WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.000 The American government shuts down at midnight. 2 00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:04.759 The number three member of a Republican congressional leadership is 3 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:06.679 here at the top of the show to explain why. 4 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:09.960 Plus Pearson Sharp is back from the front lines in Russia. 5 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:12.279 He'll tell us what Western media is missing. 6 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:15.320 We'll expose the Anti Defamation League for being the hate 7 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:17.679 group they are, and head to the campaign trail with 8 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:21.320 congressional candidate and former NFL kicker Jay Feely. It's all 9 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:22.359 next on the Macgates Show. 10 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:26.559 Let's do this shaking up Washington, d C. We're breaking 11 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:27.000 the fever. 12 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.600 Do you ever watch this guy on television? 13 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:31.320 It's like a machine. 14 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:34.159 He's great. Matt Gates. 15 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:39.880 As we join you this evening, the United States government 16 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:44.439 is preparing to go into shutdown mode. Republicans have passed 17 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.600 a government funding extension bill with no major changes. 18 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:50.240 Democrats are demanding a lot. 19 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:53.960 They want a renegotiation of the budget and policy wins 20 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:57.719 that Republicans secured in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. 21 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:02.600 Democrats want to solidify obama Care and the deportations, restore 22 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:05.719 foreign aid to other countries, and include a variety of 23 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:10.280 new spending programs. They also want to refund PBS. If 24 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:13.079 your eyes glazed over as I gave you that list, 25 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:16.280 we don't blame you. It's the usual list of Democrat demands, 26 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.319 but should the entire government be held hostage over them? 27 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.519 Our understanding is that during a shutdown, military tsa border patrol, 28 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:28.760 ice and others are either furloughed or they must keep 29 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:32.120 working without pay. Their pay is ultimately restored, but it 30 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:35.760 creates a crunch for those families in the interim. Republican 31 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:39.439 Congressman Marlon Stutzman told us the Democrats should be careful 32 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:42.200 what they wish for. A shutdown makes Trump stronger. 33 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:45.840 If Schumer sets the government down, Trump is more powerful. 34 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.719 Joining us now is the number three member of Republican 35 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.159 House Leadership Whip, Tom Emmer of Minnesota. Tom, thanks for 36 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.719 joining me. A lot of people will wake up tomorrow 37 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.400 the government may be shut down, and they'll be wondering 38 00:01:57.480 --> 00:01:58.640 why this is happening. 39 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:00.200 What's the Republican Messa. 40 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:04.000 Good to be with you, Matt, good to see if 41 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:07.840 the message is very simple, it really is that House 42 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:11.360 Republicans have done their job. We have a short term, 43 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:17.039 nonpartisan current funding level continuing resolution that'll keep the government 44 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:20.400 open until the twenty first of November, and as you know, 45 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.919 Matt first hand, in some cases, the goal around here 46 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:28.800 is to get back to a regular order appropriations process. 47 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:35.280 Back in the second week of September, the Senate and 48 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:38.240 the House both passed motions to go to conference for 49 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:41.919 the first time since twenty eighteen. So they're working on 50 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.439 closing up three of the twelve bills. They've got another 51 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:47.639 three ready to go. They say they're very close, so 52 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:49.479 this gives them a little time to see if we 53 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.520 can get that done. And there are no poison pills. 54 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.560 As you remember, something Nancy Pelosi used to do is 55 00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:01.400 sprinkle this stuff full of Democrat priorities in there whatsoever. 56 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:07.560 And quite frankly, Matt, the Democrats, Chuck Schumer in the 57 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:10.800 Senate was all in support of this just six months ago, 58 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:14.360 and frankly, his colleagues and him voted for the same 59 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:18.919 thing thirteen times under the Biden administration. If they're stupid 60 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:21.479 enough to shut this down tonight, Matt, they're going to 61 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:21.840 own it. 62 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:28.000 The stupidity of that for Democrats would be astounding. But 63 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:31.280 what are they right now actually demanding? What is it 64 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:34.560 that they want from you other than an extension of 65 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:37.000 literally Joe Biden's negotiated budget. 66 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.800 Well, the beauty is they filed a bill that they're 67 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:42.719 voting on right now over in the Senate Chamber, so 68 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:45.039 you can see what they want. They want one point 69 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:49.120 five trillion in new spending, Matt. They want to unwind 70 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:52.759 the reforms that Republicans in the House did to Medicaid, 71 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.400 which make sure that one point four million illegals do 72 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:00.560 not get government or taxpayer funded healthcare. They want to 73 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:05.879 give five hundred million dollars to left wing radical news outlets. 74 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.479 They want to take away the fifty billion dollars in 75 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:14.080 rural healthcare funds, and they want to continue to fund 76 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.720 with millions of dollars billions of dollars climate projects in 77 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:18.480 foreign countries. 78 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:18.839 Matt. 79 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:22.879 That's not negotiating. That's insane. That's exactly what seventy seven 80 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.639 million people voted for Donald Trump last November. They're sick 81 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:31.600 and tired of these misplaced Democrat priorities. Republicans have done 82 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:34.279 their job. Democrats, if they shut this down, it's going 83 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:35.560 to be the Schumer shutdown. 84 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:38.920 I know President Trump doesn't want to shut down because 85 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.079 I know he has great empathy for the people that 86 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:45.000 would impact who have no role in this political quagmire. 87 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:48.519 Democrats seem to want to roll back some of the 88 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:51.879 wins that you helped get in the One Big Beautiful 89 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:55.360 Bill Act. Is there a single piece of the One 90 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.720 Big Beautiful Bill Act that you would put on the 91 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:00.680 table now to renegotiate to keep the government open. 92 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:06.000 Absolutely not. And you're right about Donald J. Trump. He 93 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:09.279 doesn't want to shutdown. That's why he's willing to do 94 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.839 a continued resolution that was passed by the House for 95 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:15.079 seven weeks to let them get the work done. Let 96 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:20.439 Republicans and Democrats in the Conference Committee negotiate this thing out. 97 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:23.279 But you know, Chuck Schumer, what you're dealing with, Matt 98 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:24.079 and you know this. 99 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:25.279 You're dealing with. 100 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.560 A scared old man who's afraid of losing his position. 101 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:33.439 So he is playing politics with this shutdown where he 102 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:37.120 should be putting the American people first and hopefully they'll 103 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:40.199 come to their senses before twelve oh one tomorrow morning. 104 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:45.720 No, it seems irrational. The politics may be leaning in 105 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:48.360 their favor. I saw a morning console pull this morning 106 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.480 that indicated by a margin of forty five to thirty two, 107 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:55.120 the American people would blame Republicans for this shutdown. 108 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:56.399 How do you change that? 109 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:59.399 Yeah, well, I don't buy that. I mean, there's a 110 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:01.680 New York Time Times pull out there that says sixty 111 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:05.240 five percent of Democrats that were pulled don't believe the 112 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:09.199 government should be shut down. There's stuff all over the place, Matt. 113 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.240 Bottom line is this, The American people are smart. You 114 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:15.040 know that the American people are going to take all 115 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:18.240 of this garbage that's being spewed by these other left 116 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.360 leaning networks that are trying to spin their own narrative. 117 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:22.959 At the end of the day, they're going to realize, 118 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.839 Wait a second, Republicans in the House did their job. 119 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.399 They passed a clean funding bill for the next seven weeks, 120 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:32.000 and these guys want to unwind all of it and 121 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:35.360 spend another one point five trillion. That's what we voted 122 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.399 for Donald Trump to take care of last November, and 123 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:42.800 that's what he's been doing. This shutdown and all the 124 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.560 manure splatter that comes with it is going right on 125 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:47.120 Chuck Schumer and Democrats. 126 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:50.639 Matt, you have this unique tick in Washington. It makes 127 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:55.160 you very very special. You don't lie to people, and 128 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:58.959 that's on a frequent trait we find but that really 129 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.279 causes a lot of people to trust you when there 130 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:05.680 are earnest, productive discussions going on to try to get 131 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:07.600 out of what would be a bad situation for a 132 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:11.720 lot of Americans right now? Are there any talks going 133 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:15.600 on with reasonable Senate Democrats? Are there any reasonable Senate 134 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.720 Democrats left? Like I can't imagine Tim Kaine wants to 135 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:22.439 see a bunch of Virginians furloughed. I can't imagine Chris 136 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:24.199 van Holland wants to see a lot of people in 137 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:27.240 Maryland suffer because of a political dispute. 138 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.439 Is there is there anything. 139 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.680 That suggests that there might be a group that breaks 140 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:34.240 away from Schumer and sees this to be the folly 141 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:34.680 that it is. 142 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.079 Well, the one that seems to make the most sense 143 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:41.920 is the one that's recovering from a stroke, John Fetterman. Maybe, Well, 144 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:45.279 you wouldn't wish that on anybody. No, he's recovering. But 145 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:47.839 John Fetterman makes the most sense out of all of them. 146 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:50.560 And yes, when you talk about the senators from Maryland, 147 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:52.680 when you talk about the senators from Virginia, when you 148 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:55.519 talk about senators from New Jersey, from New York, they 149 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:58.199 are going to have from Georgia. They are going to 150 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:01.480 have a very difficult I vote if they're going to 151 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:03.800 go off the end of the pier with the pied 152 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:09.360 piper Schumer. This thing. Look, you could actually you see 153 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:13.000 the lieutenant governor in Virginia closing the gap with our 154 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.600 former colleague, Abigail Spanburger. If they shut the government down, 155 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:21.199 that is felony done because of all the federal workers 156 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:24.360 in Virginia and more importantly, all the federal contractors. 157 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:24.600 Matt. 158 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:27.199 I don't think a lot of people understand that federal 159 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:30.319 workers usually get furloughed. I know that russ vote and 160 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:33.000 the President might be talking about something different here, but 161 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.759 they usually get furloughed and when you reopen, they get 162 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.399 back paid. You know what, Federal contractors just lose the money. 163 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.679 The stakes here are very high. It could actually determine 164 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:48.159 a couple of governorships in New Jersey and Virginia. They're 165 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.720 playing with fire and they're going to own this shutdown, Matt, 166 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.639 regardless of what the polls are saying today. You know this, 167 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:56.279 I told you you were one of the best communicators 168 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:59.000 I ever worked with. As we go through this thing, 169 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:02.120 we will continue to tell the truth and guess what 170 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:05.120 what we say is going to match what happens. And 171 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:07.879 that's why the American public is going to be with 172 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:10.679 Republicans again next November. 173 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.320 I know how hard it is for you to whip 174 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:16.639 up two hundred and eighteen votes just on what toppings 175 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:19.240 will be on the pizza at lunch. So the fact 176 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:22.039 that you have a unified Republican team right now does 177 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:24.279 seem to be an advantage you have. There has been 178 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:27.559 another advantage positive and you talked about russ vote. President 179 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.480 Trump's head of the Office of Management and Budget, Marlon Stutzman, 180 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:33.840 came on our program and said, look, this could make 181 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:38.120 Trump stronger. Democrats could actually regret doing this because there 182 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:41.360 could be powers in a shutdown the executive branch utilizes 183 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:45.039 that would have been unavailable previously. Are you buying that? 184 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:48.639 Is the Trump administration thinking about that? And what visibility 185 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.279 can you give us into their preparations for a shutdown 186 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:53.480 if Chuck Schumer does visit that on the country. 187 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:55.759 Well, I have a lot of respect for Marlin and 188 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:57.799 it's great to have him back because he's a very 189 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:02.559 productive legislator and a great conservative. But for me, I mean, 190 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:06.679 can you make Donald Trump any more powerful. I mean, 191 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:11.919 if you can, I suppose, But really, Donald Trump has 192 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:17.919 turned into something way beyond the man. He carries a 193 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:22.480 certain strength with him that no one else in politics 194 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:27.519 here in America or around the globe carries. He literally 195 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:33.120 is the movement itself right now. And I just don't 196 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.320 know how you make him stronger. This is why Democrats 197 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:40.279 are playing a fool's game, because look, Donald Trump, just 198 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:43.600 because you don't like Donald Trump doesn't mean you want 199 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:47.080 to take on this ridiculous fight with no way out. 200 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:51.679 Donald Trump has the high ground here. Just acknowledged you're 201 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:53.600 going to do the right thing for the American people 202 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:57.240 instead of trying to exercise your demons with the guy 203 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.360 you don't like in the White House. Because that's going 204 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:03.600 to come back to haunt Chuck Schumer and Democrats in November, no. 205 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:05.399 Question about it. 206 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:07.559 And as someone who has led the campaign arm of 207 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.000 the Republican team, I'm sure you've got the ads teed 208 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.440 up right now. The number three man in the House 209 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:15.600 of Representatives, the Whip of the House, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, 210 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:17.080 thanks for coming on the program and joining me. 211 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:18.480 Great to be with you. 212 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:22.039 Matt and coming up Oen's own Pearson sharp has just 213 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.279 returned from the front lines of the fighting in the 214 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:27.799 war between Russia and Ukraine. He'll tell us about all 215 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.919 of the stories and about the people who are having 216 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:32.159 to endure the pain of this war. 217 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.519 It's all next to the Mackay Show. 218 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.360 Viewers are always asking me how can they watch OAYN live? 219 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:46.159 The solution is simple. It's a streaming platform called cloud 220 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:52.679 tv now it's spelled klowd TV. Simply go to cloudtv 221 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.000 dot com and subscribe to watch twenty four to seven 222 00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:59.360 live feeds of OAN. The live package is only two 223 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:03.919 dollars and fifty cents per month for all you can watch. Again, 224 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:10.639 simply go to cloudtv dot com and do it today. Hey, 225 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:13.159 did you know that one America news network has launched 226 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:16.559 a twenty four to seven Twitter like social media replacement. 227 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:20.960 We're calling it free Talk forty five. So why is 228 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:24.639 it branded free Talk forty five. Well, free talk because 229 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:27.720 you will not be censored for expressing your opinion there, 230 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:31.960 and forty five because forty five is a really lucky number. 231 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:35.399 So join us at free Talk forty five and express 232 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:44.039 yourself with no fear of cancelation. Ever, Hey, if your 233 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:47.919 cable provider doesn't offer One America News Network. You should 234 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:51.080 give them a call and kindly demand that they carry 235 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:55.679 away in Now you're the customer, and without your feedback, 236 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.559 your cable provider will not know that there is a 237 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:02.600 strong demand across this country for One America News Network. 238 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:07.639 So please call your cable company today and kindly ask 239 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:16.320 or demand that they add OANN to their channel lineup. Hey, everyone, 240 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.600 here's a question for you. What does Roku TV, Apple TV, 241 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:25.200 and Amazon fireTV all have in common? The answer is 242 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:28.440 that all three platforms offer you the ability to live 243 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:32.600 stream One America News Network from your Roku TV, Apple TV, 244 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:36.279 or Amazon Fire device. Simply go to the app store, 245 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:40.559 search out FORN, then enjoy all the great programming offered 246 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:47.960 by including my show Real America. 247 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:53.879 We return to our coverage of the war between Russia 248 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:57.559 and Ukraine, and it's a war that hasn't shown signs 249 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:01.440 of slowing down. Days ago, Russia launched a massive aerosault 250 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:04.679 on Ukraine, using about six hundred drones and about forty 251 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:08.720 eight missiles. Ukraine intercepted most of them, but sustained damage 252 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:12.679 to infrastructure and civilian area areas. At least four people died, 253 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:17.399 dozens were wounded, Ukraine's forces struck inside Russia, hitting a 254 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:22.000 military linked factory with Neptune missiles. Russia plans to conscript 255 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.519 about one hundred and thirty five thousand men aged eighteen 256 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:28.240 to thirty from October through December. It's the largest autumn 257 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.360 draft in nearly a decade. Ukraine has been on a 258 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:35.000 conscription blitz for quite some time. This war seems to 259 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:38.559 be so different depending on perspective. For Europe it's a 260 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:42.200 military campaign against one of the major providers of their 261 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:45.799 own energy, which has to be awkward for neocons. It's 262 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:48.879 a redo of World War II narratives. For Putin, it 263 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:52.200 maybe about a buffer or re establishing a good amount 264 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:55.600 of the USSR. To most Americans, it has been a costly, 265 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:59.960 useless exercise that has driven inflation and risk unnecessarily. 266 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.960 We wanted to get a better. 267 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:04.320 Sense of how people in Russia were actually thinking about 268 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:06.519 this war, so we said, oh a, and investigative reporter 269 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:09.360 Pearson sharp to the front lines. He traveled to the 270 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:12.360 Dominus region, He met with people fighting the war, He 271 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:16.279 met with the neighbors and the people impacted inside of Russia. 272 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:19.440 He is safely returned and joins US now So, Pearson, 273 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:22.120 when we talked to you last it was from a 274 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:25.240 hotel room inside of Russia, and you said there was 275 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:27.519 a lot of the story that Western media. 276 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.840 Wasn't telling exactly. 277 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.120 Who do you think are the best storytellers? 278 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:34.600 Who are the people the troops, the people who live 279 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:39.039 in neighborhoods, the people in the faith community. Who are 280 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.519 the people that really are telling what's going on right now? 281 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.720 Probably the best people to tell the story are the 282 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:48.320 people in the Western media who have never been to Russia. 283 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:51.399 They often have the best perspectives and they really seem 284 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:54.840 to understand what the people living there really want and 285 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:57.120 what they really feel. You know, that's kind of what 286 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:00.960 you would expect, right, Not really, No, So, yeah, we 287 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:03.440 went to Donbas, we went to don Yetsk. We went 288 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:06.840 to a bunch of the little towns in that area, 289 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:11.840 specifically one called Gordlovka, which was I think I talked 290 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:15.399 about it last time we spoke, was very powerful, and 291 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:20.600 there was an absolutely destroyed building, just bombed out and 292 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:23.120 one half of it was less standing, and there was 293 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:25.000 a single resident who lived there and he came down 294 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:28.360 and talked to us, and the story that he told 295 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:34.720 was heartbreaking about how his life had been turned upside down, 296 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:38.120 the town had been destroyed. For this didn't start in 297 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.960 twenty twenty two. This has been going on since twenty fourteen, 298 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:44.279 and that town has been bombed over twenty thousand times 299 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:47.039 in the last three years. This is daily life for them, 300 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:51.600 and they're just trying to recover. And the incredible part 301 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.200 of talking to all of them was just how hopeful 302 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:59.000 and optimistic all of them were about the outcome and 303 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:02.360 about what they ext to happen. It was really inspiring 304 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:05.359 to see them continue will happen Well, a lot of 305 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.200 them think that this is going to be a military resolution, 306 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:10.559 A lot of them think that Putin is going to 307 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.599 go straight into Kiev eventually. 308 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:16.640 Do they think Ukraine will then be part of Russia. 309 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:20.079 Well, that's the expectation. Yeah, that that is the expectation. 310 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:23.039 And I think for so that's what people inside Russia 311 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:25.799 think the war is about. They think the war is 312 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:27.480 about conquering Ukraine. 313 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.799 Conquering is a strong word. I don't think they look 314 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:34.079 at it that way. I think they bringing, well, bringing 315 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:38.039 Ukraine back to Russia because they see Ukraine as being 316 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.720 part of Russia and right now it's being basically illegally 317 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.359 occupied by terrorists, a terrorist regime. All of these people 318 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:50.079 used to live in the area known as Ukraine, and 319 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:54.079 they said that during that time they had no pensions, 320 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:57.440 they had no electricity. I mean, the supplies were very intermittent, 321 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:01.480 and they were being terrorized by this regime as they 322 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:04.119 called it. And again I have to point this out, 323 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:07.960 this is not me saying this. These are the words 324 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:10.039 of the people that I talk to there, because I've 325 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:11.599 posted a couple of these comments and a couple of 326 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:17.400 these stories online and the hate, the immediate vitriolic hate 327 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.119 that comes from the people on the pro Ukraine side 328 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.599 is astonishing. 329 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.000 And I try and point out, you're not arguing with me. 330 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.640 I'm just here giving the message. 331 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:29.920 Do you think the people in Russia, with that perspective 332 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.680 that you laid out, are ready for this to drag 333 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:35.640 on another five ten years if that's what it takes 334 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.359 in this war of attrition environment we seem to be in. 335 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.599 I don't think anybody wants that, but I think they're 336 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:46.240 prepared to do that because for them, this is do 337 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:50.400 or die. This is a civilizational question. They view themselves, 338 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:53.319 They view Russia as up against a wall in the 339 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:55.680 absolute corner and they have to protect that and if 340 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:59.599 they lose Ukraine, they lose everything. I got an exclusive 341 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:03.559 interview with Alexander Dugan, who's very close to Putin, He's 342 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:08.440 very involved in Russian politics, and he said that Ukraine 343 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:12.519 is existential for Russia. He said, we have to have Ukraine. 344 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:15.440 It's not a question we do or we don't. And 345 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:19.960 he told me in our interview, if it appears that 346 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:23.440 Russia is losing the war in Ukraine, we will use 347 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.440 nuclear weapons. 348 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:27.480 That is terrible. We hope that never happens. 349 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.240 We've watched the nuclear posture of Russia change. We've been 350 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.880 paying very close attention to that. Does all seem like 351 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:38.519 very troubling things to us. Do people in Russia know 352 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.920 the impact. 353 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:41.720 Of the use of nuclear weapons that close to. 354 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.880 Where they live, That's a great question. I don't know. 355 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.599 Does anybody. 356 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:52.359 Does anybody understand the consequences of nuclear weapons. But the 357 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.240 way they view it is if there's no Ukraine, then 358 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:57.799 there's no Russia, and if there's no Russia, then there's 359 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:01.839 no world. And this is againvial. They view themselves as 360 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:06.319 the last bastion of Western civilization and standing against the 361 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:10.119 decay of the West, the moral decay, the religious decay. 362 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.440 They literally see this as a fight of good and evil, 363 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.960 the warriors of Christ against Satan. 364 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:16.880 That's literally how they view it. 365 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.640 I guess when you have total control over the intake 366 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:22.000 of information for people, you can have a lot of 367 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:25.000 impact on their perspectives on things. But is there a 368 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:28.079 concern over the number of Slavs that have died a 369 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:30.000 lot of times in the world when we're looking at 370 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:33.920 a conflict, Pierson, it's different ethnic groups fighting one another. Here, 371 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:37.400 If Slovs killing other Slavs, I don't know that there's 372 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.480 really anywhere else on the planet Earth where that type 373 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.680 of a dynamic is playing out. Is that noticed by 374 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:46.720 people and does it create any sort of sort of 375 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:48.440 desire to bring this to a conclus. 376 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:52.240 Absolutely, yeah, no, This is gut wrenching for both sides involved. 377 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:54.960 I've been to Ukraine and Russia and both of them 378 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.319 have said the same things. And the Russians that I 379 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.400 talked to you this time said, we don't want this war. 380 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.799 These are our breas, these are our sisters. We don't 381 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:04.759 want to be fighting them. We want to come back 382 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.440 and bring us together. And I met with some soldiers 383 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:11.640 there who were Ukrainians who actually joined the Russian side. 384 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:15.720 They were conscripted against their will, basically drug off the 385 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:17.799 street and in one case, out of a university, thrown into 386 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.440 a van and sent packing to join the war. And 387 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:22.359 they didn't want to do that, so the first chance 388 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:24.519 they got they joined the Russian side. And that was 389 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:27.160 the first question I asked them was how do you 390 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:30.160 feel fighting against Ukrainians? How do you feel about fighting 391 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:33.039 for Russia. They said, well, we're not fighting against Ukraine 392 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:36.079 and we're not fighting for Russia. We're fighting to free Ukraine. 393 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:39.400 And I think that's the mindset that they have. They're 394 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:42.359 trying to liberate it from this regime that's occupying it 395 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.119 right now. 396 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:46.440 And that regime is backed by a lot of global 397 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:51.079 powers's backed by European powers. Do people have resentment about 398 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:55.799 the amount of European and Western involvement in plowing weapons 399 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.440 into this war? 400 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:59.160 You would think that, But from all my experience, there 401 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.599