The segment featured a caller from Great Falls, Virginia, who criticized public broadcasting, Planned Parenthood, and U.S. defense spending in Europe.

Cohen defended public broadcasting, emphasizing its educational and civic value, especially where local media is sparse.

“In urban areas, stations get some federal funding, but not that much. They rely on contributions and will continue regardless. But in rural areas, they don’t have the money to contribute and don’t have their own stations,” Cohen said. “They’ll get less information — and they need it.”

Quipping in defense of Sesame Street, Cohen added, “Big Bird is not a communist conspiracy. I don’t get that routine.”

Turning to foreign policy, Cohen defended U.S. support for NATO and military aid to Europe, framing it as essential to national security and global stability. He warned that pulling back would embolden authoritarian regimes like Russia under President Vladimir Putin.

“If you stop [Putin] in Europe — from taking Ukraine and moving into the Balkans, the Baltics, Poland, and Moldova — you may not have to deal with him elsewhere. They are our enemy,” Cohen said.

The congressman sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, accusing him of prioritizing personal spectacle and showing admiration for authoritarian leaders.

“Trump isn’t thinking about the American troops who fought and died in Asia. He’s thinking about Moscow,” Cohen said, referencing Trump’s reported desire to commemorate the end of World War II in a way that echoes Russian-style military pageantry. “It’s about his parade, not World War II. He doesn’t even know our history.”

Cohen noted that while Germany’s surrender in Europe occurred in May 1945, World War II did not end until Sept. 2, when Japan surrendered. He accused Trump of ignoring the sacrifices made in the Pacific theater.

“We haven’t claimed our credit for winning the wars?” Cohen asked rhetorically. “We defeated a fascist Nazi regime that murdered 6 million Jews, people with disabilities, and more. They invaded European countries, raped women, destroyed cities — Paris, the Battle of Britain, the bombing of London.”

He praised the courage and sacrifice of Allied soldiers but emphasized that Europeans also paid a heavy price in the wars.

“Our troops did a great job, many gave their lives, but so did the European armies, and the European people suffered greatly,” Cohen said.

Cohen also blasted Trump for his perceived affinity toward Putin, calling Putin “the Hitler of this era” for the invasion of Ukraine, the targeting of civilians, and alleged war crimes.

GOP CONGRESSMAN FALLS ASLEEP DURING MARATHON MEETING ON ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’

“What does [Trump] do?” Cohen asked. “He gets in bed with the Hitler. He wants to celebrate a holiday for the people who won the world wars, fighting against Germany, yet aligns himself with a regime that acts just like the one we fought.”

Cohen concluded by accusing Trump of harboring a “fetish about Russia,” calling his admiration for Putin deeply troubling given the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.