1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,519 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,640 go to dpeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,719 smartphone or tablet, And again, thank you so much for 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,280 your support. I want to welcome to the program the 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker of the North Carolina House, Destin Hall, a Republican 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,520 from Caldwell. Hello, mister speaker, how are you, sir? 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 2: Hey Pete, I'm doing well. Thanks for having me on. 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,359 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I appreciate you making time for us today, and 14 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,679 you're welcome back anytime. So let me well, I say 15 00:00:45,679 --> 00:00:47,560 that now, but you haven't even heard my questions, so 16 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,920 you may not No, I'm kidding, you may not want 17 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,119 to go back. But so you had a string of 18 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,679 victories in the veto overrides. I've been covering the various overizon. 19 00:00:56,799 --> 00:00:59,920 Earlier in the program, talked about the House Bill three eighteen, 20 00:01:00,079 --> 00:01:02,960 the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, which has prompted a 21 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:07,239 lot of outrage among Democrats against one of their own representative, 22 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,840 Carla Cunningham, right here in Mecklenburg County. So first off, 23 00:01:11,879 --> 00:01:14,400 I have to ask, is it possible to get that 24 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,319 bill or the law now I guess renamed to Gary's 25 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,799 Law in honor of our sheriff here in Mecklenburg County. 26 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,159 I would very much appreciate that. 27 00:01:24,239 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: Well, you know, there. 28 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 2: Was some idea about that, and the sheriff there in 29 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,799 Mecklenburg certainly does love to talk about ICE issues. And 30 00:01:34,239 --> 00:01:36,000 you know, we've been working on this issue for a 31 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:38,680 number of years, going back probably five years or so. 32 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,879 We passed a bill generally requiring Scheff to cooperate with ICE. 33 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,959 In the last two year cycle Cooper Vito we overrode, 34 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,599 and then we discovered that we were told the Mecklenburg 35 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,319 sheriff thought he had found some loopholes. So we wanted 36 00:01:53,319 --> 00:01:55,599 to fix that issue for him and any other sheriffs 37 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,519 who didn't want to cooperate with ICE, and that was 38 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,480 the genesis of this bill this time around. And the 39 00:02:00,519 --> 00:02:03,920 bill just simply requires sheriffs to cooperate with ICE when 40 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,519 they arrest somebody for a serious crime, just like anybody 41 00:02:07,599 --> 00:02:10,039 else could be arrested for a crime, and that person 42 00:02:10,159 --> 00:02:12,960 also happens to be here illegally. So we're talking about 43 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,319 folks charged with serious crimes. ICE wants to detain them. Unfortunately, 44 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,639 we had just a few sheriffs who simply would not 45 00:02:19,719 --> 00:02:24,240 cooperate with ICE and honor those detainers. It's insane and 46 00:02:24,319 --> 00:02:26,360 we had to put a stop to it. You know, 47 00:02:26,479 --> 00:02:28,199 we did have one of our friends on the other 48 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,080 side of the aisle crossover and vote with us on 49 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,360 the override. That same member had voted with us on 50 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,400 the override last time around on the Ice field with 51 00:02:37,439 --> 00:02:41,400 Cooper's governor, and the Democrats tried to primary her in 52 00:02:41,479 --> 00:02:44,599 the last cycle. She got about eighty five percent in 53 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,280 that primary. So I think the Democrats could probably learn 54 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,960 a lesson from Representative Cunningham on where people are when 55 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,599 it comes to cooperating with ICE. 56 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: So yes, I don't think they will learn, but yes, 57 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,800 I agree they should learn something and listen to her. 58 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,360 But they did. I have heard their counter argument to 59 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,159 what she laid out in her floor speech is my 60 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,879 understanding is shut up Representative cunning In that's been I 61 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,800 think that's been their counterpoint, which is I did not 62 00:03:14,879 --> 00:03:15,639 find persuasive. 63 00:03:16,439 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: Well, there's really no argument against cooperating with ICE. The 64 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,719 polling shows eighty ninety percent of the population agree you 65 00:03:24,759 --> 00:03:28,120 should be cooperating with ICE. And it was really sad 66 00:03:28,159 --> 00:03:30,960 to see on the floor of the House you had 67 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,039 other Democratic members trying to shut down the debate from 68 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,400 their own Democratic member who was supporting the bill. Of 69 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,360 course I didn't let that happen, but it just goes 70 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,400 to show they don't have an argument against this. They're 71 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:49,080 completely beholding, beholden to these extremists, left wing groups that 72 00:03:49,199 --> 00:03:52,840 want open borders, and they're going to side with those 73 00:03:52,919 --> 00:03:55,479 left wing groups. They're going to side with open borders. 74 00:03:55,479 --> 00:03:57,960 We saw it in the Biden administration where our border 75 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,439 was wide open, millions of people crossing. We don't know 76 00:04:01,479 --> 00:04:05,000 who they are, where they're coming from. And thankfully President 77 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,560 Trump's in there now. He has shut down our borders, 78 00:04:07,919 --> 00:04:09,400 and we're going to do all we can in North 79 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:13,360 Carolina to help him to make sure we enforce federal 80 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,000 immigration law in North Carolina. 81 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: Is it possible that the Democrats are not aware that 82 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,399 there is a difference between legal and illegal immigration, because 83 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:24,040 they seem to only just say immigration they never make 84 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,879 a difference or a distinction between the two forms. Is 85 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:28,560 that possible. 86 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,399 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I don't pretend to understand the mind 87 00:04:32,439 --> 00:04:36,240 of many Democrats, and I think that it's difficult to 88 00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:39,959 understand where they're coming from on many issues, including this one. 89 00:04:40,079 --> 00:04:42,959 But you know what I'll say is this, If you 90 00:04:43,079 --> 00:04:47,759 look at the way that the census operates currently, illegal 91 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,959 aliens are counted in the census. And why is that important? 92 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:56,040 It's important because when congressional districts are drawn across this country, 93 00:04:56,079 --> 00:04:58,639 when districts for state House and senator are drone, we 94 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,959 use the census, and the census again including the legal 95 00:05:02,959 --> 00:05:05,560 aliens in it, people who are not supposed to be 96 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,000 able to vote. We have to draw districts on those numbers, 97 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,439 and it results in states like California getting more congressional 98 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,000 members in the United States House of Representatives than they 99 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,199 should be entitled to if we were only counting citizens. 100 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,199 I know Trump's trying to do a use census now 101 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,480 to exclude the legal aliens, but I think part of it, 102 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,120 at least from a national level, the Democrats understand legal 103 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,839 immigration is in their interests. They want these folks to 104 00:05:31,879 --> 00:05:34,639 count in the census, They want to get more congressional 105 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,240 seats out of it, and ultimately, I believe their long 106 00:05:37,319 --> 00:05:39,399 term plan is to try to get these folks to vote. 107 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:41,959 They want to give amnesty and be able to have 108 00:05:43,199 --> 00:05:47,160 imported voters that Democrats can rely on in perpetuity. 109 00:05:47,319 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: So are you confident that this with House Bill three eighteen, 110 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:55,759 now that you've closed the loopholes that at least obviously 111 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,279 that you know of, are you? But I got to 112 00:05:58,319 --> 00:06:00,639 believe that there are lawyers that are looking at it 113 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,800 and saying that we can find some other loopholes to 114 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,360 allow these sheriffs to continue avoiding full cooperation. 115 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: I'm sure they're going to try and look. I think 116 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,800 the bill we passed two years ago, I think it 117 00:06:13,959 --> 00:06:16,920 did what was necessary. I think it required chefs to 118 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:21,600 cooperate with ICE. Unfortunately, again, we had just maybe one, 119 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,560 two three sheriffs who, in my opinion, were getting bad 120 00:06:24,639 --> 00:06:27,560 legal advice and decided they didn't have to honor ICE detainers. 121 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,120 So the purpose of this bill was to make it 122 00:06:30,199 --> 00:06:34,319 absolutely crystal clear. I don't think there are any loopholes 123 00:06:34,319 --> 00:06:38,079 in this law. I'm sure lawsuits are going to be filed. 124 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,519 They will ultimately lose those lawsuits. The Democrats are going 125 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,079 to do all they can to try to say this 126 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:49,000 is unconstitutional. There's simply no precedent at all to say 127 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,000 that this legislation is unconstitutional. We're going to win that one. 128 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,000 So I think we have the problem here fixed. But 129 00:06:56,399 --> 00:07:00,759 you don't ever underestimate the Democrats' ability to do whatever 130 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:05,240 they can to avoid enforcing federal immigration law. We'll keep 131 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,519 monitoring it, though, and if you take further action. 132 00:07:07,399 --> 00:07:07,759 Speaker 3: We will. 133 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,959 Speaker 1: Yeah. You mentioned the census and the counts. I've been 134 00:07:10,959 --> 00:07:14,000 covering that too. You're exactly right. Are you any any 135 00:07:14,319 --> 00:07:19,680 appetite for doing a Texas style mid decade redistrict? I 136 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,279 know you guys love doing the redistricting. It's so much 137 00:07:22,319 --> 00:07:25,000 fun and well, you know, I. 138 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,279 Speaker 2: Used to share redistricting but before I was the speaker, 139 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,000 so I've got a lot of experience with that. I 140 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,000 think we've redrawn the maps about five times in my 141 00:07:34,439 --> 00:07:37,959 five terms there. You know, this last time around when 142 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,639 we redrew, I think we did the things that we 143 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,319 needed to do in that map. We're watching the national 144 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,600 picture right now, of course, seeing what Texas and some 145 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:50,680 other states are doing. We have a lot of experience 146 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,560 with redistrict in North Carolina that other states may not. So, 147 00:07:54,839 --> 00:07:57,160 you know, I think that we have the maps that 148 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,240 we need, but I think the injustice out there right 149 00:08:00,279 --> 00:08:02,839 now is states like California have more seats and they 150 00:08:02,879 --> 00:08:05,879 really should be entitled to. And so you see Texas 151 00:08:05,879 --> 00:08:08,800 and Florida and some of the other states who may 152 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,680 have drawn maps that we're not as republican as they 153 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,519 possibly could have been, and they're looking back now to say, well, 154 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,399 we're going to right the wrong of illegal aliens being 155 00:08:17,439 --> 00:08:21,240 counted by redrawing our districts. And you know in North Carolina, 156 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,759 will we redrawl again? We'll see. What I'll say is 157 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,720 right now there's a very competitive district in the first 158 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,960 district in North Carolina, Don Davis, Democrat there who votes 159 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,480 with the Democrats in Washington, very vulnerable. I think we're 160 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,080 going to beat him anyway under the current maps, and 161 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:44,720 so we have I think the maps we need in 162 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,320 order to the Primalth Carolina is the vote on this time. 163 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: Around, Well, that's good. I don't want to have to 164 00:08:49,759 --> 00:08:54,159 cover more redistricting lawsuits. They're very dry radio content. You know, 165 00:08:55,399 --> 00:08:59,759 you've also got five vetoed bills that are pending override attempts. 166 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,480 What are the status I guess which one? Can you 167 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:04,960 tell us like which ones you think are going to 168 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,759 move or like what's the strategy? Is it just kind 169 00:09:06,759 --> 00:09:08,320 of a wait and see who shows up to the 170 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,360 session and then try to call for an override vote 171 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:12,240 when you get the numbers. 172 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 2: Well, so I'll say this, since the beginning of session, 173 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,679 I have said we had a working super majority on 174 00:09:19,799 --> 00:09:22,399 most issues, and of course it depends on the issue. 175 00:09:22,799 --> 00:09:25,679 A lot of the Raleigh media and the Democrats they 176 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,519 scoffed at that. They said I was blowing smoke. We 177 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:31,799 would never be able to override a veto. Heard from 178 00:09:31,879 --> 00:09:34,639 many Democrats over the course of the last month before 179 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,200 we did this that you'll never get any of these 180 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,440 things overridden. I just kept my mouth shut because I 181 00:09:40,519 --> 00:09:43,159 knew what we had and we came in and we 182 00:09:43,399 --> 00:09:46,919 were able to override eight vetos. Things dealing with the 183 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,080 ice Builck. We just discussed a bill that simply defined 184 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,120 what a man and a woman is. Democrats are still 185 00:09:52,159 --> 00:09:54,639 confused about what it means to be a matter of woman, 186 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,799 so we had to clarify that in state law. Bill's 187 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:01,639 dealing with doing away with green enner mandates for duke energy. 188 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,879 That way we get our power bills lower common sense stuff, 189 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,120 and Democrats voted against it, but we were able to 190 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:11,000 find at least one on these overrides. So now we 191 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,879 effectively have about five bills that are still out there 192 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:19,399 to be overridden, and I'll say this, I am optimistic 193 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:21,960 that we will be able to override each one of 194 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,279 those before the end of this biennium. There's a lot 195 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,360 of things that go into that. There's a lot of strategy, 196 00:10:28,879 --> 00:10:31,519 strategy that goes into it, and I don't want to 197 00:10:31,519 --> 00:10:34,000 say too much because I think it hurts our chances 198 00:10:34,399 --> 00:10:37,240 to be able to do that. But what I'll say 199 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,320 is that all those bills, including constitutional carry, will remain 200 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,720 on the calendar every voting day of the State House 201 00:10:44,799 --> 00:10:47,720 until those things are overridden for the remainder of this 202 00:10:47,759 --> 00:10:51,559 two year cycle. I am optimistic about getting that bill 203 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:55,240 and all of them overridden. It's personally important to me 204 00:10:55,519 --> 00:11:00,399 to get constitutional carry done again. Personally, I believe that 205 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,679 it is a constitutional right already for a person to 206 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,679 be able to have a firearm concealed and we shouldn't 207 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,080 have to have this concealed carry permit in order to 208 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:14,399 do that. Criminals don't care about concealed carry laws. They're 209 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,000 going to carry a gun concealed, whether it's the law 210 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,720 or not. All we're doing is disadvantaging of all abiding 211 00:11:19,759 --> 00:11:22,840 citizens and making it harder for them to defend themselves. 212 00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:26,159 But more to come on that later, but I will 213 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,000 say I am optimistic that we will get the rest 214 00:11:29,039 --> 00:11:30,320 of those DDoS done. 215 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 1: I think that's a very sound strategy. Not to divulge 216 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,360 your strategy on the radio. To me, I think that's 217 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,559 very wise. Okay, all right, mister speaker, thanks for your time. 218 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,639 I do appreciate it. Sir, Yeah, thanks d take care 219 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,559 all right. That is the speaker of the North Carolina House, 220 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,399 Destin Hall, Republican from Caldwell. You know, stories are powerful. 221 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,519 They help us make sense of things, to understand experiences. 222 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,120 Stories connect us to the people of our past while 223 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,519 transcending generations. They help us process the meaning of life, 224 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,519 and our stories are told through images and videos. Preserve 225 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,000 your stories with Creative Video started in nineteen ninety seven 226 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,720 and Mint Hill, North Carolina. It was the first company 227 00:12:08,759 --> 00:12:12,559 to provide this valuable service, converting images, photos and videos 228 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:17,000 into high quality produced slide shows, videos, and albums. 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Here's a pet tweet from Eric, who says 240 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:58,960 it is absurd that non citizens are counted for apportionment, 241 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,120 which is a antcy way of saying the census count 242 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:08,399 is used to draw the districts. That's the apportionment. Even 243 00:13:08,519 --> 00:13:13,360 legal non citizen residents should not be considered counting unlawful immigrants, 244 00:13:13,399 --> 00:13:18,799 rewards localities that undermined federal immigration law and penalizes localities 245 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:25,039 cooperating with enforcement. That's exactly right, Eric, exactly right. Think 246 00:13:25,039 --> 00:13:25,600 about it. 247 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:27,159 Speaker 3: Right. 248 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: Mecklberg County Sheriff Gary not my fault. McFadden has an 249 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:36,080 incentive as a Democrat, as do all of the Democrats 250 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:42,720 in Mecklinberg County, to not assist with removing illegal aliens 251 00:13:42,799 --> 00:13:46,600 in Mecklinburg County because it adds to the vote totals 252 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:52,120 or sorry, the census totals, thereby giving them more power 253 00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:58,960 through the apportionment process. And a location that does cooperate 254 00:13:59,039 --> 00:14:03,600 with ICE and does remove illegal aliens, which then, of 255 00:14:03,639 --> 00:14:07,039 course creates an incentive for illegal aliens not to live 256 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,679 in that jurisdiction. They are then penalized with a diminished 257 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:18,399 political power at the congressional level. Yeah, it's and not 258 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,240 just the congressional level either. I mean, you will use 259 00:14:20,279 --> 00:14:22,679 the census numbers to do all sorts of stuff. We 260 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:27,200 draw our state and local maps based on these population totals. 261 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:34,080 He's exactly right. We'll go to the phones here. Sure 262 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,120 we haven't taken a call yet. Hello Chester, Welcome to 263 00:14:36,159 --> 00:14:37,240 the program. 264 00:14:38,559 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 3: Hi Pete, how are you today? 265 00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:42,679 Speaker 1: I am all right, sir, How are you good? 266 00:14:42,919 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 3: So? 267 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,879 Speaker 4: I want to talk about the tariffs. President Trump keeps 268 00:14:46,039 --> 00:14:49,240 touting how much money every month the tariffs are bringing 269 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,200 in most people in Maga. Is stupid enough? To actually 270 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,639 believe that that money's coming from foreign countries? 271 00:14:56,919 --> 00:14:59,519 Speaker 1: Are you asking me to speak for most people in Maga? 272 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:00,519 Is that what you're rescuing me? 273 00:15:02,159 --> 00:15:04,799 Speaker 4: It's your take? I mean, are they really? I mean, 274 00:15:04,799 --> 00:15:08,159 Trump says so many stupid things that anyone with half 275 00:15:08,159 --> 00:15:11,360 a brain knows is false. But then I remind myself 276 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,320 that I don't think most people in Maga have half 277 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,600 a brain. So when Trump says, you know, all these 278 00:15:17,639 --> 00:15:21,679 countries are paying you know, the tariffs and that's what's 279 00:15:21,759 --> 00:15:26,159 causing all this revenue, we all know that's demonstrably false. 280 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,720 Are most people in magas stupid enough to believe it? 281 00:15:29,799 --> 00:15:33,279 Speaker 1: You already believe they are, Chester, So why would I 282 00:15:33,399 --> 00:15:35,879 Why would I try to argue one way or the 283 00:15:35,919 --> 00:15:39,240 other with you? You already have your opinion your ohd no, 284 00:15:39,279 --> 00:15:41,360 hang on, Chester, I let you. I let you say 285 00:15:41,399 --> 00:15:43,679 your piece. So I'm going to say mine now to you, 286 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,679 which is that you already have a belief that is 287 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,080 predicated on an assumption that most people, if not all, 288 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,720 the people that voted for Donald Trump or are in 289 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,679 Maga or something, don't even have half a brain, that 290 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,039 they are stupid. So what would be the point in 291 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,360 me trying to engage with you because you're not going 292 00:16:00,399 --> 00:16:02,799 to change your mind one way or the other. You 293 00:16:02,799 --> 00:16:06,200 didn't call to talk about the actual tariffs and all that, 294 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,399 and you've probably not even heard my take on Trump's tariffs, 295 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,519 So like, what would be what what? What would be 296 00:16:12,559 --> 00:16:14,399 what would be the point of what would be the 297 00:16:14,399 --> 00:16:18,039 point of me arguing with you about the intelligence level 298 00:16:18,519 --> 00:16:22,159 of Trump's supporters. You don't care to be convinced, You're 299 00:16:22,159 --> 00:16:24,759 not You're not looking to be persuaded, right, You're looking 300 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,120 to call people names, which you've done. 301 00:16:28,279 --> 00:16:29,919 Speaker 4: Who do you think pays the tariffs? 302 00:16:30,039 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: Who do I think pays the tariffs? I believe that 303 00:16:32,519 --> 00:16:36,480 the consumers do. And I said and I've said that 304 00:16:36,519 --> 00:16:39,000 from the very beginning, I did not agree with any 305 00:16:39,039 --> 00:16:41,360 of the tariff rollout that Trump did now and what 306 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,200 I said at the time was that it could very 307 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,000 well be that this is a negotiating tactic or whatever 308 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,720 that I don't know. See, I'm willing to I'm willing 309 00:16:49,759 --> 00:16:52,159 And this is what I've said with about Trump since 310 00:16:52,159 --> 00:16:54,559 I've been watching him now for the last uh what 311 00:16:55,039 --> 00:16:57,759 ten years? Is to I'm going to give it a minute. 312 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,240 I'm going to wait and see because I like, I 313 00:17:00,279 --> 00:17:04,039 grew up with the idea of free trade, fair trade, 314 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,880 which I would prefer. But I may be a fish 315 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,880 that doesn't know it's wet. That's what I said at 316 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,160 the time. So I'm willing to wait and see. Now, 317 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,440 if this thing goes sideways, they better be able. And 318 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,160 I told the I told people that were defending Trump 319 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:17,920 on the tariff stuff when they would call in to 320 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,200 defend it, and I said, you better be right. You 321 00:17:20,279 --> 00:17:22,599 better be right, because if you're wrong, this is going 322 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:23,920 to go sideways very quickly. 323 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,319 Speaker 4: Why does he so blatantly lie about it? 324 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: Why do all politicians? Why do all people lie about 325 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,440 stuff they get? 326 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:32,519 Speaker 4: Because lying? 327 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,839 Speaker 1: No, there is a now Chester, you just you, Nolchester, 328 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,519 you have a You're holding Trump to a different standard 329 00:17:38,519 --> 00:17:41,759 than other politicians because Trump is so brazen in his 330 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:45,599 hyperbole and his lies and whatever you want to call them. Yeah, 331 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,920 but all the politicians do it. Like, do you believe 332 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,480 there are Nazis in our in our government? Right now? Chester? 333 00:17:52,759 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 4: Which sex trafficker? Do you think? 334 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 3: No? 335 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,519 Speaker 1: No, no, Chester answer no, no, no, no, no. I'm I'm 336 00:17:57,519 --> 00:18:00,279 illustrating a point that I actually made in the last hour. 337 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,799 Do you believe that the Republican Party or Nazis. La'll 338 00:18:03,839 --> 00:18:04,519 ask it that way. 339 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 4: I think President Trump uses rhetoric. 340 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,759 Speaker 1: Why won't you just answer? Why won't you just answer 341 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:14,759 the question? Do you think republic the Republican Party are Nazis? 342 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:16,799 Speaker 4: Steven Miller certainly is. 343 00:18:17,319 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: He's a Nazi. 344 00:18:20,039 --> 00:18:23,079 Speaker 4: I know he's Jewish, but yeah, he's a white supremacist 345 00:18:23,079 --> 00:18:25,440 who hasn't figured out yet that white supremacy stone. 346 00:18:25,519 --> 00:18:27,759 Speaker 1: It's amazing how you know these things about the way 347 00:18:27,799 --> 00:18:30,640 people think having never met them. Chester. I appreciate you 348 00:18:31,079 --> 00:18:33,920 calling in and providing me a very good example of 349 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:36,279 the very thing I was talking about in the last hour. 350 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,640 If you did not hear that, I would highly recommend 351 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:41,839 that you go back get the podcast. You can get 352 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,599 it at the peatpod dot com and listen to our 353 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:49,599 number two because I broke down precisely what you just 354 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:54,960 engaged in. You just like to call people names you 355 00:18:55,039 --> 00:18:57,119 want to, you know, shift to another what about is them? 356 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,839 Kind of a question? You know everybody's motives that you 357 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:06,440 don't like, and it's just tedious and well, you just 358 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,480 assumed that I was with Trump on the tariffs. I 359 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,480 guess I don't know. So you can also go back 360 00:19:10,519 --> 00:19:14,480 and listen to the old podcast I did when I 361 00:19:14,519 --> 00:19:16,319 did the show on the tariffs as well. You can 362 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,160 know all my thoughts about the tariffs. Here's a great idea. 363 00:19:19,319 --> 00:19:22,039 How about making an escape to a really special and 364 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:25,279 secluded getaway in western North Carolina. Just a quick drive 365 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,119 up the mountain and Cabins of Asheville is your connection. 366 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,519 Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want 367 00:19:31,519 --> 00:19:34,079 to plan a memorable proposal, or get family and friends 368 00:19:34,079 --> 00:19:37,039 together for a big old reunion, Cabins of Asheville has 369 00:19:37,079 --> 00:19:39,839 the ideal spot for you where you can reconnect with 370 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,079 your loved ones and the things that truly matter. 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Cabins of Ashville 380 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,720 has the ideal spot for you for any occasion, and 381 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,200 they have pet friendly accommodations. Call or text eight two 382 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,640 eight three six seven seventy sixty eight or check out 383 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,400 all there is to offer at Cabins Ofashville dot com 384 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,440 and make memories that'll last a lifetime. I want to 385 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,720 welcome to the program now, the North Carolina State Auditor 386 00:20:35,839 --> 00:20:38,200 Dave Bullock. Welcome to the show. Welcome back to the show. 387 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,319 Speaker 3: How are you hey, yeh yeah, I'm doing great. I 388 00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:42,319 hope you're doing well. 389 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,759 Speaker 1: I'm doing well. I cannot complain well, I mean I 390 00:20:44,799 --> 00:20:46,559 do like for the rest of the program, but for 391 00:20:46,599 --> 00:20:47,599 this segment, I won't. 392 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 3: Let's sit it. You haven't been to be clear, you 393 00:20:51,759 --> 00:20:53,279 haven't been dbanked yourself. 394 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: No, that's correct, sir, I have not been dbanked myself yet. 395 00:20:57,039 --> 00:20:59,359 So I am working on it. I'm working towards. 396 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 3: It me or a mine, and I'm working on it 397 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:03,319 all right, So. 398 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:06,519 Speaker 1: Let's let's talk about this. Well, the act that I 399 00:21:06,519 --> 00:21:09,200 guess was named after you, and you've only been in 400 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,839 office as an auditor now for what's seven months, eight months, 401 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,680 and you've already got a bill that has your name 402 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,519 on it. So congratulations for that. So tell us what 403 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,720 is this the Dave Act? 404 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I appreciate you asking. The Dave Act is 405 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:29,680 actually an effort by the General Assembly in North Carolina 406 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,640 to give the Office of State Auditors some additional resources 407 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,359 to do a deep dive on government efficiency in North Carolina. 408 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,039 And it is named the Dave Act, and so that's 409 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,240 that's a four letter abbreviation. We're calling it the Division 410 00:21:45,279 --> 00:21:50,160 of Accountability, Value and Efficiency. But in essence, it gives 411 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:55,440 us additional resources so we can tackle that effort because 412 00:21:55,480 --> 00:22:01,079 the office itself, prior to this Act going into effect 413 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,519 yesterday afternoon about four point thirty, did not really wasn't 414 00:22:04,519 --> 00:22:08,039 really set up to be able to take a full 415 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:13,359 look across state government at efficiency efforts. And so we're 416 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,319 really I'm quite frankly, I'm pumped to get to it, 417 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:21,960 and I'm glad that the legislature sees it as a priority. 418 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,559 Speaker 1: Well, I know, I watched your press conference that you 419 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,720 held with the regarding the DMV audit that you all 420 00:22:27,759 --> 00:22:32,480 released as well, and you come across as someone who 421 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:36,519 really likes data, and so I guess what I'm hearing 422 00:22:36,519 --> 00:22:38,880 then is that, like you, the Auditor's Office has not 423 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,559 been able to get at some of the data in 424 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,960 order to do the measurements necessary to assess whether or 425 00:22:46,039 --> 00:22:47,400 not there is efficiencies. 426 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's part of it, Pete. A bigger part of 427 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,680 it is, you know, one hundred and sixty folks in 428 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,839 the office sounds like a lot, but when you've got 429 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:02,960 statutory required financial offers that crossed the spectrum from all 430 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,519 the universities, the community colleges, the state agencies that we 431 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,759 have to perform financial audits on. That's a large part 432 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,240 of the human staff that's working on that, and quite frankly, 433 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,400 not particularly the fault of any one individual, but the 434 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:24,039 technology has lagged behind at the State Auditor's Office. It's 435 00:23:24,079 --> 00:23:26,920 not that shouldn't be a surprise to most listeners that 436 00:23:27,079 --> 00:23:30,480 state government was lagging behind in technology. But you know, 437 00:23:30,559 --> 00:23:34,319 from day one we've brought in the newest technology. We've 438 00:23:34,319 --> 00:23:38,200 brought in AI, and we're working with AI already in 439 00:23:38,279 --> 00:23:41,119 the State Auditor's Office to sort of streamline and be 440 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,440 able to take these large data sets and make sense 441 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:46,880 out of them. I told somebody the other day, you know, 442 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,960 some things don't change when the auditor shows up. We 443 00:23:50,039 --> 00:23:53,000 get the information now, now we don't necessarily get it 444 00:23:53,039 --> 00:23:57,920 in a particular order, right, But the AI is a 445 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,599 game changer on that because the days of printing the 446 00:24:02,599 --> 00:24:06,119 invoices out and spreading them over the conference room table 447 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,559 or gonge, you can feed it through the data analytics 448 00:24:09,599 --> 00:24:12,200 and get to the answers a lot quicker and a 449 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,839 lot more efficient. So I'm very confident the people of 450 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,680 North Carolina are going to continue to see increased results 451 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,000 out of the State Auditor's Office moving forward. 452 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: So that's interesting you bring up AI, So it sounds 453 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,920 like you guys are leaning in and using new technology 454 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,839 and updated systems. It sounds like but like with the 455 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,559 DMV audit you mentioned this, and I'm aware like all 456 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,279 facets of state government and even at the local level, 457 00:24:38,519 --> 00:24:42,799 they're running on these antiquated systems. Like do you have 458 00:24:42,839 --> 00:24:45,759 any idea to get a sense of like, are there 459 00:24:45,799 --> 00:24:49,400 any agencies and divisions of government at the state level 460 00:24:49,519 --> 00:24:53,440 that are operating as sort of a modern day or 461 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:57,279 even close to modern day tech level like you're describing 462 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:58,599 in the Auditor's office. 463 00:25:00,599 --> 00:25:03,079 Speaker 3: I can't think of one. I can only think of 464 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:07,160 one that is doing pretty good, and that is, of 465 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:13,519 all things, the Employment Security Commission, folks that do unemployment, 466 00:25:14,559 --> 00:25:17,039 they actually have a brand new system and they've got 467 00:25:17,079 --> 00:25:19,359 a really good CIO. One of the things that we 468 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,880 do at the Auditor's office is we actually complete information 469 00:25:24,039 --> 00:25:26,920 systems audits. We do cybersecurity audits for the state of 470 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,680 North Carolina. That's an entire team that we have in 471 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,240 our office. And I had the pleasure of sitting in 472 00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:36,279 on what we call an exit interview with the on 473 00:25:36,319 --> 00:25:38,839 our audit of the Employment Security Commission, and they do 474 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,839 have an updated system that's doing pretty well. And short 475 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:46,559 of that, I don't know that we're really, as we say, 476 00:25:46,599 --> 00:25:50,279 down east cooking with peanut oil on the technology end 477 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:51,359 in North Carolina. 478 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:52,839 Speaker 4: But we'll get there. 479 00:25:52,839 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 3: We're going to get there, and our office is moving 480 00:25:55,759 --> 00:26:00,720 very quickly. We're rapidly moving into brand new systems that 481 00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:04,599 are secure, that are top notch. I have a fantastic 482 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,960 data analytics team and we brought in some really good 483 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,480 folks to help us get ahead of the curve. I 484 00:26:11,559 --> 00:26:14,039 do not want to be the auditor version of the 485 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,039 D and V in four years where we are so 486 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,880 far behind that it's a startover situation. 487 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:26,759 Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, the governor vetoed this enabling legislation for the 488 00:26:26,759 --> 00:26:32,079 creation of this Dave Department, and he said he worried 489 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,039 that it could affect the state's economy. He said, quote, 490 00:26:35,039 --> 00:26:39,480 giving the auditor this intrusive power may undermine our state's 491 00:26:39,559 --> 00:26:43,599 efforts to recruit businesses to North Carolina. Do you have 492 00:26:43,599 --> 00:26:45,319 any idea what is he talking about there? 493 00:26:46,319 --> 00:26:49,759 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, so two things. One, he didn't veto the 494 00:26:49,839 --> 00:26:53,200 day that he vetoed what's called our Agency Bill, and 495 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,759 he did say that and what that was. That was 496 00:26:55,799 --> 00:27:01,319 the piece of legislation that enabled us to utilize the 497 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:07,799 new technology, and he vetoed that. I think he wrongfully 498 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,680 vetoed that, and the legislature promptly overrode his veto and 499 00:27:11,759 --> 00:27:14,640 it is now law giving us that authority. I have 500 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,559 no idea how being transparent and telling the people of 501 00:27:19,599 --> 00:27:23,359 North Carolina how their money is being spent in detail 502 00:27:23,799 --> 00:27:27,640 could possibly hurt the economy of North Carolina. To me, 503 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,559 it's the exact opposite. We want to give businesses and 504 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,519 citizens who live here and who move here the confidence 505 00:27:35,559 --> 00:27:40,319 that their government is operating at the highest level the 506 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:44,400 most efficiently they can and using their money wisely in 507 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,640 a way that invests the money, not just spends the money. 508 00:27:48,519 --> 00:27:53,079 Speaker 1: And regarding the DMV, he also said, along with I 509 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:56,400 think the DOT and DMV leaders, they were not on 510 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:01,240 board with your idea recommendation to to give the DMV 511 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,680 more autonomy. The governor not. He does not apparently agree 512 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,519 with that idea either. What's your reaction to that. 513 00:28:09,799 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, look, it's fine to have disagreements and in 514 00:28:13,759 --> 00:28:15,920 full disclosure with the governor and I get along just 515 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:20,680 by I mean, you know, and we are able to disagree, 516 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,559 I think very civilly and in a professional manner, and 517 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,400 we do disagree on this may matter. I look at 518 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,799 it more from the business perspective, not from the government perspective. 519 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,799 And it goes back to one of that old say 520 00:28:32,839 --> 00:28:34,799 and Pee. I mean, if you keep doing things the 521 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,319 same way, you're going to keep getting the same result. 522 00:28:38,599 --> 00:28:41,839 And so our team, based on data and look, we 523 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,240 brought in experts from the University of North Carolina at 524 00:28:45,279 --> 00:28:49,680 Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and UNC Greensboro to 525 00:28:49,799 --> 00:28:54,240 assist with our audit to give us, you know, some 526 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:58,079 some expert advice and some and some tools that we 527 00:28:58,119 --> 00:29:01,720 could use, and they were all consistent with the notion 528 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:05,319 that the DMV needs to be autonomous of the DOT 529 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,079 so that they can be quicker afoot make better decisions 530 00:29:09,319 --> 00:29:12,759 because quite frankly, the d and v's mission is not 531 00:29:13,039 --> 00:29:18,160 as broad or as wide as the DOT as a whole. Look, 532 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,400 they got plenty of roads to build, plenty of bridges 533 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,359 to build, plenty of infrastructure to pay attention to. The 534 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,119 dm V is sort of this other agency that has 535 00:29:26,119 --> 00:29:31,279 a specific focus. And Pete, I'll tell you know, they produce. 536 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:35,039 The DMV doesn't get state appropriation. They produce their own 537 00:29:35,079 --> 00:29:39,920 revenue two point two billion dollars plus a year in revenue. 538 00:29:40,839 --> 00:29:43,960 They collect another one point three or so billion dollars 539 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:48,440 in county taxes. And it takes two hundred million dollars 540 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,160 a year to run the DMV in private business. We 541 00:29:52,279 --> 00:29:55,799 call that a ten excerpt, right, that's a profitable business. 542 00:29:56,359 --> 00:29:59,319 And the fact is is that if the DMV can 543 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:03,119 have more flow flexibility, they could in effect actually increase 544 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:08,400 their own revenue by adding additional employees, providing incentive programs 545 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:12,119 for the teams that they have in place to increase production, 546 00:30:12,839 --> 00:30:18,480 and we can additionally explore privatization pilot programs to help 547 00:30:18,519 --> 00:30:23,240 ease this line. Our team formulated the idea of a 548 00:30:23,319 --> 00:30:27,279 pilot program to be like a fast task. Look, we 549 00:30:27,319 --> 00:30:29,799 have toll roads. I know everybody doesn't like toll roads 550 00:30:29,839 --> 00:30:32,759 and I don't either, but it's your choice to take 551 00:30:32,759 --> 00:30:35,039 it or not. And you could pay a little extra 552 00:30:35,119 --> 00:30:36,640 and get right to the front of the line, get 553 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,559 your driver's license. But you get the added bonus of 554 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,480 if you can remove people from the general line who 555 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:45,880 elect to go to the fast pass lane, that's going to 556 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,400 make the regular line quicker as well. So we've got 557 00:30:49,559 --> 00:30:51,359 our dm V audit. I'm really proud of the work 558 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:56,079 our team did. It's got some really solid common sense recommendations. 559 00:30:56,359 --> 00:31:00,720 But separating from DOT is number one. They need flexibility. 560 00:31:00,839 --> 00:31:02,400 They need to be fleet of foot. They need to 561 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,359 be able to make decisions without running up the flagpole 562 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:08,480 to three or four different bureaucratic layers before they take 563 00:31:08,519 --> 00:31:08,920 an action. 564 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,519 Speaker 1: Is that part of the problem though, because they so 565 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,000 much of the money they generate goes to the DOT 566 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,720 that they are the DOT doesn't want to lose control. 567 00:31:16,799 --> 00:31:19,400 Is that what that might that be sort of the 568 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,799 friction point when it comes to the policymakers, the lawmakers. 569 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, I don't think the lawmakers are 570 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,079 necessarily against separating it. I think we've got a lot 571 00:31:31,119 --> 00:31:33,839 of support in the legislature for separating I do think 572 00:31:33,839 --> 00:31:39,240 there's some angst with DOT about losing complete control of 573 00:31:39,279 --> 00:31:43,119 the revenue, but legislation. You know, look, if that revenue 574 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:47,160 is needed at DOT, that can be handled through legislation. 575 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:52,200 You know that that should be just an easy mechanical 576 00:31:52,279 --> 00:31:56,000 fit to get the money to DOT if that's part 577 00:31:56,079 --> 00:31:59,559 of the budget process, and legislature can certainly work that out. 578 00:32:01,119 --> 00:32:03,640 Other than that, I'm not sure what the rubb on 579 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,720 that is. The commissioner I will tell you Paul Time 580 00:32:07,079 --> 00:32:09,200 has given it all he's got and he is a 581 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:14,680 fantastic person. I've had a great working relationship with him. 582 00:32:15,079 --> 00:32:18,400 He's been very generous with his time and I do 583 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,920 think he's got the right attitude and quite frankly, Secretary 584 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:24,920 of Transportation Joey Hopkins has had a great attitude as well. 585 00:32:25,319 --> 00:32:28,079 I've been I've enjoyed working with them on this audit. 586 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:32,279 I'm not really sure where that friction comes from on 587 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:37,599 not wanting to separate, but you know, look, reasonable minds 588 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,759 can disagree on things, but we're pretty firmed that it 589 00:32:40,799 --> 00:32:42,720 needs to be its own separate agency. 590 00:32:42,839 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I've kept you longer than I promised. I 591 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,680 do appreciate your time. Keep up the great work. We 592 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,880 do appreciate it. I appreciate it personally. I think people 593 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:52,880 in the audience have appreciated it too. We covered your 594 00:32:53,119 --> 00:32:56,839 audit announcement yesterday, so thank you very much. Again, we 595 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:58,119 appreciated State out of their data. 596 00:32:58,279 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 3: Well, I appreciate it. Yeah, forward to being with you. 597 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:03,279 Speaker 1: Again, absolutely, sir. Anytime, doors always open. 598 00:33:03,559 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 3: All right. 599 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:05,759 Speaker 1: If you're listening to this show, you know I try 600 00:33:05,759 --> 00:33:07,519 to keep up with all sorts of current events, and 601 00:33:07,559 --> 00:33:09,640 I know you do too. And you've probably heard me 602 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:13,880 say get your news from multiple sources. Why, Well, because 603 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,599 it's how you detect media bias, which is why I've 604 00:33:16,599 --> 00:33:19,960 been so impressed with Ground News. It's an app and 605 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,039 it's a website, and it combines news from around the 606 00:33:23,079 --> 00:33:25,799 world in one place, so you can compare coverage and 607 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,920 verify information. You can check it out at check dot 608 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:32,960 ground dot news slash Pete. I put the link in 609 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:36,079 the podcast description too, I started using ground News a 610 00:33:36,119 --> 00:33:38,839 few months ago and more recently chose to work with 611 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,279 them as an affiliate because it lets me see clearly 612 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:45,000 how stories get covered and by whom. The blind spot 613 00:33:45,039 --> 00:33:47,880 feature shows you which stories get ignored by the left 614 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,839 and the right. See for yourself. Check dot ground, dot 615 00:33:51,839 --> 00:33:55,319 news slash pete. Subscribe through that link and you'll get 616 00:33:55,319 --> 00:33:58,599 fifteen percent off any subscription. I use the Vantage plan 617 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:02,079 to get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription then 618 00:34:02,119 --> 00:34:05,000 not only helps my podcast, but it also supports ground 619 00:34:05,039 --> 00:34:09,760 News as they make the media landscape more transparent. Regarding it, 620 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:14,800 saw this story, I believe this was Politico. Yes, Politico. 621 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:21,000 The electronic case filing system used by the federal judiciary 622 00:34:21,519 --> 00:34:25,639 has been breached in a sweeping cyber intrusion that is 623 00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:30,199 believed to have exposed sensitive court data across multiple US states. 624 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:33,920 According to two people with knowledge of the incident, the hack, 625 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,079 which has not been previously reported, is feared to have 626 00:34:37,199 --> 00:34:46,239 compromised the identities of confidential informants. That seems bad to me. 627 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:53,320 That does not seem optimal. These confidential informants were involved 628 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:59,000 in criminal cases at multiple federal district courts. The piece 629 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:00,760 goes on to say the administs st of Office of 630 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,639 the US Courts, which manage the court filing system, first 631 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:08,719 determined how serious the issue was around July fourth. Now 632 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:12,159 there are two different systems. One is called the Case 633 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:17,599 Management Electronic Case Files, or the CMCF, which legal professionals 634 00:35:17,679 --> 00:35:20,880 use to upload and manage case documents. And then there 635 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,159 is the PACER system, which I have used. That's a 636 00:35:24,199 --> 00:35:27,400 system that gives the public very limited access to the 637 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:33,679 same data. It's not immediately clear how the hackers got in, 638 00:35:34,159 --> 00:35:38,000 but the incident is known to affect the Judiciary's Federal 639 00:35:38,079 --> 00:35:43,079 Core Case Management System, which includes both of those two 640 00:35:43,119 --> 00:35:46,679 components that I mentioned, the CMECF and the PACER system. 641 00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:53,039 This includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and 642 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:57,280 South Dakota. The judges were briefed at a judicial conference 643 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:02,320 last week in Kansas City. All right, that'll do it 644 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,000 for this episode. Thank you so much for listening. I 645 00:36:05,039 --> 00:36:07,159 could not do the show without your support and the 646 00:36:07,159 --> 00:36:10,239 support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast, So 647 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:12,360 if you'd like, please support them too and tell them 648 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,360 you heard it here. You can also become a patron 649 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:18,639 at my Patreon page or go to dpetecleanershow dot com. Again, 650 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:21,440 thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything 651 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:22,800 while I'm gone.