A thrill records of “Today with George Stephanopoulos” broadcasting on Sunday, November 2, 2025 on ABC Information is listed below. This duplicate might not remain in its last kind, might be upgraded and might have small transcription mistakes. For previous program records, see the “Today” records archive.
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC “TODAY” CO-ANCHOR: And for even more on the effects from this closure, consisting of on flight, I’m signed up with currently by Transport Assistant Sean Duffy.
We’re so delighted to have you right here today, Mr. Assistant.
Americans have actually experienced significant hold-up. There’s a ground quit today at Newark, all due to the fact that air web traffic controllers are calling ill. The FAA is stating that presently, almost half of significant air traffic control service centers are seasoned staffing lacks and almost 80 percent of air web traffic controllers are out at New york city location centers.
We understand that safety and security is your best issue, however eventually, might you need to close down parts of the united state airspace, perhaps even flight terminals? What factor are we at, at that opportunity?
SEAN DUFFY, UNITED STATE TRANSPORT ASSISTANT: Well, so first of all, I have actually been around speaking with air web traffic controllers and there actually is irritation. The truth that there’s a closure today. The Democrats are concentrating on prohibited health care, and you understand, we have actually jeopardized the breeze recipients, and they do not earn money as air web traffic controllers. There’s a burning irritation like in the remainder of the nation.
Therefore, you stated that safety and security is my leading concern and it is. We will certainly postpone, we will certainly terminate any type of sort of trip throughout the nationwide airspace to see to it individuals are risk-free.
However there is a degree of threat that obtains infused right into the system when we have a controller that’s doing 2 work as opposed to one. We handle that. We watch out for it, and safety and security is the top priority.
We’ll take all actions required though to see to it that you obtain from factor A to factor B and you do it securely.
RADDATZ: And simply once more, exactly how close are we to this factor where you might need to shut airspace or flight terminals as we enjoy air web traffic controllers calling ill?
DUFFY: Well, so first of all, if you check out various other closures, our air web traffic controllers, God honor them. They have actually been pertaining to function. They’re annoyed, however mostly, they have actually come, they’re not making money.
Therefore, I can not anticipate, Martha, what’s mosting likely to occur in the future, however as every day takes place and once more, it’s not– you miss out on an income, however each day, you have costs, food and gas, and after that costs been available in. Whether it’s Netflix or, you understand, your YouTube television, the costs remain to roll and the stress remains to expand.
And the trouble is these controllers, a great deal of them are brand-new controllers or they’re student controllers. They do not make a great deal of cash. Therefore, they might be the only individual that is bringing cash right into the house. They need to decide, do I most likely to function and not obtain an income and not place food on the table, or do I drive for Uber or DoorDash or wait tables?
Those are the actual ideas and discussions these controllers are having. So, as I look onward, I wish Democrats are mosting likely to involve their detects and open up the federal government back up. However I would certainly simply inform you, as negative as it is, the numbers you simply offered this, we will certainly recall– if the federal government does not open up in the following week or 2, we’ll recall as these were the great days, not the negative days. It’s just going to obtain even worse.
And, Martha, simply another factor on our controllers. We, as I assume you have actually reported, we have actually old, archaic air traffic control service tools. We have one of the most effective and risk-free airspace, not due to the tools, however due to the fact that the terrific males and females that manage the airspace, and we ought to treat them like the specialists that they are and pay them.
RADDATZ: Well– well, allow’s speak about that. The Trump management today paid solution participants by utilizing $2.5 billion in real estate funds from the supposed Big, Beautiful Costs. Why have not you done something comparable with air web traffic controllers?
DUFFY: Yes, we have actually looked throughout our financing devices to see exactly how we can draw cash in and pay our controllers. We maintained the central air conditioning solution functional. We’re paying our academy pupils at Oklahoma City. They obtain a gratuity as they undergo the academy.
We’re drawing in whatever buck we can, however there there’s actual constraints. When you do not money the federal government, when you state there’s no bucks readily available, it comes to be actually testing to discover bucks to pay the various parts of actually important labor forces that maintain our nation moving on.
And once more, it’s straightforward. Democrats, open the federal government, work out an offer, have a discussion, present a costs, discussion it, elect on it, however closing the federal government down is not the path onward, I assume, to see to it you obtain your method and you obtain your will.
RADDATZ: And, Mr. Mr. Assistant, I intend to check out from our survey. ABC’s brand-new survey with “The Washington Blog Post” and Ipsos discovers 44 percent of Americans condemn Donald Trump and the Republicans for the closure while 33 percent state the exact same concerning Democrats.
So, individuals are taking a look at this due to the fact that the Republicans certainly have both homes of Congress and the White Home and placing the blame on Republicans. So, what should Republicans do (ph)?
DUFFY: Well, I assume it is very important to state in September, we– Republicans claimed we ought to have the exact same financing degrees in September as we perform in October. We really did not alter anything.
Once Again, you do not utilize closures to pass costs. You do not hold the American individuals captive. You do not injure the American individuals to obtain take advantage of. Which’s specifically what Democrats are doing today due to the fact that individuals are obtaining pain.
And once more, whether you’re taking a trip home to see your family members or most likely to a funeral service or a wedding celebration or you get on a company journey, the hours that individuals are investing in flight terminals, Democrats see that as take advantage of. And, this not the– this is not the path to obtain your method or obtain your will.
And I would certainly simply keep in mind, Martha, Donald Trump had a historical political election. He won the prominent ballot. He won the 7 swing states. Democrats roundly shed.
Therefore currently to state, I’m mosting likely to close down the federal government to obtain my method, my will, I– pay attention, you can not cave to that. Or else, you’re mosting likely to have a closure every– every 3rd month.
Therefore once more, the ballot is one point, however the procedure is an additional.
RADDATZ: And allow’s speak about the procedure and Head of state Trump’s function. Dem– you state Democrats need to involve the table. Republican politicians have actually not been bargaining. And Scott Bessent informed me simply a week ago he assume– he assumes it would certainly be a wild-goose chase for Donald Trump to hold an additional conference.
Back in 2011 when Donald Trump was taking into consideration a run for head of state, this is what he claimed concerning Barack Obama as a closure impended. Allow’s pay attention.
( BEGIN VIDEO, 2011)
RECRUITER: So, exactly how would certainly you do it currently? Currently, you remain in the Oval Workplace today.
DONALD TRUMP, HEAD OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES: I would certainly obtain everyone with each other and we would certainly have a spending plan–
RECRUITER: And they have actually all obtained with each other.
TRUMP: Well, that’s due to the fact that they do not have the ideal leader. You do not have the ideal leader. This is the head of state of the USA needs to obtain this done.
( END VIDEO)
RADDATZ: And he took place to state, “The head of state is the one that needs to obtain individuals with each other and it would certainly be a significantly adverse mark on the head of state if they could not obtain it done.” What’s your response to that?
DUFFY: Well, I’ll simply inform you that Barack Obama claimed, “I’m not mosting likely to be blackmailed. I’m not mosting likely to be imprisoned. This is not the method you work out an offer. You shed the political election, Republicans,” that’s what Barack Obama claimed. Experience the procedure.
And I assume that’s the ideal ideology today. And once more–
( CROSSTALK)
RADDATZ: Head of state Trump, provided what he claimed, should Head of state Trump be satisfying? Would certainly you such as to see him hold an additional conference?
DUFFY: So, right here’s the trouble– Donald Trump has absolutely nothing to work out with. We passed a tidy financing expense, right? So, what do you work out with when you– once more cash in September, like October?
Democrats are attempting to utilize this as take advantage of and once more attempting to alter regulations that they do not such as. However once more, the adjustments they intend to make intend to money health care for prohibited travelers. That does not make good sense to Republicans.
If you intend to have a discussion, allow’s have it. The health care financing does not finish ’til completion of the year. So why are you closing the federal government down in October when you could have a discussion for 3 months up until completion of the year?
I assume this does not make any type of feeling. I assume Democrats are upset. They’re playing to the left-wing side of their base. The majority of realistic Democrats, I assume, would certainly state, “Open it up and work out, pass costs, discussion it.”
However this is not the method on exactly how you pass regulations.
RADDATZ: Okay, many thanks a lot for joining us and we’ll allow Tim Kaine react to what you simply claimed. Many thanks a lot.
DUFFY: Many Thanks, Martha.
//
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC “TODAY” CO-ANCHOR: And I’m signed up with currently by Legislator Tim Kaine of Virginia.
Greetings, Legislator.
I understand you listened to Assistant Duffy there discussing the obligation gets on the Democrats which you are combating to obtain a lawful healthcare for immigrants.
SEN. TIM KAINE, (D) VIRGINIA: Well, I simply reached state, Martha, that’s a lie. The healthcare fight is not concerning healthcare for illegal aliens, and Sean Duffy recognizes it. It has to do with numerous Americans that, in the last couple of weeks, have actually obtained exceptional boost notifications that inform them that Donald Trump’s huge, stunning expense is supplying them huge, hideous medical insurance costs within the following couple of weeks unless we can discover a repair.
Therefore what we’re considering is, allow’s discover a course to a repair and allow’s likewise have Head of state Trump ultimately take part in the settlement and assurance that an offer is an offer. If we tremble hands on an offer for thirty days or for 3 months, he will not quickly begin shooting even more individuals, clawing back financial growth tasks, pursuing blue states or blue cities, and permitting funds to be made use of in red cities.
So, appearance, we’re searching for a course to take care of individuals’s healthcare prices, and we’re searching for the head of state to concur that an offer is an offer. So far he’s declined to involve, and we stay clear of closures or obtain it out– leave closures at all times if the head of state involves.
RADDATZ: So– so, Legislator, it has actually been 33 days. Democrats selected not to sustain that short-term CR, which would certainly have maintained the federal government open. You can have discussed. Currently there’s some quite disastrous influence on– on individuals taking a look at– for breeze, on air web traffic controllers, on flight. So, what have the Democrats acquired from this?
KAINE: Well, I do not check out this as national politics. I imply the head of state informed your house, do a spending plan and, in his words, do not manage Democrats. So, Us senate Democrats placed an option on the table 12 days prior to September 30 that dealt with the healthcare wreck that the Republicans triggered which made sure that an offer would certainly be recognized, both by Congress and the White Home. The head of state declined to satisfy up until the day prior to the due date. He had Democrats in the Oval Workplace. And as quickly as they left, he set up an A.I.-generated video clip of them using sombreros and chatting in A.I.-generated phony voices stating they really did not state. The man’s unserious. He agrees to provide $20 billion–
RADDATZ: However– however major–
KAINE: Hang On. He’s wanted to provide $20 billion to the Argentinians and consult with them, damage the White Home, have an Excellent Gatsby event down at Mar-a-Lago. He has actually refrained what he claimed required to be carried out in 2011, take a seat with Autonomous management. It’s (FAINT)–
RADDATZ: Legislator, I simply intend to return to the–
KAINE: Management (ph) is stating will certainly be dealt with in an issue of hours.
RADDATZ: OK. Excuse me. I simply intend to return to what Democrats have actually obtained throughout this duration. Not discussing national politics. What have Democrats acquired throughout this duration? And the length of time can this last?
KAINE: I– you understand, Martha, I’m an USA Legislator. And I– indeed, I run as a Democrat, and I’m a Democrat, however I simply do not approach my job in this way. So, when you ask what Democrats have actually obtained, what we’re– what we’re concentrated on is the American individuals. We desire Head of state Trump to quit shooting individuals, terminating financial growth tasks. We desire them to quit increasing everyone’s prices. You understand, healthcare prices, power prices, real estate prices. Halloween’s a lot more costly. Thanksgiving is a lot more costly. The vacations are mosting likely to be a lot more costly.
So, we’re asking the head of state to just take a seat and do what all head of states do. We can discover a spending plan offer that places us on a course to a healthcare solution. I do not require all the is populated and Ts went across. I simply intend to get on a course to ensure that individuals’s costs do not surge, and I desire the head of state to concur, quit the damaging sphere. Quit the mass shootings and the cancelations of tasks you do not such as.
And I assume Americans comprehend that. Which’s why they check out Donald Trump’s absence of involvement and extremely state that he’s actually even more responsible for this.
RADDATZ: We simply have a number of mins right here, however you just recently claimed points are collaborating. There are supposedly discussions amongst rank-and-file legislators to attempt to get to– to work out the resuming of the federal government for a couple of weeks. Is that taking place today? Are you component of those conversations?
KAINE: I would certainly state, Martha, I’m type of beside them. There is a team of individuals discussing these 2 concerns, a course to take care of the healthcare ordeal and an assurance that if we resume federal government, I’m calling it a halt on mischievousness. If we accept resume, Head of state Trump’s reached quit the shootings.
The FAA, we’re chatting air traffic control service, they have actually required 2,400 individuals out of the FAA throughout Trump’s initial year, when they were currently brief 3,000 air web traffic controllers. Quit the shootings, quit the video games playing, quit pursuing blue cities and aiding red cities. Allow’s have a halt on mischievousness throughout whatever this duration is. Jump on a course to take care of individuals’s healthcare. If the head of state involves, we will certainly be– we will certainly discover an offer I assume within hours.
RADDATZ: And, Legislator, simply promptly if you can, you exist in Virginia. Virginia holds essential political elections on Tuesday. Are you positive the Democrats can move this?
KAINE: I really feel actually great concerning it, Martha. And right here’s why. In Virginia, we are the most effective red to blue turn-around in the nation in the last 25 years. And the method we have actually done it is by concentrating on the economic climate. Abigail Spanberger, our prospect, 3 columns to her project, cost, work, and education and learning, which has to do with youngsters, however likewise concerning our labor force. Her challenger is running adds off beat social concerns that do not actually matter to lots of people. In Virginia, Democrats concentrate on the economic climate, winning the financial disagreements, supplying financial outcomes. Which’s why the state has actually relocated from red to blue so drastically given that 2000.
RADDATZ: OK. Many thanks a lot. Great to see you today, Legislator. Value your time.
KAINE: Many Thanks, Martha. Great to be with you.
RADDATZ: Up following, our record from New Jacket, taking a look at what’s driving citizens there in advance of Tuesday’s important political elections. And Also, Rick Klein damages down the races from New york city City to Virginia to The golden state. We’re back in 2 mins.
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