1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Today's edition of This Week on Capitol Hill is brought 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,399 Speaker 1: to you in part by Americans for Prosperity. 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 2: Welcome This Week on Capitol Hill, your insider's guide to 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 2: the story shaping Washington and the world. 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:13,120 Speaker 3: I'm your host Tony Perkins. 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 4: Today, I'm taking one more step to protect Americans from 7 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 4: the scourge of deadly fentanyl flooding into our country with 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 4: this historic executive order I will sign today. We're formerly 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 4: classifying fentol as a weapon of mass destruction, which is 10 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 4: what it is. 11 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 2: I was President Donald Trump at the start of the 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: week declaring illicit fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction, but 13 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: just days later, the administration took a move many, including 14 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: members of Congress, are calling contradictory reclassifying marijuana and pushing 15 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 2: it closer to legalization. 16 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 5: Today, I'm pleased to. 17 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 6: An after that I will be signing an executive order 18 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 6: to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule one to a Schedule 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 6: three control substance with legitimate medical uses. 20 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 5: We have people. 21 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 3: Begging for me to do this, people that are in 22 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 3: great pain. 23 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 2: One pack that tension with North Carolina Congressman Mark Harris 24 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: later also drawing intent scrutiny on Capitol Hill this week, 25 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 2: the defamed Southern Poverty Law Center. 26 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 7: A mere difference of policy opinion may land you on 27 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 7: SPLC's hate map that has countless groups listed over mere disagreements. Moreover, 28 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 7: these labels have real, real world consequences, including the twenty 29 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 7: twelve armed attack on the Family Research Council. 30 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: I was Texas and Texas Congressman Chip Roy, chairman of 31 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 2: the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. I was there 32 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: testified before the committee, and I'll have more on that 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: hearing ahead. As lawmakers raised home for the holidays, one 34 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: issue dominated the final days on Capitol Hill, health insurance 35 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: and the future of the Unaffordable Care Act. 36 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 8: Chuck Schumer and Hockeing, Jeffries and the other Democrats are 37 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 8: going to try to today by some stretch of the 38 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 8: imagination that the Republicans are responsible for the failed healthcare system, 39 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 8: when Republicans have not voted for that system for fifteen years. 40 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 3: This is the Democrats creation. 41 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 8: We have to fix it, and that's where we're going 42 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 8: to do now and we'll continue to do in the 43 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 8: new year. 44 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 3: House Speaker Mike Johnson joins us later well. 45 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: Also here from US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, as 46 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 2: he joins us from Jerusalem. All of this and more 47 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 2: on this edition of This Week on Capitol Hill. 48 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 4: Today's edition of This Week on Capitol Hill is brought 49 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 4: to you by Americans for Prosperity, Senior Care, Pharmacy Coalition, 50 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 4: and Clear Path. 51 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: It was a packed week in Washington. As twenty twenty 52 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: five draws to a close, House Republicans moved legislation to 53 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 2: lower health care costs without renewing Obamacare, COVID nineteen era subsidies, 54 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 2: and beyond several Executive President Trump capped the week with 55 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: a White House addressed to the nation that included a 56 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: surprise announcement a Warrior dividend of one seven hundred and 57 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: seventy six dollars for active duty service members. Join me 58 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: now to discuss all of this is real, clear Politics, 59 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: White House Correspondent Phil Wegman, Phil, welcome back to this 60 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 2: Week on Capitol Hill. 61 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. 62 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 5: Well. 63 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: Exciting week as it as twenty twenty five comes to 64 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: a close, no lack of drama or in some cases surprises. 65 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 3: What surprised you most about this week? 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 9: What surprised me most is that speech that President Trump 67 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 9: gave in prime time, It really was a rehash, a 68 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 9: miniature rally speech minus the weave. He delivered this speech 69 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 9: at the behest of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. 70 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 9: And so for nineteen minutes you had the President of 71 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 9: the United States really honing his economic sales pitch to 72 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 9: the country. But there wasn't a lot it was new 73 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 9: in the address. Instead, it was remarkable that the President 74 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 9: took a different tone than the one that he had 75 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 9: just a few weeks prior in Pennsylvania. He didn't call 76 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 9: affordability a democratic hoax. Instead, he said that he had 77 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 9: inherited a mess from his predecessor and he planned to 78 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 9: fix it. The one piece of real news was that 79 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 9: warrior dividend that you mentioned a second ago. And I 80 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 9: know some military families, you had the service member who 81 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 9: was watching the address to see if there was going 82 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 9: to be an escalation in the conflict with Venezuela. And 83 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 9: then more often than not, you had the spouse who 84 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 9: was relieved that there wasn't going to be a new 85 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 9: military conflict, but also happy to see that that dividend 86 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 9: was going to be hitting their bank account sometime soon. 87 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 5: Phil In. 88 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: The motivation for the speech, you said, the White House 89 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: Chief staff Susie Wilds kind of encouraging the President to 90 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: do this is this because the American people are not 91 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: feeling the economic love right now and when they're trying 92 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: to get vince him that it's on the way. 93 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 9: And something that was telling is that the White House 94 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 9: passed along a number of slides to the networks hoping 95 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 9: that they were going to carry those economic charts in 96 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 9: real time. 97 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 10: Only a few ended up doing that. 98 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 9: But the reason why I found that interesting is President 99 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 9: Trump is in a very similar position as Biden, trying 100 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 9: to make this sales pitch to the American public, saying, look, 101 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 9: the economy is much better than it seems. Unemployment remains low, 102 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 9: inflation is on the way down. Yes, prices are still 103 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 9: a problem, but there's progress. And that's remarkably similar to 104 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 9: the message that we heard from Biden for four years, 105 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 9: where they said that you know, even though you may 106 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 9: feel a pinch at the grocery store or the gas station, 107 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 9: things are improving. It's not a one to one comparison, 108 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 9: but it's a similar circumstance. And I think that the 109 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 9: big difference, and this is The saving grace for Republicans 110 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 9: they hope as they look to next year's midterms is 111 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 9: they think that that one big beautiful bill is going 112 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 9: to turn into big beautiful tax refunds, and they're hoping 113 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 9: that the feelings about the economy change come next April 114 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 9: when people see bigger refund checks in the mail. 115 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 3: You know, I think there's reason for concern, phil. 116 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 2: I mean, one of the first lessons I learned in 117 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: politics is that perception is reality. What people perceive to 118 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 2: them is reality, despite maybe the facts might be different. 119 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 2: But what we're hearing, what the polling is showing, and 120 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 2: even what the economic numbers are showing, is that that 121 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: pinch is still. 122 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 10: On one one hundred percent. 123 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 9: And if you look at Donald Trump's approval rating and 124 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 9: the real Clear Politics average, he is underwater on his 125 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 9: handling of the economy. He's underwater right double digits on 126 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 9: his handling of inflation. And yes, he deserves some credit 127 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 9: for bringing inflation down. That's happened on his watch, but 128 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 9: there's a there's a difference between the spreadsheets of an 129 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 9: economists and the family budget of a normal American and 130 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 9: right now they are still feeling the pinch. You know, 131 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 9: in some ways, it's you know, unfortunate for whatever politician 132 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 9: who is in power, because while the rate of inflation 133 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 9: has decreased, prices are still sky high. And one of 134 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 9: the things that remains under the President's control is the 135 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 9: rhetoric that he uses. 136 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 10: He really wants to be a cheerleader. 137 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 9: He wants to talk about all of this new investment 138 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 9: that is going to be coming in in the years 139 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 9: to come, and he wants to say, look, the American 140 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 9: economy is as hot as it's ever been. Well, the 141 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 9: thing about being a cheerleader is sometimes you can overhype 142 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 9: the progress. And right now it seems that most Americans 143 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 9: want the President to say I feel your pain. This 144 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 9: week's address at the White House was a step towards that. 145 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 9: But you know, there's more than three hundred days until 146 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 9: the midterms, and Republicans will be you know, they'll be 147 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 9: digging their own grave if they tell voters, you know, 148 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 9: not to believe their lying eyes at the grocery store. 149 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 2: Well, and one thing that is a probably a liability 150 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 2: for the president is how well he did in his 151 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: first administration in terms of delivering on promises. He made 152 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: a promise, he kept the promise in it was tangible, 153 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 2: it was real, it was felt, and this time a 154 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: little more difficult to bring that about. 155 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 5: Now. 156 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 2: You mentioned the President did not talk about escalation in Venezuela, 157 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: but he did at the beginning of the week talk 158 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 2: about x accelerating the battle on drugs, fentanyl in particular 159 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: illicit finanall as he talked about as he delivered an 160 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:41,359 Speaker 2: executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. 161 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 3: A pretty significant move. 162 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 9: Absolutely, Donald Trump doesn't see the metaphor and the war 163 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 9: on drugs. He takes it literally, and you have members 164 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 9: of his own administration calling this a literal war on drugs. 165 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 9: Anyone who doubts that should look at the twenty three 166 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 9: or so alleged drug cartel boats that are now at 167 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 9: the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. 168 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 10: They've been very aggressive. 169 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 9: Donald Trump followed through on his promise to use the 170 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 9: military against these cartels and describing Ventanel as a weapon 171 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 9: of mass destruction. 172 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 10: It ratchets that up. 173 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 9: What we've seen is an increase in the momentum towards 174 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 9: a conflict with Venezuela, not just with this classification offentional, 175 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 9: but also you know, with the decision to start seizing 176 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 9: some of these oil tankers. You know, if Venezuela is 177 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 9: to dispatch their navy to defend some of these oil tankers, 178 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 9: then you know that that brings us much closer to 179 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 9: a open conflict. And you know, it seems by all 180 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 9: accounts that Donald Trump is very serious about this new 181 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 9: sort of Minroe doctrine where he sees the Western hemisphere 182 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 9: as our hemisphere, and that the United States is going 183 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 9: to define the rules of the road, even if that means, 184 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 9: you know, open conflict indirectly with another power. 185 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 3: Phil just a minute, laughed. 186 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 2: You know, all the presidents escalating that more in the Caribbean. 187 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 2: He bookend the week with an executive order reclassifying marijuana, 188 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 2: moving it closer to legalization. 189 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 10: Yeah, marijuana gets a new neighborhood. 190 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 9: It's no longer alongside heroin as a Class three drug. 191 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 10: It's closer to ketamine in Class one. 192 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 9: The White House will tell you this is for research 193 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 9: and medicinal use. But at the end of the day, 194 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 9: one of the big takeaways from his order is that 195 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 9: it's going to provide financial relief for some of these 196 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 9: marijuana businesses in states that have already legalized it, so 197 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 9: you have to ask one question here will there be 198 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 9: more or less dispensaries as a result of this? And 199 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 9: it's an odd bookend for an administration that really is 200 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 9: pulling out all the stops when it comes to going after. 201 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: Illicit drugs, almost incoherent when it comes to drug policy. 202 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 2: Phil Wagman, always great to see you, Thanks so much 203 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: for joining us. All right, folks, stay tuned more this 204 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: week on Capital after the Break. 205 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 11: This is Amy working mot feeling the pressure of rising costs. 206 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 3: Feels like every day is getting more expensive. We get it. 207 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 11: The cost of living today is way too high. That's 208 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 11: where we come at at Americans for Prosperity. We offer 209 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 11: solutions to the country's biggest problems. 210 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 3: Like making life more affordable. 211 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 5: Yep. 212 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 11: That's why AFB launched Prosperity is Possible, the nation's the 213 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 11: largest movement to tackle the cost of living crisis. 214 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 12: Without urgent action from Washington, millions of America's most vulnerable 215 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 12: seniors could lose access to their prescription medications. Unintended consequences 216 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 12: stemming from a recent drug pricing law threatened the viability 217 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 12: of long term care pharmacies and could force many pharmacies 218 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 12: that serve nursing homes. To close this crisis would put 219 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 12: access to life saving medications and essential pharmacy services for 220 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 12: seniors at grave risk. Is Washington must act to protect 221 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 12: America's seniors and a pharmacy crisis in our nursing homes. 222 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 13: If we don't get our policies right, the next generation 223 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 13: of energy solutions won't be made in America. They'll be 224 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 13: built in China and Russia by countries that don't share 225 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 13: our values. 226 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 11: ClearPath develops and advances policies that accelerate break the renovations 227 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 11: to lower emissions, and fix our broken permitting process so 228 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 11: that we can bring industry back home to the United States. 229 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 13: We have a clear path to keep America in the lead. 230 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 11: Let's get it done together, paid for by clear path. 231 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 2: Welcome back to this week on Capitol Hill. I'm Tony 232 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: Bergins your host. Well this Weekhounsel Republicans pass the Lower 233 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: Healthcare Premiums for All Americans Act, legislation aimed at reducing 234 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: health care costs for American families with COVID era Obamacare 235 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 2: insurance subsidy set to expire at the end of the month. 236 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: Orders say this bill focuses on lowering lowering calls rather 237 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: than increasing taxpayer spending to prop up a failing system. Well, 238 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 2: as the legislation now moves to the Senate, question is 239 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: what comes next? Join us now to talk about this. 240 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: Congressman Mark Kersey represents North Carolina's eighth congressional district and 241 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: serves on the House Judiciary Committee. Congressman Harris, Welcome to 242 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 2: this week on Capitol Hill. 243 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 5: Hey, Tony, is great to be with you. Thank you 244 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 5: for having me today. 245 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 2: So a very busy week on Capitol Hill, a lot 246 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 2: of drama, but the House did get passed a bill 247 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 2: that addresses some of the core problems with our healthcare 248 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: insurance situation in America. 249 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 3: Let's talk about that. 250 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 14: Well, it was a big week, Tony, and I think 251 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 14: that one of the things that really was accomplished this 252 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 14: week was recognizing that we were not going to continue 253 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 14: the COVID era subsidies. Many of us have recognized that 254 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 14: those COVID Era subs these have been a huge drag 255 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 14: on with the amount of spending that we're putting into 256 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 14: that when you stop and think about the fact. 257 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 5: That covid is behind us, and yet you look. 258 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 14: At how there's no way that Obamacare could continue to 259 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 14: function without the subsidies. It does nothing more than prove 260 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 14: that Obamacare was a failure from the beginning. And so 261 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 14: the reality and the decisions we made to not continue 262 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 14: those COVID era subsidies, but instead Republicans have put in 263 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 14: place with a healthcare bill that we pass this week 264 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 14: to begin to expand the choices that families have, the 265 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 14: fact that they can get together in associations and search 266 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 14: out for a less expensive policy. The fact that we've 267 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 14: got these choice accounts which are going to allow employers 268 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 14: to have even more ability to put money into an 269 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 14: account for perhaps for an employee, and let them search 270 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 14: out and find their best deal that they're able to 271 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 14: get out there. But then, when you really stop and 272 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 14: think about it, at the heart of all of this, 273 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 14: Tony is really putting the power back into the hands 274 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 14: of patients and their doctors and getting it out of 275 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 14: the insurance company's hands. 276 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 5: This has been the problem all along. We have been. 277 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 14: Shoveling money from the federal government into big insurance, and 278 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 14: the President himself exposed it, saying again that he would 279 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 14: much rather see money go into an individual's health savings 280 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 14: account or some way. 281 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 5: Putting that money in the hands of. 282 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 14: The people so that they could purchase and have purchasing power, 283 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 14: rather than the insurance companies dictating what medical is medical 284 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 14: health is going to look like in this country. 285 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 2: You know, Congressman, I'm not sure how you see this mark, 286 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: but the I see this as kind of the silver 287 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 2: lining to the government shutdown, because the Democrats elevated this 288 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 2: issue saying they were shutting the government down because they 289 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: wanted to extend these COVID era subsidies, premium subsidies, which 290 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 2: were extremely costly and it was nothing more than propping 291 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 2: up a failed system. Well, they brought all this attention 292 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 2: to it, and now this gives Republicans the opportunity to 293 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 2: address some of the underlying flawed elements of our healthcare 294 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 2: delivery system when it comes to insurance. We could be 295 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 2: on the path to some significant fixes that could affect 296 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 2: families across this nation. 297 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 14: Well, I think you're right, and I think one of 298 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 14: the things that brought to light that I really didn't 299 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 14: know quite frankly until we got into this conversation that 300 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 14: only seven percent of Americans actually our own Obamacare. You know, 301 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 14: if you listen to what the mainstream media is trying 302 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 14: to put out there the narrative that's being presented. It 303 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 14: seems like that all of America is on the verge 304 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 14: of collapse if these subsidies somehow didn't go forward, just 305 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 14: COVID era subsidies. And so the fact that we were 306 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 14: able to deal with these realities at only seven percent. 307 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 14: And listen, there's some questions about the number of people 308 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 14: that were put on Obamacare in these subsidies, many that 309 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 14: have not even filed a claim in a year's time, 310 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 14: that didn't even know they were on Obamacare. So there's 311 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 14: just a lot of waste, a lot of fraud, a 312 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 14: lot of abuse that has also been exposed, and a 313 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 14: lot of facts that were able to share with the 314 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 14: American people as we get ready to move. So, yes, 315 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 14: I agree with you, there is a silver lining in 316 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 14: the midst of all of this. 317 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 2: Congressman Harris, a final question on this topic. The House 318 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: passed it, it goes to the Senate. The Senate probably 319 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 2: doesn't take it up till next year, but will they take. 320 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 5: It up, Well, that's a great question. And then let's 321 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 5: be honest. 322 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 14: We feel like it was important for us to get 323 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 14: this passed in the House. To begin to give some 324 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 14: relief to the American people when they think about affordability, 325 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 14: when they think about what's happening with healthcare right now. 326 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 5: But we have bigger plans. 327 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 14: Listen, this was just the start that we wanted to 328 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 14: get out of the House. We have a number of 329 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 14: ideas that are on a list that we're working through, 330 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 14: the ideas that Republicans have been strong on, and I 331 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 14: think in the first quarter next year, I'm even hearing 332 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 14: a lot of talk of a reconciliation two point zero 333 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 14: and a lot of it may very well deal with 334 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 14: a healthcare issue. And if we're able to do that, 335 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,199 Speaker 14: then we're going to be cooking with gas. 336 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 2: So that will be the big, big, beautiful bill number two. 337 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 3: I guess let's talk. You're on the Judiciary Committee. 338 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 2: You were on the subcommittee on the Constitution that I 339 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 2: actually testified before this week as it pertained to the 340 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 2: Southern Poverty Law Center. 341 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 3: Was headway made in that hearing? 342 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 5: Well, I think the bottom line was. 343 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 14: That it exposed which that is so important in Washington 344 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 14: is just being able to expose the realities of how 345 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 14: the Southern Poverty Law Center has been operating. The fact 346 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 14: that you were able to be there, and I thought 347 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 14: you did an awesome job presenting the case and airing 348 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 14: the experiences that Family Research Council went through. And again 349 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 14: the way that this group has established at really a 350 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 14: hate map and putting the finger on groups that is 351 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 14: really putting in danger so many of the folks that 352 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 14: are associated with incredible organizations like FRC, like Alliance Defending 353 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 14: Freedom and other groups turning Point USA. When they put 354 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 14: these folks in a category of a hate group, they 355 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 14: are truly truly endangering lives all across this country. 356 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 5: And I think that was made very clear in that hearing. 357 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 2: It's not an issue whether an organization has a right 358 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 2: to do certain things, and they can they have a 359 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 2: right to be stupid. 360 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 3: I mean, you can't keep them from doing that. 361 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 2: But they have this interactive map that was actually being 362 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 2: promoted by the government, the media, and corporate America, which, 363 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 2: as you said, pinpointed the Family Research Council in twenty 364 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 2: twelve led to a shooting in our building, one of 365 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 2: our employees being shot. It was connected to the gunman 366 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 2: who shot Congressman Steve Scalise, our colleague, our friend, and 367 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 2: then it was also connected to Charlie Kirk who was 368 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 2: recently assassinated. So I'm hoping that something is done where 369 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:22,199 Speaker 2: government media and corporate America no longer gives platform to 370 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: the Southern Property Law Center. We just got about a 371 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 2: minute and laught. Congressman Mark Harris, you come to the 372 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: end of your first year in Congress. What's it been like. 373 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 14: Well, it's been a phenomenal year. I really cannot think 374 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 14: of a better time. The Lord opened up for me 375 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:44,439 Speaker 14: to be able to come to Washington, have Donald Trump 376 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 14: back in the White House, having the majority in the 377 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 14: House and the majority in the Senate is just a 378 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 14: great time to be able to serve. And it's been 379 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 14: a blessing to serve under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson. 380 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 5: He has been tremendous and the way. 381 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 14: He has just held our conference together, how he works 382 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 14: with all of the groups together. 383 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:05,479 Speaker 5: To make sure we're on the same page. 384 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 14: I'm very blessed and very excited for what we've gotten 385 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 14: accomplished and looking forward to the second part. 386 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 2: All right, Congressman Mark Harris, thanks so much for joining us, 387 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 2: and Merry Christmas. 388 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 5: Well. 389 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 2: Speaking of House Speaker Mike Johnson, he's going to join 390 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 2: us next for our weekly conversation here on this Week 391 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: on Capitol Hill. 392 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,120 Speaker 3: So don't go anywhere, We'll be right back. 393 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 12: Without urgent action from Washington, millions of America's most vulnerable 394 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 12: seniors could lose access to their medications. Washington must act 395 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 12: to protect America's seniors and avert a long term care 396 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 12: crisis by protecting nursing home pharmacies. 397 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 11: Across the country, men and women are working with Americans 398 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 11: for Prosperity to reignite the American dream. We've shared some 399 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 11: of their stories with you, but they aren't the only 400 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 11: success stories we've seen. Americans for Prosperity partners with millions 401 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 11: at the local, state, and national level to improve people's 402 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 11: lives every day. Americans supported by AMP to advocate for 403 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 11: common sense solutions or billions strong, and with local offices 404 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 11: in every corner of the country, you can become a 405 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 11: part of something bigger than politics as usual. 406 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 2: Welcome back to this Week on Capitol Hill. I'm your host, 407 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 2: Tony Perkins. Thanks so much for tuning in. 408 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 5: Well. 409 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 3: Another busy week on Capitol Hills. 410 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,639 Speaker 2: Congress wrapping up for the year and heading home in 411 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 2: advance of Christmas. 412 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,239 Speaker 3: Of course, drama to the very end. 413 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 2: Joining me now is House Speaker Mike Johnson, who, as 414 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 2: of this month, has now served Speaker of the House 415 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: for two years and two months. He represents Louisiana's fourth 416 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: congressional district. Mister Speaker, welcome back to this week on 417 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 2: Capitol Hill. 418 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 8: Hey, Tony, thanks so much, and yes we've marked the 419 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 8: two year, two month anniversary there. 420 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 3: Thanks for noting. I hadn't thought of it. 421 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 8: But what I have thought of is one of the 422 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 8: things that is not part of the drama here. For 423 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 8: a change, now the third year in a row, because 424 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 8: this is my third December, Tony, we're not talking about 425 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 8: an end of the year Christmas omnibus spinning bill. Right, 426 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 8: we broke the fever. We finally have changed the way 427 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 8: Congress does it. We're getting back to the regular appropriations process, 428 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 8: twelve individual separate bills instead of just doing it all 429 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 8: in one big, massive piece of legislation right before Christmas. 430 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 8: So look, that's a big innovation. It's a big thing. 431 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 8: We've applauded all those efforts here. We worked really hard 432 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 8: to change that and we're proud of it. But as 433 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 8: you noted, lots of things on the table. Nevertheless, for 434 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 8: the end of the year. 435 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,479 Speaker 2: I don't want to pass over that too quickly, mister speaker, 436 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 2: because we have this ability to quickly lose historical reference. 437 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 2: And this is the way Congress has done business for 438 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 2: the last couple of decades, intentively the last decade. And 439 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 2: so the fact, and to use your analogy at the 440 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 2: very beginning of this process many many months ago, is 441 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 2: it's like turning an after aircraft carrier. It's the process 442 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 2: has been slow, but once you make the turn, you 443 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 2: begin to see it. 444 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 3: And this is a new course for Congress. Yes, and 445 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 3: made believers out of the members here. 446 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 8: Again, a lot of people thought we could never get 447 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 8: back to the way it's supposed to be done, but 448 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 8: we just forced it. It's like pushing a boulder uphill. 449 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 8: We're mixing our metaphors here. But it has not been easy. 450 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 8: But you've seen the process and now with the because 451 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 8: the great work of our appropriators and all the members here, 452 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 8: we really have done that. It's a real innovation and 453 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 8: it's better stewardship. I mean, the reason that we've forced 454 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 8: this back is because it's the only way to really 455 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 8: be held accountable for taxpayer dollars and to the taxpayers 456 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 8: and that's what we're doing. Individual appropriation spills, debated, deliberated, 457 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 8: you know, you go through it with a fine tooth comb, 458 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 8: and you can save more money and spend money more 459 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 8: efficiently and effectively. And that's why it's spent such an 460 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 8: important goal of ours and something that finally we've achieved 461 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 8: to build that muscle memory back. 462 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 2: Well, maybe next week or so we'll talk about making 463 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 2: believers out of the media you made member. That's going 464 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: to be a longer conversation. I'm going to talk about 465 00:24:55,840 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 2: the big issue this week, healthcare reform or the healthcare 466 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 2: insurance reform. We have a time bomb that was set 467 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 2: by Democrats and now you're working to solve it. 468 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 8: Yeah, you know, the Democrats broke America's healthcare system fifteen 469 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 8: years ago. You remember when they passed the Unaffordable Care 470 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 8: Act known as Obamacare. They promised that premiums go down 471 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 8: for everyone. You'd have more access to healthcare, greater quality, 472 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 8: all the rest. None of that's happened. Everybody knows that 473 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:28,120 Speaker 8: premiums have skyrocketed. They're up eighty percent since they passed Obamacare. 474 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,959 Speaker 8: So the Republicans have to fix it. Democrats broke it. 475 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 8: They've refused over and over any of our good faith 476 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 8: efforts to try to bring the cost down and increase 477 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 8: the quality. 478 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 3: But this week we. 479 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 8: Took a very big important step. We put on the floor, 480 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 8: of course, the bills that will do exactly what we 481 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 8: know must be done, and that has reduced the premium 482 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 8: costs for every one, one hundred percent of Americans and 483 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 8: given greater access and flexibility in their care, more choice 484 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 8: in their care. So the package of bills we put 485 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 8: on the floor this week, of course, will accomplish that 486 00:25:58,440 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 8: if they're signed into law. 487 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 3: It's a combination of things. 488 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 8: That's cost sharing reduction programs, which, by the way, just 489 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 8: that innovation will reduce premiums by at least eleven percent 490 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 8: for all Americans. And then you add to that the 491 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 8: Association Health Plans and the choice accounts for small business 492 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 8: owners to give more choices and options for their employees. 493 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 8: And then PBM transparency, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager transparency, another 494 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 8: measure to bring down costs. So this is a theme 495 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 8: that you're going to see continued into the first part 496 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 8: of the year. The Republican Party being the only ones 497 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 8: in Washington with ideas to fix healthcare and solve this 498 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 8: great crisis. We'll be doing that in the first quarter 499 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 8: as well, so more reforms to come. 500 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 2: So, mister speaker, is this an opportunity that you really 501 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 2: weren't looking for? 502 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 3: You didn't want to have to address. 503 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,479 Speaker 2: This issue, this time bomb that the Democrats set with 504 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 2: the COVID era subsidies, but it has to be addressed. 505 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 2: So is this an opportunity to really truly fix what 506 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: has been plaguing this nation for really over a couple 507 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 2: of decades. 508 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 3: Well, yes, and you know we have tried over the years. 509 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 8: I mean, I remember we all remember well the first 510 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,119 Speaker 8: Trump administration in twenty seventeen, we tried to repeal and 511 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 8: replace of Obamacare effort and John McCain famously did the 512 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 8: thumbs down and killed the effort at the last hour, 513 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 8: great drama, and nothing ultimately was able to come of it. 514 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 8: So we have ptsd in some ways about that great effort. 515 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 8: So much effort we expended, and then over the years since. 516 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 8: In twenty nineteen, you'll remember I was chairman of the 517 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 8: Republican Study Committee, which is the largest caucus in Congress. 518 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 8: We had one hundred and fifty eight Republicans. We published 519 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,919 Speaker 8: a two volume set on how to fix America's healthcare system. 520 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 8: But the challenge has been with the margins so small here, 521 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,719 Speaker 8: the majority is so small, no Democrats have ever been 522 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 8: willing to help us on any of that. They wrote 523 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:46,679 Speaker 8: the system, they double tripled down on it, and they 524 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 8: haven't allowed us to do it. So we're again using 525 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:50,959 Speaker 8: even though we have a small margin. We'll have a 526 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 8: one vote margin in the Republican majority from January to 527 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 8: April until a seat is filled in Georgia. We're going 528 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 8: to still, even with that small margin, hold everybody to 529 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 8: the others, stay unified and get these things done. 530 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 3: It must be done for the American people. 531 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,160 Speaker 2: All right, mister speaker, Next time we get together, we'll 532 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: talk about how you're going to expand those margins until 533 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 2: they have a merry Christmas, folks, stick away this. 534 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 3: We're back right after this. 535 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 13: The world's demand for power is only growing, and if 536 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 13: we don't lead the world, other countries will. We have 537 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:27,400 Speaker 13: a clear pass to keep America in the lead. Let's 538 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 13: get it done together. 539 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 11: Only fifty eight percent of Americans say they're proud to 540 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 11: be an American, the lowest ever recorded. That's more than disappointing, 541 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 11: it's a warning. When we forget what makes America exceptional, 542 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 11: we risk losing it. That's why Americans for Prosperity is 543 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 11: launching the One Small Step campaign, helping Americans reconnect with 544 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 11: our founding values. This isn't about politics, It's about who 545 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 11: we are and the future we choose. Are you ready 546 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 11: to take one Small Step? Join us at AFP volunteer 547 00:28:58,920 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 11: dot com. 548 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 12: Millions of America's most vulnerable seniors could lose access to 549 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 12: their prescription medications. Unintended consequences stemming from a recent drug 550 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 12: pricing law threatened the viability of long term care pharmacies 551 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 12: and could force many pharmacies that serve nursing homes to close. 552 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 12: This crisis would put access to life saving medications and 553 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 12: essential pharmacy services for seniors at grave risk. Washington must 554 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 12: act to protect America's seniors and avert a pharmacy crisis 555 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 12: in our nursing homes paid. 556 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 2: For by the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition. Welcome back to 557 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: this week on Capitol Hill. I'm Tony Perkins, your host. 558 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 2: Good to have you with us. Well, since it was 559 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 2: signed more than two months ago, the fragile ceasefire between 560 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 2: Israel and Hamas well, it remains in place in the 561 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 2: first phase despite the terms of the plan negotiated by 562 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: the Trump administration of Hasses yet to move forward with 563 00:29:55,160 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 2: the total demilitarizing of Gaza more than two years of 564 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 2: war sparked by Hamas's October seventh attack. What progress have 565 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 2: we seen this year and what do we anticipate in 566 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: the year ahead. Joining me now to discuss this and more. 567 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 2: United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabye, Ambassador huckaby welcome 568 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 2: back to this week on Capitol Hill. 569 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for joining us. 570 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 5: Thank you, Tony. 571 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 15: Merry Christmas to you, and I'll go ahead and say 572 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 15: Happy New Year because it won't be that long before 573 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 15: we'll be doing that as well. 574 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 3: Well, Merry Christmas to you. 575 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 2: And I know this is your first Christmas in Israel 576 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 2: to actually be there for Christmas, so it's going to 577 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 2: be kind of exciting. 578 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 15: It is going to be our family is going to 579 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 15: go to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, will be there for 580 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 15: the midnight Christmas service at church and the Nativity. 581 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 5: Enjoy Major Square. 582 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 15: It'll be a special time and I hope around the 583 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 15: world people will be praying that this will be a 584 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 15: peaceful Christmas and that it will lead to a peaceful 585 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 15: twenty twenty six. 586 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 2: Well, those words in that Christmas Herald, peace on Earth, 587 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 2: goodwill to take well, I think a very important have 588 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 2: a very important meaning this year. 589 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 3: They really do. 590 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 15: We have a ceasefire in Israel that has lasted just 591 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 15: a little over a couple of months now. President Trump's 592 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 15: incredible leadership to get all the Arab nations to CHARMELSHUK 593 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 15: to sign the agreement that says Hamas has to go 594 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 15: and the hostages have to come home. Truly historic. It's 595 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:30,480 Speaker 15: been a remarkable couple of months. No rockets, no missiles. 596 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 15: Many Israelis, for the first time in quite a while, 597 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 15: are experiencing peaceful evenings of sleep, and it's something that 598 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 15: they haven't had in a long long time. And I 599 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 15: don't think most Americans can understand what that's like. It's 600 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 15: like having several tornado sirens go off night after night 601 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 15: after night, and it has a cumulative effect. But there 602 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 15: is a great relief and a great appreciation for President 603 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 15: Trump in the US. 604 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 2: So most of the hostage, all the hostages, but the 605 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 2: body of the remaining hostage has not been released. 606 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 3: When you look at what Israel has gone. 607 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 2: Through over the last year, over the last two years, 608 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 2: we now have peace. As you said that for two 609 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 2: months now, we've had this ceasefire has been held. Phase 610 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 2: two of this agreement is upon us. But yet we've 611 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 2: not seen Hamas disarm. Are they going to be disarmed? 612 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 2: Is Amas going to go away? 613 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 15: I think they will because President Trump promised they would, 614 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 15: and he's pretty good at keeping his promises. So I'm 615 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 15: confident that if they think that they can wait him out, 616 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 15: they're probably making as big a mistake as Iran did. 617 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 15: When Iran thought that he wasn't serious when he told 618 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,040 Speaker 15: him they couldn't have a nuclear weapon and that they 619 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 15: weren't going through enriched uranium, he answered them with a 620 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 15: B two bomber on a Saturday night, and I think 621 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 15: maybe I hope it got their attention. If it didn't, 622 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 15: he knows how to do it again. Hamas has to 623 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 15: understand they have no future there. The disarming of Hamas 624 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 15: is the single most difficult part of the peace agreement, 625 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 15: the most difficult part to implement. But I'm optimistic that 626 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 15: we're going to get there because even all the Arab 627 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 15: nations signed on to a commitment that Hamas would to 628 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 15: be disarmed and they would be expelled and moved out 629 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 15: of Gaza, as they should be. 630 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 2: As I understand the situation, Ambassador, Hamas is kind of 631 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 2: being quarantined, if you will, into one part of Gaza, 632 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 2: and reconstruction in cleaning up the other areas has already begun. 633 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 15: There are two basic zones. The more western front of 634 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 15: Gaza basing the Mediterranean is basically the Red zone. That's 635 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 15: where Hamas has a strength. They're still there mostly around 636 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 15: Gaza City and Communists. The eastern part of Gaza all 637 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 15: the way down to the south, including Rafa, that area 638 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 15: is considered the Green zone. It's the zone that has 639 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:05,560 Speaker 15: pretty well been to demilitarize. The Israelis have control of 640 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,080 Speaker 15: it now, they don't want to stay there. I hope 641 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:12,360 Speaker 15: people don't think the Israelis want to permanently own Gaza. 642 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 5: They don't. 643 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 15: They would love just to get away from it, let 644 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 15: others govern it, take care of it, rebuild it, and 645 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:22,720 Speaker 15: let them go back to attending the land that is theirs, 646 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 15: and that's all they've really wanted. But it is going 647 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 15: to take some combinations of deprivation of resources getting to 648 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 15: Hamas that's underway, and then at some point it probably 649 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 15: will require kinetic action on the part of a police 650 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 15: or military force that basically says to amask, if you 651 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:46,239 Speaker 15: don't lay down your weapons, we'll lay them down for you. 652 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 15: As President Trump said to them, we can do this 653 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:52,399 Speaker 15: the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. 654 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 2: You mentioned the international force, the stabilization Force of the 655 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:02,839 Speaker 2: various Arab nations is nations coming in. There has been 656 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 2: some concern expressed on behalf of Israel about Turkey, in 657 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:11,400 Speaker 2: particular coming in to Gaza and being there on the ground. 658 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:13,160 Speaker 3: What are you hearing, what's the latest on that. 659 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 15: I don't think Turkey's going to have a military role 660 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,800 Speaker 15: because it would be very difficult for the Israelis to 661 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 15: ever say that's okay. It would have been okay ten 662 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 15: years ago when Turkey and Israel had a very warm relationship. 663 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 15: But as you know, President Ortawan has made some very 664 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:35,320 Speaker 15: incendiary comments regarding Israel, things like that they will restore 665 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 15: the Ottoman Empire, they will take every inch of Jerusalem. 666 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,799 Speaker 15: You know, some people say, well, he's just blustering, he 667 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 15: really doesn't mean it. 668 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:46,280 Speaker 3: That's not serious. Let me tell you something. 669 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 15: The mind of people in Israel is that they've listened 670 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 15: to people tell them for all these years since they 671 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 15: came back to this land that God gave them, and 672 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:58,600 Speaker 15: they keep being told we're going to kill you, We're 673 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:00,399 Speaker 15: going to annihilate you, we're going to take you. 674 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:01,479 Speaker 3: Out from the river to the sea. 675 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 15: And they have to at some point start believing that 676 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 15: when people tell you over and over they're going to 677 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:09,080 Speaker 15: kill you, they probably are at least going to try. 678 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 3: So don't let them. 679 00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 2: Oh, mister ambassador, I mean, just the events of this 680 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,239 Speaker 2: last weekend show us that that is the case. I 681 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 2: know we've been talking about Israel and what's been unfolding 682 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 2: in Gaza, but even though there might be peace there, 683 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:28,800 Speaker 2: at least a managed peace, we were seeing continued anti 684 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:34,719 Speaker 2: Semitic attacks inspired this last weekend in Australia by Isis 685 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 2: just about forty five seconds left. 686 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:41,360 Speaker 15: It's a discussing thing when you see the anti Semitic 687 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 15: activities that somewhat are an outgrowth of the attitudes and 688 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 15: the silence. My speech teacher in high school used to 689 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 15: tell us silence is agreement, and when people see this 690 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 15: jew hatred across the world and they don't say anything, 691 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:57,440 Speaker 15: and they don't do anything. You end up creating the 692 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 15: atmosphere in which something happens like what happened in Australia. 693 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 15: And we as Christians need to say we're not going 694 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:05,440 Speaker 15: to be silent. 695 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 3: We will speak up. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Always great to 696 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 3: see you, my friend. 697 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and I look forward to 698 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 2: seeing you in Israel in this coming. 699 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 16: Year, indeed next year in Jerusalem. Tony, all right, I'll 700 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 16: see you there. Well, folks, don't go away on the 701 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 16: other side of the break. Some final thoughts on this 702 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:34,240 Speaker 16: Week on Capitol Hill. 703 00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 2: Welcome back to This Week on Capitol Hill. Has the 704 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 2: Trump administration staked out a paradoxical position on the illegal drugs. 705 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:45,800 Speaker 2: On December fifteenth, President Trump issued an executive order declaring 706 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 2: illicit fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. With that declaration, 707 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 2: the administration elevated fentanyl from a public health crisis to 708 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 2: a national security threat, opening the door to expanded military 709 00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 2: engagement against drug traffickers and transnational Court tells that designation 710 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 2: is not without justification. Over the last five years, the 711 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 2: Centers for Disease Control has linked illicit fentanyl and related 712 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 2: synthetic opioids to more than three hundred thousand American deaths. 713 00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:17,759 Speaker 2: A CDC cited analysis estimates the annual societal cost of 714 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 2: illegal opioid use exceeds one trillion dollars, factoring in health 715 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:28,239 Speaker 2: care loss productivity, criminal justice costs, and premature death. Few 716 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:32,359 Speaker 2: threats have inflicted this level of devastation. Yet, just three 717 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:36,400 Speaker 2: days later, on December eighteenth, the President signed another executive 718 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:40,319 Speaker 2: order reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule one drug two Schedule three. 719 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 2: While the move stops short to full decriminalization, it significantly 720 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 2: loosens federal restrictions, reducing criminal penalties, and opens the door 721 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 2: for banks and investors to more freely participate in the 722 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 2: so called medicinal cannabis industry. Wall Street reacted immediately, cannabis 723 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:02,439 Speaker 2: stocks surged. The shift did not occur without warning. Prior 724 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:05,080 Speaker 2: to the order, nearly two dozen members of Congress urged 725 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 2: the President not to move marijuana toward decriminalization. Several signatories 726 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,080 Speaker 2: were physicians. Their argument was direct, Schedule one drugs are 727 00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:18,400 Speaker 2: addictive and lack accepted medical value, and marijuana, they said, 728 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:23,360 Speaker 2: still fits that definition. Their concerns are supported by extensive research. 729 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 2: A major review by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, 730 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 2: and Medicine found substantial evidence that cannabis use increases the 731 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:36,520 Speaker 2: risk of developing other substance use disorders For many users, 732 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 2: especially adolescents. Marijuana functions as a gateway drug, increasing for 733 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:45,920 Speaker 2: some the path to addiction to harder drugs, fueling the 734 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:49,239 Speaker 2: demand that is at the core of the fentanyl crisis. 735 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:54,960 Speaker 2: Compounding the risk is the dramatic change in the drug itself. Today, 736 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 2: marijuana averages four to five times the THC concentration of 737 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:03,239 Speaker 2: cannabis from the nineteen seventies, undercutting the claims that the 738 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:07,359 Speaker 2: modern use is comparable to pass recreational use. Studies also 739 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:11,800 Speaker 2: show adolescent cannabis use is linked to permanent IQ loss 740 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:17,080 Speaker 2: and altered brain development. The real world consequences are already visible. 741 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 2: States like Colorado that have legalized marijuana have seen increases 742 00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:26,280 Speaker 2: in traffic fatalities involving drivers testing positive for THHC. 743 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:29,719 Speaker 3: Emergency room visits tied to marijuana. 744 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 2: Have also risen, especially for acute anxiety, paranoia, and psychotic episodes, 745 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:39,760 Speaker 2: and legalization has not eliminated criminal activity. According to DEA reporting, 746 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:44,480 Speaker 2: major drug cartels remain deeply involved in marijuana trafficking. The 747 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:49,120 Speaker 2: administration's drug policy is incoherent. The federal government is waging 748 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:52,960 Speaker 2: a shooting war against drug traffickers in the Caribbean while 749 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:57,879 Speaker 2: simultaneously normalizing marijuana use at home. You cannot tell our 750 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:01,560 Speaker 2: troops these substances are dangerous enough to light up drug 751 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:05,280 Speaker 2: boats with missile strikes, while suggesting to teenagers that lighting 752 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:07,959 Speaker 2: up a joint in the backyard is no big deal. 753 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:13,719 Speaker 2: That contradiction isn't just confusing, it's dangerous, and that is 754 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:15,480 Speaker 2: This Week on Capitol Hill. 755 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:22,560 Speaker 1: Today's edition of This Week on Capitol Hill is brought 756 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 1: to you in part by Americans for Prosperity.