1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: We've got a lot to talk about today on the show, 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: and with the firing of Pambonni, that is something obviously 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: everyone is asking about. Senator Cruz and I decided to 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: sit down and talk not only about Pambonni, it's a 5 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,159 Speaker 1: dear friend of his and someone that I know as 6 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: well and we've had on my show, but also then 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: the President and what he is saying is coming next. 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: This is also extremely important with a RAN. We decided 9 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: to break all of that down for you on this 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: good Friday, so take a listen. So Senator President Trump 11 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: came out. He addressed the nation about thirty one days 12 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: after he kind of told us what was going to 13 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: go on when we were going into Iran and what 14 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 1: the goals and objectives were. He was giving an update 15 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 1: to the American people. I really genuinely love this level 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: of transparency and also explaining where we are, what is 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: still left. And I think it landed pretty well, especially 18 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: with people that voted for the President. 19 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's right. The President said exactly what 20 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 2: we're doing and what's coming next. Here, give a listen. 21 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 3: Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight 22 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 3: that we are on track to complete all of America's 23 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 3: military objectives. Shortly, very shortly, We're going to hit them 24 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 3: extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're 25 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 3: going to bring them back to the Stone ages where 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 3: they belong. 27 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: Center. For anybody that wants transparency, you don't get any 28 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: more transparent than this president. He's like, yes, we have 29 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 1: the upper hand to the level where he can literally 30 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: just say, Toran, this is what we're going to do 31 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: to you. If you don't agree to this, if you 32 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: don't open the strain of their hormonage, well guess what. 33 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: We're going to bomb the living snot out of you. 34 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: And we're not bluffing. I love the fact that this 35 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: president is just being like this transparent, not just with us, 36 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: but like with the rest of the world as well. 37 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: Look, that's important for our enemies to hear. It's important 38 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: for our friends to hear. Imagine for a second, you 39 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: are the current Iatola. The previous Iyatola has gone to 40 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: meet his maker. You're the new Iahtola, and you're thinking, Okay, 41 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: we've made it through four weeks of this. This is 42 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: about to be over. The Americans are about to stop. 43 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: And then you turn on the TV. You turn on 44 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: the internet and you see him say, we're going to 45 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: bomb you back to the Stone Age. Look, that's not 46 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 2: encouraging for the people who chant death to America. That 47 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: is that that is extremely dismaying. They're holding on by 48 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 2: their fingernails. And he's being clear that they're going to 49 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 2: hit very, very hard. Now he's also being clear this 50 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: is going to last a couple of weeks. It's not 51 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: going to last months more. It's not going to last 52 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 2: a year or longer. He's going to pound the hell 53 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 2: at him for the next couple of weeks. And you know, 54 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 2: for the handful of online critics. And I do want 55 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: to say the press loves to say there's a civil 56 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: war among Republicans on President Trump attacking Iran. That is 57 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 2: objectively false. If you look at the polling, the support 58 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: is between eighty five percent and ninety percent of Republicans 59 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,119 Speaker 2: support what the president is doing. That's not a civil war. 60 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: They're just a handful of really loud voices, self proclaim 61 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 2: influencers and podcasters. By the way, can you stand a 62 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 2: podcast podcaster? What an annoying class of human being? 63 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: The podcasters, Yeah, they quoted a lot when you need them, right, 64 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: like that. Well, there's a lot of Republican podcasters that 65 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: I describe as useful idiots for the left whenever they 66 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: need one. It's like they raise their hand like, oh, 67 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: I'll do that for you, Like I'll say that for 68 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: you as long as you get my name out there. 69 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: It's truly incredible. 70 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, these self proclaimed podcasters are fond of saying, oh, 71 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: President Trump has changed his view. He's changed his view 72 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 2: because he's a puppet that others are pulling his strings. Well, look, 73 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: the President was Claire also in his national address, this 74 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: has been his view for a long long time. Here, 75 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: give a listen. 76 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 3: From the very first day I announced my campaign for 77 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 3: president in twenty fifteen, I have vowed that I would 78 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 3: never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. This fanacular 79 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 3: regime has been chanting death to America, death to Israel 80 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 3: for forty seven years. Their proxies were behind the murder 81 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 3: of two hundred and forty one Americans and the Marine 82 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 3: barracks bombing in Beirut, the slaughter of hundreds of our 83 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 3: service members with roadside bombs. They were involved in the 84 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 3: attack on the USS coal and they're carried out the 85 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: countless other heinous acts including the blood just horrible, bloody 86 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: atrocities of October seventh in Israel, something that most people 87 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 3: have never seen anything like it. This murderer's regime also 88 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: recently killed forty five thousand of their own people who 89 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: were protesting in Iran. Forty five thousand dead. For these 90 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 3: terrorists to have nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat. 91 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 3: The most violent and thuggish regime on earth would be 92 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 3: free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest, 93 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 3: and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield. I will 94 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 3: never let that happen, and neither should any of our 95 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 3: past presidents. 96 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: You know, the only difference between Donald Trump and the 97 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: past presidence he just mentioned there is every other president 98 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: has said that you can't allow I Ran to get 99 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: a nuclear weapon and that they are a threat to 100 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: this country directly. The only difference is Donald Trump actually 101 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: did what he said he was going to do, and 102 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: he was going to stop them. The other ones did not. 103 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: They tried appeasement, they tried just kind of looking the 104 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: other way. None of it works since nineteen seventy nine, 105 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: So now he's doing it. That's literally the only difference here. 106 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 2: Well, Listen, President Trump has been absolutely clear, as he 107 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 2: pointed out, going back to when he launched his first 108 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: presidential campaign in twenty fifteen. Twenty fifteen was eleven years ago. 109 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 2: So the naysayers online who claim there's some like magical 110 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 2: realization Donald Trump has had, have not listened to him 111 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: year after year after year for more than a decade. 112 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: When he said Iran will not get nuclear weapons, he 113 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 2: and he's acting, he's carrying out on that. Right now. 114 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: I want to play Devil's advocate with you, because there's 115 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: a lot of people and some of those on the 116 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 1: right that have said this like, we didn't need to 117 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: go now. This was just Donald Trump wanting to get 118 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 1: into some sort of war and this was bad timing 119 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: by him. So let me ask you. For people that 120 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: are saying why now, explain why now made sense? 121 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: Well, there were two factors that were really critical. Number One, 122 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: as President Trump mentioned just a minute ago, and as 123 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: he said for eleven years, we cannot allow Iran to 124 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: get nuclear weapons. That when the Ayatola chanted death to America, 125 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: we have every reason to believe him. The Iranian regime 126 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 2: has killed nearly a thousand Americans. They have been the 127 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 2: number one state funder of terrorism worldwide. If they had 128 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: a nuclear weapon, the odds are unacceptably high they would 129 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: use it. Now. A month ago, they were not on 130 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Last year, during the 131 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: Twelve Day War, President Trump ordered our B two bombers 132 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: to fly halfway around the world, and we dropped bunker 133 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: busters on their nuclear weapons research facilities, particularly four daw 134 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: which four DOW is a secret research bunker. It was 135 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: built under a mountain and it was built to withstand 136 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: bombing attacks because Israel did not have bombs big enough 137 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: to take out four daugh. No other country on Earth 138 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: had bombs big enough to do that except for the 139 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 2: United States, were the only ones that had the bunker 140 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: busters big enough to take it out. The ordinance we 141 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 2: dropped on their nuclear research facilities last year where the 142 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: equivalent of one third of a nuclear weapon. We're talking big, 143 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: big bombs, and we took out their nuclear weapons facilities. 144 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: So a month ago they were not on the verge 145 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 2: of acquiring nuclear weapons facilities or nuclear weapons. Rather, why 146 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: did President Trump act? Because Iran was building missiles, short 147 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: range and medium range ballistic missiles at an incredibly rapid clip, 148 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: over one hundred missiles a month they were building. They 149 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: were all building. 150 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: Put that respective, I think people need to understand building 151 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: one hundred a month, that is like warp speed in 152 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: the ballistic missile world. People need to understand that, like, 153 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: if you're building that many, it's for a reason you're 154 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: going toward. It's not even a defensive that's like an 155 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: offensive posture. And everybody in the world basically agreed with that. 156 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: Well, we also know now that they had missiles that 157 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 2: were sufficient that they could go all the way from 158 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: Iran to Diego Garcia, because during this war they fired 159 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 2: a missile at Dieo Garcia, which is a British American 160 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: military base in the Chagos Islands in the middle of 161 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 2: the Indian Oceans. That's a couple thousand miles away. That 162 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 2: is the same distance from Iran that Paris and London are, 163 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: which meant they had missiles far enough to get to 164 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 2: the capital cities in Europe. They were building over one 165 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 2: hundred missiles a month. They were also building vast numbers 166 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: of drones, and their plan was to have so many 167 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 2: missiles and so many drones that it would become prohibitively 168 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 2: costly to go in and take out their next nuclear 169 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 2: weapons research facility. They wandered enough missiles and drones that 170 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 2: if we came in and took out Phase two of 171 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: the nuclear weapons research facility, they could inflict massive casualties 172 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: on their neighbors. And look what they did when this 173 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: conflict started. They fired missiles at everybody, not just at Israel, 174 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 2: at every one of their neighbors. And so the Trump 175 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 2: administration made the determination they needed to act now before 176 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: they had so many missiles and so many drones that 177 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 2: there would be a massive loss of life if we 178 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 2: acted subsequently to take out nuclear weapons research facilities. That's 179 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: number one. Number two, the Iranian regime is weaker right 180 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 2: now than it has been at any time during our lifetime. 181 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 2: As you know, I spent the entire day the day 182 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: before this conflict began with President Trump. He and I 183 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 2: were together at Air Force One. We flew from DC 184 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 2: to Texas together, and then he asked me to join 185 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: him in the beast, in the presidential limo. It was 186 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: just the two of us, one on one. The entire 187 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 2: time we were talking about what should he do in 188 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 2: Iran and what I was arguing to him, I support 189 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 2: this attack, and I urge this attack vigorously, and I said, listen, 190 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: the regime has never been more vulnerable. It is teetering, 191 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 2: and there is very little, if anything, that you could 192 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 2: do that would more greatly enhance American national security than 193 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: to see this radical Islamist regime collapse, to remove from 194 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: power an Ayatola, who chanced death to America, who has 195 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 2: been murdering Americans for years, and who wants to kill 196 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 2: as many Americans as he can. 197 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: All right, let me go back to another big question, 198 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: and I would say a fallacy that's been out there 199 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: that a lot of people have been talking about, and 200 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: that is, well, it wasn't America's role to do this. 201 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: If the neighbors were afraid, then they should have been 202 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: the ones. We already went after their nuclear facilities. That's 203 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: where America should have stopped. And if others in Europe 204 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: were concerned about me hit by these missiles that could 205 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: reach them capital cities, then that's on them to do it, 206 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: not America. Why did we have to do this, that's 207 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: the isolation's viewpoint I've heard. 208 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 2: Look, we weren't doing it for Iran's neighbors. We weren't 209 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 2: doing it for Saudi Arabia or UAE or Cutter. We 210 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 2: weren't doing it for Europe, and we weren't doing it 211 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: for Israel. I know all of the jew haters online 212 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: like to say, it's for Israel, it's for Israel, It's 213 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 2: for Israel. The Iyatola chanted death to America. He also 214 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 2: chanted death to Israel. But there's a reason the Ayatola 215 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 2: called Israel the little Satan and America the Great Satan. 216 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 2: I believe if the Ayatola had a nuclear weapon, he 217 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 2: might have detonated it in Tel Aviv and killed vast 218 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 2: numbers of Israelis. But I actually think it is more 219 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: likely if he could, he would detonate a nuclear weapon 220 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 2: in New York City or Los Angeles and kill as 221 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 2: many Americans as possible. That is, look when he calls 222 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 2: us the great Satan, and understand this is not hypothetical. 223 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: And I want to underscore my view. I am, as 224 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: a general matter, very reluctant to use military force. I 225 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,199 Speaker 2: think the Iraq War was a mistake. I have been 226 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 2: vocal for a long time that the Iraq War was 227 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 2: a mistake. Why do I think it was a mistake 228 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: because Saddam Hussein was not waging war against the United States. 229 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 2: He was not killing vast numbers of Americans. He was 230 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: not pledging to kill vast numbers of Americans. The Ayatola 231 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 2: was over ninety percent of the funding for hamas Hesbial 232 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: and the Huthis had come from Iran. They were murdering 233 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 2: Americans year after year after year. They were trying to 234 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 2: murder President Trump. And that is why the President acted. 235 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 2: And look at all we've accomplished. Give a listen to 236 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: the President on everything we've accomplished so far. 237 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 3: Tonight, Iran's navy is gone, their air force is in ruins. 238 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 3: Their leaders, most of them terrorist regime they led, are 239 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 3: now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary 240 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 3: Guard cos OR is being decimated as we speak. Their 241 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 3: ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and 242 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 3: their weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces. 243 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 3: Very few of them left. Never in the history of 244 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 3: warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating, large 245 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 3: scale losses in a matter of weeks. 246 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 1: President Trump being very clear there, I want to move 247 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: on to one of the big headlines. It's never fun 248 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: when someone loses their job, and the administration, the headline 249 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: from the New York Posts, Pambondi speaks out for the 250 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: first time after Trump fired her as the Attorney General. 251 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: I want to get your take on this. You know 252 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: her well, I know her, We've had her on this 253 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: show before. Look in cabinets, there's always people that come 254 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: and go. That's just part of Washington and politics. It 255 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: is what it is. There's a lot of people on 256 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: the left that are just thrilled about this that they're 257 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:00,040 Speaker 1: there's a turmoil and you know everything. I don't. I 258 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: think it's that way at all. I think this is 259 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: the President just saying, Okay, I want to do something 260 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: a little bit different, and he's going to move on 261 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: pretty darn quick. 262 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, Pam Bondy is a good friend of mine. 263 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 2: I think she took on what may be the single 264 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: hardest job in the entire administration, the Department of Justice. 265 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: There is a deep state at DOJ and at the 266 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 2: FBI who fought her from day one, who have been 267 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 2: waging war trying to prevent her efforts to bring back integrity, 268 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: to take the politicization out of the Department of Justice. 269 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 2: And it's been an uphill battle. It's been a difficult battle. 270 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: Pam was someone who she was a guest on Verdict, 271 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: literally when she was just a couple of weeks into 272 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 2: the job at a very beginning, brand new ag She 273 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 2: came on Verdict and was a guest and talked to 274 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 2: us about everything she was trying to accomplish. You know, 275 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 2: she put out a tweet saying farewell. Here's what Pam 276 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 2: had to say. Over the next month, I will be 277 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 2: working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to 278 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 2: the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private 279 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 2: sector role I am thrilled about and where I will 280 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: continue fighting for President Trump in this administration. Leading President 281 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 2: Trump's historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer 282 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 2: and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime 283 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: and easily the most consequential first year of the Department 284 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 2: of Justice in American history. Since February twenty twenty five, 285 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 2: we have secured the lowest murder rate in one hundred 286 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: and twenty five years, secured first ever terrorism convictions against 287 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 2: members of Antifa, shattered domestic and transnational gangs across the country, 288 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: taken custody of more than ninety key cartel figures, and 289 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 2: won twenty four favorable rulings at the Supreme Court. I 290 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: remain internally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed 291 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 2: in me to make America safe again. And listen, I 292 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: think Pam served honorably. It is the President's prerogative to 293 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: choose if he wants a new leadership of the Department 294 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 2: of Justice, and he's made that choice. But I think 295 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: Pam served honorably in a very difficult job. And I 296 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 2: think her results, particularly in terms of crime, in terms 297 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 2: of going after murderers and rapists and gang bangers and 298 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 2: illegal aliens, and the resulting twenty percent drop in the 299 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 2: murder rate is staggering and unprecedented, and it is something she 300 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 2: should be very proud of. I'm certain that she is, 301 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: because between that and the rate of drug overdose deaths 302 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: dropping twenty percent nationally, there are literally thousands of Americans 303 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 2: right now who are alive today because of the policy 304 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 2: she and President Trump and a Republican Congress put in place, 305 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: securing the border and removing dangerous criminals. That's something to 306 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: be really proud of. 307 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: It is and you look at my hometown for examp, 308 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: where I was born in Memphis, Tennesseee PAM was there 309 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: multiple times. Crime there is down forty percent year over year. 310 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: The President just went to Memphis, gosh, less than a 311 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: week ago and talked about the success there of what 312 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: he did there in Washington, d C. PAM was a 313 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: large part of that as well. And as you mentioned, 314 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: like that's part of a legacy. Look, you and I 315 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: have known people that have come and gone in cabinets before, 316 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: some of them actually ags. I've known a couple that 317 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: have lost their job after a while. It is, it's 318 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 1: one of the hardest jobs to do. My former mentor 319 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: in DC was John Ashcroft, and he always didn't get 320 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: along with the president. Units It's America. George Bush forty three, 321 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: and afterwards Alberto Gonzalez came in. I mean, you know, 322 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: it is part of what happens. I also think, though, 323 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: based on the names we're hearing right now, somebody's going 324 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: to get this job and they're going to do probably 325 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: one hell of a job for the president. And I 326 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 1: do think even now, you know even more to find 327 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: what the President's gonna want out of you on the 328 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: second go round on this one, that also can be 329 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 1: good for that individual coming in. 330 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, at least right now what's been announced is 331 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: that Todd Blanche, who's the Deputy Attorney General, is going 332 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 2: to be the acting Attorney General. I don't know how 333 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: long that's going to last. It wouldn't surprise me if 334 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 2: President Trump gives him a little bit of time to 335 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 2: see what kind of job he does, he may end 336 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 2: up leaving Todd Blanche in that role. That would not 337 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 2: shock me. Todd is a serious lawyer, has been doing 338 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 2: a good job as Deputy Attorney General. He has been 339 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 2: focused on a lot of the law enforcement mission, in 340 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: particular locking up criminals, and so I could see him 341 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,479 Speaker 2: being given a shot at the top job. There's been 342 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 2: other chatter that Lee's Elden leez Elden has also been 343 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 2: a guest on this podcast. He's the administrator of the EPA. 344 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 1: That I didn't realize he's a lawyer. I had multiple 345 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: people texting me, They're like, how is the guy in 346 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: the EPA. I'm like, well, he's a lawyer, And they 347 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: had no idea he was a lawyer. I mean he's 348 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: His name has been circulating like inside of Washington and 349 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: outside of Washington as well. 350 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 2: Well. Listen Lee has done a very effective job at EPA. 351 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 2: And by the way, it is hard to do the 352 00:18:58,080 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 2: job ahead of the EPA if you're not a lawyer, 353 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 2: because it's dense and complicated laws and regulations and understanding it. 354 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 2: And Lee's been really effective in the regulatory reform agenda 355 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 2: and in pulling back the job killing regulations that did 356 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 2: so much damage under the Biden administration. And I suspect 357 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 2: that's one reason I haven't had this conversation with President Trump, 358 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 2: But I suspect that's one reason why he's considering Lee 359 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: is because he's been very, very effective in a complicated, 360 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 2: difficult cabinet position. Now DOJ is qualitatively different. And listen, 361 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 2: I'll say as for me, you know, in the first 362 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 2: Trump administration, I talked to the President quite seriously about 363 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 2: possibly being a g and in Trump won. I went 364 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 2: in and spent about four and a half hours in 365 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 2: Trump Tower the week after the election in November twenty sixteen, 366 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 2: and I had a conversation with him on a number 367 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 2: of fronts, and I made what I would say would 368 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 2: be a half hearted play for ag what I told 369 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 2: him at the time, as I said, listen, I recognize 370 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 2: back then that I was pretty late on the train, 371 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,239 Speaker 2: and I said there are others like Jeff Sessions or 372 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: Juliani or Christy. If they want to be ag, you 373 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 2: probably should should give it to them. But if you, 374 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 2: if you wanted to talk to me about this, I'd 375 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: be willing to have that conversation. We did talk about it. 376 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 2: We had a good conversation. The President made the decision 377 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 2: to go with Jeff Sessions. Jeff was a good friend 378 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 2: of mine, was a colleague in the Senate. I was 379 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 2: happy for him, and I will tell you, in the 380 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 2: eleven years since that conversation, I have been grateful every 381 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 2: day since then that I did not go down that path, 382 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 2: because let's be clear, if I had become. 383 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: Ag, you're gonna ask that question. I was going to 384 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: ask the question like, did you ever look back and 385 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: you're like, that was the best conversation ever to be 386 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: late on the train? 387 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 2: Oh, yes, yes, yes, And look, I made a half 388 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 2: hearted play on purpose. I know how to make a 389 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 2: full throat at play, but I thought I perceived the 390 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 2: downsides of the job, and I liked what I was 391 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 2: doing then, so I was like, but to be honest, 392 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 2: the reason I made the half hearted play is is 393 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: just for love of the game. I mean frankly, the 394 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 2: job of Attorney General. I would really enjoy that job. 395 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 2: It didn't make any sense, it wasn't consistent with what 396 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 2: I wanted to do, but it just would be fun 397 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 2: in hindsight. So I will tell you. Nine months into it, 398 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 2: there was a story in the New York Times. This 399 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 2: is would have been I think August of twenty seventeen. 400 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: Oh, I remember, I remember, well, where you're going with this? 401 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: Keep going? 402 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 2: And the story said Trump is thinking about firing Jeff's 403 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 2: Sessions and he's talking to Cruise about replacing him, and look, 404 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 2: Sessions has been a friend of mine forever. So I 405 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 2: called Jeff. And by the way, Jeff knew that I 406 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 2: talked to him about it. He was in Trump Tower 407 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 2: the day I was there talking to about it. We 408 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 2: were very open and transparent with each other. And I 409 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 2: called Jeff the day that story came out and I said, hey, Jeff, 410 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 2: I just wanted you to hear from me. This is 411 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 2: BS like I have not I said, you knew I 412 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: had a conversation with the President back November of last year. 413 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 2: I said, since then, I've not had another conversation about 414 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 2: AG And I just told Jeff, I want you to 415 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 2: hear from me. I don't want the job and I 416 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,479 Speaker 2: wouldn't take it if offered, So this is not coming 417 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 2: from me. And listen, Jeff had a rough time in 418 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 2: that position. Bill Barr, who succeeded him, started out really well, 419 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 2: but at the end he had a rough time in 420 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 2: that position. That has been a job. Pam Bondy did 421 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 2: a lot of good, but getting fired in front of 422 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 2: the world is not fun. It's not fun. I put 423 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 2: out a statement saying saying how much I support and 424 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 2: like her, and I sent her a text just saying hey, 425 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 2: I'm praying for you and thinking for thinking of you, 426 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 2: and thank you for being a patriot and answer in 427 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: the call. But all of which is to say, I 428 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 2: am immensely glad that I stayed in the Senate. I've 429 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 2: been Donald Trump's single strongest ally in the Senate for 430 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 2: more than a decade. But I very much like the 431 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 2: arrangement of working hand in hand with the President from 432 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 2: the Senate rather than DJ. Whoever gets the nod, whether 433 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 2: it's Todd Blanche or Lee Zelden or whoever, I will 434 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 2: work with them to help them get confirmed. I will 435 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 2: work hand in hand with them, just like I did 436 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 2: with Pam Bondy and Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions. Because 437 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 2: the mission of DJ is massively important and President Trump 438 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 2: deserves a strong, effective, incredibly principled Attorney General. 439 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: Mark Wayne got confirmed. It was actually pretty easy. Do 440 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 1: you expect the same thing for whoever the President picks 441 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: real quick in this position as well, even with a 442 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: slim majority. 443 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 2: Probably, although like Mark Wayne, I think it'll be largely 444 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 2: a party line vote. Mark Wayne got only two Democrats 445 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 2: who voted for him. I think no matter who who 446 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 2: the President appoints, the Democrats will will will party line 447 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 2: vote against him, with a possible exception of one or two. 448 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 2: But if it's anything like if it's any reasonable appointment appointment, 449 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 2: I think you'll see the Republic line up and give 450 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 2: the President at least fifty one votes. 451 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: All right, center. There was something very interesting that happened 452 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: this week. No one was really covering it. The New 453 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: York Times, however, did report on this that that radical 454 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: leftist organization Act Blue may have misled Congress on and 455 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: I'm quoting here, vetting foreign donations. Its lawyers said, so, 456 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: just to be clear, another example of Democrats taking foreign interference. 457 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: Something I thought they were totally against in our elections, 458 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: in our laws, but yeah, not on this one. Apparently 459 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: foreign dollars coming in and they may not have vetted 460 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: the money at all. 461 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 2: So in a shocking development, rain fell upwards, fish began flying, ye, 462 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 2: birds began swimming. Yes, And the New York Times actually 463 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 2: reported news. 464 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,640 Speaker 1: Do we do a golf cap for that? Like Little Masters? 465 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 2: It is shocking story. And this is actually a bombshell 466 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 2: story that that could potentially have very real consequences. It's 467 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 2: in the New York Times. The headline is Act Blue 468 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 2: may have misled Congress on vetting foreign donations. Its lawyers warned. 469 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 2: So understand the source of this is Covington and Berling, 470 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 2: which is a blue chip law firm in d C. 471 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 2: That that that we were. Joe Biden's former White House 472 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 2: counsel was the lawyer for Act Blue and Act Blue 473 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 2: is is a powerhouse. It is raised billions and billions 474 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:35,159 Speaker 2: of dollars for Democrats. 475 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: Say that again not millions, billion, billions raids, just for Democrats. 476 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 2: That they flood money. And they have all of these 477 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 2: donors who their credit card information is set in. They're 478 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 2: on auto contribute month after month after month, and it 479 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 2: just floods cash. 480 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 3: Now. 481 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 2: Here's what The New York Times reported. The Democratic fundraising 482 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 2: group is facing investigations from the Justice Department and Congressional 483 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 2: Republicans ahead of midterm elections. In early twenty twenty five, 484 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 2: a law firm working for ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising behemoth, 485 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 2: delivered the organization a startling warning. The firm concluded that 486 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 2: Actblue's chief executive had given a potentially misleading response to 487 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 2: Congressional Republican investigators in a twenty twenty three letter explaining 488 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 2: how the organization vetted donations to ensure that they were 489 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 2: not illegally coming from foreign citizens. Quote. This presents a 490 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 2: substantial risk for Act Blue, the law firm Comington and 491 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 2: Berling wrote in one of the two memos. One memo 492 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 2: raised the specter of criminal investigation of prosecutors believed that 493 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 2: Act Blue had tried to conceal facts about its efforts 494 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 2: to prevent foreign contributions. The memos instigated a meltdown at 495 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,879 Speaker 2: the highest levels of Act Blue, one of the Democratic 496 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 2: Party's most vital financial organs. A series of top officials 497 00:26:55,720 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: resigned in quick succession. Act Blue is now all but 498 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 2: declaring war on its past lawyers, an extraordinary turn of 499 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 2: event at a moment when President Trump has already ordered 500 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 2: a Justice Department investigation into the organization. Democrats are nervous 501 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 2: that any additional upheaval at act blue could destabilize the 502 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 2: critical fundraising apparatus ahead of the midterm elections. All levels 503 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 2: of Democratic candidates, from incumbent presidents to school board aspirants, 504 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 2: use act blue to raise campaign money from online donors. 505 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: The platform has processed get this number, nearly nineteen billion 506 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 2: with a b billion dollars in contributions since its founding 507 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 2: in two thousand and four, building a donor database with 508 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 2: millions of credit card numbers that is unmatched in American politics. 509 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 2: Nearly twenty three thousand candidates and groups use the site. 510 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty one year, nearly twenty three thousand candidates 511 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 2: and groups and raised almost one point eight billion dollars 512 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 2: from fifty two million contributions, some of which recur every month. 513 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 2: And what is striking is the Covington memos said, and 514 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 2: here's the really killer sentence quote. It can be alleged 515 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 2: that Act blue accepted and or facilitated the acceptance of 516 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:36,400 Speaker 2: foreign national contributions into American elections. In addition, because Act 517 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: Blue staff was aware that its system was not as 518 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 2: robust as necessary, it could be alleged that these violations 519 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 2: were knowing and willful, a standard that both increases the 520 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 2: penalties the FEC might seek and gives the Justice Department 521 00:28:53,520 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 2: jurisdiction for a potential criminal investigation. This is a big, 522 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 2: big deal. 523 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, when you say big deal, and I'm a pessimist now, 524 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: like a lot of people, and every time we see 525 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: something like this happen, then it's like, all right, well, 526 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: is there gonna be people that go to jail and 527 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: be arrested? And then it seems like nothing ever happens. 528 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: So when you say this is a big big deal, 529 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 1: are you saying that there could actually genuinely be people 530 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: that get in trouble for this or is it just 531 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,479 Speaker 1: gonna be like someone will fine and we move on, 532 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 1: or even nothing at all. 533 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 2: Look, there could be people criminally prosecuted, there could be 534 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 2: people going to jail, but that's not really the biggest consequence. 535 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 2: The biggest consequence is if there's a criminal investigation. 536 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 3: And this is. 537 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 2: Covington and Berling, a big Democrat law firm that was 538 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,239 Speaker 2: the lawyer for Act Blue, telling them, holy crap, you 539 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 2: guys have screwed up, and you've got real exposure. And 540 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 2: then this is the New York Times, the official mouthpiece 541 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 2: for the Democrats, reporting on it. The biggest political consequence 542 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 2: would be if a criminal investigation shuts down Act Blue 543 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 2: between now and the election, because Act Blue, if nothing 544 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 2: else happens, Act Blue will raise billions of dollars for 545 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 2: Democrats between now and November. And by the way, Act 546 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 2: Blues defense, one of their defense is, well, well, we 547 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 2: we we. Less than one percent of contributions in twenty 548 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 2: twenty four were from foreign countries. Well, less than one 549 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 2: percent out of nineteen billion dollars is a crap ton 550 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 2: of money, and it is illegal, and that dynamic. And 551 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 2: I'll give you some other other stats. So here here's 552 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 2: something Greg Price tweeted. With all the headwinds facing the GOP, 553 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 2: national Democrat groups have a serious fundraising problem going into 554 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 2: the midterm. The DNC currently has more debt than cash 555 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 2: on hand, while the RNC has over one hundred million 556 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 2: dollars on hand. The slf CLF and rcc an NRSC, 557 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 2: which are all the different committees on the Republican side, 558 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 2: all have more cash than their Democrat counterparts. And now 559 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 2: this with Act Blue, the Democrat crown jewel of their fundraising, 560 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 2: the big, big political consequence if Act Blue has committed 561 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 2: criminal conduct laundering foreign money into American elections, and if 562 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 2: they actively covered it up, which is what Covington and 563 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 2: Berling suggest there's evidence of, that could be more than 564 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 2: sufficient for the Department of Justice to shut Act Blue down. 565 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 2: And if that money spigot is cut off from Democrat 566 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 2: candidates in November, that has massive, massive consequences. 567 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: For the area, and it shuts off the foreign money. Right, 568 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: that's also the big part of this. And so even 569 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 1: if if they try to morph into a new group, right, 570 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: people leave. 571 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 2: And by the way, look, the foreign money is not 572 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 2: just some hypothetical specter. If you're the act if you're 573 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 2: the Chinese, if you're the Russian, if you're the Iranians, 574 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 2: if you're the Venezuelans, if you're the Cubans, it is 575 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 2: objectively in your interest to have Democrats win in November. 576 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: Donald Trump has made your life a living hell. And 577 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 2: so you want Congress to declare war on President Trump. 578 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 2: You want a Democrat House and Senate that impeaches the president. 579 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 2: That investigates the president, that prevents the president from doing 580 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 2: what he's done to the enemies of America. 581 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: Make sure you share this podcast please wherever you can 582 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: on social media so others will hear it. Hit that 583 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: subscriber auto download button, and I'll see you back here 584 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 1: tomorrow