WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.559 He's night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's radio. 2 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:09.720 Thank you very much, Dan Watkins. We are going into 3 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:13.960 at nine o'clock hour, and I'd like to introduce you 4 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.839 to the newest member of the Board of Directors at 5 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:23.920 the Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, David Urban. David 6 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.920 Urban is someone who you may have seen on CNN. 7 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:31.839 He is a commentator on CNN and I think he's 8 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:34.880 just gotten off a plane somewhere, I believe in Washington. David, 9 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:36.000 how are you tonight? 10 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.640 I'm good, Dan, How are you? I mean Philadelphia today. 11 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:42.039 Philadelphia, Washington, they all look the same. 12 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:46.240 I hope you Hilly, New York, Boston, and he kind 13 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:48.679 of you know, I know, I know the sports teams 14 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:51.799 are different, but it all blends together after a while. 15 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:55.200 It certainly does. You can always just ride the Essella sometimes, 16 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:57.679 and that's just as quick as the airplanes, that's for sure. 17 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:01.039 So first of all, I wanted to do to the audience. 18 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:03.759 I know that you're on CNN and you've been very 19 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:06.400 much involved in politics, and I want to talk about 20 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:11.560 the Kennedy Institute and really a good or a good 21 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:18.079 wonderful organization, which is a very bipartisan board of directors, 22 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:23.120 which which is interesting and and I think commendable. Just 23 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:26.040 a little bit of background yourself. You're a West Point graduate, 24 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:30.319 and you have your law degree from Temple, and you 25 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:33.519 have a master's degree from University of Pennsylvania. You served 26 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.879 in the Gulf War, Bronze Star recipient in the in 27 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:42.200 the Gulf War, and spent obviously the requisite five years 28 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:47.079 of active duty military service after after your graduation. Uh So, 29 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:53.200 congratulations on those accomplishments. Let's talk about the Edward and 30 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:57.680 Kennedy Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. I actually had 31 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:02.480 the pleasure in honor of moderating a conversation with Natan 32 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:08.599 Sharansky there several years ago. That room is beautiful. I 33 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:10.840 assume you have already physically been to the. 34 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:15.280 It's a great space, it's a great building. It's a 35 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.319 great space, a great organization, and I'm really proud to 36 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.039 be proud to be associated with and on the board now. 37 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:25.439 It's interesting because the board, I think it has seventeen 38 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:31.199 members at this point, including the UMass Boston president, but 39 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:36.439 also more importantly, several former senators and political leaders, both 40 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:43.000 Republicans and Democrats, it's a very balanced represent representation. I 41 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:46.360 looked at the board today and I was very pleased 42 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:50.599 to see people who I know well, certainly former Congressman 43 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:55.639 Joe Kennedy, but also some of the representatives former US 44 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:58.840 Senators on both sides of the aisle. There's a real 45 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.759 effort there, it seems to me keep that Board of 46 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:01.800 directors balanced. 47 00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:04.759 Yeah, so a lot of credit goes to Bruce and 48 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:08.120 the board. So what what you didn't get my my 49 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:12.159 lengthy bio was that a long time ago, I used 50 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:15.439 to work for a guy the name of Arlen Spector 51 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:21.560 Philadelphia who at Pennsylvanian, who was was kind of a curmudgeon, contrarian, 52 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:26.759 but but noted for his his his bipartisanship. And I 53 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:29.280 got to do a lot of work when my time 54 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:32.800 nineteen ninety seven to two thousand and two with Senator 55 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:35.479 Kennedy in his office. And so when I had the 56 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:39.319 opportunity to join the board, I jumped at it because 57 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:44.479 I think that that bipartisan nature, the bipartisanship that used 58 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:48.000 to exist in this Senate. Oops, sorry about that that 59 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:50.680 used to exist in the Senate is uh? I hope 60 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:56.280 you know, I hope Walking on no, no, no, But 61 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:59.719 that Byparson used to exist in the Senate is you know, 62 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:03.599 always always at risk of vanishing and disappearing, right, And 63 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:05.680 so I think there needs to be a real focus 64 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:10.759 on on making sure that that that that is not forgotten. 65 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.240 And Bruce and the and the team at the at 66 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.040 the Institute have done a nice job of putting some 67 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:19.040 programming together in the past, and it's something aboard which 68 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.319 I think really is focused on that. You know, Senator 69 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:26.199 Kennedy and my former boss, Senator Spector and Senator Hatch 70 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:30.279 and others back in the day used to work hand 71 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.800 and glove to get a lot of good things done. 72 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:33.439 And and as you know, in the Senate with a 73 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.759 fillbus or the sixty vote rule, the only way to 74 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:39.759 get anything done is to do it in a bipartisan manner. 75 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:42.040 You have to have support from Republicans, you have to 76 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:44.839 support from Democrats, and you have to come together. And 77 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:49.199 and today that may not be super popular, whether it's 78 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:51.480 Donald Trump or Joe Bidener, whomever's in the White House. 79 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:57.160 Consensus and and and and passing you know, legislation. Uh 80 00:04:57.399 --> 00:04:59.560 is how this you know how the you remember the 81 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.160 old school house rock. I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill. Well, 82 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.279 you know, the world isn't done by eos. Normally, it's 83 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:07.160 done by legislation, and the only way that gets done 84 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:09.879 is by Democrats and Republicans working together. And I think 85 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.319 the Institute goes a long way and trying to advance 86 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.639 that and keep that front and center in people's minds. 87 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:15.079 Yeah. 88 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.519 I worked here as a TV reporter for thirty one 89 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:20.319 years for the CBS affiliate here in Boston, WBC TV, 90 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:26.120 and spent a lot of time with Senator Kennedy and 91 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:30.600 he was a very reasonable guy who you knew where 92 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:35.439 he stood on issues, but we we spent some time 93 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:41.319 together socially, and unlike Senator Warren, who is such an 94 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:45.240 ideal loogue here in Massachusetts. You know I'm serious when 95 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:45.680 I say that. 96 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.040 No, No, I understand, No, it's just yeah, you can't, 97 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:51.000 you can't. You can't legislate from the ends, right, you 98 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:51.839 got to come in the middle. 99 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.600 She's way out there, and she's never been on my 100 00:05:55.720 --> 00:06:01.040 program and as an musicue, well yeah, he loss not mine, 101 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:05.120 but on your board. You know, Joe Kennedy is someone 102 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.639 who I get along with really well. I've had Patrick 103 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:12.480 Kennedy on this show talking about his recovery. Marty me 104 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.160 and the president of U MASS has been a friend 105 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:19.240 for a long time. Marsello Sarezo Rosco at U MASS 106 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:21.959 Boston as a as a great friend. I was at 107 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:25.600 a dinner with Chris Sanuda on Saturday night. Obviously his brother, 108 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:30.680 former Senator John Sanunu is on and then UH many 109 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:34.519 many of the others I've interviewed along the way. UH 110 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:37.240 and I had the chair of your board on here recently. 111 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:40.319 It's it's a very different feel from the from the 112 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.839 Kennedy Library. They do the Profile Encourage Award every year, 113 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:49.879 and whenever they give it to a Republican it's because 114 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:56.000 the Republican is strayed from Republican orthodoxy, you know, you 115 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:59.680 know Dick Cheney, who would be would be live, would 116 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.680 from from the Kennedy Library. It's it's a very different feel, and. 117 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.199 I hope that I think, you know, I think I 118 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:09.959 think the missions, I think the missions are a little 119 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:13.279 different as well, though. Yeah, right between the Institute and 120 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:15.319 in the library. 121 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:18.600 But at the same time, when you talk about President 122 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:24.240 Kennedy's all too short time in the White House, I 123 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:28.079 was very close, very very close for many many years 124 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:31.120 with a guy named Dave Powers, who was his right 125 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.759 hand guy. If you've you know, read the history of 126 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:37.839 the Kennedy campaigns, Dave Powers and Billy Sutton were there 127 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.199 when he ran for Congress, and Dave Powers was with 128 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:43.759 him every day until November twenty second, nineteen sixty three. 129 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:48.199 So it's it's it's just it's very it's very interesting. 130 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.439 My guest is David Irbin. I want to talk to 131 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:55.079 you about being a commentator on CNN, and sure, you're 132 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:58.519 in a minority position of CNN. I don't know how 133 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:02.240 many my listeners will recognize you from CNN, but UH, 134 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:06.519 to be really honest with you, but but we'll we'll 135 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:08.319 talk about that. I also want to talk about what's 136 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.000 going on with the Trump administration because uh, and and 137 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:16.480 I've been critical of the Trump administration. I just think 138 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.560 that they're maybe biting off a little bit more than 139 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.959 they can chew. I suspect you're going to disagree with 140 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.040 me on some of this, but I think the royal 141 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:26.600 of the stock market, there may be some areas where 142 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:31.439 we agree on not that. Okay, I'm not a Republican, 143 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.960 David Urban, Yeah, I'm a conservative. I'm a conservative and Uh, okay, 144 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.240 good good place for me. Yeah, well that's it, you know. 145 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:42.240 And I and I have a lot of friends on 146 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.080 both sides of the aisle, and uh, as I say, 147 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.159 we should have a good conversation, and I'm going to 148 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:49.159 get some of my listeners involved here as well. My 149 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:52.799 guest is David Irban. He is the newest director at 150 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:57.799 the Ted Senator Edward Kennedy uh Institute for the US Senate, 151 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.720 a fabulous institutution out on Columbia Point, right next to 152 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:07.799 the JFK. Kennedy Library Kennedy Presidential Library. I would recommend 153 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:10.440 that you make a day of it and visit both 154 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:16.360 both locations because they are both wonderful, you know, wonderful 155 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:22.639 institutions in our community, memorializing the political history of the 156 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:26.000 twentieth century and with Senator Kennedy's case, into the twenty 157 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:28.360 first century. We're back with David Urban. If you'd like 158 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.919 to call and ask him anything about what it's like 159 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.200 behind the scenes at CNN, You're more than welcome to 160 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:37.279 do that. We'll talk a little politics and talk some 161 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:40.200 issues as well. Back on Night Side with David Urban. 162 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.120 Coming back on Nightside. 163 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:45.360 Now, back to Dan Ray Live from the window World 164 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:50.120 to night Side Studios. On WBZ News Radio. 165 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:54.720 We're talking with David Urban. He's the newest most recently 166 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:00.399 elected nominated member of the Edward M. Kennedy isitude for 167 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:04.600 the United States Senate. But you have had besides the 168 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:09.600 military career, you have been an early supporter of Donald Trump, 169 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:14.159 going back I guess to twenty fifteen, twenty and sixteen. Uh. 170 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:20.440 And you also are a regular contributor on CNN. What's 171 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:26.840 that likes the panel? Yeah? 172 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.200 Okay, well usually usually, as you point out, usually the 173 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:34.759 conservative on the panel. Look, I'm grateful that the seeing 174 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.759 the folks at CNN give me the time to get 175 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:38.919 on there and trying to make you know, trying to 176 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.759 make my base. I think it's a you know what, 177 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:45.000 what I think Americans want to see is kind of 178 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:48.120 a marketplace of ideas. They'd like to hear both sides. 179 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:50.879 They don't want to see Jerry Springer with you know, 180 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.200 people arguing and yelling at each other. I think constructive 181 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:58.759 informative debate is helpful public in public discourse, in the 182 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:02.159 public square. That much more on on many shows, you 183 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:04.960 can tune in and get your your bias affirmed on 184 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:08.159 whatever network you'd like. But I think CNN of the 185 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:11.720 at least makes an effort right and trying to kind 186 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:15.120 of be kind of down the middle on on on 187 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:18.600 on these things. It gives myself and others, other conservative 188 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.759 and Republicans and opportunity to go on there and make 189 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:25.720 the case. Judging by the by Twitter feed, I must. 190 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:27.679 I don't think I do a very good job most 191 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.320 of the time because a lot of the people don't 192 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:34.080 seem convinced. But I try to be respectful and and 193 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.240 present the other side. I'm hopeful at some point some 194 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:40.200 people the message gets through, because I think it's important. 195 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:44.720 It's important to here here from disparate views and and 196 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:46.639 uh and kick it around. You know you you're you 197 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:51.360 pointed out earlier about President Kennedy. You know, President John F. 198 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.799 Kennedy couldn't get elected in today's Republic, I mean today's 199 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:58.279 Democratic Party, right it is. It's a different place. I mean, 200 00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.879 if you look at talk about Joe Kennedy. I have 201 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:02.759 great deal of respect for Joe Kennedy, and and he 202 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:07.080 lost in Massachusetts because he wasn't liberal enough, you know, 203 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:11.159 and and and you know there is if you look 204 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:14.840 and you know, I am friends with Kim Ryan Democrat, 205 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:18.440 Tim Ryan, who great congressman from you know, from Ohio 206 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:22.519 with Kurston, Cinema of Joe Mansion, with a lot of 207 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:25.799 common sense Democrats, and and you know, they're kind of 208 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:27.960 leaving the party. They left the Senate, they're leaving the party. 209 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:31.559 They lose in primaries, and I'm fearful that that middle 210 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:35.360 and both parties. You know, there's there's not many quote 211 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.639 unquote moderate Northeast Republicans anymore like there used to be. 212 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:44.159 John Hines and Ile Inspector and others, John Chafey, you know, 213 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:47.600 just to name a few, dwindled away as well. And 214 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:51.000 the party's kind of gone to there there there there, 215 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.360 they're neutral corners to you know, fight for another round. 216 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:58.159 But I think America served best by by that middle right. 217 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:03.600 And unfortunately, what we have every ten years a census, 218 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.720 and then you have a redistricting process by which congressional 219 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.919 seats are drawn safer and safer in America. So have 220 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:11.240 the four hundred and thirty five members of Congress, you 221 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.960 have roughly, you know, thirty thirty five seats that are 222 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.480 competitive maybe out of four hundred and those in the Congress, 223 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.759 then you are more afraid of losing in a primary 224 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:22.039 than you are in a general election. So that doesn't 225 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.759 really help, you know, bipartisanship if you are if you're 226 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:28.120 more afraid of losing in a primary than you are 227 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:32.360 and signing onto legislation with a you know, with somebody 228 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:34.399 in a different party, that may be a good piece 229 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:37.720 of legislation, because you fear getting primaried. That's not good 230 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:40.200 for America. So we have to figure that out. We 231 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.679 have to figure out what we do and how we 232 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:45.440 address that. Because those congressmen then grow up to the senators, right, 233 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:47.559 those those partisan congressmen grow up the centers, and they're 234 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.639 tempered somewhat by the nature of their state. So you know, 235 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:53.120 you get in these big states and may have you know, 236 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.919 a little bit more of a blue tint to that, 237 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:59.960 and the senators become purple because because they have to survive, 238 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:02.519 I represent their their constituency. 239 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:06.120 So well, we started here in Massachusetts, not only in 240 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:09.639 the Kennedy market fight. You know, Joe Kennedy, in my opinion, 241 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.799 is a liberal Democrat, and it was basically the progressives 242 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:17.000 on the far end of that party who turned against him, 243 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:21.960 uh and re elected you know, Senator Marquee, who's also 244 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.720 a friend of mine. But in the Democratic side, what 245 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:30.200 happened to Congressman Mike Capauana up here shortly after what 246 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.919 happened to Murphy in New York. He just was blindsided 247 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:37.240 in the primary. This twenty years of his experience in Congress. 248 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:41.320 Uh And certainly there were times when Mike Capajuana was 249 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:44.600 my friend, fire breathing liberal. I mean, you didn't want 250 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:47.759 to get into an argument Mike Capawana because sharp as 251 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:51.960 attack and and and very committed to his views. What 252 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:54.480 I do on my show, David is I tried to 253 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:59.440 have both sides. I'm competing every night from eight to midnight, 254 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.159 not only again at CNN, but I'm competing against Fox. 255 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:04.159 And there are a lot of people who like call it. 256 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:06.519 They like to sit in their silos, whether it's a 257 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.159 Fox silence. 258 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:12.879 Well and also and also people are getting their news 259 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:15.120 in different places. Right, people are getting the news on TikTok, 260 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:19.840 on Twitter, on their on substack. Right, people are consuming 261 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:23.120 news differently these days. Radio talk radio is still very popular, 262 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:28.080 fortunately for you. But the way that news is assimilated 263 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:30.919 and you know, when people when the President Trump did 264 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:35.320 his you know, address to Congress the other night. Nobody 265 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.919 probably watched it for the entire you know, hour and 266 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.279 thirty minutes, but people consumed it and snippets here and 267 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.519 there and so other than you and myself and maybe 268 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.679 some of your listeners, right, maybe listen to the whole thing. 269 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:49.480 But most people today just get little sound bites and 270 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:53.039 they make their decisions based upon snippets of what they 271 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:56.960 see and hear, but not they don't consume, you know, 272 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:59.759 five thousand word Nobody writes five thousand word articles anymore. 273 00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:03.120 Nobod writes big articles anymore. Anywhere. You don't see that 274 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:08.440 newspapers are dying. And it's it's really interesting how I 275 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:12.000 don't want to say democratized, but how democratized news has become. 276 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:16.320 And the interesting part is the velocity at which it travels. Right, 277 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.720 And so when you know, you said you're a reporter 278 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:21.559 for a very long time. You know, you used to 279 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:23.039 be able to work on a story for a while. 280 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:25.559 Now it's the the urge is to get it out quickly. 281 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.960 You may not be one hundred percent correct, but to 282 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.000 get it out quickly, to be first rather than invest. 283 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:33.120 And it's just it's very interesting. I see this a 284 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:34.440 lot and you kind of have to. You have to 285 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.000 be very careful when you consume and what you consume, 286 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:39.559 and if you're not educated about it, you know, you 287 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:42.360 see so much misinformation out there. I think that's a 288 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:46.519 real challenge for for everybody, everybody is interested in the 289 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.440 political process. 290 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.759 Yeah, I asked listeners who will call and they'll say 291 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:54.039 something that is that's insane or crazy, and I will say, simply, 292 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:58.240 where'd you see that? You know? And I show it 293 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:01.159 on Twitter, uh or and it's like, oh, well, that's 294 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.160 a good source. And I have most trouble with the 295 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:10.519 people on the far right and the far left, which 296 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.720 I'm sure you probably do as well. And what I'm 297 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:17.480 trying to do is make people if possible. I want 298 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:20.480 my ten to invite as many people as possible. I 299 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:23.440 had an email exchange today with a guy up in 300 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:26.519 New Hampshire who is very far right wing, and he 301 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:29.599 was upset that I was a matter of fact, I 302 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:31.319 can't find it real quickly. I should have had it 303 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.240 in my hand available. But he was upset that I 304 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:37.559 had told him not to say certain things. He would 305 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:41.200 call up and say crazy things and I'd say, that's 306 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:43.480 not true. Well, that's my opinion and say, well, you 307 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:46.400 could have your opinion, you can't have your facts and 308 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.279 you don't have right to facts. And anyway, let's do this. 309 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.960 We got to take a break for ninth third here, 310 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:53.680 I want to open this conversation up to our audience 311 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:57.640 and give them a chance to talk with you. I 312 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:02.039 maybe will take one more or just a few minutes 313 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:05.240 and talk about what's going on in Washington, d C. 314 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:09.039 Obviously we've watched the stock market the last few days 315 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:13.839 really take a dive. I was appalled at what went 316 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:16.880 on in the Oval office the other day with Zelinsky 317 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:20.079 and I just so you could pull your thoughts together. 318 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.880 I attribute that to some really bad staff work on 319 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.920 behalf of the Trump staff. Those documents should have been signed, sealed, 320 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:31.400 and delivered before Zolensky set foot in the White House, 321 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:36.200 and I don't think that helped the president. So I 322 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:39.039 just would love I know that you're a big supporter, 323 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.240 and I want to get your point of view, and 324 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.359 I want my to incorporate the audience as well. My 325 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:46.480 guest David Rban he's the managing director of a group 326 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:50.920 called BGR, the BGR Group. I didn't look that up. 327 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:54.720 Is that a financial organization political organization. 328 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.480 Because no, no, it's a it's a bipartisan by cameral lobbying 329 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:01.319 government affairs shop in Washington and the third or fourth 330 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:05.039 largest in Washington, depending on on on how you measure things. 331 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:09.559 And wait when the snapshots taken. So founded by a 332 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:13.079 couple of gentlemen. The initials used to be Haley Barber 333 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.599 from who was the governor of Mississippi and the former 334 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:19.000 chairman of rn C and h the founder of the 335 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:23.000 Republican Governors Association, who's one heck of a guy. Ed 336 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:27.039 Rodgers another just outstanding individual working in the Reagan White House, 337 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:30.880 and uh and Landy Griffin and they were all friends 338 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.400 and started this firm. Uh, you know, many years ago, 339 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.880 so still going strong. 340 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:40.119 And I know I know your roots are in Western Pennsylvania. 341 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.400 And when he's talk about the Reagan White House, I 342 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:47.799 interviewed President Reagan many many times. Uh, and uh was 343 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.960 a huge Ronald Reagan fan. Okay, Uh, did you happen 344 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.839 to know Frank Donatelli, who was another Western Pennsylvania guy. 345 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.839 I sure do, I do know, Frank. I am. It's 346 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:02.559 by Pittsburgh's like Boston, right everybody there? 347 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:06.720 Yeah, absolutely, well, Frank Frank and I. We're we're going 348 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:10.240 friends for over fifty years, so that's that'll tell you 349 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:13.039 a little bit about where I come from. We've been 350 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:15.279 friends since we both were in law school. Actually different 351 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:17.440 law schools, but both when we were in law school. But 352 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:20.559 take it break my guess. David Urban, Managing director of 353 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:24.759 BGR Group in Washington, also the newest member of the 354 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:28.200 Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, the 355 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:31.079 newest member of the board of directors, very active in 356 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:35.240 the Trump campaign, and also a CNN commentator. So he 357 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:39.759 is an individual who has lots of contacts throughout the 358 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:42.599 political system. If you want to ask a question, throw 359 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:45.480 the numbers out six one, seven, four ten thirty six 360 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.079 one seven, nine, three thirty. My name is Dan Ray. 361 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:51.480 This is Nightside, be Back talking politics with David Urban. 362 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:57.079 Here on Nightside night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ, 363 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.400 Boston's news radio. 364 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.319 This is David Urban, a CNN contributor, but for our 365 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:06.839 purposes tonight, the newest board of directors of the Edward M. 366 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:12.359 Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. I know that you 367 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:17.200 have been with President Trump to thick and thin. We're 368 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:21.759 about sixty days into his second term. Boys, they're doing 369 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:27.200 a lot, are they. My opinion is they should slow 370 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:29.480 it down. That they're biting off more than they could chew. 371 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.119 So tell me why I'm wrong. 372 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:39.039 Yeah, listen, I think that they I think this administration 373 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:41.880 feels that they have a limited amount of time. They 374 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:44.880 have eighteen months for all intents and purposes, right to 375 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:48.839 get their agenda through. And every day that they're not 376 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:52.240 moving forward with something of the day that's lost and 377 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:56.079 you know they're not going to ever get back. You know, 378 00:21:56.160 --> 00:22:00.759 this isn't you know Trump two point zero. It's not 379 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.880 just a redo of the first administration. It is a 380 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:06.920 completely divident different administration. I think that the you know, 381 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:10.200 they have the House and Senate actually kind of working together. 382 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:12.960 You saw, you know, we have this continuing resolution to 383 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:15.000 fund the government runs out of money, right, they kicked 384 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.680 the can down the road. I think Republic has made 385 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.400 a mistake. I think Republic has made a mistake in 386 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:24.279 the last administration by not making not passing spending bills 387 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:27.799 during the Biden administration. If I were the Speaker, I 388 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:29.640 would have I would have gotten these bills down and 389 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:32.759 got them off the desk, cleared the cleared the plate 390 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.880 for all these other all the other important thing issues 391 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:38.240 they're dealing with, like debt ceiling and tax increases and 392 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:40.240 the tax bill which is going to be coming up, 393 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:44.079 and and a school of other things. And so unfortunately 394 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.039 now they have to pass this continuing resolution to fund 395 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:48.799 the government for through it. You know, it expires and 396 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:51.720 on the fourteenth, but they're going to they will pass 397 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.759 this in the House and Senate, and they'll get it 398 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.200 and move on. They have to re revisit at some 399 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:59.200 point in the future. So I think that you know, 400 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:04.160 the agenda that the president's undertaking is aggressive, but you 401 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:08.920