1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Well, good Wednesday. We are sitting here a bit in limbo. 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: As I take this that no other American president would 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: have put the country in, let alone the world, then 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: there's no other American president shares his indecisiveness as publicly 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: as Donald Trump does, and right now on Iran he 6 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: has in many You know, there's a part of me 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: that appreciates the transparency of the indecisiveness. I mean, we 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: get a front row seat at finding out, Oh, somebody 9 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: whispered something new in his ear. Because he's now sharing this, 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: he appears to be leaning this way. I mean, we 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: know President Trump is notorious for buying into the last 12 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: best argument that somebody makes to him on any given 13 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: time when it comes to what to do here with Iran. 14 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: There is a lot of competing voices that are in 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: his head, and I think that is you know, if 16 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: you want to know why, it's unclear. 17 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: Where where his head is. 18 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: Though, Boy, it feels like there is a drumbeat towards action, 19 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: towards some sort of military action that the Americans may 20 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: engage in with the Israelis. But the fact that it 21 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: is not clear, I do think is a reminder that this, 22 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: particularly when it comes to foreign policy and international engagement, 23 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: there's a real divide. I mean, I think there's a 24 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: bigger divide in the Republican Party on this stuff than 25 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: there is in the Democratic Party. There's certainly a divide 26 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: in the Democratic Party on Israel, but I don't think 27 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: there's near the amount of divide, for instance, when it 28 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: comes to Ukraine or when it comes to even Iran, 29 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: although there's certainly I think that the divide on Iran 30 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: is whether this is all whether military action should be 31 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: on the table or not. There isn't a disagreement, and frankly, 32 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: there's not a disagreement on the Republican side that you know, 33 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: everything needs to be done to stop or you know, 34 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And if Iran looks 35 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: around the world, there really isn't an incentive to stop 36 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: getting a nuclear weapon. 37 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: Right, if you. 38 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: Are thought of to have one, you get left alone 39 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: in ways that you wouldn't get left alone if you 40 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: didn't have one. Right, Ask Libya, or ask Pakistan, or 41 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 1: ask Syria, or ask North Korea. Where am I going here? 42 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: Right? 43 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: Syria and Libya have been have had regime change, no 44 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: nuclear weapons. North Korea, there's a lot of people wishing 45 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: there could be regime change hasn't happened Iran. Obviously, I 46 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: think it's leaders know that getting you know, a nuclear 47 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: weapon probably would make it that much harder for anybody. 48 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 2: To topple that regime. 49 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: So we can't sit here and not acknowledge that fact. Okay, 50 00:02:55,320 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: that that it is. It's one of these we as 51 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: the one of the nuclear powers of the world, certainly 52 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: claim we don't want proliferation, and yet countries that have 53 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: a nuclear weapons seem to have a bit more security 54 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: from outside from outsiders than those that do not. So 55 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: if you're one of those folks, you know this is 56 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: we have not figured out an incentive not to have 57 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: nuclear weapons and sort of the global order, if you will. Right, 58 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: Libya is one of the great examples that Afi was 59 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: convinced to stand down on any sort of ambition to 60 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: go nuclear and he was out of power within how long. Right, 61 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: So that is one of those uncomfortable examples that does 62 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: make this an extra difficult situation, which is why diplomacy 63 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: hasn't been hasn't always been the best answer, or hasn't 64 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: worked yet. I don't want to say it's not the 65 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: best answer I think diplomacy that works is always a 66 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: better answer than some sort of military intervention. But we're 67 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: in this limbo because it is because I do think 68 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: you have President Trump, who frankly got traction in the 69 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: Republican Party by going against the Bush doctrine, right, going 70 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: against the orthodoctory. In fact, it wasn't that long ago 71 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: that a President Trump went to Saudi Arabia to say 72 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:25,799 Speaker 1: that the United States was no longer going to lecture 73 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 1: other countries on their values that you know, partnerships for partnerships. 74 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: So how does then that apply to Iran? Right on 75 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: that front? Are we going to be selective about it? 76 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: We obviously what Donald Trump said in Saudi Arabia, which 77 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: was meant for the audience and the Gulf States where 78 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: you've had others, including Joe Biden and Barack Obama, who've 79 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: been uncomfortable with the values that Saudi Arabia and Qatar 80 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: and the UAE promote or don't promote if you will, 81 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: and how much we want to be in business or 82 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: in bed with them. 83 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 2: And at the same time. 84 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: So either do you use the power of America to 85 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: spread American values or not? And there was basically a 86 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: bipartisan consensus. You know, That's why we have things like 87 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: Voice of America. That's why we have things like Radio 88 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: for Europe or Radio Martis right that there was this 89 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: sense that no America needs to be a beacon for freedom, 90 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,919 Speaker 1: a beacon for democracy, and when it's possible to spread it, 91 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: and when it's possible to create relationships that encourage it, 92 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: like trade relationships for instance. But on what But this 93 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: is where I think that at any time anybody wants 94 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: to engage in what I would call real politique, right, 95 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: which is you got to sort of you deal with 96 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: the countries that you have, not the countries that you want. 97 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: You have the diplomacy that you have, not the diplomacy 98 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: that you want, But we have this selective outrage. Like 99 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: you know, for years, Republicans have treated China differently than 100 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: they've treated Cuba. Right, Cuba's been punished because it's to punish, 101 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: China hasn't because it's harder to punish. And yet arguably 102 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: they've both committed the same some of the same crimes 103 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: against you know, human rights violations that that we have 104 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: frowned upon. So it I do think that candidate Donald 105 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: Trump would obviously have said he is not going to 106 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:26,239 Speaker 1: go off and and and go down this road. But look, 107 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: there's there is an opportunity. And I understand some that 108 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: are advising him sit there and say, look, Iron's never 109 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: been this week. Right, hes Belah has been nearly decapitated, 110 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: Hamas is on the run, the Hutis have stood down. 111 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: All of the Iranian proxies that gave Iran sort of 112 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: extra strength in that region are in bad shape. Right, 113 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: Israel has done since October seventh, has done a remarkable 114 00:06:54,080 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: job in decapitating Hesbelah and certainly weakening Hamas, and that 115 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: has had an indirect effect on Iran. Iran has always 116 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: been better at the asymmetric battle field than it is 117 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: in conventional warfare. And I think we're about to find out. 118 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: This feels like it's not really that close to a call. 119 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: Iran is definitely taking more damage than Israel is here, 120 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: but Israel cannot eradicate Iran's nuclear program without the help 121 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: of the United States. Now, this is where I think 122 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: there's a lot of things that get tricky here for 123 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: the president. If he goes ahead, if he does go 124 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: ahead and do this, well, if number one, you better succeed. 125 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: You got to wipe out the nuclear program. Right, there's 126 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: no pin prick here. You do or you not do. 127 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: I don't think you can half go in. And we 128 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: know Donald Trump likes to preserve every possible option, and 129 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: he almost wants to know. He wants to be able, 130 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: even at the last minute, be able to move from 131 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: one position. 132 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: To the other. 133 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: Right now, he seemed to be wanting to negotiate and 134 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: negotiate and negotiate. Israel's initial attack seemed to be successful. 135 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: Suddenly he was jumping in front of that parade. Boy, 136 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: you know, we did a great job. We really helped them. 137 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: And suddenly he's talking in the Royal We But look, 138 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: he does have a Congress problem. I'd say they call 139 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: it a problem, not a confrontation coming because I don't 140 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: think this Congress is going to confront this president on 141 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: what could be an abuse of the War Powers Act 142 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: if he does act this quickly. 143 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: I mean it is. 144 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: I don't think the current au m F, which is 145 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: still active, which still sits out there, which still gives 146 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: sort of some ambiguous power to the president to essentially 147 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: conduct a military strike and claim it's part of the 148 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: global war on terror, right, which is again go read 149 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: that original AUMF, which is countryless, right, doesn't really. It 150 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: was written to have maximum ambiguity, to essentially give flexibility. 151 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: At the time, the thought was these terrorists could be 152 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: anywhere and you couldn't you couldn't identify a single country 153 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: or things like that. But obviously this the the definition 154 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: of it is so widened that it does seem to 155 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: make the power that Congress supposedly handed over to the 156 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: executive branch on this uh, probably too much and probably 157 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: something that needs to represented. But there's yet to be 158 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: an agreement on how to do this. There's a couple attempts. 159 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: You're going to see some people introduce some acts, you 160 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: know something and congre but it's not going to go anywhere. 161 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: If he wants to do this, there'll be a majority 162 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: in Congress, mostly Republicans, but some Democrats that support if 163 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: it's support a strike if it's limited. But here's the thing. 164 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: We already have a situation that has a little bit 165 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: of a little bit of rhyming with the Iraq debacle. 166 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: We go into Iraq based on faulty intelligence about weapons 167 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: of mass destruction. The question about how soon is Iran going, 168 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: how close is Iran to a nuclear weapon is definitely 169 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: up for debate. The Israeli intelligence and the American side. 170 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: They have the same set of facts and they've come 171 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: to different conclusions. 172 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 2: Right. 173 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 1: Israel believes Iran as much closer than the US government believes. 174 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: So if Donald Trump goes down this road with Israel, 175 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: he's essentially buying into the assessment of the Israeli intelligence 176 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: rather than the assessment of the American intelligence agencies. Right 177 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: tells the Gabbard went on Congress and said said as much. 178 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: That is that is huge risk. 179 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: Right, while the American intelligence communities credibility is certainly going 180 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: to be called into question by many because of what 181 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: happened with a rock, perhaps the same you know, how 182 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: you know? Is it possible Israel's intelligence is seeing what 183 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: it wants to see because they're looking for an They're 184 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: trying to confirm a belief they already have. Right, how 185 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: much of confirmation bias is there? So the point is 186 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: is if he decides to accept the intelligence from the 187 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: Israelis on this, he is that is a risk. That's 188 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: how George W. Bush based is not on a Israeli intelligence, 189 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: but on the intelligence of multiple countries, including our own 190 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: and these were assessments that were made by our intelligence agencies, 191 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: and they were wrong. There's always a risk they're wrong. 192 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: There's also a risk that, no matter how powerful these 193 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: bunk or buster bombs are, what if it doesn't work. 194 00:11:55,800 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: What if you've created a situation where you fail to 195 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: eradicate the nuclear program, they kind of survive the regime 196 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: and they end up regrouping, or you do complete regime change. 197 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: Who's rebuilding Iran? Is America going to be at the 198 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: forefront of rebuilding Iran? Are we in the nation building business? 199 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: If you follow through on regime change, which clearly the 200 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 1: president is. He's it's almost like he's toying with it 201 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: with his with his tweets of saying, we know where 202 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: you are, Kamani, but we're not going to go after 203 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: you yet, right, so certainly wants to a public threat there. Obviously, 204 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: this is no way to conduct international form policy. 205 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 2: This is no way. 206 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: I mean, it comes across like a reality TV show, 207 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 1: But that's probably the best way to understand. 208 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: Understand what Donald Trump is up to. 209 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 1: He may end up zagging because he you know, he 210 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: doesn't want the Taco meme to take hold on foreign policy. 211 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: You know, he's talking up this tough talk against Iran. 212 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: Is he doing it for negotiating purposes or is he 213 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: doing it in the run up to actually be a part. 214 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 2: Of this attack. 215 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: If he doesn't do it, does he develop this reputation 216 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: for being all bark and no bite. We know that 217 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: he's very sensitive to sort of simplistic narratives like that. 218 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: So I'm almost fearful of bringing up the simplistic narrative 219 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: because no one wants to see a decision made by 220 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:38,679 Speaker 1: a president simply because he fears a narrative that will 221 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: develop if he doesn't go a certain way. But look, 222 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,959 Speaker 1: I'm not going to I'm very hesitant to predict too 223 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 1: much here because of because it's Donald Trump number one, 224 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 1: number two. I do think there are enough people who 225 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: are at least warning him that, hey, this stuff is 226 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: never it's never as easy as you think. 227 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 2: You know. 228 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: I almost think that too many people, you know, I 229 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: think about what I grew up, you know. I remember 230 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: watching Ronald Reagan address the nation after war planes went 231 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: to Libya and it was a pretty clean strike. And 232 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: we did the Grenada thing and it seemed pretty easy, right, 233 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: and even the first Iraq war, and I do think 234 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: there was a sort of a generation of national security 235 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: folks who thought, hey this, you know, these little surgical 236 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: strikes can work. That sort of a police force type 237 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: military can work. That all worked until it didn't with Iraq, right, 238 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: That all worked until it didn't with Afghanistan. Iran is 239 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: not Grenada, Iran is not Libya, and it. 240 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 2: Is it is. 241 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: There's every chance this is a bigger can of worms 242 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: if we engage. But of course, you know, leaving Israel 243 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: on its own could also create problems here. So look, 244 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: there's no easy answers. I will I don't think we 245 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: know the backstory fully. How much did Netanyahu jam Trump here, 246 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: you know? Or was Trump really going along the whole 247 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: time with with maximum pressure and using playing good cop 248 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: bad cop with Babie. But it does feel as if 249 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: Trump's been being he is backed into a corner here. 250 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: Israel has had initial success. There's a window of opportunity 251 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: if you do believe it's doable. There is a window 252 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: of opportunity, and there's risk of him not taking advantage 253 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: of this window opportunity. And there's risk if they go 254 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: about it the wrong way, And there's risk even if 255 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: they succeed So look, this is not an easy decision. 256 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: Presidential decisions no matter who's behind that desk. If they 257 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: were easy, they wouldn't I remember hearing this from plenty 258 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: of previous presidents. If the decisions were easy, they would 259 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: have been decided upon before they got to the president's desk. 260 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: You do get a sense that everybody around him is 261 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: sort of has their own opinion but is afraid of 262 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: owning it, and so they're all just sort of whispering 263 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: in his ear. And he does, in this case, have 264 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: a team of rivals articulating different positions. So, however you 265 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: view President Trump and his leadership style here, I think 266 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: is atrocious. You should it should make you feel better 267 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: that they're at least diverse voices in that room, in 268 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: that in the situation room, so that all possibilities are 269 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: being laid out for him. In that sense, right, that 270 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: is much better than having group. So look, it is 271 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: I can't believe this is how we're all watching, waiting 272 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: for the tweet that either announces or pulls back, which 273 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: is kind of ridiculous. This is no way to run 274 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: a globe. This is no way the leader of the 275 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: free world should behave. But I'm trying to find a 276 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: few green shoots here, and the tallest green shoot is 277 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: the fact that at least there's a diversity of voices 278 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: in that room articulating different different ways to go about 279 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: this problem. So we shall see as the President might 280 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: tweet himself. Stay tuned. 281 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 2: But it's a it. 282 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: Sometimes you can't believe, you know, I can't tell you 283 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: how many times jokes were cracked, you know, before he 284 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: actually became president. Boy, you know, he'll make war decisions 285 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: on a tweet and he'll do this, and it all 286 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: is actually happening, and it's become weirdly normalized that we 287 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: all now kind of expect and we're waiting here, and sadly, 288 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: I think Donald Trump loves this nothing more than any 289 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: that we're all have no choice but to wait to 290 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: see what the former host of The Apprentice is going 291 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: to decide who gets voted off who doesn't. And in 292 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: that sense, that's kind of an absurd way that America 293 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: is representing. 294 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 2: Itself around the world. 295 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: But elections have consequences, and. 296 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 2: Here we are. 297 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: Speaking of elections. Tuesday was one of my favorite sayings. 298 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: If it's Tuesday, somebody's voting somewhere. Well, that's somewhere was 299 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: where I reside, the old dominion, the Great Commonwealth of Virginia, 300 00:18:54,600 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: where we do have our official nominees for governor. Although 301 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: I think we already knew who the nominees were going 302 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: to be. Wins Earl Sears the lieutenant governor, Republican Abigail 303 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: Spanberger the Democratic nominee, former congresswoman from that swing district 304 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: that sort of resides in between Richmond and the northern 305 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: Virginia suburbs. Let's be honest, this is a if Democrats 306 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: don't win Virginia fairly handily based on the anger of 307 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: federal workers doze frankly recent history right where seven of 308 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 1: the last eight Virginia elections went the exact opposite of 309 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: the previous presidential election. All of the signs are pointing 310 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 1: to a Democratic victory. I think the question is is 311 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: it a route right? Is it a clean sweep? For 312 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: the most part, it is rare for Virginia. They have 313 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: three statewide held, state wide elected state offices governor, lieutenant governor, 314 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: and Attorney general. It is rare for the party that 315 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: wins the governorship not to be able to also win 316 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: at least one, if not both of the other two 317 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: down ballot statewide races we saw there has been We've 318 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: had previously, we had a Republican governor with a Democratic 319 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: attorney general. But for the most part, usually it's usually 320 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: a clean sweep. There's barely a distinction usually between whatever 321 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: the gubernatorial races. Only if there is some sort of 322 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: unique set of circumstances with a lieutenant governor candidate or 323 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,400 Speaker 1: an AG candidate, do you see it any differently? The 324 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: most interesting aspect of the Virginia gubernatorial race is that 325 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: Virginia's going to elect its first woman governor, because both 326 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: parties have women as their nominees. The first Virginia race 327 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: I covered professionally was Virginia Governor in nineteen ninety three. 328 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: The Democratic nominee was the sitting Attorney General, Mary su Terry, 329 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: and she was trying to make history replacing the state's 330 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: first African American governor with the state's first female governor. Well, 331 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: that didn't happen. George Allen beat her in an upset, 332 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 1: and Virginia held on to its status as sort of 333 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: a bit of a zagger whenever the country zigs in 334 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: the previous presidential election. So I do think the more 335 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: interesting elections in this off year not going to be 336 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: in Virginia this year. They're going to be in New 337 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: Jersey and they're going to be in New York City. 338 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,879 Speaker 1: In New Jersey, Jack Conidarelli and Mikey Cheryl are the 339 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: two candidates there. Mikey Cheryl the Democratic nominee of a 340 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: Member of Congress, Jack Ciarelli, who was the nominee for governor. 341 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: He came within a few points of knocking off the 342 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 1: incumbent Phil Murphy four years ago. Look, they put out 343 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: a poll. Carelli's campaign put out a poll that has 344 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: Cinerelli only down three points forty five forty two. It's 345 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: about where I expect this race. I think this is 346 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: going to be a very close race. I think the 347 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: atmospherics favor the Democrats generally. We know that without Trump 348 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: on the ballot, Democratic turnout and non Trump non MAGA 349 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: turnout seems to outperform MAGA on that front. But if 350 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: the Republicans do have success this cycle, it will be 351 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 1: in New Jersey. This is a state that Trump continues 352 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 1: to improve his standing in every election he's done a 353 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: little bit better. He did very well in this previous 354 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: presidential I'm convinced, for instance, Joe Biden been the nominee 355 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: on the ballot, Trump might have carried New Jersey. So 356 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: it's it's I do think if Trump does campaign, and 357 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 1: I don't know if he will be on the stump 358 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: very often, but if he does campaign this calendar here, 359 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: my guess is it will. 360 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:44,479 Speaker 2: Be in New Jersey. 361 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: We'll see if he can get if CIDERELLI can get 362 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: Trump to do an event somewhere that isn't in Bedminster. 363 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 2: Which is of course his New Jersey golf club. But 364 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 2: we shall see. 365 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: There One other New York twenty twenty five race that 366 00:22:58,400 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 1: I'm keeping an eye on is what's happening in New 367 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: York City. We're a week away from that primary. A 368 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: few little nuggets I want to update you on. One 369 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: is there's a fun I say, this is an interesting ad. 370 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: You know, the ranked choice voting, and as the concept 371 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: of ranked choice voting in theory is great, I think 372 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: in practice it's very difficult, but I it does create 373 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: some unique, unique coalitions. And there's a new TV ad 374 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: that two of the challengers to Andrew Cuomo who are 375 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: trailing him, but they kind of need each other because Zoran, 376 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: Mom Donnie and Brad Lander. They have essentially started to 377 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: run jointly. Now they have a cute little ad where 378 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: they're getting ready to go get a cup of coffee, 379 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: and it's like you go second, you go second, because 380 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: the idea is one would rank. You know, what they're 381 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 1: doing is saying, hey, we want my supporters. You rank 382 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: me one, you rank the other guy too, and then 383 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: vice versa. Because they're trying to create that whichever one, 384 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: it's traction that they're able to stop Cuomo. I do 385 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: think that that both of them are probably too progressive, 386 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: particularly on the on the issue of Israel, that is 387 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: that is probably going to uh make it hard for 388 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: them to topple Cuomo. And you know, I don't I'd 389 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: be surprised if Mom Donnie was able to pull this off. 390 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: In many ways, the ranked choice voting method has been 391 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: you know, the more conservative or the more progressive you are, 392 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: the less successful they seem to be in elections that 393 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: feature ranked choice voting. So I'm skeptical that Mom Donnie 394 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: or Lander's going to get there. But it's a fascinating, 395 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:45,439 Speaker 1: you know end cape Lander getting arrested. Perhaps that was 396 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: something he hoped for a confrontation, certainly getting him plenty 397 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:54,159 Speaker 1: of plenty of press right before the primary election. So 398 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 1: I'm not as convinced going you know, when you're trying 399 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: to win an election and you're not talking about the issue. 400 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not saying these ice rates aren't issues 401 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: for some New York City voters, but it's an indirect right. 402 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: It's more of a federal issue. It's more of a 403 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: national issue. Is that going to be a driver of 404 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: turnout for voters in New York City? I don't know, 405 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,719 Speaker 1: but I'm a had skeptical whenever you're not sort of 406 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: focused on bread and butter, focused on what you know, 407 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: focused on housing, focused on the subway, things like that. 408 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: One other notable New York update for what it's worth. 409 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 1: Richie Torres, who of course I've had as a guest 410 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: here who's planning a run for governor, says he's not 411 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: going to run for governor if Zoran mom Donnie is 412 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,439 Speaker 1: elected mayor. Now you know, Richie Torres very pro Israel 413 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: he is. I can't tell if I would call him 414 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: a reluctant Cuomo supporter when he was on the podcast, 415 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: but he said he's a Cuomo supporter, and it's primarily, 416 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: I think because everybody else is just too progressive for him. 417 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,360 Speaker 1: But here's what Torres said. He is look, he goes, 418 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: I'm out of the twenty twenty six race for governor 419 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 1: if he had to deal with a socialist mayor of 420 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 1: the nation's largest city, referring to Mam Donnie. So in 421 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: some ways you do sort of as and this is 422 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: what I was wondering about. As Mom Donnie has gotten 423 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: more traction, right, Bertie Sanders is endorsed to me, he 424 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 1: has endorsed him, that you might see some of the 425 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: sort of moderate Democrats or centrist Democrats of New York 426 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 1: City start to push back and push back hard. 427 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 2: And I think that that is the fact that Mom Donnie. 428 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: Is is the candidate that's being talked about more than 429 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: Cuomo himself. And you know, I've written and said extensively 430 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: I can't believe New York City is facing the choice 431 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: that they're facing here. But I do think I'll understand 432 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: if Cuomo ends up winning. I think I'll be able 433 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: to explain why he won. But we shall see a 434 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 1: few other every Wednesday. I kind of want to do 435 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 1: as best I can a little campaign update things that 436 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: have caught my eye. As you know, I've singled out 437 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: Michael Bennett, the Colorado Senator, Democratic Senator for some time. 438 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: In fact, I talked to a recent Democratic Senator, a 439 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 1: current Democratic Senator who's bummed that Michael Bennett is not 440 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: going to stay in the Senate and is instead going 441 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 1: to run for governor because this person had hoped Michael 442 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: Bennett would be a Schumer replacement. And in fact, if 443 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 1: Michael Bennett had ever expressed any interest in being Senate 444 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,679 Speaker 1: Democratic leader, I think that he would have the votes 445 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: to do it. And the fact that he's walking away 446 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: right now, I think just tells you how much many 447 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 1: Senators can't stand being in the Senate these days. The 448 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: Senate isn't a fun place, and arguably the worst job 449 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: in the Senate is being a Senate leader, either the 450 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: set of Republican leader or the setate Democratic leader. It's 451 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,320 Speaker 1: not a fun place to be. You're a walking and 452 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: sometimes talking punching bag, and it's not a lot of fun. 453 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 1: But Bennett looks like he could be on a glide 454 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 1: path to the governor's mansion. In twenty twenty six. He's 455 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: in a poll that was released by his campaign matched 456 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,239 Speaker 1: up against the sitting Attorney general, who was seen as 457 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: somebody that was going to run had Bennett decided not 458 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: to feel wiser. There, Bennett leads by over thirty points, 459 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: already pulling over fifty percent in the primaries, pretty high 460 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 1: favorable ratings in the Democratic side seventy four percent. So look, 461 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: I imagine that this is going to be more of 462 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:26,439 Speaker 1: a cake walk. In fact, both there's three senators seeking 463 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,120 Speaker 1: the governorship. You have Michael Bennett and Colorado, Marshall Blackburn 464 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: and Tennessee, and Tommy Tupperville in Alabama. I'm going to 465 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: make a bold prediction here that Tommy Tupperville has the 466 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: closest race of the three. Not Michael Bennett and Colorado, 467 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 1: not marxsh Blackburn in Tennessee, but Tommy Tupperville. 468 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 2: Just something to keep on eyes, especially if Doug Jones 469 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 2: ends up running. 470 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: And I've said to you in the past, governor's races 471 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: are more likely to defy the red blue tradition of 472 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 1: a state than a center races, So just keep that 473 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: in mind. A few other GUBERNATORI notes that I think 474 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: folks ought to keep an eye on Byron Donalds, right, 475 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: who's the congressman Donald Trump's already endorsed, He's running for 476 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 1: governor in Florida, already up with an attack ad on 477 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: the pot on a former Republican Member of Congress, David Jolly, 478 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: who switch parties to run as a Democrat. David Jolly 479 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: might not even be the Democratic nominee. Donalds might not 480 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: be the Republican nominee. And Donalds is already up with 481 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: an attack ad that's on digital on Jolly, using try 482 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: and using a lot of issues to hit him for 483 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: being supportive of the Democratic Party. But I'd noticed the 484 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: transgender issue was as prominent as any in this ad. 485 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: Not Donalds isn't the first. Quite a few Republicans are 486 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: looking at that transgender ad that Trump used against Kamala 487 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: Harris in the presidential and are looking for ways to 488 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: bring that back as a way to try to define 489 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 1: their opponent. In the case of Jolly, Jolly is trying 490 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 1: to define himself as a reluctant Democrat who's just running 491 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: there because as the Republican Party left him and there's 492 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: no viable way to go. Fascinating to watch Donald's wanting 493 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 1: to brand Jolly as a as a Democrat, believing just 494 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: simply that party label will be unpopular enough in the 495 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: state of Florida. Be curious to see if Jolly has 496 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: the money to push back and fight back and also 497 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: worth your watch time. Ohio governor is also another governor's 498 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: race that I think is going to be sneaky close. 499 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: And I think it doesn't matter whether Tim Ryan runs 500 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 1: or not. In fact, I actually think Tim Ryan wouldn't 501 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: be the best candidate there. There is a candidate already 502 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 1: running named Amy Acton. Now, Amy Acton was the lead, 503 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: was the doctor that Mike DeWine leaned on during COVID 504 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: and proved to be one of the most one of 505 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: the most effective state public health leaders there was. Now 506 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: like anybody in the public health space, she became polarizing 507 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: plea for articulating the best practices in the public health space. Well, 508 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: she got very frustrated by the political scene. She's running 509 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: for governor as a Democrat. She's got a new ad 510 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: going after Vivick Ramaswami, comparing you know and going all 511 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: in on Elon Musk and Vivick. And what's interesting about 512 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: the ad is it closes with Mike DeWine. The term 513 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 1: limited Republican governor not running, one would assume he will 514 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: probably reluctantly endorse Vivick Ramaswami, though we know he's not 515 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: a huge fan. In fact, he's been trying to recruit 516 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: his new lieutenant governor, Jim Trussel, the former coach of 517 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: Ohio State, to run because I know he's no fan 518 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 1: of Ramaswami. Actin uses Diwine at a press conference praising 519 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: Actin and said, you know, some superheroes wear capes. Here 520 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: in Ohio, they wear a white coat, referring to Amy 521 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: Actin there. 522 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 2: So I just it's a. 523 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: I'm not convinced Ramaswami is a shoe in there. I 524 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: think it's a I think governor. I think voter take 525 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 1: their gubernatory elections more seriously than they take Senate elections, 526 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: and I think he is going to be he is 527 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: going to have to be honest toes to win this. Yes, 528 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: it's easier to win a race as a Republican than 529 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 1: as a Democrat in Ohio these days. But Acton is 530 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: sort of a non traditional politician. She's it's hard to 531 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: call her some sort of longtime democrat. She's been a 532 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: public health official and then she just sort of decided 533 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: to jump into politics. I know COVID's not exactly something 534 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: anybody wants to talk about again, and maybe that alone 535 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 1: will make it difficult for her to win, But. 536 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 2: Keep an eye on it. 537 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 1: And finally, before we get to the interview with Pat McCrory, 538 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: I want to give a shout out to my friends 539 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: at National Journal. They have an incredible new product that 540 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: they call the Listening Let me get this right. 541 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 2: I want to get it right here. 542 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: The Listening Station, which is this They basically do a 543 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: roundup of what the top podcasters are saying on the 544 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 1: right and what the top top podcasters on any given 545 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: week are saying on the left, noting the various what 546 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 1: are the big topics? So, for instance, in their newsletter 547 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 1: this week, you can go sign up for it to 548 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: a free newsletter. It's called the Listening Station. They have 549 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: a newsletter that they put out Listening Station at National 550 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: Journal dot com. Obviously I used to work there. This 551 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 1: is the type of thing I would have wanted the 552 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 1: Hotline to be doing, and I'm ecstatic that they're doing 553 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: something like this. They quote from Charlie Kirk from John 554 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: Solomon Reports Human Events that's on the right hand side 555 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: of things. They talk about the fight for on the left, 556 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: where they're looking for their new Joe Rogan, I have 557 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:42,960 Speaker 1: some quotes from the Bulwark podcast. But anyway, take a look. 558 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,280 Speaker 1: If you're trying, if you feel overwhelmed by not being 559 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 1: able to keep track of this new independent podcast space, 560 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: and you're wondering what topics are being discussed in the 561 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: maga podcasting world, in the progressive podcasting world, and everybody 562 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 1: in the middle between those two extremes, I think this 563 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 1: newsletter is going to be something you find quite informative 564 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:08,080 Speaker 1: and quite helpful. They've had two editions of it so far. 565 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: I think it's a home run. Kudos to my friends 566 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:13,359 Speaker 1: there at National Journal. All right, let's do a little 567 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 1: last chuck as Chuck all right. Question comes from Mario 568 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: from Mexico City. In fact, he writes, greetings from Mexico City. 569 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: I followed you since your days to Meet the Press. 570 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,319 Speaker 1: I've listened to the vast majority of your episodes since 571 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: you started podcasting. Appreciate your thoughtfulness and analysis. My question is, 572 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:31,840 Speaker 1: as follows. You have mentioned, we might not know the 573 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: leader of a renewed Democratic party because he or she 574 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 1: has yet to emerge. You've sided Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, 575 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: and Barack Obama as examples. My question and challenge to 576 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 1: that is that in this media environment, can you really 577 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: emerge and compete with people who already have a brand 578 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:46,799 Speaker 1: and a following and perhaps hold prominent office. That is, 579 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,279 Speaker 1: don't you think the visible potential leaders would hold an 580 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 1: insturmountable advantage over someone new Given media today, I have 581 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,839 Speaker 1: trouble seeing anyone other than AOC Gavin Newsom, maybe Wes Moore, 582 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:59,399 Speaker 1: maybe Andy Basheer emerging. For that reason, of course, I'm 583 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 1: thinking about to eight, but more so as a proxy 584 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:03,759 Speaker 1: for what the new Democratic Party would be about. In 585 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: other words, I'm not sure. I'm not sure we should 586 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:08,120 Speaker 1: hold our breasts for a US version of New Labor. 587 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 1: By the way, I think the same is true of 588 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: the Republicans, where Trump and Trump related people take up 589 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 1: all the oxygen, thus thwarting any other leaders or political 590 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 1: currents inside the party. Thanks for the great work. It's 591 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 1: an interesting observation, Mario. I sort of look at it 592 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:27,560 Speaker 1: almost though that. Let me let me put it this way. 593 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: Look at how quickly people become famous now in America, 594 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:38,759 Speaker 1: in that they can go from zero to famous almost immediately. 595 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: Maybe it's a viral moment, right, I think the Hoktua 596 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 1: girl is. You know, I know that that's one weird example, 597 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:47,360 Speaker 1: But the point is. 598 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:47,680 Speaker 2: Is that. 599 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: I think that the ability to go from unknown to 600 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:59,319 Speaker 1: known in this sort of flattened media environment, Yes, you 601 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: can have this brand, which you're also then well defined. 602 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 1: Uh if you have a well defined brand and you're 603 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: looking for something new, well you've been around a while, right, 604 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 1: So you know I could take the exact same points 605 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 1: you make and say, hey, all of these brands are 606 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:16,399 Speaker 1: going to feel stale by twenty eight. Look when we're 607 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:19,360 Speaker 1: talking about these folks twenty twenty five, can Newsom and 608 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 1: AOC feel fresh three years from now in maybe the 609 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: way they seem somewhat fresh today. So that's why I 610 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:31,480 Speaker 1: think it's possible. Look, Pete Bootajide, you could have made 611 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 1: this same point in twenty sixteen, and yet Pete Bootajidge 612 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: went from people but Dba bud Dabah Bibah right couldn't 613 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: even pronounce his name to now everybody can figure out 614 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 1: how to pronounce his name. In some ways, it was 615 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: it actually helped him go viral. There was this whole 616 00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:50,400 Speaker 1: it's Buddha Judge or Buddha jidg. However you wanted to 617 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 1: look at it right. He had these little phonetic ways 618 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: that he would tell you how to say his name. 619 00:36:56,200 --> 00:37:00,320 Speaker 1: So I understand the point you're making. But I actually 620 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:05,760 Speaker 1: think in this day and age that when a unknown 621 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,880 Speaker 1: mayor of South Bend can become a front runner for 622 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 1: the Democratic nomination within sort of two and a half 623 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:13,680 Speaker 1: three years of becoming relevant, I think that tells you 624 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,879 Speaker 1: we live in a media ecosystem that can quickly give 625 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:22,840 Speaker 1: you brand ID give you name recognition. So yes, I 626 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 1: take your point, but I don't think it's harder. I 627 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 1: don't think it's hard to become a name brand in 628 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,720 Speaker 1: this current ecosystem. I actually think it's faster and easier. 629 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,320 Speaker 1: I mean, look at how quickly you can launch a 630 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:40,920 Speaker 1: brand and it's suddenly. I look at some retail brands 631 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,359 Speaker 1: hook this. I don't feel like I ever really saw 632 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:47,840 Speaker 1: it in a store or a TV commercials. It was 633 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:50,360 Speaker 1: just sort of went viral and all of a sudden, 634 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:56,480 Speaker 1: it's a mainstream brand. So yeah, I wouldn't underestimate the 635 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:03,120 Speaker 1: ease with which one can break into the media ecosystem. 636 00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:06,080 Speaker 2: And become a big time brand as shock. 637 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 1: All right, next question comes from James Wired Senators or 638 00:38:10,239 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 1: House members impeached by their constituents or state legislators. Is 639 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:15,719 Speaker 1: that possible Michael's messaging about the shooting should be worthy 640 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,359 Speaker 1: of such actions. Politicians should be better than this. Thanks, well, Look, 641 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:24,840 Speaker 1: recalls are state level issues. You cannot both federally elected 642 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: senators and federal elected House members. Their constitution does not 643 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:31,920 Speaker 1: provide a recall initiative. Now the chambers themselves, right, the 644 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:35,360 Speaker 1: House can kick somebody out of the House. The Senate 645 00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:39,040 Speaker 1: can kick somebody out of the Senate. We've had it sometimes. 646 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,120 Speaker 1: You know, Bob Menendez was going to get expelled if 647 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:44,200 Speaker 1: he didn't resign. Bob Packwood was going to get expelled 648 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 1: if he didn't resign. So we've instances of that. But 649 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:53,719 Speaker 1: I doubt look as polarized as we are, and I 650 00:38:53,840 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 1: think that US senators would be loath to have someone 651 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:02,479 Speaker 1: ousted for rhetoric because that's a slippery slope. Whatever people 652 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:05,760 Speaker 1: think of the of remember, he's got a First Amendment 653 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:08,080 Speaker 1: right to say it. So whatever you think of the rhetoric, 654 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:12,399 Speaker 1: he does have it. But look, recalls on a state level, 655 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: they can happen, and issues like this can trigger it. 656 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:19,680 Speaker 1: You know, Mike Lee is a head scratcher to me 657 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:24,279 Speaker 1: in general, the bullwork in an analysis that's been floating around. 658 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:26,960 Speaker 1: The guy seems to be way too online. You know, 659 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 1: he needs to detox from online. Look, we know social 660 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,279 Speaker 1: media can be addictive. I think there's quite a few 661 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:36,960 Speaker 1: people on the left side and the right side of 662 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,280 Speaker 1: the spectrum that will spend way too much online time online. 663 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:43,839 Speaker 1: It's always weird to me when elected officials, particularly Ted 664 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 1: Cruise and Mike Lee, who seem to be more worried 665 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:50,160 Speaker 1: about social media communications or podcasting than they are doing 666 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 1: the job of US senator. That's always been odd to 667 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 1: me how much time, particularly the two of them, spend 668 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:02,960 Speaker 1: on They're they're sort of public comments. But you know, 669 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:06,719 Speaker 1: part of politics these days is communicating like this. So 670 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna sit here and say I don't think 671 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:11,320 Speaker 1: it's the best use of their time. But they have 672 00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:15,120 Speaker 1: decided it's the best use of their time. But Mike 673 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:18,560 Speaker 1: Lee's reputation, you know is really maybe he doesn't care, 674 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:21,560 Speaker 1: and I'm sure he doesn't. Right, he's got these two 675 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:25,400 Speaker 1: you know, he literally has a jeckyal and hide Twitter feed. Right, 676 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:30,279 Speaker 1: doctor Jekyl is the official office feed, right, and mister 677 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:32,320 Speaker 1: Hyde That's what it was, right, Mister Hyde was the 678 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 1: crazy one, Doctor Jekyl was the was the doctor. I 679 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,000 Speaker 1: can't remember which who we decided was the crazy one 680 00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:38,719 Speaker 1: and which one was the was the normal one? 681 00:40:39,239 --> 00:40:40,920 Speaker 2: But based Mike Lee is. 682 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 1: Essentially unscripted Mike Lee and the other site is his 683 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:51,720 Speaker 1: official Senate site. But ever since, you know, it's funny 684 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:55,520 Speaker 1: Mike Lee was an early never Trumper and then like 685 00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 1: you know, it's he's almost like a reform smoker. Once 686 00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: he flipped back to being pro Trumper. He was, you know, 687 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:07,120 Speaker 1: sitting there lecturing anybody that didn't didn't flip to his 688 00:41:07,239 --> 00:41:13,320 Speaker 1: side of the aisle as well. There's look, I you know, 689 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:17,239 Speaker 1: I I'm hesitant. It's weird, you know that that people 690 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:19,120 Speaker 1: on the left, if they disagree with Fetterman, they want 691 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:21,239 Speaker 1: to say, oh, there must be something wrong with them. 692 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:23,880 Speaker 1: And I'm loath to say the same thing of the 693 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:26,800 Speaker 1: you know, is there something wrong with Mike Lee? But 694 00:41:26,920 --> 00:41:28,719 Speaker 1: you do got to ask yourself if he spends way 695 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:32,040 Speaker 1: too much time online? It was something an inordinate amount 696 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:34,640 Speaker 1: of tweets on a daily basis, and you're sitting there 697 00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:38,479 Speaker 1: going don't you have better things to do and better 698 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:45,200 Speaker 1: things to focus on? A shot? Finally, last one is 699 00:41:45,239 --> 00:41:46,880 Speaker 1: a bit of a comment, but I thought it was. 700 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:49,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to share it because I want to give 701 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 1: a shout out to my one of my producers, Nasa Davis, 702 00:41:52,239 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: because she did she helped me with what's about to 703 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:57,480 Speaker 1: be a great compliment from one of our listeners. Not 704 00:41:57,560 --> 00:41:59,040 Speaker 1: a question, but a note. I just want to share 705 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:01,520 Speaker 1: my sincere thanks for the details you provided in the 706 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:05,000 Speaker 1: June twelfth podcast, how does GOP reclaim Republican Party from Trump? 707 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:08,880 Speaker 1: Regarding how forty five million dollars could be spent instead 708 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:11,759 Speaker 1: of the boondogle military parade on June fourteenth, I just 709 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 1: send emails to my North Carolina US representative and North 710 00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:17,120 Speaker 1: Carolina senators with those examples, expressing my outrage with the 711 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:19,720 Speaker 1: waste of money. Each time I read the examples to myself, 712 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:22,200 Speaker 1: particularly the fourteen million school lunches, I got choked up. 713 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:25,719 Speaker 1: What a tragedy, heartbreaking and enraging at the same time. 714 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:28,879 Speaker 1: If more people, politicians, journalists, etc. Would provide this type 715 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:30,359 Speaker 1: of information, it would go a long way to help 716 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:33,319 Speaker 1: Americans see how their taxpayer money is not being used 717 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:36,080 Speaker 1: to help improve their lives. Thank you for continuing to 718 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:39,279 Speaker 1: keep us informed while making it interesting as well. I've 719 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:41,040 Speaker 1: been listening to you for ten years now. Thank you 720 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:43,520 Speaker 1: appreciate it. While sometimes the truth is harder to hear, 721 00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:46,919 Speaker 1: I feel more prepared to handle what's going on. Warm 722 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:51,520 Speaker 1: regards and Marie l Anne, Marie, thank you for those 723 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:55,680 Speaker 1: kind words. I especially like the fact is, while sometimes 724 00:42:55,760 --> 00:42:57,760 Speaker 1: the truth is hard to hear, I feel more prepared 725 00:42:57,800 --> 00:42:58,360 Speaker 1: to handle. 726 00:42:58,200 --> 00:42:58,680 Speaker 2: What's going on. 727 00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,200 Speaker 1: Say I cover politics as it is, not as I 728 00:43:03,280 --> 00:43:05,320 Speaker 1: wish it were. That doesn't mean I'm not going to 729 00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:09,319 Speaker 1: express how I think it should be. But I also 730 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:10,840 Speaker 1: need to live in the world that we live in 731 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:16,719 Speaker 1: and respect the fact that, Hey, democracies are about compromising. 732 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:20,080 Speaker 1: We make a compromise choice. We never make the choice 733 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:22,920 Speaker 1: we all want. We make the best possible choice that 734 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 1: three hundred and thirty million of us can come together 735 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:29,719 Speaker 1: and not overly disagree about. So it's a messy, messy process. 736 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:32,719 Speaker 1: So you have to be able to cover politics as 737 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:35,200 Speaker 1: it is. But at the same time, that doesn't mean 738 00:43:35,239 --> 00:43:39,479 Speaker 1: you shouldn't lay out and aspire to how politics could 739 00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:43,520 Speaker 1: be or should be done. With that, I will take 740 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:46,600 Speaker 1: a twenty at least a twenty four hour break. And 741 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:49,480 Speaker 1: with that, by the way, check out my latest sub stack. 742 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:52,960 Speaker 1: We do a decade of Trump, what we've learned and 743 00:43:53,080 --> 00:43:55,400 Speaker 1: what we still have to learn. When it comes to 744 00:43:55,880 --> 00:44:00,239 Speaker 1: all things Donald Trump, it is whatever you think of them. 745 00:44:00,840 --> 00:44:04,000 Speaker 1: We haven't had a He's probably the most consequential president 746 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:06,520 Speaker 1: we've had, at least on our culture and on the 747 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:08,560 Speaker 1: on the presidency since FDR. 748 00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:12,480 Speaker 2: Take a look at my post. If you don't like 749 00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:14,360 Speaker 2: what I just said, take a look at my post that. 750 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:17,080 Speaker 1: Explained to me why you why you might disagree. Happy 751 00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:20,640 Speaker 1: to take on those questions as well, so please don't forget. 752 00:44:20,680 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 2: If you want to shoot me a. 753 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:25,120 Speaker 1: Question, ask Chuck at the chucktodcast dot com, or drop 754 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:31,760 Speaker 1: a comment on our YouTube page, UH, Instagram, Twitter, wherever, LinkedIn, 755 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:34,520 Speaker 1: wherever you want UH to have a comment. 756 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:36,680 Speaker 2: And with that, until we upload it, that