1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Verdict with Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: and Senator. It is a very big moment that we're 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: dealing with right now with Senate elections, also the shock 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: happening in Poem with these missiles from Russia apparently, and 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: we have the president's announcement for everyone if you missed it, 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 1: here's what Donald Trump had to say about running for 7 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: a third time for president. He used two words, I 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: don't want to be Joe. It's two words American dream. 9 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: That was not good what he did. There a lot 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 1: of bad things, like going to Idaho and saying welcome 11 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: to the state of Florida. I really love him. In 12 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: order to make America great and glorious again, I am 13 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: tonight announcing my candidacy for a president of the United States. 14 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: I tell you, Senator, it was fun watching Donald Trump 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: mocked Joe Biden right before those words. Tonight, I'm announcing 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: my candidacy for the president night Ate America. We want 17 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: to get your reaction to this. Well, listen, Joe Biden 18 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: and the disaster of the last two years deserves mocking 19 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,119 Speaker 1: because it has been horrific. It's hurt the American people 20 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: and all across the country people are suffering. I will 21 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: say when Donald Trump was president, we accomplished tremendous things together. 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: I worked with him every day. I think I was 23 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: the strongest ally in the US Senate. And I'm really 24 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: proud of the policy successes we had together in terms 25 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: of peace and prosperity and people being lifted out of 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: poverty into abundance. So all of that is where we 27 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: need to move back. We need to get back to 28 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: a common sense agenda and away from the disasters of 29 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: the last two years. You mentioned disasters the last two years, 30 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: and that brings us to this Senate vote. But before 31 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: we get to that, I want to tell everybody about 32 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: our amazing sponsor, Patriot Mobile. If you've got a cell phone, 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: and nine percent of Americans do, how would you like 34 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: to know that with every phone call you make, your 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: supporting conservative causes. Well, that's what Patriot Mobile does. And 36 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: they use the same cell towers that you're on right now, 37 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: meaning you get the same exact coverage that you're getting 38 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: right now. 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That's nine seven to Patriot, use the promo 57 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: code Verdict. Mitch McConnell now has an approval rating. The 58 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: last number I just saw was a seven percent among Republicans. 59 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: Seven percent, not a typo, not seventeen percent, not twenty 60 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: seven percent. Seven percent. You have this rush that you 61 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: warned Americans about just two days ago to make him 62 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: in charge the Republican Party in the Senate. And now 63 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: there are many people that have been calling their senators 64 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: asking for there to be a delay in this vote. 65 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: You were in the room, senators, only what happened. So 66 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: yesterday we had a lunch. We have a lunch whenever 67 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: we're in session. We have lunch together all the Republican 68 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: Senators every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But yesterday's lunch was unusual. 69 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: It lasted three and a half hours, and we had 70 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: as vigorous a debate as I've ever seen in the 71 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: United States Senate. I have called publicly for delaying the 72 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: leadership elections. I think we should delay them till after 73 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: the Georgia runoff. The Georgia runoff is on December sixth. 74 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: And the argument that I made in that room yesterday, 75 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: as I said, look, number one, we don't know who's 76 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: in our conference. George's not decided, and Alaska's not decided. 77 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: They're still doing ranked choice voting, so we don't know 78 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: who the next Senator from Alaska will be. And this 79 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: is a serious contested election. This is a serious choice, 80 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: and I think Herschel Walker and whoever the next Senator 81 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: from Alaska is, either Lisa Murkowski or Kelly Chibaka, deserved 82 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: to have a say in the leadership elections. But more fundamentally, 83 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: it's not just about knowing the conference and knowing who's 84 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: in it. We need to have a fundamental debate about 85 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: the direction of the Republican Conference and about Republican leadership. Listen, 86 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: I'm pissed off. Millions of Americans are pissed off because 87 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: election Day should have been an historic victory for Republicans. 88 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: We should have won a majority in the Senate, we 89 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: should have won a huge majority in the House, and 90 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: we didn't. The Democrats kept the Senate and we have 91 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: a tiny, tiny majority in the House. And that was 92 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: a cluster. That was a colossal screw up, And any 93 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: rational organization, any irrational group, would sit and assess, Okay, 94 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: what went wrong? What did we do wrong? And what 95 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: do we need to do differently? And so what I 96 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: stood up and I made this case to my colleagues. 97 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: And I'm going to refrain from telling you what other 98 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: senators said, because I think it's their prerogative to say 99 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: what they said. But I'm gonna tell you what I said, 100 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: here's what I said. I said, Number one, this blown 101 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: opportunity is historic. It is a screw up, and we 102 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: need to have a serious discussion about why. I said. 103 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: Number two. Leadership wants to blame Donald Trump. That's their 104 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,119 Speaker 1: talking point is it's all Trump's fault. It's all Trump's fault. Now, 105 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: there's lots of blame to go around, and all sorts 106 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: of people bear some of the blame. But the idea 107 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: that Mitch McConnell and Republican leadership have no portion of 108 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: the blame, I think, frankly, is ludicrous. And what I 109 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: argue to my colleagues is, I said, listen, I've been 110 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: in the Senate now ten years. This is the sixth 111 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: leadership election I've ever been in. Every single leadership election 112 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: is not actually a debate at a choice over who 113 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: should be leader. Mitch McConnell's never been challenged in the 114 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: time i've been in there in every instance. And we 115 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: have five new, brand newly elected Republican Senators. All five 116 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: of them were there in the lunch. It was actually 117 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: the first lunch they've ever attended. So they came in 118 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:00,679 Speaker 1: and it was an epic gladiatorial battle for the first lunch, 119 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: we were all joking sort of welcome to the Senate, 120 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: a very very functional body. But what I told him is, 121 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: I said, listen, I remember ten years ago when I 122 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: was newly elected, and it was the year Obama was reelected. 123 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: It was a big Democrat year. There were only three 124 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: new Republicans who've gotten elected. We had a tiny freshman class. 125 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: And I go to leadership elections and deliberately they schedule 126 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: leadership elections just a few days after the election because 127 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: they want the freshman not to know what they're doing, 128 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: to be still in their brand new basement offices, not 129 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: to know where the men's room is. And the idea 130 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: is they can't possibly vote against leadership because they're so 131 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: brand new. And what I described to the freshman, I 132 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: said that first election, I stood there and I assumed, oh, okay, 133 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: leadership is going to tell me what their vision is 134 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,559 Speaker 1: going forward. And you know, you think about it when 135 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: you know in junior high or high school, when someone 136 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: was running for student council, the candidate would stand up 137 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: and give a speech and say, here's what I want 138 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: to do. If you elect me to student council, if 139 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: you elect me class president, I'm going to have free 140 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: chocolate putting in the cafeteria. And if you're like, oh, 141 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: I want free chocolate putting, okay, I vote for so 142 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: and so I kind of expected that. The bizarre thing 143 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: is the United States Senate doesn't do that. Instead, what happens, 144 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: and this has happened every single time now for ten years, 145 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: is you have a series of senators that gives speeches 146 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: nominating Mitch McConnell and they describe how Mitch McConnell is 147 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: the greatest and most handsome and most eloquent and wise 148 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 1: human being you have ever lived. And then Mitch stands 149 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: up says thank you, I appreciate it, and the entire 150 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: conference votes to accept and by acclamation. So there's so 151 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: there's no actual vote, there's no discussion, there's no agenda, 152 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: and it's bizarre. And what I argued to my colleagues yesterday, 153 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: as I said, listen, leadership is not accountable to us. 154 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: There's no agenda, there's no proposal. And I said, listen, 155 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: if you look at these election results, we screwed up. 156 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: The conference screwed up, and we ought to ask why. 157 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: And I said, I believe I know why, which is 158 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: over the last two years, leadership's agenda has been to 159 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: unify the Democrats and divide the Republicans. There was bill 160 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,839 Speaker 1: after bill after bill that at every single Democrat on 161 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: it and anywhere from ten to fifteen Republicans, and they 162 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: passed Joe Biden's legislative agenda one after the other after 163 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: the other. And I put it out. I said, look, 164 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: the Democrats don't do that. The Democrats we had a 165 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: Republican Senate. You know how many bills were passed in 166 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: that Republican Senate with all the Republicans and ten to 167 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: fifteen Democrats. Zero none. The Democrats actually have discipline to 168 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: say we don't support your agenda and we will block it. 169 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: And I said, we have a reason to ask, why 170 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: does our leadership want to stand up and pass the 171 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: amocratic agenda? I also pointed, I said, look, for the 172 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: last two years, we had a fifty fifty Senate, the 173 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: most narrow Senate imaginable. We won zero conservative victories because 174 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: our leadership would not use the leverage to get anything. 175 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: And I asked our leadership, I said, it's perfectly reasonable 176 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: for the conference to ask what are you willing to 177 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: fight on? And maybe the ANSWER's nothing, but we got 178 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: the next two years. Now, in the minority, there are 179 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: only two lever points that the minority has to force 180 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 1: a fight. One is government funding, either continuing resolution or 181 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: an omnibus. The other is the debt sailing. Those are 182 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: the two things that take sixty votes to pass, and 183 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: they're the only places historically that a minority has been 184 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,839 Speaker 1: able to get leverage to get the majority to agree 185 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 1: to concessions. Now, the view of Mitch McConnell over the 186 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: last two years, and I said, listen, we need to 187 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: have a real discussion. Is there's something we're willing to 188 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: fight on. I said, Look, we're getting ready to take 189 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: up the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act. Are we 190 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: willing to fight to say no service man or women 191 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: can be fired because they declined to take the COVID vaccine? 192 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: I believe yes. But we will only have a chance 193 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: in that fight if Republicans will stand together and say 194 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: we will not give you sixty votes to take this 195 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: up if we're not. If ten Republicans will say, oh, 196 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: we're going to give you the votes, then you know what, 197 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: Seal Team six, you're screwed. You're getting fired by Joe 198 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: Biden and the Democrats because Republicans were not willing to fight. 199 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: I said, sorry, it's fun, go ahead. No. Something that 200 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: I think was so shocking was Mitch McConnell had his 201 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: press conference and you mentioned this, and for a guy 202 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: that apparently has a higher approval rating in the Senate 203 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: that he does with the rest of the American people, 204 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: it was very interesting to see the way that he 205 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: described his own party and he said this. Candidates knew 206 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: what they before expressed it quite clearly. It's pretty obvious, 207 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: and all of you've been writing about it. What happened. 208 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 1: We underperformed among independents and moderates because their impression of 209 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: many of the people in our party and leadership roles 210 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: is that they're engolgd in chaos, negativity, excessive attacks, and 211 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: it frightened independent and modern Republican voters. I mean, that's 212 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: what he thought about hardcore conservative candidates. Make no mistake, 213 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: he's talking in code there, but what he's basically saying 214 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: is if you found more Mitch McConnell's and guys like 215 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: me that don't stand up to the Democrats, more of 216 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: us could have gotten elected. But it was the party's fault. 217 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: On the Conservatives. That is, he describes it the sent 218 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: up for this country, the Senate for a secure boarder 219 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: that stand up for balanced Budge amendments. He says, that 220 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: is you being involved in chaos and excessive negative attacks. 221 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 1: He says, that's the reason why we lost the opportunity 222 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: to win back the Senate. So, look, Mitch McConnell believes 223 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: if you fight the Democrats, if you fight the socialists, 224 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: if you fight the cultural Marxists who are destroying this country, 225 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: and you actually fight to win, that you're being what 226 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: was the language you used to VISs, If you're being 227 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: mean that to show your mature you should just surrender 228 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: the country and roll over. And what I raised to 229 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: my colleagues, I said, for Pete's sake, look, I don't 230 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,319 Speaker 1: think you should fight everything. If you fight a thousand 231 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 1: things all at once, you're you're not actually fighting anything. 232 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: You should set priorities. You should pick a couple of 233 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: big fights that really matter and stand up and draw 234 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: a line in the sand and say this is what 235 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: we stand for. So, like I suggested, we're not going 236 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: to pass the National Defense Authorization Act if you're firing 237 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: American heroes just because they didn't succumb to your demand 238 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: that they get the COVID vaccine. That's a good fight 239 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: to have. How about a fight to say, we're not 240 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: going to fund the eighty seven thousand new i RS 241 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: agents that the Democrats just passed to harass and attack 242 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: the American citizens. We're not going to fund it. Now, 243 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: here's what's going to happen if we say we're not 244 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: going to fund it. Joe Biden and the White House 245 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: are going to say, you mean, Republicans are shutting down 246 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: the government. And the press is going to say, you mean, 247 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: Republicans are shutting down the government. And if passed this prologue, 248 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: Mitch McConnell is going to say, you mean, Republicans are 249 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: shutting down the government. Our leadership echoes the message of 250 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: the Democrats and the left. And I just raised I said, look, 251 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: the conference has a right to know. Is there anything 252 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: Is there one issue that you give it damn enough 253 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: about that you're willing to say we will use the 254 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: levers of legislative power. We have to fight to win. 255 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: And as I said, the two historically have been either 256 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: funding the continuing resolution of the OMNIBU or the debt 257 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: ceiling and by the way, history has shown those levers work. So, 258 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: for example, the Budget Control Act in twenty ten, Republicans 259 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: came in the Tea Party wave and they said, we're 260 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: not going to fund everything, and Obama scream, you're shutting 261 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: down the government. You're shutting down the government. But actually, 262 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: for a moment, Republicans discovered a backbone, and the Budget 263 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: Control Act resulted in the greatest fiscal restraint you and 264 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: I have seen in our lifetime. And they did it 265 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: in a fight over the debt ceiling. Go back previously, 266 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: Graham Rudman. Graham Rudman was the most significant long term 267 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: spending restraint that has ever passed into law. They did 268 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: it in a fight over the debt ceiling, where they said, 269 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: we're not going to let you raise the debt ceiling 270 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: unless you do something to stop the out of control 271 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: spending that's driving inflation, that's driving this out of control debt. 272 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: What is different, Ben, is our leadership believes there is 273 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:02,359 Speaker 1: nothing worth act actually fighting for, that we should surrender 274 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: on everything. And I put it out, I said, look, 275 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: we ought to have this very real debate. I also 276 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: put it out there's a reason why most Republicans don't 277 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: get amendments on bills because our leaders Mitch McConnell and 278 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: Chuck Schumer block amendments on bills, which means they draft 279 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: all the spending bills, they drop them on the Senate 280 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: with an hour's notice. We don't even get to read 281 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: them because they're thousands of pages and they give it 282 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: to you as a take it or leave it proposition. 283 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: I said, the Senate used to operate with freedom of amendment. Historically, 284 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: the two prerogatives of a senator were unlimited debate and 285 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: unlimited amendment. And I described to folks, I said, look, 286 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: many of y'all didn't know some of the old bulls 287 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: of the Senator have retired, people like Lamar Alexander. I 288 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: know Lamar well. Lamar described to me a Senate where 289 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: he said, the Senate majority leader would take up a bill, 290 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: whatever bill was on the floor, and would say we're 291 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: going to go through all the amendments, and senators would 292 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: fire file three hundred amendments, and the majority of leaders say, fine, 293 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna start working through them. And you'd work through 294 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: a few, work through a few, and then you'd get 295 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: to about Thursday afternoon, and the phrase they use in 296 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: the senators. Jet fumes get in the air, which means 297 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 1: senators start wanting to go home to their states, and 298 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: suddenly the three hundred amendments would become a hundred amendments 299 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: would have come fifty amends to become thirty amendents because 300 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: people would say, Wow, I don't need my amendment vote 301 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: on I want to get home. And then the majority 302 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 1: leader would move through and process the thirty amendments that remained, 303 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: and they'd finish Thursday night or Friday afternoon or Friday 304 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: night or Saturday, but they'd finish and everyone would get 305 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: an amendment. You wonder how you get these multi trillion 306 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: dollars spending bills? How you stop them? Well, you allow amendments, 307 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: and you allow people to force amendments saying don't spend 308 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,479 Speaker 1: on this, don't spend on this, don't spend on this, 309 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: and you force votes on everything. But our leadership doesn't 310 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: want that. Hey, friends, you're listening to Verdict with Ted 311 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: Crew and Ben Ferguson. Will be right back to the 312 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: podcast after I take a minute and tell you about 313 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: American Hartford Gold Group. Friends, if you're like me, you're 314 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 1: growing more and more concerned about the future. 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Senator, 338 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: let's talk real quick about this part of this press conference. 339 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,360 Speaker 1: And I pulled this because I watched the whole thing 340 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: on c SPAN and there was a moment where Mitch 341 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: McConnell and it just seemed like it was the good 342 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: old boys club at work, where there was zero concern 343 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: that he was not going to be the leader, even 344 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: though only seven percent of Republicans support him as these 345 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: new poll numbers. But this is what he said, kind 346 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: of laughing at the idea of anyone challenging him on anything. Well, 347 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 1: as you notice, we had a rather lengthy and fulsome 348 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: discussion not only of the election but the way forward. 349 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:08,120 Speaker 1: And I think it's pretty obvious we may or may 350 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: not be voting tomorrow, but I think the outcome is 351 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: pretty clear. I want to repeat again, I have the votes. 352 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: I will be elected. The only issue is whether we 353 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: do it sooner or later. And I think we'll probably 354 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: have another discussion about that tomorrow. It's almost like the 355 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: fixes in he's basically saying, I'm your guy, whether it's 356 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: now or later, if we wait till walk or gets here, 357 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: if he wins or not, and I have the votes, 358 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: and if you want to be on my list people 359 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: to never get anything done the Senate, or never have 360 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: my friendship, or never work with me on anything, be blackballed, 361 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: go ahead and do it. I dare you, because quote 362 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: I have the votes, whether it's now or later. Well, 363 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: that is very much as approach I gotta say. Mitch 364 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: got up and what he focused on entirely was money 365 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: in his superpacket, over three hundred million dollars in there. 366 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: So his initial speech, he got up and he pointed 367 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: to the new guys and he said, I spent thirty 368 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: million dollars for you. I spent forty million dollars for you. 369 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: I spent fifty million dollars for you. That was the 370 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: whole speech, which is basically it's like the Godfather going, 371 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: you know, I did a favor for you, and there's 372 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: gonna come a time, and it may be today, it 373 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 1: maybe tomorrow when I'm gonna ask for a favor back. 374 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: That's basically what he stood up and said. I saw 375 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: it's also a threat there in your future career because 376 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 1: you and I talked about this the other day, and 377 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: you had the most expensive Senate race in history of 378 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: the US Senate, and zero dollars came in from Mitch 379 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: McConnell when you were running against beat too in the 380 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: Senate a couple of years ago. In other words, you 381 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: want any of this mine in the future, you're better 382 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: get in line and vote for me, aka the votes, 383 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: whether it's an hour or later. And if you don't, 384 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: you'll never get a dime for me, even I'm in 385 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: your own party. Yep, he spent zero dollars on my 386 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 1: race despite having the most expensive Senate race in US 387 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: history at the time. In twenty sixteen, he spent zero 388 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 1: dollars on Ron Johnson's race, despite it being an incredibly 389 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: contentious race where Ron pulled it out but did it 390 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,439 Speaker 1: entirely without Mitch McConnell's health. He spent zero dollars on 391 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: Mike Lee's race this cycle, despite the fact that he 392 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: faced a very real race. If you're a conservative and 393 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: you stand up to Mitch, you get zeroed out. He 394 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: pulled the cash out from Blake Masters in Arizona, arguably 395 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 1: cost us winning the Arizona seat. He pulled the cash 396 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: out from General Bulldock in New Hampshire potentially cost us 397 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: that seat as well, and so it is it is 398 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: all about cash and power, and my view is we 399 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: ought to actually have leadership that lays out a vision 400 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: of what we stand for. And by the way, so 401 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: the way this works is there where I don't know 402 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: about twenty senators who spoke, and about half the senators 403 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: we're raising concerns about leadership and arguing for delaying delaying 404 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: the vote, which is I think clearly the right thing 405 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: to do. The other half the senators are allies of 406 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 1: Mitch McConnell, and they stood up and gave speeches. We've 407 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: got to vote tomorrow and it's incredibly important we re 408 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: elect Mitch. And so one of the talking points they 409 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: used is they said, Georgia Herschel walker, because we want 410 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: Herschel to win, we need to all immediately vote for 411 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,199 Speaker 1: Mitch McConnell. And I gotta say I stood up and 412 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 1: I said, Okay, that is the dumbest argument I've ever heard. 413 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: I was just down in George. I did the first 414 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 1: big rally in the runoff with Herschel. You want to 415 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: talk about how to demoralize conservatives in Georgia. Have all 416 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: of us come back today and say, you know what, 417 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,919 Speaker 1: we got clovered in this election, but we learned nothing, 418 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: and we're going to reelect the exact same leadership and 419 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 1: do the same failed policies that didn't work for the 420 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: last two years, because charge ahead, and never mind that 421 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: we're actually going to stand for something, and I'll point 422 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: out something else. Well. And it's not just that though. 423 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:18,199 Speaker 1: It also sends a message to voters that we've already 424 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: moved on past and accepted quote defeat. And so it 425 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 1: really doesn't matter if you give, you work, your door knock, 426 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,919 Speaker 1: you make phone calls, you do whatever it is on 427 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: herschel Walker's campaign, because Washington has already admitted defeat and 428 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: we just move on. Well, and there's another argument I made. 429 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 1: I said, you want an example of this right now, 430 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 1: the Democrats this week are prepared to take up their 431 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: bill embracing gay marriage, and they planned to pass it 432 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: with all the Democrats, and there's a very good chance 433 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: you'll get at least ten Republicans supporting them. I said, 434 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: you people say you want to win Georgia, you want 435 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 1: the Republicans in the Senate to embrace gay marriage, and 436 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 1: By the way, it's not just gay marriage. This bill 437 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: is designed to empower the Biden Irs to go after churches, 438 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: to go after universities, to go after schools K through 439 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: twelve schools, to go after charities, Christian charities, Jewish charities, 440 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: Muslim charities, any charity that believes marriage is the union 441 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: of one man and one woman. Any charity that does 442 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: not embrace same sex marriage. This bill is designed to 443 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 1: strip their five oh one C three status, to persecute 444 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 1: the churches and universities and schools and charities. And I said, 445 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: you think you're helping herschel Walker by kicking Evangelical Christians 446 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,719 Speaker 1: and Georgia in the teeth. You ought to call this 447 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: whole damn thing an in kind contribution to Raphael Warnock 448 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,719 Speaker 1: because it's designed to drive down our turnout. Now they 449 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 1: don't want to engage in that. In our leadership, God forbid, 450 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: would actually try to stop a bill that unifies all 451 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 1: the Democrats. One hundred percent of the Democrats support it, 452 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: and that divides our party brutally. That doesn't make any 453 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: sense to me, And it's why we need leadership that 454 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: is actually trying to fight and win instead of trying 455 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:28,360 Speaker 1: to find ways to acquiesce and roll over to Democrats. Well, 456 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: let's talk about money very quickly. Was there any guarantees 457 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,719 Speaker 1: from Mitch McConnell that he was going to open his 458 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: purse strings to his war chest to help in this 459 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: runoff election in Georgia. Oh, look, he'll spend money in Georgia. 460 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: Of course they will, because it Georgia matters, and he 461 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: will spend money in Georgia. But what he's not interested 462 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: in doing is changing how leadership occurs. Now, let me 463 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: give you some good news on this, Ben, I've been 464 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: in the Senate ten years. We have never had a 465 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 1: discussion about leadership like we just had yesterday, a three 466 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: and a half hour, bare knuckles, serious discussion of the 467 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: failures of leadership and how we need to do better. 468 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: That's a step forward. I'm encouraged by that. This morning, 469 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 1: at nine thirty, we're going to go and have leadership elections. 470 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: They will be in the historic Senate Chamber in the Capitol. 471 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: The very first thing that will happen, I will stand 472 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: up and I will make a motion to delay the 473 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: elections until after the Georgia runoff. I don't know whether 474 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: it will pass or not. They're about ten Senators Usseau 475 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: who have publicly supported delaying the election. They're about ten 476 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: Senators Husseau publicly opposed it. The remaining thirty ish Republican 477 00:27:53,400 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: senators haven't said. Mitch seems serenely confident that he has 478 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:05,199 Speaker 1: the votes, and it is true that almost all of 479 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: my colleagues are dependent on Mitch for their campaign cash, 480 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: so maybe he has the votes. Some of my colleagues 481 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 1: are resting serene saying, well, the vote will be a 482 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: secret ballot, so I won't be held accountable for how 483 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 1: I vote. Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to 484 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,919 Speaker 1: tell people how I vote. I'm going to vote to 485 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 1: delay the elections. And everyone who votes to do that 486 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 1: will tell the press and tell their constituents how they vote. 487 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: Which means any senator who says I'm not going to 488 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,479 Speaker 1: tell you how they vote, they just told you how 489 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: they voted. They voted not to delay the election. They 490 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: voted with Mitch, and I think that is an unfortunate vote. 491 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: I hope that the majority takes the reasonable decision delays 492 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: the election and doesn't just do it, not just to 493 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: give herschel Walker and whoever the senator is from Alaska 494 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: the opportunity to participate, but in order to have a 495 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: month long debate about as a conference, how do we 496 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: want to operate? Do we want to be a one 497 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 1: person dictatorship or do we want members of the conference 498 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: to actually have input in Okay, this issue matters enough 499 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: to fight, let's fight together. I don't know how that'll 500 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,479 Speaker 1: play out, but we will find out later today. Well, lastly, 501 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: on this issue, for people that are listening that do 502 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: still want to get in the fight, how important it 503 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: is for them to call their senators? Is that going 504 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: to make an impact? Can it still make an impact 505 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: to call your senator right now and say I want 506 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: you to delay this leadership vote until after the special 507 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: or after the runoff in Georgia. Well, i'll tell you 508 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: the window we're vote. We are meeting to vote, and 509 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: nine thirty Wednesday morning. So if you're listening to this 510 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: after nine thirty on Wednesday morning, East Coast time, and 511 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: most people will be listening to this after nine thirty 512 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: Wednesday morning, it's probably too late to call your senators 513 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: at that point because we're going to be physically in 514 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 1: the room casting the votes. I will say this has 515 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: been an important fight to have and I will tell 516 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: you in the middle of it. So leadership spent a 517 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: lot of time trying to blame number one, Donald Trump, 518 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,760 Speaker 1: but number two trying to really stick it to Rick Scott, 519 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: who was the head of the NRSC, the National Republican 520 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: Senatorial Committee. And I called out leadership. I said, listen, 521 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: it is staff for the Republican leader who is planting 522 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: article after article in the press slamming Rick Scott because 523 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: they want to blame Rick Scott and say it's all 524 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: Rick Scott's fault and not Mitch McConnell's. And I said, 525 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: for one thing, why is the Republican leader spending more 526 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: time attacking Republicans in the conference than Democrats? Like that 527 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: is not kosher, That is not playing fair to plant 528 00:30:56,120 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: nasty stories slamming the people that you allegedly represent and 529 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 1: are working for. But I think that helped proud Rick. 530 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: So at the lunch she stood up and said, Okay, 531 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 1: I'm gonna run. And so Rick is announced that he 532 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 1: intends to run for Majority leader today. So starting at 533 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: nine thirty this morning, I assume Mitch is going to 534 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: give some form of a speech saying why Republicans should 535 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: vote for him and then Rick Scott. Rick is promising 536 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 1: to run a more collaborative leadership, to actually listen to members, 537 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: to take the views of the conference, and follow the 538 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: views of the conference, rather than just dropping multi thousand 539 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 1: page spending bills on the conference an hour before ahead 540 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: of time and giving it as a take it or 541 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 1: leave it. I don't know how that outcome will resolve. 542 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 1: I think the odds are high Mitch McConnell gets reelected. 543 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,959 Speaker 1: Why because he's the biggest owner to almost every single 544 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 1: member in the conference. But it's an exercise of money 545 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: and brute power. And I do think this election is 546 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: significant because I'll tell you every member of the Republican 547 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: Conference when he or she goes home to their home states, 548 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: is going to be asked by the voters, who did 549 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: you vote for? And looks it's no secret I'm not 550 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 1: going to vote to re elect Mitch McConnell because I 551 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: think the current model hasn't worked. Yeah, it's broken, and 552 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 1: the American people, I think, obviously are with you. With 553 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: a approval rating of seven percent of momor Republicans. That's 554 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: where Mitch McConnell is right now. And ben one important 555 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 1: thing to keep in mind. The way I have laid 556 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: out this case among the conference. I haven't been personal, 557 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: I haven't been nasty. I haven't been attacking Mitch McConnell personally. 558 00:32:56,880 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 1: What I've been saying is the American people have elected us, 559 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: expecting us to stand and fight, expecting us to actually 560 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: give a damn about what we told the voters we 561 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: would give a damn about and lead smart strategic fights. 562 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: And my complaint is we haven't been doing that. My 563 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: complaint is about the substance of the leadership. It's not 564 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: a personal attack. It's that we need to behave differently 565 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 1: if we're going to win these fights. Let me tell 566 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: you something amazing, Ben, The Democrats leadership election is the 567 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 1: second week of December, so they've delayed their own leadership 568 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: election till after the Georgia runoffs. How in the hell 569 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 1: is it the case that the Republican leadership respects the 570 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: voters less than Chuck friggin Schumer. Yeah, that makes no sense. Well, 571 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 1: it goes back to the fix that's in And you 572 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 1: could hear him McConnell's voice saying, I have the votes. 573 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 1: I have the votes, whether it's an hour or later, 574 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 1: I have the Votes Center. It's really fun to get 575 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 1: them behind. This means look here what actually happens when 576 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: it comes to McConnell. And this is why I love 577 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: doing this podcast with you. For anyone listening, make sure 578 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: you hit that share button, hit that subscriber auto download button. 579 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,359 Speaker 1: You get the show for free three days a week. 580 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: When you do that automatically on your device, you can 581 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:19,320 Speaker 1: also tell Alexa or Surrey at any point play Verdict 582 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: with Ted Cruz and it will play it automatically for you, 583 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:25,320 Speaker 1: and we will see you back here on Friday morning.