1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: Now from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg sound On, 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 1: and I hope a lot of people are gonna pay 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: a big price because they're dishonest, crooked people. There's scum through. 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Its high time that we've seen the government finally take 5 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: some action against this man. They shouldn't be doing this 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: to have demands and expectations on the FBI have never 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: been high. Bloomberg sound on Politics, policy and perspective from 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: DC's top name still funds the entire semi conductor. I 9 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: was a know last week, I was a know last night, 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: and I'll be the first no later to the Bloomberg 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. FBI rose 12 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: down at Mara a Lago and we still at this 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: hour do not know what they were looking for. Welcome 14 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: to the fastest hour in politics. The day after the 15 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: warrant was served to the political fallout has been swift. 16 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: Will bring a reaction from the White House and discussed 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: the investigation with Donald Trump's former acting chief of staff 18 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: and former Congressman Mike Nick mulveney. We'll tap the expertise 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: of Kim Whaley, former assistant U S Attorney Law professor 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: at the University of Baltimore and our panel today Bloomberg 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: Politics contributor Republican strategist Rick Davis, along with Democratic strategist 22 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: Kevin walling Off. H G Creative Media will get to 23 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: Nick in a second. It's been about twenty four hours 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: now since the FBI left the grounds of mar A Lago. 25 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: No official word from the agency, the FBI, or the 26 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: Department of Justice for that matter, or from Donald Trump, 27 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: who should of course have a copy of that search 28 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: warrant by now right, doesn't he know what they were 29 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: looking for? The official reaction from the White House today 30 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: did not arrive until about welle an hour and a 31 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,559 Speaker 1: half ago. You can probably imagine how this goes. Press 32 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: Secretary Kareine John Pierre today with reporters in the briefing room. 33 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: Let's listen again. I'm just not going to comment on 34 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: any reaction to uh to what happened yesterday. We are 35 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: going to refer any incoming to Department of Justice. There 36 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: it is. That's not really about it's more about becoming 37 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: your way. Election does not go your wife. That's a 38 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: hypothetical and I'm just not going to entertain it at 39 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: this time. Gonna do it. Both Republican senators from Florida, well, 40 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: if not every Republican Senator in the Chamber denounced the move. 41 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: As we turn to our top guest, and I've been 42 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: looking forward to this conversation. Former White House Acting Chief 43 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: of Staff Mick mulvaney, Former Congressman bec It's great to 44 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: have you here. I appreciate your time today. What a 45 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: twenty four hours this has been. We're all hungry for 46 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: information and there's so much we don't know. You say 47 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: on Twitter that if this is only about document retention, 48 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: it should cost Merrick Garland his job. Do you believe 49 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: the Department of Justice would have been able to get 50 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: a search warrant for a former United States president if 51 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: that's all this is, Joe, Hey, thanks for having me 52 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: I ordinarily, in in the ordinary, in a real world. 53 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: The answer you no, there's there's no way you could 54 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: get that. But keep in mind, and this is part 55 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: of the background and part of the back lash. This 56 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: is the same Department of Justice that lied to a 57 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: FISA court out getting about having investigations done on Trump 58 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: during the Russia investigation. It's the same Department of Justice 59 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: that lied about Hunter Biden's laptop to the public and 60 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: to the media during the election. So you think they 61 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: would have rigged the warrant basically, Well, I mean, yeah, 62 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: and that and who knows at this point that That's 63 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: why I think it's so important the Department Justice say 64 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: something and talk about this. I recognize the fact we 65 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: all do that that's not ordinary course of business. That 66 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: they don't talk about ongoing investigations, and that's great. I understand, 67 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: it makes complete sense. This is no longer ordinary course 68 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: of business because of the target or the proximity to 69 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: the elections. Are both all of the above, mostly the target. 70 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: We have never ransacked the home of a of a 71 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: former president before under a criminal of search warrant. That 72 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: just doesn't happen. So I think all the rules sort 73 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: of have to go out the window of the Department 74 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: Justice and have to say, look, we weren't looking for 75 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: ordinary random documents that might technically violate the statute. You 76 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: were looking for stuff that ties Trump to criminal activity 77 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: on January six. Something like that might calm things down 78 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: a little bit. You've offered two possibilities here, Mick and 79 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: and well, I guess they kind of balance each other out. 80 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: One you write the most egregious political hit job our 81 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: government has ever undertaken against the politician in US history, 82 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: or and I feel like that's where you're leaning at 83 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,359 Speaker 1: the moment, or two evidence of the most significant criminal 84 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: investigation of a politician in US history. You see, the 85 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: d o J needs to show us which it is. 86 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: There's huge pressure on Merrick Garland now to hold a 87 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: news conference. Can he do that though, I mean, to 88 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: your point, speak publicly about a criminal investigation. Yeah, I 89 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: think your instinct is right. By the way they say that, 90 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: I'm leaning towards the first of those that political job 91 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: just because of the history. Right. If you don't have 92 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: the history, then that that the tie goes to the 93 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: Department of Justice. They get the benefit of the doubt. 94 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: But they have a track record, proven track for lying 95 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: about Donald Trump. Um so I think the burden is 96 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: on them to show that this is legitimate. Would help 97 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: if Marrek Garland would come out and say, look, we 98 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: were not interested in looking for small stuff. We were 99 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: looking for thus and such. Here's what we found. That 100 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: doesn't jeopardize what they're doing. I mean, that would be 101 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: the line of course from the d o J. You know, 102 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: you know that's gonna be the argument at the risk 103 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: of what ripping the country apart. I mean, that's that's 104 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: really where you are right now. You've got people, you know, 105 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: parading in front of Mara Lago of the waving flags 106 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: saying that the government's coming to get them, and they 107 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: might be right. So do you believe the White House 108 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: that President Biden and the administration did not know about this? 109 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: That they've heard about it on the news like everybody else. 110 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: When you say the administration, I don't believe that. I 111 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: mean Mark Garland had a sign off on this, and 112 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: he's an administrator outside of the DOJ though Pennsylvania Avenue. 113 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: I don't think there's any way in the world they 114 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: would have known, because I think even the political people 115 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: would have said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Why don't 116 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: we wait to do this after the mid terms, guys, 117 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: because if we get this wrong, it's gonna cost us 118 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: fifteen seats in the House. Um. So I think politically 119 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: the Biden administration that the Biden White House is probably 120 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: beating their head up against the wall, going we just 121 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: had great news on a bill we've had that's for 122 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: the first time raising money on the FBI again exactly, 123 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: and the Republicans have a chance. Now, um, we just 124 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: tied the federal gu What what if I'm a Republican candidate? 125 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: What am I saying? They just spent a bunch of money, 126 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: barred a bunch of money to make inflation worse, to 127 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: hire eighty thousand I R. S Agents to come after you, 128 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: and they stuck. You know that they sent a political 129 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 1: hit squad to go get Donald Trump. That's pretty compelling 130 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: last minute campaigns, texts, images of guys and riot gear 131 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: at the gates. The thing is, if if you believe 132 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: President Biden didn't know, this is all arrows pointing towards it, 133 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: to your to the point of your tweet towards Merrick Garland, 134 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: you think he's operating on his own here, I hope so. 135 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:45,679 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's the way you want the Department 136 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: of Justice worker. You don't want politics in law enforcement. 137 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi is right. No one should be above the law, 138 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: but nobody should be beneath it either, And we shouldn't 139 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: be targeting people because of their political associations, and right now, 140 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: because of the track heard because in the way this 141 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: was carried out Um, it gives a very strong inference 142 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: that there's politics behind this that puts the burden on 143 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: the d o J. Keep in mind, what do I 144 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: say that the way this was carried out, I don't 145 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: understand how anybody made the case that they had to 146 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: go get a search warrant, right, so they had to 147 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: say this probable cause that the crime was committed to 148 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: probably cause and private cause that it was gonna go 149 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: away real quickly. Trump isn't even there, He's in New 150 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: York and New Jersey. So what did they find out 151 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: in the last twenty four hours that makes this so 152 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: incredibly pressing where they couldn't just send a subpoena for 153 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: these documents? This is what we don't have the answer to. 154 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: You know, look, we've been all hearing and reading a 155 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: lot of stuff. Mcmilveny. As the president's chief of staff, 156 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: were you ever worried about document retention? Was this a 157 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: conversation you had or somehow violating the Presidential Records Act? Yeah? Well, 158 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: keep on the president. This is not the president Presidential 159 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: Records Act is not what the DJ is going on. 160 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: The Presidential Records Act is not a criminal statute. There's 161 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: a broader criminal statute on destroying documents of the United States, 162 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: and that's what they're going after him on. The Presidential 163 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: Records Act is in the US Code, Section forty, Title forty, 164 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: entitled eighteen. It is not a criminal proceeding. But they 165 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: answer your question is, yeah, we always worried about about documents. 166 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: How many times did you see the president destroyer or 167 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: dispose of documents? Never saw thrush anything to What I 168 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: saw was the ordinary course of business that I used 169 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: to do when I was a lawyer. If we had 170 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: a document and we made a change to it, he 171 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: might rip it in half and throw the one we 172 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: weren't using on the floor, and we would have somebody 173 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: come in and take it back together and make a 174 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: copy of it. That's that's that's every White House does that. Um. 175 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: But what what you read about in the in the 176 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: in the Washington Post, use me the New York Times 177 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: was the intentional, alleged intentional destruction of key documents. And 178 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: I never saw that. Earlier today, former President Trump posted 179 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: a very carefully produced video. You've probably seen it by 180 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: as more of a movie trailer. It's a good three 181 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: four minutes long. It's called a Nation in decline, and 182 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: it's got a lot of people thinking he's sort of 183 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: somehow quietly announcing a run for re election. And we 184 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: go through this every three days. But let's listen to 185 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: part of it. Listen to the language. We're a nation 186 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: that has weaponized as law enforcement against the opposing political 187 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: party like never before. We've never seen anything like this. 188 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: We're a nation that no longer has a free and 189 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 1: fair press. Fake news is about all you get. We're 190 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: a nation where free speech is no longer allowed, where 191 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: crime is rampant like never before, where the economy has 192 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: been collapsing, where more people died of COVID in exactly 193 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: where this was recorded Sarah Palin seen in the front row. Um, 194 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: the thunder was added for what it's worth, and the music, 195 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: but make the president used the words we often hear 196 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: from Republicans and have certainly in the last twenty four hours, 197 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: law enforcement has been weaponized. Marjorie Taylor Green and other 198 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: Trump supporters are tweeting defund the FBI. Is it because 199 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: of the cases you mentioned, or or do many conservatives 200 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: distrust of the FBI go back to Watergate. Um, let's 201 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: make one thing perfectly clear. I refuse to accept the 202 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: fact that Marjorie Taylor Green speaks for anybody other than 203 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: the extreme white ring nut job of the party. So 204 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: understood the hashtags getting some love them. Yeah, well, you know, 205 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: there's a lot of crazies out there, and that's that's 206 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: her bait. She's not a serious person. But anyway, UM, 207 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it goes back necessarily to to Watergate. 208 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: I mean, let's be honest. I'm I'm probably one of 209 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: the oldest people you'll talk to you today, and I 210 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: was barely alive during Watergate. So if this is about 211 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,199 Speaker 1: your experience in the Trump administration exactly, if it's a 212 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: hatred for Watergate, it's it's it's historical and not not 213 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: not personal. Now I think it. I think it it 214 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: goes back to a natural distrust perhaps of government, a 215 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,559 Speaker 1: belief and it's a it's an it is not unfounded 216 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: that government service attracts Democrats. I can tell you we'll 217 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: do another hour long and another day about how the 218 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 1: Democrats have taken over all the agencies I worked for 219 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: the CFPB. Um, you know, you work for the State Department, 220 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: So that stuff is real. So I don't think it 221 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: was back to Watergate. Certainly that the soil is fertile 222 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: for Republicans to think the government is out to get 223 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: them because Democrats run it even under Republican administrations. And 224 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: what happened last night and mar Lago just feeds that, 225 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: which brings this full circle back to the original comment 226 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: the Department of Justice. It's incumbent upon them, I think, 227 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: in the name of integrity of their institution to come 228 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: out and tell us more than they have. You testified 229 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: before the January six committee, I understand. Uh, does this 230 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: search of Mara Lago kind of balance with what you 231 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: were hearing in the January six hearings? Is there any 232 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: crossover potentially in your mind that, Hey, the d O 233 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 1: j UH found something on these dual track investigations that 234 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: are feeding each other. Yeah. I mean the crossover would 235 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: be if they were both looking at the same information. 236 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: Certainly not my information. My information was more about the 237 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: election and so forth, had nothing to do with document 238 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: retention or anything like that. Um. But it's important of 239 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: that January six is a political process that has political outcomes. Um, 240 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: Liz Cheney cannot throw Donald Trump and jail, regardless of 241 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: how badly in test relation he wants to the Department 242 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: of Justice. Is real, It's supposed to be real, at 243 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: least I hope that it is real. UM, And it's 244 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: very very different. Could they be sharing information or I 245 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: have cross fertilization of information? Absolutely sounds like you were 246 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: asked what you thought of as reasonable questions or is 247 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: there gonna be a McK mulvaney bombshell a couple of 248 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: weeks down the road the next time there's a hearing. No. No, 249 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: they were all that they might put a video in 250 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: there about a text I sent the week after the 251 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: election when UM, I was complaining that I was hearing 252 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: from the r N c ron McDaniel, Jared Kushner, Bill 253 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: Stepian Justin Clark that we had lost the election in 254 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: the days after the election, yet they wanted us to 255 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: go out on television and tell people we had still 256 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 1: want I didn't take that very well. In fact, I 257 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: stopped going on television after that meeting, so that that 258 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 1: may see some light UM during the during the hearings, 259 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: but mostly they were background questions about some texts I 260 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,839 Speaker 1: sent on January six, and then also the you know how, 261 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 1: how how do you how people get meetings with the 262 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: president that kind of appreciate your answering that. Kevin McCarthy 263 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: says there's gonna be a selectivity once he holds the gavel, 264 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: assuming that happens after November, to create a selectimmtee to 265 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: investigate Mary Garland. He tweets, you know, are your schedule? 266 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: Is that the right move? Um? Yeah, I mean oversight 267 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: is the proper function of Congress. It's actually one of 268 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: their constitutional duties. They do it for the purpose of 269 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: being a part of their duty to be a check 270 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: on the executive branch. Then also part of their duty 271 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: to make law. Keep in mind, ostensibly the purpose the 272 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: justification for the January six committee is to see if 273 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: we need to change the electoral process laws. But no, 274 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: I think listen, if they, part of me hopes they 275 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: find a dead body, okay. And here's why I say that, 276 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: because in that mind, at least that means that they 277 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: were serious and about about the FBI now, and then 278 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: I can have some faith in the institution. If they 279 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: find a document that Donald Trump scribbled something on that 280 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: should have been left in Washington and wasn't, and they 281 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: try and ban him from office and charge him with 282 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: a colony because of that, all of my faith in 283 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: the system will be gone, and then we have real 284 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: problems as a nation. Former White House Acting Chief of 285 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: Staff Mick mulvaney h read his thoughts on Twitter as well. 286 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: If you didn't hear this entire conversation or subscribe to 287 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: the podcast, I've been looking forward to this making thank 288 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: you for your insights today, remembering that he resigned from 289 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: the administration on the the night of January six. He 290 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: was not the acting Chief of Staff at that point, 291 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: but in fact a special envoy to Northern Ireland. I'm Joe, 292 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: Matthew and Washington. Welcome to Sound On Boy. When we 293 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: woke up this morning, when I heard Tom Keane's tone 294 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: of voice on Bloomberg Surveillance, I knew we were in 295 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: for a day and it has been one deeply curious 296 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: to hear what Rick Davis has to think about this 297 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Politics contributor, of course, Republican strategist. Rick, what do 298 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: you think about what you heard from Nick mulvaney. Are 299 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: you of the same mind that Merrick Garland needs to 300 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: step forward? Yeah? I heard very little. I would question 301 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: about mix comments. I think he's spot on. I think 302 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: there is uh definitely a uniqueness to this. This is 303 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: an unusual event in American history. Um And I feel 304 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: like every week we're saying that about Donald Trump. He 305 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: does create unusual events, and and and and I think 306 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: one thing to be reminded, this is happening because of 307 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: Donald Trump, not because the FBI. This has been an 308 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: ongoing challenge for uh, not just the Archives, but the 309 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: FBI and the Justice Department for over a year. They've 310 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: been trying to get their hands on these records. And 311 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: if not for Donald Trump's for calcultrents to do that, 312 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: this would never have happened. So Number one, I think 313 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: it needs to be reminded everybody that every that the 314 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: federal government has been working with the people around Donald 315 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: Trump and Donald Trump himself personally to get access to 316 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: these records. And it's only because they refuse to give 317 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: them that the FBI had to act in this way 318 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: and the Justice Department had to get a subpoena. So 319 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: that being said, you know, this is a former president 320 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: ied states we we don't weaponize politically our justice system. 321 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: And I think part of what we learned in the 322 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: January six hearings has been the admirable efforts by Attorney 323 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: General bar and his team to not weaponize d o 324 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: G when Donald Trump was trying to politically weaponize it. So, 325 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: you know, for for him to now call foul uh 326 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: it rings hollow. But at the same time, you you 327 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: have to wonder what is the strategy the Department Justice 328 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: has because this certainly looks like a political hit job 329 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: right in the surface, and so unless they define it 330 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: as something different, this is what we're left to think. 331 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: I want to add Kevin Walling to the conversation as 332 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: we formally assemble our panel Democratic Strategist h G Creative Media. 333 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: It's been a while, Kevin, and I'm glad you're with 334 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: us today, and I'm sure you have some pretty deliberate 335 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: thoughts about this. Would you weigh in as well? You 336 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: heard mc mulvaney uh talk about Merrick Garland, not President Biden, 337 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: but in fact Merrick Garland pursuing political ends. Does he 338 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: need to hold a news conference and tell us what 339 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: the heck is going on in Florida? Joe, It's gonna 340 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: be with you, and it's good also to be with Rick. 341 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: You know, I agree completely with what Riches said in 342 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: terms of his views on on on what Mix said, 343 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: I don't know necessarily if it has to be Marrick Garland, 344 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: but it certainly has to be Christopher Ray, And I 345 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 1: think Director Ray actually adds some credence to this as 346 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: one of the few Trump appointees still serving in the 347 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: federal government. Obviously, an FBI director's term outlasts a presidential term, 348 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: so certainly this was a search carried out by the FBI, 349 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: I think to Rick's point, because we don't have any 350 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: kind of knowledge of previously or now today in the 351 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,400 Speaker 1: wake of this, this vacuum is now consuming all of us, 352 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: especially on the right wing conservative media outlets, crying foul 353 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: jen jenning up all these Trump supporters and things like that, 354 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: and we certainly need to have some insights and guidance 355 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: provided by the FBI Director Ray and potentially also the 356 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: Attorney General, starting to wonder if this might actually happen. 357 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: Rick and Kevin are with us for the hour. We're 358 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: gonna spend a lot more time with them in our 359 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: second half. But we want to add a legal voice 360 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: to this as well. Kimberly Whaley, former assistant Wes attorney 361 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: and professor of law at the University of Baltimore, Kimberly. 362 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: I know it's been a very busy day for you. 363 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: I want to welcome you. Are we asking the right 364 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: questions here? This comes down to what they were looking 365 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: for before we can answer anything else. Well, we don't 366 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: know exactly what they're going they're looking for, in part 367 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: probably because it involves classified information. So I doubt unless 368 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 1: there is a criminal trial and something more actually admitted 369 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: into evidence that if the Justice Department does its job 370 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 1: as it should to keep this information uh secret as 371 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 1: is required under federal law, I don't think it will 372 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: become public. Uh. And I understand people are wondering about this, 373 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: but it's important to keep in mind that the Fourth 374 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: Amendment and the federal judiciary are protecting the rights of 375 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: Donald Trump and others that were um were affected yesterday 376 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: by this very important execution of a search warrant. So 377 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 1: assuming this goes to trial, then uh, you know, we 378 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: may not know for months or or a year or more, 379 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: even as Donald Trump is deciding whether to run for 380 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: president them the do o J is not exactly running 381 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: an overdrive here. This is a quiet and slow process. 382 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: What's your thought on a timeline or do we never know? 383 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: We we are not. We won't necessarily ever know, and 384 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: it's very difficult given that as a former president right 385 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: to separate the politics from the law, I mean, as 386 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: a legal voice in this. You know, we do know 387 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: that information fifteen boxes at least were brought outside the 388 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: White House and in a manner that violated the Presidential 389 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: Records Act and the various mechanisms that are in place 390 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: to ensure post Watergate that those documents are stay with 391 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 1: the people, they belong to the people, and to extent 392 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: which there's classified or national security information, etcetera. That left 393 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 1: the White House, that is a danger to the country. 394 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: So you know that that's I really do think Merrick 395 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: Garland is primarily in this moment, uh, doing his job 396 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: and not so much worrying about the politics. But of course, 397 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: of course, uh, it's impossible to to escape that that 398 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 1: big issue. I mean, of course, yesterday was an anniversary 399 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: of Nick Nixon resigning. Were in another real constitutional crisis 400 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: right now. I can't take all the irony. Um. The 401 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: thing is, though, does that does that justify a do 402 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: you does that slam dunk a search warrant like this 403 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: for the home of a former president of the United States? 404 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: The Presidential Records Act or whatever it is that we're 405 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: talking destruction of documents? Is that in fact enough to 406 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: have a hundred FBI agents show up. I mean they're 407 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: they're holding assault weapons in front of the gates. This 408 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: is pretty heavy stuff. Well, I mean, I don't think 409 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: anyone can say anything about a slam dunk without having 410 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: full information. Uh. And I assume, I'm sex I'm quite 411 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:42,239 Speaker 1: sure that the judge that signed off on this did 412 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: it kicking and screaming, given the implications that is that 413 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: there was you know, substantial probable cause to justify this, 414 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: given the um, given the stakes that we're just talking about, 415 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: as far as how the FBI does its job, you 416 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: know what they were concerned about, again all speculation. I 417 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: you know, so far, Americ Garland has proceeded UM very privately, cautiously. 418 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: He hasn't turned it into a political uh process from 419 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: the day he took office. So I trust the system. 420 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: And you know, frankly, Donald Trump is the person to 421 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 1: blame for this because he in a lot of ways 422 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: didn't follow the rules. And we all follow the rules, right, 423 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: we pay our taxes, we stopped at red lights, um, 424 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: we follow the law, and you know presidents should do 425 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 1: the same thing. And you know, I'm not getting out 426 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: the violence for him in this moment, as much as 427 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: I understand uh that people who support him politically are 428 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: upset by it. Based on what we heard from mc mulvaney, 429 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: document retention was uh kind of a constant concerned in 430 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: this administration. Kimberly, thank you for being here. Kimberly Whaley's 431 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: former assistant U S attorney, professor of law at the 432 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: University of Baltimore. I'd like to take one more swing 433 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: with the panel here as we spend time with Rick 434 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: Davis and Kevin Walling. Rick, I played a snippet of this, uh, 435 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: this incredible video that Donald Trump posted, of course not 436 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: on Twitter, uh, just hours after you know, people were 437 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: waking up and getting their heads around this somethink. It's 438 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: uh tan am out to a campaign announcement. It almost 439 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: looks like a movie trailer. Rick, how did it hit you? 440 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: What's he trying to say? Well, first of all, what 441 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 1: really hit me was that this was ready to go 442 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: production quality the morning after this attack or this attack, 443 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: the raid on mar Lago, and and I even I 444 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: questioned even calling it a raid, but like as you 445 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: described with the stormtroopers standing in front of our lago, 446 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: and it's kind of like that was the message they 447 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: were sending, is we are rating our lago. We need 448 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: all this heavy equipment, guns and and things like that. 449 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just like normally you need flip flops 450 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: to get into mar Lago. You don't really need a weapon. 451 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: It's a desperate view of the country though, and we've 452 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: talked about some of his recent speeches. This was despair. 453 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: You see a guy getting stabbed, you see destruction in Ukraine. 454 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 1: Uh my goodness, they're they're they're showing the oil spigots 455 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: and the clouds coming in. You can hear the thunder. Kevin, 456 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: was that a campaign announcement or what? Well, it certainly 457 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: looks like one. Listen. I can't obviously say. I'm on 458 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. What the President George Soby Bush said in 459 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 1: the wake of President Trump's inaugural addressments, It's struck a 460 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: similar kind of chord in terms of the death and 461 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: destruction previewed in this spot, and of course a form 462 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: President Trump has been hinting at this race to provide 463 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: some kind of basis of pushing back against what the 464 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 1: Department of Justice is doing, this might be the county 465 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: attorney is doing, and exactly right. And to Rick's point, 466 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: this was certainly not something that was produced within twelve hours. 467 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: This was ready to go. Should this happen, then on 468 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: the shelf for a minute, Rick Davis, Kevin Waling, great conversation. 469 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 1: They'll be back in just a couple of minutes. As 470 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: we turned to an important DC court ruling involving Trump's 471 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 1: tax returns. This is Bloomberg broadcasting live from our nation's capital, 472 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg to New York, Bloomberg eleven Frio to Boston, Bloomberg 473 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: one O six one to San Francisco, Bloomberg nine sixty 474 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: to the country, Serious x M General one nine team, 475 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 1: and around the globe of Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg 476 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: Radio dot Com. This is Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew. 477 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: What incredible case of timing is A federal judge rules 478 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: as well today that Donald Trump's tax returns must be 479 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 1: turned over to the House Ways and Means Committee. So 480 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: where's this going? You don't actually think he's going to 481 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: hand over six years of tax returns. We talked to 482 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 1: an expert next Bloomberg Congress and tax reporter Laura Davison 483 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: in another excuse to talk about Donald Trump's tax returns, 484 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: though doesn't the story always end the same way? Trump 485 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: tax returns must be given to House Panel. Court rules 486 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: the headline, and Laura Davison shares the byline, the president's 487 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 1: tax returns, Laura, welcome, must be turned over to the 488 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: Ways and Means Committee? Is this going to the Supreme Court? 489 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: We don't actually think this is gonna happen, do we? 490 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: I don't know yet. So the court ruled that is 491 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: upholding a lower court ruling that that the Ways and 492 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: Means Committee could get Trump's tax returns. Trump does have 493 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: the option to appeal this, and then the Supreme Court 494 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: has the option if they want to hear the case. Uh, 495 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: you know, very likely that Trump will appeal this case. 496 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: And it's, however, unclear if the Supreme Court will choose 497 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 1: to hear this. Um, what other do you have a 498 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 1: legal option from here? Not really other than to appeal 499 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: that kind of his his option if here that there 500 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: will be some outcome there. If not, it would this 501 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: ruling would stand. So it could mean that the Ways 502 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: and Means eventually gets these tax returns. They said today 503 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: they expected to get them immediately, but that's highly unlikely. 504 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: The real question and the real deadline is January here, 505 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: because the House flips of the House slips control and 506 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: Republicans come in, it's highly unlikely they're going to continue 507 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: to pursue this litigation. And as we know, courts movementoriously slowly. 508 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: So that's really uh, you know, it's a Trump against 509 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: the clock of the congressional calendar. Interesting. Richard Neil, the 510 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,479 Speaker 1: chair of Ways and Means, we should know, has been 511 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: asking for this for a long time, as you point out, 512 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: since six years worth of Trump's returns. On what grounds 513 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: does the committee this is not January six, This is 514 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,679 Speaker 1: not an election related committee. Why why does Ways and 515 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: Means get them? Well, reason Means deals with all tax issues, 516 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: and there's actually a specific section of the tax code 517 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 1: that says that all of the tax committees in Congress, 518 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: there's three of them, the chairman of any of those 519 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,719 Speaker 1: can request the tax returns of anyone, I mean, for 520 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: any reason, for any well, the reason they need to 521 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,199 Speaker 1: have some sort of legislative purpose. If they're looking at 522 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: conducting oversight compliance, if they're looking to pull some data 523 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: from a whole swath of tax returns to it. Maybe 524 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 1: if they want to create some sort of new tax law, 525 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: they can do that. Um. So they have said that 526 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: they need legislative purpose to make sure that the president 527 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: is being audited properly. That's their justification. And uh, you know, 528 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: we'll see what's the court's saying. Bloomberg Congress and Tax 529 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: reporter Laura Davison with the insights. You're the first voice 530 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: I heard on the radio this morning, on an on 531 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,640 Speaker 1: an early and dark morning listening to Bloomberg Radio. Laura, 532 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: great job, and thank you for being with us. Let's 533 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: reassemble the panel here and get to ache of Republican 534 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: strategist Rick Davis, Bloomberg Politics contributor to joined today by 535 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: Kevin Walling, Democratic strategist at h G Creative Media. Rick, 536 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: you're rolling your eyes on this one. We've been talking 537 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: about Donald Trump's tax returns for longer than the returns 538 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: they are seeking. I would like to simulate a yawn 539 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: at this point. Um. Look, I mean this has been 540 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: the battleist going. I am forever and and and I 541 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:25,719 Speaker 1: just believe what Donald Trump says, which is you know 542 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: that your chump if you pay your taxes. And I'm 543 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: assuming that what we'll find out, if we ever find out, 544 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: is that he didn't pay his taxes, and and and 545 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: yet you know, it's just another piece of wood on 546 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: the wood pile that you're throwing on the fire right now. 547 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: And and honestly, I mean, I don't think it will 548 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,679 Speaker 1: affect anything. I think people have already marked him to market, 549 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: and that is that, you know, he's not a taxpayer. 550 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: He finds ways in a code to do it, you know, 551 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,400 Speaker 1: probably with a wink and a nod. And and that's 552 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: what we'll find out. And I don't think anybody would 553 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: be surprised, but I but I do think you know, 554 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 1: the deadline is close. Uh, Republicans get into leadership in 555 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: the House, and there will no longer be an effort 556 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 1: to get his tax returns by buy tax returns? Are 557 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: you buying this? Kevin Walling? You don't think you're ever 558 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: going to see those documents, do you? I mean, we'll 559 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:14,719 Speaker 1: certainly see. I mean, the most surprising thing for me 560 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 1: coming out of this and reading more about this, is 561 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:18,880 Speaker 1: that we still have a Reagan judge on the Appellate 562 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 1: Court ruling who wrote wrote the decision along with the 563 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:25,199 Speaker 1: Bush forty one judge and Obama judge, so obviously it 564 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: was a universal decision you mentioned, Joe. You know, Chairman 565 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 1: Richie Neal has been after these for quite a while. 566 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: I was just with him the other week. We're solving 567 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: a great Irish Americans in Congress. So I think this 568 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: is a democratic action more not just for Trump but 569 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: for the ages. In terms of the power of of 570 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: the the of the Congress. Uh, this speaks to, uh, 571 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: you know, kind of a setting in stone the rights 572 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: of the legislative branch the first article against the second article, 573 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: or against any kind of individual who wants to withhold 574 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: their their tax re terms. So did you think that 575 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: the gentleman from Springfield will ever get a look at these? Kevin? 576 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: You know that Donald Trump supporters have made really clear 577 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: over years they don't care and and and Rick makes 578 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 1: a great point. I mean, that's one of the key 579 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: things we know about Donald Trump is that he pays 580 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: as little in tax as possible. We saw some of 581 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: that from previous returns that were released back from the nineties. 582 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: So I don't think it moves the ball down the 583 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: field whatsoever. We know that he's if not a tax 584 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: sheet at tax avoider. So I don't think it has 585 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: any real effect heading into this midterm year, and certainly 586 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 1: if he runs. I know you're not a lawyer, Rick, 587 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: but what's your gun on the Supreme Court they take, 588 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: I would be surprised if they weigh in on this. 589 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 1: I think they know the clock as well as anybody, 590 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: and I think they see this for what it is, 591 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: and and I think the point you're making is is 592 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: an important one, and that is that this is a 593 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: separation of power. This is a regulatory h power that 594 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: Congress has, but like, don't you want to use it 595 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: for something that actually seems more legitimate than what I 596 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: he is a political attack against Donald Trump? Sure, I 597 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: think you should have presented his tax returns when he 598 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: was a candidate so that the public could decide. But 599 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: at this point, is there really I mean, like, we're audited, 600 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: you know, we want to know if the president is 601 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: being audited properly. Come on, I mean, that's just you know, 602 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: just narrative that we talked about with law enforcement, with 603 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: federal law enforcement, Rick, be the only thing people with 604 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: that that many conservatives hate more than the FBI is 605 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 1: the I R S. Right, I think, you know, it's 606 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: the it's the image of the I R S, you know, 607 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: which is, you know that they just assume you're you're 608 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: violating the law until you prove otherwise. And that's not 609 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: what we learned when we were in school about you know, 610 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: innocent until proven guilty. And and so I do think 611 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: this is a fundamental problem, which is, you know, we 612 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: we have these separation of powers for a reason, and 613 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: and and yet the key is that they're used responsibly. 614 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: And I just really question whether or not either the 615 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: executive branch or judiciary or in the case of the 616 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: the raid on mar Lago that the the the deecutive 617 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 1: branch working with the juiciary, are they really functioning in 618 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:06,240 Speaker 1: the way they're supposed to or are they being weaponized? 619 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 1: So serious questions being posed this hour. Bloomberg Politics contributor 620 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: Rick Davis will be back with Kevin Walling of h 621 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 1: G Creative Media. As we point towards the mid terms, 622 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: already raising money in the near term. Until we hear 623 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 1: from Merrick Garland. If we hear from Merrick Garland, is 624 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: this a win for Trump? Nobody's talking about the chip 625 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 1: back today. A lot have more ahead. I'm Joe Matthew. 626 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg. Sound on on Bloomberg Radio. 627 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: I think right place, wrong time. The case for President 628 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: Biden today, imagine the chip back finally passes after all 629 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: the wrangling. It hit his desk last week, and the 630 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: White House waited for just the right time to throw 631 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: a celebration in the sun on the south lawn. Then 632 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 1: the FBI happened in mar Alago. Listen to President Biden 633 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: today with the victory lap intel. The CEO is here today, 634 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: Pat girl singer, it's here today. Is going to break 635 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: ground in the next generation Semiconjunctor factories in Central Ohio 636 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: early this fall. American company Micron is announcing today because 637 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,960 Speaker 1: of this law, it's going to invest forty billion dollars 638 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: over ten years to build factories and special chips called 639 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: memory chips that store information on your smartphone. Comic Secretary 640 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: Loop a lot of coughing, and then addressed today to 641 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: thank you COVID. I'm assuming COVID general amount of the 642 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 1: Commerce Secretary has told us repeatedly how important this is 643 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: not just your washing machine and you're whatever you'll see 644 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 1: need your radio? How about that, but national security missiles, airplanes, 645 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 1: we can't build them for ourselves, Ukraine or anyone without 646 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: a steady supply of semiconductors. So this was seen as 647 00:32:57,560 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 1: a pretty big win and a bipartisan win. This is 648 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: just the kind of day that Joe Biden looks forward to. 649 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: Even though it was a hundred and fifty degrees with 650 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: no cover on the south lawn, did anyone get carried 651 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: out of there? I would have been There's no way 652 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: I would have survived that. Uh aviators. This was supposed 653 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 1: to be it, but it's not a major headline today 654 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 1: because of everything we're talking about with Donald Trump. Bloomberg Politics. 655 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: Contribute to Rick Davis back with US Republican Strategists, joined 656 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: today by Kevin Walling, Democratic strategist h G Creative Media. 657 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: As we reassemble our panel here, Rick, Joe Biden can't win. 658 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: This is supposed to be a layoup, right, Yeah, talk 659 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: about a victory lap without anybody attention to it. You know, 660 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: it's the classic does a tree fall in the force 661 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 1: if nobody hears it? You know, folders were there, they know. 662 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: That's about it though. Yeah, and it's like the ghost 663 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: of Donald Trump just continues to haunt this guy. But look, 664 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 1: it doesn't take the shine off his victory lap. I mean, 665 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 1: the reality is this is something that they'll dine out 666 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 1: on politically for quite some time between November. They've had 667 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 1: a great week. They they're building on a great month. 668 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 1: Who would have ever thought you could rebuild a presidency 669 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,920 Speaker 1: in August. That is a first. So I think it's 670 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,800 Speaker 1: a daunting task. If you'd asked me, you know, in July, 671 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 1: whether he could pull this off, I'd have said absolutely not, 672 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 1: And I was wrong. I mean, he's he's done an 673 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: amazing job in in in this month of trying to 674 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 1: rebuild his presidency, but no one's gonna hear about it, 675 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: Kevin or reward Democrats for it, as long as we're 676 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 1: distracted by everything else. January six, now it's mar A Lago, 677 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 1: the war in Ukraine. I could keep going. I mean, 678 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 1: you're absolutely right, Joe. I mean, in to Rick's point, 679 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: not only did this happen in August, but with the 680 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:38,279 Speaker 1: president having pretty much two bouts of COVID back to 681 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: back to back um and kind of being sideline obviously 682 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: working from from the residents. But it's been a great 683 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:46,399 Speaker 1: two weeks for this administration, and if there was any 684 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: indication that the the White House was not given for 685 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: warn knowledge of this action at mar Lago, this is it. 686 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:58,319 Speaker 1: I mean, this totally captured, uh the press cycle that 687 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,120 Speaker 1: they wanted with the raw and of CHIPS bill with 688 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:04,359 Speaker 1: you know, not just that today, but Sweden in Finland, UH, 689 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:07,880 Speaker 1: the accession for those two countries in too NATO that 690 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:11,080 Speaker 1: happened right after the Chips ceremony, which is a big 691 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: win on the international stage for this president total in 692 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: Palm Beach. So yeah, what do you what do you 693 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,319 Speaker 1: tell the Communications office? I played Koreean John Pierre earlier. 694 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:22,279 Speaker 1: They're not talking about this, do they do? They need 695 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:25,320 Speaker 1: to cool it for a while here, maybe maybe schedule 696 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:28,279 Speaker 1: assuming it passes the reconciliation signing in like you know, 697 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: after Labor Day. I think so, I mean, I think 698 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: we've got it. We gotta do it when folks are 699 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: paying attention. The President also had an incredibly powerful visit 700 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 1: to UH to Kentucky as well this past year, that 701 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 1: past week that's been totally overshadowed by that, totally sniffed 702 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 1: out by that. So the press cycles everything what folks 703 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 1: are tuned to and again just the twenty four hour 704 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 1: news cycle. What we're talking about right now and sound on. 705 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 1: It's just totally engulfed by Donald Trump. What a time 706 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 1: to be alive. I mean, this is what people are 707 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 1: talking about. Well, that's true, as Donald Trump said another 708 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: day in Paradise, Rick, I want to be careful with this, 709 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 1: but I feel like a responsibility to ask you both. 710 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:10,200 Speaker 1: There was an enormous amount of coughing in the speech today, 711 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 1: more than we've heard from Joe Biden, and the White 712 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 1: House has been asked about that. Do we chalk that 713 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 1: up to COVID or do we need to ask the 714 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 1: Press office again what's going on? Rick? You know, look, 715 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 1: I mean you know there we monitor president's health by 716 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:24,839 Speaker 1: a minute. It's almost like we're all the vice president, right, 717 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,399 Speaker 1: what's our job? Hey, how are you feeling today? Uh? 718 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:29,920 Speaker 1: And so um, you know, the reality is, it's it's 719 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:32,720 Speaker 1: a question that has to be answered. It was really 720 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:35,919 Speaker 1: apparent it was unfortunate that he had such an important event, 721 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: uh happy event for him that he couldn't enjoy. He 722 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 1: was obviously under a lot of strength and discomfort because 723 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:46,320 Speaker 1: of coughing. But it is a result of potentially COVID 724 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,319 Speaker 1: and we know that that that he's been battling that 725 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,160 Speaker 1: for the last week. I would say it does seem 726 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:54,279 Speaker 1: kind of interesting that some of the greatest victories of 727 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 1: this presidency, you know, including winning the election itself, has 728 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 1: all been done by being a shut in, right. I mean, 729 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 1: he in the presidency from his basement, and he got 730 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:05,760 Speaker 1: the best his entire presidency while on COVID. So maybe 731 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:07,839 Speaker 1: they ought to just keep him in the base Democrats 732 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 1: lock him in the residents. Kevin, what's your take on this? 733 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 1: Are we being fair to ask this question? Certainly you're 734 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,239 Speaker 1: being fair and obviously right at the outset. Karen Jean 735 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: Pierre in her press conference I watched all of it 736 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: today from the White House podium, fielded the initial questions 737 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: about that coughing and talked about not just the president's 738 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:29,400 Speaker 1: negative COVID diagnosis but the long term effects of that. 739 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:31,799 Speaker 1: But now a use of inhaler two, which I think 740 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,880 Speaker 1: uh was news to me. Uh and uh, you know, 741 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:37,960 Speaker 1: I don't know if that was because of uh COVID 742 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:41,400 Speaker 1: or exacerbated by covid um, but certainly that's something that 743 00:37:41,719 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 1: the the administration needs to be forthright about. And they 744 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 1: did say that he has tested negative, now what two 745 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 1: days in a row, so they wouldn't have put him 746 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: in day Yeah, So you know, we of course wished 747 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 1: the best for him, but this is a concern. The 748 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 1: health of the commander in chief is a really big deal, 749 00:37:56,719 --> 00:37:58,360 Speaker 1: and when it is such a thing as long COVID 750 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: and the risks that come with his age, Uh, this 751 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:04,600 Speaker 1: is obviously very sensitive business. Rick and Kevin, I want 752 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: to ask you about the mid terms. That's the first 753 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:08,400 Speaker 1: question everybody asked me on TV today. You know, what 754 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:10,319 Speaker 1: does this mean for November? And the fact is we 755 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:13,640 Speaker 1: of course don't know. But Rick, if Merrick Carland doesn't emerge, 756 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 1: and this kind of stays the same way right now, 757 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:18,719 Speaker 1: this is a huge boost for Donald Trump and his 758 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:23,040 Speaker 1: endorsed candidates, right well, um M that I think you're 759 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:26,160 Speaker 1: overplaying it. I mean, you know, we've seen Donald Trump 760 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:30,360 Speaker 1: come back from really horrific um moments, you know, the 761 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:33,879 Speaker 1: access Hollywood right before the elections in sixteen and things 762 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:36,879 Speaker 1: like that. Um, so he has staying power. But um 763 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:39,479 Speaker 1: you really wonder what motivates his base. I don't think 764 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 1: that this will motivate his base anymore than he's already motivated. 765 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:47,840 Speaker 1: I don't really see this as anything that's going to 766 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:50,799 Speaker 1: have an electoral impact. I mean, the fact that it 767 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: overshadows all the news is a negative for the Biden 768 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 1: campaign and what they're trying to accomplish with Congress, because 769 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:00,320 Speaker 1: it just sucks all the oxygen out of the Aras 770 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 1: Kevin was saying, I mean, like you're really looking for 771 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: an opening, I would say, if I were a Democratic strategist, 772 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 1: I would say, We're never going to have an opening 773 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:09,439 Speaker 1: with this guy. We have just got a trudge through 774 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:13,920 Speaker 1: this stuff. You know, I'd launch a infrastructure tour tomorrow 775 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: if I thought I had the time of the president, 776 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 1: you know, just because you're just running the clockdown and 777 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 1: and and Donald Trump will do that to you. He'll 778 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 1: incapacitate you with all these crazy things that he can 779 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:28,000 Speaker 1: do on a moment's notice. It's fascinating to watch this 780 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,520 Speaker 1: in real time. Kevin, How worried are you about the 781 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:35,520 Speaker 1: fundraising that's taking place right now and and how damaging 782 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:38,279 Speaker 1: could it be from your side of the aisle for 783 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:44,799 Speaker 1: Republicans to to take on the refrain defund the FBI. Well, 784 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 1: it's an interesting point. Listen. You know, I think you 785 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:49,200 Speaker 1: know coming out a quarter too. What we saw just 786 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 1: uh blockbuster halls for the Democrats. Uh you know that 787 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,319 Speaker 1: are that are headed into defall. Now, you're not worried 788 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:59,400 Speaker 1: about a fundraising advantage because of this, I'm not. What 789 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:01,319 Speaker 1: I'm interested it in is the amount of money that 790 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 1: Donald Trump himself is raising off of this, pulling resources 791 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:08,600 Speaker 1: from down ballot candidates and key Senate and House races. 792 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:12,160 Speaker 1: I think that has actually more of an effect than 793 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:15,960 Speaker 1: kind of galvanizing you know, donors to uh, you know, 794 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:19,319 Speaker 1: a downballot congressional race in a heated district. And this 795 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,359 Speaker 1: is why you don't opposite fact of yeah, of galvanizing 796 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:24,280 Speaker 1: money just to Donald Trump, which is what he wants. 797 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:26,640 Speaker 1: This is why you don't announce though, right Rick, Uh, 798 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:29,440 Speaker 1: you cut yourself off at the knees that that money 799 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:33,120 Speaker 1: he can only access five grand limits the fundraising five 800 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,840 Speaker 1: grand from the pack. Uh. He's going to drag this 801 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:38,359 Speaker 1: out right. Yeah, there's no question that you do try 802 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: to manage the magic words I'm running for president so 803 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:45,279 Speaker 1: that you don't get limited. But look the reality is 804 00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 1: that his folks are going to manage that fund if 805 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:50,359 Speaker 1: he is not, if he's an announced candidate and it's 806 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:52,120 Speaker 1: not like it's going anywhere, and it's all gonna be 807 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,239 Speaker 1: used to his benefits. So the RNs he's gonna stop 808 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:56,879 Speaker 1: paying his legal bills though, um well, you know, maybe 809 00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:59,480 Speaker 1: you don't know that, right. I mean, like he's got 810 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:01,680 Speaker 1: such a grip on this party. I mean, there's there's 811 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:04,920 Speaker 1: no doubt that they'll probably uh Trump will probably expect 812 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,799 Speaker 1: it to be happening that way. So the reality is, 813 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,480 Speaker 1: it is a it is an important event when it happens, 814 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:14,800 Speaker 1: and I think it has bigger impact on the field 815 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:17,080 Speaker 1: and the politics, and it does on the money. He's 816 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:19,440 Speaker 1: going to be able to raise money for himself, but 817 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 1: as Kevin says, that's just draining it from the rest 818 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 1: of the party. The r n C is not raising 819 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:25,920 Speaker 1: that money for other candidates. He doesn't spend it on 820 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:29,080 Speaker 1: other candidates. And so you know, the reality is, I 821 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:30,960 Speaker 1: think one of the stories we're gonna be talking about, 822 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:33,560 Speaker 1: regardless of the outcome of the elections is how many 823 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 1: Senate races the Democrats outspent Republicans on, how many governors 824 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 1: races Democrats have spent governors on. I mean, like you're 825 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:42,920 Speaker 1: seeing that lining up now, and you don't see the 826 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:45,680 Speaker 1: big fund fundraising initiative that Donald Trump could do for 827 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:48,600 Speaker 1: those candidates only have thirty seconds. Kevin, as a Democrat, 828 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:51,560 Speaker 1: are you begging for him to run? Absolutely, I've been 829 00:41:51,560 --> 00:41:53,600 Speaker 1: begging for him to run for the last three months. 830 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:55,640 Speaker 1: I think that's actually one of the few things that 831 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:57,759 Speaker 1: can help us, along with what we saw out of 832 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 1: Kansas with the the the Row vote, begging Joe Biden 833 00:42:01,239 --> 00:42:04,680 Speaker 1: to run, begging Donald Trump to announced that he runs. 834 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:07,719 Speaker 1: Yes see, I almost got you in trouble. I don't 835 00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:10,279 Speaker 1: want anyone on this panel who have to apologize to 836 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: the White House tomorrow. Kevin Walling. Great to have you back. 837 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:16,680 Speaker 1: Thank you. Democratic Strategistic of course, uh principle and HD 838 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,920 Speaker 1: Creative Media. Rick Davis are pal Bloomberg Politics contributor, Republican 839 00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:24,560 Speaker 1: strategists with the reality check for us every day voices 840 00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:28,640 Speaker 1: of experience. Here on the fastest hour in politics. Yeah, 841 00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:32,080 Speaker 1: matt take all the petty cash. This represents the last 842 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,680 Speaker 1: of the petty kind. I'll meet you back here tomorrow 843 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:39,000 Speaker 1: on the fastest hour in politics, Sancho, Matthew, this is 844 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 1: Bloomberg