On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Reps. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, Democrat of California
- Anthony Salvanto, CBS Information director of elections and surveys
- White Home Nationwide Financial Council Director Kevin Hassett
- UNICEF government director Catherine Russell
- Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops and Oklahoma Metropolis Archbishop
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on “FACE THE NATION,” the long-awaited launch of the Epstein recordsdata. And can that excellent news about inflation enhance America’s views about President Trump’s dealing with of the financial system?
President Trump is wrapping up the 12 months with a tighter concentrate on the financial system and affordability, each within the Oval Workplace and on the midterm’s marketing campaign path, boasting of his 2025 accomplishments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the USA): This can be a much better time period than it might have been had I accomplished it essentially the most conventional method. It truly is. It is extra highly effective time period. It is a extra highly effective time period. And the largest information of all is yesterday it was introduced that inflation is way decrease than anyone anticipated. I advised you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is an exaggerated declare, however any signal of costs going decrease is sweet information for People. Our new CBS ballot reveals that half the nation says Trump’s insurance policies are making them financially worse off. We’ll ask White Home Chief Financial Advisor Kevin Hassett about that and extra.
Plus, a bipartisan dialog with the 2 members of Congress who pushed to cross the regulation calling for the Epstein recordsdata to be made public. Has the Trump administration obeyed that regulation? We’ll speak about Kentucky Republican Tom Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna.
Lastly, we’ll speak with the pinnacle of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, concerning the youngsters of Sudan and Gaza.
It is all simply forward on “FACE THE NATION.”
Good morning and welcome to “FACE THE NATION.”
To date there have been few surprises within the tens of hundreds of paperwork associated to the case towards convicted intercourse offender and accused intercourse trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, convicted baby intercourse offender Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Division says that 1,200 names recognized as victims or their family had been redacted, together with supplies that would outcome of their identification. Will the discharge of the paperwork fulfill Congress and the political forces who lobbied for his or her disclosure and, rather more importantly, will it fulfill the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and their households?
The 2 Home members who pushed their colleagues into passing the invoice to launch these paperwork, Republican Thomas Massie, who’s in Garrison, Kentucky, and Democrat Ro Khanna, who joins us this morning from Palo Alto, California.
It is good to have you ever each of you right here.
I wish to begin with you, Congressman Massie, as a result of in these previous 48 hours we now have seen the Justice Division acknowledge it is an incomplete launch, however they’ve put out greater than 13,000 recordsdata. They are saying extra will come.
This is not every thing you requested for simply but, however would you acknowledge that they’re supplying with the spirit, if not the intent of your regulation?
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): No, they’re flouting the spirit and the letter of the regulation. It’s extremely troubling, the posture that they’ve taken. And I will not be happy till the survivors are happy.
You understand, I stated within the hours main as much as this launch that we are going to know if they’re complying in the event that they implicate any of the opposite criminals which are concerned within the – suspects which are concerned. The witnesses, the victims themselves have given to the FBI, they usually’ve by no means been talked about.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, there are some disclosures in right here that appear new, Congressman Khanna. The paperwork verify that the FBI acquired a grievance about Jeffrey Epstein again in 1996, however the girl whose identify is Maria Farmer, who made the grievance, stated federal officers did not comply with up. She stated the disclosure makes her really feel redeemed and that this was the most effective days of her life, to see these paperwork made public. What motion would you like taken round a case like this?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA (D-CA): That was the one most necessary disclosure of what we received. I do know Maria’s sister, she sounded the alarm in 1996. She complained to the FBI. The issue is that Epstein was so linked with regulation enforcement and highly effective politicians, the FBI did nothing for a decade. Frankly, she deserves compensation. She deserves a proof.
However the broader level is, Blanche was on this morning saying that Massie and I’ve an issue that it is taking too lengthy. That is not the issue. The issue is, this was a slap within the face of survivors. What do they need? They wish to know, who’re the wealthy and highly effective males who visited Epstein’s rape island and coated up the abuse. And the important thing paperwork that our regulation mainly stated wanted to be launched, the 60-count indictment that really implicates lots of these individuals, and the prosecution memo weren’t launched. It isn’t concerning the timeline, it is concerning the selective concealment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, but, proper, the deputy legal professional basic stated there are extra disclosures that can be made. You consider that they won’t launch that specific half? I imply you probably did give them some leeway for redactions.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: Properly, to start with, the redactions had been extreme. And even Harvard Legislation professors who’ve checked out which have stated you possibly can’t redact inside communications, you possibly can’t redact workforce product. And the courts are going to search out that these had been extreme.
However my level, and I am positive Congressman Massie can elaborate, is that we would like the recordsdata out. So, if our sounding the alarm on what’s lacking goes to assist them get these recordsdata out, nice. However this should not be an enormous doc dump. There is a fairly easy level, who raped these younger ladies, who coated it up and why are they getting away with it?
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you might be saying particular issues relating to the indictment Congressman Massie, I noticed in a video that you simply posted, you had a really particular benchmark of success right here. You stated there are a minimum of 20 males accused of intercourse crimes identified to the FBI. How have you learnt that quantity? And have you learnt these names?
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Sure, the survivors legal professionals have advised me these numbers they usually’ve described their professions generally. However they’ve solely given me a kind of identify. And I discussed that in a congressional listening to, Jeff Staley (ph). So, I searched these paperwork. I did not see Jeff Staley’s identify. Nor did I see 19 different names.
And here is why we should not be optimistic that Blanche or Bondi are going to launch these factor. They despatched a six-page memo to Congress and stated that – they cited pre-existing legal guidelines as causes that they weren’t going to comply with our regulation. As an illustration, our regulation requires them to launch info no matter embarrassment. However they’re making an attempt to say {that a} earlier regulation prevails when it does not. Widespread sense says it does not. The privateness act does not shield them from that. After which additionally, as Ro stated, inside communication. These – they’re utilizing a FOIA customary that does not apply as a result of our regulation already says they’ve to present us inside communications.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. By way of the gentleman there, you referenced as accused, I imply, being within the doc does not essentially show prison conduct, proper? And when it comes to the redactions, what the deputy legal professional basic stated is that they had been abiding by your regulation. And likewise a decide in New York had ordered them to take heed to victims. So, they’re claiming that info that that they had initially even revealed Friday, they needed to pull down as a result of they had been making an attempt to guard victims. You are not – you do not sound satisfied that they’re abiding by, , this intent.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: No, truly – no, they don’t seem to be abiding. And all three judges who launched the grand jury supplies stated that our regulation trumps the prior regulation. That is simply widespread sense. Legislation college 101. But, Todd Blanche is utilizing a special principle that would not survive first contact with any courtroom, which is, he is making an attempt to say that prior legal guidelines override our regulation. That is not the way in which this works.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. What are you going to do about it to drive them to conform? I imply are you able to do something?
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE: Oh, completely. Look, individuals have talked about – and by the way in which, Todd Blanche is the face of this. But it surely’s actually the legal professional basic’s workplace, Pam Bondi, who’s accountable. And there are a number of methods to get at this. Some take longer. Some are shorter.
The quickest method, and I believe most expeditious solution to get justice for these victims is to carry inherent contempt towards Pam Bondi. And that does not require going by the courts. And provides her – , and mainly Ro Khanna and I are speaking about and drafting that proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Properly, I imply, on one other community this morning Democratic Senator Tim Kaine stated impeachment or contempt, it’s untimely, Congressman Khanna. And the depth legal professional basic stated carry it on. They are not taking it very significantly. And if you happen to simply do not have the maths within the Senate, together with a minimum of now this Democratic senator not being satisfied, does not that kind of present that you simply’re on the restrict of strain?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: No, we solely want the Home for inherent contempt. And we’re constructing a bipartisan coalition. And it might nice Pam Bondi for every single day that she’s not releasing these paperwork.
I will let you know why – I’ve talked to the survivors, why that is such a slap within the face. One of many survivors stated they launched her identify unintentionally however they nonetheless haven’t launched the FBI file concerning the individuals who abused her at her request. And the issue right here is that there are wealthy and highly effective individuals – everyone knows this, there are 1,200 victims, they’re wealthy and highly effective individuals who both engaged on this abuse, coated it up or had been on this island. And what the American individuals wish to know is, who’re these individuals. And as an alternative of holding them accountable, Pam Bondi is breaking the regulation. And that is the corrupt system, the Epstein class that persons are sick of.
So, I consider we’ll get bipartisan assist in holding her accountable and a committee of Congress ought to decide whether or not these redactions are justified or not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is someday in January whenever you all come again, I assume, that that can occur.
I wish to ask you, although, Congressman Khanna, there have been pictures launched up to now 48 hours, a few of them embrace former President Invoice Clinton. There’s a minimum of one picture of Donald Trump. I ought to say neither man has been accused of any wrongdoing associated to Epstein, although they clearly knew him.
However since Friday’s publication – we’re displaying the picture right here now – one of many footage was pulled down. There have been 15 pictures complete that had been then redacted from the DOJ web site. And it is form of laborious to see, but it surely’s an open drawer with a photograph of President Trump.
Why do you assume that was pulled down? As a result of the deputy legal professional basic says this was victims saying that their privateness or someway their integrity was being compromised by having that picture revealed.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: Properly, I am much less involved about that photograph. I do not know the details. My concern is the foremost paperwork that we all know are on the market that have not been launched. The 60 depend indictment that reveals huge monetary fraud and international interference. The prosecution memo. And look, they put out these Invoice Clinton footage –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Overseas interference?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: Properly, there are allegations that there are international governments that probably had been concerned. And that each one wants to return out. And it wants to return out within the indictments. It wants to return out within the prosecution memos.
However the actuality is, they put out these footage of Invoice Clinton. Positive, put all of it out, however do not distract from the basic challenge, which is, who’re these highly effective individuals who visited rape – rape island? I imply there are 1,200 victims. It defies widespread sense that it was simply Epstein and Maxwell. They usually’re hiding one thing. And why the American persons are so upset. My X account had MAGA supporters supporting me for the primary time, saying, , Pam Bondi whiffed, in keeping with Susan Wiles.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: She is breaking the regulation. She must be held accountable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are referring to the “Self-importance Truthful” quote that the chief of workers gave, saying, the “whiffed.” And he or she stated that Pam Bondi gave them “binders filled with nothingness.” After which when it got here to the shopper checklist she stated it was on her desk, “there is no such thing as a shopper checklist,” quote, “and it positive as hell wasn’t on her desk.”
Do you see that as an acknowledgment right here although that the politics have overtaken the substance?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: No. For us it is concerning the survivors. And if you happen to have a look at Thomas Massie and my feedback the morning of the discharge, we had been giving Todd Blanche the good thing about the doubt. We stated if it isn’t all there, nice, simply get the knowledge out. It is when the survivors stated that that is an insult, this can be a slap of their face, that we don’t get – the reality about who these males had been on the – on rape island, that we began sounding the alarm. And that is extra paperwork of nothingness.
And I suppose the query the American individuals have, even to me, is, is the system so corrupt, is the system so corrupt that Thomas Massie and also you defy the percentages, cross a invoice by a discharge petition, get the Senate, get the president to signal it, and nonetheless these wealthy and highly effective persons are being protected. Who has this sort of maintain on our authorities? What are they hiding? Why are they not releasing this?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, you need, what, individuals concerned in these preliminary investigations down in Florida reexamined and presumably prosecuted?
REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA: I need the knowledge out which was in that prosecution memo that Acosta disregarded, that had been in these indictments. There have been 60 counts towards Epstein. Solely two counts had been prosecuted. I wish to know, who had been these different individuals who had been on the Epstein’s rape island, who had been the individuals who noticed younger ladies being paraded round at events, 13, 14, 15-year-olds and did not say something, and why is it so laborious when there is a regulation requiring these names to return out. What we’re seeing is survivors’ names come out however not the boys who abuse them. And as an alternative of – as an alternative of holding elites accountable, Pam Bondi is break the regulation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we’ll see whenever you gents come again to work someday in January what your subsequent measures are. It sounds such as you’ve made it clear you are transferring motion towards the legal professional basic.
Thanks each on your response at this time.
“FACE THE NATION” can be again in a minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to the financial system and our government director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto.
Good morning. Good to have you ever right here.
ANTHONY SALVANTO: Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the president was talking all through the previous week concerning the financial system, even on this Oval Workplace deal with. He is making an attempt to reframe public notion of what is going on on. We all know sentiment has been low for years now. Do individuals actually count on {that a} president can repair every thing within the first 12 months?
ANTONY SALVANTO: So, let me begin with that large context as a result of it is so necessary. Sure, by 2025 individuals have stated they thought the financial system was unhealthy. If you speak about going again years, this goes again to earlier than the pandemic was the final time {that a} majority of People stated the financial system was good. So, we’re on this lengthy and lots of people assume structural change that the financial system has gone by. Issues received costlier popping out of the pandemic and folks nonetheless try to regulate to these larger prices. That is what underpins all these sentiments.
Now, the political a part of that is coming into 2025 extra individuals did assume that Donald Trump would repair it. The expectations had been excessive. We measured that again in January. Proper now you will have this lower than one in 5 that really feel like his insurance policies have made them financially higher off. And even whenever you ask individuals then to stay up for 2026, it is just a little bit higher, but it surely’s not overwhelming that folks assume his insurance policies will make them higher off.
So, there’s this actual disconnect there. And if you happen to come again to the outline of the financial system, individuals proper now, I ask them to simply grade it, they usually give it a C, a D and even worse, which is completely different than lots of the occasions the way in which the administration has described the financial system. That units up the basic problem I believe you noticed that this week for – within the deal with.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, it isn’t a brand new tactic for a present president guilty the final one for all the issues of at this time. However we checked and in that primetime deal with the president stated it was Biden’s identify, Biden’s fault about seven occasions. Does the general public purchase that?
ANTONY SALVANTO: Properly, whenever you choose up on what we have simply talked about, this long-term pattern, the president did inherit financial system the place individuals thought – a majority of individuals thought it was unhealthy. On the similar time, proper now extra individuals say the present financial system is Donald Trump’s duty. He is the one, it is on his watch proper now.
Having stated that, he had been declining on his dealing with of the financial system all year long. That is leveled off now in current weeks. And one factor you do discover is, sure, there’s this disconnect. Individuals assume he’s describing it as higher than it truly is. Possibly there’s political credit score to be gained by beginning to deal with what persons are feeling.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, one factor we all know is that well being care prices for each personal insurance coverage customers and authorities insurance coverage customers goes to be up. Congress remains to be debating what to do concerning the Obamacare act. However how a lot public focus is there on this challenge?
ANTONY SALVANTO: So, if you happen to have a look at essentially the most rapid a part of that argument, an enormous majority thinks that Congress ought to lengthen these added subsidies. However within the wider context of this, once we requested individuals, how do you are feeling about making an attempt to afford all these numerous facets, these fundamentals, price of dwelling, well being care is likely one of the ones that stands out that lots of people say they’ve bother affording.
And I believe you are choosing that up within the basic sentiment of how individuals course of well being care, medical insurance prices as nicely. It is a vital half, clearly, of individuals’s budgets, but additionally one which they inform us that issues them a complete lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, one of many structural modifications you kind of alluded to earlier is the change coming from synthetic intelligence. You had been taking a look at this. We have seen lots of dialogue about the way it’s reshaping issues. Are People kind of digesting that? How do they perceive it?
ANTONY SALVANTO: Sure, we have been following this all 12 months as a result of, proper, it is driving inventory market features. There’s lots of funding in it as nicely.
Proper now you see lots of uncertainty from the general public about it. On one hand, once I ask individuals, what elements of the financial sectors are you most a minimum of optimistic about? Expertise stands out as individuals being optimistic about it generally. However with regard to A.I. particularly, extra individuals inform us they assume it should lower jobs than enhance them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And the variety of firms forecasting lots of spending on know-how within the new 12 months.
What do all these dynamics imply politically for the midterm races in 2026?
ANTONY SALVANTO: So, let me begin with the president as a result of one factor I requested heading into 2026, is there something that the president might do to vary your thoughts about them? And there are a considerable variety of people who say, sure. Maybe not surprisingly, once I comply with and ask, nicely, what would that be about, they are saying it is the financial system.
The explanation that is necessary is, within the dynamic right here, a president is at all times key. He is not on the poll, however he is at all times on individuals’s minds in a midterm 12 months. So, that is the very first thing to observe. However the different one, , if you happen to’re at your vacation gathering and persons are arguing about what is going on to occur, who’s going to win, I believe it is too far to know for sure. However on the similar time, we will already see the circumstances and the taking part in discipline that folks can be preventing on. And that is clearly price of dwelling. It is clearly well being care, amongst different issues. And it is the race to outline how individuals consider it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Anthony Salvanto, thanks for this.
ANTONY SALVANTO: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to the director of the White Home Nationwide Financial Council Kevin Hassett.
Good morning to you.
KEVIN HASSETT (Nationwide Financial Council Director): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We took you actually. You stated final Sunday you’d come again and speak to us about that family survey, the roles image. You stated you actually belief it. That report got here out. It confirmed America added 64,000 jobs with unemployment ticking as much as 4.6 %.
However we have seen evaluation, together with from the highest economist at U.S. Navy Federal saying the U.S. is in a, quote, “hiring recession. Only a few jobs being added for the reason that spring and wage features are slowing.” Are we in a hiring recession?
KEVIN HASSETT: No, I do not assume so. I believe that mainly the quantity was about what the market anticipated. It was a quantity that was lower than 100, which is just a little bit decrease than you want. However then, after that, we received the Shopper Value Index numbers, which had been actually superb. And so, if you happen to have a look at the three-month transferring common of core shopper costs, then they’re working at an annual price of about 1.6 %, method under the Fed’s goal.
And my outdated buddy all the way in which again to grad college, Austan Goolsbee, who’s now one of many Fed governors voting on rates of interest, conceded that they need to have reduce charges sooner, and that he is going to take action sooner or later due to this inflation quantity.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. He was one of many dissenters when the Fed’s choice got here out.
KEVIN HASSETT: Appropriate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However with regards to inflation, as you simply referred to, that quantity confirmed there was nonetheless an increase in inflation. It was simply at a slower tempo than anticipated. In case you pull out vitality and pull out meals, it rose on the slowest tempo since 2021, up 2.6 % in November from a 12 months in the past. However then there are quirks in right here as a result of it seems like the costs weren’t gathered till Thanksgiving reductions kicked in. There was no enhance mirrored when it comes to homes prices. Why do you belief the information now when you have not up to now?
KEVIN HASSETT: Oh, , I believe that you simply’re proper to at all times be suspicious about knowledge. And it’ll look quite a bit cleaner once we get a full survey, which we did not have these – that point. However, , two of the three numbers, if we return to the three month transferring common, had been nice. And so, I believe that the error band across the 1.6 % inflation, about that is the – the tempo is working, might be fairly tight. Absolutely there can be some revisions, however I believe the numbers are about proper.
And I normally, Margaret, do not prefer to go to 12 months over 12 months once we’re speaking about what is going on on with inflation as a result of that features lots of excessive inflation Biden months within the again, and, , fewer and fewer as we get, , additional into the 12 months. However I believe that the trajectory proper now could be finest seen by the three month transferring common. And that is under two, under the Fed goal. So it means the Fed, as Austan Goolsbee stated, has loads of room to chop charges.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. However the president stated inflation has stopped. You’d acknowledge that is an exaggeration.
KEVIN HASSETT: Properly, I suppose the inflation being above the goal has stopped for positive. And so inflation shouldn’t be zero additionally. That is truthful.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. He didn’t give these caveats. He simply stated, inflation has stopped.
Kevin Hassett, stick with us. I’ve received to take a fast break and I wish to speak about the remainder of what we have discovered.
KEVIN HASSETT: OK.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again with much more “FACE THE NATION.” White Home Adviser – financial Adviser Kevin Hassett is standing by, and we’ll hear from the brand new head of the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops and likewise Catherine Russell, government director of UNICEF. She’s simply again from Sudan.
So, stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to “FACE THE NATION.”
And we proceed our dialog now with the director of the White Home Nationwide Financial Council Kevin Hassett. This previous week we noticed the president announce additional modifications to immigration coverage. He halted range visas. There at the moment are 39 nations on this journey ban or restricted checklist. That is along with all of the deportations and revocations of asylum.
The enterprise neighborhood has made clear that the fixed modifications make it laborious for them to plan, notably in small enterprise classes. They’re involved a couple of labor scarcity. And we have seen the U.S. workforce lose a couple of million foreign-born staff up to now 12 months. Are you listening to these issues from the enterprise neighborhood?
KEVIN HASSETT (DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL): Truly, it is the other. So, within the sense that native born staff are up greater than two million. And so what we have seen is that as foreign-born staff, and lots of them, remember, had been unlawful immigrants which were deported, when foreign-born staff depart, then it creates jobs for people who find themselves native-born.
The attention-grabbing factor too, which I would prefer to remind everyone, is that native-born People aren’t essentially racially distinct in any respect. And so, the vast majority of the native-born jobs which were created over the past 12 months are Hispanic People. It is, , simply mainly taking of us which are legally within the nation and getting the roles to them is what we see within the knowledge.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the Related Basic Contractors of America did not say they’re changing these staff simply. They’re saying they’re having a tough time doing that, and issued an announcement saying it is a vital problem, urging the administration to lock at methods to broaden the development workforce and permit extra individuals to lawfully enter the nation.
KEVIN HASSETT: Proper. Properly, one of many issues we’re seeing, that is precisely how markets work, proper? So, development staff, their salaries this 12 months have gone up by $3,300 on common in keeping with the most recent report. And –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Due to shortage?
KEVIN HASSETT: Properly, however when the worth goes up, then individuals say, oh, I ought to – I ought to go and I was a development employee however now I am doing one thing else, I ought to return to development work as a result of the salaries are so excessive. And so we’re seeing lots of that go on. And so we’re very bullish on development and actually completely satisfied to see that wages are going method again up.
And so, as an alternative of getting, , mainly unlawful individuals are available in and take jobs away from native-born People at low languages, we’re seeing individuals re-enter the labor drive at excessive wages.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However to be clear, from the enterprise neighborhood, a part of the query is what’s authorized since you’re altering the definition and pulling again asylum from some teams. So, there’s confusion of the fixed change in coverage. Will there be readability within the new 12 months?
KEVIN HASSETT: Oh, there will certainly be readability within the new 12 months. And I believe there’s readability now that what we have accomplished is that we have made it in order that persons are legally residents of the nation and legally allowed to work, that they are, , mainly high of the checklist whenever you’re on the lookout for any person to rent.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you a bit about tariffs. Since way back to July we now have heard the president confer with this concept of $2,000 checks being given out to households. The treasury secretary stated this may go to households making lower than $100,000. Ought to People plan to obtain these checks in 2026?
KEVIN HASSETT: That is going to rely upon what occurs with Congress. Congress goes to must ship these monies to these individuals. However the factor we will say is that since July we have had lots of optimistic information concerning the financial system. We have had a few quarters of just about 4 % progress. We have an enormous authorities surplus truly working for a couple of months in a row. The deficit relative to final 12 months is down by $600 billion.
And so, in the summertime I wasn’t so positive that there was house for a examine like that, however now I am fairly positive that there’s. And so, I might count on that within the new 12 months the president will carry forth a proposal to Congress to make that occur.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, a brand new proposal for these. It isn’t essentially coming from current tariff income?
KEVIN HASSETT: Oh, nicely, it might come from tariff income. However in the long run, , we get taxes, we get tariffs, we get all – income from a lot of locations, after which Congress decides spend these monies, that is an appropriation. It is – this must be cash that may an appropriation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. So, do not financial institution on it, in different phrases.
So, are you projecting that within the new 12 months sure tariffs will stay in place, or do you see a few of them going away?
KEVIN HASSETT: I believe that many of the tariffs that we handed this 12 months have confirmed their steel. We have nonetheless excessive progress, which individuals stated we could not if we had tariffs. Now we have discount within the deficit. Discount within the commerce deficit. Imports from China are the bottom they have been since China entered the WTO. So, there’s lots of success to crow about within the tariff house.
However there are additionally factor that we’re listening to once we speak to individuals, like buying and selling companions and corporations that commerce quite a bit within the U.S., There are additionally issues that perhaps could possibly be adjusted. You noticed that we determined to exempt espresso, for instance, as a result of we do not make lots of espresso within the U.S. And so I believe that –
MARGARET BRENNAN: And occasional costs are up.
KEVIN HASSETT: And I believe that if there’s one thing that is not made within the U.S. in any respect, that there is an urge for food, and Jamieson Greer is main the trouble to check these issues, there’s an urge for food too exempt issues in the event that they’re actually not meant to be made within the U.S. due to, , like local weather or issues like that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got additionally go – received the Supreme Court docket choice pending when it comes to the particular IEEPA, as they’re referred to as. These are tariffs the place the justification was citing fentanyl, Canadian crude, some Chinese language imports. If the Supreme Court docket does not discover in your favor, who will get the refund? Is it the businesses or is it the customers? How does that work?
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure, , we actually count on the Supreme Court docket goes to search out with us. And I additionally assume that in the event that they did not discover with us, then it should be fairly unlikely that they are going to name for widespread refunds as a result of it might be an administrative downside to get these refunds on the market. However mainly, whoever paid the tariff, like truly reduce the examine to purchase the factor, could be the one that could be getting the refund if there have been one.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does not the administration declare it was the nation that paid that? You are saying the corporate?
KEVIN HASSETT: It might be – like I am speaking – I am not speaking concerning the incidents, proper? The – like, so the incidents of the tariff, so in the long run who pays the tariff depends upon the elasticity of provide and demand. We all know that China reduce the worth quite a bit in order that the post-tariff worth from Chinese language items is about what it was earlier than the tariff. However the individuals who pay the tariff – if there’s a refund, the individuals who truly paid for the nice, the importer generally, they’re those who could be the primary line of protection for refunding the tariff.
However I actually, actually do not assume that is going to occur. It might be very sophisticated. After which that particular person could be accountable for allocating the tariff refund to the suitable of us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That appears like a large number.
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure, it’s a mess. And that is why I believe the Supreme Court docket would not do it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Properly, we’ll wait and see.
I wish to rapidly ask you concerning the oil market. I requested you final Sunday about that call to grab a tanker off the coast of Venezuela. We noticed one more one over the weekend. You stated final Sunday it most likely will not have an effect on oil costs to be taking this oil off the black market. Do you stand by that? And was all that oil going to China?
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure. You understand, I have not been briefed on the most recent. I did see that that is one other ship that was mainly working on the black market. And so there have been just a little bit – there’s been just a little little bit of black market exercise within the oil sector to go to sanctioned nations and to get them some oil. They usually’re getting that oil so as to keep away from, , the reforms that we predict would make the nations a greater place. And so, it isn’t lots of oil in comparison with world provide. And so, I do not assume that folks must be anxious right here within the U.S. that the costs are going to go up due to these seizures of those ships. There’s simply a few them. They usually had been black market ships.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Had been these sanctioned ships going to China?
KEVIN HASSETT: I am unsure the place they had been going.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Kevin Hassett, thanks on your time.
KEVIN HASSETT: Thanks. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have an ideal vacation.
KEVIN HASSETT: You, too.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: UNICEF warns that greater than 200 million youngsters would require humanitarian help within the coming 12 months. The biggest disaster proper now could be Sudan.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s government director, is simply again from Sudan and South Sudan.
Good morning to you.
CATHERINE RUSSELL (Govt Director, UNICEF): Good morning, Margaret. How are you?
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am nicely. However you might be – we wish to draw consideration right here to these in want. And I do know Secretary of State Marco Rubio simply, on Friday, referred to as for a cessation of hostilities. He stated the U.S. is pushing for a humanitarian truce to permit a few of these support organizations to function, however support convoys have been struck on their method in, he additionally acknowledged. What sort of challenges are you going through?
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Properly, Sudan is, at this second, the most important humanitarian disaster we’re going through. And there are lots of issues occurring there. One is that youngsters particularly, however persons are on the transfer. Tens of millions of persons are transferring across the nation. Now we have starvation, excessive starvation, together with famine, designated in sure elements of the nation. We’re additionally seeing simply horrific ranges of violence, excuse me, together with rape, together with towards youngsters. UNICEF did a report about that a couple of 12 months in the past. Even youngsters underneath the age of 1. Completely horrible tales.
And a lady I met in Chad, who had fled Darfur, advised me concerning the effort to kind of rape ladies in entrance of their households and their communities. Actually making an attempt to terrorize them. And videotaping it to humiliate them. And so, the degrees of violence are horrific. You have got youngsters out of college. So, the underside line right here is that the wants are huge. The challenges are simply completely staggering. And I believe the world wants to return collectively, , within the brief time period for positive we’d like higher humanitarian entry. We have to attain all of those communities. That is laborious to do proper now.
However the reality is, Margaret, that what I heard from youngsters throughout Sudan was the identical factor, which is, I might say to them, , what do you consider what would you like? They usually all stated the identical factor, which is, we would like peace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: I believe they perceive that the one reply right here actually is to resolve the political issues so that folks can get again to some kind of an honest life.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I simply – I do not wish to let go what you simply talked about when it comes to why one thing like that may be accomplished to youngsters and to ladies in entrance of their households. The time period genocide is utilized in Sudan. What you might be describing there when it comes to therapy of gender-based violence, it appears like you might be saying, that’s an try and destroy a society by finishing up rape.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: I imply they’re undoubtedly atrocities which are meant to terrorize communities, to drive them to maneuver, to scare them. And, , they’re efficient methods for positive. And I believe, , the world wants to have a look – I imply Sudan, I do know it appears so distant. And it’s in some ways. However additionally it is a spot the place youngsters are struggling so enormously. And I believe particularly, , now we’re within the vacation season, , you wish to take into consideration, , individuals being with their households, all the remainder of it. I imply youngsters in so many locations should not – should not having these kind of luxuries. They’re actually struggling. And I believe the world wants to concentrate to that. And I commend, , Senator Rubio, Secretary Rubio now, for pointing this out as a result of I believe the important thing factor right here is that we’d like consideration to the issue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the U.S. has traditionally been the most important donor to UNICEF. However we have seen great cuts by this administration, together with $142 million claw again of congressionally accredited funds. Secretary Rubio stated nobody died from these support cuts. And on Friday he stated he is very happy with the modifications that had been made in international support. Inform us what the realty is of the funding cuts.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Sure, the funding cuts are difficult. And I believe that the difficulty to know is it isn’t simply the USA. It is nearly each donor to – definitely to UNICEF however to the U.N. system broadly, and to humanitarian sector. And so whenever you add all of these collectively, the impacts are actually dramatic as a result of it means what, , what – what monetary assist we do get, we now have to unfold now over extra locations and with much less assist from donor nations.
So, I believe, , there are definitely, , there have been and can most likely at all times be catastrophes that we’re making an attempt to take care of. And youngsters are struggling. And the USA has at all times proudly led, I believe, on humanitarian response and on serving to youngsters. And, , we’re hopeful that a number of the cash that has been taken again can be restored to us. We proceed to work with the State Division. There are efforts to fund lots of the humanitarian and kind of life-saving work that we do. However actually, , the wants all over the world are simply completely huge. And it is the USA and different donors must are available in behind that, together with the personal sector, I’ve so as to add that. That can be an necessary piece of this puzzle.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. And I ought to level out that the U.S. is likely one of the largest international support donors to South Sudan, however that international support can be underneath menace at this second due to the federal government not complying with what the U.S. is demanding.
Let me rapidly –
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Sure, South Sudan is a problem.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: I used to be simply there too. And that’s – , the federal government there must do a greater job.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, can I – rapidly, earlier than I allow you to go, Gaza. How are issues bettering?
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Properly, once more, I might say because of the ceasefire and the administration right here was crucial in doing that, issues have gotten a bit higher. We’re in a position to transfer round higher.
However, , there’s great distress. The challenges for me, we now have lots of work that should get accomplished. I imply you’ve got seen all the pictures, the destruction. You understand, we nonetheless have critical ranges of malnutrition. We try to get shelter in place. You understand, there’s rain and simply distress for kids throughout. So, I believe, , would – I might say there undoubtedly is progress with the ceasefire. God keen that holds.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: After which we will proceed to get increasingly more support in there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: God keen that holds, as you say.
Catherine Russell, thanks on your time at this time.
CATHERINE RUSSELL: Thanks. Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: One of many highlights for Catholics within the U.S. this 12 months was the choice of an American pope, Pope Leo. We spoke Friday to the brand new head of the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Father, I wish to ask you about this function you will have on the head of the Convention of Bishops. Final month there was this pressing message. It was a really uncommon assertion addressing concern for the evolving scenario impacting migrants. And the language was fairly sharp in it. Quote, “we oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of individuals. We pray for an finish to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether or not directed at immigrants or at regulation enforcement.”
What are bishops that you simply speak to seeing in perishes throughout the nation? What triggered this?
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY (President, U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops): I believe it varies from place to position for positive. So, in communities with a extra dense migrant inhabitants, there’s an excessive amount of concern and uncertainty. Nervousness due to the extent of rhetoric that’s typically employed when addressing normally round migration and the threats of deportation. So, there’s lots of nervousness. So, our pastors try to accompany individuals, stroll with individuals, reassure individuals, and that is the message of the church. And that was the rationale for our particular message in November that we’re with you, we hear you, we’re conscious of your struggling and your fears, and we absolutely intend to accompany you throughout this troublesome time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I do know there have been bishops in locations like Charlotte, in elements of California, who’ve formally granted permission or dispensation is the phrase used for individuals who skip Sunday mass in the event that they’re afraid they could possibly be focused by ICE. Are you truly seeing a decline within the variety of individuals attending mass as a result of they’re afraid they’re going to be arrested?
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: We aren’t seeing that right here in Oklahoma. And I have not heard it reportedly extensively from my brother bishops. So, I do know that that’s the case in some locations. However I do not assume it is as widespread, a minimum of right here domestically, or in locations that I’ve private contact with. There is a – there’s an nervousness, there is a concern. However I do not assume it is stored individuals away in nice numbers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, this video that you simply launched actually received lots of consideration. It definitely received ours. And it talked about being troubled by threats towards the sanctity of homes of worship, in addition to hospitals and faculties. You understand, I spoke to the vp, J.D. Vance, final 12 months and requested him about this transformation in coverage that may permit for ICE to enter church buildings and faculties. And he actually pushed again laborious. He says that the catholic church receives funds to assist re-settle immigrants, thus they’re motivated by monetary and never humanitarian causes.
Have you ever had any form of dialog with the Trump administration, with the vp, to elucidate what it’s you are making an attempt to say?
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: I’ve not had any private conversations at this level with both the president or the vp. So, I look ahead to participating with them over issues of mutual concern and positively undoubtedly the query of immigration goes to return up, I believe. Now we have alternatives to work collectively. Now we have alternatives to talk frankly with each other. So, I’ll look ahead to that within the – within the close to future.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the vp calls himself a religious catholic, which can be why I ask. I imply do you – what do you say to Catholics like him who argue that these hardline immigration insurance policies have had a outcome that they sought, that the tip justifies the means?
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: I do not assume we will ever say that the tip justifies the means. Now we have to deal with everybody with respect. Respect of human dignity. Dignity of each particular person. There isn’t any battle essentially between advocating for protected and safe borders and treating individuals with respect and dignity. We at all times must deal with individuals with dignity. God-given dignity. The state does not award it. And the state cannot take it away. So, it is from the creator.
So, I believe, as Christians, as believers, we – that is form of a foundational bedrock factor for us, that persons are to be revered and handled with dignity, whether or not they’re documented or undocumented, whether or not they’re right here legally or illegally, they do not forfeit their human dignity.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, what’s it that you simply assume is inflicting that to be a problem proper now? Why do you assume that there’s a lack of dignity? Are there particular insurance policies that you’re considering of whenever you say that?
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: Properly, not essentially. I imply I simply – to deal with individuals with respect. To afford them due course of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: The deportations which are – which are occurring across the nation can – it is instilling, as I stated, concern in a moderately widespread method. So, I believe that is – that is one thing that issues us all, that folks have a – have a proper to reside in safety and with out concern of random and – of deportations. I believe we’re believers, after all, in due course of. Now we have provisions in regulation that award due course of to everybody. So, that is what we’re wanting to emphasise.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What would you advise others, different individuals of religion, to do for these immigrants?
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: Properly, we’re a nation of immigrants ourselves. So, I believe that is one thing that we, as People, must at all times come again to. We’re based upon the immigrant expertise. So, I believe we must be beneficiant in welcoming immigrants. We definitely have a proper and an obligation to respect borders of our nation. And I might say remind all of us that we now have a proper and an obligation to respect sovereign borders of a state. However we even have a duty to welcome immigrants. That is form of a elementary precept in catholic social instructing relating to immigration and migration. Individuals have a proper to stay of their homeland, however additionally they should be allowed emigrate when circumstances of their homeland are unsafe and necessitate transferring to a spot the place they will discover peace and safety.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma Metropolis, thanks on your time at this time.
ARCHBISHOP PAUL COAKLEY: Thanks. Thanks very a lot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us at this time. We wish to want all our viewers a really completely satisfied vacation season and likewise wish to give an enormous thanks to Washington bureau managing editor Arden Farhi and justice reporter Jake Rosen for all their work and their staff’s assist sorting by the Epstein recordsdata.
Till subsequent week, for “FACE THE NATION,” I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
