1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. You're listening to the 2 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast. Catch us live weekdays at 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 1: noon and five pm Eastern on Apple Coarclay and Android 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. Listen on demand wherever 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts, or watch us live on YouTube. 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us. 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 3: I'm Joe Matthew in the Nation's capital here on Bloomberg 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 3: Radio Satellite radio Channel one twenty one, on YouTube, where 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 3: you can see US now, search Bloomberg Business News Live, 10 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 3: and on Bloomberg Originals. As we bring it all together 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 3: on what is day six now, if you can imagine 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 3: how much our world has changed since last Thursday, Day 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 3: six of fighting between Israel and Iran. No unconditional surrender 14 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 3: by Tehran as demanded by the President yesterday, and so 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 3: we're still in this state of limbo here floating a 16 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 3: couple of feet above the ground, waiting for news from 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 3: the White House, and the President was certainly asked about it. 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 3: He found him on the South Long a little while 19 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 3: ago with a group of workers who were there to 20 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: install a flagpole. 21 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 2: They actually held an event around the flagpole. 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 3: The President was asked about whether the US will join 23 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 3: Israel offensively in its war against Iran. 24 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: Here's what he said. 25 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 4: I mean, you don't know that I'm going to even 26 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 4: do it. 27 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 5: You don't know. 28 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 6: I may do it, I may not do it. 29 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 5: I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do. 30 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,199 Speaker 7: I can tell you this that. 31 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 8: Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate. 32 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 6: And I said, why didn't you negotiate with me before 33 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 6: all the death and destruction? 34 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 9: Why intian Nego? 35 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 10: I said the people, why didn't you negotiate with me 36 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 10: two weeks ago? 37 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 5: You could have done fine. 38 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 2: You could have done fine, he says. Now, Iran's got 39 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: a lot of trouble. 40 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: Trying to not show his cards on this, having spent 41 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 3: a good deal of time in the situation room yesterday 42 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 3: with his national security team, and as I mentioned, the 43 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 3: world waiting for a decision here. Whether we or see 44 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 3: from him again today, of course, has yet to be seen, 45 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 3: and whether we get news on truth social all the same. 46 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 3: This is big stuff, and Kate Sullivan is covering it 47 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 3: for us here from her perch at Bloomberg White House. Correspondent, Kate, 48 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 3: it's great to have you back the President's demeanor today 49 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 3: was interesting. He seemed kind of tired. He had the 50 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: hat on sometimes. I don't know if it's a bad 51 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 3: hair day or whatever, but he looked. 52 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 2: Like always got the hat on. Yeah, white maga hat today. 53 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 7: Yeah. 54 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 3: Group of workers behind him, and he spent as much 55 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: time turning to talk to them, kind of riffing with 56 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 3: them as he was with the press. 57 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: Is this a moment of indecision for this president? 58 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 10: It could be? You know, I think what you heard there, 59 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 10: I mean the I may do it, I may not 60 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 10: do it. Nobody knows what I'm going to do. 61 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 2: How about that? 62 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: How about that? 63 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 10: I mean, clearly no clarity there. One thing that I 64 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 10: took away from that exchange too, was the door is 65 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 10: still cracked open for negotiations. And he said, you know, 66 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 10: we may meet, and said that their onians wanted to 67 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 10: or suggested that they come to the White House. Now 68 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 10: that is news, and and you know, very unclear whether 69 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 10: that's actually going to happen. I think, you know, Whitcough 70 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 10: has been leading these discussions with their onions. I think 71 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 10: that could be a more likely scenario that Whitcoff meets 72 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,399 Speaker 10: with them. But you know, at this point, there are 73 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 10: reports that Trump is leaning towards a military strike. It's 74 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 10: also possible that, you know, once again we're seeing Trump 75 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 10: deploy the same kind of tactic here and making these 76 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 10: very public aggressive threats, but that it's really you know, 77 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 10: what he wants, is it to pressure Rudians to come 78 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 10: to the table to negotiate. Now, so we don't actually 79 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 10: know what which one of those it is, or if 80 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 10: it's a combination, or if there you know, our intentions 81 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 10: to strike. I think we're still going to have to 82 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 10: stay tuned and see what he says. 83 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 3: By design, which I understand he is kind of laughing 84 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: at reporters and I kind of tell you here what. 85 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: I'm going to do. 86 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 10: Yeah, I'll give you the coordination. 87 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, But how is he actually spending his time? 88 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 3: We know he was in the situation room yesterday. Is 89 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 3: he's surrounding himself with advisors right now? Is he making 90 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 3: calls to other world leaders? He is a combination, he is, Yes. 91 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 10: He said that he's in constant touch with Israel's prime minister. 92 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 10: He also said that he spoke to Putin yesterday. So 93 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 10: he's definitely surrounded by, you know, top national security officials, 94 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 10: and he's making calls to world leaders. You know, he 95 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 10: has also One thing that I think is really interesting 96 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 10: is seeing, you know, some of these people he's calling, 97 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 10: not all of his allies and supporters are really on 98 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 10: board with what he's talking about doing here. I think 99 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 10: we're seeing a really big clash and tension within the 100 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 10: Republican Party on this. I mean, I'm sure you saw this, 101 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 10: this clip that's going viral of Tucker Carlson and Ted Cruz, 102 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 10: and you know, I think that really shows where people 103 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 10: are right now on this. You know, the Senator Ted 104 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 10: Cruz is for military intervention and Tucker Carlson was saying, 105 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 10: you know, it was sort of grilling him, and Tucker 106 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 10: Carlson is not for it and saying, you know, you 107 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 10: can't answer these basic questions about Iran's population, the ethnic makeup, 108 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 10: and yet you're talking about, you know, military intervention. 109 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: Actually, oh sure, yeah. 110 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 3: I guess this whole podcast hasn't dropped yet or whatever 111 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 3: we call this show, right, this is a really important moment, 112 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 3: which is why we isolated this as well to watch 113 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 3: the unraveling here. The argument withinside Maga crystallized in this 114 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 3: conversation between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz. 115 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 2: Let's watch and listen. How many people living around? By 116 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: the way, I don't know the population at all. No, 117 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 2: I don't know the population. You don't know the population 118 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 2: of the country. You seek to topple. How many people 119 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: living around? 120 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 5: Ninety two million? Okay? 121 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, how could you not know that? I don't sit 122 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: around memorizing population tables. 123 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 10: Well, it's kind of relevant because you're calling for the 124 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 10: overthrow of the government. 125 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 6: Why is it relevant whether it will because ninety million 126 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 6: or eighty million or a hundred million. 127 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 2: Why because if you don't know anything about the country. 128 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: I didn't say I don't know anything about Okay, what's 129 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 2: the ethnic mixer for? Wrong? They are Persians and well 130 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: predominantly Shia. This just got worse as it went. 131 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 3: I mean that is that is a moment, as somebody 132 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 3: who's had a chance to interview Senator Ted Cruz a 133 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 3: couple of times, I've never imagined a conversation like that. 134 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 3: Is he finding himself on the outs with maggot? Where 135 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: where does the line fall between Steve Bannon and Ted Cruz? 136 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 10: Right? I think we're we're figuring that out right now. 137 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 10: It's really interesting how this is playing out, and you know, 138 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 10: I heard I covered every single Trump rally. I went 139 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 10: to every single Trump rally, and so I heard all 140 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 10: of his campaign promises over and over again. And you know, 141 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 10: no new wars, and you know, Trump has been very 142 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 10: consistent in saying, you know, Iran should not have a 143 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 10: nuclear weapon, and he said that over and over again. 144 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 10: I heard him say it a million times. But what 145 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 10: I also heard him say a million times was the 146 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 10: US should not start new wars, should not get involved 147 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 10: in other wars, we should pull troops back, we should 148 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 10: you know, peace through strength was something that he talked 149 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 10: about a lot, and this he really outlined. And he's 150 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 10: been very you know also in his first term just this, 151 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 10: he's talked about this isolationist worldview and this kind of 152 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 10: America first, you know policy. And so I think there 153 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 10: are people who support the president, are big fans of 154 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 10: the president, and they're they're watching this play out and thinking, 155 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 10: this is not what I voted for, This is not 156 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 10: what I thought he was going to do, and this 157 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 10: this isn't really in line with what he said he 158 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 10: was going to do. And so I think it's it's 159 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 10: we're we're testing. I think Trump is testing the waters 160 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 10: here and there are definitely conflicting Republican and you know, 161 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 10: MAGA points of view here kind of bubbling up. 162 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 3: Well, he seems to be thinking, or the analysis around 163 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 3: the White House here, whomever's leaking at the moment, seems 164 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 3: to think that there might be maybe a delineation between 165 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 3: an isolated couple of strikes right against some underground bunk 166 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 3: and then we're done. Does does MAGA see it that way? 167 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 3: Or we don't have an answer on that yet. 168 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 10: It's a great question. I guess we don't know. I 169 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 10: think there are some people who the Steve Bannons and 170 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 10: Tucker Carlson's who say, let's just not get involved at all, 171 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 10: because you know, it can be a slippery slope. You know, 172 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 10: it starts out as one strike or two strikes, and 173 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 10: then all of a sudden you're kind of really entangled in, 174 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 10: you know, a war that is, you know, in MAGA 175 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 10: point of view, you know, a million miles away and 176 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 10: has nothing to do with the United States. That's what 177 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 10: you know. They would say, exactly, walk into a much 178 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 10: wider conflict, right and then things escalate. 179 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 3: So he says the Iranians are too late, or it's 180 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 3: very late. He said, maybe not too late, but they're 181 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 3: very late. Then he says Jay Powell's too that's his nickname, 182 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 3: is too late. He called the FED share stupid today 183 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 3: and he, by the way, came back around that he 184 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 3: said he hates him, thinks Jay Powell hates the president. 185 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 3: We're a couple of hours away here from a FED decision. 186 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 3: This is just going to get worse when he doesn't 187 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 3: get a rate cut. 188 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 10: I guess right, that's right. And I think you're hearing 189 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 10: Trump sort of brace for that and already saying, you know, 190 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 10: I don't think I'm going to get what I want, 191 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 10: and the typical he's been attacking Powe, you know for 192 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 10: months and months, and I think we're just hearing more 193 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 10: of the same of kind of you know, he should 194 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 10: be Trump views it as he should be working with 195 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 10: me here. He should be helping me, and Europe is 196 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 10: doing these cuts and so why can't the United States do. 197 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 10: I think he's very visibly frustrated with Powell, like personally, 198 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 10: and you know that's where all the personal attacks come in. 199 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,719 Speaker 3: I'm sure there might be more UNDREU socialist coming our way. Kate, 200 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 3: great to see you, Thank you so much. Kate Sullivan, 201 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 3: Bloomberg White House correspondent with us here on the Wednesday 202 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 3: edition of Balance of Power. 203 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 2: He thinks J. Powell hates him. Jay Powell's a deadhead. 204 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 2: I didn't think that was possible. 205 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 3: We have an important conversation coming up next from the 206 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 3: Lexington Institute, doctor Rebecca Grant on the options facing the 207 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 3: president today on Bloomberg. 208 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast. Catch 209 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: us live weekdays at noon and five pm Eastern on 210 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: Apple Cockley and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. 211 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: You can also listen live on Amazon Alexa from our 212 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: flagship New York station, Just say Alexa play Bloomberg eleven thirty. 213 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 3: Michael McKee, I talked to him a little while ago 214 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: in the newsroom. Is on his way over as we speak, 215 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 3: and will be at the FED to ask the tough 216 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 3: questions of J. 217 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 2: Powell. 218 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 3: He must be sitting around trying to figure out how 219 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 3: do I how do we do this again? 220 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: Right? 221 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 3: It's the same conversation at every meeting. Just ask Donald Trump, 222 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 3: and surely he'll be asked about Donald Trump's insults this morning. 223 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 3: He called the FED chair stupid multiple times and suggested 224 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 3: that J. Powell hates him, said he was political, as 225 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 3: we remind everyone that J. Powell is a Republican who 226 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 3: was appointed by Donald Trump. Zachary Cohen at CNN is 227 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 3: reporting that there's another carrier strike group that's being deployed. 228 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 2: Jerry Ford is on its way. 229 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: The USS Ford expected to be deployed to Europe next week, 230 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 3: near the Middle East, putting a third aircraft carrier in 231 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 3: close proximity, as he writes, to the conflict between Israel 232 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 3: and Iran. Sources talking to CNN about this, we are 233 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: throwing a lot of equipment at this region. 234 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: Pretty remarkable, more than two dozen. 235 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 3: As we told you, air to air tankers already in 236 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: the theater. We've got the USS nimits, the second carrier 237 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 3: strike group already steaming its way. Massive numbers of fighter 238 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 3: aircraft are on the ground. Beats who bombers are at 239 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 3: least positioned. They can fly all the way around the 240 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 3: world with air to air refuelers, do a thirty hour mission, 241 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 3: come back home, sleep in their own beds in the Midwest. 242 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 2: It's pretty remarkable stuff. 243 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 3: And all of this, of course, is based around the 244 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 3: big question of what Donald Trump is going to do. 245 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 3: What are we really preparing for here? Are we going 246 00:11:54,920 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: to join Israel's effort against Iran offensively militarily b Two's 247 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: with American pilots dropping American bombs as we continue to 248 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 3: hear those would be required to break through the likes 249 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 3: of four Doh and the other underground installations. 250 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 2: We've spent a lot of time talking. 251 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 9: About this this week. 252 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 3: And I'd like to just move the conversation a little 253 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 3: bit away from this toward the other options. The President 254 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 3: is not only looking at this one option when he's 255 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 3: in the situation room with his national security team, they 256 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 3: are unloading a buffet, a menu of options that the 257 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 3: president can use here. That's what we wanted to talk 258 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 3: to Rebecca Grant about. She understands the nuances of this 259 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 3: better than anybody from her perch at the Lexington Institute, 260 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 3: where she is Vice president. Doctor Rebecca Grant, Welcome back 261 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 3: to Bloomberg. It's great to have you here at this 262 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 3: sensitive moment. We've talked a lot about the potential for 263 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 3: this happening, and here we are now, and I wonder 264 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 3: your thoughts on some of the alternate plans that the 265 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 3: president is hearing about. For instance, knocking out power to 266 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 3: for doll letting the center fugues spin out of control. 267 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 3: What else is he hearing from his team today? 268 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 8: I think President Trump is evaluating a big range of options. 269 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 8: But make no mistake, the main thing on the menu 270 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 8: here is US airpower, probably in the form of very 271 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 8: precise B two bomber strike. So this is not a 272 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 8: ground operation, This is not a major war with Iran. 273 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 8: This is very precise, detailed impacts perhaps on Iran's nuclear 274 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 8: weapons capability, and as you suggest, always have to add 275 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 8: into that cyber activity, maybe a possibility of Israeli special 276 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 8: forces action on the ground. Who knows, but they have 277 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 8: air superiority there. Really, Joe, we're down, I think at 278 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 8: this point to the weaponeering. So people are coming into 279 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 8: brief Donald Trump saying, if we put this bomb on 280 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 8: this aim point this many times, here is the expected damage. 281 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 8: Their goal to make sure that Iran can never have 282 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 8: a nuclear bomb and can never reconstitute that capability. 283 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 2: Interesting, are there other half measures? 284 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 3: And if that sort of saboteur's approach to knocking out power, 285 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 3: for instance, or a cyber attack would would that also 286 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 3: be part of an air campaign. I don't know where 287 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 3: this power is coming from, at a site like for 288 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 3: Dough or at Natan's how would that be accomplished? 289 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 8: Well, it could be, And what the whole thing tells 290 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 8: us is, you know, again, this is not a big 291 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 8: regime change air campaign. This is very specifically focused on 292 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 8: ruining high level complicated machinery that Iran uses. That can 293 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 8: be done by having that machinery break that was done 294 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 8: with the computer virus several years ago in one of 295 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 8: Iran's facilities. It can be done by denying power or 296 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 8: the sort of get a bomb through those levels of 297 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 8: dirt and concrete and make enough rubble and disruption of 298 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 8: the whole thing. So I think there will be a 299 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 8: cyber component to this, unquestionably. I think the question now 300 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 8: for President Trump is would putting a few bunker busters 301 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 8: or heavy bombs from the US into that target set? 302 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 8: What are the weaponeering effects? Is it going to accomplish 303 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 8: what he wants? And is this the right moment to 304 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 8: make that strike. There's probably never been a better moment 305 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 8: with Iran's air defenses peeled back the way they are. 306 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 3: Well, this is what we keep hearing from those who 307 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 3: support the idea. Doctor We heard from the director of 308 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 3: the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, was talking to Bloomberg earlier today 309 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 3: about some of the potential changes that could happen on 310 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 3: the ground while we're in the midst of what is 311 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 3: this now, day six, and whether in fact Iran is 312 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 3: capable of moving some of this material that we would 313 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 3: be attacking. 314 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 2: Let's listen to what he said. 315 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 11: In principle, it is there. It is there, as you 316 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 11: can imagine at a time of war. At a time 317 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 11: of war, all nuclear sites are closed. So our inspectors 318 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 11: who are still i must say still in Iran, although 319 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 11: they are in a protected place as you can imagine, 320 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 11: but they are not inspecting no inspection, normal activity can 321 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 11: take place. We assume we have not seen anything that 322 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 11: would suggest that the stockpile has been moved. 323 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 3: Okay, if you had any trouble hearing him his telling 324 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 3: us that the inspectors are still in the country, but 325 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 3: of course they're not at the nuclear sites. They are 326 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: closed right now, doctor, Do we have eyes via satellites 327 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 3: on any potential movement of stockpiles inside ir On? 328 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 8: Oh, yes, we have. We have so many eyes. You know, 329 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 8: this is satellites, aircraft, you know, the air Force has 330 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 8: a particular aircraft that can sniff nuclear radiation in the atmosphere. 331 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 8: I have to say, I think Raphael Grossi has really 332 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 8: worked hard on not only in Iran but in Ukraine 333 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 8: as well, and at some point it does come down 334 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 8: to inspectors from the IAEA the UN saying yep, you 335 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 8: know the stuff's been moved, or there is no nuclear 336 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 8: program left, or here's the damage that's been caused. No. 337 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 8: I think he's talking specifically about if you Ran agreed 338 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 8: to move out the highly enriched uranium and maybe some machinery. 339 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 8: You know, the Russians have offered to take it. Who 340 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 8: knows how would that take place at this point, but 341 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 8: you know, we'd have to see some sincerity from Iran 342 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 8: to me that would perhaps start with no more Iranian 343 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 8: missile attacks on Israel. But this is all something that 344 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 8: President Trump has the intelligence assets to be able to 345 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 8: evaluate if it Ran is serious or if they're still 346 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 8: running around trying to launch missiles. 347 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 3: Well, just as you say that, Rebecca, like clockwork, headline 348 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 3: crosses the terminal the IDF telling us that it is 349 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 3: identified the launch of another round of missiles toward Israel. 350 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 2: So this can continues at this moment. 351 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 3: I spoke with Ron Dermer a couple of days ago here, 352 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 3: Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs, and he pointed to American 353 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 3: pilots flying aircraft as part of this operation defensively, as 354 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 3: we saw last year firing interceptor missiles at ballistic missiles 355 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 3: shot by Iran. 356 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 2: What would happen if one of them was shot down. 357 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 8: They have a search and rescue plan in place. It's 358 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 8: not easy to execute, but we have extracted people. Believe me, 359 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 8: these pilots don't fly without at least a plan for 360 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 8: combat search and rescue. Remember a lot of this is 361 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 8: taking place over Iraqi airspace, Jordanian airspace, and yes, we 362 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 8: are very involved defensively from space force watching the Iranian 363 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 8: missile flares and passing that warning along to our carrier 364 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 8: and land based pilots, who are I believe, looking for 365 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 8: drones to shoot down. And then of course our navy 366 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 8: that has already done some exo atmospheric ballistic missile intercepts 367 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 8: against Iranian missiles, so we are in there defensively. It's 368 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 8: a hugely important part of containing Iran second aircraft carrier 369 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 8: getting close to nearly fifty thousand American forces deployed there 370 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 8: as we try to contain anti nuclearized Iran and another. 371 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 3: Boat with five thousand sailors on the way. You know, 372 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 3: it's remarkable to see the way Israel used drones. You 373 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 3: mentioned drone technology in the initial attack, not unlike the 374 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 3: way Ukraine planted them behind enemy lines in Russia. We 375 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 3: saw that take place with Masad agents planting drones inside 376 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 3: Iran and they were launched remotely. This is something that 377 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 3: we've talked about a lot, the changing sort of dynamic 378 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 3: when it comes to the most effective weapons platforms, what 379 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 3: we should be buying, procurement reform, and there's a there's 380 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 3: an argument here about whether we should be buying a 381 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 3: lot of cheap drones to do this or putting very 382 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 3: expensive modern fighter planes in the air with actual live 383 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 3: people inside them. 384 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 2: Rebecca Grant, you've made the. 385 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 3: Case that you need to have actual manned aircraft to 386 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 3: get this job done. 387 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 8: Hey, drones are great, we need a lot of them, 388 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 8: and the US has used them since the Gulf War 389 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 8: to attack and in the air defense systems. But the 390 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 8: Operation Rising Line proves again that you need manned fighters 391 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:26,719 Speaker 8: carrying heavy ordinance with really smart aircrews responding to orders. 392 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 8: That's what Israel has used over and over. We've seen 393 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 8: manned fighters deployed on the carriers, a new wave of fighters, 394 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 8: aircrews and the tankers doing that. So hey, manned aircraft 395 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 8: are very important. They will be in any scenario, including 396 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 8: facing China in the Pacific. So hey, A big lesson 397 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 8: here is we have got to restock our manned air power. 398 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 8: Air Force F forty seven, get the navy ats secret 399 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 8: carrier plane that they're about to decide on. We need 400 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 8: all of that to team with those drones. 401 00:20:57,760 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 3: Is this the end of the Tomcat? Did we blow 402 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: up all the F fourteens left? This is what all 403 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 3: the top gun kids want to know. What happened to 404 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 3: the Tomcats? 405 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 2: Rebecca? Are they gone? 406 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 8: We've seen at least a few. They weren't in very 407 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 8: good condition. That dates back to when we were friends 408 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 8: with their ran and they flew the F fourteens. We 409 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 8: saw at least one blown up. Yeah, yeah, I think 410 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 8: are not in frible status. 411 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 2: No sign of tom cruise behind enemy lines, Doctor Rebecca Grant, 412 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:26,719 Speaker 2: it's great to see you. Thank you for the briefing. 413 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 3: As always from the Lexington Institute I'm Joe, Matthew and 414 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,879 Speaker 3: Washington am glad you were along here on the Wednesday edition. 415 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Balance of Power podcast. Catch 416 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: us live weekdays at noon and five pm Eastern on Apple, 417 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 1: Cockley and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. Listen 418 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: on demand wherever you get your podcasts, or watch us 419 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:49,880 Speaker 1: live on YouTube. 420 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 3: The President has already been talking about today, referring to j. 421 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 3: Powell as stupid on a couple of occasions, using the 422 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,439 Speaker 3: nickname too late, suggesting that he should start cutting rates 423 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 3: yesterday and that's not expected to happen today. We'll have 424 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 3: more on that a little bit later this hour as 425 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 3: we walk up to our special coverage with Kitty Richard, 426 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 3: senior fellow at the Groundwork Collaborative. Will be changing our 427 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 3: view on things as we get closer to the decision. 428 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 3: We want to stick with the bead on what's happening here. 429 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 3: Meantime on Capitol Hill, it is not only a conversation 430 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 3: today about whether we're going to see US military involvement 431 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 3: in a more offensive way in Iran or we're going 432 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 3: to talk to Congressman Lawler about that as well, but 433 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 3: it's of course, Mike Lawler, who has drawn a line 434 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 3: on the sand on salt, this being essentially the salt network. 435 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 3: I know how important this is to our listeners and viewers, 436 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 3: and Mike Lawler does as well. Because the Senate version 437 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 3: from the Senate Finance Committee of the Big Beautiful Bill 438 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 3: just came back to the House and it's not what 439 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 3: a lot of certainly members from New York and New 440 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 3: Jersey wanted to see. Spokes about this yesterday with Senator 441 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 3: Ron Johnson. He's a no vote on this. He wants 442 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 3: to see deeper spending cuts. And when you start talking 443 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 3: about deeper spending cuts or permanence with regard to business 444 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 3: tax breaks or the Trump tax cuts, you got to 445 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,479 Speaker 3: find the money from somewhere, and the Senate seems to 446 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 3: think that pulling that out of the salt deal is 447 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 3: part of the way to get there. Ron Johnson still 448 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 3: no vote though, as he told us yesterday here on Bloomberg. 449 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 4: Listen, Well, I'm currently in nope. I think the House 450 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 4: bill is something I basically support, but my problems it 451 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 4: just doesn't go far enough. At most, we'll be reducing 452 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 4: spending by about two trillion dollars over ten years we 453 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 4: increase spending by more than two trillion dollars in one 454 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 4: year from twenty nineteen to twenty twenty. And you know 455 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 4: it's a budget reconciliation process. We ought to be talking 456 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 4: about numbers. 457 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 3: Well, let's talk about numbers with the aforementioned Congressman Mike Lawler, 458 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 3: Republican from New York seventeenth. It's good to see you, Congressman. 459 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Bloomberg TV and Radio. It's almost like 460 00:23:57,920 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 3: we're sitting in the same room. If you're with us 461 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 3: here on TV or on YouTube, I feel like I 462 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 3: can turn and talk to you. 463 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 2: Where are you on this right now? 464 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 3: It was forty thousand dollars the salt cap established in 465 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 3: the House, so went next door and they chopped it 466 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 3: right back down to ten. But I'm told that this 467 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 3: is simply a placeholder and that there's yet another debate. 468 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 3: Are you ready to go through this whole fight again? 469 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 6: Look, the bill, as the Senate has written, it is 470 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 6: dead on arrival. And I made that very clear the 471 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,159 Speaker 6: other day when the language came out. But here's the 472 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 6: reality of this situation that I think many of my 473 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 6: Senate colleagues failed to recognize. 474 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 5: At the end of the day. 475 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 6: The cap on salt was nothing more than a pay 476 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 6: for back in twenty seventeen, and it paid for most 477 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 6: of the provisions of the tax cuts and jobs ACKed. 478 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 6: It here again is being used as a pay for 479 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 6: by not going back to unlimited. It's paying for the 480 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 6: doubling of the standard deduction, It's paying for no tax 481 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 6: on tips, no tax on over time, the expanded child 482 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 6: tax credit, among other key provisions, including business tax credits. 483 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 6: And we understand that that is all part of a negotiation. 484 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 6: It's all part of having a tax bill that actually 485 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 6: provides real tax relief to the middle class, to the 486 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 6: working class. This is not about the billionaires or the millionaires. 487 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 6: That's why we agreed to a forty thousand dollars salt 488 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 6: cap with a five hundred thousand dollars income cap. That 489 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 6: was a hard fought, good faith negotiation that we entered 490 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 6: into despite efforts to roll us, and we came to 491 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 6: an agreement with the White House and with House leadership. 492 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 6: We are not going back on that agreement. And I 493 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 6: think what the Senate needs to recognize they can make changes, 494 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 6: they can enter into negotiations, but the fact is you 495 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 6: need two hundred and eighteen votes to pass. 496 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 5: This in the House. 497 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 6: And there is not a chance in hell that this 498 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 6: bill will pass at ten thousand dollars, let alone less 499 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 6: than forty thousand. 500 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 2: So it's anything under forty is you. 501 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 3: I know, you've got to talk tough on this because 502 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 3: you hear it off the air from Republican members that ah, 503 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 3: the Salt guys in New York, they knew they were negotiating. 504 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 3: They went for forty oh, and it was going to 505 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 3: come in at thirty as the House Ways and Means 506 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 3: Committee said, you're a no on thirty thousand, right. 507 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 6: No, if we were going to accept thirty, we were 508 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 6: just accept thirty that that is a no. And I 509 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 6: guess people, you know, want to try and call our bluff. 510 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 6: They tried that in the House. They tried to jam us, 511 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 6: and we didn't fold. And we're not going to fold here. 512 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 6: We're not trying to stop the bill. We are making 513 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 6: the point that this was a good faith negotiation. This 514 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 6: is the agreement, and this is what the final number 515 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 6: is going to be. And I would just remind everybody, 516 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 6: you know, you look at ten thousand, this isn't just 517 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 6: about Blue states. First of all, Salt applies to everybody. 518 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 6: It's not just particular to New York or California and 519 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 6: New Jersey. But second of all, twenty nine states blew 520 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 6: past the ten thousand dollars cap with the average salt 521 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 6: tax burden over the past seven years. So you know, 522 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 6: leaving it at ten thousand will be a crushing blow 523 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 6: to middle class and working class families all throughout this country. 524 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,479 Speaker 6: And if the objective is to provide real tax relief 525 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 6: and grow the economy and allow for people to invest 526 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:32,880 Speaker 6: in jobs and businesses and in the stock market, then 527 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 6: having a real salt cap that we can provide tax 528 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 6: relief with is vital. And we're not going to cave 529 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 6: on this. 530 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 5: We're not well. So this is obviously your things taken. 531 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,679 Speaker 3: I just wonder how do you fix it? How do 532 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 3: you fix it? Congressman is does this go to a 533 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 3: conference committee? Does Mike Johnson have to carry this water 534 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 3: for you? How do you get it back to forty? 535 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 5: Well, look, we're still talking to senators. 536 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 6: We're going to have a conversation today, and you know, 537 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 6: I'm speaking with the speaker, and the speaker certainly understands 538 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,159 Speaker 6: our position. He agrees with us, even if he doesn't 539 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 6: fully support you know, Salt, He understands how important this 540 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 6: is to passage of the bill, and this is just 541 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 6: the reality of government. 542 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 5: You're not going to get everything you want, and you 543 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 5: have to negotiate. We negotiated. 544 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 6: This was the agreement, and whether the Senate likes it 545 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 6: or not, this is going to be the number. 546 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 3: I want to stick through a couple of other important 547 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 3: items with you while we have you, Congressman, because you 548 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 3: serve as well on the Committee on Foreign Affairs in 549 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 3: the House, where's your gut? As in many cases, Republicans 550 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 3: argue with Republicans about what President Trump should do right 551 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 3: now in Iran? I know you support Israel's right to 552 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 3: defend itself, but do we need to put American B 553 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 3: two bombers in the air to help finish the job? 554 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 5: I don't think there's any question about that. 555 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 6: I think Israel obviously has made tremendous strides over the 556 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 6: last few days and really speaks volumes to their military 557 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 6: prowess and intelligence. But ultimately, you know, to get the 558 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 6: job done, I don't think there's any question. You know, 559 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 6: the US is going to have to be engaged. I'm 560 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 6: not advocating for troops on the ground. I'm not advocating 561 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 6: for regime change. The bottom line is Iran cannot have 562 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 6: a nuclear weapon. President Trump has made that clear for years. 563 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 6: Republicans and Democrats both prior presidents and in Congress have 564 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 6: made that clear for years. The time has come, and 565 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 6: ultimately we need to finish the job. They cannot have 566 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 6: a nuclear program. They have shown a willingness to use 567 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 6: ballistic missiles target at civilian populations with the express intent 568 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 6: of killing Jews and eradicating the state of Israel. Folks 569 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 6: have to remember there are seven hundred Thousandmurricans that are 570 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 6: dual citizens and live in Israel at least part time, 571 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 6: if not full time. These are Americans on the ground 572 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 6: in Israel being attacked. We have forty thousand troops in 573 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 6: the region under threat of attack. We have to make 574 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 6: sure that this threat is eliminated. Ultimately, a weakened Iran, 575 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 6: a denuclearized Iran is the best hope for the Iranian 576 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 6: people to rise up and reclaim their government. 577 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 5: That will be their choice. 578 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 6: That is not a choice for the United States or 579 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 6: Israel or anyone else, but it will give the best 580 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 6: opportunity for that to happen, and in doing so, will 581 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 6: give the best opportunity for peace and prosperity in the 582 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 6: Middle East for years to come. 583 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 3: Wow, the time has come, says Congressman Mike Lawler. If 584 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 3: our involvement offensively was limited to a series of strikes 585 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 3: as we've heard referred to it against these nuclear enrichment 586 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 3: sites and no more, would you be comfortable with President 587 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 3: Trump conducting this on his own or does Congress need 588 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 3: to have a say? 589 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 6: Yes, I would be comfortable with the President making that determination. Obviously, 590 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 6: in years past, presidents from both parties have made these 591 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 6: determinations in limited strikes without getting Congressional approval to do 592 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 6: so in that moment, and certainly, if that is the 593 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 6: decision that is made for the express purpose of eliminating 594 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 6: Iran's nuclear capabilities, I fully support it. 595 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 3: Lastly, Congressman, from your perch on financial services, you're wishing 596 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 3: there was a rate cut coming today, I'm guessing there's 597 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 3: not going to be one. How concerned are you that 598 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 3: J Powell, as Donald Trump says, it's too late? 599 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 6: Look, despite j Pal's many predictions over the years, which 600 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 6: many of which have turned out to be wrong or 601 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,000 Speaker 6: late to the ballgame. The fact is the economy is 602 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 6: in a very strong position. Inflation has come down, the 603 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 6: economy is growing, and ultimately, I think when we pass 604 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:20,000 Speaker 6: the tax bill, you get deregulation into effect, you increase 605 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:23,560 Speaker 6: domestic production of energy, you bring these conflicts to an 606 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 6: end and normalize relations and expand trade. The economy is 607 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 6: going to take off dramatically, and I think this is 608 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 6: something where the FED should be looking to ease tensions, 609 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 6: to start to bring down interest rates, which is. 610 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 5: Vital to economic growth. 611 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 6: And I certainly believe that it's time to bring the 612 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 6: rates down. I think the predictions over the last two 613 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 6: months tied to the tariffs have not borne out the 614 00:32:56,240 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 6: way many in the media and Democrats have speculated, and 615 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 6: so I do think it is time for these rates 616 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 6: to come down. 617 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 3: It's great to have you with us, a Congressman, appreciate that, 618 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:11,400 Speaker 3: Congressman Mike laula Republican from New York, from Salt to 619 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,880 Speaker 3: Iran to the Fed. We're going to be turning things 620 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 3: over to our special FED coverage coming up in a little 621 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 3: more than fifteen minutes, with of course, an announcement on 622 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 3: rates coming at two PM. Want to assemble our panel 623 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 3: with more on what we just heard from the congressman 624 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 3: with regard to Iran. That was an important moment. You're 625 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 3: going to hear that played back. The time has come, 626 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 3: said Mike Lawler. Rick Davis, Bloomberg Politics contributor and Republican 627 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,239 Speaker 3: strategist partner at Stone Court Capital is with us now 628 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 3: alongside Geenie Shanzano, Senior Democracy Fellow with the Center for 629 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 3: the Study of the Presidency and Congress. 630 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 2: Rick. 631 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 3: How many Republicans does Mike Lawla represent in Washington today? 632 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 9: You know, I think the vast majority. I mean, you know, 633 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 9: the Republican Party is still pretty hawkish. You know, in 634 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 9: the last year, even before the elections, we had a 635 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 9: majority in the House of Representative supporting aid for Ukraine 636 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 9: against Russia. I think Ran is the unifying force. It 637 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 9: is the greatest evil empire left in the world compared 638 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 9: them to Russia and China. We can have a dialogue 639 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 9: with Russia in China, but we cannot have a dialogue 640 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 9: with Iran. And Iran has been a basis for mischief 641 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:23,360 Speaker 9: in the world for a long time. They sponsor terrorism 642 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 9: around the world, and so I really don't think there's 643 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 9: a lot of daylight between the Republican Party and the 644 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,840 Speaker 9: and the need to do something about making sure Iran 645 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,680 Speaker 9: never has the capability of crafting a nuclear weapon. 646 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 3: Then there's Tim Kaine and the likes of Democrats who 647 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 3: want to limit the president's war powers in this case, Genie, 648 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,360 Speaker 3: where are Democrats going to stand if there is an 649 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 3: announcement from the White House that American bombers are in 650 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 3: the air? 651 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:56,759 Speaker 7: Well? We have heard from many Democrats who support the 652 00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:02,280 Speaker 7: president in if he does decide to assist openly, either 653 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 7: offensively or certainly continue defensively. You know, We've heard Adam Schiff, 654 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 7: We've heard others, So there is a split in the 655 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 7: Democratic Party. We've also heard Democrats on the other side, 656 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 7: joining people like Tom Massey, that would be Alexandrio Casio Coortes, 657 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 7: il haan Omar. So very much like the Republican Party, 658 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 7: there is a split on the best path forward for this. 659 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 7: And I thought another really fascinating thing that the representative 660 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:32,720 Speaker 7: said was the fact that he would not support boots 661 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 7: on the ground. I think there are a lot of 662 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,760 Speaker 7: people who agree with Mike Lawler on that they would 663 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 7: allow for support whether it is aid, whether it is 664 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 7: offensive or defensive support, but not support for boots on 665 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 7: the ground. And that is a question that has been 666 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 7: raised by military experts. Can Israel Can the US really 667 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:56,520 Speaker 7: destroy Iran's ability to get nuclear weapons not just in 668 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,360 Speaker 7: the short term, but in the long term without boots 669 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 7: on the ground, And that is a big question. And 670 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:04,400 Speaker 7: to hear him say no, I wouldn't support that, I 671 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 7: think is also very telling. 672 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 2: Rick. 673 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:11,239 Speaker 3: How if the White House decides to act, should this 674 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,719 Speaker 3: be rolled out? Does the President needs to address the 675 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:18,359 Speaker 3: American people in prime time? Is that old fashioned? To 676 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 3: what extent of the American people need to be prepared 677 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:20,600 Speaker 3: for this? 678 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 9: Well, we do know Donald Trump likes these big moments 679 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:29,640 Speaker 9: in a presidency. The symbolism of the Oval Office, the 680 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:33,360 Speaker 9: Resolute desk is not lost on this president. That being said, 681 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 9: I would I would think it would be always after 682 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 9: the fact. I mean, these are operations that are best 683 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:44,719 Speaker 9: left in the secret. You know, no sense in telegraphing 684 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:50,680 Speaker 9: our punch to Iran, And so I wouldn't anticipate the 685 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 9: President forecasting his intent to strike Iran to you know, 686 00:36:55,680 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 9: degrade his ability to to manufacture a bomb, and until 687 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 9: after the fact. And then I do think you know, 688 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:09,280 Speaker 9: there is an opening at that point to say, Okay, 689 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:13,640 Speaker 9: now let's figure out what happens next, because it may 690 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 9: not need much more attention militarily in Iran if we 691 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:24,240 Speaker 9: do indeed use some of our unique capability to destroy 692 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:25,200 Speaker 9: these facilities. 693 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 3: Rick Davis and Genie Shanzeno with analysis as we wait 694 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 3: for a decision from President Trump, Bloomberg Politics contributors. Many 695 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:39,400 Speaker 3: thanks to both of you for your insights. Thanks for 696 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,520 Speaker 3: listening to the Balance of Power podcast. Make sure to 697 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:45,720 Speaker 3: subscribe if you haven't already, at Apple, Spotify, or wherever 698 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:48,359 Speaker 3: you get your podcasts, and you can find us live 699 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 3: every weekday from Washington, DC at noontime Eastern at Bloomberg 700 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 3: dot com.