1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Molly John Fast and this is Fast Politics, 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: where we discussed the top political headlines with some of 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: today's best minds, and Senate Democrats have re elected Charles 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: Schumer as their leader. We have such a great show 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: for you today. The Atlantic's George Conway stops by to 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: talk to us about his very smart take on presidential pardons. 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: Then we'll talk to the dlcc's Heather Williams about what 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: Democrats can do to reclaim the majority. But first the news. 9 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 2: So, Molly, I'm going to shock you here. Mister Trump 10 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: did not win a landslide. He didn't even get fifty 11 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 2: percent of the popular vote, but he did get more 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: votes than in the past. What are you seeing here? 13 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: So Trump did win the popular vote, but he has 14 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: now fallen to just below fifty percent in the popular vote. 15 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: He has gotten more votes than in past elections, but 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: it is not exactly the unprecedented and powerful mandate that 17 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: Donald Trump claimed on election. I mean, I think the 18 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: story here more than anything, is that California takes too 19 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: long to count its votes. Like we are weeks and 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: weeks past his fucking election. It is goddamn December. 21 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: But Molly, mister Trump says he's going to get paper ballots. 22 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: Those are going to be so easy to count. 23 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: Trump has, according to the Associated Press, forty nine point 24 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: ninety seven percent to Harris's forty eight point thirty six percent. 25 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: So I just want to say, like, this was a 26 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: very close election, but it was also not a high 27 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: turnet election. 28 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 3: Right. 29 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: The numbers are seventy six million point nine that's for 30 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: Trump and seventy four point four million for Harris. So 31 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: it was a close election. But more importantly, like a 32 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: lot of the Democratic base did not turn out for 33 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: Vice President Harris for whatever reason, and if she had 34 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: gotten the twenty twenty numbers that Biden had, she would 35 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: have won. Also, California needs to count its votes faster. 36 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: I think we should start branding Californians as lazy. Maybe 37 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: that'll help. 38 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: So South Korea, we got to talk about South Korea. 39 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: I always tried not to talk about international foreign policy stuff, 40 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: just because I know so little about it. But I 41 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: wanted to talk about this because it's a really good 42 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: example of people pushing back on a government that has 43 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: overreached too far. And look, I hope it doesn't have 44 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: to happen here, but I think it's really important to 45 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: talk about this. So South Korea's president said he will 46 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: lift martial law. He had enacted martial law just a 47 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: few hours earlier, late at night, so he was fighting 48 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: with the Congress, their version of Congress, and he declared 49 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: martial law. And in the end, people came out and protested, 50 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: and Congress did the right thing. And some people, even 51 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: like members of Congress, broke through the barricade and climbed 52 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: fences to get inside the building and then vote. And 53 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: so it's a really good example. And these had gathered 54 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: outside of parliament to protest this sudden introduction of military rule. 55 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: So I just want to point out, like this is 56 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: a really good example of a situation where people save 57 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: themselves from an authoritarian overreach. And I hope that never 58 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: has to happen in America. 59 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: Let us hope. 60 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: Speaking of hope, let's. 61 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: Introduce what hope is compared to twenty twelve of these days, 62 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: we're hoping because Lindsey Graham is signaling something that things 63 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: are going to go better than we thought. 64 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: I want to talk about this because this is not 65 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: about the American people making Republican senators and Democratic senators, 66 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: but really Republicans in this one because there are fifty 67 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: three Republican senators in the next Senate and forty seven 68 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: Democratic senators. So the job of senators under this article two, 69 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: section two is advice and consent. Right, as a United 70 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: Said senator, you have to advise the president on his 71 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: cabinet and consent to his nominees. I know that these 72 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: Republicans don't like conflict and want Trump, mister Trump to 73 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: have his people. But some of these nominations are bat shittery, 74 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: you know. Some of these nominations are okay, you know, 75 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: and normal, and some of them are completely insane. And 76 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: so this is an opportunity. So Timothy Schneider talks about 77 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: this idea of protecting institutions. So the first thing he 78 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: says is don't obey in advance. The second thing he 79 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: says in his rules of fighting against authoritarianism are to 80 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: protect institutions. So these editors need to protect the institution 81 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: of the United States federal government. And one of the 82 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: ways they can do this is with advice and consent. 83 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: And so I think it's really important that they do 84 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: their jobs. And I just want to read this because 85 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: this is a great example of someone not doing their job. 86 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: Tom Tillis, the Senator from North Carolina who's actually up 87 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: for a re election in twenty twenty six, said, I 88 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: like Cash Betell's chances of getting confirmed. So this is 89 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: a wildly inappropriate nominee for the FBI, and he is 90 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: being touted as having a good chance of getting confirmed 91 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: by Tom Tillis, who will literally be fighting for his 92 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: political life in twenty twenty six. So Lindsey Graham has 93 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: opposed to Tom Tillis, who is in you know, Lindsay 94 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: Graham is in South Carolina, much more red state, said 95 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: of Tom Tillis to CBS, and this I think is 96 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: really important because Lindsay Graham does actually really care which 97 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: way the winds are blowing. He said. I think some 98 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,799 Speaker 1: of these articles are very disturbing. Graham told CBS News. 99 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: Heg Sith obviously has a chance to defend himself here, 100 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: but some of this stuff is going to be difficult, 101 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: so we'll see what happens. Hegsath is is up for 102 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: running the DoD that's a three million plus people full organization. 103 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: Hegzeth characters himself as a heavy drinker. But you know, 104 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: it certainly seems as if he's used the organization's funds 105 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: for personal expenses Somali. 106 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 2: One of the things I think that made cable news 107 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 2: a little more smart was when we didn't have to 108 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 2: hear from Chris Clomo on it anymore. But unfortunately we 109 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 2: still have to hear from the news what are you 110 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: seeing here? 111 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: So, actually, you know what, I can talk about this 112 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: because you know, when the news broke about the pardon, 113 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: I took a minute. I was on television and I said, 114 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: you know, I need a minute to think. I don't 115 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: have a take. You'll have to come back to me. 116 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: And I got numerous very stupid articles written about that, 117 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: and I want to point out that, like it's okay 118 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: not to have a take, especially about stuff you don't 119 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: know about, Like I'm not a lawyer. I am not 120 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: versed in pardons and how they're doled out, and you 121 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: know what the ethical considerations are there. I really am not. 122 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: And so the fact that we're you know, we're often 123 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: asked to give hot takes, we really should pause and 124 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: we don't necessarily always have to give that said oh 125 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: my god. Chris Cuomo and Steven A. Smith joined together 126 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: this week to urge President Joe Biden to give a 127 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: pardon to President elect Donald Trump what they wanted. 128 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: I'm so shocked that these two could come together for 129 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 2: such a bad take. It's so out of character. 130 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: It's I just want to point out, like, obviously Hunter 131 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: was given a pardon by his dad because his dad 132 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: felt that he had been prosecuted because and there's a 133 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: lot of evidence to support the theory that the prosecutions 134 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: of the gun charge, the tax fraud. You know, those 135 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: are things that usually would not be risen to the 136 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: level of seriousness that they were. They've been really kind 137 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: of trumped up for you know, probably because of his 138 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: close proximity. It was his father being president, so you 139 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: could make that case. But Donald Trump actually did a 140 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: bunch of stuff right, he did a bunch of stuff wrong, 141 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: and he's gotten away with a lot of different things, 142 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: and so you know, it's not really the same. And 143 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: also what anyway, that is my two cent. George Conway 144 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: is a contributor to The Atlantic. Welcome back to Fast Politics. 145 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: My body, George Conway. 146 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 3: I I'm like that, I'm like the filler guest. You 147 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 3: are not the filler guest I was last week. It 148 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 3: was like, can you go on the podcast in like 149 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 3: thirty seconds and I didn't respond immediately, and I think 150 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 3: he got mad at it. But it's like, it's like 151 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 3: I'm always like the last person who asked to go 152 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: on your podcast. 153 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,839 Speaker 1: It's so funny because actually that's not true. 154 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 3: Everybody's out on vacation Thanksgiving, leaving the country political asylum. 155 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 3: I get that I'm the frashest squad in football. 156 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: I get that that could not be less true. 157 00:08:55,320 --> 00:09:00,439 Speaker 3: Occasionally you need the fourth string free safety and youry 158 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: you are monster. 159 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: That is not true. But I want to point out 160 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: I just want to take a minute here to say, 161 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: have you noticed a lot of our Instagram friends seem 162 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: to be taking vacations to Canada. 163 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 3: I'm going to Canada soon. 164 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: I mean, like, how many times can people post photos 165 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: of like we're really enjoying our trip to Canada. 166 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:20,719 Speaker 3: But I like Canada. I think he is one of 167 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 3: my favorite places with with hockey and Molson. 168 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: Yes, it's great a country so great. Ninety percent of them. 169 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 3: Live and I know how to speak the language. Eh, 170 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 3: I'm not some kind of just this hoser coming across 171 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 3: the border. You know, I know about Timphorton's I know 172 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 3: the history of hockey basically, and so I think I 173 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 3: should qualify. 174 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: Can we talk for a minute about cash Betown? Again, 175 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: I am not a lawyer. He does not seem to 176 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 1: be well suited for the job of FBI director. 177 00:09:55,559 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 3: Discuss Well, it depends on what your conception of the 178 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 3: FBI director is. If you're if you want a neutral 179 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 3: forcement officer, he's probably not your guy. But if you 180 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: wanted someone who is going to basically undermine law enforcement 181 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 3: and destroy the agency and seek vengeance upon your enemies, 182 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 3: he's the perfect choice. 183 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: And let's just go a step further with this. I personally, 184 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,719 Speaker 1: as someone whose grandfather was child by the FBI by 185 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: an out of control FBI director named jadgarb. 186 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 3: Your family has just a bunch of communists, right, You. 187 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: Even admit that he was a communist because they were 188 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: very you know, they were artists and bohemians who believed. 189 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 3: Oh right, right, right, right right. You got to watch 190 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 3: those artists. I mean, who who you know? There was 191 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 3: this painter in Vienna, the whole lot of trouble ones. 192 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: He was more he was more a dictator than a painter. 193 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: But yes, so let's just talk about this a second. 194 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: I mean, it seems like I was very I thought 195 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: there was a chance that Republican senators. I didn't think 196 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: there was a chance, but I hoped that the media 197 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: could bully Republican senators into taking their advice and consent 198 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: rale Article two, Section two. Seriously, it seems like that 199 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: is unlikely. 200 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I look, I mean, don't you can't tell with 201 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 3: the largin in the Senate what it is. You can't 202 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 3: really tell what's going to happen, because again, it only 203 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 3: takes two or three people. Maybe somebody can't make it, 204 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 3: the prim the poet. I don't know anything can happen here. 205 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 3: I do think, as I've been saying repeatedly over the 206 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:40,479 Speaker 3: past few weeks, prompted by similar discussions about similarly situated nominees, 207 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 3: some of whom have more baggage than others. But I 208 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 3: hate Choli saying, I think that you cannot go broke 209 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: Benning on the spinelessness of Republican senators. So I think 210 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 3: the best that we're that the republic is going to 211 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 3: get out of Republican senators in this season of insanely 212 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 3: in a pro briate and unqualified nominees is that we're 213 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 3: going to see a bunch of them get through, and 214 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 3: a couple of them will be taken down like Gates already, 215 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 3: and then the Republican centator to say, see, we fulfilled 216 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: our advice and consent because this one was withdrawn or 217 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 3: we didn't vote this one out of committee, and then 218 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 3: they're just gan' to let most of them through. If 219 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 3: you stand the line, if you are a Republican centator, 220 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 3: donread hear either Makowski or Collins or all the Collins 221 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 3: will just say these people will learn their lessons. If 222 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 3: you basically vote like a normal human being on each 223 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 3: one of these nominees separately, you basically would vote them 224 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 3: all down. Nobody in the Republican Party is going to 225 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 3: tolerate the political heat that they would get from the 226 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 3: right and from Trump and the bashing that would occur 227 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 3: if you vote them all down. So what they'll do 228 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 3: is they'll pick a couple, they'll stick together on a 229 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 3: couple maybe, and a couple of them will go down. 230 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 3: We already I think we're already at least halfway to 231 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 3: the quota with Gates going down and most of the 232 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 3: people they might get through. 233 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: This is the thing I'm always conflicted about with Trump world. 234 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,599 Speaker 1: You have cabinet members who are good at this and 235 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: have a have been tasked with dismantling the administrative state, 236 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: and are you know real project twenty twenty five guys 237 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: like Russ Vaud Right, that guy really he is. You know, 238 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: he's been at omb before. He's coming back. 239 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: He's actually knows how to work his bureaucrausy, but he wants. 240 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: To work the bureaucracy almost completely to help Trump. 241 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 3: Right, he has his own agenda and he's using Trump 242 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 3: for agenda, you know. I mean basically, the conservative project 243 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 3: was always to reduce the size of government back. 244 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: In the day drownded in the bathtub round it. 245 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 3: Well, that's the extreme version of it. But it never 246 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 3: really succeeded because it turns out people like expensive. 247 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,599 Speaker 1: Goud government. Right. I know this pains you. 248 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 3: I know it pains me, but it's like, okay, that's fine. 249 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 3: But now what happened was the right became very frustrated, 250 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 3: or at least the more ideological parts of the right 251 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 3: became frustrated, and this became sort of like a nihilistic 252 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 3: effort basically destroy all institutions since trying to sort of 253 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 3: cut them one by one easy have to take responsibility 254 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 3: for cutting this program and cutting that program, and that a. 255 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 3: They want to basically create so much chaos that the 256 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: government collapses women and of itself. They want to destroy 257 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 3: the government and then they'll just say, see they're not 258 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 3: going to take responsibility for it, and they just see, 259 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 3: look at how terrible a system we had. 260 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: This sort of tugs at your heart strings a little 261 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: bit because this is the ethos in which you used 262 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: to believe. 263 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 3: No, I didn't never believe in utter nihilistic destruction, but 264 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,479 Speaker 3: you know I wouldn't mind. 265 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: Making the government smaller. I'm not criticizing you. 266 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, right, but this is sort of like, let's just 267 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 3: jump off the bridge because I don't. 268 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: Know, it's very chaotic. 269 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 3: It's throwing the baby out with the bath water. That's 270 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 3: a bad matter, No, but that's right. But basically it's 271 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 3: become very very nihilist, stick and destructive. And you know, 272 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 3: if you believe in a less powerful government, you're actually 273 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 3: what you're going to get when you get this kind 274 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 3: of chaos is you're going to get a war up 275 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 3: Berntarian government and it's not going to be any smaller. 276 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 3: That's the goal, right, Well, because they can't win in 277 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 3: an election. I don't know what's going on in South Korea, 278 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 3: but I read this morning that they declare martial law 279 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 3: in South Korea, because I mean, this was the statement 280 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 3: of the South Korean president that the opposition controls parliament 281 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 3: and they rejected as budget proposed. 282 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: Yeah that seems bad. 283 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, that seem great. 284 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, so let's talk about that for another minute. That 285 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: I think makes a lot of sense. But do you 286 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: think they can do that? Yes? 287 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 3: I think in the following sense, it is easier to 288 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 3: nihilistically and randomly destroy things that it is to actually 289 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 3: skuld They've just decided that the way that they're going 290 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 3: to fix all the problems is by creating more darts. 291 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 3: And they're good at this. This is one thing they 292 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 3: could be actually good at because you don't have to 293 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 3: be confident to drive a car off a cliff. 294 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: And you think that sort of that's where this is going. 295 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think we're headed toward chaos. And that's why 296 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 3: I don't think he particularly cares. Trump cares about whether 297 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 3: this nominee goes down or that nominee goes down, because 298 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 3: it's not about it's OK, I got more. 299 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: I think what's important here is that there are many 300 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: fractions in this group, and what Trump wants and what 301 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: Russ Vaught wants are two different things. 302 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 3: That's probably true. Trump doesn't care about policy, okay. He 303 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 3: cares about being in control and being in command and 304 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 3: the adoration and to the extent that the people don't 305 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 3: adore him, seeking revenge on those who don't adore him 306 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 3: because they are the enemy. That's all he cares about. 307 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 3: It's very, very simple, and there's never much thought. You 308 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 3: can't think in more than one step, like if I 309 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 3: do this, then I can do that. The man does 310 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 3: not believe in plans because he's a sociopath, and sociopaths 311 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 3: are the relentlessly impulsive. But people like law, they have plans, 312 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 3: and they have specific plans that may end up creating 313 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 3: political problems for Trump. But on the other hand, Trump 314 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 3: is not money for anything. So that's a major that's 315 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 3: a major, major difference between now and last time, because 316 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 3: he's not running for anything because he's old and being 317 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:22,959 Speaker 3: you can make, you know, deep down industrially, you can 318 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 3: become president of life. I think there is daylight ultimately 319 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 3: between what the technocrat nihilists like want and Trump. But 320 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 3: on the other hand, Trump doesn't care, because it's like 321 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 3: he doesn't care. He almost doesn't care about his political standing. 322 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: So there's going to be a cr in Congress, a 323 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: spending bil that will take them till next year, when 324 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: Republicans will then control the Senate, the House, and the President. Say, 325 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: in twenty sixteen, Republicans had this same trifactor and they 326 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: shut down the government. It is very possible we're going 327 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: to head to that in January. It's possible won't, but 328 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: it's very possibile we will. And I want you to 329 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: talk about this sort of fractions because I see fractions 330 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: in this Republican governing machine, right, like because you have 331 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,959 Speaker 1: the RFK. I mean even Trump he won with this 332 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: tent that is almost untenable. 333 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 3: Right But again, they're a nihilists and at the end, 334 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 3: at the end of the day, they want confusion and chaos. 335 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 3: And as long as everybody gets their own little piece 336 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 3: of a pie and gets the display and get their 337 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 3: own little grip, a lot of people are going to 338 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 3: be happy. But yeah, you're right, there are factions. And 339 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 3: I think what would have happened if Trump had lost 340 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 3: is all these factions would have been at hrproats. I mean, 341 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 3: one of the things I said over last year that 342 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 3: I believe is, and I still believe it, is that 343 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 3: if Trump had lost the election, the Republican Party we 344 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 3: have been completely fractured because of all these factions trying 345 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 3: to kill each other and take each other out. And 346 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 3: we're still seeing a lot of that, I think in 347 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 3: the State Party, but I don't see it now happening 348 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 3: at the national level because basically they do have a 349 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 3: way to take that energy and do something with it, 350 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 3: which is to basically dismantle a government, try to undermine 351 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 3: every which way. 352 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: So again, democrats need to protect institutions and norms. 353 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 3: Yes, I don't think there's democrats. I think anybody who 354 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 3: actually knows how the world works and how our government 355 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 3: works and how economy works has to try to prefer 356 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 3: institution because that stability, even even if it's imperfect, which 357 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 3: it is and there always will be, that stability is 358 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 3: what enables us to be the most prosperous nation in 359 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 3: the world where people, you know, in the nation where 360 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 3: everybody wants to come instead of leaving to go to Canada. 361 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: Right now, let's talk about the Hunter Biden part. 362 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 3: I have very mixed feelings about the Hunter Biden part. 363 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 3: I think it's a bad thing for the president to 364 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 3: pardon a relative as a general proposition. I think it 365 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 3: was wrong for Bill Clinton to do it with Roger. 366 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 3: I think in other circumstances, I think the pardon power 367 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 3: is one of the most abused presidential powers. There's no 368 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 3: punch about there, and the Mark Rich Barden, you can 369 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 3: name so many others over the years. I don't like it. 370 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 3: On the other hand, I understand why he did it. 371 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 3: I empathize with why he did it. I mean, there's 372 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 3: no question in my mind, I think it made. The 373 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 3: case has been made persuasively that but for his last name, 374 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 3: he would not have been Hunter Biden would not have 375 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 3: been charged, and none of this would have happened, and 376 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 3: none of this would have happened if the Republicans weren't 377 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 3: looking for some kind of a scapegoat to create a 378 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 3: false equivalency and create the story that the Biden family 379 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 3: is more corrupt than the Trunk family. All right, So 380 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 3: I empathize and sympathize President, and I sympathize with Hunter Biden. 381 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 3: On the other hand, he did come in acrome at 382 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 3: least one crime, has been found guilty of that firearms offense, 383 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 3: and the jury didn't seem to have like a problem 384 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 3: with that. He did plead guilty to the tax charge, 385 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 3: which is a minor charge, and I might have been 386 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 3: okay with a pardon that covered offenses that he hasn't 387 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 3: been found guilty of and hasn't pled to, because that, 388 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 3: I think is the one justification that I can accept 389 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 3: for this part, which would be that they're going to continue. 390 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 3: This man has suffered enough, he has already been prosecuted, 391 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 3: he was he is going to do time. At least 392 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 3: he would have done time or or something, or serve 393 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 3: some sentence or paid a fine, whatever is THEE would 394 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 3: have done for to him. And I think the real 395 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 3: justification for the part is that there's going to be 396 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 3: future vindictive action by the next administration. And so that's 397 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 3: why I would have had partner for any and all 398 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 3: offenses other than the ones that he's already played to 399 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,959 Speaker 3: or that he's been convicted of by a jury. All 400 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 3: that being said, I think it's just ridiculous to keep 401 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 3: talking about because the more we talk about it, the 402 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 3: more we play into the false equivalency between Trump and 403 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 3: by everyone else, you know, and you were getting ragged 404 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 3: about basically saying I have to process this. And the 405 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 3: reason why that was the right position was it's not 406 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 3: a black and white issue exactly, unless you just look 407 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 3: at it very areas a black and white issue. Should 408 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 3: president's pardon relatives? The answer is yes, black and white. No. 409 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 3: On the other hand, is this a totally totally suey 410 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 3: generous situation? And on the other hand, again it's like, 411 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 3: is this even a nanometer compared to the light years 412 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 3: of corruption that we've seen and are about to see 413 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 3: from Trump. I can't get into this false equivalency, this 414 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 3: double standard whereby a Democrat does something wrong, a Trump 415 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 3: opponent does something wrong that you shouldn't have done, and 416 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 3: therefore everybody gets to do bad things. 417 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: Yep, I agree. I think that's exactly the answer. Thank you, 418 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. George Conway. 419 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 3: Okay, that was it. That's it. 420 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,479 Speaker 1: Heather Williams is the president of the Democratic ledge Slative 421 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: Campaign Committee. Welcome to Fast Politics, Heather, thank you. 422 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:06,239 Speaker 4: I'm happy to be here. 423 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: So tell us what it is you exactly that you do. 424 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 4: So we at DLCC are the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. 425 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 4: We are the Democratic Party's arm responsible for state legislatures, 426 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 4: and our job is to build power in states, to 427 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 4: create democratic majorities, to protect those majorities that we have 428 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 4: all across the country. And I think every cycle we 429 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 4: determined the battlefield, the playing field where the greatest opportunities 430 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 4: are to build or protect power in the states. 431 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: Let's do a quick post mortem. How did you guys 432 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: do so? 433 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 4: This is an interesting question, and it's interesting because when 434 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 4: you look at what happened in state legislatures vis a VI, 435 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 4: what happened at the top of the ticket, you would 436 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 4: have expect Democrats to have our really rough night. What 437 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 4: actually happened was we were able to prevent a red 438 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 4: wave in the states. In twenty twenty three, we picked 439 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 4: up the Virginia House, and in twenty twenty four, we 440 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 4: were able to hold on to the Pennsylvania House by 441 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 4: like one seat, by one seat. That's exactly right. We've 442 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 4: defended that chamber so many times, and Pennsylvania obviously did 443 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 4: not see the same results up and down the ballot, 444 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 4: but we were able to hold on to that legislature. 445 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 4: In Minnesota, we held on to the Minnesota Senate in 446 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 4: a special election and we held on to a tie 447 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 4: in the Minnesota House, preventing obviously Republicans from gaining full 448 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 4: control there. And you know, the place that we did 449 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 4: see a change in power was the Michigan House. But interestingly, 450 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 4: it wasn't a landslide. We saw a shift of three seats. 451 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 4: We had a one seat majority, so that state is 452 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 4: still in play. And then I think one of the 453 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 4: brightest sort of shining moments in twenty twenty four came 454 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 4: in North Carolina where we broke the Republican super majority, 455 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 4: ensuring that incoming Governor Josh Stein had the veto pen 456 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 4: which is so important in that st date. And we 457 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 4: picked up a bunch of seats in Wisconsin, and broadly, 458 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 4: I think the good news is is all of these 459 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 4: places remain very competitive as we move from the twenty 460 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 4: twenty four cycle into the twenty twenty six cycle. 461 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: One of the interesting things about this election, besides the 462 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: fact that Americans have re elected a convicted felon who 463 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: has got plans for an even worse second term than 464 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: the first, is that they didn't necessarily vote Republican down 465 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: the ballot. And I have a theory that I want 466 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: you to talk about because I think it relates to 467 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: these state legislatures too. It strikes me that the brand 468 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: that is the most popular, at least was in the 469 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four cycle, was Trump is on? Was Trump 470 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,439 Speaker 1: not necessarily Trump isn't even than Trump? And then below 471 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: that was Democrats and then the Republicans like that the 472 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: Democratic brand in itself is not necessarily bad. 473 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, it's interesting. I think one of the 474 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 4: things that we really benefit from in our placement on 475 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 4: the ballot and in the sort of electoral environment that 476 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 4: we work in is that our elected officials and our 477 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:10,399 Speaker 4: candidates still live in their communities, and I think, to 478 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 4: your exact point, they are able to tell the story 479 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 4: of democratic leadership, of Democratic party values, of the things 480 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 4: that Democrats are out there fighting for every single day 481 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 4: in such an authentic and personal way. You know, they 482 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 4: were able to bring to life things like the infrastructure 483 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 4: Bill and talk about it in context of their community, 484 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 4: in terms of good paying jobs, in terms of better 485 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 4: infrastructure in their community, helping connect neighborhoods, or you know, 486 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 4: fixing a bridge or whatever it may be. And there 487 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 4: is something that, you know, just that allows them to 488 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 4: bring these sort of wonky policies to life and to 489 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 4: place them in voters backyard. And I agree. I think 490 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 4: that Democrats had places where we were able to tell 491 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 4: really strong stories about our you know, solutions for people's 492 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 4: pocketbooks and how we were going to have an impact 493 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 4: on ensuring that you know, we had equitable access to 494 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 4: health care and that we had good access to reproductive 495 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 4: health care, that our democracy was strong, and that we 496 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 4: were fighting for you know, good public education for our kids. 497 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 4: And there is something just really tangible about having the 498 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 4: person delivering that message be a member of your community 499 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 4: fabric and being able to tell that to you face 500 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 4: to face on the doors. 501 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. First talk to me about what you guys 502 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: can do right now to protect citizens from the uglier 503 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: parts of Trumpism. 504 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 4: Something interesting is, you know, this administration, as Trump administration, 505 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 4: comes of course in with more knowledge than they did 506 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 4: when they came into power in twenty seventeen. But we 507 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 4: also have a much stronger firewall. 508 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: In the states in twenty sixteen, and Democrats were really 509 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: behind when it came to state legislatures. That's not as 510 00:27:58,920 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: true anymore, right. 511 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, listen, we still need a party strategy 512 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 4: that considers the states as important as building power in 513 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 4: our federal government right and in the White House. But 514 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 4: while we continue right to work towards that and advocate 515 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 4: for that, we have seen increased power and increased attention 516 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 4: on the states, and the strength of our firewall in 517 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 4: state legislatures has never been more important. We know that 518 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 4: nearly half of Americans will continue to be protected by 519 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 4: at least one Democratic majority in their state house. 520 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 3: And when to your. 521 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 4: Exact point, when Donald Trump won in twenty sixteen, there 522 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 4: were just twenty nine Democratic majorities, and now we have 523 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 4: at least thirty nine. So we've made progress, We've learned 524 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 4: a lot, We've continued to build up this firewall, and 525 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 4: we have really strong leaders in these states, candidly and 526 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 4: honestly in both red and blue states, who are ready 527 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 4: to fight for their community, who are ready to ensure 528 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 4: that you know, we are our country that is still 529 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 4: like rich in good quality public education, that we are 530 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 4: still fighting for strong wages and a strong middle class, 531 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 4: that we are still you know, working to ensure that 532 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 4: we have equitable health care in this country, and we're 533 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 4: going to continue to see that fight happen in the states. 534 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, talk to me about like for example, what the 535 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: landscape now looks like going into twenty five, because twenty 536 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: five has interesting off your elections. 537 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 4: Right, Yeah, we are at a ballot level that sort 538 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 4: of perpetually has elections, And in fact, before we even 539 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 4: get to November of twenty twenty five, where Virginia will 540 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 4: have really really critically important elections, we've got a string 541 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 4: of special elections coming up, three of them in Virginia 542 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 4: in fact, beginning of January January seventh, and one of 543 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 4: those is in the House where we just have a 544 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 4: one seat majority. So we're going to keep our eye 545 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 4: on that and be able to tell the story of 546 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 4: what those opportunities are and who those candidates are as 547 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 4: we truly transition from twenty four into twenty five. After 548 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 4: those special elections, we will continue to see lots of 549 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 4: special elections in the states. 550 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 3: We always do that. 551 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 4: The real prize in twenty twenty five is ensuring that 552 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 4: we hold the House Chamber in Virginia, and then we 553 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 4: transition into twenty twenty six, where as we were just 554 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 4: talking about a little bit earlier, we're back fighting in 555 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 4: these battleground states in Minnesota and Wisconsin and Michigan and Pennsylvania, 556 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 4: and doing some analysis on where other opportunities may be 557 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 4: for Democrats as we move into these midterms. 558 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: You're going to have a governor race in Virginia and 559 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: also where else. 560 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 4: The governor's race. I'll be in Virginia and we'll have 561 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 4: that House Chamber to defend. In addition, we'll see races 562 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 4: in New Jersey. 563 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: Oh, that's right. I want you to talk a little 564 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: bit about how do you legislate in a period like 565 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 1: this where Republicans control all three branches of the federal government. 566 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 4: That's an interesting question coming into this administration. I mean, one, 567 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:59,200 Speaker 4: we've been sort of sounding this alarm about state legislatures 568 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 4: being on the forefront of shaping the agenda of the 569 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 4: Democratic Party and really being the ones that can show 570 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 4: people what is possible and the kind of, you know, 571 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 4: communities that we're trying to create. I don't think that 572 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 4: that has ever been more true. Now we're going to 573 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 4: see this administration obviously move all kinds of stuff into 574 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 4: the states. Project twenty twenty five is their agenda, and 575 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 4: so much of what that does is push all kinds 576 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 4: of decisions to the states. And we're going to continue 577 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 4: to see fifty percent of Americans, nearly fifty percent of Americans. 578 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 4: They're building resilient communities protecting their rights because Democrats are 579 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 4: in charge, and we're going to continue to see, you know, 580 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 4: Republicans in the states that they have power creator our 581 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 4: communities and our rights. And I think as we think 582 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 4: about where this administration's agenda is going, I mean, just 583 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 4: if we talked about the Department of Education alone, that 584 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 4: is going to be if they accomplish their goal, that 585 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 4: is going to completely move into the states, and it 586 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 4: is going to be our state legislators that are going 587 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 4: to determine the funding that ensures that our schools, our 588 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 4: public schools, are safe and equitable for all kids. That 589 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 4: we're creating the kinds of opportunities and experiences that allow 590 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 4: the future generations of this country to be well informed 591 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 4: and really strong citizens and great leaders for what comes 592 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 4: next in this country. And I feel like that's just 593 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 4: one piece of the puzzle. So much of it is 594 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 4: going to get pushed into the states, and you're going 595 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 4: to see Democrats lead strongly, and you're going to continue 596 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 4: to see Republicans maneuver their power for their own interests. 597 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: State legislature is where some of the craziest legislation is born, 598 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: at least on the Republican side. That's everything from heart 599 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 1: beat bills to anti trans legislation to they threw up 600 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: a lot of travel ins and qrazy ways. Republicans do 601 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,480 Speaker 1: that because they have things like ALEC. Right, they have 602 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: Republican donor funded organizations. Is that rite legislation for them 603 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: that helps them try to craft legislation to get these 604 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 1: ideas going. Do Democrats have the same thing? And if 605 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: it's not, why not? 606 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 4: Your point is exactly right. And now as we head 607 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 4: into twenty twenty five and in again to this new administration, 608 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 4: not only do they have ALEC who will write and 609 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 4: draft bills that can be used, but they have the 610 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:30,239 Speaker 4: full playbook in Project twenty twenty five on the internet right, 611 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 4: like everyone knows what they're trying to accomplish, which in 612 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 4: many ways arguably like makes ALEX work more visible and 613 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 4: also gives them a direct place to go. You know, 614 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 4: I don't think the story of Democrats looks exactly like that, 615 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 4: and that I actually don't know that it should. Part 616 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 4: of what we've experienced so much at this ballot level is, 617 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 4: you know, Democrats going to their state capitals to advocate 618 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 4: for what these communities need. And while we share in 619 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 4: this country a set of challenges and opportunities, our communities 620 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 4: all look different and they should. And what we see 621 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 4: are you know, state legislators who are you know, representing 622 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 4: rural or urban or ex surban or maybe they're representing 623 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 4: a community that has some kind of business headquarters or 624 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 4: they've got a you know, strong perk system or whatever 625 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 4: it may be. They're going to their sit capital advocating 626 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:27,080 Speaker 4: for that community and trying to solve the problems and 627 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 4: create opportunities that exist there. And I don't know that 628 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 4: that is a perfect written bill that can be applied everywhere. 629 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 4: Maybe that is too much of a like an optimistic 630 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 4: way to look at it. But I think the thing 631 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,320 Speaker 4: that makes what happens in our state House is so 632 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 4: important and in many ways like so honest and authentic, 633 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 4: is that they really are advocating for their communities. And 634 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 4: there's lots of different ways to do that, and they 635 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:58,360 Speaker 4: yet to you know, do that on their own. And 636 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 4: it's not to say that we don't have of a 637 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 4: great community infrastructure that helps to tell the story of 638 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 4: issues and helps to try to find ways to solve it. 639 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you a hard time here. What 640 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:13,800 Speaker 1: if Democrats had the same kind of mechanism to do things. So, 641 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 1: for example, let's talk about Mallory mcmorrow's in the state 642 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:23,759 Speaker 1: legislature in Michigan. Amazing, incredible, incredible legislator or everybody loves her, 643 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: she's really a superstar. What if Mallory McMorrow had you know, 644 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: what if these legislators had bills that were, you know, 645 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,320 Speaker 1: pre written the way an ALEC bill was. But you know, 646 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,400 Speaker 1: Mallory's not going to need it. But someone, you know, 647 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 1: the one beleaguered State House Rep. In Huxatani, Pennsylvania, what 648 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: if they had pre written bills that were like free 649 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: breakfast for kindergarteners or protecting public education. Even though Democrats 650 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 1: don't act like that and they're not craving like that, 651 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 1: it's just more of a thought experiment. What if there 652 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 1: was a place for that kind of cravenness, but to 653 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:05,319 Speaker 1: legislate for the good. 654 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 4: Well, I would say two things. One, Senator McMorrow is 655 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 4: also an incredible communicator, and she's able to tell the 656 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 4: story of a moment or of an issue in such 657 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 4: an incredible way. And there's a lot of power in 658 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,360 Speaker 4: that and that is I think it's both hard to 659 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 4: replicate and it is a skill that is not universally shared. 660 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 4: So I think she's got that ability to do that. 661 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:36,320 Speaker 1: But my idea is more just like should that mechanism exist? 662 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 4: You know, I think you can make the argument that 663 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 4: in some ways it does. Take the free school lunches, 664 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 4: free food for kids at schools. We saw this past 665 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 4: in Minnesota, we saw it pass in a number of 666 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:52,440 Speaker 4: other places. Our media environment, for all its challenges, also 667 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 4: creates opportunity where you know that stuff isn't done in 668 00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 4: a vacuum, it's not done behind closed doors. And I 669 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 4: think some of what Ali was able to do when 670 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,760 Speaker 4: it started was there just wasn't the amount of attention 671 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 4: on legislatures that there is now, and so there need 672 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:11,240 Speaker 4: to create the kind of model policy had more value 673 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,800 Speaker 4: at that time than it does now because now I 674 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:16,919 Speaker 4: can access everything in a real way and we see 675 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 4: issues move. And so we saw this the free food 676 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,880 Speaker 4: for kids, free lunches in breakfast like travel to a 677 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:25,480 Speaker 4: number of states. And I think that's a great example 678 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 4: of sort of the system working in sort of an 679 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,520 Speaker 4: honest way where there's good ideas put into the world 680 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 4: and someone moves forward with it and someone else is 681 00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:35,360 Speaker 4: able to grab onto it. 682 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 1: It's a really good point. Yeah, yeah, yeah, No. Malarie 683 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:41,839 Speaker 1: mcmaar was amazing. She was just an example of state 684 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 1: legislator who has become through her own incredible ability to 685 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:50,680 Speaker 1: connect and real celebrity. This is so interesting. What do 686 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 1: you just give us a last thing? If you're a 687 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:58,160 Speaker 1: person listening to this podcast and you're despairing, what should 688 00:37:58,360 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 1: they do. 689 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,400 Speaker 4: I hope this is not come across as sort of 690 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:04,160 Speaker 4: out of touch, but I think we just can't give up. 691 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:09,480 Speaker 4: And the greatest thing about state legislatures and state legislative 692 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:13,239 Speaker 4: candidates is they're going to show up in their state capitals, 693 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 4: in your backyard and in January when they go into session, 694 00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:19,879 Speaker 4: and they are going to do good things and it's 695 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,840 Speaker 4: going to happen quickly because that is how the system 696 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:26,680 Speaker 4: is designed, and I think it's We definitely did not 697 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,280 Speaker 4: take the step forward that we had hoped in this election, 698 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:32,879 Speaker 4: but we are not completely in the dark place. There 699 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:36,680 Speaker 4: is hope and there is opportunity to continue to make 700 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 4: progress on the things that we care about to ensure 701 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:43,759 Speaker 4: that we've got strong, resilient communities and to find a 702 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 4: local candidate in your state or in your neighborhood who 703 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:49,759 Speaker 4: is raising their hand to run for office, or maybe 704 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:52,960 Speaker 4: it's you, and getting up and getting into your community, 705 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:56,839 Speaker 4: and knowing that there is still things that we can 706 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 4: affect in our state legislatures. So all hope is not lost. 707 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 4: It's going to take all of us sort of rising 708 00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 4: and falling at different times and feeling the impact and 709 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:09,680 Speaker 4: the weight of these results and holding space for that, 710 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 4: but also knowing that there are people who are getting 711 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:15,439 Speaker 4: back up on the saddle and ready to fight once again, 712 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,800 Speaker 4: because that's how we continue to make progress. 713 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,840 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. 714 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 3: No moment. 715 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 1: Jesse Cannon, Ma. 716 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:33,239 Speaker 2: You know, we live in a country that is depressing 717 00:39:33,360 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 2: when our bills are being written about conspiracy theories that 718 00:39:37,719 --> 00:39:40,160 Speaker 2: are totally stupid. What are you seeing here? 719 00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I feel like this is Florida man. Yeah, 720 00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:48,200 Speaker 1: this is Florida man. Legislation so Florida Bill to ban 721 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:53,520 Speaker 1: weather modification introduced in response to conspiracies theories about government 722 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:58,320 Speaker 1: made hurricanes. It's very easy to ban things that don't happen, 723 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: and this is part of the central tenet of MAGA 724 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:05,839 Speaker 1: is to create bills that ban things that aren't real. 725 00:40:06,719 --> 00:40:11,120 Speaker 1: And now Florida is going to ban weather modification, which 726 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:15,239 Speaker 1: is not happening, at least not in Florida, and they 727 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 1: don't want cloud seating to happen. And so it's I 728 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:25,800 Speaker 1: mean because of crazy conspiracy theories about government and made hurricanes. 729 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:29,839 Speaker 1: There are no government made hurricanes, and Florida is going 730 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:32,719 Speaker 1: to make sure her do. I mean, like there's you know, 731 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:35,560 Speaker 1: cloud seating has its own problems, but this is not 732 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 1: what this is. This is just crazy nos. 733 00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I say, you google harp and get word Bolli. Jesus. 734 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:47,920 Speaker 1: That's it for this episode of Fast Politics. Tune in 735 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:53,799 Speaker 1: every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday to hear the best 736 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:58,239 Speaker 1: minds and politics make sense of all this chaos. If 737 00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:01,280 Speaker 1: you enjoy this podcast, please send it to a friend 738 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:04,960 Speaker 1: and keep the conversation going. Thanks for listening.