♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME AMERICA TO THE PREMIER OF "BALANCING ACT" THE SHOW THAT TAMES A POLITICAL CIRCUS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NORMALLY IN THIS SEGMENT WE WOULD WALK THE TIGHT ROPE OF A HOT POLITICAL SUBJECT AND BALANCE COMPETING PERSPECTIVES, BUT FIRST YOU MAY BE ASKING, WHO AM I AND WHY AM I HERE?

WELL, I'M JOHN KATKO.

AND DESPITE BEING A RECOVERING POLITICIAN, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, SO, AS A WAY OF INTRODUCTION, LET'S ROLL THIS.

>> WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT JOHN KATKO THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID BEFORE?

WELL... LOTS.

BUT WE ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES, SO HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

JOHN SERVED EIGHT YEARS AS A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FROM NEW YORK IN ITS 24th DISTRICT, REPRESENTING SYRACUSE AND CENTRAL NEW YORK FROM 2015 TO 2023.

CONGRESSMAN KATKO WAS KNOWN FOR REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTRY AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

IN FACT, THE LUGER CENTER AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, CONSISTENTLY RANKED HIM AMONG THE MOST BIPARTISAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AS A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR FOR TWO DECADES, CONGRESSMAN KATKO UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO INTERROGATE-- I MEAN QUESTION OUR WEEKLY GUESTS ON OPPOSING SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND BRING INTEGRITY AND TRUTH TO THE CONVERSATION.

NEED PROOF?

CAT GO VOTED AGAINST THE FIRST IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT SUPPORTED THE SECOND, WHICH INVOLVED JANUARY 6.

SIMILARLY, WE SERVED FOUR TERMS AS A LEADER ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY WHERE HE WAS A VOCAL CRITIC OF THE BIDEN-HARRIS BORDER POLICY AND TODAY HE CALLS IT A TRAIN WRECK.

WHEN HE IS NOT HOSTING POLITICAL SHOWS FOR PBS, YOU WILL FIND HIM ENJOYING TIME WITH HIS WIFE ROBIN AND THREE SONS OR CRUISING AROUND TOWN ON HIS HARLEY.

GOOD LUCK TO OUR RING MASTER, JOHN KATKO.

WHATEVER YOU DO, JOHN, DON'T LOSE YOUR BALANCE.

>> COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.

THANKS, GUYS.

SNROAT ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IN THE CENTER RING I SPEAK TO A NEWSMAKER ABOUT THE SUBJECT WE COVERED IN THE TIGHT ROPE SEGMENT.

THAT SUBJECT MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT IS YOURS TRULY.

AND WHY I HAVE A SHOW THAT TALKS ABOUT BALANCE.

I REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS MAN IN WASHINGTON.

HE DID THE SAME.

A VETERAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND A GREAT GUY, THE FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME TO THE BALANCING ACT, THE GENTLEMAN, AND I MEAN GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, AND MY FAVORITE PERSON NAMED STENNIE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

THAT IS A VERY LIMITED NUMBER.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, JOHN, I WANT TO THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PUBLIC SERVICE YOU ARE DOING TO BETTER INFORM THE PUBLIC OF HOW CONGRESS WORKS, WHY IT DOESN'T WORK SOMETIMES AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AND OF COURSE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE WHO MADE IT WORK AS WELL AS IT COULD.

YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT, WHERE THERE WERE 435 OF US, DIFFERENT PARTIES, SOME INDEPENDENTS, ALL SORTS OF POINTS OF VIEWS.

BUT AT BOTTOM, WE ALL HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANTED US TO DO.

AND THAT'S MAKE AMERICA WORK AS WELL AS IT POSSIBLY CAN FOR THEM, THEIR FAMILIES AND FOR OUR COUNTRY.

SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOURS AS WELL AND MY GOD, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SERVICE.

STENY STARTED IN CONGRESS IN 1980 OR 1981 WHEN RONALD REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT AND TIP O'NEILL WAS SPEAKER, SO YOU MUST HAVE SEEN A LOT IN YOUR TIME COMING THROUGH.

BUT ONE THING BACK THEN, COMPROMISE SEEMED TO BE MORE IN FASHION THAN NOW.

WHEN YOU COMPROMISE NOW OR CROSS THE AISLE ON SOMETHING, YOU GET VILIFIED FOR THAT.

I THINK YOU SAW THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE I GOT HOISTED HARD IN MY OWN PITARD BY MY OWN PARTY BECAUSE I HAD THE AUDACITY TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE.

YOU LEFT ME PHONE CALLS AND I STILL HAVE THE RECORDINGS.

TO COMMEND ME FOR DOING THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU REACHING OUT TO THE OTHER SIDE LIKE YOU DID ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> JOHN, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKED ABOUT YOU, YOU HAD THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 44 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, IS A HARDENING OF BASES, PARTICULARLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THAT DOESN'T THINK THAT COMPROMISE IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE AND DOESN'T THINK WORKING TOGETHER IS NECESSARILY THE PROPER THING TO DO.

AND YOU HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY LOOK, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

AND I'M SURE THOSE WERE THE TIMES THAT I CALLED YOU BECAUSE I HAD SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THAT COURAGE AND FOR YOUR MORAL VISION AND COMMITMENT TO PRINCIPLE.

AND WE NEED MUCH MORE OF THAT IN THE CONGRESS.

IF I HAD MY WAY, I WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE JOHN KATKOS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, NOT BECAUSE WE ALWAYS AGREED, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T.

YOU WERE A REPUBLICAN.

YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE OF REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES.

BUT YOU WERE ALSO WILLING AND ABLE TO SAY, LOOK, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING.

I'M GOING TO GO THE WAY THAT I THINK IS THE RIGHT THING, NOT THE REPUBLICAN THING.

I HAVE A MURAL-- A PAINTING, WHICH USES A KENNEDY QUOTE WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.

AND JOE MAN CHIA NO, I SERVED IN HIS OFFICE.

KENNEDY SAID WE DON'T WANT THE REPUBLICAN ANSWER.

WE DON'T WANTED THE DEMOCRATIC ANSWER.

WE WANT THE RIGHT ANSWER.

AND HOPEFULLY THOSE OF US SERVING IN THE CONGRESS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET TO THE RIGHT ANSWER.

BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.

THERE IS TOO MUCH PARTISANSHIP, TOO MUCH THE PARTY POSITION OPPOSED TO THE COUNTRY'S POSITION.

>> IT DOES SEEM TO BE THAT WAY.

YOU READ BOOKS BACK IN THE TIME OF REAGAN AND TIPP OWE NEIL AND SOME OF THE THINGS THEY DID TOGETHER, SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM, IMMIGRATION REFORM, TAX REFORM AND CAN YOU TELL US AND REAGAN EVEN SIGNED INTO LAW A TAX INCREASE LATER IN HIS TERM WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAS BEEN LOST.

AND NOW SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SO LONG, WHAT CAN WE DO?

WHAT CAN BE DONE ON BOTH SIDES, BECAUSE BOTH SIDES HAVE SOME REALLY EXTREME ELEMENTS IN THEIR PARTIES NOW.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THEM TO GET BACK TOWARD THE MIDDLE LIKE YOU AND I HAVE TRIED TO DO OVER THE YEARS.

>> LET ME SUGGEST A NON-TRADITIONAL ANSWER BECAUSE PEOPLE ASK ME THAT.

AND I'M SURE THEY ASK YOU.

>> SURE.

>> WHEN ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO GET TOGETHER?

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY?

AND I LOOK AT THEM AND I SAY AS SOON AS YOU DO.

THEY LOOK AT ME QUIZALLY.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN AS SOON AS I DO.

I'M NOT IN THE CONGRESS.

I SAID YES, BUT YOU ELECT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AND IF YOU ELECT PEOPLE TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE HARD-LINE POSITIONS WHO BELIEVE THAT COMPROMISE IS GIVING UP ON YOUR PRINCIPLES AND WHO BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER PARTY IS 100% WRONG, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A CONGRESS THAT REFLECTS THAT BECAUSE DEMOCRACY WORKS.

IF YOU ELECT PEOPLE LIKE THAT,UAL GET A YOU'LL GET A CONFRONTATIONAL CONGRESS AND NOT NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE AS AMERICANS WANT IT TO BE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU VOTE FOR PEOPLE LIKE-- I DON'T NECESSARILY USE YOUR NAME-- BUT JOHN KATKO, OR, FRANKLY, LIZ CHENEY.

YOU KNOW I CONTRIBUTED TO LIZ CHENEY'S CAMPAIGN, NOT BECAUSE I AGREED WITH HER.

LIZ AND I DISAGREE ON PROBABLY 90% OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT I ADMIRED HER COURAGE AND BELIEVE THAT WAS ABSOLUTELIY ESSENTIAL IF THE CONGRESS WAS GOING TO REFLECT ACCURATELY RIGHT AND WRONG FOR THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK, FIRST OF ALL,VOTERS NEED TO BRING TO THEIR VOTE AND THEIR SELECTION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT COMPROMISE.

DEMOCRACY IS LIKE A FAMILY.

YOU DON'T HAVE A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY UNLESS THE FAMILY MEMBERS COMPROMISE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING WE DO IN OUR LIVES IS COMPROMISE, IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND WE'VE LOST THAT ART IN CONGRESS AND IN POLITICS IN GENERAL.

AND I THINK YOUR POINT IS THE BEST.

PICK GOOD LEADERS THAT ARE WILLING TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE.

I COULD TALK TO YOU FOR HOURS.

I WOULD LOVE TO BUT WE HAVE TIME CONSTRAINTS HERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE STILL THERE AND I HOPE YOU KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT MY FRIEND.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, STENY.

NEXT UP, DID YOU KNOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> DID YOU KNOW ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, PRIOR TO THE 12TH AMENDMENT, THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BECOME THE VICE PRESIDENT?

THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF THAT WERE TRUE TODAY, WE WOULD HAVE A TRUMP-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION OR A HARRIS-TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

ONE THING IS FOR SURE KAMALA WOULD STOP LAUGHING AND TRUMP WOULD STOP DANCING.

BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THOMAS JEFFERSON WHEN SHE SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT TO HIS BEST FRIEND JOHN ADAMS.

ONCE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS, THEY BECAME FIERCE POLITICAL RIVALS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AFTER RETIRING FROM POLITICS, THEY REVIVED THAT FRIENDSHIP AND DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER, INCLUDING DIEING ON THE SAME DAY, JULY 4, 1826.

YOU GUESSED IT, THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WHICH THEY BOTH SIGNED.

NOW YOU MIGHT THINK IF BOTH CANDIDATES WERE FROM THE SAME PARTY, HARMONY WOULD REIGN SUPREME.

NOT SO FAST ZEN MASTER.

THE ELECTION RESULTED IN A TIE.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BROKE THE TIE AND WENT FOR JEFFERSON WHICH MANY ATTRIBUTED TO THE INFLUENCE OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

BURR WHO COULD HAVE ENABOUT ITED FROM ANGER MANAGEMENT COURSES CHALLENGED HAMILTON TO A DUEL AFTER CLAIMING HAMILTON SPOKE BAD OF HIM AT A PARTY.

BURR WON.

HAMILTON WOULD EXACT THE ULTIMATE REVENGE 200 SHORT YEARS LATER WHEN A BROADWAY PLAY NAMED AFTER HIM WON 11 TONY AWARDS.

I GUESS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE AARON BURR MUSICAL.

I'M ASSUMING IT WILL BE SOMETHING CATCHY LIKE BURR.

AND NOW YOU DO KNOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TRAPEZE ACTS CAN BE DANGEROUS.

MOST USE A SAFETY NET, BUT NOT HERE.

IN OUR TRAPEZE SEGMENT, TWO GUESTS FROM OPPOSING SIDES OF AN ISSUE SWING IN A LIVELY DISCUSSION AND WITH ANY LUCK, FIND A LITTLE COMMON GROUND.

THAT SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY EASIER FOR US THIS WEEK AS WE WELCOME FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MY GOOD FRIENDS REPUBLICAN BRIAN FITZPATRICK AND DEMOCRAT JARED GOLDEN, BOTH MEMBERS OF A GROUP WITH THE BEST NAME IN WASHINGTON, THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS.

A GROUP I WAS PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH FOR MY ENTIRE EIGHT YEARS IN CONGRESS.

SO, WHAT IS THIS GROUP AND WHAT PROBLEMS ARE THEY SOLVING?

LET'S GO TO JARED AND BRIAN.

JARED WALCZAK YOU ARE FROM MAINE.

I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR MAINE SHIRT ON, THE STATE SHIRT OF MAINE IT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM SOLVER CAULK US?

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT IN WASHINGTON BRIEFLY.

>> PROBLEM SOLVERS, ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS ABOUT IT FIRST OF ALL IS THAT WE TRY TO KEEP A PERFECT BALANCE IN MEMBERSHIP DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN.

GENERALLY IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE CAUCUS, YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO COME AND JOIN WITH YOU.

THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH YOU GET VOTED IN.

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY YOU WANT IN.

THE CAUCUS HAS TO DECIDE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO BEING PRAGMATIC, THOUGHTFUL AND DISCERNING AND SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.

>> SO HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET, BRIAN, DO YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH, I MEAN GENERALLY UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WOULD BE A FEW TIMES-- WELL, IT WOULD BE DURING THE DAY AFTER FLY-IN DAYS, WE TRY TO DECONFLICT WITH THE OTHER CAUCUSES, YOU KNOW, JARED IS A MEMBER OF THE BLUE DOGS, I'M A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNANCE GROUP, THE TUESDAY GROUP THAT YOU LED WHEN WERE YOU IN CONGRESS.

MOST OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IS AT THE WORKING GROUP LEVEL SO EVERY WEEK WE ARE SENDING OUT BILLS THAT ARE TWO PARTY SOLUTIONS THAT WERE DRAFTED NOT, YOU KNOW, AFTER INTRODUCTION BUT BEFORE INTRODUCTION WERE DRAFTED BY MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES INSIDE THE CAUCUS.

SO IF DON OR ME AND JARED ARE WORKING ON A BILL AND IT GETS PUT TOGETHER, WE PUT IT UP FOR ENDORSEMENT.

THAT'S THE YOMAN'S WORK OF THE GROUP IS MORE THE WORKING GROUP LEVEL ON INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATIVE ITEMS.

>> SO WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT THE DIVISIVENESS IN POLITICS AND THAT POLITICS ARE BROKEN.

YOU ARE BOTH TELLING ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW BUT AMERICA MAY NOT KNOW, JARED WALCZAK YOU GET TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, JUST SIT DOWN AND YOU SIT ACROSS A TABLE AND YOU WORK TOGETHER.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE EMANATED FROM THIS GROUP THAT ARE POSITIVES?

>> THE GROUP HAS GROWN, IT'S ABOUT 60 PEOPLE THESE DAYS.

AND THERE IS A DRAFT THAT SHOWS THE VOTING BEHAVIORS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND HOW OFTEN THEY SHOW THE VOTE WITH THEIR PARTY AND YOU HAVE ALL THE DEMS IN ONE GROUP AND ALL THE REABSZ IN A GROUP OVER HERE AND THESE TWO LONELY DOGS IN THE MIDDLE AND THAT'S BRIAN AND I, THE MOST BIPARTISAN VOTING RECORDS IN THIS CONGRESS.

WE HAVE WORKED ON LEGISLATION THAT WE THINK HAS MOVED THE NEEDLE WITH AID TO OUR ALLIES, UKRAINE AND ISRAEL.

AND PUSHING STRONGLY FOR BORDER SECURITY IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

AND IN THE LAST CONGRESS, YOU WERE PART OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUCCESSES OF THE PROBLEM SOLVERS WHICH WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WAS.

IT WAS MAINE HAS SEEN TWO BILLION IN ROAD REPAIRS AND JOBS COMING INTO OUR STATE TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

JOHN, YOU WROTE IT.

AND THE PROBLEM SOLVERS HELPED GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEXT AND THAT IS, YOU STICK YOUR NECK OUT WITH THESE BECAUSE I REMEMBER I GOT INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH LEADERSHIP AND I WAS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT I GOT INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE BECAUSE I HAD THE AUDACITY TO VOTE FOR IT, A BILL I HELPED WRITE AND HELPED PRODUCE.

TELL ME SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITHIN YOUR OWN PARTY, MAYBE BRIAN, YOU CAN START, WHEN YOU DO THINGS WITH THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS OR YOU DO THINGS REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.

IS THERE PRESSURE AND RECRIMINATIONS AT TIMES?

>> OH YEAH, JOHN, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

YOU WERE IN THAT CONFERENCE MEETING AFTER WE VOTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND AIT PASSED.

THEY WERE THREATENING TO KICK US OFF COMMITTEES AND THREATENING YOUR LEADERSHIP POST ON HOMELAND SECURITY.

SHOWING COURAGE, UNFORTUNATELY, COMES WITH A LOT OF CONSEQUENCES ON THE HILL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JARED WALCZAK-- JARED, JOHN, YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST STARTED CONGRESS, HOW SHOCKING IT IS.

THEY TRY TO DIVIDE YOU.

YOU MEET IN SEPARATE ROOMS.

EVERYTHING IS SEPARATE AND SO COUNTERINTUITIVE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY WANT EVERYONE TO QUOTE UNQUOTE STAY IN LINE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT BUT SOMETIMES PARTY LEADERSHIP WANTS.

WHAT YOU ARE GROUP IS THAT WE ARE A PART OF IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THIS.

WE BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF THE PICTURE BEHIND ME, INDEPENDENCE.

THE BIRTH RIGHT OF OUR NATION WAS THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENT THINKING THAT'S WHAT I THINK LIKE TO THINK OUR GROUP IS ABOUT.

>> I'M SURE YOU AGREE WITH FITSY, I CALL HIM FITSY BECAUSE HE IS MY FRIEND LOU DO WE FIX THAT?

INSTEAD OF JUST WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK, AND WORK AGO CROSS THE AISLE, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT FITSY DESCRIBED?

>> WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND RECRUIT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND GET THEM INTO PROBLEM SOLVERS AND CREATE A KIND OF, YOU KNOW, A SPIRIT OR ATTITUDE IN THAT GROUP THAT WE ARE GOING GET THINGS DONE FROM THE MIDDLE WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT WE ARE WILLING TO STAND UP TO OUR PARTY LEADERSHIP AND TAKE THE BUFFALOES, WHICH-- TAKE THE BLOWS, WHICH, HOW CRAZY IS IT THAT BRIAN DESCRIBED IT.

YOU TWO WERE TAKING HEAT FOR SUPPORTING AN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND IN THAT SAME FIGHT, BY THE WAY, EIGHT OF US ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU REMEMBER, WERE HOLDING UP THE BUILD BACK BETTER PROPOSAL THAT THEY WERE KEEPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW HOSTAGE TO GET LEVERAGE TO PASS BOTH.

AND WE WERE PREVENTING THAT AND I HAD PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE SITTING AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIND SOMEONE TO PRIMARY ME AND TAKE ME OUT OF OFFICE BECAUSE I WAS WORKING WITH YOU GUYS TO GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW FREE.

IT'S TOUGH POLITICS, BUT WE JUST NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE TO GET THINGS DONE AND SAY, YOU FLOW WHAT?

IF I LOSE AS A RESULT OR IF I GET PUNISHED BY LEADERS, THAT'S OKAY.

I'VE DONE RIGHT BY THE COUNTRY AND MY CONSTITUENTS.

>> WELL, AND IN MY MIND YOU ARE BOTH PATRIOTS BECAUSE YOU ARE SELFLESS.

YOU CARE MORE ABOUT THE MISSION THAN YOU DO ABOUT GETTING RE-ELECTED AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S A RARITY IN WASHINGTON AND WE NEED MORE OF IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHEDDING LIGHT ON A POSITIVE THING THAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON THESE DAYS.

AND I HOPE YOU KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT BECAUSE WE NEED YOU THERE IN WASHINGTON.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR ELECTIONS.

>> THANKS, JOHN.

>> THANKS, JOHN.

>> PROBLEM SOLVED.

IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A TRIP TO D.C. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JOINING ME NOW IS LAUREN MADDOX, SENIOR POLICY ADVISER FROM HOLLAND AND KNIGHT.

GIVE US THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT IS GOING DOWN IN WASHINGTON.

WELCOME LAUREN.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THANKS, LAUREN.

WHAT IS GOING ON THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON THAT WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT?

>> YEAH, WELL ONE OF THE BIG ITEMS WE ARE WATCHING IS THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATION BROUGHT BY HURRICANE HELENE.

SO MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE LOST SO MUCH AND SO WHILE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE IS UNDER WAY, IT'S GOING TO BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WE GET A REALISTIC NUMBER.

AND THAT'S WHEN CONGRESS COMES IN.

THERE IS SOME TALK ABOUT BRINGING MEMBERS BACK TO TOWN EARLIER THAN THEY WERE SLATED TO RETURN IN MID NOVEMBER POST ELECTION BUT THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN, IN PART BECAUSE BEFORE THEY LEFT TOWN LAST WEEK, CONGRESS INCLUDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FEMA, ABOUT $20 BILLION IN SPENDING AUTHORITY SO THAT WILL BE SORT OF BRIDGE FUNDING THAT WILL GET THEM TO MID NOVEMBER UNTIL MEMBERS CAN COME BACK, LOOK AT THAT ASSESSMENT REPORT AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED.

THESE THINGS TYPICALLY HAPPEN ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS AND SO CONGRESS IS GOING HAVE TO PASS A SUPPLEMENTAL TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> SO IT'S FUNNY, YOU HEAR SO MUCH OUT THERE ALREADY ABOUT THIS AND THE POLITICALIZATION AND CROSS FINGER POINTING AND SOME PEOPLE SAY THERE IS NO MONEY LEFT FROM FEMA.

ALL THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT TRUE.

BUT IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME.

WHAT IS SHOCKING IS HOW DEVASTATING THE DAMAGE WAS, NOT JUST ON THE COAST OF FLORIDA BUT ALSO INLAND IN PLACES LIKE ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED BY IT.

SO HOPEFULLY IT IS A TIME WHERE THE MONEY WILL GET THERE BUT IT IS INEVITABLE THAT THE FINGER POINTING WILL GO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THERE IS A DISASTER.

>> YEAH, IT ALWAYS DOES.

BUT I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU KNOW, THEY TYPICALLY WILL COME BACK TOGETHER AND THEY'LL LOOK AT THE DAMAGE REPORT AND THEY WILL DO THIS ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.

BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME FINGER POINTING REGARDING WAS THERE ENOUGH PREPARATION DONE, WERE COMMUNITIES PREPARED FOR THIS?

AND THEN WAS THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TIMELY, ADEQUATE, ET CETERA.

SO YOU ARE RIGHT.

THERE IS TALK ABOUT FEMA NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY BUT CONGRESS DID INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL $20 BILLION LAST WEEK, SO HOPEFULLY IN THE SHORT-TERM, BASIC NEEDS WILL BE ADDRESSED AND THEN WE CAN IDENTIFY WHAT OTHER NEEDS ARE REQUIRED.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

CAN YOU TOUCH REAL QUICK ON THE PORT STRIKE WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF TEMPORARILY.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WITH THE EMPHASIS ON BEING TEMPORARILY.

THEY PASSED A TENT TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.

I ANTICIPATED THIS WOULD GO INTO NEXT WEEK BUT THEY QUICKLY WRAPPED UP AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO COME BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

BUT THEY'VE SORT OF KICKED EVERYTHING DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL MID NOVEMBER.

SO PAST THE ELECTION, PAST THE HOLIDAYS, AND THEN WE MAY SEE SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY AGAIN COME JANUARY.

BUT AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, THIS IS GOOD NEWS, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES LITERALLY STRETCHING FROM MAINE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TEXT GLASS WHAT A-- ALL THE WAY DOWN TO TEXAS.

>> WHAT A SHOCK THEY KICKED IT TO AFTER THE ELECTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH LAUREN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

NOW LET'S LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING, FOLKS.

TIME TO GO CLOWNING AROUND IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS AS WE WELCOME NATIONALLY RENOWNED COMEDIAN AND OUR RESIDENT CLOWN, MOODY McCARTHY.

HEY, MOOD AGREE CONGRESSMAN, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

HONORED TO BE ON THIS SHOW.

I GREW UP WATCHING THIS SHOW.

IT'S SUCH A THRILL.

I HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR CAREER AND YOU HAVE SO MUCH INTEGRITY I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> DO YOU DO POLITICAL COMEDY?

>> WELL, HERE IS MY EXPERIENCE.

WHEN YOU START DOING STANDUP COMEDY, EVERYBODY SAYS DON'T DO POLITICAL JOKES BECAUSE ONLY 50% OF YOUR AUDIENCE IS GOING TO LIKE YOUR JOKE AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE GOOD ADVICEFUL YOU DO COMEDY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN YOU REALIZE, HEY, 50% WOULD BE A AMAZING FOR ONE OF MY JOKES.

>> I'LL ALWAYS TAKE 51%.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED IN MY ELECTIONS.

>> I'M NOT EVEN THAT AMBITIOUS.

I JUST WANT 50% AND I PRAY THERE IS NO THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE THAT WILL KNOCK MY JOKES DOWN TO 41%.

>> WHO IS CLOWNING AROUND THIS WEEK.

>> THE BUDGET ELECTION IS TO INTOSS.

THE CANDIDATES COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT.

DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES IS EVEN CONSIDERED A THREAT TO AWE TOCK AWE TOCKCY.

J.D.

VANCE AND TIM WALZ DEBATED IN NEW YORK CITY.

LIVE DEBATE IN FRONT OF YOUR OPPONENT, 43 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME.

IT SOUNDS DAUNTING BUT BY THE END OF IT, I SAID I THINK THAT'S EASIER THAN BEING MARRIED BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN THESE DEBATES.

YOU CAN REDIRECT ANY WAY YOU WANT.

WE HAVE A CLIP RIGHT HERE.

>> THE QUESTION WAS CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DISCREPANCY.

>> ALL I SAID ON THIS WAS I GOT THERE THIS SUMMER AND MISSPOKE ON THIS.

LY JUST-- THAT'S WHAT I'VE SAID.

DID HE LOSE THE 2020 ELECTION?

>> TIM, I'M FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE.

>> I'M GOING TO USE THAT TACT AT HOME.

IF MY WIFE CALLS ME ON THE ROAD AND SAYS THE NEIGHBORS ARE CALLING ME AT WORK.

YOU LEFT THE DOG IN THE BACKYARD.

I'M GOING TO SAY HONEY WHAT IS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW IS HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU LOOK TOMORROW.

>> THEY SAY IT COMES DOWN TO WHO YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A BEER WITH AND REGARDING THESE TWO, WHO WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A BEER WITH?

>> THAT'S THE AGE OLD QUESTION RIGHT THERE.

J.D.

VANCE HAS HAD A VERY INTERESTING LIFE.

HE HAS PROBABLY GOT SOME GREAT STORIES.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THE FOLLOWING DAY HE WOULD DENY EVERYTHING HE TOLD YOU WHEN WERE YOU OUT DRINKING, RIGHT?

NOW TIM WALZ, HE IS A GOOD HANG, YOU CAN TELL THIS GUY HAS GOT GOOD ENERGY, VERY POSITIVE GUY.

HE WOULD BE BUYING ROUNDS OF DRINKS FOR SURE.

BUT I GOT THE FEELING HE WOULD YOU WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE HIM HOME AND HE LIVES IN ST. PAUL MINNESOTA.

>> I'M NOT DRIVING TO ST. PAUL BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT HERE AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, MY FRIEND.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, CONGRESSMAN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FOR OUR FIRST EPISODE OF WHICH WE HOPE WILL ♪ ♪