Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 10302017 20171030

Callahan. And Douglas Fisher from the American Retirement association talks about 401 k plans and other Retirement Savings programs that could be defected by the tax efforts in congress. Host good morning. Today is the expected day Robert Mueller will reveal his first indictment into the investigation into the 2016 election. Rex tillerson and jim mattis will be before congress to give their views in the authorization for the use of military force. On capitol hill, republicans are set to unveil their plans for tax reform. A key group against it already. What will happen to Retirement Savings plans, like 401ks . We want to hear from you about retirement and how you are set. When do you expect to retire. We have divided the lines differently. Under the age of 42, 202 7488000. 2 to 65, 202 7488001 if you are over 65, 202 7488002. Ou can post on Facebook Gallup took a poll of people about retirement issues and if they plan to work after retirement. Here is one of the results. Say they will continue working past the retirement age. In 2017, 11 that they would, compared to 2013 of 15 . In 2017, who would continue working parttime, 63 . Only 25 said they would stop working altogether once they hit retirement age. There is a lot of hoopla surrounding trumps tax plan. This comes as the tax plan is set to be unveiled. There will be significant changes and we will show you what a key republican leader has to say about it. If you want to give your thought about when you expect to retire, your thoughts about the tax plan , give us a call, 202 7488000 under 40. Between 41 and 65. If youre under the age of 65, 202 7488002. Kevin mccarthy is a leader on capitol hill. He talked about the tax plan and what might happen to 401 k plans under that. Here is he had to say yesterday area [video clip] we are going to raise the amount you can put in. The more individuals can invest their money, the better we are. They have more capital, they have they can protect themselves in the future. Talking about a budget half 1 trillion overspending. Mucheed to look for as money as possible to pay for these cuts. Are you going to get sizable money by doing things to change 401 k s . Miracle inly one this world, the time value of money. If you can do it and not be taxed later, there is a way to make americans more selfinsured, have greater resources. We will expand the amount you can invest and give you an be taxed later in life and not to have that tax burden hovering over you but have a greater income in the future. That is what might happen when the tax plan is revealed. On twitter, please add the category never, so she can vote. Your thoughts have been registered. We have divided the lines differently. If you want to tell us about your Retirement Plans and youre under 40, 202 7488000. 65,ou are between 41 and and you want to give us your thoughts, 202 7488001. If you are over 65 and you have retired or plan to retire, or dont plan to retire, give us a call 202 7488002. First. P category, under 40. From illinois. Thank you for taking my call. I am on my way to my hour commute. You talked about retirement and the lady said never. That is what i told the lady on the phone. Ice that never. My i said never. They have already pushed the retirement for Social Security up to 67 and that is a question. That is a big question. Will never below me be able to retire and we will have to work until we are dead. That,on the other side of how are you set for Retirement Savings . Anything put away yet . Caller unfortunately, with the amount of taxes and Health Insurance that is taken the home that is taken out of my paycheck, i only bring home 48 . I fortunate my Company Offers me profitsharing. Away as athat cushion. Other than that, we need to get these taxes done, get the Health Insurance costs lowered so people my age can put away and take care of our families. Mych is why i announced candidacy to run for congress. A normal guy needs to go in and get things done. Robert, columbia, south carolina. Caller i dont think the economy will last long enough for most people to retire, if the country even lasts. We are coming close to dangerous things. There is almost a fatal, not fatal, non lack of a point to this. Host you foresee a collapse of the economy . Caller big enough, like the last Republican Administration brought in. Host how does that do you not only with retirement, but what you have saved . Even if you think you have the end of the world coming, you have to keep living. I live below my means, i save. I will try to invest. There does not seem to be a big glimmer of hope at the end. Off of twitter i will never retire. He will die working. It is what they want. They get to keep the Social Security money. Retired. Am i lost all of my stock when gm went bankrupt. We were doing good until 2008. Many investments went over niagara falls. We had so many other responsibilities. Two kids who are professionals lost their jobs. I love what im doing. Save forpposed to Health Savings accounts, childrens education, retirement. We would have very little left to put away for retirement. People should be saving for this and that. If we save the way we are we would have little left to live on. Ie thing i am suggesting, have done taxes for years. If you do last years tax return, read do it according to what the proposals are, the middle class will pay a lot more in taxes. Deductionhe standard does not make up for losing your medicalto deduct excess bills, if you have more than two children and so on. What any thoughts on potentially might happen with 401k plans if it does not include a restructuring of those plans . You can putnt mean away more or less without having to pay taxes on it . If they reduce the amount you will bein, that avoiding taxes. Currently, it is going to affect the amount people put away in a downward way. Socalled tax userm, i wish they would. He correct adjective the middle class is going to be adversely affected. Far, thatve heard so is not going to work. Kenny is up next in tennessee. Once. i retired i plan on retiring at 62. There will not be any money available. Congress has. I am a middleclass worker and i support my country. Fore should be something may when i retire, but it will not be there. They keep changing the rules. Host how have you root how have you prepared to retire at 62 . I have saved with my 401 k , i have worked since i have been out of the military. I plan to retire at 62. Spending to retire and time with my grandkids, but there will not be any money. I want the same thing Congress Gets including the medical and the prevention they get from the Insider Trading that they get that they dont tell everyone else they can get. In our category under 40,. Scott innd maryland. Caller i am a heavy saver. I hope to retire before 40. From personal perspective, i would like to see them not cut increased. I can see how it could offset some of the tax reduction on the wealthy. The most likely to take advantage of the 401 k discounts. Like the push for going all raw. That is shortsighted on the government side. Her moneyrying to get up front. It will create a wave from when we transition to 401 k s which will be taxed when money is pulled out, to all raw retirement funds. Doing is trying to get their money up front. In the long term, they will not pull in as much money as people retire. Put away 4250 y 40 to 50 of my salary. That is scott, giving us his thoughts on retirement and when do you expect to retire. This comes as we unveil a tax plan this week. You can continue to give us your thoughts in one of many ways. You can call us. Tell us about your plans for retirement. If youre under 40, call 202 7488000. 41 and 65, 202 7488001. If you are over the age of 65 and want to share, 202 7488002. Post on twitter and facebook and give your thoughts that way. About issues concerning tax plans and retirement, information when it comes to russia and their involvement in campaign 2016, this as bob miller ceiling Robert Mueller sealing documents. Can you tell us how the white house reacted from fridays announcement . They didnt expect it. They were taken by surprise, trying to figure out what is going on. They have a big week, anyway. They have been trying to turn attention to other things. Until they know more details. The big tax plan is out this week. That is huge. Trump is leaving for a trip on friday. He has promised to name a chairman of the federal reserve. He had a lot on his plate anyway. The president also sent , talking about other issues. Give us the nature of those. To try totends distract with his tweets. He talked about Hillary Clinton, not surprising, talking about how she is the one who should be under investigation. Health care,ut which congress is not taking up at this moment. He tries to distract. He also responds. We are waiting to see if he is going to respond to what is going to happen today. Host was there anymore talk leading up to the funding of the special counsels office and what to do with it overall . As any of that surfaced since the announcement friday . Guest not really. People say he is going to fire Robert Mueller now, but we have not the nanny indication of that. We have no idea. They have scheduled a briefing as normal today. Normalve proceeded on as. What they say is what they have been saying all along. Many of the questions have to be answered. Host the president plans to travel to asia. What does he plan to accomplish . Gone thishas never long before. It is 12 days, five countries. 12 to 14 hours ahead depending on where he is. China. Gest part of it is he will visit at a time when north korea is dangerous now. They have had missile launches, missile tests. The president will need to talk about what to do. The white house is telling us the push will be trump asking that the chinese president do north korea. Il this is normal. Y tell eacht the other. He has to figure out a way to get them on board and get them to do more. He has a variety of other meetings. Andill talk about trade economics. It is surprising he is going this long to this many places. You mentioned the announcement of a fed chair. One of those people could be jerome powell. What have you heard . We hear different names. A handful of people. It is interesting because we have not heard from the white house officially. Trump said i will make this decision before friday, before i leave. We have not heard too much timing. Most of what we have seen is the president preparing for this big trip. Host thank you for your time today. Back to your calls on your plans for retirement. You can call in on the age bracket that best represents you. Victor, go ahead. Aller i remember watching cartoon, the act and the grasshopper. The grasshopper starved because he played all summer long and the and saved and survived the winter. Could when i was working and after my divorce, i was able to find a good stockbroker and i played the stock market like gomez adams on the adams family like gomez addams family, so i am set. Dont buy every fancy item that comes out. Save. You never know. You could be in a situation where you are going to have to wonthat money and you have to borrow money from your friends and relatives to get through the month. Given the stock market, it is doing well currently, but there have been times where it has taken a dive. Do those things that bother you . When the marker went down, i asked my broker what was on sale and i would buy stocks when it was down. When it was up, that is when i would sell part of my portfolio and i would have the cash when the market went down again. I would buy more stocks. On twitter, the cutera to retirement,ey save until it hurts and save more. Toerty saying, when you want retire and the reality of when you can are two different things. Anthony, staten island, new york. Hello. I retired in 2004. I sustained injuries. My pension was there. It was 3500 a month. They push through the 2015 omnibus bill, my pension went from 3400 to 1000 a month. You want to say who robbed it once the government came in and said we are here to help, that is when we lost our pension money. As far as a 401 k , they are a scam. You want to leave to your kids, when they finished taking out their portion, they get about one third of it. What is the point of saving anything . So the government can deal it from you . Host you will be able to contribute an extra 5,000 to your 401 k next year. Add it is a good way to save for retirement because your money goes taxfree. Youe is a limit on how much can say and when you can withdraw the funds. Theres also a restriction on who can use a roth ira based on income. There is still a savings crisis. The bottom line, we still need Social Security. Rich, jacksonville, florida. Caller we need Social Security. Was peopley who had savings, lost all of this money, the common sense of saving, tied into the stock market, this goes up and down and people can lose their finances through the stock , the last housing debacle, we had regulations in place that were supposed to stop that. Because of deregulation, it larceny to go on that created the situation, where billions of dollars. The housing market, it was your boughthat was supposedly for 300,000 was worth 1000 100,000. That is where a big part of it goes to. It is this common sense stuff people dont have. How are you supposed to save . Stuff, how ishis it going to be there in time . Thet is only as good as people you are trusting. That could be gone in a heartbeat. People dont respect that how they are supposed to. Host and, springfield, virginia. Caller the reason i raise money iras, there is less. 401 k s take so much money out of the plan. As a Small Business owner, a simple ira plan works more favorably for myself and my small number of fibers ask staff that participate. There is no indication whether a as ae ira will also remain deductible and that is of grave concern. Month to 800 or 1000 a month with a simple ira provides a cushion after 15 years. A type of Small Business saving plan that seems to be ignored, but has a more toective availability protect your savings and not to lose it to percentages or whatever. Withnal comment has to do what happens to the ira when a is deceased. Do beneficiaries get the full amount . Onound out the beneficiaries ofira get to keep the amount the ira and it is wonderfully sheltered from continuing taxes. These are plans which benefit and people should participate with. We will continue with this topic, taking a look at when you expect to retire. You can give us a call. Those under 40, 202 7488000. 1 to 65, 202 7488001 over the age of 65, 202 7488002. Other stories, including what happens in the senate seat after jeff flake announced he is going to retire. The New York Times takes a look at its front page, saying establishment democrats have high hopes for kyrsten sinema. She teaches a bipartisan spend class in the house gem and has broken ranks with her party on vote. Who voted to seven create a select committee to investigate the 2012 attack on the United States diplomatic compound in benghazi, libya. Those impulses towards bipartisanship have soured arizona progressives against the cy of a woman who rose to prominence on a biography that included time as a homeless child and an identity that includes being the first open bisexual in congress. Republicans are finds grimly to find a replacement for mr. Flake. New york, deeann, youre next. I told the woman on the phone i doubt i would be able to retire. I am a farmer, i have invested everything into the farm thinking i would make it back. Gotcompany i am with, they money they have taken from me over the years. They say i can get that when i am 67. They were stealing money from the farmers for 10 to 12 years. They will probably steal it from me, too. Host are you thinking about selling the land . About i was inking selling it for development, but the town is trying to stop that from happening. They want to have the lot so big , workingnary people middle class people, by five to 10 acres for 20,000 more, they are not going to buy it. You have to hope someone wealthy comes along to buy 20 or 30 acres of land. They wont want to pay 20,000 and anchor. Acre. ,000 an reporters and cameras are waiting to see what happens when it comes to the indictment we told you about earlier. Up. Is josh, the sun coming tv crews, no action. Topic, one of many talked about on the shows yesterday. Democrats in california asked if the president was under investigation by Robert Mueller. Here is what he had to say. Comment on that. I cannot answer that. Dont know if Robert Mueller is investigating the president . I cannot comment on that. Pressare two people from reporting that it is likely to be mike flynn or Paul Manafort. We have not been informed who it is. It would not be appropriate for paul for Robert Mueller to tell a spirit if it is Paul Manafort, it may help us answer one question we know the russian government was reaching the Trump Campaign managers and offering information on Hillary Clinton they thought would help the theTrump Campaign. The campaign was willing and accepted that idea. From the Washington Post reporting, Paul Manafort is reaching out in the other direction. The question is, who gave what to whom as a result . Of these requests are moving in opposite directions, what information would manner for have two up would Paul Manafort have to offer . If it is him, it may help us answer those russians. Addingashington times another aspect of this story. The Intelligence Committee is poised to gain ground in its probe of the use of intelligence dossier on trump, developed firms a private research. The committee will have access to bank records that could show how much money was spent on the research. Danny, good morning. Tucson, arizona. You are over the age of 65. I want to tell the people, if you are going to retire, try to save your money, put something away in the bank, something to be used. It is different. It is not like getting up and working every day, getting a paycheck every week or every two weeks. You get a check from Social Security once a month and very rarely you get any raises or increases. To gety we are supposed one here in january, two point 2. 2 increase. We will have to see. I got a Retirement Plan, about 400 a month. Between that and my Social Security, i am staying above water. Out, i aming you find single. I live by myself. Thanhave an income of more 25,000 a year, they start taxing that. Every security will take third dollar from me. The more youmake, have to give back to the government. It is a hard thing. Spend, watch what you do. Year,my wife retired last saved all my life, 401 k , ira, stocks, home, etc. I dont believe in Social Security or railroad retirement. Caller i dont believe in Social Security. There should not be federal earned income tax. We should get a tax break on our earned income. Host james, maryland. Caller i wanted to talk about Social Security. Work ands 14, i began paying into Social Security. Later on, i started working as a government employee. I was notement came, qualified for some of my Social Security, which i dont think is fair. , theyher problem, 401 k s dont payoff off for you to put some of k s because that money goes to the government. What can we do . It is not fair. Calling on our line for those of you over the age of 65. Fall into8002, if you that category. , 41 to 65. 001 under 40, 202 7488000. Approval ratings for trump, 30 8 . A fivepoint drop from september. 58 said they disapprove of the job he has done. More than eight in 10 continue to approve of his job performance. The decline and support of political independence and signs of erosion among his core voters. The poll asked about different categories. When it camerating to reaction for hurricanes harvey and irma, but disapproval when it came to commanderinchief, north korea, and the nfl players protest. Elliott is next. Go ahead. We have to take the wall street journal polling with a grain of salt. Let me talk about retirement. When i was 65, my wife was 65, we looked children, at what we needed to do. We saved and we cut all expenses. To do that. Ant you cannot depend on the government. We put our money away. We had money and our pockets. We moved to a state with a better tax than we had. It. Is the American People must save their money. They must sacrifice. They may not be able to help their kids in college. They may have to go to a state. Hat has better tax structures they may have to downsize their houses. That is it. Inc. Thanks. Host dario. Caller being a fourth generation mexicanamerican, my mother never saved, just a little bit of money. My grandfather and grandmother could not say. She always made a point to save i always made a point to save some of my income when i started out from college. It is important younger folks sacrifice 20 of their income. That comes to how it practically plays out, what do you have to cut and save on . Our expenses, eating out. I see a lot of people eating out when they are younger. They want to do things. Your friends wont be there for you when you retire. That is one thing my grandmother preached to me, take out my expenses and work budget. That is important. Your expenses like food, cooking at home. Get back to those basics. Host when it comes to saving k or do you have a 401 do you say one euro . Caller i save on my old. Ice i save on my own. I save through my roth. I am really attracted to that feature. John, maryland. Over the age of 65. Witer my trick is to leave means. Within your i have been retired six years. Property, i have tension, i get some from the the it. From the va. Tot people think you have put a lot of weight at one time. Ast put a little away at time. It builds up and you put that into an account that acquires interest. When i retired, i live better than when i worked. Host if you share this advice with young people, what is the reaction . Think theyy dont or 65. Ng to be 55 they think they will be 30 years old, 25 years old for the rest of their lives. I never thought i would live to be 40, now i am 70. Socialebecca saying security was never intended as sole income during retirement. Kate, maryland, go ahead. Kindergartena teacher. I am almost 70. I thought i would keep working forever. What i am finding is my body is giving out. I cannot get up and down like i need to. I have put money away. Amount to get me through. I have not taken my Social Security yet. I am hoping to keep on for another year or so. I have a little space in my basement i hope to rent out. I have ahome, but second mortgage. I have my fingers crossed that when this transition comes, i will be able to keep things together. Have a 401 k . Do you get a schoolteacher . Caller i have a simple ira. I have an automatic deduction of about 300 a month. My school does not match it, but puts in a little bit. Tennis, buffalo, new york. I am 85. I have been retired for 10 years. I retired because of federal pension. I did invest in the stock market. I get Social Security. Willverage American Worker never be able to save enough for retirement. Theoretically, it is possible, but things happen to people. It makes it not likely they will be able to save on their own to fund retirement. Social security is critical. To see thes me is people who say it will never be there for me. That is what they want you to think. That is the conspiracy. They want you to lose faith in Social Security so when it comes taken away from you and you say you didnt expect to get it anyway. Security, it is totally affordable for this country. Other countries, like france, can afford pensions for their citizens. Is an insurance policy. To gorging young people to the polls and vote for the person who is going to guarantee your Social Security. It is possible to have Social Security. You can have it. You just have to vote for the person who will guarantee it. If you go to our website, we had a segment taking a look at the Financial Condition of Social Security and medicare. Two experts talking about these issues, take your questions on them and give us a status report. Go to our website. It is part of our video library. Art is next. Caller i have a pension. I get Social Security. Because of the government pension, they limit my security. I get 200 a month before Social Security. Reagan, he didnt want the Government Employees to double dip. Iras go, with being my age, i keep it at a guaranteed return option. Fed notllen and the rate, the interest money in savings is being devastated. The Interest Rate is one or 2 . What she is doing is protecting large corporations, the very toh people who can afford invest in the stock market. They are protecting the wrong people here. Sevenerage working set of who has put money into savings gets nothing in return because of the federal regulations. They have decided to make the rich richer. Expected to name a new chair of the federal reserve. Play. L names in neediger attack, what you to know about the authorization of military force, a hearing on that today. Tillerson,ture rex the defense secretary, general mattis. You can see that this afternoon. Host caller i am a former roll administration administrator. Your average working person works 45 to 60 hours a week. 100 of their salary. If they are working under 60,000 year, they get money taken out on 100 of their salary. The people who make the real , theyre cut off is around may and june. They are only paying on 50 to 60 of their salary. If they lifted that cap and made of theirpay on 100 salary, we would not have the problems we have now. Andrich are getting off they should not be. They are the ones who can afford ,o stick money away in the ira where your average working person is barely trying to make ends meet. The only thing he has to look forward to is the Social Security. Paying him on 100 of his salary. It is not fair to most americans. Most americans are not into wall street and they are not financially taught the intricacies of these different money plans where they can have this kind of money. It would help a lot if congress would lift the cap on social and let and medicare, people who are working, getting , it would take a lot of strain out of the Social Security program. A few more minutes you can get your calls in on giving your thoughts to the washington on getting your thoughts in. The Washington Post, already a criticism from a major industry group. The National Association of home builders, after learning a beeownership tax would not the initial version of the bill, they are preparing a nationwide campaign against it. We will do everything we can to defeat this thing. That was jerry howard. Julie, prosperity, south carolina. Joy, prosperity, south carolina. She has left us. You can get your calls in, under the age of 40 202 7488000. 41 to 65. 202 7488001. Over the age of 65, 202 7488002. Haley, her Diplomatic Mission to africa. Once was brought to tears. She illustrated her position and relationship with the president. Trump talks with her about matters of affairs. There is widespread speculation that she could be in line to replace tillerson. Has put her on the short list as a potential for Vice President ial candidate. Caller i decided when i was going to be an employee, i was going to be an Insurance Agent. Served to livest means. Your you dont have to become an agent, but it will teach you all of the past laws, current laws, and future things to expect. When you have a 401 k , when your company goes out of business, if you quit or get laid off and you have had a ,01 k and you borrow from that if you become unemployed, that 401 k money you borrow it becomes due and payable at that time. Theyu cant pay it back, will take 50 of that out of your 401 k . If you fail to apply for it you shouldturn 71. 5, just live within your means. My daughter, i have her in a ross after tax program. When she retires, she should be set. Dont count on Social Security. Dont count on the 401 k . Host you take this test for an Insurance Agent . Caller i did. If you move a man into your moms house and she dies before him, he gets one third of that property. Host diane, michigan. The government says Social Security is going to run out, the balances are low. There haveealize been four president s who have borrowed two point 8 trillion out of Social Security and never paid it back, and yet they blame not lasting . Can you imagine if you took that much out of your retirement account, how would you expect it to last . The middle class and poor our. Eeder fish for the government they pay 48 and they have child care, medical, they dont have a worry. 48 out and it is done and they are taken care of. This is coming across the New York Times website about Paul Manafort. He once ran the Trump Campaign and he told he was told to surrender today. Told to surrender to federal authorities on monday morning. That is according to a person in the case. Charges against him, the former Campaign Chairman and business he is a longtime protege and jr. Partner of mr. Metaphor. His name appears on documents linked to Company Business matters. Recordsaccording to reviewed by the New York Times. Mr. Metaphor to has been under investigation for violations of federal tax law, moneylaundering and whether he appropriately disclosed his foreign lobby. Chris in milwaukee, you are the last call. Co caller my husband had a stroke at 61 and he was disabled. I am calling because when you have your choice of whether not to have Social Security and be ito keep your money was on a Program Years back that they had their choice. They gave the people their choice. And to professors were on. One state in the Government Program and one decided to use her own money. Well, shee was thought she knew best. But in the end, they did have their depression crash, or whatever you want to call it. And the woman who had saved her money, a professor, she couldnt retire because she had lost most of it. But the guy with the government pension could retire. Host that was chris. The last call on the topic of when you expect to retire. Several guest joining us this morning to talk. Were first from the former ceo of National Public radio who spent the year interacting with republicans and joins us to tell us what he learned. Ken stern, the author of republican like is next. , of betters kelleher markets incorporated later in the program. All that and more when washington journal continues. He has been called one of the premier chroniclers of our age. A bestselling author whose books have been adapted into three awardwinning movies, michael lewis, our guest sunday. Almost all the books have in common is that characters come interesting characters to me, in interesting situations. If you can attach the reader to the character at the beginning of the book, they will follow that character anywhere. Whoe is no one in america wants to read my description of collateralized debt obligations. Once you realize they are people that you come to know, he want to know. Life. Is a very powerful author of several books including liars poker ball. Most recently, the undoing project. During the interview we will take your calls and questions. Watch sunday, live from noon3 00 p. M. On tv on cspan two. Cspan, Clear History unfolds daily. In 1970 nine, cspan was created as a Public Service by americas Cable Television companies and is brought to today by your cable or satellite provider. Washington journal continues. Host ken stern joins us. The former ceo of national radio. Radar public you will open the story with a story based from your own neighborhood. And it sets the stage for what you tell that story . Guest sure. I was in Mount Pleasant in washington, d. C. , in a 100 democratic household. A lovely neighborhood with a lot of teams. In the neighborhood. There are a number of block parties. The biggest is called porch best. At the beginning of each porch best is a parade of the kids and it begins with the street clutch. Every year, the pledge is different. One year it went Something Like this all are welcome here. Men and women, gay or straight. Anyone but republicans. It was meant as a joke. But he really wasnt a joke. As you peel into the data around polarization, how deeply this has affected us in that moment it was a wakeup moment for me to say, listen. We have to think about this differently. Host you are a selfconfessed democrat. What was your perception of democrats before you did the book . Guest the Washington Post did a word cloud a few years ago. They asked democrats about republicans. Democrats andfor republicans were negative. Greedy, selfish and racist. But i didnt like to think that i thought so that in truth, i probably did. Thathad to deal with that i thought of roughly one third of my fellow countrymen in fairly negative terms. Host so you went through a whole series of events. How did you choose them. Give our viewers a flavor of what you did over that year . I went to churches. You cannot know republicans without knowing evangelicals. Differento explore parts of the country. I went to youngstown ohio. I went to kentucky. Liberty university. I tried to get all sorts of different experiences. At 1. I saw a quote in the paper from the head of Heritage Action who said what people to know about was the awesomeness of america. And how to find it. To who i knew toghtly and said, i want find the awesomeness. He told me to go paid hunting in texas. I went. Everything from the philosophical to meeting people in diners and out their homes. Host we are getting the experience from ken stern, the author of republican like me. If you want to know what he learned, republicans on 202 7488001. Democrats, 202 7488000. Independent callers, 202 7488002. How did your friends respond to what you are about to engage in . Was interesting. I learned not to talk too much about it inside my house. My family, like a lot of ofocrats, have a concept what i would find. And as i came back and shared stories. They were interested but they wondered whether i was i dont want to say learning too much but thinking too much about the other side. Host were they right . Guest it is a mixed message. When i went out there, i found a lot to admire. Many things i disagree with and continue to disagree with. But the fact of the matter is that no one has the monopoly on who is right or wrong in our country. We are exceptionally moderate people but you dont know that when you hear that in the heated political environment. The thing i learned more than anything else is that it is easy to find Common Ground when you sit down with people and talk to them and understand their experiences and they listen to yours. To have aeat way to democracy. As far as im concerned. Host we have a few calls lined up. The first call is from henry on the democrat line. Go ahead. Caller good morning. Paul manafort has been indicted and also his close aide, brick gate. In the russian scandal. I believe this indictment has something to do with the russian scandal. Im wondering if the people that you came in contact with in your travels across america who support the republicans, it if they will take this seriously . That their president is possibly a traitor probably a traitor. And also, i get perturbed when i hear people call in and say that america is a country of law but when it comes to the now sessions,eneral, jeff and other trump officials, lying to congress under oath undergoes no individual american citizen would be allowed to have a do over. Yes. i started this project before trump was a serious candidate and many opportunities were there to question the premise of the book which is the polarization of the country doesnt reflect issue polarization. We dont disagree more than we used to. I learned that in lots of conversations with trump voters. Not being a trump fan myself i dont support him as our president i love the opportunity to sit down with voters and understand why he appealed to them and not to me. I found a lot of different reasons. To yoursay, to get question, about whether this indictment of former associates will change that im not sure. I think a lot of people have gravitated towards trump because of issues or identity politics. As i talk to people through the course of this year, they feel he hasnt been given a full chance. And i think this will feed into the narrative. Host you write part of the book saying that there is another side of the story. Trump is a man who knows his , people just want a champion who will fight their fight and build the wall. Can you expand . Guest one of the reasons trump is our president is because the White Working Class voted for him by 39 . I explored that with people in kentucky and youngstown, the White Working Class is on a 30 year losing streak. Income is down. Life expectancy is down. Y feel like they have been as a gross generalization, i think they feel like the current political system has and serve them well. And they were interested in Something Like that as much as possible. It couldve have been Bernie Sanders. I know a lot of people who wanted Bernie Sanders or trump. Im not to the establishment will change that. Host we go to shawn, good morning. Caller another thing that is up is suicide. And suicide. Ion lets be clear where the polarization comes from. Through the 30s and 1940s and 1950s, americans were upgraded americans were represented by the unions. Lets be clear where the polarization comes from. Labor unions were destroyed when Ronald Reagan fired workers in 1981 or 1982 and that blue the dog whistle to employers that they could ignore labor laws and prevent unions from organizing. So lets be clear. It was conservative republicans. And by god, they will reap the whirlwind. Sure who will reap the whirlwind, republicans are doing well in this environment. But you are right. Of the reasons why the White Working Class is doing poorly is because of the demise of the labor unions. So there is irony in this. On the irony is lost people who are looking for a life raft in a storm. I think people are angry and upset and they feel they have been abandoned and i think theyre looking for anyone. Right or left, who would look at inks differently. , independent2 callers. 202 7488001, republicans. 202 7488000, democrats. What is your view of democrats overall going into the book . Test code the polarization and the lack lets step back and say, why do we have such a bad perception of each other . That we have got away from the vision of america . And the answer is no. I and large, we havent changed our views and how we interact. Is howt has changed little we know of each other. An extraordinary poll that the Washington Post did in virginia last year which asked trump voters, did they have Close Friends or family members voting for clinton and over 60 on both sides didnt know anyone on the other side which is extraordinary. When you think about your circles. And when you dont know the other side and when conservatives go to conservative media and liberals go to liberal media, it is easy to demonize. So i think the republicans have the same demonization of democrats that they do of republicans. That being said. People were warm to me across the country. People were welcoming me. Evil welcomed me to houses and restaurants and into hunting trips. Church pews. I say in the subtitle of the book that i learned to love the right but it doesnt mean i agree with everything that republicans think. It does mean that i grew to have ons of affection that lincoln talked about. Host from lincoln, virginia, how are you doing . Caller i guess my title is based i guess my comment is based on the title of this book. Americans want Something Different but for the most part, americans more of a conservative state but in the middle. Not so much extreme right. It seems to me that most americans want the same thing. They want to earn an honest living. Would they want their kids to have more than what they had. They want to save money and retire. I think politics has gotten so focusve that people lose that everybody basically wants the same thing. Trump gets a lot of play and his name comes up a lot because he is the president and he is used as the divisiveness because of his rhetoric but at the end of the day, most people want the same things. I wanted to get the speakers opinion on that as far as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with the american dream. How do we have much divide when most people want the same thing . When most people want the same thing . Guest you are exactly right. By am large we actually gravitate towards the middle. One person put it to me that we are playing my the 45 yard line. When you sit down, we are not that different. Issues. Of first openly gay mayor portland, oregon force your relationship with the evangelical community who said that they wouldnt agree on gay rights that other issues, we will agree. Out of 10 issues, why we talking about the two when we could be talking about the eight . The issues have not changed as much as we think they have. It lays a lot on the media environment. I think it is part of the way mediadia is involved and exists on division. And i think Political Parties are the same. As they become divided, it becomes distressed. Theys like abortion havent change their views. Toutedar, and democrats the most prochoice platform republicans were excited about the most profamily, prolife. I kept saying, why are they so happy that they are the most when people really havent changed . I didnt come back a republican or a democrat that i did come back a skeptic. Host you wrote an oped in the New York Post and one of the yougs you write says, when are liberal and everyone else around you is as well, it it is easy to think of which stories are important. How did you come to that conclusion . Was part of that from your time with npr . Guest that is the narrative of the book. Borrow a phrase from top radio we are right and theyre wrong and thats the same on the other side. Werehat i heard when they drunk the country was anger at the media. Rating they think they produce fake news and they felt locked out of the conversation. They didnt feel like their issues are being heard. And i think that is not because of the media itself, because they want to lose the issues but it is a part of their narrative. Host a public reporter wrote this the notion that the group thinks about which stories are important is i wont repeat the rest. Diligents have been and intellectually curious. Guest i tend to agree with that. The reporters i know at npr are all of those things. Wouldere he disagree possibly be all of those things that one time but what is subject to groupthink and not recognizing the rest of it. Look. I said this in a response to brian, publicly. But the important thing to say to my former colleagues is, look. If you are doing something on race, you would never think it would be appropriate to do that with only white reporters. No matter how good and well meaning you think the white reporters are. We need different points of views on lots of issues. Widely think it is appropriate for Mainstream Media to do that with employees that are by and large from democratic constituencies and are probably voting democrat. Host how long did you spend at npr and why did you leave . Close to aent decade. I was eventually pushed out. Disagreementthe over the future of visual media, because i took the video i took the view that visual media was the future. Host a republican is on the line. Thank you for waiting. Mine. your story is like i happened to turn this on today. Im going to go on to amazon and get this book. As i was growing up, i read a lot and i listened to a lot. Haderception i conservative views but i voted democratic often. As i saw all of the media, i noticed that almost all of cbs,thing i was watching, abc, npr, National Public tv. They were all liberal. Thinking, why is this not fair . So i would like to ask you, why of my think that a lot friends, we disagree. I perceive npr and others as being extremely biased. And if it were not for fox news, we would have nothing that would affirm our views or even be fair. If you could comment on the fairness of other medias . One thats point is ive heard lots. In my travels. It isnt an unusual point of view. And i think people were often his viewut it post reflects a big part of the country. Nprake, having been part of for him as a decade as the quality of the reporters and the reputations of others, it is nuance. We lose nuance in the highly charged atmosphere. It inat i said before, your post and my response to brian manns piece was, look. I know that reporters try to be balanced. They talk about it and they think about it but it is hard when you all, from the same orientation, by and large. It affects what you think is important and what stories you think are important. And that is what reporters do. They sit around and think about what are the important stories of the day. And those are cultural and inmate biases. That is what i was saying. You hear the media criticize president trump, what goes through your mind . Go through my lot mind when i think of trump. Media and trump win on conflict. Comes out anddent talks about the New York Times, he is the Single Person keeping them from failing. Equivalent of the signaling to his base but it has nothing to do with the underlying truth on either side. Conflict wins for trump and the media. So that is what goes through my head. Ien he accuses of fake news, do believe that is destructive because it isnt true. There are challenges but not the issue of fake news. And i think it is also the other thing i would say that i wrote about is that i think it is destructive when a president challenges other institutions of democracy. And undercuts them. He has done that with courts and congress and the media. And whether he is right or wrong, i think the president needs to be more circumspect. To virginia on the independent line. Caller good morning. The question i have for your guest is that if i heard him correctly, what motivated him to because republican is of the loss of jobs for the caucasians in the ohio valley. And places like that that he visited and talks to them. What they say about identity policies . You i am independent, i dont care whether you are persuaded to become a republican. R a democrat but more importantly, what should be the American Issue or agenda, that should be driving. Verybody not because of one way or the other. Guest just my political orientation, i have been a. Ifelong democrat from cradle i became a republican and changed my Party Registration because, as Atticus Finch said in to kill a mockingbird, you want to understand someone, you should understand their point of view. , i wentnd of this republican and then democrat again and then eventually went independent. There is wisdom on both sides. I learned a lot but i havent abandoned my prior views. Environment,ical democrats and republicans are not serving the country very well. Im more comfortable being an independent where i can choose. I see myself now as a professional skeptic of the country. Host on twitter, this question asks you specifically, did you change her views on any issues . Yes, at the urging of my , gunr, taking a few issues control was one, poverty programs was another. Climate change is another. And trying to change myself or nuancedt has being more or complicated than i had seen it before. And each of those issues as i talked to experts, i try to see how climate changed looks from the coal mine. Hunter in texas. I really did begin to change my views and gun control was one. I am for gun control that i think that it misses the point. If we want to reduce violence in this country, we should do what we have been doing which has relatively little to do with gun control and gun control regulation itself. So i changed my views and i came away with the notion a lot of the things we talked about is how complicated people are and as actually closer together than you would think. Post code the book is called republican like me and ken stern is the author. Take you for your time this morning. We talk next with dennis recentr, the classaction lawsuits and how the Trump Administration is watching over wall street. Later on we had doug fisher in the your money segment. We learn about the 401k accounts could be changed by tax reform. Those conversations are coming up on washington journal. Join us this weekend for book tv live at the texas book festival in austin. Coverage begins saturday at the book. And includes story ofls and a black High School Football in texas. Kevin young, author of debunked and a farewell to ice. Danielle allen and her book. Shadowsdeep in the and the author of light in code. On sunday, live coverage starts at 3 00 p. M. Eastern with Carol Anderson and her book white rage. Bloodlines, the true story of a drug cartel, the fbi and the battle for a horse racing dynasty. And the authors of violated. The texas book festival Live Saturday and sunday on cspan twos book tv. During thursdays washington journal, we are live in austin texas as part of the 50 capitals tour. The former state senator will be our guest on the bus. Washington journal continues. Vote, the gays are 50 and the nays are 50. The Vice President votes in the affirmative. The resolution is passed. Host that was mike pence who a role tide of repealed that wouldve made it easier for consumers to sue banks. It is talk about that and the impact on the Banking Industry is dennis kelleher. Can you tell us about this book and why this matters . Guest this matters to every american who has a checking account, a savings account, a credit card, which basically means every american. So what this vote was about was the Consumer Protection bureau passed a rule that said the Financial Institutions cannot the backtiny print in of long contracts that nobody ds every time they open saying that he you, as a consumer, give up your Consumer Rights and you are forced to go into arbitration to settle any disputes. A glass orinjured by your car or you trip going out and other people to the same thing, you dont have to go up against a corporation all by yourself, you get to join with other injured consumers in a classaction lawsuit. You get to go to court. A lawyer whoo have represents the class but this financialthat companies cannot force you, the consumer, who has been ripped off, into the arbitration proceedings. You could go to court and sue the bank. Congress ispened in that congress, the republicans in the Trump Administration said no. Want tol institutions keep you in arbitration. They want to force you into situations which are unfair to consumers. And we know that because everyial institutions win single time. So the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said they them to forcew them, they can go to court. The Trump Administration said no. They said that Financial Institutions dont like that so we will allow them to force you into court. So it to the way consumers rights to go to court and get relief. Host a former comptroller weighed in and said that when they turn to arbitration, they receive higher settlements more and classaction lawsuits generated the headlines but the people making millions are the lawyers. Guest it is laughable, these objections. Every bank lobby in washington said arbitration is great for consumers. It is quick and cheap and you get a lot of money. Then wide enough to force consumers into arbitration if it is so great and easy and you get a lot of money . True, of that was consumers would run into arbitration. But they have to be forced because those claims are simply not true. Study, it the cfp be did show and this is one of the problems because what is a saying . The study did show that if you looked at the fair a few people, consumers, who won in arbitration, they did win more money but virtually nobody wins. So if 10,000 people going to arbitration and to people when 1000 but 10,000 people going to class actions and 5000 people 100, who is better off . You are much better off in the classaction because when to when 10,000 people lose 100 which is what happens in the Financial Institution its consumer gets wrapped off gets ripped off. And for the consumer, it isnt worth suing or going to arbitration but who is it worth it to for the Financial Institution . Off, youhen you rip get tens of millions of dollars. This basically means that 99 of consumers who get ripped off will never get compensation. And that means institutions get to pocket the money. Incentivizedtually to rip people off. And even if they werent, there is no deterrent. Why would a Financial Institution that knows if it rips off its customers, the customers dont usually know but if they do find out, they have no effective remedy and the amount is so small that a are not a threat anyway . That creates an upside down incentive system. Host let me invite the viewers to call in and at and ask questions. 202 7488001, republicans. 202 7488000, democrats. 202 7488002, independent callers. You can post questions for our , on ourennis kelleher twitter and also on our facebook page. About better markets incorporated . Guest we are a nonprofit advocacy group. We represent the interest in financial markets. When wall street, jpmorgan, the biggest banks on wall street are in washington, they try to bend the rules, laws and policies to advantage their businesses which they are entitled to do, they can lobby like anybody else but if there is nobody on the other side with the expertise to represent the Public Interest and push back and be a counterweight to the private sector interests that are trying to increase their profits. So what better markets does is engaged in rulemaking and do Research Reports and advocacy across washington from congress to the administration to the. Ulemaking organizations and what we basically do is fight for consumers and investors in the Public Interest to make sure that their interests are the priority in washington. And not wall streets lobbyists being the priority. Likeshould have a voice, anybody else. But their interest should not trump the Public Interest and that is the big problem in washington is that lobby dollars, campaign clout, tends to dictate what the policy outcomes in washington are. guest if you look at who is on what side, every single Consumer Protection agency in america was in favor of the Consumer Protection financial bureaus wall to protect consumers. But who was on the other side . Wall street and every powerful lobbyists. One of the quotes earlier from the head of one of the guest wall street lobby groups in washington saying, thank her and is this rule failed because it wouldnt have helped consumers. His whole job. His multimillion dollar salary depends on holding up the interests of wall street. Not the consumer. And this is one of the difficulties if you are in america and you listen to this, you hear people say this but you need to say, wait a minute. Who are they representing . When they say arbitration is fair and easy and get you money, you have to ask why consumers are not using it. And why are wall street lobbyists in favor of forcing financial consumers into arbitration . Because it is not in their interest. Host lets go to a call in maryland. Nicholas, you are on with our guest, dennis kelleher. Caller my question and comment regards Overdraft Fees. Charge Something Like a 35 Overdraft Fee when the amount of the overdraft could be of little as five dollars. I find that the scene. And i assume the reason why they can get away with it is because such a fee is not considered to be interest . Rather, Something Else . Can the guest comment on that . Not alone ine being outraged. Frankly, every time you turn around, these Financial Institutions add on another fee and they get nickel and dime to death and to adopt up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The banks get away with it because of a couple of reasons. Consumers dont have much choice among the big Financial Institutions. Therefore, consumers tend not to move from one bank to another. Consumerroblem of choice and being locked into a bank with a credit account. The other thing is that fees sneak up on you. You are 100 right that these fees, they bear no relationship to the actual cost that a Financial Institution occurs. Is move money from your pocket into their pocket. I will say this. There are almost 6000 banks in the United States. Or 40 have more than 100 billion dollars. The vast amount our Community Banks which are much more responsive to their customers because they are much more grounded in the local community. Atyou want to be looking your Community Banks and Smaller Banks who tend to be more wantctful of customers and to keep their customers more happy. Inike a big bank that sits washington that is worried about patting its profits. Host on the democrats line. Experience some of the arbitration. And i was really not educated on it. We lost our home to wells fargo within the fall, the fall millions of people that lost their homes, we did go to court with wells fargo a few times. I spent four years trying to save our house. It was really intimidating. Fargo. O court with wells who has a chance against them . Someone like me . The judge was on our side. We did win but we ended up in an arbitration that we didnt even know we were in. Sells wells fargo and we won. But itds and thousands was over 2 million but we did get 1000. 150,000 we lost building or home but rebuilt from scratch. That is at all of the jobs failed. We went down to hardly any work and we couldnt save our home. Guest her story is too common. When the financial crash happened in 2008 which was caused by high risk, a legal and criminal conduct by Financial Institutions in this country, not only did 27 million ricans and are up americans and up unemployed but there were foreclosure filings. Underwater homes for theed almost 40 underwater rate. So a lot of people ended up in the position she was in. And peopleemployment losing their jobs and homes and pleading savings, you are in a position where, when you are ripped off by a huge institution, a corporation, they have all of the resources with an army of lobbyists and lawyers. Bankpeople say oh, with my account, take money from a bank account and find out how to beat on the other side, all by myself. So what that doesnt enable them to do is to join together. And the classaction is that they dont have to pay for the lawyers. Classaction goes to court and they sue. Sometimes they win and sometimes they lose. Notmembers of the class do pay the lawyers. They only get paid if they recover enough money at a court determineste hearing they are entitled to money. They get bigthat dollars but they get more than the lawyers get paid by the determination of the court as a matter of settlement. So she did get some recovery which is good. In arbitration, there is no class and you have to hire. That is why you virtually never win. Host lets go to the democrats line. Caller my question is, do you know when the last time Banking Institutions had their charter revoked . Guest i dont know that. I cant think of one that happened. But that is it is pretty rare. But you bring up an important point. Withcial institutions predatory and illegal conduct, the biggest banks on wall street we have seen the headlines month after month. And it is one more settlement in short. Neverof all, they almost include. It is almost always inflated. Regulators want you to think theyre being tough on wall street. None of that is true. Because it happens over and over again. So the question is, is anyone being deterred here . If you are a community bank, they throw the book at you. If you take 100 from 7eleven, they throw the book at you. You are too big to regulate and too big to regulate. We thinkast time that about serious, meaningful sanctions on these banks like revoking their charter. , prosecuteportantly individual bankers. 2008 was the biggest financial crash since 1929. It caused the worst economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s. How many bankers went to jail from a, powerful, wall street banks . Zero. Zero. Ive said it to the sec and other people who are supposed to it cant beng this, the case that we have the biggest crash since 1929 when there is a loss of trillions of dollars based on predatory subprime lending scandals and they couldnt find one person on wall street to back them. Not looking or they are so grossly incompetent that they should be fired or quit. Caller i have been a part of many classactions many times over the years and i get things in the mail and i sent it back. And ive seen some of the smallest checks i have ever seen but i am a lawyer so i read through all this stuff and the amount of the attorneys fees is mindboggling. It is staggering. I almost feel that it is a scam. No idea how those fees are earned. I dont delve into it. But the people who are really affected get nothing. So to me it is a great decision. Good you raise a very point. And let me be clear. Not all class actions either win and not all of them win a lot of money and not all of them are meritorious. I dont mean to suggest any of that. Because whether it is was an abuse of the classaction process, i dont know. This. Will say theres no question that there are abuses in the classaction process and there are times when people dont recover anything or they do recover small amounts and it happens too often. When it does, one of the problems is often that the lawyer still get a lot of money. So what we should do is address those problems in the process. What we shouldnt do to ripped off consumers that they effectively have no ability to recover anything which is what forced arbitration means. Fix the arbitration process so that consumers see that it is unbiased and it is fair. Or, we could fix the classaction process by getting rid of and policing cases where. Awyers get zillions of dollars the likelihood of fixing the process individuals have to against the banks themselves. The thing to do is fix the classaction process so those cases, however small they may be , that they are minimized so people get benefits. Host our guest is dennis kelleher. His website if you want to check it out for yourself is online. Jay is next. Caller good morning. How is everybody doing . I have to be honest. Cspan did it once again. The number one news media outlet because they bring these facts that mean so much to us. I have two questions. The first one is, mike pence cast the deciding vote to overturn this and i want to do investigation into what interest he may have in this. And im going to write down your website. Because this is paramount. I have to get in contact with somebody like you or you because there is so much more information that i have to draw from you. Least, i am not going to do research. Guest i thank you. It is one of the best shows on tv and everybody should watch it. Bettermarkets. Com and we have information on the arbitration will and everything on the economy and how wall streets influence in and how we are fighting back. Pence, with the deciding vote, one of the things that we have forgotten is that candidate donald trump ran as the most antiwall street candidate since Franklin Delano roosevelt in the 1930s. He talked about wall street as a danger to the American People and entities that we shouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton because she is in the pocket of wall street. And when she gets there, she brings the bankers and puts them in her administration. And what we have seen is the biggest flipflop in history. So candidate donald trump is antiwashington is antiwall street. But the president has embraced wall street in a way that is unimaginable. The president of Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs is now president trumps chairman of the honor council. He runs the National Economic policy for the United States. So it should not surprise anybody that Vice President pence would cast the deciding to give wall street one of the biggest wins in decades. At a time when the people voted for a candidate who said that he wouldnt do that but that he would do the opposite of that. The American People should focus not what people in washington are telling them but what we have seen is that it is a slap in the face for the American People. He is voting against the interest of main street, forcing them to vote their rights. And saying that they cant have the same rights as every other american consumer. Host one of the paper highlights this morning is that it could be who should be the next chair and what he think about the names going around . Guest whoever i say will be guaranteed to not get picked, so i wont get that. But there are very different views and paths for the president. He will do . At race. In the crazy horse i know governor jay powell is a conservative republican. I will say he would be an effective fed chair. And the conversation with a talented staff that you do have to get the support of. And therefore, you need somebody who works well with others, who dont share your view. And that is jay powell. Another leading candidate is reported to be professor taylor who is the author of the taylor rule which is a mechanistic way of looking at fed policy who de your view. And that is jay and how you determine Interest Rates, which affect every single american, no matter what you do in america. You are affected. And you do have a stake in this. So mr. Taylor has a very mechanistic approach, almost like he wants to put fed policy on autopilot. And that works fine until a hurricane comes up the atlantic. When a hurricane comes up the atlantic, you want to get off autopilot and take it into account. The taylor rule is useful when youre on autopilot and nothing else is happening. But if you get hit by a hurricane like the 2008 , whichal crash or 9 11 you really need is discretion and judgment for professionals to be able to exercise so they country is inthe the right place. Host how would you gauge Janet Yellens position and what she has done . Guest i think janet yellen has done a pretty good job being dealt a pretty bad hand. One of the things that is not talked about that should be a big factor in this decision is when people talk about the response of ben bernanke to the financial crisis in 2008 and how withd to face the fed unprecedented circumstances. Circumstances no one has seen since 1929. They had to be entrepreneurial and differently. And they had to be openminded. So we effectively have zero Interest Rates and we have 4. 3 trillion Balance Sheets at the fed. Rates before the crisis were at 3 4 and the Balance Sheet was 800 billion. Whats the fed is now confronted with was how it unwinds these measures. These are unprecedented, as the crash was in 2008. And you would think you would want somebody who has perspective in history having gotten to a rear today, to figure it out, because it is unprecedented. How we get out of these redibly large situations incredibly large policy decisions that are going to affect Interest Rates, employment, growth in thanks for your time. Guest thank you. Segment, our money well take a look at 401 k and other Retirement Savings could be ow those affected by tax reform. Our guest, doug fisher of the American Retirement association. Hes been called one of the mre mere chroniclers of our age, bestselling authors, books adapted into movies, michael lewis, will be our guest sunday on in depth. Almost all the books have in angle aside from market is characters, interesting me in interesting situations. So the trick is that, if you attach the reader to the character, the beginning of the follow that character anywhere. Me, no one in america would want to read my collateralized debt obligation, you realize the ives of the people you come to know turn on what that is, you want to know. Life that powerful is, you know, the origins of literature. Mr. Lewis, is author of several books, including liars poker, moneyball, the big hort, and the undoing project, during our live threehour conversation, well fakebook s, tweets and questions. Watch in depth with author sunday, live from noon to 3 p. M. Eastern on book t. V. , on cspan 2. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. Cspan was created as a Public Service by americas companies and n is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. Washington journal continues. Host its time for our your on y segment, focusing 401 k and Retirement Programs because of work on tax reform. Of the t, doug fisher, American Retirement association. Hes retirement policy director. Have heard as much as we about potential of what could happen. Chart out potential changes, how that affects people and Retirement Savings. To be yes, pedro, great with you this morning, very timely topic. Debate and what is going on here. Right now, a lot of rumors and about the white house and house and senate using cans using the private retirement system to fund other tax cuts, for example. We have not ution seen a firm proposal from the house or the senate as of yet. Think that will come out this week, wednesday, well have a irmer gras ve upon what is going on there. Rumorrrent proposals, the is that or speculation is that dip ouse republicans may into the private retirement system to the tune of several billion dollars to finance other tax cuts, for example, corporate individual. Would do that by requiring amount of employee contributions that would be nstead of pretax, would be after tax. In the roth style of contribution, tax benefits are different place compared to pretax. The taxes bution, are you pay when you make your contribution, employee contribution to 401 k and the earnings accumulate tax free at retirement and come out there. Are you pay when you make still both ways have tax it dependos your particular situation. That is sort of what is on the table right now. Host changes describe, as you describe them, happen, who is liable . D who what is the best and worse Case Scenario . Well, again, im going to depends. Ld adage, it hat happens is that the pretax contribution is what most people are used to in the 401 k plan, and make a contribution take immediate deduction for taxes. N the other side, a roth contribution says you pay taxes today, generate revenue and epublicans would are thinking about although we dont have a proposal, pedro, thinking say setting a limit, somewhere like 242500 dollars there, anything after that, for employee contribution to 401 k , would be and you pay your tax. But the exchange you get is those earnings on those contributions above 2500 or wherever they set the limit if do, they come hey out tax free of retire sxment tax benefits surround that. Use it for you can income planning, you can use to maximize your Social Security, medicare, it gives you flexibility. Worry aboutat we do American Retirement association 20,000 strong professionals that corners of retirement, if they just merely grab revenue, f dollars of and dont reinvest some of the oney to improve their Retirement Security of workers, for example, expanding coverage increasing benefit security, then that is going to be a problem. 25 our guest for the next minutes, if you want to ask questions about how 401 k programs nd similar could change under work on tax ca2027488001 for republicans. 2027488000 for democrats and for independents. Tweet us at cspanwj, as well. Means kevin brady spoke about the potential changes and weekend, after the listen to a portion of his thinking at the time and get it. R thoughts on he calls me regularly about tax reform. Areas of out specific it and so hes out selling this reaganstyle a reform, but a trumpstyle incredibly p is helpful. The 401 k area, look, we have a goal. To save more ans and save earlier. Progrowth tax reform done right can achieve that. Host the last portion, he tax room could achieve that, any speculation how that could be achieve . Ed well, again, there is a views from the white house and republicans and so on. It sounds like the chairman is quoting from the unified framework, which was reform plan ago, put out couple weeks which really says tax reform in and of itself should have goal expanding or maintaining tax incentive toward retirement. Very, very hard to tell what theyre really trying to at here in that and the sayinghing they might be is the thing pedro, we just move about, if they do into this part roth contribution, part pretax, applies to only employee contributions, all for yer contributions, example, matching contributions or Profit Sharing or contribution to defined benefit plan, those remain pretax, that is something people should keep part f. Only a small hes say thering through political speak, that theyre offer improvements to the system, along with this roth hange, for example, if they wanted to expand the governments matching for, it is called savers credit, they increase it a thousand to 2000 dollars r increase the eligibility, that in essence can compensate for the taxes somebody might pay under new roth system. So if theyre signalling some of those, we need to step back and on balance do does it meet principles of what we in . Ieve expand Retirement Security, increase number of people in the overall increase retirement wellness . Host does it surprise you these targeted in being this concept . Seems to me like third rail, ocial security and other types of things. Guest we wish the private retirement system wasnt like but it seems , that every time we go into a tax manym debate and weve had since 1986, which was the last retirementeform, the ystem and the government tax subsidy, support, is always in play. Host lets go to the first ray in lake dallas, texas, democrats line, you are on with go ahead. R, caller hey, pedro, love cspan. Hear youuglas, nice to this morning. Just the ideology of the Republican Party, they tax cutss trying to do and this thing about trickledown economics nmy stimation, trickledown economics simply dont work. Every tax plan, they always want make it so it soupds like everybody is getting a often in the t end, it is always the rich getting the tax cut. Okay. And say, we around want to get every american to and make money and all this great stuff. He problem is that when the money does filter in to the theyre not giveing that out to jobs or anything else, all that money is going the c. E. O. Of the company. Host ray, thanks. Ray, its a ow, point that many people have. We one of the things if think in the context of policy is to make writers decide to dip into the private retirement system for revenue, reinvest take that and back in the system so low sxer working americans can get extra savers credit, ave more in plans, have better access, simplify the system, get better financial education. A good portion of that should be targeted toward improving the system. That is maybe one place we can address that important question you have. Host here is dan from goose reek, south carolina, independent line. Greekt yeah, good morning, pedro and mr. Fisher, good morning to you, too. We are a nation of over 350 people and my question basically is, of that 350 of us, how many of us really have any retirement in street whatsoever percentage wise . Have never heard a number about how many of us really are there and how important this is majority of the people, not the minority, but majority in this country. Guest yeah, i can try to address what i know on private is a ment system there popular statistic that says of workers have access to Retirement Plan and are system. Pating in the and again, there are a lot of ther people that are parttime or fulltime for part of the dont have ly that access to plans. So that is the statistic normally. Thing were trying to do ere in retirement policy is to increase that 50 million level of participation. Mores increase that to get people in the system to upplement safe and secure retirement. Host Boston College, the balance rise from 2016 for o in working households, im sure the figures arent uncommon to you . Not. they are we track the figures and one of you find in a number of studies, pedro, is that people underreport how much they have. They might have some in 401 k ira, wo 401 k s, in an consolidate that prt, the picture isnt so dire in many cases, but our goal is steadfast and increase number of people in need stem special we Congress Help to do that. We are watching the debate closely. Beginning of he the program. We need to help people save ore, especially lower and middle income. Host Obama Administration tried myra program, if i understand, that was announced it folded the government doesnt do well dictating these thing . Uest well, i think a couple things happened there with the meyer meyer m myra program, Small Businesses could voluntarily employees at a level of ontribution they would elect and i think there is combination of, you know, many small afford es cant Retirement Plan nor do, there is evidence workers dont value it a certain point in terms of their income level. And the program was not well known. And then the other thing that happened is the new administration came in and program, cost of the which i understand was around 20,000llion and some like accounts. They decided the cost benefit wasnt worth it. American on at the Retirement Association is, lets increase incentive for small fill that gap. It is Small Businesses that actually, once they have the set up a plan, is required under the rule to enroll employees. So that is the system were trying to promote. Host 2027488001 for republicans. For democrats, 2027488000, and 2027488002. Michael is next, in louisiana, line. Ican go ahead. Caller yes, gentlemen. An r much, i used to be armoured car driver that hauled to do a study into the banking system. I realized most political issues resolve around the 20 trillion that. I had to study that 20 trillion was spent by our government on programs, a military programs and they cant use that as an excuse programs, they shouldnt touch tax reform. Paid off and be in this lifetime. A trillion dollars, ive seen trillion dollars in realtime, youre talking football field, if you stack 1 trillion end, goes 638,000 miles into space, cannot be used as an excuse and put that on top of people to pay that off. Years to pay that off in realtime, with us paying it legitimate rates, but most political analysts say the trillion debt was spent and as an t be used excuse host michael, thanks. Anything from that . Guest pedro, a comment about the debt. Large portion of debt when i was was from he hill entitlement programs, especially Social Security, Social Security universal Retirement Program for working americans as baseline. It comes back to if we can get people into private retirement system it takes pressure off the debt. Ost former finance Committee Congress so obviously the lobbyists are all gearing up, socalled lobbyists are all gearing up to protect their here, t, just as we are protecting retirement interest of working americans and plan and so on. Once the program gets, the proposal is put on the table and markup, there is just going to be a lot more bringing aging and to rmation to the table reform. X host steve in illinois, hi there. Hello. N illinois, on right now. My question is what happens to omeone who had early retirement, have funds they have ept were they were working and , what is going to happen . Able to get work. Retired at 58 because of medical problems and since then, i tried getting parttime work becausent get anything of some glitch in the system. Doing, what ive been using resources that i had saved working period as funds me to leave on daytoday basis. Less than one third has been used up, ive time. Sing a little at a my question is, what is going to reform . With the new tax would that still be okay, seeing onwas prior to what is going now . Host thanks, caller. Not seen , so i have anything from capitol hill that current roth our ira program. Host from connecticut, don, hello. Line, caller hi. Want, what im interested in, confirm standard 63, vate industry, employee contributes 6 and the contributes 50 up to the 6 of 3. Live in a town of south windsor, connecticut and basically spending 24 on the state of connecticut is bankrupt because retirement benefits, what is your opinion on the standard . In the the standard United States for 401 k . Would like to have that confirm . Ed guest yes. Speak to that. My experience with my work in the industry, look at it pieces. One, most people make a their own contribution called a into a 401 k and that 6 . Around 5 to then the actually it is a little north on average, little more 6 , probably closer to 7 and then the employer contribution, which can be in of matching contribution or Profit Sharing r combination of both is usually around 5 . People are contributing all employee generally around 10 or 11 . Of as far as numbers people enrolled in 401 k programs, what are the numbers . Pedro, the number of people enrolled depending how measure it and the there s number of groups like bls, bureau of labor statistics and so on, the Boston College center ebri, and so on. Ts about for those that have access to a plan, for the actual number of participation can be high as around 70 to 80 if they to the plan, but it s about 50, i think 54 of people have access to the plan. That is where we need to ncrease access to Retirement Plans by simplifying and increasing aaccountiveness of the plan. Ost you are surprised that is not a bigger number then . Guest i am. Most large employers have k , participation rates are close to 85 , but when you work into the t and get microsize employers, plan adoption is around 30 . That is one of the things were working with, if congress is going to move in tax reform, why dont we take this opportunity to make it easier, add more businesses or small that grow into successful big businesses to offer plans and by use ing plans then we can auto enrollment and use incentive for auto enrollment, change to the retirement system in the last 30 ears to automatic enroll participants at 3 level. Host you watch the stock market does, h as everyone else for somebody with 401 k and money in the stock market is concern with there having highs weve seen so far . Wouldnt l, pedro, i be sitting here if i could predict the stock market year. To do is have ng the industry is success, moreinto important than investing make regular and persistent the system over your work life, Retirement Plan or ira, if you dont have access plan. And then to build sensible portfolio based on risk stay with it en goes get spooked when it up and down, it will. Host mary in california, democrats line, mary on with fisher, hello. Caller hello. Great, the 401 k is ts just hard as someone in every year that would be tax free when you go to living nd the cost of really impacts peoples ability wage e because of stagnation, i can tell you, i out of 20 without any raises. I dont see why corporations money need lot of tax cuts when effective tax rate is already low. Mary. Thanks, guest yeah, mary, youre making interesting comment that there are other countries like new ealand and australia that contribution te along with employee as we. Tion, maybe it is australian system, our political system hasnt mandate on plan. Republican a next, line, les, good morning. Caller good morning. Just wanted to say i kind of growed up in a small town, 300 people. I raised two stepchildren for town rs and lived in a that was 800 people, i had we had a hard n, time making it all the time. E were proud to ask for food tamps and cancer and ended up on disability. There was never any opportunity put into a 401 k and im just one of those kind i survive on now maybe around 700 a month from very vernment, which is little and very little food tamps and my backs messed up, my bodys messed up from the cancer and the chemo. My future,scare body i never had a chance to invest, never had a chance for a 401 k because whatever our kids eeded, you know, had to come first and deep down inside my heart, im scared for the future of myself. Ake care be able now what ill to do. Guest yeah, the point youre indirectly, the private , 401 k , and tem defined benefit system, it only because we ave this foundational system called Social Security, replaces in lower and middle that areas and without strong and well funded Social Security system, private and ement system sitos top doesnt work. I think youre making a good point there. In illinois, republican line. Caller hi, good morning, everyone. Was just i work for the state of illinois and we had a the state never gave us penny toward it, no 2 or 1 or whatever. Anyhow, my state taxes, im 22 of my e like income. That includes the schools and taxes are very high the rich and the rich is corporations considered a person he courts, they should billionaires, instead of regular regular thanks. Ler, guest that is where congress up on tax rates, so we hope, we agree with you that we that we can, private retirement system will help income security for people, the in illinois major promises they cant keep. Unfortunate that situation is happening. Ost Douglas Fisher with the American Retirement association, hes retirement policy director retirement. Org. K s, mr. And 401 fisher, thank you. Halfhourend the next talking about charges listed against Paul Manafortfrom Robert Muellers investigation into the russia investigation, you can call us and let us know your we talk throughout the morning, 2027488001 for republicans. Democrats. 0 for. 027488002 for independents cnn brought video, first video manafort and his associate going into the f. B. I. Field office in washington, in there through the front door. That video provided to us on cnn the charges laid and the prospect of what happens Jonathan Turley joins us on the phone. Good morning. Ofld you give us explanation the charges that have been brought . Guest well, there are 12 counts have been brought against these two men. And they include many of the that we anticipated. Farra violations, Foreign Agent registration act violations. Also include things like conspiracy against the United States. Of the charges seem to be foreign n manaforts transactions and dealing eparate from the Trump Campaign. So its a mixed bag for the white house. It is comfortably separated from campaign in large part from what we can see. He center of gravity on those charges are removed a bit from the campaign. Types other hand, these of charges tend to concentrate middleage men who have never been part of the criminal justice system. Clearly hope s when they bring these charges hat one or both of them will seek to cooperate as a witness. Of re certainly a lot occurring, the indictment appears to be on manaforts many oreign connections and his transactions. This is one of the reasons why as the s Selection Campaign manager for those couple months was a bit odd. He was well known to have a array of foreign transaction and contact with various governments usually ine, that is not someone you want to select. You dont know what baggage they table. Ing to the host both rick gates and paul anafort will make appearance before the magistrate judge this robinson 1 30 afternoon. Do you know judge robinson . Guest yes, very well respected judge. This will be very relatively quick. It will be, there will be repeat charges, confirmation of the two individuals. Fairly y will move quickly. As the hearing ends, the question will be supported thats wherements, this narrative could change. And f. B. I. Rosecutors agents in affidavit or the to other , will elude evidence and other individuals. White house r the is that Paul Manaforts connections include ukrainians ties to the kremlin, now that obviously plays into the russian collusion. So as we glimpse those ocuments, we might be able to see what mueller has on that other issue of collusion. Walk us through then what happens after today. Ultimately they will be charged, they will be unlikely that is they would be held they are not what i can from see. Prosecutors art the superceding indictments. Start of t only the special arges by counsel mueller it is start of charges against the individuals, uncommon for prosecutors to go back to the grand jury, tack on another counts. So these men cant assume that they will face in a trial, now they will have a they want to her weigh the speedy trial, usually defendants do. You know, the defense council, moremyself, tend to prefer time, particularly if you are in like iction, in a case , necessarily host what are the possible ramifications. To someone ficant theul manafort upporting documents, is there indication Paul Mannafort continue questionable practices working onime he was ost law professor, charges been laid guest thank you. Host now is your chance to comment on the information mr. Provided, larger implication of todays act by the f. B. I. Let an give us a call and us know your thoughts, it is republicans. For 027488000 for democrats and 2027488002 for independents want if you want to send us a do so at can cspanwj, and post on facebook facebook. Com cspan. Tart with tim, kingsport, tennessee, calling on the line for democrats, good morning, tim, go ahead. My comment is with all the problems this country is keep , seems like we getting off the point with the different probes. I mean, the United States is bad as anybody else about meddling in other peoples sometimes were worse, if we cant get the result, theyll go to war with vietnam was two prime i think of meddling and sometimes we need to put this stuff to bed and focus more on issues facing this nation. Host charges arent important your mind . Caller like i said, we deal in the way ple elections others try to deal in ours. We will put our dirty laundry of the other st countries wont. Host statement from house pelosi leader nancy reading saying even with accelerating special counsel investigation inside the justice department, and investigations inside the republican congress, e still need outside fully independent investigation to expose russia meddle nothing our lection and volvement of trump officials, defend integrity of democracy, demand Congress Look counter aggression and prevent future meddle withing ur election, from House Minority leader nancy pelosi, we will hear from lisa, in loufl loufl, kentucky, line for democrats. Hi. Caller how are you today . Fine, thanks. Caller good. I would like to point out that i putin all along that placed mr. Manafortin the his campaign. And donald trump is always extreme vetting for the refugees that would like to come into this country. Apparently he didnt extreme vet anybody in his cabinet, they all connections. Host how did you come to the putnamafortmr. Putin in the Trump Campaign . They wantjust believe to play here and there and say this guy was recommended to of course he was recommended to donald trump, by putin. Connection to ukraine and Business People that work in ukraine for russia interest. Ties back to that. I also remember a meeting last in cecil allen, it today, has money also. Host williamstown, new jersey, edward. M caller good morning. Host hi. I have a u know, comment. This investigation has been year and ir almost a would like to know if anybody would happens to know how money was spent on this investigation . Still i havent heard any with the llusion president , and manafort is being potentially for something he did five or 10 wondering, wasim this worth the taxpayers money . Host when you hear or maybe you heard nancy pelosi say that even outside investigation on top of going on is se needed, how do you respond to that . Guest well, just like what the days ent tweeted couple ago, that this is a witch hunt, something on ind the president that says the was the russians messed with the elections, then some ep digging, but at point, they have to come together and say, there is nothing there. They have nothing there. A few other news organizations said there is nothing there. Apparently the democrats cant let go, we cant keep spending on something that there in order to justify the money you are spending, nothing is there. Jersey, ward in new wall street journal, there are op ed by david and lee casey your pardon, mr. President , how he can handle comes to tion when it the russia probe mrchlt trump an end this madness by issuing blanket president ial party to anyone involved in supposed collusion with russia or 2016 ns during the campaign to anyone involved with russian acquisition of uranooishgs um company during the Obama Administration and anyone for any offense muellers d by mr. Office. Political weaponization should democratic process, nefarious russian activities can be investigated by congress. Will not evaporate if lawmakers the investigation, at least those conducted inquiry politically d accountable and the question of whether russia intervened in the election and whether it made efforts to influence u. S. Policy maker in previous is sdpifrt on foremost one of policy and national security, not criminal law. Chris, from michigan, independent line. Caller yeah. I tell you what im concerned democrats, the emocrats selling 20 of our uranium to the russians, that is where i want to see an investigation. Why is that important in your mind . Mean, i think hat should be obvious, i mean, why um is nuclear fuel, anybody in our government would our uranium of tores to the russians who are supposedly our enemy, which i dont personally believe they are our enemy. E have to get along with these people, you know. Todo re making a big about nothing with this nonsense manafort, when they should how and why were the russians. M to host lets go to warren in north carolina, democrats line, hi, warren, good morning. Caller good morning, cspan and good morning, america. My comment is as far as manafort tried to ion, he indict it. Campaign, he mp as ampaigned as a, you know, campaign lock hillary up, okay. Against nd evidence somebody under trump, his campaign manager, and one more are the company you keep. Donald trump kept this type of company. The re the reflection of company you keep. I feel like they keep digging out on ly things come donald trump. Host from texas, republican marcus is next, hi. Caller hi, good morning. As a republican, its really disappointing when confirmed of these connections with russia and the the factation and also that all of the security agencies in the United States confirmed that russia is elections andg our the president just doesnt want to acknowledge that. Even though it is his security confirming allre of this, as republican, that is cantoncerning and i just see how we can continue to mean, im m when i all for party, we got to go country first. Manafort t does the charge dos as far as involvement Russian Election and russian connection to the 2016 election overall . Caller again, very obvious that just coincidence that manafort is so involved ties and hes a ting there as chairman for republican president and, you know, running his campaign, that is just not coincidence, something is going on there and gain, republicans have to open their eyes and take a good serious look at that. Paul 1 30 this actual, manafort and rick gates will ppear in District Court in washington, d. C. That court going to be subject of many cameras paying attention of the ring the course morning and we have been show ou pictures and things like that from the building in question. Again, that is where it will this afternoon, you saw earlier both mr. Manafort into the ates Walking Court building to start the process of charges that were anded down by Robert Mueller and the investigation frchlt maryland, democrats line, this vernon. Caller hi. Good morning. Thanks for taking my call. Two gentlemen back said taxpayer money being spent on this investigation. The can remember well, Republican Party spent more than two years investigating Hillary Clintons efforts and didnt find anything there and havent let go of that. Robert mueller and the ongress want to investigate russia meddling in investigation, they should do what they have to do. Is s not about party, it about the that is my comment. Host next up is eddie, florida, democrats line. Caller good morning. Are on. Od morning, you go ahead. Caller okay. Im calling and i agree with the caller previous, saying republican spent a whole bunch money investigating Hillary Clint clinton. Host okay. Keep going. Caller and now the tides are turning and people are calling they dont believe the democrats are spending all this money. Bottom of it host 2027488001 for republicans. 2027488000 for democrats. 2027488002. Ts, aul manafort and rick gates surrending in the russian probe this morning, expecting to appear in court this afternoon. Tonya in washington state, line. Ndent caller good morning. Host morning. Caller yes. Whole russia the investigation, again, the bottom they did interfere and a lot of people want to distance president from his and he ship with russia actually has his own personal relationship with russia. Realize that. Or till has fiduciary financial ties to russia and so manaforts connection to our is not t inconsequential, no such thing s coincidence, especially when talking about over 75 million dollars. Host when it comes to the and the aid down connection to the white house, what connections do you see . Well, mr. Manafort is connected to the campaign, even just a e was there for short amount of time. His connection to the Campaign Based on his russia connection and what he could do is clout in that area, in that arena. Hence, the email, with donald jared. D russia. Of leads back to and so all, like somebody octopus , it is like kels, but an octopus still has a head, when we figure will ere that head is, it be solved tochlt say were spending money erroneously and has been ent exonerated or the white house as been exonerated, people cant put a pin in this and say it is done. It is not done. Host the hill reporting marks ts surrender whether the Trump Campaign official had improper contact with russia during the 2016 election. The investigation is open manafort to scrutiny of past dealings and lobbying. Hes earned mill kwlons from the ukraine, special counsel reported subpoenas over the summer to the lobbying firms nvolved in the Public Relation campaign, which gates worked on, rick gates, the hills story m ng from wire everything transfers to foreign banks to payment in real estate deal city. Sary new york jose in california, democrats line. Yes, good morning. Host good morning, you are on. Caller yes. My opinion that the what is on is that republicans, standards. Ouble they persecute president obama nd hillary through the whole administration and they never prove nothing. A dirty that as as a dirty campaign, just to look bad for that way hillary, you know, they didnt to win, so they did everything they can to bring her down, but now it is their time to pay the price for what they did. It is okay what they do, like, you know, think it hey do, they is perfect, but no, i think we need to do justice for the people because the end thate day, we are the ones pay the price for whatever they do, the decisions they do, they re wealthy and rich and whenever they need money, they take it from us, from us, the workers and help is r friends, i think it time that justice comes, justice for the American People. Thank you, have a good day. Host the New York Times has a charges laidnts of down and unsealed this morning muellers investigation. Part saying the defendants, paul and richard gates serves for years as political consultant and lobbyists and years of 2006 and 015, both manafort and gates unridregistered political was president r, from 2010, he and opposition manafort and l, gates generated income as a esult of ukraine work in order to hide ukraine from authorities until 2016 the money was laundered through foreign corporations, partnerships and bank accounts. It goes on from there. To pdf is there for you read, too, about the charges that were brought down. Indianapolis, indiana, line, sandra. Caller good morning. Been a democrat who voted voted all this time, my life, voted republican this time. Essentially because it appears me that both parties are dishonest. Be fairly i was unhappy with some things that hillary did. Was unhappy with the ukraine iece, with the dossier and i was really unhappy with the united on that the States Government has not meddled in the affairs of countries. This is not new. We have done that around the world, and i think it is naive is us to think that this something new that is going on. We have been doing it. It for a long g time. S and several other countries, this is common global done. Ioning that is so, im not surprised to hear this, i am, however, upset that the probe are not re and that we looking at both parties instead one party. Not surprised, i would not be urprised to discover that the democrats also have some of those issues and certainly have issues and issues with the uranium. Okay, joseph in virginia. R anoke , virginia, independent line. My er thank you for taking call. Good morning. Im in full agreement with Robert Mueller investigation. Matter what party was in the government government, protect my country. Stand anybody who is russian sympathizer. Good. No it is not benefiting us, that is the way i see it, thank you, sir. Bye. Host plenty will be said about the charges throughout the day. Close to cspan. Org. At 5 00 this afternoon, both trumps secretary of state, Rex Tillerson and defense appearry jim morris will before the senate to talk about the use of military force. Should be changed in the current day and age in which as it is known as. F you want to ask questions about that or look, give information about that, invite to cspan this afternoon, 5 00, in front of congress. That on cspan, cspan. Org and our cspannadio app. Democrats sylvania, line. Caller okay. Hello there and good morning to you. Agreement, we should go along with the investigation. Chickens are coming home to roost. They investigated bill clinton impeachedng about sex, benghazi, how ve many million spent on benghazi, something we should investigate and its very serious. Russia controlling america and having control on the legislation process in america. If that isnt serious, nothing is. And republicans doing what they ave been doing if you have checked out fox news or other news stations, they are coming out and lying. You know this thing with clinton and the uranium, its garbage. Proven garbage. Host okay, okay, well go to jack in pennsylvania, republican line. Caller how you doing . Host fine, thank you. Go ahead, please. Caller i think it is first of all, last caller little off the hook. Enjoyable. I think it is a big smoke screen uranium mocrats, the deal and the clintons were aining momentum, that whole story and mueller decide its is manafort now. T host what makes the connection two . En the caller the connection is the democrats are worried the story Hillary Clinton and uranium one deal was gaining momentum. Time, lets go manafort and host to ruth, in michigan, democrats line. Hi, ruth, good morning. Caller good morning. Just wanted to say that im really not too worried about deal because, you know, what are you going to do about it . Going to do to sway the election . The republicans are working, im th shenanigans than any from russia. Ith, you know, the gerrymandering, polls, making screaming about fraud, proved by studies it isnt much of issue. Even from ont think what we heard, you are not concerned about the russian influence in the process of the election tes and system . Caller no. Nobody i know is, either. We going to do about it, you know . Charlie. Caller hey, pedro, the information about the dossier campaign y clinton take money directly through Christopher Steele to go to the know that you t would ask anybody in washington, it okay for president ial campaign to funnel money through to the iary and go kremlin and that is not collusion. We heard for six months between trump and the russians and looks like stumbled on er financial irreg larities or manafort who was just adjunct to the campaign for five saying, imow were watching news, lets see how we trump l this into the collusion story, but there is no real collusion. After five months from wall to wall coverage, give me ne shred of evidence trump cludeed with the russians, there is none. Is ink the American Public getting tired of this and uranium one, dossier, presence to kremlin, oing that is the real story here. Host the f. B. I. Set to release that, health n Intelligence Committee looking into that, we go to ohio, this is, independent line. Caller hello. Voted for he past oth democrats and republicans, i think this investigation should go forward, the American People need to know what the is. Th i think the democrats are omewhat to blame, they were warned and didnt take it seriously, however, from what in the news, it appears perhaps highranking were ican officials involved with the russians and we need to know how far that went. Russians infiltrated the Republican Party . That is a real worry and we need to get the truth on this. Thank you. Host one more call, this will e on the line for democrats, silver spring, maryland. Hello. Caller yes. Thank you for taking my call. Pedro, some callers, uranium for the United States sold to lowgrade uranium. United states highgrade bolivia, niger, to russians is low grade, it is worth nothing. It is nothing there. Taking my call. Host that is the last call. Plays ollow this as it out throughout the rest of the day and the week, as well, we invite you to join us on the which starts 7 00 tomorrow morning, right now, an gh, we will take you to event featuring former president representativec clinton,cummings as they convene hopkins university, blo loomberg school of Public Health to talk about the Opioid Epidemic in light of the president making declaration of Health Emergency last week and what it means for the ederal government, states and localities, that event set to start momentarily