>> FROM THE WORLD OF POLITICS
TO THE WORLD OF BUSINESS, THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER." >> LIVE FROM WASHINGTON DC. JOE:
FROM BLOOMBERG'S WASHINGTON DC STUDIOS TO OUR TV AND RADIO
AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE, WELCOME TO "BALANCE OF POWER.
ALONGSIDE KAILEY LEINZ, I AM JOE MATHIEU. KAILEY:
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS PROMISED A MAJOR GROUND EFFORT WOULD BE
A MISTAKE. WE WILL DISCUSS WITH AARON
DAVID MILLER JOE: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FLOATS
100% TARIFFS ON CARS FROM CHINA, BUT IS THE WORD
BLOODBATH IN HIS REMARKS I
N OHIO OVER THE WEEKEND THAT GOT
EVERYONE TALKING AHEAD OF PRIMARIES IN THAT STATE AND
OTHERS. POLLSTER FRANKLIN'S JOINS US. KAILEY:
WE ARE FOUR DAYS OUT FROM THE DEADLINE TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN, WITH BORDER FUNDING RAISING THE RISK THAT THE CLOCK
RUNS OUT. AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE IN
WASHINGTON, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE
LAST POSSIBLE SECOND, MIDNIGHT FRIDAY, THE DEADLINE.
IT MAY TAKE THAT LONG OR LONGER TO GET FUNDING. JOE:
THAT'S TRUE. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY FRIDAY WE
D
O THIS, BUT IT COULD BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME BASED ON
THE CALENDAR. THEY HAVE PUSHED IT TO SUCH A
LATE HOUR THAT WHILE WE AWAIT TEXT FOR A BILL THAT COULD FUND
THE GOVERNMENT, THERE MAY NOT BE TIME FOR LAWMAKERS TO HAVE A
CHANCE TO READ THIS AND PASS IT. WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT A
SHUTDOWN OR A SHORT-TERM CR. KAILEY:
WE WILL LEARN MORE OVER THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK, JUST AS
WE MAY LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW EXACTLY THE U.S.
AND ISRAEL ARE COMMUNICATING AS IT COMES TO GAZA, AND RAFAH
SPECIFICALLY. JO
E: THAT OPPORTUNITY UNLOCKED IN A
PHONE CALL TODAY WITH JOE BIDEN AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.
IT WAS THEIR FIRST IN ABOUT A MONTH. >> I WOULD SAY IT IS VERY
BUSINESSLIKE. EACH OF THEM RECOGNIZE THAT WE
ARE AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN THIS CONFLICT.
THEY SHARE A COMMON OBJECTIVE FOR ISRAEL TO PREVAIL OVER
HAMAS, AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS
OPERATION AND WENT INTO SOME DETAIL ON THAT AND HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE VIEWS IN
THE WAY THEY ALWAYS DO. KAILEY: JO
INING US FOR NOW ARE NANCY
COOK AND MICHAEL SHEPPARD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO
START THIS WEEK OFF, AS WE THINK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW
THE WEEK STARTED IN GEOPOLITICS WITH THIS PHONE CALL BETWEEN
BIDEN AND NETANYAHU, FOLLOWING SOME REMARKS THAT NETANYAHU WAS
RESPONDING TO FROM THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER
LAST WEEK, CALLING FOR ELECTIONS IN ISRAEL.
OVER THE WEEKEND, NETANYAHU CALLED THAT INAPPROPRIATE.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT NOT ONLY THEY TALKED FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A MONTH BUT
THEY WANT THERIR STAFF TO TALK MORE?
DOES THAT INDICATE THERE IS MORE TROUBLE IN THE
RELATIONSHIP? MICHAEL: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, AND I
THINK WE WILL FIND OUT MORE THIS WEEK ABOUT HOW FUNCTIONAL
THIS RELATIONSHIP IS. THE KEY THING CHUCK SCHUMER
SAID LAST WEEK MAY NOT HAVE ONLY BEEN THE CALL FOR
ELECTIONS, BUT HE SAID THAT ISRAEL HAD LOST ITS WAY UNDER
NETANYAHU, AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE SIGNAL TO NETANYAHU'S
GOVERNMENT THAT, WAIT A MINUTE, MAYBE WE ARE NOT CONNECTING
ANYMORE WITH WASHINGT
ON IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT. THE U.S.
CONCURS STILL WITH ISRAEL'S DESIRE TO TARGET HAMAS, WHICH
HAS BEEN LABELED A TERRORIST GROUP BY THE UNITED STATES AND
BY THE EUROPEAN UNION , BUT IT HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER IT'S RAIL AND SPECIFICALLY
NETANYAHU'S GOVERNMENT HAS A PLAN.
WHAT IS THEIR EXIT STRATEGY? SPECIFICALLY, THIS FULL-SCALE
INVASION OF RAFAH THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
THE HUMANITARIAN COSTS COULD BE INCREDIBLY HIGH. JOE:
NETANYAHU TALKED ABOUT THAT SPEECH FROM CHUCK
SCHUMER ON
SUNDAY MORNING. HERE IS HIS REACTION TO WHAT
CHUCK SCHUMER SAID. >> WHAT HE SAID IS TOTALLY
INAPPROPRIATE. IT IS AN APPROPRIATE TO GO TO A
SISTER DEMOCRACY AND TRY TO REPLACE THE ELECTED LEADERSHIP.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ISRAEL DOES ON ITS OWN.
WE ARE NOT A BANANA REPUBLIC. THE MAJORITY SUPPORT THE
POLICIES OF MY GOVERNMENT. IF SENATOR SCHUMER OPPOSES
THESE POLICIES, HE IS NOT OPPOSING ME, HE IS OPPOSING THE
PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. JOE: HE SAYS IT IS INAPPROPRIATE.
IT IS CERTAINLY UNUSUAL
FOR THE SENATE LEADER TO LEAK A CALL
LIKE THAT OPENLY. IT WAS NOT ENDORSED BY JOE
BIDEN BUT I BELIEVE YOU REFERRED TO IT AS A GOOD SPEECH.
HOW RARE IS THIS. MICHAEL: IT IS EXTREMELY RARE AND YOU
HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT CHUCK SCHUMER HAS BEEN A
LONG-STANDING ALLY OF ISRAEL. HE IS THE HIGHEST RANKING
JEWISH ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND HE GAVE THIS SPEECH FROM THE SENATE FLOOR.
HE DID NOT JUST PUT A STATEMENT OUT ON X OR PUT A STATEMENT
FROM HIS OFFICE. IT WAS A REAL MOMENT AND HE WAS
TRYING TO SEND A SIGNAL. PART OF THE SIGNAL HE IS
SENDING IS ONE COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC BASE, WHICH IS
GROWING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED OVER THE HUMANITARIAN TOLL WE
TALKED ABOUT. THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE MILLION
DISPLACED PEOPLE IN RAW FILE. THE U.N. TODAY IS WARNING OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF FAMINE ACROSS GAZA.
CHUCK SCHUMER IS SEEING THIS AND HEARING FROM MANY
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS THAT SOMETHING HAS TO STOP. KAILEY:
I AM SURE THE SAME GOES FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AS HE CONSIDERS
HIS OWN REELECTION
EFFORT. THERE IS ALSO THE CONSIDERATION
OF THE MAN HE IS GOING TO BE UP AGAINST, WHO HAS SECURED THE
NUMBER OF DELEGATES NEEDED TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, AND
THAT IS DONALD TRUMP. THERE WAS A LOT OF BUZZ OVER
THE WEEKEND ABOUT REMARKS HE MADE IN OHIO TALKING ABOUT A
BLOODBATH IF YOU WERE NOT TO WIN REELECTION, TALKING
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT BEING TRUE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.
AND TOUTING THIS IDEA OF 100% TARIFFS ON ALL CARS COMING FROM
CHINA. A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT CAUGHT UP ON THE THE WORDS. NA
NCY: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
WATCHED THE OHIO RALLY TOOK THE BLOODBATH TO MEAN THERE COULD
BE POTENTIAL POLITICAL VIOLENCE. HIS CAMPAIGN HAS HAD TO SPEND
THE LAST TWO DAYS CLEANING UP THAT REMARK AND TRYING TO
CLARIFY IT AND SAY HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HALLOWEEN OF
THE AUTO INDUSTRY. IT WASN'T ENTIRELY CLEAR TO ME
WHAT HE MEANT. I KNOW IT WAS VERY WINDY THAT
DAY AND THE TELEPROMPTER WASN'T WORKING, AND I THINK THAT MADE
SOME CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS THAT I SPOKE TO OVER THE WEEKEND
NERVOUS, BECAU
SE TRUMP AT THAT POINT IS RIFFING AND GOING OFF
SCRIPT. BUT I THINK WHAT WE SAW TODAY,
THE CLEAN UP AND THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE
BLOODBATH, IT IS A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE WILL SEE IN 2024 AS
DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TRY TO SEIZE ON EVERY SINGLE THING
TRUMP SAYS TO PAINT HIM AS AN EXTREMIST, DANGER TO THE
COUNTRY. WE SAW THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN PUT
OUT AN AD TODAY MAKING THAT CASE. JOE:
WE HEARD FROM DONALD TRUMP TODAY, HIS LEGAL TEAM, THAT HE
WILL LIKELY NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO POST BOND IN THIS NEW Y
ORK
CIVIL TRIAL HE IS DEALING WITH, THE FRAUD TRIAL. SIGNIFICANT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS
PROMOTED THEMSELVES AS A BILLIONAIRE, BUT WE KNOW THIS
IS A CAMPAIGN THAT IS BLEEDING CASH.
HOW BAD IS THE SITUATION FOR HIM AS HE LOOKS AT WHAT WILL BE
THE LONGEST GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN MODERN HISTORY?
NANCY: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE WILL SEE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY
RAISED WHEN THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION, THE
DEADLINE TO GET THOSE NUMBERS IS MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY, SO WE
WILL HAVE A REAL SENSE. I WILL T
ELL YOU COVERING THE
CAMPAIGN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE HUNT FOR MONEY FOR THE PAST
FEW WEEKS, EVER SINCE HE CLINCHED THE NOMINATION.
HE HAS BEEN HOSTING DINNERS AT MAR-A-LAGO FOR PEOPLE. THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING TONS OF
CALLS, REACHING OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
NOW IS WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO MERGE THE CAMPAIGN AND THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO ON THE HUNT
FOR BIG DOLLARS. KAILEY: WE KNOW FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAS HAD A LOT TO SAY, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
CONGRESSIONAL A
ND EXECUTIVE BRANCH EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE
BORDER. ONCE AGAIN, WE SEEM TO FIND
OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE THE BORDER IS THE ISSUE,
SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT BEYOND
MIDNIGHT FRIDAY, OR AT LEAST 75%, BECAUSE THERE ARE SIX
BILLS NECESSARY, AND ONE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
BILL, SEEMS TO BE WHAT WE ARE ALL HUNG UP ON. MICHAEL:
IT IS HOLDING UP EVERYTHING ELSE AS USUAL.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES OVER THE BORDER REMAINS
GREAT. AT HAND, DEMOCRATS
ARE
CONCERNED THAT REPUBLICANS ARE DEMANDING SOMETHING TOO EXTREME.
REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE SEEING THE FUNDING FOR
BORDER SECURITY IN THIS LEGISLATION AT HAND.
IT COULD ENCOURAGE MORE MIGRANTS TO COME BY OFFERING
MORE DETENTION FACILITIES AND SERVICES, INCLUDING MIGRANT
CARE. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO SEE THE
TEXT OF THE BILL ON SUNDAY. WE WERE HOPING TO SEE IT TODAY.
IT WILL NOT BE TODAY. TOMORROW IS TUESDAY.
THE HOUSES BACK. WE HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY, AS YOU
SAID IN THE OPENER. SO, THEY ARE CUT
TING IT CLOSE. IT MAY COME DOWN TO AN
EXTENSION OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING WHERE WE COULD SEE A SHUT DOWN
IF THEY CANNOT GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER. JOE:
STAND ON THE EDGE LONG ENOUGH YOU MIGHT FALL OFF AT SOME
POINT. WE WILL FIND OUT TOGETHER HERE
ON BLOOMBERG. OUR THANKS TO NANCY COOK AND
MICHAEL SHEPPARD FOR GETTING US STARTED ON "BALANCE OF POWER."
COMING UP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP RESPONDING TO CRITICISM
ON HIS USE OF THAT WORD, BLOODBATH, IN OHIO OVER THE
WEEKEND. FRANK LUNTZ WILL JOIN US COMING
UP
NEXT ON "BALANCE OF POWER" ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO. JOE:
-- >> IF >> YOU'RE LISTENING, PRESIDENT XI, WE ARE GOING TO
PUT A 100% TARIFF ON EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT COMES ACROSS
THE LINE, AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SELL THOSE CARS.
YOU MIGHT GET ELECTED. IF I DON'T GET ELECTED, IT WILL
BE A BLOODBATH. THAT WILL BE THE LEAST OF IT.
IT WILL BE A BLOODBATH FOR THE COUNTRY.
THAT WILL BE THE LEAST OF IT. JOE: THERE YOU HAVE IT.
DONALD TRUMP TALKING TO SUPPORTERS IN OHIO SATURDAY,
COMMENTS THAT
ROCKETED ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, AS HE
USED THE WORD "BLOODBATH." FORMER PRESIDENT RESPONDING
TODAY TO CRITICISM ON TRUE SOCIAL AND WRITES "THE FAKE
NEWS MADE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THE WORD BLOODBATH, KNOWING IT WAS
ABOUT OUR SHRINKING AUTO MANUFACTURING BUSINESS AND THE
FACT THAT THEY USE THE SAME NAME ALL OF THE TIME.
THEY ARE SO BAD! " WE ARE JOINED TO CONSIDER THE
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS AND THE WAY THE MEDIA HAS HANDLED THIS
BY FRANK LUNTZ. IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
WE HAVE HAD A BIG TALK
THE LAST 24 HOURS ABOUT CONTEXT AND HOW
DARE PEOPLE LIKE US BRING THIS UP KNOWING THIS WAS ABOUT THE
AUTO SECTOR, BUT I GUESS I WOULD ASK YOU IF THAT IS TRUE?
IN WHAT WORLD IS THERE ANY APPROPRIATE CONTEXT TO BE
TALKING ABOUT A BLOODBATH IN THE WAKE OF JANUARY 6? FRANK:
IT IS A GREAT QUESTION, A GREAT SUBJECT, A GREAT DEBATE, AND
HOW PATHETIC IT IS THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS RIGHT NOW.
IT IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY THAT MATTERS, IT IS WHAT PEOPLE HERE.
THE FACT IS THERE ARE MILLIONS OF VOTERS AC
ROSS THE COUNTRY
WHO HEARD THE WORD AND THOUGHT, WHAT EXACTLY DOES HE MEAN? I TRUST HIM AT HIS WORD ABOUT
THE AUTO INDUSTRY, BUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED TELLS
YOU THE SITUATION WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, BOTH THAT HE USES
LANGUAGE THAT IS OVER CAFFEINATED AND CAN BE
MISINTERPRETED, AND THAT WE ARE ALSO EXTREMELY SENSITIVE RIGHT
NOW TO EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE UTTER, AND AT A TIME LIKE THIS,
IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE
LANGUAGE WE USE. EVEN IN THIS INTERVIEW, I
AM
SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE SLOWLY BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO
MEASURE MY WORDS TO MAKE SURE I ARTICULATE THIS AS I MEAN.
IT HAS NOT BEEN A TRAIT OF DONALD TRUMP, NOT ONLY OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS, BUT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
I DO THINK HE WAS MISINTERPRETED, BUT THE FACT
THAT HE ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE IN THAT SITUATION IS SOMETHING HE
SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO, AND WE ALL KNOW HE DOESN'T. KAILEY: YOU SAY SHE IS MISINTERPRETED,
AND IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE PERSON RECEIVING HIS COMMENTS
RECEIVES IT, BUT
ISN'T IT TRUE THAT A LARGE PORTION OF AMERICA
HAS ALREADY DECIDED WHAT WAY THEY FEEL ABOUT THE FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND THEREFORE HOW
THEY ARE LIKELY TO INTERPRET HIS WORDS?
IS THIS MORE LIKELY THAT THE MEDIA IS TRYING TO SPIN HIS
COMMENTS INTO SOMETHING HE DIDN'T INTEND?
ON THE OTHER SIGNED, I -- ON THE OTHERS, A SIGN HE IS A
DANGER TO DEMOCRACY. TRYING TO DECIPHER IT AND MAKE
UP AN OPINION. FRANK: IT IS VERY SMALL.
HE REPRESENTS PERHAPS 5% OF THE POPULATION.
EVEN WHEN PEOPL
E SAY THEY ARE UNDECIDED, IT IS NOT TRUE.
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU GIVE ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, YOU CAN VOTE
FOR BOBBY KENNEDY, FOR A NEW NO LABELS CANDIDATE, A DIFFERENT
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE, OR SOME OF THESE SMALLER PARTIES, EVEN
WHEN YOU DO THAT, THE PERCENTAGE OF UNDECIDED IS 5%.
THE TRUTH IS, IT MAY EVEN BE SMALLER BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT
HAVE DECIDED WHO THEY WILL VOTE FOR BUT THEY HAVE DEFINITELY
DECIDED WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST. LET'S SAY THAT IS
4%. THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT STATES IN
PL
AY RIGHT NOW, SO IT IS 4% OF THE VOTE TIMES THE EIGHT
STATES, AND THAT REPRESENTS LITERALLY 1% OF AMERICA WHO IS
GOING TO DETERMINE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN IT IS THAT SMALL A GROUP, SURELY YOU SHOULD BE MORE
CAREFUL WITH YOUR LANGUAGE. SURELY YOU SHOULD SAY THINGS
THAT ARE NOT MEANT TO INFLAME. THEY CAN STILL AGITATE, THEY
CAN STILL BE DIRECT AND HONEST AND CRYSTAL-CLEAR, BUT TO USE A
WORD LIKE BLOODBATH, IT IS NOT NECESSARY, AND YET THIS IS PART
OF HIS CAMPAIGN, AND IT IS
WHAT THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOTE
FOR HIM BECAUSE THEY AGREE WITH HIS POLICIES, IT IS WHAT IS
GIVING THEM HESITATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH HIS
PERSONA. AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT.
THERE IS A SEGMENT OF AMERICA THAT WOULD LOVE TO VOTE FOR
DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE THEY THINK HE WAS A BETTER PRESIDENT THAN
JOE BIDEN, BUT THEY WON'T VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID
OR INSULTED BY HOW HE CARRIES HIMSELF. JOE:
WE SAW A FASCINATING NUMBER IN AN EMERSON POLL, LOOKING AT
OHIO. 8% OF TRUMP VOTER
S THERE SAID
THEY WOULD ACTUALLY VOTE FOR SHERROD BROWN, THE DEMOCRAT.
AND MAYBE THERE IS SOME PERSONAL FEELING ABOUT IT.
WE TALKED AS WELL ABOUT COATTAILS AND SOMETHING WE
MIGHT CONSIDER REVERSE COATTAILS IN THIS CASE. PASSION IS WORKING ALMOST IN AN
UPSIDE DOWN FASHION ON THE BALLOT. >> WHAT IS INTERESTING IS WHILE
BITE -- WHILE BIDEN MIGHT LACK ENTHUSIASM AT THE TOP OF THE
TICKET, THESE OTHER CANDIDATES LIKE SHERROD BROWN HAS MORE
ENTHUSIASM. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THESE DOWN
BALLOTS MAY BE ABLE
TO CARRY BIDEN OVER THE FINISH LINE IN
SOME OF THESE STATES. JOE: IS THAT A PHENOMENON YOU ARE
SEEING? FRANK: YES, BUT IT PLAYS DIFFERENTLY
IN EACH STATE. A STATE LIKE MONTANA, WEST
VIRGINIA, TRUMP'S OVERWHELMING POPULARITY IS GOING TO HELP THE
CANDIDATES BENEATH HIM, AND THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT SENATE
RACES. SO OFTEN PEOPLE FORGET THAT WHO
CONTROLS THE SENATE DETERMINES WHO CONTROLS THE HIRING, THE
APPROVAL PROCESS, THE VETTING PROCESS FOR SUPREME COURT, FOR
THE ADMINISTRATION. IN SOME STATES,
THAT BENEFITS
THE REPUBLICANS. IN OTHER STATES WHERE TRUMP IS
NOT AS POPULAR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO RUN
AHEAD OF HIM AND MAYBE RUNNING SEPARATE FROM HIM.
BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE INTENSITY, AS
YOU CORRECTLY NOTE, IS SO STRONG ON BOTH SIDES THAT THERE
WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDECIDED, AND A SIMPLE MISUSE
OF A WORD OR PHRASE COULD DETERMINE THE ELECTION OUTCOME.
KAILEY: JUST QUICKLY, WE ONLY HAVE A
MINUTE LEFT, BUT IN OHIO IN PARTICULAR AS WE ARE T
ALKING
ABOUT A VULNERABLE INCUMBENT IN SHERROD BROWN, DEPENDING ON WHO
WINS THE PRIMARY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, HOW DOES THAT
CHANGE HIS ODDS? WHO COULD HE STRUGGLE MOST TO
BEAT? FRANK: I HEARD THE ARGUMENT HE WANTS
TO RUN AGAINST A TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATE, YET I SEE HIM -- HE
IS A GOOD CAMPAIGNER. HE HAS A GOOD GIVE-AND-TAKE
WITH VOTERS. YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH TRUMP'S
ENDORSEMENT, BUT AS A CANDIDATE, AS SOMEONE WHO IS
GOING TO BE HEARD, THE PEOPLE OF OHIO CAN CONNECT WITH
SOMEBODY WHO WORKS HAR
D, PLAYS BY THE RULES, HE IS A
BUSINESSMAN. WHILE HE MAY BE FOCUSED ON
TRUMP AND HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR BRENDA MARINO, I THINK HE IS
THE BEST OF THE THREE CANDIDATES, AND HE IS THE ONE
SHERROD BROWN SHOULD BE MOST AFRAID OF. KAILEY:
ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
COMING UP, THE SUPREME COURT HEARING ARGUMENTS TODAY IN A
KEY FIRST AMENDMENT CASE RELEASED TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
THIS IS BALANCE OF POWER ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO.
[LAUGHTER] KAILEY:
THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER"
ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO.
THE SUPREME COURT TODAY HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS IN A FIRST
AMENDMENT CASE EXPERTS SAY COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE
2024 ELECTION. IT IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT FOCUSES ON THE
GOVERNMENT'S COMMUNICATIONS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AND
WHETHER THE ALLEGED CONDUCT WENT TOO FAR IN TRYING TO
COUNTER DISINFORMATION. KUNLE: THE NAME MURTHY IN THIS CASE IS
THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL. HE IS ONE OF NUMEROUS OFFICIALS
BEING SUED OVER ALLEGATIONS THEY CROSS
ED THE LINE WHEN IT
CAME TO TRYING TO TAMP DOWN AND COMBAT MISINFORMATION ONLINE. A GROUP OF SOCIAL MEDIA USERS,
ALONG WITH TWO REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL FROM
LOUISIANA AND MISSOURI, ALLEGED THAT KEY FIGURES WITHIN THE
ADMINISTER RATION LIKE THE CDC COERCED BIG TECH COMPANIES LIKE
META FACEBOOK AND X TO TAKE DUMB POSTS IT DISAGREED WITH.
WHILE THE CONTENT IN QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC,
SUCH AS THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19, AND THE EFFICACY
AROUND VACCINES, IT ALSO EXTENDED BEYOND THAT.
F
OR EXAMPLE, POSTS RELATED TO THE VALIDITY OF THE 2020
ELECTION RESULTS. THE QUESTION IS, HOW FAR CAN
THE GOVERNMENT GO TO ENCOURAGE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AND
THEIR CONTENT MODERATING DECISIONS, AND WHETHER OR NOT
THAT CAN VEER INTO CENSORSHIP? I SPOKE TO ONE EXPERT WHO SAID
THERE IS A FINE LINE WHEN IT COMES TO PERSUASION VERSUS
COERCION. TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT HE TOLD
ME. >> WHAT THE COURT HAS TO DO IN
THIS CASE IS DRAW A LINE THAT POLICES THE GOVERNMENT AND
MAKES SURE THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT COE
RCING OR TRYING TO
CENSOR CONTENT WITH WHICH IT DISAGREES.
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FACTS
OR INFORMATION THAT ALLOW PLATFORMS TO MAKE BETTER
MODERATION DECISIONS. TYLER: THE GOVERNMENT IS APPEALING THE
LAST RULING. THAT WAS FROM THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH FOUND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ASKED
FOR A SPECIFIC POST TO BE REMOVED, AND PRESSED THE
COMPANIES TO CHANGE THEIR CONTENT MODERATION POLICIES.
THE COURT FELT OFFICIALS THREATENED LEGAL ACTIONS IF
THERE WAS NOT COMPLIANCE. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS
ENTITLED TO SHARE INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS IN THE
PUBLIC'S SAFETY INTERESTS. THEY ALSO SAY THERE WAS NO
COERCION. I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LISTEN TO
ONE OF THE KEY CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES TODAY, SIGNALING THAT
HE IS RELUCTANT TO IMPOSE ANY RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMUNICATIONS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.
TAKE A LISTEN. >> MY EXPERIENCE IS THE UNITED
STATES IN ALL ITS MANIFESTATIONS HAS REGULAR
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
THE MEDIA TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THEY DON'T
LIKE OR DON'T WANT TO SEE OR COMPLAINING ABOUT FACTUAL
INACCURACIES. TYLER: WE ARE NOT EXPECTING A
DECISION, BUT THAT TAKES US CLOSER TO NOVEMBER AND THE
GENERAL ELECTION. JOE: BLOOMBERG'S TYLER KENDALL, WE
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO US. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT
HAPPENS IN THIS CASE. COMING UP, WE ARE JOINED BY
AARON DAVID MILLER, THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR PEACE
FELLOW. WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION
WITH THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ISRAEL.
THIS IS "BALAN
CE OF POWER" ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO. ♪ >> THE TWO LEADERS DISCUSSED
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN ISRAEL AND GAZA, AND THEY SPOKE
ABOUT THE STATE OF ISRAEL'S MILITARY OPERATIONS.
THE PRESIDENT EMPHASIZED HIS COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THE
LONG-TERM SECURITY OF ISRAEL, AND THE PRESIDENT HAS
REPEATEDLY MADE THE POINT THAT CONTINUING UP MILITARY
OPERATIONS NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO A CLEAR STRATEGIC ENDGAME.
KAILEY: THAT WAS JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, EARLIER TODAY DISCUSSING
DETAILS
OF A CALL BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND ISRAELI
PRIME MINISTER BENNETT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, THE FIRST TIME THEY
HAVE SPOKEN IN OVER A MONTH. LET'S BRING IN DAVID AARON
MILLER -- AARON DAVID MILLER, WHO IS JOINING US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. JAKE SULLIVAN ALSO SAID TODAY
THE PRESIDENT WARNED A MAJOR GROUND OPERATION IN RAFAH WOULD
BE A MISTAKE, BUT I WONDER HOW FAR WARNINGS GO IF THEY DON'T
COME WITH CONSEQUENCE. WOULD NETANYAHU FACE AND A
CONSEQUENCE BY NOT ABIDING BY THE WORDS OF THE BIDE
N
ADMINISTRATION? AARON: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
THE KEY IS THAT IN LIFE YOU -- THE KEY IS THAT NETANYAHU IS
NOT A LONE ACTOR. THEY WANT TO CLOSE DOWN THE
TUNNELS. HE IS ALSO GOING TO BE SUPPORTED BY A MEMBER OF THE
WAR CABINET. PERHAPS A PUNITIVE SUCCESS
PRIME MINISTER IF ELECTIONS WERE HELD TODAY.
HE IS NOT A LONE ACTOR. I THINK THE FACT THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION AND IS REALLY'S ARE WILLING TO SEND A SENIOR
DELEGATION TO TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO A GROUND
CAMPAIGN, OR AT LEAST GIVE THE ISRAELIS T
HE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN
PRECISELY WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO AND HOW THEY INTEND TO DEAL
WITH THE REALITY OF A MILITARY CAMPAIGN AND AND AMONG ONE
POINT 3 MILLION PEOPLE SANDWICHED INTO A TINY SLICE OF
GAZA, WHICH IS ONLY TWICE THE SIZE OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA. I THINK THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT I CALL A PASSIVE
AGGRESSIVE POLICY TOWARD ISRAEL. A LOT OF TOUGH TALK, A LOT OF
GENUINE ANGER, BUT WITH LITTLE INTENTION IT SEEMS TO BE SIX
MONTHS OF THIS WAR TO IMPOSE A SIGNIFICANT C
OST OR CONSEQUENCE
ON ISRAEL. JOE: HOW ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THESE TWO MEN? AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
CONFLICT, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS STARTING TO GET CRITICISM, JOE
BIDEN SAID YOU HAVE TO HUG HIM AS CLOSELY AS YOU CAN.
THEY DIDN'T TALK IN OVER A MONTH, WE WERE TOLD, WHEN THIS
MEETING TOOK PLACE. WILL IT BE ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE
THEY SPEAK AGAIN? AARON: GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT HE IS NOT DEALING WITH THE OLD RISK ADVERSE NETANYAHU, A
GUY WHO
TOOK ONE STEP FORWARD, ONE TO THE SIDE, ONE BACK. THEY HAVE A RISK READY BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU, IS ON TRIAL. WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT IF THIS
WAR ENDS WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY THAT HE IS DUE FOR AN
ACCOUNTING ON BEHALF OF THE OPPOSITION, WHO IS GOING TO
HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORST TERROR ATTACK IN HISTORY
SINCE THE END OF THE HOLOCAUST. I THINK IT IS A BROKEN
RELATIONSHIP AND I THINK NETANYAHU IS EAGER TO PLAY TO
REPUBLICANS AND THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE US,
AS IT
DID IN 2015, WHEN THEN PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU INTERCEDED
AND UNDERMINED THEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS EFFORTS
WITH IRAN. I THINK YOU COULD SEE A REPEAT
OF THAT. KAILEY: IT IS INTERESTING YOU RAISE THE
IDEA THAT HE MAY BE HELD IN THE BOOKS OF HISTORY AS RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7. I WONDER ALSO IF YOU WOULD WANT
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES STILL BEING HELD BY HAMAS BY NOT REACHING A
TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE WITH ALL THESE PARTIES TRYING TO
NEGOTIATE TOWA
RD THAT EFFORT. CAN IT HAPPEN, IF IT HASN'T
HAPPENED ALREADY? DOES IT GET MORE COMPLICATED,
MORE DIFFICULT TO REACH THAT POINT AS TIME GOES ON AND
POTENTIALLY THERE IS MOVEMENT IN RAFAH, MORE FRUSTRATION ON
THE PART OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? AARON: WE HAVE 134 HOSTAGES, 30 OR
MORE OF THEM THEY BELIEVED WERE BROUGHT TO GAZA AS BODIES TO
TRADE FOR PRISONERS, OR KILLED IN CAPTIVITY.
I THINK THE PRIME MINISTER IS UNDER PRESSURE IS UNDER
PRESSURE CERTAINLY FROM THE FAMILIES, AND HERE IS WHERE
THEY
ARE PUSHING FOR A HOSTAGE DEAL.
IF IN FACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOW ONGOING IN QATAR WITH THE
AMERICANS -- NOT YET WITH THE AMERICANS, THE ISRAELIS, THE
QATARIS, AND EGYPTIANS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF HAMAS, IF
THERE IS A REASONABLE DEAL ON THE TABLE, I THINK THERE IS A
CHANCE BEFORE THE END OF RAMADAN TO GET A LIMITED
HOSTAGE RELEASE , 35, 40. THE WOMEN, ELDERLY, AND INFIRM,
AND EXCHANGE ASYMMETRICALLY FOR PROBABLY SEVERAL HUNDRED
PALESTINIAN PRISONERS. ONE OF THE CONTENTION POINTS IS
THAT HAMAS WA
NTS AT LEAST 100 OF THOSE TO BE PALESTINIANS WHO
WERE EITHER CHARGED OR CONVICTED OF KILLING ISRAELIS,
WHICH WILL BE A TOUGH SELL WITH THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER.
I THINK THERE IS VERY MUCH THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A DEAL.
I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION ARE IN A RACE.
IF YOU GET A HOSTAGE DEAL BEFORE THE END OF RAMADAN, OR
ARE WE GOING TO GET A GROUND GAME IN RAFAH?
I THINK THOSE ARE THE COMPETING TRENDS AND I AM HOPING FOR THE
FORMER. JOE: IF WE DID GET THE FORMER, WOULD
IT FORCE THE LATTER? WHAT IT
-- WOULD IT FORESTALL
THE LATTER? AARON: HAMAS WILL BE LEFT WITH 50
HOSTAGES, MALE CIVILIANS. THOSE 50 HOSTAGES ARE HAMAS'
INSURANCE CARD. WHAT THEY WILL WANT TO TRADE IS
PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, BUT EVEN MORE, WITHDRAWAL, DEPLOYMENT OF
FORCES FROM GAZA, AND SOME PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE.
EVEN IF THE ISRAELIS COULD BE PERSUADED TO AGREE TO A
PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE AND TO GET THOSE HOSTAGES BACK, I THINK
ISRAEL HAS EVERY INTENTION, AS THEY DID IN MUNICH AFTER THE IS 11 ISRAELI ATHLETES, THEY HAD
EVERY I
NTENTION OF IDENTIFYING AND HUNTING DOWN THE KEY
ARCHITECTS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK.
EVEN A LIMITED DEAL OR ONE THAT WOULD TRADE FINAL HOSTAGES IS
NOT GOING TO SECURE A STABLE GAZA.
WE ARE IN FOR SOME VERY TOUGH MONTHS AHEAD. JOE:
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AARON DAVID MILLER, SENIOR
FELLOW AT THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT OF INTERNATIONAL
PEACE. IT IS GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.
COMING UP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TRYING TO CLARIFY THE
WEEKEND. OUR POLITICAL PANEL WILL REACT.
THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER" ON BLO
OMBERG TV AND RADIO. >> IT IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY THAT
MATTERS, IT IS WHAT PEOPLE HEAR. AND THE FACT IS, THERE ARE
MILLIONS OF VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HEARD THE WORD AND
THOUGHT, WHAT EXACTLY DOES HE MEAN? I TRUST HIM AT HIS WORD THAT HE
MEANT ABOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY, BUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE
CONFUSED TELLS YOU THE SITUATION WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW,
BOTH THAT HE USES LANGUAGE THAT IS OVER CAFFEINATED, IT CAN BE
MISINTERPRETED. JOE: OVER CAFFEINATED.
FRANK LUNTZ TALKING WITH US A SHORT TIME
AGO, FOUNDER AND CEO
OF FIL, INC. REACTING TO
TRUMP'S CONTROVERSIAL BLOODBATH COMMENTS FROM A
SPEECH IN OHIO. JOINING US IS OUR POLITICAL
PANEL. RICK DAVIS AND JEANNIE SEND
GINO. GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH WITH US.
WE HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT ST. PATRICK'S DAY WEEKEND.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT EXHAUSTING ALREADY.
WE WILL DO THIS FOR EIGHT MONTHS, APPARENTLY.
WE ARE GETTING EMAILS AND TWEETS FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T
LIKE THE WAY THE MEDIA ARE HANDLING THIS PARTICULAR STORY.
WE ARE ALL ABOUT CONTEXT AT BLOOMBERG.
WE
HAVE TRIED TO PLAY THE REMARKS IN FULL.
EVEN IF HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY, IS THAT A
REASON TO BE FORGIVING USE OF A TERM LIKE THIS CONSIDERING THE
CLIMATE WE ARE IN? RICK: I THINK IT IS A DIFFERENCE
STANDARD -- DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR DONALD TRUMP.
HE DOESN'T HAVE CREDIBILITY BECAUSE HALF OF WHAT HE SAYS ON
STAGE ISN'T TRUE, SO TO THEN APPLY A DIFFERENT MEASURE TO
WHAT HE SAYS AFTER HE GETS OFF THE STAGE, HOW CAN YOU TELL
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT? HE LIKES TO PUT THE HOT WORDS
OUT ON TH
E TABLE. HE LIKES TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO
DO THINGS THAT NOBODY ELSE WOULD EVEN CONTEMPLATE.
SO WHEN HE USES TERMS LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO ASSUME HE IS
SENDING A MESSAGE, WHETHER IT IS SPECIFIC TO AUTOWORKERS OR
TO HIS SUPPORTERS OR ANYBODY ELSE. THIS IS WHAT HE DOES.
WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED, WE SHOULDN'T BE SHOCKED, BUT IT IS
A LEGITIMATE THING TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE WE ARE IN A
PERIOD OF ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAPPENING IN
THE UNITED STATES. JUST LAST WEEK, THE MARICOPA
COUNTY SUP
ERVISORS WERE ATTACKED BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS
SCREAMING THAT THIS IS AN INSURRECTION, THIS IS A
REVOLUTION. THEY TOOK OVER THE DAIS, RAN
THEM OUT OF THE ROOM. THEY HAD TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING HIS SUPPORTERS ARE DOING EVERY
SINGLE DAY. IF WE DON'T REPORT ON IT, THEN
IT IS JUST ENABLING FOLKS WHO ARE OUT TO BE MORE ANARCHIST
THAN POLITICAL OPERATIVES. KAILEY:
IT RAISES THE BROADER SPECTER OF THE CONCEPT OF CIVIL UNREST
AROUND THIS ELECTION. WE HAVE SEEN POLLING THAT
SUGGESTS
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
VIOLENCE THAT MAY SURROUND THE ELECTION, THOUGH THAT GOES ON
BOTH SIDES, THIS IDEA THAT WHATEVER SIDE LOSES MAY NOT
TAKE THAT PEACEFULLY. HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT
THIS, AS WE HAVE EIGHT MONTHS TO GO? YOU ARE ALREADY SEEING
INSTANCES OF IT. HOW BAD COULD IT GET? JEANNIE: I THINK I AM NOT ALONE IN
THINKING IT COULD GET VERY BAD. LANGUAGE LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP
WAS USING OVER THE WEEKEND AND FORCES THAT IDEA.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
THE
RE IS A BOOK OUT CALLED "WHITE RURAL RAGE,"
AND WATCH THE -- IN WHICH THE AUTHORS TALK ABOUT THE RESEARCH
ON RURAL SUPPORTERS IN PARTICULAR OF DONALD TRUMP, AND
THE RAGE THEY HAVE LONG FELT. THE IDEA IS DONALD TRUMP
CHANNELS THAT RAGE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VIEWERS
WERE SAYING BECAUSE THE FRUSTRATION THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE FEEL IS THAT HIS SUPPORTERS ARE IN ON THIS JOKE.
THEY WANT PEOPLE WHO THEY SEE AS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT, AND
THAT INCLUDES THE MEDIA, TO BE ALL SHOCKED AND SURPRISED BY
WHAT HE H
AS TO SAY. AND THAT IS REALLY A PROBLEM
THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE, AND THAT IS WHY HE CONTINUES TO
PLAY THIS GAME. I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO FOCUS AN
EQUAL AMOUNT OF ATTENTION ON THE POLICIES THAT HE IS TALKING
ABOUT. 100% TARIFF ON AUTOMOBILES.
THIS IS A MAN TALKING ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S ECONOMY, WHICH WAS ONE
OF THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD. WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO OUR
ECONOMY? THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE BUY IN OUR
LIFETIMES, BESIDES A HOUSE, AND ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE, A
CAR, AND HE I
S GOING TO PUT A TAX ON IT FOR 100%?
LET'S EVEN THIS OUT WITH A FOCUS ON THE POLICIES AS WELL.
JOE: WE CAN ALSO REFER TO SOME OF
THE OTHER THINGS SAID IN THAT SPEECH.
SO MUCH ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE BLOODBATH THAT THE TARIFF
DOES NOT GET THE COVERAGE IT DESERVES, IF THAT IS EVEN REAL.
BUT HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE BORDER AND USE REFERENCES TO
IMMIGRANTS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN NEW, LEVEL HERE, TELLING
SUPPORTERS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SENDING GANG MEMBERS TO THE
UNITED STATES. "I DON'T KNOW IF YO
U CALL THEM
PEOPLE IN SOME CASES, HE SAID. " THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE IN MY
OPINION," GOING ON TO REFER TO MIGRANTS
AS ANIMALS. RICK: THIS LEVEL OF PREJUDICE IS
PHENOMENAL AT ANY STAGE OF A CAMPAIGN, BUT NOW HE IS THE
NOMINEE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WILL BE AT THE CONVENTION
LATER THIS SUMMER. IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE
EVER SEEN THE WASHINGTON POST SAY -- THEY DO THESE PINOCCHIOS.
YOUR NOSE GETS LONGER IF YOU TELL A LIE.
THEY ADD THEM UP BASED ON HOW MANY LIES YOU HAVE TOLD.
THEY DID AN ENTIRE
PAGE OFF OF THIS ONE RALLY.
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EIGHT OR NINE PINOCCHIOS. WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT RALLY
ALL YEAR LONG AND NOT COVER ALL ASPECTS OF IT THAT ARE EITHER
OFFENSIVE OR NOT TRUE. SO, IS THIS A STRATEGY UNTO
ITSELF? IF YOU DRILL EVERYTHING DOWN TO
THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR WHERE YOU PITCH PEOPLE AGAINST
ONE ANOTHER, THEN YOU DIVIDE THE ROOM.
HERE ARE THE PEOPLE I DIDN'T INSULT THIS YEAR, AND THEY ARE
GOING TO VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE I TOLD THEM IT IS THEM VERSUS THE
OTHERS I HAVE INSU
LTED. THAT IS THE POLITICS TRUMP IS
BRINGING TO THE TABLE. IF WE IGNORE IT, WE IGNORE IT
AT OUR PERIL. KAILEY: IT ALSO BEGS THE QUESTION
WHETHER THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, IF NOT OUTRIGHT IGNORING IT, IS
BEING COMPLACENT AS WE TALK ABOUT LANGUAGE SELECTION, THE
IDEA HE IS CHARACTERIZING GROUPS OF PEOPLE THIS WAY.
HIS OWN VICE PRESIDENT THAT SERVED UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION
SAID HE WOULD NOT ENDORSE HIM IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS COULD BE TRUE, YET HE IS STILL WINNING,
WHEN YOU LOOK AT P
ULLING NOT JUST ACROSS THE U.S.
AS A WHOLE, BUT IN THE SWING STATES THAT WILL DECIDE THE
ELECTION. WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT BIDEN IS
STILL LOSING, IF THE POLIS IS TO BE BELIEVED? JEANNE:
PARTLY WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT BIDEN AND HIS TEAM NEED TO USE
THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEY HAVE HAD A BIG FUNDRAISING TAKE
HISTORIC IN PROPORTION. THEY HAVE TO GET ON THE
AIRWAVES AND START FIGHTING BACK.
THEY HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND DESCRIBE DONALD TRUMP AS THE
THREAT HE IS TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, TO OUR POCKETBO
OKS,
AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET
OUT THERE AND MAKE THE CASE THAT HE IS A THREAT, AND THEY
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE THAT HE IS A THREAT TO ALL
JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE, AND THERE ARE ENORMOUS
ACHIEVEMENTS THERE. BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO ASK
OURSELVES WHY IT IS THAT THIS DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE, THE
LIES, AND THE OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENTS HE MAKES DON'T TURN
OFF HIS MOTORS. THE REASON IS, THEY FEEL THE
POLITICAL PARTIES FOR DECADES HAVE LET THEM DOWN.
THEY
ARE NOT EXPECTING MUCH FROM DONALD TRUMP EXCEPT TO
SCREAM BACK TO THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN LET DOWN, AND THEY ARE SCREAMING BACK.
YOU GO TO THOSE RALLIES, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN ON A JOKE
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, AS THEY DESCRIBE
IT. AND THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS.
KAILEY: IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG EIGHT
OR NINE MONTHS INDEED, IF THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS IS ANY
INDICATION. JEANNE SHEEHAN ZAINO AND RICK
DAVIS, THANK YOU BOTH. COMING UP, WE TALK AB
OUT THE
FACT THAT FOUR DAYS FROM NOW WE ARE FACING ANOTHER PARTIAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DEADLINE, AND THE BORDER IS A STICKING
POINT. THEY WILL BE BACK WITH US SHORTLY.
THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER" ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO. KAILEY:
THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER" ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO.
LAWMAKERS PLANNED TO RELEASE THE TEXT OF THE LAST BATCH OF
SPENDING BILLS LAST NIGHT, BUT 24 HOURS LATER WE STILL HAVE NO
TEXT. THEY HANGUP IS OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING AND SECURITY AT THE BORD
ER.
BACK WITH US IS RICK AND JEANNE. AS IF ON CUE, WE GOT THIS
AFTERNOON A LETTER FROM THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS THAT READS
IN PART, THE HOUSE MUST PUT FORWARD AN APPROPRIATIONS
MEASURE THAT FORCES THE INCLUSION OF THE CORE ELEMENTS
OF HR-TWO. THEY GO ON TO SAY, WE ASK YOU
TO REJECT THE APPROPRIATIONS PACKAGE OR ANYTHING SIMILAR
THAT WOULD DIRECTLY FUND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S
DISASTROUS POLICIES. ONCE AGAIN, IT SEEMS TO BE ALL
ABOUT THE BORDER AND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE HOUSE
FRE
EDOM CAUCUS OR SOMETHING ELSE.
IS THE BORDER GOING TO BE WHAT CAUSES THE SHUTDOWN? JEANNE:
IT ABSOLUTELY COULD. DID YOU JUST SAY HR-2?
ARE WE ACTUALLY BACK TO HR-2? [LAUGHTER]
IT IS MINDNUMBING HOW THIS HAS WORKED.
WE ARE SIX MONTHS ALMOST INTO THE YEAR AND THEY ARE STILL
BATTLING. BUT I SUSPECT IF WE DO HAVE A
PARTIAL SHUT DOWN, EVEN IF IT IS SHORT AND HAPPENS FRIDAY
NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, IT WILL BE OVER THE BORDER.
A HUGE SURPRISE. TO ALL OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS,
THEY COULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE SENA
TE BILL AND PASSED THAT AND
WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS POSITION, BUT HERE WE GO AGAIN.
JOE: AND HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH A CALENDAR PROBLEM.
EVEN IF THERE IS A DEAL TONIGHT, AND THERE COULD BE.
WE KEEP HEARING THERE IS TEXT, BUT NOBODY EVER SEEMS TO FINISH
THEIR HOMEWORK. YOU'VE GOT THE 72 HOUR RULE IN
THE HOUSE, THEN IT HAS TO GO TO THE SENATE.
WE WILL HAVE A SHUT DOWN THIS WEEKEND AT LEAST, SHOULDN'T WAY?
RICK: YOU MAY GET WHAT WE HAD LESS
TIME, WHICH IS A SHORT-TERM CR, AND STICK AROUND NEXT WEEK.
JOE:
AND THAT IS ALLOWED? RICK: YEAH. THE REALITY IS EVERYTHING IS
ALLOWED WITH 300 VOTES, AND THEY HAVE 300 VOTES TO GET A
BILL PASSED. I JUST WANT TO REMIND
EVERYBODY, THERE WAS A DEAL GOING INTO THE WEEKEND ON THIS
PACKAGE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY. THE PEOPLE WHO SCREWED IT UP
WERE THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY WERE ON A CALL SUNDAY AND
SAID, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE MONEY FOR THE BORDER, FOR BEDS
AND DETENTION FACILITIES. THAT WAS A NEW ASK.
THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE. WHEN THAT GOT PUT ON THE TABLE,
EVERYB
ODY WALKED AWAY FROM THE DEAL. I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS GOT BLOOD
ON THEIR HANDS, JUST TO USE A BLOOD PHRASE SINCE THAT IS THE
THING TO DO TODAY, AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND HOUSE
REPUBLICANS, EVERYBODY HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS.
BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
OVERREACHING NOW ON BORDER BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD
CATCH THE REPUBLICANS AT THEIR OWN GAME.
WE ASK FOR MORE MONEY AND WE WERE DENIED IT.
I THINK THEY ARE OVERPLAYING THEIR HAND AND IT COULD RESULT
IN A SHORT-TE
RM GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. KAILEY:
COULD THIS BACKFIRE FOR THE PRESIDENT? JEANNE:
I THINK IT COULD, BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE BORDER,
THE WHITE HOUSE FEELS IT WAS STALLED BY THE REPUBLICANS,
WHICH IS THE KINDEST WAY TO PUT IT.
THEY DIDN'T COME FORWARD WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF THE
URGING OF DONALD TRUMP, SO THEY WILL HAVE TO OWN WHERE WE ARE
TODAY. WE ALSO HEARD OVER THE WEEKEND
THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY VETO ACR. I THINK THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE
THAT THE BLAME WILL NOT LIE ON THEIR SHOULDE
RS.
REPUBLICANS AGREE, WE NEED MONEY FOR THE BORDER.
THEY REALLY HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, AND THEY
REALLY SHOULD NOT BE PUSHING BACK ON THE WHITE HOUSE AT THIS
POINT. JOE: IT IS FUNNY TO THINK YOU HAVE
MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION PITCHING THE 2025 BUDGET PLAN
AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FINISH
THIS FISCAL YEAR. ONCE THEY GET THIS DONE, IT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER WITH OR WITHOUT A SHUT DOWN, IS
THE STORE CLOSED IN A CAMPAIGN YEAR? RICK: THERE IS A REASON
CONGRESS HAS
AN APPROVAL RATING OF FAMILY ANIMALS AND THEIR STAFFERS.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS SUB 10% IN SOME PLACES.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE MUCH OF AN EFFORT BETWEEN
NOW AND ELECTION DAY TO TRY TO GET MUCH MORE SERIOUS
LEGISLATION PASSED. YOU MIGHT GET SOME WORK DONE,
BUT I WOULD NOT COUNT ON SEEING THAT BUDGET PASS FOR 2025
BEFORE INAUGURAL DAY. JOE: THERE YOU HAVE IT.
RICK DAVIS AND JEANNE SHEEHAN ZAINO WITH THE BASELINE TO
START ANOTHER INTERESTING WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
WE WILL HAVE A LOT
TO COVER WITH THE COUNTDOWN CLOCKS
STARTING BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY. KAILEY:
AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN GET YOUR UPDATES IN THE WASHINGTON
ADDITION NEWSLETTER ON THE TERMINAL AND ONLINE, AND RIGHT
HERE ON "BALANCE OF POWER." JOE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE
ON "BALANCE OF POWER." THIS IS BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO.
WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW. ♪
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