I just listened to this episode (a little late), and I was so disappointed in all the same ways others have mentioned. He wants to “come back” and tell us his vision?? No sir, please just tell us know! We are all listening! When Beth asked what Democrats are planning to do, and he answered that citizens need to “stand up,” I almost stopped listening. I really appreciated that Beth tried to ask the question again. I came into this conversation excited to hear what he had to say, and I left really unimpressed.
Sometimes I listen to episodes more than once, but I couldn’t even finish this one. The talking points and inability to directly answer a question were killing my soul a little bit.
A few thoughts - as others have said, this wasn’t particularly inspiring. In part because the senator is of a certain age and has been in the game for 20+ years (This is why I’m really hoping for the next generation to step up.). In part because Dems are in the minority. What can they really do within the confines of the rules? In part, because we have a lot going on right now and, wrong as it is, the average American has no idea this is happening or the legalities of it (low priority). An earlier comment maybe me think of something I heard a few months ago - the person who will end up on the Dem ticket is someone we haven’t heard of right now. As much as there are a few people I would like to see in the mix, I kinda like the idea of someone completely fresh.
I’ll start by saying I 100% agree with Beth - sinking the boat and killing those on board is wrong, unlawful, and extra judicious.
And. Many Trump supporters would respond, at best, by saying “then we need to change the laws, because our current system and legal process isn’t working at keeping drugs out of our communities.” And, as Sarah especially has been saying a lot lately, they’re not wrong.
This is another example where just defending the status quo is a losing argument. Maybe Dems need to get better at pointing out where the system works - I live in San Diego, I hear regularly about smugglers getting caught and boats getting seized with literal tons of drugs on board - but we don’t credit for successes nearly as much as we get blamed for failures.
So I really wish instead of focusing on “Trump was wrong to do this” (even though, again, fully agree) we could say “yeah, we need a better approach and here’s our idea and why it’s better than sinking boats and indiscriminately killing people.”
It wouldn’t feel better- but I wonder if it would be better for him to say- we don’t actually know what to do right now. It seems like our way of fighting only matters in the smallest sense sometimes- that the crazy that is happening only breaks through to the general public sometimes maybe- that we want it to be better but can’t figure out if that means we really do have to shut down the government- but with a few demands that don’t really get at how terrible it all is and also we may not need to do that because then people will be even more mad at us.
His sense of helplessness came across as …. The people that have (rightly many times) said talking to democrats feels like you’re being talked down, too- they are a little irritated at having to answer the questions but make that irritation feel like your fault for asking them… that’s what he sounded like to me.
I don’t know- maybe him owning his sense of despair wouldn’t be better… but it would feel more congruent. It could be a starting place of… so a lot of asteroids hit at once and we seem to be stuck dusting the furniture vs figuring out how to shift the reality to the fact there’s asteroids in our living room and we might need to do something different than the usual. I don’t think that’s completely fair. But it would be nice for our elected officials to say something. Something.
As former military intelligence who worked on Latin American narcoterrorist missions, I'm deeply concerned by intelligence being used to justify killing people in international waters. I can't believe they fired on those boats. I tell myself there are internal arguments, and I hope that's true.
I can see the shutdown drinking game now - take a shot when you hear a Democrat say "lawless", "blank check", "rubber stamp", "betrayal"...
I really hope staffers are reading these comments as they're testing the talking points with podcast interviews. STOP USING TALKING POINTS! Having a united message doesn't need to be literal. Focus on your constituents' stories, the concerns and requests you're getting, and maybe then this bluster won't come off as careful politics for next election season. We need to believe you're fighting for us, but I'm hearing very little about why you've chosen these fights in a way that frames actual people (not polling data) behind the argument.
I live in Maryland. I know I submitted several comments through VanHollen's online portal about how the funding freeze was affecting our small rural nonprofit. I doubt I was alone!
“We really need to lay out very clearly not just what we’re against, but what we’re for. I’m happy to come back and have a longer discussion on all of that.” Come back for that? Ummm, respectfully of course, WTF? So he thought he was just asked to the show to say “Orange man bad,” for the 1,500,001-1,501,000th times? On the upside, he did avoid invoking Hitler, so gold star there.
Beth, thank you soooo much for pushing back on Sen Van Hollen when you asked what congress was doing and he lectured us about protesting. Ironically I was actually at a protest last weekend with Van Hollen as the featured speaker - so I’m doing the work and I know he is too in that regard. But I love that you reminded him that Congress has more power than we do, and that you followed up as you did.
After listening to the the podcast a couple of thoughts came to mind and I want to start with the positive. I'm grateful that Senator Van Hollen came on the podcast to share his concerns reguarding this current administration and the rule of law. It sounds like he is using the tools at his disposal to fight against the administration, especially around immigration and what is happening with the Venzeualan ships.
Like many in the comments, I am also frustration and saddened by the bleakness in the nature of the conversation and no one is at fault of this. While listening to the conversation I was reminded of something Mike Nellis said on Tuesday's episode: neither party has a vision for this country. A lack of imagination and vision is creating this bleak outlook of the country's future.
With all these sense of bleakness I am constantly asking myself what does creative vision for our country's future look like. This country had and currently has a rich history of Americans in small and large ways collectively facing bleak moments and yet were able to cast vision that is hopeful and expansive. So probably my main takeaway this podcast is to start parterning with people and casting vision for this country since both parties are lacking vision at this moment.
Sorry I feel like I am all over the place. Work this week kicked my butt and I really need a chocolate chip cookie.
Worked kick my butt too! Today I was unpakced an exhibit - four vinyl banners - that was sent to me last week, but I didn't bother opening them until today because someone wants to put them on display at a meeting on Monday. One of the banners was completely blank!
“I also worry about the provocation to other countries to retaliate in some way.”
In Venezuela we have several expressions applicable here. One is “ghosts know who to haunt”, another says “skunks know who to spray”. The idea is that target is chosen consciously. DJT attacks Venezuela for many reasons, but one for sure is there’s no fear of retaliation or any deterrence.
Like the riddle “where does a 400lb gorilla sits? Wherever he wants”. The U.S. is the top military force in history. Currently our military budget is triple the second in line, China. The U.S. has 11 nuclear aircraft carriers. China has 2 non nuclear and building a third one that will be closer in tech to the U.S. ones. Rusia has one, non nuclear, and it’s under constant repairs. 9 nations have nukes. The U.S. has over 5K warheads, so does Rusia. But the U.S. is capable to deploy more of them than Rusia. The others come down to hundreds and tens. But still, a nuke is a nuke.
So, the U.S. blows a few Venezuelan boats? What can Venezuela do? Talk trash, show how even civilians will fight by showing grandmothers with rifles. That’s why they don’t shoot down Russian or Chinese boats. The stakes are too high there because the fight will be won but with a huge price tag.
I think this is the great danger of an administration with this massive military power running on vibes and whims. Not that the U.S. didn’t display imperialist behaviors before. But to go back to Venezuelan expressions, “nothing more dangerous than a monkey with a revolver”.
I kind of agree with you, but also 9/11 makes we not completely unworried about retaliation. And also alliances. Some of our bigger enemies are likely looking for friends.
Rusia, China, and even Iran are allegedly in cahoots with Maduro. But hard to imagine anyone engaging in the fight with the U.S. over Venezuela. The U.S. has a long and storied tradition of involvement in LatinAmerica. I am worried and saddened for my country of former nationality. I am also worried about Trump promising Milei $20B. I don’t know if he will go through with that, but it’s a huge mess.
However, you are right. We never should let our guard down. 9/11 had Saudi support and money. Also, in hindsight, it was a failure of intelligence. So when the money is squandered, DHS, and the intelligence agencies are led by cronies without the ability to run them, that’s what worries me. When the Department of Defense becomes Department of War in the hands of TV host with a limited military and even less executive background, I worry.
So, at the end, I talk myself into being worried, not for the capabilities of the enemy but the incompetence and baseless bravado of our leaders.
I don’t feel surprised at all about the Trump administration’s disregard for human life. I do feel confused about these actions happening at the same time he keeps trying to get a Nobel peace prize.
I don’t understand the disappointment- what did you everyone expect him to be able to say and do? Democrats are in the minority. For Congress to be a check on the president, they would need republicans to agree to any reprimand or action taken. It is quite literally up to the republicans. It doesn’t sound like y’all are disappointed in a person or party - you’re disappointed in the form of democracy America ascribes to.
Agreed with others that his response felt...disappointing? When our elected senate members only advice is, get out and and vote! Boycott Disney! It just feels like there's so little that can be done.
Trying to keep hope and hold on to the light. I honestly feel way more inspired these days by the on the ground action from local non profit and advocacy groups than I do by our elected leaders.
And as always....I'd love a republican senator to come on the show. I know you all have put out the call. Hoping someone takes you up on it. Because they need to answer these same questions!
I appreciated Beth’s time in having this conversation. I sped up the speed for all the typical talking points blah blah blah that the Senator provided. Very disappointing and makes me wonder who is going to “save us” because it is not the Democrats in Congress. 😩
I was really hopeful going into the conversation but he came off totally unbothered and unwilling to do anything other than say it’s not right. What happened to the man willing to fly to El Salvador to literally find Kilmar Abrego.
Maybe that’s not a fair standard but his affect and response fell totally flat for me on this one.
The El Salvador trip felt like a political stunt honestly. I live in Maryland and get his newsletters. They're not very inspiring. He's a standard Democrat.
I appreciate this comment because you articulated what I had been struggling to— I think it was his affect. I found myself zoning out so many times, which is what always happens when I hear Congress people speak. I don’t know if there’s a thing that happens to all of them when they get there, but it’s like all I can hear is the Charlie Brown teacher drone. Is it the vocal cadence? The affect? Something made me feel like it was Real Person Beth talking to an AI-animated list of talking points.
I wanted to like him! I love that he went to El Salvador. But he sounded so…hollow. The only politician I’ve heard speak in years who did not sound that way to me is Pete Buttigieg.
YES! and I heard an Elizabeth Warren interview that felt exactly the same. I'm tired of their talking points. They sounds like someone on the phone conducting a survey. They follow their script and their rules, which is not a conversation, it's them using us to gather data they want.
I just listened to this episode (a little late), and I was so disappointed in all the same ways others have mentioned. He wants to “come back” and tell us his vision?? No sir, please just tell us know! We are all listening! When Beth asked what Democrats are planning to do, and he answered that citizens need to “stand up,” I almost stopped listening. I really appreciated that Beth tried to ask the question again. I came into this conversation excited to hear what he had to say, and I left really unimpressed.
Sometimes I listen to episodes more than once, but I couldn’t even finish this one. The talking points and inability to directly answer a question were killing my soul a little bit.
A few thoughts - as others have said, this wasn’t particularly inspiring. In part because the senator is of a certain age and has been in the game for 20+ years (This is why I’m really hoping for the next generation to step up.). In part because Dems are in the minority. What can they really do within the confines of the rules? In part, because we have a lot going on right now and, wrong as it is, the average American has no idea this is happening or the legalities of it (low priority). An earlier comment maybe me think of something I heard a few months ago - the person who will end up on the Dem ticket is someone we haven’t heard of right now. As much as there are a few people I would like to see in the mix, I kinda like the idea of someone completely fresh.
Lawless.
I’ll start by saying I 100% agree with Beth - sinking the boat and killing those on board is wrong, unlawful, and extra judicious.
And. Many Trump supporters would respond, at best, by saying “then we need to change the laws, because our current system and legal process isn’t working at keeping drugs out of our communities.” And, as Sarah especially has been saying a lot lately, they’re not wrong.
This is another example where just defending the status quo is a losing argument. Maybe Dems need to get better at pointing out where the system works - I live in San Diego, I hear regularly about smugglers getting caught and boats getting seized with literal tons of drugs on board - but we don’t credit for successes nearly as much as we get blamed for failures.
So I really wish instead of focusing on “Trump was wrong to do this” (even though, again, fully agree) we could say “yeah, we need a better approach and here’s our idea and why it’s better than sinking boats and indiscriminately killing people.”
It wouldn’t feel better- but I wonder if it would be better for him to say- we don’t actually know what to do right now. It seems like our way of fighting only matters in the smallest sense sometimes- that the crazy that is happening only breaks through to the general public sometimes maybe- that we want it to be better but can’t figure out if that means we really do have to shut down the government- but with a few demands that don’t really get at how terrible it all is and also we may not need to do that because then people will be even more mad at us.
His sense of helplessness came across as …. The people that have (rightly many times) said talking to democrats feels like you’re being talked down, too- they are a little irritated at having to answer the questions but make that irritation feel like your fault for asking them… that’s what he sounded like to me.
I don’t know- maybe him owning his sense of despair wouldn’t be better… but it would feel more congruent. It could be a starting place of… so a lot of asteroids hit at once and we seem to be stuck dusting the furniture vs figuring out how to shift the reality to the fact there’s asteroids in our living room and we might need to do something different than the usual. I don’t think that’s completely fair. But it would be nice for our elected officials to say something. Something.
As former military intelligence who worked on Latin American narcoterrorist missions, I'm deeply concerned by intelligence being used to justify killing people in international waters. I can't believe they fired on those boats. I tell myself there are internal arguments, and I hope that's true.
And this meeting Hegseth is having with his top brass in Virginia is terrifying. I'm worried they are going to start firing military leaders and stack the armed services with inexperienced young order-takers to reduce resistance even more. Who will be left to speak out against unconstitutional orders? https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-military-leaders-prepare-virginia-meeting-agenda-comes-into-focus-2025-09-26/
I can see the shutdown drinking game now - take a shot when you hear a Democrat say "lawless", "blank check", "rubber stamp", "betrayal"...
I really hope staffers are reading these comments as they're testing the talking points with podcast interviews. STOP USING TALKING POINTS! Having a united message doesn't need to be literal. Focus on your constituents' stories, the concerns and requests you're getting, and maybe then this bluster won't come off as careful politics for next election season. We need to believe you're fighting for us, but I'm hearing very little about why you've chosen these fights in a way that frames actual people (not polling data) behind the argument.
I live in Maryland. I know I submitted several comments through VanHollen's online portal about how the funding freeze was affecting our small rural nonprofit. I doubt I was alone!
“We really need to lay out very clearly not just what we’re against, but what we’re for. I’m happy to come back and have a longer discussion on all of that.” Come back for that? Ummm, respectfully of course, WTF? So he thought he was just asked to the show to say “Orange man bad,” for the 1,500,001-1,501,000th times? On the upside, he did avoid invoking Hitler, so gold star there.
Beth, thank you soooo much for pushing back on Sen Van Hollen when you asked what congress was doing and he lectured us about protesting. Ironically I was actually at a protest last weekend with Van Hollen as the featured speaker - so I’m doing the work and I know he is too in that regard. But I love that you reminded him that Congress has more power than we do, and that you followed up as you did.
Me too— really appreciated that question
After listening to the the podcast a couple of thoughts came to mind and I want to start with the positive. I'm grateful that Senator Van Hollen came on the podcast to share his concerns reguarding this current administration and the rule of law. It sounds like he is using the tools at his disposal to fight against the administration, especially around immigration and what is happening with the Venzeualan ships.
Like many in the comments, I am also frustration and saddened by the bleakness in the nature of the conversation and no one is at fault of this. While listening to the conversation I was reminded of something Mike Nellis said on Tuesday's episode: neither party has a vision for this country. A lack of imagination and vision is creating this bleak outlook of the country's future.
With all these sense of bleakness I am constantly asking myself what does creative vision for our country's future look like. This country had and currently has a rich history of Americans in small and large ways collectively facing bleak moments and yet were able to cast vision that is hopeful and expansive. So probably my main takeaway this podcast is to start parterning with people and casting vision for this country since both parties are lacking vision at this moment.
Sorry I feel like I am all over the place. Work this week kicked my butt and I really need a chocolate chip cookie.
Worked kick my butt too! Today I was unpakced an exhibit - four vinyl banners - that was sent to me last week, but I didn't bother opening them until today because someone wants to put them on display at a meeting on Monday. One of the banners was completely blank!
Ugh this episode was so bleak. Not due to the fault of Beth or the podcast guest, but just because everything feels so heavy and helpless.
“I also worry about the provocation to other countries to retaliate in some way.”
In Venezuela we have several expressions applicable here. One is “ghosts know who to haunt”, another says “skunks know who to spray”. The idea is that target is chosen consciously. DJT attacks Venezuela for many reasons, but one for sure is there’s no fear of retaliation or any deterrence.
Like the riddle “where does a 400lb gorilla sits? Wherever he wants”. The U.S. is the top military force in history. Currently our military budget is triple the second in line, China. The U.S. has 11 nuclear aircraft carriers. China has 2 non nuclear and building a third one that will be closer in tech to the U.S. ones. Rusia has one, non nuclear, and it’s under constant repairs. 9 nations have nukes. The U.S. has over 5K warheads, so does Rusia. But the U.S. is capable to deploy more of them than Rusia. The others come down to hundreds and tens. But still, a nuke is a nuke.
So, the U.S. blows a few Venezuelan boats? What can Venezuela do? Talk trash, show how even civilians will fight by showing grandmothers with rifles. That’s why they don’t shoot down Russian or Chinese boats. The stakes are too high there because the fight will be won but with a huge price tag.
I think this is the great danger of an administration with this massive military power running on vibes and whims. Not that the U.S. didn’t display imperialist behaviors before. But to go back to Venezuelan expressions, “nothing more dangerous than a monkey with a revolver”.
I kind of agree with you, but also 9/11 makes we not completely unworried about retaliation. And also alliances. Some of our bigger enemies are likely looking for friends.
Rusia, China, and even Iran are allegedly in cahoots with Maduro. But hard to imagine anyone engaging in the fight with the U.S. over Venezuela. The U.S. has a long and storied tradition of involvement in LatinAmerica. I am worried and saddened for my country of former nationality. I am also worried about Trump promising Milei $20B. I don’t know if he will go through with that, but it’s a huge mess.
However, you are right. We never should let our guard down. 9/11 had Saudi support and money. Also, in hindsight, it was a failure of intelligence. So when the money is squandered, DHS, and the intelligence agencies are led by cronies without the ability to run them, that’s what worries me. When the Department of Defense becomes Department of War in the hands of TV host with a limited military and even less executive background, I worry.
So, at the end, I talk myself into being worried, not for the capabilities of the enemy but the incompetence and baseless bravado of our leaders.
I don’t feel surprised at all about the Trump administration’s disregard for human life. I do feel confused about these actions happening at the same time he keeps trying to get a Nobel peace prize.
I don’t understand the disappointment- what did you everyone expect him to be able to say and do? Democrats are in the minority. For Congress to be a check on the president, they would need republicans to agree to any reprimand or action taken. It is quite literally up to the republicans. It doesn’t sound like y’all are disappointed in a person or party - you’re disappointed in the form of democracy America ascribes to.
Agreed with others that his response felt...disappointing? When our elected senate members only advice is, get out and and vote! Boycott Disney! It just feels like there's so little that can be done.
Trying to keep hope and hold on to the light. I honestly feel way more inspired these days by the on the ground action from local non profit and advocacy groups than I do by our elected leaders.
And as always....I'd love a republican senator to come on the show. I know you all have put out the call. Hoping someone takes you up on it. Because they need to answer these same questions!
I appreciated Beth’s time in having this conversation. I sped up the speed for all the typical talking points blah blah blah that the Senator provided. Very disappointing and makes me wonder who is going to “save us” because it is not the Democrats in Congress. 😩
I was really hopeful going into the conversation but he came off totally unbothered and unwilling to do anything other than say it’s not right. What happened to the man willing to fly to El Salvador to literally find Kilmar Abrego.
Maybe that’s not a fair standard but his affect and response fell totally flat for me on this one.
The El Salvador trip felt like a political stunt honestly. I live in Maryland and get his newsletters. They're not very inspiring. He's a standard Democrat.
That’s a bummer
I appreciate this comment because you articulated what I had been struggling to— I think it was his affect. I found myself zoning out so many times, which is what always happens when I hear Congress people speak. I don’t know if there’s a thing that happens to all of them when they get there, but it’s like all I can hear is the Charlie Brown teacher drone. Is it the vocal cadence? The affect? Something made me feel like it was Real Person Beth talking to an AI-animated list of talking points.
I wanted to like him! I love that he went to El Salvador. But he sounded so…hollow. The only politician I’ve heard speak in years who did not sound that way to me is Pete Buttigieg.
YES! and I heard an Elizabeth Warren interview that felt exactly the same. I'm tired of their talking points. They sounds like someone on the phone conducting a survey. They follow their script and their rules, which is not a conversation, it's them using us to gather data they want.
I agree