Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 01252018 20180125

With Lieutenant Governor kevin bryant discusses key Public Policy issues in South Carolina. Washington journal is live now. Host good morning. President trump arrived in this, switzerland Early Morning the before he left washington, president made plenty of news during an. Promptu press gaggle the president said that he appeared at bolster the efforts lookingartisan group for a tough stance against ilLegal Immigration. This morning on the washington journal, we want to know what you think. Democrats, 202 7488000, republicans 202 7488001, independents 202 7488003, and a , andendents 202 7488002 for recent immigrants legal or. Therwise 202 7488003 here is the headline in the washington journal, President Trump blocks passway for immigrants. Backs citizens for passway. Here is the president s comments during that impromptu press gaggle. [video clip] we want to do a great job with daca. It is going to happen at some point. Of 10 to 12 years. Whether they have a Little Company on whether they work, if they do a great job it is a nice thing to have an incentive years of becoming a citizen. Are you going to protect them and expand the deadline . Yeah. Chain migration, we are working on creating a standard that not everybody you ever met can come into the country and you will wives and husbands, and , and parentshters from tricky situations because they came earlier. Continuing with the washington journal, the comments marked the latest of shifting statements and they prompted Immediate Reaction on capitol hill. One from congressman steve king who is taken a hard line on immigration, even legalizing is amnestycipients because they are granting them a pardon for the immigrationlaw violations it is problematic. Go , heres other tweets republican senator tom cotton from arkansas talking about the headline in reuters about President Trump, President Trump and i and most republicans have said for months, its must be done responsibly, guaranteeing a secure and lawful border and ending chain migration, to mitigate the negative side effects of codifying daca. This statement represents president ial leadership on immigration that will allow us to solve a difficult problem. I truly appreciate President Trump making it clear that he supports a path to citizenship for daca citizenship. We are on to say that working to modernize a broken immigration system. I have never felt better about our chances of finding a solution to immigration. President obama tried and could not fix immigration, i believe the President Trump can. Statement, with the here on track we are on track to solving the immigration problem which is the political heat to rebuilding our military. Here is a democrat from minnesota saying, the headline should read, today trump says he supports a path to citizenship for dreamers. Will take you through more reaction from capitol hill and at thepromptu gaggle white house. We want to hear from you. Democrats 202 7488000, republicans 202 7488001, andendents 202 7488002 that recent line for immigrants legal or otherwise 202 7488003. Mike is up from houston, texas, and independent. Caller well have to do some modification otherwise we will never get immigration. Would be toion allow the governors to have a say so to break a filibuster. If you get 30 governors to say, ore filibuster host what should that immigration legislation be . Caller if you let the governors have say over the senators which originally they had at the beginning of our country, the governors would put an end to it. Host give up stan do you you have a stance on pathway to citizenship . Caller that is our system. , go ahead. Caller anybody that is not white and blue eyed can stay in this country. Nts the el salvador ian el salvadorians to go. We have a doctor in the midwest who has been here for 30 years, and he is trying to the po deport him. Again,s time and time trump wants United States blueeyed and white. Just like he said yesterday, i the day dacas and then before yesterday, they have got to go. Host jean, texas. The lines for republican. Are you with us . Were going to patrick in florida. Good morning. Caller good morning. Passave to define the word because he set up the 10 to 12 years. I have simple ways to cut down on ilLegal Immigration. Cspan it never mentions we are the last country that you can still buy those untraceable cell phones who do you think is using those . You think illegal aliens walking into walmart and buying a cell phone . All checks are electronically transferred into a bank account so you cannot to work illegally and take your check and go to the checkcashing store. Hereillegal aliens come and overstay their visa make all of the people who get a visa , you think they are going to walk away from 1 million . No more International Money transfer is. Bank account to bring account. You basically have to be bank. Count to bank account you basically have to be legal. Winners going to bring out your god squad when are you going to bring out your god squad. We talking about President Trump making a pathway for dreamers in the next 10 to 12 months. Plenty to talk about including later, we are continuing our 50 capital tour. Is in columbia, South Carolina. Will be speaking with Lieutenant Governor bryant there. That is happening at 9 30 so stick around for that discussion. This discussion on President Trumps comments are happening. Mabel in louisiana. Line for democrats. Thank you for taking my call. , they should be allowed to stay. Determine ifws to they are going to be a part of that program anyway. They are not criminals and they could not have committed felonies and they are part of our military, our business community, they educate children , firemen,sponders policemen they are a part of our fabric that make up this country. America is about an idea. We tell people, you work hard, you do things, you follow the law they have done this. A part ofy cannot be this country when they have been a part of this country for all the these years since they were brought over as children and ,heyd know no other country and we think to put ourselves in a position, we should be more understanding. All of us the only people who did not come over here were the native americans. For us to feel like we should pathwayw them to have a to full citizenship, that is unthinkable to me. Host to adam, one for republicans from pennsylvania. i would like to respond to the previous caller. For her to suggest that because we inherited this land from native americans and the atrocities that we should not and have anders open border policy is absolutely ridiculous. I wanted to respond to your article they started off the , and acted like this is the first time that trump acted like he was for daca. He said that on the campaign trail, even though people did not want to see that on both sides. He repeated it again at the meeting with leadership last week. He has tweeted it out about it other times. People are upset about with the s the wall street journal reporting that this is the first time him saying publicly that he supports a pathway to citizenship for those dreamers as president. Caller i think he has tweeted about it since president elect any talked about on the campaign trail. Take that for what it is that is fake news, both sides can scream. Assume the democrats appear not to get this. 1986. Y happened in is, hey,blicans want these kids went to our schools to their took one step country and maybe have a pathway here but what do they want . They want security. They want the wall appropriated. That is the important part. Trump laid out more clearly, he is willing. He wants the wall. Is a tradeoff and he wants to end chain migration. He is even willing to bend on that and say immediate family units can come in but not this never ending tree branch of a chain but the family unit can come here. It is not this whacked out thing. Host all cspan viewers can go and listen to the president s statements at that gaggle of reporters that gathered in his chief of staffs office at cspan. Org. Comments onts dreamers are not the only news that he made in that impromptu press gathering. Story ande lead Washington Post, President Trump offering to talk to Robert Mueller willing to give sworn testimony in his Ongoing Investigation into russian interference in the 2016 election. Here is President Trump from that press gaggle on Robert Mueller. [video clip] pres. Trump no collusion whatsoever. There is no instruction whatsoever. I do worry about all of the things that you report about with what is happening. Five months worth of missing texts. That is a lot of texts. You look at that and say what is going on. I would love it to do that and do it as soon as possible. I would story love to do it. Say, would you do it under oath, mr. President . Pres. Trump you mean like hillary did under oath . I think you have an idea. Do you not have an idea . An idea she did not do it under oath. I would do it. And you know she did not do it under oath. You did not know about everything. You will do it under oath . Pres. Trump i will do it under oath. Talking are going to be more about the Mueller Investigation and are 8 00 hour and we are going to be joined by a National Political reporter from the Associated Press. Aboutl talk more political bias in the Justice Department. Join us for that discussion at 8 00. We are going to stay to this topic of the president backing a to citizenship for dreamers for the next 45 minutes here on the washington journal. Phone lines for democrats, republicans, independents, and , legal or otherwise 202 7488003. Gina, go ahead. Caller thank you for taking my call. All of this reminds me of watching the xmen movies with my grandchildren. Treat the aliens on those movies just because they are different, and aliens end up s. Ing the heroe what are we saying to the younger kids that enjoy aliens . I do not understand. We are going to get through this together. Trump is going to do his worst and we will survive. Host jean, texas. Good morning. Caller good morning. I am very disappointed and trumpet that he caved into the democrats and let them blackmail him into this. I am very disappointed in caved into the democrats and let them blackmail him into this. I may be wrong, but i thought there was a proposal that the republicans had that they could stay but not good citizenship. The democrats had their little hissy fit and had to have their way, so i am disappointed. Do you think that is a fair way of dealing with this but not u. S. Citizenship for those illegal immigrant dreamers . Caller yes. I think there is a fairer way. Citizens or dom not make them citizens and people are up in arms over that. That would be a way to get them to stay and not have to go back to the country they do not know. They would also have a way to work here and live here and not have to be in fear all the time. One tweet, enough is enough. Lets stop the daca program and marge. That in march. There are thousands upon thousands here and now and we have enough. On , it isrump protecting some 690,000 dreamers. That contradicts his Justice Department and Homeland Security secretary who have told congress and the federal courts that daca is illegal and cannot be maintained or extended. Mr. Trumps argument could undercut the just apartment. The Justice Department. Arthur, go ahead. Dacar the only way to fix is to impeach trump because he is nothing but a big liar. Host to joe in maryland. Ler yes, good morning. The federal government is trying to treat the symptoms versus the problem. Why do the immigrants come to the country illegally . Host why do you think . Caller for a job, right . So why not increase the penalties are against employers that hire and make it so painful that it will not hire Illegal Immigrants. Large hotel chains, large golf course, the Service Industry make it so painful. Hotel faceda large criminal charges over illegal aliens, you may see a change. County, lineorange for democrats. Caller i entirely agree with the previous caller. We ignore the fact that employers hired these illegals. Are not illegals. Many of them, their parents came amnesty and these are the children who have grown up as american citizens except for the fact that they do not have citizenship. We have to separate that from the argument. There is nobody blackmailing anyone. The Justice Department says one thing and President Trump says another. A clear outline has to be the details by the senate, the house, and the president. They have to sit down and agree and hopefully, the better angle in all of us the better angel in all of us prevails. Until we stop with words like impeaching, nothing is ever going to get settled. Yes, go after employers. Immigrants, they should be deported. Is not any of these, they are unique and we need a unique solution. If they serve and are honorably discharged from our military, they should absolutely become full citizens. James writes and, without a border wall, we will have the same problem over and over. A few more reaction from capitol hill, jeff flake, republican of , stating the headline on saying,idents comments this is a good move, mr. President. From tennessee, to encouraging signs today, first president comments and his decision to send her commend asians to congress and then a bipartisan gathering to send and inision to congress a bipartisan gathering of senators and the Armed Services hearing room to ask senators to manage a process to help us get toward a solution before february 8. They have senators gathering Late Wednesday to see how the chamber will proceed on the immigration debate. The republicans and democrats serve as ators clearinghouse of sorts. Senator susan collins, joe they cochaired meetings in attempt to end of impasse and will continue posting meanings on the subject in the coming days. Landon, what do you make of the president s path to citizenship . Caller i agree with President Trump. Took me a long time to ag say President Trump. Of old peoplery and we need all the young people we can get. These young people are very good said,ns because some guy they came here illegally. They are not criminals, they were just kids when they got here. They had the decency enough to join the daca program. If they were doing something wrong, they would have not even gotten with the program. He said that mexico would pay for the wall. I have come to the conclusion that mexico itself is losing very young people. Mexico is not a bad place, they have Many American companies down there. Mexico has a southern border that leads down to the panama canal and south america. In south america are trying to get through mexico and get to america. Mexico is losing to their young people and we are a country of old men and old women. A few years ago, there was a policy of one child per family china a few years ago had a policy of one child per family. China is struggling because they are a country of old people. Sandra, go ahead. Caller good morning. I hope you do not to hang up ive called him twice and they hang up on me right away. I have got a few statements. I watched the spanish news. Thee more protected th dacas are more protected by a lot of other organizations and american citizens, we cannot even get our point of view. We cannot be out there marching. We would be mowed down. Host by who . Caller by the ones who are for daca. If we went out and tried to march and say no, we do not want daca. If you areinst more liberal, you could shout it out. You are afraid to say anything. They have got a of people fighting for them. Senators, religious people, people like the aclu. A lot of charities and people fighting for them and all we have is our is our senators. Flake. Tor csucks mccain and flake are more for daca then american citizens. They can go to Freedom College in alabama. It is only for undocumented i saw this on the spanish news. Host what do you make of the president s comments yesterday, sandra . Caller i do not agree with him. They should not get citizenship. I believe they can get her minutes they can get permanent residents. Residence. They should wait at least 20 years. A lot of people have been waiting patiently in another country. Why 20 yearsars versus 10 to 12 like the president said . Caller i was getting to that point. People in the news their family members have been waiting 10 years to get here legally. The effort just to get here. Once they get here and you get permanent residence, you have to be permanent for five years before you can apply for citizenship. Already,y are here they say they are working, paying taxes good. American citizens already paid for their education. They should start giving back. Host that is sandra in arizona on this issue of Illegal Immigrants in the United States. Another story from yesterday, the Justice Department on wednesday escalated its attempt on jurisdictions. 23 states, cities, and other localities have policies the department suspects may be lawfully unlawfully interfering with immigration in those cities. Here is President Trump talking about an effort to cracking down on sanctuary cities. [video clip] President Trump as you know, the department of justice is holding cities accountable for letting aliens into our communities. We cannot have it. We want to have a safe country. It is getting safer all the time. Sanctuary cities are the best friend of gangs and cartels, like ms13, you know that. Rateesult in the death around sanctuary cities is unacceptable. Take a look at what happened in San Francisco and kate steinle and countless others. My administration is protecting innocent americans and the mayors who choose to boycott this event have put the needs of criminal Illegal Immigrants over lawabiding americans. Let me tell you, the vast majority of people showed up, ok . The vast majority. [applause] President Trump the vast majority believe in safety in your city. Host one mayor who did not attend the gathering at the white house was Mitch Landrieu of new orleans. The u. S. President of conference of mayors. He talked about the Justice Department yesterday at a press conference before the gathering at the white house. Here is what he had to say. [video clip] as we standeu here, we have mayors under threat under prosecution because of something the president has called sanctuary cities. For those of you in this room who have followed the issue, there is no definition in federal law for sanctuary city. It does not exist. In a country priding itself into process, it does not exist. It is the primary of every mayor standing with me to make sure their citizens in everybody in their cities are safe. Public safety is our number one priority. There is no mayor who friends anywhere around anything we do. [applause] under thisieu administration, and what congress has done, they cut funds for homes security and Public Safety, making it harder to protect our cities. How to want to talk to make america safe, we are interested in having that discussion. We are not willing to stand idly by when you threatened the mayors of america for following the constitution of the United States. Orattack on one of our major minor American Cities is an attack on all of us. It is important for the resident and congress to understand that. I have met with the attorney general at least three times. They have not come forward with a constructive way to solve this. I am sorry, mr. President , you cannot figure out how to handle the daca issue. The last thing you should do is to put it on the mayors of america, who tried to save american citizens. It is our job to save lives, we think we do it well. Host the Washington Post reported among the jurisdictions in the crosshairs of the Justice Department effort are chicago, angeles, the, los state of california, the state of illinois, and the state of oregon. 23 jurisdictions received 39 million in 2016 from the edward byrne memorial justice assistance justice memorial assistance justice program. Back your call this back to your calls this morning as we talk about the president s comments. Robert, democrat, go ahead. Caller hello. The agreements should have complete amnesty. It is morally and ethically a situation, ok . These people were brought here when they were children. How dare the trump aministration say they are legal immigrants and should be deported . They are saying these people should be deported. That is ethically and morally reprehensible. I cannot stand for that. It has nothing to do with being a democrat or a republican and all of this nonsense. Something that should be unethical thing. People should be citizens of america. They have lived here all of their lives. Make it a one time thing. Host that is robert in new york. A special line for recent immigrants, legal or otherwise, 80s and 3 generations or otherwise, 202 7488003. Linda, texas, republican, go ahead. What you make of the president s comments . Caller i want to make a comment. In the 1970s and 1980s, i was a super bowl i was a super votes are i was a supervisor. My layman was any legal. He came up to me and showed me his paycheck, telling me when he was brought over here, they told six kids or 10ad kids, so he would not pay as much taxes. That is what he did. He was 18 years old. He came to work when he was 16. I do not know how old he was. That is my comment. He made more than the citizens of the United States out there. Host what you think of the saying heyesterday, would support a path to citizenship in 10 to 12 years . Caller i just want a wall at the border so this does not keep on and keep on and keep on. Host one of our callers earlier asked if the comment from the president was something new. Kongaw between from hong from tom cotton earlier. It is how the Washington Times listed the declaration he made to the reporters at the white house. As we heard from the president yesterday, supporting a path to citizenship into the 12 years. Alex, springfield, virginia, independent, go ahead. Caller good morning. Host good morning. Caller i would like to add a fresh perspective to the immigration debate. All of the callers would agree. E have basic values we would like to see less reliance on the government. Fewer handouts, more people relying on government. When we create our immigration policies, we should have it. If you believe in having lower taxes, you have to look at our Social Security system and our demographics. The basics is that your people born here, we make an of kids on our own to support the Social Security system. Policies to grow the worker base to pay for Social Security. Otherwise, well have higher taxes down the road. Reliance onmore families, we need immigration based upon families. Families coming in, immigrants reaching out to their families and set of reaching to governments to the government through handouts. That is what they do. They use the family network. Giving themze them hello. Help them bring in their families. Major the people who come are safe and not a threat to United States. If you have we need haveration, dry to solicies i predict trump policy will increase ilLegal Immigration. Cuttingis doing, he is off foreign aid. He is cutting off trade. It causes more instability. You take the 18 billion he wants for the wall and put it increasingizing making them more democratic and less of a threat. We could do it much more humanely and effectively by helping out our neighbors. Recent line for immigrants, a caller is in alexandria, good morning. When did you come to this country . Ago andi came 45 years got an education here. I was raised here. I sleep well, everything. What i do not understand, why do they not focus on the irish who came here by way of new york . New york poland, all of the other immigrants that came here why is it only on the spanish and africans are as holes are assholes . Host we apologize for the language. On the line for democrats, good morning. What i would like to say is mexicans are native americans. And push themdown back into mexico. We fought them on other occasions. No wall there. If we were getting three dollars and hour, we would climb the to mexico. Ng to get if we do not have those immigrants, we were not work our cars and farms. A good portion would be she a good portion of manufacturing would be shut down if it were not for these immigrants. Host mark, go ahead. Caller good morning. I am opposed to giving a blanket citizenship. We have to realize these people are not as bad as we think they are. We have no idea how many have misdemeanor charges. I have done research on it. They figure printed them to see if they have criminal history. It does not prove anything. They could have a student id and get in here. Can walk across the border all you give is a student id and have friends tell me i stay here. I could get on the daca program, which is scary. If you could speak english ifently, which a lot canno they have graduated from a fouryear college, not as high as the statistics, about 20 . About half have graduated from a fouryear college. Big issue in the 2016 election for you . Caller absolutely. Host the president yesterday on a path to citizenship, is that what you were expecting from the president when he voted in 2016 . Caller absolutely not. I thought he would allow them to say, which is not a problem as long as they are lawabiding citizens. After 12 years, they could show up show a good indication of where they are out. The way daca is set up is appalling. There is no checks or balances. Theeed to go back and go to mirrorbased system. The people who qualify it absolutely. People in the military should be given citizenship. Just because someone walk across the border at a certain age, to me, does not entitle them to citizenship. Host we have that point. The president talked about it in his comment about what else he would want in a deal, the changes to the current Legal Immigration system. Part of the funding for the wall. We talked about a Bipartisan Group of senators working on the immigration deal. This from the new york times, as the president ended the conversation, reporters at the white house prepared to leave for switzerland, he took every suggested he would like a deal on immigration in place by the time he returned. They note the president is scheduled to arrive back at the white house on friday night. , bert, missouri for independents, go ahead. Caller good morning. How are you doing . Host well. They are trying to get walls along the canadian borders and make americans pay for it. We have more criminals than the rest of the world. Caller the rest of the world, cup host the rest of the world, combined, robert . Caller we have more murderers in this country than the rest of the world. We have 5 of the worlds population and funny 5 of the and 25 of the criminal population. Host where do you go to for your Crime Statistics . Up on the you look internet, you find the united has five of the world 5 of the worlds population and 25 of the criminal population. Criminals, drug dealers, murderers we have the number one host what are other points you want to make . Bring these people over here. You call them workers. As soon as they work, the police raid their work and they are illegal aliens. This is going on with these innocent daca kids. We will go to brenda and South Carolina, on the line for democrats, go ahead. Caller my comment i agree with what the president said. It should not take 10 to 12 years. You have a lot of them in armed forces. If they have been there for four years, they earned a right to be a citizen. I would like to clarify people immigrants and criminals are two different things. Are not criminals. They are hardworking people, going to college, and doing good. They are not committing any crimes. They are helping america. I do not see what it is a problem. I have met some of them, probably. They are very hardworking people. They are doing the jobs a lot of americans do not want to do. You are complaining about taking their jobs . They work for five dollars they do not care. All they care about is earning an income and taking care of their families. Could do that, things would be different. Do not blame them, calling them criminals. It is not the case. Host that is brenda in South Carolina. Our cspan bus will be in South Carolinas capital city of columbia today at 9 30. There is a live shot of the State Capitol in South Carolina. A few other Program Notes for you, former secretary of state. Saltzkissenger and george will be before the senate Armed Services committee to testify on a strategy pureed live coverage begins at 10 00 a. M. On cspan. We will take you do it after our program. You can also watch it on cspan. Org and the cspan radio app. What other hearing the senate, Security Committee and Government Affairs subcommittee is looking into the United States Postal Service and what it is doing to prevent distribution through mail of synthetic drugs and opioids through the United States. Live coverage begins at 10 00 on cspan3. You can watch online at cspan. Org and the cspan radio app. The u. S. Council conference of Mayors Convention, the second session is happening today. We show you a couple of clips from yesterdays opening session earlier in our program. You can watch the continuing coverage at 11 15 on cspan. Org. Thats your call as we continue to discuss the president s comment yesterday on backing a path to citizenship for dreamers in the next has a 12 years. Randall, republican, go ahead. Caller be already have a path to citizenship. These people have been here for yearsrs four to six and they do not bother to use our path to citizenship . They are still foreigners and should be sent back to where they came from. If you are an illegal alien, you cannot be able to work in this country. You had verify they are citizens before they take a job. Already have people coming over the border in droves. The Electoral College is size int on population the state. The more population, the more representation. The more representation, the more Electoral Colleges. The more electoral votes they get they are putting all of these people in blue and red states. The randall was president s statement yesterday a surprise to you . You think it is something he will hold the line on . Caller it is a surprise to me. I was hoping he it is congress job to do immigration status. He put into Congress Like obama should have done. Obama illegally made an executive order. Congress mayf this an exception, but i was hoping they would get sent back. He did the right thing by sending it back to congress. Host stephen, a democrat in michigan. Stephen . Caller yes. Ahead. O caller the thing i do not iserstand is why mr. Trump want Illegal Immigrants in this country when his wife is an illegal immigrant. I do not understand it. She does not have status here in this country. Host she is a legal immigrant. Caller from what i understood, in the press, i read everybodys press the way she obtained and it went back and forth and back and forth. Just because you married somebody in this country does not give you legal status. A legale first lady, immigrant in this country. Martin in new jersey on the line for republicans, go ahead. Caller thank you. I want to say i support donald trump 100 . Makes, i decision he support. I am sick and tired of daca. Hearing about dreamers i was born in brooklyn, new york, and 1955 in 1955. I cannot believe this is the most important thing. Mr. Schumer and mr. The nancy pelosimissed and mrs. Nancy pelosi they would do anything to stop the president. I cannot believe the president cannot see through this. They would choose any issue they would make an issue to stop donald trump. I love this country. It is shocking to me what is going on from my perspective. You have marijuana states. You have illegal immigrant states. The century city u. S. Century bank city states. If you go people this is where america would be, i think john wayne would roll over in his grave. Host in columbus, georgias, an georgia, an independent, go ahead. Caller thank you for taking my call. I wish we could come up with a comprehensive immigration package. Congress should, to an agreement with the dreamers. To an agreement with the dreamers. I am baffled by what we see in the media. Is there any statistic to say how many Illegal Immigrants are in the United States that did not cross into the United States from the southern border . How many are here that came in with a visa and overstate the visa and are here illegally . And from other countries, how many even look immigrants are here how many you legal immigrants are here that did not cross the southern border . Host i do not have those on hand, but plenty of immigration groups on both sides of the aisle in washington, d. C. , places you can go to get those the districts those statistics. In michigan, go ahead. Caller i am sick and tired of this illegal immigrant stuff. We can take the statue of liberty back to france. Ownybody could bring their slice and everything like that. We would not have to have this argument. We could have open borders, everybody could come in from all over the world. 30 note Illegal Immigrants. There would be no Illegal Immigrants. We would be a nation of trouble i cannot believe what is going on in the world today. There should be some people made it illegal or legal in michigan. It is not going to stop them building that will and stop people coming in from every nation. In hat is all the is alvin in michigan. The time length of the first lady in the United States she came in on a tour studies on 1996. She obtained a visa for skilled workers. She obtained a green card in 2001 before marrying present in 2006 before becoming a u. S. Citizen. That is from the mercury news. That is the first segment of the washington journal. Of thenext, tom Associated Press joins us to discuss the latest on the Robert Miller investigation and increased concern about political bias in the fbi. We will be joined by bob deans by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Later council. Later today, we will continue our tour across the United States. Todays stop is number 15 on the drive. Columbia, South Carolina. We will bestie speaking with the Lieutenant Governor, kevin bryant. Well be right back. The president of the United States. Tuesday night, President Trumps first state of the Union Address. Join cspan for a preview of the p. M. , followed by the speech at 9 p. M. , and then the democratic response. Trumps state of the Union Address, tuesday night, live on cspan. Listen live with the free cspan radio app. Available on your phone or desktop at sea spun cspan. Org. Afterwards,on kaylee machen any on her new book, the american revolution. Lewis interviewed by matt. I have had conservatives say why do you use this word . Im not a populist. But this book sums it up, the people. I wanted to honestly profile the people on the left and on the right. Most of the voters i profiled were trump voters, but i did profile some who were not. Capturing the sentiment that drove an electorate to deliver one of the most astonishing electoral defeats i think we have seen in my lifetime and in modern history. Its a profile of the american people, given issues from terrorism to poisoned water in flint, michigan. Afterwards sunday night at 9 p. M. Eastern on book tv. Washington journal continues. Host tom lobianco is a National Political reporter with the Associated Press, joining us to discuss the Mueller Probe. Its a matter of when, not if, the president will be testifying before the Investigative Team . That way. Sure sounds even before the president himself said he would be happy to be interviewed, we knew that his lawyers were talking about ground rules. Maybe for a written series of questions. Not likely to happen, with someone like mueller, but if you are on the legal team, you have to hope for Something Like that. Obviously, and in person interview. This has been on the plate for a long time. It was always winding that way. One of the questions we have is, what does this signal . The end of the investigation . Or does it lead to down other paths . Down other paths . Host this is from yesterday, the impromptu press conference. [video clip] [indiscernible] there has been no collusion whatsoever. There has been no obstruction whatsoever. I do wonder, when i look at the things that are happening, you take a look at the five months worth of mixing missing texts, thats a lot. Thats prime time. You sort of look at that and say, whats going on . Aboutwhere they talk insurance policies, insurance, saying the types of things they are saying, i would love to do that. [indiscernible] so, heres the story. I guess you are talking about two or three weeks, but i would love to do that, subject to my lawyer [indiscernible] would you do it under oath . Like hillary . Who said that . I did. Would you do it under oath . [indiscernible] really dont have an idea . I will give you an idea. She didnt do it under oath. I would do it. She didnt do it. She did. If you didnt know mr. President [indiscernible] higher standard, you would do it under oath . I would do it under oath. Host tom lobianco, in the headline about that brief interaction yesterday, catching people off guard. Talk about the reaction you have heard and seen from the trump team on this. Guest immediately, the white house russia lawyer, ty cobb, comes out and says yes, we are happy to work with counsel. We want the president to speak with muellers team. But this was not him volunteering. This does not count as him volunteering. We heard what he said, it sounds like him volunteering. That said, this is not him sitting down in front of the council yet. He could turn around at any minute and say i dont want to anymore, im not going to do it unless certain needs are met. This negotiation is between muellers team and the president s legal team. Its a big bargaining chip. Mueller walks into the room and says i have the president on tape saying that he would love to be interviewed. Its a huge moment, here. Host what did you take from that back and forth with the press . Guest the context, youve got to remember, this is the counter strategy, the counter narrative, whatever, the defense from the white house team, from the house and hill republicans who are supporting this. Thats not every republican, of a refocusinghis is thisinton, clinton emails, counter narrative from the white house that allegedly there is a weret society in the fbi heard that from ron johnson, fbi. We heard that from ron johnson just a few days ago. These Text Messages between the agents involved in the Mueller Investigation. I dont know how coordinated it is, but it clearly seems to be as the at this point counterterror do to the bigger russia probe. Host the president has been tweeting about these Text Messages. Remind us what they are and why some are missing. Guest these texts took place between page and struck. One smaller found out about these, discovered by the inspector general, ones once Robert Dollar found out that there were these once Robert Mueller found out that there were these Text Messages where one of the agents was ripping the president , mueller gets rid of him. That is probably exactly what he should have done. You dont want that, whether or not that actually impugns the investigation remains to be seen , you know, but politically, and this is political at the end of the day, you dont want that on your team. You dont want somebody with a very clear bias out there. Defense from the the white house. Their attempts to discredit the Mueller Probe. That happened about a month ago, now. That was a big focus for a while. The senate Homeland Security committee recently got their hands on an additional batch of people. Om the same two from may 19,r 2017, just after mueller was appointed, where it mostly revolves around page and struck talking about what their future is in their careers. Are they going to get promoted Deputy Assistant director . Move up in the probe . Where struck says that there might not be a there there, with the probe. To indictments, anything. A lot of conservatives have latched onto that. We heard from senator claire , look, thereing are a lot more texts and we need to see all of them. We would like to release these texts so that people would have a better idea of the context of this. How real is it . How much does it actually matter . Containsa probe itself the probe. Host why are those texts missing . Guest it has to do with a change in technology over at the fbi, swapping phones. It was five months in which they were all missing. Now they say they think they are able to recover some of these Text Messages. Host remind us, how many congressional committees are looking into russian interference in the election, and which ones are focusing on the Hillary Clinton emails and some of these other issues as well . Guest i feel like that number doubles every day. [laughter] for your viewers, for the crib sheet, to keep track of this, the premier congressional committees for this are the Senate Intelligence committee and house intelligence committee. Those are the ones with top jurisdiction on this. They have been doing the most work. There has not been a clear mandate from the leadership, but it is well understood that leadership on all sides once senate intel wants senate intel and house intel dealing with this. , dianeiciary committee weinstein, who used to be the top democrat on that committee, they have been conducting an investigation for a while, too. They had this interview with glenn simpson, the founder of fusion gps, the one who created the steel dossier. They were the first ones to have a sit down with him. That was important. They also spoke with donald trump, jr. , not long after the trump tower meeting with the russian operatives. Thats an important one as well. Fair oversight was doing a amount last spring. We have kind of scene that drop off. Remember, House Oversight is the one who, under Jason Chaffetz and elijah cummings, got a hold of flynns sf 86. Found out that hes not properly registering. Too. Was a big moment, its been almost a year. Evan nunez, working with bob , focusing on the clinton emails, the clinton texts. The fbi, these allegations of bias. I dont think that they have referred to a secret society, but these allegations of bias in the fbi against trump. That is happening as well, it has come up in the last few months or so. Host tom lobianco of the Associated Press is here to walk us through the many investigations and moving parts. Want to hear your calls, too. Democrats, 202 7488000, republicans, 202 7488001, independents, 202 6280184. 202 7488002. James, go ahead. Switching over phones, right . We are laughing at you guys. 2017ou read the april 26, pfizer Court Release where they scolded the department of justice and fbi for 702 violations . Its all there in that memo. Its there for you to see. Its something that you might ought to look at. What we are looking at is an politicalcoup and spying on the opposition candidate. The fact that you in washington are not addressing this, the Mueller Probe should be wrapped up and we should take this over and start trying to figure out what was going on with the unmasking. Host unpack that a little bit, tom lobianco, the new you as memo devin nunes memo and what we know about it. Guest there are a lot of questions there. A sickly, ever since the house intelligence chairman basically, ever since the house intelligence chairman removed destin tripr this; he took to the white house that reportedly backed up the president s initial tweets last year, where he claimed that he was being wiretapped by president barack obama, this is kind of the evolution of that. Is this illegal wiretapping . Should it be . Was there wiretapping . What about the surveillance . What about the extent of the surveillance . These are all questions that fisa,rom pfizer domestic surveillance. The thing to remember, what we know about this, apparently these were pickups in foreign surveillance. Memo that came out last week im sorry, it didnt come out, it was released to house members. The staff puts together a memo that purports to have scandalous , domesticn about fisa surveillance. Because know about it, none of the details about it, that information was classified. According to the new york times, this has to do with carter page. Carter page, of course, the onetime Trump Campaign advisor. Very interesting past. At one point the fbi told him that he was being recruited by russians to be an asset for them. Something that he denies. Obviously, he doesnt say hes a spy. Doesnt believe that at all. This story is a wide, sprawling story. You go down one path, looks like you can get lost down a rabbit hole. Host does it look like we will be able to see the new you as nunes memo . Possibly. There are a couple of ways to do that. An onlineor this in. Log post, recently one way is that the committee can take a vote and say that they dont believe this merits classification to be released publicly. If that doesnt count as declassifying, it counts as overriding classification. The president then has five days to review that and determine whether or not there is National Security implications. The president can then override the committee, if he so chooses. Trump has said he wants this out there, so clearly he would not. But, however, hypothetically, if he changes his mind and overrides the committee, it would go back to the full house. The house would take a vote and a simple majority could kick it out to the public. Ae other way to do this is member of the house could read this from the floor of the house. That would count as overriding the classification. He would not be under legal penalty if he did that. Newspaper hill reported yesterday that the Justice Department warned lawmakers not to release the memo, for fear that it will harm National Security and some Ongoing Investigations. ,he assistant attorney general stephen boyd, said that the republicans pushed to release , saying that it would be reckless not to review the agencies. Guest the fbi has not seen this memo. The doj has not seen this memo. They want to see this memo, especially before it goes public. We heard it here. Please, show us. We would like to see it. On top of that, the democrats have written a counter memo to this memo of an investigation. We are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, six layers removed at this point. [laughter] host gary, line for democrats, go ahead. Ask mr. Yes, let me also lobianco if you would talk about , to get off ofgs this fake news and a structured of justice. Let me put my questions to the gentleman this way. Allegations that the clintons, both bill and hillary, have been involved for years and pay to play. For example, mr. Clinton must have been such a great speech maker that people couldnt wait to give him 200,000, 300,000, 400,000 per speech. By the same token, the Clinton Foundation, others couldnt wait to give millions of dollars to that foundation. But what happened after they lost the election . Suddenly, bill clinton doesnt for 200,nvitations 300, 400 per speech. Plus, the millions of dollars, even hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Clinton Foundation, have suddenly dried up. Host tom lobianco . Guest that was a big question during the campaign. A lot of us spent time investigating the Clinton Foundation. Also the trump foundation. Some incredibly better than others. [laughter] some spectacular work continues to be done. Question,n foundation it had to do with the question of access. The difference is, shes not president and as best we can running again. Things change, that could happen, but at this point shes not doing it, so to the point of him not getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars anymore . He is not the future first husband, at this point. Host is the Justice Department looking to reopen some sort of investigation into the Clinton Foundation . Guest the Justice Department, under sessions, is a to look into emails. Is a starting to look into emails is starting to look into emails, uranium one, the Clinton Foundation. You know, there could be more there. I assume we will find out. Is reallyk our focus the russia probe, because there is really a lot there. , houston, texas, line for republicans. Mike, go ahead. Stokes is an interesting fellow. Hes not the only democrat. There are prosecutors under mueller who have donated to democrats, which in and of itself is not a big deal, but the total number of people working under mueller who pay is a grandpublicans total of zero. I dont find that curious at all. Stokes interviewed hillary notton, not under oath, recorded. Not like he was going to vote for her, making an insurance policy that donald trump did win. An last caller made important point, the inference of pay to play. Thats precisely the point. They dont get the white house, they dont get big money and big speech dollars. It was paid to play because they were going to do favors. Hillary traveled as secretary of state everywhere. The purpose, negotiating things Going Forward, like uranium one. Host tom lobianco . Guest a lot of questions are still out there about the Clinton Foundation. Look, this is a former president , former secretary of state, former u. S. Senator, incredibly powerful family. As i said earlier, i think we will hear more about this. The president wants more out of this. The president controls the executive branch. The Justice Department israel opening investigations here. We will be hearing Justice Department is reopening investigations here. We will be hearing more about that. The flipside, how does this compete with the many other russia probes . We will be hearing a lot more about them. Those are intensifying. They are further along at this point. Do not be surprised, if the president sits down for an interview with bob mueller, that will be the topic. Host who else has bob mueller been interviewing, recently . Guest we know that hes planning to speak with steve bannon. Thats very interesting. Apparently they reached out after the book, fire and fear , came out. Said, regarding trump junior directly, that it caught the interest of special counsel. Way intoen working his the white house. Earlier on he spoke with reince , hopes, sean spicer hicks. People inside the white house. With a focus on jeff sessions, most recently. Aroundfocus on questions the firing of the fbi director, james comey. Questions about Michael Flynns up archer very early in the administration departure very early in the administration. Host remind us who Andrew Mccabe is. Guest former acting director of left. I, after comey interesting, he has sparked the ire of the president because his wife, when running for state senate in virginia, got money from terry mcauliffe, who was governor at that point. Obviously, the friend of the clintons, former Democratic National chairman. There are some inaccuracies in the president s tweets, but the gist of it is out there. Host why are we focusing on his interaction with the president . Guest it goes back to this argument that there is bias against him, that it is a witchhunt. I have been reading michael is book reading that great about the clintons. Strip out the party names, the tactics are it are exactly the same. Remember when Hillary Clinton referred to the vast rightwing conspiracy out there to get them . A lot of the languages similar, isking about language similar, talking about witchhunts. They used to fight against college owns. I guess, paula jones. Way, thereshat nothing surprising about this strategy. Loretta, cleveland, ohio. Line for democrats, good morning. Caller good morning. Good morning, everyone. Im really just praying. Im going to pray for america. Im going to pray for our president. And im going to pray for republican voters. The rich real of hate the vitriol of hate, just listening to the phone calls, we are talking about trump and they are bringing up clinton . My first question is regarding nunes. If he recused himself, just what the hell is he doing . He has nothing at all to do with the investigation. That is number one. Trump has been dogging this investigation. Covered with mud, trying to make anything stick on the wall. Im wondering, how is this not obstruction . How is that not obstruction . Host we will take those two questions. Little time, a lot of calls. , if you looknunes at the way that he parsed his language, as of april a year ago, he was temporarily stepping aside until he was cleared of the ethics charges against him. There is some question as to whether he actually left the investigation. It is clear that he was not attending witness interviews and did not have a direct say and it , but there are questions about whether it is staff having a say in things. Its money. Thats not very clear. Im sorry, the Second Russian . Second question . Host the caller asked why this isnt obstruction of justice. Good question. Looks like the mueller team is angling that way. Anytime you start to ask questions about james comey being fired in the middle of , it appearsgation the point that way. Is this obstruction of justice . Thats a russian for a court. Question for a court. Legal scholars are arguing about whether that would pass legal muster. It appears they are headed that way. Host sam, independent line, north carolina. Caller yes, good morning. Thank you for taking my call. This is the new war here. Russia is jumping on board, too. Sanctioned russia. The house, the congress voted overwhelmingly to the session the sanctions. Trump is not even in worst those sanctions. This is really, really bad. Russia is using a divided population, which we have, we have a lot of population that hates government. Brothers,rian nation all of these people. They are using a lot of talk , rush limbaugh, all of these people, and whether they know they are doing russia a favor, bringing down the government, whether they know it or not, they are doing it. Its really, really bad. Host what is congress doing right now when it comes to this original issue of russian interference in the 2016 election and to prevent it from happening in the next election . Guest its a great question. Let me go back, he was bringing messaging, use of social media platforms by russian agents. That is an issue that came up a couple of months ago. What was interesting about the nunes memo, there is a great project called hamilton 68, sponsored by the marshal democracy fund, which tracks these russia bots and the bots affiliated with the russian troll farm, as it is called, they got active pushing for that memo pushing for the nunes immediately. They are still active. Google hamilton 68. You can keep track of which accounts are operative. I got an email a couple of days ago from twitter alerting me that i have apparently retweeted some of these accounts, you know . [laughter] host here is a headline from usa today this morning. Serious allegations, or . Isleading hype democrats certainly believe the latter. Heres a statement from various onking members, democrats these committees conducting these investigations, they say that these guest yeah, you know, look, they are focused on the Mueller Probe. The outcome of that, they have pointed out that a lot has come out. Pop at obelisk was a big surprise George Papadopoulos was a big surprise to a lot of us, when he was picked up for a deal. One thing that i hear, hear and there, looking forward a bit, the title way thats coming, it changes if the democrats take the house. Obviously, there are questions of impeachment, obviously. But even if you dont get to that one, you have people and the committees they can issue subpoenas, like elijah cummings. I think the dynamics just flip on their heads and all of a sudden you have a much more Combative Congress with much more that could be getting out there. Cottage, new york. Peter is a republican. Good morning. Caller two points, i would like to add to that womans question about what the clintons have to do with it. The clintons, through their law firm, perkins cole, paid christopher steele, a former m1 six british agent, with you investigated russia, they paid him to get dirt from the russians on trump. Apparently it looks like the fbi used to that dossier and the only thing that they could verify in the dossier was that carter page went to russia. Everything else in there is unverified. It looks like the fbi used the flynnr to spy on general and the trump people. And then mr. Comey used that pfizer surveillance pfizer survey fisa surveillance to watch that probe. Host we are running out of time. Whats your question . , ther mr. Lobianco statute of limitations on the Hillary Clinton email thing is supposed to expire in february. Can they still prosecute her if it is proven that there was collusion . If it runs out she wont be able to be prosecuted, but the people involved in covering up her scandal will be . Guest good question. That is not something i have looked into. That is what it is, you wouldnt be able to prosecute. Interesting question, i will look that up later. Has writtenbianco about this extensively for the Associated Press. Thanks so much for your time. Come back again. Guest thank you. Host up next, we will be joined naturaleans of the resource council, to take a look at the Trump Administrations policies towards offshore drilling. Continues, tour going to South Carolina, we will be there with the Lieutenant Governor, kevin bryant, talking about the issues affecting the palmetto state. We will be right back. Afterwards,t on the Republican National Committee Spokesperson on her the new american revolution, the making of a populist movement. I have had conservatives say to me, why do you use this word . Im not a populist. But to me it sums up what the book is about, the people. I wanted to honestly profile the and on thehe left right. Most of the voters that i profiled were trump voters. I did profile some who were not. To me it captured the sentiment that drove an electorate to deliver one of the most astonishing electoral defeats that i think we have seen, certainly in my lifetime, and in modern history. It was a profile of the american people, given issues like terrorism and poisoned water in flint, michigan. Watch watch afterwards, on book tv, sundays at 9 p. M. Eastern. Still describe it as a bizarre moment. He is the president of the United States and you are in the oval office. If he says who argue, come over here, you dont have an option. Katrina perry talks about covering President Trump and his supporters for the irish media in her book in america. The swamp, as three words, is incredibly evocative. ,oes what it says on the tin playing on the notion that bc was built on the swamp and d. C. Was built on the swamp. Whether the voters believed him or not, or believed that he could fulfill that or not, they were ready to take a chance on it. Sunday night, 8 p. M. Eastern, on q a. Washington journal continues. Host bob deans is back at our desk, joining us to discuss his group us reaction to the fiveyear plan for drilling from the Trump Administration. First, what has the Trump Administration proposed here . Guest they have proposed exposing every community along the coast of america to the kinds of industrial disasters that we saw a few years back from bp. Our oceans, our coasts, our marine life, we have protected those resources over the years. We currently allow oil and gas drilling in the western end central gulf of mexico. An aria about the size of the state of montana. Its a huge piece of ocean. What the Trump Administration has done is say lets open up atlantic waters, arctic waters, pacific waters. Lets open it all up to oil and gas drilling. It would be a disaster for our oceans. It would make 90 of the Continental Shelf open for leasing. What is the outer Continental Shelf . Up to about 200 miles is what we call the outer Continental Shelf, thats under federal control. These waters literally belong to you and me, john. Host the trump wants to start 2000 19. Ess in wasnt there just a fiveyear plan put together at the end of the Obama Administration, at the very beginning of 2017 . Does this just replace that fiveyear plan . Correct, john. To provide predictability for the industry, the federal government, the interior department had plans for a fiveyear lease proposal, so that the industry knows what to expect over the next five years. The Obama Administration just went through several years of scientific study, listening to stakeholders from across the board. They came up with a solid fiveyear plan that keeps the oil and drilling focused in the western and central gulf of mexico, protecting the other waters we are talking about. The Trump Administration is, essentially, trying to overturn that. Host can they legally do that . Is there a way to legally challenge them . Guest we are looking at ways to do that. We believe that those areas should be protected. Of course, we have seen the folly of the interior secretary going down to florida, meeting with the governor, promising to take those florida waters off the map. But thats not the way its done. We think that the oceans deserve something more than an imperial magistrate declaring their fate with a whim and a layover. Host explain what happened in florida, and is that an avenue for you to make challenges Going Forward . Guest well, we dont know what motivated that. What the secretary said was that he recognized that clean oceans calledsts are what he nfl i driver in florida. John, clean oceans and coasts are economic drivers across the country, from maine to florida, charleston. You cant just say that we will protect maralago, but not it protect the country clubs, but not the puget sound. It was capricious, arbitrary, not the way we do things. Host when it comes to possibly exempting florida from these drilling plans, we should note that florida, according to a report by the tribune news service, still under consideration for offshore drilling. Contradicting that announcement it was off the table. The new comments came during a congressional hearing in which he was grilled about it from several democratic members of congress. Host unfortunately, the interior guest unfortunately, the currency of the interior secretary has fallen like a bit point down us it will bit coin down a sinkhole. Carolinas,f the virginia, new jersey, they dont want offshore drilling. They want to protect their coastlines. Host should note that we have a special phone line in this segment for those in coastal states. 2027488003 is that same number. Otherwise, same numbers. Democrats, 202 7488000, republicans, 202 7488001,. Ndependents, 202 7488002 bob deans is our guest. For those not familiar with your group, explain the mission. About to tell the truth whats happening to the environment and use the laws and the courts to hold polluters to account. We have been doing it for 45 years. Post what are some of your biggest victories host what are some of your biggest victories in court . Guest citizens have a right to speak to Major Projects that affect their environment. We have stood up for citizen voice, clean air, clean water, for wild lands and wildlife. Those are the central focus. And of course the central environmental challenge of our time, john, Global Climate change. The hottestped up years since 1880. The Great Barrier reef is dying. We have a huge problem on our hands. We need to cut the fossil fuel consumption that is driving Global Climate change. Host are you expecting President Trump to take up the issue in. Most . In davos . Guest this administration is doing everything it can to anchor our future in these dirty fossil fuels of the past, instead of taking advantage of the great opportunity of our lifetime, to transition to cleaner, smarter ways to power the future. We know that seven in 10 americans want us to be doing that. We need to encourage the president to get with the program and help us to drive those new jobs. Host weve got about 20 minutes , angela, gob deans ahead. There have been five spills six months. Yesterday and oil rig in oklahoma exploded. We cannot have that here in the water in maryland. I live on the bay. I love going to ocean city. Maryland and delaware are voted one of the top 10 beaches in the country. Maryland crab population. We spent millions of dollars to clean up the bay. They want to burn that money with this polluted oil . It cannot happen here in maryland. I need Governor Hogan to do something about it. Guest thanks so much, angela. Angela represents the one in three americans who live near the coast. Almost 40 of our economy, john. It all depends absolutely on clean, fresh, healthy ocean waters, marine life and coasts. People need to realize that offshore drilling is an inherently dangerous operation. Remember, everybody remembers the bp spill just a few years back. 200 million gallons of toxic crude oil off the gulf of mexico. 11 workers killed. Those hideous photographs. The pelicans, the dolphins, the whales. Everything from the tiniest shrimp to the largest mammal, impacted by that oil spill. 1300 miles of coastline, oil, john, thats the distance from boston to daytona beach. The patriots to the dolphins, if you will. We cannot afford to put the eastern seaboard at risk of that kind of disaster. Host are you ok with any offshore drilling . Guest heres what we think. One, we need to make it safer. Put in safeguards. Common sense rules to help detect the waters, workers, and while quite. Wildlife over time, we need to reduce the amount of waters, not expand them, but reduce the amount of waters exposed to this harm. We need to invest in the , sociency of technology that we can reduce reliance on oil. So that over time we can cut it out lately. Thats longterm goal. The longterm goal. Host when this plan was announced by the interior department earlier this month, the American Petroleum institute put out a statement saying this new offshore leasing plan is an important step towards harnessing our Energy Potential to the benefit of American Energy consumers. The ability to safely, responsibly access our resources is a critical part of advancing the longterm Energy Security of the u. S. , also encouraging Economic Growth,s during manufacturing, investment, and strengthening National Security. Guest john, thats complete nonsense. In this country we are producing more oil then we have at any time in 50 years. 9 billion barrels per day. Whats happening to that oil . By the way, it almost doubled over the last 10 years. Mostly during the obama we nearlytion, doubled Oil Production in this country. But the very oil industry you just cited is exporting 6 Million Barrels per day of crude oil and refined oil products. Thats 3. 5 times as much as we were just a few years ago. They are exporting 6 Million Barrels per day. This is not about Energy Security. Its about profits for oil companies, pure and civil. The industry itself says that this is oil in these waters that trump is talking about, this is oil that they would tap 20 and 30 years from now. Are you kidding me . 30 years from now we need to have reduced our Oil Consumption in this country by 80 if were going to leave our children a livable world, thats the fact of the matter. Edward, independent, go ahead. My question, i guess, i have to say, is what is the deal with the wind farms . How come we are not seeing discussions of building these off the coast . Whats blocking that . Host bob deans . Guest great question. Its a real opportunity in this country that you have pointed to. We are getting 7. 5 of electricity, nationally, from wind and solar. Thats huge. Iowa gets more than one third of its electricity from wind. Kansas gets 20 of its electricity from wind. Texas, 10 of its electricity comes from wind. This is a huge opportunity. Right now, in the great plains states, edward, its cheaper to get electricity from the wind than it is to get it from an existing coalfired plant. Two thirds of all the electric generating capacity in this country last year was wind and solar. Just homegrown american power. Its clean, renewable, reducing the Carbon Footprint of the nation. Its important that we ought to be moving forward. We ought to be preparing our workers for the economic play of 7 lifetime, which is trillion in Global Investment ,ver the next 20 to 25 years shifting to these cleaner energy options. Host earlier this week, President Trump approved tariffs on solar equipment produced outside the United States . What do you make of that move . Guest we all want to buy american, but the fact of the matter is that 80 of our solar panels come from imports. Mostly from malaysia, south korea, and vietnam. The question is, why . Reinvented the solar cell in 1954. Inwe invented the solar cell 1954. Ever since then, instead of focusing on clean, renewable power, we have prioritized coal,. As, and Oil Production never more so than what we are seeing under this president. That is what needs to change if we want to get our feet act on the ground. This tariff is like putting a bandage on a problem. This is not the first time it has happened. President obama put tariffs on chinese made solar panels. I dont think its right to bring the boom in solar power to a screeching halt. But it sends the wrong message. You have to ask yourself, why discouraging clean, homegrown american power, that, by the way, the solar Power Industry in this country employs 375,000 people. Solar installers is the Fastest Growing job in america. Set to grow by over 100 tween now and 2025. Host john, good morning. Caller good morning. I have been watching cspan for years. I sort of watch politics in general. I havent, in this direction, this is a question to bob, i havent really noticed your defense fund before. I know we have people out there, i live in florida. Obviously, this is your areas of expertise. The obamahat during administration, one of the polluted a, they river in colorado and i didnt hear anything from you, bob. This is the first time i have seen you. Maybe i have just missed you on cspan, before. I will listen to what you have to say. Host bob deans has been on several times. Your response . Guest i appreciate the call, and you are right, that was a disaster. An old mine that had been dammed up. When contractors working for the went in to try to relieve the pressure on the dam, unfolds unfortunately the whole thing came apart. It was a disaster. Did comment on it. We need to make these mines safer. The epa took responsibility for it. Was a disaster. Host albany, louisiana, betty, go ahead. 70s. im in my you made a comment about Global Warming and how people cannot deny it. I dont think anyone denies statistics. But i remember, way back when, they told us that in 25 years we would be dead because of the holes in the ozone. Guess what, what happened to that . You didnt hear anything after that. We are not dead. The thing is, there is a hysteria about it. They told galileo that the science was settled, you can argue about this cant argue about this. Guess what, they are wrong. Is toot saying, there much hysteria going on. You have to accept it the way that we say it is. Tell me, what do you remember about the holes in the ozone . Can you finally give me something definitive . What happened to them . Did we go up there and close them . Did was we did away with a lot of the hydrofluorocarbons causing the problem with the ozone. We did address that problem, it was a Great Success story from citizens, like yourself, who cared enough to insist that Public Officials do something about it. I will concede with you, there is a lot of information around there, some better than others. Heres what we know about the climate. Of the 18 hottest years since global recordkeeping began, 17 of those years have occurred in this century. We dont have to look in the laboratory anymore, we just look outside the window. The Great Barrier reef is dying. We are losing species now at a faster rate than at any other time in 60 years. We have increased the atmospheric saturation of Carbon Dioxide by more than 40 from burning fossil fuels. We are literally cooking the planet, no doubt about that. The earth is telling us, every way it knows how, that we need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Not overnight, but over time. We didnt get here overnight, it will take time to do it, but we need to move deliberately in that way. And we can create jobs by doing it. Houston, pennsylvania. Rich, democratic line, good morning. Caller good morning. I think the country really depends on the oceans, and the planet, for life itself. When i was a kid, the population of the earth was about 2 billion. Right now india and china have 2 billion people. There are over 7 billion people on earth. It seems like the car industry is going to go to electric in the next few years. Increasing. Down in south america, i believe it is peru, they have an abundance of lithium for batteries. Dont you think the United States should be trying to set up a deal with those countries down there . And not waiting for china to move in . Thanks, rich. Rich is in a good mood because his eagles are going to the super bowl. Good luck with that. I appreciate the optimism and the enthusiasm. There is a lot of optimism when it comes to investing in efficiency. Over the past 35 years, we have cut energy use in this country 60 as a share of economic output. Thats huge. We need to continue to invest in efficiency. So that we have less waste. We are building some of the best electric and hybrid cars anywhere in the world, right here in this country. Thats huge. Getting more clean power from the wind and the sun, as you talked about. Right now, today, 3 million americans get up, suit up, roll and go to works helping us to be more efficient. Building electric cars, getting clean power from the wind and the sun. Those are the jobs of the future. That is where Government Policies need to encourage that kind of progress. Host toms river, new jersey. Kevin, independent, go ahead. Caller bob, did you ever request a sit down with President Trump, in a respectful way, to explain to him the dangers of human error with offshore drilling . Guest we have requested a sit down with his epa administrator, scott pruitt. We are awaiting a positive response on that. Thats a good question, i appreciate it. Host several governors have expressed concern about this drilling plan. Are you working with them specifically on this issue . Guest i dont know to what extent we work specifically with governors offices, but we know that that reflects a populist movement in the states where the people depend on the clean and healthy oceans and coasts. Men, fishermen, historic districts, hotels, restaurants, beaches, thats where the jobs are. You cant put that at risk, we dont believe, for the sake of oil and gas profits. To put it in perspective here, what the department of the interior is telling us is that we have 21 billion barrels of recoverable oil. This is not enough to cover our consumption for three years. We need to protect these oceans for all time and not give them up for shortterm profits for this industry. Host michigan, independent, go ahead. Think its just a matter of time before another disaster happens with this offshore drilling. But i have a question about maybe an update on another ongoing disaster. Or maybe not. Could you up eight me and the rest of us on what is happening with update me with what is happening in fukushima . Spent fuel in cooling containers, pools just like it at fukushima. We hope and pray and have place to stop that kind of explosion. He situation remains dire, the reactors have not been secure, have not been recovered, there contamination, lethal contamination and water hat is pouring through the groundwater and makes its way to he Pacific Ocean continues to be a problem, not only for that region, but entire part of the Pacific Ocean. Reminder that some 60 years after we Began Nuclear ting with power, we still have questions about security, questions about safety, we have questions about longterm sustainability of the technology and questions whichthe financing of it, is why we have not financed a this clear power plant in country since plant vogel in ago. Gia 35 years host last call, independent, go ahead. Caller thank you. Here has not been a day that goes by since trump became president that i dont read something in the news they are to harm the ng environment. Cant even believe that zinke is proposing with offshore drilling. I want to suggest that we, as get together,ica, get somebody like a brown or a up an rg, to head Umbrella Organization across all the environmental groups, because there is a ton of them there, i volunteer for several of them, we start focusing on what are our top or 10 priorities as a ountry environmentally because clearly scott pruitt isnt doing that for us. Zinke, theyt or ryan do not control whether or not we like this. G it is not their decision as to whether or not we keep clean for the country or just , it is more than beaches and vacation spots, its life and clean environment. Two or at are your top three Environmental Issues . Drilling would say the has got to be one of them and the coal ash is see that we continue to and as far as i understand, you now, the regulations are just being toppled one by one and its going on daily. T is unbelievable what these guys are doing to the environment. Host thanks for the call. Deans, last minute. Guest this president is waging assaultt administrative on our environment and health in our history. Hes gone after commonsense afeguards to protect waters, drinking water, air we breathe. Hes gutted the Environmental Protection agency. Week pruitt was asked last by cbs news Senior Correspondent maj majinlying garrett. Protection agency, this man has no business in that job, no business working for the e. P. A. In any capacity. So, we need to take seriously citizens, ibility as recognize accountability is the heart and soul of government by we need to speak up, speak out and hold these account. O make sure people understand what are the stakes for our families, ur communities and our country in this devastating environmental assault. Deans, director of strategic engainment for Natural Resources Defense Council at nrdc. Org, follow them. Appreciate the time. You, john. Nk host up next on washington journal, phones are open for Public Policy issue you want to about. Phone numbers are on your screen. Start dialing in. Tuned later around 9 30 for our 15th stop on the cspan bus across the United States. Well be in columbia, South Carolina today. First, on sunday, tune into interview withan james inhof, on the armed held thatommittee, we interview yesterday, he talked with reporters with National Last e strategy released week by the defense department, here is a bit of what he had to say. Defense strategy says the United States greatest threat is from russia and china. Seen the classified version of that report and what you think of the cant talk about it right now, but youre talking bout the twothree strategy, and i agree in terms of the greatest threat conventionally be russia or china, and china, i could say. Important, ree are too, north korea, iran and isis. O that is the strategy hes putting down as a priority to get to it. Have two different types of is, i ies, the one mentioned north korea. One, every person comes to our hearings, public, elevised hearings, they come up, talking military now, they the greatest threat weve ever faced because in the korea, kim jongun is totally unpredictable and word, ways use that unpredictable. That is scary when you are you have a e and weapon delivery system. Et me hasten to say, i know critics are watching right now, yes, they have something that i continental ge United States. They will say, well, we dont now on november 28, when they demonstrated, they had that range, what kind of payload they had or any payload at all. And you t is increase cant use actual pounds, increase by the amount of a then maybe they couldnt have made that kind of a rage. Is the reentry, when you trajectory, you come it is difficult to come in with any accuracy at all. Me any snt give comfort. Washington journal continues. Ost open phones on the washington journal, any Public Policy issue you want to talk about, the phone lines are open so. You to to democrats, 2027488000. Republicans, 2027488001. Independents, 2027488002. Just two calling in, headlines about two of the major items in todays paper impromptu rom that press gaggle President Trump held yesterday in john kellys just before getting on his plane to go to dabo, the world for economic conference happening today today. The announcement catches staff and lawyers off guard. He other story stemming from the president s comments yesterday, this headline from wall street journal, President Trump backing citizenship passed for dreamers. He president saying he supported pathway to citizenship for young, undocumented to the ts brought country by their parents, moving a bipartisan to group. Impasse, and taking position at conservatives, if you missed that press gaggle, here is a picture of what it looked kellys office, that was tweeted out yesterday the social media director for the Trump Administration. It in its ten to entirety at cspan. Org, we can other public t or policy issue you want to talk about in open phones. In ann arbor. Maryland. Le in host go ahead. Caller i wanted to talk to the people st you had, but need to wake up as far as what is going on with the environment. The average person, go to your local Grocery Store and look and see where your fish is coming rom, it is not from this country, it is coming from overseas. Dont pay u attention, it is like we are killing ourselves. The bad chigan, with water they had there, there will and re flint, michigans until we wake up and see it is not all about money, oil and we are on a fast hell. To host to david in lockport, new york, independent, good morning. Good morning. Good morning. And e in western new york 15,000 years ago, only 15,000 there was a glacier two miles high over the area. Was just wondering what your last guest would contributed melting to. Think Global Warming is way out of hand. You know, the issue of it. Thank you. Monticello, a republican. Go ahead. Yes, my comment round Government Shutdown again. Instead of them withholding and from working people the military, representative stop collecting their pay and then well see if they shut the government down, thank you. Host tony in lula, georgia, line for republicans, go ahead. Yes, hi, i want to talk with the environmentalist that there before, but what about all this cutting on all trees being the shouldnt these people have to replant all this with a at would do away or whatever zone they talking about, these people are ridiculous. Host tony on the line for republicans, how do you think the Trump Administration is Environmental Issues impact in the country . Caller i think hes doing a great job. E need jobs, were not concerned with you know, this is just a theory. On theories now . Thank you. Host catherine, tuscaloosa, democrat, good morning. Caller thanks. Wet is what id like to say, need people like bob dean on here for more than 30 minutes whenever you have him on because a lot of people would like to ask questions and comment. The other thing, in regard to lady in her 70s and really in global warmi im in my 70s and ive seen temperatures change from or sommers average of 85 to 95 and 100 now to where you get out of the house. So people just need to pay ttention to what is going on outside their own door. Thank you. Host bob deans, our last guest the Natural Resources Defense Council, nrd. C. Org, to about his group. Some news from capitol hill yesterday, specifically the capitol hill. Confirm sam rrowly brownback to diplomatic post yesterday with Senate Republican leaders needing help of the vice deadlock to break a over his controversial nomination. Brownback was confirmed to be large for at International Religious freedom all democratswith opposed and two republicans absent. Brownback had faced opposition rom lgtb groups over decision he made as kansas governor to skutel executive order that discrimination based on sexual identification or gender identity. Washington om the post. From the Washington Times today, more confirmation news out of the senate yesterday. The senate on wednesday zar, entrusting ormer executive to tap down drug prices and steer President Trumps attempts to reshape obamacare. Joined, all but one republican necessary approving brushing tion 5543, aside liberal voices who said azars track record of drugmaker eli at lilly made him the wrong man for the job. President trumps first pick was forme congressman tom price amid allegations he used expensive charter planes for Business Travel last year. Calls, anthony, miller place, new york, a democrat. Good morning. Good morning, mr. John mcardle, thank you for this opportunity, my elkwens is not would as yourself, i like to call you to task, persuade your bosses or your at cspan to perhaps revisit the student 2010, who touted safety of Nuclear Power. They were the grand prize a great of elieve eighth graders who in my opinion shields for the nuclear industry. It was but a year later, that we had the devastating events that occurred in japan, which are now disposing massive amounts of Nuclear Waste into our oceans we are going to reap the rewards of pandoras box in this case. More importantly, the nuclear the try is such a farce in fact it is destroying our environment at a rapid rate and building and waste building with no repositories in at t, no place to place it all and i just, like i said, i perhaps, e to see if cspan, if you could persuade your bosses to bring back the if ent cam winners and see they have not rethought or reconfigured their assertion power is safe energy. My understanding is it is very xpensive, it actually costs more, never produces the amount they reap in Energy Production cost to try toto facilitate a closing or operations of these for eternity. And the devastating waste that do with isow what to just stockpiled on all the ocean fronts that are now with rising levels, kind of, it iminishes concerns of Global Warming when you think about what the Nuclear Waste is the because you cant see it, taste it, feel it or touch it, out of sight, out of mind, seems to be unspoken in the media. That and tell susan and mr. Lamb i miss them oth on thursdays and friday, i enjoy them the most. No offense to you, of course, i miss them greatly. Have a wonderful day and thank once again. Host interesting suggestion, anthony, for those unfamiliar, to cspan website to learn about our annual student cam competition. Also see past winners cam ntries of the student contest available on cspan. Org. Alecia, columbia, maryland, line independents. Good morning. Morning, america. Host go ahead. Aller you know, from my perspective, environment is very because although i now live in maryland, i originally arizona. I was brought up there on navaho navigati navigatio n reservation. He has reinsta what president of obama had set aside for the monument. This plate is near the navaho land and the ute land. The news came out, it was reported that oh, were going to do any drilling of oil or gas, but it was not mentioned that is where uranium is sit of uranium ave been using on our land, taking it out of we want it, that contaminated 85 of population in the southwest. It runs, the uranium have been left wide only one has hem, you cleaned up and until want to protect your waters how about helping us rotect our waters, which is the ely needed because in deserts, you dont get much rain at all. Wind blows, which s most of the time out there vegetation, ck of over the gets all land. Host head out west to phoenix, arizona, steve is a democrat. Good morning. Caller good morning, how are you . Host doing well. Comment is that since january, the price of diesel gone up . 80 per gallon. . 80 per ike gasoline, gallon, by 25 , it affects the farm, it affects trucks on the road, it affects ou going back and forth to work. Everything talking 25 more in fuel now. A big expense no one is talking about. Host okay. Steve in arizona. 10 minutes before we take you to csp 50 lina for the capitals tour, and other programming notes today. Program hereer the on cspan, well be taking you services ate Armed Committee for discussion on u. S. Security strategy. Henry kissinger and deputy of armitage will testify before the committee, listenhat at cspan. Org, n the cspan radio app, and also 10 00 today. Homeland security and ubcommittee will be looking at what the United States Postal Service is doing to prevent the distribution through the mail of synthetic drugs and opioids, our cspan3 at gins on 0 00, watch on cspan. Org, as well, and listen on the cspan radio app. The ore note, 11 15 today, u. S. Council on Mayors Convention continues. Our coverage on cspan. Org, of that, watch well, days coverage, as go back and see the discussion that happened there. Calls. O your new sorry, jim is in york, line for independents. Jim, good morning. Caller hi there. Can you stand one more call about immigration . A lot of i live in new york, and let me tell you, i to say that in the late 60s, early 70s, i was doing jobs that they say americans wont do. Sick of y, really hearing that over and over again, people saying that in the media. And the americans cant compete these people for salaries, because i got a house across the a room. Five people to there is so many cars parked houses that the garbage cans, they got like garbage cans. The schools on my neighborhood, marquees are in spanish and people complain about all countries coming here a long time ago, but they all assimilated. I dont see any School Marquees in any of the other languages, i have to push one for any ther language, except spanish, i dont hate the spanish, i have drawer, where y my grandfather came from special he didnt get treatment or give me, give me, give me, i get all over the place. Look like a reasonable guy, when i watch you, civilized human being. Like to see you live in a neighborhood like this in the summertime, where they have that go on from 12 to past midnight and the police the what did you think of president yesterday embracing citizenship ath to for dreamers in 10 to 12 years . Caller say that again. What did you think of the president yesterday embracing a path to citizenship for dreamers . Caller i think he is weakening and i think he will lose some of because of that. I voted for this guy for no ther reason except ilLegal Immigration. Im sick, even the police tell e, that is their culture to blast the music like that. You know, even the church does are not playing diane bishop down there, they get djs out there. Host got your point, james. In bellevue, go ahead. Thank you. Caller say hello. Hello. Caller yeah, this is calvin. Ahead. go host speak through your phone, go ahead. The r i want to address nation, we need to realize the first thing we need in this of ours is jesus christ. We understand jesus christ is ur leader, then things are going to go together, but earing this country down will not help any of us. We need to realize that jesus is source, that we need to look to, and President Trump is real clear. Ke that and we have a president now that years, this r many man has got what this country for all move forward people, not a part of people, but all people. As crats, as well republicans. Were not democrats and epublicans, were citizens of america that jesus christ brought us to. Host steve in california, steve, independent, go ahead. Putting your faith in one religion, you know, great, but put it into the wrong. Ment is i was calling about the nvironment and the ozone and talking about that, depletion of that, mixture of gases out by e, some incorporated ources that are beyond our control, dont seem to be cohabitating for the populous of in the ocean, Nuclear Power plants and bodies surrounding our country here. For nited states dumps radioactivity going on for 70 years or more. Not cleaned up yet, these things have to be faced and the enged and wiped out, sooner, the better, that is what i called about. Beach, athy, norman florida, line for democrats. Good morning. Caller yes, good morning. Great book that just came out, much better than called nd fury, it is even worse than you think, and the l you something, shutdown, we had a shutdown when Donald Trump Took Office with and abinet, we were months months behind getting the departments up to speed, they are stillfunded, they understaffed and what bothers me, you have cutbacks in the guard, the department of health, centers for disease control, the state department a big issue. Were in a flu epidemic crisis right now, we really are. I said to my husband, you know, they advertise on t. V. Before started for the seniors to go get a super shot, seniors. Protect the well, we both ended up with the god wasnt as bad as some people i see. But what happened to the vaccine . Have a funny suspicion and it is not funny, that being the theers for disease control, department of health, were not speed, trump has opinion in a whole year, why was the vaccine so inadequate . 10 . You know, we had the same thing with george w. Bush, two seasons with no vaccines, this is what happens when you get a in. Blican host patty, to let you know, tomorrow morning on this program, were going to be with anthony vouci, of National Institutes of Health Epidemic this year. Well be getting his thoughts on flu this th of the season, what nih is doing and how the government is responding. Stick around for that tomorrow morning on washington journal. Few minutes left in open phones, to as many calls as we can. Unionville, michigan, a republican. Go ahead. Issues, yes, i have two one considers dean there, that i have loved to talk to and he other one considers our president. And their oil pill, since i have actual people that go down the ocean and check out stuff, as little ago, they told me hrimp were kicking back in hiding in little globs of oil. Quit eating tely anything out of the gulf and try buy my stuff either farmed or Something Like that. As far as i can see, its these tting worse with japanese, i dont even have to tell you people, you already know it. Radiation leaking in the ocean, come on. Far as trump and what i daytoday and when i even ee something on there as cartoon president , mr. Trump, ve never seen anything like this and today, all he could alk on morning joe was Conspiracy Theory they just ought up, like conspiracy exist. Es, they never can who in 63 at eight years old, i and watched john f. Kennedy, our president , and then brother, bob kennedy, have no ore to say, nobody has more to say, nobody needs to say o more, we know conspiracy theories are out there and weve them. Tched host gale, our last caller in pen phone segment of washington journal, but up next for the last halfhour this south , well travel to carolina, cspan bus continues tour of all 50 state capital, lieutenant ned by governor kevin bryant to talk about the top issues in the palmetto state. Well be right back. Where are you from . Go ahead. Describedent itself i at the time and still describe as bizarre moment. Called me rprise, he over, hes president of the United States and youre in the oval office. If he says, who are you, come over here. You sort of on q a, irish Katrina Perry talks about covering President Trump and supporters for the irish during and after the 2016 election season. Er book in america, drain the swamp, three words, incredibly evocative and it does what it says, immediately kind of what hes talking about, i that aying on the notion dc was built on a swamp and by taking the horrible people that live there and replacing it with better people, was something that folks who believed him or not, or believed he could fulfill that not, they were prepared to take a chance. Sunday night 8 eastern on cspans q a. The president of the United States. [applause] tuesday night, President Donald Trump gives his favorite state of the Union Address to and the nation. Join cspan for a preview of the evening starting 8 eastern and state of the union speech live at 9 p. M. Ollowing the speech, the democratic response, well hear your reaction and comments from members of congress. Of the t trumps state Union Address, tuesday night, live on cspan. Live with the free cspan radio app, and available live or or emand on desktop, phone tablet at cspan. Org. Washington journal continues. Ost were on the 15th stop of cspans 50 States Capital tour across the u. S. , this morning palmetto state capital, columbia, south people , about 134,000 live there, the First Capital columbus. Christopher joining us is Lieutenant Governor kevin bryant, some of the issues well be talking include politics, trade, offshore oil drilling and the republican party. Lieutenant governor bryant, thanks for being with us. Night in his state of the state address, your governor, mcmaster phrased tax reform that happened here in washington. South , it is good for carolina. Do you agree with him . Lieutenant governor i do, peter, i agree with him. Any time government cuts taxes, spur our best way to economy. It leaves money in the pockets f consumers and that is the best thing a government can do is leave money in the pockets of consumers, leave money in the works,rket and it always it worked with president kennedy, president bush, now President Trump and then reagan, when we cut taxes, spurs Economic Growth and effect en tremendous already with the tax cut that recently. Assed host another issue in South Carolina is trade restrictions. Recently put tariffs on washing machines and panels. Do you agree with that decision . No, not nt governor necessarily, South Carolina is state. Big manufacturing we have a lot of export industry here in South Carolina. Believer in free trade, of course, the trading on the same to be level playing field, so some tariffs may be appropriate, but would prefer to be more in the direction of free trade than tariffs, because sometimes that hurt the manufacturers here South Carolina. Host will offshore oil drilling hurt South Carolina . Governor well, peter, depends on what we have. Exploration, find out what is out there and this oint, experts think that we probably have significant amount of natural gas off of our coast. Are some that oppose the exploration. I would like to explore what we where it is out and then we can make fully informed decision on whether we or not. Ril host well, our guest in columbia, South Carolina, on the capitalss on our state tour is Lieutenant Governor of that state, kevin bryant. Numbers. The several National Issues South Carolina that weve already introduced. You would like to talk about, are a 8000 if you resident of South Carolina and have a question or comment for Lieutenant Governor. 027488001 for everyone else around the country. Now, Lieutenant Governor bryant has been in that office for a year, 12 years as state senator. Today, peter. Host congratulations. We understand you are running the top job in the state and a recent quote by you, make sure this is an accurate quote and explain what you meant by this, you said that i am not i am the the right, right and you are running in a sitting gainst the governor. Lieutenant governor yes, peter, that is an accurate quote. Before i became Lieutenant Governor today, last year, i south 12 years in Carolina Senate representing Anderson County in upstate south a 12year d i have record and i summarize my record libertys promoting your and protecting your wallet. I have a 12year record of government, less taxes and im a big supporter of the consumer choice. Host now do you feel that mcmaster is not . Lieutenant governor i wouldnt at all, but in campaigns, a lot of times, you hear republican candidates say the same talking points. You hear republican candidates platform, the party which is limited government, markets. Xes and free i offer to the debate, i have a 12year record to back up everything coming out of our campaign. Distinctives that i bring to the table, im a small usiness owner, i understand crippling effect of government on small business. Im believer in the free market registered pharmacist. Peter, you have a politician and your show. On as registered pharmacist, i understand health care, i medicaid spending and our state medicaid at one time about 15 of the budget and now a third of the budget. Medicaid spending, which is growing at an unsustainable rate. Actually in a contract with South Carolina hat ive rolled out and proposing to save the taxpayer money. E are spending too much on medicaid. Host five Million People live state budget ina, of 28 billion. Lieutenant governor bryant, you registered u are a pharmacist. From that perspective, what is crisis, what is it like from being the pharmaceutical perspective . Lieutenant governor thank you for that question. Crippling crisis is communities, not only in South Carolina, but all over the United States. Ive seen is weve seen reduction in the abuse on the side, the doctor shopping and things like that, ut it has led to greater problem with the street drugs, like not only do we have heroin, very, very some dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl and even more strong opioid car nent ni is anyl, it is so strong it killing police dogs. We are talking to law officials marijuana dealers lace marijuana with carfentanyl, turning marijuana customer into opioid addict. Will r problem, peter, we see where opioid addict will clean up, stay clean for a couple months. Get a tolerance to opioids nd a lot of times, the former addict will backslide and go in one more time and take what they dont haveg and they that tolerance, then we have death we have to deal with. He Opioid Crisis is something weve got to get a grip on here in South Carolina and across the nation. Host does fentanyl have a use . Timate pharmaceutical Lieutenant Governor yes, it does, it does. Your viewers are familiar with a patch duragesic patch, fentanyl patch. 100 gest dose is 100 micrograms, onetenths of milliam, enough to alleviate pain for 24 hours, 100 micrograms, patches last for days and there is appropriate use for fentanyl, ancer patients, for example, hospice patients for chronic pain. Legitimate use and hospital settings, they use fentanyl as an injection, but it belong on the streets and it does not belong obviously not belong being laced in on the streets and carfentanyl, there is no legitimate use, it is just too strong. Ts a very, very small amount of carfentanyl, could supply a user for a long time. Is easy for t smugglers to bring in from china the smuggler, ch it is such a small quantity and were going to have to penalties on folks smuggling carfentanyl into our country. Lets hear what the viewers have to say. Virginia, youke , are on with Lieutenant Governor kevin bryant. Caller good morning, Lieutenant Governor bryant. I have a question for you, as big russia, the scandal is nothing. Cant believe with all of the we have foundthat to have been antitrump, why are getting just relocated in the jobs as far as being let go, i believe that be a viable offense and also, the hypocrisy in the you have people just tearing down our police force organizations like black lives matter and organizations that and then the media, they jump on the band wagon and forces were being attacked and now all of a udden, the Mainstream Media changed its tune and now because mueller is investigating trump, f. B. I. , howden, the dare they bring up anything bad the man leading the investigation. What are your thoughts on that . You, sonny. Lieutenant governor i question, sonny. The first question, all this russia investigation and accusations, this is simply the swamp fighting back. To president was elected drain the swamp and the swamp is full of snakes and alligators, and will ighting back do everything they can to discredit our president. We rarely read about the things our president does. The tax cuts, for example, the judges of conservative es a appointed, for example, nd your other question about the Mainstream Media and i will tell you that i was pleased that the president was actually able to define the narrative on the the schumer wn, shutdown of republicans for once narrative and the to dictate and as we saw, the hutdown lasted just a couple days. Then talk about this notion were supposed to protest police officers. Sonny, there are a very small amount of bad apple necessary enforcement, everybody recognizes that. For a large part, we have of law of thousands enforcement members putting line to es on the protect our freedoms. Because of what Law Enforcement we to protect our freedom, can have this conversation, we have free speech. Law enforcement put their lives the line to protect our freedoms and any time i come enforcement, i thank them for doing what they do to and this r freedoms mass protest of Law Enforcement disappointing and i think we need to rise up, rise up and support our law nforcement and thank them and be appreciative for putting their lives on the line to upport our freedoms every single day. Host next call for Lieutenant Governor kevin bryant comes from scott in seneca, South Carolina, go ahead, scott, were listening. Cspan. Good morning, good morning, Lieutenant Governor. This opioid s on crisis. Hy dont the United States go pain killersrganic medicine . Most of the farms in the area in going arolina are all back to organic farming, reating their animals organically, why cant we do that with humans and get rid of the drug problem . Lieutenant governor well, scott, you know big pharma is a multibillion dollar industry. Where do you think medical grants . Get big from big pharma, that is the root of the problem. Pharmacist and i fill prescriptions, im in the business, but i will tell you overmedicated. We need to go back to Natural Remedies, we need to go back to our lifestyle as society, were overmedicated, we used to instant results, not willing to change our lifestyle, what we eat watch to get healthy. You are right, we need to get and to Natural Remedies Lifestyle Changes and prescription medicine as a or e, whether opioids anything else need to be last resort and far too often it is first resort. That up, for bringing scott. Eing from anderson, were neighbors, good to talk to you on cspan. Ost from South Carolina, nurey, michael, you are on. Michael. Ood morning, caller ill bet mr. Bryant nurey is. W where go, tigers. Guest i do. Yes, sir, to that end, r. Bryant, sounds like if you and i sat down we might be able to get along. Guest i can get along with anybody. Of the im one constituents who has some pposition to some of your perspectives and couple of tier question here. Opportunity to get together and talk with nuance about some of these things. To be honest, the Lieutenant Governorship of South Carolina, has been called, i the most trivial jobs in the politics or lines, notlong those sure what your official duties wonder if you would consider taking on citizen involvement, to have direct about these things . Not think the russia thing is triviality, i consider it to be very substanti beenantive, there may have deliberate action by political arty or both parties to get involved with deliberately or try and sway an american election. We can solve this problem, if we et together as citizens with you guys. The problem is, you get your talking points and we cant nuance, to that end, im done with my talking points. Ost before we hear from Lieutenant Governor, michael, has a republican legislature, republican governor, republican lieutenant think they have been effective . Caller well, you know, as all effective in some manners depend what is your perspective is. I think they have honestly been some corruption, which perhaps mr. Bryant can speak to. Few years the corruption is coming to show with nuclear going to be e financing for sometime. So to answer your question in summary, effective . Not so much, i think weve been political ter and machinery has risen. Mulvaney is one example, but we could do better. Im interested in doing better individuals like mr. Bryant, who, im just a a struction worker, not politician, i dont know how to get my voice out there and nvolved and seems like i never et the opportunity to have nuanced conversation. Host Lieutenant Governor kevin bryant. Sure, ant governor michael, thank you for your call and your questions. I will tell you lieutenant does or of South Carolina not have anything to do with the russian investigation, but i will tell you a little bit about our role. First thing that i do, im presiding officer of the senate, m president of the senate and for 12 years my goal was to create chaos in the chamber and now i maintain order. I know a lot of tricks because ive pulled them myself. To the question of have he republican majority been effective in South Carolina and i would say no. Republicans do have majority in senate, and the conservatives do not. And i call it, rhino crap majority controls the legislature. State in gislative South Carolina. You know our founders three branches, judiciary, executive and legislature. In South Carolina, we are the nally known as legislative state. We really only have one branch f government, the weakest executive branch and the strongest legislature and as far the open conversation, michael, id encourage you to go kevinbryant. Com, i have a Facebook Page and i welcome any and all comments, as as they are clean. Some folks do use some offcolor an open but i have conversation and i will tell you that we have been to every state more than any all the other candidates for governor combined. Us two ears and a mouth for a reason. I go and i speak for just a few then i take questions. I want to hear what is on the carolinians. H to be your hoose me next governor, as governor, i will take the message to the will get outside the columbia bubble and go to the taxpayer and hear what is on minds, present my proposals and take questions and concerns. Have the freedom to have this open conversation in the United States, a lot of countries dont. Consider the poor people in korea. If you had a complaint about government there, you would go killed. , maybe even i embrace free speech, i embrace open conversation and i call. Iate your and you have noted political orruption probe that has been going on in South Carolina for over five years. I believe it is the legislative the breeding ground for this corruption. Weve had indictments. Of office, moveals as president of the senate, had to suspend a member already. Is an Ongoing Investigation and we just dont know what is next, we know there is a lot of a lot of smoke and opefully, we can get beyond this investigation and remove this cloud of doubt that south has. Ina integrity of South Carolina is not represented in columbia, thing on contract i unveiled with South Carolina to south integrity with carolina and return tgovernment to you, the taxpayer. Thank you, michael. Host hank, you are on cspan. Go ahead, hank. Thanks, thanks. Guest good morning, hank. Caller good morning to you. Live out here in the country in Chesterfield County. Very, very poor county and it dont seem like any industry our way. I read in the paper and see on get all n, where we hese plants and are moving car manufacturers, tire anufacturers, boeing, all the plants moving into South Carolina, but over here on this state, up in the sand hills were not seeing the that. It of all i just wish, you know, next time somebody somebody, some plant or industry south to come to carolina, will you kind of just mention Chesterfield County to know, this , you real f the state is not industrialized and they need help up here, all the young are leaving. Once they leave, they dont come back and little small towns up they are dying. Away. Ust melting i would appreciate that, if you could thank youright, hank, for calling in. Lieutenant governor bryant . Guest thank you, hank. Appreciate hanks question. Chesterfield is a beautiful county and would be a great for industry to relocate. The problem with chesterfield reason we cant get industry there, is infrastructure, roads and are not as up to par as other parts of the state. The reason for that, lets go the legislative state. The department of transportation, for example, you to hold w who accountable and im a big believer in getting away from state, put the department of transportation in a Cabinet Agency your honor the willnor and as governor, i look at the whole state from a statewide perspective, because saying far too many decisions are based on politics, Public Safety and traffic flow and infrastructure and job governor, i as your will make sure we improve the county, ithesterfield is beautiful part of the state and great opportunity for folks to expand business and create Chesterfield County. Federal you support spending bill for infrastructure . Lieutenant governor i do, im a limited government person, i ave 12year record that shows that. Roads and bridges is something that is a core function of and i support the federal government helping as uch as we can, but here in South Carolina, weve just seen the largest tax increase in our states history, the gas tax. Until we can make the department of transportation cabinet is not that gas tax going to fix our roads. Roads, ed to fix our spend more money . Absolutely. Absolutely. But until we make the dot well see more political favoritism than decisions based on traffic flow basketball safety. New walter, columbus, jersey, go ahead. Caller good morning. Good morning. Caller good morning, morning. If you want to see the real partsic situation in some of the country, drug trade, you really see that the true nature of how people are living, all, people die on a country, andn this from want to stop people ealing, give them a mandatory sentencing of manslaughter, point, you know, some someone probably died from their activity. A fact, my nephew did. Seeso if you really want to like the real Economic Situation of an area, eliminate drug trade Something Like implement i implementing manslaughter as mandatory sentencing for hard drugs, not like know, but like heroin or crack cocaine, stuff know. Kills people, you host walter, i think we got the point. Lieutenant governor bryant . Lieutenant governor yeah, thank you for the question and you make an excellent point. Proposals to give mmunity to someone if you take someone who has had an overdose room. E emergency face value sounds good. Flip side, drug dealer who has a oding could get immunity when they bring them to the hospital. Issues from all sides. You are correct, if you are a drug dealer and you are for a death like the caller, i believe walter was his name. Walter . It was. Yes, walter, im sorry. To walter said, we need have a prosecution for manslaughter, if you are dealer and responsible for a drug overdose. I ppreciate the caller and agree with his point. Host capland, from florida, as well. Conversation, caller good morning to both of you. Understand like to why he thinks trump has done so many good things since hes been budget should the have been taken care of six months ago, he was more taxes because it benefited him, his rich friends, his family and corporations that sponsor vietnam war. Hes doing to this country. Even with his ctions as waiting around to invoke the Nuclear Power, i dont think this Nuclear Power something our fore fathers planned in the institution, all he has to do is with his Office Friends and laugh because they wanted a shut down. Point. Ll right, got your Lieutenant Governor bryant . Lieutenant governor thank you the question, and im assuming it is much warmer here in South Carolina. But the president was elected to protect us from error, isis has promised to infiltrate the United States immigration program. Do i think the wall is as important as our infrastructure . Absolutely, yes. Haveemocrats in washington made it very clear, theyre more interested in protecting the iso infiltrate the United States through our immigration program. Wall is asthe important as our infrastructure, absolutely yes. The democrats in washington have made it very clear. They are more interested in protecting the interests of Illegal Immigrants and they are more interested in protecting this avenue for terrorists who come in to the United States than they are to protect us. The president was elected to protect us and to drain the swamp. One way he has drained the swamp is to take away the checkbook and leaving money back in our pockets. The best thing we can do is get government out of the way, leave money in our pockets, in your pocket, so you can spend it how you want to. Washington has no business taking your money and thinking they can spend it better than you can. That is a boom for our economy. It is going to continue to grow. We have seen so many Large Companies repatriate because of these tax cuts. We are going to see more and more were going to see jobs Lieutenant Governor kevin bryant of South Carolina has been joining us for the past half hour. Follow the cspan bus which is parked outside the state capital in columbus, South Carolina. Columbia South Carolina, sorry about that. Take you for being with us Lieutenant Governor. It has been a great opportunity and i think all the colors for this conversation we have had. We also want to thank our cable partner, spectrum, and South Carolina. Our next stop is atlanta, georgia. Now we want to take you live to capitol hill. This is a hearing on u. S. National security strategy. Warmer secretary of state henry kissinger, george schultz, and former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage testified before the senate Armed Services committee. This is live coverage on cspan. Deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage. Your years of service have been unbelievable and great, we are so honored to have you folks here i want to begin by reading a brief welcome from our chairman mccai