On this “Face the Nation” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Reps. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, and Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut
- Home Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California
- Senate Majority Chief John Thune, Republican of South Dakota
- Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar
Click on right here to browse full transcripts of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: The nation’s capital braces for the unprecedented within the new 12 months amid rising threats to our nation’s safety.
As Washington prepares to certify the 2024 presidential election, to bid a former farewell to the thirty ninth president, and make approach for the return of the forty fifth, who turns into the forty seventh, to the Oval Workplace, extraordinary safety preparations are beneath approach, all this because the battle to make sense of the horrifying New 12 months’s assault in New Orleans and incident in Las Vegas continues.
We are going to sit down for a bipartisan dialog with the heads of the Home Intelligence Committee, Ohio’s Mike Turner and Connecticut’s Jim Himes.
On Capitol Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson’s job is protected for now. And, within the Senate, Republicans take management with a brand new chief, South Dakota’s John Thune. He is chargeable for getting president-elect Trump’s formidable agenda via the Senate.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Will you inform him while you assume he is unsuitable?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE (R-South Dakota): I’ll.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: On the prime of Mr. Trump’s to-do listing, what he guarantees would be the largest mass deportation in U.S. historical past. We are going to ask his border czar, Tom Homan, how he plans to execute that.
And, as we mark 4 years because the January 6 assault on the Capitol…
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RIOTERS: Nancy! Nancy! Nancy!
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MARGARET BRENNAN: … former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi shall be right here to speak in regards to the rising threats of political violence.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
As we start the brand new 12 months, the primary few days of January are already proving and offering huge challenges, each right here in Washington and across the nation, particularly when it comes to safety.
We start in the present day with Home Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner and Rating Member Jim Himes, who joins us in a bipartisan style.
Thanks for doing so and for becoming a member of us in the present day.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER (R-Ohio): Thanks for having us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we’ve got, Chairman, heightened safety at U.S. airports, on trains, army bases, this bulletin that went out just lately warning of maybe retaliatory assaults, copycat assaults from that New Orleans car-ramming incident.
How ought to People perceive the risk surroundings we’re in?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Proper, proper.
Properly, it is actually very troublesome. And our coronary heart breaks as we consider what occurred simply after New 12 months’s Eve and on New 12 months’s Day. The – what we all know that the FBI director has mentioned is that we – we’re in a heightened threatened surroundings.
We see from, in fact, what occurred in New Orleans, we’ve got the specter of those that could be lone wolves, these people who is likely to be, because the self- declared terrorist has indicated, impressed by ISIS, by terrorist threats. We even have those that – who’re right here who’ve come throughout the border that the director has mentioned are affiliated with terrorist teams or organizations outdoors of the nation who wish to do People hurt.
These people nonetheless pose a risk to People and to the USA. The director, the FBI, native regulation enforcement are persevering with to work to attempt to discover them and attempt to reduce the chance, however, actually, presently, as we go into the inauguration for Donald Trump, the place we even have state actors like Iran who – the place we’ve got in custody people who’ve come right here with the acknowledged function to – to assassinate as part of a plot…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: … to have been alleged to perpetrate a plot to assassinate Donald Trump, we’ve got a lot of actors that pose a threat and a risk to People.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Himes, ISIS has not claimed duty for this New Orleans attacker. He did pledge allegiance in these social media movies.
However Homeland Safety, so far as we’ve got heard from them, mentioned there isn’t any linkage to the U.S. border. There isn’t a linkage established to a international actor at this level. Is that this simply an instance of somebody with psychological well being points selecting violence?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES (D-Connecticut): Properly – and I am glad you mentioned that, as a result of there was a lot misinformation proper out of the field, as a result of these assaults occurred on the similar time. You understand, there was all kinds of stuff on social media about how they have been coordinated and collectively…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Las Vegas.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … and that the – Las Vegas with New Orleans.
You understand, the New Orleans – Jabbar, the attacker there, clearly had himself affiliated with ISIS.
Now, what we have to know and what – up to now, there isn’t any proof that that is the case, however we have to know whether or not that particular person was intentionally tasked. Once more, no proof that he was. And, in fact, we consistently see these lone wolf attackers who get radicalized, perhaps on social media, perhaps in another location.
And – and, you recognize, I would definitely agree with Mike’s characterization of the hazard on the market, however simply add that, as People take into consideration the people who find themselves defending them – and I feel the chairman would agree with me on this – the individuals and belongings that we put up towards this risk are the perfect on the planet.
It’s also true that lone wolf attackers, that’s, a person who’s not speaking with any person overseas, who’s not sending texts or sending e- mails, are terribly troublesome to detect. And, you recognize, although our individuals are the perfect on the planet, that’s onerous to search out.
And, by the way in which, there is a position for individuals. You understand, in New York Metropolis, in case you go on the subway, it says, in case you see one thing, say one thing. And so there is a position for everyone on the market, you recognize, to assist attempt to remedy, to assist attempt to cease these sorts of lone wolf assaults.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However, as one official mentioned to me, this is not an issue you remedy with one other plane service to the Center East. A few of these issues run deeper when it comes to the lone wolf factor. That is the time period you have used.
How do you diagnose and take care of that, Chair Turner, if individuals are capable of be radicalized on-line, and whether or not it is political violence or simply one other type of home violent extremism?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Properly, on the problem of New Orleans, we – we do not know but whether or not or not he – he’ll evolve as – because the precise lone wolf, the place he operated fully alone.
As Jim is saying, because the investigation unfolds, he himself indicated that he joined, as he claimed it, ISIS in the summertime. We do not know what that concerned. We do not know if it will end up that he was tasked. Excuse me. He – he went to New Orleans additionally in October.
There might have been alternatives or instances at which he may have been discovered and will have been prevented. We’ll study what these are and methods by which he might need been – been discovered, and perhaps we may have intervened.
However these will give U.S. higher alternatives at which we’ll look to how we would be capable to sooner or later discover others.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now, we have spoken to each of you on this program, specifically, in regards to the heightened risk surroundings many instances. And again in June, when there was that arrest of these eight males from Tajikistan who have been ISIS-linked. We spoke in depth about that.
Chair Turner, shortly after that, you mentioned on this program: “We’ve got terrorists which are actively working inside the USA which are a risk to People.”
Are you aware if there are energetic terror cells in the USA proper now?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Properly, I feel the – the problem of cells – and also you and I have been speaking about that firstly of the present.
Are there people which are affiliated with ISIS and terrorist teams and organizations which have crossed the border which are inside the USA? Director Wray, FBI director, has mentioned so. We actually have intelligence that claims so. I agree along with his evaluation. I – Jim has additionally seen it.
He is testified earlier than our committee publicly of that truth. These people are working along side – with ISIS, with the intention of harming People. The director has mentioned it straight.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’re recognized to U.S. intelligence and regulation enforcement, is what you are…
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: And we’re working diligently to attempt to take them down, to forestall them from doing so.
And that is why the director is publicly saying such. And that is what the brand new administration goes to be handed, the truth that these people are right here, that we have to find them, we have to take away them, we have to convey them to justice, and forestall them from doing hurt to People.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When we’ve got spoken about this subject previously, you characterised notably the arrest of the eight as successful story, as a result of there was no plot carried out. They have been disrupted.
Are the people which are of concern, do we all know the place they’re? By way of these eight, they’re – we all know they have been detained, and 5 of them have been truly despatched again to Tajikistan.
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: You by no means know what you do not know. And so none of us actually in positions of duty would ever say that there is not terrorists in the USA.
Now, I’ll say what I mentioned earlier than, which is that we’ve got the easiest individuals and the easiest know-how trying to root these individuals out and discover them. However let’s – if the query is, what ought to People be afraid of, what has killed People since 9/11? It hasn’t been individuals sneaking throughout the border.
And that is to not say that the border should not be safe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: The border should be safe. However what has been killing People? Whether or not it was Fort Hood in 2009, I feel, whether or not it was the New York assaults that killed eight individuals in 2017, what we simply unhappy – sadly, noticed in New Orleans, it is truly People who’re on this nation, truly, in a weird variety of instances, servicepeople.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: That was the Fort Hood assaults. That was what we noticed in New Orleans. That was – although I do not – it would not appear to be shaping up as a terrorist assault, what we noticed in Las Vegas.
So, once more, that is onerous, proper? Why is that arduous? As a result of in case you’re on this nation, you could have constitutional rights, that means the FBI cannot say, and not using a warrant, I need your Fb posts, I need your e-mails. That is what makes this very onerous.
And, once more, let’s take a look at what has truly killed People within the 20 years. And, sadly, it has been radicalized different People. So this will get to the query of, what are the mechanisms by which they’re radicalized, and the way can we as a group push again on that radicalism?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, which is why I requested you. That is a more durable drawback to unravel for.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: A lot more durable, as a result of you could have constitutional rights and since – you recognize, let me offer you an instance.
If any person is standing out on the road nook proper now saying ISIS is the best factor on the planet, and the president is a traitor, that – individuals would say, boy, we should always interview that particular person. That’s constitutionally protected speech.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: And I’m wondering how a few of my colleagues would reply to the thought, as a result of this particular person in New Orleans did publish some Fb posts saying, I pledge allegiance to ISIS.
You understand, what if we had that debate? Ought to – ought to Fb have immediately submitted that to the FBI? And, if that’s the case, the place’s the road?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: If I say I am not a giant fan of the following president, and I do not imagine that he was, you recognize, no matter, ought to that go to the FBI? It is a robust dialog.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Margaret, there isn’t any query that – that that’s what we’re seeing from New Orleans.
However the reply to your query is, no, we do not know the place they’re. We do not know the place the individuals are that Director Wray has indicated…
MARGARET BRENNAN: The individuals who have exploited vulnerabilities on the southwest border.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: … that has come throughout the border, which are terrorists affiliated with ISIS, that intend to do American hurt – People hurt which are right here in our nation, we have no idea the place they’re.
And a part of the work and a part of the rationale why he is elevating the alarm is, we have to discover them to guard People. Now, what Jim’s saying is completely right. And that – that clearly, is the half that additionally breaks our coronary heart and makes what occurred in New Orleans so onerous is, is that we had an American who was killing People.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, American-born Military vet.
I wish to ask you each about China as nicely. By way of conventional adversaries, they’re looming giant right here. We discovered simply previously few days that China hacked the U.S. Treasury Division. That is on prime of the most important cyber espionage towards 9 telecom corporations, towards hacking of U.S. infrastructure that incoming Nationwide Safety Adviser Mike Waltz mentioned was planting cyber time bombs in U.S. infrastructure.
How a lot of a trump card is that this? I imply, can the U.S. expel China from these methods and get management?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Properly, so, I imply, let’s begin with what we all know.
China has been completely predatory in nearly each dimension. They’ve stolen our I.P. – our I.P., our mental property. You understand, they’ve manipulated the buying and selling system to hole out our industrial base, completely predatory.
And, by the way in which, I occur to imagine – and it will be attention-grabbing the chair – if the chairman agrees with me on this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: They imagine they will function inside our networks with out consequence, and that should change instantly.
They should perceive that we’re pretty much as good at these items as they’re. And in the event that they get into our networks and begin planting beacons or begin planting landmines or no matter, we will do the identical to them, in order that we set up deterrence.
Now, you additionally must acknowledge that China does and the U.S. do about $800 billion in commerce backwards and forwards, proper? And in case you snap your fingers and make that go away, you assume COVID inflation was unhealthy? Wait till you see that. By the way in which, they personal a trillion {dollars} of our Treasuries.
So, the purpose I am making right here is that I feel we must be quite a bit harder on them on the areas by which they’re predatory towards us, whilst we acknowledge that there are areas the place we have to tread very fastidiously, together with that financial interconnection.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know that we will have you ever each again to speak about precisely this drawback.
I am out of time in the present day, however thanks each.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: There must be penalties.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There – we’ll keep…
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: What he mentioned.
(LAUGHTER)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We are going to keep tuned.
Face the Nation shall be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Tomorrow marks 4 years because the assault on the U.S. Capitol, and we spoke to then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi simply a short time in the past this morning. She’s recovering from a fall final month.
And we started by asking her why she thinks so many People determined that Donald Trump’s assist for the rioters in 2020 shouldn’t disqualify him from a second time period as president.
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REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI (D-California): I would not say that the American individuals disregarded this. They only had a special view as to what was of their curiosity, economically and the remainder.
So I do not – I do not name this a disregard of January 6. I simply name it one thing that they noticed of their curiosity economically.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Even simply final night time at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump was screening a documentary in regards to the 2020 election, claiming his win and making an attempt to speak in regards to the authorized challenges he had. There appears to be a continued effort to say that he gained in 2020.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: It is actually unhappy. It actually is unhappy.
And I do not know in regards to the movie that he had and the remainder, however it’s – it is nearly sick that he can be considering that in 2020. He is gained the election now. That shall be clear. That shall be clear, and, tomorrow, he shall be clearly – we shall be accepting the outcomes of the Electoral School.
So he needs to be triumphant about that. However to be nonetheless making an attempt to combat a combat that he – he is aware of he misplaced is – is admittedly unhappy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You understand, the president-elect has mentioned that, within the first 9 minutes of his new time period, he’ll pardon lots of those that participated in January 6. He mentioned he’ll take a look at it on a case-by-case foundation.
However in wanting again at what occurred 4 years in the past, there are recordings, there’s video proof of what occurred. That is private for you, a few of these rioters in your workplace, chanting your identify.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Sure. Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Considered one of them, one of many defendants: “We have been searching for Nancy to shoot her within the frigging mind, however we did not discover her.”
For you, that is private. So, while you hear about pardons, do you assume the nonviolent attackers should be pardoned?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: The nonviolent – I feel that is a violent attacker, with the intention…
MARGARET BRENNAN: The violence itself.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The violent language, you assume…
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: The violent language, sure, the intention, and, in fact, the intention to assault the vp of the USA.
Now, it did not finish that day. As you recognize, he referred to as out to those individuals to proceed their violence, my husband being a sufferer of all of that. And it nonetheless – he nonetheless has accidents from that assault. So it simply goes on and on. It is not one thing that occurs after which it is over.
No, as soon as you might be attacked, you could have penalties that proceed. So I do not – it is actually a wierd one who’s going to be president of the USA who thinks that it is OK to pardon individuals who have been engaged in an assault.
However let’s – you recognize, let’s do that. Let’s simply say OK to the American individuals. That is what that is about. Don’t be conned by the denial of the election of 2020. And why would he be saying that? However he – however he’s, after which, on prime of that, the denial of what occurred on January 6.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However among the 1,600 defendants right here have been actually solely charged with trespassing. And while you take a look at the profiles, College of Chicago did a examine. About half of those that broke into the Capitol have been white-collar staff. They have been small enterprise homeowners, did not essentially have a felony document.
If you take a look at that profile, you mentioned intention. It – it was the intention itself, you assume, that must be thought-about extra so than the crime, you recognize that – that it casts the crime itself of trespassing in a special mild for you?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Properly, the president mentioned he would go on a case-by-case foundation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: So I assume that – that a few of these individuals might not have engaged within the violent actions that among the others did.
Look, at this lovely Capitol, the dome constructed by Lincoln, beneath Lincoln’s management through the Civil Battle, they mentioned, do not construct the dome. It takes an excessive amount of metal and particular person energy, manpower, they mentioned, from the warfare effort. And he mentioned, no, I’ve to indicate the resilience of America.
After which beneath that dome, you noticed – you noticed flags, the flags that – you recognize, simply horrible flags beneath the dome of Lincoln. And so it was a tragedy, and we can’t be in denial about what it was.
If the president goes to go on a case-by-case foundation, I hope he does, after which perhaps…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Trespassers, you’d be snug with pardoning?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Properly, simply relies on how they outline what that’s.
However the – however I do know that a few of that encouragement after which the follow- up that – that so many individuals have been threatened, together with me and – and to my dwelling, searching for me, and discovering my husband, and, as I say, who nonetheless suffers from head accidents from – on that day.
So, this stuff do not simply occur and go away when you could have a head damage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: However, anyway, to – to – to see the risk to so many individuals in elective workplace, now, going past me, however so many individuals in elective workplace, it should not be a risk to your loved ones that you’ve got chosen to do public service.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You wrote in your ebook about that 2022 assault in your husband, and also you mentioned your daughter informed you, if she had recognized what you have been signing up for, she would by no means have given you her blessing to run for workplace within the first place.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you assume that this risk of home violent extremism is having a chilling impact on new expertise and – and anybody working for workplace?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Properly, I actually hope not.
However, through the years, once I was encouraging individuals to run for workplace, particularly girls, they’d say, we may by no means take the abuse that you just take. And that was actually simply abuse. It wasn’t bodily, it was criticism and the remainder of that, and that we do not need our kids subjected to that.
And, sure, I do assume it should have a adverse influence on individuals working for public workplace. Simply – you recognize, in different phrases, in case you’re – in case you’re a mother, they usually go after you as a – as a mother, and your baby comes dwelling crying from college as a result of any person mentioned a adverse factor as a result of they noticed it on TV, that the opposite facet mentioned one thing unhealthy about you, you won’t run for workplace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you assume it should discourage notably girls…
NANCY PELOSI: Notably girls.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … from working?
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI: Sure, I do.
I imply, I do know that it has. However I hope that it’s going to not, that we are going to have – shine a vibrant mild on this and simply say, that is unacceptable. That is unacceptable. See, for girls, they all the time – they all the time – girls are recognized to be extra, let’s consider, moral than males. And so, after they go after girls candidates, they go after their ethics.
And so they’ll say this, that and the opposite factor. After which the kid comes dwelling from college crying as a result of any person mentioned a nasty factor about mother on TV. And no person – no person needs that. So, hopefully, the brilliant mild shining on that may scale back – scale back that.
However I feel that girls have a – confirmed that they’re – are extra moral, and that they – they’re – nicely, perhaps they are not extra moral, they’re all moral, however that they will then stand up to that criticism.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: And you may see extra of our dialog with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi on our Website and our YouTube web page.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: If you happen to miss an episode of Face the Nation, you may watch it and our prolonged interviews on YouTube or hearken to them on our podcast.
We shall be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We shall be proper again with much more Face the Nation, together with an interview with the brand new majority chief within the Senate, John Thune.
Stick with us.
ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
Republicans have full management of Congress, though their majority is small in each chambers. We sat down Friday with the brand new Senate chief, John Thune, and requested if these slender margins would hamstring the get together when it got here to creating main coverage modifications.
(BEGIN VT)
SENATOR JOHN THUNE (R-SD): It is all the time difficult, and particularly within the – on this present political surroundings. We do not all the time agree on (ph) Republicans throughout the household. However I feel –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Notably amongst Republicans.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: However why – however I feel in relation to the large points, securing the border, rebuilding the army, strengthening the financial system, you recognize, producing power dominance for this nation, these are all issues on which we agree.
With respect to even slender margins, I feel we will have a – hopefully a really unified effort in relation to these core points. We’ll disagree on the margins, and the method and all that kind of factor. However in relation to the issues we have to get performed, these are all issues I feel we agree on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got had disagreements with Donald Trump previously. As a part of this advise and consent position –
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The position of the Senate, will you inform him while you assume he is unsuitable?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: I’ll. And I feel my job is to do every thing I can to assist him obtain success, be a profitable president, which, for my part, means it will likely be a profitable nation. We’ve got the identical set of targets. We wish to get to the identical vacation spot. However I feel at instances there shall be variations in how we get there. And understanding the distinctive features of how the Senate operates is one thing that I will have to have the ability to share and convey to the president and – and assist him perceive, I feel, what the – you recognize, what the contours are, what we are able to accomplish right here within the Senate and what’s practical.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got a 53-seat majority over right here, which suggests you may solely lose three votes. If Democrats stay unified of their opposition to a few of Mr. Trump’s picks for his cupboard, do you count on all of them to make it via?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: What I promised is a good course of for all of them. On the subject of his picks, and I might say this of any president, they deserve a number of latitude. His picks are going to return via a course of the place in the event that they get reported out of the committee, come throughout the ground of the Senate, we’ll ensure that they get the – the vote. And I feel that – I think a number of them will get via. And – and we’ll see about all of them stays to be seen. However I feel that is why we’ve got the method, adhere to that course of, and provides all of those nominees a chance to make their cay.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got mentioned you need to see if Democrats play ball or not. However you do not want Democrats to get these via. So, does that imply you already know a few of your Republican senators will not vote to verify Kash Patel on the FBI or Pete Hegseth on the pentagon?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: We do not have, at this level, I do not assume, readability on that. I feel these are nominees who’re new sufficient, they have been going round and conducting their conferences, which I feel, frankly, have gone very nicely. However they nonetheless must make their case in entrance of – of the committee.
And, you recognize, we do not know all of the details about a few of these nominees. I feel we all know quite a bit about them. However they deserve a good course of.
We’ve got a three-vote margin within the Senate, as you level out, however I do assume that usually no less than, most of our Republican senators are inclined to provide the president the those who he needs in these positions, given, you recognize, the method that they undergo and whether or not or not they will handle the committee course of and make sure that they get to the ground for a vote.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does that embrace FBI background checks? I do know usually the rating members get them on Armed Companies, for instance, however a few of your colleagues, they wish to see Pete Hegseth’s FBI background examine earlier than they vote.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Proper. And I feel that is going to be decided largely by the committee chairs. I feel there shall be an curiosity, clearly –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Would you encourage that?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, positive. I imply I feel that you just wish to have as a lot background as attainable and that’s obtainable to the committees as they make their selections. I’ve a excessive stage of confidence in our chairs that they may make sure that as members of the committee and of the total Senate have a chance to contemplate these nominees, that they have all the data obtainable to them that they need to have.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you what you have to get performed coverage clever as nicely when it comes to offering the president with the funding to execute on a few of his huge targets.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got mentioned you are going to exit of the gate with a generational funding in border safety and immigration enforcement. You are going to go it on 51 get together line votes. If you wish to govern via common order, why undergo this in a celebration line course?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, it is a kind of points that has turn into extremely divisive for the nation. And there aren’t very many individuals left within the center. Reconciliation permits us – it would not come alongside fairly often the place you could have unified management of the federal government. In a number of instances it would not final very lengthy. It is a few years.
The Democrats offered a template within the final couple of years for the best way to develop the scope of what is obtainable to get performed via the reconciliation course of. It is the one course of within the Senate that lets you enact laws with a 51-vote threshold versus 60.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. Proper.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: And so, immigration, the border –
MARGARET BRENNAN: But it surely’s out of the gate saying, we’re not going to work with Democrats.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, I am not saying what – they got here out of the gate. They’d their first reconciliation invoice performed in 4 weeks popping out – after they acquired the bulk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: $2 trillion.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, they usually spent –
MARGARET BRENNAN: With the Covid invoice. And also you did not prefer it.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: $2 trillion after which – then one other – one other trillion with the IRA.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You faulted them for utilizing reconciliation. Precisely.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: It could be supreme if we may work out a technique to do issues on the 60-vote threshold. And there are a selection of issues we’ll. We predict {that a} generational funding within the border is critical given the place we’re after the final 4 years of a – what I feel is a really failed Biden/Harris border coverage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There are 1.4 million individuals right here with deportation orders.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Orders of elimination towards them. I’ve seen numbers that put the price of expelling them at between $80 to $100 billion yearly. Are you able to get that sort of cash within the first hundred days?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: What we’re making an attempt to do is get an evaluation from the people who find themselves going to be in place. They’ll be implementing a number of the president’s insurance policies in relation to the border to find out what that – that useful resource allocation goes to wish – must be.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They do not know but.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, I feel that what we do know is we’d like bodily limitations, we’d like technological limitations, we’d like extra ICE brokers, we’d like extra Border Patrol brokers and – and, sure, we will want methods of deporting individuals which are on that – on that listing that you just talked about. And so, it will take some assets to try this, which is why I might argue that when the president takes workplace, and he’ll do a number of issues on the border by govt order, by govt motion, that we will want to have the ability to present the assets to ensure that him to try this. And that is why I’ve urged that we take that border subject on instantly and allow him to do the issues that he must do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it true you are going to put some protection spending in that as nicely?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, I feel one of many issues that we all the time argue about round right here is the amount of cash that we have to spend on protection. If you happen to take a look at each Biden administration price range, there wasn’t a single considered one of them when it got here to army spending that got here up – stored up even with inflation. So, we’ve got a army readiness on this nation. You understand, we’ve got the protection fee technique group that comes out with a report on a regular basis and tells us we’re dramatically underfunded relative to nations like China and that we do not have the capability –
MARGARET BRENNAN: These needs to be bipartisan points, proper? So –
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, and we do not have the capability and functionality to do what must be performed to guard the nation. There is a huge distinction in delta within the two events and the way they method the problem of protection and, you recognize, and army readiness. And I feel we’re dramatically underfunding our army in the present day. I feel the president believes that, President Trump. And I feel a number of our Republican colleagues within the Home and the Senate share that view.
So, can we do that via reconciliation? We’re clearly our choices.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ensure I ask you in regards to the different huge promise you made when it comes to delivering on tax reform and reconciliation.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The estimates are it may add $4 trillion over the following decade. Is that actually one thing you assume goes to go on a party-line vote and with none income or spending cuts?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly, they’re –
MARGARET BRENNAN: You may’t be snug.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: These are tax legal guidelines that may expire on the finish of this 12 months if Congress would not take motion to increase them. And it could characterize a $4 trillion tax improve on the American individuals if we do not prolong that coverage.
We’ll have a really strong dialog about tax reform. There’s quite a bit using on it economically. I feel regulatory coverage, tax coverage, power coverage are going to be actually important to the power of our financial system, how briskly we are able to develop and develop and creator higher paying jobs on this nation.
So, I am a giant believer in pro-growth tax coverage. I imagine you get a number of that again via development in further income. Each 1 % –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Not tariffs, as Mr. Trump has promised?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: Properly – nicely, that is – that is a special topic. However I might say each 1 % improve in – in GDP, in financial development, we’re informed, generates about $3 trillion in further tax income. So, you are going to get some again when it comes to a development dividend. And there shall be spending cuts. There is no query about it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However going out of the gate with two huge points on party- line votes, aren’t you involved that may blow up your probabilities at working with Democrats on a few of these larger immigration points, or larger insurance policies?
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: We have to proceed to work on these huge coverage points. However I additionally assume that we’ve got some fast considerations, issues that must be addressed. Considered one of which is nationwide safety, given the more and more harmful world by which we stay. And, in fact, I might argue, that begins with the border. So, border, nationwide safety. I feel power coverage, power dominance, is a large goal and aim. And I might hope {that a} reconciliation invoice may additionally deal with that subject. If we do one thing on taxes, that historically has been previously. The Democrats did it twice whereas they’d the bulk within the final session of the Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Trump did that in 2017, too, with taxes.
SENATOR JOHN THUNE: And that is – and each side have performed it. And that is the distinctive side of getting unified management of the federal government. However I feel these are all vital and they’re issues that, as a rustic, if we do not get proper, I concern what the outcomes and the result shall be.
And, sure, it could be supreme in case you may do it bipartisan. I hope that there are some Democrats who would vote for among the tax insurance policies that we’ve got, however I am not – I am not anticipating that in the mean time.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: You may see the total interview on our web site and YouTube channel.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: President-elect Trump has promised to seal the southern border, the place unlawful crossings at the moment are at a four-year low. CBS Information immigrations and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez has extra from each side of the U.S./Mexico border.
(BEGIN VT)
MAN: This has been a confirmed deterrent.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ (voice over): Alongside the U.S./Mexico border, our drone captured a bunch of migrant, together with younger kids, making an attempt to enter the nation illegally. However they have been unable to get previous a razor wire arrange by the state of Texas.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ: Some individuals might take a look at this and say, this seems like a warfare zone.
MAN: The tactic behind all this optic is doing what it simply did proper now. It prevents them from coming over illegally.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ (voice over): Texas credit its aggressive efforts for the present four-year low in unlawful border crossings. The Biden administration attributes that drop to asylum restrictions, Mexico’s efforts to cease migrants, and a telephone app often known as CBP-1 that enables as much as 1,500 individuals per day to schedule authorized crossings.
However on thee Mexican facet of the border, we discovered a bottleneck of individuals determined to enter the U.S., awaiting the appointments beneath the app. President-elect Trump has vowed to close down the app, develop borderer restrictions, and conduct mass deportations..
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ: Right here on this meals pantry in Tatijana, Mexico, migrants from throughout Latin American can get meals, water, primary requirements, clothes, and authorized providers. However now the priority is that the incoming Trump administration may derail their plans to make it into the U.S.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ (voice over): Meals pantry director Christina Coranato (ph) worries Trump’s plan to close down the app may backfire, prompting extra migrants to cross into the U.S. illegally.
WOMAN: (Talking in international language).
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ: There’s a number of uncertainty.
WOMAN: (talking in international language).
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ: Nervousness too.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ (voice over): Haitian migrant Migueleli Nelson (ph) makes use of CBP-1 each morning hoping to get her daughter a golden ticket into the U.S.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ: Every thing you are doing now’s in your daughter to have a greater future.
WOMAN: (Talking in international language).
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ: Sure.
That is all you need.
CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ (voice over): Whether or not that future shall be within the U.S. remains to be to be decided.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is our Camilo Montoya-Galvez reporting.
We go now to Tom Homan. He’ll function Mr. Trump’s border czar. And he joins us this morning from Naples, Florida.
Good morning to you, sir.
TOM HOMAN (Incoming Trump Administration Border Czar): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Deportations at the moment are at a decade excessive. They have been on the finish of 2024. Almost 300,000 individuals deported by the Biden administration.
The incoming administration has promised the biggest deportation operation in historical past. What is the quantity? What is the measure of success?
TOM HOMAN: Properly, let’s discuss this administration, what they declare is a large deportation quantity this 12 months. Truly, in case you drill into the numbers, about 80 % of these numbers are literally Border Patrol arrests that the enforcement (INAUDIBLE) operation of ICE processed and moved again throughout the border. They weren’t (INAUDIBLE) enforcement arrest.
If you happen to take a look at the historic variety of unlawful entries the final 4 years, ICE, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, has the bottom variety of deportations within the historical past of the company. So, they’re enjoying a numbers recreation, identical to they performed a numbers recreation with a lot of individuals coming throughout to frame.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
TOM HOMAN: So, despite the fact that they declare they have the very best variety of deportations, take a look at these deportations, who truly made these arrests, who truly eliminated these individuals, it isn’t ICE.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. It is nonetheless a better quantity than the Trump administration. However I wish to ask you, for the revenue Trump administration, what’s – what is the measure? It’s not deportations on the border. You are saying you will measure success by people who find themselves already inside within the nation to deport. That is how you are going to measure it. And what’s that determine?
TOM HOMAN: Properly, once more, let’s get the numbers straight. You say they have been greater than the Trump administration. This is not about what number of acquired deported as a result of Trump had unlawful border crossings at a 45-year low. So, in fact elimination goes to be decrease. The numbers, what number of have been launched into the USA that – that aren’t within the nation legally? Beneath the Biden administration we’ve got thousands and thousands of individuals launched in the USA who’ve misplaced their hearings and we have thousands and thousands of individuals which are, you recognize, launched in the USA regardless of a statute saying that you just can’t be launched in the USA with out correct documentation and also you shall be detained. So, you may examine the numbers of deportations beneath Trump versus Biden, however when you think about a 45-year low in crossings, in fact the variety of deportations goes to be decrease as a result of we do not have that inhabitants to course of and deport.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Properly, I am excellent to measure success going ahead.
For day one, are you able to assist us perceive what the plan is?
You understand, a lot of industries on this nation rent undocumented staff as a result of they’re low cost labor. On day one, are you going to re-start raids on work websites, on development websites?
TOM HOMAN: The – President Trump’s been clear, as I have been clear from day one, that the president goes to focus on public security threats and nationwide safety threats. And as you heard out of your earlier segments, we’ve got an enormous nationwide safety subject on this nation. The southwest border has turn into the largest nationwide safety vulnerability we have seen on this nation. FBI Director Wray agrees with me. We all know there’s individuals on this nation pose a nationwide safety risk. They’ve arrested a document variety of individuals on the terrorist watch listing. A 3,500 % improve in individuals on the terrorist watch listing being arrested on the border.
We have over 2 million recognized got-aways. We all know 2 million individuals crossed the border, weren’t arrested, weren’t vetted, weren’t fingerprints.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
TOM HOMAN: So, you have to ask your self, why did 2 million individuals pay extra to get away. Why did not they pay much less, flip themselves into Border Patrol, get a free airline ticket to town of their alternative –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
TOM HOMAN: Get a free lodge room, get three meals a day, get free medical care. Why did 2 million individuals pay extra to get away.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. I am not disputing that it’s a hemisphere-wide disaster. We’re speaking about how you are going to take care of it. That is why I am asking you, while you say “criminals,” does that imply you will go into already-existing prisons, at native stage, and deport people who find themselves in these prisons? Are you going to go to workforces? I imply, how have you learnt the place the criminals are I assume is the query? And in the event that they’re working at a piece website, are you going to indicate as much as shock them?
TOM HOMAN: Properly, look, we all know the place a number of the criminals are. ICE does – they’re nice at this work. We all know the place some are, however they merely have not been capable of go arrest them due to Secretary Mayorkas’ priorities, it handcuffed ICE. So, we all know the place a number of criminals are. They have been prevented from arresting them. We’ll arrest beginning day one.
So far as being in jails and prisons, we’d like to work in native jails, however sanctuary cities will not permit us into these jails. It is a lot simpler to arrest a public security risk and the security and safety of public jail than out on the street as a result of the officer is after that approach, the alien is safer that approach, the group is safer that approach. However sanctuary cities who proceed to launch public security threats again into the group –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
TOM HOMAN: To the immigrant group, that places that group at higher threat of crime.
And here is what is going on to occur. Once we go to the group and discover that particular person, discover that felony alien –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
TOM HOMAN: He is in all probability going to be with others, others who we’ll must arrest. So, it isn’t protected for the group, not protected for the officers, not protected for anyone.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
TOM HOMAN: Allow us to arrest the unhealthy man within the jail cell the place you selected to arrest any person and put him in a jail cell as a result of clearly, he is a public security risk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. If you simply mentioned in there, it sounds such as you have been speaking about collateral arrests. So, you are going to goal individuals you recognize are criminals. But when they occur to be dwelling in a home the place there are different undocumented individuals, you are going to sweep them up, too. That is what I feel you have been simply saying there.
I’m wondering how you are going to parse out a few of these collateral arrests. For instance, will dreamers be protected? Donald Trump has mentioned he needs to work with Democrats to guard them and provides them standing. That takes a very long time in Congress. What do you do within the meantime? How do you ensure they are not caught up in drag web?
TOM HOMAN: Look, each particular person ICE arrests, they do what they name a fugitive operation spreadsheet. They know precisely who they are going to arrest, they know precisely the place they’re in all probability more likely to discover him, they usually have a number of data on that arrest. Different individuals which are there which may be unlawful, they’re going to deal with them by a case-by-case foundation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
TOM HOMAN: The focus – I wish to be clear on some public security threats, if we – extra brokers within the jails means much less brokers within the neighborhood. That is why I am pleading with sanctuary cities, allow us to into the jail to arrest the unhealthy man, that approach you are not forcing into the group. So, you recognize, in case you go to an immigrant group and ask them, would you somewhat have ICE working in your native jails or would you need them in the neighborhood, what do you assume they are going to say? They do not – they do not need unhealthy – unhealthy felony aliens of their neighborhoods, both.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
TOM HOMAN: So, allow us to work with the jails. Allow us to work with regulation enforcement. Sanctuary cities aren’t protected for the immigrant group, they are not protected for our officers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. So, that is like Safe Communities Act sort of – sort of motion. However then the place do you ship individuals? As a result of a few of these nations, like Venezuela, do not settle for deportations proper now. Mexico’s president indicated her nation is likely to be keen to obtain non-Mexican migrants who’re deported. How does that work? Does the U.S. pay Mexico to then ship these individuals off some other place?
TOM HOMAN: Properly, to begin with, we have President Trump coming into the Oval Workplace and he is confirmed, throughout his first administration, his management on unlawful immigration was a recreation changer as a result of, as an illustration, El Salvador would not take again MS-13 members once I was the ICE director. It took President Trump 48 hours to get El Salvador to take again their felony aliens into their prisons. And Mexico did not wish to do the stay in Mexico program, however President Trump was capable of get stay in Mexico established in Mexico. He was capable of get Mexico to place army on their southern and northern border. President Trump’s a powerful president.
This administration has not pressured these nations to take them again. And we’ve got what we name a 3rd save (ph) nations. We have already got nations speaking about taking again individuals from different nations if – if, as an illustration, Venezuela do not wish to take their individuals again, there’s others methods we are able to do it. There’s different nations that shall be keen to simply accept them. We’re hoping that President Trump will work with Venezuela, like he did with Mexico and El Salvador and get these nations to take them again. If they do not, they’re nonetheless going to be deported, they’re simply going to be deported to a special nation.
We have not going to be held up by eradicating public security threats on this nation. We have to place – we have to place the security of the American individuals first.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
TOM HOMAN: We have too many younger girls murdered and raped and burn alive by members of Venezuelan gangs.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
TOM HOMAN: They must be a precedence beneath this administration. And they are going to be a precedence beginning day one. And they are going to be deported.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We are going to keep tuned for the main points.
Border czar Tom Homan, thanks in your time.
We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yesterday marked the start of a collection of public remembrances for former President Jimmy Carter, who died final Sunday on the age of 100.
Mark Strassman experiences.
(BEGIN VT)
MARK STRASSMAN (voice over): A second lengthy within the making for individuals who served for therefore lengthy. Jimmy Carter’s Secret Service element, current and previous, escorting his casket to the presidential hearse.
WOMAN: Plains is a vacationer city, and President Carter is our favourite son. He has molded this city.
MARK STRASSMAN: That is the tip of an period right here in Plains. Jimmy Carter was their good friend, their neighbor, this small group’s id.
MAN: He was every thing that America ought to have been. And he actually meant quite a bit to the individuals round right here.
MARK STRASSMAN (voice over): Exterior his boyhood farm, a bell tolled 39 instances, saluting America’s thirty ninth president.
On the Carter Presidential Heart in Atlanta, Marines carried within the casket. Jimmy Carter will lie in repose via Tuesday morning. 5 extra days of remembrances will honor a former president and globe-trotting humanitarian.
MAN: He was held up and propped up and soothed by a tremendous lady. And the 2 of them collectively modified the world.
MARK STRASSMAN (voice over): Beginning Tuesday morning, America’s ultimate salute will shift to Washington, D.C., for 2 days of remembrance.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That was our Mark Strassman reporting.
You’ll want to tune into CBS Information for our protection of America’s farewell to Jimmy Carter. On Tuesday, the previous president will lie in state on the U.S. Capitol, and on Thursday, the state funeral on the Nationwide Cathedral.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us in the present day. Thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week. For FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
