Transcripts For CNN CNN Newsroom With Brianna Keilar 20240711

Country. That is a question, manu, that cannot be left unsaid, that Kevin Mccarthy went to maralago to Kiss The Ring of the former president. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted out a day or so after the meeting that she was on trumps side. Wearing a mask that said free speech, she said she wants to work with everybody about keeping america first, using the language of donald trump, essentially sending a message she expects to survive this. The party still talks badly about her and about the embrace of Conspiracy Theorists or at least not expunging the party of Conspiracy Theorists. A number of Senate Republicans dont like the way republicans handled this last night in which they took action on their own to make clear there is just no room for someone in the party like Marjorie Tyler green. Tom thune told he am morning that a party is, well he had raised caioncerns that the part was focused on qanon, so there is a concern here from a number of republicans about the way forward, and we heard mitch mcconnell, the republican leader, talk about her views as cancerous to the Republican Party. I asked this morning about the efforts to keep her off the committee on the house side. He did not respond. Well see if he responds after the vote today. Very important votes, plural, inside the house of representatives. We will see if that speech helps her pick up support from americans and or democrats. This is the point manu was just making, republicans fear this elevates her even more, and she has said she regrets these public comments. Brianna keilar will pick up the coverage right now. John, thank you, and lets pick up this conversation where they left off. The republican Conspiracy Theory congresswoman who has peddled lies and Conspiracy Theorists blatantly both on camera and in writing tries to pull a m mea culpa before a House Committee trying to strip her of her committee assignments. She tried to compare the media to qanon, saying theyre just as responsible. Conspiracy quackery that she once subscribed to, and let me just say that when a member of congress has to get up on the floor of the house to say that School Shootings and the attacks on 9 11 happened, that they were real, that is not the medias fault. Joining me now is our cnn chief political analyst gloria borger, also Sophia Nelson with us, House Investigative Committee counsel and adjunct professor. She said these are words of the past and we should note some of these are pretty recent, even though they werent when she was in congress, and she clearly wants to put this behind her by saying that, but did she, really . I dont think she did. I think there are going to be some republicans, obviously, who will be very, very willing to listen to her if they vote to support her, not to take her off the committees, because they could say, look, she got up there and she apologized. As you pointed out, she did not. What she said was if there were not those tweets, wouldnt be anything. Weve seen the video with david hogg about parkland, and the video where she said, did we see the plane go into the building . She is trying to make herself a Cancer Culture in the Republican Party as someone who has been canceled unfairly. At 10 30 this morning, she sent out a tweet that doesnt sound very apologetic, and she said its not just me they want to cancel, they want to cancel every republican. Dont let the mob win. Suddenly she is a symbol for republicans, and i think republicans will look and say, no, no, no, you are not my symbol for anything. What did you think . Im christian, we all want people to be forgiven, we all want people to have redemption, but this is not. Marjorie Taylor Greene represents Maya Angelous most famous quotes when she says, believe people when they show who they are. She has shown time and again that this is who she is, and i find it interesting that in the 11th hour when shes about to face consequences for her actions, now shes con ttrite. What i fear is that weve given this woman a lot of air time, a lot of oxygen over the last couple weeks, and now someone who was kind of a Whacky Georgi Congresswoman is touting the president s big lie, its lying to the people, its false equivalency, its whataboutism. Thats my fear for the future of this democratic republic. I dont know if we can withstand where half of the country or a good portion of it believes outright craziness and untruths and false equivalency, and many of us are saying, no, no, thats not right. This is a candidate who was voted in a congress by a lot of voters who was elevated by the Republican Party and the president of the United States, and i would just add this is the reality were dealing with. This is someone with a huge platform and what do you say to that . Look, the people of georgia, a sovereign state, have the right to send whoever they want to congress whether we like the person or not. I agree with that. But her platform just grew bigger, exaand this victimizati i could say so much about it that we dont have time for, and how race and gender play into this, and how shes victimized herself and made herself a vi victim, and its kind of one of those karen moments that we could talk about another time where shes taken herself as someone who is a victim when shes been very aggressive and very damaging to the Parkland Kids and sandy hook, 9 11. Thats who you are, marjorie Taylor Greene, and i think that she probably helped herself with the remarks, brianna, when she said, i think the republicans will use this and go, see, see, see, see, shes really not that bad, and it will be interesting to see what the democrats do, because theyll end up looking like the bad guys out of this because they disciplined her, as they should, for what shes said and done. What do you say about that, gloria . She got a Standing Ovation from republicans. That was remarkable to me that they spent more time last night dealing with liz cheney who took a vote of conscience than they did with marjorie Taylor Greene. I think here, and im going to say, i dont think the democrats are going to look terrible in this because what she is doing is standing up, essentially taking a page out of Donald Trumps book and saying, i am not who i am. I am not the person who said all those things on the video even though now you can watch the video, so dont believe what i said. The fact that she did not run as qanon was because she wanted to get elected. And i think that you have to take a great leap now to suddenly believe that a person who has been doing something for years has had some kind of a transplant because she is under threat and is no longer who she is. Im going to repeat, she tweeted this morning about the mob. The mob she is talking to is not the mob that invaded the capitol on january 6. The mob that she was talking about is the democratic party. And that is who she is. And so i think that if shes going to stand up there and give a speech, let her answer direct questions from members of congress about when did you stop believing that there were not jewish lasers starting fires. Right, starting fires. When did you stop believing the junk about 9 11, the junk about School Shootings . Lets talk about when you had your transformation. These are questions she has to answer, and one speech just doesnt do it. No. She talked about how she is a sinner and she has fought forgiveness, and for be it from us to get in the middle of that. She sought forgiveness from the lord, and, look, that is for her to sort out. But the judgment day that shes facing today is not before the lord, it is before the house of the representatives. Amen. Right. And she has to stand up and say qanon is destructive. Qanon is lunacy. Lets hear that. Shes not going to say that. Brianna and gloria, we agree. Im not saying she is bad, its the spin that Kevin Mccarthy disparaged little girls dont disparage little girls. Youre right, and i take that back. That they need to forgive and they have godliness in their heart, this is about accountability before unity. That needs to be the tag line we all use Going Forward until the people who ran up on our capitol and participate in qanon and do what they do, until theyre held accountable. What im saying is i didnt hear a lot of contrition. She tried to be contrite, but what she did was try and turn it on its head and say, the democrats are victimizing me, and i am now a victim which is, of course, something weve heard from donald trump for the last four years, that whenever something was wrong that he did, somehow he became the victim of the cancel culture or the democrats or whatever else, and this is just a pattern that is now repeating itself where no one gets to take responsibility for what theyve done or what they said and have to live with the consequences of it. Look, were going to see how this plays out. Well see politically how it plays out, who is up, who is down. I will say one thing for house republicans, it doesnt get easier from here. This does not get easier from here for them. You guys stand by for me. We have a whole lot to talk about ahead here. We have some Breaking News. Were just talking about the big lie there. There is a massive lawsuit that has just been filed against fox news and trump allies over their campaign pushing Conspiracy Theories about the election. Stand by for that. There was notg i could do. daughter daddy dad vo shes safe because of our first outback. And our new ones even safer. vo welcome to the 2020 subaru outback. An iihs top safety pick . The highest level of safety you can earn. vo get 0 for 63 months on select new 2021 models. Now through march 1st. We made usaa insurance for veterans like martin. When a hailstorm hit, he needed his insurance to get it done right, right away. Usaa. What youre made of, were made for. Usaa when i noticed my sister moving differently, she said it was like someone else was controlling her mouth. 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More weight loss. Ww weightwatchers reimagined. Join today for 40 off plus our cooking kit offer ends february 8th we have some big Breaking News here. Just days before Donald Trumps second Impeachment Trial, house Impeachment Managers are asking him, theyre asking donald trump to testify next week. I want to go to manu raju and Kaitlan Collins. Manu, this is huge. What do you know . Reporter they are making a formal request that donald trump testify on monday, february 8th, ahead of his Impeachment Trial that was expected to begin on february 9th, but theyre saying you can come in as early as february 8th and provide your testimony. Theyre saying they want it done before february 8th and february 11th, and they say they want an answer by the end of the day tomorrow. Their argument here is other past president s have testified before. Bill clinton provided testimony while in office, gerald ford presented testimony while in office. Donald trump is no longer in office, and their argument is there is no reason for him not to testify. This letter was written by jamie raskin, who is the lead house impeachment manager, sent to donald trump, and it says, if you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish a trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions and inaction on january 6. Now, what they dont say here, brianna, is whether they would subpoena donald trump if he declines to testify. That is going to be a question Going Forward. A simple majority of senators could vote to subpoena donald trump at the Impeachment Trial, and democrats have the majority. So how far do they press this issue . Thats going to be a key question in the days ahead. They argue the reason where theyre seeking this testimony is that the president s legal teams have provided a brief this week in the view of jamie raskin. He says in this letter that there were critical facts that were inaccurate and they needed the right to provide testimony, theyre saying, under oath before or during the Impeachment Trial to discuss these facts or the facts as they were presented by trumps legal team in their brief earlier this week. So the question now is will donald trump do this . Will he appear . We had heard some rumblings that he might want to appear. We dont have any sense ofthat that is the reality at this moment. The ball is in his court, and if he did come, would that be a game changer and how far would Democrats Press it . All ahead of the trial to charge trump that he incited the insurrection on the capitol on january 6, brianna. Lets bring Kaitlan Collins into this conversation as well. Kaitlan, President Trump did not show a propensity for wanting to testify. When he was president , of course, part of his defense here is that this is not constitutional to be having this trial while he is no longer a president , and i know this news just broke that house Impeachment Managers want to call him to testify. But any sense of where he or his legal team might come down on this . Reporter so its not clear. Weve asked his legal team and those who are representing him right now if he has a response to this, so were waiting to see what it is hes going to say. But we should note this comes amid a pretty turbulent time with his legal team, because it was just a little over a week ago when his entire legal team that was supposed to be defending him in this trial resigned and walked away from the team en masse. Of course, there were several disagreements about that. One thing you noted was their effort to try to defend him on this, on the constitutionality of trying to remove a president from office once hes no longer in office. I was told by sources that the president wanted them to argue that he had actually won the election, so the statements made that incited that january 6 riot are not founded, which, of course, they are. The question is whether he will show up and give testimony under oath to these democrats, to these Impeachment Managers. This is something he normally would tweet about. Of course, he doesnt have access to twitter so were waiting to hear from representatives. Last year during the first Impeachment Trial, he had flirted with the idea of going to capitol hill to defend himself. And his legal team talked him out of it. That was the white house counsel, jay sekulow, other attorneys that were part of that big team. None of them are around this time, so its unclear what advice these two new attorneys that were just brought on the team just days before the briefs were due will give advice to the president , what they will say, whether or not this is an idea he will entertain. I should note that sources who spoke with the president say he has been pretty checked out of this process. He hasnt been as involved as you thirnk he would be as to wht this would look like as he doesnt think they should vote to convict him, but well listen to see what they have to say in response. Laura coates, what are your thoughts as you hear these news, that the democratic Impeachment Managers want former President Trump to testify under oath at his trial . Well, of course, its important to think about what theyre trying to prove here, and part of what theyre going to need to show is intent. They need to show this was not protected speech, brianna, that it was intended to incite violence, that he had the intent to imperil the government. The best thing is to get it out of the horses mouth. What did you intend to do . What were your actions . But that would be for someone who would be transparent. Remember, hes a private citizen now, but if he were amenable to it, i suspect he would try to rely on the privilege that may have been available to him as the president of the United States in terms of being able to have deliberations with people who are his advisers, Executive Privilege he may try to assert as well. But it shows you the intent that the Impeachment Managers are not just looking for evidence of what you and i saw on january 6, watching on cameras, watching the insurrection unfold, its also about why this person who was in a unique position to stop the insurrection either before it began or to bring the enforcement during or to try to quell it afterwards, what this persons testimony can reveal. And frankly, outside of maybe the tweets he did previously or those scripted prerecorded videos, we dont have a lot of insight outside of what senator ben sasse said. All we know from him is he was delighted. This may be a clear indication of what theyre trying to ascertain, and its a strong way to do it. Ellie honig, democratic Impeachment Leaders are asking trump to testify. Could we see that happen . Reporter its an interesting chess game breaking out here. This is a no holds barred move by the Impeachment Managers. Theyre saying, you think what you did was okay, you think you can justify your actions . Come to the senate and tell us about it. Now, in a criminal case, the prosecution cannot force, cannot compel the defendant, the person who is accused, to take the stand. That person has the right to choose to do so, but the prosecution cannot compel it because the person takes the fifth, meaning invokes the Fifth Amendment right of selfincrimination. Were not in criminal court, were in congress, the rules are a little different. That said, donald trump or any other person can still take the fifth in front of congress. Weve seen it before famously in our history, people getting in front of the congress and saying, i take the fifth. So if donald trump is forced into the well of the senate against his will, he has that right to take the fifth, but boy, that would look terrible. Donald trump has said himself in the past, the Fifth Amendment is only for guilty people, only for mob bosses or something to that effect, so theyre putting donald trump in a tough position here. And he likes to be heard, certainly. Gloria, what is your reaction to these news . Im having a Deja Vu To Mueller and the whole Russia Investigation where donald trump publicly said, oh, id really like to testify but my lawyers wont let me do it. And, in fact, im thinking his lawyers, like his lawyers previously, really wont let him do it or wont want him to do it for one reason, which is that he is known to lie. And that once you lie, you can get in an awful lot of trouble here. And if the questions are asked, as laura is talking about, were you really delighted . What was your reaction when you saw the riots . Why wasnt the National Guard called sooner . And all kinds of detailed questions like that, we all know what they are. If donald trump were to Say Something and then someone else who was a witness were to Say Something else, that could obviously be a huge problem for him. However, to elies point, he doesnt want to take the fifth. He really doesnt. So they have put him in a bit of a corner here, but i doubt his attorneys are going to say, sure, go ahead, mr. Trump, go ahead and do that. I dont see it. And, laura, here hes been asked. What if he says, no, thank you . Then Where Do We Go From Here . As manu pointed out, how far will democrats go to pursue having him testify . And remember, if you fail to do so, we will draw an adverse interference. Not the strongest of threats to somebody who could probably care less of the inferences drawn by the democratic party. Normally in a civil context or other areas of the criminal law system, you might be able to say this could persuade a jury who has an open mind and would look at this as an inference of guilt. But here its a political process, so having an adverse inference of guilt, if you think about it, there is already an adverse inference of guilt about his commentary, his actions afterwards. It might be that the calculated risk is to say, then draw your adverse interference. I will stay home at maralago. He wants to promote this big lie, he wanted to say that it was protected speech, and he may not trust his attorneys to be that conduit and this may be his one platform that keeps him relevant in this context. So, gloria, i think youre very familiar with his impulses on wanting to be heard, but also at times deferring to the advice of his lawyers. Weve actually see him defer to that advice. As gloria noted, he often uses it as a front for, well, i couldnt do this because my attorneys advised this. He used it for multiple things, like his taxes and sitting down with mueller. If the president actually did come testify on his own behalf, the way theyve been able to frame this as, its not constitutional, hes out of office, its not a pressing concern because hes not president of the United States anymore, this would get in the way. I dont think the concern would be that he would lie, it would be that he would tell the truth. Buzz we know from people who who have the confidence of bursting into that building. Thats a pretty good indication of where his mindset was there. That would be a pretty good indication to attorneys, but for this president , of course, all indications would be that they wouldnt, but if he came in and maintained these things he has continued to maintain and expressed no remorse over, i think that would put republicans in a difficult position. Thats what they have to balance here. The alternative is if he doesnt come testify, then democrats can use that against him and say, well, we gave you an opportunity to come and give your version of the story, and you declined that offer. Gloria, what do you think . I think its a big dare. I think jamie raskin and company who are leading the democrats on this just threw out this big dare to the president of the United States. And knowing donald trump, they know hes going to think about it and want to defend himself, as kaitlan says. This is what he always wants to do, and theyre kind of sitting there thinking, well, why not do this . Im not the lawyer, you guys are the lawyers, but why not . Why not try and see what he does. Am i wrong about that . Actually, thats the cliffhanger here. Im going to leave that question hanging out there because we have to stand by for just a moment. Well have a lot more on this. This is huge news. Democrats have asked trump to testify in his impeachment hearing. Also huge news, and its really hard to overstate this as well, there is a massive libel lawsuit that has just been filed against fox and trump allies over cam spaign Conspiracy Theories about the election. Well have that next. An awardwinning appu with 24 7 support when you need it the most. Dont get mad. Get e trade and start trading today. Shaq . Remember when you were telling us to check out the general for car insurance, and we all thought you were losing it, so we left you Deep In The Woods . Turns out you were right about the general. I just misjudged them based on their commercials. 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They said they made this Disinformation Campaign that has jeopardized the businesss very survival and prompted some threats against some employees. According to the lawsuit, it says that fox had a financial interest to push protrump Conspiracy Theories that suggested the election was stolen. Obviously it wasnt, but it aired for several weeks on fox and a lot of programs, and they said they were the villain of the story. Ill read you part of the lawsuit. It says, they needed a villain, they needed someone to blame, they needed someone they could get others to hate, the type that would incite an angry mob only works if the storyteller provides an audience of someone who personifies evil. Theyre saying fox chose that someone to personify the evil. I spoke to the owner of the company and he said he had no choice because this has jeopardized the company. Fox responded to this lawsuit. Theyre calling it meritless. We reached out to Rudy Giuliani and others, and well have more for you if they have comments. Brian, this is certainly a big development, especially if you consider that you watched fox daytime along with fox prime time. There was less tolerance for it during the daytime hours, and certainly this wasnt something that was propagated as much during the daytime hours, and i wonder if that is an observation that perhaps youve noticed. Some of the hosts who were named in this lawsuit like lou dobbs and mariebartiromo, they were promoting it. Journalists have a lot of good reasons to be concerned about the specter of lawsuits in response to journalism. Press freedom must always be protected but this is not a needless lawsuit targeted to the newsroom. This is not about journalism at all. This is about lying to desperately help the president of the United States, not trying to get the facts right, but just entertaining their viewers with damaging lies. Thats why this is going to be a significant legal test. Look, proving defamation is one thing. The lawyers believe thats going to be a pretty easy case. Proving damages is another. I think we should view 2 p 2. 7 billion as an opening bid here in a negotiation, not the final figure. But it is stunning to see a Major Company sued for 2. 7 billion, stunning to see a near 300page lawsuit full of examples of things spilled on the air by guests and sometimes by hosts, brianna. And this isnt the first lawsuit filed against fox recently. We just covered a Slander Lawsuit where fox lawyers successfully argued that Tucker Carlson is full of it, and basically a reasonable viewer would approach what he says with a level of skepticism. Theyre used to some of these lawsuits. I wonder if it will be sort of a actually, if you guys can hold on for just a moment, were going to the State Department. Thank you, thank you for being with us here today. These women and men represent the extraordinary talent and diversity of america. Theyre the future of this department. Were thrilled that they joined our team. Our president and Vice President know how vital the State Department is to americas security and prosperity. And they know how committed the people of the Foreign Service and Civil Service are to serving our nation to the best of their ability every single day. Mr. President , madam Vice President , we are grateful to both of you for visiting us so early in the administration despite the remnants of snow out outside. We know you want to make the State Department as strong as it can be for our country. And we know youre counting on us to deliver excellence for the american people. On behalf of everyone at state, i promise you we will not let you down. Now, a quick word about Vice President harris. Shes dedicated her career to the security of the american people. As a district attorney, California Attorney general, United States senator and now as Vice President of the United States. And she fully shares the president s commitment to crafting a Foreign Policy that puts diplomacy first and that keeps our nation safe and delivers real results for the american people. And so its my great pleasure to introduce to you the Vice President of the United States. [ applause ] thank you, secretary blinken. It was my great honor to swear you in last wednesday. Ask thank you for the warm welcome, everyone, for me and the president. We are here as one of our highest priorities, to thank you for your dedication to our country and the work you have tirelessly been doing. And, you know, when i swore in the secretary, you may know that he placed his hand on a copy of the very document that we all swore to protect and defend. And that, of course, is the United States constitution. And it was a simple and it is a sacred oath, one that many of you, the dedicated staff of the State Department, have taken. And we know that we cannot take those words for granted, to support and defend. Every day we have to breathe new life into them. That is our duty. As difficult as these past years have been, you have remained committed to democracy, to human rights, and the rule of law. On behalf of our nation, we thank you for your service and for your sacrifice. Today we are here in person to tell you that we are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability inclusivity and diplomacy. On the global stage, as a partner and a leader, this is the foundation on which we stand. We build on that foundation both by what we do abroad, restoring our alliances and supporting International Institutions and also by what we do within our own shores. Our foreign and domestic imperatives are intrinsically linked. Everything you do, every policy you advance, every partnership you forge, makes a difference in the lives of everyday americans. At the same time, our strength in the world depends on your strength and our strength here at home. And that is why we are working to reinforce our democracy, to rescue our nation from this pandemic, to rebuild our economy, to confront Racial Injustice and to combat climate change. The world is counting on us. And we as a nation must show both our allies and our adversaries that america will deliver. Its time to deliver. Again, thank you all for your service, and secretary blinken, thank you for your leadership. [ applause ] thank you so much, madam Vice President. And now just a brief word about President Biden. No one has ever brought as much Foreign Policy expertise and experience to the presidency as joe biden. For the two decades or so that i worked for him, ive just been trying to keep up. From baghdad to bagrum, to paris to victoria, to places in between. Its been one of the great pleasures of my life to watch pres President Biden in action across the globe. And i know he believes fondly in moving diplomacy, to work with friends and allies, to Work Together for a common cause. He looks at new ideas, dissenting views, rigorous debate. He wants to make sure our Foreign Policy stays innovative and creative. So it dhe doesnt just respond certain events, he works to shape them. That is what im trying to do here at the State Department. And President Biden and Vice President harris have made clear that in everything we do, the first question we have to ask is this how is it going to benefit our fellow americans . How will this policy, how will this initiative, how will this outreach answer their needs, their values . How will it make their lives just a little bit better . Thats the first question we have to ask. And were going to hold ourselves to that standard every step of the way. Were lucky to have this president and this Vice President at the helm during such a pivotal time for our nation and for the world, and so its very much my honor today to introduce to you the president of the United States. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you, thank sdwx. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, mr. Secretary. Thank you for welcoming in the Vice President ened me back to the State Department. Its true the secretary and i have worked together a long time. And i know, i know that he has the background and capacity needed to, quite frankly, lead the State Department at a critical moment. This has been a difficult few years. Ive been hanging around in the Foreign Relations committee and as chairman and then as Vice President and now as president for a long time dealing with state. Those who work here including the new class of diplomats that we have on the screen behind me, youre among the brightest, most involved, best educated group of People America has to offer, and, but i come today to talk to everyone at main state watching remotely and those who will not be able to see this but will hear about it. You know, an Incredible Group of diplomats that ive had a chance to work with, and what we never talk about it, you not only have great intellectual capacity but great courage. Ive been at some of you when weve been shot at, been in places that you would not have any idea youd want to be when you were going to school for Foreign Policy and Foreign Service and they never told you that was going to happen, but youre an Incredible Group of individuals. And ive said many times over the years. Those wof you stationed oversea, and have been stationed overseas youre americas face. Youre what people seep in the country you are, and it matters. It matters a great deal how you comport yourself and how you deal with the folks that youre dealing with in that particular country. I find it, many of you among the most incredible and by the way, i think what we dont do enough. We dont thank your families, thank your families for the sacrifices they make. They make sacrifices, real sacrifices. I dont know how many times i have moved, again, moved to see to it that your spouses, they give up their careers, many times, to follow you. Many times their careers ar as consequential or more consequential than yours, but they do it for the country, and theyre to be thanked, but the main message that i want to communicate to yall is that whether youre part of the newest class of foreign officers or youve worked for decades in the Civil Service or Foreign Service, or youre locally employed staff, your vital strength of this nation depends on no small part on you. Later today ill go up to the eighth floor and send a clear message to the world. America is back. America is back. Diplomacy is back. You are the center of all that i intend to do. You are the heart of it. Were going rebuild our alliances. Were going reengage the world and take on the enormous challenges we face dealing with the pandemic, dealing with global warming, and, again, standing up for democracy and human rights around the world. Again, as i said, youre the face of america abroad. And in our administration, youre going to the trusted, and youre going to be empowered. Trusted and empowered to do your job, but i ask each of you to abide by a few core tenants. Integrity in all you do. Say that again. Integrity in all you do. Transparency and accountability to rebuild trust in america around the world. Working in the service of the american people. Not selfinterest, and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility across the board, because our diplomats at all levels reflect the if you diversity of this great country. I know how much we ask of you and your families, and i mean that. I do know. Its been a long time ive been dealing with this building and all of your predecessor and the sacrifices you make are real and not recognized much by the country as a whole. They dont know all that you do. I also know that youd never let us down. I believe in you. I believe in you. We need you badly. I trust you, and im going to have your back. That, i promise you. Just like youre going to have the backs of the american people. What i always point out to people in years when i was chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, id make sure that my Foreign Relations Committee Staff came to my home state and worked in constituent services. Which many thought it was beneath them. Im a Foreign Policy specialist. But its all about who you work for. Who i work for. Who we work for. Foreign policy is about promoting the interests of the people of the United States when a rubric and a set of principles that treat everyone with decency. So i promise you im going have your back. I promise you. And i expect you to have the back of the american people. Now, ive got a lot of work to do, and a lot of catching up to do. A lot of rebuilding to do. And i cant think of any group of People Better capable of doing it more ready than all of you. So, thank you, thank you, thank you. I look forward to working with you. I look forward to seeing you, and i look forward to coming back when this auditorium is filled and no one has to wipe down the podium. So, again, folks. Thank you. You are the Heart And Soul of who we are as a country and the rest of the world is looking to you to help them understand us and so we can help them as well. So, thank you all, very much, and may god bless you and may god keep you all safe when youre abroad. Thank you. [ applause ] thanks again President Biden there speaking along with the Vice President , kamala harris, to employees of the State Department. I do want to bring in my colleague kylie atwood to talk about this. I mean, talk about whiplash between the Trump Administration and the Biden Administration for these State Department employees. Many folks in their field actually hung up their hats in the last four years or certainly morale issues. Tell us a little about, as youve been covering this moment where the president is visiting the State Department. Reporter yes. This is a significant speech that President Biden just made. He is coming here to the State Department talking about the Foreign Policy of his administration, how they are going to rebuild trust with the world, rebuild trust with u. S. Allies, and before he does that, before he gives that speech thats coming later on today, he is working to rebuild trust with americas diplomats. These are the folks he said in those remarks just there are on the front lines of american Foreign Policy. They really matter. They are the ones who are working and carrying out the hard work, and he made a series of commitments to them, brianna. He said, you know, he promised to have their back that their work is hugely consequential, and he also said we need you badly. So he is being very up front about the fact that american Foreign Policy, American National Security Strategy in the Biden Administration is going to be led by diplomacy. Something we heard earlier in the day from his National Security adviser, jake sullivan, and this is also really important. You know, given what this department has experienced over the last few years. President trump sometimes disparaged diplomats by name especially over the last few years and that was so hard for americanlots they really did not grow to trust american politicians and the president of the United States. So biden is saying, you can trust me. Now, of course, theres a lot of hard work to do. This is an administration that is in deep on policy reviews when it comes to a number of topics. You know, russia, afghanistan, china. They have a lot of work to do, and the Biden Administration is going to have to really followup their words with actions and demonstrate how they are going to empower these dep mats. Of course, this moment, this visit to the State Department, President Bidens first visit to any department or agency here in washington is a first step. Yeah. As you mentioned it comes ahead of this important speech you will be giving about his Foreign Policy changes at the State Department here in about an hour or so. So well be looking for that. Thank you so much. Another big story were tracking right now has to do with this lawsuit against fox and some trump allies. I want to bring in oliver darcy, our media reporter and elie honig. To revisit this, what does this lawsuit allege and what damages are sought by this company who says essentially that its reputation and earnings have been damaged by what has gone on on fox and also from trump allies . Yeah. This is a big, big lawsuit. 2. 7 billion. The b what theyre asking in damages. The lawsuit is after fox news, it names protrump attorneys Rudy Guiliani and Sidney Powell and also named fox news hopes, lou dobbs, maria bartiromo, a financial interest to all of these parties promoting protrump Conspiracy Theories that the election was stolentop do that they need add villain. According to smartatic, this Voting Technology company they will be villain, defamed by fox, giuliani and powell and looking for damps. I talked to the ceo yesterday and he said they lost hundreds of millions of dollars in potentially revenue over the next few years. Prompted Death Threats against the company and paying extra money in security, physical of employees and cybersecurity to protect their technology. Theyre looking for damages right now, fox saying theyll defend this lawsuit calling it meritless and sidney paowell calling it a political move. Dramatically and convincingly as some of these personalities and Trump Supporters sold this bunk, its hard to believe that they believed it. Right . But that would be key to a lawsuit like this. It would be key, brianna. First of all, this lawsuit is a legitimate threat. A real threat. There is real teeth in this. Two legal questions. One, were the statements false, bunk . I dont think theres any question about that. Yes, they were false, they were bunk. The second question is, did fox or the other defendants know that they were false when they made the stateme