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[00:00]
A
Across the country, UnitedHealth Group is working with local partners to build healthier communities every day. That includes helping partners like the good acre provide 45,000 meals and lower A1C in the twin Cities, and helping hello Family doulas deliver 44% fewer underweight births in Spartanburg. Because building healthier communities starts by giving people access to the care and services they need to live healthier lives. Learn more@unitedhealthgroup.com commitment.
[00:30]
B
Brett Baer, chief chief political anchor for FOX News and anchor, special report, author of the relatively new book the Case for America bestseller, An Argument on Behalf of Our Nation. Hey, Brett, I'm just watching Anthony Fauci take the Fifth Amendment after a brilliant opening statement and of course, Senator Peter saying we're wasting our time, as that was expected. Are you surprised he's taking the Fifth? And what does that tell you? That he is?
[00:55]
A
Yeah.
[00:55]
C
Good morning. I think it is a little surprising, I think, when you have a preemptive pardon to take the Fifth is, I don't know, it just seems out of place. But I'm guessing he's fearing a situation where he could be caught in a lie. And at first, you know, I was asking our legal people whether he could take the Fifth in the current environment with that Biden pardon. And I guess it is an option. So this will be a frustrating hearing. And, you know, I'm not sure how fruitful it will be, but it will definitely bring to light a lot of the diary entries that were counter to what he was saying publicly. Right. And besides, Fox, you have not seen that anywhere. And, you know, I guess for that effort, that's gonna be a positive for those Republican senators.
[01:57]
B
CBS Evening News gave it 90 seconds. That was it. And I just talked to Matt Taibbi, who, as you know, used to write for the Rolling Stone, not known as a conservative journalist, and just pointed out the fact this is just the latest example. We thought we were through this. Remember, the Hunter Biden laptop wasn't real. Of course it was real. Remember the Russia hoax? Of course. Of course the president colluded with Russia. Turns out he didn't clue with Russia. They never, they got awards for it, but they never owned up to it. And the shadow ban that took place, that was revealed when Elon Musk took over and everything else that happened, no one ever owned up to that. So this is just the latest example of the media deciding, well, even if we're culpable, if we ignore it, maybe it'll go away, but I want people at home to Hear Anthony Fauci, you'll see, you know, Senator Rand Paul give a real brilliant opening about everything in the contradictions. And this is what Anthony Fauci said. Dr. Fauci, were you ever made aware
[02:48]
C
of gain of function research on monkeypox being conducted at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures center and back at Fort Detrick?
[03:00]
D
On the advice of counsel, I respectfully declined to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth amendment of the Constitution.
[03:09]
B
And that. And that's Fauci. Did the CIA. So basically, Rand Paul is just going through his questions and that's the answer with Laura Ingram in the backdrop. So. So, Brett, there you go. So what is it? What does it lead everyone to believe that Anthony Fauci wasn't going to be treated fairly, had no choice? Is that how. How many in the media are going to portray this?
[03:27]
C
I'm sure. I mean, if they cover it at all. And, and that is really egregious. And it's. It's also disappointing because, you know, all these folks media say, you know, why is it that the media has lost such trust with the American people? And you look at the examples you just listed off, and this is another one. I mean, this is. This was our life. This was the biggest health policy decision ever that the country had made, and it was horrific. Now there's a lot of people saying it was evolving, a lot of stuff we didn't know. That's the problem is that these diaries and these entries suggest that he did know and he did know that, you know, the mask thing. And yet what he said publicly was totally different than what he said privately. The lab leak theory, which we did first, and we were called crazy and conspiratorial and all kinds of stuff. And it's just another example of all of this, and it hurts us in the media overall.
[04:32]
B
I mean, listen to him on masks. Cut 14.
[04:37]
D
People should not be walking around with masks. Let me just state for the record that masks are not theater. Wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better. Masks are protective, but it's not providing the perfect protection that people think that. It is good that you're vaccinated, but in a situation where you have people indoors, particularly crowded, you should wear a mask. You are vaccinated, fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you do not need to wear a mask outdoors or indoors.
[05:05]
B
This was every day with me, you know, especially on this show. I mean, I was. My head was going to explode. You know, they kept us out of the office. We all know that. And you couldn't even. I'm just saying, does anyone realize this contradictions? Why do people love this guy? And by the way, you know, you know, his biases too. Brett, I'll never forget. Do we have that cut? Eric, you told me you have. So, so Joe Biden becomes president. Yeah, Joe Biden becomes president. And Anthony Fauci in diaries reaffirmed it that they kept him off television like this big sin. Donald Trump kept me off television. So he gets on Rachel Maddow show. You know, it's not like making Johnny Carson as a comedian. It looks like you made it. If you're on Rachel Maddow show and you love that show, you have one point of view when it comes to politics. Should we hear it?
[05:49]
D
I've been wanting to come on your show for months and months. You've been asking me to come on your show for months. For months and months. And it's just gotten blocked. That's, I mean, let's call it what it is. It just got blocked because they didn't like the way you handle things and they didn't want me on there. I mean, it was so clear when we sent it down. Why would you want to go on Rachel Maddow show? Well, because I like her and she's really good. It doesn't make any difference. Don't do it. I don't think you're going to see that now. I think you're going to see a lot of transparency.
[06:21]
B
So he got on his favorite show. Why is that?
[06:27]
C
It's amazing. It really is. And some of the stuff about how excited he was about the stardom and how popular he was, I mean, it really was some kind of reading in that diary. And here people, you know, thousands of people are dying based on decisions that we're making. You know, it will go down as the worst two year span in the health policy decisions ever. And you know, I think we've obviously learned a lot from it and we as a country are not going to do that again in the same way if we ever, God forbid, had to face something like that. But this is, it's frustrating, I think for a lot of people watching him take the fifth today.
[07:16]
E
Across the country, UnitedHealth Group is working with local partners to build healthier communities every day. That includes helping partners like the good acre provide 45,000 meals and lower A1C in the twin Cities and helping hello Family doulas deliver 44% fewer underweight births in Spartanburg because building healthier Communities starts by giving people access to the care and services they need to live healthier lives. Learn more@unitedhealthgroup.com commitment.
[07:49]
B
Best thing that's ever happened to you financially. Go easy.
[07:52]
F
Sold my car on Carvana. Amazing offer, really.
[07:55]
B
I hit 200 on the scratcher.
[07:57]
F
Did the scratcher come to your house and hand you a check? No. How many scratchers did you hit to get that? I hit a button on Carvana.com once.
[08:05]
B
Okay, that's fair.
[08:06]
F
It's like the lottery, except you always win.
[08:09]
B
Not like the lottery at all, actually.
[08:11]
F
Exactly. Inexplicably good offers worth bragging about. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pickup fees may apply.
[08:19]
B
So Fauci recorded numerous celebrity contacts. How he loved Julia Roberts, Steph Curry, Anne Wintour, Trevor Noah, Sean Penn, Matt Damon, Lil Wayne. Also Julia Roberts interviewed him on Instagram, sent flowers and later presented him with an Award. The 20 tweet Kennedy Senator Award awards. Fauci wrote that he hugged Hunter Biden according to his diary. But Biden joked that a photograph would cause the Internet to explode because both men were being attacked by Republicans. So it is a very sad page and I think after the January this is, I think we're going to see them just cover for him and say nice things about him. I'm very intrigued if some Democrats, especially a guy like Senator Peters who's leaving, if they're going to just say, listen, I'm a little disappointed what I read in the diaries. I'm a little disappointed with some of the things you said publicly as well as privately, or they're going to just look to cover for him. I'm very curious. You know, Fetterman said, I don't read diaries, but that's the one guy I was counting on to come out and point out who he really was.
[09:23]
C
Yeah, well, he's clearly, you know, Senator Ferman will show a lot of respect for the Republican line of thinking in a lot of ways and we'll see how this ends up. But this is going to be a long hearing if he's doing that all day.
[09:38]
B
So I saw. I know you want to Senator Lindsey Graham's memorial yesterday, his funeral yesterday. You've been to some of these before. What was it like?
[09:47]
C
You know, the National Cathedral does it better than any place in the world. And the pomp and circumstance and the somber respect. It was beautiful. It really was. I thought the president's remarks were spot on. They talked about Lindsey. It was funny. It was self deprecating. He actually said that Lindsey and Annika Sorbestam beat him in golf and then said, Annika had a really good day. You know, I thought Sean's remarks were spot on. And you know, what I was most struck at by is the people who showed up, the Democrats, Republicans, the ambassadors from every country, the world leaders. And to see Zelensky and Netanyahu chatting in the pew, it was really something. And it was a tribute to Lindsey.
[10:37]
B
So let's talk about Iran. Lindsey Graham Wood and we know that they attacked the militias, the, the associated militias in Iraq, attacked Saudi Arabia and attacked us in Jordan. The IRGC sponsored and we were able to knock down and president said he saw it in real time. We were able to knock down the rockets that are heading our direction. And Trey Yings picked up the phone and called the president and here's what he said.
[11:02]
G
Cut one President Trump reacting to that Iranian attack on US Forces overnight in Jordan. President Trump tells Fox News about Iran. We are going to beat the effing s out of them. He went on to say, we'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating. So clearly the United States is going to respond to what the president described as a surprise attack. He says U.S. forces had just minutes to shoot down these incoming Iranian ballistic missiles. The president says he has reviewed video of the shoot down and it was US Forces conducting this operation to defend that area.
[11:38]
B
So the president, we expect some massive action, you know, way before when you hop on the air on Special Report today. But this is the most predictable thing ever. Brett, did you really think the IRGC was going to seriously consider bringing this thing to an end after 14 state straight days of strikes, knowing that the last MoU, which was terrible but lasted, you know, a week. And next thing you know, they're shooting at chips, they're shooting at merchant ships again. And then yesterday we understand three separate ships were attacked. So this week we know this game. The president's either got to decide I'm pulling out or I'm going to go for it, don't you think?
[12:12]
C
Yeah, I do. And I think he's in the mindset right now of going forward. I think he's frustrated by repeated efforts to sit at the table. And he's got, you know, people inside his administration that are saying give it a shot. He's given a shot a number of different times. And each time the Iranians, one way or another, do what happened, you know, do these attacks on ships and more importantly, attacks on US Soldiers in the region. I think that there's probably not Going to be a slow up. I think it's going to be forward. And that's, you know, Senator Lindsey Graham has talked about that a lot. I think that the president's in that place now where it goes, how far it goes. Does Iran eventually get to a place where they really are negotiating? Tough to say because they've never been there.
[13:06]
B
You know, Brett, yesterday something about face to face, seeing the Prime Minister Netanyahu face to face with Zelenskyy and knowing that Ukraine took out an Iran ship that was full of weapons to Russia. These wars are coming together.
[13:19]
C
Yeah, I talked to Zelenskyy yesterday. I actually taped a brief interview that I'll air later this week. More about drones and technology. And we're going to do a series on what Ukraine has done technology wise and how we are benefiting from it. One of the things I asked him is is there do you see this direct linkage between Iran and Russia? And he said absolutely. He mentioned what you just mentioned. But he also said, you know, there is a draw of anti ballistic missile capability, Patriot missile batteries thaads to the countries surrounding Iran that need protection and so do we. And so Russia knows this and they need Iran to keep stirring the pot so that the focus is on what Ukraine's doing and US Help of Ukraine. So I mean he did the direct tie and I'll play some of that in a couple of days.
[14:19]
B
I just hope more people and nobody knows Zelensky in America better than you and always interviewed him more too. And I just hope people realize Ukraine's a good guys. I hope people are waking up and understanding that you've been sold propaganda that Russia had no choice that NATO was surrounding them and they had to push back. All that was BS I couldn't believe was resonating a lot with the right and left. Hope people understand a lot with the right, I should say. And I hope people.
[14:44]
C
Yeah, it definitely did. And you know, he's evolved in the way he can communicate. When I first interviewed him, I think it's eight times and I went over there to the front lines but his English was not that great and he had to stop and get translated. He's point on now. And I think President Trump likes a winner and I think Ukraine has turned the tide and I think that their relationship has evolved too.
[15:10]
B
Go get him. Six o' clock tonight Eastern time. Expect to see Brett Baier. Brett, thanks so much.
[15:14]
C
We'll see you.
[15:15]
B
You got it. And pick up his book, the Case for America. An argument on behalf of our nation
[15:20]
A
starting a business can seem like a daunting task unless you have a partner like Shopify. They have the tools you need to start and grow your business. From designing a website to marketing to selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need. There's a reason millions of companies like Mattel, Heinz and Allbirds continue to trust and use them. With Shopify on your side, turn your big business idea into Sign up for your $1 per month trial@shopify.com specialoffer.

Summary6 min read

Summary: Fauci Pleads the 5th?! Bret Baier Reacts to Explosive Senate Hearing

Podcast: Brian Kilmeade Show
Host: Brian Kilmeade
Guest: Bret Baier (Fox News Chief Political Anchor)
Date: July 29, 2026

Main Theme

This episode centers on the dramatic Senate hearing in which Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment rather than answer questions on sensitive topics, particularly regarding "gain of function" research. Host Brian Kilmeade and guest Bret Baier discuss the implications for media trust, Fauci’s public versus private positions, political repercussions, and ongoing foreign policy crises involving Iran and Ukraine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fauci’s Fifth Amendment Plea in Senate Hearing

Context: Dr. Anthony Fauci, with a Biden-era preemptive legal protection, repeatedly refused to answer specific Senate questions, invoking Fifth Amendment rights.
- "It is a little surprising, I think, when you have a preemptive pardon to take the Fifth is, I don't know, it just seems out of place."
  - Bret Baier (00:54)
Motivation: Baier speculates Fauci fears perjury or being caught contradicting past statements.
- "I'm guessing he's fearing a situation where he could be caught in a lie."
  - Baier (00:54)
Public/Private Contradictions: Private diary entries and testimonies unearthed at the hearing contrast sharply with Fauci’s previous public guidance, especially on masks and the lab leak theory.
- "These diaries and these entries suggest that he did know and he did know that, you know, the mask thing. And yet what he said publicly was totally different than what he said privately."
  - Baier (03:27)
Media Coverage: Mainstream media, said Kilmeade, largely avoided extensive coverage—with CBS allegedly giving it only “90 seconds.”
- Media’s reluctance is framed as another case eroding public trust: "If they cover it at all. And, and that is really egregious. And it's. It's also disappointing... This was our life. This was the biggest health policy decision ever that the country had made, and it was horrific."
  - Baier (03:27)

2. Notable Moment: Fauci’s Refusal to Answer on Gain-of-Function

Quote:
- “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully declined to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth amendment of the Constitution.”
  - Dr. Anthony Fauci (03:00)
Context: In response to Senator Rand Paul’s question about gain-of-function research at NBACC and Fort Detrick.

3. Fauci’s Media Persona and Public Perception

Compilation of Contradictory Guidance: Kilmeade plays audio of Fauci’s shifting stances on masks, underscoring “every day” frustration.
- “People should not be walking around with masks… Masks are not theater… Masks are protective, but it’s not providing the perfect protection…”
  - Anthony Fauci (04:36)
Fauci’s Diary and Celebrity Culture: Revelations of star-struck diary entries, relationships with celebrities, and an episode recounting Fauci’s eagerness to be featured on shows like Rachel Maddow.
- “He got on his favorite show. Why is that?”
  - Kilmeade (06:21)
- “Some of the stuff about how excited he was about the stardom and how popular he was, I mean, it really was some kind of reading in that diary. And here people, you know, thousands of people are dying based on decisions that we're making.”
  - Baier (06:27)
- Fauci’s reported hug with Hunter Biden, jokes about explosive internet reaction.
  - Kilmeade (08:19)

4. Political Fallout and Democratic Response

Question over Democratic Accountability: Will any Democrats criticize Fauci despite damning private revelations?
- “I’m very intrigued if some Democrats, especially a guy like Senator Peters who’s leaving, if they’re going to just say, listen, I’m a little disappointed what I read in the diaries.”
  - Kilmeade (08:19)
Fetterman’s Response: Senator Fetterman notably said, “I don’t read diaries,” to which Baier responds:
- “Senator Ferman will show a lot of respect for the Republican line of thinking in a lot of ways and we'll see how this ends up. But this is going to be a long hearing if he's doing that all day.”
  - Baier (09:23)

5. Foreign Policy Update: Iran and Ukraine

a) Iran Escalation

Recent Attacks: Iranian-backed militias have attacked U.S. targets and merchant ships; President Trump prepares a forceful reply.
- “President Trump tells Fox News about Iran. We are going to beat the effing s out of them. He went on to say, we’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating.”
  - President Trump via Trey Yingst (11:02)
Expectation of Extended Conflict:
- “The president’s either got to decide I’m pulling out or I’m going to go for it, don’t you think?”
  - Kilmeade (12:12)
- “I think he’s in the mindset right now of going forward… Each time the Iranians, one way or another, do what happened, you know, do these attacks on ships and more importantly, attacks on US Soldiers in the region…I think it’s going to be forward.”
  - Baier (12:12)

b) Ukraine, Russia, Iran Nexus

Direct Ties Confirmed by Zelenskyy:
- “I talked to Zelenskyy yesterday…One of the things I asked him is…do you see this direct linkage between Iran and Russia? And he said absolutely…”
  - Baier (13:19)
- Ukraine recently targeted an Iran vessel carrying weapons to Russia, highlighting the interconnected nature of global conflicts.
- Baier promises more coverage on technological cooperation and anti-ballistic missile needs.
Media Misconceptions and Ukrainian Image:
- “I just hope people realize Ukraine’s a good guys. I hope people are waking up and understanding that you’ve been sold propaganda that Russia had no choice that NATO was surrounding them and they had to push back. All that was BS…”
  - Kilmeade (14:19)
- “He’s [Zelenskyy] evolved in the way he can communicate…Ukraine has turned the tide and I think that their relationship has evolved too.”
  - Baier (14:44)

6. Brief Note: Lindsey Graham’s Memorial

Baier shares somber reflections about Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral, cross-party attendance, and poignant remarks from world leaders.
- “The National Cathedral does it better than any place in the world. And the pomp and circumstance and the somber respect. It was beautiful… And to see Zelensky and Netanyahu chatting in the pew, it was really something.”
  - Baier (09:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully declined to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth amendment of the Constitution.”
– Dr. Anthony Fauci (03:00)
“It is a little surprising, I think, when you have a preemptive pardon to take the Fifth is, I don't know, it just seems out of place.”
– Bret Baier (00:54)
“This was our life. This was the biggest health policy decision ever... and it was horrific.”
– Bret Baier (03:27)
“People should not be walking around with masks... Masks are not theater...”
– Anthony Fauci montage (04:36)
“President Trump tells Fox News about Iran. We are going to beat the effing s out of them...”
– President Trump via Trey Yingst (11:02)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:30–03:27: Discussion on Fauci’s Fifth Amendment plea and media coverage.
03:00: Fauci’s refusal to answer question on gain-of-function.
04:36: Montage of Fauci’s contradictory statements on masks.
05:48–06:27: Fauci’s diary, celebrity contacts, and media ambitions.
08:19: Private diary revelations (Fauci and Hunter Biden anecdote) and speculation on Democratic response.
09:46: Lindsey Graham memorial reflection.
11:02–12:12: Iran’s attacks and Trump’s expected response.
13:19: Ukraine technology and Iran–Russia linkage discussed.
14:44: Zelenskyy’s communication skills and Ukraine's evolution.

Final Thoughts

This episode provides a pointed critique of Dr. Fauci, the media, and the broader handling of the pandemic and public communication. Baier and Kilmeade also contextualize current U.S. foreign policy crises, drawing connections between Middle East conflicts and the Russia-Ukraine war, and offer behind-the-scenes insight from high-level figures. The tone remains skeptical and combative, with a focus on accountability and transparency both in public health and foreign affairs.

Loading summary

Transcript40 lines

[00:00]
A
Across the country, UnitedHealth Group is working with local partners to build healthier communities every day. That includes helping partners like the good acre provide 45,000 meals and lower A1C in the twin Cities, and helping hello Family doulas deliver 44% fewer underweight births in Spartanburg. Because building healthier communities starts by giving people access to the care and services they need to live healthier lives. Learn more@unitedhealthgroup.com commitment.
[00:30]
B
Brett Baer, chief chief political anchor for FOX News and anchor, special report, author of the relatively new book the Case for America bestseller, An Argument on Behalf of Our Nation. Hey, Brett, I'm just watching Anthony Fauci take the Fifth Amendment after a brilliant opening statement and of course, Senator Peter saying we're wasting our time, as that was expected. Are you surprised he's taking the Fifth? And what does that tell you? That he is?
[00:55]
A
Yeah.
[00:55]
C
Good morning. I think it is a little surprising, I think, when you have a preemptive pardon to take the Fifth is, I don't know, it just seems out of place. But I'm guessing he's fearing a situation where he could be caught in a lie. And at first, you know, I was asking our legal people whether he could take the Fifth in the current environment with that Biden pardon. And I guess it is an option. So this will be a frustrating hearing. And, you know, I'm not sure how fruitful it will be, but it will definitely bring to light a lot of the diary entries that were counter to what he was saying publicly. Right. And besides, Fox, you have not seen that anywhere. And, you know, I guess for that effort, that's gonna be a positive for those Republican senators.
[01:57]
B
CBS Evening News gave it 90 seconds. That was it. And I just talked to Matt Taibbi, who, as you know, used to write for the Rolling Stone, not known as a conservative journalist, and just pointed out the fact this is just the latest example. We thought we were through this. Remember, the Hunter Biden laptop wasn't real. Of course it was real. Remember the Russia hoax? Of course. Of course the president colluded with Russia. Turns out he didn't clue with Russia. They never, they got awards for it, but they never owned up to it. And the shadow ban that took place, that was revealed when Elon Musk took over and everything else that happened, no one ever owned up to that. So this is just the latest example of the media deciding, well, even if we're culpable, if we ignore it, maybe it'll go away, but I want people at home to Hear Anthony Fauci, you'll see, you know, Senator Rand Paul give a real brilliant opening about everything in the contradictions. And this is what Anthony Fauci said. Dr. Fauci, were you ever made aware
[02:48]
C
of gain of function research on monkeypox being conducted at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures center and back at Fort Detrick?
[03:00]
D
On the advice of counsel, I respectfully declined to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth amendment of the Constitution.
[03:09]
B
And that. And that's Fauci. Did the CIA. So basically, Rand Paul is just going through his questions and that's the answer with Laura Ingram in the backdrop. So. So, Brett, there you go. So what is it? What does it lead everyone to believe that Anthony Fauci wasn't going to be treated fairly, had no choice? Is that how. How many in the media are going to portray this?
[03:27]
C
I'm sure. I mean, if they cover it at all. And, and that is really egregious. And it's. It's also disappointing because, you know, all these folks media say, you know, why is it that the media has lost such trust with the American people? And you look at the examples you just listed off, and this is another one. I mean, this is. This was our life. This was the biggest health policy decision ever that the country had made, and it was horrific. Now there's a lot of people saying it was evolving, a lot of stuff we didn't know. That's the problem is that these diaries and these entries suggest that he did know and he did know that, you know, the mask thing. And yet what he said publicly was totally different than what he said privately. The lab leak theory, which we did first, and we were called crazy and conspiratorial and all kinds of stuff. And it's just another example of all of this, and it hurts us in the media overall.
[04:32]
B
I mean, listen to him on masks. Cut 14.
[04:37]
D
People should not be walking around with masks. Let me just state for the record that masks are not theater. Wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better. Masks are protective, but it's not providing the perfect protection that people think that. It is good that you're vaccinated, but in a situation where you have people indoors, particularly crowded, you should wear a mask. You are vaccinated, fully vaccinated, you are protected, and you do not need to wear a mask outdoors or indoors.
[05:05]
B
This was every day with me, you know, especially on this show. I mean, I was. My head was going to explode. You know, they kept us out of the office. We all know that. And you couldn't even. I'm just saying, does anyone realize this contradictions? Why do people love this guy? And by the way, you know, you know, his biases too. Brett, I'll never forget. Do we have that cut? Eric, you told me you have. So, so Joe Biden becomes president. Yeah, Joe Biden becomes president. And Anthony Fauci in diaries reaffirmed it that they kept him off television like this big sin. Donald Trump kept me off television. So he gets on Rachel Maddow show. You know, it's not like making Johnny Carson as a comedian. It looks like you made it. If you're on Rachel Maddow show and you love that show, you have one point of view when it comes to politics. Should we hear it?
[05:49]
D
I've been wanting to come on your show for months and months. You've been asking me to come on your show for months. For months and months. And it's just gotten blocked. That's, I mean, let's call it what it is. It just got blocked because they didn't like the way you handle things and they didn't want me on there. I mean, it was so clear when we sent it down. Why would you want to go on Rachel Maddow show? Well, because I like her and she's really good. It doesn't make any difference. Don't do it. I don't think you're going to see that now. I think you're going to see a lot of transparency.
[06:21]
B
So he got on his favorite show. Why is that?
[06:27]
C
It's amazing. It really is. And some of the stuff about how excited he was about the stardom and how popular he was, I mean, it really was some kind of reading in that diary. And here people, you know, thousands of people are dying based on decisions that we're making. You know, it will go down as the worst two year span in the health policy decisions ever. And you know, I think we've obviously learned a lot from it and we as a country are not going to do that again in the same way if we ever, God forbid, had to face something like that. But this is, it's frustrating, I think for a lot of people watching him take the fifth today.
[07:16]
E
Across the country, UnitedHealth Group is working with local partners to build healthier communities every day. That includes helping partners like the good acre provide 45,000 meals and lower A1C in the twin Cities and helping hello Family doulas deliver 44% fewer underweight births in Spartanburg because building healthier Communities starts by giving people access to the care and services they need to live healthier lives. Learn more@unitedhealthgroup.com commitment.
[07:49]
B
Best thing that's ever happened to you financially. Go easy.
[07:52]
F
Sold my car on Carvana. Amazing offer, really.
[07:55]
B
I hit 200 on the scratcher.
[07:57]
F
Did the scratcher come to your house and hand you a check? No. How many scratchers did you hit to get that? I hit a button on Carvana.com once.
[08:05]
B
Okay, that's fair.
[08:06]
F
It's like the lottery, except you always win.
[08:09]
B
Not like the lottery at all, actually.
[08:11]
F
Exactly. Inexplicably good offers worth bragging about. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pickup fees may apply.
[08:19]
B
So Fauci recorded numerous celebrity contacts. How he loved Julia Roberts, Steph Curry, Anne Wintour, Trevor Noah, Sean Penn, Matt Damon, Lil Wayne. Also Julia Roberts interviewed him on Instagram, sent flowers and later presented him with an Award. The 20 tweet Kennedy Senator Award awards. Fauci wrote that he hugged Hunter Biden according to his diary. But Biden joked that a photograph would cause the Internet to explode because both men were being attacked by Republicans. So it is a very sad page and I think after the January this is, I think we're going to see them just cover for him and say nice things about him. I'm very intrigued if some Democrats, especially a guy like Senator Peters who's leaving, if they're going to just say, listen, I'm a little disappointed what I read in the diaries. I'm a little disappointed with some of the things you said publicly as well as privately, or they're going to just look to cover for him. I'm very curious. You know, Fetterman said, I don't read diaries, but that's the one guy I was counting on to come out and point out who he really was.
[09:23]
C
Yeah, well, he's clearly, you know, Senator Ferman will show a lot of respect for the Republican line of thinking in a lot of ways and we'll see how this ends up. But this is going to be a long hearing if he's doing that all day.
[09:38]
B
So I saw. I know you want to Senator Lindsey Graham's memorial yesterday, his funeral yesterday. You've been to some of these before. What was it like?
[09:47]
C
You know, the National Cathedral does it better than any place in the world. And the pomp and circumstance and the somber respect. It was beautiful. It really was. I thought the president's remarks were spot on. They talked about Lindsey. It was funny. It was self deprecating. He actually said that Lindsey and Annika Sorbestam beat him in golf and then said, Annika had a really good day. You know, I thought Sean's remarks were spot on. And you know, what I was most struck at by is the people who showed up, the Democrats, Republicans, the ambassadors from every country, the world leaders. And to see Zelensky and Netanyahu chatting in the pew, it was really something. And it was a tribute to Lindsey.
[10:37]
B
So let's talk about Iran. Lindsey Graham Wood and we know that they attacked the militias, the, the associated militias in Iraq, attacked Saudi Arabia and attacked us in Jordan. The IRGC sponsored and we were able to knock down and president said he saw it in real time. We were able to knock down the rockets that are heading our direction. And Trey Yings picked up the phone and called the president and here's what he said.
[11:02]
G
Cut one President Trump reacting to that Iranian attack on US Forces overnight in Jordan. President Trump tells Fox News about Iran. We are going to beat the effing s out of them. He went on to say, we'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating. So clearly the United States is going to respond to what the president described as a surprise attack. He says U.S. forces had just minutes to shoot down these incoming Iranian ballistic missiles. The president says he has reviewed video of the shoot down and it was US Forces conducting this operation to defend that area.
[11:38]
B
So the president, we expect some massive action, you know, way before when you hop on the air on Special Report today. But this is the most predictable thing ever. Brett, did you really think the IRGC was going to seriously consider bringing this thing to an end after 14 state straight days of strikes, knowing that the last MoU, which was terrible but lasted, you know, a week. And next thing you know, they're shooting at chips, they're shooting at merchant ships again. And then yesterday we understand three separate ships were attacked. So this week we know this game. The president's either got to decide I'm pulling out or I'm going to go for it, don't you think?
[12:12]
C
Yeah, I do. And I think he's in the mindset right now of going forward. I think he's frustrated by repeated efforts to sit at the table. And he's got, you know, people inside his administration that are saying give it a shot. He's given a shot a number of different times. And each time the Iranians, one way or another, do what happened, you know, do these attacks on ships and more importantly, attacks on US Soldiers in the region. I think that there's probably not Going to be a slow up. I think it's going to be forward. And that's, you know, Senator Lindsey Graham has talked about that a lot. I think that the president's in that place now where it goes, how far it goes. Does Iran eventually get to a place where they really are negotiating? Tough to say because they've never been there.
[13:06]
B
You know, Brett, yesterday something about face to face, seeing the Prime Minister Netanyahu face to face with Zelenskyy and knowing that Ukraine took out an Iran ship that was full of weapons to Russia. These wars are coming together.
[13:19]
C
Yeah, I talked to Zelenskyy yesterday. I actually taped a brief interview that I'll air later this week. More about drones and technology. And we're going to do a series on what Ukraine has done technology wise and how we are benefiting from it. One of the things I asked him is is there do you see this direct linkage between Iran and Russia? And he said absolutely. He mentioned what you just mentioned. But he also said, you know, there is a draw of anti ballistic missile capability, Patriot missile batteries thaads to the countries surrounding Iran that need protection and so do we. And so Russia knows this and they need Iran to keep stirring the pot so that the focus is on what Ukraine's doing and US Help of Ukraine. So I mean he did the direct tie and I'll play some of that in a couple of days.
[14:19]
B
I just hope more people and nobody knows Zelensky in America better than you and always interviewed him more too. And I just hope people realize Ukraine's a good guys. I hope people are waking up and understanding that you've been sold propaganda that Russia had no choice that NATO was surrounding them and they had to push back. All that was BS I couldn't believe was resonating a lot with the right and left. Hope people understand a lot with the right, I should say. And I hope people.
[14:44]
C
Yeah, it definitely did. And you know, he's evolved in the way he can communicate. When I first interviewed him, I think it's eight times and I went over there to the front lines but his English was not that great and he had to stop and get translated. He's point on now. And I think President Trump likes a winner and I think Ukraine has turned the tide and I think that their relationship has evolved too.
[15:10]
B
Go get him. Six o' clock tonight Eastern time. Expect to see Brett Baier. Brett, thanks so much.
[15:14]
C
We'll see you.
[15:15]
B
You got it. And pick up his book, the Case for America. An argument on behalf of our nation
[15:20]
A
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