1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: We have breaking news. 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 2: Mitch McConnell will step down as the Republican leader in 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 2: the Senate in November. 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: According to the Associated Press. 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 2: Just ran this headline a moment ago, coming a day 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: after we watched the driveway outside the West Wing, a 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 2: big meeting with the Big Four, of course, on a 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 2: budget and potentially funding our allies in Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan. 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 2: Everyone came out except Mitch McConnell. He got in the 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 2: suv and went back to the capital, of course, knowing 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: that we'd be talking about this today, but also potentially 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: giving Mike Johnson a little bit of cover so they 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: didn't have to publicly disagree about went on inside. And 14 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: that's something we want to talk about with Wendy Benjaminson. 15 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: Of course, Washington's senior editor is with us here. Wendy, 16 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 2: this is not what we expected to be talking about. 17 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: And I want to ask you about what happened in 18 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: Michigan last night because it's important. But Mitch McConnell, my gosh, 19 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 2: a record run in this powerful post. What does it 20 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: say that he's stepping down, that he's too old to 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:00:59,959 Speaker 2: keep doing the job. 22 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: The parties left. 23 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 3: Him well, obviously we don't know yet, because all we 24 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 3: you and I know so far as the saidline from 25 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 3: the AP and I'm sure we're all scrambling to find 26 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: out exactly the answer to that question. 27 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 4: It very well could be his age. 28 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 3: He's had those two public incidents, at least two public 29 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 3: incidents where he just. 30 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,639 Speaker 4: Seemed to freeze and lose. 31 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 3: I don't know if the ability to speak or the 32 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 3: ability for his brain to catch up, but clearly that 33 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 3: struck us as an age related problem. 34 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 4: He is eighty two years old, well was. 35 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: Doctor did make the point that it followed a fall, 36 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 2: he had a spell. 37 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 4: That's right. 38 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 3: It may have could have been related or something like that, 39 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 3: so right, but clearly it certainly gave the impression. 40 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 4: Of an old leader. 41 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 3: And then also there is this sense now that the 42 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 3: transformation of the Republican Party with Trump coming back as 43 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 3: the front runner and probable nominee, is complete, that that 44 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 3: transformation is done, and what we all thought of conservatives, 45 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 3: what being conservative for the last thirty forty years, no 46 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 3: longer means that. And Mitch McConnell is, you know, one 47 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 3: of those lions of the Senate really into procedure, really 48 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 3: into trying to do bipartisan where he can, trying to 49 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 3: stick it to Democrats where he can. And it's a 50 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 3: but it's not a let's own the Libs sort of 51 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 3: attitude that a lot of new Republicans Trump Republicans have, 52 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 3: and so he may What we may find in our 53 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 3: reporting today is that he's just decided that a party 54 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 3: left him. 55 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: That's right. 56 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: He's watched Donald Trump disparage his wife publicly. Yeah, he's 57 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: lost apparently the argument over Ukraine funding, at least in 58 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 2: the way he wanted it to be done. 59 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 5: Right. 60 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: You wonder if he stays on then past the election, 61 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: is he going to be having lunch with Nancy Pelosi 62 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: talking about the old days? 63 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 4: Yeah? They probably, They probably will. I mean they have 64 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 4: known each. 65 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: Other, said something incredibly important. Though the transformation is complete. 66 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 4: He was the last hold out exactly. 67 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 3: And I don't I think he's he may be worried 68 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: about leading the party after the twenty twenty four election. 69 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 3: You know, if Donald Trump wins, well, if Biden wins, 70 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 3: he's the minority leader. If Trump wins, and I'm sorry 71 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 3: I shouldn't say that, if Democrats control the Senate, he's 72 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 3: the minority leader. If Republicans flip the Senate, he's the 73 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 3: majority leader, but always with a guy who doesn't see 74 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 3: the world in the White House the same way that 75 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 3: mcconnald does. 76 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 2: Right, And if yeah, my goodness, if Donald Trump is 77 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: the next president of the United States, he could be 78 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: dead in the water. And we are going to be 79 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 2: asking a lot of questions about the role that Donald 80 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: Trump played in this. 81 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: Right, he could have given him an ultimatum. 82 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: We have no idea what happened behind the scenes here, 83 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: because this is quite the breaker if you're just joining us. 84 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 2: Mitch McConnell's stepping down or at least announcing that he 85 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: will as the Senate Republican leader in November. 86 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 3: And you know, we know that the McConnell team and 87 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: the Trump team have been talking recently behind the scenes 88 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: about whether McConnell will endorse Trump. Yes, and I think 89 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 3: if mc donald does endorse Trump, I'm going back to 90 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 3: that lion of the Senate school kind of guy. If 91 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 3: Trump is clearly the Republican nominee, then McConnell will hold 92 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: his nose, explain to his. 93 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 4: Wife and you know, and go. 94 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: Ahead and endorse them, because the public he's a loyal Republican. 95 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 2: When you see this headline, though, then you start because 96 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: that has been the big conversation. Is this his way 97 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 2: of saying, no, I'm not endorsing Donald Trump. 98 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 4: Why I don't know? 99 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: That would be something that would be something talk about 100 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: the last holdout As we spend time with Wendy Benjaminson, 101 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 2: this is remarkable and we'll have a lot more to 102 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 2: talk about with our panel. Rick and Genie will be 103 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: here about ten minutes, and of course we're going to 104 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: get their take. They'll be here and even less than that, Wendy, 105 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: the Michigan primary is behind us. 106 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 4: Now, that was interesting. 107 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: How about that? 108 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: I want to hear why you think it was because 109 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: we knew all I guess we all thought we knew 110 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: Donald Trump and Joe Biden were going to win, right, 111 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: And they did, and they did. 112 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: We can't mistake that, right. 113 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: But when you look under the hood here, it didn't 114 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: come without a little bit of pain, especially for Joe Biden. 115 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: One hundred thousand uncommitted. 116 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 4: One hundred thousands essentially protest votes. 117 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 3: Well, it really shows us for the very first time 118 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:10,679 Speaker 3: the depth of concern among both voters of color, Muslim 119 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: American voters, and young voters who are extremely worried about 120 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 3: or who want to at least put Joe Biden on 121 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 3: notice that he cannot take them for granted. That he 122 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 3: has to take steps on the Middle East, and he 123 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 3: has to take other steps toward things that they've wanted 124 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 3: that he promised them in twenty nineteen and twenty twenty. 125 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 3: The interesting thing was that some of those hundred thousand 126 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 3: protest votes did not just come from the Muslim American 127 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 3: sort of enclaves of Dearborn and places like that. It 128 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 3: came from ann Arbor, It came from East Landsing. Those 129 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 3: are college towns and they have a, you know, a 130 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 3: more liberal population than a lot of Michigan, but also 131 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 3: a lot of those young people who are extremely dissatisfied help. 132 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 2: To get him there in twenty you know, we hear 133 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: the analysis young people don't vote anyway, They're going to 134 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: probably sleep in that day. But I wonder if this 135 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: starts to resonate in other college towns like Madison, where 136 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 2: the president needs those votes to win in razor thin 137 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 2: margins exactly. 138 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 3: And we've seen going all the way back to Bill 139 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 3: Clinton and especially with Barack Obama, young people will vote 140 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 3: when they believe they have a reason to vote. When 141 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 3: they will believe I mean, you always have a reason 142 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 3: to vote, as I tell my kids. But they but 143 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 3: they when they feel inspired, when they feel that they 144 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 3: are going to have a choice to pick a leader, 145 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 3: even if it's to vote against Donald Trump. But then 146 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 3: you have to give them a good reason to vote 147 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 3: for something. And they're not a lot of them, at 148 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: least are not seeing it. You know, the news for 149 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 3: Donald Trump wasn't all one hundred percent Rosie last night. 150 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 3: Either's Nikki Hilly is still getting a significant portion of 151 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 3: the Republican primary voters, which tells you that in the 152 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 3: general election, there will be Republicans who will look for 153 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: an alternative. 154 00:06:58,120 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 4: Whether it's RFK. 155 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 3: Junior, whether it's You'll Stein, whether it's Joe Biden, They're 156 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 3: going to look something else. 157 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 2: Thanks we saw like we saw in Georgia, you know, 158 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 2: where they're Republican all the way down the ballot, but 159 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: they never or they wrote in someone for president. Wendy 160 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: Benjaminson is with us on balance of power. That's with 161 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: ninety nine percent of the ballots counted, by the way, 162 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 2: eighty one to thirteen eighty one percent of thirteen percent 163 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: for Joe Biden running against himself almost in this case. 164 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: It's kind of interesting. And he's got a big data 165 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: mars going to the border. Yes, so is Donald Trump. 166 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: They're both going to really understand how this happened. Well, 167 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: they're going to be one hundreds miles apart. I think 168 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 2: Biden is going to Brownsville, which is on the seople 169 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 2: are going to see this as a standoff though, like 170 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 2: they plan it that. 171 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 3: Way, right, yeah, right, It will be sort of a 172 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 3: standoff on the Mexican border, so you know, cue the 173 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 3: Clint Eastwood music. But it's it will be interesting because 174 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 3: they will both be trying to say the border is important. 175 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 3: They will both be trying to say I can fix it. 176 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 3: And it will be a matter of who who. 177 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: Joe Biden need to show up with something or do 178 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: you save that for the state of the Union and 179 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 2: say I just got back from the border and I 180 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: am taking this action here tonight, or does he need 181 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: to say more than hey here, I am take my 182 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: picture tomorrow. 183 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think what he'll do tomorrow is probably, you know, 184 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 3: smack around Republicans a little bit for tanking the last 185 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 3: bipartisan border bill. Explain that he can't do it with 186 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 3: executive orders because he, as he said earlier this week, Dad, 187 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 3: fixing the border requires personnel, which requires money, which requires appropriations, 188 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 3: which requires Congress. So that I think will be his 189 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: message down there. I want to fix it. He's a 190 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 3: little late to the party, but he wants to fix it. 191 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 3: And there we go. 192 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: We're hearing the voice now of Mitch McConnell, and we 193 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 2: want to bring you live to the Senate floor. As 194 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 2: we just told you, he's announced that he will step 195 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: down as leader in November. 196 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: Let's listen live on Bloomberg. 197 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:49,719 Speaker 6: There's a certain intro spectrum that accompanies the grieving process. 198 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 6: Perhaps it is God of reminding you of your own 199 00:08:55,480 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 6: life's journey to reprioritage the impact of the world that 200 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 6: we will all inevitably leave behind. I turned eighty two 201 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 6: last week. The end of my contributions are closer than 202 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 6: i'd prefer. My career in the United States Center began 203 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 6: amidst the Reagan Revolution. The truth is, when I got here, 204 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 6: I was just happy if anybody remembered my name. President 205 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 6: Reagan called me Mitchell O'Donnell close enough. I thought. My wife, Elaine, 206 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 6: and I got married on President Reagan's birthday, February sixth. 207 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 6: It's probably not the most romantic thing to admit, but 208 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 6: Reagan meant. 209 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 1: A lot to both of us. 210 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 6: For thirty one years, Elaine has been the love of 211 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 6: my life, and I'm eternally grateful to have her by 212 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 6: my side. I think back to my first days in 213 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 6: the Senate with deep appreciation for the time that helped 214 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 6: shape my view of the world. I'm unconflicted about the 215 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 6: good within our country and the irreplaceable role we play 216 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 6: as the leader of the free world. It's why I 217 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 6: work so hard to get the National Security Package passed 218 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 6: earlier this month. Believe me, I know the politics within 219 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 6: my party at this particular. 220 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: Moment in time. 221 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 6: I have many faults, this understanding politics is not one of. 222 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,599 Speaker 6: That said, I believe more strongly than ever that America's 223 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 6: global leadership is essential to preserving the Shining City on 224 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 6: a Hill that Ronald Reagan discussed. As long as I'm 225 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 6: drawing breath on this earth, I will defend American exceptionalism. 226 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 6: So as I've been thinking about when I would delivered 227 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 6: some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment 228 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 6: when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset 229 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 6: of my work, a moment when I'm certain I have 230 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 6: helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe that day 231 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 6: arrived today. My goals when I was narrowly elected to 232 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 6: the Senate back in nineteen eighty four were fairly modest. 233 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 6: Do good job with the people of Kentucky and convince 234 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 6: them that by doing so, they might rehire me for 235 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 6: a second term. That was it. That was the plan. 236 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 6: If you would have told me forty years later that 237 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,959 Speaker 6: I would stand before you as the longest serving Senate 238 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 6: leader in American history, frankly, I would have thought you'd 239 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 6: lost your mind. I have the honor of representing Kentucky 240 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 6: in the Senate longer than anyone else in our state history. 241 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 6: I just never could have imagined, never could have imagined 242 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 6: that happening when I arrived here in nineteen eighty four. 243 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 6: At forty two, I'm filled with heartfelt gratitude and humility 244 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 6: for the opportunity. But now it's twenty twenty four, I'm 245 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 6: now eighty two. As Ecclesiastics as these tells us, to 246 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,319 Speaker 6: everything there is a season and a time to every 247 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 6: purpose under heaven. To serve Kentucky in the Senate has 248 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 6: been the honor of my life. To lead my Republican 249 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 6: colleagues has been the highest privilege. But one of life's 250 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 6: most underappreciated talents is to know when it's time to 251 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 6: move on to life's next chapter. So I stand before 252 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 6: you today, mister President, and my colleagues to say this 253 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 6: will be my last term as Republican leader to the Senate. 254 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 6: I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. However, I'll complete my 255 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 6: job my colleagues has given me until we select a 256 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 6: new leader November and they take the helm next January. 257 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 6: I'll finish the job that people of Kentucky hired me 258 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 6: to do. As well, i will be it from a 259 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 6: different seat, and I'm actually looking forward to that. So 260 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 6: it's time for me to think about another season. I 261 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 6: love the Senate sent our life. There may be more 262 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 6: distinguished members of this body throughout our history, but our 263 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 6: doubt there were any with any more admiration for the Senate. 264 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 6: After all this time, I still get a thrill walking 265 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 6: into the Capitol, and especially on this venerable floor, knowing 266 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 6: that we each of us have the honor to represent 267 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 6: our states and do the important work of our country, 268 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 6: but father time remains undefeated. I'm no longer that a 269 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 6: young man fitting in the back hoping colleagues would remember 270 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 6: my name. It's time the next generation of the leadership. 271 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 6: As Shenry Place said in this very body in eighteen fifty, 272 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 6: the Constitution of the United States was not made merely 273 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 6: for the generation that then existed, but for posterity, unlimited, undefined, endless, 274 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 6: perpetual posterity. 275 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: So time rolls on. 276 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 6: There will be a new custodian of this great institution 277 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 6: next year. I won't surprise you know, I tend to 278 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 6: turn this job over to a Republican majority of life. 279 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 6: I have full confidence in my conference to choose my 280 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 6: replacement and lead our country forward. There'll be other times 281 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 6: to reminisce. I'm immensely proud of the accomplishments I've played 282 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 6: some role in obtaining for the American people. Today is 283 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 6: not today to discuss all of that, because, as I 284 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 6: said earlier, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. There are 285 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 6: many challenges we must meet to deliver for the American people, 286 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 6: and each will have my full effort and attention. I 287 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 6: still have enough guests in my tank to thoroughly disappoint 288 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 6: my critics, and I intend to do so with all 289 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 6: the enthusiasm with which they become accustomed. So to my colleagues, 290 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 6: thank you for in trusting me with our success. It's 291 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 6: been an honor to work with each of you. There'll 292 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 6: be plenty of time to express my gratitude in greater 293 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 6: detail as I sprint towards the finish line, which is 294 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 6: now in sight. How are you poor? 295 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 2: Senator Mitch McConnell there live in the chamber, the majority leader, 296 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 2: once now minority leader. We'll be stepping down from his 297 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 2: leadership post in November. As we brought you here just 298 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 2: a short time ago. A breaking situation today in Washington, 299 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 2: d C. I would love to just get a quick 300 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 2: thought from Wendy Benjaminson. Wendy before you leave us. The 301 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 2: news broke while you were in the chair here. We 302 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 2: just listened to that together, A very emotional addressing How 303 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: would you describe it? Does he feel defeated or does 304 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 2: he feel like he's leaving on top? 305 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 4: No, I don't think he feels defeated. 306 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 3: My impression was sort of confirmed everything you and I 307 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 3: were talking about right before we went to that speech, 308 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 3: which is that he really he and Nancy Pelosi too. 309 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 3: They are sort of such creatures of that institution in 310 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 3: the way that we've always understood that institution to be, 311 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 3: you know, I mean almost part of the furniture, if 312 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 3: you will, because these the chambers did not operate without. 313 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 4: One of them, yes, exactly. 314 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 3: And yet he's he's giving the sense that what I 315 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 3: said before, that you know, the things have changed. This 316 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 3: is a new century, this is a new way of 317 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 3: approaching politics. Seniority doesn't guarantee access to being junior, doesn't, 318 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 3: you know, deny access. And the whole place is run 319 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 3: in a much different way than it was in the 320 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 3: Reagan era. And he must have mentioned Ronald Reagan three 321 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:56,479 Speaker 3: or four times there. He longs for that era and 322 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 3: that era doesn't exist anymore, you know. And you know, 323 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 3: I love him or hate him. He really is an institutionalist, 324 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 3: and I think he feels like, you know, he's either 325 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 3: too old or too out of style to run that 326 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 3: chamber anymore. 327 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 1: Thanks for sticking around with us. 328 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: Happy I always look forward to Wendy Benjaminson's insights Bloomberg's 329 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 2: Washington Senior Editor. 330 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: Thank you, Wendy. 331 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: As we assembled our panel, didn't think we'd be talking 332 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 2: about this, but need to hear from Rick Davis and 333 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 2: Genie Shanzanoh Bloomberg Politics contributors on news that Mitch McConnell 334 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: is in fact stepping down as leader. 335 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: Ricky spent a number of years. 336 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 2: I think, as we all know working with John McCain 337 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 2: in the United States Senate, you have every sense of 338 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 2: the importance of this particular tenure. What does it mean 339 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: that it's coming to an end? 340 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 6: Now? 341 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,880 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think what Wen you just said about it's 342 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 5: really the end of an error. We saw Nancy Pelosi 343 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 5: and her eighties be retired, and now we have Mitch 344 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 5: Mcconnelady two retiring from this leadership post. We're going to 345 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 5: have a whole new generation that comes into power power 346 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 5: positions in Washington in the very near future, and I 347 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 5: think that era is going to be ushered in is. 348 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: To youthful leadership. 349 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 5: It'll be interesting to see what happens in the Senate 350 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 5: as far as the elections go and whether or not 351 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 5: we're picking a minority leader or a majority leader in 352 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 5: this cycle. But at the end of the day, we're 353 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 5: going to lose a master strategist at legislation and politics. 354 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 5: I was actually happy to hear that he talked about 355 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 5: his grasp of politics. I've never met a member of 356 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,360 Speaker 5: the United States Senate who knew more polling and strategy 357 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 5: than Mitch McConnell did. He was a real study in politics, 358 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 5: and for people like me that helped have conversations with 359 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 5: him about the impacts of what happened in the United 360 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 5: States Senate. They weren't in a vacuum politically. He calculated 361 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 5: the politics of every move he made. 362 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 2: Fascinating the quote that stuck half to me, Genie, the 363 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:02,719 Speaker 2: end of my contributions are closer than I'd prefer. And 364 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: you wonder how much of this had to do with 365 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 2: his age or the impact of Donald Trump on his party. 366 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 2: Maybe you can't separate the two. 367 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: What do you think? 368 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, I think I agree with you. I 369 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 7: think it's really hard to separate the two. And I 370 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 7: was struck by that as well, because, of course, this 371 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 7: is a party that has changed enormously in the last 372 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 7: several years, but certainly since Mitch McConnell took the helm 373 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 7: in the Senate and since he joined the Senate, this 374 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 7: is not the same Republican Party of Mitch McConnell's time, 375 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 7: and we have seen challenges to his leadership in the 376 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 7: Senate very very recently, and so I think that's part 377 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 7: of it. And I think we have to take him 378 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 7: at his word that he feels like it is now 379 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 7: time to hand over the mantle. 380 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: And this is something so many of. 381 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 7: Our leaders are grappling with right now, right up to 382 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:59,199 Speaker 7: our presidential leading contenders and Joe Biden and Donald Trump, 383 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 7: as you see new generations saying wait a minute, is 384 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 7: it time for you to exit stage left? So so 385 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 7: many you know of our leaders grappling with this challenge. 386 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 7: And I think Mitch McConnell makes a really important point. 387 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 7: Part of being a leader is having a succession plan. 388 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 7: And we know that he's got the three Johns in waiting, 389 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 7: and I would hope a couple of the women as 390 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 7: well in the Senate leadership on the Republican side who 391 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 7: may be able to fill his shoes. But that's a 392 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 7: critical part of being a leader, is knowing when to 393 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 7: exit and hand over the mantle to the next generation. 394 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,479 Speaker 7: He is right about that part of it. 395 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 1: So what do you think about the succession plan here? Rick? 396 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 2: It's always been about the three Johns in terms of 397 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 2: recent history, Barasso, Foon and Cornn. 398 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: Will it in fact be one of them? It could be. 399 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 5: There's no question that the caucus itself is going through 400 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 5: some turmoil. We saw attacks against Mitch McConnell earlier in 401 00:22:54,880 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 5: the year related to his efforts to try and past 402 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 5: Ukraine funding, and so I think you'd have to sort 403 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 5: of see it as an opportunistic situation. Obviously, the three Johns, 404 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 5: who have been participating in leadership for a very long time, 405 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 5: know how the strings are pulled, understand how to get 406 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 5: legislation passed, understand the dynamic within the caucus probably better 407 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 5: than anyone else. But there are other people who have 408 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 5: ambitions in leadership, people like Tom Tillis, who I think 409 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 5: have studied Mitch McConnell's leadership for quite some time and 410 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 5: may be ready to emerge. And so I think you 411 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,719 Speaker 5: can see also potentially a right flank attack. You know, 412 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 5: Ted Cruz and some of his buddies have been very 413 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 5: vocally opposed to Mitch McConnell and may put up a 414 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 5: candidate that represents their point of view. 415 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 2: Do you wonder, Genie, with all the talk lately of 416 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 2: conversations happening that might bring Mitch McConnell to a Donald 417 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,880 Speaker 2: Trump endorsement, which we talked about yesterday and some think 418 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 2: is inevitable. Was this this way of saying no, but 419 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,159 Speaker 2: I'm not going to be part of this. 420 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 7: I was thinking about that. 421 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: You know, I think it's a hard call. 422 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 7: I think I veer on the side that Mitch McConnell 423 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 7: is a real institutionalist and he is somebody who is 424 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 7: deeply committed to the Republican Party. Since he committed to 425 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 7: supporting whoever is the nominee, I believe he will probably 426 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 7: in the end support Donald Trump. He may hold his 427 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 7: nose like some other voters and do that, but I 428 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 7: think he will as Donald Trump goes to take that 429 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:34,199 Speaker 7: mantle as the nominee this year. Again, you know, I 430 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 7: would also again just let's add to the list of 431 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 7: possible successors Ernst and Iowa, Shelley Moore Capito in West Virginia. 432 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 7: There are women in the House Republican leadership who could 433 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 7: really play a very important role. And so you know, 434 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 7: in addition to all those folks that Rick just mentioned 435 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 7: in the Three Johns, I think we also have to 436 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 7: look to them because they have a very sort of 437 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 7: interesting perspective and a path to the Senate and a 438 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 7: lot that they could do in their house republic I mean, sorry, 439 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 7: Senate Republican leadership. 440 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 2: Yes, right, yeah, a lot to consider here as we 441 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 2: move into this election cycle or further into it. Rick, 442 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 2: I don't know if you see a McConnell endorsement of 443 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 2: Trump in the offing, does he want to be remembered 444 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 2: as a tried and true Republican or in this case, 445 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 2: the guy who said no. 446 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 5: I don't think it was an accident that he wistfully 447 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 5: discussed on his floor speech just now how much he 448 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 5: was impacted by Ronald Reagan's leadership, basically given credit to 449 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 5: Rob Reagan for his marriage. 450 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: But the reality is that is. 451 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 5: The Republican Party that Mitch McConnell has fought so hard 452 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 5: to be successful in the isolationist policies of Donald Trump 453 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 5: may as well be in the Democratic Party, right, That's 454 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 5: what he's fought his entire career, And so it wouldn't 455 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 5: surprise me that in conjunction with a decision that I 456 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 5: suspect has a lot more to do with being eighty 457 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 5: two years old than anything political. Right now, Remember he's 458 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 5: had some challenges with his health this last year. Yes, 459 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 5: that he uses the opportunity to not feel compelled to 460 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,159 Speaker 5: have to play in this presidential election and may just 461 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 5: skip an endorsement. 462 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: If it's Donald Trump's to. 463 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 2: Have Rick Davis and Genie Shanzino with the Instant Analysis. 464 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 2: As we learned, Mitch McConnell will be stepping down from 465 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 2: his leadership hosts in November. Not going anywhere anytime soon. 466 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:39,119 Speaker 2: He says he will continue to serve the state of Kentucky, 467 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 2: this from a different seat. 468 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg