1 00:00:05,184 --> 00:00:08,703 Welcome to the Hot Dish, Comfort Food for Rural America. 2 00:00:08,703 --> 00:00:10,037 I'm Heidi Heitkamp. 3 00:00:10,037 --> 00:00:11,228 And I'm Joel Heitkamp. 4 00:00:11,228 --> 00:00:13,831 Today we're joined by Senator Michaela Kavanaugh. 5 00:00:13,831 --> 00:00:18,125 Senator Kavanaugh has served Nebraska's six districts since 2018. 6 00:00:18,125 --> 00:00:22,810 She has recently been pushing back against an immigration detention center in Nebraska. 7 00:00:22,810 --> 00:00:26,634 Senator Kavanaugh was denied access to this facility twice. 8 00:00:26,634 --> 00:00:29,256 She's here to tell us what she's doing about this. 9 00:00:29,256 --> 00:00:33,400 Senator, welcome to the hot dash and thanks for joining us. 10 00:00:33,899 --> 00:00:36,166 Thank you so much for having me. 11 00:00:36,166 --> 00:00:40,532 uh I was concerned because we call it casserole in Nebraska. 12 00:00:40,532 --> 00:00:41,198 Hahaha! 13 00:00:41,198 --> 00:00:43,032 uh 14 00:00:43,619 --> 00:00:55,187 Well, listen, Michaela, ah we want to visit with you about your work um and why you're so concerned about this detention facility. 15 00:00:55,187 --> 00:00:59,690 But before we do that, let's have people get to know you a little bit. 16 00:00:59,690 --> 00:01:09,197 ah Joel and I actually served, I was attorney general when he was in the state uh Senate ah for what? 17 00:01:09,197 --> 00:01:11,798 Probably about eight years almost, Joel, right? 18 00:01:11,798 --> 00:01:12,409 Yeah. 19 00:01:12,409 --> 00:01:13,888 it was 14. 20 00:01:14,007 --> 00:01:16,999 14 of the longest years of our life. 21 00:01:16,999 --> 00:01:18,102 was it was long. 22 00:01:18,102 --> 00:01:19,455 I'm Michaela. 23 00:01:19,455 --> 00:01:24,748 I am the one high cap between the two of us that never ever lost an election. 24 00:01:24,748 --> 00:01:25,788 So hey. 25 00:01:26,107 --> 00:01:28,849 Well, that's because he didn't really risk much. 26 00:01:28,849 --> 00:01:32,991 You know, don't lose if you don't risk. 27 00:01:33,211 --> 00:01:37,153 If you're shooting high, know, sometimes the risk is high. 28 00:01:37,153 --> 00:01:47,499 But Michaela, yet you come from a political family and obviously Omaha is one of those spots in Nebraska that tends more towards blue. 29 00:01:47,499 --> 00:01:48,489 You're a Democrat. 30 00:01:48,489 --> 00:01:55,493 Can you just tell me about your family and your family dynamics serving together in a unicameral uh Senate? 31 00:01:55,883 --> 00:01:58,704 yeah, I am from a political family. 32 00:01:58,704 --> 00:02:06,288 um I'm number four of eight and I serve in the Nebraska legislature with my younger brother, John. 33 00:02:06,288 --> 00:02:08,309 says, he likes to say much younger. 34 00:02:08,309 --> 00:02:09,849 He's like 20 months younger than me. 35 00:02:09,849 --> 00:02:11,630 uh 36 00:02:12,324 --> 00:02:17,766 Joel calls me his aunt until until you you he starts calling you aunt. 37 00:02:17,766 --> 00:02:19,026 You're okay. 38 00:02:19,287 --> 00:02:19,951 You're okay. 39 00:02:19,951 --> 00:02:23,354 um so yeah, my brother John and I served together. 40 00:02:23,354 --> 00:02:24,975 We've served together for six years. 41 00:02:24,975 --> 00:02:25,976 I was there first. 42 00:02:25,976 --> 00:02:32,563 I say he follows me uh because I ran for the legislature and then two years later he ran for the legislature. 43 00:02:32,563 --> 00:02:36,206 So our terms have overlapped a little bit. 44 00:02:36,206 --> 00:02:44,907 uh My dad served in the US Congress in the 70s and my great my grandfather was on the county board and 45 00:02:44,907 --> 00:02:48,297 My great uncle was on the Public Service Commission and on and on and on. 46 00:02:48,297 --> 00:02:51,590 So yeah, my family has always had a heart for public service. 47 00:02:51,590 --> 00:02:56,382 um I'm the first one of my generation to have run for office. 48 00:02:56,382 --> 00:03:00,603 And I'm also the first woman of any of the generation to run for office. 49 00:03:00,603 --> 00:03:03,615 But I love serving with my brother, Wee Carpool. 50 00:03:03,615 --> 00:03:08,337 He has four kids, I have three kids, and our kids play together constantly. 51 00:03:08,337 --> 00:03:10,418 And so yeah, it's a lot of fun. 52 00:03:10,418 --> 00:03:11,508 It's a lot of chaos. 53 00:03:11,508 --> 00:03:17,532 Michaela I was 32 when I started in the legislature, so I needed my big sister Heidi, who is attorney general. 54 00:03:17,532 --> 00:03:24,047 She was incredibly helpful, full disclosure, and now on the hot dish that we have video. 55 00:03:24,047 --> 00:03:28,500 They don't know who's older between the two of us, but I'm not going there. 56 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:32,295 So Michaela, you know when it comes to Omaha. 57 00:03:32,295 --> 00:03:35,158 and what Omaha is like. 58 00:03:35,158 --> 00:03:42,043 Tell people so they understand in a red state what it's like to win in a blue town. 59 00:03:42,966 --> 00:03:53,786 Well, so actually, interestingly, when I ran for the legislature in 2018, I was running in a red district, and so in a blue town. 60 00:03:54,446 --> 00:03:56,506 And I got pregnant. 61 00:03:56,646 --> 00:04:03,286 And I had a baby between the primary and the general election, which I joked because my mom had obviously had eight children. 62 00:04:03,286 --> 00:04:09,706 I I thought that when you women in my family were just supposed to be pregnant when somebody was running for office. 63 00:04:09,782 --> 00:04:11,923 because that was how she did it. 64 00:04:11,923 --> 00:04:25,406 But yeah, being a blue dot, now my district is purple, um I really don't think about it as red and blue so much as that it's just issues. 65 00:04:25,466 --> 00:04:35,339 And the fact is that we just, as long as everybody focuses on the issues that are impacting people's lives, that political party doesn't really have that much to do with 66 00:04:35,339 --> 00:04:35,729 it. 67 00:04:35,729 --> 00:04:38,910 I mean, the economy right now is something that is 68 00:04:38,910 --> 00:04:40,551 impacting everyone. 69 00:04:40,551 --> 00:04:47,735 And I have always been more of the mind to talk to people in a real and authentic way about how life is impacting them. 70 00:04:47,735 --> 00:04:50,036 But Omaha is a great town. 71 00:04:50,036 --> 00:04:53,738 It's very heavy investment in the arts here. 72 00:04:53,738 --> 00:04:59,201 And we have great public schools and public libraries and public parks. 73 00:04:59,201 --> 00:05:01,323 And so it's really a community based town. 74 00:05:01,323 --> 00:05:09,517 Well, and it has a lot of opportunities and what we're seeing is, you take a look at Kansas city, you take a look at Omaha. 75 00:05:09,517 --> 00:05:13,853 And now that Congressman Bacon, Don Bacon has decided to retire. 76 00:05:13,853 --> 00:05:24,435 I think there's a lot of Democrats who think that that one district now, uh I think it's congressional district two, um is basically up for grabs. 77 00:05:24,435 --> 00:05:30,929 And those races, even as moderate as what Bacon was, he had a tough couple races. 78 00:05:31,239 --> 00:05:36,492 Um, you know, I think that, you know, he's, he's been somebody who's been willing to rock the boat. 79 00:05:36,492 --> 00:05:43,036 Uh, and I, I hope that tradition continues with whoever replaces him in Omaha. 80 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,363 I think if it's my brother, the boat will be rocked. 81 00:05:48,817 --> 00:05:51,338 wait till Heidi sends that check, Michaela. 82 00:05:51,338 --> 00:05:53,620 So that'll push him over there. 83 00:05:53,620 --> 00:05:55,140 Let me ask you this. 84 00:05:55,561 --> 00:06:05,226 As a state senator, as somebody that served in the legislature with such a rich history with your family, there's people in Omaha said, you're not welcome. 85 00:06:05,226 --> 00:06:06,166 You can't come in. 86 00:06:06,166 --> 00:06:07,747 You can't check it out. 87 00:06:08,307 --> 00:06:12,059 Tell people where, why, and when this happened. 88 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:25,621 Okay, yeah, so going out to the internment camp um or as Kristi Noem once called it the corn husker clink I've never called it that because I think giving it a cutesy name is 89 00:06:25,621 --> 00:06:31,987 Disrespectful to the people who are being illegally detained ah So I call it what it is an internment camp. 90 00:06:31,987 --> 00:06:33,328 It's in McCook, Nebraska. 91 00:06:33,328 --> 00:06:37,241 It's about four hours and 20 minutes from my house. 92 00:06:37,382 --> 00:06:40,017 I um Actually canceled a work trip 93 00:06:40,017 --> 00:06:47,217 because I had child care lined up for my kids, I decided that that was a good time for me to take a visit out there. 94 00:06:47,217 --> 00:06:50,466 And this is something that I'm known to do generally. 95 00:06:50,466 --> 00:06:57,732 I have gone and visited state facilities unannounced several times while I've been in the legislature. 96 00:06:57,732 --> 00:07:03,967 In September, I went to our youth rehabilitation treatment center in Kearney, Nebraska, unannounced because I was in Kearney. 97 00:07:03,967 --> 00:07:08,210 So I thought, I'm just going to check in on the kiddos that are being detained there. 98 00:07:08,254 --> 00:07:10,986 So this isn't an uncommon thing for me to do. 99 00:07:11,007 --> 00:07:16,412 And I waited until the facility had detainees there. 100 00:07:16,593 --> 00:07:22,540 I know some people had a scheduled tour of the facility as they were renovating it, getting it ready. 101 00:07:22,540 --> 00:07:26,524 But I wanted to see what it's like in real time, in real life. 102 00:07:26,524 --> 00:07:28,886 So I drove on November 12th. 103 00:07:29,488 --> 00:07:30,278 Yeah. 104 00:07:30,412 --> 00:07:32,333 what this facility is? 105 00:07:32,333 --> 00:07:35,315 And a lot of people would say, well, it's a federal facility. 106 00:07:35,436 --> 00:07:36,857 What's that to you? 107 00:07:36,857 --> 00:07:43,131 Explain how this facility got converted to the folks who are watching. 108 00:07:43,670 --> 00:07:44,970 not a federal facility. 109 00:07:44,970 --> 00:07:51,755 It is a state facility with state employees with a contract with the federal government. 110 00:07:51,755 --> 00:07:59,660 So the state is accepting into our custody the care of these individuals that have been detained by ICE. 111 00:07:59,660 --> 00:08:04,183 And it is a facility in McCook, Nebraska called the Work Ethic Camp. 112 00:08:04,183 --> 00:08:06,098 under the Department of Corrections. 113 00:08:06,098 --> 00:08:14,231 It was created as a community corrections type of program to transition people out of the prison back into their communities. 114 00:08:14,231 --> 00:08:21,454 ah The people that were detained there, they just had an art show in October that was like all over the news here locally. 115 00:08:21,454 --> 00:08:22,855 That was really cool. 116 00:08:22,855 --> 00:08:24,996 And they brought the community in it. 117 00:08:24,996 --> 00:08:27,467 And it was a really big part of the McCook community. 118 00:08:27,467 --> 00:08:29,358 They worked in the community as well. 119 00:08:29,358 --> 00:08:34,140 ah And so that's a loss of a workforce for McCook. 120 00:08:34,140 --> 00:08:35,520 And then they had to 121 00:08:35,925 --> 00:08:43,607 put them back into an overcrowded prison system for their remaining months before they were going to be released. 122 00:08:43,607 --> 00:08:52,509 So it was really a poor policy choice from most people's perspectives, very unpopular in McCook. 123 00:08:52,509 --> 00:08:56,650 um They were really happy with the work ethic camp as it was. 124 00:08:56,650 --> 00:09:05,736 um So yeah, but when I went out there, it still says the Department of Corrections on it and everybody's uh 125 00:09:05,736 --> 00:09:09,819 outfits all have the embroidered Nebraska Department of Corrections. 126 00:09:09,819 --> 00:09:13,862 And I did make it inside the reception area the first day. 127 00:09:13,862 --> 00:09:20,346 And you know, when you go into a federal building, there's always a picture of the president always doesn't matter. 128 00:09:20,346 --> 00:09:21,267 Always. 129 00:09:21,267 --> 00:09:23,388 There was not a picture of the president. 130 00:09:23,388 --> 00:09:24,949 There was a picture of me. 131 00:09:27,010 --> 00:09:30,664 Yeah, there's a picture because they have the legislators. 132 00:09:30,664 --> 00:09:34,216 They have all of our pictures up on the wall and 133 00:09:34,780 --> 00:09:37,777 I was like, wasn't this something? 134 00:09:37,777 --> 00:09:41,888 Well, it's it's like an acknowledgement that it's a state facility. 135 00:09:41,888 --> 00:09:44,569 I mean that debate well and that debate was over anyway. 136 00:09:44,569 --> 00:09:45,709 The way you described it. 137 00:09:45,709 --> 00:09:55,182 uh Michaela the people in it you know that you're trying to look out for and make sure that they're not treated the way we know they're being treated drug through the streets 138 00:09:55,182 --> 00:09:57,413 and treated as less than human. 139 00:09:57,413 --> 00:10:05,635 uh Is that why do they just not want you in there because you're actually an advocate for human beings? 140 00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:11,837 I think it's very concerning that I was turned away. 141 00:10:11,837 --> 00:10:22,735 I will say that the warden was expecting to let me in because she, that's what anytime a state senator has ever visited the facility previously, they have been allowed in. 142 00:10:22,735 --> 00:10:27,626 So she was told by the director of corrections that I wasn't to be allowed in. 143 00:10:27,626 --> 00:10:33,532 I did come armed with copies of the state statute that clearly state that 144 00:10:33,587 --> 00:10:39,632 any member of the legislature shall be admitted to any facility at any time. 145 00:10:39,652 --> 00:10:41,834 No ambiguity whatsoever about it. 146 00:10:41,834 --> 00:10:46,057 Doesn't say except if there's a contract or no stipulations. 147 00:10:46,057 --> 00:10:48,349 um And so I did have that with me. 148 00:10:48,349 --> 00:10:49,190 I gave it to them. 149 00:10:49,190 --> 00:10:56,067 I made sure that they understood that they were in violation of state statute by not allowing me in. 150 00:10:56,486 --> 00:11:02,690 I talked to the director on the phone that evening while I was standing there in the lobby and I 151 00:11:02,772 --> 00:11:11,064 told him that I wouldn't leave until I had something in writing, which we had a little back and forth about, but eventually he did send an email to the warden that she printed 152 00:11:11,064 --> 00:11:11,985 off and handed to me. 153 00:11:11,985 --> 00:11:20,367 um Then I started to drive home when I was turned away and I got halfway home to Kearney, Nebraska, was refilling my gas. 154 00:11:20,367 --> 00:11:21,424 I was very tired. 155 00:11:21,424 --> 00:11:26,069 I had just driven two hours on a dark country road. 156 00:11:26,069 --> 00:11:27,649 So I decided to stay the night. 157 00:11:27,649 --> 00:11:30,950 And as I was there in the hotel, I thought to myself, 158 00:11:31,134 --> 00:11:34,315 Well, he said that he couldn't let me in because I didn't give him notice. 159 00:11:34,615 --> 00:11:38,476 So I sent him an email and I said, here's your notice. 160 00:11:38,476 --> 00:11:40,297 I'll be back tomorrow morning. 161 00:11:41,117 --> 00:11:45,258 And so I got my car and I drove back the next morning. 162 00:11:45,514 --> 00:11:48,559 And that's when they wouldn't let me in beyond the fence. 163 00:11:48,719 --> 00:11:51,280 And they just handed me information through the fence. 164 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:56,722 um They said they were not allowed to let me in at the direction of the director. 165 00:11:56,722 --> 00:11:58,422 I repeatedly said. 166 00:11:58,906 --> 00:12:03,570 Under what authority is he directing you to violate this section of statute? 167 00:12:03,570 --> 00:12:08,786 They said that he wasn't Assiding any specific authority. 168 00:12:08,786 --> 00:12:21,162 He they just were being told that they couldn't let me in So I you know just collected that information I talked to the governor's chief of staff and and to the director and I 169 00:12:21,162 --> 00:12:26,376 said I need a written explanation as to why you're doing this 170 00:12:26,406 --> 00:12:28,360 And I did get one later that day. 171 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:37,025 And yeah, they just pretty much then I took it to the legislature and they didn't act. 172 00:12:37,025 --> 00:12:39,462 If you want me to tell you about that, that's another story. 173 00:12:39,462 --> 00:12:41,331 Well, I do. 174 00:12:41,579 --> 00:12:43,878 Yeah, what was their explanation? 175 00:12:44,544 --> 00:12:52,731 that it was a federal contract and that it was a security issue and um that I hadn't given proper notice. 176 00:12:52,731 --> 00:12:55,232 They never told me what notice to give. 177 00:12:55,273 --> 00:12:59,476 I said, I mean, I gave you 11 hours notice in a 24 hour facility. 178 00:12:59,476 --> 00:13:02,739 That feels like enough notice ah to me. 179 00:13:02,739 --> 00:13:05,531 But they said that I didn't give proper notice. 180 00:13:05,531 --> 00:13:07,762 They didn't tell me what proper notice was. 181 00:13:07,903 --> 00:13:11,275 And, um and basically that was it. 182 00:13:11,275 --> 00:13:12,222 They don't- 183 00:13:12,222 --> 00:13:22,811 Well, they didn't recognize my authority because of the federal contract, though the federal contract specifically states that if any part of the contract is in conflict with 184 00:13:22,811 --> 00:13:27,485 state statute, that that part of the contract is void and not the rest of the contract. 185 00:13:27,485 --> 00:13:31,044 So did they have the authority to enter into that contract? 186 00:13:31,044 --> 00:13:41,574 They had the authority to enter into the contract, but they didn't have the authority to supersede state statute, which the contract acknowledges itself. 187 00:13:41,574 --> 00:13:43,195 a state facility. 188 00:13:43,235 --> 00:13:45,696 They have to adhere to state law. 189 00:13:45,696 --> 00:13:51,898 uh You know, to me, this is a perfect example of what's going on in America right now. 190 00:13:51,898 --> 00:13:54,359 uh It isn't just you. 191 00:13:55,740 --> 00:14:00,142 Fortunately for the people in Nebraska, you've got somebody with the... 192 00:14:00,714 --> 00:14:07,557 fortitude, there's other words I'd use, to go there and get in their face and to do what you can do. 193 00:14:07,557 --> 00:14:12,459 But when you spoke to the other, you said the legislature didn't act on it. 194 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:13,580 Why? 195 00:14:13,580 --> 00:14:15,891 You know, who were you debating on this? 196 00:14:15,891 --> 00:14:19,123 Because it wouldn't matter what side of the aisle I'm on. 197 00:14:19,123 --> 00:14:21,034 The statute is the statute. 198 00:14:21,034 --> 00:14:25,226 And did the Attorney General say anything about this in Nebraska? 199 00:14:26,115 --> 00:14:36,479 So I um took all of the information that I had received from the governor's administration and I sent it to the legislature. 200 00:14:36,479 --> 00:14:42,672 I sent it to our executive committee, which oversees basically if we're going to sue over something. 201 00:14:42,672 --> 00:14:52,056 um And then I sent it to the chair of our legislative oversight committee, which I also sit, I'm the only Democrat on that committee. 202 00:14:52,056 --> 00:14:55,237 So I'm also a member of the oversight committee and I was turned away. 203 00:14:56,347 --> 00:15:00,129 And I also, it sent it to our speaker. 204 00:15:00,250 --> 00:15:04,432 And uh at first, none of them responded. 205 00:15:04,906 --> 00:15:07,434 And I called them as well. 206 00:15:07,675 --> 00:15:21,885 And so uh then when the oversight chair did respond eventually, he called me back and we had a conversation that he didn't understand the statute to mean what I understood it to 207 00:15:21,885 --> 00:15:22,685 mean. 208 00:15:22,813 --> 00:15:34,724 I encouraged him to call former members of the legislature who were Republicans and ask their opinion because I felt like maybe he was being led down the wrong path by the 209 00:15:34,724 --> 00:15:35,704 governor's office. 210 00:15:35,704 --> 00:15:40,729 um But ultimately, none of them really did anything. 211 00:15:40,729 --> 00:15:42,701 And so that's when I sent it to the press. 212 00:15:42,701 --> 00:15:48,675 I waited until like two weeks ago and I went on November 12th. 213 00:15:50,199 --> 00:15:55,483 You know, I wasn't planning on sending it to the press except for that they weren't taking any action. 214 00:15:55,483 --> 00:15:57,575 And I was like, well, I tried. 215 00:15:57,575 --> 00:16:00,517 I tried to go through the proper channels. 216 00:16:00,537 --> 00:16:01,963 There were other things I could have done. 217 00:16:01,963 --> 00:16:08,184 I could have gone over to the courthouse and asked for a court order to force myself in there. 218 00:16:08,184 --> 00:16:12,547 I could have called the state patrol and asked them to come enforce the statute. 219 00:16:12,547 --> 00:16:15,710 I didn't do those things because I wasn't trying to be bombastic. 220 00:16:15,710 --> 00:16:20,333 I was trying to do my job and I wanted the legislature to 221 00:16:20,513 --> 00:16:32,770 support me as a colleague and a member of the body and also to support the legislature in our role of government oversight, but there was not an appetite to take action. 222 00:16:33,132 --> 00:16:34,593 So I did to 223 00:16:34,599 --> 00:16:44,406 yeah, this is part of a bigger national story, which is that these detention centers are popping up all over with cutesy names, right? 224 00:16:44,406 --> 00:16:58,805 um You know, the alligator alcatraz, which now is shut down because it was heinous and horrible, in spite of spending, you know, millions and millions and millions of taxpayer 225 00:16:58,805 --> 00:17:01,937 dollars to, you know, have a photo op. 226 00:17:02,894 --> 00:17:16,232 The concerning part about this is that people like you who have a right to access, including people from Congress who have tried to have these conversations have been turned 227 00:17:16,232 --> 00:17:17,182 away. 228 00:17:17,202 --> 00:17:18,553 What are they afraid of? 229 00:17:18,553 --> 00:17:29,069 If these are the worst of the worst, why wouldn't they want people to meet these worst of the worst people that they're deporting and that they're detaining? 230 00:17:29,294 --> 00:17:31,160 You know, and I have to speculate. 231 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:35,932 My speculation is that there's probably some American citizens in that facility. 232 00:17:35,932 --> 00:17:38,373 And when you walk in, you're going to find out who they are. 233 00:17:38,373 --> 00:17:40,974 You're going to be able to get their names. 234 00:17:40,974 --> 00:17:44,255 And all of that is being hidden from the American public. 235 00:17:44,255 --> 00:17:55,079 But you see in polling, the American public is starting to question whether in fact, this is the right thing for our country. 236 00:17:55,080 --> 00:18:01,014 recently, Kristi Noem was at a, Secretary Noem was at a hearing. 237 00:18:01,014 --> 00:18:05,456 And she said there weren't any veterans or American citizens who were detained. 238 00:18:05,876 --> 00:18:17,661 They had a, you know, basically a YouTube video or a streaming video of a veteran who is an American citizen saying that's not true. 239 00:18:17,661 --> 00:18:29,527 mean, when do we get transparency and how do people like you, um with a lot of courage to buck the system, how do we help you become successful? 240 00:18:29,527 --> 00:18:35,711 um Well, one of my former colleagues once called me aggressively tenacious. 241 00:18:36,292 --> 00:18:42,996 So I don't stop and I'm not planning on stopping until there's some resolution. 242 00:18:42,996 --> 00:18:54,744 I did send an email today to Director Jeffries of our Department of Corrections, uh citing the court case from last week, the federal judge that declared it. 243 00:18:54,744 --> 00:18:57,326 uh 244 00:18:57,770 --> 00:19:04,996 not illegal, I guess, for ICE to not allow members of Congress in, that they had to give seven days notice that they weren't allowed. 245 00:19:04,996 --> 00:19:14,364 So I sent that to the director this morning asking if I could get an update on how, since that was what they were saying, they had to follow ICE protocols. 246 00:19:14,364 --> 00:19:22,411 And now the federal government has said, no, uh I expect a change to come for me as well. 247 00:19:22,411 --> 00:19:26,654 um I don't know what they could possibly say. 248 00:19:27,072 --> 00:19:30,804 to that if the federal judge has already decided it. 249 00:19:30,804 --> 00:19:42,591 So I think we just have to, I mean, you people say Democrats always bring like a spreadsheet to a knife fight or whatever, but I like to say I bring a binder to a knife 250 00:19:42,591 --> 00:19:45,172 fight and I will just whack you with it. 251 00:19:45,532 --> 00:19:56,478 Like just keep going through, it's exhausting, but just keep going through processes and also keep public pressure. 252 00:19:56,738 --> 00:20:05,904 My colleagues and I, back in August when this was announced, a group of us decided we're not going to let this happen without it coming at a political cost. 253 00:20:05,904 --> 00:20:14,470 So we asked our judiciary committee to hold a hearing and a briefing, and the chair refused. 254 00:20:14,470 --> 00:20:21,354 We asked uh our appropriations committee to hold a hearing and a briefing, and the chair refused. 255 00:20:21,354 --> 00:20:27,836 Then one of my colleagues, Democrat colleague, who's the only Democrat who's the chair of a committee, he's chair of Urban Affairs. 256 00:20:27,836 --> 00:20:31,717 And Urban Affairs has under its purview facilities. 257 00:20:31,717 --> 00:20:42,441 So he held a public hearing and invited all the players in the governor's administration and they refused to come to his public briefing. 258 00:20:42,441 --> 00:20:45,738 ah So we just kept. 259 00:20:45,738 --> 00:20:52,116 And every single time that happened, it was another news story reminding people because people will forget. 260 00:20:52,116 --> 00:20:58,224 So I think it's really important for anybody who has a platform to continue to talk about the fact that this is happening. 261 00:20:58,224 --> 00:21:10,123 And Joel, I'll let you ask, get a word in here edgewise, but I think for those people who are listening, I think this is important because I think so much emphasis is on Congress, 262 00:21:10,123 --> 00:21:13,496 so much emphasis is on what happens in the White House. 263 00:21:13,496 --> 00:21:26,891 But these state legislative races, having people who are courageous and you see it in Indiana with people bucking the president um basically on redistricting. 264 00:21:26,891 --> 00:21:28,692 These jobs matter. 265 00:21:28,692 --> 00:21:39,868 And so, you know, I want to just encourage people to really think locally or think about your legislature as you're going into this next political system and think about running, 266 00:21:39,868 --> 00:21:50,364 think about, you know, supporting people like Michaela and her brother who are fighting for the things that you believe in because, um you know, a lot of policy gets made in 267 00:21:50,364 --> 00:21:55,125 state legislatures and that's where the Koch brothers really started taking over. 268 00:21:55,125 --> 00:21:59,338 with their philosophy um in so many of these state houses. 269 00:21:59,338 --> 00:22:01,915 So it's important. 270 00:22:01,953 --> 00:22:03,369 Michaela, are you going to sue him? 271 00:22:03,369 --> 00:22:12,793 Well, if they come back and say that they're still not going to let me in whenever I show up, then that is the next course of action. 272 00:22:12,793 --> 00:22:20,127 So this basically the letter I sent today is their last chance to stop a lawsuit from happening. 273 00:22:20,127 --> 00:22:22,718 But I don't feel like I have an option. 274 00:22:23,398 --> 00:22:28,901 they don't uphold the law, I'm going to have to force them to. 275 00:22:29,211 --> 00:22:31,025 Yeah, it'll edit. 276 00:22:31,025 --> 00:22:40,815 attorney general for an opinion because he is very good at the mental gymnastics of law speak to do whatever the hooves the governor. 277 00:22:41,223 --> 00:22:46,296 Well, no one in the world is going to ask Kristi Noem to join their Trivial Pursuit team. 278 00:22:46,296 --> 00:22:48,287 I mean, that's just the truth. 279 00:22:48,287 --> 00:22:51,359 You know, she isn't the brightest bulb, but she's mean. 280 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:52,639 I mean, she's vicious. 281 00:22:52,639 --> 00:22:54,100 She wants to be popular. 282 00:22:54,100 --> 00:23:01,064 uh You know, she wants to to go on every source of media she can, preferably conservative. 283 00:23:01,064 --> 00:23:05,506 And she sees that as something that's going to help her in her career someday. 284 00:23:05,506 --> 00:23:10,819 But behind the scenes of all this, Michaela, are you hearing at all? 285 00:23:10,983 --> 00:23:15,736 from employers because where I'm at, doesn't matter. 286 00:23:16,397 --> 00:23:22,550 I'm hearing more and more on my radio show from employers because they can't grow their companies. 287 00:23:22,550 --> 00:23:24,341 They've lost good workers. 288 00:23:24,582 --> 00:23:30,626 Their workers have become part of their family before they were drug out by their hair in some cases. 289 00:23:30,626 --> 00:23:35,759 So my question of you, know, Omaha to me isn't some small town. 290 00:23:35,759 --> 00:23:39,955 You know Omaha is a town that's got a lot of great diverse jobs. 291 00:23:39,955 --> 00:23:41,908 Are you hearing from employers? 292 00:23:41,908 --> 00:23:48,350 So in Omaha specifically, um we have Omaha's very uh 293 00:23:48,350 --> 00:23:51,772 We have coded language for our segregation. 294 00:23:51,772 --> 00:23:54,674 And we have North Omaha, which is the black community. 295 00:23:54,674 --> 00:23:59,017 We have South Omaha, which is the Latino community or the immigrant community. 296 00:23:59,017 --> 00:24:00,878 And South Omaha is suffering. 297 00:24:00,878 --> 00:24:04,420 uh People are not showing up to their jobs. 298 00:24:04,420 --> 00:24:06,981 Kids are not showing up to school. 299 00:24:07,082 --> 00:24:14,876 The grocery store, the local grocery store in the neighborhood is really suffering because people are afraid to. 300 00:24:14,932 --> 00:24:16,543 do things. 301 00:24:16,543 --> 00:24:28,381 I mean, it is impacting that community significantly, but in the greater part of the state, it's even worse because, I mean, in agriculture in rural areas, this is the 302 00:24:28,381 --> 00:24:29,072 workforce. 303 00:24:29,072 --> 00:24:43,561 And so, you know, the meat packing plants in some parts of Nebraska are suffering and the cost of meat is going to go up because, I mean, these were deemed essential workers during 304 00:24:43,561 --> 00:24:44,769 the shutdown. 305 00:24:44,769 --> 00:24:46,852 everybody forgets that, don't they? 306 00:24:46,852 --> 00:24:50,618 They're essential until Steve Miller decides they're not. 307 00:24:50,911 --> 00:24:52,091 They were essential. 308 00:24:52,091 --> 00:25:00,694 They were dying and getting COVID at higher rate, at extremely high rates because they weren't doing mitigation of distancing. 309 00:25:00,694 --> 00:25:07,336 And those same people who kept us all fed throughout COVID are now being detained. 310 00:25:07,856 --> 00:25:11,258 And it just, doesn't make any sense. 311 00:25:11,258 --> 00:25:13,128 But if I could. 312 00:25:13,196 --> 00:25:18,301 this question isn't relevant in terms of how you should be treated. 313 00:25:18,301 --> 00:25:20,784 So there's my precursor to it. 314 00:25:20,784 --> 00:25:30,025 But when you look at South Omaha, the very community that you pointed out is being hurt by this so bad, how did they vote? 315 00:25:30,025 --> 00:25:32,867 I mean, did they vote red? 316 00:25:32,867 --> 00:25:40,971 Because there was a lot of Latinos this last election that switched over to support this president that is doing this to them. 317 00:25:40,971 --> 00:25:42,903 so two parts of the question. 318 00:25:42,903 --> 00:25:45,134 Number one, how did they vote? 319 00:25:45,134 --> 00:25:48,155 And the ones that voted red? 320 00:25:48,316 --> 00:25:50,608 Are you seeing signs that they've changed your mind? 321 00:25:50,608 --> 00:26:07,239 um So predominantly, it went blue for uh Kamala and, um and they have a Democrat representative, they are a more moderate community, I would say, especially because 322 00:26:07,239 --> 00:26:09,221 they're heavily Catholic. 323 00:26:09,221 --> 00:26:17,877 And so they tend to uh Republicans appeal to them on on reproductive health issues, essentially. 324 00:26:17,877 --> 00:26:19,367 But 325 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:30,340 I think that they underperform in voting because we're not great about the language barrier and we're not great about getting out the vote in their community. 326 00:26:30,340 --> 00:26:39,864 I think we could have a much stronger uh electorate if we did more to connect with their community specifically. 327 00:26:40,592 --> 00:26:43,093 Well, and there's also voter suppression. 328 00:26:43,093 --> 00:26:54,096 I remember a story in Western Nebraska, uh a community of basically meatpacking workers who basically had access to the polls. 329 00:26:54,096 --> 00:27:02,298 They're American citizens, had access to the polls within a couple miles, and they moved their polling site 30 miles away. 330 00:27:03,899 --> 00:27:08,716 And so Joel, never underestimate that if they think that 331 00:27:08,716 --> 00:27:13,391 And making it harder to vote does in fact suppress the vote. 332 00:27:13,391 --> 00:27:16,472 what I just heard from you, Michaela, is number one. 333 00:27:16,472 --> 00:27:26,172 The hope is you're going to get more people out to vote because a lot of them are going to be ticked off and they're going to vote on that one issue of how they're going to be 334 00:27:26,172 --> 00:27:27,052 treated. 335 00:27:27,552 --> 00:27:33,612 Number two, what I heard from you is that religion plays a role in their politics. 336 00:27:33,612 --> 00:27:43,072 And when it comes to the Catholic Church, you know, for me as a Catholic, the Pope plays a big role in what's happening. 337 00:27:43,072 --> 00:27:46,496 And the Pope in this particular case has made it perfectly. 338 00:27:46,496 --> 00:27:50,611 clear where the Catholic Church is when it comes to what's happening. 339 00:27:50,611 --> 00:28:04,127 And so this could be the worst political move just strictly past the human rights issue, but the worst political move uh for the Trump administration and for local votes. 340 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:10,000 Yeah, we Omaha is a heavily Catholic town. 341 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:15,300 have Boys Town here in Omaha, and I am also Catholic. 342 00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:17,680 It's the one of eight children. 343 00:28:18,020 --> 00:28:23,559 But I, I 344 00:28:23,559 --> 00:28:30,672 put it Michaela I'm the one she found out about before the pill came out but that's a whole other issue oh 345 00:28:30,686 --> 00:28:33,658 Thank God we could only have one Joel. 346 00:28:35,397 --> 00:28:37,898 well, I, yeah. 347 00:28:37,898 --> 00:28:50,661 So as far as like the Catholic aspect of it, I will say that our Catholic conference here in Nebraska has been outspoken against this internment camp, which I appreciate because 348 00:28:50,661 --> 00:28:59,345 generally speaking, we fall on opposite sides of a lot of things, but they, they have been really good about the Catholic social teachings and 349 00:28:59,345 --> 00:29:06,303 really advocating for policies that help the poor and uh marginalized communities. 350 00:29:06,964 --> 00:29:12,591 but you know, then they kind of go back in another direction on other issues. 351 00:29:12,591 --> 00:29:20,049 So I don't think that they'll be partnering and trying to get out blue voters, but they certainly are outspoken. 352 00:29:20,847 --> 00:29:22,148 Well, I can tell you this. 353 00:29:22,148 --> 00:29:23,760 uh I use binders. 354 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:24,770 It work a lot. 355 00:29:24,770 --> 00:29:27,014 And, you know, there's the three prongs. 356 00:29:27,014 --> 00:29:27,644 I get that. 357 00:29:27,644 --> 00:29:33,220 But in the front of that binder is that little slip where you can sneak that piece of paper, right? 358 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:38,886 Put lead in that if you're going to smack somebody with it, because they got it coming, Michaela. 359 00:29:38,886 --> 00:29:39,686 OK. 360 00:29:39,965 --> 00:29:52,439 Well, I think that the people have seen this issue as, you know, like a Southern issue or a West coast, East coast issue. 361 00:29:52,439 --> 00:30:02,041 And those of us who realize that some of the fastest growing uh neighborhoods are minority neighborhoods in the places where we live. 362 00:30:02,041 --> 00:30:05,862 And they're hardworking people who are now being terrorized. 363 00:30:05,862 --> 00:30:08,603 And not because they're 364 00:30:08,603 --> 00:30:13,965 necessarily here illegally, they, they're indiscriminately being snatched up. 365 00:30:13,965 --> 00:30:24,908 And I don't care what, what, what BS the department of Homeland security is spewing when they say we do not arrest American citizens. 366 00:30:24,908 --> 00:30:26,348 It's bullshit. 367 00:30:26,448 --> 00:30:36,141 And we have to absolutely stand up and not that anyone should be treated like this, but can you imagine simply because you're a brown person. 368 00:30:36,445 --> 00:30:43,057 You're snatched up off the street and you're detained and you have no ability to talk to your family. 369 00:30:43,057 --> 00:30:45,278 You feel like you have no rights. 370 00:30:45,278 --> 00:30:52,280 And this politically is going to come home to haunt, I think this administration, but it is wrong on so many levels. 371 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:56,528 And we're going to look back in history and Michaela, we're going to look back at people like you. 372 00:30:56,528 --> 00:30:58,942 And we're going to say, those are the heroes. 373 00:30:58,942 --> 00:31:01,917 Those were the people who were standing for. 374 00:31:01,917 --> 00:31:06,923 for the rule of law, those are the people who are standing for justice uh and human rights. 375 00:31:06,923 --> 00:31:19,677 And so we're proud to have met you today and um hope that you're incredibly successful and that your ring binder um gets swung a few times and pounded on the table to get the job 376 00:31:19,677 --> 00:31:20,141 done. 377 00:31:20,141 --> 00:31:23,972 Well, and one other thing, Michaela, you know, Heidi talks about heroes. 378 00:31:23,972 --> 00:31:30,594 uh People like your brother are heroes that are willing to put their name on the ballot, willing to understand the issue. 379 00:31:30,594 --> 00:31:36,837 uh You know, and if he's half as tenacious as you, by God, Congress needs him. 380 00:31:36,837 --> 00:31:38,147 So thanks. 381 00:31:38,147 --> 00:31:39,978 Thanks for joining us on the hot dish. 382 00:31:39,978 --> 00:31:43,199 And this is one of those ones that guys got to keep his eye on. 383 00:31:43,199 --> 00:31:44,759 So thanks, Michaela. 384 00:31:44,967 --> 00:31:46,231 Thank you both so much. 385 00:31:46,231 --> 00:31:47,634 was lovely meeting you. 386 00:31:52,779 --> 00:31:55,474 Joel, we're in the midterm year. 387 00:31:55,655 --> 00:31:57,177 It's brand new. 388 00:31:57,580 --> 00:31:59,644 So what's your prediction? 389 00:31:59,644 --> 00:32:02,815 Now we'll do some new year's predictions. 390 00:32:02,815 --> 00:32:14,040 Yeah, well, I think 2026 is a year that all of us who want to see our country have a chance uh to become a democracy again, in terms of how people are treated. 391 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:17,782 uh 2026 is a year we've been waiting for. 392 00:32:17,782 --> 00:32:19,412 And I think America is getting it. 393 00:32:19,412 --> 00:32:24,484 You know, they talk about polling numbers when it comes to Donald Trump. 394 00:32:24,484 --> 00:32:29,166 uh And then they talk about the popularity of the Democratic Party. 395 00:32:29,166 --> 00:32:30,911 what they never bring up 396 00:32:30,911 --> 00:32:37,182 when it comes to the popularity of the Democratic Party is what the popularity of a given candidate is. 397 00:32:37,182 --> 00:32:45,595 And when you look at those poll numbers, Hyde, you know, you're seeing good things on the way for Democrats if things stay the way they're at now. 398 00:32:45,727 --> 00:32:59,326 Well, and I think that the good news is that Democrats all across the board, whether it is in congressional races, people are stepping up to run and making races competitive. 399 00:32:59,326 --> 00:33:01,938 And it's no longer whispering. 400 00:33:01,938 --> 00:33:05,841 They are mad and they're ready to do something about it. 401 00:33:05,841 --> 00:33:07,782 And that includes running for office. 402 00:33:07,782 --> 00:33:12,565 And so my prediction is that a lot of these local races where you're 403 00:33:12,565 --> 00:33:23,689 getting people who are popular in their local community who are standing up, those are going to drive some turnout numbers that may in fact swing uh the Democrats way as well. 404 00:33:23,689 --> 00:33:26,561 Yeah, that's a great point. 405 00:33:26,561 --> 00:33:27,712 You are spot on right. 406 00:33:27,712 --> 00:33:37,369 And as somebody who's active in my district, you know, trying to search for candidates, it's not as hard to have people sit down and talk to you. 407 00:33:37,469 --> 00:33:41,532 And a lot of it, Hyde, is financial. 408 00:33:41,532 --> 00:33:45,289 You know, the people that are really being hurt. 409 00:33:45,289 --> 00:33:48,460 dollar wise because of his approach to the economy. 410 00:33:48,460 --> 00:33:50,861 And of course, I come from a farm area. 411 00:33:50,861 --> 00:33:53,222 And these people aren't looking for handouts. 412 00:33:53,222 --> 00:33:55,003 That isn't what they want. 413 00:33:55,163 --> 00:33:56,354 They don't want that at all. 414 00:33:56,354 --> 00:33:59,185 They want a chance at a market in a free market. 415 00:33:59,185 --> 00:34:05,648 And so I think that, you know, this whole I can send them money and they'll love me. 416 00:34:05,648 --> 00:34:07,649 There's no doubt there's some people like that. 417 00:34:07,649 --> 00:34:09,750 But there's there's people that aren't. 418 00:34:09,750 --> 00:34:13,711 And so I think you're spot on right, we can find some candidates out there. 419 00:34:13,815 --> 00:34:18,366 So uh prediction Joel, Democrats take the house. 420 00:34:18,655 --> 00:34:24,138 yeah, Democrats take the House and Democrats surprise them on a Senate race or two. 421 00:34:24,138 --> 00:34:33,462 I think that the gap becomes more uh narrow and I think that Republicans, if you look at what's happening, they can feel it. 422 00:34:33,462 --> 00:34:36,903 And you served in the United States Senate. 423 00:34:36,903 --> 00:34:45,437 If you wake up the day after the election and you find out that Democrats in fact did take control of the Senate, would it shock you? 424 00:34:45,674 --> 00:34:47,735 No, not anymore. 425 00:34:48,016 --> 00:34:53,861 I think that when you look at some of these races, it's going to be really, really interesting. 426 00:34:53,861 --> 00:35:06,802 The one thing that will be kind of outrageous is that there's a number of these uh races where uh sitting members of the Senate who are in midterm are running for governor. 427 00:35:06,802 --> 00:35:12,481 So the Senate, I mean, the Democrats could win and then we're back in. 428 00:35:12,481 --> 00:35:22,767 kind of, you know, whether Matt, Marsha Blackburn wins in Tennessee where she's running for governor, Michael Bennett's running for governor, that brilliant, brilliant, brilliant 429 00:35:22,767 --> 00:35:24,809 legislator, Tommy Tuberville. 430 00:35:24,809 --> 00:35:28,621 And I say that very sarcastically is running for governor. 431 00:35:28,621 --> 00:35:38,591 And so there's a number of these kinds of transitions that I think will also um roll over into 2027 and Katie barred the door, but. 432 00:35:38,591 --> 00:35:48,005 Honestly, if you look at the swings in some of these districts that we're seeing in the special election, if those hold true, you know, I think there's a shot in Ohio with 433 00:35:48,005 --> 00:35:48,725 Sherrod. 434 00:35:48,725 --> 00:35:50,316 I think Iowa is in play. 435 00:35:50,316 --> 00:36:00,871 I've always thought Iowa is in play, especially given what he's done to the farm economy and the growth that I see in talent in Iowa. 436 00:36:00,871 --> 00:36:06,697 I think you're looking at, um you know, who knows what's going to happen in Georgia. 437 00:36:06,697 --> 00:36:11,580 North Carolina, clearly great candidate there. 438 00:36:11,580 --> 00:36:16,102 Maine, you know, I think that her luck may be running out. 439 00:36:16,102 --> 00:36:24,687 so, I mean, but I also want to encourage the people who listen to us to think about these local races. 440 00:36:24,687 --> 00:36:34,322 Think about how important it is to have somebody who's willing to stand on the floor of a legislative body and speak truth to power like Michaela. 441 00:36:34,322 --> 00:36:35,297 And so, 442 00:36:35,297 --> 00:36:37,498 um You know, it's gonna be an interesting year. 443 00:36:37,498 --> 00:36:47,951 There's gonna be a lot of dialogue back and forth But the single biggest reason why I think it's gonna be a huge Democratic year is cuz Donald Trump doesn't get it He can never 444 00:36:47,951 --> 00:36:59,774 admit that Hit he has driven this economy in the wrong direction He's just gonna keep saying what he's gonna say which is it's the best economy in the history of the world and 445 00:36:59,774 --> 00:37:03,685 you can't tell people Who are paying the bills? 446 00:37:03,691 --> 00:37:05,754 that they are making this up. 447 00:37:06,315 --> 00:37:08,636 Well, here's something you can't tell people. 448 00:37:08,636 --> 00:37:16,991 You can't sit there, mute the one Democrat on the committee for the Kennedy Center, say that it was a unanimous vote and that it surprised you. 449 00:37:16,991 --> 00:37:20,022 And the next day, watch the letters go up on the building. 450 00:37:20,683 --> 00:37:25,326 I mean, the next day, the letters go up on the building. 451 00:37:25,326 --> 00:37:27,527 I mean, and nobody's going. 452 00:37:27,527 --> 00:37:29,708 I mean, here's my tell. 453 00:37:29,708 --> 00:37:35,171 And people who listen to, you know, the hot dish understand my background and who I am. 454 00:37:35,679 --> 00:37:37,960 They boo him at football games now. 455 00:37:39,541 --> 00:37:40,502 It'll be interesting. 456 00:37:40,502 --> 00:37:45,925 The only place I don't know if he'll get booed at, and I'm not sure that is at NASCAR races. 457 00:37:46,266 --> 00:37:50,328 He's getting booed wherever he goes and it's killing him. 458 00:37:50,648 --> 00:37:54,571 Because this is a man who every room he's in, he has 10 mirrors. 459 00:37:54,571 --> 00:37:56,411 He likes looking at himself. 460 00:37:56,852 --> 00:38:02,025 And so I don't know, I can tell you this as a radio talk show host. 461 00:38:02,181 --> 00:38:08,164 I used to be able to get them fired up and start a big debate uh in regards to Donald Trump. 462 00:38:08,164 --> 00:38:13,677 If I leaned into the microphone and said, Donald Trump, I'd get opinions from both sides. 463 00:38:13,677 --> 00:38:17,359 I'm not getting a lot of conservative opinions to call into the show anymore. 464 00:38:17,359 --> 00:38:20,260 They're just putting their head down because they don't want to defend it. 465 00:38:20,260 --> 00:38:22,501 I'm not saying they wouldn't vote for him. 466 00:38:22,501 --> 00:38:23,642 I don't know that. 467 00:38:23,642 --> 00:38:26,533 What I'm saying is they don't want to defend the crap. 468 00:38:26,678 --> 00:38:33,562 Well, and I think the other thing that everybody needs to understand, there is no, there's no surrogate. 469 00:38:33,642 --> 00:38:36,034 It's not like, like there's an heir apparent. 470 00:38:36,034 --> 00:38:39,196 mean, JD Vance is not Donald Trump. 471 00:38:39,196 --> 00:38:43,918 And so if you send Donald Trump out there, he is, he's your guy, right? 472 00:38:43,918 --> 00:38:46,730 He is the voice of the mega movement. 473 00:38:46,730 --> 00:38:48,911 He is the voice of the Republican party. 474 00:38:48,911 --> 00:38:52,193 And when he's not hitting on all cylinders, 475 00:38:52,223 --> 00:38:56,014 there's no backup because they all have been syncopats. 476 00:38:56,014 --> 00:39:01,056 And so, you know, who are you going to send out to, to fire up the troops? 477 00:39:01,056 --> 00:39:04,117 If, if not Donald Trump, you can send Lindsey Graham. 478 00:39:04,117 --> 00:39:04,998 I don't think so. 479 00:39:04,998 --> 00:39:07,618 He's not going to, he doesn't have that kind of charisma. 480 00:39:07,618 --> 00:39:09,139 You're going to send John Thune? 481 00:39:09,139 --> 00:39:10,119 No. 482 00:39:10,139 --> 00:39:14,847 mean, so, so he is a one man show and I think that's going to hurt the Republicans. 483 00:39:14,847 --> 00:39:21,551 Well, and here's the other thing, as long as we're making predictions in about uh August, uh people can say, you know what? 484 00:39:21,551 --> 00:39:23,442 I remember Joel saying that on the hot dish. 485 00:39:23,442 --> 00:39:25,473 I think physically isn't well. 486 00:39:25,774 --> 00:39:33,847 I think you're going to find out that that this guy is not what he what he's portraying himself to be. 487 00:39:33,847 --> 00:39:38,861 I think he's a 79 year old man who's kicking on 80. 488 00:39:38,861 --> 00:39:42,025 And with all due respect to 80 year olds out there, you can't. 489 00:39:42,025 --> 00:39:44,417 be 34 and be president. 490 00:39:44,417 --> 00:39:48,201 And I've been saying for a long time, you shouldn't be 80 and be president. 491 00:39:48,201 --> 00:39:50,023 And I said that about Joe Biden. 492 00:39:50,023 --> 00:39:54,697 And, you know, this guy is looking really, really old. 493 00:39:54,697 --> 00:39:58,671 And if you golf all the time, you say, well, it takes away the stress. 494 00:39:59,092 --> 00:39:59,873 It doesn't. 495 00:39:59,873 --> 00:40:05,628 It's he's still got people talking in his ear saying you got to go to North Carolina and rally up the troops. 496 00:40:05,628 --> 00:40:06,598 And so 497 00:40:06,769 --> 00:40:07,320 I don't know. 498 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:15,565 I think the biggest prediction I'd have is that physically, mentally, he's really going to have a year to struggle in 2026. 499 00:40:15,605 --> 00:40:19,687 Well, and, and, you know, look at his motivation right now. 500 00:40:19,687 --> 00:40:27,291 If you said, what's the one thing that would make, make him turn cartwheels in spite of his age, it's winning the Nobel peace prize. 501 00:40:27,291 --> 00:40:33,175 And so he has been so focused on foreign policy to the detriment of his base. 502 00:40:33,175 --> 00:40:35,286 That's not what his base hired him to do. 503 00:40:35,286 --> 00:40:38,778 They want him to stay home and fix problems here at home. 504 00:40:38,778 --> 00:40:45,621 And you know, the other thing, and I think this is true when you look at, um, the border. 505 00:40:45,739 --> 00:40:51,654 There's been success in stopping illegal boarding crossings and the flood of people. 506 00:40:51,654 --> 00:40:53,526 So, you know, that's fine. 507 00:40:53,526 --> 00:40:59,802 It's like Joe Biden getting the economy back going after COVID. 508 00:40:59,802 --> 00:41:01,173 What have you done for me lately? 509 00:41:01,173 --> 00:41:03,995 That's not a laurel you can rest on. 510 00:41:04,009 --> 00:41:05,820 Yeah, he's not running again. 511 00:41:05,820 --> 00:41:12,583 So you know, and the people that are running aren't going to jump up and down and say, boy, I was there to help shut down the border. 512 00:41:12,583 --> 00:41:14,954 uh You know, you were very critical. 513 00:41:14,954 --> 00:41:18,965 And you pointed out that Democrats could have done more when it comes to the border. 514 00:41:18,965 --> 00:41:20,526 You were just honest about that. 515 00:41:20,526 --> 00:41:23,307 uh He can declare victory all he wants. 516 00:41:23,307 --> 00:41:28,930 The truth is, most of the wars he's saying he ended, nobody knows where the hell the countries are. 517 00:41:31,151 --> 00:41:32,091 Yeah. 518 00:41:32,221 --> 00:41:36,472 Yeah, but but here's the thing 2026 is going to mean for people. 519 00:41:36,472 --> 00:41:39,593 ah I hope the economy is good to them. 520 00:41:39,793 --> 00:41:40,931 I really do. 521 00:41:40,931 --> 00:41:43,655 I think AI is going to continue to grow. 522 00:41:43,655 --> 00:41:50,857 ah But I think we're one country basis where we want to remind people where they're at. 523 00:41:50,957 --> 00:41:53,678 I don't think this is going to be good year for egg. 524 00:41:53,698 --> 00:41:54,368 I just don't. 525 00:41:54,368 --> 00:41:57,339 Heidi, I wish I could say it was because. 526 00:41:57,351 --> 00:41:58,312 It matters to me. 527 00:41:58,312 --> 00:41:59,192 These are my neighbors. 528 00:41:59,192 --> 00:42:00,053 These are my friends. 529 00:42:00,053 --> 00:42:03,274 These are guys who are wearing tuxedos in my wedding, right? 530 00:42:03,274 --> 00:42:05,195 And I worry for them. 531 00:42:05,195 --> 00:42:08,537 And it ends up affecting me in the economy as well. 532 00:42:08,537 --> 00:42:12,209 So I'm hoping that egg turns around a little bit. 533 00:42:12,341 --> 00:42:30,636 Well, and I will tell you this, that people who think that agriculture is, that this big uh influx of money is something that's going to turn the tide with the majority of people 534 00:42:30,636 --> 00:42:32,638 in rural America, guess what? 535 00:42:32,638 --> 00:42:36,101 The majority of people in rural America aren't getting those checks. 536 00:42:36,101 --> 00:42:39,844 In fact, a small percentage of people in rural America are getting those checks. 537 00:42:39,844 --> 00:42:41,813 And in the meantime, they're still, 538 00:42:41,813 --> 00:42:45,995 you know, having to buy expensive groceries, they're still losing their job. 539 00:42:45,995 --> 00:42:49,777 They still have insecurity in healthcare. 540 00:42:49,777 --> 00:42:58,422 The healthcare stuff is going to hit hard, And so I mean, you and I have talked a lot about this stuff, but I just wanted to get your prediction. 541 00:42:58,422 --> 00:43:10,008 I think that this is um at least at this point in time, you have to assume that this is going to be a typical midterm where the majority party loses a lot of seats and could 542 00:43:10,008 --> 00:43:11,911 potentially lose the Senate. 543 00:43:11,911 --> 00:43:14,263 OK, last one before I wish you a Happy New Year. 544 00:43:14,263 --> 00:43:20,640 Neither the Vikings nor the Packers will win the Super Bowl this year. 545 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:23,623 So there, that's one I'm fairly confident on. 546 00:43:23,702 --> 00:43:28,963 well, you saw, you saw what uh what the quarterback for the Bears said. 547 00:43:28,963 --> 00:43:31,044 He said, we expect to see this team. 548 00:43:31,044 --> 00:43:33,305 This is a pretty good Packers team. 549 00:43:33,305 --> 00:43:35,225 Although, you know, I lived in. 550 00:43:36,366 --> 00:43:40,487 Yeah, no, the Packers won the first game, Joel. 551 00:43:40,487 --> 00:43:42,938 The Packers won in Lambeau and they lost. 552 00:43:42,938 --> 00:43:43,728 Come on. 553 00:43:43,728 --> 00:43:45,633 That's that they beat the Bears. 554 00:43:45,633 --> 00:43:47,186 I meant mentally. 555 00:43:50,512 --> 00:43:51,713 Yeah, right. 556 00:43:51,713 --> 00:43:53,133 Good recovery. 557 00:43:53,133 --> 00:44:03,373 But I do have to confess Nick's loyalty because when I moved to Chicago, I got so defensive when people would criticize Chicago. 558 00:44:03,513 --> 00:44:07,333 so it was, yeah, yeah, yeah, fair weather, Fred. 559 00:44:07,333 --> 00:44:08,733 Fair weather, Fred. 560 00:44:08,733 --> 00:44:10,293 Yeah, there you go. 561 00:44:11,213 --> 00:44:14,533 So who, hey, hey, so who does win the Super Bowl, Joel? 562 00:44:14,987 --> 00:44:17,648 Oh man, uh that's tough question. 563 00:44:17,648 --> 00:44:19,469 Obviously it's not going to be Kansas City. 564 00:44:19,469 --> 00:44:21,250 I don't think Philadelphia wins. 565 00:44:21,250 --> 00:44:25,371 uh The New England Patriots look really good. 566 00:44:25,511 --> 00:44:26,832 They look really good. 567 00:44:26,832 --> 00:44:32,474 uh I tell you, I if I had to make any prediction, it'd be Seattle. 568 00:44:33,815 --> 00:44:36,356 Yep, I think Sam Darnold. 569 00:44:36,356 --> 00:44:44,623 Yeah, I well, I think that they showed oh they're going to play the Rams at home probably, and they should that field in Seattle. 570 00:44:44,623 --> 00:44:48,172 is a huge home field advantage, huge. 571 00:44:48,172 --> 00:44:50,205 And the Rams found that out. 572 00:44:50,933 --> 00:44:53,257 There you go, from your mouth. 573 00:44:53,257 --> 00:44:56,931 Yep, and yours is going to be where every town you're in now. 574 00:44:56,931 --> 00:44:59,534 I mean, you're you're out. 575 00:44:59,534 --> 00:45:00,991 You're looking at. 576 00:45:00,991 --> 00:45:06,480 Yeah, you're out looking at that new baby out in Oakland, so it's gotta be yeah so. 577 00:45:07,082 --> 00:45:09,043 Happy happy New Year, Hyde. 578 00:45:09,150 --> 00:45:09,844 New Year, Joel. 579 00:45:12,585 --> 00:45:21,208 Thank you for joining us today on The Hot Dish brought to you by One Country Project, making sure the voices of the rest of us are heard in Washington. 580 00:45:21,521 --> 00:45:24,233 Learn more at onecountryproject.org. 581 00:45:24,233 --> 00:45:26,815 That's onecountryproject.org. 582 00:45:26,815 --> 00:45:28,056 Happy New Year, everyone. 583 00:45:28,056 --> 00:45:31,691 Follow us on Substack, Facebook, and Blue Sky. 584 00:45:31,691 --> 00:45:35,714 You can also find The One Country Project on YouTube. 585 00:45:35,714 --> 00:45:39,355 So be sure to like and subscribe to us there. 586 00:45:39,355 --> 00:45:44,710 We'll be back next week with more hot dish comfort food for rural America. 587 00:45:44,710 --> 00:45:45,992 Happy New Year, everyone. 588 00:45:45,992 --> 00:45:46,837 Happy New Year. 589 00:45:46,837 --> 00:45:49,003 Let's make it a great one.