Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00TALK WITH THE HOST OF -- ON
00:00:03CAMPAIGN 2026, WITH GROWING
00:00:07MOMENTUM OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM AND THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
00:00:12ALSO MORE ON CAMPAIGN 2020 SIX,
00:00:15DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, THE IRAN WAR, AND NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH
00:00:19WASHINGTON EXAMINER EDITOR PETER.
00:00:34>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
00:00:53>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE
00:00:59CONVERSATION. EVERY WEEK ON THIS SHOW I WILL
00:01:01TALK TO SOME OF THE MOST COMPELLING POWER PLAYERS IN
00:01:05WASHINGTON AND BEYOND. THIS WEEK I SAT DOWN WITH HOUSE
00:01:09SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON. WHILE YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE US
00:01:12BOTH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE ACTUALLY MET UP IN ARIZONA ON
00:01:15ONE OF THE MANY STOPS THAT HE IS
00:01:17MAKING THIS MONTH FOR CANDIDATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF THE
00:01:21MIDTERMS. I GOT TO SEE THE SPEAKER ON THE
00:01:24CAMPAIGN TRAIL WORKING TO DEFY
00:01:28HEADWINDS TO KEEP THE HOUSE MAJORITY, HELPING CANDIDATES
00:01:31LIKE JAY FEELY IN ARIZONA'S FIRST DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
00:01:37WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT YOU ARE HEARING?
00:01:40>> IN ARIZONA THEY CARE ABOUT
00:01:44THE ECONOMY AND AFFORDABILITY.
00:01:45DASHA: BUT BETWEEN THE MIDTERMS
00:01:49AND THE REST OF THE AGENDA FOR 2026, JOHNSON HAS NO SHORTAGE OF
00:01:53TALL ORDERS. HE CALLED HIMSELF THE AMBASSADOR
00:01:55OF HOPE AND THAT SEEMS TO BE HIS
00:01:57NORTHSTAR WHEN DEALING WITH TURBULENCE THAT HE CANNOT
00:02:01CONTROL WHETHER IT IS OVERSEAS CONFLICTS OR MEMBERS OF HIS OWN
00:02:05CAUCUS IN SCANDAL AND WE WILL DIG INTO ALL OF THAT.
00:02:09PLUS I ASKED ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SENATE
00:02:12MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE AND
00:02:14THE TRUMP OF IT ALL. AND NOW HERE'S MY CONVERSATION
00:02:18WITH SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON.
00:02:21THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THE CONVERSATION.
00:02:25WE ARE HERE IN BEAUTIFUL VERY
00:02:30HOT ARIZONA. IT IS A DRY HEAT.
00:02:34YOU ARE USED TO THE LOUISIANA WET HEAT.
00:02:36THERE ARE TWO RACES THAT CAN BE CRITICAL IN THE FIGHT FOR THE MAJORITY.
00:02:41REPUBLICANS CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LOSE A HANDFUL OF STATES. YOU ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF.
00:02:46HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE RACES?
00:02:50MR. JOHNSON: HERE IN ARIZONA WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A DERBY DAY
00:02:52NONSTOP CAMPAIGN TOUR.
00:02:54DASHA: THEY ARE MAKING YOU SING FOR YOUR SUPPER HERE?
00:02:58MR. JOHNSON: YES.
00:03:01IT IS A COMBINATION OF FUNDRAISING AND MEETING WITH CANDIDATES.
00:03:05TWO OF THE SEATS IN PARTICULAR,
00:03:09ONE WE HAVE TO DEFEND IN THE TUCSON AREA.
00:03:12WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG AREA TO
00:03:14HOLD A SEAT THAT IS NOW VACANT RIGHT NOW.
00:03:18A FORMER NFL'S STAR, TEAM CAPTAIN OF MULTIPLE SQUADS.
00:03:26DASHA: HIS OPPONENT WAS A DOCTOR
00:03:30SO THEY HAVE A SIDELINES RELATIONSHIP.
00:03:32MR. JOHNSON: WE REALLY LIKE BOTH
00:03:36OF THESE GUYS. THEY ARE GREAT FITS FOR THEIR DISTRICT.
00:03:39WE HAVE TO DEFY HISTORY.
00:03:44I'M CONVINCED WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT BUT IT WILL BE AN ANOMALY.
00:03:51THE PRESIDENT ASKED ME ALL THE
00:03:54TIME.
00:03:59THE OPPOSING PARTY IS USUALLY
00:04:01ANGRY ABOUT IT AND TWO YEARS LATER THE PRESIDENT TAKES A HIT.
00:04:05I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.
00:04:07THIS IS A MIDTERM UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
00:04:09DASHA: THERE ARE A LOT OF
00:04:12EYEBROWS THAT GO UP WHEN
00:04:16YOU SAY THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
00:04:17MR. JOHNSON: WE CONTINUE TO DEFY
00:04:20EXPECTATIONS AND WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.
00:04:23I HAVE A SLIDESHOW WHERE I CAN SHOW YOU ALL THE REASONS WE ARE GOING TO WIN.
00:04:26DASHA: I'M SURE THE AUDIENCE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.
00:04:31WHY ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC WHEN
00:04:32HISTORY IS AGAINST YOU?
00:04:37WE WILL GET INTO ALL OF THE PRESENT-DAY CHALLENGES.
00:04:40MR. JOHNSON: I WILL SUMMARIZE MY SLIDESHOW.
00:04:43WE HAVE A GREAT RECORD TO RUN ON. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST
00:04:48SUCCESSFUL CONGRESS IS IN THE MODERN ERA.
00:04:50WE HAVE PASSED OVER 750 PIECES
00:04:54OF LEGISLATION AND CODIFIED EXECUTIVE ORDERS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
00:04:57WE ARE SAVING FRAUD, WASTE AND
00:05:03ABUSE DOLLARS.
00:05:03WE PASSED THE FAMILIES TAX CUT.
00:05:07PEOPLE HAVE MORE IN THEIR POCKET RIGHT NOW THAN THEY WOULD HAVE.
00:05:11NO TAX ON TIPS AND OVER TIME,
00:05:13SOCIAL SECURITY, PRO-BUSINESS
00:05:17PROGROWTH POLICIES TO CREATE MORE JOBS. WE RESTORED PEACE THROUGH
00:05:21STRENGTH, WE CLOSED THE BORDER.
00:05:23THAT IS A BIG THING IN TUCSON,
00:05:27ARIZONA. WE HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES.
00:05:30THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN TOTAL DISARRAY. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
00:05:37THAT BENEFITS OUR SIDE IN THE SHORT RUN.
00:05:41BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH,
00:05:43WE HAVE A SLIGHT FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE.
00:05:49THE PRESIDENT IS ON THE CAMPAIGN
00:05:51TRAIL DOING RALLIES AND TURNING OUT THE BASE.
00:05:54I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS. WE ARE GOING TO BE THE FIRST
00:05:58EVER MIDTERM CONVENTION.
00:06:00WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT RECORD OF SUCCESS AND TELL THEM WHY
00:06:04THIS IS A CONTRAST ELECTION BETWEEN COMMON SENSE AND CRAZY
00:06:08AND CRAZY IS WHAT THE OTHER SIDE REPRESENTS.
00:06:10DASHA: EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF YOUR
00:06:14SLIDESHOW. THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY HAS LOST
00:06:18HOUSE SEATS IN 20 OF THE LAST 22 MIDTERMS.
00:06:21DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY OVER PERFORMING SINCE 2024.
00:06:25THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL RATINGS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST POINT OF HIS
00:06:28SECOND TERM AND VOTERS ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE ECONOMY.
00:06:32YOU TALKED ABOUT PASSING BILLS AND CODIFYING STUFF.
00:06:35WHEN YOU TALK TO AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE EVERY DAY VOTERS, THEY
00:06:39DON'T CARE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE CODIFIED OR
00:06:42THE NUMBER OF BILLS YOU PASSED. THEY CARE ABOUT HOW THAT
00:06:47ACTUALLY IMPACTS THEM AND EVERY BIT OF POLLING RIGHT NOW SHOWS
00:06:49THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS IN FULL
00:06:53CONTROL OF EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW HAS
00:06:57IMPACTED THEIR LIVES SO FAR. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE HEADWINDS?
00:07:00MR. JOHNSON: THAT IS WHY WE HAVE AN ELECTION CYCLE WITH ALL OF
00:07:04OUR INCUMBENTS IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW REMINDING EVERYBODY
00:07:07ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. WE ARE COMING UP ON A CONTRAST
00:07:11ELECTION THAT IS A DECISION POINT FOR THE COUNTRY. IF SOMEBODY TOLD US 10 YEARS AGO
00:07:14THAT ON THE 250 ANNIVERSARY WE
00:07:18WOULD BE ARGUING OVER WHETHER WE
00:07:20WILL MAINTAIN OUR INCREDIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC OR WE
00:07:24WILL BREAK THAT DOWN TO THE FOUNDATION AND GO DOWN THE ROAD
00:07:27OF COMMUNISM, I WOULD NOT HAVE BELIEVED THAT.
00:07:29DASHA: I DON'T THINK EVERYONE AGREES THAT IS THE SITUATION.
00:07:32MR. JOHNSON: BY MY COUNT THERE
00:07:34ARE 38 PEOPLE WHO ARE OPENLY
00:07:37ABOUT MARXIST WHO HAVE BEEN ON
00:07:40THEIR OWN COURSE TO WIN AND THEY ARE CHANGING THE PARTY.
00:07:44THIS IS NOT OUR GRANDFATHERS DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE REMIND THEM OF THIS RECORD OF SUCCESS.
00:07:50THE REASON YOUR TAXES ARE LOWER, YOU HAVE MORE MONEY IN YOUR
00:07:54POCKET IS BECAUSE YOU ELECT YOUR REPUBLICANS. DASHA: BUT THE REASON YOUR GAS
00:07:58PRICES ARE HIGHER AND FERTILIZER COST IS HIGHER IS BECAUSE OF DECISIONS MADE BY THIS
00:08:02ADMINISTRATION. MR. JOHNSON: YOU CAN SAY IT THAT
00:08:05WAY OR YOU CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE HEAD OFF THE SNAKE AND
00:08:09PREVENTED THE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM FROM HAVING
00:08:11A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MOST AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY.
00:08:16WE HAVE TO GET THAT SETTLED DOWN AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
00:08:18DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE WILL DO THAT.
00:08:22OVERALL THE CONDITIONS PUT IN
00:08:25PLACE BY THE TREASURY SECRETARIES SUMMARIZED IT PRETTY WELL.
00:08:292025 WAS LIKE SETTING THE TABLE. 2026 WILL BE THE FEAST AND THE
00:08:33BANQUET ON THE ECONOMY FOR HARD-WORKING AMERICANS.
00:08:36WE DID THAT IN OUR LEGISLATION. WE PUT THE CONDITIONS IN PLACE.
00:08:40THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE ECONOMY TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET.
00:08:42THEN WE GOT INTO THIS SITUATION WITH IRAN. DASHA: A SKIRMISH?
00:08:47MR. JOHNSON: A WAR, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
00:08:51WE ARE GETTING CLOSELY RESOLUTION AS WE ARE SITTING HERE TODAY.
00:08:54DASHA: WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS WILL
00:08:56BE IN THE NEXT HOUR, THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
00:08:59REPUBLICANS WERE EXPECTING THE
00:09:04FEAST THAT TREASURY SECRETARY SCOTT BESSENT MENTIONED. INSTEAD WE ARE STILL ENGAGED IN
00:09:07CONFLICT WITH IRAN. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES
00:09:11I TALKED TO REPUBLICANS THAT ARE
00:09:14TRYING TO HELP YOU, THAT ARE
00:09:16TRYING TO WIN SEATS THAT ARE
00:09:19TEARING THEIR HAIR OUT BECAUSE
00:09:22THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MESSAGE THIS WAR.
00:09:25THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TALK TO VOTERS ABOUT WHAT GREAT
00:09:30ACHIEVEMENTS THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE ON THE ECONOMY WHEN THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH WHAT THEY ARE
00:09:34PAYING AT THE PUMP AND AT THE GROCERY STORE.
00:09:37HOW ARE REPUBLICANS SUPPOSED TO CONTEND WITH THIS?
00:09:40MR. JOHNSON: WITH THE FACTS, AS
00:09:44WE POINT OUT, LOWER TAXES, A SECURE BORDER, AMERICAN ENERGY
00:09:49DOMINANCE, A RETURN OF PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.
00:09:52THE BORDER, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN 2024.
00:09:56WE HAVE HAD ZERO RELEASES OF ILLEGAL ALIENS FOR 15 MONTHS.
00:09:59THAT WAS A CAMPAIGN PROMISE FULFILLED.
00:10:02WE PUT THE ECONOMY IN A PLACE TO GROW.
00:10:06THIS IS REAL MONEY FOR REAL PEOPLE.
00:10:09WE GAVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND EXPAND.
00:10:13WE GAVE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND IMMEDIATE TAX WRITE-OFFS.
00:10:17THAT IS A BIG THING FOR REAL AMERICANS.
00:10:20WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THE MARKET IS DOING WELL.
00:10:24THE JOB PARTICIPATION NUMBERS ARE GREAT. EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE ENCOURAGING.
00:10:28ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS ARE IN PLACE.
00:10:31I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE TO GET THE IRAN SITUATION SETTLED DOWN.
00:10:34DASHA: THE BIGGEST FEAR I'M
00:10:37HEARING FROM MY REPUBLICAN SOURCES IS THAT IN SEPTEMBER
00:10:39WHICH IS NOT LONG FROM NOW WHEN
00:10:43VOTERS ARE MAKING UP THEIR MINDS, WE ARE STILL AT WAR.
00:10:46THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS IN NOVEMBER WHEN VOTERS ARE GOING
00:10:50TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.
00:10:56THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS STILL A MESS AND GAS PRICES ARE STILL
00:10:59ABOVE FOUR DOLLARS A GALLON, IF THAT IS THE CASE, WILL THE BOTTOM FALL OUT FOR YOU GUYS?
00:11:03MR. JOHNSON: ABSOLUTELY NOT.
00:11:06WE WILL WIN THIS ELECTION WHETHER THE SITUATION IN IRAN IS RESOLVED OR NOT.
00:11:09DASHA: IT IS ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE
00:11:14AND VOTERS I TALKED TO. MR. JOHNSON: THE HEADLINES DID NOT TELL THE REAL STORY.
00:11:18THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN MIDTERM UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
00:11:24THE GOLD STANDARD, THEY ASSESS THAT THEY ARE EXPECTING ELECTION
00:11:27NIGHT 214 REPUBLICAN SEATS AND
00:11:33204 DEMOCRATIC SEATS.
00:11:37THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLIC IS GOING TO BE DECIDED BY LESS THAN 20 SEATS.
00:11:40DASHA: THAT IS BECAUSE A LOT OF REDISTRICTING.
00:11:42MR. JOHNSON: OF COURSE.
00:11:46AND THE REDISTRICTING HAS BEEN FACTORED IN AS WELL.
00:11:50EVERYBODY AGREES, MOST OF THE SEATS ARE ALREADY DECIDED.
00:11:53WE KNOW WHAT THE SEATS ARE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
00:11:56WERE A YEAR AND A HALF. I HAVE BROKEN EVERY FUNDRAISING
00:12:00RECORD THERE EVER IS. PEOPLE KNOW THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH.
00:12:03WE WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HAVE GREAT CANDIDATES COMPETING.
00:12:07WE HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES THAN THEY DO.
00:12:10IN 2018, THE LAST MIDTERM, WE
00:12:13LOST THE MAJORITY. WE HAVE THE INVERSE OF THE
00:12:16SITUATION THEN, THIS YEAR.
00:12:20THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DEFEND 35 DISTRICTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
00:12:24WON.
00:12:26WE ARE ONLY DEFENDING EIGHT THAT KAMALA HARRIS WON.
00:12:31I AM PROUD OF THAT. THEY UNDERESTIMATE US ALL THE TIME.
00:12:35I'M CONVINCED WE ARE GOING TO WIN ON ELECTION NIGHT AND KEEPS HIS MAJORITY.
00:12:38DASHA: BUT THERE ARE SEATS THAT
00:12:42SHOULD BE EASILY WON BY REPUBLICANS WHERE REPUBLICANS
00:12:46ARE NOW PLAYING DEFENSE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
00:12:49YOU TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ALL OF THESE INDICATORS.
00:12:54YOU REMEMBER THE TRAP THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN FELL INTO
00:12:57TELLING VOTERS WHO WERE NOT
00:13:00FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEIR KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES THAT GUESS WHAT,
00:13:03THESE NUMBERS ARE GREAT. YOU ALL SHOULD BE FEELING GREAT.
00:13:07DO YOU WORRY THAT YOU ALL MIGHT BE FALLING INTO THAT TRAP?
00:13:09MR. JOHNSON: WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.
00:13:13BIDEN WAS LYING TO PEOPLE. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAIN AT THE PUMP.
00:13:16DASHA: DOES THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ENOUGH?
00:13:19MR. JOHNSON: SURE, HE DOES.
00:13:22HE UNDERSTANDS THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS AND THE MIDTERMS.
00:13:25HE IS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK EVERY DAY TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION IN IRAN.
00:13:29HE MAKES NO APOLOGY FOR HAVING
00:13:34LIMITED NUCLEAR CAPABILITY. THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD.
00:13:37WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN IS WE WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD
00:13:41UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY FOR KEEPING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ OPEN FOR COMMERCE.
00:13:44MOST COUNTRIES HAVE A BIGGER STAKE IN THAT THAN WE DO.
00:13:47DASHA: SO YOU ARE CONFIDENT THIS
00:13:50IS GOING TO BE PUT TO BED BY NOVEMBER, SEPTEMBER?
00:13:53MR. JOHNSON: HOPEFULLY SOON.
00:13:56YOU ARE HEARING FOLKS SAY WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING BIG.
00:13:59I HOPE THAT'S TRUE. IF WE ARE DISAPPOINTED BY THE
00:14:03IRANIANS AGAIN BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE, THEN WE WILL
00:14:07HANDLE THIS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE
00:14:10POSITION AND THE FREEDOM AND THE INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
00:14:12THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE.
00:14:16I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE HANDLING THIS AND THAT CONGRESS
00:14:20IS WATCHING IT CLOSELY. WE WILL SEE HOW IT DEVELOPS.
00:14:22I HAVE A METAPHORICAL CONTROL
00:14:25PAD WITH A BUNCH OF DIALS. EVERY DAY I HAVE SPENT TIME
00:14:29TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PERFECTLY CALIBRATED.
00:14:32AS SOON AS I ASSESS THAT, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT GOES OFF.
00:14:36THERE ARE THINGS OUT OF MY CONTROL. ALL I CAN DO IS LEAVE MY PARTY
00:14:40AND OUR EFFORT IS TO DO WHAT WE
00:14:43CAN TO CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES. WE ARE RUNNING A CAMPAIGN THAT
00:14:48IS HONEST WITH THE PEOPLE OVER THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT JOE BIDEN TRIED TO PULL OFF.
00:14:51DASHA: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO
00:14:54AMERICANS WHO HAVE HEARD THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THAT HE WAS
00:14:58GOING TO BRING DOWN PRICES, MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER AND EASIER
00:15:02AND THEY FEEL LIKE HE AND REPUBLICANS ARE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH?
00:15:05MR. JOHNSON: HE HAS MADE EVERYBODY'S LIFE BETTER.
00:15:09HE HAS PUT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN PLACE. WORLD AFFAIRS CAN INTERVENE IN THOSE THINGS.
00:15:14DOMESTICALLY WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE SET.
00:15:18WHO GINGRICH IS A GOOD WAY OF CRYSTALLIZING THINGS.
00:15:22WE TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT. ONE OF THE GREATEST LIVING HISTORIAN OF ALL THINGS
00:15:26PERTAINING TO CONGRESS. HE SAID WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
00:15:30THIS, THIS ELECTION IS NOT A CONTRACT WITH AMERICA. YOU DID THAT REALLY IN 2024.
00:15:34YOU KEPT YOUR PROMISES.
00:15:37THIS IS A CONTRACT FOR AMERICA.
00:15:41I SAID EARLIER, A CONTRAST BETWEEN COMMON SENSE AND CRAZY.
00:15:44THIS IS A BIG THING INCREASINGLY NOW.
00:15:47IT IS A CONTRAST BETWEEN
00:15:51COMMUNISM AND COMMON SENSE. I'M GOING TO EVERY STATE.
00:15:54EVERYWHERE I GO THE ALARMS ARE
00:15:56BEING RAISED. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT MOTIVATE PEOPLE IN A MIDTERM.
00:16:00THE ONE THING IS ANGER. DEMOCRATS HAVE THAT.
00:16:04THE OTHER THING IS FEAR.
00:16:06THIS IS THE THING THAT PEOPLE
00:16:08HAVE THAT MARXISTS HAVE
00:16:16TAKEN OFF. THEY WANT TO ABOLISH PRISONS, THE U.S. SENATE.
00:16:21MAKE ONE UNICAMERAL BODY RUN EVERYTHING.
00:16:24NO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY. THIS IS COMMUNISM. IT HAS NEVER WORKED AND IT IS
00:16:28NOT GOING TO WORK. DASHA: THAT IS ALSO NOT
00:16:32ACROSS-THE-BOARD. YES, THERE ARE CANDIDATES WHO LEAN THAT WAY.
00:16:35MICHAEL LAWLER IS UP AGAINST KATE CONNOLLY.
00:16:39ALL OF THESE RACES ARE IDIOSYNCRATIC.
00:16:42MR. JOHNSON: THOSE ARE TWO CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR RACES.
00:16:47THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. I'M TELLING YOU. THE CRAZY CANDIDATES ARE
00:16:51PREVAILING.
00:16:54YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THE MONEY IS ON THE SIDE OF THE INSURGENT
00:16:58LEFT WILL BE ELIGIBLE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT IT.
00:16:59DASHA: THAT'S TOTALLY RIGHT.
00:17:03SOMETIMES WHEN I HEAR THOSE HEADLINES, WHEN I HEAR THAT KIND
00:17:06OF TALKING POINT ABOUT THE
00:17:07INSURGENT LEFT, I GOTTA SAY, IT
00:17:12REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF
00:17:162015-2016 WHEN THERE WAS AN INSURGENT CANDIDATE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS CRAZY AND
00:17:19WAS GOING TO RUIN THE PARTY AND RUINED DEMOCRACY AND TAKE HIS
00:17:23COUNTRY DOWN WITH HIM AND THAT WAS DONALD TRUMP.
00:17:26AND YES, HE DID CHANGE THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND YES
00:17:30HE WAS AN INSURGENT CANDIDATE.
00:17:34DOMINATED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
00:17:37MR. JOHNSON: YOU CANNOT COMPARE
00:17:41DONALD TRUMP TO THE COMMUNIST. DASHA: THE REASON I'M COMPARING
00:17:44IS BECAUSE THAT ENERGY, THE FRUSTRATION AND ANGER THAT
00:17:48VOTERS FEEL WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE STATUS QUO IS THE SAME THING THAT AMERICANS
00:17:51WERE FEELING OVER A DECADE AGO
00:17:54AND TRUMP RODE THAT WAVE.
00:18:00DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE
00:18:00DANGEROUS TO DISMISS THE DSA AND
00:18:05INSURGENT LEFT CANDIDATES AS FEAR MONGERING, COMMUNISM, MARXISM?
00:18:09MR. JOHNSON: NUMBER ONE, DONALD
00:18:12TRUMP TAPPED INTO THE SENTIMENT
00:18:14OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE HE SAID AMERICA FIRST.
00:18:17THE INSURGENT LEFT SAYS AMERICA LAST.
00:18:20THEY WANTED TO DESTROY AMERICA. DONALD TRUMP HAS TRIED TO
00:18:24PROJECT THAT. THEY WANT TO TEAR IT DOWN.
00:18:25DASHA: THEY HAVE A STAYING WITH
00:18:31THE STATUS QUO. MR. JOHNSON: THEY ARE SIDING
00:18:35WITH MARXIST PRISONERS. WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
00:18:37THIS IS SOMETHING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TAKE SERIOUSLY AND THEY
00:18:41KNOW IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF OUR PRINCIPLES.
00:18:46I TAKE FOLKS LATE AT NIGHT ON TOURS OF THE HOUSE FLOOR. I SHOW THEM RIGHT ABOVE THE
00:18:50SPEAKERS ROSTER IT SAYS "IN GOD
00:18:55WE TRUST."
00:18:59CONGRESS VOTED TO PUT THE NATIONAL MOTTO ABOVE THE SPEAKER
00:19:02SAID AS A REBUKE TO THE SOVIETS PHILOSOPHY DURING THE COLD WAR.
00:19:06PREVIOUS GENERATIONS WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE ARE THE
00:19:09OPPOSITE OF THE COMMUNISTS. MARXISM BEGINS WITH THE PREMISE
00:19:13THAT THERE IS NO GOD. IT IS A SIMPLE STATEMENT OF THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF AMERICA
00:19:17THAT WE JUST CELEBRATED ON THE DECLARATION.
00:19:20WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR RIGHTS COME FROM OUR CREATOR AND NOT
00:19:23THE GOVERNMENT. THEY WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO RUN
00:19:25THEIR LIVES AND THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE GOD.
00:19:28DASHA: YOU THINK THEY ARE SCARY BUT THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE SO
00:19:32DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT? MR. JOHNSON: I BELIEVE WE WILL
00:19:36DEFEAT THEM IN THE GENERAL ELECTION BECAUSE AMERICA IS NOT ON BOARD WITH THIS STUFF.
00:19:41THIS IS A POPULAR SENTIMENT NOW.
00:19:43A FRIGHTENING PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE SAY THEY SUBSCRIBE
00:19:46TO SOCIALISM. THE TRUTH IS THEY DON'T
00:19:50UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS. DASHA: DO YOU THINK THERE IS A
00:19:55CHANCE THAT THIS SHOWING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL HAVE SUCCESS BEYOND THE PRIMARY?
00:19:58MR. JOHNSON: THEY ARE PLAYING THE LONG GAME AND I'M WATCHING
00:20:02THE ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRATIC
00:20:02PARTY TAKEN THE KNEE.
00:20:10MAMDANI HEADACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE BRONX.
00:20:13THEY BEAT HAKEEM JEFFRIES ON HIS OWN TURF.
00:20:19HE IS NOT A CRAZY LEFTIST. HE DID HIS BEST BUT HE LOST.
00:20:22EVEN CHUCK SCHUMER TOOK THE K NEE.
00:20:27THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAT.
00:20:29EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE NOTICE.
00:20:31I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU, OUR CANDIDATES REPRESENT COMMON SENSE.
00:20:35DASHA: THE DIRECTION THAT WE SEE
00:20:38MICHIGAN HEADING RIGHT NOW IS A
00:20:40WIN FOR EL-SAYED.
00:20:45WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT SAYS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR REPUBLICANS?
00:20:51MR. JOHNSON: THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE DISARRAY IN THE PARTY.
00:20:54THAT IS WHY YOU HEAR VOICES LIKE
00:20:56JAMES CARL AND RAHM EMMANUEL AND
00:20:59OTHERS SAYING THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE.
00:21:02YOU WILL HAVE THE OLD SCHOOL DEMOCRATS LEAVING THE PARTY.
00:21:05DASHA: GOING TO REPUBLICANS?
00:21:08MR. JOHNSON: WE WELCOME THEM IF
00:21:10THEY WANT TO GET ON BOARD WITH THE AMERICAN PRINCIPLES WHICH IS
00:21:14WHAT WE REPRESENT. THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF
00:21:17THE COUNTRY. INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, LIMITED
00:21:20GOVERNMENT, THE RULE OF LAW, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
00:21:23IF THEY GET ON BOARD, WE WILL TAKE THEM.
00:21:27DASHA: HOW MUCH WILL YOU LEAN
00:21:31INTO THIS CONTRAST GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN? MR. JOHNSON: IT IS IMPORTANT.
00:21:35THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE IT.
00:21:39ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. THIS ONE HAS A SERIOUS SET OF
00:21:42CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOW IT. WE HAVE THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE
00:21:46OF SELF-GOVERNANCE IN HISTORY. THE LONGEST LASTING CONSTITUTION.
00:21:50THE MOST RELEVANT -- BENEVOLENT
00:21:55NATION WE HAVE EVER SEEN. FREEDOM IS NEVER MORE THAN ONE
00:21:59GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION.
00:22:00IT HAS TO BE PROTECTED, TAUGHT
00:22:05AND PASSED ALONG FROM GENERATION.
00:22:08A MIDTERM, 91 DAYS FROM TODAY,
00:22:10THAT IS WHY WE ARE GOING TO WIN.
00:22:13THEY ARE TRYING TO TURN US INTO SOMETHING ELSE. DASHA: YOU HAVE BEEN SPEAKER
00:22:17DURING A CHALLENGING TIME IN CONGRESS.
00:22:21ONE OF THE TRENDS THAT WE
00:22:22STARTED TO SEE IS MEMBERS BOTH
00:22:27DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WITH
00:22:32SOME UNTENABLE SCANDALS, CONTROVERSIES AND ETHICS ISSUES.
00:22:36I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT CONGRESSMAN MAX MILLER WHO IS
00:22:39FACING SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF DOMESTIC AND CHILD ABUSE FROM HIS EX-WIFE.
00:22:44SHE SAID THAT HE POURED HOT WATER ON HER, PUT A GUN TO HER
00:22:50HEAD, BROKE HER COLLARBONE. HE HAS DENIED THESE ALLEGATIONS.
00:22:54TODAY IT WAS SET ON CNN THAT YOU
00:22:58ARE STANDING BEHIND HIM. ARE YOU?
00:23:00MR. JOHNSON: I HAVE SPOKEN TO CNN.
00:23:05I HAVE BEEN INTELLECTUALLY CONSISTENT. I ALWAYS HAVE.
00:23:10THIS APPLIES EQUALLY TO
00:23:11REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
00:23:14WE DON'T TAKE DISAPPEAR ANY --
00:23:18DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST CANDIDATES FOR ALLEGATIONS.
00:23:22IT HAS GOTTEN UGLY. HE IS SAYING THE SAME THINGS
00:23:26PRIVATELY AS HE IS PUBLICLY. HE DENIES ALL OF THESE THINGS.
00:23:30WE HAVE A PROCESS. THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE DOES THAT.
00:23:34WE ALWAYS WITHHOLD JUDGMENT ON
00:23:35THIS WHETHER IT IS REPUBLICANS
00:23:41ARE DEMOCRATS. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE THEIR CASE.
00:23:44THE EVIDENCE IS EVALUATED. IT WAS ANNOUNCED I THINK TODAY
00:23:47OR YESTERDAY THAT THEY JUST
00:23:50STARTED AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION ON THE SITUATION.
00:23:54WE HAVE TO LET THAT PLAY OUT. IT IS NOT THE SPEAKER'S JOB TO GET INVOLVED.
00:23:57DASHA: HE DID SPECIFICALLY INVOKE YOUR NAME TODAY.
00:24:02IS THAT HOW YOU WOULD CHARACTERIZE YOUR POSITION? MR. JOHNSON: I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO HIM ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST
00:24:06FEW DAYS. DASHA: ARE YOU PLANNING TO?
00:24:08MR. JOHNSON:.
00:24:12OF COURSE, I WILL THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF DOMESTIC EVENTS GOING ON ALL THE TIME.
00:24:15IT IS NOT MY BUSINESS TO GET ENGAGED IN IT.
00:24:20THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE DOES ITS WORK AND THEY HAVE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS GOING BETWEEN THE
00:24:24TWO. DASHA: THIS IS NOT THE EVERYDAY DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
00:24:28MR. JOHNSON: IT HAS BEEN PLAYED
00:24:31UP IN THE PUBLIC. I WAS ON A FLIGHT AND MY COMMUNICATIONS TEAM GOT A
00:24:34MESSAGE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TEAM SAID THERE WERE TWO
00:24:38MEDIA OUTLETS SUGGESTING THAT YOU HAD TOLD MAX TO DROP OUT OF HIS REELECTION BID.
00:24:44WE ENGAGE IN TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY. YOU HAVE TO TELL THE RECORD
00:24:48STRAIGHT AND TELL HIM. WE HAD NOT HAD THAT DISCUSSION. DASHA: WILL YOU TELL HIM TO DROP
00:24:52OUT? MR. JOHNSON: I WILL TELL MAX
00:24:55WHAT I TELL EVERYONE. THESE ARE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.
00:24:58I AM THE FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS AND I WORK ON CAPITOL HILL.
00:25:02I THINK MAX IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
00:25:05WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE PLOT SAYS -- THE PROCESS TO PLAY OUT.
00:25:09DASHA: MAX MILLER SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT CALLED HIM AND TOLD
00:25:13HIM THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR YOU. MR. JOHNSON: THEY DON'T LOOK GOOD, OF COURSE.
00:25:17I CALL OUT BEHAVIOR.
00:25:21I TRY TO WORK EVERYDAY ON DECORU
00:25:27M AND THE ETHICS OF THE HOUSE.
00:25:28WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED -- WE HAVE
00:25:34AN ENGAGED ETHICS COMMITTEE.
00:25:35I PINE FOR THE DAYS WHERE WE
00:25:40DON'T HAVE THESE DISTURBANCES AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIGNITY OF THEIR OFFICE.
00:25:44PEOPLE HAVE DOMESTIC DISPUTES. IT PLAYS OUT.
00:25:48FLAWED HUMANS, AS WE ARE.
00:25:50DASHA: I AM SURPRISED TO SEE HIM
00:25:54AT INVOKE YOUR NAME BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BEEN THE MOST GENEROUS TOWARD YOU.
00:25:57HE SAID HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT YOU FOR REELECTION AS SPEAKER OR
00:26:01MINORITY LEADER. HE ALSO SAID YOU'RE DIVIDING
00:26:03REPUBLICANS WITH A SMILE.
00:26:05MR. JOHNSON: YOU COULD ASK EVERY REPUBLICAN AND THEY WILL TELL
00:26:09YOU THAT'S NOT TRUE. MAX HAS HAD A LOT OF ISSUES IN HIS LIFE.
00:26:14I DON'T RETURN FIRE. THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.
00:26:16I WILL NOT USE THE SITUATION TO SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HIM.
00:26:20HE HAS TO WORK OUT THINGS IN HIS FAMILY LIFE.
00:26:22THAT IS THE ISSUE FOR THE VOTERS
00:26:24OF OHIO'S SEVENTH DISTRICT AND
00:26:27THE MILLER FAMILY, THE MORENO FAMILY. I HOPE THEY DO.
00:26:31DASHA: SENATOR MORENO HAS CALLED FOR MILLER TO RESIGN.
00:26:37MILLER IS UP FOR REELECTION. YOU ARE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
00:26:40TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THE HOUSE.
00:26:42HE HAS UNTIL 4:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY TO WITHDRAW AND GIVE THE
00:26:46REPUBLICANS A CHANCE TO REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT.
00:26:50THE DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT THAT SEAT. ONE OF THE REASONS THE PRESIDENT
00:26:54CALLED HIM. IS THAT CREATING AN EXTRA
00:26:58VULNERABILITY THAT REPUBLICANS CANNOT AFFORD RIGHT NOW?
00:27:01MR. JOHNSON: I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF OHIO
00:27:05RIGHT NOW. HE DID AN CNN INTERVIEW.
00:27:08HE SAID HIS CONSTITUENTS ARE
00:27:12STANDING BEHIND HIM. NO ONE HAS ASKED HIM TO RESIGN,
00:27:16NONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS. WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS
00:27:20OUT. I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL HOLD THAT DISTRICT.
00:27:25I'M FOCUSED ON MANY DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY SIMULTANEOUSLY.
00:27:27DASHA: IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL
00:27:29THIS, THE MIDTERM YEAR, YOU ARE ALSO TRYING TO GET SOME STUFF DONE.
00:27:33MR. JOHNSON: YES, WE ARE.
00:27:35DASHA: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
00:27:39THE HOUSE PASSED A THIRD RECONCILIATION BILL THAT
00:27:43INCLUDES PROVISIONS FROM THE SAVE AMERICA ACT WHICH IS NOW AT A STANDSTILL IN THE SENATE.
00:27:47LEADER JOHN THUNE SAYS THE PARTY DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT.
00:27:52TRUMP'S PATIENCE WITH LEADER PHONE IS RUNNING THIN.
00:27:57YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LEAVE A DIVIDED CREW.
00:28:02IS THE PRESIDENT RIGHT TO BE IMPATIENT OR IS JOHN THUNE RIGHT
00:28:05ABOUT THE MATH NOT MATHING?
00:28:08MR. JOHNSON: I THINK THE TWO
00:28:11AGREE ON MUCH MORE THAN THEY DISAGREE ON.
00:28:14ONE THING EVERYONE SEEMS TO THINK IS IMPORTANT IS ELECTION SECURITY.
00:28:17DASHA: I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
00:28:20ON THE LITERAL PRACTICALITY OF THIS, WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS VERSUS WHAT JOHN THUNE SAYS.
00:28:24MR. JOHNSON: I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
00:28:28LET ME TELL YOU. I AM TRYING TO PRESENT THE
00:28:31SCENARIO THAT ALLOWS FOR A WIN-WIN FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
00:28:35AND ALL OF US. DASHA: SO YOU ARE A MAGICIAN?
00:28:37MR. JOHNSON: I AM A PRAYER
00:28:41WARRIOR. THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD BE A
00:28:43CITIZEN TO VOTE AND PROVIDE VALID ID WHEN YOU SHOW UP IS
00:28:48LIKE A PUBLIC OPINION POLLING ISSUE.
00:28:51YOU CANNOT GET A SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE TO --
00:28:56DASHA: A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SAY IT IS ALREADY ILLEGAL FOR
00:28:59NONCITIZENS AND THERE IS NO
00:29:03EVIDENCE IT HAS IMPACTED ELECTIONS.
00:29:04REPUBLICANS SAY IT IS FEDERAL
00:29:07OVERREACH INTO A PROCESS THAT IS RUN BY THE STATES AND THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR OWN VOTERS.
00:29:10MR. JOHNSON: WE ARE TALKING
00:29:13ABOUT FEDERAL ELECTIONS WHICH IS
00:29:15SQUARELY WITHIN THE ROUTE OF THE HOUSE.
00:29:19IT IS OUR 50 STATE SYSTEM. SOME OF THEM DO IT A LOT MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN OTHERS.
00:29:25CALIFORNIA HAS MASSIVE ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CRAZY RULES.
00:29:31TO ENFORCE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS THAT ONLY A U.S. CITIZEN SHOULD --
00:29:33DASHA: WHAT HAPPENS FOR EVERYBODY?
00:29:36MR. JOHNSON: THE RESOLUTION TO
00:29:40SET UP THE RECONCILIATION BILL, WE SEND THAT OVER BEFORE WE WENT
00:29:44HOME FOR THE AUGUST PERIOD. IT HAS THE SAVE AMERICA ACT
00:29:48WHICH IS CITIZENSHIP AND VALID ID. IT HAS SOME MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS
00:29:51FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
00:29:55IT HAS FUNDS FOR OUR FARMERS. THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN WHO
00:29:59SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY A VOTE AGAINST ELECTION INTEGRITY,
00:30:03TROOPS AND FARMERS. I SAT DOWN WITH JOHN THUNE AND I
00:30:07SAID, LET ME HELP YOU HELP ME HELP YOU.
00:30:11I AM SENDING YOU A PACKAGE THAT WILL BE IRRESISTIBLE TO EVERY
00:30:14REPUBLICAN WHO LOVES GOOD GOVERNMENT, UNDERSTANDS NATIONAL
00:30:18SECURITY AND WANTS TO SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY.
00:30:21THAT IS WHAT THIS BILL ENTAILS. VERY SIMPLE.
00:30:25JUST AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
00:30:29HE UNDERSTANDS THE NECESSITY OF PROCESSING THAT.
00:30:32I KNOW HE AGREES WITH THOSE PRINCIPLES.
00:30:35HE HAS A DELICATE BALANCE TO MAINTAIN AND TO GET ALL OF THE
00:30:39VOTES JUST AS I DO. I DO THE SAME THING EVERY DAY.
00:30:43I HAVE 150 PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT THAN HE DOES.
00:30:46DASHA: WHAT IS HIS RESPONSE?
00:30:48MR. JOHNSON: HE MANAGES TO SAY
00:30:52THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE. HE WANTS TO GET THIS STUFF DONE
00:30:55AS WELL BUT HE HAS TO GET THE VOTES.
00:30:58BUT I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS TO
00:31:01ALLOW FOR THAT SUCCESS, TO GET THAT BILL TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT
00:31:05THING FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
00:31:07DASHA: WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR
00:31:11RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT IS SO DIFFERENT THAN JOHN THUNE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
00:31:15PRESIDENT? MR. JOHNSON: I'VE BEEN WORKING
00:31:18WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR ALMOST A DECADE. JOHN THUNE DID NOT HAVE MUCH OF
00:31:22A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED LEADER. I HAVE THIS LONG HISTORY WITH
00:31:26THE PRESIDENT. IT IS A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
00:31:29WE TALK VERY OFTEN. HE TRUSTS MY JUDGMENT AND MY
00:31:32COUNSEL AND WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON THE AGENDA THAT WE
00:31:36PROMISED. I KNOWS HE HAS IN HIS HEART THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTRY.
00:31:40HE IS WORKING AROUND-THE-CLOCK ALMOST LITERALLY EVERY DAY TO
00:31:42DELIVER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
00:31:45VOTERS IN 2024 GAVE US A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT.
00:31:48THE WHITE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE. THEY ANTICIPATED A MANDATE LIKE
00:31:52THAT.
00:31:52HE WON THE POPULAR VOTE IN
00:31:56EVERY SWING STATE. THEY GAVE US A MANDATE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIX THE PROBLEMS
00:32:00CAUSED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS A DISASTER.
00:32:04IT REQUIRES TEAMWORK, COORDINATION AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE TRIED TO FOCUS ON.
00:32:07DASHA: HAVE YOU GIVEN JOHN THUNE ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO MANAGE THE
00:32:11RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT? MR. JOHNSON: JOHN IS A FRIEND OF
00:32:15MINE. WE ARE COLLEAGUES WHO MEET OFTEN.
00:32:17I TRY TO HELP ANYWAY I CAN. I TALKED TO ALL OF OUR
00:32:21COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE. I BELIEVE THE TEAM IS IMPORTANT.
00:32:25YOU HAVE HOUSE AND SENATE
00:32:26REPUBLICANS TOGETHER FOR THE AGENDA.
00:32:32ONE THING I'VE EMPHASIZED TO JOHN, RELATIONSHIPS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE PRESIDENT.
00:32:36I HOPE THOSE TWO CAN SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER SO THEY HAVE AN
00:32:39INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF ONE ANOTHER AND THE CHALLENGES.
00:32:41DASHA: ARE YOU FEELING THE
00:32:45PRESIDENTS INCREASED ANGER, FRUSTRATION AT CONGRESS AS A WHOLE?
00:32:49I HAVE REPORTED ON THE BILL
00:32:53PULTE OF IT ALL.
00:32:59YOU TRIED TO SMOOTH IT OVER.
00:33:02HE STILL WANTED TO DO IT AS A MIDDLE FINGER TO CONGRESS.
00:33:05MR. JOHNSON: THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO MOVE QUICKLY.
00:33:09HE WANTS TO FIX EVERYTHING OVERNIGHT.
00:33:12THE LEGISLATIVE BODY IS
00:33:13FRUSTRATING TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE CONGRESS IS DESIGNED TO MOVE
00:33:17SLOWLY AND THAT IS A FRUSTRATION
00:33:18TO A PROBLEM-SOLVING PRESIDENT LIKE WE HAVE.
00:33:22HE IS A REAL HANDS-ON COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WHO WANTS TO
00:33:26FIX IT ALL IMMEDIATELY. HE IS TRYING TO ACCLIMATE TO THAT AND ACCEPT THE CHALLENGES
00:33:30WE HAVE DOING THAT. YET WE ARE STILL DELIVERING THE AGENDA.
00:33:34IT IS A DAILY CHALLENGE. WE HAVE THE SMALLEST MARGINS
00:33:38ALMOST IN U.S. HISTORY. I USE THE ANALOGY THAT EVERY DAY
00:33:42I'M CROSSING THE GRAND CANYON ON A PIECE OF DENTAL FLOSS. IT IS A DELICATE BALANCE.
00:33:46DASHA: I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
00:33:48MR. JOHNSON: THE MEME MAKES
00:33:53ITSELF. IT IS WHAT IT IS.
00:33:57A LOT OF IT IS RELATIONSHIP. YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS.
00:34:01ALL DAY LONG. IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT.
00:34:04JOHN THUNE BELIEVES IN THESE THINGS. HE HAS A CHALLENGE ON HIS HANDS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
00:34:08DASHA: I THINK LEADER THUNE HAS
00:34:11SAID NO TO THE PRESIDENT A LOT MORE THAN YOU HAVE.
00:34:14MR. JOHNSON: LET ME CORRECT THAT.
00:34:17DASHA: I WILL GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO CORRECT THAT IN THIS QUESTION.
00:34:21YOU KNOW THE CRITICISM OF YOU THAT THE PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU
00:34:25HAVE CEDED ALL CONGRESSIONAL
00:34:30AUTHORITY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.
00:34:35CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE
00:34:39REALITY OF THAT RELATIONSHIP?
00:34:45IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE YOU ACTUALLY
00:34:46HAVE NOT BEEN TOO ANGRY OR UPSET
00:34:50WITH THE HEADLINES ABOUT YOU
00:34:52CEDING THAT AUTHORITY BECAUSE
00:34:56YOU DO SEE THAT RELATIONSHIP AS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO GETTING
00:35:00THINGS DONE. DO YOU TELL HIM NO?
00:35:04MR. JOHNSON: I DO IT PRIVATELY.
00:35:09THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
00:35:10DASHA: WHAT IS A TIME THAT YOU HAVE TOLD HIM NO?
00:35:14MR. JOHNSON: FOUR TIMES A DAY.
00:35:19HE IS AN IDEAS GUIDE.
00:35:23HE IS CONSTANTLY PITCHING.
00:35:26DASHA: DO YOU EVER SAY, THAT THE CRAZY IDEA?
00:35:30DON'T DO THAT?
00:35:31MR. JOHNSON: YES.
00:35:34EVERY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NEEDS PEOPLE AROUND HIM WHO WILL SAY
00:35:37WHAT HE NEEDS TO HEAR AND NOT JUST WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR. I'M THAT GUY.
00:35:41DASHA: YOU ARE THAT GUY?
00:35:43MR. JOHNSON: YEAH.
00:35:48WE ARE IN THE SAME PARTY. THE VOTERS DELIVERED A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT.
00:35:52THEY EXPECT US TO WORK AS A WELL
00:35:53OLD MACHINE -- WELL OILED
00:35:57MACHINE.
00:36:00I COULD WRITE A FIVE VOLUME SET ABOUT THE THINGS WE DISAGREE ON.
00:36:04DASHA: BEFORE I SEND YOU OUT
00:36:07INTO THE ARIZONA HEAT, MY FINAL QUESTION.
00:36:10YOU HAVE LET THIS CONGRESS
00:36:13THROUGH SOME TURBULENT TIMES. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN QUESTIONED AT TIMES.
00:36:17YOU HAVE GOTTEN A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLIMENTS FOR HOW YOU HAVE
00:36:20LEAD THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. DO YOU INTEND TO STAY ON AS
00:36:25LEADER AS THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
00:36:28CONGRESS -- CAUCUS IN NOVEMBER?
00:36:32MR. JOHNSON: DO NOT BET AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS.
00:36:36DASHA: WOULD YOU BE MINORITY LEADER IF REPUBLICANS DON'T HOLD
00:36:40THE HOUSE ANYMORE? MR. JOHNSON: YOU WILL ROLL YOUR
00:36:43EYES WHEN I TELL YOU THIS. TODAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.
00:36:47I WILL WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW. WE WILL KEEP THE REPUBLICAN
00:36:51MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE. WE WILL KEEP MARCHING FORWARD
00:36:54WITH THIS AGENDA FOR THE PEOPLE. WHEN WILL DEFEND THE GREATEST NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE
00:36:58WORLD. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THE NEXT
00:37:02COUPLE OF DAYS AHEAD.
00:37:02DASHA: WE WILL SEE YOU OUT THERE
00:37:07ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THANK YOU.
00:37:11>> BEST IDEAS CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE.
00:37:16>> YOU CAN FIGHT AND STILL BE FRIENDLY.
00:37:17>> BRIDGING THE DIVIDE IN
00:37:21AMERICAN POLITICS.
00:37:22>> HE IS A LIKABLE GUY.
00:37:27>> WE ARE ACTUALLY FRIENDS.
00:37:29>> WE ACTUALLY RESPECT EACH OTHER.
00:37:32>> WE ALL DON'T HATE EACH OTHER.
00:37:35>> WE ACTUALLY LIKE EACH OTHER.
00:37:40>> YOU GUYS DID AGREE TO THE
00:37:44STABILITY.
00:37:47>> THOSE ARE FIGHTING WORDS RIGHT THERE.
00:37:53>> I'M THRILLED TO BE ON THE SHOW WITH HIM.
00:37:57>> THERE ARE NOT SHOWS LIKE THIS
00:38:03INCENTIVIZING THAT RELATIONSHIP. >> CEASEFIRE.
00:38:06FRIDAY NIGHT ON C-SPAN.
00:38:07>> C-SPAN'S WASHINGTON JOURNAL,
00:38:16LEMAN LIVE FORUM.
00:38:18COMING UP SUNDAY MORNING WE WILL
00:38:21TALK WITH THE HOST OF THE DEAN
00:38:27OBEIDALLAH SHOW ON THE FUTURE OF
00:38:30THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
00:38:33MORE ON CAMPING 2026, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, THE IRAN WAR AND THE
00:38:36NEWS OF THE WEEK WITH WASHINGTON
00:38:37EXAMINER EDITOR PETER LAFFIN.
00:38:45JOIN THE CONVERSATION LIVE AT 7:00 EASTERN ON SUNDAY MORNING,
00:38:49C-SPAN, C-SPAN NOW, THE FREE MOBILE APP OR ONLINE AT C-SPAN.ORG.
00:38:57>> WATCH AMERICA'S BOOK CLUB, C-SPAN'S BOLD ORIGINAL SERIES SUNDAY WITH OUR GUEST
00:39:02BEST-SELLING AUTHOR HEATHER COX
00:39:06RICHARDSON, A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT BOSTON COLLEGE WHOSE
00:39:09BOOKS SPAN SUBJECTS FROM THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION,
00:39:13THE GILDED AGE, THE AMERICAN WEST AND THE HISTORY OF THE REVOKING PARTY.
00:39:17HER MOST RECENT BOOK IS THE
00:39:20BEST-SELLING "DEMOCRACY
00:39:24AWAKENING." SHE JOINS OUR HOST DAVID RUBENSTEIN.
00:39:28>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN
00:39:31ABOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND STAYED THE INDISPENSABLE PERSON
00:39:35WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON. WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST THE WAR IF HE HAD NOT BEEN GENERAL.
00:39:39DO YOU AGREE?
00:39:40>> IN TERMS OF THE IDEOLOGY, THE
00:39:44PERSON HE WAS AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO WALK AWAY FROM POWER, THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
00:39:50AMERICA HAS LEFT OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE FIRST TIME WAS
00:39:53WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THAT
00:39:56POSITION OF EXTRAORDINARY POWER WALKING AWAY FROM THE ARMY FIRST, WHICH IS AT