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State of the Union

Interview With Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC); Interview With Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX); Interview With Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA); Interview With Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY); Interview With Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Aired 9-10a ET

Aired June 07, 2026 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:00:36]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN HOST (voice-over): Gut check. A defiant President Trump gears up for another fight, naming an intelligence director he says will wield great power. What does he want to do with it?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's a very smart guy.

BASH: Top Senate Intelligence Democrat Mark Warner is live next.

And breaking rank. As Republicans start to distance themselves...

TRUMP: What the hell do I have to be here for?

SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): Mr. President Trump, get in the game!

BASH: How far will they go?

REP. BRIAN FITZPATRICK (R-PA): It's not an option to violate the law.

BASH: Co-chairs of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Tom Suozzi, coming up.

Plus, the Maine problem? Two days left until Maine voters weigh in.

GRAHAM PLATNER (D), MAINE SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Maine, you have my back.

BASH: Do Democrats agree? Our political panel breaks it all down.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Hello. I'm Dana Bash in Washington, where the state of our union is washing political fireworks well before July 4.

After a week of stunning congressional setbacks for President Trump, this weekend, he is digging in for another explosive fight with his own party, naming a new national intelligence director who didn't even hold a security clearance, but who does have a history of targeting the president's perceived enemies.

The president says housing official Bill Pulte will be in the role temporarily, which actually could give him more power. The questions members of both parties in Congress are asking this morning, what power and to do what with it?

Here with me now is the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner.

Thank you so much for being here.

SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): Thank you, Dana.

BASH: So, the president said that Bill Pulte is right for the job temporarily because he's less shackled. He said that being in this job temporarily gives you more power for a somewhat limited time.

As the vice chair of this committee, you understand how the DNI works. What could Pulte actually do with that kind of power that he's describing?

WARNER: Well, first of all, Dana, I didn't think Trump could still surprise me, but he literally shocked me and I think all of my Republican colleagues on the Intel Committee by picking somebody with literally no security background.

As you pointed out, he didn't even have a security clearance. As a matter of fact, the job description, because this position was created after 9/11 to coordinate all our 18 intelligence agencies, was supposed to be somebody with national security. It was written in the law.

Once again, Trump completely ignores that. And the idea that his only asset in terms of President Trump's eyes is, he abused his power when he was head of the mortgage regulatory agencies by giving up confidential information on mortgages of Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook at the Fed and Tish James, the New York attorney general.

What could he then do in terms of giving up confidential information, having access to all of our nation's top secrets? It's mind-blowing. And the notion as well that he could stay in this job, no matter what Trump says, until after the election, and we know Donald Trump wants to try to interfere in our elections.

You see his own words about Republicans taking over voting in certain states. Giving this guy who will simply rollover or do whatever is -- I think it's a national security threat. I think it is a choice that even my Republican friends agree is a disaster.

BASH: Well, let me just ask you about that last point you made, because President Trump said it very clearly that Pulte -- quote -- "may find out some things about rigged elections."

You talked a little bit just now about how you interpret that, but what legal role does the DNI have that could allow him to interfere in elections?

WARNER: He has no legal role. But as you have seen with the prior director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, where I believe, again, she violated the law by showing up with that domestic Justice Department seizure of ballots in Atlanta, Georgia, clearly, she had no authority to be there.

But now you have got a guy who, again, loyal only to Trump, and he's going to have all 18 agencies to oversee? I think it is that kind of unpredictability, that kind of potential abuse that's even got my Republicans concerned.

[09:05:06]

BASH: But you think it's about 2020 and trying to find something that the president believes proves the unfounded notion that the 2020 election was stolen, or are you worried about it in the future, in this November election?

WARNER: Trump is obsessed about the fact that he lost in 2020. I mean, matter of fact, many of the people who come before my committee, it's almost a threshold question. They can't acknowledge that Biden won.

But I also think there's a focus on '26 and '28.

BASH: What could he do with his job in '26?

WARNER: What he could do is take a single piece of intelligence that may not be corroborated or make something up and say, country X is going to interfere or is sending people to encourage non-citizens to vote, and that be used as an excuse for Trump to bring in ICE, federal troops, close down elections, seize polling stations.

The list is extraordinarily frightening. And, again, this guy doesn't have any national security background. The idea that he's going to get access to all of our most classified information as well means he is a security risk in and of itself in terms of disclosing things beyond the threat I think he presents to the elections.

BASH: Polygraphs are usually required for access to intelligence, the community's classified network. They're not always mandatory for high- ranking appointees. Should Pulte be required to take a polygraph?

WARNER: Absolutely. And he needs to have a background check. I mean, you don't turn over these jobs -- that's the part, again, where I said earlier I didn't think...

BASH: He must have gotten some background check for his housing...

WARNER: I'm not sure.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: ... confirmation. WARNER: I'm not sure. But I didn't think Trump could still surprise

me. But he did by this move, and, frankly he shocked all of my Republican colleagues, including -- listen, this was the guy, Pulte, who Secretary Bessent, who is not exactly a fighter, said he was going to punch his blank-blank face.

This is the guy that has created enormous enemies inside the Trump administration already. And now what could go wrong by giving him the keys to 18 different intelligence agencies?

BASH: One of the things that the president says he wants Pulte to do is fire some employees in the intelligence community because it's too big.

Setting aside the way that he might actually go about doing that, is there room for cuts? Has the intelligence community become too bloated?

WARNER: I think the director of national intelligence role, which was supposed to be coordinating, has gotten too big.

BASH: Yes.

WARNER: And a thoughtful -- and, again, I'm working with Tom Cotton on a reform of the DNI. We did some of that last year. But what I'm afraid of, as we've seen before, is the people that are fired are the intelligence professionals who are willing to speak truth to power.

BASH: OK.

WARNER: If we don't speak truth to power, this is how we ended up in the war in Iraq, if you start cooking the books.

BASH: On Friday, you and other Democrats voted to block reauthorization of a critical surveillance program over the president's appointment of Pulte to DNI.

The deadline for the program's renewal is this coming Friday. Are you willing to let the surveillance program expire if the president doesn't change his mind on Pulte?

WARNER: Now, seven Republican senators also voted against the extension of this program. It is a controversial program. I think it's a necessary program, and we have worked on even further reforms.

But the idea that we're going to allow Mr. Pulte to be potentially in charge of how this tool is used or manipulated, that's going to be a very uphill path to convince Democrats. And this was a self-inflicted harm almost. The president, I'm not sure he really wants renewal of 702, because why would he throw a live hand grenade with this kind of controversial pick 10 days before its renewal date?

BASH: Well, yesterday, the Republican chair of your committee, Senator Cotton, as well as the judiciary chair, Senator Grassley, sent Secretary Rubio a letter asking him to plan for a -- quote -- "potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection." So, if Democrats don't reauthorize this, are you risking national security?

WARNER: The person who's put national security at risk is Donald Trump by choosing someone totally unqualified...

BASH: But you're the one who has to vote.

WARNER: ... at a moment, at a moment when our nation is at war in Iran and our adversaries are coming at us.

This bill was on a path to, I think, getting passed and renewed. But I think the responsibility -- and, candidly, most of my Republican colleagues agree -- lie with the White House.

BASH: I just want to be crystal clear here. You will not vote to renew this surveillance program, FISA, unless President Trump switches gears and pulls back on Bill Pulte?

WARNER: Let's see what happens this week. Let's see what happens this week. But I don't see any path to convincing enough Democrats, because they're going to need about 15.

[09:10:00]

BASH: What about you? You're a leader on this.

WARNER: Let's see how the week plays out.

I'm not going to take that ultimate position until we see what reaction. The White House bears the responsibility to fix this. They have the power to do it. They can do it today. Let's see what happens.

BASH: I want to ask about the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, Graham Platner, new reports of unsettling behavior towards women he dated and revelations that he sexted multiple women while married.

Now, Platner strongly disputes allegations of physical intimidation or altercation. What do you think? Do you have concerns about the potential for Platner to be your Senate colleague?

WARNER: If these allegations are true, obviously, they're disturbing, as the father of three daughters.

But end of the day, the folks in Maine are going to decide that. I've got my own campaign. I'm trying to get rehired this year. And that's what I'm focused on. I wish we lived in a world where everyday's behavior was maybe what we had in the earlier times from elected officials.

But folks in Maine are going to make that decision.

BASH: Well, I understand that you're saying that. But Democrats were quick to believe other women who accused powerful people. Christine Blasey Ford made allegations of Brett Kavanaugh -- against Brett Kavanaugh. When allegations surfaced nine years ago about former Senator Al Franken, you said sexual harassment, misconduct and assault is never all right and cannot be tolerated.

Should you believe -- should those women who are saying these things about Platner be believed?

WARNER: I think the sexting -- I think he's acknowledged that. I think his wife has acknowledged that.

This is a guy that served, had PTSD. End of the day, though, is it really the choice of folks in Washington or is it the choice of the folks in Maine? I think it's going to be up to the folks in Maine. I've not really followed this closely. I got a full plate in front of me in terms of intel and national security and my own race.

But does it disturb me? Yes, of course it does.

BASH: Before I let you go, you mentioned three daughters. I know that your daughter Madison passed away very young, too young, 36, in April. Juvenile diabetes and other health issues were the cause.

Can you share something that we should know or remember about your daughter?

WARNER: She was an extraordinary person. A parent burying a child is unthinkable. Last couple years, she had gotten much better. She had a variety of issues, eating disorder, other things.

But she really said to me -- she came to love the fact that I was in the Senate. She said: "Dad, you have got the power. You got to try to make things better."

So, as I think about some of the days in this job where it's really hard, I remember my daughter's wish. So I want to try to make things better.

BASH: Beautiful child, beautiful family, and may her memory be a blessing. And thank you for sharing that.

WARNER: Thank you, Dana.

BASH: And we will be right back. And we are going to turn back to politics and the question about whether or not there are signs growing about a post-Trump era.

Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick joins me next, along with Democrat Tom Suozzi. He's one of only two Democrats to flip a seat that Trump won. What's his advice for his own party?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:18:00]

BASH: Welcome back to STATE OF THE UNION.

As the president takes on his own party again, one of my next guests is a Republican now telling Trump no.

Here with me now are the bipartisan co-chairs of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Republican Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Democrat Tom Suozzi of New York.

Thank you both for being here. I appreciate it.

Congressman Fitzpatrick, I'm going to start with you, because you have been working together to kill this anti-weaponization fund. In a court filing on Friday, the Trump administration said that the fund was dead.

But the president just told NBC that -- quote -- "If it was up to me, I'd pay them the kind of money that they deserve" -- end quote.

It sounds like he's trying to still figure out a way to make this happen.

FITZPATRICK: Good morning, Dana. Thanks for having us.

Well, Congress are the appropriators. In the brilliance of our founders and the system they set up for our country, every branch has an independent constitutional check on the other. Congress are the appropriators. The executive branch of government does not have any money in their own right.

Every dime that every agency in the executive branch has comes from Congress. So that is our determination. The votes are not there and will not be there to give a dime to this fund. Tom and I have worked together on multiple pieces of legislation that we are prepared to move to the floor to make sure that, number one, that this fund specifically is killed.

But more importantly, Dana, is getting back to the -- excuse me -- getting back to the 1956 law that allowed this abuse of discretion to happen in the first place. There's a ton of loopholes that we have got to fix.

BASH: Well, on that, Congressman Suozzi, there is obviously a determination by this president to try to find a way to do this. How many loopholes can you close? This is a president who is very clearly eager to walk through loopholes that you all don't even know exist, because, normally, presidents don't try to do that.

[09:20:09]

REP. TOM SUOZZI (D-NY): Yes, this is why a lot of lawmaking is so difficult, because you always have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

And this is the worst-case scenario where you've got the president saying he may want to pay people, like the people that attacked the Capitol on January 6. And it is an abuse -- as Brian just said, an abuse of discretion.

There was this law set up in the old days that said you can't have Congress vote on every single piece of every settlement that takes place between the federal government and individual plaintiffs. So if there's a slip-and-fall case, or there's some sort of issue that happens between some agency and an individual, then the attorney general can settle the case.

Now this attorney general and this president are abusing that discretion and trying to set up a $2 billion fund to give money to people that have attacked the Capitol. That doesn't make any sense at all. Brian's right. We have to kill this thing.

Even if they say, oh, we're not going to do it now, the president obviously still wants to do it. So we have to change this law with the idea that people who want to abuse their discretion have to be stopped.

BASH: And, Congressman Fitzpatrick, do you feel confident that you'll be able to get this on the House floor to make it abundantly clear legally that this fund will not happen?

FITZPATRICK: I do, Dana, very confident, just like I was confident we were going to get Ukraine done, which we did, the Faster Contracts Act, the Labor Bill, which we did, ACA premium tax credits, which we did. We will get this to the floor.

BASH: Congressman Fitzpatrick, just staying with you, you are one of four Republicans who bucked the president this week. You voted to limit his ability to take further military action in Iran.

We've also seen Republicans, including yourself, challenge the president not just on what we were talking about, the Anti- Weaponization Fund, the White House ballroom, and things of that nature.

In all candor, do you feel like you have more political freedom to push back now on the president because his poll numbers are at an all- time limit?

FITZPATRICK: Dana, I have been ranked the number one most independent for five years in a row. This is nothing new for me, for sure.

You just got to do what's right. And I think the most important thing is that we remember that we report to the people back home. We don't report to any person or any party in Washington, D.C. We report to the people that we represent in our corner of America, in my case, the people of Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania, very, very independent-minded voters that want independent-minded representation.

That's what they have gotten. That's what they will continue to get.

BASH: Yes.

FITZPATRICK: So we take issue by issue data. We don't paint a broad brush. We look at every issue.

BASH: I hear you, but I think it's also...

SUOZZI: Let...

BASH: Congressman Suozzi, give me one second. I will get to you. I think it's also fair to say that you have been much more vocal with your independence since you passed primary season.

And it's not just you. Other Republicans, both in the House and mostly in the Senate, are being more aggressive.

FITZPATRICK: I voted to end the Iran war before. This wasn't the first time this past week. We discharged the ACA premium tax credits last year. We signed the discharge petition for Ukraine last year. This is not new, Dana. This has been a consistent theme because that's my view of representation.

Pre-primary, post-primary, we're always in cycle. The politics never end. It never changes. But you have to be -- it really comes down to, what is your perspective on government?

SUOZZI: Let me jump in.

BASH: Congressman Suozzi, go ahead.

SUOZZI: Let me jump in.

Instead of Brian talking about himself, let me talk about him. He's showing real leadership here, and he has shown leadership. And he has stood up for the things that he knows and right based upon what the people in his district want him to do.

And we need more members of Congress -- and I think we're starting to see more members of Congress follow that type of leadership. We need to be fighting for the people of the United States of America. He's a Republican. I'm a Democrat. We all need to work together, Democrats and Republicans, to actually fight for the things that the people of the United States of America want.

And Brian's showing leadership.

BASH: While I have you, Congressman Suozzi, the idea that you worked together on the weaponization bill, I know you consider the -- this as an example of bipartisanship.

Are there other areas where you think that you can get not just Brian Fitzpatrick, but other Republicans, to get on board and push back in the next few months? I mean, it is not that long until Election Day.

SUOZZI: Well, Brian and I have decided that we're going to make gerrymandering one of the big top-of-our-list issues, because it's destroying our country. We're creating more and more of these safe seats throughout the country.

[09:25:01]

Of the 435 seats in Congress, 400 seats are safe. You can't lose because they're gerrymandered. They're redistricted. Put all the Republicans over here, all the Democrats over there. And then, when you can't lose, you don't listen to the people. When you don't listen to the people, things get worse in our country.

The only people you listen to are the people in your primary that could defeat you in a primary. So you pander to the base. The Republicans pander to the right. The Democrats pander to the left. And then we don't get anything done, and the people are left behind.

So we're going to work hard on that. And I think a lot of other members of Congress are interested in working on that. And whatever -- affordability. Everybody's concerned about their gas prices. Everybody's concerned about their grocery prices. Let's work together, Democrats and Republicans, to actually address the issues that people care about.

People don't like this war and the fact that there's no plan and the effect that's having on them. There's so many things that we can do as good Americans, Democrats and Republicans, to work together to solve the problems that people actually care about.

BASH: Congressman Suozzi, that is one of the arguments that the Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner makes, that you should focus on the issues that he is discussing and not on some of the things that have come out, particularly in the last two weeks. He says he's not dropping out of the race, despite controversies.

Do you think he should, or should the unsettling behavior that has been reported be of so much concern that he should not be a candidate?

SUOZZI: Listen, I've been unsettled about Graham Platner for a long time about the issues and the positions he takes on issues, not just these allegations about his personal conduct.

But I'm focused on my district and I'm not really focused on his race, but I'm very, as you said, unsettled by a lot of different things about him.

BASH: Congressman Fitzpatrick?

FITZPATRICK: I agree with Tom. It's very, very troubling, obviously.

So, Dana, just to be clear, I mean, I voted to expel members of Congress from both the Democrat and Republican Party. I voted to strip members of Congress from their committees in both the Democrat and Republican Party. I've been consistent on this. I know Tom has been as well.

We have to set a higher bar. Yes, it is ultimately up to the voters, and the voters will decide. But we still have our opinions. People like you are going to ask us our opinions, and we have to be clear and unequivocal on what those opinions are. Americans expect and deserve better.

BASH: Before I let you go, Congressman Suozzi, you are a New Yorker. You are a Knicks fan. The president is expected to attend game three of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

How do you think the crowd is going to greet him?

SUOZZI: I don't know how they're going to greet him, but they're going to say, go, New York, go, New York, go, New York, go.

(LAUGHTER)

BASH: I'm not even going to get you to weigh in on the Knicks, Congressman Fitzpatrick. I know better than that.

(LAUGHTER)

FITZPATRICK: Yes. Good call, Dana.

(LAUGHTER)

BASH: All right, thank you both for being here. I really appreciate it.

FITZPATRICK: You bet. Thanks for having us.

SUOZZI: Thanks.

BASH: A lot of political news this week. Is it changing what Democrats see as their path to win back the Senate? And is Maine still on the list?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:32:23]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PLATNER: Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated and weaponized, you have my back.

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: That was Graham Platner Friday night responding to new accusations against him from former girlfriends, who describe unsettling behavior. Maine's primary is this Tuesday.

My panel is with me.

Congresswoman Escobar, I'll start with you because he's a member of your party. Does that concern you?

REP. VERONICA ESCOBAR (D-TX): Of course. Of course it concerns me.

But I will also say what concerns me even at an even greater level is Susan Collins getting reelected. She has given cover and comfort to the most corrupt, incompetent president we've ever had. And, hopefully, the people of Maine will take away the seat from her, whoever the nominee is. And if folks are concerned about Mr. Platner, wait until they hear

about the Senate candidate in my state, Ken Paxton. He is someone who I hope gets as much coverage as the Maine candidate is getting, because what we know in Texas about Ken Paxton is pretty horrifying, even people within his own party.

BASH: Congresswoman Mace?

REP. NANCY MACE (R-SC): What I just heard is disgusting and gross.

This is -- we're supposed to be against the physical abuse of women. We're supposed to be against rape, but we want to win a race, so anything to win that race, including shoving women aside. If you believe "The New York Times," his ex-girlfriend said that he held his arm behind her back.

If that's the case, she was one second away from being raped or being murdered. I'm trying to get predators, sexual predators, and rapists out of Congress, not back into Congress. And there is no one in Congress who's put their political career on the line more for women and underage girls than I have.

I have taken on my party. I have taken on the Democrats. I've taken on both parties, because if the moral clarity of our politicians today are, rape is bad, but we want to get this guy elected, I don't know how you expect...

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: I just want to be clear.

ESCOBAR: ... say thing about Donald Trump.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: But one second. One second. I just want to be clear here. There's no allegation of rape.

ASHLEY ALLISON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Allegations of rape.

BASH: The allegation was other physical altercations, which he strongly disputes. He disputes any allegations of physical...

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: ... rape fantasies.

I find nothing -- as a rape survivor, I find nothing more disgusting than that. And I would tell you the last time someone accused Donald Trump of rape, that network paid $15 million in a defamation suit.

[09:35:05]

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: He was found guilty by a jury of his peers. (CROSSTALK)

MACE: I would be real careful about telling that lie.

ESCOBAR: It really is incredible. It is incredible about how much cover and comfort they give to a convicted felon and to someone who's been an adjudicated case...

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: I would be real careful about telling that lie.

BASH: And, again, I just want to make clear here this was a civil case. It was not a criminal case, so he wasn't found guilty.

Go ahead.

ALLISON: Yes.

I mean, I do find the allegations very troubling. I do believe women. And then I think that the process -- whether the law or the voters get to decide. I think, in this instance, both parties are hypocritical, if I'm honest.

I think that Donald Trump has literally with his own mouth said he will grab women by the P, and we elected him, and then has said other very uncomfortable things. So, like, let's be disgusted by that. And let's also be disgusted if Graham Platner takes somebody's arm and puts -- so both things can be true.

I think what I am looking for from all of our leaders is a little more moral clarity in saying no, because I think, as an American, I deserve that. And I think the voters deserve that. And I think that is why so many people are frustrated with our politics.

SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think Democrats have ceded whatever moral ground they once upon a time had. You can't make a moral or ethical case against Trump or any other Republican and say, but Susan Collins is so terrible, we're going to encourage voters in Maine to elect a guy who's been alleged to have serious physical misconduct against women.

Now, I'm a dad of a daughter. I can't imagine excusing that type of behavior. Now, as a conservative, I've called out things on my side, as you know very well.

And so, for me, Congresswoman, I get the premise of your argument, but I just couldn't in good conscience or faith say support some person with these serious allegations.

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: You still have the governor. You still have the governor who voters could vote for.

(CROSSTALK) ESCOBAR: And I didn't say I would vote for him.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: He's talked about rape fantasies.

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: You defended Donald Trump...

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: ... far worse.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: The last time somebody...

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: ... $15 million defamation suit, by the way. I would be real careful. I would be real careful about that.

(CROSSTALK)

ALLISON: What about E. Jean Carroll?

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: All these Democrats voted to release the Epstein files.

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: And pretty soon you're going to see them defending Ken Paxton.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: All these Democrats who voted to release the Epstein files are now defending Platner.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: All these Democrats voted to release the Epstein files, but now they're defending this guy Platner in Maine.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: You voted to release the Epstein files. Now you're defending Platner. It's disgusting.

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: I did not defend Platner.

MACE: And I'm running for governor. And I've talked to voters across the entire state. They are fed up with both parties who are the establishment.

(CROSSTALK)

ALLISON: Can I just say one thing about Platner...

BASH: Please.

ALLISON: ... is, he has denied these allegations. And he is allowed to do that. He also -- there is a sense of remorse for his behavior when he was suffering from PTSD.

And I do believe in second chances, but I also believe you can believe women when they say assault has happened.

BASH: Yes. And we're going to take a quick break because we want to talk about what else is Tuesday, but just because you keep saying defamation, the president was found liable because it was a civil case. He wasn't found guilty because it wasn't criminal.

OK, everybody, stick around. One of you, as I just mentioned, is on the ballot this week. We're going to talk about that and whether the president's endorsement might have an unintended consequence.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:43:13]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: What the hell do I have to be here for? I got elected. I'm here because I like the farmer. I mean, when you think about it, I guess there's a lot of truth to that, right?

I could be home right now in the beautiful White House, enjoying watching somebody else on television talking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: President Trump on Friday bringing that midterm energy.

Our panel is back now.

You are on the ballot. You are running for governor in a very crowded Republican primary on Tuesday. It's a dogfight. You were not endorsed by President Trump. Instead, the lieutenant governor, Pamela Evette, was.

You've still put up pictures, as have other candidates, of you with the president. I think yours was A.I., and you disclosed that.

MACE: No, I have pictures with the president that are real.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: ... A.I.

BASH: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: But my opponent, Pam Evette, has put out fake A.I. videos of me, which is sort of scary to see that happening.

BASH: Well, let's talk about what matters, which is the endorsement and how that's playing in the race and the fact that you didn't get the endorsement.

MACE: I've had a race where I was endorsed by the president. I've had a race where I was not, and I won both times.

And I knew what was on the line when I voted to release the Epstein files. I'm a survivor of domestic violence. I'm a rape survivor as well. And if the price of an endorsement was to not vote to release the Epstein files, that is a price I am unwilling to pay.

I have seen what happens when good people stay quiet, and I've seen what happens when they don't. And I would choose the latter every single time. I'm going to fight for women. I'm going to fight for underage children. I've been doing that for the last five years since I've been in Congress.

And I wouldn't change a thing. I think these issues are very important to me as a survivor. And I will continue to advocate for children and for women.

[09:45:02]

BASH: And how do you think -- I mean, you're looking at the congresswoman's primary. There are obviously primaries that we've seen so far this election cycle where the president has changed the race by his endorsement or non-endorsement to the point where some of those senators who have lost...

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: Texas.

BASH: Yes, or are now really pissed. Excuse my French.

SINGLETON: Yes, look, I mean, Texas, for an example, we're going to have spend a lot of money.

BASH: But do you think he still has that sway?

SINGLETON: I mean, I think his cachet certainly matters a whole lot in the Republican primary.

But it's the enthusiasm gap that concerns me as a Republican strategist. I mean, you look at Democrats, they've been successful in 30-plus special elections since last year. All data internally and externally does suggest that there is an enthusiasm gap. I'm looking at the races tomorrow. I want to see, what does that

suburban turnout look like, rural turnout, turnout among young men? If those numbers are somewhat depressed, then it may not look too good for us going into midterms.

Now, I'm hopeful for the Senate. I think Maine gives us an opportunity there. Iowa, I am a little concerned about, but this is tough, Dana, because every day that we're not talking about the cost of living, getting Americans back to work, that does diminish our odds this November.

ALLISON: Affordability is on the ballot.

SINGLETON: Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

MACE: The cost of living.

I've talked -- especially for seniors in my state, seniors in South Carolina don't want to pay property taxes, because we are the fastest growing state in the country. They've spent their whole lives buying their home, paying off their mortgage, and when they get to retirement, they can't afford to stay in their home because property taxes are so high.

But we are seeing this, particularly with seniors, with our vets.

ALLISON: And young people can't even get a mortgage.

(CROSSTALK)

ALLISON: So they won't even get a home to try and keep.

I think that in terms of just the race, having a candidate win on -- for a Democrat, having a candidate wins that is being endorsed by Donald Trump is a strategic advantage, because Donald Trump's poll numbers are sinking.

And, yes, it might help in the primary, but in the general all headwinds are looking like it is hitting the Republicans. So best of luck to you on Tuesday.

MACE: I'm not going down without a fight.

ALLISON: But, either way, a Trump endorsement in a general this year I don't think does as much as it does in a Republican primary.

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: I agree. I agree.

We are living the consequences of the Trump economy, cuts to health care, cuts to nutrition programs, the illegal war in Iran that has made the cost of gas skyrocket, the impact to farmers, the impact to our grocery bills.

These are -- in the general election, that's what's on the ballot is what Trump and Republicans have done to our economy.

SINGLETON: Dana, if I could add quickly, I do not think that Democrats will see a 2018 victory. I think the electoral map this time is very different than it was then.

ALLISON: Sure.

SINGLETON: I think Republicans have shown a significant amount of strength. And I'm not including the gerrymandering. I'm just saying in general just the way the electorate has just changed. Our voters are more working class now. Democrats' voters have changed. They're wealthier, more educated.

So, all of those dynamics have to be factored in. I think there will be a victory. The question at this point is, by how much?

ALLISON: Yes. But -- you say that, but then it feels like the working-class folks are the ones who have -- the president has his foot on their neck.

And so you had a good swing in 2024, but the question is, has he delivered on the promises he made to them? And a lot of them are saying no. I also think it's interesting for a governor's race in a state like North Carolina.

MACE: South.

ALLISON: Excuse me, South Carolina. Sorry.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: It's the better Carolina.

ALLISON: Sorry, the better Carolina.

MACE: It's the better Carolina.

ALLISON: But you look at a state -- I was going to say, a state like North Carolina how -- and a governor's race in Texas -- how some of these governor, Senate, House races, how that will all play into turnout, like you were saying.

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: Right. Yes.

ESCOBAR: Yes.

In Texas right now, one of the top issues is data centers.

ALLISON: Yes.

ESCOBAR: And we have a governor that's rolled out the red carpet in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott, for these data centers that are coming into communities hundreds of yards away from neighborhoods.

People are not happy with that.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: That's happening across...

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: Data centers too South Carolina is a heated topic.

I'm the only candidate running for governor that wants a moratorium on data centers. And it's our Republican-led state legislature that is going to saddle the cost of data centers, their energy, their water, their infrastructure, on ratepayers in South Carolina.

I've offered 10 amendments to fix that legislation. But it is a deeply important issue in the primary.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: Final word.

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: But just quickly here, just to push back a little bit, I do get the concern of the data centers, but we are in a race against the Chinese for A.I.

And whoever wins that race...

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: ... for the next 100 years. We must win that.

ALLISON: Yes, and people are terrified of A.I. And they're looking for leaders to do some regulation.

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: I get it. And I get the cost. And we should figure that out.

(CROSSTALK)

SINGLETON: But we can't cede that.

(CROSSTALK)

MACE: Elon wants to put data centers in outer space. And I support that.

(CROSSTALK)

ESCOBAR: Say that to neighborhoods that are having to live with the costs.

(CROSSTALK) SINGLETON: And I take that point. I take that point.

ESCOBAR: And they don't come with jobs.

(CROSSTALK)

ALLISON: And people who don't have the jobs because of them.

[09:50:00]

BASH: What a great conversation.

ALLISON: Way to end.

BASH: Thank you so much.

(LAUGHTER)

BASH: Good luck on Tuesday. Thank you all.

But don't go anywhere. President Trump has a new obsession, the size of the nation's Reflecting Pool. We'll get an eyeful next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: With just weeks to go before July 4, President Trump is eager to unveil the changes he's making to our nation's capital.

[09:55:01]

Several times this week, he showed off this poster of the Reflecting Pool, which reads -- quote -- "Our pool is bigger than skyscrapers."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Almost 2,500 feet long. I could show you it would be like the tallest building in the world laid on its side, and the building wouldn't reach it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: He even pulled out that chart to show farmers in Wisconsin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Look, so that's the pond if it were standing up. Here's your Sears Tower, Empire State Building, World Trade Center.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: So, yesterday, we went out to the Reflecting Pool to get some new video of what it looks like, so you can see. The water is being filled up. There's a nice reflection of the Washington Monument, which, despite what the president thinks, might be more important than its size.

Thank you so much for spending your Sunday morning with us.

Fareed Zakaria picks it up next.