The Leslie Marshall Show

DHS Faces Shutdown Unless GOP Agrees to ICE Reforms; How Trump Has Made Living Less Affordable

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by John Bennett, White House Correspondent for CQ Roll Call.
The pair discusses President Trump's reaction to the Bad Bunny Superbowl halftime show, the Department of Homeland Security facing a Friday shutdown unless Republicans agree to ICE reforms demanded by Democrats, Trump's racist video post of the Obamas, and ICE's disastrous polling amongst Americans.

Then, Brad is joined by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, an economic advisory firm, and a Senior Fellow of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.
The pair examines Rob's recent blog titled, "Affordability: What It Means and How Trump Has Made It Worse."
(Link: https://www.sonecon.com/affordability-what-it-means-and-how-trump-has-made-it-worse/)

John Bennett's handle on X is @BennettJohnT and the website for CQ Roll Call is www.CQRollCall.com.

Dr. Shapiro's website is www.Sonecon.com and his handle on X is @RobShapiro.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

How Teamsters Won Big at Sysco — And Why Workers Nationwide Are Watching

Leslie is joined by Josh Graves, who serves as both an International Brotherhood of Teamsters Warehouse Division Representative and Vice-President of Teamsters Local 104.
As a second-generation Teamster from Atlas Warehouse, a third-party logistics company that services Kroger, Josh has been a Teamster for over 22 years and is currently based in Arizona. He has played a key role in securing some of the union’s strongest contracts at Sysco, most notably the recent agreement at Local 690 in Washington, which provided Teamsters members with a wage increase of over 30 percent.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Leslie and Josh dug into what has quietly become one of the most consequential labor stories in the country: the growing power of the Teamsters at Sysco, one of the nation’s most profitable food service giants.
The discussion began with a recent win in Spokane, where drivers represented by Teamsters Local 690 ratified a four-year contract delivering major gains, including significant wage increases, lower health care costs, stronger pensions, and more vacation time. Graves emphasized that those gains were driven by workers’ willingness to authorize a strike, a show of unity that forced Sysco back to the table.

That local victory, he explained, is part of a much larger strategy. Marshall and Graves pointed to the first-ever regional Sysco contract covering more than 1,000 Teamsters across Northern California and Nevada, where coordinated bargaining and a credible strike threat produced similarly strong results. The agreement not only boosted pay and benefits but also included important protections around safety and automation, setting standards that extend beyond a single facility or city.
Graves noted that these wins are happening even in right-to-work states like Arizona, underscoring how union density and member engagement have reshaped negotiations nationwide. Over the past five years, Teamsters representation at Sysco has grown dramatically, strengthening the union’s leverage and changing the tone of labor relations with the company.

Looking ahead, the conversation turned to upcoming contract expirations in Montana and Chicago. Graves made clear that, after a string of major victories, Sysco Teamsters are prepared to take action to secure contracts that match the gains workers have already fought for elsewhere.
Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Teamsters.

Time for Kristi Noem to Go; Recapping Trump's Disastrous 1st Year of His 2nd Term

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Cristina Jimenez Moreta, the 'Shared Future' Director.
The pair examines the the rein of Kristi Noem as Trump's DHS Secretary and the leader of ICE, and why it's well past time for her to be fired.

Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, host of the 'TARABUSTER' podcast.
They breakdown Trump's historically destructive first year of his second term, and why the America people are no longer buying what he's selling.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

Five Factory Trends to Watch in 2026

Leslie welcomes back Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, to explore why the coming year could be a turning point for U.S. manufacturing.

He breaks down how easing interest rates, clearer trade policy, and a steadier economy may finally give manufacturers the confidence to invest, expand, and hire after several uneven years.
Scott and Leslie also look at the growing wave of factory openings and why the real impact often shows up after construction—when workers are hired and local supplier networks take shape.

The conversation digs into tariffs and trade policy, including what “tariff predictability” means for businesses and how the U.S.–China manufacturing relationship is shifting toward supply-chain security.
Leslie and Scott close by examining workforce challenges, new short-term training pathways, and the growing competition between manufacturing and AI data centers for workers, energy, and materials.

Overall, the episode offers a clear-eyed but optimistic look at what’s ahead for American manufacturing.

AAM's website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their YouTube channel is youtube.com/@AmericanMfg (where you can watch episode's of AAM's podcast, "The Manufacturing Report")
If you want to listen to episodes of "The Manufacturing Report," visit AmericanManufacturing.org/Podcast.
Their handles on X and BlueSky are @KeepItMadeInUSA, and @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social, respectively.
Scott's handle on X is @ScottPaulAAM.

Trump Spent 2025 Attacking Workers, But the Labor Movement is Fighting Back!

Leslie is joined by Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the 63 Unions and 15 million members of the AFL-CIO.

The two review President Trump's first year of his second term, and how it's been filled with relentless attacks on workers during his pursuit of 'Project 2025.'
However, they also discuss how the labor movement is fighting back, and winning!

The administration:

• committed the single biggest-act of union-busting in history, 
• launched a brutal assault on immigrants and communities across the country,
• ripped health care from millions,
• made billionaires richer and corporations more powerful,
• moved to unleash untested AI technology,
• And dismantled government agencies that provide essential services. 

President Trump promised to “make America affordable again,” but instead, he spent a year driving up costs, holding down wages and letting jobs disappear—including jobs that would keep energy bills from skyrocketing. 
But in the face of relentless attacks on our livelihoods and freedoms, workers are turning to unions to fight back. And we’re winning. 

• In December we saw the first sprouts of victory when a bipartisan group of lawmakers canceled votes on the SCORE Act, succumbing to pressure after months of organizing from the labor movement. Then before the year ended, a group of bipartisan lawmakers passed a discharge petition advancing one of labor's top priorities: restoring federal workers collective bargaining rights.
• At the beginning of 2026, we saw lawmakers in the house rally around an extension of the ACA tax credits and a band of Republicans come together to sink a series of anti-worker labor bills.

The website for the AFL-CIO is AFLCIO.org and their handle on Blue Sky is @AFLCIO.org. Their handle on Facebook, Instagram and X is @AFLCIO.  Jody's handle on Blue Sky is @guerino.bsky.social.

GOP Coming Around on Extending ACA Subsidies?; Trump and ICE Try to Gaslight America After Killing Civilian

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Center for American Progress's Natasha Murphy, Director of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress.The two breakdown the latest on the efforts by Congressional Democrats to get healthcare subsidies reinstated for the over 20 million Americans who purchase their health insurance through the ACA marketplace.  Since Republicans let the credits expire at the end of last month, many families have had the cost of their premiums more than double.

Then, Brad's joined by Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an Immigration Attorney and Advocate. The pair discusses the shooting death of Renee Good, the unarmed civilian who was shot to death by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week.  They also analyze the Trump administration's gaslighting of the facts about the shooting, including their unwarranted claims that the 37-year old poet, artist and Mother of three was a 'domestic terrorist.'
Finally, they have a broader discussion on the topic of ICE, and how it has made America less safe, the opposite of what Trump promised it would do for the country.

Natasha Murphy is the director of Health Policy at American Progress, where she develops and advances policy proposals to lower health care costs and improve health care coverage, affordability, and quality.

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch is also the Owner and CEO of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law. Their website is www.LincolnGoldfinch.com. Kate's handle is @AttorneyKLG on X, @attorneykatelg on Instagram, and @abogadakate on TikTok.
Additionally, she's currently running for State Representative for Texas House district 50 as a Democrat.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

New Mexico A.G. Talks Lawsuits vs Meta and Snap Inc. for Enabling Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Leslie is joined by Raul Torrez, Attorney General of New Mexico.
Torrez is a career state and federal prosecutor who has served at every level of the justice system. Since taking office as New Mexico’s 32nd Attorney General in 2023, he has made protecting children a central priority—holding major tech companies accountable for enabling online abuse and investigating systemic failures in the child welfare system. 

The two discuss Torrez's lawsuits against Meta and Snap Inc.
In December 2023, A.G. Torrez filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging that Facebook and Instagram enabled child sexual abuse and human trafficking. The complaint details how Meta's platforms allowed predators to exploit minors and how the company's algorithms contributed to the spread of harmful content.

In September 2024, A.G. Torrez filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., alleging that Snapchat's design features and algorithms facilitated child sexual exploitation and sextortion. The lawsuit claims that Snapchat misled users about the safety of its platform, particularly regarding disappearing messages, and failed to implement adequate safeguards for minors.

Lastly, the pair shares information and resources on how parents can help protect their children online, and how to detect if their child may have experienced sexual abuse or exploitation online.

There's some great information and resources on the New Mexico government's website specifically for parents to help navigate these issues.
Visit NMDOJ.gov to view their internet safety page and their Sextortion guide.

U.S. Coup of Venezuela; Jack Smith says Jan. 6th Doesn't Happen Without Trump

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.).
The two discuss Trump's capture of the Venezuelan President on their soil, and whether or not the action was lawful.
Additionally, they posit whether this move by Trump undercuts the U.S. argument that China should keep its hands off of Taiwan.

They also analyze the prospect of invading Cuba or Greenland, and the impact of a more Western Hemisphere-centric foreign policy on the security of the U.S.
Lastly, the pair details Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's continued retribution against Senator Mark Kelly, a U.S. military veteran, for a video he was part of encouraging military members only to follow lawful orders.

Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA.
The pair discusses the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, as well as Jack Smith's recent testimony to Congress on how culpable President Trump is for the attack on our Capitol.

Next, they preview the incoming cost increases for Americans' health insurance, thanks to the changes that Trump and Congressional Republicans have made to the Affordable Care Act.
Finally, Sarah evaluates how possible it seems for Democrats to retake the House during this year's midterms, and whether the Senate could be attainable.

Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social.

Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social. 

Teamster Dairy Workers Push Back Against Cuts to Healthcare and Pensions

Leslie is joined by Scott Kroona and Brad Lusk, members of Teamsters Local 120, which represents over 15,000 workers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

They discuss why their Union has authorized a strike at Actus Nutrition and Foremost Farms.
They explain what has led to the strike, and how they and other dairy workers are pushing back against cuts to their health care, pensions, and other protections.

The website for Teamsters Local 120 is www.TeamstersLocal120.org.

SCOTUS to Hear Trump's Bid to End Birthright Citizenship; Healthcare Premiums Set to Skyrocket if GOP Refuses ACA Tax Credit Extension

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an Immigration Attorney and Advocate. The pair discusses Trump's new efforts to block immigration from 19 countries he deemed 'high risk.'
Kate also explains the details of the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to take up one of President Trump's most contentious policies by reviewing the American legal principle of "birthright citizenship," potentially upending a 127-year-old understanding of who gets to be a U.S. citizen. 
Kate and Brad also discussed how alarmingly frequent it has been for ICE to arrest and detain U.S. citizens for hours to even days, with some of them being assaulted in the process.

Then, Center for American Progress's Natasha Murphy talks with Brad about healthcare, including premiums that are set to skyrocket at the end of the month if Republicans refuse to extend ACA tax credits.
Natasha also breaks down why the Health Savings Account options, which many congressional Republicans are pushing as a replacement for ACA tax credits, do nothing to help pay for skyrocketing health insurance premiums themselves.

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch is also the Owner and CEO of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law. Their website is www.LincolnGoldfinch.com. Kate's handle is @AttorneyKLG on X, @attorneykatelg on Instagram, and @abogadakate on TikTok.
Additionally, she's currently running for State Representative for Texas House district 50 as a Democrat.

Natasha Murphy is the director of Health Policy at American Progress, where she develops and advances policy proposals to lower health care costs and improve health care coverage, affordability, and quality.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' 
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.