1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Welcome in his verdict with Center, Ted Cruz Ben Ferguson 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: with your Centater, We've got a lot to discuss, including Hey, 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: we've got a government that's all the way back open again. 4 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: Congratulations on that. That's big news, right, you predicted it. 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: It was going to be quick, it's short. We've moved on, 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: and if we're back to the normal insanity of Washington 7 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: C is that a fair way of putting it. 8 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 2: Look, that's exactly right, I will say on Monday's pod, 9 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: I said, in fact, the title of Monday's pod was 10 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: a very short government shutdown. I predicted the House would 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 2: come back, they would reopen the government. That's exactly what happened. 12 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 2: So now that the Democrats did not have the stomach 13 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: for a long, prolonged fight on government shutdown, so it 14 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 2: didn't happen. What we're going to talk about today is 15 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 2: national security, how we keep this country safe. We're going 16 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: to talk about a terrorist organization in Africa called the 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,639 Speaker 2: Polisario Front, which is incredibly dangerous. 18 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 3: It is funded by. 19 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: Iran, and we're going to break down how I'm pressing 20 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: the Trump administration to take on the Polisario Front directly. 21 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 3: We're also going to talk about a we have a. 22 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 2: Moment in time that I think is a unique moment 23 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 2: in history, and we need to act right now. The 24 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: Ayatola and the Mullahs are teetering on the edge. We 25 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: have an opportunity to remove a regime that wants to 26 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: kill Americans, and I think we should take that opportunity 27 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: right now. And finally, we're going to talk about a 28 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 2: hearing that happened in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week 29 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: that focused on the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers. 30 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 2: I will say there were fireworks at the hearing. I've 31 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 2: got real concerns about the merger. We're gonna break it 32 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: all down for you today. 33 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're gonna talk about all that in a moment. 34 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: But before we get to that, if you've got a dog, 35 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: I got a brand new puppy we introduced in the 36 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: show not long ago, and I can tell you Rough 37 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: Greens is part of the diet. If you've got a 38 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: dog you love, then you need to check out rough Greens. 39 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: The Ferguson family got bigger over the holidays with a 40 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: new puppy, and I can tell you having one dog 41 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: that is over a decade old and a new dog 42 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: that's just months old. There's one thing they both have 43 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: in common. I want them to live a great quality life, 44 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: and that is exactly why I give them rough Greens. Now, 45 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: I've been telling you about my older dog and some 46 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: of the symptoms that he was having, slowing down and 47 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: itching and having bad breath, losing interest in playtime. That 48 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: is just part of the aging process, but it doesn't 49 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: have to be. And after just a few weeks of 50 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: rough Greens we start to see a real difference. 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All you got to do 68 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: is add Roughcreens to your dog's food so you cover 69 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: the shipping. 70 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:36,119 Speaker 4: That's it. 71 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: Promo code verdict to claim you're free Jumpstart Trial bag 72 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: at Roughcreens dot com. That's r u F F G 73 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: R E E n S dot com. Promo code verdict. 74 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: All right, So Center, rarely do I say this. You 75 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: broke news on a terrorist organization and a name that 76 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: I had never heard of, which means I'm assuming about 77 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: one hundred percent of the people listening right now have 78 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: never heard of this terrorist organization. How did we not 79 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: know about it? How did you learn about it? And 80 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: why is it such a major deal. 81 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: Well, listen, I am deeply engaged in fighting Islamists terrorist 82 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 2: organizations all across the world, and there are serious, very 83 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: dangerous Islamist organizations. One of the things that I have 84 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,799 Speaker 2: a responsibility for doing. I'm the chairman of the Africa 85 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. So I focus 86 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: a lot on Africa. This is a new thing. I 87 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 2: just started a year ago focusing on Africa, and so 88 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 2: I've been diving in. And Africa is a major battleground. 89 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 2: It's a major battleground between China and the United States, 90 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: is a major battleground between Russia and the United States. 91 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 3: And it's also a. 92 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 2: Major front for terrorism and radical Islamic terrorism. So in 93 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 2: my course on focusing on Africa, I focused on Nigeria 94 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 2: and the fact that Nigeria is killing Christians. It is 95 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 2: the single most dangerous place in the face of the 96 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: planet to be a Christian. Over fifty thousand Christians have 97 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 2: been murdered in Nigeria. It is the single place on 98 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: planet earths where the most Christians have been murdered. I've 99 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 2: been leaning in. I called on the Trump administration to 100 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: designate Nigeria as a country a particular concern, and President 101 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: Trump did so, and so the President is fighting to 102 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: protect Christians in Nigeria. It is Islamists in Nigeria, particularly 103 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: Boko Haram, but its other Islamists as well that are 104 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: murdering Christians. Well, there's also a challenge with a group 105 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 2: called the Polisario Front, and let me give you a 106 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: little bit of the history of the Pulsari Affront. The 107 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: Polisaria Front is a separatist militant group founded in nineteen 108 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: seventy three that is seeking independence for Western Sahara, a 109 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: territory that is claimed by Morocco for decades. The best 110 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: way to understand it was as a Cold War relic 111 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 2: analogous to the Palestinian Liberation Front the PLO, but it 112 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 2: was in West Africa, and there's still a degree to 113 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: which that framework is accurate. The Polisario Front is backed 114 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: by Algeria. It operates from refugee camps in Tinduf, and 115 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: it declared an independent country called the Sarawi Arab Democratic 116 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: Republic in nineteen seventy six, about twenty to thirty percent 117 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 2: of the disputed territory. It is a darling of the 118 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: international Left and the United Nations, and the group has 119 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: continued its insurgency against Morocco. The critical dynamic is that 120 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: Iran has begun pouring resources into the group. They want 121 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 2: to make the Polisario Front into the Huthis of West Africa. 122 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: The Iranians have been providing money and weapons and directions. 123 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: In June of last year, Joe Wilson and Congress entered 124 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: the Polisario Front Designation Act of twenty twenty five, which 125 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: would designate the group as a foreign terrorist organization. I 126 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: am leading the fight in the Senate to designate the 127 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. And this week we 128 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 2: had a hearing in the Senate Formulations Committee where two 129 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: career officials from the State Department. We're testifying about Africa, 130 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 2: we're testifying about the Middle East, and I asked them 131 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: about the Polisaria Front, and I got to say their answers, 132 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: let me just give a really kind word. 133 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 3: They were terrible. They were unbelievably bad. 134 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 4: Say terrible, Explain what you mean by that. 135 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: I believe both witnesses were instructed do not say a 136 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,239 Speaker 2: negative word about the Polisario Front. 137 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 3: But I'll tell you what. 138 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: Rather than me describe the questioning, just give a listen 139 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: to the back and forth I had with two senior 140 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 2: career officials from the State Department. Mister Palladino, thank you 141 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: for being here in TESTI to find this afternoon. I'd 142 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: like to ask you about the specifics of your testimony, 143 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: and specifically two things you said in your written testimony 144 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 2: Back to back. You said that quote, Algeria's counter terrorism 145 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 2: successes also make it a critical pillar of stability in 146 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 2: the region. Then in the very next paragraph you said again, 147 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: I'm quoting quote, we look to North African countries to 148 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 2: provide critical support to ensuring terrorist activity in the Sahel 149 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: does not spread. Now, I'm assuming that that somewhat opaque 150 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: reference to terrorist activity in the Sahel is about the Polisario. 151 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 3: Front, though you didn't name the group. 152 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 2: Iran is trying to turn the Polisario Front into the 153 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: Huthis for West Africa, a proxy force capable of waging 154 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: war to threaten regional stability and pressure US partners whenever 155 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 2: Iran wants leverage. The Polisario Front works with Iranian terrorist groups, 156 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 2: It takes drones from the IRGC, it moves weapons and 157 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: resources around the region, including to Jahadists, and much more. 158 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: I believe they should be designated as a terrorist group, 159 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: and I've drafted a bill to do so if there 160 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: is no change in their behavior. Before getting any other questions, 161 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 2: is that what you meant by quote terrorist activity in 162 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 2: the Sahell? Were you talking about the Polsario Front? 163 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 5: It's an important question, senator, thank you. What I was 164 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 5: referring to. What I would say in regards to the 165 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 5: Polisario is President Trump has made clear his desire to 166 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 5: achieve a lasting resolution to the problem in the Western Sahara, 167 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 5: to that dispute, and as part of that American policy 168 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 5: currently as we are engaging all parties and we're going 169 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 5: to continue to pursue that for a lasting resolution, and 170 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 5: we seek that at because if we can get to 171 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 5: that resolution, that is going to be our best shot 172 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 5: at advancing UH peace and security, which will prevent further 173 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 5: terrorist activity. Now you mentioned designation, senator, and I would 174 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 5: just add we were we're constantly assessing threats to the 175 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 5: American homeland, and we have a process for that. It's 176 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 5: something that we we we we we will continue to 177 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 5: look at and as the Secretary said, we if we proceed, 178 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 5: that will be grounded in the process and the evidence 179 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 5: and and the law. Thank you, senator. 180 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 2: So I see that the opacity I referenced was not accidental, 181 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: but was in fact deliberate, because in the full course 182 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 2: of that answer, there was no direct indication that, yes, 183 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 2: the terrorist activity in the Sahel is coming from the 184 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: Pollisario Front and and and that is a significant blind 185 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: spot in our counter terrorism postured. Do you assess right 186 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: now that the Polisario Front poses a threat to us 187 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 2: interest in any sense? 188 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 3: And if so, in what sense? 189 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 5: Senator? Thank you, senator. We're actively engaging all parties in 190 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 5: the Western Sahara dispute in the interests of achieving a 191 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 5: lasting and durable peace. That's the policy of the President. 192 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 5: And we're we're seeking more time to continue to find 193 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 5: a way to find common ground and to come to 194 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 5: an agreement to stabilize the situation and allow there to 195 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 5: be prosperity to follow based upon stability. 196 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 2: Well, I will say that answer was positively Shakespearean. It 197 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 2: was full of sound and fury and yet signifying nothing. 198 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: And by the way, I will say, in terms of 199 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: the president, I feel confident I've spent a lot more 200 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 2: time with the President than you have, and he does 201 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: not have any difficulty at all calling terrorists what they are. 202 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: Mister Borker, Let's see if we do any better with you. 203 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 2: Iran has trained fighters from the Polisario Front and Hesbela 204 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: has provided them with weapons. In your written testimony, you 205 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 2: said that your bureau is working with North African countries 206 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 2: to counter the threat from Iran and its proxies, and 207 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 2: you specifically talked about groups tied to the IRGC and HESBELA, 208 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 2: You likewise did not specifically mention the Polisario Front. First 209 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: of all, same question to you. When you talk about 210 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: the threat posed to North African countries by Iran and 211 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: its proxies, does that include the Pulsario Front. 212 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 6: Senator, thank you for the question. We continue to monitor 213 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 6: activities throughout North Africa. We continue to see if the 214 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 6: ire GC and HESBELA are their activities in that region 215 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 6: and globally, and as we look at these activities, we 216 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 6: will work with our partner countries in order to counter 217 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 6: those threats in where possible, designate or encourage those countries 218 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 6: to designate the i r GC, HESBELA and in those 219 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 6: terrorist groups. 220 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 2: So I have to say, it seems to me you 221 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 2: turn to your colleague and said, hold my beer. 222 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 3: It certainly. 223 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 2: Let me just ask a final question to both of you. 224 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 2: Were both of you instructed in this testimony not to 225 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 2: say anything negative about the Polisario Front, because it sure 226 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 2: seems like you were. 227 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 5: Senator. I'm just trying to explain what we're trying to do. 228 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 3: Policy wise, that's a yes or no question where you at. 229 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 5: And I received no instructions to that effects, Senator. 230 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 6: Senator, I've received no instructions to those effects either. 231 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 2: So you just decided to go down that road for 232 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 2: the heck of it. Okay, thank you? 233 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: All right, So I'm gonna start with the first question here. 234 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: How the hell do those guys get their job and 235 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: how do they get to keep them if that's what 236 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: they do. I just got to know, like, that's the 237 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: best job I've ever seen. 238 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 239 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 2: Look, they were instructed to say nothing about the Pulsaria Front. 240 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: And when you say, they like who sits down with 241 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: them before and says, don't say anything about this terrorist group. 242 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 2: So both of those guys are career State Department employees. 243 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 4: So they would have the deep state, is I like 244 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 4: to call it. 245 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, they would have submitted their testimony for approval, and 246 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 2: they may well have had portions where they say something 247 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: about the Pulsari Front. They're talking about terrorists and that's 248 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: who they're talking about. They're just not saying it. And listen, 249 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 2: the administration is trying to negotiate a big peace deal 250 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: in Africa, and so right now their folks in the 251 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 2: administration who are trying to negotiate a deal in Western Africa, 252 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 2: and right now, one of the consequences of. 253 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 3: That is is that they're. 254 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: Reluctant to call out the Polisario front. I think the 255 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: Polisari affront is really dangerous. They're funded by Iran, and 256 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: so I'm working to call out people who are enemies 257 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: of America. 258 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 7: And to. 259 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 2: Impose real cost and consequences on those jihadis that are 260 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 2: enemies of America. 261 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: You know, it really is incredible that they're this cautious 262 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: on this, and then you look at where we are 263 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: in the world, which brings me to what's going on 264 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: in Iran. There's a big meeting on Friday with the 265 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: Trump administration. There's a lot of fanfare around it. While 266 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: we're getting ready for this conversation, Iran does what Iran does, right, 267 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: which is usually something to do, something really stupid, and 268 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: they decide to fly a drone at one of our ships. 269 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: That was a bad idea, So let's bring everybody up 270 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: to speed on that as well. 271 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 3: So we shot the drone down. 272 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 2: They flew a drone at one of our aircraft carriers. 273 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: We shot it down because it was a hostile threat. 274 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 2: It was an unman drone. Listen that there is a 275 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 2: negotiation session scheduled for Friday. I think the chances of 276 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: anything positive or productive from that session are zero point 277 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: zero percent. I think the Iranian regime that they're sending 278 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: back channel messages to the administration and they're saying, hey, 279 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: we're willing to do another Obama Iran nuclear deal. 280 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 3: Isn't that a great idea? 281 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 4: By the way, it's a great deal for them. 282 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: They got literally like cash and bills that are unmarked, 283 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: Like how much better does it get than that that 284 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: you then can give to terrorists to then blow up people. 285 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 2: Listen that they got one point seven billion dollars in 286 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 2: cash on pallets flown in by Barack Obama. 287 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 3: They got over one hundred billion dollars. 288 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: I just want you to understand what you just said, Senator, 289 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:37,119 Speaker 1: because it is so frustrating. 290 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 4: This is not Saturday Night Live. 291 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 3: It may be. 292 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: Literally what the Obama ministries did, like over a billion 293 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: one point seven billion of cash on pallets flown with 294 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: your tax dollars to I RAN. 295 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 2: And by the way, that that was tiny compared to 296 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 2: the more than one hundred billion dollars that Joe Biden 297 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 2: flowed into Iran, and they use that. Iran provides more 298 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 2: than ninety percent of the funding for Hamas, more than 299 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: ninety percent of the funding for Hesbola. They use that 300 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 2: to stage October seventh. They use that to wage war 301 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 2: in the United States, they use that to kill American 302 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: servicemen and women. We have right now an historic opportunity 303 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 2: and what I am urging the president don't miss this. 304 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 2: So I think the Iranians are trying to distract the administration. 305 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 2: They're trying to say, hey, let's negotiate a deal, and actually, 306 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 2: what Iran wants to do is spend three years negotiating 307 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: a deal where they do nothing and they try to 308 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 2: rebuild their nuclear program. 309 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: Is some of this just stalling to try to get 310 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: their own country under control. By saying, yes, hey, we 311 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: all have a kumba yan Iran that we hate the 312 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: big Satan right in the US, and so they can 313 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: figure out a way for America to hit them, then 314 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: I think that actually brings people together, is what they're 315 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: hoping in Iran to say, Okay, maybe we do need 316 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 1: to stand up against America. 317 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: And by the way, that phrase you use the big Satan. 318 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 2: That's not an accidental phrase. The Iyatola refers to Israel 319 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 2: as the little Satan and refers to America as the 320 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: big Satan, the great Satan. They are waging war on us, 321 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: and their objective is to right now to talk to 322 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 2: try to prevent being toppled. Look, millions of Iranians have 323 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 2: stood up and tens of thousands have been killed. It's 324 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 2: not clear what the estimate is. The estimates have ranged 325 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,400 Speaker 2: anywhere from ten thousand Iranian protesters killed to as many 326 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 2: as forty thousand. The regime is sitting there literally machine 327 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: gunning these protesters and murdering them. I've called very publicly 328 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 2: for the Trump administration to arm the protesters. 329 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 3: Listen. 330 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 2: I want to see the Iranian regime toppled, but not 331 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 2: by America. I want to see them toppled by the 332 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 2: people of Iran. And if they're just being gunned down 333 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 2: like fish in a barrel, they're not able to do so. 334 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 2: And so I think we ought to be providing weapons. 335 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 2: And I'm urging the President don't be distracted. The Iranian 336 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 2: regime is trying to say, let's negotiate another deal like Obama, 337 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: you go back to two thousand and nine. Two thousand 338 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 2: and nine was the Green Revolution. There were again Iranians 339 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:14,719 Speaker 2: standing up, and Barack Obama made a decision to side 340 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 2: with the Ayatolin abandon the protesters. Now President Trump has 341 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 2: said he's not going to do that. He's told the 342 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 2: people of Iran, we are with you, and this is 343 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 2: a moment of time. I'm urging the president do not 344 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 2: miss this moment of time. If this regime falls, if 345 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 2: the Mullas who hate America and want to murder Americans 346 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 2: are out of power, and if we have instead a 347 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: freely elected regime. Look, Iran for decades was secular, it 348 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 2: was pro American. That would be the single biggest improvement 349 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 2: in national security we've seen in decades. 350 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've talked about this a lot, but let's reset 351 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: for people just understand, not only do we have what's 352 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: happened in Venezuela, and there was a lot of Democrats 353 00:19:58,080 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: that thought it was going to just turn an instant 354 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: case and anarchy there in Venezuela. So far, that's not 355 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: been the case. That as they're trying to work through 356 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: what next steps look like. But that's good for the 357 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,679 Speaker 1: people in Venezuela. Who've been suffering for so long, and 358 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 1: yet there was a lot of people I think they 359 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: were hoping that Donald Trump would have to own some 360 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: sort of anarchy and civil war in the streets and 361 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: just you know, all sorts of craziness there. You then 362 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: look at Cuba, and the President's been pretty clear about that. 363 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: We also are saying that they're getting in serious trouble 364 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: now with basic things like oil and gas and trying 365 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: to hold shoe string their country together because they've lost 366 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: a lot of what they were getting back and forth 367 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: with Venezuela. They're teetering right now. I think it's a 368 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: fair assessment on it. Just with their economy, inflation, the 369 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: list goes. 370 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 4: On and on. 371 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: You combine that with a RAN, and what we could 372 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: witness is all three of these happening very quickly, moving 373 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: in the right direction for all of us. 374 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 2: Look, we have a very real potential in the next 375 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 2: six months of seeing the regimes in Venezuela, Cuban, and 376 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 2: Iran all fall. And there are a thousand ways this 377 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 2: could go wrong. There could be bad things that happen. 378 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 2: So I'm not being pollyannish, but if we see free 379 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 2: and fair elections in Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran, and if 380 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 2: they elect leaders and I think there's a real possibility 381 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 2: of this who embrace freedom and want to be friends 382 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 2: with America, that would be, without exaggeration, the greatest geopolitical 383 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: shift since the fall of the Berlin Wall, since we 384 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 2: won the Cold War without firing a shot. That is 385 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 2: what has been teed up by Donald Trump being a 386 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 2: strong commander in chief. And so with Iran, I'm merging 387 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 2: the President and the administration do not miss this moment 388 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 2: because getting out of power a theocratic lunatic who wants 389 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 2: to murder us that is unambiguously good for America. 390 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's also interesting. 391 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: And this is another headline that just came for Fox, 392 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: and just to put in perspective, I think of what 393 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 1: Iran's leadership is trying to do to bet American to 394 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: some sort of military conflict so they can try to 395 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: rally their country. You had Iranian gunboat said unsuccessfully. That's 396 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: the keyword here. And I'm reading this headline from Fox 397 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 1: attempted to board US oil tanker as Trump builds military presence. 398 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:26,199 Speaker 1: These six armed Iranian vessels attempted to board the tanker 399 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: before a US Navy ship escorted it to safety. That 400 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: that is how desperate the Iranian regime is right now 401 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: to try to do something different. 402 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: And listen, this is why I'm calling for the administration 403 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 2: to arm the protesters. You know, remember back to Timan Square, 404 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 2: Tianamen Square, you had a massive uprising in China. And 405 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 2: I gotta admit, ben, I remember, the NRA ran full 406 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,239 Speaker 2: page ads in newspapers all over the country. They ran 407 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 2: it in six newspapers. They ran it in the New 408 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 2: York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the 409 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: Chicago Tribune, the La Times, and USA Today. 410 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 3: The full page ad. 411 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 2: It was a gigantic picture of Tianamen Square, just people everywhere. 412 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 2: And I remember the words the NRA put in that ad. 413 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,479 Speaker 2: They said, last week, over one million people rose up 414 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 2: in protest in Tianamen Square. And then they asked a 415 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 2: simple question, imagine what would have happened if they had 416 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 2: had guns. Now, that's more than thirty years ago, and 417 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 2: I still remember that ad because I remember looking at 418 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 2: it and going, Wow, if a million people with guns 419 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 2: rise up, that's not a protest, that's a revolution. The 420 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 2: Chinese Communist government falls. If a million people with guns 421 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 2: rise up right now, the Iranian people are risking their lives. 422 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 2: But if you're standing there holding a spatula and an 423 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 2: IRGC soldier is firing a machine gun at you, you're 424 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 2: going to die. And so the only way that protests 425 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,959 Speaker 2: succeed as if they're able to fight back. And if 426 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,120 Speaker 2: suddenly the IRG soldier says, crap, if I shoot at you, 427 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 2: you're going to shoot back, and I'm going to die. 428 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 2: That's how you topple the regime. And I think we 429 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 2: have an extraordinary moment in time right now. 430 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: For the next sixty seconds, can you hit pause on 431 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: your life and just think about this. In communities around 432 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 1: the world, millions of children like Lucy faced the crushing 433 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: weight of poverty, hunger, illness, and a lack of opportunity 434 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: dim their bright futures. But through Compassion International and local churches, 435 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: everything is changing. Lucy receives nourishing food, vital medical care, 436 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: and the chance to go to school. She learns life skills, 437 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 1: develops God given talents, and builds a loving relationship with Jesus. 438 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: It's a journey from vulnerability to empowerment, and it's sparked 439 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 1: literally by your love. This transformation echoes far beyond Lucy, 440 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: impacting her family, the community, and shaping the future of 441 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: her nation. And you can make this profound difference right now. 442 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 1: So join me in sponsoring a child. Visit compassion dot 443 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: com today. You'll empower life and change the world. That's 444 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: Compassion dot Com to learn more. 445 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 4: I want to finally end with it. 446 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: The other topic, and it deals with a very interesting 447 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 1: media merger and antitrust conversation that took place in Washington, DC. 448 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,679 Speaker 1: You came in and asked questions on this. Of the 449 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 1: two companies that were there talking about this, I actually 450 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: and I rarely do this, and I don't even think 451 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: I told you this. I wrote an op ed about 452 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: this for Foxnews dot com. You can go and read 453 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,719 Speaker 1: it there. But what I was talking about was from 454 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 1: a national security standpoint. In my headline was Reagan would 455 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 1: tell Americans to watch this Netflix merger hearing closely, and 456 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: I said, here's why I went through. My biggest concern 457 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 1: with this merger is one of safety and security, because 458 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:03,959 Speaker 1: I want to know that the majority of things are 459 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 1: being made or being made in America, that China doesn't 460 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 1: get influence over us. And that's what the questions I 461 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: asked what really worried me about this merger was how 462 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,640 Speaker 1: much foreign money they're saying, and it's in the billions 463 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: that could be coming into this deal from the Middle 464 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,239 Speaker 1: East that concerned me as well. You asked a lot 465 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: of questions about this, and there's also a lot of 466 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 1: conservatives like you and I that are frustrated with some 467 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 1: of the programming that Netflix have. But at least I'm like, 468 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: they're wanting to keep this production in America and they're 469 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 1: willing to expand it in America, Whereas on the other 470 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: side of it, my concerns to Paramount is they're taking 471 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: foreign money from the Middle East. I don't like that influence, 472 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 1: and I certainly don't want China to take influence as well. 473 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:48,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is a massive merger. It's eighty three billion 474 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,919 Speaker 2: dollars and I'm deeply concerned about it. And so we 475 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 2: had a hearing this week in the Senate Jiary Committee 476 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 2: with the CEO of Netflix and a senior executive from 477 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 2: Warner Brothers. Give a list into the questioning that I 478 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 2: asked them. I and many others on this committee have 479 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 2: been concerned for a long time about censorship. Censorship in 480 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 2: the media, and censorship in Hollywood, there already seems to 481 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 2: be only one acceptable political Do you actually I want 482 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 2: to ask either we all watch the Grammys this week. 483 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,439 Speaker 4: I did not just a tail end of it. 484 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 2: One simple question, Are we right now on stolen land? 485 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 8: I have no idea the history of this land, of 486 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 8: this other where we're sitting today, nor do I send. 487 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 2: Her so that speaks volumes that neither of you are 488 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 2: willing to say, hell, no, we're not on stolen land. 489 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 2: And I will say it's a Grammys when you see 490 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 2: an entertainer say nobody is illegal while we're on stolen land, 491 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 2: and then you see entertainers leap to their feet clapping 492 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 2: so excitedly at the notion that America is fundamentally illegitimate, 493 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 2: it starts to convey that the entertainment world is deeply corrupt. 494 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: And I will point out that same singer who says 495 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 2: no one is illegal on stolen land promptly went back 496 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 2: to her fourteen million dollar mansion, and somehow that stolen 497 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 2: land she wasn't concerned about just the United States of America. 498 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 3: Look. 499 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 2: Netflix has long been a left wing company. Your founder, 500 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: Read Hastings, is one of the biggest Democrat donors in 501 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 2: the country, including giving millions recently to the massive gerrymander 502 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 2: in California, making it one of the most gerrymandered states 503 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 2: in the Union. Because your founder desperately wants a Democrat 504 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 2: House of Representatives, Susan Rice from the Obama White House 505 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: is on your board of directors. You guys, gave fifty 506 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 2: million dollars to the Obamas as far as Eikendell, to 507 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 2: produce no discernible content whatsoever. How would you tell a 508 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 2: Texan sitting at home to feel comfortable. CNN is already 509 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 2: a dumpster fire. There's nothing resembling objectivity, There's nothing resembling 510 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 2: journalism anymore. How are people at home, how should they 511 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 2: feel even remotely confident that if this merger happens, the 512 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 2: combined entity would not simply be a propaganda outlet pushing 513 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:16,479 Speaker 2: one particular political view with much greater market power than 514 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: you have now. 515 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 3: Well, so we would fail. 516 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 8: We would fail pushing a political view or propaganda. We 517 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 8: deliver entertainment to consumers. Our consumers see our business pretty 518 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 8: much the way they see the America. About forty percent conservative, 519 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 8: about forty percent liberal, about twenty percent don't know and 520 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 8: they when we turn on when they turn on TV, 521 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 8: they're tune in to be entertained. And if we fail 522 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 8: to entertain them by trying to promote propaganda or something 523 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 8: or something anything other than entertainment, we fail. 524 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 3: Mister Campbell's same question to you. 525 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 7: We have a very broad range of content across not 526 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 7: only HBO Max, but all of our platforms, and that 527 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 7: we need to appeal to all audiences. Our content range 528 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 7: is from knocks from the NFL to shows like Deadliest 529 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 7: Catch and gold Rush. It's a very broad collection of 530 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 7: programming that represents broad interests across America. 531 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 2: You have a wide range of programming on HBO. Name 532 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 2: one program that is designed to appeal to conservatives. 533 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 7: We don't design our programming to appeal to I can. 534 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 3: Think of a lot that are designed to go to liberals. 535 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 3: Name one. None of us shows they don't. 536 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 7: Designed to go to any political group there is designed 537 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 7: to appeal to. 538 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 2: Really, John Oliver is not designed to appeal to a 539 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 2: certain group. 540 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 7: It's a program that for which there're you. 541 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 2: Just said, none of your program is it. Let me 542 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 2: ask you do you think CNN is fair and balanced? 543 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 7: I do believe CNN is a fair So. 544 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 2: When CNN showed riots and fires behind them and you 545 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 2: put a chiron mostly peaceful but fiery protests, was that journalism, Sir. 546 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 7: I'm not involved with CNN, and in fact they're not 547 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 7: part of this transaction. But they have an independent editorial board, 548 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 7: they independent news gathering. 549 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,959 Speaker 2: We don't directly their only and they have no independence 550 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 2: other than hating Donald Trump, which is why their viewership 551 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 2: numbers have plummeted, because they don't actually report news. They 552 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 2: instead engage in very biased propaganda. And I will say 553 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 2: the truest words you said a minute ago is when 554 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 2: you said, with respect to missus sarrandos Well, he and 555 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 2: I see the world in very much the same way. 556 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 2: That is exactly the problem that in the world of 557 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 2: journalism it should not be propaganda. And the world of entertainment, 558 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:35,640 Speaker 2: there is a reason why entertainers who are even slightly 559 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 2: right of center get black bald in Hollywood. Writers get 560 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 2: blackbald in Hollywood, Actors get blackbald in Hollywood. And I've 561 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:45,719 Speaker 2: heard nothing today to give me any confidence that this 562 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 2: merger would do anything other than make that problem much 563 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 2: much work. 564 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 4: Sara. This is one of those subjects. 565 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: It's the reason why I decide to write an op 566 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: ed because it does matter when companies get big and 567 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: they have as much influence as Paramount does or as 568 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: Netflix does. It is concerning that the propaganda as you 569 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 1: described that can be put out that can fundamentally shape 570 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,680 Speaker 1: this country. It's why you invoke Ronald Reagan the output 571 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 1: that I wrote at Foxnews dot com. And there's also 572 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: the concern of foreign influence coming in. I don't want 573 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: American movies being paid for twenty four billion in Middle 574 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 1: East funding. Scares the hell out of me because what 575 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 1: are they going to say you can and can't do. 576 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: I go back to top Gun Maverick. There was a 577 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: simple patch, a Taiwan patch on his jacket, and they 578 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: banned that movie from China, period full stop. Well if 579 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 1: that money's coming in, what else could not be made 580 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 1: because of that? That worries me as well. 581 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, I'm very worried about WOA Hollywood. It has 582 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 2: gone so leftists, It is engaged in so much in doctrination. 583 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 2: It is trying to silence views that are pro America, 584 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 2: Silence views that are conservative, silence views that are pro 585 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 2: freedom and listen, this merger it's not going to go 586 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 2: through unless Department of Justice signs off on it, and 587 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 2: the Apartment of Justice has to approve the merger and 588 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 2: say that it does not create a monopoly, it does 589 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 2: not increase monopoly power. I think there are very real concerns. 590 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 2: This hearing was the beginning of the scrutiny for it. 591 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,360 Speaker 2: I expect to see more scrutiny, more questions asked about 592 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 2: this massive merger. 593 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 3: But I don't want to see even. 594 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 2: Bigger market power pushing a pro Democrat, pro leftist, anti 595 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 2: American agenda, and I'm very concerned that's what's happening right now. 596 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:38,280 Speaker 1: Final question on this when do the consumers find out 597 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: what happens here? How long until we get an answer 598 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:42,600 Speaker 1: of who gets to buy what? 599 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, Typically this process takes months to years, and so 600 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 2: the Department of Justice has to assess whether this is 601 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 2: allowed to go forward. The FCC may well engage as 602 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 2: well in signing off on this. I'm the chairman of 603 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 2: the Senate Commerce Committee. I expect to be quite engaged 604 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 2: in this process. So it will take some time. At 605 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 2: a minimum, it's several months, it could be upwards of 606 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:10,840 Speaker 2: a year. And the consequence if this merger happens, it 607 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 2: is really significant for news, and it's really significant for entertainment. 608 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 2: And by the way, I think entertainment in many ways 609 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:21,440 Speaker 2: is more important than news. We get so much of 610 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 2: what we understand about the world from entertainment. They got 611 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:30,720 Speaker 2: allowing a massive left wing monopoly. Listen, I asked, these guys, 612 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 2: are we on stolen land? Neither one of them could 613 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 2: say no. They're not willing to say America is legitimate. No, 614 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 2: this is not stolen land. That's how woke and lefty 615 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 2: and disconnected these people are, and they want to have 616 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 2: even more power over the entertainment that you're allowed to 617 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:53,479 Speaker 2: consume your home. 618 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 4: It's going to be interesting. 619 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 1: We're going to be following it here. We can promise 620 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:00,280 Speaker 1: you that, and don't forget. We do the show Monday, Wednesday, Friday. 621 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: Hit that subscriber auto download button wherever you get your podcasts, 622 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 1: and send her cruise and I will see you back 623 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:08,200 Speaker 1: here in a couple of days.