In this episode of Firebrand, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-GA) talks about his separation from Fox News and why he thinks it s a good thing. He also talks about a potential government shutdown and what he s doing to try to prevent it.
00:00:00.000Matt Gaetz was one of the very few members in the entire Congress who bothered to stand up against Permanent Washington on behalf of his constituents.
00:00:11.000Matt Gaetz right now, he's a problem in the Democratic Party, and he could cause a lot of hiccups in passing applause.
00:00:16.000So we're going to keep running those stories to keep hurting him.
00:00:20.000If you stand for the flag and kneel in prayer, if you want to build America up and not burn her to the ground, then welcome, my fellow patriots.
00:00:29.000You are in the right place. This is the movement for you.
00:00:33.000You ever watch this guy on television? It's like a machine. Matt Gaetz.
00:00:38.000I'm a canceled man in some corners of the Internet. Many days I'm a marked man in Congress, a wanted man by the deep state.
00:00:46.000They aren't really coming for me. They're coming for you. I'm just in the way.
00:00:55.000Welcome to the live ninety ninth episode of Firebrand.
00:01:00.000We are broadcasting from room twenty twenty one of the Rayburn House Office Building here on the Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C.
00:01:07.000And if you are not a Tucker Carlson fan, this show is probably not going to be for you toward the back end of the show.
00:01:14.000We're going to go through some of our favorite moments on Tucker Carlson tonight.
00:01:18.000Going to talk about his separation from Fox News, what that means.
00:01:22.000And the tectonic plates of media are certainly shifting beyond just this move with Tucker and Fox.
00:01:33.000And I've got the latest tea on some of the spat between Don Lemon and the official CNN communications department.
00:01:40.000Not too happy over there. Things are not going well at CNN.
00:01:44.000But I think things are going to go very well for Tucker Carlson because he has a loyal following of which I am very honored to count myself among.
00:01:55.000And that following is going to be there for whatever Tucker's next project is.
00:01:59.000And I have a sense he's already thinking about that as we're having this discussion.
00:02:04.000But before we go into full Tucker file mode, I do want to give you some important updates regarding legislation and what's going on in Congress this week.
00:02:13.000First, today I introduced the ASAP Act, the Armed Services Always Paid Act.
00:02:20.000This legislation would ensure that in the event of a shutdown, our military families, our military programs, our military personnel would continue to be advanced because we would pay our service members who are engaged in that important work.
00:02:34.000Now, I've seen directly what shutdowns do to interfere with research projects and the test and evaluation mission of our military.
00:02:43.000I've seen how it actually ends up costing us more money when we don't pay the military on time.
00:02:49.000So we always want to ensure that the military is paid, that our work is done to ensure that America is safe.
00:02:55.000And I don't want to give Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden the ability to say that a shutdown is putting national security at risk.
00:03:03.000I've introduced the ASAP Act to take that critique of shutdown politics off the table.
00:03:09.000We could all agree in a bipartisan fashion to pass this legislation so that shutdowns would be about isolating some of the wasteful spending that allows a woke government to be weaponized against we the people.
00:03:23.000And we've got lots of examples of that. And that's why the budget process is so important.
00:03:28.000And it's why the reforms we fought for at the beginning of this year in January were critical to inform now the plan going forward.
00:03:38.000Now, that brings us to what's going to happen this week on the debt limit.
00:03:42.000Speaker McCarthy is working hard with his leadership team to try to get the votes to pass a one point five trillion dollar increase in the debt limit in exchange for a little north of a trillion dollars in cuts.
00:03:55.000Now, I'm working to make sure that those cuts aren't aspirational over some 10 year period, but that they are as immediate as possible.
00:04:03.000And to everyone's great credit on the Republican team, there are some real pro growth strategies that we're demanding as a part of that increase in the debt limit.
00:04:12.000Those include bills that I talked about on the last episode, the RAINS Act, HR1, unleashing American energy, getting rid of burdensome regulations.
00:04:21.000That certainly helps us address deficits and debts because we're able to have more cash flow or revenue into the government, not as a consequence of higher taxes, but as a consequence of more taxpayers and more successful Americans.
00:04:36.000So that's ongoing. And one of the sticking points is that a pro growth strategy that I'm demanding work requirements to achieve various social services.
00:04:49.000Well, the implementation on those is in some question.
00:04:53.000So here is the essence of the negotiation going on right now.
00:04:58.000The work requirements that I would prefer would be far more rigorous than 20 hours a week.
00:05:03.000The work requirements that I would demand would have to start in fiscal year 2024, not in 2025 or beyond.
00:05:13.000Because what I've seen after seven years in Congress is that the things that we're serious about, we get going on those immediately.
00:05:21.000And the things that are unserious are delayed to some future budgetary year.
00:05:26.000So I'm not going to engage in a negotiation with Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden that is predicated on them getting their increase in the debt limit to fund their woke weaponized government now.
00:05:39.000And then we get work requirements starting in 2025 or beyond an essential element to get my vote for any increase in the debt limit.
00:05:50.000And by the way, I never have voted for an increase in the debt limit would be work requirements starting in 2024, not 2025, as this legislation is currently written.
00:06:01.000And I also believe that the work requirements have to be more rigorous than just 20 hours a week.
00:06:08.000Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich made a deal at 20 hours a week.
00:06:12.000I think in the opening offer that the House of Representatives makes to Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer, we should aim higher than that.
00:06:21.00030 hours a week, I think, would be a minimum.
00:06:25.000And that's certainly something that a number of folks have reflected on favorably in the chat.
00:06:29.000So that's what's going on on the debt limit.
00:06:32.000But the biggest news of the day is obviously coming out of Fox.
00:06:36.000Here's Harris Faulkner breaking into the country.
00:06:41.000We have some news from within our Fox family.
00:06:44.000Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have mutually agreed to part ways.
00:06:49.000Tucker's last show was this past Friday.
00:06:53.000And starting tonight, Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 p.m. Eastern.
00:06:57.000It will be an interim show with rotating Fox News personalities until a new host is named.
00:07:03.000We want to thank Tucker Carlson for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a long term contributor.
00:07:14.000There is a very nervous energy that is just spewing off of Harris Faulkner as she delivers that news.
00:07:23.000And it has to be uncomfortable for anyone to announce that the highest rated program on the network will not be airing on a night when myself and a lot of Americans.
00:07:34.000I mean, we scheduled the day around 8 o'clock, Tucker Carlson getting his terrific perspective on events.
00:07:44.000And that perspective has been one unique in media.
00:07:47.000And I took note of commentator Glenn Greenwald really reflecting on all that Tucker Carlson has thought about.
00:07:54.000This is the tweet from Glenn Greenwald.
00:07:56.000Tucker Carlson was the cable host who opposed the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine, denounced CIA, FBI, and DHS for its systemic lies and corruption,
00:08:09.000devoted himself to a pardon for Julian Assange, objected to regime change efforts in Cuba, criticized the Trump administration's militarism.
00:08:19.000That is a voice, a perspective that may not align with what you think on every subject, but it was unique.
00:08:28.000And when we lose something as unique as that in the national discussion and the ability to amplify perspectives, it informs on the work we do here in Congress.
00:08:39.000Make no mistake, the cable news hosts who are most trusted by varying audiences have a lot to do, actually, with what voices get lifted, what bills might ultimately get heard,
00:08:54.000what investigations might get put to the side or accelerated.
00:08:58.000And Tucker Carlson tonight has been a consistent platform at time for views that cut contrary to the prevailing thinking on something.
00:09:07.000And one of those areas that Glenn Greenwald noted, and that I certainly appreciate, Tucker Carlson's perspective on foreign policy.
00:09:16.000He has a perspective in most cases that lines up with President Trump, but when President Trump favored the executive having war powers vis-a-vis Iran,
00:09:26.000Tucker Carlson and I took a position that was different than President Trump.
00:09:32.000And what year was this back in, Sasha?
00:11:06.000I think on these broader questions of war and peace, Donald Trump understands that the pro-war candidate loses presidential elections.
00:11:13.000Hillary Clinton was more pro-war and lost.
00:11:16.000And if you look previously, it's typically the anti-war candidates that won.
00:11:20.000I think since 9-11, John Kerry was the only anti-war candidate that lost an election.
00:11:26.000And so I think that the president understands that.
00:11:29.000And he's too smart to let Nancy Pelosi try to cast him as the pro-war candidate.
00:11:33.000And that's why I don't think we're going to war with Iran.
00:11:38.000Tucker, foreign policy is true America first foreign policy.
00:11:42.000And I reflect with such warmth and positive thinking about those opportunities we had to inform on these critical issues that I think save Americans' lives
00:11:55.000and that make us all more focused on the real threat.
00:11:59.000Because we've had far too many leaders in both parties who were focused on nonsense.
00:12:04.000It got Americans killed and it did not advance our interests.
00:12:07.000In many cases, it actually hurt our interests.
00:12:09.000And there is a ton of love on the live chat for Tucker Carlson.
00:12:13.000And a lot of questions about whether or not Tucker Carlson's departure from Fox and Dan Bongino's departure from Fox are somehow related
00:12:21.000and indicative of a shifting strategy in terms of their content.
00:12:35.000Tucker Carlson is someone who's worked at PBS, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News.
00:12:42.000And I don't know that at this stage of his life, in this unique way where he's shaped the national discussion, that he's looking to have another boss.
00:12:51.000And so I think he could be among those who pursue independent journalism and will have an exquisite following.
00:12:58.000A thoughtful following, a motivated and engaged group of people, intellectuals, activists, members of Congress, members of congressional staff.
00:13:07.000Everyone is going to be glued to what Tucker Carlson does next.
00:13:10.000And just given the nature of the media landscape right now and how corporatized it's become, perhaps someone who has those unique expressions,
00:13:18.000those unique viewpoints, like Glenn Greenwald noted, would be better served to be limitless in the opportunities that independent media presents.
00:13:27.000So that's just my guess, no inside information, just a belief in how Tucker Carlson views his talents.
00:13:36.000I think he's the kind of guy who would bet on himself, and I would certainly bet on him as well.
00:13:41.000Well, it's always important when you can get truth out through critical platforms that are highly consumed to be able to shape the decisions that are being made in Washington.
00:13:54.000Sometimes an interview on Tucker Carlson tonight was more important than an appropriations rider or even a bill in Congress to determine the outcome of certain things.
00:14:05.000So here's what happened. I found out about the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the EcoHealth Alliance and Peter Daszak receiving U.S. taxpayer funds as a part of the financial amalgamation that made up the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
00:14:22.000So I went on Tucker Carlson tonight, conducted an interview, and within minutes, President Trump had canceled this funding stream and had drawn it back and ensured that it didn't go forward.
00:14:35.000So literally this interview was one that President Trump was watching and he took action on.
00:14:40.000And knowing what we know now, it's quite a thing that at the very beginning of the pandemic, we were having this discussion. Play the clip.
00:14:47.000The NIH gives this $3.7 million grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
00:14:55.000They then advertise that they need coronavirus researchers.
00:14:59.000Following that, coronavirus erupts in Wuhan.
00:15:02.000And then what's really troubling to me is that either conspicuously or miraculously, the Wuhan Institute of Virology is able to sequence the virus on January 2nd, but China doesn't admit to the virus existing to January 9th.
00:15:17.000And then the Wuhan Institute of Virology doesn't release this important scientific information to the world until January 12th.
00:15:24.000So at best, Americans are funding people who are lying to us.
00:15:28.000And at worst, we're funding people who we knew had problems handling pathogens who then birthed a monster virus onto the world.
00:15:36.000By the way, China is about to eclipse us in terms of the size of its economy.
00:15:43.000If it hasn't already, and it seems like it already may have.
00:15:46.000Either way, why would we be sending any money to China for any purpose?
00:15:51.000There is a far too cozy relationship between U.S. research and Chinese research because there are some research institutions in our country who realize the short-term benefit of Chinese cash.
00:16:03.000But that doesn't excuse our government.
00:16:05.000And what should really trouble viewers is that this is an active grant.
00:16:18.000And at worst, they've been negligent to the point of many, many deaths throughout the world.
00:16:27.000Interview in action resulting a change in a grant system that was putting the American people at risk.
00:16:33.000Tucker Carlson and I were criticized greatly by 60 Minutes for that interview.
00:16:38.000They held up Peter Daszek as some pioneer of science itself.
00:16:43.000And they certainly look foolish very much now as a result of that.
00:16:48.000I also wanted to get to the vaccine issue because there was a vaccine religion that seemed to take over every major source of news.
00:16:59.000And many of the hosts, even on conservative networks, they were pushing the vaccine.
00:17:04.000They weren't talking about the harm that some of these mandates were causing our fellow Americans.
00:17:10.000And Nick Cupper, one of our brave service members, stood up and was a voice for many active duty military who were against this vaccine mandate.
00:17:56.000You're talking about over 10 percent of your military is looking to be canned right now.
00:17:59.000I mean, if I were China or I were Russia, I'd be chomping at the bit right now.
00:18:05.000And this is and it's beyond it's beyond the wild that they've only been granting religious waivers to members who are already separating already out.
00:18:16.000I mean, that's that does no good for the member.
00:18:19.000And I think it's very ironic that, you know, Secretary Austin was given a waiver by Congress to serve, yet he refuses to give any of us waivers to keep serving.
00:18:31.000We are back live and in the chat, people are asking whether or not Elon Musk should start a cable news channel and hire Tucker Carlson to be the masthead.
00:18:42.000I know how much Elon Musk enjoys Tucker's program.
00:18:46.000It's obvious from his public statements that he's a viewer and that he's an admirer.
00:18:51.000And I would be shocked if Elon Musk hadn't already contacted Tucker Carlson to indicate support for his next venture.
00:19:17.000There was a time when a lot of folks thought Tucker Carlson sounded more and more like a political candidate and less and less like a talk show host.
00:19:26.000And during the BLM riots of 2020, Tucker Carlson was so strong and so unique in the monologues that he would deliver each and every night about how our leadership was failing to provide protection for our people when faced with a violent politically motivated mob.
00:19:46.000Corporate America was funding these riots.
00:19:51.000You had political leaders advocating for bail funds for people so they would know there would be no consequence if they destroyed property, maybe even hurt people.
00:20:00.000And each and every night, Tucker was our voice.
00:20:03.000And so we could not do the Tucker Carlson homage episode without one of the classic monologues from 2020.
00:20:13.000For many of us, this has been one of the saddest, most painful weeks in memory.
00:20:20.000Depressing doesn't even begin to describe it.
00:20:23.000We have watched as mobs of violent cretins have burned our cities, defaced our monuments, beaten old women in the street, shot police officers, and stolen everything in sight.
00:20:36.000How many innocent Americans have these people hurt?
00:22:01.000What they support is more power for themselves, and they're willing to use gangs of thugs to get it.
00:22:07.000We are back live, and we are Team Tucker.
00:22:11.000Now folks on the live chat are saying Donald Trump needs to pick Tucker Carlson to be his running mate after seeing that monologue, and it was one for the ages.
00:22:21.000I also want to extend my personal gratitude to Tucker Carlson because in moments when I became deeply frustrated at how my colleagues talked about me and my family,
00:22:33.000Tucker Carlson allowed me to go on his show with my son Nestor.
00:22:37.000We talked about our unique relationship and how sometimes it's not blood that defines family.
00:22:44.000There are step parents, there are adoptive parents, there are people in parenting roles all over this country,
00:22:50.000and there is a unique love that you develop with those that you care for and help to guide and nurture.
00:22:56.000And when I was criticized for standing up for my son in the House Judiciary Committee by Cedric Richmond,
00:23:03.000who said that I didn't even have the right to talk about what a non-white young person would go through in an encounter with the police,
00:23:12.000or how a parent would talk to a non-white child about encounters with police.
00:23:16.000When Cedric Richmond criticized my life experience, I got the chance to go on Tucker's program.
00:23:22.000Nestor got the chance to go on the program. It was certainly a special moment for our family. Take a watch and listen.
00:23:30.000I've just got to say, though, he's a remarkable young man. I am proud of him.
00:23:35.000And I've raised Nestor to believe that in our family, we treat everyone equally.
00:23:40.000It doesn't matter what their background is, what their race is, we treat every American with respect.
00:23:47.000Does he learn that at school as well, do you think?
00:23:49.000I mean, do you think the culture in which he's growing up reinforces that obvious and most American of all messages?
00:23:56.000Well, why don't you ask him, Tucker? He's, I think, piped in from the studio in Florida.
00:24:01.000Nestor, thanks for joining us. What do you make of Cedric Richmond's attack city?
00:24:59.000Saying something like this out loud seems like the kind of thing that, you know, in normal times, you'd be censured for.
00:25:05.000I cannot believe that it's acceptable in the United States Congress for someone to tell someone else that they're fighting for their children more than they are.
00:26:21.000Now, I don't know why Don Lemon was fired.
00:26:24.000I do know that recently he has embarrassed himself, the network, with absurd discourse.
00:26:33.000Suggesting in a recent interview with presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that Ramaswamy couldn't offer a perspective on African American history or the development of civil rights.
00:26:49.000Because Vivek wasn't an African American like Don Lemon was.
00:26:55.000It really was one of the more bizarre things I saw on television.
00:26:59.000So I don't know if this clip contributed to Don Lemon's firing, but I sure hope it did.
00:29:03.000In prime time, you were terrible, got demoted, you went and ruined the morning show, and then you had these embarrassing moments where you literally tried to use your own race as a trump card in an interview so that you wouldn't have to engage in what was a polite presentation of argument from the guest that you had invited on the show.
00:29:23.000CNN replies to this statement showing that the TIFT is still ongoing.
00:29:30.000CNN communications tweeting, Don Lemon's statement about this morning's events is inaccurate.
00:29:36.000He was offered an opportunity to meet with management, but instead released a statement on Twitter.
00:29:43.000So it doesn't appear as though the separation was as rosy as was perhaps initially portrayed by CNN in their glowing statement about how they would be cheering on Don Lemon in all of his future endeavors.
00:29:58.000But good riddance, I would say, to someone who did everything he could to mislead his audience, regardless of what his platform was, and that was Don Lemon.
00:30:08.000And on the far other side, someone we trusted, someone who elevated arguments that were vindicated as facts unfolded.
00:30:18.000Tucker Carlson, we stand with him completely, and we are excited about his next ventures.
00:30:23.000Got to get out of here, but before we go, everyone's been circulating this.
00:30:28.000This video's been all over the internet.
00:30:30.000Tucker Carlson, on Friday, speaking at Heritage, going viral.
00:30:40.000You look around, and you see so many people break under the strain, under the downward pressure of whatever this is that we're going through.
00:30:48.000And you look with disdain and sadness as you see people you know become quizlings.