The Beat With Ari Melber 10/26/26 — 🅼🆂🅽🅱️🅲 Breaking News Today October 26, 2026

[0:00] WITH ARRIE MELBURH STARTS RIGHT NOW. [0:01] HI, ARRIE. [0:02] HI, NICOLE. [0:03] THANKS SO MUCH. [0:03] WELCOME TO THE BEAT. [0:04] I'M ARRIE MELBURH AND WE START THE [0:05] WEEK WITH A LOT OF NEWS. [0:06] TRUMP'S DOJ HAS ANNOUNCED WHAT [0:08] LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER REVENGE [0:10] PROSECUTION. [0:10] THIS IS AGAINST JAMES COMEY AGAIN [0:13] EIGHT DAYS OUT BEFORE THE MIDTERMS [0:15] AND WE HAVE ALL THE REPORTING ON [0:16] THAT TONIGHT. [0:16] PLUS I'M BRINGING TO YOU A SPECIAL [0:18] REPORT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON [0:20] TONIGHT ON THE TYPES OF PROBES AND [0:23] INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY AND EVEN [0:24] CABINET IMPEACHMENTS THAT COULD [0:26] MATTER IF DEMOCRATS RETAKE THE [0:28] HOUSE NEXT WEEK. [0:29] THIS IS ONE OF OUR REPORTS. [0:30] I INVITE YOU TO GET COMFORTABLE. [0:31] THAT'S COMING UP. [0:32] WHILE WE BEGIN WITH REPUBLICANS [0:34] ON DEFENSE. [0:35] DONALD TRUMP IN DEEP RED [0:36] MISSISSIPPI. [0:37] THAT'S A STATE THAT HASN'T HAD A [0:39] DEMOCRATIC SENATOR IN ABOUT 50 [0:41] YEARS. [0:42] THE MIDTERMS ARE BEING FOUGHT IN [0:43] THESE PLACES THAT TRUMP USED TO [0:44] WIN HANDILY AMONG VOTERS WHO ARE [0:47] FORMER TRUMP VOTERS BUT MIGHT NOT [0:48] BE REPUBLICAN VOTERS NEXT WEEK AS [0:51] THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTS. [0:55] DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE A [1:02] MAGA REPUBLICAN? [1:03] I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. [1:07] WE WILL PROUDLY SAY CHRISTMAS [1:09] AGAIN. [1:09] WE'RE SAYING IT. [1:13] THIS CURRENT SENATOR'S FINE. [1:15] CONGRESSMAN, I'M ASKING YOU [1:16] ABOUT YOU. [1:17] I'M JUST ASKING YOU ABOUT YOU. [1:19] CRAPPY KIDS FROM YOUNGSTOWN, WE [1:21] NEVER BACK DOWN FROM A FIGHT. [1:23] THAT'S HOW THE EPSTEIN CLASS [1:26] OPERATES. [1:26] MEN LIKE RAMASWAMI THINK MONEY AND [1:28] POWER MEAN THE RULES DON'T APPLY [1:30] TO THEM. [1:32] CONGRESSMAN, CAN YOU ANSWER MY [1:33] QUESTION? [1:34] ALL YOU ALL WANT TO DO IS TALK [1:35] ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE ON THE [1:36] GROUND. [1:37] I'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THE [1:38] QUESTION, CHRISTMAS. [1:39] THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANT TO [1:40] KNOW. [1:41] DO WE PROMISE TO STAND UP FOR [1:42] FAITH AND FAMILY AND HONEST [1:44] WORK IN MONTANA? [1:48] THERE IS NO LOVE OF GOD WITHOUT [1:50] LOVE OF NEIGHBORS. [1:51] THIS ELECTION CAN BE A COURSE [1:52] CORRECTION IN AMERICA'S LONG [1:55] JOURNEY TOWARD AMERICA. [1:57] I THINK THAT BARACK OBAMA COMING [1:58] HERE MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE [1:59] RACE. [2:02] IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN [2:03] THE RACE. [2:04] HE CAN SHOW PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT [2:05] IT IS TO GET OUT AND VOTE. [2:06] THAT THEY CAN MAKE A [2:07] DIFFERENCE. [2:08] THAT THERE'S HOPE. [2:09] THE GREAT BIG PICTURE ABOUT [2:10] THIS ACADEMY IS THAT IT'S ABOUT [2:11] THE BEST ACADEMY WE'VE EVER SEEN. [2:12] ARE YOU ALL READY TO MAKE A [2:13] DIFFERENCE? [2:14] ARE YOU ALL READY TO GET OUT [2:16] THERE AND WORK? [2:17] THAT'S HOW IT'S PLAYING OUT. [2:18] OF COURSE DEMOCRATS HAPPY TO [2:19] HAVE A POPULAR FORMER PRESIDENT [2:21] MUCH MORE SO THAN THE CURRENT [2:22] ONE. [2:24] OBAMA OUT THERE. [2:25] THE TIMES REPORTING ON SEARING [2:27] ATTACKS AS HE RAISES THE [2:28] STAKES. [2:29] YOU CAN HEAR HIM RIGHT HERE. [2:31] YOU REMEMBER ROLL BACK THE [2:32] TAPE? [2:33] WE'RE GOING TO DRAIN THE SWAMP. [2:38] THE ONLY THING THEY DRAINED [2:40] IS THE REFLECTING POOL. [2:42] HE IS VERY FOCUSED ON HOME [2:44] RENOVATION. [2:45] HE'S JUST GOING TO DRAIN THE [2:46] SWAMP. [2:47] ON HOME RENOVATION. [2:50] HE SHOULD BE ON HGTV. [2:51] GUY IS BUILDING A BALLROOM THAT [2:56] IS BIGGER THAN THE WHITE HOUSE. [2:58] PAVED OVER THE ROSE GARDEN. [3:00] PAVED IT OVER. [3:02] PUT A HELICOPTER PAD ON THE SOUTH [3:05] LUMB. [3:06] AND THEN THERE IS JUST GOLD [3:07] EVERYWHERE. [3:08] WHAT'S UP WITH THE GOLD? [3:13] HE'S GOT THE WHITE HOUSE [3:14] LOOKING LIKE SADAM HUSSAIN [3:16] OPENED A CHEESECAKE FACTORY. [3:17] IT'S JUST GOLD EVERYWHERE. [3:21] YOU GET A CHANCE TO SAY [3:24] ENOUGH'S ENOUGH. [3:25] WE ARE VOTING FOR CHANGE. [3:28] THERE IS A CHANCE RIGHT HERE IN [3:30] OHIO. [3:31] EVERYWHERE YOU GO, IT FEELS [3:34] CHANGE IS IN THE END. [3:39] NOT SADAM HUSSAIN'S [3:40] CHEESECAKE FACTORY. [3:41] BARACK OBAMA WITH HIS SPECIAL [3:43] PANASH. [3:44] A LITTLE BIT OF UPLIFT DURING [3:45] WHAT HE KNOWS ARE HARD TIMES [3:46] FOR EVERYONE. [3:47] BUT YOU SEE HIS COMMUNICATION [3:48] SKILLS. [3:49] AND THEN THERE IS THIS. [3:51] LATE TODAY, THE DOJ AGAIN [3:53] INDICTING JAMES COMEY. [3:54] THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THEY HAVE [3:56] GONE AT HIM WITH A FEDERAL CRIME. [3:57] THAT STAT ALONE REMINDS YOU THEY [3:58] HAVEN'T BEEN VICTORIOUS. [3:59] THIS ONE IS ABOUT WHETHER COMEY [4:01] COMMUNICATED INFORMATION ABOUT [4:03] NATIONAL DEFENSE TO AN [4:04] UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL. [4:05] THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO [4:07] 2016 WHEN HE WAS FBI CHIEF. [4:09] COMEY MOVING TO DISMISS THE [4:10] CHARGES. [4:11] BUT THIS IS ONE OF MANY REVENGE [4:13] CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN. [4:14] AND SO PEOPLE LOOKING UP IN A [4:18] DIFFERENT DECADE MIGHT BE QUITE [4:19] SHOCKED TO SEE A LAST-MINUTE [4:21] INDICTMENT OF A FORMER FBI [4:23] DIRECTOR EIGHT DAYS OUT. [4:24] IT WOULD COUNT AS WHAT THEY USED [4:26] TO CALL AN OCTOBER SURPRISE. [4:27] BUT GIVEN HOW PREDICTABLE AND [4:29] HABITUAL THIS ALL IS, ON THE [4:31] BEAT, TONIGHT WE VIEW IT AS MORE [4:33] OF AN OCTOBER REPRISE. [4:35] JOINING US NOW IS MOLLY JONG FAST, [4:39] CONTRIBUTING WRITER WITH THE [4:40] NEW YORK TIMES AND MSNOW [4:41] ANALYST AS WELL AS NEW YORK [4:43] TIMES LEGAL WRITER FROM THE [4:45] MAGAZINE, EMILY BASILON. [4:46] WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU. [4:47] WE'LL GET TO THE COMEY, THE [4:49] OCTOBER REPRISE. [4:50] OBVIOUSLY, MOLLY, THAT WAS NOT [4:52] TOP OF THE DOME. [4:53] THAT WAS SOMETHING I THOUGHT [4:54] ABOUT AND BROUGHT IT TO THE [4:55] TABLE. [4:56] WE'LL GET TO THAT. [4:58] BUT WE START WITH THE OBAMA [4:59] EFFECT. [5:00] HE'S OUT THERE, HE'S HITTING. [5:02] DEMOCRATS FEEL THEY'VE GOT [5:03] MOMENTUM IN SOME OF THESE [5:04] STATES. [5:05] YEAH, HE'S THE CLOSER, [5:06] RIGHT? [5:07] HE COMES IN AT THE END AND HE GETS [5:09] IN THERE AND HE'S POPULAR AND [5:11] THEN HE'S BEEN CHARISMATIC AND [5:13] HE DRIVES THE RIGHT CRAZY. [5:14] I MEAN, FOX NEWS HAS BEEN LIKE [5:16] 24-7 CHEESECAKE FACTORY [5:18] DISCOURSE. [5:19] THEY'RE UPSET THAT HE MALIGNED [5:21] THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY. [5:22] YOU KNOW, THEY GET VERY STUCK ON [5:24] WEIRD STUFF. [5:25] BUT LOOK, EVEN IF YOU DON'T TRUST [5:26] THE POLLS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT [5:28] JUST WHERE DONALD TRUMP IS [5:29] GOING THIS LAST WEEK BEFORE THE [5:30] MIDTERMS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A [5:34] WORRIED PARTY. [5:35] HE WAS IN MISSISSIPPI TODAY, HE'S [5:38] GOING TO TEXAS TWICE, OHIO, [5:40] FLORIDA, AND IOWA. [5:42] LIKE, THIS IS THE TRAVEL OF [5:44] SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO KEEP [5:47] SEATS. [5:48] YEAH. [5:49] AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW THE [5:50] PARTY'S BEEN ABLE TO USE [5:51] OBAMA, MICHIGAN IS A KEY STATE [5:52] THEY NEED. [5:53] OBAMA IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, [5:55] A MORE CENTRIST FIGURE. [5:57] AND THE YOUNGER YOU GO IN PARTY [5:58] VOTERS, THE MORE THAT THAT'S THE [6:00] PERCEPTION. [6:01] AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO USE [6:03] OBAMA TO EMBRACE AND IF I MAY [6:06] POLISH OR DERADICALIZE THE [6:08] PERCEPTION OF THEIR CANDIDATE [6:11] THERE AND OBAMA DOING THAT HIS [6:12] WAY. [6:13] TAKE A LISTEN. [6:14] THEY MAY EVEN USE YOUR NAME OR [6:20] YOUR FAITH TO SOMEHOW SUGGEST [6:23] THAT YOU ARE DANGEROUS AND LESS [6:27] THAN TRUSTWORTHY AND LESS [6:29] PATRIOTIC AND LESS AMERICAN THAN [6:31] THEY ARE. [6:32] WE HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE. [6:36] I START IN IT. [6:38] I'VE GOT A LONG FORM BIRTH [6:40] CERTIFICATE TO PROVE IT. [6:41] THIS STUFF DIDN'T WORK ON ME, [6:44] NOT IN MICHIGAN. [6:45] IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK ON ABDUL. [6:47] YEAH. [6:51] THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF [6:52] WHY HE IS THE CLOSER, RIGHT? [6:54] HE COMES IN. [6:55] HE TALKS TO PEOPLE. [6:56] HE'S REALLY CONNECTED TO BLACK [6:57] VOTERS, TOO, WHICH IS REALLY [6:59] A BIG POPULATION IN MICHIGAN. [7:01] VERY NEEDED VOTE. [7:03] THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, [7:05] HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN IOWA. [7:06] THERE'S A GUY WHO WON IOWA. [7:08] SO HE'S A DEMOCRAT WHO'S WON IOWA. [7:10] SO HE REALLY TRANSLATES WELL. [7:12] HE'S JUST A REALLY GOOD ORATOR. [7:14] AND HE SPEAKS REALLY WELL. [7:16] AND HE TALKS IN A WAY THAT MAKES [7:18] EVERYBODY REALIZE THAT WE ALL [7:19] SORT OF HAVE SKIN IN THIS GAME, [7:21] RIGHT? [7:22] IT'S VERY MOVING. [7:23] I MEAN, HE'S ABLE TO SORT OF [7:24] BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN POLITICS [7:26] AND EMOTION IN A WAY THAT, LIKE, [7:28] VERY FEW PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES [7:30] OR POLITICIANS CAN DO. [7:32] YEAH. [7:33] AND EMILY, AGAINST THAT BACKDROP [7:34] ARE ALL OF THESE REVENGE CASES [7:36] THAT HAVE LARGELY FALTERED OR [7:37] FAILED. [7:38] EVEN SOME OF THE OTHER EFFORTS [7:40] AT REVENGE BEYOND INDICTING [7:41] PEOPLE LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION [7:43] FIRED ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE [7:46] EPSTEIN PROSECUTORS THEY HAD, A [7:48] WOMAN NAMED MAUREEN WHO NO ONE [7:50] WOULD HAVE HEARD OF PROBABLY [7:52] DAY TO DAY EXCEPT THAT HER LAST [7:53] NAME IS COMEY. [7:54] SHE'S JAMES COMEY'S DAUGHTER. [7:55] TODAY SHE WAS VINDICATED IN COURT [7:57] FOR THAT UNLAWFUL FIRING WHICH [7:58] IS STRIKING. [7:59] AND YET BY THE END OF THE DAY WE [8:01] HAVE THIS NEWS, JAMES COMEY [8:02] RESPONDING. [8:03] THIS IS MOMENTS AGO. [8:04] I WANT TO SHARE HIS RESPONSE TO [8:06] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S [8:07] THIRD EFFORT TO INDICT AND JAIL [8:08] HIM. [8:09] THEY'RE BACK AGAIN. [8:13] IT WOULD ALMOST BE FUNNY IF IT [8:15] WEREN'T SUCH AN APPALLING ABUSE [8:16] OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ONE [8:18] THAT WE CANNOT BECOME NUMB TO. [8:20] NOTHING HAS CHANGED WITH ME. [8:22] I'M STILL INNOCENT. [8:23] I'M STILL NOT AFRAID OF THESE [8:24] PEOPLE. [8:25] AND I STILL BELIEVE IN THE [8:27] INDEPENDENT FEDERAL JUDICIARY. [8:28] AND I'M STILL LUCKY TO HAVE AN [8:31] AMAZING FAMILY AND AN INCREDIBLE [8:32] GROUP OF LAWYERS. [8:33] AND WE'LL STAND UP IN COURT AND [8:35] FIGHT THE LATEST AND WHATEVER [8:36] COMES AFTER THIS. [8:37] THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS ARE [8:39] GOING TO BE HARD FOR ALL OF US. [8:41] IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE [8:43] STAND STRAIGHT AND KEEP THE [8:46] FAITH IN AMERICA. [8:48] DOES THIS LOOK LIKE MORE [8:50] SELECTIVE PROSECUTION? [8:51] I MEAN, IT SURE DOES. [8:53] IT'S HARD TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT [8:55] WHAT WE'VE TAKEN TO CALLING THE [8:57] PRESUMPTION OF REGULARITY. [8:58] THE IDEA THAT THEY REALLY HAVE [9:00] FACTS BEHIND THESE INDICTMENTS [9:02] AND WEAPONIZE THE JUSTICE [9:04] DEPARTMENT SO MANY TIMES. [9:05] AND COMEY IS THIS FIGURE WHO [9:07] PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST CAN'T LET [9:09] GO OF, RIGHT? [9:10] I MEAN, IT IS CRAZY THAT TODAY [9:12] IS THE DAY MAUREEN COMEY WAS [9:14] VINDICATED IN COURT. [9:15] MAYBE THE ADMINISTRATION JUST [9:16] DECIDED THE COMEYS WERE NOT [9:17] ALLOWED TO HAVE A SINGLE GOOD [9:19] DAY. [9:20] BUT IT'S JUST HARD TO IMAGINE THAT [9:23] THESE CHARGES ARE NOT GOING TO [9:25] BE REALLY THIN BECAUSE IF THEY [9:27] WERE SOLID, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE [9:29] BROUGHT THEM A WHILE AGO, [9:30] RIGHT? [9:31] I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO ANYTHING [9:33] TO PIN JAMES COMEY WITH. [9:34] AND AS YOU SAID, YOU HAVE TO GO [9:36] BACK TO 2016 TO START UNRAVELING [9:39] EXACTLY WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE. [9:40] YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE [9:42] GOVERNMENT'S GOT. [9:43] YEAH. [9:44] AND SO THAT'S SORT OF WHAT LOOKS [9:45] LIKE A POTENTIALLY POLITICAL [9:46] MOVE BY THE DOJ. [9:47] THAT'S THEIR PROGRAMMING. [9:48] WE SHOWED OBAMA AND THE [9:50] DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMMING. [9:51] SOME OF THE TRUMP MESSAGING IS [9:54] MAKING IT HARDER ON [9:55] REPUBLICANS. [9:56] I WANT TO JUST SHOW THE [9:57] HEADLINES ON SOME OF THE [9:58] BIZARRE BEHAVIOR. [9:59] HE JUST POSTED WHAT IS A RECORD [10:01] FOR HIM, HIS LONGEST TRUTH [10:03] SOCIAL POST. [10:04] YOU KNOW, THE WHITE HOUSE [10:05] OFFICIALS, SOME OF THEIR [10:06] TENURES ARE GETTING SHORTER [10:07] WHILE HIS RANTS GET LONGER. [10:09] THIS WAS 1300 WORDS. [10:11] BILL MAHER, WHO HE RECENTLY [10:12] DIED WITH FROM HBO, HE CALLS A [10:13] TOTAL LOSER. [10:15] GOES OFF ON LATE-NIGHT POSTS. [10:18] THEY CALL THIS SUNDOWNING OR [10:19] OTHER THINGS. [10:20] HE SHARED THIS AI TIGER VIDEO, [10:22] WHICH HAD A FATAL ATTACK [10:24] FOOTAGE. [10:25] OF COURSE, BUT IT'S AI, SO IT'S [10:26] NOT LITERALLY FATAL. [10:27] BUT IT'S REALLY BIZARRE. [10:29] AND THIS HAS BEEN PART OF OUR [10:31] LIFE. [10:32] SO IT'S BECOME NORMALIZED WHERE [10:33] PEOPLE SAY, WELL, HOW DO YOU [10:34] FOCUS ON THAT? [10:35] FOCUS ON THIS. [10:36] BUT IT SPEAKS TO HIS CONDITION. [10:38] AND WE'VE ALL HAD EXPERIENCE [10:39] WITH THIS IN THE COUNTRY WITH [10:40] THE FAST PRESIDENT AS WELL. [10:42] AND THIS STUFF, I THINK IF [10:43] BIDEN DID ANY OF THIS STUFF [10:44] EARLIER IN THE TERM, IT WOULD [10:45] HAVE GOTTEN A MUCH STRONGER [10:46] RESPONSE. [10:47] THEN YOU HAVE THE BODY PART [10:49] ASPECT. [10:50] THIS IS A NEWS PROGRAM. [10:51] 6 P.M. [10:52] EASTERN, 3 P.M. [10:53] PACIFIC. [10:54] WHO KNOWS WHO'S WATCHING? [10:55] CHILDREN. [10:56] SO I'M WARNING YOU HOW THE [10:57] PRESIDENT SPEAKS. [10:58] HE TALKS ABOUT MALE BODY [10:59] PARTS AND FEMALE BODY [11:00] PARTS. [11:01] I'M NOT PUSHING TO GET RAPPER [11:03] NIKKI MINNAJ INTO THE NEWS. [11:05] SHE'S IN THE NEWS BECAUSE [11:06] WHILE SHE HAS USED HER [11:07] CREDIBILITY, HER LARGE FAN [11:09] BASE, THE BARBS, THE [11:10] FOLLOWING, TO SUPPORT [11:12] DONALD TRUMP, WHICH IS HER [11:13] OF COURSE FREE SPEECH [11:14] RIGHTS, HE'S REPAID HER WITH [11:15] THIS, AGAIN, COMMENTARY THAT [11:17] I'M NOT GOING TO QUOTE, BUT [11:18] I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW [11:19] THE PRESIDENT'S TALKING. [11:20] BUT I'M LOOKING AT HIM UP [11:24] AND DOWN, AND I'M STUDYING [11:26] HIM, AND THEN I MADE THE [11:27] MISTAKE. [11:28] I TOLD IN FUN. [11:29] I SAID, I LOOKED AT HIS ASS, [11:34] AND I'VE NEVER DONE THAT WITH [11:35] A MAN BEFORE, IT'S TRUE. [11:36] OFF THE RECORD, WOMEN, YES, [11:40] MEN, NO, OKAY? [11:41] AND I SAID, HIS ASS WAS LIKE [11:46] A BIG PIECE OF MUSCLE. [11:48] I LOOKED AT ONE HELL OF A [11:49] BEAUTIFUL ASS BEFORE, [11:50] NIKKI MINNAJ. [11:51] THAT'S HARD TO MISS. [11:58] THAT'S STANDUP, NIKKI. [12:02] THAT'S HARD TO MISS. [12:05] WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT HIS [12:10] CONDITION, HIS RESPONSIBILITY, [12:12] AND HIS FOCUS AT A TIME WHEN [12:14] AMERICANS HAVE REAL PROBLEMS? [12:15] SO WE'RE EIGHT DAYS FROM [12:16] THE MIDTERMS, RIGHT? [12:18] AND THIS IS, AND HE'S TALKING [12:19] ABOUT A, I MEAN, HE'S [12:22] TALKING, I'M NOT EVEN GOING [12:23] TO SAY WHAT HE'S TALKING [12:24] ABOUT, BUT HE SEEMS [12:25] DISINHIBITED IN A WAY THAT [12:28] STRIKES ME AS REALLY [12:29] PROBLEMATIC. [12:30] LIKE, THIS IS A PERSON WHO HAS [12:31] TO MAKE THE KIND OF [12:32] DECISIONS, LIKE OBAMA USED [12:33] TO SAY, WHEN DECISIONS CAME [12:35] TO HIS DESK, THEY HAD NO GOOD [12:36] ANSWERS, RIGHT? [12:38] THINGS WERE SO SERIOUS AND [12:40] IMPORTANT. [12:41] AND THIS IS A MAN WHO IS TASK [12:43] WITH DECISIONS LIKE THAT, BUT [12:45] HE CAN'T STAY FOCUSED ON THE [12:47] PRICE OF GAS, WHICH IS, AND [12:49] INSTEAD YOU HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT [12:51] THE REFLECTING POOL AND THE [12:53] HELICOPTER PAD AND ALL THE [12:55] DIFFERENT HOME IMPROVEMENTS [12:56] HE'S DONE TO THE WHITE HOUSE. [12:58] AND IT'S JUST, I THINK IT'S [13:00] REALLY PROBLEMATIC FOR THESE [13:02] CANDIDATES WHO WOULD PROBABLY [13:04] LIKE A LITTLE DAYLIGHT FROM [13:05] HIM AND NOT HIM DESCRIBING HOW [13:07] THEY LOOK. [13:08] YEAH. [13:09] IT WAS REALLY STRIKING, AND [13:10] AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE HOW [13:11] YOU SHOW THIS TO PEOPLE, BUT [13:12] THIS IS WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S [13:13] AT. [13:14] SO YOU CAN SANITIZE IT. [13:15] SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT [13:16] SAINWASHING. [13:17] I DON'T EVEN THINK YOU CAN [13:18] SAINWASH THIS. [13:19] YOU CAN JUST NOT LOOK THAT [13:20] DIRECTION. [13:21] BUT THERE'S A REASON HE'S [13:22] POLLING AT THE NUMBERS, AT [13:23] THE HISTORICALLY LOW POLLING [13:24] NUMBERS HE IS. [13:25] AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THINGS [13:26] LIKE THIS. [13:27] YEAH, THIS IS FAR FROM A [13:28] CLOSING MESSAGE. [13:29] MOLLY, ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE [13:30] YOU. [13:31] EMILY COMES BACK FOR OUR [13:32] SPECIAL REPORT, WHICH LOOKS [13:33] AT THE DEPTH OF THE CHALLENGE. [13:36] IF DEMOCRATS WIN BACK THE [13:37] HOUSE, HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH [13:38] THE CORRUPTION WITH THE [13:39] POTENTIALLY IMPEACHABLE [13:40] OFFENSES? [13:41] HOW DO THEY DO INVESTIGATIONS [13:42] THAT MEET THIS MOMENT? [13:44] I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS [13:45] SPECIAL REPORT. [13:46] IT IS OUR FINAL ONE BEFORE THE [13:47] MIDTERMS FOR YOUR [13:49] CONSIDERATION AS A CITIZEN AND [13:50] VOTER. [13:51] AND IT'S NEXT. [13:52] TURNING TO OUR SPECIAL [13:57] REPORT ON ONE OF THE KEY [13:58] SHIFTS THAT MAY COME IF [14:00] DEMOCRATS WIN BACK THE HOUSE. [14:01] PRICES, GAS, AFFORDABILITY [14:03] HAVE MANY VOTERS LEANING BLUE. [14:05] THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE WOULD [14:06] ALSO BRING, THOUGH, THE FIRST [14:08] REAL GOVERNMENT [14:09] INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS WHOLE [14:10] TRUMP TERM, AS EVEN THE [14:12] REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE [14:13] HOUSE HAS PREDICTED. [14:15] IF THIS GROUP TOOK OVER, [14:19] HEAVEN FORBID, DANA, THEY WOULD [14:20] TURN EVERY COMMITTEE OF [14:21] CONGRESS INTO AN [14:22] INVESTIGATIVE BODY. [14:23] THEY WOULD SPEND EVERY DAY [14:24] INVESTIGATING THE PRESIDENT, [14:25] THE FIRST FAMILY, THE [14:26] CABINET, YOU KNOW, DONORS TO [14:27] THE PARTY, LEADERS IN [14:28] BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. [14:29] HOW ABOUT THAT? [14:31] NOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE [14:33] GOVERNING PREDICTION WHICH [14:34] BOTH PARTIES ARE MAKING. [14:36] THE SPEAKER IS SAYING [14:37] DEMOCRATS WILL GO AND [14:39] THEY'LL LEAD AN [14:40] INVESTIGATIVE CONGRESS AND [14:41] HE THINKS THAT'S BAD. [14:42] DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THEY'LL [14:45] LEAD AN INVESTIGATIVE CONGRESS [14:46] AND THEY THINK IT'S GOOD. [14:50] THESE PEOPLE HAVE [14:51] UNLEASED UNPRECEDENTED [14:52] CORRUPTION ON THE AMERICAN [14:53] PEOPLE. [14:54] THE LIST IS ENDLESS. [14:55] WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE [14:56] FACTS. [14:57] WE ARE COUNTERING, [14:58] INVESTIGATING, EXPOSING AND [14:59] HOPING TO SHUT DOWN THE [15:00] CORRUPTION. [15:01] SO THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A [15:03] LOT TO INVESTIGATE. [15:04] WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THE [15:06] CROOKS ACCOUNTABLE. [15:07] THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE TOP [15:10] DEMOCRATS WHO GET SUBPOENA [15:11] POWER, COMMITTEE CHAIRS, AND [15:13] EVEN MORE IF CONGRESS DOES [15:14] FLIP NEXT WEEK. [15:15] THEIR GOAL IS TO PROBE THE [15:17] TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND ITS [15:19] MALFEASENCE THIS TERM. [15:20] OUR REPORT RIGHT NOW IS GOING [15:21] TO DOCUMENT WHAT THAT COULD [15:22] ENTAIL. [15:23] AFTER SINGLE-PARTY RULE IN [15:26] WASHINGTON HAS REALLY LET [15:27] TRUMP AND HIS TEAM SIDE ON SO [15:29] MUCH EVIDENCE OF LAWBREAKING, [15:31] CONFLICTS, THE SELF-DEALING, [15:33] VIRTUALLY NO OVERSIGHT OF [15:35] TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS [15:36] THAT HAVE LED TO SERIOUS HARM [15:39] AND DEATHS FROM POTENTIAL WAR [15:41] CRIMES ABROAD TO THE AMERICANS [15:43] SHOT HERE AT HOME. [15:44] WHATEVER THE RESULTS OF THESE [15:46] INQUIRIES, IT IS STRIKING THAT [15:48] SUCH SERIOUS CONDUCT HAS NOT [15:49] EVEN BEEN SERIOUSLY PROVED BY [15:51] THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN [15:52] CONGRESS. [15:54] AND THE DEMOCRATIC TOOLS IN THE [15:56] NEXT CONGRESS IF THEY WIN WOULD [15:58] BE SUBPOENAING EVIDENCE AND [16:00] WITNESSES, LAUNCHING SPECIAL [16:01] COMMITTEES LIKE THE JANUARY 6th [16:02] PROBE WHICH WAS ACTUALLY [16:04] HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, REFERRING [16:05] OFFICIALS FOR CRIMINAL [16:07] PROSECUTION, IMPEACHING ANY [16:08] LAWLESS CABINET OFFICIALS OR [16:09] EVEN THE PRESIDENT. [16:10] THAT'S JUST SOME OF IT. [16:11] SO I WANT TO BEGIN WITH ONE OF [16:13] THE MOST GRAVE POSSIBLE [16:14] INCIDENTS THAT HAS YET TO [16:15] REALLY BE PROBED, AND THAT'S [16:17] IF THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTED A [16:18] WAR CRIME BY KILLING [16:21] DEFENSELESS PEOPLE. [16:22] IT'S THE KIND OF ISSUE THAT'S [16:23] SUPPOSED TO BE ABOVE [16:24] POLITICS, LIKE AMERICA'S [16:26] HISTORY, AS YOU CAN SEE ON ONE [16:28] NEWSPAPER FROM BACK IN THE [16:29] DAY, SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY [16:30] FOR VIETNAMATROCITIES. [16:37] CONGRESS COULD MULL A MAJOR MOVE [16:40] TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE, [16:41] INVESTIGATE HIM AND DO SOMETHING [16:43] MORE. [16:45] IF WARRANTED, IMPEACH HIM FOR [16:47] WAR CRIMES. [16:48] THAT COULD ALSO LEAD TO FURTHER [16:51] CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILITY. [16:52] HEGSETH OVERSAU THOSE DEADLY [16:54] STRIKES ON BOATS IN THE [16:55] CARIBBEAN. [16:56] PART OF THIS ANTI-DRUG EFFORT [16:58] THAT LED TO A SERIES OF STRIKES [17:00] WHICH REPORTEDLY TARGETED [17:02] DEFENSELESS SURVIVORS, WHICH [17:05] CAN BE A WAR CRIME. [17:06] AND THIS HAS BEEN CAPTURED ON [17:08] VIDEO WHICH HAS BEEN [17:09] DETAINED. [17:11] AND SOME EXPERTS SAY THAT [17:12] STRIKING THERE, MINUTES AFTER [17:14] THE INITIAL STRIKE, TO GO KILL [17:15] PEOPLE WHO WERE VISIBLY WAVING [17:17] FOR HELP, APPARENTLY HANGING [17:19] ON THE VESSEL, THEY WERE [17:20] ESSENTIALLY SHIPWRECKED. [17:22] AND THAT THAT BREAKS THE [17:24] PENTAGON'S LAWS OF WAR. [17:25] THE REPORTING IS THAT HEGSETH [17:28] ORDERED, KILL THEM ALL, [17:30] LEADING TO THESE CONDEMNATIONS. [17:33] THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THE [17:36] LAW OF WAR. [17:37] ABSOLUTELY REGARD IT. [17:38] HE'S JUST OUT OF HIS DEATH. [17:39] THIS RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A [17:41] WAR CRIME. [17:42] HE'S OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE [17:44] LAW. [17:45] AND THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE TO [17:46] ADJUDICATE THIS. [17:48] THIS IS A HUGE DEAL. [17:50] WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL [17:51] WAR CRIMES DISCUSSED OUT IN THE [17:52] OPEN, PARTIALLY SEEN ON VIDEO. [17:54] WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER [17:55] EVIDENCE THERE WOULD BE WITH A [17:56] REAL PROBE. [17:57] AND CONGRESS UNDER REPUBLICANS [17:59] HAS DONE VERY LITTLE. [18:00] NOW THE PUSH TO IMPEACH HEGSETH [18:03] THAT HE NEEDS. [18:08] ARE ABOUT PETE HEGSETH FOLLOWING [18:10] ILLEGAL ORDERS FROM THE [18:11] PRESIDENT. [18:12] WHETHER IT'S IMPEACHMENT OR THE [18:13] MOST EXPEDIENT ROUTE. [18:15] HE'S DONE THE MOST IMPEACHABLE [18:16] THINGS OF ANY CABINET OFFICIAL. [18:18] DO YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD [18:19] GET ENOUGH DEMOCRATS ON BOARD TO [18:21] MAYBE SIGN ON TO THIS [18:22] IMPEACHMENT WITH MR HEGSETH? [18:24] I THINK I'LL HAVE ENOUGH [18:27] DEMOCRATS. [18:28] SO THAT WAS THE TALK I WAS [18:31] SAYING BEFORE WE ROLLED THAT [18:32] CLIP THAT YOU HAVE TALK ABOUT [18:33] THIS. [18:34] BUT REPUBLICANS DIDN'T DO MUCH [18:36] AT ALL. [18:37] THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE A REAL [18:38] INQUIRY YET. [18:39] AND OTHER THAN THAT TALK, AS YOU [18:41] KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T OUSTED [18:42] HEGSETH. [18:43] BUT IF DEMOCRATS HAVE A MAJORITY [18:45] AFTER TUESDAY, WELL, EVERYTHING [18:48] COULD CHANGE FAST. [18:49] HEGSETH APPARENTLY SEES THIS AS A [18:51] REAL PROBLEM. [18:52] HE'S ALREADY EXPLORING WAYS TO [18:54] GET A NEW JOB BEFORE HE MIGHT BE [18:56] IMPEACHED OUT OF OFFICE, [18:57] INCLUDING A PITCH TO TRY TO GET [18:59] APPOINTED SENATOR IF A SEAT [19:00] BECOMES VACANT. [19:01] WHICH LOOKS LIKE A MOVE TO [19:03] EVADE ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH [19:04] COULD BE TOO TOXIC FOR EVEN [19:06] REPUBLICANS TO WANT TO GIVE HIM [19:07] THAT JOB. [19:08] FOCUSING ON THE CABINET WOULD [19:10] ALSO ENABLE DEMOCRATS TO TARGET [19:11] RESULTS WITHOUT THE OPTICS OF [19:13] RUSHING TO IMPEACH TRUMP A [19:14] THIRD TIME. [19:15] A CONGRESSMAN IN LINE TO CHAIR [19:18] THE POWERFUL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE [19:19] WAS TELLING US ABOUT THIS FOCUS [19:20] ON THE CABINET. [19:21] ARE YOU OPEN TO POTENTIALLY [19:27] IMPEACHING THESE TRUMP CABINET [19:29] MEMBERS IF THEY ARE BREAKING THE [19:30] LAW? [19:31] LOOK, WE FORCED CHRISTIAN NOEM [19:35] OUT OF OFFICE. [19:36] WE WORKED TO FORCE PAM BONDI [19:38] OUT OF OFFICE. [19:39] AND PETE HEGSTATHS IS SOMEONE [19:40] THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE FOCUSED [19:41] TO ENSURE HE SHOULD NOT BE THE [19:43] SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OR WAR [19:44] OR WHATEVER HE WANTS TO CALL [19:45] HIMSELF. [19:46] ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN, THAT HAS TO [19:48] BE ON THE TABLE. [19:49] AND THAT'S FOR THESE [19:52] ALLEGATIONS OF HOW THEY KILLED [19:53] ABROAD. [19:54] LAWMAKERS ALSO PLANNING FOR [19:56] LONG-DELAYED PROBES INTO ICE [19:58] ABUSING POWER AND KILLING [20:00] AMERICANS AT HOME ALONG WITH [20:01] OTHER TACTICS. [20:02] MANY PEOPLE HAVE SOURED ON [20:05] TRUMP'S MASKED AGENTS AND ICE [20:06] TACTICS, BUT THIS REPUBLICAN [20:07] CONGRESS DIDN'T DO MUCH MORE [20:09] THAN A COUPLE OF OCCASIONALLY [20:10] OUTRAGED SPEECHES. [20:11] DEMOCRATS SAY THEY PLAN TO [20:14] PROBE ICE WITH REAL [20:15] INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE [20:16] INCIDENTS THAT COULD AMOUNT TO [20:18] VIOLENT CRIME BY TRUMP'S [20:20] GOVERNMENT TO LIMIT FUNDING. [20:21] AND ALSO, AS MENTIONED, TO [20:23] USE THAT TOOL AGAIN OF [20:24] THREATENING OR IMPEACHING [20:25] APPOINTEES IF THEY DON'T GET [20:27] COOPERATION AND REAL REFORM. [20:28] AND REMEMBER, ATOP ALL LAW [20:30] ENFORCEMENT AND DONALD TRUMP'S [20:31] LEGALLY CHALLENGED REVENGE [20:32] PROSECUTIONS, INCLUDING THAT [20:34] NEW COMEY INDICTMENT TODAY, [20:35] SITS TODD BLANCH. [20:37] HE COULD FACE A CABINET [20:39] IMPEACHMENT ON MULTIPLE [20:40] GROUNDS, REVENGE CASES, OR [20:42] THAT EFFORT TO STEAL TAXPAYER [20:44] DOLLARS AND GIVE IT TO [20:46] CONVICTS. [20:47] IT WAS STOPPED LEGISLATIVELY, [20:49] BUT THAT IS POTENTIALLY A HIGH [20:51] CRIME. [20:52] IN FACT, IT'S HARD TO THINK OF [20:53] SOMETHING MORE CORRUPTIVE AT [20:54] DOJ. [20:55] THERE'S ALSO THE ALLEGATIONS [20:56] THAT HE'S JUST OVERALL TURNED [20:57] DOJ INTO A PARTISAN OPERATION [20:59] AGAINST LAW AND EVIDENCE TO DO [21:02] BANANA REPUBLIC CRONY [21:03] PROSECUTIONS. [21:04] OUR REPORTING FIND THAT WHILE [21:07] NON-PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT [21:08] MAY SOUND A BIT UNUSUAL, [21:10] THERE'S PLENTY OF PRECEDENT. [21:11] OVER A DOZEN JUDGES HAVE [21:14] FACED THIS MECHANISM AND TWO [21:16] CABINET SECRETARIES. [21:17] ONE WAS ACTUALLY PURSUED BY [21:19] REPUBLICANS IN 2024, SOMETHING [21:21] MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN [21:22] DURING OUR BUSY TIMES. [21:24] ANOTHER WAS AGAINST PRESIDENT [21:26] GRANT'S WAR SECRETARY WHO ENDED [21:27] UP RESIGNING AMID THAT [21:29] CABINET IMPEACHMENT PROCESS [21:31] AND THE EVIDENCE HE FACED OF [21:33] BRIBERY. [21:34] NOW, IF CONGRESSIONAL [21:36] REPUBLICANS LOSE NEXT WEEK, A [21:37] KEY FACTOR WILL BE HOW THEY [21:39] HAVE LET DONALD TRUMP GET AWAY [21:40] WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF [21:42] SELF-DEALING AND RANK [21:43] CORRUPTION. [21:44] SHREDDING YEARS OF CLAIMS THAT [21:47] THEY CARED ABOUT DRAINING THE [21:48] SWAMP OR HOW CORRUPTION COSTS [21:50] THE TAXPAYER MONEY. [21:51] AMERICANS ARE ANGRY AT THE [21:53] REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THIS. [21:54] IT'S NOW A TOP ISSUE FOR WELL [21:56] OVER EIGHT OUT OF TEN VOTERS. [21:58] AND TRUMP REAPED BILLIONS IN [22:00] CRYPTO ALREADY. [22:01] HE TOOK THE $400 MILLION JET [22:03] FROM CUTTER, A CONSTITUTIONAL [22:05] VIOLATION ON ITS FACE. [22:06] THE DOJ, WHICH HE HAS AGAIN [22:08] MADE MORE PARTISAN AS MENTIONED, [22:10] AND THE CONGRESS HAVE LOOKED [22:13] THE OTHER WAY EVEN AS ALL OF [22:14] THESE INDIVIDUALS FACE A RANGE [22:17] OF QUESTIONS AND POTENTIAL [22:18] INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT THAT KIND [22:19] OF CORRUPTION. [22:20] IT'S BEEN IN THE HEADLINES, [22:21] OF COURSE, ON THIS MIDTERM [22:23] HOMESTRETCH WITH A NEW TRUMP [22:24] AMBASSADOR OUT OVER HER OWN [22:26] EFFORT TO GET IN ON ALL THIS. [22:29] YOU HAD A TRUMP PROSECUTOR GETTING [22:32] TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM [22:33] A FAMILY OF SOMEONE WHO GOT A [22:35] PARDON AFTER THAT MONEY CHANGED [22:37] HANDS. [22:38] SOUNDS LIKE A BRIBE. [22:39] THEY DENY IT. [22:40] THOSE ARE STORIES THAT BUILD ON [22:43] THIS RAMPANT SELF-DEALING. [22:45] IF YOU COME WITH THIS MONEY, [22:49] YOU WILL GET A PARDON. [22:52] 600K. [22:53] YEAH. [22:56] WE HAVE SOME TEXTS THAT THEY [22:58] SENT TO YOUR LAWYER. [22:59] NATALIE HARP SUGGESTS THAT SHE'S [23:01] GOING TO PERSONALLY HAND YOUR [23:03] APPLICATION TO THE PRESIDENT. [23:05] PAY THESE PEOPLE, SOMEONE ELSE [23:09] HANDS THE PARDON APPLICATION IN, [23:10] THEN THE PARDON POPS UP AND ALL [23:12] OF THIS NEEDS TO BE [23:13] INVESTIGATED. [23:14] THE WHITE HOUSE DENIES THAT THERE [23:15] IS ANY DEAL THERE. [23:16] THERE'S ALSO DEMOCRATS LOOKING [23:18] AT A TOUGH APPROACH TO TACKLE [23:20] THE SCALE OF ALL THIS. [23:21] AND THAT BEGINS WITH LEGAL [23:22] PRESSURE ON SO MANY COMPANIES [23:23] THAT HAVE BEEN TIED UP WITH [23:24] THESE SCHEMES. [23:25] THEY MIGHT FACE MORE PRESSURE TO [23:27] COOPERATE AND THEY HAVE [23:28] SHAREHOLDERS, THEY HAVE [23:29] CUSTOMERS, AND LOOK AT THIS IN [23:31] THE LONG RUN THAN THE TRUMP AID [23:32] WHO COULD STONEWALL. [23:33] CONGRESSMAN RASKIN IS ALREADY [23:36] PROBING IF KUSHNER AND DON [23:38] JUNIOR HAVE MISUSED THEIR [23:39] GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE FOR [23:40] PRIVATE ENRICHMENT. [23:41] ANOTHER COMMITTEE IS SCOURING [23:42] MALFEASANCE IN THE TRADE WAR. [23:44] TRUMP AIDES WE KNOW HAVE TESTED [23:46] HOW THEY COULD DEFY LAWFUL [23:48] PROBES IN THE PAST. [23:49] WE'VE WATCHED THAT HAPPEN. [23:50] SOME DID AVOID TESTIFYING. [23:51] OTHERS WOUND UP ON TRIAL AND [23:53] IN FEDERAL PRISON. [23:54] IF THIS TIME AROUND TRUMP TRIES [23:56] TO PARDON PEOPLE FOR THAT KIND [23:58] OF STONEWALLING AND SAY HEY, [23:59] JUST SHUT IT ALL DOWN BEFORE [24:00] THE NEW CONGRESS, WELL, [24:01] DEMOCRATS SAY THEY ARE GETTING [24:02] READY FOR THAT TOO. [24:03] HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS? [24:04] THEY WANT TO PARTNER WITH [24:06] STATE PROSECUTORS WHO COULD [24:08] JAIL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT [24:09] VETERANS OVER ACTUAL LAWBREAKING [24:10] AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN [24:12] POTENTIALLY REGARDLESS OF WHAT [24:14] TRUMP WANTS BECAUSE HE DOES [24:16] NOT HAVE ANY POWER TO PARDON [24:18] ANYONE FOR STATE CRIME [24:19] OFFENSES. [24:20] YOU COULD CALL THAT A LITTLE [24:23] LEGAL INGENUITY TO DEAL WITH [24:25] ALL OF THIS CRIMINALITY AT THE [24:27] TOP. [24:29] THIS TRUMP TERM HAS OBVIOUSLY [24:31] MOVED THE LINE ON WHAT ANY [24:34] MODERN PRESIDENT CAN GET AWAY [24:35] WITH. [24:36] SO YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS AS I'M [24:37] SHOWING YOU TONIGHT SAYING [24:38] THEY ARE GOING TO BE READY ON [24:40] DAY ONE TO MOVE ACCORDINGLY. [24:42] NOT SIT AROUND FOR MONTHS [24:43] TRADING LETTERS LIKE THIS IS [24:44] NORMAL TIMES. [24:45] THIS IS NOT NORMAL TIMES. [24:47] THERE'S ALSO AN INVESTIGATIVE [24:50] AREA WHERE DEMOCRATS DID BE [24:51] TRUMP DURING THIS PAST CONGRESS, [24:52] THE EPSTEIN FILES, WITH THE [24:54] HELP OF REPUBLICANS ONCE THEY [24:55] PUT ON THE PRESSURE. [24:56] THEY OVERROAD TRUMP'S [24:57] OPPOSITION TO RELEASE THE [24:58] FILES AND THAT PROVIDED SOME [25:00] OF THE DETAILED EVIDENCE THAT [25:01] WE HAVE USED IN OUR ORIGINAL [25:03] REPORTING RIGHT HERE ON THIS [25:05] PROGRAM LOOKING AT THE THICKET [25:07] OF HISTORY THERE INCLUDING [25:09] BOTH PARTIES AT TIMES LOOKING [25:11] THE OTHER WAY OVER A LOT OF [25:13] EVIDENCE, MORE OF WHICH WE [25:16] GOT FROM THE FILES. [25:19] DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WILL DO [25:20] MORE IF THEY GET THE HOUSE [25:21] NEXT WEEK. [25:22] THEY WILL PRESS ON THE FILES [25:25] THAT THEY SAY THE TRUMP DOJ IS [25:26] STILL WITHHOLDING WHICH MAY BE [25:27] ILLEGAL. [25:28] ONE CONGRESSMAN TOLD US [25:29] FRIDAY HE THINKS SOME OF THAT [25:30] IS STILL ILLEGAL. [25:31] THEY WILL CHASE LEADS THAT PAST [25:32] ADMINISTRATIONS INCLUDING THE [25:33] TRUMP AND BIDEN DOJ DID NOT. [25:34] THEY WANT TO FORCE MORE INFO [25:36] OUT OF THE MANY BANKS THAT [25:38] EPSTEIN USED FOR HIS TRAFFICKING. [25:41] THERE IS ALSO A PLAN TO GO [25:43] FURTHER AND PASS A NEW LAW TO [25:44] FOLLOW THAT MONEY TO FORCE [25:45] TESTIMONY OR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON [25:47] EPSTEIN'S INNER CIRCLE. [25:49] THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT WE GOT [25:51] FROM THE FILES THAT LOOKS AT [25:52] SOME REDACTED INDIVIDUALS THAT [25:53] MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY [25:54] INVESTIGATED. [25:55] DEMOCRATIC CONTROL COULD [25:56] ALSO FORCE A FLOOR VOTE TO [25:58] PASS A LAW THAT TRIES TO BREAK [26:00] THESE BINDING HUSH MONEY [26:03] AGREEMENTS, NDAs, WHICH CAN BE [26:05] USED BY POWERFUL MEN TO [26:07] SILENCE ACCUSERS OR VICTIMS OR [26:08] INSIDERS. [26:09] NOW THIS NEW LAW, IF THE [26:12] DEMOCRATS WIN AND GET IT DONE, [26:13] WOULD GO FARTHER THAN ANY [26:15] CONGRESS HAS ON THIS MATTER. [26:16] IT WOULD VOID NDAs THAT [26:18] PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM DISCLOSING [26:19] INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. [26:22] SO THAT IS A LOT. [26:25] AND THERE IS MORE. [26:28] A TOUGHER APPROACH TO REFORM, [26:30] WHICH I'M GOING TO REPORT ON [26:31] WHEN THIS SPECIAL REPORT [26:32] CONCLUDES, I'LL BE BACK WITH [26:34] YOU IN 90 SECONDS. [26:36] THE QATARIS GAVE ME A [26:41] $400 MILLION PLAIN. [26:43] CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? [26:44] AND PEOPLE SAID THAT WAS SOME [26:45] SORT OF BRIBE. [26:46] NOT TRUE. [26:47] NOT TRUE. [26:48] BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T ASKED [26:49] FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN. [26:51] WELL, NOT YET. [26:53] SO IT'S A PRE-BRIBE. [26:55] IT'S A PRE-BRIBE. [26:56] PRE-BRIBE IS NOT A DEFENSE. [27:00] WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL [27:01] REPORT ON THE SERIOUS ISSUES [27:03] BEING LAMPOONED THERE BY SNL. [27:05] HOW A NEW CONGRESS MIGHT HOLD [27:07] THIS ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE [27:09] FOR BRIBES, GIFTS, PRE-BRIBES, [27:11] YOU NAME IT. [27:12] IF DEMOCRATS WIN NEXT WEEK, [27:14] ANOTHER AREA WHERE TRUMP'S [27:15] SECOND TERM HAS GONE OFF THE [27:16] RAILS COMPARED TO THE FIRST IS [27:19] JUST THE DAILY RULE OF LAW. [27:21] WE'VE ALL HEARD THE [27:22] CONSTITUTION HAS CHECKS AND [27:24] BALANCES. [27:25] IT DISTRIBUTES POWER ACROSS THE [27:27] GOVERNMENT. [27:28] BUT IT STILL LARGELY OPERATES ON [27:30] A BARE GOOD FAITH EXPECTATION [27:32] THAT THE EXECUTIVE, WHICH [27:34] ENFORCES THE LAW, WOULD NOT [27:37] BECOME A DAILY LAW BREAKER. [27:39] WELL, TRUMP HAS PUSHED FOR [27:41] EXACTLY THAT THIS TERM. [27:42] HE WANTS HIS TEAM AT DOJ AND [27:45] ELSEWHERE TO DELAY, TWIST OR [27:46] DEFY COURT ORDERS WHEN THEY [27:47] CAN. [27:48] HE ROUTINELY ANNOUNCES DEMANDS [27:51] TO JAIL OPPONENTS. [27:52] WE SAW THAT IN THE NEWS TONIGHT [27:54] WITH ANOTHER INDICTMENT OF [27:55] FORMER FBI DIRECTOR COMEY. [27:57] AND HE TRIES TO CENSOR THAT [27:59] VERY FIRST RIGHT IN OUR BILL OF [28:00] RIGHTS, THE FIRST AMENDMENT [28:02] PROTECTED FREE SPEECH OF [28:03] EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY. [28:05] HE'S DONE THE ONCE UNTHINKABLE [28:08] DEPLOYING TROOPS LONG TERM IN [28:09] OUR STREETS, WHICH IS THE KIND [28:11] OF ABUSE OF MILITARY POWER TO [28:14] PATROL AND TO INTIMIDATE. [28:16] YOU'RE LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, [28:18] THAT'S A BIT OF OUR [28:21] AMERICANS. [28:21] THIS IS A BIT OF OUR [28:24] AMERICANS AND WEAPONY OF WAR IN [28:27] NORMAL PEACEFUL AREAS WHERE YOU [28:28] DON'T EVEN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE [28:29] AMASED. [28:31] YOU JUST SEE TRUMP'S TRUPS AND [28:33] HIS WEAPONS OF WAR AND TANKS. [28:34] THIS IS SOMETHING WE USED TO [28:36] ASSOCIATE MORE WITH FOREIGN [28:37] BANANA REPUBLICS NOT A US [28:38] ADMINISTRATION. [28:39] CONGRESS HAS LARGELY STOOD BY, [28:40] THE NEXT ONE, THOUGH, COULD [28:42] USE OVERSIGHT PROBES, OR THE [28:43] IMPEACHMENT I TOLD YOU ABOUT [28:45] POTENTIALLY OF THE CABINET TO [28:46] SECOND TERM, THE SECOND TERM [28:48] IS THE SECOND TERM. [28:50] THE SECOND TERM HAS BECOME [28:52] QUITE HYPOCRITICALLY DONALD [28:54] TRUMP'S GOVERNMENT CANCEL [28:55] CULTURE HEADQUARTERS. [28:56] THEY ARE THE SNOWFLAKES AND [28:58] THEY WANT TO ABUSE THE [29:00] GOVERNMENT TO STOP YOU FROM [29:02] HEARING FROM, WELL, ANYONE. [29:04] SOMEONE LIKE ME OR ANOTHER [29:06] JOURNALIST OR A CRITIC OR AN [29:08] OPPONENT, YOU NAME IT, A [29:09] COMIC, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE [29:10] ABOUT. [29:11] THE NEXT CONGRESS COULD [29:12] STRENGTHEN LAWS TO PROTECT [29:14] WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT [29:15] AUDITORS, THE INSPECTORS [29:16] OF THEM, AND THEN THERE'S SORT [29:18] OF LONG-TERM SUITS ABOUT IT, [29:19] BUT HE'S GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT [29:20] SO FAR. [29:21] AND JUST AS HEGSETH IS [29:22] PLANNING TO FACE HIS OWN [29:23] IMPEACHMENT, WHICH SHOWS HOW [29:24] ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS, HOW [29:26] IT'S ON THESE PEOPLE'S MINDS [29:27] ALREADY, LET'S NOT FORGET [29:30] THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS FACED [29:31] MORE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL [29:32] LEGAL PRESSURE THAN ANY [29:33] PRESIDENT EVER, AND HE NOW [29:35] THINKS HE CAN PARDON [29:36] HIMSELF. [29:37] ARE YOU SERIOUSLY [29:40] CONSIDERING A SELF-PARDON [29:42] BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE? [29:43] WELL, I DON'T THINK [29:44] ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DID NOTHING [29:46] WRONG. [29:47] I COULDN'T HAVE GIVEN MYSELF [29:48] A PARDON THE LAST TIME I LEFT [29:49] OFFICE. [29:50] I'M ALLOWED TO DO A PARDON, [29:51] A SELF-PARDON. [29:52] I'M ALLOWED TO PARDON. [29:53] WELL, NO ONE HAS TRIED TO [29:56] SELF-PARDON, SO THERE'S NO [29:58] PRECEDENT ON IF THAT'S [29:59] ALLOWED. [30:00] SO WHEN HE SAYS HE'S ALLOWED, [30:01] IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY REFER TO [30:02] ANYTHING. [30:04] WE ALL LEARN IN SCHOOL HOW THE [30:05] LAST TIME THE U.S. [30:06] FACED HIGH CRIMES IN THE [30:07] WHITE HOUSE, THE COSTS WERE [30:08] GREAT, BUT IN THE END JUSTICE [30:09] WAS SERVED IN A WAY. [30:11] THAT WAS A PROCESS THAT, [30:12] REMEMBER, IT INCLUDED A [30:13] CONGRESS DOING INDEPENDENT [30:15] INVESTIGATIONS. [30:18] BIG PART OF THIS REPORT [30:19] TONIGHT. [30:20] IT INCLUDED LEADERS IN BOTH [30:21] PARTIES STANDING UP TO [30:22] EVIDENCE OF PRESIDENTIAL [30:23] WRONGDOING, DEALING WITH [30:24] FACTS AS THEY CAME IN. [30:26] NOT JUST DIFFERENT ENTITIES [30:27] LYING ABOUT THEM WITH [30:29] EVERYONE HAVING THEIR OWN [30:30] DUELING REALITIES. [30:31] EVENTUALLY, THE COMMON [30:32] EVIDENCE WAS TREATED AS A [30:33] COMMON REALITY. [30:34] AND THEN THERE WAS YOU, THEN [30:35] AND NOW, THE PEOPLE'S [30:36] OUTRAGE PRESSURING THE [30:37] POLITICIANS. [30:38] HE WAS FORCED OUT AND HIS [30:40] MUSINGS BECAME A KIND OF [30:41] CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT WHY [30:42] AMERICANS WANT LAW AND [30:44] DEMOCRACY, NOT WOULD-BE [30:45] DICTATORS AND KINGS IN THE [30:46] WHITE HOUSE. [30:47] WHEN THE PRESIDENT DOES IT, [30:48] THAT MEANS THAT IT IS NOT [30:49] ILLEGAL. [30:50] NOT THAT I DON'T HAVE THE [30:52] RIGHT TO DO ANYTHING I WANT [30:53] TO DO. [30:56] I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE [30:57] UNITED STATES. [30:58] THEY BOTH GOT IT WRONG. [31:00] NIXON, WITH THE BENEFIT [31:01] OF TIME, REMEMBER, THE [31:02] PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED [31:03] STATES. [31:06] TRUMP FACES THE GREAT STAIN [31:10] OF HIS IMPEACHMENTS AND [31:11] INDICTMENTS, BUT ALSO THE [31:12] POLITICAL COMEBACK OF WINNING [31:14] THE 2024 INFLATION ELECTION. [31:16] BUT THERE ARE MORE [31:18] PARALLELS. [31:20] BOTH MEN LOST THEIR APPEAL [31:22] AND FACED HISTORIC LOWS. [31:25] AFTER WATERGATE, CONGRESS [31:26] ACTUALLY USED THAT ENERGY FOR [31:28] REFORMS WHICH WENT BEYOND [31:30] ANY ONE MAN'S MISDEEDS. [31:31] THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT [31:33] REFORMS, REVOLUTIONIZING [31:35] CAMPAIGN FINANCE, GOING TO [31:38] ETHICS, INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT, [31:41] AND WAR POWERS, THE WASHINGTON [31:42] POST NOTES. [31:43] THINK ABOUT IT. [31:44] HERE WE ARE. [31:45] AND TODAY AMERICANS ACROSS THE [31:48] SPECTRUM WANT ACTION ON [31:51] EXACTLY THOSE TRUMPIAN [31:52] FAILURES. [31:53] MONEY IN POLITICS, UNETHICAL [31:55] CORRUPTION, CERTAINLY THE [31:57] ABUSE OF MILITARY POWERS FROM [31:59] THE AMERICAN STREETS IN [32:02] MINNESOTA TO TURAN, WHICH COSTS [32:03] OUR NATION SO DEARLY AND SEEM [32:05] ONLY TO BENEFIT THE PRESIDENT'S [32:07] PERSONAL SENSE OF HIS UNITARY [32:09] POWER OVER US AND OUR [32:12] CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. [32:13] THIS IS OUR SPECIAL REPORT. [32:14] WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER FOR [32:15] YOU. [32:16] LET ME SUM IT UP. [32:17] THERE ARE A LOT OF TEACHINGS [32:19] ABOUT HISTORY, THAT IT CAN [32:23] REPEAT OR RHYME, THAT IT'S [32:25] MOSTLY WRITTEN BY THE [32:29] WINNERS, OR THAT HISTORY IS [32:31] NOT EVEN PASSED. [32:38] HERE'S WHAT MATTERS TONIGHT [32:41] THOUGH, AS PEOPLE MAKE UP THEIR [32:42] MINDS AND GO OUT AND DECIDE HOW [32:43] TO VOTE NEXT WEEK. [32:44] IN LAW, HISTORY CAN BE [32:47] SOMETHING STURDIER. [32:48] WE CALL IT PRECEDENT. [32:51] MANY OF THOSE LAWS TO COUNTER [32:55] NIXON AND WATERGATE ARE STILL [32:56] ON THE BOOKS TODAY. [32:57] OUR PRECEDENTS TO THWART THOSE [33:00] WHO WOULD UNDERCUT OUR LAW AND [33:02] DEMOCRACY, OR TURN US INTO A [33:03] DICTATORSHIP. [33:04] AND AMERICANS ACROSS PARTY AND [33:05] SPECTRUM CLEARLY HAVE [33:07] CLEARLY SEEM TO WANT A [33:10] CONGRESS TO BUILD ON THAT TO [33:11] FIGHT TODAY'S VERSION OF THESE [33:13] RECURRING VICES IN GOVERNMENT. [33:15] GREED FROM BAGS OF CASH TO [33:18] TODAY'S CRYPTO. [33:19] VIOLENT BLOOD LUST FROM SHOWS OF [33:23] FORCE IN MINNESOTA TO TERRAN [33:26] THAT VIRTUALLY NO ONE ASKED FOR. [33:29] WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK ON THIS [33:31] WITH A SPECIAL GUEST. [33:34] WE'LL BE we're here [33:34] at work is fashionable