How Mitch McConnell changed the courts and US politics

KCRW's Left, Right & Center

KCRW

352865, News

4.2 • 4.8K Ratings

🗓️ 1 March 2024

⏱️ 51 minutes

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Summary

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell announced that he would step down from his role as Senate minority leader this November, though he’ll still be a senator through the end of his term. McConnell had been the head of the Senate’s Republican members since 2006. What motivated the leadership exit? The 82-year-old pointed to personal concerns and the changing politics of his party. What should we remember about the longtime Republican figurehead, and what could the end of his time as a Senate leader look like?

Immigration is among the most important issues for American voters. News stories and political messaging about a rise in border crossings play into that concern. But finger-pointing over the failure of the border security bill won’t lead to solutions, according to panelist Mo Elleithee. How can a shift in perspective resolve voters’ desires for a solution on immigration?

Louisiana is the focus of our 50 States segment. The state’s governor, Jeff Landry, chose not to opt into a new federal initiative that would extend electronic benefit transfer (EBT) funds for families into summer. Several other states with Republican governors also opted out of the program for 2024. Why might states deny more federal dollars, even if they’re aimed at more nutrition for kids?

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Left Right and Center everybody. I'm David Green and we're going to begin this week with a job change in Washington.
0:08.0	The lead my Republican colleagues has been the highest privilege. But one of life's
0:17.6	most under-appreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to life's next chapter.
0:27.0	So I stand before you today, Mr President, and my colleagues to say this will be my last term as Republican leader
0:36.2	to the Senate. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. However I'll complete my job. My colleagues have given me until
0:47.5	we select a new leader in November and they take the hell next January.
0:55.0	That is the voice of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who announced that he's going to be stepping down from his post.
1:02.0	McConnell will finish out his term as senator through January of
1:06.1	2027, but he's going to lead his post as Republican leader. He led the Senate
1:11.0	GOP for a record setting 17 years.
1:15.6	McConnell cited a shift in party politics
1:18.8	as a key reason for stepping down,
1:21.0	though there had also been health concerns dating back to last year for the 82-year-old
1:25.5	senator who was first elected as a senator from Kentucky in 1984.
1:30.9	So let's talk about this moment.
1:32.2	We have our regular panel with us Moa Lathy
1:34.8	executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public
1:38.6	Service was Communications Director for the Democratic National
1:42.0	Committee and advisor to Hillary Clinton and
1:44.0	Sarah Isger, senior editor at the dispatch. She is a lawyer and was spokesperson at
1:48.6	the Department of Justice under President Trump. Wow you think think about just, you know, the voices you never think you're going to not be hearing much from in Washington, D.C.
1:58.6	And McConnell has just been such a fixture through so many moments and world events and
	...

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