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State of the Union

Political Payback and Party Dynamics: Unpacking Trump's Influence

State of the Union

CNN

News

3.41.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 May 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From gerrymandering to the future of our political landscape, former candidate Pete Buttigieg joins the conversation on the state of democracy. Tune in for insights on what lies ahead for both parties. Plus, is alien life among us, and are we ready to meet them face to face? Join Neil deGrasse Tyson as he explores the fascinating possibilities in his new book, discussed on State of the Union! Dive into the unknown and get the answers you're seeking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Settling a score. President Trump gets payback against a Republican who voted to impeach him.

0:12.4

Sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you want it to, but you don't pound, you don't whine,

0:17.7

you don't claim that election was stolen. But is Trump's grip on his base, blinding him to

0:23.3

the dangers his party faces this fall? Plus, blueprint. More than anything, Democrats say they want

0:30.3

a fighter. There is so much at stake. My ambition is to change this country. If something is broken,

0:39.8

we actually do what it takes to fix it.

0:43.1

Who can meet the moment now and in 2028?

0:46.7

Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is next.

0:51.8

And out of this world, the Pentagon makes UFO files public.

0:57.3

But are we ready for first contact? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins me on his new book coming up.

1:05.8

Hello, I'm Dan Abbas in Washington, where the state of our union is winging up to see

1:10.7

that revenge is a dish best served cold.

1:14.5

President Trump took down his fellow Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. Why? One reason. The Louisiana Republican voted in 2021 to convict Trump of impeachable offenses after the January 6th insurrection.

1:30.1

Cassidy did not even qualify for a GOP runoff in Louisiana's primary last night. Instead, House Republicans Julia Letlow and John

1:36.3

Fleming advanced to a runoff this summer. As for Democrats, they hope voters see this fall

1:41.6

much differently than Trump's loyal base.

1:45.5

Elsewhere, voters down south and people who are trying to appeal to voters,

1:51.0

Democratic leaders, were marching in defense of the Voting Rights Act.

1:55.6

This weekend, that happened, and party leaders are scrambling to try to counter aggressive moves by the president

2:02.3

and his party to secure a midterm advantage. Here with me now from the campaign trail is

2:08.3

former Democratic presidential candidate, former Transportation Secretary Buttigieg. Thank you so

2:13.7

much for being here, sir. I do want to start with Senator Cassidy's defeat in Louisiana

...

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