the House of Representatives, it's March 14th or whatever the day is, and we're facing a decision about whether to fund the government for a few more months. What I would say to the Republicans is, you don't want a government shutdown? Fine. You have the votes. You have a majority in the House and Senate. Be my guest. Fund the government.

And if I'm still in the House of Representatives, it's March 14th or whatever the day is, and we're facing a decision about whether to fund the government for a few more months. What I would say to the Republicans is, you don't want a government shutdown? Fine. You have the votes. You have a majority in the House and Senate. Be my guest. Fund the government.

And if I'm still in the House of Representatives, it's March 14th or whatever the day is, and we're facing a decision about whether to fund the government for a few more months. What I would say to the Republicans is, you don't want a government shutdown? Fine. You have the votes. You have a majority in the House and Senate. Be my guest. Fund the government.

Oh, you can't do that because you're lame and you're in disarray? You need my help to do it? Okay. You know what? I'll give you my help. I'll help you pass your Republican budget. But I've got this one condition that the president actually has to respect the budget we pass. He's got to respect the laws we pass in the Constitution.

Oh, you can't do that because you're lame and you're in disarray? You need my help to do it? Okay. You know what? I'll give you my help. I'll help you pass your Republican budget. But I've got this one condition that the president actually has to respect the budget we pass. He's got to respect the laws we pass in the Constitution.

Oh, you can't do that because you're lame and you're in disarray? You need my help to do it? Okay. You know what? I'll give you my help. I'll help you pass your Republican budget. But I've got this one condition that the president actually has to respect the budget we pass. He's got to respect the laws we pass in the Constitution.

So if we give him $100 for a Head Start program or a community health center or to feed hungry people around the world, he is going to spend $100 as Congress directs. That's my condition. And if you can't give me that, if you want me to pass a budget that he's going to treat like a piece of toilet paper, then I'm out. You're on your own. Do it yourselves. So that is the moment of truth.

So if we give him $100 for a Head Start program or a community health center or to feed hungry people around the world, he is going to spend $100 as Congress directs. That's my condition. And if you can't give me that, if you want me to pass a budget that he's going to treat like a piece of toilet paper, then I'm out. You're on your own. Do it yourselves. So that is the moment of truth.

So if we give him $100 for a Head Start program or a community health center or to feed hungry people around the world, he is going to spend $100 as Congress directs. That's my condition. And if you can't give me that, if you want me to pass a budget that he's going to treat like a piece of toilet paper, then I'm out. You're on your own. Do it yourselves. So that is the moment of truth.

That's the ultimate moment of leverage where Democrats have in the House, they have the power to work their will.

That's the ultimate moment of leverage where Democrats have in the House, they have the power to work their will.

That's the ultimate moment of leverage where Democrats have in the House, they have the power to work their will.