>> FROM THE WORLD OF POLITICS
TO THE WORLD THE BUSINESS, THIS IS BALANCE OF POWER. LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
KAILEY: FROM BLOOMBERG WASHINGTON, D.C.
STUDIOS TO OUR AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE, WELCOME TO BALANCE
OF POWER . JOE: PRESIDENT BIDEN IN NEW YORK
CITY ON ROUTE TO AN EVENT WHERE HE IS EXPECTED TO RAISE OVER 20
$5 MILLION. FORMER PRESIDENTS OBAMA AND
CLINTON IN ATTENDANCE. CALLING IT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
POLITICAL FUNDRAISER IN AMERICAN HISTORY. KAILEY:
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAY
ING THAT HE TALKED
WITH HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON AND BRIEFED HIM ON THE
SITUATION ON THE GROUND AS FORMER AIDE FOR UKRAINE STALLS
IN THE HOUSE. WE WILL BREAK IT DOWN WITH THE
SENIOR FELLOW AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION. JOE:
MARKING ONE YEAR OF CAPTIVITY IN RUSSIA FOR AMERICAN
JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH. WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE FORMER
WALL STREET BUREAU CHIEF. REMARKABLE TO THINK THAT ONE
YEAR HAS GONE BY. LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING TO
PAUL ON A DAY WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF CROSSCURRENTS IN A B
IG
EVENT AHEAD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TONIGHT.
MAYBE ONE LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN. KAILEY:
THE NEWS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AS MUCH IN WASHINGTON AS IT IS IN
NEW YORK, WHERE NOT ONLY WILL PRESIDENT BIDEN BE WITH THIS
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FUNDRAISER ALONGSIDE TWO FORMER
PRESIDENTS, BUT DONALD TRUMP WAS ALSO IN NEW YORK ATTENDING
THE WAKE OF AN NYPD OFFICER TALKING ABOUT CRIME. JOE:
IT IS AN INTERESTING CONTRAST. WE WILL GET INTO THIS WITH OUR
OTHER TOP STORIES WITH MIKE SHEPPARD AND LAURA DAVIDSON AT
THE T
ABLE. LAURA, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
OPTICS INVOLVED? I REMEMBER THE CELEBRITY ADD IN
THE MCCAIN-OBAMA CAMPAIGN IN 2008 WITH PARIS HILTON GETTING
OUT OF A LIMOUSINE. THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF THE
COASTAL ELITES GETTING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT JOE BIDEN.
THE CONTRAST, DONALD TRUMP TODAY IN NEW YORK, IS GREAT.
DOES IT HURT JOE BIDEN? LAURA: IT REALLY DOESN'T.
BIDEN CAN STILL SAY I'M RAISING $25 MILLION.
THIS IS MORE THAN TWICE OF WHAT TRUMP RAISED IN THE ENTIRE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY. HE HAS POPULAR FIGUR
ES LIKE
BROADWAY STARS AND POP STARS LIKE LIZZO.
STEPHEN COLBERT WILL BE MODERATING THE CONVERSATION
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS. THE EXTENT THAT THIS STORY
PLAYS OUT WILL NOT BE A FACTOR IN NOVEMBER, BUT THE MONEY WILL
BE A FACTOR. BIDEN HAS THIS MASSIVE CASH
LEAD ALREADY. TRUMP IS STRUGGLING TO CATCH
UP, PLUS SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A MONTH ON LEGAL FEES.
THIS IS THE PLAY. YOU SEE THE WAY THE BIDENS TEAM
IS TOUTING THIS. THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THIS EVENT
AND THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING.
THEY
CAN SAY THAT THE STARTING TICKET WAS $250 TO GET IN THE
ROOM. IF A REGULAR PERSON WANTS TO
COME YOU CAN ENJOY THIS SPECTACLE. JOE:
IT IS STILL A $500 NIGHT OUT. LAURA:
FOR IF YOU WANT A PICTURE WITH ALL THREE PRESIDENTS, $100,000.
$25 MILLION IS A MASSIVE HALL. YOU ADD THAT TO THE 155 MILLION
DOLLARS THAT BY THEN AND THE DNC HAD IN HAND WHEN MARGE
BEGAN, THAT'S LIKE THREE TIMES WHAT TRUMP AND THE RNC HAVE.
THE THING IS, JOE BIDEN IS LAGGING IN THE POLLS. HE HAS THIS MONEY AT HIS
DISPOSAL BUT DON
ALD TRUMP IS LEADING. WHAT DOES THAT SAY?
MIKE: YOU BROUGHT UP A POINT BETWEEN
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MONEY AND OF THE POLLING.
OUR LATEST POLL OF SEVEN SWING STATES, THE ONES THAT WILL
DECIDE THE ELECTION, HIGHLIGHTS THE GAP.
HE HAS TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
THE MONEY WILL HELP, BUT ALSO UNIFYING THAT DEMOCRATIC BASE
WHICH HAS HAD MISGIVINGS WITH THE PRESIDENT OVER HIS AGE AND
CERTAIN KEY VOTING BLOCKS INCLUDING BLACK AND LATINO
VOTERS HAVE HAD MISGIVINGS AGAINST BIDEN FOR FAILING
TO
DELIVER ON ALL OF THE PROMISES. THIS IS A RARE JOINT APPEARANCE BY BIDEN AND HIS TWO DEMOCRATIC
PREDECESSORS. THAT IS A RARE MOMENT WHERE HE
CAN MAYBE REACH OUT BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE BIDEN BASE AND MAYBE
CLOSE SOME OF THAT GAP IN ENTHUSIASM. JOE:
WHEN WE CONSIDER THE DISCONNECT WITH THE POLLS, HE HAS TIME.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT TODAY. CONSUMER SENTIMENT IS AT ITS
HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE JULY AND WE ARE SEEING, AS THE CAMPAIGN,
GREEN SHOOTS IN THE ECONOMY. THE DIRECT PUBLIC AFFAIRS TALK
ABOUT THIS,
ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY THAT COULD PLAY IN
BIDEN'S FAVOR. >> OBVIOUSLY TIME IS NOT IN
BIDEN FAVOR. ANY TIME THAT AN INCUMBENT IS
DOWN BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY, CAN YOU GAIN THAT GROUND
QUICKLY ENOUGH? WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS WHAT
WE EXPECT. THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING.
PEOPLE PERCEIVE THAT. WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE ON THE
BIDEN SIDE GLIMMERS OF HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO NUMBERS. JOE:
I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH TIME DOES HE HAVE?
WE HEAR THAT PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION IN REAL
AMERICA. THOSE OF U
S WHO ARE ABSORBING
THIS EVERYDAY AREN'T NORMAL. DO WE NEED TO SEE IMPROVING
DATA OR EVIDENCE OF A SOFT LANDING?
LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL? LAURA: THAT IS WHEN PEOPLE TUNE IN,
RIGHT AROUND LABOR DAY. BIDEN NEEDS TO MAKE UP GROUND
BEFORE THAT. IN THE SWING STATES HE HAS A
PRETTY WIDE DELTA. TO MAKE UP THAT GAP THAT WON'T
HAPPEN IN ONE OR TWO MONTHS. THERE IS THE INFAMOUS OCTOBER
SURPRISE. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO BLOW
THIS RACE WIDE OPEN. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF VOTERS WHO WILL BE S
WING VOTERS WHO WILL DECIDE
THE ELECTION, SO IT MATTERS. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UPPER
MIDWEST? WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE BORDER?
YOU HAVE NEVADA AND ARIZONA THAT ARE KEY SWING STATES.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THINGS THAT MAY HAVE AN
OUTSIZED REACTION ON THIS ELECTION. KAILEY:
YOU BRING UP THE BORDER. WE KNOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A
BIG ISSUE WITH NOT JUST THE BORDER, SPECIFICALLY THE WAY
THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS HANDLED THIS THROUGH THE
HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR ELLA HUNTER MAYORKAS W
HO WAS
IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE. WE LEARNED SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON
SAID THAT THEY WILL SEND THOSE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT TO THE
SENATE WHEN EVERYONE IS BACK FROM RECESS APRIL 10.
THEN IT DIES IMMEDIATELY? HOW WILL THIS BE HANDLED? LAURA:
THERE FIGURING THIS OUT. NEITHER REPUBLICANS OR
DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE THIS UP. MITCH MCCONNELL IS ON HIS WAY
OUT. HIS INFLUENCE IS WANING. THE MORE TRUMP FACTION OF THE
PARTY SAYS THAT WE SHOULD DEAL WITH THIS? THIS EATS INTO THE SENATE'S
TIME. WE REMEMBER FROM PR
EVIOUS IMPEACHMENT TRIALS -- WE ARE
GETTING GOOD AT THIS, ALL ACTIVITY STOPS AND ALL THE
SENATORS ARE LISTENING TO THE VARIOUS SIDES ARGUE THE CASE.
THERE ARE THINGS LIKE UKRAINE AID, BALTIMORE BRIDGE AIDE COME
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT FOLKS WANT TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO
NOW THAT THE SPENDING DRAMA IS BEHIND US.
THEY WILL BE THE COMPETING FORCES AT PLAY. JOE:
WE ARE CURIOUS HOW BALTIMORE BRIDGE AID WILL BE RECEIVED
WHEN THIS EMERGENCY REQUEST EMERGES.
THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND WES MOORE TALKED
ABOUT THE COLLAPSE
ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES.
GOVERNOR MOORE: BALTIMORE IS BEING TESTED, BUT
BALTIMORE HAS BEEN TESTED BEFORE.
EVERY TIME WE STAND UP ON TWO FEET, DUST OURSELVES OFF, AND
KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THIS WORK WILL NOT TAKE HOURS,
NOT DAYS. THIS WORK WILL NOT TAKE WEEKS.
WE HAVE A VERY LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US. JOE:
WHAT HE MEANS IS YEARS. WE HERE SEVEN YEARS, POSSIBLY,
AND $2 BILLION BASED ON REPORTING.
THAT MEANS THAT CARS AREN'T DRIVING OVER THAT BRIDGE UNTIL
AFTER THE
NEXT PRESIDENTIAL TERM.
IT WON'T BE JOE BIDEN OR DONALD TRUMP WHO WITNESSES THAT.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO EXPERIENCE IN THIS DEBATE OVER
FUNDING THE SPRING? MICHAEL: WHAT WE ARE SEEING ALREADY IS A
PARTISAN SPLIT. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN THE OTHER
DAY SAID THAT HE EXPECTS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PICK UP
THE FULL COST OF RECONSTRUCTION. WE ARE HEARING FROM SOME
REPUBLICANS WHO SAY THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SHIP THAT STRUCK
THE P THAT SUPPORTED THE BRIDGE THAT PROMPTED THE BRIDGE'S
COLLAPSE SHOULD BEAR
THE FINANCIAL COST. HOW DO YOU MAKE
THAT HAPPEN? IT IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED
GIVEN THAT IT'S A FOREIGN OWNER. ALSO, IT MAY TAKE MUCH LONGER
TO GET THE MONEY BACK, IF AT ALL.
THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, THE PORT OF BALTIMORE, ALL OF THE
COMMUTERS, ALL OF THE PORT WORKERS, ALL OF THAT COMMERCE
NEEDS FOR THE BRIDGE TO BE RECONSTRUCTED.
MORE IMMEDIATELY THEY HAVE TO FOCUS ON RECOVERING THE REMAINS
OF THE FOUR MISSING WORKERS FIRST AND FOREMOST. THIS WAS A
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT COST SIX PEOPLE THEIR LIVES
. THE BLOCKAGE TO THE PATAPSCO
RIVER, IT IS A HUGE ENGINEERING ENDEAVOR TO SIMPLY CLEAR ALL OF
THAT AHEAD OF ANY RECONSTRUCTION. KAILEY:
I WAS THERE YESTERDAY. CONDITIONS ARE SUBOPTIMAL.
THE WATER HAS BEEN CHOPPY. THE VISIBILITY IS LOW.
THEY ARE DEALING WITH A TON OF EXTENSIVE DEBRIS FROM THE
BRIDGE AND SHIP ITSELF. MIKE SHEPPARD AND LAURA
DAVIDSON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ANOTHER STORY WE HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING IS FTX COFOUNDER SAM BANKMAN-FRIED SENTENCED TO 25
YEARS IN
PRISON FOR STEALING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM
CUSTOMERS. THE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE DELIVERING THE
SENTENCE IN MANHATTAN MOMENTS AFTER BANKMAN-FRIED SAID THAT
HE WAS "SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT EVERY STAGE." HE FACED AS LONG AS 110 YEARS
BEHIND BARS AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF FRAUD AND
CONSPIRACY. STILL AHEAD, THE REPUBLICAN
HOUSE MAJORITY IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER. KAILEY:
THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER." AS BALTIMORE LOOKS TO RECOVER
FROM THE COLLAPSE OF THE KEY BRIDGE, AMONG THE VOICES OF
SUPPORT
OUR CANDIDATES VYING FOR A SENATE SEAT IN MARYLAND. THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE
STATE AND IT DEMOCRATS IN THE RUNNING, INCLUDING THE SLOWLY
DECREASING REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. KYLE, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE
YOU ON THE PROGRAM. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MARYLAND
AND THAT SENATE SEAT, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE MAYBE
WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL FLIP WHEN WE ARE
HAVING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO
LOOK LIKE COME 20 25. WE KNOW THAT OHIO AND MONTANA
ARE IN JEOPARDY. WEST VI
RGINIA IS LIKELY GONE
WITH THE RETIREMENT OF JOE MANCHIN. WHAT ABOUT MARYLAND?
HOW MUCH HARDER DOES THAT MAKE THE PICTURE FOR DEMOCRATS? KYLE:
IT WAS A GREAT DEVELOPMENT FOR REPUBLICANS.
I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY DEMOCRATS ARE FAVORED TO HOLD
THE MARYLAND SENATE SEAT. MARYLAND IS ONE OF THE BLUEST
STATES IN THE COUNTRY. HOGAN HAS A LOT OF GOODWILL
FROM WINNING AS GOVERNOR. I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE
BEFORE. WHEN THE SHOE WAS ON THE FOOT
THE FORMER AND POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS IN RED
STATES
RUNNING FOR SEATS. ULTIMATELY REPUBLICANS UPHOLD
THOSE SEATS, LIKE MONTANA IN 2020 AND TENNESSEE IN 2018.
I STILL LIKE DEMOCRATS IN MARYLAND, BUT THIS WOULD BE A
SLEEP YOU RACE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
BUT THAT DEVELOPMENT IS GOOD. JOE:
KARL ROVE IS WRITING ABOUT THIS IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
POINTING TO A MARCH 12 WASHINGTON POST POLL SHOWING
LARRY HOGAN WITH A DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD OVER BOTH OF THE MAJOR
DEMOCRATS VYING FOR THIS OFFICE. HYPOTHETICAL I WILL GIVE YOU,
IF REPUBLICANS TAKE THE STAT
E OF MARYLAND IS IT OVER? KYLE:
ABSOLUTELY. DEMOCRATS CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE
A SENATE SEAT IN MARYLAND. THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER
SEATS THEY ARE DEFENDING IN MORE MARGINAL STATES.
YOU MENTIONED MONTANA AND OHIO. WEST VIRGINIA IS BASICALLY GONE.
THERE IS A BUNCH OF MARGINAL BIDEN-ONE SENATE STATES THIS
YEAR. WISCONSIN, NEVADA. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE WELL
WITH THIS GROUP OF SENATE RACES IN EVERY ELECTION GOING BACK TO
1994, WHICH WAS THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION WITH NEWT GINGRICH
WHEN THE REPUBLICAN
S FLIPPED THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT YEAR.
ONE YEAR DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A BAD ELECTION ON THIS MAP.
THEY HOPE THAT IT ISN'T THIS YEAR BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF
RUNNER ABILITIES AND MARYLAND IS ADDED ON TOP OF THAT -- A
LOT OF VULNERABILITIES AND MARYLAND IS ADDED ON TOP OF
THAT. KAILEY: WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION
ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE MAJORITY CAN BARELY STAY A MAJORITY
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE RETIREMENTS.
KEN BUCK, MIKE GALLAGHER, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MARGIN OF
ONE VOTE THAT SPEAKER MIKE
JOHNSON HAS TO WORK WITH WHILE
A MOTION TO VACATE FILED BY MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE IS
HANGING OVER HIS HEAD. HOW UNIQUE IS THIS MOMENT FOR
THE VULNERABILITY OF THE MAJORITY? KYLE:
DO WE HAVE ANY ACTUAL MODERN PRESIDENT OR PRECEDENT AT ALL
FOR THE HOUSE POTENTIALLY CHANGING HANDS DURING AN ACTUAL
CONGRESS? THE ONLY COMPARABLE EXAMPLE
THAT I CAN THINK OF HIS 1930 AT THE MIDTERM WHEN DEMOCRATS WON
A BUNCH OF SEATS BUT CAME UP SLIGHTLY SHORT OF THE MAJORITY.
THEN THE HOUSE DID NOT OPEN UNTIL THE FOLL
OWING DECEMBER OF
1931. A BUNCH OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN
THAT TIMEFRAME AND DEMOCRATS ENDED UP WINNING THE HOUSE.
IF THERE WERE MORE VACANCIES YOU COULD SEE A SITUATION WHERE
TEMPORARILY THE DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE A MAJORITY AND ELECT A
SPEAKER FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN NOW, IT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE
GIVEN HOW CLOSELY CONTESTED THE HOUSE IS THESE DAYS. JOE:
THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE. SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE OFFERED TO
POTENTIALLY PROTECT MIKE JOHNSON UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCE
S IF MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE OR SOMEONE
TRIGGERS A MOTION TO VACATE. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE
PRICE? A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT?
WOULD IT BE FLOOR TIME FOR A BILL TO FUND UKRAINE? KYLE:
THAT IS WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED. IN SOME WAYS WE AREN'T REALLY
DEALING WITH A TRADITIONAL MAJORITY SITUATION IN THE HOUSE
NOW. SPEAKER JOHNSON IS RELYING ON
DEMOCRATIC VOTES IN THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES PROCESS
THAT REQUIRES TWO THIRDS MAJORITY TO PASS SOME OF THESE
MUST PASS BILLS. MORE DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING
FOR
THESE THEN REPUBLICANS ARE. YES, REPUBLICANS ARE STILL THE
MAJORITY. THEY HAVE THE TRAPPINGS OF
BEING A MAJORITY, BUT USUALLY IN THE HOUSE ONE PARTY CAN BE
UNIFIED AND PASS THE THINGS THAT IT WANTS TO PASS.
THAT ISN'T THE CASE IN THE HOUSE NOW SO IMMIGRANTS HAVE
LEVERAGE. THEY MAY HAVE LEVERAGE IF
SOMEONE TRIES TO TOPPLE JOHNSON AS SPEAKER. KAILEY: AND THEN IT BECOMES A QUESTION
OF, WOULD IT ACTUALLY BE HAKEEM JEFFRIES AS SPEAKER AFTER THAT
OR WILL SOMEONE ELSE TRY AND POTENTIALLY FAIL, AS W
E SAW
PLAY UP SEVERAL TIMES THIS FALL WHEN KEVIN MCCARTHY VACATED?
A NUMBER SPECIAL ELECTIONS COULD HELP TO DECIDE HOW THE
HOUSE IS BALANCED IN THE INTERIM.
IS THERE ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU'RE WATCHING THAT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO SURPRISE? KYLE:
UNFORTUNATELY FOR REELECTION WATCHERS THE SPECIAL HOUSE
ELECTIONS COMING UP ARE ALL IN PRETTY UNCOMPETITIVE SEATS. WHEN MIKE GALLAGHER RESIGNS, IT
WILL BE 213 REPUBLICAN. THE NEXT SPECIAL ELECTION IS
APRIL 30 IN THE NEW YORK 26TH DISTRICT WITH A HEAVILY
DEMOCRATIC SEAT. DEMOCRATS SHOULD GET T
-- MAY AND JUNE, AND GET UP TO 220 TO 214 MAJORITY.
THAT ASSUMES THAT THERE AREN'T ANYMORE RESIGNATIONS ARE
VACANCIES AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT TWO
TIMES OR COULD BE ANOTHER VACANCY. JOE:
KYLE, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME.
KYLE KONDIK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. ONE YEAR SINCE THE ARREST OF
EVAN GERSHKOVICH. WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE FORMER
WALL STREET JOURNAL WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF COM
ING UP ON
BALANCE OF POWER. BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO. ♪ JOE: THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER."
I AM JOE MATHIEU ALONGSIDE KAILEY LEINZ IN WASHINGTON.
ONE YEAR AGO AMERICAN REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH WAS ARRESTED
IN RUSSIA WHILE ON ASSIGNMENT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
TODAY, HE REMAINS IN PRISON IN MOSCOW.
EARLIER THIS WEEK THE COURT EXTENDED HIS SENTENCE UNTIL AT
LEAST THE END OF JUNE, A THREE MONTH EXTENSION. THE U.S.
AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA REACTING TO THE NEWS. >> THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST EVAN
ARE CATE
GORICALLY UNTRUE. THEY ARE NOT A DIFFERENT
INTERPRETATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY ARE FICTION. JOE: WITH US AT THE TABLE IS PAUL
BECKETT, THE ASSISTANT EDITOR AT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND
FORMER WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON EVAN'S
CASE FULL-TIME. PAUL, WELCOME BACK TO BLOOMBERG.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT TO DROP OUR
COMPETITION AND TALK ABOUT COMMON INTERESTS.
YOU HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN WITH EVAN
AND HIS FAMILY. THE NEWS OF A THREE MONTH
EXT
ENSION FOLLOWED BY A CALL FOR SILENCE FROM THE KREMLIN
SAYING THAT SILENCE IS NEEDED WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ABOUT
A POSSIBLE PRISONER EXCHANGE, ARE YOU HOPEFUL SOMETHING IS
ABOUT TO HAPPEN? PAUL: WE HAVE BEEN HOPEFUL SINCE THE
DAY THAT IT HAPPENED AND REMAIN HOPEFUL. THE THREE MONTHS WAS A
DISAPPOINTMENT AND IT HAS BEEN PART OF A PATTERN.
WE SEE HIM, THEY EXTEND HIS DETENTION, AND THEY'VE DONE
THAT . WE BELIEVE THERE ARE ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT.
THERE NEEDS TO
BE CLASSIFIED AND QUIET, BUT WE WILL REMAIN
LOUD UNTIL EVAN COMES HOME. KAILEY:
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HIS CONDITION AFTER A YEAR OF BEING
IN PRISON? PAUL: WHEN WE HIRED HIM HE WAS A
GREAT REPORTER. WE DISCOVERED WHAT AN
EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG MAN HE IS. HE IS IN A JAIL CELL FOR 23
HOURS A DAY. HE GETS ONE HOUR IN A COURT
YARD ABOUT THE SAME SIDE AS HIS JAIL CELL, ABOUT SIX STEPS.
BUT HE IS INCREDIBLY STRONG. HE HAS KEPT HIS EQUILIBRIUM,
WHICH WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR. HE MEDITATES, DOES YOGA,
EXERCISES,
AND WRITES LETTERS. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE IS
DOING OK. JOE: DOES HE BELIEVE HE WILL BE BACK
HOME BEFORE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY? PAUL:
I HOPE HE DOES. WE DO. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT MARKING
HIS ONE YEAR TOMORROW IS IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
PRESSING UNTIL HE COMES BACK. KAILEY:
HOW MUCH DOES EXTERNAL EVENTS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE
SPECIFIC RELATION TO EVANS CASE, BUT GIVEN THAT IT IS A
TENSE TIME WITH RUSSIA AND MUCH OF THE WORLD, HOW MUCH DO YOU
FEEL THAT EXTERNAL F
ACTORS ARE WEIGHING ON HIS FATE? PAUL:
THE THING THAT WE HAD TO DO IS KEEP HIM IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF DISTRACTIONS.
WE THINK THAT THIS IS A BUSINESS FOR RUSSIA.
THIS IS VERY TRANSACTIONAL. BRITTNEY GRINER CAME OUT.
EVAN WAS TAKEN. THIS IS HOSTAGE TAKING AS A
BUSINESS FOR RUSSIA. WE BELIEVE THEY WANT TO DO A
DEAL. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT DEAL
DONE. JOE: WHAT DOES HE THINK HE IS
GAINING? PAUL: LEVERAGE OVER THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS DIFFICULT. IF IT WINDS UP IN A PRISONER
SWAP YOU DO GIVE BACK A GUILTY PERSON TO GET AN INNOCENT
PERSON. IN THAT YOU SEE THE MISMATCH,
BUT OUR FOCUS IS ON GETTING EVAN BACK. KAILEY:
WE HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT, BUT THE CONVERSATIONS ON THE
RUSSIAN AND ARE ONE THING, BUT WHAT ABOUT CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? PAUL: THEY'VE BEEN GOOD ABOUT GIVING
US ATTENTION. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE THINGS THAT
WE HOPE THEY ARE DOING THAT THEY DON'T TELL US ABOUT, BUT WE KNOW THAT IT HAS A LOT OF
ATTENTION AND WE RELY ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'
S PROMISE TO
EVAN'S FAMILY THAT HE WILL BRING HIM HOME. JOE:
YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN
WASHINGTON AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
DO YOU FEEL THE SUPPORT FROM THE NEWS MEDIA? PAUL:
ONE OF THE SILVER LININGS OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN SUPPORT FROM
YOU GUYS. FROM A LOT OF JOURNALISTIC
ORGANIZATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY
SUPPORTIVE. WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
KAILEY: WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING
HERE. PAUL BECKETT, WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE WILL TALK MORE ABOU
T RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WITH ANGELES TO, JOE: THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER"
ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO. ALONGSIDE KAILEY LEINZ I AM JOE
MATHIEU IN WASHINGTON. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY
SINGH HE SPOKE WITH HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON ABOUT
ADDITIONAL AID FOR UKRAINE, THE STATUS ON THE BATTLEFIELD GIVEN
THE UPTICK OF RUSSIAN MISSILE ATTACKS IN THE COUNTRY.
JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND OTHER ISSUES, ANGELA STENT
AND AUTHOR OF "PUTIN'S WORLD." DOES PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY THINK
HE CAN PERSONALLY CONVIN
CE MIKE JOHNSON? ANGELA:
I THINK HE'S TRYING HIS BEST TO CONVINCE HIM ALTHOUGH THE
SPEAKER HIMSELF FAVORS AID TO UKRAINE.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER A LOT OF THE AID WILL GO TO U.S.
COMPANIES THAT WILL BE MANUFACTURING WEAPONS AND
THINGS DELIVERED TO UKRAINE, I JUST WANT TO GET THAT IN.
BUT YES, THE UKRAINIANS ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION NOW,
WITHOUT THESE U.S. WEAPONS AND ASSISTANCE, WHICH
THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SIX MONTHS NOW, AND THE RUSSIANS
HAVE MADE SOME TERRITORIAL GAINS IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF
MONTHS. AS YOU SAID, THEY'VE INTENSIFIED BOMBING AGAINST AN
STRUCTURE AND CIVILIANS. IT IS PRETTY HAIRY LIVING IN
MANY OF THE MAIN CITIES IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. KAILEY:
FOR UKRAINE TO CONTINUE MAKING THE CASE TO ALLIES THEY SHOULD
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND MILITARY SUPPORT, THEY'VE HAD
TO BE PRETTY VOCAL ABOUT HOW DIRE THE SITUATION IS WHEN IT
COMES TO AMMUNITION AND THE LIKE. IT'S BEEN VERY PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY THE ABILITY TO
UNDERSTAND BY VLADIMIR PUTIN HIMSELF.
IS THIS A DOUBLE EDGED
SWORD WHERE AID IS NEEDED BUT COULD
BE EMBOLDENING TO PUTIN HIMSELF? ANGELA:
HE'S JUST GOTTEN A FIFTH TERM IN OFFICE WITH ALLEGEDLY 87% OF
THE VOTE ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A TRUE
FIGURE. HE'S DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN
NOW AND WE KNOW THERE IS CYBER INTERFERENCE IN TRYING TO
DISSUADE AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS WHO BY THE WAY ARE
SUPPLYING MORE THAN WE ARE AT THE MOMENT, BUT HE'S TRYING TO
PERSUADE PARTICULARLY PEOPLE IN THE U.S.
THEY SHOULDN'T GIVE ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE, THAT ZELEN
SKYY'S
GOVERNMENT IS WEAK AND CORRUPT AND THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS
IS A USELESS TASK. I THINK WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK
IN THESE RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
JOE: WE HEARD FROM PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TODAY IN AN INTERVIEW
ON CBS NEWS, ASKED ABOUT WHETHER THE WAR IN GAZA MIGHT
BE DIVERTING U.S. ATTENTION AND RESOURCES AWAY
FROM UKRAINE. TAKE A LISTEN TO HIS ANSWER.
PRES. ZELENSKYY: WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A
HUMANITARIAN DISASTER BUT OF COURSE IT TOOK ATTENTION AWAY
FROM UKRAI
NE, IT IS A FACT. WHEN YOU LOSE ATTENTION FROM A
REGION TO OTHER REGIONS, IT IS GOOD FOR RUSSIA.
RUSSIAN KNOWS THAT THE WORLD IS NOT FOCUSED ON UKRAINE. JOE:
IS HE RIGHT? IS THE WAR IN GAZA GOOD FOR
RUSSIA? ANGELA: IN A NUMBER OF WAYS IT IS.
OUR DIPLOMATS, SECRETARY BLINKEN AND OTHER DIPLOMATS ARE
SO FOCUSED ON TRYING TO RESOLVE THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN
GAZA AND TRYING TO WORK OUT SOME KIND OF DEAL WHERE THE
HOSTAGES, IS REALLY HOSTAGES CAN BE RELEASED IN RETURN FOR
POSSIBLY A TEMPORARY CEA
SE-FIRE, ALL OF THAT HAS
TAKEN THE ATTENTION OF MANY PEOPLE IN OUR ADMINISTRATION.
IN THAT SENSE HE IS RIGHT. THE ISRAEL AND HAMAS WERE HAS
ALSO BEEN GOOD IN THE SENSE THAT RUSSIA HAS COME DOWN
SQUARELY ON THE SIDE OF MOSS AND THE PALESTINIANS AND HAVE
GOT A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT'S ALSO WHAT HE WAS ALLUDING TO. KAILEY:
IT WAS JUST EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA. THE U.S.
ABSTAINED. ANOTHER SECURITY
COUNCIL
RESOLUTION TODAY WAS BLOCKED BY RUSSIA, A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND
A PANEL OF EXPERTS THAT REPORTS ON NORTH KOREA'S DEVELOPMENT OF
ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL, IT HAS DONE FOR FOR 15 YEARS.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUSSIA AND WITH KOREA
AND HOW MUCH CLOSER IT'S BECOMING? ANGELA:
THIS IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. WE KNOW THE HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE WAS IN NORTH KOREA THREE DAYS
THIS WEEK, WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT HE DISCUSSED WITH HIS
INTELLIGENCE COUNT
ERPARTS BUT REALLY CLOSER COOPERATION.
THEY SAID IT HAS TO DO WITH THREATS FROM THE WEST AND OTHER
COUNTRIES. VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID HE WOULD
VISIT NORTH KOREA, I DON'T THINK A DATE HAS BEEN SET.
WE KNOW THE RUSSIANS ARE EXPORTING OIL TO NORTH KOREA IN
DEFIANCE OF INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS.
WE HAVE THIS NEW AXIS OF POWERS EMERGING AS A NEW BLOC.
CHINA, NORTH KOREA AND RUSSIA. THE RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN NORTH
KOREA AND RUSSIA IS NOTABLE BECAUSE RUSSIA USED TO HAVE
MORE CONCERN ABOUT NORTH KOREA'S NUCLE
AR PROGRAM BOUND
NOW -- PROGRAM BOUND NOW. JOE: WE JUST SPOKE WITH A GUEST WHO
IS DEDICATING HIS TIME TO SECURING THE RELEASE OF A
PRISONER HELD IN RUSSIA ONE YEAR TOMORROW.
THEY EXTENDED HIS DETENTION BY THREE MONTHS.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE KREMLIN, THE LINE WAS SILENCE
IS NEEDED, WHEN TALKING ABOUT PRISONER SWAP'S.
IS THAT HOW WE WILL END OF THE YEAR? ANGELA:
LET'S HOPE IT ENDS SOON. AND FOR SHALL HE THE RUSSIANS
USUALLY WAIT UNTIL THE DO VISUAL HAS BEEN CONVICTED, LIKE
IN THE CASE OF BRI
TTNEY GRINER. BUT OF COURSE IT HAS TO BE
SECRET BECAUSE IF YOU DIVULGE DETAILS THAT COULD THREATEN THE
SUCCESS OF THE DEAL. UNFORTUNATELY THE AMERICANS WHO
ARE WRONGLY IMPRISONED IN RUSSIA ARE ALSO HOSTAGES OF THE
DETERIORATING U.S.-RUSSIAN POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP AND THIS
MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THERE ARE STORIES THAT SOME
KIND OF A DEAL WAS IN THE OFFING WHILE ALEXANDER OF ONLY
-- ELECTING NAVALNY WAS ALIVE. NAVALNY HIMSELF GOT IT
EXCHANGED FOR THIS RUSSIAN IN JAIL IN GERMANY, BUT WE KNOW
THAT FELL THROUGH ONCE NAVALNY WAS NO LONGER ALIVE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND TRY AND BE
HOPEFUL, AS YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST WAS. KAILEY: WE REMAIN HOPEFUL FOR EVANS
RELEASE AS WELL AS PAUL WHELAN, BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS, EVEN
IF THEIR FREEDOM CAN BE SECURED, ARE OTHERS GOING TO BE
NEXT? IS AT HOW THIS WORKS WITH RUSSIA, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT
PAUL WAS ALLUDING TO WITH US, HOSTAGETAKING IS A BUSINESS.
WHO WILL BE SAFE? ANGELA: ANYONE WHO GOES TO RUSSIA
SHOULD THINK VERY CA
REFULLY ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
YES WE'VE SEEN THAT, WE HAVE A RADIO FREE EUROPE REPORTER IN
PRISON, A TEACHER FROM MOSCOW IS NOW IN PRISON AND THIS IS
THE WAY THE RUSSIANS APPEAR TO BE INCREASINGLY DOING BUSINESS
AS COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN HAVE BEEN DOING SOME TIME. KAILEY:
ANGELA, ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US. SENIOR FELLOW AT THE BROOKINGS
INSTITUTION. PRESIDENT BIDEN HOLDING A BIG
EVENT TONIGHT AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, JOINED BY HIS TWO
DEMOCRATIC PREDECE
SSORS. WE WILL DIVE INTO THE DETAILS
AND THE $25 MILLION HALL HE WILL RECKON TONIGHT. KAILEY:
THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER." FORMER PRESIDENTS BARACK OBAMA
AND CLINTON TONIGHT JOINING FORCES TO HELP BOOST
FUNDRAISING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN’'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN.
THEY ARE ALL THREE SET TO APPEAR AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
FOR A CELEBRITY FILLED EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY AND THEY WILL
RAISE $25 MILLION WHILE THEY DO SO. LET'S BRING IN OUR CLOSERS. WITH US ON A THURSDAY THIS WEEK
BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY TOMOR
ROW. WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU BOTH.
$25 MILLION PULLED IN IN PART BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO WANTS A
PICTURE WITH ALL THREE PRESIDENTS HAS TO PAY $100,000
TO DO SO. WE KNOW THAT BIDEN HAS IMPROVED
HIS FUNDRAISING PROWESS IN RECENT MONTHS. IS IT ABOUT PULLING IN THE
MONEY OR MAKING IT WORK IN YOUR FAVOR? JEANNIE:
PROBABLY BOTH, THIS IS THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN DEMOCRATIC
POLITICS SINCE BIDENS INAUGURATION, I HOPE YOU GUYS
ARE SAVING UP TO GET YOUR PICTURE WITH THE THREE OF THEM.
IT IS HISTORIC AND A HUGE BOON F
OR JOE BIDEN.
NOT ONLY IS IT THE MONEY THAT IS CRITICAL, HE NEEDS TO RAISE
IT AND SPEND IT ALSO THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE
GRASSROOTS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAN SEEING THESE THREE
FIGURES COMING TOGETHER AND IT IS QUITE A PICTURE, AS OPPOSED
TO DONALD TRUMP, WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF ANY LIVING
PRESIDENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OR EVEN HIS OWN FORMER
VICE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF MIKE PENCE. IT'S A GOOD NIGHT FOR
DEMOCRATS. I'M IN NEW YORK AND IT IS RAINY
AND CROWDED AND THERE I
S GRIDLOCK SO YOU WOULD NOT WANT
TO BE DRIVING OUT HERE TODAY. JOE:
YOU GOT TO GET IN LINE RIGHT NOW.
I'M FASCINATED BY THE OPTICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE NEXT GENERATION
HOPE, LOOKING ACROSS THE VALLEY, I CAN KEEP GOING WITH
CLICHÉS. COULD YOU HAVE IMAGINED RUNNING
JOHN MCCAIN'S CAMPAIGN AND HAVING BUSH AND REAGAN ON STAGE?
IS THIS BACKWARD LOOKING SPEAKING MORE TO DONALD TRUMP OR NO BIDEN'-- OR JOE BIDEN'S
AGE? RICK: I HAVE FUNDRAISING ENVY TONIGHT.
WE
DON'T RENT OUT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL AND HAVE A FULL SHOW.
IT IS SOMETHING I THINK EVERY BUT HE WANTS, GIVE THE DONORS
WHAT THEY WANT. THEY WON'T PICK UP VOTES
TONIGHT BUT THEY WILL GET ENOUGH MONEY TO COMMUNICATE
WITH A LOT OF VOTERS AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
PHIL GRAHAM, SAID MONEY IS THE MOTHER'S MILK OF AMERICAN
POLITICS AND TONIGHT HIS MOTHER'S MILK NIGHT. KAILEY: WE HAVE LEARNED THAT RICK DAVIS
WANTS LIZZO AT HIS NEXT EVENT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
ESTABLISHMENT BEING BEHIND BIDEN WHEREAS
THEY ARE NOT
BEHIND TRUMP, DOES THAT WORK TO TRUMP'S ADVANTAGE?
IT'S PART OF HIS APPEAL THAT HE'S NOT ESTABLISHMENT.
I WONDER IF THAT CONTRAST WORKS MORE FOR HIM THAN AGAINST HIM.
RICK: HE DID LOSE THE LAST ELECTION
WITH THAT MESSAGE. WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR THAT
WASN'T TRUE IN 2020, I THINK IF I WERE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN I
WOULD BE WORRIED THIS MESSAGE OF EXCLUSION IS NOT WORKING AS
WELL AS INCLUSION. IT'S NICE TO BE AN OUTSIDER,
HOW DOES A FORMER PRESIDENT BE AN OUTSIDER? SOME OF THAT IS IN CONTRAS
T.
THIS IS THE CONTRAST OF THE CAMPAIGNS, JOE BIDEN IS AN
ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE, HIS BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE LIBERAL
LEFT AND YOU ARE SORT OF COVERING THAT AND DONALD TRUMP
IS THE FIGHTER WHERE THE COUNTRY IS A MESS AND YOU NEED
SOMEBODY LIKE HIM TO RESCUE IT FROM ALL OF THESE NEGATIVE
INFLUENCES, MANY OF WHICH ARE GOVERNMENT THEMSELVES.
SWAMP PEOPLE. THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT IN
STARK CONTRAST, DONALD TRUMP WILL BE IN NEW YORK, PROBABLY
STUCK IN TRAFFIC WITH GENIE, AND HE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
HOW
HORRIBLE NEW YORK IS, AND COP KILLING ALL OVER THE CITY
AND HE WILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS PART OF THE PICTURE OF HOW
DARK AMERICA IS. JOE: THAT'S FASCINATING.
AS THE MAN WHO CREATED THE FAMOUS CELEBRITY AD IN THE 2008
CAMPAIGN WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH JOHN MCCAIN.
DOES NOT MATTER ANYMORE FOR DEMOCRATS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH
COASTAL ELITES? HANGING OUT WITH CELEBRITIES, A
BIG RITZY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN? WILL THERE BE AN AD ABOUT THAT
OR DOESN'T NOT MATTER BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST TR
UMP?
JEANNIE: THEY CAN AND I'M SURE THEY
WILL, THEY ARE ALREADY CALLING OUT JOE BIDEN FOR CALLING IN
THE TROOPS, BARACK OBAMA USED TO BE THE CLOSER.
HE IS COMING IN REALLY EARLY THIS TIME AND THEY ARE
FUNDRAISING OFF OF THAT, SAYING THIS SHOWS WHAT TROUBLE JOE
BIDEN IS IN. BUT THEY HAVE THE SAME IN THE
RICTUS, WHICH IS 25 MILLION DOLLARS IN A NIGHT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE. QUEEN LATIFAH, LIZZO, STEPHEN
COLBERT, MINDY KALING. THEY HAVE A LOT OF TALENT THAT
IS APPEALIN
G. I THINK THEY ARE JEALOUS AND
THEY WILL TRY TO USE THAT OLD LINE BUT I DON'T PICK IT WILL
FLY. KAILEY: EVEN IF THEY ARE JEALOUS OF THE
MONEY THERE ARE THINGS MONEY CAN'T BUY, SPECIFICALLY FREE
MEDIA, WHETHER IN THE COURT OR ATTENDING THE WAKE OF AN NYPD
OFFICER SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY, USING IT AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT CRIME AND NOT HAVING TO SPEND MONEY
OTHER THAN THE COST TO GET TO LONG ISLAND FROM BEDMINSTER
WHEREVER HE WAS. DOES THAT PLAYBOOK WORK AS WELL
AS SPENDING MILLIONS OF DO
LLARS ON AD BUYS? RICK:
THIS IS A TYPICAL PLAY BY DONALD TRUMP TO CRASH THE
PARTY, HE LIKES WHAT WE CALL BRACKETING, GO IN AND OUT AND
TAKE SOME OF THE MEDIA ALREADY REPORTING IN THE MARKET.
IT'S LOST ON ME WHY HE WOULD SPEND 10 MINUTES IN NEW YORK
CITY, THOUGH. WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO CRASH THE
PARTY IN A MARKET LIKE CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA OR
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SOMEPLACE WHERE IT WILL MATTER ON THE
BALLOT? DONALD TRUMP HAS TO WIN STATES
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WHICH HE ADORES
KOWTOWING TO, IT IS A BASIC POLITICAL CALCULATION THAT
THESE STATES MIGHT NOT BE AS ATTRACTIVE AS NEW YORK CITY FOR
HIM BUT IT'S WHERE PEOPLE WILL VOTE.
I DOUBT IF THAT MANY PEOPLE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA ARE
WORRIED ABOUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS DOING IN NEW YORK TODAY. JOE: THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER" ON BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO, I AM
JOE MATHIEU ALONGSIDE KAILEY LEINZ IN WASHINGTON. NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS
CHRISTIE DECLINING TO RUN AS A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, WRITING
A POST ON X LAST NIGHT,
"IF THERE IS NOT A PATHWAY TO WIN
AND MY CANDIDACY WOULD HELP DONALD TRUMP BECOME PRESIDENT
AGAIN, IT IS NOT THE WAY FORWARD."
BACK IS OUR PANEL, RICK DAVIS AND JEANNIE SHAN JANE DOE.
PRETTY FASCINATING. JEANNIE, YOU'VE BEEN WORRIED
ABOUT NO LABELS, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT,
POTENTIALLY A NO LABELS CANDIDACY FOR CHRIS CHRISTIE.
IF HE HAS SAID NO AND IT WOULD TAKE ME THE REST OF THE PROGRAM
TO LIST ALL THE OTHERS WHO HAVE SAID NO, IS THE EFFORT AT LAST
DYING? JEANNIE: IT SEEMS TO BE B
UT IN HIS
COMMENT, IF HE WAS TO JOIN THEM HE WOULD BE A SPOILER AND
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ALL BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THEM.
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN WORRIED, THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, AND ALSO
DONALD TRUMP IS NOW ATTACKING RFK BECAUSE THEY KNOW A VIABLE
THIRD CANDIDATE, A NO LABELS CANDIDATE, COULD BE A SPOILER
FOR EITHER SIDE. I THINK THE CONCERNS ARE REAL,
I WOULDN'T SAY THEY ARE DEAD YET THAT IS LOOKING MUCH HARDER
TO SEE WHAT KIND OF A CLASS CANDIDATE THEY COULD PUT ON THE
BALLOT GIVEN THE NEWS THEY'VE HAD SO
FAR. KAILEY:
NO LABELS, NO TICKET? RICK:
THEY ARE SCRAMBLING AND I'M SURE NANCY JACOBSON WHO RUNS NO
LABELS ARE WONDERING WHO IS THE CANDIDATE.
THEY CAN GET 70 TO RUN BUT IS A CREDIBLE ENOUGH? WE SAW RFK JUNIOR PUTTING
SOMEONE INEXPERIENCED ON HIS TICKING AND GETTING HUGE
BLOWBACK FROM IT. I'M SURE THEY ARE LEARNING WE
CAN'T GET INTO THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A
WHILE, THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MAY GO TO WASTE BECAUSE
THEY MIGHT NOT PUT UP A TICKET IF THEY DON'T FORGET
TO HAVE --
IF THEY DON'T THINK IT HAS CUT ABILITY. JOE:
BIG PART OF THE STORY WAS THE PASSING OF JOE LABOR -- JOE
LIEBERMAN, THE FOUNDER OF A NO LABELS MOVEMENT.
YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THE SENATOR, WHO WAS A DEAR
FRIEND IF NOT JOHN MCCAIN THE BEST FRIEND. RICK: I WAS SHOCKED, AND CONDOLENCES
TO HIS WIFE AND FAMILY, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH QUITE A BIT
RIGHT NOW AND HE DON'T THINK ANYBODY ANTICIPATED IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO HIM EVEN EARLIER THIS WEEK, HE
SEEMED VITAL AND FULL OF
LIFE. AND YOU ARE RIGHT, HE AND JOHN
MCCAIN WERE BROTHERS, TALKED TO EACH OTHER AND EVERY WALK OF
LIFE AND I REMEMBER JOE LIEBERMAN RANG THE BELL FOR US
IN 2007. REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, ALL YOUR
BUDDIES ARE STAYING IN FLOOR, WE'VE GOT TO WIN SORT OF, CAN
YOU CAMPAIGN ON THE GOLD COAST? HE WAS LIKE IN A MINUTE.
HOW MONEY PEOPLE HAVE DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGNING FOR REPUBLICANS?
HE TOOK A LOT OF GAS FROM THE OBAMA CAMP, BUT THEY WERE
INSEPARABLE, THE THREE AMIGOS. KAILEY:
LINDSEY GRAHAM PUT OUT A NICE NOTE A
BOUT THE PASSING. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN
AND JOE LIEBERMAN, DO THEY MAKE THEM LIKE THAT ANYMORE? JEANNIE:
HE WAS MY SENATOR FOR MANY YEARS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT HIM, HE CAME UP THROUGH THE
PARTY AND WAS INCREDIBLY MORAL AND FRIENDLY AND CONGENIAL AND
SUPPORTIVE AND WHEN BILL CLINTON HAD HIS TROUBLE, HE WAS
THE FIRST PERSON TO STEP UP AND SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
HE WAS BASICALLY KICKED OUT OF THE PARTY BECAUSE OF HIS VIEW
ON THE WAR IN IRAQ, HE CAME BACK AN
D SERVED CONNECTICUT.
AT THIS POINT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HIM, THE FACT THAT HE AND
AL GORE WALKED AWAY GRACEFULLY FROM A SUPREME COURT DECISION
THAT ENDED THE 2000 ELECTION IS SOMETHING WE DON'T SEE TODAY
OBVIOUSLY. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AND SO
MANY OTHERS HE IS UNIQUE TO AMERICAN POLITICS AND MUCH
MISSED. KAILEY: THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH AS
ALWAYS FOR JOINING US AND YOUR REFLECTIONS ON THE LEGACY OF
SENATOR LIEBERMAN. WE CONTINUE TO GET WASHINGTON
COVERAGE, CHECK OUT WASHINGTON NEWSLETTER ON THE T
ERMINAL.
Comments