We're back with overtime with Congressman Debbie Dingell down in Washington.

Congressperson, let's talk about this US Senate race.

Do you have a candidate?

I have not endorsed yet in this candidate in this race, but I probably will down the road.

If there was a candidate that was running for the Democratic nomination and he or she had a relationship with Toyota ten years ago.

In this current climate, would that be a political liability?

I think that person would have to explain why she was doing it.

I myself just learned of this recently.

So, yes, but lots of people do lots of things in their life.

Times change, but they're going to have to have they're going to have to explain why.

Well, the Hill Harper campaign explains it this way.

He's in the entertainment business and entertainers do commercials, and that's how they make their money.

And they believe people will understand that.

Do you buy it?

I think he's going to have a lot of explaining.

I'm going to be very candid.

And in your mind, you're thinking of Jack Lousma and Carl Levin aren't you?

Yes.

Does that issue still have the potency?

You think that it did then?

I mean, so many, you know, the big three, they make cars in China, in Mexico, abroad.

There are you know, Toyota has factories in the United States.

Is it as flash point an issue as it once was?

You know, no.

I think it's complicated for someone like me.

I will only buy UAW, make car.

I only cover UAW car for rent a about UAW car.

Toyota has an R&D center in my district.

Honda has an R&D center just dedicated to safety center.

So and so I think people do look at things differently.

But I think right now, in particular, as, I mean, I believe in the right to unionize, I think every last one of us sitting at this table is better off because of what the unions negotiated in terms of your benefits.

A 40 hour workweek, sick days, holidays, safe working conditions.

All of us have that because a union negotiated it.

I think someone like me understands it better because I've actually seen times when there were a lot of things that weren't there that a lot of people take for granted now.

Congressman.

Yeah, I'll say this.

The reactions generational as well.

Congresswoman, looking ahead to the general election next year, former Congressman Mike Rogers, who served seven terms in the U.S. House.

I think just before you if he became the Republican nominee next year, he's got to get through a primary.

But if he's the nominee, is he a formidable opponent for the Democrats?

Or you think the Democrats are in the catbird seat next year to win the Senate like they have done ad nauseum going back in time?

Let me be very clear and I repeatedly say this Michigan is not a blue state.

Michigan is a purple state.

And I believe the president election in Michigan will be competitive.

And I believe the Senate seat depends who wins the the Republican primary.

They appear to have a lot of success self-destructing.

Peter Myers also talking about getting in that primary and he would be a formidable candidate.

And I actually think one or two others might be a formidable candidate.

I believe the United States Senate race will be a competitive seat.

Nobody can take it for granted in the presidential campaigns going to impact the Senate seat.

Let's assume for the moment the presidential race is President Biden against President Trump and it's a rematch of 2020.

What worries you going into that election year in 2020?

The suburbs.

Oakland County.

Kent County, Western.

Wayne, the University counties put Joe Biden over the top.

Unlike what happened in 2016, do you feel confident history will repeat itself in 24, or what changes do you think could be a concern for Biden in Michigan?

So I'm going to be very clear.

It's going to be about the work we do and the votes we turn out.

And the fact of the matter is, you all know, I told all of you in 215 to 16, I think Jimmy may tell me I was nuts then, that I thought that Donald Trump could win Michigan.

People are listening to me now when I say we need to take this issue seriously.

Back then I was in the Union House and I heard you talking about trade and Democrats did a terrible job about talking about trade.

He didn't deliver on his promises, but he understood their fear and anxiety.

He's doing a good job right now of trying to play to union voters fears about electric vehicles.

We're going to tell the truth.

We're going to make sure that we are telling everybody about his anti-union work, his anti-union efforts, promises made and not kept.

In addition to that, he's now trying to change his position on choice.

We're going to remind people about who he is and what was on the ballot last time.

But we're going to have to do a good job at talking about the issues, making the contrast and turning out the votes.

And that's what the election's going to come down to.

When you take the union aspect out of the EV situation, though, is that is there a potential here for Michigan to be a loser if this turns into a referendum on EVs in the presidential election?

We've got to talk about why it's not either or and both.

Certainly, the Republicans are trying to make it a wedge issue.

That's what Donald Trump did in 215 to 16 and we didn't fight back.

You're talking to a woman who is going to fight back and I'm going to start with a man who says electric vehicles are going to be made 100% in China using fighting to make American competitive, Michigan competitive are fighting for the American worker.

I heard the Republicans being unfair by trying to make an age issue vis a vis the presidency.

And Mr. Biden.

Won.

How old is Donald Trump?

So, you know, they're going to take every issue that they can try to use to try to win their election.

And we're going to tell the truth and get the facts out there and remind voters what's at stake.

This, you know, every year we say this election, most important election of our lifetime.

And unfortunately, it seems to be escalating every four years.

Democracy is going to be on the ballot again next year.

So here's America's age.

It's not an issue for you.

Look, I know Joe Biden.

You know that.

You know, I've known him for he's been a close friend.

You know, he did John's eulogy.

He when I got sworn in Congress, John couldn't be there and Joe Andy over my family.

So I wouldn't be alone.

But I would not be afraid to say if I didn't think that he was okay.

I have intense discussions with this man.

I know how we feel, what he'll fight for, and he's going to have to show that.

When I see and I do see, I don't play games and I don't lie.

You all know that.

You'll have to show the American people that.

Will come out of here a sad come.

Would Kamala Harris be a good president?

She's the vice president.

We wouldn't have somebody on the ticket.

That wouldn't be a good president.

Do you know her at all?

Well, do you have confidence that she would?

So you do know her?

I don't know her.

Like I know Joe and Joe, but Joe, Joe and John and I got married at the same time.

Carmela and I have mutual girlfriends.

We've done some.

When she was in the Senate, we actually had some very personal moments and some personal stories.

And I don't get to see her enough, but she trusts me.

And I'll tell you this, she wanted to see she said to her staff, I'm not leaving Michigan until I see the whites and Debbie Dingell signs because she'll tell me the truth.

So.

Madam Congresswoman, if Mr. McCarthy, the as the speaker of the U.S. House, was sitting in your office right now, what would you tell them?

I would tell them that it is not good for this country to shut down this government, that he he's having a very difficult time.

It is a joke here in Washington right now.

I a small group of people should not be dominating in.

We could shut the United States government down, threaten our national security, not a good, hard working people that take care of so many things that all of us take for granted from Social Security, Medicare, TSA, air traffic controllers.

And I go, if it's not ludicrous, I would support his efforts to keep the government open.

Would you tell him to tell the Freedom Caucus to take a hike?

Yeah, I would.

If he said, if you'll give me some votes to back me up, I'll do it.

What would you do?

You know, we've had a lot of discussions.

I think if you bring a sane continuing resolution bill to the floor, which there are efforts to do it, it will be like it was when we raise the debt ceiling.

So but you got to bring something that sane to the floor.

And what they're doing right now is not.

But thankfully, I don't normally say anything good about the United States Senate.

John Dingell trained me well, but I think the United States, Mitch McConnell has said that this is irresponsible and that we've got to keep the government going.

So we're going to have a lot of drama in the next week.

30 seconds.

Governor Whitmer has clearly made an effort to cultivate some national attention.

You're in Washington a lot.

Do you think it's resonating?

Is the the coasts of America picking up on what Governor Whitmer is doing?

And does that give her a shot at national office?

Look, Governor Whitmer is respected by many people.

You know, she's one of my dearest friends.

I get many people talking to me about her.

She is one of Joe Biden's co-chairs.

But I know how she is respected by California.

Speaker Pelosi has a great deal of respect.

Hakeem Jeffries has a great deal of respect.

And we'll see what lies in the future.

And I don't think any of us know.

Miss Dingell, did you have fun?

Sure.

I love being grilled by the floor of.

Maybe you could be her running mate, yes or no?

No, thanks.

You know what I've learned?

I like being exactly who I am.

I say what I think.

I say what I want.

I swear too much because I've been in, you know, too much lately.

But I you know, there's something to be said.

You just say what you think.

There's Dingell.

Thank you so much.

It's good to see you again.

I love you guys.

Thank you.

Even Bill Ballenger, who can age me later.