1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: An hour two Sean Hannity Show told free It's eight 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: hundred nine four one, Shawn, if you want to be 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: a part of the program. We had this report come 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: out yesterday. NBC reported a statement that contradicted President Biden's 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: claim that Russia offered to free only Brittany Griner in 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: exchange for this, you know, merchant of death, and they 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: said Biden said this was not a choice. NBC News 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: later reported that the a senior US official told them 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: that the US government had sought both Griner and of 10 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: course the gentleman of marine we've been talking about, Paul Whalen, 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: and released as part of the swap with the Kremlin. 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: But the officials said Russia was treating Whalen differently, and 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: that the Kremlin offered either Whalen or Griner or nothing 14 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: at all. That contradicts exactly what the Democrats said. Anyway, 15 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: here's John Kirby trying to clear this up. It is 16 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: accurate that they have set up a separate set of 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: expectations for mister Whalen than what they had set for 18 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: miss Griner. The deal that we got with miss Griner 19 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: was the only deal we could get, and now was 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: the only moment we could get it, so we took 21 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: advantage of that to get one American home. But as 22 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: the President said, we're going to stay focused on mister Whalen. 23 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: This was not, as the President also said, some choice 24 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: between the two. So I would push back on this 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: notion that we deliberately, you know, we chose Brittany over Paul. 26 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: There was only one way to get one American home, 27 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: and that was this particular deal. So we're going to 28 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 1: stay at it. We were working on it yesterday, we're 29 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: working on it today, and I can guarantee the Whalen 30 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: family that tomorrow and every day here after, we're going 31 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: to continue to work to bring Paul home. So anyway, 32 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: I don't understand why I'm still sitting here. These are 33 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: the words of a devastated Paul Whalen. He broke a 34 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: sign from this Russian penal colony, his brother slamming the 35 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: catastrophic exclusion of his brother rightly, so I'm ready to 36 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: go home, the former marine said. Now he's been behind 37 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: bars for four long years here, there's no evidence at 38 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: all that he committed any crime. Grinder in her case, 39 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: it was kind of a slam done case. A minor 40 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: issue involving marijuana, but it still broke the law, and 41 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: we have no evidence at all that what Putin is 42 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: saying and Russia is saying is anything but a lie. 43 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: Congressman Mike Waltz accused the White House of putting celebrities 44 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: over veterans. Also, Saudi Arabia reportedly played a role in 45 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: this anyway. Joining us now is David Whalen. It's his 46 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: brother Paul, who in fact is still in this Russian prison. Sir, 47 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: welcome to the program. So sorry to you, to your brother, 48 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 1: to your family. This has got to be pretty heart 49 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: wrenching for all of you. It is than having me 50 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: and yeah, it's it's a very difficult, very difficult couple 51 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: of days. I read your initial comments and you are 52 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: extraordinarily gracious happy that Britney Griner was released. Then this 53 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: NBC News report comes out. I'm sure you read it. 54 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: What were your thoughts on it? The one about that 55 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: it might have been an either or situation? Yes, yes, no, 56 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: I assume that that was a misstatement. That doesn't sound 57 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: right to me. It's not what we understood was happening, 58 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,399 Speaker 1: and I'm sure that it was just a misunderstanding. We've 59 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: always understood that the US government had made a two 60 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: for one offer of a concession to the Russian government. 61 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: That's what was reported back in the late summer, and 62 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: it's not surprising that they didn't go for two to one. 63 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: Russia always wants parody. But I don't think that there 64 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: would ever have been a position where there would have 65 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: been an either or between the two Americans. Well, if 66 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: you look at, for example, your brother, I mean, he's 67 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: a Marine, he's in Iraq. The United States gave up 68 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: one of the biggest arms dealers in the world, the 69 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: most notorious arms dealer in his time. You know, he 70 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: earned his name, Victor Boot did the Merchant of Death 71 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: for good reason, profiting off of weapons that fueled international conflicts, 72 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: especially in Africa and the Mideast an Asia, and accused 73 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: of helping arm cartels as well. And he previously served 74 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: in the Soviet Union Armed Forces. This is hardly a 75 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: fair deal by by any objective measure. So I'm a 76 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: little bewildered by the fact that NBC would make such 77 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: a report because they did cite senior US officials, and 78 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: I doubt they would have cited senior US officials had 79 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: they not spoken as senior US officials. So maybe I'm 80 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: more suspicious because of the nature of my job, but 81 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: I am suspicious. Nonetheless, you have spoken to your brother. 82 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,239 Speaker 1: He knows about Brittany grind his release, He knows about 83 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: the prison prisoner swap. He knows he wasn't part of it, 84 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: and he has no knowledge of what he's getting out 85 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: of jail, does he No. I think that that's the 86 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: real issue we have here, is that he's been there 87 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: for four years, and initially, in the first couple of years, 88 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: two names had been floated as possible exchange candidates for Paul, 89 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: Konstantiniarshenko and Victor boot and both of those Russians have 90 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: now gone home from US custody to Russia. And in 91 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: this last attempt to bring Paul home, bring both Paul 92 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: and Brittany home, the US government appears have gone to 93 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: a long list of other concessions. Who knows what they were, 94 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: whether they were people or things or ideas like, you know, 95 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: reduce sanctions on somebody. I don't know. And apparently Russia 96 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: didn't go for any of those either. So I think 97 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: the real difficulty for US here, and probably for Paul. 98 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure he's done this map too, is well, if 99 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: they haven't gone for anything that US currently has in 100 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: its control, then then what does Russia want and how 101 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: does the US government acquire it? David, Let's talk a 102 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: little bit about your brother and about his case and 103 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: when this nightmare began. I guess it was before twenty 104 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: eighteen when he was finally sentenced. Correct, he was sentenced 105 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty. He was arrested in December of twenty eighteen, 106 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: and he's being charged with being a US spike RT right. Yeah, 107 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 1: in the same way that the Russian government used to 108 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: do it with paper, and they did it with American 109 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: Nichols Standaloff and then again with Edmund Pope. They slip 110 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: you information in a packet that you can't see, and 111 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: so the digital version of that is a USB stick, 112 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: and they gave Paul USB stick. He was entrapped in 113 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: a hotel and arrested, and arrest is history. You know, 114 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: It's unbelievable. And I hope Americans are listening to this 115 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: and learn maybe taking a trip like Bernie Sanders did 116 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: to the former Soviet Union to a honeymoon is not 117 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: necessarily a good idea. How many years is your brother sentence. 118 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: Now he had served four out of a sixteen year sentence. 119 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: Is there any other avenues that you've tried over the years. 120 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: Is there any third party broker that maybe can go 121 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: to if the US doesn't have anything else left and 122 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: it's arsenal to offer. Are there not any other prisoners 123 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: that Russia would wand back besides the merchant and death. Well, 124 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: that's the trick, you know. I think in the past 125 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: we were often looking at nation states dealing with terrorist groups, 126 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: and so in that case you could send in a 127 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: military unit. You had a lot more options if you 128 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: wanted to retrieve your citizen. One is another nation state, 129 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: of sovereign nation who is essentially the hostage taker in 130 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: this case, and it's Russia, it's China, it's Iran, it's Syria, 131 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: it's Egypt. You don't have those tools, and it becomes 132 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: very difficult if those countries aren't going to be persuaded, 133 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: and they do need to be persuaded. You have to 134 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: have perhaps punishments like sanctions, or you need to have 135 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,679 Speaker 1: a concession that you can release. We had thought about 136 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: with Paul that it might not be people, it might 137 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: be things. You know, the Obama administration had taken properties 138 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: from the Russian government that they had in the US 139 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: for their embassies and consulates, and the Russian government has 140 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: wanted those backs. So we thought, well, maybe that would 141 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: be a fair exchange to bring back a tourist who 142 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: is kept by the Russians. But I don't think we're there. 143 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: Well is that ever offered to your knowledge, I don't know. 144 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: We we try to send suggestions to this government. Obviously, 145 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: there are people who are far more specialized within the 146 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: US government who are looking at this too, And I 147 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: think Paul is unfortunately in the middle of an evolution 148 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: of the US government. Certainly over the last four years 149 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: it has just changed and changed and changed. And then 150 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: with the executive order last summer, there are now, you know, 151 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: people who are tasked to come up with a strategy 152 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: on how to how to prepare for this and how 153 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: to you know, not be caught only after the detention 154 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: has happened, but you know, to be thinking about it 155 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: in advance when you hear the reaction. The d e 156 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: age and for example, and help put Victor boot behind 157 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: bars slammed this deal, said quote, we couldn't even get 158 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: two people for the world's most notorious weapons trafficker, former 159 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: Kremlin aids. They're saying pot now played Biden on the 160 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: prisoner swamp. I think that's just stating the obvious. Even 161 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: some top Democrats are blasting Biden over releasing this guy. 162 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: Bob Menendez, for example, in New Jersey, is one of them. 163 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: Senior defense officials are concerned that he's going to resume 164 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: his arms trafficking. There is a bipartisan backlash to all 165 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: of this because the price was so high and Britney 166 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: Griner's events so minor in comparison. Let's talk a little 167 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: bit about how your brothers being treated. Is he able 168 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: to tell you in a conversation, knowing that he's probably 169 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: being listened to, is he able to describe for you 170 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: what the conditions are? He is, and they do record 171 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: a lot of his calls. There's always a guard standing there. 172 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: And he's able to speak to our parents on almost 173 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: a daily basis. And it's as bad as you probably 174 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: can imagine. It's, you know, six days of working in 175 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: a sewing sweatshop. Their long days. There's not very much food. 176 00:09:57,679 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: There has been less food since the Russian invasion of 177 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: Ukraine because the sanctions are obviously hitting the Russian economy 178 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: and that trickles down to the prisoners. UM. So you know, 179 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: he's lost weight, he has found an equilibrium. UM, he 180 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: has found survival tactics that he uses. So things like 181 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: you know, getting up in the morning and singing the 182 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: US national anthem is both you know, something that helps 183 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: him have a ritual or a routine. It's something that 184 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: irritates the guards and you know and the Russians. So 185 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: you know, he does those things to survive. And I 186 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: think he's doing the best he can. But you know, mentally, 187 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: you've got to wonder how he's been doing this for 188 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: four years and now he's just had a huge disappointment. 189 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: How does he face to do this for another twelve years. 190 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: Is there anything that that the people listening to this 191 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: program can do to show support as there for example, 192 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: an address, does he get mail? Is he able to 193 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: get um food or even simple things like toiletries or 194 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: anything like that, as he is that allowable. Well, the 195 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: two best things that they can do is that if 196 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: if they're able to financially support Paul, there's a GoFundMe 197 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,079 Speaker 1: at GoFundMe dot com, slash free Paul Wheeling and that 198 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 1: money goes into a prison account that we then buy 199 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: those things because you're not able to ship those to him, 200 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: but we can buy those things for him in Russia 201 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: and have the US embassy will then get them to him. 202 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: The other thing is, and it's much simpler, and one 203 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: are the things that he would be able to have 204 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: if you don't Mimi asking specifically. Oh, it's things like apples, oranges, bananas, 205 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: fruits and vegetables. Those are not supplied by the prison. 206 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: If he wants protein beyond the two inches of fish 207 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: he gets a day. Uh, you know, we send him 208 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: peanuts and things, but all of that has to come 209 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: in in Russian packaging. So so it's that sort of stuff, 210 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: and he does receive those that sort of thing. How 211 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 1: did the other prisoners there treat him? And does he 212 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: have any means of communicating with most of them? I 213 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: would assume they mostly speak Russian. Well, the US embassy 214 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: is really good. They take a package. He's allowed one package, 215 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: which is why we don't we ask people not to 216 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: send him any packages. He's only allowed one package every 217 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 1: quarter and they're really good. So that's how we know 218 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: he gets the things. The labor colony he is in 219 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: has other foreigners, and so there are two Americans there. 220 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: There are a couple of other English speakers. And you know, 221 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: he's learned a couple of words in Tajik, he's learned 222 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: a couple of words in other languages, so that he's 223 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: able to communicate with other prisoners and you know, and 224 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: avoid getting punished by the guards for you know, not 225 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: having his uniform shirt on right, or not wearing his 226 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: hat right at formation and things like that. Is there 227 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: any abuse that you know has taken place, if they 228 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: tortured them at all? It's gotten better. It was bad 229 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: up until what I guess it was almost a year ago, 230 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: and then the warden then was arrested and has been 231 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: charged for corruption and since been sentenced to three years 232 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: to spend in another colony. So you know, the corruption 233 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: is all the way to the top, from well, from 234 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: putin all the way down. I guess I might say 235 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: the last year has been much better since that warden left. 236 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: Paul had been put in solitary periodically. Obviously, the UN 237 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: considers fifteen days in solitary to be torture, and so 238 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: Paul has had a number stint there. There's theft, you 239 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: know when we sent him medicine, sometimes it gets as 240 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: far as the prison and then guards will steal it, 241 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: so you know, it's not a great existence. We do 242 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: the best we can to support him, and he I think, 243 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: does his best to survive. Does he have access to 244 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: doctors if he gets sick in an emergency there is 245 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: a prison hospital. They tend to actually send him to 246 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 1: the prison hospital when they don't want him to see 247 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: what's going on at the labor camp. So recently the 248 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 1: Wagner Mercenary group came to recruit prisoners to go to 249 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: the Ukraine War and they shipped Paul off to the hospital. 250 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: He didn't have any illnesses, he didn't get any treatment 251 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: when he was there, but that's where he went. So 252 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 1: in an emergency there would be some healthcare nearby, all right, 253 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: So people want to help your brother out. He's been 254 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: there now for long years and he's got a long 255 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: stint to go moving forward. If the government's not allowed 256 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: to get him out, it's got to be heartbreaking for 257 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: you in your entire family. You have a go fund 258 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 1: me account, it's out address again, go fund me dot com, 259 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: slash free Paul Wheeling and then the other thing you 260 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: can do is to write to the State Department Consular Services, 261 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: and if you go to free Paul Wheelan dot com, 262 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: there's an address there, a letter, a card, anything to 263 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: let him know that he hasn't forgotten would be a 264 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: huge help. With the war in Ukraine, mail to Russia 265 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: has stopped. The US mail doesn't go to Russia, Russian 266 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: mail doesn't come back, and so he's been cut off 267 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: from a lot of the mail that we used to 268 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: be able to send him. So cards sent to that 269 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: address will go to the State Department in the State 270 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: Department will then make sure that they get over to Paul. 271 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: And yeah, they're a real lifeline. I mean, the State 272 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: Department has been just such a huge help for Paul 273 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: and for our family. What I'd like to do is, 274 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: we're going to put this up on my website, Hannity 275 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: dot com because many people might be driving and obviously 276 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: can't remember that address, but we'll put all the information 277 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: if you want to help out David's brother, Paul Whalen 278 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: in this Russian prison. And man, it's I feel bad 279 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: for you. I feel bad for your brother, I feel 280 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: bad for your whole family. It's a travesty and it's 281 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: got to be so disappointing in light of the magnitude 282 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: of this prisoner swap and the disparity in this swamp. 283 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: Certainly your brothers should have been included in my view. Anyway, 284 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: we'll put that up on Hannity dot com. David, our 285 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: prayers are with you and your family and your brother 286 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: Thank you for being with us. Pointing out that oil 287 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: analysts are saying, even with the new licenses to Chevron, 288 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: in this case, with Venezuela and Venezuelan output, it's unlikely 289 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: to increase by more than zero point two percent of 290 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: the world's demand in the next year or two. So 291 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: the administration now says that the sanctions relief for Caracas 292 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: is unrelated to oil and instead is a carrot for 293 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: talking with the opposition about returning to democracy. Now, remember 294 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: they're doing this and America does not even recognize there's 295 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: murdering dick hitter Thugmaduro as a duly elected leader in Venezuela. 296 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: It doesn't get any more insane anyway. Congressman Jimenez is 297 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: with Florida's twenty sixth congressional district, and he represents the 298 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: largest constituency of Venezuelans in the US, and he's outraged 299 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: that what Biden is doing here. He put out that 300 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: Biden will do anything to crush American energy independence, including 301 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: giving in too dictators, which is exactly what's happening anyway. 302 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: Congressman Carlos Jimenez is with us now. Congressman, thanks for 303 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: being here, my pleasure, Sean. How are you doing. I'm good, 304 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: my friend. I can't believe it. We have more energy 305 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: resources in this country that we would never need to 306 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: import any energy for hundreds of years, and yet Joe 307 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: Biden and the Democratic Party they steadfastly refuse the production 308 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: of the lifeblood of the world's economy. Here. Why is 309 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: that your guest is as good as mine, Sean, It's 310 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: probably because it's good for America. And everything that this 311 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 1: president does is not good for America. He wakes up 312 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: every morning says, how can I work against America's interest? 313 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: And here's another example of it. You go to a 314 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: foreign dictator of Venezuela who is an ally of who, 315 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: of Russia, of China, of Iran, who is suppressing his people, 316 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: and then you're asking him, please give us more oil, 317 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: and we will try to list some of these sanctions 318 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: that we've had in place for the last four years. Oh, 319 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: by the way, all you gotta do is promise that 320 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: you're going to talk to the opposition, and the opposition 321 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: happens to be the government that we recognize. I mean, 322 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: it's foolish, it's ridiculous, and it makes absolutely no sense. 323 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: Show Oh, I mean it makes no sense. Explain to me. 324 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: This is the one question no liberal can answer. How 325 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: is it any different if you drill for a barrel 326 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: of oil in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, any of the OPEC 327 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: plus countries, Russia, Iran? How is it any different in 328 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: terms so the impact on Mother Earth than if we 329 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: produce that barrel of oil here in America? Because I 330 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: would argue that we do it. We do a cleaner, 331 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: we do it faster, we do it cheaper, and it's best, 332 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: it's in our best foreign policy interest to do so. 333 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,719 Speaker 1: It creates high paying career jobs, It would go a 334 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: long way to reducing the price of oil at the 335 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: pump and heating our homes as winner, it would be 336 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: good for inflation. Why don't we do it here? Well, 337 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: it's a great question. Actually, it is better for us 338 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: to use it to get American oil because we produce 339 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: it cleaner than anybody else in the world, probably twenty 340 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: to thirty percent cleaner. So even for the environment, it's 341 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: good for have American oil and also for our foreign policy. 342 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: And look, it helps our economy. It will reduce the 343 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: price of oil, it will reduce the inflation. It will 344 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: also give us leverage on the world market to use 345 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 1: energy as we should as a weapon, just like the 346 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: Russians are using energy as a weapon. Now we can 347 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: help our allies and our adversaries. And so, by the way, 348 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: could you imagine if if we were still energy independent 349 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: and we ratcheted up production and we sold it to 350 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: our Western European allies, how much money we would make 351 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: as a country, how rich we would become as a country. 352 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: We would we would definitely help America. But also we're 353 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 1: helping our allies because they could then you know, Saya putin, 354 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: you gonna eat your oil. We're going to buy American 355 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: oil and we can we'll have energy independence from you. 356 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: That's why we need to produce more energy here in 357 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: the United States. Go ahead and drill for oil, more 358 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: natural gas. All those things that are good for America 359 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: are also good for our allies. Yet this administration is 360 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: doing everything in its power to destroy the oil and 361 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: gas industry here in the United States. It makes absolutely 362 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,239 Speaker 1: no sense whatsoever. There's nothing that they can say to 363 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: me that's going to explain to me why this makes sense. 364 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 1: Why are you going to Venezuela for God's sakes? You know, 365 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: look what they're doing to their people, no free elections, 366 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: their allies of Russia and China and and our major enemy, 367 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: and you want them to produce the oil? Are you 368 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: out of your mind? Yeah, yeah, he is. He's absolutely 369 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: out of his money there, He's out of his mind. 370 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: What if people tell you, I know, you have the 371 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:15,360 Speaker 1: highest Venezuelan population or constituency in the US. What are 372 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 1: they saying those people refugees from Venezuela to you about 373 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: life in Venezuela today, Because they could be one of 374 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: the richest countries unearthed themselves, but because of all the 375 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: political corruption and this murdering thug dictator in charge, the 376 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: people are suffering mightily there. Yeah. Well, Venezuela is actually, 377 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: you know, probably could be the richest country in South America. 378 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: It's they're full of natural resources. They used to pump 379 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: about two million gallons of oil a day, and because 380 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: of the the corruption and an incompetence, they can only do 381 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: about seven hundred thousand now, and so even that's sorting 382 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: their economy. And so the people of Venezuela are flocking 383 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: to you know, are flocking the United States. A lot 384 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: of them end up in in Miami. They're good, hard 385 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: working people. They wish they could go back to their country, 386 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: but they can't because of this, the corruptive regime that 387 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 1: they have, the suppressive regime that they have, lack of 388 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: basic rights, um. And so you know, again the Biden 389 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: administration would even be talking to these people is you know, 390 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: is beyond the realm of I mean of why you 391 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: would do that, I don't know. And then my constituents 392 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: in in South Florida are looking at it very closely. 393 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: That's why in the last election they swung so far 394 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: to the right, swunging in our direction of part are 395 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: you representing? I represent with the southwest Miami date and 396 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: all of Monroe County and uh and so you know, 397 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,719 Speaker 1: I've got a good about seventy percent of my constituents 398 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: or Hispanic many of them came from either Venezuela and Nicaragua, Cuba, 399 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 1: you know, those countries that have been oppressed, and they 400 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: understand what socialism is about and they want no part 401 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: of it. And they understand what this administration is doing, 402 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: and they're doing nothing to to help the U for 403 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 1: you know, the cause of freedom in Central in South 404 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 1: America and in the Caribbean, and they're doing everything and 405 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,959 Speaker 1: this administration apparently is doing everything inspired to prop up 406 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: those regimes that are pressing their people. So many of 407 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: the counties in deep South Florida that have had historically 408 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: voted blue, they went read this time. What happened. What 409 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: happened is we've gotten again. We've got an influx of 410 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: people that come from these countries and understand exactly what 411 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: socialism is about. They understand what censorship is all about, 412 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: the lack of basic freedoms, and they understand that what 413 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,439 Speaker 1: the Biden administration is doing is not helping our cause 414 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: for freedom in any way, shape or form. They've seen 415 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: this movie before and they don't want to repeat it again. 416 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: That's why they've gone to the Republican side. That's why 417 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: we had such a sweeping win in Florida. Look at 418 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: my own district. My district voted at sixteen percent for 419 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: Hillary Clinton in two sixteen. In two and twenty, they 420 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: voted about four percent for President Trump. And in this 421 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: this election, I won that election by twenty eight points, Sean, 422 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: So you can see how it swung to the right. 423 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: Miami Dade really really underperforming, and I think you should 424 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: be really ashamed by those numbers. That's awful. Yeah, yeah, 425 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: And then what happened, what happened with the governor? Right, 426 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: I mean, the Miami Dade County voted for Biden in 427 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty by seven points. And we vote if we voted, 428 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: you know again, we voted for Dessantus this time. So 429 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: you can see this shift is not only in my 430 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: district of Miami Dade County, but all of Miami Dade 431 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: County is now it now turned red. And that's all 432 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 1: due to these policies. It's all due to the fact 433 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 1: that we Republicans have a better solutions, that we really 434 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 1: represent the working man and women, and we represent the 435 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,640 Speaker 1: values that the citizens of Miami Dade County and state 436 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 1: of Florida really want. So I'm talking a lot about 437 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: what I'm calling accelerated migration and that it's a combination 438 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: of baby boomers hitting retirement age and also people that 439 00:23:54,680 --> 00:24:00,360 Speaker 1: are fed up with high taxes, an incredible burdensome bureaucracy, 440 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 1: people fed up with COVID shutdowns. They want their kids 441 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: to have in person learning, etc. But the leaving states 442 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: like Pennsylvania and states like Wisconsin, and states like Michigan 443 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: and those states. The people that are leaving and going 444 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: to Florida or the Carolinas, or Texas or Tennessee, but 445 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 1: most of them are going to Florida. You're taking in 446 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: about eight hundred new residents a day. How is Farida 447 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: dealing with this mass migration. I think we're dealing where 448 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 1: they're fine, right. Most of those people are hard working 449 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: people are coming down to the state of Florida find opportunity, 450 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,479 Speaker 1: and they do find opportunity. You know, Florida is growing. 451 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: It's a pro business state. We have no state income tax, 452 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: we have a great governor, legislature is controlled by the 453 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: Republican Party, so it's very very much pro business and 454 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,919 Speaker 1: also we kind of adhere to the values of the 455 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:50,719 Speaker 1: people that are coming down to South Florida. Look, one 456 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: of the things I was afraid of is that Yeah, 457 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 1: we had all these people coming from New York and 458 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: all those other Blue states, and where they bringing in 459 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: politics with them. Well, apparently they are, but they happen 460 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: to be Republicans for most part. So I think they're 461 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: the ones likely to get out of there because they've 462 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: had it and they want to get in. They want 463 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: to live in a free state like Florida. I don't 464 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: blame them, Yeah, absolutely, yeah, So, you know, I was 465 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: afraid that it was, you know, that some of the 466 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: some of the folks that are more more liberal leanings 467 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: were coming down to Florida to escape and then bring 468 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: their politics down. But I don't think it's happening. I 469 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: think they're actually we for the first time have more 470 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:25,120 Speaker 1: Republicans registered in the state of Florida than Democrats. That's 471 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: never happened in Florida history. It was a turnaround of 472 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: about five hundred thousand from the election in two thousand 473 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: and eighteen. So from two thousand and eighteen to two 474 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: and twenty two, we had about three hundred thousand more 475 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 1: Democrats than Republicans, and now we you know, that's flipped over. 476 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:45,959 Speaker 1: So I think it's about two hundred thousand or three 477 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: hundred thousand and more Republicans and Democrats. That's not good 478 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: news for the Democrats. Well, we appreciate you at you 479 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 1: and what you're doing. Congressman Carlos Amenez, thank you so much, 480 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: Florida's twenty sixth district. Thank you. It's my pleasure. Son. 481 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: Have a good one eight hundred nine for one. Sean, 482 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: you want to be a part of the program. Come on, man, 483 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: It's taken me forty seven years to perfect doing nothing. 484 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 1: I had to become president as Joe Yeah, I could 485 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: do that better than anybody. Joe Biden the most dangerous 486 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: man in America. This is the Sean Hannity Show. All right, 487 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: as we get to our busy phones ross Nebraska. You're 488 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 1: next on the Sean Hannity Show. Hi, Hey, Sean Hannity. 489 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 1: How are you doing this afternoon? I'm good, my friend. 490 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: What's going on? Well, I got I want to talk 491 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: to you a little bit about what's going on with 492 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: the rail unions and what's going on in Washington, DC 493 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: and stuff with the boats and everything, because you know, 494 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: I've kind of been with him for a major railroad 495 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: here in the United States for about almost twenty four years. 496 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: But first off, I got to give a shout out 497 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: to my dad because he told us one time. He says, man, 498 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 1: if I could he just turn an eighty, he says, man, 499 00:26:57,359 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 1: if I could have another kid at the Christmas table 500 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: at Truwood be Sean Hannity, Oh man, what a compliment 501 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: that is. Well, if your dad's listen and tell you, Dad, 502 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: I said, thank you, and hi Dad, how are you? 503 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 1: And you may well be careful what you wish for. 504 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: I was a pretty incorrigible kid growing up. Oh yeah, well, 505 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: you know he's ex Navy vet and you know he 506 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: survived pancreatic cancer and you know, so he's a fighter 507 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: and he's a good guy. And the way surviving pancreatic 508 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: cancer is no easy feat. My dad died from that. Yeah, well, 509 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: he had a he had a doctor that was young 510 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: and ambitious and said he could go in and get it, 511 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: and he got it and he's doing great. Oh that's 512 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: great news. I'll tell you Dad, I said, Hi, I will, 513 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: I will. Sean just wanted to let you know a 514 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: little bit about what's you know, the union and things 515 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 1: of that nature. We've I've been working for the railroad 516 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: for almost twenty four years and seen a lot of 517 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: changes coming, you know, down the pike over the years, 518 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: and you know, we've had different union agreements anywhere from 519 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: five percent race to eight percent race to nine percent races. 520 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 1: And this is the first time in a long time 521 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 1: I've seen anything, you know, this huge come down the pike. 522 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 1: As far as the twenty four percent raise, twenty four 523 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: percent raise average worker will get, I'm sure that includes 524 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: you eleven thousand dollars in a bonus check. Sounds like 525 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 1: a pretty good offer to me. Doesn't sound like an 526 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: unfair offer. No, I don't think it's unfair at all. Um. So, 527 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 1: you know, it'll be interesting to see what the vote 528 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: comes down to as far as like what they do 529 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 1: in Washington. But I think what a lot of your 530 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 1: you know, people don't understand is that, you know, even 531 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: though we're a union shop, I don't think people quite 532 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: understand that a lot of the guys that I work 533 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 1: with were more conservative and independent than we are Democrats anymore, 534 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: because we kind of feel like we've been left behind 535 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: as far as you know, workers and unions and things 536 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: like that, just for the simple fact that you know, 537 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: with guys like Biden and Obama and people like that, 538 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 1: they we feel like we've we've been left behind. And 539 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 1: you know, they always say the we're the party for 540 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: the worker, we do this and that, and honestly, I 541 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: just honestly believe that that is dead and buried. I 542 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: don't think that's even an issue anymore. They don't, you know, 543 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: They're not for the worker anymore, you know, I look 544 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: at the Democratic Party is the party of coastal elites. 545 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: And Republican the Republican Party needs to be the party 546 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:17,720 Speaker 1: for working men and women in this country, the people 547 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: that really do make America great. I'll put it to 548 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: you this way to shun you know. As a railway company, 549 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: our job is to ship fossil fuels all over the country, 550 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: potentially to be shipped all over the world. We had 551 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: the cleanest coal that has ever been burned. We have 552 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: enough in the Powder River basin for anywhere from one 553 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty to two hundred years of consistent use 554 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: for us to be able to use to send our 555 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: coal fire properly. We ship at the China, We ship 556 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 1: it all over the world. So what our members are 557 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: wondering is why would we consistently vote for people that 558 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: want to get rid of all fossil fuels, so that 559 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: we don't haul oil out of the Balkans anymore, out 560 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: of North Dakota, we don't bring any more coal out 561 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: of the Potter River basin. And that's what we do 562 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: for a living, and that's what our jobs are. And 563 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: that's where they're kind of losing us, if you know 564 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: what I mean. Does that make any more? That's where 565 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 1: the rank and file are out of touch with and 566 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: not in agreement with union leadership. You raise a great point, 567 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: and I'll tell you this is why. If herschel Walker 568 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: can win this race, and it's not going to be 569 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: easy in Georgia, and I know there's a heavy turnout, 570 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: there is a chance, I believe, to make a run 571 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: at Joe Mansion because Joe Mansion has been screwed over 572 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: by his own party and if Joe Biden and the 573 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:38,719 Speaker 1: Democrats have their way, they will destroy the economy of 574 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: West Virginia. I gotta run. Say hi to all our 575 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 1: fellow railroad workers. I hope it works out for everybody. Everybody. 576 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 1: I want you to get your raise. If in fact, 577 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 1: this strike goes on, we're all going to feel it badly. 578 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: That's how important the job is that all of you 579 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: do every day, So thank you for what you do. 580 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: My Pillow finally has their original My Slippers back in stock. 581 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 1: Last time, you made them the number one selling my 582 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: Pillow product, and I have a feeling you're gonna want 583 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: to stock up again. The my Slippers now come in 584 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: a ton of additional sizes and all new colors. Enter 585 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: the promo code Hannity at my pillow dot com. You're 586 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: gonna save ninety bucks a pair. 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