1 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: And hello, welcome to the Big Podcast on this Tuesday, 2 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,879 the seventh day of July, Year of Our Lord, twenty 3 00:00:32,039 --> 00:00:36,439 twenty six. My name is Tom Sullivan. So we got 4 00:00:36,439 --> 00:00:39,560 a mixed bag of things. The President is in Turkey 5 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:44,159 at the NATO meeting. There's more bb Nett and yeah, 6 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,359 who is talking about his relationship with Donald Trump? But 7 00:00:48,439 --> 00:00:51,759 I want to start with last night. It was by 8 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:57,560 far the big, big, big breaking story because New York 9 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,840 Times interviewed a woman by the name of Jenny Rassiot, 10 00:01:02,799 --> 00:01:08,959 and Jenny lives in Maine, and previously she talked to 11 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,599 The New York Times, but this time she said that 12 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,640 Graham Platner, the Democrat who is running for the US 13 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,040 Senate from the state of Maine, raped her. And up 14 00:01:21,159 --> 00:01:30,239 until now this Graham Plattner has been excoriated about what 15 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,159 a bum he is in his background and what he's 16 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,599 done wrong, and he has a Nazi tattoo and he 17 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,480 should know that that is what it is. And he's 18 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,599 had other he said that he's no choir boy, and 19 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,879 he's had other women say that he's been terrible, but 20 00:01:45,079 --> 00:01:48,439 nobody's gone to the R word, the rape word before 21 00:01:49,319 --> 00:01:54,200 and now Jenny Raciot says, yes, that is what happened. 22 00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:03,799 So interesting that I've offered had a personal measurement for 23 00:02:03,879 --> 00:02:08,120 these kinds of stories. If one woman comes forward and 24 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:13,280 says that person sexually attacked me, I will listen to her. 25 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,599 I will, but it comes down probably ninety nine out 26 00:02:17,599 --> 00:02:21,319 of one hundred times to he said. She said, But 27 00:02:21,439 --> 00:02:25,800 if a second woman comes forward, I'm sorry, but that 28 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,400 puts the thumb on the scale of I believe the victim. 29 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,759 If you get more than that, you're absolutely might as 30 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,560 well just throw in the towel. Well, that's kind of 31 00:02:37,599 --> 00:02:40,759 where we are. We don't have three, but we've had 32 00:02:40,879 --> 00:02:44,039 other women that have come forward and said that. Graham 33 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,840 Plattner was, I don't know. Let me look at the 34 00:02:48,879 --> 00:02:54,280 words now. These are the words from the New York Times. 35 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,759 Graham Platner, a combat veteran, has spoken openly about his 36 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:04,400 past struggles with post dramatic stress disorder, depression drinking, that 37 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,120 his behavior years ago does not reflect who he is today, 38 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,719 that there have been a number of women that have 39 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:19,840 come forward and accused him of being a bad boyfriend, 40 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:26,439 acknowledging all of that, but that he was a fun 41 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:31,960 and caring partner but they found his actions intimidating and disturbing. 42 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,159 Those are the words the New York Times put out. 43 00:03:35,919 --> 00:03:38,719 But this lady says, no, no, no, he raped me. 44 00:03:39,439 --> 00:03:44,319 So now the question is every Democrat, especially to the 45 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,960 further left you go, the more they were committed to 46 00:03:47,039 --> 00:03:50,560 Graham Platner. The guy who really is committed to Graham 47 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,120 Platner is Bernie Sanders. Well, in the last twenty four hours, 48 00:03:56,159 --> 00:03:59,120 Bernie Sanders has said it's time for him to step down. 49 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:02,319 You go down the list of the who's who the 50 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:09,680 Democrat Party and Chuck Schumer, Senator Gillebrand, Elizabeth Warren, who 51 00:04:09,759 --> 00:04:14,039 says he's my kind of man, all of them, they're 52 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,199 just they're lining up to say step down. And what's 53 00:04:17,319 --> 00:04:21,319 really important for them is this is one of the 54 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,439 states that the Democrats have to win if they want 55 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,439 to take control of the US Senate. So it's a 56 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:36,319 Bible race for the Senate. He has until next Monday 57 00:04:37,439 --> 00:04:40,519 to step down or his name will be on the 58 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:44,120 ballot regardless of what he does after that. So we've 59 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,399 got a long list of Republicans, I'm sorry, democrats that 60 00:04:47,439 --> 00:04:50,680 I could play that say step down. These are Democrats 61 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,279 I don't have a Republican on the list here, but 62 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,000 I thought we'll start with the interview. Jake Tapper from 63 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,959 C and N did an interview with Jenny and this 64 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:01,800 is how it went. 65 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 2: It was a night where him and I were texting 66 00:05:04,959 --> 00:05:08,079 back and forth and he had taken something that I 67 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,920 said as an invitation and that's not how I meant it. 68 00:05:11,959 --> 00:05:15,319 And I quickly clarified, and he sent the message back 69 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,040 indicating that he would come over, and I said, no, 70 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:21,839 don't come over, Like I'm not in the mood, don't 71 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:22,240 come over. 72 00:05:22,639 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 3: And I was more stern with that message. 73 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: And then I didn't hear back from him, so I 74 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,480 thought that that meant he got the message or gave 75 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:31,439 up on it or whatnot. 76 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 3: And so. 77 00:05:34,079 --> 00:05:36,759 Speaker 2: Like half an hour later, I heard a noise outside 78 00:05:36,759 --> 00:05:40,839 my door and then he came in. He just came 79 00:05:40,879 --> 00:05:42,639 into my house. It was unlocked. I live in an 80 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,800 area where you don't usually have to lock your doors. 81 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 3: I do now. 82 00:05:46,399 --> 00:05:50,639 Speaker 2: So he came in and I realized, Okay, he didn't listen. 83 00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:53,920 He's in my home and I was laying on the couch. 84 00:05:54,079 --> 00:05:56,480 It was probably pretty late at night, and I was 85 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,160 getting I was already ready for bed. 86 00:05:58,199 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: I just wasn't in bed, and. 87 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: So he had kind of like jumped on top of 88 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,040 me and indicated that he had intentions that were sexual 89 00:06:09,079 --> 00:06:13,319 in nature. And I remember just at first being like, hey, 90 00:06:13,319 --> 00:06:15,279 I'm not into this, like don't. I'm not in the 91 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:20,639 mood like don't whatever. And it got to the point 92 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,959 where I was like, Okay, I feel like I've said 93 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,199 this enough times, like he's not listening to me or 94 00:06:25,199 --> 00:06:26,199 he's not hearing me. 95 00:06:26,399 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 3: And I looked at him and I remember. 96 00:06:29,879 --> 00:06:33,639 Speaker 2: This very specific look in his eyes and I could 97 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,519 smell alcohol, and I was like, this is different. He 98 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:43,199 is heavily intoxicated, like and that blank stare was kind 99 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:45,959 of like a photographic memory that I still have of 100 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:54,199 that night and his that was me recognizing what the 101 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,319 situation was. And this wasn't just like, oh, hey, somebody 102 00:06:57,319 --> 00:06:59,360 showed up and I'm gonna tell him go home. Like 103 00:07:00,079 --> 00:07:03,800 he was heavily intoxicated, had intentions with me and wasn't 104 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:05,000 listening when I said. 105 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 4: No, and you were saying no, don't, no, don't over 106 00:07:09,879 --> 00:07:10,439 over and over. 107 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,079 Speaker 2: I remember, you know, obviously I've had to recall a 108 00:07:14,079 --> 00:07:15,920 lot of this. This is something that I tried for 109 00:07:15,959 --> 00:07:21,600 many years to forget and so small details, you know, 110 00:07:22,399 --> 00:07:26,120 might get past me. But yes, I remember very specifically 111 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,959 saying I'm not into this. In my message previously, I 112 00:07:29,079 --> 00:07:31,319 told him I had had an old back injury, and 113 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,519 I remember saying, like, I'm not in this. I've had 114 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:35,879 a long day, my back hurts, like like I was 115 00:07:35,879 --> 00:07:37,759 in that kind of mood, like to leave me alone mood. 116 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: And there was a little bit of like a scuffle 117 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:45,839 like altercation. 118 00:07:47,839 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: The house that I live in has like this antique 119 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,240 sewing kit that I kept beside the couch, and that 120 00:07:55,319 --> 00:07:59,399 got knocked over. He like backed into it or something. 121 00:07:59,399 --> 00:08:02,160 It was maybe pushed into it by me or something 122 00:08:02,199 --> 00:08:04,519 happened in that moment, and that thing got. 123 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 4: Spilled, and you remember pushing him away. 124 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 2: I remember potentially pushing away with my legs like and 125 00:08:12,519 --> 00:08:16,680 then as he backed into it, it's spilt and all 126 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,519 of the sewing needles and tape and yarn and everything 127 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:23,759 went everywhere. Everything had fallen onto the floor. And in 128 00:08:23,839 --> 00:08:29,639 that moment, I evaluated my safety. Like a drunk person 129 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,200 who's blackout drunk is in my home, has these intentions 130 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,080 with me, you know, has already caused this amount of 131 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:42,120 destruction and not listening to me, and so I basically 132 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:44,679 felt safe at just complying. 133 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 5: You normally use protection, yeah, and this time he didn't, 134 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,720 and you didn't want that, and he didn't care. 135 00:08:54,799 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 2: No, I don't think my words were falling on deaf 136 00:08:58,639 --> 00:08:59,799 ears or drunk. 137 00:08:59,639 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 4: Ears, and you were still saying don't do this or 138 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:03,320 I'm not into this. 139 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: I remember specifically him like grabbing at my chest and 140 00:09:08,159 --> 00:09:10,679 I like hit his hand and I said, don't touch me. 141 00:09:11,159 --> 00:09:14,360 And I remember that during the altercation. 142 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:17,879 Speaker 4: He kept going yeah. 143 00:09:17,519 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 3: And it was this weird mix of like. 144 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: Coming in and out of I don't think consciousness is 145 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,600 a word, but like coming to and kind of falling 146 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,519 back into that drunken I don't know what I'm doing 147 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:34,879 state and yeah, and he just he would apologize in 148 00:09:34,919 --> 00:09:36,720 those moments and then go back to doing. 149 00:09:36,639 --> 00:09:37,279 Speaker 3: What he was doing. 150 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 4: So he was aware that he was doing something wrong, yes, 151 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:42,000 saying sorry. 152 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:48,519 Speaker 2: I feel like he was in moments. So after everything ended, 153 00:09:49,159 --> 00:09:53,039 I ran to the bathroom which was just beside my bedroom, 154 00:09:53,159 --> 00:09:55,519 and I was in there for a while and just 155 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,360 trying to like comprehend things. And when I came back out, 156 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,559 he was asleep in my bed, and at that point 157 00:10:03,879 --> 00:10:05,759 I didn't know what my options were, like, obviously, I 158 00:10:05,759 --> 00:10:07,200 don't want this person in my house. 159 00:10:07,519 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 3: And when I, you know, earlier, had. 160 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,759 Speaker 2: Realized how drunk he was, I knew that he'd driven 161 00:10:12,799 --> 00:10:14,720 over that way, like, I'm surprised he made it to 162 00:10:14,759 --> 00:10:18,279 my house and if I woke him up and sent 163 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,320 him home, like I am now making the decision to 164 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,120 put somebody that drunk on the road. And I didn't 165 00:10:23,159 --> 00:10:25,679 want to live with the fact that, like if he 166 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,039 got into an accident or hurt somebody else. So I 167 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,279 was like, I'm going to let him sleep, and the 168 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,240 second he wakes up on my tom to leave, and 169 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,120 so he slept. 170 00:10:36,159 --> 00:10:38,399 Speaker 3: I lay there in like a state of panic all night. 171 00:10:38,759 --> 00:10:41,279 Speaker 2: In the morning, he woke up and he went to 172 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,480 go put his arm around me, and I was like whoa, 173 00:10:44,919 --> 00:10:50,320 and realizing this person doesn't know that what happened wasn't okay, 174 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:52,840 And so I remember taking his arm and throwing it 175 00:10:52,879 --> 00:10:55,120 back at him and I said, are you fucking serious, Graham? 176 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,559 And he's like what And I'm like, do you not 177 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:06,360 remember what happened last night? He's like no, I'm like, okay, 178 00:11:07,159 --> 00:11:09,799 I need you to get dressed and leave and never 179 00:11:09,879 --> 00:11:12,919 talk to me again, like nothing that happened was okay, 180 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:18,120 And he did. He just got up and got dressed 181 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:24,120 and left and didn't seem concerned. He left, He didn't 182 00:11:25,039 --> 00:11:27,159 he didn't talk to me. And I waited a couple 183 00:11:27,159 --> 00:11:29,919 of weeks because I knew that with what had happened, 184 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,120 I could have gotten pregnant, and I wanted to wait 185 00:11:32,279 --> 00:11:34,679 and to make sure that wasn't the case. 186 00:11:35,399 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: And so I. 187 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 2: Wait until that happened, and I sent him kind of 188 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,799 like a final send off message. 189 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,519 Speaker 3: And what did I remember. 190 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,919 Speaker 2: I remember a few pieces of it, and I remember 191 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,759 saying that like, nothing that happened that night was okay 192 00:11:51,159 --> 00:11:51,960 or consensual. 193 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,039 Speaker 1: So that's just part There were twenty more minutes of 194 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,080 the interview, but that's that's the essence of it. So 195 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,440 she's accusing him of rape and that he wandered off, 196 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,000 And so Tapper asked her about are you coming forward 197 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:13,559 because of a political reason? And this is her answer. 198 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 5: Just to underlie the point, You're not coming forward because 199 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:17,919 you have any political motivation. 200 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:18,879 Speaker 3: No, not at all. 201 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,879 Speaker 2: That was actually one of the huge reasons that I 202 00:12:21,879 --> 00:12:25,200 didn't come forward and still struggled, like that was a 203 00:12:25,279 --> 00:12:29,159 huge moral conflict to feel. 204 00:12:28,919 --> 00:12:31,279 Speaker 4: Like because you'd like a Democrat to be in the Senate. 205 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 206 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I like the things that he speaks about. They're important, 207 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,200 They're important to people. I'm one of those people. 208 00:12:37,759 --> 00:12:40,039 Speaker 1: That's a whole different story. There was another woman that 209 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,039 came forward that was a Republican activist, and they immediately 210 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,919 dismissed her as saying she's doing it for political reasons. 211 00:12:48,159 --> 00:12:52,039 This woman likes Graham Platner, likes what he has to say, 212 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,600 and would like she's a Democrat and would like a 213 00:12:54,639 --> 00:12:58,440 Democrat to win that race. So out of all of this, 214 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,360 the Democrats have turned on him. I mean one thousand percent. 215 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:09,440 Now the clock begins on when does Graham Plattner step 216 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,480 down the pressure on him? We're not talking about There's 217 00:13:12,519 --> 00:13:14,679 not even a Republican that I could play for you. 218 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,360 Republicans are just keeping their mouths shut and sitdying back 219 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:23,000 and watching. There's a reporter, Michael Shepherd out of the 220 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:28,399 Banger Daily News who says that he hasn't stepped down today, 221 00:13:28,519 --> 00:13:29,600 but it's coming soon. 222 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,799 Speaker 6: Yeah, we're not expecting anything today. We think that it's 223 00:13:34,799 --> 00:13:39,919 something that's certainly under consideration. I think that people and 224 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,120 Democrats here in Maine are certainly thinking that this is coming. 225 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,879 Of course, Bernie Sanders pulling his support today is a 226 00:13:45,919 --> 00:13:48,679 big blow for the campaign. On the ground, I'm not 227 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,080 seeing much in the way of support or a path 228 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,399 forward for this campaign. So I think it's a matter 229 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,080 of time whether he does it today, tomorrow, by the 230 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,679 Monday deadline, Democrats are well on their way to plotting 231 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:00,600 the way forward here. 232 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: You heard what you said, Bernie Sanders also, who was 233 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:09,840 his biggest supporter, said you've got to drop out. Donna Edwards, 234 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:12,720 former congresswoman Democrat from Maryland. 235 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:18,639 Speaker 7: Well, I think these recisions are snowballing, and it's just 236 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,600 a matter of time, not a lot of time for 237 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,399 mister Plattner to make the decision that he does not 238 00:14:24,639 --> 00:14:27,240 have the political support to. 239 00:14:27,279 --> 00:14:29,879 Speaker 3: Remain the nominee for Maine. 240 00:14:29,919 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 7: And there is still enough time to substitute a nominee 241 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:39,080 and bring somebody credible forward who can defeat Susan Collins, 242 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,080 and you know, for the good of the order, I 243 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,000 think mister Plattner really owes it to the people of 244 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,360 Maine to do that. I mean, it's not just that 245 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,440 the allegations are unsettling, it's not a surprise that he 246 00:14:51,519 --> 00:14:57,080 denies them. But Jenny Rascott is incredibly She's very credible, 247 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:01,559 and there was so much corroborating evidence in so much detail. 248 00:15:01,879 --> 00:15:05,039 A woman never goes out in front like that if 249 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,480 she's not telling the truth. 250 00:15:06,519 --> 00:15:09,639 Speaker 1: And so yeah, there was and is a lot of 251 00:15:09,679 --> 00:15:15,240 coroborating evidence. But Graham Platner, he's sticking with it. 252 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 8: I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious and false 253 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:26,000 allegations against me. Any accusation of non consensual behavior is 254 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:27,240 categorically false. 255 00:15:28,039 --> 00:15:31,639 Speaker 1: Well, the problem with that is that's what they all do. 256 00:15:31,679 --> 00:15:35,440 They deny. But again, the betting is that he will 257 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,559 step down, and they're already lining up other people. These 258 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,559 are all big Democrat spokespeople that I'm playing for you, 259 00:15:42,679 --> 00:15:47,639 Dave Weigel, a big liberal guy over at Political He's 260 00:15:47,679 --> 00:15:50,480 got names and how they're going to line them up 261 00:15:50,559 --> 00:15:52,120 to go against Susan Collins. 262 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 9: It's up to the main Democratic Party, which Plattner had 263 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,679 pretty good control of but before the scandals that really 264 00:15:59,679 --> 00:16:02,879 started blow up his campaign. This is this is county officials, 265 00:16:02,879 --> 00:16:05,360 this is elected delegates the party there was at the 266 00:16:05,399 --> 00:16:08,399 convention after Platner had headed off Janet Mills as she'd 267 00:16:08,519 --> 00:16:10,159 quit days for the convention because she was going to 268 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:13,080 lose there. And so as we're talking, there's already jockey 269 00:16:13,159 --> 00:16:16,559 going on to be the credible Platiner replacement. Among main Democrats, 270 00:16:16,559 --> 00:16:19,919 there are people who ran for Governor Vrvshaw, people are 271 00:16:19,919 --> 00:16:22,559 for Congress Jordan Wood who are making it known, they're 272 00:16:22,559 --> 00:16:24,960 getting that, they're getting some calls, and they're willing to 273 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,600 run to replace Graham Platner if he drops out, which 274 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,799 most Democrats expect me to do. You're also seeing progressives 275 00:16:31,799 --> 00:16:34,759 who supported Plattner who really thought they pocketed a victor 276 00:16:34,799 --> 00:16:37,679 against the establishment of victory for populism in the Bernie 277 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,559 Sanders mold argue that whatever happens our revolution, which Bernie 278 00:16:41,559 --> 00:16:43,919 Sanders Founders said this a couple of minutes ago, whatever happens, 279 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,879 this should there should not be an excuse for the 280 00:16:45,919 --> 00:16:48,879 party establishment to put in Janet Mills or somebody else 281 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,120 from a more centrist wing of the party. And that 282 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,879 I just mentioned arov Shaw, he'd be someone like that 283 00:16:53,919 --> 00:16:57,559 who progresses did not endorse Platner, had endorsed Troy Jackson 284 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,720 for governor Key and third the primary. But this is 285 00:17:01,759 --> 00:17:03,960 this is where we're heading. Everyone is accepting that this 286 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:08,359 is if I can paraphrase Mark's paraphrasing Hegel history repeating 287 00:17:08,559 --> 00:17:10,799 as farce. This is a lot like the Joe Biden 288 00:17:10,839 --> 00:17:13,240 exit in twenty twenty four, where Democrats have made their 289 00:17:13,279 --> 00:17:15,680 peace and they're now kind of coping and reckoning with 290 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,480 how a much less democratic process in a primary can 291 00:17:19,519 --> 00:17:23,000 get the candidate they want into the into the ballot November, so. 292 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,079 Speaker 1: He doesn't have to but they're hoping that he steps 293 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:30,880 down before Monday. And if he doesn't, I can I'll 294 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:32,960 bet you a large luncher to drive up window that 295 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,640 there are more accusations coming forward. I just usually if 296 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,759 there's one, there's many others that will be showing up. 297 00:17:42,319 --> 00:17:47,319 So Platner, what's really important about this is, again there 298 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,880 are four seats that the Democrats think they can win 299 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,359 for the US Senate that would give them control of 300 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,599 the US Senate. That is critical. If Donald Trump wants 301 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:03,039 to nominate anybody federal judges, Supreme Court judges, anybody for 302 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:06,799 his cabinet, anybody for high level government, that you have 303 00:18:06,839 --> 00:18:10,839 to go through the Senate, and if it's controlled by Democrats, 304 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:14,000 he's not going to get very far, so nothing like 305 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:20,720 a good old fashioned sex scandal. In politics, the President 306 00:18:21,319 --> 00:18:25,440 is in Turkey at the NATO meeting going on today. 307 00:18:26,759 --> 00:18:32,279 President Trump is not trying to mend fences. He is 308 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,480 calling out NATO for a number of things. One, he's 309 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,799 been on their case about would you spend more money 310 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,119 on defense so that you don't have to rely upon 311 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:47,000 the United States to be your police force. And secondly, 312 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,799 remember that you never showed up for my efforts in Iran, 313 00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:59,240 and I haven't forgotten. So the President is not mending fences. 314 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,400 I have to ask you. Here's what's been bothering me 315 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,720 about this, not only for the President, but also Pete 316 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,240 Haig says, telling especially Germany to rebuild their forces and 317 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,759 to get strong. I'm not so sure. I like the 318 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:20,359 idea of Germany rebuilding their armed military, their armed forces. 319 00:19:21,039 --> 00:19:24,680 At some point down the road, one of those countries 320 00:19:24,759 --> 00:19:29,359 is going to go haywire again. I don't, but specifically 321 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,720 because World War Two. I know it was a long 322 00:19:31,759 --> 00:19:34,279 time for most of us before we were born, but 323 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,920 it wasn't that long ago in world history. I don't 324 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,799 want Germany in Japan actually going out there and rebuilding 325 00:19:40,839 --> 00:19:46,880 their forces we'll watch over your country for you. I 326 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,319 don't want to spending all that money. Mike Pompeo, former 327 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:56,119 Secretary of State, commenting about the President and NATO. 328 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 10: If there's a single thing with Trump, President Trump and NATO, 329 00:20:01,079 --> 00:20:02,799 it is folks, get serious. 330 00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:05,559 Speaker 4: Do you need to be a trusted partner? Will be 331 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:06,000 with you. 332 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 10: We're happy to support NATO and the collective defense effort, 333 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,559 but you have to be a partner that's worthy of that. 334 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,519 You can't just sit back and let us carry the 335 00:20:14,039 --> 00:20:15,799 heavy loads. So if there was a single thing he's 336 00:20:15,839 --> 00:20:18,119 going to focus on, it will be to continue not 337 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,839 just to get them to spend money, but to focus 338 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,799 to spend that money well to build their own forces, 339 00:20:23,799 --> 00:20:27,559 that is people, armies, navies, air forces, do the things 340 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,319 necessary to be a good partner inside of NATO, and 341 00:20:30,319 --> 00:20:31,440 the United States will be with you. 342 00:20:31,519 --> 00:20:33,799 Speaker 4: That I think will be his top priority. 343 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:38,519 Speaker 1: And call me crazy. I have great respect for Mike Pompeo, 344 00:20:38,599 --> 00:20:42,200 but I don't want them. I don't want Germany rebuilding 345 00:20:42,279 --> 00:20:47,079 their forces army, navy, et cetera, et cetera. I just 346 00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:49,960 think it's it's it's not the smartest thing to do. 347 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:55,160 Kurt Volker, former ambassador to NATO. Oh, but before I 348 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,720 get there, get to Kurt Volker. So they had this 349 00:20:57,799 --> 00:21:03,079 big arrival I mean big rival ceremony. Huge. I mean 350 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,960 Donald Trump, I know, the United States were the world superpower, 351 00:21:07,759 --> 00:21:13,720 but he lands in Turkey and they had I don't know, 352 00:21:13,799 --> 00:21:19,359 a hundred horses soldiers leading the presidential motorcade down the 353 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:23,720 street to this facility where they're having the big meeting 354 00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:30,480 and pomp and circumstance over the top. And I was 355 00:21:30,519 --> 00:21:32,599 surprised because I would have thought Donald Trump would have 356 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,559 been beaming from ear to ear because he loves that stuff. 357 00:21:35,839 --> 00:21:38,119 I don't know. He just got off almost a ten 358 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,559 hour flight, so maybe he was maybe he was just tired, 359 00:21:42,279 --> 00:21:45,279 but he was kind of looking like he wasn't all 360 00:21:45,279 --> 00:21:49,319 that happier. Maybe it's his poker face when he meets 361 00:21:49,559 --> 00:21:54,960 with the NATO forces because he's not happy. And the 362 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,039 part that cracked me up was they had this big, 363 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:59,920 long carpet from the time he got out of the 364 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:03,039 limousine that he had to walk down this long carpet 365 00:22:03,079 --> 00:22:07,960 to do a review of the Turkish military. And it 366 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:13,279 was light blue, it was like baby blue, and it 367 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:19,000 looked about as long as the blue reflecting pond in Washington. 368 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,440 I swear it was about the same width and it 369 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,079 was blue and it was long, and I thought, oh 370 00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:28,720 my gosh, that looks like the reflecting pond, the blue, 371 00:22:28,839 --> 00:22:31,720 the blue color that's been messed up with in Washington. 372 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,079 So yeah, Kurt Folker, let's see what he has to say. 373 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 11: Well, I think we've already begun to see some of that. 374 00:22:39,039 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 12: If you remember, President Trump at the G seven summit 375 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,200 meeting just a few weeks ago, joined the G seven 376 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,400 Summit statement that referred to Russia as the aggressor and 377 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,599 called on sanctions on Russia. 378 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,759 Speaker 4: And support for Ukraine. 379 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,079 Speaker 11: I think we're going to see support for Ukraine coming 380 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:57,640 out of NATO as well, including a continuation of this 381 00:22:57,759 --> 00:23:02,079 program whereby European anma in Ukraine and buy American arms 382 00:23:02,079 --> 00:23:05,759 and ammunition and transfer them. And President Zelensky has been 383 00:23:05,799 --> 00:23:08,839 playing this success very well. I would argue he has 384 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:13,319 been making a real impact on Russia's finances and their 385 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:17,440 fuel and logistics, and we're impacting their ability to continue 386 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,319 the war and at the same time calling for an 387 00:23:20,319 --> 00:23:23,559 immediate CEA's fire, which Putin rejects. But this is a 388 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,519 very good message for playing it to President Trump saying, look, 389 00:23:26,559 --> 00:23:29,559 I want peace, but Putin doesn't want peace, and trying 390 00:23:29,599 --> 00:23:33,160 to get President Trump to be more forceful in putting 391 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:34,599 some pressure on Vladimir Putin. 392 00:23:35,079 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: We almost forgot about the Russia Ukraine war. But the 393 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,079 President's going to be meeting with Zelenski in Turkey, so 394 00:23:43,559 --> 00:23:46,319 that's bringing it forward to a head. The other thing 395 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,559 the President wants to do is it's actually President Erwan 396 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:55,079 of Turkey wants to buy F thirty fives are very, 397 00:23:55,799 --> 00:24:01,039 very most the best complicated, top of the technology fighter jet, 398 00:24:01,599 --> 00:24:06,200 and Ertwan has a history of playing both sides. He 399 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,400 has bought fighter jets from the United States in the past. 400 00:24:09,759 --> 00:24:13,960 He has also bought fighter jets from the Russians. And 401 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,799 what we don't want is for Russia to get their 402 00:24:17,839 --> 00:24:22,240 hands on the technology of our F thirty fives. Admiral 403 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:25,640 Stavritas is cautioning. 404 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,880 Speaker 13: Exactly what you did, which is to say, the inherent 405 00:24:29,079 --> 00:24:35,240 tensions going into this summit. It's the discussion of Greenland, 406 00:24:35,799 --> 00:24:40,079 it's the quote lack of support unquote as the President 407 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:45,519 puts it. Although European base has provided five thousand sorties 408 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,640 that did support the war in Igran but presidency sat 409 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,319 as lack of support. And above all, as you and 410 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,640 I have talked about in the past, he feels Europe 411 00:24:55,799 --> 00:25:00,400 and Canada are not spending enough. And so that's a 412 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,680 big basket attention going into it. That's kind of the 413 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,680 bad news, if you will. The good news also on 414 00:25:06,799 --> 00:25:13,519 display increasingly Turkey appears to be kind of coming together 415 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:17,480 and toward the alliance. That's actually a good thing. Secondly, 416 00:25:17,519 --> 00:25:19,920 you're going to hear a lot more later today about 417 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,400 the pledges. The Europeans have made two hundred and fifty 418 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,720 billion and counting. It's a huge chunk of money being 419 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:32,799 added to their defense budgets. And then thirdly, and I 420 00:25:32,839 --> 00:25:36,039 wouldn't necessarily put a huge amount of money on this, 421 00:25:36,279 --> 00:25:40,319 but maybe some of the European countries will come to 422 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,200 the Persian Gulf and help us open the straight afore 423 00:25:44,319 --> 00:25:49,559 moves mind sweepers, escorts, gotta missile frigates, that's possible. Those 424 00:25:49,559 --> 00:25:52,920 are some things I'm watching. So again, good news, bad news. 425 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,599 You just heard a lot of the bad news from 426 00:25:55,599 --> 00:25:57,119 President Trump's perspective. 427 00:25:57,759 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: Okay, so, but what about that F thirty five that 428 00:26:00,759 --> 00:26:01,480 Turkey wants. 429 00:26:01,799 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 13: They want the F thirty five because it's the best 430 00:26:04,519 --> 00:26:07,960 fighter in the world, full stop F thirty five lightning 431 00:26:08,079 --> 00:26:12,640 joint strike fighter, So they want it. That's good from 432 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:16,599 our perspective, creates leverage. The bad news is that they 433 00:26:16,799 --> 00:26:22,880 also bought very sophisticated ear defense systems from the Russians, 434 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:27,720 the so called S four hundred. The problem is if 435 00:26:27,759 --> 00:26:33,119 the same nation is operating that very sophisticated American jet 436 00:26:33,279 --> 00:26:41,680 and that very sophisticated Russian ear defense system, it's conceivable data, performance, quality, 437 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,640 stealth could kind of leak. 438 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 3: Back and forth. 439 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 13: So where are we The US have held off providing 440 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,400 that weapon system, the F thirty five, to Turkey for 441 00:26:52,519 --> 00:26:58,240 a couple of decades. Now it appears there's a technical 442 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:03,039 solution to kind of create a firewall. I mean jump gouts, 443 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:03,880 jumps evable. 444 00:27:04,319 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I don't know. I hope that we don't 445 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,480 sell the F thirty five, but we'll wait to see 446 00:27:10,519 --> 00:27:14,400 what the president does. So bb let Yahoo was interviewed 447 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:19,720 today and was asked about the relationship with Donald Trump 448 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,000 and with America. Thought you'd want to hear some of it. 449 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:23,839 Here's a piece of it. 450 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,880 Speaker 14: Yes, I have actually spoke to him several times about it, 451 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:32,440 and I think that everybody understands it. Notwithstanding the personal 452 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:37,000 friendship that President Trump has with Erdban, it doesn't make 453 00:27:37,039 --> 00:27:41,960 Turkey a friendly or a friendly state to the United States, 454 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,359 to the country. It's a regime that's infected with the 455 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:50,680 Muslim brotherhood, which hates the United States. He harbors Hamas 456 00:27:50,759 --> 00:27:54,359 or Haramas, terris, he supports them, he finances them. He's 457 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,200 thrown his opponents in jail, all of them. He throws 458 00:27:58,279 --> 00:28:01,079 more journalists in jail than anyone can understand. So he's 459 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,799 not exactly a model ally of the United States. But 460 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,119 even worse than that, he threatens Greece, a NATO ally. 461 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:13,079 He occupies half of Cyprus, another NATO country. And the 462 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,319 most important thing, and I put it right on the table, 463 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,519 he threatens to destroy my country, the one and only 464 00:28:19,599 --> 00:28:22,359 Jewish state is Number two says that we have no 465 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,559 place among the nations, and you know what that means. 466 00:28:25,039 --> 00:28:27,920 And his number three, the Terior Minister, says that he's 467 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:30,400 looking forward to be the governor of Jerusalem. 468 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 4: Hello, you know, sovereign country. 469 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:38,079 Speaker 15: Yeah, what Prime Minister. The President said this morning. President 470 00:28:38,119 --> 00:28:41,359 said this morning that they are great friends, and not 471 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:44,039 just the two of them, the countries of the United 472 00:28:44,039 --> 00:28:46,319 States and Turkey, and that Turkey is perhaps a better 473 00:28:46,359 --> 00:28:50,680 ally than other so called allies. So he is considering 474 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:55,359 giving the country these planes F thirty five. 475 00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 14: Well, as I said, it would destroy the power balance 476 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,519 in the Middle East, because because Turkey I think has 477 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,480 aggressive aspirations, I mean they ultimately say that they want 478 00:29:07,519 --> 00:29:11,680 to restore the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire not only 479 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:16,440 included Turkey, it included many other countries, included Syria, and 480 00:29:16,519 --> 00:29:19,960 included pieces of Jordan, included all of present day Israel, 481 00:29:20,279 --> 00:29:24,680 included some Gulf countries. So this is not a force 482 00:29:24,759 --> 00:29:29,000 for peace and stability. And if you give you know, 483 00:29:29,039 --> 00:29:33,440 this kind of radical regime that admittedly smiles to America 484 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,799 when it is necessary, well, smiles to the President of 485 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,440 the United States when is necessary. When you've give them 486 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:42,039 that power, you're going to see aggression in its way. 487 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,039 I wouldn't do that, all right. 488 00:29:44,079 --> 00:29:48,799 Speaker 1: So Bbe is watching the President at the NATO meeting 489 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,640 very carefully. He doesn't trust Aradawana, he doesn't trust Turkey. 490 00:29:52,799 --> 00:29:56,240 And it's true Turkey is a NATO member, but they 491 00:29:56,359 --> 00:30:02,640 are the only Muslim majority NATO members, and the Muslim 492 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,640 Brotherhood does not like the United States, does not certainly 493 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,119 does not like Israel. So we'll keep an eye on 494 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:12,440 all of that. Meantime, Wall Street decided to do some 495 00:30:13,519 --> 00:30:17,279 serious selling today, especially the tex stalks that have been 496 00:30:17,319 --> 00:30:22,480 bouncing around. They bounced down again today. Dow Jones Industrials 497 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:27,880 down one hundred and thirty at fifty two thousand and 498 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:32,400 nine to twenty five, SMB down thirty three, Nazdack down 499 00:30:32,519 --> 00:30:37,319 three hundred two, Gold fell forty three dollars down to 500 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:43,839 four thousand and one twenty four, and oil. The Treasury 501 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:48,680 Secretary today canceled Iran's license to sell oil. So we 502 00:30:48,759 --> 00:30:51,640 said a few weeks ago, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, Iran, 503 00:30:51,759 --> 00:30:53,759 go ahead and sell your oil out there. We'll take 504 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:56,960 we'll lift those sanctions. Well they were put back on 505 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,960 again today, so oil prices were up about three and 506 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,440 a half dollars to seventy two dollars and some change 507 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,720 for West Texas Intermediate. So that's it for today. Thank 508 00:31:07,759 --> 00:31:11,119 you for coming by. We will be back tomorrow. I 509 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:12,119 hope to see you though,