Sound On: Dems Help MAGA Candidate Win, WH Climate Pledge

governor in Maryland. Welcome to the fastest Hour in politics, the day after a primary that was a microcosm for the mid terms. We'll talk with Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report. Coming up, President Biden travels to New England today announcing new climate initiatives, but stopped short of declaring a climate emergency. We'll discuss a challenged agenda with Alice Hill, Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment at the Council on Foreign Relations. Analysis from our signature panel.

They're both here today Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeanie Chanzano and Rick Davis. Was a clear win for Dan Coxlaw last night in Maryland. He won the Republican gubernatorial primary thanks in part or largely depending on how you look at this to a big endorsement. I want to thank President Trump at the victory party last night, putting Cox about fifteen points ahead of establishment Republican candidate Kelly Schltz was endorsed by her former boss, the outgoing Governor Larry Hogan.

It's unclear who Cox will face with a Democratic field, a big one that's still too close to call, although author Wes Moore, you know, the endorsed by Oprah Winfrey is actually in the league in a group of believers that we as a state can be bolder, that we can move faster, that we can do this, and we

can do this work together. Now the state begins counting mail in ballots tomorrow, and uh we get into some of the results here from last night, and also follow the money in Maryland with Jessica Taylor, who joins us once again on this day after the primary, Senate and Governor's editor for the Cook Political Report. It's great to have you back, Jessica, welcome. How long do we think it might take to learn who won the Democratic nomination?

Well Morris ahead of former d n C chairman and former Obama Labor secretary Tom Perez by about ten point, and we saw a much heavier Democratic mail in voting than Republicans, which is sort of the trend we have been seeing. Um So, if this counting starts tomorrow, if there's a clear trait sort of that I expect, if you know that sort of ten point maybe a little closer margin continues, I think we could see it, you know, called within a couple of days. After that we're just

on clear half after they're going to count too. So that's that's become an issue. Of course. Lately, I want to ask you about who actually bankrolled Dan Cox's campaign though, because this is this would be whomever the Democratic nominee is there referred rival right. Much has been made of the fact that the Democratic Governor's Association dumped over a million dollars. I think it was closer to two million

dollars into ads and mailer's for Dan Cox. If we can say that they were critical through the eyes of a Democrat, but you know, they they emphasized his ties to Trump, and the idea is that Democrats would be able to run against the person they saw as the weaker candidate. They used an ad campaign called Meet Dan Meet Dan Cox, Donald Trump's hand pick candidate for Maryland Governor Cox worked with Trump trying to prove the last election was a fraud. One pent pro life. He's finding

an end abortion in Maryland. You get the pushing his connections to Trump helped to draw Trump supporters to his side. This is not a new strategy, of course, Jessica. Democrats did this in other states already in this cycle Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and both parties Democrats and Republicans have done this over the decades. Here, Kelly Shaltz, who lost last night, calls it manipulation. MISSI right, Well, different writs are right, and this is the same message they would use in a

general election. Of course, this is a state that Trump lost by thirty three points in so you know, it's sort of the backhanded way that he is that is more effective with Republican primary voters and then you, by effect, get the weaker nominee um. Now, this has been somewhat controversial, and you know closer states where they've tried this because they're saying, you know, you have election deniers and people

that they say with threaten democracy. But given the heavily Republican environment, we expect in November, those people could still very much win. It's not a in a state like Maryland that is pretty solidly blue. Listen, if Schroltz had one, um, she was in the MOLDI Larry Hogan, like we have a there's a tried in true way that blue states have elected Republican governors and they have to be models

and they have to be Centrists. That's the reason why have Larry Hogan that was handily re elected in ethan and democratic year. Um, the governor of Vermont is a Republican. You know, it's hard to think of. You know, you have Bernie Sanders and a Republican governor from his state. Look at Charlie Baker in Massachusetts where the where the president was today. But I guess that raises the question, then, Jessica,

is this does does that nominee? Then if Democrats are are thumbing the scale to get a MAGA candidate in there, that candidate doesn't necessarily represent the Republicans who live in that state. So so that is technically manipulating the outcome. But then again welcome to politics. Well, if we look at the attorney general's primary there too, where you did not see such spending um it turned out to be

about the same margin. So I think we just see the Republican Party as a whole ones that are more like more likely to vote in primary that they are more conservative, and they are more closely tied to the Trump space. I mean Hogan and Baker's popularity there. It doesn't come necessarily from Republicans, is from Independence and Democrats,

and that's how you have filled a winning coalition. So I think even if Democrats cannot spend in this, I still think the outcome probably would have been the same with Cox winning, just because that is how we see that the Republican Party and these the prime electorate is more conservative. Yeah, that's a great point. Then, knowing that that Kelly Schultz would have likely been a more formidable

candidate against any Democratic nominee. Right, Larry Hogan had the recipe that you just pointed out, and it requires Democrats to vote for you in the general. Right, And we mentioned Baker there in Massachusetts. Trump waited into that race. This is a race that would have stayed solid Republican in our ratings if Baker had run for a third term.

Hogan didn't have that option because the term limits but Trump endorsed his primary challenger that there was a very good chance he was going to lose too, so he decided retirement. We moved both of these races, and our ratings changes today just solid Democrats. There were instances where

Republicans could have possibly held on the of VC. I think definitely if Baker were running in Massachusetts, if Sholt had one UM, you know, it would be competitive at least given this environment, and you know whether she debate back and forth and whether she can sort of recreate that Hogan magic, but it at least would have been competitive. Instead, these are two Republican health states that are going to

all but surely flipped to Democrats in the fall. And it's because Trump has weighted in picked weaker candidates UM and he's cost Republicans to two governors racist flat out. Yeah, well, it's a great point that you're making, though, I mean, I know that this is just the business of politics for you, Jessica, but for some of our listeners, that's incredible.

You guys moved the Cook Political Report, moved this race in Maryland too, Leans Democratic, not even knowing who the Democratic nominee will be because it doesn't matter we moved it to solid it was solid Democratic. Yes, because because it doesn't matter, literally doesn't matter who Dan Cox will face, It really does not. He is the type of he is the complete one eight from the type of Republican

that can even be remotely competitive in a blue statelight Maryland. Well, I guess that tells us a lot about where we are here. I won't ask you about Jeff Deal. I don't think that name has come up on this program either, that that that would be the Republican running for governor in Massachusetts. Not a prayer, Jessica. He's running against Maura Healey, the the attorney general in the state, is very popular. She is She would actually be the first openly lesbian

governor UM if she wins as expected. So yeah. Also, again, I'm not sure Healey would have run if Baker was going to run again, especially given the political environment. But again, if Baker would have run again, I truly believe he would have won. But without him, and you know, his lieutenant governor passed on the race. Jeff Deal very much in the same mold as Dan Cox. Massachusetts has has elected centrist Republican governors before Bill Well, Mitt Romney, Mit Romney.

That's right, not in that realm uh not lost on us, by the way, that Charlie Baker did not attend the presidential event today in Somerset, mass I don't believe the Lieutenant governor was there either. It was the was the Democratic delegation. But that's the way things are sometimes in Massachusetts, says We spend time with Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report. Jessica, I want to ask you about the

Pence effect here and if there actually is one. We saw Mike Pence, of course succeed in in in at least choosing the right side in the gubernatorial primary in Georgia, but he's getting more involved. He's endorsed to Candida to to run against the Trump picked candidate for governor in Arizona. And we just learned today is gonna be speaking at the Heritage Foundation on Monday here in Washington. That's gonna

be coinciding with Donald Trump's big comeback event. He's doing a two day conference in which he'll be the keynote speaker on Tuesday. First time he's in town since leaving the White House. Is Mike Pence rising on the campaign trail? Listen if you were anti Donald Trump or maybe like something and sent away, then you can see that I think that he stood up and did what was right. On January six, you were not going to vote for

Donald Trump again, and at least a primary already. But I just given where Trump stands, I think your phone might be given up on us here, Jessica, Jessica Taylor. I do appreciate the insights, as always cook political reports, Senate and Governor's Editor. Maybe we can get to Jessica back if we can clean up the line here. But this is something that we need to talk about, and

we will do it with the panel. First. I was going to tell you about the Trump event next week, and this is actually this is a it's a riot. It's going to be over the course of two days here at a hotel in downtown Washington. It's I believe it's a make a build. I don't remember what we're doing to America, but it's a it's a like a mega event that you with an obvious title. I'll pull

this up in a second. Here. Uh, he's going to be talking for the first time here, surrounded by members of Congress, former Trump administration officials who support what he has to say about the election. The day earlier at the Heritage Foundation, you're gonna have Mike Pence talking, So this is gonna be kind of a Pence v. Trump set up next week that we'll be talking a lot more about him. We'll do that with the panel coming up.

Jeanie Chanzano and Rick Davis are with us Bloomberg Politics contributors. As we say thank you again at Jessica Taylor from the Cook Political Report, and I mentioned President Biden in New England today, jumped on Air Force one uh to Somerset, Massachusetts, not far from beautiful Rhode Island, and we'll tell you why he did not declare a climate emergency as many predicted, but trying to loosen up the market for windmills. Will tell you what he was doing there at a former

coal plant in New England. It's great to be back with you. Thanks for joining us on the fastest hour in politics. Our panels up next, This is Bloomberg Tomorrow, Bloomberg's David Weston speaks with Bank of America's CEO Brian moynahan. The account bounce of the consumer pre pandemic to now are multiple figures tune in tomorrow at Knew on Balance of Power. Our small business originations are up here every year. Bank of America's CEO, Brian Moynahan small business consumers. Are

they worried about inflation yet? Because every time they opened a paper, the paper says worried about inflation? Tomorrow anew on Bloomberg, e Love and Trio, the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg Radio dot Com. You're listening to Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. So did Democrats do something untoward in Maryland? Or is that just the game of politics? After all, they did get an election

Denier elected while they helped get him elected. Dan Cox beat the preferred Republican establishment candidate, Kelly Schultz in what was not a close race in this primary in Maryland, up by fifteen points or so, and he talked to the A P when it was done. Democrats are afraid.

I think the progressive Democrats see our candidacy is the only one willing to stand up and articulate the values that everyone loves in Maryland, the progressive values of bigger government, of more lockdowns, of vaccine, passports of jobs, for jobs. These are out the window, and my administration endorsed by Donald Trump, bankrolled in part by the Democratic Governors Association, which preferred to run against him, even though we do

not have a Democratic nominee yet. And so we just heard from Jessica Taylor Cook Political Report put this in the Strong Democratic column based on what happened last night. Let's assembled our panel. I missed both of them. Rick Davis with us from New York. Genie Shenzano is here in Washington, d C. Bloomberg Politics contributors. Did you ever pull one of these, Rick, when you were running campaigns, start to put money behind the candidate you would hope

to face. You know, I don't think we ever use financial resources. They were always you know, sort of too valuable to our own candidate. But we certainly elevated other candidates in the sense of, you know, saying nice things about them on a stump or you know, being flattering to them in a debate, But not so much like what we've seen in the Democratic Party's efforts this time around, especially with candidates who in other times would have been

considered fringe candidates. In other words, what happens if lightning strikes and this person actually gets elected. What a disaster that would be for the state in the country. So I think this is planned with fire, and I and I'm, I'm just my own instinct is that it's a little too cute by half. Do you worry a genie about who might get elected? Is this to be careful what

you ask for? I think it is um. You know, the Democrats are essentially banking on the fact that these far right Trump candidates that they're you know, investing quite frankly in some cases millions of dollars in on the Democratic governor's association that they will you know, be easier to beat. But of course that has worked out in some cases. People talk a lot about Claire McCaskill's run as being an example when that has worked out. But the fear here is it may not always work out.

And I think Mastriano in Pennsylvania is a really good example. We don't know yet that's going to be a tough race, but in this environment, they are playing with fire. But the real concern here is that you've got Democrats on the January six Committee who have you know, put essentially their careers on the line in some cases who are making the case about the danger this these people pose to democracy itself. And I think that those two things

make this really problematic and hypocritical. And you know, we saw people like David Brooks and the New York Times call out the Democrats on that, and I don't think voters are going to pay much attention, but I do think it is a dangerous game to be playing. But again, you do whatever you can with the resources you have to win a race here, right Rick. I mean at some point it's welcome to the NFL, isn't it. Yeah.

I mean each strategy has a risk associated with it, and in the risk in this case is that you help one of these French candidates get denomination and they win, and so you just gravitate toward whatever the less risky approaches. I honestly, I think they could have saved a million bucks because they were likely to win a governor's race in um, you know, in Maryland anyway, and so I use a million dollars to try and influence a primary

that's probably not going to matter at the end. So I I really wonder what their strategy is because I think they're just playing along the edge and they're creating this conflict within their own party on values and and Genie's right. I mean, they've they've invested so heavily in these January six areas where the point is that the kind of rhetoric that Donald Trump is using is hurtful to the democracy, and yet they're putting money behind it. So I think that's a bit of a conflict they're

gonna have trouble resolving. Will be a heck of a story if one of the wins. To your point, but you put, boy, you know, when you listen to Uh Jessica talk about this Genie for Cook to put this, this is why people hate Washington. Right, First of all, you've got one party trying to bankroll the other one to try to gain the system. Then the Cook Political report puts this in the strongly democratic column without knowing

who the Democratic nominee will be. Has this become that predetermined, you know, in the case of Maryland, to Rick's point, it has it has its own model like that. I mean, this is this is why people don't trust us, and quite frankly, this is why people decide not to go to the polls. And and that to me is really troubling. You know, I live in New York, and that is essentially in many areas, a one party or one district state. You know, you win the primary and Alexandrocazio Cortes is district,

that is it. There's no battle new York City, very very you know, there have been battles, but it's a few and far between. So that, to me is is a problem from a Democratic perspective, because we want to health parties to be contesting people to get out and to make their choice, and that's not what is happening in many of these states. And you know, I think

Cook is is actually right. Whoever wins the Democratic primary, if it's Westmore, whoever it is, they are going to likely win the governorship, which, to Rick's point, makes this millions of dollars spent trying to boost cox Um, you know, a little bit questionable. But you know, maybe Democrats feel they have more at risk than Cook does. So does this then mean Rick, the end of the of the

moderate to the extent that Jessica was discussing. You think of the moderate Republican governor in a blue state, the Larry Hogan, the Charlie Baker, the Mitt romneyar Bill, Well, we don't do those anymore then no. I must say, though, I have to take a shot at the Cook Report because Charlie Cook said that John McCain's campaign was dead and buried when they failed in the summer, right before we came back and won the nomination. I must say that that was one of my higher points on seeing

Charlie after we won the nomination. Very good. This is why we have Rick Davis and Jennie Chanzano our signature panel. They're with us for the hour. As we turned to what the President was up to today on a plane in New England to talk about the climate. Alice Hill will join us from the Council on Foreign Relations. This is Bloomberg, the old Braton Point Power Station and Somerset mass was the setting today as President Biden left the bubble to talk about his climate agenda. I come here

today with a message. As president, I have a responsibility to act with urgency and resolve when our nation faces clear and present danger. And that's what climate change is about. It is literally, not figuratively, a clear and president danger. The health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake. The uns leading international climate scientists call the latest climate report nothing less than quote code read for

humanity code read. But as I read on the terminal with an eye toward retaining Joe Mansions support for some measures, remember her build back better light. President Biden held back on declaring a formal climate emergency, which just a couple of days ago was the big headline. That's what he was going to do today, even though no one knew exactly what that meant. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean

Pierre was certainly asked about it. What the President wants to continue to do is make sure that we're lowing energy costs for the American family. Again, everything is on the table. I'm not going to go into private discussions at policy discussions or get ahead of the president. That was Karine Jean Pierre in the briefing room at the White House yesterday. Reporters kept coming back around, but wait

a minute, so no climate. She brought it up, by the way, that there would be no climate emergency, and so reporters kept asking, well why, and by the way, what would that be. Declaring at public health emergency is very different from declaring a climate emergency. Each unlocks a different set of authorities and a different pot of funding. Uh.

And so that's one way to to think about that. UM. So you know, one of the reasons I wanted to bring this up because we've heard this, and so comparing one against the other as a reflection of priority would not be would not be accurate. But again, it's on the table, on the table we heard about what was on the table repeatedly declaring the climate natural emergency. UM. Right now, Like I said, UM, it's not on the table for this week, not on the table just this week.

The President under pressure to meet campaign promises of aggressive action. Look, this agenda has been kind of beaten up lately with the call for oil companies to start producing more to try to get gas prices down. We're in a different world than this campaign thought it would be before Joe

Biden came into the White House. That's what happens. But we do wonder where this agenda could go, and that's why we wanted to talk with Alice Hill, Senior Fellow for Energy in the Environment of the Council on Foreign Relations. Alice welcome. We're reminded almost daily basis here that the midterm elections are just a couple of months off and the President's climate agenda could be on the rocks at

that point. What can he get done then with Joe Mansion between now and then, well, Joan VanIn has been sending mixed signals, but the latest signal appears to be that there might be room for climate in the build back that are reconciliation package. You know, that appears to be a great interest because, uh, there has been a little bit of rollback, as you said, from the Biden

administration on this effort to declare a national emergency. We can expect more regulation from the administration, but of course the Supreme Court has indicated that with regard to climate and the Environmental Protection Agency, UH, their risk of having the major questions doctor and imposed, which pretty much says climate is something that the legislature, the US Congress should be directing the agencies to work. Was important. You have a sense though, of what the what would a climate

emergency do? It would unlock funding, but what would we do with it? But unlock funding, it would allow for greater use of resources, switching resources among federal agencies, as well as allow for greater urgency within the departments to act It probably would be coupled with the Defense Production Act as well as increased regulation efforts as well. This National emergency has been around for fifty years every president. Uh,

many presidents have used it. Uh they're forty one the declarations out there, and Trump used it effectively with the border. So there's some thoughts that the president would have used it here a climate emergency. What what we did get, by the way, was a move to expand wind power generation and the available availability easy for me to say of efficient home cooling systems that this plant Brighton I don't know if you're familiar with it, uh, Brighton Point.

It looks like something out of the Simpsons. You get the big smokestacks, you know, on the horizon there right next to the water. It was a coal uh fired power plant open in the nineteen sixties. And they're gonna turn this into an operation that's going to make these massive cables for wind generation. Uh Am, I being too much of a wise guy here was this actually progress today? Alice?

How meaningful was the announcement? His announcements, I thought, we're not particularly we're boss, other than perhaps the offshore wind release opportunity in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Uh. He did say that SEAMA could distribute two billion dollars, which is a lot

of money to build cooling centers. But that's really seems more in response to what we're experiencing right now, that the states of hundred million people under heat warnings UM and then also some three eight million for hard to do some air conditioning work. That seems much more responsive to what's happening right now than the long term agenda. Not not likely to get gas prices lower either, I presume I don't think so. Yeah. The biden To news

station has been hit with a number of political subtacts. Uh, and they're running out time. Alice, I'm glad you could join us come back again when we when we know more about this emergency, because they say it's still possibly coming. Alice Hill, Senior Fellow for Emergency and Environment Council on Foreign Relations, helping us put things in perspective. God, I could have used a cooling center today in the Russell

Senate office building. It's hot and d C. If you haven't heard Sometimes the A C you don't even know if it's on but I digress. Well, you assemble the panel next, Rick and Genie cooling their heels, and we'll weigh in on what we just talked about, as well as news that the President will meet with President she in the next ten days, news breaking as we speak on the fastest hour in politics. Stay right here. I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. I know a lot about when.

I know a lot about wind. If it doesn't blow, you can forget about television for that night, Darling, I want to watch television. I'm sorry, the wind isn't blowing. And they say the noise courses cancer. You tell me that one, Okay, you know the thing makes it so if you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations, your house just went down value. You know, we have a world, right, so the world is tainting compared to the universe. Tremendous. If you're into this, tremendous films are

spewing into the atmosphere. And then all of a sudden it stops the wind and the television's go off, and your wives and husband said, Garling, I want to watch Donald Trump on television tonight. But the wind stopped blowing, and I can't watch. There's no electricity in the house. Darling.

You forget what a routine he had. I mean, this is like every time he spoke, he got the wrap on windmills, and I just thought, my goodness, if we're talking about Joe Biden laying down new initiatives to prompt more wind energy in this country, he was up in New England. If you're just joining us there talking about this old coal fired power plant that they're going to turn into an operation that will make cables for wind farms. Jennie Schanzano, of course, was listening along with me here

in Washington. D see. She's part of our signature panel. Rick Davis is in New York Bloomberg Politics Contributors. Uh. He even had you going as the Democrat, Genie. I mean, this is the I don't know what it was about that routine, but it always got the room going. You forgot you had a stand up comedian for president in Yeah, you've brought back a lot of memories. He's been talking about windmills that cause cancer. He's been talking about them

killing birds. They're a stand in for green energy initiatives. They break. You have to replace him every ten years, he goes on in so thank you for the property. The thing is here though, Look, this is a sticky subject for Joe Biden Rick Davis. Gas prices are not going to come down because of what he announced today. Um, he does say that this will create jobs, but we're talking about a long term transition. Should he be holding

events at this point in the game about wind energy? Yeah, I think there was just some expectation that he was going to say something on climate this week. There's a lot of pressure in his party to do something, and as you talk about earlier in the show, tons of pressure to declare an emergency. And I think they just sort of looked into the tool kit and said, what do we got that we could throw out here today? And this was really a weak attempt at trying to

feed the beast. Uh. I think he did more a year ago by having wind uh put up outside of Martha's vineyard than than he's doing today announcing this this future plan for the golf So, I don't know. I I didn't see it as like going to satisfy anybody who was concerned about the fact that they're they've lost the initiative on climate. Well, I'll tell you he's he'll have to do the climate emergency Genie right, He's essentially telegraphed that two progressives who want to see this happen.

Do you expect an announcement next week on that? You know, he is under so much pressure. We heard from Murky, we heard from several representatives and senators they want and not to mention the base who want him to go bold on this, you know, calling this climate emergency. And there are there are positives for him of doing it,

but there's also real political challenges there. You know, what happens if he does this and he raises oil prices in the US as they merch into a mid term and our European allies fighting with Russia, you know, supporting Ukraine in this fight with Russia, have their prices go up as well. That's just one of the many political problems. What about is you know, if the Supreme Court, you know, takes away his ability to do this under this major

questions doctor and there's a whole host of challenges. He knows that the White House knows that. That's why I think they've been a little bit slow on this. He may get pushed into doing this. I think it is bad politics. I don't think he should do it. Well, I'll tell you it sounds like it's coming though, Rick, So who do you satisfy on this one? And and do progressives deserve something from this White House before things shut down after the mid terms? Yeah, I think that certainly.

With the pen you know, the number of things that are brewing in Capitol Hill right now, I think it probably pays this administration to sort of keep focus on the legislative agenda, and these executive actions aren't really good amount too much. You know, Look, climate is a relatively safe place for this administration, right they can talk about it without cross pressuring their base, the moderates. You know, I think it's important too, along with the progressives, and

and it's not going to strange any independent voters. If anything, it's probably helpful. So from a political point of view, you can talk about this stuff all day long. It just doesn't look very competent. You know, when he talks about doing big things, and he likes to talk about doing big things, and then when he announces it, it's not at all a big thing. One thing he did

announce apparently inadvertently today. I don't even want to say that there are questions about whether he meant to say this in the speech, Uh, that he that he has cancer. If you do a Google news search on this, you'll see what I'm seeing. Everyone has picked up this story at this point. Let's listen to what President Biden actually said. My mother drove us and rather than us be able to walk and guess what the first frost, you know

what was happening. You've had to put on your Winshure wipers to get literally the ORL slick off the window. That's why I had so damn any other people I grew up have cancer and why can't. For the longest time, Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation. The r n C Republican National Committee just tweeted that clip. It says, did Joe Biden just announced he has cancer? Uh? Did that just sound like a slip? Genie? What's going

on here? I think it was a Biden slip. He said I grew up with have cancer, and you know, I think he misspoke. It's an unfortunate statement for him to make. They're gonna have to very quickly and very clearly clarify what he was trying to say. Because, of course, the issue of Joe Biden's health, Joe Biden's age and the stumbles he has made and keeps making in his speaking engagements have people, namely Democrats, really concerned about his ability to move forward into four. So this was an

unfortunate error. Um, I'm assuming just a miss you know, he misspoke, but they've got to correct this. He did have melanoma, Rick, is this something the White House needs to talk about. They're gonna have to clarify it. But as you say, Joe, I mean he had melanoma. I mean he's it's not a it's not a secret that Joe Biden had cancer. Um, he had a brain tumor taken out. He's had melanoma, so he was in there. Apparently he was. But if you know, my goodness, the

RNC doesn't miss a beat. But to your point, Genie, this is something that keeps coming up. Came up in a in a hearing. Uh just yesterday, How's Transportation Committee Representative Troy Nell's, Republican from Texas, not a fan of Joe Biden. Uh is talking with Transportation Secretary Pete Buddha Jag. They talked for a long time by the way about about enacting the infrastructural law. They were talking about roads and bridges and stuff, and and then this happened. He

shakes hands with ghosts and imaginary people. He falls off bicycles. Even at the White House Easter celebration, the Easter Bunny had to guide him back into his safe place que cards that say sit here or end of speech, which he actually states, that is if he stays awake. So my question for you is, sir, have you spoken with any other cabinet members about implementing the twenty five Amendment? On President Biden? First of all, I'm glad to have

a president who can ride a bicycle. And I will look beyond the insulting nature of that question and make clear to you that the President of you spoken to and course habinant members about implementing the amendment. President Biden, have you emailed have you emailed any members with the excutive Branch about the president's health? Of presidents the United States? Fluting text message boss as I have figured of working with? What about a political appointees that ud have you spoken about?

Gentleman's time has expired? That's how that ended. What are we doing here? Genie is that are we working on a TV commercials at a political ad of the make or a legitimate question? You know, in that context it's a political added is show voting, But the issue is real. Look at the New York Times poll which found you know, about sixty of Democratic voters say they're concerned about Joe Biden's ability to run and serve a second term. That's Democrats.

And you know there was the piece by Peter Baker almost the same weekend talking about it. Robert Reich, who so many of us respect, came out and said flatly, Joe Biden is too old to run, So age health are a real concern. At seventy nine, he's the oldest president and so if he was to run and serve two terms, he'd be eighties six by the time his second term ended. So Americans have a right to think about the health and the age of their president. So he's going to have to address these issues if he

does decide to run. But it's a real issue. I don't know if if all of those were fair, Rick, but there's nothing fair in politics. Is this this refrain or these questions going to get louder by republic kins as we go sure, Joe. I mean, as you point out, nothing's fair in politics, and and certainly not during a congressional hearing. So I think you'll you'll hear this. Look, nobody ever even heard of the twenty fifth Amendment until

Donald Trump became president. Next thing, you know, we're all studying the Constitution and and so, uh, yeah, this is just a thing of the day. You know, we used to investigate administrations. Now we impeach them pretty regularly. Now what's better than impeachment throw him out with his own cabinet. So yeah, you know, unfortunately it is part of the narrative these days, and and and since it's been in the news a lot lately because of other cabinet members

in the Trump administration having looked into the twenty fifth Amendment. Um, you know, Republicans feel compelled to sort of put this administration on the spot. It's a total waste of perfectly good taxpayer time, if you're curious. By the way, as The Washington Post pointed out this morning, Nail's assisted Capital police in barricading the Capital entrance as insurrection is trying to storm the building on the sixth of January. Uh, this was the day you know, they were voting to certify.

But while he called the insurrection of disgrace, he also voted to overturn Joe Biden's victory. Genie, thank you. Great to see a d c Rick in New York. Rick Davis our signature panel. I'm Joe Matthew and Washington. Great to be back with you today. God it goes by quick, but then again, it's the fastest hour in politics. We'll meet you back here tomorrow, Primetime, January six. Committee. I'm Joe Matthew and this is Bloomberg.