US Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Talks Ceasefire Talks, Reconciliation Push

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Bloomberg Talks
Episode: US Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Talks Ceasefire Talks, Reconciliation Push
Date: April 10, 2026
Guest: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
Host: Bloomberg

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Overview

This episode features an interview with Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), focusing on U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations, the economic and geopolitical significance of Middle East oil, congressional oversight in military action and diplomatic agreements, and the legislative agenda around Homeland Security funding and tax reconciliation bills. Malliotakis shares perspectives both on foreign policy and on pressing domestic legislative issues facing Congress post-recess.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks and Military Leverage

Timestamps: 00:42–03:02

• The host introduces current U.S. administration efforts toward a ceasefire agreement with Iran, noting the ongoing presence of a military threat as leverage.

• Malliotakis lays out three U.S. leverage points:

  • Economic: Existing and expanded sanctions targeting Iranian supporters and suppliers, especially concerning missiles and military equipment.
  • Diplomatic: Ongoing talks scheduled for the upcoming weekend, with hope for diplomatic progress given Iran’s weakened state.
  • Military: Reference to recent U.S. military strikes significantly degrading Iran’s drone, missile, naval, and air capabilities.

• Quote:

  “We need to make sure that Iran is removed as a threat. And we've already made a tremendous amount of progress in a short time frame."
  — Nicole Malliotakis (02:14)

• Malliotakis highlights the importance of ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open for oil traffic, linking this to global economic stability and gas prices.

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2. The Importance of the Strait of Hormuz and Energy Markets

Timestamps: 03:02–05:07

• The host challenges the relevance of Middle Eastern oil flows to the U.S. consumer, contrasting the President’s downplaying of its domestic impact.

• Malliotakis’ counter:

  • Acknowledges most oil via the Strait serves Asian partners but argues global market dynamics still affect U.S. prices.
  • Stresses the need for regime change and cessation of Iranian support for proxy groups (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis) to stabilize the region.
  • Main U.S. objectives in negotiations:
    • Opening the strait
    • Securing Iranian concessions on uranium enrichment and support to proxies

• Quote:

  “We need them to stop funding these proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis as well. And that should be really the main objectives of this.”
  — Nicole Malliotakis (04:26)

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3. Congressional Role in War Powers & Ceasefire Agreements

Timestamps: 05:07–06:23

• Discusses Senator Lindsey Graham’s suggestion that any agreement should receive Senate approval.

• Malliotakis’ view:

  • Doesn’t see a congressional vote as necessary on the agreement itself, noting the President’s compliance with the War Powers Resolution (1973).
  • Supports ongoing Congressional briefings and involvement beyond the 60-day window set by the Resolution.

• Quote:

  “We should be briefed and updated... and we should talk about the next steps together. But I think that we have faith in the president's negotiating ability here.”
  — Nicole Malliotakis (05:46)

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4. Homeland Security Funding & Reconciliation Push

Timestamps: 06:23–08:32

• Discussion pivots to domestic issues: imminent action needed on a reconciliation bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including ICE and border protection.

• Malliotakis’ priorities and concerns:

  • Entire DHS must be funded, with particular emphasis on ICE and border protection, citing recent crimes attributed to undocumented immigrants.
  • Expresses frustration about lack of bipartisan cooperation, linking it to recent, highly publicized violent incidents.
  • Notes urgency: 25th anniversary of 9/11, upcoming FIFA World Cup, America 250 events increase security needs.

• Quote:

  “This agency needs to be fully funded from Coast Guard to TSA to ICE to CBP to counterterrorism to cybersecurity.”
  — Nicole Malliotakis (08:19)

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5. Funding Strategy: Two-Track Plan for DHS

Timestamps: 08:32–09:22

• Host probes her on the “two-track” Senate plan: fund most of DHS through the Senate, use reconciliation for ICE and CBP.

• Malliotakis’ response:

  • Would prefer ICE and CBP funded first or alongside other DHS components.
  • Open to sequencing if White House reassures sufficient resources are available.

• Quote:

  “A lot of members would feel a lot better knowing that we're funding ICE and CBP first or at the same time as the rest of the department.”
  — Nicole Malliotakis (09:08)

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6. Prospects for a Third Reconciliation Bill

Timestamps: 09:22–11:03

• Host raises the idea of a third reconciliation bill with tax measures, referencing House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith’s comments.

• Malliotakis’ legislative priorities:

  • Addresses expiring tax credits relevant to local economies (film, NASCAR credits).
  • Cites bipartisan potential for these provisions, but sees Ways and Means as central if another reconciliation bill proceeds.
  • Emphasizes recent middle-class tax cuts and their tangible effects:
    • SALT deduction helping New Yorkers
    • Senior tax relief
    • Increased savings for tipped and overtime workers

• Notable Moment:
  Malliotakis points to the legacy of Trump-era tax reforms leading to GDP growth and tax revenue increases, reinforcing her support for further reforms.

• Quote:

  “We delivered a significant product that was, yes, tailored to the middle class. But let's not forget the significance of what President Trump did going back to 2016.”
  — Nicole Malliotakis (10:23)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “We need to make sure Iran is removed as a threat. And we've already made a tremendous amount of progress in a short time frame.” (02:14)
• “We need them to stop funding these proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis as well. And that should be really the main objectives of this.” (04:26)
• “We should be briefed and updated... and we should talk about the next steps together.” (05:46)
• “This agency needs to be fully funded from Coast Guard to TSA to ICE to CBP to counterterrorism to cybersecurity.” (08:19)
• “A lot of members would feel a lot better knowing that we're funding ICE and CBP first or at the same time as the rest of the department.” (09:08)
• “We delivered a significant product that was, yes, tailored to the middle class. But let's not forget the significance of what President Trump did going back to 2016.” (10:23)

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Summary Table: Major Topics & Timestamps

| Topic | Guest Commentary | Timestamps | |-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|------------| | Leverage in Ceasefire Negotiation | Economic, Diplomatic, Military | 01:37–03:02 | | Strait of Hormuz Importance | Economic and Global Impact | 03:02–05:07 | | Congressional Role in War Decisions | War Powers, Oversight | 05:07–06:23 | | Funding Homeland Security / ICE and Border | Priorities, Crime Examples | 06:23–08:32 | | DHS Funding Strategy | Two-Track Plan Discussion | 08:32–09:22 | | Third Reconciliation Bill & Tax Measures | Legislative Priorities | 09:22–11:03 |

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Conclusion

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis offered a detailed account of pressing challenges facing Congress and the administration, linking U.S. foreign policy leverage over Iran with domestic legislative needs regarding border security and tax reform. She highlighted recent progress in weakening Iran’s military position, the ripple effect of global oil disruptions on U.S. consumers, and the practical legislative path for DHS funding. Malliotakis remained focused on concrete outcomes, citing her belief in both presidential negotiations and the need for assertive Congressional action, particularly regarding security and tax measures.

Transcript

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[Bloomberg Host]

Radio News Listen to what we have heard from the President over the course of the last two weeks about the prospects for this agreement.

[Unidentified Speaker (possibly a government official or analyst)]

All I can tell you is they're begging to make a deal. If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants. We have to have a deal that's acceptable to me. And part of that deal is going to be we want free traffic of oil.

[Bloomberg Host]

So for more we turn to Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York, who is in our New York headquarters right now joining us on Bloomberg TV and radio. Congresswoman is wonderful to have you back on balance of power. I think clearly there is a sense in the White House here in Washington that the hope is that diplomacy prevails. But the president maintains that there is the military threat still, still there that he is willing to use if necessary. If no deal can be reached. In the absence of a diplomatic breakthrough this weekend, would you be supportive of the President resuming military operations and specifically going as far in those as he has indicated he is willing to?

[Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Well, look, we don't know the specifics of what he means by military action. What we do know is that he has three leverage points, right? He has the economic, which we've implemented multiple sanctions, sanctioning those who are providing support and equipment and missiles to Iran. We also have the diplomatic, which is going to be taking place this weekend. And then you have the military, which we've seen the decimation of so much of Iran's capabilities, whether it be manufacturing capabilities of drones and missiles or whether it be the overall components of its military, naval and air. So look, I think that we need to really just wait and see what happens this weekend, but I have faith that we'll be able to get a good outcome. I think obviously the strait is the most important thing right now for us economically, making sure there is that free flow of oil, making sure that these gas prices come down. That is critical for so many of our world partners as well. But we need to make sure that Iran is removed as a threat. And we've already made a tremendous amount of progress in a short time frame. And we'll see now that they are weakened if we will be able to make some more progress in these negotiations, because they are in a much weaker position today than they were just five weeks ago. And president did give them, remember at the beginning of all this, gave them an opportunity to negotiate, they wouldn't negotiate. Maybe now they're rethinking that.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, to your point, Congresswoman, about the importance of the Strait of Hormuz economically, you said specifically it is important economically for the United States, which is something that the president has disputed. His argument is that actually when it comes to the energy flowing out of the Middle east, that is much more a concern for other countries, European, Asian ones, not so for the United States. Is that a sentiment that your constituents would agree with, especially as they're looking at prices at the pump, as you alluded to?

[Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Well, he's right in the sense that the oil that is going through that strait really goes to many of our partners in Asia, but it does affect the overall world market. So I think that it is kind of both, a little bit of both. The reality though, here on the ground here in my community as well as parts of this, the country gas prices have increased. We need to get those prices, those prices back down. We were under $3 a gallon, about $2.89 was the national average. And I think this is a temporary spike and it is an important long term investment that is being made for the security of our country, for the Middle east and the world. The reality is we need to make sure Iran is weakened here and that there is regime change that is important, I think, because they continue to try to kill Americans. They've attacked our military bases over the last decades. They've killed Americans, they've killed their own people, tens of thousands of their own people. And we need to make sure that there is a change there because they are the most destabilizing factor in that Middle east which affects the entire globe. And so I think the objective here is to come out of this with some type of agreement to open up that strait. If he can get them to turn over any enriched uranium, that's also critical. We need them to stop funding these proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis as well. And that should be really the main objectives of this. And I think again, they're in a much weaker position today than they were five weeks ago. So hopefully the United States in these negotiations can extract those concessions.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, and what role should Congress play, if any, in ultimately the finalization of an agreement? As we know the I didn't ask you and your colleagues first before launching these operations. You didn't have a direct say, but should there be a say in how this ends? Senator Lindsey Graham, of course, who has been an advocate for this war, says any agreement should have a vote in the Senate, that they should get to take a look at it. I wonder if you agree with that, with that notion.

[Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

I don't know that we need to have a vote on a particular agreement. The president did abide by federal law. He gave the federal he gave the federal government or his partners in the federal government, Congress the 48 hours notice that was necessary. The president does have under the War powers resolution of 1973, 60 days. And so I think after that 60 day period, he certainly should come back to Congress. We should be briefed and updated on what is going on and we should talk about the next steps together. But I think that we have faith in the president's negotiating ability here. We've seen what he's been able to do with other conflicts around the world, helping mediate conflicts around the world, and he is known as the dealmaker. So let's see what comes out of this weekend before we discuss next steps.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, I'd also like to talk about the next steps for lawmakers, for you and your colleagues in the House as you get set to return from recess next week. Pretty quickly, it seems you're going to have to take action on a reconciliation bill to fund at least parts of the Department of Homeland Security. The president wants it on his desk by June 1. What is your expectation as to how quickly this will get done and if it is going to be narrowly targeted to just those specific components of the Department of Homeland Security or if other members may want to be adding things to this package?

[Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

I think it's important that we fund the entire Department of Homeland Security that does include ICE and border protection. And just over the last few weeks, we saw multiple American citizens in multiple states killed by people in the country illegally. And it is unfortunate that with the changes that have already been made to ice, some of the de escalation that we've seen in cities as well as the removal of Kristi Noem from the agency. The Democrats will not work with us in a bipartisan manner to fund those critical agencies that do important jobs, knowing who is coming in and out of our country and removing those who should not be here. We just saw an 83 year old man here in New York City killed, being thrown in the subway tracks by somebody who should not have been here and had multiple prior arrests. There was a lack of cooperation between these municipalities and our federal government to have that person removed prior to this 83 year old veteran being killed. Completely preventable. We've seen that taking place again over the last few weeks of multiple states. So I think that we're going to go in there and fund this agency and we're going to have to do it with only Republican votes through reconciliation. Then we will work together to get that done. We were hopeful that the Democrats would work with us in a bipartisan manner, but clearly that has not happened. And the reality is this agency needs to be funded. It's the 25th anniversary of 9 11. You have the FIFA World cup coming. You have all these America 250 events happening. This can no longer be delayed. The agency needs to be fully funded from Coast Guard to TSA to ICE to CBP to counterterrorism to cybersecurity.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, and to be clear, Congresswoman, to get all of the parts of the agency fully funded. Are you supportive of the plan to pass the Senate, pass DHS funding bill X, ICE and CBP and then handling those portions with reconciliation? That two track plan? Is that one that works for you?

[Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

That may be the only way we can get it done. But a lot of members, including myself, would like to see ICE and CBP funded first. Now if the White House can reassure us that they have the necessary funding to fund those, because we remember we did this in the first reconciliation, we did put additional money in there so ICE can continue its operations and enhance those operations if they have the resources. Perhaps we'll be able to do the other parts first. But I think a lot of members would feel a lot better knowing that we're funding ICE and CBP first or at the same time as the rest of the department.

[Bloomberg Host]

Well, and of course this is reconciliation 2.0 that we're talking about here. But Congresswoman, I'm sure you're well aware that there's a lot of buzz about third reconciliation package. In fact, your chair on the House Ways and Means Committee, Jason Smith, has suggested if there's going to be one, there's going to be some tax measures included. What would you like to see included in a third reconciliation package? Do you think achieving that that is as a realistic legislative outcome in a midterm election year?

[Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis]

Look, I think that. Well, first of all, what I think we really do need to do is address some of the expiring provisions. We have a film tax credit, there's a NASCAR tax credit. Things that are important for our local economies that have expired that need to be addressed and that could be done in a bipartisan way. It doesn't necessarily need reconciliation, but no doubt that Ways and Means will play a big role if there is a third reconciliation bill. Look, we delivered a significant tax cut for middle class families. We are seeing the benefits of that take place right now in my district. The SALT deduction is helping New Yorkers the senior deduction or helping 88% of seniors across the country get refunded to them what they paid in taxes on their Social Security Tipped workers are seeing an average increase of about $1,300 in savings. So are many overtime workers. So we delivered a significant product that was, yes, tailored to the middle class. But let's not forget the significance of what President Trump did going back to 2016. Now, if you look at 2017, when he came in and passed that initial bill, you have seen tax revenue despite the tax cuts, tax revenue increase as well as our GDP Significantly from 18 trillion to about $31 trillion.

[Bloomberg Host]

All right, we have to leave it there. Thank you as always for joining us. Republican Congresswoman Nicole Molly Takis of New York on Bloomberg TV and Radio.

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