The Beat With Ari Melber 5/5/26 — 🅼🆂🅽🅱️🅲 Breaking News Today May 5, 2026

[0:00] I'M ARIE MELBUR. [0:00] I'M BACK AS NICOLE MENTIONED [0:01] AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OFF. [0:02] GLAD TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT. [0:04] RECOVERING TRUMP'S STRUGGLE TO [0:05] CONTAIN THE FALLOUT FROM THE WAR [0:06] HE STARTED IN IRAN. [0:08] AND LATER, ANDREW WEISMAN JOINS [0:10] US. [0:10] AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, BY THE [0:12] END OF THIS HOUR, WE HAVE [0:12] SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL WITH [0:14] AUTHOR AND NEW YORK ART LEGEND [0:16] FAB 5 FREDDY. [0:17] YOU CAN SEE HIM THERE BACK IN [0:19] THE GLORY DAYS. [0:20] THAT'S BY THE END OF THE HOUR. [0:21] SO I INVITE YOU TO STICK WITH [0:23] US FOR ALL OF THAT. [0:25] WE BEGIN, THOUGH, WITH THIS [0:26] INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING WHICH [0:31] UNDERCUTS TRUMP'S WAR CLAIMS. [0:32] IRAN'S NUCLEAR TIMELINE IS [0:34] ABOUT THE SAME AS BEFORE THE WAR. [0:36] I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH THAT [0:37] REPORTING, BUT JUST THINK ABOUT [0:39] THIS CONTEXT AND HOW IT'S BAD [0:40] FOR TRUMP. [0:40] HE BROKE HIS VOW TO AVOID THOSE [0:42] SO-CALLED FOREVER WARS WHICH [0:43] HAD SADDLED OTHER REPUBLICAN [0:44] PRESIDENTS. [0:45] AND TRUMP LAUNCHED THIS WAR IN [0:47] THE SAME REGION, THE MIDDLE [0:48] EAST, PICKING A FIGHT THAT [0:50] IMMEDIATELY PROVED MORE [0:51] COMPLEX THAN THE INITIAL HAWKISH [0:53] CLAIMS. [0:53] IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME. [0:56] THIS IS NOT A GROUND WAR AS OF [0:58] TODAY AND THERE WEREN'T EXACTLY [1:00] FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT WMD'S INSIDE [1:02] THE COUNTRY BUT THERE ARE STILL [1:03] LIES. [1:04] THAT'S THE CONTEXT AS I MENTIONED [1:06] FOR THIS REPORTING TONIGHT [1:07] BECAUSE THE LIES INCLUDE LIES [1:09] ABOUT AN ADVERSARY'S WEAPONS. [1:10] WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY HAVE, [1:12] THEIR ABILITY TO DO HARM. [1:15] THAT IS AS SERIOUS AS IT COMES [1:17] WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH [1:19] LEADERSHIP AND STATE CRAFT AND [1:21] OF COURSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN [1:23] THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE. [1:25] TRUMP DOES FIND HIMSELF AS WE [1:26] BEGIN TONIGHT FAR CLOSER TO [1:28] GEORGE W. BUSH'S MIDEAST [1:30] PROBLEMS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO. [1:34] AND WHATEVER THE MANY [1:35] CRITICISMS THAT ARE OF DONALD [1:36] TRUMP, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME [1:37] OF THE POLLING LATER IN THE [1:38] HOUR, THIS IS A NEW BAD [1:40] PROBLEM HE CREATED THAT IS [1:41] WORSE FOR HIM AND OF COURSE THE [1:42] COUNTRY THAN TWO MONTHS AGO. [1:43] IT INCLUDES A CREDIBILITY CRISIS [1:45] BECAUSE REUTERS IS REPORTING THE [1:46] TIME THAT IRAN NEEDS TO BUILD A [1:48] NUCLEAR WEAPON HAS NOT CHANGED [1:49] SINCE LAST SUMMER. [1:50] I'M LEAVING THAT UP ON THE [1:51] SCREEN FOR A SECOND BECAUSE YOU [1:52] MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS OR [1:54] SEEN AN ALERT ON YOUR PHONE. [1:56] OF COURSE IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED [1:57] ON OUR AIR TODAY. [1:58] THIS IS THE CORE OF IT. [1:59] WE'D ALWAYS TELL YOU GO READ [2:01] THE WHOLE ARTICLE. [2:02] GO READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IF [2:04] YOU WANT TO BE INFORMED. [2:05] BUT I'M TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU [2:07] DON'T READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE, [2:08] THIS IS THE PART YOU NEED TO [2:09] KNOW. [2:10] THIS DETONATES EVERYTHING TRUMP [2:12] AND HIS TEAM HAS BEEN SAYING [2:14] BECAUSE THE TIME THAT IRAN NEEDS [2:16] TO BUILD A NUCLEAR WEAPON HAS [2:19] NOT CHANGED SINCE LAST SUMMER, [2:21] SINCE THIS WAR BEGAN. [2:22] THAT'S THE KEY FINDING. [2:23] IT SHREDS DONALD TRUMP'S MAIN [2:25] WAR DEFENSE EVEN AS THE GAS [2:27] PRICES HAVE BEEN SURGING AND THE [2:29] WAR RATIONALES HAVE SHIFTED. [2:30] YOU MIGHT RECALL IF YOU'VE BEEN [2:32] FOLLOWING ON THAT. [2:33] THIS IS WHAT THEY KEEP COMING [2:35] BACK TO. [2:36] EVEN IF GAS IS MORE EXPENSIVE, [2:38] WHICH THEY SOMETIMES KIND OF [2:40] ADMIT IS A PROBLEM AND OTHER [2:42] TIMES THEY MINIMIZE IT. [2:43] EVEN IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEY [2:45] CLAIM THIS COSTLY WAR WOULD BE [2:47] WORTH IT BECAUSE THE U.S. [2:49] QUOTE, OBLITERATED IRAN'S [2:52] NUCLEAR PROGRAM. [2:53] THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE CLAIMING. [2:56] WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF [2:58] INFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA AND [2:59] VIRAL MEMES AND PEOPLE HEAR [3:00] THAT AND THEY GO, WELL, IF [3:02] THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I GUESS [3:04] THAT'S AT LEAST THE OTHER SIDE [3:06] OF THE LEDGER. [3:07] HIGH GAS PRICES BUT WE ACHIEVE [3:08] SOMETHING OVER THERE. [3:09] BUT THAT'S FALSE. [3:11] AFTER TWO MONTHS OF FIGHTING, [3:12] REUTERS IS DRAWING ON THE [3:14] UNITED STATES OWN INTELLIGENCE. [3:16] THIS IS NOT SOME OUTSIDE [3:18] ASSESSMENT. [3:19] THEY ARE DRAWING ON THAT. [3:20] THEIR SOURCES AND METHODS [3:22] REPORTING TO FIND THAT IRAN'S [3:23] NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES ARE [3:24] BROADLY UNCHANGED WITH LIMITED [3:25] NEW DAMAGE TO THE NUCLEAR [3:27] PROGRAM. [3:28] AND THAT UNCHANGED TIMELINE [3:30] SUGGESTS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY [3:32] IMPEDING TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR [3:33] PROGRAM MIGHT REQUIRE DESTROYING [3:34] OR REMOVING IRAN'S REMAINING [3:36] STOCKPILE OF HIGHLY ENRICHED [3:37] URANIUM. [3:38] SO GET READY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT [3:40] AS THE NEW GOAL POST. [3:42] BUT REMEMBER, IF THAT'S THE NEW [3:44] GOAL POST OVER HERE, WE'VE GOT [3:45] TO DO THIS EXTRA THING. [3:46] WELL, THAT MEANS THAT DONALD [3:48] TRUMP WAS WRONG, INCOMPETENT, [3:49] OR LYING. [3:50] ONE OF THE THREE, WHEN HE CAME [3:53] OUT AND TOLD YOU, THE AMERICAN [3:54] PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE OUR [3:55] SOLDIERS FIGHTING THIS WAR, [3:56] THAT THEY'D OBLITERATED AND [3:58] THEY'D ALREADY QUOTE WON THE [3:59] WAR. [4:00] THAT'S THE CONDITION OF THE [4:01] PROGRAM OVER THERE. [4:02] NOW, SOME OF THE REGIME'S [4:04] CRITICS STILL SAY IT COULD BE [4:06] HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME KIND OF [4:11] GLOBAL ALLIANCE THAT STANDS UP [4:12] TO IRAN. [4:13] THAT SOME STEPS EARLIER IN THIS [4:15] PROCESS COULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL. [4:16] REMEMBER, IRAN HAS A LOT OF [4:18] OPPONENTS IN THE MUSLIM MIDDLE [4:19] EAST AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD AND [4:20] NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. [4:21] BUT THE FACT THAT TRUMP IS [4:23] FAILING TO DO THE THING HE SAID [4:25] WAS ALREADY DONE TO IMPEED THE [4:27] NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN A [4:28] SUBSTANTIAL WAY, DOES NOT [4:30] CANCEL OUT THAT PLENTY OF [4:32] FOLKS ARE AGAINST IRAN AND [4:34] WANT TO CONTAIN IT. [4:35] THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS, [4:38] THOUGH. [4:39] THE WAR HAS NOT CHANGED IRAN'S [4:40] REGIME. [4:41] WE KNEW THAT BECAUSE THEY [4:43] REPLACED A HARDLINER WITH A [4:44] YOUNGER HARDLINER. [4:45] IT HASN'T CHANGED THE [4:47] COUNTRY'S BROAD NUCLEAR [4:48] CAPACITY, WHAT IT CAN DO OVER [4:50] TIME. [4:51] WHAT TRUMP HAS CHANGED ARE THE [4:52] GAS PRICES AT HOME, THE OIL [4:53] SUPPLY, THE UNCERTAINTY [4:54] ABROAD. [4:55] U.S. SHIPS HAVE JUST FACED [4:56] COORDINATED THREATS FROM IRAN, [4:57] SMALL BOATS, MISSILES AND [4:58] DRONES AND A SUSTAINED [5:00] BARRAGE. [5:01] THE OPEN-ENDED BLOCKADE MEANS [5:04] THOSE RISKS CONTINUE, EVEN THOUGH, [5:05] THANKFULLY FOR THE U.S., THAT [5:07] ATTACK WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL. [5:09] TRUMP OFFICIALS WERE GRILLED ON [5:10] THESE PROBLEMS TODAY. [5:11] THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS THE [5:12] CEASE-FIRE IS BASICALLY HOLDING [5:13] HIS COUNTERPART AT STATE, [5:15] MARCO RUBIO, MEANWHILE TRYING [5:17] TO SPIN HOW WE COUNT THE WAR. [5:19] THAT'S USUALLY A BAD SIGN. [5:22] IF A WAR IS OVER, THERE'S NOT A [5:23] BIG DEBATE ABOUT COUNTING IT. [5:25] AND IF IT'S GOING WELL, [5:26] ACHIEVING CLEAR OBJECTIVES OVER [5:27] TIME, WE'VE SEEN THE AMERICAN [5:29] PUBLIC IN PAST WARS TENDS TO HAVE [5:31] SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY IN THE [5:32] INITIAL PHASE, THE FIRST FEW [5:34] MONTHS. [5:35] THIS IS DIFFERENT FOR SOME OF [5:36] THE REASONS YOU KNOW AND THAT I [5:37] ALREADY MENTIONED. [5:38] TRUMP WENT IT ALONE, HAD [5:40] SHIFTING RATIONALES, AND THE BIG [5:42] CORE RATIONALE THAT MIGHT EVEN [5:44] BE JUSTIFIABLE WITH THE HIGH GAS [5:45] PRICES, IT'S NOT TRUE. [5:47] SO THIS IS NOW WITH THE COUNTING [5:50] A BID TO STEM THE GROWING [5:52] BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THIS [5:53] WAR. [5:54] THERE ARE MORE AND MORE [5:55] PROGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS AT [5:56] LEAST EYEING USING THE 60-DAY [5:58] LIMIT IN THE WAR POWERS LAW. [5:59] KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU LISTEN [6:00] TO BOTH MEN. [6:01] SECRETARY HEXTH, LAST 24 HOURS [6:06] OR SO, IRAN'S FIRED AT US, WE [6:08] FIRED AT IRAN. [6:09] I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU MORE [6:10] DIRECTLY, IS THE CEASEFIRE OVER? [6:12] NO, THE CEASEFIRE IS NOT OVER. [6:16] ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A SEPARATE [6:18] AND DISTINCT PROJECT. [6:19] AND WE EXPECTED THERE WOULD BE [6:21] SOME CHURN AT THE BEGINNING, [6:24] WHICH HAPPENED. [6:25] AND WE SAID WE WOULD DEFEND AND [6:26] DEFEND AGGRESSIVELY AND WE [6:31] ABSOLUTELY HAVE. [6:32] THE OPERATION IS OVER. [6:33] EPIC FURY, THE PRESIDENT NOTIFY [6:35] CONGRESS, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT [6:36] STAGE OF IT. [6:40] WE'RE NOW ON TO THIS PROJECT OF [6:41] FREEDOM. [6:45] THE UNITED STATES IS NOT DONE. [6:47] AT A TIME LIKE THIS, IT'S [6:49] SOMETIMES OUR JOB, THOSE OF US [6:50] WHO ARE DOING THE REPORTING, [6:52] TRYING TO LOOK AT THE FACTS AND [6:54] THE SOURCES, SHOW YOU WHAT'S [6:55] BEING CLAIMED AND TRY TO SHOW [6:56] YOU THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT'S TRUE, [6:57] JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD. [6:58] NO, THE U.S. IS NOT DONE, [7:00] THEY ARE NOT DONE, THAT'S [7:03] DONE, THEY ARE NOT DONE. [7:04] THEY ARE NOT DONE, THEY ARE [7:07] FACING THESE CONTINUED THREATS. [7:08] FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, THE [7:10] PUBLIC KNOWS IT. [7:11] THE PUBLIC KNOWS THIS IS AN [7:12] ONGOING WAR. [7:13] THEY KNOW THAT THEIR PRESIDENT, [7:15] WHATEVER HIS BIG CLAIMS AND [7:16] VOWS, HAS NOT EFFECTIVELY [7:17] MANAGED IT. [7:19] NOT FOR THE GOALS ABROAD, NOT [7:20] FOR THE ECONOMY AT HOME. [7:22] THE PUBLIC KNOWS THEY ARE FACING [7:24] RISING ENERGY PRICES THAT ARE [7:26] HAMMERING FAMILIES AND [7:27] BUSINESSES ALIKE, AS THE TIMES [7:28] REPORTS. [7:29] YOU KNOW WHY? [7:30] TRUMP'S BROKEN PROMISE TO BRING [7:32] DOWN PRICES ECHOES LIKE SO MANY [7:33] OTHERS. [7:35] BACK IN THE TRUMP 2024 CAMPAIGN, [7:37] THEY ACTUALLY SOLD BUMPER [7:39] STICKERS, ROASTING BIDEN FOR [7:40] GAS PRICES. [7:41] JOE BIDEN OWES ME GAS MONEY. [7:43] THAT'S A REAL BUMPER STICKER. [7:45] YOU CAN SEE THEM ON REAL BUMPERS [7:47] OF REAL CARS. [7:48] PROBABLY MOST OF THEM ARE FIXED [7:50] THERE IN 2024. [7:51] WELL, THAT WAS BACK WHEN GAS [7:54] WAS ABOUT $3.50 A GALLON, A [7:56] PRICE EVERYONE WOULD SWAP [7:57] COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO OR [8:02] OBVIOUSLY TO TRUMP'S CURRENT [8:03] WAR TAX PRICE, WHICH IS ABOUT [8:05] $4.50. [8:06] AMERICANS ARE REJECTING ALL [8:07] THIS, WHICH DRIVES TRUMP TO [8:08] HIS WORST NUMBERS. [8:09] YEAH, HE WAS ALREADY ON THE [8:10] WAY DOWN. [8:11] HE WAS UNPOPULAR BEFORE [8:12] STARTING THIS WAR, BUT NOW [8:13] HE'S IN A TOUGH SPOT. [8:14] HE'S LOWER THAN BIDEN'S WORST [8:15] NUMBERS BEFORE THE THEN [8:16] INCUMBENT PRESIDENT DROPPED [8:17] OUT. [8:18] AND THE TWO HAVE SOMETHING [8:21] ELSE IN COMMON RIGHT NOW. [8:22] THEY BOTH FACE AMERICAN [8:23] MAJORITIES THAT HAVE [8:24] CONCLUDED THEY NO LONGER ARE [8:26] MENTALLY FIT TO BE PRESIDENT. [8:27] THIS IS NEVER A [8:28] COMFORTABLE TOPIC, NOT ONE [8:29] THAT YOU LEAP TOWARDS. [8:31] IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR [8:32] COUNTRY, YOU WOULD RATHER [8:33] HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS [8:34] RESOLVED PEACEFULLY AND [8:35] DEMOCRATICALLY AND NOT WITH [8:36] THE TALK THAT TRUMP FACES [8:37] NOW ABOUT WHETHER HE CAN [8:38] ACTUALLY COMPETENTLY FINISH [8:39] THIS TERM. [8:40] BUT ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC, [8:41] THERE'S CONCERN THAT HE [8:42] CAN'T. [8:43] TRUMP'S NUMBER THERE INCLUDES [8:46] SOME CONSERVATIVES AND [8:47] REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE ALSO [8:49] COME TO THE VIEW THAT THE [8:50] PRESIDENT IS UNFIT, THAT HE [8:51] LACKS MENTAL SHARPNESS, THAT [8:52] HE NEITHER MENTALLY NOR [8:53] PHYSICALLY IS UP TO THE JOB [8:54] AND THERE ARE TWO PLUS YEARS [8:56] LEFT IN THIS JOB CONSTITUTIONALLY [8:58] UNLESS YOU HAVE TO RESORT TO [9:00] THE NEVER USED CONSTITUTIONAL [9:01] PROVISION TO REMOVE SOMEONE [9:02] WHO IS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO [9:03] DO THE JOB. [9:04] PEOPLE HAVE COME TO THAT [9:05] VIEW, THINK ABOUT THIS. [9:07] EVEN WITH DONALD TRUMP [9:08] SUSTAINED PR AND GOVERNMENT [9:09] PROPAGANDA OPERATIONS, IN [9:10] OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT JUST [9:12] WATCHING SOME UNDISTORTED [9:15] PERFECTLY CLEAN FILTER OF [9:16] EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS. [9:17] WE'RE NOT JUST WATCHING [9:19] SORT OF TRUMP'S C-SPAN, FAR [9:20] FROM IT. [9:21] I HAVE TO REMIND YOU THE [9:22] CONTEXT OF THE INFORMATION [9:23] WE'RE GETTING BECAUSE TRUMP [9:25] IS MISUSING GOVERNMENT [9:26] RESOURCES FOR PROMOTION, [9:28] MISUSING THE SOCIAL MEDIA [9:29] ACCOUNTS FOR WHAT ARE [9:31] OBVIOUSLY PARTISAN AND [9:32] POLITICAL MATTERS. [9:33] I HAVE TO REMIND YOU THE [9:34] CONTEXT OF THE INFORMATION [9:35] LARGELY HIM AND ALSO [9:37] SOMETIMES HIS TEAM. [9:38] HE'S ALSO ABUSED GOVERNMENT [9:39] POWERS TO DEMAND MORE [9:40] FAVORABLE INDEPENDENT PRESS [9:41] COVERAGE. [9:42] THAT INCLUDES GOING AT [9:44] STATIONS THE GOVERNMENT [9:45] MAY HAVE LEVERAGE OVER THE [9:46] ROLLING SCANDAL WE'VE SEEN [9:48] RECENTLY WITH ABC AS WELL AS [9:50] THE APPROVAL OF THE [9:53] GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN [9:54] OVERSEEING A MERGER THAT [9:56] WILL, IF COMPLETED, PUT CNN IN [9:58] THE HANDS OF A CLOSE TRUMP [10:00] MAGA ALLY. [10:01] I MENTIONED THE GOVERNMENT [10:03] FILTERS ALONG WITH THE [10:07] INTERNET AND FOX NEWS ARE HOW [10:09] A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD [10:10] ABOUT TRUMP. [10:11] AND THEY STILL HAVE COME TO THE [10:13] CONCLUSION THE MAJORITY THAT [10:14] HE'S UNFIT. [10:15] AND THERE HASN'T EVEN BEEN A [10:18] BIG LIVE EVENT LIKE THE NOW [10:21] INFAMOUS BIDEN DEBATE WHICH [10:23] UPDATED THE CONCERNS AMERICANS [10:25] ALREADY HAD BY SHOWING THEIR [10:27] PRESIDENT UNFILTERED LIKE I [10:28] MENTIONED FOR OVER AN HOUR IN [10:29] REAL TIME. [10:30] JUST IMAGINE IF YOU HAD THAT [10:32] KIND OF NATIONAL AUDIENCE, 100 [10:33] MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING WHAT [10:35] HAPPENED. [10:36] IT HAS BECOME TRUMP'S NOW [10:40] ROUTINE RAMBLING OFF-TOPIC [10:41] DIVERSIONS. [10:42] HERE HE WAS DISCUSSING FOR A [10:44] WHILE THE RENOVATION OF A [10:45] REFLECTING POOL DURING WHAT [10:46] WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ADDRESS [10:47] TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS JUST [10:48] THIS WEEK. [10:51] I'LL GIVE YOU JUST ONE LITTLE [10:53] ANECDOTE. [10:54] WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, POTENTIALLY [10:56] BEAUTIFUL BUILT IN 1922. [10:57] IT'S A LONG TIME AGO. [10:58] REFLECTING POND. [10:59] I SAID, YOU KNOW, I BUILT ALL [11:01] THESE SWIMMING POOLS AND THEY [11:03] ARE PHENOMENAL. [11:04] WE SANDBLASTED IT. [11:05] WE PEBBLE BLASTED IT. [11:07] YOU KNOW, PEBBLE BLASTING. [11:08] THAT'S A SERIOUS SANDBLAST. [11:12] THAT'S A GREAT, BEAUTIFUL BLUE [11:17] COLOR. [11:18] AMERICAN FLAG BLUE AS OPPOSED TO [11:20] GRAY. [11:21] YES, AS OPPOSED TO GRAY. [11:25] THAT WAS SEVEN MINUTES. [11:27] NOW, YOU COULD SAY, IMAGINE IF [11:30] JOE BIDEN DID THAT FOR SEVEN [11:31] MINUTES AT A DEBATE OR HIS [11:32] VERSION OF THAT. [11:33] WE KNOW THAT TRUMP HAS HIS [11:35] VERSION OF SOUNDING LIKE THIS [11:38] AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLED [11:39] WITH AGING AND COGNITION HAVE [11:41] THEIR VERSION. [11:43] BUT PEOPLE WATCHING SAY, IT [11:45] LOOKS LIKE HE'S NOT UP TO THE [11:47] JOB ANYMORE. [11:48] AS HE FAILS ON THE JOB IN [11:50] WAYS THAT ARE BOTH IDEOLOGICAL, [11:52] YOU SAY, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO [11:53] GO IN AND START THAT WAR. [11:54] THAT'S A CHOICE. [11:55] BUT ALSO RELATE TO COMPETENCE [11:57] AND PLANNING AND DISCIPLINE [11:58] AND THE ABILITY TO PROCESS [12:00] CONFLICTING INFORMATION AND [12:01] MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, WHICH IS [12:02] THE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP. [12:03] JOHN STEWART, SPEAKING OF [12:06] REFLECTING POOLS, HE WAS DOING [12:07] HIS OWN REFLECTING ON WHAT MAY [12:09] BE THE LOW BAR AT THE WHITE [12:11] HOUSE THESE DAYS. [12:12] THESE ARE THE [12:16] MACHINATIONS OF GENIUS. [12:17] HE'LL TELL YOU HIMSELF AS [12:22] A COGNITIVE TEST. [12:23] YOU KNOW, THE FIRST QUESTION IS [12:24] VERY EASY. [12:25] IT'S A LION, A GIRAFE, A BEAR, [12:27] AND A SHARK. [12:28] THEY SAY, WHICH ONE IS THE [12:29] BEAR? [12:30] THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE THE [12:45] COGNITIVE TEST. [12:46] LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. [12:47] WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? [12:50] WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? [12:56] IT'S A LITTLE FUNNY. [12:57] WE LAUGH OUR WAY THROUGH A LOT [12:58] OF THINGS UNTIL YOU THINK [12:59] ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT. [13:00] AND WE KNOW WE LIVE IN A VERY [13:02] PARTISAN, AMPED UP [13:04] ENVIRONMENT. [13:05] SO WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO [13:07] SOUNDED NOW, THEY SOUNDED [13:10] ABOUT BIDEN THE WAY OTHERS SOUND [13:12] NOW ABOUT TRUMP. [13:13] THAT IF YOU USE A PARTISAN [13:15] FILTER, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE [13:16] BEST ON YOUR SIDE. [13:17] SOME PEOPLE SAID, WELL, GIVE [13:19] BIDEN A CHANCE, AND HERE'S WHY [13:20] HE WAS GOOD IN THE PAST, [13:21] ET CETERA, AND SO ON. [13:23] BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT WAS [13:24] REALLY INTERESTING FOR REASONS [13:25] BOTH OF REALITY AND PERHAPS [13:28] CAMPAIGN PLANNING, THE ENTIRE [13:30] LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC [13:31] PARTY, BACKED BY SIMILAR [13:32] NUMBERS THAT I JUST SHOWED [13:33] YOU, THE CONCERN ABOUT TRUMP, [13:34] AT THE TIME WAS ABOUT BIDEN. [13:36] PEOPLE SAID, OVER TIME, THROUGH [13:38] A PROCESS, THIS CANNOT STAND. [13:40] AND THEY MADE A CHANGE, A VERY [13:42] RARE CHANGE IN HISTORY. [13:44] FEW EXPECT THE REPUBLICAN [13:46] PARTY TO DO ANY OF THAT KIND OF [13:48] SOUL-SEARCHING IN THIS MOMENT, [13:50] BUT WE'RE NOT DONE. [13:53] AND WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THE WAR [13:54] GOES AND HOW THE GAS GOES AND [13:55] HOW THE MIDTERMS GO AND HOW THESE [13:57] RAMBLING PRESENTATIONS BY THE [13:58] PRESIDENT GO. [13:59] ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THIS [14:00] COUNTRY IS NOT ROOTING FOR [14:01] THINGS TO GET TO THE WORST-CASE [14:02] SCENARIO. [14:03] BUT THIS IS REALITY WE'RE LIVING [14:05] THROUGH. [14:09] WE HAVE NO GUARANTEES ABOUT [14:10] WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, ONLY [14:12] THESE CIVIC SYSTEMS THAT WE USE, [14:15] EVEN AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS [14:17] ARE GETTING UNTENABLE. [14:18] MIKE BARNICLE AND MOLLY JONG FAST [14:21] ARE MY SPECIAL GUESTS ON THIS. [14:22] THEY RETURN WITH US IN 90 [14:23] SECONDS. [14:24] THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT [14:28] DECLINE. [14:29] YOU KNOW, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN [14:30] DRIVEN BY NARCISSISM, BUT I [14:31] THINK THE DEMENTIA AND THE [14:33] COGNITIVE DECLINE ARE, YOU [14:34] KNOW, PALPABLE, AS DO MANY [14:35] EXPERTS, INCLUDING MANY [14:36] PHYSICIANS. [14:37] I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY [14:40] OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES [14:42] WHO BELIEVES THAT TRUMP IS [14:43] SANE. [14:44] THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE [14:46] VETERANS SOUNDING THE ALARM. [14:47] WE'RE JOINED BY MIKE BARNICLE, [14:49] THE JOURNALIST, MSNOW SENIOR [14:50] CONTRIBUTOR, AND MOLLY JONG FAST, [14:52] A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE [14:53] TIMES AND ANALYST FOR US. [14:54] SHE'S THE AUTHOR, HOW TO LOSE [14:56] YOUR MOTHER, A DAUGHTER'S [14:57] MEMOIR, WHICH IS OUT TODAY IN [14:58] PAPERBACK. [14:59] THERE YOU GO. [15:00] YOU CAN GOOGLE THAT, GET IT IN [15:01] PAPERBACK, WHEREVER BOOKS [15:02] ARE SOLD. [15:03] YOU WANT TO HOLD IT UP? [15:04] THERE. [15:05] MIKE, YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT IS A [15:07] ROLLING AND IN SOME WAYS [15:08] FAMILIAR PROBLEM? [15:09] THE PRESIDENT, HIS STATUS, HIS [15:13] MENTAL STATUS. [15:15] I THINK ANY PROFESSIONAL [15:17] PSYCHIATRIST WHO LOOKED AT HIS [15:21] TRUTH SOCIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS ON A [15:23] DAILY BASIS OR ACTUALLY IT'S A [15:25] NIGHTLY BASIS. [15:26] SOME OF THE THINGS POSTED AT [15:28] 2.45 IN THE MORNING, 3.15 IN [15:30] THE MORNING WOULD CERTAINLY CALL [15:32] UP AND SAY I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU [15:33] IMMEDIATELY. [15:34] AND THE BIDEN ECHO IS TRICKY FOR [15:37] THE REASONS I MENTIONED. [15:38] SOME PEOPLE REMEMBER STANDING BY [15:40] HIM, AND WE HAVE ALL THE [15:41] PARTISANSHIP IN THIS COUNTRY. [15:43] WHAT I'M SUGGESTING, I GUESS AS [15:44] A JOURNALIST, BUT ALSO AS A [15:46] PERSON WHO LIVES HERE, IS THAT [15:48] THESE ARE BETTER DEALT WITH [15:49] ABSENT PARTISANSHIP. [15:51] AND PEOPLE SAY, OH, REPUBLICANS [15:52] ARE WITH HIM, THEY'RE WITH HIM. [15:53] THEY'RE WITH HIM. [15:54] WELL, THEY'RE WITH HIM UNTIL [15:55] THEY'RE NOT. [15:56] WELL, THE BIDEN ASPECT OF IT AND [15:58] THE OBAMA ASPECT OF IT, TO ME, [16:01] AND TO AN AVERAGE PERSON, I [16:03] WOULD THINK YOU'D SAY TO [16:04] YOURSELF, WHY IS HE DOING THIS? [16:06] HE IS WHAT HE IS. [16:07] HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED. [16:09] HE'S PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED [16:11] STATES. [16:12] WHY DIDN'T THAT MAKE HIM HAPPY? [16:14] WHY HASN'T IT MADE HIM MORE [16:15] SUCCESSFUL, AS SUCCESSFUL AS [16:17] A VOTER WANTED HIM TO BE? [16:19] WHY DID NONE OF THIS HAPPEN? [16:21] WHY ARE WE AT WAR? [16:24] I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THIS [16:27] GOVERNING BY WISHCASTING. [16:28] RIGHT? [16:29] WHEN WE SAW THIS MARCO RUBIO [16:30] PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THERE [16:31] WAS SO MUCH. [16:32] AND WE SAW IT THIS MORNING, TOO, [16:34] WITH HEGSETH. [16:35] YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A CEASE-FIRE. [16:37] IT'S OVER. [16:38] WE SAW ALL THIS REPORTING [16:39] YESTERDAY THAT CONTRADICTED [16:40] THAT. [16:41] AND AGAIN, EVEN IF YOU WANT PEACE, [16:43] EVEN IF YOU WANT PEACE, EVEN IF [16:45] YOU'RE CONVINCED THAT WE HAVE [16:46] PEACE, IT'S STILL NOT GOING TO [16:48] MAKE THE STRAITS ANY SAFER. [16:49] AND MAYBE IT'S SAFER FOR A [16:50] LITTLE WHILE. [16:51] AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE GOAL. [16:52] BUT GAS PRICES ARE NOT GOING TO [16:54] GO DOWN RIGHT AWAY, EVEN IF YOU [16:56] WERE TO REOPEN THE STRAITS [16:57] TOMORROW. [16:58] AND I THINK THAT WISH CASTING THIS [17:00] TO BE OKAY WHEN IT'S NOT, WHEN WE [17:02] SEE THESE SKY-HIGH PRICES FOR GAS [17:05] AND FOR DIESEL, IT'S NOT, IT [17:07] DOESN'T MAKE IT SO. [17:08] YOU KNOW, THE MARCO RUBIO PRESS [17:11] CONFERENCE, YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM [17:13] HIS DUE. [17:14] HE KNEW FAR MORE ABOUT THE [17:16] SITUATION AND EXPLAINED IT FAR [17:18] BETTER THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE [17:19] UNITED STATES HAS THUS FAR. [17:21] BUT HE REFUSES, THIS [17:26] ADMINISTRATION REFUSES THE FACT [17:28] THAT WE ARE AT WAR. [17:30] WE ARE AT WAR. [17:32] THEY WERE AFRAID TO SAY IT. [17:34] THEY MUST KNOW IT. [17:36] THEY HAVE TO KNOW IT. [17:38] WE'RE AT WAR IN THE GULF. [17:41] WE TOOK OUT THREE FAST BOATS, [17:44] IRANIAN FAST BOATS, THE OTHER [17:46] DAY. [17:47] AND WHAT THEY FAILED TO [17:48] RECOGNIZE, IN EVERY WAR THAT [17:50] HAS EVER HAPPENED IN HISTORY, [17:52] THE ENEMY HAS A VOTE. [17:54] AND IRAN HASN'T VOTED NO WAR. [17:57] THEY JUST HAVEN'T. [17:58] THEY'RE THERE. [18:00] THEY'RE QUITE A CONTENTIOUS [18:01] OPPONENT. [18:02] YOU'RE DEALING WITH FOLKS [18:03] WHO ARE SO STEEPED IN PR. [18:05] PEOPLE USE THIS WORD [18:06] PERFORMATIVE. [18:07] THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING OTHER [18:08] THAN THAT. [18:09] SO IT'S THIS IDEA OF, OH, [18:10] WELL, THEY HEARD WAR IS [18:11] UNPOPULAR. [18:12] SO THEY WILL PERFORM AS IF [18:13] THERE IS NO WAR. [18:14] WHICH, AGAIN, HAS ALL THE USUAL [18:17] ORWELLIAN ECHOES. [18:18] IT'S FAILING IN WAYS THAT OTHER [18:20] SUCH, SHALL WE SAY, B.S. MOVES [18:23] HAVE NOT FAILED AS SPECTACULARLY. [18:25] AND THE REASONS ARE OBVIOUS. [18:27] BECAUSE OF THE GAS, BECAUSE OF [18:29] THE GRAVITY OF THIS, BECAUSE OF [18:31] THE PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, [18:33] RED, BLUE, PURPLE, WHERE YOU [18:34] KNOW PEOPLE ARE IN THE MILITARY [18:35] AND YOU FEEL THIS IS REAL. [18:37] MEGHAN KELLY HAS BEEN SOUNDING [18:38] OFF ON THIS ALONG WITH OTHER [18:39] CRITICS. [18:40] TAKE A LISTEN. [18:41] THIS HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR [18:45] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND [18:47] FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE [18:49] WORLD. [18:50] GIVE THE IRANIANS THE DEAL THEY [18:51] WANT. [18:52] THEY SEEM TO BE WILLING TO DEAL [18:54] ON THE STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ, [18:55] WHICH, OF COURSE, IS AN ABSURD [18:57] PLACE TO BE. [18:58] IT WAS OPEN BEFORE THIS WAR. [19:00] IF WE JUST LEFT THEM ALONE, WE [19:01] WOULD NEVER HAVE THIS PROBLEM. [19:02] HE'S USED TO BULLYING HIS WAY [19:04] OUT OF EVERYTHING. [19:05] THESE GUYS CANNOT BE BULLYED. [19:07] HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. [19:09] HE'S GREAT AT TALKING AND HE'S [19:11] REALLY NOT GREAT AT WINDING UP [19:13] WARS THAT HE STARTS BY CHOICE. [19:15] FAIR, MIKE? [19:18] MORE THAN FAIR. [19:20] LOOK, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS. [19:22] WE HAVE THREE CARRIER GROUPS [19:24] WITHIN THE MEDITERRANEAN CLOSE TO [19:25] IRAN. [19:26] THREE CARRIER GROUPS. [19:27] I THINK A COUPLE OF THEM, THEY [19:29] HAVE BEEN AT SEA FOR 10 OR 11 [19:31] MONTHS WITHOUT SHORE LEAVE, [19:32] WITHOUT BEING HOME IN AMERICA [19:34] FOR A BREAK. [19:35] THAT'S A LONG TIME TO BE AT SEA. [19:38] WE HAVE MAYBE 10,000 OR MORE [19:40] TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN THE AREA, [19:43] IN THE REGION. [19:44] THE COST, THE DAILY COST HAS GOT [19:47] TO BE PHENOMENAL. [19:49] IT'S GOT TO BE A MINIMUM OF A [19:51] BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. [19:53] IMAGINE THAT. [19:55] A BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. [19:56] AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THEY [19:58] DON'T TALK ABOUT. [19:59] THE CONCEPT OF A TEAM THERE FOR A [20:01] POTENTIAL WAR. [20:02] WE ARE IN A WAR. [20:03] AND THE COST OF KEEPING THEM [20:04] THERE. [20:05] AND, MOLLY, THERE'S A [20:06] RECKONING HERE. [20:07] I MEAN, REPUBLICANS ARE VERY [20:08] CLEAR IN PUBLIC THAT IF THE [20:10] ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY, THEY [20:11] WOULD LOSE BADLY. [20:12] YEAH. [20:13] THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY [20:14] HARD TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC, [20:16] ALTHOUGH THINGS CHANGE. [20:17] HERE WAS CARL ROVE, A BUSH [20:19] VETERAN ON THIS. [20:21] REPUBLICANS ARE FALLING BACK [20:25] TO THE PROBLEM THAT MOST WHITE [20:28] HOUSE PARTIES FALL INTO IN A [20:30] MIDTERM ELECTION WHICH IS TO SAY [20:31] VOTE FOR ME. [20:32] I'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. [20:33] DO YOU WANT MORE OF THE SAME? [20:34] AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT. [20:35] THEY'VE GOT TO SHOW THEY HAVE [20:37] ANOTHER ACT. [20:38] CAN'T BE GIVEN FROM THE [20:39] LEADERSHIP. [20:42] CAN'T COME FROM THE PRESIDENT. [20:43] YEAH. [20:44] GOOD LUCK WITH ANOTHER ACT FOR [20:45] MEGHAN KELLY. [20:46] WE GO BACK TO MEGHAN KELLY, [20:47] RIGHT? [20:48] MEGHAN KELLY IS NOT WALTER [20:49] CRONKITE. [20:50] SHE IS PUTTING HER FINGER UP AND [20:52] SEES WHICH WAY THE WIND IS [20:53] BLOWING. [20:54] SHE IS GETTING E-MAILS AND [20:56] COMMENTS FROM HER LISTENERS AND [20:57] SHE SEES THAT THIS WAR IS [20:58] WILDLY UNPOPULAR. [20:59] AND WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE BEN [21:01] SHAPIRO, WHO HAS GONE SUPER [21:03] PRO-WAR, HAS SEEN A HUGE FALL [21:05] OFF ON HIS PEOPLE. [21:06] SO MEGHAN KELLY IS REFLECTING [21:08] THE VIEWS OF HER VIEWERS AND [21:09] SHE IS SAYING HER VIEWERS DON'T [21:11] LIKE THIS WAR. [21:12] AND I THINK THAT THAT IS, YOU SEE [21:15] THE VIEWERS DON'T THINK THAT [21:17] THERE IS A WAY FOR TRUMP TO [21:18] REINVENT HIMSELF, ESPECIALLY [21:19] WHEN YOU HAVE REALLY PEOPLE [21:20] VOTING ON GAS PRICES. [21:21] AMERICANS HATE HIGHER GAS. [21:23] WELL, MIKE, YOU LOOK AT IT [21:25] ALL TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE A LOT [21:26] OF FOLKS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO [21:27] VOTED FOR TRUMP ONE OR MORE [21:29] TIMES AND THEY'RE DONE WITH IT. [21:31] I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY OVER IT [21:32] NOW. [21:33] IT'S HARD TO SEE THEM COMING BACK. [21:34] AND SO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH [21:36] THAT IN OUR BROKEN TIMES? [21:38] BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY [21:40] GOOD CIVIL DISCOURSE GOING. [21:42] I MEAN, IT'S INTERESTING, [21:43] MEGAN AND THESE OTHER FOLKS, [21:45] THEY'RE VERY ANGRY ABOUT IT. [21:46] THEY'RE NOT, WITH THE EXCEPTION [21:47] OF TUCKER'S SORT OF LITTLE [21:49] SPEECH, VERY FEW OF THEM SOUND [21:50] REPENTANT. [21:51] THEY JUST SOUND LIKE THEY ARE [21:53] REVING THE ANGER TO A NEW [21:54] DIRECTION. [21:56] YOU KNOW, I THINK PART OF THE [21:57] DEMOCRATS' PROBLEM IN [21:58] CONFRONTING THAT VERY ISSUE IS [22:00] THEY FOCUS ALMOST ENTIRELY EVERY [22:02] ASPECT OF THEIR ARGUMENT ON [22:03] DONALD TRUMP. [22:04] DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE GONE [22:06] IN TWO YEARS. [22:07] HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO [22:08] RUN FOR REELECTION. [22:09] A LAME DUCK SOONER THAN THAT. [22:11] THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. [22:12] AND INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT [22:13] DONALD TRUMP, YOU COULD ALMOST [22:15] JUST STEAL A BIT FROM CARL ROVE, [22:16] WHO IS A VERY GOOD GUY AND A [22:18] SMART GUY, AND I DON'T AGREE [22:19] WITH HIM ABOUT HALF OF HIS [22:20] POLITICS. [22:21] BUT HE'S A SOLID HUMAN BEING. [22:23] AND HE JUST HAD A LITTLE SLOGAN [22:25] THAT HE USED THERE ABOUT THE [22:26] AMERICAN PEOPLE. [22:27] IF YOU DID A SILENT AD, JUST [22:29] SHOWED GROCERY PRICES IN A [22:31] SUPERMARKET AISLE AND SWITCHED [22:32] FROM THE GROCERY PRICES IN THE [22:33] SUPERMARKET AISLE AND SWITCHED [22:34] FROM THE GROCERY PRICES IN THE [22:35] SUPERMARKET AISLE AND SWITCHED [22:37] FROM THE GROCERY PRICES IN THE [22:38] SUPERMARKET AISLE AND SWITCHED [22:39] FROM THE GROCERY PRICES IN THE [22:40] SUPERMARKET AISLE JUST TO A [22:42] GASOLINE PUMP. [22:43] THE NUMBERS GOING UP. [22:44] SILENT. [22:45] NO WORDS. [22:46] NO RHETORIC. [22:47] AND THE SLOGAN IS, HAD ENOUGH? [22:48] YOU'D WIN. [22:49] YEAH. [22:50] BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GO [22:51] WHERE PEOPLE LIVE. [22:52] THAT'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC [22:53] PARTY HAS NOT DONE YET [22:54] SUCCESSFULLY. [22:55] I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH. [22:57] AND MIKE COMES BACK BY THE END [22:58] OF THE HOUR. [22:59] YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THAT. [23:00] TO GET FLY. [23:01] YEAH, THAT'S THE NEWS TO YOU. [23:02] WELL, STICK AROUND. [23:03] COMING UP, THE TRUMP DOJ FOUND [23:05] A PAM BONDI REPLACEMENT THAT [23:07] WILL DO THINGS EVEN SHE [23:08] WOULDN'T. [23:09] WE HAVE ANDREW WEISSMANN HERE ON [23:10] THAT. [23:11] STAY WITH US. [23:12] IF YOU'RE KEEPING TRACK, THE [23:15] TRUMP DOJ HAS NOT CONVICTED [23:16] ANYONE IT'S GONE AFTER ON ITS [23:18] SO-CALLED ENEMIES LIST. [23:19] BUT IT IS STILL RATCHETING UP [23:21] THE CHARGES. [23:22] U.S. ATTORNEY AND TRUMP ALLIES [23:26] IN PIROT OFFICIALLY NOT [23:27] APPEALING THE RULING THAT DEALT [23:29] THEM A BIG LOSS IN THE FED CASE. [23:30] BUT THEY'RE ASKING THE JUDGE TO [23:32] THROW OUT THE RULING AND [23:33] ARGUING AND PLACE LIMITS ON [23:36] THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH'S ABILITY [23:40] TO PROSECUTE CRIMES. [23:42] PIROT ALSO LEFT THE DOOR OPEN [23:45] TO BASICALLY GOING BACK ON THE [23:47] ENTIRE AGREEMENT THEY STRUCK [23:48] WITH CONGRESS THAT THIS WAS A [23:50] BASELESS CASE SO THEY WOULD DROP [23:51] IT. [23:52] NOW SHE'S SAYING THIS. [23:55] WE'RE GOING TO LITIGATE THE [23:57] ISSUE AND WE WILL LITIGATE THE [23:58] ISSUE. [23:59] SO IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE [24:00] YOU'RE COMMITTING TO IF THE [24:01] INSPECTOR GENERAL FINDS NOTHING [24:02] YOU WON'T MOVE FORWARD. [24:03] IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO [24:04] KEEP TRYING TO FIND OUT MORE. [24:05] NO, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HE FIND. [24:07] DEPENDS ON WHAT HE FIND. [24:09] DEPENDS ON WHAT HE FIND. [24:10] SO UNCLEAR IF THIS IS BLUSTER [24:12] AND THEY CONTINUE TO LEAVE THAT [24:13] CASE AS IT WAS. [24:14] ANOTHER SETBACK IN COURT THAT [24:15] LED TO A FAILURE TO GO AFTER AN [24:16] OPPONENT. [24:17] OR THEY TRY TO DOUBLE DOWN WHICH [24:19] WE'VE ALSO SEEN ESPECIALLY OVER [24:20] THE PAST WEEK. [24:21] BECAUSE THE DOJ WANTS TO SHOW [24:24] DONALD TRUMP THAT HE CAN GO AFTER [24:26] HIS ENEMIES. [24:27] WE'VE SHOWN YOU THIS LIST. [24:29] WE KEEP UPDATING IT. [24:30] THIS IS HOW WE DO IT AT THE BEAT. [24:32] IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT THESE CASES [24:34] IN ISOLATION, INDIVIDUALLY SOME [24:35] OF THEM MIGHT LOOK POTENTIALLY [24:36] REASONABLE. [24:37] WHEN YOU TAKE THEM ALL TOGETHER [24:38] YOU SEE THEY'RE ALL FLAILING. [24:40] NONE HAVE WON A CONVICTION. [24:42] THE NEW YORK TIMES NOTING THE [24:44] NEWEST EFFORT IN GEORGIA IS TO [24:46] USE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO [24:49] PURSUE FALSE CLAIMS THAT HIS [24:52] LOSING 2020 ELECTION WAS SOMEHOW [24:54] STOLEN. [24:55] AND THE REVENGE ASPIRATIONS OF [25:00] THE LEADERSHIP INCLUDING PAM BONDI'S [25:02] CURRENTLY TEMP REPLACEMENT. [25:03] WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE ACTING AG [25:05] BECOMES THE AG. [25:06] BUT THAT HAS CONTINUED AN EXODUS [25:08] FROM DOJ. [25:09] SOME OF THE QUEER PROSECUTORS [25:10] DON'T WANT TO DO THIS WORK. [25:11] THE PROBES HAVE CREATED ALL OF [25:14] THIS TENSION BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT [25:16] PEOPLE LITERALLY RISKING LOSING [25:17] THEIR LAW LICENSE IF THEY CARRY [25:19] OUT WHAT MAY BE ILLEGAL [25:20] INDICTMENTS. [25:21] THE DOJ HAS LOST ABOUT A QUARTER [25:23] OF ITS LAWYERS, OVER 8,000, FIRE [25:27] TO QUIT IN THE LAST YEAR. [25:29] THAT IS UNUSUAL TO SAY THE LEAST. [25:31] AND THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT EVEN [25:33] WHEN THE SYSTEM IS WORKING, [25:35] BECAUSE SOME LAWYERS SAY I WON'T [25:36] DO THAT OR THAT'S ILLEGAL, THEN [25:38] THEY FACE THE DECISION TO [25:39] POTENTIALLY QUIT OVER IT OR FACE [25:41] RETRIBUTION, THAT MIGHT STOP [25:43] THE ONE BAD THING FROM [25:44] HAPPENING, LEGALLY BAD. [25:45] BUT THEN OTHERS COME IN AND [25:47] STILL DO IT. [25:48] AND THEY'RE RUNNING A LOT OF TEMP [25:49] LAWYERS. [25:50] AND THE COMEY CASE HAS BEEN [25:52] REVIVED. [25:53] SO WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT [25:55] AGAIN, EVEN IF WE'VE HEARD THAT [25:56] BEFORE. [25:57] THE GUARDRAILS HOLDING SOME OF [25:58] THE TIME, WHILE THE DOJ HAS A [26:00] NEW LEADER THAT WANTS TO GO [26:02] EVEN FARTHER. [26:03] ANDREW WEISSMAN IS HERE ON ALL [26:04] OF THIS. [26:05] NEXT. [26:08] WE'RE BACK WITH ANDREW WEISSMAN, [26:09] FBI GENERAL COUNSEL, FORMER [26:10] MUELLER PROSECUTOR. [26:11] I'M GOING TO SHOW A HEADLINE [26:12] THAT IS AWED FOR GOVERNMENT. [26:15] DOJ OFFERS LAWYERS $25,000 [26:18] SIGNING BONUS WITH RECRUITMENT [26:20] LAG. [26:21] AND THIS IS TO STAFF A [26:23] PARTICULAR OFFICE INVESTIGATING [26:24] YOUTH TRANSGENDER TREATMENTS, [26:26] LITIGATING THE TRUMP [26:27] ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION [26:28] AGENDA, OTHER THINGS THAT SEEM [26:30] POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL, [26:32] AMID WHAT I EXPLAINED EARLIER [26:34] IN THE SHOW AND THE SETUP TO [26:36] YOU, ANDREW, THAT SOMETIMES THE [26:37] GUARDRAILS ARE HOLDING. [26:38] THEY HAVEN'T CONVICTED A SINGLE [26:39] SO-CALLED ENEMY, BUT NOT [26:40] WITHOUT COST. [26:41] I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT [26:45] FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW [26:46] UNUSUAL IT IS TO SEE 8,000 [26:51] PEOPLE LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT [26:53] OF JUSTICE. [26:54] IT IS UNUSUAL FOR ANY [26:56] ADMINISTRATION. [26:57] IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T LOOK AT [26:58] THIS THROUGH A PRISM OF [27:00] REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT. [27:02] THIS IS ONE THAT HAS JUST NOT [27:05] HAPPENED BEFORE. [27:07] AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT [27:08] YOU'RE ALLUDING TO IS THE IDEA [27:10] THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE A SIGN-IN [27:13] BONUS. [27:14] THESE ARE JOBS THAT I GAVE. [27:17] I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS [27:18] LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB. [27:20] AND THERE IS A WAITING LIST. [27:22] AND YOU HAVE THE PICK OF THE [27:24] LITTER WHEN YOU ARE AT THE [27:25] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN TERMS [27:26] OF WHO IS APPLYING TO TAKE [27:28] THAT JOB. [27:29] AND PEOPLE GENERALLY ARE [27:31] TAKING SUBSTANTIAL CUTS IN PAY [27:33] FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO [27:35] PUBLIC SERVICE. [27:36] SO THE IDEA THAT YOU NOW NOT [27:38] ONLY ARE LOSING THAT MANY [27:39] PEOPLE, BUT THAT YOU HAVE TO [27:40] GIVE A FINANCIAL AWARD AND [27:43] REWARD FOR DOING PUBLIC [27:45] SERVICE IN THIS [27:46] ADMINISTRATION IS A REAL SIGN [27:48] OF WHERE THINGS ARE. [27:49] THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN [27:51] REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC [27:52] ADMINISTRATIONS IN WHICH I'VE [27:53] SERVED. [27:54] AND I MENTIONED SOME [27:57] PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT HAVE [27:59] DRAWN A LINE. [28:00] SOME OF THEM HAVE BECOME [28:01] WHISTLEBLOWERS. [28:02] SOME OF THEM SAID I WON'T DO [28:03] THIS. [28:04] AND THAT'S THE, THAT'S YOUR [28:06] CAREER DAY. [28:07] AND SOMETIMES YOU BACK THEM [28:09] OFF AND YOU STAY WORKING [28:10] BECAUSE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS [28:11] AREN'T THERE TO DO ONLY WHAT [28:12] THEY AGREE WITH. [28:13] THEY'RE THERE TO DO THE JOB [28:15] UNDER THE CONSTITUTION'S [28:16] LIMITS. [28:17] OTHER TIMES YOU'RE DONE AND [28:18] FIVE, TEN YEARS GOVERNMENT [28:19] SERVICE NOW DONE AND WE'VE [28:22] SEEN HOW THEY TREAT THOSE [28:23] PEOPLE. [28:24] CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT CONTEXT [28:25] HERE? [28:26] IT'S REALLY DISCOURAGING TO SEE [28:32] BLANCH GO FURTHER THAN BONDI. [28:34] AND YET I HAVEN'T READ OR SEEN A [28:36] SINGLE SERIOUS EXAMINATION OF [28:37] THE COMEY CASE THAT SUGGESTS IT [28:38] COULD ACTUALLY WIN BECAUSE THE [28:40] SYSTEM DOES HAVE BARRIERS. [28:41] THE SYSTEM DOES HAVE BARRIERS. [28:43] THE SYSTEM DOES HAVE BARRIERS, [28:46] BUT THE COMEY CASE, THE MOST [28:49] RECENT ONE, I THINK IS NOT [28:52] REMOTELY PLAUSIBLE IN TERMS OF [28:55] GOING TO TRIAL AND WINNING. [28:57] IT IS JUST NOT A TRUE THREAT, [29:00] NOT SUBJECTIVELY, NOT OBJECTIVELY [29:02] UNDER THE SUPREME COURT TEST. [29:04] ANOTHER RECENT CASE AGAIN [29:06] BROUGHT UNDER THE TODD BLANCH I [29:08] WOULD SAY NOT REALLY READY FOR [29:10] PRIMETIME ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL [29:12] IS THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW [29:14] CENTER CASE WHERE HE HAS MADE [29:16] COMMENTS THAT HE HAS HAD TO [29:18] BACKTRACK ON THAT ARE [29:20] DIMENTRICALLY OPPOSED TO THE [29:22] THEORY OF THE CASE. [29:23] YOU ARE SAYING BLANCH CAN'T [29:25] EVEN KEEP HIS LIES OR [29:27] MISLEADING CLAIMS STRAIGHT. [29:28] WE HAVE THAT SO YOU CAN EXPLAIN [29:30] WHAT WE ARE WATCHING ON THE [29:31] OTHER SIDE. [29:32] HERE IT IS, BLANCH. [29:33] SURE. [29:36] THERE IS NO INFORMATION THAT WE [29:38] HAVE THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE [29:39] MONEY THAT THEY WERE PAYING TO [29:40] THESE INFORMENTS AND THESE [29:41] ORGANIZATIONS, THEY THEN TURNED [29:43] AROUND AND SHARED WHAT THEY [29:44] LEARNED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. [29:45] IT IS TRUE THAT OVER THE YEARS [29:47] THEY HAVE SELECTIVELY SHARED [29:48] INFORMATION WITH LAW [29:49] ENFORCEMENT. [29:50] THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND [29:51] THERE IS NO DISPUTE THERE. [29:53] THEY ARE NOT CHARGED WITH ANY [29:54] OF THAT CONDUCT. [29:55] THEY ARE CHARGED WITH THAT. [30:00] THE THEORY OF THE CASE IS THAT [30:03] THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW [30:04] CENTER WAS RUNNING A PONSI [30:06] SCHEME THAT THEY WERE TELLING [30:08] THEIR DONORS THAT THEY WERE [30:10] TRYING TO THWART HATE GROUPS [30:12] WHILE IN FACT THEY WERE PRIVATELY [30:15] PROPPING UP THESE HATE GROUPS. [30:17] AND SO THIS WAS JUST THEIR [30:19] MECHANISM TO TRY AND DEFRAUD [30:21] DONORS OUT OF MONEY. [30:23] AND THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW [30:25] CENTER HAS BEEN SAYING TO THE [30:27] GOVERNMENT IN WRITING, WAIT A [30:29] SECOND, THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE. [30:31] LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT WE [30:33] GAVE YOU, THE GOVERNMENT, FROM [30:36] US TO FIGHT THESE GROUPS. [30:38] INDEED, PART OF THE INDICTMENT [30:39] ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT AN EFFORT [30:42] TO THWART THESE GROUPS BY THE [30:44] SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER. [30:46] SO TO ME, TODD BLANCH'S STATEMENT [30:49] IS SO DIRECTLY CONTRARY TO THE [30:52] VERY THEORY OF THIS CASE. [30:54] AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS ONE [30:56] WHERE IT IS SHOOT FIRST, ASK [30:58] QUESTIONS LATER. [30:59] THERE'S REPORTING THAT THIS CASE, [31:03] THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER [31:04] CASE WAS SORT OF RUSHED THROUGH. [31:07] IT FEELS THAT WAY. [31:09] TODD BLANCH'S STATEMENTS AND [31:11] THEN RETRACTING STATEMENTS [31:13] SUGGEST THE SAME. [31:15] AGAIN, LIKE THE NEW COMING CASE, [31:17] I THINK THIS IS A CASE THAT'S [31:19] NOT GOING TO SEE THE INSIDE OF [31:21] A COURTROOM. [31:22] AND AGAIN, AS YOU KNOW, I DON'T [31:24] USUALLY PREDICT THESE KINDS OF [31:25] THINGS, BECAUSE WE USUALLY [31:26] DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNMENT [31:28] HAS. [31:29] BUT HERE, IT SEEMS SO [31:31] IMPLAUSIBLE, LIKE THE COMEY CASE, [31:33] TO HAVE BROUGHT THIS. [31:34] AND IT REAKS OF JUST TRYING TO [31:37] PLACATE THE BOSS SO THAT YOU CAN [31:39] BECOME THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. [31:42] YEAH, AND WITH COMEY, AS YOU [31:43] SAID, WE KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT [31:44] THEY HAVE HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE [31:45] A CASE THAT FAILED COMPLETELY [31:47] AGAINST HIM AND A YEAR-OLD [31:49] INSTAGRAM PHOTO OF SEASHELLS, [31:51] WHICH IT WASN'T EVEN THAT [31:54] EXCITING OF A POST AT THE TIME, [31:56] LET ALONE A FEDERAL CASE. [31:58] ANDREW WEISSMAN, THANK YOU, SIR, [32:00] THANK YOU. [32:02] THANK YOU. [32:04] THANK YOU. [32:06] THANK YOU. [32:08] NEXT.