1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Live from our nation's camera. This budget thing is going 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: to do nothing. Space Force. I still think it's interesting 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: President Trump not playing his cards yet. Headlines Policy and 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: Politics colliding Floomberg Sound On, The Insiders, the influencers, the insides. 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 1: I would rather see a congressional solution. It's part of 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: my DNA. The Senate map in looks a lot different 7 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: than it looked in. You really have a divide within 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: Team Trump. The present has to do exactly what people 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: sent him here to do, which is to get it done. 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Sound On with Kevin Shirley on Bloomberg 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: and one oh five point seven f m h D two. 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: President Trump's Senate impeachment trial find scant precedent in history. 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: We're going to dive into the legalities of what needs 14 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: to happen for that trial to get kick started, as 15 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: Leader McConnell have to wait for Speaker Pelosi to deliver 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: the articles of impeachment or not. Meanwhile, one Republican senator 17 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: is quote unquote disturbed by Leader McConnell's impeachment remarks. Does 18 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: that mean that Republicans are starting to break away? At 19 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: least on the process. Will dive into the at least 20 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: summer Kowski's remarks. We've got two new panelists their debut 21 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: on the Bloomberg Radio Sound On program. Lester Munson as 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: a principal at the Government Relations from b GR Group 23 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: and an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University. You've 24 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: also got deep experience on Capitol Hill. You were previously 25 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: the chief of staff to Senator Mark Kirk, Republican from Illinois. 26 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: You also, during the Bush administration, served as the Deputy 27 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: Assistant Administrator at the US Agency for International Development U 28 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: S a i D. And you focused on legislative affairs, 29 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: global health issues, and and and you know there's never 30 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: enough time, but you lead the legislative efforts to develop 31 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: and implement former President Bush's PEPFAR, which of course is 32 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Africa. And I know 33 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: you and I used to talk. Knew you were on 34 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: the Senate Form Relations Committee with Senator Corker. Correct, So 35 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: you if you're a man about town, I've been here 36 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: a long time. And so do you Does that make 37 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: you a Washington Redskins fan or are you still? I 38 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: am a Nationals fan, but not a Redskins fan. Alright, 39 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: so here's your team. Uh, the Chicago Bears, all right 40 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: to say something, alright, Jeff and Charles Ellison. Charles Ellison 41 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: is a Philly guy. But did you you're not based 42 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: in Philly, not based on Philly. I do a lot 43 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: of back and forth between DC and Philly though. So 44 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: you're a political analyst. I always see you on on TV. 45 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: You've got your own show on Sirius sex m and 46 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: you are a contributor to Uptown magazine and the Washington 47 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: correspondent for the Philadelphia All Old, all Outdate. Let me 48 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: just correct you. I apologize, so my dad, No, that's 49 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: all right. No, I was on serious actually now on 50 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: a Philadelphia radio station called w a D. When he 51 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: doesn't I had that in front of me. Sorry, I 52 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: read your old by Sorry. I'm still in a sugar 53 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: a sugar daze from all of the Italian hard rock 54 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: cookies I ate on Christmas and all right, so impeachment, 55 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: I'll tell you. I've talked more today about Senator Lisa Murkowski. 56 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: Did you see this Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, 57 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: speaking to Katie You you the NBC affiliate just a 58 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: few days ago, and she was asked about how she 59 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: feels Leader McConnell, Leader McConnell is doing with regards to impeachment, 60 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: and she says that she's got some concerns and if if, 61 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:39,839 Speaker 1: if we have that sound bite, if we could play 62 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: what Senator Murkowski had to say. Let's take a listen 63 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: to Senator Murkowski, and in fairness, when I heard that, 64 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: I was disturbed. To me, it means that we have 65 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: to take that step back from being hand in glove 66 00:03:53,960 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 1: with the defense, and so I I I heard, but 67 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: Leader McConnell had said, I happen to think that that 68 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: has further confused the process. She's saying lesser that it's 69 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: confused the process that Leader McConnell has come out and 70 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: said that they've worked so closely with the White House. 71 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: She's not saying she thinks the President Trump should be convicted. 72 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: That's a very different argument. But what she's saying is 73 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: that the rules package, which only by the way, needs 74 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 1: a majority vote in the Senate, and they've got to 75 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: get some bill through that sets the rules for this 76 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: Senate impeachment trial. She's saying she's got issues with that. 77 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: Is Leader McConnell gonna have to listen to her. Well, 78 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: that remains to be seen whether she can get anyone 79 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: to vote against this rules package, or if even she 80 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:44,119 Speaker 1: herself will vote against it. But I think she's not wrong. 81 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: Senator McConnell, who is normally very adept at these things, 82 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: I think, kind of made a mistake when he said 83 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: we're working hand in glove with the White House Counsel's 84 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: Office on everything that's going on here. Uh, and that 85 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: it calls into question the objectivity of the Senate. So 86 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: she's not wrong. H And I think if they follow 87 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: her advice and then they vote not to convict him, 88 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: it will be a more credible vote come in here 89 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: in terms of Charles Ware this stands and whether or 90 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: not this puts pressure on Leader McConnell to maybe bend 91 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: just a little to what Speaker Pelosi has been saying, 92 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: which is they want I don't think he's gonna cave 93 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: and give him Bolton the Mulveney to testify, but they 94 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: want something. Yeah. The key word here is a little. Um. 95 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: I think it was a little pressure, not a whole lot. 96 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: You know, Lisa Mkowski is not definitely a fan of 97 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: Senate Republican leadership and Senate Republican leadership. That really the 98 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: Senate Republican Caucus, the ranking file. They've never really been 99 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: a big fan of Lisa Murkowski. We remember like that 100 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: last cycle where she had to do a writing campaign, Um, 101 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: and she actually wanted with a name like Murkowski. But um, 102 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: it's it's significant right that you have someone like Senator 103 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: Murkowski because she has that reputation for being that person 104 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 1: when when Lisa says something, because normally, you know, she 105 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: kind of keeps her head sort of dug in. She 106 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: does the work, the business of the Senate representing Alaska. 107 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: But when Lisa says something, you list and you have to. 108 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: I mean, she was one of the only, I believe 109 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: one of the only Republicans who opposed Justice Kavanaugh on 110 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: that confirmation. So I'm curious to see whether or not 111 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: Senator Susan Collins in the coming days makes similar remarks 112 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: in terms of moving moving Leader McConnell on the issue 113 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: of these rules for the Senate impeachment trial, Senator at Romney, 114 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: Cory Gardner, some of these other Republicans, and I think, 115 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: and this is where I'm curious for both of your takes, 116 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: what Senator Murkowski did was lay a ground marker on 117 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: where quote unquote opposition is right now in the Republican Party. Again, 118 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: she didn't come out and say she thinks President Trump 119 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: should be convicted. She said she wants a fair trial 120 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: with rules, and that nuance is incredibly important. Tell us 121 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: why Lester Well. In order for the Senate to convict 122 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 1: the president on the impeachment charges, they need sixty seven votes, 123 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: which means you've basically got to get about twenty Republicans 124 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: to vote to convict the president on one of the 125 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: two charges. That is very, very unlikely to happen. So 126 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: we're not we're really not talking about the president being 127 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: removed from office. We're talking about the way the Senate 128 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: presents itself. We're talking about the race in November of 129 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: next year to see who controls the Senate for the 130 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: next Congress for thee and it's a it's kind of 131 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: a toss up right now. The Democrats have a pretty 132 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: good shot at taken over from Republicans. Murkowski is concerned. 133 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: Other Senators like Susan Collins, who's up for re election, 134 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: is concerned. They're they're in tough races, and they're the 135 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: things that they say now on this very hot topic 136 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: are going to be directly related to their reelection. Yeah, 137 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: you know, the political implications for twenty are huge, and 138 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: so it's all about appearances, is all about optics, and 139 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: so definitely we're not going to have a situation here 140 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: which one Republicans are suddenly going to cross over to 141 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: the other side and vote for a conviction. But they 142 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: at least want to seem as if they're conducting something 143 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: that's that's fair and impartial here, as their Senate Oath dictates, 144 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: the Senate Impeachment Oath, which has been around since the 145 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: nineteenth century, dictates that hey, you've got to do this 146 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: and partially right, this is what the constitution dictates. They 147 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: understand the public's watching that very carefully and closely, which 148 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: which leads us to believe that Pelosi made a very 149 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: good play here because it puts it really blows up 150 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: the spot of Republicans, of Senate Republicans, if they go 151 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: all along with coordinating so closely with the White House, Uh, 152 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: you could have a lot of independence who could say, hey, 153 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: I don't want this kind of sense, you know, and 154 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: maybe I'm just maybe I'm maybe I'm jaded, maybe I'm jaded. 155 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: I'm just kidding. I'm an optimist. But but you know, 156 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: so Democrats are saying Republicans are working in locks up 157 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: at the White House. The Republicans are admitting as much. 158 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: But the Democrats were working cohesively with each other in 159 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: in the House. I mean, it's it's not like one 160 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: either side has a monopoly of not working with their 161 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: with their respective leaders. Meanwhile, I mean they didn't let 162 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: Hunter Biden testify in the House, and uh, you know 163 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 1: to leader McConnell's, I mean he's not he's not on 164 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: anymore anyone else testified. Meanwhile, President Trump was talking about 165 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: the impeachment issue at his private club in Palm Beach, 166 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: Floridamorrow Lago down the Laudo. I hear, it's beautiful down there. 167 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: My friends that are down there covering this, they're like 168 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: a you know, rough other places you could be. There 169 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: are worst assignments to have than having to be down 170 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: in Palm Beach. Take a listen to President Trump. Here 171 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: is we're in a very good position. Ultimately, that decision 172 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: is going to be made by Mitch McConnell and he 173 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: will make it. You know, he has the right to 174 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: do whatever he wants. He's the head of the Senate. People, Remember, 175 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: they treated us very unfairly. They didn't give us due process, 176 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: they didn't give us a lawyer, they didn't give us anything. 177 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: Now they come to the Senate and they want everything. 178 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I just think, you know, you're heading into January. 179 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: There is impetus to get this thing done. The day 180 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: after the Iowa cauc is, President Trump is going to 181 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: deliver a State of the Union address. It could be 182 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: in the middle of the trial, it could be right 183 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: after he is acquitted. You know, who knows. So a 184 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 1: lot more fireworks, never a dull moment. Some fireworks and tweets. 185 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: All we have our tweets and taxes and death. Well, 186 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: a modern take on Ben Franklin. It's it's trained. It's changed, 187 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: hasn't it. Pelosi originally didn't want to impeach the president 188 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: at all. Then she wanted to do it very quickly, 189 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: and now she's kind of slown it down. And I 190 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: do think it's a smart move because she's kind of 191 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: grabbed the reins of this process. But it's it's very 192 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: different than it was six weeks ago. And you're you're 193 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: looking at the Iowa caucuses on February three, I think 194 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: it is. It's four or five, five, six weeks away. 195 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: They're coming up, and we've still got this big impeachment 196 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,719 Speaker 1: battle bruin, and it's it's all kind of coming to 197 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: a head. You know. I was back in Delica for 198 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: the for Christmas, and I got to be honest. I mean, 199 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: it's it's as divisive issue to talk about impeachment in 200 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: terms of where everybody is, but no, what's voting on it. 201 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, you go to these battleground districts, 202 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: you go to these to these independent parts of the country, 203 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: and I think it's a risk, I you know, for 204 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: both President Trump and speak your Pelosi speaker Pelosi from 205 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: the down ballot race perspective, President Trump from the presidential perspective. No, 206 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: she's I think she's keeping that in mind that that 207 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: you know, right now, what's on voters mind or front 208 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: and center of the kitchen table issues right, quality of 209 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 1: life issues. But you know, she's saying a little bit 210 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: tactically here. She's thinking about the primary ways to keep 211 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: the Democratic electorate engaged, keep them activated throughout the primaries, 212 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: also giving them a little bit as they head into 213 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: the general election phase by drawing this out as long 214 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: as possible, and too, I think it's it's a bit 215 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: of a psychological move. The taint of impeachment is something 216 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: that that really irritates Trump is getting under his skin. 217 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: Also to be able to show, hey, we as Democrats, 218 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: we can't be pushed around, you know, and so and 219 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: I think that Republicans, particularly Senate Republicans like Mr mccomba, 220 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: have always pushed Democrats around. Coming up, we're gonna pivot 221 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 1: to policy panel, stays Lester Munson. Charlie Charles Ellison, apologize again, 222 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: just butchering your name, your title at muster you were 223 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: at pet part. Did you for meet Bono? I did 224 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: meet Bono. I had lunch with Bono. Launched Bono. He 225 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: has an iron butt. He can sit there through a 226 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: two hour long meeting and talk to people in a 227 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: smart way and persuade them. He's a very impressive guy. 228 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: You know why because he's Bono. He's he's the theme 229 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: song to this show. They let me pick the theme song. 230 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: That's the best album in the history of music. All 231 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: that you can't leave behind. Download The Bloomberg Sound on 232 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,719 Speaker 1: podcast on Apple iTunes and Bloomberg dot Com or by 233 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: downloading the Bloomberg Business app. You can also find us 234 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: on Radio dot com, I Heart Radio and Spotify. I'm 235 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: Kevin Sirelli, Chief Washington correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. 236 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: And you're listening to Bloomberg. Yeah, you're listening to Bloomberg. 237 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: Sound On with Kevin Surreley on Bloomberg and one on 238 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 1: five point two. We're now getting along very well with 239 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 1: China and trade. In fact, they just took caarriffs of 240 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: more than eight hundred products within with Argigo's tariffs and 241 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 1: now those tariffs are gone, no more tariffs. That was 242 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: President Trump speaking the other day down at the Lago 243 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: Maral Largo, where he spent the holiday, with regards to 244 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: tariffs on China. Meanwhile, uh, just earlier this week, before 245 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: the holiday, we were discussing about how North Korea, North Korea, 246 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: Kim Jong Un dictator Kim Jong un had promised some 247 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: type of quote unquote gift and no word, no word 248 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: on what it is going to be. And the holiday 249 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: has passed, a CNN reports quote without a gift from 250 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: the North Korean regime. US officials are puzzled while Kim 251 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: Jong un chose not to conduct a weapons test so far. 252 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: I'm Kevin CURRELLI, Chief Washington correspondent for Bloomberg Television and 253 00:13:55,440 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Charles Ellison is here, and Lester Munson is 254 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: here as well. The North Koreans. Lester, I mean for 255 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: your work in foreign policy. What were they thinking when 256 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: they said they have this Christmas gift? That's what they 257 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: called it, and then no word. Well, maybe Kim Jong 258 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: un is orthodox and he's waiting until Jenny to Christmas. 259 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: It's possible that may be the way to do things, 260 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: you know. Very interesting. Yeah, he definitely keeps us on 261 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: our toes. Definitely keeps us on our toes. Headline in 262 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: The Hill newspaper, North Korea keeps world on edge with 263 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: promised gift to the US. Rebecca Kiel at The Hill 264 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: reporting North Korea's yet to materialize threat of a Christmas 265 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: gift for the United States is keeping the world on edge. 266 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: Christmas came and went with no indication of military action 267 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: or even fiery rhetoric from North Korea. And if that 268 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: wasn't enough, just some geopolitical chess pieces to keep tabs over. 269 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: Our colleague j hay Lee reporting on the Bloomberg Terminal 270 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: that days before a troop funding deal was set to expire, 271 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: the US has dropped its demand that South Korea pay 272 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: five times more to host its military personnel after receiving 273 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: assurances from Soul that Soul would purchase more American weapons. 274 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: According to a South Korean news papers, So the Trump 275 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: administration likely eased up after South Korea indicated it's going 276 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: to step up its presence in the straight of horror moves, 277 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: and that seemingly suggests Charles some chess pieces moving. Definitely, 278 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: some chess pieces moving on North Korea. Two theories there. One, 279 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: North Korea trying to find a way maybe to inject 280 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: itself in those trilateral discussions that were taken place recently 281 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: between China, South Korea, also Japan on trade and also 282 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: intelligence sharing, military positioning. Also the North Koreans, you know, 283 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: just trying to sort of keep themselves relevant, uh, and 284 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: to show that hey, I can still Kim John Lum 285 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: showing that hey I can still outsmart Trump. Trump. As 286 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: far as the recent pressure on South Korea, he's been good, 287 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: I think for the defense contracting industry, right because I 288 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: mean it's this is like what the second or third 289 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: time that he shook down in particular or played, you 290 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: know this, this very clever game with a particular country, 291 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: whether Saudi Arabia or Turkey and now South Korea and 292 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: forcing them to buy US military product. I think he's 293 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: been very defin and very clever at that. Turns out 294 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: he's a good arms dealer. Maybe yeah, he knows how 295 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: to kind of change the change the negotiating context and 296 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: get these countries to buy more stuff from the U. 297 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: S not bad for the US county. I mean, it's 298 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: so interesting when we when we look at North Korea 299 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: and and so both of your points, you can't look 300 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: at it in a vacuum. You've got the situation in 301 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: terms of the negotiations with regards to troops from South 302 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: Korea and the and the straight and the straight of 303 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: Horn moves. And then you have, uh, the China talks 304 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: and we just heard earlier from President saying that there's 305 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: no tariffs. Lester, that's what he says. I mean, they 306 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: have an inc the deal. And until you know that, 307 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: that's not the eyes crossed the teas. But there were 308 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: protesters that flooded Chinese malls Hong Kong protesters flooding the 309 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: malls over the over the holiday with regard to the protests, 310 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: and I just think if you're if you're Chinese President 311 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: shi Jing Ping lester, you've got to keep careful tabs 312 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: on what's coming out of North Korea and Rocketman, as 313 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: President Trump calls him, because that puts pressure on President Trump. 314 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: And so much of North Korea is and and really 315 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: the trade going out in North Korea and into it 316 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: is rooted in China. So it's just all I don't 317 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: want to conflate stories, but it's all interconnected well. And 318 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: and if you're if you're a Congress watcher on foreign 319 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: policy issues, Congress I think in both parties is more 320 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: conservative than the President China issues. The President is clearly 321 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,360 Speaker 1: looking to cut a deal with China which is kind 322 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: of half done to keep that stock market high and 323 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: the downs at an all time high. So it appears 324 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: to be working at least in that regard. But both 325 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: Democrats and Republicans on the Hill very critical of China 326 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: on human rights and democracy issues. So and and this 327 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: this latest kind of half deal was announced after Congress left. 328 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: It's gonna be very interesting to see when commerce comes 329 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: back once they've kind of sorted out the impeachment madness. 330 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: Where what is Congress gonna do about China policy? China 331 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: is much more conservative than the president in both parties. 332 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: I think it's a really interesting point. You mentioned the 333 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 1: stock market, and we should note that the tech rally 334 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: sent the NASDAC past nine thousand for the first time 335 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: that earlier Today. Gains and technology shares sent the NASDACK 336 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: Composite Index above nine thousand for the first time. Gold 337 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 1: advanced and the dollar drifted lower in holiday thinned trading. 338 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: Amazon dot Com Inc. Was among the top equity performers 339 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: after the e commerce giant reported a quote unquote record 340 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 1: breaking holiday season. Much more of a the panel. Download 341 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg's Out On podcast on Apple iTunes and Bloomberg 342 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: dot Com, or by downloading the Bloomberg Business App. You 343 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: can also find us on Radio dot com, I Heart Radio, 344 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: and Spotify. Kevin surreally hope everybody got some great gifts 345 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: from Santa. If you're listening to Bloomberg, you're listening to Bloomberg. 346 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: Sound On with Kevin Surrele on Bloomberg and one oh 347 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,120 Speaker 1: five point seven F M h D two. I'm Kevin Serelli, 348 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: chief Washington correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. I 349 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: am joined by Charles Ellison and Lester Munson. And there's, 350 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: you know, lots of developments that we've been following all week. 351 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: I want to talk about Boeing because there's some new 352 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: developments post Christmas developments with Boeing. The House Transportation Committee 353 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: got their hands on a treasure trove of documents with 354 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: regards to Boeing Max Airliner, and they we don't know 355 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: what the documents are, but reading from the Bloomberg terminal, 356 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: quote a new batch of messages between Boeing employees on 357 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: the development of the seven thirty seven Max painstake quote 358 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: very disturbing picture end quote of concerns about the plane. 359 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 1: According to an aid to a House committee, the documents 360 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: were turned over to the f a A, the Federal 361 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: Aviation Administration, on Monday, the agency says in a statement. 362 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: But the disclosure came the same day that Boeing AUST 363 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: did its chief executive. Wow, so you got Muhllenberg out, 364 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: you have David Calhoun taken over, the same day, you 365 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: get these docks to the f a A. And we 366 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: know from reports from Bloomberg, reporting from other outlets reporting 367 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: that you've got the the one of the main issues 368 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: at play here was that Muhlenberg didn't get along well 369 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 1: with the f A, which we know in this room 370 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: is unheard of for the CEO of Bowing not to 371 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: get along with the f A A, I mean, not 372 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: really next to impossible. So now you've got David Calhoun 373 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: stepping in with these new documents, Lester, I mean wow, 374 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: I mean he might have to testify on his first 375 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: week on the job. Yeah, it's been a it's been 376 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: a tough string of news for Boeing. Their star liner 377 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: didn't quite make it to the International Space Station. Uh, 378 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: they've been getting killed on the seven thirty seven Max News. Uh, 379 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: they've got a they've got a tough row head Congress 380 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: smells blood. That's never good. Uh. And he needs to 381 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: start getting along with people in the swamp to to survive. 382 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: I mean, Charles, you look at how this plays out 383 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: for Boeing. There's really nowhere to go but up right, 384 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 1: I mean there at the bottom. I mean the other 385 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: big kind of catastrophe for them is, you know, just 386 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: sort of the leverage that Lackie Martin has in the 387 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: defensive party with the former Lackey Martin exact now you know, 388 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: kind of now overseeing the Pentagon, um, you know, and 389 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: that's and also Lackey Martin is the F thirty five, right, 390 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: and so Bowing, where's that put Bowing if the F 391 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: thirty five is, you know, they're working out all the 392 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: quirks with that and all the procurement issues. So where 393 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: does that lead Bowing as far as defense systems? That 394 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: is trying to get in front of the Pentagon. So 395 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 1: I think that that's kind of the other kind of 396 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: sort of untold story as far as Bowing's troubles. But um, 397 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 1: who's going to be riding Who's gonna be going on 398 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: board at seven thirty seven Max next year? I'm gonna 399 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to embrace my inner Mike Allen over 400 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: at Axios. My inner Mike Allen Over at Axios. Sounds 401 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: smart because not only is there now not only does 402 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: Bowing get a new a new CEO, but they're also 403 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 1: there's also a board opening, and so maybe they're going 404 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: to name someone to that board who's I don't know, 405 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: a previous f A A official, And that would allow 406 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: them to continue. So they've got two spots now to 407 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: be able to try to smooth things over with the 408 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 1: Federal Aviation Administration coming up. What's on the panel's radar? 409 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: What's on my radar? I gotta tell you, I'm still 410 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: in in a holiday has I don't know if you 411 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: guys get like this. I'm exhausted watching my godson and 412 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: my niece, my niece and nephew wanted my god son 413 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: is my nephew open up gifts. It was like a hurricane. 414 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: They've got more energy than anybody. And I got him 415 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: a bean bag chair. I'm thinking they're never going to sleep. 416 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: I mean, they got so many gifts. It was it 417 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: was so much fun back home for the holidays. Uh, 418 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,239 Speaker 1: And it was fun. I guess I can say now 419 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: what I got them? I got the bean bag chairs. 420 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: I didn't ruin anyone's holiday. What was the best gift 421 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: you gave or got Lester? I gave my wife throwing axes. 422 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: Very happy. This was a clutch move on. I'm telling 423 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: you got to embrace it. She's she really, she's into 424 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: ax throwing. I wanna I want to be her partner 425 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: in that. And I got her. Where do you even practice. 426 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: Where do you practice? Actors? You know, a couple of 427 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,159 Speaker 1: houses away, there's a little forest. We're gonna go in 428 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,679 Speaker 1: there and start, you know, see if we can hit 429 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: the trees with the ax. That's so cool. So yeah, wow, okay, 430 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: what about you? I got I got lots of shoes. 431 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: My wife gave me lots of shoes, which I I 432 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 1: just I like different kinds of speakers, just like dress shoes. 433 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: You know, like I'm just into that. You know, we're 434 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 1: in one period now. I got like like six different pairs. 435 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 1: Good for you, you know. I got well, I got 436 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 1: a new scarf, which I have on literally right now. 437 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 1: It's a little cold in the studio. I got a scarf, 438 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 1: and I got Tupperware. All I wanted was Tupperware had 439 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,479 Speaker 1: a suitcase. I think I got a suitcase because I'm 440 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,719 Speaker 1: gonna hitting road a lot at the first quarter. Alright, 441 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: So I gotta say I think axes wins that. That's 442 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: that's pretty pretty. I'm Kevin cereally the axe thrower. Husband 443 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 1: is going to stick around, and Charles Ellison, I'm Kevin 444 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: SERELLI you're listening to Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg. Sound 445 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: on with Kevin Sireley on bloomberde and one oh five 446 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: points seven m h D two. I'm Kevin Cereli, chief 447 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 1: Washington correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. My guests 448 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: are Charles Ellison, a veteran communication strategist, host of Reality 449 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:11,479 Speaker 1: Check on w u r D Radio in Philadelphia and 450 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 1: publisher of the b e note dot Com. Lester Munson, 451 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:19,159 Speaker 1: also making his Bloomberg Radio sound on debut. He's a 452 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: principal at b GR Group and an adjunct faculty member 453 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 1: at Johns Hopkins University, and of course a veteran of 454 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: foreign relations background, serving in the Bush administration Bush fort 455 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 1: three and also on Capitol Hill on the Senate Foreign 456 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: Relations Committee. Alright, so we do this thing here where 457 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: we the last segment what's on your radar? Where you 458 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 1: guys tell me one thing that's on your radar that 459 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 1: maybe he's in the news that's not getting enough player 460 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: a deeper dive into another issue. So I will let 461 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 1: Charles you can go first. What's on your radar? Right, 462 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: You're gonna definitely be watching very closely voter suppression UM 463 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: and and also combining that with a like security because 464 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: I think voter suppression is an election security issue. And 465 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: we saw these big purges of voter rolls take place 466 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: last week that we're announced in Wisconsin and Georgia. Georgia 467 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: now becoming a big battleground. Wisconsin was obviously a battleground, 468 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,719 Speaker 1: still will be, and we got to watch other states 469 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: like Ohio very clause. I was talking to some folks 470 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: in Ohio about, uh, you know how Ohio's kind of 471 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: set the standard for a lot of the voter purging 472 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: trends we're seeing right now, so that that's gonna take 473 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 1: a very So it's gonna be about voter suppression and 474 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 1: then what kind of turnout can Democrats engineer because typically Republicans, 475 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 1: it seems we were engineering all these voter suppression efforts, 476 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: But how do Democrats engineer the type of turnout that 477 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 1: will counter that? Uh? So that I think that's I 478 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 1: think that story has been been it's been reported on, 479 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: but it hasn't been unpacked as deeply as it should be. 480 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: I think it should be more in So how do 481 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: you have how where does it go in? Because it's 482 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 1: an issue that's not going away, especially in Georgia, especially 483 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,959 Speaker 1: as as Democrats want to win Georgia. So where does 484 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: it go from here? What's the next development in that issue? 485 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 1: I think we're gonna have to watch, you know. I 486 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 1: think the big development is how democrats once again, how 487 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 1: democrats count, How do Democrats count on the legal front? Um, 488 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 1: and not just really democrats. Let's make it not a 489 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: partisan issue, because it's not a partisan issue. This is 490 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: really an American issue. This is about how a democracy 491 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: is supposed to function. Uh. So we want to see, like, 492 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: how does that whole universe of different advocacy groups and nonprofits, 493 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: how do they all react and respond to it? And 494 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: you know, will there be some Republicans who were uh 495 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: you know, within the party who start pushing back against 496 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: their leaders, the leaders of their party in certain states 497 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 1: like Georgia, um running this voter suppression franchise. I think, um, 498 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: that will be a big development that I think that's 499 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: that's where it has to go next. Uh is sort 500 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: of internal pushback from Republicans themselves saying, hey, you know 501 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: what we have to we have to where that these elections, 502 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: all these elections are open and transparent and they're completely fair. 503 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: You know, we can't be you know, rigging electoral processes 504 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: or systems like this. Interesting. All right, so that's what's 505 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: on your radar, lester, what's on your radar? Sanctions? Congress 506 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: just passed the National Defense Authorization. Actually very exciting time 507 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: for Congress every year. They passed that. Uh, there's a 508 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: bunch of provisions in that bill that included new sanctions, 509 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: particularly on Russian energy facilities, namely pipelines Nordstream to pipeline, 510 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: Turk Stream pipeline. Congress is very active in trying to 511 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: shape national security issues, trying to shape US foreign policy, 512 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 1: and put putting the onus on the president to act 513 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: and to do things that are going to counter Vladimir 514 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: Putin in Europe, or at least that's their perception of 515 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,239 Speaker 1: what they're doing. And then there's another terrific issue of 516 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 1: sanctions on Iran. There's a little noticed provision in the 517 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 1: U N. Security Council resolution that initially passed under the 518 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: Obama administration that relieved a lot of the sanctions on 519 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: Iran after the nuclear deal, not all of those. The 520 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 1: US has the ability to reimpose those multilateral sanctions if 521 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: it chooses to do so. President Trump has not chosen 522 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: to do that. There's a lot of pressure from very 523 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: hard line particularly Republicans on capital though some Democrats, to 524 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: impose those multilateral sanctions on Iran. This is interesting, all right, 525 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 1: let's on package. Let's start with the ladder first. All right, 526 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: So the u N has this line in there in 527 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 1: there UH accord that gives the president permission to add 528 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 1: basically the UN Security Council resolution that actualized the Iran 529 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: nuclear Deal that kind of paved the way for the 530 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: national law to deal with this new nuclear deal about 531 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: three or four years ago under President Obama contained a 532 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: provision that any one of the six of any one 533 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: of the seven parties to the Iran Nuclear Deal, if 534 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: they chose to reimpose sanctions, could activate a provision under 535 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: that resolution, under the UN Security Uncil resolution that would 536 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: facilitate all of the other countries reimposing multilateral sanctions on Iran. 537 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: The Trump administration, of course, has imposed a bunch of 538 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: unilateral sanctions on around US sanctions. Europe has resisted that. 539 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: But President Trump could really push Europe to the edge 540 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 1: and compel them to impose their own sanctions on Iran 541 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: if he chose to take this action. But so far 542 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 1: we haven't seen that. So far, we haven't seen it. 543 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: Senator Ted Cruz very active on this. He's held up 544 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: a nominee a guy named Steve Began who's about to 545 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: be who I think is about to be sworn in 546 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: as the Deputy Secretary of State, who could replace Mike 547 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: Pompeyo if he decides to leave to go run for Senate. 548 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 1: Uh So there's there's action on Capitl Hill about this 549 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: Steve Began, this is fascinating. Steve Began wants to get 550 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 1: to have Europe reimposed sanctions on on Iran. No, Senator 551 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: Ted Cruz does, and he is willing to hold up 552 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 1: actions in the Senate that would help the administration to 553 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: get it done. In this case, he held up Vegan's 554 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 1: nomination to get a memo out of the White House 555 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: that explained their logic for their decisions on this multilateral 556 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: sanctions issue. It's kind of the first shot on this battle. 557 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: That's right. Ted Cruz kind of showing a little leadership 558 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: on his part. If you agree with him, you think 559 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: he showed leadership. If you don't agree with him, you 560 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: think he's being kind of a pain. But he's he's 561 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: taken action, and I think the rest of the sense 562 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: is going to start to notice early next year. Well, 563 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: it's interesting because the whole argument of the Iran nuclear 564 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 1: disarmament deal was that it would be it would be 565 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: multilateral pressure against Iran to disarm themselves. And with the 566 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: US withdrawing from it, where where did the other countries go? 567 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: And they rely much more well, they have much more 568 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: economic ties, stronger economic ties to to to Iran than 569 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: of course the United States. Does you said something else 570 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: that I want to notice about, And that's about the 571 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: nord Stream too, in terms of sanctions with regard and 572 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,960 Speaker 1: and how it pertains to the nord Stream to unpackaged 573 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: that for me, so nord Stream to to a lesser extent, 574 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 1: turk Stream are pipelines that would provide energy resources natural 575 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 1: gas from Russia to Europe. Congress wants to shut down 576 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 1: those operations and kind of push Russia away from Europe. 577 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: The Europeans are all too happy to buy gas from 578 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:18,720 Speaker 1: the Russians. This is anathema to folks in Congress and 579 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 1: both parties who want to take a really tough line 580 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: on Russia. So the latest n d a A or 581 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: National Defense Authorization Act impositions on nord Stream too on 582 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,920 Speaker 1: this pipeline and main in fact shut it down. Well, 583 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: Russia saying within the last twenty four hours, according to 584 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: the Kremlin, that they can build the nord Stream to 585 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:41,479 Speaker 1: buy themselves. What we're going to find out, we're going 586 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:42,959 Speaker 1: to find out. I mean, but that's huge. I mean, 587 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: if you've been following this energy issue, for for Russia 588 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:47,719 Speaker 1: to come out and say that they can do this 589 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: without any contractors, that they can build it by themselves, 590 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: would would really be like Crimea like almost you could argue, 591 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: and they just build that bridge to like they literally 592 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 1: built a bridge to Crimea as well. I mean, it's 593 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: it's the Russians are masters annexation. They're they're very cost 594 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 1: effective in the way. They kind of undermine our national 595 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: security agers. I gotta say, they're there, they play a 596 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 1: weekend very well. It's it's fits. Yeah, you know, that's 597 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:17,719 Speaker 1: all right. So two very good radars. Here's what's all 598 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: my radar Bernie Sanders, And I've been saying this for 599 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: the past couple of weeks. Senator Bernie Sanders has been, 600 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: without question, one of the most consistent candidates in the 601 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: Democratic field. Whether you think he's a socialist in a 602 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: good way or a bad way, and he is consistently 603 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: pulling at number two and many. I mean when we 604 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: started this process, he was written off. I mean there's 605 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,040 Speaker 1: no other way to put it, especially by the Democratic 606 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: Party establishment. For him to be consistent and to be 607 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:45,760 Speaker 1: pulling above now by about six to seven percentage points 608 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 1: on average in Iowa, in New Hampshire, nationally above Senator 609 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Warren. And for Senator Elizabeth Warren to be targeting 610 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: Pete Buddha g Edge and not Bernie Sanders shows one 611 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: loyalty from the Sanders supporters to Bernie Sanders. And two. 612 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: We talked about it, but I think now it's it's 613 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 1: it's able to be more illustrated. Elizabeth Moren's supporters are 614 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: not necessarily Bernie Sanders supporters. They're more highly educated, white 615 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 1: tending to be white. And that's the same demographic that 616 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: Buddha Jedge is also targeting. Bernie's supporters have been with 617 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,399 Speaker 1: them for years. And so that political story out today, 618 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 1: go read it. It's a great reader when they plug it. 619 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:32,760 Speaker 1: For For this story by Holly Otto Mine and David Ciders, 620 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 1: the headline Democratic Insiders Bernie could win the nomination. Yeah, yeah, 621 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:44,280 Speaker 1: I gotta tell you. Just the headline at the Delka 622 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 1: Times the other I mean, when I was home, I 623 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 1: always read the Delka Times. But anyway, there's a funeral 624 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 1: parlor back home that they got in trouble with the 625 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,799 Speaker 1: Feds because they were pedaling, they were stealing money. Can't 626 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:56,320 Speaker 1: make it up. All right, Well thanks, that has nothing 627 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: to do with this show. But you I'm telling you. 628 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 1: You mentioned home and I go right back there, Charles. 629 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: Did you guys have fun? Charles, you have a good time. 630 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:06,959 Speaker 1: You'll come back. Lester, you're coming back. I want Botto stories, Lester, 631 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 1: I want Botto alright at acts stories. All right? That 632 00:35:10,719 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 1: does it for me. Happy Holidays, everybody. I'm Kevin SURRELLI 633 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: you're listening to Bloomberg.