1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Sound On podcast. Catch us 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,479 Speaker 1: live weekdays at one Eastern. 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 2: On Bloomberg dot com, the iHeartRadio app and the Bloomberg 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 2: Business app, or listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts. 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Friday edition of Bloomberg Sound On. I'm 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 3: Joe Matthew in Washington. As we prepare to speak with 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 3: Ambassador James Jeffries. I'll bring you up to date quickly 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 3: on what we know here from Israel. The headline on 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 3: the terminal says it all the latest from Israel. UN 10 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 3: staff give an evacuation order for northern Gaza. 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 4: This is it. 12 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 3: Israel's armed forces telling the UN to evacuate personnel from 13 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 3: northern Gaza, indicating that a ground operation could be coming 14 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 3: soon and that is expected as early as tonight into tomorrow, 15 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 3: something we've been talking about for the balance of the week. 16 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 4: Of course. 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 3: In a message that was delivered earlier, underscored by Israeli 18 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 3: Defense Minister Jova Gallant, hereious, please go south. 19 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 5: We are going to destroy Jamas infrastwalk jails, hamas head 20 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 5: Quartels hamas military. 21 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 3: He appeared along with the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, 22 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 3: who is now in Tel Aviv, just a day after 23 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 3: Antony Blinkin, the Secretary of State paid a visit. He 24 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 3: appeared alongside the Israeli Defense Minister and was asked several 25 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 3: times about the potential for civilian casualties collateral damage inside 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 3: Gaza City. 27 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 4: Here's the Secretary. 28 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 6: I've worked with Israeli forces over the years, over many years. 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 6: As you know, I wore a uniform for forty one years. 30 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 6: My experience in working with the Israeli forces as they 31 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 6: are professional, they are discipline and they are focused on 32 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 6: the right things. 33 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 3: Now as we follow the travels of the Secretary of 34 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 3: State Antony Blinkn, remembering yesterday he was in Tel Aviv 35 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 3: where he met not only with government officials beginning with 36 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 3: benjaminet Yahoo, but also survivors of the attacks last weekend. 37 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 3: Today he is in cutter where he appeared with the 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 3: Prime Minister in a joint news conference, asked as well 39 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 3: about this very same mans. 40 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 7: Israel has the right, Indida has the obligation to defend 41 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 7: its people and to try to ensure that Hamas can 42 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 7: never repeat what it's done. We continue to discuss with 43 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 7: Israel the importance of taking every possible precaution to avoid 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 7: harming civilian. We recognize that many Palestinian families in Gaza 45 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 7: are suffering through no fault of their own, and the 46 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 7: Palistinian civilians have lost their lives. 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 3: As we've told you, he also will be visiting Saudi Arabia, 48 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 3: United Arab Emirates and a few other stops along the 49 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 3: way as this itinerary expands. 50 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 4: Making his way through the region. 51 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 3: Could be some very challenging optics if this invasion does 52 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 3: begin with him on the road. And that's where we 53 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 3: start our conversation with James Jeffries, chair of the Middle 54 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 3: East Program at the Wilson Center, the former Ambassador to 55 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,119 Speaker 3: Iraq and Turkey, a special envoy for the Global Coalition 56 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 3: to counter the islam State of Iraq and the levant Isis. 57 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 3: Of course, mister ambassador, is great to see you, and 58 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: we appreciate your joining us today to share your experience 59 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 3: and your view here. And I'd like to start in 60 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 3: that same place as we look at what's going on 61 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 3: here and the potential for this to escalate. Is this 62 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 3: not the very scenario that you've spent your years worrying 63 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: about seeing actually happen. 64 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 8: Absolutely I've been involved in many mini waws, conflicts, exchanges 65 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 8: of fire, bombing, raids and such in the Middle East. 66 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 8: That's path of the course. This one is different like 67 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 8: the Yom Kippo Wah fifty years ago where Egypt in 68 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 8: Syria almost overran Egypt like nine to eleven, only far worse, 69 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 8: like Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. This is one of the 70 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 8: big ones we only see once every decade or two 71 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 8: decades in the Middle East that really can change things 72 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 8: and puts countries in existential threat. Israel is an existential threat, 73 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 8: not just from the people civilians killed ten times proportionally 74 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 8: what we lost from tera On nine to eleven. It 75 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 8: was the overrunning of a whole forward Israeli armed division 76 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 8: by five thousand roughly Hamas highly trained and prepared soldiers. 77 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 8: That presents the threat to Israel. It can't deal permanently 78 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 8: with that threat while also having threats on its northern 79 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 8: border from his bullet and from Iran across the Gulf. 80 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 8: So Israel has to go in and take out Hamas. 81 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 8: That's the order it's given the military to dismantle Hamas. 82 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 8: Very similar to the mission that when Tony Blincoln and 83 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 8: Lloyd Austin were in the Obronment administration, they were given 84 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 8: to take out the Islamic state, and in both cases 85 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 8: that can really generate civilian casualties. And in the case 86 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 8: of this conflict, is a risk that Lebani's who bullock 87 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 8: out of Lebanon, could intervene Arran directly, which is one 88 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 8: reason why President Biden is so strong and why you 89 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 8: send two aircraft carriers to deter other countries from filing 90 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 8: on as Israel is focused on Gaza. 91 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 3: Well, what happens in the next couple of days here 92 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 3: and to the extent that this ground invasion occurs, mister 93 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 3: ambassador will tell us a lot I suspect about the 94 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 3: potential for this to escalate. This is not going to 95 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 3: be easy, realizing we have a very well trained military 96 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 3: and a very capable one in Israel. I think to 97 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 3: the Secretary's point, this is going to require a good 98 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 3: deal of discipline. How concerned are you about the way 99 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 3: Israel will conduct this invasion in an area that's teeming 100 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 3: with civilians. 101 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 8: Well, look, I have to be really blunt here, and 102 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 8: countries are fighting existential battles, they will adhere to the 103 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 8: law of WAW but that neither requires nor will they 104 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 8: make it their top priority to spare civilians. That's the 105 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 8: problem with the admonitions they've been getting from the Biden administration. 106 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 8: If you're going to take, as Tony Blincoln said, every 107 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 8: possible precaution to avoid attacking civilians or hurting civilians, you 108 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 8: don't invade an area where civilians are being held by 109 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 8: the tens of thousands as essentially human shields by Hamas. 110 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 8: Hamas could a support the evacuation of people. It could 111 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 8: place its troops and its installations not inside buildings that 112 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 8: people are in, but it does. That's the problem for Israel. 113 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 8: It's going to be trying to achieve a military victory quickly. 114 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 8: It can't keep five percent of the population under arms 115 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 8: indefinitely with minimum Israelly casualties while also minimizing the civilian losses, 116 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 8: which is why the Israeli Minister of Defense told the 117 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 8: citizens of Gaza to move south about ten miles across 118 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 8: what we call the Wadi or Gaza River. 119 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 3: How difficult of a job does Israel have here. This 120 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 3: is obviously an entrenched enemy with a network of tunnels 121 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 3: beneath Gaza. There are no uniforms that they'll be able 122 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 3: to see when they move into the streets of Gaza. 123 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 3: Mister ambassador, you think about this as a combination potentially 124 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 3: of Stalingrad and Ewojima. 125 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 4: With what they're facing, this is. 126 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 8: Going to be very tough. I'm a farmer infantry officer. 127 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 8: Attacking into a sea is difficult, even if you have 128 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 8: overwhelming numerical superiority, which Israel does have, and even if 129 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 8: you have air power, armor and other things that the 130 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 8: other side does not have. It often comes down to 131 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 8: soldier versus soldier, fighting your way from room to room, 132 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 8: as we did in Fallujah in two thousand and four. 133 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: In Iraq, we. 134 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 8: Lost one hundred Marines army fighters killed and several hundred wounded. 135 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 8: But Israel can do this. It is determined to do this. 136 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 8: It is determined to take the high casual least. The 137 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 8: problem is, as we saw in the attack last Saturday, 138 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 8: Hamas has thousands of highly trained fighters who surprised the 139 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 8: Israeli army and overran the front line Israeli positions. So 140 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 8: Israel will have to be barely careful. But this is 141 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 8: another reason why they're bombing to such an extraordinary degree, 142 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 8: far more than they ever have done in Gaza as 143 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 8: a preparatory step to sending their troops, and they want 144 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 8: to discombobulate Hamas's defense is as much as possible. That 145 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 8: we'll see when they do go in, and I'm sure 146 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 8: they will, whether they're successful or not. 147 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,719 Speaker 3: Mister Ambassador Iran says that a new front is possible 148 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 3: quote if israel war crimes continue unquote do you read 149 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 3: into that? What do you expect to happen once this 150 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 3: actual invasion gets underway and the images are on screens 151 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 3: around the world, what is Iran's next move? 152 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 8: Let me be cynical here. The images will infuriate in 153 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 8: outrage Arab populations and countries like Saudi Arabia and the 154 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 8: Gulf and Jordan that are friendly to America and basically Israel, 155 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 8: as well as European publics. Iran is going to be 156 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 8: delighted at these bitches, as will lebaneseis bullet the Iranian 157 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 8: vassal state in southern Lebanon because they want Israel to 158 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 8: get a bad reputation. The key question for Israel and 159 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 8: for the United States is will they intervene militarily? I 160 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 8: don't think so. First of all, the Israelis have now 161 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 8: mobilized three hundred and sixty thousand troops. They're on the alert. 162 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 8: They won't be prize. It'll make me much much harder 163 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 8: to attack Israel. Secondly, and even more importantly, President Biden 164 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 8: has committed the US, essentially in concrete terms, to come 165 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 8: to Israel's defense if Hamas or Ran intervened. That's the 166 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 8: purpose of the two aircraft carriers. That's the purpose of 167 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 8: the air Force aircraft sent there. And he's justified in 168 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 8: doing so. There are hundreds of thousands of American citizens 169 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 8: in Israel right now, as we saw last Saturday. They 170 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 8: are targets as well. So I think that that will 171 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,719 Speaker 8: deter a Rand in his bullet. I think that if 172 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 8: it does deter them, and Israel succeeds, the Middle East 173 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 8: will be in the long run and safer place. But 174 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 8: those are many. 175 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 3: Ifs huh, Well, that's fascinating. So you don't see a 176 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 3: northern front opening, and in that world, the gerald Ford 177 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 3: carrier group does not get involved. This ends up being 178 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 3: contained to Gaza City. However, many days or weeks it 179 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: takes for this mission to be done and we're over. 180 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 3: Is that is that your best case scenario? 181 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:06,559 Speaker 1: Sure? 182 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 8: Under no circumstances did the United States intend to have 183 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 8: our military forces engage in the Gaza Fad. It was 184 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 8: rather to allow the Israelis to concentrate their forces in 185 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 8: the south. Was to help the Israelis by containing his 186 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 8: Bullah in Lebanon, Iran and Iranian militias in Syria. There 187 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 8: are several fronts Israel has to watch. I think that 188 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 8: is working, and to say that the carrier battle group 189 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 8: won't get involved because it will deter combat. Frankly, that's 190 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 8: one of the best uses of our military force is 191 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 8: not to fight. Yeah, stop fight happening. I think this 192 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 8: is going to work, but I've been wrong before. 193 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 3: Well, how about the diplomatic component here. This is where 194 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 3: your experience comes into play as well, mister ambassador. The 195 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 3: Secretary of State is on his way to Saudi Arabia. 196 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 3: This potential partnership, this new deal with Israel be salvaged. 197 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 8: It is frozen. It can be salvaged under several circumstances. 198 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 8: One is the humanitarian losses are not too great. A 199 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 8: lot of that depends on how much time Israel gives 200 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 8: the population to move south of the Wadi Gaza. It 201 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 8: is physically capable of doing it, it's ten miles and secondly, 202 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 8: whether Hamas allows them to do so. If most of 203 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 8: the population can get out of the way, you're still 204 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 8: going to have possibilian casualties, just as we have in 205 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 8: the fight against the Islamic State, but they will be 206 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 8: kept under control. The Saudis will appreciate that, other Arab 207 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 8: states will But importantly, if Hamas is destroyed, believe me, 208 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 8: the Saudis will be happy. These are the Saudi enemies. 209 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 8: The Gulf States will be happy as well. And if 210 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 8: the United States has shown that it stands by its patner, 211 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 8: be it Israel today is Saudi Arabia tomorrow. Believe me, 212 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 8: that is extremely valuable currency in the insecure and unstable 213 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 8: Middle East we have today. 214 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 3: This will not end up with a treaty being signed 215 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 3: on the deck of an aircraft carrier. As they say, 216 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 3: mister ambassador, how will we know that this is done 217 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 3: with regard to Hamas. 218 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 8: That is a difficult question always to answer, unless it 219 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 8: is something like the signing of a peace treaty or 220 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 8: the end of the Kuwait War in nineteen ninety one, 221 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 8: where they sat down on the table. We have not 222 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 8: formally ended our battle against the Islamic State in Iraq 223 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 8: and Syria. We still have troops in both countries, we 224 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 8: still do operations against them, but what we know is 225 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 8: that they no longer occupy territory, They no longer control 226 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 8: nine million people. They no longer can fiel thirty thousand troops. 227 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 8: They can't lawn terrible attacks to Paris, to Berlin, to 228 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 8: con to Brussels. That's the kind of victory on the 229 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 8: ground that you can sense. But even then, in these 230 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 8: launch day it's a good example. You have to be present, 231 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 8: you have to be weary, you have to keep on 232 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 8: hitting them even when they have been all broken up. 233 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 3: Sounds like this is going to be a long term 234 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 3: story and something we'd like to stay in touch with 235 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 3: you on Former Ambassador James Jeffries now at the Wilson Center. 236 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,119 Speaker 4: Thanks for the insights. This is Bloomberg. 237 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 1: You're listening to The Bloomberg Sound on podcast. Catch the 238 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: program live weekdays at one Eastern. 239 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 2: On Bloomberg Radio, the tune in app, Bloomberg dot Com, 240 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: and the Bloomberg Business App. 241 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: You can also listen live on Amazon Alexa from our 242 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: flagship New York station. Just say Alexa play Bloomberg eleven. 243 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 3: Thirty fascinating conversation on the situation in Israel with the 244 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 3: former Ambassador James Jeffries. 245 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 4: Thanks for joining us. I'm Joe Matthew in Washington. 246 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 3: You're on Bloomberg Sound On with the word from Israel 247 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 3: that it is time to evacuate. That includes the United 248 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 3: Nations now from northern Gaza, and we're seeing an exodus. 249 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 3: It's just a question of how many people can get 250 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 3: out before a ground invasion begins, and we're told that 251 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 3: could be anytime from tonight into tomorrow, but it should 252 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 3: be an important weekend in the trajectory of this conflict. 253 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 3: As we assemble our panel today, glad to say in 254 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 3: studio with me in Washington, d C is Mark Short, 255 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 3: the former Director of White House Legislative Affairs, former chief 256 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 3: of staff to Vice President Mike Pence. 257 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 4: It's great to see you, Mark, thanks for joining, Thanks 258 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 4: for having me on on set. 259 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 3: Here in New York, we have Bloomberg Politics contributor to 260 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 3: Democratic analyst Genie Shanzino. You made it to Friday, Jeanie. 261 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 3: It's great to see you and thanks for all the 262 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 3: insights this week. And we are far from being done here. 263 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 3: As we pick up the conversation from Ambassador Jeffries. We've 264 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 3: heard from Anthony Blincoln today, Mark, We've heard from Lloyd Austin. 265 00:15:55,920 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 3: Both asked directly in news conferences about protections for civilians 266 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 3: in Gaza City and the ability to get people out, 267 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 3: notch just hostages, but any civilians as they seek some 268 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 3: sort of humanitarian court or here. How concerned are you 269 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 3: about some very challenging optics in the next two days. 270 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 9: Yeah, Joe, I think it's going to be more than 271 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 9: the next two days. I think that this is probably 272 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 9: going to be a war that's prosecuted for a few weeks. 273 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 9: And I think that a question here domestically. I think 274 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 9: you can commend the Biden administration for the way they've 275 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 9: stood by our cherished ally, but as that prosecution continues 276 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 9: on for weeks and their voices within the squad, they've 277 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 9: become louder. How does the Democrats party stay united behind 278 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 9: Israel or not? But I think this is not gonna 279 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 9: be a matter of two days. I think it's a 280 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 9: matter of a couple of weeks. 281 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 3: Sure that won't make it any easier as we go, 282 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 3: I'm sure, so speak to me about that period of time. 283 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 3: I mean, we're talking about war fatigue in Ukraine almost 284 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 3: two years into that conflict. How much time and how 285 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 3: much understanding well, Benjaminette, yeah have here in the US 286 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 3: as he conducts this war. 287 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 9: Well, I think he's going to have a lot of support, frankly, 288 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 9: and I think he deserves that support. But I think 289 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 9: it's as it continues on and images come out of 290 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 9: the devastation that happens, will that support continue to be 291 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 9: with him? And I think there's also question is this 292 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 9: limited to the Gossa shrip. There's no doubt that Iran 293 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 9: has been funding Hamas and has been providing the resources 294 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 9: for Hamas's terror attack against Israel, And so will they 295 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 9: limit this there or will there be also attacks upon 296 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 9: Iranian assets? I think is a question that is unanswered at. 297 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 4: This point, Genie. 298 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 3: Ambassador Jeffries was quite sobering when he talked about this, 299 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 3: making it clear that protecting civilians is not the priority 300 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 3: here for Israel as it wages a war to eliminate Hamas. 301 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 4: How worried are you about what we're about to see? 302 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 10: Extremely worried? You know, there are just no good options here, 303 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 10: and you know the Ambassador made a really important point 304 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 10: that I you know, hope everyone reflects on, which is that, 305 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 10: you know, we really don't want Israel and the United 306 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 10: States to fall into any trap set by Iran, set 307 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 10: by Hamas, set by Hesbolah. And what do they want 308 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 10: to do. They want Israel to get into a quagmire 309 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 10: once again in the Gaza strip. And that is a 310 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 10: fear because we've seen this show already and we've seen 311 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 10: how it ends. And to your point, if they do 312 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 10: do that, of course, the number of casualties, the pictures 313 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 10: coming out, that is exactly what Hamas is banking on. 314 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 10: And you know, amongst everything else that happened in the 315 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 10: last week or so, one thing we should note is 316 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 10: that they had a very sophisticated social media campaign coming 317 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 10: out of Hamas from the time this terrorist attack started 318 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 10: and it continues today. That is not going to let up. 319 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 10: That is going to intensify. And so you know, when 320 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 10: your enemy wants something, don't give it to them. And 321 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 10: I think we have to hope there's a way, and 322 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 10: it's no easy way. Israel can figure out how to 323 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 10: ensure that they don't do what the enemy wants them 324 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 10: to do. And I think that's a concern for all 325 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 10: of us. As we watch this. 326 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 3: On fold, listen to Yova Galant who appeared earlier today. 327 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 3: This is the Israeli Defense Minister appeared in a news 328 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 3: conference with Lloyd Austin, our Secretary of Defense is in 329 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 3: Tel Aviv today when he was asked about the connection 330 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 3: between Iran and Hamas. The official word from the US 331 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 3: is there's no hard evidence to show that they helped 332 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 3: to plan or encourage this attack. Lloyd Austin reiterated that 333 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 3: today his counterpart in Israel sees it differently. 334 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 5: Listen, Iran, Chrisbala and Hamas is one oxis, an oxis 335 00:19:54,320 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 5: of evil. Everything is directed generally from Iran. The permission 336 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 5: is given by Iran, the money is supplied by Iran, 337 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 5: and the ideas are shaped in Iran. Therefore, it doesn't 338 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 5: matter if they give or didn't give a permission. 339 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 3: Marked The Administration is being heavily criticized for its posture 340 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 3: with Iran. We've had any number of Republican lawmakers. Just 341 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:33,479 Speaker 3: last evening, Bill Haggerty was really admonishing the administration. For instance, 342 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 3: the six billion dollars that was part of the prisoner 343 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 3: swap recently that has apparently been refrozen or wasn't something. 344 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 3: It's kind of hard to understand the actual status of 345 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,360 Speaker 3: what's happening in that bank account. But I wonder if 346 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 3: you see this White House as. 347 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 4: Needing to say more. 348 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 3: You've got the Secretary of Defense delivering a very different 349 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 3: message than the Israeli Defense minister on this. 350 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:53,959 Speaker 1: Well. 351 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 9: As I said, I think the administration has stood by 352 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 9: Israel after the attack. But having said that, I do 353 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 9: think that there was an appeasement effort that in bolden 354 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 9: Iran to fund Hamas and gave Hamas a sense that 355 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 9: they could they could take this attack at this time, 356 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 9: whether or not it's the six billion dollars in assets 357 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 9: they're one frozen, whether or not it's the constant begging 358 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 9: for Iran to come back to the table to sign 359 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 9: a new Iran nuclear deal, whether or not it's it's 360 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 9: turning the cheek when I Ran has been providing drones 361 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,360 Speaker 9: to Ukraine. This administration has continued to offer a sense 362 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 9: of appeasement, and when you look at the disastrous withdraw 363 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,719 Speaker 9: in Afghanistan, it definitely emboldens our enemies. 364 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 4: And I don't think saying down about. 365 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 3: That, Ginnie, I know you don't agree with that, but 366 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 3: what could this White House have done differently to not 367 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 3: help create the narrative that Mark is telling. 368 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 10: Yeah, you know, I do think there is a narrative 369 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 10: surrounding the six billion dollars, and we likely see the 370 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 10: Senate pursued that, as you talked about when they come 371 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 10: back to town next week. I don't know that we 372 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 10: should be as concerned right now about the narratives. I 373 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 10: do think when this goes forward and we have some 374 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 10: distance from it, there is going to be a lot of, 375 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 10: you know, second guessing what happened, and I think much 376 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 10: of that is going to fall on the government of 377 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 10: Benjamin and Yahoo, not necessarily the United States, and not 378 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 10: necessarily Joe Biden. So yes, we should think about the 379 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 10: six billion. I don't necessarily have a problem with refreezing that. 380 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 10: But this idea of a blame game seems to me 381 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 10: to be all about politics at this point. And you know, 382 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 10: Mark mentioned early on, you know what we're hearing, which 383 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 10: is that a concern about what the squad and those 384 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 10: people say. There's also a concern about what Donald Trump 385 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 10: is out there saying. He's out there calling Hesbelah smart, 386 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 10: He's out there attacking Benjamin net and Yahoo just hours 387 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 10: after a horrendous terrorist attack on his nation. So I 388 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 10: think the idea that we politicize any of this is 389 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 10: not for the moment. And so, yes, the White House 390 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 10: may need to rethink it's approach to Iran. Agree with that. 391 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 10: I'm not opposed to that, But I do think that 392 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,479 Speaker 10: the blame, if there is any blame to go along, 393 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 10: it's going to fall squarely obviously on Hummus. It's going 394 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 10: to fall on hes Blush did they get involved in 395 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 10: will fall in Iran for any of that. But Benjamin Etna, 396 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 10: whose government is going to have to think about what 397 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 10: they did to those reservists to divide the military over there, 398 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 10: That's where the blame is going to have to fall. 399 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 10: And the Israeli people, when it is time, they will 400 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 10: be able to go to the ballot box and hold 401 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 10: whoever they think is responsible in their own government responsible, 402 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 10: and Americans can do the same thing. 403 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 4: I won't give you a chance to respond to that. 404 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:35,959 Speaker 6: Well. 405 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 9: And look, I agree, I think that Donald Trump's comments 406 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 9: were inexplicable. It was inexplicable. I mean, it's like at 407 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 9: the time when our most cherished allies under attack, it's 408 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 9: the it's the worst time in the world to be 409 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 9: providing a cover for our enemies or criticizing Benjamin. 410 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 4: Speaking for himself or some wing. 411 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 9: I think it's I think it's really candidly. I think 412 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 9: it's more personal and selfish. That relates to the fact 413 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 9: that Mena who called Biden after the election. There, that's 414 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 9: what it is. 415 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 4: Okay, this is awfully predictable. 416 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 3: Sometimes great to have Mark Short with us here in 417 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 3: Washington and Genie Schanzano in New York. 418 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 4: I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. 419 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Sound on podcast. Catch us 420 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: live weekdays at one. 421 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 2: Eastern on Bloomberg dot com, the iHeartRadio app, and the 422 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Business app, or listen no on demand wherever you 423 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 2: get your podcasts. 424 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 3: It's back to square one in the race for Speaker, 425 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 3: as Steve Scalise withdraws his name from nomination, Jim Jordan 426 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 3: jumps back in, and the Republican race for the speaker 427 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 3: becomes a battle now between Jordan and an impeachment skeptic 428 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 3: who We're going to talk ahead with a member of 429 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 3: the conference who's been in meetings private meetings throughout the 430 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 3: day to day Congressman Ben Klein, the Republican from Virginia, 431 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 3: as we try to figure out the way forward here 432 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 3: ahead of this weekend that could also include a ground 433 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,719 Speaker 3: invasion in Gaza. The other story that we're following closely 434 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 3: here painting out of two buckets again today in Washington. 435 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 3: I'm Joe Matthew alongside Kaylee Lions, just back from Capitol Hill. 436 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 3: It's another busy day up there, Kayley, with only one 437 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 3: story to talk about, because we can't do anything until 438 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 3: we get a speaker. 439 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 11: Yeah, and we'll see if they can get any step closer. 440 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 11: They're back in conference after earlier today. Once again, that 441 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 11: rule that would have made changes, made it so that 442 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 11: two hundred and seventeen votes had to be secured before 443 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 11: anyone could be the speaker nominee didn't pass. That was 444 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 11: tabled again. So what we're looking for now is a majority, 445 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 11: and we'll see whether Jim Jordan or Austin Scott can 446 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 11: ultimately get it. But then, as we know, they're going 447 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 11: to face the same challenge Steve Scaliese did in trying 448 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 11: to secure the requisite. 449 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 3: Votes absolutely two seventeen and you know sometimes it's the 450 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 3: simple questions. As you asked Austin Scott, do you actually 451 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 3: want this? 452 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 4: Here's what he said. 453 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 8: I don't necessarily want to be the figure that I 454 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 8: want the House to punch him correctly. 455 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 10: The House not punching correctly. 456 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 3: Right now, let's bring in Congressman Ben Klein, the Republican 457 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 3: from Virginia six Congressional District, is back with us on 458 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 3: the phone here, having just emerged from that conference meeting 459 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 3: that we've been talking about. Congressman, are you publicly backing 460 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:11,640 Speaker 3: a candidate at this stage? 461 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 12: I am Joe and Kaylie good to talk to you. 462 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,360 Speaker 12: I'm supportive of Chairman Jordan. I'm on the Judiciary Committee 463 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 12: and he's been a great chairman, great leader, and he 464 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 12: would make a great speaker. 465 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 11: Okay, Congressman, do you think he's getting there with everybody else, 466 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 11: what's going on inside the room at the moment. Does 467 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 11: he seem like he's going to have the requisite support? 468 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 12: So we had a conference meeting this morning, where as 469 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 12: you said, we dealt with various rules amendments to decide 470 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 12: whether we were going to raise the threshold to move 471 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 12: to the floor to two hundred and seventeen or two 472 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 12: hundred and eighteen and those were withdrawn by general consensus. 473 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 12: There's general consensus that we need to try and operate 474 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 12: as a team. We need to focus on unifying as 475 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 12: a conference, working together, and so we're going to see 476 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 12: who comes out with the majority. My hope is that 477 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 12: it's Chairman Jordan, and then that we may have a 478 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 12: second vote just to see how much support he has 479 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 12: going to the floor, whether there are some outliers who 480 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 12: may want to protest because they don't like the way 481 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 12: in which vacancy was created, and that's unfortunate, but we 482 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 12: have to put the pass behind us. 483 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 6: We have to move forward. 484 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 12: We have to look at moving ahead with a conservative 485 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 12: agenda for the country, and that's why I'm hopeful that 486 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:30,400 Speaker 12: Jim Jordan will get the requisite number of votes. 487 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,360 Speaker 4: To move forward Congress. 488 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 3: But how important is it that this gets done this weekend. 489 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 3: We were talking with Mark Short a moment ago, and 490 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 3: he seemed to think the next two days are imperative 491 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 3: to set up an actual successful vote for next week. 492 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 4: Is that how you see it? 493 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 12: Well, I think as soon as we can get consensus, 494 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 12: we need to move to the floor. We don't need 495 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 12: to go home for the weekend. We don't need to 496 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 12: take a break. The members know how they feel about 497 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 12: Jim Jordan. He's been a member for many years and 498 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 12: that he's been a great leader. He has worked with 499 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 12: Speaker McCarthy, former Speaker McCarthy who is supporting Jim Jordan, 500 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 12: and Majority Leader Scalise, and so I think there is 501 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 12: general consensus that he would be the best candidates. Just 502 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 12: question of whether we can get to eighteen and when 503 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 12: we do, we need to move pretty quickly to the 504 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 12: floor because there are a lot of pressing issues that 505 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 12: we need to address well. 506 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 11: And on the idea of moving quickly to the floor, 507 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 11: I understand there's some attendance issues within the conference right now, 508 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,199 Speaker 11: a number of members who are missing, and a lot 509 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 11: of Democrats that aren't currently able to be in DC 510 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 11: at least eminently as well, should there be some patients. 511 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 12: Here, well, sure, we want to make it possible for 512 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 12: everybody to get back, but we caution members not to 513 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 12: go home. We caution that there can be votes at 514 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 12: any time, and if members decide that they need to 515 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 12: up and go home, it's on them to get back 516 00:28:57,520 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 12: soon enough to make the vote. We're not going to 517 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 12: sit around conference and wait for two hundred and seventeen 518 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 12: Republicans to show up. But at that same time, we 519 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 12: want there to be a general idea of who is 520 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 12: going to vote for our nominee and who isn't, And 521 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 12: simply avoiding the meetings and avoiding voting in the conference 522 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:24,239 Speaker 12: is not the appropriate way to move forward. We need 523 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 12: to all be here, We need to talk it out, 524 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 12: and we can't just sit in our office and pout. 525 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 3: Congressman, if you could bring us inside the room for 526 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 3: a moment. I know you're not supposed to tell us 527 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 3: a lot of what's said in there, and we do 528 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 3: appreciate the fact that you've given us some time on 529 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 3: the phone in the middle of this whole process. But 530 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 3: what's the tenor like we hear about the five families 531 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 3: and the Republican conference or people arguing, do you have 532 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 3: individuals speaking to the entire room or you're broken up 533 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 3: into groups? 534 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 4: How's this working? 535 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 12: Well, there's We're in the largest committee room in the House, 536 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 12: the Ways and Means Committee, and there's a table up 537 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 12: front with two members sitting there, mister Scott and mister Jordan, 538 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 12: and a conference chair elist Dephonic is moderating and the 539 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 12: members are standing before two mics, just in line, and 540 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 12: there's no Republican you know, mike for one side for 541 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 12: one caucus and one for another. It's just a Republican 542 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 12: conservative monitor, conservative moderate lining up and asking questions and 543 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 12: each member gets to answer. And we're asking about everything 544 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 12: from policy issues to you know, the way in which 545 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 12: the vacancy was created, how the members feel about that, 546 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 12: how members are needing to come together to unify, and 547 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 12: the divisions that have really riven the conference. And we 548 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 12: need to address those, and we need to be upfront 549 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 12: about it and not just dance around. And that's what 550 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 12: we're doing. We're confronting each other. All the phones have 551 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 12: been taken outside and putting cubbies, so no phones are 552 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 12: in there. We're being honest with each other and that's 553 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 12: a great way to handle our differences. 554 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 11: Yeah, and I'm sure you're going to hang up the 555 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 11: phone with us and put it right back in the cubby, Congressman. 556 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 12: Before you head back. Get there. 557 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 11: As they are answering these questions, are there promises being made? 558 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 12: Not to my knowledge, members have been asked as Steve 559 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 12: Scalise and Jim Jordan were asked if they had promised anything, 560 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 12: and both said no, And so Austin Scott I haven't 561 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 12: heard him get asked that question. But we prefer to 562 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 12: just go up or down based on who we think 563 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 12: the best leader will be for the conference and for 564 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 12: the nation. 565 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 3: We've been hearing from Liz Cheney, Congressman about Jim Jordan. 566 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 3: We just talked to Mark Short about this a moment 567 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 3: ago here in studio. She tweeted today that Jim Jordan 568 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 3: was involved in Trump's conspiracy to steal the election and 569 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 3: seize power. He urged that Pence refused to count lawful 570 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 3: electoral votes. If he becomes speaker, they will Republicans will 571 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 3: be abandoning the Constitution. 572 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 4: What do you say in response to that? 573 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 12: We're the defenders of the constitution. We are the only 574 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 12: branch or half of a branch of government that is 575 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 12: standing firm for the Constitution, and we need to get 576 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 12: a speaker elected so that the House can continue to 577 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 12: stand strong for the Constitution. I'm disappointed in that kind 578 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 12: of attack on a member of Congress. I've served with 579 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 12: Liz Cheney. She didn't win her re election, and that's 580 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 12: you know, she's able to have her point of view, 581 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 12: but that's not the view inside the conference, and that's 582 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 12: not the view really for the country. The country's elected 583 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 12: the Republican majority, and this Republican majority is going to 584 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:01,720 Speaker 12: represent the majority of Americans with Thomason Conservative policies moving forward. 585 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 3: So the allegations around Jim Jordan in January sixth were 586 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 3: not brought up in the Republican Conference meeting. 587 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:12,600 Speaker 12: Not to my knowledge. I've been in and out. I'm 588 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 12: out right now, but not. 589 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 10: To my knowledge. 590 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 11: Yeah, Congressman, can you just give us a sense of 591 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 11: while you're in the room there if there is a 592 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 11: feeling that this is going to be wrapped up quickly 593 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 11: or is there more discussion happening about potentially extending expanding 594 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:31,479 Speaker 11: the powers of Patrick McHenry and his pro tem position. 595 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 12: No, there are very few members who would support expanding 596 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 12: the powers of a temporary speaker. That the office of 597 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 12: temporary Speaker was only created after nine to eleven former 598 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 12: Speaker McCarthy was able to put a list of members 599 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 12: in an envelope that was not to be opened until 600 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 12: he vacated the office. And when he did, it was 601 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 12: Patrick McHenry at top. He's a very capable chairman of 602 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 12: the Banking Committee, and he is doing a great job. 603 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 12: But his only job is to move forward with electing 604 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 12: a new Speaker, and we're doing that right now. We 605 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 12: anticipate that after this exchange of views occurs, we're going 606 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 12: to have moved to a vote, and so hopefully we'll 607 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 12: have it result today. That's our goal. And knock on 608 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:17,319 Speaker 12: wood as I say that. 609 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:23,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, sure's the what's the feeling from some of those 610 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,840 Speaker 3: in the Freedom Caucus and outside of the Freedom Caucus 611 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:29,919 Speaker 3: who voted to als Kevin McCarthy. We heard Matt Gates 612 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 3: say the other day long lived Speaker Scalise, he told 613 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,560 Speaker 3: us he'd vote for either Scalise or Jordan. Is the 614 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 3: temperature coming down at all among that group? It's kind 615 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 3: of been like a game of Whack a mole Congressman. 616 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 4: Each day. It's a different list of names who are 617 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:44,600 Speaker 4: opposed to something. 618 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 12: It is tough when you have a very slim majority. 619 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:53,319 Speaker 12: You've got an outsized influenced by a limited number. And 620 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 12: what we have to make sure of is that all 621 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,280 Speaker 12: concerns are addressed and that everybody gets there. Say now, 622 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:04,360 Speaker 12: former Speaker McCarthy is being the leader that we know 623 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:08,279 Speaker 12: him to be. By standing up and saying we need 624 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 12: to get behind Jim Jordan, and that says a lot. 625 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:18,479 Speaker 12: Their relationship has not always been harmonious at times. They've 626 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 12: both been on the hill a long time, so for 627 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:24,760 Speaker 12: them to come together at this point in time shows 628 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,880 Speaker 12: the gravity of the moment and the needs to elect 629 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:29,760 Speaker 12: a leader who's going to move us ahead quickly. 630 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 11: Congressman, you just referenced there the fact that the Republican 631 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 11: Party is working with a very slim majority here, and 632 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 11: there has been growing murmurs in the last twenty four 633 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 11: hours about because of that, and because of what right 634 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 11: now seems like an inability of the conference to coalesce 635 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 11: around one candidate with two hundred and seventeen votes, that 636 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:51,360 Speaker 11: maybe there is work to be done with Democrats here. 637 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 12: What do you say to that, Well, I said, that's 638 00:35:55,880 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 12: very unlikely. I mean, Republicans recognize that we lead best 639 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 12: when we lead with Republicans, and so we hope to 640 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 12: have a Republican speaker. We don't think that the agenda 641 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 12: of the previous speaker before Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Pelosi, is 642 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:13,799 Speaker 12: the one we need to return to. 643 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 5: It. 644 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 12: Jacked up inflation rates, the excess spending has done a 645 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:22,680 Speaker 12: number on the budgets of hardworking families when it comes 646 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 12: to the pump or at the grocery store, and we 647 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 12: don't want to go back to that. We also want 648 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 12: to stand up to this administration. This administration has been 649 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 12: flouting the Constitution and we need to hold them accountable. 650 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 6: And so. 651 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 12: Majority Republican House is going to be able to continue 652 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 12: to do that. 653 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 3: Corverson, You've been very generous with your time here, and 654 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 3: we really do appreciate it. Has there been an effort 655 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 3: inside the conference meeting to try to get ahead of 656 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:50,120 Speaker 3: that and send a message maybe to some moderate Republicans 657 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 3: from a state like New York who might be considering 658 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:54,600 Speaker 3: voting for a Hakeim jeffreyes. 659 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:58,800 Speaker 12: Well, I haven't spoken to a single New York Republican 660 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:02,800 Speaker 12: who's interested in voting for Rarekiing Jeffries most. In fact, 661 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 12: some of the New York Republicans I've talked to have 662 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,759 Speaker 12: worked with Hakim Jeffries in the New York Assembly and 663 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:11,919 Speaker 12: know him to be a partisan who does not reach 664 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:14,759 Speaker 12: across the aisle, and that his rhetoric right now is 665 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 12: really little more than an effort to interfere, and so 666 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:22,240 Speaker 12: chaos in the House majority. So we're going to continue 667 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 12: to work to elect a Republican majority. We're not going 668 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 12: to fall take debate that Hakim Jeffries is trying to 669 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:34,319 Speaker 12: lure members in with his talk of bipartisanship for the 670 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 12: first time that I've heard, and will continue to lead 671 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 12: as a Republican majority that elected Republican speaker, and hopefully 672 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:43,200 Speaker 12: that'll happen later today. 673 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 11: Well, Congressman, your former Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy did work 674 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 11: with Hakim Jeffries on some bipartisan initiatives, including the cr 675 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 11: that ultimately led to his ouster the debt limit deal 676 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:57,479 Speaker 11: from earlier this year as well. Would you not want 677 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 11: a future Speaker Jordan or whomever to work work with 678 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:01,439 Speaker 11: Democrats in the same way. 679 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:06,239 Speaker 12: Well, we absolutely do, but we won't betray our principles 680 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 12: on the altar of bipartisanship. What we have to do 681 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:12,720 Speaker 12: is continue to lead in a conservative way. The American 682 00:38:12,719 --> 00:38:17,040 Speaker 12: people think that the federal government is too big, too bloated, 683 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:19,200 Speaker 12: and does too much interferes in our lives and in 684 00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:22,279 Speaker 12: our freedoms and our liberties too much, and so they're 685 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 12: looking for a House that's going to take the lead 686 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,960 Speaker 12: in rolling back some of the successes spending, getting a 687 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,879 Speaker 12: woken weaponized government out of the budget, and we need 688 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:33,320 Speaker 12: to finish. We're only halfway through our appropriations bills in 689 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,759 Speaker 12: the House. I'm on the Appropriations Committee. We're desperate to 690 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:39,200 Speaker 12: get back to work. The Senate hasn't passed a single 691 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 12: appropriations bill. They're going to try and jam us later 692 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 12: this year with omnibus, and we just can't allow that 693 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 12: to happen. So we need to get back to work. 694 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:47,680 Speaker 12: The election of a speaker later today will help to 695 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:48,360 Speaker 12: make that happen. 696 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 4: Well. 697 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 3: Congressman, if there's an alter of bipartisanship, I want you 698 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:54,879 Speaker 3: to tell me where that is, because I'm going there. 699 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 4: Just to pick up on what you just said. Though 700 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 4: you expect to vote today. 701 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:06,320 Speaker 12: Yes, we will have a vote today. They're concluding the 702 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:10,760 Speaker 12: interviews right now of the candidates, and once that happens, 703 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:14,080 Speaker 12: we anticipate there to be a nomination in a vote, 704 00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:16,320 Speaker 12: and we'll just see how the vote goes, and hopefully 705 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 12: we'll have near to eighteen. I don't know that we're 706 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:28,280 Speaker 12: going to demand complete unanimity to go to the floor, 707 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,760 Speaker 12: but if we're close, then you may see an effort 708 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:33,760 Speaker 12: to move to the floor expeditiously. 709 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:38,359 Speaker 11: Do you think, unlike Steve Scalice, Congressman, that Jim Jordan 710 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,600 Speaker 11: would be willing to put this on the floor immediately 711 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 11: or is he going to try to whit more votes first? 712 00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:47,280 Speaker 12: Well, I think you want to make sure that everybody's united, 713 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:51,359 Speaker 12: and so if there are holdout then there will be 714 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 12: no doubt there are still people who are frustrated with 715 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:56,719 Speaker 12: the way that the office was vacated and that the 716 00:39:56,719 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 12: way that it's gone over the past two weeks. But 717 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,320 Speaker 12: I do think that those can be resolved. Those differences 718 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:05,839 Speaker 12: can be resolved, and I think given time, Jim Jordan 719 00:40:05,880 --> 00:40:08,759 Speaker 12: can work it out. Is it going to be three votes, 720 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:11,400 Speaker 12: four votes or the thirty votes that he's going to 721 00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 12: have to move to unify and that's going to dictate 722 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,360 Speaker 12: how much time we're going to need to move to 723 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:18,840 Speaker 12: the floor. 724 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,320 Speaker 3: Wow, Congressman, thank you for stopping down for us. I 725 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:25,759 Speaker 3: hope we didn't get you in trouble with anyone on 726 00:40:25,840 --> 00:40:28,719 Speaker 3: the staff here to take Congressman Benklin, the Republican from 727 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:32,040 Speaker 3: Virginia ducking out of the Republican Conference meeting in the House. 728 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:38,200 Speaker 4: We'd love to stay in touch with you, sir. Thanks 729 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:39,840 Speaker 4: for listening to the Sound On podcast. 730 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:43,520 Speaker 3: Make sure to subscribe if you haven't already, at Apple, Spotify. 731 00:40:43,080 --> 00:40:44,759 Speaker 4: And anywhere else you get your podcasts. 732 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:47,760 Speaker 3: And you can find us live every weekday from Washington, 733 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 3: DC at one pm Eastern Time at Bloomberg dot com