@CSPAN/videos_3KK8XXyD6tk.txt

[00:00:03] Welcome to Washington today from Monday, [00:00:05] February 23rd, 2026. I'm Gary Stikoff. [00:00:08] Thank you for joining us. Snow is piling [00:00:10] up in feet across the eastern US, but [00:00:12] here in DC, we are merely dusting off [00:00:15] our boots. Congress still canceled votes [00:00:18] for the day. The federal government [00:00:19] offices had a late start, but [00:00:21] preparations for tomorrow's State of the [00:00:24] Union address go on. And at the White [00:00:25] House, President Trump held one of his [00:00:27] final public appearances before his [00:00:29] speech, highlighting one of his early [00:00:31] policy wins, the Lake Riley Act. We'll [00:00:34] play you some of the that event coming [00:00:36] up. Meanwhile, reaction to Friday's [00:00:39] Supreme Court decision that struck down [00:00:40] many of President Trump's tariffs [00:00:42] continues. Senate Democratic leader [00:00:44] Chuck Schumer said his members will [00:00:46] oppose any extension of current tariffs, [00:00:49] while several media reports show [00:00:51] Republicans are divided on the issue. [00:00:53] Similar dynamics are at play with [00:00:55] funding for the Department of Homeland [00:00:56] Security. Discussions between [00:00:58] Republicans and Democrats are stuck in [00:00:59] neutral while the White House has not [00:01:01] put forth any new plans after Democrats [00:01:04] rejected a proposal made last week. And [00:01:07] then there's the issue of military [00:01:09] strikes on Iran and a House War Powers [00:01:11] resolution that is already dividing [00:01:13] members of both caucuses. We'll tell you [00:01:16] all about it coming up. We begin with [00:01:18] some new poll numbers out today ahead of [00:01:20] the State of the Union tomorrow night. A [00:01:22] new CNN poll shows just 32% of Americans [00:01:26] say President Trump has the right [00:01:28] priorities and an approval rating of [00:01:31] 36%. A Merist University poll finds 57% [00:01:35] of those surveyed said the State of the [00:01:37] Union is either quote not very strong or [00:01:39] not strong at all. These new numbers [00:01:42] follow Washington Post ABC Ipsos poll [00:01:45] that was out over the weekend, which put [00:01:47] President Trump's approval rating at 39% [00:01:49] and a 60% disapproval rating. As we [00:01:53] said, the president hosted families of [00:01:55] victims of foreign criminal [00:01:57] organizations at the White House today. [00:02:00] >> We gathered here today for a truly [00:02:03] solemn occasion. [00:02:05] Throughout this hall, I am joined by [00:02:09] heartbroken Americans who have lost [00:02:12] parents, siblings, children, [00:02:15] grandchildren, and treasured loved ones [00:02:18] to the scourge of illegal immigration [00:02:23] led in by the past administration. [00:02:26] Millions and millions of people from [00:02:28] jails. [00:02:30] Millions and millions of people from [00:02:32] countries that we don't want to know [00:02:34] about. [00:02:36] drug dealers, murderers. 11,888 [00:02:40] murderers were allowed into our country [00:02:45] by the Biden administration. [00:02:48] These are the angel families that we [00:02:50] love, that for decades our government [00:02:53] betrayed, [00:02:55] and our media totally ignored. And I've [00:02:57] seen it. When I first got involved with [00:03:00] the angel families, I had a meeting was [00:03:02] so sad and they got up and spoke and the [00:03:05] media literally just turned off the [00:03:07] cameras. They didn't want to hear them. [00:03:08] It was the most It was my first glimpse [00:03:10] as to what was happening. These are sick [00:03:12] people that cover stories like that or [00:03:15] that don't cover them, which is worse. [00:03:18] Everyone in this room not only suffered [00:03:21] an infinite loss, they were the victims [00:03:23] of politicians who put the comfort of [00:03:26] foreign criminals before the safety of [00:03:28] American citizens and American patriots. [00:03:31] Their stories were censored and [00:03:34] suppressed like maybe almost never [00:03:38] before so that the politicians could [00:03:41] open our borders and allow our nation to [00:03:44] be invaded. [00:03:46] We didn't win the election. Our nation [00:03:48] would right now be destroyed. [00:03:50] But under the Trump administration, [00:03:52] their suffering [00:03:54] is forgotten no longer. In just a few [00:03:59] moments, I officially signed a [00:04:00] proclamation that I've been waiting to [00:04:02] sign for a long time, including my first [00:04:06] administration. [00:04:08] There were so many different legal [00:04:10] roadblocks. It was incredible. We got it [00:04:12] done and I'm doing it today. February [00:04:16] 22nd is going to be National Angel [00:04:20] Family Day. [00:04:22] >> The families of Katie Abraham and Rachel [00:04:25] Morren and Kayla Hamilton were at [00:04:27] today's event at the White House. So was [00:04:29] the mother of Lake and Riley, Allison [00:04:31] Phillips. Well, this is unexpected, but [00:04:34] um [00:04:38] I think that um [00:04:41] a lot of people [00:04:43] feel like that [00:04:46] President Trump is maybe different than [00:04:49] the version that I've gotten to know. [00:04:52] And [00:04:53] I just can't thank you enough. [00:04:56] You have said from the beginning, [00:04:58] literally the day after this happened, [00:05:02] that you would not forget about Leaken. [00:05:06] You weren't president at that time, [00:05:09] and you have not forgotten. [00:05:13] You have [00:05:16] fought a fight that most people would [00:05:18] not want to have to fight. Most people [00:05:20] wouldn't. They would just say, "It's [00:05:22] just easier not to do this." and [00:05:24] President Trump has [00:05:28] you are doing a thankless job that [00:05:32] most people just wouldn't do. And [00:05:36] I just can't thank you enough. There are [00:05:39] just not enough words to say [00:05:42] because if you've lived the nightmare [00:05:44] that we have lived, you understand the [00:05:46] importance of the job that he's doing [00:05:48] and securing our nation and [00:05:51] fighting for our families. Because this [00:05:54] could be any family. This happened to my [00:05:56] family. This could be any one of your [00:05:58] families. And [00:06:02] Leaken was the most responsible [00:06:06] um hard-working, [00:06:08] kind, [00:06:11] selfless, [00:06:15] beautiful Christian. [00:06:17] And she [00:06:19] she wasn't somebody that put herself in [00:06:21] bad positions. She didn't make bad [00:06:23] choices. She was just a good girl. [00:06:28] and she just wanted to go for a run that [00:06:30] morning [00:06:32] after she'd gotten up at 4:00 the [00:06:35] morning before to [00:06:37] decorate her roommate's door for her [00:06:40] birthday. [00:06:45] And [00:06:47] she did everything for everyone else. [00:06:49] She expected nothing in return. She just [00:06:52] wanted to be a good friend and a good [00:06:54] sister and a good daughter. [00:06:58] and a hardworking nurse she was working [00:07:00] so hard for. [00:07:03] And [00:07:05] I'm beyond blessed and thankful that [00:07:08] you're honoring not just Lake because [00:07:11] she's one and a ton of people that have [00:07:14] suffered at the hands of illegal [00:07:16] immigrants. She's not the only one. And [00:07:19] so, thank you for honoring all of them, [00:07:21] not just Leaken. And [00:07:25] we're just beyond grateful. Thank you. [00:07:27] >> Thank you so much. [00:07:33] >> The mother of Lake and Riley, Allison [00:07:35] Phillips, at the White House earlier [00:07:36] today. You can see all of that event at [00:07:38] cpan.org and on the C-SPAN now mobile [00:07:41] app. Now to more reaction from Friday's [00:07:44] Supreme Court decision that struck down [00:07:45] much of President Trump's tariffs. Punch [00:07:48] Bowl News. Andrew Desadero writing [00:07:50] today. The high court's decision raises [00:07:52] the economic, political, and legal [00:07:55] stakes of Tuesday night's State of the [00:07:57] Union address even further. Supreme [00:07:59] Court justices, who Trump already [00:08:01] publicly admonished, will be sitting [00:08:03] right in front of him. Anything the [00:08:05] president says on trade will be closely [00:08:06] watched. In the short term, the [00:08:08] situation could lead to fewer tariff [00:08:10] votes overall, which is a reprieve for [00:08:13] Senate Majority Leader John Thun and [00:08:14] House Speaker Mike Johnson. These votes [00:08:17] have put GOP trade divisions on display [00:08:20] and prompted Trump to lash out at [00:08:22] vulnerable Republicans who oppose him. [00:08:24] That from Punch Bowl News's Andrew [00:08:26] Desiero. And on social media this [00:08:28] afternoon, the president saying he does [00:08:29] not need congressional approval on [00:08:30] tariffs. He posted quote, "I do not have [00:08:33] to go back to Congress to get approval [00:08:34] of tariffs. It has already been gotten [00:08:36] in many forms a long time ago. They were [00:08:38] just reaffirmed by the ridiculous and [00:08:40] poorly crafted Supreme Court decision." [00:08:43] He went on to write, quote, "Any country [00:08:45] that wants to play games with the [00:08:46] ridiculous Supreme Court decision, [00:08:48] especially those that have ripped off [00:08:51] the USA for years and even decades, will [00:08:53] be met with a much higher tariff and [00:08:56] worse than that which they just recently [00:08:59] agreed to. Buyer beware that from the [00:09:01] president on social media this [00:09:03] afternoon, tariffs were on the mind of [00:09:05] Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer [00:09:07] this afternoon. Americans breathed a [00:09:10] brief sigh of relief last week when the [00:09:13] Supreme Court knocked out Trump's [00:09:17] harmful [00:09:19] tariff tariff proposals. Americans are [00:09:23] suffering because Donald Trump is [00:09:25] raising tariffs. People pay more for so [00:09:29] many daily goods, so many groceries, for [00:09:33] cars, for homes, for everything. [00:09:36] And the American people hate the tariffs [00:09:39] because they know it's raising their [00:09:41] costs. [00:09:42] And so for a brief moment, there was a [00:09:46] sigh of relief that you heard from one [00:09:48] end of America to the other because the [00:09:50] Supreme Court correctly said, "The [00:09:53] president can't raise tariffs on [00:09:55] emergency basis. Only the Congress can." [00:09:59] But Donald Trump, who is in a bubble, [00:10:02] has no understanding of what the [00:10:04] American people need, feel, or want, [00:10:08] reimposed the tariffs right away. And [00:10:09] then he oneuped it, doubled down on it [00:10:13] and raised them again. [00:10:15] And now Americans are back in the same [00:10:18] position they were before the court [00:10:20] decision. higher prices, more inflation, [00:10:25] hard harder to afford things, harder to [00:10:28] pay the bills, and a good chunk of that [00:10:32] increase, the difficulty in paying the [00:10:34] bills is because of Trump's tariffs. [00:10:37] Democrats will not stand for it. And in [00:10:39] fact, the new tariff regime that Trump [00:10:42] put in must expire in a few months and [00:10:46] needs Congress's approval. I am here to [00:10:48] tell Donald Trump [00:10:50] and the American people we will not [00:10:53] extend those tariffs and they will [00:10:55] expire in a few months and hopefully [00:10:58] then Republicans will join us [00:11:01] in not allowing Trump to raise tariffs [00:11:04] which so raise costs for the American [00:11:06] people. Tariffs are highly unpopular [00:11:09] among Democrats, independents and [00:11:11] Republicans. Donald Trump in his bubble [00:11:14] does not understand the burdens he is [00:11:16] imposing on American families, but we [00:11:20] Democrats do and we will do everything [00:11:22] we can to stop these odious tariffs that [00:11:26] are causing so much harm, so much pain [00:11:30] on American families. [00:11:31] >> Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer [00:11:33] on the floor this afternoon. Meanwhile, [00:11:36] CQ Roll calls Foley reporting that House [00:11:38] Democrats Steven Horford of Nevada and [00:11:41] Janelle Binham of Oregon have introduced [00:11:43] a bill that would require refunds of [00:11:45] tariff money the government has already [00:11:48] collected. They would come within 90 [00:11:50] days of the bill's passage. And here's [00:11:53] House Budget Committee Ranking Member [00:11:55] Brendan Bole of Pennsylvania speaking on [00:11:57] that topic yesterday on MS Now. These [00:12:00] businesses as well as consumers are owed [00:12:02] this money that was unconstitutionally [00:12:05] and illegally taken from them by their [00:12:08] own government um through the policies [00:12:11] of the Trump administration. That is [00:12:13] their money, billions of dollars worth. [00:12:16] It should be refunded. So, I believe [00:12:18] that, you know, when I go back to [00:12:19] Congress, whenever I can dig out of of [00:12:21] this snowstorm uh that that's falling [00:12:24] here in the next day or two, whenever [00:12:26] I'm able to get back to Washington, I [00:12:27] will be fighting for what I hope will be [00:12:29] a bipartisan bill to provide what [00:12:32] essentially be one of the largest tax [00:12:34] cuts in American history to reverse the [00:12:37] Trump tax increases that have existed [00:12:39] over the last year and cumulatively are [00:12:42] the largest tax increase in American [00:12:44] history. Now, two administration [00:12:46] officials were also asked about it on [00:12:48] the Sunday shows. Here's Treasury [00:12:49] Secretary Scott Bessent on CNN. [00:12:52] >> I do want to start with the big [00:12:53] question. Will you refund the roughly [00:12:56] 134 billion in re revenue taken uh by [00:13:00] these emergency tariffs? [00:13:02] >> Well, Dana, that's not the big question. [00:13:04] Uh the let's just level set here. What [00:13:07] the Supreme Court did was a very narrow [00:13:10] reading of the president's authority [00:13:12] under the AIPA tariffs. Uh we have other [00:13:15] tariff authorities which have been [00:13:17] functioning section 232 tariffs section [00:13:20] 301 tariffs and uh Dana when you say [00:13:23] it's a big question that's bad framing [00:13:25] because the Supreme Court didn't even [00:13:27] address that. The Supreme Court remanded [00:13:29] it down to a lower court and you know we [00:13:32] we will follow what they say but that [00:13:34] that could be uh week weeks or months [00:13:36] when we hear them. So the Supreme Court [00:13:38] did not address refunds. [00:13:40] >> Sure they didn't address refunds. That [00:13:42] is clearly going to be up to to you, [00:13:44] which is why [00:13:45] >> No, no, no, no, Dana. It is not up to [00:13:47] me. It is up to you. It It is not up to [00:13:50] the administration. It is up to the [00:13:51] lower court. Let's just be clear on [00:13:53] that. [00:13:53] >> Okay. Well, the Justice Department told [00:13:56] a federal appeals court in this very [00:13:58] case last year, if tariffs imposed on [00:14:01] plaintiffs during these appeals are [00:14:03] ultimately held unlawful, then the [00:14:05] government will issue refunds to [00:14:08] plaintiffs. Uh again, I'm not ahead of [00:14:11] the court. We will follow the court's [00:14:14] direction, but as I said, that could be [00:14:15] weeks or months away. Uh that decision [00:14:17] was not rendered on Friday. [00:14:19] >> What do you think? You're the Treasury [00:14:21] Secretary. What do you think should [00:14:23] happen? In the past, you have said it is [00:14:24] possible. [00:14:25] >> Uh again, I I want to uh point to what [00:14:29] we're doing. Uh the president the [00:14:32] administration remains undeterred in [00:14:34] reshoring uh American uh factories and [00:14:39] getting rid of these massive trade [00:14:40] imbalances. That's the big story here is [00:14:43] that we are immediately going to go to [00:14:45] section 122 tariffs and that the revenue [00:14:48] for the US Treasury for 2026, the [00:14:51] projections are unchanged. [00:14:53] >> Treasury Secretary Scott Besson on CNN [00:14:55] yesterday and US Trade Representative [00:14:57] Jameson Greer appeared on ABC. And and I [00:15:00] want to ask you about refunds. It's [00:15:02] estimated that the tariffs raised $142 [00:15:05] billion in revenue through the end of [00:15:07] last year. Will you refund the money [00:15:10] immediately or wait for a court order? [00:15:13] >> Well, we need the court to tell us what [00:15:14] to do. Uh they've they've created a [00:15:16] situation where they struck down the [00:15:18] tariffs and gave zero guidance on this. [00:15:20] Historically, you know, as a trade [00:15:22] attorney, in my experience, courts will [00:15:24] normally give you some instruction on [00:15:26] what to do when the court of [00:15:27] international trade, which is a district [00:15:29] level US court, uh my expectation is [00:15:32] that uh they'll have to step in and give [00:15:34] some direction on on how they want that [00:15:36] to be done, if at all, whether [00:15:38] plaintiffs had to have made a claim or [00:15:39] not. We just need to have guidance from [00:15:41] the court. [00:15:42] >> Now, the tariffs were also a topic at [00:15:43] the National Association for Business [00:15:45] Economics conference in Washington, DC [00:15:47] today. Here's Fed Board member [00:15:49] Christopher Waller on what he thinks the [00:15:51] Supreme Court ruling will have on the [00:15:53] Fed's policy. [00:15:55] >> Looking forward, there's now a question [00:15:56] of how Friday's Supreme Court ruling may [00:15:59] affect near-term price increases. [00:16:02] Perhaps firms will lower their prices as [00:16:05] their input costs associated with [00:16:06] tariffs decline. Or prices may be [00:16:09] unaffected if the administration quickly [00:16:11] reimposes at least some of the tariffs [00:16:14] under other laws. [00:16:16] It's too soon to know. In any case, [00:16:19] since tariffs only temporarily affect [00:16:21] inflation, that is why I consider [00:16:24] underlying inflation for my policy [00:16:26] decisions. [00:16:29] Traditional central bank wisdom suggests [00:16:31] that we should look through tariffs. [00:16:33] I did this when they went up and I will [00:16:36] do so if they come down. [00:16:39] So this ruling and it's unlikely to have [00:16:41] a significant impact on my view of the [00:16:44] appropriate stance of policy. [00:16:47] >> Now to the ongoing fight to fund the [00:16:49] Department of Homeland Security. Of [00:16:51] course, the Department in a partial [00:16:52] shutdown in its second week now with no [00:16:55] deal in sight. White House press [00:16:57] secretary Caroline Levit said last week [00:16:59] that the most recent Democratic offer, [00:17:01] which includes an overhaul of federal [00:17:03] immigration enforcement, was quote very [00:17:06] unserious. House Democratic leader Hakee [00:17:08] Jeff said there has been no quote high [00:17:11] level effort from Republicans to make a [00:17:14] deal. CQ Roll calls Aiden Quigley [00:17:16] reporting that the Senate is expected to [00:17:18] try again tomorrow to advance a homeland [00:17:20] security appropriations on uh bill on a [00:17:23] procedural vote. That same vote failed [00:17:26] about 10 days ago. And we mentioned the [00:17:28] Iran War powers resolution. California [00:17:31] Democrat Roana and Kentucky Republican [00:17:33] Thomas Massie are co-sponsors. It would [00:17:36] direct the president to quote terminate [00:17:38] the use of United States armed forces [00:17:41] from hostilities against the Islamic [00:17:43] Republic of Iran or any part of its [00:17:46] government or military unless explicitly [00:17:48] authorized by declaration of war or [00:17:51] specific authorization for use of [00:17:53] military force against Iran. A political [00:17:57] reporting that the resolution's [00:17:58] prospects aren't good. Florida [00:18:00] Democratic Representative Jared [00:18:02] Moscowitz, who sits on the House Foreign [00:18:04] Affairs Committee, told Jewish Insider [00:18:06] he plans to vote against it, saying, [00:18:09] quote, "They should just rename it the [00:18:11] Ayatollah Protection Act because that's [00:18:12] what it does." His opposition comes [00:18:15] after House Intelligence Committee [00:18:17] Democrat Josh Gutheimr of New Jersey and [00:18:19] House Foreign Affairs Committee [00:18:20] Republican Mike Lawler of New York said [00:18:22] they're also against this resolution. [00:18:25] Here's Representative Lawler talking [00:18:27] about it to Yahoo Finance. Look, the War [00:18:29] Powers Act requires the administration [00:18:32] to notify Congress within 48 hours of a [00:18:36] strike. Uh, and we have not declared war [00:18:40] uh on anyone since World War II. Uh, and [00:18:43] so, you know, yes, Congress has a role. [00:18:46] Congress has an oversight [00:18:47] responsibility. Uh, I serve on the [00:18:50] foreign affairs committee. I'm chair of [00:18:51] the Middle East and North Africa [00:18:53] subcommittee. Uh, so very much focused [00:18:56] on Iran. uh and I am constantly in [00:18:59] contact with the administration uh on [00:19:02] the policies and decisions that are [00:19:04] being made, but uh you don't, you know, [00:19:07] tip your hand and you certainly don't uh [00:19:09] notify the enemy uh in advance of a [00:19:13] strike. and the idea uh from some of my [00:19:16] colleagues that somehow the [00:19:17] administration should be prohibited from [00:19:20] taking action against the leading state [00:19:23] sponsor of terrorism around the globe uh [00:19:26] the Ayatollah who whose uh government [00:19:29] chants death to America uh and has been [00:19:32] funding Hamas Hezbollah funding a [00:19:35] ballistic missiles program their nuclear [00:19:37] ambitions which President [00:19:39] >> Congressman I don't I don't think it's [00:19:40] an issue of whether or not the strike [00:19:42] should happen I I think it's whether or [00:19:44] not Congress should be involved in the [00:19:45] decision and as to [00:19:47] >> whether Congress is whether we're giving [00:19:50] them advanced advanced notice. I mean, [00:19:53] >> well, that's exactly what you would [00:19:54] >> know. I mean, we're talking about it, so [00:19:56] we know it's at least a possibility. [00:19:58] >> No, but that's exactly what you would be [00:20:00] doing if you uh follow the Massie Roana [00:20:05] strategy. Uh the fact is Congress is [00:20:07] involved. We have numerous committees [00:20:09] that deal on national security every [00:20:11] day. Uh we have an intelligence [00:20:14] committee that is constantly uh briefed [00:20:17] uh on these issues. Uh and obviously our [00:20:21] leadership uh is in touch with the [00:20:23] administration. But the idea that you're [00:20:26] going to somehow try to restrict the [00:20:27] ability of the administration to take [00:20:30] necessary actions uh I don't support. [00:20:33] And Democrats are completely [00:20:34] hypocritical on this point. They had no [00:20:37] problem when Barack Obama went into [00:20:39] Libya for eight months and conducted an [00:20:41] eight-month campaign. And in fact, when [00:20:43] a war powers resolution was brought to [00:20:45] the floor, Chuck Schumer voted against [00:20:47] it. Chuck Schumer said that Barack Obama [00:20:50] had the right to go in. And so, you have [00:20:52] to be consistent in these matters. You [00:20:54] can't just willy-nilly change your [00:20:56] perspective because you don't like who [00:20:58] the president of the United States is. [00:21:00] >> House Foreign Affairs Committee [00:21:01] Republican Mike Lawler of New York [00:21:03] speaking to Yahoo Finance. As we said on [00:21:06] the House floor today, votes were [00:21:07] cancelled, but they are debating several [00:21:10] bills, including legislation to tighten [00:21:12] aviation safety rules. That comes [00:21:15] following last year's midair collision [00:21:16] near Reagan National Airport. Here, also [00:21:18] on the agenda, a bill to authorize [00:21:20] NASA's development of drone technology [00:21:22] to help fight wildfires. You can always [00:21:25] watch the House live on C-SPAN and get [00:21:27] our full congressional coverage at [00:21:28] c-pan.org and on the C-SPAN Now mobile [00:21:31] app. You're listening to Washington [00:21:33] today. [00:21:34] >> Members of the United States Congress, [00:21:38] thank you very much. And to my fellow [00:21:42] citizens, America is back. [00:21:47] >> Watch C-SPAN live Tuesday as President [00:21:50] Donald Trump delivers the annual State [00:21:52] of the Union address before a joint [00:21:54] session of Congress. Our coverage begins [00:21:56] at 700 p.m. Eastern with a preview of [00:21:58] the evening from political reporters. [00:22:01] Then at 9, the president's address, [00:22:03] followed by the Democratic response [00:22:05] given by Virginia Governor Abigail [00:22:07] Spamberger. We'll also take your calls [00:22:09] and bring you reaction from lawmakers. [00:22:12] Over on C-SPAN 2, experience the moments [00:22:14] leading up to the speech and the address [00:22:17] itself as if you're there, [00:22:18] uninterrupted, no commentary, with [00:22:21] unfiltered sights and sounds. The State [00:22:24] of the Union address live Tuesday with [00:22:27] coverage beginning at 700 p.m. Eastern [00:22:29] on the C-SPAN networks. C-SPAN bringing [00:22:32] you democracy unfiltered. [00:22:37] >> Support for C-SPAN Radio comes from [00:22:39] YouTube. [00:22:45] Welcome back to Washington. Today, the [00:22:47] United Kingdom's former US Ambassador [00:22:49] Peter Mandelson was arrested today in [00:22:51] London on suspicion of misconduct in [00:22:54] public office. Time.com writing today, [00:22:57] quote, once a prominent figure in the [00:22:59] UK's ruling Labor Party, Mandlesson was [00:23:02] sacked as ambassador in September, just [00:23:04] months after his appointment following [00:23:06] disclosures from a batch of Epstein [00:23:08] files that showed his relationship with [00:23:11] the financeier extended beyond what he'd [00:23:14] previously disclosed. Peter Mandlesson [00:23:16] served as business secretary under [00:23:18] former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown [00:23:20] from 2008 to 2010. And Time.com goes on [00:23:23] to write, "In one resurfaced email, [00:23:25] Mandlesson appeared to tell Epstein he [00:23:27] would lobby other government officials [00:23:29] in an effort to reduce attacks on [00:23:31] bankers bonuses. In another, he appeared [00:23:34] to have forwarded an internal government [00:23:36] report to Epstein, which showed ways the [00:23:38] UK might raise funds after the 2008 [00:23:41] financial crisis." That all from [00:23:43] time.com. Also today, US District Judge [00:23:46] Ailen Cannon permanently blocked the [00:23:49] release of former special counsel Jack [00:23:51] Smith's investigation into President [00:23:53] Trump's keeping of classified documents [00:23:56] at his home in Florida. Judge Cannon [00:23:58] wrote in her decision that Jack Smith [00:24:00] acted quote without lawful authority, [00:24:03] obtained an indictment in this action, [00:24:04] and initiated proceedings that resulted [00:24:06] in a final order of dismissal of all [00:24:09] charges. As a result, the former [00:24:11] defendants in this case, like any other [00:24:12] defendant in this situation, still enjoy [00:24:15] the presumption of innocent innocence [00:24:17] held sacrosenh sacrosan in our [00:24:21] constitutional order. Scott Wilkins, [00:24:24] senior counsel at the Knight First [00:24:25] Amendment Institute at Columbia [00:24:26] University, which is one of the groups [00:24:29] pushing for the report's release, said [00:24:30] in a statement, "Judge Cannon's decision [00:24:33] to permanently block the release of this [00:24:35] extraordinarily significant report is [00:24:37] impossible to square with the First [00:24:39] Amendment and the common law. There is [00:24:41] no legitimate basis for its continued [00:24:44] suppression." And from Reuters, CDC [00:24:47] director uh CDC deputy director Ralph [00:24:49] Abraham resigned today. He is the second [00:24:52] top official to leave the agency this [00:24:54] month. Acting CDC said uh acting CDC [00:24:58] head Dr. Jay Bacharia said the departure [00:25:01] was effective immediately and attributed [00:25:03] it to unforeseen family obligations. [00:25:07] Ralph Abraham's exit follows that of his [00:25:09] former acting CDC director Jim O'Neal [00:25:11] earlier this month and the firing of Dr. [00:25:14] Susan Manarez last summer just after [00:25:17] weeks uh after she had taken the job. [00:25:20] Now, back on Capitol Hill today, a group [00:25:22] of House and Senate Democrats hosted a [00:25:24] forum on immigration enforcement [00:25:26] operations. It included testimonies from [00:25:29] a former Homeland Security General [00:25:31] Counsel, a US citizen whose home was [00:25:33] forcefully entered by ICE agents, and [00:25:36] Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower, and [00:25:38] former ICE attorney. He talked about [00:25:40] what led him to leave the agency. [00:25:43] >> I swore an oath to uphold the [00:25:45] Constitution. [00:25:46] When I joined ICE on August 1st, 2021 as [00:25:50] an assistant chief counsel, I followed [00:25:53] that oath for 4 and a half years, [00:25:56] working side by side with ICE officers. [00:25:59] And I followed it when I resigned on [00:26:01] February 13th, 2026, a little over a [00:26:05] week ago, so that I could speak to you [00:26:07] today. [00:26:09] I am here because I am duty bound [00:26:13] to report the legally required training [00:26:15] program at the ICE [00:26:18] Academy is deficient, defective, and [00:26:21] broken. [00:26:23] Five months ago, I was asked to teach [00:26:26] the law to new cadets at the ICE Academy [00:26:28] in Gleno, Georgia, where ICE is training [00:26:31] its new inexperienced recruits. [00:26:35] I volunteered those without law [00:26:37] enforcement training. I volunteered to [00:26:39] take on this assignment based on my [00:26:41] experience in law enforcement oversight, [00:26:44] including at the state and local level [00:26:45] prior to my work with ICE. On my first [00:26:48] day, I received secretive orders to [00:26:50] teach new cadets to violate the [00:26:53] Constitution [00:26:54] by entering homes without a judicial [00:26:57] warrant. [00:26:59] For the last 5 months, I watched ICE [00:27:02] dismantle the training program, cutting [00:27:05] 240 hours [00:27:07] of vital classes from a 584-hour [00:27:10] program. Classes that teach the [00:27:12] Constitution, our legal system, firearms [00:27:15] training, the use of force, lawful [00:27:19] arrests, proper detention, and the [00:27:21] limits of officers authority. [00:27:24] For example, they ceased all of the [00:27:27] legal instructions regarding use of [00:27:30] force. [00:27:31] This means that cadets are not taught [00:27:34] what it means to be objectively [00:27:35] reasonable, the very standard which the [00:27:38] law requires them to meet when deciding [00:27:40] whether or not to use deadly force. Our [00:27:43] jobs as instructors are to teach them so [00:27:46] well that they can make splitsecond [00:27:48] decisions about what they can and cannot [00:27:51] do in life or death situations. [00:27:54] Yet, in the name of turnurning out an [00:27:56] endless stream of officers, DHS [00:27:58] leadership has dismantled the academic [00:28:00] and practical tests that we need to know [00:28:03] if cadets can safely and lawfully [00:28:05] perform their job. [00:28:08] All to satisfy an administration [00:28:10] demanding they train thousands of new [00:28:12] officers before the end of the year. [00:28:17] DHS told the public that new cadets [00:28:20] receive all the training they need to [00:28:22] perform their duties, that no critical [00:28:24] material or standards have been cut. [00:28:28] This is a lie. [00:28:31] ICE made the program shorter and they [00:28:34] removed so many essential parts that [00:28:36] what remains is a dangerous husk. No [00:28:39] reasonable person would believe a [00:28:42] training program suddenly cut nearly in [00:28:44] half could meet the minimum legal [00:28:46] requirements. These aren't abstract [00:28:49] rules. They're required in regulations [00:28:51] such as HCFR287G1. [00:28:54] Congress requires immigration officers [00:28:57] to meet minimum standards for a reason. [00:29:01] ICE cannot lawfully perform their [00:29:03] duties, make arrests, carry weapons, and [00:29:06] use force without passing appropriate [00:29:09] training. [00:29:09] >> Ryan Schwank, former Immigration and [00:29:12] Customs Enforcement attorney, speaking [00:29:14] on Capitol Hill today. Also today, House [00:29:16] Judiciary Committee Democrats hosted a [00:29:19] discussion on the First Amendment and [00:29:22] alleged violations by the Trump [00:29:24] administration. The forum comes after a [00:29:26] federal grand jury recently rejected the [00:29:28] Justice Department's attempt to indict a [00:29:31] group of Democratic lawmakers for [00:29:32] appearing in a video urging service [00:29:35] members and intelligence officers to [00:29:37] disobey any illegal orders by the Trump [00:29:40] administration. One of the witnesses at [00:29:42] this event, former Jimmy Kimmel live [00:29:44] writer Calb, who talked about her runin [00:29:46] with censorship. [00:29:48] >> I should tell you a little bit about one [00:29:49] of my former jobs. When I wrote for [00:29:51] Kimmel from 2012 through 2020, I was [00:29:54] responsible for pitching about everyone. [00:29:57] Democrats, Republicans, Kardashians, [00:30:00] this was never supposed to be a job [00:30:01] where I'd have to know anything more [00:30:03] about the founding documents than an [00:30:05] off-color joke about John Hancock. [00:30:08] For Oh, God. For late night comedy [00:30:09] writers, hi mom and dad. For late night [00:30:12] comedy writers, the president is our [00:30:14] best and worst audience. He is our best [00:30:16] audience because unlike most Americans, [00:30:18] he watches late night television. He [00:30:21] cares about what the network men in [00:30:23] suits say about him. He is our worst [00:30:25] audience because his inexplicably [00:30:28] bruised skin is very, very thin. He [00:30:32] complained about our jokes frequently, [00:30:34] often in real time on his own social [00:30:37] media site he invented so that nobody [00:30:39] could make fun of him on it. This went [00:30:42] far beyond social media tier when this [00:30:44] year, as ranking member Rascin [00:30:46] mentioned, after Steven Colbear told [00:30:48] jokes about that 16 million dollar [00:30:50] settlement CBS personally paid to Trump, [00:30:52] the late show with Steven Colbear was [00:30:55] bulldozed like it was the East Wing of [00:30:57] the White House. Then months later, [00:30:59] emboldened by the Colbear president, the [00:31:01] administration had Jimmy Kimmel Live [00:31:04] briefly yanked off the air when the [00:31:05] show's monologue displeased the [00:31:07] president. [00:31:09] I want to be fair. The Trump [00:31:11] administration denies responsibility for [00:31:13] these cancellations, much as the mafia [00:31:16] is continuously surprised that so many [00:31:18] people end up in the East River with [00:31:20] cement blocks on their feet. But what [00:31:23] can we say? What we can say for sure is [00:31:25] that this president that so prized free [00:31:27] speech and so loathed censorship was [00:31:30] positively giddy on Truth Social about [00:31:33] the literal cancellation of these [00:31:35] comedians. He was so excited he [00:31:38] misspelled the word cancelled. The [00:31:40] president wrote, [00:31:42] "Great news for America. The ratings [00:31:45] challenge Jimmy Kimmel show is canled. [00:31:48] Congratulations to ABC for finally [00:31:50] having the courage to do what had to be [00:31:52] done. Kimmel has zero talent and worse [00:31:54] ratings than even Co Bear, if that's [00:31:56] possible." That leaves Jimmy Fallon and [00:31:59] Seth, two total losers on fake news. [00:32:03] Their ratings also horrible. Do it. NBC [00:32:06] president DJT. Then he got back to [00:32:09] authorizing strikes against ISIS in [00:32:11] Syria. To kill a late night show doesn't [00:32:14] just kill an enormous platform for [00:32:16] speaking truth to power. Because late [00:32:19] night comedy doesn't just speak truth to [00:32:21] power. It speaks truth to an incredibly [00:32:24] large number of people. I believe late [00:32:27] night hosts like Colbear and Kimmel are [00:32:29] vital satists who shape how millions of [00:32:32] Americans absorb the day's news. At [00:32:35] 11:30 every weekn night, millions of [00:32:37] people all over the country just before [00:32:39] their melatonin gummies hit listen to [00:32:41] what these comedians have to say about [00:32:44] what happened in America that day. And [00:32:46] under any administration, they are [00:32:48] powerful voices of criticism and [00:32:50] disscent. network late night hosts like [00:32:52] Colbear and Kimmel have used their huge [00:32:55] platforms to make tangible incremental [00:32:58] ideological change through satire [00:33:01] dressed up in a suit in the hope that [00:33:03] maybe someone who stayed up after the [00:33:05] evening news on CBS or ABC will hear the [00:33:08] news reflected back at them through a [00:33:11] lens that is openly critical of the [00:33:13] government no matter who is in the Oval [00:33:15] Office and that can shape an [00:33:17] electorate's opinion [00:33:19] and let's be clear they're also doing [00:33:20] interviews with the Bachelorette. But [00:33:23] these permanent and temporary [00:33:24] cancellations aren't just about [00:33:26] controlling jokes. They're about [00:33:28] controlling criticism of the [00:33:29] administration and its corporate [00:33:31] bedfellows. It is the state using its [00:33:34] power to shape what is profitable to [00:33:37] say. And we've learned nothing if not [00:33:39] this. The bottom line comes first, even [00:33:42] before the first amendment. [00:33:45] former Jimmy Kimmel live writer Calb at [00:33:47] a Democratic forum on the Trump [00:33:49] administration and the First Amendment. [00:33:51] You can see that entire event and the [00:33:53] forum on ICE actions at c-span.org and [00:33:56] the C-SPAN now mobile app. And as we [00:33:58] look ahead to tomorrow night's state of [00:34:00] the union speech, Fox Newsw.com [00:34:02] reporting that House Speaker Mike [00:34:04] Johnson plans to bring the family of [00:34:05] Mark Tyler Brock. He is a police officer [00:34:08] in Vivian, Louisiana, who was killed in [00:34:10] the line of duty. Speaker Johnson also [00:34:12] plans to bring Hanan Lashinsky, the [00:34:15] brother of Yaron Lashinsky, who was [00:34:16] killed alongside Sarah Mgram outside the [00:34:19] Capitol Jewish Museum here in Washington [00:34:22] DC last May. Oregon Democratic [00:34:24] Representative Maxine Dexter said she [00:34:27] has invited Lisa Phillips, who's an [00:34:29] Epstein abuse survivor, to sit in her [00:34:31] seat tomorrow night while she holds a [00:34:33] town hall in Oregon. Meanwhile, the [00:34:35] White House says President Trump has [00:34:37] invited both the gold medal winning US [00:34:40] Olympic hockey teams. The men's team [00:34:42] reportedly accepted the invitation, but [00:34:44] the women's team declined it. A USA [00:34:47] hockey spokesperson told NBC News, "We [00:34:49] are sincerely grateful for the [00:34:51] invitation extended to our gold [00:34:53] medalinning US women's hockey team and [00:34:55] deeply appreciate the recognition of [00:34:58] their extraordinary achievement due to [00:35:00] the timing and previously scheduled [00:35:02] academic and professional commitments [00:35:04] following the games. The athletes are [00:35:06] unable to participate. They were honored [00:35:08] to be included and are grateful for the [00:35:11] acknowledgement." And this morning we [00:35:13] talked to Susan Fericio, national [00:35:14] politics correspondent for the [00:35:16] Washington Times, who has reported on [00:35:18] many State of the Union speeches. We [00:35:20] asked her what makes a good State of the [00:35:22] Union speech. [00:35:23] >> They're all good in their own way. You [00:35:24] know that something something will [00:35:26] happen at everyone. Either some, you [00:35:27] know, the speech will have some [00:35:29] important elements that make it [00:35:30] different and exciting. The past few [00:35:32] State of the Union addresses, [00:35:35] I think they've just gotten wilder and [00:35:36] wilder as as Congress has gotten more [00:35:39] partisan. I mean, C Congress has gotten, [00:35:42] I think, viciously partisan over the [00:35:44] past decade. Um, so I'm thinking back to [00:35:47] some real, to me, some fascinating State [00:35:50] of the Union addresses. Think of the one [00:35:52] where u I think it was Trump's final [00:35:54] State of the Union address of his first [00:35:56] term where the speaker of the house, [00:35:58] Nancy Pelosi, uh famously or infamously [00:36:00] tore up uh the copy of his speech when [00:36:04] he concluded his address um that that [00:36:07] went viral and and people still talk [00:36:10] about that moment. And then of course [00:36:12] this very past address that the [00:36:14] president gave gave, it was his first [00:36:16] address of his second term. We had a a [00:36:19] Democratic lawmaker get up and shout at [00:36:21] the president um in the middle of his [00:36:24] speech and he had you know he was [00:36:25] removed from the chamber. [00:36:27] >> You're talking about Al Green. [00:36:28] >> So yes, Representative Al Green and you [00:36:31] know he was rebuked for that by [00:36:33] Congress. You know these things are um [00:36:36] are becoming more demonstrative. You [00:36:38] know I think years ago people did not [00:36:41] bring in you know these paddles holding [00:36:43] up signs etc. That that didn't happen. [00:36:45] It was very respectful and you know the [00:36:47] the ugliest you'd see is the one side or [00:36:50] the other not standing up and clapping [00:36:51] with the other. And I think there have [00:36:54] been attempts at bipartisanship. There's [00:36:56] one, I think they still do this where in [00:36:58] the Senate where they sit next to, you [00:37:00] know, opposite party lawmaker and they [00:37:02] try to they try to make it more [00:37:04] bipartisan, but [00:37:06] it's really gotten more vicious and and [00:37:08] this year um will be interesting because [00:37:11] there is a move, you know, foot to try [00:37:13] to for the Democrats, you know, no [00:37:16] public demonstrations in the chamber [00:37:18] because they don't want to detract from [00:37:20] from Trump or whatever missteps Trump [00:37:23] might make make. So the leader of uh the [00:37:26] Democratic Party in the House, Hakee [00:37:27] Jeff has told you know said look it if [00:37:30] you either don't go or be silent in your [00:37:34] protests but don't get up and make any [00:37:37] public demonstrations at the chamber the [00:37:39] way Representative Green did um last [00:37:42] year. So, [00:37:43] >> and anybody who's anybody who's watched [00:37:45] Al Green speak on the floor over the [00:37:47] past year, he almost always has a poster [00:37:50] that's a picture of himself from that [00:37:52] very address pointing his cane at Donald [00:37:54] Trump. He's standing there on the House [00:37:56] floor with that picture of him from that [00:37:58] that speech behind him, [00:38:00] >> right? With pride. You know, there it's [00:38:02] sort of the resistance. There's a [00:38:03] there's a he's been resisting President [00:38:06] Trump since the beginning of his first [00:38:08] term. Washington Times national politics [00:38:10] correspondent Susan Fericio on this [00:38:12] morning's Washington Journal. Our [00:38:14] coverage of the State of the Union [00:38:16] begins tomorrow night at 700 p.m. [00:38:18] Eastern time here on C-SPAN radio and on [00:38:20] C-SPAN. We'll have a preview of the [00:38:22] evening from political reporters. Then [00:38:24] at 9:00, it's the president's speech. [00:38:27] That's followed by the Democratic [00:38:28] response this year given by Virginia [00:38:30] Governor Abigail Spanberger. Of course, [00:38:33] we'll take your calls and bring you [00:38:34] reaction from lawmakers. And over on [00:38:37] C-SPAN 2, you can experience the moments [00:38:39] leading up to the speech and the speech [00:38:42] itself as if you're there uninterrupted, [00:38:44] no commentary with unfiltered sights and [00:38:47] sounds. Of course, all of this will be [00:38:50] streamed live on C-SPAN now and [00:38:52] C-SPAN.org, which is also where you can [00:38:54] find this program as a podcast, and it's [00:38:57] on YouTube. Just search Washington [00:38:59] today. And if you want more on the [00:39:00] stories that are shaping Washington [00:39:02] every day, get our daily email, word for [00:39:04] word, just go to cpan.org/con. /connect [00:39:06] to subscribe. I'm Gary Starkov. Thanks a [00:39:08] lot for listening today to Washington [00:39:10] today. [00:39:24] C-SPAN's Washington Journal, our live [00:39:26] forum inviting you to discuss the latest [00:39:28] issues in government, politics, and [00:39:31] public policy from Washington and across [00:39:33] the country. Coming up Tuesday morning, [00:39:36] we preview President Trump's State of [00:39:37] the Union address with Wall Street [00:39:39] Journal White House reporter Meredith [00:39:41] McGrath. Then Tevy Troy of the Ronald [00:39:43] Reagan Institute on the history and [00:39:45] importance of the State of the Union, [00:39:47] plus other political news. Also, former [00:39:49] CIA Russia analyst George B talks about [00:39:52] the fourth anniversary of the Russia [00:39:54] Ukraine war. And later, more on the [00:39:56] State of the Union address with The [00:39:58] Hills Emily Brooks. C-SPAN's Washington [00:40:01] Journal. Join in the conversation live [00:40:03] at 7 Eastern Tuesday morning on C-SPAN. [00:40:06] C-SPAN now our free mobile app or online [00:40:10] at c-span.org.