>>> AS A COUNTRY, I'M APPALLED AT WHERE WE ARE.
>> IT'S SAD. IT'S IN BAD SHAPE, AND IT'S
SERIOUS.
>> EXHAUSTION FIRST AND FOREMOST.
DREAD SECOND.
>> IT IS CRAZY BECAUSE JUST THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, I FEEL LIKE
THE INFLATION.
>> IT SUCKS THAT WE HAVE DIVISION LIKE THIS AND NOBODY
LISTENS TO EACH OTHER.
>> I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PARTY GET SO DISCOMBOBULATED.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME PEOPLE
DOING THE SAME THING, AND IT JUST FEELS THE SAME.
>> YOU READY? THREE, TWO, ONE.
LET'S GO. ♪
>> THIS PRIMARY IS GOING TO BE VERY UGLY.
>> ONCE AGAIN, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WILL BE A NO-SHOW.
>> THIS IS INFURIATING. EVERY TIME I HEAR YOU, I FEEL A
LITTLE BIT DUMBER FOR WHAT YOU SAY.
>> THE FIGHTING, THE CONSTANT VITRIOL WITH EACH OTHER.
>> EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.
>> GENTLEMEN, YOU'LL HAVE YOUR TURN.
>> PUT YOUR HAND DOWN FOR A SECOND, WOULD YOU.
>> IT'S THE STATE DEPARTMENT. DID YOU SEND THEM BACK?
>> RATHER THAN CREATING CLARITY, IT CREATES MORE OF A MUDDLE.
AND ALL OF THIS HELPS DONALD TRUMP.
>> DONALD TRUMP IS IN COURT RIGHT NOW ON DAY ONE OF HIS
CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL IN NEW YORK CITY.
>> TRUMP IS NOW FACING IN TOTAL 91 CRIMINAL CHARGES.
>> IF I WEREN'T LEADING IN ALL THE POLLS OR IF I WEREN'T
RUNNING, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY OF THESE CASES.
>> THERE ARE ONLY 6% OF AMERICANS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE
BOTH TRUMP AND BIDEN RUN.
>> JOE BIDEN IS NOT POPULAR NATIONALLY, AND THE MAJORITY OF
HIS OWN PARTY DON'T WANT HIM TO RUN.
>> THERE IS REAL CONCERN ABOUT HIS AGE.
>> HUNTER BIDEN CONTINUES TO BE A POLITICAL HEADACHE FOR HIS
FATHER.
>> BARELY 1 IN 4 AMERICANS SATISFIED WITH THE ECONOMY.
>> THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THEIR GOVERNMENT IS
CORRUPT AND RIGGED AGAINST EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
>> BIDEN'S A PIECE OF SHIT AND HE DON'T GIVE --
>> WE'RE ALL BEING LIED TO.
>> THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS TIRED OF THE BRINKSMANSHIP ON CAPITOL
HILL.
>> REPUBLICANS TRIED TO PASS A SHORT-TERM FUNDING BILL.
>> IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE.
>> SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY HAD TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET
THE TEMPORARY SPENDING BILL THROUGH THE HOUSE.
>> SOME OF THE FAR RIGHT WERE VERY UPSET WITH WHAT HE DID.
>> THAT COULD COST HIM HIS JOB AS SPEAKER.
>> THERE WILL BE A MOVE AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK.
>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE STATE OF AMERICA?
>> I FEEL A LOT OF DEPRESSION, AND I HATE IT.
♪
♪ ♪
>>> HOW ARE WE?
>> WE'RE LIT, BABY.
>> ONE FOR YOU. ONE FOR YOU.
AND THREE FOR ME.
>> OH, MY GOSH. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, HEILEMANN?
>> I'M HAVING A BEER FLIGHT BECAUSE GIVEN THE WAY THINGS ARE
IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, ONE NEEDS ALL THE BEER WE CAN GET.
CHIN CHIN, MOTHERFUCKERS.
>> WE NEED TO NUMB IT.
>> GUYS, IT'S OCTOBER. THE LAST TIME WE GATHERED WAS
LIKE EARLY SPRING, RIGHT? I FEEL LIKE IF YOU WERE
DESCRIBING THE TRANSITION FROM EARLY SPRING TO EARLY FALL IN
AMERICAN POLITICS, IT WOULD BE LIKE FROM SHIT SHOW TO FUCK
SHOW.
>> IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER DIMENSION, LIKE A LIFETIME AGO.
TRUMP HAD JUST BEEN INDICTED.
>> THE FIRST TRUMP INDICTMENT WAS JUST HAPPENING AT THAT
POINT.
>> AND WE WERE LIKE, IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL.
>> NOW HE'S BEEN INDICTED SEVERAL TIMES.
>> FOUR TIMES.
>> WITH, I BELIEVE, 91 --
>> 91 COUNTS.
>> 91 CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES. TRUMP IS IN COURT.
>> AND MADE A PERSONAL APPEARANCE, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE
TO BE.
>> THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY FOUND TRUMP AND HIS SONS LIABLE OF
FRAUD, CLAIMING TRUMP'S REAL ESTATE VALUATIONS WERE, QUOTE, A
FANTASY WORLD.
>> THE JUDGE IS WRONG IN HIS RULING.
WE VALUED MAR-A-LAGO AT $18 MILLION, AND IT'S WORTH A
BILLION DOLLARS, MAYBE A BILLION FIVE.
>> A HUGE PART OF HOW HE BECAME THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN 2016
WAS PEOPLE LIKE, I SAW HIM ON THE APPRENTICE.
I SAW TRUMP TOWER. THAT GUY IS A TYCOON, RIGHT?
AND NOW THE QUESTION IN THIS TRIAL IS LIKE WHETHER STRIPPING
HIM OF THAT HAS ANY POLITICAL IMPACT OR JUST PSYCHIC IMPACT.
>> I THINK HIS SUPPORTERS WILL THINK LETITIA JAMES WENT AFTER
HIM BECAUSE SHE'S NEVER LIKED TRUMP AND IT WAS ALL POLITICAL.
>> TO THE BASE, EVERY ADDITIONAL INDICTMENT IS JUST MORE PROOF
THAT IT'S A POLITICAL ATTACK.
>> YEAH.
>> NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES, HE JUST KEEPS GETTING STRONGER AND
STRONGER. WHO'S GOING TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP
FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION? I MEAN EVERYBODY WHO YOU THOUGHT
HAD A CHANCE TO BE A REAL TRUMP KILLER, LIKE DeSANTIS, WEAKER
THAN HE WAS SIX MONTHS AGO.
>> A LOT WEAKER.
>> THERE'S NIKKI HALEY, CHRIS CHRISTIE.
>> EVERYONE IS LIKE WHO'S THE ALTERNATIVE TO TRUMP?
REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRUMP.
>> TOTALLY.
>> IT'S BEEN A WHOLESALE TAKEOVER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
BY TRUMP.
>> OKAY. SO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THE
NOMINATING LEVEL HAS BECOME THIS CULT OF PERSONALITY.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO NOMINATE WITH ALMOST NO OPPOSITION A GUY WHO
HAS 91 FELONY COUNTS AGAINST HIM.
SO YOU THINK, MAN, WHAT A GIFT FOR DEMOCRATS.
JOE BIDEN MUST BE RIDING HIGH, AND YET NOT QUITE.
>> NO. DEMOCRATS WERE FREAKED OUT IN
THE SPRING. THEY'RE EVEN MORE FREAKED OUT
NOW BECAUSE THERE IS ENERGY AND MOMENTUM ON TRUMP'S SIDE, AND
THERE IS NOT ENERGY AND MOMENTUM ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, RIGHT?
PEOPLE ARE FREAKED OUT ABOUT HIS AGE.
HIS NUMBERS ON THE ECONOMY ARE STILL NOT DOING WELL EVEN THOUGH
THE ECONOMY IS PERFORMING BETTER.
>> AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT EVERYBODY ASSUMED THAT WITH
MULTIPLE INDICTMENTS AND MULTIPLE COUNTS, THAT TRUMP'S
GENERAL ELECTION NUMBERS WOULD GO DOWN.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEY HAVEN'T.
>> AND THEN YOU'VE GOT HAVING HUNTER BIDEN BACK IN THE NEWS,
BEING ARRAIGNED IN WILMINGTON DELAWARE TOMORROW.
IT'S NOT LIKE WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTED TO SEE.
A STORY THAT, LIKE, THEY JUST CAN'T MAKE GO AWAY SOMEHOW, AND
IT'S PART OF WHAT DRIVES REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM.
>> FOR THEM, IT LEVELS THE SCALES OF CORRUPTION.
IT'S LIKE TRUMP MAY NOT BE GREAT BUT LOOK AT BIDEN.
BIDEN CRIME FAMILY.
>> NOW WE HAVE THE THIRD THING HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
>> HOW HARD WAS IT FOR McCARTHY TO BECOME SPEAKER?
IT TOOKEA 15 VOTES. THEY NOW HAVE SOMETHING CALLED
THE MOTION TO VACATE WHICH MEANS ONE PERSON CAN MOVE TO VOTE HIM
OUT.
>> WHEN YOU SAY ONE PERSON, YOU MEAN --
>> SPEAKER McCARTHY IS AT THE MATT GAETZ OF HELL.
>> FROM THE MOMENT THAT McCARTHY BECAME SPEAKER, THERE'S JUST
BEEN THIS SWORD OF DAMOCLES OVER HIS HEAD.
HELD IT TOGETHER. HE'S DONE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE
PISSED OFF THE MAGA WING.
>> THE DEBT LIMIT DEAL REALLY PISSED OFF THE MAGA WING.
>> TOTALLY.
>> THEN McCARTHY DARED THEM TO LIKE COME AFTER HIM AND
CHALLENGE THE SPEAKERSHIP AND KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT OPEN WITH
DEMOCRAT VOTES.
>> DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET A VOTE ON McCARTHY'S
SPEAKERSHIP THIS WEEK?
>> SAYING THERE IS NO SPEAKER COULD EASILY HAPPEN BY THE END
OF THE WEEK. CONGRESS DIDN'T SHUT DOWN, BUT
THE PRICE McCARTHY IS PAYING FOR CONGRESS NOT SHUTTING DOWN OVER
THE WEEKEND IS THAT HIS VERY SPEAKERSHIP IS UNDER THREAT.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TO "THE CIRCUS" WHERE
THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING MORE DIRE.
>> THE HOUSE, THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BIDEN/TRUMP.
>> GAS PRICES, BORDER CRISIS. YOU'VE GOT A BIG AUTO STRIKE.
>> GIVEN ALL OF THAT, I SAW THIS POLL THE OTHER DAY WHERE THEY
ASKED PEOPLE WHICH OF THESE WORDS THEY WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH
THE 2024 ELECTION. DELIGHT, EXCITEMENT AND
OPTIMISM. INDIFFERENCE, EXHAUSTION,
DEPRESSION, AND DREAD. YOU WILL NOT BE SURPRISED TO
LEARN THAT ONLY 5% OF THE PEOPLE SAID DELIGHT WHEREAS THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WERE IN THAT QUADRANT OF DOOM.
>> SIGN ME UP FOR DEPRESSION.
>> EXHAUSTION.
>> I'M JUST ALWAYS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF PERPETUAL DREAD.
>> LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH, MY.
WHEN I THINK OF 2024, IT'S LIKE --
>>> MINUTES FROM NOW, CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ IS
EXPECTED TO SPEAK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TO TRY TO OUST THE HOUSE
SPEAKER, KEVIN McCARTHY.
>> IF GAETZ DOES MOVE AHEAD, ALL HE WOULD NEED ARE FIVE
REPUBLICANS TO SIDE WITH HIM IF ALL DEMOCRATS AGREE TO BOOT HIM
OUT.
>> SPEAKER
>> SPEAWILL SPEAKER McCARTHY REN DEMOCRATS TO SAVE HIM?
>> BRING IT ON. LET'S GET OVER WITH IT.
>> IT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR WHO THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE ALREADY WORKS FOR, AND IT'S NOT THE REPUBLICAN
CONFERENCE.
>> GOP CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ HAS FILED THAT MOTION TO OUST
McCARTHY AS SPEAKER.
>> I'M GOING DOWN FIGHTING. I'VE HAD IT.
I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN YEARS. WE DON'T HAVE A FUCKING BUDGET.
>> HAVE YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DEMOCRATS AND THEY HAVE
SAID POINT BLACK WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO SUPPORT HIM?
>> WITHOUT ME SOLICITING A RESPONSE, A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS
HAVE TOLD ME THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER HAKEEM JEFFRIES SAYS,
AND I BELIEVE THEM. AND IF HAKEEM JEFFRIES WANTS TO
ADOPT KEVIN McCARTHY, HE CAN ADOPT HIM, BUT AT LEAST HE WON'T
BELONG TO ME. I'VE GOT TO GO, GUYS.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON, HUNTER BIDEN, IS HEADED TO COURT TO BE
ARRAIGNED ON THREE FELONY GUN CHARGES.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A CHILD OF A SITTING WILL BE
ARRAIGNED ON CRIMINAL CHARGES.
>> WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY?
>> HUNTER BIDEN IS GUILTY.
>> SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IN AMERICAN POLITICS, THINGS
REALLY ARE A THREE-RING CIRCUS.
>> LOCK DONALD TRUMP UP.
>> HERE WE HAVE HUNTER BIDEN, WHO CAME HERE TODAY FOR HIS
ARRAIGNMENT AND DREW THIS GIANT CROP OF REPORTERS, WHO ARE HERE
TO WATCH BIDEN WALK INTO THE COURT AS HE DID, PLEAD NOT
GUILTY, WALK OUT OF THE COURT. THIS IS NOT A SPECTACLE THAT THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN WANTS TO SEE. DO SWING VOTERS CARE ABOUT
HUNTER BIDEN? NOT THAT MUCH.
BUT CONSERVATIVES LOVE THIS STORY.
130 MILES NORTH OF HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER
MEDIA CIRCUS GOING ON AROUND DONALD TRUMP, WHO IS IN COURT
FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW. BUT HE JUST TOOK THINGS TO A NEW
LOW BY POSTING ON TRUTH SOCIAL A PICTURE OF THE JUDGE'S CLERK,
CLEARLY INSINUATING THAT SOMETHING UNTOWARD IS GOING ON
WITH NEW YORK SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER.
AND THEN FINALLY, 100 MILES SOUTH OF HERE, DUE TO THE
NIALLISM OF MATT GAETZ, THE THIRD AND MOST DISMAYING RING,
KEVIN McCARTHY'S AS SPEAKER HANGS BY A THREAD.
>> THIS MORNING, HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY IS AT RISK OF
LOSING HIS JOB.
>> THE SPEAKERSHIP IS IN JEOPARDY.
>> CAN SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY SURVIVE?
WE COULD FIND OUT IN A MATTER OF HOURS.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A CENTURY, THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED
TODAY TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO REMOVE A SPEAKER.
>> WHAT I'M FRUSTRATED WITH IS MATT GAETZ USING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE IN HIS NARCISSISTIC GAME OF CHARADES, AND I'M OVER IT.
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE TOLD THAT SPEAKER McCARTHY IS MAKING THE
PITCH TO REPUBLICANS, YOU HAVE TO BACK ME.
DO NOT MAKE ME TRY TO REMAIN SPEAKER WITH DEMOCRATIC VOTES.
REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE VOTED ON TODAY, IT'S WHETHER OR NOT
THE REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN ANY KIND OF WORKING MAJORITY IN THE
HOUSE.
>> COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, WHAT
HAPPENED?
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE PARTY, AND I DON'T THINK
YOU PULL THE COACH OUT HEADING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER.
BUT THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON THIS FOURTH QUARTER.
>> IF WE GO BACK, WE DO THE MOTION TO VACATE, GUESS WHAT,
FOLKS? NOW THE CIRCUS IS BACK IN TOWN.
>> IT'S CLEAR TALKING TO DEMOCRATS COMING OUT OF THAT
CLOSED-DOOR MEETING, THE CONSENSUS POSITION IS LET
McCARTHY SINK.
>> THIS IS A REPUBLICAN-CREATED CRISIS, AND THEY NEED TO DO THE
WORK AS A CAUCUS TO COME FORWARD AND SHOW THAT THEY, AS A PARTY,
HAVE THE ABILITY TO GOVERN.
>> WE'LL JUST CHAT AS WE'RE WALKING UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS VOTES?
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO VOTE WITH MATT
GAETZ, AND IT APPEARS THAT MATT HAS ENOUGH REPUBLICANS TO
VACATE. SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> THE CHAIR DIRECTS THE CLERK TO CONDUCT THE VOTE.
>> ADAMS.
>> YES.
>> ATOR HOLT.
>> NO.
>> McCARTHY CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LOSE FOUR REPUBLICAN VOTES.
>> BUCK.
>> AYE.
>> BURCHETT.
>> NEVER BEFORE HAS A SPEAKER LOST THE JOB IN A VOTE ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR.
>> ROSENDALE.
>> AYE.
>> THE YEAS ARE 216. THE NAYS ARE 210.
THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES IS HEREBY DECLARED VACANT.
>> A DEVASTATING DAY FOR FORMER SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY.
>> FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE NATION'S HISTORY, THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE HAS BEEN FIRED, AND THE OFFICE HAS BEEN
LEFT VACANT.
>> OH, THIS IS GOING TO BE --
>> WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED TODAY?
>> WE HEARD SPEAKER McCARTHY SAY THAT HE WANTED US TO BRING IT
ON, SO I GUESS WE DID.
>> IS IT TO THE BENEFIT OF YOU AND TO DONALD TRUMP?
>> IT'S TO THE BENEFIT OF THIS COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE A BETTER
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THAN KEVIN McCARTHY.
>> WHO SHOULD IT BE?
>> ARE YOU GOING TO REQUIRE THAT ANY --
>> -- WANT TO SEE REPUBLICANS FIGHTING WITH OTHER REPUBLICANS.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND?
>> MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT LEAVE ME WITH
GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING.
>> THE 12 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS WE HAVE TO GET PASSED, 8 ARE
LEFT. WE CAN'T WORK ON ANY OF THAT,
AND IT IS SOLELY DUE TO EIGHT REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED WITH
EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES. THOSE ARE JUST FACTS.
>> WHO IS THIRD IN LINE NOW TO BE PRESIDENT?
>> UH -- GEE, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO ASK THE REPUBLICANS.
>> AS A WOMAN, IT IS A VERY LONELY EXPERIENCE TO BE UP HERE
AND TO TRY AND NEGOTIATE AND MOVE FORWARD AND TO HAVE THE
DOOR SLAMMED IN YOUR FACE AND BE MISLED LIKE THAT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO WORK AND HELP WOMEN,
THEN LET'S DO IT.
>> HE COULD RUN AGAIN. HE COULD.
>> YOU THINK HE WILL?
>> I BELIEVE I CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT, MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT
MANNER. I WILL NOT RUN FOR SPEAKER
AGAIN. I ENJOY YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL COVER ME AS MUCH, BUT I'M SURE I WON'T
MISS YOU, BUT SEE YOU SOON.
♪ ♪
>> BECAUSE I SAD DAD GUM IT A LOT, I TRY NOT TO CURSE.
>> YEAH.
>> MY DEAR FRIEND BRIAN, WE'LL CALL ME AND SAY JUST SAY DAD GUM
IT ONE TIME, AND I'LL SAY DAD GUM IT.
♪ ♪
>> YOU WERE NOT PART OF THE EFFORT TO BLOCK HIM INITIALLY.
>> I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.
>> RIGHT.
>> I HAD VOTED FOR HIM 15 TIMES, BUT I WAS DISTURBED THAT THE
PATH WE WERE TAKING, WE WERE 32 TRILLION.
NOW WE'RE $33 TRILLION IN DEBT. WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE THE DEBT
CEILING, AND WE RAISED THE DEBT CEILING.
>> RIGHT. SPEAKER MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE WHITE HOUSE, SENATE DEMOCRATS, WHAT THE SPENDING
LIMITS WERE GOING TO BE.
>> CORRECT, WHICH WERE BASICALLY UNLIMITED.
>> AND YOU KNEW THAT GAETZ WAS GOING TO FILE THIS MOTION.
THE LEADERSHIP IS PROBABLY NOT THINKING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
A PROBLEM. THEY'RE PROBABLY THINKING YOU'RE
GOING TO VOTE TO --
>> MY THOUGHT WAS DO I TRUST MY CONSCIENCE?
I PRAYED ABOUT IT, AND HONESTLY I SLEPT LIKE A BABY LAST NIGHT.
KEVIN McCARTHY CALLED ME THIS
MORNING, AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS SOMETHING I THOUGHT WAS
VERY CONDESCENDING.
>> WHAT DID HE SAY?
>> JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WELL, WERE YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED?
SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY.
TO ME IT JUST -- IT JUST SAID RIGHT THERE, I SAID, WELL,
YOU'VE ANSWERED -- YOU'VE ANSWERED IT RIGHT THERE.
AFTER I HUNG UP WITH HIM, AFTER IT WAS KIND OF HEATED TOWARDS
THE END, I SAID, THANK YOU, LORD.
YOU GAVE ME MY ANSWER. IT MAYBE WASN'T THE ONE I
WANTED, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER.
>> KEVIN McCARTHY OUSTED AS HOUSE SPEAKER, AND HE SAYS HE'S
NOT GOING TO EVEN RUN AGAIN.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE NOW SCRAM PLING TO FIND A NEW LEADER.
>> THE HOUSE IS NOW IN RECESS FOR A WEEK, SO NOW WHAT HAPPENS?
>> YESTERDAY IT WAS CHAOS AND FRENZY AROUND HERE, BUT TODAY
IT'S A GHOST TOWN AS THE MEMBERS HAVE HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON, GONE
ON RECESS SO THEY CAN FIGURE THIS SHIT OUT.
THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT STEVE SCALISE AS THE NEXT SPEAKER, JIM
JORDAN. ADDING TO THAT SPECULATION IS
DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF, WHO JUST POSTED THIS PHOTO ON TRUTH
SOCIAL. BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO KEN
BUCK, ONE OF EIGHT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN RESPONSIBLE FOR
DEPOSING McCARTHY. HE'S A CONGRESSMAN FROM
COLORADO, MY HOME STATE. HE'S A FREEDOM CAUCUS MEMBER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT FROM HIM WHAT'S NEXT.
>> GIVE ME AN IDEA OF THE ROADMAP FOR WHAT DOES IT LOOK
LIKE?
>> SO THE ROADMAP FORWARD IS WE MEET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AS A
CONFERENCE. WE PICK A CANDIDATE IN
CONFERENCE. THEN WE GO OUT ON THE FLOOR, AND
WE'LL START VOTING. IT MAY NOT HAPPEN ON THE FIRST
BALLOT, AND IT PROBABLY WON'T WITH A SMALL MAJORITY.
BUT WE WILL FIND A CANDIDATE, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
>> WELL, IT TOOK 15 VOTES, WHICH WAS HISTORIC, TO GET KEVIN
McCARTHY --
>> KEVIN'S MADE HISTORY A LOT.
>> YES.
>> OBVIOUS CANDIDATES ARE STEVE SCALISE, JIM JORDAN.
>> JORDAN'S A FREEDOM CAUCUS GUY.
IN YOUR OPINION, WOULD IT BE GOOD TO HAVE A FREEDOM CAUCUS
GUY IN.
>> I THINK JIM WOULD HAVE A VERY STEEP HILL TO CLIMB TO GET THIS
JOB.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT ANYBODY --
>> BECAUSE HE'S FREEDOM CAUCUS?
>> PART OF IT BECAUSE HE'S FREEDOM CAUCUS.
THE OTHER PART IS HE'S A BOMB THROWER.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A DEROGATORY TERM IN JIM'S MIND.
HE RELISHES THE OPPORTUNITY TO THROW BOMBS AND THIS IS A JOB
WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO BRING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
CONFERENCE TOGETHER.
>> LET ME ASK YOU WHAT I HEARD AND SEE IF YOU CAN CONFIRM OR
DENY IT. THAT THERE'S SOME BAD BLOOD
BETWEEN McCARTHY AND SCALISE AND THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED
McCARTHY WON'T SUPPORT SCALISE.
>> I HAVE NOT WITNESSED BAD BLOOD.
I HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD ABOUT BAD BLOOD.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TIMES WHERE KEVIN, I THINK, WAS
FRUSTRATED AND SAID SOME THINGS ABOUT STEVE PUBLICLY THAT WERE
NOT VERY SUPPORTIVE.
>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY YOU'RE CREATING A TRAIN WRECK IN THE
HOUSE THAT COULD LEAD TO A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
>> I THINK THE TRAIN WRECK WAS KEVIN McCARTHY LEADING A GROUP
OF REPUBLICANS TO SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY AND THE PEOPLE IN THE
HINTERLANDS LOOKING AT US AND SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WE GOT YOU THE MAJORITY. WE DON'T HAVE THE MAJORITY IN
THE SENATE. WE DON'T HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE.
WE HAVE THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, AND HOW ARE WE AS
REPUBLICANS LEADING? WE'RE NOT.
>> THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS IN COURT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD
STRAIGHT DAY.
>> DONALD TRUMP HAS ESSENTIALLY TURNED HIS FRAUD TRIAL INTO A
CAMPAIGN STOP.
>> TRUMP WASTED NO TIME AND NO OPPORTUNITY TO LASH OUT AGAINST
NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES.
>> WE HAVE A PROSECUTOR WHO IS INCOMPETENT.
YOU BORROW MONEY, YOU PAY IT BACK, AND YOU GET SUED BY A
POLITICAL ANIMAL.
>> LETITIA JAMES HAS BASICALLY HAD ENOUGH.
THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL IS STRIKING BACK.
>> MR. TRUMP'S COMMENTS WERE OFFENSIVE.
THEY WERE BASELESS. COMMENTS THAT UNFORTUNATELY
FOMENTED VIOLENCE. KPLENT
KPL COMMENTS THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE
AS RACE BAITING.
>> IT'S FRIDAY. WE'RE BACK IN NEW YORK CITY.
DOWNTOWN IS WHERE TRUMP'S CIVIL TRIAL IS TAKING PLACE.
AFTER TRUMP POSTED ON TRUTH SOCIAL ABOUT THE COURT CLERK,
THAT EARNED HIM A GAG ORDER FROM THE JUDGE.
AND THEN THE VERY NEXT DAY, TRUMP CAME BACK AND WAS LIKE,
I'M NOT GOING TO VIOLATE THE GAG ORDER, BUT I'M GOING TO TRASH
THE JUDGE. I'M GOING TO TRASH THE PROCESS.
AND I'M GOING TO TRASH TISH JAMES.
THEN TISH JAMES CAME OUT AND PROVED THAT SHE COULD GIVE
EVERYBODY BIT AS GOOD AS SHE GOT.
>> I WILL NOT BE BULLIED. SO MR. TRUMP IS NO LONGER HERE.
THE DONALD TRUMP SHOW IS OVER.
>> BUT NEITHER THE TRIAL NOR THE TRUMP SHOW IS REALLY OVER, AND
WE ARE HEADED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE A STAR
WITNESS, A GUY WHO FOR A DECADE WAS DONALD TRUMP'S FIXER AND NOW
IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT OF DONALD TRUMP'S ANTAGONISTS.
THAT WOULD BE, OF COURSE, MICHAEL COHEN.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TISH JAMES CASE FOR NOW BECAUSE THIS
HAS BEEN ALL UNFOLDING THIS PAST WEEK.
WHEN YOU SAW WHAT HE DID, HOW HE ACTED, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> HE KNOWS HIS COMPANY IS IN THE DEATH PENALTY.
HE CAN'T HANDLE IT.
>> HE WANTED TO BE KING OF NEW YORK.
A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH HAVING HIS NAME ON A LOT OF
STUFF. TRUMP TOWER IS THE MOST VIVID
EXAMPLE. OUTER BOROUGH WHO WANTED TO COME
TO MANHATTAN AND PROVE HE COULD RULE GOTHAM CITY.
ALL THE STUFF HE ALWAYS WANTED IS BEING REDUCED TO RUBBLE.
DID HE SEEM NOTABLY MORE UNHINGED TO YOU THIS WEEK?
>> NO. THIS IS ANGRIER.
IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE HE HASN'T SLEPT.
HE'S SCOWLING AT THE GUY WHO HAS TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION.
YOU'RE ATTACKING HIS CLERK. YOU'RE ATTACKING THE
PROSECUTORS. THIS ISN'T GOING TO ENDEAR EVEN
AN IOTA OF BENEFIT TO HIM. SO THE QUESTION BECOMES WHY?
WHAT'S HE DOING? TELL YOU WHAT HE'S DOING HERE.
WHAT HE'S DOING IS HE'S RILING UP HIS BASE.
HE WANTS TO SHOW HIS BASE THAT HE'S A TOUGH GUY.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST DEMONSTRABLY TRUE THAT TRUMP'S
RHETORIC IS GETTING MORE VIOLENT.
I'M CURIOUS WHETHER THAT IS ONE THING THAT CONCERNS YOU, KNOWING
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE TARGET OF HIS IRE.
HE CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO YOU.
>> EVERY DAY AS I WALK, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER
AND CONCERNED. I DON'T WALK WITH MY FAMILY
ANYMORE. I HAD A GUY JUMP OUT OF HIS CAR,
AND HE WANTED TO FIGHT IN THE STREET.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS CONNECTING TO.
AND IF, GOD FORBID, HE ENDS UP GOING BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE,
IT'S NOT JUST ME WHO'S IN TROUBLE.
IT'S AN EXISTENTIAL CONCERN TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
>> HE PROUDLY TALKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT NOW
ON THE BASIS OF RETRIBUTION. I THINK IN A WAY, LIKE HOW CLOSE
YOU WERE TO HIM AND IN SOME CASES THE ROLE YOU GOT PUT IN TO
BE A TOUGH GUY ON TRUMP'S BEHALF ACTUALLY GIVES YOU UNIQUE
CREDIBILITY. YOU WERE HIS METAPHORICAL RAY
DONOVAN.
>> HE
>> WHEN WE GO TO WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR TRUMP TO GET
RE-ELECTED. JUST AT THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL
ETHICS, ARE THERE ANY BOUNDARIES?
>> IS THAT A RHETORICAL QUESTION?
THE ANSWER IS NO.
>> SO THE ONLY THING THAT WAS IN HIS WAY WERE THE FOLLOWING
THINGS. WOULD ANY OF THESE THINGS STOP
HIM? THE CONSTITUTION?
>> NO.
>> INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS?
>> NO.
>> LAWS?
>> NO.
>> CRIMINAL STATUTES?
>> NO.
>> MORALITY?
>> DEFINITELY NOT.
>> FAITH IN GOD ALMIGHTY AND HIS PLACE IN THE HEREAFTER?
>> DOESN'T BELIEVE IN IT.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S A CHANCE WE HAVE NOT SEEN YET THE DEPTHS
TO WHICH TRUMP WILL SINK TO TRY TO GET RE-ELECTED?
>> ABSOLUTELY. FOR HIM, THIS IS HIS LIFELINE.
IF HE DOESN'T WIN THE PRESIDENCY, HE KNOWS HE'S DONE.
>>> YOU LOOK AS IF YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE THERE OR A STATUE OF
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> YOU'RE THE PERFECT PERSON TO HAVE WITH US THIS WEEK BECAUSE
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A CONFLUENCE
OF SUCH HISTORIC AND DISTURBING EVENTS AT ONE TIME?
>> THANKS FOR THE EASY QUESTION, MARK.
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN ALL OF HISTORY.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK IS OUR SYSTEM REALLY COMING APART.
THIS IS THE WEEK THAT WE LOST A SPEAKER BY ESSENTIALLY ONE VOTE.
>> WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
>> NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE TIME OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
LINCOLN WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED TO SEE A SITUATION WHERE KEVIN
McCARTHY CAME IN AS SPEAKER SAYING BASICALLY, I'LL BE
WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO BE AS LONG AS I'M SPEAKER.
>> SO WE KNOW THAT THE ONE PERVASIVE FEELING THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ABOUT NEXT YEAR IS DREAD. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE FEELING
LIKE THAT?
>> AMERICANS HAVE A RIGHT TO BE VERY SKEPTICAL OF OUR GOVERNMENT
AND ITS ABILITY TO DO THE THINGS IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
LOOK AT OUR LAST 25 YEARS. WE HAD 9/11, WHERE FOR WHATEVER
REASON, OUR GOVERNMENT WAS NOT ABLE TO PROTECT US AGAINST THOSE
ATTACKS. THERE WERE THEN WARS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN. A LOT OF AMERICANS DID NOT
UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE THERE. 2008, THE GREAT RECESSION.
ALL THESE THINGS LEAD SOMEONE WHO IS AN AMERICAN TO SAY, LOVE
MY COUNTRY, LOVE MY GOVERNMENT, BUT SOMETHING IS GOING BADLY OFF
THE RAILS. AND I WOULD SAY THAT BY 2016,
OUR BAD LUCK AS AMERICANS WAS THAT A DEMAGOGUE, DONALD TRUMP,
CAME ALONG AND SAID, "I ALONE CAN FIX IT."
>> IS THERE AN ANALOG TO TRUMP IN AMERICAN HISTORY?
>> NOT IN A MAJOR PARTY NOMINEE OR PRESIDENT.
FOR MOST OF AMERICAN HISTORY, IF A MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATE OR
FORMER PRESIDENT ESPECIALLY HAD SAID ALMOST ANY OF THE THINGS
THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THAT PERSON
WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THE RACE BY LEADERS IN HIS PARTY
OR HER PARTY AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
>> OBVIOUSLY THERE HAVE BEEN DARK TIMES IN OUR HISTORY, BUT
THIS FEELS DIFFERENT.
>> FOR INNS
>> FOR INSTANCE, LET'S TAKE 1976, JIMMY CARTER AGAINST
GERALD FORD. THEY DISAGREED ABOUT A LOT OF
THINGS, BUT THE DIFFERENCES WERE SORT OF ON THE MARGINS.
COMPARE THAT TO 2024. WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT WE WILL
LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY 13 MONTHS FROM NOW.
NEXT YEAR AT STAKE IS GOING TO BE A CHOICE BETWEEN JOE BIDEN
WITH HIS FLAWS, WHO BELIEVES IN DEMOCRACY AND HAS PRACTICED IT
IN GOVERNMENT FOR 50 YEARS, OR DONALD TRUMP, WHO HAS TOLD YOU,
ELECT ME, AND I WILL BRING A PRESIDENTIAL DICTATORSHIP OF
RETRIBUTION. HE HAS TOLD US WHAT HE WOULD DO
IF HE WERE ELECTED.
>> SO BELIEVE HIM WHEN HE TELLS YOU.
>> BELIEVE HIM WHEN HE TELLS YOU WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.
YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR WARNING, AND IF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THAT
SERIOUSLY, THAT IS ON YOU.
♪
♪ I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEASON FINALE ♪