1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 1: Welcome. 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 2: It is Verdic with Center, Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 2: you in This episode will be a dual episode my 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 2: show in Center Cruise as well here, because we're trying 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: to figure out what the hell's going on, just like 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 2: every other American when it comes to is the government open? 7 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: Is it closed? Center? 8 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: As we are doing this ten o'clock Eastern, we're recording 9 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 2: on Sunday night. You've just left the Senate for so 10 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: where the hell are we now? Because there were some 11 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: reports like the government's reopened, then it's not reopen. We're 12 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: heading towards reopening. 13 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: What is right? What's wrong? 14 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 3: Well, we have really good news, which is the government 15 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 3: is in the process of reopening. It's not going to 16 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 3: be reopened on Monday, but we got the votes tonight 17 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 3: that will start the process of reopening it. We're going 18 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 3: to explain exactly what that means, what the deal, what 19 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 3: the deal was, and what the timing is going to 20 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 3: be and how that's likely to impact you, whether it 21 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 3: is going to a national park or going to the 22 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 3: Smithsonian or flying on an airplane, what the timing is 23 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 3: like to likely to be. We're also going to talk 24 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 3: to you about a bill that I introduced this past week, 25 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,919 Speaker 3: the Deporting Fraudster's Bill, that is going after illegal immigrants 26 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 3: who are fraudulently getting welfare benefits, and right now, fraudulently 27 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 3: taking welfare benefits is not a statutory ground for deportation. 28 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 3: I'm introducing legislation to change that. We'll explain that all 29 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 3: to you. 30 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 2: All right, So center, there was a lot of excitement 31 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 2: earlier Sunday evening. My phone blew up. I'm assuming you 32 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 2: were getting the text. It's like, oh great, the government's 33 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: wide open again. It's going to go back to normal. 34 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: I wish that was true. You just described it as 35 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: we've got the votes to move forward. Explain the process, 36 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: because I mean even on social media it was like 37 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: the Government's reopen. 38 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: I'm like, I'm not so fast. That's not how this 39 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: can work. 40 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 2: In fact, they could take almost another week and totally 41 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: get this thing back to where it needs to be. 42 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: So look, the good news is we finally have a 43 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 3: deal and we got the votes that are necessary to 44 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 3: open the government. So we've had a shutdown, the Schumer 45 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 3: shutdown for forty days, fourteen different times. Fourteen times Republicans 46 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 3: have voted to open the government. Fourteen times Democrats have 47 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 3: voted no, have voted to keep the government shut down. Now, 48 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 3: remember the entire reason that we have a shutdown is 49 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 3: because under the Senate rules, you need sixty votes to 50 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 3: move to proceed to legislation funding the government. We only 51 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 3: have fifty three Republicans. That means we need at least 52 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 3: seven Democrats, and unfortunately ran votes no on all of these, 53 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 3: so we have fifty two Republicans to fund the government. 54 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 4: So we need eight Democrats. 55 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 3: The fourteen times we've voted over the last forty days, 56 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: over and over and over again, we've gotten at most 57 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 3: two or three Democrats. Tonight Sunday, it's just a few 58 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 3: minutes after ten pm Sunday night, we finally got the 59 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 3: eight Democrats we needed. So the Democrats who voted to 60 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 3: reopen the government are Durban, Hassen, King, Cortes, Masto, Cain, Shaheen, Rosen, 61 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 3: and Fetterman. Those are the eight We got exactly what 62 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 3: we needed. We ended up with sixty votes, not sixty one, 63 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 3: so that not in a sinct every other Democrat voted no. 64 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 3: Keep it shut down. But getting eight is important, and 65 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 3: there was a substantive deal. But the substantive deal has 66 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 3: several pieces. Number one, there's a continuing Resolution that runs 67 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 3: through January thirtieth. So one thing that was really important 68 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 3: to me and to a lot of conservatives was that 69 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 3: we not have government funding expire right before Christmas. Often 70 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 3: government fundings expires right before Christmas, and they use the 71 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: desire everyone has to go home to their families for 72 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 3: the holidays to twist their arms into passing a really 73 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 3: bad bill. So this does not end right before Christmas. 74 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 3: The CR, instead, the Continuing Resolution continues until the end 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 3: of January. That was significant. We also included three appropriations 76 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 3: bills in the deals. Now these are appropriation bills. There 77 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 3: are two ways you can fund the government. You can 78 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 3: fund the government through an appropriation bill. There are thirteen 79 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 3: different appropriation bills that fund different cabinet agencies and different 80 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 3: major programs. Yep, those take sixty votes. That's what's called 81 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: regular order. That's the way the system is supposed to work. 82 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 3: And then you could also fund the government through a 83 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 3: continuing resolution also called a CR, that just keeps everything 84 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 3: the way it was before and maintains the status quo. 85 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 3: We ended up doing a combination of both, so in 86 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 3: this deal, we have number one, the ag approach, So 87 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: that's the agriculture appropriation that includes the funds that farmers 88 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 3: rely on, but it also importantly includes SNAP. It includes 89 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 3: food stamps. So one of the consequences of the shutdown 90 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 3: was the funding for food stamps went away. With this 91 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: appropriation bill, we will fund the food stamps for an 92 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 3: entire year, so that will be taken off the table. 93 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: And by the way, let's be very clear about that. 94 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 2: Republicans tried to make sure that even with the government 95 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: shut down, that SNAP benefits were continuing and were not stopped. 96 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: Democrats made damn sure that people did not get their 97 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: food stamp benefits during the forty day the longest shut 98 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: down in American history. They did that because they thought 99 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: it was leveraged to hurt the poorest among us in 100 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: America and that would then give them leverage to get 101 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 2: more of the port rail things they wanted for the 102 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: Democratic programs and initiatives. And they didn't care if you 103 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 2: couldn't feed your kids over the last forty days. 104 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 3: So understand that was the entire Democrat strategy is maximize 105 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 3: the pain on the American people, because the more pain 106 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: that they could inflict they were counting on the media 107 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 3: to be dishonest and blame it all on Trump, and 108 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 3: so repeatedly this past week, I went back and forth 109 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 3: with Democrats repeatedly, and their talking points were very simple. 110 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: They would say, well, you have a Republican president, Republican Senate, 111 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 3: Republican House. The shutdown is their fault, and that was it. 112 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 3: And they counting on the dishonest corporate media to tell 113 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 3: that lie what they omitted. And actually I talked about 114 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 3: this just this weekend. I spoke on the Senate Florida. 115 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 3: I said, look, whenever anyone takes an oath to testify 116 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 3: in court, that they put their hand on the Bible 117 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,559 Speaker 3: and they pledge to tell the truth, the whole truth, 118 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 3: and nothing but the truth. Well, the Democrats saying that 119 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 3: they're failing part number two, the whole truth, because it 120 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: is true we have a Republican president, House and Senate. 121 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 3: What they're ignoring is the fact that it requires sixty 122 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,559 Speaker 3: votes and it is the Democrats who force the shut 123 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 3: down because they're the ones that are not voting to 124 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 3: keep the government open. This package, we took three appropriations bills. 125 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: The ag Appropriation Bill, which is Farmers ranchers and food stamps, 126 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 3: the Military Construction and the VA Bill, so that funds 127 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 3: funds our veterans and also gives funds for military construction 128 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 3: projects across the country. And then the Legislature Bill, which, 129 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 3: among other things, we increase the funding for security for 130 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 3: members of Congress. Given the political violence we see, I 131 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 3: think that's very important to have more funds to increase 132 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 3: security on both. 133 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 4: Sides of the aisle. So that package. 134 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 3: Those are three appropriation bills that were bipartisan. The Democrats 135 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: had a party in that were passed along with the 136 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 3: thirty day CR or not thirty day, the CR to 137 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 3: January thirtieth. 138 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: Right, Henry thirtieth. 139 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, So all of that is what we got 140 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 3: sixty votes for tonight. Now what does that mean tomorrow morning? 141 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 3: Does that mean the government is opened Monday morning? Unfortunately No. 142 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: And by the way, people are frustrated because they think, well, 143 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: you guys shut it down quickly, then why can't you 144 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: just reopen it quickly? 145 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: And this is how the sausage is made. 146 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: And that's why I think there's some miscommunication on Sunday 147 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 2: night about. 148 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: Oh, the government's like open up. 149 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: I mean there was major news out it's like government 150 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: opening up the votes to have it, and they're thinking, 151 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: all right, well, if I'm flying out Monday or Monday 152 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 2: afternoon or Tuesday, yeah, there should be no problems with 153 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: it at the airport. 154 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: That's also not true. I want to be very clear 155 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: about that. 156 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 3: Look, if the Democrats want to be full obstructionist, they 157 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 3: could delay opening the government as late as Friday of 158 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 3: this week because there are a series of votes we 159 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: have to take in. Under the Senate rules, they can 160 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 3: delay thing. They have a right to an intervening day 161 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 3: between one voter and another. They can delay things for 162 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 3: thirty hours, and so they could drag it out. Even 163 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 3: though we have the sixty votes. They could drag it 164 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 3: out as late as Friday. My guess is they'll drag 165 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 3: it out till Monday or Tuesday. My best guess is 166 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 3: the government will open up Tuesday or Wednesday. But we 167 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 3: really are dealing with Look the Bernie Sanders Is of 168 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 3: the world. By the way, Chuck Schumer voted no because 169 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 3: the whole point of this was for him to tell 170 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 3: the crazy left he still hates Donald Trump. Now, I 171 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 3: don't think these eight Democrats would have voted yes without 172 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 3: Schumer blessing their voting yes. 173 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 4: So this was all always going to end this one. 174 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 2: I was going to ask you, so getting to the 175 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 2: perfect number of eight, and again, this is how the 176 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: sausage is made. So let's talk about behind the scenes. 177 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 2: You guys, the Republicans have been meeting right behind the scenes. 178 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 2: You have your normal lunches that you have in your 179 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 2: other meetings. And I see you guys on the four 180 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 2: of the Senate talking and you're outside of the Senate. 181 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 2: I mean Democrats are doing the same thing when they 182 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: decide who is in the eight to vote yes? Is 183 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: that strategic based on who needs cover when they're running 184 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: for office? 185 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 4: Is that? 186 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: I mean there's some like Fetterman that clearly were leaders 187 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: on this, just saying I think it's wrong to hold 188 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 2: the American be a hostage. 189 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: I'm voting to open this thing up. 190 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: How do they decide on the exact eight And is 191 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 2: it literally to the point where they're like, all right, 192 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: we're gonna only give eight, and you got to make 193 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 2: your argument to us why you should be in the 194 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 2: in the eight and we'll give you that blessing. 195 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: How does that work? 196 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 4: So I don't know for sure. 197 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 3: I will say there were a number of Republicans who 198 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 3: were surprised we did not get more than eight. So 199 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 3: there were other Democrats who were telling Republicans privately they 200 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 3: were going to vote yes to open the government. People 201 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 3: like John Ossoff, who's got he's the most vulnerable Democrat 202 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 3: running for reelection in Georgia. He just voted the fifteenth 203 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 3: time to keep the government shut down, you know, George. 204 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 3: By the way, Raphael Warnock, the other Georgia senator, did 205 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 3: as well. We actually thought there was a real possibility 206 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 3: they would both vote tonight to open the government. I 207 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 3: don't know what Osoff's calculus was. Warnock will often vote 208 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 3: with Osoff to give him some political coverage, So we 209 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 3: figured that they would go. They would go either both 210 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 3: yes or both no. They both voted to keep the 211 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 3: government shut down. 212 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: What is the chances to guys like that on Tuesday 213 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 2: Wednesday vote yes? After they say all right, well fine, 214 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 2: we're already going to be there. Does that change you 215 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,719 Speaker 2: think that eight number? Could that change at tenth or 216 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 2: is it pretty much ate eight? 217 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 3: No? I could easily see on a subsequent vote. Some 218 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 3: additional Democrats, Patty Murray, who is the senior Democrat on 219 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,839 Speaker 3: the Appropriations Committee. A number of Republicans believe she was 220 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 3: going to vote yes. I mentioned we just were going 221 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 3: to pass three appropriation bills. She played a major hand 222 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 3: in drafting those three appropriation bills. And so for appropriators. Look, 223 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 3: when Chuck Schumer and the Democrats had the majority, do 224 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 3: you know how many appropriation bills they passed into law? 225 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: How many? 226 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 4: Zero? 227 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 3: Like the process was broken, they didn't do appropriations. It's 228 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 3: our hope to actually go through the process, to have amendments, 229 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 3: to negotiate it. And that's what these three bills are doing. 230 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 3: And yet the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee voted no, 231 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 3: Chris Coons, who is widely seen as one of the 232 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 3: more moderate Democrats. He voted to keep the government shut down. 233 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 3: Alissa Slotkin from Michigan. Look, Michigan's a purple state. She 234 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 3: voted to keep the government shut down. Gary Peters, also 235 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 3: from Michigan retiring, he voted to keep the government to 236 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 3: shut down. So there were there were another half dozen 237 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: or so that a lot of folks thought we would 238 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 3: have a chance at getting their votes, and we did not. 239 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 2: So when you don't get those votes, we move forward. 240 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 2: You said this thing could end up to Friday. You're 241 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 2: guessing probably Tuesday, Wednesday the government reopens. 242 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: How many more votes after tonight? 243 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 2: Again, for people that are listening, we're doing this Sunday 244 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 2: night at ten fifteen right now in DC. How many 245 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 2: people are How many votes will it take starting now 246 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 2: to get the government actually reopen. 247 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 3: We need to continue to hold sixty, but we're going 248 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 3: to the underlying terms of the deal have been cut. 249 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 3: So I don't expect any of the eight who just 250 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 3: voted yes to flip. So I think we've got our sixty. 251 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 3: But the remaining Democrats can just drag things out and 252 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 3: make it painful. I hope they don't. I actually pulled 253 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 3: Dick Durbin aside. Durbin is retiring, and I mentioned I 254 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 3: always thought this was going to end with retiring Democrats 255 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 3: voting to open the government. Durbin did so. Now, look 256 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 3: he's the number two in leadership among the Democrats. He's 257 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 3: Chuck Schumer's right hand buddy's retiring. I told Dick tonight, 258 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 3: I said, look, we've got sixty. 259 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 4: Now. 260 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 3: It sure would be nice if, like you guys didn't 261 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 3: drag this out unnecessarily till Friday and just the identical 262 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 3: outcome will happen, and it just is more painful for everybody. 263 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 3: I think there are a lot of Democrats who feel 264 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: that way. It's why I think we'll end Tuesday or Wednesday. 265 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,599 Speaker 3: But who the heck knows. Now, there's another element to 266 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 3: this deal that's getting some attention online, which is a 267 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 3: commitment to reverse the riffs, the reductions and forces that 268 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 3: happened during the shutdown. Yeah, and there's some folks online saying, oh, 269 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 3: you guys cave, this is terrible. That was an offer 270 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 3: that President Trump made, i think like two weeks ago 271 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 3: to the Democrats. That has been on the table for 272 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 3: them a long long time, and the White House made 273 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 3: the decision, Okay, if you guys open the government, we agree, 274 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 3: we'll offer you that will reverse those rifts. So that 275 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 3: was in the deal, but it was a deal that 276 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 3: came from the White House that we just agreed. Okay, 277 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 3: if that's if those are the terms that the President 278 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 3: wants to cut, well we'll back up the president. 279 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 2: So you go into Monday, you're gonna have more meetings 280 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 2: throughout the day, or explain to me Monday what that 281 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 2: looks like. 282 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 3: We're anticipating the first vote probably around noon. And as 283 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 3: I said that, there could be we could have done 284 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 3: it all tonight if the Democrats had agreed to In 285 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 3: the Senate, you can do anything by unanimous consent, and 286 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 3: so if they wanted to open the government tonight, they 287 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 3: could have just consented to do one vote and then 288 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 3: do the other one next to the other one next, 289 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 3: the other one next, and we'd be done. 290 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 4: Like you can do that. 291 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: You know, literally, instead of us recording right now, you 292 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 2: guys could actually be voting and this could have all 293 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 2: been Monday morning. The government is open for business, all 294 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: the fa guys are back to normal, everybody's getting paid, 295 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 2: and they're like, now, screwt, We'll just wait a few 296 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 2: more days. So no one's the flying home, right, I mean, 297 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 2: you're not flying home tonight, are you. 298 00:14:58,040 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 4: Nope? 299 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: Nope, I'm in DC. I I didn't see my family 300 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 3: this weekend. I would have loved to have seen my kids. 301 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 3: I didn't. I spent most of the time just sitting 302 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 3: here waiting for Democrats to finally agree to cut a deal. 303 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 4: But it was striking. 304 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 3: We could have done it tonight, but to do that 305 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 3: you need unanimous consent. That means you don't need sixty, 306 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 3: you need one hundred. That means one person can object 307 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 3: and say, no, drag it out. 308 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 4: I want to burn more time. I want to burn 309 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 4: more time. 310 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 3: And you have people like Bernie Sanders, you have all 311 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 3: the Democrats who are running for president that want to 312 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:42,239 Speaker 3: want a spectacle, and so that if they really decide 313 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 3: to be just just fully obstructionist, they could drag it 314 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 3: as late as Friday. 315 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 4: All right. 316 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: So one other question is this is unfolding when the 317 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 2: government opens back up, and let's just use a hypothetical 318 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 2: of Wednesday, all right, Wednesday the government opens up, does 319 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: that mean that instantly the system is going to go 320 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: back to normal. I'm saying this to people traveling. You 321 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: and I have traveled a lot. We've started to see 322 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 2: the breakdown of a air traffic control and of having 323 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: to cancel flights. I've witnessed it traveling internationally and domestically 324 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 2: over the last couple of days. 325 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: You've done it as well. 326 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 2: And so when it opens back up, is that like 327 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 2: an instant fix or is that going to take a 328 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 2: couple of days to cycle through the system as well? 329 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 2: What does travel look like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. 330 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 3: Look at least travel Monday and Monday and Tuesday, I 331 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 3: would expect still really significant delays and really significant cancelations. 332 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 3: The reason for those delays and those cancelations. We have 333 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 3: roughly fifty thousand TSA agents all across the country. 334 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 4: Many of them are going into work. None of them 335 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 4: are being paid. 336 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 3: They all missed their last paycheck, didn't get their last paycheck. 337 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 3: We have roughly fourteen thousand air traffic controllers. Many of 338 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 3: them are going into work. None of them are getting paid, 339 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 3: they all missed their last paycheck. Listen, if you're a 340 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 3: TSA agent, if you're an air traffic controller, typical TSA 341 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 3: agent or air traffic controller doesn't have a deep reservoir 342 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 3: of savings. I mean they're under real stress right now. 343 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 3: How do I pay my mortgage, how do I pay 344 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 3: my rent? How do I pay my bills? And so 345 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 3: what is happening with both TSA agents and controllers. They're 346 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 3: calling in sick, They're just not showing up, say summer, 347 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 3: coming into work. The problem is in New York City 348 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: on Halloween Day, roughly eighty percent of the controllers called 349 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 3: in sick and didn't show up to work. That's chuck 350 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 3: Schumer's hometown by the way, And so we're seeing with 351 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 3: TSA you had Monday a week ago, the lines in 352 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 3: the Houston Bush Airport were two and a half to 353 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 3: three hours lined long to get through security because they 354 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 3: were so short staffed on TSA agents they didn't have 355 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 3: enough to move people through security. So even if the 356 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:01,120 Speaker 3: government opens up tomorrow, you're dealing with the independent decisions 357 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 3: of fifty thousand TSA agents and fourteen thousand controllers when 358 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 3: they come back to work. And the reason that the 359 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 3: FAA has mandated ten percent of flights be canceled is 360 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 3: they're looking at the data and seeing that these short 361 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 3: staffed air traffic controllers there's an increased risk to safety. 362 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 3: So they're saying, all right, if we don't have full staffing, 363 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,959 Speaker 3: we got to reduce the number of flights. So in 364 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 3: a week, do I expect things to go back to normal? Yes, 365 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 3: a week after things open up, but it could easily 366 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 3: take several days for people to say, Okay, I'm going 367 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 3: to come back into work now. That doesn't happen automatically 368 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 3: just by flipping a switch. 369 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 2: So what you're basically telling me is this week when 370 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 2: I'm flying and when you're flying, and so many others 371 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 2: that listen to this show are flying. We're going to 372 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 2: be dealing with this type of chaos because the Democrats 373 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 2: decided not to do their job, even while doing their 374 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 2: job on Sunday night right now. 375 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 3: Yes, and by the way, they could have agreed to 376 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 3: open it all up to that, They could have given consent, 377 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 3: said okay, you've got a deal, let's move ahead, and 378 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 3: it's now just the obstructionist who you know. If your 379 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 3: flight is canceled tomorrow, you can thank Chuck Schumer and 380 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 3: every Democrat senator running for president who's trying to show 381 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 3: off to the crazy left. But we will get it 382 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 3: open now, but it will take It'll take a few 383 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 3: more days at a minimum. 384 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 2: Every so often something happens that reminds us just how 385 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,959 Speaker 2: fragile our freedoms are. We can't afford to take our 386 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 2: rights for granted. We must draw a line in the sand, 387 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: and our friends at Patriot Mobile have been doing just 388 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 2: that for more than twelve years. The truth is there 389 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 2: is only one provider that boldly stands in the gap 390 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,719 Speaker 2: for Americans who believe freedom is we're fighting for, and 391 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 2: that company is Patriot Mobile. Not only are they leading 392 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 2: the red economy, they're also outpacing the competition and technology. 393 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 2: Patriot Mobile is one of the only carriers offering premium 394 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 2: access to all three major US networks, giving you nationwide 395 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 2: coverage and service that you can count on day after day. 396 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 2: They also offer unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming, 397 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 2: internet backup, in so much more, and switching has never 398 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: been easier. You can activate in minutes on your phone 399 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,479 Speaker 2: from your home or your office and you keep your 400 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 2: same number. You've got now keep your same phone or 401 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 2: upgrade to a new one. And this is where the 402 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 2: magic happens. Every month, about five percent of your bill 403 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 2: is given back to conservative causes at no extra cost 404 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 2: to you that stand up for our First and our 405 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 2: Second Amendment rights, the rights of unborn children, and are 406 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 2: wounded warriors and those that have fought for a country 407 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 2: and wear a badge. So take a stand today and 408 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 2: make a difference with every call you make Patriot Mobile 409 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 2: dot com slash ferguson or nine to seven to two 410 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 2: Patriot use the promo code ferguson for a three month 411 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: of service as well. That's Patriotmobile dot com slash ferguson 412 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 2: or nine to seven to two, patriot and make the 413 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: switch and make a difference with every call you make. 414 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: All right, So let's. 415 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 2: Move to another issue in this shutdown, and there's been 416 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 2: some confusion over it. There's been a lot of fighting 417 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 2: over it. It deals with Obamacare. Also knows the Affordable 418 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 2: Care Act Democrats decided and this is some of the 419 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 2: history that I do think we need to now explain 420 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: because there's been so much of a political football on 421 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 2: this one. That they purposely designed for the subsidies which 422 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: make Obamacare seem cheaper than it is, even though your 423 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 2: tax dollars are paying for the subsidies to subsidize people's 424 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 2: health insurance. They designed it purposely to expire now and 425 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 2: that was something that was done by design. I'm assuming 426 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 2: for this type of fight, is am I wrong? And 427 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: explain what's happening with Obamacare now and moving forward? 428 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 3: Well, look, the other thing Democrats talked about and they 429 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 3: claimed they were fighting the shutdown for, was to extend Obamacare, 430 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 3: and in particular during COVID, when the Democrats had control 431 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 3: of the House and the Senate. In the White House, 432 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 3: they passed massive subsidies that went straight to giant insurance 433 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 3: companies went to the didn't go to the people, didn't 434 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 3: go to you, but went to insurance companies, roughly fifty 435 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 3: billion dollars worth of subsidies, just huge corporate welfare. And 436 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 3: that corporate welfare to the insurance companies expires the end 437 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:35,360 Speaker 3: of December. And so part of this deal is Republicans 438 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 3: agreed we will have a vote on those those subsidies 439 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 3: the first week of December. Now, by the way, Republicans 440 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 3: offered them that we would schedule that vote forty days ago, 441 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 3: so they've had that on the table for forty days. 442 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 3: But we said at the beginning, sure, we'll give you 443 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 3: a vote. They're going to lose that vote. They know 444 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:54,400 Speaker 3: they're going to lose that vote, but we said, we'll 445 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 3: give you that vote. And so we agreed to have 446 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 3: that vote. Now, what's the answer. And this is where 447 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 3: I want to take folks a little bit behind the 448 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:07,439 Speaker 3: scenes to some of the sausage making. So most of 449 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 3: the Senate was in DC all weekend. We'd all planned 450 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 3: to be back home and had many people had fundraisers 451 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 3: at political events or family events, and we missed most 452 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 3: of them just staying here. So Friday night I invited 453 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 3: a dozen senators out to dinner. And so we went 454 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 3: to a local restaurant and got a room together and 455 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 3: had had a great dinner, and we're laughing and talking 456 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 3: and strategizing and saying, look, are are the Democrats going 457 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 3: to move? So in that dinner, we decided to call 458 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 3: President Trump. So we called President Trump, got him on 459 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 3: the cell phone, and the President he was in a 460 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 3: good mood, but he was he was expressing his views 461 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 3: emphatically as he always does. 462 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and by the. 463 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 2: Way, for people I've ever done a phone call, like 464 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 2: if you've never gotten to do this, he does not 465 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: ever hold back when you're talking about the phone. 466 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 1: I not a single phone call. You've had a lot 467 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 1: more than I have. 468 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 2: But when I've had phone phone calls with him, whether 469 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 2: it was in sixteen to twenty or now forward, like, 470 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 2: he does not hold back at all. When you're on 471 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 2: the cell phone on speakerphone as well. 472 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 4: He does not. 473 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 3: So one of the things we asked of him Friday night, 474 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 3: we said, listen, in this battle with the Democrats over Obamacare, 475 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 3: Obamacare's failing. 476 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 4: It's a bad program. 477 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 3: And if you go back, go back to twenty thirteen, 478 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 3: twenty thirteen, when I did a filibuster against Obamacare. I 479 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 3: said at the time, if you remember, Barack Obama promised 480 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 3: the American people Obamacare would would cut the average families 481 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 3: premiums by twenty five hundred a year. 482 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 4: Yep, that was a lie. 483 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 3: And in fact, they skyrocketed at the time five thousand 484 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 3: a year. They've skyrocketed a lot more than that. Even 485 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 3: the Washington Post has now admitted the editorial page the 486 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 3: Affordable Care Act, which is the misleading name of Obamacare, 487 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 3: did not make health care more affordable. It caused premiums 488 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 3: to skyrocket. So when we had Trump on the phone, 489 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 3: we said, look, it would really help if you made 490 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 3: the case that what Democrats are fighting for is these 491 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 3: massive multi billion dollar corporate welfare payoffs to the health 492 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 3: insurance companies instead of empowering consumers. And look, we want 493 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 3: a lower prices. And so we said, in particular, it 494 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 3: would really help if you would send a truth and 495 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 3: Trump said, great, come up with something. And so I 496 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 3: will tell you what the president sent. I had a 497 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,200 Speaker 3: lot of input in this, and here's what he put out. 498 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 3: President Trump said, Democrats claim to be working for quote 499 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 3: the little guy, and driving down your health insurance but 500 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 3: the and the rest of this is in all caps, 501 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 3: Obamacare scam goes straight to their best friends in the 502 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 3: insurance industry. They are making a killing while health coverage 503 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 3: only gets worse. If Democrats get their way again, they're 504 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 3: in for another huge payday at the expense of the 505 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 3: American people. No deal in all caps, Republicans should give 506 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 3: money directly to your personal health savings accounts all in 507 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 3: caps that I expanded in our great, big, beautiful bill. 508 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 3: Thank you for your attention to this matter. Now, this 509 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 3: is really important because if you want a really strong, 510 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 3: principled conservative reform to health insurance, expanding health savings accounts 511 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 3: so that you give you the consumer, you the patient, 512 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 3: more control and instead of sending money to the insurance companies, 513 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 3: send it straight to people's health savings accounts, so you 514 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 3: can spend it on premiums, you can spend it on deductibles, 515 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 3: you can spend it on healthcare that expands competition and 516 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 3: empowers patients and at lowers prices. The President leaning in 517 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 3: with this tweet really helps in this political battle we'll 518 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 3: have over the next six weeks because the outcome he's 519 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 3: advocating for is something I've advocated for a long time, 520 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 3: and that was a direct result of that dinner on 521 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 3: Friday night where we got them on the phone. 522 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 2: You know, there's one interesting thing that's coming out of 523 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 2: this first year of Trump being back in office. It 524 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 2: is really empowering the American people, whether it is the 525 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 2: accounts you's talked about, whether it's the Trump accounts that 526 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 2: are going to be coming in this next year that 527 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 2: you guys pass to give kids the opportunity to save 528 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 2: money and to be able to grow accounts and to 529 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 2: build wealth over their lifetime. Like, there is a lot 530 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 2: of personal growth and personal excitement that it's Trump is 531 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 2: get the government out of your life. 532 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,880 Speaker 1: You can do better without it. We want to help 533 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 1: you do that. 534 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 2: And then the Democrats like no, no, no, no, no, Mandani's 535 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 2: and others usually have no control of your life. We 536 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 2: want to run the whole damn show from from from 537 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,199 Speaker 2: birth to death. Just trust the US government to be 538 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 2: your daddy or your mommy are both. And that's exactly 539 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 2: the difference between the Republicans and Democrats right now. 540 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 3: Look at it's a fundamental divide. As you know, did 541 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 3: we passed the Trump accounts? As you know, well, I 542 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 3: wrote that legislation. This has been a major theme that 543 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 3: I've been fighting for since the first day I got 544 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 3: elected to the Senate. And whether you're talking about health 545 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 3: savings accounts, whether you're talking about Trump accounts that are 546 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 3: that are essentially four A one K savings accounts for kids, 547 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 3: or whether you're talking about school choice and getting tax credits, 548 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 3: the unifying theme of all of those is individual choice, 549 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 3: empowering you the individual rather than government competition and giving 550 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 3: you control. That is the fundamental difference between left and right. 551 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 3: And President Trump has been a great partner in this, 552 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,479 Speaker 3: and I'll tell you as a part of his tweet, 553 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 3: he sent out a chart, a chart which which which 554 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 3: I had sent him, but I want you to see 555 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 3: the chart. We're gonna put it up on on on 556 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 3: YouTube for anyone that's watching on YouTube. But it goes 557 00:28:55,000 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 3: through the major UH healthcare companies their stock performance since 558 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 3: Obamacare passed. I'm going to walk through them. Etna Obamacare 559 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 3: March twenty ten is when it passed. Etna's stock stock 560 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 3: price was thirty dollars and fifty cents. Today it's two 561 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 3: hundred and twelve dollars, so it's increased five hundred and 562 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 3: ninety five percent. Since Obamacare passed, senteen its stock has 563 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 3: increased six hundred and four percent, Molina its stock has 564 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 3: increased eight hundred and fifty nine percent, Humana its stock 565 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 3: has increased four hundred and ninety percent, Anthem Elevans Health 566 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 3: Its stock has increased four hundred and fourteen percent, Signa 567 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 3: its stock has increased eight eight hundred and twenty two percent, 568 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 3: and United Health Group. When Obamacare passed, United Health stock 569 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 3: was twenty five dollars and sixty six cents. Today November 570 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five, it is three hundred and twenty seven 571 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 3: dollars and seventy four cents. That is a one and 572 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 3: seventy seven percent increase. 573 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 4: That's what Obamacare did. 574 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 3: It massively increased the profits of the health insurance companies. 575 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 3: By the way, those health insurance companies overwhelmingly give to Democrats. 576 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 3: They give to Chuck Schumer, they give to Keem Jefferies 577 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 3: and the Democrats because they recognize when Democrats are in power, 578 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 3: their profits go through the roof and the American people's 579 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 3: premium skyrocket. What are the Democrats say they wanted to 580 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,239 Speaker 3: do in this shutdown? Give fifty billion dollars to those 581 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 3: same health insurance companies who profits have skyrocket, and it's 582 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 3: why what the presidents said is so important. No, we're 583 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 3: not going to give money to health insurance companies. Instead, 584 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 3: we're going to expand health savings accounts so you, the individual, 585 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 3: has control over your own healthcare center. 586 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 2: I also want to get a little preview of something 587 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 2: that you're working on. We're going to do a more 588 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 2: expansive show on this, but it's important that people know 589 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 2: that even while the government has been shut down, you 590 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 2: have been working very hard on other things. One of 591 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 2: those things is you've now introduced the quote Deporting Fraudster's 592 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 2: Act of twenty twenty five, and it deals with snap 593 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 2: and public benefits abuses that is costing the American people 594 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: millions and millions of dollars. Give us a little preview 595 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 2: of this so people know what's been going on. 596 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 4: Look, this is a very simple bill. 597 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 3: It is an astonishing fact that right now welfare fraud 598 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 3: fraudulently taking government assistance benefits is not a deportable offense 599 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 3: under the immigration laws. This law will change that and 600 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 3: make it a deportable offense. Let me give you some 601 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 3: basic statistics. Forty eight percent of households headed by illegal 602 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 3: immigrants received food related welfare benefits forty eight percent, nearly 603 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 3: half specifically SNAP. A CIS analysis found that thirty one 604 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 3: percent of illegal alien households with children draw SNAP benefits, 605 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:57,960 Speaker 3: One in five households getting WICIC Women's infants and Children 606 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 3: or SNAP is headed by an on citizen, and ninety 607 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 3: six percent of the children in those households are US 608 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:09,680 Speaker 3: but born, showing how illegal aliens exploit child based eligibility 609 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 3: to access benefits indirectly. The US Department of Agriculture reports 610 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 3: one point seven six million non citizens on SNAP in 611 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 3: twenty twenty three. That is roughly three hundred and twelve 612 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 3: million dollars in taxpayer funds. In twenty twelve or not 613 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 3: twenty twelve, rather twenty twenty two, it was one point 614 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 3: five million recipients that cost two hundred and twenty two million. 615 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 3: Fraud is rampant. For example, in twenty twenty four, one 616 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 3: hundred and twenty six point eight million dollars was stolen 617 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 3: from EBT cards. In Texas, three point seven million people, 618 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 3: about eleven percent of the state, relies on SNAP. Every 619 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:57,400 Speaker 3: stolen or unlawfully claimed dollar robs a citizen family in 620 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 3: genuine need. And according to the c about two hundred 621 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 3: thousand illegal aliens from the surge of alien asylum seekers 622 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 3: from twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four already received snap, 623 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 3: growing to eight hundred thousand by twenty thirty four, assuming 624 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 3: no deportations. A ten year cost. You said this cost millions. Yeah, 625 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:25,200 Speaker 3: the ten year cost is fifteen billion dollars. And so 626 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 3: this bill is to target that and say, if you're 627 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 3: here illegally, you do not have any entitlement to public welfare, 628 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 3: and if you access fraudulently access public welfare, that is 629 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 3: yet another ground to deport you. 630 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: Now, Chuck Schummer's a co sponsor this bill, right. 631 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 3: No, And I feel confident that Schumer is not just 632 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 3: a no, he's a hell no. Because today's Democrat party, 633 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 3: it is all for giant health insurance corporations. It is 634 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 3: all for illegal immigrants, it is all for violent criminals, 635 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 3: it is all for men and women's sports, it's all 636 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 3: for everyone the average American citizen trying to work hard 637 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 3: and provide for his or her family. 638 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 4: And that's exactly backwards. 639 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 1: It's incredible. 640 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:10,120 Speaker 2: Well, as we're doing the show right now at ten 641 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 2: forty at night on Sunday evening. The government's still shut down. 642 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 2: You're still being held hostage. We're moving in the right direction. 643 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,840 Speaker 2: Democrats could drag this out even till Friday just to 644 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 2: hurt you. If you're traveling this week, you're not alone, 645 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:25,319 Speaker 2: Senator Cruz and I are traveling with you. It's gonna suck. 646 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,319 Speaker 2: That's just the best way I can describe it. But 647 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 2: at least hope we will be safe while doing it. 648 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 2: Senator and I will see you back here when the 649 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,320 Speaker 2: government hopefully reopens. So we'll be doing a show on Wednesday, 650 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 2: So hit that subscriber auto download button and grab my podcast, 651 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,759 Speaker 2: the Ben Ferguson Podcasts on those in between days. I 652 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,120 Speaker 2: will keep you up to date with whatever is happening. 653 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 2: I can promise you that, and we'll see you back 654 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 2: here in a couple of days.