Sound On: Russia Strikes Back, Partisan Campaign Rhetoric

her doctor. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. Vladimir Putin threatens more missile attacks after hitting Ukraine with the most intense bombardment we've seen since the start of the invasion. Welcome to the fastest hour in politics, as President Biden now promises continued support. Back on the phone today with Vladimir Zilinski, will discuss the dangerous escalation ahead with John Herb's, former US ambassador to Ukraine, now with

the Atlantic Council. Later, partisan rhetoric gets louder on the campaign trail with the weekend of debates and to Trump rallies, We'll talk with political scientists Samara Clark the University of Arizona, with just now over a month to the mid terms.

Analysis from our panel today. Bloomberg Politics contributor and Democratic analyst Genie Schanzano is with us along with Lester Monthson, principle at government relations firm b g R. Ukraine is still digging through rubble after Russia's shop more than eighty

missiles at targets across the country. Sounds from Kiev here a day after Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for an explosion that damaged a key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia, and Putin is threatening more now after targeting civilian infrastructure, civilian

neighborhoods in this latest barrage. The images are horrifying. Vitali Klitchko is the mayor of Kiev, angry, angry and want to defend houses, defend President's A. Lensky back on the phone today with President Biden to discuss the need for more air defense is something we discussed earlier today on Bloomberg with Mark Asper, the former Secretary of Defense. I think at this point we need to rush anti aircraft systems,

long range anti aircraft, anti missile systems into Ukraine. And provide um, you know, Ukraine a veneer of defense, because at this point this seems to be like one of the last cards that Vladimir Putin has, and that's the long range bombardment of Sublian cities. It's quite a thought. Let's bring in John Herb's, former US Ambassador to Ukraine now senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center. Ambassador,

welcome back. We appreciate your being here. French President Emmanuel McCrone says the attacks that we saw by Russia on infrastructure in Ukraine represent a deep change in the war. Is he right? I would say it represents more maybe it perhaps a lot more of the same. This is not the first time Putin has gone after infrastructure, and he's been going after civilian targets since the start of

the big invasion, you know. And and the end of February, Ukraine was able to shoot down only half the missiles fired by Russia. As I read on the terminal here we recall President Zelenski's cry for help, ambassador to close the sky. As with the words that he chose when he spoke with spoke to a joint session of Congress. Is this simply a matter of providing more long range missile defense systems, like Mark Asper said. And if that's

the case, how come we happened already? Esper is right. Look, our policy as Moscow has conducted this war of aggression in Ukraine has been adequate, but not as good as it could and should be. Administration has sent lots of weapons to Ukraine, and they deserve credit for that. But the weapons they've sent have always been you might say, of the second rank, second order, and they usually say no before they say yes, before sending weapons of a

more sophisticated kind. It's like the high Mars with range of KOs which we finally sent at the end of June. Ukraine should have had in March, but we said no until finally we said yes. And that's over a fear of escalation, right, correct, they've but they've been intimidated, in my judgment, by Prutin's nuclear threats. Many times we said we can't do this because we're afraid moscowe might escalate. That is a that is a posture of weakness which

is not suitable to our interest. Finally, finally, we we seem to have gotten that point right when Biden's spoke very strongly against the threats of nuclear strikes by Plutin a couple of weeks ago at the U n and on sixty minutes. But before that we kept saying we can't do X because again Russia miniscalate esuate we are much stronger than Russia. We have a long history of deterring Soviet power, which is greater than Prutent's power. We

should demonstrate that now. Well, I feel like I'm asking this every day at this point, and I'm sure I've asked you, ambassador. Is it Do we need to not go back to the initial request for miggs from Poland or other other NATO friends that are flying these jets that would be easy for Ukraine to start flying now or is the concern that this spills over Ukraine's borders? Is that why the jets are off limits the Again, it comes from a certain timidity on the part of

the administration, which is unfortunate, which has not served our interest. Again, Look, the support we provided to Ukraine has been decent. It's been adequate, but it could be stronger, and it could be if it was if we did the right thing earlier, and if we do the right thing. Now, this world will come to a satisfactory and faster that it will at the current pace. It just makes you feel like what else is behind that door there, that that we

haven't sent already. That, I mean, the reluctance has really been laid bare by conversations like these. They're they're asking for attackers, which are missiles which have a range of up to three kilometers. They're asking for for more high mars and high mars with longer ranges. Not kilometers that we're sending, but a hundred and fifty kilometers are more. They're asking for tanks, to asking for armed personnel carriers, and they're asking for as um. Former Defense Secretary Espert said,

high range of anti aircraft defense. All these things we should be sending, We should be sending. Putin's army is on the ropes in Ukraine. We want to help Ukraine recapture all of its territories sooner rather than later. Ambassador, how real is the possibility of this war spilling over in the neighboring countries crossing the border, Well, it would be. It would be improved tool out the possibility of Putin escalating. By escalating, I mean going beyond Ukraine or dropping a

um tactical nuclear weapon or more to on Ukraine. The point is this, Putin's objective is not to take a bit of territory in Ukraine's east. It's been objective today is to take political control of Ukraine. As objective tomorrow once he has Ukraine in his pocket, is to go

after other states, including all NATO allies. So he is coming for our NATO allies, and we are bound to defend with American troops, so American interests, smart American policies to give Ukraine everything it needs to defeat Putin for us. So all you are providing is our weapons and money, not soldiers and American lives. And therefore and deter Putin from doing the same to Estonia or or or another former piece of the Soviet Union. That's correct. We appease

Putin in Georgia. We appease Putin when he sees crime. Let's stop appeasing and let's help you plan Betam so again we don't have to worry about our Baltic allies or Polish allies. You've obviously spent time in Kiev, you worked their ambassador. When you see images like we saw today at this playground on fire. Uh should we expect more attacks on civilians? Is that a strategy? I mean, I don't even know how to describe that, but that appears to be the next leg as as Mark Espert

suggested for Flatimer Putin. Putin has been doing this since the start of the big invasion. It's not a rategy, it's a tactic which fails. It just makes the Ukrainian is more determined to win. And it's not their only war crime. You know, they torture your civilians, They are raping women, they are abducting They've abducted tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children. Something to Russia group to go up as Russians torn from the arms

of their parents. You know, it's war crime after war crimes. But the thing is Prutinent has only got that because he cannot defute the Ukrainian military. His army has proved to be a paper tiger. What do you think happens to that bridge from Russia to Crimea in the next couple of days. I don't know. My understanding is that the Russians have gotten the railroad over the bridge up

and working, not the not the truck, the lames. So this just say, still have partial problem for Prutinent his supplies, military supplies for his army in Ukraine and civilian supplies to Crimea. But I mean Ukrainians perhaps will have another another card to play, But I don't know that per fact. Well you know where that is, you know, I keep reading people hear these kind of buzzwords of flagship bridge

and keep bridge. Whatever. Can you put this in perspective for our listeners as to how important that was to go after that particular structure, which, of course Vladimir Putin opened on his own. I believe he was the first to drive across correct that bridge. I've student the spot that bridge now rests. Uh. It is a critical logistical hub la Moscow, one to provides against civilian supplies to the people in Crimea, but then also military supplies for

Rush his army in the south. So if the bridge were completely taken out, it would greatly complicate already troubles some Crimin military operations in the south, and it would spade up Ukraine's counter offensive in the south. What would it bean? What would it mean politically for Crimea? How

would the people of Crimea, I feel about being cut off. Well, the thing to understand is that before Moscow sees Crimea in February, a majority of the citizen as the crime of residents of Crimea, wanted to remain part of Ukraine. Even though at that point maybe UM fifty two fifty four maximum of the people were ethnic Russians, a majority, including some ethnic Russians, wanted to remain part of Crimea. Uh,

it's unclear what the people of Crimea fial. Now there's been a truly massive campaign of repression against Ukrainians, Ukrainian language, Ukrainian faith. Uh so it may be somewhat different. Now I can tell you this, even ethnic Russians in Crimea who supporting part of Russia and not an enthusiastic about the lack of democracy that they faced as Russian citizens, who was as when they under control of Keith it was more or less a democracy. The attacks on Kiev

were pretty heavy this time, Ambassador. What does that mean for our diplomatic corps and for our our current ambassador should they be there. Uh, you know, I was a diplomat for thirty one years. Uh, there's a amount of risk that comes with the diplomat UM. I think that given the importance of this of of our support for Ukraine, it's the embassy should stay and I think a very clear message should be sent to to Moscow. Did if our embassy is hit uh, there will be major, major repercussions.

Case in point, as we talk about the spirit of the Ukrainian people. This is a remarkable headline on our terminal Angry Ukrainians donate five point six million dollars for killer drones. This is according to a fund that says on Facebook it started raising money for Ukrainian kama Kazi drones that have been successfully tested in the battlefield. Knowing, of course, Ambassador that we're now seeing Russia use the

drones that were provided by Iran. Correct Look, the Ukrainian people understand that if Russia wins in this war uh, he is going to extinguish Ukrainian nous. That's a phrase used by the former president of Russian Indigions and it's all over the Russian media. So that's why some people call us the war of genercide. If Ukrainians wants to live as Ukrainians with Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian institutions in Ukraine.

They have to be Bristmas war. That's the President. Zelenski reinforced that point today, says he wants to wipe Ukraine off the face of the earth. Ambassador John Herbs, great to have you. Thank you so much for coming back, former US Ambassador to Ukraine. Now with the Atlantic Council. The panel is next. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to Bloomberg.

You sound on with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The headline on the terminal Putin escalates with civilian strikes as army struggles at front, disturbing images being shown around the world. As we assemble our panel here following this deadly weekend in Ukraine. Bloomberg Politics contributor and Democratic analyst Genie Schanzana was with us today along with less Months in principle of b GR Group, former staff director of the Senate

Foreign Relations Committee. Thanks to both of you for being here, Genie. Is it not time to start fulfilling the requests from Ukraine? The President was back on the phone today with President Zelenski. Biden and Zelenski, how many times have they had this conversation where he's asking for more longer range more effective aircraft even if possible, and if that had been sent months ago, would that many of missiles have gotten through today?

I guess I'm having trouble understanding the delay. Well, you know, the reality is we've spent we've sent what sixteen billion dollars in aid to this point, and the ambassador is right, it's been decent, but it's not been enough to stop this onslaught that after the bridge being partially blown up over the weekend, and so, you know, the reality is either NATO, the West the United States are going to have to step up and you know, talk about things

like an iron dome and Morheimers and or they're going to have to put pressure in another direction, and that is a direction towards some kind of you know, discussion of peace talks and or both. I mean, what I'm hearing, and I will tell you from the left is that there,

you know, little dribbles of it, not a lot. But in addition to this sort of criticism that the White House isn't doing enough we heard from Mike Pompeo and some others, we're also hearing from the far left some concern that there hasn't been enough of a push on peace talks because as this war escalates and the President talks about armageddon, where is this thing going to end? So I think the White House is going to feel pressure on both of those ends as we go forward

into the winter. Well it's interesting you say that, because Donald Trump sees it the same way, and I'm pretty sure he got some applause when he brought this up at one of his two rallies. Actually he did it at both Nevada, right and UH and Arizona. Here's Donald Trump, we must demand the immediate negotiation of a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine, or we will end up in World War three and there will be nothing left of our plan at all, because stupid people didn't have

a clue. They didn't have a clue. They don't understan They really don't understand. I rebuilt our military, I rebuilt our nuclear power. They don't understand what they're dealing with the power of nuclear They have no idea what they're doing. Lester months and these calls are are growing louder and and granted to Jeanie's point here, we're really just seeing them start to crop up here. Questions about the spending and now questions about attempts to have peace talks. Of course,

Donald Trump has his own interests here. He says this never would have happened because uh, he you know, he would have talked everybody down or something. But I wonder is this something that progressive Democrats and and conservatives will

have in common at some point. I think we're all getting a little distracted here from what is What is in many ways the most important thing that's that's happening in Ukraine, which is that Ukrainian forces, because of US assistants, are pushing Russian forces back and in the direction of being out of Ukraine. Now, there's a long way to go, but on the ground, Zelinski and his fighters are prevailing. Kudos to the Biden administration for doing what they have done,

Kudos to Congress for providing the wherewithal to make that happen. Yes, there needs to be more missile defense. Yes we should be concerned about the use of nuclear weapons. But I think talking about a settlement now is totally playing into Putin's hands. Uh. Similarly, I think an over emphasis and I do mean over over emphasis on missile defense at this point might distract us from what is really the important thing, which is pushing Russian forces back. That is

what's happening on the ground. We really should be doubling down on that. Vladimir Putin is reacting to his losses on the battlefield. Let's make sure they continue. This is why, of course the nuke threats keep coming. A genie and we we've heard it again. Then Putin's threatening to do more targeting of civilian areas like we saw over the weekend. You mentioned that word arm again. That was that's what got all the play when when when President Biden said

that last week? But are you not ruling out this as a possibility? The more desperate Vladimir Putin gets, You know, I don't think we can rule anything out at this point. I mean, we hear from all the experts on this in the United States and in the West that that is not likely to happen. You know that they put the chances around what ten fift percent, So you can't rule it out. It's unlikely to happen. It's a difficult

thing to do. That said, we've all talked about the fact that a cornered Putin is a very dangerous Putin, and let's not forget they now have a new military commander and he was the same guy who is responsible for the intervention in Syria. And so this is a ferocious response in the last eight hours, with these eight plus missiles and the attacks on civilians. So I don't think we can rule that out. And I think, you know, I thought, quite frankly President Biden talking about that a

fundraiser was irresponsible myself. But it is, you know, apparently something that he is hearing when he is getting these briefings, or it's on his mind, and that's got to be a frightening prospect. Lester, what do you make of that. I'm glad that Jennie brought it up. General Sergey Savikin if I'm saying it right, commander of all troops fighting in Ukraine, who has quite a reputation for what was

done in Syria. Does that mean more civilian deaths? Well, again, I think we need to keep our eye on the ball. These these attacks against civilian targets are terrible. The Russians should be condemned across the board for them. We should be providing missile defense for the Ukraine's They are, however, not militarily significant. The real issue is progress on the ground.

Ukrainians are prevailing. Let's not get distracted from that. You know, the Russians very likely blew up their own nord Stream terminal a few days ago as another way to distract us. It didn't work very well. Who is trying the nuclear rhetoric? They're trying these attacks on civilian targets, which are which are not going to change the facts on the ground unless we let them. So. The more progress that Ukraine makes, though, of course, the more potentially desperate Vladimir Putin gets. Not

that that is new. Lester and Genie stay with us our panel for the hour. I'm Joe Matthew in Washington. This is Bloomberg. We are right in the heart of debate season now. Who've got Ohio Senate tonight? I know your DVR is set for the Georgia Senate debate on Friday. Does anyone use a DVR anymore? This, of course, after Senate candidates in both Wisconsin and North Carolina held their debates over the weekend. You get another spin in Wisconsin

in a couple of days. It's like holiday season for political walks, which is sitting around watching TV all day and if you watch a couple of these, well let's take the two from over the weekend as our baseline, you realize there are two major issues here, and it coincides with oversations that we have been having on this

program for months, and we hate to oversimplify. Look, there are great nuances to each race, but it is largely when it comes down to these debates about abortion versus inflation. What's going to be more important to you? In North Carolina, Ted Bud, Congressman Ted Bud, of course, the Republican nominee went straight for the Democrat, Sherry Beastley on this issue. I just think that my opponent is up for abortion.

She's she's a supporter of abortion at any time, for any reason, all the way up to him until the moment of birth. And she wants to do that at taxpayer expense, all the way to the moment of birth, which is something we keep hearing from Republicans on the trail. Democrats don't always do so well, uh trying to qualify their positions. Coming back, Sherry Beastley, by the way, was

chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. I support the Row versus Wade framework, which allows for protects and restrictions on abortion later in pregnancy, so that when abortion happens later on pregnancy, that it only happens when there are serious problems, like when the mother's life is at risk. We seek analysis and some assistants here from Samara clar professor of political science at the University of Arizona. Donald Trump was back in your state over the weekend. I see, Samara, welcome,

It's great to have you. I wonder if if this is going to boil down to something that simple, and these are very close racist They're all within a couple of points, if not the margin of error here, based on what we heard of Wisconsin and North Carolina inflation versus abortion. This is what the midterms might be remembered

for absolutely. I mean things here are so tight in Arizona, particularly the governor's race, where we are really not seeing any polls that show either candidate outside the margin of error. So that's the Lake Hobbs race here. Part of the reason is that we don't have the incumbents in that right neither. You know, our current governor, dub Doocy is is out. He's term limited out, so we've got two newcomers.

Relatively we have a very, very divided electorate in Arizona when it comes to the proportion of voters who identify as Democrat versus Republican. And you're exactly right. I mean, the two issues that are at the forefront of people's minds include abortion and inflation. Both of those are incredibly important here in Arizona because we have this new band I believe it was now it's now paused by the courts. They're trying to reevaluate it. But there was a new

ban on airb on abortion in Arizona. Arizona was one of the hardest hit states when it came to inflation rates. So both of these things are incredibly salient to voters. Uh the yeah looks this this is something that you're going to be hearing a lot about it. It's it's

almost like a formula that you know. First, the Republican candidate, in an opening statement is as we were in the first question, doesn't answer the question, but refers to the inflation that has gripped the country that Joe Biden's responsible for and that their opponent is part of. Then the Democrat comes back around to talk about how he this this Republican wants to take your rights away, and we

go from there. By the way, this this debate coming up in Arizona will be an empty chair, right, Carrie Lake will be alone for half an hour or something in the next couple of days. That's right. Hobbs has been refusing to debate Lake, which is the whole other issue here in Arizona. Hubbs argues that Lake is peddling misinformation. She's an election denier. Hobbs does not want to dignify her questions with responses. That sort of a thing. You know, whether or not this is a great move for Hobbs

is a bit of a tough question. I think personally, you know, Hobbes could probably use a little more name recognition. She could probably get out there a little more. Yeah, I mean, you know, she hasn't been performing as well as one might expect in the polls, given that, you know, we have a fairly popular Democratic senator who is who's running again, Mark Kelly. Both suggests that he should win.

I mean, it's a close race, but he looks like he's pretty much out of the margin of error, and most polls, you would think that that would really be a big boost for Hobbs and potentially it has been. But you she's not. She's not ahead in any polls. I mean, it's it's neck and neck. What Lake really has in her advantages there's more Arizonas who are Republicans than our Democrats, and that's going to help any of

standid it right? I see CNN has Katie Hobbs up by three, but the real clear poll of polls has Carry Lake up by basically one point. These are so close, Samara, whether we're talking about that race, whether we're talking about some of the Senate races that I already mentioned, including the one that's going to happen in Ohio tonight, will debates in the year to actually make any difference. You mentioned name recognition. I get that, but but will any

of these candidates move the needle into televised debates? Well, the first thing I would say is when you have such a close race, then you really can't risk anything. I mean anything could help. At this point, You're gonna have candidates out there who are winning by you know, five thousand vote margins less you know, thousand vote margins, Like this is going to become a really really tight race.

Now we don't typically see people change their vote. You know, say, you know what, I came in as a Lake voter, but actually I'm voted for Hobbs. That's pretty unlikely, given how part is in the population is. But we do know a lot of people who just don't want to vote, if you know what, I don't like either of them. I'm not inspired by either of them. I've been a busy day. I don't remember what my ballot is. I'm

not going to deal with it. What these candidates need to do is get the voters who are already sympathetic toward them to feel sufficiently motivated to actually show up and vote. I mean, that is what they're looking for. Uh. The rhetoric that we heard of the Trump rally in Arizona over the weekend was pretty remarkable. How much is that actually floating carry Lake's campaign? How much is the

Trump effect driving her popularity? I know that she was very well known as a TV anchor before this, sure, so I think the Trump of the Trump endorsement, the Trump Association is helping her amongst the proportion of Republicans who like Trump. But I will stay in my own pulling that we've been doing out of Arizona suggests that's probably only about half of Arizona Republicans. Republicans here in Arizona are actually quite divided when it comes to how

they feel about Trump. We've got a big proportion of Republicans who don't like Trump, who don't you know, they vote for him if you were the candidate, because frankly their Republicans and those are the policies they support, but if they had an option, they would like somebody else. Those people are the ones who supported Lake's opponents in the primaries. They are the ones who may not want

to show up and vote on election day. There is, however, this other proportion of Republicans in Arizona, about half of them who do like Trump, who do respect his endorsement, and that is for them a big factor in supporting Lake. So you know what it's doing. It's a bit of a risky gamble because it's increasing turnout among the base. But it is risking turnout, it's risking support among Republicans who aren't huge Trump fans. Fascinating is always to check

in with Samara Clara. Thank you, Samara for your insights. Political scientists at the University of Arizona right there where it's happening right now, and will reassemble our panel next. Lester Munson's with us today along with Jeannie Chanzano. I'm Joe Matthew in Washington. We'll bring into one of these Trump rallies coming up. This is Bloomberg. You're listening to

Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. As we reassemble our panel following a wild weekend on the trail, not just the debates, but to Trump rallies and a whole bunch of smaller rallies for candidates. As everyone comes to grips with the fact that there's a month to go. That'll be the headline tomorrow, right, one month to go until the mid terms, and we're just still playing music,

which is fine, but it keeps me moving. After the debate in North Carolina, it did leave me questioning the sort of approach to the issues that we were just talking about, uh a few moments ago with Samara Clark, and namely abortion, because Democrats don't always have the retort if this is gonna be the issue here that is, you know, at the ready when this stuff comes up,

here's Sherry Beasley again debate with Senator's head. But the bottom line is Congressman Bud wants to be in between a woman and her doctor, and there is no place in the exam room for Congress and Bud. So that line got a lot of attention, and UH find it's sound biteable, people walk away, whether it gets lots of

replays on Twitter and so forth. Uh, But as I played for you before, Ted Bud is much more to the point in his argument here has we've been hearing from Republican candidates around the country right abortion up until the moment of birth. I just think that my opponent is up for abortion. She's she's a supporter of abortion at any time, for any reason, all the way up to him until the moment of birth. And she wants

to do that at taxpayer expense. And if you ask Donald Trump, I mean his rallies, he says, up until the moment of birth. And after let's reassemble the panel for their thoughts on the rhetoric here, Jeanie Schanzana, when Lester Munson are with US Democratic analysts Bloomberg Politics can tributor Jeannie Chanzano and Lester months in of b g R Group, former staff director of the Senate Form Relations Committee.

I had to pull you both into this, but this is one of the most important debates in the country right now, Jennie, How did Democrats answer what is essentially an untrue accusation. Yeah, I mean it's fascinating because both sides are trying to say that the other side is more extreme and um, you know, it's like an extremist debate out there, and you know, Democrats have to do a good job of making the case that they're what their positions are, what their limits are. I did hear

Alyssa Slatkin over the weekend from Michigan. She was on the air when she was asked this question. I thought she did a good job. She basically made the case that she wants to codify ROW and that there should be restrictions on third the third trimester, and that people who are claiming otherwise, uh, they need to be responded to. Um. So you know there is a response out there. But the more they are hit on this, the more they're going to have to shore up how they respond in

this way. And I would also just say that Bernie Sanders had a really interesting op ed out over the last day or so, claiming that Democrats have to get off the only focusing on abortion issue and also address the economic issue as well. So there's two sides to this that they have doing well, that's for sure. It's just when it comes to, you know, being painted into a corner here, Lester, it does seem like at times

Democrats are allowing that to happen here. Senator Ron Johnson, of course, the Republican from Wisconsin, in his debate over the weekend, it's almost word for word what we heard from Ted. But the most extreme position here would be no limits on abortion whatsoever, allowing an abortion right to the moment of birth, which is what the lieutenant governments

governor supports. That's technically not true, Lester. I mean, obviously, Uh, there are emergencies that might lead to something like that late in a pregnancy, but that really doesn't happen very often. That's that is considered extreme and extreme medical procedure. Uh. If Democrats are going to make abortion the issue going into the mid terms here, don't they need a better reply on that? Yeah? I think they do. The Republican. You know, when the Dobb's decision first came down a

few months ago. Republicans were really amazingly on their heels and didn't have much constructive to say about it. And we're and we're really uh kind of on the receiving end of the attacks. They've they've turned that around to some extent. The rhetoric we're seeing and uh, this this is you know, election end of campaign rhetoric is more effective than where they had been a few months ago.

So they've been they've been testing some messages and they've been doing a better job, I would say, of addressing the issue at least in some fashion. Democrats need to be clear. I do think, uh, you know this this is this is not a presidential year election, so turnout is what both sides are looking for. The fact that both sides are kind of looking to get to the middle on us, I guess I take some heart in and they're not just going to their extremes and trying

to drive out the most motivated voters. So I think that's interesting that with regard to this issue. Sure, I think you know, you're seeing some Democrats admit that they'll will be in favor of some restrictions and Republicans focusing less on you know, a ban from the moment of conception and more on taxpayer funding and late term abortion. To me, from the kind of from arms length of way, I see this as both sides kind of talking a

little bit at least towards the middle. So I take I take some heart in that you mentioned end of campaign rhetoric. I think it's how you put it. Lester Genie, I don't know if you heard Marjorie Taylor Green over the weekend, who is at the Arizona or the Trump Arizona rally just yesterday? Uh, coming out full blown replacement theory. Listen, Joe Biden's five million illegal aliens are on the verge of replacing you, replacing your jobs, and replacing your kids

in school, and coming from all over the world. They're also replacing your culture, and that's not great for America. Just imagine how that played on Twitter. I'm sure the replies are still coming in here. Jeannie, this is the stuff that that motivates voters at the last minute. What's the point, Well, you know she's speaking at a Trump campaign rally. Um. We also heard Tommy Tupperville out making comments in another area that that we're equally offensive to

many people. Um, so they're speaking to a particular audience. And and you know, I did see the reaction on Twitter, and it has been swift, as it always is with somebody like Marjorie Taylor Green or in this case, Tommy Tupperville. Um, but you know, this is not the reality is is

that for Republicans and Democrats. You know, Lester is right, they have to get their base out to vote in this mid term, but the real fight is in the suburbs, and it is in terms of the moderates independence, particularly women in some of these critical states like Georgia, like Nevada, and so in that case, this you know, extreme language is not helpful to them. And that's a real problem and that has long been a problem on the Republican

side that they're going to have to watch it. You mentioned Tommy Tubberville, Republican from Alabama, the senator spoke the night earlier at the Nevada rally, and we did have to bleep what he said. But it's not the swear words that offended people. Some people say, well, they're soft on crime. No, they're not soft on crown. They're pro crime. They won't crime, they won't crime because they want to take over what you got. They want to control what

you have. They want reparation because they think the people that do the crime are owed debts. They're not that lester. The crowd loved it. Who is that helping? Though? I mean I realized this as a Trump rally, But I mean, are you really we're going to go there when on reparations and a white man from Alabama? How's that going

to help turn out? Uh? It's pretty it's pretty gross. Um. I think what we're seeing here is less is less about trying to win elections here in November two and more about the Republican primary for president in and uh and the former president trying to position himself as far to the right as possible so that no one can outflank him in the primaries. He's that will start in really a few months. Uh, and so he's he's worried about ryand de Santas, he's worried about some of these

other younger Republicans coming up and challenging him. He's trying to put a stake in the ground that no one will be able to get around to the right. And it's uh so that's that's I think what we're seeing without defining the right here, I haven't even played Donald Trump yet he provided it was with the with so

much fodder here. He of course spoke at his own rallies, and I have to ask you, I mean, while we're while we're kind of taking a second look at some ideas here, this idea of the Chinese restaurant in the bowling alley. I know if you're you're on board with this, But the president called for an investigation into uh, most of the presidents who preceded him, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, saying that they also mishandled documents, but he he had a different way

of getting to it. With George H. W. Bush. George H. W. Bush took millions of documents to a former bowling alley and a former Chinese restaurant where they combined them. So they're in a bowling alley slash Chinese restaurant. Now, I don't think so, I as I have learned since then. Uh. This is from an unrelated story from about mishandling of

computer data under the H. W. Bush administration. The Chinese restaurant in Bowling alley comes from a year later associated press report about how the president, the former president stored uh everything from his life in this massive, where house like room that was a at one time a bowling alley. It was next door to what was once a Chinese restaurant. But we've got a whole new part of the stump speech here, Genie. It does make for good visuals, I guess, yeah.

I mean this is typical Donald Trump. You know, it's his usual defense of you know, everybody's doing it, why don't you look at the other guy? And he also called in Hillary Clinton and you know, all of the former presidents. You know, initially when the stories came out, as we recall, um, he made this claim about Barack Obama, and now he has expanded it to include all of the former presidents and one of his opponents. And and

the reality is is it's a very different scenario. The National Archives took these documents to this facility because it was in the same city where Bush was opening his library. That is a far cry from what Donald Trump is accused of. But of course this plays into his narrative that the FBI has politicized that you know, he that he is you know under attack, and you know everybody else is doing it, but why aren't they being investigated?

Kind of Jeb Bush tweeted this out, said, my dad enjoyed a good Chinese meal, enjoyed the challenge of seven ten split. What the heck is up with you? We'll meet you back here tomorrow with highlights from the Ohio debate. I'm Joe Matthew. This is Bloomberg.