On this “Face the Nation” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Rep. French Hill, Republican of Arkansas
- Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat
- Sue Gordon, principal deputy director of Nationwide Intelligence in first Trump administration
- Dr. Deborah Birx, White Home Coronavirus Response Coordinator in first Trump administration
Click on right here to browse full transcripts of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: The stress-testing of our federal authorities begins, because the Trump administration 2.0 prepares for its return to the White Home.
Change is coming to Washington, together with chaos and the controversy typical of the previous president’s administration model. Seats in Mr. Trump’s Cupboard are filling up quick, and, this time, the president-elect is utilizing his political capital to do issues his approach.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (Former President of the US (R) and Present U.S. President-Elect): Forty-nine out of fifty states shifted towards the GOP, received the White Home, recaptured the Senate, and now, as of at the moment, recaptured the Home.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will he use that mandate to avoid what’s referred to as common order within the Senate to get among the extra contentious candidates by way of?
We’ll discuss with Home Republican French Hill and Democrat Jim Himes, and we’ll verify in with two officers who served within the first Trump administration, former Deputy Director of Nationwide Intelligence Sue Gordon and former coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx.
Plus, Kentucky’s Democratic Governor Andy Beshear presents his occasion some recommendation about how to reach a purple state.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
There are simply over two months earlier than Donald Trump takes the oath of workplace once more, however he isn’t losing any time in relation to naming candidates, principally shut allies and loyalists, for key administration roles.
Republicans will likely be again answerable for the White Home, the Home and the Senate, and there is a conservative majority on the Supreme Courtroom. There are new Republican leaders on Capitol Hill. And the query of whether or not these leaders will bow to Mr. Trump’s needs to do issues his approach or whether or not they are going to stand by the workplace that they maintain is already being requested, even earlier than the brand new Congress and returning president are sworn in.
We start this morning with an replace on the Trump transition and our Caitlin Huey-Burns.
(Start VT)
CAITLIN HUEY BURNS (voice-over): President-elect Donald Trump took some members of his transition workforce out to New York for a Saturday night time on the UFC fights.
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: However right here in Washington, he is gearing up for a struggle of his personal over a number of controversial selections he is made for his Cupboard, on the heart, Florida Republican Matt Gaetz for legal professional normal.
FORMER REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ (R-Florida): We both get this authorities again on our aspect or we defund and eliminate, abolish the FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, each final one among them, if they don’t come to heel.
(CHEERING)
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: Gaetz is a fierce Trump ally who led the cost in ousting Kevin McCarthy from the speakership final 12 months.
FORMER REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-California): I will provide you with the reality why I am not speaker. It is as a result of one individual, a member of Congress, needed me to cease an ethics grievance as a result of he slept with a 17-year-old.
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: Gaetz resigned his seat in Congress this week simply earlier than that Home Ethics report over alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use was set to be launched.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson had mentioned he wouldn’t intervene, however, following an in a single day journey to Mar-a-Lago, he modified course.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON (R-Louisiana): I believe we should always stick with the custom and never launch a report on a former member of the Home, as a result of it could open a harmful Pandora’s field.
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: Gaetz was additionally underneath investigation by the very Justice Division he was tapped to steer over whether or not he had violated intercourse trafficking legal guidelines, however no federal expenses have been filed. Gaetz has denied the entire allegations.
The choice shocked the Republican senators he might want to get confirmed.
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-Maine): There are a lot of critical allegations pending towards him.
SENATOR KEVIN CRAMER (R-North Dakota): He is acquired a extremely steep hill to climb to get numerous votes, together with mine.
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: However Trump is undeterred and says he is motivated by a mandate.
DONALD TRUMP (Former President of the US (R) and Present U.S. President-Elect): The American folks have simply delivered actually one thing very, very superb, the most important political victory in 129 years.
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: And a few prime allies on Capitol Hill say he is entitled to his selections.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-South Carolina): Election have penalties. He selected Matt Gaetz. Matt will come earlier than the committee, and he will likely be requested arduous questions, and we’ll see how he does.
(Finish VT)
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: Trump additionally picked three of his protection attorneys to serve in prime positions on the DOJ.
And he is contemplating a shakeup of FBI management. Final night time, Trump introduced oil govt and local weather change skeptic Chris Wright to function power secretary. And we’re keeping track of different prime positions that he might decide this week, particularly who he’ll select to run the Treasury Division, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Caitlin, busy week, and we’re beginning a brand new one. Thanks to your reporting this morning.
And we’re joined now by Republican Congressman French Hill. He joins us from his district in Little Rock.
Good morning to you, Congressman.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL (R-Arkansas): Good morning, Margaret. Thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Glad to have you ever right here.
You served with Congressman Gaetz. You heard the speaker, who has mentioned, whereas he would not wish to particularly wade into the Ethics matter, he additionally thinks it could set a nasty precedent to launch a report on a former member.
Do you suppose the Ethics Committee ought to make that call for itself?
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: Effectively, I believe the Ethics Committee does make that call for itself. However I believe Speaker Johnson makes an vital level, which is, Mr. Gaetz has resigned from Congress. There are a lot of investigations that the Home Ethics Committee has carried out, and we do not wish to set a precedent the place we, underneath any circumstances, will launch paperwork from that committee.
However that call is theirs. Speaker Johnson has made his views identified, and now will probably be as much as the Senate to conduct their advise-and-consent affirmation course of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, CBS Information reported again in June that 4 ladies knowledgeable that committee they have been paid to go to intercourse and drug-fueled events with Mr. Gaetz.
Additionally, the Ethics Committee has Venmo transactions displaying Gaetz’s funds for the ladies. Since taxpayers paid cash for this report back to be carried out, and it was carried out, do you suppose, if you happen to have been a Senate, you’d take into account this materials info to confirming the highest lawmaker for the US of America – regulation enforcement officer, I ought to say?
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: No.
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: Like I say, I do not – I haven’t got – I do not personally know any particulars in regards to the Ethics investigation or the allegations as a result of I have never – do not serve on that committee.
However your level is, would the Senate Judiciary Committee ask to see that report? And that could be a choice that they take. And the Ethics Committee has a choice that they should make. And Mike Johnson’s expressed his view on that as effectively.
So, as I say, this is a vital course of that the Senate has to do advise and consent for all of the nominations. And President Trump has the prerogative to appoint the folks that he thinks can finest lead the change that he believes the American individuals are looking for in every of the businesses of the federal authorities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You may have spoken to us earlier than right here on Face the Nation about your work round Syria and Bashar al-Assad’s oppressive regime there. You truly visited Northern Syrian, an space that he wasn’t answerable for, again in 2017, the primary lawmaker since John McCain to take action.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, when she was in workplace, went to Syria and met with Mr. Assad himself. Then, publicly, she got here out and questioned U.S. intelligence assessments of his chemical weapons assaults that have been carried out on civilian areas, not simply as soon as, a number of occasions.
These have been high-confidence assessments by the intelligence neighborhood. Would you’re feeling snug together with her on the helm of all 18 of them?
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: Effectively, I serve on the Home Intelligence Committee throughout this previous Congress, and I do know the vital job that the DNI performs in coordinating, gathering and reporting on our intelligence.
And I believe, ought to Tulsi Gabbard be confirmed, she would know with excessive confidence as to exactly how we gather intelligence, how we coordinate and collaborate on it, and the way we then report it to the president of the US and to the 2 Intelligence Committees.
So, once more, this is a vital evaluation for the Senate to make. However I remind you, Margaret, Donald Trump received the election. He desires folks that he has a superb relationship with, that he trusts, that he believes can do a superb job within the businesses to ship the message that we would like change in Washington.
And the Senate too has their vital job. And we’ll have to attend and see how the Senate handles every of those confirmations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, it was John McCain who went in 2017. You went in 2023. I’ll have misspoken there on the 12 months.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: Proper. Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However – so that you imagine the U.S. intelligence neighborhood conclusions, although? You do not imply to query these?
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: No, I do not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: I am merely saying, as a member of the committee, I do not query that public evaluation that is been made within the public area over many, a few years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: And I’ve led the cost towards the Assad regime.
I don’t assist that the Arab League put him again into diplomatic standing by admitting him to the Arab League. And I believe America has rather a lot to do to restrict Assad’s affect within the area, which is a companion with the Russians and the Iranians. And that is not within the curiosity of the US, Iraq, Israel, or peace within the area.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You may have additionally been a supporter of Ukraine. And you’ve got been looking for some artistic methods to assist enable them to realize entry to continued U.S. assist.
There was an incredible assault simply in a single day there by Russia. The Biden administration desires to offer a $20 billion mortgage backed up by frozen Russian property. Will the Congress give them permission to make use of that cash for navy help?
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: Effectively, the REPO Act that was included within the nationwide safety package deal I labored on very carefully with Chairman Mike McCaul of the International Affairs Committee offers the US the authority to not solely take frozen property, however confiscate them and use them for the good thing about Ukraine.
The mortgage you are referring to has been negotiated between the Europeans and the Individuals to again the Ukrainian authorities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: I imagine that may undergo, in my judgment.
However I’d urge President Trump, as he takes workplace, to really comply with the regulation and confiscate these Russian property, as I imagine that offers each Ukraine, the US, and Europe a a lot stronger negotiating place with Russia. And I do not imagine Biden, nor the G7 international locations have been robust sufficient on Russian on sanctions, on the supply of weapons that have been wanted to have ended this conflict way back.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are gesturing to what we all know, which is that this can be a fairly harmful world proper now.
One of many alternatives that the president-elect has made to run the Pentagon presently is Pete Hegseth. He could be the protection secretary, 44 years previous, adorned Military vet, TV commentator. Do you suppose expertise is critical, or is on-the-job coaching OK on the Pentagon?
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: Effectively, once more, I believe this will likely be assessed by the Senate of their affirmation course of.
He has a distinguished background within the navy. And that counts for lots. And I believe his plans, his ideas, his management will likely be uncovered when he goes by way of that Senate affirmation course of.
However, as soon as once more, I’ve to say, President Trump, when he got here into workplace in 2017, had Cupboard members that he actually had no private relationship with, had no working background with. He desires to right that this time by discovering folks that he has a superb working relationship with, he is aware of how they suppose, they understand how he thinks, as a result of he thinks it should result in higher decision-making in his administration.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: He is acquired that prerogative to appoint these women and men, and the Senate may have their advice-and-consent operate effectively underway.
And Majority-Chief-to-be John Thune has mentioned, look, he will likely be efficient…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: … he will likely be speedy, he’ll take it carried out – get it carried out in the best plan of action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, thanks to your time at the moment.
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH HILL: You guess. Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we flip now to Democratic Congressman Jim Himes. He’s the highest Democrat on the Home Intelligence Committee, and he joins us this morning from Stamford, Connecticut.
Good morning to you.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES (D-Connecticut): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I really feel like there may be a lot information, and I am getting by way of a fraction of it, frankly, right here.
I wish to decide up on Tulsi Gabbard, which we simply – who we simply mentioned within the earlier phase,. She was a Democratic colleague of yours for a lot of, a few years. You are the rating member on the Intelligence Committee. She by no means served on that type of committee. Do you suppose expertise is critical? Is she match for the job?
(LAUGHTER)
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Margaret, how far we now have come that, on a significant information present, the query we’re analyzing is, is expertise needed for some of the highly effective positions within the land?
After all it’s a necessity. It is a bit of bit like our obsession proper now with the Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz.
(LAUGHTER)
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: How is it that that is what we’re specializing in?
Matt Gaetz is, by any customary, fully unqualified to be the legal professional normal, and but we’re form of centered on this cherry on the cupcake of the Ethics report.
It form of jogs my memory of Al Capone. In 1931, Al Capone is convicted of a few counts of tax evasion. Now, he was a killer and a rum runner and a mafioso, and but he was convicted of tax evasion. That is what the dialog we’re having about Matt Gaetz.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: You realize, effectively, what about this Ethics report?
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: And so, no, these individuals are manifestly unqualified, and so they’re not ready to run the very difficult organizations they’ve been requested to run.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you’ve any suggestion out of your Republican colleagues within the Senate that both of these two people won’t be confirmed for these positions?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Look, all I’d observe is that historical past is a harsh decide.
And I perceive what occurs to Republicans who stand as much as Donald Trump. Discuss to Adam Kinzinger or Liz Cheney or lots of the Republicans who voted for his impeachment who are actually gone. I perceive that.
However historical past is a harsh – a tough decide. And a Republican senator who takes a vote to consent to the appointment of Matt Gaetz, a chaos agent, a performative social media, no respect for the rule of regulation, particular person, the Republican senator who votes to substantiate Matt Gaetz or Robert Kennedy or Tulsi Gabbard…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … will likely be remembered by historical past as anyone who fully gave up their accountability to Donald Trump.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
Effectively, the speaker of the Home referred to as him one of many best minds in the US or anyplace on one other program this morning.
On intelligence, although, due to your committee oversight, John Ratcliffe, one other former Home member who went on to serve in an appearing position at intelligence beforehand, he’s the choice to run the CIA. Do you belief him to appropriately deal with delicate intelligence info?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: I do, Margaret.
And simply to be balanced right here, since I used to be fairly sturdy in my opinions in regards to the legal professional normal and the DNI nomination, I truly had a extremely good day when Marco Rubio was nominated for secretary of state, when John Ratcliffe was nominated for CIA, and when Mike Waltz was nominated to be nationwide safety adviser.
I’d even add the nominee for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton. These have been good nominations, not essentially the nominations I’d have made if I have been president, however these are critical folks with actual expertise. They are not social media personalities. They have not constructed their careers on lies and conspiracy.
So, look, a few of these nominations, I believe, are fairly stable, and John Ratcliffe falls in that class for me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
Final night time, president-elect Trump was at a UFC rally, and alongside him was somebody who has had loads of scrutiny, Elon Musk. He’s a billionaire with in depth U.S. authorities contracts, as I perceive it, holds a safety clearance himself. He has in depth enterprise ties with China.
He additionally had with him the Saudi Arabia personal funding fund governor. They make investments together with his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and so they have held golf tournaments by way of the – one among their entities at Trump golf programs.
Do you suppose that, on this new Congress, there will likely be scrutiny of potential monetary conflicts of curiosity round Mr. Trump?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Effectively, in fact there will likely be, proper? That is form of not topic to debate.
We noticed Trump’s first time period and the truth that that group of individuals weren’t significantly involved with monetary conflicts of curiosity. And, look, all – I do not know Elon Musk, odd character. You form of should respect what he is carried out to disrupt area launch, to disrupt the auto business and whatnot, however early evaluations will not be good.
I learn his 12-point authorities waste manifesto, and he mentioned, have a look at all this cash we’re paying on curiosity on the debt. That is a part of the wasteful spending.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Guess what? You’ve got to pay curiosity on the debt. And so I am skeptical that he has any clue.
Look, I dwell in Fairfield County, Connecticut. I do know numerous rich folks right here, and there’s a syndrome the place very rich individuals who acquired rich in finance or as a tech entrepreneur resolve that they are coronary heart surgeons and able to operating the US.
I believe that is what is going on on with Elon Musk. However, once more, early returns will not be good with respect to his capacity to know the federal forms and make it extra environment friendly, which is a laudable objective. However I’ll reserve judgment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And no offense to the Fairfield County residents who voted for you, I am positive.
(LAUGHTER)
MARGARET BRENNAN: On Saturday, President Biden was assembly with Xi Jinping. They usually met for rather less than two hours.
The White Home says they did talk about that pervasive hacking of U.S. telecom firms that allowed them to steal buyer name file information, compromise personal communications of these concerned in authorities, and duplicate info associated to regulation enforcement actions.
Have you learnt and might you say if the hackers have truly been kicked out of U.S. infrastructure, or is China nonetheless embedded?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Sure, Margaret, that is not a query I can reply with an terrible lot of specificity, however the truth that we clearly find out about these hacks implies that these explicit hacks most likely have been addressed in a method or one other.
However one factor I can say with nice confidence, having labored within the intelligence world for a while now, is that I promise you they’re on the market in ways in which we do not find out about. So, my hope is that the president made it very clear that this type of habits isn’t tolerable and that he backs that up and, fairly frankly, that Donald Trump, the following president, backs that up with motion, as Teddy Roosevelt mentioned, the large stick, proper?
We’re fairly good at hacking networks too. And I believe it is actually vital for the Chinese language to know that we’re not simply going to call and disgrace the hackers and complain about it, however we – however that we’re going to go into their networks and provides pretty much as good as we acquired. I think that, on this realm, they should see that we’re able to inflicting loads of injury in the event that they proceed their current habits.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Famous.
There will likely be some alternatives, as we perceive it, within the coming days within the monetary area. You additionally sit on the Monetary Providers Committee. Trump backer Elon Musk yesterday blasted one of many hedge fund CEOs, Scott Bessent, a cryptocurrency skeptic who’s being thought of for that position.
Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, apparently additionally being thought of for that position, he’s a cryptocurrency fan. Does both candidate stand out to you for a greater decide? And what does it actually undertaking out to you about what is going on to occur on this area for Mr. Trump?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Effectively, it is clearly as much as the president to resolve who he’d like as Treasury secretary.
I’d word that his first Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, I actually had disagree with – disagreements with him on any variety of matters, together with de-sanctioning the Russian aluminum firm. However within the solid of characters in model 1.0 of the Trump administration, Steve Mnuchin was removed from the creepiest and crawliest of them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: So we’ll see what he does on Treasury.
What I’ll say is that, look, crypto…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … it is a bit of bit just like the Gaetz Ethics report.
Crypto has but to make an influence on most Individuals’ lives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: And so I’d simply argue – and, by the best way, I am open to crypto. I helped work on the laws to control it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: However this isn’t the determinative consider our monetary lives proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know. It is a technical concern I requested you to get to pretty rapidly there, Congressman. I admire you weighing in. And thanks to your time.
Face the Nation will likely be again in a minute.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who joins us from Lexington.
Good morning to you, Governor.
You are a blue governor in a really purple state. How do you even start to strive uniting a rustic as united – as divided as this? Are there classes we are able to study from Kentucky?
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR (D-Kentucky): I believe there’s absolute classes that we are able to study from Kentucky,a state the place final 12 months I received as a Democrat by 5 factors and Donald Trump simply received by 30.
And I believe it mainly boils all the way down to each operating and governing the place folks get up within the morning and what they fear about after they go to mattress at night time. And that is not the following election. It is their job and whether or not they make sufficient to assist their household.
It is the following physician’s appointment for themselves, their mother and father or their youngsters. It is the roads and bridges they drive daily. It is that public faculty they drop their youngsters off at, and it is public security of their neighborhood.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: The objective right here is to deal with all of these issues the place, if folks do not feel safe in these areas, they do not get to anything. They do not get to the loopy factor that some politicians mentioned final night time or this morning. They do not get to that subsequent piece of coverage that is on the market.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: So it is a – it is a couple of relentless deal with folks’s on a regular basis wants and their on a regular basis life.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
We’ll take a break, come again, and have the remainder of the dialog on the opposite aspect of it. All of you, please stick with us.
Extra from Andy Beshear in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We will likely be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
We return to our dialog with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Governor, Kentucky has loads of coal. It is acquired pure fuel. Mr. Trump has chosen Chris Wright, the CEO of Liberty Vitality, to be the following Vitality secretary if confirmed. He is additionally chosen Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, to run the Inside Division, and he is promised to open up extra federal lands to drilling.
Do you’ve any concept what the influence could be in your state from the indicators being despatched with these alternatives?
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: Effectively, we’ll see. I imply, I noticed the feedback just lately from the CEO of Exxon, which was a bit of completely different than what we would anticipate, speaking about needing to maneuver to greener types of power no matter what the coverage of the day is. And I actually see from firms which can be coming into Kentucky every day. We simply introduced a brand new industrial battery facility that is going to create 1,600 new jobs. They demand a sure portfolio of power. Sure, the lights have to return on. However particularly over time for his or her clients, they need a certain quantity of renewables.
So, what I’ve seen as governor is a personal sector push that I don’t suppose goes to vary calls for positioned on states, calls for positioned on utilities, and the personal sector in the end shifting us to a extra various and cleaner portfolio.
So right here in Kentucky, sure, we now have many conventional types of power, and so they have actually good jobs. And we wish to be sure that we by no means look down on, and we assist every of these jobs. However my objective is to diversify our manufacturing as a lot as we are able to in order that we now have the roles of the current and people jobs of the longer term.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have mentioned Kentucky has one thing like 10,000 jobs associated to electrical automobiles. You actually made an enormous push on that that.
In the course of the marketing campaign, Mr. Trump vowed to undo the electrical automobile mandate, that is what he referred to as it, and he will, he says, repeal the regulation that features credit for inexperienced initiatives.
Have you learnt at this level if Republican leaders intend to maintain components of that? And are there projections on what repealing that regulation completely would do to the job creation in your state?
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: Effectively, it is actually regarding. You have a look at a state like Kentucky, that voted for President-elect Trump by 30 factors. And it is 10,000 EV-related jobs on the road. And people are solely rising.
Go as much as Ohio and have a look at that – I believe $20 billion chips manufacturing facility, which I am a bit of bit jealous of, however comfortable for the folks of Ohio, and what that will imply. One other state that voted for the president-elect.
So, you have a look at all of those jobs, and jobs of the longer term, which have come to what the administration will most likely view as purple states. It is vital that these initiatives proceed.
Bear in mind, loads of the folks taking these jobs, jobs that assist their households, voted for President-elect Trump as a result of they thought that will enhance their job, that he was centered on their job. So, I hope that he’ll get good recommendation, and I will do every little thing I can to get my message out by way of our federal delegation of how vital these jobs are.
They usually’re not in city Kentucky. They’re in rural Kentucky. They’re game-changing investments which have created a vivid future right here. And I am actually going to do every little thing I can as governor of Kentucky to guard them. And never as a result of I am a Democrat –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: However as a result of I’ve proven my folks that each single day I’ll attempt to create a greater life for them. And that is what these jobs do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, $14 billion between now and 2030 was what was promised to your state.
I ponder if you happen to simply suppose Democrats did not do a superb job of explaining that.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: Effectively, I actually do not wish to do any finger pointing as a result of the vp had 107 days, and he or she did her easiest. And I proudly crisscrossed the nation in assist of her.
However what I do know goes ahead, over the following couple years, we now have an opportunity daily, each second to point out the American folks that we’re laser centered on jobs, on their well being care, on their infrastructure –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: On their youngsters’ schooling. Simply – simply these on a regular basis worries. And with this administration not less than proper now choosing some very excessive appointees –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: It is an opportunity to make an actual distinction, to essentially present folks that – that we’re the place their primary wants are.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, however there was, as you realize, some evaluation after the very fact amongst Democrats in regards to the deal with some tradition conflict points or – so to talk.
Congressman Seth Moulton mentioned of transgender points, “I’ve two little women. I do not need them getting run over on a taking part in discipline by a male or previously male athlete. However as a Democrat, I am purported to be afraid to say that.” He says he is talking authentically and mentioned Democrats ought to do extra of it.
Do you suppose Democrats have been out of contact on a few of these issues that clearly resonate in states like yours?
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: Effectively, I believe that each one candidates ought to arise for his or her beliefs, and that we do not have to desert these beliefs. You realize, I vetoed one of many nastiest anti-LGBTQ payments that my state had ever seen in my election 12 months.
However I did two issues. Primary, I talked about my spouse (ph). For me that is my religion, the place I am taught that each one kids are kids of God. And I needed to stay up for some kids that have been being picked on in a fairly tough invoice.
However the second factor is the voters in my state knew the very subsequent day I used to be going to be engaged on jobs, I used to be going to be opening a brand new well being clinic, first hospital in our largest African American neighborhood in 150 years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: We simply reduce the ribbon on. And we have created two pediatric autism facilities in Appalachia so that folks do not should drive two hours. So, it is each sharing your why and your genuine why for – to your views.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: However the different piece is about that focus.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: As a result of, bear in mind, if we’re speaking about this concern of the day –
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: After which we’re speaking about what Donald Trump mentioned final night time –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR: After which we’re speaking about jobs, we’re solely spending a 3rd of the time speaking about what individuals are frightened about and what impacts their life probably the most.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
Governor, thanks for becoming a member of us at the moment.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Sue Gordon. She served because the principal deputy director of nationwide intelligence throughout Donald Trump’s first time period within the White Home.
Good to see you right here once more.
SUE GORDON (Former Principal Deputy Director of Nationwide Intelligence): Nice to see you, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you personally briefed Donald Trump as president within the Oval Workplace. If this nominee-to-be, Tulsi Gabbard, turns into the Director of Nationwide Intelligence, and John Ratcliffe turns into the CIA director, are you assured that Mr. Trump will likely be informed the knowledge he must know and never simply what he desires to know?
SUE GORDON: Effectively, I believe that is the – I believe that is the query of the day. Intelligence is bizarre as a result of it is all the time unsure. And you might be all the time making an evaluation so {that a} decisionmaker can work out what they will do with it. And so, it is explicit. And also you – your solely job is to ruthlessly report what you see, not what you favor. In order that’s the first job of the DNI is to go in there and to be his principal adviser on intelligence. You are the primary in. You are the final out.
You can’t afford to I will say pander to choice. Loyalty would not serve you effectively in that job. You need to be so dedicated that you’ll say inconvenient issues. I’ll say the previous president would let you know that I’d discuss to him about Russian interference. I do know he hated it. However Russia was, in reality, interfering, and he wanted to listen to that info.
So, do I imagine that Tulsi and John might be that individual in the event that they imagine they have to be? They’ll study. In the event that they lean on the men and women of the intelligence neighborhood, they are going to produce an evaluation. However that is a tough day, and also you higher be good at it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You needed to endure an FBI background verify –
SUE GORDON: I did.
MARGARET BRENNAN: To acquire a safety clearance and to keep up it. You have been a profession official, 25 years on the CIA. Then, as we mentioned, moved on to nationwide intelligence.
“The New York Instances” is reporting the Trump workforce could bypass the FBI course of and simply use a personal agency to vet candidate. Then when the president is sworn in, he can grant entry to the nation’s secrets and techniques, reasonably than undergo that screening.
What threat is there in bypassing the FBI?
SUE GORDON: Effectively, the primary threat is that you’ll get an incomplete image of the human that’s carrying each the belief of the American folks and the belief of our allies and companions and the belief of the men and women which can be placing their lives on the road for that judgment, proper? Everybody hates vetting. It is intrusive. It – you – you do not know why anybody ought to should do it as a result of you realize who you might be.
However the reality is, we all know adversaries and rivals will exploit people to have the ability to advance their pursuits, and also you wish to be sure that the folks that maintain the American folks’s belief and probably the most treasured items of knowledge we now have of benefit don’t have any cracks in who they’re. And so it appears expedient, however I believe it should in the end hurt the establishment. And by that I imply the establishments of America, in case you have individuals who we uncover later that they need to not have had entry or we uncover later that they have been weak to the actions of our allies and of our adversaries and rivals.
And –
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of it is leverage on them?
SUE GORDON: It’s. I imply that is – I imply, the craft of human intelligence is definitely discovering somebody who has a weak point and getting them to have the ability to advance your pursuits. And it simply – and what a extremely good day is once you discover somebody whose pursuits align with yours, and you then actually push that.
So, a personal agency is not going to have the requirements that we have had. I do know it is inconvenient, however I believe it is a dangerous technique and dangerous for America.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, CBS has additionally discovered that to this point the Trump workforce hasn’t signed the paperwork that will begin the method of the nationwide safety briefings so that somebody’s not strolling in chilly. They’re briefed and in control. Together with these background checks. The Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan group that helps with the transitions, confirmed that to CBS.
Is there any good purpose to not signal these papers? And what does it do for the officers who arrive with out being learn in on what’s taking place now?
SUE GORDON: Sure, I can not consider a – I can not consider a superb purpose. I believe one of many nice falsehoods that is been perpetrated on America is that our establishments are maleficent. They must be higher. They must be slimmer. They must be extra clear, however they are not bums, so you are not defending anyone by not signing these papers.
And particularly among the nominees we now have that do not have the actually deep expertise base, these are huge jobs. I imply intelligence isn’t just advising the president, it is also operating an enormous enterprise in a fashion that enables our allies and companions to belief us with their most treasured factor. So, I can not consider a purpose why that is not signed. And to begin your gig with none basis in any respect, particularly when the establishments are begging to offer you that basis, simply appears wrong-headed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are diplomatically referring to Tulsi Gabbard there, who would not have a background in intelligence.
SUE GORDON: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: She additionally has a historical past of statements of claiming issues that mirror the rhetoric of U.S. adversaries.
SUE GORDON: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Vladimir Putin and Bashar al Assad. There have been not less than two chemical weapons assaults in Syria that killed hundreds of individuals, and the U.S. intelligence neighborhood got here to public assessments of excessive confidence.
SUE GORDON: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I think about you noticed all of that intelligence and also you briefed on it.
SUE GORDON: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, when she comes out and says that she doubts it, she’s skeptical, how’s that going to be obtained by the profession professionals who work for her?
SUE GORDON: Sure, I discussed one among her jobs could be to be the senior adviser. The second is to be chargeable for all intelligence-sharing agreements. So, our allies and companions, upon whom we rely that Syia evaluation, that was joint with our allies and companions. The one we had on Skripal was joint. Our evaluation of Ukraine was joint.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That was – sorry, simply to elucidate for our viewers, Skripal, you might be speaking in regards to the killing on British soil of a former Russian by Russian intelligence.
SUE GORDON: Sure. Proper. Proper. Sure, I am sorry.
However all these have been collectively carried out with our allies and companions. We want them. It is one of many best strengths of America. However they are going to make their very own evaluation over whether or not we might be trusted with their nation’s pursuits. And whether or not she meant it or not, whether or not she was simply in poor health knowledgeable with that, she is available in with strikes towards her within the belief perspective. Can we belief her with our most sacred intelligence to symbolize that in a good approach?
So, I believe it is an issue, whether or not it is judgment or some other factor that she has represented there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: One other nerve within the intelligence neighborhood, in fact, is Edward Snowden.
SUE GORDON: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Tulsi Gabbard and the choice for the legal professional normal, Matt Gaetz, put ahead resolutions to name for the fees to be dropped towards him as a result of he leaked labeled nationwide intelligence materials. He is residing in Russia nowadays. That type of a place, how’s that going to be obtained?
SUE GORDON: It displays a lack of information of who we’re, and it displays an absence of respect for what we do. Unauthorized disclosures of intelligence are all the time dangerous. Do not go along with the nice or dangerous any – good end result or whether or not he was proper or fallacious. He had no authority, and he had completely different paths and he harmed America. He not solely harmed intelligence, he harmed our allies and companions and he harmed our companies by what it allowed China to imagine about that.
There may be nothing justifiable about what he is carried out. None. And so in the event that they vacate it, what they’re mainly saying is, all these guidelines you comply with so as to have the ability to serve America, they do not matter anymore.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sue Gordon, thanks for explaining this very opaque world of intelligence to us and to your evaluation at the moment.
We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Dr. Deborah Birx served because the White Home coronavirus response coordinator in Donald Trump’s first time period. She additionally had an extended profession in public well being within the Military, engaged on Aids in Africa on the State Division, in addition to time on the CDC.
Good morning. Welcome again.
DR. DEBORAH BIRX (Former White Home Coronavirus Response Coordinator): Good morning, Margaret. Glad to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Dr. Birx, I wish to ask you about your views on public well being, which we’re taking a look at due to this nomination probably of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
HHS has large portfolio right here, vaccines, drugs, abroad, Medicare, regulates meals, magnificence merchandise, child system, reproductive well being care. What would the influence be of getting somebody with out authorities expertise in that prime job?
DEBORAH BIRX: Effectively, I believe a very powerful factor is what workforce he would convey with him since you’re speaking about actually a big cap company with a extremely various group. What it’s important to actually convey collectively – and albeit get rid of among the duplications between these businesses to essentially develop into more economical. And so actually having a administration individual at his aspect, a chief of workers maybe, that has actually come out of business, that will know learn how to convey and look and convey these people collectively which can be operating the opposite businesses, as a result of it is a very comp – HHS might be one among our most intricate departments.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you are saying folks with expertise round him, we have to have a look at these decrease stage appointees Mr. Trump may make.
What’s so fascinating with RFK Jr. is how he has, in some methods, tapped into this well being motion in America. He is speaking about extra regulation, not much less in relation to American meals.
This is a few of what he is mentioned.
(BEGIN VC)
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY NOMINEE: I am simply going to inform the cereal firms, take all of the dyes out of their meals. I will get processed meals out of college lunch instantly.
Ten p.c of meals stamps go to sugar drinks, to, you realize, sodas. We’re creating diabetes issues in our youngsters by giving them meals that is poison. And I’ll cease that.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: These sound like good objectives. Can he truly tackle huge agriculture and get that by way of?
DEBORAH BIRX: I believe due to loads of the people who find themselves struggling probably the most from these components are literally folks in our rural areas. You realize, 16 p.c of the Individuals dwell in a rural space, however they’re offering all of our oil and fuel, all of our fiber, all of our cotton, and all of our meals. And the extent of diabetes in these communities due to their entry to sure meals is very excessive.
I simply got here out of the sector, 58 p.c of the adults within the city that I used to be simply in had already diabetes or prediabetes based mostly on family survey the place we went home to deal with. That is the fact of America.
And so what I am hoping is he brings his transparency for all Individuals, and we actually begin to sort out these points one after the other by one. I believe all people throughout America desires to have wholesome youngsters that they know will develop up, and never find yourself with the issues of diabetes or coronary heart illness.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It was very arduous for Michelle Obama, when she was first woman, to get any of that carried out. And it may be arduous for lawmakers who come from a few of these agricultural states to vote towards their very own pursuits by way of the farm subsidies and the like.
DEBORAH BIRX: Effectively, we’re not speaking about eliminating good meals. We’re speaking about utilizing all of their substances in a approach that is healthier for Individuals. And I believe that is what individuals are calling for now.
Europe did it years in the past. And I believe we’re able to doing that. We’re actually sensible, excessive ranges of know-how. We are able to make meals tasty with out loads of these components as a result of we are able to see that different teams are doing it in a small approach. So, we’re not speaking about eliminating the necessity for wheats and grains, we’re speaking about placing these collectively in a wholesome approach.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you as effectively about a few of his – the issues he mentioned about vaccines. As you realize, the vaccine – vaccination charges are declining in America. He mentioned issues like restoring transparency round them. It is not likely clear what meaning. Why do you suppose there is a decline of vaccination?
DEBORAH BIRX: I believe there’s two items to it. I believe once we discuss issues in public well being, we do not acknowledge the considerations as a result of when my kids went to highschool, there was possibly one in 1,000 youngsters with autism, identified autisms. Now it is three per 100. So, each mother is seeing a classroom of kindergarteners the place one of many kids has autism. That is scary to mothers and dads. They wish to know why. So, it is not adequate for us to only say, vaccines do not trigger autism, it is us discovering what’s the reason behind autism and reverse it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, I believe lots of people would completely agree that it’s ridiculous that there is not loads of analysis and established causation with autism.
DEBORAH BIRX: Sure. Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However what he has mentioned up to now is that autism is attributable to vaccines. And there is no scientific foundation for that conclusion, as I perceive it.
DEBORAH BIRX: That is right. And in order that’s why, when he talks about transparency, I am truly excited that in a Senate listening to he would convey ahead his information and the questions that come from the senators would convey forth their information.
What I do know for positive is, he is a really sensible man who can convey his information and his proof base ahead, and we are able to have a dialogue that many Individuals imagine already is an issue. So, till we are able to have that transparency and that open dialogue from either side, I do know the members have unimaginable staffers who will convey nice questions from their constituents, and that listening to could be a approach for Individuals to essentially see the information that you simply’re speaking about, that we won’t see that causation proper now. However what’s inflicting it? And so that you’re completely proper, addressing what the trigger is will likely be vital.
And I believe what has confused folks is we weren’t clear about what Covid vaccines do and do not. And so now individuals are questioning, effectively, what do my youngster vaccines do and do not. They usually do not perceive that among the vaccines that their kids are getting defend them from each illness and create herd immunity, and a few of them that they get are only for their youngster. Like H flu (ph) and pneumo vax (ph) to guard their youngster from getting very critical sickness. And we’re simply not explaining all of this accurately.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, and that is why the messenger issues a lot on this.
DEBORAH BIRX: Sure, it does.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Which is why his previous statements are being scrutinized.
You labored on Aids for a superb a part of your profession. He has mentioned that he would not take a place on the connection between HIV and Aids, however then he laid out various theories in his guide and mentioned, “Dr. Fauci by no means produced a examine to exhibit his speculation utilizing accepted scientific proof.”
Do you agree with that assertion on HIV and Aids?
DEBORAH BIRX: Effectively, having spent a profession in understanding how HIV and Aids progresses, HIV virus is the reason for Aids.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Interval.
DEBORAH BIRX: There’s a complete set of issues that occur, and I believe what HIV taught me is it’s important to – it is asymptomatic for ten years. And we’re lastly recognizing how vital asymptomatic illness development and illness transmission is. That is what HIV taught us.
However what different HIV taught us was the whole human immune system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
DEBORAH BIRX: So, by investing in HIV analysis, we discovered about CAR T- cells that we use at the moment in most cancers.
So, loads of these analysis and investments repay in different areas. And I believe as soon as he is there at HHS, he’ll see that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. If he is open to the information.
Dr. Birx, thanks.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us at the moment. Thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week. For FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
