CSPAN - Washington Journal 09/04/2025

All Episodes

Previous Next

Sept. 4, 2025 07:00-09:01 - CSPAN

02:00:57

Washington Journal 09/04/2025

Participants

Main

al green

rep/d 20:16

mimi geerges

cspan 23:15

Appearances

donald j trump

admin 01:31

haley robson

01:12

marina lacerda

02:05

mike johnson

rep/r 01:27

ro khanna

rep/d 01:13

thomas massie

rep/r 01:37

Clips

dr gilbert lavoi

00:15

greg abbot

00:29

justice neil gorsuch

scotus 00:21

Callers

antonio in georgia

callers 00:12

charles in louisiana

callers 00:08

clown car in coney island

callers 00:12

donna in west virginia

callers 00:36

Large

Audio Only |

Scroll

Show episode speakers

Speaker	Time	Text
unidentified		Your calls and comments live.
		Then we'll talk about redistricting battles in Texas and nationwide, the Epstein files, and Congressional News of the Day with Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green, a member of the Financial Services Committee.
		Plus, Nebraska Republican Representative Adrian Smith, chair of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, joins to discuss the government spending deadlines and the Epstein files.
		Washington Journal is next.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Join the conversation.
		Good morning.
		It's Thursday, September 4th.
		Yesterday, about a dozen victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were on Capitol Hill to tell their stories of abuse and ask the President and Congress to release all records.
		The women described how they were lured as teenagers into the sex trafficking operation run by Epstein and Delaine Maxwell and abused for years.
		President Trump, in response to a reporter's question about the press conference, said it was, quote, a Democrat hoax that never ends.
		We'll have portions of the press conference and the president's reaction this first hour, and we'll take your calls, texts, and posts.
		Here are the numbers to call: Democrats, 202-748-8000, Republicans, 202748-8001, and Independents, 202-748-8002.
		You can send a text to 202-748-8003, include your first name in your city-state, and you can post your comments on social media, facebook.com/slash C-SPAN and X at C-SPANWJ.
		Welcome to today's two-hour Washington Journal.
		The House is expected to gavel in at 9 a.m. Eastern and we'll take you straight there.
		In the meantime, take a look at this headline from the Wall Street Journal.
		Trump again decries hoax as Epstein victims speak out.
		GOP dissident Representative Massey tries to force a vote on requiring DOJ to release all documents from Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
		Well, it was in front of the Capitol yesterday that victims of Jeffrey Epstein recounted their encounters with the late convicted sex offender.
		Here's what one of them, Marina Lacerda, said to the press.
marina lacerda ▲ ● ▼		I was only 14 years old when I met Jeffrey.
		It was the summer of high school.
		I was working three jobs to try to support my mom and my sister when a friend of mine in the neighborhood told me that I could make $300 to give an older guy a massage.
		It went from a dream job to the worst nightmare.
		Jeffrey assistant Leslie Groff would call me and tell me that I needed to be at the house so often that I ended up dropping out of high school before ninth grade.
		And I never went back.
		From 14 to 17 years old, I went and worked for Jeffrey instead of receiving an education.
		Every day I hoped that he would offer me a real job as one of his assistants or something, something important.
		I would finally have made it big, as like we say, the American dream.
		That day never came.
		I had no way.
		I had no way out.
		I was until he finally told me that I was too old.
		There are many pieces of my story that I can't remember no matter how hard I try.
		The constant state of wonder causes me so much fear and so much confusion.
		My therapist says that my brain is just trying to protect itself.
		But it's so hard to begin to heal knowing that there are people out there who know more about my abuse than I do.
		The worst part is that the government is still in possession right now of the documents and information about that could help me remember and get over all of this maybe and help me heal.
		They have documents with my name on them that were confiscated from Jeffrey Epstein's house and could help me put the pieces of my own life back together.
		But I don't have any of it.
		And I know the same is true for many of these women.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		That happened yesterday at the Capitol.
		You can watch that full event on our website, cspan.org.
		The president reacted at a press conference at the White House yesterday, and here it is.
unidentified		Right now, there have been survivors of Jeffrey Epstein speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill.
		They're calling for these case files, these documents to be released.
		And Thomas Massey, who is sponsoring a discharge position to get the House to vote on release of documents, says he doesn't really hear indicated in these files, but many of your friends and donors may be.
		And he says that's why the Justice Department is redacting them and slow walking the release.
		Is the Justice Department protecting any friends or donors, sir?
donald j trump ▲ ● ▼		So this is a Democrat hoax that never ends.
		You know, it reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation.
		We gave him everything over and over again, more and more and more, and nobody's ever satisfied.
		From what I understand, I could check, but from what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given.
		But it's really a Democrat hoax because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president.
		Even if you look at D.C. right now, D.C., it's a totally safe zone.
		It's called a safe zone.
		That's a term.
		It's a term of art.
		It's a safe zone because it's very safe.
		You could walk down the street now and nothing's going to happen.
		No crime, no murders, no nothing.
		Because we had a lot of problems with certain places, and we still do.
		All run by Democrats, or for the most part, run by Democrats.
		So what they're trying to do with the Epstein hoax is get people to talk about that instead of speaking about the tremendous success like ending seven wars.
		I ended seven wars.
		Nobody's going to talk about because they're going to talk about the Epstein, whatever.
		I understand that we were subpoenaed to give files, and I understand we've given thousands of pages of files.
		And I know that no matter what you do, it's going to keep going.
		And I think it's, I think, really, I think it's enough because I think we should talk about the greatness of our country and the success that we're having.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And this is on Axios that says Epstein survivors float release of unofficial client list.
		It says that Jeffrey Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips suggested Wednesday yesterday that victims of the convicted sex offender are contemplating publishing a list of people involved in their abuse if the Justice Department doesn't make more documents public.
		And regarding what the public thinks, there's a poll by Quinnipinoch University, and this is what it says.
		So of the people polled, 70% say they are following news about the Epstein files either very closely or somewhat closely.
		28% say they are not.
		And then when asked about President Trump's handling of the Epstein files, 67% said they disapprove of his handling, 19% say they approve, and 14% didn't offer an opinion.
		If you break that up by party, it says this.
		44% of Republicans approve of the way the Trump administration is handling the Epstein files, while 34% disapprove.
		and 22% did not offer an opinion.
		Democrats, it's as you would expect, higher.
		92% of Democrats, 73% of Independents disapprove of the way the Trump administration is handling the Epstein files.
		Take your calls now on this topic.
		Joyce, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
		Democrat, you're up first.
unidentified		Hi, thanks for taking my call.
		I just have a quick comment.
		For many weeks, it seems like months since we've been, since C-SPAN has been addressing this, I kept shouting at the television, get the eyewitnesses out there, talk about the women.
		And the women were never talked about on C-SPAN, and it was a source of frustration for me.
justice neil gorsuch ▲ ● ▼		And I don't understand that because we do have eyewitnesses to a possible crime, and they weren't addressed and talked about for the rest of us to know that at least someone was thinking about them.
unidentified		Thank you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And Joyce, did you watch the press conference yesterday?
unidentified		I got to part of it.
		I'm a hit and miss in between chores and stuff.
		Yeah, I did watch it.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
		And it is on our website.
		But here is another portion from Haley Ropeson, who was among Epstein's victims at the news conference yesterday.
haley robson ▲ ● ▼		Mr. President Donald J. Trump, I am a registered Republican.
		Not that that matters because this is not political.
		However, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax.
		We are real human beings.
		This is real trauma.
unidentified		What does it feel like emotionally to hear that?
unidentified		Devastating.
haley robson ▲ ● ▼		It's being gutted from the inside out.
		Not that I would know what that feels like, but I imagine it's the anxiety buildup with the depression and the survival mode.
		And then your nervous system goes limp and ironically is shot.
		And it feels like you just want to explode inside because nobody, again, is understanding that this is a real situation.
		These women are real.
		We're here in person.
		To say that it's a hoax is just not.
		Please humanize us.
		I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are and to hear us for what we have to say.
		There is no hoax.
		The abuse was real.
		Now, what goes on behind closed doors, I can't speak for that.
		What happens around the world politically, I cannot speak for that.
		But I am here with all of these women, including our attorneys, and I would be more than happy to meet with him, and I will meet him halfway.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		We're taking your calls on this topic this first hour.
		This is Lester in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
		Democrat, good morning, Lester.
unidentified		Good morning, Mamie.
unidentified		How are you?
haley robson ▲ ● ▼		Good.
unidentified		Looking at TV yesterday for the East Women's Appeared, America need to look at themselves and ask the question.
		Every time the president get on TV and somebody have an accusation against him, he said it's a hoax.
		Well, since he's been in office, it's been a hoax.
		Talking about eight months of growth he have done, America is so far behind.
		And this guy just, it is unbelievable the lies he tells each and every day.
		Looking at these women, we knew about the Catholic Church.
		We know about the Epstein file.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Lebster, here's Joe in Cantonsville, Maryland, Independent Line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Joe.
unidentified		Good morning.
		I've heard a lot of people say that, you know, one way or another, what's important right now, the economics or this kind of socially popular moral issue.
		And what I wanted to say is that the Epstein files and the case and, you know, who is in it has direct impact on our economic situation if wealthy and powerful and politically connected people and maybe the president are in an organized ring where they are doing illegal activity on a grand scale that is heinous,
		unpopular, and hurts people.
		Because all the things in government and in the structures of power will be moved towards protecting the ring of pedophiles and criminals.
		If you want to hire someone, you're going to see whether they will tote the line, whether they will cover it up, whether they will be okay with it.
		Like this corruption not only is morally heinous, but it diverts attention and resources away from running our country properly and all of the things that we want a government and an economy to do.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Joe, here's Carrie, Independent Line, Kenville, New Jersey.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Hi, Carrie.
unidentified		Hi.
		Thank you for taking my call.
		I knew this would be your topic this morning, and I just have something to say.
		The three women that came out from Congress and spoke on this, they were abused themselves.
		I'm saying I think that they were, or they would have no reason to come out, the Republicans.
		And all I have to say is that women have very, very long memories.
		And thank you for taking my call.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So the Republicans that are voting with Representative Massey on the release of those files are Representative Mace, a Republican of South Carolina, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
		Well, let's hear from Kentucky Republican Thomas Massey.
		He was at the news conference yesterday with the victims of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, and he spoke about the discharge petition that would force Congress to vote to release the Epstein files.
		Here he is.
thomas massie ▲ ● ▼		The Washington establishment is asking the American public to believe something that is not believable.
		They're asking you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims and they acted alone, and that the DOJ has no idea of who else might have been involved, that nobody else did anything that rose to a criminal enterprise.
		The American people know that's not true.
		Now, the Speaker of the House just offered a fig leaf to my colleagues.
		They're going to vote on a non-binding resolution today that does absolutely nothing.
		I appreciate the efforts of my colleague James Comer, who's leading the oversight committee.
		They may find some information, but they're allowing the DOJ to curate all of the information that the DOJ is giving them.
		If you've looked at the pages they've released so far, they're heavily redacted.
		Some pages are entirely redacted.
		And 97% of this is already in the public domain.
		So I'm calling on my colleagues.
		Be one of the next two who sponsors this discharge petition.
		I think it's shameful that this has been called a hoax.
		Hopefully today, we can clear that up.
		This is not a hoax.
		This is real.
		There are real survivors.
		There are real victims.
		to this criminal enterprise.
		And the perpetrators are being protected because they're rich and powerful and political donors to the establishment here in Washington, D.C.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		It's Kentucky Republican Thomas Massey, and this is Politico.
		House approved symbolic signal of support for Oversight's Epstein investigation.
		It says GOP leaders hope to appease their rank and file with the measure, which has no practical implications.
		The measure included in a House rule that cleared in a 212 to 208 vote has no practical implications as the oversight panel is free to continue its probe without any further action on the floor.
		However, the House GOP leadership has been touting the investigation as a better alternative to Republican Representative Thomas Massey's controversial legislation that would compel the release of materials in the Epstein case in 30 days.
		That's at Politico taking your calls.
		And Jerry is calling us on the line for Democrats, Livingston, Tennessee.
		Good morning.
unidentified		Yes, ma'am.
		Thank you for taking my call.
		I cannot understand to start with.
		If there's nothing in there, why would you not want it released to start with?
		You know, if anybody ain't got nothing in there, they ain't nothing to be afraid of.
		But I cannot believe that people are standing to steal a covering up for this man.
		This is, I mean, this whole situation trying to hide it.
		This is unbelievable.
		Them women are real.
		They're as real as God ever made anybody.
		And there's no reason to keep covering this up.
		And where's the churches at in all this?
		This has been Barack Obama or something like that.
		The churchies have been clawing the paint off the ball.
		And now they need to stand up.
		Go ahead.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So, Jerry, who is your representative there in Livingston, Tennessee?
unidentified		I don't really know who my representative is.
unidentified		I know who he is, but I keep thinking he's named.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So are you going to call his office and say, hey, I want you to vote for this?
unidentified		Or do you think?
		Yes, I'll find out who it is because we've changed around down here and stuff.
		I didn't know who it was.
		You know, we had Lamar Alexander, and he was our senator for the longest and done a good job.
		And he wouldn't have stood for something like this.
		He's not that kind of man.
		This is not a Republican thing or a Democrat thing.
		This is a moral issue.
		And I cannot believe that people are so brainbased if they stand up.
		It don't matter who it is.
		Bill Clinton's in there.
		Bring it out.
		Send them to jail.
		Donald Trump, who it is.
		These women right here have been abused.
		It's the way it's always been with women, especially among the Republican Party.
		If they bring something out, they just start slamming the woman.
		Talk to me about how sorry she is.
		Look at you, you currently, what they've done to her.
		Look what they've done to Monoclues.
		She's the Democrats.
		Women are not going to have a chance to live in this world, but these women right here are real.
		They were abused as kids.
		They wasn't the women that you see here today.
		They were 12 and 13-year-old kids.
		It was done this way by this sorry bunch of fields.
		That's all I've got to say.
		Thank you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Jerry.
		And here's Earl on the Republican line in Reading, California.
		Good morning, Earl.
unidentified		Good morning.
		You know, I don't know if you've seen him or not, but on YouTube, you can see a fellow with a good-looking woman or a young woman, if you want, looking at a guy at a pair of Levi's.
		Looks like he just got out of construction job.
		They won't even talk to him until they realize that's his Lamborghini over there.
		You know what I mean?
		That's his Mercedes or his hot collar.
		All of a sudden, they're ready to go anywhere.
		Even McDonald's with them.
		You know, what I saw was a 20-year-old pity party.
		I'm sorry.
		I see women nicely dressed, wearing designer, with a little designer, sunglasses, with dresses.
		I mean, all New York type of ladies.
		You know, and most states in the Union, you can marry at 16 years old.
		These women were making hundreds, and this even sounds to me like thousands of dollars of 16, 18.
		They quit high school because they were making so much money.
		I'm just saying, you know, if you go for the brass ring and you don't have the proper morals or upbringing, and you get involved.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So, Earl, do you think a 14-year-old can make that kind of a decision?
unidentified		Well, I think they do it every day.
		And I think the other guy on the phone ahead of me said, oh, 12, 13.
		You know, these women were with Epstein for 10 years.
		They could have watched.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		These girls, Earl.
		He abused them as girls.
		Let's be clear about that.
		They were, many of them were under 18 years old and under the age of legal consent.
		Patrick, Clover, South Carolina, Independent Line.
		Good morning, Patrick.
unidentified		Good morning.
		Good to talk to you.
		My representative is Ralph Norman, and I'm paying close attention, Ralph Norman, down here in South Carolina.
		You know, these women very look truthful, you know, very convicted in their testimony.
		And for Donald Trump to sit there and say it's a hoax, I mean, this guy, you know, I voted for him, but every day I get more and more disgusted with this individual.
		You know, they got the sex trafficking in this thing with Epstein.
		But the financial transactions that went on between countries, over a billion dollars of transactions between Epstein and all these rich people from point A to point B.
		But as an average American, me as a working class blue-collar person, if I make a transaction over $600, they want to take a scope and put it up, you know, where.
		So I want this discharge petition to go through today.
		And Mr. Norman, I'm counting on you in South Carolina.
		I do appreciate it.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And here's Jim in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Republican.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Hi, Jim.
unidentified		Yeah, hi.
		You know, a lot of this just comes down to right and wrong.
		And whatever happened about a guilty conscience or shame, I don't want to totally blame.
		Well, I mean, I do because whatever.
		Epstein and then all of the other people that are on the list that they won't release, like Alan Gershowitz, he likes to pretend he's the paragon of virtue.
		I mean, he's disgusting because if you look into this stuff, he's involved and these people who cover up this stuff.
		But then I don't want to necessarily say that these women are totally innocent.
		I mean, you know, there's right and wrong, and you have self-control, and you should, but some of them don't.
		And in like a biblical language in the Old Testament, they talk about harlots.
		So, you know, it's just.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So would that apply to a 14-year-old we're hearing of a victim as young as 11?
unidentified		Well, you know, when you're a young boy, you have certain energy, and I think women do too.
unidentified		So if they're not raised properly and somebody entices them, you know, Eve tempted Adam with a powerful.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Should the people that entice them be held accountable?
unidentified		Oh, totally.
		Glene Maxwell, how was she transferred from one prison to this place down in Texas?
		And now she's probably going to get a pardon.
		And then look at the Pam Bondi from the Attorney General from Florida.
		Now she's the Attorney General for Trump.
clown car in coney island ▲ ● ▼		And then the guy who supposedly interviewed Ghelaine Maxwell, she was, yeah, he was Trump's attorney on a number of cases.
unidentified		So all of it, all of the whole thing is disgusting.
		And there's right and wrong.
		And people, we need to hold these people accountable.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Jim.
		In Caspian, Michigan, Independent Line.
		Robert, you're on the air.
		Good morning.
unidentified		Good morning.
		This is Robert from the fascist town of Caspian, Michigan, which is next to Iron River, Michigan.
		My opinion on all this, and there's this one guy I'd like to bring up.
		Maybe you can help me.
		Please help me on this.
		This just kind of broke again maybe a month ago ago.
		But when it first went down a couple years ago, when somebody was arrested and whatever, or Epstein was arrested.
		Hello?
		Robert?
		Yep.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Yep.
		Go ahead.
		You're breaking up.
unidentified		Okay.
		Okay.
		They showed a picture of an English man who was well-to-do over in England.
		I don't know if it was a prince or what his position.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So you're talking about Prince Andrew.
unidentified		Thank you.
		Thank you very much.
		Prince Andrew's name has never been mentioned in the past couple of months now since this started again.
		You know, and nobody's ever mentioned Prince Andrew's name.
		And he was involved.
		They showed a picture of him and a young woman coming out of a building.
		Now, you know, I wasn't there.
		You know, I don't like to speculate too much, but I'm just knowing what I know.
		And his name was mentioned.
		And ever since then, his name hasn't been mentioned.
		Love old person in England.
		He's just one of the few that's rich and famous, and he can bury his name.
		And nobody's ever mentioned Prince Andrew's name was affiliated with, I think they showed him with, help me, Epstein.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Robert.
		And on the line for Democrats, Birdstown, Tennessee.
		Dan, you're on the air.
unidentified		Good morning, Mimi.
		It is an honor.
		It's a privilege to be speaking on Washington Journal, but it's an honor to be speaking with you, girl.
		You've been kicking butt and taking names.
		I just want to have a shout out to Jerry there in Livingston.
		He's only about 20 miles away from me.
		Thank you, Jerry, for making me not feel like I'm the only one in this region feeling this way about Trumpism.
		Also, a shout-out to a gentleman that called in last week referring to Les Wexner helping us connect those dots so we can follow the money.
		So, yeah, I just want to remind everybody, they're eating the dogs here in Birdstown.
		They're eating the cats.
		They're eating the dogs, Mimi.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Jan.
		And this is Joe Marie, OverGuard, Arizona Republican line.
		Good morning, Joe Marie.
unidentified		Good morning.
		I just want to say that when Trump said that the Epstein files is a hoax, he's not referring to the acts.
		He understands that, yes, Epstein did a terrible, unforgivable thing.
		He's talking that the hoax is that the push from the Democrats to connect him to Epstein as a fellow pedophile, that's the hoax he's talking about.
		The Democrats, they don't care about the victims.
		They don't care about these poor young girls that were sexually abused.
		They only want to hang Trump.
		That's the only reason.
		And I've got news for all of them.
		They're going to be very disappointed.
donna in west virginia ▲ ● ▼		And if they want to talk about pedophiles, why don't they listen to Biden's daughter, who wrote in her diary how her dad showered with her as a young girl, made her feel very uncomfortable.
unidentified		That's never mentioned.
		Of course not.
		He's a Democrat.
		If you're a Democrat, you get away with everything.
donna in west virginia ▲ ● ▼		If you're a Republican, we're going to make up lies and try to hang you.
unidentified		And that's that.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Joe Marie, do you agree with the discharge petition to force the release of the Epstein files?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		If you were in Congress, how would you vote?
unidentified		They are releasing them.
		I mean, there's a lot of nuances to it.
		You just don't put out names of people that could be very innocent.
		So I'm yes and no on it.
		You know, I would love for everything to be put out, honestly, so that they would stop calling Trump a pedophile.
		Like they call him a racist, like they call him a fascist, a Nazi, every name that you could think of.
		This man has been put through, hell, they have, okay, the FBI, the CIA, they've all had these files forever.
donna in west virginia ▲ ● ▼		If there was anything connecting Trump to being a pedophile alongside Epstein, that would have been out 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
unidentified		Look at all the lies that they told about Trump to get him in jail to bankrupt him, to get people to try to assassinate him, on and on and on.
unidentified		You don't think something real?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Joe Marie.
		Let's take a look at California Representative RoCana.
		He was at the news conference yesterday with victims, and he is the Democrat leading the push in Congress to vote for the release of the files.
		Here he is.
ro khanna ▲ ● ▼		We're here as patriots.
		We begin the work of bringing this country together, progressives, independents, moderates, and yes, MAGA supporters to demand truth and justice.
		A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core.
		Americans are asking a very simple question.
		How is it possible that in the richest, most powerful country in the world, there are corrupt special interest forces, both foreign or domestic, that are preventing the release, that have a stranglehold on our government and are preventing the release of the full Epstein files.
		There is something that is rotten in Washington.
		Less than 1% of these files have been released.
		We are demanding today on the discharge petition that all of the files be released.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Getting your thoughts on that.
		This is John, Independent in Nashua, New Hampshire.
		Hi, John.
unidentified		Hi.
		Thanks for taking the call.
		Of course, these girls were abused.
		I mean, I don't see how anybody can even question that part.
		And these callers that call in and try to say, well, they were making money.
		Are you kidding me?
		What is wrong with people?
		And I think, you know, it's a C-SPAN thing right now trying to keep this Epstein thing, excuse me, going because they think it's related to Trump somehow.
		And I agree with the woman who said callers that call in and say, oh, Trump this, Trump that.
		The only evidence we've seen is that photo, that painting.
		And we know what president that was, and we know he's on the list.
		So yeah, let's release all the information.
		I can't even believe this is America.
		The information needs to come out.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, John.
		This is Joshua in Joliet, Illinois, Democrat.
		Good morning.
unidentified		Hi, good morning.
		Thanks for taking the call.
		I just wanted to remind people who Trump's original pick for Attorney General would have been, Matt Gates, someone who was credibly accused of sex trafficking and also underage sex with a minor, somebody that is proven by their own party.
		And then I just wanted to point people to the investigation that occurred in the United States Virgin Islands.
		This has already been prosecuted by the folks over there, the government, and they found there's already names named.
		There's a billionaire who settled and also Chase.
		There's also several financial transactions and mobile tracking to the island that it's all part of those court documents that are not being released.
		I just invite Trump supporters just to remove their personal attachment to Trump and just allow of information to come out.
		There's no reason that this cover needs to happen unless he doesn't do anything for himself.
		And since he's become something of a dictator controlling all aspects of the government, he's able to release more information.
		Just do it.
		Thank you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And this is Joel in Spring, Texas, a Republican.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Joel.
unidentified		Good morning, ma'am.
		This whole thing seems like the Twilight Zone episode in that how anybody could justify not releasing an unredacted poll report, all the paperwork, only redaction being the victims' names, and they are victims.
		14-year-old girls, 12-year-old girls, et cetera, cannot give consent.
		They were used.
		This is a deal.
		You'll never meet anybody more conservative than me.
		This is a deal breaker.
		That if Republicans can't get on board for this, something is rotten in Denmark.
		I have not contacted my congressman at this point.
		I guarantee you I will today, and others that I'm familiar with.
		This is crazy.
		People can walk and shoot them at the same time.
		We don't need to slow walk this paperwork through there.
		It's not the New York phone book.
		Redact their names.
		Put every person's name that is listed in flight logs and financial transactions, et cetera.
		Make them public.
		Let the ships fall where they may.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Joel.
		And this is the Hill.
		GOP leaders urging Republicans not to sign Epstein discharge petition.
		It says that House GOP leaders are urging their members to steer clear of the discharge petition, aiming to force the Trump administration to release all the government files on Jeffrey Epstein.
		In a closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol, Speaker Johnson called on GOP lawmakers to instead support the efforts of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is seeking more disclosures on the Epstein case from the Justice Department, the Epstein estate, and former federal law enforcement officials who worked on the case.
		Here is Nibity in Tampa, Florida.
		Democrat, good morning.
unidentified		Yes, good morning.
		I hope all is well.
		Thank you again.
		C-SPAN, I am a 15-plus-year attorney that used to work in the District of Columbia at one of the wonderful firms that had to pay tribute.
		I find it infuriatingly interesting that the cases in which I have them and people's names were investigated, things were rejected, closed door, are now being politicized.
		I have no dog in this fight, though, but I find it very curious how not only the Department of Justice, not only individuals, but entities within the government are acknowledging and choosing not to acknowledge the existence of names and whatnot.
		And I think all documentation should be released.
		I would love to have clients that we could cherry-pick who does what and what is known as criminality.
		And I think it's very interesting how only the leader, our Supreme Chancellor, pardon me, is immune from the Democratic processes.
		Thank you all again to C-SPAN, and we'll see what follows.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, and here is Pete JS Mississippi, Independent Line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning.
unidentified		Yes, ma'am.
		First of all, I'd like to say I enjoy your show.
		And I just wondered, all this corruption has been going on for decades.
		Why is it now that it's just coming?
		It's just coming out.
		Is it the money these ladies want or is it something else?
		Or they want to expose President Trump.
		Why?
		I just can't understand.
		Why are they doing it now?
		And I've never seen them or heard them before in the past.
		And these ladies are middle-aged now.
		They got either their wives and mothers.
		And I just wondered if anybody could answer that for me.
		Why is it now?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Pete.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Well, let's hear from Speaker Mike Johnson talking about the Oversight Committee probe on the Epstein files.
mike johnson ▲ ● ▼		I think the oversight probe is going to be wide and expansive, and they're going to follow the truth wherever it leads.
		That's why the discharge petition has been made moot and unnecessary because you've got to remember that the oversight committee's investigation is already ongoing.
		They're already producing and putting out there the documents that are uncovered.
unidentified		The White House is in full compliance.
mike johnson ▲ ● ▼		The administration is willfully complying with the subpoenas because they want maximum transparency as well.
unidentified		I talked to the president himself last night about this.
		He says, get it out there.
		Put it all out there.
		So this is going to be an ongoing effort.
		It will be bipartisan, which is great.
mike johnson ▲ ● ▼		And the oversight committee's effort, this is a really important point, goes further than the discharge petition.
		It requests more information than the discharge even encompasses.
		For example, the Epstein estate documents, which is a treasure trove of information, not referenced in the discharge.
		But it goes further, and it has the force of law because we have subpoena authorities that's already being complied with.
		So it makes the discharge irrelevant and unnecessary.
		And what it does is it makes the rule vote really, really important because everybody who wants disclosure, full and maximum transparency and disclosure of Epstein, has a vote today to be able to affirm it.
unidentified		And that's a good question.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		You're able to move on to other issues.
mike johnson ▲ ● ▼		Well, in terms of the full Congress, but what we're going to do is effectively deputize the Oversight Committee, which is the committee of appropriate jurisdiction, to go do a deep dive on this.
unidentified		And I think they're going to uncover things that have never been uncovered before.
mike johnson ▲ ● ▼		One of the things that came out of the meeting we had yesterday with the six victims and told the most horrific stories.
unidentified		We also had four of their lawyers there.
		Two of these lawyers have been working on this for 20 years.
		That's when the civilization began.
		They know where everything is, right?
mike johnson ▲ ● ▼		And so they can inform us and we can utilize them as a resource to go deeper and get the full disclosure on everything.
unidentified		And I think you're going to find a whole commitment of the whole Congress on that.
unidentified		So the Oversight Committee will be leading and Damien Comer is going to do a great job on it.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.
		Yesterday, this is Lee in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Republican.
		Good morning, Lee.
unidentified		Hey, good morning, Mimi.
		How are you doing?
		Hopefully well.
		I was just calling in because of this conversation, and I appreciate this fact that I can give my free thought on this.
		With the Epstein files, if you were to take and expose everybody that was involved in that right now, I think we would have world collapse.
		So many government officials, so many country officials, leaders from other countries, I'm sure.
		We know that for a fact.
		Prince Andrew.
		But being a Republican, I'm open up to let's let's dump these Epstein files so everybody knows.
		Full transparency, transparency.
		It's when you sit back and you think about it, let's cross our T's and dot our I's.
		Let's make sure that everything that we're going to do, these people get held to responsibility.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So, Lee, you would be in favor of that massey petition, discharge petition, to force the release.
unidentified		Well, I think that forcing the release is pretty bad, unfortunately.
		I mean, because one is forcing the release, it's not giving people time to, you know, cross their T's and dot their I's.
		Because look at Clinton's, old Bill Clinton.
		He was there.
		Look at what he did to Monica Winsky.
		I mean, come on, let's, you know, we can go down those rabbit holes.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		But just for so, just to be clear, Lee, though, Monica Lewinsky was an adult, and these victims, many of them, were not adults.
		So difference there.
		Sam Frederick, Maryland, Democrat.
		Good morning, Sam.
unidentified		Good morning.
		There's one point that I want to make that people seem to be missing is that Trump said he wishes Glene Maxwell well.
		He said I wish her well in 2019.
		So he told us that he supports her.
		This isn't a surprise.
		The other thing that the other point I wanted to make is that a lot of Republicans say that we live in a constitutional republic.
		Well, that means checks and balances.
		And the oversight committee subpoenaed Trump and they didn't comply.
		So it's been two, they gave him two weeks.
		That deadline was missed.
		And then they're like, oh, in a few more days, we'll release some files.
		They released a few files that were mostly already released.
		And now they're not doing anything.
		I don't know how people can believe Trump and Mike Johnson and James Gilmer at this point.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here's Carrie in Wadsworth, Ohio, Independent Line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Carrie.
unidentified		Hi.
		I'm from Ohio.
		I was calling on the Epstein files.
		I'm going to let you know that at six years old, I was molested and raped until I was 13.
		So I understand these women.
		And for the man from Mississippi to say what he said that women, I think he said women deserved it or something like that.
		And as far as Ghelaine Maxwell, she deserves to go back to where she came from the maximum security prison.
		Because right now she's in basically a dorm room doing Pilates and wanting to play with puppies, but she can't.
justice neil gorsuch ▲ ● ▼		So I just wish I wish these women well.
unidentified		They're not lying.
		I know.
		So God bless them.
		So thank you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Carrie.
		And this is Rich in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Republican.
		Hi, Rich.
unidentified		Hey, good morning, Mimi.
		Just on the Epstein thing, I'm wondering what information Pam Bondi has that Garrick or Merrick Garland didn't have.
		I mean, why wouldn't he release this information if Trump's name was on it and would have damaged Trump in the election?
		And I think the answer is probably there are politicians and important people from all parties whose names are on the list, and I'm for total release.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And there could be donors of certain politicians as well.
unidentified		There could be.
		And I suspect this is the kind of list that if I gave to you 200 names, I think there's probably a lot of names that really are off the meter on the wow factor.
		And I would remember, you know, if Bill Gates was on there or a famous actor, I mean, you would remember those things.
		Why wouldn't Merrick Garland just say, hey, I saw that file?
		I mean, because he had to have seen the exact same things that Pam Bondi sees.
		And why wouldn't he just put out a post on Twitter and say, hey, I read it, and here's some names.
		My other point is: where the hell were these girls' parents?
		I mean, if my 12-year-old girl was going to some private island, are you kidding me?
		I mean, if she was out of my conscious for 15 minutes, I'd be freaking out.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So, Rich, what we're hearing is that Ghelane Maxwell targeted girls that were from troubled homes.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So, whether they were neglected or whatever, that those were the ones that they were, she was specifically targeting for abuse.
unidentified		And that makes sense, but I mean, and that's a topic for another time, but that's just parenting is so pathetic.
unidentified		But, anyways, that's all I have.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		I get your point about that.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		George, Democrat, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, good morning.
unidentified		Good morning.
		This is George.
		You know, I'm a Democrat, and I hate to see what's going on with this Democratic Party.
		Okay, they should be focused on winning the midterms, but they keep beating this thing with the Epstein files.
		And you guys keep running it day and night, day and night.
		You know, we should be more focused on what's going on with our current attacking Trump is not going to work.
		And you are not going to win the midterms with this.
		Massey is no longer going to be a congressman.
		The Republican Party is going to kick him out.
		So he's a joker.
		And this rope he's positioning himself to do, he's not even in touch with his own community, Indian community.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And here is Russ in Ohio, a Republican.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Hi, Russ.
unidentified		Hi.
		Good morning.
		I don't doubt that these women were abused, but like Rich and some of the other callers said, if ever there's any dirt on Trump, I understand Trump was good friends with Epstein.
		That doesn't make him a criminal.
		That doesn't make him a pedophile.
		If Trump was involved, the Democrats had 12 years that they could have released these files during Obama and Biden.
		But like I said, I don't disagree.
		I believe these women were molested and they're due their day in court.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And Russ, do you have an opinion as to why you think the Trump Department of Justice won't release the files?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		The full files, I should say.
unidentified		I don't know.
		I don't understand.
		They should have been released a long time ago.
		And if Trump's name is on any sort of list, if he's guilty, like I said, the Democrats had the same information that the Republicans have.
		They should have released these files back during Obama and Biden's and even Trump's first term.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
		And here's Ethan in Independent in Farmland, Indiana.
		Good morning, Ethan.
unidentified		Good morning.
		Yeah, I think I'm very interested in Trump's involvement just with Jeffrey Epstein and his long-standing friendship with him, but his clear ties with Neyahu and long-standing defense of the conflict in Israel.
		People defending Donald Trump.
		And, you know, I understand that it is a bipartisan thing.
		Both parties have been involved in this abuse and helping to continue it and conceal it.
		But Trump is the presiding current administration, and he has an obligation, I think.
		I think the reason why they won't release it is because they know it would be so condemning, it'd be so damning that it might result in an impeachment.
		And it would definitely ruin any credibility that he, whatever credibility he has left.
		The fact that people still take his word with any degree of seriousness is beyond me.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So, Ethan, I mean, some of the callers have pointed out that why didn't the Biden Justice Department release the files if it was damning of President Trump?
unidentified		You know, I think I'm not sure.
		You know, at the end of the day, it's probably condemning to all of them.
		And to be honest, it would probably ruin people's faith and destroy the social cohesion and fabric that we all kind of share because people have this reference.
		People have this trust on their figures and authority.
		And if you find out that these people that are dealing with your tax money, these people that are basically controlling your life where your kids, you know, your child's, you know, they control everything.
		You vote for them and you put your hands in your representatives.
		You put your trust in them that they are going to follow through and deliver on the needs of communities.
		And half the time you find out tax money is just squalored and wasted and put a war and to the death of children.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
		Got it, Ethan.
		And take a look at this article in the New York Post.
		Tearful Representative Nancy Mace leaves meeting with Epstein victims, says their painful stories gave her, quote, full-blown panic attack.
		It says this Representative Nancy Mace stormed out of the House Oversight Committee's closed-door meeting with Jeffrey Epstein victims, visibly shaken and in tears, claiming their horror stories gave her a full-blown panic attack.
		Video shows the South Carolina Republican who shared her own experience as a victim of sexual assault, wipe from her eyes, wipe tears from her eyes as she stormed down a hallway full of reporters.
		Lawmaker refused to answer questions, but later took to X, where she described hyperventilating during the meeting.
unidentified		Here's a picture of her there.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		You can see, and you can see on your screen.
		Here's Jesse in Rosedale, Maryland, Democrat.
		Good morning, Jesse.
unidentified		Good morning, Maria.
unidentified		I was sitting here listening to the program.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		I'll make her a few things.
		Can you mute your TV, Jesse?
		Because we can still hear it in the back.
unidentified		And I was saying watching the program.
		And I wonder why they can let Trump release this over documents, if you want to, and then compare them to the ones that I'm trying to think of, except the fellow name who started all this, who brought it up to here to say that the reason why you can't get Jesse records on file is because Trump's name is all through him.
		What was his name?
		The call guy, Tesla guy on Elon Musk.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Elon Musk.
unidentified		Yeah.
		Compare his records to the one that Trump was released.
		I know he got them.
		He's a billionaire.
		He had a whole bunch of group of young folks with computers running through our government picking up stuff you shouldn't be picking up.
		So you know he got something on Trump.
		Compare their notes with his.
		I bet you you'll find a whole lot of difference in it.
		So that's what I called to say.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Let's talk to Doug in Harriman, Tennessee, Republican line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning.
unidentified		Good morning, America.
		I was just wanting to address the press conference yesterday, and one of the ladies that spoke, she said that Donald Trump was Excene's biggest brag.
		But she had already said that she was on the Lolita Express with Bill Clinton.
		And somehow, Donald Trump, before he was ever elected office, was his biggest brag.
		But Bill Clinton, that she was riding on the plane with, wasn't.
		It just makes me question her truthfulness.
		And that's all I was wanting to say.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here's Berta in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Independent Line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning.
unidentified		Hi, Mimi.
		I just want to say to all these guys and all these women that say these girls weren't molested and they're saying that they're all just coming up now to get rid of Trump.
		Well, I wasn't molested since I was five months old for my godfather.
		I never told my mom until I was 30.
		My dad died when I was nine years old.
		I have scars from my yesterday.
		I was just a basket case watching them.
		Anybody that does not believe that this happened to all these women who were girls at the time, you need to start looking at stuff.
		You need to start looking at these churches that Bolter killed my niece and religious people.
		Trump came out before this whole thing, before he got elected, saying he could grab anybody's pussies because he has the money.
		Well, he's grabbed more than that.
		And that's why he doesn't want this out.
		And I'm tired of this.
		I've paid the ultimate price.
		My whole family's paid it.
		And these churches that say they're so good, Bolter was a fanatic since he was 17, and he was Trump's like best man.
		And they're going out for anybody that doesn't go with churches.
		Well, I'll tell you what, I paid for my abortion 1973 when it was first done, and I still have my receipt.
		I never had big kids because of all of this.
		I have a four-inch scar going across my ovaries.
		And I wish I never told my mom because she felt so terrible.
		But I paid the price, and I never told his son that came and saw me at a bar and said how boasted, how wonderful I was because I was his dad.
		I'm named after his dad, everything.
		I kicked my godfather.
		I was going to put his butt in jail.
		Lucky he died of emphysema.
		And I'm still paying the price because I never told his son, and I wish I would have.
		And I didn't tell his son because his wife asked me not to.
		And I was 65 years old when that happened.
		And now he died, and I'm held.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Sorry, you're going through all that.
		Here is Ollie and Bristow, Virginia, Democrat.
		Good morning, Ollie.
unidentified		Good morning.
		I just called to respond to a gentleman I called earlier that wanted to know why this issue is coming up right now.
		Sir, the issue is because the Republicans ran on this.
		They ran on this, and Donald Trump said he was going to release the files.
		Pam Bundy also said she had the files on her desk.
		So that's all I call to let him know.
		Thank you very much.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Let's talk to Khalifa in Providence, Rhode Island, Republican.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning.
unidentified		Good morning.
		I'm calling because of a few things.
		I feel bad for all those women, but I know plenty of people had those problems.
		They should have came out a little bit soon and said all together like this.
		I feel bad.
		I know what they went through.
		Trust me, I do.
		But blaming.
		And you're going to find out when it all comes out.
		He had nothing to do with it.
		And you know what?
		No, I'm going to laugh at all the Democrats.
		They've been looking for every little thing to bother him about.
		He did more than any other president ever did.
		And I don't really care.
		Anyone believes me or not, but he's done a lot.
		Thank you so much.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here's Cheryl, a Republican in Daytona Beach, Florida.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Cheryl.
unidentified		Hi, Mimi.
		Thanks for taking my call.
		First of all, shame on you for defending Bill Clinton against Monica Lewinsky.
		She was a young, impressionable girl with a guy with a whole lot of power and money, and he ruined her life.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		No, I totally understand that, but it was never considered abuse, Cheryl.
		She's 28 years old, and it was considered an affair.
		So I certainly don't defend anybody that has extramarital affairs, but drawing the comparison with what Jeffrey Epstein did is, I think, a bridge too far.
		But go ahead with what you wanted to say.
unidentified		Jeffrey Epstein was a monster, and he was enabled by a whole lot of filthy, rich, powerful men.
		And this is coming out now to try to go after Trump, Trump, Trump.
		That's what you guys do every single morning now.
		I don't get it.
		It's not going to work.
		Trump has no problem with those files being released, but it's going to blow a hole in the world.
		And these women, I was assaulted too.
		So let's get that out of the way.
		But women can and do lie.
		And I'm not saying these women are lying about everything, but I'm saying that they may not be telling the truth as it really and truly is.
		The whole truth.
		Name names.
		Name names.
		Until you name names, I find it very difficult to get on board with you.
		And the lawyers refused to answer a credible journalist questions yesterday, and I think they had them thrown out.
		It's my understanding that Dufree lied about the lawyer, Dershowitz, and then had to retract her statement.
		She lied.
		And that wasn't the only thing she lied about.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Cheryl.
		And before we end our segment, a little bit of news about C-SPAN, the Associated Press.
		C-SPAN announces a deal for its service to be carried on YouTube TV and Hulu.
		C-SPAN said yesterday that it had reached a deal to have its three channels air on YouTube TV and Hulu's live television feed, ending a dispute that had led to a revenue squeeze for the public affairs network in the cord-cutting area.
		So we're very happy about that.
		We will let you know when that starts, but we appreciate all of our viewers.
		However, you watch or you listen to the program.
		You'll have more options starting soon.
		Up next, we'll talk to two lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about the Epstein files and the upcoming government funding deadline.
		In about 30 minutes, we'll be joined by Republican Adrian Smith of Nebraska, a top member of the Ways and Means Committee.
		But after the break, a conversation with Democrat Al Green of Texas, whose Houston area district has recently been carved up under the new Texas redistricting plan.
		We'll be right back.
unidentified		This Saturday, join C-SPAN 2's Book TV in partnership with the Library of Congress for live all-day coverage of the 2025 National Book Festival from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Our signature uninterrupted coverage starts at 9 a.m. Eastern.
		This year's guests include acting librarian of Congress Robert Newland, Garrett Graff on his book The Devil Reach Toward the Sky, a conversation with Jill Lapore, author of We the People, A History of the U.S. Constitution, Ron Chernow on his biography of Mark Twain, and a discussion of the launch of C-SPAN's new series, America's Book Club, with host David Rubinstein and senior executive producer Marie Arana.
		the 2025 National Book Festival, live all day, Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern on C-SPAN 2's Book TV.
		This fall, C-SPAN invites you on a powerful journey through the stories that define a nation.
		From the halls of our nation's most iconic libraries comes America's Book Club, a bold, original series where ideas, history, and democracy meet.
		Hosted by renowned author and civic leader David Rubinstein, each week features in-depth conversations with the thinkers shaping our national story.
		Among this season's remarkable guests, John Grisham, master storyteller of the American justice system.
		Justice Amy Coney Barrett, exploring the Constitution, the court, and the role of law in American life.
		Famed chef and global relief entrepreneur Jose Andres, reimagining food.
		Henry Louis Gates, chronicler of race, identity, and the American experience.
		The books, the voices, the places that preserve our past and spark the ideas that will shape our future.
		America's Book Club, premiering this fall only on C-SPAN.
		Washington Journal continues.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Welcome back to Washington Journal.
		We're joined now by Representative Al Green, a Democrat of Texas's 9th District.
		He's a member of the Financial Services Committee.
		Congressman, welcome to the program.
		The Texas Tribune is reporting that the GOP Governor Greg Abbott has signed the redistricting, the new maps.
		Your district got carved up.
		Tell us what happened.
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, thank you for allowing me to explain.
		The president, by and through the Justice Department, mandated that the state of Texas carve out five additional seats for Republicans.
		And he was very specific with this in indicating that it should be the 9th congressional district, which is where I happen to currently represent the people.
		And it would also be the 29th, which is the one that is adjacent to the 9th.
		Representative Garcia happens to be the representative there, the 33rd out of Dallas, and the 18th, which doesn't have anyone in Congress currently, but has been represented by Jackson Lee and as of late Sylvester Turner, both of whom had their untimely demises, in my opinion, and left that seat vacant.
		And as a result, the president was able to acquire the assistance of the state of Texas, the governor, and what they did was racial gerrymandering.
		They decided that they would eliminate the 9th congressional district as a district that could elect a person of color who happens to be African American.
		They moved it to another county over to Liberty County.
		The 29th, they moved it up north in Houston.
		And in Dallas, Mark Veazy may be having a challenge, but I think that he could be successful if he chooses to.
		So the point is this.
		The President of the United States made a decision, and this decision was based on race.
		How do we know?
		Because the letter that was sent to the state of Texas had in it the last sentence indicated that there was racial gerrymandering that took place to favor African Americans.
		However, the Attorney General for the state of Texas denied that and said that they don't gerrymander like that in Texas.
		So I'm in a lawsuit now, have been in lawsuits since I've been in Congress for the most part, defending the 18th and 9th congressional districts.
		And I'm going to continue to do so.
		So the president introduced race, but we've reached a point in this country now where if race is introduced by someone and it raises its ugly head, it is difficult for people to respond and say that that's racist.
		If you say it's racist, you're almost persona non grata at that point.
		We have to allow people to defend against racism by at least acknowledging that it exists.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Well, let's take a look at what Governor Abbott posted on X as he was signing that redistricting plan.
greg abbot ▲ ● ▼		Governor Greg Abbott, I'm about to sign the law that creates the one big, beautiful map that ensures fair representation in the United States Congress for Texans.
		I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Patrick, Speaker Burroughs, Senator King, Representative Todd Hunter, Representative Cody Vesut, and all of the legislature who stayed in the Capitol and got this law to my desk.
		Texas is now more red than the United States Congress.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		What did you think of what he said?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		He said that it's a fair representation in Congress.
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, I think it's grossly unfair because what he's done is eliminated an African-American seat in Houston.
		He combined the 9th district and the 18th.
		Both were represented by African Americans.
		And in combining them, he has done what is called cracking and packing, which has been unconstitutional in the past.
		I don't know what's going to happen with this.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		What does that mean, cracking and packing?
al green ▲ ● ▼		When you crack, you cut a district and then you separate it from some parts of it.
		And then if you pack, you take those cracked parts and you can push them together.
		And when you pack them together, you now have another district, but it's not going to be the same as the two that you had before for obvious reasons.
		You've eliminated portions of each of those two districts.
		So they eliminated about two-thirds of the 18th congressional district, combined it with about two-thirds of the 9th congressional district, eliminated two-thirds of the 18th, and combined it with two-thirds of the 9th.
		And as a result, they have now moved the 18th into the 9th.
		my home is in the 18th now in the new map uh the people that i serve so your home itself is no longer in your district It's no longer in your district.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		In the new map.
al green ▲ ● ▼		The 9th congressional district because they moved it over to another county, Liberty County.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So what does that mean for you?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Are you just going to run for the 18th district?
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, it's important for people to know that I'm not moving into the 18th.
		The 18th moved into me.
		That's important.
		And my constituents in Sunnyside, South Park, Hiram Clark, Fort Bend County.
		These are all people that I've been representing.
		And I've said that for now, I won't make an announcement, but it seems logical to me that if I'm going to run, that I would run from the 18th congressional district because that's where my constituents are.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And would you still be competitive?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Could you win that seat?
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, there will be a lot of money against me.
		I'm running against the president of the United States of America.
		There'll be a candidate, but it's the president that I'm running against.
		And there will be an inordinate amount of money against me.
		So I would assume that I'll be the underdog in the race.
		If I run, I'm going to put up a good fight.
		And sometimes underdogs prevail.
		My hope is that people will understand that I've got a record and that I'm proud of.
		And they'll understand also that the president should not be able to pick their representatives.
		This is something that's unacceptable.
		And I take pride in running against him.
		And hopefully we'll prevail should I run.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Well, as you know, California lawmakers have redrawn their maps to try to favor Democrats.
		That's going to go to voters in November.
		Should other states follow suit?
		I mean, if the Republicans continue to redraw their maps, the Democrats will continue to redraw their maps.
		Is it just going to be, is this just going to be an arms race, as it's being called?
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, the president started this with Texas, and it is racial gerrymandering.
		And by the way, the only way we can win our lawsuit is to tell the truth and say that it's racial gerrymandering because the law addresses that in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
		But California is responding.
		California is not initiating.
		This is a response.
		So let's look at the alternatives.
		The Republicans, as the governor has said, can have five additional red seats as he counts them.
		And California can do nothing.
		And then the president can possibly use those five seats to maintain control of Congress.
		Or California can offset that with five seats.
		And so we're back to where we are now.
		So California hasn't done anything other than try to maintain the equilibrium that we have currently, which, by the way, I think is unfair, but that's what California said.
		When I say unfair, the equilibrium itself is unfair.
		But I think what California is doing is justified.
		You have a right to defend.
		This is a defense.
		This is not an offense.
		The president created the offense.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And Representative Al Green, a Democrat of Texas, is with us.
		And if you'd like to join the conversation, you can do so.
		Our lines are Democrats 202748-8000, Republicans 202748-8001.
		And Independents 202748-8002.
		You can start calling in now to talk to him.
		What are your thoughts on the Epstein files and the discharge petition?
unidentified		I have a copy of the discharge petition, okay?
al green ▲ ● ▼		And I brought it because, quite frankly, it's very difficult to comprehend how you can be against this.
		And I'm going to be very terse, but I just want you to know that here's what it says.
		Resolved that immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the Bill H.R. 185.
		If you go over to page two, it tells you what 185 is.
		This act may be cited as the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
		Now, what does that do?
		It indicates here, no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Attorney General shall make publicly available records, documents, communications, investigation materials in the possession of the Department of Justice.
		And flight logs would be included.
		Any immunity deals would be included.
		Autopsy reports, documentation of Epstein's detention or death.
		And then it goes on to say certain personally identifiable information of victims.
		These are things that you won't include.
		Now, this is seven pages.
		And if you're opposed to this and you have the ability, the power, the awesome power that the president has of simply saying, let's get this done, let's release it, and you don't, why wouldn't people think that there's some sort of cover-up?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So what about the GOP-led House Oversight Committee?
		They're saying that we are getting those files released.
		We are subpoenaing documents and all those files are getting out there.
al green ▲ ● ▼		In some circumstances, too much is not enough.
		This is one of those cases.
		Why not let them do whatever they're doing?
		And why not do this as well?
		Why would anyone be opposed to this resolution?
		It gives the appearance of being in favor of something that these documents might reveal, something about the transportation, something about this that might be harmful to people that you don't want to see harmed.
		And I don't want to see anybody unjust, receiving injustice.
		But the just thing for these persons who were victims and now survivors is to let them have access to this information.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So the critics are saying, why didn't the Biden Justice Department release all these files?
al green ▲ ● ▼		I don't know.
		And I would have them release it.
		Okay?
		But we're at the here and now.
		And in the here and now, I think we have to go forward and release this information.
		It really is so simple that there's not a lot in here that you can be antithetical to.
		And for the president to say that he won't do it, it just causes people to immediately have a visceral reaction of you're trying to hide something.
		That's the visceral response.
		I think he would do himself a favor if he would move on this, but he won't because he is a very, very recalcitrant person, quite vindictive.
		And as such, he's going to hunker down and wait for time to lapse and hope that this will cause all of this to evaporate.
		But now this is something that's been going on for more than days, more than weeks, more than months.
		This has been going on for quite some time.
		And I think those persons who are survivors are entitled to know more about what happened to them as well as others.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Let's talk to callers.
		This is Gordon, a Republican, Kansas City, Kansas.
		Good morning, Gordon.
unidentified		Hey, buddy.
		Thank you, Mimi.
		Hey, buddy.
		Just think: if you lose your next election, you'll have a chance to go home and wash the grease out of your hair because you're an embarrassment to this country.
al green ▲ ● ▼		Oh, you shouldn't have cut him off.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		You know, we don't take personal attacks like that.
al green ▲ ● ▼		I know, but listen, I get them all the time.
		I cannot play over the air the kinds of things that people say to me about my heritage, my mother, and what they'll do to me and my cane.
		This cane is something that people seem to fear.
		It's just a simple device used to aid me when I need help.
		Sometimes it aids me in the sense that it's my rod and staff that comforts me.
		But my point is, I think we ought to expose people like this because, yes, I have grease in my hair.
		It's not what's on my head, it's what's in my head that you fear.
		The hair is just something to see.
		What you experience, what I can produce with my mind, and that's what's feared.
		And there's a belief among a lot of people now that I'll be defeated at the polls.
		And I may be, but I say this: if I run, I'm going to put up a hard fight.
		I'm going to still be unbought, unbossed, unafraid, censured, but not silenced.
		I'm running against the president of the United States of America.
		He obviously supports the president.
		Okay, let's just see what happens.
		Let's see if the people of the new 18th congressional district, should I run, if they will choose Al Green or President Trump.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		This is Richard in Augusta, Georgia, Democrat.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Richard.
unidentified		Good morning.
		Representative Greene.
		I applaud you for standing up like you did in the State of the Union.
		My question to you is: are you going to try to get the top Latino congresspeople to help you with your campaign along with Jasmine Crockett and also get the Latino vote out to help you?
		Are you going to get on Telemundo so that we can finally wake up the Latino voters in Texas to vote for people who stand up for what is right and what is justice?
		I said on this program in April last year that the dictator is coming to America and I was right.
		The dictator is in office now, and that's who you're fighting against, a dictator.
		Would you please make sure that you can get the help from Latino congresspeople from around the country?
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Richard.
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, I've received a favorable response from the Latino community in the current 9th Congressional District, which has a Latino population currently that probably exceeds the African-American population.
		So I've gone to liberate persons who've been extricated, moved from the country by ICE, and literally brought them back into the country.
		We've helped Latino families when they've been in need of services from the congressional office.
		So I plan to continue to do that.
		And I plan to, I plan to always speak up for people who find themselves living in harm's way.
		They're among what I call the least, the last, and the lost.
		And we have African Americans and Latinos and Anglos who are among this group of people.
		So we're going to continue to fight for them.
		People who need health care.
		We're going to fight for that.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		James, an independent in Collins, Mississippi.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		You're on the air, James.
unidentified		Yes, Mr. Green.
unidentified		How are you all doing?
al green ▲ ● ▼		I'm quite well, better than I deserve.
unidentified		Mr. Green, I wanted to ask you a question, and then like another one.
		Can she let me know before she's going to cut me off?
		Mr. Green, I noticed that the president and all his cabinet is talking about the African-American cities.
		But Mr. Green, I want to know why it is so difficult for people to understand that those urban communities of Chicago and all these places, those cities was under siege all the way back during segregation, racism, and a lot of the money and economic power that was drained from these cities called these problems.
		And also, they took the economic power out and put drugs and guns and had people fighting against each other.
		And not only that, Mr. Green, as you see, across the world, these three tyrants or four tyrants that's meeting with Kim Young-you and all those, this is a sign of the world order against America.
		America is in danger, not only on the inside, but definitely on the outside.
		And it's a shame that people don't wake up and see what is happening with America because this is a sign that the medicines that we're taking, they're already talking about children should not take their, they don't have to have medicines in front of them.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		James, you're giving us a lot to deal with, so let's get a response.
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, thank you.
		Let me start with what he said about the three personalities that he mentioned, she, Kim, and Putin.
		The president is probably the reason that they are together, because it was the president who went to Kim and had love letters.
		He gave him legitimacy.
		The president didn't have to do that.
		The president rolled out the red corporate for Putin, who is engaging in war against Ukraine and is doing it in such a way as to want to take all of that country over.
		He's not interested in just some parts of it.
		He wants all of it, just as Netanyahu wants all of Palestine, by the way.
		So in doing this, the president gave Putin legitimacy.
		And he's always talked about his events and his relationship with Kim, with Xi Jinping.
		The president has given them now the legitimacy and also the rationale for being together because of his tariffs and the way he's treated his friends.
		He wants to take over Canada.
		I believe in when he says it.
		Wants to take over Greenland.
		Wants to do things to friends that you just don't do.
		He's alienated the European nations against us that have been our allies and trying to pull that back together.
		So it's the president who has brought all of this on the United States of America.
		And it's going to take some time to undo what he has done.
		He has literally caused us great harm in the geopolitical world.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		I want to ask you about President Trump saying that he will federalize the National Guard and send them into Chicago, into Baltimore.
		He's also mentioned New Orleans.
		What's your reaction to that?
al green ▲ ● ▼		My reaction is: let's do something to end crime.
		And let's have a total, take a total look at this and have a wraparound position.
		Wraparound, meaning be all inclusive in terms of what we do.
		I still think that we should take assault weapons off the streets.
		I think they belong in the hands of the military.
		I don't think we should have those weapons.
		I think that we should do things to make sure that schools are secure, but also to make sure people don't have these weapons that can harm a good many people in an instant.
		And schools are some very sacred places for me.
		These are where children are the futures in these schools.
		So I think the president should, rather than decide he's going to arbitrarily and capriciously do things, why don't we visit with the business community?
		The business community has a role to play in this.
		And the business community is silent on these issues.
		School shootings.
		We have an organization called the Partnership in Houston.
		I've written them many letters indicating that they should get involved and try to do something about this gun violence.
		They barely respond, and when they do, that's not in our field of vision.
		Not with those exact words.
		So here's my point.
		I think that the president should do more than say, I'll send in the National Guard.
		Let's do something about the things that are at the root cause of these problems.
		Let's make sure that people have more jobs.
		Let's make sure that people can get housing.
		Let's make sure that people can get good educations.
		Let's do all of the things that can better the lives of people.
		You don't have a lot of millionaires and billionaires robbing convenience stores.
		If people have security economically, they don't do these things.
		So I'm for ending crime, but I would like to see us take a serious look at it as opposed to do something that's temporary.
		And when the National Guard is pulled out, then the situation returns to what I don't want to see occur.
		If the National Guard can do something that's meaningful, it would be temporary.
		Let's take a long-term, permanent look at these problems.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here's Michael, a Republican in Bowie, Maryland.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Michael.
unidentified		Good morning.
		Good morning, Representative Green.
		First, I just wanted to say thank you for standing up for Medicaid and Medicare at the State of the Union.
		I really appreciated that.
antonio in georgia ▲ ● ▼		My question is, just like the few Democrats that voted against you or voted for your censorship, to me, it really seems like Democrats just don't know how to fight.
unidentified		Looking from the other side of the aisle, like as far as Republicans, we're lockstapped.
		We have a plan.
		But when I look over there on the left, it really seems like they have no fight in the leadership.
		It's really confused.
		Can you speak to a little bit about your confidence in the Democrats to kind of take back the House and actually execute on a plan for the American people?
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, the Democratic Party did take what President Obama has used, used this term, a shellacking, in the last election cycle.
		And this is something that you recover from, but it's not something that you recover from instantly.
		We're months into this, and we're still trying to sort our way through it and make decisions about how to proceed.
		The obvious way to proceed is to say to people what you're going to do for them.
		I think that's important.
		But also, I think you have to acknowledge that some of the things that we did not do have to be discussed.
		For example, we didn't pass George Floyd Justice and Policing.
		We didn't pass John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
		We didn't raise the minimum wage.
		We didn't pass the PRO Act to protect labor's right to organize.
		There are things that we didn't do.
		We didn't bring in comprehensive immigration reform.
		And we had the opportunity because we had the House, the Senate, and the presidency, but we had two senators who declined to vote with us, a cinema and mansion.
		And when they declined to vote with us, they prevented the vice president from breaking tie votes and passing all of these things.
		So I mentioned those specifically because there's a tendency to blame minority people when we fail in these elections.
		It wasn't the failure of minority people.
		It was our failure to give them reason to continue to vote for us.
		There was a lack of enthusiasm as a result of our not doing what we could have done if those two senators had voted with us.
		The House passed the legislation and the Senate had opportunities, but the Senate couldn't do it because of two members.
		So I think we're going to get there.
		You have to go through this period of evaluation and being candid about what occurred.
		And I'm going to be very candid about it.
		We have to do more when we get the power.
		The president has demonstrated to us how to use power.
		It is ephemeral.
		It doesn't last indefinitely.
		You've got to be prepared to use it when you get it.
		And I believe that when we get it again, we will use it and we will make a difference, a positive difference in the lives of the American people with health care, which is something that you brought up.
		We've got to make sure that we protect Medicare and Medicaid.
		We're going to protect Social Security.
		We're going to make sure that there is affordable housing.
		These are the things that American people need and want, and we have to be there to provide them.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Steve, a Democrat in Freeland, Maryland.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning, Steve.
unidentified		Good morning.
		Mr. Green, I hope you and the legislative branch are well rested after your five weeks of recess.
		There are 365 days in a year.
		And in order to do all the things that you've mentioned this morning on the TV screen, it would be better if we were in session more than 130 days a year.
		Let that sink in.
		If the economy was on vacation as much as the legislative branch was, we would be in dire, dire straits because there are 365 days in a year.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, let's get a response.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		What do you think?
al green ▲ ● ▼		Well, here's what I know.
		We went into what we call what he calls a recess.
		And we did so because the speaker, as you know, was not interested in having this very legislation that we've been talking about, the discharge petition, brought before the Congress.
		So we left a little early.
		But I have constituents that want to see me.
		I have constituents that I have to visit with.
		And I was not on recess.
		I worked every day of that period of time.
		And much of that time I worked into the night.
		I typically do an 18 to 20 hour day.
		I sleep four to five hours maximum usually.
		I like to get up early and catch the news early.
		So this myth of members being on vacation is just that.
		It's a myth as it relates to, I think, most members.
		Now, there may be some exceptions, but I think most members are pretty hard workers in terms of being here to work.
		But you have to work in your congressional district, too.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		One more call, Joey Woodbine, Kentucky, Republican.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Hi, Joey.
unidentified		Yeah, I just got a question from Mr. Algren.
		Yes, sir.
		I want to know why if the Democrats start so important to relate your action power, why didn't they do it when they had control of it?
		When they closed it, Speaker.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Yeah, I asked that question, Joey.
al green ▲ ● ▼		Okay, I can't tell you why, but I can say that we should have.
		And I have no problems with it having been released.
		I think we should release it now.
		This resolution is just very simple, seven pages.
		Anybody can read it.
		It's not difficult language, and I think it ought to be honored.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Can we do one more question?
al green ▲ ● ▼		Sure.
al green ▲ ● ▼		I'll take as many as you have.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Renton, Washington, Independent Line, go ahead.
unidentified		Yes, Mr. Green.
		Yes.
		Yeah, I'm glad you brought up the cinema and mentioned.
		Now, it sounds like you were pointing fingers, but those two, and I'm a die-hard Democrat, but those two actually kept the Democrats a little on track because it would have been worse on the right.
		And this is the problem with politics.
		When you have part of the party that is dissenting that doesn't agree with your policies, then you want to ostracize these people in the Democratic Party.
		And this is something that the Democrats has to stop.
		The Republicans are on board, lock and bear, regardless of what you think about their policy.
		But the Democrats, once you have Democrats, said, no, no, I don't agree with how we're going.
		Such as charter schools.
		There was a black lady, a Democrat, who opposed the charter schools, and the Democrats kicked her out of the party, ostracized her.
		This is something that the Democrats, in order to get back into power, has to admit that you have to all come together and not fight each other and agree on something that's best for the people, not for you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
al green ▲ ● ▼		I don't know anything about the lady that he referenced.
		I've not read any news reports about that.
		But with reference to Mansion and Cinema, this is not to demean them.
		It's to speak truth about what happened.
		They were the two persons who voted against this agenda that would have benefited persons who would need to have, in my opinion, the protections that John Lewis Voting Rights Act presents, George Floyd Justice and Policing presents.
		They voted against it.
		And you want to see unity among Republicans, but you don't want to see the same unity among Democrats.
		Well, you defeat your own argument when you say this.
		My friend, we could have done much more, but for those two senators.
		I have great respect for them.
		I want to see good things happen in their lives, but they stood in the way of meaningful progress that the Democratic Party could have made.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		That's Representative Al Green, a Democrat of Texas's 9th District.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		For now, thank you so much for joining us as always.
unidentified		Thank you.
al green ▲ ● ▼		It's been an honor to be with you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		After the break, more of your phone calls in open forum.
		You can start calling in now.
		The numbers are on your screen.
		And we'll also hear from Republican Adrian Smith of Nebraska, a top member of the Ways and Means Committee.
unidentified		we'll be right back erica marks 250 years and c-span is there to commemorate every moment
		From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the voices shaping our nation's future, we bring you unprecedented all-platform coverage, exploring the stories, sights, and spirit that make up America.
		Join us for remarkable coast-to-coast coverage, celebrating our nation's journey like no other network can.
		America 250.
		Over a year of historic moments, only on the C-SPAN networks.
al green ▲ ● ▼		And past president.
unidentified		Why are you doing this?
		This is outrageous.
		This is a kangaroo quarter.
		This fall, C-SPAN presents a rare moment of unity.
		Ceasefire, where the shouting stops and the conversation begins.
		Join political playbook chief correspondent and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns as host of Ceasefire, bringing two leaders from opposite sides of the aisle into a dialogue to find common ground.
		ceasefire this fall on the network that doesn't take sides only on c-span there are many ways to listen to c-span radio anytime anywhere In the Washington, D.C. area, listen on 90.1 FM.
		Use our free C-SPAN Now app or go online to c-SPAN.org slash radio on SiriusXM Radio on channel 455, the TuneIn app, and on your smart speaker by simply saying play C-SPAN radio.
		Hear our live call-in program, Washington Journal, daily at 7 a.m. Eastern.
		Listen to House and Senate proceedings, committee hearings, news conferences, and other public affairs events live throughout the day.
		And for the best way to hear what's happening in Washington with fast-paced reports, live interviews, and analysis of the day.
		Catch Washington today, weekdays at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern.
		Listen to C-SPAN programs on C-SPAN Radio anytime, anywhere.
		C-SPAN, Democracy Unfiltered.
		Washington Journal continues.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Welcome back to Washington Journal.
		We are in open forum, but we will first talk to Representative Adrian Smith, a Republican of Nebraska, member of the Ways and Means and Trade Subcommittee.
		He's the chair of that.
		Congressman, welcome to the program.
unidentified		Good morning.
unidentified		Great to be with you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So let's start with the release of the Epstein files.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		How did you vote on GOP leadership's resolution to continue that investigation from the Oversight Committee?
unidentified		I voted to continue the investigation with the Oversight Committee.
		I think they've demonstrated that they want to have a very diligent process to sort through the details and make sure that certainly the victims receive the justice that they deserve and that as the victims give more information that they will be heard.
		That's important as well.
		We know it's a difficult situation and we know that we need to get those details sorted out.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So what is your hesitancy then with Representative Massey and Khanna's discharge petition that would force the release of all files within 30 days?
unidentified		Well, we've got a process to uphold here and if I sensed that there was a more diligent effort, you know, on a technical basis rather than a political basis, I'd be more open to that.
unidentified		But I think there's more politics in that than what the alternative is, which I think is a more sincere, diligent effort to sort through the details and make sure that the proper information is released.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Well, as you know, the government runs out of spending in less than 30 days.
		Where does that stand now?
		Where do negotiations stand?
unidentified		Well, the appropriations process is far from complete.
		Sadly, it has basically broken down again, lack of time before the end of this month, end of the fiscal year.
		So we'll see what our options are here moving forward.
		But I really respect our appropriations committee members who I think work diligently.
		I know that my colleagues, as they sort through those spending details, they're anxious to move a bill forward.
		I doubt that we will receive any cooperation in this process from the Democrats.
		So the Republicans, you know, we can probably pass some things out of the House, but in the Senate, that's where things can break down given the need for a super majority.
		So we'll address this, I think, moving forward.
		I hope that we don't fall into a situation where we actually have to spend more money as a result of the process breaking down.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		So Congressman The Hill is reporting that yesterday President Trump said he thinks that Republicans can extend funding past September 30th to avert a shutdown, but then he referred to Democrats as, quote, deranged and sick people.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Does that kind of terminology bode well for negotiating with Democrats?
unidentified		Well, we know that there's a difficult process here.
		I know that there's a lot of frustration.
		We see blockades over in the Senate.
		There are demands to have roll call votes on so many things that previously haven't been.
		It's a deliberate attempt to slow things down.
		That's unfortunate because it hurts everyone.
		And moving forward here, we've got our fundamental job is to make sure the functions of government work properly and that actually funding of the government isn't even all of the spending we need to address.
		That doesn't even include the mandatory spending that a lot of reasonable folks know we need to fashion policies to strengthen Medicare, for example, strengthen Social Security moving forward.
		We've got a lot of work to do.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And Congressman Democrats have said that, you know, why should we negotiate with Republicans in good faith given that they're just going to come back and support a rescissions package that will erase all the agreements on funding that we've already made?
unidentified		Well, you know, whether it's rescissions, whether it's appropriations, I hope that we are in the business of persuasion.
		That persuasion is what the American people expect us to engage in, to share our ideas, whether it's on the spending side, whether it's rescissions moving forward.
		But there are examples across the federal government of spending that has taken place that I think was not intended to begin with and can and should be rescinded.
		And, you know, I'm willing, certainly, and I can't speak for my colleagues, but my sense is that my colleagues are willing to have a good debate about all of these things, rather than just saying well, we took one vote on it, let's be done with it forever.
		Let's have an environment where we can share ideas, share our concerns that the growing bureaucracy in Washington has not been delivering for the American people.
		The American people expect us to do our job and spend their money more wisely.
		When you see waiting lines at the VA or difficulties getting cases responded to in Social Security or IRS, the American people, I think, are very reasonable in expecting Congress to be more responsive, especially on the spending side of the equation where we see the growth in our debt.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		You are the chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.
		A federal appeals court recently ruled that most of President Trump's tariffs are illegal.
		He is going to be trying to get a hearing with the Supreme Court very quickly on that.
		But he says that he said, quote, if you take away tariffs, we could end up being a third world country.
		Can you tell us what he might mean by that?
unidentified		Well, I can't speak for the president, obviously.
		I think the president, he has had a very strong, aggressive, vigorous posture on trade, leveling the playing field of trade.
		I think we saw for too long virtually nothing being done on trade.
		And even though I'm not a huge fan of tariffs, I appreciate the fact that the president is leaning in to trade policy, expecting other countries to open up their markets because we've opened up our markets for a long time to other countries, even when they don't give us access to theirs.
		So I appreciate the progress that has been made.
		I know the UK, for example, they've indicated that they're willing to take more of our beef and ethanol, hopefully some other products as well.
		I'd say that's past due.
		Other countries are telling us that they're willing to level the playing field as well.
		That's a good thing.
		I think ultimately, for a long-term impact and for enforcement, Congress will need to weigh in and codify the trade policies that the president is negotiating right now.
		And so moving forward, though, the tariff situation will be on appeal here immediately.
		So we'll see what the legal process bears out.
		But I think we've got an advocate in the White House for American production and consumers.
		Let's remember that we can do a lot with trade policy, especially when other countries want so much more access to our markets.
		They need to give us access to their markets.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And Congressman, you represent Nebraska's third district.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		I wonder if you have been seeing deportations in your district and if you think that that might affect the agriculture sector, the meat packing sectors in your district.
unidentified		Well, there have been some deportations in Nebraska.
		I think that the enforcement of immigration law is something that we want to be understood across the country.
		I think the president, whether he campaigned on tariffs or an enforcement of immigration policy, the president has been very serious in terms of engaging that enforcement.
		I think moving forward, we've got immigration policy that needs to be addressed.
		I've long said that a law-abiding individual wishing to pursue the American dream should be able to do that and without having to spend thousands of dollars in hiring a lawyer and waiting for a lottery system to work.
		I think we can do better.
		Let's reduce that bureaucracy in immigration so that the expectation of legal immigration is strong rather than something that morphs into illegal immigration, I think that causes a lot of problems.
		We saw that for far too long.
		And I'm glad to see that illegal border crossings, just with the new administration, illegal border crossings are down more than 90%.
		I think that allows us to do a lot of things that we know need to be done and adjusted for our policies moving forward so that we can have a system that is functional and that it doesn't just encourage folks to immigrate illegally.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, that's Adrian Smith representing Nebraska's 3rd District.
		He is chair of the Subcommittee on Ways and Means and Trade.
		Thanks so much for joining us today.
unidentified		Thank you.
unidentified		Have a good day.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		We're in open forum.
		We will take your calls shortly.
		The House does come in at 9 a.m. Eastern, so we will take you there.
		The Senate comes in at 10 a.m. over on C-SPAN 2.
		They'll continue work on the 2026 defense programs and policy legislation.
		Also, for your schedule, just so you know, at 9:30 this morning, RFK Jr. will be testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on President Trump's 2026 healthcare agenda.
		Committee members will also likely ask him about recent firings and resignations from the CDC and his stance on vaccines as well.
		You can see that live starting at about 9:30 a.m. Eastern.
		That is over on C-SPAN 3, and it's also on our app, C-SPANNOW, and online at c-span.org.
		To your calls now to Eileen, a Republican in New Jersey.
		Good morning, Eileen.
unidentified		Good morning.
		I'd just like to say that when President Biden was in, why didn't he bring up Epstein?
		He didn't do nothing about it.
		He did Obama.
		All of a sudden, he was all interested in it.
		And I'd like to know what happened to Eric Sarwell that went to bed with the Chinese woman.
		Nothing was done about him.
		He's still on the planet.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Gerald, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Independent Line, good morning.
unidentified		Good morning.
		First of all, the Epstein files is a national tragedy.
		It's hard to get three people to tell the same lie.
		And we saw yesterday, I believe it was like eight survivors of Epstein on the Capitol with very similar stories.
		This needs to be exposed.
		Everything needs to be put out, regardless of who is involved with that.
		As far as Donald Trump's use of the military in the National Guard,
		it's been a known fact for probably hundreds of years that the military cannot be deployed on U.S. soil to do domestic law enforcement.
		Yep.
		Yeah, law enforcement.
		So that needs to be corrected.
		The only place that he was working within his power was in D.C. Because D.C. is a special area.
		It does not have a congressional representative, which it should.
		It should be the 51st state.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		We got it, Gerald.
		And NPR is reporting this.
		A bipartisan bill to ban lawmakers from trading stocks is unveiled in the House.
		We will follow that news.
		And this is Russell, Washington, D.C., Republican.
		Good morning.
unidentified		Good morning.
		I think the American people must have had an anesthetic administered to them at some point when I wasn't paying attention.
		The files for Epstein already exist in Jelaine Maxwell.
dr gilbert lavoi ▲ ● ▼		All she had to do, rather than give a few statements exonerating Trump when she was interviewed recently by the Deputy Attorney General, which was very odd, but all she had to do is name names.
unidentified		She was supposedly the euphemistically referred to as Madam, or, you know, more realistically, you can refer to her as the operations manager of Epstein's operations.
		She did some of the recruiting herself of the young ladies personally, and she certainly knows who the clients were.
		She knows who the clients were.
		They all came in, they all left, and some returned multiple times.
		She was the operations manager for Epstein.
		All she has to do is name the names.
		Now, the files at some point, if they're ever released, could corroborate or confirm the information Maxwell gives.
		But Maxwell has the information.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Russell.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here is Suzanne in Florida, Line for Democrats.
unidentified		I believe that Trump calling the survivors hoax is wrong.
		They told their stories truthfully and to each other.
		They wanted to be heard.
		He calls everybody names.
		He calls them.
		The language he uses is not right for a president to use.
		And I think that his cabinet this year is totally unprepared for the jobs they have to do, especially RFK Jr.
		We live in Florida, and they don't want – now, our medical director under DeSantis wants to cut out all vaccines for children.
		Usually children have to have vaccines to go to school.
		He doesn't want them to have vaccines.
		Well, if they don't have vaccines, they're going to get kids sick in their classrooms.
		I think the whole system needs to be reworked.
		And I don't think that Trump is helping any.
		He's doing this all for himself and his friends.
		And that's my worry.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Suzanne.
		And this is the New York Times with this headline.
		States go their own and contradictory ways on vaccine policy.
		California, Oregon, and Washington said they would work together to review scientific data, saying the CDC could no longer be trusted.
		But Florida said it would abolish all vaccine mandates.
		You can read that at the New York Times.
		We'll hear from Steve Pittston, Pennsylvania, Republican.
		Good morning, Steve.
unidentified		Good morning, Mimi.
		V-SPAN has been running a promo for their new show, Ceasefire.
		And I think it's a great idea.
		I think it's about time that we got both sides of the story.
		But my problem with that is you have a moderator who's an ultra-liberal in Gasha Burns.
		So how will there be an even give and take with an ultra-liberal moderator?
		Thank you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		This is Mark, Westwood, New Jersey, Independent Line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Hi, Mark.
unidentified		Hi.
		Good morning, and thank you for C-SPAN.
		On this open forum, I would like to bring up the fact that climate change is going to affect all of us.
		It's the number one thing that we should all be working toward, as many countries are.
		And unfortunately, Mr. Trump seems to think climate change is a hoax.
		I mean, when you never go outside, I guess, you know, it's fine when you're in air conditioning, but the whole planet is heating up.
		Wildfires are abundant.
		We have floods.
		There's so many days when I smell smoke from Canada, the wildfires.
		I mean, we need a government that's going to do something to help us change over to renewable energy and save our planet.
		And this government is going completely the wrong way.
		We're turning around and going backwards, and I think it's a real shame.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Mark.
		And this headline from The Hill says, unemployed workers outnumber available jobs for the first time since 2021.
		It says the number of job openings decreased by more in July than economists were expecting.
		As the labor market recalibrates in response to President Trump's trade war and immigration crackdown, you could read that at The Hill.
		Also, the Labor Department will be releasing their jobs numbers for August tomorrow.
		And here's Audrey, Midlothian, Virginia, Democrat.
		Good morning, Audrey.
unidentified		Yes, good morning.
		I am so glad I reached you.
		I had several things I would like to talk about, but there's two things that I'm really concerned about: the bill that I saw Al Green, a Democrat, caught that this morning.
		And I'm concerned about the F-Day file.
		And I pray that they will pass that bill and get those files, all of them.
		And also, the other thing I wanted to say: the Democrats show so much professionalism, and the language that our president used is real outrageous.
		That, too, is my concerns.
		And I have plenty, plenty other things that I could talk about.
		But these are.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right, Audrey.
		Here's Chuck, a Republican in Pennsylvania.
		Hi, Chuck.
unidentified		Yeah, good morning.
		I was just thinking that it would not surprise me if Soros spent a lot of money for some woman to come in and say that she had something to do with Trump.
		That's all I wanted to say.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here's James in Chicago, Illinois.
		Democrat.
		Hi, James.
unidentified		Hi.
		Quick question for you.
		I was doing some research on the environment because I'm seeing earthquakes, flooding.
		There was an airport shutdown in Arizona last week for a dust storm for an hour.
		It had to emerge in evacuation.
		Then I researched this month in February.
		There's a river in South Africa that, I mean, in Venezuela or Argentina that turned red, blood red.
		And now in early August, I see a gallery turned blood red, and they said it's okay to swim in because it's allergy.
		I'm getting kind of nervous.
		It's not going to be good.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And here is Steve in Maryland, Independent Line.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Hi, Steve.
unidentified		Yes, good morning.
		I was hoping to speak when we called him back in the day Judge Green before he was in Congress.
		I lived in this district.
		I grew up in the area.
		I live in the D.C. area, barely in Maryland.
		I just want to hopefully talk to him while he was there.
		We were on a Southwest Airlines flight 10 years ago, and we met during the flight.
		The congressional map of Texas, the newest one that you saw showed on the screen, and you also showed the California one.
		The reddest areas on those maps, according to census, is the whitest populated areas, not necessarily the most Republican.
		So, my view, knowing Texas politics and knowing paying my dues in that state, is that Governor Abbott thinks that if I capture a wider area, they will turn Republican.
		So, that's just my view.
		Thank you.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Here's Frank in Caldwell, Idaho, Republican.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		Good morning.
unidentified		Yes, sir.
		Yes, ma'am.
		I would like to comment on the immigration.
		We need to get all of these foreigners out of our country.
		We need to stop supporting them in any way with federal government money from state or federal governments.
charles in louisiana ▲ ● ▼		And the American people should take and prosecute anybody that aided and embedded this invasion to send them to prison.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
		And take a look at the front page of the New York Times.
		Look at this picture.
		A show of power and pomp.
		Soldiers in Beijing marched in a military parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
		That's the front page of the New York Times with that picture.
		Amy in Louisville, Kentucky, Democrat.
unidentified		Hi, Amy.
		Hi, good morning.
		First, thank you so much for C-SPAN.
		I really appreciate the service you all provide.
		First, I just want to respond to the most recent remark on immigration.
		I want to point out that most immigrants that are in this country undocumented are here undocumented because they overstayed a visa.
		And most of the times, that's not necessarily intentionally.
		The administrative process for renewing a visa, there's a tremendous backlog.
		So this idea that immigrants are illegally sneaking across the border is a myth.
		And then, second, I just want to say I'm incredibly, as usual, disappointed in Democrats' ability to tell the complete story on the Epstein files.
		Democrats have been calling for an investigation into these files since 2019.
		The DOJ under Donald Trump requested that they not impanel a House oversight committee for fear that it would compromise the case that they were prosecuting against Maxwell.
		That case didn't wrap up until 2024, so that's last spring.
		And in summer, is when you start seeing all the Epstein stuff kick off again.
		So I really wish Democrats would do a better job of telling this story.
		And thank you again for taking my call.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		And Robert Chesterfield, Virginia Independent, go ahead, Robert.
unidentified		Yes, ma'am.
		Gotten the call from Kentucky on the screen.
		A couple of things real quick.
		These immigrants, a lot of them could be checked out if they hadn't been in any kind of trouble or crimes.
		They could be turned into a fighting force to send back into the Venezuela to take their country back and to fight for freedom down there.
		And on this other topic here, about the mandates for vaccines, tell you something.
		The rich people, they don't want the poor people to get this vaccine.
		They'd rather see them spread the disease and die off because it costs the government for these egg on shops that they get for free.
		And that's what it's all about.
		And so wise up, people.
		This guy's been in White House.
		He needs to go.
mimi geerges ▲ ● ▼		All right.
		And we will end there this program.
		The House is about to come in.
		A reminder that Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. will be testifying before the Senate.
		That's over on C-SPAN 3.
		That's it for us today.
		Thanks for watching, everybody.

▲