In this episode, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-GAZETTE) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) discuss the Democratic Party s response to a question about whether or not they are on the same page when it comes to Joe Biden's mental competency to be the next president of the United States. They also discuss the impact of a Democratic primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and why they should take a vote on the 25th Amendment regarding Biden s mental fitness to serve as president. And they discuss the role education plays in our nation s schools and public education systems. The Firebrand is a production of the Firebrand Podcast Network. Rep. Gaetz is a member of the House of Representatives and served as a House Armed Services Committee member from Georgia from 2006-2009. He is a regular contributor to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Atlanta Constitution, and is a frequent contributor to CNN and the New York Times. He is also a frequent guest on CNN and NPR. Firebrand is hosted by Rep. Adam Schiff and is the host of the Morning Joe radio show on NPR's Morning Mashup with Alex Castellanos and Alex Blumberg, and hosts Morning Joe's Morning Joe with Rachel Maddow. Click here to listen to the full Morning Joe show on CNN. Subscribe to the entire Morning Joe Podcasts channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit anchor.fm/Advertisers and become a supporter of their campaigns by becoming a supporter by becoming one of our sponsors! Subscribe, rate, and review their work, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your favorite podcast choices are available. You can also join our social media platform, and we'll get access to the latest episodes throughout the entire world of high-resolution listening choices, including the latest in podcasting platform, including social media and social media platforms, including blogs, blogs, and the latest podcasts, including chat rooms, social media, and more! and social news, including our newest episodes, including personal finance tips, blogs and social platforms, and social medias, including your most authentic recommendations from the world's most influential influencers, including AIMs, and more. , Subscribe and social interaction, we'll be giving you access to high-quality, up-to-date recommendations, tips on what s going on everywhere else on the highest-ranking influencers in the world of politics, business and business
00:03:09.000That was Congressman Steve Cohen, Democrat from Memphis, Tennessee, leaving a meeting with House Democrats discussing the future of President Biden, his mental capacity, his ability to continue as the Democratic nominee, and they're not even on the same book.
00:03:24.000That's the response from Congressman Cohen when asked whether Democrats are on the same page regarding President Biden.
00:03:29.000I can just tell you from inside the halls of Congress where we're Currently broadcasting from room 2021 of the Rayburn House office building here at the Capitol Complex.
00:03:58.000Then there are those in districts that are very purple, that could swing to the right or to the left, and they are not as confident.
00:04:05.000Now, there are members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are also frontliners, but a majority of the Congressional Black Caucus, they are in districts that are very safe Democrat seats.
00:04:15.000And so their experience is different than those who feel as though the strength of the presidential ticket is going to affect their own ability to serve in the United States House of Representatives.
00:04:34.000Maybe you have a Cook political rating of like a D8 or D12. That would mean that you typically win your contest by 8, 12 percentage points.
00:04:44.000That group of members is not used to being in a full-on election battle come November.
00:04:52.000And now, they're starting to get memos from their pollsters, from their consultants, saying, Joe Biden's running even in our district where he used to be an updraft.
00:05:02.000Now that could put downward pressure on the ability of Democrats running for the Senate, the House, even further down ballot to be successful in some of those elections.
00:05:12.000And so that is shaping how Democrats are viewing the work that we're doing on Capitol Hill.
00:05:16.000It's also shaping how Republicans are thinking about it.
00:05:46.000The other theory is when you start to see the cracks in the opposition, apply pressure.
00:05:52.000Here would be the strategy under a more forward-thinking paradigm.
00:05:58.000Make the Democrats take a vote on whether or not there should be a mental competency test for President Biden right now in his official capacity.
00:06:06.000Make them take a vote on whether or not proceedings pursuant to the 25th Amendment ought to begin.
00:06:11.000Make them take a vote on whether or not he ought to have the nuclear codes.
00:06:15.000It's a fair question to ask who's the president right now.
00:06:18.000Like, if something terrible happened, God forbid, if we were attacked, if there was some catastrophe, some natural event, I mean, they're definitely not going to this guy to make the decision.
00:06:38.000We don't know, and I think Applying some pressure by using the floor of the house to ripen those questions could be as effective a strategy as just sitting back and watching them self-destruct.
00:06:53.000But there's a really important discussion we want to have today about what's going on at our school boards, in our classrooms, and really in the education system at large.
00:07:00.000And so we are welcoming Back to Firebrand.
00:07:15.000It was really in the heart of this uprising we saw from parents to change the way the education system was approaching active parenting and parents who wanted to be involved in curriculum review.
00:07:28.000Now that you've been a leader in the Moms for Liberty movement, Catalina, tell us a little bit about The mission of the organization, how it is still very much prescient in what we're doing in the education space.
00:07:57.000Because they indoctrinate our children.
00:07:59.000Our children were indoctrinated at school, they were teach about CRT, they were teach gender ideologies.
00:08:06.000Most of it, they are Marxist ideologies that shake the foundation of the educational system.
00:08:13.000The results are clear and only 30 percent of our students have been, has passed the test in math, In reading or in science, only 30%.
00:08:27.000That means more than 70% of the children in this country are graduating without being prepared for that, without a purpose.
00:08:36.000Now, if you see, for long ago, moms have been taught that the government know best.
00:08:49.000As a parent, you want the best for your child.
00:08:52.000And with our tax dollar, government have the responsibility to empower families with quality education options that nurture our community and strengthen our nation.
00:09:05.000We, as a parent, we have the responsibility to educate our next generation about the ideals of this nation, about the ideas and values that make our country the best.
00:09:20.000Now, let's say this Biden administration is using laws and like, for example, Title IX against our parents, against the girls, against the girls in sports.
00:09:37.000But gender ideology does not belong in public school and we are glad that courts We will always stand up for the rights of parents and the protection of children.
00:09:54.000All parents must have their voice heard and the right to raise their own children is part of the very fabric of free America.
00:10:04.000The federal government has no right to claim our children as their own Or to push parents out of the classroom.
00:10:33.000In a landmark ruling, a federal court in Kansas issued an opinion halting the Biden administration Department of Education's Title IX changes in a lawsuit brought by the Southeastern Legal Foundation and the Mountain States Legal Foundation on behalf of their clients Moms for Liberty and Young America's Foundations.
00:10:50.000The organizations joined the states of Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska, as well as other students and interest groups in challenging the Department of Education's blatant disregard for the First Amendment and for the rights of K-12 students.
00:11:03.000So, for those who aren't parents but are watching, What's going on right now in girls' sports and why was protecting girls' sports through the use of this Title IX litigation a strategy that Moms for Liberty pursued?
00:11:21.000First and foremost, I want to say no child is born in the brown body.
00:11:27.000Boys and girls are perfectly just the way they are and gender ideology has no place in public schools and your parental rights do not stop at the classroom door.
00:11:39.000That's why Moms for Liberty is fighting for this and that's why Moms for Liberty now is winning with common sense.
00:11:46.000It's pure common sense that no men should be allowed at the sports.
00:11:51.000Because before this, the Title IX wrote in 1972 to protect, initially to protect a woman, It was twisted.
00:12:05.000Let's say it was by the Biden administration.
00:12:09.000It was used in the wrong manner when they remade the significance of the sex.
00:12:19.000Let's say any man That can identify as a woman, any man living in this fake reality of living in this fantasy of that it's just the guising as a woman, can just participate in any sport and take away all the opportunities for a woman and for a child that since the beginning of his life has been training hard every day,
00:12:49.000waking up very early To prepare to be a champion, to prepare to excel in sports.
00:12:55.000So for us, this was not only against the Constitution, but it's against the right of a parent to direct the upbringing of the education of our children.
00:13:08.000And you've got a lot of agreement on that, Catalina, on the livestream.
00:13:11.000Jill Davis saying God does not make mistakes and it's child abuse to tell a kid that they are born in the wrong body.
00:13:19.000You know, you mentioned the Biden administration and the Department of Education being one of the villains in this story, unfortunately.
00:13:27.000Frankly, if I had my druthers, we would just abolish the federal Department of Education.
00:13:32.000We would leave this power constitutionally to the states and to our local communities where I think it best resides.
00:13:38.000But I wanted to also ask you about other villains that you have to fight as part of the Moms for Liberty movement.
00:13:48.000How do you view the textbook creators?
00:13:50.000Where should people be looking for some of the negative influences that you're looking to expose and root out?
00:13:58.000So this is outrageous that with our tax dollars are using indoctrination directly in schools from kindergarten until 12th grade and even more because we are now seeing how they use students in the university in the college and they are now converting to activist And defending even terrorists.
00:14:25.000So now in our fight also were the inappropriate books.
00:15:13.000This is a perversion from the left that is pushing this nationwide to our children.
00:15:21.000Now our children know better the positions in sex rather than They can name even the 50 states or they can even learn about the Constitution of the United States.
00:15:34.000They cannot even name the Ten Commandments.
00:15:40.000We're focusing on education in academics, excelling in academics.
00:15:46.000You know, and you started out our discussion talking about the goals for those competencies in reading and math and the basics.
00:15:53.000And, you know, I wonder specifically how this Moms for Liberty movement has grown within the Hispanic community.
00:16:01.000You're the director of Hispanic Outreach, and so there seem to be a lot of cultural values supporting the family, of supporting a connection to Faith being rooted in the foundation of civilized society that would be very attractive.
00:16:16.000Talk about what reaction you have received as you've worked toward that outreach.
00:16:23.000Listen, for me, I came from Colombia and I came from a better life to actually be proficient in my profession and not to seem as my Preference, sexual preference or if I became to a party or not or I belong to a party or not.
00:16:44.000Just simply, when I came to this country, I saw the American dream and I saw liberty and I don't want to make the same mistakes that I made in our countries, in Colombia.
00:16:58.000So, I see right now that Hispanics have a lot in common with Americans.
00:17:07.000But it's something beautiful that Americans teach me.
00:17:10.000It's how to work in a team, how to have a vision because we can all become one and we can all work together toward one goal and it's basically life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that we are all men created equal and it's sad how Every pillar of American culture now is under attack.
00:17:35.000And it's this Colombian girl that is now defending the basics and now even the basics of education in this country that I now choose To be my home and I'm going to defend my home as every single Hispanic or every single American will do with their children.
00:17:58.000The children is the most precious gift that we've received and we're going to defend that with everything we have.
00:18:04.000That's why we're so passionate about it and it's so important because they are becoming The future of our country.
00:18:11.000They are going to become our next legislators, our next doctors.
00:18:15.000Are you, Congressman, going to trust this young generation that just graduated from high school to be the next voters, choosing the next presidents or the next legislators?
00:18:30.000And so it's our duty to defend the education, transparency in education, and to offer them An education free from indoctrination and actually they deserve better.
00:18:43.000They deserve better than this because right now our country is every pillar is under attack.
00:18:50.000Freedom of speech, the Justice Department, the media, the medicine.
00:18:56.000But for me, the most outrageous is education, using education, using our tax dollars to indoctrinate our children.
00:19:23.000No, I think we're all very lucky to have you in that fight.
00:19:26.000And I think that after people hear that description, they're going to want to join you in that fight.
00:19:30.000And so talk a little bit about who the people are that are participating in the Moms for Liberty movement.
00:19:36.000Maybe talk about how people come to the movement and what work you're doing together.
00:19:41.000And then if you could let folks know, if they see this and are inspired to be in that fight with you to save our education system, How they can join the great efforts that you're endeavoring upon.
00:19:54.000Listen, this is nice because people always tell me why you became involved in politics.
00:20:09.000And I think this is the common denominator of all Moms for Liberty, that we are just parents trying our best with our children.
00:20:18.000We want that our children become a productive member of society with a beautiful purpose in life that they're just not in money, but helping others, helping our nation.
00:20:33.000And we're just simply going straight and focusing laser on education.
00:20:39.000And I think these moms can change the world and they underestimate the power of a mom because we can do a lot of things and we just need a voice.
00:20:51.000That's why Moms for Liberty is unifying, educated and empowered parents to defend their parental rights At all level of government.
00:20:59.000Right now, when we want this battle against the Biden administration, against the Title IX, is the moment to join Moms for Liberty.
00:21:12.000Because it's only for the for the benefit for the Moms for Liberty and I think is the time to fight for truth and the children is now so you must join first of all Moms for Liberty become a member you're gonna be protected from Child 9 and so on and to be it to get informant another thing we are going to be We're going to do a town hall in Milwaukee that
00:21:42.000is going to be with a lot of guests, including Governor DeSantis, including Governor Huckabee from Arkansas.
00:21:50.000And I think this is the time that we are just stepping up for our children and start fighting.
00:22:37.000And we also wanted to let the Firebrand audience know that there was work happening in the House Judiciary Committee today regarding the real abuse of the legal process that we saw on display during the prosecution of President Trump by Alvin Bragg in Manhattan.
00:22:51.000Now, the core theory of that case is that somehow President Trump violated federal election law by not using donor money for this nondisclosure agreement with Stormy Daniels.
00:23:04.000And I had the opportunity to question Bradley Smith, who's the former chair of the FEC, who oversaw the enforcement of our election regulations.
00:23:15.000And the precedent set by the Democrats would lead to a pretty absurd result today.
00:23:23.000Take a listen to my questioning of the former chair of the FEC. So, Mr. Smith, following up on Mr. Stubbe's question, I want to understand the precedent here.
00:23:33.000So if a candidate for federal office wanted to use campaign money now to make a hush money payment, could they point to what has occurred in this New York litigation and say, well, I guess I can go use my donor money to make a hush money payment?
00:23:50.000I suppose they could, at least unless Judge Jackson is correct, and we'll have to wait for that overturning on appeal, but yes.
00:23:56.000Yeah, but I guess I want to ask the question, if an appellate court does not in some way deal with What has been laid before the country?
00:24:05.000Could we see people collecting money from donors, lobbyists, and PACs, and then using it to make hush money payments?
00:24:12.000Yeah, and you could do almost anything else.
00:24:13.000You could say, for example, I'd really like to go to the Super Bowl this year.
00:24:16.000I think I'll take a couple of donors along and buy your Super Bowl tickets and your whole trip to the Super Bowl because it's for the purpose of influencing your campaign.
00:24:23.000So, in the prosecution, to preserve our democracy, We have now greenlit potentially the most expansive abuses of campaign funds ever.
00:24:36.000I don't think that it was the intent of the Bragg prosecution to create a massive loophole for people to misuse campaign funds but that's exactly what they seem to have done according to that expert and I continue to take exception with how Judge Mershon in that case was able to preside over a matter where his own family was benefiting off of the notoriety of the case and we had a former judge before the committee I
00:25:06.000asked him what that would have been like in his court take a listen Judge Wilson, I just want to ask you a precise question.
00:25:17.000Was there ever a case that you were presiding over where you had a family member economically benefit from the notoriety of the case?
00:25:44.000Well, it's just interesting because we had Attorney General Garland who was, you know, spent a good amount of time on the bench, and I asked him the same question, and, you know, he said that he wouldn't answer it because it was obviously a reference to what had gone on in New York.
00:25:56.000I mean, I thought it was, I thought he could, Mike could have answered it, but, I mean, when you look at what happened in New York, does it concern you that the judge in that case It seemed to have a family member who was economically leveraging the notoriety of the case.
00:26:09.000It greatly concerned me, but not so much from the perspective of the ethical violation that would be apparent, because that judge did get an ethical opinion from the Judicial Ethics Committee in New York that exonerated him.
00:26:26.000From any wrongdoing in listening to the case when his daughter was benefiting.
00:26:31.000What I was concerned about was the appearance of impropriety.
00:26:35.000You know, when I sat on the bench, sometimes I would get a report from probation or some other organization, and they would hand it to me in an envelope.
00:26:44.000And I made certain to open up that envelope and show everybody that it was a report that I was looking at.
00:26:51.000Because I didn't want there to be the The appearance of infropriety that I'm receiving an envelope from someone in the courtroom.
00:27:00.000You're presiding over a case where your daughter is benefiting and where you've made political contributions in small amounts, but it's irrelevant the amount, but you've made contributions to the political opponents of the defendant before you.
00:27:16.000These are the very essence of the appearance of impropriety and I feel strongly that Judge Marchand should have recused himself on that basis.
00:27:37.000We are back live, and we made news yesterday by announcing the establishment of the Congressional El Salvador Caucus.
00:27:43.000I am going to be leading that caucus as chairman, along with Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat from the state of Texas who knows that part of the world rather well.
00:27:53.000This was the announcement of the Congressional El Salvador Caucus.
00:28:00.000Mr. Speaker, I rise to notify the House of the creation of the Congressional El Salvador Caucus, for which I will serve as chairman and for which I have appointed the gentleman from Texas, Vincente Gonzalez, to serve as the bipartisan co-chairman.
00:28:15.000Congressman Gonzalez has extensive relationships and insights drawn from his time in El Salvador and throughout Latin America, and undeniably that will assist in leading the caucus.
00:28:26.000Mr. Speaker, El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, has converted El Salvador from the murder capital of the world into a reliable and stable partner for peace and security for the United States of America.
00:28:41.000The El Salvador caucus will exist to nurture and advance the U.S.-El Salvador relationship, to encourage strong borders, strong culture, and the strong reforms that President Bukele has put into effect.
00:28:56.000They've defeated the gangs, they've put prosperity on the march in El Salvador, and even the 70,000 people who are incarcerated in that country are not just seeing their lives wasted away.
00:29:08.000President Bukele has instituted a zero-leisure policy where they are now restoring buildings and murals and actually rebuilding the country that so many of them had a hand in ravaging through gang warfare.
00:29:22.000The purpose of this caucus will be to vindicate the choices that President Bukele has made that indeed strengthen the U.S.-El Salvador relationship.
00:29:30.000And El Salvador's resurgence has not existed as a consequence of falling for the siren song of globalism.
00:29:39.000Instead, President Bukele believes that the way El Salvador can lead within Central America, and indeed throughout the West, is by being the best version of themselves.
00:29:49.000Not being excessively reliant on some of these globalist institutions.
00:29:53.000President Bukele has delivered instant justice to the satanic gangs and the endemic political corruption, but in fact, no good deed goes unpunished.
00:30:01.000Too often our own government and even some members of this Congress mount attack after attack at El Salvador and President Bukele, presumably because the comeback that El Salvador is living is a breathing indictment of other failed ideologies.
00:30:18.000Through the inspiration from El Salvador's astonishing transformation, the great American rejuvenation can become a reality as well, so that we can experience a triumphant return of safety and prosperity that we once inspired in others.
00:30:33.000I would invite my colleagues in the House and Senate to contact our office.
00:30:37.000We would love to have you as a member of the El Salvador Caucus, as we strengthen the U.S. El Salvador relationship, as we work to amplify some of the good decisions that are being made by President Bukele and his government, and as we hope that these good ideas have legs and can travel and can be copied and implemented for a more stable world.