1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Sound On the Insiders, the influencers, the Insidesden Thomas 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: again and again that he will unite the country. Who 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: do you think Biden has to watch in terms of 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: moderate defectors in the structure has always been by part 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: of Fender Bloomberg sound On on Bloomberg Radio, Florida is 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: cranking up the heat on Disney and taking aim at Twitter. 7 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to the fastest hour in politics. Were the focus 8 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: today on the collision of business and politics in the 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: Sunshine State. Will be joined ahead by Chris Sprouse, the 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: Speaker of the Florida House, ahead of a looming vote 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: to strip Disney of special privileges in a dispute over 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: the new so called Don't Say Gay Law. Will explain 13 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: later the US prepares a possible appeal over the mask 14 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: mandate for public transportation. We'll talk through the confusion with 15 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: Dr J. Varma of Kroll Institute. Analysis today from our 16 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: panel Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeanie shan No and Rick Davis. Yeah, 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: we're talking Disney, the biggest employer in the Orlando area, 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: of course, the operator of Disney World, the most visited 19 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: vacation resort. They say on the planet. It opened in 20 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: over twenty seven thousand acres, including this so called Ready 21 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: Creek Improvement District. Is this now a household term where 22 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: you live? Ready Creek created in a special act of 23 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: the legislature to allow Disney to carry out certain municipal 24 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: functions on its own. This is not the kind of 25 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 1: thing you're aware of when you're on vacation. Self governance 26 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: that's now being challenged by Governor Rhonda Santis and the 27 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: Republican Legislature for opposing Florida is so called Don't Say 28 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: Gay Law, which limits instruction about gender identity and sexual 29 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: orientation kindergarten through third grade. After pushback from some of 30 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: its employees we've talked about this, Disney said it would 31 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: work to have the law repealed that was threw the 32 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: legislature through the courts. Governor to Santi's hit back hard yesterday, 33 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: announcing plans in a special session. By the legislation, they 34 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 1: will be considering the congressional map, but they also will 35 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: be considering termination of all special districts that were enacted 36 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: in Florida prior to nineteen and that include includes the 37 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: Ready Creek Improvement District. Very happy crowd we're talking Disney 38 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 1: again here. The Florida Senate past the bill last night 39 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: and it now goes to the House and we're joined 40 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: as I mentioned now by the Speaker of the Florida House, 41 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: Chris Sprowse. Mr Speaker, thank you for joining us in 42 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: the middle of the special session here where the House 43 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: follow today and stripping Disney of this special privilege. Thanks 44 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: you appreciate you having me absolutely tomorrow when we get 45 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: back on the House floor. We did the discussion and 46 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: debate today, but tomorrow we will we will pass the 47 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: bill and send it to Santist Mature. Yeah. Bloomberg reports 48 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: that dissolving the district could well hurt Disney's ability to 49 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: borrow in the debt markets local and state. Is that's 50 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: your goal by doing this, No, it has nothing to 51 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: do with that, you know. I think that first of all, 52 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: it'll it'll allow the allow it to be given to 53 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: the local governments, which is how most of these special 54 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: districts are. You know, Disney is one of six special 55 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: districts that was never reformed after the nine Florida Constitution. 56 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: But most of the districts, Joe are you know, there's 57 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: a mosquito control district. There's a law library. There is 58 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: nothing that is a corporation that has the ability to 59 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: essentially engage in their own self governing. It's you know, 60 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: their own city. They run it themselves, they tax themselves, 61 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: they have the ability to build a nuclear power plant. 62 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: That is nothing that has given to any corporations. That 63 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: is something that was specifically done for Disney way back 64 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: line and candidly, which is never revisited after the constitutional 65 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: changes that happened in the sixties. Bloomberg is reporting is well, 66 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: the Ready Creek, it has about a billion dollars of 67 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: municipal bonds currently outstanding. Mr Speaker, I'm sure you've talked 68 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: this through. How does the legislature plan to to answer 69 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: questions that bond holders have about who's going to pay 70 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: down the debt? Yeah, Actually that's a that's a red herring. 71 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: I think that people who you know, try to criticize 72 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: the bill. The reality is there's a statutory framework. If 73 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: nothing happened, Joe, if the legislature decided not to engage, 74 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: there's a way that these special districts are dissolved, where 75 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: you know that that that transfers the debt transfers over 76 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: to the local governments who can manage it. They could 77 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: set it up in a million different ways, including operating 78 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: it similarly to how it's operated now, so that that 79 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: bond debt won't be interrupted. So I actually think that's 80 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: just something that sort of people have kind of thrown 81 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: and muddy the water. Okay, so that's kind of predetermined. 82 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: You're saying, if you pass this, if this becomes law, 83 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: and I'm assuming the course the governor is going to 84 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: sign this, if you get it done tomorrow, that will 85 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: all be mapped out in the legislation. No, it doesn't 86 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: have to be. So what it says is it expires 87 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: in a year, so it essentially gives you know, the 88 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: local governments twelve months to figure out how do you 89 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: want to do this. There's not one way to do it. 90 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: There's lots of different ways that this can be done, 91 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: and they can figure out what makes the most sense 92 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: for that those those four counties. Mr Speaker, I know 93 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: this didn't come without controversy, even of course, within your 94 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: own state. Representative Carlos Smith, a Democrat who claims to 95 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: be Florida's first lgbt Q Latino legislators, spoke passionately against 96 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: the bill. Uh any hearing. Let's listen to what he said, 97 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: and I'd love to get your thoughts. Here's furious. We 98 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: have been told by the governor and by Republican lawmakers 99 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: in plane language, in public and on the record that 100 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: if Disney or any other business or individual speaks out 101 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: against this administration or they engage in this so called 102 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: loke ideology, they will pay Mr Speaker. How is he wrong? 103 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 1: But first of all, members gonna express their opinion however 104 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: they want. But the reality is people want about you know, uh, 105 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: don't say gay, of course is not in the bill. 106 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,119 Speaker 1: It's not about that. It's about say the truth, say 107 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: the truth. And the reality is that we expect people, 108 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: we expect businesses if they want to engage in in 109 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: in the public sphere and free speech by all means, 110 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: do that. What's unique to Disney is that they have 111 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: a special, unique power and privilege, great power and privilege 112 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: that has been given to them by the taxpayer that 113 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: no other corporation in Florida gets, and they use to 114 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: mislead the public. You know, Joe, somebody like you who 115 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: has actually read the bill knows that what they said 116 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: and what Disney said about what the legislature did was 117 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: not true. It's not true. They can be critical of 118 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: what we did. They could say we disagree with us. 119 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: By all means people should do that and they should 120 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: second guess our judgment. But what Disney did was use 121 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: their power and privilege that've been given to them by 122 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: the taxpayers to mislead Floridians. And that's inappropriateness wrong. And 123 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: when it happened, people started talking about, well, gosh, why 124 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: is this me have all of this extra stuff and 125 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: extra power and privileges that no other business in the 126 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: state guests. And we went back and looked at and 127 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: we realized, gosh, not only is that the case, but 128 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: you know, there's only six of these that exist that 129 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: you know, that predate this, and only one is a 130 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: corporation like Disney, and only one has these great powers 131 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: and privileges. So, you know, I think that what we're 132 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: doing is wildly appropriate, and what Disney did was wildly 133 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: Let me ask you about Twitter as well, because this 134 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: all kind of comes together with what some are criticizing 135 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: Florida in terms of being, you know, overreaching when it 136 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: comes to business. You were with Governor to Santis when 137 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: he turned his focus to Twitter, which has introduced a 138 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: poison pill provision. Our listeners are well read in on this, 139 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: uh here on Bloomberg. In response to Elon Musk's takeover attempt, 140 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: of course, here's what Governor to Santas said, the State 141 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: of Florida and our pension system. We have shares of Twitter. 142 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: I didn't buy it. We have people that run the fund. 143 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: But nevertheless, it hasn't exactly been great and returns on investment, 144 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: it's been pretty sagnant for many, many years. Uh So, 145 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: But nevertheless, I mean to me, I think that that's 146 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: probably an injury to the funds. So we're going to 147 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: be looking at ways that the State of Florida potentially 148 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: can be holding these Twitter board of directors accountable for 149 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: breaching their producer and dud and the big round of 150 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: applause for that. Clearly a lot of people are in 151 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: support of this. Speaker Sprows won't ways though, can you 152 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: hold the board accountable other than selling the stock? I 153 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: do think we need to start rethinking how we approach 154 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: this problem. I don't know if you've had the opportunity, Joe, 155 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: but the bakerms Wami, who wrote a book recently called 156 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: Woke Inc. Really goes into this issue in depth, right, 157 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: So he starts talking about the massive funds to own 158 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 1: huge steaks and companies like Twitter, like Disney, and how 159 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: they use that power to impact their policies on issues 160 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: that aren't about you know, their their company or building widgets. 161 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: It's about you know, cultural policy and society. And they're 162 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 1: starting to try to change society with average Americans money 163 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: who don't agree with their positions. I mean, let's take 164 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,959 Speaker 1: this example, right, what did they did when they took 165 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: that position on that bill that is wildly out of 166 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: step not only with Florian's but Americans. There's polls that 167 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: were done by by the Daily Wire. There's been other 168 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: polls that were done of Democrat primary voters that indicated 169 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,719 Speaker 1: that they wildly support with the Florida legislation. So I 170 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: think that this is a move from from corporations that 171 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: are out of step with where people are, and I 172 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: think we need to start thinking about these funds and 173 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: how we're investing in these large funds that are that 174 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: are really more about remaking society than they are about 175 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: just making sound business investments. To be clear, though, this 176 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: is the board in these cases, I understand your point 177 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: of view completely and that you disagree with them, But 178 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: they've not broken any laws. Correct that you're responding to, No, 179 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: of course not, and whatsoever. The Florida House Mr. Speaker 180 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: is also set to pass a new congressional map. There's 181 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: another big deal that we would likely be talking about 182 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: exclusively on any other day. It would add four seats 183 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: likely to go Republican, and as Bloomberg is reporting, it 184 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: would eliminate districts held by two of the state's black 185 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: House members. One of them, Al Lawson, says it violates 186 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: the Voting Rights Act as well as the Constitution. Is 187 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 1: he wrong? Well, first of all, the the the idea 188 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: of eliminating two districts is not true. It's it's one 189 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: district in North Florida. And the argument has been made 190 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: that this is a district where if you look at 191 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: a joe, it really almost spans the length of the state. 192 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: It's two hundred miles long. And the arguments made been made. 193 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: Does that have to maintain a racial district? But we 194 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: are maintaining, um, you know, districts that are minority access districts. 195 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 1: We are protecting them. This is one particular seat where 196 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: you know. The the argument is that you don't have 197 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: to do that because of its unique nature. If you 198 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: look at it, every person off the street with gosh, 199 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: that's that's a Gerrymander district. And that's the argument that 200 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: that the government. Well there it is from the Speaker 201 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: of the House. I think we got caught off there, 202 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: Speaker Sprouse, thank you for being with us here on 203 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: sound On. I'm Joe Matthew in Washington. Will assemble the 204 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: panel next with Ricky Genie get their take on everything 205 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: we just talked about government versus business and a congressional 206 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: map that could lead to a lawsuit. It's straight ahead 207 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: on the Fastest Hour in Politics. I'm Joe Matthew. This 208 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: is Bloomberg. I wonder yes, it's a play New World 209 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: by God, isn't it? Altogether? On the Fastest Hour in Politics. 210 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: We assemble the panels following our conversation with the Speaker 211 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: of the Florida House and trying to get our heads 212 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: around how this might end and what precedent it might 213 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: set for government versus business, and not to mention the 214 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: future of the Florida economy, of the tourism economy in 215 00:11:55,240 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: Orlando and beyond Bloomberg Politics contributors Jennie Chantino and Rick 216 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: Davis are with us for the hour. Genie, Uh, we 217 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: covered a lot of grounds with speaker Sprowls. Let's start 218 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: with Disney. Of course, it is a small world because 219 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: everyone seems to be involved here. We've got sharehold shareholders talking, 220 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: We've got the government talking, and of course we've got 221 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: the company topic talking and threatening to have this law repealed. 222 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: Is this an example of government overreach? You know, it's 223 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: an example of what Rhonda Santis is willing to do 224 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: to increase his uh you know, the way that people 225 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,439 Speaker 1: not just in Florida but around the country view him 226 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: because he's a very ambitious person. And I think, you know, 227 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: for the speaker to suggest that this was something that 228 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: happened regardless of what Disney had to say about the bill, um, 229 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: you know, is simply not the case. Sure Disney spoke out, 230 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:53,199 Speaker 1: they hit the hornets nest and Florida and the governor 231 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: striking back. But this is they got stune. But this 232 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: is part of a broader, you sort of culture war 233 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: that the governor is engaged in. It's everything from math 234 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: textbooks to Disney to the redistricting to the abortion band 235 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: to Twitter. I mean it runs the gamut. It's all 236 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: about his ambitions. And the bill gives a year because 237 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: they'll probably pull this back. Seventies seven thousand Fluoridians are 238 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 1: employed by Disney and taxes may go up if something 239 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: like this stuck. That's something that they've got to consider. Rick, 240 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 1: what does this mean for the Republican brands? And are 241 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: we going to end up in a world where you know, 242 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: various companies end up in certain states where they're considered 243 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: welcome and people go on vacation there is they're kind 244 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: of like the cable News of travel. Yeah, you know, 245 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 1: it's a clash of a traditional Republican constituencies which were 246 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: corporate America, right, it wasn't You didn't have to look 247 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: very long ago where the Chamber of Commerce was the 248 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: favorite association in Washington now can't get its calls return 249 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 1: from the House majority leader. Uh. You know, it's a 250 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 1: it's it's really going to be interesting to see how 251 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: this this this settles out. And I think we're going 252 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: to be seeing this battle for a long time because 253 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: corporations are under more and more scrutiny by the public 254 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: who buy their products, who invest in their companies to 255 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: be more culturally sensitive on issues of everything from race 256 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: to the environment and and so uh. To have a 257 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: politician say, well, you know, they need to mind your 258 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: own business and just do their business. But the vast 259 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: majority of their value is their brand, and their brand 260 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: is affected by these cultural issues, so you cannot you 261 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: cannot divide the two. I would say nobody's ever really 262 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: survived the real war with Disney. They've been run a 263 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: long time and I don't remember a single politician if 264 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: that somehow, you know, paid off for them. That's an 265 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: interesting take. You mentioned the number of employees. Their genie 266 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: Twitter is its own story. Interesting to take aim in 267 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: the middle of this Elon musk Uh situation that seems 268 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: to be not quite as as baked as the Disney action. 269 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: Right is they're going to be legislation. I couldn't quite 270 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: understand what it was they were trying to do to 271 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: to get back at at the board for the poison hill. 272 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: Isn't that well within their right? It is within their right, 273 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: And it is unclear, you know, there was sort of 274 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: a threat that Florida would punish Disney if if you know, 275 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: and it was unclear if and what they would do 276 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: about it. Um, And I agree with Rick. Did you 277 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: know the mouse usually wins these battles, so so the 278 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: mouse will probably win in this case. But you know, 279 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: I go back again to the fact that this is 280 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: part of Rhonda santiss efforts to raise his profile. This 281 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: is a political activity by someone with designs on potentially 282 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: running for the presidency, and for anybody. You know, we 283 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: look at the polls and its inflation, inflation, inflation. But 284 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: it seems that at least in rhn De Santis's mind, 285 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: there is a culture war that is going on here 286 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: and he is getting on the side of it. But 287 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: the problem for him is the attack on Disney in particular, 288 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: just like the abortion band. That is dangerous politics in 289 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: many ways. So, you know, can he do it, absolutely, 290 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: it's within his rights. I didn't know Disney was like 291 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: the Vatican, his own special district they have, but you know, 292 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: but there it is. And can the legislator act, Yeah, absolutely, 293 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: But they also he also runs the risk of overreach, 294 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: and I think it's going to be so fascinating to 295 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: see if he can survive that. Well. I guess that's 296 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: right though in terms of you know, we talked politics 297 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: generally here, Rick, in terms of Rhonda santiss brand and 298 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: his political ambitions, this is gold, right. Yeah, no, I 299 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: I think the one thing I would just modify a 300 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: little bit to what Genie was saying is that it's 301 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: not so much him trying to become popular. There is 302 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: a culture war going on in the United States, right. 303 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: This is a very salient issue, not just in Florida, 304 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: but in almost every state in the country. That's why 305 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: you see it debated so much. And and rhn de 306 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: Santis is not trying to sort of fit into that. 307 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: He's trying to own it. He wants that to be 308 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: his brand when he launches a national campaign. He wants 309 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: to be the culture candidate. And and and he just 310 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: happens to have probably the biggest brand in the world 311 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: to contrast with Mickey leaned in with his gin and 312 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: Rhon de Santa is throwing a haymaker. Is he already 313 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: running against Trump? Yeah, He's been running against Trump for 314 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: quite some time. And this is uh, this is all 315 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: part of that game plan is to take the Trump 316 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: constituency and give him an issue rather than just a popularity. 317 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 1: Could he beat him? Genie? He can um you know, 318 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: I am not a fan of people trying to look backwards, 319 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: and that's what Donald Trump is doing. He's trying to relitigate. 320 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: Rond de Santis is obviously looking forward. But I think 321 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: it is dangerous politics because of the overreach involved. Dangerous 322 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: politics maybe, but a story made for Bloomberg, the true 323 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 1: intersection here of business and politics playing out on the 324 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: fastest hour in politics. I'm glad you're with us, Rick 325 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: and Jennie here for the hour. As we turn to 326 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: the mask mandate next. This is Bloomberg, still trying to 327 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: figure out what's going on with the mask mandate. At 328 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: this time yesterday it seemed like the administration was inching 329 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: up to an appeal. That was the word from the Secretary, 330 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: as he might remember, Health Secretary saying in the middle 331 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: of the day yesterday that this would end up going 332 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: to the Department of Justice. But the c d C 333 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: plays into this, so they will appeal. D o J 334 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: will appeal if the CDC decides that that's the right 335 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: thing to do. The Bloomberg story by Josh wind Grow 336 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 1: of Eric Larson. Justin Sink says it all the administration 337 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: remaining at a loss in responding to a judge's ruling 338 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 1: striking down the pandemic mask requirement, with the White House 339 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: and various agencies struggling to devise and coordinate a legal strategy. 340 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: More than a day later, we're still not really sure 341 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: what's going on. As we introduced Dr Ja Varma, chief 342 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: Medical Advisor, Croll Institute, fellow, it's great to have you 343 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: with us here. Doctor. It seems to me that the 344 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: confusion might be the most dangerous part of this whole story. 345 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: Now we're on day two, we still don't know exactly 346 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: what's going to happen. Yeah, no, I agree. I mean 347 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: I think really actually, what concerns me and I think 348 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: a lot of other public health people the most isn't 349 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 1: even that what happens over the next week or two, 350 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: although that's clearly a concern to two people are traveling. 351 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: What's concerning is that this basically removes CDC's ability to 352 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: impose and mask mandate UM in the future, and and 353 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: it may very well be that we get a much 354 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: more dangerous variant than the one we have now UM, 355 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: where it might even be more critical or a new 356 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: virus to begin with. Does that reason in itself enough 357 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: to appeal I think that's really what what this administration 358 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: is dealing with right now. You know, their biggest concern 359 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: with appealing it is that if this makes its way 360 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: to the Supreme Court, uh, and the Supreme Court upholds 361 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: the decision of this district court, well, then you have 362 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: lasting precedent that will go on into future pandemics. Whereas 363 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: if they don't appeal it at all, while it you know, 364 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: enjoys CDC from imposing a mandate right now, it still 365 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: preserves the ability of them to attempt to try one 366 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: in the future if necessary. As that's why you're seeing 367 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: this troll a right now kind of trivializes the just 368 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: the whole concept right now. Right So, if somebody's walking around, 369 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: they've got a mask in their back pocket, depending on 370 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: what door they walk through, they have to wear it. 371 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: As we read within infection rates climbing across more than 372 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: thirty states. Airplanes are done with it, Amtrak forget it. 373 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: Uber said, you don't need a mask, but in some 374 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: big cities New York, San Francisco, even Philadelphia, you're still 375 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,400 Speaker 1: required to wear them on public transit. So now we're 376 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: in a world where you have to wear your mask 377 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 1: on the subway and inside the airport, doctor, but you 378 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: take it off inside the airplane. Nobody's going to take 379 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: this seriously well, and this is really harms the credibility 380 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: of public health agencies which have already had a very 381 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: difficult time as you know from the beginning about talking 382 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: about masks, UM. And the more people see this type 383 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: of inconsistency, uh, you know, it's it makes it like 384 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: I can explain the inconsistency, but the average person doesn't 385 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: really care about all those nuances. What they see is 386 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: the kind of absurdity of wearing it in one place 387 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: but not another, even though both their indoor setting. So 388 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: what does it mean as I ask you as the 389 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: medical expert in this case, with infect and rates rising, 390 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: are we about to have a massive case study and 391 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: whether this is a good idea. You know, it's incredibly 392 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: challenging for public health people to sort of disentangle uh, 393 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: the effects of masks, you know, at a population level 394 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: from all the other factors that are involved. Um, we 395 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: know that if you're at an individual level, if you 396 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: wear a high quality masks and then you five are growing, 397 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: you are very well protected against getting infected. You know, 398 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: the challenge with mandates is do people wear high quality 399 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: masks and do they wear them consistently and correctly and 400 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: so you know, and so it makes benefit a small 401 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: percentage over a big population helps the country. Um. But 402 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: we are going to see in different areas of the country. 403 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: But but I think what you're gonna end up seeing 404 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: really is a pattern that more closely tracks vaccination rates, 405 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: um than tracks any other factor. Because what we're really 406 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: was worried about right now is severe illness and death, 407 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: and vaccinations are the single biggest predictor of whether or 408 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: not you get severely ill from this disease or not. Wait, 409 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: I'll tell you reinstating this would be a s right. 410 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: What happens if you find out tomorrow the Biden administration 411 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: is going to appeal. Let's say they win that appeal, 412 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: or or this ruling is stayed, people have to put 413 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: their masks back on airplanes. Is it even worth it 414 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: at that point? Or are we creating a new public 415 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 1: safety issue with people punching each other out on airplanes? Well, 416 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: you know, I think that's one of the main reasons 417 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: why you saw you know, airlines applaud this decision, is 418 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: it wasn't that they're not concerned about health and safety. 419 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: They see the protections as the bigger issue than the disease, 420 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: and the protections are what's leading to exactly what you said, 421 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 1: this civil unrest. And you know, just like every other industry, 422 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: you know, they're worried about you know, keeping staff on, 423 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: you know, flying and Uh, while many of us in 424 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 1: the public health world see the main reason why you 425 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: might lose staff is because they get sick from COVID. 426 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,159 Speaker 1: They're seeing it as fatigued from having to deal with 427 00:22:56,359 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: unruly passengers. So, you know, a good outcome from this 428 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: would be that the ruling gets that that the ruling 429 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: gets overturned and CDC has the authority to impose the mandate, 430 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 1: but it chooses maybe not to reinstate it for example. 431 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: You know, there as you get a middle ground where 432 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,959 Speaker 1: you don't have to disrupt the national situation, but at 433 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,440 Speaker 1: the same time, CDC does add that authority to reimpose 434 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 1: it in the future. Um, if we see that that 435 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: rates become too higher, there's a new variant that's even 436 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: more scary than the ones we have. Now, that's just 437 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: great to think about. Uh, there are some definite concerns 438 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: here when we consider the way forward. Uh, is anyone 439 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: in Washington doctor from your view, following as they like 440 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: to say, the science. So this is probably one of 441 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: the most unfortunate phrases that's come out of this pandemic. 442 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: What what I often wish public health people and government 443 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: would say is that we start with the science, but 444 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: then we consider everything else. Uh. And that's really what 445 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: this comes down to you. I mean, really, you start 446 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: with science, but you also have to factor in what 447 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: is your population wants in the situation with the mass mandate, 448 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: what is legal you know, um? And so you know, 449 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: I as a public health person, I am comfortable with 450 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: the fact that different states and jurisdictions are choosing different 451 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: approaches based on what they view as acceptable. You know, 452 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 1: some parts of the country, particularly those that are left leaning, 453 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, choose collective protection responses and they prioritize that 454 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: everybody should do everything to protect the most vulnerable, whereas 455 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: other parts of the country send your ritt leaning prioritize 456 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: individual values. You know. As a public heal person, I 457 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: can understand that. But what I really want to see 458 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: is that government. But I want to see government communicate 459 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: that clearly, and you don't often see that right. You know, 460 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: people try to either deny COVID or they know they 461 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: say it's deadly to everybody without balancing and saying, look, 462 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: you know, we're weighing risks and benefits. Here's why we're 463 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: coming out on one side. So it is about the science, 464 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: but it's about being transparent about all the other value. 465 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: Jay Varma, thank you for the insights as we start 466 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: with the science on Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg Sound 467 00:24:54,800 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. Janet Yellen walked 468 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: out on the Russians. You see that move today at 469 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: the G twenty if she was not alone when it happened. 470 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: The Treasury Secretary let a walk out of finance ministers 471 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 1: today when Russian officials began addressing the gathering, where's everybody going? 472 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: The group did also not issue a community ka read 473 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: on the terminal when the meeting was over, which is 474 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: pretty unusual. White House Press Secretary at Jensaki was asked 475 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,880 Speaker 1: about it. The President and Secretary yellin I both said 476 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: that we can't have business as usual at the G 477 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 1: twenty or on a lot of these international forums as 478 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: it relates to Russia. And uh she uh and and 479 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,199 Speaker 1: the Treasury team made clear that she was planning to 480 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: participate in some and not other meetings, which certainly is 481 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: something we support. The President also is conveyed doesn't believe 482 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: that they should be a part, that Russia should be 483 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: a part of the G twenty that's now six months 484 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: away in terms of his participation. So I can't make 485 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: our prediction of what actions he may or may not take, 486 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 1: but certainly we support her steps and it's an indication 487 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: of of the fact that President Putin and Russia has 488 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 1: become a pry on the global stage, a pariah on 489 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: the global stage. As we reassemble the panel with Rick 490 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: and Genie Bloomberg Politics contributors Rick Davis, Genie Shenzino, good 491 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: move here, Rick, Yeah, I think that anything that the 492 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: Organization um of Democracies and large economies can do to 493 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 1: keep the spotlight on Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin and 494 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: and the Hanni sacks that they're perpetrating against the Ukrainians, 495 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: it's that's a good day. Um. The one thing that 496 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: I think the Ukrainians fear is that Europe and the 497 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:39,239 Speaker 1: United States lose sight of their plight get distracted by 498 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: other world events and somehow look the other way and 499 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: the day was a good day in that regard. What 500 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: do you make of this idea here, genie, obviously carefully choreographed. 501 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: Is this as close as we can get? Knowing that 502 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: we can't have Russia expelled as the president wishes from 503 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: the G twenty, China and Indonesia aren't going there. It 504 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: makes a statement and it's important and you know, a 505 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,479 Speaker 1: very bad comparison, but Wimbledon telling Russian tennis players they 506 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: can't play. These are all important steps. If Vladimir Putin 507 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: is going to be engaging in an attempt to destroy 508 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: a country, genocide um in the name of Russia, then 509 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 1: then how could they possibly expect that they would be 510 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: welcomed in any avenue, whether political, economics, sports, or anything 511 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: else on the world stage. So I think this was important. 512 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,959 Speaker 1: They should be expelled. It's not going to happen, it 513 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: looks like, but it's absolutely the right step that Janet 514 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: Yellen and her colleagues took on this. Today. President Biden 515 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 1: met today, brought cameras into the Cabinet room for a 516 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: meeting with the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary the Staff 517 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: of the Joint chiefs there is well Rick, they didn't 518 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: make news, but putting all that brass in one room 519 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: with the President made for some pretty good pictures. Is 520 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 1: this part of the pr campaign? Yeah, it demonstrates the 521 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: war footing that the White House is on. Uh. They're 522 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: taking this seriously. They're they're making decisions even now about 523 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: additional lethal military aid to Ukraine in addition to the 524 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: eight million that we're announced last week. So the drumbeat 525 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: of support and resupply UM was really on display today 526 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: in the White House. UH. And and frankly, what I 527 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: would hope is that the the next decision that the 528 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: White House makes to supply the Ukrainians is substantially larger 529 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,200 Speaker 1: than what they've been doing. UM. I think that uh 530 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: Congress approved billions of dollars and we've been sending millions 531 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: of dollars. And and you know, my own view is 532 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: if if the logistics can handle it, they need to 533 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: go now uh and get everything they can to the 534 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: front of this war. President hasn't held a formal address 535 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: on the situation in Ukraine for a bit of time. Here, Genie, 536 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: how difficult is the communication? UH going to get the 537 00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 1: messaging with with this administration. If Russia continues to bear 538 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: down on Ukraine, if Americans don't see us slowing down 539 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: Russia's advance, it becomes very difficult. And you know, he's 540 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: caught between rock and a hard place here. He's got 541 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 1: people in the administration saying, you've got to focus also 542 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: on domestic issues. You've got to get out where months 543 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: before a midterm election, and he's been trying to do that. 544 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: And on the other hand, one of the real challenges 545 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 1: for them is that people have get fatigue. People look 546 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 1: and they see the amount of money being spent people 547 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: in the United States. They need to know what it's 548 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: going for, is it effective, And they're concerned about what's 549 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 1: happening to them at home. And so he's got to 550 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: address both of these things and it's a very very 551 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: difficult thing to do. When you had the conversation yesterday 552 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: with the representative and he said, you know, he's got 553 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: to explain to the American public, that's absolutely true. And 554 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: this is not just a communication problem, but it is 555 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: a communication problem for the White House. They've got to 556 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: do a better job saying what we are doing, why 557 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: and why it matters to us. While people are suffering 558 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 1: at home as well. You know. I asked that, uh, Rick, 559 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: because I do wonder at what point people start asking 560 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: about money. Eight hundred billion here, a billion there. Right now, 561 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: President Zelenski is a hero in the American people's hearts 562 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: really do seem to be with the Ukrainians. I just 563 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: wonder how many months go by before we start asking 564 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: for an accounting of what we're spending. Yeah. Look, I 565 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: mean this has approved money by Congress. Uh. You know, 566 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: the people had a debate around it. I don't think 567 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: that's a big issue right now, but certainly public pressure 568 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: against war is And I can just recall a time 569 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: in the in the middle of John McCain's come back 570 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: to try and win the Republican nomination two thousand and eight, 571 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: he returned from a trip to Iraq and said, I'd 572 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: rather win a war than win an election. And so 573 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:52,719 Speaker 1: he turned his campaign on supporting the surge. Uh. It worked, uh, 574 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: and he actually won the primary, uh with a message 575 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 1: of putting more troops on the ground. So, look, the 576 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: American public wants leadership. They're less convinced on what the 577 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 1: outcome needs to be, but they want to know that 578 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: we're doing everything we can to help you know, this 579 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: country that's been borne out in the polls. The worst 580 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: thing I think that this president can do is somehow 581 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 1: try to look the other way and and worry about 582 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: an election rather than beating the Russians spending time with 583 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: Rick and Genie our panel here, the signature panel on Bloomberg, 584 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: sound on on what is well Geeus. According to the 585 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: Majority leader in the Senate, it's an important holiday. Today 586 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 1: is what you might call a very unofficial American holiday 587 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 1: for twenty there it is. It's inappropriate, it's as appropriate 588 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: a time as any to take a hard look at 589 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: our laws that have overcriminalized the use of marijuana and 590 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: put it on a par with heroin, LSD and other 591 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 1: narcotics that bear little or no resemblance in their effects 592 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: either on individuals or on society. More broadly, the war 593 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: on drugs has too often been a war on people, 594 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: particularly people of color. That was exactly one year ago, 595 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: on four twenty, and now I see on the terminal 596 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: Schumer aims to introduce cannabis bill before August recess. This 597 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: was just a couple of days ago. The Majority Leader, 598 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,360 Speaker 1: Chuck Schumer, along with the Ron Wyden who chairs the 599 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 1: Senate Finance Committee, and Senate Democrat Corey Booker altogether on 600 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: a bill to establish a federal standard for cannabis legalization 601 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 1: and regulation, and would also come with I believe expungement 602 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: there would be. We'll find out when they dropped the bill, 603 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: of course, Uh likely Uh, essentially expunging marijuana crimes the 604 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: equity component here, marijuana offenses, whatever got you in jail? 605 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: This is something that the president promised Genie on the 606 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: campaign trail. Jensaki was pressed on it today and really 607 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: had no answers, just to say that he promised to 608 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 1: decriminalize marijuana. How come it hasn't happened? And you know, 609 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 1: it's interesting listen to Chuck Schumer. He's like channeling Elon Musk. 610 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: They're a bit with the focus on Fort funny. But 611 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 1: you know, I think what's happened is obviously the president 612 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: has and the administration has been consumed by so many things, 613 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 1: beginning with the pandemic and of course the Warren Russians, 614 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 1: so on and so forth. So a lot of the 615 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: promises made they have an address. But I think the 616 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 1: better answer is that they are challenged by this rise 617 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: in crime, and you know the legislation is right, but 618 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 1: they've got a message it in such a way that 619 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: Republicans going into a mid term can't use it to say, 620 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: look at their go the Democrats again decriminalizing, decriminalizing. They 621 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: were letting the criminals get away with so much. So 622 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: that's a challenge there, and you know Chuck Schumer has 623 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,160 Speaker 1: got to take a lead on that if he's going 624 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: to try to pass this bill. And I still think 625 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 1: it's going to be a very uphill battle. Well, yeah, look, 626 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: we've talked about this before when the Safe Banking Act 627 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: passed at the House, I believe for the sixth time. 628 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 1: Wreck this is This was a couple of months ago. 629 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: We spoke with Congress from Pearl Mutter who introduced that 630 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: I know, you don't see Republicans pitching in on this. Therefore, 631 00:33:57,880 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: it's not going to pass the Senate. But can the 632 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: president and do something by executive order to please his 633 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: supporters who might have voted for him because of this? Yeah, sure, 634 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 1: I mean he can do all kinds of things with 635 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: the Justice Apartment as far as decriminalization. Barack Obama did 636 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,240 Speaker 1: some of that when he was president to do exactly 637 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 1: the same thing. I couldn't get a bill pass, couldn't 638 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: get his own party supported in some cases. Uh so 639 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 1: so sure, but I think it it it. It really 640 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 1: goes back to what Janie was saying, which is, at 641 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,320 Speaker 1: a time when the one of the number one issues 642 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:32,800 Speaker 1: legislatively and politically is crime, and you're in the process 643 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 1: of decriminalization. Even though it's the right thing to do, 644 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:38,720 Speaker 1: it's an awful talking point at the wrong time. And uh, 645 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: and so this administration has not shown a lot of 646 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 1: public courage in tackling these hard issues. Uh. We still 647 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:46,879 Speaker 1: don't see anything on climate. We still don't see anything 648 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: on a number of these issues that he campaign hard on. Uh. 649 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:52,760 Speaker 1: Those Trump tax cuts are still firmly in place. Because 650 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 1: none of these things are good political choices, and this 651 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:57,680 Speaker 1: administration doesn't seem to want to make any hard choices, 652 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 1: even though they brought out progressive voters in the primaries. Genie, 653 00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:03,919 Speaker 1: is this the kind of thing that Joe Biden keeps 654 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:05,920 Speaker 1: in his pocket until after the midterms? You do it 655 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:08,879 Speaker 1: next year? He might try. But you know, and there 656 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 1: is a school of thought amongst progressives who say, pull 657 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:13,800 Speaker 1: these things out now. You made promises. So the danger 658 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: here he doesn't do what he promised to progressives and 659 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 1: they don't get energized to go out. So either way, 660 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 1: it's a difficult call for them, and the wheel goes round. 661 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:26,880 Speaker 1: Thanks as always to Rick and Genie, our signature panel 662 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 1: on Bloomberg. Sound On. I'm Joe Matthew in Washington. I'll 663 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:32,320 Speaker 1: meet you back here tomorrow and we'll see what happens 664 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 1: as we connect the dots between business and politics. This 665 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: is Bloomberg.