ROOMS WHERE THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE HAVING

REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE HAVING LUNCH AND SO WE’LL COME BACK TO

LUNCH AND SO WE’LL COME BACK TO YOU MOMENTARILY.

YOU MOMENTARILY. >>> JOINING US NOW, ALYSSA

>>> JOINING US NOW, ALYSSA SLOTKIN FROM MICHIGAN, MEMBER OF

SLOTKIN FROM MICHIGAN, MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE

THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE AND ALSO FORMER CIA AND PENTAGON

AND ALSO FORMER CIA AND PENTAGON OFFICIAL.

OFFICIAL. CONGRESSWOMAN, VERY GOOD TO SEE

CONGRESSWOMAN, VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT ABOUT A PAYROLL TAX CUT OR

WHAT ABOUT A PAYROLL TAX CUT OR OTHER STIMULUS PACKAGES?

OTHER STIMULUS PACKAGES? I INTERVIEWED EARLIER GENE

I INTERVIEWED EARLIER GENE SPERLING AND JASON FUHRMAN WHO

SPERLING AND JASON FUHRMAN WHO HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IN

HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IN PREVIOUS DEMOCRATIC WHITE HOUSES

PREVIOUS DEMOCRATIC WHITE HOUSES IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS.

IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS. IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT WOULD

IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT WOULD STIMULATE THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.

STIMULATE THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW. JASON FUHRMAN SAID LET’S GIVE

JASON FUHRMAN SAID LET’S GIVE ESPECIALLY LOW-INCOME WORKERS A

ESPECIALLY LOW-INCOME WORKERS A $3,000 CHECK SO THEY CAN MEET

$3,000 CHECK SO THEY CAN MEET BILLS AND STAY HOME WITH THEIR

BILLS AND STAY HOME WITH THEIR KIDS AND TRY TO STOP COMMUNITY

KIDS AND TRY TO STOP COMMUNITY SPREAD.

SPREAD. I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR VIEW ON

I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR VIEW ON THAT IS?

THAT IS? >> I THINK WHATEVER WE DO, IT

>> I THINK WHATEVER WE DO, IT HAS TO GET TO THIS CONFIDENCE

HAS TO GET TO THIS CONFIDENCE PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING.

PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING. EVEN IF PEOPLE HAD MONEY IN

EVEN IF PEOPLE HAD MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS, IF THEY’RE SCARED

THEIR POCKETS, IF THEY’RE SCARED TO GO TO THE MOVE OYIES OR TO WO

TO GO TO THE MOVE OYIES OR TO WO OR TO SCHOOL.

OR TO SCHOOL. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES AND WE

UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES AND WE NEED STRONG, CLEAR LEADERSHIP,

NEED STRONG, CLEAR LEADERSHIP, RIGHT?

RIGHT? WE NEED A FIRM HAND TO JUST GO

WE NEED A FIRM HAND TO JUST GO BY THE CDC GUIDANCE AND TELL US

BY THE CDC GUIDANCE AND TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE

WHAT WE SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING.

DOING. I THINK WE’RE SEEING OFFICES ON

I THINK WE’RE SEEING OFFICES ON THE HILL START TO DO THIS IN OUR

THE HILL START TO DO THIS IN OUR OWN LIVES, BUT EVERY SINGLE

OWN LIVES, BUT EVERY SINGLE ANXIETY

ANXIETY AGENCY, EVERY COMPANY, EVERY

AGENCY, EVERY COMPANY, EVERY NONPROFIT SHOULD BE COMING UP

NONPROFIT SHOULD BE COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO GO TO TELEWORK.

WITH A PLAN TO GO TO TELEWORK. ABIDING BY THE NO ESSENTIAL

ABIDING BY THE NO ESSENTIAL TRAVEL IF YOU’RE ELDERLY.

TRAVEL IF YOU’RE ELDERLY. NO CRUISES.

NO CRUISES. WE NEED A FIRMER HAND ON GETTING

WE NEED A FIRMER HAND ON GETTING CONTROL OF THE VIRUS.

CONTROL OF THE VIRUS. IF WE’RE NOT DOING THAT, THEN

IF WE’RE NOT DOING THAT, THEN ANY STIMULUS WE HAVE IS NOT

ANY STIMULUS WE HAVE IS NOT GOING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS WE

GOING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS WE WANT IT TO BE.

WANT IT TO BE. >> IN PAST YEARS THERE’S BEEN A

>> IN PAST YEARS THERE’S BEEN A THREAT WARNING HEARING IN THE

THREAT WARNING HEARING IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE FROM ALL OF

HOUSE AND THE SENATE FROM ALL OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS.

THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. IN THE PAST IT’S SAID IN

IN THE PAST IT’S SAID IN EXPLICIT LANGUAGE THE U.S. IS

EXPLICIT LANGUAGE THE U.S. IS NOT READY TO FACE A PANDEMIC OF

NOT READY TO FACE A PANDEMIC OF THIS NATURE.

THIS NATURE. THIS YEAR IT HAS NOT BEEN HELD

THIS YEAR IT HAS NOT BEEN HELD ON THE ADVICE OF SOME IN THE

ON THE ADVICE OF SOME IN THE INTEL COMMUNITY WHO FEAR THE

INTEL COMMUNITY WHO FEAR THE GUIDANCE ABOUT NORTH KOREA, IRAN

GUIDANCE ABOUT NORTH KOREA, IRAN AND OTHER THREATS, RUSSIA

AND OTHER THREATS, RUSSIA INTERFERING WITH OUR ELECTION

INTERFERING WITH OUR ELECTION THAT DAN COATS GAVE VERY CLEARLY

THAT DAN COATS GAVE VERY CLEARLY LAST YEAR COULD HAVE LED TO HIS

LAST YEAR COULD HAVE LED TO HIS FIRING AND MIGHT LEAD TO MORE

FIRING AND MIGHT LEAD TO MORE FIRINGS AND AGAINST THE

FIRINGS AND AGAINST THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY FROM AN

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY FROM AN ANGRY PRESIDENT THIS YEAR.

ANGRY PRESIDENT THIS YEAR. WHAT IS IT THAT THE PUBLIC IS

WHAT IS IT THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT GETTING A DECLASSIFIED

NOT GETTING A DECLASSIFIED WARNING ABOUT A LOT OF THREATS,

WARNING ABOUT A LOT OF THREATS, INCLUDING THIS ONE.

INCLUDING THIS ONE. >> SO I WAS A CIA OFFICER.

>> SO I WAS A CIA OFFICER. I WORKED AT THE DNI’S OFFICE.

I WORKED AT THE DNI’S OFFICE. THIS WORLDWIDE THREAT HEARING

THIS WORLDWIDE THREAT HEARING WHICH HAPPENS EVERY WINTER IT’S

WHICH HAPPENS EVERY WINTER IT’S THE ONE MOMENT THE INTELLIGENCE

THE ONE MOMENT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE COMES TOGETHER AT THE

COMMITTEE COMES TOGETHER AT THE SENIOR MOST LEVELS AND HAS A

SENIOR MOST LEVELS AND HAS A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THREATS

PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THREATS FACING THE COUNTRY.

FACING THE COUNTRY. AND --

AND -- >> CONGRESSWOMAN, LET ME JUST

>> CONGRESSWOMAN, LET ME JUST PAUSE YOU FOR A MOMENT.

PAUSE YOU FOR A MOMENT. >> SURE.

>> SURE. >> THE PRESIDENT IS ARRIVING.

>> THE PRESIDENT IS ARRIVING. GAVE A THUMBS UP.

GAVE A THUMBS UP. THEY WERE SHOUTING QUESTIONS.

THEY WERE SHOUTING QUESTIONS. NO ANSWERS.

NO ANSWERS. I INTERRUPTED YOU.

I INTERRUPTED YOU. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WORLDWIDE THREAT HEARING WHICH

WORLDWIDE THREAT HEARING WHICH I’VE COVERED FOR YEARS, FOR

I’VE COVERED FOR YEARS, FOR DECADES.

DECADES. >> IT’S THE ONE MOMENT THE

>> IT’S THE ONE MOMENT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY COMES OUT

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY COMES OUT AND TALKS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

AND TALKS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THE THREATS ARE.

ABOUT WHAT THE THREATS ARE. IT’S EVERY YEAR.

IT’S EVERY YEAR. WE DO A TON OF WORK TO PREPARE

WE DO A TON OF WORK TO PREPARE FOR IT.

FOR IT. AND MY DEEP CONCERN IS THAT WE

AND MY DEEP CONCERN IS THAT WE DON’T HAVE A SCHEDULED DATE

DON’T HAVE A SCHEDULED DATE WHERE THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO

WHERE THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO COME UP.

COME UP. I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON

I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES BUT IT FEEDS

BEHIND THE SCENES BUT IT FEEDS INTO THIS NARRATIVE THE

INTO THIS NARRATIVE THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DOES NOT

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DOES NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING TRUTH

FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER.

TO POWER. JUST BEING OPEN ABOUT THEIR

JUST BEING OPEN ABOUT THEIR ANALYTIC ASSESSMENTS.

ANALYTIC ASSESSMENTS. NOT POLITICAL.

NOT POLITICAL. NOT TRYING TO HIT ANYBODY ON

NOT TRYING TO HIT ANYBODY ON THIS.

THIS. BUT JUST TELLING THE COUNTRY

BUT JUST TELLING THE COUNTRY WHAT THEY THINK THE PRIMARY

WHAT THEY THINK THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE FACING THE NATION.

THREATS ARE FACING THE NATION. SO IT’S A REAL CONCERN.

SO IT’S A REAL CONCERN. OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE DEEPLY

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE AN

CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE AN ELECTION SECURITY BRIEFING

ELECTION SECURITY BRIEFING TODAY.

TODAY. A CLASSIFIED ONE.

A CLASSIFIED ONE. WE UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME

WE UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME JUGGLING OF THE PARTICIPANTS,

JUGGLING OF THE PARTICIPANTS, AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A CIVIL

AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A CIVIL SERVANT, WE ALWAYS SERVE WHOEVER

SERVANT, WE ALWAYS SERVE WHOEVER OUR PRESIDENT IS, BUT WE HAVE TO

OUR PRESIDENT IS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT

BE ABLE TO SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT THE THREATS THAT FACE US.

THE THREATS THAT FACE US. >> WELL, IN FACT, RIK GRENELL

>> WELL, IN FACT, RIK GRENELL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT THAT

WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT THAT RUSSIA ELECTION HEARING AND IS

RUSSIA ELECTION HEARING AND IS NOW, WE UNDERSTAND, NOT GOING TO

NOW, WE UNDERSTAND, NOT GOING TO APPEAR.

APPEAR. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN

WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND WHY THAT TOOK PLACE.

AND WHY THAT TOOK PLACE. WHAT ABOUT MICHIGAN AND ANY

WHAT ABOUT MICHIGAN AND ANY CONCERNS ABOUT ELECTION

CONCERNS ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE TODAY?

INTERFERENCE TODAY? >> WELL, WE SEE NO SIGNS OF

>> WELL, WE SEE NO SIGNS OF ELECTION INTERFERENCE THAT I’VE

ELECTION INTERFERENCE THAT I’VE HEARD OF.

HEARD OF. WE HAVE A VERY STRONG SECRETARY

WE HAVE A VERY STRONG SECRETARY OF STATE IN MICHIGAN WHO KNOWS

OF STATE IN MICHIGAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO ELECTION SECURITY.

HOW TO DO ELECTION SECURITY. SO THAT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE.

SO THAT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE. WHAT WE DO KNOW, IT’S GOING TO

WHAT WE DO KNOW, IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO COUNT ALL

TAKE A LONG TIME TO COUNT ALL THESE ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

THESE ABSENTEE BALLOTS. MICHIGAN CHANGED OUR LAWS AND

MICHIGAN CHANGED OUR LAWS AND MADE IT VERY EASY TO VOTE

MADE IT VERY EASY TO VOTE ABSENTEE.

ABSENTEE. THE LAST STATISTIC IS THAT WE’RE

THE LAST STATISTIC IS THAT WE’RE UP BY 97% FROM 2016 ON ABSENTEE

UP BY 97% FROM 2016 ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

BALLOTS. SO IT’S GOING TO TAKE US A

SO IT’S GOING TO TAKE US A MINUTE.

MINUTE. BEAR WITH US TONIGHT.

BEAR WITH US TONIGHT. BUT, FOR ME, WE DON’T SEE

BUT, FOR ME, WE DON’T SEE ANYTHING UNTOWARD, AT LEAST THAT