Sound On: DeSantis Fundraising, Cheney Targets Election Deniers

on politics, policy and perspective from DC's top names. Florida is the state where woke goes to die, and we don't say to Senator One is where you hit Scaracap. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. China resumes military drills around Taiwan after another US delegation to the island. Welcome to the fastest hour in politics, as tensions rise across the region. Will be joined by a member of that delegation. Just back. Democratic Congressman John Garamendi

serves on the House Services Committee. Later, electoral politics on this primary eve. Florida Governor Ronda Santis running unopposed in tomorrow's primary, but he's raising more money than Donald Trump. Will talk about why and his impacts in these elections with Republican strategist Adam Goodman. Analysis from our panel. The signature panel in place. Jeanie Schanzano and Rick Davis are Bloomberg Politics contributors. The delegations just keep coming in Taiwan.

It's been a busy airport lately. After Nancy Pelosi's, of course, much heralded visit, this time an American governor shows up, Eric Holcomb of Indiana, arriving in Taipei for what he calls an economic development trip, something that would not typically make any news. And by the way, it's the second time he's gone no, it didn't make news the first time. That follows The latest congressional delegation just last week included our next guest. As a matter of fact, Congressman John Garamendi.

It was led by Senator Ed Markey, the Democrat of Massachusetts. Here's markis, as the group met with Taiwan's president side at this moment of uncertainty, we must do everything we can to maintain peace and stability for Taiwan. We have a moral obligation to do everything we can to prevent an unnecessary conflict, and Taiwan has demonstrated incredible restraint and discretion during challenging times. The reaction from China, guess what

more drills? China's Eastern Theater Command says immediately after its organizing war patrols and combat drills in the sen air space around Taiwan. It's it's Senior Colonel Shi Yi, calling it a stern deterrent to the US and Taiwan playing political tricks. The message back from the State Department, get used to it, Here's spokesman Ned Price. Some ten or more congressional delegations have visited Taiwan uh this year alone. Members of Congress visiting thai one is entirely in line

with our one, our longstanding one China policy. Congressman John Garamendi, as I mentioned, was one of the members of that last delegation that they were just talking about, the Democrat from California on the House Armed Services Committee, and he joins US now Congress mcgarremandy, welcome back. We saw images and video video of you on this trip. It was relatively small group. But what's the point here, following the trip that Nancy Pelosi took in all of the drama

that surrounded it, is this about frequency? Now? Like Ned Price is saying, We're just gonna keep showing up and showing up until it's not a story. Well, I think it's extremely important that we do show up, and think it's extremely important that we maintain an open huh and consistent policy with Taiwan. Uh. What China has tried to do periodically is to establish a new normal. They would surely like to see all of this going and forward being a new normal in which they are surrounding Taiwan

with a fleet of ships and missiles and so on. Uh, that's not likely to happen. But what we have is some seventy years now of a relationship with Taiwan. We recognize that it is part of China, but nonetheless it is a very robust democracy and an extremely important international

trading partner with the United States. When you see the reaction as we have yet again from Beijing, more drills and encircling the island in a way that we haven't seen, uh kind of you know, you talk about a new normal, they've definitely ratcheted up the levels of of of tension in the region. Here. Following Pelosi's trip and following your trip, at what point do you worry that that that is the new normal, that it's already been exposed here. Well,

that's why we have to continue to visit. That's why investal allegations need to be there. That's why we need to maintain a relationship with them. Do you not take China at its word that they that they will respond, that they will respond with severe consequences. I do not believe China is interested in a war that they're not likely to be able to win. UH. Taiwan is fully determined to protect its democracy and to not be become

another Hong Kong. We saw what happened in Hong Kong, one country, two systems, well until UH Beijing decided there'd be one system and they just simply shut down all all civil liberties in Hong Kong. And Taiwan is not about to have that happen to them. They are prepared to defend their democracy. At some point in the future, there may very well be an opportunity for Taiwan to

rejoin mainland China. That's certainly not the case. Now we have what amounts to an authority jerry and dictatorship in China. They've already shown that they're perfectly willing to shut down any dissent, whether it is in the Southwest or or in Hong Kong, and Taiwan wants no part of that. And frankly, Taiwan is an important, very very important part of the world economy. We saw you meet with Taiwan's president,

as I mentioned, along with members of the delegation. Congressman, what's what's the conversation when the reporters leave the room and you get down to what to whatever extent you get into serious conversation here as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is there is there an ask for a commitment to help defend Taiwan or is there an ask for more weapons? What do they want? Are

they want more weapons? American policy is quite clear. We're not going to stand troops onto the onto the island. That's not going to happen. However, we have for the last having a hard time hearing your Congress when I don't know what happened to your Sorry not at all to try to do better right now, very good. America has provided Taiwan with weapons for fifty years or more, and we're going to continue to do so. The United States. It's not going to be putting troops on the island

to defend Taiwan. That's up to the Taiwan needs to do. So what we have here is a sexual student in which the United States and you asked what what did the president asked? They asked for the weapons. There's a whole series of weapons that have and requested. They're being worked through and they should be delivered very very soon. Is that a deterrent for China or is that to help Taiwan and protect itself from the inevitable. It is

a deterrent, and the United States remains of deterrent. We're not about to move out of the South China Sea, nor are we going to allow China to close the Taiwan Straight I would expect that in the United States, maybe we'll do what it's done periodically, and that is to run uh uh destroyers d dgs through the Taiwan Straits as we have periodically. We we believe that that is an open see subject to the will of the individual nations that want to travel through it, and I'm

sure that we will continue to do that. We're not going to just turn our back on Taiwan either with the with not providing military weapons Toime on could consider itself, and this is sometimes discussed as a porcupine. China thinks that they can swallow this porcupine. They may find it to be a very, very difficult and an unpleasant experience. Well they can ask Russia about that too. I suppose, Congressman, they're they're watching this take place. Of course, at the

very same time. Here, it's difficult to tell where this goes. I'm hearing you speak very sternly about this, and I'm hearing China say they don't even believe in the Median line anymore. At what point, Congressman Garamendi, is the time for the US to take a new look at china One policy, the One China policy, and maybe what our

position is on this. Well, it's it has been clear for at least four to five decades that a declaration of independent independence by Taiwan is a red line for China, and I would suspect that they would cross that red line and there would be a bloody, difficult battle all

the way along. But we're not there. UH. To the American policy as understands, one China also understands that Taiwan UH does not want to become another Hong Kong that they want that they value their democracy and trying to read value that democracy to And so I think what we're going to find here is that things will settle down UH and that the new normal ought to be the old normal. We don't want to have China close the Taiwan straits, nor do we want Chinese to believe

they can encircle UH Taiwan. And what would be at least a demonstration of a blockade and could easily turn into a blockade. It sounds like a lot more lawmakers are planning to go to Taiwan, will be further delegations, and I know even Kevin McCarthy said if he becomes Speaker he wants to lead a bipartisan delegation as one of his first moves. Would you join the Republican UH leader on a trip like that? I do want to know that there was a Republican in this codel that

you were on as well. Indeed, are we into the bipartisan delegation? We also well, first of all, McCarthy is not going to become the not going to become speaker. If he wants to go as a minority of VITA, he can certainly do that. And if he were gonna invite me have known him for years, AH and his company would always be appreciated. But he's not going to

be speaker. I believe that the Democrats we now have the wind that our back with the legislation that has been passed, the infrastructure, the Inflation Reduction Act, the healthcare cost savings that are that are going to be there for seniors and for well for everybody. Uh, and we're going to move very very aggressively on the green economy. So you think you're going to keep the house? Those

what you're saying, Democrats keep the House. I think we've got a really good shot at take in the House, and the analysis has been really something over the last couple of days. On this Congressman, I want to thank you for joining us. John Garamendi, Democrat from California, fresh off the Code Alta Taiwan. We're gonna get into that more, by the way, the sort of shifting landscape as we had the mid terms later on this hour, but we

want to assemble the panel first on this. Do we overwhelm China with more codeell's than they can keep track of? And what does this mean? About Joe Biden's meeting coming up with President she Rick Davis, Jeanie Sanzano with us with international politics to start us off. We turned domestic later on on this primary Eve and I'm glad you're here. It's great to be back. I'm Joe Matthew and Washington. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg. You sound on

with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. So everybody's going to Taiwan now, Members of Congress, governors. I suspect anyone who wants to be perceived as a presidential contender gotta show up in Taipei. Starting to think we bring this broadcast just to talk to them all. That's where they're all going. Let's assemble our panel Bloomberg Politics contributors Rick Davis and

Jeanie Schanzano. I missed you both. Rick. Does this strategy lull Beijing into complacency, which seems to be the State Department's thought on this, or does it inflame tensions until we simply have no relationship any longer with Beijing? You know, I don't think it does either one of those things. First of all, definitely doesn't lull them into complacency. They are not going to be compliant in any way, shape

or form. We lost the fight of trying to bring China into the liberal democracies of the world, and now they are charting their own path. They want to bring liberal democracies under their wing. And so it's a competition. It's not a matter of sort of placating China anymore. And I think that the focus that this administration is starting to have, and it's the right for Congress to do it too, is Hey, let's focus on Taiwan. It's a thriving democracy, it's a key component to our national security.

It supplies us with the majority of the chips that have been so important to our development and and and on their own, they have proven their ability to function as a as a thriving economy in a very tough neighborhood. So let's open up the spicket. And and these trips are not unusual. They're just now getting irritating China. That's because of China's change in focus, not ours. What do you make of the conversation with Congressman Garamendi about this genie, Uh,

it's almost just about showing up here. I mean that's really what we're talking about, right, I know that Taipei wants weapons. They're making that ask too. In this case, you know, it's appropriate. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has represented their House Arms Services between Marki and Garamendi. But but what else are we doing? I mean, there's gonna be a lot of delegations. We heard ten of them, uh, coming from the State Department here. Kevin McCarthy can't wait

to get on an airplane. Does this at some point start to backfire? Or is it exactly what we should be doing. I'm gonna stop packing for my trip with SODAN to Taiwan so we can chat. Yeah, you know, I think that one thing we have to be clear on is that we talk a lot about this as you know, being precipitated by these visits, but it's really much bigger than that, and it's driven by much larger factors.

There's been a steady erosion in relations for several years, and some scholars describe us as in the early stages of the Fourth Taiwan Straight Crisis from nineteen fifty four and now about two thousand and eighteen, perhaps during the Trump administration into the Biden administration and that's really where

we are. And I think the very scary part of this for for all of us is the fact that tensions are so wratcheted up that there is a possibility for miscalculations and mistakes which can be deadly and escalating.

And that's something we really have to be careful. That's not to say people should not visit, but that is to say Beijing, certainly, Washington, Taypei have to be very very careful about responses, understanding that mistakes happen when they are using the military exercises that they're using, and that's a real danger. New joint exercises, the biggest since Rick, between the US and South Korea just beginning them. Uh today all Chief Freedom Shield. This is an annual event

and you've probably seen video of it. It's airplanes and tanks and warships and infantry uh and they're they're popping off weapons and making a big show of it. UH. Kind of a renewal though, because this the Trump administration pulled back from some of this stuff. Rick. Is this all about China or should we be talking about North Korea as well? I think definitely, Uh, we want to be talking about North Korea. Like, these guys have been

really haunting Japan and South Korea for some time. Uh, they've been launching missile missiles into the region, UH with abandoned And I think this is one of the hottest spots in the world right, I mean, North Korea has threatened military action over and over again. And so we cannot drop our attention to this most important area if it has some residual impact on China. So be it.

China knows that we have these permanent bases in South Korea and in Japan, and and and I think again, the focus on helping our allies and partners in the region, Japan and South Korea in this instance, to build their militaries, make them more modern and increase their readiness is only because the neighborhood China and North Korea have gotten more aggressive over time. We are reacting to their aggression, not

the other way around. What do we need to be doing militarily though, And I'll ask you both this as we continue to write checks, you know, billions of sending billions and hundreds of billions. I guess at some point in weapons to Ukraine, we're six months into this thing. On Wednesday, and there is a massive looming threat taking place in Asia. Rick, do you see them when you consider the access between Russia and China the same or or decisions, Some hard decisions will need to be made

when it comes to deploying resources. Well, I think it's good news that we're six months in and there's still a shooting war in the Ukraine, right, I mean, like all the people who thought they knew what was going to happen would have given up Ukraine in three days. And so the fact that the Ukrainians are teaching us what resistance means is a very good example that I

think is being seen in Beijing. You would think that they would look at that example and say, Wow, all the Russians had to do was cross a land border.

Look At what kind of problems we would have, you know, having to go across sounds like you, I think they're connected optically as the White House look at it that way, Jeannie, I think they may, but but I would also caution China is historically going to take their time, and I think the danger here is that they learn how to shore themselves up to those kind of economic sanctions the world put on Russia. And that's a real danger for

the West if that happens. Great conversation with Rick and Jeannie. They're here all our will reassemble the panel a bit later as we turn to electoral politics. On a primary eve, New York and Florida vote tomorrow, well ahead of the Sunshine stated conversation with ad Goodman coming up on the fastest hour in politics. This is Bloomberg. Rhonda Santis is unopposed in tomorrow's Republican primary. It's primary day in Florida, so he hit the road in advance of the voting.

Heading over the weekend is Friday to Pennsylvania to stump for Doug Mastriano. Remember that's the Republican nominee there, the election denier, who is in a pretty interesting race as a matter of fact. And this follows De Santis visiting Ohio on behalf of j D Vance, the De Santis National Tour. As he speaks, yes, of course it's in favor of the Canada, but he's very much speaking like a national candidate. Listen to governor to Santis in Pennsylvania.

That shows you what they think of you. That is insulting our intelligence that you're calling at the inflation Reduction Act. What are they doing? Obviously they're not doing anything to to stop inflation. They're spending a lot more money that we don't have, taking aim at Democrats, of course, in what was seen as a win for the Biden administration Congressional Democrats, the i r A. The Inflation Reduction Act. That's not really something that well, look, maybe it would be,

but not the headline of a local political rally. Right. Adam Goodman is with us to talk about the de Santists effect and the Desantist tour and where this is all going with us here on sound On Back with us in fact, Republican strategist columnist Edward R. Murrow, Senior Fellow at Tufts Universities Fletcher School, Adam, this is the man who is widely seen as the alternative to Donald Trump. The polling has borne this out. He's raising more money

than Trump, though. These numbers that I mentioned are pretty incredible. A hundred and forty two million dollars from the start of twenty one through August five of this year, Ken Griffin, Paul Tutor Jones on there that tops the hundred and thirty six million that Donald Trump collected. Is it time to pass the baton. Well, I can tell you it was a tough day on the markets, but it's not been a tough day for the stock of the Santis

for the better part of the last two years. He's got a he's got a message, Joe, and and the messages the Florida's story. You know what, It's been successful because hundreds of thousands of people have come to move into Florida as permanent residents, you know, because they were able to get through the pandemic with the economy down, they're fairly strong. You had the sense of freedom that comes from low taxes, uh and fewer roles, and that it is playing well all not just in Florida, Joe,

but all over America. And think of it this way. There's so much going on right now that we people feel really kind of down about. We're looking for something to feel good about. And I think this kind of story kind of stands out for that reason. And he is taking that far and wide. And I know said Pennsylvania, in Ohio whatever, I thought, those are parts of Florida. Uh he I think you find, Joe that people want to hear this and that makes him a legitimate contender. Uh,

will passed obviously his re election in twenty two. You can't talk about Rhonda Santis without talking about Donald Trump. Uh. Listen to what Liz Cheney said about him over the weekend. She was asked about him by John Carl on ABC News about specifically the idea of a Rhonda Santis presidential campaign. Here, she is de Santis is somebody who is right now campaigning for election deniers. Uh, And I think that is something that that I think people have got to have

real pause about. You know, either you fundamentally believe in and will support our constitutional structure, you don't. If he's going national Adam Goodman, does he need to start distancing himself from the the election denial label or does he lean into it? I mean he was, he was on

stage shaking hands with with Doug Mastriano just three days ago. Well, I think you can you can always make the case in politics that you're brought down and what they call guilt by association, so piece of state with anyone who's considered one that deniers, you're going to hear that kind of refrain. Why not just clean the record though, and not deal with any of that. Rhonda Santis could apparently

stand on his own without being involved. Uh. It's a very good point, Joe, because what really got him going, beyond the fact that Florida, by almost every measure, has done very well over the last two and a half years, we really got him going was giving a sense of empowerment back to people. When he went after the situation where they were talking about teaching sex aid to kids in kindergarten. Will give you the shorthand on it. Uh, that really gave parents a sense of empowerment when he said,

I stand with you. You saw a little bit of that with young can actually in ya last year, and I think you're seeing it here. America is looking for a message and a messenger that feels good. And I can tell you as long as U Rhn de Santis leans into using your words, leans into the message of what's happened in Florida over the last two and a half years under his tutelage, Uh, so much the better for him. And in terms of the money. In terms of the money, Joe, also, the money you talked about

up front is big dollar money. And of course, so does he need those five dollar contributions to be a real deal. Presidential. I think he does. But if he were to be pursuing that now nationally small donors nationally, he would justly be accused of running for national of course, reaffirming his own that would have been a bad mistake. He has resisted it to this point. I think it's served him very well. For better or worse, you see it's worse. I want to ask you though about the

Democratic primary quickly. Here Charlie Christ's Nikki Freed. This is said to be closer than than some polls are showing you've got establishment kind of versus. I'm not sure what we call Nikki Freed. What's gonna happen tomorrow? I think Charlie Chris is gonna win. Probably decided. You had one poll that came out showing Nikki ahead a couple of days ago, but it was probably group that mis called the presidential and sixteen and twenty also it's called the

Goodnatural in eighteen in Florida. Neither have the stuff to beat run to Santis though, right, that's you know, the frustrating thing. I know I speak for everyone who's been in a campaign where you feel, even if you win the first round, winning the second looks and feels herculean, if not not impossible. That is what it is facing the Democratic nominee unfortunately, whether it be Charlie Chris or Nicky Freed, Adam Goodman. Great to have you back. Republican strategist,

columnists and Murrow fellow at Tufts University's Fletcher School. This Jamie had more to say about that. By the way, not just run to Santis, but other so called election deniers and her plans for them will reassemble the panel next, this is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg sound on on Bloomberg Radio. So by this time tomorrow people will be lining up to vote on their way home from work or well, on the case of New York, on their way to Fork. Thank you for joining us on the fastest hour in politics,

Bloomberg Radio. I'm Joe, Matthew and Washington with our signature panel Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeanie Chanzano and Rick Davis. Jennie, I'm fascinated by Democrats. Love affair with Liz Cheney, someone who represents what most liberals stand against. Just name the issue with one exception, of course, that's election Donald Trump. And it looks like Liz Cheney, who lost her primary of course just last week, will be there this fall

for some Democrats. As she described on ABC this week when asked about this new political organization that she's launching, Listen to Liz Cheney, I'm going to be very focused on working to ensure that we do everything we can UM not to elect election deniers, and I'm going to work against those people. I'm going to work to support their opponents. I think it matters that much. Working to support their opponents, Genie. That means she's going to be

on stage with Democrats. She could be you know, this great task, as she calls it, is to ensure that Trump Trump is UM and election deniers more broadly, don't continue their stranglehold on the Republican Party. And so to do that, she's willing, as she's shown, not only to lose her own seat, but to work across the aisle to work with Democrats and people who have a similar

distaste for you know, these election deniers. The challenge for Liz Cheney, of course, is she not only lost in Wyoming, she lost huge and Donald Trump has shown throughout this primary season he does have a stranglehold on the Republican Party, and this is a boon for Democrats in this election cycle and what's otherwise a bad election year for them, That in the road decision, But it is very, very a problematic for Republicans, as we've heard from Mitch McConnell,

who want to win the general election and take back the Senate in the House. So it's a complicated mess. But I think Liz Cheney is willing to blow up the Republican Party costs them wins to what she sees as the longer term of saving the party. Well, to what extent are you taking this seriously? Rick? Obviously Jennie

just mapped it out. This was not, you know, a near miss for Liz Cheney, who was essentially evicted from the Republican caucus in the House now lost her job in Wyoming, where her family name has been pretty meaningful in Republican politics. Why should we be paying attention, Well, it's we should pay attention because one, we're in a divided Senate, We're in a very close House of representatives, and this election, more so than any is sort of

focused on building a democracy versus tearing it down. So uh Arizona a microcosum right election deniers won the nomination all endorsed by Donald Trump for governor, for Senate, and for or Secretary of State. Liz Cheney wants to make sure none of those Republicans serve in office, that they don't get to win in the general election. And so her campaign is really on democracy promotion, not on promoting anyone partisan party. And and I think that that she

that is shared with a lot of people. I mean, Adam Kinsinger, one of her partners on the on the committee, is also out there doing exactly the same thing. He's formed a committee Country First, and it's going out there and trying to help people who are trying to defeat election to niners, even if you agree on nothing on the policy side. Though Liz Cheney stands next to a Democrat on stage, and that that does not come across as disingenuous devoters. I don't think she's going to be

standing on podys. I think she's going to be talking about Republicans who she knows best, right, and so she's going to carry the negative message on why these people and their efforts to try and tear down the institutions of our democracy is bad for our country. She doesn't necessarily have to say great thing is about the Democrats running. She did say, though, she would work for those candidates who are running against deniers, So I presume that would

have to be a Democrat at some point. Uh, Mitch McConnell. To your point, Genie made made reference to the issue here just last week. He said it again today in Kentucky, UH, talking about candidate quality and essentially all but gave the Senate to Democrats, or at least to keep the Senate. Here's what he said. There's probably a greater likelihood in the House than the Senate. Races are just different there statewide. Uh. Candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome.

Hashtag candidate quality. And we've talked about this before. Everyone points to the same candidates, Genie, Right, it's Dr Roz, it's herschel Walker, it's J. D. Vance. You could keep going. Those seemed to be the big three. Candidate quality if if we can use that term here with with a straight face, appears to be the issue here in deciding the balance of hour in the Senate. Herschel Walker is really though quite an example here, UH, as as he vised for UH, this Senate seat in Georgia. Uh, he's

been in the midst of this argument over debates. Listen to herschel Walker talking to Raphael Warnock, the current senator from Georgia, and we're not gonna hide. I'm gonna have like Senator one not And what I would say to Senator one not is where you at, scaredy cat? Where are you at, scaredy cat? Uh. It turns out that the local I believe it's live eleven has been has invited both herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock uh to a a debate and and herschel Walker has not responded. Warnock

is on board. He was asked herschel Walker was asked about this, what the problem is with this debate and why he's not going to be taking part here. He is, Oh, I'm not gonna respond in a vein that it calls. You know, that's not a debate, and you know that when you got for that, that has contribute to his campaign and his end his room to own a two

people gonna see it on Sunday night. I think NFL football like, yeah, I don't give you an opportunity to be statewide so everybody can see what it is see the contrast between the two of us. I don't know how you can't ask me anything better. So from what I from what we understand here, there would not be to be supporters of both allowed in the hall. And it's not on a Sunday night's on a Thursday, as a matter of fact, when you know presumably they're not

going to be watching uh NFL games. I don't need to keep going on too much further with this because every day it seems to be Rick Davis something like this with herschel Walker. Um. Candidate quality is that what this election is going to go down to for Republicans? You know, look, I mean herschel Walker has no previous experience in any kind of public office. That he's a

first timer. Sure, he's a great name and a super football player, but the jury is out on whether or not he has the capacity to be a great politician and maybe even elected official. If I were his campaign manage or his consultant, I would not allow him to debate anybody, not even kids. I mean, would you not also be pointing to candidate quality on the Democratic side? You know, look, I think that that if you're an incumbent, candidate quality doesn't matter, right, I mean, you're only worried

about just mean nationwide. How come, Genie, Candidate quality isn't isn't an issue for Democrats who are running for a lot of these same seats. Well, because the Democrats have managed to get candidates, um not you know, holy, but many candidates who are actually making a go of it in some really tough races. So let's look at Ohio. That should be a Republican seat. It's a Republican seat now. Their candidates should win in an off year election or

a mid term election. And yet they've got Tim Ryan. He's running a pretty strong campaign. Flip over to Pennsylvania. Look at Fetterman. Sure, Oz is problematic, but Fetterman, he's been out and he's back on the campaign trade now, even from his hospital room, he is a pretty good candidate. So they have done their part. And you know, Mitch McConnell i seldom say this, but he's a hundred percent

right on this. Candidate quality matters an awful lot, and Republicans have a big math problem because they are not only to forget trying to pick up one, they're trying to hold what they have. He doesn't want to be dealing with the likes of Ron Johnson, who is an incumbent and is not a good candidate for Wisconsin right now. So it's a problem for Republicans. Well, neither of you have even mentioned Crew today yet I wasn't here with

you last week to talk about it. But I guess when you start to back away from this Rick, there there is clearly an evolving narrative that says, Okay, it looks like Democrats just may well keep the Senate, they could even add a seat. Uh. And and Republicans in the House need to start dialing back expectations. Do you agree with that? Uh? To some degree. I I do think we're sort of shielding the real argument. And it's not about candidate quality. Obviously that happens all the time.

But being the old man on the block, I remember waking up the day after the election in night with Reagan's sweeping victory and electing a Republican Senate with people who are completely unqualified to be United States senators. Chick Hacked was one of the names that come to mind.

Voted the dumbest senator in the Senate, and and and they served six years one term, and then almost all of them lost reelection and and so that was they got elected, not because they were great candidates or they were good campaigner, but there was a red sweep that year. This would have been a red sweep year. But I think the underpinning of this has been lost. That Biden administration has gained a lot of momentum. If they can hold it till November, they're gonna ameliorate the sweep and

all of a sudden, bad candidates matter. And and in the case of Dr Oz and his crew to days, if he doesn't sharpen his his efforts, he's not going to have the win at his back like he thought he was going to have. Uh and uh and And believe me, red tide makes everybody look like a good candidate and a great elected official and and without it, they just look like bad politicians. Rising tide lifts all boats. Genie crudete a side. Let's say the Senate stays Democratic,

House goes Republican. Can Joe Biden get anything done? Very very difficult. You know, I'm never optimistic about this. And it's even tougher. And yeah, it's gonna be even tougher though, because now you have divided government. You couple that with the number of investigations that we will see from the Republican side in the House. You know, Kevin McCarthy if he is a speaker, and I know your guest said he won't be, but if he was, he'll be rinning

some of those. So it'll be tough for Biden. He's done a lot this year, but next year, if it flips, will be tough. Yeah, we won't count on too many Democrats to understand the future for Kevin McCarthy. Great to talk with both Rick and Genne. Great to see you again as well. Thanks for joining us on the fastest hour in politics. If you showed up late, subscribe to the podcast and I'll meet you on primary day tomorrow on sound on This is Bloomberg.