radio--2020-04-28--Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) On Reopening The State Of Pennsylvania: "Let's Carefully Begin The Process Of

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) On Reopening The State Of Pennsylvania: "Let's Carefully Begin The Process Of Resuming Economic Life"

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) talked with Fox News Radio 's Guy Benson about his three phase plan to reopen his states local economy .
Saying `` It is clear we are past the peak '' of Coronavirus .
Toomey furthered his comments by saying , It 's time to `` Carefully Begin The Process Of Resuming Economic Life '' Guy Benson : We are back .
Thank you for being here .
Join me now is Senator Pat Toomey .
United States senator from Pennsylvania , a Republican senator .
Good to have you back .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanks for having me .
Guy Benson : So a lot of governors around the country are in this process of trying to figure out exactly what reopening looks like in their states .
You have been involved , not just the federal level with the president 's task force , but you 've been talking with leaders in your state , including the Democratic governor .
Just maybe if you would , give us your overall thoughts on how this ought to go on a national scale and maybe some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning in Pennsylvania .
Sen. Toomey : Yeah , sure .
Thank you .
Well , first of all , I think it 's kind of very , very significantly from state to state , because , of course , states are so , so differently affected .
New York probably has half of all the cases in the country and Montana .
You know , it 's not even a blip .
So obviously what 's suitable in one place is not necessarily suitable in another in Pennsylvania .
We 've got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a very significant number of cases .
And then we have regions where there are almost zero .
So my thought is , let 's step back for a second and remind ourselves why did we close down our economy in the first place ?
The reason we did it was out of fear that if we did n't , the virus would spread so rapidly and so many people would get seriously ill that they would overwhelm the ability of our hospitals to treat people and we 'd have a catastrophe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway , and I think in most of the country , but definitely in Pennsylvania , that danger is no longer present .
It is clear we are past the peak .
It is clear that when we hit the peak , we were well below the capacity of our hospitals .
It is clear that the numbers of cases and mortality is declining now steadily .
And so my view is OK .
The whole reason to do something as draconian and damaging as closing down our whole economy was to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since that 's no longer a risk .
Let 's carefully begin the process of resuming economic life .
So I 've laid out good ideas .
Guy Benson : I just want to jump in real quick before you before you get to your plan as want to touch on something you just said .
I think one of the elements that has been frustrating to a lot of people is what you just articulated is correct .
But it feels like there has been some shifting of the goalposts among your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole flatten the curve MONTRE for weeks was .
We need to make sure that we have capacity in our medical system to treat patients with Corona virus .
That was what we were told .
The reason , the primary reason for all of this was to flatten the curve to sort of by ourselves some time and make sure that we did n't spike too quickly , too hot in such a way that you 'd have people , you know , unable to be treated in hospitals and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because that fear was not realized .
I would argue because of what we did , because of these necessary sacrifices .
Now we 're talking about reopening .
But I think for some people , Senator , it 's now sounding like that is n't enough anymore .
And the reason the primary reason we were given for flattening the curve is now sort of morphing and changing where they 're now saying it 's still completely reckless and irresponsible to talk about reopening , even though what you just said is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you think , the public 's mentality when they listen to people , when it sounds like the story is kind of changing as it goes along ?
Sen. Toomey : Well , I hope people will be skeptical about an argument that , you know , that 's shifting like that .
I happen to think it was necessary to take this unbelievably draconian measure because we did n't know really what we were dealing with .
And there was a real risk that we might overwhelm our hospital systems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , when it 's clear that that 's not going to happen , I think we 've got a responsibility to allow people to get back to work .
But that 's not to say you flip a switch and we 're back to the way it was in January .
Right .
That 's not what I 'm advocating .
And even if I were and even if we did that , that 's not how people would behave .
So I think a thoughtful progression , for instance , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of Pennsylvania , where there have been almost no cases at all and many , many counties , zero deaths .
Could n't we begin to say , OK , if you as an employer are able and you can demonstrate a willingness to protect your employees with the kinds of personal protective equipment that 's appropriate for them and their work , some social distancing on the job , maybe wearing a mask .
Follow the CDC guidelines in this regard .
If you 're able and willing to protect your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't you reopen , especially in a region where there 's .
Virus never showed up .
I think , for instance , that 's an example of something we could do in Pennsylvania .
We could proceed to that .
I think we could have done that some time ago .
Guy Benson : What about Governor Wolfe , the saying ?
Does he agree with you on that front ?
What are we learning ?
Governor ?
Sen. Toomey : So I think he 's getting there .
I think he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he declared that most outdoor business is , as long as they comply with these safety protocols , can resume activities .
So I think that includes car dealers and nurseries and golf courses .
So that 's progress .
Unfortunately , his general more the more the broader , more general opening awaits subjective decisions that he 's going to announce on May 8th .
And for the life of me , I do n't understand why .
You know , businesses that can operate safely today have to wait to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what the decision will be .
Guy Benson : We 've seen some images in Harrisburg .
There was a big protest there a number of days ago .
There were some state legislators who were a part of it addressing the crowd and .
I really have a mixed mind watching some of these gatherings and demonstrations , because on one hand I think there are absolutely people who are suffering so immensely , Senator , in terms of their business , their livelihoods .
There are lots of terrible externalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial distress .
They should n't just be pooh-poohed as , oh , you know , it 's not really affecting people 's lives the way death was .
Well , in some cases it is .
So there is a desperation among a lot of people to get back to work that I 'm fully on board with and making sure that politicians and a lot of people in the media who are able to work comfortably from home , who may not feel that same pinch , really can understand that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that point .
I get it .
I 'm sympathetic to it .
However , seeing some of the crazier signs out there and people all bunched together , no distancing few masks .
I mean , what is your message to Pennsylvanians who you see at these rallies when you may understand the point that they 're making , but may have concerns about the way they 're making it ?
Sen. Toomey : Yeah , I think it 's important to make the point and to to communicate to the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have this view , that it 's time we begin the process of reopening .
But I would urge people that some caution is still in order .
This is still a virus that that that does kill people .
And fortunately , most people are very unlikely to suffer death as a result of this virus .
But there 's a significant subset of our population and we know who they are .
Older people , people who have preexisting health conditions , as in certain varieties , are much more dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really vulnerable .
And we 've got to make sure we 're protecting them .
And we ought to be just cautious with one another .
I think we can do that and still communicate that this complete lockdown has to end and end .
It should end in a thoughtful fashion .
Guy Benson : Senator Toomey , let me ask you .
This is a policy question .
You 're a free trade guy .
So my one thing that I have been thinking about more carefully , especially because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've experience as a country for the last month and a half or two months is .
The free trade MONTRE of markets being the most efficient sort of decision maker for good decisions that benefit the most people .
I think generally that is true .
That 's why I support free trade .
I have to say people who are sounding the alarm about our dependance on China in particular when it comes to supply chains , especially when it comes to medical supplies , medical devices , drugs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some ways we are beholden to China .
They have been a very bad actor on a number of fronts , especially on Corona virus .
If we are overly dependent on any other country , especially a hostile country , it might be efficient markets wise , but it could be a threat to our country .
How do you reconcile your free trade orthodoxy and your beliefs that I generally share with those types of concerns ?
Sen. Toomey : Well , I think you 're you know , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security has to come first .
And so we have to be careful and thoughtful about what what is genuinely and truly a national security threat .
Now , honestly , when the president said that our importation of steel and aluminum is it is a threat to national security .
I disagreed .
We manufacture 70 percent of all the steel and aluminum we consume within our borders and most of the remainder we get from Canada and Mexico .
So that 's not really a national security threat .
Sen. Toomey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly national security items , components , systems , materials that we would .
As you point out .
I would n't want to rely on any one country for those sorts of things for a variety of reasons and least of all an adversary .
So one of the things we did in the keres Act is , you know , we 're trying to get to the bottom of .
Exactly .
Believe it or not , it 's it 's hard to get your hands on exactly how dependent are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pharmaceuticals and the ingredients of generics versus branded drugs .
We actually have twice as many facilities in the United States for producing the active ingredients as the Chinese have .
But what we do n't have is a comparison of the volume of these respective facilities .
So we need this information .
We have to get to the bottom of just how dependent our way for medicines , which we all would agree is is essential to national security .
How dependent are we on China ?
And then we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But but we can not expose the American people to risk a serious risk if there 's a national security component .
Guy Benson : Last question , Senator .
We had Leader McConnell on the program yesterday , and I was ask him about this controversy that was stirred because he talked about , you want to call them bail outs , payments , relief , whatever the term you want to use funding from the federal government to states and localities who are really getting hard-hit by coronavirus .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now are just getting totally hammered with budgets getting busted .
Some Democrats , Democratic governors in particular , have interpreted what Leader McConnell said was we 're cutting you off .
Good luck .
If you go bankrupt , your failed tough luck .
That 's not really what McConnell said .
I think he clere to clarify that on the show here yesterday .
What he 's saying and that makes sense to me .
Providing some of that relief and assistance related directly to her on a virus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What he 's not open to is writing giant checks to some of these cities , counties , states that have been very badly run in a fiscal sense that have all sorts of preexisting woes in terms of their budget and unfunded liabilities and pension problems and all of that .
He does n't want federal taxpayers to bail out the bad decisions of .
Governors and states that pre-date coronavirus in any of the current crisis , I would imagine you agree with that sentiment .
The question is how do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , let 's say CARES Act 4.0 5.0 that gets the targeted funds to where they need to go that are fair minded without making that money so fungible , or where governors start asking for so much money that they 're trying to paper over unrelated problems ?
Sen. Toomey : Yeah .
It 's a very good question .
And and it 's very real .
You know , state of Illinois is asking for 10 billion dollars for their underfunded pension plan .
Now , whose fault is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That that was wildly underfunded for years before anyone had ever heard of covid ?
Guy Benson : I live there .
That 's what I remember .
Sen. Toomey : Yeah .
So , you know , that is just ridiculous on the face of it .
And I would point out we already sent one hundred and fifty billion dollars to the states to reimburse them for all Koven related expenses that they incur .
That was an absolutely unprecedented .
I think a very major contribution from federal taxpayers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one is are we should we take on the responsibility of replacing the lost revenue ?
When when a other another level of government , whether it 's local or whether it 's at the state level , experience is an economic problem .
Difficulty like these circumstances that cost them revenue that they would normally be able to count , count on .
Is that something we should replace ?
We had the federal government .
And I think that 's a tough question .
And I 'm I 'm I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It inevitably does introduce a moral hazard .
You know , we 've got a lot of states that have rainy day funds .
States that are fully funded pensions .
They 've been prudently managed .
They really do n't need money .
Then you have states that do not meet those criteria .
They really would love to have money .
But you know what ?
All states also have their own power to tax .
They have the authority to do that .
So to municipalities .
And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is is so essential that everybody wants it , then presumably people would be willing to pay the tax necessary to pay for it .
And if the federal government steps in instead , that does n't mean taxpayers are n't going to pay for it .
Right .
It 's just going to happen with a different distribution of taxpayers and maybe at a different time because we might borrow the money in the meantime .
But one of the problems when the federal government steps in and provides this slug of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for residents of any given state to hold accountable the people they elect , you know , who 's really responsible for running the state government .
If there 's a federal backstop and bailout that 's available .
You know , is is this fiscal imprudence something that the elected officials should be held accountable for ?
You know , if they 're going to get bailed out anyway , what about a state that has been prudent and thoughtful and , you know , they did n't have maybe all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states had .
But they 're able to get through this .
Well , how are we supposed to evaluate that ?
So I think it raises a lot of tough questions and we need to proceed very , very cautiously .
It 's one thing to reimburse states for covered expenses that that did n't bother me .
It was in the big bill we passed .
But to this , the replacement revenue lost revenue .
That 's a tougher one .
Guy Benson : Yeah , I think that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I share a lot of the skepticism that you just articulated there .
Senator Pat Toomey , U.S. senator from Pennsylvania , a Republican , my guest on the Guy Benson Show .
Senator , thank you .
Looking forward to next time .
Sen. Toomey : Thanks for having me , guy .

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) talked with Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson about his three phase plan to reopen his states local economy. Saying “It is clear we are past the peak” of Coronavirus. Toomey furthered his comments by saying, It’s time to “Carefully Begin The Process Of Resuming Economic Life”
Listen To The Full Interview:
Full Transcript:
Guy Benson: We are back. Thank you for being here. Join me now is Senator Pat Toomey. United States senator from Pennsylvania, a Republican senator. Good to have you back.
Sen. Toomey: Thank you, guy. Thanks for having me.
Guy Benson: So a lot of governors around the country are in this process of trying to figure out exactly what reopening looks like in their states. You have been involved, not just the federal level with the president’s task force, but you’ve been talking with leaders in your state, including the Democratic governor. Just maybe if you would, give us your overall thoughts on how this ought to go on a national scale and maybe some of the ins and outs of what you’re learning in Pennsylvania.
Sen. Toomey: Yeah, sure. Thank you. Well, first of all, I think it’s kind of very, very significantly from state to state, because, of course, states are so, so differently affected. New York probably has half of all the cases in the country and Montana. You know, it’s not even a blip. So obviously what’s suitable in one place is not necessarily suitable in another in Pennsylvania. We’ve got some regions of the state where there’s a very significant number of cases. And then we have regions where there are almost zero. So my thought is, let’s step back for a second and remind ourselves why did we close down our economy in the first place? The reason we did it was out of fear that if we didn’t, the virus would spread so rapidly and so many people would get seriously ill that they would overwhelm the ability of our hospitals to treat people and we’d have a catastrophe. The wonderful news is in Pennsylvania anyway, and I think in most of the country, but definitely in Pennsylvania, that danger is no longer present. It is clear we are past the peak. It is clear that when we hit the peak, we were well below the capacity of our hospitals. It is clear that the numbers of cases and mortality is declining now steadily. And so my view is OK. The whole reason to do something as draconian and damaging as closing down our whole economy was to prevent this outcome of swamping our hospitals, since that’s no longer a risk. Let’s carefully begin the process of resuming economic life. So I’ve laid out good ideas.
Guy Benson: I just want to jump in real quick before you before you get to your plan as want to touch on something you just said. I think one of the elements that has been frustrating to a lot of people is what you just articulated is correct. But it feels like there has been some shifting of the goalposts among your titians and some in the media who the whole flatten the curve MONTRE for weeks was. We need to make sure that we have capacity in our medical system to treat patients with Corona virus. That was what we were told. The reason, the primary reason for all of this was to flatten the curve to sort of by ourselves some time and make sure that we didn’t spike too quickly, too hot in such a way that you’d have people, you know, unable to be treated in hospitals and people sitting in hallways and being turned away because that fear was not realized. I would argue because of what we did, because of these necessary sacrifices. Now we’re talking about reopening. But I think for some people, Senator, it’s now sounding like that isn’t enough anymore. And the reason the primary reason we were given for flattening the curve is now sort of morphing and changing where they’re now saying it’s still completely reckless and irresponsible to talk about reopening, even though what you just said is true. How how does that impact, you think, the public’s mentality when they listen to people, when it sounds like the story is kind of changing as it goes along?
Sen. Toomey: Well, I hope people will be skeptical about an argument that, you know, that’s shifting like that. I happen to think it was necessary to take this unbelievably draconian measure because we didn’t know really what we were dealing with. And there was a real risk that we might overwhelm our hospital systems. But when it’s no longer the case, when it’s clear that that’s not going to happen, I think we’ve got a responsibility to allow people to get back to work. But that’s not to say you flip a switch and we’re back to the way it was in January. Right. That’s not what I’m advocating. And even if I were and even if we did that, that’s not how people would behave. So I think a thoughtful progression, for instance, in the many contiguous counties in the rural parts of Pennsylvania, where there have been almost no cases at all and many, many counties, zero deaths. Couldn’t we begin to say, OK, if you as an employer are able and you can demonstrate a willingness to protect your employees with the kinds of personal protective equipment that’s appropriate for them and their work, some social distancing on the job, maybe wearing a mask. Follow the CDC guidelines in this regard. If you’re able and willing to protect your workers and your customers, why can’t you reopen, especially in a region where there’s. Virus never showed up. I think, for instance, that’s an example of something we could do in Pennsylvania. We could proceed to that. I think we could have done that some time ago.
Guy Benson: What about Governor Wolfe, the saying? Does he agree with you on that front? What are we learning? Governor?
Sen. Toomey: So I think he’s getting there. I think he’s not quite there. But yesterday he declared that most outdoor business is, as long as they comply with these safety protocols, can resume activities. So I think that includes car dealers and nurseries and golf courses. So that’s progress. Unfortunately, his general more the more the broader, more general opening awaits subjective decisions that he’s going to announce on May 8th. And for the life of me, I don’t understand why. You know, businesses that can operate safely today have to wait to make a. And then I don’t know what the decision will be.
Guy Benson: We’ve seen some images in Harrisburg. There was a big protest there a number of days ago. There were some state legislators who were a part of it addressing the crowd and. I really have a mixed mind watching some of these gatherings and demonstrations, because on one hand I think there are absolutely people who are suffering so immensely, Senator, in terms of their business, their livelihoods. There are lots of terrible externalities that can arise from this type of financial distress. They shouldn’t just be pooh-poohed as, oh, you know, it’s not really affecting people’s lives the way death was. Well, in some cases it is. So there is a desperation among a lot of people to get back to work that I’m fully on board with and making sure that politicians and a lot of people in the media who are able to work comfortably from home, who may not feel that same pinch, really can understand that and and raising their voices to make that point. I get it. I’m sympathetic to it. However, seeing some of the crazier signs out there and people all bunched together, no distancing few masks. I mean, what is your message to Pennsylvanians who you see at these rallies when you may understand the point that they’re making, but may have concerns about the way they’re making it?
Sen. Toomey: Yeah, I think it’s important to make the point and to to communicate to the governor that if, you know, you have this view, that it’s time we begin the process of reopening. But I would urge people that some caution is still in order. This is still a virus that that that does kill people. And fortunately, most people are very unlikely to suffer death as a result of this virus. But there’s a significant subset of our population and we know who they are. Older people, people who have preexisting health conditions, as in certain varieties, are much more dangerous than others. And those folks are really vulnerable. And we’ve got to make sure we’re protecting them. And we ought to be just cautious with one another. I think we can do that and still communicate that this complete lockdown has to end and end. It should end in a thoughtful fashion.
Guy Benson: Senator Toomey, let me ask you. This is a policy question. You’re a free trade guy. So my one thing that I have been thinking about more carefully, especially because of what we’re seeing and everything that we’ve experience as a country for the last month and a half or two months is. The free trade MONTRE of markets being the most efficient sort of decision maker for good decisions that benefit the most people. I think generally that is true. That’s why I support free trade. I have to say people who are sounding the alarm about our dependance on China in particular when it comes to supply chains, especially when it comes to medical supplies, medical devices, drugs. There is a national security component where in some ways we are beholden to China. They have been a very bad actor on a number of fronts, especially on Corona virus. If we are overly dependent on any other country, especially a hostile country, it might be efficient markets wise, but it could be a threat to our country. How do you reconcile your free trade orthodoxy and your beliefs that I generally share with those types of concerns?
Sen. Toomey: Well, I think you’re you know, you’re putting it well. Their national security has to come first. And so we have to be careful and thoughtful about what what is genuinely and truly a national security threat. Now, honestly, when the president said that our importation of steel and aluminum is it is a threat to national security. I disagreed. We manufacture 70 percent of all the steel and aluminum we consume within our borders and most of the remainder we get from Canada and Mexico. So that’s not really a national security threat.
Guy Benson: Totally agree
Sen. Toomey: But but when it comes to truly national security items, components, systems, materials that we would. As you point out. I wouldn’t want to rely on any one country for those sorts of things for a variety of reasons and least of all an adversary. So one of the things we did in the keres Act is, you know, we’re trying to get to the bottom of. Exactly. Believe it or not, it’s it’s hard to get your hands on exactly how dependent are we for, say, the ingredients of pharmaceuticals and the ingredients of generics versus branded drugs. We actually have twice as many facilities in the United States for producing the active ingredients as the Chinese have. But what we don’t have is a comparison of the volume of these respective facilities. So we need this information. We have to get to the bottom of just how dependent our way for medicines, which we all would agree is is essential to national security. How dependent are we on China? And then we can decide what to do about it. But but we cannot expose the American people to risk a serious risk if there’s a national security component.
Guy Benson: Last question, Senator. We had Leader McConnell on the program yesterday, and I was ask him about this controversy that was stirred because he talked about, you want to call them bail outs, payments, relief, whatever the term you want to use funding from the federal government to states and localities who are really getting hard-hit by coronavirus. They are stretched thin already in many cases and now are just getting totally hammered with budgets getting busted. Some Democrats, Democratic governors in particular, have interpreted what Leader McConnell said was we’re cutting you off. Good luck. If you go bankrupt, your failed tough luck. That’s not really what McConnell said. I think he clere to clarify that on the show here yesterday. What he’s saying and that makes sense to me. Providing some of that relief and assistance related directly to her on a virus is something that he is open to. What he’s not open to is writing giant checks to some of these cities, counties, states that have been very badly run in a fiscal sense that have all sorts of preexisting woes in terms of their budget and unfunded liabilities and pension problems and all of that. He doesn’t want federal taxpayers to bail out the bad decisions of. Governors and states that pre-date coronavirus in any of the current crisis, I would imagine you agree with that sentiment. The question is how do you how do you craft a bill in, let’s say CARES Act 4.0 5.0 that gets the targeted funds to where they need to go that are fair minded without making that money so fungible, or where governors start asking for so much money that they’re trying to paper over unrelated problems?
Sen. Toomey: Yeah. It’s a very good question. And and it’s very real. You know, state of Illinois is asking for 10 billion dollars for their underfunded pension plan. Now, whose fault is it that their pension plan is underfunded? That that was wildly underfunded for years before anyone had ever heard of covid?
Guy Benson: I live there. That’s what I remember.
Sen. Toomey: Yeah. So, you know, that is just ridiculous on the face of it. And I would point out we already sent one hundred and fifty billion dollars to the states to reimburse them for all Koven related expenses that they incur. That was an absolutely unprecedented. I think a very major contribution from federal taxpayers. So the question becomes a more difficult one is are we should we take on the responsibility of replacing the lost revenue? When when a other another level of government, whether it’s local or whether it’s at the state level, experience is an economic problem. Difficulty like these circumstances that cost them revenue that they would normally be able to count, count on. Is that something we should replace? We had the federal government. And I think that’s a tough question. And I’m I’m I’m I I approached this with serious skepticism. It inevitably does introduce a moral hazard. You know, we’ve got a lot of states that have rainy day funds. States that are fully funded pensions. They’ve been prudently managed. They really don’t need money. Then you have states that do not meet those criteria. They really would love to have money. But you know what? All states also have their own power to tax. They have the authority to do that. So to municipalities. And if the level of services they’re providing is is so essential that everybody wants it, then presumably people would be willing to pay the tax necessary to pay for it. And if the federal government steps in instead, that doesn’t mean taxpayers aren’t going to pay for it. Right. It’s just going to happen with a different distribution of taxpayers and maybe at a different time because we might borrow the money in the meantime. But one of the problems when the federal government steps in and provides this slug of revenue is it really makes it difficult for residents of any given state to hold accountable the people they elect, you know, who’s really responsible for running the state government. If there’s a federal backstop and bailout that’s available. You know, is is this fiscal imprudence something that the elected officials should be held accountable for? You know, if they’re going to get bailed out anyway, what about a state that has been prudent and thoughtful and, you know, they didn’t have maybe all of the staff and services that some other states had. But they’re able to get through this. Well, how are we supposed to evaluate that? So I think it raises a lot of tough questions and we need to proceed very, very cautiously. It’s one thing to reimburse states for covered expenses that that didn’t bother me. It was in the big bill we passed. But to this, the replacement revenue lost revenue. That’s a tougher one.
Guy Benson: Yeah, I think that’s exactly where this debate is headed. And I share a lot of the skepticism that you just articulated there. Senator Pat Toomey, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, a Republican, my guest on the Guy Benson Show. Senator, thank you. Looking forward to next time.
Sen. Toomey: Thanks for having me, guy.


radio--2020-04-19--Fox News Rundown Extra: Here's Why It's Still Hard To Buy Toilet Paper

Fears overs the coronavirus and the economy have made the last few weeks very stressful for all Americans .
Adding to the anxiety of this time has been seeing empty shelves at the grocery store and the inability to find basic household items like toilet paper .
In fact , even as other staples have been re-stocked and have become more available , toilet paper still remains hard to find for many shoppers .
Earlier this week , Jim Luke , an economics professor at Lansing Community College and former strategist for a toilet paper distribution company , joined host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to explain why bathroom tissue remains so elusive .
In the original segment , Luke gave incredible insight on how the toilet paper and retail industries work .
He also explained why consumer are more likely to panic purchase an item like a toilet paper over other basic necessities .
There however was a lot of things you did not hear Jim Luke say because the interview was too long and we could not fit it all in our original segment .
On the Fox News Rundown Extra you 'll hear our entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views on the economic impact of the coronavirus and the debate over reopening the economy .
Plus , even more fascinating toilet paper insight .

Fears overs the coronavirus and the economy have made the last few weeks very stressful for all Americans. Adding to the anxiety of this time has been seeing empty shelves at the grocery store and the inability to find basic household items like toilet paper.
In fact, even as other staples have been re-stocked and have become more available, toilet paper still remains hard to find for many shoppers.
Earlier this week, Jim Luke, an economics professor at Lansing Community College and former strategist for a toilet paper distribution company, joined host Dave Anthony on the Fox News Rundown to explain why bathroom tissue remains so elusive.
In the original segment, Luke gave incredible insight on how the toilet paper and retail industries work. He also explained why consumer are more likely to panic purchase an item like a toilet paper over other basic necessities.
There however was a lot of things you did not hear Jim Luke say because the interview was too long and we could not fit it all in our original segment.
On the Fox News Rundown Extra you’ll hear our entire conversation and economist sharing more of his views on the economic impact of the coronavirus and the debate over reopening the economy. Plus, even more fascinating toilet paper insight.


radio--2020-03-15--Fox News Rundown Extra: "The Hunt" Co-Writer On What Everyone Got Wrong About The Movie

After a long delay , the controversial thriller `` The Hunt '' is now in theaters .
Last summer , @ @ @ @ @ an anti-conservative slasher film and was shelved following the mass shootings in Dayton , Ohio @ @ @ @ @ time , some feared its political undertones would spark more violence .
Even President Trump @ @ @ @ @ this week , special guest host Carley Shimkus spoke with Damon Lindelof , the co-creator @ @ @ @ @ '' and the co-writer of `` The Hunt . ''
Lindelof discussed the controversy that @ @ @ @ @ and how it 's original trailer gave people the wrong impression .
It was a @ @ @ @ @ of time we could not include all of it in the segment that ran this @ @ @ @ @ 'd like to hear more from Lindelof .
On the Fox News Rundown Extra you @ @ @ @ @ how films both impact and reflect our culture and you 'll hear his thoughts on @ @ @ @ @ had on the box-office .

After a long delay, the controversial thriller “The Hunt” is now in theaters.
Last summer, the movie was described as an anti-conservative slasher film and was shelved following the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso At the time, some feared its political undertones would spark more violence. Even President Trump tweeted about it.
Earlier this week, special guest host Carley Shimkus spoke with Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of ABC’s “Lost” and the co-writer of “The Hunt.”
Lindelof discussed the controversy that surrounded the film last year and how it’s original trailer gave people the wrong impression.
It was a great conversation, but because of time we could not include all of it in the segment that ran this week.
We thought you’d like to hear more from Lindelof. On the Fox News Rundown Extra you’ll hear his take on how films both impact and reflect our culture and you’ll hear his thoughts on the effect the coronavirus has had on the box-office.


radio--2020-03-03--Senator Mike Braun: Coronavirus Is Still Rare In US, Mayor Pete's Ideology "Wont' Fly Back In Indian

Senator Mike Braun: Coronavirus Is Still Rare In US, Mayor Pete's Ideology "Wont' Fly Back In Indiana"

Indiana Senator Mike Braun talked with Fox News radio 's Guy Benson about the Federal Response to the Coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus task force spearheaded by Vice President Mike Pence .
Saying the risk to anyone @ @ @ @ @ Low .
Braun also gave his take on former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropping @ @ @ @ @ .

Indiana Senator Mike Braun talked with Fox News radio’s Guy Benson about the Federal Response to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Senator echoed the Coronavirus task force spearheaded by Vice President Mike Pence. Saying the risk to anyone in the United States remains Low. Braun also gave his take on former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropping out of the Presidental race.
Listen Below:


radio--2020-05-14--Rep. Andy Biggs: Dr. Fauci "Scared The Crap Out Of Americans"

On Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla , Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) went even further with his criticisms of Dr. Anthony Fauci and the medical recommendations the Coronavirus Task Force made in terms of the lockdown .
`` The reality is he is scared the crap out of Americans .
That 's what he 's done .
And with his co-folks in the left wing media , they 've scared people .
You 've got businesses that are afraid to open .
They 're scared to death to open because someone is going to get sick or they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have children and he is gone back and forth .
I mean now you do n't wear a mask , people look at you .
But it was just a month ago , when they were saying do n't wear a mask because that 's the perfect way to get sick , if you wear a mask .
You do n't wear a mask if you are sick .
So now this is gone to everybody supposed to wear a mask .
Fauci has relied on bad models .
He himself says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fauci said in his testimony two days ago , he 's responding to Rand Paul , ' I do n't look at all this other stuff that you that you 're talking about .
I 'm just a scientist .
I 'm just looking at this data and this science . '
That means he 's not looking at the public health consequences of poverty , of stress , of people not getting treatments they need to get , who are afraid to go in and get screened for cancer or whoever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't care about that .
I should n't say that .
I do n't know if he cares or does n't care .
But he does n't look at it .
He does n't take into account any of his policy recommendations .
He does n't care about the economic wreckage .
That is thirty-six million people unemployed today , in just about two and a half months .
This is the outrageousness of letting a guy in there who really does n't get it and Fauci also said 'Look what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall ?
What do you mean , open it up ?
Universities , what do you mean , doing any of this stuff ? '
And he 's constantly putting fear out there .
He constantly undermines President Trump 's very optimistic , and what I would also say , very scientifically based and conscious way of opening up the economy and the society in our communities .
Fauci undermines them .
I think it 's something I think he needs to go . ''

On Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) went even further with his criticisms of Dr. Anthony Fauci and the medical recommendations the Coronavirus Task Force made in terms of the lockdown.
“The reality is he is scared the crap out of Americans. That’s what he’s done. And with his co-folks in the left wing media, they’ve scared people. You’ve got businesses that are afraid to open. They’re scared to death to open because someone is going to get sick or they get sick. He has scared people who have children and he is gone back and forth. I mean now you don’t wear a mask, people look at you. But it was just a month ago, when they were saying don’t wear a mask because that’s the perfect way to get sick, if you wear a mask. You don’t wear a mask if you are sick. So now this is gone to everybody supposed to wear a mask. Fauci has relied on bad models. He himself says we can’t rely on the models, Fauci said in his testimony two days ago, he’s responding to Rand Paul, ‘I don’t look at all this other stuff that you that you’re talking about. I’m just a scientist. I’m just looking at this data and this science.’ That means he’s not looking at the public health consequences of poverty, of stress, of people not getting treatments they need to get, who are afraid to go in and get screened for cancer or whoever had heart attacks and strokes. He doesn’t care about that. I shouldn’t say that. I don’t know if he cares or doesn’t care. But he doesn’t look at it. He doesn’t take into account any of his policy recommendations. He doesn’t care about the economic wreckage. That is thirty-six million people unemployed today, in just about two and a half months. This is the outrageousness of letting a guy in there who really doesn’t get it and Fauci also said ‘Look what you mean, going back to school in the fall? What do you mean, open it up? Universities, what do you mean, doing any of this stuff?’ And he’s constantly putting fear out there. He constantly undermines President Trump’s very optimistic, and what I would also say, very scientifically based and conscious way of opening up the economy and the society in our communities. Fauci undermines them. I think it’s something I think he needs to go.”


radio--2020-04-21--Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) Calls China A "Pariah State" Urges U.S Pharmaceutical Companies To Move Manuf

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) Calls China A "Pariah State" Urges U.S Pharmaceutical Companies To Move Manufacturing Out Of China

Senator Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) calls out China as a `` Pariah State '' for their role in allegedly covering up how communicable the Coronavirus spread is and allowing it to spread around the world .
Saying `` Deliberate actions that Beijing took to help spread this virus around the world , so the world would suffer along with them '' .
Senator Cotton also touted his legislation that provides incentives to pharmaceutical companies , to move manufacturing back to America and out of China .
Guy Benson : Final hour , happy hour on this pact Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guy Benson Show , our Web site guide Bensons show dot com .
If you 've missed a moment , you can subscribe to the podcast .
It is free .
Joining me now for the first time on the program , its U.S .
Senator , Tom Cotton , a Republican of Arkansas .
Senator , welcome .
Glad to have you here .
Sen. Cotton : Hey , guy , it 's good to be on with you .
Thanks for having me .
Guy Benson : You bet .
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the Corona virus and China questions that I have in the pipeline , I want to get your reaction to the crackdown over the weekend in Hong Kong .
The Chinese puppet government in Hong Kong arresting more than a dozen pro-democracy leaders on that semi-autonomous island where I used to live , actually .
And it seems like the government of China in Beijing and their proxies in Hong Kong are banking on the fact that people have to be inside and ca n't take to the streets because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic to do some dirty work when it comes to suppressing democracy .
Your response to what has happened ?
Sen. Cotton : Guy , the arrests by the Chinese police in the Hong Kong islands are just a reminder that the Chinese Communist Party runs a police state that do n't that does n't uphold its most basic obligations .
As you know , they committed in the basic law law to United Kingdom to respect Hong Kong autonomy for 50 years .
We 're far removed from that 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party repeatedly has tighten the screws in Hong Kong .
And you 're probably right that they view this as an opportunity to arrest and potentially disappear forever .
Some of these pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong without prompting the kind of mass protests of millions that we saw last summer .
Guy Benson : Which it would have done under normal circumstances , and I know this the demonstrations would have been absolutely massive , but because everyone 's scared for their physical health and safety and people are essentially locked down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think cynicism even really covers it .
It is an evil , evil gambit by this regime to squelch freedom and to do so in a way that is in violation of their obligations under international law .
And it 's just one more brazen step from the Chinese government on that front .
Senator .
I want to ask you , look , this is not necessarily the time for I told you so and score settling on politics .
There are bigger fish to fry .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to ask .
Given the treatment that you went through from much of the media a number of weeks ago when you came out and suggested that it seemed possible that perhaps coronavirus had accidentally escaped from a laboratory in Duhon , you were excoriated , you were mocked , you were dragged through the mud fact-check to within an inch of your life .
This is conspiracy theorizing .
This is reckless .
This is irresponsible .
What a joke .
Now that we have discovered all that we have discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there and the full scale federal investigation into precisely what you have suggested .
Have any of the journalists , blue checkmark people who came after you very hard in a scornful way ?
Has a single one of them contacted you ?
Even channels to say , hey , you 're onto something ?
I 'm sorry .
Sen. Cotton : If I have , I 've missed that callback slip of journalists and reporters and cable news pundits who were attacking me back in February when I first questioned the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sad fact that too many of our media are Chinese apologists .
Believe me , I wish that I had not been right about anything on this virus .
I wish that what I was saying in mid-January turned out to be correct , given all of the pain and suffering , lost lives , destroyed livelihoods .
This virus has inflicted on our people and all around the globe .
But if I spent all my time telling reporters , I tell him so I would n't have much time to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I think that 's right .
I 'm just saying , you know , I am one of those sort of chattering class commentators , pundits , whatever you want us call us .
And if I had blown it so badly and really gone after someone in such an intense way and then was proven wrong within a matter of weeks , I would feel some shame and would probably try to at least publicly say something or write something .
I do n't know .
Maybe it 's too much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you mentioned , Senator , that you have been sounding the alarm about coronavirus since mid-January .
So my question to you on that front is this and this is not meant as a gotcha to try to rope you into criticizing the president .
But we hear from the White House , from the president a lot that no one really understood what was happening early on .
And I think there was a lot of revisionism from many of the president 's critics who were not taking this seriously until , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , oh , yes , everyone knew in January and February where this was headed .
You actually were one of the Sentinel 's .
Saying , look out , people , there 's something serious coming down the pike .
Do you believe that certain things could have been done better or should have been done differently ?
Let 's say in February in between the W8 chose misinformation coming out and then the world really waking up in , let 's say , the second week of March .
Was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several week period that ought to have been used differently in terms of U.S. preparation ?
In your view ?
Sen. Cotton : Yeah .
So first off , let 's just say that back in January , there were not all that many people who were taking this virus seriously .
In fact , many people attacking May in February or also in January , writing navel gazing pieces about how the seasonal flu is worse than this virus , and especially when the president shut down travel , as I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China in late January , they called hysterical and racist and xenophobic .
I first kind of recognize the severity of this virus , at least the potential severity simply by comparing Chinese communist rhetoric to their actions .
So the rhetoric on the one hand in early to mid-January was calming and soothing and projecting an air of control .
Their actions , though , belied that rhetoric .
They were locking down a city of 11 million people , ordering New York City .
Sometimes they were literally welding the doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were shutting schools across all of mainland China .
They were stopping flights going into Hong Kong , which would ordinarily never do .
The contrast between that rhetoric and his actions told me this is a potentially severe global pandemic .
As I said at the time , we do n't know a lot about the virus , but it is better in these circumstances to over on the side of caution to adhere to .
Benjamin Franklin told Maxim that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down air travel from China in late January brought us several weeks of time , unfortunately .
Probably the biggest misstep here in the United States is that the CDC and the FDA did n't get their act together when it came to developing new testing kits early on in early February .
Now , that would have given us earlier insights into where the virus was , though .
But it would not have produced this kind of test that we need today to get the economy back on its feet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at what 's largely a science problem , getting the exact science right .
Getting the tests accurate and getting it out to the field .
Today , we face largely a manufacturing problem , and that 's in part because we 've outsourced so much of our medical manufacturing capabilities to China .
It 's not easy to produce the billions and billions of swabs and chemical reagents and testing machines we 'll need .
We are beginning to meet that challenge , but that 's a huge scale that is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But again , that 's the result of 30 years of bad trade policy with China , not the result of anything that President Trump did or did n't think of the last 30 years .
Guy Benson : We 're starting to see governors reacting to the federal guidance and some governors rushing out there to say , all right , we 're gon na start reopening certain businesses .
We saw in South Carolina , we 've seen it in Georgia .
And I think other governors saying , well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data looks like .
What is your overall view points on the president 's plan and how you think governors ought to interact with that plan ?
Sen. Cotton : So I think the plan and the president and his task force announced last week , supported by their leading scientific experts , Dr. Bourke 's and Dr. Foushee , is a sound plan set of guidelines that governors , mayors will have to implement in their local communities and their states .
I have said from the beginning , back when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave a speech on the Senate floor about this , you know , Donald Trump did n't quote unquote , shutting thing down .
It was our governors and mayors .
But then reality die .
A lot of their orders were rearguard actions , reflecting the spontaneous and voluntary decisions and actions of our people who were already largely staying at home and avoiding large crowd driven , avoiding restaurants because of their fear of a deadly virus .
So a lot of the steps that our governors and mayors took simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid to late March .
And they were designed to protect our hospitals to make sure that our hospitals were overwhelmed the way you saw in Italy and Spain and we almost saw in New York City .
Now that we know that we seem to have the hospital capacity , I understand the desire of a lot of our governors and our mayor has been trying to get people back to work , get the economy back on its feet .
Of course , that 's going to have to be gradual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Different cities and states and regions are going to need different approaches .
And in particular , New York City and its metro area is going to need something different really from the rest of the country .
You know , New York is a great city .
I love New Yorkers .
They are facing a terrible challenge , in large part because of what makes this city unique .
Is it just incredible density almost twice as dense as an expensive city ?
New York City , heavy reliance on public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So many people coming in and out of it in December and January .
That 's going to call for a different kind of response than what you 're going to need even in other large cities and certainly midsize cities like Little Rock and then rural areas as well .
So New York City , which is so much tension in the media , needs a plan that 's going to address their circumstances .
But every state , every city is going to build plan that 's calling me a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much in the news .
Guy Benson : Senator Cotton , what do you say when you see some of these protesters in state capitals where they 're desperate to get the economy back open ?
Desperate to get back to work , which is , in my view , totally understandable , but also clustered in close quarters .
Many of them not wearing masks .
That 's less understandable or justifiable , in my view .
What 's your message to the people that you see in the news clips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Sen. Cotton : I certainly understand their frustration and their desire to get people back to work .
The dip the economy back on its feet because we have livelihoods at risk , in addition , having lives at risk , and I do n't at all criticize them for exercising their First Amendment rights .
I would encourage them , though , if they exercised those rights to try to do everything they can to make sure that they are not making it harder for us to get the economy back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
Want to protest the long treasured and cherished American tradition .
But if what I 'm asking , you can do it .
If you could stay six feet apart from each other , you can still express your opinion and your desire to change , which you may see as misguided policies or decisions by mayors , county executives or governors , while at the same time protecting yourself , protecting your families , protecting others .
Guy Benson : Senator , back to China .
There 's a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting to see it , frankly .
The Australians , the Brits , people really are taking a notably harsher tone toward Beijing when it comes to actual reality here .
What does accountability look like , in your view , and especially what does it look like in light of the legislation you 've introduced ?
Sen. Cotton : Well , the world is all beginning to recognize that China is a pariah state and it 's time to treat China as a pariah state .
There are many possible ways that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criminal negligence .
And in my opinion , the deliberate actions that Beijing took to help spread this virus around the world so the world would suffer along with them .
My legislation , as you say , would amend the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act , which will open the American courts up to Chinese officials who were involved in this cover up , just like we did for the 9/11 terrorist attack victims .
I also have legislation that would bring pharmaceutical manufacturing out of China and back to the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factories here and cut off access to Chinese drugs in America .
We could do that .
Another critical injuries as well , like the telecommunications industry .
We can begin to reexamine China 's role in some of these international organizations and the exclusion of Taiwan from international organizations at Beijing 's dictate .
I mean , remember here this circumstance , Taiwan was one of the countries that best handled this outbreak .
Yet their insights in January were largely excluded from W8 Jos ' e lessons learned because Beijing did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's a lot of steps that we can take and that we should continue to take in the months ahead to ensure that we fundamentally alter our relationship with China .
And I suspect most of the civilized world is going to do the same things that .
Guy Benson : Senator , last question .
We have about 30 seconds .
I just want to play something that was said by one of your Democratic colleagues in the Senate on CNN a few days ago about all of this cut 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis that we are today is not because of anything that China did , not because of anything the W.H.O .
did .
It 's because of what this president did , what this president did not China , not the W.H.O..
Briefly , Senator , your reaction ?
Sen. Cotton : Well , almost entirely China 's fault that we 're in this global pandemic .
China helped unleashes pandemic on the world through its negligence and then through its intentional cover ups , its refusal to share with the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel from outside mainland China .
I understand that Democrats in the media want to make everything about Donald Trump .
They obsessively attack him at every turn .
But the American people understand that this is a global pandemic .
It 's hit every country in the world and it started in China .
And China is responsible for it .
Guy Benson : We heard one view from Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut in that clip , another view from Senator Tom Cotton .
Our guests , Republican from Arkansas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your mind .
Senator Cotton , thank you so much for your time today .
We look forward to talking again .
Guy Benson : We 'll take a break .
We 'll be right back .
As the happy hour rolls on on the guy , then some show .

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) calls out China as a “Pariah State” for their role in allegedly covering up how communicable the Coronavirus spread is and allowing it to spread around the world. Saying “Deliberate actions that Beijing took to help spread this virus around the world, so the world would suffer along with them”. Senator Cotton also touted his legislation that provides incentives to pharmaceutical companies, to move manufacturing back to America and out of China.
Listen Below:
Full Transcipt:
Guy Benson: Final hour, happy hour on this pact Tuesday, a very busy show here at the Guy Benson Show, our Web site guide Bensons show dot com. If you’ve missed a moment, you can subscribe to the podcast. It is free. Joining me now for the first time on the program, its U.S. Senator, Tom Cotton, a Republican of Arkansas. Senator, welcome. Glad to have you here.
Sen. Cotton: Hey, guy, it’s good to be on with you. Thanks for having me.
Guy Benson: You bet. Well, first question before we get to some of the Corona virus and China questions that I have in the pipeline, I want to get your reaction to the crackdown over the weekend in Hong Kong. The Chinese puppet government in Hong Kong arresting more than a dozen pro-democracy leaders on that semi-autonomous island where I used to live, actually. And it seems like the government of China in Beijing and their proxies in Hong Kong are banking on the fact that people have to be inside and can’t take to the streets because of Corona virus, sort of an exploitation of the pandemic to do some dirty work when it comes to suppressing democracy. Your response to what has happened?
Sen. Cotton: Guy, the arrests by the Chinese police in the Hong Kong islands are just a reminder that the Chinese Communist Party runs a police state that don’t that doesn’t uphold its most basic obligations. As you know, they committed in the basic law law to United Kingdom to respect Hong Kong autonomy for 50 years. We’re far removed from that 50 year deadline. Yet the Chinese Communist Party repeatedly has tighten the screws in Hong Kong. And you’re probably right that they view this as an opportunity to arrest and potentially disappear forever. Some of these pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong without prompting the kind of mass protests of millions that we saw last summer.
Guy Benson: Which it would have done under normal circumstances, and I know this the demonstrations would have been absolutely massive, but because everyone’s scared for their physical health and safety and people are essentially locked down from large gatherings. The cynicism. I don’t think cynicism even really covers it. It is an evil, evil gambit by this regime to squelch freedom and to do so in a way that is in violation of their obligations under international law. And it’s just one more brazen step from the Chinese government on that front. Senator. I want to ask you, look, this is not necessarily the time for I told you so and score settling on politics. There are bigger fish to fry. I am curious, though, and so I have to ask. Given the treatment that you went through from much of the media a number of weeks ago when you came out and suggested that it seemed possible that perhaps coronavirus had accidentally escaped from a laboratory in Duhon, you were excoriated, you were mocked, you were dragged through the mud fact-check to within an inch of your life. This is conspiracy theorizing. This is reckless. This is irresponsible. What a joke. Now that we have discovered all that we have discovered and all the reporting that’s out there and the full scale federal investigation into precisely what you have suggested. Have any of the journalists, blue checkmark people who came after you very hard in a scornful way? Has a single one of them contacted you? Even channels to say, hey, you’re onto something? I’m sorry.
Sen. Cotton: If I have, I’ve missed that callback slip of journalists and reporters and cable news pundits who were attacking me back in February when I first questioned the Chinese Communist Party line. It’s a sad fact that too many of our media are Chinese apologists. Believe me, I wish that I had not been right about anything on this virus. I wish that what I was saying in mid-January turned out to be correct, given all of the pain and suffering, lost lives, destroyed livelihoods. This virus has inflicted on our people and all around the globe. But if I spent all my time telling reporters, I tell him so I wouldn’t have much time to do the people’s business.
Guy Benson: I think that’s right. I’m just saying, you know, I am one of those sort of chattering class commentators, pundits, whatever you want us call us. And if I had blown it so badly and really gone after someone in such an intense way and then was proven wrong within a matter of weeks, I would feel some shame and would probably try to at least publicly say something or write something. I don’t know. Maybe it’s too much to expect of some folks. But you mentioned, Senator, that you have been sounding the alarm about coronavirus since mid-January. So my question to you on that front is this and this is not meant as a gotcha to try to rope you into criticizing the president. But we hear from the White House, from the president a lot that no one really understood what was happening early on. And I think there was a lot of revisionism from many of the president’s critics who were not taking this seriously until, let’s say, March now pretending like, oh, yes, everyone knew in January and February where this was headed. You actually were one of the Sentinel’s. Saying, look out, people, there’s something serious coming down the pike. Do you believe that certain things could have been done better or should have been done differently? Let’s say in February in between the W8 chose misinformation coming out and then the world really waking up in, let’s say, the second week of March. Was there squandered time? Was there a several week period that ought to have been used differently in terms of U.S. preparation? In your view?
Sen. Cotton: Yeah. So first off, let’s just say that back in January, there were not all that many people who were taking this virus seriously. In fact, many people attacking May in February or also in January, writing navel gazing pieces about how the seasonal flu is worse than this virus, and especially when the president shut down travel, as I’ve been urging him to do so from China in late January, they called hysterical and racist and xenophobic. I first kind of recognize the severity of this virus, at least the potential severity simply by comparing Chinese communist rhetoric to their actions. So the rhetoric on the one hand in early to mid-January was calming and soothing and projecting an air of control. Their actions, though, belied that rhetoric. They were locking down a city of 11 million people, ordering New York City. Sometimes they were literally welding the doors to a high rise apartment shut. They were shutting schools across all of mainland China. They were stopping flights going into Hong Kong, which would ordinarily never do. The contrast between that rhetoric and his actions told me this is a potentially severe global pandemic. As I said at the time, we don’t know a lot about the virus, but it is better in these circumstances to over on the side of caution to adhere to. Benjamin Franklin told Maxim that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The president’s actions in shutting down air travel from China in late January brought us several weeks of time, unfortunately. Probably the biggest misstep here in the United States is that the CDC and the FDA didn’t get their act together when it came to developing new testing kits early on in early February. Now, that would have given us earlier insights into where the virus was, though. But it would not have produced this kind of test that we need today to get the economy back on its feet. In early February, we’re looking at what’s largely a science problem, getting the exact science right. Getting the tests accurate and getting it out to the field. Today, we face largely a manufacturing problem, and that’s in part because we’ve outsourced so much of our medical manufacturing capabilities to China. It’s not easy to produce the billions and billions of swabs and chemical reagents and testing machines we’ll need. We are beginning to meet that challenge, but that’s a huge scale that is going more slowly than we would like. But again, that’s the result of 30 years of bad trade policy with China, not the result of anything that President Trump did or didn’t think of the last 30 years.
Guy Benson: We’re starting to see governors reacting to the federal guidance and some governors rushing out there to say, all right, we’re gonna start reopening certain businesses. We saw in South Carolina, we’ve seen it in Georgia. And I think other governors saying, well, let’s wait and see what our data looks like. What is your overall view points on the president’s plan and how you think governors ought to interact with that plan?
Sen. Cotton: So I think the plan and the president and his task force announced last week, supported by their leading scientific experts, Dr. Bourke’s and Dr. Foushee, is a sound plan set of guidelines that governors, mayors will have to implement in their local communities and their states. I have said from the beginning, back when the Senate was still in session and I gave a speech on the Senate floor about this, you know, Donald Trump didn’t quote unquote, shutting thing down. It was our governors and mayors. But then reality die. A lot of their orders were rearguard actions, reflecting the spontaneous and voluntary decisions and actions of our people who were already largely staying at home and avoiding large crowd driven, avoiding restaurants because of their fear of a deadly virus. So a lot of the steps that our governors and mayors took simply reflected the reality we already faced by mid to late March. And they were designed to protect our hospitals to make sure that our hospitals were overwhelmed the way you saw in Italy and Spain and we almost saw in New York City. Now that we know that we seem to have the hospital capacity, I understand the desire of a lot of our governors and our mayor has been trying to get people back to work, get the economy back on its feet. Of course, that’s going to have to be gradual and calibrated and rolling and tentative. Different cities and states and regions are going to need different approaches. And in particular, New York City and its metro area is going to need something different really from the rest of the country. You know, New York is a great city. I love New Yorkers. They are facing a terrible challenge, in large part because of what makes this city unique. Is it just incredible density almost twice as dense as an expensive city? New York City, heavy reliance on public transportation. It’s international nature. So many people coming in and out of it in December and January. That’s going to call for a different kind of response than what you’re going to need even in other large cities and certainly midsize cities like Little Rock and then rural areas as well. So New York City, which is so much tension in the media, needs a plan that’s going to address their circumstances. But every state, every city is going to build plan that’s calling me a lot different. No one that gets spotlighted so much in the news.
Guy Benson: Senator Cotton, what do you say when you see some of these protesters in state capitals where they’re desperate to get the economy back open? Desperate to get back to work, which is, in my view, totally understandable, but also clustered in close quarters. Many of them not wearing masks. That’s less understandable or justifiable, in my view. What’s your message to the people that you see in the news clips who are out there on the streets?
Sen. Cotton: I certainly understand their frustration and their desire to get people back to work. The dip the economy back on its feet because we have livelihoods at risk, in addition, having lives at risk, and I don’t at all criticize them for exercising their First Amendment rights. I would encourage them, though, if they exercised those rights to try to do everything they can to make sure that they are not making it harder for us to get the economy back on its feet and people back to work. Want to protest the long treasured and cherished American tradition. But if what I’m asking, you can do it. If you could stay six feet apart from each other, you can still express your opinion and your desire to change, which you may see as misguided policies or decisions by mayors, county executives or governors, while at the same time protecting yourself, protecting your families, protecting others.
Guy Benson: Senator, back to China. There’s a lot of talk about accountability and we’re starting to see it, frankly. The Australians, the Brits, people really are taking a notably harsher tone toward Beijing when it comes to actual reality here. What does accountability look like, in your view, and especially what does it look like in light of the legislation you’ve introduced?
Sen. Cotton: Well, the world is all beginning to recognize that China is a pariah state and it’s time to treat China as a pariah state. There are many possible ways that we can impose consequences on China for the criminal negligence. And in my opinion, the deliberate actions that Beijing took to help spread this virus around the world so the world would suffer along with them. My legislation, as you say, would amend the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which will open the American courts up to Chinese officials who were involved in this cover up, just like we did for the 9/11 terrorist attack victims. I also have legislation that would bring pharmaceutical manufacturing out of China and back to the United States for providing incentives for building more factories here and cut off access to Chinese drugs in America. We could do that. Another critical injuries as well, like the telecommunications industry. We can begin to reexamine China’s role in some of these international organizations and the exclusion of Taiwan from international organizations at Beijing’s dictate. I mean, remember here this circumstance, Taiwan was one of the countries that best handled this outbreak. Yet their insights in January were largely excluded from W8 Jos’e lessons learned because Beijing didn’t want them to be included. There’s a lot of steps that we can take and that we should continue to take in the months ahead to ensure that we fundamentally alter our relationship with China. And I suspect most of the civilized world is going to do the same things that.
Guy Benson: Senator, last question. We have about 30 seconds. I just want to play something that was said by one of your Democratic colleagues in the Senate on CNN a few days ago about all of this cut 31. The reason that we’re in the crisis that we are today is not because of anything that China did, not because of anything the W.H.O. did. It’s because of what this president did, what this president did not China, not the W.H.O.. Briefly, Senator, your reaction?
Sen. Cotton: Well, almost entirely China’s fault that we’re in this global pandemic. China helped unleashes pandemic on the world through its negligence and then through its intentional cover ups, its refusal to share with the world what is happening to continue to encourage travel from outside mainland China. I understand that Democrats in the media want to make everything about Donald Trump. They obsessively attack him at every turn. But the American people understand that this is a global pandemic. It’s hit every country in the world and it started in China. And China is responsible for it.
Guy Benson: We heard one view from Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut in that clip, another view from Senator Tom Cotton. Our guests, Republican from Arkansas. You can decide who makes more sense in your mind. Senator Cotton, thank you so much for your time today. We look forward to talking again.
Sen. Cotton: Thank you, guy.
Guy Benson: We’ll take a break. We’ll be right back. As the happy hour rolls on on the guy, then some show.


radio--2020-04-12--Fox News Rundown Extra: Janice Dean Is Staying Home And Staying Positive

Like many Americans , Fox News Channel Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean is working from home because of the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ broadcasting industry are still going to the studio , her decision to telecommute was partly @ @ @ @ @ immune system .
She 's more vulnerable to Covid-19 because of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis @ @ @ @ @ , her husband is a first responder with the New York City Fire Department .
@ @ @ @ @ host Dave Anthony on the Rundown to discuss the importance of social distancing and how @ @ @ @ @ new normal .
The conversation was both informative and full of hope , but it @ @ @ @ @ the whole discussion in our original segment .
This episode of The Fox News Rundown @ @ @ @ @ and gives you the chance to hear more of Janice Dean 's incredible story and @ @

Like many Americans, Fox News Channel Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean is working from home because of the pandemic.
While some people in the broadcasting industry are still going to the studio, her decision to telecommute was partly the result of her compromised immune system.
She’s more vulnerable to Covid-19 because of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2005. In addition, her husband is a first responder with the New York City
Fire Department.
Recently, Janice Dean joined host Dave Anthony on the Rundown to discuss the importance of social distancing and how she’s coping with her new normal.
The conversation was both informative and full of hope, but it was too long to include the whole discussion in our original segment.
This episode of The Fox News Rundown Extra includes the whole conversation and gives you the chance to hear more of Janice Dean’s incredible story and optimism.