Senator Chris Murphy: Fighting for Democracy, Battling Trump’s Legal Threats, and the Looming Government Shutdown

Senator Chris Murphy recently sat down with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show to discuss pressing issues facing the United States, from Donald Trump’s legal posturing to the potential government shutdown and the broader fight to preserve democracy. Murphy, known for his candid and passionate takes, didn’t hold back as he tackled these critical topics with a mix of humor and urgency.

Trump’s Legal Threats: Baseless or Dangerous?

The conversation kicked off with a discussion about former President Donald Trump’s latest legal threats. Trump recently suggested he might sue ABC after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to the airwaves. Without providing any clear reasoning, Trump claimed that Kimmel’s criticism of him amounted to an illegal campaign contribution to Democrats.

Colbert, known for his sharp wit, asked Murphy, “As a lawyer, what would be the tort here?” Murphy, who admitted he practiced law “badly” for four years, humorously responded that there was no actionable claim. “What [Trump] suggests is that speaking against him is an illegal campaign contribution to Democrats,” Murphy explained, before pointing out the hypocrisy. “Well, then the entirety of Fox News is one big illegal campaign contribution [to Republicans].”

Murphy emphasized that in the United States, media outlets have the freedom to criticize or support political figures as they see fit. “If you want to be a TV network that loads up coverage criticizing the president, you can. If you want to be a TV network that loads up support for the president, you can,” he stated.

However, Murphy warned that Trump’s threats, while legally baseless, are part of a larger pattern of undermining democratic norms. “The problem here is that with Trump-appointed judges who don’t care about the law and a Department of Justice turned into a witch-hunt operation on behalf of Trump’s pursuit of his enemies, whether or not there’s an actionable claim might not matter,” Murphy said. He stressed the urgency of protecting democracy, warning that the judiciary could be weaponized to serve Trump’s personal vendettas.

The Government Shutdown: A Manufactured Crisis

The conversation then shifted to the looming government shutdown, with Colbert sarcastically thanking Murphy for the “annual tradition.” The federal government faces a potential shutdown on October 1st if Congress fails to pass a budget. Murphy explained that Democrats are eager to keep the government running, but Republicans seem to be preparing for a shutdown.

“What it’s really about is that they [Republicans] want to destroy government, and one of the quickest ways to do that is to precipitate these crises,” Murphy said. He accused some Republican lawmakers of intentionally starving the government of resources to undermine its ability to function. “Starve the oxygen out,” Colbert interjected, summing up the strategy.

Murphy outlined the Democrats’ priorities, which he described as “pretty simple.” One of the key issues is preventing a massive increase in health care premiums for millions of Americans. “There’s about to be a giant premium increase on 22 million Americans. We’re not asking for some big new health care program. We just want premiums to not go up by 75% in the Affordable Care Act,” Murphy explained. He argued that this is a reasonable request and a critical issue for working families.

Colbert pressed Murphy on whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would hold a hard line or cave to Republican demands, as some felt he did earlier this year. Murphy avoided speaking for Schumer directly but expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s unity. “I think Democrats are united in a couple of simple ideas: that we have to stand up for people whose lives will be ruined by these massive health care premiums and that we have no moral obligation to pay the bills for democracy’s destruction,” Murphy said.

“No Moral Obligation to Pay for Democracy’s Destruction”

Murphy’s statement about having “no moral obligation to pay the bills for democracy’s destruction” became the defining moment of the interview. He argued that Democrats should not support a budget that fails to address the erosion of the rule of law and other democratic institutions. “If this budget doesn’t roll back at least some of the grave damage that’s being done to the rule of law, then Democrats have no obligation to support it,” Murphy declared, earning applause from the audience.

This sentiment reflects the broader frustration among Democrats and many Americans who feel that the country’s democratic foundations are under attack. Murphy’s comments underscore the stakes of the current political moment, where even routine processes like passing a budget have become battlegrounds for the future of democracy.

The Bigger Picture: Saving Democracy

Throughout the interview, Murphy returned to the theme of protecting democracy. He painted a dire picture of what could happen if Trump or his allies regain power and continue their efforts to undermine democratic norms. “You could have the entirety of the judiciary arrayed [against democracy], and the underlying law might not matter,” Murphy warned.

He also highlighted the importance of public engagement and building consensus to counter these threats. “I think we can grow consensus in the country,” Murphy said, expressing hope that Americans will rally around the need to preserve democratic institutions.

A Lighthearted Moment: Humor in the Face of Chaos

While the topics were heavy, the interview wasn’t without its moments of levity. Murphy and Colbert shared a laugh over their mutual lack of legal expertise, with Murphy joking that he practiced law “badly” and Colbert quipping that he understands it “badly.” These lighter moments provided a brief respite from the serious issues discussed and showcased Murphy’s ability to connect with the audience on a personal level.

Looking Ahead

As the government shutdown deadline looms and Trump continues to dominate headlines with his legal threats and political maneuvers, Murphy’s message is clear: the stakes are too high to ignore. Whether it’s fighting for affordable health care, defending the rule of law, or standing up to authoritarian tendencies, Murphy believes that Democrats—and the American people—must stay vigilant.

The interview ended on a hopeful note, with Murphy expressing confidence in the American people’s ability to rise to the occasion. “We’ve been through tough times before,” he said. “But we’ve always come out stronger, and I believe we will again.”

As the nation grapples with these challenges, one thing is certain: voices like Chris Murphy’s will be crucial in shaping the fight for democracy and justice in the years to come.