December 18, 2025 • 12 mins
In this episode, Jon Decker breaks down President Trump’s latest address on the U.S. economy, examining his policy priorities, economic messaging, and the broader political stakes. Decker also explores the contentious healthcare legislation debate and what it reveals about the current political landscape. Additionally, Jon discusses Dan Bongino's decision to leave the FBI and the implications for federal law enforcement, along with the latest developments in the ongoing Ukraine conflict and how foreign policy pressures intersect with domestic challenges.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the White House Briefing Room for Thursday, December eighteenth.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm John Decker.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
The President defends his handling of the economy and blames
Joe Biden for the nation's problems.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Eleven months ago.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I inherited a mess, and I'm fixing it.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
A small group of House Republicans sign a Democratic Discharge
petition to force a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies that
are set to soon expire. The Deputy Director of the FBI,
Dan Bongino, announces that he's leaving the administration, and Russian
President Vladimir Putin, in a speech, shows no signs of
(00:42):
wanting to end the war in Ukraine anytime soon. But
we begin this Thursday with President Trump's primetime speech, with
his approval ratings taking a dip and the economy showing
signs of weakness. The President addressed the nation Wednesday night,
touting his accomplishments in the first year of his second term.
(01:05):
Speaking from the Diplomatic Reception Room in the White House,
President Trump, in a primetime address, said his predecessor, President
Joe Biden, is to blame for the weaknesses in the
US economy. The President's speech was aimed at marking almost
a year in office and addressing mounting voter concerns about
(01:25):
rising prices. The president claimed he's brought down the prices
of products like eggs and Thanksgiving turkey, and he touted
legislation that extended tax cuts, boosted defense and border spending,
and reduced spending on domestic programs. The President touted his
strong border security policies, and he also promised a strong
(01:49):
economic rebound. In twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Good Night, after eleven months, our border is secure, inflation
has stopped, wages are up, prices are downstro America is respected,
and our country is back stronger than ever before. We're
poised for an economic boom the likes of which the
world has never seen. Now.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Inflation is below its pandemic highs, but prices for many
essentials have continued to rise, and inflation has remained above
the federal reserves two percent target. The President said his
tariff's policy, which he announced earlier this year and is
implemented on every one of America's trading partners, is working,
(02:35):
and he also announced a policy initiative. He announced a
tax free tariff rebate check for every American service member
think of this.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
One million, four hundred and fifty thousand military service members
will receive a special we call Warrior dividend before Christmas,
So Warriort Dividend. In honor of our nations founding in
seventeen seventy six, we are sending every soldier one thousand,
seven hundred and seventy six dollars. Think of that, and
(03:10):
the checks are already on the way.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
The President tuted deals that he's made with pharmaceutical companies
to offer some of their medications directly to consumers at
lower prices. He said he won structural changes in the
healthcare industry to overhaul how private insurance works with the
aim of decreasing costs for all consumers. Wednesday Night's address
(03:34):
was delivered at a crucial time for the president. His
public opinion polls have dipped and the latest jobs numbers
show weaknesses in the US labor market. The unemployment rate
in November hit four point six percent, a four year high,
and the president's staff has pushed for him to pivot
more to the economy and focus on the concerns that
(03:58):
Americans have about their finances. But the President said his
America First policies are indeed working for.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
The first time in fifty years. We are now seeing
reverse migration as migrants go back home, leaving more housing
and more jobs for Americans. In the year before my election,
all net creation of jobs was going to foreign migrants.
Since I took office, one hundred percent of all net
(04:27):
job creation has gone to American born citizens.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Now, it should come as no surprise that Democrats criticize
the President's primetime address on ms NOW. House Minority Leader
Hakim Jeffries said the President Trump gave what he called
an unhinged speech that was, of course, untethered from reality
and truth. He added that Donald Trump has made things
(04:53):
worse for the American people, and he cited as tariffs
for the reason for those rising p The President ended
his speech by looking ahead to what will happen in
twenty twenty six, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of
the Declaration of Independence and also America's hosting the FIFA
World Cup competition. The President will next take his message
(05:17):
out on the road, aiming to keep control of Congress.
He'll be on the road Friday when he'll visit Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, a battleground state. Senior White House officials have
told me that this issue of affordability will be an
important one for both parties in the midterms next November.
(05:37):
Also on Wednesday, more focus on Obamacare, a small group
of moderate House Republicans join with Democrats to force a
vote on a proposal to extend those Enhanced Affordable Care
Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end
of this year. House Republican leaders still held vote on
(06:00):
Wednesday on a modest healthcare bill that Speaker Mike Johnson
unveiled last week, but it's unclear whether the Senate will
take up that bill that was passed in the House
yesterday with those modest healthcare proposals next year, because it
does not seem like you would have the support of
the necessary sixty votes in the US Senate. On Wednesday morning,
(06:23):
four House Republicans enough to put that discharged petition on
the floor of the House join the effort to have
a vote on extending those Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies
that are due to expire on December thirty. First, those
four House Republicans wanted to have a vote immediately concerning
(06:45):
their proposal, which would extend by three years the extension
of those Affordable Care Act subsidies, but Republicans closed a
vote on a procedural matter earlier than usual, and that
prevented Democrats and those four House Republicans from prevailing. Now,
those four House Republicans represent swing districts, competitive districts that
(07:08):
have been pushing to extend the subsidies for months. They're
concerned not only about rising healthcare costs affecting their constituents,
they're also concerned about their re election prospects. But most
Republicans are against the extension of those subsidies. They contend
that the subsidies are no longer necessary, that they're vulnerable
(07:30):
to fraud, and that they serve a relatively small share
of Americans, only about seven percent. But even Republicans who
voted for that paar down Republican bill that passed the
House on Wednesday are blaming their leadership. They're blaming House
Speaker Mike Johnson for failing to recognize the political consequences
(07:53):
of doing nothing regarding those expiring Obamacare subsidies. Congressman Ship Roy,
a Republican from Texas, is one example of that. He
voted against extending the subsidies, but he also said that
Johnson's healthcare bill was, in his words, milk toast garbage. Now,
even if the House passes that extension in the new year,
(08:15):
and that's when that vote will likely take place, the
policy would probably not receive the necessary sixty votes in
the Senate to make it law. Senator Lisa Murkowski, who
voted for the Democratic bill last week, said she hoped
that the bill could put pressure on the Senate if
it passes in the House, but Senate Majority Leader John
(08:37):
Thune he appears unlikely to take up the bill at
all unless the House passed it with overwhelming support, but
it's likely going to be largely along party lines. Also
on Wednesday, a personnel move announced by the administration. Dan
Bongino said on Wednesday that he was stepping down as
(08:58):
the deputy director at the FBI after a nine month
tenure in which he clashed with both Justice Department leadership,
including Attorney General Pambondi, and the FBI's workforce. Bongino said
in a social media post that he'll leave in January.
He thanked President Trump for the opportunity to serve with purpose,
(09:19):
as he called it, and earlier on Wednesday, the President
told reporters that Bongino wanted to return to his prior
job as a popular conservative podcaster now. Bongino, who joined
the government in March, was the first deputy director of
the FBI who had never been a career agent. His
(09:40):
previous law enforcement experience included stints with the New York
City Police Department and the Secret Service, But during his tenure,
Bongino and Attorney General Pambondi often but it hits. They
butted heads over the Department of Justice decision this past
summer not to release additional materials from the FBI investigation
(10:01):
into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi, in a social
media post on Wednesday, said Americans are safer because of
Bongino's service. Finally, on Wednesday, we heard from Russian President
Vladimir Putin concerning his latest views on the war in Ukraine. Putin,
in a speech to defense ministry officials in Moscow, warned
(10:24):
that Russia would achieve its goals in Ukraine either through
diplomacy or on the battlefield, and his comments came just
days after US and European officials met with Ukrainian President
Vladimir Zelenski in Berlin to try to hammer out a
deal to end the nearly four years of war, but
(10:45):
Putin's speech on Wednesday signaled that the Trump administration's push
to clinch at peace deal has not yet changed the
Kremlins War aims concerning Ukraine. Putin, over the course of
the past few months, has indeed engaged in President In
Trump's peace process. Remember President Trump and President Putin met
in mid August in Anchorage, Alaska. But over the course
(11:09):
of the past few months, Putin has stopped short of
making any meaningful concessions, and even President Trump earlier this
week said that the biggest issue at the moment in
terms of ending the war in Ukraine was getting Russia
and Ukraine on the same page regarding peace talks. As
for the President's schedule for Thursday, it's a busy day
(11:32):
for the president. At one thirty PM, the President will
sign an executive order in the Oval Office. At four fifteen,
the President will participate in a Christmas reception. At six
o'clock in the evening.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
The President will sign the National Defense Authorization Act that
will be in the Oval Office that will likely be
open to the press. And then at eight point fifteen,
the President and the First Lady will participate in a
nun O Christmas reception in the Grand Foyer in the
White House. That's the White House Briefing Room for Thursday,
(12:07):
December eighteenth.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I'm John Decker. Have a good one.
Welcome to the White House Briefing Room for Thursday, December eighteenth.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm John Decker.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
The President defends his handling of the economy and blames
Joe Biden for the nation's problems.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Eleven months ago.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I inherited a mess, and I'm fixing it.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
A small group of House Republicans sign a Democratic Discharge
petition to force a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies that
are set to soon expire. The Deputy Director of the FBI,
Dan Bongino, announces that he's leaving the administration, and Russian
President Vladimir Putin, in a speech, shows no signs of
(00:42):
wanting to end the war in Ukraine anytime soon. But
we begin this Thursday with President Trump's primetime speech, with
his approval ratings taking a dip and the economy showing
signs of weakness. The President addressed the nation Wednesday night,
touting his accomplishments in the first year of his second term.
(01:05):
Speaking from the Diplomatic Reception Room in the White House,
President Trump, in a primetime address, said his predecessor, President
Joe Biden, is to blame for the weaknesses in the
US economy. The President's speech was aimed at marking almost
a year in office and addressing mounting voter concerns about
(01:25):
rising prices. The president claimed he's brought down the prices
of products like eggs and Thanksgiving turkey, and he touted
legislation that extended tax cuts, boosted defense and border spending,
and reduced spending on domestic programs. The President touted his
strong border security policies, and he also promised a strong
(01:49):
economic rebound. In twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Good Night, after eleven months, our border is secure, inflation
has stopped, wages are up, prices are downstro America is respected,
and our country is back stronger than ever before. We're
poised for an economic boom the likes of which the
world has never seen. Now.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Inflation is below its pandemic highs, but prices for many
essentials have continued to rise, and inflation has remained above
the federal reserves two percent target. The President said his
tariff's policy, which he announced earlier this year and is
implemented on every one of America's trading partners, is working,
(02:35):
and he also announced a policy initiative. He announced a
tax free tariff rebate check for every American service member
think of this.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
One million, four hundred and fifty thousand military service members
will receive a special we call Warrior dividend before Christmas,
So Warriort Dividend. In honor of our nations founding in
seventeen seventy six, we are sending every soldier one thousand,
seven hundred and seventy six dollars. Think of that, and
(03:10):
the checks are already on the way.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
The President tuted deals that he's made with pharmaceutical companies
to offer some of their medications directly to consumers at
lower prices. He said he won structural changes in the
healthcare industry to overhaul how private insurance works with the
aim of decreasing costs for all consumers. Wednesday Night's address
(03:34):
was delivered at a crucial time for the president. His
public opinion polls have dipped and the latest jobs numbers
show weaknesses in the US labor market. The unemployment rate
in November hit four point six percent, a four year high,
and the president's staff has pushed for him to pivot
more to the economy and focus on the concerns that
(03:58):
Americans have about their finances. But the President said his
America First policies are indeed working for.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
The first time in fifty years. We are now seeing
reverse migration as migrants go back home, leaving more housing
and more jobs for Americans. In the year before my election,
all net creation of jobs was going to foreign migrants.
Since I took office, one hundred percent of all net
(04:27):
job creation has gone to American born citizens.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Now, it should come as no surprise that Democrats criticize
the President's primetime address on ms NOW. House Minority Leader
Hakim Jeffries said the President Trump gave what he called
an unhinged speech that was, of course, untethered from reality
and truth. He added that Donald Trump has made things
(04:53):
worse for the American people, and he cited as tariffs
for the reason for those rising p The President ended
his speech by looking ahead to what will happen in
twenty twenty six, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of
the Declaration of Independence and also America's hosting the FIFA
World Cup competition. The President will next take his message
(05:17):
out on the road, aiming to keep control of Congress.
He'll be on the road Friday when he'll visit Rocky Mount,
North Carolina, a battleground state. Senior White House officials have
told me that this issue of affordability will be an
important one for both parties in the midterms next November.
(05:37):
Also on Wednesday, more focus on Obamacare, a small group
of moderate House Republicans join with Democrats to force a
vote on a proposal to extend those Enhanced Affordable Care
Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end
of this year. House Republican leaders still held vote on
(06:00):
Wednesday on a modest healthcare bill that Speaker Mike Johnson
unveiled last week, but it's unclear whether the Senate will
take up that bill that was passed in the House
yesterday with those modest healthcare proposals next year, because it
does not seem like you would have the support of
the necessary sixty votes in the US Senate. On Wednesday morning,
(06:23):
four House Republicans enough to put that discharged petition on
the floor of the House join the effort to have
a vote on extending those Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies
that are due to expire on December thirty. First, those
four House Republicans wanted to have a vote immediately concerning
(06:45):
their proposal, which would extend by three years the extension
of those Affordable Care Act subsidies, but Republicans closed a
vote on a procedural matter earlier than usual, and that
prevented Democrats and those four House Republicans from prevailing. Now,
those four House Republicans represent swing districts, competitive districts that
(07:08):
have been pushing to extend the subsidies for months. They're
concerned not only about rising healthcare costs affecting their constituents,
they're also concerned about their re election prospects. But most
Republicans are against the extension of those subsidies. They contend
that the subsidies are no longer necessary, that they're vulnerable
(07:30):
to fraud, and that they serve a relatively small share
of Americans, only about seven percent. But even Republicans who
voted for that paar down Republican bill that passed the
House on Wednesday are blaming their leadership. They're blaming House
Speaker Mike Johnson for failing to recognize the political consequences
(07:53):
of doing nothing regarding those expiring Obamacare subsidies. Congressman Ship Roy,
a Republican from Texas, is one example of that. He
voted against extending the subsidies, but he also said that
Johnson's healthcare bill was, in his words, milk toast garbage. Now,
even if the House passes that extension in the new year,
(08:15):
and that's when that vote will likely take place, the
policy would probably not receive the necessary sixty votes in
the Senate to make it law. Senator Lisa Murkowski, who
voted for the Democratic bill last week, said she hoped
that the bill could put pressure on the Senate if
it passes in the House, but Senate Majority Leader John
(08:37):
Thune he appears unlikely to take up the bill at
all unless the House passed it with overwhelming support, but
it's likely going to be largely along party lines. Also
on Wednesday, a personnel move announced by the administration. Dan
Bongino said on Wednesday that he was stepping down as
(08:58):
the deputy director at the FBI after a nine month
tenure in which he clashed with both Justice Department leadership,
including Attorney General Pambondi, and the FBI's workforce. Bongino said
in a social media post that he'll leave in January.
He thanked President Trump for the opportunity to serve with purpose,
(09:19):
as he called it, and earlier on Wednesday, the President
told reporters that Bongino wanted to return to his prior
job as a popular conservative podcaster now. Bongino, who joined
the government in March, was the first deputy director of
the FBI who had never been a career agent. His
(09:40):
previous law enforcement experience included stints with the New York
City Police Department and the Secret Service, But during his tenure,
Bongino and Attorney General Pambondi often but it hits. They
butted heads over the Department of Justice decision this past
summer not to release additional materials from the FBI investigation
(10:01):
into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi, in a social
media post on Wednesday, said Americans are safer because of
Bongino's service. Finally, on Wednesday, we heard from Russian President
Vladimir Putin concerning his latest views on the war in Ukraine. Putin,
in a speech to defense ministry officials in Moscow, warned
(10:24):
that Russia would achieve its goals in Ukraine either through
diplomacy or on the battlefield, and his comments came just
days after US and European officials met with Ukrainian President
Vladimir Zelenski in Berlin to try to hammer out a
deal to end the nearly four years of war, but
(10:45):
Putin's speech on Wednesday signaled that the Trump administration's push
to clinch at peace deal has not yet changed the
Kremlins War aims concerning Ukraine. Putin, over the course of
the past few months, has indeed engaged in President In
Trump's peace process. Remember President Trump and President Putin met
in mid August in Anchorage, Alaska. But over the course
(11:09):
of the past few months, Putin has stopped short of
making any meaningful concessions, and even President Trump earlier this
week said that the biggest issue at the moment in
terms of ending the war in Ukraine was getting Russia
and Ukraine on the same page regarding peace talks. As
for the President's schedule for Thursday, it's a busy day
(11:32):
for the president. At one thirty PM, the President will
sign an executive order in the Oval Office. At four fifteen,
the President will participate in a Christmas reception. At six
o'clock in the evening.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
The President will sign the National Defense Authorization Act that
will be in the Oval Office that will likely be
open to the press. And then at eight point fifteen,
the President and the First Lady will participate in a
nun O Christmas reception in the Grand Foyer in the
White House. That's the White House Briefing Room for Thursday,
(12:07):
December eighteenth.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I'm John Decker. Have a good one.
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