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 loads of variations with the President, however on this, is that this a transparent win?
SEN. MURPHY: Effectively, it is actually necessary that we’ve got a stop fireplace. It is necessary that these hostages are coming residence, and I congratulate the negotiators on getting this carried out. 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 photos of what Gaza seems to be like at present, 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 annoyed the power to search out peace and to get the hostages residence far earlier than at present. So once more, this might be an excellent week, however as you’ve reported, there are large points to return. 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 power goes to appear like inside that nation. There may be actually a danger of hostilities starting once more if we do not construct on this primary section and are available to some choices about what Gaza seems to be 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 bought to be sustained strain to see this throughout. My understanding —
SEN. MURPHY: Yeah. I imply, hear, I believe the barrier right here has been Netanyahu, and Netanyahu is simply going to maneuver if he thinks that his relationship with the US is in danger. And so, clearly, the strain goes to need to proceed to be sturdy and fixed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now let me ask you in regards to the different diplomacy that should occur simply up the road frankly. You have got 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 change 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, nicely, as a result of there isn’t any negotiations occurring 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% 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 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 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’d like our votes for a price range, it may’t be a corrupt price range. It may’t be a price range that’s going to devastate the lives of center class households on this nation as a way to defend and reward billionaires. That is a reasonably affordable request.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are speaking in regards to the premiums that can enhance a median of about $1,000, I imagine, for individuals 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, 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 need 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 occurring, 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 need to danger their billionaire tax reduce they usually additionally do not need to speak in regards to the president’s lawlessness. I imply, that is the opposite factor that we’ve got to speak about on this price range. If we’ll fund this administration, we have to fund an administration that’s being attentive to the regulation. 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 might be run by Republicans and spend no cash in states which might be 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: — Right, the long run price range that we cross in the end has to require that the president not have interaction in mass scale corruption. However a brief time period settlement, actually just isn’t going to repair the entire issues that exist proper now in the best way the President is operating the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you’ve been vital 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 stated in 2018.
[SOT]
SEN. MURPHY: The way forward for the American well being care system was a authentic 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 at present 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 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 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’ve got a accountability on this upcoming price range 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 occurring 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 comply with by?
SEN. MURPHY: Completely not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of that’s what the vice chairman was arguing right here, that it is like Democrats aren’t even saying what it’s they need to negotiate over.
SEN. MURPHY: No, you can’t belief this administration. And I believe it is necessary 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 type of video games that Republicans are taking part in. Joe Biden and Democrats, after 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 reduce. 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, every single day this goes on, every single 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 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 vital 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 every single day goes on, there are extra Republicans which might be breaking with JD Vance and President Trump and saying, sure, we must be keen to sit down down and speak in regards to the well being care disaster that’s about to go to this nation. There are extra Republicans which might be breaking with the president’s regime of censorship. In order every single day goes on, there are extra Republicans which might be 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 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 manner you possibly can remedy a shutdown is to have two events which might 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 critical about sitting down and reopening the federal government, they’d be in Washington somewhat than unfold out all around the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Murphy, thanks on your time.
SEN. MURPHY: Recognize it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
