Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) Talks ICE, Government Shutdown

Summary

Bloomberg Talks – "Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) Talks ICE, Government Shutdown"

Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Texas Senator John Cornyn discusses pressing issues facing Congress, including a potential government shutdown, proposed reforms to ICE operations following recent incidents in Minneapolis, and political developments in Texas and on the national stage. The conversation concludes with his views on U.S. policy toward Iran amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Cornyn’s candid insights reflect partisan divides, legislative gridlock, and his traditional positions on law enforcement and election integrity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown & Short-Term Extension

• [00:37–01:24]
  • Congress has agreed to a two-week continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown, but Cornyn is skeptical lasting solutions can be reached in such a short time.
    • "It's entirely possible...the House can then take up and pass the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. But it sounds like...Democrats in the House are not going to cooperate." — Cornyn [00:50]
  • The lack of bipartisan cooperation is, in his view, wasting valuable legislative time.
    • "This is the basic functioning of government...it's unnecessary and it's...an opportunity cost..." — Cornyn [01:32]

2. ICE Reforms Amid Minneapolis Shootings

• [01:57–06:53]
  • Discussion focuses on Democratic proposals: unmasking ICE agents, requiring body cameras, ending warrantless raids, and increasing training.
    • Cornyn expresses openness to "improving operations" but opposes what he views as anti-law enforcement measures.
    • He attributes violence and controversies in Minneapolis to "sanctuary jurisdictions" that impede federal law enforcement.
      • "ICE has no alternative but to make these detentions in the general population...with disastrous consequences." — Cornyn [02:27]
  • On unmasking ICE agents:
    • "That's an insult to ICE agents...ICE agents are going to be targeted...their identity should be protected...just a ridiculous request." — Cornyn [03:43]
  • Asked about changing his stance after recent shootings:
    • Cornyn insists local government refusal to cooperate with ICE is the central issue.
      • "The answer to it is for the sanctuary jurisdictions to cooperate with federal law enforcement so that federal immigration laws can be enforced, hopefully without these kind of tragedies occurring." — Cornyn [04:33]
  • Clarification on openness to reforms:
    • Supports "fine-tuning procedures" to de-escalate conflict but stresses that local governments must also change.
      • "While ICE may need to fine tune some of its procedures...that's a two way street." — Cornyn [05:58]
    • Praises Tom Holman as a professional voice seeking order in the current "chaos."

3. Texas Politics: Special Election Shock

• [06:53–08:00]
  • Addresses the surprising Democratic victory in Texas Senate District 9, a traditionally strong Republican area.
    • Points to factors: low voter turnout (15%), candidate quality, campaign choices.
      • "Special elections are notoriously volatile...the Republican candidate was campaigning on was not...received well by the voters..." — Cornyn [07:06]
    • Suggests Republicans need to analyze and learn from the defeat.

4. Voter ID and Election Nationalization

• [08:00–09:22]
  • Responds to the idea (suggested by President Trump on Dan Bongino’s show) of "nationalizing" voting in several states.
    • Cornyn supports federal standards for voter identification, specifically the Save America Act, but opposes a federal takeover of elections.
      • "There should be a standard of voter identification...that is not a takeover...but...requires...that American citizens be allowed to vote and anyone who can't produce the appropriate identification would not be allowed." — Cornyn [08:18]
    • Strongly supports states' rights to run their own elections, but wants mandatory proof of citizenship and voter ID everywhere for ballot integrity.
      • "In those blue states...a requirement of proof of American citizenship and voter ID is...something that is supported on a bipartisan basis..." — Cornyn [08:54]

5. U.S. Policy Toward Iran

• [09:22–11:03]
  • Cornyn comments on the Biden administration's tough choices regarding Iran, calling it the world's top sponsor of terrorism and linking it to ongoing regional instability.
    • Worries about the consequences of regime change, referencing the lack of post-leadership institutions in authoritarian states.
      • "There is no easy answer in Iran." — Cornyn [09:29]
    • On further military action, he acknowledges that targeted strikes on the IRGC or Quds Force are "on the table."
      • "The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Quds Force...are the primary tools...of international terrorism emanating from Tehran..." — Cornyn [10:37]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This is the basic functioning of government. It's the pay the bills, keep the lights on...an opportunity cost..."
  — Senator Cornyn on legislative gridlock [01:32]
• "That's an insult to ICE agents...they are being targeted by some of the anti ICE instigators...their identity should be protected."
  — Cornyn rebuffing ICE unmasking proposals [03:43]
• "Special elections are notoriously volatile...what the Republican candidate was campaigning on was not...received well by the voters."
  — Cornyn on the Texas District 9 upset [07:06]
• "There should be a standard of voter identification...requires...that American citizens be allowed to vote..."
  — Cornyn on the Save America Act [08:18]
• "There is no easy answer in Iran."
  — Cornyn on U.S. policy options in Iran [09:29]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:37-01:24 – Cornyn on short-term deal, gridlock
• 01:57-06:53 – ICE reforms and Minneapolis shootings discussion
• 06:53-08:00 – Texas special election analysis
• 08:00-09:22 – Voter ID and election management
• 09:22-11:03 – Debate over U.S. options for Iran

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Tone and Style

• Cornyn is direct, traditional, and partisan—he attributes legislative problems and tragedies involving ICE primarily to Democratic policies and “sanctuary” jurisdictions.
• Throughout, he emphasizes law and order, institutional integrity, and skepticism of sweeping reforms or federal intervention, except for enforcing voter identification.

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This episode provides insight into not only Senator Cornyn's priorities and political philosophy, but also the broader debates shaping the U.S. legislative landscape in early 2026.

Transcript

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[Senator John Cornyn]

Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio News Senator.

[Interviewer]

Cornyn, thanks so much for being with us, especially at this busy time. I am wondering though, after all this is said and done, is Congress in the same situation two weeks from now?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, it's entirely possible. Unfortunately, Chuck Schumer and President Trump negotiated a a deal that provides for a two week extension so the House can then take up and pass the Defense, excuse me, the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. But it sounds like the Mr. Hakeem Jeffries, the leader and the Democrats in the House are not going to cooperate. So we'll see whether the speaker can pull a rabbit out of the hat and get the votes with just Republicans.

[Interviewer]

Senator, though, don't both sides have the ability to cooperate and shouldn't both sides be working together to get this done?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Yes, that's the short answer. It's really, I mean, this is the basic functioning of government. It's the pay the bills, keep the lights on and it's unnecessary and it's, it is also an opportunity cost in the sense that we are using time that we could be done doing other more important things for the American people. But unfortunately, essentially this is where we are.

[Bloomberg Host]

Julie asks about the two week continuing resolution, Senator, because a lot of folks on Capitol Hill do not think there will be enough time there to craft some sort of agreement and put it in the form of legislation when it comes to new restrictions on ice. And I'm wondering where your head is on some of the ideas that are out there. Democrats want agents to be unmasked, wear body cameras, no more warrantless raids and additional training. Are you in favor of all four of those?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, I'm always for seeing how we can improve current operations and that includes ice. And I believe Mr. Hohman, who's now in charge up in Minnesota, in Minneapolis, has said the same thing. But I don't believe there is enough time to open this whole range of topics, nor do I think we should because these are professional law enforcement officers. One of the main problems with and what's happened in places like Minneapolis is. These are sanctuary jurisdictions. They don't cooperate with law enforcement at the federal level. And so ICE has no alternative but to make these detentions in the general population. And of course, you have various instigators interrupting and interceding, sometimes with disastrous consequences. So I don't think, I think while certainly these institutional reforms are important and I would support trying to make it better, this fortunately, is part of the same sort of strain of thought that gave us defund the police and abolish ice. And I think we have to enforce or enforce the law, and that's what President Trump believes as well.

[Bloomberg Host]

Are you, just to be clear, open to de. Masking ICE agents when they're working in the field?

[Senator John Cornyn]

I think that's, that's an insult to, to ICE agents. We know that ICE agents are going to be targeted by some of these instigators. What I call, really, they are essentially asking for anarchy, certainly chaos. Chaos. Because if we abandon the rule of law, that's all we have left. And so these ICE agents are being targeted by some of the anti ICE instigators. And I think in some instances their identity should be protected. But this is just, to me, just a ridiculous request.

[Bloomberg Host]

Wow. Well, just to be clear before we move on to some other issues here, Senator, following these two fatal shootings that we saw in Minneapolis, you don't feel any different about restrictions on ice?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, I think the main, the main thing that needs to be done is that the Minneapolis and Minnesota needs to quit refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement officers. You don't see this happening in Texas because when illegal aliens are apprehended for some state or local violation, they are routinely handed over to ICE at the jail and then subject to deportation. But when local law enforcement or state law enforcement in some of these sanctuary jurisdictions don't do it, ICE has no alternative but to try to go knock on a door and make an arrest when they believe they have an illegal alien. Evading, Evading. Evading apprehension. Excuse me. So I think, unfortunately, in both of these instances, these individuals did not cooperate with law enforcement. And unfortunately that when that happens, tragedies like this occur, which are regrettable, but I think the answer to it is for the sanctuary jurisdictions to cooperate with federal law enforcement so that federal immigration laws can be enforced, hopefully without these kind of tragedies occurring.

[Interviewer]

Senator, one more quick question on this. So you don't think really any reforms are needed or is there anything you would be open to changing about ice?

[Senator John Cornyn]

No, I, I didn't mean to suggest no reforms would be necessary. But I think as Tom Holman said, and by the way, I think he's the right guy for the job. This has escalated totally out of control and I think everybody realizes that and it needs to de escalate. And I think Mr. Homan has been the voice of a, a seasoned professional who was has been applauded by Democrat administrations and Republican administrations to try to bring some order out of this chaos. But the simple answer is that while ICE may need to fine tune some of its procedures in order to try to de escalate and avoid conflict, that's a two way street. And these sanctuary jurisdictions need to cooperate with law enforcement in the interest of de escalating and avoiding some of these tragedies.

[Interviewer]

Senator, I do want to turn now to our home state of Texas and Texas Senate District 9, the Democrat, really a shocking upset in that race there. Does it concern you as you are up for reelection this year?

[Senator John Cornyn]

It does concern me. As we know these special elections are notoriously volatile and I know a lot of people are trying to figure out exactly what happened here district that President Trump won by 17 points and then the Democrat won by a swing of 16 points. And so a huge swing there. Some of it had to do with with a small turnout. I think it was about 15% of registered voters. But the quality of the candidates and the nature of the campaigns also matter. And obviously what the candidates were the Republican candidate was campaigning on was not something that was received well by the voters. So I think there's going to be more analysis to this and there's a lot of different reasons why this could have occurred. But hopefully we'll learn the lessons from this disastrous outcome.

[Bloomberg Host]

What are your thoughts on nationalizing elections, Senator? The president was in an interview yesterday on Dan Bongino's show and said we should take over the voting in at least 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. Is that something you support?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, there is one area where I do believe there should be a standard of voter identification. You're familiar with the SAVE Act? The Save America act, yes, which I support. That is not a takeover of state run elections, but what it does require at an irreducible minimum is that American citizens be allowed to vote and anyone who can't produce the appropriate identification would not be allowed. And that's a matter of protecting the integrity of the ballot.

[Bloomberg Host]

But you do think states should continue to, to administer elections as per the Constitution?

[Senator John Cornyn]

I, I do. But I do think in those blue states, particularly where they don't they don't have these same sort of integrity measures that we have in Texas and are in other states. That a requirement of proof of American citizenship and voter idea is something that is supported on a bipartisan basis makes a lot of sense. So that's why I support the Save America Act.

[Interviewer]

Senator, before we let you go, we do want to touch on foreign affairs very quickly. What should happen next in Iran?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, the president's got a very tough, tough call here. Obviously this Iran is the number one state sponsor of international terrorism, is responsible for most of the misery and mischief that's occurring in the Middle east including the October 7 attack in Israel by Hamas, one of their proxies. They have of course been trying to develop nuclear weapons. They have long range ballistic missiles that threaten our allies in the region. And the President I know is being presented with a range of options here. The real question I think Julie, is what comes next if the Supreme Leader is deposed. Usually what happens in these countries like Venezuela and Iran is they are virtual police states and the leadership, the authoritarian leaders basically kill all their competition and they destroy the institutions that would be there once they are deposed. So this is going to be a hard decision by the President because there is no easy answer in Iran.

[Bloomberg Host]

Do you support another round of strikes then, Senator? Is it time to hit Tehran?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, I think that is one of the things that the President I'm sure is being presented because they have the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Quds Forces is called which are the primary, primary tools or instruments of international terrorism emanating from Tehran with its through its proxies. So the president may decide that that's an appropriate target.

[Bloomberg Host]

Senator, it's good to spend some time with you and we appreciate the insights as always on Bloomberg Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, thank you.

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