March 11, 2025 • 37 mins
David Urban, the newest board member for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and political commentator for CNN, joined Dan to discuss a variety of political key issues playing out in D.C.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, Dan Watkins. We are going into
at nine o'clock hour, and I'd like to introduce you
to the newest member of the Board of Directors at
the Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, David Urban. David
Urban is someone who you may have seen on CNN.
(00:28):
He is a commentator on CNN and I think he's
just gotten off a plane somewhere, I believe in Washington. David,
how are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I'm good, Dan, How are you? I mean Philadelphia today.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Philadelphia, Washington, they all look the same.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I hope you Hilly, New York, Boston, and he kind
of you know, I know, I know the sports teams
are different, but it all blends together after a while.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It certainly does. You can always just ride the Essella sometimes,
and that's just as quick as the airplanes, that's for sure.
So first of all, I wanted to do to the audience.
I know that you're on CNN and you've been very
much involved in politics, and I want to talk about
the Kennedy Institute and really a good or a good
(01:12):
wonderful organization, which is a very bipartisan board of directors,
which which is interesting and and I think commendable. Just
a little bit of background yourself. You're a West Point graduate,
and you have your law degree from Temple, and you
have a master's degree from University of Pennsylvania. You served
(01:33):
in the Gulf War, Bronze Star recipient in the in
the Gulf War, and spent obviously the requisite five years
of active duty military service after after your graduation. Uh So,
congratulations on those accomplishments. Let's talk about the Edward and
Kennedy Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. I actually had
(01:57):
the pleasure in honor of moderating a conversation with Natan
Sharansky there several years ago. That room is beautiful. I
assume you have already physically been to the.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
It's a great space, it's a great building. It's a
great space, a great organization, and I'm really proud to
be proud to be associated with and on the board now.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
It's interesting because the board, I think it has seventeen
members at this point, including the UMass Boston president, but
also more importantly, several former senators and political leaders, both
Republicans and Democrats, it's a very balanced represent representation. I
(02:43):
looked at the board today and I was very pleased
to see people who I know well, certainly former Congressman
Joe Kennedy, but also some of the representatives former US
Senators on both sides of the aisle. There's a real
effort there, it seems to me keep that Board of
directors balanced.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, so a lot of credit goes to Bruce and
the board. So what what you didn't get my my
lengthy bio was that a long time ago, I used
to work for a guy the name of Arlen Spector
Philadelphia who at Pennsylvanian, who was was kind of a curmudgeon, contrarian,
but but noted for his his his bipartisanship. And I
(03:26):
got to do a lot of work when my time
nineteen ninety seven to two thousand and two with Senator
Kennedy in his office. And so when I had the
opportunity to join the board, I jumped at it because
I think that that bipartisan nature, the bipartisanship that used
to exist in this Senate. Oops, sorry about that that
(03:48):
used to exist in the Senate is uh? I hope
you know, I hope Walking on no, no, no, But
that Byparson used to exist in the Senate is you know,
always always at risk of vanishing and disappearing, right, And
so I think there needs to be a real focus
on on making sure that that that that is not forgotten.
(04:11):
And Bruce and the and the team at the at
the Institute have done a nice job of putting some
programming together in the past, and it's something aboard which
I think really is focused on that. You know, Senator
Kennedy and my former boss, Senator Spector and Senator Hatch
and others back in the day used to work hand
and glove to get a lot of good things done.
(04:31):
And and as you know, in the Senate with a
fillbus or the sixty vote rule, the only way to
get anything done is to do it in a bipartisan manner.
You have to have support from Republicans, you have to
support from Democrats, and you have to come together. And
and today that may not be super popular, whether it's
Donald Trump or Joe Bidener, whomever's in the White House.
(04:52):
Consensus and and and and passing you know, legislation. Uh
is how this you know how the you remember the
old school house rock. I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill. Well,
you know, the world isn't done by eos. Normally, it's
done by legislation, and the only way that gets done
is by Democrats and Republicans working together. And I think
the Institute goes a long way and trying to advance
that and keep that front and center in people's minds.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I worked here as a TV reporter for thirty one
years for the CBS affiliate here in Boston, WBC TV,
and spent a lot of time with Senator Kennedy and
he was a very reasonable guy who you knew where
he stood on issues, but we we spent some time
(05:35):
together socially, and unlike Senator Warren, who is such an
ideal loogue here in Massachusetts. You know I'm serious when
I say that.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
No, No, I understand, No, it's just yeah, you can't,
you can't. You can't legislate from the ends, right, you
got to come in the middle.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
She's way out there, and she's never been on my
program and as an musicue, well yeah, he loss not mine,
but on your board. You know, Joe Kennedy is someone
who I get along with really well. I've had Patrick
Kennedy on this show talking about his recovery. Marty me
(06:12):
and the president of U MASS has been a friend
for a long time. Marsello Sarezo Rosco at U MASS
Boston as a as a great friend. I was at
a dinner with Chris Sanuda on Saturday night. Obviously his brother,
former Senator John Sanunu is on and then UH many
many of the others I've interviewed along the way. UH
(06:34):
and I had the chair of your board on here recently.
It's it's a very different feel from the from the
Kennedy Library. They do the Profile Encourage Award every year,
and whenever they give it to a Republican it's because
the Republican is strayed from Republican orthodoxy, you know, you
(06:56):
know Dick Cheney, who would be would be live, would
from from the Kennedy Library. It's it's a very different feel, and.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I hope that I think, you know, I think I
think the missions, I think the missions are a little
different as well, though. Yeah, right between the Institute and
in the library.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
But at the same time, when you talk about President
Kennedy's all too short time in the White House, I
was very close, very very close for many many years
with a guy named Dave Powers, who was his right
hand guy. If you've you know, read the history of
the Kennedy campaigns, Dave Powers and Billy Sutton were there
(07:37):
when he ran for Congress, and Dave Powers was with
him every day until November twenty second, nineteen sixty three.
So it's it's it's just it's very it's very interesting.
My guest is David Irbin. I want to talk to
you about being a commentator on CNN, and sure, you're
in a minority position of CNN. I don't know how
(07:58):
many my listeners will recognize you from CNN, but UH,
to be really honest with you, but but we'll we'll
talk about that. I also want to talk about what's
going on with the Trump administration because uh, and and
I've been critical of the Trump administration. I just think
that they're maybe biting off a little bit more than
(08:18):
they can chew. I suspect you're going to disagree with
me on some of this, but I think the royal
of the stock market, there may be some areas where
we agree on not that. Okay, I'm not a Republican,
David Urban, Yeah, I'm a conservative. I'm a conservative and Uh, okay,
good good place for me. Yeah, well that's it, you know.
(08:40):
And I and I have a lot of friends on
both sides of the aisle, and uh, as I say,
we should have a good conversation, and I'm going to
get some of my listeners involved here as well. My
guest is David Irban. He is the newest director at
the Ted Senator Edward Kennedy uh Institute for the US Senate,
a fabulous institutution out on Columbia Point, right next to
(09:02):
the JFK. Kennedy Library Kennedy Presidential Library. I would recommend
that you make a day of it and visit both
both locations because they are both wonderful, you know, wonderful
institutions in our community, memorializing the political history of the
twentieth century and with Senator Kennedy's case, into the twenty
(09:26):
first century. We're back with David Urban. If you'd like
to call and ask him anything about what it's like
behind the scenes at CNN, You're more than welcome to
do that. We'll talk a little politics and talk some
issues as well. Back on Night Side with David Urban.
Coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Now, back to Dan Ray Live from the window World
to night Side Studios. On WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
We're talking with David Urban. He's the newest most recently
elected nominated member of the Edward M. Kennedy isitude for
the United States Senate. But you have had besides the
military career, you have been an early supporter of Donald Trump,
going back I guess to twenty fifteen, twenty and sixteen. Uh.
(10:14):
And you also are a regular contributor on CNN. What's
that likes the panel? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Okay, well usually usually, as you point out, usually the
conservative on the panel. Look, I'm grateful that the seeing
the folks at CNN give me the time to get
on there and trying to make you know, trying to
make my base. I think it's a you know what,
what I think Americans want to see is kind of
a marketplace of ideas. They'd like to hear both sides.
(10:48):
They don't want to see Jerry Springer with you know,
people arguing and yelling at each other. I think constructive
informative debate is helpful public in public discourse, in the
public square. That much more on on many shows, you
can tune in and get your your bias affirmed on
whatever network you'd like. But I think CNN of the
(11:08):
at least makes an effort right and trying to kind
of be kind of down the middle on on on
on these things. It gives myself and others, other conservative
and Republicans and opportunity to go on there and make
the case. Judging by the by Twitter feed, I must.
I don't think I do a very good job most
of the time because a lot of the people don't
(11:30):
seem convinced. But I try to be respectful and and
present the other side. I'm hopeful at some point some
people the message gets through, because I think it's important.
It's important to here here from disparate views and and
uh and kick it around. You know you you're you
pointed out earlier about President Kennedy. You know, President John F.
(11:51):
Kennedy couldn't get elected in today's Republic, I mean today's
Democratic Party, right it is. It's a different place. I mean,
if you look at talk about Joe Kennedy. I have
great deal of respect for Joe Kennedy, and and he
lost in Massachusetts because he wasn't liberal enough, you know,
and and and you know there is if you look
and you know, I am friends with Kim Ryan Democrat,
(12:14):
Tim Ryan, who great congressman from you know, from Ohio
with Kurston, Cinema of Joe Mansion, with a lot of
common sense Democrats, and and you know, they're kind of
leaving the party. They left the Senate, they're leaving the party.
They lose in primaries, and I'm fearful that that middle
and both parties. You know, there's there's not many quote
(12:35):
unquote moderate Northeast Republicans anymore like there used to be.
John Hines and Ile Inspector and others, John Chafey, you know,
just to name a few, dwindled away as well. And
the party's kind of gone to there there there there,
they're neutral corners to you know, fight for another round.
But I think America served best by by that middle right.
(12:58):
And unfortunately, what we have every ten years a census,
and then you have a redistricting process by which congressional
seats are drawn safer and safer in America. So have
the four hundred and thirty five members of Congress, you
have roughly, you know, thirty thirty five seats that are
competitive maybe out of four hundred and those in the Congress,
then you are more afraid of losing in a primary
(13:20):
than you are in a general election. So that doesn't
really help, you know, bipartisanship if you are if you're
more afraid of losing in a primary than you are
and signing onto legislation with a you know, with somebody
in a different party, that may be a good piece
of legislation, because you fear getting primaried. That's not good
for America. So we have to figure that out. We
(13:40):
have to figure out what we do and how we
address that. Because those congressmen then grow up to the senators, right,
those those partisan congressmen grow up the centers, and they're
tempered somewhat by the nature of their state. So you know,
you get in these big states and may have you know,
a little bit more of a blue tint to that,
and the senators become purple because because they have to survive,
I represent their their constituency.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So well, we started here in Massachusetts, not only in
the Kennedy market fight. You know, Joe Kennedy, in my opinion,
is a liberal Democrat, and it was basically the progressives
on the far end of that party who turned against him,
uh and re elected you know, Senator Marquee, who's also
a friend of mine. But in the Democratic side, what
(14:26):
happened to Congressman Mike Capauana up here shortly after what
happened to Murphy in New York. He just was blindsided
in the primary. This twenty years of his experience in Congress.
Uh And certainly there were times when Mike Capajuana was
my friend, fire breathing liberal. I mean, you didn't want
to get into an argument Mike Capawana because sharp as
(14:47):
attack and and and very committed to his views. What
I do on my show, David is I tried to
have both sides. I'm competing every night from eight to midnight,
not only again at CNN, but I'm competing against Fox.
And there are a lot of people who like call it.
They like to sit in their silos, whether it's a
Fox silence.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Well and also and also people are getting their news
in different places. Right, people are getting the news on TikTok,
on Twitter, on their on substack. Right, people are consuming
news differently these days. Radio talk radio is still very popular,
fortunately for you. But the way that news is assimilated
and you know, when people when the President Trump did
(15:30):
his you know, address to Congress the other night. Nobody
probably watched it for the entire you know, hour and
thirty minutes, but people consumed it and snippets here and
there and so other than you and myself and maybe
some of your listeners, right, maybe listen to the whole thing.
But most people today just get little sound bites and
they make their decisions based upon snippets of what they
(15:53):
see and hear, but not they don't consume, you know,
five thousand word Nobody writes five thousand word articles anymore.
Nobod writes big articles anymore. Anywhere. You don't see that
newspapers are dying. And it's it's really interesting how I
don't want to say democratized, but how democratized news has become.
And the interesting part is the velocity at which it travels. Right,
(16:16):
And so when you know, you said you're a reporter
for a very long time. You know, you used to
be able to work on a story for a while.
Now it's the the urge is to get it out quickly.
You may not be one hundred percent correct, but to
get it out quickly, to be first rather than invest.
And it's just it's very interesting. I see this a
lot and you kind of have to. You have to
be very careful when you consume and what you consume,
(16:37):
and if you're not educated about it, you know, you
see so much misinformation out there. I think that's a
real challenge for for everybody, everybody is interested in the
political process.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yeah, I asked listeners who will call and they'll say
something that is that's insane or crazy, and I will say, simply,
where'd you see that? You know? And I show it
on Twitter, uh or and it's like, oh, well, that's
a good source. And I have most trouble with the
people on the far right and the far left, which
(17:10):
I'm sure you probably do as well. And what I'm
trying to do is make people if possible. I want
my ten to invite as many people as possible. I
had an email exchange today with a guy up in
New Hampshire who is very far right wing, and he
was upset that I was a matter of fact, I
can't find it real quickly. I should have had it
(17:31):
in my hand available. But he was upset that I
had told him not to say certain things. He would
call up and say crazy things and I'd say, that's
not true. Well, that's my opinion and say, well, you
could have your opinion, you can't have your facts and
you don't have right to facts. And anyway, let's do this.
We got to take a break for ninth third here,
I want to open this conversation up to our audience
(17:54):
and give them a chance to talk with you. I
maybe will take one more or just a few minutes
and talk about what's going on in Washington, d C.
Obviously we've watched the stock market the last few days
really take a dive. I was appalled at what went
on in the Oval office the other day with Zelinsky
(18:17):
and I just so you could pull your thoughts together.
I attribute that to some really bad staff work on
behalf of the Trump staff. Those documents should have been signed, sealed,
and delivered before Zolensky set foot in the White House,
and I don't think that helped the president. So I
just would love I know that you're a big supporter,
(18:39):
and I want to get your point of view, and
I want my to incorporate the audience as well. My
guest David Rban he's the managing director of a group
called BGR, the BGR Group. I didn't look that up.
Is that a financial organization political organization.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Because no, no, it's a it's a bipartisan by cameral lobbying
government affairs shop in Washington and the third or fourth
largest in Washington, depending on on on how you measure things.
And wait when the snapshots taken. So founded by a
couple of gentlemen. The initials used to be Haley Barber
from who was the governor of Mississippi and the former
(19:15):
chairman of rn C and h the founder of the
Republican Governors Association, who's one heck of a guy. Ed
Rodgers another just outstanding individual working in the Reagan White House,
and uh and Landy Griffin and they were all friends
and started this firm. Uh, you know, many years ago,
so still going strong.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
And I know I know your roots are in Western Pennsylvania.
And when he's talk about the Reagan White House, I
interviewed President Reagan many many times. Uh, and uh was
a huge Ronald Reagan fan. Okay, Uh, did you happen
to know Frank Donatelli, who was another Western Pennsylvania guy.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
I sure do, I do know, Frank. I am. It's
by Pittsburgh's like Boston, right everybody there?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah, absolutely, well, Frank Frank and I. We're we're going
friends for over fifty years, so that's that'll tell you
a little bit about where I come from. We've been
friends since we both were in law school. Actually different
law schools, but both when we were in law school. But
take it break my guess. David Urban, Managing director of
BGR Group in Washington, also the newest member of the
(20:25):
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, the
newest member of the board of directors, very active in
the Trump campaign, and also a CNN commentator. So he
is an individual who has lots of contacts throughout the
political system. If you want to ask a question, throw
the numbers out six one, seven, four ten thirty six
(20:45):
one seven, nine, three thirty. My name is Dan Ray.
This is Nightside, be Back talking politics with David Urban.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Here on Nightside night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
This is David Urban, a CNN contributor, but for our
purposes tonight, the newest board of directors of the Edward M.
Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. I know that you
have been with President Trump to thick and thin. We're
about sixty days into his second term. Boys, they're doing
(21:21):
a lot, are they. My opinion is they should slow
it down. That they're biting off more than they could chew.
So tell me why I'm wrong.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Yeah, listen, I think that they I think this administration
feels that they have a limited amount of time. They
have eighteen months for all intents and purposes, right to
get their agenda through. And every day that they're not
moving forward with something of the day that's lost and
(21:52):
you know they're not going to ever get back. You know,
this isn't you know Trump two point zero. It's not
just a redo of the first administration. It is a
completely divident different administration. I think that the you know,
they have the House and Senate actually kind of working together.
You saw, you know, we have this continuing resolution to
(22:13):
fund the government runs out of money, right, they kicked
the can down the road. I think Republic has made
a mistake. I think Republic has made a mistake in
the last administration by not making not passing spending bills
during the Biden administration. If I were the Speaker, I
would have I would have gotten these bills down and
got them off the desk, cleared the cleared the plate
for all these other all the other important thing issues
(22:34):
they're dealing with, like debt ceiling and tax increases and
the tax bill which is going to be coming up,
and and a school of other things. And so unfortunately
now they have to pass this continuing resolution to fund
the government for through it. You know, it expires and
on the fourteenth, but they're going to they will pass
this in the House and Senate, and they'll get it
and move on. They have to re revisit at some
(22:56):
point in the future. So I think that you know,
the agenda that the president's undertaking is aggressive, but you
know what's getting motion notices is really Elon Musk's doze
in them to reduce the size of government. Right, So,
as you and your listeners may know, a lot of
the people who have to implement these things, assistant secretaries,
(23:18):
deputy assistant secretaries, under secretaries, they haven't not only have
they not been named yet, but they're not even well
they're not sworn in. They haven't been sworn in, or
they haven't had their hearings that they A lot of
them haven't just been named. So a lot of these
agencies are pretty hollow still so a lot of this
thing is a lot of these things you're seeing are
kind of headline grabbing, but they're going to take some
time to get accomplished. So all the things that you're
(23:39):
saying on you know, the funding cuts and reductions in personnel,
they're going to be challenging courts. They may have to
have some legislative action to back them up. Some other
people are gonna have to get in place to actually
effectuate these because currently of acting you know, assistant secretaries
and deputies and secretary who may may not be up
(24:01):
for getting these things done. So I think moving with
alacrity is uh is a good thing. I don't think,
you know, on some things, I think it misfire clearly,
and there's been some reports that that those folks have
this reported things they have to go back and clean
it up. But I think the American people, I think
the American people are excited about change. They want Listen,
(24:22):
the government's too big. Whether you're Democrat or Republican, the
government's just too big. It's too it's too unwieldy. It
doesn't it's not responsive to people in you know, in Framingham.
They're not you know, they you may think that the
federal government's helpful, but it really is kind of MUCKs
up the work for a lot. You know. Being a
Republican and in the true sense of the word right,
(24:43):
you believe in limited government right in states, right, so
that the local governments, whether it's in Braintree or Wellesley
or Weston or Framingham or wherever where the Lesseners live,
they should have first bite at the apple and sixing problems.
Then the state should be the next the next kind
of level and find the federal government should be there
for you know, safe skies and defense and clean air,
clean water kind of things, and shouldn't be meddling in
(25:06):
all these kind of really local issues. And what the
Trump administration doing is trying to write that right size
of government that's been bloated for for generations, right and
trying to do it pretty quickly. So we'll see if
they're successful. I think the American people, if you look
at the just kind of snapshot polls, I think they're
pretty pretty pleased with that. But you know, you every
(25:28):
day things change, right that the stock market's kind of
taking a turn here because of tariffs, right, which are
not something that the President campaigned on. Super aggressively. He
mentioned that he's gonna he's gonna have tariffs and kind
of level the playing field with our economic competitors. But
now you know, the market has not viewed that favorably.
And we'll see if that's something that's can adjust. I
(25:50):
think the President thinks that he can have some There
might be some short term pain for longer term gain
in terms of reshoring American manufacturing and right sizing some
of those things. That we'll see how the market reacts,
and if it continues to react negatively, maybe the President
and the administration to rethink some of those things.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Yeah, so let's talk. I was on the Dog's website
today and one of the things that I'm looking for,
perhaps because of just my personality, I'm looking for real specificity. So,
for example, I noticed two things today which I don't
think my audience is aware of, but I just want
to mention them real quickly to make my point. Secretary
of Brook Brook Rawlins, she's the Secretary of Agriculture. She
(26:32):
canceled a six hundred thousand dollar grand to study menstrual
cycles in transgender men. Yeah, I mean, I mean, okay,
so that we can leave We could just leave that there,
and let's let that. Let that simmer, and then the
(26:53):
VA canceled a fifty six thousand dollars contract to water
eight plants for five years.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
This is I did see that. That was I did.
So those are the kind of thing great American people,
you know, who are struggling to pay their bills, right.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Yeah, yeah, but by the way, struggling to fill their
gas tanks. Yeah, hold on just one second. I want
to do the math for people.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
That's fourteen hundred dollars per plant per year, and Doe
says they will now water those plants free of charge.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
I made the vall water those plants free of charge.
I'm a little concerned about the the comments, and I'd
like to get your reaction to this and help me
out what the president when he's talked about, you know,
one hundred and I don't know, you know, fifty thirty
seven thousand people over the age of one hundred and
twenty whatever the number is that he talked about, who
(27:55):
are security rules. I understand that is indicative of them
an efficiency, but but I think that it's better to
deal on these specific concrete examples of absurdity because my
suspicion is that's probably a coding error. To be really
honest with you that, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
No, I think I think I think you're correct. I
think that's exactly what they found out right, Some of
these some of the three hundred year old people were
simply fat fingered and they weren't actually receiving benefits. There
were just people who were who didn't exist, and who's
whose you know, things were put in there. But listen,
you know you do here And I'm so that is
your point is well taken on me. We need to
(28:35):
make sure these things we we we attach real specific
issues and examples. Because one of the things that I
heard it on Musk say at a press conference was that,
you know, the Department of Treasury issues you know checks
without like a subject line. Right, there's no like the
checks just squad the door. No one really knows why
they're going, right, And so so so that part is
(28:57):
I think they really need to kind of understand there
should be you know, when it check goes out the
door from the US government, people should really be able
to track it and know what's going on. Right. The
fact that the Department of Defense can't pass it on
and I don't know if you've your viewers or you
have seen this in the last administration to sit down
John Stewart did with then the Deputy Secretary of Defense,
the number two persons at DoD where she kind of
(29:18):
laughed at John Stewart because he was saying, you know, look,
you guys are spending nine hundred billion dollars a year.
You can't you don't know where your tanks are. And
she's like, oh, she kind of laughed it off. And
and but that's serious. It's serious business. When when the
government's spending that much money, they should be able to
account for it. These are people listen when you know
Robert Kennedy Junior. I listened to him a couple of
(29:41):
lots during the debates, and he had pointed about interesting
statistic that some there was some the number he'd reference
to something like fifty six percent of Americans can't put
their hands on a thousand dollars tomorrow. If they woke
up and needed a thousand bucks, they don't have it.
And they're checking their savings account. They don't have a
thousand dollars liquid to go take care of their lives.
That statistic should be really, you know, troubling for for Americans,
(30:05):
because when you when the government is taking so much
of your money and your check engine comes on, it's
a crisis for your family. Maybe the government is getting
too much, right, Maybe we should let people keep more
of their paycheck. Maybe we should figure out how to
right size the government so they're not so big. And
I think that's what the Trump administration is trying to do.
And whether they're doing it, you know, a little too aggressively,
(30:27):
it'll all listen, the courts and the Congress, it'll come
out in the wash. I suspect that, as you said,
a lot of these specific things, while they're small, right,
they add up. And I suspect that, you know, there
will be some reduction, but a lot of things will
be restored because the courts won't let them go through
or the Congress won't let them go through the cuts.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Yeah, no, I hear that. But I do think that
the specificity of is what people can identify.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
With, and it makes it makes the point much more,
much more realistic, and it drives it home when you're
talking about you know, museums or in mole rats and
people spending money on silly things. Your your listeners and
viewers at home, and people think like, wow, what could
we do, what can we do in our community if
we had that money here and for and.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
For example one of them and then I got to
go to break here quickly. But one of them, I
think it was two billion dollars for the former Democratic
candidate for governor down in UH, down in Georgia Abrams, right, yes,
Stacy Abrams. Now I really want to see that. I
want to know what that What are we talking about there?
Speaker 3 (31:28):
The figure was monumental E that's money out of E
p A with the E p A shoved that out
the door. You you saw the one the Biden administration
officials said, it was like they're throwing gold bars off
the Titanic. Right. That doesn't that doesn't that doesn't make
that shouldn't make any American right feel comfortable with their government,
right and how they're how they're being good stewards of
(31:49):
your money.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Just so you know, I watched the indictments out of
our federal UH Federal Justice Department office here in Boston,
the US Attorney's office, and there are a lot of
people who get indicted for some abuse UH and and
some of it is UH. They're all legitimate indictments. But
I'll tell you if you're talking about someone getting two
(32:11):
billion dollars that needs to be investigated. What was that
money for, where did it go, what was served? Uh?
And how much of it actually got you know, on
for the mission that it was.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Oh yeah, you're sounding crazy. You're sounding crazy right now, man,
I don't know. I'm very trumpy in there.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
No, no, no, no, I'm I'm I think at this
point it's time to figure out who got what and
uh and if if there's fraud, if there's if it
if it reaches criminality. That's why we have a justice. Robert.
Let's take a break. You and I will come back
and we'll wrap this up. If someone like to jump
on board and say hi to David Urban. If you've
(32:52):
seen him on CNN, you certainly know at this point
where he's coming from.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
He is a terrific spokesperson for the cause that many
of you support. Six two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine, three ten thirty back right after this.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World
night Side Studios on w b Z the news radio.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
My guest is David Urban. He is the newest director
of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate.
He's also a CNN contributor and a I'm going to
say Republican, David Urban, I assume.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yeah, Dan absolutely been a Republican, been a Republican for
for a long long time. Dan.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
So let me let me introduce you to another guy
named Dave. He's a listener, regular listener in San Antonio, Texas.
And I'm going to sneak him in here. David san Antonio,
say ahead to David Irban, Go ahead, Dave.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
How are you doing? I uh, I agree with a
lot of works, say and uh and and those So
Donald Trump did say those social.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Security checks were being cashed, that was elderly peaked.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
Some of them.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
I don't listen. I'm sure some of them probably were.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, I don't think there were too many people over
one hundred and twenty years of age are cash and
social scurity tech stage.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Well, listen, if they are cashing, I want to lie
in that where they live.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
And what they're doing, yes, sir, absolutely. Or if someone
has continued to accept cash checks that were made out
to their grandfather or their great grandmother, that's criminality, folks.
I was I did not realize this. But my understanding
and I could be wrong here, Dave, either one of
you can respond to this. My understanding is that funeral
(34:36):
home directors are obligated. Someone told me to notify so
Security of the passing of an individual.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Yeah, so I know that first hit. Unfortunately, my mother
passed away last year, and one of the things they
do is they fill out the paperwork and they send
it in.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Yeah. I probably did that for my own parents, but
but I had forgotten it. And of course that is
the way in which the flow check should stop, so I.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
Should it should But again, they stopped my wife's check
immediately when she died.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Okay, so, but she could be still on that list,
you know, on the Social Security list. They need to
clean these lists as well. Then there's some housekeeping as well.
I've noticed another one here from the Department of Government
Deficiency Weekly credit Card Update. I guess they have. They
have basically canceled a hundred or deactivated one hundred and
(35:31):
forty six thousand credit cards government credit cards that are activated.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
I mean, so there's there's yeah there. Listen again, the
federal workforce. There are lots of good people who work
for the federal government. Right, there are lots of good people,
but then there's also there's also people who probably aren't
up the standard. And unfortunately, the way the civil service
system is designed, it's that you know, you can't it's
(35:56):
it's like your tenured. Once you're employed, it is very
very very very difficult to fire somebody, even for cause.
And so unfortunately, what's happening in the current Doge movement
is the only people you can really get rid of
in the federal employment system are what are deemed probationary employees,
So people who are been hired recently. When I mean recently,
(36:16):
it could be two or three years they've been hired,
and so you could still terminate those people pretty easily,
and that's what's happening, and unfortunately, some good people are
being let go because that is the only way to
call the herd and this huge federal workforce is to
take these kind of measures which may not be you know,
it's maybe a little more meat clean than scalpel, but
the way the current system is designed, you'd have to
(36:39):
pass the legislation to reform the civil service system, which,
as you know, is that is not going to happen.
With sixty votes. You need sixty votes, right to get
it done. You're not going to get it through going
back to the Edward Kennedy Institute of Buy Partnership nature there. Right,
You've got to get people who are all rolled in
the same boat to agree that there are problems that
any time you go to try to change a system
(37:00):
like that, that's that's that big. You're gonna have lots
of pushback from afts, me and others who are you know,
who have have you know, a vested interest in it,
and so unfortunately Trump administration has left to do this
with a meat clean rather than the scalpel.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
So all right, David san Antonio, thanks to check it in.
David against the Dave, I'm up against the ten o'clock news,
So I got to let you go. But I appreciate
your call very much. You can explain that to him, okay,
and Dave Urban, David Urban, thank you very much. I
thoroughly enjoyed the hour. The hour flu Yeah, I suspect
we have a lot of mutual friends in our in
(37:34):
a comparative rolodex is Okay, if you.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Still have a role, have me back on we will well,
we'll talk some more.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I got your number, and we'll as long as c
and then we'll let you come back on. I'll have
you back. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
I really enjoyed the hour, Dave David, thank you.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
All Right, everyone here comes to ten o'clock News. We're
going to be back, going to talk about energy prices
in Massachusetts.
He's night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, Dan Watkins. We are going into
at nine o'clock hour, and I'd like to introduce you
to the newest member of the Board of Directors at
the Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, David Urban. David
Urban is someone who you may have seen on CNN.
(00:28):
He is a commentator on CNN and I think he's
just gotten off a plane somewhere, I believe in Washington. David,
how are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I'm good, Dan, How are you? I mean Philadelphia today.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Philadelphia, Washington, they all look the same.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I hope you Hilly, New York, Boston, and he kind
of you know, I know, I know the sports teams
are different, but it all blends together after a while.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It certainly does. You can always just ride the Essella sometimes,
and that's just as quick as the airplanes, that's for sure.
So first of all, I wanted to do to the audience.
I know that you're on CNN and you've been very
much involved in politics, and I want to talk about
the Kennedy Institute and really a good or a good
(01:12):
wonderful organization, which is a very bipartisan board of directors,
which which is interesting and and I think commendable. Just
a little bit of background yourself. You're a West Point graduate,
and you have your law degree from Temple, and you
have a master's degree from University of Pennsylvania. You served
(01:33):
in the Gulf War, Bronze Star recipient in the in
the Gulf War, and spent obviously the requisite five years
of active duty military service after after your graduation. Uh So,
congratulations on those accomplishments. Let's talk about the Edward and
Kennedy Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. I actually had
(01:57):
the pleasure in honor of moderating a conversation with Natan
Sharansky there several years ago. That room is beautiful. I
assume you have already physically been to the.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
It's a great space, it's a great building. It's a
great space, a great organization, and I'm really proud to
be proud to be associated with and on the board now.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
It's interesting because the board, I think it has seventeen
members at this point, including the UMass Boston president, but
also more importantly, several former senators and political leaders, both
Republicans and Democrats, it's a very balanced represent representation. I
(02:43):
looked at the board today and I was very pleased
to see people who I know well, certainly former Congressman
Joe Kennedy, but also some of the representatives former US
Senators on both sides of the aisle. There's a real
effort there, it seems to me keep that Board of
directors balanced.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, so a lot of credit goes to Bruce and
the board. So what what you didn't get my my
lengthy bio was that a long time ago, I used
to work for a guy the name of Arlen Spector
Philadelphia who at Pennsylvanian, who was was kind of a curmudgeon, contrarian,
but but noted for his his his bipartisanship. And I
(03:26):
got to do a lot of work when my time
nineteen ninety seven to two thousand and two with Senator
Kennedy in his office. And so when I had the
opportunity to join the board, I jumped at it because
I think that that bipartisan nature, the bipartisanship that used
to exist in this Senate. Oops, sorry about that that
(03:48):
used to exist in the Senate is uh? I hope
you know, I hope Walking on no, no, no, But
that Byparson used to exist in the Senate is you know,
always always at risk of vanishing and disappearing, right, And
so I think there needs to be a real focus
on on making sure that that that that is not forgotten.
(04:11):
And Bruce and the and the team at the at
the Institute have done a nice job of putting some
programming together in the past, and it's something aboard which
I think really is focused on that. You know, Senator
Kennedy and my former boss, Senator Spector and Senator Hatch
and others back in the day used to work hand
and glove to get a lot of good things done.
(04:31):
And and as you know, in the Senate with a
fillbus or the sixty vote rule, the only way to
get anything done is to do it in a bipartisan manner.
You have to have support from Republicans, you have to
support from Democrats, and you have to come together. And
and today that may not be super popular, whether it's
Donald Trump or Joe Bidener, whomever's in the White House.
(04:52):
Consensus and and and and passing you know, legislation. Uh
is how this you know how the you remember the
old school house rock. I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill. Well,
you know, the world isn't done by eos. Normally, it's
done by legislation, and the only way that gets done
is by Democrats and Republicans working together. And I think
the Institute goes a long way and trying to advance
that and keep that front and center in people's minds.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I worked here as a TV reporter for thirty one
years for the CBS affiliate here in Boston, WBC TV,
and spent a lot of time with Senator Kennedy and
he was a very reasonable guy who you knew where
he stood on issues, but we we spent some time
(05:35):
together socially, and unlike Senator Warren, who is such an
ideal loogue here in Massachusetts. You know I'm serious when
I say that.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
No, No, I understand, No, it's just yeah, you can't,
you can't. You can't legislate from the ends, right, you
got to come in the middle.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
She's way out there, and she's never been on my
program and as an musicue, well yeah, he loss not mine,
but on your board. You know, Joe Kennedy is someone
who I get along with really well. I've had Patrick
Kennedy on this show talking about his recovery. Marty me
(06:12):
and the president of U MASS has been a friend
for a long time. Marsello Sarezo Rosco at U MASS
Boston as a as a great friend. I was at
a dinner with Chris Sanuda on Saturday night. Obviously his brother,
former Senator John Sanunu is on and then UH many
many of the others I've interviewed along the way. UH
(06:34):
and I had the chair of your board on here recently.
It's it's a very different feel from the from the
Kennedy Library. They do the Profile Encourage Award every year,
and whenever they give it to a Republican it's because
the Republican is strayed from Republican orthodoxy, you know, you
(06:56):
know Dick Cheney, who would be would be live, would
from from the Kennedy Library. It's it's a very different feel, and.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I hope that I think, you know, I think I
think the missions, I think the missions are a little
different as well, though. Yeah, right between the Institute and
in the library.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
But at the same time, when you talk about President
Kennedy's all too short time in the White House, I
was very close, very very close for many many years
with a guy named Dave Powers, who was his right
hand guy. If you've you know, read the history of
the Kennedy campaigns, Dave Powers and Billy Sutton were there
(07:37):
when he ran for Congress, and Dave Powers was with
him every day until November twenty second, nineteen sixty three.
So it's it's it's just it's very it's very interesting.
My guest is David Irbin. I want to talk to
you about being a commentator on CNN, and sure, you're
in a minority position of CNN. I don't know how
(07:58):
many my listeners will recognize you from CNN, but UH,
to be really honest with you, but but we'll we'll
talk about that. I also want to talk about what's
going on with the Trump administration because uh, and and
I've been critical of the Trump administration. I just think
that they're maybe biting off a little bit more than
(08:18):
they can chew. I suspect you're going to disagree with
me on some of this, but I think the royal
of the stock market, there may be some areas where
we agree on not that. Okay, I'm not a Republican,
David Urban, Yeah, I'm a conservative. I'm a conservative and Uh, okay,
good good place for me. Yeah, well that's it, you know.
(08:40):
And I and I have a lot of friends on
both sides of the aisle, and uh, as I say,
we should have a good conversation, and I'm going to
get some of my listeners involved here as well. My
guest is David Irban. He is the newest director at
the Ted Senator Edward Kennedy uh Institute for the US Senate,
a fabulous institutution out on Columbia Point, right next to
(09:02):
the JFK. Kennedy Library Kennedy Presidential Library. I would recommend
that you make a day of it and visit both
both locations because they are both wonderful, you know, wonderful
institutions in our community, memorializing the political history of the
twentieth century and with Senator Kennedy's case, into the twenty
(09:26):
first century. We're back with David Urban. If you'd like
to call and ask him anything about what it's like
behind the scenes at CNN, You're more than welcome to
do that. We'll talk a little politics and talk some
issues as well. Back on Night Side with David Urban.
Coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Now, back to Dan Ray Live from the window World
to night Side Studios. On WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
We're talking with David Urban. He's the newest most recently
elected nominated member of the Edward M. Kennedy isitude for
the United States Senate. But you have had besides the
military career, you have been an early supporter of Donald Trump,
going back I guess to twenty fifteen, twenty and sixteen. Uh.
(10:14):
And you also are a regular contributor on CNN. What's
that likes the panel? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Okay, well usually usually, as you point out, usually the
conservative on the panel. Look, I'm grateful that the seeing
the folks at CNN give me the time to get
on there and trying to make you know, trying to
make my base. I think it's a you know what,
what I think Americans want to see is kind of
a marketplace of ideas. They'd like to hear both sides.
(10:48):
They don't want to see Jerry Springer with you know,
people arguing and yelling at each other. I think constructive
informative debate is helpful public in public discourse, in the
public square. That much more on on many shows, you
can tune in and get your your bias affirmed on
whatever network you'd like. But I think CNN of the
(11:08):
at least makes an effort right and trying to kind
of be kind of down the middle on on on
on these things. It gives myself and others, other conservative
and Republicans and opportunity to go on there and make
the case. Judging by the by Twitter feed, I must.
I don't think I do a very good job most
of the time because a lot of the people don't
(11:30):
seem convinced. But I try to be respectful and and
present the other side. I'm hopeful at some point some
people the message gets through, because I think it's important.
It's important to here here from disparate views and and
uh and kick it around. You know you you're you
pointed out earlier about President Kennedy. You know, President John F.
(11:51):
Kennedy couldn't get elected in today's Republic, I mean today's
Democratic Party, right it is. It's a different place. I mean,
if you look at talk about Joe Kennedy. I have
great deal of respect for Joe Kennedy, and and he
lost in Massachusetts because he wasn't liberal enough, you know,
and and and you know there is if you look
and you know, I am friends with Kim Ryan Democrat,
(12:14):
Tim Ryan, who great congressman from you know, from Ohio
with Kurston, Cinema of Joe Mansion, with a lot of
common sense Democrats, and and you know, they're kind of
leaving the party. They left the Senate, they're leaving the party.
They lose in primaries, and I'm fearful that that middle
and both parties. You know, there's there's not many quote
(12:35):
unquote moderate Northeast Republicans anymore like there used to be.
John Hines and Ile Inspector and others, John Chafey, you know,
just to name a few, dwindled away as well. And
the party's kind of gone to there there there there,
they're neutral corners to you know, fight for another round.
But I think America served best by by that middle right.
(12:58):
And unfortunately, what we have every ten years a census,
and then you have a redistricting process by which congressional
seats are drawn safer and safer in America. So have
the four hundred and thirty five members of Congress, you
have roughly, you know, thirty thirty five seats that are
competitive maybe out of four hundred and those in the Congress,
then you are more afraid of losing in a primary
(13:20):
than you are in a general election. So that doesn't
really help, you know, bipartisanship if you are if you're
more afraid of losing in a primary than you are
and signing onto legislation with a you know, with somebody
in a different party, that may be a good piece
of legislation, because you fear getting primaried. That's not good
for America. So we have to figure that out. We
(13:40):
have to figure out what we do and how we
address that. Because those congressmen then grow up to the senators, right,
those those partisan congressmen grow up the centers, and they're
tempered somewhat by the nature of their state. So you know,
you get in these big states and may have you know,
a little bit more of a blue tint to that,
and the senators become purple because because they have to survive,
I represent their their constituency.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So well, we started here in Massachusetts, not only in
the Kennedy market fight. You know, Joe Kennedy, in my opinion,
is a liberal Democrat, and it was basically the progressives
on the far end of that party who turned against him,
uh and re elected you know, Senator Marquee, who's also
a friend of mine. But in the Democratic side, what
(14:26):
happened to Congressman Mike Capauana up here shortly after what
happened to Murphy in New York. He just was blindsided
in the primary. This twenty years of his experience in Congress.
Uh And certainly there were times when Mike Capajuana was
my friend, fire breathing liberal. I mean, you didn't want
to get into an argument Mike Capawana because sharp as
(14:47):
attack and and and very committed to his views. What
I do on my show, David is I tried to
have both sides. I'm competing every night from eight to midnight,
not only again at CNN, but I'm competing against Fox.
And there are a lot of people who like call it.
They like to sit in their silos, whether it's a
Fox silence.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Well and also and also people are getting their news
in different places. Right, people are getting the news on TikTok,
on Twitter, on their on substack. Right, people are consuming
news differently these days. Radio talk radio is still very popular,
fortunately for you. But the way that news is assimilated
and you know, when people when the President Trump did
(15:30):
his you know, address to Congress the other night. Nobody
probably watched it for the entire you know, hour and
thirty minutes, but people consumed it and snippets here and
there and so other than you and myself and maybe
some of your listeners, right, maybe listen to the whole thing.
But most people today just get little sound bites and
they make their decisions based upon snippets of what they
(15:53):
see and hear, but not they don't consume, you know,
five thousand word Nobody writes five thousand word articles anymore.
Nobod writes big articles anymore. Anywhere. You don't see that
newspapers are dying. And it's it's really interesting how I
don't want to say democratized, but how democratized news has become.
And the interesting part is the velocity at which it travels. Right,
(16:16):
And so when you know, you said you're a reporter
for a very long time. You know, you used to
be able to work on a story for a while.
Now it's the the urge is to get it out quickly.
You may not be one hundred percent correct, but to
get it out quickly, to be first rather than invest.
And it's just it's very interesting. I see this a
lot and you kind of have to. You have to
be very careful when you consume and what you consume,
(16:37):
and if you're not educated about it, you know, you
see so much misinformation out there. I think that's a
real challenge for for everybody, everybody is interested in the
political process.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yeah, I asked listeners who will call and they'll say
something that is that's insane or crazy, and I will say, simply,
where'd you see that? You know? And I show it
on Twitter, uh or and it's like, oh, well, that's
a good source. And I have most trouble with the
people on the far right and the far left, which
(17:10):
I'm sure you probably do as well. And what I'm
trying to do is make people if possible. I want
my ten to invite as many people as possible. I
had an email exchange today with a guy up in
New Hampshire who is very far right wing, and he
was upset that I was a matter of fact, I
can't find it real quickly. I should have had it
(17:31):
in my hand available. But he was upset that I
had told him not to say certain things. He would
call up and say crazy things and I'd say, that's
not true. Well, that's my opinion and say, well, you
could have your opinion, you can't have your facts and
you don't have right to facts. And anyway, let's do this.
We got to take a break for ninth third here,
I want to open this conversation up to our audience
(17:54):
and give them a chance to talk with you. I
maybe will take one more or just a few minutes
and talk about what's going on in Washington, d C.
Obviously we've watched the stock market the last few days
really take a dive. I was appalled at what went
on in the Oval office the other day with Zelinsky
(18:17):
and I just so you could pull your thoughts together.
I attribute that to some really bad staff work on
behalf of the Trump staff. Those documents should have been signed, sealed,
and delivered before Zolensky set foot in the White House,
and I don't think that helped the president. So I
just would love I know that you're a big supporter,
(18:39):
and I want to get your point of view, and
I want my to incorporate the audience as well. My
guest David Rban he's the managing director of a group
called BGR, the BGR Group. I didn't look that up.
Is that a financial organization political organization.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Because no, no, it's a it's a bipartisan by cameral lobbying
government affairs shop in Washington and the third or fourth
largest in Washington, depending on on on how you measure things.
And wait when the snapshots taken. So founded by a
couple of gentlemen. The initials used to be Haley Barber
from who was the governor of Mississippi and the former
(19:15):
chairman of rn C and h the founder of the
Republican Governors Association, who's one heck of a guy. Ed
Rodgers another just outstanding individual working in the Reagan White House,
and uh and Landy Griffin and they were all friends
and started this firm. Uh, you know, many years ago,
so still going strong.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
And I know I know your roots are in Western Pennsylvania.
And when he's talk about the Reagan White House, I
interviewed President Reagan many many times. Uh, and uh was
a huge Ronald Reagan fan. Okay, Uh, did you happen
to know Frank Donatelli, who was another Western Pennsylvania guy.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
I sure do, I do know, Frank. I am. It's
by Pittsburgh's like Boston, right everybody there?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah, absolutely, well, Frank Frank and I. We're we're going
friends for over fifty years, so that's that'll tell you
a little bit about where I come from. We've been
friends since we both were in law school. Actually different
law schools, but both when we were in law school. But
take it break my guess. David Urban, Managing director of
BGR Group in Washington, also the newest member of the
(20:25):
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, the
newest member of the board of directors, very active in
the Trump campaign, and also a CNN commentator. So he
is an individual who has lots of contacts throughout the
political system. If you want to ask a question, throw
the numbers out six one, seven, four ten thirty six
(20:45):
one seven, nine, three thirty. My name is Dan Ray.
This is Nightside, be Back talking politics with David Urban.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Here on Nightside night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
This is David Urban, a CNN contributor, but for our
purposes tonight, the newest board of directors of the Edward M.
Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. I know that you
have been with President Trump to thick and thin. We're
about sixty days into his second term. Boys, they're doing
(21:21):
a lot, are they. My opinion is they should slow
it down. That they're biting off more than they could chew.
So tell me why I'm wrong.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Yeah, listen, I think that they I think this administration
feels that they have a limited amount of time. They
have eighteen months for all intents and purposes, right to
get their agenda through. And every day that they're not
moving forward with something of the day that's lost and
(21:52):
you know they're not going to ever get back. You know,
this isn't you know Trump two point zero. It's not
just a redo of the first administration. It is a
completely divident different administration. I think that the you know,
they have the House and Senate actually kind of working together.
You saw, you know, we have this continuing resolution to
(22:13):
fund the government runs out of money, right, they kicked
the can down the road. I think Republic has made
a mistake. I think Republic has made a mistake in
the last administration by not making not passing spending bills
during the Biden administration. If I were the Speaker, I
would have I would have gotten these bills down and
got them off the desk, cleared the cleared the plate
for all these other all the other important thing issues
(22:34):
they're dealing with, like debt ceiling and tax increases and
the tax bill which is going to be coming up,
and and a school of other things. And so unfortunately
now they have to pass this continuing resolution to fund
the government for through it. You know, it expires and
on the fourteenth, but they're going to they will pass
this in the House and Senate, and they'll get it
and move on. They have to re revisit at some
(22:56):
point in the future. So I think that you know,
the agenda that the president's undertaking is aggressive, but you
know what's getting motion notices is really Elon Musk's doze
in them to reduce the size of government. Right, So,
as you and your listeners may know, a lot of
the people who have to implement these things, assistant secretaries,
(23:18):
deputy assistant secretaries, under secretaries, they haven't not only have
they not been named yet, but they're not even well
they're not sworn in. They haven't been sworn in, or
they haven't had their hearings that they A lot of
them haven't just been named. So a lot of these
agencies are pretty hollow still so a lot of this
thing is a lot of these things you're seeing are
kind of headline grabbing, but they're going to take some
time to get accomplished. So all the things that you're
(23:39):
saying on you know, the funding cuts and reductions in personnel,
they're going to be challenging courts. They may have to
have some legislative action to back them up. Some other
people are gonna have to get in place to actually
effectuate these because currently of acting you know, assistant secretaries
and deputies and secretary who may may not be up
(24:01):
for getting these things done. So I think moving with
alacrity is uh is a good thing. I don't think,
you know, on some things, I think it misfire clearly,
and there's been some reports that that those folks have
this reported things they have to go back and clean
it up. But I think the American people, I think
the American people are excited about change. They want Listen,
(24:22):
the government's too big. Whether you're Democrat or Republican, the
government's just too big. It's too it's too unwieldy. It
doesn't it's not responsive to people in you know, in Framingham.
They're not you know, they you may think that the
federal government's helpful, but it really is kind of MUCKs
up the work for a lot. You know. Being a
Republican and in the true sense of the word right,
(24:43):
you believe in limited government right in states, right, so
that the local governments, whether it's in Braintree or Wellesley
or Weston or Framingham or wherever where the Lesseners live,
they should have first bite at the apple and sixing problems.
Then the state should be the next the next kind
of level and find the federal government should be there
for you know, safe skies and defense and clean air,
clean water kind of things, and shouldn't be meddling in
(25:06):
all these kind of really local issues. And what the
Trump administration doing is trying to write that right size
of government that's been bloated for for generations, right and
trying to do it pretty quickly. So we'll see if
they're successful. I think the American people, if you look
at the just kind of snapshot polls, I think they're
pretty pretty pleased with that. But you know, you every
(25:28):
day things change, right that the stock market's kind of
taking a turn here because of tariffs, right, which are
not something that the President campaigned on. Super aggressively. He
mentioned that he's gonna he's gonna have tariffs and kind
of level the playing field with our economic competitors. But
now you know, the market has not viewed that favorably.
And we'll see if that's something that's can adjust. I
(25:50):
think the President thinks that he can have some There
might be some short term pain for longer term gain
in terms of reshoring American manufacturing and right sizing some
of those things. That we'll see how the market reacts,
and if it continues to react negatively, maybe the President
and the administration to rethink some of those things.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Yeah, so let's talk. I was on the Dog's website
today and one of the things that I'm looking for,
perhaps because of just my personality, I'm looking for real specificity. So,
for example, I noticed two things today which I don't
think my audience is aware of, but I just want
to mention them real quickly to make my point. Secretary
of Brook Brook Rawlins, she's the Secretary of Agriculture. She
(26:32):
canceled a six hundred thousand dollar grand to study menstrual
cycles in transgender men. Yeah, I mean, I mean, okay,
so that we can leave We could just leave that there,
and let's let that. Let that simmer, and then the
(26:53):
VA canceled a fifty six thousand dollars contract to water
eight plants for five years.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
This is I did see that. That was I did.
So those are the kind of thing great American people,
you know, who are struggling to pay their bills, right.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Yeah, yeah, but by the way, struggling to fill their
gas tanks. Yeah, hold on just one second. I want
to do the math for people.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
That's fourteen hundred dollars per plant per year, and Doe
says they will now water those plants free of charge.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
I made the vall water those plants free of charge.
I'm a little concerned about the the comments, and I'd
like to get your reaction to this and help me
out what the president when he's talked about, you know,
one hundred and I don't know, you know, fifty thirty
seven thousand people over the age of one hundred and
twenty whatever the number is that he talked about, who
(27:55):
are security rules. I understand that is indicative of them
an efficiency, but but I think that it's better to
deal on these specific concrete examples of absurdity because my
suspicion is that's probably a coding error. To be really
honest with you that, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
No, I think I think I think you're correct. I
think that's exactly what they found out right, Some of
these some of the three hundred year old people were
simply fat fingered and they weren't actually receiving benefits. There
were just people who were who didn't exist, and who's
whose you know, things were put in there. But listen,
you know you do here And I'm so that is
your point is well taken on me. We need to
(28:35):
make sure these things we we we attach real specific
issues and examples. Because one of the things that I
heard it on Musk say at a press conference was that,
you know, the Department of Treasury issues you know checks
without like a subject line. Right, there's no like the
checks just squad the door. No one really knows why
they're going, right, And so so so that part is
(28:57):
I think they really need to kind of understand there
should be you know, when it check goes out the
door from the US government, people should really be able
to track it and know what's going on. Right. The
fact that the Department of Defense can't pass it on
and I don't know if you've your viewers or you
have seen this in the last administration to sit down
John Stewart did with then the Deputy Secretary of Defense,
the number two persons at DoD where she kind of
(29:18):
laughed at John Stewart because he was saying, you know, look,
you guys are spending nine hundred billion dollars a year.
You can't you don't know where your tanks are. And
she's like, oh, she kind of laughed it off. And
and but that's serious. It's serious business. When when the
government's spending that much money, they should be able to
account for it. These are people listen when you know
Robert Kennedy Junior. I listened to him a couple of
(29:41):
lots during the debates, and he had pointed about interesting
statistic that some there was some the number he'd reference
to something like fifty six percent of Americans can't put
their hands on a thousand dollars tomorrow. If they woke
up and needed a thousand bucks, they don't have it.
And they're checking their savings account. They don't have a
thousand dollars liquid to go take care of their lives.
That statistic should be really, you know, troubling for for Americans,
(30:05):
because when you when the government is taking so much
of your money and your check engine comes on, it's
a crisis for your family. Maybe the government is getting
too much, right, Maybe we should let people keep more
of their paycheck. Maybe we should figure out how to
right size the government so they're not so big. And
I think that's what the Trump administration is trying to do.
And whether they're doing it, you know, a little too aggressively,
(30:27):
it'll all listen, the courts and the Congress, it'll come
out in the wash. I suspect that, as you said,
a lot of these specific things, while they're small, right,
they add up. And I suspect that, you know, there
will be some reduction, but a lot of things will
be restored because the courts won't let them go through
or the Congress won't let them go through the cuts.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Yeah, no, I hear that. But I do think that
the specificity of is what people can identify.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
With, and it makes it makes the point much more,
much more realistic, and it drives it home when you're
talking about you know, museums or in mole rats and
people spending money on silly things. Your your listeners and
viewers at home, and people think like, wow, what could
we do, what can we do in our community if
we had that money here and for and.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
For example one of them and then I got to
go to break here quickly. But one of them, I
think it was two billion dollars for the former Democratic
candidate for governor down in UH, down in Georgia Abrams, right, yes,
Stacy Abrams. Now I really want to see that. I
want to know what that What are we talking about there?
Speaker 3 (31:28):
The figure was monumental E that's money out of E
p A with the E p A shoved that out
the door. You you saw the one the Biden administration
officials said, it was like they're throwing gold bars off
the Titanic. Right. That doesn't that doesn't that doesn't make
that shouldn't make any American right feel comfortable with their government,
right and how they're how they're being good stewards of
(31:49):
your money.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Just so you know, I watched the indictments out of
our federal UH Federal Justice Department office here in Boston,
the US Attorney's office, and there are a lot of
people who get indicted for some abuse UH and and
some of it is UH. They're all legitimate indictments. But
I'll tell you if you're talking about someone getting two
(32:11):
billion dollars that needs to be investigated. What was that
money for, where did it go, what was served? Uh?
And how much of it actually got you know, on
for the mission that it was.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Oh yeah, you're sounding crazy. You're sounding crazy right now, man,
I don't know. I'm very trumpy in there.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
No, no, no, no, I'm I'm I think at this
point it's time to figure out who got what and
uh and if if there's fraud, if there's if it
if it reaches criminality. That's why we have a justice. Robert.
Let's take a break. You and I will come back
and we'll wrap this up. If someone like to jump
on board and say hi to David Urban. If you've
(32:52):
seen him on CNN, you certainly know at this point
where he's coming from.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
He is a terrific spokesperson for the cause that many
of you support. Six two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine, three ten thirty back right after this.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World
night Side Studios on w b Z the news radio.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
My guest is David Urban. He is the newest director
of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate.
He's also a CNN contributor and a I'm going to
say Republican, David Urban, I assume.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Yeah, Dan absolutely been a Republican, been a Republican for
for a long long time. Dan.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
So let me let me introduce you to another guy
named Dave. He's a listener, regular listener in San Antonio, Texas.
And I'm going to sneak him in here. David san Antonio,
say ahead to David Irban, Go ahead, Dave.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
How are you doing? I uh, I agree with a
lot of works, say and uh and and those So
Donald Trump did say those social.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Security checks were being cashed, that was elderly peaked.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
Some of them.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
I don't listen. I'm sure some of them probably were.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, I don't think there were too many people over
one hundred and twenty years of age are cash and
social scurity tech stage.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Well, listen, if they are cashing, I want to lie
in that where they live.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
And what they're doing, yes, sir, absolutely. Or if someone
has continued to accept cash checks that were made out
to their grandfather or their great grandmother, that's criminality, folks.
I was I did not realize this. But my understanding
and I could be wrong here, Dave, either one of
you can respond to this. My understanding is that funeral
(34:36):
home directors are obligated. Someone told me to notify so
Security of the passing of an individual.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Yeah, so I know that first hit. Unfortunately, my mother
passed away last year, and one of the things they
do is they fill out the paperwork and they send
it in.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Yeah. I probably did that for my own parents, but
but I had forgotten it. And of course that is
the way in which the flow check should stop, so I.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
Should it should But again, they stopped my wife's check
immediately when she died.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Okay, so, but she could be still on that list,
you know, on the Social Security list. They need to
clean these lists as well. Then there's some housekeeping as well.
I've noticed another one here from the Department of Government
Deficiency Weekly credit Card Update. I guess they have. They
have basically canceled a hundred or deactivated one hundred and
(35:31):
forty six thousand credit cards government credit cards that are activated.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
I mean, so there's there's yeah there. Listen again, the
federal workforce. There are lots of good people who work
for the federal government. Right, there are lots of good people,
but then there's also there's also people who probably aren't
up the standard. And unfortunately, the way the civil service
system is designed, it's that you know, you can't it's
(35:56):
it's like your tenured. Once you're employed, it is very
very very very difficult to fire somebody, even for cause.
And so unfortunately, what's happening in the current Doge movement
is the only people you can really get rid of
in the federal employment system are what are deemed probationary employees,
So people who are been hired recently. When I mean recently,
(36:16):
it could be two or three years they've been hired,
and so you could still terminate those people pretty easily,
and that's what's happening, and unfortunately, some good people are
being let go because that is the only way to
call the herd and this huge federal workforce is to
take these kind of measures which may not be you know,
it's maybe a little more meat clean than scalpel, but
the way the current system is designed, you'd have to
(36:39):
pass the legislation to reform the civil service system, which,
as you know, is that is not going to happen.
With sixty votes. You need sixty votes, right to get
it done. You're not going to get it through going
back to the Edward Kennedy Institute of Buy Partnership nature there. Right,
You've got to get people who are all rolled in
the same boat to agree that there are problems that
any time you go to try to change a system
(37:00):
like that, that's that's that big. You're gonna have lots
of pushback from afts, me and others who are you know,
who have have you know, a vested interest in it,
and so unfortunately Trump administration has left to do this
with a meat clean rather than the scalpel.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
So all right, David san Antonio, thanks to check it in.
David against the Dave, I'm up against the ten o'clock news,
So I got to let you go. But I appreciate
your call very much. You can explain that to him, okay,
and Dave Urban, David Urban, thank you very much. I
thoroughly enjoyed the hour. The hour flu Yeah, I suspect
we have a lot of mutual friends in our in
(37:34):
a comparative rolodex is Okay, if you.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Still have a role, have me back on we will well,
we'll talk some more.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I got your number, and we'll as long as c
and then we'll let you come back on. I'll have
you back. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
I really enjoyed the hour, Dave David, thank you.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
All Right, everyone here comes to ten o'clock News. We're
going to be back, going to talk about energy prices
in Massachusetts.
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