The Adam Friedland Show (Cumtown) - RITCHIE TORRES Talks Zionism, LGBT, The Bronx

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

The Adam Friedland Show - Season Two Episode 10 | RITCHIE TORRES X: https://x.com/friedland_show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadamfrie... TikTok:   / adamfriedlandshowclips   YouTube: Subscribe to @TheAdamFriedlandShow here:    / theadamfriedlandshow   Subscribe to @TAFSClips here:    / @tafsclips   -- DK Casino: https://casino.draftkings.com/promos MOOD: https://mood.com/TAFS Get 20% off your first order at Mood.com with promo code TAFS. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com/TAFS LUCY: Lucy.Co/TAFS  #theadamfriedlandshow #tafs #adamfriedland #ritchietorres #gaza #israel #politics

I'm sorry dude you're bummed your consultants told you not to do it this I like this guy a lot too I'm sorry I I appreciate your time listen I don't I don't get to talk to someone in the government that's that's taking part of these big decisions like this and well only one of 535 so which one is but it would like me. Virginia Fox? I don't know. Do you ever a lover? I don't have her number, no. All right. Welcome to the Adam Friedland Show on our patrons, the people that support our show.

If you'd like to support our show, there's a link in the description of this video below to become a member, which gives you early access to all of our episodes. And there's also a link if you prefer to use Patreon on in the description as well. And as always, guys, there are two additional tiers for those of you who'd like to get your name in the credits. This week, my guest was Richie Torres from New York's 15th district in the House of Representatives. I'd heard of Representative Torres,

but before I researched for this episode, I'd never heard of his backstory. And frankly, it's kind of inspirational. I mean, he grew up in public housing, you know, single mother, a minimum him a wage. You know, he realized he was gay in elementary school. He attempted to take his own life in college. And he came back from a mental health crisis and became a member of the New York City Council and a member of the United States House of Representatives. He's the first gay black man in Congress. I mean, that's, it's kind of like a movie. This is like a, I don't know what this is. It's kind of like it becomes, it's a, it was unexpected. Representative Torres has been referred to as Israel's loudest advocate in the House of Representatives.

And when, prior to this interview, I wanted to have a conversation that didn't resemble like a point, counterpoint, you know, just screaming match like we see online all the time. I wanted to try and get something different. And to be honest with you, when I expressed, I became emotional and it fell off the rails. and I wasn't able as an interviewer to get it back on the rails. I mean, there were, like, multiple topics that we didn't cover at the end. It was, frankly, it was exhausting for both of us. Yeah, it felt like it was a gotcha, and I'm an activist. You know, this is how this conversation goes nowadays.

And so while I didn't get what I was initially, you know, looking for, I kind of still feel like it's important. I stand by what I said. And even if I'm like being, my voice is high. Don't, like, I mean, I think it's important to say what I said in the interview. And so I don't know what it is. I mean, as a certain point, I don't even know if it's an interview, but I hope you, you know, make it what you will. And, you know, next week we're going to have, like, really, it's going to be so.

funny but this one I think is a it's going to be a different tone and you know enjoy ladies and gentlemen congressman from New York in the US House of Representatives Richie Torres everyone make some noise I can't hello what's going on hello well I got two issues first of all you your district is Yankee Stadium that is one of your that's one of your Represent Yankee Stadium, yeah. And I asked you how the Yanks were, and you were like, I'm not, you did. So I love the Yankees, but I'm not a, I'm not a huge baseball fan.

You just turned out. And I'm not going to pretend to be a baseball fan. What about the zoo? I love the Bronx Zoo. Okay. Do you consider the animals, your constituents? I consider the Bronx Zoo indistinguishable from the United States Congress. Oh.

Does that crush in, like if you say to another guy in Congress? It crushes nowhere because I, you know, if I were actually, if had any comedic talent, I probably wouldn't be in Congress. What do you mean? You want to be a stand-up media? You know, when I was a kid, I was a fan, not a baseball, but professional wrestling. Really? Yeah, I was a huge fan of the rock.

The attitude era. So I started watching in 1998. We had it so good at the time. I thought that was golden age. Mankind. Yeah, so was I. Yeah. That we were watching rock.

And I did a huge rock impersonation when I was a kid. Like, I used to. I knew of you as a congressman, but I didn't know your backstory. And, I mean, goddamn, wow. I mean, it's an incredibly inspirational story that you have. And unlike George Santos, I have a true story. That's your op. I have no OnlyFans account, but I do have an actual...

Did he have an OnlyFans? Oh, yeah. In Congress. I'm not sure if he had it, but certainly it was generating income from after. He would have been the first. I mean... Who knows? I mean, I'm not closely following the only fans accounts of every member of Congress.

It sounds like you can't stand this guy. No. No. Do you miss him? He was pretty funny. You know, he was an almost source of comedic enjoyment. His tweet right before jail was amazing. He's like, the curtain closes, like, you know, she walks off stage.

He was a real ham, George. Yeah, he was. But he was a complete fraud, right? Total fraud, yeah. Yeah. Because he bought, like, Birkenbags with campaign funds. And also, he fabricated every aspect of his biography. It was not like you told one lie here or there.

It was like the whole story was a complete fabrication. I feel like in this day and age, that's kind of like, that's part, that's, that's in play. I feel like you can do it. No, it's, I've never seen. I feel like it's such a chaotic time. Like, yeah, like, I went to Harvard Law School and I used to be the coolest guy in my school. And I'm also Brazilian and Jewish. And what did he say?

No, he said that his, you know, he had his parents were Holocaust survivors. I like that. Ukrainian because of the war in Ukraine. He was also Ukrainian. And he had, you know, he was friends who died. He got in the mass shooting in Orlando. He's amazing. He, like, incorporated every current event into his life story.

Pathological liars are great. But he took it all the way to the freaking... To the show. Although, you know, he inspired me to introduce a bill. It has... I think it's the greatest acronym in the history of Congressional... The Santos Act. And what was it?

Stop another non-truthful office seeker. Santos. Am I sensing that there's like... The Santos Act. That the two of you guys as, like, young New York, gay. like Latino Congressman he's naturally like your foil He's your Darth Vader

Let's assume like after he was expelled from Congress I became the most prominent Jewish gay Latino congressman from New York You're Jewish? No, I'm Jewish I'm lying at Joe oh come on I wouldn't wish this upon it My greatest enemy you don't want any part of this my friend You never heard this comment he's Jewish not Jewish? Yeah I've heard a lot of people say that but you don't I'm just know but he invented the term about you? I don't think he invented the term

about you I don't think he invented the term term about himself it's just a word with yeah he about him when he was confronted you know why did you lie about being Jewish you said I never said I was Jewish I said it was Jewish I would say that I'm that I'm but you're actually Jewish yeah unfortunately yeah it's tough yeah I can't quit no I wrote a letter to to Bebe and they rejected they don't let you out it's like the mafia you know that you know you join is when you're a baby yeah your parents have a party and And then this old wizard walks in.

And then he pulls your diaper off. And then your whole family looks at your beautiful baby penis. And then he cuts the part that I guess gives one pleasure later on in life during sex. And then there's like a deli tray there and stuff. That's how you join the club. But we've been doing it for a while, though. I don't know.

I don't mind it. You really didn't like my crude humor. I mean, you've endured for thousands of years. So something's going right. We're, yeah, yeah, I guess so. It's definitely the wizard and the baby's penis part. I know, I'm being crude with the member of the legislative branch. These are important decisions that parents have to make.

You know what's rude is that we're in an era where, like, talking to someone in the legislative branch is a, it's a privilege because it's so fucking crazy. The privilege is mine. You're the one with the master following an audit. You were in the New Yorker. You know, I know that because you told me. Not because I read the profile. But you told me, you were in the New Yorker. Congratulations on the profile.

You know, you would be considered young in the United States Congress? Yeah, I mean, I've only been able to be president. My dating profile says I'm congressionally young. Congressional young. And congressionally attractive, just in case you're disappointed. That gets some action. Is it a plus? It's not clear.

It has to be. It has to be. I mean, I work seven days a week, that has a crowding out effect. Yeah. And you're with the worst people on earth. Well. What are you doing to yourself? It must be tough.

Yeah, one of my colleagues said to me that, Congress is the best university in the world. Really? And because you just have access to some of the brightest minds. You can learn a tremendous amount. They're the smartest guys? Some of the... Yeah.

We certainly have access to someone. It's like the Sorbonne or something in Congress. How boring is it, like, to be in the government sometimes? What's the most boring part of it? I mean, I love it. You love it? Because of the variety. You like, like, parliamentary procedure or something like that?

I feel like no position has more variety than a house member. Because one day, you get to be local, state, national, and international at the same time. So one day, I'm receiving a pothole, a complaint about a pothole on Fordham Road or pressuring the mayor to crack down on an open-air drug market in the South Bronx. And the next day... And then the next day, I'm receiving, like, a briefing from the CIA about rising tensions between the United States and China. What do you do about the pothole in D.C., though?

I'm just sorry. I mean, I use my platform to pressure the mayor to sell problems. Oh, Adams. Yeah. Yeah. Let me, can I guess who you were in school grown up? Sure. You were like a, were you, were you student government?

No, not student government. You were like a debate club or? I was the captain of the law team. Law team. Oh, so you wanted to be a lawyer? Yeah, I had dreams of becoming either a lawyer or a teacher. So you did mock trial, right? I didn't mooch court.

And mock trial, but I was the, I was like a master of moot court. And what did you like, you liked, like the Atticus Fidge style, like closing arguments? So that's more, that was mock trial. Yeah. Mook Court is modeled after the Supreme Court or an appellate court, so you deliver an argument before a panel of judges who interrupt you with questions. The one that's less than it's like a... No, because it teaches you to think on your feet. Yeah, it's less theatrical.

So, but that was your prep for the game. Yeah. You went to the show. It was the first time when I discovered I had a talent for public speaking. Or I thought I had a talent for John. Early on, you grew up in a single mother home. You have a twin brother? Twin brother.

Identical? He's biologically older. I'm temperament. mentally older. Identical or no? Fraternal. That's all right. Five minutes apart.

I was on a date once for the girl who told me the first date. She said I have an identical twin and I can't do it. I can't tell her secrets. She has her brain as connected to some other, another one of her. Yeah. You can't trust these people. It's funny when I was a kid. That's a prejudice of mine.

People would ask me where's your brother. I'm like we're fraternal twins, not Siamese twins. I don't know his whereabouts at every moment. But you're good at DC, right? I'm learning DC. You're still learning? Yeah, of course. Of course, I've only been there for three terms.

It's the most complicated legislature on Earth. No one's going to master it in three terms. The problem with D.C. is not that it's corrupt. The problem with D.C. is that it's stupid. There's just so much absurdity in D.C. I thought you said it's the smartest places in the world. You have access to some of the brightest minds. So, like, if you want to learn more about artificial intelligence or quantum computing or energy,

you can reach out to some of the press minds. Yeah, yeah. You can call it any CEO right now? Calls up right now. Generally, we'll take your, I'm not calling now, so. You know, I don't know. Your boys was up. You said I'm not calling him now.

You have his number. Well, I don't know. So, what CEO is your best friend? What's the best one? I can mention who's my best friend. How many CEO friends do you have? I don't have many CEO friends. Well, you said you could call anyone on the phone at any time.

If I, if I, if I had a question about, like, AI policy, I probably could get a meeting with a CEO, yeah. That's true of any member of Congress. Yeah. Did you grow up in the district you represent? My father's from this, from Mott Haven. I'm from Throggs. houses. So I grew up in a public housing development in Throgg's Neck houses right across the street from what was formerly Trump cough course. Yeah. And I kid you not, as the golf course was undergoing construction, it unleashed a skunk infestation. So I tell people I've been...

So I tell people I've been smelling the stench of Donald Trump long before he became president. But they were, he was infested with scuffs. What's a like you grew up in New York City. So born and raised in the Bronx. Our president is an outer borough New Yorker, effectively. Yeah, from Queens. Right. He wants to present that he's a that he's like Mr. Goldman Sachs, but really he's a New York City real estate guy. Yeah. Is that correct? He was never respected in the real estate industry. He was known to rip off his contractors. He was seen as a joke within the industry.

Yeah, he figured out that if you keep someone in a lawsuit long enough, you don't have to pay that. He was more known for his self-promotion and marketing than he was for his actual effectiveness in real estate. Yeah. Have you ever, what have your interactions been with the president? No interactions. You've never met him. I have no desire to meet him. practice it right now like he's the worst person on earth you know what to mean it was

you're in the government though you got to be the president he's the devil he's the devil yeah you gotta say you gotta have a good burn for the for the president let's practice i'm the i'm the trump what's up i'm in trump nice to meet you yeah that's your no you're you just bombed you can't sit there like that with some weird smile i'm gonna shake don't trump's hand yeah you have to say like um you're you've you're you're you're you're doing like the like the holocaust right now in this country like you're you have to say like you're ruining this country right now like seriously why don't you say something like that you're an asshole you've said the Marines and okay well we'll practice okay okay okay okay let's get it let's

come on dude mr president yeah how are you I'm looking for hopefully you can release those files the EPSC that's your no come on dude that first of all you guys already lost on EPSC and you think we lost on EPSC you guys lost him he's obviously in the the files. Well, half of the files is your guys, too, right? So you got, you know, half the files is your guys too. So that's why you guys didn't do this. My view is release the files and let the dice fall where they make. Uh-huh, uh-huh. You guys lost on Epstein. Why do we lose? His crappy excuse, like everyone, uh, his whole base doesn't really care. Yeah, they moved on. What we found is that they actually don't care.

Magin didn't really care. Yeah. You guys really are having a rough one right now. What's your advice for us? Um, I don't know. I mean, You're one of the guys, so I'll tell you what I'm seeing. Yeah, please tell me. I really wanted to give you your whole story about where. You want me to tell my story? No, no, no, because I want to talk about this. Okay.

You clearly don't want to hear it my stories. I've been trying to toss it to your story, which is fucking, that's a hallmark movie. We'd open this up, like this guy's, you're the first black gay guy to be in the government. Gay guy, gay man to be in the government. Gay guy is, you can't say that. to a respect first you know you're the first you know and black gay member of Congress first latino and gay yeah it doesn't roll off the tongue that one yeah too many identities yeah yeah first black president Obama crushed it with that one yeah

first Latino and black again once you have a first black president everything else becomes less impressive how many LGBT members of the of Congress are there there are quite a few like more than 10 more than 10 yeah and there's a hundred Senate, how many, House? 435. So 535 in total. Are there any, no Republicans, right? Who are openly LGBTQ? Oh, you're saying.

None of them. You're spilling the T right now? My running joke is the LGBTQ caucus is the only caucus that can expand without winning an election. We just have to take members out of the closet. Would you do that? You were in the closet in your life, right? Like, what are the ethics there? It's really interesting. Because like, if you see a, if you see a closet, a gay Republican, like, advocating for something that is... Would I out him?

Well, it's... Advocated for, like, taking away gay marriage or something. Like, what's the rule there? Because you were in the closet yourself as a young man, and it's a painful thing, I would imagine? Yeah, no, you have to go through the... Yeah, it's a process. You found out in middle school?

I realized that I was a gay in middle school. When was it, Titanic, Leo and DiCaprio? No. I didn't realize at all when I said... It was cute. What? How was it? What was it?

I forget exactly how I realized. You've forgotten. No, you don't forget. You've got to have a better story. You're a politician. Titanic, Leonardo. I'm not often asked about my coming out story in the Bronx, so. Why not?

It's an interesting story, right? And like, you're Puerto Rican. You were afraid of experiencing homophobia in your community? I grew up in the project, so it's a machismo environment. And what about in your family? Was there, like, when did you come out to them? to that? 16.

16. Yeah. And was that when you came out? No. Then I came out gradually over time and then when I ran for office when I was 24, I decided to be out to everyone to run as an openly LGBTQ candidate. That was back in 2013. When you were at school and stuff, you didn't tell people that you were gay?

Yeah, I was telling more and more people over time. I thought you were at an assembly or something. Yes, I was at a debate competition where I said I was a gamer. So that's, like, it's coming out? Isn't that like a Jim McGreevy moment, though? Remember he said as a gay American? Yeah, yeah. He gave this speech.

That's such a dated reference. You're a kid coming out of the closet. Don't diminish that experience. Yeah, I was back in. No, that's your story. Why would you say that it was just a debate coveted? It has to be scary. No, I agree.

It was terrifying. What led you to do it at debate? Yeah. I don't know, it felt, it just felt, you know, it's interesting. Did you see something that you were like? Yeah, so I was browsing through MySpace. Yeah. And I ran into the profile of a teacher.

who identified as gay. And it was the first time I knew of a person in my social universe who was openly LGBTQ, and so I approached him. Your social universe, you chilled with your teachers? Or people, in the world I knew, I guess. You were a, you hung out with adults. I had not socialized my teachers. Yeah, yeah.

So it was the first adult or a person that was openly gay. Yeah, because I grew up in a world where no one was openly gay. Yeah. And I just spontaneously came out. It was the first time I ever had acknowledged my sexuality to someone. Do you feel like sharing your story and making it all the way to Congress? That has to be inspiration of people that grew up in a place like that. That must feel good, no?

It does. So why are you diminishing it on the show right now? I'm not diminishing it, but I feel... You should be proud of that. I was in the New Yorker yesterday. I was in the New Yorker as well back in 2016. Oh, okay. Well, I was in it yesterday. So both of us are probably the same, same, uh, yeah. But you're, you're at a much higher level than I am, so. No, you were, uh, 2016, you were a, uh, Bernie Dull yet. I was 2016. So wait, so go back to that, because it's, it's interesting to me. So, like, you had this mental health crisis in college, right? And, uh, did it stem, it stemmed from being gay? Is that what it was? Uh, not only from my, I mean, I mean, I had a sexual identity but I had a severe struggle with depression yeah which

began in high school yeah but then became worse in college and I dropped out of college and at some point even thought of committing suicide yeah underwent hospitalization felt as if the world around me had collapsed but then I began like taking an antidepressant going through psychotherapy and it just gave me a fighting chance to rebuild my life so after a few years of hospitalization, I rebuilt my life and became the youngest elected official in America's largest city. I ran for the council, and then ultimately ran for the United States Congress, and here I am. And it was a few years that you were going through that. Yeah. Yeah. And so,

and what did you do once you got out? What, what, how did you restart your life? Well, instead of going back to school, I went into politics. So I was a, uh-huh, housing organizing. Yeah, I was a housing organizer for a New York City Council. Whoever, And then I ran for public office myself. I would have moved to, like, France or something. I couldn't afford to move to France. Yeah. I grew up poor.

You can figure it out. You get a ticket. You get to France. I don't know. Busk? Do you know a guitar? No. You get a guitar and put the, I don't know.

Obviously, to run for office, you have to have a call to public service. You guys all say that. But, like, you have to have an ambition, like, as well. Right? It has to be part of it, right? Like, I want to do... I think an ambition to make a difference. Yeah, but you want to be... I want to be the president.

No, I have no desire to be present. Is your ambition purely just to make a difference? I mean, it's a very abstract term, too. What's your dream? My goal is to be the best elect the official I can be. Uh-huh. And then let the rest take care of itself. That doesn't work for me.

Works for me. You could say, like, I want to make sure that... I mean, I would love to be... Say a better thing. Like, I want to make sure... like kids in my neighborhood could like you know have a better life or something saying the best that you could be is so abstract you could but you could vote for anything yeah no I mean I can tell you why I ran into a public office what which is

what it was it really about public housing so as so you know born and raised the Bronx spent most of my life in poverty uh-huh and raised by a single mother he raised three of us on minimum wage which in the 1990s was $4.25 and I was ridiculous but the most formative experience of my life was growing up in public housing. And in New York City, there's an institution known as the New York City Housing Authority Nitro, which manages the largest stock of public housing in the country. It houses about a half a million people. And it's been so chronically underfunded by the federal government that it has a capital need of $80 billion in counting. And is that issue something that affects your

constituents? Because you represent the poorest district. And I represent one of the largest concentrations of public housing yeah in the country yeah and so you have like asthmatics who are struggling to breathe in their homes you live in the face of unsafe circumstances as well right yeah I mean I grew up without heat and hot water molded conditions leaking conditions like these conditions you know there's the living conditions of public housing have become a humanitarian crisis uh-huh and I think of I think you know if if if Nica were a city unto itself it would be the largest city of low-income black and brown Americans in the United States, and it's the

forgotten city of New York. In representing the poorest district in America, one of the smallest districts too, right? The most contiguous and compact district, yeah. And it was even more so before redistricting. And you have a third of your district lives under the poverty line. Is that correct? It's the lowest income district. About a third of the district is enrolled in SNAP. 70% is emerald in Medicaid. A third of about a third are born in other countries. Is that correct? Significant immigrant population.

Yeah. What does that, what is the mandate that you have in D.C. representing those people? It is to make government work for the Bronx to protect critical programs like Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare, Social Security. Is that what you carry with you when you're in Congress? Is that what you consider when you're like in a committee hearing or something? or something? Everything should be centered around the Bronx.

Yeah. And for me, the Bronx is not only where I live, it's who I am. Yeah. When I tell my constituents, even when I leave the Bronx for Washington, D.C., the Bronx never leaves me. The most important lesson my mother taught me is never forget where you came from, and I'm from the Bronx. And I live in the Bronx my whole life, and I probably will die in the Bronx.

Guys, Draft Kings Casino has your playbook for gaming action all season long. Play thousands of popular slots for a shot at... Play thousands of popular slots for a shot of jackpots. Over 400 million has already been awarded. That's a lot. Guys, and don't get me started on huff and more puff. New players get 500 spins on, of course, huff and more puff. Over 10 days.

Download the app, use the code T-A-F-S to claim your spins after your first $5-dollar wage. get in the game with Draft King's Casino, home of the largest jackpot. And of course, Huff and More Puff. Of course, you get spins on Huff and More Puff. Get in the game with Draft King's Casino, home of the largest jackpot, win in online casino history. The crown is yours.

And of course, they have Huff and more Puff. Huff and more Puff. Guys, I can't tell you how much these 10 days of spins, mean to me, guys, you get 500 spins on Huff and More Puff over 10 days. Download the app and use the code T-A-F-S to claim your spins after your first $5 wager. Once again, guys, let me stress this. Okay, I don't want to get this wrong.

New players get 500 spins, 500 spins on Huff and More Puff over 10 days. You download the app. Use the code T-A-F-S and you claim your spins after your first 5-1. dollar wager. That's Huff and more Puff. It's four adults. Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-78-9-777-7 or visit ccpg.org.

Please play responsibly. 21 and over. Physically president, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia only, void in Ontario. Eligibility restrictions apply. New customers only. Non-withthrawable casino spins issued as 50 spins per day for 10 days, valid for featured game only, and expire each day after 24 hours. See terms at casino.draftkings.com slash promo. Ends October 5th, 2025 at 11.59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Let me tell you about the online cannabis company that's revolutionizing how we deal with life's challenges from sleepless nights to stress-filled days and sex and also a sex one. Mood.com has created an entire line of functional gummies that target specific health concerns with 100% federally legal THC blends. They'll deliver them discreetly to your doorstep.

That's awesome, right? And you get 20% off your first order at mood.com with the promo code T-A-F-S. Guys, I've tried a bunch of their gummies, and it's wild how different each one feels. There's sleepy time gummies, knock me out in about 15 minutes flat. No hangovers, no groggyness, I wake up feeling amazing when it's sleepy time. And don't get me started on epic euphoria gummies. They're perfect for, they're perfect for those days when nothing's going on, right? nothing's going to don't get me started on epic euphoria gummies they're

perfect for those days when nothing's going right and you just need to hit the reset button on your crap mood okay so what makes these different is how they've paired THC and other catapenoids with herbs and adaptogens you're you're just not going to find gummies like this in the dispensary or anywhere for that matter and they have gummies for everything, immune support, menopause relief, PMS, symptoms. I bet you guys are going to love, I mean, especially for this audience, mental clarity, sexual arousal,

and each one is crafted using federally legal cannabis grown on a small family-owned American farm. That's right. Not only does Mood stand behind everything with an industry-leading 100-day satisfaction guarantee, but as I mentioned, listeners get 20% off their first order with the code T-A-FS. So head to Mood.com, browse their amazing. selection of functional gummies and find the perfect gummy for whatever

you're dealing with. And remember to use the promo code TAFS at checkout to save 20% off your first order. That's mood.com and now we're back to the episode. Something interesting that's happened in the Bronx is

in the last general election, from what I understand, there was the largest swing towards the Republican Party. Yeah, one of the largest In 2012, Obama won, Barack Obama won 96% of the vote in New York 15 in the Bronx. Flash forward to the 2024 election, there's a more than 22-point swing toward Donald Trump. Why is the Democratic Party losing the most vulnerable people in America then? What do you attribute that?

Well, the Democratic Party is hemorrhaging support among working-class people of color throughout the country. Why is that? You know, Occam's Razor holds the simplest explanation is almost always the best. The simple explanation is inflation and immigration. Yeah. We had the highest inflation in more than four decades. So if you're paying double or triple the cost for groceries and gasoline, you're going to lash out at those in power at the establishment. So you say that the incumbency is just bound to lose that election, Biden.

If the incumbent is perceived as failing, yes. Was there a way to win that election against Trump if inflation is so bad? Is it impossible to win that election? The odds were stacked against us because of inflation and the mismanagement of the migrant crisis. But, you know, if we had the benefit of a full primary process and if we had a stronger general election candidate, maybe we could have won. But I don't know for sure. But Donald Trump is a fatally flawed candidate, so maybe we could have won. You're a member of the least popular Congress probably of our life.

time? I think we are probably we are more we're less popular than colonoscopies it sucks dude yeah yeah does it suck to be the least I think there was polling that said we're more popular than cockroaches but we're less and more popular barely more popular than Ebola you guys are losing Hamas for sure yeah well you guys are getting crushed by Hamas might be more popular in college campuses than Congress oh okay okay but uh but I I looked at a gallop poll the other day dude this is I was actually started laughing you just have to laugh at this you guys are 23 right now that's pretty that's not bad higher than it's high yeah you guys what is this oh my god may 20 24 13 means we have room for growth

13 yeah that's you and the republicans 13 and the will the institution at large 13 is you poop your pants in front of the whole school uh February 20 24 12 percent yeah so it sounds like what was happening that month if congress were not a woman you probably wouldn't go on a date with her is that why she's unpopular No, she could be like beautiful, you know, like, what do you mean? No, you seem to hate Congress, so. I'm saying everyone does, right? I'm looking at the Gallup poll over there.

Are you part of the 13% that approves, sir? I think that we have to recognize the runway a little bit and what got us here maybe, you know? Seeing the Marine Corps entering the second largest city in America and, seeing the most vulnerable people in society just take it away from their children yeah and kidnapped and there are there are there are facilities in our country right now surrounded by alligators there are facilities where there are cages with human beings in them who have not been afforded any due process and the sad thing is is that you guys are you're pulling behind Donald Trump right now

and that's not true the Democrats party has lower approval ratings than Donald Trump. I think the story is more complicated there. What is that? Yeah, so the ladies polling from CNN shows that the most important issue to Americans is inflation, the cost of living. And on the most important issue, Donald Trump is 25 points underwater. And since the November election, there's been a 34 point swing against them, and that we

as Democrats are more trusted on inflation than he is. That's a huge swing. Why are you guys not killing him right now? That is a cherry pick. Come on. You know, that's a, that's a, that's a, I mean, that's inflation is the most, inflation is the most important issue. I want to talk to you guys about monarch money. Sometimes it's tough to remember where all your finance accounts are.

They, you know, they're like, they're drifting all over the internet. If you had an old job and 401K, a job that you forgot about, job that you want to forget about, a traumatic thing may have happened at that job. You can organize it all in one place with Monarch Money. And it's a personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together all in one clean interface on your laptop or your phone. Guys, it just simplifies your life. Money is a really stressful thing. I didn't look at my bank account for about three and a half years.

And right now, for our listeners, Monarch, is offering 50% off your first year. I was looking at the app, Monarch. It's really streamlined my relationship. Now my wife has access to all of my accounts, our accounts, I mean our accounts, and, you know, it's just kept the can you Venmo me thing. And then if you see a record of it on Venmo, it's just, you know, we have all of our shit in one place. So recently when I went home to my dad, I found all of this mail from a former employer

with a 401k that I just didn't know existed. Now with Monarch money, I can have all of this crap in one place. A lot of people forget about it. It's not embarrassing to admit, you know. It does the heavy lifting, and it links all your accounts in minutes, and it gets clear data visuals, smart categorization of your spending, and real control of your money. I burped a little bit. So guys, just don't leave your freaking money on the table, okay?

You can track every dollar, and if you're ignoring your finances, it could cost you dearly. Monarch helps you stay informed, so nothing slips through the cracks. It's not just another finance app, guys. Trust the Wall Street Journal, which called it the best budgeting app of 20. 2025. Trust Forbes, which said it's the best app for couples. Trust CNBC, which called it one of the top FinTech. I don't even know what that is, but it's fit. FinTech.

What? A passionate Reddit community of over 34,000 users. Trust that. There's 34,000 guys talking about the app. It's pretty, I mean, it's impressive. Congress of Monarch Money. Once again, guys, don't let financial opportunities split through the cracks. Use code T-A-F-S at MonarchMoney.com in your browser for half off your first year.

That's 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with the code T-A-A-F-S. Now back to the show. Lucy, guys, I want to talk to you guys about Lucy. As always, it's 100% pure nicotine. Always tobacco-free. Lucy breakers are nicotine pouches with an extra sub-br-r-I-I don't know. That's gross, the way I said that. Each pouch holds a capsule that can be broken open to release the little extra flavor and hydration.

That's how I get, I hydrate myself. So set yourself up with a subscription and have Lucy delivered straight to your door. What's my favorite flavor? I like the minty ones because I like to kiss. And what's my favorite strength? I like the top one. I like it. I like to get a real buzz and I pop it in the morning and I don't stop popping in it until I go to sleep at night.

Guys, level up your nicotine routine with Lucy. Go to lucy.co slash TAFS and use promo code TAFS to get 20% off your first order. Lucy has a 30-day refund policy if you change your mind. It's no shame. Again, that's lucy.com and use code TAFS to get 20% off. And here comes the fine print. Lucy products are only for adults of legal age, and every order is age verified. Warning, this product contains nicotine.

Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Thank you guys. And now back to the show with Richie Torres. it's a good part one thing that is understood is that you're in the House of Representatives and you have to run every two years yeah like how long do you have to wait till you just start running for the next one after you after you win an election I mean you you start immediately yeah it's like you're in a constant state of campaigning is a campaigning and go to fundraiser

do all this stuff is that a distraction from the work that you have to do it can but but I feel like if you're effective at governing then it improves your your ability to get re-elected so if you're if you're a good congressman yeah you're gonna be popular in your district and you're gonna be well-positioned to be re-elected does it does it suck that you have to fundraise right sucks fundraising sucks yeah and like uh because the citizens united like it's nauseated to ask people for money yeah do you feel like it's eroded people's like faith in the institution right I feel like too much money is too much time

is spent on fundraising especially if you're a frontline member yeah who has a fiercely contested general election every two years where tens of millions of dollars are spent you could be spending more than half your time every week at a banquet no or just call time just dialing for dollars you were criticized I saw for blackstone donation right and it's it's understores that they are the architects of the housing crisis pretty much Yeah, I mean, you receive

contributions from thousands of people who are employees from all over the place. You can send it back and say fuck off. Yeah, I'm not good. So they're giving you a check just because? I decide issues on the merits. I don't know what others do, but I decide issues on the merits. So it's a just because check?

Just because... They're just giving you money just because they think you're nice? I'm pretty sure that even there are lefty candidates who have gotten money from people who are employed. Yeah, rank and file employee, sure. I figure, like, you could, maybe if you're like this guy's... You do know that, you know...

This guy's making my constituent lives worse. You could be like, fuck you. I don't want it. I'm in a safe blue district. Right? People should judge me by my record, so... Yeah. By the legislation I pass.

Yeah. I work seven days a week. I'm visible in my district. I'm on the ground. I'm happy to... Yeah. If you ever want to take tours of my district, I'm happy to walk you through my district. Yeah, I like to, I mean, I've been to the zoo in Yankee City.

Well, not the actual projects, not the amenities, not the institutions. Yeah. I can give you a sense of racially concentrated poverty in a place like the Bronx. So that's what my question is, is like... Wait, where do you live? Which borough? I live in Brooklyn, yeah. And that's my question, like... So you might be divorced from the experience of racially concentrated poverty.

But what does that have to do with taking money from blacks? I just feel like that's a deflection. And I don't want to come... No, because I don't want to cut, like, I don't want an argument right now. I don't want to argue with you. If you want to question my ability to represent my district, I'm happy to show you what I do. I'm happy to bring you to my district.

What I'm calling into question... What I'm calling into question is the institution, right? I'm calling into question the system, and you're functioning within a system, right? I've received contributions from tens of thousands of people. I can't keep track of every person. I'm not responsible for every person. You forgot?

I'm only responsible for what I do. Okay. So you... Have you... Have you ever... Have you ever... I'm not trying to play the afternoon I think you're used to like Anderson Cooper 360 and I'm a guy I'm from Comptown podcast I'm happy to answer whatever question you have I'm well yeah whatever

Here's here's a question for you I think like I think You've established yourself as the fiercest champion of the state of Israel and Congress I've never described myself in those terms I'm pro- Israel but I those are well I think maybe you've been dubbed that yes okay listen like I'm a Jewish person like I have my own opinions on this you have your own opinions and this is a really frustrating conversation to see people have on the internet I don't get an

opportunity to talk to someone that's making decisions and supporting these things that are a huge deal to people right sure sure yeah one thing that I thought was interesting and I want to start with you is that you described your first trip to Israel 2015 as a life-changing experience And I just wanted, just to follow the narrative of, like, you growing up and your struggles and then going into the government, like, what is, what was that experience like? And what bred that passion for Israel in you? Well, since I grew up for my whole life, I never had an opportunity to travel abroad. Yeah.

So the first time I ever went to a foreign country. So it was life-changing because you went on a trip? Part of the reason went abroad for the first time, life-changing. but also you know when you go to when you experience the complexity of Israel yeah what did you see like what did you witness like well go to the old city yeah yeah I've been there I Yadrashem which is the Holocaust Museum yeah yeah yeah go to the Masada we don't know Jews yeah suicide to escape enslaved course I'm high pop massada the Gaza envelope yeah went to stay wrote spoke to the local

mayor who said that you went to Gaza I did not go Gaza no would you say Gaza envelope no Gaza envelope which is which is which is which is which is right on the border with it's Israel but it's right at the border with Gaza it's right next to the fence it's in the proximity to what what's it what's at the Gaza envelope like I've never heard that stave or stay road stay road yeah with the rockets yeah go yeah yeah how far is they wrote from Gaza it's like a mile or something yeah with that mile yeah it's right next to it yeah striking proximity tough this small place yeah the whole thing yeah I mean that's why

Hamas was able to so easily penetrate on October 7th the by getting over the fence yeah and it's so close yeah No, I mean, I just want to know it, because it seems like it was powerful, and it seems like it's informed your record, and that's what's interesting to me. It's like your story and how you got here, and like, I think it's narratively what fascinates me. Maybe one day you'll give me a chance to tell it, so. Why are you annoyed by this question? I'm kidding, I'm kidding. So I spoke to the local mayor of Stair Roy.

Stay right, yeah. And he said to me that the majority of his children struggle with post-traumatic stress because families like his live under the threat of relentless rocket fire. And I remember seeing these bus stops doubling as bomb shelters. You know, I come from the Bronx where people live in fear of bullets and guns, but, you know, we in America do not worry about Canada and Mexico firing rockets into American homes and communities. You know, we're a country of 330 million people. We're surrounded by oceans and Israel's a tiny democracy, the size of New Jersey. That's literally surrounded by both state and non-state actors that are intent on wiping it off the map so yeah you know

I left Israel with an empathy for the unique security situation that Israel faces did you visit the occupied territories well I went into the not Gaza but I went to the Palestinian Ramallah so yeah from all yeah and what did you see when you were there you know we spoke to Palestinian to obviously have a much more critical view of of Israel and and that didn't resonate as much as like what what was your takeaway from here You're hearing the mayor's stay wrote, his children have PTSD, and then this guy's like, Israel's screw it with me. Well, look, I'm in favor of a two-state solution.

Sure. I feel like the just outcome lies not in the existence of a Jewish state to the exclusion of a Palestinian state or the existence of a Palestinian state to the exclusion of a Jewish state. It's the coexistence of both. So I think I want to see the struggle, both the Israeli and the Palestinian struggle for self-determination to be recognized. reconciled in the form of a two-state solution. A big topic nowadays is campus anti-Semitism. Yeah. You've spoken out against it.

I just want to know what you identify as the examples of this type of anti-semitism and elite academic institutions. Yeah, so there were students at a CUNY halal. Yeah. Where you had a violent, what I thought was an aggressive mob following them to a kosher restaurant in the heart of New York City. And... What were they doing the mob?

What was the mob? do it. Just following them and then barricaded the restaurant and you're like chanting hurled insults at the patrons and slamming the windows you know much of it is captured in video footage you know harassing people simply for being pro-Israel Jews to me is wrong. Is there any other examples like there's a restaurant I mean it's just like all we're hearing about it it's campus anti-semitism radical radical Like, is there a link between Hamas and the protests? Like, has, is that established?

There are students who have faced harassment and intimidation because of their beliefs. There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses. You should speak to this. How have they... Are you denying that there's any campus anti-Semitism? I, well, I'll give you an example. I know a younger person that went to UCLA. went to UCLA and was attacked and is Jewish and was with a group of Jewish people

on at the at a protest and they were attacked by the proud boys okay that's anti-sabetic incident no but the proud boys were there for Israel there and those are the guys that did Charlottesville are there for Israel yeah I mean I think the proud boys is like white nationalists and white supremacists I'm telling you right now we're anti-Israel but okay listen I'm like a comedian right like I hate when comedians, especially on the internet, like, speak from a position of authority with, like, about crap that they don't know about, you know? This is one topic I feel like I can speak on. And, uh, it. On college campus anti-semitism? No, on, on, uh, on anti-semitism and

in general, because you haven't been in college, hello? Probably two decades, right? I'm telling you, my experience of anti-semitism in the last two years. But, uh, the last two years have felt different in America. And I don't know if you've been on Twitter recently. Now a ton of people are questioning the validity of the Holocaust having happened. Can you tell me with a straight

face that those are the 18 year old kids at Columbia that are doing that? The 18 year old kids at Columbia? Are they doing those posts about the Holocaust never having existed? You know who's doing it. No, we disagree here. You think that it's the...

So I didn't... you don't put words of my mouth it's it's it's people of the right I let me tell you you're suggesting that there's you you're suggesting that there's no way you're suggesting there's no one on the far left that denies the Holocaust or downplays the Holocaust that's an what are you you're doing court right now I'm telling you what it's like to be my experience being Jewish but there are others who have a different I'm trying to see you're why why is one better than the other why is one more important than the other I'm trying to share with you you're the government I don't

get a chance to talk of course okay um I think hatred of Jewish people has exploded in this country. And I don't think it's, I think it's because it's of our support of what looks to be an absolute brutality. And I think that it's a justification for anti-Semitism. You think Israeli government policies are justification for anti-Semitism. My view is there's no justification for anti-Semitism. I think that there's zero justification for anti-Semitism. Okay.

you're deflecting again i'm not deflecting that's my position what does it look like to have a flag with a jewish star and i'm jewish and for kids to be starving right now and why is my government i don't want to do this fight let's not do like a yelling at each other thing i really just for me it's for me i had the the experience of it just sounds like you're justifying anti-sammages which making me feel like are you crazy right now okay why would i do that you're telling you're doing the i'm hamas thing i'm not saying you're not a winner but it's i'm not i think we'll do a different we'll do a different tax israeli government policy should have i think we're on

if if you have disagreements with the israeli government you should voice your criticism of the israeli government but there is no justification for intimidation or harassment against american jews i'm telling you as a jew right now that it that we are receiving a lot more hate because of what the people with the flag that is a jewish star on are doing to other people right now that might and i'm telling you as a jewish person

what how painful it is for us to say and it hurts my stomach to say that so you're going to say I disagree I disagree that this is a genocide and that hurts to say that a Jew could do that it hurts because we grew up with it with learning about what hatred is we we grew up learning about this and the same year the state of Israel was established in 1948 the world saw the Holocaust and they established standards for what genocide is. It was the same year. And the world said that this shouldn't be a thing that happens. You know? And I just wonder, like, it doesn't make sense to me. Like, what, like, I don't know. It doesn't track to me why there's this fixation with kids at a school that, and two examples of people at a restaurant that there was banging.

Two examples. I mean, there are surveys on it. Give me the... Read the EDL surveys on it. It's hard for me to talk about this in public. Clearly, I mean, you're... You're being a dick. That's mean. No, no.

I'm not being... I'm just clear. It's an emotional topic. All right, I'll share with you what happened. I'm not... I lived there for... I don't intend to be mean, so... Sir, I lived there when I was 18,

and I grew up as Zionist. And we were told, and our whole community in this country is told that we have to defend Israel and love Israel because it will stop the Holocaust. It will stop another Holocaust for happening. And my parents, my dad was born in 1951. That was six years after these atrocities. His friends' parents, he knew these people

that had been through this hell, these skeletons. And it terrified us. And the understanding in our communities that we have to defend Israel. But I lived there, and I went to a set. a settlement at the end of my year there, and I looked down the hill at a Palestinian village, and I saw how they lived, and I turned back and I looked at the settlement and saw how they lived, and people live in a world where they're demeaned and dehumanized and surveilled constantly

by people in, and this isn't in Gaza, by people in swap team outfits with semi-automatic weapons, and that's what the world is seeing. And you keep telling me that the problem, someone's getting yelled at at a restaurant i'm sorry you're conflating two different issues please just please me saying this to you right now will hurt people in my own family okay because because this is a very important thing to us and the fact that i still fucking care about being jewish is embarrassing i should just be a guy but it but it but this is feels like a stain on our history and it feels like it's changed what being jewish is because what being Jewish is

isn't Israel Judaism has existed for 4,000 years this is a country for 75 years you know like it is the oldest one of the oldest monotheistic religions it is anti-semitism is one of the oldest forms of hatred

people in my life are going to be mad at me about this but I'm saying this because I am Jewish you know and and and I don't understand why you would be look at how you defray I I want to have like I'm here to be lectured not shut up that's not nice you can't talk that way why are one set of Jews but more poor than

than others saying no one's saying any your what happened you had you went to the beach at the in Israel what you went to a restaurant or something a nice restaurant like listen never been never been to the televie private rate so this is the year 2025 yeah the world is seeing something that looks terrible and it's being done in my name and I don't know what to do but the war began on October 7 no it did it yes it you're yes when Hamas systematically murdered and made and you can you know you want okay look we're going down a rabbit hole we fundamentally disagree.

But Hamas murdered and maimed and mutilated and abducted and tortured thousands of people. That's not television. That's a fact. That's reality. You can deny it. I'm not denying October 7th. Well, you seem to be trivializing it. You're doing the I'm pro-Ombuds October 7th.

You're doing it. I'm pro-Humaz. I never said you were pro Hamas. You're putting words in my mouth. But you seem to be downplying it. For the last 17 years, people have been under a blockade where they cannot leave. If you were born in a place and there's a fence there, and there's a guy with a gun on the other side,

and he says you can't go anywhere, would you like that guy? If you treat people like animals, sometimes they're gonna flash out. Look, I sincerely believe, maybe I'm wrong, that if Palestinians were governed, not by a terrorist organization like Hamas and Gaza, but by a regime that was able and willing to make peace with Israel,

the situation would be fundamentally different. The preconditions for this happening are undeniably something that the Israeli government was fully aware of. Why would BB Netanyahu? Do you think October 7th was justified? No. OK, I'm happy you said that. Are you listening to what I'm saying right now?

I am listening to what you're saying. Why would the Israeli government, Hamas, wants to eradicate the Jewish people and the Jewish state? Is that right? That's what Hamas said, yeah. Okay, then why would they directly give Hamas money, literally bags of cash in suitcases through the Qataris, billion, nearly, I think over a billion dollars in cash.

During this last 17 years. That's a fair point. It's a great question. If one of those kids at Columbia wrote a $5 check to Hamas, you'd say send them to Gitmo for being a terrorist. It's a fair point. Does that make Benjamin Netany? Yahoo a terrorist?

He's supporting terror. The United States, it seems to me the United States and Israel could have shut off the spigot and did not do so. I don't know why, but that was a failure. There's no question. I think that what I see is the reason why our government provides $25 billion. billion dollars to something that looks this horrific to people. I think it's the same reason, I think it makes it look like there's the Jews control the government,

but really what it is is the more boring answer. It's the reason why the government and you guys don't get shit done. It's the reason why Sandy Hook can happen, you guys can't do gun reform. It's because- Why can't we do gun reform? Because special interest groups can buy influence in our government. Which political parties against gun reform? The NRA has a power. It's the Republican Party.

We allow government our government to be flooded with cash and money. And it's, what's scary to me is that it looks, that people are starting to question the Holocaust ever happening. How could Jews, maybe they invented the Holocaust? You're blaming, you're blaming Israel for Holocaust denial? I'm blaming our, I'm blaming our government for supporting a genocide. But it is unfathomable in my heart, and it breaks my heart that we could be capable of it. I think we should move on.

Why is that? We just fundamentally disagreeing, so. I don't think that, I think I'm talking to you like about where I come from and that it feels different. And maybe I have a different perspective. You have a different perspective. But I know people have a perspective that's different from yours. Yeah. With a much smaller platform than you.

I'm not, I hate this conversation. I know. You know, I have it with my family, you know? It's not something, and I love my family. If it were up to me, we would not be having this because we're speaking of foreign language. My family grew up in South Africa, right? We were like Jews from Eastern Europe that literally, we thought we were going to Ellis Island. My grandma, all the grannies stayed.

And my parents' whole generation of South African Jews left. And when I was a kid, like growing up, I used to write all my, like, Who's My Hero Essays on Nelson Mandela. And he was like a hero of mine, right? And he was also, you know, in prison, you know, for terrorism, too. I don't want to get it. You're going to go. Hamas is what I don't want to.

I'm not debating Hamas. He was called that. And he went to my synagogue after he got out of prison, Madiba. And he spoke to, like, all the grandmas, who was. like, we're still there. They didn't have to fucking move because black people could vote. And he said, tell your kids to come back, because we need them to build our country.

I don't know. I think that I don't see what's wrong with people being afforded the right to vote. Do you think that's what a mosque means when it says free palis sign from the river to the sea? To me, it seems like maybe if there's a recognition that people were cleared off their land 1948 but there are those and there are those who only want a Jewish state and there

were those who only want a Palestinian state that they could fuck off and we should be advocating for the coexistence Jewish state and a Palestinian state I continue to believe I continue to believe the two-state solution ultimately is the inevitable path forward it's my it's stupid you know there were there were a Thursday there were a thousand Jews who were murdered before the establishment of Israel like a half a century before the establishment of his half is a thousand Jews yeah they're they're killing each other Jews and Palestinians yeah a Braun massacre I it doesn't make sense to me this uh in a in 2025 the only

point was was there was violence against Jews before the establishment of the state of Israel there's violence against Palestinians and there was an ethnic cleansing in 1948 I mean the Hebron massacre what are you talking about right now You're in the government? Listen, I didn't want to argue. I'm sorry, you're not familiar with the Abram Massacre in 1929? Well, you're saying that that justifies an entire ethnic cleansing in 1940s? Israel was a, for example.

Well, this is such a, this is even a good argument. Hold on. What are you talking? I don't know, I didn't realize we were debating. I don't want to do it, but you say something like that. The Jewish state was established by international law, right? The UN passed a resolution that recognized the establishment of a Jewish state, And there were a number of Arab countries, including Egypt, that declared war in Israel.

Yes. The war of independence. And Israel won the war. The Palestinians didn't declare war with them. There were just people that were living there. And they were kicked off their land. And by the way, there were 800,000 Jews that were ethnically cleansed from the Arab world. Do you know what?

You know how many Jews there are in the Arab world? Not by the Palestinians. I'm not talking about the broader Arab world. So why do the Palestinians have to bear the responsibility of the Algerians kicking the Jews out? can really why do the policies is there's the responsibility of Egypt invading Israel has been a state for 77 years bro it's so depressing what you're saying you're proposing you're proposing to undo and establish state no I know people that live there I have family that lived there I don't think that they should leave

I'm proposing a democracy I'm proposing an extensive demographic study of what was taken and what was lost extensive reparations for what that was taken and a truth and reconciliation process where we can end this shit what we're seeing right now is that that members of the Israeli government are talking about clearing that shit out and Trump our president is talking about putting a fucking jet ski museum there and you're that that's the reality that far right yes it's that's a view that I reject so what the far right I'm talking about the government and the generals that are

that are in charge of Israel the Bengavirs the smelterges of the world that's a they're the cabinet yes and I reject them that's That's what Hamas is saying they want to do to Israel. I'm sorry? I mean, Hamas murdered... I mean, Hamas murdered thousands of people, so there's no... So what does that mean? That Hamas is a terrorist organization for murdering innocent children and civilians.

How many civilians have been killed in this war? The war is a tragedy, but... Ninety percent of them have been... Ninety percent of them have been... You're suggesting that... They've killed journalists. They've killed journalists. People have been killed in a war.

It's been a tragedy. They've killed people waiting for aid. But you're suggesting that it is the policy of the Israeli government to murder civilians, and that is a notion that I reject. You've got to, like, listen, man, you've got to be like a human being about this. People who are dying in the war, which to me is a tragedy, because war is a tragedy. Do you feel in your heart? that this is what you're doing what you're saying is right if a mass if you remove

Hamas I don't actually think I told you what I believe don't tell me what I believe I've told you what I believe why would you believe that because I because there are people who see the world differently I know it's a shock to you but there are people who see the world differently but why I know that's a shock to you like I it seems a little bit like you humanitarian crisis has deteriorated right I don't want to be disrespectful like this but like it you've been at various points in what capacity just been hostile in what capacity it's fine it's fine it's just been a gotcha

interview I think that um my conscience is clear especially as someone that's lived there and seen it and love people that live there and this sucks I really didn't want to do this and I think that you saw it as gotcha this is what people are talking about right No, I get, well, not in the South Bronx. People are not talking about Israel. People are talking about how to put food on the table and pay the bills. Maybe in your world, that's what people are talking about. In my world, people are struggling?

Yeah. Then why, if people are struggling in your world, are you paying $25 billion? We have a $7 billion, we have a $7 trillion budget in the federal government. Yeah. Right, less than... So it's not that much money? Less than 1%. So there's a little money with Israel.

In the grand scheme of the federal budget? yes it's minus I'm sorry dude you're bummed your consultants told you not to do it this I like this guy a lot too I hate this is so embarrassing I don't I don't have anything to hide I'm willing to go anywhere no man I'm sorry I I appreciate your time listen having this opportunity is if for me is a is a big deal I don't I don't get to talk to someone in the government that's that's taking part of these decisions like this and uh I did well only one of 535 so well I'll talk to another one which one is but it would like me Virginia Fox I don't know you ever

number I don't ever number no right I appreciate I feel like you're mad at me or something I got to get a big laugh uh look it is this is it's like Hyman Roth from the Godfather too he said this is the life we've chosen so uh... you know i know what i signed up for is this what happens is better i've been doing a terrible job i'm rambling about israel and there'd be a jew in the holocaust it is the most embarrassing stuff to talk about in public

i feel like everyone is every jewish american has a right chavreight to be who they are uh... to wear a keeper to display star of david to proudly and visibly jewish without fear for harassment or intimidation or violence well i mean the freedom to be who we are is like fundamental for all of us.

Well, I think that from where I'm sitting, Israel might be a threat to that. And you know, you have that view, but others have a different view. Why are we still having this interview? This is exhausting. I'm sweating. We get on the interview. I'm just trying to find a button to shake your hand, dude. I don't want to fucking do this.

We could have talked about so much other shit. No, I think you have an agenda to speak about this. I didn't have an agenda. I really did. number one topic. It's not my number one topic. It's just not. It is your, it's not my number one topic. It's, it's not what I saw. Well, then, I'm happy. I was not elected on Israel. You don't get elected in the South Bronx and in this. I'm not trying to make you feel bad or like, like, I just don't think you know what you're talking about. Thank you. I'm