1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 1: Hey, guys, ready. 2 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 2: Or not, twenty twenty four is here and we here 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 2: at breaking points, are already thinking of ways we can 4 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: up our game for this critical election. 5 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 3: We rely on our premium subs to expand coverage, upgrade 6 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 3: the studio ad staff, give you, guys, the best independent. 7 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: Coverage that is possible. 8 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 3: If you like what we're all about, it just means 9 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 3: the absolute world to have your support. 10 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: But enough with that, let's get to the show. Hello, everybody. 11 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 3: We had some major breaking news yesterday that we wanted to, 12 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 3: of course react to. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia 13 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 3: has announced he is not running for reelection. 14 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: Let's take a listen to what he said. 15 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 4: I've made one of the toughest decisions of my life 16 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 4: and decided that I will not be running for reelection 17 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 4: to the United States Senate. But what I will be 18 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 4: doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see 19 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 4: if there is an interest in creating a movement to 20 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 4: mobilize the middle and bring Americans together. 21 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 3: So there it is crystal. Lots of platitudes, but the 22 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 3: top line, he's not running. He is, though, going to 23 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 3: be quote, traveling the country trying to unite the men 24 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 3: will he be running for president on the no labels candidacy. 25 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: Maybe him and Mitt Romney can team up. You've got 26 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 3: two unshackled gentlemen there not running for reelection. It sets 27 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 3: up all kinds of interesting possibilities. What did you think? 28 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: Yeah? 29 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean this is like a horror scenario for 30 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 2: the Biden White House because as much as I mean, 31 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: Mansion is a very conservative Democrat, the most conservative Democrat 32 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 2: you know, made a point of rejecting Biden on any 33 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 2: number of initiatives, even ones that were actually popular in 34 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 2: the state of West Virginia, things like the child tax credit. 35 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 2: But he's still a Democrat, and you know, their view, 36 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: the Biden White House, and I think this is accurate 37 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: and born out by pulling, is that any candidate that 38 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 2: would divide the anti Trump coalition is going to be 39 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 2: very bad news for them. And you know, this is 40 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: pretty evident when you look at theoretical centrist candidates who 41 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: they take more away from, and most of the candidates 42 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: who are running third party are considering running third party, 43 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 2: with the exception of RFK Junior, tend to take more 44 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: away from from Biden than they do Trump. For the 45 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: simple fact that Trump's support is way more solid and 46 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: biden support is way more squishy. You also have a situation, 47 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: of course, where perhaps the majority of the country is 48 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: not too excited about either one of these gents running again. 49 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 2: So it makes these potential third party candidacies that much 50 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: more potent, and that's much more of a threat to 51 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 2: you know, certainly to Biden, but possibly also to Trump. 52 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 2: With regard to the labels, no Labels doesn't have any 53 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: sort of like grossroots constituency. This isn't like a grossroots movement. 54 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,399 Speaker 2: It is a movement funded by a bunch of very 55 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 2: wealthy people who tend to have very sort of like 56 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: conservative corporate economic politics and then sort of centristy on 57 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: social issues tends to be their vibe. So they certainly 58 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 2: have the organization and the money to potentially get ballid 59 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 2: access in all kinds of places across the country, and 60 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: Mansion has been the dream candidate for them for some time. 61 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: So we'll just have to see. 62 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's what people are like. Oh, but 63 00:02:58,600 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 3: not that many people are. 64 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: Even in to a Joe Manchiney presidency. 65 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: I'm like, well, it doesn't matter, and you only need 66 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: to shave like two or three percent, and that's still 67 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 3: a huge thing. I also think he would get more, 68 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 3: especially if it were someone if it were like a 69 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 3: Romney Mansion type project, that the name idea on that 70 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 3: alone would make it and it would just be undeniable 71 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 3: in terms of the coverage. And clearly Mansion, you know, 72 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 3: has a bone to pick, at least privately with Biden. 73 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 3: He doesn't agree obviously with a lot of the things 74 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: that he's run on. You and I were talking about 75 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 3: this previously, but you know, this may seem as if 76 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 3: he was being like altruistic, but the main reason he's 77 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 3: resigning is or not retiring, is he was going to lose. 78 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 3: Like there's almost no question. You know the state better 79 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 3: than I do. Maybe you can lay that out for people. 80 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, so Mansion, I mean, first of all, to go 81 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: into a little bit of the history, West Virginia for 82 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: a long time was one of the most solidly democratic 83 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: states in the entire country, and it was one of 84 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 2: the later states to shift in the sort of Southern realignment. Appalachia, 85 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: West Virginia and Kentucky in particular were the last to switch, 86 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: and still at the local level in West Virginia, they 87 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 2: elect a heck of a lot of Democrats. So Mansion 88 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: was the state's governor. He was very popular. Then he 89 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: runs for Senate and you know, initially got reelected very easily, 90 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: and just as politics have become more national, the last 91 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 2: time he ran for reelection, actually his race was much 92 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: tighter than the polls were showing, much tighter than anticipated. 93 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: And that was right around the time that all the 94 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 2: Kavanaugh stuff happened, and that's when you know, things really 95 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: shifted away from him. Now he manages to hold on, 96 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: but this time it wasn't looking like he was going 97 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: to be able to pull it off again at all. 98 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: I'd already basically already written the seat off, whether he 99 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 2: was going to resign or not. You've got another West 100 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: Virginia governor, Jim Justice, who was originally in Democrats, which 101 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: is parties to be a Republican, who is very likely 102 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: the Republican nominee, and he's very popular in the state. 103 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 2: He's a Republican, he's closely associated with Trump. This is 104 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: a very pro Trump state. So the writing was already 105 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: kind of on the wall for Mansion in terms of 106 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: his political prospects. You know, I also there's a couple 107 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: other things to say about that. One is that because 108 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: the Democratic Party in West Virginia is so sort of moribund, 109 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 2: strift bear of resources, Mansion has really become the Democratic 110 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: Party in the state of West Virginia. You know, the 111 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: whole party apparatus is basically designed around him. So it's 112 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: also sort of a mortal blow to the entire Democratic 113 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: Party architecture in the state of West Virginia. So there's that, 114 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 2: you know, which is interesting on a local level. The 115 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 2: other thing to say is, you know, there was a 116 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 2: lot of speculation about some of his less popular moves 117 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 2: that he made politically, you know, especially with regard to 118 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 2: democratic priorities, things like I mentioned, like the child tax 119 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 2: garded that it's like, oh, well, he's just you know, 120 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: he's trying to appeal to West Virginia voters. And I 121 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: always thought that that was a bit silly because a 122 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: lot of the things that he would stand against were 123 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: actually popular in the state, so it didn't really make 124 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: sense for him electoral perspective. Now, on cultural issues, I 125 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: think it's a very different thing. But West Virginia is 126 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 2: actually pretty economically populist, which Jim Justice in certain ways 127 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: has governed that way. As governor as well. So in 128 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 2: any case, I think this finally puts to bed the 129 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 2: idea that was all just electoral positioning and we needed 130 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 2: to leave him alone because he knew the state and 131 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: he knew what he was doing. Because even with apparently 132 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: his moves to buck the president and buck his party, 133 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: it still wasn't nearly enough to overcome the electoral barrier 134 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: now in a red state of West Virginia. 135 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, and now the Senate math is particularly tough for Democrats. 136 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: So I've got it here in front of me. We 137 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: can put it up there on the screen. 138 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 3: To hold the Senate in twenty twenty four, Democrats must 139 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: now defend Montana, Ohio or Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. 140 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:42,559 Speaker 1: Also the White House. 141 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 3: If they stumble in just one of those, they must 142 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 3: replace one by a GOP held seat and unseat Tim 143 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 3: Scott or Ted Cruz. Good luck, I think on both 144 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: of those. What was the last time Jamie Harrison Mania 145 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 3: Whenever everyone thought he might have a chance, he ended 146 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 3: up losing by at points. So maybe they'll have the 147 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 3: dream maybe alive once again. But regardless, Crystal, that's a 148 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 3: tough map. But I mean you know, in a sense, 149 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: his retirement is just indicative of how difficult of a 150 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 3: landscape they face. You've got an unpopular president. Politics is 151 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 3: literally more national than ever. You know, you can govern 152 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 3: in the most Joe Mansion way possible, and that's still 153 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 3: in this day and age pretty much just not going 154 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 3: to get you all that far. I was reading an 155 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 3: interesting analysis today that twenty eighteen was one of the 156 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: biggest retirements from Congress since the post World War two 157 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 3: era in all of history. And one of the reasons 158 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 3: is that being a legislator today senator is a bit different, 159 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 3: but we're just talking generally. Being a legislator today you 160 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 3: have never had less impact as in the committee process 161 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 3: is dead, So if you actually want to. 162 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: Legislate, you don't have any real input. 163 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 3: You can't add amendments, you have no ability to do 164 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 3: anything in markup. There's very rarely hearings that are substantive 165 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 3: at all. In terms of the bill, leadership controls almost everything. 166 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 3: Everything is done through omnibuses, with the giant bills that 167 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: pass through continuing resolutions that things just get tacked on 168 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 3: at the last minute. It's just the White House and 169 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 3: then the leadership in the House and the Senate, they're 170 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:16,239 Speaker 3: the only ones that get any input. 171 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: And then on top of that, your ability. 172 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 3: To run for office has very little to do with 173 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 3: what you do all day. It just happens to do 174 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 3: with who's at the top of the ticket, like Obama 175 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 3: or Biden or Nancy Pelosi. So you could be the 176 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 3: best dam legislature there is for West Virginia, but it's 177 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 3: a Trump state, and Trump is like the Democrats of 178 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 3: the Devil, And that's just how a lot of people 179 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 3: are going to vote now. Of course, on the margins, 180 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 3: it matters a little bit. But part of the reason 181 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 3: we're seeing a mass retirement really at this time is 182 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 3: because a lot of these people just don't like the 183 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 3: job anymore. They just they believe that they've never been 184 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 3: less effective as legislators. 185 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 2: Well, especially at the federal level. There's just really no 186 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: ability to be like, you know, a West Virginia Democrat exactly, 187 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, you're still a Democrat. 188 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 2: You're still going to vote for Chuck Schumer, You're still 189 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 2: behind Joe Biden, and so we don't really care. And 190 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 2: I mean, frankly, I can't really blame voters for that 191 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 2: because especially especially now. You know, once upon a time 192 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: it was like, okay, if you had all the seniority, 193 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 2: you'd be able to really deliver you know, mansion has 194 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 2: I'm sure put together all sorts of appropriations and quote 195 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: unquote pork barrel which oftentimes really important community projects that 196 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: actually help places out, and was able to deliver that 197 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: for West Virginia. But that stuff, you know, is increasingly 198 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 2: rare and becomes less and less important over time. So 199 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 2: that seniority and that you know me, I've been here, 200 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: I'm looking out for you no longer matters. And what 201 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: matters more to people is just like, all right, well, 202 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: who are you going to vote for Majority leader? Who 203 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: are you going to vote for House speaker? Who are 204 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: you backing for President of the United States. That's when 205 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 2: we talk about the nationalization of politics. What you see now. 206 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 2: On the other hand, we just had an example in 207 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 2: Kentucky of a Democratic governor who has you know, been 208 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 2: very popular in the state, who was you know, really 209 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: tried to to the will of the people and focus 210 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: on things like disaster relief, again being very present, things 211 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 2: like labor issues. He brought a bunch of these new 212 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 2: battery jobs into the state, and because it's state and 213 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: it's not about who you're voting for House Speaker, majority 214 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: leader or President of the United States, he was able 215 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: to overcome those trends. But I think in the House, 216 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 2: in the Senate, it's just, you know, it's becoming increasingly 217 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: impossible to separate yourself from whatever the partisan lean of 218 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 2: your state is, you know, just to weigh in on 219 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: the Senate map, obviously, it's very difficult. I do think 220 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: Democrats have a chance to run the table here. 221 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: I don't think. 222 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 2: I don't think it's impossible. I haven't I saw a 223 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: while ago some polling out of the state of Montana 224 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 2: with John Tester. You know, he's probably the only Democrat 225 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 2: who could win in that state, But I do think 226 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 2: he has a chance at holding on there. In Ohio, 227 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,199 Speaker 2: the recent polls have shared Brown actually up by quite 228 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 2: a bit. That's the other one that's really tough. And 229 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 2: then they got to hang on in a bunch of 230 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 2: other swing states. So I don't think it's impossible, but 231 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 2: it is very difficult for Democrats, And as I kind 232 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: of alluded to before, in some ways this clarifies things 233 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 2: and also means that they're not going to waste a 234 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: bunch of money on a West Virginia seat that frankly 235 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 2: was probably already gone. So they know exactly what they 236 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: have to do now in order to hold on to 237 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: the Senate. This seat was a foregone conclusion all but 238 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: and that's exactly why Mansion has decided to step away. 239 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 3: I think it's I think you're you're right. And also 240 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 3: there's a lot of people who are like, that's it, 241 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 3: the Senate has gone. I'm like, really, I heard that 242 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 3: before twenty twenty, and then guess what happened. Trump, you know, 243 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 3: pulled as Shenanigans two special elections, and then they won 244 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 3: both seats. 245 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: And you never know what's going to happen. 246 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 3: You could have a mini blue wave scenario where Biden 247 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 3: barely ekes out reelection, but you know D, it's like 248 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 3: D plus four on the national popular vote and you 249 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 3: would absolutely win Michigan, Pennsylvania or any of those places. 250 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: So don't rule out anything. 251 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 3: You could also see it the other way, could be 252 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 3: a total red wave and think Democrats could lose every 253 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 3: single one of those seats, although I think that's probably unlikely. 254 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 3: The whole point is that everything is up in the 255 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 3: are the only thing is certain right now, Joe Manchin 256 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 3: will not be in the U and I say Senate 257 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 3: come twenty and twenty five. So there you go, everybody, 258 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 3: and we will talk about Israel and Palestine next. 259 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: Hey, guys, we've got some important breaking news that we 260 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 2: wanted to update you on coming out of Israel and Palestine. First, 261 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 2: we wanted to start with a pretty wild threat to 262 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 2: press freedom that gets thrown around a lot, but in 263 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 2: this case, I don't know any other words to describe this, 264 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 2: so put this up on the screen. It all started 265 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,079 Speaker 2: with this Israeli outlet that sort of covers tries to 266 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 2: cover media bias from a pro Israel perspective. They're called 267 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 2: quote unquote Honest Reporting, which we'll get into how the 268 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 2: name is a bit of a misnomer. But they effectively 269 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 2: accused the photojournalists who were able to obtain, you know, 270 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 2: photographs on that horrific day on October seventh, of potentially 271 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 2: being infiltraders rather than journalists. And we're talking about you know, 272 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 2: freelance conflict photojournalists who were submitting photographs to the AP, 273 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 2: to CNN, to the New York Times. And the response 274 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:09,319 Speaker 2: to this report from quote unquote honest reporting was quite 275 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: something from the Israeli government. So put this up on 276 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 2: the screen. You had Israeli government officials saying that they 277 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: will eliminate these photojournalists. Let me just read the tweet here. 278 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 2: They say, Israel's Internal Security Agency announced they will eliminate 279 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 2: all participants of the October seventh massacre. The photojournalists who 280 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 2: took part in recording the assault will be added to 281 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 2: that list, so that list for elimination. Again, these are 282 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: coming out from official Israeli multiple government officials using very 283 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:45,199 Speaker 2: similar rhetoric here. So incredibly chilling, I mean terrifying. These 284 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: are people who are just trying to do their job 285 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 2: and bring to all of us evidence of what unfolded 286 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 2: on that terrific day. 287 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, so, Chris, Well, they have four specific people that 288 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 3: they name here in the report. It's Hassan el Sayah, 289 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 3: Yusef sued Ali Mahmoud, and hot tem Ali. Al Sayah 290 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 3: has kind of been the poster child of this one. 291 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 3: I will say it's a bit of a sketchy photo 292 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 3: where he's getting kissed on the cheek by the founder 293 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 3: of Hamas. 294 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,119 Speaker 1: That said, I have no idea whether. 295 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 2: He has my Association. 296 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 3: Well yeah, but it's also it's an odd thing to 297 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: be doing if you are, you know, a journalist that 298 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 3: and he has now had ties cut with. 299 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: Him by two people. I am not saying this man. 300 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 3: Deserves to die in any way, let's be very clear 301 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 3: about that. And he is a freelance reporter. I don't 302 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 3: know if he has any inside knowledge of the attack. 303 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 3: It appears that the other ones, Yusuf Mus, sued Ali, 304 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 3: Mahmoud and hot tem Ali, at least in two cases 305 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 3: of a journalists or the outlets that have worked with 306 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 3: them in the past as freelancers, have said that they 307 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 3: had absolutely no knowledge of the attack, that they it's 308 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 3: outrageous in order to accuse them of this. The real 309 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 3: problem I think with this major report is instead of 310 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 3: I think which is a legitimate story, is if you 311 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 3: were to say, hey, this guy who works for CNN 312 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 3: and the AP took a selfie, you know, getting kissed 313 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 3: on the cheek by the founder of Hamas, they straight 314 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 3: up insinuated, and not even insinuated. They said that they 315 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 3: had advanced knowledge of the attack. And I do think 316 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 3: that is outrageous because the Israeli government immediately came out 317 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 3: and said that they are now legitimate targets. So, for example, 318 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 3: like with the New York Times, what you're talking about, 319 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 3: we can put. 320 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: This statement here up on the screen. 321 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 3: They say, the accusation that anyone at the New York 322 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 3: Times had advanced knowledge of the Hamas or accompanied Hamas 323 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 3: harrister in the attacks is untrue and outrageous. It's reckless 324 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 3: to make such accusations, putting our journalists on the ground 325 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 3: in Israel and Gaza at risk. What they then claim, though, 326 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,479 Speaker 3: after all of these denials from all of these reports, 327 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 3: is one of the craziest things I've ever seen. 328 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: Let's put this up there. 329 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 3: They said they were just asking questions, which is as 330 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: like or sorry, just raising questions. 331 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 1: That is like internet meme. 332 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 3: In terms of throwing out crazy, crazy accusations against people 333 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 3: and then just being like, what, I'm just asking questions. 334 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 3: And look, okay, it's fine to ask questions, as we said, 335 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: but when you declare something, especially as an Israeli outlet, 336 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 3: that then leads to a witch hunt within Israel and 337 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 3: also within the United States. 338 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: Let's be honest, because it was shared. 339 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 3: Everywhere widely amongst a lot of pro Israeli supporters, in 340 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: the US, they've basically greenlit these people from a governmental 341 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 3: level and from a US like cover level in the 342 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 3: media to say that they deserve to be killed. 343 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: So I strong I stand very very strongly against that. 344 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 3: I think it's you know, it's fine if you want 345 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 3: to be like, hey, this guy took a selfie he 346 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 3: got kissed on the cheek by the leader Hamas. 347 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: I agree. 348 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 3: I think that's weird, and I think that's why the 349 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 3: two outlets that they don't want to work with the 350 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 3: guy anymore. And I don't think that means you having partiality. 351 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 3: But you know, it's also pretty crazy to suggest that 352 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 3: they had advanced knowledge. Because Ryan Grimm was talking about this. 353 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: You know, sometimes when you're a journalist, sketchy people contact 354 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 3: you and they'll be like, hey, just be here at 355 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 3: this time in this day. 356 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 1: You'll be like, yeah, okay, you know, you don't know 357 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:09,719 Speaker 1: what's going on. 358 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 3: You're just like whatever, and you show up and you're like, 359 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 3: and if some shit is popping off, what do you do? 360 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: You're supposed to do your job. 361 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 3: I mean, this is like saying that people who you 362 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 3: know accompany the US military. You know, we had many 363 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,359 Speaker 3: people who are there. You know, during the invasion of 364 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 3: Iraq or whatever, had advanced knowledge of what was going 365 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 3: to happen. 366 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: No, they don't know anything. 367 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 3: They're just told to sit and stay put, and then 368 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 3: when stuff starts happening, they're like, Okay, now you can 369 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 3: film and put it out there. So I don't think that. 370 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 3: I think that, especially since they straight up and mid 371 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 3: on the record that they have no evidence that these 372 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 3: people had any advanced knowledge. 373 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that their guilt. 374 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 3: By association, as you said, was pictures of these individuals 375 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 3: doing their job in the midst of the attack and 376 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 3: then green lighting them as targets. 377 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: That is outrageous and just. 378 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 2: To put a fine point on that. So this gentleman 379 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 2: Gil Hoffman, who's the executive director of quote unquote Honest 380 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: Reporting and a former reporter for the Jerusalem Post, he 381 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 2: told the AP the group had no evidence to back 382 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: up their suggestion. He said he was satisfied with subsequent 383 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 2: explanations from several of these journalists that they did not 384 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,959 Speaker 2: know quote they were legitimate questions to be asked. And 385 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 2: despite the name Honest Reporting, he said, we don't claim 386 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 2: to be a news organization. So I think that clears 387 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 2: it up for everyone here. I mean the suggestion too, 388 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: that they had advanced knowledge. You really think Hamas, which 389 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: was trying to hide this operation from the world, their 390 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 2: own political leadership, didn't know what was going on. You're 391 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 2: their benefactors in Iran, you know. Intell US Intelligence says 392 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 2: they were surprised and didn't know what was going on. 393 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 2: And you think that they notified in advance Western aligned 394 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 2: journalists to their devious plot, like you have to be insane. 395 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 2: Nt Yahoo claims they were completely caught off guard by it, 396 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 2: And you think Western journalists got heads up that this 397 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 2: was all gonna unfold, Like it's preposterous on its face, 398 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 2: and you can't just you know, it's one they're asking 399 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 2: a question. You can't just throw some stuff out there, 400 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 2: especially in such a volatile situation. And we haven't covered 401 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 2: a lot of this because it's happening in Israel and 402 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 2: not happening in the US. But the state crackdown on 403 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: any sort of descent, any sort of you know, WhatsApp 404 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 2: status post that could even be tangentially construed as pro mouss. 405 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 2: People are getting arrested, people are getting protests, are getting 406 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 2: beaten in the streets, like that is the level of paranoia. 407 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 2: Laws are being passed, you can try to criminalize even 408 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 2: descent that is factually based, and you're gonna throw out 409 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 2: these allegations that you acknowledge are completely baseless. And then 410 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 2: the other thing that you know is just absolutely shocking 411 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 2: is that these Israeli government officials immediately jump on it 412 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 2: and again no evidence, say we will elimit, we will 413 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 2: add them to the list of terrorists to be eliminated. 414 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 2: Just just think about that. Like, you know, people, we 415 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 2: are in many ways considered journalists. Ryan is considered emily journalists. 416 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 2: Like if you step the wrong way with the israel government, 417 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 2: they're going to put you on a list for elimination. 418 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: That's insane. And just so people understand too, you know, 419 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: because I'm sure it can seem very uh morally fraught 420 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: to be with Hamas while they're perpetrating attacks and it 421 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 2: does raise quote, Okay, what's your responsibility. Well, this is 422 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 2: laid out in the job description description in the Code 423 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 2: of Ethics for conflict journalists. Your duty is to not 424 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 2: intervene and not involve yourself. You are there to be 425 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: an observer, a witness to history, so that we and 426 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 2: others can actually have a window into what unfolded, so 427 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 2: you know this other like, oh, well they went along 428 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 2: and they didn't intervene. That's their job so that we 429 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 2: can all know about the horrors that unfolded on this day. 430 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 2: So just outrageously irresponsible. And the most significant part is 431 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 2: it's one thing for some you know, random blog website, 432 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 2: whatever the hell this thing is, calling itself honest reporting, 433 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 2: then being like we're not a newsvalid don't don't get 434 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: it twisted. It's another thing for a powerful developed state 435 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 2: to use these baseless, evidence free allegations and say now 436 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 2: you're on a list for elimination, and especially soccer at 437 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 2: a time when journalists are being massacred in Gaza. I 438 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 2: mean the number of journalists that have been killed beyond 439 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 2: any other conflict, like way beyond any other conflict, the 440 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 2: most since they've started tracking such statistics, and their family 441 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 2: members targeted. So you know this is not an idle threat, 442 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 2: I guess, is what I should say. 443 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 3: No, I think the Israeli government is the worst actor 444 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 3: in this, because you can't just be putting on people 445 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 3: on kill lists based on a baseless allegation. It's also 446 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 3: from a websit journalists in point of view, when the 447 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 3: founder said he was quote satisfied with their explanation, I'm. 448 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 1: Like, well, why don't you reach out to them for comment? Man, 449 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 1: you're going to put people that five. 450 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 3: People on blast and put their lives at risk before actually, 451 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 3: you know, if we were going to do report, you know, 452 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 3: just and we had an allegation or something like that. 453 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 3: It is your responsibility to be able to give some 454 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 3: especially in this case. 455 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: A reasonable amount of time to comment, to sift. 456 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 3: Through and then you're like, oh, okay, well then I'm 457 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 3: not You get run it and you can put the 458 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 3: explanation in there or not. You know. The important thing 459 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 3: I didn't mention on the Reuters in on the AP 460 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: part is that the time stamps on the photos actually 461 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,479 Speaker 3: show that they were taken two hours after Hamas had 462 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 3: fired rockets and forty five minutes after Israel said gunman 463 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 3: had crossed the border. 464 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: The AP the same thing. 465 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 3: Many of their photos were taken more than an hour 466 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 3: after the attacks began. 467 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: AKA, these guys were around the border. 468 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 3: They're probably told like, some shit's going to go down. 469 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:52,959 Speaker 3: You don't know what's going to go down, and then 470 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 3: they see it and they're like, oh, my god, let's go, 471 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:55,719 Speaker 3: and so they're like run in. 472 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 1: I know people who have reported in combat zones and 473 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: they always talk about this. 474 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 3: It's a very difficult thing where you are not supposed 475 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 3: to intervene. You know, at a humanitarian civilian level, you 476 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 3: can like provide like some basic first aid and all 477 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 3: these other things. But if you start getting in there, 478 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 3: your life is in danger and you're going to get killed. 479 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 3: And I totally understand why that is very difficult for 480 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 3: people to wrap your heads around. But that's you're why 481 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 3: you're not a combat journalist. That's why I'm not one either. 482 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 3: I don't want it to be put in this situation. 483 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 3: My old point is just that it's it is a 484 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 3: difficult situation for those people who are placed in that job. 485 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 3: This outlet is outrageously irresponsible. The people who did not 486 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 3: the people who put this out and just spread it 487 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 3: with all these people without asking for comment or any 488 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 3: of that. I think it's crazy. And look, I'll say 489 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 3: this too. 490 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,719 Speaker 1: Nobody hates some media more than me. All Right, I 491 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: hate the media. I'm happy. 492 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 3: You know. I would put them on blast, you know, 493 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,439 Speaker 3: if I thought they actually had done something terrible. But 494 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 3: I know enough people who work in this position where 495 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 3: these are not you know, shitheads were posting about Russia 496 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 3: Gate or something like that. If anything, they're doing the 497 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 3: real stuff on the ground, that taking of what's happening 498 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 3: and telling us, you know, what's happening. 499 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,959 Speaker 1: Here and air strikes there and all of that. 500 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 3: And like, in my opinion, if you had people who 501 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 3: were you know, on the ground and just just reporting 502 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 3: the facts and all that more, we'd be better off. 503 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 1: So it's especially actually. 504 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 3: Important to make sure that we we uh, don't just 505 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 3: jump to situations where we're green lighting this. And I 506 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 3: also think the US government should absolutely protest any any 507 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 3: type of action or honestly even statements like this if 508 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 3: they're going to claim that there's some you know, the 509 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 3: Biden administration is some paragon of protecting journalists even though 510 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 3: we know it's all fake. 511 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. That that is a great point too. I mean, 512 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 2: where are there words condemning this putting you know, photo 513 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,880 Speaker 2: journalist names on a list for targeting by our great 514 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 2: ally Israel. We had one other piece we wanted to 515 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 2: update you guys on because this is significant. Go ahead 516 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: and put this up on the screen. So Israel has 517 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 2: agreed to brief daily humanitarian pauses. Now, I'll tell you 518 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 2: my thoughts on humanitarian pauses in a second, but this 519 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 2: falls short of what even the Biden administration was pushing for. 520 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 2: They had wanted several days in order to try to 521 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 2: facilitate negotiations on hostage release. We know actually that there 522 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 2: was a potential deal on the table for hostages to 523 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 2: be released, and then that was completely derailed by the 524 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 2: ground invasion that went forward in Gaza. So these negotiations 525 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 2: have been ongoing, That's what the US was pushing for. Instead, 526 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 2: Israel has agreed to put in place four hour daily 527 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 2: humanitarian pauses in their assault in northern Gaza, the White 528 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: House said Thursday, as President Joe Biden press Israelis for 529 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 2: a multi day stoppage in the fighting in that bid 530 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 2: to negotiate the release of hostages. They go on to 531 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 2: say that similar short term pauses have occurred over the 532 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: past several days as tens of thousands of civilians have 533 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 2: fled southward, but Thursday's announcements appeared to be an effort 534 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,920 Speaker 2: to formalize and expand the process. This as the US 535 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:04,360 Speaker 2: has pressed Israelis to take greater steps to protect civilians 536 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 2: in Gaza. And just as a reminder, you know, those 537 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 2: of us who are pushing for a total cease fire 538 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 2: to end the slaughter of civilians have been saying for 539 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 2: a while. First of all, humanitarian pauses something liberals made 540 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,360 Speaker 2: up to make themselves feel better. It's not a real 541 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 2: thing that I've ever heard of in any other conflict. 542 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 2: This was like whiteboarded at the Center for American Progress 543 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 2: here in DC. That's number one. Number two. Put this 544 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 2: from from ACTHEUS on the screen. Tony Blinken, when he 545 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 2: was in Israel, directly told Netanyahu what they wanted these 546 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 2: pauses for, and it had nothing to do with civilian relief. 547 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 2: His message, according to one US and two Israeli officials, 548 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 2: was quote, we don't want to stop you, but help us, 549 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 2: help you get more time. So they're trying to give 550 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 2: Israel also some sort of a faith saving maneuver to 551 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 2: try to lessen the pressure that is, you know, mounting 552 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 2: and mounting and mounting on is real to end this, 553 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 2: you know, instcriminate bombing that has so been so devastating 554 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 2: to civilians and children and the siege, et cetera. And 555 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: they're saying, hey, if you at least did this face 556 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 2: saving gesture of humanitarian pauses. Maybe that could buy you 557 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 2: more time for your ground invasion and your bombing campaign. 558 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:22,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I think it's better than nothing. I 559 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 3: think it's better than like not. I think it's been 560 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 3: a fine outcome. It's four hours. You can actually get 561 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 3: more civilians out of there if the broader conduct doesn't change. Though, 562 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 3: it's not going to have a massive impact, but it's 563 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 3: also not the worst thing to happen. We actually saw 564 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 3: a series of quote unquote humanitarian ceasefires happen in Syria 565 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 3: that I recall covering. 566 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: At the time. 567 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 3: They didn't have a particularly large strategic impact. Usually the 568 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,960 Speaker 3: defense of these things is, well, if you can agree 569 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 3: to a humanitarian cease fire of four hours, then maybe 570 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 3: a month from now you can agree to more of 571 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 3: a hostage negotiation type scenario. That's usually what the defense is. 572 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 3: This is like incrementalism to try to get to some 573 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 3: sort of outcome. My interest is on what they're actually 574 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 3: doing at this point. Where are we actually shifting to 575 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 3: the combat operation Because they keep saying we have encircled Gaza. 576 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 3: You know we're doing this. The real fight has begun, 577 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 3: but we haven't seen any actual ground like major ground 578 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 3: combat offensive began yet, Crystal I was looking in the 579 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 3: last twenty four hours. And so the question is with 580 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 3: the Israelis and their military, like in a certain sense, 581 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 3: like what are you waiting for in terms of the 582 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 3: bombing and in terms of the humanitarian area. But then 583 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 3: are we moving to the next phase of the. 584 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,239 Speaker 1: Operation or not? And I think that's where a lot 585 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: of the reluctance is. 586 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 3: They're probably very torn at the higher command because that 587 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 3: means that you are a you're going to take a 588 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 3: ton more casualties in close quarters combat. Then at the 589 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 3: same time you also have this hostage situation, and there's 590 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 3: just such intense pressure, you know, and any any time 591 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 3: you're starting to get that close to the enemy and 592 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 3: all that, you're obviously going. 593 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: To put the hostages at a at a greater risk. 594 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: So it is, Yeah, it's really tragic. 595 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 3: I do hope though, that at least some people could 596 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 3: take advantage of a quote unquote humanitarian post to the 597 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 3: extent that some civilians are able to escape from the area, 598 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 3: because that's better than dying in this world. 599 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, the question is really to like take 600 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 2: advantage of the humanitarian pose to do what You've already 601 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 2: had one point five million people displaced with their homes. 602 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 2: You know, most people who have who were going to leave, 603 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 2: have already left, and the siege is really taking a toll. 604 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 2: I was just reading a horrifying report about you know, 605 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 2: the most people are surviving on very limited brackish water 606 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 2: that is, you know, causing them all sorts of illnesses 607 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 2: and disease. The medical supplies are running low, there's no food. 608 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 2: You know, people are clustered in these hospitals or school 609 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 2: that they think are safe. Some of them have received 610 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: notice from the Israeli military that they may also come 611 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: under attack. There is no safety. I mean, it's just 612 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 2: absolutely horrifying conditions that people are living in, and you know, 613 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 2: there's really nowhere for them to go that is safe. 614 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 2: So that's why, Okay, you know, having a few official 615 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 2: hours break in the fighting on a daily basis, yeah, 616 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 2: you're right, it's better than nothing, But it also is 617 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 2: meant in service of just being able to prolong the conflict. 618 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 2: That's what the goal is. It's not a humanitarian goal, 619 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:36,200 Speaker 2: it's a goal. It's a pr goal to try to 620 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 2: enable Israel to be able to sustain the bombing campaign longer, 621 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 2: which is why I can't you know, I can't celebrate 622 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 2: it as any sort of a real achievement because we 623 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 2: already have Tony blink and explaining precisely what they actually 624 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 2: want out of these humanitarian pauses, which is to allow 625 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 2: the bombing campaign to go on indefinitely. 626 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a good point, all right. 627 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 3: We are out of time, so we will see everybody 628 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 3: later on Monday. Thank you for Premium subscribers for enable this, 629 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 3: and we'll see you then.