1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Now from our nation's capital. This is Bloomberg Sound on 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: Plutin just meet. It very clear that who wants to 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: reunite the Soviet unions from the view is not perfectly constrained. 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: We know such thing as risk free sanctions, but our 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: risk poler and test rise in the face of an 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: actual land board India Bloomberg Sound on Politics, Policy and 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: Perspective from DC's top Names. Society of the economy is 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: not super robost. Pennsylvania has there's a structurally deficient bridge. 9 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: The need has been pronounced for a while and Joe 10 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: Biden got it done. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew 11 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: on Bloomberg Radio. President Biden meets with the new chancellor. 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: What are they on the same page. Welcome to the 13 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: fastest hour in politics with German Chancellor all Off Schultz 14 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: in town at the White House today for critical talks 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: in the rush of Ukraine standoff. You heard the news 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: conference and questions remain about Germany's resolve as a NATO ally. 17 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: Will have the latest for you with analysis from foreign 18 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: policy expert Lester Months. In principle at Government relations Firms firm, 19 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: I should say b g R. We've also got the 20 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 1: panel today in place. Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeanie Chanzano and 21 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: Rick Davis, who we spoke with on Friday ahead of 22 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: this news conference today, will see how the body language 23 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: and the verbal language hit the panel. Later we'll look 24 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: ahead of the midterm elections. An important conversation with Bloomberg 25 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: National political reporter Mark Niquette as gerrymandering points to an 26 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: even more polarized Congress with the Biden administration tries to 27 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: project unity with our allies in the standoff over Ukraine. 28 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: That has been the job lately, and that was certainly 29 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: the case today as the new Chancellor of Germany came 30 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: to town, all Off Schultz, in his first oval meeting 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: as leader of Europe's biggest economy, too, held a joint 32 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: news conference after they met major questions, as you heard 33 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: live on Bloomberg Radio, about Germany's commitment to protecting Ukraine 34 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: and just how far they might go in terms of actions, 35 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: because much of that commitment centers around the future of 36 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: the Nord stream to pipeline. If you're a Bloomberg user 37 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: or listener or viewer, you might know a bit more 38 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: about this than most. Schultz never said it out loud 39 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: nord Stream too, despite repeated questions from American and German reporters, 40 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: but President Biden was full throated, let me answer the 41 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: first question first. If Germany, if if Russian invades that 42 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, 43 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: then uh, there will be uh we there will be 44 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: no longer north Stream too. We we will bring it 45 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: into it. You got that, we will bring an end 46 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: to it. Definitive. Chancellor Schultz on the same question, speaking 47 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: through a translator at first, he then chose to speak 48 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: English for emphasis. You can be sure that there won't 49 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: be any measures in which we have a differing approach. 50 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: We will act together jointly to say to our American friends, 51 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: we will be united. We will act together, and we 52 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: will take all the necessary steps, and all the necessary 53 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: steps will be done by all of us together. Okay, 54 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: But he still wouldn't say the name nords Dream too. 55 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: Despite what was said in the Oval Office, we don't know, 56 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: just wasn't coming out in this news conference, President Biden 57 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: seemed convinced, even at one point, answering a question aimed 58 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: at Chancellor Schultz, you're not mentioning nord Stream to by name. 59 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: Don't you think if you were to spell this out 60 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: you could win back trust as a strong ally here 61 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: for the US, there's no need to win back trust. 62 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: He has a complete trust of the United States. Germany 63 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: is are one of our most important allies in the world. 64 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: There's no doubt about Germany's partnership the United States. And 65 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: that's how I played out in the East Room, all 66 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: the while French President Emmanuel Macrone in Moscow to meet 67 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: with Vladimir Putin today, urging Putin to de escalate with 68 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: a hundred and thirty thousand Russian troops now said to 69 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: be on the Ukrainian border. They're still going in that 70 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: bilateral the longest news conference in the history of Man. 71 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: And this is where we begin with Lester Munson. He's 72 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: principled in the international practice at the firm b g 73 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: R Group, former staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 74 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: Back with us on Bloomberg, sound on, Lester, thank you 75 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: for being here. Did this meeting accomplish what was intended? 76 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: Did it improve or increased trust in Germany? Joe, It's 77 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: possible I'm watching a different news conference than you are. 78 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: I actually think this was Joe Biden at his best, reassuring, 79 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: saying the right things, being resolute, being fairly clear, as 80 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: clear as he can be on an portant strategic issue. Uh, 81 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: the the criticisms of the new German chancellor notwithstanding, this 82 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: was this was a big moment for our president, who 83 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: I think has demonstrated, despite some mistakes in the past 84 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: on Afghanistan and some other issues, that that he's up 85 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: to the job. Now. That doesn't mean this thing is 86 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: going to go exactly the way we want, but I 87 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: was reassured, based on his ongoing performance here that he 88 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: gets it. And this is this is one of the 89 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: reasons people voted for him. How about he understand the 90 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: importance of these alliances? Sure? And I how about the 91 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: chancellor though? How did he hit you? And and was 92 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: that a conscious decision to not say Nordstream too out 93 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: loud for a domestic audience. What was driving his decisions today? 94 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: I can't tell you why he chose the words he 95 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: chose to me, there was clarity in the alliance with 96 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: the United States and standing forced where with Joe Biden, 97 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: with the rest of the NATO alliance Germany maybe a 98 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: special case in the grand scheme of things in the 99 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: in the Western defense structure. Uh, we do not want 100 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: to see a super aggressive Germany. Generally speaking, we play 101 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 1: a different role than other countries. That is fine, that 102 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: is appropriate. I was I was reassured. Overall. I think 103 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,559 Speaker 1: the Chancellor did a fine job. I think Joe Biden 104 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: did a really good job. Look, this could be an occasion, 105 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 1: and this is why you're here, Lester, where we have 106 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: to be extremely careful in our words, and I'm not 107 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 1: trying to project any impression on the way this went. 108 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: It was noted, though duly by reporters who were there, 109 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: that he wasn't saying some of the trigger words beginning 110 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: with Nord's dream too that people wanted to hear. The 111 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: point is, though he was definitive enough in his answers 112 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: to to satisfy you. I like the use of English. 113 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: That was that was a nice little diplomatical leap of 114 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: the shoals. So uh, you know, he maybe he demonstrated 115 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: in other ways that he's where he needs to be 116 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: on this issue. There's no question that the relationships in 117 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: Europe are more complicated than they used to be. Germany 118 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: has moved a little bit closer to Russia than some 119 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: people would like Schultz has been under scrutiny. That's fine. 120 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: Today showed me that they're in the right place on 121 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: the big question of the Russia's aggression against Ukraine. What 122 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: does this mean for Schultz's meeting with Putin a week 123 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: from tomorrow. I'm assuming Vladimir Putin did not love that 124 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:31,239 Speaker 1: display today. I think it's going to be, uh, perhaps 125 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: an awkward meeting, maybe more awkward than than we thought 126 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: a day ago. As I mentioned, Emmanuel Macron is having 127 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: his own meeting with Vladimir Putin today, and we've seen 128 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: this sort of decentralized diplomacy go on over the past 129 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. I wonder if you like this, uh, 130 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: this this sort of method that are we're pursuing as allies, 131 00:07:54,480 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: And what's Macrone's approach? How is it different than what 132 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,559 Speaker 1: we're seeing from Germany. They must have similar but also 133 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: different needs here in the way they speak with Vladimir Putin. Well, again, 134 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: Europe is not a monolith in the way that perhaps 135 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: sometimes we Americans think of it. There are there are 136 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: differentiations inside the European Union. I think in the grand 137 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: scheme of things for Vladimir Putin to see that shoals 138 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: that McCrone that Biden are essentially collaborating and coordinating is 139 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: hugely significant. Right. My view is Putin is putting stress 140 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: on the Western Alliance, and the Western Alliance is responding 141 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: appropriately and in the right way in unison, uh in 142 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: concert and working together to push back against what Russia 143 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: is doing. It's probably not the reaction Putin thought he 144 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: was going to get, which speaks to the meeting that's 145 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: happening today in Moscow. I just wonder if the are 146 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: the energy needs the same. Is the relationship similar between 147 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 1: France and Russia as what we're seeing between Germany and Russia. Well, 148 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: let's recall that France has a significant amount of nuclear power, 149 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: Germany has forsworn nuclear power. That's that does change the 150 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: approach of those two countries to energy suppliers like Russia, 151 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: there is no doubt. So France has has more flexibility 152 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: than Germany does. Now, Germany could go back and revive 153 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: its decisions, of course, but that doesn't seem like it's 154 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: going to happen right away. So that's that's when we 155 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: say there's differentiation inside the European Union. It is because 156 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: of decisions like that that are still taken at the 157 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: national level. But also Macrohne wants to have a different relationship, right, 158 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: He's talked about recalibrating, rebuilding that relationship with Vladimir Putin. 159 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: Is this SAMs to been courting Russia for a few years. Well, 160 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: the French. The French have always pursued kind of an 161 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: alternative view of what the Western Alliance should be doing. 162 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: This is This has been true throughout their post World 163 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: War Two history. It is not unusual. Uh. France, uh, 164 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: you know, was not thrilled with the way the Aucue 165 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: Alliance came together because essentially left them out in Nicole. 166 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: That's the deal between the United States, United Kingdom and 167 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: Australia is designed to kind of deal with some of 168 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: the threats from China. So they've got some some issues, 169 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: there's there's no doubt about that. But the Biden administration 170 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: I think is handling that well. It's nice to see 171 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: this level of cooperation. And if McCrone can offer what 172 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: seems like perhaps a different a different language, if you will, 173 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: then the others are saying but still have the same position. 174 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: That's a value. It does make you wonder if these 175 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: are parallel or if one of these leaders might get 176 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: through to Putin, or if they're all speaking off the 177 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: same page here, Lester I wondered ahead of the news 178 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: conference today at the White House if there might be 179 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: an announcement from the administration, maybe a joint announcement with 180 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: Germany about alternative energy, about finding whether it's the Qataris 181 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: or whoever else, we're talking about finding new sources of 182 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: liquefied natural gas for the Germans, for the Europeans in general, 183 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: just to take that burden off of them, to clear 184 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: the way for talks without energy hanging over Europe. Short 185 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: of a major announcement today, do you see the US 186 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: getting that done? You know. One of the things that 187 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: I wish the Biden administration would do, perhaps just take 188 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: a look at its own domestic energy policies. Were a 189 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: little less open to energy development than we used to 190 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 1: be under the last administration. That's impacting our ability to 191 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:36,599 Speaker 1: make a difference on issues like this. We have to 192 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: go begging to other countries. It would be better if 193 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: we could do that ourselves and have a more robust 194 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: energy offering from the United States of America. Quite an 195 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: end of this story, I'll tell you, Lester months and 196 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: awfully glad you could be with us principle at Government 197 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: relations Firm b g R Group and with us to 198 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: get things started. I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg, your 199 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: loose name to Bloomberg. You sound on with Joe Matthew 200 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: on Bloomberg Radio. The headline on the terminal Biden envisions 201 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:14,559 Speaker 1: halts to nord Stream too if Russia invades Ukraine. Bloomberg 202 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: White House reporter Jenny Leonard was in the room today, 203 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: the East Room, and shares the byline, writing, the government 204 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: in Berlin has refused to supply Ukraine with weapons, and 205 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: the Chancellor has stopped short of publicly committing to shut 206 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: down nord Stream too if Russia attacks. To be clear, 207 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: Russia continues to say it has no plans to invade, 208 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: and indeed the Chancellor is still stopping short, even with 209 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: his full throated acknowledgement that everything is on the table. 210 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: We are united. Let's assemble the panel speaking of united. 211 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeannie Chanzano and Rick Davis are with 212 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,559 Speaker 1: us for the hour. Jennie, was that enough today or 213 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: or does Chancellor Schultz have more work to do? You know, 214 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: my reading of it was that there is more work 215 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 1: to do. Um. You know, I thought that his unwillingness 216 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 1: to talk openly about nord Stream too does leave it open. 217 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: So I do think there is more work to do, 218 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: and I understand that domestically this is a very very 219 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: difficult question for him. And you know, I wish I 220 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: had gotten to hear the entire press conference because to me, 221 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: a big question that came out that I'm not sure 222 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: if it was addressed or not, is what McCrone said 223 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: to reporters before his meeting with Putin about a finlandization 224 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: of Ukraine as one of the models on the table. 225 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 1: To me, that is in direct violation what the United 226 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: States and NATO has talked about. So I found that 227 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: very very strange. Were you convinced by the Chancellor today, Rick, Yeah, 228 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: I thought it was a pretty good ham and egg routine. 229 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: You know, Schultz couldn't get it out of his mouth. 230 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: What what? What are you talking about? Nort gream too? 231 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: But does that matter? Maybe it doesn't matter less the 232 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: months and didn't seem to think that mattered at all. Yeah, 233 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: I agree with Lester. I think, you know, as long 234 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: as you got Joe Biden backing you up on this 235 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: one and says absolutely, and he did. If the tanks 236 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,719 Speaker 1: cross that line, uh, there will be no more nord 237 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: Streams too. And by the way, he has the ability 238 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: to make that a reality. And so I don't really 239 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: I think we're like spinning around on the edges. I 240 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,079 Speaker 1: think the message today to Vladimir Putin was very clear. 241 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: You move those troops across the sovereignty line, and and 242 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: nord Streams too is gone. And so Republicans and Democrats 243 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: alike on Capitol Hill, I am sure looking at each 244 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: other going, hey, now we're headed in the right direction. 245 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: This was the message we wanted to send Putin. Does 246 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: that mean that we actually see sanctions emerge in the 247 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: near term, Genie, We've been talking about him for weeks. Here, 248 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: I realized that Democrats and Republicans don't see my to eye. 249 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: But the Treasury can get to this. Now, they could 250 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: get to it. Now. We should see them, and we 251 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: haven't yet. I'm still hung up on on Brick. I 252 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: don't know if he said ham and eggs, whatever he said, 253 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: I didn't know that was a thing. But you know, 254 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: I do think that we should see them, and I 255 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: have to just respectfully disagree on this point about nord 256 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: Stream too. Yes, the United States can make it happen. 257 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: But part of what President Biden has been intent on 258 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: doing is to show a unified NATO on this issue. 259 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: And what we have seen repeatedly, whether you're talking about 260 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: France or you're talking about Germany, are what seemed to 261 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: be cracks in that. And so to come out and 262 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: to not say the basic thing that everybody was waiting 263 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: to hear about nord Stream too seems to me something 264 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: that is of a bit of concern in terms of 265 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: the response. If and when Putin goes in Ham and 266 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: eggans like they're working on something, Rick him like they 267 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: go together, Hey Daddy made me do it. I mean, 268 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: he gets to go back to Germany and say, look, 269 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: I never said I was gonna, you know, banned nord 270 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: Stream too. But like, was that the point though? That 271 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: was for the audience at home. Don't just don't go 272 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: there when you're at the White House. It has to 273 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: be I mean, Lester was much more respectful to the 274 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: populace in Germany than I'll be. But like absolutely he 275 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: gets to go home and said, look, I didn't put 276 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: this thing on the table talk to the President United States. 277 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: That guy's out of control. I mean, willing to throw 278 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: down the gauntlet on nord Stream too. I mean, of 279 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: course this was orchestrated. They wouldn't have gone out there 280 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: without knowing this was going to happen. And and and 281 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: Schultz stuck to his line, and we heard something new 282 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: from Biden. I agree, this was one of Biden's best 283 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: press conferences I've ever seen him give. He was clear, 284 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: he didn't vascillate. He didn't talk about like how far 285 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: and how deep you go into Ukraine. He said, one 286 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: step across that border and nord Stream two is gone. 287 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: That's right. And and Jennie that I know you get 288 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: a little uncomfortable when Joe Biden starts welcoming the extra questions. 289 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: He stuck to the rules, right, This is a true 290 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: bilateral They each got to there was no fooling around 291 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: with anyone. After even though reporters were shouting them, he 292 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: learned his lesson. I think they're they're holding him back, 293 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: which makes good sense. Although again now I say that, 294 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: and then I had more questions because really this findlandization. 295 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: If you or Vick can explain this to me, where 296 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: mccrona is coming from I wanted to hear from Joe 297 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: Biden what the United States response is to that, because 298 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: that seems to me to be a step too far 299 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: from where Nate it was supposed to be on. This 300 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: is the French president talking a little too fast and 301 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 1: Lucier rick or is that diplomacy? Yeah, it's hard to tell. 302 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: I think that the Finlinization thing is probably a nonstarter 303 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: to everybody else but Finland and uh and and it 304 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: seems to work for them. So and the good news 305 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: is I do think the President Finland is actually making 306 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: some progress with Putin where he's out there trying to 307 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: explain why an invasion in Ukraine is bad for the neighborhood. 308 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: So um, you know, look the French if you can 309 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: figure out French foreign policy or smarter man than I am. 310 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: But I do think it is a show of unity 311 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: amongst NATO and amongst the West that everyone is focused 312 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: on this. Everyone's working on it today and uh and 313 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,719 Speaker 1: hopefully something positive will come out of that. So this, uh, this, 314 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: the multiple lines of conversation are working for you, my 315 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: chrome today. A week from tomorrow, it's gonna be Schultz 316 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: gets his turn of course Biden has already been through this. 317 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: We have other tiers of diplomats speaking all the while. 318 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: This is the way it's supposed to work, Jennie, you know, 319 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: communication is good, talking is good. Putin statement after that, 320 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: there was some feasibility for a foundation of further steps 321 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: and speaking further. But that said, you know, when you 322 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: look at the sheer numbers, if you believe what the 323 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: United States is saying, they are seventy ready to go. 324 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 1: We are talking potentially millions of refugees, tens of thousands killed. 325 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: And while the Ukrainian foreign minister over the weekend said 326 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 1: that this was apocalyptic predictions that don't believe it, the 327 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: United States is saying it. So it gives you pause. Well, 328 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 1: hopefully the Normandy format continues to work here, and we'll 329 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: spend a little more time with Genie and Rick on 330 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: the fastest hour in politics. We turned domestic though mid terms. Next. 331 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: Mart Niquette, national political reporter at Bloomberg, is in next. 332 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg. If you're not paying attention to redistricting, 333 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: the redrawing of congressional districts, it is time to start. 334 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: As I read on the terminal, there are just thirteen. 335 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: I couldn't get over at thirteen toss up seats out 336 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:09,360 Speaker 1: of the two hundred and sixty nine districts in redistricting 337 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: completed so far, according to numbers crunched by the Cook Report. 338 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: Cooks David Wasserman has been the authority on this. If 339 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: you're looking for someone to follow, reminding you we have 340 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: four hundred and thirty five districts at all. And that's 341 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: where we start with Mark Niquette Bloomberg national political reporters 342 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: sharing the byline on an important story today on the 343 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: terminal here up for grabs, House seats vanish, signaling deeper 344 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: Congress riffs. Yes, indeed, it sets up an even more 345 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: polarized Congress next year. As Mark writes, it's great to 346 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 1: have you with us, Mark Niquette. Does it also mean 347 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: that the primaries are essentially the only elections that matter? 348 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: That's exactly right. The general election becomes almost irrelevant because 349 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: the only UH contest that matters that can determine what 350 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: happens in the election is the primary. Where you have 351 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: these Republicans and Democrats running in very very safe seats 352 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: where if they win the primary election, it really doesn't 353 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:07,959 Speaker 1: matter who runs against them, in the general and at 354 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: the rate we're going here, that thirteen ends up being 355 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: twenty or thirty or something by the time we're done. Yeah. 356 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 1: Dave Wasserman, as you mentioned, who's kind of the um 357 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,239 Speaker 1: grew on all things redistricting, he estimates that, you know, 358 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: by the time we're done with all the states redistricting, 359 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: you know, we could have as few as um, you know, 360 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 1: thirty to thirty five seats that would be considered competitive. 361 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 1: I mean there's different ways of of you know, determining 362 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: you know, what's a competitive seat, different metrics you can use, 363 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: but um Wasserman uses sort of you know, whether the 364 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: district voted within five percentage points of either Trump or 365 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 1: Biden in the last election. So you know, we could 366 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: have this few, as is, thirty uh competitive seats out 367 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: of the four thirty five across the country. Well, I 368 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: guess it won't be hard to figure out where to 369 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: be on election night for a lot of reporters out there, 370 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: uh general election night, that is. Are just to back 371 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: up bit though, Mark, you point out in this piece 372 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: that that that this long well old fashioned in your terms, 373 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: practice of gerrymandering has turned into a high tech art form. 374 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: What what sophisticated computer modeling are they using. Well, it's 375 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 1: all you know. As technology has increased, the ability to 376 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 1: apply computer programs and technology to map drawing has as well. Um, 377 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,959 Speaker 1: So we have you know, increasing increasing levels of complexity 378 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: data sets that can be used, um, you know, to 379 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: to draw these district boundaries as well as map making 380 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: software just so precise. Now you can you can pretty 381 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: much draw the district that captures the exact set of 382 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: voters that you want. So they take senses data and 383 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: essentially uh using using the software you're mentioning, bring this 384 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: right down to the household. They're drawing lines around specific 385 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: pockets of voters, right. And and the trend we're seeing 386 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: in this round of redistricting, as we mentioned in the story, 387 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: is particularly Republicans, who control the process and states are 388 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: drawing what are already safe Republican districts to become even safer, um, 389 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,199 Speaker 1: which limits the number of competitive districts and you know, 390 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: real opportunities for Democrats to you know, pick up seats 391 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: in a in a state that Republicans control. And of 392 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: course Republicans have you know, an historical seasonal However, I 393 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 1: should put an advantage here Democrats have done pretty well 394 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: protecting themselves though correct otherwise we'd have a lot more 395 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,879 Speaker 1: than thirteen, right, And and really, you know, jerrymandering is 396 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: something that both parties do, and we're seeing Democrats jerry 397 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: mander and this this round of redistricting as well, particularly 398 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: in UM states like Illinois and New York. And one 399 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: of the things that Democrats are doing UM is trying 400 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: to increase the number of districts where they could potentially 401 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 1: take pick up a seat UM. But the problem is 402 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: the math is working against the Democrats. Democrats control only 403 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: out UM the control of the process of redistricting, and 404 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: only about seventy five districts across the across the country. 405 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:11,400 Speaker 1: The Republicans control the rest, So there's really limited opportunities 406 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: for Democrats to gerrymander to their advantage. Which party has 407 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: been more aggressive with the opportunities they have, I think 408 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: they both have with with the ability to to do it. 409 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: I mean sort of a dirty little secret that everybody gerrymanders. 410 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: And you know that's part of the built in aspect 411 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 1: of the process of redistricting. You point out the twenty 412 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: four district in Texas change from one that Joe Biden 413 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: carried by more than five percentage points in twenty two one, 414 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 1: he would have lost by twelve points. Give our listeners 415 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: a sense of how much change needs to go into 416 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: a map to to generate numbers like that. Yeah, it's 417 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: it's actually a good example of what we're talking about here, 418 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: because Texas was particularly aggressive and gerrymandering to make Republican 419 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: seats safer at the expense of competitive discs stricts. And 420 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 1: this twenty four district is around the Dallas Fort Worth 421 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: area and essentially they took a district that had um, 422 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of black and Latino voters in 423 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: Dallas County, shifted them into other districts, and added white 424 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: Republicans from neighboring Tarrant County to create a new district 425 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: that it would just be, you know, completely safe for 426 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: the Republican incumbent in that case. And this is something 427 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: they did it else, the Republicans who control the process 428 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 1: did across Texas, and you know, it went from you know, 429 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: having ten competitive districts among the thirty six that Texas 430 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: had in they'll have thirty eight because they picked up 431 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: two this in this cycle. They went from ten competitive 432 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: districts down to one. Why it is incredible the full 433 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: impact of the vote here, as you write, is is 434 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: not yet set. As we look at Texas here the 435 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: battle over the maps is still playing out in courts 436 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 1: and state legislatures. That's the issue though, correct this how 437 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: long might it take for us to really have finality 438 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: as we head into election day. We'll think a little 439 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: while yet, But we're up against the clock in a 440 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: lot of these states because you know, we have elections 441 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:12,959 Speaker 1: coming up in in cases Canadas don't even know what 442 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: districts they're running in yet. Um, so we'll have to 443 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: have you know, finality heading into the primary season. Um. 444 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: But again, the bigger picture, uh you know, will be 445 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: following is is what impact does this have on you know, 446 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: politics in general and the functioning of Congress. I mean 447 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 1: it just as you said at the top, it just 448 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: sort of you know, eliminates the need to you know, 449 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 1: run in a competitive general election you just have to, um, 450 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: you know, when your primary and having primaries where the 451 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: candidates they come out being either you know, more far 452 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 1: left or far right. And Mark Niquette, I wish we 453 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: had more time read the column on the terminal. This 454 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg you sound on with 455 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The governors are speaking, as 456 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 1: I read on the Bloomberg Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware 457 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: to end mask mandates at least for schools, and an 458 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: interesting development here that I want to talk to about 459 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: the with with the panel, we have Bloomberg Politics contributors 460 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: Jeanie Chanzano and Rick Davis with us. Here. We heard 461 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: from Phil Murphy. I mentioned New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware. Phil 462 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: Murphy of New Jersey, of course a Democrat. Because of 463 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: the traumatic decline in our COVID numbers, effective Monday, March seventh, 464 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: the statewide school mask mandate will be lifted Monday, March seventh. 465 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: Connecticut meantime, is going for February, according to Ned Lamont. 466 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: Delaware lifting its public indoor mask mandate beginning Friday, according 467 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: to Governor John Carney. The White House Press Secretary was 468 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: asked about all this because, well, the c d C 469 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: still recommends masking. It's always been up to school districts. 470 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: That's always been our point of view and always been 471 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:10,199 Speaker 1: our policy from here, and our policy from the federal 472 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 1: government is to continue to advise everybody to avide by 473 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: public health guidelines. Do you think it signaled that perhaps 474 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: the public beliefs its time for a change in the 475 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: federal guidelines? The CDC's guys, we certainly understand and I've 476 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: seen in polling that the public is tired of COVID. 477 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: We understand that, so are we. So did we just 478 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: turn a corner here to something major? Just change? Three 479 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: states like that Democrats running them? Rick Davis? Is the 480 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: mask mandate going to go away beginning with this move 481 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: in schools? Well, it certainly appears to be. And that 482 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: certainly wasn't a full throated endorsement at the mass mandate 483 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 1: by the Press Secretary of the President United States. I 484 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: would remind you too that that Republican governors have been 485 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: pushing for this for some time. I mean, Glenn Duncan's 486 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 1: first day of office was to pull out the mass mandate. 487 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: So what makes it news today is three Democratic governors 488 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: doing what Republican governors have been doing for some time time. Uh, 489 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: that is the man that the dog. So I do 490 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:08,120 Speaker 1: think this could signal change. I do think it's still 491 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: going to be very much hotly debated in local communities 492 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 1: all around the country, but there clearly is I think 493 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: the combination of safety and fatigue coming to play with 494 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: this mass mandate. Yeah, Glenn Youngcan is an interesting of 495 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:23,719 Speaker 1: Virginia itself, an interesting example, Genie, because uh, seven school 496 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 1: boards said no, and judge has allowed them to continue 497 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 1: with their mass mandates here in the DC area in 498 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 1: northern Virginia, which is a far cry from the rest 499 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,959 Speaker 1: of the state. Uh. Did you see the video, Genie 500 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,479 Speaker 1: of of Youngcan at the grocery store the other day? 501 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: I did. He he's an Alexandria, Virginia, which is part 502 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: of northern Virginia's I'm speaking. You might know it if 503 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,959 Speaker 1: you've come to d C as a tourist, or if 504 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: you know the area. It's right across the river from here. 505 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: And and this is, you know, a very democratic, sort 506 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: of liberal place, Alexandria. He's what here's the young Can 507 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: who in the grocery store to hold an event on 508 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: grocery taxes, and one of the customers wearing a mask, 509 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: called him out. Governor, you're in Alexandria, read the room, buddy, not. 510 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:19,719 Speaker 1: I mean, that's not how I would address a governor. 511 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 1: But his his answer to her was we're all making 512 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: decisions today, Genie. It wasn't like the protesters following somebody 513 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: into a bathroom. But it's probably not what he was 514 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 1: preparing for at that moment either. It's tough to be 515 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: a governor, it's tough to be a public official at all. 516 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: But you know, I think one of the big differences 517 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: between some of the Republican governors and the Democratic governors 518 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: on this issue is the difference between outlawing mask mandates 519 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: to your point about these law these lawsuits, and allowing 520 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: the districts and the school boards to make their own decisions. 521 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: So there is a I think two tracks that we're 522 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: seeing evolved here with some of the Democratic governors like 523 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: Phil Murphy, who is saying, you know, it's up to 524 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: the districts they can decide, versus some more of the 525 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 1: Republican led states saying that you cannot have a mask 526 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: mandate if you so choose, And that to me is 527 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: an enormous difference as you talk about where the power 528 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: lies to make this decisions, the banning mandates as opposed 529 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: to banning mandates, it's a very it's a very big difference. 530 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: What do you think about this going to local control? Rick, 531 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: is that the answer for the White House? Let you 532 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: just let the rains go here. You guys want to 533 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: do this on the local level, it's up to you. Yeah. 534 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: I think that this is getting them out of the 535 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: box on mass mandates. I do think that they need 536 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: to sort of comport with the times. And I think 537 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 1: uh prose sectary Saki said just that right, that people 538 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: are getting frustrated to this stage. They don't want to 539 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: have COVID be dominant issue in this election cycle, and 540 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: so why not you know, sort of go along with 541 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:56,479 Speaker 1: some of the public interests on this and and and 542 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 1: local control is always a good thing. I would remind 543 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: everyd that Republicans used to push the local control button 544 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 1: all the time, and the Democrats were the one saying no, 545 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: the federal government knows best what to do. So this 546 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: is a This is quite a turnaround for this administration, 547 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: but a lot of those lately. As a matter of fact, 548 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: what does it mean specifically for Glenn un Can if 549 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,960 Speaker 1: he's heading out into the public here without a mask, 550 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: people are yelling at him. Does it help his brand 551 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: or does he need to figure out a better way 552 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: to straddle Uh, these different districts in his state. Oh yeah, 553 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: you know, his brand is sort of confrontation. His brand is, um, 554 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,160 Speaker 1: you know, maskless, And so I think I think it's 555 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: okay because it's otherwise not going to make any news 556 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 1: to go to a grocery store and say we're not 557 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 1: we're getting rid of the grocery tax. So so it 558 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 1: might have helped him, but like at the end of 559 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,000 Speaker 1: the day, Uh, nobody who's elected official wants to be 560 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: out of the mainstream, out of the step of the people. 561 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: And as the woman said, um, you know read the room, babe. Uh, 562 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:57,719 Speaker 1: you know this is Alexandria, right, he should have been 563 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: sensitive to the fact that those people in Alexander maybe 564 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 1: a little more left to center and would want to 565 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 1: have the governor respect their their their health concerns. Yeah, 566 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: he's not walking anywhere with a mask on his Genie 567 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: that that's just that picture is not going to be taken. No, 568 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: it's not. And you know, we should remind everybody that 569 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: Stacy Abraham's got herself into a little bit of hot 570 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 1: water regarding a mask. She was photographed in a children's 571 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: classroom for you know, Black History Month without a mask. 572 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: She defended that, but they took the picture off of 573 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: her Twitter feed, which suggests to Rick's point that this 574 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: is sort of new territory that politicians are having to 575 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: navigate when to wear one and when to not wear one, 576 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: And so Stacy Abraham's candidate for governor and Georgia facing 577 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: some similar kind of pushback in the other direction. Pretty amazing. 578 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: There's one more I want to ask you both about. 579 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 1: Charlie Pellett has been mentioning it in his newscast throughout 580 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: this hour. As we learned today on the Terminal, an 581 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 1: important tech investor and conservative provocateur. God, wouldn't that be 582 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: cool if somebody described you as such whose advised Mark 583 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: Zuckerberg for nearly two decades at Facebook will step down 584 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: and join the Trump brand. Good evening. I'm Peter Teal. 585 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: I build companies and I support people who are building 586 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: new things. First, he was already with the Trump brand. 587 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 1: That's Peter tell back at the Republican Convention is Donald Trump. 588 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 1: He is a builder and it's time to rebuild America. 589 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: Speaking on Trump's behalf of the Republican National Convention. Now, 590 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:35,719 Speaker 1: apparently he will be spending his time investing in politics, 591 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: not necessarily running for something. But as he said, supporting 592 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 1: Blake Masters, J. D. Vance and others who support the 593 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 1: Trump agenda, Genie, is this just what the Republican Party needs? 594 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 1: You know? It seems like we are getting some you know, 595 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 1: new Coke blood in there, if you will. And I 596 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 1: would describe Rick Davis as a political provocateur myself, but 597 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 1: that's just me. But you know, it does seem like 598 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: you're seeing him invest And I am curious about the 599 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: investment because on the one hand, we've seen if you 600 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: look at polls, Trump stock go down amongst voters. On 601 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 1: the other hand, it may suggest that the party is 602 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: moving beyond Trump, perhaps in a way that some of 603 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 1: what he stood for can be carried on by others, 604 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 1: like some of these candidates that Deal is investing heavily in. 605 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:26,319 Speaker 1: This was considered a significant moment when he spoke at 606 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 1: the convention in sixteen, Rick, and it could be maybe 607 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:30,520 Speaker 1: you tell me, is this Donald Trump's only friend in 608 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: Silicon Valley? Uh, He's got a few, but this is 609 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 1: definitely the highest profile friend and probably the most giving friend. 610 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 1: You know, He's placed ten million dollars each in these 611 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: two Senate campaigns that he has endorsed, and I don't 612 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 1: think that's the last we've heard of him. I mean, 613 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 1: I think he's going to be very active out there 614 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 1: cultivating a Republican majority in the Senate and the House. 615 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 1: And I don't know whether that is necessarily because he 616 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 1: wants to see Donald Trump run again, or more that 617 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 1: he wants to brandish his own crowd of friends within 618 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,279 Speaker 1: the Repulican Party. When they get together for dinners on 619 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:06,840 Speaker 1: these fundraisers that he's hosting, they're talking about cryptocurrency and 620 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: robotics and UFOs. This is not the typical Republican dinner 621 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: I've been to. So what does it mean for the 622 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: future of the party in this cycle? How significant is it? 623 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: Rick Well? I think it's significant, certainly in Ohio and 624 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,600 Speaker 1: uh in in Arizona, where he's put an enormous amount 625 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: of cash to work in in campaigns. But this is 626 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 1: a fundraising story, not one that will change the dial 627 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: over the messaging from the party in this cycle. Now. 628 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:31,319 Speaker 1: If anything, his messaging has been what we've heard from 629 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:33,759 Speaker 1: Donald Trump for the last four years, so there's not 630 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 1: a lot of message differentiation at this stage. And there 631 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 1: are other Trump people running against these candidates. Um in 632 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 1: in Arizona. I would say his candidate is second right 633 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 1: now to the attorney general who's running ahead of him. 634 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:48,279 Speaker 1: So uh, they've got their work cut out for them 635 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:50,719 Speaker 1: to see if they can actually foster some wins here. 636 00:35:50,719 --> 00:35:52,439 Speaker 1: But I think he sounds like he's going to spend 637 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:54,520 Speaker 1: a lot more time trying, and it sounds Genie in 638 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 1: our in our a few seconds we have left, like 639 00:35:56,239 --> 00:35:59,359 Speaker 1: you see this as helping to legitimize Trump in this 640 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 1: in this cycle. Yet either legitimize Trump or show that 641 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: Trump is going to outlast Trump, if that makes sense 642 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:09,239 Speaker 1: that this, this idea of of the issues that he 643 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 1: has supported, what he stands for, can outlast him. He's 644 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:15,600 Speaker 1: not running two obviously, and may not run twenty four. 645 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 1: Jennie Chanzano, Rick Davis our signature of pandel on Bloomberg 646 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 1: sound on