>> The FBI has agreed to cooperate with Texas law enforcement to locate the more than 50 lawmakers who fled the state for Illinois and New York.

The Democratic lawmakers left Austin to block an effort to redraw state congressional maps that would create 5 more Republican leaning districts per President.

Donald Trump's request.

The turmoil comes as the country looks ahead to midterm elections.

And Illinois braces for changes.

Senator Durbin steps aside after 5 terms in the U.S. Senate.

Joining us now is U.S.

Senator from Illinois, Durbin.

Senator, welcome back.

Good to have you.

Could be here.

So Texas Democrats, we know that they have been in Illinois all week attempting to thwart, as we mentioned this, a vote on redistricting measure in their home state.

You are planning to appear with him at a news conference yesterday.

But it was canceled following an alleged bomb threat which of course, evacuated their hotel in Saint Charles yesterday.

Is this the right move by Texas Democrats to leave the state?

>> Well, I can tell you they have few alternatives.

They are minority legislative setting there.

And so they have to appeal based on the rules and the rules on making a qorum require their presence.

So they are using one of the few tools have.

>> FBI director Kash Patel has granted your Senate colleague John Cornyn's request to help locate the lawmakers.

Governor Pritzker says that the FBI has no jurisdiction over this matter in Illinois.

What if the FBI does attempt to come to Illinois where New York for that matter and take lawmakers back to Texas.

>> First that comes as no surprise that Patel.

He's head of the FBI is involved in this political venture.

He came through a Senate Judiciary Committee.

I voted against He's not equipped for the job and the itself to be way too political.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas and trying to help.

He's in a red-hot primary and 15 points behind.

And so he's trying to find a way to get the headlines away from Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas by being tougher Paxton.

So he's proposed something which is Governor Pritzker said just doesn't work when it comes to state law enforcement.

We have a state we haven't called on the FBI.

They'll do their duty as required by law.

So this notion of bringing in the FBI bring in the feds, think about the National Police forces that with Donald Trump's promising us.

>> Today, Vice President JD Vance was in Indiana to discuss getting that state to redraw its own congressional maps.

There are reports that the White House is also eyeing Ohio for this same attempts to pick up more Republican seats in the House.

I mean, is is this a sip slippery if Democrats responds by redrawing their maps to increase the number of Democratic seats?

>> Not looking to do that.

agree with Governor Pritzker that he's not our intent.

We're going to be mindful of all the options.

What's at the bottom of this with what is base of this?

The basement is that Donald Trump realizes what he's done so far.

His legislative agenda is wildly unpopular and he's facing an election contest in just a few months as candidates are being chosen filing for office, he's trying to buy insurance policy, go to the friendly Can find and up the number in the Republican majorities.

So it's easier for him to hang on to Congress.

I don't think it's going to work, but I'll tell you, I understand sentiment that Governor Pritzker expresses.

We're not going to sit here and be taken for This notion that we're going to follow law and follow the traditions President Trump is throwing out the window was unacceptable.

What makes you feel confident that won't work?

The one that that President Trump's attempt to redraw maps in red states to pick up more seats in the House that this effort work.

I'm not sure it will.

I don't know one way or the other, of course, will rule and they'll be ruling initially.

>> On a state-by-state basis with some pretty friendly courts.

>> 14 of the 17 House members from Illinois are Democrats.

That means Republicans make up just under 18% of the Illinois delegation.

Trump won nearly 44% of the vote in Illinois.

Are Democrats in Illinois just as guilty of redrawing the maps to their benefit is they're accusing Texans of being wherever you drop.

And certainly I have to meet certain standards.

If you're discriminating against groups, denying them their vote for their vote.

Counting.

>> That can stop a map and it has many, many states.

We've passed that test and it's an indication of a good, good faith effort our part.

But let me be candid with you.

It is a partisan process in our state and all but other look, the other states are about 8 of them were isn't.

So the question is when we were going to wave the white flag and we're going to an independent commission.

But all the red states can continue Jews, political maps.

I wouldn't support So you feel like it needs to happen in both red and blue states do is going to I would certainly support a national basis but declaring surrender this point give us a disadvantage.

Several weeks ago, the Senate confirmed Emil Bows appointment to the federal appeals court.

He is a former defense attorney for President Trump.

>> He has limited to no experience with federal courts.

He has been supportive of the January writers who have been pardoned by the president.

Yet your Senate colleagues confirmed him only to members of the Republican Party voted with Democrats to vote against him.

Can true bipartisanship exist when proving judicial appointees and nominees so rare now it used to be.

>> most egregious cases you could hope to cut the someone bipartisan.

>> But majority against an 11 year for nominee.

That's not the case so much anymore.

And part of it is the loyalty of the Republican senators to the model leadership and the Republican Party.

Part of it is their own personal fear that they're going to be defeated in a primary election if they vote against President Trump.

You put that all together and we don't very many victories to show this year when it comes to nominations.

>> Today, turning to the Middle Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he intends to seize full control of Gaza.

You and over half of the Senate Democrats who voted in favor of stopping the U.S. from continuing to send weapons to Israel.

What is your reaction to what the prime minister said today?

I believe in Israel.

I believe it is a right to exist and defend itself.

And that's been my position throughout my career.

>> What we're seeing in Gaza is horrific, unacceptable and violates the rules of war.

As far as I'm concerned, using starvation as a weapon of war is against little.

Rule of law.

And I think we should be vocal in opposing Netanyahu's effort.

This notion that he's going to control Gaza at what cost and what credibility.

The bottom line is that people with the people in this situation, the Palestinians should have their own secure, a safer homeland.

As long as it's no threat to Israel do believe genocide is happening here.

And guys, I wouldn't use that word and I'm not going to categorization of that kind.

I will tell horrific, unacceptable.

The United States should make that clear.

Is there a compromise to be reached here and what what I think there is, but this battle has been going on for decades and won't be easily resolve.

But the notion of a cease-fire in the release of hostages is important first step.

Get that then see what it takes to move to the next step.

I believe other Arab states will step in at that point.

Joining the effort.

>> Of course, we've talked a lot recent months about the president's passage of the so-called one big beautiful bill, which does a number of things, of course, because it is massive.

But how do you think this bill will play with voters in the 2026 election?

Well, I'm saying and how it's playing out this month.

>> As I come back home with their August recess and check on One of the major issues, the major issues, health care and the belief that the president's big, beautiful budget, it a disaster when it came to health care.

To think that 15 million Americans are going to lose their health insurance to think that the cost medical care and health insurance, he's going to go up for so many others.

We're going to lose.

Hospitals were going to lose clinics in the process.

The nursing homes are going to be unable to stay open.

This is going to be a disaster.

And what is it for?

It's about this for generating enough money to him continue the Trump tax cuts for the wealthiest people in this country.

That is just unacceptable.

I have had more hospital administrators the last several weeks from all over the state, including the city Chicago in contact with us and desperation because of the so-called big beautiful bill.

>> It is past us law.

The president who signed it, of course, is there anything that can be done legislatively or even on a state-by-state level to mitigate the impact?

The steepest in level becomes impractical.

The burden according to Trump should follow the governor's and this governor struggling to make ends meet dealing with pension crises.

>> And other things, I think it's unlikely to believe that the governors can bail out the Trump from this personally.

The bottom line is this.

We're going to lose good hospitals around the state and are in the city Chicago and surrounding areas and people are going to be denied health care.

As a consequence, we're going to find ourselves with a lot of sick people.

>> Along with federal cuts to Medicaid and snap, of the administration is also move forward as it did last month with cutting 1.1 billion dollars from the corporation for Public Broadcasting, which announced its plans to close down last week.

Of course, as a result, you said that Trump is declaring an attack on public media.

What impact you think that will have on public media and on democracy?

Well, I think it would have a negative impact the bottom line.

Is this.

>> We need more independent voices speaking to the American people.

look at the surveys and very few people are coming to televisions and radios as they once did for the news.

have other services may be reliable.

May not.

I think her operation for public broadcasting is proving itself reliable over the years.

I don't believe partisan.

Perhaps the other side does.

But to say that we're going to quiet voice and give fewer options for information to the American people.

He's just plain wrong.

It tells that this president is not prepared to take the kind of criticism ordinarily comes with the office.

He drew the shutdown, the opposition.

>> shifting a little bit environmental issues.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, it's up for reauthorization.

You've been a champion, of course, of the Great Lakes, the hasn't passed through the House yet.

What happens if these funds should dry out?

>> I'm afraid a lot of projects that are being pursued in order to keep the Great and environmental safe area.

We'll be at risk.

Definitely a risk.

This program started under President Obama and we have used it wisely.

I think this is an extraordinary asset, then ask the people of Chicago of many years ago.

What is the one thing that distinguishes city from Seoul from all others.

And they said Lake Michigan, they understand it.

I think we do to intuitively this is resources.

Give to watch.

And this program is designed to do just that.

This idea that we're going to stop environmental sensitivity is just plain wrong.

>> Do you think the system of checks and balances still at work in the country's government?

>> It is but narrowly.

When you look at the Constitution and see in the extreme, what is area to hold back the president of states and then the extreme situation where it's a court order from the Supreme Court that said Mister President, this is what you must This is something you can too.

And then the question he defies so that could follow.

He's been tempting us with that kind conduct leading up to this point.

But that is what's at stake here.

And we never take never tested that.

history.

What happens do.

And I would you enforce a Supreme Court order?

president, the United States.

So I'm not going to follow.

We've never quite faces.

hope we don't eyes open.

>> So you announced your retirement earlier this year.

What led you to that decision after nearly 30 years?

>> Well, I've served longer as an elected U.S. senator Illinois than anyone history.

I'm honored to have that opportunity.

And secondly, a real us no matter what area specialties in Congress, particularly the Senate after a period of time, one of the majors becomes geriatrics.

You notice age takes its toll on many people.

I want to walk out the front door this job rather than being carried out the back door.

I think this is a time to do it.

>> long-serving representatives chance Koski, Danny Davis, they have also recently announced their plans to retire.

Do you think it's time for a newer, younger generation and what it what do you say to them?

The voters make that decision.

When people say to me when you're 80 years old, you know, to get the out of their turban.

>> I said, you Bernie Sanders is the man who's drawing large crowds in history for his rallies.

>> His 83 and I keep saying to him see when Senate floor you've been in that stumble and fall, buddy, because I keep using it as an example, someone older than me.

I'm making a great contribution.

So with the voters to side with take a look at each candidate.

Decide if it's time.

>> lot of conversation about whether or not the Democratic Party has lost its way, whether or not the voters still have confidence in the party.

What do you think the party should be telling voters right now?

Well, I think we've got to define yourself more clearly and it could a miscue, constructive.

>> It's saying to a step up and tell us what you believe in.

Tell us what you're gonna fight for and will decide if consistent with our family's values.

That's a reasonable question.

Any campaign and this we have miss a tuition.

We have a president with his own agenda which is not popular.

So I think we're in a position to move forward as a party to define our goals clearly and to identify with the voters for majority, which of those goals be, which are the priorities start with the pocketbook of voters.

This notion that we're going to raise the cost of health care across the board.

The Costa Health insurance, his inconsistent with people feel about their economic circumstances.

Secondly, learned as I moved around the state around the city, I hear over and over again about housing, important it is to have affordable difficult that is.

That's something that issue that we see over and over again.

And finally, as I mentioned, health care, this is an issue that affects every single one of us.

>> You've said that you're still more that you want to accomplish as a You've got 17 months left.

Would you say that those priorities match what you would like to focus on in the 17 months or are there others?

I would say those are important priorities for me personally.

>> It's the hundreds of thousands of young people who've been protected by Dhaka and the Dream Act who been given a chance to stay in the United States, educated and to contribute to our economy, a remarkable job.

They deserve an opportunity to be citizens.

They were brought to the United States has little kids did make the decision given chance to prove themselves.

And I worry that and 17 months it will be able to get that.

I hope we can.

>> You have not endorsed any of the 3 Democratic candidates who have announced plans to run for your seat.

Your colleague Tim worked ductwork excuse me has already endorsed Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton what are you looking for in a successor and you still intend to not to endorse?

I don't plan sing.

We have 3 good candidates.

Maybe others surface in the.

>> That is ahead.

But the bottom line is anyone 3 can do this job.

If something pops up in the campaign that I think is noteworthy, I might reconsider this.

But for the time being of a stand on the sidelines for the series.

>> As a voter as a as someone who has held the seat for quite sometime.

What what are you looking for?

Who?

does it take to be the senator of Illinois?

I was somebody recognizes representing just Chicago as great as a city may be.

>> It's a big state.

102 counties engage in south into southern Illinois.

And take a look around.

It's a little different than the city Chicago, but they're great people.

Some of the voter way.

Some don't make sure that your statewide candidate.

Okay.

Us Senator from Illinois, Durbin,