Zachary and Covington natives, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy and comedian Theo Von, sat down for a 2+ hour talk that ranged from childhood stories about their respective Louisiana upbringings, the Bayou State’s economic and job-growth struggles, the SAVE Act, U.S.-Israel ties, Lane Kiffin's ego, and Fig Newtons - among other topics.
One such other topic was the state of Congress, where Kennedy shared his point of view with the midterms and a new fiscal year approaching.
According to the GOP Senator, the United States is driving straight toward another shutdown.
“Congress kind of looks like a breached birth,” Kennedy said. “Right now, it’s not pretty to watch...It's hard to reach consensus. We'll get through it, but as we get closer to the midterm elections, Theo, it just gets more and more and more political."
The central point of contention is the 2027 defense budget, where President Donald Trump seeks a 42% increase in spending, which would bring defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.
Kennedy, who sits on the U.S. Senate Committee for Appropriations, has expressed doubt that Trump’s desired increase will be approved, but supports a military spending increase of some kind. Latest projections have Republicans mulling over an increase of between 20-27%.
The Senator tells Von he believes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will lead the Democrats in a politically charged opposition, with hopes of it gaining momentum for his party leading into the midterms, resulting in a Senatorial failure to get enough votes to pass the budget.
“I think we’re going to have another shutdown. Senator Schumer, I think, is going to refuse to let us do a budget; I think he's going to shut down the government," says Senator Kennedy.
Kennedy spoke about his relationship with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, saying, “I know Chuck well — we went to China together, met with President Xi. We don't agree that much... Chuck's entitled to his opinion, but as I tell him all the time, he’s very animated. He’s like a 5-year-old in a Batman costume; you just want to tell him to chill out.”
The Louisiana Senator's claims come after last year's record-breaking 45-day government shutdown, the longest in United States history.
“He thinks by creating chaos, it’ll help his side in the mid-term elections,” Kennedy says. “I fully expect him to withhold the votes on the budget and shut down the government.”
"He’s like a 5-year-old in a Batman costume," says John Kennedy about Chuck Schumer.
"He’s like a 5-year-old in a Batman costume," says John Kennedy about Chuck Schumer.
