The Briefing With Jen Psaki 8/14/26 — 🅼🆂🅽🅱️🅲 Breaking News Today Aug 14, 2026

[0:00] ANTONIA, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOW [0:01] MY NEIGHBOR ON BOTH SIDES OF [0:02] THE STREET. [0:03] I'M LIKE SAYING GOOD-BYE TO YOU. [0:04] I'M GOING TO SAY HELLO TO YOU. [0:06] IT'S THE HARDEST WORKING WOMAN IN [0:08] SHOW BUSINESS TODAY. [0:10] I'M GOING TO SEND YOU SOME DINNER [0:11] OR DESSERT IN BETWEEN. [0:12] SO THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. [0:14] BUT I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING [0:15] TO YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE. [0:17] LOVE IT. [0:18] HAVE A GREAT SHOW, JEN. [0:19] THANK YOU, ANTONIA. [0:22] OKAY, TODAY DONALD TRUMP MADE [0:24] CLEAR WHAT HE CARES ABOUT MOST. [0:27] TURNING THE SUPREME COURT WITH [0:28] WHAT HE CLEARLY SEES AS ONE OF [0:32] THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN THE [0:34] COUNTRY, HIS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM, [0:35] OF COURSE. [0:36] TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAWYERS ASKED [0:38] THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE COUNTRY [0:40] TO STEP IN TO OVERTURN A LOWER [0:42] COURT RULING THAT COULD HAVE [0:44] PAUSED CONSTRUCTION ON TRUMP'S [0:45] BALLROOM. [0:46] AND HERE IS THE CRAZIEST PART. [0:48] THERE'S ALWAYS A CRAZIEST PART. [0:50] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID [0:52] THIS WAS ALL A MATTER OF VITAL [0:53] NATIONAL SECURITY. [0:54] THAT'S BEEN THEIR ARGUMENT PRETTY [0:55] MUCH ALL ALONG. [0:57] THAT'S A BIG DETAIL THAT I THINK [0:59] IS GETTING LOST IN THE SAUCE [1:01] HERE. [1:02] TRUMP'S BALLROOM PROJECT IS [1:04] ACTUALLY TWO PROJECTS. [1:05] IT'S AN ORNATE MAR-A-LAGO STYLE [1:07] GAUTY BALLROOM ABOVE GROUND AND [1:09] A SECURE BUNKER UNDERGROUND. [1:12] AND SO FAR COURTS HAVE ONLY [1:14] TRIED TO BLOCK THE CONSTRUCTION [1:15] OF THE ABOVE GROUND PORTION, NOT [1:16] THE BUNKER. [1:17] AS FAR AS THE COURTS ARE [1:18] CONCERNED, IF TRUMP WANTS A [1:20] BUNKER, THE MAN CAN HAVE A [1:21] BUNKER. [1:22] IT'S THE ORNATE PARTY ROOM THAT [1:24] THE COURTS ARE TAKING ISSUE [1:29] TO THE SUPREME COURT. [1:32] IS THAT REALLY A NATIONAL [1:34] SECURITY ISSUE? [1:35] IS THAT REALLY WHY THE TRUMP [1:38] ADMINISTRATION WENT TO THE [1:39] SUPREME COURT TODAY? [1:40] I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER [1:42] TO THAT ONE. [1:43] IN FACT, I THINK THE TRUMP [1:44] ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE SHOWN A [1:46] BIT TOO MUCH OF THEIR HAND [1:47] TODAY. [1:48] BECAUSE TODAY AS PART OF THEIR [1:50] FILING BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, [1:52] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION [1:53] INCLUDED NEW RENDERINGS OF NONE [1:55] OTHER THAN TRUMP'S BALLROOM. [1:57] RENDERINGS THAT WERE NOTABLY [1:59] NOTABLY NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL [2:01] PLAN TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE [2:02] SUBMITTED WHEN TRUMP'S [2:03] PROJECT APPROVED. [2:04] SO AGAIN, IS THIS REALLY ABOUT [2:06] NATIONAL SECURITY OR IS THIS [2:08] REALLY ABOUT TRUMP DEMANDING TO [2:11] BE SURROUNDED BY GOLD? [2:12] LOOK AT THE PICTURES ON YOUR [2:14] SCREEN, EVERYONE. [2:15] GOLD, INCLUDING SOME GOLD THAT [2:16] APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ADDED TO [2:17] THE PROJECT SINCE THE LAST [2:18] TIME WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF [2:19] TRUMP'S PLANS. [2:20] SPECIFICALLY GIGANTIC GOLDEN [2:22] SEALS ON THE BUILDING'S [2:23] EXTERIOR. [2:24] GOLD SEALS THAT WERE NOTABLY NOT [2:26] DEMANDING TO BE SURROUNDED BY [2:30] GOLD, LIKE HE HAS DONE WITH SO [2:32] MANY OF HIS OTHER WHITE HOUSE [2:33] RENOVATIONS. [2:34] YOU SEE THE NEW AND IMPROVED [2:38] OVAL OFFICE. [2:39] WE HANDLE IT WITH GREAT LOVE AND [2:41] 24-KARAT GOLD. [2:42] I LOVE THE GOLD ON THE [2:43] CEILING. [2:44] PRETTY NICE. [2:45] I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT [2:46] GOLD COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. [2:48] I LOVE THE GOLD, BUT IF YOU [2:50] DON'T USE 24-KARAT GOLD, IT [2:51] DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. [2:52] IT'S ALL THE REAL, THE REAL [2:54] DEAL, 24-KARAT GOLD. [2:55] WE ADDED A LOT OF 24-KARAT GOLD [2:59] AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE AND I [3:01] THINK VERY BEAUTIFUL. [3:02] YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE [3:04] FIREPLACE WHEN YOU HAVE A [3:05] LEADER SITTING ON THE ONE SIDE [3:07] AND THE OTHER SIDE AND YOU LOOK [3:09] AT WHAT'S BEHIND WITH THE LIGHTS [3:11] BEAMING AND THAT'S ALL 24-KARAT [3:13] GOLD AND THAT'S WHY IT JUST BEAMS. [3:15] WAS IT NOT GOLD BEFORE? [3:17] NO, IT WASN'T. [3:18] THEY DIDN'T HAVE REALLY ANY GOLD. [3:23] FACT CHECK TRUE. [3:24] HAVING WORKED IN THE WHITE HOUSE [3:26] HAS TO BE COATED IN GOLD. [3:28] TRUMP HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY CLEAR [3:30] THAT GOLD PAINT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH [3:31] FOR HIM. [3:32] YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MATCH [3:33] GOLD WITH GOLD PAINT. [3:34] THAT'S WHY IT'S GOLD. [3:35] YOU CAN'T IMITATE GOLD. [3:36] REAL GOLD. [3:37] YOU CAN'T IMITATE GOLD. [3:38] YOU CAN'T IMITATE GOLD. [3:39] YOU CAN'T IMITATE GOLD. [3:40] YOU CAN'T IMITATE GOLD. [3:41] IT'S ALL REAL STUFF. [3:42] HE'S A GOLD PERSON, EVERYONE. [3:43] IT'S ALL REAL STUFF. [3:44] TRUMP CAN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. [3:46] AND NOW TRUMP IS GOING TO THE [3:47] SUPREME COURT AND DEMANDING THAT [3:50] THEY LET HIM KEEP BUILDING HIS [3:51] BALL ROOM. [3:52] A BALL ROOM. [3:53] A BALL ROOM. [3:54] IT'S INCREDIBLY CLEAR THAT GOLD [3:55] PAINT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR [3:56] HIM. [3:57] YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MATCH [3:59] GOLD WITH GOLD PAINT. [4:00] THAT'S WHY IT'S GOLD. [4:01] YOU CAN'T IMITATE GOLD. [4:02] REAL GOLD. [4:03] THERE'S NO PAINT THAT IMITATES GOLD. [4:04] IT'S ALL REAL STUFF. [4:05] HE'S THE GOLD PERSON, EVERYONE. [4:08] IT'S ALL REAL STUFF. [4:09] HE'S THE GOLD PERSON, EVERYONE. [4:10] IT'S ALL REAL STUFF. [4:11] TRUMP CAN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER [4:12] WAY. [4:13] AND NOW TRUMP IS GOING TO THE [4:14] SUPREME COURT AND DEMANDING [4:15] THAT THEY LET HIM KEEP BUILDING [4:16] HIS BALL ROOM. [4:17] A BALL ROOM WHICH THE [4:19] WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THE [4:20] PROJECT CONTRACTOR ESTIMATES [4:21] WILL COST $600 MILLION WITH HALF [4:23] OF THE COST COMING FROM [4:25] TAXPAYER DOLLARS. [4:26] AND WHILE AMERICAN TAXPAYER [4:27] DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR, WELL, [4:29] I GUESS ALL OF TRUMP'S GOLD, [4:31] TODAY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU [4:33] RELEASED NUMBERS SHOWING THAT [4:34] AMERICANS CUT THEIR SPENDING [4:35] LAST MONTH AS HIGHER FOOD AND [4:36] ENERGY COSTS, EIGHT INTO THE [4:38] ALREADY STRAPPED BUDGETS OF [4:40] LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES. [4:41] AND GUESS WHAT ONE OF THE MAIN [4:45] EXPENSES AMERICANS CUT LAST [4:47] MONTH WAS? [4:48] YOU PROBABLY KNOW IT ALREADY, [4:50] BUYING GAS. [4:51] TRUMP WANTS AMERICAN TAXPAYERS [4:53] TO BUY HIM MORE GOLD DECOR. [4:55] WHILE HUGE SWATHS OF THE [4:57] AMERICAN TAXPAYERS CAN'T AFFORD [5:02] TO BUY GAS. [5:04] AND THE THING IS HE DOESN'T [5:06] REALLY SEEM TO CARE. [5:07] FOR YOU TO PAY A TINY LITTLE [5:10] BIT MORE FOR YOUR GASOLINE, [5:12] JUST REMEMBER YOU'RE DOING IT [5:14] SO THAT A VERY EVIL COUNTRY [5:15] CANNOT HAVE, A COUNTRY REALLY [5:17] IS THE NUMBER ONE STATE SPONSOR [5:19] OF TERROR IN THE WORLD. [5:21] WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM HAVE [5:23] A NUCLEAR WEAPON. [5:24] SO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO [5:26] PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU'RE [5:30] GOING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE [5:33] THAN A LITTLE BIT MORE. [5:34] THE MESSAGE TO THE AMERICAN [5:36] PEOPLE IS THAT THEY CAN SUFFER. [5:38] THAT'S A SACRIFICE THAT HE IS [5:40] WILLING TO MAKE. [5:41] BUT HE, ON THE OTHER HAND, NEEDS [5:44] GOLD. [5:45] LOTS OF IT. [5:46] AND YOU SHOULD PAY FOR IT. [5:49] BECAUSE IT'S ALL A MATTER OF [5:50] NATIONAL SECURITY, ACCORDING TO [5:51] HIM. [5:52] NOW, WHAT MAKES TRUMP'S CLAIMS [5:54] THAT HE NEEDS GOLD DECOR FOR [5:56] NATIONAL SECURITY ALL THE MORE [5:57] REPELLANT IS THAT FOR THE PAST [5:58] WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING [5:59] CONDITIONS OUR TROOPS ARE [6:02] FACING. [6:03] WILL THEY ACTUALLY PROTECT OUR [6:05] NATIONAL SECURITY? [6:06] AT THE CENTER OF THAT STORY HAS [6:08] BEEN THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. [6:09] WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT A [6:10] LOT THIS WEEK. [6:11] AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER THAT, OTHER [6:13] THAN A SINGLE DAY STOP IN OMAN, [6:14] HAS BEEN AT SEA SINCE DECEMBER [6:15] 11TH. [6:16] IT SET A MODERN-DAY RECORD FOR THE [6:18] MOST CONTINUOUS DAYS AT SEA FOR A [6:20] NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIER. [6:21] AND IT'S NOW REPORTED THAT [6:22] FAMILIES OF THOSE ABOARD THE [6:23] SHIP CAME TO NAVY LEADERSHIP [6:24] WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAILORS [6:27] MENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY ON DECK, [6:29] LACK OF SUPPLIES, FOOD SHORTAGES, [6:31] WATER CONTAMINATION AND [6:32] DISRUPTIONS IN THE MAIL SYSTEM [6:33] WHICH HAVE CAUSED MANY CARE [6:34] PACKAGES ENROUTE TO THE SHIP TO [6:36] BE LOST IN TRANSIT FOR MONTHS. [6:38] FAMILIES SAY THE SITUATION ON THE [6:39] SHIP HAD BECOME SO DIRE THAT [6:41] MULTIPLE SAILORS HAVE ATTEMPTED [6:43] TO GO OVERBOARD. [6:44] BUT WHEN TRUMP WAS ASKED ABOUT [6:46] THE SITUATION TODAY, HE DENIED [6:48] THAT ANY FAMILIES WERE ACTUALLY [6:49] CONCERNED AT ALL. [6:50] TRUMP SAYS THAT FAMILIES ARE [7:04] NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE [7:05] CONDITIONS ON THE USS LINCOLN, [7:07] EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING I JUST [7:09] TOLD YOU. [7:10] AND OUR COLLEAGUE MSNOWS, [7:12] PRIYA SHRIETHER, WHO'S BEEN [7:13] DOING A LOT OF REPORTING ON THIS, [7:15] EXCELLENT REPORTING, SPOKE TO A [7:17] DOZEN FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SAY THAT [7:19] THEY ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED [7:21] WITH THE MORALE, SAFETY AND [7:23] CONDITIONS ON THE SHIP. [7:24] THE MILITARY DISPUTES MANY OF [7:26] THEIR ALLEGATIONS BUT TO SAY THAT [7:28] THAT'S TRUE. [7:32] YOU'RE IN THIS CONSTANT [7:33] OPERATING ENVIRONMENT THAT'S [7:34] ALWAYS MOVING 24 HOURS A DAY, [7:36] SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THERE'S NO [7:37] REST. [7:38] SO PART OF THE BENEFIT THAT YOU [7:39] GET FROM BEING IN THE NAVY IS [7:40] THESE PORT CALLS. [7:41] WELL, OUR GUYS HAVEN'T HAD ANY [7:43] PORT CALLS. [7:44] SO THEY HAVEN'T HAD A DAY WHERE [7:45] THEY'VE BEEN IN PORT THAT THEY'VE [7:47] BEEN ABLE TO JUST REST. [7:49] I WAS SO MAD BECAUSE I THOUGHT, [7:51] OKAY, SO NOW THEY THINK, OKAY, [7:52] WE'RE COMING HOME, WE'RE [7:54] GETTING OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE [7:55] SCENARIO. [7:56] OH, NOPE, NOW WE'RE NOT. [8:00] I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE [8:01] WHAT THAT ALSO DOES TO THE [8:03] MINDSET AND THE MENTALITY OF [8:05] PEOPLE THAT ARE PUSHING [8:06] THEMSELVES THE WAY THAT THEY [8:07] ARE. [8:08] I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE [8:09] THAT RIGHT THERE CAN CAUSE A [8:11] LOT OF PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, [8:13] LOSE HOPE. [8:14] THERE IS NO FOOD FOR THEM TO [8:15] EAT. [8:16] THERE'S NO PROTEIN. [8:17] THERE'S... [8:18] AND WHAT'S MORE FRUSTRATING [8:19] ABOUT A LOT OF THIS IS YOU [8:20] ARE TAKING THE MONEY OUT OF [8:21] THEIR PAYCHECKS TO FEED [8:23] THEM AND YOU'RE NOT FEEDING [8:24] THEM. [8:26] I THINK THAT'S MY BIGGEST [8:27] THING IS IF YOU'RE NOT GOING [8:28] TO FEED THEM, THEN STOP TAKING [8:29] THEIR MONEY. [8:30] IT'S BEEN A FEELING OF [8:32] POWERLESSNESS. [8:33] THIS HAS BEEN TRENDING AND [8:35] SPIRLING DOWNWARD SINCE [8:37] ABOUT MARCH OR APRIL WITH NO [8:40] SUPPLIES, FOOD SHORTAGES, LOW [8:44] MORAL, A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT [8:47] DEATH. [8:48] IT'S BEEN CONCERNING. [8:51] IT'S BEEN CONCERNING. [8:52] IT'S BEEN CONCERNING. [8:55] YOU JUST HEARD THAT FROM A [8:56] NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS. [8:58] NOW I SHOULD NOTE THE U.S. [8:59] MILITARY IS NOW FINALLY [9:00] PREPARING TO REPLACE THE U.S.S. [9:01] LINCOLN WITH ANOTHER [9:02] AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THE U.S.S. [9:03] GEORGE WASHINGTON, AND THE [9:04] TRUMP SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS [9:05] CALLED ALLEGATIONS OF FOOD [9:06] CHORTAGES AND OTHER ISSUES ON [9:07] THE SHIP FAKE NEWS. [9:08] BUT WITH THIS MANY FAMILY [9:09] MEMBERS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT [9:10] THEIR CONCERNS ON THE SHIP, [9:11] AFTER THE RECORD-BREAKING TIME AT [9:13] SEA DROVE MULTIPLE U.S. [9:15] SERVICE MEMBERS TO ATTEMPT TO [9:16] THROW THEMSELVES OVERBOARD [9:18] BECAUSE OF THE TOLL IT WAS TAKING [9:19] ON THEM MENTALLY. [9:20] AND WHILE TRUMP IS CLAIMING HE [9:23] NEEDS YOU TO BUY HIM GOLD DECOR [9:25] FOR THE SAKE OF NATIONAL [9:26] SECURITY, TODAY TRUMP SAID THAT [9:28] THE U.S.S. LINCOLN'S RECORD- [9:31] BREAKING TIME AT SEA WAS, QUOTE, [9:33] NOT NEARLY LONG ENOUGH. [9:35] THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. [9:36] JOINING ME NOW IS MY FRIEND [9:44] BEN RHODES. [9:47] HE SERVED AS DEPUTY NATIONAL [9:49] SECURITY ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT [9:50] OBAMA AND HE'S NOW, OF COURSE, [9:52] THE CO-HOST OF POD SAVE THE [9:54] WORLD. [9:55] BEN, I'VE WATCHED YOU TALK ABOUT [9:56] THIS THIS WEEK AND AS I'VE [9:58] READ ABOUT THIS STORY, I'VE [10:00] THOUGHT OF HOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU [10:02] AND SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE [10:04] WORKED WITH WHO SPENT SO MUCH [10:05] TIME THINKING ABOUT THE SAFETY [10:07] OF OUR TROOPS REACTED TO THIS. [10:09] AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU, [10:10] SPECIFICALLY, I MEAN, YOU [10:11] SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH [10:12] PRESIDENT OBAMA, AS DID I, BUT [10:13] YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND [10:14] TIME TALKING ABOUT THE MEN AND [10:16] WOMEN SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND [10:18] DECISIONS ABOUT PUTTING THEM AT [10:20] RISK OR NOT. [10:21] HOW DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE [10:23] REACTED IF HE HAD LEARNED NEWS [10:25] ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THESE [10:27] TROOPS HAVE BEEN UNDER OVER THE [10:29] PAST SEVERAL MONTHS? [10:30] WELL, I THINK HE AND I WANT TO [10:34] SAY ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S BEEN IN [10:36] THAT OFFICE DURING MY LIFETIME [10:37] AT LEAST WOULD HAVE BEEN [10:39] ABSOLUTELY APPALLED. [10:40] BUT IT ALSO WOULDN'T HAVE [10:42] HAPPENED BECAUSE THIS IS A [10:44] SYMPTOM OF SO MANY THINGS ABOUT [10:46] TRUMP. [10:47] THE REASON THAT THEY ARE THERE [10:49] FOR SUCH A LONG DEPLOYMENT IS [10:51] BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE [10:52] WAS DOING WHEN HE LAUNCHED THIS [10:53] WAR. [10:54] SO YOU HAD NO STRATEGY. [10:55] WHEN YOU SET OUT TO DO [10:57] SOMETHING MILITARILY, YOU THINK [10:59] TWO OR THREE STEPS AHEAD, [11:00] PARTICULARLY WHEN IT INVOLVES [11:01] THINGS LIKE FORCE PROTECTION AND [11:02] SUPPLY CHAINS AND HOW ARE THE [11:03] TROOPS GOING TO BE [11:04] POSITIONED. [11:05] HE JUST STARTED THIS WAR WITHOUT [11:07] MUCH FORTHOUGHT WITHOUT MUCH [11:08] PLANNING CLEARLY BY THE [11:09] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BECAUSE [11:10] IT WAS DONE ON SUCH A WHIM. [11:12] AND SINCE THEN, HE'S BEEN [11:14] MOVING SO EPISODICALLY BETWEEN [11:15] WINDING DOWN THE WAR AND [11:17] REESCALATING THE WAR THAT [11:19] CLEARLY THEY'VE DONE NO [11:20] PLANNING. [11:21] THAT'S THE FIRST THING. [11:22] THE SECOND THING IS THEY'VE [11:24] LIED TO US OR NOT TOLD THE TRUTH [11:26] ABOUT THE DAMAGE DONE TO U.S. [11:27] FACILITIES IN THE REGION. [11:28] I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THEY [11:30] CAN'T RESUPPLY THAT CARRIER [11:31] DEPORT CALLS IS BECAUSE OF THE [11:33] DAMAGE DONE TO OUR ENABLE [11:35] FACILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST [11:36] PARTICULARLY IN BAHRAN WHICH [11:37] HAS COME OUT IN SOME OF THE [11:38] REPORTING TOO. [11:39] SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME [11:41] HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM PEOPLE [11:43] IN THE REGION FOR SOME TIME [11:44] THAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING US [11:46] THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW MUCH [11:48] DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE BUT THEN [11:51] THE LAST PART, JEN, I JUST [11:52] HIGHLIGHTED IS JUST THE [11:53] CALLOUSNESS. [11:54] IT JUST TIPS IT OVER THE EDGE. [11:55] IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. [11:56] THESE PEOPLE ARE BEARING THE [11:58] BURDEN FOR DONALD TRUMP'S STUPID [12:00] WAR AND HIS INCOMPETENCE. [12:01] AND HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A [12:03] SHRED OF EMPATHY FOR THEM OR [12:04] THEIR FAMILIES. [12:05] IT TELLS YOU IF YOU STILL NEED [12:07] TO KNOW ANYTHING MORE ABOUT HIS [12:08] CHARACTER, IT TELLS YOU [12:09] EVERYTHING. [12:11] THE EMPATHY GAP WHICH WE'VE [12:13] ALL TALKED ABOUT FOR SO MANY [12:15] YEARS NOW IS JUST FULL PLAY HERE. [12:18] IT'S JUST A PIECE I KEEP [12:20] THINKING ABOUT. [12:21] YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON HOW [12:22] PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS IN THE [12:23] REGION AND HEARING ABOUT THIS IN [12:24] THE REGION. [12:25] AND THEY SEE THE SAME THINGS, A [12:27] LOT OF THE SAME THINGS WE DO, [12:28] IF NOT MORE. [12:29] SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE SEEING [12:31] HEADLINES OF TROOPS BEING [12:33] UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THEY [12:34] DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD WHICH [12:36] THEY KNOW IS BECAUSE OF A LACK [12:38] OF PLANNING. [12:39] THEY'RE SEEING THE MORALE OF OUR [12:41] SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN FOR GOOD [12:42] REASON BECAUSE THEY'RE [12:43] FIGHTING A WAR THEY DON'T KNOW [12:44] THE PURPOSE OF. [12:45] THEY'RE HEARING ABOUT HOW [12:48] DEPLETED OUR MUNITIONS [12:49] STOCKPILES ARE. [12:50] I MEAN PART OF WHAT YOU HAVE [12:52] DONE IN YOUR CAREER WORKING IN [12:53] GOVERNMENT IS THINK ABOUT HOW [12:55] OUR ENEMIES, OUR FOES, PEOPLE [12:56] IN OTHER COUNTRIES READ AND [12:57] DIGEST WHAT'S HAPPENING IN [12:58] THE UNITED STATES. [12:59] HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'RE [13:00] DIGESTING ALL OF THIS? [13:01] WELL, I MEAN, IRAN'S VIEW OF THE [13:04] CONFLICT IS CLEARLY THAT THEY [13:05] HAVE ALL THE LEVERAGE THAT [13:06] THEY'VE ALREADY WON IN SOME [13:07] WAYS BECAUSE THEIR REGIME IS [13:08] STILL IN PLACE. [13:09] THAT WAS AN OBJECTIVE OF [13:10] TRUMP'S THAT FAILED. [13:11] THEY STILL HAVE A NUCLEAR [13:12] PROGRAM. [13:13] THAT WAS AN OBJECTIVE OF TRUMP'S [13:14] THAT FAILED. [13:15] AND THEY CONTROLLED THE [13:16] STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ. [13:17] AND THAT AIRCRAFT CARRIER'S [13:18] PRESENCE DOESN'T REOPEN THE [13:19] STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ MAGICALLY. [13:20] AND SO WHEN THEY SEE THAT AND [13:21] THEY SEE AN AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT [13:23] HAS NO IDEA WHY WE'RE THERE AND [13:25] IS AGAINST THE WAR, THEY KNOW [13:28] THAT ULTIMATELY DONALD TRUMP [13:30] DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING [13:32] AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY LEVERAGE [13:34] DIPLOMATICALLY TO COMPEL THE [13:35] IRANIANS TO DO WHAT HE WANTS. [13:37] BUT THEY ALSO SEE FRANKLY A [13:39] COUNTRY THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF [13:42] THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, JIM, WHEN [13:44] I TRAVEL AROUND, PEOPLE ADMIRE [13:46] HOW MUCH THE UNITED STATES [13:48] SUPPORTED ITS OWN MILITARY. [13:49] HOW MUCH WE LEFT NO PERSON [13:51] BEHIND. [13:52] HOW MUCH WE TRIED TO CARE FOR [13:54] MILITARY FAMILIES. [13:55] THAT WAS PART OF HAVING THE [13:56] STRONGEST FIGHTING FORCE IN THE [13:57] WORLD. [13:58] AND NOW THEY SEE AN AMERICA THAT [13:59] DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO CARE ABOUT [14:00] THE PEOPLE THAT IT PUTS IN [14:01] HARM'S WAY. [14:02] MAKE NO MISTAKE, THESE PEOPLE [14:03] ARE IN HARM'S WAY. [14:04] AND THEY SEE A SECRETARY OF [14:06] DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, WHO NOT [14:07] ONLY DISMISSES THIS AS FAKE [14:08] NEWS, BUT HE DISMISSES ANY [14:09] CONCERNS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. [14:10] YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO [14:12] WOKE MILITARY. [14:13] WE WANT TOUGH GUYS WHO TAKE [14:15] TESTOSTERONE SUPPLEMENTS THAT YOU [14:17] USED TO READ ABOUT IN THE BACK OF [14:19] RIGHT-WING MAGAZINES OR [14:20] SOMETHING. [14:21] THAT MENTALITY, NOW WE'RE SEEING [14:24] WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN [14:25] PRACTICE. [14:26] WHEN IT'S A TECH TALK AT THE [14:28] PENTAGON WHERE PETE HEGSETH [14:29] IS TRYING TO SOUND TOUGH, IT'S [14:30] ONE THING. [14:31] WE ARE SEEING WHAT IT MEANS TO [14:33] HAVE A CHAIN OF COMMAND, THE [14:34] PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY OF [14:35] DEFENSE WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT [14:36] THE WELL-BEING OF THE [14:37] TROOPS AND THE REST OF THE [14:38] WORLD SEES THAT TOO. [14:39] THERE IS SUCH A DISHONESTY AND [14:43] YOU ALUDED TO THIS AND WE'VE [14:44] TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE ALSO [14:46] ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US [14:47] AND THE COUNTRY ABOUT WHAT'S [14:49] HAPPENING HERE. [14:50] I MEAN, PETE HEGSETH, THE [14:52] SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR THE [14:54] LOVE OF GOD, JUST SAID TODAY [14:56] THAT THE U.S. CAN MAINTAIN A [14:58] NAVAL BLOCKADE IN THE STREET [15:00] OF HORMUZ INDEFINITELY. [15:01] NOW THAT CLEARLY IS AN EFFORT [15:03] TO SORT OF EXERT LIKE CHESS [15:05] THUMPING POWER, I THINK, RIGHT, [15:06] TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT [15:07] THAT MEANS. [15:08] IT FEELS LIKE A CRAZY THING TO [15:10] SAY GIVEN THE IMPACT WE'RE SEEING [15:12] ON THESE SOLDIERS NOW. [15:13] BUT TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THAT [15:15] WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE FOR AN [15:17] INDEFINITE BLOCKADE. [15:19] WELL, IT WOULD REQUIRE [15:22] ESSENTIALLY THE UNITED STATES [15:24] TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS [15:26] OF DOLLARS TO SUSTAIN THIS KIND [15:28] OF FORCED DEPLOYMENT. [15:29] IT WOULD REQUIRE, IT WOULD [15:32] CAUSE GRAVE HARM TO THE GLOBAL [15:34] ECONOMY BECAUSE SO LONG AS WE [15:36] ARE BLOCKEDING IRAN AND THEY [15:37] COULD REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES [15:39] TO LET DOWN ITS GUARD EVERYWHERE [15:40] ELSE IN THE WORLD. [15:41] I MEAN, TO SUSTAIN THIS KIND OF [15:42] MASSIVE MILITARY DEPLOYMENT [15:43] AROUND IRAN. [15:44] WE'VE ALREADY MOVED MUNITIONS [15:46] AND DEFENSIVE WEAPONRY FROM [15:48] PLACES LIKE SOUTH KOREA, FROM [15:49] EUROPE. [15:50] YOU KNOW, SO IF YOU'RE CHINA OR [15:52] RUSSIA, YOU'RE THINKING, WELL, [15:53] THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO [15:54] SIT THERE IN A POINTLESS [15:55] FOREVER WAR, ACCOMPLISHING [15:56] NOTHING, DOING GRAVE DAMAGE TO [15:57] ITS OWN REPUTATION. [15:58] I THINK WE LOST BEN ROADS THERE. [15:59] WE'LL TRY TO GET HIM BACK. [16:00] WE'LL TRY TO LET DOWN ITS GUARD [16:01] EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. [16:02] I MEAN, TO SUSTAIN THIS KIND [16:03] OF MASSIVE MILITARY DEPLOYMENT [16:04] AROUND IRAN. [16:05] WE'VE ALREADY MOVED MUNITIONS [16:06] AND DEFENSIVE WEAPONRY FROM [16:07] PLACES LIKE SOUTH KOREA, FROM [16:08] THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO [16:10] SIT THERE IN A POINTLESS FOREVER [16:11] WAR, ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING, [16:13] DOING GRAVE DAMAGE TO ITS OWN [16:14] REPUTATION. [16:15] I THINK WE LOST BEN ROADS [16:24] THERE. [16:25] WE'LL TRY TO GET HIM BACK. [16:27] WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VERY QUICK [16:29] BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL BE RIGHT [16:30] BACK. [16:42] IN 2024, WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS [16:44] RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, HE LIKED [16:46] TO CLAIM THAT ALL OF THE [16:48] FEDERAL STATISTICS SHOWED THAT [16:49] CRIME WAS GOING DOWN WERE ALL [16:51] FAKE. [16:53] THEY WERE ALL FAKE. [16:54] THE FEDERAL STATISTICS ARE [16:56] FAKE. [16:57] THE FEDERAL STATISTICS ARE [16:58] FAKE. [16:59] THE FEDERAL STATISTICS ARE [17:00] FAKE. [17:01] THE FEDERAL STATISTICS ARE [17:02] FAKE. [17:03] THEY'RE FAKE, JUST LIKE [17:05] EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS [17:06] ADMINISTRATION. [17:07] BUT FAST FORWARD A COUPLE [17:11] YEARS, AND TODAY PRESIDENT [17:13] TRUMP WENT TO LONG ISLAND TO [17:15] THE NEW YORK CITY SUBURBS TO [17:17] CELEBRATE THOSE VERY SAME [17:19] STATISTICS. [17:20] WITH A CROWD OF UNIFORMED POLICE [17:22] OFFICERS CHEERING BEHIND HIM, [17:23] TRUMP CLAIMED THAT THE LATEST FBI [17:25] ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES ARE [17:27] WHAT HAS BROUGHT CRIME DOWN FROM [17:28] THOSE HELLSCAPE LEVELS UNDER [17:29] THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. [17:30] BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH [17:32] THAT ARGUMENT. [17:34] WHAT THOSE STATISTICS ACTUALLY [17:36] SHOW IS THAT CRIME HAS BEEN [17:38] DROPPING SINCE 2022. [17:39] AND LOOK, FALLING CRIME RATES [17:41] ARE SOMETHING TO BE CELEBRATED. [17:42] NO ARGUMENT THERE. [17:43] BUT THERE'S SOMETHING A LITTLE [17:45] BIT JARRING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP [17:46] CLAIMING TO BE THIS GREAT [17:47] SCOURGE OF CRIMINALS. [17:48] I MEAN, FOR STARTERS, TRUMP'S [17:50] BRAND-NEW PERSONAL LAWYER TURNED [17:51] ATTORNEY GENERAL, TODD BLANCH, [17:52] TOLD THE ASSEMBLED POLICE [17:54] OFFICERS TODAY THAT ANYONE WHO [17:56] TOUCHES THE FEDERAL LAW [17:58] ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, QUOTE, IN [17:59] ANY WAY INAPPROPRIATE WILL BE [18:00] PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST [18:02] EXTENCE OF THE LAW, WHICH IS A [18:03] LITTLE HARD TO SQUARE WITH THE [18:04] FACT THAT HIS BOSS BEGAN HIS [18:05] CURRENT TERM AS PRESIDENT BY [18:06] PARDONING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE [18:07] CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING [18:08] CAPITOL POLICE AND OTHER OFFICERS. [18:09] AND THEN THIS MORNING, THE [18:11] NEW YORK TIMES SAT WITH A REPORT [18:12] HIGHLIGHTING THE TRUMP JUSTICE [18:13] DEPARTMENT'S PIVOT TO FOCUS ON [18:15] SMALL-TIME FRAUD, LIKE, SAY, A [18:17] LOS ANGELES GROCERY STORE [18:18] CASHIER, WHO IS ACCUSED OF A [18:20] FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FOOD [18:22] STAMP FRAUD. [18:23] A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE [18:24] SPOKESPERSON EXPLAINED IT TO [18:25] THE NEW YORK TIMES THIS WAY, [18:26] QUOTE, PURSUING ONLY THE [18:28] LARGEST DOLLAR CASES WHILE [18:29] IGNORING SMALLER ONES WOULD [18:31] SEND PRECISELY THE WRONG [18:38] LOW-LEVEL FRAUD STERS ARE [18:40] IMMUNE FROM FEDERAL [18:41] PROSECUTION. [18:43] OKAY, BUT WHAT MESSAGE DOES [18:45] THIS SEND WHEN IT IS THE OTHER [18:47] WAY AROUND? [18:48] WHEN THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE [18:49] FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS [18:50] BROUGHT TO BEAR ON THE LOW-LEVEL [18:51] FRAUD STERS WHILE LARGEST DOLLAR [18:53] CASES ARE DROPPED. [18:54] PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS PARDONED [18:56] DOZENS OF CONVICTED FRAUD [18:57] STERS AND HIS JUSTICE [18:59] DEPARTMENT HAS DROPPED CASES [19:00] AGAINST MORE. [19:01] MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE [19:03] CONVICTED OF MILLIONS OR [19:04] HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OR [19:06] DOLLARS IN FRAUDULENT SCHEMES. [19:09] AND MANY OF THEM, OF COURSE, [19:11] DONATED MONEY TO TRUMP BEFORE [19:13] GETTING THEIR CLEMENCY. [19:15] THOUGH THE WHITE HOUSE INSISTS [19:17] THAT IS ALL, OF COURSE, [19:18] UNRELATED AS THEY DO. [19:19] AND THIS WEEK BROUGHT YET [19:21] ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE WHITE [19:22] HOUSE MAY NOT BE AS COMMITTED [19:24] TO LAW AND ORDER AS IT CLAIMS. [19:25] NO KIDDING. [19:26] I MEAN, THIS IS HOW THE NEW YORK [19:28] TIMES DESCRIBED THE MOVE. [19:29] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS [19:31] MOVING FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO [19:33] SCALE BACK SCRUTINY OF THE [19:34] SHELL COMPANIES THAT CRIMINALS [19:37] USE TO LAUNDER MONEY AND [19:38] TRAFFIC DRUGS. [19:39] THE ATLANTIC, TO GIVE IT TO [19:41] THEM, THEY WERE EVEN BLUNTER, [19:43] CALLING THE MOVE A GREEN LIGHT [19:44] FOR CROOKS. [19:45] THIS IS ALL, OF COURSE, [19:47] REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT [19:48] TRUMP'S TREASURY DEPARTMENT [19:49] SAYS IT'S NO LONGER GOING TO [19:51] ENFORCE THE CORPORATE [19:52] TRANSPARENCY ACT WHICH WAS [19:54] PASSED, I WOULD NOTE, [19:55] OVERWHELMINGLY BY CONGRESS A [19:57] FEW YEARS AGO AND WRITTEN IN [19:59] PART BY, WAIT FOR IT, A SENATOR [20:01] NAMED MARCO RUBIO. [20:02] WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT [20:06] GUY? [20:07] HAVEN'T HEARD A PEEP FROM HIM [20:08] ABOUT ALL OF THIS. [20:09] FORMER CONGRESSMAN TOM [20:10] MALINOWSKI, ANOTHER OFFER OF THE [20:12] LAW WAS PRETTY DIRECT. [20:13] HERE'S WHAT HE SAID, QUOTE, I [20:15] HELPED PASS THIS LAW IN 2020. [20:17] ITS PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT DRUG [20:18] TRAFFICKERS, RUSSIAN AND [20:20] CHINESE KLEPTOCRATS AND OTHER [20:21] INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS FROM [20:22] SETTING UP ANONYMOUSLY OWNED [20:23] COMPANIES TO HIDE THEIR MONEY IN [20:25] THE U.S. TRUMP'S TREASURY [20:26] DEPARTMENT IS DOING THIS TO HELP [20:28] CRIMINALS. [20:29] WHY IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION [20:31] DOING THIS? [20:32] I DON'T KNOW. [20:33] BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS FOR [20:34] RICH RUSSIANS WHO WANT TO BUY [20:35] HIS CONDOS OR GULF ROYALS BUYING [20:37] HIS FAKE CRYPTO. [20:38] NEVER HOLD HIM BACK, TOM [20:39] MALINOWSKI. [20:40] I LOVE IT. [20:41] JOINING US NOW IS TOM MALINOWSKI, [20:43] FORMER NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN AND [20:44] FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF [20:45] STATE FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN [20:47] RIGHTS AND LABOR IN THE OBAMA [20:48] ADMINISTRATION. [20:49] IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU. [20:51] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. [20:53] HI, GIANN. [20:54] GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. [20:55] LET ME START BY JUST FOR PEOPLE [20:58] WHO ARE JUST TUNING INTO THE [20:59] STORY, MAYBE THEY'VE READ THE [21:00] STORY, MAYBE THEY'RE JUST HEARING [21:01] FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT IT. [21:03] I JUST GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW. [21:04] BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN IN [21:06] LAYMAN'S TERMS WHAT THIS LAW, THE [21:07] CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT I [21:08] MENTIONED DOESN'T AND WHY IT'S [21:10] IMPORTANT? [21:11] SO IMAGINE FOR A SECOND THAT [21:15] YOU'RE AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL, [21:16] LIKE YOU'RE A RUSSIAN OLIGARCH [21:18] TRYING TO EVADE SANCTIONS OR A [21:20] DRUG TRAFFICKER LOOKING FOR A [21:21] PLACE TO PUT HIS MONEY. [21:23] MOST OF US DON'T THINK OF THE [21:25] UNITED STATES AS THE PLACE THAT [21:26] WOULD FACILITATE THAT. [21:28] BUT IN ONE RESPECT, IT WAS [21:29] ACTUALLY VERY EASY BECAUSE YOU [21:32] COULD COME TO NEW YORK OR MIAMI, [21:35] FIND A LAWYER, AN ACCOUNTANT TO [21:37] CREATE A, AS YOU MENTIONED, A [21:39] SHELL COMPANY FOR YOU. [21:41] A SHELL COMPANY IS A COMPANY [21:43] THAT DOESN'T SELL ANY PRODUCTS [21:45] OR PROVIDE ANY SERVICES. [21:46] IT JUST EXISTS ON PAPER TO HELP [21:49] YOU MOVE AND STORE MONEY. [21:52] AND THEN, ONCE YOU HAVE THAT [21:54] SHELL COMPANY, IF YOU'RE GOOD AT [21:55] YOUR GAME, YOU CAN SPEND IT OFF [21:57] INTO 12 OR 20 OR 30 SHELL [22:00] COMPANY SUBSIDIARIES. [22:01] SO YOU HAVE THIS WHOLE [22:02] NETWORK OF COMPANIES THAT ARE [22:06] INCREASINGLY HARD TO TRACE TO [22:08] YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE REGISTERED [22:09] IN SOME OTHER PERSON'S NAME. [22:11] AND THEN YOU USE ONE OF THOSE [22:14] COMPANIES TO OPEN A BANK [22:16] ACCOUNT, LIKE MAYBE IN THE [22:18] Cayman Islands OR IN THE [22:19] Seychelles, SOMEPLACE WHERE [22:21] THERE'S A LOT OF BANK SECRECY. [22:23] AND NOW YOU'RE OFF TO THE [22:24] RACES. [22:25] YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT [22:26] WITH THAT MONEY, INCLUDING IN [22:27] THE UNITED STATES, TOTALLY [22:28] ANONYMOUSLY. [22:29] YES, YOU CAN BUY A TRUMP [22:31] CONDO WITH NO PUBLIC RECORD [22:34] ATTACHED TO YOUR NAME. [22:36] YOU CAN EVEN SPEND MILLIONS [22:38] OF DOLLARS, YOU CAN DONATE [22:40] MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SOME [22:41] DARK MONEY GROUP THAT'S [22:43] TRYING TO INFLUENCE AN [22:44] AMERICAN ELECTION. [22:45] THAT'S ILLEGAL IF YOU'RE A [22:46] FOREINER, BUT IF YOU USE A [22:48] SHELL COMPANY TO DO IT, YOU [22:50] PROBABLY CAN GET AWAY WITH [22:51] IT. [22:52] OR YOU CAN JUST DO IT FOR [22:53] MUNDANE THINGS LIKE TAX [22:54] EVASION OR HIDING YOUR [22:56] MONEY FROM AN EX-SPOUSE OR [22:58] SOMETHING LIKE THAT. [22:59] ALL OF THAT IS CRIME. [23:00] AND SO THIS IS WHY [23:02] CONGRESS, AS YOU MENTIONED, [23:03] TOTALLY BIPARTISAN, PASSED [23:05] THIS LAW. [23:06] AND WHAT IT SAYS IS SIMPLY [23:08] THAT EVERY COMPANY THAT IS [23:10] REGISTERED IN THE UNITED [23:11] STATES HAS TO REVEAL [23:13] ITS ACTUAL OWNER. [23:16] AND THERE'S A SIMPLE FORM [23:17] ONLINE. [23:18] YOU'VE GOT TO PUT DOWN YOUR [23:19] NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR [23:21] DATE OF BIRTH, AND YOU HAVE [23:23] TO UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR [23:24] DRIVER'S LICENSE. [23:25] DOES THAT SOUND HARD? [23:27] THAT'S WHAT IT REQUIRED. [23:29] AND THEY JUST SAID WE'RE NOT [23:31] DOING IT. [23:32] EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE LAW. [23:34] IT'S NOT A LABORIOUS [23:36] PROCESS IS, I THINK, WHAT [23:37] YOU'RE TELLING US TO [23:38] EVERYBODY. [23:39] I MEAN, LET ME ASK YOU A [23:40] QUESTION. [23:41] I FEEL LIKE WE ASK EVERY [23:43] SINGLE DAY. [23:44] CAN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION [23:45] EVEN DO THIS? [23:46] I MEAN, THEY ANNOUNCE THEY'RE [23:47] DOING THIS. [23:48] CAN THEY DO THIS LEGALLY? [23:49] ISN'T IT THE LAW THAT THEY [23:50] COLLECT THIS DATA? [23:51] GOSH, WE'RE SO QUAINT. [23:54] I KNOW. [23:56] IT'S SO CUTE. [23:58] YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO, THERE'S [24:01] THIS DOCUMENT. [24:02] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS TALK [24:03] ABOUT IT EVER. [24:04] IT'S CALLED THE CONSTITUTION. [24:05] IT'S CALLED THE CONSTITUTION. [24:07] WE DO. [24:08] YES. [24:10] YEAH. [24:11] HE'S GOT TO EXECUTE THE LAW [24:12] PASSED BY CON, ANYWAY, [24:13] WHATEVER. [24:14] THE INTERESTING QUESTION IS, [24:16] LIKE, WHO HAS STANDING TO SUE [24:18] HERE? [24:19] BECAUSE IT CAN BE CHALLENGED, [24:20] OBVIOUSLY, BUT YOU HAVE TO [24:21] HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN SHOW [24:22] THEY'VE BEEN HARMED BY THE [24:24] ADMINISTRATION'S REFUSAL TO [24:25] ENFORCE THIS LAW. [24:27] AND I'LL TELL YOU, ONE GOOD [24:28] CANDIDATE WOULD BE THE STATE [24:30] ATTORNEYS GENERAL. [24:33] AND HERE'S WHY. [24:35] WHEN PEOPLE, BUSINESSES [24:37] REGISTER UNDER THIS LAW, [24:39] THEIR COMPANY OWNERSHIP [24:41] INFORMATION, IT DOESN'T GO ON [24:42] A PUBLIC LIST. [24:43] IT'S VERY, VERY PRIVATE. [24:45] IT'S HELD BY THE TREASURY [24:46] DEPARTMENT. [24:47] AND IT'S THERE FOR LAW [24:49] ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING [24:51] STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, [24:53] TO CONSULT WITH IF THEY'RE [24:56] INVESTIGATING A CRIME. [24:58] SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY [24:59] YOU'RE A PROSECUTOR IN [25:01] NEW YORK CITY. [25:02] YOU'RE PURSUING SOME FINANCIAL [25:03] CRIME INVESTIGATION. [25:04] YOU RUN INTO A SHELL [25:05] COMPANY, SOME MYSTERIOUS [25:07] COMPANY THAT'S INVOLVED IN [25:08] THE DIRTY BUSINESS. [25:09] YOU CAN THEN APPLY TO THE [25:11] TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO LOOK [25:13] UP WHO IS THE REAL OWNER OF [25:15] THAT COMPANY. [25:17] AND SO, IT SEEMS TO ME, IF [25:19] YOU'RE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL [25:20] OF NEW YORK, YOU CAN SAY, [25:22] HEY, WAIT A SECOND. [25:23] LIKE, THIS IS A TOOL WE'RE [25:24] USING RIGHT NOW TO [25:25] INVESTIGATE CRIMES. [25:27] YOU ARE, I FORGOT TO MENTION, [25:29] THEY'RE NOT JUST SAYING THEY'RE [25:30] GOING TO STOP ENFORCING THE [25:31] LAW. [25:32] THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO [25:34] DELETE, DESTROY ALL OF THE [25:36] DATA THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED [25:37] THUS FAR. [25:38] SO, IF I'M THE ATTORNEY GENERAL [25:41] OF ANY STATE, I'D WANT TO SAY [25:43] EMERGENCY INJUNCTION, DON'T [25:45] DELETE THAT DATA BECAUSE WE'RE [25:47] USING IT TO SOLVE CRIMES AND [25:50] THIS LAW EXPLICITLY SAYS WE [25:52] SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO IT. [25:54] DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEY GENERALS, [25:56] IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, THEY'VE [25:57] NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT SUING WHEN [25:58] NEEDED. [25:59] THEY CAN CALL YOU, I FEEL LIKE, [26:01] FOR SOME GUIDANCE HERE. [26:02] THE OTHER THING THIS MADE ME [26:04] THINK ABOUT AS I WAS READING [26:05] ABOUT IT IS JUST THE MANY [26:07] DIFFERENT WAYS THAT DONALD [26:09] TRUMP HAS PERSONALLY [26:11] BENEFITED FROM ALL OF THE [26:13] DIFFERENT WAYS HE'S USED [26:15] LEVERS IN THE SYSTEM, ATTEMPTED [26:16] TO CHANGE LAWS, GONE AROUND [26:19] LAWS. [26:20] WHERE DOES YOUR MIND GO WITH [26:22] THAT IN TERMS OF HOW HE COULD [26:23] PERSONALLY FINANCIALLY BENEFIT [26:24] FROM THIS? [26:26] YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING A [26:29] LOT ABOUT HIS CRYPTO COMPANY. [26:32] IT'S AMAZING HE OWNS CRYPTO [26:33] COMPANY. [26:34] JUST TODAY IT GOT PRELIMINARY [26:36] APPROVAL TO BECOME A BANK. [26:39] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS [26:41] APPROVING AN APPLICATION FROM A [26:43] TRUMP COMPANY TO BECOME A BANK [26:45] AND IT'S CRAZY. [26:47] AND WE KNOW HOW THIS CRYPTO [26:48] COMPANY MAKES MONEY FOR HIM. [26:50] MOSTLY FOREIGNERS BUY SHARES [26:54] OF IT OR THEY BUY MILLIONS OF [26:56] DOLLARS OF HIS WORTHLESS [26:57] CRYPTO. [26:58] THEY LOSE MONEY, THEY'RE DOING [26:59] IT BECAUSE THEY'RE BUYING [27:00] INFLUENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT. [27:02] AND WHAT THIS DECISION DOES IS IT [27:08] WOULD ALLOW SOMEBODY TO SAY, OK, I'M [27:11] GOING TO BUY $50 MILLION OF TRUMP [27:13] CRYPTO. [27:14] I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE HIM $50 [27:15] MILLION, BUT UNDER THE NAME OF AN [27:18] ANONYMOUS LLC OR COMPANY, NOT [27:23] ATTACHED TO MY NAME PERSONALLY, SO [27:25] THAT NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHERE [27:27] THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM. [27:28] AND MY SENSE IS THAT THE TYPE OF [27:31] PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING TRUMP [27:32] CRYPTO, THEY WANT HIM TO KNOW [27:34] THAT THEY'RE BUYING IT. [27:35] THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THE [27:37] PUBLIC TO KNOW. [27:38] AND THIS WOULD FACILITATE THAT [27:41] KIND OF CRIMINALITY. [27:42] WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE YOU [27:45] BACK ON AND TALK MORE ABOUT THAT [27:46] AS WELL. [27:47] TOM MALINOLSKI, THANK YOU. [27:49] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING [27:50] US. [27:52] GREAT TO SEE YOU. [27:53] THANKS FOR HAVING ME. [27:55] ABSOLUTELY. [27:56] OKAY, UP NEXT WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY [27:58] WILD NEW REPORTING ABOUT TRUMP'S [27:59] CRUSADE TO FIND NON-CITIZEN [28:00] VOTERS. [28:01] AND ANOTHER CONSPIRACY FALLING [28:04] APART BEFORE OUR EYES. [28:05] WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE [28:06] COME BACK. [28:07] MAYBE MEMORY HOLD THIS ONE, AND IF [28:11] SO, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. [28:12] BUT IT WAS JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO [28:14] WHEN DONALD TRUMP GAVE HIS [28:17] COMPLETELY UNHINGED PRIMETIME [28:18] SPEECH CLAIMING MASS [28:20] VULNERABILITIES IN OUR ELECTIONS [28:21] DUE IN PART TO AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT [28:23] OF FOREIGNERS BEING REGISTERED [28:24] TO VOTERS. [28:25] THAT'S WHAT HE CLAIMED. [28:28] ACCORDING TO THE DHS REVIEW, [28:31] STATE VOTER ROLES AND PUBLIC [28:34] RECORDS, THEY IDENTIFIED [28:36] APPROXIMATELY 278,000 NON-CITIZENS [28:39] WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN [28:41] FEDERAL ELECTIONS. [28:42] SINCE DEMOCRAT STATES REFUSED TO [28:45] PUT TOGETHER THESE DISCLOSURES [28:47] REVEAL AN ELECTION SYSTEM SO [28:48] BROKEN AND SO VULNERABLE THAT [28:51] NO ONE CAN POSSIBLY DEFEND IT. [28:53] IT IS NOT DEFENSIBLE. [28:55] WELL, TODAY WE ARE LEARNING THAT [28:57] HIS ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS [28:59] TO ACTUALLY PROVE HIS ELECTION [29:01] LIES WITH HARD ELECTION ELECTION [29:02] ELECTION SYSTEM SO BROKEN AND [29:04] VULNERABLE THAT NO ONE CAN [29:06] POSSIBLY DEFEND IT. [29:07] IT IS NOT DEFENSIBLE. [29:11] WELL, TODAY WE ARE LEARNING THAT [29:13] HIS ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO [29:14] ACTUALLY PROVE HIS ELECTION LIES [29:16] WITH HARD ELECTION EVIDENCE IS [29:17] FLailing [29:18] SPECTACULARLY. [29:19] NEW REPORTING FROM PRO [29:21] PUBLICA SHOWS THAT TRUMP'S [29:22] UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT TO FIND AND [29:24] PROSECUTE SPECIFICALLY NON-CITIZEN [29:26] VOTERS IS FALLING APART. [29:28] ACCORDING TO THAT REPORTING HIS [29:29] ADMINISTRATION HAS LAUNCHED A [29:30] SERIES OF UNPRECEDENTED [29:31] INITIATIVES TO FIND AND PROSECUTE [29:32] VOTING BY NON-CITIZENS, WHICH [29:34] HE'S LONG CLAIMED, WITHOUT [29:35] EVIDENCE, IS RAMPANT. [29:36] THEY HAVE TASKED HOMELAND [29:37] SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH [29:38] WAS ESTABLISHED TO COMBAT DRUG [29:39] CARTELS, TERRORISM, AND OTHER [29:41] CROSS-BORDER CRIMINAL [29:42] ENTERPRISES, WITH LEADING THE [29:43] CAMPAIGN TO FIND ELECTION [29:44] FRAUD CASES. [29:45] BUT PRO PUBLICA'S INVESTIGATION [29:46] HAS REVEALED HOW MEAGER THESE [29:47] RESULTS HAVE BEEN TO PROVE [29:49] THESE TRUMP ELECTION LIES, [29:51] DESPITE ALL OF THE RESOURCES [29:53] SUNK INTO THE EFFORT. [29:55] AND HERE ARE JUST A FEW NUMBERS [29:57] I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND, [29:58] BECAUSE THEY REALLY GIVE YOU A [30:00] SENSE OF JUST HOW MUCH OF A [30:02] MASSIVE FAILURE THIS EFFORT HAS [30:04] BEEN FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. [30:06] BETWEEN JANUARY OF 2025 AND MAY [30:09] OF 2026, A PRO PUBLICA ANALYSIS [30:11] OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DATA SHOWS [30:13] FEWER THAN 150 ALLEGED NON-CITIZEN [30:15] VOTERS WERE REFERRED FOR [30:16] PROSECUTION. [30:17] EVEN FEWER, 41, WERE CHARGED WITH [30:20] VOTERS. [30:21] VOTING ILLEGALLY OR OTHER ELECTION [30:26] RELATED CRIMES. [30:27] THAT'S 41 INDIVIDUALS CHARGED OUT [30:30] OF THE MORE THAN 150 MILLION [30:32] PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THE MOST [30:34] RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. [30:36] THAT'S, THOSE AREN'T GOOD STATS [30:38] FOR THEM. [30:39] JOINING ME NOW IS THE AUTHOR OF [30:40] THAT PIECE, PRO PUBLICA REPORTER [30:41] JEN FIFIELD. [30:42] SHE COVERS ELECTION SECURITY AND [30:44] VOTING RIGHTS. [30:45] JEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING [30:46] HERE TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR [30:47] THE REPORTING. [30:48] IT'S REALLY EXCELLENT AND [30:49] REALLY INFORMATIVE. [30:51] LET ME START BY ASKING YOU JUST [30:53] ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE [30:55] BEING USED HERE. [30:56] CLEARLY THEY DIDN'T FIND A LOT [30:58] THANKS TO YOUR REPORTING OF [30:59] EVIDENCE OF EXAMPLES OF [31:01] FRAUDULENT VOTING TO EVEN LOOK [31:02] INTO. [31:03] BUT HSI IS SUPPOSED TO GO AFTER [31:06] CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS, DRUG [31:07] CARTELS, TERRORISM, AND NOW [31:09] THEY'RE BEING REDIRECTED TO FOCUS [31:11] ON THIS INVESTIGATION. [31:12] WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT AS YOU [31:14] LOOK AT IT IN TOTALITY? [31:15] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING [31:17] ME ON. [31:19] WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS MONTHS [31:21] AGO BECAUSE WE HEARD, LIKE YOU [31:23] SAID, THERE WERE THESE AGENTS [31:25] THAT WERE HIGHLY TRAINED TO GO [31:27] AFTER CROSS-BORDER CRIMES THAT [31:29] WERE NOW ASSIGNED THESE TENS OF [31:31] THOUSANDS OF LEADS ON NON-CITIZEN [31:32] VOTING. [31:33] AND WE FOUND THAT SCORES OF [31:36] AGENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE [31:37] BEING ASSIGNED TO LOOK INTO THESE [31:39] LEADS. [31:40] AND IT WAS TAKING THEM OFF OF [31:42] THESE OTHER CRIMES. [31:43] AND PARTICULARLY WE WERE TOLD [31:45] THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE WERE TOLD [31:47] THAT THIS WAS THE PRIORITY OVER [31:49] OTHER PROJECTS THEY HAD BEEN [31:50] WORKING ON. [31:51] AND, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT [31:54] THERE'S PEOPLE THEN GOING TO [31:56] COUNTIES AND SAYING GIVE US THESE [31:58] VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS. [31:59] THEY GET THE FORMS AND THE [32:02] PEOPLE DON'T EVEN LIVE THERE OR [32:04] YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE NEVER VOTED [32:06] OR IT'S JUST INCORRECT DATA. [32:08] AND SO THEY'RE SPENDING MONTHS [32:11] ON THESE INVESTIGATIONS IN [32:12] STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND [32:14] MEANWHILE OTHER CRIMES ARE [32:16] LANGUISHING. [32:17] THIS FEELS LIKE A [32:21] CONSISTENT THEME WE'VE SEEN [32:22] UNFORTUNATELY BY A LOT OF [32:24] PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON [32:26] HOMELAND SECURITY EFFORTS IN [32:27] THE GOVERNMENT. [32:28] THIS INVESTIGATION HAS OBVIOUSLY [32:30] NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO DATE [32:33] BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T, IT HASN'T [32:34] AMOUNTED TO MUCH. [32:35] DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF HOW [32:37] THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE [32:38] CONTINUING? [32:39] ARE THEY CONTINUING TO USE [32:41] THESE RESOURCES TO STILL HUNT [32:43] FOR WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR [32:44] HERE? [32:46] DEFINITELY. [32:47] YOU HEARD TRUMP JUST A FEW [32:49] WEEKS AGO SAY THAT THEY HAD [32:51] ONLY OBTAINED SOME STATE VOTER [32:52] ROLES. [32:53] SO WE LEARNED THAT BACK IN [32:55] JULY OF 2025 THERE WAS THIS IDEA [32:57] TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN [32:59] HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS [33:01] THAT USUALLY IS SEARCHING FOR [33:02] FINANCIAL CRIMES AND OTHER [33:03] THINGS ABOUT CRIMINAL [33:04] SUSPECTS. [33:05] AND THEY START USING THIS [33:06] TECHNOLOGY TO SEARCH PUBLIC [33:07] VOTER ROLES. [33:08] AND DESPITE WARNINGS FROM INSIDE [33:11] THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD PRODUCE [33:13] THESE WILDLY INFLATED RESULTS. [33:14] SO BY THE TIME WE HEAR HIS JULY [33:17] SPEECH AT PROPUBLICA WE'VE BEEN [33:19] LOOKING FOR MONTHS AT HOW THIS [33:21] WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THESE [33:23] CLAIMS WOULD BE WILDLY INFLATED. [33:25] AND NOW WE KNOW THAT THIS WORK [33:28] CONTINUES. [33:29] WE SEE REFERRALS STILL COMING IN [33:31] ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM HSI [33:33] AGENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TASKED [33:35] WITH THIS. [33:36] WE SEE PENDING PROSECUTIONS AND [33:39] EVEN MORE EFFORT. [33:40] I'M STILL FINDING OUT ABOUT NEW [33:42] STATES WHERE THEY'RE ACTIVE. [33:43] JEN, YOU DO HAVE DONE, FOR [33:46] ANYBODY WATCHING, YOU'VE DONE SO [33:48] MUCH EXCELLENT REPORTING ON [33:49] TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER [33:50] ELECTIONS. [33:51] EVERYBODY SHOULD BE READING WHAT [33:52] YOU'RE DOING, WHAT PROPUBLICA [33:53] IS DOING. [33:54] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US [33:55] AND FOR STAYING SO ON TOP OF [33:57] THE STORY. [33:58] THANK YOU SO MUCH. [34:00] OKAY, MY NEXT GUEST ISN'T [34:03] RUNNING FOR OFFICE AS A [34:04] DEMOCRAT AND HE ISN'T RUNNING [34:05] FOR OFFICE AS A REPUBLICAN. [34:07] HE IS RUNNING AS A GREEN BERET [34:09] AND A BUSINESSMAN AND HE FINDS [34:10] HIMSELF SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE [34:12] OF ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING [34:14] POLITICAL STORIES IN THE [34:15] COUNTRY. [34:16] WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE [34:17] COME BACK.