Campaign. Then Vice President mike pence speaks at the House Republican in baltimore. And later, newsmakers with neal bradley, executive Vice President of the u. S. Chamber of commerce. Madam speaker, lets begin with the gun debate. The house is already passed a bill. Any sense of what Senate Republicans would support when it comes to Gun Legislation . To askreally would have them, but i know what the support. People 90 of the people support commence background check is what we and that passed almost 200 days ago. Earliest days of the democratic majority. Passed the we legislation that had been sitting over there for 200 days. Gunpeople a day die from violence. 40 of them children or teenagers. Many of those deaths could have been prevented with background checks. From your standpoint, are background checks a starting point or endpoint with Gun Legislation . Speaker pelosi background checks are a critical point because they save the most lives. People talk about other initiatives, which are important, but what saves the this is about online sales, gun shows, persontoperson sales. Those are ways people circumvent the background check laws that are there. So this is only an expansion of how much time is given for the background checks. It is very simple. And 90 of American People, republicans, democrats, gun owners, independent, support this legislation. It is just not senator mcconnell and the republicans in the senate. As you know, the debate seems to center on the Second Amendment versus civil rights. How do you balance the two . Speaker pelosi this is not a violation of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment talks about the role of congress in terms of the right to bear arms. This has nothing to do with this. This just says as a protection, you should not have a gun if you cannot pass a background check. Andes no objection to that most everybody i know supports the Second Amendment so this violation of that. You have said if this does not pass, then lawmakers have, in your words, hell to pay. Speaker pelosi i was quoting the groups. I myself had said i would make the issue too hot to handle in the public opinion. President lincoln said public sentiment is everything. With it, you can accomplish almost anything. Without it practically nothing. In keeping with the fact that 90 of the American People support this, why would not congress act on the wishes of the people . I have said we would make it too hot to handle. Meaning, we will make sure the public knows what is at stake and what the possibilities are. When i said that outside, the group said, they will have hell to pay. They turned up the heat on me. So i was quoting them. Have you talked to senator mcconnell about this . Speaker pelosi no. Not for a long time. Maybe days gone by but not lately. Im curious, what is your relationship like with him . Speaker pelosi both of us have been appropriators, so we have we have worked together over time. In the 1990s, i was the top democrat on the Foreign Relations committee. Did the foreign assistance. We interacted in that capacity. I have known and worked with him over the years. But right now it is not about senator mcconnell. Senator mcconnell has been very clear. He does not want to do anything the president does not want. That is where we are. I dont know why a leader in the senate would abdicate his responsibilities, weaken the institution which he leads, because the president does not want it. It is fairly unfortunate. Getting back to your point of what is the importance of this legislation . It saves the most lives. Some issues have a higher profile. This saves the most lives. You are a leader, he is a leader, how would you assess his leadership style . Speaker pelosi i am not here to talk about that. The public will assess his leadership style. What i do know right now as a mother and a grandmother, im not happily assessing anybodys style. Who thinks his political survival is more important than the survival of american children. Your predecessor john boehner said when you became speaker, you have another turn in the barrel. You are dealing with progressives, moderates. How do you control your conference . Speaker pelosi i dont. Our caucus is unified by our values. People say to me, you have held them together. I dont. Our values unify us. Our driving force is to be here for americas working families. That is our decision. We have a very diverse caucus. That is the beauty of it. The beauty is in the mix. I say to the members, our diversity is our strength. Our unity is our power. Speaker pelosi of course it has changed. Everything changes. Sometimes the more it changes, the more it is the same. It is the institution established by our founders in article one to be the representatives of the people. What has changed drastically in the last decade or so is communication, social media, and the rest. Sharing of information in realtime. Even faster than that. That has made a difference. So that people are more aware. Also it is an opportunity. But it is also a challenge. There are those who would exploit the system in ways that are not always truthful. One thing that has not changed his rooms like this. Where are we . Speaker pelosi right now we are in the speakers ceremonial office. When the president of the United States or any visiting dignitaries are here, to address a joint session of congress, we would meet them here, and then the Escort Committee meets them here and then takes them into the chamber to be welcomed. Its a special room and thats why we are happy to have you here today as our visiting dignitary. You have hosted President Trump on a number of cases. Sometimes, he is has called you nervous nancy. What do you think of that . Speaker pelosi not much. I dont care what he says. Mostly he calls me nancy, some people say he should call me madam speaker. I dont care what he says. That is so irrelevant. Why we are happy to have you here today as our visiting dignitary. You have hosted President Trump on a number of cases. Sometimes, he is has called you nervous nancy. What is so important is our policy differences. We have big policy differences. We have differences with respect to science as we make decisions about the health, environment, the climate crisis, we have differences in terms of how we respect the constitution of the United States, how we view gods blessings of america. One of our blessings is our constitution, the blessing of our founders. I think the president dishonors the constitution by his attitude. I think he dishonors who we are as a nation by denigrating the nation of immigrants that we are. Unless youre blessed to be a native american which is a blessing to you and to all of us. But by and large, we are a nation of immigrants and the president tries to diminish that. I think he degrades the environment, from sea to shining sea, this beautiful land that god has given us. Sea to shining sea and beyond. Clean air, clean water, beautiful country. Says that we will not use science to make any decisions about the environment, endangered species, any of that. I think he dishonors our values. For example, a budget should be a statement of our national values. What is important to us should be reflected in how we allocate our resources. That doesnt mean giving a tax break to the wealthy. The wealthiest 1 in our country getting 83 of the benefits of a tax scam. So i think in terms of america, america, our constitution, our people, our land, our values, there are grave disagreements with the president. And that is really more important than any cute things that he might say about names or Something Like that. I do respect the office the president holds. I will make any attempt to find Common Ground on issues where i think that is possible. Whether that is lowering the cost of prescription drugs or having a trade agreement with mexico or canada, or building the infrastructure of america in a green way that increases paychecks. We are ever hopeful that we can find Common Ground. But i have major disagreements with him, and quite frankly, the republicans in congress who have followed his lead, but have been there longer than him in many cases. Their lack of agreement that we can find, despite the public support of gun safety, the republican support is not here. Immigration, environmental protection, clean air and clean water. Issues that relate to fairness in our economy. We have those disagreements between the parties. We have responsibility to find Common Ground where we can, stand our ground where we cannot. As far as the president is concerned, regardless of how he acts or what he says, what is most important is the policies he is putting forth. And where we can find agreement. To that point, there is a picture with you and your father with john kennedy in the white house in the early 60s. You have worked with six president s, dating back to 1987 with Ronald Reagan. Im wondering what its like to work with this president on these issues . Speaker pelosi the other president s, i worked as a member of congress. Not so much with Ronald Reagan because that was kind of the end of his term when i came. But with president George Herbert walker bush and george w. Bush for two republican president s, they believed in governance. They believed in governance. So you could work with them because they believed that there is a public role in the lives of the American People. This president does not believe in science, and he does not believe in governance. So it is very hard to get anything done if you dont believe in the way to get it done or the reason to do something. So this is quite different. But again, i have always respected the office of the president and the presidency. As i would expect they would respect article one of the congress of the United States. It was much different to work with the other president s than with this president. It was much easier to work with them, than with this president. The usmca deal, where does that stand . Speaker pelosi im hopeful we will come to some agreement on that. We have made progress in some of the particulars of the bill. But the essential point is enforceability. I voted for nafta the first time around. I have had my disappointments in it. But there were many people who voted against it, whether they are in congress now or not, is not the point, but many people were opposed and want to see some change. I believe we will make important changes and provisions of the bill. It really does not matter unless you have enforceability. That is what we are working on now. The trade representative has been respect all of all views, as we have been respectful of his. Next year marks the centennial of the womens right to vote in 1920. What about e. R. A. . Is that front and center with you . Is that something that you will address . Speaker pelosi lets talk about the 100th anniversary first. It is really exciting to be in the congress of the United States and to be a woman speaker when we will be observing 100 years since women have the right to vote. By the way, we had a woman member of Congress Even before women had the right to vote. This is pretty exciting. For the first time, we have over 100 women serving in congress. 106 women serve in the congress. I am proud to say 91 of them are democrats. We made a decision to increase those numbers every single election. It makes a difference for people to see in Congress People who have shared their experience. We want more, of course. But this is really a cause for celebration. We recognize that we stand on the shoulders of women who fought so hard to make this possible for women and for our country. Those who want to pass the equal rights amendment, which will be very important to do. Those who are fighting for that, and i include myself among them, in the congress, congressman carol maloney, jackie spear are in the lead on this. At the same time, they are all in the lead of a bill that we passed in the house waiting for passage in the senate. Equal pay for equal work. Very important to women. Violence against women act. Very important to women. Raising the minimum wage. Over 30 Million People will get a raise. Over 20 million of them are women. The list goes on and on about legislation just in this congress now. Many of the women who are advocating for e. R. A. Are also marching and advocating for many issues that affect our entire society, not just women. We believe, in america, when women succeed, america succeeds. That includes health care in which being a woman is not a preexisting condition. It applies to many of the initiatives that we have. Are you planning anything special next year for the anniversary . Speaker pelosi we have been especially observing it leading up to it, whether its at the library of congress, whether its at the smithsonian institution, whether its at the archives. Which is part of the smithsonian, but having its own, discrete observances already in the year leading up to it. Yes, it is cause for celebration, and there will be many observances to honor those who just fought so hard. Imagine, in that time, to leave home, to alienate family members. We want to emphasize the role also that minority women played, africanamerican women played, in women getting the right to vote. That was a very important role. I was proud that we unveiled the bust of Sojourner Truth in the capitol of the United States. We also did rosa parks. Going back to suffragist Sojourner Truth, she was an abolitionist, a woman, a mom, an advocate for women to have the right to vote. We covered that ceremony. Two quick political questions. 15 House Republicans are retiring next year. Whats that all about . Speaker pelosi i think it is an indication that republicans know they will probably be serving in the minority in the next congress and most likely with a democrat in the white house. So i think its maybe they think it is time to spend more time with their families. Will you will run for reelection . Speaker pelosi im not making any political plans right now. We will take it one day at a time. I intend to file, we have to file by december of this year, we have to file. So ill be filing. Yes. What is your message to voters . Why vote for a democrat in 2020 . Speaker pelosi it will be a very exciting year. The Democratic Party is the party of the future. It has been the party that has challenged the conscious of america, been the source of more new ideas and creative thinking about how to go into the future. It is the party of inclusion. It is diversity, and sometimes looks democratic, and that is a good thing. If you care about the future, if you care about the future of our planet as a moral responsibility if you care about the future, if you care about the future of our planet as a moral responsibility to future generations, if you care about fairness in our economy, which we must seriously address, you should vote democratic. If you care about the respect and dignity and worth of every person as a child of god, you should vote democratic. It is something im very proud of. It is about gods creation. The people. Gods children. The land. Gods gift to us. Our future which we all have a responsibility to. I do believe the Democratic Party is the party that honors the sacrifices and the vision of our founders in a very important way. A party that respects the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform by keeping that freedom strong in our own country and the party that cherishes our responsibility to the aspirations of our children for the future. So im excited about our candidates for president. Im so proud of them. I think, well see who emerges, who connects with a vision for the future, knowledge of and respect for the hopes and dreams of people, of individual family, and a party that at the heart of it all, we are unified by our values to work for americas working families, for fairness and opportunity, for liberty an justice for all. One media question. In thursdays briefing you had nine or 10 questions on impeachment im not going to ask you about impeachment. Do you get frustrated when youre asked about that . Speaker pelosi no, i am perfectly comfortable with it. Everyone is free to have their own point of view on it and their own timeline on it. I know as speaker of the house i have a responsibility to the constitution of the United States, as do all of my colleagues who take the oath to protect and defend the constitution, and we will follow the facts and when the timing is right well make our decision as to how we go forward in relation to the facts and the law. But one thing i have said all along, no one is above the law and this president will be held accountable. In march, you went to the house floor, praised cspan as we turned 40 years old, and said you had stories to tell. Speaker pelosi what i was thinking of, which i was amused by, when young people come to the floor, when children come to the floor, they love being on tv. Each time i have been sworn in, you know, im surrounded by children. I have my own children, my own grandchildren and now another crop of grandchildren this time. So when they come up to be with me, when im sworn in, all the other children follow up. One of the stories i think is so funny, the children love to be on tv. Thats one of the reasons they come up there. This year, when i was sworn in as speaker, but im then going to swear in the other members, well have the swearing in of the other members, the i said to the children, you can go down now and be with your parents as theyre sworn in and they said no, were ok here. Were ok here. In full view of cspan and television. I just think that its just something so wonderful, the confidence and the Comfort Level that the kids have about being on tv and cspan making all of that possible is just a good thing, i think. When you get away from the speakership, do you have time to read . Do you have time for books . Speaker pelosi i love books. I love books, i have a lot of books on my electronically. But i do love books, turn the pages, myself. One book ive been talking about lately i read it a long time ago but a year or so ago but i was rereading it because there was an of session in the congress with David Rubenstein and Walter Isakson who wrote the book about leonardo davinci. They gave me a chance to ask a question. So i told them the story. In the book, leonardo is very much he considers himself an engineer. In fact, he wrote a letter to the leader of milan asking for a job and described his engineering skills and how he could do all these things that would be useful to the leader, especially in terms of any conflict, etc. At the end, he said, i also paint. But thats not the story. In the story, because of his engineering interests, he talks, leonardo, about impetus. Impetus. And how that affects how you invent and all the rest of the talk, impetus. So when i had my turn to have a question, i said i want to call to your attention something i called to the attention of my colleagues. Leonardo talks about impetus. And then you might get friction which is a waste of energy. So youve got to deal with that so you continue impetus. Of course they said to me, why would you be telling that to your members . Impetus, if theres friction we deal with it, but we dont waste energy. We will not underutilize any resources, including to make the future better. Speaker pelosi, thank you for your time. Speaker pelosi my pleasure. Thank you for yours. Cspans washington journal, live every day. Issues thatd pulse impact you. Morning, saturday proposed changes to the housing trumpe system by the administration, including an overhaul of Mortgage Finance and freddiee mae mac. And then author and surgeon his new book the price we pay. What broke American Healthcare it. How to fix the discussion. Neil gorsich discusses his book, a republic if you can keep it. Madison knew this when he wrote the constitution that promises. Just he didnt even think we should have a bill of rights if we got the constitution and structure and separation of powers right. Angels that men are not and that the key to your liberty is keeping power separated. And then on sunday at 9 00 eastern, on afterwards, in his inc. , book fentanyl, journalists report on how labs in china manufacture the drug. Hes interviewed by New Hampshire democratic congresswoman anne mcclain founding cochair of the Bipartisan Opioid Task force. Days, if youold were a scientist at the university and you published your paper and it went into some, you know, university pretty obscure, hard to find but in the internet age, of these papers were published online. And publicly available, around the world. And so these rogue chemists began looking for these files specifically for these papers to go through them and appropriate the chemical formulas to learn new drugs. These and at 10 00 eastern, jeff provides his firsthand account of conditions of migrant families in his book america is better than this. Advocates had said that hundreds of boys who had been separated from parents were being warehoused in a walmart. Mey decided they didnt want to see what was going on they called the police and the video went viral and suddenly all of america was hearing about cages of secret warehousing migrant children. Watch book tv, every weekend cspan 2. Saturday at 6 00 p. M. War, theon the civil 1863 campaign in tennessee. The night of the 26th, bragg ordered everyone to concentrate there. The rest of the campaign to be honest with you is anticlimactic. Bragg is ready to night it out there in the trenches. At 8 00, on lectures in history,omiry university lip stat onborah her 1996 lawsuit against denier david irving. The basic arguments of deniers. Plan, no 6 million, no gas chambers, and the last point is that this was all made up by jews. And sunday, at 5 00 p. M. Eastern, a discussion about on u. S. Ares influence politics. And at 6 00 on american rockwell, the norman Museum Traveling Exhibit on fdr and the four freedoms. Nations past on American History tv. Cspan 3. End on in his new book, talking to strangers, Malcolm Gladwell details why he thinks people make inaccurate judgments about people they dont know. You can step on out. I dont want to. Stepped out of the car. Youre going to drag me out of my own car. Get out of the car. She is imprisoned for resisting arrest. She later hangs herself in her cell. Tragic and unexpected result. The whole that exchange that we saw, which was on and on and on and on. We saw a small snippet of it, is when i first saw it online, that was what i wanted to write about. If you break that exchange down moment by moment, you see multiple failures of understanding, of empathy, of a million things. Sunday night on cspans q a at 8 00 eastern. Now, Kevin Mccarthy and liz cheney from wyoming talk to issuesrs about several including the 2020 election. It was the second day of the republicans annual retreat in baltimore. This is 30 minutes. Good morning, everybody. Thank you for being here. We are really excited and energized, in terms of what we are doing in our retreat. We had a great evening last