The Briefing with Jen Psaki
So much for loyalty: Red states ‘devastated’ by Trump cuts
Tue, 18 Mar 2025
Jen Psaki is joined by former Senator Jon Tester and former Mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu to discuss the devastating effects of Trump’s government funding bill, which has slashed funding and staffing for both FEMA and NOAA, and the impact on red states suffering from recent tornado damage. NBC News Justice Reporter Ryan Reilly gives his reaction to what he witnessed in the courtroom earlier today after Trump defied a judges ban to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process. As Republicans continue to hide and avoid their frustrated constituents, Senator Reuban Gallego talks to Jen about his experience as one of many Democrats who have held their own town halls in red districts around the country and how that could affect the next election for Democrats. After Minority leader Chuck Schumer helped Republicans pass their funding bill last week in fear of government closure, Democrats are After Minority Leader Chuck Schumer helped Republicans pass their funding bill last week to avoid a government shutdown, frustration is growing among Democrats with the party's senior leadership and many are calling for new, unrelenting voices in Washington. And in his first national interview, rising Democratic star and Texas attorney Christian Menefee, talks to Jen about his congressional campaign.Check out our social pages below:https://twitter.com/InsideWithPsakihttps://www.instagram.com/InsideWithPsaki/https://www.tiktok.com/@insidewithpsakihttps://www.msnbc.com/jen-psakihttps://bsky.app/profile/insidewithpsaki.msnbc.com
Chapter 1: What does Jen Psaki think about Democratic leadership?
OK, I was out last week. I stored up a lot of thoughts about all sorts of things. I did watch the whole government funding debacle from afar. It feels to me like it's about time for a really honest conversation about Democratic leadership in Washington right now and what the heck is going on there. So we're definitely going to have that conversation tonight.
I have my own thoughts I'm going to share with you, too. There are also some good things happening out there, no doubt. I mean, we're going to talk about those, too. Democrats like Tim Walz held town hall meetings in red districts over the weekend. That's great. Senator Ruben Gallego held a town hall in Phoenix, Arizona, today. He's going to join me later tonight to talk about how that went.
We're also going to talk about the hearing tonight over deportations that just wrapped up. Ryan Riley was in the courtroom. He's hustling over here to the studio, and he's going to tell us about everything that happened in that room and what the judge had to say. But I wanted to start tonight with what I kind of think is one of the unifying principles of this administration.
And that is basically their myopic view on owning the libs, as they call it. They love to own the libs. To the extent that they have one goal, owning the libs seems to be that goal. And by that, they mean doing anything they can to offend, humiliate, or destroy things that anyone left of Sean Hannity may possibly care about.
I mean, Donald Trump visited the Kennedy Center for a board meeting today after seizing control of it and making himself the new chair. What a good use of time for a president. The Kennedy Center now, I think all of you probably know what it is, but it's been an arts institution here in Washington, D.C. for over 50 years. Lots of people perform there. All sorts. They're not political.
But to Trump, it was too woke and needed to be straightened out. So yes, to own the libs, Trump is basically destroying the Kennedy Center. People are refusing to perform there anymore. And he basically said so himself today.
We'll make it great again, but it is so much like what I'm witnessing in other places. We have open borders. We have men playing in women's sports. It's all the same thing. It's all the same mentality and thinking.
I mean, it's all the same mentality and thinking. The Kennedy Center, the culture wars, actual policy of any sort, it's all the same thinking to Trump. And it's exactly the same thinking when it comes to the way he and Elon Musk are gutting the federal government.
I mean, take NOAA, which is the agency responsible for things like forecasting our weather and tracking climate trends and responding to extreme weather events. Most people accurately see it as an apolitical tool for knowing what the weather is going to be outside, which, hey, we all rely on. A place where a bunch of science nerds prepare for natural disasters.
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Chapter 2: How are red states affected by Trump's funding cuts?
That doesn't work in places if you don't have a lot of hospitals and access to those hospitals in the private sector. So, I mean, there's a lot of things that Democrats can start doing moving forward, but it all needs to be based around working families, middle America, so to speak. And, you know, talk about the issues that people are talking about on the ground.
That's why, by the way, those town halls are so really, really important. Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, you ought to be doing them because you get good information if you listen to your constituents.
It's so true. I mean, those town halls, I think watching them have been really inspiring. I think it feels like a good thing happening out there. Democrats showing up in red districts or their own districts. A lot of Republicans are not doing these town halls. Mitch, you know a lot about a lot of things, but you have a very good feel for politics and when things are sticking or not sticking.
We're seeing some outrage at town halls. When do you think all of the things we've been talking about are going to catch up with them?
Well, Tessa can tell you this. This is organic. Look, I was a legislator for 16 years. I had to have town hall meetings all the time when I was mayor. I had town hall meetings with sometimes between 500 and 1,000 people there. I was the first one there. I was the last one to leave. I got my behind handed to me a lot of times. You got to stand there and take it from your constituents.
And by the way, I'm happy to go do town halls. If the Republicans are too scared to show up to talk to their constituents, every Democrat in the country ought to be going to do it because John is right. The idea is to talk to middle America, to working class people and to meet them where they live. What do they care about? They care about a roof over their head.
They care about putting food on the table for their kids. They care about paying tuition, buying a piece of equipment to do whatever they have to do on the piece of property that they're going to have a little extra room so that they can have some sense of joy in their life. That's one of the great institutions.
Everything this guy touches turns to dirt, and he's going to decimate that institution. But he spent more time talking about the Kennedy Center and plastic straws than he has about lowering class to everyday Americans. And people are feeling that. They're dealing with it. I want to encourage all of the elected officials, Republicans and Democrats, go talk to your folks.
They will tell you what it is that they need and what they want, and you have to respond to them.
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Chapter 3: What role does NOAA play in disaster management?
But even if he doesn't, I am in this race. I am in it to win it, regardless of how long it takes. I will make sure that the people in this district have good representation in D.C.
I think you're definitely right that people are looking for fighters and people who stand up to bullies. And you certainly have had that experience in Texas. Christian Menefee, thank you so much for taking the time. I know it's been, again, a huge day for you. Running for Congress isn't easy either. I think people should know. So thanks for taking the time to join me tonight.
And we'll be right back. Okay, I've got a very quick request before we go, and I promise it's not a big one. It's a small one. We'd love it if you would give us a follow over on Blue Sky. I might not love it quite as much as Rachel, but I do love it. You can follow me there. There's our show account. You can follow me at jensaki.msnbc.com, my personal account.
And you can scan the QR code, which will send you right to our page. It's where we're posting most of our content these days. The water is warm, everyone, mostly because Elon Musk doesn't own it. That does it for me tonight. You can catch the show every Sunday at 12 p.m. and Monday at 8 p.m. on MSNBC. And don't forget to follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For now, goodbye from Washington and we'll see you next week.
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