Sen. Tim Kaine, speaking with Chris Hayes, says:
- “President Trump and Russ Vought and the others seem to relish in the gratuitous cruelty, but I think they are really misreading the American public. And I think we’re going to see in Virginia in about five weeks a massive repudiation of Trumpism in our Virginia elections. We’re a battleground state – we’ve got a Republican governor, lieutenant governor, ag. We’ve got both the statewide elections and our house of delegates up. And so in this very critical battleground state, I think you’re going to see a rejection of grim reaper as the new role model for who our president should be.”
- “When the Republicans did Trump’s bidding and pushed through his reconciliation bill at the end of June, they extended tax cuts for the wealthiest and they cut off health care support for everyday folks. And there’s a five-layer cascade of bad consequences. People lose insurance. Those who don’t lose it and have it see their premiums spike. Providers are closing; three have already announced in Virginia that they’re closing because of the Trump bill. When providers close, people lose jobs and when providers close and people lose jobs, communities that are trying to attract economic development have to look prospects in the eye and say, sorry, our health clinic is closed, our hospital is closed. And then they see the light go off in the eyes of their prospects. So it is a cascade of bad consequences just since June. And all Democrats are saying to Republicans is fix this mess you made, we will help you fix this mess you made. Thus far, they would rather keep government shut and not fix the mess they made.”
- “Donald Trump is spending precious time and energy going after political enemies in Virginia, firing U.S. attorneys and firing subordinates and firing people who won’t stage the spectacle. Meanwhile, prices are going up – building supplies, clothes, energy, health care costs. His tariff policy is hurting the economy all over the United States, deeply in Virginia, and he seems to be fixated on his political enemies instead of doing what the American public thought he would do, which is bring inflation down. That’s why we’re going to have votes in the next ten days to go after Trump’s idiotic tariff policy and try to help everyday folks out.”
- “I’m very heartened by this news. You know, trust but verify. But it’s a good thing if I’m going to be tough on Trump for jacking up everyday people’s prices, laying off everyone and wrecking the economy, I got to be praiseworthy too when something is going well. This Hamas acceptance of some of the deal that Donald Trump put on the table as we near the two-year anniversary of October 7th, could be a real positive. So let’s release hostages, let’s end the war, and let’s have the discussion that’s 80 years delayed from the 1947 UN resolution that says there should be an Israel and a Palestine, Jews and Arabs living side by side peacefully in the Middle East, and let’s do what we can to make it happen.”
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