1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: Now from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg Sound on 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: the course. It was another right decision, was wrong decision. 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: So I don't have him to say the parents other 4 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: than what at half Bloomberg Sound on Politics, Policy and 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: perspective from DC's top names. I wanted to thank the 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: true American of the twenty eight years later. There's a 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: reason a lot of us are not optimistic. Why were 8 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: to a fair winds and following seas Because I know 9 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: you well, remain always faithful. Hey, God protect you Off 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The 11 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: n r A convention kicks off in Texas as police 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: in Vivaldi admit they made the wrong decision at the scene. 13 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to the fastest hour in politics, as we seek 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: rational thought again at the end of a harrowing week. 15 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: And we start this hour in Houston, where former President 16 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: Donald Trump is to address members of the National Rifle 17 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: Association a few hundred miles from the scene of this 18 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: week's school massacre. We're gonna get an update from Bloomberg's 19 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: Joe Carroll. He's in the room right now covering the convention, 20 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,639 Speaker 1: and we'll get analysis from our panel today. Adam Goodman, 21 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: Republican strategist. Edward R. Murrow, senior fellow at Tusk University 22 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: Fletcher School, is back with us along with Jim Davis, 23 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,680 Speaker 1: former Democratic Congressman from Florida. It's going to be an 24 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: interesting conversation today. We'll also update efforts on Capitol Hill 25 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 1: to find some compromise on gun legislation, if that's even possible. 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: A conversation ahead with Bloomberg's Steve Dennis will have the 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,639 Speaker 1: latest and thanks for being with us this Friday edition 28 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: of Bloomberg Sound On. It's going to be a little 29 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: bit different this hour because we're following a live event 30 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: in progress, with one eye on the n r A 31 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: convention that's kicking off in Houston, and our other eye, 32 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: of course, on what's happening in Uvaldi, where Governor Greg 33 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: Abbott is spending his time instead of attending the meeting. 34 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: And we've got news on both ends here of the 35 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: state of Texas. I'm Joe Matthew and Washington. The n 36 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: r A kicking off the convention today in Houston. As 37 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: I mentioned, even after the mayor of that city you 38 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 1: might remember, urged the group to postpone because of this 39 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: week's events, The n r A CEO Wayne Lapierre spoke 40 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: to members once again, kicking things off once again against 41 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: the backdrop of gun violence in America. Here he is 42 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: these tragedies caused gut wretching, unimaginable pain that too many 43 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: are being forced to go through right now. It's not right. 44 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: It should never happen again. If we as a nation 45 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: we're capable of legislating evil, how do the hearts and 46 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: minds of criminals who commit these heinous acts? We would 47 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: have done it a long time ago. He wrapped his 48 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: speech by asking that police officers in the room stand up. 49 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: Law enforcement officers, they've got a big round of applause us. 50 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: He then followed that with firefighters, they too got applause, 51 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: and then went through a long list of other occupations, 52 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: a lot, you know, a lot of everyday jobs. Contractors 53 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: stay plumbers or their plumbers, stay at home moms until 54 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: the whole place was up, and what he called the 55 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: heart of the nation who believe in the right to 56 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: self defense. Now, as we've reported, some have chosen not 57 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: to speak at this meeting, including the aforementioned Governor Abbott. 58 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: He instead went to Vivaldi, although he sent the video 59 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: that addressed gun laws and the massacre here he is 60 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: there are thousands of laws on the books across the 61 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: country that limit the owning or using of firearms, laws 62 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: that have not stopped madmen from carrying out evil acts 63 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: on innocent people and peaceful communities. In New Vality, the 64 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: gunman committed a felony under Texas law before he even 65 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: pulled the trigger. So you get a sense of the 66 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: messaging coming from the Exhibit Hall in Houston that we 67 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: just got a breaker on the terminal right now with 68 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg reporting. Governor Greg Abbott, again in Uvaldi, not at 69 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: the n r A convention, says he is quote absolutely 70 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: livid unquote that he was given inaccurate information about details 71 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: of the shooting holding a news conference, says he was 72 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: misled a new wrinkle here in the story. And we're 73 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: gonna walk you through some of the stuff we heard 74 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: earlier from police in Uvaldi, an extended briefing that we 75 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: brought to you live on Bloomberg Radio. It was during 76 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: balance of power, as a matter of fact, and the 77 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: timeline was stunning. Back to Houston, also not in the hall, 78 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: Texas Senator John Corny, and remember he said personal reasons 79 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: kept him in d C. This time couldn't make it. 80 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 1: Some musicians, including Don McLean, have canceled, but South Dakota 81 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: Governor Christy Nome spoke told members now is not the 82 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: time to cave to the Woka jen to Ted Cruz 83 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: is speaking. We're waiting to hear from Donald Trump. We 84 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: also would love to hear from Joe Carroll, who's in 85 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: the middle of all this right now in Houston reporting 86 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: for Bloomberg from the n r A convention. Joe, the 87 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: the feeling must be energetic for the members, knowing the 88 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: former president's about to speak. What's it like there, Yeah, 89 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: it's a it's a it's a festive crowd down on 90 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: the exhibit floor. The estimate was about eighty thousand people 91 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 1: would show up. It's a truly massive convention center. Uh. 92 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: The exhibit floor, you know, is uh vendors talking everything 93 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: from silencers to American made a K forty seven's to 94 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: switch blades. It's uh, there's gun raffles at every other booth. 95 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: The mood here is that, uh they expect gun control 96 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: activists to uh to sort of capitalize on the valdi 97 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: as they would say, to push their agenda, and and 98 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: so it's sort of a defensive, defensive approach at this 99 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: So it is in the air, though it's not like 100 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: if if if you just were sort of parachuted into 101 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: this convention, would you know that that a massive shooting 102 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: so place a few hundred miles ago, a couple of 103 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: days ago. You know, as soon as you spoke to somebody, 104 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: like I said, it's a festive crowd. People have been 105 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: shinned up for this for for a couple of years 106 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: because the pandemic canceled the last two NY conventions. Um. 107 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: But as soon as soon as you speak to people, 108 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: obviously with all these the person that comes up, Trump 109 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: is the headliner here, right. Do you have a sense 110 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: of what this crowd wants to hear. I think they 111 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: want to hear the president of a former president, UM 112 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 1: defend this. You know, it's not a new position for him. 113 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: He's very posulibly crowd. He's a trust these events before, 114 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: and uh, it would seem that they want to hear 115 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: us a sort of a stout defense of the Second Amendment. Again, 116 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: we've got a sense of that from Christie Gnome. Now 117 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: is not the time to cave for the woke agenda. 118 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: We need to press harder than ever, Ted Cruz, Now 119 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: you're delivering a very similar message. Uh. The events of 120 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: this week have certainly not watered down the messaging here, Joe, 121 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: and we were curious what the tone would be. But 122 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: to your point, is it one that's defensive? Is that 123 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: the best word? It really is? And you know it 124 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: was it seemed like there was a chink in the 125 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: armor last night when when we all heard that the 126 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: governor Greg Abbott had had canceled plans to attend. It 127 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: doesn't appear that was the motivation, as we have learned, Uh, 128 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: you know, as the day progressed today, he's got an 129 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: unfold He's got an unfolding police candal on his hands. 130 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: I mean, is Will his state police chief? Uh? And 131 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: the resigning I mean that that that seems like it 132 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: may be in the card. So so he's really got 133 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: his hands for it. Is pretty remarkable for him to 134 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: now say that he is misled on what happened, because 135 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: a lot of us, Joe and I'm sure you're included, 136 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: have been trying to connect the dots between a lot 137 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: of the stuff we've heard in these few police briefings 138 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: and none of it seems to add up. Is that 139 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: getting attention in the room as well, or is that 140 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: a separate story. It really is because because of if 141 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: among this crowd, in this culture, law enforcement, law enforcement, 142 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: just like the military, is expected to perform, to do 143 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: what they're trained to do. And so there's a lot 144 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: of disappointment. You know, the thing is, in the past 145 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: couple of days, the timeline of what it unfolded anuvality 146 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: from the law enforcement perspective, never really added up. There 147 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: were gaps, there are contradictions, and so you know that 148 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: really came to a head today when they came out 149 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: and said, yeah, we we waited too long, right, It 150 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: was a pretty remarkable moment. We'll bring that to our 151 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: listeners in just a moment. But while you're with us, Joe, 152 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: a lot of us have never attended an inn R 153 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: a convention. Bring our listeners inside. I mean, this could 154 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: this be any industry convention or are you surrounded by 155 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: paraphernalia and and guns and cannons And I have no 156 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: idea what you are surrounded by those things? This is Texas. 157 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: This is part of the culture here. Um, it's it's gleaming. 158 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: It's glossy, it's it's it's it's totally professional. Um, but 159 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: it's just I think if you transplanted somebody from outside 160 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: of a of a gun culture, I guess he'd say 161 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: it might be a little shocked. Interesting. Where where was 162 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: Don McClean in a player that is this part of 163 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: the event in the hall or their parties after or something. Yeah, 164 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: they do concerts every night and lots and lots of stars. 165 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: I hate to admit it, I didn't know Don McLean 166 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: was still alive. As much a fan as I am. Well, 167 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: I didn't know he was a conservative. I mean, did 168 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: he hear he was going for crying out loud? It 169 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: shouldn't be a surprise. Joe, thank you very much for 170 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: for checking in. I didn't know what kind of surroundings 171 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: you'd be in, and it's great to be able to 172 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: hear you. Joe Carroll from the n r A convention 173 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: in Houston, reporting from Bloomberg. Look for him on the 174 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: terminal if we can get that sound from Stephen McCraw Handy. 175 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: I do want to walk you through this is the 176 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: other big part of this. I want to walk you 177 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: through this briefing earlier today. This is the Texas Department 178 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: of Public Safety and its director, Stephen McCraw, clearly having 179 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: a tough time. He got emotional while he was talking. 180 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you what the timeline that he rolled 181 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: out here, this is what people are talking about because 182 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: it's shocking. At eleven seven am, that is the first 183 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 1: time we see the door being cracked open. The door 184 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: had been propped open by a teacher. We learned that today. 185 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: Then this guy was the shooter. Ramos crashed his vehicle 186 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: into a ditch, and this is when the firing started. 187 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: The first nine one one call at eleven thirty A. 188 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: M Okay, so we're at eleven thirty in the morning. Here, 189 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: the suspect gets into the school at eleven thirty three am. 190 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: Not much later, UH officers begin arriving round eleven eleven fifty. 191 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: They get inside the school by noon, right, and so 192 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: a half hour has gone by. They get inside the 193 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: room by noon and they're in the hallway. They don't 194 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:51,319 Speaker 1: actually breach the door until twelve fifty PM. And there 195 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 1: have been a series of nine one calls during this time. 196 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: Listen to UH Stephen McCraw, the director, explaining the ration 197 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: for why they did not run in. When they got there, 198 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,359 Speaker 1: a decision was made that this is a barricaded subject situation. 199 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: There was time to retrieve the keys and wait for 200 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: a tactical team with the equipment to go ahead and 201 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: breach the door and take all the subject at that point. 202 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 1: That was the decision, that was the thought process that 203 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 1: particular point in time, and he called it the wrong 204 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: decision a moment later when he was asked for the 205 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: benefit of hindsight where I'm sitting now, of course there 206 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: was another right decision. Was a wrong decision period. There's 207 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: no no excuse for that. Now, the governor of Texas 208 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: says he was misled on what happens, and I suspect 209 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: we've got a big investigation coming and to Joe Carroll's point, 210 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: maybe some resignations will assemble the panel. Next, Adam Goodman 211 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 1: is coming in. It's been a while since we've heard 212 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 1: from Adam, along with former Congressman Jim Davis, former Democratic 213 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: Congressman from Florida. The conversation next on Sound On, I'm 214 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg. You 215 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The idea 216 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: that police were waiting to breach the door. Well, kids 217 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: repeatedly called nine from the cell phones their parents bought 218 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: for them over the course of an hour. It's even 219 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 1: more than that. When you look at the timelines, it's horrifying. 220 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: Everybody's feeling this, everyone's talking about it. Nobody can believe 221 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: it now. Governor Greg Abbott says he was misled about 222 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: the events at the scene. This just transpired since we 223 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: got on the air at the top of the hour. 224 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: Listen to the Governor of Texas. The information that I 225 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: was given turned out, in part to be inaccurate, and 226 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: I'm absolutely living about that. What is going on. He's 227 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: in Uvaldi instead of Houston, where the n r A 228 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 1: is holding its convention just kicked off. We heard from 229 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: Joe Carroll in the room for Bloomberg short time ago, 230 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: and members are waiting to hear from their headliner, Former 231 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: President Donald Trump, will be speaking. Abbott decided to go 232 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: to Uvaldi, and now we know why. Uh, he was 233 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,719 Speaker 1: actually supposed to be there in person. We've heard from 234 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: Senator Ted Cruz and several others of course, including Wayne Lapierre. 235 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: It's been the n R A convention that you would 236 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: have expected, but everyone has also been acknowledging what's been 237 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: going on this week in Uvaldi. Let's assemble our panel today. 238 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,239 Speaker 1: Great to have Adam Goodman back, National Republican media strategist, 239 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: columnist partner at Ballard Partners in Washington, and the first 240 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,679 Speaker 1: Edward R. Murrow Senior Fellow at Tufts University's Fletcher's School. 241 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 1: Were also joined by former Florida Congressman Jim Davis, was 242 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: in the House for a decade representing the great City 243 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: of Tampa portions of St. Pete Hillsboro County. It's great 244 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: to have both of you with us. Congressman, I'm going 245 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: to start with you here because we're really trying to 246 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: focus on the policy side of this whole story here, 247 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 1: and we keep hearing repeatedly that that none of the 248 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: ideas being floated in Congress would have stopped what happened 249 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: this week. Ted Cruz just said as a matter of 250 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: fact that this s O B as he put it 251 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: past a background check. I don't know if that's actually 252 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: true or not. But are we just nibbling around the 253 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 1: edges here? Are we going to have a conversation about 254 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: something that might actually matter. Well, we have to, and 255 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: it's not just about the tragedy in Texas. I mean 256 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: these massacres are increasing in frequency, in scale and savagery, 257 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: and we do need to learn from each and there's 258 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: lots of mistakes that are made, but it's getting worse 259 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: and it's a crisis. And I think that's where you 260 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: have to start, is whether the people we in trust 261 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: represent a state and federal agree that this is a crisis. 262 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: And if we don't act, not only is it not 263 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: going to change, it's gonna get worse. And I think 264 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: the public has to demand change. I know the FBI 265 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: is there, it's not just local and state police. Congressman 266 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: to do or this is going to lead the hearings 267 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: on Capitol Hill right to actually what took place at 268 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: the scene here. There's this has to affect protocol nationally 269 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: well it should, and unfortunately that there has been plenty. 270 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: I mean Buffalo was another example, and this is going 271 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: to continue, and I do think a hearing is important 272 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: because what we need to have is an open and 273 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: honest debate about what works and what doesn't work. There 274 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: is no panacea here and everything should be on the 275 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: table and we shouldn't be afraid to have that discussion. 276 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: And it's rare those discussions occur. Normally, these bills are 277 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: killed in the dark of night or their disgust in 278 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: the back room. Adam Goodman, are you surprised the n 279 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: r A continued with the convention? The mayor refused and 280 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: asked them to postpone. Maybe that never seemed like a 281 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: realistic idea. But to have this convention and balance it 282 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: with what's going on and you've aaldi making that a 283 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: component of all the speeches. Was this the right move? Uh? 284 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: It's very debatable. I mean, personally, I think it should 285 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: have been rescheduled. But what first of all is as 286 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: a parent, if not just as a human being. We're 287 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: all just shaken by everything we're learning. And when you 288 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: recounted Joe the timeline earlier in the show, I mean, 289 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: I'm listening to you and I'm just like, I'm feeling 290 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: something um as everyone would feel, of mixture of anger 291 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: and helplessness. Unfortunately, what this is going to create is 292 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: as a showdown between the incompetence of decisions of law 293 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: enforcement versus the inadequacy many feel is inherent to current 294 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: gun law and because of the incompetence that we're now 295 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: hearing about, call it incompetence. The the police chief said, mistake, 296 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: it's incompetent. Uh. And you can hear, you know, the 297 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: governor of Texas kind of teen off on that. So that, unfortunately, 298 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: is going to weigh against a free and open exchange 299 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: at Jim Day of US was talking about a few 300 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: minutes ago on gun laws. But on that, if you 301 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: really want to do something, if you really want to 302 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: make a difference here instead of saying and I think 303 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: it was the word that Jim use, pantacea. There's no 304 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: panacea if you say, let's put on the table a 305 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: number of things for a discussion. Which, by the way, 306 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: Donald Trump, when he was president, he was pushing for 307 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: background checks. Uh. He was in favor of red flag laws. Uh. 308 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 1: He pushed the bump stock band. So he even Donald 309 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 1: had a meeting with the n r A. I understood, understood. 310 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: But if you put everything on the table and say, 311 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: let's at least make a start, and yes, a background 312 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: check might not have prevented this, but damn if we 313 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,719 Speaker 1: don't try to do something to start feeling we're making progress, 314 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: in a situation where the world's grow more dangerous. They 315 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: are now four and a million guns on the streets 316 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: of America, a hundred million or so our gun owners 317 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: in America. We got to take this seriously. It's not 318 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: just a freedom and a right, it's a responsibility. I've 319 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: got a great panel here. I love this. I want 320 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: to thank you both for coming in. Jim Davis, Adam Goodman, 321 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: stay where you are. They're gonna be with us for 322 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: the hour. As we introduce as well, Stephen Dennis to 323 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: the conversation coming up, Bloomberg's legendary congressional reporter who's been 324 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: following the very debate. We're discussing what's realistic? What are 325 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: we talking about here, because, by the way, lawmakers have 326 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,479 Speaker 1: gone home, they're gonna do all this on the phone 327 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: after they meet with constituents at the Memorial Day Parade. 328 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: I don't know. We'll ask Steven about it, and we'll 329 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,360 Speaker 1: reassemble the panel for their take on the fastest hour 330 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: in politics. I'm Joe, Matthew and Washington. This is Bloomberg 331 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: as Senate Democrats signal potential for compromise. We talked about 332 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: this column yesterday. Stephen Dennis shares the byeline and he's 333 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: with us right now. Stephen, it's great to have you here. 334 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: As lawmakers, I guess, prepare for a long week after 335 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: they go to the Memorial Day parades and get yelled 336 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: at by constituents, a law own week on the phone 337 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:04,479 Speaker 1: trying to find some common ground. You talked to so 338 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,719 Speaker 1: many of them on such a regular basis. Are you 339 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 1: hearing talk of reality or is this uh as someone 340 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: pointed out, I think it was Chris Murphy to you, 341 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: the part where Lucy pulls out the football. Yeah, I 342 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: think there is a There is real potential for a 343 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 1: sort of a very narrowly crafted package that would include 344 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: incentivizing states potentially to enact red flag laws. Something like 345 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,719 Speaker 1: nineteen states already have these laws that allow courts to 346 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: take guns away from people um that to say, police 347 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: officers or mental health professionals, deem or or danger um. 348 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: And so the that that there's a Democratic proposal in 349 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: the House to make a federal red flag law. You 350 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: can go to a federal district court, for example, in 351 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: those states that don't have their own red flag laws. 352 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: But Republicans say that's sort of a nonstarter, that's sort 353 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: of maybe the lynchpin of maybe coming up with some 354 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: kind of a deal. There's also talk of doing some 355 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: kind of funding for school upgrades. This is something that 356 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: Republicans have been interested in. We've been hearing a lot 357 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 1: about that. Today at the n r A convention, Ted 358 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: Cruz was going so far as to suggest we replaced 359 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: all school windows with bulletproof or a lockable windows and 360 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 1: bulletproof doors, I believe is what he said. That would 361 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,479 Speaker 1: cost an enormous amount of money, wouldn't it. Uh, you know, 362 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 1: we just spent forty billion dollars on Ukraine and their defense. Uh. 363 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: You know, we're pretty rich country. So I mean, I 364 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: think if if, if people can sort of say here's 365 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: something that actually would help. Um, I think that getting 366 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: the votes to do something significant would not be all 367 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: that hard in the wake of this situation. But you know, 368 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 1: I think there's also just a a demand from Democrats 369 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 1: that there'll be some some element that looks at the 370 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: gun issue in particular. Um. You know, there were a 371 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: number of gun reforms or change laws that were passed in, 372 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: for instance, Florida when then Governor Rick Scott was the 373 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 1: governor after the Parkland massacre, One of the things they 374 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: passed was a red flag law that has a support 375 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: of Rubio and Rick Scott in the Senate. They also 376 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: passed a law saying that you had to be twenty 377 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: one years old to buy a firearm. Right now, we 378 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 1: have a federal law it says you can't buy a pistol, 379 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: you can't buy pistol ammunition from a firearms dealer and 380 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: federally licensed firearms dealer um until you're twenty one, But 381 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: you can buy all the air fifteens you want and 382 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: all the air fifteen ammunition you want. And what we're 383 00:21:54,840 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: learning in this case, uh, is this particular individual they 384 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: found fifty eight high capacity magazines on the school grounds 385 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 1: and they said that he had purchased one thousand, six 386 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty seven bullets to go in those magazines. Um, 387 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,719 Speaker 1: that's a lot. And so you know, I think there 388 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: are a lot of Democrats who are now asking questions 389 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: about whether they can have some more restrictions for these 390 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: younger men in particular, who seemed to be the ones 391 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: who are committing a lot of these mass shootings, whether 392 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 1: it be Buffalo here, Parkland, a lot of a lot 393 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: of these mass shootings are young men um and so 394 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: I think that's something that Chris Murphy I talked to 395 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: him about yesterday. He said that there's a lot of 396 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: already a lot of discussion among senators of how do 397 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 1: you reach these young men, how do you identify them 398 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: and prevent them from getting dangerous weapons? And that's part 399 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: of what this red flag law idea is about. What's 400 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: the timeline, Stephen, while you're here, Chuck Schumer said yesterday, 401 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: you know, I'm gonna give this a minute, but once 402 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: we come back, we're gonna bring something to a vote 403 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: with or without Republicans. Is that we're talking weeks here, 404 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 1: So we're going to have a vote, and we're gonna 405 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: have a vote in about two weeks. Chris Murphy said 406 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,199 Speaker 1: that Schumer told him that when they come back, he 407 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: wants to set up a vote on either a bipartisan 408 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: compromise bill or one of the House passed bills on 409 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:32,239 Speaker 1: background checks. And you know, so they basically have a 410 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 1: ten day sprint to try to come up with something 411 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 1: while they're away and have negotiations over the phone and 412 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: with staffers, and you know, I think that that does 413 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: put some pressure on them to come up with something. 414 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: The key guy I think in all of this is 415 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: Texas Senator John Cornyn. John Cornyn is an A plus 416 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: rated n r A member. He is also the author, 417 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: with Chris Murphy and some others of the only Signal 418 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: If Again gun legislation I can remember, which was after 419 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: after the Sutherland Springs murder. Yeah, we talked about that 420 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: yesterday and played his his comments on the floor and 421 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: indeed after Mitch McConnell gave him the green light. I mean, 422 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 1: this is gonna be really interesting with Cornyn and Murphy. 423 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: Stephen Dennis, thank you for coming on to talk to 424 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: us about it late on a Friday. Bloomberg Congressional reporter 425 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: Stephen Dennis is roaming the halls of Congress talking to 426 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: the people that you're hearing about on a daily basis. 427 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: I don't know if we can bring Jim Davis back 428 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: in quickly, the former congressman from Florida, but Parkland came 429 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: up there and uh if if, if you can hear me, Jim, 430 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: I just wonder how difficult was it to pass a 431 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: red flag law to the extent that you were following 432 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: this at the time in the state of Florida. How 433 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 1: much how much support and how much opposition was there. 434 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: I mean there was opposition, but you have to give 435 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: the Governor Rick Scott now the US Center for Florida 436 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: from credit because he supported. There's been a lot more 437 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: opposition since it passed because it happened so quickly and 438 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: it was the heat of the moment. But it is 439 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: an excellent example where Florida did do the right thing 440 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 1: after way too long because of the pressure. And I 441 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: think that's the opportunity in the Senate they get the 442 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: details right while the public is very transfixed on this 443 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: and the need for something. I totally agree that Chris 444 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: Murphy is looking very hard to find the middle ground 445 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: right now, and so it's center coryn and there four 446 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: other senators who have openly said there. We'll talk more 447 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: about that conjum and when we just wanted to check, 448 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 1: I covered the red flag being passed in Massachusetts. That's 449 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: a lot different than Florida. We'll have our panel next 450 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 1: on sound On. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg 451 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The Governor, 452 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: Greg Abbott, Senator John Corny, and we're not the only 453 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: ones to miss this nr A convention, having been scheduled 454 00:25:55,280 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: to speak originally. Daniel Defense also chose not to attend. 455 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: That's the maker of the gun used in the Vivaldi 456 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: School massacre. This week, the company issued a statement saying 457 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: it dropped out of a planned appearance quote due to 458 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: the horrifying tragedy in Uvaldi where one of our products 459 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: was criminally misused. Unquote, signed by a spokesman for the company, 460 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: which is based in Georgia, entered the House Oversight Committee 461 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: now demanding info about the marketing of assault weapons from 462 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: gun manufacturers, including Yes, Daniel Defense. We reassemble the panel here. 463 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: Adam Goodman is with US Republican strategist along with former 464 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 1: Congressman Democratic Congressman from Florida Jim Davis. Thanks to both 465 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 1: of you for being here. Where is this gonna go? 466 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: Adam Goodman? This is gonna be hearing is the rest 467 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: of the summer. Maybe we don't have Adam with us? 468 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: How about Congressman Jim Davis. I'm so sorry, Joe. I 469 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: was gonna I was gonna compliment you, and I'm gonna 470 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: have to say it again. Uh, you were very sharp 471 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,479 Speaker 1: and bringing Joe cornin into this conversation because a lot 472 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: of eyes are gonna be on him. Uh. But to 473 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: hear Chuck Schumer talk about we're gonna do this with 474 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: or without Republicans is not what the parsiple body want 475 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 1: to hear. It's not what the parents of America want 476 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,679 Speaker 1: to hear, it's not what anyone wants to hear. We 477 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: want to get something done. And as I said earlier 478 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: in this show, I think, unfortunately the incompetent decision making 479 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: among some in leadership and law enforcement in this particular 480 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 1: issue is going to be the way that a lot 481 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 1: of people are gonna go on this. The governor is 482 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: already on top of that, and you better believe he's 483 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,640 Speaker 1: gonna press the pedal to the metal. When you talk 484 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,679 Speaker 1: about the gun reform that Steve Menis was talking about 485 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 1: having to move very quickly in Washington, it's gonna be 486 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: slowed down by all this focus on law enforcement what 487 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: they should or shouldn't have done. And in the Florida 488 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 1: situation that you mentioned earlier and that Jim Davis commented on, 489 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: it was all about protecting and safeguarding and strengthening our schools. 490 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: That has a bigger majority opinion and support base than 491 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: does whatever their respective position you have, maybe on guns. 492 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: And I think that's going to be the big push 493 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 1: by Republicans and by Americans as we started moving into 494 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: and through this unconscionable strategy, uh, tragedy that we just 495 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: have to you know, kind of learn something from and 496 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: do something from hardening schools uh, Jim Davis? Is that 497 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,119 Speaker 1: is that a better time spent, a better debate to 498 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: have knowing that something might pass than dragging gun manufacturers 499 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: to Capitol Hill for hearings. Are they both important to you? Well? 500 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 1: I think I think acting is more important than the 501 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 1: hearings and when we can always learn. But I don't 502 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: think fortifying schools is nearly enough, and I think it 503 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: will be used as a diversion or excuse for the 504 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: fundamental issues in Florida. They did not only do that, 505 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: they changed the law from eighteen to twenty one to 506 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: buy a tiful and they did put in the red 507 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: flag we talked about earlier. So I think it's going 508 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: to have to be both. But you can't turn our 509 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: schools into prisons or fortresses. There are things we can do. 510 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: We will learn from this terrible tragedy, but you're going 511 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 1: to have to do all of these things. And I 512 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: think it's very important to get something past, to start 513 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: building a governing group of people to move forward in 514 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: this because there'll be more to be done. Do you 515 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: get kind of a chilling feeling there, Adam Goodman? Maybe 516 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter, but the idea of turning schools and 517 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: the fortresses is, as the congressman put it, I mean, 518 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 1: if that's what we're deciding to do here, we are 519 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: we saying, you know, let's let let the bullets fly 520 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: as long as the school building is impenetrable. Wants to 521 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 1: go that far. And I think that's that's a that's 522 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: a bit of viperbole because, uh, you know, there was 523 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: an open door at that elementary school that should not 524 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 1: a bit. There was a decision that was made that 525 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 1: probably costs a lot of lives that should have been 526 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: made for a by that individual on the way it 527 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,320 Speaker 1: was made. Uh, that's the tragedy of this. But if 528 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: you're a parent, the first thing you're asking in the 529 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: morning when you send your child to school, uh, even 530 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: not asking, you're thinking, that's in the depths of your soul, 531 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: are they gonna be okay? Today? When you look at 532 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: a tragedy like this, that is priority number one. Whatever 533 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 1: we can do to reassure parents that tomorrow will be 534 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: safer than yesterday will be progress. I Adam, I understand. 535 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: I had to force my freshman in high school, fourteen 536 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: year old to go to school on Wednesday morning because 537 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: we all watched the president on Tuesday night and it 538 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: scared the hell out of them. Uh, Congressman, is that 539 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: something that the White House signs onto now knowing their 540 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: support for it? Is this going to be a movement 541 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 1: going into the midterms. I think the movement's gonna come 542 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 1: in Congress. I mean, elections produce accountability. I think, um, 543 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: members of Congress are gonna feel pressure to go home 544 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: and say they did something. Um. And I think that's 545 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: why this summer is a critical time. And I also, 546 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: thinking this was alluded to earlier, the states are very 547 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: important partner here. The federal government cannot solve this, and 548 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: so the federal government needs to do something that causes 549 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 1: the states down because each state's gonna do this a 550 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: little differently, but they all fundamentally need to move in 551 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 1: direction of gun safety and protecting schools. The president former 552 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 1: president speaking, Uh, at the n r A convention Donald Trump, 553 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: and Uh, it's clear the side that he's coming down 554 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: on here rejecting tighter gun control as I'm reading from 555 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg. Uh, the quote of the existence of evil 556 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: in our world is not a reason to disarm law 557 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 1: abiding citizens. Adam, is this gonna be a real fault 558 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: line in the campaign, not just midterms? What twenty four 559 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: We've got ro v Wade and we've got this gun issue. Now, 560 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 1: these are massive issues that turn people into single issue 561 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: voters in many cases, and fault lines have been drawn 562 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 1: in any normal political year. Um, Joe, Yes, the answer 563 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 1: to that is yes, this is not a normal year. 564 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: We have massive inflation, we have a very scary situation 565 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 1: over with Ukraine and Russia. Um, people are really focused 566 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: on the economy. The market, despite today's great news, has 567 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 1: been relatively uncertain in times. That is the number one issue. Uh, 568 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: and the lack of leadership still it kind of goes 569 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: hand in hand with that is why the midterms aren't 570 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: going to reflect either one of those. However, I think 571 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: moving forward into two two thousand, twenty four that cycle, 572 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 1: they could have dramatic impacts on winners and losers as 573 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: we move into another world. Uh, let me get there, 574 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: Jim Davis, what is the Republican majority, assuming there is 575 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 1: one come fall? As I keep being told do with 576 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: all of this, I think it's a real problem if 577 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: the Republicans take back UM the House, and this is 578 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: something Adam and I would agree on right now that 579 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: the odds are in favor of that. UM, it is 580 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,760 Speaker 1: very easy to do nothing. And if they win the House, 581 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: they're going to validate the election is supporting their agenda. UM. 582 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: I think the Senate will stay very mixed, and that's 583 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 1: where the action is now. So I think the key 584 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: is watching some of these Republican centers we've talked about 585 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 1: and whether they're willing to lead. And I think if 586 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 1: they're willing to lead, it will put pressure on the 587 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: House representatives. But I think that's where it has to start. 588 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 1: What's your thought on that, Adam Goodman, Kevin McCarthy, I 589 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: don't think his weight in here the House has been gone. 590 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: Uh this week. It's a very different worlds in the 591 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: House than it is in the Senate. What does that 592 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:48,640 Speaker 1: mean post November? Well, the reason he's been relatively mute 593 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: on recent in recent times is because everything's kind of 594 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 1: coming their way. I mean, George of the Republicans doing 595 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 1: something really ontoward or something unexpected, becoming a major definer 596 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,120 Speaker 1: of political fate in the fall, I think the die 597 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 1: is cast there. Uh, it's a little different, And I 598 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: think Jim was kind of suggesting this in the Senate. 599 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: Sounds gonna be very interesting. Uh. There are a lot 600 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: of very close races. Uh. I happen to think though, 601 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: that this this is a cycle, as a wave cycle, 602 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 1: It's going to be determined not by personalities but bipartisanship unfortunately, 603 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: and I think the Democrats have a much harder sell 604 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,799 Speaker 1: than Republicans this time, but that again could change by 605 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: the next cycle. Jim, the President is going to Vivaldi 606 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 1: on Sunday with the First Lady. Uh. This is the 607 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:38,720 Speaker 1: consoler in chief job. But is that is that really 608 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 1: what he needs to do? Or is does he need 609 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 1: to go there show some anger, try to rally the 610 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: troops nationally it's what he needs to do. We we 611 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,880 Speaker 1: need to remember this isn't about the governor of Texas 612 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:52,240 Speaker 1: being mad. It's not about senders. It's about these people 613 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: that just lost their children. And I think every one 614 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: of us on this call, and many people around the 615 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 1: country listening have children, and just it's hard to fathom 616 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:04,760 Speaker 1: the horror of waking up and your child has gone 617 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 1: at the start of their life. So I think we 618 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: need to focus on the family and the victims and healing. 619 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 1: And Lord knows, this president has had his own and 620 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:16,440 Speaker 1: it's one of his strengths to empathize and to console, 621 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:19,160 Speaker 1: and we need to listen to them. We need to 622 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: hear their voices. Going forward, many of these parents, regardless 623 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: of their politics, will become advocates for change, and we 624 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:28,800 Speaker 1: should listen to them. And we should listen to the 625 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: law enforcement to I think they should be our guides 626 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,880 Speaker 1: and where we go. He needs to play this carefully, 627 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 1: of course, Adam, maybe he I'm by the way, I 628 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 1: don't know anything about a speech. He could be very 629 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 1: under the radar here meeting you know privately, no cameras 630 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 1: with victims families. Is that which you expect or would prefer, 631 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: That is what I would advise. I mean, this is 632 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,360 Speaker 1: not a place for speeches. Uh. I know the governor 633 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: of Texas is trying to do his best in a 634 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:56,839 Speaker 1: very tough situation. But the fact that Jim just said 635 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:00,360 Speaker 1: it the fact he's angry that that means nothing to 636 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 1: the parents who lost their loved ones. Okay, you're angry, right, 637 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:06,800 Speaker 1: we need something that's more legitimate, authentic would be great. 638 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 1: The President uh and personally came and they were there 639 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: and not for pressed, not with press releases and generating headlines, 640 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 1: but real commiseration and human empathy. And then go back 641 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 1: to Washington and get one thing done, don't go for 642 00:36:21,239 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 1: the whole checklist of all. Going to try to find 643 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: one thing that we make movement on so that people 644 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:27,720 Speaker 1: are going to get a sense that we're not only 645 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 1: able to get to make change happen with something that 646 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 1: really requires change on this front, but we can do 647 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 1: it across the board. And I think that's the missing 648 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 1: thing right now in America, getting stuff done. What a 649 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:43,280 Speaker 1: note to end on a great conversation with a great panel, 650 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:45,439 Speaker 1: Adam Goodman, Jim Davis. I look forward to the next 651 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: time here on sound On. I'm Joe, Matthew and Washington. 652 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: If somebody a hug, somebody you love this weekend, We'll 653 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 1: see you back here next week. This is Bloomberg