1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Welcome in his verdict to a Senator Ted Cruz Ben 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Ferguson with you, Senator, what a way to go back 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: to Washington to bring people up to date on what's happened. 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: Twenty House Republicans have voted for someone other than Kevin McCarthy. 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: There were multiple votes that were held. They've decided to 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: basically end it until noon on Wednesday. Some people said, well, 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: that's just because there's a lot of family members in town. 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: I think the world was spending for Kevin McCarthy. You're 9 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: there in Washington. I think everybody in politics is surprised 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: by how this played out so far. Well, it's a 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: big deal. What's happening. It's the first time in a 12 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: hundred years that the House speaker vote went to multiple ballots. 13 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: And right now the House is in recess until noon 14 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: on Wednesday. And noon on Wednesday we'll find out what 15 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: happens next. There were three rounds of balloting, and on 16 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: each of the three nobody had the two hundred and 17 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: eighteen votes needed to win the speakership. And so this battle, 18 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: this battle is waging. You and I are are recording 19 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: this on Tuesday evening, after the House is adjourned, but 20 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: before they've gathered in the morning. I am confident there 21 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: are multiple furious conversations ongoing right now all across Washington. 22 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: Conversations between Kevin McCarthy and his allies, conversations between the 23 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: rebels who are opposing McCarthy, and and they're they're likely 24 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: our negotiations going on right now, but we won't know 25 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: at least until tomorrow what happens. Uh And and it's 26 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: uh uh, it's not going to be dull. Yeah, it's 27 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: not going to be dull. Let's talk about the history 28 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 1: of this. There there are people, and this is even 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: on the Democrat side, that say, hey, we don't like 30 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: this type of precedent, because then what you could end 31 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: up happening in the future is when you have tight 32 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: elections like we just add in November, if certain people 33 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: on either side of the aisle refuse to kind of 34 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: you know, coalesce behind their team, then you could always 35 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 1: be holding good people hostage. That's how this has kind 36 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: of played out on TV. There have been others have 37 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: said this has just become too personal with three or 38 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,279 Speaker 1: four or five different members of Congress and Ken McCarthy, 39 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: where it really isn't about the country. It's more of 40 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: a personal issue. I think this is a very unique 41 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: moment where you see twenty people say, all right, maybe 42 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: we go with a Jim Jordan. We've heard people talk 43 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: about Steve Scalisee. Does that really change anything? And if 44 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: you're a member of Congress right now, especially a new 45 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: member of Congress, how confused are you by all of 46 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 1: this on your first day. Well, let me say several things. 47 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: First of all, I'm staying out of the speaker fight 48 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: in the House. I've got plenty of fights over on 49 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: the other side of the Capitol and the Senate. We 50 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: are in the middle of big, big battles in the Senate, 51 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 1: and so I am watching with considerable interest, but not 52 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 1: engaging in the middle of their leadership fight. That being said, 53 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: I'll make several observations. Number one, A big part of 54 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: the reason this is playing out is because the election 55 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: was disappointing. The election, we did a lot less. Republicans 56 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: did a lot less in the election than we should have. 57 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: We should have a majority in the Senate, we should 58 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: have a big majority in the House. If we'd come 59 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: out of the election and it was a thirty thirty 60 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: five vote Republican majority in the House, I doubt this 61 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: fight would be playing out at that level. I think 62 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: Kevin McCarthy would have had pretty easily the votes to 63 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: be elected speaker. And if you win a big victory, 64 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: that is typically the result. What is driving this is 65 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: it was instead a very frustrating election where we didn't 66 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: win a majority in the Senate. In fact, we lost 67 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: a seat in the Senate, which is beyond infuriating. And 68 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: in the House, the Republicans have a majority, so that's good, 69 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: but it's the narrowest majority imaginable. It is a four 70 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 1: vote majority. Now, I'll say for any speaker, being speaker 71 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: of a House with a four vote majority is an 72 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: absolute mess because you're right, when you have a tiny majority, 73 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: all sorts of groups of members are incentivized to hold 74 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: out for what they want. And that's true from conservatives, 75 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: from moderates, from liberals across the spectrum. I think it's 76 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: also more true on the Republican side. On the Democrats side, 77 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi had a very small majority, but the Democrats 78 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: are command and control, the Democrats are authoritarian, the Democrats 79 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: follow orders. It's a strength of theirs, and it's a 80 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: weakness of theirs on the Republican side, A strength and 81 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: weakness we have as Republicans is we're a bunch of 82 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: individualists were all over the map. That's true in the 83 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: Senate and it's true in the House. And so what's 84 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: playing out here in significant part, is playing out because 85 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: the majority is so narrow and what it led to 86 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: look you and I Ben have talked to on this 87 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: podcast about the leadership battles in the Senate, and I 88 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: led the fight in the leadership battles of the Senate 89 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: to reevaluate what our leadership was doing. And in particular, 90 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: I was the one that made the motion to delay 91 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: leadership elections until after the Georgia runoff, to delay them 92 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: and to have a real debate about how Republicans should lead. 93 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: And I ended up getting eleven votes that well, getting 94 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: sixteen votes in favor of delaying the election, and then 95 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: ultimately there were eleven votes cast either against Mitch McConnell 96 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: or one senator who wouldn't know who voted present. That 97 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: was a big deal. We needed twenty five to have 98 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: delayed the elections. We got within nine of that happening. 99 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: That's the first leadership battle in the Senate we've had 100 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: in the decade I've served in the Senate, every other 101 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: time Mitch McConnell has been elected by acclamation. The same 102 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: forces that drove that leadership battle in the Senate are 103 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: driving the leadership battle in the House. But why is 104 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: the result playing out differently? And there's a very important 105 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: structural difference between the Senate and the House, which is 106 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: why you're getting a lot more drama on the House side. 107 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: In the Senate, the Senate Republican leader is elected only 108 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: by Republicans. In other words, it was the vote of 109 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: what was then fifty of us, and so Mitch to 110 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: remain Senate Republican leader had had to win twenty six 111 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: of those fifty. He had those votes pretty solidly in 112 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: his pocket. In the House, last month, the House Republicans 113 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: got together and Kevin McCarthy won a sizable majority of 114 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:11,239 Speaker 1: House Republicans. But the way the House operates is different 115 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: because the very first thing after the new members are 116 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: sworn in that happens in the House is you have 117 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: what we're seeing right now, a vote on the floor 118 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: of the House to elect the speaker. And it's not 119 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: just a vote Republicans if this was a vote of 120 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: only Republicans. Kevin McCarthy would have won handily like he 121 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: did last month. This is a vote of every House member, 122 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: and to be speaker you need a majority of the 123 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: members who are present and voting. So they're four hundred 124 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: and thirty five members of the House. One member, a 125 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: Democratic member passed away, so they're only four hundred and 126 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: thirty four members right now. That means you need two 127 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: hundred eighteen. What happened on the first ballot Andy Biggs 128 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: from Arizona, it's a conservative, it's a good friend of mine, 129 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: and he ran against Kevin McCarthy, and it ended up 130 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: that there were nineteen votes cast against Kevin McCarthy. Mind you, 131 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: five was sufficient, he could only lose four. Well, the 132 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: second ballot, instead of Andy Biggs being the lead opposition player, 133 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: it was Jim Jordan, and this time there were nineteen 134 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: votes for Jim Jordan. Now there is some irony in 135 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: this and that Jim Jordan is at least at present, 136 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: vocally supporting Kevin McCarthy to be speaker. Yeah. Ji. He 137 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: actually told one member that voted for him, like, I 138 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: don't want this job, and they said, tough luck. Basically, 139 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna nominate you and vote for you anyway. Well, 140 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: and it's even more than that. Jim Jordan, on the 141 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: second ballot had literally stood up and nominated Kevin McCarthy. 142 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: So he was nominating Kevin McCarthy, and in turn, Matt 143 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: Gates got up and nominated Jim Jordan, and nineteen Republicans 144 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: voted for Jim Jordan. Then the third ballot, chip Roy 145 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: nominated Jim Jordan. Chip Roy is my former chief of staff. 146 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: It's a strong conservative, is a very dear friend. Chip 147 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: Roy gave a passion speech for Jim Jordan. And what 148 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: happened next was significant. Look in these battles of momentum matters, 149 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: and so everyone is watching, Okay, are the vote totals 150 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: going up? Are going down? And on the third ballot, 151 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: McCarthy's numbers went down, and in particular Jim Jordan. Instead 152 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: of getting nineteen, which is what he got on the 153 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: second ballot, Jordan got twenty and and and the vote 154 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: that flipped was Byron Donalds, who is a second term 155 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: House member from Florida. He's African American. He's a good principal, 156 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: very well liked member. There were gasps of the floor 157 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: of the House when Byron shifted his vote. That dynamic, 158 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: I think played a real part in the decision to say, Okay, 159 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: let's suspend everything till noon tomorrow. When you look at 160 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: that suspension and before we actually before I even ask 161 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: you that I want to go back to Chip Rowing, 162 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: what he said was something that I think was very 163 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: interesting because I was watching this on all the channels 164 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: when it was happening, and even CNN said, Okay, Chip 165 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: has a point he's making here. He wasn't opposing Kevin 166 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: McCarthy as much as he was advocating for actually debating 167 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: amendments and having transparency in government from the floor of 168 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: the House, and even the panels said, there's a lot 169 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: of Americans they're gonna watch Chip Roy, maybe for the 170 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: first time ever, that are going to look at this 171 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: and say, you know what, what he's saying right now 172 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: actually make some pretty good sense. Just take a list 173 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: and if you miss this, America, this is what he 174 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: had to say from the four of the House. So 175 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: this is what the chamber looks like when we're actually 176 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: debating in the bodies or in the chairs. How many 177 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: times have we been down here giving speeches and there's 178 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: not a soul in the chamber yet. This is what 179 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: it takes to get four hundred, four hundred and thirty 180 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: five people in the chamber and have an actual debate. 181 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: The American people are watching, and that's a good thing. 182 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: What we're doing is exercising our rights to vote and 183 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: have a debate and have a discussion about the future 184 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: of this country through the decision of choosing a speaker. 185 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: This is not personal, it's not This is about the 186 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: future of the country. This is about the direction of 187 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: the country. American people who are looking at this body 188 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: and wondering why we can pass one point seven trillion 189 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: dollars bills that are unpaid for it. They can just 190 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: slide in forty five billion dollars for Ukraine but not 191 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: pay for it, forty billion dollars for emergency spending and 192 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: not paid for a ten percent increase in defense spending, 193 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: six percent increase in non defense spending, and not pay 194 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: for it, and not do a thing except put language 195 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: in a bill that prohibits our ability to use the 196 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: money to secure the border. That bill gets rammed through, 197 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: and we know exactly how it gets rammed through because 198 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: the defense world and the non defense world come together 199 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: and say, you know what, We're gonna cut a deal 200 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: and we'll all go to the mic, so we'll all 201 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: give speeches, and the American people are the big losers. 202 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: That's what happens. We know, that's what happens. The Rules 203 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: Committee sits up there and passes a bill, sends it 204 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: to the floor, and we have no debate on the 205 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,199 Speaker 1: floor of this body. We haven't been able to offer 206 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: an amendment on floor of this body since May of 207 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen. The former leader and I've discussed this right here. 208 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: That's true. But the fact is this place has to change. 209 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: It has to change, and the change comes by either 210 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: adopting rules and procedures that will make us actually do 211 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: our job, or it comes from leadership. And people ask 212 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: me what do you want. I want the tools or 213 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: I want the leadership to stop the swamp from running 214 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: over the average American every single day. I mean, Senator, 215 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: when you hear that, as he said, this is not 216 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: about the speaker as in the person's name. This is 217 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: about rules and procedure. I understand now why Chip was 218 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: your chief of staff and why you like him so much, 219 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: because for many Americans whether you are a Republican or Democrat, 220 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: you hear what he just said and it makes a 221 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: lot of sense. Yeah. Look, Chip is very smart, he's 222 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: very principled. As you noted. When I was newly elected, 223 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: he was my very first chief of staff, so I 224 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: had been in a lot of foxholes side by side 225 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: with Chip, and he is absolutely right at having this 226 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: debate about what Republicans will stand for is important irrespective 227 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: of a speaker election. It's important to say how are 228 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: we going to operate and lead because I believe one 229 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: of the reasons we didn't have the kind of election 230 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: that you and I wanted us to have in November 231 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: is that Republican leadership was not leading boldly and drawing 232 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: a clear contrast. And I've focused my time and attention 233 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: on the Senate, that's obviously the body in which I serve, 234 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: and on trying to press Mitch McConnell to stand up 235 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: and be willing to fight. I think Chip is exactly 236 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: right that this omnibus was an absolute monstrosity. It was 237 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: a disgraceful bill. Now here's one of the weird dynamics. 238 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: Mitch McConnell was urging Republicans to support the one point 239 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: seven trillion dollars omnibus because he said it would help 240 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: Kevin McCarthy. Kevin McCarthy was publicly urging Republicans in the 241 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: Senate to vote against the omnibus. He said it will 242 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: hurt me, hurt Kevin McCarthy. That dynamic playing out is ongoing. 243 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: And you know Chip's point about we're actually sitting in 244 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: the chamber talking to each other. That happens so rarely 245 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: in either House that having a debate about Okay, we 246 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: shouldn't fight on everything always, that doesn't make any sense, 247 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: but we should have a strategy to pick issues that 248 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: matter and stand and fight for them and deliver for 249 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: the American people. Now, Chip has been leading the insurgents 250 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: in the House, and the main thing he has been 251 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: pressing for is something that is called the motion vacate, 252 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: which it used to be that any individual member could 253 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: stand up in the House and file a motion to 254 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: vacate the chair and you could force another vote like 255 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: the vote we're having right now, you could force at 256 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: any time. That meant that the given speaker at any 257 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: given point had to be able to hold two hundred 258 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: and eighteen votes. That makes the job of speaker significantly 259 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: more perilous. It is the tool that was used to 260 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: topple John Bayner, who I think was truly an abysmal speaker. 261 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi changed those rules, and she changed those rules 262 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: to prevent an individual member from filing emotion to vacate. Why. 263 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: Because she didn't want to get toppled. She didn't want 264 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: any rebels to be empowered. And so what those who 265 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: are opposing McCarthy are pressing for is a procedural step 266 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: that an individual House member can file emotion vacate. Why 267 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: are they pressing for it? Well, the argument they give 268 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,440 Speaker 1: is that it then gives a check on leadership. McCarthy, 269 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: at least so far, has been unwilling to agree to that. 270 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: He's publicly agreed to allowing emotion to vacate that five 271 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: members support, but not that an individual member support. Right now, 272 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: I think there are a number of things that are 273 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: going on. Number One, it is entirely possible, and I 274 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: will say I have zero inside knowledge on this piece, 275 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: but it is entirely possible that McCarthy's team is negotiating 276 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: with the ring leaders of the opposition, and perhaps they 277 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 1: make concessions on the procedural grounds sufficient to get their support. 278 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: That's one outcome we could see at noon on Wednesday. 279 00:17:53,440 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: Another outcome is you could see growing support behind Jim Jordan. 280 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if that will happen or not. As 281 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: I said, Byron, Donald's vote was significant. A third outcome 282 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: is you could see a potential third candidate. You could 283 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: see someone else. Steve Scaliz, who's the number two behind 284 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: Kevin McCarthy, has been discussed as that now Steve nominated 285 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: Kevin McCarthy. Steve is publicly and vocally supporting McCarthy. But 286 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: in chaos, all sorts of strange things happen. A fourth 287 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: outcome that would be a terrible outcome is it is 288 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: possible some of the more moderate or liberal Republicans could 289 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: team up with Democrats and we could end up with 290 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: a speaker that's a true train wreck, that is either 291 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 1: an extremely liberal Republican or god forbid, a Democrat. Now, 292 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: I think the chances of a Democrat speaker coming out 293 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 1: of this chaos are very very low. I don't know 294 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 1: that they're zero, but they're very very low. But a 295 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: disastrously left wing Republican speaker is a possibility. I don't 296 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: think that will happen. But in a world of chaos, 297 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: all sorts of things can happen, and so those negotiations 298 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: I think we're happening all across DC right now. I 299 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: think we'll end up with a resolution, and we'll end 300 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 1: up with a resolution that will either be a negotiated 301 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: solution or a consensus candidate somehow emerges. At this point, 302 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: I have no idea. All right, let me ask you 303 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: this before we wrap this up, because obviously there's a 304 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: lot that we don't know. But there is the optics 305 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: of this. The media is playing this Senator. The headlines 306 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: are everywhere right now. You can see it all over 307 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 1: the country. The establishment media is saying the Republicans are 308 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: in chaos, this is anarchy, This is making the squad 309 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: look normal, as one headline put it refer to the 310 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: AOC and the crazies on the left, making them look rational. 311 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 1: As another way it was put a moment ago on TV. 312 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: I don't believe this is catastrophically negative in any way 313 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: for the Republicans. I think a grand debate is not 314 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,400 Speaker 1: a bad thing. Do you see this as some massive 315 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: debacle taking place? Or is that just the media doing 316 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: what the media does saying, let's seize on this moment. 317 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: Look like this is insanity when it really this isn't. 318 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: This is just watching the sausage be made. Look, the 319 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: media are left wing propagandists. They hate having a debate 320 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: about Republicans leading about Republicans being conservative. The media are 321 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: apoplectic about it. By the way, one of the reasons 322 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi didn't face this kind of challenge is she 323 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: just gave in to the radicals. AOC was basically the 324 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: speaker last term. On every radical left wing issue. Nancy 325 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,439 Speaker 1: Pelosi just said yes, yes, yes, you can have it, 326 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: impeach the president, Okay, yes, do it again, yes, yes, 327 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: everything you want, yes, yeah, I mean, and they all 328 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: just followed the extreme left. That's the difference. The Democrats 329 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: the last two years ran hard hard left, and they 330 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: had unity running hard hard left. The reason there's disagreement 331 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: among Republicans is is there some Republicans that want to 332 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: be strong conservatives. There's others who disagree with that, and 333 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: you end up with something like the one point seven 334 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: trillion dollars omnibus in the Senate. What was it? All 335 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: the Democrats and a handful of Republicans. You see that 336 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: pattern over and over and over again. I will say 337 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,479 Speaker 1: one of the complicated pieces of this also is Donald Trump. 338 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 1: So Trump likes Kevin McCarthy. They are friends. In fact, 339 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: Trump with some regularity refers to Kevin McCarthy as Mike Kevin, 340 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: and they just on a personal level get along. Well. 341 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: I get that. I like Kevin McCarthy personally, a very 342 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 1: affable guy. He's difficult to dislike on the one on 343 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: one basis. Trump has been vocally supporting McCarthy not long ago. 344 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 1: An NBC reporter tweeted out exclusive. Former President Trump declined 345 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: to say if he's sticking by his endorsement of Kevin 346 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: McCarthy for speaker tonight, telling me in a brief phone 347 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: interview he has had calls all day asking for support, 348 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: and quote, we'll see what happens. We'll see how it 349 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: all works out. That's a potential big deal depending on 350 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: what Trump does in the next twenty four hours. If 351 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: he continues to support Kevin, that's one outcome. If he 352 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: decides to withdraw his support or support another candidate, that 353 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: could change the dynamic very significantly. Well, and in that 354 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: tweet that you just mentioned to talk about the five 355 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: that started this. Congressman Gates immediately tweeted that out, saying, 356 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: you know, in quoting it, and then said Trump knows 357 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: McCarthy can't get there, so he sees that moment to say, Aha, 358 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: see I'm winning here because Donald Trump didn't come out 359 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: tonight and say I still stand behind Kevin McCarthy. Well, 360 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: and unfortunately, you're also seeing divisions within within the House 361 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: that that are getting pretty tense. You know, Marjorie Taylor 362 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: Greene went out and blasted Chip Roy and blasted Matt 363 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: Gates because she's supporting Kevin McCarthy, and so she had 364 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 1: had some very angry things to say. Um, they're all 365 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,439 Speaker 1: sorts of strange dynamics. Look, one of the things that 366 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 1: drove it, as I understand it, is the House Republican 367 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:47,400 Speaker 1: Conference met today and I wasn't in the room. I'm 368 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: not in the House, but from the public reports, leadership 369 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 1: came out really strong and aggressive. Indeed, anonymous quote supporting leadership, 370 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: we're saying that McCarthy quote, they'd never seen anyone taken 371 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: to the woodshed as much as as Kevin took the 372 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: the the rebels to the woodshed. And in particular. H 373 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: It's been reported that Mike Rodgers stood up and threatened 374 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: Republicans who didn't vote for Kevin would lose their committee assignments, 375 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: that they would be punished and stripped off of committees, 376 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: and that Chip Roy has been very vocal that that 377 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:35,919 Speaker 1: pissed him off, and that threat, if anything, drove the 378 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: numbers the other way. And and I could see that 379 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: sometimes leadership gets punitive. And you know what, if you've 380 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 1: got a thirty vote majority, leadership can be punitive. If 381 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:57,360 Speaker 1: you've got a four vote majority, it's it's pretty dangerous 382 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: to make threats because it can end up making those 383 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: who disagree with you dig in. And and that may 384 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 1: be playing out there as well. It's gonna be very 385 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:10,959 Speaker 1: interesting how this ends up. What a way to go 386 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 1: back to Washington for a new Congress. I still agree 387 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 1: with you in what you said a moment ago. This 388 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: is just going to be entertaining to watch. I do 389 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: not believe this is quote hurting the Republican Party or 390 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: some sort of horrible debacle that will never you know, 391 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: will never be able to overcome. I just don't buy 392 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: those liberal headlines from the lefties. Over the next ten 393 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: twelve hours center. It's good to get back in a 394 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: rhythm with you. I know you're exciting. And let me 395 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: say one more thing as we wrap up. Yeah, which 396 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: is something else happened today that I thought was actually 397 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,479 Speaker 1: quite shocking, and it was on the Senate side. So 398 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: on the Senate side, the new senators was sworn in. 399 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: That always happens. That's swearing in happens on the floor 400 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,679 Speaker 1: of the Senate and the Vice presidents who's the president 401 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: of the Senate, swears them in, and then afterwards you 402 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 1: go to the historic Senate Chamber and you do a 403 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:05,120 Speaker 1: reenactment of the swearing in. And the reason you do 404 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 1: that is because family members are not allowed on the 405 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: floor of the Senate, so when you're actually getting sworn in, 406 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: your wife can't be there, your husband, your kids, your parents, 407 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: and so what has always happened, certainly for as long 408 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 1: as I'm aware of it, is after the officials swearing in, 409 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: you go to the historic Chamber and the Vice President 410 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 1: will swear you in. And you know, in my case 411 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 1: when I was sworn in ten years ago, Heidi holds 412 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:34,360 Speaker 1: the Bible and your kids are there, your parents are there, 413 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: your family's there, and it's Look, it's a great like 414 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: it's it's a big exciting thing when you're being sworn 415 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: into the Senate. It's nice to be with your family 416 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: and celebrate it. Well, something an historic first occurred, which 417 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: is Kamala Harris's office put out a notification to the 418 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: senators being sworn in that anyone attending the the swearing 419 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 1: in reenactment must have a negative COVID test within twenty 420 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: four hours performed by a capital physician, or you wouldn't 421 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: be allowed in. And this was true for anyone over 422 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: two years of age. Wow. And I gotta say, look, 423 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,399 Speaker 1: the vice president, particularly in a fifty one forty nine Senate, 424 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: has almost zero responsibilities. You know. The old, uh famous 425 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: quote from John Nance Gardner is the is the vice 426 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: president is presidency isn't worth a bucket of warm spit 427 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,719 Speaker 1: About the only thing the vice president does is swear 428 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: in the new senators. You break a tie, but in 429 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 1: a fifty one forty nine Senate, they're going to be 430 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: a lot fewer ties. Um. And so Kamala is literally 431 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:54,640 Speaker 1: saying I'm not gonna do my damn job. And it 432 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: was astonishing, and I have to admit offensive. And it 433 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 1: pissed me off. And and and I'm gonna give a 434 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 1: shout out to one of the new senators, Mark Wayne 435 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: Mullen is new Republican from Oklahoma who who decided he 436 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: and his family screw you, We're not going to do it. 437 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 1: And he put out a quote that says COVID just 438 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: exists for those who are in the bubble, and that 439 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: his family has things to do back in Oklahoma, such 440 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: as going to a school and wrestling tournament. The senator 441 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: said he didn't want a false positive on a COVID 442 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: test unnecessarily complicate things when going back to Oklahoma, and quote, 443 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: I really don't care about a picture with Kamala Harris. 444 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: He added, Now you've taught for you to take him 445 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 1: to dinner, right, This isn't This could be your new 446 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: best friend. Look good for him for standing up. But 447 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:45,479 Speaker 1: I gotta say like that the absolute dripping arrogance and 448 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: condescension of I will not allow you to be in 449 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: the room with me unless you take a COVID test, 450 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: and I won't do my job as a result. I've 451 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: never seen anything like it. And including two right relationships 452 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: between the White House and the Senate, we're already not 453 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: very good. And and and this that was just Marie 454 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: Antoinette would be proud of Comula's performance today. You can't 455 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: make it up. Senator. It's going to be a very 456 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: very interesting year in Washington. We'll keep you all updated 457 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: on it. We'll have the latest on what happens with 458 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: the Speakers vote that we can promise you that again, 459 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: great to be back with you in the new year, sir. 460 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 1: I know you had a nice little vacation with your 461 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: family as well. Uh. And we'll be back with all 462 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: you guys that are listening right now in just a 463 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: couple of days.