1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: I'm Joe Matthew in Washington. Welcome to Bloomberg Sound On. 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: President Biden making news, telling Bloomberg White House reporter Nancy 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: Cook that he is convinced that Vladimir Putin has made 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: the decision to invade Ukraine. He went on to describe 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: what he calls misinformation by Russia back separatist claiming Ukraine 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: is planning to attack them, a false justification, as he said, 7 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: to act against Ukraine. This is what the Biden administration 8 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: has been warning of, the false flag operation that the 9 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: President appears to think has already begun. Now. This follows 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: careful messaging earlier in the day by the Biden administration overseas. 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: As we prepare to join a conversation with Angela Stamp, 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: we want to walk you through a bit of what's 13 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: happened today. Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State 14 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: Anthony B. Lincoln, both speaking earlier at the Annual Munich 15 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: Security Conference that you just heard. President Biden referred to 16 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: Secretary Blincoln as well, says Russia has already begun a 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: false flag operation in Ukraine. We are deeply concerned that 18 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: that is not the path that Russia has embarked on 19 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: and that everything that we're seeing, including what you've described 20 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: in the last hours, is part of a scenario that 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: is already in play of creating uh false provocations. And 22 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: it brings us to another element of this story today, 23 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: the Russian backed head of the Donat's rebel government announcing 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: the massive evacuation of that city to Russia for fear 25 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: of what he alleges will be in attack, as the 26 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: President said, against the region by the Ukrainian military. Ukraine's 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: military chief earlier seeing it has no intentions and never 28 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: has of invading separatist controlled areas, certainly not now. This 29 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: is a very complex situation with enormous room for error 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 1: as we head into this long weekend. We're joined now 31 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: by someone Bloomberg has been turning to for her extensive 32 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: experience and insights, Angela Stent, Professor of Government and Foreign Service, 33 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European 34 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: Studies at Georgetown University, also author of Putin's World, Ussia 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: Against the West and with the rest ANGELA, thank you 36 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: for being here. President Biden seems to know what's going 37 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: on inside Vladimir Putin's head. He's convinced, as we just 38 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: heard that there will be an invasion of Ukraine. Do 39 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: you think he's right, Well, they must have intelligence that 40 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: leads them to this conclusion. I mean, we've been guessing 41 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: about this now for weeks, but what they're seeing on 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: the ground and the increase in troops even over the 43 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:30,119 Speaker 1: past week plus now everything he described with the Russians 44 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: accusing the Ukrainians of trying to take back the Donbass region, 45 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: evacuating or planning to evacuate seven hundred thousand people from 46 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: those two occupied territories in Ukraine. Because again they claim 47 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: that there's going to be an attack. I guess that 48 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: really does lead to the conclusion that they're going to 49 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: use this as a pretext. I think one rule of 50 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: some when you listen to what the Russians say is 51 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: they often accuse other people of doing what they themselves 52 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: are going to do. Fascinating. It's just interesting that the 53 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: White House has been projecting this, predicting this for a 54 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: couple of weeks now, maybe more the idea of a 55 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: false flag. We heard about the video, the fake video 56 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: that they might put together. Now more recently in these 57 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: Russia separatist controlled areas, the increase in accounts of breaking 58 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: the cease fire. Is this how whether this is it 59 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: or maybe it comes later, Angela, is this how it begins? 60 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it certainly could. And I also have just 61 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: read accounts that they explosives. Explosives have been placed in 62 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: various around various public buildings in those occupied territories, which again, 63 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: if they went off, they would accuse the Ukrainians of terrorism. 64 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: This is how it could begin. So why would Vladimir 65 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: Putin do that? Why why go ahead and do that 66 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: when everyone's already told the world that it was going 67 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: to happen. The White House strategy was get ahead of this, 68 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: prevented from happening by by by exposing our intelligence. Yet 69 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: Vladimir Putin is gonna still continue to play the greatest 70 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: hits no matter what we expect, Well, you know we will. 71 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: We always wondered whether all of these ultimatums that were 72 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: given to the West were just deployed, and we we've 73 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: just had the Russians again say you didn't meet our 74 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: demands um, and this is now an excuse to doing 75 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: what they're doing. On the other hand, it's still some 76 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: mixed signals, right, they're still saying the Secretary B. Lincoln 77 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: and Minister I've rather going to meet on Fabru or 78 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: the B. Lincoln made clear that that's only going to 79 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: happen if there's no war. So and they're still saying 80 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 1: that they don't intend to attack, so they're they're really 81 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: ramping up the tension, they're ramping up the uncertainty about 82 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: what they're doing. And this could still be part of 83 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: the bluff, but if so, it's a pretty expensive bluff 84 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: and also a very dangerous bluff since we're now in 85 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: the situation where we've had showing of buildings and uh um, 86 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: and some deaths as well. What do you expect this 87 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: weekend and what is the gain of an invasion at 88 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: this stage after this much time in the standoff? Vladimir 89 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: Putin has the whole world waiting and listening to him 90 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: as he apparently wanted. Doesn't he lose that the moment 91 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: he invades. Of course he does, um. But if his 92 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: goal is to subdue Ukraine, to control it, to get 93 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: a government in Ukraine that's pro Russian and that gives 94 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: up any dream of moving westward, then this is that 95 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: would be the first step in doing that. Now it 96 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: could be extremely costly. I don't think Russia does not 97 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: have enough troops surrounding Ukraine to actually occupy Ukraine. You'd 98 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: need hundreds of thousands of troops more than that, but 99 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: you could deliver a major military blow both in the 100 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: don Vase region but also to Kive Um. And if 101 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 1: that overrides any hope of negotiating with the West, that's 102 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 1: what they're going to do. Tell me more about what 103 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: we just heard from President Biden, his posture and the 104 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: way that we've heard messaging coming from this White House, 105 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: not just here in Washington, but also from Munich today 106 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: with with great coordination. To hear the President as we 107 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: head into this weekend say that Vladimir Putin has made 108 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 1: up his mind and to suggest punishing sanctions are about 109 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: to be imposed. Does that affect the conversation or any 110 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: decision making by Vladimir Putin so far? Well, so far, 111 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: I don't think the talk of sanctions has really had 112 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: any impact on him. Um. It is like President Biden 113 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: stressed unity, and we've had unity. Um. And I want 114 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: to assumes if there were a major invasion like the 115 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: one that President Biden was talking about, there would be 116 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 1: massive sanctions from the the US and many European allies 117 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 1: would go along with some of them. I mean the 118 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: German Foreign Minister today at Munich suggested that Germany would 119 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: go along with those sanctions where there to be, you know, 120 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: a massive invasion like that. So the messages unity, I'm 121 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: more skeptical about, you know, in the longer run, how 122 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: how much that unity would last in terms of sanctions, 123 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: because you know, sanctioning major Russian banks and things like 124 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: that um is going to affect our European allies more 125 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: than it's going to affect us, and it's going to 126 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: affect them quite badly. Speak to me more about that, 127 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: Angela Stent, because there's there's so much vague conversation coming 128 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: out of the government here about sanctions. We're not going 129 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: to get a bill out of the Senate, and it's 130 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: difficult to understand what exactly the White House and Treasury 131 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: are prepared to do. Whether it's kicking Russia out of 132 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: the Swift network as we've heard from time to time, 133 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: we're directly targeting Vladimir Putin. Is there a way that 134 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: they can do that and and try to to to 135 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: to silo our European allies from the damage so that 136 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: nobody's really talking about throwing Russia out of the Swift 137 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: system anymore. But they are talking about sanctioning these two 138 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: or three major banks in Russia. And my understanding is 139 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: that they are would be some carve outs for some 140 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: companies and countries and dealing with that because it be 141 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: sanctioned the major banks with which you know a lot 142 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: of European countries do a lot of business. Um, that 143 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: really hurts them badly too. So there could be that 144 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: this gets very complicated, but there could be some card outs. 145 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: And then export controls that's something else that we hear 146 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:15,119 Speaker 1: from treasuring the White House, uh not, you know, semiconductor 147 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: parts making it more difficult for you know, the Russian 148 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: industrial sector to function. UM. So why ranging export controls? 149 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: Um sanctions on individuals people you know close to putin 150 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: with bank accounts in the West. But we've already had 151 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: that since and that doesn't seem to have had much 152 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: of an impact on the policy. Um. And then the 153 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: last one is sanctioning the Russian energy industry, which I 154 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: think isn't some of those congressional bills, but that I 155 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: think it's very hard to imagine that they could pull 156 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: that off, Angela, we're out of time, but I have 157 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,839 Speaker 1: to ask you what I heard you asked on Bloomberg 158 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: surveillance just about a week or two ago, and that 159 00:08:55,160 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: is is Vladimir Putin winning in? You know, it appears 160 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: at the moment that he is winning. Because I was 161 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 1: afraid you were going to say that. That was your 162 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: answer a week or two ago. Angela's stand Professor of 163 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: Government Foreign Service, director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian, 164 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: East European Studies at Georgetown, her book Putin's World. I 165 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: guess we're just living in it. Thanks Angela for being 166 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: with us. We assemble the panel next Rick and Jeanie, 167 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: our signature panel on a Friday. I'm Joe Matthew and 168 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: this is Bloombird. You know, it's ironic that what Mr 169 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: Putin did not want to see happen was a stronger 170 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: NATO on his fright, and that's exactly what he will 171 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: see going forward. Stop kissed it ere about the intention 172 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: of Russian in the region. There's only one country, one 173 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: country with a hundred fifty thousand troops on the border 174 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: poised to attack, and that country is Russia. True, think 175 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: about our security con national security and also true if 176 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: our troops where we believe the important there is only 177 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: one country, one country making threats here it is Russian. 178 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us the Friday edition of Bloomberg Sound 179 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 1: on the fastest hour in politics, with deep concerns about 180 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: what's going to happen over this looming weekend. Here I'm Joe, 181 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: Matthew and Washington as we assemble the panel with headlines 182 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: crossing the terminal based on what we heard live together 183 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: from President Biden in the last hour. Biden says, convinced 184 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: that Putin has decided to invade Ukraine. The question came 185 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg's own Nancy Cook, the first question asked today 186 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, and we've 187 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: got the signature panel with us. I'd love to hear 188 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: what everyone thinks about this, Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeannie Chanzano 189 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: and Rick Davis Genie to have the President come out 190 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: and say that he is now convinced. We've been hearing 191 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: warnings from this White House for weeks that an attack, 192 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: an invasion of some sort could be imminent. They're they're 193 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: leaning all the way into this now, why not just 194 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: add the sanctions well that that's a big question. I think, 195 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: what a sobering assessment by the president. And you know, 196 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: as we head into this President's Day weekend in the 197 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: United States, and I think what was particularly chilling was 198 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: he said that they will target or the United States 199 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: believes that they will target the Ukrainian capital and this 200 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:49,959 Speaker 1: is coming, you know, not that long after we heard 201 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: the Ukrainian Defense Minister continue to say that they don't 202 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: believe that some of this is as imminent or likely 203 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: as the United States is saying. So, you know, I 204 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: think one of the big questions is, you know, what 205 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: is the intelligence that's a leading to this conclusion. Well, 206 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: the Olympics are over, Rick, I guess a couple of 207 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: weeks ago, that was the idea that that Putin would 208 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: would wait for the Olympics to wrap up here, and 209 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 1: we're already seeing signs, according to the Administration, of this 210 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: false flag operation beginning. So is this it? It could be. 211 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I certainly believe when the President United States 212 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: tells us that Vladimir Putin has decided to invade and 213 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: his intelligence is accurate, I mean, we hope this time 214 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: intelligence would be wrong. But um uh, certainly he sounded 215 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: like he had a lot of conviction around it. So, look, 216 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: we've been wondering when somebody was going to actually say 217 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: the obvious, which is Vladimir Putin actually gets to do 218 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: whatever he wants to do. The sanction threat has not 219 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 1: kept him from deploying additional forces and ratcheting up the psychops. 220 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: And and that's where we find ourselves today. Well, you know, 221 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: I'm just watching the room as we were looking at 222 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: the cameras here, Rick, before the President came out, and 223 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: you've got the podium in the two doors you know, 224 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: where he was in the White House, and you're just 225 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 1: imagining what is happening behind those closed doors. We will 226 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: unless you're in the room. Let's say he's in the 227 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 1: Oval office, you have no idea what he's hearing. And 228 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: in many cases, uh, it's things that would that would 229 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: but would terrify you. He knows so much more than 230 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: we do about this. Uh. He's staying at the White 231 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 1: House this weekend, and I know part of that is 232 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: to work on the State of the Union address, Rick, 233 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: But is it is this an up all night kind 234 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: of weekend at the White House planning for contingencies? Yeah, 235 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: this is the actual three am call that we always 236 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: talk about in politics. Is the president ready to take one? 237 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: And what will they do? He'll spend time in the 238 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: situation room. This is what will connect him to his 239 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: national security foreign policy team that are spread out all 240 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: over Europe right now. I mean, these aren't people huddled 241 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: around with him right now. They're actually the shock troops 242 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: in Europe trying to keep NATO together and apply as 243 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: much pressure as they can to UH to Russia to 244 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: try and get an outcome here that is anything short 245 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:03,839 Speaker 1: of war. He's his Vice President Genie in Munich, along 246 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: with the Secretary of State, this in the Secretary Defense, 247 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: also deployed overseas. UH. It does feel like this administration 248 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: is about as spread out as it can be in conversations, 249 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: active conversations with our allies. It's a peculiar footprint to 250 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: have right now. If if this invasion begins, having everyone 251 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: spread around the world, that's right. And you know, it's 252 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: fascinating also because while President Biden is going to be 253 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: staying at the White House this weekend, the United States 254 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: has been pressing the President of the ukraine' Zelensky to 255 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: stay in Keith, and yet he has still said, and 256 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: this could change that he's going to travel to the 257 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: security conference. He wants to show that life continues as 258 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: normal and they aren't panicking. So there's quite a juxtaposition 259 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: there between what President Biden is planning to do and 260 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: what President Zelenski has said at least that he will do. 261 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: And again that could change any moment, of course, but 262 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: you know, it suggests what has been this real sort 263 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: of divergence between the West and the United States versus Ukraine, 264 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: and they're sort of attempt to show that this is 265 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: you know, life goes on as somewhat normal, even now 266 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: as we see all of this shelling and bombing that's 267 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: occurring on the eastern flank. Yeah, these headlines are really 268 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: something rick more than forty violations of the ceasefire agreement yesterday. Apparently, 269 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: what are you going to be watching for in the 270 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: next couple of days to tell the difference between this 271 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: and what actually could be the prelude or the the 272 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: initial phases of an invasion. Well, it's it's it's difficult, 273 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: right because Russia has gotten very good at creating disinformation 274 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: all over the world, and we're getting it here too. 275 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: Write I mean, our internet is full of false reports 276 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: on attacks within the Russian community, living in donuts in 277 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: other places by the Ukrainian So it's gonna be very 278 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: hard to tell what the trigger is. And I don't 279 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: think any event will actually trigger this. It's just whatever 280 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: Vladimir Putin's timetable is key places go. It's a concern 281 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: when you don't have the intels on the ground either 282 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: to tell us what's happening in real time. Rick and 283 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: Jeanie will be with us for the hour on sound 284 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: on coming up, Russian Ukraine or not the only things 285 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: on the President's mind right now, as we'll discuss with Bloomberg, 286 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: Supreme Court reporter Greg Store, this is Bloomberg the Russia 287 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: Ukraine conversation, maybe keeping the lights on late at the 288 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: light of the White House, but it's not the only 289 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: one happening in the executive mansion. Reporters have been trying 290 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: for days to get clues on President Biden's process of 291 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: picking a Supreme Court nominee, and today was no exception. 292 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: You accidentally leave off of the week ahead the President's 293 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: interviews of Supreme Court Supreme Court candidates very good. I 294 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: was like, I'm thinking, maybe I left something off Uh, well, 295 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: I can tell you that um February is not that 296 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: much longer. It's ten days if my math is correct. Uh. 297 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: And we remain on track to to make an announcement 298 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: about of sup the president selection for a qualified, incredible 299 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: nominee to serve on the Supreme Court before the end 300 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: of the month. For the end of the month, White 301 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: House Press Secretary Jansaki having a little fun with reporters 302 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: but also making news in a way. President Biden says, well, yeah, 303 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna make good on the pledge to announce a 304 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: choice by the end of February, and of course, the 305 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: State of the Union March one appears to be a 306 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: very real deadline for the administration to make that happen. 307 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: Maybe that nominee will be invited to the big speech. 308 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the process though the shortlist. Remind ourselves 309 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: where we are. What's happened since then? With Bloomberg Supreme 310 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 1: Court reporter Greg Store, It's great to have you here, Greg. 311 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: Everyone's been asking about the interview process. The White House 312 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: won't even tell us about this. This has been a 313 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: fairly leakproof operation. Is that what you have found? Yeah, 314 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: they're certainly keeping their cards close to their vestum. That said, 315 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: the three names that were uh sort of understood to 316 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: be at the top of the list still seem to 317 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: be the same three names, and that is Judge Kanji 318 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 1: Brown Jackson, California Supreme Court Justice Leandre Krueger, and bo 319 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: District Judge Michelle Child's. Uh, those three all have different 320 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 1: backers and different arguments in favor of them, and uh, 321 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: chances are, it seems, by the end of the month, 322 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: the President will nominate one of those three. Be an 323 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: interesting process once this goes public. Uh do you think, 324 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: by the way that the president knows his pick yet? 325 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: I mean, are we really in the still in the 326 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: throes of deciding this or is it more greg about 327 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 1: announcing it. Well, you know, the President has we know 328 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: he has met with at least one of the those 329 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: top three in a in a different capacity. When Kittanji 330 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: Brown Jackson was up to be not for nomination to 331 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: the Federal Appeals Court, President Biden met with her then. Uh, 332 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: this was last year, so he at least knows her 333 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: um and may well know that he would be comfortable 334 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: nominating her to the Supreme Court. Uh, it's hard to 335 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: imagine that he would uh have his mindset on somebody 336 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,719 Speaker 1: he hasn't met with yet. But but if if, if, 337 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: indeed he's thinking about her, he may well have a 338 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: pretty good idea. It's gonna be interesting, as I mentioned, 339 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: once this goes public, because the introduction process begins, and 340 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: then you know, all of the opposition research and everything else. 341 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: The media battles begin Before we get to that point, though, 342 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: there are conversations greg underway between the White House and 343 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: and certain members of the Senate leadership. How much of 344 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: a sense to lawmakers have about where the president might 345 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: be in the process? Are they in the is in 346 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: the dark as we are? It seems like they might be, 347 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: at least in terms of who the President's choice is 348 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: going to be. In terms of the schedule, Uh. Dick Durbin, 349 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: who's the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee which would 350 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: take up the nomination, has been pushing to have a 351 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:03,719 Speaker 1: time frame that would the Senate confirm somebody by the 352 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: Easter recess, so basically the first week of April. Um 353 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: and Democrats and Republicans seem to think that the White 354 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,880 Speaker 1: House is going to be moving on a pretty fast schedule. Well, 355 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: imagining that my goodness to keep this in a compressed 356 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: period of time while we're dealing with the Russia Ukraine matter, 357 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,959 Speaker 1: while the President has his own domestic agenda, is actually 358 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: going to take some effort here. What kind of an 359 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 1: apparatus within the administration is in charge of this? Greg 360 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: is there? You know? Is there a war room set 361 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: up somewhere where there's a staff that's dedicated to just 362 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 1: this project. Yeah, Well, White House Council Dana Remus has 363 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: been heading up this this effort. Uh. White House Chief 364 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: of Staff Rod and Klein is has a good deal 365 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: of experience with this sort of thing in in previous 366 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: Supreme Court nominations in different capacities. Uh. They have someone 367 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: a former Senator Doug Jones set up to be her 368 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 1: so called sher brother, take her around the Senate and 369 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: no question, this will be a big push by the 370 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 1: White House. Michelle Childs was apparently getting a big push 371 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: from Congressman Clyburn. There was a lot of writing about 372 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,360 Speaker 1: that at the time, of course, saying suggesting that this 373 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: was some sort of payback for essentially helping Joe Biden 374 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: get the nomination with that South Carolina primary. But the 375 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 1: White House has gone out of its way, Greg to 376 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: say that the President will not be moved by lobbying 377 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 1: efforts by other people calling him, and Cliburn himself said, 378 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not I'm not putting up any ultimatums. 379 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: Do we have a sense then, where how how these 380 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,640 Speaker 1: names stack up? Catangi Brown Jackson was the first one 381 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 1: we heard. Leandre Krueger Michelle Childs both came shortly afterwards 382 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 1: that we heard about the big push from Clyburn. If 383 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 1: if there's no real, uh, sort of lobbying effort like 384 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: that going on, where do we think this list is 385 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 1: in President Biden's head? Well? A couple of points. First 386 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,400 Speaker 1: of all, Michelle child is the one nominee the White 387 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 1: House had suplicitly mentioned. They mentioned her when her hearing 388 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: to be a Federal Appeals Court judge was put off. 389 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: They they made clear that she was in the mix 390 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: for a potential Supreme Court nomination. To time, bron Jackson 391 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 1: does have kind of an ace up her sleeve, which 392 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: is that she has been confirmed by the Senate very recently, 393 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: and that is something a number of Senators have mentioned 394 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: that and said that they that they know the President 395 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 1: is aware. With three Republicans, if I remember right, yes, 396 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,239 Speaker 1: with three Republicans voting in her favor, that that is 397 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: something that can give everybody some assurance that she can 398 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: get confirmed here and maybe get confirmed with a few 399 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: Republican votes. Leander Krueger, California Supreme Court justice. Very well regarded, 400 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: but doesn't have that particular factor, and so in some 401 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 1: respects she's a bit more of an unknown at least 402 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: in terms of the confirmation process. Michelle Child, Scott, Lindsey Graham. 403 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 1: Maybe there's one Republican there, correct, Lindsey Graham and Tim 404 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 1: Scott has spoken very fair probably of her as well. 405 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,239 Speaker 1: She is from South Carolina and so those are her 406 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 1: home state senors. A couple of things to consider as 407 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: we prepared for this announcement. Could be by the end 408 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: of next week, maybe the day before. The state of 409 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: the Union will find out, and of course we'll be 410 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: in touch with Gregg Store Bloomberg Supreme Court reporter, who 411 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 1: certainly knows what he's talking about. We'll reassemble the panel 412 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: get their take on this next Rick and Genie or 413 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: with us on a Friday on Bloomberg Sound On. I'm 414 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg So Long 415 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. Well, it will be 416 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: a thinking weekend for President Biden, thinking and working with 417 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: not only the Russia Ukraine crisis to manage, but a 418 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: State of the Union addressed to begin preparing for. He's 419 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: got about a week to go here, and as we 420 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: just discussed with Greg Store, a Supreme Court nominee to pick, 421 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,399 Speaker 1: let's reassemble the panel with Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeannie Shenzo 422 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: and Rick Davis. Rick, I'm curious about the role out here. 423 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: Obviously we can't get into Joe Biden's brain right now, 424 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: but you've been part of major political announcements. How do 425 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: you handle this one? If you're advising the president noting 426 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: the environment that we're in and the speech that's coming, 427 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: do you get this out a couple of days before 428 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: the State of the Union. Do you hold an event 429 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: which is the two of them? How should work? You know, 430 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 1: it's interesting that he's taken the approach that he's taking 431 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: to keep it secret the process so far, many presidents 432 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 1: in the past have actually taken the opportunity to really 433 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,679 Speaker 1: showcase their leadership by you know, bringing in people to 434 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: interview and having them come to the White House or 435 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 1: go to Camp David and spend a weekend. In other words, 436 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: you know the recruitment process, right, and the diligence, and 437 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: and this administration shows just to keep it bottled up, 438 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: which I think is fascinating, especially it is over the 439 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: fact that they've really wanted to make a big deal 440 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: about their appointing the first black woman to the Federal Court. Um. 441 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 1: But then again, they're gonna want to take an opportunity 442 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: to make it big, and I can't imagine a scenario 443 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: where they would want this out before or the State 444 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: of the Union. I wouldn't be shocked that that he 445 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: would want whoever the nominee is to be in the 446 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 1: hall when he actually points out, here's who I'm going 447 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: to put on the Supreme Court. So so you think 448 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 1: he announces it that night, I think that was That's 449 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 1: certainly what other presidents have done with identifying key leaders 450 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: in their community, heroes of the country. Uh, this is 451 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 1: a well worn concept around State of the Unions, and 452 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: I can't imagine that he wouldn't want to do the 453 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 1: same thing that night. What more do you want coming 454 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: out of that news and then uh, here's my pick 455 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: for historically significant seat on this on the Supreme Court. 456 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: What do you think, Jennie, that it would be high 457 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: drama in an in an otherwise for some people, very 458 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: long speech, half of which applies to them. Think that's 459 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,640 Speaker 1: right and one of the best nights in the year, 460 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew State of the Union night, the super Bowl 461 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: of politics. But if you're talking about people sitting at home, 462 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: you know, look, that would that would shake him a 463 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: little bit, It would shake them, you know. I I 464 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: hate to disagree with my great Frienderick Davis, but I 465 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: would not um. Although I do it a lot, I 466 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: would not do it at the State of the Union. 467 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: And because of the politicization of the Supreme Court in 468 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,880 Speaker 1: the federal judiciary, it's something that Joe Biden takes very seriously. 469 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: It's something the Supreme Court justices left right and center 470 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: do take seriously, and should many of them, not all 471 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 1: of them these days, they used to all attend. And 472 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: the idea that he would showcase his nominee at that event, 473 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 1: to me would not be something that I would want 474 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 1: to see um as a political scientist or a citizen. 475 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: He may do it. I think most importantly, he vets 476 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: his candidates very very carefully, and he puts forward as 477 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 1: somebody in the time frame he committed to who has, 478 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: you know, credentials, who that are unassailable, and who is respected, 479 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: and who meets the the requirements he has laid out. 480 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: What do you make of the secrecy genie that Rick 481 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: points out here and we can't even get an answer 482 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: out of Press Secretary gen Saki about whether they've all 483 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: been interviewed, never mind uh any other names that we 484 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 1: haven't heard of. I do think that is curious, um. 485 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: And and you know, I think this is a little 486 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 1: bit as to how the administration has been in some ways. 487 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: That said, both this administration and the Trump administration have 488 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: been wildly successful in terms of their appointments to the 489 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: federal bench. And so if there's an area in which 490 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 1: they have done well, it's this. So you know, I 491 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: wouldn't question it at this point too much, but it 492 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: is curious they're keeping it under wraps. I can only 493 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: imagine it's because when they do have a stand up 494 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 1: with whoever this woman is and the president, they want 495 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: to go big and they want to make big news 496 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: on that. Rick does it make you believe that this 497 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 1: is the short list, since we've heard nothing about them 498 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: really from the White House, seen anyone walking in or 499 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 1: out of the West Wing, that these are the three 500 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 1: names that he is actually going to be choosing from. Yeah, 501 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: I would think so. I mean, he's kind of the 502 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: What you see is what you get president. I can't 503 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 1: imagine them throwing a curveball in here, and and by 504 00:27:58,480 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: the way, I mean, it's not going to help their 505 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 1: case on Capitol Hill. Uh if if they throw somebody 506 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: in the mix who has never who has never been 507 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: talked about, I can't imagine it's gonna please senators who 508 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: he is already talking to, especially Republicans, that he's gonna 509 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: make a solid pick, and they've got these names in 510 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 1: their mind, and he shows up with somebody different after 511 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: what we saw at the hearing. The vote scheduled for 512 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,359 Speaker 1: earlier this week. By the way, we haven't really talked 513 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:27,679 Speaker 1: about this hasn't gotten much coverage since Tuesday, but there 514 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: were supposed to be five nominees to the Federal Reserve 515 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 1: getting a vote in the Banking Committee this week. Republicans 516 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:37,360 Speaker 1: boycotted that event. We talked to Senator Bill Haggerty here 517 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: about it. Pretty high drama. Uh, it'll come back around, 518 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: although I have no idea how or when. And that's 519 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: another question I'll have for you guys. But is there 520 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 1: a chance that happens, as noted in punch Bowl this morning, 521 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: that happens on the Judiciary Committee when they go to 522 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: vote on a Democratic Supreme Court nominee. What do you think, Rick? 523 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 1: You know, look, it's a possibility. I mean, the use 524 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: of a quorum is uh is is kind of the 525 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 1: delaying tactic. It doesn't really kill anything, right, It's not 526 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: like you've you've taken a vote. But when when you 527 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: have people like Lindsey Graham on there, like if it's child, 528 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: he's not gonna walk and uh. And so you know, 529 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: there are a number of Republicans I would say, you 530 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: know himself, till Us Sass who are on that committee 531 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: who would probably not be willing to make stuff like that. Right. Yeah, 532 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: what do you think, Genie? Is that going to become 533 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: the norm for the nominating process? You have people walking 534 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 1: out of these hearings. We've seen it on both sides, 535 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: Democrats and Republicans have done this. Not at the Supreme 536 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,479 Speaker 1: Court nominee level, but they have done it for lower 537 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: level or other appointees of other of other ilk and 538 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: I do not think it would make sense for Republicans 539 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 1: to do it because I think, look at the reality 540 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: as they have a solidly majority conservative court. This person 541 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: is not going to change that. Now if the President 542 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: goes and nominates somebody who hasn't been discussed to Rick's point, 543 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: and you know who is is wildly to the left, 544 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: or who raises a red lag, you could see some 545 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 1: of these delaying tactics, But I think the political consequences 546 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: for Democrats of Republicans rather of trying to delay this, 547 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: particularly the first black woman appointed the Supreme Court in 548 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, over two and forty years we've been in existence. 549 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: I think the politics on that don't work well for 550 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: Republicans and the stakes aren't high enough on the Court 551 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 1: at this point. Quickly on the Fed, Sarah Bloom Raskin, 552 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: obviously this is uh, this is a major problem for 553 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 1: Pat Toomey and all of the Republicans on the Banking Committee. 554 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: They say strip that out, will vote on the other four. 555 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: We need more answers from Raskin. The White House says, 556 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: she already answered you Rick, is this leading up to 557 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: a withdrawal from the candidate? Is that actually what Republicans 558 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: are angling for here, because it doesn't appear Democrats are 559 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: gonna budge. Yeah. I think this is the kind of 560 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: thing Republicans would use as a tactic to try and 561 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: get either the Biden administration to pour back or for 562 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 1: her to resign saying she want to keep the other 563 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 1: people waiting. Administration won't do that though, right, you know 564 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 1: they won't, But like that will be the conversation. Hey, 565 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,080 Speaker 1: you know, we'd really like to get this done, and 566 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 1: you know you're standing in the way, So why don't 567 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 1: you send us your resignation from the appointment? And uh 568 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: and so look, I mean it just depends upon how 569 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: much the Democrats want to make a cause sleb out 570 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:11,640 Speaker 1: of this. You know, when they're in the middle of 571 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 1: a big fight with the inflation and they depend upon this, 572 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: this this Fed to actually take action. I don't think 573 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: they want to see this prolonged. Well, Pat Toomey did 574 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: say the FED can operate fine on its own right now, 575 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 1: because that criticism is going in the other direction, Genie, 576 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: the White House is saying, hey, you guys are worried 577 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: about inflation, you're coming up the works? Is this going 578 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: to end up with a resignation letter? I don't want 579 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: to be a distraction to the process. Dot dot dot. 580 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: You know, it's so interesting because when we were first 581 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: talking about these nominees to the FED, there was some 582 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: chatter that they could put out a sacrificial lamp. I 583 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: don't think I or anybody else thought it was gonna 584 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: be Sarah Bloom Braska. And she's an eminently qualified woman, absolutely, 585 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,479 Speaker 1: But given what has come out and particularly how they 586 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: are using this issue with this Coloradoe firm that she 587 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: worked for and with, you know, it could be that 588 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 1: she decides to say, you know, I'm going to step down. 589 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: It would be you know, a blow certainly to Democrats. 590 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: She's somebody who brings an enormous amount and and and 591 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:15,960 Speaker 1: you know, I think really in terms of what she 592 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: promised to do in this role, I think it would 593 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: be a big loss. But I wouldn't be particularly surprised 594 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: if it happened unless the Democrats decide to separate these out. 595 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 1: And we don't see any inkling of that. Well, we've 596 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: seen a couple of nominees flop here. Rick, I guess 597 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 1: you know this could bounce back to your point on 598 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: the White House at some point you get the next 599 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 1: inflation report and everyone's running stories and how the Federal 600 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: Reserve has five, you know, technically open seats, even though I. J. 601 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: Powell is going to continue doing his work in lele 602 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: brainerd uh. But you know, this is a little bit 603 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 1: of a delicate situation when if, if inflation is going 604 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: to be the issue in the liability in the midsterm 605 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 1: election year. Yeah, this is all about President Biden. This 606 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: has nothing to do with Raskin. I mean, Raskin is 607 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 1: expendable in that regard. I mean I hate to say it, 608 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: but like you know, if you would, if you would 609 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 1: let someone like that stand in the way of the 610 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: President getting his agenda through to be able to have 611 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,959 Speaker 1: his team on the Federal Reserve, I wouldn't even think 612 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 1: twice about it. I mean, it would be as Genie says, 613 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 1: it's been great to have her on there. I'm sure 614 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: she's terrific and she's served on the board before, but 615 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: that is not where we are today. And today the 616 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 1: President needs his team in place, and he needs to 617 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: make a stand. That's saying he's actually taking action. You 618 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,640 Speaker 1: know and takes inflation seriously and wants his team on 619 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,640 Speaker 1: there doing something about it. And right now he doesn't 620 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:31,720 Speaker 1: have money talking points when it comes to inflation. Rick Davis, 621 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 1: Genie Ranzano. Great to spend time and ideas and thoughts 622 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: with both of you. To end this week here on 623 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Sound On February is Black History Month, and every 624 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: day of this month we're celebrating significant moments in US 625 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: black history. And we'll do it again now if your 626 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: installment for this Friday here is Bloomberg's Nita Young On 627 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 1: this day in Black History. In Germantown, Pennsylvania, Quakers hold 628 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: the first formal protest against slavery. A petition was drafted 629 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 1: on behalf of the German town meeting the religious Society 630 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: of Friends. In the document, the four men use the 631 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 1: Bible's Golden Rule to argue against such inhumane treatment of 632 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,239 Speaker 1: their fellow man, regardless of the color of their skin. 633 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: And the golden rule, of course, is the principle of 634 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 1: treating others as you would want to be treated. The 635 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 1: petition argued that every human, regardless of their belief, color, 636 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:25,360 Speaker 1: or ethnicity, has rights that should not be violated. Seeing 637 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: the injustices of the slave trade. These men courageously took 638 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: a stand against slavery based on their religious and moral beliefs. 639 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 1: That's today in Black history. I'm Nita Young, Bloomberg Radio. Nita, 640 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 1: thank you. We'll see you back here on Tuesday. Make 641 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,280 Speaker 1: it a long weekend. Our thoughts are with the people 642 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: of Ukraine. We'll have a lot to talk about when 643 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,680 Speaker 1: we get back here on Tuesday. On sound On, I'm 644 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg