Sound On: Prospects for Gun Control Legislation

the United States than we have citizens. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. A new lane opens for a possible compromise on guns. Welcome to the fastest hour in politics with news from the Capitol and a grain of salts as Democrats and Republicans discuss solutions in

the wake of the Texas shooting. Coming up, we will hear exclusively from Senator Ben Cardon, Democrat from Maryland, and Matt Bennett from Third Way, an advisor for Sandy Hook Promise, who worked with then Vice President Joe Biden in the wake of Newtown. Later Secretary of State Anthony B. Lincoln takes aim at China today, vowing to steer around Beijing

to shape the global order. We'll have his remarks direct shot at President she today with analysis from d J. Peterson of Longview Global Advisors, The Sound on Panelism Place Bloomberg Politics contributors Jeanie Schanzano and Rick Davis for the Hour. It's still hard to tell forty eight hours later, if the Texas school shooting will move lawmakers in Washington to do something. But there is talk. There's talk balanced by a lot of skepticism. Today Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

speaking to a very short window of opportunity. Senator Murphy, who has been such a strong and valiant leader within our caucus on gun safety legislation, and who has seen the suffering first hands of the families at Sandy Hook, who's he's become very close to, has asked for space to see what progress can be done with Senate Republicans. But it does not sound like Shumer plans to give Senator Murphy very long. I want to be clear, this is not an invite to negotiate indefinitely, make no mistake

about it. If these negotiations do not bear fruit in a short period of time, the Senate will vote on gun legislation. Gun safety legislation. Let me repeat, if these negotiations do not bear any fruit, the Senate will vote on gun safety legislation when we return, so a couple of weeks, possibly a few weeks. Democrats may have just found a partner in Senator John Cornyn. This is important, the Republican senator from Texas today on the floor. I'm

not interested in making a political statement. I'm not interested in the same old, tired talking points. I'm actually interested in what we can do to make the terrible events that occurred in your value less likely in the future. And now we don't know everything we need to know. But once we do, I expect there will be an informed debate about reforms we can make, and I look forward to participating in those discussions. Corn And warning against

taking gun rights from law abiding citizens. He seems open to red flag laws, maybe some other ideas to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Senator Murphy meantime, was outside along with several other Senators, gathered along with gun safety advocates while facing the Supreme Court to press for action. He says a compromise must be found by the time the Senate returns from a week long recess

starting Friday. I spoke a short time ago exclusively with Senator Ben Carton, Democrat from Maryland, asked him if there was indeed a new sense of optimism. Rius. We just shocked by what happened in Texas. It just ripped your heart. Uh, seven and ten year olds losing their life. Enough enough, We've got to act. We've got to come together. So I think Senator Schumer is doing exactly the right thing and saying to our colleagues, let us come together, let's

put together a bipartisan bill, and let's get it done. Um. I am certain that it will not satisfy what I would like to be done. Let's show that the American public that we are not going to take the option of doing nothing, which is unacceptable. There are there's a conversation underway right now about background checks and about red flag laws as opposed to actually trying to crack down on firearms. Is that the right approach. What I'd like to see done is certainly closed. The loopholes in the

background check red flags are consistent with that. We need to deal with the military style UH and high capacity magazines that are out there that are the weapons choice for those who want to commit mass murders. So I would hope that we would also be able to make progress on dealing with weapons that I really have no private use. These are really just weapons of war. They're getting that done in the Senate, though, is the problem right?

Finding sixty votes for, for instance, an assault weapons ban at the moment seems impossible. I am not optimistic we can get the threshold for for assault weapons, but I will point out the last time that we are deployed that we save live uh proxibly, one out of every four persons have been killed in these mass shootings has been through an assault weapon type, So it will save lives, and there is no real need for private ownership. So I don't believe we can get it done, but it

is consequential and we should get it done. How about the age to bio weapon Senator? A lot of people are pointing out the fact they keep hearing about how this eighteen year old should never been able to do this, that you can't rent a car when you're eighteen years old. Would it be that difficult to raise the age to twenty one, even if nothing changed in terms of access at that point. That's the point that we LEAs should

be considering. I think our healthcare professionals would tell us that the teen year olds are still at that state where their judgment may not be where we want them to be in having the easiest ability to buy a firearm, So at the stage difficult for us to get such consensus here. But to me, that is a matter that should be considered, and I personally believe should raise the age.

What's your message to your colleagues who are going to be speaking at the n r A convention, Senator, I would tell them that I'm not sure this is the right moment. If they're gonna talk about getting things done for gun safety, that's one thing. But if they're going to talk about the n r A and there his art positions, this would be the wrong time for that. Do you have hope for the Mansion to Me amendment? Are there any pieces of legislation available right now that

you would put your name on. Well, I would put my name on several pieces of legislation, and I don't think that's going to be the test. I would certainly support any effort that would advance gun safety in this country. Uh and bel to co sponsor and support the electriction if it doesn't go far enough to really make a significant difference in regards to the easy accessibility of military doll weapons. And uh, the people are not responsible being

able to get guns. But I'm going to continue to voice, but I would certainly support effort to move us in the right direction. Senator Ben Cardon of Maryland Democrat expressing urgency and skepticism. And we had another voice now in

Matt Bennett, the co founder of Third Way. He serves on the board at Sandy Hook Promise, and importantly he advised Joe Biden when he was vice president in the aftermath of New Town, when Joe Biden was drawing up options, as asked options beyond legislation for President Obama to pursue at the time, Matt welcome. What executive options does President

Biden have? Not very many? Uh. We found that when we were working back and we were uncovering every rock in the federal code to try to figure out what the president could do on his own authority to make, you know, some progress in gun safety. And there were

a few things he could do. And there's some things that President Biden has done as president involving ghost guns, The thing that most gun city advocates are focused on now is expanding the definition of what it means to be in the business of selling firearms, because if you can do that, you can sweep into the background check process more people who now are pretending that they're not licensed dealers and really are. That would help a little, but it really can't do that much. I also can't

get the votes for a bill like that. We spoke yesterday with Congressman Thompson, a Democrat from California with a background check bill that passed the House and apparently doesn't have a prayer in the Senate. Matt, based on what you're hearing today, is there is there any opportunity for conversation or is this the happy talk portion of the program before we all know how it ends in the

last chapter. Well, uh, the bitter experience of twenty eight years of no progress since its ban would suggest that this is happy talk. But I don't want to take off the table to possibility that senators like corn Corner or genuine and do want to do something. A red flag law would help, certainly, raising the age to buy

assault rifles and other rifles would help. But the really big deal would be closing the loopholes in the background checks system that allow people to buy guns on the internet or at gun shows without going through background checks. And that's just insane. We have got to plug. That wouldn't have stopped this one, though, right, It would not have stopped this one, that's right. He went through a background check. The thing that would have stopped him was

raising the age to twenty one. Right. So I just asked Senator Ben Cardon about that, that that's not going to happen by executive order, that that actually takes sixty votes, and that that's a long shot, right, correct, You can't do that by executor where there's very little left on the table for the president to do on its own authority. Most of Democrats came to the table and said, God, you could be able to get as many a R fifteen as you want. This is not about gun control.

We're simply raising the age matters. That's still too far, apparently, I mean it shouldn't be. The fact is that kid couldn't have gone down to the seven eleven and bought a white claw or a beer, but he could go and buy two assault rifles and three fifty rounds of ammunition that is insane, and any anyone who tries to defend it is going to have a tough time with it.

But alas Republicans seem unwilling to go there. Fascinating conversation when you explore how little actually this president has to deal with here in terms of tools. Uh, Matt, you know Joe Biden, having worked with him, this could be a long year for him. What's it going to mean for his presidency as we work up to the mid term elections. I only have thirty seconds. Look, he feels about this, uh with He approaches this issue with as much passion as any He's been working on gun safety

for thirty years. He has lost two children, not to gun violence, but he knows the pain. So he's up to this fight, yes, and he knows these families. He's desperately hoping to make progress on this, but also very aware of how tough that's going to be. Come back and talk to us. Matt Bennett on Bloomberg The Panels. Next you're listening to Bloomberg, you sound on with Joe Mathew on Bloomberg Radio. Grasping for some common grounds as I read on the terminal gun school safety talks in

the Senate on a short timetable. They sure are asking for common ground. Sounded like that at times today, other times not, as political lines are reinforced on the issue of guns. I mentioned a little while ago Chris Murphy, the Senator from Connecticut, has been getting a lot of attention on this because of of course Connecticut New Town, Sandy Hook, and he's been a leader on this issue without a heck of a lot to show for it. He was outside outside the Capital complex today along with

a group of other Senators. Kirsten Gillibrand was there ed Markey Sheldon white House to press the issue. We are not going to allow this to become the new normal. We are not prepared to allow our schools to continue as killing fields. We are not prepared to allow the gun bobby and the gun industry to continue to run this town in this place. But what are you going to do? It seems like red flag is where we're going here, red flag laws keeping guns out of the

hands of dangerous people. As we just discussed with Senator Ben Cardon. John Cornyn today, the Republican from Texas, who said he might be ready to have some of these conversations, though said it himself no panacea, and it wouldn't have stopped at least as far as we know what happened this week in Texas. That's a sum of the panel, Rick and Janie or with us, I'm happy to say, Bloomberg Politics contributors Genie Chanzano and Rick Davis, what do you make of this? Genie? This is as I asked

Matt a little while ago. Is this you know, the happy part of the show was the part of the movie where people start to feel good. You might go get a little more popcorn. By the time you come back, we're back in the dark stuff and it ends just like the one before, sad ending nothing changes. That's how

it's feeling. And I'm still reeling from your interview with both Carton and Matt Bennett, because you know, Matt Bennett just saying at the end of the truth, which is that you can't at at the age of this shooter go buy a a white claw at a seven eleven, but you can buy two assault weapons. That is stunning. And the fact that we have to push and push and push after every one of these events to see if we can get anywhere. And I think you're right.

We may get expanded background checks, we may get the red and yellow flag laws that that that would be great. That's a step forward, maybe a little step forward, But you know, we're not going to get the age changed. It looks like we're not going to deal with military assault weapons. And those are the things that need to happen. And I go back to what President Biden said in his speech the other night, which is that these liberties that people are talking about the right to bear arms,

none of these liberties have been absolute. They never have been. You have no absolute right to own an assault weapon, and no more than you have to go scream fire in a crowded theater. So there are there is constitutional ways to limit these these rights. And yet here we are again after this horrific shooting and looks like nothing's going to change in Congress. What do you make of the age issue here, Rick, Is that not a conversation to have that that that alone would have actually stopped,

you know, maybe this from happening this week. It would have at least gotten to this individual as an eighteen year old. Yeah, I think that that is premature for us to say any of the stuffs off the table. I think the key thing, uh in a turning point on this discussion, which is different than what happened to Sandy Hook and other mass shootings, is is that Democrats and Republicans both took the moment to actually say that

they were prepared to consider some options. In other words, there wasn't the kind of demo demagogic attacks that usually are precipitated by these kinds of events, trying to take political advantage. And so I think this is the opening

that a lot of people are now talking about. And and sure, I think people will have a conversation about the age you of owning a gun and and and it's impressive that so many people are raising it because it it is actually had what would have, as you say, stopped the yu've all day killer, but but it wouldn't

have stopped others. And so having a conversation like the two me mansion bill from two thousand thirteen that that Romney said today he wouldn't mind revisiting, and and he's read flag laws which everyone seems to be settling in on, like that's good incremental progress. I think we're going to have a moment in time where all these things can be brought up and and and and I think legitimately are going to be considered. It won't be a free

for all where everybody's gonna love all these solutions. But but cabbably together sixty votes around a bill that can do a lot of these things. I think has some great potential. And so I wouldn't I wouldn't focus on what's not going to happen, because nobody knows that until the members get together. And and I think the idea here is to to, you know, take a look at all the different things, be creative and make progress. Don't

let this moment pass where nothing happens. And I think that's what everybody is optimism, Rick, I have to admit this week, Genie is the word incremental that Rick just used the key here that that we we don't always need to overreach that. Yeah, okay, if you get a red flag law, maybe that leads to a conversation where something else can happen. You know, I hope Rick's optimism is right. You know me, I'm usually not optimistic about Congress by any stretch of the imagination. So you know, uh,

it gotta forgive me on that. But as Matt said twenty eight years later, there's a reason a lot of us are not optimistic. God willing Rick is right. I do think incremental is better than nothing. I've always said that. But you know, I don't, in my personally believe that it's overreached to increase the age or to ban military assault style weapons. They've done it before, and it's been productive and it's been effective. So I don't think it's overreached.

But to your point, I can this Congress. It probably won't happen, and we will get incremental steps. God willing Rick and Jenior with us for the hour, our signature sound on panel. As the Secretary of State takes a shot across the bow, President she You've got to hear Anthony B. Lincoln's words. Today. We're gonna bring in DJ Peterson for more on this, and we'll check the markets next.

This is Bloomberg broadcasting live from our nation's capital, Bloomberg to New York, Bloomberg eleven Frio to Boston, Bloomberg one oh six one to San Francisco, Bloomberg nine sixty to the country Serious XM Channel one, and around the globe, the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg Radio dot com. This is Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew. If you can't

change Beijing, you work around Beijing. The spirit of a speech today by Anthony B. Lincoln as the Secretary of State rolls out a new strategy to deal with China. We'll talk talk about it next with DJ Peterson of Longview Global Advisers and blunt talk today by Secretary of State Anthony blaken finally drops the China speech. This has been long anticipated. Of course, he got sick, had COVID. A lot of things happened. Today was the day, and as I read on the terminal the top US diplomats

comments were unusually direct. We will remain focused on the most serious long term challenge to the national order, and that's opposed by the People's Republic of China. Went straight for President. She took direct aim at she's performance leading the world's second biggest economy. And there wasn't a lot new in this speech. The new strategy to invest at

home and better compete, but we've heard that before. It was more about how to deal with Beijing, and that Beijing can go its own way if it wants to. We cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory, so we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system. Just go around the reaction from the Chinese Embassy in Washington. Interesting spokesperson. It's never China's gold to surpass or replace the US

or engage in zero sum competition with it. How about this history and reality show that China and the US both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. A cooling effect from the embassy. Curious what DJ Peterson makes of all of this, President of long View Global Advisors at Geopolitical and Political Advisory Firm, an expert on China, former director for eur Asia Group, and formerly a director for the Rand Corporation. It's great to have you back, Dj.

Is this some sort of escalation coming from the White House? Here are we letting Beijing know that you know what we're done with you? Hey, Joe, you know, I think it's he's trying to remind the world that America can walk and shoot gum. At the same time that while so much attention is back on Europe, where we've been focused obviously for the last fifties, sixties seventy years. Um,

he's trying to signal. And the President this past week also signaled that no, we're really specific oriented now and that we are definitely still paying attention to China. And as he said, China is our number one long term threat. And I agree with that statement, especially as we see kind of the long term geopolitical decline of Russia. Yes, China is out there on top as ours as our our leading uh priority. Well, this is sort of a contrast to President Biden, for instance, you know, talking with

President she trying to get on the same page. Hey, we're happy competitors were not here for confrontation. This sounds like, okay, we're done trying to convince you. If you want to go hang out with Vladimir Putin, go ahead, but we have our own agenda for the Indo Pacific DJ. Yeah, it's I think the President is still very interested in having a constructive, constructive dialogue with Beijing. That doesn't go away.

But I think what they're capitalizing on or seeking to seize right now is frankly beijing slightly tarnished image in the world. You know, for so long they have been shaping the global environment through trade, through its UH infrastructure development and lending programs. And what we see right now is that things aren't going all that great on a number of fronts economically with COVID, there's more pushback. You

see in in Asia, there's more concerned. The Europeans are much more concerned about China, and their alignment with Russia in the Ukraine War has certainly dented their image. So I think what's very interesting right now is the Secretary Um is trying to sees a little bit of initiative that China has lost, and China has been seeking to reshape the global environment, and they're basically just turning that word, those words back on China and saying, no, it's our

turn to shape the environment. Again, does this sound like an administration that's about to lift tariffs on Chinese imports? Not at all, Not at all. Why open that door? Remember the President last week said, you know, when I

get back, I'll talk to Janet yelling about that. But if if we're not going in that direction, why why float the carrot Well, I think it's it's out there exactly as a carrot um that he's saying that we are open to negotiations, but it's basically contingent on China, significant changes in China policy, UM in China and UM. So it's he's signaling that we're not completely inflexible, that we're not locked into some uh static mentality, but it's

highly unlikely in this environment. Actually, as you see, for instance, the value of the Chinese currency going down, so in some ways increasing the competitiveness of Chinese goods. UM, that doesn't I just don't see the political interest accepted, perhaps very very specific arenas to lift tariffs unless there was a real impact on domestic inflation, and some suggest there would be uh DJ maybe a d coupling with Russia

might be rewarded. However, is that is that your point by lifting some of these sanctions, if they if they stopped fooling around with Vladimir Putin, well, you know, I don't see it going that far. We've seen obviously tremendous inflationary pressures in the United States for a variety of reasons, but those inflationary pressures, pressures from China and tariffs, occurred years ago, and so companies have adjusted, consumers have adjusted

to those tariffs based price increases. UM. I think that the ability that they desire to ease tariffs to address the inflationary peter would only be at the margins and in certain arenas, especially arenas say where we're having severe supply chain disruptions. But I do not see a broad based easing of the trade war with China. In fact, I could see it getting worse. We just imposed sanctions on one of their um their companies that that we import surreilans cameras from. So that I see these this

trend of increasing restrictions in the near future. Well, this is something and there could be some real disappointment there when you hear the response that I mentioned from the embassy. Lastly, here, DJ, what does that sound like to you? It's never China's gold to surpass or replace the US or engage in zero sum competition with It sounds like they want to

be friends exactly, and it's you called out. I think a really interesting tone here, which is last at least this this message was left confrontational, which of course could be different tomorrow. Right, this is like the manic relationship. I guess that we have, DJ. Thank you always wish we had more time with d J. Peterson. Longview Global Advisers will reassemble the panel next. Rick and Genie weigh in on China news on Saudi Arabia as well. I'm

Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. And I think President Biden and the First Lady are still unpacking from their trip to Asia. Anthony Blinkoln drops the speech today on China with months. By the way, we should note this having just talked to d J. Peterson about the China policy and the idea of well maybe someday lifting tariffs.

Bloomberg Now reporting that after speaking with the top US trade official, the administration's review of those tariffs, well it says he'll do that as soon as he's ACTI is back. Now is likely to take months, and the Secretary of State says the US isn't looking to sever China from the global economy. This isn't Russia part two again. We're just going to work around them if necessary. As we reassemble the panel, Rick Davis and Genie Chanzy know are

with us Bloomberg Politics contributors. Do you like the sound of this approach? Rick, does it sound like a new look here after the president's trip and meeting with the Quad, Well, it really is the first time we've heard of a strategy from the Biden administration on Asia, and I think it is a refreshing new approach to what has been, you know, sort of a very bilateral approach to China.

And what was the standard and the Trump administration was, you know, you sort of focused on economics and that's it, you know, and you punished them by tariffs, and you you rewarded them by other economic policies going in place it would benef at them, and and that wasn't particularly good way, I think, to to look at China, although people were pleased that at least he took a harder line than than what was examined in the in the

Obama administration. So so this is the first comprehensive look at that, and it definitely is like we're going to pursue our aims and our goals around the world. We're going to promote democracy, you know, we're going to promote human rights. We're going to promote institutions that helped govern the economy and trade and and and we don't expect China necessarily to abide by that, but we're going to do everything we can to force the rest of the

world into it. And and in that regard, the message is kind of we're gonna isolate you, but at the same time, Genie, we also really want to buy your stuff. That's right. We we want to work with you. I think the watchword of the day in my mind is asymmetric. I mean, that is what we keep hearing. We did get hints of this strategy. There was a classified version of this and this is a shorter version of that that came out last fall, and the Secretary of State

reiterated that today and asymmetrical playbook and asymmetrical approach. You know. To me this is important because, as Rick said, for a while during the campaign and after that, we kept asking, how does Biden's approach to China in particular differ from Trump's And you couldn't really get a good sense of it, but we have it clearly from that classified briefing or strategy and also from the words today, And to me

it's important. It seems to suggest that the United States, at least this administration has decided that efforts at diplomacy and engagement, both economic and diplomatic have largely failed, and so we are going to to your in your words, work around them. But the question is, you know, it's not a cold war, we still want to work with them. Well, what are the limits there? And that's what I didn't get a good sense of today from you know, blinkin speeches.

You know there's areas we want to work at them, climate, you know, trade, certainly other errors. But what are the limits? How can you freeze somebody or summenentity out and yet work with them. How is that going to proceed? We don't have a good sense of that from this speech. This is just days after the Taiwan flap with President Biden. Look, this is just remember this conversation. We're talking about it now because it's it's an important element of a much

bigger story, and the tentacles are long here. I just got a briefing at the White House. In terms of geopolitics, this is another big story here. It turns out two of the president's senior advisors aren't a secret trip to Saudi Arabia. I don't know if you guys heard about this, but it was acknowledged and confirmed today by Karine Jean Pierre,

the new Press secretary. You know, of course we're looking for an increase in oil production around the world here and well, Saudi Arabia appears to be the place we have decided to go at least as of now. Here's the Press Secretary. I will confirm that Brett McGurk and Amos Hawkstein were in the region to follow up when conversations on a range of range of issues, including Iran's the destabilizing activities, ensuring stable global energy supplies, and other

regional issues issues. On your question about oil, you know, it's this trip is to review engagement with Saudi Arabia on energy security as as asking for oil is simply wrong. That's the way that we see it, and a misunderstanding of both the complexity of that issue as well as our multifaceted discussions with the Saudis. Wow, that whole thing was written down. They knew there'd be a question. Axios

had the story earlier. How about that, though, uh Rick, on your question about oil, it's this trip is to review engagement with Saudi Arabia on energy security, review engagement. There's your action phrase there, as asking for oil is simply wrong the way we see it, a misunderstanding both the complexity of that issue as well as our how do they come up with this stuff? Well, this is

a lot of nothing. Um, it's pretty abundantly clear. We're not asking for royal that they're trying to get past the sort of penalty box situation that they put Mohammed Ben Solomon in for some time, and and and they're doing it under the guise of sort of smoking mirror.

But this is about incredibly bad news that the Biden administration keeps getting every week when the price of gas goes up, regardless of his policies, regardless of his emergency measures, regardless of the commissions that he puts together to try and create uh less more downward pressure on pricing, it's not working. It's been up since he launched this program overt uh the increase in the price of gas. So

he's drowning in in high price gas right now. And the only the only place he's gonna get any help that could actually you know, benefit the consumer are with these uh energy rich nations as part of OPEC, which he which he definitely doesn't want to spend time talk to him about because the last thing he wants one is to get a political bail out from MBS and to look like he's looking past the human rights abuses that have been uh in that country. And and he's

found himself in a box. And so I think we're gonna hear double speak out of this. But look if he if he can get some progress uh in that regard, I think that it's a positive for the U. S. Consumer. Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt apparently would be part of this arrangement is, according to Axios, to increase oil production. Genie, I have two headlines for you from Bloomberg. Here's one, Saudi Arabia is making a billion dollars from oil exports

every day. Oil exports reached thirty billion dollars in March, at least the highest in six years. Here's another one. Saudi Arabia says it's done all I can do for the oil market. The energy crisis, they say, is more complex than simply pumping more oil. So what are we

doing over there? Uh? You know, I think that's why you've got these two seen your advisors over there on this you know, not so secret now trade reviewing engagement on energy security and let's not forget Biden once said he would make Saudi Arabia pariah because of the killing of Jamal Kashogi. The Washington Post reporter um that U. S Intelligence has said the prince is responsible for, which,

of course Audi Arabia has denied. But you know, this is where people become very, very frustrated with what they see is the hypocrisy coming out of not just this White House but others. You know, at this point, when I heard this news, I wondered whether Jared Kushner was on this trip with potentially with the White House, because this is a White House that said it would not engage in this, and yet when the heat is on

in terms of oil prices, they are. I'm not surprised, but they're gonna have to do a better job explaining it, and that didn't happen today. I don't know how you bring this one forward. I mean, look, I guess on on on one level, Rick, low gas prices is a win, but you also have to explain in this particular case, you owe the American people in explanation as to how they got lower gas prices. Now, look, you're not gonna

get this done in a vacuum. Right, there is no secrets and we're realizing that they couldn't even get off the airport before they were um, so, so why don't we just make this transparent? Uh? This administration is engaging with Saudi Arabian order to lower gas prices in advance of an election where they're losing right now. Are doing it with a guy who has a horrible human rights record. Take the hit. What's more important to you the human

rights record or gas prices? That's that's true, Genie. People appreciate the honesty, even if it's ugly. Uh. I would appreciate the honesty. But I'll tell you, when you say that oil prices are more important than human rights and human life, it's a hard thing. It's a hard pill for a lot of us to swallow. And I I you know they're gonna hopefully they listen to Rick. I don't think they will. I don't think we'll hear them

say that. I think they will continue to opit skate, And that's going to be a problem for them as we go forward, because people are watching and he did talk about them as a pariah on the international stage. They horrifically killed this man the U. S. Intelligence has talked all about that, and yet we are going to engage because we don't want to pay more at the pump. I get the argument, but it's a hard pill for people to swallow. Rick and Jennie with another great discussion

our panel only here on sound On. Don't you feel like if you just elected Rick and Jennie things probably work out pretty well? Right? I'm Joe, Matthew and Washington will of course do this tomorrow. If you showed up late, subscribe to the podcast Bloomberg sound On, just search for it where you get your podcasts. As we leave you with some sweeter sounds from a more gentle age, did you hear about ray Leota? Ray Leota died sixty seven, Henry Hill. Anybody reminding us to make the best of

it while you're here? Where you take body? My lord lord, that is my the fastest hour in politics. Will be back tomorrow Bloomberg Raddy, I'm Jill, Matthew and Washington. Thanks to everybody for jumping in. This is Please try to get