1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio news. I'm Ris in Washington 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: with a special guest, the Democratic Congresswoman Heidie Stevens of Michigan. 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: I am axious, abati. 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,319 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, John, and Congresswoman Stevens. You're also 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 2: going to be in Michigan tomorrow with Biden. Yes, I 6 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 2: am a star supporter of him, and you're not backing down. 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: Why. I'm really enthusiastic about this campaign and what we've 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: built in Michigan. I've been rigorously on it since the 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: beginning of the year. Detroit is at its lowest levels 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: of unemployment and fifty years we have manufacturing growth. I 11 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: have a really popular governor, Gretcham Whitmer, who's endorsed this president, 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: who's a co chair of his campaign, who's met with 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: him since some of the debate fallout and is sticking 14 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: by him. And the commitment to stand up for women's 15 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: reproductive rights, to tackle our gun violence epidemic that has 16 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: hit us pretty hard in Michigan, and there's a team 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: right have built an incredible ground operation and it's hard 18 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: work with persuasion voters, with turnout. I don't want to 19 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: turn away from this though now I want to keep going. 20 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: Fifteen some weeks left. Let's bring this over the finish line. 21 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: And I believe and know that the Biden Hearris ticket 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: is the one to get this done for us. 23 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 2: Do you think he's the best candidate though, I do. 24 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 2: You see the polling today from Washington Post ABC more 25 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: than fifty six Democrats say six and ten independents say 26 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: he should step beside. Is it that he's the best 27 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: candidate at this moment or there's concern about basically telling 28 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 2: a sitting president, the leader of the party, that it's 29 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 2: time to go. 30 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: Look, the stakes are high. The other thing that the 31 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: polling is showing you is that people are freaked out 32 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,919 Speaker 1: about Donald Trump coming back. What that means for young women, 33 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: what that means for our economy that spiraled out of 34 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: control when he was president during a global pandemic that 35 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: was not well hand him. 36 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: And so polling also shows people think Trump would be 37 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: better when it comes to things like the economy, which 38 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: our polling shows is still the number one issue. 39 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: It is the number one issue, and it's not just 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: look at the facts today. Look, polling is absolutely important. 41 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: I have to look at polling and I have had 42 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: polls that have led me down a path of success, 43 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: and I've had polls that have led me wrong before. 44 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: But what I know is that people are concerned about Trump. 45 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: I mean, I hear that on the ground in Oakland County, Michigan. 46 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: It is pulpable. People want to win. These stakes are high. Obviously, 47 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: when President Biden was gathering his delegate votes and campaigning 48 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: in the small primary that he had earlier this year, 49 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: it wasn't one hundred percent clear every step of the 50 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: way that Trump was going to be the nominee. Now 51 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: he's hiding in mar A Lago. We don't see him 52 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: really very much. He's come to Michigan maybe once or twice, 53 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: a few surrogates here and there. Pretty quiet from him. 54 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: And in part we've got a president who's governing, who's 55 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: leading NATO, who's got the backing of international leaders who 56 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 1: support his plan. We have, by the way, a major 57 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: foreign aid package that got done in a divided government. 58 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: That's exactly what Joe Biden asked for. 59 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: I think the concern is not so much can he 60 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 2: lead right now? It's what does the next four years mean? 61 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 2: And you mentioned Governor Whitmer. She was on CNN last 62 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 2: night and she was asked should he take a cognitive test? 63 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: Her answer was it wouldn't hurt. Do you agree with 64 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: the governor? Yeah? 65 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: Well, Trump joked around about his own cognitive tests, and 66 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: you know that he was some super genius and was 67 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: spouting off things. Look, anything the president needs to do 68 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: to reassure people. I have been recently with him when 69 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: he announced tariffs on Chinese evs and critical minerals. I 70 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: was in the Oval Office with him for an extended 71 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: period of time. I haven't seen one decision coming out 72 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: of this administration under his leadership that concerns me. I 73 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: also know that we have got a message for the 74 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: next four years. It's clear people are spooked. It's also clear, though, 75 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: people are united to do whatever it takes to beat 76 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: Donald Trump, and we've got the campaign to do it. 77 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: We really do. 78 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: You've spent time with him recently, You're going to be 79 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: with him tomorrow. You said, there's not a decision that 80 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: makes you rethink this that's coming from President Biden. Not 81 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: a decision you see that concerns you. But what about 82 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 2: his speech, the way he walks actual deterioration is health. 83 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: Have you seen any of. 84 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: That not really to be honest with you. I mean, look, 85 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: I know I can't tell people to unsee what they 86 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,679 Speaker 1: saw on the debate. I thought he answered it honestly. Look, 87 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: it's not news that he is the age that he is. 88 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: I look at this and I see flawless execution from 89 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: this administration. COVID relief, infrastructure dollars, not just bills that 90 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: have gotten pasted, but things that are being executed flawlessly, 91 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: like the Chips Act, which is so important to our 92 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: Michigan manufacturing economy. Something that President Biden has championed his 93 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: campaign message is let's finish the job. There is more 94 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: to do. It's promises made, promise has kept. There are 95 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: more things that we need to accomplish here that are 96 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: on the horizon, paid leave, funding for our public schools, 97 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: support for our educators, the next generation. This is a 98 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: real campaign. And look, this is a tough moment. It's 99 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: been quiet. We've had twenty four to seven Trump TV 100 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: and his convictions and all that insanity. I don't want 101 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: to go back to that. My voters in Michigan are 102 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: terrified of going back to that. The former president pretends 103 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: that he supports unions, goes to a non union shop. 104 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: We worked for the UAW, we got the UAW endorsement. 105 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: We've had this whole process here where weeks out from 106 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: our own convention. We got to stand up to this 107 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: trus team. 108 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: Leaders our concerned Washington Post this morning, there was a 109 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: behind the scenes meeting yesterday Sean Fain. President Biden went 110 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: and stood on a picket line with this man. He 111 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: is now voicing his concerns. So when you're in Michigan 112 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: and you hear from union leaders, Trump is chipping away 113 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: at these people Michigan, potentially Biden can movese. That's what 114 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 2: Congresswomen's Lackin even said on a reason Donor call. 115 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, we want we want the winning campaign. And 116 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: our union leaders they're deploying their members to knockdoors to 117 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: evangelize this effort. And that's what you do in closed 118 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,559 Speaker 1: door meetings, you know, you do say, hey, what's our plan, 119 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: how we're going to do this. We're the Democratic Party, 120 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,679 Speaker 1: you know, differing opinions, expression of opinions. I've had four 121 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: to five Republican members of Congress from Michigan who've either 122 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: left their party, impeached the former president, or got voted out. 123 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: I mean give me a break like this is how 124 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: it works in our party. It's a good and healthy thing. 125 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: And I'm going to tell you something else that I 126 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: know about Joe Biden. He is the ultimate comeback king. 127 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: He's the most underestimated individual in American politics. He always 128 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: has been. He's got a good north star. He's tapped 129 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: into his faith, He's been through things that have tested 130 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: him for this moment. And yes, he's our older, wiser president. 131 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: He has not steered us wrong, and he has got 132 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: a vision alongside this amazing team that he has to 133 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: continue to win 134 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: The future for US Commerceoman Haley Stevens, thank you so 135 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: much for your time.