President Donald Trump: The 2026 Midterms Interview with Punchbowl News

[0:00] The people are ushering me. I'm ushering them. It's part of the world. You cover it very well. [0:04] You cover specifically Congress. You see a strange group of people. [0:08] At the end of the week, Washington empties out. Fast. Lawmakers, staffers, they're all heading home. [0:15] But not before they stop here. [0:19] Hello and welcome back to the Punchable News Townhouse. I'm Anna Palmer. [0:29] And I'm Jake Sherman. [0:30] And this is another episode of Fly Day. It's our season finale. [0:33] And today we are trading out the townhouse for the White House, Jake. [0:37] We have an exclusive interview with President Donald J. Trump. [0:42] The timing is notable. We're less than 100 days to the midterms. [0:44] And the Senate is trying to pick up the pace on some last-minute legislation ahead of August recess. [0:50] Jake, talk a little bit about what your read is after your conversation with the president today. [0:54] Yeah. Very frustrated, I would say, with the Senate. [0:58] I don't know if you agree with that. You were there. [1:01] He's very frustrated with John Thune. [1:04] He said he's not thinking about whether Thune should be leader again. [1:08] I'm Republican leader of the Senate. [1:10] We talked to him about a lot, Anna, a lot of the stuff that's going on on Capitol Hill. [1:16] The Save America Act, the filibuster. [1:18] Whether he actually cares if Republicans keep their majority. [1:23] Whether he thinks he could do business with Hakeem Jeffries, [1:26] who would theoretically be Speaker if Democrats would take back the majority. [1:30] And about what he thinks about Republican voters. [1:33] He thinks they're very frustrated with Republicans in Congress, which I found that to be fascinating. [1:41] What did you think? [1:42] Frustrated with Republicans in Congress, but not the president. [1:46] Yeah. [1:46] He really distanced himself from that. [1:48] Also, we talked to him about Blanche's nomination, Pentagon funding, [1:51] a look at whether he thinks the Fed should hike rates or not. [1:55] We covered a ton of ground after our interview. [1:59] We'll be joined by Punchbowl News' own co-founder, John Bresahan, [2:02] to help us break down the conversation. [2:04] We're going to get right to that conversation with the president. [2:06] But first, a quick word from our presenting sponsor, Boeing. [2:11] Presented by Boeing. [2:13] As America celebrates 250 years, Boeing honors a shared journey of ingenuity. [2:18] Today, that legacy powers 1.4 million jobs across all 50 states. [2:24] That's how Boeing backs America. [2:28] All right, President Trump, welcome to Fly Out Day. [2:30] Thank you. [2:31] Here to talk about Congress. [2:32] Good. [2:32] We have 89 days until the midterm elections, something you've been focused on. [2:36] But let's start with Save America Act. [2:38] And the Senate, and John Thune, the leader of the Senate, doesn't look likely. [2:42] Can't guarantee it doesn't look likely the budget resolution is getting on the floor this week. [2:46] They're trying to wrap up a lot of business. [2:48] That resolution does carry the blueprint for the Save America Act. [2:52] Thune says it doesn't have the votes. [2:53] You seem to think it does, or they should try or do something. [2:57] He's been pretty pointed on this, Thune. [2:58] He says he doesn't see a pathway to 50, 51, doesn't have 60. [3:03] Democrats aren't voting for it. [3:04] What's the disconnect between you and Thune? [3:07] Well, we have no disconnect. [3:08] I think we have a good relationship. [3:10] But I view that as a very important thing. [3:13] It's voter ID. [3:14] If you just even take the ballots out of it, you know, the ballots are very important. [3:18] But we do that another time. [3:19] Voter ID, and it's proof of citizenship. [3:22] And I figure you can't get any more basic than that. [3:25] In other words, we want to see your citizenship. [3:28] We want to make sure that you're a citizen to vote. [3:31] We'd like photo ID just to make sure because the elections are rigged in this country. [3:36] The elections are a mess in this country. [3:38] And that was proven in 2020. [3:40] And it's been proven elsewhere. [3:41] Look at the recent election that took place with the Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles. [3:47] All of a sudden, I mean, they came from nowhere. [3:49] It looked like he was in the runoff or easily in the runoff. [3:52] The other one was, the third place was a woman nobody ever heard of. [3:56] She's crying. [3:57] Oh, I didn't make it. [3:58] I didn't. [3:58] She didn't make it by a lot. [3:59] All of a sudden, she surged. [4:02] Unknown people don't surge. [4:04] And she surged after the election was over. [4:07] And she ended up getting in the runoff. [4:09] He didn't. [4:10] Look, we're like a third world country in many cases, in many states. [4:15] Third world country. [4:16] So I think that I think it's very important. [4:19] Save America Act is a very important thing. [4:22] John's trying. [4:23] He's trying hard. [4:24] I really believe that. [4:25] But if he doesn't get there, it would be unfortunate. [4:29] He says, why don't you get the votes for it? [4:31] Well, I can probably do that. [4:32] But I have a couple of people that I won't do so well with. [4:36] You understand why, right? [4:37] They're no longer in power. [4:39] Well, as soon as they leave on January 20th. [4:42] Should he put it up for a vote either way? [4:45] Yeah, I would, because I'd like to see the people that want to vote against it. [4:48] I want to see the people, both Republican and Democrat, who vote against it. [4:52] Because mostly it's Democrats. [4:53] I mean, we have most Republicans, in all fairness. [4:55] We'll have a few. [4:56] We'll be, you know, like a couple short or maybe one short, which we shouldn't be any. [5:02] What Republican is going to vote against it? [5:04] I could tell you there's a couple. [5:05] I know. [5:05] I know the ones you have to tell me. [5:07] I know the ones. [5:08] And I find it hard to believe. [5:10] But you have all the Democrats who are going to vote against it. [5:12] Every Democrat is going to vote against it. [5:14] They have five times, to be clear. [5:15] Well, they do and over and over. [5:17] And I think it should, I think it should pay a price during the election, for the election. [5:23] Every single Democrat is opposed. [5:24] But not only that, they're opposed to even by the great, big, beautiful bill. [5:29] I like the term better than the one. [5:31] I like the great, better than the one. [5:33] But the great, big, beautiful bill is something that they all voted against, every single one of them. [5:39] So they voted against, you know, no tax on tips. [5:41] And they voted against Social Security, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime, car loan deductions. [5:48] All these things, these incredible things, they voted against everything. [5:51] They vote against transgender all the time, the mutilization of your children. [5:56] They vote against open borders. [5:58] They vote in favor of open borders. [6:00] They vote totally in favor of open borders. [6:03] These people, it's the craziest thing. [6:05] So I like having their hands go up voting against all of these things. [6:10] But when you vote against, as an example, when you vote against the Save America Act, you're voting against fair voting. [6:19] And when you think that they're voting against citizenship, I want to see a citizenship. [6:25] These are things that nobody can understand when they're voting against voter ID. [6:30] And, you know, it was very interesting because in New York, the other day, they were talking about the food store. [6:35] You see, they want to be licensed. [6:36] They want you to be licensed, daughter, by a loaf of bread. [6:40] Maybe the same thing also in New York. [6:42] And these are people who absolutely don't want anything having to do with elections. [6:46] In other words, you can just walk in no matter who you are. [6:48] But when it came to shoveling snow, did you see that? [6:52] You had to get two forms of identification to get licensed to shovel snow. [6:56] But to go in and vote, you don't need anything. [6:58] No, it's no good. [6:59] Do you, so you have a government funding fight coming up September 30th, which is just, you know, five, six weeks away, whatever it is. [7:05] If it doesn't get done now, do you want, do you want to push for it in a government funding? [7:09] Look, I'm going to say whatever happens, happens. [7:12] It was set up so that it would be before the election. [7:15] And you could very well have a closed country because the Democrats are going to vote entirely against it. [7:20] They're going to vote against it. [7:21] Well, they're for, it seems like they're for, yeah. [7:24] They're in favor of closing down the country. [7:27] They're in favor of, look, I'll go a step further. [7:29] I'd like to see a termination of the filibuster. [7:32] But you don't have the votes for that, right? [7:33] Oh, that's one I really can't believe. [7:35] But why, I mean, it's, you say Democrats would do it. [7:39] Well, because you know why, you don't have, you don't have Democrat votes right now. [7:43] But for, if they get in office, a hundred percent, they'll terminate the filibuster. [7:47] You know that? [7:48] Well, they tried. [7:49] They weren't able to last night. [7:50] Well, but those two people are now out of service. [7:53] That's true. [7:53] They're doing other things and no longer politicians. [7:57] And they wouldn't have been able to get elected in the, you know, they couldn't have gotten the nomination. [8:01] But, and look, it's incredible. [8:06] Termination of the filibuster. [8:08] So good. [8:09] And you have most Republicans in favor. [8:12] And then you have some old line people that they actually believe, some of the Republicans actually believe the Democrats won't do it. [8:20] And I would say. [8:21] And I'm one, I actually don't think that, I think there are a lot more people who are against it than it seems publicly. [8:26] I think the Democrats will do it in the first hour, day, and if they're really slow week, it'll be done. [8:35] And then, you know what happens? [8:36] You have two more states, so to speak, right? [8:39] You have D.C. and you have Puerto Rico. [8:40] You have four more senators. [8:42] You have eight more congressmen. [8:44] You have 23 because the real number they won is 23 Supreme Court justices. [8:49] That's their real number. [8:50] You know, they talk about 13. [8:52] Who wants 13? [8:52] You know, somebody was arguing about that. [8:54] Who wants 13? [8:55] You're going to pick 13, a lucky number, 13. [8:58] You build a building, you don't show a 13th floor. [9:01] So, all of these horrible things are going to happen. [9:06] And I really believe you have a couple of people that believe, and I can't, I'm very surprised that you believe that. [9:12] So, you think that? [9:12] I think that there are a lot of, I think that there are a lot of people when push comes to shove are not going to be there to blow up the bill. [9:19] We'll make a gentleman's bet, okay? [9:21] I try not to bet on, I don't bet on politics. [9:23] And you know what? [9:24] I hope I lose. [9:25] Do you, the Pentagon, as part of this budget resolution, the Pentagon is in line to get 60 some odd billion dollars. [9:32] If they don't get that in short order, which is, you know, what you want, you want this thing to happen. [9:36] And we're doing so well, and to, you know, have to break it up a little bit. [9:39] What would it mean if you didn't get that money, if the Pentagon didn't get that? [9:42] It's not good. [9:44] The Democrats are kamikaze pilots right now. [9:47] But this is Republicans, too, right now. [9:48] To be clear on the budget resolution, it is. [9:50] It's not even believable that it's Republicans, okay? [9:53] But it is. [9:53] Not many, but it's a few Republicans, yes. [9:57] Let's talk about Blanche. [9:58] Todd Blanche, your attorney general nominee. [9:59] Sure. [9:59] Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski are on the fence. [10:03] You think he's going to be confirmed? [10:05] All I can say is that he's a great gentleman. [10:07] He's a great person. [10:08] He's great at what he does. [10:10] Everybody agrees with that. [10:12] People think he's incredible. [10:15] If they don't agree to do what they should do, it'll be very sad. [10:22] And we'll all survive. [10:24] Todd will survive. [10:26] You'll keep him in his acting. [10:27] Yeah, sure. [10:27] He'll be acting. [10:28] Yeah. [10:28] But why should he be acting when – and, you know, if he was a marginal – everybody agrees he's fantastic. [10:33] He's great. [10:34] He's fair. [10:35] He's a fair guy, not a radical flamethrower. [10:39] Yeah, he's going to be acting, and, you know, we'll try it again. [10:42] I wonder if you feel any – like, because a lot of these people who are against him were – who have given you trouble on him are people you endorsed against, right? [10:49] I mean, you have Cornyn, Cassidy, Murkowski, you kind of – [10:53] Essentially, all of them. [10:53] Slag, yes. [10:54] Right, so – [10:55] Murkowski I was against. [10:57] Yeah. [10:57] I'm against Murkowski. [10:58] I think she's – I do more for Alaska than any president in history. [11:02] No president's done for Alaska. [11:04] I've done – she's not good. [11:08] You don't – do you regret any going against these people? [11:10] It makes your agenda harder to get through. [11:11] Look, I don't regret it. [11:12] You do what you have to do. [11:14] Yeah. [11:15] Would you – do you want Thune to serve another term as leader? [11:17] And just so you understand, they voted to impeach me. [11:21] No, I was there, yeah. [11:22] In all fairness, you think that I'm going to support somebody that voted to impeach me? [11:27] Yeah, no, I hear – [11:27] You know what, MAGA, my beautiful MAGA base, the greatest people on earth, they know what they'd do if I voted in favor of somebody that voted to impeach the person that they love and I love them? [11:38] They would not be happy. [11:39] Do you want Thune to serve another term as leader? [11:41] Do you think – would you support them? [11:42] Well, I don't want to get into that necessarily, but – [11:44] Why? [11:45] A lot of people are thinking about it. [11:46] This is a big issue. [11:48] I get along with them. [11:50] It's unfortunate that he doesn't have the vote. [11:52] But do you actually get along with them? [11:54] I do. [11:55] But you clearly – I mean, you have big disagreements. [11:57] I do. [11:58] I do have disagreements. [11:59] I believe strongly in terminating the filibuster. [12:01] And by the way, getting Save America Act approved immediately and about 400 other things in every hour of every day. [12:11] Boom, boom, boom. [12:12] You get whatever you want. [12:13] You get – [12:13] Democrats would do it too, though, right? [12:15] They'd get along. [12:15] Well, they're going to do that. [12:16] Guys don't – [12:16] They're going to do that. [12:17] If they get in, they're going to do it very quickly. [12:19] I mean, you're wrong on that one. [12:20] We'll see. [12:21] They're going to do that so fast. [12:22] And I say, as long as we all know that they're going to do it – I'm so shocked to hear you. [12:28] But as long as I know that they're going to do that, you do it. [12:31] I would do it whether they did it or not. [12:33] I would – we would get, in the next two and a half years, we would get things that nobody ever dreamt of. [12:39] We would be in office for the next hundred years. [12:42] And I'll tell you what, if they get in, I may be the last Republican president. [12:49] Let's talk about the House. [12:49] If they don't get smart, if the Senate doesn't get smart, I may be the last Republican president. [12:55] That's a big statement. [12:56] Yeah. [12:56] I'm not sure it's right, but who knows? [12:58] We'll see. [12:59] Let's talk about the House. [13:02] Mike Johnson will probably remain Speaker if he keeps the majority. [13:05] He should. [13:06] If he keeps the majority. [13:07] So if he loses the majority – [13:09] Mike Johnson is working with a majority of two, three. [13:13] We've had it one. [13:14] We've had it like if we're one heart attack away from losing the House. [13:20] In Congress, that ain't hard. [13:21] And you know what? [13:21] We get a lot of things passed. [13:23] Yeah. [13:24] He's great. [13:24] We work together great. [13:25] He's a fantastic person. [13:26] If he loses there, it's going to be an interesting thing. [13:29] The internal battles. [13:30] If he loses, who gets the blame? [13:32] I mean, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Jim Jordan. [13:35] Great people. [13:35] Look at it. [13:36] Everyone's great. [13:36] But you want Johnson to top House Republicans either way, no matter what happens. [13:40] Well, I don't think there's even a thought of anybody challenging him. [13:44] I don't know. [13:44] Huh? [13:45] Well, there could be. [13:46] Well, I haven't heard it. [13:47] I think I'd know. [13:49] I think he's done a great job. [13:51] You should read Punchbowl News. [13:51] And again, remember this. [13:52] Look, remember this. [13:54] We have a majority of them, sometimes one. [13:56] That's true. [13:57] Okay, it drops down to one. [13:58] But let's say when we have three, we're in clover, okay? [14:02] Right. [14:03] And I think right now we're at two or three. [14:05] I think he's done a very good job. [14:07] Your critics on the Hill, Republicans, say privately, you don't really care about Congress. [14:12] You don't care about losing the majority. [14:13] You'll do your thing either way. [14:14] You're president. [14:15] You could do the same borders. [14:16] No, it's not right. [14:16] Is that not right? [14:17] Yeah, it's not right. [14:18] And I'd love to win. [14:19] I'm fighting hard. [14:20] I'd just get back from a trip. [14:21] I was in California. [14:23] I was in Nevada, all over the place. [14:27] Now I'm going to fight. [14:28] We have a, I don't even call it a mini convention, but it is. [14:32] In Dallas, right. [14:32] It's a mini convention in Dallas. [14:34] That was an idea that I had. [14:36] I think it's going to be terrific. [14:37] We're going to fight hard. [14:39] We raised a lot of money. [14:40] I raised a lot of money for just this purpose. [14:43] I'll put in a lot of money. [14:44] Right. [14:44] It's very important for the country that we win because you have people getting an office [14:50] right now who will destroy this country. [14:52] You're a person in Michigan that won the other night. [14:56] Abdul Al-Sayed. [14:57] He is a disaster for the country. [15:01] Got a good line of stuff. [15:02] I watched him. [15:03] He speaks well. [15:04] Speaks okay. [15:05] Seemed better. [15:07] But I'll tell you what, guys like that get in. [15:10] They'll destroy this country. [15:11] You said yesterday, you spoke, you just talked about Nevada. [15:14] You said yesterday, gas prices, correct me if I'm wrong, they might go up again a little [15:17] bit. [15:18] You said. [15:18] No, no. [15:18] That's only if I have to do another hit. [15:21] Okay. [15:22] So, I mean. [15:22] They'll only go down or if we make a deal, they want to make a deal. [15:25] They want to make a deal. [15:26] Look, it's obvious. [15:28] They don't want to be hit. [15:29] Okay. [15:29] They want to make a deal. [15:31] So, we'll see. [15:31] Because you're seeing that nervousness on the hill about that. [15:33] It'll only go up if we have to do another hit. [15:37] Johnson says, has said in the past, if Republicans lose the House, it'll be the end of the [15:43] Trump presidency. [15:45] In some, to some degree. [15:47] Yeah, to some degree. [15:49] You still have tremendous, I have great blocking power. [15:51] So, they won't be able to do anything. [15:53] In other words, they won't be able to destroy. [15:54] They could veto, right? [15:55] No, no. [15:55] I have great block. [15:56] I'm a great blocker. [15:57] And, you know, they'll be putting horrible communistic type things in front of me. [16:03] And I'll be just saying, no, no, no. [16:05] But I'd rather do, I'd rather be a positive force than a negative force. [16:08] But you've acknowledged a bunch of times that, you know, it's tough for the party in power [16:12] to keep the House majority. [16:14] It's a difficult thing, right? [16:15] It's the only opportunity. [16:16] It amazes me, actually. [16:17] So, I've done a lot. [16:19] I mean, you know, I am very consequential. [16:21] You look at the great big beautiful. [16:23] You look at all of the things that we've done, you could make the case that nobody's [16:27] done so much in a year and a half. [16:29] Why are they down on the generic ballot? [16:32] Like, what do you think? [16:33] Well, let me just say, and this is what nobody understands. [16:37] Nobody understands it. [16:39] The president in power, Republican or Democrat, as I call it, the president in power always [16:47] loses. [16:49] It's the craziest thing. [16:50] Two times. [16:51] 96 and... [16:52] They were a little unusual times. [16:53] Yes, they were. [16:53] There's a psychology down deep that nobody can explain. [16:57] Well, people want to check on power, I think, right? [16:58] Well, they maybe want to check on power, but when you have somebody doing a great... [17:02] I did the greatest tax cuts, best tax cuts, biggest tax cuts. [17:06] You're looking at no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime, the deductions [17:12] for buying cars and all the things. [17:15] We have more money being invested in the United States now than at any time in history. [17:19] I rebuilt the military. [17:20] I mean, the things I've done. [17:21] So, even if you did a great job as president, they seem to lose. [17:27] That's the only thing that I have going against us. [17:31] For some reason, if the president, whoever is Democrat or Republican, loses on the midterms. [17:38] And by the way, that's over the last hundred years. [17:41] Yes, it's not 50, it's a hundred years. [17:43] How do you handicap it now, House and Senate? [17:46] I think we're going to win. [17:47] But, you know, I look at, I'll be honest, I look at this, not everybody was a bad president. [17:53] We've had good presidents. [17:55] And even good presidents, they tend to lose the midterms. [17:58] So, I don't know what that is. [17:59] Other than that, I'd say we should win easily. [18:02] Now, I think they also, they're hurting themselves because we don't want communists in our country. [18:06] You've got a lot of bad candidates on the other side. [18:09] And it's one thing to win in a radical left area, you know, an area that tends to be very much on the Democrats' side. [18:20] But I don't think you can win on a general election with that. [18:24] I just don't think the people are ready for it. [18:26] I don't think they'll ever be ready for it. [18:28] Do you, MAGA Inc., the super PAC that you, that your allies control, has a lot of money and a lot of people. [18:34] Not my allies, I control. [18:35] Okay, you and your allies. [18:37] Eight hundred million dollars. [18:38] Are you going to spend it? [18:39] Yeah, it's funny, nobody ever, of course, I'm going to do. [18:41] You're going to spend it in the midterms. [18:43] I could spend it on pretty much anything I want. [18:45] I'm going to spend it for, I'm going to help Republicans. [18:49] This midterms. [18:49] I mean, so when you say, I don't care. [18:51] No, I didn't say that. [18:52] I said, some people say that. [18:53] Yeah, look, I mean, I could do a lot easier. [18:55] I don't have to be away in Nevada yesterday. [18:57] I didn't have to be in Los Angeles yesterday making speeches. [19:00] I didn't have to be supporting all the people. [19:02] I have a lot, you know, I have a busy schedule. [19:04] I said to somebody, wait a minute, you don't understand. [19:06] I won. [19:07] I'm not campaigning. [19:09] Now, that's the other thing. [19:09] I get a tremendous vote. [19:13] I have records in many of the states, the most votes ever in Texas and Florida and many, many states. [19:18] Alabama, you can go through many, many states. [19:21] The most votes ever. [19:24] The question is, and they're asking this question, and I've had some great polls recently, real polls, but they're great polls. [19:32] If I don't run, will those people go out and vote? [19:38] And that's the one thing I can't, I'm going to ask them to, but I'm just watching guys like you and your very talented people. [19:46] The question is, will they vote? [19:48] Because a lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you. [19:54] Why is that? [19:54] I don't know, I mean, they're angry at Republicans, but they're not angry at me. [19:58] That's an interesting thing, why? [19:59] They're not angry at me, but they are angry at Republicans. [20:02] Everyone's always angry at me. [20:03] And there are some areas that are basically Democrat, but they're Trump, like Pennsylvania. [20:10] I win Pennsylvania easily. [20:12] I win other places easily. [20:14] Look, I won Michigan easily. [20:16] I did well with Michigan. [20:17] Did well with almost everything, to be honest. [20:19] I did well with everything. [20:20] But it's a good point, Mike. [20:20] Now the question is. [20:21] Rogers lost when you were on the ballot. [20:23] And now he's up again. [20:25] Well, he lost when I'm on the ballot, and I won big in Michigan. [20:28] But I happen to think he won. [20:31] Okay, well, that's... [20:32] No, no, no, I think it was a rigged deal. [20:34] I think they rigged him out of it. [20:35] But he's a very good candidate. [20:37] I think he should do well. [20:39] If we believe in polls, I actually sort of believe in polls. [20:42] P polls were terrible in the Democratic primary. [20:44] They were terrible in that primary. [20:46] But if we believe in the poll a little bit, let's give it a little credit. [20:49] They say he does better against Abdullah. [20:52] It's Abdullah, but the actual name is Abdullah. [20:56] And then it's much longer than that. [20:58] Right. [20:58] But if you believe in the polls, he does better against Abdullah than he did against the young [21:03] congresswoman. [21:04] Yeah. [21:04] Should Warsh, Kevin Warsh, your Fed chair, avoid a rate hike before the election? [21:10] Well, it's up to him a little bit, but not completely. [21:12] He's got a board that's very political. [21:15] Right. [21:15] The United States should pay the lowest interest rate in the entire world. [21:21] So you think that he shouldn't hike rates before the election? [21:23] It's not totally up to him. [21:25] It's up to a board. [21:26] I think he's great. [21:27] I won't be criticizing him. [21:29] But I've said many times, you know, in the old days, 20, 25 years ago, call it the old [21:35] days. [21:36] If you announce good numbers, the interest rates went down because you were a better credit. [21:40] Makes sense, right? [21:42] Now it's all beckocked. [21:43] Now it's all a different thing. [21:46] If you announce great numbers, everybody's depressed because we have great numbers. [21:50] They think what you're going to do is raise interest rates. [21:53] But in the old days, when you announced great numbers, interest rates went down. [21:56] So I want to go back to those days. [22:00] You know, we make many countries, elite countries, you know, take a look at Switzerland. [22:05] We have a $39 billion deficit. [22:08] I can wipe out that deficit in one stroke of the pen. [22:13] And they're no longer an elite country. [22:16] Yet they pay one half a percent interest. [22:18] They're the lowest ones. [22:21] And all I have to do is say, I don't want any of your watches. [22:24] You know, I mean, I don't want any of your goods. [22:26] And we save ourselves $39, $40, $41 billion. [22:32] And they go from being elite to being very troubled. [22:36] Fortunately, I'm a nice person. [22:38] Okay. [22:38] But just so you understand, they're paying a half a point. [22:42] We're paying much more than that. [22:45] In the old days, we were also the lowest interest rate. [22:49] We should be the lowest interest rate again. [22:51] Because many of these countries that are very low on interest rates, they're only low because [22:57] of us, because we're willing to subsidize it. [22:59] We're subsidizing many of the world countries, many of the most elite countries. [23:04] I use Switzerland, it's very elite. [23:06] I looked at the interest rates, they're paying the lowest interest rate. [23:09] Well, without us, they would be, they would have nothing but problems. [23:16] We give them, we hand them on a plate, $40 billion. [23:20] They have, so we have a deficit, because I call a deficit a loss. [23:25] Some people don't. [23:26] Some people think, oh, well, it's not really, you know, they come up with, to me, it's a loss. [23:30] We hand them $40 billion a year. [23:32] Without that $40 billion, they're no longer elite. [23:37] And we should have the lowest interest rate anywhere in the world. [23:41] Do you, you've had a meeting with Hakeem Jeffries a long time ago. [23:45] You, I don't think you've had many more conversations with him since then. [23:48] Maybe you have. [23:50] What's your, what's your read of him? [23:52] I think he's a nice guy. [23:53] I mean, I did, he was here. [23:54] Yeah. [23:55] We had a good meeting. [23:56] It was in, you know, look. [23:57] He's harsh on you. [23:58] He says, I mean. [23:59] Well, he's harsh because I'm harsh on him. [24:00] You know, I'm sure he wouldn't be so harsh. [24:02] I've said bad things about him. [24:03] Could you do business with him, you think? [24:05] Yeah, I think so. [24:06] Look, the people are harsh on me, I'm harsh on them. [24:10] It's part of the world. [24:11] You cover it very well. [24:12] You cover specifically Congress. [24:14] You see a strange group of people, but I'd probably get along with them very well. [24:19] I got, you know, I had, I met him essentially once. [24:22] Yep. [24:22] I think I'd probably get along with them very well. [24:25] Just a couple more questions on policy. [24:27] AI, a big issue that Congress has had, is basically nowhere on, and they've, they can't [24:33] get their act together on AI. [24:34] Well, in one way that's good, in one way that's good. [24:36] Oh yeah, you could argue it either way. [24:37] But what do you think a date? [24:38] You want to regulate them out of business. [24:39] What do you think of the, the big question that we have all the time is what is going [24:42] to be the political impact of data centers? [24:44] I mean, I know you've taken action. [24:46] Congress is going to try and take action. [24:48] It's going to be in the next 10 years, a big political issue. [24:51] So the way you look at AI, whoever wins AI just wins. [24:55] It's that big. [24:56] It's bigger than the internet by many times. [24:58] It's going to be bigger than anybody ever thought possible. [25:01] Not even imaginable how big I saw Texas the other day, sort of is against data centers. [25:08] I think it's a mistake. [25:11] And I'm not taking positions or I'm just think it's a mistake because there are other [25:15] communities that want it. [25:17] When a community wants it, it means a lot of money is going to come into that community. [25:21] Unsightly potentially. [25:22] Well, I don't think they're unsightly. [25:23] I mean, I'm looking at some of these data centers, the most incredible buildings I've [25:26] ever seen. [25:27] They go for two and a half, three miles. [25:29] They're three miles by three miles. [25:31] They're necessary for the technology. [25:33] Well, but I think they are tremendously important for the economics. [25:37] I mean, this is for Texas to say no to data centers is a mistake in the sense that it could [25:43] be bigger than oil. [25:44] I mean, data centers could be bigger than oil. [25:47] You have the Texas oil and there are a lot of communities that want it. [25:51] But more importantly, and bad for us, they have a lot of countries that want them. [25:55] And if we turn off on data centers, we turn off on AI. [25:58] We are leading because of me. [26:00] We're leading AI. [26:01] Remember this. [26:01] I came up with an idea that was a great idea. [26:04] Nobody thought it was serious. [26:05] They actually, they didn't even believe it. [26:06] They didn't even put in plans with it. [26:09] I said, when you build your data center, I'm going to let you build your own electric sources, [26:13] your electric generating source. [26:16] They said, well, that's too good to be true. [26:18] They didn't believe me. [26:19] It took them a month to realize I was serious and I'm going to get you fast approvals. [26:22] Lee Zeldin is great. [26:23] And now, when they build a plant, they're building, they're becoming like a utility, [26:30] a public utility. [26:31] So, they're building a big portion of the building is now their own generator. [26:35] So, we're not taking that from the public. [26:37] We're not taking it for the grid. [26:38] And then, at a very cheap price, and maybe for nothing, they're taking their excess electricity, [26:43] which will be a lot, and they're putting it back into the grid. [26:47] Now, if I didn't do that, we wouldn't have one building being built in this country because [26:51] we have an old grid that's tired, it's exhausted. [26:53] And these things, the one thing they need, they need a lot of electricity. [26:58] The word is electricity. [26:59] They need more electricity than the entire nation uses for everything. [27:04] Think of it. [27:05] If you took your electricity output for everything, they need more than that number. [27:10] And sometimes, people would say twice that number. [27:13] It's hard to believe. [27:15] It's unbelievable. [27:16] But they're building their own plants. [27:19] They're not going to be taking it from the grid, and they're going to be actually giving [27:23] it back. [27:24] And very importantly, those communities are going to make a fortune where they have the [27:28] new data centers going. [27:29] So, if I were a governor, I would want data centers so badly, I'll cut taxes. [27:35] I mean, taxes are going to go way down because this is a tremendous source of income. [27:40] Two more quick questions. [27:40] And we can't let China beat us at this. [27:43] You know, a lot of people think that the campaign that's being put on is being paid for by China. [27:48] A lot of people do believe that. [27:48] And we have President Xi coming here in a couple of weeks, and we're going to have a great time, [27:52] but I'm going to talk to them about it. [27:53] But I don't blame them. [27:54] You know, we do things, and they do things. [27:56] But a lot of people think that because they are losing to us in AI. [28:02] One of the things that Congress is wrestling with now is crypto. [28:06] A big crypto bill is on the agenda. [28:10] Democrats want to impose ethics restrictions and limit your family's ability to conduct [28:16] crypto business while you're in office. [28:18] How do you feel about that? [28:18] Well, I'll tell you, it's very interesting because Nancy Pelosi, nobody ever did that with [28:22] her. [28:22] And I'm not, I believe crypto is very important because if we don't have it, China is going [28:27] to have it. [28:27] I think, you know, they all want it. [28:28] OK, and we've done a great job on it. [28:31] I have. [28:32] We've done Biden all of a sudden at the end became very strong for it because he saw I was [28:37] getting all of the business. [28:38] I did it for a lot of reasons. [28:41] One of them was politics. [28:42] There were a lot of people like they say 100 million people worldwide and a lot of people. [28:48] Right. [28:48] And then Biden showed what was happening. [28:50] I was killing him. [28:52] And he all of a sudden loved crypto. [28:54] But I do it very simply because we can't let China have it or Japan have it. [28:59] Other countries really want it and we dominate in it. [29:01] So to me, it's very important. [29:03] But they want to do a bill. [29:05] And in the bill, they want me to be different than everybody else. [29:07] So you're against that, it would sound like. [29:09] Well, I don't mind putting it in a blind trust. [29:11] I don't run my stuff anyway. [29:12] I let my kids run it. [29:13] But and I never even talk. [29:15] I never talk to them about things. [29:16] If they want to go into it, you know, they're not involved in government. [29:20] I don't talk to them about government. [29:22] I don't talk to them about much other than to say, I love you kids. [29:25] You know, they're good kids. [29:27] But we don't want to see China take over crypto. [29:30] I don't want to see China win with AI. [29:32] AI and crypto. [29:33] Crypto is a big deal. [29:35] I mean, I see it more and more where people are paying with Bitcoin. [29:38] You know, they don't even know about cash anymore. [29:41] That takes a lot of that takes a lot of pressure off our dollar. [29:45] It's a good thing for our country. [29:47] But if China took over crypto, which they would love to do, [29:50] or if China took over AI, which they would really. [29:53] So we are leading with AI on China. [29:56] Nobody thought that was possible. [29:57] The reason was energy because he can create. [30:00] He's an amazing guy. [30:02] China can create unbelievable amounts of energy. [30:06] And they use coal and they use oil and gas. [30:09] And they use, you know, they make a lot of windmills, [30:11] but they don't use too many windmills because they're smart. [30:13] Because wind is a disaster. [30:15] It's as a. [30:16] Yeah, I don't understand your obsession with that. [30:17] But no, no. [30:18] You know what my obsession is? [30:20] I want the country to be successful. [30:22] We subsidize all of this wind. [30:25] You shouldn't have to subsidize energy, number one. [30:28] But wind is a very expensive form of energy. [30:30] Some Republicans are against you on that, too. [30:31] But let me, I'm going to. [30:32] That's because they don't understand business. [30:35] Last question for you. [30:36] If Democrats do take over the House, it's just going to be investigation mania. [30:40] You know, they're going to do oversight. [30:42] They can impeach you again. [30:43] I mean, do you think they will? [30:45] Well, a lot of people are saying I'm one of the greatest presidents ever. [30:50] They're not saying that, though. [30:52] But they know. [30:53] They see the results. [30:54] Look, we have right now more money being invested in the United States [30:58] than at any time in history. [30:59] More money than any country has ever had being invested. [31:02] We're in numbers that nobody. [31:04] We're building more factories, plants. [31:06] And not just talking about AI. [31:08] AI, yes. [31:09] But auto plants. [31:11] Plants of all kinds. [31:12] Toyota just announced they're coming in with the largest plant. [31:15] Anywhere in the world, they're leaving Mexico. [31:17] They're leaving Canada. [31:19] People are leaving. [31:20] The car companies are leaving Germany. [31:22] They're leaving Japan. [31:23] They're all coming here because of tariffs. [31:26] Because of my very smart use of tariffs. [31:29] Because I'm a. [31:29] But will they impeach you, do you think? [31:33] They'll be. [31:34] It's hard to believe they could. [31:36] But they'll be all over you. [31:37] They'll be subpoenas. [31:38] It's a very unfair thing. [31:39] Yeah, it's a very unfair thing. [31:41] You know, when I was president, [31:43] and I made the statement a lot about Hillary Clinton. [31:46] They wanted to impeach her. [31:48] They wanted to destroy her. [31:49] And I said, you just can't do that. [31:52] And then I get in there and they tried to do the same thing with me. [31:56] They were vicious. [31:58] So I guess they might be. [31:59] Are they more vicious than Republicans? [32:01] I think the Republicans are too nice, actually. [32:04] I think the Republicans are much nicer. [32:05] I think the Republicans are much more gentle than the Democrats. [32:09] I think the problem with the Democrats, they have bad policy. [32:12] They're smart. [32:13] They're vicious. [32:15] But they have really bad policy. [32:17] Open borders. [32:18] Let the whole world come into our country. [32:19] Let prisons be emptied out into our country. [32:22] The transgender mutilization of your children. [32:25] That's fine with them. [32:27] All of these things that they have men playing in women's sports. [32:30] They want men playing in women's sports. [32:31] They have horrible policy. [32:33] They love crypto. [32:35] They love AI. [32:36] But they don't like it if I'm involved in it. [32:38] Because if I'm involved, I'm like, as president, look, [32:42] I've created the greatest market ever. [32:45] Nobody could believe that we're leading substantially China, [32:48] as an example, in AI and in crypto. [32:51] And that's because of me. [32:53] Biden was against all this. [32:55] I don't think Biden had any idea what it was. [32:59] But our country right now is doing better than it's ever done. [33:02] And, you know, when I see polls on the economy, [33:03] I should have 150%, not 100%. [33:08] Because we have the greatest, this is the golden age of America. [33:13] What's being built now in this country has never, ever been built. [33:17] And we're really, we are literally in the golden age of America. [33:21] And I think people are starting, I actually think people are starting. [33:25] We'll see, 89 days. [33:26] We'll see if they... [33:26] It's going to be very exciting. [33:27] Thank you, Mr. President. [33:28] Thank you very much. [33:29] Presented by Boeing. [33:32] As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, [33:36] Boeing honors a shared journey of ingenuity. [33:38] For over a century, Boeing has helped put our nation in the air and in space [33:42] from the golden age of flight to the final frontier. [33:46] Today, that legacy powers 1.4 million American jobs [33:50] and connects 10,000 suppliers across all 50 states. [33:54] That's how Boeing backs America. [33:56] All right, we are now back for the panel. [34:01] We've got our very own John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News. [34:04] Jake, myself. [34:06] Bresnahan... [34:06] This is the A-team. [34:07] It's the OG team. [34:08] This is the OG, OG Punchbowl. [34:10] Yeah, actually our whole team is really the A-team, [34:13] but this is the OG team. [34:14] OG Punchbowl. [34:15] Oh, man. [34:16] Let's talk about this, Bresnahan. [34:18] I want to kick it to you first. [34:19] What was your, you know, kind of one or two things [34:21] that really stuck out to you in this interview? [34:23] Well, first of all, it was a great interview [34:24] because he talked about Congress in depth, [34:26] which is something that he often, he doesn't do. [34:30] He talks about Congress a lot, [34:31] but he doesn't talk about it like the depth that we covered. [34:33] So, and he knows what's going on. [34:36] Clearly does, yeah. [34:37] I was actually surprised by that. [34:38] He's very, clearly very tuned into it. [34:41] I thought for me, the, well, we'll talk more about it. [34:45] He made some comments on Senate Majority Leader John Thune. [34:47] He made some comments on House Minority Leader [34:50] Arkeem Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson. [34:52] I thought for me, the SAVE Act stuff was fascinating [34:55] because that, he's been talking about it for months. [34:57] We've been writing about it for months. [34:59] He's, this is a huge part of the fight over reconciliation. [35:02] He wants it. [35:03] It got knocked out last time. [35:05] He wants it. [35:06] He wants the photo, photo ID. [35:09] He wants the proof of citizenship. [35:11] He's on top of this. [35:12] He rails on the elections, which always surprises me [35:14] how negative he, since Republicans control everything, [35:17] they want to let's run. [35:18] He said Mike Rogers is actually the Senator from Michigan, [35:20] which according to reality is not the case. [35:23] No, but he won Michigan and Rogers lost. [35:26] So, right. [35:26] He can't comprehend that. [35:27] And he also, what is it? [35:28] He can comprehend it. [35:29] He just doesn't want it. [35:31] That's a different. [35:31] But you know what's interesting to me? [35:33] And we actually haven't talked about this yet. [35:35] He can't really comprehend. [35:38] And I'm not, this is not a criticism of him, [35:40] but he doesn't really seem to get that presidents lose power on the Hill. [35:47] They lose the House in their midterms. [35:49] He's like, it just always happens. [35:50] I don't really get it. [35:51] He went through it, though. [35:52] He lost his majority. [35:53] I mean, it's just not a deal as old as time. [35:55] He gets it. [35:56] Right, right. [35:56] I mean, I mean, let's talk about this [35:58] because we obviously care about the leadership [35:59] because that is what matters on Capitol Hill, [36:01] whether things are going to happen or not happen. [36:03] John Thune and the president, [36:06] clearly not close personal friends, [36:08] but I thought he was very measured in a way that [36:11] you didn't, you did not take the bait, Jake. [36:13] I think you pressed in an appropriate way, [36:15] but pressed him a couple of times [36:16] for him to kind of sound off. [36:19] And he chose not to. [36:20] If you put him on true serum, he wouldn't say that. [36:22] And I'm not saying he was being dishonest. [36:24] I think he was being measured because he understands [36:26] and it's hard to not understand, [36:29] but he gets that John Thune holds the keys [36:31] to a lot of stuff that he wants, that Trump wants done. [36:34] I think, you know, I think he's frustrated with Thune. [36:37] He wants the SAVE Act as the top priority. [36:40] And instead, the Senate is spending its last days [36:43] and has spent its last days in session on a CR, [36:47] on a Russia sanctions bill, on confirming Todd Blanche, [36:50] who, by the way, if he doesn't get confirmed, [36:52] Trump said he would keep him in his acting AG. [36:55] Which we wrote about. [36:56] Yeah, we wrote about. [36:57] The Julie Suu president. [36:58] The Julie Suu president, Democrats did this themselves. [37:00] But he clearly is not sold on John Thune. [37:03] And I don't think, I think, to be honest with you, [37:06] John Thune might not be sold on Donald Trump either. [37:08] I mean, you and I, we all watch John Thune all the time. [37:11] I mean, they are very different people. [37:13] Yeah. [37:14] Right? [37:14] They couldn't be more in style. [37:16] I mean, Thune has been, [37:18] I've known Thune since he was a freshman House member, okay? [37:21] They couldn't be more different. [37:23] I mean, Thune is a straight-talking guy. [37:26] I mean, and Trump will say what he needs to say [37:29] in search for situations. [37:30] And Thune is a different character. [37:32] It's just their background, [37:34] the way they approach things, [37:36] the way they approach people. [37:37] I'm not saying better or worse. [37:39] They're just completely different. [37:41] Whereas Mike Johnson has aligned himself with his power, [37:45] his survival as speaker relies on Trump. [37:48] And it's not the same for Thune. [37:49] And Trump had a lot of, frankly, praise for Johnson. [37:53] What is he not going to praise him for, right? [37:55] You know, like, whatever he wants. [37:56] But I'm just saying, you know, [37:57] it's like I have one or two votes [37:58] and you press him on the idea, [37:59] well, you know, if they lose the majority [38:02] and he should be the minority leader, [38:04] he said, well, I haven't heard of anybody [38:05] that would want to run. [38:06] And I wanted to say, well, I have, sir. [38:08] Listen, the thing is, [38:09] and we talk about this all the time, [38:11] Thune says no to Trump. [38:13] Yeah. [38:13] Because he has to, [38:14] because he doesn't have the vote [38:16] and Trump doesn't like that. [38:17] And I know Thune talks to Susie Wiles all the time, [38:20] talks to everybody he can at the White House, [38:22] he talks to Vance, [38:24] he talks to James Wade, [38:26] he talks to everybody he can at the White House. [38:29] But Trump doesn't want to hear no. [38:31] He's the president. [38:31] He doesn't want to hear no. [38:32] Presidents don't like the word no. [38:33] That's how they end up as presidents. [38:35] Right. [38:35] And I will say, [38:36] it's interesting, [38:39] and it's an interesting point in time, [38:41] and we should put a pin in this, right, [38:43] that he says Johnson should be the minority leader. [38:46] That is a very impactful statement [38:48] because if Johnson loses the majority, [38:50] there will be people [38:51] who will want to kick him out of that spot. [38:54] We've written about it. [38:55] Yeah. [38:55] Because we, personally, you and I have- [38:57] We've had these conversations. [38:58] Different views. [38:59] I think Jordan would end, [39:00] Jim Jordan would end up as minority leader. [39:01] Yeah. [39:02] Or Scalise, [39:03] but I think more likely than John. [39:05] You also need a fighter [39:05] when you're in the minority. [39:07] I mean, I think you do- [39:07] Nobody is more like that than Jim Jordan. [39:08] Than Jim Jordan. [39:09] I mean, that is the politics that would just, [39:12] whereas Mike Johnson wants to be the loyal half. [39:14] But I will say this. [39:15] I just had a conversation with somebody [39:16] in Johnson World about this this week [39:18] as we've had this, you know, slow house period, [39:21] although it's not a slow setup period, [39:23] that this person said to me, [39:24] well, remember, [39:26] Mike Johnson was the guy during impeachment [39:29] who was fighting back on judiciary. [39:30] He was- [39:31] He was wearing his bones, right? [39:31] He was a firebrand. [39:32] I would actually make the argument- [39:34] You're going to roll the tape back. [39:35] And January 6th, remember. [39:37] He was the one who, you know, [39:39] wanted to challenge the certification. [39:42] And I will say, [39:43] maybe we have it wrong. [39:45] Maybe being speaker is actually the stretch [39:46] for Mike Johnson [39:47] and not being the fire thrower. [39:49] I hadn't- [39:49] The flamethrower. [39:50] I hadn't thought about it in those terms. [39:52] Very interesting point. [39:53] We haven't discussed this internally, [39:56] but I just think for Johnson, [39:58] that was a really good comment. [40:01] All right. [40:02] We are quickly running out of time, [40:03] but before we get to the last part of the segment, [40:05] I do want to talk about something [40:06] we were chatting about, [40:07] which is how the president framed up his opposition [40:12] to Senator Cornyn, Tillis, [40:15] and I think where you pointed out, [40:17] Lisa Murkowski. [40:18] Lisa Murkowski. [40:19] He made some strong comments [40:20] about Lisa Murkowski in this interview. [40:22] Uh, you know, [40:25] he talked about, uh, [40:27] you know, she wrote, he, you know, [40:29] I'm against Murkowski. [40:30] I mean, that's a hell of a quote, right? [40:32] You know, I mean, it's not surprising. [40:34] She voted to impeach him, [40:35] but he's gotten everybody else. [40:37] Okay. [40:37] He got, you know, Cassidy, [40:39] he got Bill Cassidy, [40:40] he got the House guys who voted, [40:41] but Murkowski, [40:43] who's a fantastic politician, [40:44] and, you know, part of- [40:46] She won as a write-in. [40:47] She won as a write-in, you know? [40:49] In a state like Alaska, [40:50] that hit easy. [40:51] You know, with her dad, [40:52] former governor, [40:52] I mean, she is, [40:53] and she is one of the most [40:55] accomplished senators. [40:56] She's probably, in a lot of ways, [40:57] she might be one of the top [40:58] two or three senators [40:59] in terms of competency, I think. [41:01] But I just think his strength [41:02] of his statement, [41:04] and, you know, [41:05] I'm against Murkowski, [41:06] she's not good. [41:07] And then the way he said it, [41:09] it was like, you know, [41:10] he can never be for somebody [41:11] who voted to impeach him [41:11] because MAGA would never forgive him. [41:13] Right. [41:13] It was just really interesting [41:15] into how he thinks. [41:17] Right. [41:17] Right. [41:18] The one thing I will say, [41:19] which I thought was interesting, [41:20] is Trump said that [41:21] Republican voters are frustrated, [41:23] but not frustrated with him. [41:25] Right. [41:25] Which, I don't know [41:26] if that's true or not, [41:27] but it's interesting. [41:28] It's an interesting way [41:28] of thinking the world [41:29] and how he decides [41:30] to where he's going [41:31] to get blowback or not. [41:33] All right, let's get into [41:36] what's not going to fly. [41:38] Brez? [41:38] I think the SAVE Act stuff. [41:40] He was very, again, [41:41] he's been pushing hard, hard, [41:43] hard. [41:43] He wants to get rid of Phil Bester. [41:44] That's the only way [41:45] they can pass the SAVE Act, [41:46] but I'm not even sure [41:47] it can pass then. [41:48] He wants a vote, [41:50] and he wants to force [41:52] everybody out in the open on this. [41:53] And that is, Thune, [41:55] exactly what Thune [41:56] doesn't want to do. [41:56] Because why would, [41:57] again, this happened [41:58] with Schumer [41:59] and the filibuster [42:00] and Joe Biden. [42:01] Why would you walk [42:02] somebody out on a ledge [42:03] if you can't pass the bill? [42:05] Why would you do that? [42:05] Remember, Trump has never been [42:07] an elected legislator. [42:09] No, he's never been, yeah. [42:10] He's won. [42:11] He would last about five minutes [42:12] because then he would hate [42:13] everything they do. [42:14] Well, yeah, I mean, [42:15] it's just imagine. [42:16] Because they never do anything. [42:17] And I just think [42:18] that that is, [42:20] he wants to smoke people out. [42:21] Yeah, exactly. [42:22] And that's exactly [42:23] what Thune doesn't want. [42:24] I'm going to give you [42:24] the last word, [42:25] but first I'm going to go quickly. [42:26] I thought what he said [42:27] on gas prices, [42:29] Republicans extremely concerned [42:31] about rising gas prices [42:32] and how that's going to impact [42:33] them in the midterms. [42:34] And he basically said, [42:35] well, it might go up [42:36] if I hit Iran, [42:38] and I might hit him. [42:39] I mean, really kind of glossed [42:41] over the impact [42:43] that that could have. [42:43] And I just don't think [42:44] that flies with the Republican base. [42:46] I'll add to that. [42:48] We haven't talked about [42:49] what he said [42:49] about Hakeem Jeffries. [42:50] What he said about Hakeem Jeffries [42:52] was very interesting. [42:53] He said he was a nice guy. [42:54] He thinks he could do business [42:55] with him, but... [42:56] Which is, after he called him [42:57] a low IQ guy, [42:58] he said some really bad things [43:00] about him. [43:00] But he said, I said that to him. [43:01] He acknowledged it as hard. [43:02] Yeah, he does, right? [43:02] He said, listen, [43:03] I hit him hard [43:03] because he hits me hard. [43:04] And that's how we kind of [43:05] used the exchange between... [43:09] Two New Yorkers. [43:10] Well, it doesn't matter [43:11] if you're from New York or Trump. [43:12] You could be from anywhere. [43:14] These Queens, Hakeem's Brooklyn, [43:16] you know, it's different. [43:17] And I think that dynamic, [43:19] and I don't think why [43:21] it's not going to fly [43:21] is because Jeffries [43:22] is not going to have [43:23] a ton of leeway [43:23] to be doing business with Trump. [43:25] That's for sure. [43:27] We'll have to see. [43:28] There'll be places where he can, [43:29] but he'll be, you know, [43:31] the first thing, [43:32] if they win a majority, [43:32] it's going to be on the back [43:34] of anti-Trump fervor, okay? [43:36] And he's going to face [43:37] a question of impeachment. [43:38] There's going to be people [43:39] who are pushing him for day one. [43:40] They're going to push him before, [43:42] assuming their majority before, [43:43] or any speaker vote. [43:44] He's going to face this question. [43:45] Now, we've written about it, [43:46] that there's a lot of people [43:47] in the caucus who don't, [43:49] but he's going to face [43:49] a lot of pressure, [43:50] a lot of pressure. [43:51] But think about it. [43:52] The first thing he gets in his speaker, [43:54] the first black speaker [43:55] in American history, [43:57] if he got in there [43:57] and the first thing he does [43:58] is impeach the president. [43:59] I mean, my God. [44:00] Yeah. [44:01] That would just be, you know, [44:02] is that really where he wants to go? [44:04] He didn't, [44:05] and Trump kind of said [44:06] he can't understand. [44:07] I don't remember the exact quote, [44:09] but he, [44:10] you've just seen it. [44:11] He said, you know, [44:11] he was not sure [44:13] whether they were going to impeach him. [44:14] And listen, [44:15] I think the big story [44:16] of the next two years [44:17] is them going after bank records, [44:19] subpoenaing companies. [44:20] Oversight, oversight, oversight. [44:21] The Suns. [44:22] The Suns. [44:22] The Suns. [44:23] They'll go after the Suns businesses. [44:25] The Suns doing business [44:26] with federal agencies. [44:27] Totally. [44:28] Yeah. [44:28] All right. [44:29] We are going to leave it there. [44:30] Obviously, [44:30] we can keep talking all night. [44:32] Brez, thanks so much [44:33] for joining us. [44:36] Jake, [44:36] that was a ton to unpack [44:37] in that interview [44:38] with the president. [44:40] A very big get [44:41] for Fly Out Day [44:41] on our season finale. [44:43] All the season finale. [44:45] I gotta say that. [44:46] And the conversation [44:49] was, [44:51] as promised, [44:52] focused on Congress, [44:53] the personalities [44:54] driving policymaking [44:57] and legislating [44:58] on Capitol Hill, [44:59] which we think [45:00] is our sweet spot. [45:00] We started off [45:02] Fly Out Day [45:03] with Speaker Mike Johnson [45:05] had all four [45:07] of the big four. [45:08] Hakeem Jeffries, [45:09] Chuck Schumer, [45:10] John Thune [45:11] and ended it [45:11] with the president [45:13] of the United States, [45:14] Anna. [45:15] And season two, [45:17] I think we just decided [45:18] that season two begins when? [45:20] It will begin [45:21] in early September. [45:22] So that is all. [45:22] Are we doing out fronts? [45:24] What, up fronts? [45:24] Whatever they're called? [45:25] Oh, goodness. [45:26] This is it. [45:26] Yeah, exactly. [45:27] That is all from us today. [45:29] But please make sure [45:30] to subscribe on YouTube. [45:31] Give this video a like, [45:33] share it with your friends, [45:34] get the message out [45:35] about what the president [45:36] said to us. [45:37] And we always appreciate [45:38] you following us [45:39] at punchable.news. [45:40] Have a great day and... [45:42] Great weekend. [45:43] A great August. [45:45] Stay safe.