Sen. Shaheen goes ‘On the Record’ about Iran, DHS funding, tariff refunds

I HAVE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION TO THE SENATE IN 2026. NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN IS TAKING A LAST LAP AFTER NEARLY TWO DECADES IN WASHINGTON. THE WAR IN IRAN IS AFFECTING GLOBAL ENERGY PRICES. IT CERTAINLY HAVING AN IMPACT ON COSTS FROM VOICING CONCERN ABOUT IRAN. IT’S TIME TO RETURN THE $166 BILLION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. TO PUSHING FOR STREAMLINED TARIFF REFUNDS. THE DEMOCRAT IS MAKING THIS FINAL YEAR COUNT. THIS MORNING, SENATOR SHAHEEN GOES ON THE RECORD ABOUT THE BIG ISSUES ON CAPITOL HILL AND HER POLITICAL LEGACY. WCVB CHANNEL FIVE THE INSIDE WORD FROM BEACON HILL TO CAPITOL HILL. TODAY’S NEWSMAKERS ARE GOING ON THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT’S SUNDAY, APRIL 26TH AND I’M ED HARDING AND I’M SHARMAN SACCHETTI. AND JOINING US AT THE TABLE IS U.S. SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. NICE TO BE WITH YOU. THANKS FOR COMING. WELL, LET’S GET STARTED WITH THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUDGET RECONCILIATION AND ALL OF THAT. THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS AFFECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SINCE FEBRUARY. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE IS DEMOCRATS HAVE REFUSED TO APPROVE A FUNDING PLAN UNTIL CHANGES ARE MADE TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS. THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO USE THIS BUDGET RECONCILIATION. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS HOW THEY SHOULD HANDLE IT? WELL, SHARMAN, LET ME GO BACK BECAUSE IN FACT, IT’S THE REPUBLICANS THAT NOW HAVE REFUSED TO APPROVE OPENING UP THE BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. WE HAD A UNANIMOUS CONSENT DEAL THAT WE HAD AT THE END OF MARCH IN THE SENATE. ALL 100 MEMBERS SUPPORTED IT, AND IT WENT OVER TO THE HOUSE, AND THE SPEAKER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THE HOUSE. SO THAT’S WHY WE ARE STILL IN A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. IF IF THE REPUBLICANS HAD BEEN WILLING TO PASS WHAT THE SENATE DID UNANIMOUSLY, THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT THIS POINT. HAS IT BEEN WORTH IT FOR THE DEMOCRATS? I THINK WE NEEDED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ICE AND CBP BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SAW IN MINNEAPOLIS. WHAT WE’VE SEEN IN SO MANY CITIES AROUND THIS COUNTRY, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES TO SHOOT AMERICAN CITIZENS IN THE STREETS. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO GO INTO AMERICAN CITIZENS HOMES AND PULL THEM OUT. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO PROPOSE A DETENTION CENTER IN THE TOWN OF MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND NOT ADVISE THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR, THE COMMUNITY AND GET INPUT ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE DOING. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE WITH US. THAT’S NOT ACCEPTABLE. JUST TO CONTINUE ON THAT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGE? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE REFORMS TO ICE AND TO CBP. I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE BOTH IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE NEED A STRONG BORDER WITH BOTH CANADA AND MEXICO. I SUPPORT THAT. I WORKED WITH CBP OFFICIALS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. I KNOW HOW HARD THEY WORK. BUT WHAT WE DON’T WANT IS WHAT WE’VE SEEN UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS ROVING BANDS IN THE STREETS, PEOPLE NOT IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES, PULLING PEOPLE, NOT HAVING PROPER TRAINING. THAT’S WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND THAT’S WHAT THIS FIGHT HAS BEEN ABOUT. THE NEXT ITEM. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAQ. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BLOCKADE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS INTENSIFYING. BOTH THE U.S. AND IRAN ARE EACH TRYING TO APPLY AUTHORITY OVER SHIPPING. IT’S HAVING OBVIOUSLY, AS AS WE PLAYED A SOUNDBITE FROM YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, IS HAVING GLOBAL ECONOMIC IMPACT. ARE THE THREATS WORKING? WELL, PRESIDENT TRUMP OUTLINED HIS STRATEGY AND REASONS FOR THIS WAR. HAVE VACILLATED BACK AND FORTH SINCE IT BEGAN. HE STARTED BY SAYING, WELL, WE NEED TO PREVENT IRAN FROM GETTING A NUCLEAR WEAPON. ABSOLUTELY. WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT. WE ACTUALLY HAD A DEAL THAT WOULD HAVE DONE THAT DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT HE PULLED OUT OF. HE SAID, WE WANT TO STOP TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST. ABSOLUTELY. WE DO WANT TO DO THAT, HE SAID. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS OPEN. AND HE SAID, WE NEED REGIME. REGIME CHANGE. WELL, NONE OF THOSE GOALS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE HE WENT INTO THIS WAR WITHOUT A REAL STRATEGY. AND WE’RE SEEING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOW AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ARE AFFECTED BY BY HIS DECISION. YOU SEE NONE OF THOSE GOALS. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED DURING THIS? WELL, I DON’T THINK AT THIS POINT MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. AND WHAT IT’S COST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS ABOUT $1 BILLION A DAY SINCE THE WAR STARTED. DO YOU THINK THAT THE IRAN’S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES HAVE BEEN CRIPPLED, BASED ON WHAT YOU’VE SEEN? WELL, THE ATTACK ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHEN WE BOMBED IN IRAN. AND SO THAT DID HAVE AN IMPACT. NOW, WHEN YOU’VE GOT THE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD A NUCLEAR WEAPON, YOU DON’T GET RID OF THAT BY DESTROYING ONE PARTICULAR SITE OR TWO PARTICULAR SITES, BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE. SO THAT’S WHY DIPLOMACY IS WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE AND WHY I, I APPRECIATE THAT WE’RE IN A CEASE FIRE NOW. I HOPE THAT CONTINUES. AND I HOPE WE CAN GET A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. BUT WE’VE ALSO GIVEN IRAN THE KNOWLEDGE NOW THAT THE STRAIT CONTROLLING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ GIVES THEM PROBABLY AS MUCH. ABILITY TO INFLUENCE WHAT GOES ON AS HAVING A NUCLEAR WEAPON. AND THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DECISION TO GO TO WAR. IS THERE IS THERE IS THERE FEAR THAT THAT CREATING A NUCLEAR BOMB IS ONE ASPECT OF IT? IRAN COULD STILL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BUY A NUCLEAR BOMB. SO THERE’S ANOTHER WRINKLE IN HERE THAT THAT HAS TO BE PROTECTED. WELL, THEY BECAUSE THEY’RE ABLE TO CONTROL THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS STILL GIVING THEM THE CAPACITY TO TO BUILD THEIR ECONOMY. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO STILL HAVING THE, THE ENRICHMENT CAPACITY AND THE ENRICHED URANIUM, WHICH THEY HAVE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DESTROY ALL OF THAT. WE’RE NOT EVEN SURE WHERE ALL OF IT IS. THEY STILL HAVE HALF OF THEIR MISSILE CAPACITY. THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE DRONES. THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CLOSED. SO WE HAVEN’T ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THE PRESIDENT, EVEN SOME OF THE VARYING GOALS THAT THE PRESIDENT LAID OUT. AND WE HAVE WE HAVE A REGIME IN CONTROL NOW IN IRAN THAT IS ARGUABLY EVEN MORE HARD LINE THAN THE ONE THAT WE TOOK OUT. ALL RIGHT. LET’S TALK ABOUT TARIFFS. YOU’RE SPONSORING A BILL THAT WOULD ISSUE FULL REFUNDS OF THE PRESIDENT’S TARIFFS. SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE BLOCKED IT. TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUR BILL WOULD DO AND WHAT YOU SUSPECT THE FUTURE OF IT COULD BE. WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN THE TARIFFS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD PUT IN PLACE UNDER IEEPA, THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC EMERGENCY POWERS ACT, WHICH DOES NOT MENTION TARIFFS AT ALL. SO AS PART OF THAT DECISION, THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO REFUND THOSE TARIFFS. WELL, WE THINK THAT WE’VE GOT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY THE TARIFFS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD THEM. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MONEY IS REFUNDED. AND THAT’S WHAT OUR BILL WOULD DO. IT WOULD SET UP A PROCESS TO DO THAT. WHAT’S WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW? WELL, THEY HAVEN’T REALLY STARTED REFUNDING. THEY HAVE BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET. THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE REFUNDS. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE GOING OUT NOW, BUT THERE ARE. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO SEE THAT IF YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE BEEN LOST FUNDING BECAUSE OF TARIFFS, THAT YOU CAN GET A REFUND WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME, 30 DAYS, AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO FILE ANY MORE PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO THAT’S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. AND WE THINK THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT. NEXT ITEM VIRGINIA VOTERS APPROVED LETTING LAWMAKERS REDRAW THE STATE’S CONGRESSIONAL MAPS TO CREATE MORE SEATS FOR DEMOCRATS AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. BOTH PARTIES ARE BLAMING THE FIGHT ON EACH OTHER. LISTEN. THE TRUMP REPUBLICAN GERRYMANDERING SCHEME HAS FAILED. WHY? EVERYONE HAS A PLAN UNTIL THEY GET PUNCHED IN THE MOUTH. DEMOCRATS STARTED THIS. THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ACCOUNT OF THIS. THEY’RE VOTING ACCORDINGLY. AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO WIN IN NOVEMBER. WATCH. PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DECLINING OVER THE YEARS. SO SENATOR DOES DOES WHAT YOU JUST SAW. DOES THIS HELP? IT DOESN’T. BUT AGAIN, AS LEADER JEFFRIES POINTED OUT, IT WAS DONALD TRUMP SAYING TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME MORE SEATS SO THAT WE CAN HOLD ON TO CONGRESS. THAT STARTED THIS FIGHT. AND HE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE NO RESPONSE TO IT. WELL, THE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA AND VIRGINIA IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS HAVE SAID THIS IS SOMETHING THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE. AND THE VOTERS WEIGHED IN IN BOTH OF THOSE STATES RESOUNDINGLY TO SAY, WE AGREE. THIS IS A FIGHT THAT WE’RE UP FOR. AND WE THINK IF THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO TRY AND RIG THE ELECTION, THEN WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT. YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO HAS PRIDED HERSELF ON WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE, DESCRIBING, YOU KNOW, DESCRIBED OFTEN AS A MODERATE WHO’S BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AND ENGAGE IN BIPARTISANSHIP. BUT I HAVE TO ASK, DO YOU THINK BIPARTISANSHIP IS DEAD RIGHT NOW? I DON’T. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WORK ON TOGETHER. I JUST CAME BACK FROM A TRIP TO THE INDO-PACIFIC WITH A BIPARTISAN DELEGATION, TWO DEMOCRATS, TWO REPUBLICANS, AND WE PRESENTED A UNIFIED STANCE TO OUR ALLIES IN THAT REGION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH TAIWAN, WITH JAPAN, WITH SOUTH KOREA. AND SO I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER ON, AND THAT THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND I THINK, SADLY, WHAT WE’VE SEEN FROM THIS PRESIDENT IS AN EFFORT TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO DIVIDE THE COUNTRY. DO YOU THINK WITH PARTIZANSHIP SORT OF GERRYMANDERING THAT WE’RE SEEING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, IS THAT BY THE SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP, HURT BY SOME OF THE GERRYMANDERING? I OPPOSE GERRYMANDERING, I OPPOSE MONEY IN POLITICS. I THINK IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. BUT I’M ALSO NOT GOING TO SIT BY AND LET DONALD TRUMP RIG THE ELECTIONS, AND THEY’RE ALREADY DOING THAT. THEY WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST MONTH IN WASHINGTON TRYING TO BEAT BACK AN EFFORT FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE SAFE ACT, WHICH IS REALLY A WAY TO TRY AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM VOTING. NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS PASSED A VERSION OF THAT. WE’VE HAD TWO ELECTIONS NOW, TWO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. WITH THAT LAW IN PLACE, AND WE HAVE SEEN VOTERS TURNED AWAY, PEOPLE WHO WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE, WHO ARE TURNED AWAY AND WHO CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE AN AFFIDAVIT TO CONFIRM WHO THEY ARE. THAT IS NOT RIGHT. WE SHOULD BE EXPANDING THE ELECTORATE, NOT REDUCING IT. SENATOR SHAHEEN IS IN THE CHAIR. WE’RE ON


Political Reporter and Co-Host of WCVB’s “On The Record”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen joins “On the Record” to discuss the partial government shutdown, the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and her bill to refund tariff payments. The New Hampshire Democrat also reflects on bipartisanship as she prepares to leave the Senate.

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen joined WCVB’s “On the Record” to discuss the partial government shutdown, the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and her political legacy.

The New Hampshire Democrat is retiring at the end of her term, after serving nearly two decades in the U.S. Senate.

Early Thursday morning, the Senate voted to adopt a budget plan that would fund ICE and Border Patrol, despite Democratic objections.

The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since mid-February. Democrats are demanding policy changes after two protesters were shot and killed by federal agents.

“I would like to see reforms to ICE and to CBP. I believe that those organizations are both important in terms of the history of this country and what we need to do. We need a strong border with both Canada and Mexico. I support that. I’ve worked with CBP officials in New Hampshire; I know how hard they work. But what we don’t want is what we’ve seen under this administration, which is roving bands in the streets,” she said.

Shaheen also addressed the war in Iran and the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. She said she believes President Donald Trump went into the war without a real strategy.

“I don’t think, at this point, much has been accomplished,” she said. “And what it’s cost the American people is about a billion dollars a day, since the war started.”

She said that diplomacy is the solution that makes the most sense, but that will be a challenge.

“We’ve also given Iran the knowledge now that controlling the Straight of Hormuz gives them probably as much ability to influence what goes on as having a nuclear weapon,” she said. “And that happened because of President Trump’s decision to go to war.”

Last week, a refund system opened for businesses that paid tariffs rolled out by the Trump administration. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that President Trump imposed those tariffs unconstitutionally.

Shaheen is now advocating for her legislation, the Speedy Tariff Refund Act. She said the goal is to ensure that eligible businesses receive a refund within 30 days, without having to file additional paperwork.

“They haven’t really started refunding. They have been dragging their feet,” she said.

Sen. Shaheen goes ‘On the Record’ about legacy, Democrats’ Senate chances

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she is optimistic that Democrats could take back control of the U.S. Senate during the midterm elections.

“I think things look much better,” she said.

Shaheen said she is confident that New Hampshire voters will replace her with Congressman Chris Pappas, a Democrat who she has endorsed as her successor.

Shaheen was also asked about her political legacy.

“I hope it is one that people remember me as fighting for them, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they are on,” she said.

The Democrat said she has watched Congress become more partisan during her time on Capitol Hill.

“The political parties, they are driving that. The base of the parties are driving that in ways that I think are not good for our country,” she said.

Sen. Shaheen said she believes Congress can get back to the days of bipartisanship, but reforms are needed to get there.

Political analysts go ‘On the Record’ about GOP convention, DHS Fenway post

Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh and Republican analyst Ginny Buckingham join “On the Record” to discuss the GOP’s path to the governor’s office, Gov. Maura Healey’s Cannabis Control Commission shakeup and the DHS social media post featuring Fenway Park.

Political analysts go ‘On the Record’ about Trump economy poll

Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh and Republican analyst Ginny Buckingham discuss President Trump’s economic approval rating and who had the best week in politics.