The next is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Oct. 12, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now, right here in studio, by Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. Thanks for being with us.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: After all.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply on this subject, I do know you’ve numerous variations with the President, however on this, is that this a transparent win?
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, it is actually essential that we’ve got a stop fireplace. It is essential that these hostages are coming house, and I congratulate the negotiators on getting this completed. There’s, there is no politics about this second, as you are going to see some very tearful reunions tomorrow, hopefully as these hostages are launched. However you watch these devastating photos of what Gaza appears like right now, and it is each heartbreaking and infuriating that this deal has been on the desk for over a 12 months. And it has been Benjamin Netanyahu, due to his political concerns domestically, attempting to guard himself, has pissed off the flexibility to search out peace and to get the hostages house far earlier than right now. So once more, this might be a superb week, however as you’ve reported, there are large points to come back. Israel just isn’t absolutely pulling out of Gaza. There isn’t any clear path ahead on what the safety and governance pressure goes to seem like inside that nation. There may be definitely a danger of hostilities starting once more if we do not construct on this primary part and are available to some selections about what Gaza appears like heading into subsequent 12 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And President Biden wasn’t keen to place this type of stress on Benjamin Netanyahu. President Trump has. Your level is that is acquired to be sustained stress to see this all over. My understanding —
SEN. MURPHY: Yeah. I imply, hear, I believe the barrier right here has been Netanyahu, and Netanyahu is barely going to maneuver if he thinks that his relationship with the US is in danger. And so, clearly, the stress goes to should proceed to be robust and fixed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now let me ask you concerning the different diplomacy that should occur simply up the road frankly. You might have known as on Democrats to stiffen their spines to face as much as the president of the US. At what level, although, does this ache turn into an excessive amount of by way of the price of the shutdown. And when are Democrats going to point out some flexibility on this?
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, I listened to the Vice President, and he is simply not dwelling in actuality. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — What do you imply? —
SEN. MURPHY: — The very fact is, properly, as a result of there is no negotiations taking place proper now as a result of Republicans are boycotting these negotiations. They’re boycotting negotiations to reopen the federal government as a result of they’re determined to lift premiums on individuals on this nation by 75% with the intention to finance their tax lower for the rich. Their solely precedence is defending the billionaire class and the company class. The opposite cause the Home of Representatives is not on the town proper now attempting to reopen the federal government, as a result of they’re about to have sufficient votes to go a decision mandating the discharge of the Epstein recordsdata. So JD Vance and Donald Trump’s primary precedence is defending billionaires, defending companies and elevating premiums, elevating well being care prices by 75% on Americans. So sure, I believe that Democrats ought to say in order for you our votes for a price range, it could actually’t be a corrupt price range. It will probably’t be a price range that’s going to devastate the lives of center class households on this nation with the intention to defend and reward billionaires. That is a reasonably cheap request.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are speaking concerning the premiums that can enhance a mean of about $1,000, I consider, for many who are utilizing a few of these —
SEN. MURPHY: — That is the common, however in Connecticut, some households will see a $25,000 enhance in premiums. And once more, with the intention to afford a $270,000 tax lower for the richest households on this nation. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — As a result of additionally it wasn’t handled earlier when Democrats had been in management right here. However you probably did hear the Vice President say, when it got here to well being care, the administration is open to a dialogue, we wish to decrease insurance coverage premiums. That was a quote there. Did you hear any probability at a gap?
SEN. MURPHY: I imply, there are not any negotiations taking place, largely as a result of the Home of Representatives is not even right here. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Proper. —
SEN. MURPHY: — They have been on an unprecedented 5 week recess as a result of they don’t wish to danger their billionaire tax lower they usually additionally do not wish to speak concerning the president’s lawlessness. I imply, that is the opposite factor that we’ve got to speak about on this price range. If we will fund this administration, we have to fund an administration that’s being attentive to the legislation. I might be a sucker, Margaret, to vote for a price range that enables the president to then go and spend cash solely in states which are run by Republicans and spend no cash in states which are run by Democrats.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is simply the seven week deal that we’re speaking about at this level, the brief time period funding —
SEN. MURPHY: — Appropriate, the long run price range that we go finally has to require that the president not have interaction in mass scale corruption. However a brief time period settlement, definitely just isn’t going to repair the entire issues that exist proper now in the way in which the President is operating the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you’ve been important up to now of the tactic of selecting to close down the federal government. You had been in 2018, you had been again in 2013 when it was a dialogue over well being care. That is what you mentioned in 2018.
[SOT]
SEN. MURPHY: The way forward for the American well being care system was a reliable public coverage subject, as is the safety of our borders, however we should not be having the dialogue amidst a authorities shutdown, attempting to make use of our nation’s safety and all of those federal employees and the work that they do as hostages.
[END SOT]
MARGARET BRENNAN: Aren’t you doing right now precisely what you had been criticizing then?
SEN. MURPHY: No, that was a struggle over, kind of, the long run construction of the American well being care system. That is an emergency. In a couple of month, premiums are going to go up by individuals by 75% and we’ve got to decide whether or not this price range goes to permit for that to occur or to cease it. What is occurring in Chicago proper now’s an emergency. What is occurring on the FCC as they attempt to shut down free speech on this nation is an emergency. So we’ve got a duty on this upcoming price range to forestall catastrophe for households whose premiums are about to go up, and to handle the destruction of our democracy and the rule of legislation that is taking place throughout this nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you do not–
SEN. MURPHY: These are pressing issues.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You don’t belief that should you vote to open the federal government after which have a separate dialog about well being care, that there might be any observe by way of?
SEN. MURPHY: Completely not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of that’s what the vp was arguing right here, that it is like Democrats aren’t even saying what it’s they wish to negotiate over.
SEN. MURPHY: No, you can’t belief this administration. And I believe it is essential to keep in mind that we did not have a shutdown when Joe Biden was president, and the reason being as a result of they did not play the form of video games that Republicans are enjoying. Joe Biden and Democrats, once we had been answerable for the Senate, negotiated with Republicans and prevented shutdowns. This shutdown is occurring as a result of Republicans are determined to guard their billionaire tax lower. And all we’re asking- we’re not asking to repair all the American well being care system. We’re merely saying, do not make issues worse by elevating premiums by individuals, in some circumstances, by $25,000 a 12 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the Minority Chief gave an interview to Punchbowl this week. I imply, there’s simply additionally the naked bones politics of this. And in that interview, he mentioned, day-after-day this goes on, day-after-day will get higher for us. The Speaker of the Home mentioned that was this callous assertion.
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, they’re- they’re kind of desperately attempting to spin what Democrats are saying. Hear, our precedence is the American individuals. And sure, it’s true, as each day–
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you have been important of Schumer up to now, again in March, you had been saying, we have to face up and do one thing. Is that this concerning the tactic of simply saying, hey, we’re standing up?
SEN. MURPHY: No. As day-after-day goes on, there are extra Republicans which are breaking with JD Vance and President Trump and saying, sure, we needs to be keen to sit down down and speak concerning the well being care disaster that’s about to go to this nation. There are extra Republicans which are breaking with the president’s regime of censorship. In order day-after-day goes on, there are extra Republicans which are keen to face up and defend the American individuals, to attempt to cease the President’s destruction of democracy, and hopefully sooner or later, there might be sufficient Republicans to hitch us and attempt to defend individuals’s pocketbooks, that are about to be destroyed, their financial livelihoods are about to be destroyed, by these huge will increase in well being care.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, however within the meantime, there’s additionally the not- not getting a paycheck downside for a few of these individuals.
SEN. MURPHY: The place’s the Home of Representatives, Margaret? They’re on trip. The one approach you’ll be able to resolve a shutdown is to have two events which are in Washington negotiating. That is fairly easy. Republicans are boycotting negotiations. They’re within the witness safety program all around the nation, refusing to even present up for work. In the event that they’re severe about sitting down and reopening the federal government, they might be in Washington reasonably than unfold out all around the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Murphy, thanks on your time.
SEN. MURPHY: Admire it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
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