Larry Mendte goes over the biggest news stories of the day including the Big Beautiful Bill still being deliberated over in the Senate before heading back to the House, the rent guidelines board approving a rent increase, and NJ transit fares going up 3%. Rich Lowry speaks about Zohran Mamdani’s Mayoral run and wonders if Donald Trump is actually a moderate. Ken Jenkins talks with Larry about the new summer schedule for Playland in Westchester County, and the renovations that they have made to update but also keep the nostaglic feel of the park.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I was a wet one today. If you're driving in
or you're about to drive in, realize there may be
some leftover showers this morning, even a storm this morning,
and then there's gonna be another thunderstorm tonight at five o'clock.
The nice thing is, so we have to get through this.
We have to get through this. Tomorrow there's gonna be
(00:20):
showers and thunderstorms as well. So we got a couple
of days of this. But the fourth of July weekend
looks pretty good. Thursday and Friday especially sunny, nice in
the eighties. So just make it through these couple of days.
But really be careful driving in this morning. In the
Big Three, well, believe it or not, voter drama, voter rama.
(00:45):
I like voter drama better. I actually like voter drama.
Voter rama in the US said, it is still going on.
It's been going on all night on amendment after amendment
in the big beautiful bill. Well that in the end
is expected to pass and go to the House. Well,
by the way, that's not a sure thing.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I don't think any of us can anticipate that it
will just flow through smoothly. So I am personally not
optimistic we'll have this fi.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
July for Yeah, we have the Senate proceedings up live
and we're watching it and we'll keep you updated and
if something big happens, we'll play it for you. Well,
the Rent Guidelines Board has approved a rent increase in
the city of three percent for one year leases four
and a half percent for two year leases. And nobody
is happy. Let's a waste of time. This is done
(01:37):
every year for no good.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
People are making.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Money, but we're not making more money. I look at
six hundred dollars a year more on a one year lease,
or nine hundred dollars more a year, and that means
what are we going to cut back on? Right there
are the tenants, the landlords, the building owners. They're not
happy either. They wanted six percent. Oh and by the way,
(02:02):
today Jersey transit fairs go up three percent. Oh, it's
going to be a burden my belts. Tite as it
is right now, and I can't even go another notch.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And got really have to decide if I'm going to
take transit again.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Everybody's still talking about Zora and Mom Donnie, and now
Democrats are saying he may show a path forward for
a lost Democratic Party. This is the identity crisis that
they have.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think it's just a collection of people that don't
like Trump right now.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Citizen journalist Jason Goodman, founder of crowd Source the News,
will be with us at eight oh five this morning.
We haven't talked with him since Mom Donnie's henchman tried
to intimidate him after he asked a couple of questions. Uh,
he've asked a couple of questions to the candidate for mayor.
Back well, I guess it was like six weeks ago,
a couple of months ago. Been back in March. Yeah,
(02:56):
we have to have him on more. He's really good
and he's he he will talk about all. I went
to his site and I saw he's reposting the mom
Donnie stuff. When the henchman went over to him and
he was great though, back off, back off. In the
Diddy trial, the jury is complaining to the judge about
Jurer number twenty five. Jury number twenty five happens to
(03:16):
be a scientist from Manhattan.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
This is someone who speaking sticking to the guns and
not agreeing with a lot of what the other jurors
are saying. That's the kind of person the defense wants,
so that's the last person they would want thrown off
a jury.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Peter Haralambus will have the latest on deliberations at seven
five and on Long Island, the drones will be out
in full force this fourth of July weekend after a
shark attack and several shark sightings.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
As soon as someone sees anything even questionable will have
it called into park operations utilizing lifeguards. Swimmers will be
removed from the water at that location.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Right, good idea. There have been ten shark attacks on
Long Island beaches in the last three years. Well, let's
get to the big beautiful bill. Look, I'm watching a
live feet of it, and there's Bernie Sanders all packed
up and going for a nap. They're all just the
senators are all just milling around right now. This is
(04:20):
such a baby fit by the Democrats. They're going to
keep putting up amendment after amendment after amendment to vote for,
just like they insisted that the whole bill be read.
That was Chucky Schumer who didn't stay for it. By
the way he left. He wasn't there when the bill
was being read. He just did it because he wants
to delay the bill they know it's going to happen.
(04:44):
Instead of just getting out of the way and letting
it happen, they're not going to They're gonna have this
little fit. They're gonna it's like a kid in a mall,
just laying on his back, kicking and screaming and yelling
because they know they can't stop this, so they just
want to slow it down. And you know why because
Donald Trump said he wants it on his desk by
(05:06):
July fourth. Now there's a couple important deadlines after the
July fourth weekend, including a huge tax hike that was
left like a bomb by the Democrats in one of
their huge expense of trillion dollar bills, and so they
put it. They didn't want to do it during the
(05:27):
Biden administration, and if he did win reelection, they wanted
to do it after his reelection and early in his term.
So they did it in July of twenty twenty five.
The biggest tax hike in American history is going to
happen unless this bill is passed and signed in time.
(05:48):
And the deadline that Donald Trump has set is July fourth,
and so the Democrats are doing everything. Remember it, remember it.
If this tax Sike goes through. Remember it was the
Democrats not only passed it with a majority, but then
they delayed and delayed and delayed to make sure it happened.
I don't know what they're going Maybe they're getting the
(06:09):
money personally, I don't know. I don't know why they're
so into this. But the Republicans are doing all they can.
It's going to pass fifty one to forty nine. That's
what's going to happen. Everybody knows that's what's going to happen.
At the very end of this, it's going to pass
without two votes. Tom till was from North Carolina Republican
(06:30):
who I don't know what he's doing, but he just
ended his career and then ran Paul. Then everybody kind
of forgives and then funny heat he gets no incoming
because it's like, oh, he's Rand Paul. He always does this.
He's very true to what he believes, and even the
Republicans are giving a break on that. But Eric Schmidt,
(06:52):
the Senator is excited about this because he knows it's
going to happen, and it'll probably try at least Bill
attempt to rush through through the House.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
I'm excited to move forward with this bill. I mean
it delivers on President Trump's campaign promises. I spend a
lot of time with them on the campaign trail. No
tax on tips, no tax on overtime, extending the largest
tax cut in American history for working families, securing the border.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Right, there's a lot of great things in this bill.
Is it a perfect bill? No? Is there such a
thing as a perfect bill. No, But it's a really
good bill. And they keep saying, oh, there's tax hikes
for the billionaires. Now everybody's going to get a tax hike.
And as you heard, there's going to be no more
taxes on Social Security. That's a huge thing. And there's
gonna be no more taxes on overtime, and there's gonna
(07:36):
be no more taxes on tips. For the working class.
That's enormous for guys that really just work for overtime
and then have a tax and sometimes you jump into
a higher tax bracket because of it. That's enormous. For
waitresses trying to feed a family, that's immense. And the
(07:57):
Democrats kicking and kicking and screen mean kicking and screaming
and keeping and screaming, say what about Medicaid? What about
Medicare you know who's getting kicked off Medicaid illegals? When
they keep throwing out this million, it's gonna be a
couple of million people. Yeah, they're all illegals. And you
know what else, If you're young and you can work
(08:18):
and you're taking Medicaid and you have no disability, they
want you to get a job. So you have to
prove that you work at least twenty hours a week
to get Medicaid. Does any of that doesn't that sound reasonable?
Does any of that sound insane to you? Does any
of that sound like we're they're ripping medicaid from Americans? No,
(08:40):
that's what's in the bill. But here's the other part.
There are some Republican House members that have to get
the bill next and they have to pass it that
aren't happy that Republicans in the Senate added more money.
These are budget hawks like Russ Fulcher from Idaho.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
For me and for a lot of others, this does
not keep the trajectory bent downward in terms of the spending,
then we're going to have a problem in passing that
through the House. This is not a simple process, and
the House version only passed by one vote.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, yeah, so it may have a problem. There's going
to be a lot of Donald Trump phone calls pressuring
people to get in line because they can't they cannot
lose a vote. And Fulture was a yes, and he
sounds like he's disappointed in what's coming his way. So
we'll keep watching it all day long. It's still on
(09:42):
right now with some very time. By this way, the
Senators look wide awake because they keep sleeping. They give
back to their cozy offices and sleeping those poor aids
and the Senate workers. Go to the iHeartRadio app now
and leave us a talk back. You could win a
limited edition Minty in the Morning t shirt if you're
a fan of its Always Sonny in Philadelphia may be surprised,
even disappointed that the actor and co creator wants to
(10:05):
change his name. We'll talk about that next, and now
let's get to Rich Lowry, editor in chief of the
National Review, was looking forward to talking to you, Rich,
and good morning, And I was looking forward to talking
to you because I wanted to hear your thoughts on
zorin Mom Donnie oh Man.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
You know, some of the last polling showed it was
consistent with an upset and sure enough it happened. You know,
this is the way it often goes. You have the
young guy who catches people's imagination, is very energetic, and
you have a more established candidate saying we can't risk
this young guy, and very often, especially in primaries, voters
(10:43):
tend to go with the young guy. He is so callo,
he's so far left that this stuff is so extreme.
He's going to be a disaster for the city. It
breaks my heart.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Callo is a perfect word to describe him. And he
sells a bill of goods. I like when Eric Adams
called them a snake oil salesman because none of the
things he's saying he's going to do does he have
the power to do. Yeah, so the media hasn't done
a great job of holding his feet to the fire
on that.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
No, but look, Eric Adams, he looks better than much
better than mom, Donnie. But he has a lot to
answer for here. If he weren't so ineffectual and corrupt,
he'd be winning a second term, you know, the second term,
the way Democrats always do. And who are mayors of
New York City instead said we keep staring down the
barrel of this guy. Yeah, but hocals not go and
(11:36):
go along with a lot of this stuff. It's it's
it's already it's ideas that already failed. There's nothing fresh
about them whatsoever. I mean, government run grocery stores is
something you know, tried in the Soviet Union. It's seventy
years ago and it didn't work. It doesn't work, So
it's it's insane. But unfortunately the broad theme of affordability
(11:57):
that does resonate with people. You're just talking about the
contention over rent increases. I think rents went up sixteen
percent across the city last year.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
That's just a crusher.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
And you need more houses, you need market solutions to it.
But he wants more socialism obviously.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
No, And we didn't even get a chance to talk
about some of the other problems with him, including the
anti semitism and him saying on one of his websites
that they're how bad it is, and how the fact
that they have to now get equality because of the
rich white neighborhoods have to share. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Yeah, Now he says, it's just the important part of that.
It's the first part, the rich, not the white. But
why did it include the white if the white wasn't important.
It's shameful, it's disgusting. If anyone did it in reverse,
they'd be laughed out of drummed out of public life.
And that's what he deserves too. But New York City
is a left wing city, especially you know, Democratic voters
(12:51):
in a primary. So this is what we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Right in the primary and the general election. I'm not
sure he can win. I really don't think he can
win because older of vders come out in mass and
moderates come out in mass and so I don't think
he attracts any votes from them. So I do want
to talk about something you wrote which was kind of
shocking to me. You see Donald Trump as a Republican moderate.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Yeah. I think within the Republican Party as he's redefined it,
he's smack in the middle. We saw it in the
debate over whether he should strike Iran, and he did.
I'm very grateful that he did. I think that was fantastic.
But you had the more isolation of saying this would
be a disaster, he shouldn't do it, and they had
more neocon types to use that over Warren phrase saying
(13:36):
well maybe should go for regime chains, and he goes
right down the middle. Right. We see it on immigration enforcement,
the folks on the right wanted to port everyone, no
matter where what they're doing or who they are, you know,
working on farms or whatnot. I tend to agree with them,
by the way, and Trump's like, no, let's do a
lot of deportations, but also let's listen to the business interest.
So again and again, this big, beautiful bill that's on
(13:58):
the floor of the Senate. Now everything he's kind of
right smack dab in the middle of the party.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Well, that's that's fascinating. That's a great point. But I
haven't ever thought of it that way. I didn't think
the attack on Iran was certainly a moderate position, but
I understand now the argument you're making that the America
First people were saying you shouldn't be going in there
at all. I don't think he made many Democrats happy
either when he did that.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
No Republican moderate I got in the middle of the
Republican party. And it's easy to you know, to not
realize this because he speaks immoderately right, So you know,
the all caps thry social points posts and whatnot or not,
you know, those that sort of thing Susan.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
Collins is doing.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Who is often described as a moderate, but she's not
a Republican motor. She's on the left of the Republican Party.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Let me tell you this too. I agree with you
completely to get rid of some of these federal buildings
that they have outlived their usage. They're not necessary anymore.
That was a great column, Thank you. Well.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Well, this is called brutalism. It's an architectural style that
was in vogue in the sixties and seventies. Not a
lot of good things came out of those decades. These
buildings are just horrific, just exposed concrete. They haven't They've
always been ugly, they always been hated by the public.
They haven't aged well, they're talking. They're falling apart, cost
massive amount of money just to maintain them. We're seeing
(15:21):
the FBI move out of their building, which by some
estimates is the ugliest building in America. We're seeing HUDs
going to move out of its building. There are several
more of these, but we should just get it's not
you know, I'm not a huge fan of bureaucracy, but
if federal workers are going to work in buildings, they
should be decent looking buildings. They shouldn't be an eye
sore to everyone walking by or driving by. So the
(15:42):
sooner we can blow these things up, the better.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Yeah, I agree with you. Well, you don't need to
build something that big. Half the people aren't showing up anyway.
Everybody's working from home these days, so it's just like
some of the buildings in the major cities, they're not
needed anymore.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Yeah, but again, you're gonna need some building, let's just
make it look pretty. Donald Trump had executive order to
that effect the first term. People are outraged by Biden
repealed it, and he's and he's reinstituted it now. But
if we're gonna build new buildings, let's just make them
make them look nice. That doesn't seem controversial.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Agreed. And I'm sure Donald Trump agrees with you. I'm
sure he can't wait to build some new buildings in Washington.
Maybe he'll wait till he leaves office so he can
profit from it. Thanks so much, Rich Lowry, good to
talk to you again. I'm really excited about talking to
this next guest. I haven't had a chance to talk
to Ken Jenkins yet, Westchester County executive since he won
the election and took over in January. Ken, before we
(16:39):
get to Playland Park, Congratulations, how's the job been so far?
Speaker 7 (16:44):
Well, well, first, Larry, thank you so much. I'm glad
to be with you in the morning. They need the morning.
And certainly it's been an exciting time. And again giving
all the challenges that are going on in Washington and
then trying to navigate through all these things, it it's
been fantastic and just to be able to have stability
and management, confidence and stability.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah, from everything I've heard, you've been doing a wonderful job.
And so let's talk about Playland Park. Talking about doing
a wonderful job. This is such an important part of
so many people's memories. I'm glad that it's going to
continue and it's going to thrive. Ken, do you have
memories of Playland Park?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
Oh? Absolutely, I mean, you know, growing up in the
Bronx and then let's say the county, we come up
to Playland at least once or twice during the year,
and certainly it is a memory maker for so many people.
I mean, the park is almost one hundred years old,
and again that needs is a lot of people around
that have Playland memories. We always have to have a joke.
(17:45):
No matter where you are in the country, you get
to see a Playland bumper sticker somewhere.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
You know, that's true, That is absolutely true. But this
Playland Park in twenty twenty five isn't like it hasn't
differed way so much that your memories aren't intact. But
there's some big changes, aren't there.
Speaker 7 (18:10):
Oh? No, absolutely, it's big changes. And again we know
that everything is heated up at at Playland Park this year.
And you know, we took back over the amusement park
from Standard Amusement in February of this year, so we've
been steadily moving on in the direction of restoring those memories,
getting things moving forward. We've invested from Westchester County over
(18:31):
one hundred and fifty million dollars over the past three
years into the park, so we're moving forward and getting
things going. So it's exciting. You know. We bought back
the fireworks, so that's starting on Friday. There is Friday,
February fourth, on Independence Date, so fourth of July we
have the fireworks and then every Friday that tradition has continued.
So again kitty Land is open. We have some of
(18:53):
the big park rives open, and then we continue to
move forward and try to make more things happen in
the magic of.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Play laffe I love of what you said a moment ago,
that you're modernizing it and you're doing all these new
things with it. You have to you have to stay
up with the times. But you want to make certain
that people's memories are intact, that there's enough of Playland
Park so that when people go back there they go, oh, yeah,
this is this is an important part of my childhood.
This is an important part of my child's childhood. So
(19:22):
that was important to you in going into this renovation.
Speaker 7 (19:24):
Right, oh, absolutely, And again, well, it was an agreement
that we added stated amusement. You know, the partnership broke up,
but that doesn't mean that Playland is not Playland. I
mean it is a beautiful, beautiful facility when people walk
in from its beginning a May twenty sixth and nineteen
twenty three, you'll be able to move forward and see
(19:45):
twenty eight I'm sorry to be able to look and
see those same memories, the same vision and view out
onto the Long Island sound from Playland beats, looking at
the iconic music talent looking at the colonnade and certainly
again the excitements back where you know, paying you know,
ten bucks, the parks. They could walk around the entire
parks for free, and if they decide to get on
(20:06):
some rides on the wishbands of fifteen dollars to ride
all day for free. So again, so fifteen dollars unlimited
rides of fifteen dollars ten bucks. And then there's so
many other things to do with all of our partners
on the boardwalk along Playland, Beach and the pool. It's
a beautiful investments that we've made in both of those.
The pools open, the beaches open, boardwalks open, the Westchest,
(20:29):
the Children's museum is anchoring at one end of the boardwalk,
the tiki bar and Beach experience at the other end
of the boardwalk. And then you can go inside and
walk around Playland, walk around the amusement area and decide
whether or not you want to get on some rides,
get some funnel cakes, the ice cream. I mean, you know,
all of the things are there. It's so exciting and
we're looking forward to everyone coming back.
Speaker 8 (20:50):
Through and so affordable that that's just incredible, and I
think The best part about going to Playland is now
as a parent or grandparent and bringing your child or
your grandchild. It's like you said, there's still those core
memories that are there and you can experience it now
through the younger people in your family.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
That is the best.
Speaker 8 (21:12):
Like you remember this, you remember that.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
And again, whether it's the historic rides like the Derby
Racer that's open. You know, we're still working hard and
getting back to the Dragon Coosa, but you know we
have Derby Racer, we have the Carousel, I mean those
are historic rides, the brand new rides, the dragon Nata
I mean, the old cars, the motor the ride motor cars.
So there's enough stuff for everyone to do. There's been
(21:37):
nothing but positive vibes when people come through. And again
the park is open again. We have twelve to ten
on the fourth of July and the fifth of July.
Every other day it's twelve to nine, so Wednesday through Sunday,
So Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And that's where
we're gonna keep working on right now and again twelve
(21:58):
to nine normally except when this week on the holiday
on the fourth of July, twelve to ten and certainly
twelve to ten on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Do you have something special plan for the fourth of July.
Speaker 7 (22:09):
We got DJ's in the park, you know, So we
have the DJ, we have coaster, our mascot there. We're
gonna have meat and greets. We have kids things happening
again with our they're for young folks and they're not
so young folks happening. We have DJs, we have bands
coming through. There's just so many things happening. And again
it's going to bring back all those memories for those
(22:30):
like you said it being a new grand parent myself,
you know, loving that opportunity, and I just keep getting
that feedback from everybody.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Hey, Ken, it sounds tremendous. Congratulations on the work you've
done with Playland Park. Congratulations on becoming the new county executive.
Hope to talk to you again.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
Love to do that. Thank you, and have a wonderful
day and a safe Fourth of July.
I was a wet one today. If you're driving in
or you're about to drive in, realize there may be
some leftover showers this morning, even a storm this morning,
and then there's gonna be another thunderstorm tonight at five o'clock.
The nice thing is, so we have to get through this.
We have to get through this. Tomorrow there's gonna be
(00:20):
showers and thunderstorms as well. So we got a couple
of days of this. But the fourth of July weekend
looks pretty good. Thursday and Friday especially sunny, nice in
the eighties. So just make it through these couple of days.
But really be careful driving in this morning. In the
Big Three, well, believe it or not, voter drama, voter rama.
(00:45):
I like voter drama better. I actually like voter drama.
Voter rama in the US said, it is still going on.
It's been going on all night on amendment after amendment
in the big beautiful bill. Well that in the end
is expected to pass and go to the House. Well,
by the way, that's not a sure thing.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I don't think any of us can anticipate that it
will just flow through smoothly. So I am personally not
optimistic we'll have this fi.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
July for Yeah, we have the Senate proceedings up live
and we're watching it and we'll keep you updated and
if something big happens, we'll play it for you. Well,
the Rent Guidelines Board has approved a rent increase in
the city of three percent for one year leases four
and a half percent for two year leases. And nobody
is happy. Let's a waste of time. This is done
(01:37):
every year for no good.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
People are making.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Money, but we're not making more money. I look at
six hundred dollars a year more on a one year lease,
or nine hundred dollars more a year, and that means
what are we going to cut back on? Right there
are the tenants, the landlords, the building owners. They're not
happy either. They wanted six percent. Oh and by the way,
(02:02):
today Jersey transit fairs go up three percent. Oh, it's
going to be a burden my belts. Tite as it
is right now, and I can't even go another notch.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And got really have to decide if I'm going to
take transit again.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Everybody's still talking about Zora and Mom Donnie, and now
Democrats are saying he may show a path forward for
a lost Democratic Party. This is the identity crisis that
they have.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think it's just a collection of people that don't
like Trump right now.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Citizen journalist Jason Goodman, founder of crowd Source the News,
will be with us at eight oh five this morning.
We haven't talked with him since Mom Donnie's henchman tried
to intimidate him after he asked a couple of questions. Uh,
he've asked a couple of questions to the candidate for mayor.
Back well, I guess it was like six weeks ago,
a couple of months ago. Been back in March. Yeah,
(02:56):
we have to have him on more. He's really good
and he's he he will talk about all. I went
to his site and I saw he's reposting the mom
Donnie stuff. When the henchman went over to him and
he was great though, back off, back off. In the
Diddy trial, the jury is complaining to the judge about
Jurer number twenty five. Jury number twenty five happens to
(03:16):
be a scientist from Manhattan.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
This is someone who speaking sticking to the guns and
not agreeing with a lot of what the other jurors
are saying. That's the kind of person the defense wants,
so that's the last person they would want thrown off
a jury.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Peter Haralambus will have the latest on deliberations at seven
five and on Long Island, the drones will be out
in full force this fourth of July weekend after a
shark attack and several shark sightings.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
As soon as someone sees anything even questionable will have
it called into park operations utilizing lifeguards. Swimmers will be
removed from the water at that location.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Right, good idea. There have been ten shark attacks on
Long Island beaches in the last three years. Well, let's
get to the big beautiful bill. Look, I'm watching a
live feet of it, and there's Bernie Sanders all packed
up and going for a nap. They're all just the
senators are all just milling around right now. This is
(04:20):
such a baby fit by the Democrats. They're going to
keep putting up amendment after amendment after amendment to vote for,
just like they insisted that the whole bill be read.
That was Chucky Schumer who didn't stay for it. By
the way he left. He wasn't there when the bill
was being read. He just did it because he wants
to delay the bill they know it's going to happen.
(04:44):
Instead of just getting out of the way and letting
it happen, they're not going to They're gonna have this
little fit. They're gonna it's like a kid in a mall,
just laying on his back, kicking and screaming and yelling
because they know they can't stop this, so they just
want to slow it down. And you know why because
Donald Trump said he wants it on his desk by
(05:06):
July fourth. Now there's a couple important deadlines after the
July fourth weekend, including a huge tax hike that was
left like a bomb by the Democrats in one of
their huge expense of trillion dollar bills, and so they
put it. They didn't want to do it during the
(05:27):
Biden administration, and if he did win reelection, they wanted
to do it after his reelection and early in his term.
So they did it in July of twenty twenty five.
The biggest tax hike in American history is going to
happen unless this bill is passed and signed in time.
(05:48):
And the deadline that Donald Trump has set is July fourth,
and so the Democrats are doing everything. Remember it, remember it.
If this tax Sike goes through. Remember it was the
Democrats not only passed it with a majority, but then
they delayed and delayed and delayed to make sure it happened.
I don't know what they're going Maybe they're getting the
(06:09):
money personally, I don't know. I don't know why they're
so into this. But the Republicans are doing all they can.
It's going to pass fifty one to forty nine. That's
what's going to happen. Everybody knows that's what's going to happen.
At the very end of this, it's going to pass
without two votes. Tom till was from North Carolina Republican
(06:30):
who I don't know what he's doing, but he just
ended his career and then ran Paul. Then everybody kind
of forgives and then funny heat he gets no incoming
because it's like, oh, he's Rand Paul. He always does this.
He's very true to what he believes, and even the
Republicans are giving a break on that. But Eric Schmidt,
(06:52):
the Senator is excited about this because he knows it's
going to happen, and it'll probably try at least Bill
attempt to rush through through the House.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
I'm excited to move forward with this bill. I mean
it delivers on President Trump's campaign promises. I spend a
lot of time with them on the campaign trail. No
tax on tips, no tax on overtime, extending the largest
tax cut in American history for working families, securing the border.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Right, there's a lot of great things in this bill.
Is it a perfect bill? No? Is there such a
thing as a perfect bill. No, But it's a really
good bill. And they keep saying, oh, there's tax hikes
for the billionaires. Now everybody's going to get a tax hike.
And as you heard, there's going to be no more
taxes on Social Security. That's a huge thing. And there's
gonna be no more taxes on overtime, and there's gonna
(07:36):
be no more taxes on tips. For the working class.
That's enormous for guys that really just work for overtime
and then have a tax and sometimes you jump into
a higher tax bracket because of it. That's enormous. For
waitresses trying to feed a family, that's immense. And the
(07:57):
Democrats kicking and kicking and screen mean kicking and screaming
and keeping and screaming, say what about Medicaid? What about
Medicare you know who's getting kicked off Medicaid illegals? When
they keep throwing out this million, it's gonna be a
couple of million people. Yeah, they're all illegals. And you
know what else, If you're young and you can work
(08:18):
and you're taking Medicaid and you have no disability, they
want you to get a job. So you have to
prove that you work at least twenty hours a week
to get Medicaid. Does any of that doesn't that sound reasonable?
Does any of that sound insane to you? Does any
of that sound like we're they're ripping medicaid from Americans? No,
(08:40):
that's what's in the bill. But here's the other part.
There are some Republican House members that have to get
the bill next and they have to pass it that
aren't happy that Republicans in the Senate added more money.
These are budget hawks like Russ Fulcher from Idaho.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
For me and for a lot of others, this does
not keep the trajectory bent downward in terms of the spending,
then we're going to have a problem in passing that
through the House. This is not a simple process, and
the House version only passed by one vote.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, yeah, so it may have a problem. There's going
to be a lot of Donald Trump phone calls pressuring
people to get in line because they can't they cannot
lose a vote. And Fulture was a yes, and he
sounds like he's disappointed in what's coming his way. So
we'll keep watching it all day long. It's still on
(09:42):
right now with some very time. By this way, the
Senators look wide awake because they keep sleeping. They give
back to their cozy offices and sleeping those poor aids
and the Senate workers. Go to the iHeartRadio app now
and leave us a talk back. You could win a
limited edition Minty in the Morning t shirt if you're
a fan of its Always Sonny in Philadelphia may be surprised,
even disappointed that the actor and co creator wants to
(10:05):
change his name. We'll talk about that next, and now
let's get to Rich Lowry, editor in chief of the
National Review, was looking forward to talking to you, Rich,
and good morning, And I was looking forward to talking
to you because I wanted to hear your thoughts on
zorin Mom Donnie oh Man.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
You know, some of the last polling showed it was
consistent with an upset and sure enough it happened. You know,
this is the way it often goes. You have the
young guy who catches people's imagination, is very energetic, and
you have a more established candidate saying we can't risk
this young guy, and very often, especially in primaries, voters
(10:43):
tend to go with the young guy. He is so callo,
he's so far left that this stuff is so extreme.
He's going to be a disaster for the city. It
breaks my heart.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Callo is a perfect word to describe him. And he
sells a bill of goods. I like when Eric Adams
called them a snake oil salesman because none of the
things he's saying he's going to do does he have
the power to do. Yeah, so the media hasn't done
a great job of holding his feet to the fire
on that.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
No, but look, Eric Adams, he looks better than much
better than mom, Donnie. But he has a lot to
answer for here. If he weren't so ineffectual and corrupt,
he'd be winning a second term, you know, the second term,
the way Democrats always do. And who are mayors of
New York City instead said we keep staring down the
barrel of this guy. Yeah, but hocals not go and
(11:36):
go along with a lot of this stuff. It's it's
it's already it's ideas that already failed. There's nothing fresh
about them whatsoever. I mean, government run grocery stores is
something you know, tried in the Soviet Union. It's seventy
years ago and it didn't work. It doesn't work, So
it's it's insane. But unfortunately the broad theme of affordability
(11:57):
that does resonate with people. You're just talking about the
contention over rent increases. I think rents went up sixteen
percent across the city last year.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
That's just a crusher.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
And you need more houses, you need market solutions to it.
But he wants more socialism obviously.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
No, And we didn't even get a chance to talk
about some of the other problems with him, including the
anti semitism and him saying on one of his websites
that they're how bad it is, and how the fact
that they have to now get equality because of the
rich white neighborhoods have to share. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Yeah, Now he says, it's just the important part of that.
It's the first part, the rich, not the white. But
why did it include the white if the white wasn't important.
It's shameful, it's disgusting. If anyone did it in reverse,
they'd be laughed out of drummed out of public life.
And that's what he deserves too. But New York City
is a left wing city, especially you know, Democratic voters
(12:51):
in a primary. So this is what we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Right in the primary and the general election. I'm not
sure he can win. I really don't think he can
win because older of vders come out in mass and
moderates come out in mass and so I don't think
he attracts any votes from them. So I do want
to talk about something you wrote which was kind of
shocking to me. You see Donald Trump as a Republican moderate.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Yeah. I think within the Republican Party as he's redefined it,
he's smack in the middle. We saw it in the
debate over whether he should strike Iran, and he did.
I'm very grateful that he did. I think that was fantastic.
But you had the more isolation of saying this would
be a disaster, he shouldn't do it, and they had
more neocon types to use that over Warren phrase saying
(13:36):
well maybe should go for regime chains, and he goes
right down the middle. Right. We see it on immigration enforcement,
the folks on the right wanted to port everyone, no
matter where what they're doing or who they are, you know,
working on farms or whatnot. I tend to agree with them,
by the way, and Trump's like, no, let's do a
lot of deportations, but also let's listen to the business interest.
So again and again, this big, beautiful bill that's on
(13:58):
the floor of the Senate. Now everything he's kind of
right smack dab in the middle of the party.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Well, that's that's fascinating. That's a great point. But I
haven't ever thought of it that way. I didn't think
the attack on Iran was certainly a moderate position, but
I understand now the argument you're making that the America
First people were saying you shouldn't be going in there
at all. I don't think he made many Democrats happy
either when he did that.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
No Republican moderate I got in the middle of the
Republican party. And it's easy to you know, to not
realize this because he speaks immoderately right, So you know,
the all caps thry social points posts and whatnot or not,
you know, those that sort of thing Susan.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
Collins is doing.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Who is often described as a moderate, but she's not
a Republican motor. She's on the left of the Republican Party.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Let me tell you this too. I agree with you
completely to get rid of some of these federal buildings
that they have outlived their usage. They're not necessary anymore.
That was a great column, Thank you. Well.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Well, this is called brutalism. It's an architectural style that
was in vogue in the sixties and seventies. Not a
lot of good things came out of those decades. These
buildings are just horrific, just exposed concrete. They haven't They've
always been ugly, they always been hated by the public.
They haven't aged well, they're talking. They're falling apart, cost
massive amount of money just to maintain them. We're seeing
(15:21):
the FBI move out of their building, which by some
estimates is the ugliest building in America. We're seeing HUDs
going to move out of its building. There are several
more of these, but we should just get it's not
you know, I'm not a huge fan of bureaucracy, but
if federal workers are going to work in buildings, they
should be decent looking buildings. They shouldn't be an eye
sore to everyone walking by or driving by. So the
(15:42):
sooner we can blow these things up, the better.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Yeah, I agree with you. Well, you don't need to
build something that big. Half the people aren't showing up anyway.
Everybody's working from home these days, so it's just like
some of the buildings in the major cities, they're not
needed anymore.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Yeah, but again, you're gonna need some building, let's just
make it look pretty. Donald Trump had executive order to
that effect the first term. People are outraged by Biden
repealed it, and he's and he's reinstituted it now. But
if we're gonna build new buildings, let's just make them
make them look nice. That doesn't seem controversial.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Agreed. And I'm sure Donald Trump agrees with you. I'm
sure he can't wait to build some new buildings in Washington.
Maybe he'll wait till he leaves office so he can
profit from it. Thanks so much, Rich Lowry, good to
talk to you again. I'm really excited about talking to
this next guest. I haven't had a chance to talk
to Ken Jenkins yet, Westchester County executive since he won
the election and took over in January. Ken, before we
(16:39):
get to Playland Park, Congratulations, how's the job been so far?
Speaker 7 (16:44):
Well, well, first, Larry, thank you so much. I'm glad
to be with you in the morning. They need the morning.
And certainly it's been an exciting time. And again giving
all the challenges that are going on in Washington and
then trying to navigate through all these things, it it's
been fantastic and just to be able to have stability
and management, confidence and stability.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Yeah, from everything I've heard, you've been doing a wonderful job.
And so let's talk about Playland Park. Talking about doing
a wonderful job. This is such an important part of
so many people's memories. I'm glad that it's going to
continue and it's going to thrive. Ken, do you have
memories of Playland Park?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
Oh? Absolutely, I mean, you know, growing up in the
Bronx and then let's say the county, we come up
to Playland at least once or twice during the year,
and certainly it is a memory maker for so many people.
I mean, the park is almost one hundred years old,
and again that needs is a lot of people around
that have Playland memories. We always have to have a joke.
(17:45):
No matter where you are in the country, you get
to see a Playland bumper sticker somewhere.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
You know, that's true, That is absolutely true. But this
Playland Park in twenty twenty five isn't like it hasn't
differed way so much that your memories aren't intact. But
there's some big changes, aren't there.
Speaker 7 (18:10):
Oh? No, absolutely, it's big changes. And again we know
that everything is heated up at at Playland Park this year.
And you know, we took back over the amusement park
from Standard Amusement in February of this year, so we've
been steadily moving on in the direction of restoring those memories,
getting things moving forward. We've invested from Westchester County over
(18:31):
one hundred and fifty million dollars over the past three
years into the park, so we're moving forward and getting
things going. So it's exciting. You know. We bought back
the fireworks, so that's starting on Friday. There is Friday,
February fourth, on Independence Date, so fourth of July we
have the fireworks and then every Friday that tradition has continued.
So again kitty Land is open. We have some of
(18:53):
the big park rives open, and then we continue to
move forward and try to make more things happen in
the magic of.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Play laffe I love of what you said a moment ago,
that you're modernizing it and you're doing all these new
things with it. You have to you have to stay
up with the times. But you want to make certain
that people's memories are intact, that there's enough of Playland
Park so that when people go back there they go, oh, yeah,
this is this is an important part of my childhood.
This is an important part of my child's childhood. So
(19:22):
that was important to you in going into this renovation.
Speaker 7 (19:24):
Right, oh, absolutely, And again, well, it was an agreement
that we added stated amusement. You know, the partnership broke up,
but that doesn't mean that Playland is not Playland. I
mean it is a beautiful, beautiful facility when people walk
in from its beginning a May twenty sixth and nineteen
twenty three, you'll be able to move forward and see
(19:45):
twenty eight I'm sorry to be able to look and
see those same memories, the same vision and view out
onto the Long Island sound from Playland beats, looking at
the iconic music talent looking at the colonnade and certainly
again the excitements back where you know, paying you know,
ten bucks, the parks. They could walk around the entire
parks for free, and if they decide to get on
(20:06):
some rides on the wishbands of fifteen dollars to ride
all day for free. So again, so fifteen dollars unlimited
rides of fifteen dollars ten bucks. And then there's so
many other things to do with all of our partners
on the boardwalk along Playland, Beach and the pool. It's
a beautiful investments that we've made in both of those.
The pools open, the beaches open, boardwalks open, the Westchest,
(20:29):
the Children's museum is anchoring at one end of the boardwalk,
the tiki bar and Beach experience at the other end
of the boardwalk. And then you can go inside and
walk around Playland, walk around the amusement area and decide
whether or not you want to get on some rides,
get some funnel cakes, the ice cream. I mean, you know,
all of the things are there. It's so exciting and
we're looking forward to everyone coming back.
Speaker 8 (20:50):
Through and so affordable that that's just incredible, and I
think The best part about going to Playland is now
as a parent or grandparent and bringing your child or
your grandchild. It's like you said, there's still those core
memories that are there and you can experience it now
through the younger people in your family.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
That is the best.
Speaker 8 (21:12):
Like you remember this, you remember that.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
And again, whether it's the historic rides like the Derby
Racer that's open. You know, we're still working hard and
getting back to the Dragon Coosa, but you know we
have Derby Racer, we have the Carousel, I mean those
are historic rides, the brand new rides, the dragon Nata
I mean, the old cars, the motor the ride motor cars.
So there's enough stuff for everyone to do. There's been
(21:37):
nothing but positive vibes when people come through. And again
the park is open again. We have twelve to ten
on the fourth of July and the fifth of July.
Every other day it's twelve to nine, so Wednesday through Sunday,
So Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And that's where
we're gonna keep working on right now and again twelve
(21:58):
to nine normally except when this week on the holiday
on the fourth of July, twelve to ten and certainly
twelve to ten on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Do you have something special plan for the fourth of July.
Speaker 7 (22:09):
We got DJ's in the park, you know, So we
have the DJ, we have coaster, our mascot there. We're
gonna have meat and greets. We have kids things happening
again with our they're for young folks and they're not
so young folks happening. We have DJs, we have bands
coming through. There's just so many things happening. And again
it's going to bring back all those memories for those
(22:30):
like you said it being a new grand parent myself,
you know, loving that opportunity, and I just keep getting
that feedback from everybody.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Hey, Ken, it sounds tremendous. Congratulations on the work you've
done with Playland Park. Congratulations on becoming the new county executive.
Hope to talk to you again.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
Love to do that. Thank you, and have a wonderful
day and a safe Fourth of July.
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