Senator Mark Kelly

Anderson, it's shocking, you know, that after 80 years, in a few days, Donald Trump just blew up the Western alliance. I mean, completely. And you have the Secretary of Defense on TV over this weekend talking about how this is a complicated situation. It's not complicated. It's very clear who the aggressor is. It's clear who the war criminal is.

Anderson, it's shocking, you know, that after 80 years, in a few days, Donald Trump just blew up the Western alliance. I mean, completely. And you have the Secretary of Defense on TV over this weekend talking about how this is a complicated situation. It's not complicated. It's very clear who the aggressor is. It's clear who the war criminal is.

Anderson, it's shocking, you know, that after 80 years, in a few days, Donald Trump just blew up the Western alliance. I mean, completely. And you have the Secretary of Defense on TV over this weekend talking about how this is a complicated situation. It's not complicated. It's very clear who the aggressor is. It's clear who the war criminal is.

And this vote today in the U.N., where the United States of America is siding with the North Koreans, and with Russia and Belarus. I mean, even after this first month of this administration, I'm still kind of shocked of what happened over the last several days. And make no mistake, Anderson, this makes our country look weak, and we are less safe because of it.

And this vote today in the U.N., where the United States of America is siding with the North Koreans, and with Russia and Belarus. I mean, even after this first month of this administration, I'm still kind of shocked of what happened over the last several days. And make no mistake, Anderson, this makes our country look weak, and we are less safe because of it.

And this vote today in the U.N., where the United States of America is siding with the North Koreans, and with Russia and Belarus. I mean, even after this first month of this administration, I'm still kind of shocked of what happened over the last several days. And make no mistake, Anderson, this makes our country look weak, and we are less safe because of it.

Zelensky, a dictator, would you use the same words regarding Putin?

Zelensky, a dictator, would you use the same words regarding Putin?

Zelensky, a dictator, would you use the same words regarding Putin?

December of 2014 at the CBA Christmas party at the Grand Hyatt at Washington, D.C., you were noticeably intoxicated and had to be carried up to your room. Is that true or false? anonymous smears. Another time a CVA staffer stated that you passed out in the back of a party bus.

December of 2014 at the CBA Christmas party at the Grand Hyatt at Washington, D.C., you were noticeably intoxicated and had to be carried up to your room. Is that true or false? anonymous smears. Another time a CVA staffer stated that you passed out in the back of a party bus.

December of 2014 at the CBA Christmas party at the Grand Hyatt at Washington, D.C., you were noticeably intoxicated and had to be carried up to your room. Is that true or false? anonymous smears. Another time a CVA staffer stated that you passed out in the back of a party bus.

Well, Tim, when I went in there yesterday morning, that was not the line of questioning I had planned on. I had this plan to talk to him more about his management experience at Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans of America and how he managed these organizations and his financial management and the state that he'd left them in when he

Well, Tim, when I went in there yesterday morning, that was not the line of questioning I had planned on. I had this plan to talk to him more about his management experience at Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans of America and how he managed these organizations and his financial management and the state that he'd left them in when he

Well, Tim, when I went in there yesterday morning, that was not the line of questioning I had planned on. I had this plan to talk to him more about his management experience at Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans of America and how he managed these organizations and his financial management and the state that he'd left them in when he

moved on, which is still unclear exactly how that happened. Was he asked to leave or was he removed? So that was, you know, what I had planned.

moved on, which is still unclear exactly how that happened. Was he asked to leave or was he removed? So that was, you know, what I had planned.

moved on, which is still unclear exactly how that happened. Was he asked to leave or was he removed? So that was, you know, what I had planned.

And then after some of my colleagues asked some of these other questions about personal issues, you know, became, you know, kind of clear to me that there was a little bit of a conflict between him saying that he has these personal issues, but when asked about things that I think all of us would consider would be significant personal issues.

And then after some of my colleagues asked some of these other questions about personal issues, you know, became, you know, kind of clear to me that there was a little bit of a conflict between him saying that he has these personal issues, but when asked about things that I think all of us would consider would be significant personal issues.

And then after some of my colleagues asked some of these other questions about personal issues, you know, became, you know, kind of clear to me that there was a little bit of a conflict between him saying that he has these personal issues, but when asked about things that I think all of us would consider would be significant personal issues.

He would just say smear, you know, that he's being smeared. So that's when I went in there and I, you know, I said to my team and we, we just kind of went and pulled all these specific cases. So the thing that concerned me more than what you've just, you know, said about the last question was that he couldn't say if these things were true or false, right? It's a very simple question.

He would just say smear, you know, that he's being smeared. So that's when I went in there and I, you know, I said to my team and we, we just kind of went and pulled all these specific cases. So the thing that concerned me more than what you've just, you know, said about the last question was that he couldn't say if these things were true or false, right? It's a very simple question.

He would just say smear, you know, that he's being smeared. So that's when I went in there and I, you know, I said to my team and we, we just kind of went and pulled all these specific cases. So the thing that concerned me more than what you've just, you know, said about the last question was that he couldn't say if these things were true or false, right? It's a very simple question.

If you feel you've been smeared, it would be obvious you would say, well, these are false.

If you feel you've been smeared, it would be obvious you would say, well, these are false.

If you feel you've been smeared, it would be obvious you would say, well, these are false.

Exactly. At the end, that is true, but just stepping through all these things. I gave him more than one chance. I said, hey, I'm asking you, just tell me if this is true or false. And he wouldn't give me an answer. So, you know, obviously, I'm still concerned about this because the enormity of this job cannot be overstressed.

Exactly. At the end, that is true, but just stepping through all these things. I gave him more than one chance. I said, hey, I'm asking you, just tell me if this is true or false. And he wouldn't give me an answer. So, you know, obviously, I'm still concerned about this because the enormity of this job cannot be overstressed.

Exactly. At the end, that is true, but just stepping through all these things. I gave him more than one chance. I said, hey, I'm asking you, just tell me if this is true or false. And he wouldn't give me an answer. So, you know, obviously, I'm still concerned about this because the enormity of this job cannot be overstressed.

It is perhaps the besides maybe being president of the United States is it's one of the hardest jobs on the planet. And you got to be ready all the time. This is not a nine to five job. This is 24 seven, 365 days out of the year. You need to be available and ready.

It is perhaps the besides maybe being president of the United States is it's one of the hardest jobs on the planet. And you got to be ready all the time. This is not a nine to five job. This is 24 seven, 365 days out of the year. You need to be available and ready.

It is perhaps the besides maybe being president of the United States is it's one of the hardest jobs on the planet. And you got to be ready all the time. This is not a nine to five job. This is 24 seven, 365 days out of the year. You need to be available and ready.

We've had cases in our country's history where Secretary of Defense has woken up in the middle of the night, actually often, but some rather disturbing situations, you got to have a person there that's ready to go.

We've had cases in our country's history where Secretary of Defense has woken up in the middle of the night, actually often, but some rather disturbing situations, you got to have a person there that's ready to go.

We've had cases in our country's history where Secretary of Defense has woken up in the middle of the night, actually often, but some rather disturbing situations, you got to have a person there that's ready to go.

Well, that, but also the whole thing about, we're talking about two different jobs. I mean, being a U.S. Senator, being the Secretary of Defense are on different planets. I mean, they're different, a different kind of experience. I mean, you're not in the nuclear command and control structure in the U.S. Senate.

Well, that, but also the whole thing about, we're talking about two different jobs. I mean, being a U.S. Senator, being the Secretary of Defense are on different planets. I mean, they're different, a different kind of experience. I mean, you're not in the nuclear command and control structure in the U.S. Senate.

Well, that, but also the whole thing about, we're talking about two different jobs. I mean, being a U.S. Senator, being the Secretary of Defense are on different planets. I mean, they're different, a different kind of experience. I mean, you're not in the nuclear command and control structure in the U.S. Senate.

And what Mark Wayne was saying, he didn't play it, but about like seeing people on the floor of the Senate, you know, with the same kind of issues. I've been there twice as long as he has, only four years. He's been in the Senate two years. That's, that is... Not something I have ever witnessed.

And what Mark Wayne was saying, he didn't play it, but about like seeing people on the floor of the Senate, you know, with the same kind of issues. I've been there twice as long as he has, only four years. He's been in the Senate two years. That's, that is... Not something I have ever witnessed.

And what Mark Wayne was saying, he didn't play it, but about like seeing people on the floor of the Senate, you know, with the same kind of issues. I've been there twice as long as he has, only four years. He's been in the Senate two years. That's, that is... Not something I have ever witnessed.

Not once. Pulled off the floor or not pulled off the floor. I've never seen that on a single occasion. Maybe he's talking about his experience in the House. He was a House member.

Not once. Pulled off the floor or not pulled off the floor. I've never seen that on a single occasion. Maybe he's talking about his experience in the House. He was a House member.

Not once. Pulled off the floor or not pulled off the floor. I've never seen that on a single occasion. Maybe he's talking about his experience in the House. He was a House member.

Yeah, I don't know what goes on there, but you're right. I mean, Pete Hegseth, nothing against folks in journalism, right? I mean, we've got a lot of folks up here. You know, on Capitol Hill, it's a very important place. you know, role that you have, especially when it comes to keeping people like me, you know, politicians, folks in the Congress accountable, very important role.

Yeah, I don't know what goes on there, but you're right. I mean, Pete Hegseth, nothing against folks in journalism, right? I mean, we've got a lot of folks up here. You know, on Capitol Hill, it's a very important place. you know, role that you have, especially when it comes to keeping people like me, you know, politicians, folks in the Congress accountable, very important role.

Yeah, I don't know what goes on there, but you're right. I mean, Pete Hegseth, nothing against folks in journalism, right? I mean, we've got a lot of folks up here. You know, on Capitol Hill, it's a very important place. you know, role that you have, especially when it comes to keeping people like me, you know, politicians, folks in the Congress accountable, very important role.

I just don't see how that nine years or, you know, six or seven, whatever he was there at the Fox Saturday morning show has prepared him to walk into this job here potentially in a couple of weeks and run this enormous agency where the consequences of your job performance are so significant. We've got well over a million service members and then there's government employees.

I just don't see how that nine years or, you know, six or seven, whatever he was there at the Fox Saturday morning show has prepared him to walk into this job here potentially in a couple of weeks and run this enormous agency where the consequences of your job performance are so significant. We've got well over a million service members and then there's government employees.

I just don't see how that nine years or, you know, six or seven, whatever he was there at the Fox Saturday morning show has prepared him to walk into this job here potentially in a couple of weeks and run this enormous agency where the consequences of your job performance are so significant. We've got well over a million service members and then there's government employees.

Now I served in the Navy for 25 years. The person at the top of the organization always matters. It matters a lot. If he messes it up, He puts people's lives in danger, or he could wind up screwing up some acquisition program that costs the taxpayers multiple billions of dollars more because he was unprepared for the job.

Now I served in the Navy for 25 years. The person at the top of the organization always matters. It matters a lot. If he messes it up, He puts people's lives in danger, or he could wind up screwing up some acquisition program that costs the taxpayers multiple billions of dollars more because he was unprepared for the job.

Now I served in the Navy for 25 years. The person at the top of the organization always matters. It matters a lot. If he messes it up, He puts people's lives in danger, or he could wind up screwing up some acquisition program that costs the taxpayers multiple billions of dollars more because he was unprepared for the job.

And my Republican colleagues in this case, as you point out, in my view too, I don't think they address some of the more serious issues that we have with this nominee for this job.

And my Republican colleagues in this case, as you point out, in my view too, I don't think they address some of the more serious issues that we have with this nominee for this job.

And my Republican colleagues in this case, as you point out, in my view too, I don't think they address some of the more serious issues that we have with this nominee for this job.

Well, I haven't spoken to them since yesterday. At the committee hearing, I spoke to the chairman about having another round of questions. I think it's I think it's sort of unprecedented, you know, how abbreviated this hearing was. This is the first one I've done for the Secretary of Defense. We should have had an opportunity to ask more.

Well, I haven't spoken to them since yesterday. At the committee hearing, I spoke to the chairman about having another round of questions. I think it's I think it's sort of unprecedented, you know, how abbreviated this hearing was. This is the first one I've done for the Secretary of Defense. We should have had an opportunity to ask more.

Well, I haven't spoken to them since yesterday. At the committee hearing, I spoke to the chairman about having another round of questions. I think it's I think it's sort of unprecedented, you know, how abbreviated this hearing was. This is the first one I've done for the Secretary of Defense. We should have had an opportunity to ask more.

And I had a bunch of policy questions I wanted to ask him on specific programs, on CJADC2, on Sentinel, on SLCMN, on the state of our maritime industry, which is related to shipbuilding. Couldn't get to it because we're not allotted enough time. And you're talking about how significant this job is.

And I had a bunch of policy questions I wanted to ask him on specific programs, on CJADC2, on Sentinel, on SLCMN, on the state of our maritime industry, which is related to shipbuilding. Couldn't get to it because we're not allotted enough time. And you're talking about how significant this job is.

And I had a bunch of policy questions I wanted to ask him on specific programs, on CJADC2, on Sentinel, on SLCMN, on the state of our maritime industry, which is related to shipbuilding. Couldn't get to it because we're not allotted enough time. And you're talking about how significant this job is.

And I just cannot stress more how important it is to have somebody there that's incredibly competent. to do this. And it's an incredibly hard job. And I don't expect every nominee to check every box, but I'm trying to figure out which ones he does check.

And I just cannot stress more how important it is to have somebody there that's incredibly competent. to do this. And it's an incredibly hard job. And I don't expect every nominee to check every box, but I'm trying to figure out which ones he does check.

And I just cannot stress more how important it is to have somebody there that's incredibly competent. to do this. And it's an incredibly hard job. And I don't expect every nominee to check every box, but I'm trying to figure out which ones he does check.

Well, I would say on other nominees, because I did go through this experience with some of the other lower DOD nominees at the beginning of the Biden administration, there is not a lot of significant coordination. But the seriousness of this hearing and the consequences of this hearing were such that we did ahead of time, talk about it, you know, sort of come up with a plan.

Well, I would say on other nominees, because I did go through this experience with some of the other lower DOD nominees at the beginning of the Biden administration, there is not a lot of significant coordination. But the seriousness of this hearing and the consequences of this hearing were such that we did ahead of time, talk about it, you know, sort of come up with a plan.

Well, I would say on other nominees, because I did go through this experience with some of the other lower DOD nominees at the beginning of the Biden administration, there is not a lot of significant coordination. But the seriousness of this hearing and the consequences of this hearing were such that we did ahead of time, talk about it, you know, sort of come up with a plan.

Every senator kind of views them, not me, but might view themselves as, hey, they got the most important stuff. And you're kind of like a lone ranger out there. But for this, we did. And I asked, actually asked the, you you know, Jack Reed, I said, Hey, we, we have to kind of coordinate because we don't all want to be asking the same exact thing.

Every senator kind of views them, not me, but might view themselves as, hey, they got the most important stuff. And you're kind of like a lone ranger out there. But for this, we did. And I asked, actually asked the, you you know, Jack Reed, I said, Hey, we, we have to kind of coordinate because we don't all want to be asking the same exact thing.

Every senator kind of views them, not me, but might view themselves as, hey, they got the most important stuff. And you're kind of like a lone ranger out there. But for this, we did. And I asked, actually asked the, you you know, Jack Reed, I said, Hey, we, we have to kind of coordinate because we don't all want to be asking the same exact thing.

And in Hegseth's background, there is a lot of stuff to cover and we have a limited amount of time. So we did, but I would say real time for a number of people, you're making adjustments, you know, on the fly and, And kind of rewriting what you're going to do. I was sitting next to Alyssa Slotkin. I was the junior member on the committee for a while.

And in Hegseth's background, there is a lot of stuff to cover and we have a limited amount of time. So we did, but I would say real time for a number of people, you're making adjustments, you know, on the fly and, And kind of rewriting what you're going to do. I was sitting next to Alyssa Slotkin. I was the junior member on the committee for a while.

And in Hegseth's background, there is a lot of stuff to cover and we have a limited amount of time. So we did, but I would say real time for a number of people, you're making adjustments, you know, on the fly and, And kind of rewriting what you're going to do. I was sitting next to Alyssa Slotkin. I was the junior member on the committee for a while.

And, you know, during the whole time, she was actually writing down what she was planning on asking. And I thought what she covered was really smart and she was really effective in doing it.

And, you know, during the whole time, she was actually writing down what she was planning on asking. And I thought what she covered was really smart and she was really effective in doing it.

And, you know, during the whole time, she was actually writing down what she was planning on asking. And I thought what she covered was really smart and she was really effective in doing it.

No, I think that was it for me. Obviously, him not being able to answer my questions was a tell, and it was significant. If he gets to the job, we're going to all understand that he is going to be very reluctant to push back, even possibly when given an unlawful order from the President of the United States. He might be very hesitant to push back against those. That's concerning.

No, I think that was it for me. Obviously, him not being able to answer my questions was a tell, and it was significant. If he gets to the job, we're going to all understand that he is going to be very reluctant to push back, even possibly when given an unlawful order from the President of the United States. He might be very hesitant to push back against those. That's concerning.

No, I think that was it for me. Obviously, him not being able to answer my questions was a tell, and it was significant. If he gets to the job, we're going to all understand that he is going to be very reluctant to push back, even possibly when given an unlawful order from the President of the United States. He might be very hesitant to push back against those. That's concerning.

Well, I know they do. I mean, just from my conversations I've had with them already. So there are some concerns about FISA. She has changed her position dramatically on this issue. And this is the collection of foreign intelligence that we do through a program called FISA. It's 702. It's the authority to be able to listen.

Well, I know they do. I mean, just from my conversations I've had with them already. So there are some concerns about FISA. She has changed her position dramatically on this issue. And this is the collection of foreign intelligence that we do through a program called FISA. It's 702. It's the authority to be able to listen.

Well, I know they do. I mean, just from my conversations I've had with them already. So there are some concerns about FISA. She has changed her position dramatically on this issue. And this is the collection of foreign intelligence that we do through a program called FISA. It's 702. It's the authority to be able to listen.

to foreign nationals when they're in another country, not in the United States. And there is some incidental collection issues if that foreign national happens to be talking to an American and how all that stuff is handled. So she's done a 180 on this. That's a concern.

to foreign nationals when they're in another country, not in the United States. And there is some incidental collection issues if that foreign national happens to be talking to an American and how all that stuff is handled. So she's done a 180 on this. That's a concern.

to foreign nationals when they're in another country, not in the United States. And there is some incidental collection issues if that foreign national happens to be talking to an American and how all that stuff is handled. So she's done a 180 on this. That's a concern.

I think some of my Republican colleagues, just like the concern I have about how she views Snowden, you know, and what she thinks, you know, should happen with regards to a pardon of him. Yeah. My view is he did incredible, long-lasting, and serious damage to our national security, and he's a criminal, and he should be prosecuted if we're given the opportunity.

I think some of my Republican colleagues, just like the concern I have about how she views Snowden, you know, and what she thinks, you know, should happen with regards to a pardon of him. Yeah. My view is he did incredible, long-lasting, and serious damage to our national security, and he's a criminal, and he should be prosecuted if we're given the opportunity.

I think some of my Republican colleagues, just like the concern I have about how she views Snowden, you know, and what she thinks, you know, should happen with regards to a pardon of him. Yeah. My view is he did incredible, long-lasting, and serious damage to our national security, and he's a criminal, and he should be prosecuted if we're given the opportunity.

She seems to still think that he's sort of some kind of hero and should be pardoned for these actions. I know some of my Republican colleagues are concerned about that, but I think just like Hegseth, there's going to be tremendous pressure on them to confirm all of these nominees.

She seems to still think that he's sort of some kind of hero and should be pardoned for these actions. I know some of my Republican colleagues are concerned about that, but I think just like Hegseth, there's going to be tremendous pressure on them to confirm all of these nominees.

She seems to still think that he's sort of some kind of hero and should be pardoned for these actions. I know some of my Republican colleagues are concerned about that, but I think just like Hegseth, there's going to be tremendous pressure on them to confirm all of these nominees.

Yeah, we talked about that a little bit. She was in my office last week, so we got to touch on a number of these topics. Were you at all assuaged by her? I still have concerns about, you know, her taking on this role. I mean, she's, she's her background.

Yeah, we talked about that a little bit. She was in my office last week, so we got to touch on a number of these topics. Were you at all assuaged by her? I still have concerns about, you know, her taking on this role. I mean, she's, she's her background.

Yeah, we talked about that a little bit. She was in my office last week, so we got to touch on a number of these topics. Were you at all assuaged by her? I still have concerns about, you know, her taking on this role. I mean, she's, she's her background.

And as a member of the house is not with the intelligence community, you know, same thing with her service, even though she holds a, you know, I think a secret or top secret clearance, it is not the same as working with intelligence agencies. When I was on an aircraft carrier, I had a top secret clearance on the A6 intruder. We would,

And as a member of the house is not with the intelligence community, you know, same thing with her service, even though she holds a, you know, I think a secret or top secret clearance, it is not the same as working with intelligence agencies. When I was on an aircraft carrier, I had a top secret clearance on the A6 intruder. We would,

And as a member of the house is not with the intelligence community, you know, same thing with her service, even though she holds a, you know, I think a secret or top secret clearance, it is not the same as working with intelligence agencies. When I was on an aircraft carrier, I had a top secret clearance on the A6 intruder. We would,

We were able to carry nuclear weapons and also in targeting, we got to see sometimes top secret intelligence, but it's very limited. It's not like your job where you're dealing with and trying to manage the intelligence. And the biggest issue I think I have right now with Congresswoman Gabbard is just this predilection to go down the rabbit hole of misinformation.

We were able to carry nuclear weapons and also in targeting, we got to see sometimes top secret intelligence, but it's very limited. It's not like your job where you're dealing with and trying to manage the intelligence. And the biggest issue I think I have right now with Congresswoman Gabbard is just this predilection to go down the rabbit hole of misinformation.

We were able to carry nuclear weapons and also in targeting, we got to see sometimes top secret intelligence, but it's very limited. It's not like your job where you're dealing with and trying to manage the intelligence. And the biggest issue I think I have right now with Congresswoman Gabbard is just this predilection to go down the rabbit hole of misinformation.

Where are you getting your information from, your sources? Who are the experts you're using? There's this whole case in Syria with chemical weapons attacks that Assad did on his civilian population. It's very clear, and I think even to her, that he was gassing and poisoning with chemical weapons his population. That wasn't really in dispute. But she used her political capital to defend him

Where are you getting your information from, your sources? Who are the experts you're using? There's this whole case in Syria with chemical weapons attacks that Assad did on his civilian population. It's very clear, and I think even to her, that he was gassing and poisoning with chemical weapons his population. That wasn't really in dispute. But she used her political capital to defend him

Where are you getting your information from, your sources? Who are the experts you're using? There's this whole case in Syria with chemical weapons attacks that Assad did on his civilian population. It's very clear, and I think even to her, that he was gassing and poisoning with chemical weapons his population. That wasn't really in dispute. But she used her political capital to defend him

on two separate specific cases and then didn't do it well and was using, you know, what I think most people would view as like bad sources of information to try to make a case that in that specific instance that he did not use sarin gas from that weapon on this population. And it just seemed like a really odd thing to do. And the challenge that she will, you know, face if confirmed is the DNI

on two separate specific cases and then didn't do it well and was using, you know, what I think most people would view as like bad sources of information to try to make a case that in that specific instance that he did not use sarin gas from that weapon on this population. And it just seemed like a really odd thing to do. And the challenge that she will, you know, face if confirmed is the DNI

on two separate specific cases and then didn't do it well and was using, you know, what I think most people would view as like bad sources of information to try to make a case that in that specific instance that he did not use sarin gas from that weapon on this population. And it just seemed like a really odd thing to do. And the challenge that she will, you know, face if confirmed is the DNI

is you sometimes get conflicting information from the intelligence community. Like you're looking at these reports and then they'll present to you like, here's the dissenting view on this. And you got to be able to sort it out and figure out, okay, what do I think is right here? And now I got to go to the president and say, hey, these are the five most important things today.

is you sometimes get conflicting information from the intelligence community. Like you're looking at these reports and then they'll present to you like, here's the dissenting view on this. And you got to be able to sort it out and figure out, okay, what do I think is right here? And now I got to go to the president and say, hey, these are the five most important things today.

is you sometimes get conflicting information from the intelligence community. Like you're looking at these reports and then they'll present to you like, here's the dissenting view on this. And you got to be able to sort it out and figure out, okay, what do I think is right here? And now I got to go to the president and say, hey, these are the five most important things today.

And I think this is what you need to focus on. But if you have this like tendency to kind of go down the rabbit hole every time with the disinformation and misinformation, that puts all of us at risk.

And I think this is what you need to focus on. But if you have this like tendency to kind of go down the rabbit hole every time with the disinformation and misinformation, that puts all of us at risk.

And I think this is what you need to focus on. But if you have this like tendency to kind of go down the rabbit hole every time with the disinformation and misinformation, that puts all of us at risk.

You know, I spent 25 years in the Navy. I was a junior officer on an aircraft carrier in a squadron. Not my issue, but for the Secretary of Defense, when you have, and it's self-reported, by the way, you know, in his books that he has this significant problem. And it's not like it was way in the past. I mean, some of these reports are just two months ago.

You know, I spent 25 years in the Navy. I was a junior officer on an aircraft carrier in a squadron. Not my issue, but for the Secretary of Defense, when you have, and it's self-reported, by the way, you know, in his books that he has this significant problem. And it's not like it was way in the past. I mean, some of these reports are just two months ago.

You know, I spent 25 years in the Navy. I was a junior officer on an aircraft carrier in a squadron. Not my issue, but for the Secretary of Defense, when you have, and it's self-reported, by the way, you know, in his books that he has this significant problem. And it's not like it was way in the past. I mean, some of these reports are just two months ago.

Me? Never.

Me? Never.

Me? Never.

There is a local brewery called Modo Sonoran in Tucson, Arizona. And they've got a whole selection, and they make some pretty good beer.

There is a local brewery called Modo Sonoran in Tucson, Arizona. And they've got a whole selection, and they make some pretty good beer.

There is a local brewery called Modo Sonoran in Tucson, Arizona. And they've got a whole selection, and they make some pretty good beer.

Well, yeah, I think that depends on the person.

Russ Vogt over at OMB has said previously, one way or another, he has said that he wants a government shutdown.

And it's not clear what parts they would want to open back up.

On Adelita and Mike Johnson's unwillingness to swear her in, I mean, she's from Arizona.

She's also from the district that Gabby and I live in.

And there are 100 well over 100000 people that would be represented by her if he would swear her in.

All of those individuals in our district don't have representation in the in the U.S.

House.

And it seems to be like you indicated, it seems to be about Jeffrey Epstein.

I don't know of another reason.

I mean, he's got he would still have the majority.

He would still be speaker of the House.

She doesn't change that.

She needs to be sworn in.

And I think whenever they happen to come back into session, I expect that she will be.

He's keeping people out right now because he doesn't want to deal with the Jeffrey Epstein issue.

He also doesn't really want to deal with the issue that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene brought up.

And that's their plan on how do you deal with these health care costs that are about to go up dramatically for millions of Americans.

including her two adult children.

I mean, it sounds like she learned the details by talking to her kids.

Now, I talked to my constituents and there were last week, there were a couple of them that really stood out.

A woman named Robin in northern Arizona who's going to see her premiums go up from $250 a month to over a thousand.

And she said, you know, she's not looking for

a handout she's looking for a hand up she's looking for a little help and she also told me that this isn't about immigrants this is about her

You know, she's a fifth generation American, 60 years old on a fixed income who will not be able to afford health insurance.

And I imagine there are a million other people just like her that are gonna see these costs rise dramatically.

Don't let anybody, you know,

tell you or your listeners here that this is about undocumented people.

This is about the health care premiums that Americans are going to have to pay that they can't afford.

And it's good to see Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans are starting to realize that they are in an untenable situation without a good plan.

Now, they do have a plan.

It's just a lousy plan.

Yeah, well, you know, you could have the debate in public.

I think that's fair.

We're having this right now.

You know, me being on your show and going on cable news is part of this debate and others.

That's fine.

I think the negotiations, though, when when it's the leadership of the Congress negotiating with the president, I do think that should be in private.

We shouldn't try to repeat the fiasco that you saw with President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

That's not the way any president should do a negotiation.

They do like the theatrics, especially when they feel like they have leverage.

And in this case, they're realizing that they're on the opposite side of the American people.

And Donald Trump won.

rural areas in most states.

I think in all states, he won rural areas.

A lot of these folks are his voters.

There was another guy I talked to last week named Rusty who lives in Tucson.

He also happens to live in the district that doesn't have representation right now, which is where Adelita won that special election.

But he after he got sick with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and then because of a slight injury, wound up losing a leg.

Not so slight.

He wound up with sepsis, lost his leg.

He had to change his career path and he does tax preparation.

And a lot of his clients, he told me, are, you know, Donald Trump voters.

They voted for the president and they because of him, because he understands how this works, how these premium tax credits work.

You can have the government directly pay your premium or you can sort this out at the end of the year with your tax return.

He's telling them how much their premiums are going to go up.

His premium is going to go up, by the way, as well.

He said it's going to be unaffordable for him.

Folks are starting to understand what this means.

I think it's really important to understand the why behind this.

I mean, people are starting to figure out where we are, but the other important part is how did we get here?

We got here because months ago, the president and Republicans in Congress wanted to extend that big tax cut for rich people.

That's what this is all about.

And that tax cut costs a lot of money.

And that bill is going to add $4 trillion to the debt over 10 years.

But if we didn't kick people off of Medicaid and we didn't cut these premium tax credits, that $4 trillion was going to be a lot higher.

So this is to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.

That's all this is about.

It is we're fighting for health care.

They're fighting for big tax cuts for rich people.

I actually sunk two ships in the first Gulf War.

I sunk a Polnokne troop carrier, Iraqi troop carrier, and I sunk a OSA-2 missile patrol boat in the middle of Kuwait Harbor.

And never once during those missions did I ever think to myself, ooh, am I operating outside of the law?

Is this in some way unconstitutional?

And I really worry about those, you know,

aviators, drone operators, special forces guys that are in the Caribbean right now that are striking these boats.

And whether or not this is legal or are they going to find out on some future date that what they did was not consistent with our laws here in the United States and laws of international conflict.

There's no authorization for the use of military force.

The United States Congress has not given that to the president.

He hasn't asked.

He's just doing this, saying that this is a threat to the United States.

And on some level, yeah, it is.

I mean, these are drug smugglers, but we have not.

as far as I know in the history of our country, authorized kinetic action as the first step against, you know, drug smugglers.

We board these ships, we interdict them, we arrest them.

That's probably the way we should continue to do that.

We should step it up.

We should do more of it.

That is clear.

You know, nobody wants these drugs coming into the United States.

But I do worry about the the aviators out there and the drone operators who may have been put in a legally challenging position.

Well, I mean, it's just ridiculous, uncalled for, and un-American comments from a commander-in-chief to address the military and make it so political in the way he did, uncalled for.

I think the reaction of those in the room said it all, stone-faced, no response, entirely professional and apolitical.

And I imagine the president and the secretary of defense walked out of there

not happy that is not the response they they expected from the senior leadership of the united states military you know the president just looks for every single opportunity to divide us as a nation to divide us

with regards to, you know, the military.

He's got an instinct that is exactly the opposite of every other person who has served as Commander in Chief and President of the United States.

Everyone, he goes to the opposite place.

You know, we're gonna have to get used to that for another three years.

It's just who he is.

But I, you know, feel, you know, somewhat,

I feel better after seeing, I knew he was going to do that.

I knew the second death was going to do that.

I feel a little bit better seeing the response and the professionalism from the US military.

Now sending troops into US cities, there's no insurrection, there's no rebellion.

So he is outside the bounds of his authority to do that.

Well, let me just start by saying, Ben, I'm an optimist.

I'm a guy who flew a spaceship built by the lowest bidder.

So I'm an eternal optimist.

And I do.

I mean, despite what you see and...

from the outside and the way you think Washington works, it's actually a lot more bipartisan than people realize.

And we have, you know, good conversations with our Republican colleagues.

I call many of them friends.

You know, sometimes this stuff gets very divisive, you know, but often at the end of the day, we

tend to find a way to work it out.

And I hope we do in this case, because the American people just cannot afford this, these increase in premiums.

I mean, it is like our entire healthcare system is careening towards a cliff and Democrats in the House and the Senate, you know, we're trying to stop it before it goes over the cliff here on January 1st, when these premiums go up and millions of people could lose their health insurance just because they can't afford it.