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Well, it's wonderful to be with you. And it was wonderful to meet you in person yesterday. Yes, even though you were honest, you don't watch much television, right? You have no idea. I actually watch no television.
Did that hurt you as a senator? Did you sometimes miss some issues because you didn't know a lot? No. No, in fact, I got the news faster because I would wake up and read it every morning.
Okay.
So, and I can read a lot faster than I can listen. And so I actually was able to get more information faster. But you know, the truth is, Brian, I actually just didn't even own a TV. Wow. Senator, I want to talk about AI because the President signed an executive order into law to make it, I guess, to put us all on the same page and make this a national push instead of an individual state push.
But I do want to tell you, ask you about the economy. How do you where do you look for to see if it's going well? And what role is politics playing in how people feel? Oh, that's such an important question.
So after 20 years of elected service, I'll tell you, it's not hard to get a feel for how the economy is feeling. And my suggestion is go get into an Uber and ask your Uber driver. That's it. They want to brute driver. They will tell you the cost of groceries, the rent, cost of gas, how much profit they're making, what they think about for their kids.
Are their kids are going to have a better future than them or not?
So there's a lot of GDP and there's data and there's data points. And look, all of that is for people on television and news, etc., to talk about. But the reality is, you just need to talk to regular Americans. That's it. And the easiest way to do that is hop in an Uber.
Ask your driver some questions about how his or her life is going and listen, like for real, listen. And that's how you can tell how the economy is going. And I'll tell you what I'm hearing right now, Brian. People are concerned because the price of groceries are still too high. And of course, the rental market is really extensive right now.
And that's why you see the administration doing things like exceptions on tariffs for beef and coffee. We saw that rollout just three weeks ago. You saw that the Trump administration is now announcing they want to do a rollout around housing prices across the country. Those are all political responses to the financial pressure that Americans are feeling right now.
So the one thing I don't, these corporations buying up housing, it's got to stop. I mean, there's got to be some type of regulation there because you got a BlackRock or they're buying these houses, taking over neighborhoods, then renting them out to people. We'll never be homeowners then, nor can you compete with corporations like this.
So, you know, most Americans understand that the pinnacle of the American dream is to own your own home. That is the American dream, right?
So I remember I was very poor growing up, Brian. I don't know if you remember my history, but I was actually homeless for a period of time in my childhood.
So for me, becoming a homeowner was it. It was like, I've made it. I've hit the American dream. And that is what Americans dream about. And so there's gotta be some movement in the market where people who are renters can see the dream of home ownership and then feel it and get there.
And that's, I think, where the focus should go in housing right now. I hear you. Let's talk about the AI race.
So the President yesterday signed an executive order with the goal of creating one national AI rule book to wipe out the chaos of competing state laws. They had this in legislation. Both sides ripped it out. They were actually going to put this in, but they couldn't agree.
So the President took it on himself with an executive order. Your thoughts about why that may or may not be necessary?
Well, I do think we need to have one national standard. You know, it's fine if there are states doing additional work on the side, as long as it doesn't get in the way of protecting Americans' rights, privileges, and expectations.
So, right, you know, before the executive order, you had a different standard of what AI looked like if you lived in Florida versus Indiana versus California. And that just doesn't make sense. Like, if you're an American, you should get to have access to those same rights and expectations of privacy, those same ability to have AI enhance your life. And so the standard across the nation is a real, it's actually a really important issue.
Now, the president did it through an executive order, and that's a good start. But it's my hope that Congress will come back and actually codify a realistic standard, a national realistic standard, so Americans can have peace of mind that they have access to the same protections, rights, and privileges no matter which state they live in.
So the problem, do you think the problem was it came from the White House? I mean, why didn't Congress write it themselves? Unless they just don't feel as though they want to pass it, they don't want to take the rights away from the states. What do you think?
Well, look, I'm a huge state's rights person. I love, I mean, the 10th, I'm from Arizona, Brian. Like we, yes, we do. We do not love the federal government. We, or actually any government, but in particular, we believe very strongly in states' rights.
The issue here, in my opinion, is not about a 10th Amendment issue. This is about whether or not you as an American get the same rights and privileges depending on where you live. And look, I think Congress can come to an agreement here. It's just going to take them a little bit longer. Brian, this is no surprise.
Congress hates to act, right? They try not to, and then they wait until the last minute when they have to. And the president and the White House's opinion is that the AI race against China is so integral and so urgent that we cannot wait. And we can't allow a state like California to create restrictions that hold back the entire industry and that make it harder for Americans to benefit from the advancements of AI. Here's what the president said yes, J is his primary focus, CUD 44.
We also know that a big part of our economy, it could be fifty per sixty percent of our economy going forward for a period of time at least, especially during this startup, is AI and AI based. We have trillions of dollars of construction going on. And that construction would stop, or it would certainly be, a lot of it would be halted.
So, look, we're leading China. We're leading China by a lot. China knows that. And not doing this would be The greatest gift to China and other countries, but China in particular, that China has ever received.
Well, do you agree with that, number one? And number two, do you think we're beating China? We are ahead of China in the AI race at the moment. Our models are superior. Our compute power is superior.
However, that could change very rapidly. And there are a number of things that we've got to do in order to stay ahead of China in this, what I believe is a national security imperative for our country and for the whole globe. You know, as I said yesterday on Fox and Friends, if we don't win this race against China, then China will dominate the AI models. And then Chinese values will be the values that are communicated to people all around the globe. And that's a very, very dangerous proposition.
And the problem is power, right, Senator? And the power China will think $560 billion on grid projects in the next five years, up 45%. Can we match that? Yeah, we can.
Now, the National Energy Dominance Council is a council that was established by the president. It sits in the White House. Its job is to coordinate a whole of government approach between all the agencies to increase domestic energy production. And in the short term, that means natural gas. In the long term, that means nuclear.
Can we do it? Absolutely. But do we need help to get there? Yes, Brian, Congress has got to put its head down and work together to do permitting reform early next year that will allow us to move faster on these projects. We have the capability to create enough domestic power to power the AI race and win it, but we've got to unleash some of these companies to do this work.
And we can do that, Brian, while still protecting all of our environmental concerns, which make us better than China. 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 at 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. This is real wrestling. Reimagine for today.
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So, Senator, looking back now and having a chance to talk to you, I mean, we just had so much respect for the way you were fighting just for logic. You weren't fighting for Republican or Democrat, and that's why you ended up an independent, perhaps. But what was it like being one of two senators, even though others claimed to be moderate? To continue to take on the White House when necessary, on the filibuster, on the Build Back Better plan, on adding two states. And take them on on the border.
What was that like for you with Joe Biden as president, and you from your own party maybe taking a lot of heat?
Well, you know, I'm in Arizona. I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, so I'm used to taking the heat.
So the good news is that was something I've been doing my whole life. And Brian, the people who know me and the Arizonans whom I served for 20 years know that I always would stand up and do what I believe is right, regardless of political pressure from any party or any people. And so for me, it wasn't hard to make the decision to do the right thing. But I'll tell you this, Brian: in those last two years of my service in the United States Senate, as you'll recall, I was an independent for some of that time. I said to my colleagues over and over again, I know you're unhappy with the positions I'm taking right now, but I promise you that in less than two years, you will be grateful that I have done this.
And that's in specific to the filibuster, Brian. And that has borne itself out every single day, every single day. The filibuster was designed to create comedy. Within the Senate and to force people to work across the aisles and compromise. Neither party likes it when they're in charge, but every party loves it when they're in the minority.
And I believe that that tool should be there, regardless of which party is in the majority, to temper the passions and the excesses of either party. And that's exactly what it does. And on the other issues, you know. Build back better. You know, originally they came out with a $6 trillion plan that would have bankrupted our country.
And I said no. They wanted to raise taxes on Americans all across the country. It would have crippled our economy. I said no. And I'm really glad that I did those things because we would be in a much worse position today if I hadn't stood strong for the people of my state and country.
Senator, when was it clear to you, Senator Sinema, that Joe Biden cannot serve another term? You know, I never talk about the private conversations that I have with other elected officials. I know that I'm the only person in Washington, D.C., who had that rule, but So I won't share any of the personal details, but I'll tell you that it was clear to me that for two years that President Trump was going to win re-election when he ran in 24. It was clear to me for two years. And my colleagues knew it because I told them every day.
And gosh, they really got sick of me saying it. And I was just telling them because I saw the handwriting on the wall. I would come home to Arizona every weekend. I would talk to voters and listen to them. And I would go back to DC and I would say to my colleagues, you guys, this is what's going to happen.
This is what's coming. President Biden is not going to win another term, and neither is a replacement if he were to choose one. And they just were unwilling to see the reality. You know, and Brian, I'm going to go esoteric for just a second and say this. One of the challenges I see in government.
Is that people are so committed to their own ideas of what they want things to be? That sometimes they have trouble seeing things for what they are. And the key to success. is to understand what things are. At the moment.
and then figure out how to work in that setting right there. given the reality that you face. It's practical, it's pragmatic. I know the left and right don't love it, but that is how you get stuff done. No, no, I hear you wholeheartedly.
I just wonder if we're going to get to the point where people are going to go, okay, this is what I want to happen, but it's not possible.
So how do I what's the best I can get? And then people feel as though if you compromise, you're going to get primaried. And I think both parties are guilty of this, don't you think? Oh, absolutely. I mean, I'm now sitting here as a one-time Democrat, always a moderate, now an independent, and not serving in public office.
So yes, I do agree with you wholeheartedly. But the reality, Brian, is the only way that that changes is if voters change their behavior.
So you know what I used to tell folks when I would meet them at fundraisers or gatherings? They would say, what can we do to help adjust this situation? And I said, the number one thing you can do is support someone who's running for office with whom you agree with only about 60% of the time. Because that person's thinking for themselves. Right.
And so go support someone you don't agree with 100% of the time. That means that person's thinking on their own. You may not agree with every decision they make. I hope you don't. Because if you agree with every single decision an elected official makes, either they're lying to you or you're not thinking for yourself.
And Brian, both of those are dangerous for democracy. Wow, you speak in period and you know, we're up against a break. For someone who doesn't watch much television, you seem to have an instinct because we're streaming too, of short sound bites right to the point and always saying something important. Senator Sina, I hope, is there anything that you want to make sure to get before we leave you, get across to our listeners? No, I'd love to come back because there's a lot more I'd love to talk with you about.
And it's been a real pleasure, Brian. And be open to the AI revolution because you're at the cusp of it. Senator Kirsten Sinema, thanks so much. Thank you. Have a great day.
All right. By the way, it's hard for me to say Kirsten Sinema because I have a Kirsten who is my middle child, but I understand what Kirsten goes through because everyone mispronounces my daughter's name. And she always says to me, why didn't you just name me Kirsten? It would have been so much easier. This is Ainsley Earhart.
Thank you for joining me for the 52-episode podcast series, The Life of Jesus. A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort, and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow now at FoxNewsPodcasts.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.
