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Anywhere between 15 and 50. A couple of we have 50 because we haven't been getting along with those countries too well, so we just say, let's pay 50. And uh That's the way it is, but remember we get Countries that were closed, always closed. Everyone in this room would never remember any of them to be open. We've offered such a deal to the European Union.
Where we're in serious negotiations, and if they agree to open up the union to American businesses, then. And we will let them pay a lower tariff. And then they'll have another major deal. But the fifth largest trading partner is Japan. And they did work out a deal there.
That adds to the Philippines, Indonesia, the UK, Vietnam. These deals are done. And the framework with China, and I think they have meetings next week in China.
Now, a long way from April, when he announced Liberation Day and the market dropped, I mean, for the most part, the market hit it's down slightly today, but it's at over 44,000. The NASDAQ has been through the roof. The President has passed a cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency bill. He set up parameters and barriers and cut red tape. He did the same thing yesterday with AI.
And he feels good about where the economy is now, especially after passing the Making the Big, Beautiful bill.
Now law, a man who had everything to do with that and couldn't be happier and should be pleased is our next guest, Senator Majority Leader Jon Thune. Senator, you're feeling about where we are economically right now. Brian, I think we're poised for some really exciting things in terms of the economy. As you've seen the President with his policies and working with the Congress, Has provided some powerful incentives for people to do business in this country. And a lot of our businesses that are have a footprint multinational businesses are reinvesting in the United States, bringing supply chains back home.
I think that the tax policies we enacted with the one big beautiful bill will further that, along with regulatory policy, energy policy, I think the president and his team are doing all the right things to ensure that America continues to be the place where people want to invest and do business. And I think that has huge upside for the country economically.
So, just a Fox News poll. And I think you see the polls, if anything, you know, they are a little tough on Republicans. I don't know the science behind it, but traditionally.
So, the Fox News poll said only 32% of the country look at the economy as excellent or good. 67% say fair.
Now, that is up to points from That is up one point from June, up two points from April. March, that number was just twenty one percent, thought he was excellent.
So it's trending in the right direction. But why do you think there's a lag to fifty percent? I think part of it is, as you know, we've been working since the President took office on the One Big Beautiful bill, and it's been coming together. We haven't had a product to get out there and sell. We now do.
And I think the Democrats have had the luxury of been sitting, shooting from cover and being on the attack these last six months. And so we've got to change the narrative. And that means our senators, House members, the President, his team, we've got to be out there telling and explaining to the American people what's in the Big Beautiful Bill, why it's going to impact them in a very positive way. And I think when they hear, they'll know that. I mean, this was really geared and oriented toward working families from the tax policy to the child care policy, school choice.
These accounts for newborns. I mean, there are so many things in here that are designed to give the American people and working families in this country more incentives to do more for their families and to send less to Washington.
So I think it's really a function Of us now having and being unified and being out there delivering the message about this, and then I think the American people are going to start feeling it. And ultimately, Brian, that's where those poll numbers change, and that's when the American people start feeling the effects of this. And there always is a bit of a lag effect, but it will happen, and it'll start happening, I think, sooner rather than later. Did you find, can you bring me back to 2017 when you guys passed the tax reform? Could you tell me how it was perceived and when it changed?
Because it was good enough that President Biden wasn't looking to change any of it. Deedn even removed many tariffs that Trump put in place.
So can you go to a similar timeline now?
Well, look, I think in twenty seventeen, and it passed, it was late in the year, and we were going into the twenty eighteen midterm elections, and frankly, I don't think we did as good a job as we should have getting out and talking about it. I think we just assumed that people would realize the benefits from it. But sometimes you had to get out. We lost yeah, that's right. And I think the Democrats effectively at the time, and this is what they're trying to do again, is make it about, you know, this is going to be tax cuts or bailouts for billionaires.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I mean, the sh Of the benefit derived from the one big beautiful bill is going to be felt by people who make less than $400,000 a year and the people who actually thousand dollars a year get the biggest proportionate benefit from the tax cuts that are included there.
So if you look at all these things, whether it's no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, reduced taxes for seniors in this country, For inflation. There's so many things in here, I think, in the end that people are going to start feeling. And when they start feeling it, you're going to see those numbers reflect that. But part of it, too, is us getting out. And telling the story.
And I think that's pro part of the reason why you want to get back To town, while there might be some pressure from the White House for you guys to stay in and force the Democrats to vote on some of your nominees. That's right. And Brian, the Democrats, this is unprecedented what they're doing. This is the first President in history. who has never had at this point in his Presidency a civilian nominee Approved either by unanimous consent or voice vote in the Senate, which is a way of expediting nominees that you know are broadly supported.
And so they are delaying, obstructing, blocking at every point in the process. And so I totally appreciate the President's frustration with what's happening on the nominee front. But the other side of that story, as you point out, is we do need senators and House members back in their districts and states talking about getting out to the events where the people where the American people are explaining What's in that one big, beautiful bill? But didn't Senator Schumer keep you guys late when he was not happy with the pace of the confirmations? Right now, unless you have better stats, which you might, there's 259 positions that are being considered by the Senate, waiting for a vote.
97 have been confirmed by the Senate. That is way below Barack Obama's level.
Well, we're actually above, way above Trump one. I mean, we're about double the rate of twenty seventeen. And it had a bite, but the one thing that did happen in 2017, Brian, going into the August recess. is the Democrats agree to process a bunch of nominees in in agreement with the Republicans.
So far, they haven't indicated any desire to do that. But we are still going to grind it out on these NOMs in the coming weeks. And we're, like I said, we're about double the rate of where the Trump administration was in twenty seventeen. And we're getting no cooperation from the Democrats. But as we head into next week and then beyond that, the month of August.
we will do what's necessary to ensure that we get the people across the finish line that the President wants to get into those positions. But we got the Cabinet through at the fastest pace in twenty years. We've kept the Senate in session ten consecutive weeks for the first time in fifteen years. And we put up more votes at this Time in a legislative session than any Congress going back at least to 1989. I mean, and a lot more votes.
We're keeping people here, we're working them, we're just not getting any cooperation. And that's, I think, what's unusual and unprecedented. And that's why we're going to have to just grind it out and wear them down. And basically, even though you're in the majority, you need the Democrats to show up, even if they're not going to vote for your guys?
Well, that's the problem. I mean, the Democrats can just leave town. We have to produce a quorum. And if we get under 50, if we don't have more than 50 Republicans here to produce a quorum, we can't do business.
So it requires every publican to stay here. And one of the challenges we've had, particularly on Fridays and weekends, is keeping attendance here so that we can win votes or at least have a quorum to condu to do business.
So there's nothing about this that is easy, but it should be a lot easier than it is. And right now, because of the way the Democrats are playing in their Trump derangement syndrome, They are putting up an unprecedented level of obstruction. And I think the only way to beat that is to just grind them down. And we've done that a lot already. Like I said, we're about double the rate of where Trump, the first Trump administration, was at this point in his presidency.
But as we head into the August break, we need to get a whole bunch more confirmed, and we intend to do that. All right.
So let's talk about how you're going to try to increase the majority or at least hold on to it. In Georgia, they say John Senator Osoff is the most vulnerable. But right now, who do you think, who are you looking at as the best shot of winning the primary and maybe or walking through the primary for that Republican side of the Senate? We've got a lot of interest in the state of Georgia and running, and I know that there are at least a couple members in the House. House delegation.
I think there's a statewide constitutional office holder down there that I think is interested in running. And of course, we're hearing too, Derek Dooley, who's a The son of Vince Dooley is a famous Georgia coach, and Derek Dooley is a coach in his own right coach with Nick Sabin at Alabama and LSU and some other places. is also expressing interest.
So there's a lot of interest in Georgia. Obviously, there's probably going to be a primary there, but I'm hoping that we're going to have a candidate that can Emerge not only just from a primary, but also it will be a good general election candidate because I think Georgia is a great opportunity for us. It's a state that ought to have a Republican, it ought to have two Republican senators, but at least we ought to be able to elect one in 2026. Real American Freestyle is the first ever unscripted pro wrestling league created by Hulk Hogan, Chad Bronstein, Israel Martinez, and Eric Bischoff to give elite wrestlers a real shot of professional career. Real American Freestyle is where Olympians, world champions, and NCAA legends come to compete, not in a cage, not in a script, but on the mat in front of fans around the world.
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So Doug Collins would have been perfect, but he's got another job right now. New Hampshire, do you excuse me, in Maine, do you know if Susan Collins is going to run again?
Well, I don't know that she's officially announced, but we are certainly operating on the assumption that she is. She's doing everything that you would expect a candidate who's running for reelection to do. She's raising money. She's aggressively campaigning or getting back in her state. And honestly, Brian, she's the only Republican that can win.
In fact, we don't have a single elected Republican in the Senate from New England right now, with the exception of Susan Collins, and that state is a very blue state.
So she's got a proven record. She's a political survivor. And so I expect that she's going to run. And if she does, we expect her to win. Every time it's going to be tight.
And now in Michigan, Mike Rogers barely lost last time. Is there anybody, is he your pick this time?
Well, I've endorsed him and as and the National Republican Senatorial Committee has endorsed him as well. I think at some point the president is going to weigh in in Michigan. But my assumption is at least that based on how close he was last time, he was, it was literally a few thousand votes and he actually was winning until they got they started counting in Detroit. No big surprise there. But we think that Mike's got the organization in place, donors.
Statewide NAMID came out of it with a pretty good image. You know, sometimes when you come out of an election, you've been beat up a lot. He actually came out with. And if you look at the polling right now against any of these potential Democrats. He's polling really well.
So we think Michigan, we put up a good record of accomplishment and things that he can talk about, raise the resources. That'll be a very competitive race in state for us. And we're hopeful we can pick up a seat there. All right, let's talk about North Carolina. It looks like Lara Trump, is that what you're hearing, will not run for the Senate in North Carolina?
Well, I think she's making that I think she's making that definitive out there in terms of a statement about it. But yes, I had a conversation along with the President with her About the possibility of her running, and I think everybody was prepared. I think she would have cleared the field and obviously done very, very well there. I think she's opted at least that this isn't the time. I think it's something she may entertain at a different point in life.
But I think for now, at least, she's Taking a pass, and I expect we're going to hear an announcement soon on. On North Carolina. Mike Watley. Would you like to see him in there? I won't speak for him, but Obviously there's been plenty of interest in North Carolina too, no lack of candidates.
But I think if Mike Watley gets into the race, I expect that he'll have a lot of support from the President and obviously from Senate Republicans. We think he'd be a great candidate and hold that seat. I mean, he certainly understands the business, and his track record in the last election was phenomenal. That's why the President asked him to keep the job as RNC chair.
Now, in the Senate, you have a difficult situation. I know John Corner was going for the majority leader with you. He didn't get it, but he's a class act, and he's being challenged now by your AG, Ken Paxton. Where do you stand personally about who you're looking for for that spot? And what do you think the President, who do you think the President will endorse in Texas?
Well, I think at least for now, it appears at least, and I can't speak for him. You know, that's obviously the get his president to speak for himself on Texas. But I think at least for now, you know, folks are going to let it play out a little bit. And obviously, I've endorsed John Cornyn, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has endorsed John Cornyn, and we think he would be a great general election candidate. Clearly, there are people who.
want to run who might fare well in a primary election, but Texas is a big state, very diverse state, and a state which the Democrats would love to target. And I think that's very hard for them to do if John Cornyn is our general election candidate.
So, as we look at Texas, obviously, we're looking not only at the primary, but also how do we hang on to that seat and make sure that it's not a race that the Democrats can target and have success with.
So, it's, you know, again, there are a lot of people in the state of Texas who have perhaps other candidates that they're getting behind. But as we look and think about Texas, we just think we're thinking general election and hanging on to that seat. And what about in New Hampshire? Scott Brown's been on here a couple of times. He's put his hat in the ring.
Is he the best candidate to get to flip that seat?
Well, I've Scott. Scott and I are friends. We go back a long ways, and I'm a big fan of his. I think he is a. Out there already, and but we'll see.
I mean, there may be some other developments in the New Hampshire race.
So at least for now, the we still see that as a As a potential pickup opportunity in a state where in a good year, right year, and if we have a candidate that can win not only the base Republicans up there, but appeal to some of the Independents that are very active in New Hampshire elections, we could have a that also could be a seat we could win.
So we're taking that one very seriously, you bet. Senator Jon Thune, I saw your Instagram when you're there in a wetsuit doing a backflip after passing the big, beautiful bill.
So I know you're happy, even though you're low-key.
So thanks so much, Senator, for joining us and giving our audience the let, the up-to-the-minute moves for the Republican Party. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Always good talking to you. Thanks, Brian.
All right, same here. The Brian Kill Me Joe. Back with some sad news in a moment. Newsmakers and news Listen to the all-new Brett Baer podcast, featuring common ground, in-depth talks with lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle, along with all your Brett Baer favorites like his all-star panel and much more. Available now at FoxNewsPodcasts.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
