Will Fetterman Ditch the Dems & Go to the Right?! | KMP Ep.42

Speaker 1

Has being a senator made you more cynical or more hopeful?

Speaker 2

I, I just, it reminds that sometimes it's, there are, there are votes that really matter or standing on the right side of specific issues. For, for me is, Israel and the Jewish community. You know, part of the struggle that I've had within the Democratic Party is how things continue to back away and, and move away from Israel and standing and calling out anti-Semitism and refusing to, to criticize and hold those people engaging in this behavior and call them out.

Oh, yeah, well, the day we're filming this, that was the fourth anniversary of the stroke that, that ended my life briefly. Yeah, four years ago today, just, yeah, on this day. I was on my way to a, a campaign event in Lancaster County, and then suddenly Giselle looked at me and said, I think you're having a stroke.

Speaker 1

Would you rather never win another election or the Steelers never win another Super Bowl?

Speaker 2

Oh, well, that's That's oppo, that's oppo kind of stuff. You know, I, it's like, well, the Steelers have won six. They've won six, they have six, so, so I haven't won six elections yet. I would say I'm gonna hedge in saying, you know, we, we, you know, more and more wins.

Speaker 1

Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of the Katie Miller podcast. We're excited to still be in Washington, D.C. today, joined by my first Democrat. I would say actually there was, in fairness to myself, there's been other Democrats, they probably just have not said which party they belong to. So, joined by my first Democrat, John Fetterman.

Speaker 2

yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, I don't know, but yeah, I am a Democrat. I am, yeah, I am here. I don't know what your roster was, but, but yeah, as, as a Democrat, I know I'm here. And, just from a background, you know, I, I represent Pennsylvania. It's, it's a divided state, you know. Donald Trump won in 2024, obviously. And I know, and I love a lot of people that have voted for the president and the Republican ticket.

So, I, I really, I don't view the other side as, like, the enemy or that kind of a thing. So, it shouldn't be controversial to have conversations with people that they might have different views or those things.

Speaker 1

I agree with you. That's the point of what we're trying to do here is just get to know people for who they are, not for political party. And I really don't like doing politics on this show. I do it enough in other parts of my life. And so with that we'll start with, what's your typical day look like since coming to Washington DC and becoming a senator?

Speaker 2

Oh, well, I mean, I know as you as a parent, I have three, I have three children. I don't know what people thinks young, but I would say young, but certainly not as perhaps as yours, but I, I have three, seventeen, fourteen, and twelve. And I really want to be as present as possible. So how it starts where I try to maximize spending time there because I don't want to be the guy that looks back and say, oh my god, I missed the, the best years part of that experience.

So, People assume that in the life in the Senate is a wash and glamour, and it's just not, at least in my experience. I have a 300 square apartment down in Navy Yard, and, you know, just roll in, and it's got a crappy couch and a bed, and, and just a sad collection of, condiments in the fridge. it's, it's pretty, pretty sad. So it overall, and then when you land here, and then that's,

Speaker 1

What's your favorite condiment?

Speaker 2

Oh, well, of course, I'm Pittsburgh, so Heinz. I mean, I, I feel like there should be a law in at least Western PA when they sell other brands other than Heinz. So, but yeah, Heinz overall.

Speaker 1

So your family decide to stay in Pennsylvania, how often do you get back there?

Speaker 2

oh, I try to get back there as often as, as possible, but there's, there's multiple kinds of Parts of the the job where you have either political events or you have an official ones but then also the other dirty secret is about fundraising because you know money money is unfortunately is too important in the business so trips across the country for fundraising to meet with people for for that so like for example I I really haven't been home for going on two two weeks because I've spent the last of of the last recess fundraising and doing other events and other media parts of it too although thankfully the last couple days I did get a chance to see because my oldest son

was looking at some some colleges out there

Speaker 1

what's the best fundraising trip you've been on

Speaker 2

oh well I mean not in terms of like I, I think, I went to, it's like best, but it's like people are a lot of really energetic rooms and people just, have important conversations for that. It's not necessarily, the, the whole point is just, the, the money, but it's really more about feedback and You know, rather than getting here in the bubble in D.C., just finding what it's like more out across.

Speaker 1

Some of the locations that they choose to go on for these fundraising trips are absolutely beautiful, right? There's Kiowa Island, there's Georgia, there's a beautiful place down in Florida. Which is the best place you've gone to?

Speaker 2

Yeah, well, I've done fundraisers in Florida, and, you know, whether it's in California or New York, and every now and then I'll interact with, I'll run into other Republicans too, going in, going out, that kind of a thing. So that's just part of the truth. And so it's kind of like three jobs, you know, being here in D.C. for the voting and those thing, while I was running late here, we just had one.

And then where we have the fundraising, and then also the political and official events.

Speaker 1

You mentioned that D.C. is a bit more boring, the lifestyle isn't as glamorous as people think it is. Yeah, yeah,

Speaker 2

it is. I mean, people think it's like the snappy dialogue on the West Wing kind of a thing. now maybe it might be more, you know, in the, in the White House in, in sometimes, but overall in the Senate, I haven't, haven't experienced that same kind of life on the, the razor's edge, but there are important votes. For example, we just had the War Powers vote, and I think that's the closest that it's ever been.

I think it finished anyone fifty, anyway, so, but just, that's the closest one.

Speaker 1

What's the biggest culture shock coming to D.C.?

Speaker 2

No, I it's, it's not really. I think more just, you know, like, yeah, the lack, lack of, like the glamour, you know, I think that's what it is. It's like, I thought it might be maybe a little more, but it seems pretty, okay. So, I mean, I certainly appreciate Pennsylvania picking me to be their, their voice, but when I've, I had an opportunity to work with the other side within my state, my good friend Dave McCormick, he, He and I, ironically, we are both two people that flipped seats.

So sometimes it's not, we're not allowed to get along or to be friends, but I think that's what the job should be, is working together to fight for Pennsylvania and ultimately fighting for America too.

Speaker 1

You built a reputation for speaking bluntly and always saying what you mean. Has anyone in Washington tried to tone that down?

Speaker 2

No, I mean, it's not, I'm not sure if it's really blunt more than what it's right now. I mean, people, people on the Democratic side, I've noticed they are running on, you know. Is this a P G or R? R. R. You know, they're running on fuck Trump. I mean, quite literally in the commercial. I think, I think profanity's become now normal in, in that sense.

And when. Retard's

Speaker 1

back. I mean, using the word retard is definitely back.

Speaker 2

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, yeah, it's become, not only has it been normalized, where that in some specific races, that was actually a winning message, in the Democratic primaries. And that's, that's the kind of thing that I, I refuse to engage in that because, I don't think it makes anyone better, more educated, or more, kind for a better conversation.

Speaker 1

Has being a senator made you more cynical or more hopeful?

Speaker 2

No, no, I mean, I, I, I, I, I just, it reminds that sometimes it's There are, there are votes that really matter or standing on the right side of specific issues. For, for me is, you know, Israel and the Jewish community. You know, part of the struggle that I've had within the Democratic Party is how things continue to back away and, and move away from Israel and standing and calling out anti-Semitism and refusing to, to criticize and hold those people engaging in this behavior and, and call them out.

Speaker 1

What's one political opinion you've changed your mind on since being in D.C.?

Speaker 2

One thing I was absolutely wrong on, and I, I've, I've been really be very open talking about how wrong I am, is that in my cycle in twenty two, we were running to eliminate the filibuster. And we were so wrong, so wrong about that. And, and now, thankfully, and I think, Senator Sinema and Manchin were vindicated by this. So now, we have the risk of, if we lose the filibuster, then the rights of the minority, whether that will be Democrat or Republican minority, would have effectively little to no voice.

And if we become a smaller version of the House, that, would have profound ramifications for the United States, and that would be dangerous. So thankfully, but I'll be the first to say that our entire Democratic Party was wrong about that, in that cycle, and ironically now, we love it now, because that prevents us for all kinds of things that we wanted to do.

You know, to eliminate the filibuster.

Speaker 1

It's interesting you say that because I have been very vocal about saying that for Save America Act, I think we should blow up the filibuster and that Democrats would do the same in terms of blowing it up once they, should they ever regain power of the Senate. Do you think Democrats would ever blow up the filibuster if they were to regain power?

Speaker 2

Yeah, it's kind of like I think both parties think the other one's going to, you know, grab for the, for the pistol under the table, you know, but I, I think we, we should have, we have to have that trust that we're not going to do that. I think everybody can realize that the filibuster is, is part of why the, the Senate functions and how important that has to be distinct of the House for a lot of reasons.

And that's, that's a very important feature and remind You know, every time it changes, you could just, you know, a lot of chaos, and that's not really real democracy. I think this nation was founded in respecting the rights of the minority as well, too.

Speaker 1

And I know you get asked this a lot, so I'm not going to pretend that I'm the first person to ask you, but would you ever switch parties?

Speaker 2

No, no, no. I'm not. And I mean, that's I know there's been asked a lot and a lot of conspiracy and that, but it's just not. And this ID, I don't know. I think I would be disappointing for Republicans if I changed. But I am disappointing for some Democrats for some of these views. I think it's I think it's part of a bigger conversation on, you know, how the, the American politics have become, where if you're offending people just by having different views, that doesn't make them, and that's why I refuse to call them, you're a Nazi or a fascist, you're a piece of shit or other kinds of thing.

I just refuse to engage in that extreme things, whether, regardless on either side. I'm not saying that it's a perfect fit, but what I am saying, though, that's, that's, that's where, where I've been, and I've always committed to finding, finding common ground based in common sense and fight for wins for my state or for our nation, and I'll follow what I think is a moral clarity or the truth, and I, it's, it never mattered to me, you know, whether what side it is.

And that perhaps explains why where that's put me at odds with parts of my my own party but I would I would have no regrets.

Speaker 1

Do you still go to Senate lunches?

Speaker 2

No no.

Speaker 1

Do you find that Senate Senate lunches are one of the weirder Senate like traditions? Yeah

Speaker 2

I mean I mean it's been tough this year we've had the government shut down and like and I'm the guy voting no no no it doesn't make you the most popular dude in the room you know when you're one and there are forty six people voting in a different way and and you know like I when I wrote the op ed saying hey I'm not changing my party I think that improved like the overall you know there's people are more friendly and really oh yeah you're not like I'm it's it's it's just I I take no pleasure in necessarily voting against, but I I do think it's important, and I do believe I was it's always wrong, regardless of the party behind it, to shut the government down.

If the Republicans ever decide to, I'll be the first person to to criticize and and call them out for it.

Speaker 1

Do you do your own posting on social media?

Speaker 2

I do. Not not actually, he could confirm, not actually keying it in, but I will I will, you know, produce the the content and, you know, with That, yeah, I, I spend zero time on social media. And I, that's been years, and my life is better a hundred percent. And I don't know about you, but I would recommend that.

Speaker 1

I'm chronically online.

Speaker 2

You are? Yeah. Oh.

Speaker 1

I'm chronically online.

Speaker 2

Yeah, well, that's, that's a shame. Does that make your life better? Or, like, do you feel better about the world, you know, spending an hour online?

Speaker 1

Probably not, but it, you know, it's good laughs, it's a good time. Like, sometimes it brings you a lot of joy, because you watch other people make fun of themselves. But where I was going with this is, immediately after the White House Correspondents' Dinner, you had posted something about the ballroom, and it being, it needed to be for security purposes.

And you've seen, and I've seen you do this more than once, that you fall perfectly into a worldwide or global conversation. Do you notice that you're doing that or are you just saying what you mean and what comes to your heart at that moment in time?

Speaker 2

So I know we were both at the that and and now more than a third of my party thinks that that was a hoax thing like that's that's that's wild I mean everyone was there you could confirm like that was you know real in the middle of that and you know the the first assassination where he was hit in the in the head that was in my state and how crazy how dangerous and how awful that was and and half an inch over to the to the left that could have been a Zapruder tape and that could have plunged our nation into untold chaos and now here we were back again at that event and Walking in, it takes thirty minutes to get to the table.

You could confirm how crowded it is there. And so, and I'm thinking, I'm like, I said hello to Speaker Johnson and Secretary Rubio and other ones, and I'm like, the entire line of succession is, you know, in a room not much bigger than where we were shooting this. Now, if anyone remembers the Oklahoma bombing, if they had enough time to plan something in one of those rooms, and who knows, that could have a decapitation danger.

So that's why, it's like, you know, we, there should be a secure facility like a ballroom.

Speaker 1

You got a lot of praise in the moment for saying that. Do you see that feedback?

Speaker 2

Well, I don't know if, you know, wherever the praise, but for me, like, He could start it today. It's not going to be finished by the time his term's up. So it's, it's, it's like that phrase where, you know, planting a tree that you're not going to sit under the shade of that kind of thing. So, it's a facility that's necessary. Anyone that's been at, at, at those kinds of events at the house, it's under, you know, a tent and people, you know, wearing shoes unlike yours, you know, in, in the mud and in the grass and that thing.

It's, it's just not, that's just not what's appropriate for a nation like, like ours. So I don't spend any time thinking about it, but that was affirming saying, why not just, just, why are we arguing about it? And it's, it's kind of driven by like this tedious idea be, presidents of both parties have changed the White House. You know, that, that doesn't mean, it should be so divisive.

Speaker 1

Your wife, Giselle, was very active on a campaign trail. What's the secret to surviving as a political couple?

Speaker 2

Stay offline. Yeah, I mean, I, I, I know a lot of invective has, have come your way, but I certainly have had mine too, and I think she's a little more soft-hearted, and that lands more, and then now with children involved, that makes, that, that's really, that's stacks on top of it, and, and I can't remember the last time we've posted more family things or more kinds of light-hearted things, cause it, it just turned into, turns into that kind of place where it's more and more difficult to find people appreciated.

So that's, I don't know, you have, you have advice too for, for the marriage and the politics. It's, it's, is it great? No. I mean, I don't think, I don't think it deepens or makes it, you know. Yeah, maybe there's, maybe like a boot camp for, for political spouses here in D.C. There could be, there, there could be, could be a, a market for that.

There's a lot of takers. Yeah, yeah. I, I really try to prioritize the family because I know, I know sometimes there's marriages that break up or you forget what's really more important. So thankfully, I, I'm, I'm really very Present as possible and I try like for example last last summer my son was a page and those were like my part of my happiest days just being able to see him there on the floor or you know have have someone to have dinner with for those kinds of things so overall I try to blend them in any way possible so that's kind of knocks the edge off of being away.

Speaker 1

If your wife had total veto power over one thing in your career what would she ban immediately?

Speaker 2

No no but she has very often strong opinions that I I'll try to accommodate that happy wife happy wife thing but but overall I I have some very specific views on certain things and that's part of I mean that's the give and take of a marriage I guess at least my how I understand.

Speaker 1

Who's the stricter parent?

Speaker 2

well that I I would say me because I get turned into the bad guy. I wouldn't describe us either of us like strict, but thankfully we all have great three great kids. You know, I I was my brother and I growing up we were kind of did a lot of dumb stuff. So I think but thankfully I I really didn't have to be pretty strict because they they're they're they're better formed you know than than I guess my my brothers and I were when we were young.

Speaker 1

What do you attribute that to?

Speaker 2

I don't know I can't explain it but it's it's it's grateful honestly especially my my oldest boy he's super super mature and I've never had to you know because he just really I don't know if he was born thirty five or something I don't know.

Speaker 1

Do your kids mind when people recognize you in public?

Speaker 2

It's something I might recognize but you know for the pictures and for that they they feel I don't know maybe like I I feel like you're not working you know can we just maybe you know family focus and and so I always I'm always always honored and grateful for pictures or to have conversations I you know I know there are people in the senate that are surly or they reject that thing that's that's that's wild I mean if someone you know is honored to take you a picture like hey that's fantastic absolutely they deserve to be responded in a way enthusiastically as I do

Speaker 1

If you, if you had little kids again, right, they're my kids age and they're going to elementary school, would you be concerned about some of the public education, how it's shifted from just English, math, science to some of this more cultural, social justice ideology?

Speaker 2

Well, I, I, I think I, we really focused on like the, what's the writing, you know, whatever that, that phrase is. And, and I, I think what I, what I'm happier on is that I think schools become kinder than when it was my, my in that age. You know, bullying was an issue for me when I was young. You know, before I kind of grew up and got a little bigger, I, I experienced a lot of bullying, and, and now that's really not prevalent in their lives.

I think, you know, my heart goes out to every, every kid that, that goes through that, based on, you know, how they look, or, you know, how they identify, or those things, I, I think, there's better things, less things, when I was that age, but thankfully, that has changed, and some of the terms and some of the things that were more common forty, forty some years ago, or more, those aren't, and that, I think that's made things better either, but yeah, there are more woke things that I think, but our values are always gonna be presence in, in the conversation, certainly when they come home to talk through things.

Speaker 1

You went through a major health scare publicly. Was there a moment that things hit you emotionally harder than you expected?

Speaker 2

Oh, yeah. Well, the day we're filming this, that was the fourth anniversary of the stroke that, that ended my life briefly. And so I've, that happened in, you know, yeah, four years ago today, just, yeah, on this day. I was on my way to a, a campaign event in Lancaster County, and then suddenly Giselle looked at me and said, I, I think you're having a stroke because parts of my face drooped.

And I'm like, no, I'm fine. I'm like, I got to get to this. I got to this event. And thankfully, I was close enough to a medical facility to do it. And Then, yeah, my, my, my heart stopped, for a, for a brief time, and, you know, it was touch and go at that time, so that's definitely a heart, a heart scare. but overall, thank God, I was able to make, a virtual full, full recovery, and now I, I'm just grateful.

I'm just a, a lucky, lucky person for a lot of reasons, and at that time, I'm so sad for, for the kids, you know, to be facing that conversation and just know if, if Dad's gonna, if Dad's gonna make it back home.

Speaker 1

Are you ever sick of being asked about it or talking about it?

Speaker 2

No, no, I, I I'm constantly in fact just two people today encountered me in the hall over in in russell that they described when they've had their kind of medical thing and so he was proud of of his progress and I celebrated my own and his oh you know there's plenty people that suffer from these things and I wouldn't recommend that experience for anyone but after I've been on the other side of it you know it's just deepened my sense of gratitude and this how quickly you could walk out of a restroom in sheets and that could have been that could have been the last fifteen minutes of your life you didn't even know that

Speaker 1

what did you change about your health afterward

Speaker 2

I mean it just I I I think it was really more to to understand AFib AFib what has has been undermining my heart strength at that year and now man I've been able to stay on top of all of it I always are committed to ten to twelve thousand steps every day and other other kinds of small changes and thankfully thankfully I've moved past it but I I've never forgot this idea and then like it's how can I be anything but grateful

Speaker 1

what do you eat in a typical day

Speaker 2

oh I'm not really much a breakfast breakfast guy and then but I'm absolutely a big big coffee guy so I'll have a couple coffees and then for lunch just like a chipotle bowl and then maybe dinner just some probably not much different You I don't cook much because you know it's kind of like a small small kinds of apartment but some grub hubs and things.

Speaker 1

Do you consider yourself Maha?

Speaker 2

well, I mean, I, I really, I also kind of shifted more into the more whole foods and more protein. You know, I really avoid like bread and some other things without a doubt. And I, and I do think I, there's some parts of the, parts of Secretary Kennedy's, agenda, but things that I actually agree that the, the pyramid was much better. Eat more whole foods, more protein, fewer, fewer kinds of, carbs and those things.

I, you know, in my life, that's, that's made my life better for sure. And, and if you're going to have things like Doritos or for other things, why isn't it better to just remove the artificial stuff? You can still enjoy those things. Why not just do it in a more natural way?

Speaker 1

What's the least healthy thing you refuse to give up?

Speaker 2

I. Like when I'm if I'm on like a road trip and I just need to knock the you know I would say Swedish fish yeah I mean that's like the anti Maha thing you know like that's a throwback to my childhood they were only a penny at the time and they were smaller now they have that but I'll I'll grab a sack like sheets or wawa seed seedwish fish Swedish Swedish fish yeah and that's I wish I could but I I throw out most of them you know before and then and then before I eat like the last you know dozen or more of them I just take to knock the edge off.

Speaker 1

How many steps do you do in an average day do you count them?

Speaker 2

Yeah I try to get ten to twelve thousand and that's sometimes more sometimes less based on the number of the votes and The the weather. Pennsylvania, oh gosh, in the winter, we've had a living below zero kinds of some dark, some dark weather days, but overall it kind of averages out to that.

Speaker 1

Which one do you use to, which one do you use to track it?

Speaker 2

Let me, let's, I'll give you the latest number.

Speaker 1

Do you use your phone or do you use one of the devices?

Speaker 2

Well, I'm going to give you the hot, so, so yeah, this is the yearly average, you know, one thousand, nine thousand nine hundred.

Speaker 1

That's really good.

Speaker 2

Yeah, so just about close around ten thousand. So that's, that's probably, that's probably what's the commitment is. That's one of the changes, you know, after, you know, after the stroke.

Speaker 1

So it's been very publicly noted that you choose to wear a hoodie and dress more comfortably, I would say, than what you would consider a suit to be. Did you purposefully make that choice or is that just who you are and you didn't want to change? It's,

Speaker 2

it's, it's, it's just. Yeah, I've, I've never had a great relationship with, with clothes. It's kind of hard to find stuff that fits or that, that looks good. And it's, it's about comfort and more, most, like I would never, it was never my plan to give speeches on the floor or do those things. There are times when it's appropriate to have, you know, a suit on, but the vast majority of the business there in the Senate doesn't really require it to be dressed up.

And I know it might seem, it didn't occur to me how controversial that had been because as far as I know in the, in the entire history of the Senate, everyone dressed, you know, in suits. So like that, I, I'm not making any statement other than it's, it's more comfortable and just easier and You know, I'm not, not a guy that can really afford a lot of custom suits and those, just,

Speaker 1

whatever. Would you consider yourself a fashion trailblazer?

Speaker 2

no, I just think a guy that's, yeah, that's, that's playing the hand of the cards that were handed on it. I, you know, 6'8", 275, 80, it's like limited in that, and I have really freakish long arms and, and no legs. I mean, like, I just, nothing fits. It's just kinda hard to.

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Thank you, President Trump. So we're going to play a game of Senate Confidential. We're going to answer with only that of your fellow senators. Who's your best friend on the left?

Speaker 2

Oh, well, that's easy. That's easy. Oh, Peter Welch. I mean, yeah, it's like I always tell him, like, You know, he is the nicest, you know, the nicest dude in D C, and that's absolutely true. Peter is such a lovely, lovely person, and I remind, like, you know, if, if the progressive wing just adopted you as, like, you know, like, you would win more elections, you, you know, bring people over to the cause, because he's the guy that has, he's a very principled man, but he's also the, the nicest man, you know, I think I've ever encountered.

Speaker 1

Who's your best friend on the right?

Speaker 2

Well, I mean, on the right, I have, I have several that I really enjoy. They're, whether it's, it's Katie or, or Dave McCormick, you know, other people. I mean, there's a lot of conspiracies that I'm changing or thing, but I, I think I gravitate and I hang out maybe more, than From from the republicans I'm not sure how why.

Speaker 1

So would you say the republicans are nicer people than democrats?

Speaker 2

No I would I'd say nicer but just more I mean I just ch chilling kind of a thing yeah I mean like for example for example for the second or third time in my entire time in the senate katie brit's husband the big unit you know he had the kind of career in in football I wish I had I had I had lunch with him and he's you know katie's husband and he's he's bigger he's bigger than me as as you can believe that and so yeah like he he sought me out and like so that's not really a political statement one way or the other it's just like he's a great dude and and you know whenever he's in town we always try to get together.

Speaker 3

Who's most likely to always have a printed boarding pass that's not electronic?

Speaker 2

Oh. Yeah, that, that, that's kind, those heritage, you know, I was flying, well, all the time, and every now and you see a paper one, it's like, oh wow, you know, that's like a rotary phone. so.

Speaker 3

Is that like Mitch McConnell?

Speaker 2

Oh, I don't know, I don't know, but, but, but overall, I haven't seen anyone using that other than just some random people. It's like the same person that might use and pay at the grocery store with their checkbook, you know, like that, yeah.

Speaker 3

Who is most different off camera than they are on TV?

Speaker 2

Oh, I don't know, I, I, I'm not really sure one way or the other. One things that I wish we would stop more of is like kinds of like the performative parts of the performative things like we've just had a voterama you know two weeks ago and we're gonna have one next week and I'm just like come on you know if you can't make a point after eight or ten amendments you know like do we really have to do this to 4 a.m knowing exactly how those votes are gonna go and it just it's really if it's a T it's it's a shitty T V show you know I don't know and and not even like even the journalists don't hang out they all they're gone I mean it it's just like it seems such a can't we and

people forget that That a lot of support people like the police and the staff and all those people have families and that they're held till you know four in the morning just for for just like I said politics are not entertaining and if it was yeah it'd be it's it's a shitty show.

Speaker 3

Some of it's entertaining though like when you watch Eric Swalwell like just bite the

Speaker 1

dust right?

Speaker 2

well I mean I never followed the the race closely and I had no interaction with him at all but yeah hold hold behavior accountable and whether that's on the democrat or the republican side and and I think that was shocking to a lot of people I have had zero interaction with the with with the dude Yeah, but there there's other people on on both sides and and and I really I'd I'd I'd salute people from their own parties calling out the behavior of the ones in their own party.

You know, like for example, Menendez, I, you know, I was, you know, I was the first person to call and he's got to go. he's absolutely a scumbag and he needs to go and then finally more and more Democrats joined us, but not not I think the majority of the caucus did. You know, you know, he has to go and now he's, you know, eleven years. So I think I think what's really more important is people hold their own members in line or call them out when they behave in horrible in terrible ways.

Speaker 3

If you had to switch lives with one other senator for a week, who would you choose and why?

Speaker 2

Lives? Jeez. I, well that's, wow, that's a snappy question. I'm, oh, I, I, I think the guy has probably one of the most interesting lives is, is Tim Sheehy in Montana. Like, he looks, he, you know, like, like, he looks like, you know, out of a, a Taylor Sheridan show. You know, like, I had a beer with him, I'm like, you know, the GOP's gotta make him the masthead front and center of that.

You know, like, he, he, he raises, you know, cattle and, you know, is in Montana, like a, a Navy SEAL, like, like, yeah, like, that's probably gotta be the next show in the Yellowstone family or whatever, like that's probably, it's more. Or that.

Speaker 3

He's one of the rare instances of Republicans actually recruiting well. Do you find that Democrats recruit better candidates by and large? No, I mean,

Speaker 2

I, I, I would be like, I don't know how anyone would try to run against that in Montana. I'd have been like, yeah, man, you know, I'm, so, and he, he seems like such a nice, nice dude, you know, great family guy, and, so, so, so yeah, so that's, that's, that's really part of, yeah, just a lovely, lovely guy, you know, served, served the nation, and just a family guy, and has, has a really insanely interesting life, like a, a Taylor Sheridan show.

Speaker 3

What's a conspiracy theory that you believe in?

Speaker 2

Oh. I I would say that that Oswald didn't assassinate Kennedy I mean if you know I I I I do believe that can't just be possible just I don't know what he was involved on it but the the kinds of mark marksmanship that was required to to to do that it had to have been like a full on sniper team that did that that's I would say that this I never really believed that it was just like the the lone gunman you know with a junkie rifle like that

Speaker 3

have you read all of the files or asked to read all of the files I haven't

Speaker 2

I know I I did not have any specific kinds of insight you know but but overall if if if you just You know, the videos and a lot of the evidence and those things, I, I, I'm not sure anyone really seriously believes that that was just a guy that could have pulled off those kinds of shots.

Speaker 3

Where do you get your news?

Speaker 2

everywhere, everywhere. I read the entire spectrum. I, I don't know why people put themselves in a bubble and just read things that just reinforce like your views. You know, I, I really do. I have a, an, an Apple News. A subscription, I, I don't appreciate they have too more of a left, left kind of thing, but overall, you are able, though, to have a selection of across.

So I'll read HuffPost, and then Fox News, and, I'll read, I'll read MSN Now, and Washington Free Beacon, or like, oh yeah, like I'll, I will literally read everything in the middle of that, and I think ones that skews more, you know, like the, the Wall Street Journal, that seems, you know, aligned with some, some views overall. But, but, but overall, I, I enjoy being challenged in reading across the entire spectrum.

Speaker 3

What's the worst TV show you've ever done? Either the host was terrible, or like, the questions terrible.

Speaker 2

No, no. My worst TV usually was where I was held hostage by my wife to watch things. Now, I know too much more about the Mormon wives, more than I wish I knew. You know, like I kind of have to watch, I watch that. I know more than I wish I did, but yes. Are you really sad

Speaker 3

Whitney Lovett's leaving the show?

Speaker 2

Yeah, I've heard that. Now, like, I'm angry that I know that. She was, she was, you know, she, well, apparently she's done well, I guess, right? I mean, I'm not a musical guy. She's on Broadway now. Yeah, I'm not a musical guy, but, but yeah, I mean, I've, I've, yeah, I know, I know more than I wish about it, so.

Speaker 3

So what's your favorite Real Housewives? So we've done Mormon. Do we watch also Bravo? No. No, no. One thing

Speaker 2

that she sucked me in also is the Below deck.

Speaker 3

I was about to say below deck next.

Speaker 2

Yeah, like when when we're home that when I'm home like she gets control of the the clicker and you know we have like the subscription thing so I I I'm forced to watch that yeah.

Speaker 3

Which is do you fall asleep at night watching TV? And if so who picks the show and you fall asleep at night?

Speaker 2

Yeah often when I have to watch some of those shows you know but but but not not not as much as I used to anymore.

Speaker 3

Does Giselle want to come meet you down here more or is she very happy just living in Pennsylvania with the with your kids?

Speaker 2

yeah I mean you know nothing would be better than if if they would just maybe come down for for events or for for some other things that that that would be a real treat to have them more present. You know some members some members are able to move his entire life here In whether they come from, you know, like maybe California or Hawaii or Alaska, or you come from a very, like a safe, a safe seat where you don't really have to worry about so much of other things.

So I, I have never had any interest in, you know, I would not rip them out of their lives and push them into here because they're very, they're very happy with their own circumstances. So, you know, I, I just do a lot of traveling. I, I think I travel fifty out of, fifty years out of the year, fifty weeks out of the year.

Speaker 3

What's your typical weekend with your kids like?

Speaker 2

chauffeur, watching any of their respective games or, hanging out with them, doing other things or, or trying to do shopping, you know, like a trip to Costco, those things, just You know, this idea of quality time, I think any time is quality time, especially when, unfortunately, if you're gone more than sixty percent of the time or more, you know, I count everything as quality time.

Speaker 3

Do you think you'll stay being a senator, understanding how much tax it is on your family?

Speaker 2

Oh, oh, I mean, it's an honor to be a senator and to be that voice, but many of the people are old enough, I'm younger than the average there, a lot of people, they may have had kids, but they're adults and they've moved on, so it's a different dynamic, but ask any of the that have young kids, I'm sure that I certainly wouldn't be the first person to be torn between being a more present parent versus being more being more present senator.

Speaker 3

Now we play the game of would you rather. Would you rather get stuck at the DMV with Philly sports fans after a playoff loss or give the dreaded State of the Union response?

Speaker 2

I, I don't, I really go to the DMV at off times in Pennsylvania, and then, and then when, when I was LG, you know, things, I, I, I don't, I don't know, but, yeah, I don't really have a, like the State of the Union thing, for example, I, I think it was controversial that I shook hands with, with the president. So why would I be like, no, or respond that? It's like, why wouldn't I mean? Like, that's part of what's unfortunate.

Like when I had dinner, when I had dinner down in Mar-a-Lago, like, why was that controversial? I, I, I really don't understand. I I just wish things didn't have to be just doing like normal things with people.

Speaker 3

Would you rather have to explain modern politics to George Washington or explain Pennsylvania road construction to a tourist?

Speaker 2

Oh, I would love to I would love to experience politics to George Washington. You know, I just want to thank him for the sacrifice what this, you know, and I could point like the monuments or I could tell you like, hey, this is is named after you and and just how important like the founding fathers and the how important those principles are, the sacrifices and and what they've created is remarkable and that's that's what makes it the great greatest nation in the history of of hu human history.

Speaker 3

Would you rather never win another election or the Steelers never win another Super Bowl?

Speaker 2

Oh, well, that's that's oppo, that's oppo kind of stuff. You know, I it's like, well The Steelers have won six. They've won six. They have six. So, so I haven't won six elections yet. So now I, I, I would say, I would say I'm gonna hedge in saying, you know, we, we, you know, more, more wins. I mean, we, we, you know, we're, we're, we're the abundance party right now, right? So we need more wins.

Speaker 3

What's your go-to Sheetz order?

Speaker 2

Oh, geez. Well, de, definitely the biggest bottle of seltzer that they sell, it, it varies depending on where, and then, then a bag of, Swedish Fish. and then, usually, I would say some, some jerky and some pumpkin seeds.

Speaker 3

What's your most aggressively Pennsylvania opinion?

Speaker 2

Sheetz, Wawa, and Steelers. You know, eagles like, I mean, some people, statewide people say, oh, I cheer for both, and everyone's equal. And I'm like, hell, you know, like I'm a stealer guy, I'm a sheets guy, and that doesn't mean the other ones aren't great too, but man, you gotta represent.

Speaker 3

What keeps you up at night?

Speaker 2

I think, I think after, if you've experienced like a, like a near death experience, you know, this, this idea, I had to shake for the first couple months of the fear of not waking up. So I don't, I don't wanna get too heavy on that, but, but also, so like, for that period, this, this idea, and, but thankfully, you know, it's able, it's just turned into just a more deeper sense of gratitude to be able, be involved in the conversation.

Speaker 3

Do you use AI?

Speaker 2

enough, but I've encouraged my son to get involved on it, and he's very much now make that part of his hobby, and, you know, for his birthday, I gave him a an expand subscription at, Anthropic with Claude, and, you know, he just loves working around with it and just making it as much as he can, learning about.

Speaker 3

What's your best dad joke?

Speaker 2

Oh, I think it's like biological. You can't just stop doing them. I find myself saying, why did I say that dumb joke? It was dumb shit. You know, like, yeah, it's, I, I feel like it must be a biological thing. You just find yourself saying it. I just have to stop that. You know, it's, it's, you know, I try to avoid any bad, bad jokes.

Speaker 3

What's your greatest hope for your kids?

Speaker 2

To be okay. Isn't that what every parent wants? Like, if, if, if you're not there, I I think there's there is a sadness of you may you may not know how things turn out I mean that this this idea I think so that's what I I just want to know that they'll they'll be okay

Speaker 3

you mentioned getting beers with Tim Sheehy and going out to dinner with Katie Britt where where's the go to spot in washington D C

Speaker 2

this is controversial Buttersworth

Speaker 3

oh that is controversial

Speaker 2

yeah I mean that's I guess that's turned into like MAGA bar or whatever but it's like the food's great the service is great and it's a short walk over there I mean what's the problem I've never been yeah and and so that's that's where I'll go in fact I tried to get a beer there with Westbury with with with West but you know it didn't work out but then we ended up having lunch with some folks yesterday and his daughter his daughter is is she's a page so that must be pretty great for Katie too because she's she's doing the more the she's been there four months so that that would be a real treat if if one of my kids were there.

Speaker 3

If you could host a dinner party with three people dead or alive who's sitting at the table and what are you eating?

Speaker 2

oh I I don't know I I couldn't have a a dinner party at home cause I have three hundred squares in D C yeah yeah I'd be embarrassed by how sad my apartment is so I I guess Lincoln and if you've seen on on Netflix that story on Garfield you know like I forget what it was called like lightning or something but I never had you know like he was the president that you know became accidentally and it was such a fascinating story I never relayed the the drill down on that but you know other than for those kinds of people you know just talking about how how that must have been like for them.

Speaker 3

What's the last book you read?

Speaker 2

Sure. I mean, I do so much reading, you know, on in terms like the media and the things like, I, I, I've really kind of transitioned into, to the more like, you know, the outlets, you know, news and then or more podcast thing. I probably, you know, have to, to read more than that. I only, I

Speaker 3

only asked because you mentioned, you know, Garfield history thing and I figured you were somewhat of a history buff.

Speaker 2

Yeah, well, but it, but the, the show with that on, on Netflix was so entertaining and it really brought the whole story more, that, that was really fast, that was really fascinating.

Speaker 3

So at your dinner table, you have Garfield, who else are we talking? Two more.

Speaker 2

Lincoln and, oh, who, who wouldn't want it, you know, whether, you know, you drive by like, you know, these monuments, Jefferson or any of these kind of people just, you know, just how, how, what that That experiment was what that's turned into and how it's become such a force of good in in in the world so.

Speaker 3

And what are you eating?

Speaker 2

Oh well jeeze I would I would let them pick hey they're dead so they get to they get to eat whatever they want there so at this point.

Speaker 3

So we'll end on a I would say a high note is to say is what TV show or movie are you most looking forward to watching?

Speaker 2

Oh jeeze I'm I don't I not not not really I never thought I never I never I never really thought I never thought I never thought about about that most most of my my TV is is mostly there like and I was more of kind of like a like a hostage you know having to watch things about it you know I in terms of I try to find as many good documentaries, like historic documentaries, more than anything.

It's getting harder and harder to find things more like that, I think, versus more like Love Island or whatever. I wish I haven't seen that. That's one like, you know, but I'm kind of stuck with Mormon wives and Below Deck, you know, because of, you know, it's better to just happy wife, happy life.

Speaker 3

Thank you for doing this.

Speaker 2

Yeah, yeah. Oh, sure.

Speaker 3

Thank you so much for watching this episode of the Katie Miller podcast. Don't forget, we're live every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. where you get your podcast. Thanks, and we'll see you next week.