����vlog

SPECIAL PRESENTATION, COFFEE WITH THE CANDIDATES. HELLO AND WELCOME TO OUR SERIES COFFEE WITH THE CANDIDATES. I’M AMANDA ROOKER AND TODAY WE’RE TALKING WITH ASA HUTCHINSON. WE’RE GOING ACROSS THE STATE TO GET TO KNOW PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND TO HAVE IOWANS ASK ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT. TODAY, WE’RE IN OSKALOOSA, IN MAHASKA COUNTY. NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF ACTIVE VOTERS IN MAHASKA COUNTY ARE REPUBLICAN. IN 2016, 70% OF VOTERS IN MAHASKA COUNTY CAST THEIR BALLOTS FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2020. 73% VOTED FOR TRUMP. WE’LL SIT DOWN WITH THREE UNDECIDED REPUBLICANS FROM MAHASKA COUNTY. THEY’LL ASK FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON THEIR OWN QUESTIONS OVER A CUP OF COFFEE. BUT FIRST, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HUTCHINSON’S BACKGROUND. ASA HUTCHINSON SERVED AS THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS FOR EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, HE SERVED THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE AS HE WAS THEN APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE US DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH. HE ALSO SERVED AS UNDERSECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. WE’RE HERE WITH FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. ABSOLUTELY. CORLEY IT’S BEAUTIFUL TO BE HERE IN OSKALOOSA, THE TOWN SQUARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BEGINNING OF FOOTBALL SEASON. PRETTY EXCITING TIME. WE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU. NUMBER ONE, IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT, HOW WOULD YOU LOWER INFLATION? WELL, THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE. AND INFLATION HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE AS WE’VE GOT TOO MUCH MONEY IN THE SYSTEM AND SO IT’S HURTING OUR FAMILIES. YOU’VE GOT TO REDUCE FEDERAL SPENDING THAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF INFLATION RIGHT NOW. AND WE’RE GETTING A DOUBLE WHAMMY IN OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE INFLATION, BUT YOU’VE GOT HIGH INTEREST RATES. AND IT ALL STARTED BECAUSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION HAVING A $1.3 TRILLION SPENDING BILL THAT WAS TOO MUCH FLOODED MONEY INTO OUR SYSTEM THAT RAISED THE INFLATION. ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND YET THERE IS A LARGE PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HE REMAINS VERY POPULAR WITH AND HE’S CHANGED A LOT OF IDEOLOGY WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. YOU’VE SAID THAT YOU WANT TO REPRESENT A COURSE CORRECTION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DO A COURSE CORRECTION? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I IDENTIFY WITH THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LONG SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP AND AND ARE DISAPPOINTED. I SUPPORTED HIM IN 2016. I SUPPORTED HIM IN 2020. BUT BUT IT’S A DIFFERENT WORLD NOW. I MEAN, WHAT HE IS FACING, WHAT HE HAS BROUGHT ON HIMSELF AND AND AND HE’S NOT THE RIGHT LEADER FOR OUR COUNTRY INTO THE FUTURE. AND THAT’S WHY WE HAVE A CONTESTED PRIMARY. THREE AS TO HOW VOTES ARE GOING TO CHANGE, I CAN’T CHANGE VOTES. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION. I CAN JUST SIMPLY MAKE THE CASE THAT WE NEED TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AND MY EXPERIENCE, MY VISION OF AMERICA, MY LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY, I’M READY TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEN THEY SEE THOSE ALTERNATIVES, I HOPE THEY’LL THINK IT THROUGH AND SAY, WHAT’S THE BEST DIRECTION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION? WHAT’S THE RIGHT KIND OF LEADER THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT BRINGS OUR COUNTRY TOGETHER, ENHANCES OUR FREEDOMS, PRODUCES OUR ENERGY IN OUR COUNTRY, AND REALLY CAN REPRESENT THE LIFE THAT WE ENJOY IN IOWA AND PLACES LIKE ARKANSAS. YOU MENTIONED THERE THAT YOU YOU WERE A FORMER SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP, BUT YOU’RE NOT ANYMORE. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOU AND DONALD TRUMP THAT MAKE YOU A BETTER LEADER, IN YOUR OPINION? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT’S MOTIVATION. I MEAN, HE’S MADE IT CLEAR HIS SECOND TERM IS NOT GOING TO BE ABOUT THE COMMON GOOD. IT’S GOING TO BE ABOUT HIM EXACTING REVENGE. AND THAT’S NOT GOOD FOR AMERICA. AND SO SO I STILL BELIEVE PUBLIC SERVICE IS ABOUT OTHERS AND IT’S NOT ABOUT YOURSELF. AND SO I THINK THERE’S A DIFFERENCE THERE. SECONDLY, WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT POLICY, HE HAS TAKEN A VERY ISOLATIONIST VIEW OF AMERICA. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE RIGHTFULLY BE SUPPORTING UKRAINE AND THAT WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR SOVEREIGNTY AND FOR THEIR FREEDOM AGAINST AN OPPRESSED RUSSIA. AND SO THAT’S IMPORTANT. AND WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT OUR NATIONAL DEBT DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION, HE ADDED TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OUR NATIONAL DEBT SO THAT, YOU CAN SAY, WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT HE SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY AND SO THERE’S SOME POLICY DIFFERENCES, EVEN THOUGH WE RECOGNIZE HE DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ALSO WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT. ON ABORTION, YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU WOULD SIGN A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN INTO LAW IF IT WAS ON YOUR DESK AS PRESIDENT AND IF IT HAD SOME EXCEPTIONS IN IT. BUT IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT, HOW WOULD YOU ACTUALLY CREATE CONSENSUS IN CONGRESS AND IN THE COUNTRY TO GET A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN ON YOUR DESK? GREAT QUESTION. AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES AND CONSENSUS IS GENERALLY DEVELOPED IN OUR COUNTRY THROUGH ACTIONS OF THE STATES AND HOW THE STATES HANDLE DIFFERENT ISSUES. AND SO THERE’S GOING TO BE CONTINUED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATES AS TO HOW THEY HANDLE THE ABORTION ISSUE. AND THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE WHAT I BELIEVE WILL BE THE NEXT 5 OR 6 YEARS DETERMINING ON THAT ISSUE. NOW, IF THERE IS A NATIONAL CONSENSUS BUILT, THEN CONGRESS CAN ACT. BUT WE DON’T HAVE THAT CONSENSUS NOW. AND I EXPECT THAT CONSENSUS TO BE AROUND A REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION, WITH EXCEPTIONS THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE UPON, WHICH IS LIFE OF THE MOTHER, INSTANCES OF RAPE AND INCEST. THAT’S PRETTY MUCH WHERE AMERICA IS RIGHT NOW. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS TO THOSE. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE IT UP A NOTCH AND WE’RE GOING TO GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE WITH A GROUP OF IOWA REPUBLICANS. THEY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. COFFEE WITH THE CANDIDATES CONTINUES RIGHT NOW. OUR CONVERSATION WITH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ASA HUTCHINSON CONTINUES AT SMOKEY ROW COFFEE IN OSKALOOSA, WE’RE JOINED BY THREE UNDECIDED IOWA REPUBLICANS FROM RIGHT HERE IN MAHASKA COUNTY. WELCOME BACK TO COFFEE WITH THE CANDIDATES. WE’RE HERE TODAY WITH FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON. AND WE’RE JOINED BY SOME IOWA REPUBLICANS FROM THE AREA. AND ALL THREE OF YOU ARE UNDECIDED ON WHO YOU PLAN TO CAUCUS FOR IN JANUARY. WELL, ALL THREE OF YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ASA HUTCHINSON SOME QUESTIONS. I MAY JUMP IN WITH A FEW OF MY OWN AS WELL, BUT WE’LL GET STARTED HERE WITH BRYCE. BRYCE, YOU WORK ON YOUR FAMILY FARM, FARMING CORN, SOYBEANS AND HOGS, AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE FORMER GOVERNOR. SO DO MY CONCERN IS FOR MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND AND THE NATIONAL DEBT. I BELIEVE THE NATIONAL DEBT TODAY IS OVER $32 TRILLION, WHICH IS $96,000 FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN AMERICA. AND JUST TO GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT A TRILLION IS, I LOOKED IT UP AND 1,000,000 SECONDS WAS 12 DAYS. AND IT’S 12 DAYS AGO, 1,000,000,000 SECONDS WAS 32 YEARS AGO. AND 1,000,000,000,000 SECONDS IS 32,000 YEARS AGO. WHAT ARE YOU CAN YOU DO TO STOP THIS TRAIN WRECK? WELL, BRYCE, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. AND EACH OF YOU, THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY WORLD TODAY. UNDECIDED VOTERS. SO I’M GLAD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. BUT, BRYCE, THAT PROBABLY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ECONOMIC THREATS THAT OUR COUNTRY FACES. BUT IT’S ALSO A MORAL CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE. AS YOU THINK ABOUT MY FATHER’S GENERATION, THE GREATEST GENERATION LEFT US AS A LAND OF FREEDOM, OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY. AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT WE’RE LEAVING OUR CHILDREN, WHICH IS A LOT OF DEBT. AND WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT IN ORDER TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT DEBT, WE HAVE TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO A BALANCED BUDGET AND RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. AND AS A GOVERNOR, I BALANCED THE BUDGET IN ARKANSAS FOR EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW. IT WAS REQUIRED, OF COURSE, BUT TO DO THAT, WE HAD TO TIGHTEN THE BELT AND OCCASIONS AND WE HAD TO MANAGE IT. JUST LIKE YOU DO YOUR OWN POCKETBOOKS AND YOUR FARM BUDGET. AND THEN SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO REDUCE SOME OF THE SPENDING OUT OF WASHINGTON AND THAT’S WHY I’VE PLEDGED TO REDUCE THE NON-DEFENSE FEDERAL WORKFORCE BY 10%, A VERY SPECIFIC GOAL, NON-DEFENSE WORKFORCE BY 10%. THAT’S SETS AN EXAMPLE CHALLENGING THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE. IT ALSO SAYS WE’RE GOING TO BE SERIOUS FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT OF CONTROLLING OUR SPENDING. AND THEN TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT? BECAUSE AS GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS, I REDUCED THE STATE WORKFORCE, STATE GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE BY 14%, 3000 FEWER WORKERS WHEN I LEFT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE VERSUS WHEN I BEGAN EIGHT YEARS BEFORE. AND IT WAS JUST BECAUSE I TRANSFORMED GOVERNMENT. WE MADE IT MORE EFFICIENT. WE COMBINED SERVICES WE DIDN’T REPLACE. WE HAD A HIRING FREEZE IN PLACE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WILL DO AS PRESIDENT IS PUT A HIRING FREEZE IN PLACE THAT IN THE NON-DEFENSE AREA WHERE WE’RE GOING TO START CONTROLLING IT THAT WAY. I’M GOING TO PUT CABINET OFFICIALS IN PLACE THAT HAVE A PRIORITY OF CONTROLLING SPENDING AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF IT IS WE’VE GOT TO GROW OUR ECONOMY. AND JUST AS GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, I WAS ABLE TO CUT TAXES. I WAS ABLE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND WE LEFT A $2 BILLION BILLION SURPLUS FOR MY SUCCESSOR. AND THE ONLY WAY WE DID THAT WAS BECAUSE WE GREW OUR ECONOMY. WE WE’VE GOT TO DO THAT NATIONALLY. THAT’S WHY WE OUGHT TO TALK ABOUT ENERGY PRODUCTION THAT’S SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO GROWTH. IT’S A PRO-GROWTH TAX POLICY AS WELL. AND IT’S A REDUCING THE REGULATORY BURDENS ON FARMERS, WHETHER IT’S WATERS OF THE USA OR THE EPA REGULATIONS THAT HITS OUR OUR FARMERS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT STYMIE GROWTH. AND SO WE’VE GOT TO CONTROL ALL THAT REGULATORY BURDEN IN ORDER TO SPUR ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY AND GROW. THAT’S HOW I WOULD START ADDRESSING THE DEBT. IT STARTS WITH A COMMITMENT. AND OUR NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO COME FROM BETSY. BETSY IS A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE NOW WORKS AT WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY. AND BETSY, GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION. YES. SO I BELIEVE AMERICA IS HAVING A MORAL CRISIS, VIOLENCE, HOMELESSNESS, GENDER CONFUSION, CONFUSION, SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE COVID LOCKDOWNS HAVE ALL CREATED A STATE OF CONFUSION FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND OR YOUNG ADULTS. AS PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD BE WITHIN YOUR POWER TO RETURN AMERICA TO HER PRIDE AND DIGNITY? GREAT QUESTION. AND THAT IS REALLY EXPRESSED THE HEARTFELT FEELINGS OF SO MANY, PARTICULARLY IN MIDDLE AMERICA, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND, YOU KNOW, I’M A PARENT. I’VE GOT FOUR CHILDREN. I’VE GOT SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN, AND I CARE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. AND I’M A PERSON OF FAITH AND I BELIEVE THERE’S TWO GENDERS. AND I DON’T LIKE THE GOVERNMENT PUSHING AN AGENDA. AND THAT’S WHERE IT STARTS. THERE’S TWO PRINCIPAL THINGS I WANT TO SAY THERE. FIRST OF ALL, YOU LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND I WANT TO HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I WANT TO BE A PRESIDENT THAT YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN CAN LOOK UP AND SAY THAT’S AN EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THAT’S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO OR WHO HAS FAITH AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIFE AND THAT THEY REFLECT THE NATIONAL CHARACTER WHICH IS BRINGING OUT THE BEST OF AMERICA. OUR GOODNESS, OUR CHARACTER, OUR WORK ETHIC AND A PRESIDENT CAN DO THAT THROUGH LEADERSHIP. BUT SECONDLY, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STOP PUSHING THIS LEFTIST SOCIAL AGENDA THAT IMPACTS OUR SCHOOLS. I SAW THAT AS GOVERNOR WHENEVER WE HAD EDICTS COME DOWN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TELLING OUR SCHOOLS, YOU’VE GOT TO OPEN UP YOUR BATHROOM AMES TO WHATEVER GENDER THE CHILDREN DECIDED THEY WERE. I SAID, THAT’S NOT RIGHT. IT’S NOT THE LAW. IT’S NOT COMMON SENSE. AND WE SAID, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. SO YOU’VE GOT TO STAND UP TO THAT. BUT AS PRESIDENT, I WILL STOP THOSE KIND OF EDICTS COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., THAT IMPACT THE VALUES OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITIES. IT ALL STARTS WITH OUR FAMILIES. IT STARTS WITH OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP. IT’S OUR INDIVIDUAL FAITH. AND IT’S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOL BOARDS DO. WASHINGTON SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MARY. SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE OSKALOOSA AREA. SHE WORKED AND RETIRED HERE. MARY HAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. DO WE NEED TO FINISH THE WALL AT THE BORDER? SOUTHERN BORDER, BECAUSE WE’RE STILL GETTING ILLEGAL DRUGS COMING ACROSS, WHETHER IT’S BY SHIPPING OR BY PEOPLE JUST CARRYING THEM CROSSED. WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? WELL, MARY, THAT’S ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE TODAY IS THE FENTANYL CRISIS IN AMERICA. IT IS A LACK OF CONFIDENCE THAT AMERICANS HAVE OF ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR COUNTRY, THAT IT’S BEING CHANNELED, CHALLENGED BY A POROUS BORDER IN WHICH THE RULE OF LAW HAS BEEN LOST. AND IT ALSO IS REFLECTED BY VIOLENCE IN OUR INNER CITIES. THE SMASH AND GRAB PHILOSOPHY, I THINK, IS WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT, THAT PEOPLE LOSE RESPECT FOR THE LAW AND SO I’M A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR. I WAS HEAD OF THE DEA. I UNDERSTAND THE DRUG CRISIS. I UNDERSTAND BORDER SECURITY AND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE. I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. AND SO WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT YOUR QUESTION WAS, DO YOU FINISH THE WALL? WELL, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. NOW, NOW WE’VE GOT TO REBUILD THE THE THE WALL THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STOPPED BUILDING BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT, THE PARTS ARE ALREADY THERE PAID FOR. WE NEED TO BUILD THAT AND AND WHEREVER WE CAN BUILD A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE THAT MAKES SENSE, WE OUGHT TO DO THAT. AND NOW THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, THOUGH, BECAUSE I’VE BEEN THERE AND YOU’VE GOT THE CARTELS THAT ARE YOU KNOW, THEY USE A BLOWTORCH AND CUT A HOLE IN THE WALL OR THEY GET A LADDER AND CLIMB OVER IT OR TUNNELING GO UNDER IT. SO IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BORDER PATROL AND OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THOSE INCURSIONS. BUT THE BORDER, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT. I’LL BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT MAKES SENSE. WE WILL PUT A WALL IN THERE AND WE’LL HAVE THE RESPONSE CAPABILITY. WE’LL CHANGE OUR ASYLUM LAWS, AND WE’RE GOING TO GO AFTER THE CARTEL. NOW, LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR WHEN I SAY WE’RE GOING TO GO AFTER THE CARTEL OR I’VE DONE THAT AS HEAD OF THE DEA WORKING WITH MEXICO, WHERE WE DISMANTLED ONE OF THE LEAD CARTELS THERE. NOW IT’S BUILT UP. MEXICO IS NOT COOPERATING THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE. BUT YOU DON’T INVADE WITH OUR MILITARY, A FOREIGN COUNTRY WHO’S BEEN OUR GOOD TRADING PARTNER. THAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. SOME CANDIDATES ARE ADVOCATING THAT. MY ANSWER IS LET’S LET’S WORK WITH MEXICO TO GO AFTER THE CARTELS, PUT THAT RULE OF LAW BACK INTO PLACE. AND WE’LL NEED TO USE SOME ECONOMIC PRESSURE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. BUT THAT’S THE AGENDA. AND THAT’S WHAT HAS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. BETSY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON FOREIGN POLICY? YES. YOU STATED THAT THAT YOU WANTED TO ADVANCE THE AMERICA’S INTEREST IN UPHOLDING OUR COMMITMENTS TO OUR EXISTING ALLIES. WHO ARE THOSE ALLIES AND WHAT ARE OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THEM? AND HOW WOULD YOU UPHOLD THOSE COMMITMENTS WITH THE CURRENT GLOBAL ISSUES WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA RIGHT NOW? A GREAT QUESTION AND WHO’S OUR ALLIES IS IS REALLY A FASCINATING ONE. I THINK YOU BREAK THAT DOWN WITH OUR MOST TRUSTED ALLIES OR OUR CANDIDATES. IT’S THE EUROPEAN NATIONS THAT WE FOUGHT FOR IN WORLD WAR TWO. IT’S, YOU KNOW, THE ASIAN ISLANDS FROM THE PHILIPPINES ON DOWN THAT ARE STRONG ALLIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND THEN YOU HAVE NATIONS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY TOTALLY ALIGNED WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUT THEY CAN BE STRATEGIC PARTNERS. AND THAT WOULD BE NATIONS THAT YOU KNOW, ARE IN SOUTH AMERICA THAT WE NEED TO BRING CLOSER INTO OUR FOLD. BUT BRAZIL, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH RUSSIA SOMETIMES OR OR CHINA. AND SO WE’VE GOT TO PROTECT THOSE NATIONS OF INTEREST THAT SHOULD BE TRUSTED PARTNERS WITH THE UNITED STATES. AND THEN YOU’VE GOT OUR ADVERSARIES. AND THAT LIST, REGRETFULLY, IS GROWING. AND SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE ALL OF THAT? FIRST OF ALL, YOU SHOW STRENGTH. AMERICA HAS THE LEADING NUMBER ONE MILITARY IN THE WORLD. WE DON’T WANT TO GO SECOND. WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP ROLE BECAUSE OTHER NATIONS LOOK TO US AND WE SHOULD NOT SHUN THAT. WE SHOULD NOT SHIRK FROM THAT. WE SHOULD EMBRACE THAT AND SAY THANK GOODNESS THEY’RE LOOKING TO THE UNITED STATES AS A LIGHTHOUSE OF FREEDOM AND STABILITY AND SECURITY AND A TRUSTED PARTNER. ARMOUR AND SO WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DID IN PULLING OUT IN SUCH A DISASTROUS WAY FROM AFGHANISTAN TOLD OUR ALLIES WE CAN’T BE TRUSTED. WE’VE GOT TO REBUILD THAT TRUST, BE RELIABLE PARTNERS. IT STARTS WITH CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. AND CERTAINLY WE DON’T GIVE THEM A BLANK CHECK AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HANDLE IT WELL. BUT THEY’RE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND THEIR SOVEREIGNTY. WHERE SHOULD THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BE? WE SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SIDE OF RUSSIA. WE SHOULD NOT BE SAYING WE’RE GOING TO END IT BECAUSE WAS VERY QUICKLY ON DAY ONE OF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE THAT JUST TELLS RUSSIA WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT. AND THAT’S NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH FOR AMERICA. THAT’S NOT WHAT THE GREATEST GENERATION FOUGHT FOR IN WORLD WAR TWO. AND WE DON’T WANT TO UNDO THE GOOD THAT WAS DONE BY THAT GENERATION AND THE PEACE AND STABILITY THAT IT BROUGHT. GOVERNOR, A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THAT. THE LATEST DES MOINES REGISTER, MEDIACOM NBC NEWS IOWA POLL ASKED IOWA LIKELY CAUCUS GOERS THEIR THOUGHTS ON ON THE ISSUES. AND 43% OF LIKELY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS GOERS SAID THEY’RE LESS LIKELY TO SUPPORT A CANDIDATE THAT SUPPORTS CONTINUING SENDING AID TO UKRAINE. IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT, HOW DO YOU CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION ON THAT? HOW DO YOU CONVINCE AMERICANS WHO THINK IT’S TOO MUCH MONEY TO BE SENDING ABROAD? WELL, YOU LEAD AND I RESPECT PEOPLE OF A DIFFERENT OPINION, BUT AS A LEADER, AS A CANDIDATE, I MAKE MY CASE. I STATE MY CONVICTIONS, MY BELIEFS IN IT. YOU DON’T SHY AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR NOT SENDING OUR MEN AND WOMEN INTO COMBAT BECAUSE AS WE ARE STRONG AND WE DETER THAT TYPE OF AGGRESSION. AND SO IT’S IMPORTANT I STATE MY CONVICTIONS ON IT AND I TRY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE AS WELL, BECAUSE TO ME, THAT’S HOW RONALD REAGAN, THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP, BROUGHT DOWN THE IRON CURTAIN THAT DESTROYED THE OLD SOVIET UNION. WE HAVE TO BE STRONG AND WE CANNOT WEAKEN IN THAT. AND THAT’S REALLY A PRINCIPLE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. AND SO WE’RE GOING TO MAKE OUR CASE ON THAT. AND I THINK IT’S IT’S A DEFINING MOMENT FOR OUR PARTY AND OUR COUNTRY. BRYCE, I’LL GO TO YOU WITH THE NEXT QUESTION. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED? AND IF YOU DO, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? I DO BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED, AND THAT’S SORT OF A LOADED TERM. BUT OBVIOUSLY, WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUSSIAN HOAX, IT WAS THE FBI MISUSED THEIR LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND THAT WAS FOUND BY THE THE DURHAM REPORT THAT WAS MADE THAT FOUND THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT HANDLE THOSE INVESTIGATION OPTIONS PROPERLY. SO IT’S PRETTY EASY TO CONCLUDE THAT IT WAS WEAPONIZED, IT WAS IMPROPERLY USED. THEIR LEGAL AUTHORITY. NOW, THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A AS A REASON TO THROW OUT THE GREATEST JUSTICE SYSTEM. OUR WORLD IS KNOWN THAT EXISTS ON THE PLANET TODAY. AND SO I’M NOT FOR ENDING THE FBI. I’M NOT FOR CRUCIFYING THEM. I’M FOR SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME CORRECTIONS. AND THAT’S WHY I ANNOUNCED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., MY PLAN TO REFORM FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AND WE HAVE OVER 90 FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, BOIES THAT HAVE GUN TOTING AUTHORITY AND ARREST AUTHORITY. THEY HAVE JURISDICTIONS THAT OVERLAP. THEY’RE NOT AS TRANSPARENT. I WANT THEM ALL TO HAVE A CHARTER SAYING WE’RE GOING TO PROTECT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO GO AFTER SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS. WE’RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT BY CONGRESS. AND MY ADMINISTRATION AS WELL. AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO TIGHTEN UP THEIR JURISDICTION. SO WE’RE GOING TO SAVE MONEY AND WE’RE GOING TO LESSEN THE OVERLAP THERE. SO WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THEM MORE FOCUSED, MORE ACCOUNTABLE, MORE TRANSPARENT. THAT’S HOW I’M GOING TO REFORM FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WHILE I THINK THEY’VE BEEN WEAPONIZED, REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT BE UNDERMINING THE RULE OF LAW AND SAYING WE HAVE A CORRUPT SYSTEM OR SAYING THAT THAT ALL THE PROSECUTORS ARE EVIL OR THE FBI IS TERRIBLE. THEY GOT A TOUGH JOB. WE NEED THEM IN OUR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORT. WE REALLY RELIED UPON THEM POST 9/11, PARTICULARLY IN PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY. WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THAT. GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF DONALD TRUMP AND AND TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE CHARGES THAT HE’S FACING. PHE’S CURRENTLY FACING 91 CRIMINAL CHARGES. IF HE WAS CONVICTED OF ANY OF THOSE. AND YOU WERE PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU PARDON HIM? WELL, I’M NOT GOING TO PROMISE A PARDON IN THE MIDDLE OF A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. IT’S JUST INAPPROPRIATE. AND SO SOME CANDIDATES HAVE DONE THAT. AND I SAID, NO, I’M NOT GOING TO PROMISE A PARDON. IT’S WRONG TO DO THAT. I WAS RAISED ON A FARM AND I CLEANED OUT CHICKEN HOUSES. AND I AND MY DAD TAUGHT ME SOME VERY GOOD VALUES. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEM IS, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE LAW. AND IF YOU VIOLATE THE LAW, YOU HAVE TO PAY CONSEQUENCES AS GOVERNOR, I ISSUED PARDONS AND I WILL LOOK AT EVERY PARDON THAT COMES BEFORE ME AS PRESIDENT. BUT THERE’S A PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED THERE. AND AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. SO LET’S SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. BUT I’M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE PROMISING A PARDON. AND WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENED AND THROUGH SOME VERY SERIOUS CHARGES, BOIES OF VIOLATING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS, OUR SECRETS IN WHICH OUR MILITARY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE, I WANT TO SEE HOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE AND HOW THAT CASE DEVELOPS. BUT TO ME, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT, NOBODY LIKES THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE’RE IN. IT’S VERY SAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. BUT LET’S LET THE SYSTEM WORK THROUGH. AND I DO THINK THAT HE NEEDS TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE WE CAN’T WIN UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. QUICKLY. WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE LAST QUESTION, MARY. HOW DO YOU LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOUR TRUST WORTHY PERSON BY LOOKING AT MY RECORD. AND FIRST OF ALL, LOOKING AT MY TALK TO MY WIFE OF 50 YEARS AND AND AND MY PERSONAL LIFE, BUT LOOK AT MY RECORD. I PROMISED CERTAIN THINGS WHENEVER I RAN FOR GOVERNOR. I LOWERED TAXES. I REDUCED THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT. I GREW THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN JOBS. I KEPT EVERY PROMISE. I SAID I WAS GOING TO PUT COMPUTER CODING IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN ARKANSAS, AND I DID THAT. AND SO KEEPING PROMISES IS HOW YOU BUILD TRUST. SO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT RECORD. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS FAITHFUL AS A UNITED STATES ATTORNEY. EVERY TIME I’VE TAKEN THE OATH OF OFFICE, I’VE BEEN FAITHFUL IN ADMINISTERING THAT OFFICE AS WELL. SO I THINK IT’S ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE. I THINK IT’S ALSO ABOUT HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. AND I HOPE THAT IT REFLECTS THE NATIONAL CHARACTER AND THE BEST OF AMERICA. WELL, GOVERNOR, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TELEVISION. AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AS WELL. OUR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH ASA HUTCHINSON WILL CONTINUE, AND YOU CAN WATCH THAT EXTENDED VERSION ONLINE AT KSDK.COM OR ON OUR MOBILE APP. THANKS FOR WATCHING. COFFEE WITH THE CANDIDATES. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.