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LetMyPeopleVote

(181,278 posts)
50. MaddowBlog-Republican senator, seeking re-election, urges public to stop complaining about gas prices
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 06:59 PM
Apr 15

As GOP officials figure out what to say about prices at the pump, they should probably not follow Roger Marshall’s example.

Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who’s up for re-election in Kansas, wants consumers to stop complaining about high gas prices because Trump needed to address Iran’s nuclear weapons ...

... which might make more sense, were it not for the inconvenient fact that Iran didn’t have nuclear weapons.

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-04-15T17:02:42.965Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republican-senator-seeking-re-election-urges-public-to-stop-complaining-about-gas-prices

They should probably avoid following the example set by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas. The New Republic noted:

Republican Senator Roger Marshall wants Americans to stop complaining about gas prices because they’re necessary for ‘national security.’

Speaking on Newsmax’s ‘Wake Up America’ Tuesday morning, Marshall was asked about the Iran war, and the Kansas politician was dismissive of its negative economic effects on the American people.


I’m sorry the gas prices are going up, but help is on its way, and your national security, yes, is even more important than your pocketbook,” Marshall said.

Sen. Roger Marshall: "I'm sorry that gas prices are going up, but help is on the way, and your national security is even more important than your pocketbook."

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-04-14T12:15:12.895Z


.....Joseph Cirincione, the vice chair of the Center for International Policy and a longtime expert on nuclear policy, recently told MS NOW that even if Iran could have developed material to use in a nuclear weapon, that would be the first of multiple, time-consuming steps — steps that officials in Tehran had not yet taken before the American president launched this war of choice.

The day the war began, The New York Times reported:

He was not driven by an immediate threat. There was no race for a bomb. Iran is further from the capability to build a nuclear weapon today than it has been in several years, thanks largely to the success of the president’s previous strike on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites, in June.

While Mr. Trump claimed Tehran was ultimately aiming to reach to the United States with its array of missiles, even his own Defense Intelligence Agency concluded last year that it would be a decade before Iran could get past the technological and production hurdles to produce a significant arsenal
.


With this in mind, the question is why the hapless junior senator from the great state of Kansas is so confused. It’s plausible to make a case that national security is more important than temporary hits to American wallets, but is Marshall prepared to make the case that illusory national security challenges are more important than consumers’ pocketbooks? Is this the message he’ll be emphasizing in the run-up to Election Day 2026?

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

If we had been attacked, I'm sure we'd all be pitching in but we weren't. We bombed Iran twice Deuxcents Apr 14 #1
The very definition of "specious reasoning" Roy Rolling Apr 15 #30
Here be a dragon 🐉 for ya! mwmisses4289 Apr 15 #31
Well, senator, go to your local office and join the military if it's so important. sakabatou Apr 14 #2
I second your motion..............and this Marshall guy is an idiot............... turbinetree Apr 14 #3
Clearly Akakoji Apr 15 #20
Or if he's to old, send his sons, daughters, grandkids, neices and nephews! mwmisses4289 Apr 15 #33
REC THIS times a bluestarone Apr 15 #37
Hey Roger Marshall, MarineCombatEngineer Apr 14 #4
I approve this message! sheshe2 Apr 14 #10
Thank you sheshe2. MarineCombatEngineer Apr 14 #13
Barry Mcguire's lyrics sheshe2 Apr 14 #16
Barry McGuire MarineCombatEngineer Apr 15 #17
Yup. sheshe2 Apr 15 #18
Trumpedo and his criminal cabal, MarineCombatEngineer Apr 15 #19
IF and i say IF these bastards do what i'm feeling they will do to our great country, i only wish bluestarone Apr 15 #38
From Pink Floyd dem4decades Apr 15 #28
I appreciate your service, your awareness and your speaking up. dem4decades Apr 15 #27
It's always the Guard or Reserve guys, who spent their entire time in uniform counting paper clips. paleotn Apr 15 #49
Republican Senator is full of shit and backing a losing horse. Martin68 Apr 14 #5
His future security depends on bankrupting us now. dickthegrouch Apr 14 #6
The MAGA campaign slogan IronLionZion Apr 14 #7
Fuck Off Nazi ***** Cha Apr 14 #8
A gross characterization and comparison. Bristlecone Apr 14 #9
If oil is a matter of national security, then the oil companies should be nationalized. ChicagoTeamster Apr 14 #11
War is more important than your pocket book But Farmer-Rick Apr 15 #39
And in the meantime, As long as Israel keeps bombing Lebanon, Iranian missiles hit Israel, and Iran just got more parts ChicagoTeamster Apr 15 #40
Good question all, Farmer-Rick Apr 15 #44
What that repuke says is, he doesn't suffer with his big salary Justice matters. Apr 14 #12
He also believes in ivermectin. Read his bio. littlemissmartypants Apr 14 #14
This war was fought by the US for Israel and because of Epstein. Intractable Apr 14 #15
that POS comparing this crap to WWII Skittles Apr 15 #21
Well, it could be the beginnings of WWIII! Intractable Apr 15 #23
yup, there was a reason America entered WWII Skittles Apr 15 #24
Dear Senator Asshole, Did Congress declare war? No? Then fuck off you useless piece of shit!!! cstanleytech Apr 15 #22
Roger Marshall represents Kansas. raccoon Apr 15 #25
I have him for a Senator, he's a Trump ass kissing jackass Bengus81 Apr 15 #32
Then why war when this country won't be worth "saving"? no_hypocrisy Apr 15 #26
Unless of course it affects his pocket book. Irish_Dem Apr 15 #29
He's actually running for reelection. boonecreek Apr 15 #34
Except it's Kansas. maxsolomon Apr 15 #41
They've had a Democratic governor (Laura Kelly) since 2009. boonecreek Apr 15 #46
Where I grew up they would say he is "suckin' off of the public tit". twodogsbarking Apr 15 #35
When is the cease fire, well, over? twodogsbarking Apr 15 #36
Dear Senator Fucknuts (yeah, YOU Marshall!!), MyOwnPeace Apr 15 #42
From KS here Racygrandma Apr 15 #43
He's up for reelection this year PghTiny Apr 15 #45
Same for YOU, dude. calimary Apr 15 #47
Not going Rebl2 Apr 15 #48
MaddowBlog-Republican senator, seeking re-election, urges public to stop complaining about gas prices LetMyPeopleVote Apr 15 #50
Our actions are shameful. I do not like bullies. walkingman Apr 15 #51
What a f-ing idiot.. raising2moredems Apr 15 #52
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