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: In fact.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply on this matter, I do know you will have loads of variations with the President, however on this, is that this a transparent win?
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, it is actually vital that we now have a stop hearth. It is vital that these hostages are coming residence, and I congratulate the negotiators on getting this completed. There’s, there isn’t any 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 photographs of what Gaza appears like immediately, and it is each heartbreaking and infuriating that this deal has been on the desk for over a yr. And it has been Benjamin Netanyahu, due to his political concerns domestically, making an attempt to guard himself, has annoyed the flexibility to seek out peace and to get the hostages residence far earlier than immediately. So once more, this will probably be week, however as you will have reported, there are large points to come back. Israel just isn’t absolutely pulling out of Gaza. There is no such thing as a clear path ahead on what the safety and governance pressure goes to seem like inside that nation. There may be definitely a threat 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 yr.
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 received to be sustained stress to see this throughout. My understanding —
SEN. MURPHY: Yeah. I imply, hear, I feel 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 must proceed to be robust and fixed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now let me ask you in regards to the different diplomacy that should occur simply up the road frankly. You’ve 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 grow to be 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 isn’t any 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 folks on this nation by 75% as a way to finance their tax reduce for the rich. Their solely precedence is defending the billionaire class and the company class. The opposite motive the Home of Representatives is not on the town proper now making an attempt 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 information. So JD Vance and Donald Trump’s primary precedence is defending billionaires, defending firms and elevating premiums, elevating well being care prices by 75% on Americans. So sure, I feel that Democrats ought to say if you need our votes for a funds, it may’t be a corrupt funds. It may well’t be a funds that’s going to devastate the lives of center class households on this nation as a way to shield and reward billionaires. That is a fairly cheap request.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are speaking in regards to the premiums that may enhance a mean of about $1,000, I imagine, for individuals who are utilizing a few of these —
SEN. MURPHY: — That is the typical, however in Connecticut, some households will see a $25,000 enhance in premiums. And once more, as a way to afford a $270,000 tax reduce 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 threat their billionaire tax reduce and so they additionally do not wish to discuss in regards to the president’s lawlessness. I imply, that is the opposite factor that we now have to speak about on this funds. If we’ll fund this administration, we have to fund an administration that’s being attentive to the regulation. I’d be a sucker, Margaret, to vote for a funds that enables the president to then go and spend cash solely in states which can be run by Republicans and spend no cash in states which can be run by Democrats.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is simply the seven week deal that we’re speaking about at this level, the quick time period funding —
SEN. MURPHY: — Right, the long run funds that we go in the end has to require that the president not interact in mass scale corruption. However a brief time period settlement, definitely just isn’t going to repair all the issues that exist proper now in the best way the President is working the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you will have been important prior 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 official public coverage subject, as is the safety of our borders, however we should not be having the dialogue amidst a authorities shutdown, making an attempt 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 immediately precisely what you had been criticizing then?
SEN. MURPHY: No, that was a battle over, form 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 folks by 75% and we now have to decide whether or not this funds goes to permit for that to occur or to cease it. What is occurring in Chicago proper now could be an emergency. What is occurring on the FCC as they attempt to shut down free speech on this nation is an emergency. So we now have a duty on this upcoming funds to stop catastrophe for households whose premiums are about to go up, and to handle the destruction of our democracy and the rule of regulation 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 for those who vote to open the federal government after which have a separate dialog about well being care, that there will probably be any observe by?
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 not belief this administration. And I feel it is vital 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 taking part in. Joe Biden and Democrats, after we had been in control of the Senate, negotiated with Republicans and prevented shutdowns. This shutdown is occurring as a result of Republicans are determined to guard their billionaire tax reduce. And all we’re asking- we’re not asking to repair your entire American well being care system. We’re merely saying, do not make issues worse by elevating premiums by folks, in some instances, by $25,000 a yr.
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, each day this goes on, each day will get higher for us. The Speaker of the Home mentioned that was this callous assertion.
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, they’re- they’re form of desperately making an attempt to spin what Democrats are saying. Hear, our precedence is the American folks. And sure, it’s true, as each day–
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you have been important of Schumer prior to now, again in March, you had been saying, we have to face up and do one thing. Is that this in regards to the tactic of simply saying, hey, we’re standing up?
SEN. MURPHY: No. As each day goes on, there are extra Republicans which can be breaking with JD Vance and President Trump and saying, sure, we needs to be keen to take a seat down and discuss in regards to the well being care disaster that’s about to go to this nation. There are extra Republicans which can be breaking with the president’s regime of censorship. In order each day goes on, there are extra Republicans which can be keen to face up and shield the American folks, to attempt to cease the President’s destruction of democracy, and hopefully in some unspecified time in the future, there will probably be sufficient Republicans to affix us and attempt to shield folks’s pocketbooks, that are about to be destroyed, their financial livelihoods are about to be destroyed, by these monumental 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 folks.
SEN. MURPHY: The place’s the Home of Representatives, Margaret? They’re on trip. The one method you may clear up a shutdown is to have two events which can be 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 moderately than unfold out all around the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Murphy, thanks on your time.
SEN. MURPHY: Respect it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
