Transcripts For CNNW Inside 20240704

Today today on inside politics, Hunter In The House right now the president s son is facetoface with the republicans trying to impeach his father will bring you the latest from his crucial testimony, which could deliver a final blow to the gops fizzling impeachment investigation. Plus republicans are rushing to publicly say they support ivf. So why are they planning to block a senate bill two . Day that would protect the procedure so many need to start a family feud. The campaign ads and its a mustwin state for november, but michigans primary is exposing warnings signs for both joe biden and donald trump. This hour ill talk to a top Biden Campaign official about their plans to address the president s problems in this pivotal swingstate. Im dana bash. Lets go behind the headlines and inside politics we start today on capitol hill where this moment hunter biden is Behind Closed Doors testifying in front of the house, oversight and judiciary committees. The president s son says his deposition today should put an end to the gops Impeachment Inquiry in his Opening Statement, he had this message to republicans. He said, quote, for more than a year, your committees have hunted me in your partisan political person suit of my dad. You have trafficked and innuendo distortion and sensationalism all while ignoring the clear and convincing evidence staring you in the face. Cnns Melanie Zanona is live on capitol hill. Melanie hasnt going Behind Closed Doors. In your partisan political particular. Yeah. Well, were about two hours in to this deposition. And so far, hunter biden has not pleaded the fifth, according to Republican Nancy Mace he is sitting there answering questions as he is in the hot seat, but democrats emerge from the room moments ago on a break and they said that republicans are clearly on a baseless fishing the expedition they have not uncovered any evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors. And they said this is all a waste of time, especially with a looming Government Funding deadline on friday. Just take a listen. What we saw i think was a rather embarrassing spectacle where the republicans continued to belabor completely trivial points. They seem to be obsessively focused on speaker phones and use of speakerphone. I did not know that that was the devils technology, but apparently it is that first hour of this muchanticipated testimony was the nail in the coffin to what is a company . Complete, bogus and sham Impeachment Inquiry the white bring charged with lying to the fbi now, republicans have been eager to secure this testimony one of the thought for months to make it happen, they did ultimately agree on some terms that include a to release the transcript within potentially the next 24 hours. So as not to have any selective leaks they also are not videotaping this as they have with other witnesses and republicans really want to grill hunter biden about personally benefited financially from those overseas deals. But in his Opening Statement, dana, as you read, he made Crystal Clear that his father has not profited off of his sons foreign Business Deals and you really is just the latest in a parade of witnesses who have testified to just bask. In fact, an fbi agent was recently charged by the fbi for lying about a foreign bribery allegation. So this is really a makeorbreak moment for republicans potentially could go late into the night here though dana melanie thank you so much for that reporting. Lets talk more about this with my panel here. Cnns jeff zeleny, Leigh Ann Caldwell of the washington post, and cnns evan perez. Evan, i want to start with you because part of the reason the big reason why as dan goldman said, in a classic dan goldman soundbite, that this is the nail in the coffin of the Impeachment Inquiry is because the republicans were relying a lot on an fbi informant who has now been arrested because he allegedly lied to the fbi specific typically about the things that he said about the bidens, the doj informant made it all up. This is these are the allegations against this important. Hes still actively peddling new lies that in compacted that could impact us elections. He claimed that russian officials fed him information about hunter biden will look, i mean, this is the last gasp of this of this effort by the republicans, but we should be clear that they had really turned up very little to show for what theyve been pursuing. So even before the charges against the informant, alexander smirnov, the this was a petering out effort, right . It was an effort that was already having trouble because they had not, they, the republicans had promised a lot. They said that they were going to show evidence that joe biden directly benefited from his sons Business Activities in other countries. And they have not been able to do that. None of the witnesses have been able to substantiate that and so thats part of the problem is that, you know, now you have the one last part of this, which was this guy that was making this very big claim of a of bribes, 10 million in bribes. And now hes been charged by the fbi and hes gonna go to trial in april i just think we cannot underscore the main point of what you just said, evan enough, which is that there arent any facts that they have that they can back up with any evidence. Its all innuendo, rumor, political allegation at this point. Just one other example. The sort of very thin accusation that they had was that, oh, we have this, these checks that hunter biden and the president s brother, james wrote to the president and those are pieces of evidence that show that the president was involved in some scheme that were not really sure about. Paula reid was up on capitol hill this morning, asked james comer, the committee the chair about this. Listen to how that went down the bidens were talking about President Bidens specifically, what evidence do you have a prominent officers . We have two checks, joe biden received two payments. We found this through subpoenaed bank records to payments you pretty steps between to the cec end the steps are called moneylaundering thats what the steps are called except not know. Except not heres just one example of a fact check by our great daniel dale. Banking records, the one that hes referring to, one so hes referring to review by cnn, which comers committee possesses his own committee provide substantial evidence in support of the democrats assertions that there was indeed a 200,000 loan from joe biden to james biden, less than two months before the james biden loan repayment, jack to joe biden for the same amount thats just one example of fact checks that dont back up. These very, very serious allegations and all of this time and effort spent by these republicans on what looks like the wildest of goose chases. Republicans getting out in front of their skis might be the understatement of the year. This is something that once they gained the majority, they said that they were going to impeach joe biden in any way that they were able to do it and they have been trying to get there. Now remember number they took a vote to proceed with this Impeachment Inquiry, which was also controversial within the House Republicans are some more centrist republicans who didnt think it took a lot of persuading to get them here. But but democrats have been, or republicans have been unable, as we have, youve all said, very eloquently plea to connect any dots and find any sort of wrongdoing by the president. All that said, it does not mean that this still isnt a political problem for the administration because you cant put all of this sort of back in the bottle. I mean, this has been something that is has been a drip, drip, drip for months and years jurors and now suddenly to find out, oh, wait, not true. The political damage in some respects has been done. So we cant lose sight of that. But Going Forward here, this will be looked at as a chapter where congress clearly is following the lead of not a branch of government, but the fourth of state, you know, a partisan, partisan mean the former president and the former president , of course, talking all that. But i think the practical matter of this visavis it contributes to the president s lower approval rating. When you talk to voters and other things, they believed that he is complicit in this next fall so thats a problem, right and that is that is the point, right . And i think i think a lot of us something that weve been covering this weve heard from people close to republicans whove told them in, warned them that there was no there there. But they still pursued it because that is the point. The point it is sort of following the script of what the republicans did to Hillary Clinton with benghazi, right . There was nothing there, but they spent months digging her and damaging her. And in the end, chief its went on television, said, we kinda thats what we did. Yeah. And your point about not being able to put the genie back in the bottle. I mean, as much as we go on and give the facts and give the information and try to give the reality as much as we know it as we learn it. And said for months, if not longer, these are the republican claims. They have not give us, given us any evidence really to back it up. You cant change the echo chamber through which a lot of americans get their information and its hard to imagine unfortunately, that the tone and tenor is going to change much even though the facts arent on their side. And this is something, you know, a hunter biden gave this Opening Statement that we read part of Behind Closed Doors today, but he actually in a rare interview with Axios On Monday said the following, which really struck us. He said, ive always been an off people who have stayed clean and sober through tragedies and obstacles. Few people ever face. I have something much bigger than even myself at stake. We are in the middle of a Fight For The Future of democracy this is kind of more of the Human Element of what were talking about here is very personal. He is very open about the fact that he is an addict. He was very much off the wagon when a lot of this happened. And part of what he is trying to do, hes saying here is stay clean for her spot for himself, for his family, for his father, and he believes for politics, which is democracy, yeah, and hes also insinuating there that he knows that this is also inherently political as well donald trump, every Single Campaign stump speech he gives the words come out of his mouth joe biden, the most corrupt president in history. And so this is part of the strategy of trying to convince but voters that that is true. You dont look, i think with hunter biden and one of the key parts of this Husband Jail Biden and her role in trying to keep hunter close . And you, see all these stories about why is hunter showing up at these events at the white house . Why isnt the president pushing him away . I think part of the thing has been about this very personal familial tragedy that theyve been living, which is to try to keep him sobering, to keep them safe. And thats, one reason why you see him there. They keep him close for that reason and you could see what hes saying in return, which is theyre going after me because they are trying to make me use so that they could hurt my father. And that is a crazy thing to have to hear in 2024, politics yeah. And in 2024, society, when we are much more aware of addiction, everybody standby. Donald trump has asked a new York Appeals Court to delay the requirement that he quickly cough up 454 million in his civil fraud case. Its the latest step the former president is taken to avoid paying that massive panel and ill tell you, cnns Kara Scannell joins me now. Kara, whats trumps goal and asking for this delay, does he think that its possible he can get away with not paying it. And is well hes well, dana, hes trying to buy time here because the clock is ticking on when he has to put up money or, you know, either cash or in the form of a bond in order to prevent the new York Attorney Generals Office from trying to move forward to enforce the judgment. And one way they could do that is to try to see some of the properties. Now he could stop that if he post the bond right now, but hes asking the judges more more time to come up with the money and thats really what this is at issue here. The new York Attorney Generals Office is opposing it. They just filed a letter in this case im asking the Appeals Court to deny it, but theres likely to be some briefing on this matter over the next couple of weeks. This is all happening though as trump is facing more than half 1 billion that he has to put up between the new York Attorney generals case and the Defamation Case involving e. Jean carroll in that case, a jury awarded carroll 80 3. 3 million. Trumps clock is ticking on that. He asked the judge overseeing that case on friday to delay enforcement of that bond as well. So hes having to come up with a lot of money now hes asking different courts to give him more time to do so. Well wait to see what these judges say kara thank. You so much for that reporting. Appreciate it and coming up, President Biden and former President Trump may have won michigan, but theyre facing pretty big Warning Signs with the results there. What does it all mean for november will tell you after a quick break the whole story with anderson cooper, Sunday On Scene Everybody wants super straight, super white teeth. 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Want to publish a book, will review your manuscript for free if youve written a book Page Publishing can help you through the process. We cut through the Computer Fusion at the publishing world to make it easy for you, call 805630741 theres concern today among democrats after 101,000 Michigan Democrats voted for Uncommitted Over president , joe biden. At that, of course, was the result of a Protest Campaign over the administrations handling of the israel gaza war. The chair of the Progressive Caucus in congress, pramila jayapal, told our manu raju that this protest was no surprise saying quote, this is exactly what i warned about several months ago, the war on gaza is a deep moral issue and the lack of attention and empathy for this perspective from the administration is breaking apart the fragile coalition. We built to elect joe biden in 2020. Its not just the farleft listen to what the Number Two Senate democrat said this morning morning i am worried ive talked to him i know they feel very strongly and have a right to the situation facing felt palestinians in gaza is horrible. Its a humanitarian disaster. And the sooner the dow still one has come to an end and the sooner the relief isnt delivered the. Sooner were going to see some, i think people sitting back and taking stock of what the real choices are in november. Our panel is back now, jeff zeleny, you just came back from michigan this morning, right . I know youve got some new reporting on whats going on in democratic party. Senator durbin talking there about needing a solution. I mean, this is a example of where there is a deep political problem but it is likely only to be resolved by a policy solution. And this is something thats talking to a variety of Michigan Democrats. During my time reporting there once said the anger will not be resolved with meetings. It will take bold action. So theyre really calling on President Biden and to do something bold to keep distancing himself from Prime Minister netanyahu, which hes done. I mean, if you track the timeline of President Bidens own response to this since october 7 . Absolutely. Hes already heard this message. This did not come as a surprise to them. The number did the 101,000 people i talked to one michigan democrat who supports joe biden yesterday and he said anything over 50,000 that could be an issue. It was twice that 100,000. But in addition to that, this could be a floor another warning sign i heard from a michigan democrat who again, once President Biden to be reelected so it took an act to go out and vote uncommitted. What about the people who didnt vote . Young people in ann arbor in lansing across the state the apathy and theyre just a disinterest in this campaign that is, in the words of this democrat, a much more worrisome sign. So look, the Warning Signs are there . Former congressman andy levin told me last night, after you interviewed him actually, he was standing in dearborn. He said this could be a constructive effort. It sends a warning sign in advance to the white house. They have eight months to figure this out. And leanne, i know youve been doing some you all have been doing extensive reporting on this. But because you mentioned andy levin, he was a congressman from there from a very wellknown political, Democratic Political family in michigan. Listen to part of our conversation last night dana my goal here personally was to get through to the president s campaign that there is no political solution to this problem i dont see how we can win the white house. Again without winning michigan. And i dont think we can win michigan unless the president changes course on gaza aza and leanne i think you all noticed that last night, the Biden Campaign put out a statement that was kind of vanilla and didnt mention uncommitted vanilla about winning michigan, right . That changed this morning when they saw the numbers go up, up, up, up, up. Heres what the Campaign Said this morning, President Biden shares the goal of many of the folks who voted uncommitted, which is an end to violence and adjust in lasting peace that is what he is working towards. We will earn their votes between now and november yeah they are realizing, i think after these results last night that it is a huge challenge for him, of course now michigan has one of the biggest arab American Communities in the country. Pennsylvanias another her state that has high percentages as well and so but michigan is what andy levin said is absolutely right that it is necessary to win for biden or presumably trump to be the nominee. But theres also a lot of Warning Signs for donald trump to and there have been throughout when campaign thats a good point. I want to say that i think the democrats have to decide who they are and what they stand for in this moment. Its not only Arab Americans in terms of a marginalized group that feel as though they are treated as expendable by the democratic party, right . Now, you have you know, mixed families with undocumented folks. But whats citizen children that are feeling alienated, you have black voters feeling alienated as well. And i think for a long time this is beyond President Biden democrats have treated some of the parts of their coalition as expendable. And they can afford to continue to do that without really voters saying in a very loud way that the jig is up. You mentioned the republicans and i dont want to lose sight of the fact that nikki haley is still in the race. She didnt compete at all in michigan and shes still got she didnt win at all, but she got a sizable amount of the vote. I had a conversation with her last night about where the party is unwilling to listen to part of it isnt it possible that the party has moved and the party is about donald trump and not what youre describing, which might be the party of yesterday it is very possible and thats what were doing. What im saying to my Republican Party family is were in a ship with a hole in it and we can either go down with the ship and watch the country goes socialist left, or we can see that we need to take the life raft and move in a new direction. Yeah i mean, look, she won almost 30 of the vote, as you said, with barely campaigning, their shoes are just a couple of days. Look through reality is shes been broadcasting this semester, sending this warning with every passing week, louder and louder and louder, thats his ladder. Shes been as succinct as shes been. The question is, is the party listening . This is the party of dahman and ill trump i mean, we are seeing this clear dividing line. Now, but getting 30 , those are votes that donald trump will need in michigan. And theres some votes that joe biden would love yes. Theres a large percentage of the party that is the party of donald trump, but theres also this 2030 sometimes 40 who doesnt support donald trump at this point when its, when its a matchup between the two. And thats a challenge for the party. Were gonna have to take a quick break up next, were going to speak with one of President Bidens top Campaign Advisers about his takeaways from last nights results, stay with us elliott spitzer, crusading governor by day, wanted to be president in United States, Client Number Nine by nights this guy whos to are against Human Sex Trafficking is actually a customer, United States of scandal with jake tapper. New episodes sunday at nine on cnn. Yours so much more than just a landowner. Your gardner groundskeeper. And a landscaper thats why you need versatile, durable cup Voter Equipment if i wasnt a clinical psychologist, i think i wouldve become a veterinarian if i could stand aside of blood, which i cant really so maybe. You should strike that. My name is dr. Gear, live in a clinical psychologists since 1991, i was licensed and i loved being a clinical psychologists because i like helping people. I was inspired to take balance of nature. 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They got to the best players in mcdavid and draisaitl say louis, a talented team, always a tough test tnt is cnn Breaking News . Big. Breaking news at this moment, we are told that Mitch Mcconnell, the Senate Minority leader right now and he has been the leader since 2007 of the senate. Republicans will announce shortly on the floor of the us senate that he is going to step down as leader we expect that he will say he will stay on through this years election. Again, this is very, very big news. This is according to a source familiar with his plans. We do know that his office has formally said that he is going to make extended remarks on the senate floor. You see the senate floor right now. We are watching and waiting for mcconnell to come out. He just turned 82 years old. He is the longest Serving Leader in the United States senate historically, and that has been a milestone that he has held onto for mao a couple of years, right . Jeff zeleny, i have my panel here. Were waiting for manu raju to get to the camera. And as we wait for him, oh, mano, youre there. Manu. Can you feel the sort of marble shaking as this news is going around . The United States capitol. No question. This is a humungous moment in republican politics and really a titan of the United States seven senate, someone who has been instrumental in driving the republican agenda for the past two decades, serving longer than any party leader. And the United States Senate History about to announce matter of moments. This is it. His time is done as republican leader. Were going to monitoring younger Sister Angela just a few weeks ago when you lose a lot drawn. Particularly at a young age. Theres a certain introspection that accompanies the grieving process perhaps it is gods way of reminding you of your own lifes journey to prioritize the impact of the world that we will all inevitably leave behind i turned 82 last week the end of my contributions are closer than i prefer my career in the United States senate began amidst the Reagan Revolution the truth is, when i got here i was just happy to anybody remembered my name President Reagan called me Michel Donald close enough. I thought my life, my wife elaine and i got married on President Reagans birthday february 6. Its probably not the most romantic thing to admit. But reagan meant a lot to both of us 31 years. Elaine has been the Love Of My Life and im eternally grateful to have her by my side i think back to my first days in the senate with deep appreciation for the time that helped shape my view of the world im on conflicted about the good within our country and the irreplaceable role we play as the leader of the free world the trial work so hard to get the National Security package passed earlier this month believed me i know the politics of them by a party at this particular moment in time. I have many faults mr. Hundred and 70 politics is not one. Off that said i believe more strongly than ever that americas Global Leadership is a central to preserving the shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan discussed as long as im drawing breath on this earth, i will defend American Exceptionalism so as ive been thinking about, when i would deliver some news to the senate i always imagined a moment when i have total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work a moment. What im certain i have helped preserve the ideals so strongly believe that day arrived today my goals when i was narrowly elected to the senate back in 1984, were fairly modest. Do good job with the people of kentucky and convinced them that by doing so, it might rehire me for a second term. That was it that was the plan if you would have told me 40 years later, that i would stand before you as the longest serving Senate Leader in american history. Frankly i wouldve thought youd lost your mind i have the honor of representing kentucky and the senate longer than anyone else in our states history. Ill just never could have imagined. Never could have imagined that happening when i arrived here in 1984 at 42 im phil was heartfelt gratitude and humility or the opportunity but now its 2024 im now at two as Occlusion Ousters tells us to everything. There is a susan and our time to every purpose under heaven to serve kentucky in the senate has been the honor of my life the lead my republican colleagues has been the highs privilege but one of lifes most under appreciated, collins is to know when its time to move on to lives. Next, chapter so ill stand before you today. Mr. President , and my callups to say this will be my last term as republican leader im not going anywhere anytime soon. However, ill complete my job. My colleagues have given me until we select a new leader in november and they take the helm next january ill finish the job that people have kentucky hired me to do as well ill be it from different seat and im actually looking forward to so its kinda for me to think about another susan of law are lying. There may be more distinguished members after all this time ill still go to the thrill walking into the capital and especially on this venerable floor knowing that we eat jewelers have the honor to represent our states and do the important work of our country but father time remains undefeated ill no longer their young man sitting in the back hoping colleagues would remember my name its time for the next generation of Leadership Shen Replays showed and this very body in 18, 50 the constitution of the United States was not made merely for the generation that then existed but for posterity on limited undefined endless, Perpetual Posteriori so tom rolls on therell be a new custodian of this Great Institution next year. Once you probably should. Know. Im kind of turn this job over to a republican Majority Leader i have full confidence in my conference to choose my replacement and lead our country forward therell be other times to reminisce im immensely proud of the accomplishments ive played some role in obtaining for the American People today, its not today to discuss all of that because as i said earlier im not going anywhere anytime soon. There, are many challenges we must meet to deliver for the American People and each will have my full effort and attention i, still have enough gas and not time to thoroughly disappointed my critics and i intend to do so with all the enthusiasm with which theyve become a costume so to my colleagues, thank you for entrusting me with our success its been an honor to work with each review therell be plenty of time to express my gratitude in greater detail as i sprint towards the finish line which is now in sight. Moment in history youre watching as the us senate gives the longest serving party leader in the us senate around of applause after he makes an announcement that he is going to step down from his post in leadership after the november election of this year quite emotional. Fur mich for anybody really, but particularly for Mitch Mcconnell who doesnt exactly where his emotions on his sleeve. But he said that he is going towards the finish line, which is now in sight. I want to bring in manu raju, who is there and has covered Mitch Mcconnell, maybe almost as long as i have, but they finish line is way further away from your vision, than mine. Manu but the fact that he said still have enough gas in my tank to disappoint my critics. And i intend to do that with enthusiasm. The enthusiasm that theyve been accustomed to, that which is one of the sort of turns of phrase that in captured an encapsulated mondale so much of his tenure, particularly in recent years, because it used to be that much of the criticism that he got was from across the aisle. And now its almost exclusively. I mean, he certainly as great as critics from Democratic Senators and other members but its from within his own party because of his feelings about donald trump and his worldview. Yeah, its so much has changed and a lot of ways the Republican Party has changed underneath him and he sort of alluded to that in his comments saying that he knows the politics have changed within his party. He of course, when he was the republican leader under barack obama, he gave barack obama fits. He led the charge against obamacare. He took pride in rallying the gop conference to try to overdo repeal obamacare day after day after day as they were trying to put that piece of legislation together. He of course, was centrally responsible for shifting the Supreme Court to the right, keeping vacant some of them never been done before us. Supreme court seat. Kiwior vacant. Brock obama won. Merrick garland to fill that seat. Instead. Donald trump came in, named neil gorsuch to the seed when he became president. Mcconnell has said that there was one of his crowning achievements while in office and then moving forward on getting Brett Kavanaugh confirmed a Supreme Court and Amy Coney Barrett and the aftermath of Ruth Bader Ginsburg passing even though he had said he would not confirm one nominee in an Election Year, did so with another in another Election Year that infuriated democrats. But in this trump post, trump era and particularly in this congress he has worked with democrats that has infuriated republicans who voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The only republican member in his, in his delegation to do that, he supported the bipartisan Gun Legislation that also something that was simply not supported by most republicans and perhaps for us, note, most significantly been crosswise with donald trump in the aftermath of january 6, that speech that he gave on the senate floor. And after voting to acquit donald trump and his second impeachment trial. But then saying that, but down top is morally and practically responsible for january 6, that has cost him as this any support with donald trump, trump has bashed him repeatedly on the Campaign Trail since trump has said, frankly racist things about elaine chao, his wife, former trump cabinet member, someone a taiwanese immigrant, and they have not talked in more than three years, but still has not endorsed donald trump. But one thing too has been very clear the criticism within the gop, within the senate gop conference is still small faction, but its been louder than any time in his tenure as republican leader. And he certainly knows that. And dana, this is going to open up a contested Leadership Race that will drive the future direction of the Republican Party. Look for the three republican senator john thune, whos currently the number two republican senator john cornyn, a former republican whip, and john barrasso, the number three republican senator. All of them could run for this spot in a secret ballot election between that will happen after november. So a lot of jockeying will happen between now and then as members of congress, the senators grappling with this historic moment. Yeah, the battle of the johns wow, this is certainly quite a moment. Manu standby, because i want to bring in scott jennings. He is a cnn contributor and a long adviser to Mitch Mcconnell before he was formal and now hes informal and i would say scott, its probably fair to they say a very close friend. I mentioned to manu that i dont remember. We were talking here. Ive seen senator mcconnell get sort of emotional understandably. So when longtime colleagues pass away, but he his voice was cracking throughout this entire speech. It was obviously not easy for him to give. And one of the many lines that struck me, scott was him when he talked about his age and the fact that its time for him to move on. No longer. He said hes no longer the young man standing in the back hoping people remember my name its time for the next generation of leadership. Scott yes. Listening to his speech today, i was struck by that as well. That he is sort of acknowledging what a lot of americans are feeling about their government right now. And you also heard him say that he has many flaws, but failure to understand politics is not one of them. And i think thats part of our politics and its part of our political conversation. The emotion you heard in his voice is fully related to just how much he reveres the institution. And i think if theres one hallmark of his time in office, its been defensive and protection of the institution and he care been defensive and protection of the institution and he cares about it so deeply because as you said, its been as life. I do want to point out for those who are unfamiliar with the senate terms, a0 is not up for reelection this year, and his term doesnt run out until 2026. My expectation and he made were i think is that he plans to stay in office, finish his term. I think he would likely be in line to be chairman of appropriations, possibly in the next congress, maybe even have a role in setting defense spending policy. So i think one issue that is so deeply on his mind right now is americas role in the world and whether were going to continue to be a superpower that stands up against bullies and dictators. And the bad actors on planet earth. Yeah, and i think that, that has been weighing on him. I know personally. And in some ways he really has become the air to the traditional reagan mantle of the Republican Party. I know its not in vogue right now, but for a lot of us whove been working for him for 28 years for me. His his growth into the Leadership Mantle of the reagan view of what the United States of america is supposed to be as a global superpower has really been something to behold. And i know how seriously he takes. Yeah, and thats what he was referring to when he said that he has many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them at referring to the fact that his party is not there. Scott, his party is not there. Some people in his party are there, but for the most part that old reagan keeping america on the forefront at the leader of the free world as he put it so i have to ask you, scott about timing because its now even more clear than before that donald trump is going to be the nominee. Donald trump and Mitch Mcconnell do not get along and that is maybe the understatement of the day, week or month. And there is already pressure on was already pressure on mcconnell to endorse trump will move. Can talk about that in a minute, but how much of the reality of trump being the, the leader of the party in a more formal way. Did that push Mitch Mcconnell to make this decision now . Well, i dont actually think it had any effect on him really he has been, as you mentioned, raveling with a couple of issues. Number one is his own age and number two, this Family Tragedy thats the mcconnells have suffered recently which just happened a couple of weeks ago, which kind of happened a little under the radar. It wasnt widely reported, but it certainly was a devastating moment for them. But also, i think hes been mulling this over for some months. I mean, as he pointed out, he just turned 82 years old and he as obviously been the longest Serving Leader in Senate History. Were not talking about Senate Republicans were talking about the history of the United States of america. Hes been doing this job, which as you know, is extremely stressful and hard to do for longer than anyone has ever done it. Hes also the longest serving senator in the history of the commonwealth of kentucky theres also no small feat. And so i think i think a combination of all of that over the last few months led him to this decision. But i actually dont think it had anything at all to do with donald trump. And i also think that theres some things he has left that he wants to accomplish that perhaps he may be in a better position to accomplish if hes not the leader and he has a policymaking roles such as appropriations, chairman. I think i think he may be in a better position to accomplish those goals and maybe a little freer to doubt about what he thinks the United States role in the world should be when youre the Senate Leader, when youre the leader of any political conference . You are a little bit shackled on what you can do personally, chair. But of course that comes off when you lay down the mantle of leadership. Sure. Scott, thank you so much for a hopping on the phone and you know, Mitch Mcconnell as well as maybe better than anyone who i know in the realm of politics. And certainly personally, scott appreciated back with the panel here jeff zeleny, you have covered but Mitch Mcconnell for a long time as well. And lets just pick up on the trump factor he was very critical of donald trump after low even before january 6, but certainly after january 6. And manu mentioned this it has led to some very, very harsh, inappropriate, downright racist comments from donald trump about his wife, who by the way, elaine chao, served in the Trump Administration until she quit because of her anger about january 6 . Absolutely. And theyve not as manu said, spoken in three years scott says the timing is not connected. Certainly he isnt insider knows that, but the timing is still coming at a time when we take stock of his tenure in the senate, addison Mitch Mcconnell born alabama, moved to kentucky at twoyearsold, had polio, did not think he would ever be able to walk, was a senate page and just rose through the ranks. And really if you think about his his time he has spanned the reagan era through the trump era. Unlike anyone else. And that is where he is stepping aside now as leader in remember we will see if trump gives him the space to do that or calls on him to do so sooner, but i think his worldview is something that has largely vanished from that Senate Republican conference, which is really remarkable. One thing you always did was when his own races and he vowed one thing i can think of that he talked about often that he did not succeed with making brock obama a oneterm president. Thats what he wanted to do back in 2009, he told my friend and colleague carl hulse of the new york times, that was his goal. And didnt do that. Of course, but we could talk for hours about his legacy because its so long and as much as democrats appreciate him being sidebyside with President Biden right now on a whole host of issues from Infrastructure Bill to now, the push for funding for ukraine and israel as well most of them will never forgive him for just lets be on its inventing new rules to keep merrick garland, Barack Obamas final nominee for the Supreme Court off the bench. Didnt even give them a hearing. Mcconnell has a long, extremely partisan history. He has not been someone who has often reached across the line, across the aisle. He is someone who has looked out for the political interests of himself and mostly his party and maintaining a Senate Majority including that extremely the controversial decision to just ignore merrick garlands nomination and then do the exact opposite. When he went, trump was in the presidency with Amy Coney Barrett. But it also exposes the evolution not only of mcconnell, but also oh, the Republican Party. The fact that now mcconnell said just a few weeks ago at the sticks that he is much more aligned with Chuck Schumer and joe biden, and he is with many in his own party, especially on issues of Foreign Policy and ukraine. And he has been challenged increasing only challenged by his party. So this is going this is a very pivotal time of his stepping down. For the Republican Party. Delegation for awhile. I did. So i covered him mostly through the lens of being kentucky seniors senator, but he would return home and take a lot of pride in the strategic choices that he made. You have to remember that under the Trump Administration, you really have to Credit Mcconnell republicans have to Credit Mcconnell for remaking the federal judiciary the us or strategic discipline there theres a strategic ruthlessness there. And though republicans now may dismiss him as a globalist because hes no longer ideologically in line with where the party is headed a lot of their policy accomplishments, they wouldnt have been able to achieve without his discipline. And so as we look to the future of this party now under the leadership of trump, you have to wonder, can they still be as successful in trying to advance some of these conservative policy goals without that level of discipline. That mcconnell offered to the real chagrin of democrats, really anchor democrats know, i mean, you say discipline and the one thing we havent mentioned because you said we could sit here for two hours and not even scratched the surface, but his singular focus while donald trump was president , not just the Supreme Court, who would have packing all of the federal courts with his many conservatives as possible because he understands and is understood for a very long time that that is really the ultimate way to further conservative philosophy is president s come and go, right . But farewell the federal judges and in his case, as Senate Leaders, often do not. But boy, this is the beginning of the end of an era. Hes still hes not going anywhere. So in what his, his top obviously goal is to help republicans win control of the senate. Thats well, i think all of this is an open question. Just see how the leader of the party, donald trump, responds to all this. If hes able to hold on to his position, theres a lot of churn underneath him right now and hes been leader for many cycles where he was like Charlie Brown with the football. He thought he was going to become Majority Leader and then first it was the tea party than it was trumpism Running Candidates that didnt get elected in purpleish states. Thank you all. Appreciate it. Thank you so much for joining inside politics big news during this hour, Mitch Mcconnell saying that hes stepping down as republican leader in november, much more on that and all the other political news today. Cnn news central starts after the break the day you get your clear choice dental implants changes your struggle with missing teeth for it it changes how you eat, how you feel and how you enjoy life. It changes your smile. And now others smile at you clear Choice Network doctors have changed over 100,000 lives with dental implants and they can change yours too. 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