1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: The Senate is staring down healthcare in a major battle, 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: with Obamacare subsidies set to expire on purpose. Why are 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: they set to expire because Democrats designed it that way. Now, 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: you may ask yourself a question, why would they design 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: a program to expire on purpose? It's pretty simple. Democrats 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: were playing politics. They wanted this to be a political 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: issue that if you don't vote for them, the Democratic Party, 8 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: that then you can't afford your Obamacare, also known as 9 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: the Affordable Care Act, which is anything but affordable. They 10 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: created a crisis out of thin air, a crisis so 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: that then when the midterms came around, they could say, 12 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: you better stick with us, because otherwise you will lose 13 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: the healthcare that we told you we were going to 14 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: give you forever. It was a designed crisis. That's how 15 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: evil the Democratic Party was with health care, and specifically 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: with the subsidies around Obamacare. They also knew that Obamacare, 17 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: the quote Affordable Care Act, was never going to be affordable. 18 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: They knew from the very beginning. But what's happened since 19 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: then is even worse. Democrats had figured out that their 20 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: best donors could be the health care industry, insurance companies, hospitals, 21 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: those that get paid with these guaranteed subsidies of Obamacare, 22 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,839 Speaker 1: and they would fill their campaign coffers with cash. Why 23 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: because the Democratic Party was filling their bank accounts with 24 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: guaranteed government payments at levels that even the insurance companies 25 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: could have never imagined. So here we are with a 26 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: crisis that was created by the Democrats on purpose, a 27 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: crisis that was made for political reasons only and for 28 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: reelection camps. And now we're dealing with a fallout. Senate 29 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: negotiators are set for a high wire act this week 30 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: on healthcare, and this is all happening. Wow. Many of 31 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: them are leaving Washington for the holidays without a resolution 32 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: on the expiring and hand subsidies, With lawmakers increasingly shifting 33 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: into campaign mode as the calendar flips to the new year, 34 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 1: it's an election year. The Chamber has been consumed for 35 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: months by a fight over the future of expiring Affordable 36 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: Care Act subsidies, which were at the center of that 37 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: record breaking government shutdown. It was the Schumer shutdown. We 38 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: all know that, with the subject of multiple votes and 39 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: extensive negotiations in the week since, so that we don't 40 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: have another government shutdown, in the new year. Now, the 41 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: December thirty first deadline is set to come and go. 42 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: A Bi Parson group of lawmakers is trying to keep 43 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: those hopes alive that a deal could come together, but 44 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: they're now facing numerous problems, chief among them bringing the 45 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: fraud that has now been exposed under control, as well 46 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: as the rhetoric from the left and those on the 47 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: right that say we should never have done this in 48 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: the first place. Quote, since the Obamacare passage, any conversation 49 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: about anything on healthcare has been a big lift. That 50 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: is what Senator James Langfort, a Republican from Oklahoma, said, saying, quote, 51 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: everybody sees the problems, and at times my Democratic colleagues 52 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: will admit, okay, yeah, that's a problem, but trying to 53 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: vote on it has been tougher. So no matter what 54 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: we do tweaking this thing, it's going to be hard. Now. 55 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: The Senate voted on two competing healthcare proposals on December 56 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: the eleventh. Both failed. Four Republicans even crossed the aisle 57 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: to vote in favor of a Democratic bill to extend 58 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: the subseas for three years, and centers on both sides 59 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: of the aisle have spent the days since trying to 60 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: pick up the pieces and find a new deal. Now 61 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: there is a group now of nearly two dozen members 62 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: occupying various political lanes across each party, that is convened 63 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: with an eye towards, as they describe it, unveiling a 64 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: possible deal, with some even indicating that hopes of a 65 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: framework agreement could come by the end of the holiday 66 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: work period and could be in theory past next month. 67 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, and then he would 68 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: say a Republican in name only, and Bernie Marino, a 69 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: Republican from Ohio. We're among the organizers of the big meeting. Now. 70 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: Their bill is calling for just a two year extension 71 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,679 Speaker 1: of the Obamacare subsidies paired with conservative leaning reforms served 72 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: as the basis of the discussion to get rid of 73 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: some of the waste, fraud, and abuse that Democrats do 74 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: not want to touch. Why because when there is fraud 75 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: in the health care industry, it goes directly to the 76 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: bottom line of the healthcare providers who are their biggest 77 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: donors of the candidates and the Democratic Party running in 78 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: these midterms. Now on Wednesday, and this went very much unreported. 79 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: There was actually a group of House GOP centrists, so 80 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: they're not really hardcore conservative, they're not Maga Conservatives who 81 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: bucked their leadership of the Speaker Mike Johnson by signing 82 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: into a Democratic effort to force a vote on extending 83 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: the subsidies. Also met with a group of centers that 84 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: tried to chart a path to a deal that could 85 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: pass in both chambers, because that's part of the problem. 86 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: If you get it down the Senate, you still have 87 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: to get it done in the House. Now. Democrats in 88 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: the Senate have also shied away from trying from tying, 89 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: i should say, the healthcare battle to the looming government 90 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: funding deadline at the end of January, giving talks a 91 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 1: major boost. Now when it adjourned without reaching a healthcare 92 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: framework for Christmas, that is problematic. Democrats present the first 93 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 1: they described it bipartisan meeting last week. They knew that 94 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: people were leaving town, so it was pretty much meaningless 95 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: and it was a political stunt. And they said they 96 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: were initially encouraged, as they described it, by the discussions, 97 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: but they indicated that complications made striking a deal increasingly 98 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: quote problematic. Quote There was a simple concept on the table. 99 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: When we walked in, it was within the range of reason, 100 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: but then it got more complicated. There was conceptionally might 101 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: be well okay, but maybe or might not. That's how 102 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: Senator Tim Caine, the Democrat from Virginia, said, labeling the 103 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: meeting a quote productive discussion. He also said there was 104 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: quote complicators in the room now. Attendees said that they 105 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: expected future meetings, but whether they continued to push the 106 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: ball up the field and keep talking during the two 107 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: week holiday break remains an open question. Both sides also 108 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: have political considerations that could scuttle discussions at any time. 109 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: And then you've got numerous Republicans that have signaled that 110 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: they have little to no appetite to vote for any 111 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: type of extension of the enhanced subsidies, no matter the 112 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: reforms that could make the package more palatable. Why it's 113 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: a campaign issue, There's a lot to think Obamacare is 114 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: well a total lie, and it's filled with fraud, and 115 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: they're not going to keep paying for that level of fraud. 116 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: They have also indicated that language concerning the High Amendment, 117 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: which bars federal funds from going towards abortion and any 118 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: healthcare package, also remains a major sticking point. Democrats are 119 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: also quick to note that Republicans have, as they described it, 120 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: continuously opposed the Affordable Care Act. Well, it's not affordable. 121 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: That's one reason to appose it. And the Minority Party 122 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: has indicated they plan to pen the blame because this 123 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: is really all about politics, not about helping you on 124 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: the GOP. For the premium hikes that millions of Americans 125 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: are set to experience in the lead up to the midterms. Now, 126 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: let me be clear, if you have a massive hike 127 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: in the premiums going into the midterms, it will be 128 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: blamed on the Republicans because people don't pay attention. We 129 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: have a lot of idiots in this country that just 130 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: love free stuff. They don't realize how much that free 131 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: stuff costs, because nothing is free in healthcare. So here 132 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: we are at a crossroads what Republicans do, and the 133 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: President of United States of America has got to figure 134 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: out a way to bring them all together. Now, before 135 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: we get to the end of the story here with 136 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: Donald Trump and what he has to figure out and 137 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,959 Speaker 1: really overcome, also think there's another aspect of this that 138 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: you need to understand, and that is this part how 139 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: broken it actually is. And this is why there are 140 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: Republicans that do not want to just in essence, auto 141 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: renew this thing, because the argument is, why would we 142 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: reward waste, massive fraud and your tax dollar is going 143 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: to insurance companies that are literally, as I would describe it, 144 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: stealing from you. Let me give you some data that 145 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: you're not going to hear anywhere else, and you should 146 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: know this data. But you should also take this data 147 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: and take the podcast and share it so other people 148 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: hear this. Not only is Obamacare or the I'm going 149 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: to probably call it more the Affordable Care Act because 150 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: it's so insane that that's what they actually called it, 151 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: the Affordable carect Like it's just lunacy. It is heavily subsidized. 152 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: This thing is being propped up by your tax dollars 153 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: at numbers you can't even get your head around. Now, 154 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: Donald Trump wants the money to go directly to you, 155 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: so that then you can spend the money on healthcare 156 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: the way that you believe it should be done, so 157 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: that these insurance companies don't keep screwing us through all 158 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: the fraud and the fake accounts and the payments that 159 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: are going right, that's that's the number one thing, all right. 160 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: So let me give you some data here. Twenty four 161 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: point three million people selected right or were auto re 162 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: enrolled in the marketplace coverage in twenty twenty five. Now 163 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 1: a big driver in the Advanced Premium Tax Credit known 164 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: as the APTC. The report notes that twelve point eight 165 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: million or more receive that subsidy in twenty twenty five 166 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: compared to twenty twenty. People are asking the question where 167 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: do these twelve point eight million people come from? Now? 168 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: These enhanced subsidies are a massive budget item, all right, 169 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: and their expiration is a clip. The Enhanced Premium Tax Credit. 170 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: It was expanded under COVID, Right, it's no longer around. 171 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: COVID's not around like it was. It was all done 172 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: during the COVID era legislation and it was extended and 173 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: they're scheduled to run out. They will expire at the 174 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: end of this year. That's why there is this like 175 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: the house is on fire moment. One major budget estimate, 176 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: by the way, says that permanently extending the enhanced substis 177 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: for COVID, which we don't have anymore. That's how broken 178 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: the affordable carec They need subties for COVID, even though 179 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: we're not dealing with COVID all right, could cost up 180 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: to three hundred and fifty billion dollars through twenty thirty five. 181 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: That is insanity. And the analysts also note that well 182 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: over fifty billion of that cost flow two households above 183 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: five x the poverty level. Let me give you an example. 184 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: Some of these substies are going to families that make 185 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty thousand dollars a year for a 186 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: family of four this year. Is that where we're and 187 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: this is how you get closer and closer to just 188 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: straight up socialized medicine. You subsidize people at one hundred 189 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: and sixty k with a family of four. They then 190 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: learn to just rely on it, depend on it, They 191 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: vote on it because they don't want to pay for 192 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: their healthcare because it's going through the taxes. And then 193 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: you have this big grand divide and you get very 194 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: close to what I just described, which is socialized medicine. 195 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 1: And we're on the verge of that just being the reality, 196 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: which was the whole design of Obamacare. That's part of 197 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 1: what you really need to understand, Like this was all 198 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: a part of the design it was designed to fail 199 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: so that the government would just take over the entire system. Now, 200 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: without the enhanced subsidies, the affordability math worsens really fast. Okay, 201 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six premiums modeling finds that the marketplace premium 202 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: payments would rise by one hundred and fourteen percent on average, 203 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: meaning that fifty percent are above that level if the 204 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: credits expired. That's about one thoy sixteen dollars a year. 205 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: So the Coressional Budget Office says, look, the expiration not 206 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: only would reduce substas in the enrollment, but it would 207 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 1: raise the uninsured rate, which then would be blamed they 208 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: believe on Donald Trump. That's why Democrats are willing to 209 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: play this game of Russian roulette. They also said that 210 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: not only would that happen, but literally millions could lose 211 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: coverage because if Congress says nothing, then the money dries up, 212 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: and then they're like, why can't afford it? And then 213 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: the rates have gone through the roof because the rates 214 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: that the insurance companies are charging have skyrocketed since the 215 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: subseas came in, because they're like, well, we need to 216 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: get our hands on more of this money. So now 217 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: you're actually paying a rate that is egregious, that is 218 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: unrealistic for the marketplace without the government subsidies. You following 219 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: me here, the insurance company said, hey, we can grab 220 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: billions of dollars. Let's keep raising the rates every year. 221 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: The government will pay the rate increase guaranteed. We'll also 222 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: have a bunch of dead people that are enrolling and 223 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: people that have died that are still being enrolled in 224 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: a bunch of fraudulent enrollment. That's all a fact. We 225 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: know that as well. We are getting paid for people 226 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: that never use their insurance. We're getting paid for people 227 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: that don't even know they're actually enrolled in Obamacare, and 228 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: so they never come into the hospital. And we get 229 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: all that money without having to offer any coverage or 230 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: actual service. And now you understand exactly why Democrats want 231 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: this to keep going, because the insurance companies have basically said, 232 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: we have a blank check for you. We will write 233 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: you a check for you to get elected and get 234 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: re elected, and we will write it for you forever 235 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: as long as you let us keep getting the billions 236 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: of dollars in government aid. These insurance companies are not 237 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: running a business anymore. I want to be clear about that. 238 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: They're running a full blown, shady as hell, corrupt business 239 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: with a government check that keeps showing up. It's bribery. 240 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: That's the best way I can describe it is it 241 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: is bribery. Let me give you another example. The programs 242 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: quote integrity and fraud vulnerabilities have been documented now for 243 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: the first time. How bad is it. I'm going to 244 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: quote for you the Liberal Washington Post. Okay, are you ready? 245 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: This is the I'll say it again, the Liberal Washington Post. 246 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: The Washington Post reported at broker scheme has now been 247 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: tied to at least one hundred and eighty million and 248 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: in proper federal subsidies, alongside findings including a GOA test 249 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: showing weak verification controls in many cases. Now, this is 250 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: just full blown fraud. How many people gone to jail 251 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: so far that we know of? I don't think any. 252 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: Usually when we find this level of fraud, what usually 253 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: happens we don't get any Okay, body that actually goes 254 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: to jail. This reminds me a lot of the housing 255 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: crisis and the fraud that we found out was going 256 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: on in the housing market, in the loan market, and 257 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: what happened when there was the big crash in eight 258 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: One guy went to jail because all of these bankers 259 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: and all of these mortgage lenders that were in on 260 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: this scheme. This just massive level of corruption, of waste, fraud, 261 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: and abuse all got away with it. So is there 262 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: any incentive to not do it again? No, there is 263 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: zero incentive to not do it again. This is what 264 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: President Trump is having to deal with. And the question 265 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: that he's going to have to ask is how much 266 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: money should go to subsidize them? Right, Like, there's two 267 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: big buckets that are at the center of this subscy debate, 268 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: right the premium tax credits, the monthly subsidies, that's the 269 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: main affordability engine for the marketplace premiums, which if skyrocketed. 270 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: And then the enhancement sub subsy expansion, the temporary larger 271 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: credits that were done in the name of COVID that 272 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: is three hundred and fifty billion we're talking about right 273 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: now through twenty thirty five. I'm going to say it again, 274 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: we can't afford this. We can't afford any of it. 275 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: So how do you pull back? Okay, how do you 276 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: pull back on this? That's the question that everybody needs 277 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: to ask, and how do you do it without losing 278 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: a midterm election is the bigger question on this. So 279 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: Rick Gernell is a dear friend of mine. He is 280 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: an American diplomat. You know him as a service to 281 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: President Donald Trump and he served as an ambassador. He 282 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: is now doing something that's truly incredible, and that is 283 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: be the president the executive director of the Now Trump 284 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rick, 285 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: you and I were trading messages and I said, this 286 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: is the perfect time to have you on because many 287 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: people are gonna get to see an incredible night this 288 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: week on CBS from the Kennedy Center the Awards. It 289 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: happens once a year. It's a great night. The presidents there, 290 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: we get to honor Americans have done incredible things in 291 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: the arts. And there's been a controversy beforehand as Democrats 292 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 1: are trying to undermine what the President has done with 293 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: the Kenney Center. And I thought, let's just tell the 294 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: story of just how bad things were at the Kenney Center, 295 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: all how much had been deferred in basic upkeep of 296 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: that building. Why the President said I'm going to be 297 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 1: on the board and have great board members and put 298 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: you to be in charge because he wanted to bring 299 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: it back to greatness. And now they're all losing their 300 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: minds after we brought it back to greatness. But talk 301 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 1: about what you inherited before we even get to the 302 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: added name of Donald Trump on the building. 303 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: Okay, great, well, Ben, thanks for having me. First of all, 304 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 2: Tuesday night eight o'clock, you have to watch the Kennedy 305 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 2: Center Honors, which is now the Trump Kennedy Center. So 306 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 2: Tuesday at eight o'clock on CBS, it's going to be 307 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 2: an amazing show. Look, Ben, when President Trump asked me 308 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: to come in and help save the Kennedy Center, I 309 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 2: arrived at the Kennedy Center at the time and we 310 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 2: had no money in the bank. We were paying staff 311 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 2: with debt reserves that we were saving up for a 312 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 2: bond payment. In twenty thirty we had ninety four people 313 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 2: in one department, the fundraising department, and it was truly bloated. Remember, 314 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 2: the woman who had the job before me was getting 315 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 2: paid one point four million dollars a year, and yet 316 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 2: they couldn't keep up with the maintenance. 317 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: So four million a year, who, like, how does that 318 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:05,959 Speaker 1: even happen? 319 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:10,479 Speaker 2: It's crazy. Look, Congress gives a little bit of money 320 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 2: around thirty five million, sometimes up to forty million a 321 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 2: year to maintain the building because it's a memorial to 322 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: John F. Kennedy. So there's two things that happened. There's 323 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 2: a huge staff that's paid through fundraising, and then there's 324 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: a very small staff that just care takes the building 325 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 2: and the memorial part, and they get somewhere between thirty 326 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 2: five and forty million a year from Congress for that. 327 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 2: They were not using that money to keep the building up. 328 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 2: When I arrived, the roof was leaking, the pipes were 329 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 2: bursting below. We constantly had floods. Most of the elevators 330 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 2: did not work. The water fountains out front did not work. 331 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 2: The seats were collapsing. We literally had infrastructure falling on cars. 332 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 2: When you drive underneath the Kennedy Center, the safetts and 333 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 2: the concrete were falling on cars. The building people actually 334 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 2: suggested that we tear the building down and start over, 335 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 2: that the deferred maintenance was so bad for so long 336 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 2: that we should start over. So I brought President Trump 337 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 2: over as the great builder and took him through the 338 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 2: whole building. We went to the bottom of the building. 339 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 2: We saw the pipes, we saw the infrastructure, and looked 340 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 2: at the roof, and he said, this is bad, but 341 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 2: it can be fixed. We don't have to tear the 342 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 2: building down. And by the time he left the Kennedy 343 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 2: Center and went driving back to the White House, he 344 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 2: had called multiple members of Congress to say, I want 345 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 2: two hundred and fifty million dollars to save the Kennedy Center. Now, 346 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 2: look at that point, I think Democrats should have celebrated 347 00:21:55,640 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 2: a Republican trying to save an arts institution, but they did. 348 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 2: President Trump then launched the fundraising portion for staff and programming, 349 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 2: which you cannot use any of that two hundred and 350 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 2: fifty million for anything but the building. It would be 351 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 2: a moral to do that. It would be what the 352 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 2: Democrats did of trying to take their little bit of 353 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 2: money that was supposed to be for the building and 354 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,959 Speaker 2: not use it for the building. So we wanted to 355 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: commit to bringing the building back to a beautiful place. 356 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 2: We've already been doing that in the ten months that 357 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 2: I've been there. We now have more money being raised 358 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 2: for programming, a huge amount of money for the building renovation. 359 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 2: We've started on the renovations We've already done a tonnel painting. 360 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 2: The water fountains are working, the elevators are working. We're 361 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 2: redoing the marble, redoing the seats, redoing all of the 362 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 2: things that should have been done. One of the things 363 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 2: that is crazy to me is that the Kennedy family, 364 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 2: who is complaining now about the money being poured in 365 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 2: from Donald Trump, they're not thanking him. They're complaining that 366 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,719 Speaker 2: a Republican has come in and is getting credit, and 367 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,880 Speaker 2: the board is giving Donald Trump credit for all of this. 368 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 2: They were nowhere to be found. I don't want to 369 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: call anybody out specifically, but I can tell who's given 370 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 2: money to the Kennedy Center, and it's not coming from 371 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 2: the Kennedy family. And so this outrage is unbelievable in 372 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 2: that they should be thanking Donald Trump for saving the 373 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 2: former Kennedy Center, and when the board says, let's make 374 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 2: it the Trump Kennedy Center because now it's bipartisan. Now 375 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 2: it's a recognition that Republicans and Democrats should both be 376 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 2: making this a priority. They should celebrate this, they should 377 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 2: totally celebrate, but instead they're. 378 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: You mentioned bipartisan. That's the part. When I was on 379 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: TV the other night on CNN about this, like and 380 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: they're losing their minds. I just laugh because I'm like, 381 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: this is used to be The Kenny Center used to 382 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: be the hottest ticket in town. When I was there 383 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,719 Speaker 1: at the Bush administration, it was. It was a hot ticket. 384 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 1: It slowly started to lose its luster. I mean, I 385 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 1: go back to Charlie Wilson's War if you've ever seen 386 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: the movie true story, he just wanted to be on 387 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: the board of the Candy Center because he won the 388 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: tickets because it was such a hot item. And then 389 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: it had become an afterthought and forgotten. And that's part 390 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:24,160 Speaker 1: of what you guys have done at the Kenny Center 391 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: is turned it into the hottest ticket in town. By 392 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: bringing in people that that people want to a go 393 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: and see. You're also having people that want to have 394 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: their events at the venue, which is so important. It's 395 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: an incredible venue. It's right there on the on the river. 396 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: It's unbelievable to walk out on that balcony and just 397 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 1: c DC. It's an amazing a. 398 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 2: Truly, it's an underutilized space. Yes, underutilized, because look, one 399 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 2: thing to be clear, when when I arrived, the programming 400 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: was really bad. The ticket sales were in the tank. 401 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 2: Every single arts institution across this country is struggling with 402 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 2: ticket sales. As matter of fact, two months ago the 403 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 2: New York Times, which I seldom quote, The New York 404 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 2: Times had a front page paper that said Broadway is dying. 405 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 2: Nobody's buying Broadway tickets. This is a phenomenon that's been 406 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 2: happening across arts institutions. But what they don't realize is 407 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 2: that the reason why arts institutions are struggling is because 408 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 2: the programming is so far left and woke that it 409 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 2: doesn't capture the public's mind or corporate America, who should 410 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 2: be funding these things. 411 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: I do love, by the way, before you get back 412 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 1: to the ticket sales, Rick that they were like. The 413 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: question they asked me on CNN was, well, I mean, 414 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 1: what's next, You're going to put his name on the 415 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: Lincoln Memorial or the Jefferson Memorial or the Washington Monument, 416 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: name of the Trump money. The level of Trump arrangement 417 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 1: syndrome over this is truly impressive. Yeah. 418 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,159 Speaker 2: Look, my reaction when I get that is well, I 419 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 2: think the Jefferson and the Lincoln and the Washington have 420 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,640 Speaker 2: been maintained and so nobody needs to save them. 421 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: That's a that's a great point. So you get there 422 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 1: and were I want to go back to ticket sales. 423 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: That was one of the big problems. The building had 424 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: gone down, The ticket sales had gone down. You guys 425 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: inherited a disaster and deferred maintenance had never been done correct. 426 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 2: And look, arts institutions are struggling with ticket sales, every 427 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 2: single one across them the country, and it's because most 428 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 2: of the arts institutions push programming that corporate America and 429 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,360 Speaker 2: donors don't want to participate in. And so what we 430 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 2: did is we said to corporate America and to our donors, 431 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 2: you're never going to be embarrassed by what we're bringing. 432 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 2: It's going to be big, common sense programming we're bringing. 433 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 2: We brought in Stuttgart Ballet, We're bringing in the Vienna Philharmonic. 434 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 2: We've got Chicago the Musical coming, we had Ley miz 435 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 2: We're doing the big Commons programming. We do have a 436 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 2: problem in that the left and Democrats are boycotting it 437 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 2: right now, which is unbelievable when you think about boycotting 438 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 2: an arts institution, because Republicans are putting money into it. 439 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 2: But we're not going to go backwards. We're not going 440 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 2: to go back to the days where we can't pay 441 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,159 Speaker 2: our bills. And what I've decided to do is not 442 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 2: only look at ticket sales, because you can't pay for 443 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 2: programming with just ticket sales. We have nineteen unions at 444 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 2: the Trump Kennedy Center, and that makes every programming extremely expensive. 445 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 2: And so what I say is, between donors, Corporate America 446 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 2: and ticket sales, you got to get me to revenue 447 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,439 Speaker 2: neutral in order to do these programs because we can't 448 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,439 Speaker 2: go in debt by doing these things. Now. I believe 449 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 2: in arts education, and when we get a little bit 450 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 2: of money, we can do the niche programming that educates 451 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 2: people about the arts, new forms of art that they 452 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 2: haven't quite been accustomed to. But when you have niche programming, 453 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:05,239 Speaker 2: then you get big donors who say, I believe in this, 454 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 2: and I'm going to write you a check. 455 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: Right. That's my passion, right, that's my passion project. And 456 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: this is the saying is so important to me. I 457 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 1: want to write a check because I think this should 458 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 1: be expanded and introduced to others. And that's exactly again, 459 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 1: how you run an essence and nonprofit. You find people 460 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: that are passionate about it, which is something that I 461 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:24,719 Speaker 1: had died at the Kenney Center with their funding. 462 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 2: You can't pay someone one point four million dollars who 463 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 2: then tries to come up with some crazy programming like 464 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 2: an all lesbian cast of a Fellow. You can't do 465 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 2: programming like that because Corporate America says they're not coming. 466 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 2: But since we've been there and we've promised corporate America 467 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 2: that it's big, common sense programming, we have seen fundraising 468 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 2: shoot through the roof. Again. We still have Democrats who 469 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 2: say we're boycotting with ticket sales, but an arts reporter 470 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 2: that covers you know, arts programming in Washington, d C. 471 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 2: They've never ever done a story about plummeting ticket sales 472 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 2: ever until we came. And then suddenly they are saying, oh, well, 473 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 2: ticket sales aren't doing well. Well, correct, but ticket sales 474 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 2: have been really dying, as the New York Times pointed out, 475 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 2: with Broadway and all arts institutions, they've been struggling. What 476 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 2: we have shown is that when you fix the programming, 477 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 2: corporate America comes with really big checks, and then financially 478 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 2: you can if you're responsible with staffing, you can do 479 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 2: the big programming, and arts institutions can work. I think 480 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 2: this is an example. President Trump has given arts institutions 481 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 2: across the country an example be bipartisan fix the programming 482 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 2: so that you invite corporate America in and that is 483 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 2: how you're going to be able to have good theater 484 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 2: and good programming. 485 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: Well, let's talk about that quickly, the by person aspect 486 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: of this, because I do think that's the part that's 487 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: really incredible. You're bringing in amazing acts that are nonpartisan 488 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: acts and the Democrats are refusing to show it because 489 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: they want this to fail. The same people that demand 490 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: more money for the arts. This is the biggest stage 491 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 1: for the arts, and they're saying no all because a 492 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: Republican is the one doing it. If that isn't the 493 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: definition of insanity and hypocrisy, I don't know what is. 494 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 2: Well, I'll tell you one thing. This is a test 495 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 2: for Democrats because if they try and kill a bipartisan 496 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 2: arts institution like this by refusing to participate and refusing 497 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 2: to do ticket sales and refusing to do a long 498 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 2: term buying of tickets like through sponsorships, then they are 499 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 2: going to send the message to Republicans, you're not welcome 500 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 2: at arts institutions. They then will when Democrats take over Washington, 501 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 2: whenever that may be, they are going to make it 502 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 2: far left end and disinvite the Republicans, and we will 503 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 2: be back to arts institutions that pay one point four 504 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 2: million dollars in a say salary, with bloated bureaucracy and 505 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 2: then deferred maintenance problems. And look, when I arrived in 506 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 2: we have no money in the bank zero. Today we're 507 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 2: financially doing really well, and we're paying back all of 508 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 2: that debt reserve and all of the monies that we 509 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 2: digged in that we dug in and spent that we 510 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 2: shouldn't have been spending on Rick. 511 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: It's an incredible success story. Congratulations. I look forward to 512 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: being at the Kennedy Center soon and what you guys 513 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: are doing is amazing and I can't wait take my 514 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: picture in front of a bipartisan sign with the last 515 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: name Trump and Kennedy on it. It's incredible, it really is. 516 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: And I hope everybody will grab this interview shared on 517 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: social media. You know the background now of the Trump 518 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: Kennedy Center. Don't forget share this podcast wherever you can 519 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: with your family and your friends, and I'll see you 520 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: back here tomorrow