Rational Radio Daily With Steele And Ungar

Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers, told a group of Republican donors earlier this week that they should consider jettisoning any Republican members of Congress who don't back President Trump's agenda. While donors "didn't bat an eye" according to David Drucker of the Washington Examiner, congressional Republicans were livid over the comments. "I really think there's a power struggle for control of the Republican Party going on," says Drucker, the senior political correspondent for the Washington Examiner. Michael Steele and Rick Ungar discuss the GOP and NRA's support of a ban on bump stocks and whether this could lead to more responsible gun control legislation.

In the wake of the Las Vegas shooting, Andrew McCarthy, a contributing editor for National Review and a former federal prosecutor, joined Rick Ungar to talk about the news cycle of gun control debates and why we can't seem to find common ground on guns. Steve Bannon is beginning to form a political coalition with the Mercer family to support their populist and anti-establishment agenda. They plan to rival the powerful network established by the Koch brothers. Ken Vogel, a New York Times reporter who covers the confluence of money, politics and influence, discusses the impact that the Bannon-Mercer alliance could have on the 2018 midterms and the future of the GOP.

President Trump unleashed a tweetstorm over the weekend directed at both the American citizens of Puerto Rico and the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz. On Saturday morning, the president tweeted, "Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort." The backlash against the president was strong, swift and loud, with many condemning his harsh criticisms of Cruz and questioning whether the administration is delivering for the people of Puerto Rico. New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, a native Puerto Rican, is immensely concerned about what might unfold there amid the island's unprecedented humanitarian crisis. "My concern in the short-term right now is 'Lord of the Flies','" Rivera said. He discusses the devastation that has continued to wreak havoc on the island, how the federal government is hel

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned today amid mounting criticism for costing taxpayers over one million dollars for his use of charter planes and military aircraft. In the wake of this lavish spending, Congressman Ted Lieu of California joined with other House members to introduce the "SWAMP FLYERS" Act, a bill that seeks to ban private jet travel by members of the president's cabinet. Congressman Lieu (D-Calif. 33) joined Michael Steele and Rick Ungar to explain why he introduced the bill and critique President Trump's tax plan. The superintendent of the Air Force Academy delivered a powerful and moving speech to his cadets on race and inclusion. The guys discuss the speech and how it delivered the moral leadership and clarity the country has needed in the wake of Charlottesville.

President Trump announced a new blueprint for tax reform yesterday in a speech in Indianapolis. The president said he sought to create a "middle class miracle" with this reform plan, which many pundits and politicians are saying is actually a massive tax cut program. However, earlier today on Good Morning America, Trump's economic adviser Gary Cohn admitted that he can't guarantee there won't be tax increases for middle-class Americans. Where is the miracle? Where are all the deficit hawks? Where are the details on this tax plan? Congressman Brian Higgins (D-N.Y. 26), Vice-Ranking member of the House Ways & Means Committee, shares his thoughts on the president's tax plan and tries to fill in some of the detail gaps. Rick Ungar and guest host Rick Tyler discuss what impact Roy Moore's victory over Luther Strange will have on congressional races across the country as we move closer and closer to the 2018 midterms.

One of the more inventive ways President Trump sought to fund his one trillion dollar infrastructure plan was by cultivating private-public partnerships on the local, state and national level. These partnerships seek to marry private-sector money and resources to public-sector projects. President Trump these initiatives would be a key source of funding, but after months of researching viable ways to create these partnerships and establish funding sources, he told the House Ways & Means Committee that he is abandoning this aspect of the plan. The president now wants local and state governments to shoulder the lion's share of the trillion dollar plan. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y. 18) talks about how local legislatures and the federal government can move forward on necessary infrastructure repair in the U.S. Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore soundly defeated Senator Luther Strange in last night's Alabama GOP senate primary. Jonathan Easley, campaig

Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced today there would be no vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill, citing a lack of support amongst the Republican bloc. While there are whispers around Capitol Hill that the bill will be back with revisions and amendments, is repeal and replace officially dead? Where does this leave the future of healthcare reform? Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of three Republican senators to come out publicly against the bill, wants to create a system of co-op organizations that could cross state lines, and could be built out of existing healthcare infrastructure. Senator Paul joined Steele & Ungar to discuss his vision for healthcare reform, how to address our predicament with North Korea and the future of tax cuts. Jacqueline Klimas, national security reporter for Politico, talks about reporting from Puerto Rico and whether the U.S. government is really doing everything it can to provide aid during this humanitarian crisis.

President Trump signed a new executive order over the weekend that updates and indefinitely extends the first travel ban he introduced in January. This new order adds two countries, Chad and Venezuela, to the list and creates a near-total ban on any travel from the named countries due to national security concerns. Many pundits and legal experts seem to think the Trump administration added nations like Venezuela and North Korea to ensure that this executive action cannot be interpreted as a "Muslim ban." David Bier, immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute, discusses the new ban and how lawmakers and the Supreme Court will view and react to it. Rosalind Helderman, political enterprise and investigations reporter for the Washington Post, talks about the shocking revelation that Jared Kushner admitted to using a private email account to conduct official government business. How will the White House attempt to spin this?

Today, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) issued a statement saying he intends to vote "No" on the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Many around Capitol Hill are saying the bill is now effectively dead. CNN is capitalizing on the ongoing healthcare debate. The network announced they'll be hosting a town hall-style debate next week between Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on the future of healthcare. Graham and Cassidy will advocate for "repeal and replace" while Sanders and Klobuchar will argue for "Medicare for all". David Corn, Washington Bureau Chief for Mother Jones, previews the debate and what it might mean for the future of healthcare reform. Michael Steele and Rick Ungar discuss Senator McCain's "No" vote and whether members of Congress will listen to his passionate plea for a "return to regular order".

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and began a expansionist campaign of aggression against its neighbor and former Soviet socialist republic. Senators and congressmen and women alike, along with Pentagon officials, called for the Obama administration to offer military aid to Ukraine as it fought to preserve its freedom and sovereignty. To many on Capitol Hill today, including Texas Congressman Will Hurd, the U.S. has an obligation to fulfill our commitment to NATO. "If NATO was created to curb the expansionist tendencies of Russia, the people who are actually involved in that fight we should be supporting," Hurd said. The congressman joined Steele & Ungar to explain why the U.S. should deliver lethal aid to Ukraine. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein discussed how President Trump could renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal with our allies.

Congressman Lou Correa (D-Calif.) joined Steele & Ungar Wednesday night to express his frustration and anger over the story of Helen Huynh, a Vietnamese-American citizen who might die because of the failure of and bureaucracy in the U.S. immigration system. One of Huynh's sisters, still living Vietnam, has been denied a visa three times because the U.S. Embassy could not find sufficient evidence that she will return to Vietnam when the visa expires. "Immigration is often presented as black and white, but this is what immigration is all about," said Congressman Correa. Guest co-host Rick Tyler made his feelings known, adding, 'The ambassador needs to know he's basically passing a death sentence on an American citizen." Congressman Correa talked about the story, the abject failure in immigration policy and what people can do if they want to help. Dr. Seva Gunitsky, professor of politics at the University of Toronto, discusses some of the lates

In President Trump's first speech to the United Nations General Assembly, he bragged about the United States job market and military and stressed the importance of the sovereignty and strength of independent nations. The president also bashed North Korea, its leader and its allies and associates. Michael Steele was shocked, saying, "I've never heard a president threaten 25 million people from that podium, from the floor of the United Nations." Hardin Lang, former U.N. special envoy to Haiti, discusses how this speech represents a radical departure for the U.S. at the U.N. and its leadership on the global stage. Katie Thomas, staff writer for the New York Times, talks about her collaborative reporting with ProPublica on the ways that insurance companies are contributing to the opioid epidemic.

Last week, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced a bill that seeks to repeal and overhaul major portions of the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is working on a bipartisan legislative package that aims to stabilize the health insurance markets. Republicans in the chamber are still smarting from the repeal and replace fight over the summer. An exasperated Michael Steele asked Dr. Steve Klasko, president of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, "Are we just wasting our time on healthcare?" Dr. Klasko discusses the upcoming healthcare reform battles and suggests what reforms Congress should focus its time and energy on. John Washington, a contributor to The Nation, talks about how ICE is destroying detainee records, including those related to in-custody deaths, sexual assault and the use of solitary confinement.

When Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire and host of the Ben Shapiro Show, joined Steele & Ungar to talk about his speech Thursday night at UC Berkeley, he made fun of the massive police presence that was called upon to prevent violence and riots from breaking out, saying, "I don't know how you're even having me on considering my voice can do such tremendous physical damage to both of you." Shapiro spoke out at Berkeley against antifa, its penchant for violence and other alt-left groups, condemning the rise of violence and escalating rhetoric from both antifa and the alt-right. He also talked about the media frenzy surrounding his speech and some of the main arguments he made last night. Career counterintelligence veteran Malcolm Nance warns that conventional military action against North Korea would have disastrous consequences.

Mark Preston, the executive editor of CNN Politics, former RNC Chair Michael Steele and many others around Capitol Hill marveled at former Speaker--and current House Democratic Leader--Nancy Pelosi's toughness and political skills. Preston, who also hosts 'Full Stop with Mark Preston' on SiriusXM POTUS, got the rare opportunity to sit down with Pelosi for an in-depth interview. The two talked about the 2018 midterms, Pelosi's long career in the House, her relationship with Trump and much more. Mark Preston joins Michael Steele and Rick Ungar to preview the interview. Full Stop airs Saturday 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST and Sunday 5:00-6:00 p.m. EST.

Late last night, reports trickled out that President Trump reached a deal with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to protect the 'dreamers' from being deported. Today, President Trump said that no deal was made, but Senator Schumer described the talk as creating a "framework" for a path to citizenship for the 'dreamers'. What did the Dems give the president? A commitment to increased border security, but no funding for Trump's border wall. Robert Costa, national political reporter for the Washington Post, talks to Michael Steele and Rick Ungar about Trump wheeling and dealing with Democrats and the firestorm this has sparked in Trump's base. Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank discusses his theory that the Democrats are turning into socialists.

The House Democratic Caucus recently unveiled its new "Jobs for America Task Forces" program as a compliment to its 'Better Deal' initiative. The five task forces each focus on a different aspect of the economy: programs and opportunities based around infrastructure, employment benefits, employment and education opportunities, job growth and adaptation and veteran employment. Congressman Donald Norcross, co-chair of the 'Rebuilding America Task Force,' talks to Michael Steele about his hopes for the program and what he wants his task force to accomplish. Ali Soufan, former FBI special agent and member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, talks about his recent reporting on the rise of Hamza bin Laden and the resurgence of al-Qaeda.

Congressman Will Hurd (R-Texas 23) says the evolving mindset of the U.S. intelligence community has made us safer since 9/11. Instead of hoarding information because of "need to know", intelligence agencies share information laterally because of the "need to share". Congressman Hurd, who filled now-CIA Director Mike Pompeo's seat on the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, talks to Michael Steele and Rick Ungar about how the U.S. intelligence community has adapted and improved since 9/11, but also notes how there's still room for improvement. Alvin Chang, senior graphics reporter for Vox, talks about his piece exploring how colleges and universities subtly discriminate against students based on class.

In a recent op-ed for the Washington Post titled, "Stop being afraid of more government. It’s exactly what we need", CNN host Fareed Zakaria argues that more Americans should embrace the idea of big government. While Zakaria wrote it in the context of government giving relief to hurricane victims, he added, "We are living in an age of revolutions, natural and human, that are buffeting individuals and communities. We need government to be more than a passive observer of these trends and forces. It needs to actively shape and manage them."Michael Steele debates the role and scope of government with guest host Jonathan Capehart, an op-ed contributor for the Washington Post, MSNBC contributor and host of the "Cape UP" podcast. They also talk to Daily Beast special correspondent Michael Tomasky about whether Democratic leaders in Congress might or should cut a deal with President Trump on immigration where DACA gets codified into law in exchange for border wall funding.

Steve Bannon has strong words for the Roman Catholic Church. President Trump's former chief strategist, a Catholic himself, criticized the Church's opposition to Trump's decision on DACA, saying the Catholic Church has a vested economic interest in "unlimited illegal immigration" because "the Church needs illegal aliens to fill seats". Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York responded, "That's insulting and so ridiculous." Ashley Feasley, director of policy for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office of Migration and Refugee Services, talks to Michael Steele and Rick Ungar about the Catholic Church's response to Trump winding down the Obama-era program and addresses Bannon's inflammatory criticism of the Church. Michael and Rick also discuss Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' intention to roll back an Obama-era Title IX guidance on how to handle sexual assault cases on college campuses.