The Anchormen Show with Matt Gaetz

00:00:00.000 Welcome to Hot Ticks. This is Congressman Matt Gaetz. Let's talk about the news. The news

00:00:21.420 today is that the House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on police accountability.

00:00:26.040 This is the first major hearing of the United States Congress really in four months.

00:00:31.800 Philanise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, will be providing testimony. And Angela Underwood

00:00:37.360 Jacobs, the sister of federal police officer David Underwood, who was killed in the riots,

00:00:43.660 will also be giving testimony. I'm going to break down the analysis, the arguments,

00:00:49.380 the legislative proposals that come out of this hearing in tomorrow's episode. But I want everyone

00:00:54.360 to get a real clear sense of what happened, what the key arguments were, and then we'll

00:00:59.180 break them down tomorrow. Here's the opening statement from leading Republican, Jim Jordan.

00:01:03.940 The people of this great country, you know what else they understand? You know what else

00:01:07.780 they get? They understand that there is a big difference, a big difference between peaceful

00:01:13.100 protest and rioting. There is a big difference between peaceful protest and looting. There

00:01:17.940 is a big difference between peaceful protest and violence and attacking innocent people.

00:01:22.740 And there is certainly a big difference between peaceful protest and killing police officers.

00:01:29.440 You know what else they get? You know what else the American people fully understand?

00:01:33.840 They know, as the chairman said, the vast, vast majority of law enforcement officers are responsible,

00:01:39.980 hardworking, heroic first responders. They're the officers who protect the Capitol, who protect

00:01:46.720 us every single day. They're the officers who rust into the Twin Towers on 9-11. They're the officers

00:01:51.740 in every one of our neighborhoods, in every one of our communities, every day, every night,

00:01:57.420 every shift they work, who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.

00:02:03.220 And guess what Americans also get? Guess what else they understand? They know it is pure insanity

00:02:10.500 to defund the police. And the fact that my Democrat colleagues won't speak out against this crazy

00:02:16.280 policy is just that frightening. Think about what we've heard in the last few weeks.

00:02:24.420 We've heard the mayor of our two, the mayors of our two largest city, Mayor Garcetti, said he wants

00:02:28.100 to defund the police. The mayor of New York says he wants to defund the police. The city council in

00:02:32.820 Minneapolis, a veto-proof majority says they want to defund the police and abolish the department.

00:02:39.460 This Congress started off with the Democrats, folks on the left, saying we should abolish ICE,

00:02:43.640 then move to we should abolish the entire Department of Homeland Security. And now they're talking about

00:02:48.840 abolishing the police. This is wrong, and the American people know it's wrong. We should honor the

00:02:55.480 memory of George Floyd and work hard so that nothing like it ever happens again. And we should honor the

00:03:02.120 memory of Dave Patrick Underwood and work hard so that nothing like that ever happens again.

00:03:10.800 A week and a half ago, our mission was clearly stated. Eleven days ago in Florida, the President

00:03:16.120 of the United States clearly stated what our mission should be. President Trump said this,

00:03:23.100 I stand before you as a friend and ally to every American seeking justice and peace,

00:03:28.500 and I stand before you in firm opposition to anyone exploiting tragedy to loot, rob, attack, and menace.

00:03:37.140 Healing, not hatred, justice, not chaos, are the mission at hand. Well said, Mr. President.

00:03:44.700 Healing, not hatred, justice, not chaos. That is our mission. The President is right, and I appreciate his leadership.

00:03:52.700 This is the House Judiciary Committee, with its storied history of defending the Constitution and the rule of law.

00:03:59.400 Let's adopt that mission. Healing, not hatred, justice, not chaos. Let's work together to make America the great place,

00:04:07.560 to continue to make America the greatest nation ever.

00:04:10.600 The Republican lead on the Crime and Criminal Justice Subcommittee is my colleague Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

00:04:16.640 Here's a little bit about what he had to say.

00:04:19.000 Everyone here understands the plain and simple truth that racism in any form violates the most fundamental principles of our great nation

00:04:25.160 and the rules of our creator. The central idea of America, let's not forget, is the idea that we boldly declare,

00:04:32.560 the self-evident truth, that all men are created equal, and that they're thus endowed by God with the same inalienable rights.

00:04:39.820 Because each of us is made in the image of God, there are very serious implications that come from that.

00:04:43.820 And among them is the idea that every single person has an estimable dignity and value.

00:04:48.580 And our value is not related in any way to the color of our skin, or what zip code we live in,

00:04:52.180 or what we can contribute to society, or anything else.

00:04:54.500 Our value is inherent because it comes to us by our creator.

00:04:58.580 Any fool who condens he has some sort of natural right of supremacy over his neighbor

00:05:02.260 violates not only the foundational creed of America, but the greatest commandments of the God who made him.

00:05:08.020 And if we can ever learn to see one another as God does, I think it will solve a lot of our problems.

00:05:12.200 This unspeakable act of cruelty that America witnessed in Minneapolis has opened an important new dialogue on reform.

00:05:19.660 And while policing has always been regarded as an inherently local function,

00:05:24.480 we do agree that Congress has a key role to play in ensuring that abuses are not tolerated and can never happen again.

00:05:31.200 Justice has to be swift, and bad police officers have to be held accountable for their actions.

00:05:36.040 But at the same time, we want to be careful to recognize, as all my colleagues have this morning,

00:05:41.260 that officers like the ones involved in the death of George Floyd are not representative of the vast majority of America's law enforcement officers.

00:05:48.700 Most are faithful, self-sacrificing public servants who put their lives on the line every single day to protect and serve our communities.

00:05:57.020 We need to honor that, and we need to recognize and empower those law enforcement officers,

00:06:01.900 which is precisely the opposite of the radical, dangerous proposals we're seeing right now to defund them.

00:06:07.260 I was selected by Ranking Member Jordan to be the first Republican to ask questions of the witnesses,

00:06:14.080 and this was my exchange with the witness panel.

00:06:16.480 Mr. Chairman, if we could get the witnesses who are joining remotely to be on the screen,

00:06:20.740 so we could see them.

00:06:21.340 I have a question I would like to ask everyone, and I apologize for the crude nature in which I have to ask this,

00:06:26.400 but there's just so many witnesses.

00:06:28.180 If you believe that we should defund the police, will you please raise your hand?

00:06:36.500 Mr. ... Yes, is there anyone on the ... Okay.

00:06:40.000 So that's unifying and wonderful that here we are gathered ...

00:06:44.460 Please tell me.

00:06:45.000 Can you please tell me.

00:06:46.040 Excuse me.

00:06:46.740 I'm sorry.

00:06:47.140 I actually have a hand.

00:06:48.280 I can't answer to that question.

00:06:49.720 Well, I'm sure someone will be able to ask you that question, but I've limited time here.

00:06:53.080 I didn't see anyone raise their hand to defund the police.

00:06:55.300 I certainly didn't see any of the Republican witnesses do that.

00:06:57.580 And so I'm going to now go through and see where that sentiment may have been reflected.

00:07:03.720 Here's a tweet from two of our congressional colleagues supporting this group, Black Visions Minnesota.

00:07:09.780 And then next, please.

00:07:10.860 And then here's that group, that same group, Black Visions Minnesota, that my congressional colleagues are raising money for,

00:07:20.040 saying that we should end the police and can we go to the next one?

00:07:23.840 And then here's that same organization retweeting rebel scum, abolish the police.

00:07:29.020 And then here's the same group saying that instead of police, we need therapists, doctors, and street medics, not cops.

00:07:36.880 Mr. Bongino, in your experience, every time someone calls 911, would a therapist or a medic be sufficient?

00:07:43.620 Or sometime do people need cops?

00:07:45.960 I'm quite unclear how a medic is going to help with an armed subject who's assaulting his wife in a domestic violence situation or elsewhere.

00:07:53.320 I'm not sure how that's going to be of any value.

00:07:56.620 And here again is that same group saying that we need lasers to disorient surveillance cameras,

00:08:01.580 and we need water balloons filled with milk to throw at people.

00:08:04.420 Again, this is the organization that my congressional colleagues are raising money to support.

00:08:08.780 If we could go to the next one.

00:08:10.500 And then here again, that same organization that multiple members of Congress are supporting,

00:08:15.520 saying it's not enough to only abolish police or prisons.

00:08:19.040 We need to abolish race, abolish ICE, abolish the military, abolish the state, abolish the borders.

00:08:26.880 And again, this is what our colleagues are raising money for.

00:08:29.840 And it's not just any member of Congress.

00:08:32.500 It's actually one of our treasured colleagues on the Judiciary Committee,

00:08:36.280 the general aide from Washington, raising money for this very same organization.

00:08:40.400 Ms. Underwood Jacobs, your brother is someone who was part of this law enforcement community when he gave his life.

00:08:47.960 When you learn that my colleagues in Congress are raising money for an organization that promotes defunding the police,

00:08:55.840 destroying our borders, defunding our military, and taking apart the state altogether, how does that make you feel?

00:09:03.000 Actually, I find that conduct to be deplorable.

00:09:07.420 And we elect officials to represent everyone.

00:09:10.920 And the idea to have our communities without protection and safety is wrong.

00:09:18.180 So my response to that would be for people to get out and vote and get the right person in office

00:09:23.740 to ensure that we feel protected and our children feel protected for generations to come.

00:09:29.980 I appreciate that greatly.

00:09:31.920 Mr. Floyd, again, I appreciate your calls, not only today,

00:09:35.060 but in the direct aftermath of your brother's killing, you showed grace and care for your fellow Americans.

00:09:43.140 And I don't know if everyone is religious, but I do believe God is working through you to try to call us together.

00:09:50.020 And finally, I wanted to thank Ms. Bass for the legislation she's introduced and that constellation of ideas.

00:09:55.580 While I think that we can fine-tune elements to ensure that we don't defund the police,

00:10:00.420 that we don't make our communities less safe, I do think there is not a legitimate defense

00:10:04.800 of chokeholds or lynching or bad cops that get shuttled around.

00:10:09.160 And you will be able to count on Republican cooperation as we hone these ideas

00:10:13.720 and hopefully pass them and get them to the president's desk.

00:10:16.360 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

00:10:17.680 Phil Anise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, was here to give testimony.

00:10:22.400 Here's a sample of his testimony before the committee.

00:10:26.140 Mr. Floyd, I don't know that the cameras picked it up or saw it,

00:10:29.880 but when Angela talked about her brother dying, I saw a physical reaction from you.

00:10:35.620 I saw you lean over in your chair.

00:10:37.820 I thought I noticed your body even tremble with empathy and care for Angela and her brother, Pat, who passed away.

00:10:45.140 If you could say anything to the people who killed Pat, what would it be?

00:10:49.860 Life is precious.

00:10:52.380 Everybody should be able to live and be able to walk this earth in a journey that they want to.

00:10:57.540 Nobody should have to be filled with hatred and so much animosity that they want to kill somebody.

00:11:05.680 Dr. King said a long time ago he wanted everybody around the world to be able to join hands together.

00:11:13.040 And I think right now, if he was here right now, he would understand that the world is united right now.

00:11:21.240 And we all are coming together.

00:11:23.380 Angela Underwood Jacobs lost her brother, who was part of the federal protection force for one of our federal buildings.

00:11:31.800 He died in the riots.

00:11:33.580 Here was her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee today.

00:11:36.380 I have to say that I'm heartbroken.

00:11:39.520 I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my brother either before he was killed.

00:11:47.660 I am also heartbroken for all of the other people that are in this country living every single day

00:11:54.820 and feel unsafe just to drive to the store.

00:12:00.340 I also have had the talk with my son.

00:12:03.940 My, we sit here today at somewhat opposite ends of the spectrum to a certain degree,

00:12:13.240 but yet there is so much commonality amongst both of us.

00:12:17.620 And the heartbreak and the grief is inexplainable because it's very, very hard to articulate

00:12:24.520 when your entire world has been turned upside down.

00:12:29.600 I do want to know, though, when I think about all of this, is that my brother wore a uniform,

00:12:37.000 and he wore that uniform proudly.

00:12:41.220 I'm wondering, where is the outrage for a fallen officer that also happens to be African American?

00:12:50.000 So, as I'm sitting here and I'm listening to all of you and us,

00:12:58.520 I truly hope that you take your positions, your offices, so seriously that you want to go back

00:13:07.300 and really work together and collaborate.

00:13:10.480 Because if you can't get it right, there's no hope for the rest of us.

00:13:14.500 So, when you go back and you convene and you talk through everything that's going on,

00:13:22.300 I hope that we're just not people on paper,

00:13:27.080 but the fact that you can be able to see our faces and feel our pain

00:13:32.560 and feel it enough that you want to make change for all the citizens of the United States of America.

00:13:39.480 There are police in this country who have grown very frustrated with the image

00:13:46.920 that they're somehow negative forces within our communities.

00:13:51.100 We saw the head of the New York Police Union, Mike O'Meara,

00:13:55.040 react very strongly and very forcefully to that image

00:13:58.340 that I think a lot of the media are trying to paint right now.

00:14:01.520 Here was Mr. O'Meara's very strong statement to the press

00:14:05.700 about the value that police add and their reaction to this civil unrest in our country.

00:14:10.780 Stop treating us like animals and thugs

00:14:12.800 and start treating us with some respect.

00:14:17.020 That's what we're here today to say.

00:14:19.380 We've been left out of the conversation.

00:14:22.500 We've been vilified.

00:14:26.040 It's disgusting.

00:14:27.880 It's disgusting.

00:14:28.940 Trying to make us embarrassed of our profession.

00:14:34.260 375 million interactions.

00:14:37.680 Overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly positive.

00:14:41.940 Nobody talks about all the police officers that were killed in the last week

00:14:45.300 in the United States of America, and there were a number of them.

00:14:48.400 We don't condone Minneapolis.

00:14:50.040 We roundly reject what he did as disgusting.

00:14:55.940 It's disgusting.

00:14:57.040 It's not what we do.

00:14:58.840 It's not what police officers do.

00:15:02.700 Our legislators abandoned us.

00:15:05.540 The press is vilifying us.

00:15:08.260 Well, you know what, guys?

00:15:10.080 I'm proud to be a cop.

00:15:11.680 And I'm going to continue to be proud to be a cop

00:15:14.000 until the day I retire.

00:15:16.720 And that's all I have to say.

00:15:18.140 Hearing Romero's comments, you see the passion

00:15:23.780 that animates the public service of our police officers.

00:15:27.980 But in the data, we also see how valuable they are.

00:15:31.780 Some new news coming out of the city of Los Angeles

00:15:34.080 that just in the first week in June,

00:15:37.180 they've seen a 250% increase in the homicide rate,

00:15:41.540 according to Fox News.

00:15:43.260 And all this while Mayor Eric Garcetti is saying now

00:15:46.000 we need to defund the police.

00:15:48.140 And so I'm troubled by this.

00:15:49.780 I'm troubled by the fact that the defund the police mantra

00:15:53.400 is getting more and more mainstream in Democrat politics.

00:15:57.460 And it's not just a talking point.

00:15:59.360 There is a real impact in terms of engagement

00:16:02.640 proactively from the police

00:16:04.440 and also how our citizens are impacted

00:16:08.160 from a safety standpoint.

00:16:09.780 And with the homicide rate rising in Los Angeles,

00:16:12.020 certainly not a glowing endorsement of the Garcetti approach

00:16:17.160 to demonizing those who keep us safe.

00:16:19.480 I've covered on the podcast how the Department of Justice

00:16:24.140 has labeled Antifa, a terrorist organization,

00:16:26.740 and with good reason.

00:16:28.560 They organize violent protests.

00:16:30.380 There was great reporting by Project Veritas

00:16:32.380 about how they actually go and try to teach people

00:16:36.360 how to gouge eyes out,

00:16:37.860 because eyes are, you know,

00:16:39.320 a soft space of vulnerability for people

00:16:41.640 that may be in a crowd.

00:16:42.720 But despite this designation as a terrorist group,

00:16:46.300 our own NPR, funded by taxpayers,

00:16:49.280 does this interview with Antifa member Lacey McCauley,

00:16:53.800 where they try to kind of cast them

00:16:55.580 as these misunderstood, peaceful, political refugees,

00:16:59.640 which is total nonsense.

00:17:01.460 Take a listen to just the absurdity of this interview.

00:17:04.100 McCauley, who is white,

00:17:05.400 is wearing a tight black shirt and a face covering,

00:17:08.260 but most people are now because of the pandemic.

00:17:10.100 She says people misunderstand what Antifa is.

00:17:13.820 Antifascism is more like a set of practices

00:17:16.160 and a philosophy than it is an organization.

00:17:19.800 No, actually, we don't have any kind of like

00:17:23.060 big giant hierarchy.

00:17:24.420 It comes from your heart.

00:17:25.560 It comes from your sense of justice.

00:17:27.400 But the truth about Antifa has been exposed.

00:17:31.340 And I think some of the best reporting on this

00:17:33.000 was done by Tucker Carlson tonight.

00:17:35.500 Tucker had Gabriel Nadalis on the show.

00:17:38.060 Gabriel is now working with

00:17:40.520 the nonprofit Leadership Institute,

00:17:42.240 but he was a former Antifa member.

00:17:44.760 And listen to Gabriel describe the ambitions

00:17:47.840 and goals of Antifa

00:17:49.200 and their tendency to use violence to achieve those goals.

00:17:52.320 Well, I was in Antifa when I was just 16,

00:17:54.460 so like almost 10 years ago.

00:17:56.240 And I'm telling you this.

00:17:57.840 Back then, it was just a group that went out

00:17:59.960 and go protest against what people

00:18:01.960 we thought were anti-fascists.

00:18:03.740 However, Antifa is far more violent today

00:18:06.000 than it ever was.

00:18:07.960 There's multiple professors.

00:18:09.820 To really understand Antifa,

00:18:11.100 we have to go into the college campuses.

00:18:13.400 Throughout the country,

00:18:14.840 we have a lot of different professors

00:18:16.400 who are advocating for violence.

00:18:18.240 We have Mark Bray from Dartmouth University

00:18:20.140 who wrote Antifa,

00:18:21.580 the anti-fascist handbook,

00:18:23.100 where he praises and he advocates

00:18:24.820 for political violence.

00:18:26.360 And then most recently

00:18:27.480 at the Leadership Institute Campus Reform,

00:18:29.300 we had a professor from Colorado State University

00:18:32.980 who said that she was done

00:18:35.420 talking to people on her opposition,

00:18:38.220 that she was ready to punch them in the neck.

00:18:40.220 And unfortunately,

00:18:41.100 we are seeing a resurgence

00:18:42.480 of political violence by the left.

00:18:45.260 Thanks for listening.

00:18:46.620 This has been Congressman Matt Gaetz.

00:18:48.660 Be sure to leave us a five-star review

00:18:50.440 and a comment or a suggestion

00:18:51.820 or even a criticism.

00:18:53.780 I love your hot takes

00:18:54.780 and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for mine.

00:18:56.360 We'll see you next time.

Episode 22 – Compelling Dialogue from Today's Judiciary Hearing. Police in New York Fight Back Against “Defund the Police.” Is Antifa “Misunderstood？”

Summary

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