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The Morning Meeting
Savannah Guthrie Pleads, "It's Never Too Late To Do The Right Thing" in Latest Call for Mom's Return
01:04:48
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- [00:01]
A
This is it. The world as you know it is over. Completely done. It's not about to be over. It's over. Some of the scientists who helped build AI are now sounding the alarm.
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B
I was selling AI as a great thing for decades and I was wrong. I was wrong.
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C
There's a longer term existential threat that.
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A
Will arise when we create digital beings.
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C
That that are more intelligent than ourselves.
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A
We have no idea whether we can stay in control. While others say that AI will usher in unfathomable abundance, I've always believed that it's going to be the most important invention that humanity will ever make. This really will be a world of abundance. And among these fears and these fantasies, we seek the story of our future. Listen to the last invention on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:58]
B
Foreign.
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A
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a very special holiday edition of the morning meeting. Today's episode devoted entirely to debating the relative merits of Avenue Q versus Wicked. Larry will be speaking on behalf of Wicked. I on behalf of Avenue Q. Kevin will break the tie. I know where his allegiance lie, ladies and gentlemen. Better than cats. They're both better than cats. Thank you for joining, ladies and gentlemen. As you can see, Kevin and Larry are here the guest hosting this enterprise as we spend one hour with you today, running through today's news, taking your questions and comments like nobody else, conversations like no other, asking you on this holiday honoring our 40/something-ish presidents. Not to put smack in the chat, to have peace, love and understanding in your heart and to recognize that, that, that today is the day we begin and I want a streak of. Of days without smack in the chat as long as my current wordle streak, which I cannot reveal the number to you, but it's a big number. Thank you for being here, gentlemen. Welcome in. Larry, just a short 20 word essay. What does President's Day mean to you?
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B
I just consider this Miller Fillmore day.
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A
Yeah, that's well under 20 words. Larry yields back the balance of his time. Kevin, you can take 35 words. What does President's Day mean to you?
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D
And I see his Miller. Did I raise him a James K. Polk buried on the grounds of the Tennessee State House?
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A
Yeah, I loved. I'm going to go way over my word limit. I love the Barack Obama interview. The George Bush has started a substack. Joe Biden is going to South Carolina. Bill Clinton is testifying before the House committee investigating Epstein. All of our living former presidents got game. They got something going on. They're in the news. In honor of today.
- [02:48]
D
Have you subscribed to that substack?
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A
He has like, I did, like 20 this morning. As soon as I saw that it was existed, I jumped on it. I'm a. I'm like a charter member. But it also asks if you want to pay for it. It's President Bush really going to charge for a substack? I tend to doubt it. Anyway, we're going to run through the news, starting with Savannah so everybody can sober up while I read a word from a sponsor.
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D
And then.
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A
And then the date. Well, the day book first and then. And then the news and then again. Your questions. If you're here on the platform you want to get on the conversation, please raise your hand. If you've never raised your hand. Today, President's Day. Good opportunity to screw up your courage, Come on and face what is admittedly a very intimidating prospect. Speaking live to Kevin and Larry, I can understand. It makes me nervous every day. I take a day for it. Yeah, but it's a good day for it because on President's Day, they're less like the Jeff Goldblum wizard of Oz and they're more like the wizard of Oz in the original movie who's kind of a bumbling whatever.
- [03:43]
B
Who played the wizard on Broadway. Originally.
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A
Originally. What year would that be, Larry? That's hard.
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B
That would be 19. No, 2004.
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A
Was going with the original Wicked. 2004.
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B
The original Wicked.
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A
Oh, the original Wicked.
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B
We're talking.
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A
I think. I think it was Walter Matthau. No, Joel Gray. Joel Gray. I didn't. I did know that. You know what? I saw it, and I should have known. All right, ladies and gentlemen, here's your first sponsor. It's our friends at Factor. Okay? You'll hear me do ad reads on this show and you'll think, well, Mark's going to read the ad. I can tune out. I can check my phone. Do Wordle. No, ladies and gentlemen, you need to listen because I'm now a user of this incredible practice Factor subscription service delivers fresh, fully cooked dietitian design meals that are ready to heat and eat in minutes. And I'm telling you, they're very good. They're very easy to prepare. There's no cleanup. You don't have to go shopping. You don't have to make any choices. They just show up at your house every week. You put them in the refrigerator, take them out, oven or microwave. They're delicious and so easy. And I'm just telling you, pay attention, because now you can try this 50 off your first Factor box plus free breakfast for a year. If you go to factor meals.com two way 50 off and use the promo code two way 50 off. Just try it. You'll eat better, healthy. No prep, no cleanup. Protein, vegetables, everything. It's just great. So go right now. Head to FactorMeals.com 2way50OFF. Use the code 2way50OFF. First box. Free and free breakfast for a year. It's only valid for new users. Make healthier eating easier with factor. Strongly recommend it to you. Go right now. Try it. It's great. I just. It's changed my life, honestly. It's tax season and at LifeLock, we know you're tired of numbers, but here's a big one you need to hear.
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B
Billions.
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A
That's the amount of money and refunds the IRS has flagged for possible identity fraud. Now here's another big number. 100 million. That's how many data points LifeLock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, we'll fix it, guaranteed. One last big number. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast for the threats you can't control. Terms apply. All right. Daybook president is in Mar. A lot is in Mar. A Lago. Where he spent the holiday weekend. Went to play golf with Ron DeSantis and two former. Who were the other two people?
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D
They were former Saban and Urban.
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A
Former. Thank you. Former college football coach. Just thank you for that.
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D
Would you like to be a fly on that caddy?
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A
Flies on a golf course. And then he went to some dinner last night. As far as I know, no one really knows who was at the dinner, at least not that I've seen he and the first lady fly back today at some point to Washington. Don't know what the Vice President's doing. We know what the Secretary of State's doing. He left. He left Munich and did a couple of European countries that are more aligned with Russia than any others, including meeting with Mr. Orban, President Prime Minister Orban in Budapest today. We'll show you some of what he said there. And House and Senator out continue to try to negotiate a bunch of things, including how to deal with the shutdown. We'll talk about that. Witkoff and Kushner again doing double duty, but they got everybody to come to Geneva, so they're saving on frequent flyer miles in Geneva. Yes, in the environment. Thank you. They're in Geneva today. They are meeting. The Iranians are there. It's not clear how much of this is through intermediaries and face to face, but Those negotiations are kind of starting up today and then will continue to tomorrow. And then, as best I can tell, tomorrow they transition at some point during the day to start doing Russia, Ukraine, all in Geneva. And that's supposed to go until Thursday. Also Wednesday, Pete Buttigieg holds a grassroots supporters call. Thursday, the president hosts his first board of peace meeting. Bernie Sanders in Ro Khanna town hall Friday on artificial intelligence at Stanford. I'd love to go to that. I have to be in D.C. on Friday, otherwise I would think about going out there, and that's it. Not. Not a huge week right now in terms of events with Congress away and the president's schedule still. You know, in the olden days, the White House would tell you what the president was doing. Like on Sunday, they'd put out a week ahead, and they tell you everything he's doing. And this administration, either because they want to withhold it or because they're making it up as they go, they just don't do it as much. All right, three developments in the Guthrie case. One, some local reporter put out this thing that got a lot of attention because it's been three weeks now, and there's no press conferences. So anybody says anything gets a ton of attention. So a local reporter says this. Investigators believe this was a burglary gone wrong and that it wasn't a kidnapping. And so they went to rob or whether they knew who she was or not. And then whatever happened, they needed. They decided to take her away. So that's getting a lot of attention, too. It's being reported that there's DNA on one of the many gloves that was found in the neighborhood. I don't understand why there's so many gloves in Arizona. It's warm there, but it's winter. I guess it get cold at night. In any event, they say there's. What did you say? Barbecuing?
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B
Could be barbecuing. Yeah. Gloves on your.
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A
Yeah, you're right. Anyway, there's DNA in the glove. It's not clear to me if they don't know that it's the glove, that the person in the video. It wouldn't matter that there's DNA in the glove, because probably most gloves found on the ground have DNA, but we'll see if any comes to that. And then, of course, Savannah made yet another video last night appealing to anyone who knows where her mom is and telling them it's not to ever. Never too late to do the right thing. Kevin, where are you on this? Now, regarding the central questions, is. Is. Is she Alive. Was this a kidnapping? Are we close to a resolution? Do have any. Any spidey sense about any of it?
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D
Well, I sure hope that she's alive. I mean, another heartbreaking video from Savannah this morning. You know, just begging for some news for the. These folks to make contact. Obviously, there's some hope with it. On the DNA front, I've seen some commentary that it's potentially likely that this individual was casing the joint in the days and weeks prior. So obviously they're still continuing to assemble video footage from the area, but again, it's so rural that it's really tough to piece together any of that. And then some interesting news on the Google front that they're trying to, you know, kind of go back in time. And I guess the term is scraped some of the data a metadata from Google potentially in the area as well, which could also, you know, provide some interesting insights for other cases that are out there.
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A
Yep.
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B
Larry, thoughts other than just heartbreak. That video from Savannah Guthrie was just devastating. And I don't know, what if it was a burglary gone wrong? I don't know why burglaries don't suddenly turn into kidnappings. Right. If a burglary goes wrong, usually it's a much more devastating outcome.
- [10:13]
A
I think. I think the theory is that. That she was either wounded or killed in the house, and they panicked and said, you know, we can't leave her here because she's seen us, and so we got to take her with us. I. I have to say Savannah's video is heartbreaking, but. But obviously she still believes her mom could be alive. And. And if law enforcement or doctor said it's impossible, you know, she'd. She'd be saying something different. So. I know it's heartbreaking, but I'm gonna stay optimistic and say that this. This can still be solved with a great ending. And. And I continue to say that this. The sheriff. Is that what he is? That guy who's Sheriff County? Take him off tv. These interviews haven't stopped doing interviews. There's no good that comes from these. It just creates a lack of public confidence that this guy knows what he's doing. I know the FBI is probably bigfooting him entirely, but he should just stop doing interviews. They're not going to do press conferences. There's just no reason. He's got nothing to say. He just says. He says stupid things like, this investigation could take years. No, no, I mean, just stupid. Okay. Rubio. The Rubio speech. MAGA continues to say, greatest speech of all Time. Larry pointed out a tweet that said it was barely discussed on the Sunday shows. Whether you agree with Marco Rubio's vision or not, that was an historic speech. It was, it was, it just was an historic speech. And his, his capacity to make the Europeans give him a standing ovation, even though the, let's face it, folks, he said what, he said the same things that J.D. vance said. There's, there's no policy difference between them and Rubio said as much. And yet because he talked about, like, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and said we belong together, you know, somehow that's considered, like, accommodating. It also given rise to a lot of people saying Rubio should be the presidential nominee in 28, that he's more skilled than, than Vance and, and that he'd win in a cakewalk. And I know a lot of people would think that. So let's first talk about the policy. Larry, what are the, what are the implications going forward of the Rubio speech? Does it, does it allow the US to negotiate more easily for Greenland? Does it, does it smooth off some of the tensions? Or is that just a short term weekend standing ovation, but all the tensions still exist?
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B
It might, actually, I was thinking it might relieve some pressure on the Ukraine, Russia discussions and that. I think the Europeans might, the Europeans have beginning continuing to nag and nag and nag and sort of put pressure on the US to step up and do more, do more, do more. And it seemed to me that the message left by Marco Rubio is, yeah, we got you. We just have a different approach of doing these things. And the fact that he got standing ovations for all of that, I think was significant in terms of near term, I think in terms of long term. Yeah, this was, this was laying down a marker for Western civilization and saying, you know, the US Is there for you, but you need to step up Europe and actually be a part of the solution, too. And it wasn't substantively different than what J.D. vance said. It was just done with a softer touch, I suppose. It is interesting, though, that people were comparing it to Reagan optimism, where, last I checked, the Europeans weren't real fond of Reagan at the time either. But I guess in retrospect, in retrospect.
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A
They love George W. Bush now, they hate Trump so much. Kevin, just. We'll get to the politics in a second. But just on the policy, do you think that the Rubio speech resets relations with Europe in some positive way?
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D
I think it's a continuation of what you Know, Vance set out a year ago. To your point, Mark, I think Larry brings up an interesting term that was used throughout the speech. Western civilization, as opposed to democracies of the world, you know, the new world, what have you. The emphasis on Western civilization I thought was interesting. Him couching it in his own immigration story, I think was powerful. But where do we go from here? I would have loved to seen the Secretary of State set off for Kiev, set off for Warsaw, set up for another ally and not go right to Victor Orban. That's my only critique.
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A
Can anybody explain why he did that? That can't be a coincidence. I've read no analysis this, and I haven't had time to ask anybody myself. Either of you have any idea why would he do that?
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B
No.
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A
Seems, seems, seems unnecessary.
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D
Warsaw would have been great. I mean, the polls have been incredible allies to us and they're kind of right. They've got a right wing government, so that just makes sense. And they've been the unsung heroes in the war against Russia.
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A
All right, let's talk about the politics. Look, Rubio's run for president before. He's got a network of operatives and donors who will ride to the sound of the gun if he says he's running for president someday. He's got, he's got more than most would. But I don't think he's going to do anything to prepare to run for President because I think it's true. He's friends with Vance. Vance plans to run unless Vance changes his mind. I still think there'll be a ticket. They might even announce as a ticket well before the primaries and caucuses and raise $2 billion together. That's my continued theory of the case, Kevin. Will, will this speech and just the general acclaim that Rubio has, make it, make it such that he has to look at running for president. Or you agree with me that he's, he's checkmated by his pal.
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D
I think he's checkmated. Now, again, the, the overwhelming element is what does Trump do? Right.
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A
Because Trump could, you know, endorses. He endorses Vance in my theory.
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D
Right now he does three years out. Right. But, you know, it's a long time flying close to the sun, as we know, and the President.
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A
I'm sorry, sorry, sorry to interrupt, but you say three years out. People are going to start announcing for president in 10 months.
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D
Yeah, you're a year out. And a lot can change in the President's circle. And you know, Rubio's 55. I just looked at him, he's 54 years old. He's relatively young for all this and could do two terms as vice president, come back as president.
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A
Anybody younger than me, but anybody younger than me is a whippersnapper.
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D
But your. But what you posit, though, is, are folks in the. And what I'm interested with, Larry, you know, are folks going to have regret if the ticket is not split in terms of Rubio being at the top of it when they're seeing this rhetoric coming from him and his oratory and experience compared to Vance?
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A
Larry, as much as people love Vance and most people do, although, as we've discussed here in the last month, I've heard the first negative things within the certain the party about Vance, people love Rubio. Rubio, they forget that he was for amnesty. Air quotes to those of you listening on the podcast, Marco Rubio's got a lot of flaws, but lately, all anybody talks about, even before this weekend is he's just a man.
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B
Yeah, Rubio 2.0 is definitely getting a lot of attention. And listen, even though President Trump and victory in 2016 and 2024 have done a lot to bring factions within the Republican Party together again, my job here is to just tell you what I think is going on within the center right, right side of the political equation. I'm not endorsing, I'm not laying down a marker, but there are still two factions, two major factions within the Republican Party right now, and a big chunk of them are pro Trump. Reluctantly, they came up, they came along, and they're supportive and for the most part are right on board with, with MAGA and with Trump. But they're not, it's not in their DNA. And their instinctive move here, if it comes between a choice between Vance and Rubio is gonna swing right back over to Rubio. These are the people who supported Haley or were big DeSantis folks who were like, yeah, okay, fine, Trump is good, but we'd like an alternative. And then when that alternative didn't work out, they reluctantly supported Trump and they are starting to say out loud that they think Rubio is the better option. And you said that it all depends on what Trump might do. Don't count out Susie Wiles. Don't forget she is a Florida Republican and she has ties to Marco. Ruby.
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A
She does, but she loves Vance, too. She's not. She's not.
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B
Does she love Vance as much as she loves Marco?
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A
Maybe not, because Floridians are a bunch of snobs and cliquish. But I'M kidding. She loves, she loves, she loves Vance plenty. And if Trump endorses Vancees, he's not going to be in some renegade Marco thing.
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D
No.
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B
Well, no, it won't be outward, but the things can happen behind the scenes. Let's watch. It's going to be an interesting I.
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A
Love how all the Floridians go by their first names. Pam, Susie, Marco. Very informal down there. They all wear flip flops in the Oval Office. It's just a. All right. Let's talk about market real quick, though.
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D
Real quick question to you, Mark and Larry. Does a Vance Rubio ticket get a free pass in the primary orders?
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A
Yes. Yes.
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B
Pretty much.
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A
People might try to run, but I'm telling you, they'll raise 2 billion before.
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D
They clear the sprinters. They clear the field.
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A
I think they do. I think they do. If they team up.
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B
Listen, it was Marco Rubio and the seven dwarfs over there. When you look at what the Democrat contenders aoc, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer. It was sad if the American people.
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D
Nobody had a break. Nobody had a breakout moment for the dabs.
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B
Well, not a good breakout moment to the least hurt.
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D
They're standing quite a bit. Sorry they didn't themselves no favorites.
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B
If the American people vote. Yeah. If they vote on national security and foreign policy in 28. I mean, Vance, Rubio, Rubio Vance is unstoppable. The question is, do the American people ever vote for foreign policy and national security?
- [19:14]
A
But those guys have more to say than just foreign policy. Do they do. We'll talk about the Democrats tonight on two way tonight and what happened in Munich. We just, just got other stuff talked about today and and my monologue tomorrow on Next up is going to be about this whole thing. Rubio in Budapest this morning talked about these two negotiations that are going on and perfectly represented the president's posture on both Iran and Ukraine. Russia, he'd like deals. He's going to work hard with his people for deals. But if they're no, if there are no good deals to be had, they'll walk away. And in the case of Iran, if they walk away, they'll, they'll bomb Tehran back to the Stone Age, turn it into a parking lot using all the cliches. And if they, if they can't get a deal with Russia, we'll see what they do. But they'll almost certainly put more sanctions on Russia. They here's the secretary this morning in Budapest. 109, please.
- [20:02]
C
We have to understand that Iran ultimately is governed and its decisions are governed by Shia clerics, radical Shia clerics. Okay. These people make policy decisions on the basis of pure theology. That's how they make their decisions. So it's hard to do a deal with Iran. We've always said it's hard, but we're going to try. That's what the President is trying. I'm not going to prejudge those talks. I'm certainly not going to negotiate with Iran here in front of the press and on the stage. Our negotiations negotiators are on their way there now. They'll have meetings. We'll see what happens. We're hopeful there's a deal. The President always prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes to things. He's a president that's shown his willingness to talk to anyone and meet with anyone. And I think if there's an opportunity here to diplomatically reach an agreement that addresses the things we're concerned about, we will be very open and welcoming to that. But I don't want to overstate it either. It's going to be hard.
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A
This weekend. Larry, how many cities around the world had pro Iranian regime change protests?
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B
The three major ones were Toronto, LA and Berlin.
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A
Yeah, it was in Munich. Yeah, that was Lindsey Joined. Here's. This is Toronto. These were massive. These were tens of thousands.
- [21:18]
B
I think hundreds of thousands, estimated 300,000.
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A
Plus in all in Toronto and LA. Okay. And I think the one in Munich was pretty big too. So hundreds of thousands of people. I don't know how many of them are Iranian exiles, but this is kind of extraordinary. I continue to believe that we're going through some disinformation now. The government is very cleverly seating with reporters two notions. One is they want a deal, but the other is if there's no deal, there's going to be not just bombing, but there's going to be other things like jamming of things and high tech things and maybe poisoning of people. And there's some reports that there's going to be a sustained American Israeli campaign if there's no deal. So, Kevin, zero is no chance for deal negotiated, a successful negotiation and 10 is piece at hand. Where are you in terms of right now in terms of likelihood of a deal?
- [22:12]
D
Hopefully zero again. The regime is at its weakest point ever since, you know, so you oppose a deal, take out the regime. And the President teased that, you know, on the human rights element of it. 30,000 dead Iranians on the streets. Yeah. You know, we've got two carriers there. There's no negotiation at this point. And the Iranians aren't going to back away from a civilian nuclear program, which is the big stumbling block. And Trump telegraphed that he would approve Israeli strikes on their ballistic missile facilities and taking out, you know, some of the key, key leadership. So let's do it.
- [22:46]
A
Come on, Larry. Kevin displaying his inner John. John Bolton there.
- [22:50]
D
Yeah, my inner Hillary Clinton.
- [22:53]
A
My hawkish Larry. Larry, do you think the deal could be at hand? Whether Kevin. Kevin's desire is. There isn't one.
- [22:59]
B
But yeah. Leaving my opinion in terms of whether I support a deal or not, I think that I'm with Kevin. In terms of there isn't going to be a deal, I think moving the forward, the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford and that carrier group there as well. So now you've got two carrier groups in the area, plus the relative silence around that Netanyahu visit. We all predicted there would be a photo op, that there would be conversation. They had a quick photo op at Blair House with Rubio, nothing with President Trump. I think that was a serious conversation that happened.
- [23:30]
A
There's a not. And my previous statement on this is reflective. There's not a zero percent chance, there's not any percent chance that this is not going to be just kind of like a pinprick strike to get them back to the table or to degrade. This is, this could be a sustained effort. And again, not just bombing tactical and strategic sites, but kill assassinations of scientists and military leaders and an effort to really cripple the regime in a substantial way and maybe even tell the Chinese stop buying oil. I mean, this is a, this is a, this is a potentially not predicting it, but it could happen and it would be a very big deal and part of the confusion. Right. The president originally said, well, we might strike to help the protesters, and now it's all about the nuclear program and for the Israelis, the missile program. But this may be Donald Trump saying, this is my legacy moment. I said that I would be the president who successfully fostered regime change after the previous presidents all rooted for it. They had moments, Arab Spring and that other thing, I forget what that was called, where it looked like there might be an uprising sufficient to depose the government. And Trump may just go for it with Netanyahu with a quiet ascent of the Saudis and the Emirates. So we'll see. But there's a potentially very big week.
- [24:44]
D
You can't say help is on the way and thousands of Iranians get slaughtered in the streets because of that hope that we gave them and not do anything.
- [24:52]
B
Yeah.
- [24:52]
A
All right, we'll see. Here's Here is Secretary Rubio at same press conference In Budapest this morning, 110 talking about the Ukraine negotiations.
- [25:03]
C
The United States interest is to see the war end. And we want to do what we can to make it end. We're the only nation on earth that apparently can get both sides to the table to talk. I'm not here to insult anybody, but the United nations hasn't been able to do it. There's no other country in Europe that's been able to do it. The United States has been successful at being able to get both sides to talk. I mean, for the first time, you know, I don't know in a number of years, you have truly have, at a technical level, military officials from both sides sat down last week in the Middle east. And we'll restart those talks again in Geneva later this week. I think that's a very positive thing. That said, you know, all we are trying to do is play a role, if it's possible, in reaching a deal. We're not seeking to impose a deal on anybody. We're not trying to force anyone to take a deal they don't want to take. We just want to help them.
- [25:53]
A
So President Zelensky has been on on X quite a bit. He's in a Trump like, you know, jag of just posting, posting, posting. Here's the one that caught my eye the most. 111. It's long, but I'll just read part of it to you because you can't stop Putin with your kisses or flowers. I never did it. And that's why I don't feel that it's the right way. My advice to everybody, don't do that with Putin. Any deal that Putin accepts is going to involve Trump bringing him back into community of nations, letting him go to international events, doing economic business with them. And to me, this, if Zelensky's attitude is he won't leaving aside, if Putin will accept a deal, he won't accept a deal that involves rehab of Putin. There's no deal. Larry, where are we on this one?
- [26:38]
B
Listen, I think Rubio was very smart there in the way he put it out. The way he communicated is, listen, we're here to help. We want to get a deal, but we're not going to force a deal. And obviously they've learned a lesson that they can't force a deal based on this year's event. So I don't think we've advanced the ball much further at all. It still boils down to the same kind of issues that continue to be the roadblocks. But ultimately, as Kevin often says, Putin's not gonna agree to anything. Then Putin's not gonna agree to anything. And so far, Putin hasn't been given anything that is so enticing that he will agree to anything.
- [27:10]
A
Kevin, is anything gonna come of Jared Kushner's trip to Geneva except some kosher chocolates for his kids?
- [27:16]
D
I think exactly that the best thing that we could do right now, there's 84 centers that have co sponsored Lindsey Graham sanction bill against Russia. You know, the Senate's back on the 23rd gavel that in. Pass that right away and send it to the House. You can't do incentives to Putin, you know, he only respects. And to Zelensky's tweet, you know, he'll continue taking until someone stops him.
- [27:39]
A
Kevin, you bring out my inner Peter, Paul and Mary. You're just so hawkish on these two things.
- [27:43]
D
I don't know, maybe it's President's Day, you know, we're talking about Jerry in the Gulf, you know.
- [27:48]
A
Yeah. All right, well, we're gonna be. We're gonna be covered. We'll be covering these two stories all week, so stay tuned. And again, we're gonna go to your questions, comments in just a moment, so please raise your hand if you'd like to get in. Just a couple more topics to get to the shutdown. This is the weirdest shutdown ever, because there's no urgency to. To solve it for a variety of reasons. It's a partial shutdown, and a lot of the agencies are funded and a lot of the ones that aren't, the employees are going to work without pay. And that'll go on for some time, but it can't go on forever. At the same time, the parties are so far apart on the substance of what changes in ICE should be made here. Now, Tom Emmer is not a particularly conciliatory guy, but Tom Emmer, the House Republican whip, listen to him this morning on Fox and Friends and his tone about the prospect of striking a deal with the Democrats on some of their demands about reforming of ice. This is Tom Emmer.
- [28:39]
D
I mean, they want law enforcement agents.
- [28:42]
A
To show ID when they don't want.
- [28:45]
D
Voters to show id. There's no common sense here. This is all politics.
- [28:49]
A
They're talking around the issue.
- [28:51]
D
What they're doing, Lawrence, is they want.
- [28:53]
A
Reforms that, frankly, protect illegals and criminals.
- [28:57]
D
At the expense of taxpaying citizen.
- [28:59]
A
Let's go after that warrant, what you already have administrative warrants. Okay. He goes on and on like this, he trashes the whole thing. Kevin, the only thing to me that could solve this that I see is if the White House gets back more private polling that shows that they're way on the wrong side of all these issues and that the issues hurting the president still overall and the Republicans overall. Do you what is your current theory about how this could be solved, if any?
- [29:24]
D
I think you're right. I mean, you look at, you know, a new NBC News poll out last week, 60, 60% of Americans now strongly or somewhat disagreeable disapprove rather of the president's handling of immigration and border security. Right. And you know, if he gets a poll from Tony back in some internals that show that there was a White House meeting talking specifically about Hispanics and the midterms that Susie Wiles brought together, because I do think there is some concern. So I think that will be the motivating factor on their end because Democrats still think, you know, they're fairly dug in on, on, on these, these 10 requests.
- [30:02]
B
Larry, I think this is pure politics. And they're just, they want to embarrass the president of the State of the Union. They want this shutdown to continue through the State of the Union and then they'll end, they'll end up refunding DHS after the State of the Union when the political impact is there and they've been able to raise money for it and it's just to help them in the midterms.
- [30:21]
A
I cynical, I have to respectfully dissent. They care a lot about this. There's obviously politics, but the Democrats are really galvanized by the death of those two Americans. And they're really galvanized by the images of ICE agents walking around with masks on. I mean, they truly are as emotional about this. And I know there's emotion on the other side. You said that before, but there's emotion. I don't think it's fair to it, but I don't think it's fair to say it's just pure politics. They really do.
- [30:45]
B
I think it's that they know they're not going to get what they're demanding.
- [30:48]
A
Oh, I don't think that's true. Their polling shows they're going to get what they're demanding because they're on the right side of a bunch of, they're in a bunch of 80, 20 issues. Oh, please.
- [30:55]
B
If they care about 80, 20 issues and they would be in favor of the SAVE act, they'd be in favor of, they would have been in favor of the border wall during the Biden administration. They don't care.
- [31:04]
A
If Republicans cared about 80, 20 issues, they wouldn't be on the wrong side of all these things.
- [31:09]
D
Now. Strongly disapprove of the president's handling of border security. That's, that's all right.
- [31:14]
A
Quick, quick on two things, ladies and gentlemen. If someone says they're not going to run for president, don't believe them. Westmore said it in the past and he did a town hall with cbs and Nora o' Donnell asked him again and here is, here's what he said again. Now you tune out. Don't listen to this play, Westmore. Don't listen, though. Nobody listen.
- [31:33]
E
Governor, I know you are focused on running for reelection as governor, but would you ever consider running for president?
- [31:39]
D
No, I.
- [31:41]
A
Okay, cut it off there. I could go on and on. No. Would you ever consider running for president? No. Kevin asked me if I would ever consider skydiving after eating an entire pig. Ask me that. Go ahead.
- [31:52]
D
Would you ever consider skydiving after eating an entire pig?
- [31:56]
A
No, and I wouldn't. But if you ask West Moore if he'd ever run for president, he says.
- [32:00]
D
No, just, it's worth just in 2028 or in 2030?
- [32:03]
A
No. She said, would you. He. She said, would you ever consider asking.
- [32:06]
D
You about the pig?
- [32:07]
A
Oh, no, I do it and I do it in 36. You know, Bill Clinton, when he was up for reelection for governor of Arkansas 90, said was asked in a debate, will you, will you serve out your dream? He said, absolutely, I'll serve my term. Barack Obama went on Meet the Press with Tim Russert in 2006, I think, and said he definitely not run for president. It's meaningless. No one should treat what Wes Moore said to Nora as anything, although I still don't think he's going to run. Kevin, how much weight do you give to West Moore's Sherman esque answer that he would never consider running for president?
- [32:41]
D
He's already got the Clooney endorsement, so he's running again. To your point, Mark, you know that we love to. And then, and then the narrative is, well, I just couldn't say no. The people came to.
- [32:50]
A
The people of Maryland asked me to run masses.
- [32:52]
B
The masses of Americans have said so.
- [32:54]
A
So do we all agree? Do we all agree it's mean? Do we all agree it's meaningless?
- [32:58]
B
Well, yes, but also, I mean, can we criticize Norah o' Donnell for even wasting our time with the question? What's the point of the question?
- [33:05]
A
Well, I agree. Here's here's how I do it. If I go down that road with someone, here's how I do it. Kevin, you play. You play a candidate. Pretend. Kevin, would you ever consider running for president?
- [33:16]
D
I'm focused on the future and this reelection right in front of me.
- [33:18]
A
So that's a no. You'd never consider it.
- [33:21]
D
Correct.
- [33:21]
A
So, Kevin, if you eventually run for president, can the voters look at you and say that about a fundamental public trust, you just lied. Would that be fair for people to say you just lied?
- [33:31]
B
There you go.
- [33:33]
D
There you go.
- [33:33]
A
Yeah. I don't know. That's the way I follow it up, because. Put it down. I don't. Don't use my platform to pretend to say no and then come back and say, well, I had said no, but the voters of Maryland came to me and said, governor, the best way you can help us is to run for president. You, You've, you've served us so well in this state, but now the whole country, blah, blah, blah. All right, last question.
- [33:54]
D
As my question. My question, Larry, though, real quick. Do you want Westmore as your president or Westmore as your governor? You have to choose one.
- [34:02]
B
Well, I'm, I'm stuck with him as a Marylander.
- [34:04]
D
As a Maryland.
- [34:05]
B
I'd rather double down with him as governor, I suppose.
- [34:07]
A
Larry. Larry, you'd have to drive a long way to find a state with a Republican governor.
- [34:11]
B
That is correct. Well, not. West Virginia is not too far away.
- [34:15]
D
Oh, yeah, West Virginia.
- [34:16]
A
I forgot about that. They used to have Democrat governors. No more. Okay. Lastly, I have long said, don't count Paramount out of the sweepstakes for two reasons. For Warner Brothers. Number one, the White Houses and the Europeans are never going to approve Netflix. They're just never going to approve it. So it's. It's a fool's errand for Netflix and, And Zaz to think they're going to. Netflix is going to get it. And number two, the. What are their names? David Ellison. The Ellisons are cyborgs on this. Bend what it takes. And they did what that we knew they were going to do. They went to the big shareholders and they said, it's unfair to the shareholders to not consider the Paramount offer. And when they compare the two offers side by side and factor in the reality that Netflix is never going to get it, Trump is never going to approve it. If you're the board, you'd be crazy to spend two years trying to get it approved, and then nothing happens. So here's the New York Times headline. Others are reporting this. Warner Brothers has said to consider reopening talks with Paramount. One word answer, gentlemen. Who will get Warner Brothers? Larry?
- [35:18]
B
Paramount.
- [35:20]
A
Kevin?
- [35:21]
D
Paramount with a much sweeter. With much.
- [35:23]
A
Yes. Much sweeter. Much. We have spoken, ladies and gentlemen.
- [35:27]
B
Don't believe anybody else does it.
- [35:30]
A
Yes, yes. The Paramount. Paramount wants cnn. Netflix does it. Paramount wants the whole thing.
- [35:35]
B
Even better. Barry Weiss is cnn.
- [35:38]
A
Exactly. Barry Weiss is cnn. That's what we just said. All right, quick word from a sponsor and then to your questions. We got some new hands raised. Excited about that. So stay tuned after I tell you one word from one sponsor and then to your questions. And ladies and gentlemen, it's one of your favorite sponsors here. It's Cozy Earth. Cozy Earth. What wonderful products they make. 20 off everything on the site. Go to cozyearth.com new promo code. Easier for me to read. So it's a great presence Day morning. Use the promo code morning for 20 off everything on the site. That includes the Baja bedding set, includes the luxe bath towel set. It includes, yes, the bubble cuddle blanket. It includes the pants that will change your life. I wore the pants to a kids museum and then I wore them to a. A restaurant so fancy that Larry would be turned away at the door.
- [36:22]
B
Wow.
- [36:23]
A
That's how fancy it was. Yeah, because Larry can get in anywhere. Larry used to go to the 21 Club. They'd let him in and do it at his own table. R R 21 indeed. That was a legendary place. In any event, right now, start your new year off right. Give your home the luxury it deserves and make home the best part of your life. Except for maybe your family. Head to co dot com. Use the promo code morning for 20% off. If there's a post purchase survey that says, where'd you hear about this? Tell them Larry sent you. Refresh your routines with comfort that makes every day feel like a new year. Cozier at 20% off. All right, ladies and gentlemen, here we go. Time for your questions, your comments, your riddles, your Parcheesi predictions. I don't know. Alex, welcome in Unmute. If you would. Thank you for being here. And part of two ways. And tell us what's on where you first tell us where you are and what's on your mind.
- [37:19]
D
Yeah.
- [37:19]
A
Can you hear me?
- [37:20]
F
Yeah, I'm near Chicago.
- [37:21]
A
Yes, sir. Love that city. Do you live in the city or just in Chicago land?
- [37:26]
F
No, the suburbs.
- [37:28]
A
Suburbs. Okay.
- [37:29]
D
Yeah.
- [37:30]
A
All right. What's on your mind? Alex? Thank you for being here.
- [37:33]
F
I'll just go straight to my questions. So three times Trump voter You know, I like to vote for a Democrat, but three, free speech, free market capitalism, and the role of law. Now, do Democrats still believe in any of this or who is a Democratic candidate who's going to say, yes, we stand for this?
- [37:52]
B
You know.
- [37:52]
A
Yeah. Alex, when you say rule of law, are you talking about the, the persecutions, prosecutions of President Trump? Where do you, where do you see Democrats?
- [37:59]
F
No, no. Rule of law in general. You know, in general. Crime.
- [38:03]
A
Crime, got it. Okay. I don't know why somebody living in the Chicago suburbs would raise crime, but that's just me. Kevin. Kevin, does your party stand for free speech, rule of law, and free market capitalism?
- [38:15]
D
Yeah. I mean, Alex, I'd point you to, you know, what former President Obama was, you know, just gave an interview where he talked specifically about all this and about those three kind of factors. Right. We can't talk about defund the police anymore and we gotta take out this kind of the woke nature of our party. And I think that's where he wants, Elaine, for whoever's gonna be the nominee in three years to carve that out and to be the common sense candidate on that front. This Democrat certainly supports those three things that you talked about in your question, Larry.
- [38:48]
B
Well, I don't think Obama's running for anything anytime soon. When you look at the leading candidates for the party, you've got Rahm Emanuel who seems to at least lean on a couple of those issues there. But I tend to agree with you, Alex. I don't see free market capitalism being a main priority for the power center of the Democrat Party. And in terms of free speech, I mean, they were more, there's, there's more concerns about political correctness and censorship when Democrats are in charge of Congress and the White House at any time. I'm still waiting for somebody to pay a price for all of the censorship that happened during the COVID pandemic. So and so many of us who got canceled for saying that men can't get pregnant, we literally could not say that on podcast and streaming if we were on certain platforms a few years ago.
- [39:34]
A
So, Alex. Sorry, Alex.
- [39:36]
B
I would like the Democrats to be more in favor of those things that we used to agree on.
- [39:40]
A
Alex, a couple questions for you, if I could. Who's the best American president of the last 40 years?
- [39:46]
F
I mean, I've been here since, from my accent, you probably can tell I've been here since the mid-90s. I would say probably Bill Clinton, you know.
- [39:54]
A
Okay. And if you, if, if you could make anyone, if you could make Anybody who's constitutionally eligible. So you couldn't choose Obama or Bill Clinton. If you can make anybody president, just snap of the fingers. Who would you make president right now?
- [40:08]
F
Yeah, yeah, probably Rubio. I'm okay with the bands too, you know, but.
- [40:13]
A
And then lastly, appreciate you raising your hand. What do you like about two way?
- [40:19]
F
I mean, I like the platform, you know, it's very balanced. You know, you can't buy the cable TV anymore. It's all just, you know, you know what they're going to say even before you, before they open their mouth, you know.
- [40:30]
A
Yes, sir. Thank you. Grateful to you. Please come back regularly.
- [40:32]
B
Love having you last supper over your shoulder. Alex.
- [40:35]
A
Oops, I muted him.
- [40:36]
B
I'm trying to.
- [40:37]
D
It is, it looks like.
- [40:38]
B
Oh, you muted him. It is. I think it is.
- [40:39]
A
It is, I think it is. We'll, we'll, he'll come back and he'll tell us.
- [40:42]
B
Chris. But it's a good one.
- [40:44]
A
Christopher. Also, Christopher, this is your first time raising your hand, is that correct? Oops, hold on. You unmuted, but you muted again. One more time.
- [40:54]
G
Yes, Mark, that is correct.
- [40:56]
A
All right, well, welcome in first time.
- [40:57]
G
Calling in the show because usually I'm at work. I can thank the holiday for this opportunity. I do enjoy listening on the podcast version as well as your, your other show.
- [41:07]
A
Thank you.
- [41:08]
G
Joining today from the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.
- [41:11]
A
Beautiful. So do you live close to good Chinese and good Mexican?
- [41:15]
G
You do good Chinese, good Mexican, good Egyptian food, Greek food. You can really run the gamut there. I'm very fortunate in that regard.
- [41:22]
B
It's amazing in that neighborhood.
- [41:24]
A
It's way better than Manhattan. Christopher, tell us what's on your mind from Astoria Short.
- [41:28]
G
So you know, I know you focused a bit on the Munich security conference earlier today and it's really to that point, I guess it's start with more general questions in terms of specifically among the American contingent, generally a party that's out of power. Who's. What is the process that goes and determine who's invited to speak, who joins because you know, I think members who might be a better fit would be people who are on, you know, foreign in the house, foreign affairs, armed services, intel. And I know my representative Congress has certainly got a lot of.
- [41:59]
B
Pub for.
- [41:59]
G
Going over there and I'm frankly just not sure what her real expertise is there to be speaking on the topic.
- [42:06]
A
Yeah, Christopher, it's a great question. I think none of us know definitively would be my guess, but we all have some informed speculation. Larry, who get who decides who gets to go and who gets to speak at Munich?
- [42:16]
B
I suspect having some good financial backing gets your way in the door in a big way, which is not uncommon for a lot of conferences international or those domestically here in the US So. But my. If you're not an elected official of some prominence within the administration, I think that the next step, like, I think AOC got there because she had some good financial backing, I guess, is the best answer I can give you for your congresswoman. I could be wrong. Maybe I'm being cynical. Kevin, do you have a better idea?
- [42:44]
D
I think there's some. There's a foundation that puts it on to Larry's point that is, you know, obviously heavily fundraised. Right. So people telegraph, you know what, maybe some of the personalities that they want to hear, and there's, there's support behind that. But there is a board of Europeans, I think, that are. There's some kind of nomination process, I think, that goes in. It's the board, and they select the programming, I think.
- [43:05]
A
Yeah.
- [43:05]
D
And obviously invite all the world leaders and things like that.
- [43:07]
A
It's been going on for a while, and in terms of its, Its currency in the. For the United States, John McCain made it a. A big, A bigger deal because he used to go and he would hold court and he would, he would, he.
- [43:18]
D
Would have a lot delegation over.
- [43:20]
A
Yeah, exactly, exactly. Go with. Leave them in.
- [43:23]
D
It's a great question, though.
- [43:25]
A
Yeah. I think, I think also again, to inform speculation, why did, why did aoc. Why did Newsom. Why did they get roles? Because like any conference, they want to be relevant. They want pr, they want buzz. So you saw that at Davos, too. Right. And so I think, I think, you know, giving. Giving AOC a slot may go down in history as the. One of the bigger mistakes she's ever made if she wants to be president. But it does. It does, you know, gives them more buzz. That thing got more. More coverage in America and in Europe than it otherwise would have. But, Christopher, it's. It'd be great to actually know. And so let's do, let's. Let's do a little reporting and see if we can figure out how that actually happened. But it's a great question. Did you have a second question, Christopher?
- [44:06]
G
I mean, you really address it there because I guess I'd say it's. It's interesting when you hear this talk about populism and then it's given your informed speculation as to how populist it was that, you know, certain people get invited there and you Know, as much as, you know, they might reel about certain things, it sure seems like they're cowtowing to string, pulling elites and Mark to a point that you've made long time about the dominant media. And you know, I know there's always a back game going on, but it seems like there's awful, an awful lot of lack of skepticism that goes to certain people who want to raise their profile versus those who I think deserve skepticism. And maybe that's a structural bias, but really I think everyone deserves a high level of skepticism who's trying to climb the ladder.
- [44:45]
A
Yeah, look, it takes, it takes a, it takes a very good point. It takes a major screw up for the New York Times to put in their story about AOC that she had, she had, I think they said it was a stumble or something. Has to be a really bad stumble.
- [44:57]
B
Stumbles.
- [44:57]
A
Yeah. And, and, and I will say, and again, I'm going to talk about this at great length on Next up. You cannot go to these things having gone to tutorial and have a briefing book and memorize your answers. If she doesn't feel in her bones what America's role should be vis a vis Taiwan, it's never going to work. Now she could have done a better job memorizing the answer they gave her. But, but that's what I think is so instructive here about what happened. She, she has no feeling in her bones about Taiwan. She just thought, well, I'll go with a memorized answer. And I don't think, I don't think even the Democratic Party will make somebody the nominee if they, if they can't answer that question.
- [45:37]
B
Did you see, Mark, Gretchen Whitmer was asked a question. She was on a panel with the NATO ambassador Ma Whitaker there. She actually said, listen, I'm a governor of a state. I don't have a whole lot here, but I defer to the ambassador on that. I thought that was actually very, I mean it, some people criticized it, but I think that at least that was very honest and I think very delicately handled.
- [45:57]
A
Agree. If she never wants to be president, but if she wants to be president, I think it's ridiculous.
- [46:00]
B
Yeah. You don't go to that platform unless you're writing. Yeah, that's, yeah, yeah.
- [46:04]
A
I just, I just think as somebody tweeted, I can't remember who it was. Like it's a six hour flight. Learn your lines on the plane. Like, don't go there with no information. Christopher, thank you for joining.
- [46:14]
B
By the way, I can also tell you if you search on social media. Alex Soros was everywhere at the Munich security conference. So that that may be part of the answer to your question as well.
- [46:22]
D
A ton of great photos with some.
- [46:24]
B
Soros making it rain there in Munich.
- [46:26]
A
Yes. And one other thing, of course is the Europeans hate Donald Trump. So they'd be happy to have anybody who hates Donald Trump there to dress the thing up. Christopher, thank you. Grateful to you for being part two Way. Glad you were able to join us. Please come back. Carrie, welcome in. Thank you for being part of Two Way. Tell folks who don't know where you are and what's on your mind for Kevin and for Larry and happy president.
- [46:46]
E
Hi, Mark. Hi guys. Thanks for having me on. I am also Alex, I'm in the western suburbs of Chicago, so maybe we'll wave to each other driving by. But thanks for calling on me, Mark. It's a pleasure to be on the show. First and foremost, I want to say to Larry and Kevin, you guys have really won me over the last couple of months. You had some big shoes to fill and I've really come to appreciate and respect your voices and your opinions. And so thanks for bringing that balance to the show because I know that's what so many of us come to two Way for. So really have enjoyed getting to know you in both of your positions. So thanks for that.
- [47:19]
A
That's very, thank you.
- [47:20]
E
Okay, so I wanted to you guys sort of mentioned this a little bit, you know, in your, in your back and forth before we went to questions. The SAVE Act. I've been watching the efforts to push the SAVE act through Congress pretty closely over x the last couple of weeks. Mark, I've been watching your favorite Harry Ensign on CNN with his polls and I can't remember a time in recent memory, I can't remember an issue where it feels like there's been such overwhelming support for one particular policy. Blacks overwhelmingly support. Hispanics overwhelmingly support whites, Republicans, Democrats. So Mark, I hope you'll give me an exception to your rule against two part questions because I do have a two part question on this. But my first part of my question is with the overwhelming support that we're seeing in the polls for the SAVE act and the Save America act and the various iterations of it, why isn't there more congressional support? Why do we have to fight tooth and nail, even Republicans fighting tooth and nail to get our congressmen and women to support this? And then my second part, for normies like me who feel really black pilled that Congress isn't doing what you feel like the overwhelming majority of your constituents want it to do. What do we do to, you know, motivate ourselves to go to the polls and to keep voting for these people when it feels like they're not necessarily working on our behalf.
- [48:43]
A
Kerry. Two great questions, Larry then Kevin.
- [48:47]
B
Well, the Republicans have done their job. They did get it through the House with only one Republican dissenting, Tom Massie. And actually I don't know if you saw the developments over the weekend. Mike Lee's been a bulldog with this. He now has 49 co sponsors in the Senate and he got Susan Collins to support it. So he's hit the 50 mark. It looks like Murkowski, McConnell and I'm not sure who the third holdout is on the Republican side, but if the Democrats didn't filibuster this, it would pass in the Senate. So they're doing it. So don't just say it's Congress who's not doing it because on this issue in particular, the Republicans have done it. Whether they can have the guts to get rid of the filibuster and actually just push this through is a whole other question and the pressure's gonna be on Jonathan to do it, who is in fact a co sign sponsor of this bill. So let's see. But I think that the last ditch effort of the Democrats to say that this is going to keep married women from being able to vote has fallen flat on its face. We shall see. Yes.
- [49:44]
A
Before Kevin addresses the first question, then you'll both address Kerry's second question about what people who care about this could do. Do you two two part question in the spirit of Kerry, do you think Republicans will get rid of the filibuster for this and, and, and to the extent it sounds like you support it, are you supporting getting rid of the filibuster just for this or are you supporting using this moment to do away at the legislative filibuster entirely?
- [50:06]
B
I've reached the point now and you remember I gave it a 67 chance of actually getting through with the, with the filibuster getting, getting removed. I've reached the point now where I am so confident that if Democrats do in fact take control of the Senate, they will get rid of the filibuster because it was just Manchin and cinema stepping in the way last time that Republicans should beat them to it and just get it done.
- [50:27]
A
So abolish it completely and.
- [50:28]
B
Yes. And just move ahead with other legislation.
- [50:30]
A
Well, Thune will never do that. So. Okay, Kevin.
- [50:34]
D
Yeah, soon will never do it and I don't think Democrats are going to do it. They're certainly not going to do it if they take back the Senate because again, you've got a president and Donald Trump who's going to veto everything. So it doesn't, it doesn't do us any good, at least for those two years. And then we'll see how 2028 plays out. Carrie, I, I love your passion. Thank you also, too, for your kindness and very lovely remarks. I think what you're seeing, some of the opposition, and again, it's an 8020 issue. It's also a question of how some of the poll questions are phrased. I live in South Carolina, here in Charleston. We split our time between D.C. and South Carolina. We passed a voting bill unanimously here in South Carolina that involved voter id, involved extending early vote. So there are things for Democrats to get on board with, things for the Legislative Black Caucus in Columbia, South Carolina, to get on board with. I think that could be a roadmap for the future. I do think there is some concerns, though, with federalism. Right. And the fact that, you know, a lot of the opposition to what Democrats wanted to do and we had HB1, which was about campaign finance and voter protection, a lot of the Republican opposition was we don't want to federalize our elections. That's what you're seeing. Lisa Murzkowski and others kind of center their arguments on that. The Constitution specifically prescribes that this is the domain of states first and Congress second with no rule, obviously, with the Article 2 in the executive. But again, I'm bearish that this is actually going to play out. And we'll see then, too, what the White House does because the president has in the last couple of hours and days said, you know, then he'll pursue all these executive orders and things like that. Those will get adjudicated in the courts and we'll see, you know, what actually takes shape in the 300 days left before the next election.
- [52:27]
B
Yeah. There are certain things, though, that you can prescribe at the federal level that is not running a state's elections. For instance, motor voter was passed in the 90s that allows you to register to vote at the DMV. You didn't used to be able to do that. So this is in line with that sort of procedural, overarching sort of regulation that, okay, the Constitution says only a citizen can vote. So when you register to vote, let's just make sure you're a citizen. That's not the federal government running a state election. And I that argument is Falling away.
- [53:00]
A
What ideas do you guys have for people like Kerry who say I really want this to pass and are elected.
- [53:05]
B
Representatives Porches, pitchforks I think is the best way to go.
- [53:09]
A
You can get both on Amazon, by the way.
- [53:11]
D
Sure. I mean she already knows.
- [53:13]
B
Pressure, political pressure. Pressure.
- [53:15]
A
But what, how do you do that?
- [53:17]
E
I have been emailing my, my congressmen and women, my senators. I've been calling, you know, in Illinois. Obviously it's, it's a little difficult for someone who's predisposed as I am. My senators are not necessarily on my side, but I'm doing it anyway just to let them know, hey, we're out there.
- [53:34]
A
Carrie, are you on. Are you on X? Carrie?
- [53:36]
E
I am on X, yes.
- [53:38]
A
Yeah, so I think, I think sending tweets and putting the handle of bulky members on there is. Is something that they inexplicably pay a lot of attention to.
- [53:46]
B
I still would be shocked as there are certain senators that you can target, especially ones that are up for real. I still find it remarkable that Ossoff would oppose this. It's got to hurt him in Georgia. He's got to feel that this will hurt him to oppose this in Georgia and certain senators like that who are going to be vulnerable and damaged and harmed. I don't know if there are enough of them but. Or just put pressure on thune to get rid of the filibuster.
- [54:11]
A
Kevin, any idea?
- [54:13]
D
You already have a great head on your shoulders by your compliments of Larry and I. So I say run for office. Forget the tweeting and stuff like that. Step it up.
- [54:21]
B
Senator Antonopoulos, let's go.
- [54:23]
D
You've already got me persuaded to cross poverty lines. So get out there.
- [54:28]
B
My brother's in Evanston. He'll be your campaign finance director.
- [54:30]
E
I love it.
- [54:32]
A
Kerry, thank you for being part of Two Way. Love having. Thank you guys. Okay, a few things just deriving from what Kerry asked about or said. We're very near announcing a permanent co host for the program and it's going to be in the spirit of the. Of what the program's always been. So stay tuned for that and. And it's going to be an announcement that will surprise you in some ways I predict. In addition, tomorrow, remember reminder, this program extends to a second hour, 10am Eastern time to 11 on SiriusXM radio. Megan Kelly Channel 111. And just to clarify, that hour is going to be some live, some on tape. It's going to be an opportunity for people to listen to the morning meeting on two way on SiriusXM rather. So join us starting tomorrow, 10 to 11. I'll be there, Others will be there. And again, it's some live, some on, some, some recorded, but daily program Monday through Friday starting tomorrow. All right, quick, one more sponsor to get in here and then we'll go back to business. Ethos allows you to get a free quote on life insurance right now. Go to ethos.commark and get a free life insurance quote. Ethos is an online platform that makes getting life insurance easy. You don't have to take a medical exam, just answer a few online questions, including about health. Not a complicated process. It's all done online and you can get up to $3 million in life insurance. If you don't have life insurance and you're the main breadwinner in your family, you're risking your family's future unnecessarily. Simple process. Go to ethos.commark and get a free quote right now on life insurance. It's a process that won't take you long and allow your family to make sure that they're taken care of no matter what happens to you. If you lose your life and they need to still pay the mortgage and rent and college tuition and other things that will cost a lot of money, up to $3 million in coverage. Go to ethos.commark right now to get a free quote on life insurance. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Okay, real quick, here's Carly.
- [56:35]
D
Mark, can I just say I'm loving everyone weighing in with their favorite presence.
- [56:38]
A
Too, in the group chat, their favorite president. All right, that's good. I never. I never read the chat. By the way, Larry's on island still.
- [56:45]
D
With Millard Fillmore, so, yeah, Fillmore is.
- [56:47]
B
The way to go, man.
- [56:48]
A
Yeah. Carly, welcome in, welcome in. We're up against the end of the. So thank you for being here. Just be brief if you can. And Kevin and Larry will take swings, so.
- [56:56]
H
Absolutely. Mark, I'm still waiting for you to write another book, just to let you know that.
- [57:00]
A
Thank you for that.
- [57:02]
H
The speech that Marco Rubio gave, I stood up and I clapped in my living room. It's ridiculous, but it was that good.
- [57:11]
B
That's great.
- [57:11]
H
Then I was thinking of what AOC said, as you mentioned. So that would be a great campaign commercial if one day they go head to head. So who in the Democratic Party is a Marco Rubio right now? Can someone tell me if there's.
- [57:26]
A
Who is the Marco Rubio?
- [57:27]
H
Who's the Marco Rubio? The Democratic Party. I can't think of anyone. But that's my thinking. And everyone have a great day.
- [57:35]
A
Thank you. Thank you, Carly. Kevin, who's got Rubio like capacities?
- [57:41]
D
That's a good question. Again, Carly, the Secretary of state gave a great speech. We talked the last couple of weeks about Jon Ossoff from Georgia who gave a really compelling speech at a campaign rally. He doesn't have the foreign policy experience certainly that Rubio did in the Senate. He was on Armed Services and chair of intel and then obviously in this role. And that's going to be quite, you know, we kind of talked about that too. Who are the, who are the Democrats? If Mark, you know what he said earlier, if it becomes a foreign policy, you know, type election where that plays a more prominent role. And to your point, AOC didn't do herself any favors, obviously. Governor Gretchen Whitmer didn't do herself any favors either overseas. So who are going to be those folks with the foreign policy chops? Look for the Armed Services Committee, Foreign Foreign Relations Committee, those kinds of folks with those kinds of experiences.
- [58:34]
A
Just to be clear, I don't think it's going to be a foreign policy election because I agree with Larry. There's no such thing. I'm sorry I was misunderstood in that respect.
- [58:39]
B
Well, just, I'm surprised you didn't say.
- [58:41]
D
Josh, we're at war with, you know, somebody, you know.
- [58:44]
A
Yeah, I don't think it matters. I mean Rubio's, again, Rubio's most prominent domestic policy position in the Congress was when he supported amnesty, so called amnesty.
- [58:53]
B
So support. There's a lot saying that you're trying to kill him, Mark.
- [58:57]
A
It's just truthful. It's just truthful. If he runs, if he runs against, if Ted Cruz runs against Marco Rubio, just you wait.
- [59:04]
B
He also opposed Trump in the 2016 primary. It's all in the past. It's water under the bridge. I think the problem is, and listen, I'm a Republican, I'm a partisan, I want my side to win, but I really do want the Democrats to sort of get over where they are right now and come back to some of the things that we could agree on as Americans beyond party. The problem is, I think, Kevin, is that they have been so obsessed and so opposed to Donald Trump and I understand why, trust me, I get it. He brings out the opposition in a very vociferous way. But those who are single mindedly opposed to Donald Trump and that becomes their entire message as a politician, they are richly rewarded for that from fundraising, from support and from media attention and until just being a flat out I oppose Trump at every level kind of politician. When that stops getting rewarded at the level that it is, then we can start seeing some serious people emerge. But I don't see it happening anytime soon.
- [60:02]
A
Yep. Okay.
- [60:03]
D
We can't be on, we can't be on autopilot and anti Trump on everything.
- [60:08]
A
Thank you everybody for participating today. Thanks to the new folks and the old returning folks who raised your hands. We love, we say conversations like returning folks. Returning folks. Thank you and thank you for being part of two Way. We say conversations like no other here. And the only way that happens is with your robust participation. So thank you for that tonight. Two Way tonight, five o'. Clock. Emily Jasinski will be here host the After Party. She's my colleague on the Megyn Kelly network and she's a genius and just so fun and funny. So Emily will be here then lifelong at 7:00'. Clock, Ethan Supley, his guest, Lisa Pasquale, author of the Gen X Handbook for Middle Age. Kevin has she's a very smart person. Kevin has the book by his bedside. You should too. And then tomorrow morning this program will be back 23 hours from now. And guess who will be here. A guy named Larry o' Connor and a fellow go by the name Kevin Walling will both be here again tomorrow, 9:00am Eastern Time. And then don't forget tomorrow, the debut of this program on Sirius XM, Megan Kelly, channel 111 at 10am Eastern Time. Roll right over for another full hour of the program. And and we're super excited about that here. So we'll see you then. And we're getting a lot of big stories this week. We talked about some of them today. We didn't talk about Epstein today. And there's a lot going on with that story. So we'll talk about that during the week and, and lots more. And as always, we welcome and encourage and appreciate your participation. Kevin, Larry, everybody else have a great day. I'll see you at five Eastern time right here on two way.
- [61:46]
B
Antonopoulos for Senate Go President's Day, everybody.