1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: Now from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg Sound On. 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: This is part of the story that you're seeing more 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: broadly across the economy, which is the shifting bal and 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: tough power between employees and employers. They're still actively trying 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: to boost demand to make up for the pandemic. Bloomberg 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: Sound On, Politics, policy and perspective from DC's top name. 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: Sake care most about whether or not the president or 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: any of his associates were part of an organized conspiracy. 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: We've decided the stage to invest in people. We take 10 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:34,599 Speaker 1: care of people, and we need people to be able 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: support things. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us on the fastest hour in politics, 13 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: the last one of the year, and we're dedicating it 14 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: to will likely be the biggest political story of next year. 15 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: The midterm elections were joined now by Greg Jaro, Bloomberg 16 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: Government Elections Reporter. Greg, Thanks for being here. We spent 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: the second half probably of one maybe longer talking about 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: the looming mid term elections. Has the cycle already begun? 19 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: Oh yes? Politics never sleeps In Washing d C. Around 20 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: the country, Among political professionals, it seems like the next 21 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: election begins once the last one has ended, and yes, 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: we have the stakes are very high. We have a 23 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: fifty Senate um that's going to be closely contested in 24 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: the mid term election and one of the smallest House 25 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: majorities in US history, with Democrats defending a narrow five 26 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: seat majority in that chamber. So there's a lot to 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: watch in the coming ten plus months as we approach 28 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: the November election. Before we start picking through some of 29 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: the races that you're following, I wonder what this means 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: for Democrat efforts here in Washington, those who already have jobs. 31 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,919 Speaker 1: The conventional wisdom is it's height window at the beginning 32 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: of next year, maybe January February, to get anything done 33 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: on Capitol Hill. Is that how you see it? Yeah, 34 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: I mean usually legislative majorities take the odd numbered year 35 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: to try and pass a lot of legislation because there is, 36 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, a limited window to pass things in 37 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: an election year, because the realities of campaigning kind of 38 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: take hold and there's a more limited schedule, and you 39 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: also want to in the obnambered year. You know, the 40 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: majority party in any legislature wants to pass things that 41 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: have time to take hold among the electorate. It's one 42 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: thing to make headlines for passing things in Washington, but 43 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: does that really filter out into the states and the 44 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: districts to the voters that are actually going to decide 45 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: that the the electoral fates of the members of Congress. 46 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: The Democrats, with their slim majorities, are trying to parlay 47 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: those narrow legislative majorities into passing legislation that they hope 48 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: that will um rally their supporters to come to the polls, 49 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 1: because in mid term elections, more of the energy and 50 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: enthusiasm usually lies with the opposition party. In midterm elections, 51 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: since World War Two, the average result in House elections 52 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: has been the White House is party losing more than 53 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: twenty five seats. Democrats have just a five seat majority, 54 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: and so they are certainly the underdogs to keep control 55 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: of the House. So yeah, history is clearly not on 56 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: the side of Democrats. As we walk into this midterm 57 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: election year, most insiders agree the House is very much 58 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: at risk, but that the Senate might be easier for 59 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: Democrats to defend, particularly in light of Governor christ the 60 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: New News decision not to run for Senate. What's your 61 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: take on that the Senate is a bit trickier to 62 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: predict than the House, not only because we're still so 63 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: far out from the election, but one third of the 64 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: Senate is up every two years, and so Senate elections 65 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: depend on the partisan distribution of those seats that happened 66 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: to be up in any two year cycle. And in 67 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: this coming cycle, we have thirty four Senate seats up 68 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: for election. Twenty of them are held by Republicans and 69 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: fourteen by Democrats. So Republicans are playing more defense than 70 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: Democrats in the Senate elections, but most of the Republican 71 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: seats that are up for election in two are in 72 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: safely Republican states. For the most part, Republicans also have 73 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: more retirements than Democratic senators five to one, but again 74 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: they're most of the Republican retirements are in strongly conservative states. 75 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: So I think that the race for the Senate it's 76 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: probably more of a toss up. You mentioned the r 77 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: word those who are retiring, and you've been compiling a 78 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: list of lawmakers who are retiring that I saw on 79 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 1: the terminal those not seeking re election. It's pretty long list. 80 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: Which party will have more seats to defend because of retirements? Well, 81 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: in the Senate, you have five Republican retirements and just 82 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: one Democratic retirement, that of Patrick Leahy of Vermont from 83 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: the safely democratic state. But the five Republican retirements by 84 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: and large are coming from Republican friendly states, so the 85 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: races in those states may be decided in the primaries 86 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: more than in the general election. There are some states 87 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: to watch in the Senate for Republican health seats, like 88 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: in Ohio for the seat of retiring Senator Rob Portman, 89 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: a state that used to be very polically competitive as 90 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: leaned Republican, especially in the era of Donald Trump leading 91 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: the Republican Party. Pennsylvania, where Republican Pat Toomey's retiring, is 92 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: also a state to watch. But there are retirements on 93 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: the House side. UM. You have much more, many more 94 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: retirements on the Democratic side than in the on the 95 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,720 Speaker 1: Republican side. In fact, seventeen of the last twenty one 96 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: House members who have announced plans to retire, seek other 97 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:29,239 Speaker 1: political office, or resign have come from the Democrats. Most 98 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: of them are from safely democratic districts. UM, but you 99 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: do have some members of Congress on the Democratic side 100 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: who represent politically competitive districts. That's going to be They're 101 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: going to be hard for the party to hold in 102 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: the election. Did I hear you right in that Ohio 103 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: and Pennsylvania then could help decide who controls the Senate. Absolutely? Absolutely, 104 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 1: and there'll be will be critical to deciding who controls 105 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: the Senate. Ohio, as I mentioned, is a state that 106 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: was long a bell weather and national politics, and that's 107 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: still a state to watch, but it has crept over 108 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: to the Republican side the last few election cycles. Pennsylvania, 109 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: one of the closest states in the election, will be 110 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: critical for deciding which party controls the Senate. After the 111 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: departure of Rob Portman, just to stop down on that 112 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: for a moment is a pretty big deal when we 113 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: talk about the lack of compromise in sort of this 114 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: new era of of partisan bickering. He was one of 115 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: the last negotiators on Capitol Hill. We wouldn't have the 116 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: infrastructure law without him. Will there be another Rob Partman 117 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: left in the Senate? Yeah, we are seeing kind of 118 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: a dwindling. I think of senators, members of Congress who, 119 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: even if they have strongly Republican or Democratic voting records, 120 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: very bipartisan minded, compromised minded records. You can say that 121 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,119 Speaker 1: about Rob Portman of Ohio. You can say that also 122 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 1: about Richard Shelby of Alabama, a veteran appropriator who's retiring 123 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: after the election. Like Portman, Shelby has a decidedly conservative 124 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: voting record, but that hasn't precluded him either one of them, 125 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: from reaching across the aisle to form compromises with Democrats 126 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,679 Speaker 1: on some key issues. So maybe we shouldn't be talking 127 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: so much about who controls the chamber, but the but 128 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: the important cultural shift that will take place. Political culture. Yes, 129 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: that's right, Um, we have a The Senate is very polarized, 130 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: very evenly divided. Of course, being a Senate, UM, it's 131 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: coom interesting to see after the election what kind of 132 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: Democrats and Republicans are are going to join the eight 133 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: Congress in three with a lot of these states, UM, 134 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: with a lot in a lot of states and districts, 135 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: it's the primary election rather than the general election that 136 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: is the determinative election. And I want to look at 137 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: a lot of these Republican primaries, especially in Senate elections, 138 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: to see what kind of Republican emergence merges from the 139 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: primary and to what extent Donald Trump, former President Trump 140 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: has a role in shaping the outcome that election. Um, 141 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: I want to see to what extent Republican candidates feels 142 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: some you know, what kind of fealty or loyalty they 143 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: have to the former president and to what extent they 144 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: feel like they have to ingratiate themselves with the former 145 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: president to win, to win the votes of Republican primary 146 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: voters who are still very pro Trump. You know, I 147 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: would have asked you if Mitt Romney, if Senator Romney 148 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: might might have a way to rise into this role 149 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: that a Rob Portman was playing. I mean, they were 150 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: really both involved in those negotiations, but maybe an opportunity 151 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: for for Mitt Romney to to play a more moderate 152 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: role in reaching across the aisle. But if if Donald 153 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: Trump is involved in this election cycle, I'm thinking that 154 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: to know, Yeah, well, Romney and Trump have had a 155 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: very up and down political relationship over the years. For sure. Uh, 156 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: if I couldn't see Romney and he's starting to do this, 157 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 1: I couldn't see Mitt Romney kind of emerging into more 158 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: of a kind of elder statesman role in the Senate. UM. 159 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: You know, certainly he has a rather conservative record, but 160 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: he's the sort of senator, despite his relative lack of 161 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: seniority in the Senate, sort of has the the UH, 162 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: the the image and the gravitas and the national political 163 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:14,719 Speaker 1: following where anything he really says on the floor or 164 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: anything he does that we'll get outsized attention. And so 165 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 1: I could see him kind of taking more of an outsized, 166 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: higher profile role in the Senate. We'll see if the 167 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: party allows them to. Uh. Then there's the redrawing of 168 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: congressional maps greg another big factor in determining the outcome 169 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: of a lot of house races and a lot of states. 170 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: What should our listeners know about this, Well, we're a 171 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: little more than halfway through the process. In terms of 172 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 1: the number of states that have had congressional maps signed 173 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: into law or adopted by redistricting commissions. Forty four states 174 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: have to redraw lines. Six states have just one district 175 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: and don't have to do so. What's important to know 176 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: is that Republicans are redrawing more than twice as many 177 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: districts as Democrats because Republicans control more state legislatures and 178 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: governorships than Democrats, and we're seeing Republicans trying to parlay 179 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: those advantages into ensuring political security for their members in 180 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: when they expect to win the House majority, but also 181 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: in elections for the rest of the decade because the 182 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: GOP wants to build a more stable majority, but in 183 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 1: the near term, their Republicans are trying to convert a 184 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: lot of politically competitive districts into Republican friendly districts that 185 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: Democrats will be hard pressed to win. Back in fascinating 186 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: conversation with Greg Juro Bloomberg government elections reporters, spending some 187 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: time with us year in the closing days of one 188 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: and gearing up for an awfully busy mid term election 189 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: cycle with us on Bloomberg Sound On. We'll continue our 190 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: conversation ahead of check traffic and weather while we're at 191 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: it here on sound On, Joe Matthew, This is Bloomberg. 192 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. So on with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg 193 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: Radio as we spend time looking ahead to the mid 194 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: term elections. It's all about twenty two and Greg Giro Bloomberg, 195 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: government elections reporter, who has been steeped in this conversation 196 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: for months already, and gosh, you must be this is 197 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: like Christmas morning almost for you. Greg we're almost there 198 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,719 Speaker 1: actually in a mid term election year. I wonder, though, 199 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: how concerned you are about perceptions around election integrity. I've 200 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: seen polls that show a majority of Republicans, in some 201 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: cases a pretty wide majority of Republicans still believe that 202 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: the election was stolen. We know that Donald Trump will 203 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: play some role, if not an outsized role, in campaigning 204 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: for Republicans in the year ahead. If that perception is true, though, 205 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: how to Republicans motivate Republican voters to go to the polls. Well, 206 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: it's a good question. It's a real challenge. As we 207 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: saw in the twenty twenty one U S Senate runoffs 208 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: in Georgia, Republican turnout, you know, tended to be a 209 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: Republican turnout, may have been hampered by some of the 210 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: unfounded claims that the former president made about election integrity 211 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: and security, and it could have kept some Republicans from 212 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: heavily Republican counties from coming out to the polls. And 213 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: what could have saved you know, both Republican held then 214 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: Republican held Senate seats for Republicans, and it could have 215 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: very possibly cost the Republicans their majority in those razor 216 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: thin wins for the Democrats in Georgia. Yes, it's something 217 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: to watch in the two midterm elections, because if you know, 218 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: if Donald Trump is uh, you know, trying to convey 219 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: that these elections are not safe and secure, Um, he doesn't. 220 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: You know, you don't want to. If you're a Republican, 221 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: you don't want to put a damper on your own 222 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: voters from turning out. You want to trying a way 223 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: to energize your base to turn out and vote. And 224 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: in most midterm elections, as we've discussed earlier, they tend 225 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: to be a reference referenda on the incoming administration. And 226 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 1: usually the more the energy in mitrom elections lives with 227 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: the opposition party than with the incumbent administration. And that 228 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 1: was certainly the case when when we went to vote 229 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: in Virginia and New Jersey right in one, when you 230 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 1: look at the governor's races, I wonder how you might 231 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: be reading into those as sort of Bellweather's going into 232 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: the midterms. A Republican win and and a surprising one 233 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: in the state of Virginia. Uh, a Democratic win, but 234 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: a thin, a razor thin margin in New Jersey, and 235 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: a lot of it came down to turn out. Democrats 236 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: were not there in both cases for their candidates in 237 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: the way they were expected to be. Is that what 238 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: twenty two will look like for congressional candidates. It certainly 239 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 1: could be a canary in the coal mine, and those 240 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: off your elections, as I like to call them, are 241 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: usually analyzed pretty pretty deeply in the year before the 242 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: election for any signs of what they could portend about 243 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: mid elections in Virginia, usually the White House, this party 244 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: loses the governor's election in almost every case except one, 245 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: I believe in the last fifty years that's been the case. 246 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: Having said that, you know, Glenn young Can won that 247 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: election in a state that President Joe Biden carried by 248 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: ten percentage points, just in a New Jersey. Even though 249 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: that was a Democratic victory, it was a narrow win, 250 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, by just three points in a state 251 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: that President Joe Biden won by sixteen points in Democrats 252 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: cannot afford to have those under performances in the mid 253 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: term elections if they are to hold control of the 254 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: Senate and the House. If districts and states that voted 255 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: for Joe Biden by ten to fifteen percentage points, as 256 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: we saw in Virginia New Jersey. If those are coming 257 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: on the board, if those are going to be highly 258 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: competitive in the two elections, Democrats could be in for 259 00:14:56,080 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: a long and arduous mid term election. How abo issues 260 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: in the midterms, Well, they look like some of the 261 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: issues we saw in Virginia and New Jersey becoming cultural 262 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: you know, the education stuff, critical race theory, and of 263 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: course COVID will be huge. Greg Yes, the pandemic probably 264 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: right now, looms large among everything just because it it 265 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: really deeply affects Americans daily life. The economy, Um, whether 266 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: the economy can come back on track, although the macro 267 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: numbers look good, Um, you know, will there be uh 268 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: wage growth for people, will be able to will be 269 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: more job creations, Will they'll be mandates exactly? But as 270 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: you note, Um, a lot of politics is not fought 271 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: on economic issues, but it's fought on a lot of 272 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: cultural battlegrounds. And people don't a lot of voters don't 273 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: necessarily vote on economics or what's in their economic self interests, 274 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: and they're motivated by a lot of cultural politics on 275 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: issues like education like we saw in Virginia, or on 276 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: immigration or some other hot button issues. So Yeah, we'll 277 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: see what happens in the two mid term elections, but 278 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: it will be a range of issues that will decide 279 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: whether Democrats can hold their majority. The one to watch, 280 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: I think will be President Joe Biden's approval Ready. I 281 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: think that looms larger than anything. If you look at 282 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: mid term elections since World War Two, when a president 283 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: has had a low approval writing under fifty, his party 284 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: has tended to lose seats in the House and the Senate, 285 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: often by often a lot of often a lot of seats. 286 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: In the rare times when a president's party has gained 287 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: seats in Congress under Bill Clinton tooth thousand two under 288 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: George W. Bush, both presidents had approval ratings above sixty. 289 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: Joe Biden right now is in the load to mid forties. 290 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: Democrats need him to get certainly above fifty percent if 291 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: they want to hold their slender maturities. And then there's 292 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: the issue of inflation. Uh. When you start talking about inflation, Greg, 293 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: you wonder if Joe Biden will be able to get 294 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: back in the fifties. Do democrats fortunes rest in what 295 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: happens to inflation? I think, in part yes, because inflation 296 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: is one of those issues that viscerally affects everyday consumers. 297 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: And you know how much they pay for gasoline, and 298 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,959 Speaker 1: how much they pay for how much they pay for food. 299 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: And if you know more voters are getting more concerned 300 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: about the rising costs of goods that are eating to 301 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 1: the household budgets, They're going to be looking for someone 302 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: to blame. And right now the Democrats have unified control 303 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: of government and that could be a hamper on them 304 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: in the midterm elections if it persists, Greg Brow, We've 305 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: got a lot to learn in the year ahead, and 306 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: we'd love to stay in touch with you. Great reporting 307 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: by Bloomberg Government Elections reporter Greg Darrow. Thanks for the insights, Greg, 308 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: and happy new year. Thank you. Coming up, we assemble 309 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: the panel for their view on next year with Bloomberg 310 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: Politics contributors Geane Chanzano and Rick Davis. I'm Joe Matthew. 311 00:17:48,240 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. This is blue Berg Son on with 312 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. You could argue, and we 313 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: have that the midterm elections have already begun. That was 314 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: the line in the morning after Democrats lost the Virginia 315 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: governor's race. Right and barely held onto the Governor's office 316 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: in New Jersey. Now that we've got greg Orro's take 317 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: on things, we turned to the panel with Bloomberg Politics 318 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: contributors Jeanie Schanzano and Rick Davis. Genie, you've brought some 319 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: tough analysis for Democrats in Congress as you look ahead 320 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 1: to the midterm election year. It's dominated a lot of 321 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: our conversations. Well, Democrats lose both the House and Senate 322 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: in the new year. You know, history would tell us 323 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: it's going to be very, very tough for them to 324 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 1: retain both. So I would, if I had to guess, um, 325 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: I would say that they are, you know, likely to 326 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: lose at least one, if not both. And again that's history. 327 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: That's also the fact that we've seen districts redrawn, it's 328 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: the fact that we've seen you know, revering it on 329 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,919 Speaker 1: a record number of retirements. And it's also, of course, 330 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: because the Democrats have got to have something to run on. 331 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: They have had successes this year, but they haven't delivered 332 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: to their base what they promised, voting reform, reform of 333 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: the criminal justice system, the human infrastructure bills. So they've 334 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 1: gotten big things done but they're mired in this pandemic 335 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: and they've been unable to get their communications together, and 336 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: that's going to be a problem, as we saw in 337 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: the elections in Virginia. But to me it was New Jersey, 338 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: how close that state was and it shouldn't have been. 339 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 1: That really does tell us where we are at least 340 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: at this point. These would be the mid terms. We've 341 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: heard Kevin McCarthy rick say that could be sixty three seats. 342 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: What what kind of mid term election year are you 343 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 1: looking for? What can Republicans reasonably expect? You know, I 344 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: think it's it's obviously setting up to be a good 345 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: year for Republicans. Uh One. Historically it's always the party 346 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: in power who loses seats in the first election. Uh 347 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: And and and and that probably is going to happen in 348 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: the House of Representatives. Whether you get to the kind 349 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: of sixty plus seats that uh that the Republican leader 350 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: is talking about is a stretch, but you know, forty 351 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: seats just turned hands, so it's not that much of 352 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: a stretch. And and and I think that even Democrats 353 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: who are retiring in large numbers, I think last I 354 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 1: heard um are are are recognizing the fact that they 355 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: won't be in the leadership in the House of Representatives. 356 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: I think the much more interesting game is in the 357 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: Senate UHT. Senate Democrats can't lose one single race, and 358 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 1: and there are at least a half a dozen really 359 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: competitive races right now where Democrats could UH lose potentially 360 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: three or four seats and Republicans could potentially lose a 361 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: couple of seats themselves. So it could be a really 362 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: interesting chance for Republicans that gained the Senate. Highly unlikely 363 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: that Democrats have a good chance of picking up any 364 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: extra seats to broaden their majority, but we could have 365 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: a situation in which they lose the House but keep 366 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 1: the Senate. Rick, is is that a reasonable outcome in 367 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: your view? I think that's sort of the betting line, 368 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: is that the House goes but the Senate stays in 369 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 1: a deadlock. UM. But realistically, I would say it wouldn't 370 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: surprise me that the Republicans by maybe one vote could 371 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: pick up the Senate UH in this election year, and 372 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: then you have a much different bag of tricks for 373 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 1: the White House. The redrawing of congressional maps, of course, 374 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: a big story already is as we head into next 375 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 1: year with about half of this process done here, Jeanie, 376 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: it's going to be a big factor in determining a 377 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: number of house races. Uh, what should our listeners need 378 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: to know about this? I asked Greg the same thing. 379 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 1: As this becomes pretty complicated, what should we be focused 380 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: on in the new year when it comes to the 381 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: redrawing the redistricting of congressional districts. It's going to have 382 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: an impact. It always does, um And I think we're 383 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: still waiting for some of these to be to be finalized, 384 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: but we have seen it's not in every case that 385 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: the Democrats are on the losing end of the redrawing 386 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: of these maps. But because Republicans control about three quarters 387 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: of the state legislatures and the states overall, they do 388 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: have an upper hand with some of these, with many 389 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: of these redistricting and so that does play a role. 390 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 1: And you know, I think as we talk about history, 391 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: we have to just think you couple the redrawing of 392 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: the maps with the fact that the opposition party picks 393 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: up five or more seats in mid term since the 394 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: eighteen seventies. You know, that sort of tells you where 395 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: we're headed and sort of what promises to look like 396 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: when you couple all these factors together, how concerned are 397 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: you Rick, as a Republican about the issue of election integrity? 398 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: With Poles showing a majority of Republicans still believe that 399 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: election was stolen, how do you motivate voters to vote 400 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: after you've convinced them that is rigged? You know, it's tough. 401 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: I mean, we were watching these elections in Virginia, New 402 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 1: Jersey uh to see whether or not there was any 403 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: impact of people not voting in both votes. Both elections 404 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: had very strong voter turnout, with uh uh right after 405 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 1: a historically high voter turnout from So I think that 406 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: right now, you'd have to assume that the American public, 407 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 1: even though they are divided, they're activated and and and 408 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: that you would likely see the same kind of I 409 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: don't know if you're gonna get record turnout for a 410 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: mid term in two but you're certainly going to see 411 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: a strong showing by both parties who feel like there's 412 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: a lot at stake. What do you think about that? 413 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: Genie a good problem to have for Democrats or or 414 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,479 Speaker 1: does Virginia tell the story Republicans were motivated more than 415 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: Democrats were they were, and I think we're going to 416 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: see more of the same, which is why we're seeing 417 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: the administration and Democrats in Congress eager as they get 418 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: back in the new year to focus on issues that 419 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: the base really cares about, you know, again, the criminal 420 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: justice issue, you know, police reform, voting rights. We haven't 421 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,719 Speaker 1: had a real concerted effort there um, So I do 422 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: think we're going to see that as they struggle to 423 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: motivate the base. I think we're gonna see Democrats try 424 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: to run against the former president. They feel that was 425 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: a you know, sort of a winning strategy in twenty twenty, 426 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: and they want to repeat that. You Know, one thing 427 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: I think that's worth considering is given the struggles that 428 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 1: the Biden administration has had with a fifty one fifty Senate, 429 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 1: but you know, just fifty one with the VP um, 430 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 1: you know they do if they do lose the Senate 431 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: by one vote, I I would say, and I know 432 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: it's a bit controversial, it may help Democrats as they 433 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: move into four because if Democrats control Washington, d C. 434 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: For four years, it's going to motivate Republicans a lot 435 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:00,679 Speaker 1: more to get out in If rep Blicans take at 436 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: least one or both houses, Democrats may have an easier 437 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 1: time actually in retaining the White House. So there is 438 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: a school of thought that, you know, even if it's 439 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: bad to lose, it may benefit them going forward, looking 440 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: ahead in the new year, with Rick and Genie on 441 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Sound On and more to follow. I'm Joe Matthew. 442 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg Sound On with Joe 443 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 1: Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The conversation, of course, when we 444 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: returned from the holiday next week here in Washington, d C. 445 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: Is going to be all about the Biden economic agenda, 446 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: what's left of it and so forth. And as we're 447 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: discussing with Rick and Genie here, let's bring the panel 448 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 1: back in here Bloomberg Politics contributors, the Genie Chanzano and 449 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: Rick Davis. There's not going to be a lot of time. 450 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: We were just discussing the mid terms, right, What do 451 00:25:57,359 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: the mid terms mean in terms of the schedule, the 452 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 1: window that Democrats will have to get anything done. I'm 453 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: assuming it's going to be a brief one. I think 454 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: it's beyond brief. I think it's already shut. The reality 455 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: is that the demise of Bill Back Better. At the 456 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 1: end of this year, UH is gonna hearken into Democrats 457 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,879 Speaker 1: looking for small winds legislatively, things they can do along 458 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: the way that are relatively non controversial, UH, in order 459 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: to quote get things out. But the reality is, no 460 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: Republican is going to sign on UH to a bipartisan 461 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: package that advantages the Democrats, and the Democrats seem uninterested 462 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 1: in any of those kinds of initiatives. After the big 463 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: um two trillion dollar infrastructure bill passed in a biparson fashion, 464 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: what's it gonna feel like, Genie? I mean, we went 465 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: through this for months and months. We know Joe Mansion's 466 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: not on board. UH. Is there gonna be a big 467 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: eye roll when when the White House or Democratic leaders 468 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: on Capitol Hill try to to re engage on this. 469 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 1: You know, I think what we're gonna see is we're 470 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: gonna see them try to cobble together something at the 471 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: one point seven five trillion. Then Joe Joe Mention has 472 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: been willing to go along with UM, and it's they're 473 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: gonna try to call it build back Better, but it's 474 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: gonna be, you know, a very different bill. UM, It's 475 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: going to be you know much more focused in one area, 476 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: whether you know it's child tax credits or something that 477 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: they can get behind. I think that's what they're going 478 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: to try to push for um a much smaller, much 479 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: more contained, much more focused bill. Now the question, of course, 480 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: is can they get that past and how, because of course, 481 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 1: trying to do that on reconciliation, they've got to retain 482 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:43,640 Speaker 1: all Democrats. Do progressive progressives with that plan you just described, 483 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: they very well could. I mean, you know, listen, if 484 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 1: if they try to push forward a bill and they're 485 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,200 Speaker 1: not talking about the big, to my mind, elephant in 486 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: the room, which is climate change, I don't see how 487 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 1: progressive stands. They would stand there, and let's not forget 488 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: you know, you've also got moderates in the Democratic Party 489 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,719 Speaker 1: who are very focused in an election year on the salt. 490 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: So you know, there's a lot of moving parts here. 491 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: I think they're going to try it. I do agree 492 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: with Rick. Either the door is shut or it's a 493 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 1: real uphill battle at this point for Democrats, and they're 494 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: not even going to be in, you know, in as 495 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: much as they would need to be I think to 496 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: get this done. The calendar is very short next year, 497 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 1: so this is going to be an election issue one 498 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: way or the other. I think you would both agree. 499 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: And if this both, if this goes the way, you're 500 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 1: both saying, it's not going to be a good one 501 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: with a Democratic Party that could have taken a victory 502 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,640 Speaker 1: lap after an incredibly productive first half of twenty one. 503 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: You got the American Rescue Plan, you got infrastructure, A 504 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: lot of things got done by this very thin Democratic majority. 505 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 1: But now it's what have you've done for me lately? Rick? 506 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: If this, if this, it doesn't come together the way 507 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: they want, If the child tax credit goes away, Democrats 508 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: losing a lot of talking points right off the bat. 509 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: Next year, they do lose talking points related to the 510 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: Bilback Better Plan. But if someone told you, in a 511 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: complete vacuum that the Biden administration got the American Rescue 512 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: Plan for one point nine trillion dollars passed the first 513 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: month that it was in office, pumping you know, trillions 514 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: of dollars into the U. S economy, and then three 515 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: months later it got the American Jobs Plan for two 516 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: point three trillion dollars to remake America's infrastructure a way 517 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: that has never been done, you would say that's enough. 518 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: For you to talk about for re election campaign in 519 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: two UH. And I would say just amend and extend 520 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: my earlier comments about like not being able to get 521 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: things done. If the pandemic continues on the pace that 522 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: it is today, which is significant, I could see one 523 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: bipartisan bill to address COVID issues UH in the next quarter. 524 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: That would be a win for this administration. So how 525 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: do you define COVID issues? Is that a stimulus you're 526 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 1: talking about? Uh, It could be a combination of a stimulus. 527 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: It could be a combination of increased testing UH centers 528 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: all around the country paying for those UH. Likely you 529 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: have a lot of this money available. But if you 530 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: title it uh in these areas, UH, then you're probably 531 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: gonna get support from both Republicans and Democrats and and 532 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: and nobody's gonna want in a time of need to 533 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: be obstructing that kind of a benefit package. So UH, 534 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: whether or not you can get some of these other 535 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: social benefits like UH unemployment insurance UH if jobs don't 536 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 1: bounce back the way they we hoped, or child tax credits, 537 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: which have been a sensitive issue. UH. My guess is 538 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 1: the slimmer the more likelihood UH, this administration has to 539 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: get something done. But that would be I think the 540 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: only thing that I could see happening in the first 541 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: quarter next year. COVID can cut both ways in this 542 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: election cyclogeny. When you when you go back to last summer, 543 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: it looked like a big ace in the hole here 544 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: for Joe Biden, it's feeling a lot less like that now. Uh. 545 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: Does it depend on the trajectory that the pandemic takes 546 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: in the new year or as to how we're we're 547 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: voting on this. I mean by spring in summer we 548 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: could all be getting together outdoors again, indoors, whatever, dealing 549 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 1: with a very different reality. That is the big issue. 550 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: That is what Joe Biden ran on. He promised he 551 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: would get it under control. His numbers looked very good 552 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: through the outbreak of Delta and of course followed by 553 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: Oh Macron, it has been very, very tough, and we've 554 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: seen his poll numbers take, you know, take a dip 555 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: as a result of his handling of that and some 556 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: of the mixed messages we've heard, whether you're talking about 557 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: something like the absence or the lack of enough testing, 558 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: availability and those kinds of things, and sort of mixed 559 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: communication on masks and other things. And of course let's 560 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: not forget you've got parents who have children who have 561 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:48,239 Speaker 1: been in and out of school now for you know, 562 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: a couple of years. And I think, to me, we 563 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: saw this in Virginia, We're going to see it again 564 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: in the mid term. That is something that I think 565 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: the administration has got to pay real, real attack mentioned 566 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: to this issue of parents and children and schooling and 567 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: education at the state and local level, and that's where 568 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: I think we see the pandemic, amongst other issues, play 569 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: a real role hilp here. But certainly Biden has got 570 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 1: to got to get on top of handling the pandemic. 571 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 1: And I think that's why his remark the other day 572 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: about you know, the the limited role of the federal 573 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 1: government and handling it is something of a problem for 574 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 1: him because he ran saying the federal government and he 575 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: leading it could control it, and we're feeling again like 576 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: we're back to it's not controlled, and that's a problem 577 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: for him. So COVID, inflation, and whatever is left of 578 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: the Biden economic agenda, those your top three genie, those 579 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: are And I also would just add to that the 580 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: very wild weather we've seen over the last year from 581 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 1: the Texas deep freeze to storm eye, to tornadoes, to 582 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: the California wildfires and the relationship to climate change, and 583 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: that gets us back to the human and structure to 584 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: build back better. Those are real, real concerns and we 585 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: all feel those in our daily lives. I have to 586 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 1: ask you, guys both about the Trump factor. Of course, Uh, 587 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: it does seem like a sure thing now that he'll 588 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 1: be at least involved in this midterm cycle, if not 589 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: running for re election in twenty four and it could 590 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: be some time before we know that. But I wonder, Uh, 591 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: we've already talked about election integrity concerns that Republicans have 592 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 1: about the election. This could go in a lot of 593 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 1: different directions here, Rick, When when when former President Trump 594 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 1: starts doing rallies, Uh, you start hitting the podium for 595 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 1: an hour at a time without a script. This narrative 596 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: could change. This narrative will change. I mean, the one 597 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 1: thing we know about Donald Trump is he aims to 598 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: please the crowd, not necessarily the posters. And uh, and 599 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 1: it's worked for him in the pass at least once. 600 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 1: It didn't work so well last time around. And uh, 601 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: but you know that old dog's not going to change 602 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: his bark and so it'll at least add a lot 603 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 1: of entertainment value to the republic and primary contest. Well, 604 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: how important is his endorsement though for Republican candidates, you know, 605 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:07,719 Speaker 1: I mean right now it's sort of to be determined. 606 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 1: I mean he's endorsed candidates have lost and specials uh, 607 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 1: and endorse some that have won. Uh. There are a 608 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: number of important races that we mentioned in the Senate 609 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: coming up that his endorseentes aren't doing so well. They're 610 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,319 Speaker 1: not raising the money that they initially thought they had 611 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: in North Carolina and Alaska. We also saw in the 612 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 1: Virginia governor's races last year. Uh, even though he endorsed 613 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: Young and Young Can banned him from traveling anywhere near 614 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:35,799 Speaker 1: the zip codes in Virginia and and and was able 615 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 1: to to make that work. So um My, my guess 616 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 1: is that Trump, because of his limitations and social media 617 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 1: and media is basically his only place to get attention 618 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:51,719 Speaker 1: as Fox News and other fringe uh social media outlets. Uh, 619 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: he's just not going to have the kind of impact 620 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: he had before. Frankly, where network television and cable basically 621 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 1: broadcast anything he said, and time of day, you know, 622 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: you just I wonder if if he's a benefit to 623 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: Democrats in some cases. The genius Rick points out the 624 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 1: Uncan campaign didn't want Donald Trump anywhere near Virginia and 625 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:14,560 Speaker 1: it worked. And if that's the roadmap, Boy, Democrats would 626 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:16,359 Speaker 1: love for Donald Trump to show up in a couple 627 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 1: of these states, wouldn't they. They want Donald Trump in 628 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 1: every state and every race. Um, that is a huge 629 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: boon for them. Um, if if he's if he's active. 630 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:29,359 Speaker 1: You know, one thing I think we should underscore about 631 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: the Younkin race was he didn't have to run in 632 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 1: a traditional primary. It was um, you know, that's where 633 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 1: the rubber is going to meet the road in terms 634 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 1: of Donald Trump. He you know, Youncan could run away 635 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:43,359 Speaker 1: from him to you know, embrace him, but not get 636 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,360 Speaker 1: too close because he didn't have to appeal in a 637 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: primary election. Not all Republicans are going to have that benefit. 638 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 1: And that's where Trump could have a real voice as 639 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: we go forward if he does. Is it a concern 640 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,799 Speaker 1: that you're hearing from Republican candidates behind the scenes, Rick, 641 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:01,880 Speaker 1: that boy, you know, and we can't say no, you 642 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:05,080 Speaker 1: don't want him calling you out or becoming a problem. 643 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: We also don't want him stumping with us or sharing 644 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,400 Speaker 1: a stage with us. Well, most of the Republicans I 645 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 1: know from the Trump administration, many of who are running 646 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: for present right now, desperately don't want him to enter 647 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: the political fraight. They don't mind him banging around on 648 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,759 Speaker 1: the edges. That's a manageable problem for them. But last 649 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,279 Speaker 1: thing they want is their ambitions to be up ended 650 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,799 Speaker 1: by a guy who Uh, They're gonna have a hard 651 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 1: time explaining how if that was okay for them to 652 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 1: serve in his administration, why wouldn't they be endorsing for 653 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 1: another run for president. Fascinating panel with Genie and Rick 654 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:40,560 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeannie Chanzano and Rick Davis. Thank you, 655 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 1: as ever for the insights here on Bloomberg Sound On