Sound On: Airstrike Kills Al-Zawahri, Taiwan Tensions (Radio)

issue area that Senator Cinema has been vocal on. She has an awful lot in this piece of legislation where it's been designed. It is the Joe Manchin Act. The Democrats needed some kind of a win. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. It appears Nancy Pelosi is heading for Taiwan after all. Welcome to the fastest hour in politics. As the speaker's travel leads the conversation here inside the bubble. Keeping the focus on China today

and it's strained relationship with the US. We'll talk potential, risk and opportunity coming up with former Secretary Area of Defense Mark Espert, and we'll hear from retired Admiral John Kirby later this hour spokesman for the White House National Security Council, he brief reporters on a possible trip today.

Analysis from our panel. Bloomberg Politics contributor Jeanie Schanzano was with us along with Lester Months in principle at b g R Group, former staff director the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lot to address this hour and first the headlines from overseas pop this morning. She's going the Speaker of the House to visit Taiwan during her trip to Asia, sources

here saying as much to Bloomberg News. Although the White House would not confirm that trip would be happening, we did get a briefing today from retired Admiral John Kirby. He was in the briefing room with reporters, of course, speaking for the White House National Security Council, and some

very direct thoughts about this trip. Here. He is there is no reason for Beijing to turn a potential visit consistent with longstanding U S policy into some sort of crisis conflict, or use it as a pretext to increase aggressive military activity in or around the Taiwan straight and yet over the weekend, even before Speaker Pelosi arrived in the region, China conducted a live fire exercise, and he warned that more could be coming as the days go ahead.

We're gonna hear more from John Kirby, who will be talking with us later on this hour. Right now, we want to pick the brain of someone who has been there to Taiwan, and quite recently, the former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, of course from the Trump administration with us now on sound on. Secretary, welcome back to Bloomberg. Thanks, So, it's great to be with you. You've done this trip? Is this a smart move for Nancy Pelosi to be going? Now? Well,

you're right, I did. I did it about ten days ago. I spent three or four of those days with the leadership in Taiwan and with Taiwan these business leaders, and with American business people in Taiwan. So it was a great trip. But I at the time when this was first started talking being talked about that we should not allow the Chinese Communist Party to dictate the travels of

American officials. So at this point they made it such an issue that she has to go, and she should go, and every evidence indicates that she she will be stopping there in the next currently, so What message then would it have sent if she did not go well, it would it would have showed lack of resolve on behalf of the United States and on the Biden administration in particular.

I know the Chinese don't make a distinction between the Congress and executive branch, but but it would not have looked good at a time when the leader of China is making a move to get an unprecedented third term as General Secretary of China. What did you hear when you were in Taiwan? Was this all the talk? Were they hoping that she would come? It was not all the talk, of course it was. It was just starting

to break when I was there. More importantly, their focus was on the war in Ukraine and lessons learned, and it was and what that might mean as China moves gets closer closer to its party congress in November, that's when again j and Ping will get his third term, and then the party leadership reshuffling that will happen in the months following. It's it's beyond that point where they where they getting uneasy about what China may or may

not do with regard to Taiwan status. General Millie has said, the Pentagon is ready to get the speaker there safely. If that's what's decided. It's not about politics for the Defense Department. I just wonder the secretary, how difficult is it for the Pentagon to provide security on a mission like this. What's involved? Well, I think you see some indications through the media that they're moving a carrier strike group in the in the outside in the South China

see at least to be responsive. Is that why. That's probably why the report is it was transitting up that way as well. But if I were him, I would be directing that we have assets nearby to to support the trip in case something happens. You know, you've got to be careful these things. People make miscalculations, young pilots in the air or captains of ships who who do the wrong thing, and one thing can escalate into another.

So you want to be prepared for the warst I don't think any military confrontation is going to come out of this. I think trying to make, you know, fly more aircraft towards Taiwan or maybe you know, some some missile shots into open waters and stuff like that. But you've got to be careful you don't want to get blindsided.

There was You probably heard this. Chinese propaganda's broadcaster made some headlines last week that even Speaker Pelosi repeated uh in one of her briefings on Capitol Hill, suggesting that she could be shot down if seen being escorted by US military jets. You don't believe that, do you? No, not at all. Look, that would be an act of war. And I believe that the leadership in Beijing is is far more responsible than that, and and our leadership is

equally responsible. So nobody wants a war. But this is posturing again because is just a few short months away trying to get his unprecedented right not since Smiles a dawn't third term in office, and so this is important to him. He can't show weakness at this point in time. So they will, they will respond, but they're they're not going to start a war over nor should a war be started over this. So Secretary asked for what's the response? Then? What what do you expect from Beijing when they see

the image of Speaker Felosi on the tarmac and Taipei. Well, like I said, you could see that, you know, missile missile Brage's shots into open waters outside of Tatwan somewhere. You could see some type of cyber attack where they try and shut down the infrastructure, the electrical grid or something in in Taiwan for twenty four hours. Uh, maybe more intrusions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. You know who knows. But they're going to calibrate very carefully to

send a message. It's gonna have to be more than what they've done in the past, but not so much as to provoke a tip for tat response between both countries. CIA director William Burns gave an interview at the Aspen Strategy Group Security for him. You may have even been there, but he said he believes that President She is watching you mentioned Ukraine, that she is watching Russia's operation. It's war in Ukraine right now very closely. Here's what he said.

I wouldn't underestimate, um, you know, President She's determination to assert China's control, the People's Republic of China's control over Taiwan. Is he suggesting a military answer by China after seeing what's happened in Ukraine? Is this actually in the works. Well, the Chinese have always threatened the military response that comes down to that, should Taiwan do something like declare independence. Look, he's not the only one learning lessons. I the President

of Taiwan. She when she and I met for over an hour, we talked about the lessons learned from Ukraine as well, and and the gutsy determined leadership and and fighting from the Ukrainians and what it means for the Taiwanese. So I think everybody is watching what's happening. Look, I think if if smart, a critical lesson learned should be uh, can he trust what his military is telling him about their own capabilities and about what they can cannot do.

Clearly that didn't happen with Vladimir Putin and the Russian military. We saw very incompetent military unable to achieve its objectives. And if I were Jisian being, I would be really questioning, is my military up to any task? Or they just tell me what I want to hear. So that's the lesson then that China knows it wouldn't have to have overwhelming force to make this viable. Look, it's it's on amphibious assault. If if they go for the major end

of the operation, it's a very very difficult operation. You know, d Day was the only hand to cross this. UH go from the UK to France. And that's what this is a tough operation and UH and but book there's other things he could do. He could try a blockade of Taiwan if we ever get to that point. Nobody thinks that thinks that's gonna happen anytime. So it's at

least a few years away by by most accounts. If China does strike Taiwan now or in a few years, is that the equivalent of an Article five violation for NATO allies? But in Asia, well, we don't have a treaty with UH with Taiwan like we do with understood with Japan. It's feeling like that though, isn't it. It would clearly be, you know, an act of war against Taiwan. The question remains, would the United States come to their assistance? Now?

President Biden has said three times, on three separate occasions, that we would, which was an explicit acknowledgement of that, and then the White House surprisingly went and walked it back three times. So I've argued that the One China policy has outlooked a usefulness and that we need to have greater strategic clarity, not strategic ambiguity. In my view, strength and resolved and an international global commitment by the democracy of the world against the autocracies of the world

is critical in this day and age and going forward. Well, you talked about this just a few days ago before the Atlantic Council UH and issued a five point plan. Rolled out your five point plan for Taiwan to deter China. One of those points is defense and diplomacy. What does Taiwan need from US they don't have now, Well, they need to know that if they are invaded that we will assist them with military means. Of course, direct action

logistics would be critical in this type of scenario. In fact, we talked in Taipei about their immediate need for Stinger anti aircraft missiles, for Javelin anti tank missiles, for the high mars, things like that that they're trying to purchase, but they want to know that we will be there. My view is it's it can't just be the United States. We should get the other democracies of the region, which would be Japan and Korea and Australia also are NATO

allies from Europe to assist as well. I think those that type of resolutism and resolved and unity by the West show China that it's just not worth it to invade this tiny island nation. It's no bigger than the state of Maryland. It's just not worth going after them. You just rolled out the same shopping list though that basically we've been taken care of Ukraine with the same uh Javelin missiles, Stinger missiles and so forth. Is there going to be a conversation two years from now saying

we should have been arming Taiwan. I hope not. One of the things that said in Taiwan is the dramatically increase their defense budgets so that they can afford these capabilities, and they have to atop a warfare defensive plan, which

has not been what they've done the past. Through their own blood and courage, the Ukrainians have helped show Taiwan the way, and it's critical now that they quickly quickly move forward in terms of building up their defenses again, not to not to try and defeat China, but to deter military action in the first place. And I think that's critical because look, nobody wants a war in Asia between the United States and China. It would upset, you know,

the global order, the think about the global economy. How would ripple across the world to Taiwan and heartbeat? Absolutely, yes, I think we need to show them support, not just to show support for a pretty loving people and a robust democracy on Taiwan, but for her. Then go back to Washington d C. Share with her colleagues what she saw and figure out how do we continue to improve us and allowed support for them. Insights from Mark Esper,

the former Secretary of Defense. It's great to have you back, Secretary. We thank you today for being on Bloomberg. Thanks Joe. Great with you coming up on the fastest hour in politics. President Biden to address the nation tonight. Will tell you why. As we assemble our panel, we'll check traffic and markets for you on the way. On sound on, I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg. You sound on with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio with breaking news from Washington.

We're going to see and hear from President Biden tonight. A late add to the schedule. He will address the nation or you know so they say at seven thirty PM. I suspect he'll be on time for an evening speech like this. It's not very often. It's not prime time, but not very often we hear from the President that late. And it is, as you've seen on the terminal, possibly by now, on a counter terrorism operation. This is not

something that we saw coming today. His official schedule says the President will deliver remarks from the Blue Room balcony on a successful counter terror operation. There's been more reporting from Bloomberg News, as you would expect, that this in fact was a significant al Qaeda target in Afghanistan. The Taliban says that a US drone bombed a house on Saturday in Cobble, So it appears this was over the weekend and something that we'll be talking a lot more

about as we learn more. But I just want to bring in the panel on this. Well, it's fresh and in the air. Bloomberg Politics contributor Democratic analyst Genie Schanzano is here today along with Lester Months in principle at government relations firm b g R Group, formerly staff director

of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Your take on this, uh, this this breaking news, Genie, is as we recall the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and so much talk about over the horizon targeting and over the horizon missions like us, we uh apparently have our first case. Yeah, and this looks like what we're gonna hear tonight. It's really stunning development. The President obviously has COVID, as you mentioned. They say he's going to speak outdoors because it will be in

the Blue Room balcony. But you know, you think about the fact that president will speak live at seven thirty pm Eastern time, that means this had to be a significant and successful attack. Um. And they mentioned the no civilian casualties. There's talk that it may have been c i A strikes And you know, it's stunning that if this was over the weekend, we're just hearing about it now.

But then not so stunning because of course, since the fall of Afghanistan or the fall of Kabble, we have not had a lot of good media sources and information coming out of there, So this is quite a development in the last few minutes. What's your reaction to this, Lester, when when you consider the idea that we had a feeling there'll be a lot of these following our withdrawal from Afghanistan that was going to be the new st rategy. This is the first a drone strike, the first publicly

known CIA strikes that we know about. Well, great question, Joe. I think probably best to reserve judgment and until we know more. I think it's I think it's an interesting decision by the administration to go so public on this. You know, basically a year after the government fell in Afghanistan and the Taliban took over, that was the beginning of President Biden's slide in the polls. Uh, this how

significant is this event? We will find out what was the role, if any, of the Taliban, what are what is the state of our conversations with them in terms of counter terrorism. This will all be very interesting to learn. Uh, And I really do hope the President has a lot of good news to share. But having said that, it's a very interesting decision. The timing, of course, coming rate about the time we think Speaker Pelosi is like to be in Taiwan, so there's a lot of stuff going

on right now here at the beginning of August. Well, what's your take on Pelosi's trip? Then, Genie, this is what I thought we'd be talking about at this moment she she could be on the ground within hours. I guess we should not be surprised. This is what Nancy Pelosi does. Yeah, I mean, she's been a long time China hawk. Um. You know, we can't forget that. Just last late last week, as this trip was being publicly discussed, the Congress passed the China Competition the Chips Act, and

so that was a big moment for her. This is somebody who for decades has been committed to defending Taiwan. Um. You know, some people are describing this as a culmination of her career as she faces potentially being ousted as Speaker of the House, and who knows if she will

leave the house shortly after that. So from that perspective, it is not stunning, but it is going to be an incredibly fraught twenty four to forty eight hours if we listen to the rhetoric coming out of Beijing, and of course now we're hearing it may be an overnight stay, which quite astounded me because you know, a couple hours on the ground is one thing, overnight stay is something else. And and you know, people are saying China is going to have to respond, and the question is how well,

it's going to be interesting. Uh, once we actually have the imagery, it's going to feel differently less. But when you heard the news, did you think it was a smart move? I think she had no choice. Um, she couldn't back down. And you know, let me just say, Joe, kudos to Speaker Pelosi. She she's got guts, she's got courage, she's standing up for the right thing. She's been very good on this issue throughout her career. And I just

I will just throw out there. A few months ago, right as Russia was invading Ukraine, it was Speaker Pelosi who stood up to the administration, to the Biden administration and said we're going to prohibit Russian oil imports into the United States Like she and and a whole bunch of other measures. She is the backbone and a lot of ways of this administration and the White House. In

a way, I ought to be thanking her. If Joe Biden hadn't said publicly that the military didn't think it was a good time for her to go, would she have been backed into a corner? I think if this hadn't become public. Of course, isn't that what made this an issue? If he hadn't said that, she could have rescheduled this. I think once it became public, she had to go uh. And and so the question might be, you know who, who leaked this? Why did they leak at? UH?

Congressional delegations like this or codels are always very closely held information, particularly to a sensitive destination like this. Genie, should the President not have said that, would we be having this conversation right now? It should not have been discussed publicly. I think that was a big problem, and it put us in a very difficult situation in China. People reporting they may move against Taiwan within the next year or so. That's a big, big trouble for the US.

Genie and Lester will stay with us as we learn more about the President's speech to the nation to night a successful counter terrorism attack, We'll have more ahead on Bloomberg as we consider what might come next from Nancy Pelosi. Is a parent trip to Taiwan not something that the

White House would confirm today. Strangely, I guess to a point because while the administration has to provide the travel and security, We've talked about this if you listen to sound on you know this, but John Kirby brief reporters today at the White House. Headlines have been flying for hours at that point they had to get out there to answer some questions, of course, and he was very adamant about the fact the White House supports this trip.

As you heard earlier this hour, there's precedent for this trip, and uh, nothing changes in terms of US China policy. Nobody has said anything that should create any drama, has been his point. But there was a live fire exercise last night, and Kirby did warn that there could be more where that came from here. He is China appears to be positioning itself to potentially take further steps in the coming days and perhaps over longer time. Her rises.

These potential steps from China could include military provocations such as firing missiles in the Taiwan Straight or around Taiwan, operations that break historical norms such as large scale air entry into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. None of that would, of course be very good. I had a chance to talk with him today, John Kirby with US Live on Bloomberg TV and Radio, and I started by asking him

what we were talking about earlier with the panel. If Nancy Pelosi is already going and this is being conducted very quietly. Why then would Joe Biden say publicly that the military thought this was a bad time. Here's where we start with, Johnny. I think the President was answering her question you got from a reporter that surrounded her the context of the kinds of information we give to

Speaker Pelosi before she travels. We met with her staff and with her at various levels before she made this trip to make sure that she could make the best decisions on her own. That she had all the information and context she needed, and the President was referencing that. But it is up to this speaker. She gets to decide what her travel it generator looks like. The President respects that, and I realized that that you are not confirming this trip, but if she does in fact show up.

You mentioned the fact that there were live fire exercises conducted by China last night, and you said that the country is positioning itself to potentially take further steps in the coming days. I spoke earlier, Admiral Today with Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who suggested that the U. S. S. Ronald Reagan was sent to the region in case Speaker Pelosi did visit Taiwan. Is that accurate? No, that Ronald Reagan UH is already forward deployed to the region. Her

her UH activities in the South China see we're long planned. Um. We keep a vigilant posture in the Indo Pacific because we need to. But it was not related to any potential visit by Speaker Pelosi. Admiral Kirby, you have preferred a few times, as you did in the briefing today, about consultations that the administration had with Speaker Pelosi's office

on the possibility that this may happen. Did you discuss any sort of overt actions or news conferences, or any activities that that she might be reluctant to conduct while there so as to not inflame tensions. Does the White House have any input on her activities while she is there. Our our job is to make sure she has all the information she needs and to make sure from a security perspective, that she can make a trip wherever it

is safely and securely. The Speaker decides what she's gonna do, where she's gonna go, what she's gonna say when she's on the ground. UM, we simply provided her information in context so that she can make decisions about her travel. General Millie has suggested that the Pentagon is prepared if she decides to go, to provide whatever security is necessary.

Can you just clarify for our listeners. But while I understand the White House is not behind this trip or making decisions on it, it is in fact the administration that would provide her transportation and secure She routinely travels aboard US military transportation aircraft. She is on this trip, so of course we help herget where she's going. Um and depending on where she's going, we might also be called in to help make sure that she can do

so safely and securely. I'm not going to talk about that what those protocols might be for a trip like this. I can just tell you that we are committed to making sure hey, she has all the information she needs and that and that when she travels, she can do so in a safe and secure way. Admiral, among the possible actions that that you predicted or or warned of, I should say in the briefing was a large scale incursion into Taiwan's airspace. If China did do something like that,

would there be a US military response. What I said was a potential large scale UH incursion into their air defense identification zone. That's different than their national uh not national, that's different than airspace. It's a air air defense identification zone. And again I don't want to speculate about US military act, but he's one way or another um that we we were going to watch this very very closely. There's no reason for it erupt into conflict, and I don't want

to speculate beyond that. Speaking with us from the White House a couple of hours ago here you heard it live on Bloomberg Radio as it happened. Wanted to spend that back just so you could get a sense of the conversation here in the language that Kirby and the administration are using around this. As we reassembled our panel with more to discuss now that we actually had a chance to hear from Admiral Kirby. We want to bring back Lester Munson from b g R Group and Genie Chanzano,

of course, Bloomberg Politics contributor. It's interesting, Genie, it's like the administration is talking about this as if it might learn that the speaker is going on the news with everyone else. But in fact they have to be involved in the planning. But why not just on this and say, you know what, We're gonna go to Taiwan anytime we want. Yeah, you know, clearly the President wasn't uh, you know, excited

about this trip. He wasn't supportive of the but you know, they sort of, I think publicly backed themselves into a corner. And I think the real question here, and it's so fascinating to hear from Kirby first hand, is what does this do about our sort of dual postures as it pertains to Taiwan. On the one hand, we keep saying we adhere to this one China policy. We hear Kirby saying that. On the other hand, we'd hear that the Taiwan's Relations Act, we're going to help them better defend themselves.

I've had people raised the issue what kind of defense is that? Is that a proxy defense or is that in actually going into defend as Again, we're hearing notes that China is you know, potentially at least White House officials concerned thinking about following Russia and going into Taiwan within the next year or so. Lester, what's this arrival gonna look like I mean, I'm not I'm assuming we're not going to do red carpets and orchestras and parades

and so forth. Is this going to look uh different than it would have otherwise if it were not for this conversation. Uh, you know, I don't think it's going to be that different. I strongly suspect we're not going to see it in real time, that the speaker will in fact get a very warm reception from the Taiwan and East. They're obviously very appreciative of the fact that she is visiting. They have a very strong relationship in general. And I think we're gonna we're gonna see this after

the fact, after she has left the island. Lester Months and Jeanie Schanzano come back with us as we reassemble the panel next with a lot more to talk about. We haven't even touched reconciliation and the challenge that lies before Democrats this week in the U S. Senate kirston Cinema is still not on board. I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg Sound On with Joe

Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The targets has been named. President Biden will tell the nation tonights and an address at seven thirty p m. Washington Time, that a successful US counter terrorism operation was carried out over the weekend in Afghanistan. The Associated Press that says that target was i'm An al Zawari, the terrorist known for being the leader of al Qaeda for what the last decade since two thousand eleven. Let's reassemble the panel for more as we anticipate what

the President might tell us. Bloomberg Politics contributor Jeanie Schanzano is with us today along with Lester months and of b g R Group. What does the President need to say? Genie? This isn't top of mind for a lot of Americans. There have been so many topics flying out of Washington. It's been difficult for people to kind of balance them all. Although I suspect that's why this is an evening address

and something that needs to be written deliberately. Getting back to my question, what does that speech need to include?

You know, I think he needs to tell us the facts, what happened, how it happened, to confirm that there were no civilian casualties, but I think what we're also going to hear is a little bit about what we've heard before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the last few months, which is from people from the d A, the d i A, and elsewhere who have said that ISIS and al Qaeda are between six months and a year or longer before they can have the ability or away from

having the ability to attack Western targets, including the United States. In other words, they remain a real threat. And we've heard that repeatedly in some of these committees. That news doesn't often get out to the public given everything going on. So I think the President is going to talk about that, and this is a significant development. If this is what the president talks about, As you mentioned, this will be just the second transition in al Qaeda leadership in thirty years.

And he has led this group since Osama bin Laden was killed. Yeah, well so again even more than a decade. Uh I'll Zawari is not a household name in this country though Leicester. But this is a big deal. How does the president elevate the moment to match the target? Well, this is a potentially big moment for President Biden, right, if true, is the successor to Ben Laden as the leader of al Qaeda. Notably, Joe Biden when he was Vice president, opposed the operation that actually killed Bin Laden

in Pakistan's many years ago. So let's hear about his decision making process, about how this happened, the role of the Taliban, if any how this was carried out. Has he become a different decision maker than he was back in That will be very interesting to find out. We're going to get the photograph from the situation room and the rest that comes with this, or although I guess, you know, now that I think about a genie, the

President's had COVID, he was probably on a zoom screen. Yeah, he could have been, And that's going to be you know, interesting to see, you know, for the president. This is also critically important because one of the big missteps, if is saying it's sort of mildly of his tenures so far has been the withdrawal from Afghanistan. And what he promised at that point was even though we don't have troops on the ground, we would be able to this

over horizon strike capability to take out threats. And he is going to be able to make good on that if indeed that's what we're gonna here tonight. So this is going to a big moment for him to address his critics in terms of the the not necessarily nature of the withdrawal, but the ability to you know, live up to the promises he made. Well, that's true. And with regard to Over the Horizon, Lester, there was a

lot of argument about that. You were here for some of it on sound on about whether this was a responsible strategy or or it would be the US lobbin more cruise missiles in the countries that create more terrorists. This, this particular case, looks like a win if you're if if you're getting the head of the organization, Over the Horizon sounds pretty good. It does sound pretty good if if this all bears out, and because early reports are accurate,

it's it's terrifically good news in the United States. It's good news, uh for for the president. Um, but I do think we should put this, you know, and and kudos to him if if that's how all this came out. Let's see this in the broader picture of our efforts against terrorism globally, though, what what else is happening in Afghanistan? What are the other consequences of our withdrawal. This is one event. It may be a very significant one, but we do need to kind of put it in the

constellation of all of the other information that we have. Yeah, that's a that's for sure. If if this is going to be the moment though that that you've kind of described, it could be as this is, well, this is a big deal. As Joe Biden might say, how important is the writing of that speech versus the delivery? Does he need to have a line that we remember tomorrow? Is this one of those moments in the administration that will be part of the real you know? Um, Joe Biden

is an interesting communicator. I think you have to say. There are times when he seems, you know, like he's he's a little too old, and he's maybe he's lost a step and he kind of messes steps on some lines. There's other times when he is very real and connects to Americans and has that kind of blue collar, uh, you know, make your own way kind of attitude about things.

I think he needs to get in touch with that Joe Biden, that real guy from Scranton who's you know, who's able to go talk to the union guys at the plant about gun control when they don't want to hear about it. He's he's got to kind of get into the Joe Biden that won this election and not the guy who has been a little overmanaged by his staff. Well, my goodness, he is an isolation genie. I don't know if that if that affects anything here, but there are

a couple of different ways to look at this. You know that that he's powering through that, he's the example of what all workers ought to be, uh to aspire to if they come down with COVID, you know, you're pushing through it. But this rebound case is something that got a lot of talk over the weekend. You know, he's stuck up there in the residents. Apparently he's going to be speaking to us from the Blue Room balcony. As we mentioned at the top of the program, how

do you look like you're still connected? Well, he's been trying as they've sent out these videos and these pictures, and then there's been some discus was masking and unmasking, and you know, I think the point tonight for the president, there's nothing more important from any president, Democrat or Republican that they keep the nations secure from internal and external

security threats. And so tonight, if he can show that he took down with the help of the obviously the the U. S Military, the CIA, this enormous threat in terms of the leader of al Qaeda, that is a big deal, as Joe Biden likes to say, and it is something that all Americans can you end, people around the world, as Lester mentioned, can unite behind. And again I think we have to be cautious because we're just hearing these reports. We don't know what he's going to say.

But if that's the case, I think he will be able to show that kind of strength, even given his second bout with COVID, which he's been trying to you know, push through. So I done properly, Lester, This not only announces a successful counter terrorism operation, but it serves, as you know the photograph with the newspaper today, he gets up there and shows the world that he has not been compromised by COVID, even though this is a rebound and there are some concerns about his age. Well and Joe,

it shows he's the most consequential policymaker in Washington. Because I gotta say until about an hour ago, I would have said that was Speaker Pelosi. She's the one determining the agenda on Taiwan, she was the one pushing for the tough line on Ukraine. Joe Biden, You've got a chance to kind of return to being the alpha. One thing he's not talking about tonight is reconciliation, Genie. Uh, Joe Manchin did the the full Ginsburg. Although I read it in the playbook, it's not really unless you do

it in person. You actually have to drive from network studio to network studio. But what a messenger, uh, you know, and Joe Biden is spinning a lot of plates at the moment. Kirsen Cinema, as I mentioned before, still has not committed to this deal, and it's been quite a number of days. I'm sure her voicemail is full. Genie, how does Joe Biden manage this? On top of that? You know? Yeah, it was fascinating to seem man and the other Joe. Um, you're are Joe, but the other

Joe in in Washington out on all the Sunday shows. Um. Uh. You know, I think that Joe Biden has tried purposely, to purposefully to stay behind the scenes. He's been you know, we were here, he's been working the phones. They really do need to get Kristen Cinema on board. And I think one big danger this is a very good time for Democrats this last few days, but one big danger is they can't, you know, issue a victory party or a victory signed prematurely and have this thing fall through

and there's major bumps in the road. You still have the bird Bath and you've got Kristen Cinema, and then you've got to get this thing through the House. So if I was the president, I think he should stay behind the scenes and push as much as he can forward without sort of going out and claiming a victory on reconciliation until it's all done. It's on his desk.

I don't get about this whole conversation here. Uh, just I'm reminded every time I see Joe Manchin on Sunday Morning Lester that this isn't done yet and all if things could still go wrong, Well there's this sort of victory lap that's happening. Uh, let's listen to him on ABC. This is Joe Manchon. When he was asked like, hey, what about kirston cinema. You guys did this without her,

as she had saying this, here's Joe Manchin. I haven't had any conversations with anybody doing the process because I wasn't ever sure that we would get to the finale here to get a completed bill. There's nothing on taxes at all. There's not one one penny of change in taxes. I have no idea where they're coming at. That was the other refrains who no new taxes, just closing loophole's lester, does this have a better chance than build back better?

When it comes to the senator from Arizona, you don't know, uh. And I do take a little bit of issue with laying us on Joe Manchon. This is Chuck Schummer's job. He's the majority leader to bring people together to this. That's right, he was and it's his job to know where the folks were most likely to be the stray cats are going, and he's got to keep them in the full that's his number one job. This is on

Chuck Schumer. This is not on Joe Mansion. This is this is the majority of leaders obligation in that position to keep his caucus together. His first call should have been to Senator Cinema. You's got to say something in the next couple of days. Genie, how much time does she have. She'll have to speak rather quickly, and we know Kristen Cinema she doesn't like to speak a lot, but she's going to be forced out. Reporters are going

to be crawling. Lester, great to have you, thank you for being with us, and of course Jeannie Chantano, politics contributor, on what's going to be an important night, Joe Biden addressing the nation seven thirty pm. As we've been discussing on sound on, we'll meet you back here tomorrow talk about it. This is Bloomberg