♪ >> Renee: KENTUCKY'S SENIOR SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL IS THE LONGEST SERVING SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

FROM 2015-2021, McCONNELL SERVED AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, MAKING HIM ONLY THE SECOND KENTUCKIAN TO EVER BE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE U.S. SENATE.

I TALK WITH LEADER MCCONNELL ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, PROPOSED PLANS ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS, POLICING, AND THE TEACHING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND VOTING LAWS, AND MORE.

THAT'S NOW ON "CONNECTIONS."

>> Renee: LEADER McCONNELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY AND I KNOW YOU'RE ZIGZAGING ACROSS THE STATE, SO TAKING SOME TIME FOR US IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S JUST START TALKING ABOUT AT THE TIME THAT WE ARE TALKING, THIS INTERVIEW WOULD BE ON THE EVE OF THE FOUR-MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAPITOL INSURRECTION.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, LEADER MCCONNELL HOW THE LASTING OR LINGERING EFFECTS OF THOSE DAYS STILL RESONATE WITH YOU AND OTHER LAWMAKERS AND THE INSTITUTION ITSELF?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO EXPRESS MYSELF ON THAT PERIOD BETWEEN THE ELECTION AND JANUARY 20 ON THREE OCCASIONS.

ONCE WAS THE DAY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE DECLARED PRESIDENT BIDEN THE VICTOR.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN AND EXPRESS MYSELF ON JANUARY 6, AND AGAIN, THE EVENING THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FINISHED.

SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO WHAT I HAVE ALREADY SAID.

I FULLY EXPRESSED MY VIEW DURING THAT PERIOD.

AND I FOCUS NOW, AS THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE SENATE.

AND UNIFYING OUR CONFERENCE AGAINST WHAT I THINK HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED SO FAR, TO BE THE MOST LEFT-WING ADMINISTRATION IN MY TIME IN THE SENATE.

AND, FORTUNATELY FROM REIGN POINT OF VIEW, WE HAD A PRETTY CLOSE ELECTION.

50/50 SENATE.

VERY NARROW MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

AND EVEN THOUGH OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS WERE ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY IN LINE, TO PASS THE, WHAT THE PRESIDENT CALLED THE RESCUE PACKAGE, WHICH I MIGHT SAY PARENTHETICALLY WAS ONLY ONE PERCENT ABOUT VACCINES AND 90% ABOUT HEALTHCARE.

I THINK THAT THEY'LL FIND THE SL K.D.

DING GOING FORWARD MORE CHALLENGING AND I HOPE THE RESULT OF THAT, RENEE IS THEY'LL DECIDE TO OPERATE IN THE CENTER WHERE WE'RE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS.

>> WELL, WE'LL GET TO THAT A LITTLE LATER BECAUSE I DO WANT TO ASK YOU JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.

WE JUST LEARNED TODAY THAT THERE ARE SOME HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE SEEKING REELECTION.

WE ASSUME WITH 18 MONTHS OUT, WE CAN HEAR ABOUT MORE RETIREMENTS.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS YOUR LAST TERM OR IF YOU'LL COMPLETE THIS TERM.

CAN YOU CLARIFY, SIR, YOUR INTENTIONS ABOUT STAYING IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> WELL, I'M IN THE FIRST YEAR OF A SIX-YEAR TERM AND IN THE FIRST YEAR OF ANOTHER TWO-YEAR TERM AS LEADER OF MY PARTY IN SENATE.

AND I DON'T HAVE ENTRY NEWS TO MAKE ON THAT ISSUE.

I'M STILL IN THE HEIGHT OF MY CAREER, AND I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY AGAIN FOR HAVING THEIR -- EXPRESSING THEIR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ME AGAIN LAST YEAR.

>> THAT SUSPICIONS WERE RAISED WHEN THE REPUBLICAN SENATE, STATEMENT PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS INITIATED A BILL THAT WOULD STRIP THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR OF HIS ABILITY TO SELECT HIS OWN CANDIDATE TO FILL THE U.S. SENATE VACANCY IN KENTUCKY, IF THAT SHOULD ARISE, AND WOULD REQUIRE INSTEAD IMPORTANT THE GOVERNOR TO SELECT FROM A LAST OF THREE, THAT THE PARTY WHO CONTROLS THAT SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SELECTED FROM.

SO THAT DID RAISE AN EYE OF SUSPICION THAT PERHAPS YOU WERE INTENDED TO VACATE THE SEAT BEFORE.

>> I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IN FACT, ACTUALLY, -- >> IT WAS YOUR IDEA.

>> AND I DID TALK TO PRESIDENT STIVERS ABOUT IT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

IN MY TIME IN THE SENATE NOW WHICH HAS BEEN QUITE A WHILE, I'VE WATCHED HOW THESE VACANCIES WERE FILLED.

AND, I HAD LOOKED AT SOME EXAMPLES THAT I THOUGHT BASICALLY, GUARANTEED A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT A VACANCY OCCURRED, IT WOULD BE FILLED BY THE PARTY OF THE PERSON WHO CREATED THE VACANCY.

AND, SO OBVIOUSLY WITH 75 REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVES, AND 30 OUT OF 38 REPUBLICAN STATE SENATORS, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT THIS IN A WAY THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE BETTER IF A VACANCY OCCURRED.

FOR TWO REASONS: ONE, THE SHORT-TERM VACANCY BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD GO TO THE SAME PARTY, THAT WAS OF THE PERSON WHO VACATED.

AND SECOND, THERE WOULD BE A PRETTY EARLY ELECTION SO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, COULD MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHO THEY WANTED TO BE THEIR SENATOR FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, RATHER THAN THE GOVERNOR ALONE, YOU KNOW, PICKING HIS BEST FRIEND, OR, SOMEONE ELSE TO FILL THE VACANCY.

IT INTRODUCED THE ACTUAL PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, INTO THE PROCESS.

VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY VACANCIES ARE FILLED IN WYOMING, FOR EXAMPLE SO THERE WERE OTHER EXAMPLES I HAD SEEN OVER THE YEARS.

SORRY FOR THE LENGTHY ANSWER.

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR.

>> YEAH, THE WAY THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WATCHING OVER THE YEARS HOW VACANCIES WERE FILLEDAND THOUGHT THIS WAS A BETTER WAY TO DO IT.

AND HONESTLY WE HAD THE VOTES IN THE LEGISLATURE TO DO IT.

AND, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR DID NOT LIKE IT.

I WOULDN'T EITHER IF I HAD BEEN IN HIS SHOES.

BUT, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE IMPROVE OUR SITUATION IN KENTUCKY.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HAD TESTIFIED THAT, LEADER McCONNELL ASKED ABOUT THE IMPETUS FOR THIS AND YOU HAVE EXPLAINED THAT.

SO YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN ANY THOUGHT ABOUT EVEN NOT CONSIDERING OR DEPENDING HOW THE 202 MIDTERMS TURN OUT, TAKING A DIFFERENT ROLE, YOU KNOW, ROBERT BYRD WAS MINORITY LEADER MAJORITY LEADER AND THEN, PREPARATIONS CHAIR.

SO, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN?

>> I'LL TELL YOU, I AM GRATEFUL THAT AT THE END OF THIS TERM, I'LL TIE MIKE MANSFIELD AS THE LONGEST-SERVING SENATE LEADER IN HISTORY.

I'M AT THE TOP OF MY GAME.

I ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE OF MY COLLEAGUES.

AND, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY CURRENT PLANS TO TAKE ANY OTHER ROLE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLANS.

YOU DID CALL ON THE SENATE FLOOR THE ADDRESS THAT HE DELIVERED TO AMERICANS WHICH WOULD BE A WEEK AGO FROM THE TIME THAT WE TAPED THIS DISCUSSION.

LENGTHY LIBERAL DAY DREAM AND YOU SAID THIS WAS A REBUKE OF THE BIDEN AGENDA TO TRANSFORM AND EXPAND GOVERNMENT ROLE, WHICH IS A QUOTE THAT YOU USED FROM SOMEONE ELSE BUT IN THE WASHINGTON POST PIECE, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT BIDEN IS TRYING TO ENGINEER, KNOWLEDGE A REVIVAL OF GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO A RECONSIDERATION OF ITS ESSENTIAL ROLE FOR THIS PRESIDENT RESTORING THE SOUL OF AMERICA REQUIRING REREVIVING FAITH AND GOVERNMENT.

AND IT IS A CENTRAL REJECTION OF THE REAGANISM TYPE PHILOSOPHIES AND I'M CURIOUS GIVEN WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND THIS REBOUND HOPEFULLY THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID, AND PEOPLE REALLY HAVE RELIED ON GOVERNMENT TO, WHETHER IT IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF VACCINE OR JUST TO RESPOND TO AMERICANS AND IN CRISIS, MAYBE, AMERICANS NOW FEEL LIKE YES, THERE IS A ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE PERHAPS THOSE TWO COMPETING PHILOSOPHIES?

>> WELL, THERE A PROVENCAL FOR GOVERNMENT.

BUT, TO ME THERE IS A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 100 YEAR PANDEMIC AND HOW TO PRESENT ACT TO THAT AND, BUSINESS AS USUAL.

LAST YEAR, WE GOT HIT BY A 100-YEAR PANDEMIC.

WE PASSED FIVE MAJOR BILLS, AND THE CARES ACT BEING THE BIGGEST ONE ON AN OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN BASIS.

EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, PUT ASIDE OUR PARTISAN PASSIONS AND DID WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY.

BY THE TIME THAT THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION CAME IN, WE HAD MODERN MEDICAL MIRACLE.

THREE HIGHLY-EFFECTIVE VACCINES, GOING INTO ARMS, PEOPLE BEGINNING TO REENGAGE, THE ECONOMY BEGINNING TO GROW.

AND, YET, WE HAD A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT RECOMMENDED THAT WE DID A $2 TRILLION PACKAGE WHICH IS WHAT WE DID IN THE CARES ACT YEARS AGO, A YEAR AGO, AS IF NOTHING HAD CHANGED.

WELL, EVERYTHING HAD CHANGED.

CHANGED BY THEN.

AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A WILDLY EXPENSIVE AND UNRELATED TO THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME.

THAT'S THE EXAMPLE OF THIS $2 TRILLION, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PACKAGE THAT DID PASS, PARTY LINE VOTE.

1% WAS ABOUT VACCINES.

9% WAS ABOUT HEALTHCARE.

AND THE REST OF IT WAS ABOUT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

AND SO, I THOUGHT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE BASED ON THE PANDEMIC, WE NOW HAVE A NATIONAL DEBT THE SIZE OF OUR ECONOMY, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WORLD WAR II.

BASED ON WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, WHICH I SUPPORTED, TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH, IS ALREADY PRODUCING TWO BIG PROBLEMS.

I HAVE MET WITH A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS IN OUR STATE, AND VERY RECENTLY, INFLATION, COST OF EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

JOB, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK.

WE'VE SENT THEM SO MUCH MONEY, THAT THEY COMPARE WHAT WHAT THEY COULD RECEIVE BY STAYING HOME, VERSUS GOING BACK TO WORK.

EVERY EMPLOYER THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM IN KENTUCKY IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

AND, I'M SURE THAT YOU'LL ASK ME ABOUT THIS BUT NOW THEY ARE RECOMMENDING EVEN MORE.

>> SURE.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS.

$2 TRILLION MORE FOR THIS.

AND SO, I'M CURIOUS, ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET FROM A NO TO A YES?

IS THERE ROOM FOR COMPROMISE THERE?

IS IT ALL ABOUT THE FIGURES?

HE SAYS THAT HE WANTS 2.3 TRILLION YOU AND SAY 6, 800 BILLION.

IS THERE A SWEET SPOT THERE?

IS IT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY?

>> THE BEST PLACE TO START, IF THIS IS REALLY ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> MAKE IT ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

THINGS THAT RECAN ALL AGREE ON AS INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, BRIDGE, WATER LINES, THE BROADBAND, INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE PROPER PRICE TAG FOR WHAT MOST OF US THINK OF IS INFRASTRUCTURE IS ABOUT $600 BILLION TO $800 BILLION.

SHELLEY OF MY CONFERENCE PUT TOGETHER AND RECOMMENDED AS A BILL THAT IS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.

WHAT WHAT WE HAVE GOT HERE, HOWEVER, CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS BAIT AND SWITCH, CALLED INFRASTRUCTURE BUT MUCH BIGGER, AND WITH A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF OTHER THINGS PLUS, PLUS, COMPLETELY REVISITING THE 2017 TAX BILL WHICH DID THE FOLLOWING: IN FEBRUARY OF 2020, WE HAD THE BEST ECONOMY IN 50 YEARS.

LOW UNEMPLOYMENT OVERALL.

LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE HISTORY.

LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT FOR HISPANIC AMERICANS IN HISTORY.

THE ECONOMY WAS ROCKING.

A BIG PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF TAX REWE PASSED IN 2017, FIRST COMPREHENSIVE IN 30 YEARS.

BUSINESSES BRINGING JOBS BACK FROM OVERSEAS.

PEOPLE BENEFITING FROM ALL OF THIS.

AND THEY WANT TO AS THE PRICE FOR GOING FORWARD WITH THIS BIG PACKAGE, MUCH OF WHICH IS UNRELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE, TO ASK REPUBLICANS, TO UNDO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST DOMESTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT IN MY CONFERENCE FROM SUSAN COLINS TO TED CRUZ, NO WAY.

>> OR MAYBE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

>> AND THE DEMOCRATS AS YOU SUGGEST HERE, DON'T HAVE A HUGE MARGIN TO PLAY WITH.

THEY HAVE GOT A 50/50 SENATE WHICH MEANS ABSOLUTELY EVERY SINGLE UP WITH HAS TO AGREE.

>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE SENATOR AREN'T -- >> HE HAS BEEN QUITE VOCAL ABOUT THIS AND THINK IT IS IT IS WAY OVERDONE AS WE HERE IS WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN, RENEE.

THEY'LL SEE IF THEY CAN PASS THIS THING BY GETTING EVERYBODY IN LINE, IF THEY CAN.

AND THEN WE'RE OPEN TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT.

AND THE WAY TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, IS THROUGH THE GAS TAX THAT ALREADY EXISTS, AND THE GAP BETWEEN THAT AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO SPEND HERE, NEEDS TO BE CREDITABLY PAID FOR AND BEST WAY TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT.

NOT REVISITING THE TAX BILL IN A WAY THAT CREATES ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS FOR THE ECONOMY, WHICH IS GOING TO ALREADY HAVE BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE, TWO BIG PROBLEMS, INFLATION, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

>> I WANT TO REVISIT COVID, AND VACCINE HESITANCY WHICH WE WERE KIND OF TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING.

AS A POLIO SURVIVOR, YOU YOU WELL UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VACCINES, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PRAISED YOU.

ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.

SO YOU HAVE PROSELYTIZING ABOUT VACCINATIONS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THERE IS A GOAL OF HAVING 70 OF EVERY COMMUNITY BEING VACCINATED AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HALF OF THE IT'S ADULTS HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE COVID VACCINE.

YET, MORE THAN 40% OF REPUBLICANS, HAVE CONSISTENTLY TOLD POLLSTERS THAT THEY ARE NOT PLANNING ON BEING VACCINATED.

GIVEN THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS GIVEN CREDIT FOR FAST TRACKING, AND JUMP STARTING THE COVID VACCINE DEPLOYMENT WHAT IS THE DISCONNECT THERE?

AND SHOULD PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE DONE MORE TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN HIS BASE ABOUT THESE VACCINES, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE VACCINATED?

>> WELL, AS A REPUBLICAN MAN, I CAN SAY FOR WHATEVER IT IS WORTH TO OTHER REPUBLICAN MEN, WE NEED GET THE VACCINE.

BUT, IT IS NOT JUST REPUBLICAN MEN.

IN KENTUCKY AS I HAVE BEEN VISITING HOSPITALS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE VACCINATIONS ARE BEING GIVEN, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUNGER WOMEN AS WELL.

BECAUSE,ER THERE ARE RUMORS FLOATING AROUND ON THE INTERNET THAT IT IS SOMEHOW INTERFERES WITH FERTILITY AND SO THEY ARE RELUCTANT.

WHAT I THINK WE HAVE HERE, WHETHER IT IS REPUBLICAN MEN OR YOUNGER WOMEN WHO HAVE RESERVATIONS, IS THAT WE HAVE THREE PROVEN EFFECTIVE VACCINES, DEVELOPED IN LESS THAN A YEAR, AND MODERN MEDICAL MIRACLE, YOU MENTIONED THAT I WAS A POLIO SURVIVOR AND IT TOOK 70 YEARS TO DEVELOP A VACCINE FOR POLIO.

THIS WAS DONE IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE A SPORTS FAN OR NOT BUT IF YOU'RE A FOOTBALL FAN, THE LAST 20 YARDS BEFORE YOU SCORE CALL THE RED ZONE.

WELL, WE'RE IN THE RED ZONE BUT WE'RE NOT IN THE END ZONE YET AND I THINK THAT WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE RESERVATIONS ARE, WE NEED TO FINISH THE JOB.

GET THIS IN THE END ZONE BY GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED, AT A VERY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL.

>> AND ALONG WITH ENCOURAGING VACCINES, LEADER McCONNELL, IS IT IMPORTANT TO STILL STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE MITIGATION MEASURE, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND, MASK WEARING.

IS AS SOME OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES DESCRIBED, MASK WEARING A PERFORMATIVE MEASURE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT MASK WEARING IS GETTING COMPLICATED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY, ON A RECENT SATURDAY, EVENT THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR, WITH I THINK AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GETTING INPATIENT WITH THAT, AND, -- INPATIENT WITH THAT AND WE'RE IN THIS IN BETWEEN STAGE.

I HAVE RUN INTO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME WHO SAY, SHOULD I HAVE MY MASK ON OR SHOULD I KNOW SNOT.

>> IF THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED OR EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT.

>> EVEN IF THEY AREN'T, WE'RE IN A REALLY COMPLICATED PHASE ON THE MASK PART.

WHAT IS NOT COMPLICATED IS, WE NEED GET TO SHOTS IN ARMS.

EVERY AMERICAN WHO IS ELIGIBLE NEEDS TO DO THAT.

WE NEED THOUGH CONTINUE TO SAY TO THEM, THIS IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND SAFE, AND, DO IT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR, IF NOT FOR YOURSELF.

DO IT FOR YOUR FAMILY, IF NOT - IF NOT FOR YOURSELF.

>> YOU STILL WEAR A MASK.

>> DEPENDS ON WHERE I AM.

YOU KNOW, DEPENDS ON WHERE I AM.

>> SURE.

SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS BEFORE OUR TIME RUNS OUT.

I SURE WISH WE HAD MORE TIME AND WE'LL HAVE TO REVISIT WITH YOU AGAIN, PRESIDENT TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID ON MANY OCCASIONS, THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THERE NEEDS BE DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE.

HE HAS CONFIDENCE THAT IN 2022, REPUBLICANS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE GRIP THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO STILL HAVE ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> >> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT I HAVE BEEN ELECTED LEADER 8 TIMES WITHOUT OPPOSITION OF MY PARTY IN THE SENATE.

THE STRONG SUPPORT THAT I ENJOY.

I THINK THAT, THE BEST THING FOR A REPUBLICAN TO DO, GOING FORWARD, IS TO FOCUS ON THE NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND WHERE IT IS TRYING TO TAKE THE COUNTRY.

WHAT '22 OUGHT TO BE IS A REFERENDUM AND OFTEN IT IS, ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

AND FREQUENTLY, IT IS NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARTY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

BILL CLINTON LOST THE HOUSE AND SENATE TWO YEARS IN.

BARACK OBAMA LOST THE HOUSE AND LAST ALMOST THE SENATE TWO YEARS IN, DONALD TRUMP LOST THE HOUSE TWO YEARS IN.

FREQUENTLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF BUYER'S REMORSE TWO YEARS IN.

SO, I THINK THAT THE '22 ELECTION IS NOT GROWING TO BE ABOUT WHAT REPUBLICANS MAY BE SAYING ABOUT EACH OTHER BUT RATHER, HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>> YOU HAVE SAID THAT SENATOR TIM SCOTT WHO I KNOW IS A GOOD FRIEND OF YOURS IS REPRESENTING THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

NOT DONALD TRUMP.

BUT, YOU DID SAY, A WHILE BACK, THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT THE GOP WHITE HOUSE NOMINEE IN 2024.

IF IT WAS STILL DONALD TRUMP, DO YOU STILL FEEL THAT WAY AND WHY?

>> AS THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE SENATE, I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

YEAH.

I WILL.

BUT, I DO THINK IT IS GOING BE A CONTESTED RACE.

I HAVE AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR MEMBERS AND I'M NOT SURE WHETHER TIM IS ONE OF THEM, WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN '24.

MOST OF US ARE FOCUSED ON '22, AND, SEEING WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN.

>> TIM SCOTT IS NOT JUST A RISING STAR ANY MORE, HE'S A STAR IN YOUR EYES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHY?

>> HE'S A REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL.

IT IS VERY, VERY HARD TO BE A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR ALL-STAR IN KENTUCKY, IN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON AND IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF COURAGE TO DEAL WITH THE PEER PRESSURE, THAT IS PUT ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES.

I ADMIRE THEM BOTH GREATLY.

>> THAT IS A GOOD SEGUE TO THIS NEXT TOPIC ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY WHICH WE WON'T USE THAT TERM FROM THIS POINT ON IN SYSTEMIC RACISM AND WHAT'S BEEN THE FLASH POINT OF RECENT.

1619, THE YEAR THAT AFRICANS WERE BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY AND IT IS ALSO THE TITLE OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES" PIECE ENTERPRISE THAT RETRACES THE ORIGINS AND CONSEQUENCES OF SLAVERY ON THIS COUNTRY.

AND IT HAS BECOME A CULTURAL FLASH POINT.

DAYS BEFORE THIS RECORDING, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT, THAT THE 1619 DATE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

AND I WANT YOU TO CLARIFY OR EXPOUND ON THAT ISSUE AND WHY, WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO -- >> AMERICA'S ORIGINAL SIN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE KEY DATES IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 1776, DEIDRERATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 1787, THE CONSTITUTION, THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865, 1964, THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL OF A 1964, VOTING RIGHTS BILL OF 1965, MANY OF THOSE HAVE TO DO WITH TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR ORIGINAL SIN.

TO GET PAST IT.

TO GET BETTER.

AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE DATES THAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.

AND AGAIN I LOOKED AT PEOPLE LIKE TIM SCOTT AND DANIEL CAMERON MUCH BETTER ABLE TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF OBSERVATIONS THAN I AM.

>> AND I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT PARTICULAR POINT.

ALTHOUGH THAT DANIEL CAMERON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SENATOR TIM SCOTT HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR PHILOSOPHIES ON SYSTEMIC RACISM, MAYBE A LOT OF MINORITIES, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, PARTICULAR, DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT PHILOSOPHY SO IS THERE ROOM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE PHILOSOPHIES THAT TIM SCOTT AND DANIEL CAMERON HOLD WHEN IT COMES TO SYSTEMIC RACISM?

>> WE HAVE A BIGGER TENT THAN YOU THINK.

TAKE THE NEW FRESHMAN CLASS OF REPUBLICANS IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE WOMEN AND MINORITIES, INCLUDING TWO KOREAN AMERICAN REPUBLICANS FROM ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA, AND A NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FROM FLORIDA, AND, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BIG T TENT, AND IN TERMS OF FUNDAMENT 58 ISSUE THAT YOU RAISED I WANTED TO ASSOCIATE BY SELF WITH THE VIEWS OF SCOTT AND CAMERON.

>> THE 1619 PROJECT AND I DON'T WANT TO HANG TOO MUCH ON THAT BUT IS IT ABOUT THE DATE IN PARTICULAR OR IS IT ABOUT WHETHESYSTEMIC RACISM SHOULD BET PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU SENT A LETTER ALONG WITH OTHER REPUBLICANS URGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOT TO PROCEED WITH PRIORITIZING THIS IN THE TEACHING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO, I'M JUST QUARANTINE USE ABOUT W -- I'M INJURES CURIOUS ABOUT IS THE REAL OBJECTION TO.

>> THE ONLY OBJECTION THAT I HAVE IS WE ALL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT ABOUT THE NATURE OF OUR ORIGINAL SIN.

AND THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO TRY TO GET PAST IT.

ALL OF WHICH IS IMPORTANT PART OF ANY OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

AND MOST HISTORIANS, NOT ME, MOST HISTORIANS OF ALL PHILOSOPHICAL PERSUASIONS HAVE COMPLETELY TRASHED THE NEW YORK TIMES' SUGGESTION.

SO IT IS NOT -- THIS NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE.

AND I THINK THAT, A BETTER JOB IS TO STICK TO THE TRADITIONAL VIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COUNTRY, AND HOW WE HAVE TRIED TO IMPROVE AND TO IMPROVE AND IMPROVE, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH REGARD TO RACE OVER THE YEARS.

>> THE TENSIONS OVER THIS ISSUE, OF COURSE, ARE HEIGHTENED BECAUSE AMERICA IS HAVING THIS RECKONING WITH RACE.

BECAUSE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE, THE POLICE BRUTALITY CASES AND EVEN IN YOUR HOMETOWN.

SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE THE SENTIMENT AND MAYBE RIGHTEOUS ANGER IS COMING FROM, FROM THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE, YOU'RE DENYING THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AND THE ANCESTRAL HERITAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO WERE ENSLAVED.

>> UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WAS HERE IN THE '60s AND I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER OTHER PERIODS OF RACIAL TENSIONS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY.

AND WE HAVE ALWAYS MANAGED TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH IT, AND, EACH GENERATION GETS BETTER THAN THE LAST.

>> SPEAKING OF TIM SCOTT, HE'S LIKE A COMMON THREAD THROUGHOUT THIS.

BUT, I WANT TO SEGUE NOW IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES HERE, POLICING IN AMERICA.

AND THIS IS A TOPIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

THE FUTURE OF THAT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP WHO IS WORKING ON POLICING, POLICE REFORMS, ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT SOMETHING WILL COME TO BEAR THERE?

>> WELL, I HOPE SO.

TIM HAD AUTHORED A BILL THAT I PUT ON THE FLOOR WHEN I WAS MAJORITY LEADER LAST YEAR.

A GOOD POLICE REFORM BILL.

OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS WHO NOW SEEM TO FIND THE FILIBUSTER OFFENSIVE, WERE NOT RELUCTANT TO USE IT TO KILL THAT BILL LAST YEAR.

AND THEY WOULD NOT LET US GET ON IT BUT THE TALKS CONTINUE.

TIM IS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH KAREN BASS AND THE HOUSE, COREY BOOKER IN THE SENATE TRYING TO GET TO AN OUTCOME.

AND THE FUNDAMENTAL STICKING POINT I THINK AT THE END.

THAT IS DIFFICULT, IS MR.

WHETHER POLICE OFFICERS WOULD BE INDIVIDUALLY LIABLE, CURRENTLY ARE NOT THROUGH A POLICY CALLED.

>> QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

POLICE WORK IS ESSENTIALLY, PHYSICAL.

MANY TIMES.

BREAKING UP FIGHTS, THAT SORT OF THING.

TIM IS TRYING TO FIGURE A WAY TO SQUARE THIS, BECAUSE, WE ALREADY HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF POLICE RETIREMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DIFFICULTY IN RECRUITING NEW POLICE OFFICERS.

BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO FUNCTION OR WON'T BE ABLE TO BE PROTECTED.

SO, THAT IS THE LAST REALLY CHALLENGING ISSUE.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE POLICING.

AND STILL HAVE POLICE?

I MEAN, BECAUSE I THINK THAT MOST AMERICANS THINK DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS NONSENSE.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT AS MUCH OF A -- MAYBE ON THE HARD LEFT BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

AND, SO I HOPE THAT WE GET THERE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND, CLEARLY, IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> I'M SHORT CHANGING THIS QUESTION, FEDERAL VOTING LAWS REALLY QUICK ENTRY THE FEW SECONDS REMAINING.

THERE ARE PROPOSALS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, HR-1, SR-1.

DEMOCRATS PROPOSE ELIMINATING VOTER ID REQUIREMENT, AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION AND SAME DAY VOTE REGISTRATION AND YOU'RE AGAINST THAT WHY?

>> IT IS A LOT MORE THAN, THEY WANT TO TURN THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION INTO A PARTISAN ENFORCER AND THIS IS THE UMPIRE, IF YOU WILL.

THEY WANT TO TURN IT FROM A JUDGE INTO A PROSECUTOR.

THEY WANT TO TAKE PUBLIC MONEY AND SPEND IT ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS SO THAT YOUR MONEY IS TAKEN AND SPENT ON CAMPAIGNS FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT.

IT IS A VAST FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF ALL AMERICAN ELECTIONS, IT IS A HORRIBLE BILL.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN AND MY COLLEAGUES WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO PREVENT IT.

>> AND, IT SEEMS THAT YOU ARE DOING JUST YOU WHAT SAID BECAUSE MANY ARE COMPARING YOUR VALUE ON THIS ISSUE TO YOU CHANGING THE JUDICIAL LANDSCAPE SO YOU'RE JUST AS INVESTED IN THIS ISSUE AS YOU WERE THE JUDICIARY.

>> WELL, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, THERE IS NO RATIONAL BASIS FOR HAVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER ALL OF THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

>> WELL, LEADER McCONNELL, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME WE DID NOT GET TO THE IMMIGRATION AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.

FOREIGN POLICY BUT I HOPE THAT YOU'LL ENTERTAIN AN INRYTATION PERHAPS IN THE AUGUST RECESS WE COME ON YOUR TURF AND MEET WITH YOU THERE.

>> GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTIONS."

WATCH THE THIS INTERVIEW ANY TIME ONLINE, KET.ORG/CONNECTIONS.

I SURE HOPE THAT YOU'LL REVIEW AND IT ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM AS WELL.

AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, I'M RENEE SHAW.