WEBVTT - Instant Reaction: Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot 

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News.

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<v Speaker 2>This is a breaking news update from Bloomberg instant reaction

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<v Speaker 2>and analysis from our three thousand journalists and analysts around

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<v Speaker 2>the world. I'm Joe Matthew alongside Credie Gupta in Washington,

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<v Speaker 2>where we come to you with breaking news.

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<v Speaker 3>This evening.

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<v Speaker 2>Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been confirmed dead by the

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<v Speaker 2>President of the United States. President Trump's posting quote, the

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<v Speaker 2>great and even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead unquote.

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<v Speaker 4>Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University when he was

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<v Speaker 4>shot on stage, prominent Republican Jason Chaffitt saying he only

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<v Speaker 4>heard a single shot ring out. The shot that presumably

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<v Speaker 4>struck and according to the President.

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<v Speaker 3>Killed Kirk.

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<v Speaker 4>Moments before the President confirmed his death, House Speaker Mike

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<v Speaker 4>Johnson said this from Capitol Hill.

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<v Speaker 5>This is the testable what's happened. Political violence has become

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<v Speaker 5>all too common in American society, and this is not

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<v Speaker 5>who we are. It violates the core principles of our country.

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<v Speaker 5>Are Dude Juday of Christian heritage, our civil society, our

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<v Speaker 5>American way of life, and it must stop. We need

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<v Speaker 5>every political figure, we need everyone who has a platform

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<v Speaker 5>to say this loudly and clearly. We can settle disagreements

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<v Speaker 5>and disputes in a civil manner, and political violence must

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<v Speaker 5>be called out and it has to stop.

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<v Speaker 2>This is a fast moving story, and we have our

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<v Speaker 2>reporters covering it with much more. Tonight, Bloomberg's Kate Sullivan

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<v Speaker 2>joins us from the White House, and Bloomberg's Mike Shepherd

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<v Speaker 2>is with us here in our Washington bureau. Sheppe, let's

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<v Speaker 2>start with you right now, as someone who's covered politics

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<v Speaker 2>for a long time around here in the element of

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<v Speaker 2>political violence that has crept back into our culture over

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<v Speaker 2>the past couple of years, something hard to ignore with

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<v Speaker 2>regard to this young man, someone who started a movement

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<v Speaker 2>as a teenager and helped to lift Donald Trump into

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<v Speaker 2>the White House.

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<v Speaker 3>What do we make of this latest turn.

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<v Speaker 6>Well, this is Joe As who pointed it really does

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<v Speaker 6>point to this fear many have had about an increase

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<v Speaker 6>in political violence. We've seen the rhetoric over the past

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<v Speaker 6>decade or so really intensify and an edge creep into

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<v Speaker 6>the conversation comes to the core cultural and political and

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<v Speaker 6>social and policy issues that surround daily life in the

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<v Speaker 6>US and we've seen flashes of this violence actually manifest itself.

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<v Speaker 6>Of course, more than a year ago then candidate Donald

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<v Speaker 6>Trump himself was the target of two assassination attempts, the one,

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<v Speaker 6>of course in Butler, Pennsylvania, that was so high profile

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<v Speaker 6>when he emerged to say fight, fight, Fight. But then

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<v Speaker 6>more recently in June of this year, we saw two

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<v Speaker 6>Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota who were targeted in their homes

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<v Speaker 6>at night by a gumman who was politically motivated, according

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<v Speaker 6>to authorities there. So this is the kind of incident

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<v Speaker 6>that stokes the concern that the rhetoric and the intensified

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<v Speaker 6>back and forth between the various and quite divided sides

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<v Speaker 6>here in this country can spill over into violence. And

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<v Speaker 6>that's something that we just heard the House Speaker address

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<v Speaker 6>moments ago.

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<v Speaker 7>Mike, I think I'm.

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<v Speaker 4>Asking you the question that a lot of people around

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<v Speaker 4>the country are asking, which is is there a policy

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<v Speaker 4>response and policy fallout that we can expect off the

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<v Speaker 4>back of this.

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<v Speaker 6>Well, for the immediate moment, there will be calls for

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<v Speaker 6>prayer for Charlie Kirk and for his family in the

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<v Speaker 6>wake of this terrible incident, and the calls from both

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<v Speaker 6>sides really to step back from the brink of violence.

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<v Speaker 6>But then the actual policy steps that always gets more

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<v Speaker 6>tricky and sad to say, in many respects, it is

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<v Speaker 6>to be expected that each side will fall back on

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<v Speaker 6>the norm, with Democrats perhaps urging more control of firearms

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<v Speaker 6>and access to firearms, and Republicans pointing to questions about

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<v Speaker 6>extremism on the left left. And so when it comes

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<v Speaker 6>to a policy prescription emerging from this or for example,

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<v Speaker 6>the incident in Minnesota just weeks ago, the school shooting

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<v Speaker 6>at a Catholic school in Minnesota, it is more of

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<v Speaker 6>the same that we're likely to hear on this. And

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<v Speaker 6>really the whole issue, Quitty is the question of political

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<v Speaker 6>rhetoric and people now willing to take that next step

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<v Speaker 6>and follow on their worst instincts and urges as we

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<v Speaker 6>have seen fomented and promoted on social media for several

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<v Speaker 6>years now.

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<v Speaker 4>Blomerus, Mike Shephard, we thank you so much for bringing

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<v Speaker 4>us up to speed. I want to go to Kate Sullivan, who's.

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<v Speaker 3>At the White House for us.

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<v Speaker 4>Kate, just bring us up to speed on the reaction

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<v Speaker 4>where you are.

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<v Speaker 8>So we're seeing an outpouring of messages of prayer and

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<v Speaker 8>condolences from across the White House and the broader Trump administration.

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<v Speaker 8>If a president called Charlie Kirk legendary, he said, nobody

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<v Speaker 8>understood or have the heart of the youth in the

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<v Speaker 8>United States of America better than Charlie. You know, Charlie

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<v Speaker 8>Kirk was a fixture on the campaign trail. I saw

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<v Speaker 8>him at countless events across many different battleground states when

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<v Speaker 8>I was covering the Trump campaign last year. The President

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<v Speaker 8>has credited him with really boosting his voter his turnout

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<v Speaker 8>among young people, and getting young people excited about his campaign.

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<v Speaker 8>You know, he founded Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA,

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<v Speaker 8>which specifically advocates for conservative politics on high school and

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<v Speaker 8>college campuses. So we saw Charlie Kirk post many, many

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<v Speaker 8>events across college campuses, particularly during the campaign season. You know,

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<v Speaker 8>before news came out that he had actually died. Jd

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<v Speaker 8>Vance posted three different times on social media, you know,

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<v Speaker 8>posting a photo of himself and Kirk, saying Kirk would

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<v Speaker 8>answer any question and talk to everyone. So you're seeing,

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<v Speaker 8>you know, the close ties that Kirk has with many

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<v Speaker 8>people in the White House, many different Republican officials. We're

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<v Speaker 8>all just reacting to this horrific news right now.

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<v Speaker 2>Somewhat unusual to have this announcement come from the President

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<v Speaker 2>of the United States himself. Kate, is the Press Office

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<v Speaker 2>or Communications office saying anything about the fact that the

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<v Speaker 2>commander in chief told us this as opposed to Kirk's family.

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<v Speaker 8>No, and that's a that's a great point in question.

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<v Speaker 8>All we know is what Trump has posted, and we're seeing,

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<v Speaker 8>you know, after he posted, then Jdvan's posted, and so

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<v Speaker 8>a lot of people are of course taking cues from

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<v Speaker 8>the President and reacting to this news that as you're

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<v Speaker 8>completely correct that Trump broke.

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<v Speaker 3>On true social himself.

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<v Speaker 2>Bloomberg's Kate Sullivan at the White House, Kate, thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>As always, we just heard from the President again on

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<v Speaker 2>social media. He was typing while we were talking. In

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<v Speaker 2>honor of Charlie Kirk. He writes, a truly great American patriot.

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<v Speaker 2>I am ordering all American flags throughout the United States

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<v Speaker 2>lowered to half mast until Sunday evening at six pm.

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<v Speaker 3>Our political panel is with us here in studio.

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<v Speaker 2>Christin Hahn, our democratic strategist partner at Rock Solutions, joins

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<v Speaker 2>us alongside Marigi Lespie, Blue Stack strategies.

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<v Speaker 3>It's great to see both of you.

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<v Speaker 2>A Republican strategist, I'll start with you in this case, Moura,

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<v Speaker 2>talk to about the significance of what this means for

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<v Speaker 2>the Republican movement, if not the MAGA movement, and why

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<v Speaker 2>the White House is so deeply involved. Wy did we

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<v Speaker 2>learn this from the President?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I think that's no surprise.

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<v Speaker 9>The President feels pretty strongly about his loyalists, those who

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<v Speaker 9>have been his champions. And I think that the biggest

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<v Speaker 9>takeaway for me is to say that this isn't about

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<v Speaker 9>being Republican, this isn't about being democrat. This is about

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<v Speaker 9>political violence in this country and why it's so prevalent here.

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<v Speaker 3>That's a problem, and.

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<v Speaker 9>I don't know how we screen for it. I don't

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<v Speaker 9>know how you can't really necessarily see hate in someone's heart.

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<v Speaker 9>And so we have a bigger conversation to have here

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<v Speaker 9>because this is a man, whether you agreed with him

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<v Speaker 9>or not, or viet really.

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<v Speaker 7>Disagree with him.

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<v Speaker 9>This is a husband, a father, someone's son. And I

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<v Speaker 9>just think that we have lost sight of really our

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<v Speaker 9>humanity when it comes to our political discourse in this country.

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<v Speaker 9>Whether it was from Gabby Giffords, to steve'scalise to happen

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<v Speaker 9>in Minnesota, to the President himself, and to watch this now,

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<v Speaker 9>and for anyone who has been on social media and

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<v Speaker 9>those videos are playing, whether you wanted to see it

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<v Speaker 9>or not, it is truly. I mean, I was sitting here.

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<v Speaker 9>I'm sure you're all feeling the same, but stick to

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<v Speaker 9>my stomach about what this means, but also just seeing it.

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<v Speaker 9>But we have to get a handle on it. And

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<v Speaker 9>I don't know what that answer is, but it's not

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<v Speaker 9>Republican or Democrat. It is us as Americans, and we

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<v Speaker 9>have a problem here.

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<v Speaker 4>Kristen, just way in your immediate reaction, I.

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<v Speaker 10>Mean this obviously, I totally agree. This is not a

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<v Speaker 10>one party problem or the other, as we've clearly seen

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<v Speaker 10>throughout the years. And you know, I was on Capitol

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<v Speaker 10>Hill working for the Bluetdog Coalition, of which congress Woman

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<v Speaker 10>Gifford's was a member, and you know you're a communications

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<v Speaker 10>person trying to write statements. I remember just breaking down,

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<v Speaker 10>crying and them trying to gather myself and pull myself together.

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<v Speaker 10>I think an element, you know, it's hard to figure

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<v Speaker 10>out exactly how to get at this, but an element

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<v Speaker 10>is the rhetoric that's coming out of you know, besides

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<v Speaker 10>the isisle sometimes and toning that down, treating people like

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<v Speaker 10>humans and your leaders and the present starts with the

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<v Speaker 10>President of the United States. People listen to what he's saying,

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<v Speaker 10>and you know, I mean, and members of Congress and

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<v Speaker 10>members of the Senate and having an honest dialogue that's

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<v Speaker 10>civil with you know, your next door neighbor.

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<v Speaker 3>I think, you know, is really important.

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<v Speaker 10>I don't think that maybe fixes everything, because like you said,

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<v Speaker 10>you can't see hate in somebody's heart. You can't necessarily

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<v Speaker 10>tell what they're going to do, but you know, it

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<v Speaker 10>can definitely start there.

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<v Speaker 2>More reminds us of the Steves police shooting that was

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<v Speaker 2>years ago. The Capitol police shooting was what nineteen ninety nine.

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<v Speaker 2>This has been a conversation in Washington three years and

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<v Speaker 2>whether we should provide more security for lawmakers who in

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<v Speaker 2>many cases are dipping into allowances to find private security

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<v Speaker 2>and protection for themselves. You worked for a former speaker

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<v Speaker 2>in John Bayner Mara.

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<v Speaker 3>Does that need to happen?

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<v Speaker 9>You know, I think it's a conversation to be had

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<v Speaker 9>about how much members make currently. You know, I know

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<v Speaker 9>that that's not necessarily a popular conversation, but when you

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<v Speaker 9>look at their salary, if they are, you know, in

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<v Speaker 9>a situation where they need to get security, their salary

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<v Speaker 9>is not really going to cover that plus their housing

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<v Speaker 9>here in DC. So you think about that, that may

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<v Speaker 9>be a conversation to have some built in funding for

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<v Speaker 9>security needs. But I think it's Christian's point there about

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<v Speaker 9>talking and how we use our words referring to our

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<v Speaker 9>political opponents as enemies. That's a problem, right, We can

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<v Speaker 9>do better, and I think that for every member of Congress,

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<v Speaker 9>anyone who's running for office, and anyone who sits, you know,

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<v Speaker 9>talking on politics on TV, should should try and do

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<v Speaker 9>better and make a promise to try and do that,

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<v Speaker 9>because I think that our words have impact, and how

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<v Speaker 9>we talk to one another as a Republican talking to

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<v Speaker 9>a Democrat and be on a panel together, that makes

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<v Speaker 9>I do think that people at home watch that, and

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<v Speaker 9>how we handle our discourse here really could make an

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<v Speaker 9>impact at home well.

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<v Speaker 10>And as far as the security needs go, just look

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<v Speaker 10>at the members of the January sixth committee. Right they

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<v Speaker 10>started getting they didn't have a secret service or Capitol

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<v Speaker 10>Police security twenty four to seven until they all started

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<v Speaker 10>getting death threats, a lot of them on both sides

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<v Speaker 10>of the aisle, And people were going to their houses

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<v Speaker 10>at home when they were here in Washington, d C.

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<v Speaker 10>And going to their kids' schools, and so, you know,

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<v Speaker 10>we afforded them the protection of the Capitol Police, who

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<v Speaker 10>do such a wonderful job at protecting our officials. But

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<v Speaker 10>you know, this is all members of Congress. I think,

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<v Speaker 10>you know, the move to give them a little bit

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<v Speaker 10>of money to you know, out of their current allotment

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<v Speaker 10>to provide some of that security for theirselves and their family.

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<v Speaker 2>Was probably think the result is unfortunately, fewer people wanting

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<v Speaker 2>to run for elected office right when we're having conversations

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<v Speaker 2>like these. Kristen Haunt and Morigi Espie, I thank you

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<v Speaker 2>so much for the immediate response.

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<v Speaker 3>Now as we turn to Capitol.

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<v Speaker 2>Who joining us now live from the Capitol Republican Senator

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<v Speaker 2>Mike ground So, South Dakota, member of the Senate Armed

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<v Speaker 2>Services Committee. Senator, it's good to have you here. It's

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<v Speaker 2>not what we expected that we would be talking about this.

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<v Speaker 2>Can you weigh in on this, your reaction to what

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<v Speaker 2>took place, how we got here, and whether we need

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<v Speaker 2>to have a serious conversation about capital police security for

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<v Speaker 2>lawmakers like yourself.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, let me begin just by offering my condolences, my thoughts,

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<v Speaker 1>my prayers to Charlie's.

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<v Speaker 7>Family, to his spouse, and to their children.

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<v Speaker 1>This is not something that any of us on either

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<v Speaker 1>side of any political I don't want to see happen. Ever,

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<v Speaker 1>and so this is simply very very unfortunate, and we

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<v Speaker 1>offer our thoughts and our prayers, and you know, look,

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<v Speaker 1>this is just a bad, bad message from what we

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<v Speaker 1>would hope otherwise would have been an opportunity for peaceful

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<v Speaker 1>discussion on specific issues, talking about you know, our differences

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<v Speaker 1>in a.

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<v Speaker 7>Very very normal way, a way in which.

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<v Speaker 1>People can have a discussion, having differences, having different points

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<v Speaker 1>of view, and still remaining as friends and as colleagues.

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<v Speaker 7>And so to see Charlie Kirk in.

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<v Speaker 1>This particular method, I mean, this is just a terrible,

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<v Speaker 1>terrible day for America. And once again it is something

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<v Speaker 1>that I think with regard to what we do here

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<v Speaker 1>in the capital of the United States and the way

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<v Speaker 1>that we treat one another is something that should be

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<v Speaker 1>an example that you don't have to have violence in

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<v Speaker 1>the middle of political discussions.

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<v Speaker 4>CenTra reums do we need to hear from the President

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<v Speaker 4>in a call for unity to end some of this

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<v Speaker 4>political violence. Is that what we're waiting for.

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<v Speaker 6>You know.

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<v Speaker 1>I think the first thing that the President did was

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<v Speaker 1>to offer his thoughts, his prayers, his condolences to Charlie's family.

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's, you know, the first thing that we

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<v Speaker 1>all want to do. And then along with that, it

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<v Speaker 1>is an opportunity for us to once again tell the

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<v Speaker 1>rest of America and the rest of the world that

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<v Speaker 1>we can have different points of view.

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<v Speaker 7>And not be violent about it.

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<v Speaker 1>And so anything that any of us can do to

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<v Speaker 1>offer as an example the way that we should treat

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<v Speaker 1>one another with respect, that's a positive thing. I think

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<v Speaker 1>that's what Charlie Kirk would have wanted to have had happen,

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<v Speaker 1>And most certainly.

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<v Speaker 7>That's something that I think we should continue to carry on, which.

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<v Speaker 1>Is peacefully discussed, have your different points of view, argue,

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<v Speaker 1>debate it.

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<v Speaker 7>It's healthy for America.

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<v Speaker 1>But our founding fathers wanted that to be done in

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<v Speaker 1>such a fashion that we could still be one strong,

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<v Speaker 1>unified nation even if we have different points of view.

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<v Speaker 1>And there's nothing wrong with having differing points of view.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I appreciate your point of view on that, Senator.

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<v Speaker 2>We were looking at some pulling from ipsos from back

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<v Speaker 2>in July that asked voters about political extremism and threats

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<v Speaker 2>to our democracy. This poll with Reuters showed twenty seven

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<v Speaker 2>percent of Americans ranked political extremism as the most important

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<v Speaker 2>problem facing the US.

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<v Speaker 3>How about you.

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<v Speaker 1>I can just tell you from personal experience. Here in Washington,

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<v Speaker 1>we work across some of the most polarized areas in

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<v Speaker 1>terms of ideas and ideologies. But if you talk to

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<v Speaker 1>members of the Senate, Republican and Democrat.

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<v Speaker 7>Alike, we get along with one another. We have business

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<v Speaker 7>with one another.

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<v Speaker 1>We go to lunch together, we have a prayer, breakfast together,

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<v Speaker 1>we have Bible studies together.

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<v Speaker 7>We are not enemies.

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<v Speaker 1>We may have different points of view, but that doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>get across very often. And so the example that we

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<v Speaker 1>should be able to offer is one of unity in

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<v Speaker 1>terms of making America better than what it is today.

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<v Speaker 1>Our founding fathers said that they wanted to create a

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<v Speaker 1>more perfect union. They didn't say our union was perfect

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<v Speaker 1>to begin with. They wanted it more perfect. That's what

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<v Speaker 1>we should be focused on here and sometimes in the

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<v Speaker 1>middle of our strong emotions. Here we forget to finish

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<v Speaker 1>with that particular part of the message, which is regardless

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<v Speaker 1>of our points of view, we're Americans first. We treat

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<v Speaker 1>each other with respect and with dignity. And here in

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<v Speaker 1>the Capital, in the offices that we have, I can

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<v Speaker 1>tell you personally and that behind closed doors, Republicans and

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<v Speaker 1>Democrats alike get along. We respect one another, we consider

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<v Speaker 1>each other as colleagues and friends, and we would hope

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<v Speaker 1>that across to America, whether it's a coffee clotch, or

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<v Speaker 1>whether it's a political meeting, a city council meeting, or

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<v Speaker 1>a state legislative body, that we remember that we are

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<v Speaker 1>all Americans and that we have a whole lot more

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<v Speaker 1>in common than we'll ever disagree on.

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<v Speaker 2>Senator, it's great to have you, and I appreciate your

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<v Speaker 2>candor in talking about this very sensitive issue because I've

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<v Speaker 2>been on that roatanda and I have seen Republican members

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<v Speaker 2>like yourself get along quite well with Democrats, and I

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<v Speaker 2>wish more people saw that side of the Capitol. Mike

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<v Speaker 2>Grounds of South Dakota, thank you for being with us.