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 subject, I do know you may have plenty of variations with the President, however on this, is that this a transparent win?
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, it is actually essential that we’ve a stop fireplace. It is essential that these hostages are coming residence, and I congratulate the negotiators on getting this accomplished. 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 pictures of what Gaza seems like at this time, 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, making an attempt to guard himself, has annoyed the flexibility to search out peace and to get the hostages residence far earlier than at this time. So once more, this will likely be a great week, however as you may have reported, there are massive points to come back. Israel is just not totally pulling out of Gaza. There is no such thing as a clear path ahead on what the safety and governance drive goes to appear to be inside that nation. There may be actually 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 seems like heading into subsequent 12 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And President Biden wasn’t keen to place this type of strain on Benjamin Netanyahu. President Trump has. Your level is that is received to be sustained strain to see this during. My understanding —
SEN. MURPHY: Yeah. I imply, pay attention, 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 strain 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 could have referred to 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 when it comes to the price of the shutdown. And when are Democrats going to indicate 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 actual fact is, effectively, 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 boost premiums on individuals on this nation by 75% to be able to finance their tax lower for the rich. Their solely precedence is defending the billionaire class and the company class. The opposite purpose 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 cross a decision mandating the discharge of the Epstein information. 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 if you would like our votes for a funds, it could possibly’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 to be able to shield and reward billionaires. That is a fairly cheap request.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are speaking in regards to the premiums that may improve 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 improve in premiums. And once more, to be able 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 likelihood at a gap?
SEN. MURPHY: I imply, there aren’t 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 lower they usually additionally do not wish to discuss in regards to the president’s lawlessness. I imply, that is the opposite factor that we’ve to speak about on this funds. If we will fund this administration, we have to fund an administration that’s taking note of the regulation. I’d be a sucker, Margaret, to vote for a funds that permits 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 cross finally has to require that the president not interact in mass scale corruption. However a brief time period settlement, actually is just not going to repair all the issues that exist proper now in the best way the President is operating the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you may have been essential 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 stated in 2018.
[SOT]
SEN. MURPHY: The way forward for the American well being care system was a authentic public coverage problem, 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 staff and the work that they do as hostages.
[END SOT]
MARGARET BRENNAN: Aren’t you doing at this time precisely what you had been criticizing then?
SEN. MURPHY: No, that was a battle over, type of, the long run construction of the American well being care system. That is an emergency. In a few month, premiums are going to go up by individuals by 75% and we’ve to decide whether or not this funds goes to permit for that to occur or to cease it. What is going on in Chicago proper now’s an emergency. What is going on on the FCC as they attempt to shut down free speech on this nation is an emergency. So we’ve a accountability on this upcoming funds to forestall 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 in case you vote to open the federal government after which have a separate dialog about well being care, that there will likely 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’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 accountable for the Senate, negotiated with Republicans and prevented shutdowns. This shutdown is going on 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 instances, by $25,000 a 12 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the Minority Chief gave an interview to Punchbowl this week. I imply, there may be simply additionally the naked bones politics of this. And in that interview, he stated, each day this goes on, each day will get higher for us. The Speaker of the Home stated that was this callous assertion.
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, they’re- they’re type of desperately making an attempt 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 essential of Schumer up 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 ought 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 individuals, to attempt to cease the President’s destruction of democracy, and hopefully in some unspecified time in the future, there will likely be sufficient Republicans to affix us and attempt to shield individuals’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 individuals.
SEN. MURPHY: The place’s the Home of Representatives, Margaret? They’re on trip. The one method you possibly can 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 everywhere in 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’d be in Washington moderately than unfold out everywhere in the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Murphy, thanks on your time.
SEN. MURPHY: Recognize it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
