[00:00:04] Broadcasting live from atop the Rocky Mountains, the crossroads of the West. You are listening to the Liberty Roundtable Radio Talk Show. An incredible event coming up June 5th and 6th at the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. JBS.org slash conference slash SLC26 is where you get your tickets to ride. Anyway, it's going to be a great conference held by the John Birch Society.
[00:00:32] Bunch of great speakers. We've had on several. We'll have on several more before the event. I'm done. It's a fly in for event. It's that good. Check it out. JBS.org slash conference slash SLC26. Speaking of that, Eldon Stahl with me this broadcast half hour talking about honest money, talking about all kinds of great stuff. Eldon Stahl, field coordinator for the John Birch Society with me. Now, Eldon, I did an interesting experiment. I want to get your take on it, too.
[00:01:02] Let me tell you what I asked. ChatGBT and I asked Claude. I asked them both the identical question. I'm going to tell you what I asked. I'm going to tell you the response that I got. And then I want your take on one, the AI engines. And then two, your take on the whole discussion point in general. OK, so I said to Claude and ChatGBT, I said the exact same question. I said, hey, it seems to me that Congress has been the worst since Donald Trump took office virtually 18 months ago.
[00:01:33] And it seems like we have a do nothing Congress. They're always on recess. They've got infighting. They're spending us into oblivion. They go into Congress poor. They come out rich. I mean, it just seems to be an absolute disaster. Is it the biggest failure in Congress we've ever seen? And that was kind of my statement and question. And so ChatGBT came back and said the following. First off, Sam, you're wrong on one point. It's only been 16 months, not 18.
[00:02:03] OK. And the reason I kind of laugh at that is because, OK, it's 16 since Trump took office factual. Yes. But since Congress took over, you know, a little bit earlier, a whole month before the president did. You know, I guess since I said because since Trump. OK, I get it. But at the same time, the congressional session started before. So we're kind of debating semantics a little bit on that. Also, remember, they get elected in November.
[00:02:29] And so they have several months they could put together their kind of prethoughts so that they can hit the ground running, too. And we ignore that, too, if we just, you know. So anyway, timing is the only thing I really got an argument out of ChatGBT about. It wanted to correct my timing slightly. And my response is, OK, it's nuanced, but I get your point. All right. But then here's what ChatGBT said. And I found that interesting. Congress under Trump's second term has been gridlocked.
[00:02:57] Costly and internally divided. Since January 2026, Congress has produced. I'm sorry, since 2025. So since January 2025, my bad. Has produced relatively little major legislation. Presided over the longest full government shutdown in U.S. history.
[00:03:24] Added trillions in projected deficits. They say through major tax and spending legislation. They've fought over internal rules. And they have watched Trump back forces defeat one of the most conservative GOP congressmen in history, Thomas Massey. And then it basically finished by saying, you know, you're for the most part right. So that was ChatGBT's response.
[00:03:54] Claude gave a different response. Claude came back and said, Sam, let me put this in an accurate framing. You're close to right, but not quite. And then they said, you know, they did pass this beautiful, big, big, beautiful bill. I said, yeah, that's part of the spending. So then it said, yeah, I guess you're right on that, too. But here's what Claude said. Bottom line, Sam. Your characterization is directionally accurate.
[00:04:17] On most specific factual claims, the records long shutdown, the massive deficit adding legislation, the nuclear option rule changes, the ongoing trade scandals and trade manipulations. Massive primary defeats are all real. Wow. Wow.
[00:04:51] They say they're all real and verifiable. The, quote, worst do nothing Congress ever. Superlative is the weakest part. This Congress did pass enormous legislation. It's just been, quote, highly partisan. Slow on routine business. And consumed by shutdowns. But that's what I kind of said, right? Do nothing.
[00:05:20] Doesn't quite fit a Congress that just enacted. That enacted a three to four trillion dollar law. And I say, yeah, that's part of the spending I was talking about. They say this. A more defensible framing would be highly unproductive. On bipartisan. On bipartisan. And routine work. Dominated. Bipartisan.
[00:05:50] Brinkmanship. The longest shutdown in history. Record deficit spending. Rule breaking norm changes. Ongoing self enrichment scandals. And purges. Of internal dissenters. That version. Holds up to the evidence. Now, I find that interesting. Because it really didn't contradict me. It just said, oh, yeah. We passed a big, beautiful bill. And my response is, yeah. But that just relates to the out of control spending I'm talking about.
[00:06:21] Other than that, there's been no legislative except for that. Then I pushed back and said that. I said, hey, you're right. They did this spending. But it just spends us into oblivion. So then it came back and said this. I want to be straight with you. Rather than just agreeing. Because you pushed back twice. Yeah, I did. Because, you know, I already mentioned the big out of control spending. Yeah, they did do that. But don't take that as a win. Take that as an out of control expenditure. If we're not careful, our credit rating is going to be tanked.
[00:06:50] Over this thing. What's accurate in your statement, then it says. 43 days long shutdown. Check. Bullet record debt. Accelerating, not slowing. Checked. Flagship legislation added. Four trillion deficits. Check. Senate changed its own rules by nuclear options. Checked.
[00:07:17] Ongoing stock trading scandals and stock violations. Check. Massey constitutionally focused Republican. Was primaried out with Trump's backing. Checked. Significant infighting and dysfunction. Checked. What's still not quite right, Sam. Even after the second round. Is the worst do-nothing Congress we've ever seen. This remains the weak link.
[00:07:46] Then it says this. Listen carefully. Because I find this interesting. So that's the weak link. A Congress that passed the largest tax and spend legislation bill in modern history. A rescinds package. Full year appropriations. A Lake and Riley Act. Confirmed nominees in blocks. And so that's not literally do-nothing.
[00:08:15] You can fairly say. That has been destructive. Fiscally reckless. Dysfunctional. On routine work. Worse on bipartisan governance. But do-nothing. Is quote. The wrong word. For a Congress. That spent us into oblivion. This idea that they've been on vacation. Well, they've been on typical recess time. Not unusual vacationing.
[00:08:45] Okay. So it's not unusual that they're on vacation all the time. The dysfunction isn't from being absent. It's from what happened while they're present. That's even a worse allegation. But okay. So my ass is Andrew Sam. Is your general. Frustration is largely accurate. And most of your specific factual claims check out. But completely accurate overstates it. That is the do-nothing Congress. And on vacation. Don't match the evidence.
[00:09:14] Even though it is tight. Grounded in quote real facts. If you tighten the language to the following. You'd be accurate. You ready? Okay. The most dysfunctional. Fiscally reckless. And norm breaking Congress. In modern memory. I'd say yes. The evidence supports that claim Sam.
[00:09:44] So. So. They say even if two pieces aren't 100% factual. Because they weren't on vacation a whole lot more than usual. And. But when you look at the shutdown. And the vacation. Now you kind of have to debate what a vacation is. If we're in shutdown. Are we not on vacation? Or are we what? So. We can debate. But at the end. Chat deputy nor Claude. Could really argue with me in the end of the day. What do you say to all that? Alan. Alan.
[00:10:14] Sorry to take so long. But I really think this is something important. Because I believe that where the problems are. That's where the solutions can be found. If we look at it properly and do something. Right? Yeah. And it's. You know. You could say that. Yes. It would be an improvement. If Congress did nothing. Because they're doing so much that it's bad. When we get back. I want you to respond in detail. And I'll give you plenty of time to respond to this too. Because I think it's a critical issue. You know.
[00:10:43] You could say Sam. You've overstated this. Your absolutes. And your 100%s. And do nothings. Don't fly. Okay. 100%. You might be right. But how am I wrong? Is the real question. Liberty Roundtable Live. Are you watching what's happening in our country. And asking. What can I do? Join the John Birch Society in Salt Lake City. June 6th. For a powerful one day conference. The day includes a host of respected speakers. Two meals. And meaningful connections.
[00:11:12] You'll gain clarity on the issues. And walk away with practical steps. You can take to your community. Reserve your seat today at JBS.org. Forward slash. SLC 26. That's JBS.org. Forward slash. SLC 26. You know where the solution can be found, Mr. President? In churches. In wedding chapels. In maternity wards. Across the country. And around the world. More babies will mean forward looking adults.
[00:11:41] The sort we need to tackle long term. Large scale problems. American babies in particular. Are likely going to be wealthier. Better educated. And more conservation minded. Than children raised in still industrializing countries. As economist Tyler Cowen recently wrote. Quote. By having more children. You're making your nation more populous. Thus boosting its capacity. To solve climate change. The planet does not need for us to think globally. And act locally.
[00:12:11] So much as it needs us. To think family. And act personally. Finally. The solution to so many of our problems. At all times. And in all places. Is to fall in love. Get married. And have some kids. Eldon Stahl with me. Ladies and gentlemen. JBS.org. So I asked Chattanypte and Claude. Hey.
[00:12:41] I think Congress is the worst we've seen. Came back and said. Well not quite Sam. You're overstating it. But then they basically agree with everything I said. So. We're talking about framing and word choice. You can't say do nothing. Because man. They've done a lot of damage. Okay. Good point. You can't say total vacation. Because yeah. Half their vacation that is extended. Was really a shutdown. Not quote a vacation. But other than that Sam. You're 100% accurate. They say. I don't know how to respond. What do you say Eldon? Well one of the big problems actually.
[00:13:09] Is to a large extent. Congress has been do nothing. But it's a little bit different. Than what you might think. What Congress has done over the years. Is to delegate its authority. To organizations. Organizations. Agencies. People. That have much less. Accountability. Directly or indirectly. To the American people. And that's been done. In the name of efficiency.
[00:13:39] Especially. Coming out of the progressive era. But those philosophies. Have continued. Kind of a Fabian socialist. Type of approach. And now. Congress has become much. And much less. Relevant. To our lives. So what Congress actually does. Unfortunately. And that. It has a. A vast cost. To the average person. Yes. Because what we really have. Is legislation. Without representation. At that point. Right? Yes.
[00:14:08] And we could give many examples. Whether it's. You know. The decisions on whether to go to war. The decisions on spending. On tariffs. On. Regulations. All kinds of things. Those are things that are. Essentially on autopilot. And now. We have. Lost. Much of our representation. At the federal level. People. And. The fruit.
[00:14:37] We're bearing the fruits of it. But as Robert Welch. Founder of the Jobber Society. Said. Congress is the key. If we get Congress in line. We can turn around things. Just electing somebody. That's. Maybe good as president. Is not sufficient. In this case. It has. Your most. Important. Elections. Are. At the federal level. Are your congressional elections. What do you think we do about it? Because look. When they can buy elections. Like they did.
[00:15:07] To shut down Thomas Massey. Look. That election. Was the most expensive. Primary in history. Thirty two. Million. Dollars. Massey spent about. A third of that. They spent two thirds. And they literally. Bought the seat. Using Israeli money. Federal money. PAC money. You don't even know. Who it came from. Kind of stuff. And they literally. In my opinion. Committed election fraud. Now. Again. You ask chat. Do they commit election fraud. By doing that. And they would say. No. That's not fraud. That's fine. But yet.
[00:15:37] You and I are locked down. To how much we can spend. On an election. But yet. They can through PACs. And dark money. And. And international funding. I mean. You've got literally. Israelis funding. The replacement. Of Thomas Massey. In partnership. With Donald Trump. That's blatantly known. And admitted to. But yet. Of course. That's not election fraud. I mean. It's just fascinating. How we define terms. Right? Yeah. It is. Well. I would say. That. The big problem here. That needs to be addressed. Is. Election.
[00:16:07] The education. Of the voters. Right now. Most voters. Do not know. Who their congressman is. So. The recent poll. Had 37 percent. Knew who their congressman was. A minority. Knew that their state. Even had. A constitution. Okay. So this is very. This is a very significant amount. Of ignorance. On basic civics. And. We have. Had for many years.
[00:16:37] And been very successful. Handing out. And distributing scorecards. Through the job. Members. Society first. It was a trim bulletin. Now we have our. Congressional and state legislative. Scorecards. We know from. Tons of experience. That. You get out sufficient numbers. Of those. It changes. The discussion. From. Oh this person has a nice yard sign. Or has nice postcards. Or what have you. Or shook my hand. Or is. Good looking. To how do they actually vote.
[00:17:05] And how does that square up. With protecting. My liberty. My freedom. When you. When you. Get the discussion. In that direction. The results. Change. Quite a bit. But it does take. Sacrifice. From the people. To do that. But not. Not a ton. But it. It does take. Some organization. And that's why people need to. Organize. They have to. Know their neighbors. They have to. Get together with them.
[00:17:36] And. And. Educate. The voters. To a level. Where. They don't. Fall for these. These campaigns. Of putting out. You know. Just a bunch of postcards. Or something. That's. That paints somebody. In a good or bad life. All right. Where do we go with this. Thomas Massey thing. Because he was one of the most. Constitutional folks. In Congress. You know. You could say. Well that's a. Donald won. And paybacks. A beast.
[00:18:05] And poor Thomas. But at the end of the day. Though we're drumming out. The most constitutional. Among our ranks. What's that going to do. To the. Other congressmen. And senators. As they try to. Stand up. You know. They're going to feel like. Man if I do this. It's. It's. You know. Politically suicidal. And. Et cetera. Et cetera. That's question one. What do we do about that? Question two. What do you think it's going to look like. In Congress. Are we going to get to the point. Where nobody is above 90% anymore? Well. What we do. Is we organize at the local level.
[00:18:33] And we change the discussion. Within each congressional district. Those. Those scorecards. If you go to freedomindex.us. You can get them. Either a paper. Or electronic. And. Organize. Contact your local. Coordinator. Or JBS coordinator. Chapter leader. And say. Hey. I want to. I want to get this going. Because otherwise. Yes. It will be a chilling effect. To the congressman. They will feel like. They won't be able to stand up.
[00:19:04] And. Just. Say. You know. I don't exactly agree on everything. The president says. Or what have you. Yeah. That's not a good. Healthy way to. To govern. You need to have. In a free society. Disagreement. Is. Tolerated. And it is a good thing. All right. I don't know where to go with this. Except to say. It really is going to put a chilling effect. You know. We got Mike Lee over 90%. Doing pretty well.
[00:19:33] You got a few people. Rand Paul. But for the most part. We put out a ton of. Four cards. Mike Lee. And. That helped him out. I'm sure. We don't have anybody else really that solid though. Do we? There's a few people. But not. Not many. Maybe Chip Roy. Yeah. There's a few. Certainly needs to be more. Obviously. You might say. There's more than there have been. Actually. You know. Over the years. That. Constituency. Is growing in Congress. But.
[00:20:02] Is it growing faster than we're kicking him out? Green's gone now. Whoever is. Whoever's got Trump's ear now. Whether it's Mark Levin. Or whoever. Is pushing him. Often in the wrong direction. And he's. He's shooting at his base. Trying to. Kill off MAGA basically. Kill off the American first idea. All right. I don't know how to respond to this one. But here it goes. Global health officials.
[00:20:33] Now warn that the Ebola outbreak. Is worsening. I didn't know we had a big Ebola outbreak. But there you go. The World Health Organization. Reported growing concern. Over the speed and scale. Of the Ebola outbreak. In Central Africa. As deaths. And suspected cases increase. Do you want to respond to this one? Are we going to have another big old pandemic?
[00:21:03] As I say. The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution. So Ebola. Certainly a very. Painful. Disease. To ever get. From what I understand. And it is a real thing. Just as COVID is. And all that. However. Whatever. You. What we saw with COVID. Was a vast. Over. You know. Exaggeration. Of the danger.
[00:21:32] And using that fear. For government. To grab power over the people. Do we want to go down. That same road again. With Ebola. How about we. Have a realistic. Outlook at it. And do what we can. About it. It's. It is a very. It is a real thing. But. We don't need to. You know. Shut down our economy. In the name of. Getting rid of Ebola. Or whatever it is. Amen to that. While health care costs. Are going up.
[00:22:01] Now the headline says. Health care costs. Continue to rise. After Congress. Failed. To extend. Subsidies. Millions of Americans. Are now facing. Higher health care. Expenses. After lawmakers. Did not renew. What they call. Enhanced. COVID era. Insurance tax credits. And so. I don't know how to respond. To all this. But health care costs. Are going up.
[00:22:31] Health care crises. Are. You know. Possibly imminent. Now the border. Starting to have all kinds of problems. Tom Holman and company. Are saying hey. Their deportations are down. Even though they want them to be up. But you know. There's just too much infighting. And too much lawsuits. And lawfare. Are in Congress. Is stuck. I know they're. Do something Congress. I. My characterization. That they're. Do nothing is wrong. They've been doing all kinds of things. Just all the wrong kind of things. To move the country forward. All I can tell you. Is I have hope. In people going to the June 5th.
[00:23:01] And 6th. Event for the John Birch Society. JBS. JBS.org. Slash conference. Slash SLC 26. Because I believe there's solutions there. Eldon. Oh yeah. Yeah. If you know. Members. Non-members can come. And just. You know. Get your tickets. And if you have any trouble. Just. Give me a call. 605. 999. 1319. And I can. Help you out. Because. They want you to use. Name and password.
[00:23:31] To get into. The shop JBS. And it's just easier. To call me. And take care of that. Or. Or call headquarters. JBS headquarters. Can do it that. That way. All right. Give your email out too. Eldon. Eastall. E. S. T. A. H. L. At JBS. Dot. Or. Eastall. At JBS. Or. Or that number. Again. 605. 999. 1319. All right. We've got a bunch of other guests. Coming up about this conference too.
[00:24:00] Some of the speakers and more. Who are you looking forward to seeing the most? You know. Actually. I really like to pick Phil Lyman. But. You like him? I am looking forward to Catherine. Author of Austin Fits. Phil Lyman is speaking. All right. Phil Lyman. Catherine. Hopefully we can get both of those folks on as well. I know my. I'm his favorite speaker. The problem is I won't be there. I'm just kidding. All right. Thanks everybody. We appreciate you. Elden Stahl. JBS. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot.
[00:24:31] Dot. Let's see you. I'm Sam Bushman. For the great team doing a great job behind the scenes. If never get the credit. Thank you to all that you guys do. God save the Republic of the United States of America.