1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Well, good Monday morning. It is Verdict with Center, Ted Cruz, 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: Ben Ferguson with you and Center. We've got a lot 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: of breaking news, including tariffs and retaliatory tariffs. 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: On top of that, Well, this is a very big week. 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 3: On Tuesday of this week, President Trump is going to 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 3: impose twenty five percent tariffs on all imports from Mexico, 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 3: twenty five percent tariffs on all imports from Canada except 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 3: for energy, ten percent tariffs on all energy imports from Canada, 9 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 3: and in addition to that, an additional ten percent tariffs 10 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 3: on all imports from Canada. These are a big deal. 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 3: They have already started retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico. 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 3: We're going to talk about what that means. We're going 13 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 3: to talk about how that's going to impact American farmers, 14 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 3: American ranchers, American manufacturers, American consumers. We're going to talk 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 3: about what's likely to play out in the days and 16 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 3: weeks and months ahead. We're also going to talk about 17 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 3: the big hearing we had last week in the Senate 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 3: Judiciary Committee for Cashptel. Cash Battel is nominated to be 19 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 3: the Director of the FBI. He is one of the 20 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: very top targets the Democrats are going after. They're trying 21 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 3: to take Cashptel down. I don't think they're going to succeed. 22 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 3: I think Cash did a very good job. We're going 23 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 3: to break that down for you as well. And finally, 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: we're going to talk about the status of US airlines 25 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 3: flying directly to Israel. They have halted all flights ever 26 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 3: since October seventh. We're going to talk about my predictions 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 3: for what's going to happen there as well. 28 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's going to be a very big news for 29 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: a lot of people as well that are looking to 30 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: get to Israel. Want to talk about Israel for a 31 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: second and say thank you to so many of you 32 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 1: that have stood up with a people in Israel and 33 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: for more than a year of war, they've been dealing 34 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: with it, terror and pain in Israel. There's still a 35 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: great demand for basic humanitarian aid. That is where the 36 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has supported and continues 37 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: to support those in the Holy Land still facing the 38 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: lingering horrors of war and those who are They are 39 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: desperate for need right now. Your gift today will provide 40 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: critically needed aid to communities in the North and South 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: that have been devastated by the ongoing war. Your generous 42 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: donation will help deliver food for those in need, including 43 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: evacuees and refugees from war torn areas, first responders and volunteers, 44 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: wounded soldiers, elderly Holocaust survivors, and families who have lost everything, 45 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: and so many more. You can give hope during a 46 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: time of great uncertainty. So give a gift to bless 47 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: Israel and are people by visiting SUPPORTIFCJ dot org. That's 48 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: one word, support IFCJ dot org, or you can call 49 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: them eight a eight four eight eight IFCJ that's eight 50 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: eight eight four eight eight IFCJ eight a eight four 51 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 1: eight eight four three two five or support IFCJ dot org. So, Senator, 52 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: let's talk about how he even got to the prospect 53 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: and the premise for tariffs. Let's start so people understand 54 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: that first, because I think there's a lot of people 55 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: that don't understand that basic aspect because it is complicated. 56 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 2: Well, listen, I think these tariffs are very different. 57 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 3: I think the Mexico and Canada tariffs stand on a 58 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: very different footing from the China tariff. And President Trump 59 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 3: uses tariffs for several different purposes. One, President Trump is 60 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: quite fond of using tariffs as leverage to force other 61 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 3: countries to do things that he wants to do unrelated 62 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 3: to economics and trade. For example, we talked about this 63 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 3: on last week's podcast. When the nation of Columbia refused 64 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 3: to allow US planes to drop off illegal immigrants who 65 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: had come from Columbia, President Trump responded immediately by threatening 66 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 3: twenty five percent tariffs and then threatening to ratchet them 67 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 3: up in a week to fifty percent. That caused Colombia 68 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 3: to cave immediately within about eight hours. That's an example 69 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 3: of that. I think the Mexico and Canada tariffs fall 70 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 3: into that category. The President has explicitly tied those tariffs 71 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 3: to border security, to stopping the flow of illegal immigration 72 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: coming into this country, and also to stopping the flow 73 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 3: of fentanyl coming into this country. We're going to talk 74 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 3: about that a little bit more, but I want to 75 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 3: draw a distinction between that and the tariffs against China. 76 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 3: Separate and apart from using tariff's leverage on other countries, 77 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: President Trump just likes tariffs. When he sat down with 78 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 3: all the Senate Republicans a couple of weeks ago, he 79 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 3: went on for probably twenty minutes about it. He said, 80 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 3: tariff is the most beautiful word in the English language, 81 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 3: and he loves tariffs. And by the way, that has 82 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 3: been the single most consistent policy view of Donald Trump 83 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 3: going back to the nineteen eighties, going back to when 84 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 3: Ronald Reagan was president, Donald Trump was advocating for TIFFs 85 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 3: back then, you'll recall and in his inaugural address, and 86 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 3: We're going to replace the Department of Internal Revenue with 87 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 3: We're going to create the Department. 88 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 2: Of External Revenue. 89 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 3: And so, in my view, the China tariffs of ten percent, 90 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 3: he is viewing as a long term revenue stream. He 91 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 3: doesn't intend to lift those terraffs. He intends for those 92 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 3: to be in place. He intends for those to decrease 93 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 3: the production of what's being made in China. We wants 94 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 3: that to move more production to the United States. But 95 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 3: understand the tariffs predictably that they are attacks that consumers pay. 96 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 3: They will drive up the prices of imports coming from China. 97 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 3: Now they're designed to drive up the prices of imports 98 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 3: coming from China because they are designed to make products 99 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 3: produced in America more competitive. So the China tariff. I 100 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 3: don't expect the president to lift it in four years. 101 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: I expect that to be and in fact, he may 102 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 3: well impose more tariffs on China. Look actually think that 103 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 3: makes sense in a broader sense that I can tell you. 104 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 3: The advice that I've given President Trump, the advice that 105 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: I've given is incoming cabinet when it comes to tariffs, 106 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 3: is focus in the long term on two things. Number one, China, 107 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 3: and China has seized far too much of our critical infrastructure. 108 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 3: We are too dependent on China, and I want to 109 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 3: link our economy from China, and so these tariffs will 110 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 3: accelerate that process. But number two, what I have urged 111 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 3: the president is reciprocity. There are countries we trade with 112 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 3: who have high tariffs on our goods and we have lower, 113 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 3: non existent tariffs on their goods. And I think that 114 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 3: that is us being taken advantage of. And so my 115 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 3: hope is that he will use targeted tariffs to press reciprocity. 116 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 3: Now I'm going to make a prediction. Ben My prediction 117 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 3: is that the Trump administration will lift the tariffs, will 118 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 3: end the twenty five percent tariffs on Mexican Coen Canada. 119 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: I'm going to throw out a date thirty six days 120 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 3: from now. 121 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: I don't know that is clearly short term in comparison 122 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: to China, is your point. 123 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 3: I do not think we will see these tariffs in 124 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: place for four years. I don't even think we'll see 125 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 3: them in place for one year. And we can talk 126 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 3: about the magnitude of them and why. I can tell 127 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 3: you I met a couple of weeks ago the Canadian 128 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 3: Energy Minister came to meet with me, and understand, we 129 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 3: import a ton of oil from Canada. You remember the 130 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 3: first Trump term, Remember the big, big fight over the 131 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 3: Keystone Pipeline. 132 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: Oh, absolutely, and we were. 133 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 3: All in favor of it. Republicans were in favor of it. Drill, Baby, drill, 134 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 3: Keystone Pipeline. Yeah, that pipeline was to import oil from Canada. 135 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 3: The Keystone Pipeline flew, flowed from or was going to 136 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 3: flow from Canada down to the United States. They have 137 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 3: massive oil reserves in Alberta, the tarsands there, and the 138 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 3: Keystone Pipeline was to carry that oil down to the 139 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 3: United States. Now, when the Canadian Energy Minister came to 140 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 3: my office to weeks ago, he was pressing their internal 141 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 3: studies that showed that a twenty five percent on Canadian 142 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 3: oil and gas would drive up the cost of gasoline 143 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 3: in the United States and the Midwest by eighty to 144 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 3: eighty five. 145 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 2: Cents a gallon. 146 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 3: Now that's a pretty significant consequence, which is why the 147 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 3: Trump White House did not impose a twenty five percent 148 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 3: tax on Canadian oil and gas, but only ten percent. 149 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 3: And I know the Trump White House Canada shared with 150 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 3: them the very same studies they had. I don't know 151 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 3: how true or accurate they were, but they that they 152 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 3: claimed that was what their empirical economists were predicting. And listen, 153 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 3: it's not crazy because there are a number of refineries, 154 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 3: particularly serving the Midwest, that are dependent upon Canadian oil 155 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 3: in particular. And one of the things that you know 156 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: but our listeners may not, is different refineries are built 157 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 3: and designed to refine different oil that comes from different 158 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 3: parts of the world, whether Canada or the Permian of 159 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 3: the Middle East, and it is very costly and very 160 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 3: expensive for a refinery to shift from one type of 161 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 3: oil to another. So the refineries that are right now 162 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 3: refining Canadian oil, they don't have a whole lot of 163 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 3: options to shift, which is one of the reasons why 164 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 3: driving up the cost of the Canadian oil significantly I 165 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: think predictably would have real effects in the gasoline market. 166 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 3: You'll see some effects on gasoline, but at ten percent 167 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 3: instead of twenty five, I think the effects will not 168 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 3: be as market. 169 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 1: So you look at that and you say, Okay, if 170 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: they know this is going to be a short term thing, 171 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: can't they just wait it out? And this goes back 172 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: to the game because they're also retaliating with their own tariffs. 173 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 3: Well they are, but listen, this is a game of 174 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 3: inflicting pain, and these tariffs I believe will will inflict 175 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 3: some pain on the United States. They will drive up 176 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 3: cost for consumers, but you can predict they will inflict 177 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: more pain on Mexico and more pain on Canada because 178 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 3: their economies are much more dependent on exporting to the 179 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 3: United States than our economies are dependent on importing from them, 180 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 3: and so the levels of pain are are disproportionate. Now 181 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 3: I'm going to share with you some analysis from an 182 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 3: economist who I know and respect is one of the 183 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 3: best economists who's analyzing what's going on. Here was his analysis. 184 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 3: His analysis was that the effective tariff rate if Mexico 185 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 3: and Canada, and these tariffs remain in effect for a year, 186 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 3: that it would raise approximately one hundred and fifty billion 187 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 3: dollars of new tariff revenue on an annual basis, and 188 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 3: is the fiscal equivalent of a ten to eleven percent 189 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 3: increase in the corporate tax rate. 190 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 2: So that's not small. 191 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 3: And the scale of these tariffs, this economist is continuing, 192 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 3: is significantly large than Trump's tariff increase on China in 193 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen. Those tariffs in twenty eighteen 194 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 3: and twenty nineteen were about thirty billion dollars a year 195 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 3: in revenue. These tariffs, if they stay in effect for 196 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 3: the entire year, projected to be four to five times 197 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 3: larger than the twenty eighteen to twenty nineteen tariffs when 198 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 3: fully implemented. Now here's another aspect of this, and this 199 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 3: is the same economist who's very good, which is expectations 200 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 3: for tiff increases happening in the Trump administrations were relatively low. 201 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 3: Betting markets had the odds of thirty five percent for 202 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 3: an early tariff increase, and Mexico was mostly priced in, 203 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 3: but Canada was not. So the financial markets were pricing 204 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 3: in some tariff increases. Treasury Secretary of Scott Descent observed 205 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 3: recently that for every ten percent increase in tariffs, a 206 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 3: four percent currency depreciation. So the Mexican paid so right 207 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 3: now has a nine point four percent depreciation relative to 208 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 3: the dollar since August first, which which suggests that a 209 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 3: lot of the tariffs were already priced in. Canada's is 210 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 3: about half of that. So Canada you could expect to 211 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 3: see more depreciation of the Canadian dollar. And you know 212 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 3: the point of that. That's one of the reasons I 213 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 3: don't think these will remain in effect for long. As 214 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 3: I said, my prediction is thirty six days, and here's 215 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 3: what I'm predicting will happen in thirty six days. In 216 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 3: thirty six days or so, that's a number picked out 217 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 3: of the hat, but that gives you a sense of 218 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 3: how long I think it will be. The President will 219 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 3: announce with a lot of fanfare major concessions from Mexico 220 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 3: and Canada that they are going to invest in a 221 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 3: massive way in securing the border. They're going to put 222 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 3: Mexico is going to put soldiers on their southern border. 223 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 3: They're going to reinvigorate the remain in Mexico policy. They 224 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 3: are going to lean in and Canada is going to 225 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 3: as well. I can tell you when I met with 226 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 3: the Canadian Energy Minister my advice to him. I said, listen, 227 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 3: Trump is not bluffing. You are making a mistake if 228 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 3: you think Trump is bluffing. And he said, well, look, 229 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 3: we're already promising all sorts of steps to help secure 230 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 3: the border. I said, great, whatever you're doing, make it bigger, 231 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 3: make it bolder, do as much as you can, because 232 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 3: this is not a bluff. And I think the end 233 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 3: of these tariffs. I think these tariffs will be lifted, 234 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 3: but they will be lifted only after Mexico and Canada 235 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 3: make massive commitments to help secure the border. And I 236 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 3: got to admit, if that's the case, listen, Texas will 237 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 3: feel some real pain, in particular from the tariffs on Mexico. 238 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 3: Understand that Texas and Mexico engage in hundreds of billions 239 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 3: of dollars of trade back and forth cars many many 240 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 3: cars and trucks sold in the United States. The cars 241 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 3: on the supply chain go back and forth from Texas 242 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 3: to Mexico, to Texas to Mexico, sometimes four or five 243 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 3: times in the construction of a car. 244 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 2: If these tariffs. 245 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 3: Remain in place for a long time, you can expect 246 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 3: significant upward pressure on the price of a car. That's 247 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:12,719 Speaker 3: not good and it's not good for Texas farmers and 248 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 3: ranchers in the long term. If this ends up being 249 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 3: a relatively short term tariff and the effect is to 250 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 3: produce a massive change of behavior from Mexico especially, but 251 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 3: also Canada to help secure the borders and to help 252 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 3: stop the fentanyl flow, it will be a huge victory. 253 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 3: But that is dependent upon Mexico and Canada now stepping 254 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 3: up and acting, and I think the pain inflicted will 255 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 3: accelerate that process well. 256 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: And then this goes back to the practicality aspect of this. 257 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: And for people that are listening, what Donald Trump is 258 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: saying is it is worth this short term rise in 259 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: some things for us to get a secure border where 260 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: we're not letting in millions of people and rapists and 261 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: sex trafficking and fetnyl and everything else that's been flooding 262 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: our border, because there's a clear mandate there and this 263 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: is the way to use leverage to get that done. 264 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: So that's true, But let me give another benefit of this, 265 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 3: And there was actually a quote of a national security 266 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 3: analyst in the New York Times who who who says 267 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 3: Trump quote will need to kill a chicken to scare 268 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 3: the monkeys. Now, what that quote means is is showing 269 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 3: the world that he's serious about tariffs, that his threats 270 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 3: are credible and listen. I think it says a lot 271 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 3: that these tariffs were announced right at the same time 272 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 3: that Trump said a Secretary of State Marc Rubio down 273 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 3: to Panama. I think these tariffs are speaking very clearly 274 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 3: to Panama. I think these tariffs are speaking very clearly 275 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 3: to Greenland and Denmark, and these tariffs are speaking to 276 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: people around the globe that that Trump is perfectly willing 277 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 3: when he says he'll impose tariffs, he'll do that. And 278 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 3: that deterrent effect, I think is enormously valuable. So it's 279 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 3: not just the change of behavior from Mexico and Canada, 280 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 3: but it's the rest of the world saying, holy cow, 281 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 3: this guy will really do this, and so we need 282 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 3: to act accordingly. 283 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: That's a big deal. 284 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: You mentioned Panama, and this broke on Sunday afternoon, and 285 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: is this one of those victories that comes out of 286 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: these tariffs? And that is the fact that we heard 287 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: from the president of Panama that they could have decided 288 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: not to renew the twenty seventeen memorandum of Understanding with 289 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: China regarding the Belt and Rote initiative, like immediately following 290 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: that meeting with Marco Rubio. 291 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 3: Absolutely, that is a significant victory. And look, we predicted. 292 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 3: We did a podcast immediately right at the beginning of 293 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 3: the Trump administration talking about Panama, green Land, and Canada, 294 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 3: and at the time I said, listen to Canada is 295 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,679 Speaker 3: not going to become the fifty first state. That what 296 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 3: Trump's talking about Canada becoming a state, I believe was 297 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 3: just trolling Justin Trudeau, and it remains the most epic 298 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 3: troll in history. It literally caused Trudeau to announce his 299 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 3: resignation within days, and I think he was just yanked 300 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 3: his chain. 301 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 2: Greenland we've talked about before. 302 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 3: I think there are very strong national security and economic 303 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 3: reasons why acquiring Greenland makes sense. 304 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 2: Now. 305 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 3: I don't think it should be done through force. I 306 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 3: think it should be done through negotiations. I think we 307 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 3: should offer to purchase Greenland from Denmark. I think it's 308 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 3: in Denmark's interest to do so. I had a long 309 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 3: conversation with the Danish ambassador about exactly this, and I said, listen, 310 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 3: Denmark is a friend, you're an ally, but friends and 311 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 3: allies can talk honestly with each other. And I think 312 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: it's in your interest, in our interest for America to 313 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 3: acquire Greenland. I think it would also take a referendum 314 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 3: of the Greenlanders. But they're only about fifty thousand Greenlanders 315 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 3: number one. If Greenland became in an American territory, US 316 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 3: citizenship is an incredibly valuable inducement we have, and for 317 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 3: the Greenlanders the opportunity to become American citizens is a 318 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 3: big deal. Not only that. Look, I could imagine a 319 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 3: scenario where the Greenlanders get a direct payment. If you 320 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 3: can imagine Greenlanders getting fifty grand each for fifty thousand 321 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 3: of them, that'd be pretty durn compelling if you had 322 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 3: a referendum, and the upside of being acquired is that 323 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 3: you get some direct form of compensation. And beyond that, 324 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 3: if Greenland was an American territory, I think the American 325 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 3: investment that would flow into Greenland both for its geopolitical 326 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: location on the Arctic for national security and defense, but 327 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 3: also because of the vast critical minerals and resources. I 328 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 3: think that investment would be in the billions of dollars, 329 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 3: and that if you're a Greenlander, I could think of 330 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 3: an awful lot of reasons why you say, hey, we're 331 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 3: not getting much from being part of Denmark, but if 332 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 3: we could be part of America, that's a big step forward. 333 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: So you look at that, and then you go back 334 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: to this broader question and you see what President Trump's 335 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: strategy is He's taking on a lot of these issues. 336 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: I've heard people say, well, he's just going to be 337 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: stretch just too thin, too quickly. It doesn't seem to 338 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: be the case at all. In reality. It seems that 339 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: a lot of this was planned out, and the people 340 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: are in place, and the people aroun him to see 341 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: these things through. 342 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 3: Look, border security is the clearest and most direct mandate 343 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 3: from this election, and I think almost any step he 344 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 3: takes to secure the border is good and beneficial. It's 345 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 3: why Columbia made a lot of sense. They're leaning in 346 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 3: hard on that, and that is very positive. 347 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 2: We need to keep doing. 348 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: That final question on this one for people that are saying, well, 349 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: the prices is something that I care about more than 350 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: the border security, and I don't. I don't want to 351 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: pay ten cents more gallon or whatever the number is. 352 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: Is that something you say, This is where you have 353 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: to decide what's more important in general. 354 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 3: Well, look, it also comes down to whether this is 355 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 3: short term or long term. If this is, if the 356 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 3: Canada and Mexico tariffs are a matter of weeks or 357 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 3: a month or so, and it induces a significant change 358 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 3: in behavior that secures the border and results in a 359 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 3: lot less murderers and gang bangers and rapists coming into 360 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 3: this country and a lot less fentanyl coming into this country, 361 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 3: that's an unambiguous win. If the result of this tariffs 362 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 3: is just ongoing tariffs driving up prices for a long 363 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 3: long time, then that is not nearly as beneficial, and 364 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 3: so the outcome is significant. And as I said before, 365 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 3: I think the Mexico and Canada tariffs are very, very 366 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 3: different from the China tariffs. I expect the China tariffs 367 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 3: to stay in place all four years of the Trump administration, 368 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 3: and I think they're serving a very different function. 369 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 1: I want to move on to another big issue, and 370 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: that is confirmation hearings. Cash pattels was at the end 371 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: of last week as well, and we are now seeing 372 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: a lot of people that are getting their audios. See 373 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: you later. Thanks for serving. You're out of a job 374 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: in the deep state. This is another reason why we 375 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: need to get cash hotel in there quickly. Let's talk 376 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: about where that is. And also you had a very 377 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: interesting back and forth with him over some of the 378 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,119 Speaker 1: things that the left is trying to attack him on. 379 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: Well. 380 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 3: The hearing, the Democrats went after cash Patel furiously. As 381 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 3: I said on Hannity last week, the hearing reminded me 382 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 3: of Shakespeare's Macbeth. It was a tale told by an idiot, 383 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 3: full of sound and fury and signifying nothing. The Democrats 384 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 3: did not get any traction. They were foaming at the mouth, 385 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 3: they were coming after him ferociously, and yet I don't 386 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 3: think they moved a single vote. I think cash Patel 387 00:21:56,160 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 3: will get confirmed. Now every Democrat on the Committe's going 388 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 3: to vote no, and my guess is every Democrat in 389 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 3: the Senate is going to vote no on him. But 390 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 3: I think we will get We might get to fifty three, 391 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 3: but we will at a minimum get to fifty with 392 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 3: jd Vance breaking the tie. And I don't think the 393 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:17,959 Speaker 3: hearing moved a single vote when my questioning occurred. You know, 394 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 3: the week before I had spent a couple of hours 395 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 3: helping moot cash battel, helping get him ready. I actually 396 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,959 Speaker 3: got to play Sheldon Whitehouse, who's a very liberal senator 397 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 3: in the moot, and I got to say it was 398 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 3: fun just raving at him, screaming at him. 399 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 2: I tried to insult him. I was a total jerk 400 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 2: in the moot, which which if you're doing to moot, well. 401 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: You explained for here that don't know how this works. 402 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: You get people, and I've gotten to do this a 403 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: couple of times. It's really fun. You get somebody ready 404 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: for a confirmation hearing, and many people like you just described, 405 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,679 Speaker 1: you play the other side. You try to get them 406 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: ready for what they're going to face. And the setting 407 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: that you do it in. Was this more relaxed or 408 00:22:57,840 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: was it more formal? 409 00:22:58,760 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 2: I don't know. 410 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 3: It was done exactly like a hearing. He was sitting 411 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 3: at a table, we were around him, like, firing questions 412 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 3: at him. And sometimes you do it this way, sometimes 413 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 3: you don't. But in this instance, they gave me the 414 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 3: role of Sheldon white House, who's one of the most 415 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 3: partisan Democrats on the committee. I've served with Sheldon thirteen years. 416 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 3: I know him well, and so you know, I mean, 417 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,719 Speaker 3: I was screaming at him, and yeah, I mean, and 418 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 3: my questions were wildly unfair, but you got to get 419 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 3: ready for wildly unfair questions. I was not trying to 420 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 3: be nice to him in the mood, because that if 421 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 3: you're doing that, you're not doing your job in a mood. 422 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 2: And I got to say he did. 423 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 3: So it was interesting in the mood A couple of 424 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 3: times like Cash would try to pop back and we 425 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 3: would stop and say, look, it's not your job to 426 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 3: punch the Democrats of the face in this hearing. My advice, 427 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 3: by the way, to every hearing nominee is be boring. 428 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 3: Right now today you've got the votes to be confirmed. 429 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 3: From the Democrats perspective. The only way they can change 430 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 3: that is get you to say something in the hearing 431 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 3: where you you you step on a landmine and blow 432 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 3: yourself up. If you don't do that, you will be 433 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 3: confirmed and you will go do the job the president 434 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 3: has asked you to do. 435 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: And and so. 436 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 3: A good role of a hearing, you know someone you 437 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 3: know very well is is is John Ashcroft. So when 438 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 3: I was a young baby lawyer. I was part of 439 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 3: the team that that that helped prepare John Ashcroft for 440 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 3: his confirmation hearing to be Attorney General. And I was, 441 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 3: you know, thirty years old, a baby lawyer, but I'd 442 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 3: been on the Bush campaign and Ashcroft gets nominated bag 443 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 3: So I remember we're prepping him and and just like 444 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 3: with cash Ptel, we were asking horrible questions. We were 445 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,439 Speaker 3: asking uh, I mean, we were just just and in 446 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 3: the prep session, Ashcroft would get pissed and he yelled at. 447 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 2: Us and and and and. 448 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 3: We'd say, we'd say, Senator, you're exactly right that that 449 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 3: that question was terrible. It was it was unfair, it 450 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 3: was dishonest, it was abusive. Senator, can we remind you 451 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 3: you have the votes right now? Like they want you 452 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 3: to get pissed? And so I was glad he yelled 453 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 3: at me, and he yelled at the other people in 454 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 3: the mood because that it got it off his chest. 455 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 3: And I still remember. You go back and watch Ashcroft's 456 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 3: confirmation hearing, and there was one exchange and I'm paraphrasing, 457 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 3: and it was twenty four years ago, but he had 458 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 3: given a speech about the Second Amendment and he had 459 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 3: talked about the Second Amendment that the Framers had intended 460 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 3: us a second amendment as a check on tyranny from 461 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 3: the government, and Ted Kennedy, who was questioning him, goes, 462 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 3: tyranny from our government, the American government. You know what 463 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 3: that is? 464 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 2: Treason? 465 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,719 Speaker 3: Man, I say, you're a trader, and he like screams 466 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 3: at the top of his lungs calling Ashcroft a trader. 467 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 3: And at the actual hearing, Ashcroft, I don't think his 468 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 3: heart beat exceeded sixty five beats a minute, and he 469 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 3: very calmly said, Senator, if I'm affirmed as Attorney General, I. 470 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 2: Will follow the law and I will enforce the law. 471 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 2: And he got confirmed. 472 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 3: So Cash Pattel likewise, he got some of his yelling 473 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 3: out at the motors. Actually, no, not much. He did 474 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 3: a good job of not losing his cool in the 475 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 3: moot and then in the hearing. I think he did 476 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 3: an excellent job. When it came to my turn, they 477 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 3: had been beating him up a lot on January sixth, 478 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 3: and so I wanted to give him a chance to 479 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 3: get out some basic facts. So give a listen to 480 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 3: my cross examination of Cash Patel this past week on 481 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 3: his confirmation hearing for Director of the FBI. You will 482 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 3: be and have been accused of just about everything they can. 483 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 3: But I want to focus on what several Democrats have 484 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 3: done recently, which is trying to blame you for the 485 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 3: violence that occurred on January sixth, which even in the 486 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 3: annals of ridiculous attacks, this one really takes the cake. 487 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 2: So let's just focus on some facts. Let me ask 488 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 2: you a question. 489 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 3: What role did you occupy in the days immediately before January. 490 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 4: Sixth, chief of staff of the Department of Defense? 491 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 3: You were the chief of staff at the Department of Defense, yes, sir, 492 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 3: So to be clear, you were not rioting at the Capitol, No, sir. 493 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 3: Where were you physically on January. 494 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 4: Sixth in the office of the Secretary of Defense in 495 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 4: the Pentagon? 496 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 2: And what were you doing on that day? 497 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 5: On that day specifically responding to preparing to mobilize and 498 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 5: deploy the National Guard once we got the lawful request 499 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 5: from the local governing authority, which was the Mayor of 500 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 5: DC and the Speaker of the House. 501 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,399 Speaker 3: Now, how many days in advance were you working to 502 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 3: prepare the Department of Defense to help secure the Capitol 503 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 3: on January sixth? 504 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 5: Days in advanced Senator, we were in the Oval Office 505 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 5: on an unrelated national security matter with the President of 506 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,439 Speaker 5: the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of 507 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,399 Speaker 5: the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and myself and the Asident 508 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 5: authorized up to twenty thousand plus National guardsmen and women 509 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 5: to secure any security measures necessarily related to the Capitol. 510 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,879 Speaker 5: So we were moving to the fullest extent of the 511 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 5: law before the requisite request came from a local governing 512 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 5: authority days ahead of time. 513 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 3: And while you were chief of Staff at DoD. How 514 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 3: many times did DoD approach Capitol police and ask if 515 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 3: they needed National Guard assistants? 516 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 5: I believe those letters are well documented, numerous instances, and 517 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 5: numerous of those instances, those requests were shut down. 518 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 2: Now, am I correct? 519 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 3: At the capital sergeant at arms said assistance was unnecessary? 520 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 4: That's correct, Senator. 521 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 3: Who did the sergeant at arms report to the Speaker 522 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 3: of the House That would. 523 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 2: Have been Nancy Pelosi at the time. 524 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 4: Is that correct, yes, Senator? 525 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 3: And would that also be Chuck Schumer than the Senate 526 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 3: Majority leader. 527 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 4: The sergeant at arms, yes, Senator reports up there. 528 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 3: Did Mayor Bowser, the Democrat elected mayor in d C 529 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 3: either request or allow National Guard assistants. 530 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 5: She put in writing on the days leading up to 531 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 5: January sixth a declination for National Guard additional support. 532 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 4: And that letter is available publicly to the world. 533 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 3: So and just to speak English for folks at home, 534 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 3: a declination meant she said, no, don't send national Guard. 535 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 2: Is that right? 536 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 4: Yes, sir? 537 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 3: Let me ask you a simple question, because from the 538 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 3: questioning from a Democrat colleagues they might think otherwise. 539 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 2: Do you condemn violence against law enforcement? All of it? 540 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 3: And by the way, is that true whether the violence 541 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 3: is right wing or left wing or anywhere else? 542 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 5: There is no discriminating between types of violence against law enforce? 543 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 3: And do you believe those who assault and commit violence 544 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 3: against law enforcement should be prosecuted and should be. 545 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 4: Sent to jail, especially those that kill them? 546 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 2: Me ask you how many years have you worked in 547 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 2: public service? 548 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 4: About sixteen, senator? 549 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 3: And how many years have you worked, in particular in 550 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 3: law enforcement and prosecution and national. 551 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 4: Security over a decade? Senator? 552 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 2: You know, I have to say it is. 553 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 3: Ludicrous but sadly predictable that Democrats are endeavoring to tarnish you, 554 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 3: to paint. 555 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 2: A false caricature. 556 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 3: Based on innuendo and smoke, and so you're working to 557 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 3: protect the Capitol on January sixth, and yet they're trying 558 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 3: to blame you for the violence that occurred. 559 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 2: Let me ask you to this, just as a straightforward matter, 560 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 2: what is. 561 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:53,360 Speaker 3: The job of the FBI and what will the FBI's 562 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 3: role be if and when you are confirmed as its director? 563 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 5: The simple motto on the side of the FBI's homepages 564 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 5: to protect American citizens and uphold the Constitution. If I 565 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 5: am confirmed as the next director of the FBI, that's 566 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 5: what we're going to do and redirect resources and making 567 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 5: sure that occurs every single day. 568 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 3: Thank you for your willingness to do so, and this 569 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 3: committee we'll hold you to account on restoring integrity at 570 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 3: the FBI. And I thank you also for your commitment 571 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 3: to transparency. I think that is incredibly important to bringing 572 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 3: back integrity and I'm grateful for it. 573 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: Wouldn't it be nice if the media would fact check 574 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: the Democrats on the committee that we're trashing him, trying 575 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: to connect him to January sixth, like he was an 576 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: insurrectionist in their words, and just tell the story of 577 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: what he was actually doing. I'm so thankful that you 578 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: asked those questions. 579 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, don't hold your breath on that. The media has 580 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 3: their story to tell and they're not going to get 581 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 3: let facts get in the way. 582 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 1: So last question on this, This is a really important 583 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 1: position being in charge of the FBI. When are you 584 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: guys going to actually get to vote on this? 585 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 3: So we will vote on Cash Betel in a week, 586 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 3: so this week they'll be a markup. But the way 587 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 3: the Senate Judiciary Committee works is the minority has a 588 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 3: right on any vote to hold it over for a 589 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 3: week and delay it for a week. So they will 590 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 3: do that this week, and so they'll delay that. 591 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 2: Now. 592 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 3: Pambondi will be confirmed on the floor of the Senate 593 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 3: this week, so by the end of this week she'll 594 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 3: be Attorney General. Next week we'll vote on Cash Betel 595 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 3: and Judiciary Committee and then I'll go to the Senate 596 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 3: floor after that. 597 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: All right, lastly, you during the Panama hearing brought up 598 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 1: something that was interesting and I want to ask you 599 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: about it. We mentioned it earlier, and that was talking 600 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:40,760 Speaker 1: about the flights going back into Israel. Give everybody an 601 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: update on this one because it really is important. 602 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 3: Well, the reason I brought it up is one of 603 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 3: the witnesses we had at that hearing. It was an 604 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 3: international law professor who was an expert on treaties and 605 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 3: who testified about the Panama Canal treaty, who was in Israel, 606 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 3: and we had asked him to come back to DC 607 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 3: to testify in person. But there are no direct flights 608 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 3: right now from the United States to and from Israel, 609 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 3: and so it would have taken him, I think over 610 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 3: thirty hours to get here. 611 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 2: It was very expensive. 612 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 3: So we ended up having him testify via video conference, 613 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 3: which is a general matter I don't want to have 614 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 3: happened in the Commerce Committee, but I made an exception 615 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 3: because it was so time consuming, inexpensive for him to 616 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 3: get back to the United States, and his testimony was 617 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 3: particularly valuable. All three major US carriers suspended air flights 618 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 3: to and from Israel following October seventh, and they had 619 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:38,560 Speaker 3: been suspended the entire time. Now Delta has announced publicly 620 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 3: it intends to resume service to and from Israel. 621 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 2: That's a very good step. 622 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 3: To date, neither United nor American has done so. I predicted, 623 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 3: in fact, I predicted the week of inauguration all three 624 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 3: US carriers will resume air flights, will announce that they're 625 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 3: resuming air flights to and from Israel within thirty days. 626 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 2: I think it is time for that to happen. 627 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 3: You used to have Delta, United American all flying to 628 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 3: and from Tel Aviv. I think within thirty days all 629 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 3: three were in we'll announce their resuming air flights to 630 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 3: and from Tel Aviv. By the way, to be clear, 631 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 3: European airlines are flying into Israel. Regional airlines are flying 632 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 3: into Israel. You can get there, but you gotta fly 633 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 3: go to somewhere in Europe and then cut down. You 634 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:27,800 Speaker 3: got to connect through somewhere else. If the other airlines 635 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,359 Speaker 3: of the world can fly to and from Israel, there's 636 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 3: no reason for the United States airlines not to do so. 637 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 3: And I think within thirty days you'll see all three 638 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:37,520 Speaker 3: of them. Delta's already done it, but I think you'll 639 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 3: see United American follow suit very soon. 640 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, well done for them to be the first ones 641 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: to do it. It's always good news. 642 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:45,399 Speaker 2: Don't forget. 643 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:47,360 Speaker 1: We did the show Monday, Wednesday Friday. We're going to 644 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,800 Speaker 1: keep you up to date on the confirmation hearings, the votes, 645 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: and the breaking news obviously on these tariffs. So hit 646 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:57,720 Speaker 1: that subscribe or auto download button. On those in between days, 647 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 1: grab my podcast, the Ben Ferguson Podcast. I will keep 648 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: you up day on the breaking news in between and 649 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 1: the Senate, and I will see you back here on 650 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: Wednesday morning.