Monday’s Good Morning America showcased the ABC’s position as perhaps the worst of the major broadcast networks as, on this occasion, co-host and former NFL player Michael Strahan spent over seven minutes yuking it up with friend and Democrat Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) as the latter has a new book to sell (which ABC partnered with on sales through a QR code) and lob softballs allowing Booker to paint Republicans as the cause of the Homeland Security shutdown.
We don’t see ABC clamoring to have on Republican senators who’ve released books in 2025 and 2026, including Tom Cotton (AR), John Kennedy (LA), James Lankford (OK), Dave McCormick (PA), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Eric Schmitt (MO), or Tim Scott (R-SC).
On DHS, Strahan embarrassingly asked Booker if “it’s time for both sides to come together and get this figured out” since “President Trump is now sending ICE agents to airports to help out” and “a lot of TSA workers — or none of them have been getting paid[.]”
This snippet from Monday’s ‘Good Morning America’ shows exactly why/how Democrats are able to get away with avoiding widespread blame for causing the DHS shutdown and not paying TSA workers.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) March 24, 2026
ABC co-host Michael Strahan lets Cory Booker use his book tour to paint this picture of… pic.twitter.com/qpCNnHObeS
Booker then blabbered on about how Democrats are the ones who’ve been fighting to reopen the government, arguing “Democrats seven times have come forward and say, hey, look, we’re having a fight on ICE, but pay TSA, pay FEMA, the people that are helping them.”
“Why hold hostage airports because we’re fighting over ICE? Look, the principle here is something Americans agree with...We don’t want ICE agents arresting Americans, dragging people out of their homes, killing people. There needs to be reforms...[D]on’t drag in all these other agencies that have nothing to do with that principle to fight,” Booker insisted, going unchallenged on the fact that ICE is funded through 2029.
Because he’s a drive-by leftist, Strahan commiserated with Booker not having enough supporters for his position: “So, I think it surprised a lot of people with how much they’re making, because people think how could it be paycheck to paycheck, but when you see what their paychecks are, they’re really not making a lot of money as much of the same fact they should.”
“I’m sure a lot of people are frustrated because the lawmakers are getting paid and the TSA workers aren’t getting paid,” Strahan later said after Booker bragged about his supposed championing of TSA workers prior to and during this shutdown.
On the memoir, Strahan began by saying “I love this book because this is a book about virtues” and “it’s 10 of them and the people, famous or non-famous who exemplify them or who don’t.” Strahan asked the easiest possible question: “So — so why now? Why’d you write this book now?”
Only at the end did Strahan ask Booker about 2028, but he almost didn’t need to because of Booker’s politician-speak about how he suddenly felt the call to write a book imploring Americans to believe in goodness and summon our better angels (click “expand”):
BOOKER: Well, more than you know, I — when I’m walking around the country, people are afraid, worried about their nation across the political spectrum, and were asking me, what do I do? What do I do? And my response is we are the heroes that we’ve been looking for. And if you look at our history or even our present, it’s always Americans in times like this that stand up for the best of who we are in the worst of times, and that’s how we win.
STRAHAN: And one vulnerability that might surprise people — no, one — one virtue that might surprise people is vulnerability. How is that a virtue?
BOOKER: Well, you see it in sport — in sports right now. Some of the men that I think really break through often are the ones that talk about their own personal struggles. This is not a time we need more boasting of how great I am or how perfect I am. We create community many times when we open up about our struggles, about our pain. This is difficult times. So many Americans are hurting and I — in the last year, have seen so many Americans courageously opening up. This young man named Joseph Peters at one of my town halls — he suffered from severe anxiety, but wanted to come out and speak about what cuts in healthcare were meaning to his family and it was amazing to watch a crowd of a thousand people change instantly, crying, hugging, and he became a hero in my life because of that. Something about sharing when you’re broken open gives you more points of connection and more people to come together and show strength. That’s what we are as Americans when we’re honest and open with each other. And I think one of the best ways to show the strength of who we are is by showing our imperfections and our vulnerability.
In the same week that stories have trickled out (such as here) about Democrats believing they need to be more authentic and vulnerable about lows in their life, Strahan invited Booker to share such a moment about having to assist his then-elderly father use the bathroom a few years ago while in Atlanta, Georgia.
“[I]t was just sweet tender moment, but also an expansion for my heart to understand not just what my family was going through, but suddenly realizing there was millions of Americans who often struggle in isolation were all going through this. And I’ve now really worked with that community of caregivers and others across the political spectrum to say, we as a country have to do more,” he stated in part.
Strahan’s throwaway question about 2028 came at the very end and was followed by the two offering some sort of inside joke about a past golf outing the two were on (click “expand”):
STRAHAN: And very quickly, yes or no answer, you’re a contender — or you’re considered to be a presidential contender for 2028. Running or not.
BOOKER: I’m running for reelection in November, so I’m hoping New Jersey will support me. Hoping folks will reach out to my campaign. But no matter what, in 2028, I’m telling you right now both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party need big change. I want this country to have a new vision. I want us to redeem the dream of America. I think all of us in this generational shift now going on with younger leaders coming up. It is time that we bring a — a real new vision for our country. And so, I’m gonna be a part of that conversation regardless of what I’m running for. I’m just tired of both parties, frankly. We’re missing the moment. I see corruption in Washington like I’ve never seen before, with billions of dollars of dark money, corporate money, corrupting the system. I see a lack of simplistic vision. Most Americans are losing their faith that the deal works for them. They’re working harder than their parents making less can’t afford rent mortgage providing for their kids and God, health care costs and other costs are skyrocketing. It — it is time that we renew America again and make the best of who we are really present in our politics, which I think right now has been devoid of a lot of hope and a lot of promise for Americans who are losing faith.
STRAHAN: So, I take that as a yes. Cory Booker, thank you so much. We appreciate you being here.
BOOKER: Thank you for not bringing up my most embarrassing sports moments.
STRAHAN: I’m not going to talk about how you hit me with a golf ball back in the day, but Cory’s book Stand is available tomorrow. Make sure you pick it up and get all those virtues in.
To see the relevant ABC transcript from March 23, click here.
