♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME AMERICA, TO BALANCING ACT, THE SHOW THAT AIMS TO TAME THE POLITICAL CIRCUS OF TWO-PARTY POLITICS.

I'M JOHN KATKO.

THIS WEEK -- AMERICA'S ROLE ON THE WORLD STAGE.

ARE WE THE LEADER?

ARE WE PART OF AN ENSEMBLE CAST?

WHAT SHOULD OUR ROLE BE MOVING FORWARD?

IN THE CENTER RING, FORMER U.N.

AMBASSADOR AND TW0-TERM GOVERNOR NIKKI HALEY GIVES US HER TAKE.

THEN, TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TAKE A SWING AT THE ISSUE OF INTERNATIONAL AID.

PLUS, I'LL GIVE YOU "MY TAKE."

AND BLOOMBERG'S ALISA PARENTI FILLS US IN ON WHAT'S HAPPENING "NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON."

BUT FIRST, LET'S TAKE A WALK ON THE TIGHTROPE.

♪ ♪ SO, WHAT SHOULD AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD BE?

IMAGINE, FOR A MOMENT, THAT WAR BREAKS OUT IN EUROPE, AND OUR FRIEND, ENGLAND, IS FIGHTING OFF DEVASTATING AIR RAIDS FROM A HOSTILE POWER.

WOULD THE U.S.

STEP IN?

SHOULD IT?

THIS WAS THE SITUATION IN WORLD WAR TWO WHEN THE NAZI BLITZKRIEG WAS DESTROYING CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM.

DID YOU KNOW THAT AMERICA STOOD BACK, HESITANT TO PARTICIPATE?

THAT IS, UNTIL THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, OF COURSE.

THEN, THE U.S. WAS ALL IN.

AND IN BIG.

SUPPLYING VAST QUANTITIES OF ARMS AND SUPPLIES, INCLUDING TANKS AND TROOPS, TO THE WAR EFFORT.

THAT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME AMERICA ATTEMPTED AN ISOLATIONIST STANCE.

AFTER GAINING INDEPENDENCE, GEORGE WASHINGTON FAMOUSLY ADVISED THE NATION TO AVOID ENSTANING LING ALIGNS ALLIANCES.

AND THE TERM "AMERICA FIRST?"

IT'S NOT NEW.

WOODROW WILSON USED IT DURING HIS 1916 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, PROMISING TO KEEP AMERICA NEUTRAL IN WORLD WAR ONE.

WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

FOLLOWING WORLD WAR ONE, IT WAS BACK TO ISOLATIONISM - THE U.S.

DIDN'T JOIN THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, AND THAT WAS AFTER WILSON HAD PROPOSED IT.

AFTER PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ALLIED VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II, THE U.S.

EMERGED AS A GLOBAL LEADER, SHAPING POST-WAR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS, AND NATO.

THROUGH THE COLD WAR THAT FOLLOWED SOON AFTER, AMERICA EMBRACED THE ROLE OF GLOBAL CITIZEN, TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN DIPLOMACY AND SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY OVERSEAS.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, POLICIES FROM BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATIONS - REGARDING THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL AND WAR IN UKRAINE - HAVE SPARKED DIVISIONS WITHIN AMERICA.

AND THEN THERE'S THE QUESTION OF AID.

"USAID."

MOST AMERICANS AGREE THAT WITH TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT THE U.S.

CANNOT AFFORD TO BURN MONEY ON WASTEFUL PRGRAMS.

BUT AMERICAN'S ALSO BELIEVE WE SHOULD HELP FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN NEED AND CONTRIBUTE AID IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP CHAMPIONS "AMERICA FIRST," BUT IS HE REALLY AN ISOLATIONIST?

HIS VIEWS ON GAZA, THE PANAMA CANAL AND HIS RECENT CALL WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN SUGGEST A MORE COMPLEX WORLD VIEW.

CAN WE RECONCILE A DESIRE FOR ISOLATIONIST POLICIES WITH OUR IDENTITY AS LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD?

ESPECIALLY IN AN ERA OF UNPRECENDENTED TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT AND GLOBAL INTERDEPENDENCY.

PERHAPS AMERICA CANNNOT REALLY GET OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

IS OUR INVOLVEMENT SIMPLY INEVITABLE?

NOW LET'S PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON OUR FIRST GUEST IN THE CENTER RING.

IF ANYONE HAS PERSPECTIVE ON AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD IT WOULD BE A FORMER AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

NIKKI HALEY SERVED IN THAT ROLE IN THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SHE SERVES AS OUR GUEST IN THE CENTER RING.

WELCOME NIKKI.

I CAN TELL YOU IT HAS BEEN A REAL HON OOR TO HAVE YOU ON THIS SHOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I REMEMBER FIRST ENCOUNTERING YOU BACK WHEN I WAS ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE IN CONGRESS AND YOU TESTIFIED ABOUT NOT HAVING GET MOW TRANSFERRED TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

A SHOCK YOU WERE AGAINST IT.

I REMEMBER HOW ARTICULATE YOU WERE AND THE LEADER YOU WERE AS GOVERNOR AND YOUR TIME AS AMBASSADOR YOU DID A TERRIFIC JOB.

SO YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON OUR SUBJECT TONIGHT AND THAT IS THE WORLD STAGE AND WHAT AMERICA'S ROLE IS ON THE WORLD STAGE I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WOULD I LOVE TO HEAR YOUR TAKE WHAT YOUR VIEW IS GIVEN ALL THE STUFF GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD TODAY, WHAT SHOULD AMERICA'S ROLE BE AND HOW SHOULD WE IMPLEMENT IT?

>> THANK YOU, JOHN.

I CAN TELL YOU I REALLY GOT CLARITY ON THAT WHEN I WAS AT THE UNITED NATIONS BECAUSE WHAT I SAW WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN AMERICA SPEAKS, THE WORLD LISTENS.

WHEN AMERICA ACTS, THE WORLD FOLLOWS.

AND WHAT AMERICA DOES, THE WORLD TRIES TO BE.

SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE MORAL CLARITY AND I THINK THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF ISSUES IN THE WORLD.

AND WE SEE THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE RUSSIA UKRAINE SITUATION OR CHINA AND TAIWAN OR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, MESH LEADERSHIP MATTERS AND I THINK IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, IT WAS TAKING ONE OF APIECEMENT AND GOING QUIET AND THIS ONE IS A BULL IN THE CHINA SHOP.

BETWEEN BOTH OF THOSE, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE 1: MORAL CLARITY AND 2: TRUST WITH YOUR ALLIES.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THEY WILL FOLLOW YOU IF THEY TRUST YOU AND THEY WILL LISTEN TO YOU IF THEY TRUST YOU.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DID AT THE UNITED NATIONS WAS WE BLEW UP A LOT OF THINGS AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

AND WE CALLED OUT A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT EVERY ONE OF THOSE AMBASSADORS, FRIEND OR FOE, KNEW I WOULD ALWAYS TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE KEY.

AMERICA NEEDS TO HAVE TRUST WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE SAY, WHAT WE DO AND WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE PREPARED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON IT.

>> I WAS TOLD THE AGENTS AND ALL THE TASK FORCES I RAN, THAT WE NEED TO PROJECT STRENGTH SO THE BAD GUYS WILL RESPECT US AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT PROJECTING STRENGTH ON A WORLD STAGE, I THINK, SOMETIMES PREVENTS A LOT OF THINGS FROM HAPPENING.

AND I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, PUTIN GOING INTO UKRAINE AND I LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN GAZA.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK IF AMERICA WAS PROJECTING MORE STRENGTH BACK AT THAT TIME, THAT THOSE BAD ACTORS WOULD DO THAT.

I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T SCARED OF US.

THAT'S WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO.

AFGHANISTAN AFTER, IT WAS SUCH-- AFTER AFGHANISTAN IT WAS SUCH A DEBACLE THAT IT GAVE OUR ENEMIES AROUND THE WORLD, THERE THOUGHT WAS IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO MOVE, IT'S NOW.

THEY DID BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE THE BACKS OF OUR FRIENDS.

THAT PLAYED OUT.

WHETHER IT WAS UKRAINE, AMERICA WAS SLOW TO ACT, SLOW TO RESPOND AND NOT DECISIVE.

WHETHER IT WAS WITH ISRAEL, AMERICA SAID THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE ISRAEL'S BACK AND THEN STARTED TO PULL BACK ON IT.

SO IT WAS A FIELD DAY FOR RUSSIA, CHINA, IRAN AND NORTH KOREA.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SELF CORRECT AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO IS WE HAVE TO BE DECISIVE IN WAS WE SAY AND MORE DECISIVE IN HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BACKS OF OUR FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BACK OF UKRAINE SOVEREIGNTY, THEN WE NEED TO MEAN IT.

IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BACK OF ISRAEL, WE NEED TO LET THEM LEAD AND WE SUPPORT F. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BACK OF TIE WAB, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHINA IS GOING TO GIVE US A HARD TIME.

THEY'RE TESTING US RIGHT NOW.

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THAT'S A HONEYMOON.

IT'S A HONEYMOON DOMESTICALLY BUT A TEST INTERNATIONALLY BECAUSE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS ARE WAITING TO SEE HOW MUCH OF A FRIEND WE ARE GOING TO BE AND ALL OF OUR ENEMIES ARE WAITING TO SEE DO WE REALLY MEAN WHAT WE SAY AND ARE WE GOING TO HAVE STRENGTH ABOUT IT?

AND SO WE ARE IN THE TEST PHASE RIGHT NOW OF HOW COUNTRIES LOOK AT US AND WHAT THEY THINK.

>> I COOPERATE AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON THAT-- I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON THAT.

I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PART OF IT BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR TO ME YOU BELIEVE AMERICA NEEDS TO HAVE A STRONG ROLE ON THE WORLD STAGE.

MY OPINION IS, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CHOICE IN THAT.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A WAY IN HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY AND HOW WE ARE STEWARDS OF OUR MONEY, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN WE HAVE SUCH GIGANTIC BUDGET DEFICITS AT HOME.

AND A BIG ISSUE THAT HAS BLOWN UP AS FAR AS USAID THAT IS THE PROGRAM THAT GIVES AID TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND YOU WERE IN THE CAT BIRD SEAT FOR THAT AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

WOULD I LIKE TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT PROGRAM IN GENERAL AND THE PROBLEMS WITH IT AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PRACTICE ACROSS THE BOARD.

EVERY ONE OF THOSE AGENCIES HAS GOTTEN TOO BLOATED, TOO BIG.

A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES THOUGHT THEY COULDN'T BE FIRED AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT WAKEUP CALL FOR EVERY AGENCY.

I CAN TELL YOU WHEN WE GOT TO 9 UNITED NATIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE CUT A BILLION DOLLARS OFF THE TOP OF JUST THE U.N. BUDGET.

WE LOOKED INTO THE UNITED STATES MISSION AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

WE STARTED CUTTING.

WE DID HIRING FREEZES, JUST BECAUSE IT'S GOOD PRACTICE.

USAID I CAN TELL YOU IS A MASSIVE SLUSH FUND.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A SLUSH FUND FOR COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD TO GET THEIR PORT PROJECTS.

IT WAS A SLUSH FUND FOR MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR PET PROJECTS AND THEY WOULD GO AND GIVE MONEY OUT AND THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY AND I THINK IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE NEED TO SEE IN GOVERNMENT TODAY, TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW HOW THEIR MONEY IS SPENT.

YOU KNOW, AS GOVERNOR, I PUT ALL OF THE SPENDING OF EVERY AGENCY ONLINE FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLINAIANS TO SEE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT ALL SPENDING ONLINE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS OR WE DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT FROM DOJE BUT WE CAN SEE WHO IS SPENDING WHAT.

AND I TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER.

ANY PEP PROJECT, I MADE THE LEGISLATORS HAVE TO PUT THEIR NAME NEXT TO IT SO THEY WOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROJECT.

THE SAME THING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IF CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS HAVE TO PUT THEIR NAME NEXT TO THINGS, THEY'RE GOING TO THINK TWICE WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO SEE IT AND THAT'S GOING TO BRING ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PROCESS AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT OF THESE PROGRAMS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE USAID IS A MICROCOSM FOR A LOT OF THINGS IN THE GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT IS NOW GETTING A BRIGHT LIGHT SIGNED ON IT AND THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.

BUT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT USAID DOES.

I MEAN THEY HELP-- SOMETIMES-- WHAT IS THE OTHER BALANCE OF THAT?

WHAT IS THE SIDE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WITH THINGS LIKE THE USAID PROGRAM IF IT IS PROPERLY ADMINISTERED?

>> I THINK THAT THAT IS THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO AND POISON THE WELL WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT DON'T MATTER, YOU HURT THE GOOD ONES ON WHAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE.

I ACTUALLY DO AGREE THAT PUTTING THIS UNDER THE STATE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT CAN HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY IS A GOOD THING BUT PET FAR HAS REALLY SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM H.I.V.

AND AIDS AND THAT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THAT'S HELPED US ALL GLOBALLY.

SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THAT AND SEE WHERE IT DOES DO SOME GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HELPS WITH OUR FRIENDS THAT NEED IT SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS DOMESTICALLY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE A WIN-WIN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY PUSHED IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN I WAS THERE WAS I WANTED ALL FOREIGN AID TO BE LISTED.

AND IT WAS AFTER ISRAEL HAD, YOU KNOW, THE WORLD PRETTY MUCH CONDEMNED US FROM MOVING THE EMBASSY FROM TEL AVIV TO JERUSALEM, AND I PUT A BOOK TOGETHER AND I TOLD MY STAFF TO LIST ALL 193 COUNTRIES.

THE NEXT TIME I TOLD THEM TO PUT THE PERCENTAGE THAT THOSE COUNTRIES VOTED WITH THE U.S. AND AGAINST THE U.S. AND I HAD THE LAST COLUMN BE HOW MUCH FOREIGN AID WE GAVE THEM AND I TOOK THAT BOOK AND I GAVE IT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HE LOST HIS MIND.

HE WAS FLIPPING PAGES, YELLING OUT COUNTRIES, AND I SAID TO HIM THEN, I SAID I'M NOT PARTICULAR.

THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

COULD I TALK TO YOU FOR HOURS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE ALL THESE YEARS AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK IN THE ARENA AGAIN SOON MY FRIEND.

>> IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANKS SO MUCH I.

WAS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> NOW LET'S PUT THE CONVERSATION, AND OUR NEXT GUESTS, ON THE TRAPEZE.

JOINING US TO TAKE A SWING AT THE ISSUE OF "USAID" AND FUNDING FOR INTERNATIONAL PURPOSES IN GENERAL, IS HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBER YOUNG KIM OF CALIFORNIA, AND VIRGINIA'S DON BEYER.

BOTH GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE.

WELCOME FOLKS TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU, JOHN.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

AS I OFTEN SAY TO MANY OF MY OLD COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS, I MISS COOL CATS LIKE YOU BUT I DON'T MISS THE JOB.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I STILL WANT TO JUST START OFF THE CONVERSATION ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE USAID PROGRAM AND WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING FROM HERE?

WHY DON'T WE START WITH YOU, IF YOU CAN.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, THE ROLE OF THE USAID HAS BEEN, FROM ITS INCEPTION, WITH THE INTENT TO PROVIDE THE U.S. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE THROUGH USAID AND YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD CAN PROJECT STRENGTH, RIGHT?

IT HAS PROVEN TO BE USEFUL IN ADVANCING AMERICA'S INTERESTS.

AND IT ALSO SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT EXTENSION OF AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN STRENGTHENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AND IT DID, AS I MENTIONED, PROJECT POWER TO DETER OUR ADVERSARIES AND IT SUPPORTED OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS AND ENSURED THE U.S. IS SEEN AS A LEADER ON THE WORLD STAGE.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THERE TO SUPPORT OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD.

LOOK, RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A COMPETITION WITH CCP AND CHINA IS READY TO STEP IN AND FILL THE VACUUM AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE SO I THINK THE ROLE OF USAID IS CRITICAL, BUT I THINK OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH OVERSIGHT SO THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO DO.

>> DON, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOUNG JUST SAID, WHICH IS A NICE WAY TO START.

BUT I HAVE BEEN HORRIFIED BY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO USAID SINCE THE TRUMP INAUGURATION.

I'M PREJUDICE FOR MANY REASONS.

MY WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHER WHO DIED AT 9, SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS OF HER CAREER IN USAID.

TRAVELING ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WORKING ON TRAINING PROGRAMS.

AND I HAVE SEEN, OVER THE YEARS-- I REPRESENT NORTHERN VIRGINIA SO MANY, MANY USAID CONTRACTORS AND STAFF HERE.

SO IT'S VERY CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

JUST AS YOUNG SAID, THIS IS MAYBE THE MOST PROJECTION OF SOFT POWER THAT WE HAVE.

WE ARE INFLUENCING COUNTRIES TO LOOK UP TO US, THE UNITED STATES AS A SHINING CITY ON THE HILL.

WE ARE FEEDING PEOPLE.

WE ARE DEALING WITH DISEASES LIKE AIDS AND MALARIA ANDY BOW EBOLA AND SHUTTING THE DOOR TO CHINESE INFLUENCE TO LATIN AMERICA, SUBSAHARAN AFRICA AND EAST ASIA.

WHEN WE LEAVE-- LET ME BACK UP A SECOND.

THE REPUBLICAN CRITICISM, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, ELON MUSK, HAS BEEN THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

CERTAINLY THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PROGRAMS THAT A NEW PRESIDENT SHOULD SAY I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ONE OR TWO OR MAYBE 5% OF THE PROGRAMS.

WHAT IS HAPPENS RIGHT NOW IS THEY'RE TAKING A NUCLEAR WEAPON TO ALL USAID ACROSS THE WORLD, SHUT IT ALL DOWN AND THAT'S HAVING A DISASTROUS IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, ON OUR U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN SERVICING THEM AND A GIFT TO CHINA.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO LIFT USAID BACK UP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

>> OKAY, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU BOTH ARE SAYING BUT OBVIOUSLY THE BIG ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO USAID IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE MAY BE WASTE OR FRAUD OR ABUSE.

SO I MEAN, INSTEAD OF TAKING THE PROVERBIAL SLEDGE HAMMER THEY'RE TAKING NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO, DON, TO SHORE UP AND MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS BEING WELL SPENT AND GOING TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE GOING?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES THAT WE ARE HEARING.

SOME OF THE CRAZY THINGS, EVEN ELON MUSK SAID NOT EVERYTHING I SAY IS TRUE QUOTE UNQUOTE.

THE NOTION OF 50 MILLION CONDOMS TO GAZA WAS RIDICULOUS.

THERE WERE NO CONDOMS TO GAZA.

THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED PROGRAMS THEY DON'T LIKE.

TYPICALLY HAVING TO DO WITH LGBTQ.

AND IN COUNTRIES LIKE U GANDA THAT ARE VERY HOMOPHOBIC.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT LIKE THE PROGRAM BUT THEY HAVE COME UP WITH NO FRAUD OR ABUSE AND THIS IS WHERE THE NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL AND USAID ADMINISTRATORS SAY, I LIKE THESE 92 PROGRAMS.

I DON'T LIKE THESE EIGHT PROGRAMS.

WE ARE GOING GET RID OF THEM.

THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT.

BARRING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS NEVER A GREAT WAY TO START BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

>> YOUNG, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

>> LET ME REMIND YOU EVERY ADMINISTRATION COMES IN AND THEY DO THEIR REFORM AND OVERSIGHT OF ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST TRUMP DOING IT.

PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DONE IT WITH RESPECT TO USAID PROGRAMS, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO -- DURING THE YEAR WE HAVE FOUND UNPRODUCTIVE SPEND AGO BROAD WHICH HAVE UNDERMINED THE TARGETED AND EFFECTIVE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY , TO THE POINT THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE IS-- LET'S SAY IN THE LAST MONTH OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ALONE, CONGRESS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS WAS NOTIFIED OF $1.5 BILLION IN FOREIGN AID THE STATE DEPARTMENT SENT OVERSEAS.

I CAN CITE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES.

2.5 MILLION SENT USAID TO BUILD EV CHARGING STATIONS IN VIETNAM.

15.5 MILLION FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL LGBTQ AND INTERSEXUAL ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE RADICAL SOCIAL AGENDA IN PLACES LIKE ZIMBABWE, EL SALVADOR AND LEBANON OR 11.5 MILLION FOR GENDER PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD AGREE THESE SPENDING IS NOT CRITICAL TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVANCING OUR INTERESTS.

AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO TIGHTEN OUR POCKETBOOKS AND REIN IN FEDERAL SPENDING.

I THINK BOTH SIDES AGREE ON THAT.

SO THIS YEAR, THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF WHICH I SERVE ON, WILL DO A FULL REAUTHORIZATION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN RESTORE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND WE WILL DO A LINE BY LINE OF WHAT IS BEING SPENT.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE, AND YOU BELIEVE, TOO, EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR SHOULD BE STRETCHED AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE AND SUPPORT AMERICA'S NATIONAL INTEREST.

>> DON, WE HAVE 45 SECONDS LEFT.

YOU CAN HAVE THE LAST WORD, MY FRIEND.

>> VERY QUICKLY, ONE PERSON'S RADICAL SOCIAL AGENDA IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S NORMAL LIFE.

AND THE KEY IS YES, EVERY ADMINISTRATION LOOKS CAREFULLY AT IT AND YOU CITED THINGS THAT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT LIKE.

BUT THEY CUT EVERYTHING.

>> WELL, FOLKS, LISTEN.

I WISH WE COULD GO ON FOREVER, AND YOU BOTH HAVE VERY GOOD PASSIONATE POSITIONS AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PROGRAMS ARE WORTHWHILE BUT WE HAVE TO FIX SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THEM.

I THANK YOU BOTH.

I COMMEND YOU BOTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CROSS THE AISLE AND HOPE TO HAVE YOU AGAIN ON THIS SHOW VERY SOON.

THANKS SO MUCH.

♪ ♪ WE HAVE HEARD FROM SOME GREAT GUESTS TONIGHT.

HERE IS MY TAKE.

THE UNITED STATES HAS THE LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD, THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD WITH TENTACLES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WITH THAT COMES RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS HONOR AND PRIVILEGE.

AND THAT IS WE ARE THE LEADER OF DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE NEED TO PROJECT STRENGTH, SO BAD ACTORS SAY IN CHECK AND WE NEED TO PROJECT OUR STRENGTH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S THE ROLE WE HAVE THRUST UPON US BECAUSE OF OUR STATURE ON THE WORLD STAGE.

DON'T TAKE IT FROM ME.

TAKE FROM IT A GREAT AMERICAN WHO SAID IT SO ELOQUENTLY SO MANY YEARS AGO.

RONALD REAGAN.

>> LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, AND THAT IS NOT A ROLE WE ASKED FOR.

IT'S A ROLE THAT WAS THRUST UPON US BY HISTORY AND BY THE HOPES OF THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO FREEDOM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

>> RONALD REAGAN, A GREAT LEADER FOR ALL TIMES.

AND WE COULD SURE USE SOME OF HIT LEADERSHIP TODAY.

NOW, THE QUESTION ABOUT U.S. IDA AND HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE AROUND THE WORLD.

TO ME, THAT'S A MUCH MORE MURKY QUESTION BECAUSE OF HOW MISMANAGED THAT PROGRAM HAD BEEN.

YES, IT HELPS MANY NATIONS, YES, IT HELPS SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS, BUT IF IT'S NOT ADMINISTERED CORRECTLY AND THERE IS THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT SEEMS TO BE IN THE PROGRAM, TO ME, IT'S IN TROUBLE.

SO I THINK THE JURY IS STILL OUT WITH RESPECT TO USAID.

MY TAKE?

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, GET IT STREAMLINED AND GET THE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT AND NOWHERE ELSE.

JOINING US NOW JOINING US NOW IS BLOOMBERG'S ALISA PARENTI TO FILL US IN ON WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT WEEK.

>> WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THE BUDGET.

SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE WHAT HE HAS BEEN CALLING ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

IT CONTAINS THE EXTENSION OF THE 2017 TAX CUTS, MORE BORDER SECURITY, MORE FOR DEFENSE SPENDING AND SOMETHING WE ARE REALLY KEEPING OUR EYE ON HERE AT BLOOMBERG, IT LIFTS THE DEBT CEILING TO $4 TRILLION.

THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS HAS BOUGHT INTO THIS ONE BILL IN THAT THEY WERE MOL PHID BY A CUT OF $2 TRILLION IN SPENDING.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VISIBILTY INTO WHAT THOSE CUTS WILL BE.

WE CAN ANTICIPATE THAT THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

AND SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WHEN THE LARGER HOUSE GETS ITS HANDS ON THIS, AND THE DETAILS START TO LEAK OUT, THAT CONSTITUENTS MIGHT START TO BE REACHING OUT TO THEIR MEMBERS AND SAYING, HEY, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

SO WILL MAINSTREAM MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO GO ALONG WITH SPEAKER JOHNSON'S PLANS?

THAT'S WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

THE SENATE, WORKING ON A PARALLEL PLAN AND THUNE HAS SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS STARTING WITH THE FACT HE WANTS IT DONE IN TWO BILLS NOT ONE.

>> THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

AND I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT COMPONENT OF THIS WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS IS TARIFFS AND HOW MUCH OF TARIFFS ARE GOING PAY FOR THE BUDGET?

>> WELL, IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF NEWS COMING FROM THIS PARTICULAR WHITE HOUSE AND WE STARTED WITH THE BIGGEST, OUR TRADING PARTNERS CANADA AND MEXICO AND CHINA.

THAT PACKAGE THAT MOVED ACROSS WAS A REALLY GOOD PLAYBOOK AS TO WHAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE WITH THE RECIPROCAL TARIFFS WHICH WERE ANNOUNCED MORE RECENTLY.

AND THAT IS THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP NEGOTIATES.

THIS IS HOW HE INTENDS TO GET WHAT HE WANTS IN TERMS OF ACQUISITIONS FROM AND AGREEMENTS FROM OUR TRADE PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD FROM EUROPE, FROM ELSEWHERE.

AND HE IS LOOKING TO BOOST WHAT HE WOULD CALL LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD SO THAT THOSE INTERNATIONAL TRADE PARTNERS ARE NOT CHARGING US SO MUCH FOR THE GOODS THAT WE ARE IMPORTING INTO THE U.S. NONE OF THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT BEFORE APRIL 1 AND THE MARKETS REALLY LIKE THAT.

>> WELCOME TO THE TEAM MY FRIEND AND I'M GLAD BLOOMBERG IS ON BOARD AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT WEEK.

TO SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE SHOW VISIT WCNY.ORG/BALANCINGACT.

FOR EXTRAS AND EXCLUSIVES FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND REMEMBER, IN THE CIRCUS THAT IS POLITICS, THERE IS ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT.

I'M JOHN KATKO.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME AMERICA.