Transcript: Rep. Chris Pappas on

The following is the transcript of the interview with Democratic New Hampshire Senate candidate Rep. Chris Pappas that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Oct. 11, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Congressman Chris Pappas, who's running for the U.S. Senate in his native New Hampshire, and he joins us from Manchester. Good morning to you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, CBS projects that New Hampshire is no longer a toss-up but lean Democrat. So, what are you focused on in these final weeks of the campaign?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Democrats do seem nationally to be running on an anti-Trump agenda. In your particular race, you mentioned John Sununu, your opponent. He doesn't make that strategy easy because he used to be a never-Trumper. He criticizes the trade war with Canada. He doesn't like Trump sending $5,000 checks out. He said it was a mistake to start the war with Iran without a strategy for the Strait of Hormuz, I mean, he has distanced himself in some ways from the president, though he is endorsed by Mr. Trump. How do you split that in the minds of the Republicans that you are trying to w

MARGARET BRENNAN: But if Democrats flip control of Congress, what specifically does the party want to do to stop Mr. Trump, as you just laid out? I mean, is- is that impeachment? Is that investigation?

MARGARET BRENNAN: You said restore cuts to health care. I think you mean in the enhanced premium subsidies, so you want more government spending on healthcare- is that your platform?

REP. PAPPAS: Well, we have to be realistic. Donald Trump's going to be president for the next two years. We've got to find every point of leverage we possibly can to rein in the disgusting abuses we have seen from ICE. From next door in Biddeford, Maine, to Minneapolis, to Texas, this is unacceptable to people in New Hampshire, and it's unacceptable to voters across the political spectrum. So, we need accountability. We need to take back the extra money that they were given in that slush fund last year, $75 billion, with no strings attached by Congress, with no meaningful oversight. We need to

REP. PAPPAS: --criminals that are violating the law, while also respecting due process rights and making sure that immigrants are part of our extended American family.

REP. PAPPAS: And people in New Hampshire support that. And I hope we can get to the point where we're talking about immigration reform that will allow immigrants to follow a path, to work hard, to earn--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, and then you'd have to work with a Republican president on those things. Congressman Pappas, thank you very much for your time. We'll be back in a moment.

Transcript: Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer of Palantir, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 11, 2026

Transcript: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 11, 2026