♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME AMERICA, TO BALANCING ACT!

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

THIS WEEK, THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS ESCALATING, AND IN THE CENTER RING, WE'LL SPEAK WITH A PROFESSOR OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ABOUT WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.

THEN, WE'LL PUT TWO MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON THE TRAPEZE TO TAKE A SWING AT TRUMP'S PROMISE TO END THE WAR.

MOODY MCCARTHY WILL LIGHTEN THINGS UP WHILE CLOWNING AROUND, AND LAUREN MADDOX TELLS US WHAT'S COOKING IN DC THANKSGIVING WEEK.

PLUS, DID YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN SEWARD'S ICEBOX?

STICK AROUND TO FIND OUT.

BUT FIRST, IT'S TIME TO TAKE ON THE TIGHTROPE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I SAT IN THE CAPITOL WATCHING THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR ZELENSKYY ADDRESS CONGRESS FROM A HIDEOUT IN UKRAINE.

AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "HE'S A DEAD MAN WALKING."

MANY OF US IN CONGRESS BELIEVED HE'D BE CAPTURED OR KILLED BY RUSSIAN FORCES WITHIN DAYS.

WE ALSO FEARED THAT IF RUSSIA ADVANCED THROUGH UKRAINE, THEY MIGHT PUSH INTO A NATO COUNTRY, SPARKING WORLD WAR III.

AFTER ALL, HOW COULD PUTIN RESIST TRYING TO REBUILD THE SOVIET UNION BY TAKING OVER FORMER SOVIET STATES IN NATO?

MOST U.S. OFFICIALS AND MEDIA OUTLETS EXPECTED THE INVASION TO BE OVER QUICKLY, WITH KYIV FALLING IN DAYS.

BUT HERE WE ARE, OVER A THOUSAND DAYS LATER, WITH A MILLION LIVES LOST OR WOUNDED ON BOTH SIDES-AND THE WAR SHOWING NO SIGNS OF STOPPING.

IN FACT, IT'S ESCALATING.

AND YET, ZELENSKY AND UKRAINE ARE STILL STANDING.

REMARKABLY.

HOW CAN THAT BE?

WELL, UKRAINE'S RESISTANCE WAS STRONGER THAN ANYONE EXPECTED, AND THEY'VE RECEIVED IMMENSE SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. AND IT'S WESTERN IRE PEEN ALLIES INCLUDING ADVANCED WEAPONS, INTELLIGENCE, AND ECONOMIC AID-$175 BILLION FROM THE U.S. ALONE.

JUST THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT BIDEN APPROVED THE USE OF U.S.-MADE LONG-RANGE MISSILES THAT CAN STRIKE HUNDREDS OF MILES INTO RUSSIA.

AND UKRAINE HAS ALREADY BEGUN USING THEM.

PUTIN HAS RESPONDED BY SAYING THE U.S. AND EU ARE NOW AT WAR WITH RUSSIA.

HE'S ALSO BROUGHT IN 10,000 NORTH KOREAN TROOPS AND LOWERED THE THRESHOLD FOR USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

AND AS WE HEAD INTO A NEW U.S. PRESIDENCY IN JANUARY, THE INCOMING PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY BELIEVE THE WAR COULD SOON END.

SO, ON THIS, THE 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION, IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING HIS WORDS: "MANKIND MUST PUT AN END TO WAR, OR WAR WILL PUT AN END TO MANKIND."

LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK INTO THIS UNSETTLING SITUATION IN THE CENTER RING.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JOINING ME IN THE CENTER RING TO TANGLE WITH THE LATEST ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS SENIOR LECTURER AT THE JOHN HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, DR. SINISA VUKOVIC.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

>> YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN THIS AREA.

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK THE END GAME IS WITH THE UKRAINIAN WAR WITH RUSSIA AND WHETHER OR NOT TRUMP CAN PULL OFF WHAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO PULL OFF AND END THE WAR ON DAY ONE.

LAST WEEK, TRUMP AND BIDEN MET IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

A FEW DAYS LATER, OUT OF NOWHERE, BIDEN AUTHORIZED THE USE OF LONG RANGE MISSILES FROM UKRAINE INTO RUSSIA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

RUSSIA SUPPOSEDLY RESPONDED LAST NIGHT-- WE DON'T KNOW WITH AN ICBM THEY LAUNCHED FROM THE UKRAINE INTO RUSSIA.

WE DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS SWAIX AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE POSSIBLE PEACE PROCESS?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AND NOT A LOT OF CONFIRMATIONS YET AND WE ARE WORKING WITH SOME ASSUMPTIONS AT THIS POINT.

BUT THE ACTIVITIES FROM LAST NIGHT INDICATE THAT RUSSIA WAS TRYING TO USE A SYMBOLIC RESPONSE.

THIS IS WHAT WE CAN ASSUME FROM NOW, USING AN ICBM THAT WAS NOT CARRYING A NUCLEAR WAR HEAD TO ATTACK CIVILIAN AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY OF NIPRO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS KNOW THIS, IT WAS ONE OF THE CENTER OF THE SOVIET MISSILE PRODUCTION.

THIS IS WHERE THEY MADE SOME OF THEIR KEY ICBM LIKE THE R-12 WHICH WAS POINT, KIND OF A REAFFIRMATION OF THE POSITIONS THAT THE PARTIES HAVE ON THE GROUND.

NO ONE IS ABLE TO USE THIS STILL AS A DECISIVE OFFENSIVE WEAPON TO SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE PRECURSOR FOR A STRONGER OFFENSIVE BY WHICH THEY CAN CLAIM MORE TERRITORY WHAT THIS SIGNALS IS THE ABILITY OF BOTH SIDES TO HOLD THEIR POSITIONS BEFORE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN.

>> SO HERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE THE NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS IMPLEMENTED ON THE FRONT LINES AND WE HAVE THE MISSILES GOING BACK AND FORDS NOW.

HOW DOES THAT STRENGTHEN OR IMPACT TRUMP'S DESIRE TO END THIS WAR ON DAY ONE?

>> THERE IS AN INTERESTING COINCIDENCE OR FACT OR MAYBE EVEN A PLOT LINE HERE THAT TRUMP WAS ALWAYS SAYING IN HIS CAMPAIGN THAT HE WAS ABLE AND WILLING TO END THE WAR ON DAY ONE.

AND THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF CLARITY WHAT WAS MEANT BY IT.

BUT SOME OF HIS CLOSEST ADVISERS INCLUDING MICHAEL WALTSES ARGUED RECENTLY IF PUTIN REFUSIONS TO TALK, WASHINGTON CAN PROVIDE MORE WEAPONS TO UKRAINE WITH FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR USE.

AND BASED ON THAT PRESSURE, PUTIN WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIND THE CONFLICT DOWN.

THAT'S BASICALLY AN INDICATION THAT TRUMP'S TEAM ALSO HAD AN IDEA OF ALLOWING ATACMS TO BE USED WITH LESS RESTRICTIONS.

THE THAT WAS THE IDEA OF INDUCING PUTIN TO MAKE MORE CONCEDING STEPS, IT'S CLEARLY BACKFIRED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR PUTIN TO SAY I'M NOW READY TO TALK IN A MEANINGFUL AND SUSTAINABLE WAY.

WHAT I CAN INFER FROM THE SITUATION AT THIS POINT IS A SIGNALING EXERCISE BY THE RUSSIANS WHICH IS NOT ONLY AIMED AT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

IT'S MAINLY AIMED FOR THE DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION.

BASICALLY SAYING THAT SINCE ATACMS WERE PERMITTED TO BE USED ON RUSSIAN TERRITORY-- AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BORDER BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AND THE LOWERING OF THE THRESHOLD FOR THE USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAT WAS RECENTLY ISSUED BY CREME LIN, THIS IS A SIGNAL TO THE CONCERNED AUDIENCES IN RUSSIA TO SAY, DOES PUTIN FOLLOW UP OR IS HE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP ON HIS COMMITMENT AND NOW THE PUNDITRY SOME Ms. CAN MOSCOW CAN SAY HE USED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HUMAN HISTORY, ICBM WAS USED, NOT ARMED WITH A NUCLEAR WAR HEAD BUT NEXT TIME WHO KNOWS.

SO WE ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO DEPLOY THESE WEAPONS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN USED.

>> SO LOOKING IN YOUR CRYSTAL BALL GOING FORWARD, TRUMP GETS SWORN IN ON JANUARY 20.

DO YOU THINK HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PULL OFF A SETTLEMENT OF THIS WAR?

AND IF SO, HOW LIKELY IS IT GOING TO BE THAT UKRAINE HAS TO GIVE UP SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF LAND?

THE CONFLICT IS NOT RIPE FOR A CONSTRUCTIVE RESOLUTION.

AND BY THAT I MEAN THAT TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE OUTCOME, THAT BOTH PARTIES CAN LIVE WITH, IF THEY COMPARE IT TO THE AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES THEY HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE TABLE.

RIGHT NOW THE PERCEPTION IS THAT FOR BOTH SIDES, THERE IS STILL AN AVENUE IN WHICH THEY CAN WIN IN THIS CONFLICT.

VICTORY MEANS VERY DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE TWO SIDES.

FOR RUSSIA, VICTORY BASICALLY MEANS HOLDING ON TO THE TERRITORY THEY HAVE OCCUPIED.

SO IF WE CAN CARBON-- IF WE CONSIDER THAT THEIR CONCESSION IS TO CONCEDE ON THINGS THATY NEVER HAD BUT OCCUPIED IT, THAT BASICALLY MEANS LEGITIMIZING AND EVEN MORE PROBLEMATICALLY LEGALIZING OCCUPATION AS A VIABLE WAY OF NEGOTIATING.

FOR UKRAINIANS, THEY WIN AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN THIS WAR.

THIS IS AN EXISTENTIAL CONFLICT FOR THEM.

THE ABILITY TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY IS THE BIGGEST VICTORY THEY CAN GET AT THIS POINT.

SO NEGOTIATING FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESS IS NOT SOMETHING THE UKRAINIANS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT.

IT'S THE PROSPECT OF UNCERTAINTY THAT WILL MOVE THE POWER BALANCE, THE SYMMETRIES THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, THE STALEMATE THAT IS NOT PAINFUL ENOUGH FOR EITHER OF THE TWO SIDES TO MAKE MORE MEANINGFUL CONCESSIONS.

AND IF WE ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE AMERICAN SIDE AS A MEDIATOR, WHICH TYPE OFY NORMATIVE REALITY SERVES THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING A PEACE PROCESS?

IS IT A NORMATIVE REALITY IN WHICH OCCUPATION LAND GRAB, ANNEXATION OF FOREIGN TERRITORIES IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LEGITIMATE BEHAVIOR?

OR IS IT TO UPHOLD THE RULES-BASED INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS INTERNATIONAL STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF SOVEREIGN STATES.

>> DOCTOR, WE COULD GO ON.

IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT AND THAT'S TRULY TRAGIC FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS THAT THEY'RE SENDING INTO THE MEAT GRINDER AND PUTIN DOESN'T GIVE A DARN ABOUT.

WE COULD TALK LONGER, OF COURSE, BUT WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

>> NOW, A FUN FACT ABOUT OUR COUNTRY'S 49TH STATE.

DID YOU KNOW: DID YOU THAT BLACK FRIDAY WASN'T THE FIRST TIME YOU COULD BUY THINGS FOR CHEAP IN THIS COUNTRY?

IN 1867, SECRETARY OF STATE WILLIAM SEWARD PURCHASED ALASKA FROM RUSSIA FOR $7 MILLION DOLLARS-TWO CENTS AN ACRE!-IN A DECISION PAPERS AT THE TIME CALLED "SEWARD'S FOLLY".

IF IT WAS SO CHEAP, WHAT WAS THE "FOLLY"?

ALSO REFERRED TO AS "SEWARD'S ICEBOX', CRITICS SAW ALASKA AS A BARREN WASTELAND, A MONEYHOLE DEVOID OF ANY VALUE.

BUT HOLD ON: BEFORE YOU WRITE SEWARD OFF AS AN EASY MARK FOR YOUR CRYPTO SCAM, HE SAW UNIQUE PROMISE IN THE TERRITORY.

STEWARD NEGOTIATED THE TERMS DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND HE FORESAW A FUTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY THAT DEPENDED ON ITS ABILITY TO GROW AND EXPAND.

MUCH LIKE I FORESEE MY WAISTLINE EXPANDING AFTER THANKSGIVING DINNER.

HE ALSO BELIEVED THE LAND CONTAINED VALUABLE RESOURCES.

AND HE WAS RIGHT.

SINCE 1896, 40 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD HAVE BEEN MINED OUT OF ALASKA.

19 BILLION BARRELS OF OIL HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AND COUNTING.

AND ONE WHOLE SEASON OF "SARAH PALIN'S ALASKA"!

BUT PERHAPS ALASKA'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET IS ITS NATURAL BEAUTY-ALL 365 MILLION OF IT'S TWO CENT ACRES.

AND AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN FISHING THERE, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I MY WIFE AND I WOULD GLADLY CHILL IN SEWARRD'S ICEBOX ANY TIME AND NOW DO YOU KNOW.

WILL PRESIDENT-ELECT CLAIM BE ABLE TO END THE WAR IN UKRAINE AS HE PROCLAIMS.

LET'S SWING INTO THAT DISCUSSION ON THE TRAPEZE WITH TWO NEW YORK CONGRESSMEN FROM THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: RANKING MEMBER & DEMOCRAT GREGORY MEEKS, AND REPUBLICAN MIKE LAWLER.

WELCOME TO BALANCING ACT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

SO, CONGRESSMAN MEEKS, YOU AND I SERVED TOGETHER AND I THINK YOU RECALL WHEN THE WHOLE WAR BROKE OUT WITH UKRAINE, YOU AND I AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE SENATE GATHERED IN A SECURE AREA AND HEARD FROM PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, WHO JUST A FEW DAYS EARLIER, HAD SEEN RUSSIA INVADE HIS COUNTRY AND WE WERE ALL THINKING THE SAME THING AND THAT IS HE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SURVIVE THIS AND THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT UKRAINE WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO WITH STAND A RUSSIAN ASSAULT.

HERE WE ARE A THOUSAND DAYS LATER AND THEY'RE STILL STANDING WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING.

SO IF YOU COULD BRIEFLY TELL ME, WAS WAS YOUR TAKE.

I KNOW WERE YOU THERE RIGHT BEFORE THE WAR STARTED.

MAYBE YOU CAN SET THE TABLE FOR US ON WHAT YOU SAW.

>> WHEN I WAS IN UKRAINE RIGHT BEFORE THE WAR, I SAW THAT THEY HAD THE DETERMINATION THAT THEY WOULD FIGHT FOR THEIR OWN COUNTRY IF WE GAVE THEM THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEEDED.

SECONDLY THAT WAS IMPORTANT MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT AND PARTICULARLY MY COLLEAGUES, MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES THOUGHT THAT GERMANY WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE, NATO WOULD BE DIVIDED AND RUSSIA WOULD JUST COMPLETELY OVERWHELM THEM.

THAT PROVED NOT TO BE TRUE.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE KEYS TO IT THAT NATO WAS STRONGER THAN EVER.

GERMANY PARTICIPATED, THE FRENCH PARTICIPATED.

U.K., ALL OF OUR NATO ALLIES.

AND THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND STILL EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TODAY.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S GREAT.

SO MIKE, YOU CAME INTO CONGRESS YOUR FIRST TERM, JUST GOT RE-ELECTED.

CONGRATULATIONS IN A TOUGH RACE AND YOU ARE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS WITH CONGRESSMAN MEEKS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON TRUMP'S COMMITMENT TO SAY HE IS GETTING OUT--' IS GOING TO SOLVE THIS WAR ON DAY ONE AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MISTAKES, IF YOU CAN BRIEFLY TELL US YOU THINK BIDEN MADE IF ANY AND HELPED UKRAINE IN THIS WAR?

>> LOOK, THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONGRESS UNDERSTANDS THAT RUSSIA AND CHINA AND IRAN ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS.

THEY'RE NOT OUR ALLIES.

THEY ARE OUR ADVERSARIES AND THEY'RE SEEKING TO UNDERMINE AND DESTABILIZE THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND THE FREE WORLD.

I THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, TO GREG'S POINT, YES, BROUGHT NATO ALONG, BUILT A SUSTAINED COALITION.

I DO THINK ALONG THE WAY THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES BOTH IN TERMS OF GETTING THE WEAPONS TO UKRAINE QUICKLY ON THE FRONT END ; ALSO ALLOWING THEM TO USE THE WEAPONS PROACTIVELY INTO RUSSIA WHICH I DO THINK WAS NECESSARY AND FRANKLY A LITTLE TOO LITTLE TOO LATE IN THE LAST WEEK.

BUT I ALSO THINK ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS WITH THIS WHOLE CONSTRUCT IS THAT THE EUROPEANS ARE STILL PURCHASING RUSSIAN GAS AND HELPING FUND THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH VERY EARLY ON.

I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING IN IS GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY WORK VERY HARD TO PUT IMMENSE PRESSURE ON RUSSIA, CHINA AND IRAN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY ON IN THIS CONGRESS IS GOING AFTER THE ILLICIT OIL TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND IRAN.

WE PASSED THE SHIP ACT AND THE IRAN-CHINA ENERGY SANCTIONS ACT TO GO AFTER THE $200 BILLION INCREASE IN IRANIAN PETROLEUM SALES, WHICH IS FUNDING HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, THE HUTIS.

A BIG PART OF THIS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IS TO GO AFTER THE ILLICIT OIL TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND IRAN AND TO CUT OFF RUSSIAN GAS SALES INTO EUROPE AND REALLY GO AFTER THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THESE CONFLICTS THAT WE SEE.

>> SO, GREG-- >> LET ME JUST SAY THIS-- >> YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND I WANT TO ASK YOU QUICK.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS GOING FORWARD WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION?

>> MY CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP HAS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP WITH Mr. PUTIN.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE IS GOING TO CUT OFF ANYTHING.

IN FACT, IF YOU GO BY PAST PRECEDENT, HE SAID HE ADD ADMIRED AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE MOVE BY RUSSIA INVADING UKRAINE.

WE HEARD WHAT HE HAS THOUGHT OF OUR NATO ALLIES.

AND SO-- AND THAT IS WHAT HAS KEPT US TOGETHER.

SO WHETHER OR NOT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HAS KEPT UKRAINE A FREE AND INDEPENDENT COUNTRY FOR THE LAST 1,000 DAYS, IS AN ISSUE THAT I'M SURE AND THAT I KNOW THOSE IN, INCLUDING PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND WORRIED ABOUT.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE BEGINNING AND ALSO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE WEAPONS.

IT TAKES TIME TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS IN UKRAINE WITH LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND OTHER THINGS BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER UTILIZED OUR KIND OF EQUIPMENT PREVIOUSLY.

WE VIOLENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES, TOO WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING AROUND IN THE WORLD.

SO IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW THAT HAS TO INCLUDE OUR NATO ALLIES WORKING TOGETHER AND NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES DOING IT ALONE.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO STOP THIS IN ONE DAY, THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO TELL RUSSIA, YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT AND THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT... >> WITH GREAT RESPECT FOR THE RANKING MEMBER, THE FACT IS THE WORLD WAS MORE PEACEFUL UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S FIRST TERM.

THE ONLY TIME IN THE LAST DECADE THAT RUSSIA HAS INVADED UKRAINE OCCURRED UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE FACT HERE IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS WILLING TO STRIKE AT IRAN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS WILLING TO.

>> PLUS THEY WENT INTO GEORGIA AND GERMANY AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> AND GET MISSILE DEFENSE INTO OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO FORCED OUR NATO ALLIES TO PONY UP, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON WHY NATO IS IN A MUCH STRONGER POSITION TODAY THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO.

SO, LOOK, I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SHOWN, IN HIS FIRST TERM AND I DO BELIEVE AGAIN HE WILL SHOW A LEVEL OF STRENGTH.

AND YES, HE DOES ENGAGE WITH OUR ADVERSARIES IN A WAY THAT YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE LANGUAGE USED.

BUT THE FACT IS, THEY ARE MORE FEARFUL OF HIM THAN THEY WERE OF JIB AND THAT'S JUST JOE BIDEN AND THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH.

>> HIS GOOD FRIEND KIMIONG UNHAS NEVER CHANGED.

HE HAD A BROMANCE WITH HIM.

THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT HIM CONSTANTLY AT MAR-A-LAGO, THE PEOPLE THAT HE SEEMS CLOSEST WITH ARE THE VERY SAME DICTATORS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IRAN THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS.

HE DEALS MORE WITH THEM... >> DONALD TRUMP... AND.

>> AND THAT'S THE ISSUE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IRAN BUT IF YOU TALK ABOUT NORTH KOREA, IF YOU TALK ABOUT RUSSIA, IF YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE ARE HIS FRIENDS.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HE RESPECTS.

>> BUT GREG, HERE IS THE BIG PROBLEM.

UNDER DONALD TRUMP, IRAN WAS BASICALLY BROKE BECAUSE HE CRIPPLED THEIR OIL TRADE.

RUSSIA AND CHINA WERE ON THEIR HEELS.

AND I THINK... AT THE END OF THE DAY... (TALKING AT THE SAME TIME) >> BUT BECAUSE HE PULLS OUT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS UNDER DONALD TRUMP, IRAN RIGHT NOW IS CLOSER TO HAVING A NUCLEAR WEAPON THAN THEY EVER HAD BEFORE.

HAD WE CONTINUED THE POLICIES OF BARACK OBAMA, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE CASE AND THAT'S THE THREAT... >> GUYS, ONE SECOND.

LET ME INTERJECT.

HEALTHY DEBATE IS WONDERFUL AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN ARGUE ALL NIGHT ABOUT TRUMP AND BIDEN BUT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT AND I WANT TO RESET THIS A LITTLE BIT.

TRUMP AND BIDEN MET IN THE OVAL OFFICE RECENTLY FOR OVER TWO HOURS.

DURING THAT TIME, THEY DIDN'T JUST TALK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND WHAT HAPPENED THEY CLEARLY TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING LOOKING FORWARD: IT'S EITHER HIGHLY COINCIDENTAL OR SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THAT MEETING BECAUSE TWO DAYS LATER, BIDEN REVERSES COURSE FROM A LONG STANDING POLICY AND ALLOWS UKRAINE TO USE LONG-RANGE MISSILES TO LAUNCH INTO RUSSIA WHICH HE HAD BEEN ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO BEFORE.

WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

IS IT COINCIDENTAL OR SOMETHING TO IT?

>> THERE IS NOTHING TO IT BECAUSE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION I HAD MEETINGS WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ATACMS AND UTILIZATION OF THE ATACMS AND MINES AND OTHER THINGS AS STRATEGY OF WHERE WE ARE MOVING ON.

THAT WAS IN THE MIND OF THE ADMINISTRATION LONG PRIOR TO THAT CONVERSATION AND LONG PRIOR TO THE ELECTIONS BEING OVER.

I HAD A DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION BEFORE THE ELECTION AND THE THOUGHT PATTERN AND HOW TO DO IT WAS ALREADY BEING PLANNED AND THOUGHT ABOUT.

>> OKAY.

MIKE.

>> I THINK UNFORTUNATELY IT'S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THIS VERY EARLY ON IN THIS CONFLICT.

YOU KNOW, UKRAINE OBVIOUSLY WAS ASKING FOR IT.

THEY HAVE PUT RESTRICTIONS ON UKRAINE AND ISRAEL'S ABILITIES TO PROACTIVELY PROSECUTE THE RESPECTIVE WARS THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN.

AND I THINK THAT HAS HAD DETRIMENTAL IMPACT TO BOTH CONFLICTS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, LOOK, OBVIOUSLY I WELCOME THE DECISION , BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A DECISION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS AGO, AND NOT IN THE WANING DAYS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> OKAY, SO YOU HAVE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW, YOU KNOW, ABOUT TRUMP AND BIDEN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PROSECUTE THIS OR HOW THEY HAVE.

ONE THING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS THAT BIDEN'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE LONG-RAWNG MISSILES INTO RUSSIA HAS CHANGED THE GAME AND HAS STRENGTHENED TRUMP'S HAND COMING IN TO TRY TO FIND AN END TO THAT.

CAN YOU BOTH AGREE ON THAT SOME.

>> I DO.

>> WELL, IT DOES, IF IN FACT HE TELLS RUSSIA THAT THEY CAN'T CONTINUE THE STRIKES THAT WE SEE THEM INCREASING AFTER TRUMP TOLD THEM TO STOP AND DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF ATTACKS THEY WERE DOING ON UKRAINE.

WE SEE THAT INCREASING WHICH HELPS RUSSIA TO TRY TO BE IN A BETTER POSITION.

>> I JUST REMIND YOU, GREG, JIB IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS HAPPENING UNDER HIS WATCH, NOT DONALD TRUMP'S.

>> WE COULD KEEP GOING AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS CONVERSATION.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS WAR DOES COME TO AN END AND THAT WE CAN STOP RUSSIA'S ADVANCES INTO OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HAVE FUN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY INTERESTING WITH ALL THAT IS GOING ON.

THANK YOU BOTH, GENTLEMEN.

>> GOOD BEING WITH YOU, JOHN.

>> THANKS, JOHN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WE CAN ALL GIVE THANKS THAT WE GET TO END THE SHOW CLOWNING AROUND WITH OUR RESIDENT CLOWN AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTIAN MOODY MRTSDZ.

>> CONGRESSMAN GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED LAST.

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYONE WHO OWNS A THINK HE IS GOING TO GET PAST THE SENATE.

HE IS GOING TO BE UNEMPLOYED.

EYE THINK IT'S A SMART SCHEME, GETTING TIME TO GO INTO ACTING.

ROLES HE WAS BORN TO PLAY.

♪ THEY CALL ME HEAT MISER, WHATEVER I TOUCH STARTS TO MELT IN MY CLUTCH ♪ ♪ HE'S TOO MUCH ♪ >> APOLOGIES TO THE MISER FAMILY.

HE IS TOO MUCH.

BUT MATT GATES WILL NEVER BE IN THE CABINET BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE A KNOB.

ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, PRESIDENT BIDEN INVITED PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

VERY NICE THING.

EVERYBODY THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE TENSION.

THEY GOT ALONG GREAT.

TWO OLD WHITE GUYS, HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

THEY AGREED IMMEDIATELY THAT ROCKY MARCIANO WOULD HAVE FLATTENED JAKE PAUL.

HE WOULD HAVE COME OUT OF THE GRAVE, KNOCKED JAKE PAUL OFF YOUTUBE BACK INTO MY SPACE.

TURNS OUT SYLVESTER STALLONE IS A BIG TRUMP SUPPORTER DOWN AT MAR-A-LAGO.

THIS SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK, I HAVE A HUNCH THAT ROCKY BALBOA MAY BE LIKE A LOT OF AMERICANS, A SINGLE ISSUE VOTER.

ROLL IT, JOSH.

>> GOOD MORNING.

I'LL TELL YOU 28°.

IT'S COLD OUT THERE.

WE DESERVE IT.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT EGG PRICES.

LOOK AT THAT.

ROCKY BALBOA, HE COULDN'T AFFORD THAT BREAKFAST TODAY UNDER THIS HARRIS-BIDEN REGIME.

I'M NOT SURE SYLVESTER STALLONE COULD PAY FOR THE BREAKFAST UNDER THESE EGG PRICES.

ROCKY CAME OUT IN 1975.

THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND A WORKINGMAN COULD DRINK FIVE EGGS FOR BREAKFAST.

THEN JIMMY CARTER CAME IN AND LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS DO, HE RAISED EGG PRICES AND NOW YOU DO KNOW.

>> MOODY, YOU STOLE MY LINE.

THANKS ANYWAY.

THANKS, MOODY.

>> I GOT GOOD TASTE.

THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN.

>> 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 TIME, AMERICA.

TO ACCEPTED YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE SHOW VISIT WCNY.ORG/BALANCING ACT.