On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia
- Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas
- David Becker, govt director of the Middle for Election Innovation and Analysis and a CBS Information election legislation contributor
- Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2026 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: Aware of the upcoming midterm elections, the Trump administration moderates its tone on deportations, whereas ramping up efforts to undermine confidence in our election course of.
With an eye fixed in direction of November and an ear full of Republican and voter considerations concerning the deaths of Minnesota residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti by the hands of federal immigration brokers, President Trump concedes that classes may need been realized about the way in which deportation roundups have been performed in Minneapolis.
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DONALD TRUMP (President of the US): I realized that perhaps we are able to use a bit of little bit of a softer contact, however you continue to need to be robust. These are felony – we’re coping with actually exhausting criminals.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: With congressional efforts to agree on reforms tied to DHS funding stalled, we are going to discuss to a Texas Republican congressman, Tony Gonzales. His district is dwelling to that household detention facility that housed 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father final month.
Plus: President Trump prods Republicans to nationalize voting, a transfer that prompts pushback from Democrats and state election officers.
And what’s behind the FBI’s seizure of 2020 election data from Fulton County, Georgia? We’ll discuss to the highest Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, and elections knowledgeable David Becker.
Lastly, we are going to discuss to former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb concerning the alarming unfold of measles across the U.S. and get his tackle evolving vaccine protocols.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning and welcome to Face the Nation.
We start this morning with the highest Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Virginia’s Mark Warner.
Good to have you ever right here.
SENATOR MARK WARNER (D-Virginia): Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to discuss elections and safety.
Again on January 28, the FBI went to Fulton County, Georgia and seized ballots and 2020 voting data linked to the presidential election. The director of nationwide intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, then was noticed outdoors the elections workplace.
And she or he argued that her presence there had been personally requested by the president of the US and he or she had broad statutory authority to coordinate, combine and analyze intelligence associated to election safety.
What would justify her involvement? Is there any international nexus that you’ve got been knowledgeable of?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: We’ve got not been knowledgeable of any international nexus.
The job of the director of nationwide intelligence is to be outward-facing about foreigners, not about Individuals. And, bear in mind, lots of the reforms that have been put in place truly befell after the Watergate scandal below President Nixon, the place a president was instantly concerned in sure home felony actions that appeared with the Watergate break-in.
And my concern on this case is, it nearly appears Nixonian. If the president requested Gabbard to indicate up down in Georgia on a home political investigation, initially, how would he know concerning the search warrant even being issued? That is not his job.
After which to have the director of nationwide intelligence down there, which is completely towards her guidelines, except there’s a international nexus, and he or she has not indicated any international nexus to us up to now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s been no communication with the committee in any way on this situation?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: We’ve got – we’ve got requested.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: We then subsequently discovered that this was not the primary time she was concerned in home actions. She went down and seized some voting machines in Puerto Rico earlier within the yr.
Once more, we had no information of that. After which the query of what she was doing in Georgia, there’s been three or 4 totally different tales because it broke. First, she stated the president requested. Then the president stated he did not ask her. Then he stated it was Pam Bondi, the legal professional common.
So we do not have the slightest thought, apart from the truth that the entire thing stinks to excessive heaven, and the actual fact is, Donald Trump can not recover from the truth that he misplaced Georgia in 2020, that he misplaced the election in 2020. My concern is, now he sees the political winds turning towards him, and he will attempt to intrude within the 2026 election, one thing a yr in the past I did not assume can be potential.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I imply, that is an incredible assertion.
However simply to make clear right here, it was Reuters that first reported that Gabbard went to Puerto Rico again within the spring to grab voting machines. Was Congress knowledgeable in any respect or did you find out about it within the press?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: I imagine the primary we ever heard about this was from the press itself.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Wow.
So the – you’ve got laid out that the intelligence companies normally focus abroad. However the White Home is arguing that the director was there for good purpose and that federal legislation, they argue, assigns a DNI statutory duty to guide counterintelligence issues associated to election safety, election voting system threat, software program, voter registration databases.
You are involved, however are your fellow Republicans on the committee involved about this?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: Properly, here is the ironic factor, Margaret.
Most of the protections for our election system have been put in place in the course of the first Trump administration.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: We arrange CISA, the Cybersecurity Company, to assist work with state and native elections. There was an FBI heart arrange for international malign affect, international affect.
After which we put into legislation one thing known as the Overseas Malign Affect Middle on the Director of Nationwide Intelligence workplace. All of these entities have been principally disbanded, CISA lower by a 3rd…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … the FBI heart in the reduction of, the ODNI heart in the reduction of, which we predict is, frankly, counter to the legislation.
Nevertheless it all, when it comes to the ODNI…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … needs to be concerned – of international involvement. There was no proof of that up to now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The place is Chair Cotton on this, although?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: We’ve got collectively been ensuring that we get updates on election safety.
And I believe you are going to see extra of that to come back, as a result of that is essential. And my concern is that, after we see synthetic intelligence instruments and others…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … it was nearly kid’s play what occurred in 2016. China, Russia, Iran, others may very well be interfering. We have not seen proof up to now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: Gabbard, if she’s acquired any proof, ought to have supplied it to the Congress.
I believe this was an effort the place Donald Trump cannot recover from the truth that he misplaced Georgia, so obsessed. And it begs the query is, what was Gabbard doing there? And it, frankly, begs the query is, why was the president even conscious of this investigation…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … earlier than the search warrant was issued?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we might – we might like to put these inquiries to the director and have requested to take action.
However now that you’re right here, are you able to simply button this up for me? As a result of we’re speaking about 2020, and that is what Fulton County focus was about. However you additionally stated, you assume in 2026 there’s an effort to intrude. What proof do you’ve got of that?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: This was what I am seeing from the president’s personal feedback about nationalizing elections…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … and placing Republicans in cost, counter to the Structure.
We have seen these actions in Georgia, the place may there be some effort that out of the blue offers him an excuse to attempt to take a few of these federalization efforts? We have seen ICE. We focus plenty of this exercise on ICE, when it comes to their going rogue in Minneapolis.
However there’s a very actual risk, with out reforms at ICE, that you may have ICE patrols round polling stations, and other people would say, effectively, why would that matter in the event you’re all Americans?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. Sure, noncitizens can not vote.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: Properly, as a result of we have seen ICE discriminate towards Latinos’ households. We have seen as effectively combined households the place somebody could also be authorized and others not.
And, candidly, you needn’t do loads to discourage folks from voting. And we have extra just lately seen ICE beginning to use know-how the place they will get details about Individuals. Just lately, there was a person in Minnesota that acquired denied a World Entry card to get by TSA faster as a result of she or he appeared at a protest rally.
Do we actually need ICE having that data?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is that what DHS stated?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: Hypothetically – that was what occurred in Minnesota.
Hypothetically, if ICE is getting data, and you have an unpaid parking ticket, would you go vote in the event you’ve acquired an unpaid parking ticket…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … considering that an ICE patrol is likely to be at a polling station?
That is uncharted territory, and but you’ve got acquired the president’s personal phrases, in some ways, elevating considerations, as a result of he says, effectively, gosh, we Republicans must take over elections in 15 states.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll – we will discuss a few of that and the operations on the native degree with David Becker, our elections knowledgeable, forward within the present, and the immigration reform.
However I need to ask you about what is going on on with Director Gabbard, as a result of there was a whistle-blower who filed a criticism towards her personally and provided to come back to Congress to share the data, in accordance with the legal professional for this whistle-blower.
That is a couple of criticism that two inspectors common, considered one of them Biden period, concluded had a non-credible nature. You have seen a redacted model of the criticism, as I perceive it. Do you settle for their conclusions?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: Properly, initially, the earlier inspector common, who’d been a long-term skilled, seen it as credible.
The brand new…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Which of the 2 complaints?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: The unique – I can not discuss concerning the contents of the criticism. I am old style. It is labeled.
And the criticism is so redacted, it is exhausting to unravel – I’ve acquired extra questions. My concern with what the director did is that this data was not relayed to Congress. There’s a course of, and we did not even – we – and I imply we, the Gang of Eight – did not even hear concerning the criticism till November.
We solely noticed it in February, and we have this entire contradiction the place the then-lawyer for Director Gabbard stated she – he shared the duty she needed to share this with Congress in June, the obligation. She later said that she was not conscious of her duty.
Ignorance of the legislation will not be an excuse in the event you’re the director of nationwide intelligence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, as I perceive it, as a result of when it is deemed non- credible, it isn’t essentially an pressing concern that begins the time clock that might drive…
SENATOR MARK WARNER: There was – there was a ruling of urgency by the primary inspector common. That was contradicted by the Trump inspector common, however the course of was nonetheless ongoing.
The truth that this sat on the market for six, seven, eight months now and we’re solely seeing it now raises enormous considerations, in and of itself.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I do know you stated you’ll not share what the intercept and the intelligence was about or the criticism itself, however CBS has been advised by a senior intelligence official the whistle-blower criticism included reference to an intelligence intercept between two international nationals through which they talked about somebody near President Donald Trump.
U.S. intelligence didn’t confirm whether or not the dialog itself was extra than simply gossip. Will you be capable of communicate to the whistle-blower? Will you be capable of see this underlying intelligence?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: My understanding is, the whistle-blower has been ready for steering, authorized steering, on easy methods to method the committee.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does the whistle-blower nonetheless work for the U.S. authorities?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: I haven’t got any thought.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will you be capable of view the intelligence, the intercept itself that she’s accused of not sharing?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: My query is – we try to get each the redactions and the underlying intelligence. And that is – that’s in course of. I am not going to speak to the content material itself, however this entire query – bear in mind, this whistle-blower got here ahead in Could. It is now February of the next yr, and we’re nonetheless asking questions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, Tom Cotton, the chair, says he is – he is comfy with – with the method up to now. However on the…
SENATOR MARK WARNER: I am not comfy with the method…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR MARK WARNER: … the timing. And I can not make a judgment concerning the credibility or the veracity as a result of it has been so closely redacted.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the director is annoyed with you personally, and issued this actually lengthy, blistering assertion, saying you’ve got repeatedly lied to the American folks, that the – the media additionally lies, and that – that she by no means had the whistle-blower criticism in her possession and noticed it for the primary time two weeks in the past, I suppose the precise exhausting copy.
So do you care to reply to this accusation that you just have been mendacity?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: I’d reply that I don’t imagine that Director Gabbard is competent for her place. I do not imagine that she is making America safer by not following the principles and procedures on getting whistle- blower complaints to the Congress in a well timed trend.
I imagine she has been completely inappropriate displaying up on a home felony investigation in Georgia round voting machines. I believe she has not been acceptable or competent when it comes to, frankly, slicing again on investigations into international malign affect, actually dismembering the Overseas Malign Affect Middle that is on the Director of Nationwide Intelligence.
And we’re going to conform to disagree about who’s telling the reality, and I imagine her personal common counsel, who’s now her deputy common counsel, testified this week that he shared with Director Gabbard in June her authorized obligations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the NSA has launched a press release saying that they’re abiding by the legislation.
We do invite Director Gabbard on this program.
Earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve to ask you about Iran. There have been a variety of assume tanks who’ve printed images of what they imagine is proof of Iran reconstituting and rebuilding its nuclear program that the U.S. bombed eight months in the past. Are they rebuilding?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: After we struck Iran – Iranians’ nuclear capabilities, our navy did a terrific job.
It was not completely obliterated, in order that customary that the president himself set. And Iran has – as been indicated in public paperwork, is making an attempt to reconstitute. What I concern is that we do not have the power to convey the total energy of stress towards Iran.
A number of weeks again, when the Iranian folks bravely have been within the streets, and there may need been a second, we could not strike as a result of the plane service that was normally within the Mediterranean was off the coast of Venezuela doing the blockade there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You imagine that is why the January strikes have been known as off?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: On prime of that – on prime of that – on prime of that as effectively, we have been unable to convey the total drive of stress of our allies in Europe towards Iran as a result of, at that exact same second, President Trump was disrupting NATO along with his Greenland play.
We’re stronger after we use our allies, when we’ve got our full navy capabilities in area. And that navy is getting stretched, pretty much as good as we’re, because the president will get engaged in actions everywhere in the world.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
You help the diplomacy below manner now?
SENATOR MARK WARNER: I help the diplomacy, completely.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Senator Mark Warner, thanks to your time right now.
Face the Nation can be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: There may be some devastating information out of the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy.
Legendary downhill skier Lindsey Vonn, racing on a badly injured knee, crashed simply seconds into her race this morning. The 41-year-old Vonn misplaced management whereas taking a flip after which spun briefly within the air. She was airlifted off the racecourse to a close-by hospital.
Simply 9 days in the past, Vonn ruptured her ACL in a coaching race in Switzerland.
Some excellent news for Crew USA, although. Teammate Breezy Johnson gained the gold medal for that race, changing into the primary American to win gold on this yr’s Video games.
And we flip now to Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales.
Good morning.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES (R-Texas): Good morning. Thanks, Margaret, for having me on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s discuss immigration. We’ve got spoken earlier than.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have this border district. plenty of Border Patrol brokers personally.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’re your constituents.
So, Friday, Homeland Safety funding goes to run out.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And there is this standoff within the Senate particularly. Democrats are demanding a variety of reforms. And I need to lay them out right here.
And that is kind of the price of their vote. Democrats need to require a judicial warrant, not simply an administrative one, to enter personal property. They need federal legislation enforcement brokers to indicate I.D., put on physique cameras, customary uniforms, no masks, defend delicate places like colleges and church buildings, cease racial profiling, coordinate with native jurisdictions to prosecute crimes.
Are you on board with any of those calls for? Do you see a deal?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: I believe we have to work by it. There’s some issues that make sense. There’s plenty of issues that do not.
Just some days in the past, this was a bipartisan vote. And impulsively now, the Democrats are all making an attempt to carry the nation hostage. I’ll inform you what’s not going to be in there, amnesty for unlawful aliens. I’ll inform you what’s not going to be there, stripping away protections for legislation enforcement officers which can be making an attempt to guard themselves.
If rioters get to put on masks, then legislation enforcement will get to put on masks as effectively. What will be in there? I believe the physique cameras make plenty of sense. I used to be actually inspired to see Secretary Noem and Tom Homan execute that. I believe these are good components of it.
And one other factor that works – going again to my district, one other factor that works is communication. I believe it would be very, very key if there have been communication liaisons in all of the communities that ICE has, that means, not altering coverage, simply sharing communication from the group, for example town supervisor or for example metropolis council, group leaders…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: … as much as the administration and again down.
I noticed the Biden administration do that with ranch liaisons when the ranchers have been actually upset. And, as soon as once more, that helped. These are a pair issues that I believe may make it – may very well be the glue that will get this package deal going.
MARGARET BRENNAN: If the administration will associate with that coordination with native officers.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Sure, completely.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that…
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: The liaison piece makes plenty of sense to me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: I imply, that one, as soon as once more, you are not…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: ICE will not be going to cease going to those communities. It might be useful if we had many Tom Homans all all through the nation principally saying, that is what we’re doing, not leaving issues to what-ifs and letting different folks fill that void, however an precise sharing up and down the chain of command, if you’ll.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you concerning the warrants right here.
The Trump administration has modified easy methods to use warrants and arrests. They enable warrantless arrests as effectively. This wasn’t executed even in the course of the first Trump administration. Chief Jeffries was on one other community this morning and stated: “Judicial warrants ought to completely be required earlier than ICE brokers can storm personal property. It shouldn’t be controversial,” this demand.
They simply need adherence to Fourth Modification constitutional protections. As a conservative, should not a choose be consulted?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: After all I imagine within the Fourth Modification.
However what worries me is, a choose shouldn’t maintain up all the pieces. We’re seeing judges everywhere in the nation transcend their degree of authority. And so, if a legislation enforcement officer, let’s simply say, for instance, sees against the law that is being dedicated or has due – or has due trigger, then why cannot they go in there?
These administrative warrants, they don’t seem to be new. Swiftly, the left is…
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s new interpretation of them, and the ICE director has disclosed that.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Properly, they’re complaining about using them.
However in the event you’re an ICE agent and you do not have cooperation from native or native officers, how are you presupposed to get that felony that is in anyone’s group? How are you presupposed to take away them? That is what worries me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly…
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: If we enable judges to be the roadblock, it does not maintain our communities protected.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you – that is a tough line for you when it comes to, you’ll by no means get on board with requiring {that a} judicial warrant be required to enter personal property?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Administrative warrants work. I need to give legislation enforcement each instrument they should exit and apprehend these convicted criminals which can be unfastened in our group. To me, that makes plenty of sense.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly…
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Why you’ll need to shackle your individual legislation enforcement from retaining our communities protected is senseless to me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the Fourth Modification protects all folks, no matter citizenship or nationwide origin, from unreasonable search and seizure. So a few of these collateral arrests are warrantless.
However that is the politics of this funding invoice. I’ll put the coverage apart for a second as a result of I need to ask you concerning the cross-examination you are going to have the chance to make this week, as a result of you’ve got the top of ICE, CBP and one other company come earlier than Homeland Safety Committee.
The Republican chair stated he has questions on coaching of immigration brokers and their use of drive. Are you comfy with what you noticed occur in Minneapolis? I imply, are Republicans going to method this in a partisan manner or maintain them to account?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: What occurred in Minneapolis, no one on this nation ought to need. We should always all attempt to not be Minneapolis.
We do not need to see native communities not work with federal authorities. And we would like – we do not need to see…
MARGARET BRENNAN: The leaders of the companies are those you are going to be questioning, although.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: After all.
And I would like – I need to know, hey, what are you doing to work with others throughout the group, so, that manner, it isn’t simply the ICE going it alone? It should not be that manner. And that is what we’re seeing. Secretary Noem has been very clear, very clear on making an attempt to construct these relationships out.
And Tom Homan is delivering on this by moving into there; 80 counties at the moment are impulsively working with ICE, permitting us within the jails.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That was a alternative by the administration to begin working with locals.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: That works. I – they’ve been…
MARGARET BRENNAN: That was a change.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: They’ve been making an attempt to do that.
The issue is, is, you’ve got so many native municipalities that do not need to talk, that do not need to work collectively. And when that occurs, your metropolis burns. We do not need Los Angeles. We should not need Minneapolis.
Individuals can protest. Individuals can be capable of say, hey, we cannot agree with sure coverage, however there must be extra collaboration on the native, state and federal degree.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we will need to take a break right here, however I’ve extra questions for you on the opposite aspect of it.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, in the event you would, stick with us.
We can be proper again with extra Face the Nation.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: As Individuals wrestle with the heated debate about immigration enforcement ways and public security right here at dwelling, a number of the U.S. athletes competing within the Winter Olympics in Milan have acknowledged the difficult emotions they’re navigating as they symbolize their nation on the most important stage in world sports activities.
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HUNTER HESS (U.S. Olympic Athlete): It brings up combined feelings to symbolize the U.S. proper now, I believe. It is a bit of exhausting. There’s clearly loads happening that I am not the most important fan of, and I believe lots of people aren’t. Simply because I am carrying the flag does not imply I symbolize all the pieces that is happening within the U.S.
CHRIS LILLIS (U.S. Olympic Athlete): I like the USA. And I believe I’d by no means need to symbolize a distinct nation within the Olympics.
With that being stated, you already know, plenty of occasions, athletes are hesitant to speak about political opinions and the way we really feel about issues. I really feel heartbroken about what’s occurred in the US. I believe that, as a rustic, we have to concentrate on respecting everyone’s rights and ensuring that we’re treating our residents, in addition to anyone, with love and respect.
And I hope that, when folks have a look at athletes competing within the Olympics, they understand that that is the America that we’re making an attempt to symbolize.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: These feedback have drawn criticism from some congressional Republicans and Trump administration officers.
We can be again in a second.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: We can be proper again with much more Face the Nation, extra from Congressman Gonzales and CBS Information election legislation contributor David Becker and Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
Stick with us.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to “FACE THE NATION.”
We return now to our dialog with Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas.
On the homeland safety entrance, we see in our CBS polling that the credibility of the president’s deportation coverage is in query. And you may see it proper there. Numerous the American public simply does not help the strategies used for mass deportation, although they like the thought of mass deportation.
Prior to now you’ve got questioned whether or not the administration was actually specializing in the worst of the worst. You stated do not deport Abolita. Do you assume that they’re truly listening to the considerations that individuals like you’ve got raised and do you assume there’s any enchancment?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES (R-TX): Very early on I discussed, hey, if we go down this route as a celebration we’re not going to achieve success. And we’re seeing a few of that with a few of these particular elections which can be taking place.
I’m inspired. I’ve seen the administration spotlight extra on convicted felony aliens. I am seeing Secretary Noem and Tom Homan –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Of their messaging or of their arrests?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Of their arrests. And of their focus of going right into a jails. In case you go right into a jail and also you go cell by cell, that makes much more sense to the American folks than going home by home, going, are you an American citizen or not? And it is safer. It is safter for the brokers as effectively.
So, I believe if we go down that route we are going to – we as – we, as a Republican Celebration, can be profitable.
The opposite a part of it, too, is to speak about authorized immigration. The president has talked about this many occasions. Final week he – there was 65,000 work visas that he signed off on the place he goes, you are not invited to this nation in the event you are available illegally. However in the event you’re right here authorized, we encourage you to come back, you already know, do it the precise manner.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I need to discuss that once more in a second. However simply to choose up on what you talked about in your house state, you noticed this gorgeous win by Democratic Taylor Rehmet in what had been a reliably pink district. And, in actual fact, considered one of 26 state home seats which have flipped from Republican to Democrat nationally since president Trump took workplace. This wasn’t a one off, in different phrases. And within the Texas press, there’s plenty of concentrate on the Latino voters as having actually swung again or swung to the Democratic Celebration. Why? What’s taking place?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Individuals are anxious.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it the deportation coverage?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: It is a few of what’s being portrayed and what – one of many issues I believe could be very efficient for the administration is for them to focus on the folks that they are deporting. Put them on the web site. Present them and go, these are the parents that we’re coming after. I’d argue the Hispanic vote is what gave us, the Republicans, the Home, the Senate and the White Home. And if we need to maintain that long run, we do need to make a shift. Not essentially in coverage, however in communication. I discussed this earlier, a communication liaison of somebody saying, hey, that is what we’re doing, working with others, so it isn’t only a shock.
Prime instance, San Antonio. We’ve got a brand new ICE facility in-built San Antonio. Lots of people are anxious. They do not know the place – what’s taking place. That is $125 million that is coming to the group, have 1,200 jobs, and after it will get established, there can be one other 125 million with 325 good paying jobs for our area people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. However respectfully, prior to now you’ve got stated this is not only a PR downside. You truly appeared on the numbers and located that it was not the worst of the worst in these detention amenities.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Proper. It is not a PR downside. It needs to be – it needs to be –
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s a coverage downside.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: It needs to be a coverage. And what I’m seeing is, they’re going after the worst of the worst. They’re speaking about we’re going after the worst of the worst. They’re – the half I believe we are able to – we are able to enhance on is speaking with the native municipalities, these that do not have an thought and be capable of go, no, that you’ve got a seat on the desk. We would like you to have a seat on the desk. Even when it is totally different, even when it is a totally different dialog or a distinct ideology, it’s best to have a seat on the desk in order that manner your residents know what’s taking place in your group.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. So, Trump was not the primary president of the US to detain kids.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Certain.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have this facility, although, in your district, Dilley, and that’s for household detentions. That is the place little five-year-old Liam Ramos from Minnesota was held earlier than a choose – that is the image of him there – ordered him launched. He was ordered launched as a result of his household has a pending asylum declare. A authorized course of. He had entered with U.S. authorities permission by a course of that the Biden administration had deemed authorized, the present administration doesn’t, the CBP One app.
Liam’s father gave an interview to Telemundo, and also you learn the transcript, he is speaking about this five-year-old, he is not OK. He is waking up at night time crying. He is nervous he will be taken once more. It is psychological trauma in accordance with the daddy. And the administration’s nonetheless making an attempt to deport him. Do you perceive why they’re so targeted on this five-year-old and his dad in the event that they did are available by the entrance door with U.S. authorities permission?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Properly, the entrance door was through an app that Biden knew precisely what he was doing, and he created this enormous mess and now President Trump is there to wash up. And immigration –
MARGARET BRENNAN: However he got here within the entrance door. He wasn’t sneaking throughout the border.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: By an app. By an app that wasn’t vetted. And the underside line is that he is doubtless – they are not going to qualify for asylum. So, what do you do with all of the folks that undergo the method and don’t qualify for asylum? You deport them.
I perceive the five-year-old. And it, you already know, it breaks my coronary heart. I’ve a five-year-old at dwelling. I additionally assume, what about that five-year-old U.S. citizen? What about our –
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re feeling comfy defending that?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: I really feel comfy – we’ve got to have a nation of legal guidelines. If we do not have a nation of legal guidelines –
MARGARET BRENNAN: They have been following the legislation. That’s –
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: I do not really feel – I will say this. You – you need to – we’ve got to –
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is the rub is {that a} new administration deemed the final administration’s regulation to not be authorized.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: We will be compassionate and we are able to additionally – we are able to additionally implement our legal guidelines. And I believe that is the key sauce that the administration and Congress should do. Let’s implement our legal guidelines, however let’s do it in a humane manner.
The ability in Dilley, I’ve visited there many occasions. I’ve visited dozens of various amenities. It’s a good facility. It is a detention facility for those that are within the nation illegally which can be about to be deported, however it’s a good facility. Nicer than some elementary colleges right here in San Antonio.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Advocates have stated in any other case.
However rapidly, earlier than I allow you to go, a variety of Republican lawmakers have objected to the video that the president and his workers posted to his social media account. The considered one of President Obama and the previous first girl. Do you assume he must apologize for it?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: There’s – it is as much as the president. There is no room on this nation for racism, anti-Semitism, socialism. All of the isms have to go. However what I might say –
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you assume it was that?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: On the finish – I imply I believe it was very – it was very upsetting to lots of people.
What the a part of the – nobody’s speaking about that video is about election integrity. And so, the majority of it was on election integrity.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: What I – which is a vital subject.
What I think goes to occur is, the White Home goes to, within the coming days, points a memo on their coverage for this upcoming election. And I think the Director of Nationwide Intelligence goes to be on the heart a part of constructing that out and ensuring everybody –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Our midterm elections are protected and safe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However – and I do know the president claimed the video was credible. Additionally claimed he had watched it, however then not seen that a part of it with the racist –
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: It was on the very. It was on the very finish for one second. It was actually bizarre.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The president of the US and his workers, would not you anticipate that they really have a look at what they do earlier than they do it?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: The president of the US shouldn’t be worrying about all of the folks which can be upset with him. If he is doing that, he is not retaining our nation protected.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However why is –
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: I did admire them taking it down. I did admire him saying, hey, look, you already know, that should not have been on there. However, you already know, the –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ought to the staffer, who allegedly did it, be fired? Ought to there be penalties for one thing like that?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: The president may –
MARGARET BRENNAN: And do you assume that video is definitely credible?
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: The president could make that call. We simply – look, we simply had Jeffrey – you already know, Hakeem Jeffries stand up there and say the f-word to the president. I imply the route our politics goes will not be the precise manner.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: We have to pull it again and we have to go, wait a second right here, how can we be sure that we’re protected? How can we be sure that our economic system is flourishing? How can we be sure that Individuals are higher off right now than they have been yesterday.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Congressman Gonzales, thanks to your time. And we’ll have David Becker forward. We’ll discuss that video in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by David Becker. He’s the manager director of the Middle for Election, Innovation and Analysis and a CBS Information election legislation contributor.
At all times good to have you ever right here, David.
DAVID BECKER: Nice to be again with you, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to decide up on a couple of issues which have come up in this system.
Senator Warner voiced what some Democrats are involved about, arguing that President Trump is laying the groundwork to undermine the upcoming election, or intrude in it not directly. And, in actual fact, throughout this system the president is tweeting about American elections being rigged, stolen, and a laughing inventory all around the globe.
What do you consider these statements right here? Are each events undermining confidence in our election? What do election officers that you just communicate to really feel and assume proper now?
DAVID BECKER: Sure, it’s extremely exhausting to foretell the place that is going.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
DAVID BECKER: However we are able to have a look at what’s occurred already. The president has signed an unprecedented govt order relating to elections, making an attempt to dictate insurance policies to the states. That is now been enjoined, blocked by three totally different federal courts.
His Division of Justice is in search of extremely delicate information on a whole lot of thousands and thousands of American voters, is suing 24 states and D.C. Two federal courts, simply prior to now few weeks, have blocked that and the rest are nonetheless to be heard. The cyber safety equipment that Senator Warner talked about, which have been constructed up below the primary Trump administration to help election officers has been dismantled.
So, once I discuss to election officers, they’re very involved about this. I believe it is protected to say that is unprecedented. We’ve got by no means seen a president attempt to exert govt authority over elections within the states like we’ve got. And, in fact, that is opposite to the Structure, which particularly grants states the authority to run elections below Article One, Part 4, the elections clause. Congress can even act. And if Congress does, in fact, these legal guidelines can be adopted. However each events have tried to move sweeping payments within the final 5 or 6 years and have failed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the Structure, as you simply level out, states it’s the states who’re going to run these elections.
DAVID BECKER: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the president, I need to play what he stated so the general public hears it. He has, at the least thrice prior to now week, stated he desires the Republican Celebration to nationalize voting and take over voting procedures in 15 states.
Take a pay attention.
(BEGIN VC)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Check out Detroit. Check out Pennsylvania. (AUDIO GAP) horrible corruption on elections. And the federal authorities shouldn’t enable that. The federal authorities ought to get entangled. These are brokers of the federal authorities to depend the votes. If they can not depend the votes legally and actually, then anyone else ought to take over.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, what would stop the president from doing one thing you simply advised us is unconstitutional?
DAVID BECKER: Properly, the president would possibly attempt to act, and that is why it is so exhausting to foretell precisely what is going on to occur. However the courts have been very agency on holding the boundaries of govt energy below the Structure. There was only a court docket resolution a few days in the past from the state of Oregon, a district court docket there, that denied DOJ entry to this extremely delicate voter information they have been in search of from Oregon and particularly stated, once more, that the Structure is obvious, the founders carved out elections especial to say the federal authorities can solely act of Congress acts. The states have the authority. And so they expressly excluded the manager from that in any respect. They have been very involved concerning the excesses of an govt, a president, who would search to consolidate extra energy than the Structure granted by seizing the mechanisms of elections.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, two different issues I need to run by with you. The White Home took down that video that we have been simply discussing with Congressman Gonzales. The main target has been on the racist portion of it, which was extensively condemned.
The video main as much as it that Congressman Gonzales defended was about election software program and safety. In that, if you hearken to it, the – you hear descriptions of issues with know-how and issues that the speaker says have been anomalies, like in 2025 key states stopped counting at a sure time.
Are you able to fact-check a few of this for us?
DAVID BECKER: Sure. Sure. This can be a quite common methodology for these which can be spreading lies concerning the elections to search out, simply throw all the pieces towards the wall and see what sticks. And the remainder of that video, along with the ending, was additionally troubling, as a result of it was plenty of disinformation, simply blatantly false.
We’ve got paper ballots in the US. Ninety-eight % of all Individuals vote on paper ballots. The one exclusion is the state of Louisiana, which is shifting to paper ballots. Meaning these paper ballots will be checked towards regardless of the machines tally and they’re checked.
Famously in Georgia, these paper ballots in 2020 have been counted thrice, three other ways, as soon as totally by hand, over 5 million ballots counted by hand in 5 days with remark from each campaigns and observers. There is no method to get round the truth that that is the – 2020 was essentially the most scrutinized election in American historical past. And each time when courts reviewed it, when individuals who lied concerning the election have been taken to court docket, the work of election officers withstood that scrutiny. It is actually exceptional. We’re – not solely are our elections not rigged, they’re as clear and verifiable and as safe as they’ve by no means been.
Regardless of whether or not you want the result or not, and we’re seeing disinformation being unfold, on this case by the president of the US, focused at his personal supporters, at others who may not like the result of elections and, sadly, some are believing it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, it is uncommon as a result of the president gained the election and Republicans gained the final election. So, when he’s saying now that out of the blue the system is damaged, it appeared to work when it elected him, nevertheless it did not work when he misplaced in 2020. That’s what is contradictory in kind of simply the frequent sense model of it.
DAVID BECKER: That is precisely proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However on the information of it, you are saying this has truly been verified time and time once more. However these ballots you simply talked about from Fulton County, we’ve got physique digital camera footage of the FBI brokers going and taking the ballots. Why would the FBI now be taking the ballots? Why was the Director of Nationwide Intelligence there and what would they do with these ballots?
DAVID BECKER: This can be a nice query and it nonetheless has not been answered.
To start with, there was no crime dedicated in 2020. These ballots have been counted and reviewed so many occasions. We all know precisely what occurred in Georgia in 2020. Joe Biden gained that state by a comparatively slender margin of 11,779 votes. In 2024 Donald Trump gained that state.
Democrats did not one way or the other have the magical means whereas out of the White Home to steal an election in 2020 after which overlook to make use of that energy in 2024 after they had the White Home.
So, we all know precisely what occurred. If there was a real, sincere assessment of these ballots, it’ll verify precisely what the outcome was, simply as when the cyber ninjas reviewed the Maricopa ballots in Arizona, they discovered the identical actual final result.
As for the Director of Nationwide Intelligence being in Fulton County, there is no such thing as a viable purpose to have a high-level political appointee in the course of the execution of a search warrant. That search warrant is – has many defects, because the physique cam footage confirmed. There was a defect within the tackle after they first confirmed up. They’d to return and get a corrected search warrant.
And there is additionally this situation of the statute of limitations. There is a five- yr statute of limitations below federal legislation for any of the crimes that they talked about within the warrant. There have been two particular statutes. That five- yr statute has expired by any measure. And so, I am unsure why a Justice of the Peace signed off on it. We’re unsure why the DNI was in Fulton County inside a neighborhood election warehouse. We have heard shifting explanations. First the deputy legal professional common stated she occurred to be in Atlanta. I do not know that that is notably credible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
DAVID BECKER: After which the president –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
DAVID BECKER: Then we heard the president directed her. After which Lawyer Common Bondi directed her. We don’t know what truly occurred.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we checked, and at the least 9 prime Trump administration officers, by CBS standards, raised doubt concerning the validity or integrity of the 2020 election. That depend doesn’t embrace the president of the US himself.
David Becker, thanks.
DAVID BECKER: Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. He’s additionally on the board of Pfizer and UnitedHealthcare.
Dr. Gottlieb, welcome again.
SCOTT GOTTLIEB, M.D. (Former FDA Commissioner): Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have a historical past of creating correct predictions which can be additionally terrifying on this program. And it was round this time final yr that you just stated you have been very involved concerning the measles outbreak and that it might unfold. You are proper. In South Carolina about 900 reported instances. Largest outbreaks since measles was declared eradicated. You bought out in Disneyland, in California, two instances. Right here in D.C., instances detected.
Ought to we keep away from mass gatherings? How involved ought to we be?
SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Look, I do not assume we ought to be nervous about mass gatherings at this level. I believe that that is going to worsen, sadly, earlier than it resolves. Final yr we had 2,000 instances. This yr, thus far, we’ve got 750 instances reported. It is going to be loads increased by the top of the yr.
I believe that is going to be a protracted cycle. Proper now, in the event you have a look at the people who find themselves getting contaminated with measles, the vast majority of individuals are between the ages of 5 and 17. They don’t seem to be toddlers. And we’re seeing vaccination charges decline amongst toddlers actually as a part of a broader motion away from pediatric vaccines on this nation. As these toddlers age into faculty age settings, the scope of the measles outbreaks are going to proceed to escalate on this nation.
In case you assume again to the early Nineteen Nineties, 1991, there have been about 25,000 instances of measles, 1992 we had about 10,000. Vaccine charges had declined within the Nineteen Nineties. Solely about 88 % of American kids have been vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella. Proper now it is about 90 %. However in a number of the states the place you are seeing these outbreaks, the speed is as little as 81 % in Alaska, 88 % in a variety of states which can be having outbreaks proper now.
So, we’re beginning to get right down to decrease ranges. And I believe that is going to proceed to say no. And once more, as these kids who do not get vaccinated age into faculty age settings, they’ll begin spreading broader and bigger outbreaks. So, I believe it is a lengthy cycle, particularly now that this has gotten embedded in political psyche on this nation. I believe it is a generational change.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Sure. Properly – and people percentages you level out are necessary as a result of we’re under herd immunity.
SCOTT GOTTLIEB: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And as I perceive it, it isn’t simply the US. Britain, Canada, Spain, a variety of European and central Asian nations misplaced their measles elimination standing. This can be a world anti-vaccine motion it might appear.
SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Sure, look, I believe that that is proper. And I believe plenty of this comes out of the Covid pandemic the place folks felt compelled to take vaccines that that they had hesitations round by state motion. I assumed that was a mistake on the time. I nonetheless assume it is a mistake.
We talked about it on this present. That might create an ant-vaccine backlash. And I believe that is what we’re seeing. And it is given voice to lots of people who’re anti-vax from the outset, who at the moment are gaining political residence and beginning to drive plenty of the coverage agenda, together with on the Division of Well being and Human Providers.
So, the scope of those goes to proceed to develop. It is not simply MMR. It is diphtheria, tenuous and pertussis as effectively. We’re seeing pertussis outbreaks on this nation. These are going to proceed to develop.
So, we’re in a protracted cycle proper now. And I believe it is necessary that we proceed to teach folks concerning the significance of those vaccines, particularly the MMR vaccines. Measles could be very contagious. And as you stated, the herd immunity price is about 95 % vaccination in a group. In sure pockets of this nation we’re effectively under that. You have a look at some states, there’s pockets, there’s communities the place their vaccination price is about 70 %. And in order that’s the place you are seeing the outbreaks, notably in South Carolina, Texas, Florida has an outbreak proper now. There’s been huge outbreaks in Utah and Arizona as effectively. Arizona had 250 instances. Utah about the identical.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There was a listening to this week with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. He is the NIH director. He did say folks ought to get their measles shot, however he was pressed about vaccines, and he was testifying below oath, and here’s what he stated.
(BEGIN VC)
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Do vaccines trigger autism? Inform that to the American folks. Sure? No?
DOCTOR JAY BHATTACHARYA (NIH Director): I don’t imagine that the measles vaccine causes autism.
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: Nuh-uh. Uh-uh. I did not ask measles. Do vaccines trigger autism?
DOCTOR JAY BHATTACHARYA: For – I’ve not seen a research that means a – any single vaccine causes autism.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: I play these remarks as a result of I believe it is necessary to listen to them instantly. The director claimed the following day in a social media publish that he was mischaracterized and that he is “absolutely aligned” with Secretary Kennedy on discovering the foundation explanation for autism.
Why is the messaging so muddled right here? Is it that political embeddedness you talked about?
SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Look, I believe plenty of the appointed officers within the administration who work for Secretary Kennedy are reluctant to buck the secretary. And this secretary has been a long-standing anti-vaccine advocate. And he actually led the cost all through the final 20 years for the anti-vaccine motion. And now that he is in that place, he is in a position to give way more voice to it and embed it in official coverage.
, Jay’s feedback there have been very fastidiously worded. He stated, no single vaccine causes autism. The one vaccine that is been studied, as he identified in his Twitter publish extensively is the MMR vaccine. So, he backed away from these feedback the following day I believe as a result of, you already know, he and plenty of different officers are reluctant to buck the secretary.
And as Mehmet Oz, this morning, was talking to this situation, and he was very clear, and that is what I’d anticipate of him. He is a very good doctor. He was very clear on the significance of getting the MMR vaccine. I believe it is necessary that extra officers step ahead with these very clear messages.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have an op-ed speaking about your private expertise with most cancers and also you hyperlink it to previous an infection with a virus. Are you able to clarify that?
SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Sure, look, I believe a big a part of the anti-vaccine dogma, if you’ll, is that these infections aren’t that severe to start with and, due to this fact, any threat, theoretical or precise from the vaccines themselves is not price it. It is not price taking the vaccine to mitigate a virus that in and of itself is incidental.
That is not true. I had Epstein Barr virus. It led to the event of b- cell lymphoma. We that HSV One is related to Alzheimer’s illness, enterovirus is related to kind one debates.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SCOTT GOTTLIEB: We now imagine EBV virus is related to a number of sclerosis. It might be a causative think about lupus as effectively. So, viruses do have long run sequelae.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, Dr. Gottlieb, it is an necessary learn and one other good level. Thanks to your time right now.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us right now. Thanks for watching. Till subsequent week. For “FACE THE NATION,” I am Margaret Brennan.
