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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME AMERICA, TO BALANCING ACT!

THE SHOW THAT AIMS TO TAME THE POLITICAL CIRCUS OF TWO-PARTY POLITICS, I'M JOHN KATKO.

THIS WEEK WE WELCOME PBS HOST AND AUTHOR, DAVID RUBENSTEIN INTO THE CENTER RING TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK.

ON THE TRAPEZE, FORMER CONGRESSMAN JIM WALSH AND I WILL CATCH UP WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT JOHN MANNION, AND TAKE A SWING AT GIVING HIM SOME ADVICE ON HIS NEW ROLE.

WE'LL GO CLOWNING AROUND WITH COMEDIAN, MOODY MCARTHY.

AND, DID YOU KNOW, LBJ WAS A RECKLESS DRIVER?

BUT FIRST, LET'S TIPTOE ON THE TIGHTROPE.

WELL, IT'S OVER.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS OVER.

[ CHEERING ] AND NOW, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE AN EVEN TOUGHER CHOICE TO MAKE; HOW TO ARRANGE THE SEATING FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER.

SO PEOPLE DON'T KILL EACH OTHER.

ACTUALLY, HOW DID DONALD TRUMP WIN SO DECISIVELY?

WAS IT THE ECONOMY???

THE BORDER??

OR, LIKE HIM, MAYBE WE JUST COULDN'T RESIST THAT GOLDEN ORANGE GLOW.

FOR HER PART, WHERE DID KAMALA HARRIS' CAMPAIGN MISS A BEAT?

WAS IT HER VP PICK?

TOO MUCH BEYONCÉ?

NO, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH BEYONCE.

PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE WE BARELY HEARD FROM HER; OR, PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE SHE ONLY HAD A FOUR MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN.

MAYBE JOE SHOULD'VE HIT THE SO, LIKE ALL ELECTIONS, IT'S BITTER FOR ONE, SWEET FOR ANOTHER BUT CHEER UP, NOT TOO SOUR FOR US TO SURVIVE IT AGAIN IN JUST FOUR SHORT YEARS.

AND WITH THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN MIND, LET'S STEP TO THE CENTER RING FOR AN INTERVIEW WE RECORDED PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JOINING ME IN THE CENTER RING IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK "THE HIGHEST CALLING" CONVERSATIONS OF THE PRESIDENCY.

Y IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE CARLISLE GROUP AND A FAMILIAR FACE FOR PBS VIEWERS AS THE HOST OF HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN.

WELCOME, DAVID, TO BALANCING ACT.

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, DAVID, I HAVE TO SAY PRELIMINARILY, THROUGH MY EIGHT YEARS IN CONGRESS, ONE OF THE GREAT PLEASURES I HAD WAS YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DIALOGUE SERIES WHERE YOU BROUGHT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TOGETHER AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EVERY SIX WEEKS TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT AUTHORS AND DIFFERENT BOOKS.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS IN DOING THAT AND SPONSORING THAT?

>> I I AM THE CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUPPORT BOARD SO I WORK WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND I THOUGHT IF WE COULD BRING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT THE PRESS WAS NOT THERE WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PLAY TO THE AUDIENCE, THEY MIGHT BE FRIENDLIER TO EACH OTHER AND THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTRY.

SECONDLY, THEY MAKE THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY AND THEY SHOULD KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE HISTORY.

I TENDED TO EMPHASIZE BRINGING SOMEONE TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD CALM, MAYBE A COUPLE HIN DREAD EACH TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRESS THERE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIT WITH PEOPLE FROM THEIR OWN PARTY AND SADLY THEY DON'T KNOW PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER HOUSE OR OTHER PARTY ANYMORE BECAUSE FRATERNIZING FROM PEOPLE IN THE OTHER PARTY IS NOT LIKED IN WASHINGTON ANYMORE AND YOU DON'T HAVE VERY MANY CONFERENCE COMMITTEES BECAUSE THERE IS NO LEGISLATION VERY MUCH ANYMORE SO YOU DON'T GET TO KNOW PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER HOUSE AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PLACES WHERE PEOPLE TRAVEL TOGETHER.

IT HAS WORKED OUT WELL AND YOU CAN GET TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FROM UNDERGROUND PASSAGES AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE TO GET THERE.

IT WORKED OUT.

WE HAVE DONE ONE EVERY SIX WEEKS THE LAST 10 YEARS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE SCHEDULED BEFORE CONGRESS LEAVES THE ENDS OF THE YEAR.

>> THEY WERE FANTASTIC AND I THINK YOUR IDEA OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER WORKED BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS DURING THOSE DINNERS.

WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND OF COURSE DURING THOSE DINNERS WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT PRESIDENTS AND A LOT ABOUT BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT PRESIDENTS AND HERE WE ARE WITH ANOTHER BOOK OF YOURS ABOUT PRESIDENTS.

WHAT ABOUT THIS BOOK, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE OR DIFFERENT FROM THE BOOKS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE IT?

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THOUSANDS OF BOOKS ON THE PRESIDENCY AND I CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD DROP OTHERS ONES AND READ THIS ONE.

THIS IS MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

I WORKED IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT CARTER, AND I INTERVIEWED OTHER LIVING PRESIDENTS, MANY OF THEM AND I INTERVIEWED SCHOLARS ABOUT OTHER PRESIDENTS WHO ARE NO LONGER ALIVE AND IT WAS JUST MY DISTILLATION OF WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE PRESIDENTS AND WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AND I CALLED THE BOOK "THE HIGHEST CALLING" BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD AT THIS POINT AND HAS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE WOODROW WILSON WAS PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES AND WENT OVER TO PARIS TO RESOLVE WORLD WAR I.

THE PRESIDENT IS CHEERLY PEOPLE IN CHINA MAY DISAGREE, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE WESTERN WORLD, THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT JOB THAN BEING PRESIDENT AND I THINK AMERICANS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THEIR PRESIDENT BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS GOING TO AFFECT THEIR LIVES A GREAT DEAL AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL VOTE AFTER THEY LEARN ABOUT PRESIDENTS.

I TRY TO POINT OUT IN THE BOOK, 160 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BUT 80 MILLION ELIGIBLE TO VOTE DID NOT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE TO MAKE DEMOCRACY STRONGER WHEN PEOPLE VOTE.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE.

AND YOU KNOW, I'M SUCH A STUDENT OF PRESIDENTS AND PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY AND I LOVE READING BIOGRAPHIES OF PRESIDENTS.

THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN-- THIS BOOK IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT PRESIDENT, THE CHARACTERISTICS OR QUALITIES THAT MAKE THEM GREAT?

>> A PERSON TYPICALLY WE REGARD PILOTS AS BEING SUCCESSFUL AND GREAT IF THEY HAVE GOTTEN RE-ELECTED.

WE HAVE HAD PRESIDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED PRETTY GOOD THAT DIDN'T GET RE-ELECTED BUT GENERALLY ABLE TO COMMAND ENOUGH POPULAR SUPPORT SO THAT THEY ONLY GOT ELECTED ONCE BUT TWICE IS A GOOD SIGN OF BEING A GOOD PRESIDENT.

A GREAT PRESIDENT.

BUT ALSO SOMEBODY WHO ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING, WHO ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING AND DID SO IN A WAY THAT MAKES AMERICAN PEOPLE PROUD.

I THINK SOMEBODY WHO IS A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND ALSO IN THE UNITED STATES IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WANT AS WELL.

SADLY WE DON'T GET MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE, I WOULD SAY, THE BEST IN SOCIETY SOMETIMES, TO TAKE THIS JOB.

WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS STARTED, WE ONLY HAD THREE MILLION PEOPLE BUT OUT OF THAT THREE MILLION PEOPLE, ONLY ABOUT 400,000 WERE ELIGIBLE TO BE IN GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF STRICT CONCERNS ABOUT WOMEN VOTING OR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE PROPERTY VOTING AND OF COURSE THERE WERE SLAVES AS WELL.

BUT OUT OF 450,000 PEOPLE.

WE GOT GEORGE WASHINGTON, JOHN ADAMS, THOMAS JEFFERSON AND JAMES MADISON AMONG OTHERS.

NOW WE HAVE 330 MILLION PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE THE QUALITY OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE WITH SUCH A SMALL POPULATION AT THE TIME.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

IT HAPPENED BECAUSE MANY OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN SOCIETY CHOOSE NOT TO GO INTO POLITICS ANYMORE.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE CITIZEN STATESMEN AS MUCH WHO GIVE EVERYTHING UP, LEAVING A BUSINESS, FOUNDATION OR UNIVERSITY AND RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

WE DON'T GET THAT ANYMORE.

WE GET A NARROW SET OF PEOPLE, POLITICIANS TYPICALLY AND OFTEN THEY'RE FLAWED IN SOME WAYS.

>> SO YOU INTERVIEWED FOUR OUT OF THE SIX PAST PRESIDENTS THAT ARE STILL ALIVE.

ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE INTERVIEWS THAT REALLY JUMPED OUT TO YOU AND YOU FOUND INTERESTING?

>> WELL, WHEN I INTERVIEWED JOE BIDEN ALONE FOR AN HOUR IN THE OVAL OFFICE, HE WAS STILL THOUGHT TO BE THE LIKELY NOMINEE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SO I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND I THOUGHT HE DID OKAY IN THE INTERVIEW.

ALL THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAD ABOUT HIM, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THAT INTERVIEW.

BUT DONALD TRUMP IS SOMEBODY THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE AS WELL.

HE GAVE ME AN INTERVIEW RIGHT BEFORE TRIAL ONE MORNING AND I THINK HE IS WHAT HE IS.

WE ALL KNOW HIS STYLE OF SPEAKING IS DIFFERENT THAN THE STYLE OF SPEAKING OF SOME OTHER PRESIDENTS BUT HE CLEARLY IS AN IMPRESSIVE POLITICAL FIGURE.

HE HAS BEEN NOMINATED THREE STRAIGHT TIMES FOR FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

NOBODY EMPTION HAS EVER DONE THAT.

>> I LOVE ASKING THIS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HISTORY JUNKIES LIKE ME AND IF YOU GO BACK TO, OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THEM, WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ONE AND WHY?

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THE GREATEST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME WITHOUT ANY DOUBT IS ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

HE HELD THE COUNTRY TOGETHER WHEN A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION IN THE NORTH WAS WILLING TO SET LET THE SOUTH GO AWAY.

HE HELD THE COUNTRY TOGETHER.

WE ARE ALL BETTER OF FOR THAT.

FREED THE SLAVES ULTIMATELY.

HAD HE LIVED RECONSTRUCTION WOULD HAVE WORKED BETTER BUT HE DID IT WITH HUMILITY.

HE DIDN'T GO AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING I JUST WON THE CIVIL WAR OR THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

HE HAD A SENSE OF COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE AND HE WAS ARTICULATE.

HE WROTE THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS WITH NO SPEECH RIGHT WRITER.

272 WORDS THAT IS THE BEST EXPLANATION OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.

HUMBLE, SMART, GOOD TALKER, ALSO A PERSON THAT WON THE CIVIL WAR.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

HE WAS TERRIFIC.

LOOKING FORWARD WHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS TO OUR COUNTRY?

THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH DIVISIVENESS AND SO MUCH VITRIOL AND WE ARE JUST FINISHING UP WITH A VERY HIGHLY CONTESTED CAMPAIGN.

WE HAVE A NEW PERSON COMING INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR MOVING FORWARD TO HELP OUR COUNTRY, MAYBE GET BACK ON TRACK?

I THINK IF EVERYONE READ MORE ABOUT OUR HISTORY WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THIS I?

>> I THINK THE COUNTRY HAS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE ON SO MANY ISSUES AND IT WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY WHO CAN BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER TO HELP THE COUNTRY IN MANY WAYS.

RIGHT NOW EVEN, LIKE RIGHT NOW THE HOUSE IS RUN BY THE REPUBLICANS, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE A TWO-SEAT MAJORITY AND WITH THAT MAJORITY THEY ACT AS IF THEY HAVE A 50 SEAT MAJORITY.

THE SAME WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE.

THEY HAVE A ONE SEAT MAJORITY BUT THEY ACT AS IF THEY HAVE A MUCH LARGER MAJORITY.

I WISH PEOPLE WOULD GOVERN WITH MORE COMPASSION FOR THE OTHER SIDE AND UNDERSTANDING THE OTHER SIDE'S ISSUES.

RIGHT NOW THE COUNTRY, I THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF WE COULD HAVE MORE BIPARTISANSHIP.

BIPARTISANSHIP IS A WORD THAT ISN'T USED VERY MUCH ANYMORE.

AND IF YOU ARE CONSIDERED BIPARTISAN BY YOUR POLITICAL PARTY YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED A STRONG LEADER IN YOUR OWN PARTY SO BIPARTISANSHIP WOULD BE GREAT TO BRING IT BACK.

>> WHEN I WAS IN CONGRESS, I HEADED UP THE MODERATE RING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS FROM CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS WANTED TO JOIN IT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN IT BUT THEY WERE CONCERNED IF THEY JOINED IT, THEY MIGHT GET A PRIMARY BACK HOME AND SO THERE IS ALWAYS CONCERN ABOUT GETTING RE-ELECTED.

AND TO ME, ONE OF THE REASONS I LEFT AFTER EIGHT YEARS WAS THAT I BELIEVE IN TERM LIMITS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TERM LIMITS AND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THINGS?

>> WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION WERE HELD, THERE WERE SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TERM LIMITS FOR THE PRESIDENT AND FOR CONGRESS.

ULTIMATELY THEY DID NOT DO THEM.

I THINK TERM LIMITS HAVE A PLUS.

BUT THEY'RE NOT PERFECT.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU A MEMBER OF CONGRESS KNOWS THEY'RE LEAVING, THEY TEND TO DO THINGS AT THE END THAT MIGHT HELP THEM IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR SOMETHING SO IT'S NOT A PERFECT WAY TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.

BUT IT MIGHT BE IMPROVEMENT.

I THINK AN EXPERIMENT WITH IT WOULDN'T BE THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

>> FORMER SPEAKER GINGRICH WAS ON OUR SHOW A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HE SUGGESTED THAT TERM LIMITS WOULD BE A GOOD THING BUT YOU GOT TO MAKE THEM LONG ENOUGH SO THAT PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP SOME REAL EXPERTISE AND GET SOME EXPERTISE IN GOVERNING.

SO, YEAH, YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE EXIT PLAN FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS.

>> THE THING THAT YOU OBSERVED AS A FORMER MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN THEY'RE IN CONGRESS.

WHEN THEY'RE IN CONGRESS, THEY'RE DESPERATELY AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE AN ELECTION AND WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING TO STAY ELECTED.

WHEN THEY LEAVE OFFICE, THEY SAY WOW, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALL MIGHTY I'M FREE AT LAST.

SO MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHEN THEY LEAVE TELL ME HOW HAPPY THEY ARE BUT BEFORE THEY LEAVE THEY'RE AFRAID THEIR LIFE WILL END IF THEY'RE NOT A MEMBER OF CANNING.

>> I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION, LIFE AFTER CONGRESS IS PRETTY GOOD AND I'M ENJOYING IT QUITE A BIT AND ESPECIALLY HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO GREAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

SO YOU KNOW, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME ON THE SHOW.

I COULD TALK TO YOU FOR HOURS.

YOU HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC.

SO THANKS SO MUCH, MY FRIEND.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THE BOOK IS THE HIGHEST CALLING.

CONVERSATIONS ON AMERICAN PRESIDENCY AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR DID YOU KNOW.

DID YOU KNOW THAT, EVEN BEFORE THE INTERNET, PRESIDENTS COULD BE REAL TROLLS?

TAKE PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON, FOR EXAMPLE.

HE HAD AN AMPHIBIOUS CAR THAT COULD DRIVE RIGHT INTO THE WATER AND CONVERT TO A BOAT.

PRETTY COOL.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIS PASSENGERS, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

AS A GAG, HE WOULD TALK TO HIS MECHANIC ON THE RADIO AND ASK IF THE BRAKES WERE FIXED.

THE MECHANIC WOULD ANSWER, "NOT YET, BUT I THINK YOU CAN HANDLE IT."

HE'D THEN GO CAREENING DOWN A RAMP TOWARD A LAKE PRETENDING THE BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE HIS RIDERS WERE SCREAMING IN TERROR.

HE FIGURED THAT ONCE THEY HIT THE WATER AND HADN'T DROWNED, THEY'D GET THE JOKE.

EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE PASSENGER WHO BAILED OUT EARLY-TOTAL BUZZKILL!

LATER JOHNSON ASKED HER WHY SHE JUMPED.

SHE SAID, "I CAN'T SWIM."

GOOD THING HE LEFT LIFE PRESERVERS FOR HIS PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT.

AND, HOPEFULLY, A FRESH PAIR OF UNDERGARMENTS!

NO WONDER THEY DON'T LET PRESIDENTS DRIVE.

AND NOW YOU DO KNOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THE OUTCOME OF THE 2024 ELECTION MEANS THE US SENATE WILL NOW HAVE A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, BUT THE HOUSE IS STILL PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS.

JOINING ME ON THE TRAPEZE ARE A FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN AND A NEWLY ELECTED DEMOCRATIC ONE.

PLUS, WE ALL HAVE TWO THINGS IN COMMON; WE REPRESENT THE SAME DISTRICT OR GOING TO REPRESENT THE 15EU78 DISTRICT AND WE ARE ALL IRISH.

FORMER CONGRESSMAN JIM WALSH AND CONGRESSMAN-ELECT, JOHN MANNION, WELCOME TO BALANCING ACT.

BOTH OF YOU, GENTLEMEN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BIG WIN LAST WEEK.

YOU DEFY GRAVITY.

YOU WON BY EIGHT POINTS IN AN ELECTION WHERE TRUMP REALLY KIND OF DOMINATED NATIONWIDE.

SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, I GOT TO ASK YOU WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

>> YEAH, FOR MY RACE, YOU KNOW, WE FELT GOOD ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE HAD PUT IN.

WE GOT TO EVERY CORNER OF THE DISTRICT AND CERTAINLY AREAS THAT I HAD NOT REPRESENTED BEFORE.

AND I THINK BEING A HOMETOWN PERSON AND HAVING DEEP CONNECTIONS HELPED ME.

ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHAT HAPPENED AGAIN WAS I A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED?

I WAS SURPRISED CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT I SAW IN THE FIRST TRUMP PRESIDENCY, CERTAINLY YEAR THE END WAS BEYOND CONCERNING AND, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY AS YOU KNOW, SUPPORTED VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AND NOW I'M GOING TO BE IN CONGRESS.

HE IS GOING TO BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND PLACES TO MAKE IT WORK AND I GOT TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU TWO GENTLEMEN DID.

>> SO, CONGRESSMAN WALSH, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE WAY TRUMP WON AND HOW HE WON AND DEFIED A LOT EVEN THE POLLS?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> AS IT TURNS OUT, IT WAS ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

REMEMBER CARVEL, CLINTON'S PERSON WHO SAID IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID.

IT IS STILL.

PEOPLE VOTED THEIR POCKETBOOKS AND THEY PERCEIVED-- AND BY THE WAY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP WON THE POPULAR VOTE.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

YOU CAN'T UNDER ESTIMATE THAT.

SO, BUT PEOPLE VOTED THEIR PURSE AND HE WON AND THE REST IS TO BE DETERMINED.

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY THEY VOTED ON THE ECONOMY.

EVERY POLL SHOWED THAT GOINGS TO BE THE BIG ISSUE BUT THEN YOU ADD INTO THAT ISSUES WITH THE BORDER AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GAS IS MORE EXPENSIVE, FOOD IS MORE EXPENSIVE.

ALL THOSE THINGS FACTORED IN AND , YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO BE LEARNED FROM THAT, FROM THIS ELECTION FOR DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM THEM AND USE IT TO THEIR BENEFIT GOING FORWARD?

>> I'LL SAY THIS.

I KNOW THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, RIGHT?

AND I WAS A TEACHER.

MY BIG 5 WAS A TEACHER.

SO WE HAVE-- MY WIFE WAS A TEACHER.

WHEN I WAS IN ALBANY AND A LOT OF THAT INFLATION WAS INCREASING, WE ACCELERATED MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUTS AND PROVIDED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

SOME OTHER THINGS, TOO.

CHILD TAX CREDIT NOW.

HAVE YOU TO RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE.

AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.

WE ARE NOT A FAR LEFT DISTRICT.

WE ARE NOT A FAR RIGHT DISTRICT AND THAT'S WHY IT'S UP TO PEOPLE LIKE US WHO REPRESENT PEOPLE LIKE THIS TO OPPOSE YOUR PARTY WHEN IT WORKS AND I HAVE DONE THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL ATTRIBUTE TO MY SUCCESS OR NOT.

BUT I KNOW IT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT DEMAND.

>> SO CONGRESSMAN WALSH, WERE YOU THERE 20 YEARS.

YOU ROSE TO HIGH PROMINENCE AS ONE OF THE CARDINALS ON APPROPRIATIONS WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN CONGRESS.

WERE YOU ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT CONTROLLED THE PURSE STRINGS.

SO YOU HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, SAW A LOT OF THINGS COME AND GO.

YOU WERE A GREAT MENTOR TO ME AND YOU HELPED ME NAVIGATE SOME OF THE LAND MINES EARLY ON OTHERWISE I HAVE BEEN WOULD OUT IN THE WILDERNESS.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR POINTERS OR WISDOM WITH JOHN AS HE GOES FORWARD AND GOES INTO THE LION'S DEN THAT IS CONGRESS.

>> THANKS FOR THE CREDIT YOU GAVE ME.

MOST OF MY LEARNING WAS DONE BY MAKING MISTAKES.

>> ME, TOO.

>> BUT YOU REMEMBER THOSE.

>> OH SURE.

>> JACK, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

YOU RAN A GREAT RACE.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU GOT DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE DO YOU LIVE DOWN THERE AND HERE.

OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE GOING TO COMMUTE I SUSPECT.

I DID FOR 20 YEARS, JOHN DID FOR 10 WAS IT?

>> EIGHT.

>> WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR FOR LEADERSHIP AND THAT MATTERS BECAUSE THEY WILL REMEMBER WHO YOU VOTED FOR AND THOSE WHO YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR WILL REMEMBER THAT, ALSO.

AND WHAT COMMITTEE YOU WANT TO CHOOSE.

YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR SO I SUSPECT YOU WILL WAX IN THAT DIRECTION.

BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT DECISION FOR YOUR CAREER.

>> I WANT TO AMPLIFY THAT.

JOHN BOEHNER TOOK ME ASIDE AND SAID ALL THESE IDIOTS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,000 CLIMB THE LADDER.

HE SAYS MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO FAIL.

TAKE SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND RUN WITH IT.

AND SO I WAS A PROSECUTOR AND SO I SAID I JUST WANT TO BE ON HOMELAND SECURITY.

EVERYONE IS CLIMBING ALL OVER THEMSELVES TO GET ON THIS COMMITTEE OR THAT COMMITTEE.

I STAYED ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND A FEW YEARS LATER I WAS HEAD OF A SUBCOMMITTEE FROM THE BEGINNING AND HEAD OF THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE BY THE TIME I LEFT CONGRESS.

AND THAT WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS.

MY ONLY ADVICE TO YOU IS FIND SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND STICK WITH IT AND DON'T BE A FOLLOWER.

BE A LEADER WITH WHAT YOU ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

>> THAT'S GREAT ADVICE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I'M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN IN THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE.

THE ONLY EVER CHAIR OF THE DISABILITIES COMMITTEE AND WE DID A LOT OF WORK AS IT RELATES TO HOUSING, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT SPACE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES AND THEIR ROLE IN THE WORKFORCE.

AND THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE DONE.

A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND WE DID WHAT WE COULD AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THAT SYSTEM REALLY NEEDS ROBUST SUPPORT.

>> WE GOT THE FINAL WORD HERE.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE YOUR FIRST TERM?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

LISTEN, WE HAVE A GREAT COUNTRY AND A GREAT REGION AND I KNOW THAT MY JOB IS TO BE A GOOD REFLECTION OF THIS DISTRICT AND ALSO BE SOMEBODY WHO DELIVERS FOR THE DISTRICT LIKE BOTH OF YOU DID.

AND THEN ALSO BE A CHECK ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE DISTRICT OR IS GOING TO HURT THE DISTRICT AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN LEGISLATION IN THE PAST THAT HAS DONE THAT, WHETHER THAT'S AGAINST MY OWN PARTY, THE PRESIDENT, OR WHOMEVER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE HERE EXPECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, GIVEN, WE COULD TALK FOREVER WITH BOTH OF YOU.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS DISTRICT AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY GOING FORWARD.

REMEMBER ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS, EVEN THE ONES THAT DON'T LIKE YOU.

WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU AND LIKE MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LET'S CATCH THE NEXT TRAIN TO WASHINGTON.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WITH US NOW IS LAUREN MADDOX, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT FIRST- RATE WASHINGTON LAW FIRM, HOLLAND AND KNIGHT, TO GIVE US A SNEAK PEEK, AT NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

AND BOY WILL IT BE SMACKDOWN.

WELCOME AGAIN, LAUREN.

>> HEY CONGRESSMAN, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WELL, WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED, MAN AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON?

>> YEAH, LOTS OF SURPRISES.

SO MEMBERS COME BACK ON TUESDAY AND OF COURSE THE ENERGY LEVEL IN WASHINGTON D.C. IS GOING TO GO WAY UP.

THEY'VE GOT SOME ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF TO TACKLE, RIGHT?

THEY'VE GOT TO DO THEIR LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT AMONG THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

OF COURSE MORE DRAMA ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BECAUSE OF COURSE WE HAVE THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER SOON TO BE MAJORITY LEADER McMcCONNELL IS LEAVING SO THAT'S A CONTEST THERE AND OF COURSE IN THE HOUSE, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE ELECTION RESULTS.

THERE IS A NUMBER OF RACES, ABOUT THREE DOZEN THAT HAVE YET TO BE CALLED BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS.

AS WELL YOU'VE GOT DEPARTING MEMBERS PACKING UP.

YOU'VE GOT NEW MEMBERS COMING IN FOR ORIENTATION AND JOCKEYING FOR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

SO THAT'S IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUCKET.

THEN YOU HAVE THE OPERATIONAL BUCKET.

AND IN THAT BUCKET THEY'VE GOT TO GET THOSE FY'25 FUNDING BILLS DONE.

THEY'VE LEFT THEMSELVES A LOT OF HOME WORK TO DO, NOT A LOT OF TIME TO DO IT.

THEY'VE GOT THE DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL BILL THEY HAVE TO GET DONE.

THEY HAVE TO GET THE FARM BILL DONE.

ANNUAL DEFENSE POLICY BILL DONE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> YEAH, AND OVERLAY WITH ALL THAT, THE ULTIMATE CAGE MATCH FOR GETTING AHEAD AND GETTING THE POSITIONS YOU WANT HAS BEGUN.

YOU HAVE THE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND THEN OF COURSE EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'RE GOING INTO TRUMP'S CABINET AS WELL.

I'M HEARING THAT FROM TONS OF PEOPLE.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON ALL OF THAT GOING ON AS WELL?

>> WELL, HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF HE IS TAKING, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING.

BUT IF THE MARGINS ARE SO SLIM, THEY'RE UP BY ONE OR TWO, HE REALLY HAS TO LOOK AT WHAT THE SPECIAL ELECTION MIGHT LOOK LIKE, IS IT AN APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, THAT SORE OF SORT OF THING.

IN THE SENATE IT IS GOING TO BE A WORKING MAJORITY IF THEY GET TO 53 OR 54.

IT LOOKS LIKELY THEY WILL GET TO 53.

SO THAT WILL GIVE THEM SOME ROOM TO PLAY BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WILL NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO HE PICKS THERE BECAUSE THE MARGINS ARE STILL GOING TO BE VERY SLIM.

>> RIGHT.

ESPECIALLY A SLIM MARGIN IN THE HOUSE, EVEN IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN, HIGHLY UNLIKELY ANYBODY IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GO INTO THE CABINET BECAUSE THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK FOR THE REPUBLICANS IF THEY DO THAT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND LOTS TO TALK ABOUT NEXT WEEK AS WELL LAUREN.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TAKE AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEM.

NOW, IT'S TIME TO LEAVE 'EM LAUGHIN' OKAY AMERICA, LET'S END THIS HECTIC WEEK CLOWNING AROUND IN THE POLITICAL CIRCUS WITH OUR RESIDENT CLOWN AND COMEDIAN MOODY McCARTHY.

HEY MOODY!

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AS ALWAYS.

IT FEELS LIKE A SAFE SPACE.

TOUGH WEEK FOR ME - I'M THE ENEMY WITHIN.

VOTERS CAME OUT AND SPOKE.

EXIT POLLS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTERS WERE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION OF THIS COUNTRY AND BY MIDNIGHT TUESDAY, THE OTHER THIRD JOINED THEM.

SO EVERY AMERICAN RIGHT NOW THINKS THIS COUNTRY STINKS RIGHT NOW OR IT'S GOING TO STINK VERY SOON, RIGHT.

HISTORIC VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT EVER TO WIN THE POPULAR VOTE AND THE UNPOPULAR VOTE EVERY SINGLE VOTE WAS EITHER FOR OR AGAINST HIM.

I WATCHED BOTH THE CANDIDATES' WATCHING PARTIES.

THEY WERE AS TELLING AS THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

DID YOU WATCH THE WATCHING PARTIES?

>> AS LITTLE AS I POSSIBLY COULD, YES.

>> THEY'RE A LITTLE SLOW, A LITTLE SLOW.

NOW TRUMP WAS WITH HIS DONORS, HE WAS WITH THE DONORS AND HE GAVE A NICE VICTORY SPEECH AND HE THANKED SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO PLAY A ROLE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

A CLIP.

>> AREN'T F. KENNEDY JUNIOR.

[ APPLAUSE ] BUT HE IS GOING TO HELP MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.

>> I'M A LITTLE UNEASY WITH ROBERT KENNEDY, JR.

IN CHARGE OF MY HEALTH.

NOW I CAN'T DEBATE HIM ON THE SCIENCE.

I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE SCIENTISTS.

HE IS FROM A BIG FAMILY, I'M FROM A BIG FAMILY.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY.

BUT WHEN ALL OF YOUR SIBLINGS SAY DON'T TRUST THIS GUY AND THERE ARE 10 OF THEM, THAT'S A RED FLAG RIGHT THERE.

NOW KAMALA'S WATCHING PARTY WAS AT HER ALMA MATER HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

A LOT OF STUDENTS, YOUNG, GREAT ENERGY EARLY ON.

SLOWLY GOT VERY GLUM.

IT GOT SO GLUM IN FACT THAT KAMALA HARRIS WASN'T THERE AND SHE SENT OUT THIS POOR GUY WITH THE THANKLESS JOB.

>> YOU WON'T HEAR FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT TONIGHT.

BUT YOU WILL HEAR FROM HER TOMORROW.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH JOB MANY TIMES IN MY STANDUP CAREER, I GET ON STAGE AND IMMEDIATELY YOU SENSE THE CROWD WANTS TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE.

A LOT OF TIMES THE CROWD WANTS TO SEE CEDRIC WHEN I GO OUT ON STAGE.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, THE COURTS, THE WHITE HOUSE.

MY QUESTION NOW IS DO THEY CONTROL THE WEATHER?

OR DO THE LIBS KEEP THE WEATHER.

>> ONLY TIME WILL TELL, MOODY.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

GREAT BEING WITH YOU.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND REMEMBER, IN THE CIRCUS THAT IS POLITICS, THERE'S ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT.

I'M JOHN KATKO.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, AMERICA.

TO SEND YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE SHOW, VISIT WCNY.ORG.

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