What forced Tennessee’s lone Democratic congressman to call it quits? | CUOMO Full Show

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]All right. So, Chris Cuomo here and I say happy Friday. Headlines trumpet huge deals with China, but the more you and look, that's good. I hope they're great deals for the American worker, for American farmers, for us uh from a security perspective. That would be great. Okay. My concern is that the more I look, the less I see major wins. And that's assuming that what the president is telling us is accurate. And my real concern is that what I believe matters most to all of us is nowhere in the deal. I'll explain. Claim one is China is to buy doubledigit billions worth of our agriculture. Now, soybeans are America's biggest export to China. The problem is China promising is different than actually purchasing. China promised to buy $200 billion more of US exports during the last trade war. They ended up buying none. Do you understand? Promised 200 billion, 10 times what they're promising now. Bought none. Why? Co co was a big deal. Was a gamecher. Okay.

[00:01:07]But they also stopped buying altogether after the tariffs. Okay. And that really hurt farmers most recently. So farmers need a boost just to get back to where they were before the tariffs. and farmers may still be stressed because of higher diesel and fertilizer prices from this administration's policies. Next, 200 of our Boeing jets, great, but less than half what the market was expecting and less than the 300 jets Trump got China to buy in the first term. The most interesting one, not just from a trade, but from a power perspective, is the president's claim, and again, I got to put it that way because I don't know that it's true. I mean, that's where we are. Sorry, ch not sorry. China will buy more US oil. This would be great. We don't know the details. We don't know if it really will happen, but it would be great leverage if it does. Now, what has not been agreed to, in my opinion, matters most. Iran, Taiwan, they rhyme because they go together. There was no breakthrough on a USChinese plan to get the regime to stop blocking the straight of Hormuz. that mattered most. We don't need China to be our main trade partner.

[00:02:22]It is much better for us if they are not. We do need them to help get out of that basswards situation against the regime.

[00:02:31]The Chinese also didn't even promise to stop giving the regime weapons or to help with Russia, which is giving the regime targeting information. And then there is my new obsession, which should have been always my obsession. Okay? If you care about national security, if you care about the future for your kids or the best bridge over our affordability issues, demand attention to Taiwan. And on this most important issue, this trip seems to have been a step sideways at best. The White House readout of the two leaders meeting doesn't even mention the word Taiwan, but it was discussed. Bet on that because the Chinese have it front and center. If America wants anything, I guarantee you whatever they think they gave in these d deals of buying this or buying that means nothing to them compared to this. Taiwan is the only issue where President Trump gets shy, where he actually says, "I don't want to talk about that." But the reporting reveals he did talk about it and made some major concessions. First, he reportedly told the Chinese he would not help Taiwan right now with their defense even though Congress already approved an aid package. And listen for yourself to the president's explanation for his position on Taiwan.

[00:03:54]>> What about the arm sales?

[00:03:56]>> Uh I'll make a determination. We discussed arm sales uh too.

[00:04:01]>> And what's his request?

[00:04:02]>> We'll discuss the Taiwan, you know, the whole thing with the arm sales. It was in great detail actually. And I'll be making decisions. But you know, I think the last thing we need right now is a war that's 9,500 miles away. I think that's the last thing we need.

[00:04:22]>> Wow.

[00:04:24]Now, look, you tell me. I'm not sure if the president has a weaker grasp of geography or geopolitics. Iran is farther away than Taiwan. Taiwan is not 9,000 miles away, maybe 7,000 at most.

[00:04:39]But the idea that when it comes to Taiwan, the president is shy about unnecessary conflict when he just started an unnecessary conflict on an illegitimate basis of imminent threat in Iran. It is too ironic to have been well thought out. And I have to tell you, the regime in Iran was not weeks away from a nuclear weapon. Okay, that is our best reporting. And they don't have the intelligence agencies countering that reporting. Very important. And you know, Trump would, right?

[00:05:10]They do not ex uh present any kind of threat compared to the threat of Taiwan.

[00:05:17]Not that they're going to attack us, but because of our dependency on what we need most. and they have it. The most concerning sign of a potential lack of leverage is the president reportedly offering China access to our company's high-end AI chips. Now, some will tell you this is a power play to get China more dependent on us. I believe it's just as easily a move to mllify China so that they don't get more aggressive about Taiwan. Either way, China read the play and said, "No thanks. We'll use our own chips." One, that means Taiwan matters more than anything we can do to accommodate them. And two, that their tech is getting better and we're losing the economic leverage that's stopping China from taking Taiwan. Remember, one company in Taiwan manufactures over 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips. Why? Because we suck. And why do we suck? Because we let these big companies think about their profits first and where they could do things the cheapest for them. and it screwed us and that has to end chips that literally go into everything. If China just blockades Taiwan like how Iran is blocking the straight, the economic damage would be worse than the 2008 financial crisis and the coid9 pandemic combined. Yet Trump says nothing about what to do. Democrats don't jump on this. The key to the midterms is affordability. Getting ahead of this issue is the key to affordability.

[00:06:47]I guess scandal is just easier than just saying that the other side is worse without having any idea for how to make us better. Especially when our big problem here is purchasing power from highpaying jobs for high-paying jobs.

[00:07:00]That's that's a big part of the affordability crisis. Where are the plans to have American companies making chips in the critical infra and the critical infrastructure of the fastcoming AI economy? Here. We allowed these gluttonous tech bros to stop making chips and outsource just for their own margins. Now it's a national security emergency and their profit margins don't have to come first. Okay?

[00:07:27]We used your and my money to buy a 10% stake in Intel. Why? Because they make chips that are fundamental to our national security. It is time that these big corporations stop coming first. So, the president says to Fox News, without push back, of course, that he wants American companies making 40% of the chips that are now almost entirely made in Taiwan off the coast of China by the end of his administration. 40%. Where's that come from? I have a buddy who loves to say, you know, 80% of all statistics are made up on the spot. Where does he get 40%. Where's his plan for that?

[00:07:59]Look, he doesn't have one. If the Democrats were smart, they'd get one.

[00:08:03]They will jump on this issue as a way to bridge the affordability problems, the national security issue when it comes to AI, which is looming, right? It's everything. I don't know why the president doesn't seize this opportunity, but he hasn't. And now it is there for the taking and the time to do it is now. So, let us discuss the perception of this state of play with both sides. First, Democratic member of Congress Ro Kana represents Silicon Valley. Top Dem on the House Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party. Ro, thank you for joining me on a Friday night.

[00:08:42]>> Good evening, Chris.

[00:08:45]What's your take on uh the suggestions of what was accomplished?

[00:08:51]>> Well, first of all, you're spot on when it comes to chips. This is why I was a co-author of the chips act with Todd Young that President Biden signed to have investment in domestic manufacturing and we should be expanding that. We should be giving a tax credit uh to companies that are buying American chips and we should have self-reliance on chips. It was a colossal mistake to offshore it. Second, uh President Trump was way too confusing when it comes to Taiwan. He needed to be very clear when Xiinping said uh don't stand in my way on Taiwan. He should have said we affirm the one China policy. But let me be clear, Mr. Xiinping, if you are going to use military force, the United States under the Taiwan relations act will support Taiwan and that's not going to be tolerated. And by the way, our supplying weapons to Taiwan uh is not your business. That has been American foreign policy set by Ronald Reagan since 1982 and followed by every president since. So I'm all for peace, but we can't abandon the commitment to Taiwan and signal to Xiinping that he could just go in there militarily.

[00:10:03]>> I don't think it's a pursuit of peace. I think we don't have the leverage and the US uh government is afraid, as it was under Biden, uh that if you push this issue, you lose. and they have those islands 500 miles southsoutheast of Taiwan now and they can just park their whole navy around it and say you know what we're not going to allow any commerce till we have a better deal just like Iran in the straight and I don't think we have a move that cancels out theirs but I'll tell you where the move exists Ro and I want your take on this I think this is the biggest opportunity for your party I I think this issue is everything I think it's a it's the way through affordability national security and the boogeyman of AI they're all related to the same thing. Where are the Democrats instead of talking about why Trump sucks this week the most? And look, I'm not saying that you're wrong when you say he's corrupt and all these other things, we we see the examples right in our face. But this is the opportunity to show people a gateway to better. Why is everybody so quiet about it?

[00:11:02]>> Well, I was in Pennsylvania meeting with glass manufacturer. I was in Ohio. I was in Michigan. and I laid out uh my plans uh and the Democratic Party plans as I want them for the industrial re renewal of America. Let's have an industrial investment bank that is helping fund modern battery plants, modern steel plants, modern auto plants, drone plants, interceptor plants in de-industrialized places. Let's have a thousand new trade schools. Let's have a thousand new tech institutes so that we're preparing our workforce for AI to help small businesses and to create jobs across this country. Let's invest in childcare and elder care jobs. I mean I called it new economic but that's not the but that's not the Roana party. Your party does not this is not I've I've heard you say this by the way. I am a student of Roana. I follow you and I tell my audience all the time, I believe you are a present and future leader in that party and maybe uh of the country overall. Uh I have you on for a reason, Ro and I appreciate you. Your party does not repeat what you are saying right now on a regular basis as often as they do many other things and I just think there's no better opportunity for you guys heading into the midterms. I mean, what else can you offer that means as much as this does? I mean, even the chips act, you brought the Taiwanese over here to make that factory. Why isn't it the tech bros making those factories?

[00:12:29]>> Yeah, because we had offshored so much of our expertise. But look, you know, Chris, what tells me that you're right.

[00:12:34]Uh, the first time that Donald Trump has ever attacked me on Truth Social all this time. It had nothing to do with Epstein. You know, Massie and I have done Epstein, nothing to do with anything else. First time he attacked me was last weekend when I was in Ohio talking about why Chinese steel is in the port of Cleveland and how we need to actually be helping the American steel industry and helping our manufacturers and building industry here. And Donald Trump went on a rant saying Kana may have more intelligence than some Democrats, but he's lying to you and I'm actually the one uh who's bringing it back. What does this show you? The guy won presidency the presidency twice, right? That wasn't an accident. It's because he diagnosed the problem that we were hollowing out industry that we shipped it offshore uh and he said he was going to bring it back. Our challenge as a party is to say, you know what, Donald Trump was right. You got shafted. We have a better vision to how to actually have the industrial revolution renewal of this country and then let's compare the plans and we we'll submit our plans uh which we think are better than Trump's and that's why Trump reacted. And so he's telling you his weakness.

[00:13:42]>> Uh Ro, I think you're making the right case. I look forward to seeing it echoed. Thank you very much for joining me tonight.

[00:13:49]>> Appreciate you.

[00:13:51]>> All right, Ro Connor, Democrat, California. All right, let's get the other side. Tennessee member of Congress, member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Chuck Fleshman. Chuck, it's good to have you.

[00:14:02]Uh one quick uh step sideways. How do you feel about Steve Cohen, uh, your fellow, uh, Tennessian, saying, "I'm going to resign because I can't win with the way, uh, my district was just gerrymandered." Uh, do you think that's the right way for members of Congress to go out?

[00:14:19]>> Well, I think it's the only way that he could go out. There was another member by the name of Jim Cooper from Nashville. uh he served for years, but once the playing field had been marketkedly changed, um Chris, the reality is a Democrat cannot win in the newly drawn 9inth district. So, um that had to be Steven Cohen's choice.

[00:14:40]Sometimes members choose to stand and fight. We've had some other very fine Republican members in states that were drafted uh by blue governors and the like to basically box them out of their districts. They choose they too have chosen not to do that. So I respect his decision Tennessee will be 90 Republican. Um the it's clear in addition to that the federal court denied the Democrats request for an injunction the other day. So it's not over yet but it is just about over. And I will say the United States Supreme Court denied tonight Virginia's uh Democrats ask to overdo their Supreme Court's decision. So a great week for Republicans. I'm not going to criticize Stephen uh because other members have done that like Jim Cooper in Nashville and those districts are solid Republican now.

[00:15:33]>> Well, criticizing him would be a lot less damaging than what gerrymandering does. Uh you're right. It is a good week for Republicans, but isn't it a bad week for democracy? And when Democrats get seats by redrawing, isn't it a good week for Democrats, but a bad week for democracy? Do you really believe Jerry mandering is what the founding fathers wanted?

[00:15:52]>> Years >> and well, I know that it sucks for years >> and it and it does. It's wrong. But the reality is we are seeing a very clear divide in this country. Uh I grew up in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. I could not get elected in any of those jurisdictions. Thank God at age 20 I came down and was accepted law school at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and I basically built a law career. But the reality is uh our country is is very polarized red and blue. There are very few seats. If you when you talk and you talk very well about what's going to happen in the midterms and like as you predict it, there's really only about 36 seats of the 435 that are really in play and >> impact of redistric. That's because of gerrymandering, but that's because of redistricting over the years. That's why it is that way. How else can you explain, Chuck, that you guys have under 30% approval and 95% seat retention?

[00:16:48]>> Where else does that exist?

[00:16:50]>> That's that's part of the equation. The reality is there are very different views. I've traveled all over this great country. I've grown up all over this great country. Uh have members of of family all over this great country.

[00:17:03]There are very different views on fundamental issues facing our country.

[00:17:08]Now, I remember a time when my mother was a new New Deal Democrat from the Bronx. My dad was an Eisenhower Republican from Queens. They could agree on things, but the divide, the ethos, the ideological divide in this country has gone the other way. Uh I think, and this is where I applaud Donald Trump.

[00:17:26]We've been talking and and you spoke with Ro about that by him standing up for the American worker. I mean, I thought I thought that Donald Trump when he came in was was was talking well about it. He has stood for the American worker union and nonworker union and non-union time and time again. I've never seen our great Republican party do that in my lifetime. He's transformed our party. I walk into factories in East Tennessee, all over our great state, and these men and women say, "Where were you on Donald Trump? He fights for us." So, I want to see Republicans and Democrats do what I'm doing, standing for American workers and and bring back manufacturing. I think we've got that issue. You called that earlier. That could be the Clarion's call to really keeping America great and making this even greater.

[00:18:15]>> Well, I agree that it is the Clarion call. We have lost manufacturing jobs during this president's administration and he did not bring them back in his first administration the way he promised. But you are right. He was very good at diagnosing what is wrong for the American worker and why they are disaffected and they want disruption of the norms. The issue that will now I do disagree with you about the divide. I believe the divide is manufactured for the benefit of the two parties. 70 to 80% of Americans or more agree on most things that matter most. So I think the majority of this country wants the same things. It's the parties that benefit from disadvantage and fighting against who is worse. But that's a political discussion. Here's the policy that knits us all together.

[00:18:58]We have to stop having Taiwan make 90 plus% of the chips. And the only thing we have going on here right now, they want a trillion and a half for defense.

[00:19:10]We're the fourth country in investing in making semiconductor chips. That's got to change. It's the key to affordability and the key to national security. Trump doesn't really talk about it and the Republicans don't really talk about it.

[00:19:22]Why? What matters more?

[00:19:25]Once again, it's part of the key to affordability. There are so many things that go into affordability. You mentioned I was on the science committee. My real day job is I'm chairman of the energy and water subcommittee of appropriations. I'm a cardinal on appropriations. That's what I do. I take those scarce resources and discretionary spending and I put them in the right places. I want to see abundant affordable energy for all Americans.

[00:19:47]That's part of it. I want to see education. I want to see our skilled trade workers be be basically treated with the great respect that somebody like I was because I was good with a book stand up and say it's great you're a plumber or an electrician and come on in and get a part of that great American dream. I'm I'm just so full of optimism about it. But yes, chips are very important. We are going to see chips come back to to Arizona, but it takes time. There have been decades of malaise and send >> Biden did that and Trump wanted to cancel it. And now he's saying he wants 40% of chips made here, but he doesn't have a plan for it.

[00:20:26]>> Well, we take baby steps. The reality is though, they are in Taiwan right now.

[00:20:32]The world knows it. I think you accurately stated, God forbid, God forbid China ever move on on Taiwan.

[00:20:41]>> Yes. Well, um Well, that that's right.

[00:20:43]But I pray a lot and and I and I feel so much better about our country right now honestly under Donald Trump because our military is strong. We have showed the Chinese whether it was in Venezuela uh Iran and the like just how strong and how much better we are logistically technologically and the like. Uh China is trying to catch up. Rest assured they are moving ahead at a rapid pace. But no doubt about it the United States is the strongest greatest military in the world. And that's why >> I know, but you know, here's the problem. Look, >> we all know that the war isn't fought with bullets anymore. It's fought with chips. And they are, as I'm putting on the screen right now, they are tripling our investment in this area because they know it's our only advantage over them.

[00:21:28]I'm just saying the problem needs to be spoken about more and then we should judge this, your party, and the other one with who's got a better plan to fix it. Nothing else to me matters as much.

[00:21:39]But Chuck, you're always welcome here to make the case and thank you for doing so tonight. Chuck Fman, Tennessee Republican. Good to have you.

[00:21:46]>> Good. Yes, sir. Always a pleasure.

[00:21:48]>> All right, see you again. 4 minutes and 35 seconds. Just before the show. Yeah, big blow to Democrats. The US Supreme Court rejected Virginia's redistricting effort that would have given them five new seats. The redistricting revolution midsensus, right? mid decade when it's supposed to be after a census is proof of the perity of these parties. Jerry mandering sucks and the way to measure it should not be who's able to cheat more. But let me tell you, it's going to have casualties. Tennesseeey's only Democrat now says he has to resign because he can't win anymore. Is this the way Steve Cohen saw his career ending? And what does it mean for the future? Next.

[00:22:37]The only Democrat in the state of Tennessee as a congressional representative says, "I got to resign after nearly 20 years in Congress because I can't win with the way the district was just gerry gerrymandered." His name is Steve Cohen and he represents Tennessee's ninth district, which is a majority black district or was. And he joins us now.

[00:23:02]Steve, >> how you doing?

[00:23:06]>> Um, I'm upset by this. I think it's really bad for the democracy and I'm a fan of yours. Uh, so I don't like it.

[00:23:15]Um, and I don't get the criticism of stand and fight. Why would you fight when they change the district and there aren't enough votes for you to win? That that's that's silly. Uh, but what I just wanted to give you a couple of minutes to tell people what you think this means for the democracy. Where are we?

[00:23:32]>> Well, the House of Representatives is the people's house and theoretically people are elected from districts that are compact and have common interests and that a representative can serve because the areas and sometimes they have to be longer because of smaller population bases, but they should have districts that have things in common.

[00:23:52]What the Republicans did and the Democrats did a little bit in response is to try to get an advantage this year.

[00:23:59]Uh mid decade redistricting is almost never done. And Tennessee had a statute making it legal since 1971. The first thing they had to do was repeal that statute that had been on the books for 54 years because Donald Trump called uh the governor of Tennessee and said, "I want one more seat." And the governor complied. the governor's term limited.

[00:24:23]He didn't have a job come January. He didn't want to go back to the heating and air conditioning business. He wants to get a job from Donald Trump as an ambassador or cabinet member or agency head. And so he gets that. Trump gets another Republican who'll be a lackey that they they all get down there and genulect and uh he'll get another one of those. And maybe he won't have the oversight that he'd get if the Democrats took the House back. And and we need oversight. This is the most uh criminal behavior we've ever seen in the White House. I think you take all the criminal behavior before in the history of presidents, it doesn't equal what Donald Trump has done just in this term.

[00:24:57]>> I mean, with crypto, with investing with the Middle East, with the Saudis, uh the man is a walking he's a walking uh crime. He looks at the White House as his is his business and the government's his business and he doesn't accept any any any checks and balances.

[00:25:18]Well, Steve, I look forward I know you're not done. Uh, so I'm going to see what you're going to do. You're always going to have a platform wherever I am.

[00:25:26]Uh, and I will be in touch with you if you don't run again, and I will have you on plenty before that time comes. And I appreciate you being on tonight.

[00:25:34]>> You know, it's funny to my press conference today is the most cameras I think I've had since the Victoria incident. And and here we are again. And I got tears again.

[00:25:43]>> Well, and that too, Steve. But now you but you're crying for the right reason in both cases. You were crying about Victoria and people can look that up and remind themselves because you didn't want to see her hurt. And you're crying now again not for Steve Cohen. You're crying because you know what your service meant to that community and that they needed it especially in that state and it was taken and it was unfair just like what happened with Victoria. And that's always been what you've been about. I don't care what party and you know how I feel about the parties. Your heart is about helping and I know that about you and that's why you get emotional even though you're a tough son of a So, uh I'm glad that people get to see it and I'm here for you. All right. And thank you for your service.

[00:26:28]>> I've got a great district and wonderful people. They've supported me so well.

[00:26:31]You know, it's amazing thing that that African-American community supported me for 20 years like they did and the Republicans don't see it and they just tear it apart because they have no perspective of caring about African-Americans or caring about people getting together and anything nice that happens. It's it's a it's it's a tough sport and they they play it tough.

[00:26:50]>> Thank you, Chris.

[00:26:50]>> Well, you are right. You are right. The problem is it's a sport and it wasn't when you got into it. When you got into it, it was a service. Now it's a sport.

[00:26:59]>> Steve, I'll talk to you. Take care of yourself. All right.

[00:27:01]>> Thank Thank you.

[00:27:03]>> Four minutes and 30 seconds.

[00:27:06]Let me tell you something. One, any fool who believes that a man who's moved to emotion like that is weakness does not understand strength. And two, that's someone who cares about service.

[00:27:19]Okay? That's how much it means to a lot of these men and women. You know how I know? Because I was raised by one. When we come back, Cuba, Cuba sucks. Okay.

[00:27:30]Uh, the people there are so underserved for generations. All right, the CIA director is there. Are we really thinking about military action in Cuba?

[00:27:40]I hope not. Now they're saying they're going to indict the former president.

[00:27:43]He's 94. He's been out since 2018. Is this Venezuela 2.0? Is there anything in this for you? Next.

[00:28:02]I don't see Cuba as another Venezuela. I got to be honest. Um Cuba is crippled uh by fuel shortages. They have brownouts.

[00:28:13]They have blackouts. Uh the people there don't have freedoms. The economy is all screwed up. I've been there multiple times and I've studied it remotely as well and I understand the connections uh to Cuban expats in this country and what they want. I don't understand the play here for America. I don't. All right.

[00:28:28]So, I want to talk about it. I want to bring in Rick Delator, uh, former CIA station chief in Venezuela. I've relied on him before and he understands this issue as well. Rick, thank you, uh, for helping me. They want to indict Castro.

[00:28:42]I'm sure he is guilty of whatever he would be indicted for. Bad guy. Okay.

[00:28:46]Despotic family. And Canel is just an extension of the family with a different name. But where are our interests in this? How how is this good for your and my family?

[00:28:59]>> It's I mean, we were talking about an island uh 90 miles off our coast that has hosted, you know, every adversary uh that that that has caused us a lot of grief. I mean, you know, the relationships with Russia, China, previously Iran, and Venezuela, uh that, you know, they're like this aircraft carrier in our hemisphere that that allows anyone to play and and to do us harm. And that's what they've been doing for decades.

[00:29:24]>> True thing in same thing in Mexico.

[00:29:27]>> Why aren't we why aren't we trying to bring them down?

[00:29:31]>> But but but in Mexico, you can make the argument that there's, you know, there's some freedoms and some and some folks on on on the correct side that are there to help us and to be our allies. That's that's not the case in Cuba. I mean, we're talking about a repression. You you've been there. You've studied it, you know, right? There there's no freedom there. There's no there's no real economy there. Uh, you know, you're talking about a regime that that's been around for, you know, for seven decades and their whole goal is just to, you know, make money off the backs of poor Cubans. Um, and that cycle's got to break at some point.

[00:30:04]>> Yeah. But you know how we break it? I don't, again, I always say this when Rick is on. I'm not saying this to Rick because he knows all these things. I rely on him to understand what to talk about to the audience. Uh but the way to do it is to open it up. If you open it up, uh you know that the people there are going to that's the best the American model can be. If we open it up and you let Americans go in there and money comes in and the people see what commerce can do and how the government is restrictive of it once it starts to come in and steals it and takes it and denies them, the change will come.

[00:30:37]That's the best thing America could do.

[00:30:40]>> Yeah. I mean, I I I look, I I'd agree with you on on the basic theories of of free market enterprise economics, but but that's not what happens there, right? It it isn't it isn't like you get down there and you get to invest and you get to open up a business and and and you know, and sell and buy things like anyone. The government's involved at every step of the way. So, every investment, everything you give them goes through the government. So, so you're not dealing with the people, right? And so, so that's not free market enterprise. All you're doing is is is benefiting a bunch of corrupt octagenarians who, you know, who are choking out the people.

[00:31:16]>> So, what do we do? If you indict Castro, he's going to be dead soon anyway. Um, and you have Canel in there. The regime is still there. So, what's the move? You bomb? What What do you What do you do?

[00:31:26]You invade? What do you do?

[00:31:28]>> Well, you know, I I I don't think I don't think we're anywhere near uh any kind of military option with uh uh uh w with Cuba. It's certainly on the table.

[00:31:36]We know this administration doesn't never takes that off the table. But um I I think you know the the ro Castro piece is huge. If he's indicted over brothers to the rescue uh that is not just a legal symbolism, you know, right? That that is Washington telling the Cuban regime that that the past still matters.

[00:31:53]Four, you know, four men were killed. Uh three of them were, I think, American citizens by Cuban Migs. Uh and and you know, Raul was very much involved in that. So, so they've built this mythology over the years about permanent power and permanent impunity and the United States justice system is going to make sure that they don't get away with it. As to what we do there right now, I think uh I think I think I I agree completely with the Trump administration on this. You got to keep the the you know the diplomatic pressure. You got to keep the intelligence pressure, the military option on the table, the economic pressure, all of that stuff uh to bring about the kinds of change that we need, right? you know, the the the people have had enough and they're realizing they're realizing how how the whole thing is just a scam. Uh they've been lying to for decades and they're going to try to hold their people uh you know, their their their supposed leaders somewhat accountable to this. Uh and and if we could just make those guys, if we make that the leadership's lives as miserable as we possibly can, then maybe we'll start seeing some of the changes that we do need to see.

[00:32:52]>> Rick Deator, former CIA station chief in Venezuela, knower of most things. Thank you for being a benefit to my audience once again.

[00:33:01]>> Great. Love being on your show, Chris.

[00:33:03]Anything you need.

[00:33:04]>> All right. Take care. Take care. I hate the beard comparison. I didn't shave today cuz I got cut. You see that glorious facial hair? 4 minutes and 15 seconds. You know, when I hear the discussion of why we need to get involved in Cuba, it is all basically true. But you know where it's more true? Here. Here.

[00:33:22]Helping the people and what they need here. Here. Just as true. maybe more so in certain circumstances. I got a beautiful story to end the week. You ready? You want to talk about love? You want to talk about commitment? You want to talk about family? The New York Knicks, they're still in the playoffs.

[00:33:37]They're having a good run, right? I want you to meet this brother who does something so special for his sister. And what he does and why he does it will remind you of what we can be to one another in this country. I guarantee you love this story. Next.

[00:34:00]This story is definitely going to make me get my Steve Cohen on. Eight years ago, this you got to hear this, okay?

[00:34:07]Eight years ago, Mitch Whitmer's sister Hannah, she was just a teenager. She was in a terrible car accident. It left her with a traumatic brain injury. It left her as a paraplegic.

[00:34:20]Mitch takes care of his sister full-time. That's the choice he made to support his family. The two love to watch Nick games together. And Mitch noticed early on that his sister was watching him more than she was watching the game. And not just because the Knicks until very recently were very hard to watch. So he decided, you know, if she's playing off me, let me try something. He'd been a longtime Knicks fan, even though he's not from New York.

[00:34:47]And he enjoyed doing playbyplay. So he started to do playbyplay for his sister.

[00:34:54]And he could tell, as you can see here, that she would be smiling and obviously enjoying what he was doing. And after a while, he started to record his commentary and post it online. And before he knew it, people from all over the country were watching him and loving it for two reasons. One, he's good at it. And two, he's so good with his sister. And it is a beautiful demonstration of love. Watch this.

[00:35:23]The broom for the sweep. Mitch Whitmer joins me right now. First of all, uh, brother, thank you, uh, for letting us into your life and letting us see how much you love your sister and what you do for her. And I agree with your analysis 100%. Um, she loves it. She loves watching you. When did you realize that you could connect with her this way?

[00:35:49]Uh Chris, thank you for having me on. Uh complete pleasure. I I have to say too, when I got a text this morning saying, "Hey, this is Chris Cuomo's team. He has seen Hannah's videos. We've seen the videos and we love them." I'm like, "Am I getting like what?" Like Chris Cuomo is aware of Hannah's videos. It was unbelievable. So, thank you for having me on. Um but I three and a half years ago watching Nick's games in the living room, I'm normally a wreck. I'm just pacing back and forth. And you mentioned there's been some pretty lean years um dating back quite a ways, but she for some reason just gets a bigger kick out of watching me than the game cuz I'm yelling and screaming sometimes celebrating. Um and so I I realized it like three and a half years ago that she is watching me more than she's watching the the games when they're on the TV.

[00:36:33]>> What has it become for you um that people are recognizing this? Uh what they don't know is how hard it is for you. Uh and even what people might recognize as oh boy this this is obviously very involved. Uh there's much more to it. But what does it mean to you that people are connecting to this?

[00:36:54]Um, you know, it's a the bond that Hannah and I have as siblings first off, but we get so many DMs on her Instagram and her TikTok, Chris, with people saying, "I have a family member who suffered a traumatic brain injury." And it's not to the degree of Hannah, but you have no idea how much these videos mean to us. And I get messages from parents who said, "We have two little kids. We're Knicks fans. We watch all the games and the first thing we do after every game is refresh Hannah's Instagram and wait for you to post the video because our kids just love watching you guys. So, it's that the idea that I think it's very very easy to pull your phone out every day, Chris, and just doom scroll and see bad headlines, bad videos, bad stories, and the idea that we can bring just a a sliver of positivity and a little bit of joy and happiness. You know, this started as something for our friends and family to keep track of Hannah to see what she was up to. I never ever thought it would blossom into this and that was never the goal or the purpose. But now that it, you know, has sort of taken off, I I see the the secondary and the tertiary purposes of, you know, there's a lot of people that just seeing Hannah light up with her smile and her laugh when when we're watching these games.

[00:38:02]>> Well, I got to tell you something and and here's something I have seen you say nowhere and I don't think you would say.

[00:38:07]You may not even agree. I'm also happy that it's good for you because you are doing something that is as profound a demonstration of love. And I get to you, you don't see any other way. Um, this is your sister. This is your family.

[00:38:24]Someone's got to do this and you're the one to do it. But I love that you're getting some satisfaction and some shine out of this because you are doing something that I think matters more than anything I've ever seen any sports commentator do. And I just I hope I hope it feels good for you too, brother. Uh because you're doing something great for your sister, but you're good at this and you're a good person and we need that right now and you're giving it to us. So I hope you feel good about it for you, too.

[00:38:54]>> Yeah, I appreciate that. You know, I I went to school for radio TV broadcasting and graduated with a degree in that field. And you know, once I was like a freshman in high school, you realize, Chris, like, oh, I'm not going to be a professional NBA player. and I just had an obsession with sports and I was like, I need to pivot obviously my mindset something with sports and um I always love talking about sports. So, I I went to school for broadcasting and my dream as soon as I you know was a freshman in college was I want to be the radio play-by-play announcer of the New York Knicks. Um and then Hannah's car accident happens and you realize family for me always comes first. The sibling bond always comes first. You know, Hannah was 21 at the time of the accident. I was 25. It was the easiest decision of my life. I I genuinely mean that. For me to be like, I'm going to quit my job, give up my career because my only our only other option was Hannah ends up in a nursing home and I am never putting my 100% dependent 24/7 care at the time 21-year-old sister in a nursing home. It's never happening.

[00:39:56]>> I get it. Mitch, I get it. I appreciate you. They're going to take me off the air for the commercial, but I'm always here if I can help. Thank you for telling your story with us. Mitch Woodmire, >> appreciate it. Thank you, Chris.

[00:40:09]>> Leland Vidder starts right now. I wish you a good weekend, my friend.

[00:40:12]>> And you as well, Chris.