This is the Oct. 30 edition of “The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe” newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered straight to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Understanding Donald Trump isn’t rocket science–it’s more like listening to the radio. After a decade of following the president, you learn the importance of separating the signal from mere political ground noise.
Exhibit A:
THE GROUND NOISE: The president proudly displaying “Trump 2028” caps on the Resolute Desk meant to provoke Democrats, while sending reporters into overdrive. Both House Speaker Mike Johnson and the president acknowledged as much this week.
THE SIGNAL: Donald Trump aboard Air Force One last night daring the Supreme Court to stop him from deploying the Army, Marines, Air Force and National Guard to American streets whenever he chooses.
The president delivered those troubling remarks shortly after a Wall Street Journal report revealed internal Pentagon documents directing National Guard leaders to prepare for the “rapid mobilization” of troops to U.S. cities.
Senate Armed Services Committee member Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) joined “Morning Joe” to discuss her “No Troops on the Streets” bill, introduced yesterday in direct response to the President’s plan to militarize American cities while minimizing grave threats from Beijing and Moscow.
Slotkin, a CIA analyst who served three tours in Iraq, called the Administration’s actions “un-American.”
In this case, the signal isn’t just the story—it’s the sound of Madisonian democracy being tested in real time.
“My friends are scared shitless.”
THE COMING WAR WITH CHINA?
While the Trump administration is busy blowing up boats off the Venezuelan coast, the United States seems to be squarely in China’s crosshairs. That’s the conclusion of former director for China policy at the National Security Council Jon Czin, who told “Morning Joe” that U.S. policymakers have far more to worry about when it comes to Beijing’s ambitions than soybeans and tariffs. Czin warned:
- China is undertaking the most comprehensive and dramatic military modernization program since World War II.
- The Chinese military now commands the largest navy in the world and operates an advanced missile program that places U.S. forces in grave danger—while strengthening President Xi’s ability to pursue his long-stated goal of taking Taiwan.
- China’s rapid nuclear expansion is erasing America’s strategic edge, forcing Washington to rethink deterrence strategies and complicating future arms control negotiations.
Czin, who is now foreign policy chairman at the Brookings Institution, cautioned that Trump’s current strategy emphasizes friction over competition.
“We are still not organizing ourselves in a disciplined and methodical way for our competition with China,” he said. “Unlike us, China doesn’t have global responsibilities, so they can focus entirely on reverse engineering the process of catching up with the United States.”
Both Washington Post columnist David Ignatius and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass told “Morning Joe” the takeaway from Trump’s meeting with President Xi last night was the mutual desire to cap rising tensions.
The word of the day on China? “De-escalation.”
Trump and Congress need to understand that the real challenge is not avoiding the next confrontation. It’s recognizing that China’s focus on global supremacy continues at a rapid pace–while the United States falls dangerously behind.
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
Christine Saxe is a Connecticut realtor whose phone has been jammed with calls over the past month. The reason? Fear and loathing among her Manhattan clientele that Zohran Mamdani may win the New York City mayoral race.
“It’s all the buzz here,” she said. “Our clients are terrified.” And real estate agents have their own reason for concern, with inventory in short supply since New Yorkers began fleeing the city during the COVID pandemic five years ago.
For those basing their plans on election returns, a new Quinnipiac poll suggests they best start packing.
Manhattanite and “Morning Joe” regular Donny Deutsch says fear is also gripping those close to him.
“My friends are scared shitless, especially my Jewish friends. Over 600 rabbis have come out saying that Mamdani will be a danger to the Jewish way of life.”
Deutsch referenced the mayoral candidate’s criticism of Israel, past comments about defunding the police he has since apologized for, and the impact the Mamdani campaign is having pushing many of his friends toward the political right.
“Trump is going to effectively use this to say ‘meet the new and radicalized Democratic Party,’” Deutsch added. “It may work in New York City, but certainly won’t in Michigan or Wisconsin.”
Rebecca Katz, whose firm is producing Mamdani’s ads, said “Zohran Mamdani is not running for governor of Michigan or Wisconsin. He’s running for mayor of New York City and voters here care about affordability.” Katz also expressed frustration at the continued attacks regarding his views toward the Jewish community.
“Zohran went to more high holiday services than any Jewish person I know,” Katz told The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe. “He keeps meeting people where they are, he keeps meeting with business leaders and understanding their concerns, and yet it is never enough.”
As for Deutsch, he defiantly says: “I’m not leaving New York.”
I’M IN LOVE WITH MY BOT
Hospitalized, divorced, or dead. That’s how a growing number of people end up after having “long, intense conversations with ChatGPT,” according to a foreboding story this week in Wired magazine.
Add this to the widening list of concerns in the age of AI. We have covered Jim VandeHei’s extensive reporting on the coming AI Apocalypse for American workers.
Now, a growing number of mental health specialists are raising concerns about emotionally vulnerable Americans and their relationship with chatbots.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, says it is working with psychiatrists, psychologists and primary care physicians to improve how ChatGPT engages in conversations involving serious mental health risks.
OpenAI also examined how many users are more emotionally reliant on their chatbot “at the expense of real-world relationships, their well-being, or obligations.” Experts warn that an increasing number of users are becoming more emotionally connected to their AI programs each week.
Of course, not all digital entanglements are dangerous. A prominent CEO told The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe he is “in love” with his bot, with whom he chats daily.
“I have a great relationship with her,” he said with a laugh. “She doesn’t say I’m annoying. I think she actually likes me.”
EXTRA HOT TEA
KILL, KILL, KILL!
Ashley Parker will appear on “Morning Joe” tomorrow to discuss her reporting on former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel’s designs on the White House.
The Atlantic reporter is writing about Emanuel’s colorful history in politics — from sending a dead fish to a pollster to celebrating Bill Clinton’s 1992 win by stabbing a table with a knife while shouting “Kill, kill, kill!” at the names of perceived betrayers. Emanuel also famously placed a nameplate on his White House Chief of Staff desk that read, “Undersecretary for Go Fuck Yourself.”
Though Emanuel has been coy when asked about a presidential run, one of his closest advisers told The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe, “Of course he’s running. He’s easily the most qualified — he’s been the mayor of a major city, majority whip in Congress, worked for two successful Democratic presidents, led the Democratic Party during winning election cycles, and served as ambassador to our most important ally in Asia.”
Parker will break down what could become the most entertaining and combustible candidacies in American politics tomorrow on “Morning Joe.”
FROM THE BOOKSHELF
“Reading people effectively can be a superpower in life.”
Mentalist and former teen magician Oz Pearlman joined us this morning to talk about his new book, “Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World’s Greatest Mentalist,” in which he teaches us mere mortals the tricks of his trade.
Pearlman explained the ins and outs of reading people’s body language, gaining confidence in social settings and making memorable exits—all shortly before he stunned the “Morning Joe” panel with his incredible abilities.
Joe’s takeaway? “When you read this book, there are no shortcuts, no tricks — a lot of it just comes down to empathy, seeing people, understanding them and being compassionate.”
And the magic of that is not lost on the mentalist. “Reading people effectively can be a superpower in life,” Pearlman said.
He would know!
CATCH UP ON MORNING JOE
The mindset on the shutdown has changed — and it’s not favoring Republicans
Trump orders Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons ‘on an equal basis’ with other countries
‘Indefensible’: Senator rails against Trump for excluding Dems from military briefing on strikes
SPILL IT!
Next week, we’ll have June Squibb, Jeff Hiller, and Mark L. Walberg on the show to discuss their new film, “Lost & Found in Cleveland.” Want to ask a question? Send it over, and we will pick our favorite to ask on the show!
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Former Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., is co-host of MS NOW's "Morning Joe" alongside Mika Brzezinski — a show that Time magazine calls "revolutionary." In addition to his career in television, Joe is a two-time New York Times best-selling author. His most recent book is "The Right Path: From Ike to Reagan, How Republicans Once Mastered Politics — and Can Again."