Transcripts For KQED Washington Week 20170422

Republican lawmakers who got an earful from constituents at town Hall Meetings are starting to distance themselves from the president. I think that we have a president that has a number of flaws. When i think trump is right, ill support him. When i dont, i wont. Plus, is the president keeps them guessing Foreign Policy working . We have dan balz of the washington post. Jeff zeleny of cnn, and Kelly Odonnell of nbc news. Celebrating 50 years. This is Washington Week. Funding is provided by their leadership is instinctive. They understand the challenges of today and research the technologies of tomorrow. Some call them veterans. We call them part of our team. Additional funding is provided by newmans own foundation, donating all profits from newmans own Food Products to charity and nourishing the common good. Ku and Patricia Ewing, committed to bridging cultural differences in our communities. The corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Once again, live from washington, moderator robert costa. Robert good evening. As the 100day mark of the Trump Presidency approaches, mr. Trump is pushing his America First Campaign Promises looking for a legislative win. Priority one, healthcare. Before the break, the conservative Freedom Caucus rejected the g. O. P. s plan because it wasnt a complete overhaul of obamacare. At the time President Trump said he was ready to move on to tax reform. But this week, the president seemed more optimistic that congress has the votes to move quickly on both fronts. President trump the plan gets better and better and better and its gotten really good. A lot of people are liking it a lot. We have a chance of the getting it soon. Robert kelly, people feel immense pressure from the president himself to get moving on healthcare but over on capitol hill theyre saying, we dont really have the votes to the white house officials take care as you move forward. What are you hearing . Kelly there is a conflict. Part of what im hearing is the 100day aura is affecting the president and the white house. The practical realities dont change based on that. What im being told is theyre counting on some of the most conservative caucus members to be at a fatigue point. Dont want to deal with healthcare again. Dont want that on their plate. They want to move forward. Im being told that its being viewed as a bottleneck to do anything else. Thats not a big substantive difference. Im being told that the white house is working directly with certain members to try to get something done, not simply relying on the powers of persuasion. They have a good relationship. But theyre moving on to try to get something. Not next week despite the fact that its possible mathematically. They feel that it will spill into the following week more than likely. Theyre counting on the visits home, the frustration over not completing a campaign promise, not really big substantive changes as really they think it is a white house perspective this could be passed. But on the hill, theyre saying how has anything really changed . Robert why trust them this time around if youre the white house . Kelly its one of the harder questions because theyre working with the more moderate tuesday group fewer in number and so thats hard but really believing the president believing that because of his success in those districts that he can leverage them. We havent seen that yet. This is the president trying to use the bully pulpit where he has decided this has to be done and hes going shoulder it by pressure not so much by substantive changes. Robert the president seems be putting this burden in 100 days on his own shoulders. You know, well, hes tweeted both that its a ridiculous marker which in some ways it is, frankly. But also the pressure within the white house as you say is enormous right now to rack up something. I mean, they know where they stand in terms of public opinion. They know where they stand particularly in terms of legislative accomplishments, which is they dont have any at this point. They can point to other things that they have done or that he has done that set a direction, but they cant say that theyve established anything great. You know, most administrations now set out 100day plan and a 200day plan that gets you through the august recess which is a more realistic timetable. But because they have done so little in terms of legs now, theres a much greater pressure to do something by next week. Robert jeff, you spent time with the president on the campaign trail what are your observations as the president approaches the 100 day mark . He was in kenosha, wisconsin this week. First and first most youre just reminded how little he travels. This is someone who won this campaign, the improbable republican primary and the general, of course, by really being throughout by the people. This is a president that likes the oval office, likes the trappings of the white house or maralago. Just the fact that he was out in a factory in wisconsin was interesting, the first time he visited wisconsin, went for trump, first republican since 1984. He was on the ground in kenosha for 1 05. So that gives you the sense of how it was sort of for show. He went out there to sign an executive order. I was struck by the fact. Hes in speaker ryans home legislative district. It wasnt for any reason necessarily other than theyre trying to get to wisconsin. The speaker was at a nato meeting in europe, interesting. But i think that the president he does when he talks about winning wisconsin, he lightens up some. So ive wondering why hasnt his aides sent him out to the country. Hes much more beloved but he was signing an executive order, again, not legs. At this point of george w. Bushs presidency he visited 26 states. President trump six or seven other than florida. The applause was slightly softer, i think. He now he has his own record to run against. He cant talk about obama as much as he used to. Robert one of the reasons the president hasnt been signing a bill, my sources tell me that they need to do obamacare first to get rid of some of those taxes and then move on to tax reform. Theres a policy thats driving this discussion of this revived discussion of healthcare. Ylan theres a math question. Theres about a trillion dollars in obamacare in taxes that they would like to get off of the table before they address tax reform. No ones talk abouting about trying to pay for that trillion dollars. But theyre very concerned at least Republican Leadership is concerned that theyre insuring that thats revenue neutral. If you do healthcare first, it makes tax reform easier. The president has said today that they want to put out their tax reform plan on wednesday. Robert how can they do all this . Ylan next week is only four days. Robert but the revival of tax reform. Its part of the president s economic agenda that he ran on. At least for businesses, corporations, small businesss that have been so important to Donald Trumps support, thats what they want to see him tackle. Theres been a lot of debate within the white house over whether or not they really did this this in the right order. They set out this plan doing healthcare, tax reform and infrastructure. They should have put healthcare aside and really address tax reform and infrastructure which is the heart of his economic message. Roish you know anything about the rates . It depends on whether he can solve the fundamental questions is it really going to be revenue neutral kelly just to pick up what you were saying that the president called an audible. Heen on his own without running it through his comes team talked about it on wednesday and then as a part of a signing ceremony on other matters. The president is itching to get to tax cuts which im told will mirror, 15 for businesses no greater than 25 for individuals. Thats just a guide. Thats not necessarily whats in it. But he wants to force those House Republicans to get onboard. Were moving on to tax cuts and tax reform. Get healthcare done. Introducing it is much different. He wants to introduce it next week to show more action. Theres a possible Government Shutdown if they dont figure out how to keep this government funding extended. So youre looking at government funding, healthcare and tax reform next week. It ha tozz be done by the 100th day and the border wall stands as one of the great obstacles to getting it done. They couldnt have written a worse script for the 100th day week than theyve got now. A revival of hale care with an uncertain end after a major failure earlier. A Government Shutdown looming and theyve thrown some new things into the hopper. Robert a border wall. Theyre trying to make a demand on defense spending and a border wall. Theyre trying to muscle the democrats to the come to the table and work something out. He wants to work something out. That is for show. We want to get this out. Its going to be a big deal. Theres not going to be any legislative action on it. But its a way, again, to say im keeping my promises. But the spending issue has to be the first and most important priority. They have to get that done. Everything else can wait that cant. Robert who is paying really close attention to this . I was down in atlanta. Suburban voters and some of these traditional more moderate districts. The one in atlanta is pretty conservative. Theyre wonds erring whats going on in washington. The weather vane. They got a wakeup when a newcomer nearly pulled off an upset down in georgia that republicans have held since 1979. Democrats invested more than 8 million to support political newcomer john oseff who fell just shy of the 50 he would have needed for an outright victory. He will face republican karen hand until a Runoff Election for the house seat formerly held by tom price. Dan, was this a bellwether of whats to come in 2018 . I think it was. You know, we always overinterpret special elections. We should take everything with a grain of salt on that front. But this is a district that i think democrats and like 50 elections that have been held in that district statewide offices but the results in that district, only one democrat who has ever got an majority of a dozen years. This is not a district that is overly friendly to democrats even though secretary clinton did quite well there. And as a as a bellwether not exactly what will happen in 2018 but of where the Democratic Base is, where the energy is and this idea that districts that have a higher preponderance of College Graduates a more affluent districts, these mite not be friendly to republicans in 2018 no matter how the runoff comes out down there. Robert john oseff supported secretary clinton. He was more of a mainstream democrat. This week we saw senator sanders on the campaign trail. If you look at oseff and tom price, theres this battle of about the future of the Democratic Party. Who is the beating part of the Democratic Party . It is the central question of all of politics. Democrats are trying to figure it out because the answer is not what some would like. Bernie sanders is still the driving force at the head of the party. He is still a sneart. Hillary clinton is no longer the leader of this party. Bernie sanders is trying to be. It makes so Many Democrats nervous. Theyve been watching what the republicans were doing and they do not want the reverse to happen lurching to far to the left as republicans did with the tea party. Finally by the third or fourth day, you know, he was reluctant to get oseff. The reality is as the week went on he supported a candidate from my home state of nebraska. They are going across the country to get some democrats fired up. Bernie sanders is going to give the party a lot of trouble in the next couple of years. Hes occupying a lot of oxygen that Elizabeth Warren thought was hers. The reality is the democratic bench is very, very thin. Look of the government governors. State senators decimated in the obama years in. The vacuum Bernie Sanders is riding up and loving minute of it. Robert when you think of that populism that Senat Sanders represents is that going to be the way for future democrats . Who is the demographic and that will drive some of the policies that they tried to run on. The forgetsen man that everyone talked about during the 2016 elections the disenfranchised factory worker left by behind by globalization. Is important to connect with those workers or the affluent centrist who are eating at panera bread robert is that the new voter, the panera bread voter . The road to 2018 vs. The panera breads. Thats the tough talk on trade and talking how about nafta is a disaster. These are voter who is travel to europe back to asia, enjoy the fruits of globalism in a way that the forgotten man. Robert suburban professionals. Lets not forget the republican who is a top finishers karen handle in georgia. When i spoke to her down there she didnt embrace President Trump. Said she was more of a traditional republican. And senator heller and of course, ms. Handle, republicans in some of these swing districts arent exactly running to embrace this economic populism of trump. Kelly we learned trump is really a man that is in his own island. His successes dont go to other candidates. Women have a challenge with this. And republicans now see that the energy that led marches after the inauguration and has lots of liberals and progressives on their feet and trying to do something, that cant go unanswered. The president under his own sort of signature if you will in the electronic age trying to raise money for handle, trying to get people to go to the polls. Special elections are so hard to predict in terms of turnout. Theres a candidate who collects a lot of buzz often report voters go back to where they have been in the past. Its a republican district. She has a very good shot at it. Do you think President Trump will campaign with her . Lets get them out into the country . It could be useful but she would want the fundraising alone. Its a tradition for some of these republicans who are still uncomfortable about the trump brand. One thing to think about is theres going to be two factors that will determine the outcome. One is President Trumps overall popularity or the lack there of. The other is democrats that can match these districts. Thats a different set of decisions that they have to make. Then you think of in terms of a president ial campaign and a national message. So the question is can they find the candidates that can compete in moderates southern districts. It could be up for grabs. Or do they end up with an overwhelming progressive message that doesnt play as well in those districts. Robert one thing im also watching is retirements for republicans. We saw this week House Oversight Republican Committee wants to spend more time decided not to run may even resign his seat. If republicans start to lose some of these Committee Chairmans that could be a problem. Its striking. You get the sense that weve seen this for a while but being an outsider is better than being in congress. Mr. Chavtiz said he was resigning for personal reasons. But he does not want to be settled with this trump agenda and record as he decides to run for governor. But the retirements are going to be absolutely important to watch. But as dan, recruiting. Democrats has to be recruiting. Who is their rahm emanuel who led that charge in 2006. I dont know that they have a person like that. Again, the party has been decimated, you know, so thats a big challenge. I think another interesting thing thats sort of got lost in the focus on this georgia race is the democrats came out of the president ial election saying we have to figure out a way to compete in these more rural areas. And now theyre very focused on suburban areas. So they havent they havent got their act together yet in terms of their strategy on what they want andy need to do. Questions for oversight, whos actually keeping an eye on this administration. And congress will have to keep an eye on that chair. It was a dominant one this week with Foreign Policy. And President Trumps world vule came to the floor. The u. S. Launched missile strikes in syria, bombed isis targets in afghanistan and the president turned to china for support in curbing north Koreas Nuclear mission. Are we looking at something thats has been a flexible Foreign Policy . Kelly what is the trump doctrine on Foreign Policy . So far, weve seen to try to project strength, to try to push other nations to do what the president feels they need to do. And on china, he is both pressing and praising. So he is quite effusive about president xi and at the same time needs him to exert influence on north korea. On syria, we saw president presented with options. He makes a desifplgs hes try he makes a decision. Hes trying to show a decisiveness but trying to send a message to the world that he is willing to act and some of the partnerships of the past they can get bruised here and there. And then he will come back to them and try to build some of these relationships. If you can ask the president if he how he would describe . I would be curious to know if he looks at it situation by situation. Is this a turn by the president . Think i think it is. Trump is very obsessed with who is up and who is down. Who are the winners and who are the losers . One thing he keeps score is he looks at trade deficits. Some of theme are up ended such as calling out canada and the treatment of dairy industry. Calling out mexico as being concerning in terms of exploit imbalance with mexico. I think a lot of World Leaders are uncertain about which way donald trump will fall depending which way the economics go. You mentioned flexibility. This is something we are seeing as we ea says. This as man who is growing into the job as all president s do. But him more importantly because he has not been in Public Office before. He is showing that flexibility is a positive. Hes not a flip flopper in his view. He proudly says is flexible. China is important important example. He was not talking about china was raping our country. He is now counting on president xi to help him with north korea. He has turned that language 180 degrees and using china to potentially box out russia. Who would have thought that would have happened . So his Foreign Policy doctrine is a moment by moment thing. Its still very much being built. Robert theres been some missteps when they were talking about the armada of ships moving in asia with the north korea situation. They got called out. They did get called out. When was the last time you heard the word armada to describe what our navy was doing. That was an unfortunate choice of words. But beyond that, it was uncorrect. The ships were moving in the opposite direction. I think when those kinds of things happen on top of Everything Else about what President Trump has said on Foreign Policy, it adds to confusion. And while he prizes unpredictability as he has said consistently as a candidate, unpredictability is not necessarily great in foreign poll schism and there are poll policy and there are a lot of people trying to figure him out. Let me tell you how humbled and honored i am to be taking over as moderator on Washington Week. The program debuted 50 years ago. Please know that i plan to continue the tradition of paul duke and gwen ifill bringing you factbased reporting and analysis every week. My mission is to make sure the conversation is always illuminating, civil and when possible fun. Thanks for inviting me into your home. Id love to hear there you too. You can write me at Washington Week at pbs. Org. I hope well be seeing each other every week, same time, same station. Im robert costa. Have a great weekend. Funding for Washington Week is provided by boeing. Newmans own foundation, donating all profits from newmans own Food Products to charity and nourishing the common good. Ku and Patricia Ewing through the ewing foundation, committed to bridging cultural differences in our communities, the corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Travis mcdonald coming up on queen and country Travis Mcdonald she is the most travelled monarch the world has ever known. Elizabeth i traveled around england. Elizabeth ii would travel around the world. She developed a style of arrival and departure that could not be equaled. No other king or queen has traveled so far, seen so much, met so many. Queen and country. Explore new worlds and new ideas through programs like this, made available for everyone through contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Mcdonald welcome to the 4part series queen and country, where well be examining and celebrating the role of Queen Elizabeth ii