Grabien

HOSTIN: “Well, yeah.” Goldberg: “That’s right.” BEHAR: “This lifetime assignment has got to stop.” HOSTIN: “Can I just say —“ BEHAR: “And they need to fix the Electoral College also, because that’s un-American.” FARAH GRIFFIN: “They need a code of ethics.” HOSTIN: “It is un-American.” BEHAR: “People need to understand what’s going on. You will not have a country if Trump gets in.”

RASKIN: “I didn’t see the drinking, but the gentlelady from New Mexico Melanie Stansbury raised it. She said there are — there are members drinking in the room. And that’s something that is worth investigating, if there was in fact drinking taking place.”

Harris: “So, a lot of federal contracts go to small businesses, but what we know is often who gets the — who even has the information about how to apply for a federal contract is a matter of who you know, not necessarily the — the skill of your work, how well you do your work, certainly has nothing to do with anything other than often just a lack of information and access to those relationships. So, from day one, when the president I came in, we said we are going to increase, by 50 percent, federal contracts going to minority-owned businesses, and we are on track to get that done by the end of next year. (Applause) And I mention that to say that the work that we have been doing is about creating incentives for folks to apply, but also holding the federal government to account for measuring how we are doing this work and being intentional about it, and I think that’s so very important. And that’s where, look, who’s in the position of power matters. Because, one, if you don’t have any level of awareness or interest in these disparities, you’re not gonna get anything done on them. And then when you become aware, if you actually intend to get something done, you have to hold yourself and the system to account. And I will say, that is part of the method of our approach to a lot of this work. Our work includes, for example — like, let’s have metrics and let’s say, for example, we know the — the history of black home ownership, we know the history of — of bias and laws that prevented equal access to that opportunity. We have now proposed that, if you are the child of parents who — or you were raised in a family where folks who raised you were not homeowners, when you want to go buy a home, you will be entitled to a $25,000 grant toward down payment for a home. Again, acknowledging the realities of it all. If your parents owned a home and then you as their child say, ‘I want to go buy,’ then your parents will likely have the opportunity and ability to say, ‘Honey, you don’t have to go take out that big loan. I’m gonna take some equity out of my home to help you with that down payment.’ And that’s how intergenerational wealth works. But if you start with nothing, how are we going to give people those opportunities. And so it’s about acknowledgement, and then pushing through the actual policies that are not just about lip service, but actually making a difference.”

BERMAN: “Okay, Randy, thank you for waiting. Your turn now: Recoverable for the prosecution?” ZELIN: “No. Can I stop there or do you want me to keep going?” BERMAN: “You can elaborate. You have earned a right to elaborate.” ZELIN: “Thank you. Michael Cohen had one job to do, and that was to put Donald Trump in the room and to have Donald Trump part of the conversation concerning the making of false entries in the books and records of the Trump Organization in order to influence the election, false entries of the misdemeanor elevated to a felony because it‘s in furtherance of another crime, which is election interference, election fraud. Had one job to do and he couldn‘t do it on something so simple. Tell us about the conversation. And the worst part of it is on direct he sounded so convincing, he sounded so smooth, so good, it was such a good day for the prosecution, describes the conversation, and then completely shoots the pooch where it looks like that conversation absolutely, actually never happened. Done!” BERMAN: “I will say this, as someone who spends a lot of time with these transcripts as I as part of my side hustle here, that conversation right there was actually only one of several conversations that Michael Cohen testified to. It was the shortest one and it was the least perhaps important in telling the story about how, according to Michael Cohen, Donald Trump approved the payments to Stormy Daniels, knew about how they we‘re organized and whatnot. That call was an October 24. On October 26, Michael Cohen testified in great detail about a longer conversation he had with Trump, where he talked about actually setting up the bank account. So does that no longer matter, that testimony, Randy?” ZELIN: “‘’Falsus in uno,’ I think that‘s the fancy Latin phrase, which for the rest of us means, ‘If you lied about one thing, I don‘t have to believe another thing that you say,’ and that is exactly what the judge will instruct the jury. If you find anything that a witness said to be untrue, to be incredible, to be a lie, feel free to disregard the entirety of that witness’ testimony.” BERMAN: “Since you brought up Latin, there’s nowhere else to go. Randy Zelin, we do appreciate your time this morning.”

Comer: “Okay, Ms. Greene agrees to strike her words.” Ocasio-Cortez: “I believe she should apologize. [cross-talk] No, no, she should apologize.” Comer: “Hold on. After, Mr. Perry should be recognized, then Ms. Greene has four minutes — “ Taylor Greene: “I’m not apologizing.” Ocasio-Cortez: “Well, then you’re not striking your words.” Taylor Greene: “I am not apologizing.” Comer: “Stop. Come on, guys.” Taylor Greene: “Why don’t you debate me?” RASKIN: “Mr. Chairman, the minority — “ OCASIO CORTEZ: “I think it’s pretty self-evident.” Taylor Greene: “Yeah, you’re not — you don’t have enough intelligence.” Comer: “The chair recognizes Mr. Perry.” RASKIN: “Okay, move to strike — “ OCASIO CORTEZ: “I move to strike those words as well. That’s two requests to strike. That’s two requests to strike.” Taylor Greene: “Oh, they cannot take the words.” RASKIN: “That’s another motion to strike her words again.” Comer: “Okay, here’s the correct — the correct priority. Ms. Greene, do you ask unanimous consent — do you agree to unanimous consent to strike your words.” Taylor Greene: “I’ll repeat again for the second time, yes, I’ll strike my words.” Comer: “Okay.” Taylor Greene: “But I’m not apologizing.” Comer: “Without objection. Without objection.” Taylor Greene: “I’m not apologizing.”

Trump: “Andrew McCarthy: NDAs are legal and common. Yet, Bragg alleges Trump’s was illegal.’ I have the only illegal NDA. ‘It seems that Trump’s crime by blue state lights was winning the election.’ That was my crime. I won an election that I wasn’t supposed to win against Hillary Clinton. And that’s not a crime, [inaudible] Republican in New York, it’s not a crime.”

Wallace: “So Tim, you were in the courthouse today. Two things that people thought would happen that didn’t. I mean, Michael Cohen didn’t blow up. Michael Cohen was underestimated. And I know Michael Cohen is capable of a lot of outbursts, but that he didn’t have one. It was the defense’s strategy and expectation, I think, that he would. And Trump has seemed to land on a coping strategy of closing his eyes. Whether or not he’s awake, I have no idea. I’m not there. But how — is that a weird thing? Is that a normal thing? Can the jurors see him with his eyes closed?” O’BRIEN: “Yeah, of course they can see him with his eyes closed. And he’s — not only his eyes are closed, he’s sort of leaning back. And I think in the early days of the trial people said he was falling asleep, and he may have been, but you can’t sleep there for 8 hours. And he — you know, he perks up occasionally —“ Wallace: “Is he motionless? Is he rocking?” O’BRIEN: “He’s motionless. He occasionally leans over to one of his lawyers. He perked up and eyes wide open when the cross of Michael Cohen began. But with a lot of the other witnesses, he was just lying there, slightly tilted back with his eyes closed. And I was looking at him —“ Wallace: “Oh, there he is. Do we have that? Do we have the sketch? Yeah, we’ll put it up.” O’BRIEN: “And I thought, you know, he’s just — yeah, that’s what he looks like. And I thought, he’s just going to Never-Neverland because he doesn’t want to see the porn star testifying against him and he doesn’t want to see the turncoat in-house lawyer testifying against him. So instead he’s imagining he’s on the first tee at Bedminster, he’s on the beach at Mar-a-Lago, or he’s eating a cheeseburger in the triplex at Trump Tower. He’s doing any of these things that takes him to that happy place for him, rather than engage with what’s going on in the court. I think that’s possibly part of it. The other thing is, Donald Trump has noticeably aged. Even since 2020, you know, he’s a little more crook backed, he doesn’t, you know, he’s very gummy. We’ve seen it now in these rallies where he has nonlinear speeches and he makes huge mistakes and he goes off on tangents. So I also think he’s aged. That’s a factor. And I think, lastly, is this is a man, and we’ve talked about this now for what, nine years together —“ Wallace: “Yes, unfortunately.” O’BRIEN: “You know, but he’s been insulated from the consequences of his own mistakes since birth, first by wealth and by celebrity, then by the power of the presidency. So he’s never really feared accountability. And I’ve been watching this and I was, you know, I wasn’t sure that this case, I thought this — and I still think it’s the weakest of the four cases in terms of the legal existential threat, I think the other cases pose more of a legal threat in terms of the consequences. But as this case has proceeded on, I’ve become, you know, more aware that this could have a tougher outcome for him than I anticipated. And I would — and now I’ve been watching him sort of wondering, is he thinking about the possible consequences here as we near the finish line and he’s sitting there in his fugue state.”

Trump: “This is a political persecution. Human Events editorial board: ‘This case is a joke. Ashton Kutcher is going to pop and left — to tell us that we’ve been punk’d. I think I know what that means. ‘The series of glorified legal pranks has seriously called into question the impartiality of the American justice system. Justice is blind — yet, unlike this case, justice is not dumb. Would appreciate it if they do the right thing.’ We would very much appreciate if they do the right thing.”

Harris: “And I was sharing with Mr. Phelps, that we, the president and I, because of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Act, we are dropping trillions of dollars on the streets of America right now to build back up our roads and our bridges, our sidewalks, to invest in a clean energy economy, to deal with the climate crisis in a way that is about building up adaptation and resilience. Well, a business like Mr. Phelps’ business is going to make what we plan to do out of Washington, D.C., real on the streets of America.”

BARTIROMO: “Let me — let me get you to put your doctor’s hat on for a second, given the doctors caucus that you are leading, what do you make of these debates? Trump says he wants both of the them to be standing for the two hours. Biden says he doesn’t want a live audience and it just has to be Trump and Biden, no RFK Jr. What do you make — how do these debates play out from — from your perspective?” MURPHY: “Yeah, it’s going to be interesting. Because, look, I’ll just be very plain and simple. I was in the State of the Union address, and Joe Biden must have been jacked up on something that day. I absolutely believe that from a medical viewpoint, actually I have a little bit of good knowledge that that happened. He can’t stand it. He can’t stand under the lights for that long. And I don’t think he can keep a concept in his brain that long. It’s going to be important that President Trump stays presidential. He did that during the last debate. He did not do that during the first debate. That he stays on track, he shows the American people how much worse they are four years — from — from four years ago, what — and what this President Biden has done to destroy this country. He just has to stay in his lane, President Trump just has to stay in his lane and act presidential. Sometimes he can get off on a wheel. We all know that and love that about him, but it sometimes hurts his issues. But Biden will falter and falter if he doesn’t have things right in front of him telling him what to do.” BARTIROMO: “Congressman, what do you mean, when you say he was jacked up at the State of the Union?” MURPHY: “I — I believe they gave him something to help him sustain the lights and sustain the vigor that he had. That’s not — that was not Joe Biden. I was in there. He screamed for two hours.” BARTIROMO: “Yeah.” MURPHY: “He screamed for two hours. And you know, maybe we can talk offline and I’ll show you something. And I think that proves that.” BARTIROMO: “You will show me what?” MURPHY: “I think I can have some evidence that shows that he was given something before that.” BARTIROMO: “OK. In terms of medicine, or —” MURPHY: “You know, Joe — Joe, there’s no way Joe — Joe’s 82. There was a picture taken of him last week, he’s on the beach without his makeup on. And guess what? He looks like what, an 82 year old. You can see his surgical scar in the back where he had his facelift. You can see that very plainly. He’s being manufactured and puppeteered by the Democratic Party to be president of the United States. And I fully believe that has to do sometimes with pharmacology.” BARTIROMO: “Congressman, I’m going to follow up on that. I’d like you to — I’d like to see more of that. That’s really compelling.” MURPHY: “Yeah.” BARTIROMO: “We’ll follow it. Thank you very much, sir.” MURPHY: “All right. You all have a great day.”

Garland: “Good morning I’m about to go to the FBI Memorial for Fallen Agents. I’d be happy take a few questions before we go — before I get going.” UNKNOWN FEMALE: “David.” Reporter 1: “Mr. Attorney General, in your professional capacity you suggested to the president to invoke executive privilege. He invoked executive privilege. It protects you both personally. Is that a conflict of interest?” Garland: “Look, the Justice Department is a fundamental institution of our democracy. People depend on us to ensure that our investigations and our prosecutions are conducted according to the facts and the law and without political influence. We have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the committees get responses to their legitimate requests. But this is not one. To the contrary, this is one that would harm our ability in the future to successfully pursue sensitive investigations. Now, there have been a series of unprecedented and, frankly, unfounded attacks on the Justice Department. This request, this effort to use contempt as an — as a method of obtaining our sensitive law enforcement files, is just the most recent the effort to threaten to defund our investigations and the way in which there are contributions to an atmosphere that puts our agents and our prosecutors at risk. These are wrong. Look, the only thing I can do is continue to do the right thing. I will protect this building, and its people.” [crosstalk] Reporter 2: “You kind of answered this just now, but I was wondering like, you know what these — these combined with the efforts to defund Jack Smith and other attacks on Biden Administration officials say about, you know, the broader effort to discredit you and to discredit the Justice Department and also, how would you manage that? How are you resisting that? And what can you do about that as attorney general.” Garland: “We have to go about our work following the federal principles of prosecution. They said we follow the facts and the law. We screen out outside inappropriate influences. That’s what we’re doing here. We’re protecting our ability to continue to do high profile and sensitive investigations. And — and we will continue to do that.” [crosstalk] UNKNWON FEMALE: “Carry, last question.” Reporter 3: “Mr. Attorney General, it now seems [indecipherable] now seen vanishingly small, that the two Jack Smith federal cases are going to begin trial, let alone finish trial this year. What does that say about the pace of the justice system and confidence in this Justice Department?” Garland: “Look, the special counsel brought both cases last year. He appropriately requested speedy trials. The matter is now in the hands of the judiciary, and I’m — I’m not going to be able to comment any further on that.” [crosstalk] UNKNOWN FEMALE: “Thank you everyone. We have to go at the FBI Memorial. Thank you everyone.”

WATTERS: “Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley joins us now. Jonathan, what does this mean?” TURLEY: “Well, it means what we already know. That Michael Cohen is the most compromised, unbelievable witness in the history of the federal legal system. That is hardly news. What we saw in his cross-examination was an evasive and rehearsed set of answers. And he will likely continue that tomorrow. But here you have his own lawyer now saying that what he said on the stand is diametrically opposed to what he told him in an attorney-client confidential setting. Now, we already flagged parts of the testimony of Cohen that did not seem to ring true. For example, Cohen said that he surreptitiously taped the former president for his protection, to keep David Pecker honest. That makes no sense at all. No one can make any sense out of how taping Donald Trump would somehow affect David Pecker. In fact, the call itself seemed to indicate that Trump had very little information about the deals that had been arranged by Cohen. It seems clear to most of us that he was banking insurance against Trump, that this was to be compromising information that he might use later. And that would be completely consistent with Michael Cohen. The only consistent element in Cohen’s career is that he will only tell the truth if he has no alternative, and he always acts for his own best interest.” WATTERS: “So does the defense call his ex-lawyer to the stand and just blows Cohen’s whole testimony up?” TURLEY: “Well, that would be something, wouldn’t it? You would just have the president’s formal council testifying against him, and then have his former counsel’s former counsel testifying against him. At some point, it’s going to get awfully strange. No, I don’t think that they will. Look, think there’s a strong temptation to just rest. I don’t think they have presented the elements of any crime. We still do not know what this other crime was that was being concealed by Trump. But they also have not put into evidence any clear support for saying that listing these payments as legal expenses was somehow fraud or wrong. Many experts are saying, ‘No, if you are paying your lawyer his fees and the costs that he put out there, most accountants would just list that as a legal expense because it’s going to your lawyer. So they haven’t put into play what is necessary, in my view, to get to the jury. But they may be tempted to put an expert on just to put a nail in this coffin. I can’t understand how any honest judge would allow this to go to a jury. You know, Judge Merchan is going to have his moment where he has to decide what he owes his commitment to, the rule of law or to something else. Because if he follows the rule of law, this would never go to a jury.” WATTERS: “Well, we’ll find out soon. Big day tomorrow, Cohen cross-examined. What a week.”

FALLON: “Today, President Biden challenged former President Trump to two debates, and Trump accepted. (Audience oohs) Yeah. Trump agreed to the debate. He said, ‘I’ll be there, assuming it’s okay with my parole officer.’ (Laughter) The first debate will be next month, which is the earliest a a presidential debate has ever been. And if we’re being honest, an early bird debate feels right for these guys. (Laughter) Yep, Biden and Trump will meet June 27th on CNN, and one of Biden’s debate conditions was not having an audience. So, that explains why it’s on CNN. (Laughter) Another condition from Biden, is that he wants microphones that automatically cut off when a candidate hits their time limit. (Cheering and Applause) Which — which will work right up until Trump walks over to Biden’s podium. ‘That’s why, as I was saying over there, more wall.’ ‘Okay. Thank you.’ Yep, microphones that automatically cut off. Biden got the idea after his last press conference when his staff was like, ‘We need a a microphone that automatically cuts off.’ (Laughter) Biden and Trump also accepted an invitation from ABC to debate on September 10th, and the winner will have the option of being president, or the next ‘Golden Bachelor.’ So that’s — (Laughter and Applause) It’s a tough call. Tough call. Well, get this. Biden actually made the debate challenge to Trump in a video that he posted. Take a look at this video.” [Clip starts] Biden: “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then, he hasn’t showed up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I’ll even do it twice.” [Clip ends] (Laughter) FALLON: “Biden’s talking smack. (Laughter) Usually an 81-year-old doesn’t get this riled up unless you park in front of their house. (Laughter) ‘(Mumbles) Now listen there, get off my lawn.’ ‘(Mumbles) We’re going to do it twice. (Mumbles)’ Thank goodness they had subtitles, right? ‘(Mumbles) Twice, twice.’”

HENDERSON: “— Donald Trump, who’s just going to throw everything at the wall?” BASH: “Well, on that note, I want you guys to listen to what Nancy Pelosi told our Manu Raju after hearing about these debates.” [Clip starts] Pelosi: “I myself would never recommend going on stage with Donald Trump, but the president has decided that’s what he wants to do. I think the format he is suggesting is a good one. I think you all should have separate townhall meetings with them, let them challenge them with questions about the future and let the public make its decision.” [Clip ends] BASH: “As you were saying.” HENDERSON: “Yeah, I think that’s right. That’s an idea. Do you sort of elevate Trump? Do you give a platform to his many, many lies about everything by debating him but I, you know, to Jeff’s point, he is the incumbent president.” ZELENY: “You’re right. I asked an aide about that, like isn’t this risky. They’re like, look, not debating is even riskier because it looks like he’s hiding out, looks like he’s not up to it. And again, the president, I’m told, and I believe, I don’t think this is spin, he wants to debate. He’s competitive. He wants to show that he’s better, but they think not debating is worse than showing up and having some type of a melee.” BARRON-Lopez: “Yeah, I mean, they’re desperate for that contrast. And they are aware of the fact that a lot of voters either — and especially young voters don’t necessarily remember Trump’s presidency.”

[Clip starts] Biden: “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020 and since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day pal. I’ll even do it twice. So let’s pick the dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesdays.” [Clip ends] Wallace: “Epic troll. Hi, again, everybody. It’s 5:00 in the New York and what is already shaping up to be an unconventional presidential debate season. So, this morning that video was released by President Joe Biden. You could see for yourself he came out swinging, this trolling of Donald Trump, saying I hear you’re free on Wednesdays. He challenged Trump to two presidential debates while teasing him a bit about his current state as a criminal defendant. Joe Biden’s video was accompanied by a letter that his campaign sent to the Commission on Presidential Debates that outlined that he would not be participating in the debates they set up. Among the Biden campaign’s reasons for that, they said the commission’s proposed debates come too late in the process. That their debates were structured like an entertainment spectacle and not a serious exchange of ideas and that the commission was, quote, unable or unwilling to enforce the rules, referencing Trump talking over President Joe Biden and moderators in past debates.”

Smith: “All right, time for our panel. Doug Holtz-Eakin is here, former CBO director, and Robert Wolf his former economic advisor to Obama. Welcome to both of you. Robert, what was inflation when Biden took office?” WOLF:” I think it was probably 9, 10%? Smith: (Laughs) HOLTZ-EAKIN: “No, no, no. Come on.” Smith: “Come on, Robert. All right — “ WOLF: “But more importantly, it’s 3% now, so it’s down by two thirds.” Smith: “I apologize, I put you on the spot there. It was 1.4% and that is fact. So, Doug Holtz-Eakin, these are the claims that the president has been making, that The Washington Post is giving four Pinocchios. Kind of sounds like what Robert just said, listen.” [Clip starts] Biden: “We have dramatically reduced inflation from 9% down to close to 3%. We are in a situation where we are in a better situated than we were when we took office. (...) It was 9% when I came to office. 9%. But look, people have a right to be concerned. (...) I think inflation has gone slightly up. It was 9% when I came in, and now it’s down to about 3%.” [Clip ends] Smith: “All right, so apparently we’re having a hard time with Robert’s IFB. It was 1.4%. And I did put him on the spot there.”

MILLER: “Would you tell me today, can you commit here today that your department will not withhold federal funding from hospitals or doctors who refuse to provide the gender affirming care that you’re, you know, mandating if it violates their religious beliefs?” Becerra: “So, now, congresswoman, recognize you’re going somewhere completely different. First you started talking about how a doctor should have the rights to not offer particular care. Then you stretch it out to provide for the system wide services that you support. Very different. Very different.” MILLER: “You put out this guidance and doctors do need to know what are you going to do if they refuse to provide this care.” Becerra: “A doctor, if that doctor has religious objections, that doctor, under these rules, is not required to offer this care.” MILLER: “Okay, so you’re committing here today that you will not withhold federal funding — “ Becerra: “Doctors don’t get federal funding, ma’am.” MILLER: “But the hospitals do.” Becerra: “Okay, so now talk to me about the hospital. Don’t confuse the two.” MILLER: “Okay.” Becerra: “A doctor’s not a hospital.” MILLER: “But the doctors are working in these hospitals. Are you gonna say today that you’re committing that you will not withhold federal funding from those healthcare facilities?” Becerra: “If a healthcare facility is violating the law and not providing the service they’re required to, they are not entitled to resources.” MILLER: “Okay. We knew that you would withdraw federal funding.”

Newsom: “If there’s any good news, and I’ll close on this officially, State of California sees a decline in veterans homelessness, we have a national model. What Proposition 1 did is it reinforced that model, provided more resources to advance that model, and we’re very excited to get those dollars to work.”

BERMAN: “So you say no live audience. You want it in a television studio without an audience. Does that mean if the Trump campaign insist to an audience, no deal?” Tyler: “Listen, I think the Trump campaign made their proposal very clear, when Donald Trump said he’d be willing to debate anytime, anywhere, any place. And so what and we want and what we have laid out is that we want to do this sooner rather than later. We should do it in June, after this criminal trial is likely to have concluded and after the president returns from the G-7 summit. It should be, yes, in studio with no audience so that the candidates can clearly articulate their visions for the country —“ [crosstalk] BERMAN: “Is an audience — is an audience a deal breaker? Is an audience a dealbreaker for you?” Tyler: “Listen, it’s Donald Trump who said he would do this anytime, anywhere, any place. So I don’t think that they should have any problems with what we have proposed. He’s the one who said he’s ready to go. So we should be set to go once we have proposals in from network. So we’re excited to debate. The question is will Donald Trump accept it?” BERMAN: “I just issued a proposal right here. We’ll do it right here on ‘CNN NEWS CENTRAL.’ Happy — happy to oblige. No third party candidate? What if RFK is at 15 percent Robert Kennedy, Jr. At 15 percent in September, you still don’t think you should be on the stage?” Tyler: “Listen, the reality here is that there are two candidates with a pathway to 270 electoral votes. That’s President Joe Biden and that’s Donald Trump, and the American people deserve to hear from them because that is the reality that we’re facing. That is the choice in this election. So we should have a debate between the two candidates on the issues. Joe Biden will articulate his historic record of accomplishment, his vision for the future, and Donald Trump will go out here and try to explain why he’s bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade, why he’s trying to rebuild an economy that only works for rich people like himself, why he’s trying to rule as a dictator on day one. That’s the debate that the American people deserve to see in primetime and that’s what we’re proposing here.”

HEWITT: “... talk to you about the debate challenge. President Biden just issued you a debate challenge for June and September with the beeps talking in July. Do you accept?” Trump: “Oh, absolutely. I’ve been trying to get — you know, he’s issuing it. I wonder whether or not he shows up. Because, you know, he also challenged me to golf. So I’m a very good golfer, he can’t hit a ball 50 yards. He said, I’ll give him three aside, but he knows he’ll never play. This is sort of like that I think. But I hope not, because I really think he has to debate, he might as well get it over with. Probably should do it early, so that he can you know — he’s not going to get any better.” HEWITT: “Well, but — but June and September is great.” Trump: “Every day — every day is a down factor for him.” HEWITT: “June and September would be great if you can agree on the size of the table and the moderator.” [crosstalk] Trump: “Well, I already — I just — why don’t you look at the statement? I just put out a statement, you should have it on your hot wires, you get everything. I noticed you get things very quickly. I put it out on TRUTH. And TRUTH is the hottest thing right now by far.” HEWITT: “I will go look that.”

Kennedy: “Well, this trial, I think, says more about our politics than it does about alleged crime. Mr. Bragg, I don’t know him either, my observation is that if you want to hide something from him, you put it in a law book. He’s bringing a felony criminal trial, but he hasn’t proved a felony. Here’s why. I think most fair-minded Americans look at President Biden and they say, well, he’s old, his vice president’s weak, his policies suck, his family has corruption problems, and he’s losing the election. So he has decided to throw deep, as the vice president might say, kick down the effing door, and prosecute his opponent.”

Biden: “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020 and since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day pal. I’ll even do a twice. So let’s pick the dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesdays.”

Blinken: “♬ Keep on rocking to the free world ♬ ♬ Keep on rocking to the free world ♬ ♬ Keep on rocking to the free world ♬ “

RUSH TRANSCRIPT: Ingraham: “This has been happening for some time, but this is at the highest of high levels.” LANGONE: “Now it’s out of the closet. Now it’s — they are blatant. ‘Here it is.’ Look, I’m no a defender of Trump. What crime did he commit? That’s something I still can’t understand. What crime did he commit that he is on trial in New York City today?” Ingraham: “Would you endorse Donald Trump tonight on this show? I know you were — lots of people were Nikki Haley supporters. You were one of them. A lot of very, very well-connected and wealthy people were Haley fans. What about now?” LANGONE: “Let me say this to you. I said on television a couple weeks ago that I was going to vote for my wife.” Ingraham: “Okay. That’s cute. But that doesn’t work on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’” LANGONE: “I know. I think the most important decision he is going to make is who his running mate is. Because his running mate has the best shot of being the best president because he can’t — he is finished after this term. And I think I’m just going to keep my powder dry and watch and see what he — “ Ingraham: “So you would consider sitting out the elections and not supporting Trump if he picks someone that you didn’t think was qualified?” LANGONE: “Well, first of all, I live in New York State. My vote doesn’t count.” Ingraham: “No, but your money counts. They need your money.” LANGONE: “Believe me, Elaine and I are supporting — I had John Kennedy in my office yesterday. By the way, they don’t come for my wisdom.” Ingraham: “You are on the speed dial.” LANGONE: “No, they come for my wallet. People shouldn’t be confused to think that I have this influence. The minute my wallet is shut — “ Ingraham: “But it’s a binary choice, Ken. I mean, you and I have known each other a long time and I incorrectly stated that you had supported Biden when you were just saying you hoped he was going to be a successful president.” LANGONE: “He said it in his inaugural speech, ‘I’m going to bring America together.’” >> Laura: you from The Bronx originally? >> No, long island. >> Laura: I don’t get my boroughs right. You are beyond smart and brilliant it’s a binary choice. We can’t dictate who he is going to pick. I’m sure it’s going to be someone who supports him and his policies binary choice Biden and lose America and Trump who he picks. How is that a hard choice. >> I always act like I’m losing when I’m winning. I think that’s the safest approach to take in life? >> Laura: work hard. >> Well, because you don’t take anything for granted. The polls look good now. If I was Trump. >> Laura: New York is not a borough. I’m being told. >> If I were Trump who could add to the assurance that I will win to the the next election who could add? >> Laura: do you have any suggestions? >> Yeah, Nikki Haley. That will never happen. But, look. >> Laura: did she play that right after Iowa? >> Who knows. >> Laura: you think she should be the vice president. What do you mean who knows? >> Look, election night New Hampshire he had a chance to go out and say I won and my goal is to bring the American people together. >> Laura: back to the dress? Okay. >> What does he do? >> Laura: they both did it. >> But he goes out and mocks her for — >> Laura: but the party hasn’t been this united I don’t think I may be wrong but I don’t think it’s been this united behind Trump, behind anyone since maybe 2004. >> I agree with that. >> Laura: 4? >> Because you know why? We have no choice. >> Laura: you are making my point, Ken Langone is endorsing Donald Trump by implication with that comment. >> Let me say this to you. There’s no doubt about it. At the end of the day, I might hold my nose as I vote, but, what choice do I have? I haven’t made a decision yet. >> Laura: I mean, I’m sorry I’m betting a dead horse here. >> Do you know what I’m worried about most of all? >> Laura: what? I’m worried about losing the country that’s what I’m worried about.

[Clip starts] Biden: “We’ve already turned around. Look — look at the Michigan survey where 65% American people think they‘re in good shape economically. They think the nation‘s not in good shape, but they‘re personally in good shape. The polling data has been wrong all along. You know, how many of you guys do a poll at CNN, how many folks do you have to call to get one response? The idea that we‘re in a situation where things are so bad that folks — I mean, we‘ve created more jobs...” [Clip ends] BURNETT: “So he doesn‘t like the polls, he doesn‘t like what they‘re showing right now. Is he right or is it wishful thinking?” ENTEN: “He loved the polls four years ago when they showed him ahead. These are the same polls now. But here‘s the thing. The polls can be right at this point, and then keep in mind, we still have six months until the election. Polls can change plenty. You go back over history, you look back since 1972, the average difference between the polls at this point and the final result, 6 points. The biggest difference was 15 points in 1988, Michael Dukakis was ahead.” BURNETT: “A huge swing. And even on Election Day, polls can be off substantially and people point that out. What does history show?” ENTEN: “Yeah, you know, talk about the battleground states, look at the errors on Election Day. In the average battleground states, the polls were off 6 points since 1972. In 2020, they were off 5 points. So for talking about 1-, 2-point leads in these battleground states, the polls could be showing one thing and then the other person could certainly win.” BURNETT: “And that would show historically true. Because we know people are going to say, oh, who knows, fraud, whatever. Look at history, it always happens, Harry, thank you.” ENTEN: “Thank you.”