1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Allen Jackson NOW
  4. Episodes
  5. Allen Jackson: Budget Battle | Allen Jackson Now
Allen Jackson NOW

Allen Jackson: Budget Battle | Allen Jackson Now

October 1, 2025 | 25:31

Allen Jackson: Budget Battle | Allen Jackson Now
Sen. Kevin Cramer joins Allen Jackson to discuss current events.
#News #Media #Government #Politics #Economy #Culture #Leadership

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: Budget Battle | Allen Jackson Now | October 1, 2025
  • Good evening and welcome to nashville.
  • 00:00:18.110 --> 00:00:20.112
  • I'm allen jackson.
  • 00:00:20.112 --> 00:00:21.546
  • We begin tonight
  • 00:00:21.546 --> 00:00:22.581
  • With yet another budget stalemate in washington.
  • 00:00:22.581 --> 00:00:25.617
  • And it's not for lack of
  • 00:00:25.617 --> 00:00:26.718
  • Trying by the white house and the republican
  • 00:00:26.718 --> 00:00:28.587
  • Leadership on capitol hill.
  • 00:00:28.587 --> 00:00:30.622
  • The problem is that the democrats are trapped
  • 00:00:30.622 --> 00:00:32.824
  • In their own tilt to the far left.
  • 00:00:32.824 --> 00:00:35.093
  • The very progressive element of their party
  • 00:00:35.093 --> 00:00:37.162
  • That's got the full attention of the liberal media.
  • 00:00:37.162 --> 00:00:40.031
  • The fight is over.
  • 00:00:40.031 --> 00:00:41.233
  • The money
  • 00:00:41.233 --> 00:00:41.800
  • We pay in our taxes,
  • 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:43.668
  • And the fact that even in the best outcome,
  • 00:00:43.668 --> 00:00:46.071
  • Congress is still going to spend at least $2 trillion more than
  • 00:00:46.071 --> 00:00:49.074
  • What's coming in, adding to the already bloated deficit.
  • 00:00:49.074 --> 00:00:52.944
  • Well, to help here what the options are,
  • 00:00:52.944 --> 00:00:54.913
  • We've invited back a very sensible statement
  • 00:00:54.913 --> 00:00:57.949
  • Of the current congress.
  • 00:00:57.949 --> 00:00:59.684
  • North dakota republican senator kevin cramer, welcome back.
  • 00:00:59.684 --> 00:01:03.288
  • Senator.
  • 00:01:03.288 --> 00:01:04.689
  • It's great to be back with you all
  • 00:01:04.689 --> 00:01:06.458
  • And thank you for the opportunity.
  • 00:01:06.458 --> 00:01:07.792
  • Well, as we speak, a deal
  • 00:01:07.792 --> 00:01:09.427
  • To prevent the government from shutting down is in play.
  • 00:01:09.427 --> 00:01:12.430
  • Do you have any sense of how the negotiations will end up?
  • 00:01:12.430 --> 00:01:15.967
  • Well, i think my sense is
  • 00:01:16.535 --> 00:01:19.571
  • That the negotiations aren't all that negotiable.
  • 00:01:19.571 --> 00:01:22.774
  • In other words, if you have a, a democratic leader
  • 00:01:22.774 --> 00:01:26.645
  • And chuck schumer
  • 00:01:26.645 --> 00:01:27.679
  • Who would
  • 00:01:27.679 --> 00:01:28.914
  • Just insist on having a shutdown so he can demonstrate his left
  • 00:01:28.914 --> 00:01:31.850
  • Wing bona fides to his left wing of his party,
  • 00:01:31.850 --> 00:01:34.753
  • Which, as you know, took a hard hit
  • 00:01:34.753 --> 00:01:37.389
  • In the more recent continuing resolution.
  • 00:01:37.389 --> 00:01:39.257
  • Remember, we are operating under
  • 00:01:39.257 --> 00:01:40.825
  • A continuing resolution right now
  • 00:01:40.825 --> 00:01:42.861
  • That that, chuck schumer and many democrats
  • 00:01:42.861 --> 00:01:46.097
  • Helped republicans pass
  • 00:01:46.097 --> 00:01:47.499
  • With the encouragement, by the way, of president trump.
  • 00:01:47.499 --> 00:01:49.968
  • We're really still dealing with a continuing resolution
  • 00:01:49.968 --> 00:01:52.504
  • From the biden administration.
  • 00:01:52.504 --> 00:01:54.606
  • And so,
  • 00:01:54.606 --> 00:01:56.408
  • My sense is he needs to demonstrate
  • 00:01:56.408 --> 00:01:58.109
  • His fight by forcing a shutdown for for a few days.
  • 00:01:58.109 --> 00:02:02.180
  • And i think at some point he loses enough democrats
  • 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:06.017
  • Among him, among his flock.
  • 00:02:06.017 --> 00:02:07.519
  • Because, remember, democrats like to fund the government.
  • 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.789
  • I mean, you can say what you want about them.
  • 00:02:10.789 --> 00:02:12.891
  • Funding the government is like falling
  • 00:02:12.891 --> 00:02:14.092
  • Off a log for most democrats.
  • 00:02:14.092 --> 00:02:15.660
  • So this is kind of different territory for them.
  • 00:02:15.660 --> 00:02:19.197
  • And so i
  • 00:02:19.197 --> 00:02:20.198
  • Yeah, i think we're stuck with a short term,
  • 00:02:20.198 --> 00:02:22.100
  • Short term at least, government shutdown,
  • 00:02:22.100 --> 00:02:24.169
  • Partial government shutdown, i should say.
  • 00:02:24.169 --> 00:02:25.837
  • Well, america's taxpayers have made clear
  • 00:02:25.837 --> 00:02:28.039
  • That they're not interested in paying for the medical
  • 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:29.975
  • Benefits for people who are here illegally.
  • 00:02:29.975 --> 00:02:32.477
  • How could the democrats possibly think that spending
  • 00:02:32.477 --> 00:02:34.846
  • Our money on people who aren't even citizens
  • 00:02:34.846 --> 00:02:37.382
  • Is going to get them back in the majority,
  • 00:02:37.382 --> 00:02:39.517
  • Especially when so many people are dealing
  • 00:02:39.517 --> 00:02:41.286
  • With their own medical expenses?
  • 00:02:41.286 --> 00:02:43.955
  • Well, you've
  • 00:02:44.289 --> 00:02:45.490
  • Asked the billionaire trillion dollar question right there.
  • 00:02:45.490 --> 00:02:48.960
  • I think most, pragmatic democrats,
  • 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:52.831
  • Including a lot of my
  • 00:02:52.831 --> 00:02:53.865
  • Colleagues, know that this is not a sustainable,
  • 00:02:53.865 --> 00:02:56.901
  • Political position for them.
  • 00:02:56.901 --> 00:02:59.104
  • And yet their base is so loud and so powerful,
  • 00:02:59.104 --> 00:03:03.475
  • Their left wing base.
  • 00:03:03.475 --> 00:03:04.809
  • You know, we all have a fringe, but generally not the base.
  • 00:03:04.809 --> 00:03:08.179
  • In their case, it kind of is.
  • 00:03:08.179 --> 00:03:09.814
  • And that's
  • 00:03:09.814 --> 00:03:10.882
  • So they're so afraid of that, of that left wing
  • 00:03:10.882 --> 00:03:13.551
  • That they need to demonstrate somehow that they still support
  • 00:03:13.551 --> 00:03:16.821
  • These crazy ideas like taxpayer funded, you know, medical care
  • 00:03:16.821 --> 00:03:21.026
  • For, for people who are here illegally.
  • 00:03:21.026 --> 00:03:23.862
  • And in the case of chuck schumer,
  • 00:03:23.862 --> 00:03:26.364
  • He's more afraid of aoc than he is
  • 00:03:26.364 --> 00:03:28.400
  • Of, of the consequences of a government shutdown.
  • 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:30.468
  • And that's what i think brings us to this brink.
  • 00:03:30.468 --> 00:03:33.104
  • But while there's no desire to pay the medical benefits
  • 00:03:33.104 --> 00:03:35.540
  • For non-u.s.
  • 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:36.308
  • Citizens, you have made an effort
  • 00:03:36.308 --> 00:03:38.543
  • To address the doctor a nurse shortage,
  • 00:03:38.543 --> 00:03:40.512
  • Especially in rural areas, by allowing previously approved
  • 00:03:40.512 --> 00:03:43.815
  • Immigration openings to be used for foreign medical staff.
  • 00:03:43.815 --> 00:03:47.185
  • Sounds like a very good way to have proper immigration.
  • 00:03:47.185 --> 00:03:50.255
  • How is your idea being received by your colleagues?
  • 00:03:50.255 --> 00:03:52.924
  • Yeah, so that's a great i appreciate that.
  • 00:03:53.792 --> 00:03:55.927
  • Thank you for raising that point.
  • 00:03:55.927 --> 00:03:57.729
  • You know,
  • 00:03:57.729 --> 00:03:58.229
  • I've been working
  • 00:03:58.229 --> 00:03:59.197
  • For a long time on legal immigration solutions
  • 00:03:59.197 --> 00:04:01.800
  • Because we have some legal immigration problems as well.
  • 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.035
  • And that is larger than over a million people
  • 00:04:04.035 --> 00:04:06.338
  • Come to the united states.
  • 00:04:06.338 --> 00:04:07.672
  • Welcome into the united states legally, largely with,
  • 00:04:07.672 --> 00:04:10.942
  • With various types of visas, but only about 15% of them
  • 00:04:10.942 --> 00:04:14.512
  • Are required to have a skill set that's in high demand
  • 00:04:14.512 --> 00:04:16.981
  • In our economy to include medical workers,
  • 00:04:16.981 --> 00:04:19.617
  • Probably especially medical workers.
  • 00:04:19.617 --> 00:04:21.152
  • And so we have a real shortage in this country.
  • 00:04:21.152 --> 00:04:23.822
  • So actually, dick durbin and i know democrats
  • 00:04:23.822 --> 00:04:26.624
  • From chicago, in the republican from bismarck,
  • 00:04:26.624 --> 00:04:30.595
  • Have this legislation to try to free up some of these,
  • 00:04:30.595 --> 00:04:33.698
  • Previously unused visas, not even add to the immigration,
  • 00:04:34.799 --> 00:04:38.203
  • Population, but use more of these
  • 00:04:38.970 --> 00:04:40.805
  • Unused visas to fill the job openings in health care.
  • 00:04:40.805 --> 00:04:44.909
  • And that's especially important in rural health care.
  • 00:04:44.909 --> 00:04:46.811
  • I think the opportunity is now
  • 00:04:46.811 --> 00:04:48.313
  • We've been working on this a long time.
  • 00:04:48.313 --> 00:04:50.148
  • We various members.
  • 00:04:50.148 --> 00:04:51.783
  • But because of the problem at the southern border
  • 00:04:51.783 --> 00:04:54.319
  • And illegal immigration,
  • 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:55.754
  • It's been hard to get people focused on legal immigration.
  • 00:04:55.754 --> 00:04:58.790
  • President trump has, even in his first term,
  • 00:04:58.790 --> 00:05:01.159
  • He tried a couple of times
  • 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:02.627
  • To free up more opportunity for a more merit based,
  • 00:05:02.627 --> 00:05:05.663
  • Skills based education based immigration policy.
  • 00:05:05.663 --> 00:05:08.967
  • I mean, 15% of a million, i don't have to tell you,
  • 00:05:08.967 --> 00:05:12.270
  • Is 150,000.
  • 00:05:12.270 --> 00:05:13.471
  • So there's a lot of potential without adding a single person
  • 00:05:13.471 --> 00:05:17.642
  • To the immigration rules, but rather requiring them
  • 00:05:17.642 --> 00:05:20.845
  • To have some skill set that moves our economy forward
  • 00:05:20.845 --> 00:05:23.615
  • And actually adds value, rather than the other way around.
  • 00:05:23.615 --> 00:05:27.252
  • I think now is the time we can have that that discussion.
  • 00:05:27.252 --> 00:05:29.554
  • Just this morning, i spoke to
  • 00:05:29.554 --> 00:05:30.922
  • A group of healthcare workers that are in town specifically
  • 00:05:30.922 --> 00:05:34.893
  • To advocate for, advocate for this legislation that dick
  • 00:05:34.893 --> 00:05:38.029
  • Durbin and i are introduced, called.
  • 00:05:38.029 --> 00:05:39.330
  • It's called the healthcare worker, resilience act.
  • 00:05:39.330 --> 00:05:42.801
  • And, pretty simple, pretty straightforward.
  • 00:05:42.801 --> 00:05:45.303
  • I think that there's i think there's
  • 00:05:45.303 --> 00:05:46.571
  • A lot of opportunity to do that.
  • 00:05:46.571 --> 00:05:48.106
  • And even more in the legal immigration policy arena.
  • 00:05:48.106 --> 00:05:51.609
  • But you're also leading a very common sense approach on energy.
  • 00:05:51.609 --> 00:05:55.480
  • We saw a letter to epa administrator lee zeldin
  • 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:58.049
  • Asking for support in repealing some of the clean air act rules
  • 00:05:58.049 --> 00:06:01.920
  • That are crimping our growth.
  • 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.988
  • The repeal would not
  • 00:06:03.988 --> 00:06:05.123
  • Only benefit your constituents, but america as a whole.
  • 00:06:05.123 --> 00:06:08.626
  • Can you tell us more about what you're trying to accomplish?
  • 00:06:08.626 --> 00:06:11.729
  • Yeah.
  • 00:06:11.729 --> 00:06:12.564
  • So again, thanks for the question.
  • 00:06:12.564 --> 00:06:14.165
  • I mean, the reality is, and we're really experiencing
  • 00:06:14.165 --> 00:06:16.067
  • This now, right, with this,
  • 00:06:16.067 --> 00:06:17.168
  • This sort of revolution of high energy use industries.
  • 00:06:17.168 --> 00:06:21.606
  • Largely, you know, in computing power, whether it's
  • 00:06:21.606 --> 00:06:24.008
  • Quantum computing, ai, large server farms
  • 00:06:24.008 --> 00:06:28.246
  • For, for all kinds of high tech gps and whatnot.
  • 00:06:28.246 --> 00:06:32.817
  • And you've seen a lot of states competing for that.
  • 00:06:32.817 --> 00:06:34.986
  • We suddenly find ourselves with an energy shortage.
  • 00:06:34.986 --> 00:06:38.156
  • Well, we used to have a lot of extra capacity.
  • 00:06:38.156 --> 00:06:41.759
  • So many of the restrictions in the, in the previous
  • 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:44.162
  • Clean air bill.
  • 00:06:44.162 --> 00:06:45.396
  • Now, remember too, that, that has been overturned already.
  • 00:06:45.396 --> 00:06:47.999
  • Now we're working on new rules.
  • 00:06:47.999 --> 00:06:49.801
  • And what i'd like to see more than anything is,
  • 00:06:49.801 --> 00:06:53.738
  • This give states back the power that the constitution
  • 00:06:53.738 --> 00:06:56.241
  • Gave them in the first place.
  • 00:06:56.241 --> 00:06:57.442
  • And i think the courts, and certainly the supreme court
  • 00:06:57.442 --> 00:07:00.044
  • In recent decisions, has made it crystal clear
  • 00:07:00.044 --> 00:07:03.047
  • That federal bureaucrats do not have the authority to make laws
  • 00:07:03.047 --> 00:07:07.619
  • And in many cases, the previous administrations,
  • 00:07:07.619 --> 00:07:10.388
  • The biden administration and certainly
  • 00:07:10.388 --> 00:07:11.389
  • The obama administration prior to that,
  • 00:07:11.389 --> 00:07:13.424
  • Tried to make laws through their rulemaking
  • 00:07:13.424 --> 00:07:16.227
  • Process, the administrative rulemaking process at the epa
  • 00:07:16.227 --> 00:07:19.130
  • And other setting and regulatory agencies.
  • 00:07:19.130 --> 00:07:22.066
  • That's not how you do it.
  • 00:07:22.066 --> 00:07:23.268
  • And and if they don't explicitly have that authority in law,
  • 00:07:23.268 --> 00:07:26.271
  • They don't have that authority at all.
  • 00:07:26.271 --> 00:07:28.273
  • And so i, i my biggest thing is let's turn a lot more of this
  • 00:07:28.273 --> 00:07:32.210
  • Power back to states.
  • 00:07:32.210 --> 00:07:33.311
  • Let states compete for energy opportunities.
  • 00:07:33.311 --> 00:07:36.214
  • States like mine states like, you know, texas and oklahoma.
  • 00:07:36.214 --> 00:07:39.884
  • And by the way, there are a lot of energy
  • 00:07:39.884 --> 00:07:41.553
  • Producing states in this country,
  • 00:07:41.553 --> 00:07:43.221
  • That haven't been producing for a long time
  • 00:07:43.221 --> 00:07:44.656
  • Because they've chosen not to.
  • 00:07:44.656 --> 00:07:45.723
  • California has chosen
  • 00:07:45.723 --> 00:07:46.791
  • Not to be a major energy producing states. too bad.
  • 00:07:46.791 --> 00:07:49.460
  • But we're happy to sell them ours at prices
  • 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:52.430
  • Higher than they need to if they produce their own.
  • 00:07:52.430 --> 00:07:55.366
  • And we just have to get the government out of the way and,
  • 00:07:55.366 --> 00:07:58.269
  • And a lot of the duplicative
  • 00:07:58.269 --> 00:07:59.871
  • Regulations, there's a lot of regulations
  • 00:07:59.871 --> 00:08:02.073
  • At the epa, in fact, that that are not only duplicative,
  • 00:08:02.073 --> 00:08:04.943
  • But they're actually in contrast to, say, a, a rulemaking
  • 00:08:04.943 --> 00:08:09.080
  • At the bureau of land management or the department of energy.
  • 00:08:09.080 --> 00:08:13.051
  • Which is why the president wisely appointed my former
  • 00:08:13.051 --> 00:08:16.521
  • Governor, doug burgum, to be
  • 00:08:16.521 --> 00:08:17.855
  • Not only the secretary of the interior,
  • 00:08:17.855 --> 00:08:19.891
  • But the head of his energy dominance council,
  • 00:08:19.891 --> 00:08:22.627
  • So that you take a whole of government approach
  • 00:08:22.627 --> 00:08:24.662
  • To all of this and make some sense of it.
  • 00:08:24.662 --> 00:08:27.065
  • And, and unleash america's
  • 00:08:27.065 --> 00:08:28.933
  • Energy dominance again, because it's so critical,
  • 00:08:28.933 --> 00:08:30.835
  • Much like legal immigration, i think. right.
  • 00:08:30.835 --> 00:08:33.204
  • It's right up there with one of the most significant,
  • 00:08:33.204 --> 00:08:35.873
  • Policy areas where we have an,
  • 00:08:35.873 --> 00:08:39.077
  • Sort of an inherent, advantage as a country.
  • 00:08:39.077 --> 00:08:42.146
  • We just aren't maximizing it with good policy.
  • 00:08:42.146 --> 00:08:45.016
  • But we've all seen the number
  • 00:08:45.650 --> 00:08:46.818
  • Of shootings
  • 00:08:46.818 --> 00:08:47.385
  • Has increased before
  • 00:08:47.385 --> 00:08:48.886
  • And after the assassination of charlie kirk.
  • 00:08:48.886 --> 00:08:51.289
  • Just yesterday, someone was arrested
  • 00:08:51.289 --> 00:08:52.957
  • Trying to climb over the fence into the white house grounds.
  • 00:08:52.957 --> 00:08:56.060
  • You've also had death threats made towards you.
  • 00:08:56.060 --> 00:08:58.930
  • So we're asking
  • 00:08:58.930 --> 00:09:00.131
  • To have more security people for your senate colleagues.
  • 00:09:00.131 --> 00:09:03.001
  • Is there any bipartisan support for that?
  • 00:09:03.001 --> 00:09:06.104
  • There he is.
  • 00:09:06.437 --> 00:09:07.438
  • There's a lot of bipartisan support for that.
  • 00:09:07.438 --> 00:09:08.806
  • And there have already been a few changes, administratively,
  • 00:09:08.806 --> 00:09:12.343
  • Where they can be made administratively
  • 00:09:12.343 --> 00:09:14.278
  • Where we're allowed to use more of our,
  • 00:09:14.278 --> 00:09:17.482
  • Our existing budget, if you will.
  • 00:09:17.482 --> 00:09:19.250
  • And by our, i mean, members of congress, personal office
  • 00:09:19.250 --> 00:09:22.920
  • Budgets to, to hire some more security.
  • 00:09:22.920 --> 00:09:27.058
  • We are we've been allowed
  • 00:09:27.058 --> 00:09:28.259
  • For a number of years now to use campaign funds
  • 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:31.496
  • To put more security resources at our homes, for example.
  • 00:09:31.496 --> 00:09:35.566
  • We're looking at, of course, increasing those numbers.
  • 00:09:35.566 --> 00:09:38.636
  • I want to be somewhat careful.
  • 00:09:38.636 --> 00:09:40.071
  • I think one of the benefits of a self-governed nation is
  • 00:09:40.071 --> 00:09:42.507
  • And one of the things i love the most about
  • 00:09:42.507 --> 00:09:44.242
  • This job is the public itself.
  • 00:09:44.242 --> 00:09:45.777
  • And having access to the public and then having access to us.
  • 00:09:45.777 --> 00:09:48.379
  • But i will tell you,
  • 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.580
  • It's a different time and we're all a little bit on edge.
  • 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:52.483
  • And i think what i know, what bothers me
  • 00:09:52.483 --> 00:09:54.752
  • The most, it's not so much my own personal safety,
  • 00:09:54.752 --> 00:09:57.121
  • But it's that wherever i show up,
  • 00:09:57.121 --> 00:09:58.556
  • I feel like i'm making
  • 00:09:58.556 --> 00:10:00.024
  • The entire audience a target,
  • 00:10:00.024 --> 00:10:01.659
  • Or at least putting them in the way of a target.
  • 00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:04.195
  • And that's unnerving to me.
  • 00:10:04.195 --> 00:10:05.463
  • It's unnerving, certainly to my family.
  • 00:10:05.463 --> 00:10:07.799
  • But but even to to other people.
  • 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:09.600
  • So, we need to work through this.
  • 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.903
  • But at the end of the day, as you know and i know,
  • 00:10:11.903 --> 00:10:14.906
  • The problem is more the heart of the human.
  • 00:10:14.906 --> 00:10:17.575
  • We have got to find a way.
  • 00:10:17.575 --> 00:10:19.777
  • We've got to find a way to,
  • 00:10:19.777 --> 00:10:21.679
  • You know, to bring peace to chaos.
  • 00:10:22.447 --> 00:10:24.649
  • And, and the united states is uniquely positioned,
  • 00:10:24.649 --> 00:10:27.385
  • I think, to do that, given our heritage as a nation.
  • 00:10:27.385 --> 00:10:30.321
  • And i think it starts in the pews
  • 00:10:30.321 --> 00:10:32.290
  • And the churches of this great country.
  • 00:10:32.290 --> 00:10:34.358
  • And, and it starts in the
  • 00:10:34.358 --> 00:10:36.160
  • Schools and,
  • 00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:37.161
  • And most importantly, starts in the families.
  • 00:10:37.161 --> 00:10:39.063
  • But we have to also restore the family.
  • 00:10:39.063 --> 00:10:40.865
  • You know, there's a lot to this.
  • 00:10:40.865 --> 00:10:42.633
  • It's not just about guns, certainly not just about guns,
  • 00:10:42.633 --> 00:10:44.869
  • Nor is it just about trump derangement
  • 00:10:44.869 --> 00:10:46.504
  • Syndrome, which is real,
  • 00:10:46.504 --> 00:10:47.839
  • By the way, and the doubts that i've seen it up close.
  • 00:10:47.839 --> 00:10:50.441
  • And it gets worse by the day,
  • 00:10:50.441 --> 00:10:52.310
  • But i think it is just about the human condition as well.
  • 00:10:52.310 --> 00:10:55.079
  • And we just need to be ministering to one another.
  • 00:10:55.079 --> 00:10:57.682
  • Amen. well, senator cramer, we've got more to discuss.
  • 00:10:57.682 --> 00:11:00.151
  • Can you stay with us for one more segment?
  • 00:11:00.151 --> 00:11:02.553
  • Always my pleasure. you bet.
  • 00:11:02.553 --> 00:11:03.755
  • Well, during
  • 00:11:03.755 --> 00:11:04.722
  • The break, i'd suggest sharing your thoughts
  • 00:11:04.722 --> 00:11:06.224
  • And our discussion by clicking on aj.
  • 00:11:06.224 --> 00:11:08.059
  • Now.com, you can send us an email.
  • 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:10.328
  • Your feedback that helps us shape where we go next.
  • 00:11:10.328 --> 00:11:13.297
  • We'll be right back.
  • 00:11:13.297 --> 00:11:19.002
  • We'll be right back.
  • 00:11:19.002 --> 00:11:23.306
  • We're back now with senator kevin cramer.
  • 00:11:24.140 --> 00:11:27.010
  • I'd like to move to international affairs
  • 00:11:27.010 --> 00:11:28.812
  • For a moment.
  • 00:11:28.812 --> 00:11:29.880
  • The president may
  • 00:11:29.880 --> 00:11:31.081
  • Be on the verge of a peace deal between israel and hamas,
  • 00:11:31.081 --> 00:11:34.551
  • Including the return of the remaining hostages.
  • 00:11:34.551 --> 00:11:37.287
  • How do you think this may play out?
  • 00:11:37.287 --> 00:11:40.457
  • Well, it's certainly interesting to watch, to say the least.
  • 00:11:40.457 --> 00:11:43.560
  • In fact,
  • 00:11:43.560 --> 00:11:44.761
  • I thought i thought the move yesterday would be with him
  • 00:11:44.761 --> 00:11:48.164
  • Or a couple of days ago with him.
  • 00:11:48.164 --> 00:11:49.332
  • And in benjamin netanyahu to call the, you know, katara
  • 00:11:49.332 --> 00:11:52.702
  • And apologize for the unfortunate and,
  • 00:11:52.702 --> 00:11:55.906
  • Certainly unintentional, death of, qataris.
  • 00:11:55.906 --> 00:11:59.910
  • Service member, in the attack on hamas leadership in qatar
  • 00:11:59.910 --> 00:12:03.813
  • Was bold, to say the least.
  • 00:12:03.813 --> 00:12:05.382
  • And i think
  • 00:12:05.382 --> 00:12:06.683
  • I mean, i just think that the relationship
  • 00:12:06.683 --> 00:12:08.285
  • Between president trump and, and prime minister
  • 00:12:08.285 --> 00:12:11.354
  • Netanyahu is such that they could pull that off.
  • 00:12:11.354 --> 00:12:14.491
  • But i also thought, like i said, it was very bold,
  • 00:12:14.491 --> 00:12:16.359
  • And i think it sets the table for a possibility.
  • 00:12:16.359 --> 00:12:20.096
  • But i have to tell you, when you're talking about hamas,
  • 00:12:20.096 --> 00:12:22.899
  • You know, count me among the skeptical.
  • 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:24.567
  • I just
  • 00:12:24.567 --> 00:12:25.368
  • I just don't
  • 00:12:25.368 --> 00:12:26.469
  • Know how you get it done without taking the entire,
  • 00:12:26.469 --> 00:12:29.306
  • You know, entity out by the root.
  • 00:12:30.040 --> 00:12:32.042
  • But qatar is is certainly critical to that.
  • 00:12:32.042 --> 00:12:34.811
  • Qatar is, one of those.
  • 00:12:34.811 --> 00:12:37.080
  • They're they're better.
  • 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:38.348
  • They're better than an enemy, but they're not quite a friend.
  • 00:12:38.348 --> 00:12:40.750
  • But we do have obviously some significant assets in qatar.
  • 00:12:40.750 --> 00:12:44.154
  • They allow us, to have a very significant military base,
  • 00:12:44.154 --> 00:12:47.324
  • Our air force base, as you know, we also help, their own,
  • 00:12:47.324 --> 00:12:50.827
  • You know, country a little bit with that.
  • 00:12:50.827 --> 00:12:52.562
  • So it's an odd relationship.
  • 00:12:52.562 --> 00:12:55.031
  • You know,
  • 00:12:55.031 --> 00:12:56.199
  • Ronald reagan used to refer to the enemy of my enemy
  • 00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:58.401
  • As my friend.
  • 00:12:58.401 --> 00:12:59.703
  • And, i think this is one of those situations.
  • 00:12:59.703 --> 00:13:02.405
  • But but i keep going back to the abraham accords
  • 00:13:02.405 --> 00:13:05.308
  • Initiated by donald trump
  • 00:13:05.308 --> 00:13:06.810
  • When everybody else thought he was crazy.
  • 00:13:06.810 --> 00:13:08.945
  • I think about moving, you know, the embassy to jerusalem
  • 00:13:08.945 --> 00:13:12.615
  • And recognizing jerusalem
  • 00:13:12.615 --> 00:13:14.317
  • As the the, the jewish capital, the israeli capital.
  • 00:13:14.317 --> 00:13:18.188
  • Things that others well-intentioned,
  • 00:13:18.188 --> 00:13:20.190
  • Promised to do and never pulled off.
  • 00:13:20.190 --> 00:13:21.925
  • Donald trump is so big and so bold
  • 00:13:21.925 --> 00:13:24.661
  • On the geopolitical stage that, i'm
  • 00:13:24.661 --> 00:13:27.130
  • Going to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.
  • 00:13:27.130 --> 00:13:29.366
  • And i'm hopeful.
  • 00:13:29.366 --> 00:13:31.434
  • The tragedy is that it ever happened in the first place.
  • 00:13:31.434 --> 00:13:34.337
  • That october 7th had to happen in the first place.
  • 00:13:34.337 --> 00:13:36.773
  • But october 7th revealed
  • 00:13:36.773 --> 00:13:38.008
  • Some things about our own country, too.
  • 00:13:38.008 --> 00:13:39.275
  • And that is, we still have too much anti-semitism
  • 00:13:39.275 --> 00:13:41.644
  • For a country that you have great respect
  • 00:13:41.644 --> 00:13:43.380
  • For our closest friend
  • 00:13:43.380 --> 00:13:44.681
  • And spiritual ally, i might add, in israel.
  • 00:13:44.681 --> 00:13:48.184
  • Well,
  • 00:13:48.418 --> 00:13:49.085
  • The president is also taking
  • 00:13:49.085 --> 00:13:50.320
  • A new tack on settling the war between russia and ukraine.
  • 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.857
  • Now suggesting that ukraine might be able
  • 00:13:53.857 --> 00:13:56.092
  • To recover all the land that putin is trying to take.
  • 00:13:56.092 --> 00:13:59.396
  • Nato's going to have to get involved, too.
  • 00:13:59.396 --> 00:14:01.331
  • So i'd like to ask if you think this has the potential to work.
  • 00:14:01.331 --> 00:14:05.301
  • I think it does.
  • 00:14:05.702 --> 00:14:06.903
  • First of all,
  • 00:14:06.903 --> 00:14:08.104
  • I've always believed that ukraine had a better military
  • 00:14:08.104 --> 00:14:10.507
  • Than they were, you know, being given credit for.
  • 00:14:10.507 --> 00:14:12.809
  • And i think they certainly
  • 00:14:12.809 --> 00:14:13.710
  • Demonstrated that early on in the war.
  • 00:14:13.710 --> 00:14:16.046
  • But the other thing that was revealed
  • 00:14:16.046 --> 00:14:17.680
  • Early on in the war and continues to be,
  • 00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:19.416
  • Is that russia's not as good as we thought.
  • 00:14:19.416 --> 00:14:21.451
  • They're not as strong as we thought.
  • 00:14:21.451 --> 00:14:22.719
  • Now they're a bigger
  • 00:14:22.719 --> 00:14:24.554
  • You know, they have many, many more people.
  • 00:14:24.554 --> 00:14:26.456
  • They have much less regard.
  • 00:14:26.456 --> 00:14:28.258
  • They, at least vladimir putin
  • 00:14:28.258 --> 00:14:29.526
  • Has much less regard for human life.
  • 00:14:29.526 --> 00:14:31.061
  • So, you know, a war of attrition is fine with him.
  • 00:14:31.061 --> 00:14:34.364
  • However, his lack of response to president trump's overtures
  • 00:14:34.364 --> 00:14:39.169
  • And frankly, even friendship has, i think, frustrated
  • 00:14:39.169 --> 00:14:42.772
  • The president.
  • 00:14:42.772 --> 00:14:43.973
  • But all the while, un and nato and other european nations,
  • 00:14:43.973 --> 00:14:47.410
  • The european nations have,
  • 00:14:47.410 --> 00:14:48.878
  • You know, filled in the gap and lots of places
  • 00:14:48.878 --> 00:14:50.880
  • Where where we made
  • 00:14:50.880 --> 00:14:51.948
  • That may have left a little bit in our policy.
  • 00:14:51.948 --> 00:14:55.018
  • I think that's demonstrated to donald trump,
  • 00:14:55.018 --> 00:14:57.554
  • That, hey, his patience is, you know, worn thin.
  • 00:14:57.554 --> 00:15:00.623
  • And it does look like if they had the right tools,
  • 00:15:00.623 --> 00:15:03.560
  • The right weapons, that they could win the the
  • 00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:06.262
  • I think the involvement of europe
  • 00:15:06.262 --> 00:15:08.364
  • And certainly nato nations and it certainly helped.
  • 00:15:08.364 --> 00:15:11.501
  • But the real i think turning point has been when,
  • 00:15:11.501 --> 00:15:14.437
  • When poland and romania,
  • 00:15:14.437 --> 00:15:17.540
  • You know, when you've seen these,
  • 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:19.175
  • Breaches of their airspace, and we're talking now about,
  • 00:15:19.175 --> 00:15:24.747
  • About
  • 00:15:24.981 --> 00:15:25.782
  • Nato allies, actual nato members.
  • 00:15:25.782 --> 00:15:28.518
  • These are violations of, of russian,
  • 00:15:28.518 --> 00:15:31.955
  • You know, activism and certainly their airspace
  • 00:15:31.955 --> 00:15:34.624
  • That require a harder line, in my view.
  • 00:15:34.624 --> 00:15:38.561
  • And so,
  • 00:15:38.561 --> 00:15:39.629
  • This is why i
  • 00:15:39.629 --> 00:15:40.763
  • Strongly support the legislation that was introduced by,
  • 00:15:40.763 --> 00:15:44.801
  • A republican and a democrat, lindsey
  • 00:15:44.801 --> 00:15:46.536
  • Graham and richard blumenthal in the senate
  • 00:15:46.536 --> 00:15:48.171
  • To put secondary sanctions on russian goods and services.
  • 00:15:48.171 --> 00:15:52.275
  • You know, putting more sanctions on, not just india, but but,
  • 00:15:52.275 --> 00:15:56.679
  • China and other nations in to include, by the way,
  • 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.182
  • Some european nations that are still buying oil
  • 00:15:59.182 --> 00:16:01.851
  • From vladimir putin and from russia.
  • 00:16:01.851 --> 00:16:04.454
  • I just think donald trump is seeing that two things. one,
  • 00:16:04.454 --> 00:16:08.258
  • Russia's not going to, give this this fight up.
  • 00:16:08.258 --> 00:16:11.628
  • And two, there they are violating airspace.
  • 00:16:11.628 --> 00:16:14.130
  • And frankly, maybe two and a half or three,
  • 00:16:14.130 --> 00:16:16.466
  • You know, is that,
  • 00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:18.635
  • Yeah.
  • 00:16:18.635 --> 00:16:19.602
  • Ukraine really does have the wherewithal,
  • 00:16:19.602 --> 00:16:20.637
  • Maybe to pull this thing off.
  • 00:16:20.637 --> 00:16:22.071
  • And, and so we'll see. we'll see.
  • 00:16:22.071 --> 00:16:24.974
  • I have great faith that it can happen.
  • 00:16:24.974 --> 00:16:27.777
  • I've got one quick question.
  • 00:16:27.777 --> 00:16:29.078
  • You said something recently that caught my eye
  • 00:16:29.078 --> 00:16:30.880
  • When i was watching football last weekend.
  • 00:16:30.880 --> 00:16:33.216
  • You said that
  • 00:16:33.216 --> 00:16:34.150
  • Your favorite part of the game is at the end,
  • 00:16:34.150 --> 00:16:35.251
  • When the teams go to the middle of the field and pray.
  • 00:16:35.251 --> 00:16:38.388
  • Before we run out of time,
  • 00:16:38.388 --> 00:16:39.589
  • I want to thank you for your prayers,
  • 00:16:39.589 --> 00:16:41.157
  • But i know much of our audience believes in prayer.
  • 00:16:41.157 --> 00:16:43.993
  • How can we pray for you and your colleagues?
  • 00:16:43.993 --> 00:16:46.496
  • Yeah, thank you for that question.
  • 00:16:46.496 --> 00:16:48.398
  • I think the best way to pray for us is,
  • 00:16:48.398 --> 00:16:51.000
  • That we would be encouraged,
  • 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.535
  • That we would find
  • 00:16:52.535 --> 00:16:53.503
  • Encouragement, that we would see encouragement,
  • 00:16:53.503 --> 00:16:54.971
  • That people who want to encourage us,
  • 00:16:54.971 --> 00:16:57.607
  • Or who might be inclined to that we run into them
  • 00:16:57.607 --> 00:17:00.043
  • Because this is a place that can zap that pretty badly.
  • 00:17:00.043 --> 00:17:03.279
  • And, and then i think for personal protection,
  • 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.249
  • Quite frankly, i mean, right now,
  • 00:17:06.249 --> 00:17:08.051
  • I think all of us are,
  • 00:17:08.051 --> 00:17:09.085
  • Like i said earlier, a little bit on edge.
  • 00:17:09.085 --> 00:17:11.321
  • Our heads are a bit on a swivel, looking around for threats
  • 00:17:11.321 --> 00:17:14.157
  • Everywhere as we read our social media.
  • 00:17:14.157 --> 00:17:16.559
  • I don't read mine, by the way, but but even incoming,
  • 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:20.363
  • Voicemails and and emails of threats of violence
  • 00:17:20.363 --> 00:17:23.800
  • Against us and our families.
  • 00:17:23.800 --> 00:17:25.702
  • I think you're praying for that.
  • 00:17:26.336 --> 00:17:27.804
  • And then i would just say,
  • 00:17:27.804 --> 00:17:28.838
  • More than anything, just pray for the country.
  • 00:17:28.838 --> 00:17:31.975
  • Just pray for the country, that god's will would be done.
  • 00:17:31.975 --> 00:17:34.811
  • That from every every republican, every democrat,
  • 00:17:34.811 --> 00:17:38.715
  • Every independent, even us, even the socialists.
  • 00:17:38.715 --> 00:17:40.984
  • Pray for us all.
  • 00:17:40.984 --> 00:17:42.418
  • Because we really we really need help right now.
  • 00:17:42.418 --> 00:17:44.787
  • And in more than anything, we need god's
  • 00:17:44.787 --> 00:17:46.289
  • Hand.
  • 00:17:46.289 --> 00:17:47.323
  • Well, senator cramer,
  • 00:17:47.323 --> 00:17:48.291
  • It is always a delight to have you on.
  • 00:17:48.291 --> 00:17:50.760
  • Let's have you back on as things progress across the fall.
  • 00:17:50.760 --> 00:17:53.930
  • I look forward to it.
  • 00:17:54.430 --> 00:17:55.465
  • Thank you as always.
  • 00:17:55.465 --> 00:17:56.766
  • In a moment, some hopeful thoughts
  • 00:17:56.766 --> 00:17:58.368
  • That we can all see with the right vision.
  • 00:17:58.368 --> 00:18:05.003
  • That we can all see with the right vision.
  • 00:18:05.003 --> 00:18:08.912
  • I'm very grateful for people like senator cramer.
  • 00:18:09.913 --> 00:18:12.850
  • We were in the halls of d.c.,
  • 00:18:12.850 --> 00:18:14.251
  • Serving their constituents with integrity.
  • 00:18:14.251 --> 00:18:17.287
  • You know, unfortunately,
  • 00:18:17.287 --> 00:18:18.422
  • That's not as common on capitol hill as it needs to be.
  • 00:18:18.422 --> 00:18:21.291
  • It's disappointing that we're living in a season
  • 00:18:21.291 --> 00:18:23.527
  • Where many elected officials
  • 00:18:23.527 --> 00:18:24.728
  • Would rather play politics than do their jobs.
  • 00:18:24.728 --> 00:18:27.698
  • The most powerful people in our nation for a long time
  • 00:18:27.698 --> 00:18:30.667
  • Kept looking us in the eye, saying our borders are secure
  • 00:18:30.667 --> 00:18:34.071
  • While millions and millions of people
  • 00:18:34.071 --> 00:18:35.439
  • Were flooding into our country illegally.
  • 00:18:35.439 --> 00:18:38.142
  • Meanwhile, the media and unfortunately we as
  • 00:18:38.142 --> 00:18:40.344
  • The church were making a very valiant effort
  • 00:18:40.344 --> 00:18:42.679
  • Not to notice that somewhere between
  • 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:44.548
  • 12 and 20 million people came into our country illegally.
  • 00:18:44.548 --> 00:18:48.318
  • That's an enormous burden on health
  • 00:18:48.318 --> 00:18:49.720
  • Care, social security, education.
  • 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:52.222
  • And i'd like to remind you that anything
  • 00:18:52.222 --> 00:18:53.724
  • That begins with illegal doesn't lead to a good outcome.
  • 00:18:53.724 --> 00:18:57.795
  • We should consider this whenever
  • 00:18:57.795 --> 00:18:59.129
  • We see the wrangling between both parties over our budget.
  • 00:18:59.129 --> 00:19:02.266
  • Now, the thing people say to me,
  • 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.934
  • 100 to 1 over anything else is what can i do?
  • 00:19:03.934 --> 00:19:06.937
  • They say i feel powerless.
  • 00:19:06.937 --> 00:19:08.105
  • I don't have a platform. i'm not an influencer.
  • 00:19:08.105 --> 00:19:10.107
  • I'm not an elected official.
  • 00:19:10.107 --> 00:19:11.909
  • Well, i'd like to remind you, charlie
  • 00:19:11.909 --> 00:19:13.377
  • Kirk wasn't an elected official.
  • 00:19:13.377 --> 00:19:14.878
  • He wasn't a pastor or a theologian.
  • 00:19:14.878 --> 00:19:17.047
  • He just had conversations.
  • 00:19:17.047 --> 00:19:18.582
  • You can't
  • 00:19:18.582 --> 00:19:19.817
  • Imagine how your voice sounds to the devil when you choose
  • 00:19:19.817 --> 00:19:22.019
  • To use your voice for god's truth.
  • 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:24.455
  • We'll do that, i promise.
  • 00:19:24.455 --> 00:19:26.123
  • There's reasons for hope, not despair.
  • 00:19:26.123 --> 00:19:28.826
  • We'll be right back with your emails.
  • 00:19:28.826 --> 00:19:35.008
  • We'll be right back with your emails.
  • 00:19:35.008 --> 00:19:39.910
  • Thank you for taking the time to share your emails.
  • 00:19:40.911 --> 00:19:43.047
  • They are always a highlight of the program.
  • 00:19:43.047 --> 00:19:45.483
  • A viewer on youtube commented,
  • 00:19:45.483 --> 00:19:47.384
  • Thank you for being courageous and bold in the lord.
  • 00:19:47.384 --> 00:19:49.520
  • I believe that the church and homes of the people
  • 00:19:49.520 --> 00:19:51.856
  • Should be the first step in teaching respect,
  • 00:19:51.856 --> 00:19:54.425
  • Responsibility, truth, morality and faith to our children
  • 00:19:54.425 --> 00:19:57.561
  • And families.
  • 00:19:57.561 --> 00:19:58.863
  • I couldn't agree more.
  • 00:19:58.863 --> 00:19:59.730
  • In fact, i want to invite everybody
  • 00:19:59.730 --> 00:20:00.865
  • To join us on an initiative
  • 00:20:00.865 --> 00:20:02.132
  • I've invited our congregation to here in tennessee and beyond.
  • 00:20:02.132 --> 00:20:05.803
  • Let's
  • 00:20:06.036 --> 00:20:07.271
  • Return to the kitchen table once a week, a meal as a family.
  • 00:20:07.271 --> 00:20:11.141
  • Everybody around the table. no devices.
  • 00:20:11.141 --> 00:20:13.911
  • It's like a wellness check.
  • 00:20:13.911 --> 00:20:15.112
  • How have you been since you were last together?
  • 00:20:15.112 --> 00:20:16.580
  • Would you cried about what? are you celebrated?
  • 00:20:16.580 --> 00:20:18.916
  • If we'll take our kitchen table back,
  • 00:20:18.916 --> 00:20:21.385
  • Invite god into that place.
  • 00:20:21.385 --> 00:20:23.053
  • It'll change our homes, our community.
  • 00:20:23.053 --> 00:20:24.922
  • And i believe ultimately, our nation.
  • 00:20:24.922 --> 00:20:27.424
  • God is moving in the earth.
  • 00:20:27.424 --> 00:20:29.226
  • Don't rage against the darkness.
  • 00:20:29.226 --> 00:20:30.594
  • Let's turn up the light.
  • 00:20:30.594 --> 00:20:31.695
  • If we'll do that, there's reasons to celebrate.
  • 00:20:31.695 --> 00:20:34.431
  • I'm alan jackson, and you have a wonderful evening.
  • 00:20:34.431 --> 00:20:34.431