1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast. Catch 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 2: us live weekdays at noon Eastern on Apple car Play 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 2: and then Broud Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. Listen 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 2: on demand wherever you get your podcasts, or watch us 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 2: live on YouTube. 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 3: You're in Washington. People are on watch to see if 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 3: the government is going to shut down after midnight tomorrow. Yes, 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 3: the deadline is less than thirty six hours away, and 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 3: at this point it's not clear how a shutdown will 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 3: be averted. After the one five hundred and forty seven 12 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 3: page stopgap continuing resolution put forward by House Speaker Mike 13 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 3: Johnson on Wednesday met with a wall of opposition from 14 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 3: the likes of Elon Musk, from President elet Donald Trump himself, 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 3: and from a number of other conservatives in Congress, including 16 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: Republican Senator Josh Holly of Missouri. 17 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 4: Here's the thing that really gets me. Republicans negotiated this 18 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 4: The Speaker of the House negotiated this bill. It is 19 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 4: a total travesty. This has got to change, Sean. I mean, 20 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 4: we cannot go on like this, and I hope that 21 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 4: Republican leadership gets the message here, the message of this election, 22 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 4: which is that people want change, they don't want this garbage. 23 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 4: I'm a hard no on this thing. It is a joke, 24 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 4: it is a travesty, and they need to go back 25 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 4: to square one. 26 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: And things did change pretty quickly in that Plan A 27 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 3: has now been declared dead. Becomes a question of what 28 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 3: exactly Plan B is going to be and how Plan 29 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 3: B can pass in a House that is divided along 30 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 3: very slim lines. The Republican majority is very narrow, and 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 3: Democrats have suggested that unless it's the original deal, they 32 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 3: may not be along for the ride. We heard from 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: the Democratic leader in the House, Hackeing Jeffreys on that 34 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 3: earlier this morning. 35 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 5: House Democrats, House Republican, Senate Democrats, and Senate Republicans reach 36 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 5: the bipartisan agreement to fund the government, prevent a shutdown, 37 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 5: and meet the needs of the American people. That bipartisan 38 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 5: agreement has now been detonated because House Republicans have been 39 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 5: ordered to shut down the government and hurt the very 40 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 5: working class Americans that many of them pretend to want 41 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 5: to help. 42 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 3: So let's get the latest from Capitol Hill now where 43 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 3: Jack Fitzpatrick Bloomberg government Congress supporter is joining us from 44 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 3: so Jack, where do we stand at this hour? With 45 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: not a lot of time left to go to avert 46 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:47,839 Speaker 3: this thing? 47 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 6: Right now, no one knows where we stand. We could 48 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 6: be pulled in two totally opposite directions, as we've seen 49 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 6: in the last twenty four hours. There was a bipartisan agreement. 50 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 6: Then Elon Musk came in with some conservative House members 51 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 6: and people like Josh Holly saying we should take out 52 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 6: some of this additional spending. This is too big, too bloated. 53 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 6: Then the President elect Donald Trump pulled us in the 54 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 6: opposite direction and said his top priority was adding something 55 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 6: that's a hard vote for many Republicans, which is a 56 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 6: debt limit measure. In fact, he's followed up multiple times 57 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 6: and says, I don't just want to suspend or raise 58 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 6: the debt limit, I want to eliminate it. So do 59 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 6: we strip this down to a bare bones bill to 60 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 6: try to just simply avoid a shutdown and maybe the 61 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 6: disasterate is not in there, or do we add to 62 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 6: it and say this is a total reimagining of the 63 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 6: existing debt limit law. Speaking to lawmakers so far today, 64 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 6: no one knows other than that, Democrats, despite having advocated 65 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 6: for an end to debt limit standoffs, are not interested 66 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 6: in working with Trump to end them permanently in the 67 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 6: future if it's in conjunction with this stopgap. They are 68 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 6: focused on just trying to avoid a shutdown, and any 69 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 6: debt limit talk should come later, they say. So it's 70 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 6: not clear where they go, and the likelihood of a 71 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 6: funding lapse seems pretty high right now. 72 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 3: Well, so then it becomes a question on how long 73 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 3: exactly that could last, Jack, and what is going to 74 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,239 Speaker 3: be able to get through Ultimately, If what we're looking 75 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 3: for here is some kind of slim down package that 76 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 3: certainly is not north of fifteen hundred pages, would it 77 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 3: still include theoretically disaster relief for example, that many in 78 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 3: the Southeast desperately need. 79 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 6: That is an important issue to some key members. So 80 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 6: it's hard to imagine this thing moving without disaster aid. 81 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 6: Theoretically they could vote separately, but just late yesterday the 82 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 6: Senators from North Carolina Tom Tillis and Ted Budd were 83 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 6: saying they're not going to vote for a stopgap if 84 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 6: it does not include packaged within it, the disaster Aid. 85 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 6: When you have a hurricane pla through your state or 86 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 6: the other areas that have had wildfires, flooding, tornadoes, et cetera. 87 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 6: You don't just want to vote on disaster Aid. You 88 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 6: want to attach it to the must pass bill to 89 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 6: keep the government running, because that's your point of leverage, 90 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 6: and that has been raised by key members so far. 91 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 6: So a major part of any whipcount is going to 92 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 6: be if you take out disaster Aid, you're going to 93 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 6: lose members, probably from a wide variety of places around 94 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 6: the country that stand to benefit from this, because it's 95 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 6: not just Hurricane Helene and Milton. It's years of a 96 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 6: backlog of FEMA funds that people are waiting on, whether 97 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 6: it's the Maui wildfires that still has money. It's a 98 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 6: lot of lawmakers who would be upset if that is 99 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 6: pulled out of this stopgap. 100 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 3: Well, we know Jack that a lot of lawmakers are 101 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 3: upset already. Specifically a lot of Republican lawmakers are quite 102 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,239 Speaker 3: upset with Speaker Johnson for putting forward this initial mammoth 103 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: cr in the first place, knowing that just weeks from 104 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 3: now he has to stand for re election to get 105 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 3: the Speaker's gavel again. How precarious does his position actually, look, 106 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 3: is he going to be able to hang on to 107 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: the job. 108 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 6: This is so much more difficult for Mike Johnson than 109 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 6: I think anyone really imagined. The initial reason we were 110 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 6: talking about a stopgap measure to fund the government through 111 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 6: March fourteenth is at least one reason is it would 112 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 6: be very difficult for the Speaker to negotiate a full 113 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 6: government funding package that requires a lot of compromises right 114 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 6: before running for speaker. That's the kind of thing conservatives 115 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 6: don't like. But when you load this up as a 116 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 6: fifteen hundred page bill with one hundred billion dollars in 117 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 6: disaster AIATE and a wide variety of things Democrats tried 118 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 6: to get in there and succeeded, it's just about as complicated. 119 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 6: So he has entered into tough negotiations that are only 120 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 6: getting more complex, especially with a potential debt limit vote 121 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 6: being demanded by the President elect. He may look back 122 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 6: and wish that he had just taken care of everything 123 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 6: rather than kicking this to March. But it's very, very 124 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 6: difficult and unex expectedly so at this point. 125 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 7: All right. 126 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 3: Jack Fitzpatrick, Bloomberg Government Congress supporter, with the latest from 127 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 3: Capitol Hill, where it is certainly a chaotic day. Thank 128 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 3: you so much. Will of course be checking back in 129 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 3: with our team on the Hill throughout the day as 130 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 3: we try to get a sense of what exactly is 131 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 3: happening here and what exactly it all means politically. So 132 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: for that, let's turn to our political panel. Kristin Han 133 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 3: is joining me, Democratic strategist and partner at Rock Solutions, 134 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,559 Speaker 3: alongside Bloomberg Politics contributor Rick Davis, Republican strategist and Stone 135 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 3: Court Capital partner. Kristin. There has been a contention from 136 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 3: President elect Donald Trump in the last twenty four hours 137 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 3: as he tanked Plan A and is now pushing for 138 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: this debt sealing issue to be dealt with before he 139 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 3: takes office, that whatever happens now is going to be 140 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 3: shouldered by the incumbent president, which is a Democrat, Joe Biden. 141 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,239 Speaker 3: And I wonder the extent to which you are hearing 142 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 3: concern from Democrats about that being true. 143 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: May I think there's a serious concern particularly among a 144 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: number of uh we call them the front line, or 145 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: the Democrats in those districts that that have the toughest races. 146 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it's clear what the president wants. The president 147 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: wants the a democratic president technically to shoulder the responsibil 148 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: or for the responsibility for you know, either lifting the 149 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: dut limit, which he will you know, have to deal 150 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: with next year, but or getting rid of it all together, 151 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: because he knows that during tax negotiations when that issue 152 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: comes to a head next year, that that that money 153 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: tax cuts. Whether you believe in trickled on economics or not, 154 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: we can have that discussion later that that money that 155 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: that adds to the ledger, and it adds to the debt. 156 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: And so in order to be successful, and you know 157 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: in the tax negotiations on the Republican side, that will 158 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: have to happen. So he certainly wants a democratic president 159 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: and Democratic members of the House to shoulder all of 160 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: that responsibility before he even comes into office. And there 161 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: are serious political considerations I think for Democrats to be made. 162 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: Well, is there a political consideration for Donald Trump here, Rick, 163 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 3: if he's actually now openly advocating for a abolishment of 164 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 3: the debt ceiling, which is something that of course is 165 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 3: intended to keep at least some level of fiscal responsibility 166 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 3: in the US government. When this is supposed to be 167 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 3: the fiscally conservative party. Is that not somehow problematic if 168 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 3: not for Trump himself or everybody else who has to 169 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 3: represent themselves as a Republican in Congress. 170 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 8: Hayleie, I think it's safe to say that there are 171 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 8: no more deficit hawks left in Congress, Republican or Democrat alike. 172 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 8: We've had a wild spending spree for two decades that 173 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 8: has tripled the requirement to raise the debt limit compared 174 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 8: to where it was in two thousand and so Congress 175 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 8: has just gotten used to having a blank check. And look, 176 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 8: I mean it's a very simple equation here. If you 177 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 8: know Speaker Johnson wants to keep this, he just puts 178 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,959 Speaker 8: a clean cr and a zeroing out of the debt 179 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 8: limit process on a bill and throw it on the 180 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 8: floor of the Congress and see who votes for it. 181 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 8: And then guess what. He's going to find out that 182 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 8: he's not got enough votes to pass that, And then 183 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 8: the ball goes back to Elon Musk and Donald Trump 184 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 8: and Ramaswami saying, Okay, I did exactly what you said, 185 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 8: and we don't have the votes for that. The problem 186 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 8: is this just killing time. Everybody knows that's the outcome. 187 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 8: But maybe he just has to be able to do 188 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 8: that to get the onus off of his back and 189 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 8: shut up all the guys in the cheap seats right 190 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 8: now so that he can actually get some work done 191 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 8: in Congress. 192 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 3: But what a moment we are in, Rick, for what 193 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 3: you just said to actually be the people that need 194 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 3: to be pleased here, that anything is going to have 195 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 3: to get kicked back, not just to the president elect, 196 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 3: Donald Trump, who's of course the leader of the party, 197 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 3: but for two people who have not been democratically elected 198 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 3: to be representatives in the US government, Elon Musk and 199 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 3: Pavake Ramas. Is it ultimately Elon Musk here who was 200 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 3: most in charge, because it does seem like he got 201 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 3: a little bit ahead of President Trump yesterday until Donald 202 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 3: Trump then came to sing along. 203 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 5: Yeah, no question. 204 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 8: I mean he's been beating his chest since election day, 205 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 8: taking credit for the win by spending you know, hundreds 206 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 8: of millions of dollars on get out the vote and 207 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 8: and and claiming victory alongside Donald Trump. He was plastered 208 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 8: next to Donald Trump for the ensuing month since the election, 209 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 8: you know, acquiring a very important role in the new 210 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 8: administration is the head of the DOGE and and having 211 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 8: meetings in Congress, you know, detailing out the kinds of 212 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,959 Speaker 8: initiatives that they are talking about promoting, and and and 213 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 8: and this is a prime example that you've got a 214 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 8: guy who's never been sworn in for any public office whatsoever. 215 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 8: He has no constitutional responsibility to protect and defend the 216 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 8: United States, and yet you know, is basically acting as 217 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 8: a you know, deputy president of. 218 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: The United States. 219 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 8: And look, he's a brilliant guy and probably has a 220 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 8: lot to offer to our country. But the idea that 221 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 8: he's able to create this kind of situation in Congress, 222 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 8: and the guy who's getting to blame for it is Johnson, 223 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 8: who was just doing his day job. Yeah, it was 224 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 8: a bad bill, but you know, bad bills get agreed 225 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 8: to all the time in Congress. I mean, it's what 226 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 8: Congress does. I don't even remember the last time I 227 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 8: heard someone pass the bill that said, wow, this was fantastic. 228 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 8: And we don't have to think too far back to 229 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 8: remember when Donald Trump put the cabash on a bipartisan 230 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 8: you know, significant reform to the immigration program. So, you know, 231 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 8: these guys who have no public standing yet haven't been 232 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 8: sworn into office for anything. You know, have really been 233 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 8: wrecking havoc in the House of Representatives. 234 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 3: Well, and they have been charged with making recommendations not 235 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 3: just to the House but to the Senate as well 236 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 3: in the next two years Kristin about how to make 237 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 3: the government more efficient and how to trim down spending. 238 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 3: They say they could do true trillion dollars in spending cuts, 239 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 3: and there has been some degree of optimism about the 240 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 3: idea that perhaps that could be a step toward greater 241 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 3: fiscal responsibility and government efficiency. But has this whole episode 242 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 3: revealed anything to you about the degree to which anything 243 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 3: bipartisan is actually going to be able to happen With 244 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 3: the recommendations of Elon Musk, what kind of broker is 245 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: he really proving to be. 246 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: I don't think he's off to a good start. I 247 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: mean he said, you know, I think he tweeted out 248 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: something like no bills should be passed before January twentieth. 249 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 1: He needs to take a civics course. He does not 250 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,959 Speaker 1: know how Washington works. So, you know, I think anytime 251 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: anybody puts forth ideas they should be looked at. But 252 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: you know, the messenger here, he's just not doing himself 253 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: any favors, and let's be clear. You know, if we 254 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,319 Speaker 1: really want to get to the issue of debt and deficit, 255 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: I'm kind of sick of hearing about waste fraud abuse. Yes, 256 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: we should always address waste fraud abuse that you have 257 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: to talk about tax reform and entitlement reform. Those things 258 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,119 Speaker 1: are very can be politically toxic and until the members 259 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: and you know, the Doge, if they're being serious about 260 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: really bringing down our debt and debicit, they should they 261 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: should include those types of elements, as unpopular as they 262 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: may be with regard to Social Security, Medicare and other things. 263 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 3: Well, I'm glad you raised tax reform, Kristen, because we 264 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 3: know Donald Trump wants to get that done. 265 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 5: Rick. 266 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 3: It's very high on his to do list for early 267 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 3: in his term, and that's going to require a budget 268 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 3: reconciliation process. Given how badly this has gone this week, 269 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 3: what does that spell for these other legislative efforts that 270 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 3: arguably are going to be even harder with a slimmer 271 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 3: House majority next year. 272 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 8: Yes, it will be harder because the votes just aren't there. 273 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 8: And this idea that you can do it with some 274 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 8: level of purity in other words, you don't have to 275 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,119 Speaker 8: cut deals with Democrats to get things done, just betrays 276 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 8: the lack of experience that some of the folks who 277 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 8: have been in echo Chamber lately have got. Everything that 278 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 8: happened last year, really the subsequent two years happened with 279 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 8: bipartisan support and a lot of good things happen. It 280 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 8: was a pretty productive Senate, less so in the House. 281 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 8: And you know, obviously leadership challenges there delayed things. But 282 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 8: at the end of the day, this idea that it's 283 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 8: our way or the highway. The highway is paved with 284 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 8: good intentions, but it doesn't necessarily get you anywhere. And 285 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 8: so the reality here is this group of leaders coming 286 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 8: in to run this administration is going to be faced 287 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 8: with the Congress where deals are going to have to 288 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 8: be cut and we don't see that level of understanding 289 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 8: at this point in time, and that can only get 290 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 8: worse if they're ignored. 291 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 3: All right, Rick Davis and Kristen Hahn our political panel 292 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 3: today here on Balance of Power. Thank you so much 293 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 3: both of you for joining me and will continue to 294 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 3: keep you updated on the latest from Capitol Hill as 295 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 3: we try to figure out what Plan B is here 296 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 3: and We're going to have an important conversation still ahead 297 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 3: with one member of Democratic leadership. Congressoman Susan Delbenet of Washington, 298 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, will be 299 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 3: here with me in our Washington d C studio. 300 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast kens 301 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 2: just Live weekdays at noon Eastern on Applecarplay and then 302 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 2: roud Oro with the Bloomberg Business app. You can also 303 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 2: listen live on Amazon Alexa from our flagship New York station, 304 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 2: Just say Alexa play Bloomberg eleven. 305 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 3: Thirty and the clock is ticking loudly and quickly as 306 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 3: we get closer and closer to a midnight tomorrow deadline. 307 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 3: To keep the government funded, there was a Plan eight 308 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 3: that was introduced earlier this week by the House Speaker 309 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 3: Mike Johnson. It was a oney five and forty seven 310 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 3: page stopgap measure, a continuing resolution that would have kept 311 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 3: the government funded until March fourteenth. Included a number of 312 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 3: other measures as well, including one hundred billion dollars in 313 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 3: disaster relief and billions of dollars in aid economic aid 314 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 3: for a firm. But that plan quickly met its death 315 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 3: in the face of opposition from conservatives, from Elon Musk, 316 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 3: and ultimately from President elect Donald Trump himself. So we're 317 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 3: spending our day today wondering what Plan B is going 318 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 3: to be, when we're going to get it, and what 319 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 3: exactly Plan B is going to look like, especially considering 320 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 3: that whatever it is, there is no guarantee that House 321 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 3: Democrats or Senate Democrats for that matter, will be eager 322 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 3: to go along with it after the initial bipartisan agreement 323 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 3: was tossed out. And I want to join bring in 324 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: now here in our Washington d C studio a senior 325 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 3: member of Democratic leadership, Congressman and Susan DelBene of Washington, 326 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,719 Speaker 3: who is chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is 327 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,239 Speaker 3: here with me on Bloomberg TV and Radio. Congressman, thank 328 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 3: you so much for your time, really in what has 329 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 3: been a very busy twenty four to forty eight hour 330 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 3: period here in Washington. What have you heard, if anything, 331 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 3: from Republican leadership at this point about what the path 332 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 3: forward is going to be? 333 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 7: Well, I think I'm not sure they know what the 334 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 7: past forward is going to be. They we negotiated a 335 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 7: deal between the House and the Senate, between Republicans and Democrats, 336 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 7: and that deal they blew up at the last minute, 337 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 7: and I don't think they have a path forward. So 338 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 7: they are talking to each other, but we obviously have 339 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 7: an important deadline government funded rents out tomorrow, and we're 340 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 7: all waiting. We're waiting because there's a lot at stake 341 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:31,479 Speaker 7: in terms of making sure that families, our communities aren't 342 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 7: seeing the ongoing chaos and dysfunction that they've seen from 343 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 7: Republicans over and over that is not impacting them. And 344 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 7: we've all been negotiating for weeks. But here we are. 345 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 3: Well and Leader Jeffries Hawking Jeffrey said yesterday, you break 346 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 3: the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow. Should 347 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 3: we read that to me? Whatever this plan v ultimately is, 348 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 3: there are no Democrats who are going to be willing 349 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 3: to cast a vote to get that over the finish line. 350 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 7: Well, they're not negotiating with Democrats right now, so we 351 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 7: aren't really sure or what's on the table, So it's 352 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 7: really hard right now. It is on them to figure 353 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 7: out a bath for it if they want to work 354 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 7: and actually come up with the deal. And to your 355 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 7: point earlier, it has to go through the House, through 356 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 7: the Senate, and be signed by President Biden. This isn't 357 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 7: a House only decision, and Republicans can't agree with Republicans, 358 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,959 Speaker 7: so they haven't even been able to pass legislation on 359 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,919 Speaker 7: their own in the House. They have a small margin, 360 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 7: they have a lot of disagreement, and so in order 361 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 7: for something to get past, they need to work with Democrats. 362 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 7: And that was the original plan. So I'm not sure 363 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 7: if they have a plan or know what their plan is. 364 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 7: They seem to just wait for Donald Trump or now 365 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 7: Elon Musk to tell them what to do. 366 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,400 Speaker 3: Well, what Donald Trump is now saying is that either 367 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 3: the debt ceiling needs to be lifted or completely outright 368 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 3: abolished before he takes office. Can you see a world 369 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 3: in which that actually happens. Would you be willing to 370 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 3: cast a vote to get rid of the debt ceiling? 371 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 7: Well, let's be clear, this wasn't even something that was 372 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 7: on the table vote it is, and they just put 373 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 7: it on the Well, is it? I don't think this 374 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 7: is the question. We don't really know what's on the table. 375 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 7: We don't know what Republicans are going to propose as 376 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 7: their to your point, plan B and so until they 377 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 7: figure out what they're going to do, it's really hard 378 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 7: to respond to that. I don't know what the plan is. 379 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 7: I know that we have come to the table, worked 380 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 7: on a deal that was important to make sure the 381 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 7: government's funded, and now it's up in the air because 382 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 7: Republicans don't know what they want to do. And it's 383 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 7: kind of poignant because that's how this Congress started, whether 384 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 7: Republicans unevile to elect a speaker, and now here we 385 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 7: are at the end of this Congress, still in chaos, dysfunction, 386 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 7: and extremism. 387 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 3: I do have a question around the speaker, But first 388 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 3: on this debt ceiling question. If the debt ceiling were 389 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 3: to somehow be raised, if that is what they decide 390 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 3: to pursue, and it somehow gets through, what implication would 391 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 3: that have if it's not just raised but outright abolished 392 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 3: for the tax battle we all know is coming next year. 393 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 7: Well, first of all, I don't know what they're proposing. 394 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 7: I don't think any of us know what they're proposing. 395 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 7: I don't think we know what it might be on 396 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 7: the table. And it comes to important things like disaster assistants, 397 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 7: like making sure we have support for our families and 398 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,880 Speaker 7: our farmers and our communities. So right now everything's kind 399 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 7: of speculation. But I know, all I know is we 400 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 7: have a path forward, We have a bipartisan deal that 401 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 7: folks spend a lot of time working on, and now 402 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 7: we're back in chaos. 403 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 3: I know it's hard to look to the future, but 404 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 3: in some sense, a lot of your job is to 405 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 3: look toward the future, toward the next election, the midterms 406 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty six, because a share of the d 407 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 3: Triple CEU are charged with getting more Democrats elected to Congress. 408 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 3: And I do wonder how you see everything that is 409 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 3: playing out right now is ultimately affecting that Donald Trump 410 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 3: is suggesting that if all of this happens while Biden 411 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 3: is still in office, it reflects badly on Democrats, not 412 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 3: on Republicans. If Elon Musk is playing this kind of 413 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 3: outsize role, already threatening to put money to work in 414 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 3: primaries over this, how do you see this changing the 415 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 3: next cycle? 416 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 7: Well, Elon Musk actually has suggested the government just shut down, 417 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 7: and which would be devastating for our communities. We've been 418 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 7: through Republican shutdowns before. Those are devastating for families, for farmers, 419 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 7: for our small businesses. And yet that's his suggestion. This 420 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 7: is the person who's going to be in charge of 421 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 7: government efficiency, and this is one of the least efficient, 422 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 7: most expensive things we could do, is shut the government down. 423 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 7: Republicans made a lot of promises to voters, and we 424 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 7: have folks who came to our coming to Washington, d C. 425 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 6: To govern. 426 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 7: The question is are Republicans capable of governing? Today is 427 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 7: not a very good example of their ability to govern, 428 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 7: But voters are going to hold them accountable for what 429 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 7: happens for what happens on their pocketbook issues, what happens 430 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 7: to prices at the store, what happens to housing, what 431 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 7: happens to jobs. These are important issues, important priorities for 432 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 7: us to fight for. But unclear what Republicans are going 433 00:22:57,920 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 7: to do or if they're capable of governing. But I 434 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 7: do know that their dysfunction is something we're going to 435 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 7: hold them accountable for. And the first chance voters will 436 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 7: have a chance to voice their opinion on what Donald 437 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 7: Trump and Republicans have done in this upcoming Congress will 438 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 7: be in twenty twenty six. 439 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 3: Well, and when we consider the accountability thing, it's for 440 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 3: people who have to earn the vote of the American 441 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 3: people to hold their office. Right, that's not the case 442 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 3: for Donald Trump. He was not democratically elected to be 443 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 3: a representative. And I just wonder if you think the 444 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 3: electorate ultimately we're Therefore, if they can't hold him accountable, 445 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 3: decide to hold other Republicans accountable in his set if 446 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 3: they don't actually like the work or the influence he 447 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 3: is having on the government as the world's richess person. 448 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 7: Well, the midterms will be about the House and some 449 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 7: of the Senate, so it will be about Congress, and 450 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 7: that's when people be able to voice their concerns. People 451 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 7: want to see governance work. They want folks to focus 452 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 7: on pocketbook issues like lowering costs, like making sure we 453 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 7: have affordable housing across the country, that people have good 454 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 7: paying jobs. These are critical issues and if Republicans can't 455 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 7: do anything, if they aren't and frankly, a lot of 456 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 7: congressional Republicans don't even know how to govern unless they 457 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,719 Speaker 7: are told what to do by Donald Trump or maybe 458 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 7: now Elon Musk is the voice. It's unclear who's even 459 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 7: in charge on the Republican side. Speaking of folks who 460 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 7: weren't elected this is the environment we're heading into. But 461 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 7: really what matters most is are we able to make 462 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 7: sure that we're making progress for the American people. If, 463 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 7: despite all their promises, if they're unable to do that, 464 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 7: I think they're going to pay. We have great folks 465 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 7: in office, and we have folks across the country want 466 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 7: to see responsible leadership, and that's why we picked up 467 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 7: seats this last election. And another reason why I think 468 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 7: folks have supported Democrats is because we are focused on 469 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 7: making sure we actually come to Congress to get things done. 470 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 3: I was hearing a lot yesterday Congress women about actually 471 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 3: some concerned Democrats had when the text of this original 472 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,479 Speaker 3: cr was really least about the fact that it did, 473 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 3: through a cost of living adjustment, lead to a pay 474 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 3: raise for members of Congress. Is it actually in some 475 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 3: way a blessing for the D triple C that no 476 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 3: one has to be on the record voting for that, 477 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 3: especially the frontline members who are perhaps most vulnerable in 478 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 3: twenty twenty six. 479 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 7: Well, our frontline members are incumbents who are in those 480 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 7: swing districts, and the reason that they are successful in 481 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 7: swing districts is because they are authentic, independent minded representatives. 482 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 7: Who are focused on their communities and whatever deal came forward, 483 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 7: they're going to vote in a way that they think 484 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 7: is most important for their district. That's why they were 485 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 7: elected and that's why they continue to be elected. So 486 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 7: that's always where I think our frontliners need to go 487 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 7: is do what they think is right for their district. 488 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 7: That's really their responsibility is to make sure they're standing 489 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:47,879 Speaker 7: up for their communities. 490 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 3: And as you point out, these are people who are incumbents, 491 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 3: so they already know what it is like to serve 492 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 3: in this role. But there are going to be some 493 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 3: newly elected freshmen. So we're getting ready to be sworn 494 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 3: in just a few weeks from now and are probably 495 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 3: watching all of this happen with pretty wide eyes. What 496 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 3: is your messaging to those incoming to join the Democratic 497 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 3: Caucus about how they can try to make progress in 498 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 3: any kind of bipartisan way with what's going on going on. 499 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 7: Well, first of all, in the swing districts, the new 500 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 7: incoming freshmen who won in tough purple districts, they won 501 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,919 Speaker 7: because they really were talking about the kitchen table issues 502 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 7: that were important to the communities they're going to be 503 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 7: serving and representing. And again not any different than our incumbents. 504 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 7: They need to be standing up for their communities and 505 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 7: putting them first. And that's always my advice to them. 506 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 7: Listen to your constituents, make sure that you are using 507 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 7: them as your guide, and do us right for your communities. 508 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 7: And that's what folks want in a representative, and that's 509 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 7: what will help them even in a tough district. Well. 510 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 3: And of course, one of the first votes that they'll 511 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 3: get to take after being sworn into office is going 512 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 3: to be to decide who the next Speaker of the 513 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:58,920 Speaker 3: House is, or if it will be the same Speaker 514 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 3: of the House is. I'm sure you're well aware, Congressman. 515 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 3: We have seen a lot of rumbling because of the 516 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 3: events of this week about the future of Mike Johnson 517 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 3: and whether he's going to be able to get adequate 518 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 3: support from the Republican Conference, especially considering how narrow the 519 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 3: majority ultimately will be. Is there any scenario in which 520 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 3: to avoid what happened with Kevin McCarthy fifteen rounds to 521 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 3: get a Speaker of the House, Democrats will be willing 522 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 3: to put up a vote for Johnson or anyone else 523 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 3: just to have order in the chamber. 524 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:30,159 Speaker 7: Well we were unified. We voted for Hakking Jeffreys across 525 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 7: the board last time, over and over and over again. 526 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 7: The dysfunction is Republican dysfunction. And as we head in 527 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 7: to go then, and as we head into the next Congress, 528 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 7: the margins even tighter. We picked up seats, so Republicans 529 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 7: are going to have to make a decision of whether 530 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 7: they can coalesce around someone. It's unclear they disagree with 531 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,640 Speaker 7: each other all the time. We're seeing that happen right now. 532 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 7: I guess I won't be surprised if we see some 533 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 7: of that at the beginning of the next Congress. 534 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 3: Is Mike Johnson as honest a broker, as Democrats who 535 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 3: could be hoping to work with in the one hundred 536 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 3: and nineteenth Congress, Though for all of the conversation around 537 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,439 Speaker 3: Mcarthy not having been authentic or not negotiating in good faith, 538 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 3: many have viewed Johnson differently. And I do wonder what 539 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 3: your take is if they were to try and put, say, 540 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 3: someone even more hardline a conservative in his place, if 541 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 3: he can't get the votes. 542 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 7: Well, it's unclear that there's anyone who really is the 543 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 7: leader of the Republican caucus. Here, we sat down for 544 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 7: weeks working on a bipartisan deal, and Republicans couldn't stand 545 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 7: by that deal. So it's unclear who you even are 546 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 7: supposed to negotiate with who actually is in charge. That 547 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 7: might be true no matter who ends up as speaker 548 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 7: on the Republican side, because they don't agree with each other, 549 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 7: and maybe the only person that they're willing to listen 550 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 7: to is an Elon Musk or a Donald Trump. 551 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 3: We just have a minute left here, Congressman. But when 552 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 3: a government shut down now, make it more likely that 553 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 3: the speaker we're talking about in twenty twenty seven is 554 00:28:57,720 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 3: Speaker Hockeing Jefferies. 555 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 7: Well, I think a government shutdown is painful for our communities. 556 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 7: We've seen it over and over and over again, and 557 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 7: yet Republicans still put us in a place where we 558 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 7: have a looming government shut down here just a little 559 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 7: over day away. So that would be devastating for communities, 560 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 7: devastating for so many people, federal workers, you know, TSA, agents, 561 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 7: border security, all sorts of folks who are working across 562 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 7: the country. It's irresponsible, and so yes, we will hold 563 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 7: them accountable for being irresponsible, and right away as well. 564 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 7: As in twenty twenty six. 565 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 3: All right, Congressman and Susan del Benet of Washington, the 566 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 3: chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, here with us 567 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 3: in our Washington, d C. Studio. Thank you so much 568 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 3: for joining me. 569 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to the Balance of Power podcast. 570 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 4: Make sure to subscribe if you haven't already, at Apple, 571 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 4: Spotify 572 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 8: Or wherever you get your podcasts, and you can find 573 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 8: us live every weekday from Washington, d C at time 574 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 8: Eastern at Bloomberg dot com.