1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Hey, America, is Peter Schweitzer sitting next to me as 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: Eric Eggers and we are filling in for Sean joined 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: the conversation at one eight hundred nine four one seven 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: three two six one eight hundred nine four one seven 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: three two six. I'm looking at front of me some 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: really disastrous numbers. Latest Gallup poll approval rating for Congress 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: fifteen percent, not fifty percent. Fifteen percent. I'm also noticing 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: that fifty three members of Congress are going to be 9 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: not seeking reelection in the twenty twenty six midterm elections. 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: That's pretty devastating for the institution. 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 2: So why do you consider that to be devastating news? 12 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 2: Number One? If Congress is so bad that they're approved 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 2: written is only fifteen percent, then maybe swapping out over 14 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 2: ten percent of it's not the worst idea. Maybe we 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 2: just got to get the roster better. It's like, you know, 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 2: the Jets and the Giants have had terrible years, so 17 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: I would expect a few of those team members to 18 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: come back. But I do think it's it's telling because 19 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: you know some people are leaving Congress to want to 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 2: go out out and you know they're gonna run for 21 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: different officers. Like Chip Roy's running for age in Texas, 22 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 2: Wesley Hunts winner for Senate, so as Jasmincrockett. But you 23 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: hear rumors, and we've been hearing it for some time, 24 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 2: there's a growing sense of dissatisfaction in specifically the House 25 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 2: GOP Caucus. 26 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's exactly right. You know, it's a very razor 27 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: thin majority and a lot of people are frustrated. Seems 28 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: to be dysfunctional. You've got people like Marjorie Taylor Green 29 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: that make noise and kind of disrupt everything. So we 30 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: wanted to talk to somebody who's actually been there. Our 31 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: good friend Jason Chafis. He was the chairman of the 32 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: House Oversight Committee, very powerful committee serving Congress representing Utah, 33 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: and he's also a distinguished fellow with the Government Accountability Institute. 34 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 3: Where we work. 35 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Jason makes sense of these numbers. I mean, why are 36 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: the numbers fifteen percent, which is historically low, and why 37 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: do you think so many people are leaving Congress at 38 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: this point in time. 39 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 4: You're asking me to make sense of Congress. Listen and 40 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 4: look honored to be with you. A happy new year. Look, 41 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 4: it's a I think members are very frustrated and it's not. 42 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 4: It's on both sides of the aisle. It is not 43 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 4: solely a Republican situation. But members feel like they can't 44 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 4: do their jobs, and people buy start to glaze over 45 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 4: when you talk about regular order. But the way the 46 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 4: appropriations process is supposed to work is that we have 47 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 4: twelve appropriations built and every member can offer an amendment 48 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 4: or a striking amendment and participate in the process. But 49 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 4: the entire eight years that I was there, and even 50 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 4: the eight years since I've left, never, not once, have 51 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 4: they gone through a quote unquote regular order. So I 52 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 4: you know, I joke with people, I say, you know, 53 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 4: it's exhausting doing nothing, because what happens is they go 54 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 4: through all the process, they go through all the hearings, 55 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 4: they go through all the rigmarole, and then they want 56 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 4: to craft a bill and then it just gets superseded 57 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 4: by a continuing resolution and they flush all that good 58 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 4: work down the drain, and that get that wears on 59 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 4: people when you've been away from your family and all 60 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 4: the other opportunity costs, and people get set up with it. 61 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: No, that actually makes a lot of sense, and it 62 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 2: actually casts the people who are leaving Congress in a 63 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: positive light, no joking around, because it means like to 64 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: your point, like you know, you want your life to 65 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: matter and you want what you do to do something. 66 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 2: And it also kind of suggests that if given the 67 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 2: frustrations you run into on a daily basis of doing 68 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 2: that job, then the only reason why you might want 69 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: to stay in that job is if you're making money 70 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: doing something else, and so you then they get rid 71 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: of the inside of trading in Congress, which is something 72 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: that we expect them to vote on, but it doesn't 73 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 2: suggests like, hey, like why are we actually even here? 74 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 4: Then well, look, I think the body has to implement 75 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 4: and do and pass into law. It's not a constitutional 76 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 4: amendment to have term limits, get and get out. The 77 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 4: people you should worry about most are the ones that 78 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 4: stay there in perpetuity and never ever leave there. They're 79 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 4: a decade after decade. I when I left, there were 80 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 4: kind of three groups. There were people there, Hey, I 81 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 4: got nothing better to do, and it's a cool business 82 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 4: card and it's kind of fun. Number two is pretty 83 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 4: pretty weird, like they're they're all about the power and 84 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 4: maybe doing something that's pretty sketch. And then the third group, 85 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 4: I put myself in there. But there are really good 86 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 4: people who wanted to get in get work done, you know, 87 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 4: And I served with a number of those people, Trey 88 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 4: Goudie and John Ratcliffe and those types of people. Pulci 89 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 4: Gabbard was one of those people. You know. Now there 90 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 4: many of them are in the administration. But they they 91 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 4: got in, they served, and they got out, and you've 92 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 4: got to kind of force that. The other thing I 93 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 4: would do is get rid of the Appropriations Committee. I 94 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 4: would just totally flush it down the toilet, get rid 95 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 4: of it. It is totally worthless, top to bottom. You 96 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 4: have all these authorizing committees, they hold hearings, they know 97 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 4: natural resources, and then the appropriators come in and by 98 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 4: the hundreds fund programs that were never authorized by the 99 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 4: authorising committees. It's the craziest thing you've ever seen. And 100 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 4: so that again gets really frustrated. Hey, we held hearings. 101 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 4: And the other thing Congress never does is flex its muscles. 102 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 4: It never ever uses the power of the purse. That's 103 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 4: the one thing that Congress can do. It's like, you know, 104 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 4: all these daycare centers in Minnesota and all that, well, 105 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 4: there should be consequences, but Congress is feckless, and so 106 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 4: members are tired of taking those questions and they're like, 107 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 4: I can't change it. 108 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, Jason, that's really as I hear you 109 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,119 Speaker 1: talking about this, and I've known you for a while, 110 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: you're sincere in it. I think your analysis is right. 111 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: And then you wonder, like, so, this is this a 112 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: problem of leadership? 113 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 3: Right? 114 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: I mean, this problem didn't just sort of like land 115 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: on people's laps. Somebody is responsible for this dysfunction. I'm 116 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: not saying it's one person. I'm not even saying it's 117 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: half a dozen people. But is this a leadership problem? 118 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: I mean, you talked about some structural reforms, getting rid 119 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: of the committee, et cetera. But is it a leadership issue? 120 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: Do the wrong people rise to the top or why 121 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: do we get leaders that don't seem to be able 122 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: to tame this beast and get it to do the 123 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: things that's supposed to do. 124 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 4: You know, it's interesting because I have long sought to 125 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 4: redefine the role of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 126 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 4: I think Mike Johnson is a fabulous person. He is 127 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 4: a man of integrity, of nothing but good things to 128 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 4: say about him. He has the most impossible jobs. We 129 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 4: give him no tools to actually do it. The expectation 130 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 4: is that he can herd all these cats and move 131 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 4: them in the right direction. We got rid of ear marks. 132 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 4: I was proud of the fact that I, you know, 133 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 4: I played a big role in that and say no, 134 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 4: we're done with ear marks, even though everybody in the 135 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 4: Utah delegation when I came there was supportive of it, 136 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 4: and I kind of forced him and shamed him into 137 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 4: getting rid of them. Well, that was the political candy 138 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 4: that made everything go down easier. And so when you 139 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 4: get rid of earmarks, what tools does the speaker have 140 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 4: to actually cajole and move people. I don't think you 141 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 4: necessarily want to. The role that speakers should be totally different. 142 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 4: But the body as the whole and the American people 143 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 4: have to force this issue. And it's not the sexiest 144 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 4: thing to say, all right, we're reconfiguring this. No more 145 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 4: appropriations committees, no more. But it's broken now and it 146 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 4: needs fixing. And term limits is I think one of 147 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 4: the very first steps a balanced budget amendment would go 148 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 4: a long way. Voter ID you know Mike Lee's, you know, 149 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 4: Dave acts to make sure we have voter identification because 150 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 4: you literally have more than a dozen seats in Congress 151 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 4: that are essentially illegal aliens that get representations. So these 152 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 4: things I think would make a difference. 153 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 3: Let me let me ask you this, Jason. 154 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it seems to me, and everything I've heard 155 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: about Speaker Johnson is the same, just high quality individual, 156 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: but seems to me, you look over the last twenty years, 157 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi was absolutely had a spine of steel. She 158 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: could get all the Democrats to stay in line. Republicans 159 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: don't seem to be able to do that. 160 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 4: Why she controlled the money. If you wanted to raise 161 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,559 Speaker 4: money and have a political future, look at Tim Ryan 162 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 4: out of Ohio, and when he went up against Nancy Pelosi, 163 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 4: he was done. We never talk about him anymore. So 164 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 4: she ruled that iron fist, and she was darn good 165 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 4: at it. And look, conceptually they were lemmings. They really 166 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:43,239 Speaker 4: did believe in centralized government. Where Republicans talk about freedom, liberty, dealth, determination. 167 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,719 Speaker 4: That just counter to oh okay, our leader says we're 168 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 4: going over here, so everybody get on board. The closest 169 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 4: I've seened actual you know, driving and moving everybody together 170 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 4: in the same direction as Donald Trump, and he does 171 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 4: it because he will when he lets know that that's 172 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 4: what he wants done, he is going to he is 173 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 4: going to make his way known. But you know he's 174 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 4: doing it the right way, the political way. But it's 175 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 4: going to probably take the outside groups, maybe some other 176 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 4: structural changes. But it is not functional right now, and 177 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 4: it's not serving the American people. Well, they're showing up 178 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 4: in the poll numbers. 179 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: We're talking to former Member of Congress Jason Chaffits. He's 180 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 2: also the former chair of the House Oversight Committee. Jason, 181 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 2: what grade would you give James Comer for the last 182 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 2: year and if you could request or sort of predict 183 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 2: one thing he will do next year, what would it be? 184 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 4: I give him an A plus. I think he will 185 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 4: ultimately end up running for governor of Kentucky, and I 186 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 4: think he'll be a fabulous governor. He has his hands full. 187 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 4: You know, we transformed that committee. He used to be 188 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 4: a committee nobody wanted on when I was there, and 189 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 4: you know, after we got done, it's the most popular 190 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 4: committee out there. The frustrating thing for I think for 191 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 4: the American public is they don't give Congress handcuffs, and 192 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 4: so it was a frustration because we point out all 193 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 4: the waste, the fraud, the abuse they have, the hearings, 194 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 4: you got people under oath, and you make a recommendation, 195 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 4: it goes over to the Department of Justice and it's 196 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 4: crickets and and that's that's the frustration. And uh, something's 197 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 4: got to give because I think the American people that 198 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 4: are doing things right, they're working hard, paying their taxes, 199 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 4: got a job taking care of that, they feel like 200 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 4: chumps right now. They just feel like they feel like 201 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 4: they're chumps, Like why should I do this? You know, 202 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 4: you see what's going on in Minnesota and other places. 203 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: You know who thinks James Comer's doing a lousy job? 204 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: Bill and Hillary Clinton? 205 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 3: Right? 206 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: I mean, here, here's here's here's a guy, really the 207 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: first government official who said we are going to subpoena 208 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,239 Speaker 1: you and you were going to sit before the Congressional Committee. 209 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 3: How do you think that's all going to end up? Jason? 210 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: Do you think the Clinton's are actually going to have 211 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: to sit before this committee? 212 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 3: I'm not sure they can avoid it. 213 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 4: You know, Trey Goudy, I think said it out loud first. 214 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 4: He said, you your subpoena is only good as your 215 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 4: ability to enforce it. I went down that path, but 216 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 4: I had a speaker in Paul Ryan, who's no way 217 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 4: going to support that. You had an attorney general and 218 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 4: Jeff Sessions who told me, if it's Clinton's I'm doing nothing. 219 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 4: You know, it's in large bar why I left and so, 220 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 4: and then prior to that, it was the Obama administration. 221 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 4: So you know, good luck with you know, Loretta Lynch 222 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,719 Speaker 4: and Eric Holder and that crew. So I think he 223 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 4: now finally probably has somebody in a Pam Bondi and 224 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 4: a judge Janine who's the US attorney for the District 225 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 4: of Columbia. But they're actually going to be able to 226 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 4: force the issue, and that showdown is going to be 227 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 4: a big one. But I think they're going to have 228 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 4: to come testify, I raise their hands and go under oath. 229 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: So every two years as an election year, obviously, but 230 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 2: this year, with especially tight majority of the Republicans are 231 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: holding How much does that impact how Congress operates? Does 232 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: it impact in terms of, like, hey, we're more willing 233 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: to hold hearings because we think it's better for you know, 234 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 2: there's only thirty seats that are kind of up for grabs. 235 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: How much does that impact just the way they do 236 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 2: their day to day business, Oh, one hundred percent. 237 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 4: I mean the last six months of this term, I 238 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,599 Speaker 4: think is being dishonest if you don't think that that 239 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 4: has a big you know, their political ramifications. Look, a 240 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 4: lot of it depends on the economy, A lot of 241 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 4: it depends on some of these important court rulings of birthright, citizenship, 242 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 4: those types of things. There're gonna be some really big 243 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 4: rulings coming out of the court that will affect that. 244 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 4: But yeah, Congress has got to get it back together. 245 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 4: They get another shot at reconciliation and so you know 246 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 4: what can they couple together that will make a difference 247 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 4: in people's lives. Yeah, Congress has it's full because there 248 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 4: is nowhere He's come so far in the first it's 249 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 4: hard to believe it's been less than twelve months of 250 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 4: Donald Trump here in his term. But yeah, there's a 251 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 4: lot that people want to see in terms of affordability, healthcare, 252 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 4: those types of things. 253 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: Well, Jason, we understand why you left Congress. Kind of 254 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: wish you hadn't because we need people like you in there. 255 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 1: But we appreciate you joining us. We appreciate the work 256 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: you're doing with us at the Government Accountability Institute and 257 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: also the work you're doing with the Oversight Project. And 258 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,479 Speaker 1: we will have to wait and see how the midterms 259 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: roll out. So happy New Year to you, Jason, and 260 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: we will continue to watch this story closely in terms 261 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: of these midterms and how things are going to turn out. 262 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: I don't know, Eric, if you have any thoughts on that. 263 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 3: Well. 264 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 2: I like Jason Chafis. Not only does he go on 265 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 2: TV all the time as a fill and host for 266 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: many these programs, but he's just making news now. You 267 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 2: heard him say he thinks James Comer leaves Congress, joins 268 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 2: this ground swell of people trying to get out of Washington, 269 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 2: d C. And runs for governor Kentucky. That's the first 270 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 2: time I've heard that. You agree with that. 271 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, it's it's gonna be interesting to see 272 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: how that shakes out. It's going to be interesting to 273 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: see how all this jerrymandering affects the outcome of the 274 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: elections in November. I'm Peter Schweizer. That's Eric Eggers. We're 275 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: filling in on the Hannity Show. We'll be back right 276 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: after this break. 277 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 5: The world is a wait wait and watching President Trump's 278 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 5: every move. 279 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 4: I will fight for you. And they're well rested too 280 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 4: after four years of sleepy Joel. 281 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 2: This is a Sean Hannity show. 282 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 5: My folks, time to talk about real money gold and silver. 283 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 5: Now the analyst, you know, the guy's buying closed doors, 284 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 5: digging deep into the data. Well, they are making big 285 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 5: predictions for twenty twenty six. 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Rules and 320 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 5: restrictions may apply. 321 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 2: It's Friday, January second. Welcome back to the Sean Handy 322 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 2: Show on Mark Edgers. This is Peter Schweitzer. Alongside with me, 323 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 2: we co host a podcast called The Drill Down with 324 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 2: Peter Schweizer, which you can find at the Drilldown dot com. 325 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: Happy to be filled in for Sean yet again on 326 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 2: this first live show of the year twenty twenty six. 327 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 2: Peter that you do quite well because you're a best 328 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 2: selling author, but you live in Floridas. You don't have 329 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 2: this problem if you are as successful as Peter, if 330 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 2: you are a billionaire who lives in California, I have 331 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 2: terrible news for you. You're on the hook for some 332 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 2: really potentially expensive taxes. 333 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, you are. And look, we have to remind ourselves. 334 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: We have a federal system in America. So Donald Trump's 335 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 1: in the White House, Republicans control of the House, they 336 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: control the Senate, but there's a lot of states they're making. 337 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 3: Their own decisions. 338 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: So we're going to talk in a little bit here 339 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: about the proposed wealth tax in California. There's not a 340 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: tax on income, there's not a property tax. This is 341 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: you're worth how much money, We're gonna take five percent 342 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: of it, and we're going to learn about some other 343 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 1: really bizarre woke laws, including ones involving horses. Coming up 344 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: in the next segment. We've got to remind ourselves there's 345 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: crazy things going on at the state level by the 346 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: woke mafia. 347 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 3: Even right now. 348 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 2: We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call, 349 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 2: Join the Conversation one eight hundred and nine four one 350 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 2: seven three tiour one. Shawn will take your calls and 351 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 2: tell you crazy things about horses and billionaires. Right after this, 352 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 2: he's Peter Schweitzer. I'm Eric Eggers. This is Sean Handy 353 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 2: Radio Show, Sean Hennedy. 354 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: That is Eric Eggers, and I'm Peter Schweitzer, and we 355 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: are filling in for Sean, who is getting a well 356 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: deserved break. Join the Conversation wearning eighte hundred ninet four 357 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: one seven three two six one eight hundred nine four 358 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: one seven three two six. You know, Donald Trump's done 359 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: a lot of the first years we talked about earlier 360 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: in the segment, changing a lot of things, but at 361 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,239 Speaker 1: the state level there still is a lot of craziness, uh, 362 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: and some things that are really going to affect a 363 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: lot of people. 364 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 2: We're quite lucky because we both live in the Free 365 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 2: State of Florida, and so you know, we're we've got 366 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 2: people talking about getting rid of property taxes. Roon de 367 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 2: Sants has done a great job, but other states, to 368 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 2: your point, have maybe gone the other way on that's 369 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 2: as that kind of fells a little short of conservative 370 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 2: fiscal and social policy initiatives. 371 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, this is a very interesting article by Camden Molder 372 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: in the National Review talking about what's going on some 373 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: of the blue state laws in twenty twenty five. Some 374 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: of them are obviously predictable. California mandates gender neutral bathrooms 375 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: in K through twelve schools. You're mandated, mandated required to 376 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: have them, whether it's a charter school or a public school. 377 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: And by the way, taxpayers will pay for all of 378 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: those renovations. But some of them are just downright crazy 379 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: if you ask me. In Washington State, they have now 380 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: mandated hate crime work leave, hate crime work leave. 381 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 2: That is to say, you get to leave work if 382 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 2: you've been a victim of a hate crime. 383 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, if you have experienced a hate crime, your boss 384 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: is now required to give you ample time off to 385 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: heal and recover from the experience. Now, I can certainly 386 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: understand if you are attacked in the street, somebody beats 387 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: you up, you're gonna need. 388 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: Some time off. 389 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: But this covers everything. So if you are harassed online 390 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: or on social media, or somebody calls you a name 391 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: in in you know, online media, your employers required to 392 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: give you the time off without penalty to quote get 393 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: your affairs in order. 394 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 4: You know. 395 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 2: The real irony of that is, like, if you are 396 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 2: subjected to a hate crime as a Washington State resident, 397 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 2: the odds are that happened because you're goofing off at 398 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 2: work Online. You're probably just hanging on Reddit or something 399 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 2: and in too many of your comment's got down vote 400 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 2: and you're like, I'm triggering. I'm out, yes, and you're 401 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 2: taking some time off. You're rewarded for being a bad employee. 402 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 3: I like that. Yeah. 403 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: In the state of Connecticut, they have banned this is bizarre. 404 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: They have banned hostile infrastructure that deters unhoused people from 405 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: sleeping on benches, sidewalks, et cetera. So this is public 406 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: Act twenty five, Dash forty nine. 407 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 3: A component of the. 408 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: Bill says that unhoused citizens now are allowed to sleep 409 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: where they can, and in fact, it bans hostile architecture. 410 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 2: Now, so do you know what that like. We actually 411 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 2: have examples of that in the city that we live in. 412 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: There's a lake that's not too far from our office 413 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: where we're doing the show from, and they put in 414 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 2: benches because there was an unhoused population problem. Too many 415 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 2: people are kind of accosting the families and stuff. So 416 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: they put in little bars in the middle of the bench, 417 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 2: like a little spiky thing, you know, you could it's 418 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 2: like a little armrest, maybe, yeah, but it's meant to 419 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 2: keep people from sleeping on the benches. So that would 420 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 2: be a crime in Connecticut. 421 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 422 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: In fact, armrests in the middle of a bench are 423 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 1: considered hostile architecture and are now banned in the state 424 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 1: of Connecticut. The bill, of course, passed with no Republican support. 425 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 2: Well, I will say this, you know, if I'm sympathetic 426 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 2: to any of them, I might be sympathetic to that, 427 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 2: because if you're a homeless person in Connecticut, your problem 428 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 2: is not architecture. Your problem is the cold. Like I 429 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 2: respect to you for being a homeless person in Connecticut. 430 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 2: You're tough. 431 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, Well, also in the state of Illinois, they 432 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: pass a law that insurance plans now must cover therapeutic 433 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: horse riding. So this is in August, Governor JB. Prisker 434 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: signed to Senate Bill sixty nine into law. It requires 435 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: insurance companies to cover hippotherapy. Now, I'd never heard of hippotherapy. 436 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: That's apparently therapy with horses. But this mandates that insurance 437 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: plans cover horse therapy for physical or occupational or speech therapy. 438 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: Through the interacting where they horse. 439 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 2: Illinois so corrupt and transactional. Remember Rod Bogoyvitch was like, 440 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 2: I have a Senate seat to sell. I'm about to 441 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 2: make so much money off of this. So when you 442 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 2: tell me that, it makes me think that the horse 443 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 2: lobby is that they got their finger on the pulse 444 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 2: of the legislature there, Like we got all these horses and 445 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,479 Speaker 2: nobody's trying to ride it to cold in Chicago. We 446 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 2: need to get on the horse therapy game. 447 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and again people wonder why their health's insurance rates 448 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: go up. I'm not saying it's just things, but there 449 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: are a lot of crazy things that get embedded. Where 450 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 1: states require insurance companies to cover things, their cost go up. 451 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: They're going to raise their their prices. 452 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 2: So those are laws that actually passed. A law that 453 00:22:56,160 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 2: has been proposed is a valid initiative that would impose 454 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: a one time five percent tax on anyone in the 455 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 2: state of California worth a billion dollars the service employers 456 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 2: in International Union. The SEIU has proposed this. Now, of 457 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: course it's California, so there's always other stuff going on. 458 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 2: Gavin Newsom seems to loom large over this idea. What 459 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 2: do you think about this proposed one time five percent 460 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 2: wealth tax on billionaires. 461 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: Well, first of all, one time. I mean, come on, 462 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: they say it's one time. If they actually pull it 463 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: off and they get some revenue, even though a lot 464 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 1: of people are gonna leave, they're gonna do it again. 465 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 1: It's a shakedown. Once you give into a shakedown one time, 466 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: you're gonna get it more often. But this is I 467 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: think a major escalation and taxation in America is because 468 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: you're not talking about taxing somebody's home or you know, 469 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: they're commercial real estate and a property tax or an 470 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: income tax that we've had, you know, for the last 471 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: century in the United States. You're saying all the money 472 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 1: that you've saved up over the course of however long 473 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: your career is, even if it's a billion dollars, we're 474 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: gonna take five percent of a chunk of that and 475 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: we are going to use it to fix the fiscal 476 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: crisis that California is in, because after all, the problem 477 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 1: in California is that people do not pay enough taxes. 478 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: And if we just get more tax revenue, things are 479 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 1: going to get better in California. 480 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, that's the problem with California. Not enough revenue 481 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 2: the real problem. 482 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: But here's the contrast. By the way we live in Florida. 483 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: Texas is considering the same thing. Big states. California is 484 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: the biggest, but we're in big states. Our two states. Well, 485 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 1: in the state of Florida, I should say, we have 486 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: no state income tax. They are actually considering eliminating property 487 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: taxes on your primary residents. And they say they can 488 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: do this and there will be no cutbacks. And yet California, 489 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: which has the highest state income tax in the country, 490 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: and you know, has all these fiscal problems which we 491 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 1: don't have in Florida. They're just going to now implement 492 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 1: a new tax. Apparently, if this thing actually passes as 493 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: a state initiative. 494 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 2: Well, by the way, the tax on your net worth 495 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 2: is worth pointing out, would happen because you've accumulated that 496 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 2: net worth after paying taxes on your income. So you're 497 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 2: gonna be paying taxes again on money that you got 498 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 2: to keep after being taxed the first time. So major 499 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 2: problems there. I would suggest that the reason why California 500 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 2: is in this difficult problem that they need to raise 501 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 2: enough money from this proposal is because of how expensive 502 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 2: it is to be in California. Now remember this, We've 503 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 2: talked about this on a podcast before, but for four 504 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 2: years in a row, California had the largest net loss 505 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 2: of one way movers that don't take my worth word, 506 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 2: that's U haul U hauls. Like no, we literally run 507 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 2: out of U hauls in California because people are doing 508 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 2: too many one way they get the U haul in California, 509 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 2: they take it anywhere else, Yeah, anywhere else that it's 510 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 2: much cheaper. And so you know, Gaven Newsom at one 511 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 2: point had a ninety eight billion dollar budget surplus because 512 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 2: of all the federal COVID subsidies, and he managed Gavin 513 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 2: Newsom did this is the potential presidential front right for 514 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 2: the Democrat Party to turn a ninety eight billion dollars 515 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 2: for a plus to do a forty five billion dollar 516 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 2: budget deficit. 517 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: Hey, not everybody has a great year, right m M yeah, No, 518 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: it's it's what's going to be interesting to watch in 519 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: this whole debate is I don't think Gavin Newsom has 520 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: taken a public position on this tax, which, by the way, 521 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: is being pushed by the Service Employees International Union. What 522 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: does this have to do with union organizing? 523 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:23,479 Speaker 3: Nothing? 524 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: I mean, this is just pure political activism. But Gavin 525 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: Newsom's in a dilemma because he's going to run for president. 526 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: That seems pretty clear he needs the progressives. They have 527 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: the energy in the party. That's clearly the center of 528 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,520 Speaker 1: gravity in the party. Anybody who campaigns is a moderate 529 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: for president is going to have a hard time getting 530 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: the nomination. But if you go into Crazyville, right, you 531 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: go too far to the left, Ala Bernie Sanders or 532 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: Kamala Harris. 533 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 3: You're gonna lose. You're gonna lose. 534 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 1: Because that's not where the center of gravity of the 535 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: of the country is. So he's got to straddle this. 536 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 1: He doesn't want to offend the progressives. But on the 537 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 1: other hand. He knows this is a stupid idea, because 538 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: the New York Times is reported that already Sergey Brinn 539 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: and Peter Tiel, these Silicon Valley billionaire investor made plans 540 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 1: last year in twenty twenty five to change their residents 541 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: in anticipation of this bill. Because, by the way, what's 542 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 1: interesting is this is a referendum to be held in 543 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: November of twenty twenty six. It's retroactive. So if you 544 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: live there today on January the second, and you've got 545 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: that kind of money and this thing passes, it doesn't 546 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: matter where you move, they're going to come after you. 547 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 2: Well, it turns out the billionaires they part of the 548 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 2: reason that they become billionaires is they pay lawyers and accountants. 549 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 2: So I guess they had a bit of a heads 550 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 2: up on this. But I want to follow up on 551 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,640 Speaker 2: something you just said, because you're right, the center of gravity, 552 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 2: the energy for Democrats running for president, the presidential primary 553 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 2: certainly is the progressive There's no doubt about that. So 554 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 2: you need them to be successful in a presidential campaign, 555 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 2: but you also need money, and you need then the 556 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 2: support of progressive billionaires. So you wrote a book called 557 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 2: Extortion and you introduced this idea. It is brilliant back 558 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 2: in the time. Came out in twenty thirteen, but it 559 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,200 Speaker 2: was this idea that members of Congress will introduce legislation 560 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 2: that they don't actually intend for it to pass, but 561 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 2: they use it as a vehicle to do what. 562 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 1: To extort money? Right in other words, Oh, this real 563 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: and I go here where you're going with this? And 564 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 1: it's really a great point for Gavin Newsom. This is 565 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 1: a way to get progressive billionaires to back him because 566 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 1: he's the only guy that can stop this, right, he's 567 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:29,880 Speaker 1: the only guy. It's the classic you know, the mafia 568 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: shows up at the corner deli in town and they say, oh, 569 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,360 Speaker 1: it'd be a shame if this place burned down. I've 570 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: got fire insurance. I'll protect you. That's essentially what the 571 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: move could be here and that that's a great point. 572 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: I mean, if he's trying to shore up the fundraising 573 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 1: for a twenty eight presidential campaign, this is the way 574 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: that Gavin Newsom can get a lot. 575 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 3: Of that back. 576 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 2: And he comes to you, he said, listen, I'm the 577 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 2: only thing staying between you and a five percent tax 578 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 2: on your net worth. California residents and so give me. 579 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 3: Two percent of your network and you'll come up three percent. 580 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 2: I don't think it's a great idea, but I'm in 581 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 2: this weird spot because I'm gavin news to him and 582 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 2: I went, I pivoted from having Steve Bannon on podcasts 583 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 2: and now I'm like, you know, back in support of 584 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 2: all these progressive ideas, and I'm trolling Donald Trump, and 585 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 2: I'm you know, I delivered the biggest actual win in 586 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 2: terms of the redistricting initiative in California, so like, people 587 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 2: aren't so much concerned about the fact that California is 588 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 2: a failed state with multi billion dollar budget deficits because 589 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 2: I did this thing that seems like it's helping to 590 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 2: fight Donald Trump. I just think he's very smart politically, Yes, 591 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 2: And it wouldn't shock me if this is part of 592 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 2: his larger plan to position himself, because yeah, how can 593 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 2: you kind of straddle it? Hey, Look, we want to 594 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 2: be you know, we want to fight against people, but 595 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 2: I also need the support. So I think this is 596 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: part of his presidential campaign. 597 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. 598 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 1: Bill Clinton had back in the day in nineteen ninety two, 599 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 1: the so called Sister Soldia Moment. 600 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 3: There was a musical performer Sister Soldier. 601 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: I think she was a rapper and some you know, 602 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 1: raunchy lyrics at least back in the day. And Bill 603 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: Clinton denounced her and said this is cultural rot. We 604 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: can't have this in the country. He took criticism from 605 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 1: some people in Democratic Party but sort of centered his 606 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: reputation as somebody that was prepared to police both sides. 607 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: So this would be the move for Gavin Newsome, and 608 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: it makes a lot of sense, and it could be 609 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,239 Speaker 1: very very effective going up to twenty twenty eight, at 610 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: least in terms of getting the Democratic nomination and doing 611 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 1: so by not having to go so far to the 612 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 1: left that he alienates too many voters in the middle. 613 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 2: It'd be really interesting to see what happens. And you know, 614 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: there's been a lot of talk about the Minnesota Somali fraud, 615 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 2: and we're going to talk to former Governor Tim Paulenti 616 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 2: in the five o'clock hour about that and just kind 617 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 2: of how Minnesota developed into what it's become where you've 618 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 2: had one party rule for twenty years. But Minnesota, I 619 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 2: think is the latest iteration of California. California was at 620 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 2: one point, as you well know, a Republican was governor 621 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 2: of California at one point, and I mean, when was 622 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 2: the last time Republican won statewide office in California? And 623 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 2: you and for as much talk about the ten billion 624 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 2: dollars in fraud in Minnesota, there's a recent report that 625 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 2: it could be one hundred billion dollars of fraud in California. 626 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 2: I think eight different agencies failed this audit. So, I mean, 627 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 2: California is like Minnesota, but blown up in a bigger way. 628 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 2: And you know, that's not a conversation Gavin Newson wants 629 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 2: to have. But I do think that that's like when 630 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,400 Speaker 2: you start peeking under the hood, people are gonna ask 631 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 2: real questions about just how badly it's been run. 632 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, and here's the thing. 633 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 1: I mean, fraud happens everywhere, right, Corruption happens everywhere. But 634 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: what we're basically arguing, and I think it's true, is 635 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: that this is politically supported fraud in California and in Minnesota. 636 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: I mean, in other words, they kind of have a 637 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: sense that it's going on. We're gonna be playing an 638 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: audio tape in the next hour of an audio tape 639 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: of the twenty twenty one conversation that the Attorney General 640 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 1: of Minnesota had with some Somali businessmen. They're just gonna 641 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: shock you and illustrate this point that we're making. 642 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 2: No, it's absolutely stay tuned for that conversation. Plus, we'll 643 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 2: take your calls. It's one eight hundred ninety four one Sean, 644 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 2: one one hundred ninety for one Sean. He's Peter Schweizer, 645 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 2: I'm Eric Eggers. We're feeling in for the Sean handy raisers. 646 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 2: We'll be back right after this. 647 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: Hi speaker. Schweitzer is sitting next to me Xerich Eggers 648 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: and we are filling in for Sean. Hannerty joined the 649 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: conversation one eight hundred and nine four one seven, three 650 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 1: two six. Let's take a caller. Let's go to Lisa, 651 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 1: who wants to talk about Mam Donnie in New York. 652 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 3: Hey, Lisa, how are you? 653 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 6: I'm good? How are y'all? 654 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 3: We are great? Happy New Year to you. 655 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 6: Well, happy new year. 656 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 3: So what do you want to tell us about Mamdannie. 657 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 6: Well, I happen to be reading some you know, some 658 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:36,800 Speaker 6: information today and I came across this new act that's 659 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 6: being implemented in New York City is called COPA CEE 660 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 6: as in kat Os in Orange pas and paul A 661 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 6: is in Apple Copa Act, which it says a law that. 662 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 4: Would force homeowners to offer their. 663 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 6: Property to the government or in geos before they can. 664 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 4: Sell it freely. 665 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: Wow, that's amazing. That's a huge infringe on property right now. 666 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 2: And I would say that's exactly an example of something 667 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 2: you heard Carol Markowitz talk about earlier in this program 668 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 2: about hey, there are some real limits to what mom 669 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 2: Donnie can do, but then there's some stuff that he 670 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 2: can do, and like that seems like an example of 671 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 2: like allowing big government to take over potentially in you know, nonprofits. 672 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 2: We've seen this really bizarre relationship between nonprofits and the 673 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 2: government in these progressive areas. We're going to talk to 674 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 2: Tim Paul Lenty, the former government Minnesota, about exactly that 675 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 2: and what's going on in his former state. We write back, 676 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 2: He's Piercechwiz are America Edgers. This is the Shawan Handy Show, 677 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 2: right