1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: On this episode of neut World. Remember all the talk 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: of the Blue wave a Democratic landslide, Well, House Republicans 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: defied that expectation last week by blocking efforts to expand 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: a Democratic majority, and many are crediting female candidates as 5 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: the House GOP is set to add a record thirteen 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: women to its ranks. This was the year for the 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: GOP women last week with a historic election for women, 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: especially in our US House of Representatives, a rapid number 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: of women now taking the seats come January. Right here 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: in South Carolina, I was the first Republican woman ever 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: elected to Congress, but show Steele says people weren't voting 12 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: for a person, but an idea. She becomes the first 13 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: Korean immigrant elected to Congress in California. I think that's 14 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: what it really came down to, hard work and a 15 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: lot of miles on the mob ban Hi, this is 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: new due to the virus. I'm recording from home, so 17 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: you may notice a difference in audio quality. Voters are 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: looking for a new generation of leaders, and no one 19 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: represents the new Republican guard better than Congresswoman Elise Stefani. 20 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: She began running for Congress when she was twenty eight 21 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: years old. She was elected to Congress at the age 22 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: of thirty, the youngest Republican woman ever elected. She has 23 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: been representing New York's twenty first congressional district since twenty fifteen. 24 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: Congresswoman Stefanik is the founder of EPAC, whose mission is 25 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: to increase the number of Republican women serving in the 26 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: US House by supporting top Republican female candidates in the primaries, 27 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: and in this election cycle, she worked to get eighteen 28 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: Republican women elected to Congress. And please to welcome my guest, 29 00:01:46,600 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: Congresswoman Elise Stavoni. I'd like to welcome my guest, remarkable 30 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: woman who has shown just tremendous leadership talent. Congresswoman elist 31 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: Stephonic represents New York's twenty first congressional district. She is 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: the founder of EPAC, which she's going to talk about, 33 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: and what she achieved this year was historic. She set 34 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: out to recruit and elect women, which has always been 35 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: frankly one of the weaknesses of the House Republican Party, 36 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: and she I think had an enormous breakthrough which I 37 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: am confident she is going to build on. When she 38 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: was first elected in twenty fourteen, she was the youngest 39 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: woman ever elected to Congress at that time, and the 40 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: youngest Republican woman elected in the history of the House. 41 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: She's had a remarkable career already, and while helping change 42 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: history this year, she also defeated her Democratic opponent sixty 43 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: forty in her own district. So she's great talent. And 44 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: I want to start this by thanking you your extraordinary 45 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: busy schedule, for being willing to talk about what you've 46 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: achieved and the lessons that all of us should learn 47 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: from that. So at least, thank you very much for 48 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: joining us. Thank you so much, Nuts, It's truly an honor, 49 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: and I'm looking forward to highlighting these amazing Republican women 50 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: who will be sworn into office in January. Let's start 51 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: by talking about one particular amazing Republican woman, namely you 52 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: talk about how you got involved in politics at such 53 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: an early age and how you made some key decisions 54 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: that got you to the Congress. Well, I grew up 55 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: in not a political family, but I grew up in 56 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: a very civic minded family. My parents started and still 57 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: run a small business. It's a plywood wholesale distribution company, 58 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: and they started it when I was seven years old, 59 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: so as any small business family knows, it's hard work 60 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,119 Speaker 1: and it's twenty four seven. So I grew up kind 61 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: of at the kitchen table, hearing from my parents about 62 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: how policies impact the businesses. Daily lives are daily lives. 63 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: I also really had the benefit of parents who were 64 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: invested in education. They were invested in providing my brother 65 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: and I with a better future than they had. They're 66 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: both from big Catholic families. My mom is the middle 67 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: of nine children, my dad is the youngest of eight, 68 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: and neither of them had the opportunity to graduate from college. 69 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: They were too busy going to work after they graduated 70 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: to help support their families and then of course start 71 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: their own families. So they were very focused on giving 72 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: me greater educational opportunities. And I had great teachers, great 73 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: parents who really encouraged my interest in the news and 74 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: current events and in public policy. I ended up going 75 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,679 Speaker 1: to Harvard for undergrad and I think it really helped 76 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: me further develop my belief in conservative principles because I 77 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: was such a minority on the undergrad graduate campus in 78 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,559 Speaker 1: terms of my political beliefs. I had an amazing time 79 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: at Harvard and then after I graduated, I served in 80 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: the Bush administration in the White House for the Domestic 81 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: Policy Council, in the Chief of Staff's office. So I 82 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: think I got involved mainly in college volunteering on campaigns. 83 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: But I've always wanted to have a positive impact on 84 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: my community, going back to when I was in middle school. 85 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: In high school, I was involved in student council and 86 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: that I think is what led me to eventually want 87 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: to run for office. I ran for office in twenty 88 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: fourteen my district in New York's North Country. It had 89 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,559 Speaker 1: been previously held by a Democrat, and not many people 90 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: thought I would win. I was twenty eight years old 91 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: when I started the process of running, and I ended 92 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: up winning a competitive primary and a general election by 93 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: over twenty points in a swing district and flipping it 94 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: to help us add a Republican seat. And I've been 95 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: honored to earn a significant can marchin since then because 96 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: of my focus on results for my districts. But I 97 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: really credit my parents with raising me with strong values, 98 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: with a very strong work ethic, but also with big 99 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: aspirations and helping me develop the confidence to take a 100 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: step that's as big as running for Congress. I'm really 101 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 1: fascinating because I remember your primary. You were the underdog 102 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: in the early stages of that primary, and I think 103 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: by hard work and frankly brilliance, you just steadily pulled ahead. 104 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 1: And I remember at the time more and more people 105 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: paying attention to you. And when you got to Congress, 106 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean you're on some pretty significant committees, between Armed Services, 107 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: Education and Labor and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. 108 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 1: So just your official policy role has to require a 109 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: pretty full schedule. Absolutely, it is a very full schedule. 110 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: But your right newt about my first primary. I was 111 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: definitely the underdog and VNRC, which I'm a big supporter 112 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: of now and was then in the general election. But 113 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: I was not the recruited or chosen candidate. There was 114 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: a different candidate who had run previously and lost, and 115 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: I was untested because I was a first time candidate 116 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: and just so young. But what I've found and I 117 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: still find this today, is voters, and this is a 118 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: cross party lines, are yearning for new ideas and a 119 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: new generation of leadership. They are yearning for a fresh approach. 120 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: So what many thought was my biggest weakness was my age. 121 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: I really turned that into a strength, as you know, 122 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: you need someone with energy, you want someone with that 123 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: new generational approach. You want a tireless advocate who is 124 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: a fighter on behalf of your district. And it was 125 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: sheer hard work. It was doing small grassroots events across 126 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: the district. I improved so much as a candidate. You 127 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: know when you're out there all the time speaking of groups, 128 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: whether it's three people or one hundred people. And by 129 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: the time we were on the ballot for the general election, 130 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: I had just outworked both in the primary and the 131 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: general my opponents, and I really think I tried to 132 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: focus on hitting the ground running. As soon as I 133 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: was elected. I knew there were expectations because there was 134 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: a little bit of media coverage since I was the 135 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: youngest woman ever elected. And I really tried to be 136 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: a legislative workhorse for my district. On the Arms Services Committee, 137 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: that's an incredibly important committee. We passed the National Defense 138 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: Authorization Act, the important defense bill that authorizes all of 139 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: our military programs every year. We will have that bill 140 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: on the floor next week. It's a bipartisan bill. And 141 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: for my district, I represent Fort Drum, home of the 142 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 1: tenth Mountain Division, the most deployed unit in the US Army, 143 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: and I'm very focused on making sure that those military 144 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: families have the resources they need. I also serve on 145 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: education and workforce, and as we think about challenges of 146 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: the twenty first century and even today as we're working 147 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: to overcome the pandemic, education and workforce issues are at 148 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: the forefront of a growing economy, but also of making 149 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: sure our kids are safely learning in school. That's so 150 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: important to me, particularly rural regions that I represent, but 151 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: also suburban and urban regions. They have different challenges, but 152 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: we want to give every kid in this country an 153 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: opportunity to have the best education possible and not be 154 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: determined by their zip code. And then, of course the 155 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: Intelligence Committee, which does very important work. It's historically a 156 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: very bipartisan committee. That has changed since the Democrats have 157 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: turned it into the Impeachment Committee. But it was a 158 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: really interesting term for me because the impeachment proceedings were 159 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: so high profile at a national level. There was just 160 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: a huge amount of media coverage and in many ways, 161 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: those hearings introduced a little bit about me to America, 162 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: and that is actually very much tied into my ability 163 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: to support women candidates because it helped me develop just 164 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 1: a huge national email list that I was able to 165 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: use to support these amazing candidates who were running for office. 166 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: So I'm curious in a sense because I know Schiff, 167 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: the Democratic chairman, who was extraordinarily partisan, treated you at 168 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: times almost with contempt. From the standpoint of the Republican base, 169 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: was billing polarized against Schiff actually an advantage to you. 170 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,719 Speaker 1: I approached the entire impeachment proceedings from a constitutional perspective, 171 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 1: really focusing on the facts, and it was very eye 172 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: opening for me to see how truly political and partisan 173 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: Adam Schiff was from start to finish in those proceedings. 174 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: They completely had partisan rules that governed the impeachment hearings 175 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: that were very unprecedented, and like other members, I questioned 176 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: those rules. And what was interesting for me is I 177 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: was just smeared in a very different way than my 178 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: male colleagues. The viciousness attack and conservative women. And you 179 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 1: can ask the women that I served with who are Republicans. 180 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: It's a different level of viciousness when the media and 181 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: the far left, particularly Hollywood d listers attack, but the 182 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: Republicans across this country, and not just Republicans, but independent voters, 183 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: people who really saw through the impeachment proceedings. My work 184 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: both calling into question how partisanship was, but also really 185 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: cutting through the clutter and focusing on the facts that 186 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,359 Speaker 1: really resonated with people who were tuning into these proceedings. 187 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 1: And it was a benefit in terms of raising the 188 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: profile of my districts. My district voters are so proud 189 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: of the work that I did standing up for my 190 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: voters in the district and the American people. But it 191 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: was a net gain, I think among Republicans for me 192 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: to develop that emailist and a donor base. Frankly, because 193 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: in two days, my no name Democratic opponent who I 194 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: beat in the mid terms in twenty eighteen, she raised 195 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: two million dollars because Democrats just wanted to attack me, 196 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: and we fought back. We outraised her, and I'm very 197 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: grateful for all of the amazing patriots across this country 198 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: who stepped up to help me fight back. I remember, correctly, 199 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: you were actually at Harvard with Mark Zuckerberg. I was, 200 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: I was in his class. What was that like, Well, 201 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: it's very interesting because we lived the founding of Facebook. 202 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: It was founded my sophomore year of college, and I 203 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: knew Mark. We were not good friends, but his freshman 204 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: roommate ended up being one of my best friends in 205 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: college who I still keep in touch with today. Now. 206 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: I remember when it started off as facemash, where it 207 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 1: was kind of a game that you would play, and 208 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: there were internal issues at Harvard about how each different 209 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: dorm would have a different online Facebook. I'd have a 210 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: vivid memory that the spring before sophomore year summer, Mark 211 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: was recruiting interns to go out to California with him, 212 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: and I remember kind of walking by his little session 213 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: and I thought to myself, Oh, that's interesting. I wonder 214 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: who's going to go out to California with Mark. And 215 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: I didn't skip my class. I ended up going to 216 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: my class like a good student. And those kids that 217 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: went out with Mark, they're now just incredibly successful and 218 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: wealthy founders. But I think Facebook is going to have 219 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: a real challenge over the next few years. I know 220 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: from the perspective of when it started up and how 221 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: it really connected college students on college campuses using technology. 222 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: But Facebook will have very, very thorny issues. Some of 223 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: the targeting of conservative suppression of conservative voices. That is 224 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: going to be one of the key challenges that these 225 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: tech companies face, and I think many of grassroots and 226 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: the American people have exposed how biased they can be. Facebook, 227 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: in particular, I think President Trump deserves a lot of 228 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: credit for understanding how to effectively target voters in new 229 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: ways using Facebook and really leap frogged Democrats in the 230 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen election cycle. And because Republicans were so successful, 231 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: there's been so much pressure from the left omnise tech 232 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: companies to limit our ability to get our message out 233 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: to voters in new ways, and those platforms are to 234 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: be fair because there's so much bias in the mainstream media. 235 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: I believe it's important to reach voters directly and technology 236 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: is a way that you're able to do that. Coming 237 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: out of Harvard being aware of Zuckerberg, have you been 238 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: using more attuned to using social media than many of 239 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: your colleagues. Well, it's interesting when I first ran for office, 240 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: the first candidate to sign my paperwork on Instagram, and 241 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: it didn't get a lot of media coverage then, but 242 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: it's an interesting historical fact that was in the really 243 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: early days of Instagram and we used Facebook effectively, I think, 244 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: to really get out the message because especially as a 245 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: first time candidate, you know, we weren't on TV ads 246 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: until very late in the election cycle and had to 247 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: get the word out. When I announced I'll never forget this. 248 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: My husband was in a volunteer capacity. He was exciting 249 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: for us, he was my boyfriend. Then when I sent 250 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: out the press release announcing and I had put in 251 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: so much work ahead of time sent out the announcement, 252 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: and it was sort of a waiting game because we 253 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: just sent out a press release and we got a 254 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: Facebook message into the Elast for Congress accounts and it 255 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: was a roofing company and it said, Oh, this is 256 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: so exciting, I would love to meet you. We said, well, 257 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: we're on the way to the company, will come visit 258 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: you today. And he's one of my strongest voters to 259 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: this day. Without Facebook, that would have never been able 260 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: to be possible for voters to reach out directly to candidates, 261 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: and it helped us put together a very strong Grasheds 262 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: campaign team in new ways. Did you find social media 263 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: helpful as you reached out to grow a new generation 264 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: of women members. Yes, it was very helpful. It was 265 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: also very helpful during the impeachment fight, just politically for 266 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: me because that was so high profile and because Democrats 267 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: just put so much money supporting my opponent. It helped 268 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: us really expand my reach and my ability to build 269 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: a coalition to fight back to that deluge of Democratic dollars. 270 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: And it also ensured that the candidates that I was 271 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: supporting through EPAC, we were able to get that message out. 272 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: And one of the aspects that's unique about EPACK is 273 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: we don't just support every Republican woman. We look for 274 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: the strongest Republican women based upon the metrics they're meeting, 275 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: similar to the nrcc's Young Guns program, So we want 276 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: them to be to demonstrate they can raise that initial 277 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: seed money, hoping that their goal is over two hundred 278 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: and fifty thousand dollars in the first quarter. The reason 279 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: why that's important is it shows they have the ability 280 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 1: to grow into a strong candidate. We do ask them, 281 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 1: what is your social media strategy, what is your digital 282 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: strategy as well as your overall campaign strategy. What is 283 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: your path to victory? Have you done a deep dive 284 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: of the voting data in the district. The reason why 285 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: those conversations are important and those metrics are important. Is 286 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: we want to help the candidates develop into top tier 287 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: candidates who are prepared to win and grow into the 288 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: general election. So the media and the online digital outreach 289 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: is an important part of that. So when did you 290 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: decide to create EPAC. I decided to create EPAC really 291 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: after the midterms in twenty eighteen. In twenty eighteen, it 292 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: was the first time in our nation's history that over 293 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: one hundred women or serving in the United States Congress, 294 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: and that's an amazing fact. But what was very troubling 295 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: is only thirteen of those women were Republican. So there 296 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: was definitely a challenge and that number of thirteen women, 297 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: that was the same number we were in the nineteen eighties. 298 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: And I know, Knut, when you had a contract with 299 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: America and were speaker, you had a particular focus on 300 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 1: recruiting and supporting best candidates who were Republican women. And 301 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: I believed we needed to have a strategy to do 302 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: that and to be more reflective of our voters and 303 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: the American people. This is not the identity politics of 304 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: the left. This is making sure that we have diverse 305 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: candidates by identifying who the best candidates are that come 306 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: from different backgrounds. And what also happened for me is, 307 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: as you know, Knut, whenever there's a newly elected class, 308 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: when you get together after the election as Republicans, they 309 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: announced all the new members and the new members get 310 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: to go to the front of the room. While in 311 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen our class when they lined them all up, 312 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: there was only one woman, Carol Miller from West Virginia, 313 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: And it was just so stark to me. We lost 314 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: a number of talented women like MEA Love from Utah, 315 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: Mimi Walters from California, Barbara Comstock from Virginia during the 316 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: Blue Wave in twenty eighteen. So I made it my 317 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: mission to focus on my EPAC investing and really supporting 318 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: Republican women in the primaries in general election, and I 319 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: was amazed at the response we had to have that 320 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: public call to action. First of all, I credit Kevin 321 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: McCarthy and Steve Scalise for embracing it early, and also 322 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 1: Tom Emmer for coming on board despite initial skepticism. And 323 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: this was a real team effort. But the women across 324 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: this country answered this call and they raised their hands, 325 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: stepped into the arena and ran for office, and many 326 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: of them reached out immediately in January February two years ago, 327 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: because they were so upset that the only focus it 328 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: seemed to be in the media was the squad, that 329 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: the squad, the far left, high profile Democratic women were 330 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: reflective of women across the country. We know that's not 331 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 1: the case, and they wanted to make sure that they 332 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: were standing up for their districts and their values. Now, 333 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: because I understand a EPAC has raised and donated over 334 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: a million dollars in hard money directly to the candidates, 335 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: how much did that help? Is giving you weight and 336 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,479 Speaker 1: substance in going out and recruiting and training candidates well, 337 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: our EPAC endorsement. Candidates wanted that. I mean they worked 338 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: very very hard to earn that endorsement in the primary 339 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: and again just to overlay the impeachment media coverage. It 340 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: was a help for all these candidates in the primaries 341 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: as well, many of them faced very competitive primaries. The 342 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 1: hard dollar donations, any candidate will tell you the most 343 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: important fund is the direct donations to your campaign and 344 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: the early donations before the primary. So yes, we have 345 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: donated and bundle over a million dollars direct two candidates. 346 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: And when I talked about that email list neot. I 347 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: think what was really smart, and I give credit to 348 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: my campaign team, is we kind of utilize the geographic 349 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 1: diversity of the email list and would focus on different 350 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: regions in the country where we had women running, and 351 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: we would segment the list to communicate with them about 352 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: that candidate to support them. And that bundling effort were 353 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: small dollar donations for the candidates directly, so over million dollars. 354 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: I mean, that has surpassed even my greatest expectations when 355 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: I launched EPAC, and we're going to build on that 356 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two. This is a model that works. 357 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: We will have thirty three women in the next Congress, 358 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: and there are two races that are very very close. 359 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: Marionette Miller Meeks, who's of Teran and a doctor from Iowa. 360 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: Her race was certified, and there's an upstate New York 361 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: district just near mine Quadia, TENNY. We're working in her 362 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: recount process and ensuring that the legal votes are counted 363 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: and she's worn into office. But we will be at 364 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 1: thirty three and I'm going to build on that in 365 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two. And what's amazing is the immediate coverage 366 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: of the Year of the Republican Women. We have already 367 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: heard from dozens of women candidates going into next cycle, 368 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: which is very exciting. Now somebody who's interested in listening 369 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: to this can go top dot com. Well, it's elevatepac 370 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 1: dot com. We're trying to elevate the voices of Republican women. 371 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: They can google EPAC it will come right up, and 372 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: they can also just go to my social media. I 373 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: communicate about it all the time. My Twitter is just 374 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 1: a leastafonic. But go to the website elevate pac dot 375 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: com and if you're a candidate, you can send in 376 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 1: your information. We love hearing directly from candidates. That's how 377 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: the process arts. I get on the phone multiple times 378 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 1: with every candidate, and it's not just the fundraising. We 379 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: really try to help mentor and help their campaigns as 380 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: they have questions or as they're making decisions moving through 381 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: the election. I also do teletown halls on their campaigns 382 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 1: and host events for candidates. It's been a real pleasure 383 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: and honor for me to get to know these amazing women. 384 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: When we had the new class presented this year NEWT 385 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: I almost cried. I was so proud because I've worked 386 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,640 Speaker 1: so closely with all of these women candidates when they 387 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: named these amazing candidates, like Young Kim from California, who 388 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: flipped a district and who ran really for the past 389 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: four years, I've worked with her both when she ran 390 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: and then this pastime when she finally won. I'm just 391 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: so proud of all these women, and the credit goes 392 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: to the women themselves, not to organizations like EPACH we 393 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: were proud to support, but these women showed such courage, 394 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: and they showed such determination and really ran amazing campaigns. 395 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: Are there some key women that you think would be 396 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: particularly interesting to citizens around the country. I know Young 397 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: Kim and Michelle Steele, who are both Korean American, played 398 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: a huge role in beginning to regain Orange County for us. 399 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: You like to the number of other really interesting people. Yes, 400 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: Young Tim and Michelle Steele are amazing. They have amazing 401 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: life stories, both Korean Americans. This is the first time 402 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: that there will be Korean American women serving in Congress. 403 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: So they have broken glass ceilings and they're just energetic, positive, 404 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 1: hardworking people. They're going to be great representatives for their districts. 405 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: Another candidate I would highlight is Nancy Mace, who flipped 406 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: a district back in South Carolina. She was the first 407 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: female graduate of the Citadel. She has an incredible life story. 408 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: She talks about from waffle House to the People's House. 409 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: She actually dropped out of high school and worked as 410 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: a waitress at the waffle House. And she talks about 411 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,719 Speaker 1: how she learned so much about hard work, about the 412 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 1: importance of having good paying jobs during her time at 413 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: the waffle House. And I thought of Nancy when I 414 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: read an interesting Wall Street Journal article I think a 415 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: couple months ago about how the waffle House model of 416 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: workforce development is one of the strongest businesses in terms 417 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 1: of developing their workforce, investing in their workforce, and any 418 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: other business in the country. So Nancy Mace is just incredible. 419 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: She served at the state level and ran a really 420 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 1: strong campaign. I also will highlight Nicole Malatacus. She flipped 421 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: our district in Statn Island and served in the State 422 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: Assembly for a number of years. Her last name listeners 423 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: will know it's Greek, but her family is of Cuban descent, 424 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: so she's Greek American and Cuban American. A great counter 425 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: to the far left squad out of New York City. 426 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 1: She's a strong supporter of our freedoms and our constitutional 427 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: principles and very supportive of law enforcement, which was an 428 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: important issue for voters on Staten Island. I also will 429 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: highlight Ashley Hinson, who was a news anchor locally in Iowa. 430 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 1: She just won a district for she served at the 431 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 1: state Senate. This was a very competitive district. She is 432 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: going to be a rising star as well. She's a 433 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:42,919 Speaker 1: mom of two. She's just a little bit older than me, 434 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: but she will bring that working mom perspective to Congress 435 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: and is just a good Iowan in like the greats 436 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 1: of Chuck Grassley and Junior. People are going to love 437 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: Ashley Hinson. And these are just amazing, amazing stories. And 438 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:00,360 Speaker 1: as America learns more about these incredible women, which will 439 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 1: also be part of the mission of EPAK is telling 440 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: their stories and really holding the media accountable for covering 441 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: these women. As we recall after the twenty eighteen election cycle, 442 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: the cover of Rolling Stone, the cover of Vanity Fair, 443 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: features in Glamour magazine, in Vogue magazine, they focus on 444 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: the Democratic women, but they never want to tell the 445 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: story of these amazing Republican women, and we are going 446 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 1: to work to elevate those stories. I remember correctly is 447 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: Victorious from Ukraine. She is An interesting fact is we 448 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: have four incoming Republican freshman members whose families are from 449 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: behind the iron curtain. Victorious Sparts is one of those 450 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: amazing stories. She was born in Ukraine, raised in Ukraine, 451 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: and really understands how important it is to protect and 452 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: preserve the American dream because her family worked so hard 453 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: to come to America. She won a district in Indiana. 454 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 1: You will be an exceptional member. She's another candidate that 455 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 1: EPAC obviously supported and was proud to do so. But 456 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: that perspective is so important as we are in really 457 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: the fight of our generation between far left socialism versus 458 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: protecting the American dream. And she speaks so passionately and 459 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,479 Speaker 1: from such personal you know, nothing is more personal than 460 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: your life story, and it's just a really important story 461 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: that Americans here. I saw a great line from her 462 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,919 Speaker 1: what she said, I have lived under socialism, and let 463 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: me explain why you shouldn't ever want to do that. 464 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 1: And having a personal witness like that, I would think 465 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 1: it would just be enormously helpful in the House. Absolutely. 466 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 1: When Clinton won two years later, we got fifty four 467 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: seats and took control of the House for the first 468 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: time in forty years. When Obama won two years later, 469 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 1: we got sixty three seats. They are actually bil than 470 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: I did. So I raised the question if Biden does 471 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: end up as president, what are the expectations. At a minimum, 472 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: I think it puts the likelihood of a Republican majority 473 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: probably in the high range. Not that we're going to 474 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: pick up necessarily fifty four or sixty three seats, although 475 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: that'll be fun. This majority now is going to be 476 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 1: what about six seats. Yes, it's going to be a 477 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: very slim majority for Speaker Pelosi if she even holds 478 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,479 Speaker 1: on to the speaker's gabble, I think that's an open question, 479 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: and really the media they've kind of brushed that under 480 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: the rug. But she has real challenges ahead of her, 481 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: both in getting the speakers vote and being able to 482 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 1: just bring and build at the floor. It's going to 483 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: be very tough. That's the slimmest majority that any party 484 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: has had going back to World War Two. That I 485 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: agree with you, Knut. I think if Biden is president, 486 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two is going to be a huge red 487 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: wave a Republican year. Even looking at the twenty twenty 488 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: elections we just went through, there was a massive disconnect 489 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: and it's a growing chasm between the media, the posters, 490 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: and the American people and how they vote. I see 491 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: it in my district every weekend when I'm home that 492 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: the media, for example, in my race, they were treating 493 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 1: it at the local level if this was a competitive race, 494 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: and I run every race like it's competitive. But we 495 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: won by a huge margin, and the media just refused 496 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: to recognize the support for the Republican ticket, both for 497 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 1: President Trump, myself and our state Republican candidates who are 498 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: on the ballot. Going into twenty twenty two, I think 499 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: you're going to see a real pushback on the voices 500 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: of the far left on Democratic governors in terms of 501 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 1: how they're managing COVID. We're already seeing that in New 502 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: York that there is very big pushback to Governor Cuomo. 503 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: Despite the glamorous coverage he's received in his latest Emmy, 504 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: New Yorkers understand that it's been fundamentally failed leadership. So 505 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: I think you will see a wave election and we're 506 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,959 Speaker 1: going to be in a very strong position not just 507 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: to win the majority and fire Nancy Pelosi, but win 508 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 1: a big majority, much bigger than the majority that the 509 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: Democrats have right now, which is very small. Candidate recruitment 510 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: is key to make that happen. When you get on 511 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: the phone in the next two three months and somebody's 512 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: sort of going, well, I'm not really sure what's the 513 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: summary you use to try to get people to look 514 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: themselves in the mirror and decide they have to run. Well, 515 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: I've already been on the phone, which is exciting. It's 516 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: earlier than ever before that candidates are proactively reaching out 517 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: because I think candidates from these communities across this country, 518 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: from the congressional districts, they feel that what's happening on 519 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: the ground among voters is different than the media's portraying. 520 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: And I think we're going to have a lot of 521 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: candidates that self recruits, and those oftentimes are the best 522 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: candidates because they have the fire in the belly and 523 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 1: their self starters. But my closing argument is this is 524 00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 1: going to be one of the most exciting election cycles 525 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: to run in if you think about the issues that 526 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: are at stake in this country, the fights that are 527 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: likely to be had, whether it's moving towards a more 528 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: socialized medicine, even if it's Medicare for all or Medicare 529 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: public option, that's marching towards medicare for all. If you 530 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 1: think about the tax increases that the Biden campaign has proposed, 531 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: if you think about both the rhetoric and policies, and 532 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: the bill that Pelosi brought to the fore to cut 533 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 1: funding for law enforcement and defund the police. These are 534 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:35,560 Speaker 1: important fights for our generation, and you're going to make history. 535 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 1: This is an important cycle to run in. And I 536 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: also talk about how a lot of politics is about timing, 537 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: and you want to run in a cycle that gives 538 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: you the best opportunity to win. This is going to 539 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,960 Speaker 1: be the best opportunity even in some of those reached 540 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: districts that we maybe haven't had on the map. I 541 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: think we need to have strong candidates in those districts 542 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: because we had some surprises this past November with Democrats 543 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: that barely hung on from Sherry Bustos, who is chair 544 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 1: of the de Triple See. I think we ought to 545 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: run a very strong candidate against her, and I hope 546 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 1: Esther Joy King, who was the candidate against her, runs 547 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 1: again because she brought it very close, and I think 548 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: we'll be focused on investing there in the future. So 549 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: this is the right cycle to run, and the issues 550 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: are never going to be more important than they are today. 551 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,920 Speaker 1: I think I can reinforce your case on two grounds. 552 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: One was in my own case, I had to run 553 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 1: three times. I lost twice because of the cycle we 554 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: were in with Watergate and then as a Georgian with 555 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 1: Jimmy Carter at the head of the Democratic ticket. So 556 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: it took me five years to win and it was 557 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: worth every day of it in terms of being able 558 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 1: to serve the country. But in addition, when we broke 559 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: through for the first time in forty years with the 560 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 1: contract with American in nineteen ninety four, we ran somebody 561 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 1: against all but three Democrats. We literally went out and said, 562 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: we don't care how unlikely it is, we want to 563 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 1: spread their defenses. And we also had a hunch that 564 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: if we ran against all their committee chairs that they 565 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:12,520 Speaker 1: would become hogs and they would keep all the resources 566 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 1: out of fear so that their marginal numbers couldn't get 567 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 1: any resources. And as a result, we beat the chairman 568 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: of the Ways and Means Committee Danny Rushtenkowski. In downtown Chicago, 569 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 1: we beat the Speaker of the House. And Spokane, Washington, 570 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 1: we beat the chairman of the Judiciary Committee in Texas. 571 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: You couldn't have predicted any of those three victories, but 572 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: they were part of what happened. And I think your 573 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: instinct is right. This is a country that understands that 574 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:44,799 Speaker 1: the gap between real life for most Americans who are 575 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 1: deeply troubled by everything from COVID to shutdowns, to economics, 576 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:53,120 Speaker 1: to crime to the rise of China, the gap between 577 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: their lives and what they get told by the left 578 00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: wing media and by the bureaucrats is getting bigger and 579 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: and I think you have a chance to be part 580 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 1: of a generation that really has an extraordinary impact in 581 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 1: American history. And your personal leadership is one of the 582 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 1: things that I'm proudest of, and I just want you 583 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 1: to know that I believe you've already helped change history. 584 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,720 Speaker 1: I believe in the next two years, what you're doing 585 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 1: and what Elevate Pack is doing, could be decisive in 586 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: actually broadening the Republican Party, giving us a new generation 587 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 1: of younger leaders, and giving us an ability to reach 588 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 1: out to people of all backgrounds in a way that 589 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: historically has not been part of the classic Republican parties. 590 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,080 Speaker 1: I just as a citizen, I want to thank you 591 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 1: for the leadership you've shown and for your willingness to 592 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 1: work so hard to represent your district, to serve on 593 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: key committees in the Congress, and to grow a new 594 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:53,839 Speaker 1: generation of leaders around the country. I think at least 595 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:57,479 Speaker 1: you're doing an amazing job. Well, thank you, Newts. I 596 00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 1: just want the listeners to know when I was at 597 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 1: underdog candidate, Nut was so encouraging and he has been 598 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 1: encouraging throughout my time serving New York's twenty first Congressional district. 599 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: But even when I was a young staffer in DC. 600 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:14,800 Speaker 1: I got to work with Nut when I was policy 601 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 1: director of the Platform for the RNC in twenty twelve, 602 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: and you just go out of your way to help 603 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:25,839 Speaker 1: encourage and mentor young up and comers. And I'm so 604 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,919 Speaker 1: grateful and thank you so much for all you do 605 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 1: for the American people and the American idea. You are 606 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,880 Speaker 1: one of the most energetic, innovative people in our country, 607 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,239 Speaker 1: and just know that we all look up to you 608 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 1: so much. So I'm grateful for the opportunity to share 609 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,320 Speaker 1: a little bit about EPAC and the amazing women that 610 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 1: the American people just elected, and I'm honored. Those are 611 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:52,480 Speaker 1: very kind words. Thank you to my guests conders One, 612 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:56,240 Speaker 1: at least Stafi. You can read more about condres One, Stafoni, 613 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 1: and EPAC on our show page and newts World dot 614 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:04,560 Speaker 1: News World is produced by Gingwich, tweet sixty and iHeartMedia. 615 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:10,360 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Debbie Myers, our producer is Garnsey Sloan, 616 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: and our researcher is Rachel Peterson. The artwork for the 617 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: show was created by Steve Kennelly. Special thanks to the 618 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:23,040 Speaker 1: team at Gingwich three sixty. Please email me with your 619 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:27,239 Speaker 1: questions at Gingwich three sixty dot com slash questions. I'll 620 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: answer a selection of questions in future episodes. If you've 621 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: been enjoying news World, I hope you'll go to Apple 622 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:37,279 Speaker 1: Podcasts and both rate us with five stars and give 623 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 1: us a review so others can learn what it's all about. 624 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:43,759 Speaker 1: I'm new Gingwish. This is news World.