1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Right hour two, Sean Hannity Show told free It's eight 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: hundred nine four one, Shawn, if you want to be 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: a part of the program. We had this report come 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: out yesterday. NBC reported a statement that contradicted President Biden's 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: claim that Russia offered to free only Brittany Griner in 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: exchange for this, you know, merchant of death, and they 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: said Biden said this was not a choice. NBC News 8 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: later reported that the a senior US official told them 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: that the US government had sought both Griner and of 10 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: course the gentleman of marine we've been talking about, Paul Whalen, 11 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: and released as part of the swap with the Kremlin. 12 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: But the officials said Russia was treating Whalen differently, and 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: that the Kremlin offered either Whalen or Griner or nothing 14 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: at all. That contradicts exactly what the Democrats said. Anyway, 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: here's John Kirby trying to clear this up. It is 16 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: accurate that they have set up a separate set of 17 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: expectations for mister Whalen than what they had set for 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: miss Griner. The deal that we got with miss Grinder 19 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: was the only deal we could get and now was 20 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: the only moment we could get it, so we took 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: advantage of that to get one American home. But as 22 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: the President said, we're going to stay focused on mister Whalen. 23 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: This was not, as the President also said, some choice 24 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: between the two. So I would push back on this 25 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: notion that we deliberately, you know, we chose Brittany over Paul. 26 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: There was only one way to get one American home, 27 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: and that was this particular deal. So we're going to 28 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: stay at it. We were working on it yesterday, we're 29 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: working on it today, and I can guarantee the Whalen 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: family that tomorrow and every day here after, we're going 31 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: to continue to work to bring Paul home. So anyway, 32 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: I don't understand why I'm still sitting here. These are 33 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: the words of a devastated Paul Whalen. He broke his 34 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: side from this Russian penal colony, his brother slamming the 35 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: catastrophic exclusion of his brother rightly, so I'm ready to 36 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: go home, the former marine said. Now he's been behind 37 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: bars for four long years here, there's no evidence at 38 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: all that he committed any crime. Grinder in her case, 39 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: it was kind of a slam done case. A minor 40 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: issue involving marijuana, but it still broke the law, and 41 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: we have no evidence at all that what Putin is 42 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: saying and Russia is saying is anything but a lie. 43 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: Congressman Mike Waltz accused the White House of putting celebrities 44 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: over at veterans. Also, Saudi Arabia reportedly played a role 45 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: in this anyway. Joining us now is David Whalen. It's 46 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: his brother Paul, who in fact is still in this 47 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: Russian prison. Sir, welcome to the program. So sorry to you, 48 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: to your brother, to your family. This has got to 49 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: be pretty heart wrenching for all of you. It is. 50 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,399 Speaker 1: Thank you having me, and yeah, it's it's a very difficult, 51 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: very difficult couple of days. I read your initial comments 52 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: and you are extraordinarily gracious, happy that Britney Griner was released. 53 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: Then this NBC News report comes out. I'm sure you 54 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: read it. What were your thoughts on it? The one 55 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: about that it might have been an either or situation, Yes, yes, no, 56 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: I assume that that was a misstatement. That doesn't sound 57 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: right to me. It's not what we understood was happening, 58 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: and I'm sure that it was just a misunderstanding. We've 59 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: always understood that the US government had made a two 60 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: for one offer of a concession to the Russian government. 61 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: That's what was reported back in the late summer, and 62 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: it's not surprising that they didn't go for two to one. 63 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: Russia always wants parody. But I don't think that there 64 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: would ever have been a position where there would have 65 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: been an either or between the two Americans. Well, if 66 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: you look at, for example, your brother, I mean, he's 67 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: a marine, he's served in Iraq. The United States gave 68 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: up one of the biggest arms dealers in the world, 69 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: the most notorious arms dealer in his time. You know, 70 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: he earned his name, Victor Boot did the Merchant of 71 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: death for good reason, profiting off of weapons that fueled 72 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: international conflicts, especially in Africa and the Mideast, an Asia, 73 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: and accused of helping arm cartels as well. And he 74 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: previously served in the Soviet Union Armed Forces. This is 75 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: hardly a fair deal by by any objective measure. So 76 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: I'm a little bewildered by the fact that NBC would 77 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 1: make such a report because they did cite senior US officials, 78 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: and I doubt they would have cited senior US officials 79 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: had they not spoken as senior US officials. So maybe 80 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: I'm more suspicious because of the nature of my job, 81 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: but I am suspicious. Nonetheless, you have spoken to your brother. 82 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: He knows about brittany grind release, he knows about the 83 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: prison prisoner swap. He knows he wasn't part of it, 84 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: and he has no knowledge of what he's getting out 85 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: of jail, does he No. I think that that's the 86 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: real issue we have here, is that he's been there 87 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: for four years. And initially, in the first couple of years, 88 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: two names had been floated as possible exchange candidates for Paul, 89 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: Konstantiniarshenko and Victor boot and both of those Russians have 90 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: now gone home from US custody to Russia. And in 91 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: this last attempt to bring Paul home, bring both Paul 92 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: and Brittany home, the US government appears have gone to 93 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: a long list of other concessions. Who knows what they were, 94 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: whether they were people or things or ideas like, you know, 95 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: reduce sanctions on somebody. I don't know. And apparently Russia 96 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: didn't go for any of those either. So I think 97 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: the real difficulty for US here, and probably for Paul, 98 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: I'm sure he's done this map too. Is well, if 99 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,679 Speaker 1: they haven't gone for anything that the US currently has 100 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: in its control, then then what does Russia want and 101 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: how does the US government acquire it? David, Let's talk 102 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: a little bit about your brother and about his case 103 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: and when this nightmare began. I guess it was before 104 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen when he was finally sentenced. Correct, he was 105 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 1: sentenced in twenty twenty. He was arrested in December of 106 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, and he's being charged with being a US spike, 107 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: right right, Yeah, in the same way that the Russian 108 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: government used to do it with paper, and they did 109 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: it with American Nicols Standaloff and then again with Edmund Pope. 110 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: They slip you information in a packet that you can't 111 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: see and so the digital version of that is a 112 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: USB stick, and they gave Paul USB stick. He was 113 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: entrapped in a hotel and arrested and the rest is history. 114 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: You know, It's unbelievable, And I hope Americans are listening 115 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: to this and learn maybe taking a trip like Bernie 116 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: Sanders did to the former Soviet Union a honeymoon is 117 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: not necessarily a good idea. How many years is your 118 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: brother sentence. Now he had served four out of a 119 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: sixteen year sentence. Is there any other avenues that you've 120 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: tried over the years. Is there any third party broker 121 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,679 Speaker 1: that maybe you can go to if the US doesn't 122 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: have anything else left and it's arsenal to offer. Are 123 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: there not any other prisoners that Russia would want back 124 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: besides the merchant and death. Well, that's the trick, you know. 125 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: I think in the past we were often looking at 126 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: nation states dealing with terrorist groups, and so in that 127 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: case you could send in a military unit. You had 128 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: a lot more options if you wanted to retrieve your citizen. 129 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: One is another nation state, of sovereign nation who is 130 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: essentially the hostage taker in this case, and it's Russia, 131 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: it's China, it's Iran, it's Syria, it's Egypt. You don't 132 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: have those tools, and it becomes very difficult if those 133 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: countries aren't going to be persuaded, and they do need 134 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: to be persuaded. You have to have perhaps punishments like sanctions, 135 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: or you need to have a concession that you can release. 136 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: We had thought about with Paul that it might not 137 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: be people, it might be things. You know, the Obama 138 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: administration had taken properties from the Russian government that they 139 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: had in the US for their embassies and consulates, and 140 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: the Russian government has wanted those backs. So we thought, well, 141 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: maybe that would be a fair exchange to bring back 142 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: a tourist who is kept by the Russians. But I 143 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: don't think we're there. Well is that ever offered, to 144 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: your knowledge, I don't know. We we try to send 145 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: suggestions to this government. Obviously there are people who are 146 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: far more specialized within the US government who are looking 147 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: at this too, And I think again, Paul is unfortunately 148 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: in the middle of an evolution of the US government. 149 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: Certainly over the last four years it has just changed 150 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: and changed and changed. And then with the executive order 151 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: last summer, there are now, you know, people who are 152 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: tasked to come up with a strategy on how to 153 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: prepare for this and how to you know, not be 154 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: caught only after the detention has happened, but you know, 155 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: to be thinking about it in advance when you hear 156 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: the reaction. The d e age and for example, and 157 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 1: help put Victor boot behind bars slammed this deal, said quote, 158 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: we couldn't even get two people for the world's most 159 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: notorious weapons trafficker, former Kremlin aids. They're saying put now 160 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: played Biden on the prisoner swap. I think that's just 161 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: stating the obvious. Even some top Democrats are blasting Biden 162 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: over releasing this guy. Bob Nendez, for example, in New 163 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: Jersey is one of them. Senior defense officials are concern 164 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 1: that he's going to resume his arms trafficking. There is 165 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: a bipartisan backlash to all of this because the price 166 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: was so high and Britney Griner's events so minor in comparison. Um, 167 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: let's talk a little bit about how your brothers being treated. 168 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 1: Is he able to tell you in a conversation, knowing 169 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: that he's probably being listened to, is he able to 170 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 1: describe for you what the conditions are? He is, and 171 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: they are. They do record a lot of his calls 172 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: as always a guard standing there. And he's able to 173 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: speak to our parents on almost a daily basis. And 174 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: it's as bad as you probably can imagine. It's, you know, 175 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: six days of working in a sewing sweatshop, their law 176 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: long days. Um, there's not very much food. There has 177 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 1: been less food since the Russian invasion of Ukraine because 178 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: the sanctions are obviously hitting the Russian economy and that 179 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: trickles down to the prisoners. UM. So you know, he's 180 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: lost weight, he has found an equilibrium. UM. He has 181 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: found survival tactics that he uses. So things like you know, 182 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: getting up in the morning and singing the US national 183 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: anthem is both you know, something that helps him have 184 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: a ritual or a routine. It's something that irritates the 185 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: guards and you know, and the Russians. So you know, 186 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: he does those things to survive. And I think he's 187 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: doing the best he can. But you know, mentally, you've 188 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: got to wonder how he's been doing this for four 189 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,719 Speaker 1: years and now he's just had a huge disappointment. How 190 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: does he face to do this for another twelve years. 191 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: Is there anything that that the people listening to this 192 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: program can do to show support as there for example, 193 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: an address, does he get mail? Is he able to 194 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: get um food or even simple things like toiletries or 195 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: anything like that, as he is that allowable. The two 196 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: best things that they can do is that if if 197 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: they're able to financially support Paul, there's a gofund me 198 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: at GoFundMe dot com, slash free Paul Wheeling, and that 199 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: money goes into a prison account that we then buy 200 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: those things because you're not able to ship those to him, 201 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: but we can buy those things for him in Russia 202 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: and have the US embassy will then get them to him. 203 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: The other thing is, and it's much simpler. And what 204 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 1: are the things that he would be able to have 205 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: if you know Miami asking specifically. Oh, it's things like apples, oranges, bananas, 206 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: fruits and vegetables. Those are not supplied by the prison. 207 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: If he wants protein beyond the two inches of fish 208 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: he gets a day. H you know, we send him 209 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: peanuts and things, but all of that has to come 210 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: in in Russian packaging. So so it's that sort of stuff, 211 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: and he does receive those that sort of thing. How 212 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: did the other prisoners there treat him? And does he 213 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 1: have any means of communicating with most of them? I 214 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: would assume they most speak Russian. Well, the US embassy 215 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: is really good. If they take a package. He's allowed 216 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: one package, which is why we don't we ask people 217 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: not to send him any packages. He's only allowed one 218 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: package every quarter and uh, and they're really good. So 219 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: that's how we know he gets the things. The labor 220 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: colony he is in has other foreigners, and so there 221 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: are two Americans there. There are a couple of other 222 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: English speakers, and you know, he's learned a couple of 223 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: words in Tajik, he's learned a couple of words in 224 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: other languages, so that he's able to communicate with other 225 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: prisoners and you know, and avoid getting punished by the 226 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 1: guards for you know, not having his uniform shirt on right, 227 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: or not wearing his hat right at formation and things 228 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: like that. Is there any abuse that you know has 229 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,079 Speaker 1: taken place, if they tortured them at all. It's gotten better. 230 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,599 Speaker 1: It was bad up until what I guess it was 231 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,319 Speaker 1: almost a year ago, and then the warden then was 232 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: arrested and has been charged for corruption and since been 233 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: sentenced to three years to spend in another colony. So 234 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: you know, the corruption is all the way to the top, 235 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: from well, from puttin all the way down. I guess 236 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: I might say the last year has been much better. 237 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: Since that warden left, Paul had been put in solitary periodically. Obviously, 238 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: the UN considers fifteen days in solitary to be torture, 239 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: and so Paul has had a number of stint there. 240 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: There's theft, you know. When we sent him medicine, sometimes 241 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: it gets as far as the prison and then guards 242 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: will steal it, so you know, it's not a great existence. 243 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: We do the best we can to support him, and he, 244 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: I think, does his best to survive. Does he have 245 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 1: access to doctors if he gets sick in an emergency 246 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: there is a prison hospital. They tend to actually send 247 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: him to the prison hospital when they don't want him 248 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: to see what's going on at the labor camp. So 249 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: recently the Wagner Mercenary group came to recruit prisoners to 250 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: go to the Ukraine War and they shipped Paul off 251 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: to the hospital. He didn't have any illnesses, he didn't 252 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: get any treatment when he was there, but that's where 253 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: he went. So in an emergency there would be some 254 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: healthcare nearby, all right. So if people want to help 255 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: your brother out, he's been there now four long years 256 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: and he's got a long stint to go moving forward. 257 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: If the government's not allowed to get him out, it's 258 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: got to be heartbreaking for you in your entire family. 259 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: You have a gofund me account. What's that address again? 260 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: Gofund me dot com slash Free Paul Wheeling and then 261 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: the other thing you can do is to write to 262 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: the State Department Consular Services, and if you go to 263 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: free Paul Wheeling dot com, there's an address there, a letter, 264 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: a card, anything to let him know that he hasn't 265 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: forgotten would be a huge help. With the war in Ukraine, 266 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: mail to Russia has stopped. The US mail doesn't go 267 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: to Russia. Russia mail doesn't come back, and so he's 268 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: been cut off from a lot of the mail that 269 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: we used to be able to send him. So cards 270 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: sent to that address will go to the State Department 271 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: in the State Department will then make sure that they 272 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: get over to Paul. And yeah, they're a real lifeline. 273 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: I mean, the State Department has been just such a 274 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: huge help for Paul and for our family. What I'd 275 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: like to do is we're going to put this up 276 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: on my website, Hannity dot com because many people might 277 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: be driving and obviously can't remember that address us. But 278 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: we'll put all the information if you want to help out. 279 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: Uh David's brother Paul Whalen in this Russian prison. Uh 280 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: and uh man, it's it's I feel bad for you. 281 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: I feel bad for your brother. I feel bad for 282 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: your whole family. It's a travesty and it's got to 283 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: be so disappointing in light of the the magnitude of 284 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: this prisoner swap and the disparity in this swamp. Um. 285 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: Certainly your brothers should have been included in my view. 286 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: Um anyway, we'll put that up on Hannity dot com. David, 287 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: Our prayers are with you and your family and your brother. 288 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: Thank you for being with us, Thanks so much for 289 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: having mesel. We'll continue all right, twenty five to the 290 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: top of the hour. Will get to your calls in 291 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: just a second, eight hundred and nine four one sean 292 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: if you want to be a part of the program now. 293 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: Radio is a very small industry, even though you hear about, 294 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: you know, thousands and thousands of stations around the country. 295 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: It's a it's a relative, relatively small business. Jeff Smullion 296 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: is the founder, CEO, chairman of the board of Emmis 297 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: Communications Corporation. He has a new book out. It's called 298 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: Never Ride a Rollercoaster Upside Down. The up Down's the 299 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: reinvention of an entrepreneur. I spent fifty years now building 300 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: this successful media company of his and it's it's it's 301 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: a pretty interesting life story among many of his accomplishments. 302 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: You were the founder of American All Sports Radio. I 303 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: think that turned out okay for you. Yeah, that's going on, Jeff. 304 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: How are you Sean? Good to talk to you? Yeah, 305 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: that one worked out pretty well. Did you know when 306 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: you look at all sports radio? I mean it's everywhere. 307 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: I mean I would say every market now has two, 308 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: if not three, or four all sports radio stations, right. Yeah. 309 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: And and I have a favorite saying the line between 310 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: being a genius and idiot is very fine. And I've 311 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: been on both sides. And when we wanted to put 312 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: we wanted to put wf An on the air, nobody 313 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: wanted to do it in our company, and they finally 314 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: did it as a favor to me. And it was 315 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: called Smallion's Alli for a long time. It was Jim 316 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: Lampley called the Vietnam War of Emmas, and uh so 317 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: I was pretty much an idiot. And then one day 318 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 1: we merged with NBC would put Don iMOS and Mike 319 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: and the Man Dug on it, and it worked, and 320 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: so I became I went frommdiate to genius on that project. 321 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: By the way. iMOS was a friend of mine and 322 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: then uh, he had the most wicked sense of humor. 323 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: I mean, he was so obnoxious in his text messages 324 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: to me, and I just used to give it right 325 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: back to him, even harder. But what was it like 326 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: dealing with him in his younger years? I dealt with 327 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: him when he was older. Were still crotchety and cranky, 328 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: but he was not as as as nasty as he 329 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: was in some of those early years. No, he was. Yeah, 330 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: I think Don was born crotchety, but definitely was. But 331 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: he was funny as how pretty. A great broadcaster, Yeah, 332 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: he really was, and it was so much fun working 333 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: with him. And he used to call me the hillbilly 334 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: from Indiana. So yeah, so so be it. I don't 335 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: know too many hillbillies from Indiana. So you've owned a 336 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: major baseball team, will tell us about that? Well, you know, 337 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: one chapter in the book is Idiot to Genius, which 338 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: is a story to WFN, and the next chapter is 339 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 1: Genius to Idiot. Owning the Seattle Mariners. I was sort 340 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: of the boy wonder when I went out there, and 341 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: we were sort of the turnaround Wizards, and when it 342 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: didn't work, I became a pariah pretty quickly overnight. So 343 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: I definitely went from genius to idiot on that one. 344 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: But we let's talk about made a lot of friends. Well, 345 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: I mean, look at it. Look at everybody that owns 346 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: a football team. Now, I don't care what you paid 347 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: twenty five years ago. You made a fortune. There's no 348 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: doubt about it. So I guess it's hit or missing 349 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: any of these businesses, sports in particular. It really so 350 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: you've had to manage people like don I miss David Letterman, 351 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 1: Ken Griffey Junior. You've even been nationalized by an ally 352 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: of Vladimir Putin. I'm not sure what that exactly meant. 353 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: Tell me about it. Well, we owned a national network 354 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: in Hungary and we, you know, were basically nationalized by 355 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: Victor Orbon which I didn't know at the time that 356 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: he would you know, as you now know, he's pretty 357 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: close to ladder R Putin, and he basically just took 358 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 1: the two national networks and nationalized him. It was an 359 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: interesting experience. I never thought it would happen to me. 360 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: Tell me about Letterman and another crotchety old guy, David 361 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: worked for me. It was the first radio station he 362 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: worked for he was a weekend weather man and we 363 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: hired him and he was absolutely, absolutely brilliant, very funny guy, 364 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: did all sorts of crazy things. One day he announced 365 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: the city of Indianapolis has sold a monument in the 366 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: middle of town de Guam, so that so that they 367 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: well in the exchange. Gave us a three hundred and 368 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: fifty foot salary stick. And people said, he can't sell 369 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: our monument, and he said, but look how much greener 370 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: downtown I'll be with a three hundred foot sealmy stick. 371 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 1: I'm pretty good line, There's no doubt about it. Yeah, 372 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: he went on to have a fairly successful career. What 373 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 1: do you say, Yeah, David's the best, absolutely, and you know, 374 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: I've known him forever. He was on our board and 375 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 1: just a brilliant guy, fun guy. About Kenn Griffey Jr. Well, 376 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 1: I'm biased. I thought Kenny would have, if he had 377 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: been healthy, would have been the greatest baseball player who 378 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: ever lived. He was a human highlight reel. And you know, 379 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: I think in the book, I talk about the fact 380 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: I've known two incredibly great athletes, Peyton Manning and Ken 381 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 1: Griffy Junior. And they were the opposite Kenny was a natural. 382 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,679 Speaker 1: Peyton was a guy who studied film, you know, twenty 383 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: four hours a day, worked at it harder than anybody. 384 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: And in his younger days it changed a little bit 385 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: with Kenny. But in his younger days he was just 386 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: a natural and people said, well, you know, he's not 387 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: studying pictures, he's not analyzing things, and he didn't need to. 388 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: He was just you know, he could hit anybody. You know. 389 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: It's amazing the difference between natural talent and those that 390 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: outwork people. I would argue my work, I think my 391 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: greatest strength in my case, but yeah, yeah, I have 392 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: the same I have the same issue. I don't have 393 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 1: that much natural talent. But yeah, I mean there's I 394 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: will tell you this is I do have a pretty 395 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 1: good eye for spotting talent. Whenever I see somebody on 396 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 1: television that I can tell almost immediately if they've got 397 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: that it factor or whatever it is you can't even 398 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: describe it sometimes and stand out. And I've been proven 399 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: right on a number of occasions and have helped people 400 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: becomes you know, stars in their own right to whatever 401 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: extent they've wanted to. Anyway, the book is fascinating. Jeff 402 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: Smollen is the founder, CEO, chairman of the board of 403 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: MS Communications. His new book is Never Write a Roller 404 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: Coaster Upside Down, The ups and Downs and Reinvention of 405 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: an Entrepreneur. We'll have a link on Hannity dot com. 406 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 1: It's on Amazon dot com. It's in bookstores everywhere if 407 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: you want to read it across the country. Some great 408 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: anecdotes brings you inside a lot of great stories, and 409 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,400 Speaker 1: you're gonna learn a lot. Jeff, we appreciate your time. Shot. 410 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: It's a pleasure. Eight hundred and nine four one Sean, 411 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: if you want to be a part of the program. 412 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 1: All right, let's go to Jack in Florida. Jack, how 413 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: are you glad you called? Sir? What's going on? Hey Son? 414 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me out. I just want to voice 415 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 1: my support for Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, because I think 416 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: he's a He's a great candidate. He laid out the 417 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: commitment to America with several conservative policy initiatives, you know, 418 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: revitalizing our economy, securing our border, and stopping the flood 419 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,639 Speaker 1: of immigrants, of the emmigrants coming into the country, standing 420 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:34,439 Speaker 1: up to China, and I just don't quite understand the 421 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: objections raised by some Freedom Caucus Republicans like Andy Biggs 422 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: or Matt Days, and I just think that the Publicans 423 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: should align themselves behind him and understand that the Republican 424 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: Party is bigger than you know, Ultramaga or the twenty 425 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: twenty election, and really go back to our roots of 426 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: you know, because you understand that the Republican Party is 427 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: the party of abolition of slavery, women suffrage, of civil 428 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: rights in the nineteen sixties, of the Old Board, and 429 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: these are all things that Kna McCarthy wants to return 430 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,919 Speaker 1: to the Publican Party two beast the House and stop 431 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: the radical democratic agenda. So that's that's my main point. 432 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: You know, Look, um Kevin did raise nearly five hundred 433 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: million dollars. There is some animosity among some Freedom Caucus 434 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: members and in terms of money spent and how it 435 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: was spent during the campaign. You know, I actually sent 436 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 1: out a note to a few select people and it 437 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: has to do with whether or not they're going to 438 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 1: get this resolved before January third, or whether it's going 439 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: to be an Adam Shift show on the House floor, 440 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: which is going to be a disaster for everybody, and 441 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: they need to get their act together I'm not I'm 442 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: not going to get involved in the process. I'm not 443 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: a member of the House. This is their job to 444 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: figure this out. McCarthy did get eighty five percent of 445 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: the vote. I like Andy Biggs. I get along fine 446 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: with all the Freedom Caucus members are more philosophically aligned 447 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: with them. What nobody seems to have figured out yet 448 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 1: is that any three, any four or five Rismond Caucus 449 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: members joining together are going to have an awful lot 450 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:08,919 Speaker 1: of power at any given moment. But what I what 451 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: I tried to warn them is that if in fact, 452 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: they don't get their act together and we go back 453 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: to this hasn't happened since nineteen twenty three, and they're 454 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: gonna have vote after vote after vote. The medium mob 455 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: is going to have a field day with this. Democrats 456 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 1: are going to have a field day of this. And 457 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: what I suggested to some key people, not that anybody 458 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: ever listens to me, is that they clear their schedules, 459 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: they leave their phones and their egos at home, that 460 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: they stop leaking to the media, and that they hammer 461 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: out a deal that is acceptable to everybody, and that 462 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: would that would have to do with small things like 463 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: committee assignments, and office locations. Although committee assignments is not 464 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: a small deal, and come up with the agenda. It 465 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: should be the commitments to America that they they ran 466 00:24:56,160 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: on that resonates with the American people, and that's going 467 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: to make our lives better. They're supposed to serve us, 468 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: and they've got to figure out how they're going to 469 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 1: use their newfound power of subpoena and the power of 470 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: the purse. And what they better figure out sooner than 471 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: later is at the end of the day, they're going 472 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: to succeed together or they're going to fail together. There's 473 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: not going to be any in between here. And if 474 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: they allow this to keep going on and they turn 475 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:26,400 Speaker 1: this into a shift show on January third, then they're 476 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: going to deserve everything that they get and we're going 477 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 1: to be screwed because of their incompetence. So that's my 478 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: message to everybody. Whether or not they listen to me, 479 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 1: I don't know. I gave it my best shot because 480 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: I see what's unfolding, and I see it. You know, 481 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: two trains on one track and they're headed towards each other, 482 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: and a collision is not going to be good for 483 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: either side. That's what I see right, Sean. And I 484 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 1: just think that you know, Kevin McCarthy is committed to America. 485 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: He said, we need to deliver an economy that's strong 486 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: and nation see a few true, that's built on freedom 487 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: in the government that's accountable. These are all conservative principles. 488 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: So I think the right thing for Republicans to do 489 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: is get their full support behind the carpet. And he 490 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: just losing the Democratic speaking. He's not Mitch McConnell. And 491 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: if any if they're not happy with them after a 492 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: period of time, they can get rid of them. So 493 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: I have every belief, with the small margins that they 494 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: have that they're all going to have to work together 495 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: here and they've got to put the American people first, 496 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: not themselves first. That's that's my advice to them. Anyway, 497 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: appreciate it quick break when we come back, we hit 498 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: the phones eight hundred and nine four one, Sean. If 499 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: you want to be a part of the programming, Christmas 500 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: is coming. 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Go to their website Henry USA 520 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: dot com, get your free gift guide and dcals analyst 521 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: of dealers where you are, and you're gonna love this company. 522 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: The final hour of the Sean Hannity Show is up next. 523 00:27:51,680 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: Hang on for Shaun's Conservative Solutions you are basically exposing 524 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: collusion between a political party, and in one fire that 525 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: was released it was even called the Biden team contacting Twitter. 526 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: I mean that is an election interference, isn't it? Yeah? 527 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: I mean, clearly, if if, if Twitter is doing one 528 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: team's bidding before an election, shutting down to Santien voices 529 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:35,919 Speaker 1: on a pivotal election, that is a very definition of 530 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: election interference. And what the hell else would you? Of course, 531 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 1: it's like, yes, you know that. Frankly, Twitter was acting 532 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: like an arm of the Democratic National Committee. It was absurd, 533 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: all right, back to our busy phone. So eight hundred 534 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: and nine four one, Sean, if you want to be 535 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: a part of the program, mark Illinois, Next Sean Hannity Show, 536 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: What's going on? Oh thanks for taking my call, Sean. 537 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about the information that Elon Musk 538 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: is released regarding Twitter in the last two election cycles. 539 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: It's obviously we won't get any relief from the DOJ 540 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 1: or any investigations, any support from the executive branch. But 541 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: the state's attorneys in various states have the right to investigate, 542 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: to start inquiries. They have the ability to start civil 543 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: and criminal investigations if they believe that the citizens of 544 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: their state have been injured by these practices. They have 545 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: the rights. It sounds like you have a background in law, 546 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: do you. I do not, sir. Okay, sounds like you do. 547 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: But that's okay, keep going. So I would just you know, 548 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: if any state's attorneys, if smart people in your audience 549 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: are listening, if they could weigh in on this. Many 550 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: a basketball coach will tell you that a good, deep, 551 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: good offense is the best medicine for winning a game, 552 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: not to play defense. I think if the state's attorneys 553 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: would get together start to investigate this when we see 554 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: this happening with Eric Schmidt in Missouri and Louisiana's attorney general, 555 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: they've teamed up together and you know, they got the 556 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: head of the integrity whatever system I'm not sure the 557 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: exact title at Twitter. And they got a lot of 558 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: information out of the guy. And you know one thing 559 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: that we did find out his name actually is Joel Roth. 560 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: He's Twitter's former head of integrity. And he did admit 561 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: that these weekly calls that were put together by this 562 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: friend of Baker and friend of Struck and Page and 563 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: a guy that had a I guess his claim to 564 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: fame was his postgraduate thesis claiming Russia interfered in the 565 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen election. I helped former President Trump. He's the 566 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: guy that organized all these weekly meetings with the big 567 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: tech corporations and was warning them of a hack and 568 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: league operation and they needed to be on watch that 569 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: that doesn't happen, and they don't want to be disseminating 570 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: false information. And remember it was Twitter's Yole Wrought that said, yeah, 571 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: he mentioned that this information may have to do with Hunter. 572 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: I think they knew damn well that this was coming out, 573 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: because they knew Rudy Giuliani had a copy, and they 574 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 1: knew the New York Post was working on a story, 575 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 1: so they would, you know, not debunking it. They were 576 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: pre bunking it. And they got what they wanted. They 577 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: were able to censor all of the media and big 578 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: tech corporations from disseminating the story, which had an impact 579 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: on the election, which is why Elon Musk is one 580 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: hundred percent right. By shutting down dissenting voices, that was 581 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 1: the very definition of election interference. And I'm pretty sure 582 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: that's why Elon Musk is exposing all of this. It's 583 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: a pretty big reveal. I mean, you can't even you 584 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: can't even calibrate the impact on an election, but I 585 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: would argue that it probably would have been the tipping 586 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:52,959 Speaker 1: point for a lot of people. But you're right, state's 587 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: attorneys generals can do their job. I think they can 588 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: follow in the footsteps of Louisiana Eric Schmidt, Missouri and 589 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: follow the path that you laid out very articulately. Anyway, 590 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: I appreciate the call, my friend eight hundred and nine 591 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 1: four one Sean if you want to be a part 592 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: of the program,