Full Transcript for Arrogance and Corruption: Reed Galen on Why the Wave Hit Utah, Too

00:03:25,980 Reed Galen: a thousand think pieces. 64 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:26,500 Reed Galen: Right. 65 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:28,980 Reed Galen: And more analyses than we can count on. 66 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:34,900 Reed Galen: But I think you saw what we have seen so far, which is probably since 1994, 67 00:03:35,980 --> 00:03:42,280 Reed Galen: the biggest just sort of repudiation of of voters just saying enough is enough. 68 00:03:43,540 --> 00:03:48,160 Reed Galen: And I really think that while Democrats were the beneficiary last night, 69 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:53,360 Reed Galen: to me, it was really a wake up call to a still, 70 00:03:53,660 --> 00:03:57,380 Reed Galen: in my mind, rigged both political and economic system. 71 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,660 Reed Galen: And they were saying, we don't want this anymore. 72 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,340 Reed Galen: And I think the one underreported thing, 73 00:04:04,860 --> 00:04:09,500 Reed Galen: and I think it will take some time to really start to suss itself out, 74 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,620 Reed Galen: is that even the candidates that were considered, quote unquote, 75 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,880 Reed Galen: moderate on the Democratic side, 76 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:22,079 Reed Galen: I think, Bryan, were moderate in the context of, say, social issues and the culture war. 77 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:36,260 Reed Galen: But we're certainly leaning into economic populism that data centers and AI and cost of living were all at the top of the list and they're all tied together. 78 00:04:36,750 --> 00:04:38,220 Reed Galen: And let me say one more thing about Trump, 79 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:48,920 Reed Galen: whether or not it's the tariffs or the Iran war, the two single things that have driven up costs for individual Americans the most and the fastest are his personal decisions. 80 00:04:49,570 --> 00:04:50,560 Reed Galen: Without him there, 81 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,000 Reed Galen: those things don't happen. 82 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:53,160 Reed Galen: right? 83 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:53,600 Reed Galen: He's, 84 00:04:53,980 --> 00:04:56,200 Reed Galen: he personally chose to do both of those things. 85 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:57,360 Reed Galen: And I think that there were 86 00:04:57,980 --> 00:04:59,060 Reed Galen: Democrats who were, 87 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,080 Reed Galen: you know, in the bunker after 2024. 88 00:05:01,870 --> 00:05:03,720 Reed Galen: I think there were independents who 89 00:05:04,110 --> 00:05:06,800 Reed Galen: came out in droves. I think there were young people for whom, 90 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:08,800 Reed Galen: you know, many of them I'd say, 91 00:05:09,430 --> 00:05:09,780 Reed Galen: you know, 92 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:10,720 Reed Galen: young men, 93 00:05:11,180 --> 00:05:14,480 Reed Galen: you know, moved to the Democrats in a big way. I think they probably 94 00:05:14,660 --> 00:05:15,900 Reed Galen: thought they got sold a bill of goods, 95 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:16,920 Reed Galen: college educated, 96 00:05:17,410 --> 00:05:17,540 Reed Galen: uh, 97 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,479 Reed Galen: young people. I think what I call 98 00:05:19,500 --> 00:05:21,420 Reed Galen: the last sort of true believers, 99 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,460 Reed Galen: Bryan, of the American dream think that their time is, 100 00:05:25,620 --> 00:05:26,660 Reed Galen: you know, 101 00:05:26,980 --> 00:05:27,860 Reed Galen: what are they doing, 102 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:28,360 Reed Galen: right? 103 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:30,860 Reed Galen: What's this world going to hold for me? What's this country going 104 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:31,520 Reed Galen: to hold for me? 105 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:33,360 Reed Galen: And Trump said, 106 00:05:33,820 --> 00:05:34,980 Reed Galen: treat me like I'm on the ballot, 107 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:36,900 Reed Galen: and Democrats and independents did. 108 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:41,780 Bryan Schott: I agree with all that you said. I was really struck by some of the things that came out of 109 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:42,500 Bryan Schott: the exit polling, 110 00:05:42,940 --> 00:05:48,380 Bryan Schott: that the number one issue that brought voters to the polls was corruption. 111 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:57,020 Bryan Schott: That was really striking to me because that's not something you hear voters talking about as a huge motivating factor, 112 00:05:57,220 --> 00:06:06,040 Bryan Schott: especially with all the other factors out there like gas prices and affordability crisis, which Trump said was a hoax. 113 00:06:06,260 --> 00:06:13,820 Bryan Schott: So what's your take on corruption being such a salient topic in the minds of voters? 114 00:06:14,620 --> 00:06:18,240 Reed Galen: Well, I think it is something to behold. 115 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:31,620 Reed Galen: And I think it's the other side of the coin of my wages are flat, I can't get ahead, my kids aren't going to have as good a future as I want them to, maybe not as good a life as I've had. 116 00:06:32,719 --> 00:06:34,940 Reed Galen: While Donald Trump and all these other people, 117 00:06:35,260 --> 00:06:35,480 Reed Galen: including, 118 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:40,480 Reed Galen: let's just say Washington or Wall Street or whoever you want to blame, the tech guys, 119 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,580 Reed Galen: they seem to be getting awful healthy. 120 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,720 Reed Galen: And everything is predicated on how much more can we do for them? 121 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,000 Reed Galen: How much more do we have to give them? 122 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,320 Reed Galen: How much more power or influence do we have to allow them to have, 123 00:06:54,540 --> 00:06:55,400 Reed Galen: you know, 124 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:57,640 Reed Galen: in a world 125 00:06:57,860 --> 00:06:59,320 Reed Galen: where I'm still trying to figure out, like, 126 00:06:59,740 --> 00:07:01,040 Reed Galen: left from right,

up from down? 127 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,160 Reed Galen: But whatever I know, and Bryan, I've said this many times, 128 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,400 Reed Galen: I've spoken to thousands 129 00:07:06,550 --> 00:07:09,240 Reed Galen: of voters out on the road in states all across this country. 130 00:07:09,420 --> 00:07:11,160 Reed Galen: I've never met an uninformed voter. 131 00:07:12,150 --> 00:07:15,780 Reed Galen: You know, every voter I meet is very well aware of what their world looks like, 132 00:07:16,380 --> 00:07:16,600 Reed Galen: and 133 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:21,840 Reed Galen: they either want to punish the people who are in charge or they opt out altogether because they 134 00:07:21,860 --> 00:07:25,420 Reed Galen: think it doesn't matter. And I think that's the impressive part of last night was there a lot of 135 00:07:25,540 --> 00:07:26,120 Reed Galen: people who said, 136 00:07:27,020 --> 00:07:28,240 Reed Galen: I'm not sitting on the couch anymore. 137 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:30,940 Bryan Schott: What's the result from last night that 138 00:07:31,260 --> 00:07:32,780 Bryan Schott: really made you go, 139 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:33,400 Bryan Schott: whoa, 140 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:35,000 Bryan Schott: this is wild. 141 00:07:35,420 --> 00:07:37,520 Bryan Schott: Was it, was it Texas turn, 142 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:38,300 Bryan Schott: turning blue? 143 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:39,480 Bryan Schott: You've been around 144 00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:46,220 Bryan Schott: this for a long time. And I'm wondering which one of those results really made, made you say, 145 00:07:46,260 --> 00:07:47,500 Bryan Schott: this is amazing. 146 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:49,620 Reed Galen: So I, you know, 147 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,320 Reed Galen: I am, I'm an adopted Texan. I did not, I was not born there, 148 00:07:53,340 --> 00:07:55,960 Reed Galen: so I can't be a native Texan. This is a very big thing for them, Bryan. 149 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:58,040 Reed Galen: I went to high school and 150 00:07:58,180 --> 00:08:03,640 Reed Galen: college there and I was in high school the last time the Democrats had any statewide office holder 151 00:08:04,740 --> 00:08:05,460 Reed Galen: in 1994. 152 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:08,680 Reed Galen: I worked for then governor George W. 153 00:08:08,940 --> 00:08:11,060 Reed Galen: Bush in 1998 when, 154 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,400 Reed Galen: when Republicans swept all those, 155 00:08:13,460 --> 00:08:14,780 Reed Galen: those statewide offices. 156 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:16,020 Reed Galen: And so for me, 157 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:20,680 Reed Galen: I was not particularly surprised by James Tallarico. 158 00:08:21,340 --> 00:08:25,520 Reed Galen: I think he ran a good campaign. He obviously raised outrageous amounts of money. 159 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:26,720 Reed Galen: Ken Paxton 160 00:08:27,140 --> 00:08:28,640 Reed Galen: was beyond a damaged, 161 00:08:28,860 --> 00:08:32,340 Reed Galen: not only candidate, but individual. I think that Elon Musk's money did not 162 00:08:32,419 --> 00:08:33,800 Reed Galen: help their cause. 163 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:39,279 Reed Galen: Hinojosa was a little surprising to me. And then looking at the lieutenant 164 00:08:39,300 --> 00:08:39,680 Reed Galen: governor, 165 00:08:40,169 --> 00:08:41,120 Reed Galen: the comptroller, 166 00:08:41,460 --> 00:08:42,419 Reed Galen: the land commissioner, 167 00:08:42,750 --> 00:08:43,960 Reed Galen: the railroad commissioner, 168 00:08:44,140 --> 00:08:44,300 Reed Galen: Bryan, 169 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:44,580 Reed Galen: which, 170 00:08:45,180 --> 00:08:45,400 Reed Galen: you know, 171 00:08:45,660 --> 00:08:46,340 Reed Galen: goes to a Democrat. 172 00:08:46,590 --> 00:08:51,020 Reed Galen: And it sounds weird, but the Railroad Commission actually regulates the oil and gas industry 173 00:08:51,310 --> 00:08:51,760 Reed Galen: in Texas. 174 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:53,440 Reed Galen: That went to a Democrat. 175 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:55,660 Reed Galen: And so to me, 176 00:08:55,820 --> 00:08:57,240 Reed Galen: that was probably the most surprising. 177 00:08:57,310 --> 00:08:58,700 Reed Galen: But as I think about it, 178 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,220 Reed Galen: Governor Greg Abbott has been in power there for 12 years. 179 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,120 Reed Galen: He's really rigged the entire political system for his own benefit. 180 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:11,040 Reed Galen: And I think there were a lot of Texans who just said, we've had enough of it. 181 00:09:11,050 --> 00:09:13,120 Reed Galen: We want a big change, and they certainly got one. 182 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,380 Bryan Schott: And not only did they sweep those seats, they also got the attorney general's office. 183 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,620 Bryan Schott: And I saw today that they flipped the state school board, 184 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,100 Bryan Schott: which is another significant win. 185 00:09:24,820 --> 00:09:27,040 Bryan Schott: What do you make of what happened in South Carolina? 186 00:09:27,270 --> 00:09:27,520 Bryan Schott: I mean, 187 00:09:27,860 --> 00:09:28,200 Bryan Schott: obviously, 188 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:30,760 Bryan Schott: Lindsey Graham's sister, 189 00:09:30,970 --> 00:09:33,580 Bryan Schott: who had no qualifications for that job, 190 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:35,480 Bryan Schott: In hindsight, 191 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:40,880 Bryan Schott: and I think a lot of people said at the time that it happened, well, this was a terrible choice for the Republicans to put up. 192 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,720 Bryan Schott: And it cost them a seat that they should have won. 193 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,860 Bryan Schott: What's your take on what went down there? 194 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:59,300 Reed Galen: It's impressive that Ralph Norman is the very conservative congressman who was running against Darlene Graham in the primary. 195 00:09:59,620 --> 00:10:03,820 Reed

Galen: And she beat him singularly on the strength of Trump's endorsement. 196 00:10:03,860 --> 00:10:04,760 Reed Galen: and his insistence, 197 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,940 Reed Galen: not only that she get the seat, but that she again run for it. Remember, 198 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:13,380 Reed Galen: initially she was just going to be the caretaker for the balance of her brother's term. 199 00:10:13,660 --> 00:10:13,880 Reed Galen: And then 200 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,860 Reed Galen: they forced her into that. 201 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:16,780 Reed Galen: Look, 202 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:18,240 Reed Galen: in the debates, 203 00:10:18,510 --> 00:10:21,040 Reed Galen: she was clearly out of her depth. 204 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:21,880 Reed Galen: I'm sure she's 205 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:22,940 Reed Galen: a very nice person, 206 00:10:23,460 --> 00:10:24,840 Reed Galen: but she wasn't prepared for this. 207 00:10:25,380 --> 00:10:27,880 Reed Galen: I will tell you that even I was texting with 208 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,520 Reed Galen: my friends in South Carolina. I was just there two or three weeks ago. 209 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,820 Reed Galen: They held out hope that 210 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:35,740 Reed Galen: maybe any Andrews had a chance. 211 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:37,620 Reed Galen: But when they called it, 212 00:10:37,900 --> 00:10:39,900 Reed Galen: Bryan, like I actually I let out a 213 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:41,600 Reed Galen: like almost a war whoop. 214 00:10:42,010 --> 00:10:42,240 Reed Galen: I mean, 215 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,600 Reed Galen: I could not believe it. I mean, I have been to South Carolina 216 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:46,160 Reed Galen: a lot. 217 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,060 Reed Galen: This is not not a progressive state. 218 00:10:49,260 --> 00:10:50,420 Reed Galen: It is not a liberal state. 219 00:10:50,620 --> 00:10:51,920 Reed Galen: But when South Carolinians 220 00:10:52,020 --> 00:10:56,180 Reed Galen: had to make a choice between Annie Andrews, who's an upstanding person, 221 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:57,200 Reed Galen: ran a solid campaign, 222 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,180 Reed Galen: was outspent from the get go and someone who was clearly not up to the job, 223 00:11:01,820 --> 00:11:02,620 Reed Galen: they made the logical 224 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:02,940 Reed Galen: choice. 225 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:04,560 Bryan Schott: You know, 226 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:09,060 Bryan Schott: I was on live last night going through the Utah results. So we were on for like 227 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:10,180 Bryan Schott: three and a half hours last night. 228 00:11:10,490 --> 00:11:13,480 Bryan Schott: And my wife was in the other room watching the national coverage. 229 00:11:13,900 --> 00:11:16,800 Bryan Schott: And she just kept yelling at me and texting me, 230 00:11:16,980 --> 00:11:19,060 Bryan Schott: this has flipped and this has flipped and this 231 00:11:19,070 --> 00:11:19,480 Bryan Schott: has flipped. 232 00:11:19,770 --> 00:11:20,840 Bryan Schott: And like I said this morning, 233 00:11:21,340 --> 00:11:21,540 Bryan Schott: you know, 234 00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:24,960 Bryan Schott: I've never seen a night like that in my 235 00:11:25,190 --> 00:11:25,320 Bryan Schott: lifetime. 236 00:11:25,510 --> 00:11:30,600 Bryan Schott: And given my age, I probably won't see another one because it was truly remarkable. 237 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:38,680 Bryan Schott: But I'm curious now, now that Democrats have control of the of the House and the Senate in Washington, 238 00:11:39,670 --> 00:11:45,960 Bryan Schott: how aggressively do you think they should go towards accountability for the Trump administration, 239 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:50,160 Bryan Schott: investigations and and pushing back on the things that Trump has done? 240 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,160 Bryan Schott: How hard do you think that they should go? 241 00:11:53,260 --> 00:11:56,140 Bryan Schott: And is there a danger that they might go too hard on this? 242 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:58,860 Reed Galen: So it's it's a great question. 243 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:03,920 Reed Galen: I think this is one where the newly minted House and Senate leadership, 244 00:12:04,650 --> 00:12:10,560 Reed Galen: they need to be able to walk and chew gum and maybe talk on the phone at the same time, 245 00:12:10,780 --> 00:12:16,000 Reed Galen: which is you have a very large majority in the U.S. House. 246 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,120 Reed Galen: You're going to have a solid majority in the U.S. Senate. 247 00:12:19,230 --> 00:12:21,320 Reed Galen: And my guess is there are going to be a bunch of people, 248 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,340 Reed Galen: a bunch of Republicans who are either A, 249 00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:25,700 Reed Galen: you know, the John Thunes of the world. 250 00:12:25,860 --> 00:12:28,500 Reed Galen: They still are the last bastions of the establishment. 251 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:33,220 Reed Galen: or those up in 2028 who don't want to get blue waved again. 252 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:38,860 Reed Galen: I think that they do need to bring accountability to the Trump administration. 253 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:44,440 Reed Galen: I think to do otherwise is one, a betrayal of their political base at a very, very, 254 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:44,780 Reed Galen: you 255 00:12:44,780 --> 00:12:44,800 Reed Galen: know, 256 00:12:45,020 --> 00:12:46,780 Reed Galen: sort of nuts and bolts level. 257 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,880 Reed Galen: But I think it also speaks to the fact that, 258 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:50,720 Reed Galen: you know, 259 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:52,840 Reed Galen: when Joe Biden was in office, 260 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:53,960 Reed Galen: they 261 00:12:54,140 --> 00:12:55,340 Reed Galen: didn't hold him to account. 262 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,140 Reed Galen: All the people who stormed the Capitol, 263 00:12:58,700 --> 00:13:00,540 Reed Galen: they all got a day in

court. 264 00:13:00,620 --> 00:13:04,040 Reed Galen: They all went to prison or got a fine or whatever it was. 265 00:13:04,620 --> 00:13:05,940 Reed Galen: The people who planned that stuff, 266 00:13:06,140 --> 00:13:08,640 Reed Galen: including Donald Trump, were never held to account for it. 267 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:21,080 Reed Galen: And I think that the idea that you would not subpoena every last person in that administration and the Jared Kushners of the world doesn't make any political sense. 268 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:21,880 Reed Galen: And here's what I would say. 269 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:28,480 Reed Galen: I would not go screeching and carrying on and wailing in those hearings, 270 00:13:28,740 --> 00:13:28,940 Reed Galen: Bryan. 271 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,860 Reed Galen: I would treat them very much like they did the January 6th committee. 272 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,580 Reed Galen: Make it both a prosecution and a show. 273 00:13:38,460 --> 00:13:38,860 Reed Galen: Now, Mr. 274 00:13:39,060 --> 00:13:43,760 Reed Galen: Kushner, I want you to explain to me on page 68 of this book that just came out 275 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,600 Reed Galen: exactly what it was you were doing getting this money from the UAE. 276 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:48,820 Reed Galen: I plead the fifth, 277 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:49,880 Reed Galen: right? 278 00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:53,100 Reed Galen: or he's not going to show up just as good, 279 00:13:53,820 --> 00:13:53,920 Reed Galen: right? 280 00:13:54,680 --> 00:13:56,760 Reed Galen: Every day you have a little thing that says, 281 00:13:57,310 --> 00:13:57,440 Reed Galen: Mr. 282 00:13:57,680 --> 00:13:59,260 Reed Galen: Kushner sitting at an empty chair, 283 00:14:00,020 --> 00:14:00,100 Reed Galen: right? 284 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:01,680 Reed Galen: And this is one thing, Bryan, 285 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,660 Reed Galen: that our Democratic friends aren't good at, 286 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:05,520 Reed Galen: and they don't like it 287 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:06,860 Reed Galen: because I think they think it's beneath them. 288 00:14:07,340 --> 00:14:08,700 Reed Galen: There needs to be some spectacle. 289 00:14:10,380 --> 00:14:13,760 Bryan Schott: That's why the whole J6 hearings were so good 290 00:14:13,980 --> 00:14:15,700 Bryan Schott: because they were informative, 291 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,160 Bryan Schott: but there was also some spectacle to them as well. 292 00:14:20,060 --> 00:14:21,000 Reed Galen: Yes. And look, I mean, 293 00:14:21,260 --> 00:14:24,420 Reed Galen: how many of us of a certain age will ever forget Oliver North? 294 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:31,980 Reed Galen: Think about how many times the House Republicans had something about Benghazi, 295 00:14:32,860 --> 00:14:32,980 Reed Galen: right, 296 00:14:33,330 --> 00:14:37,220 Reed Galen: for the singular purpose of damaging Hillary Clinton, 297 00:14:37,430 --> 00:14:40,640 Reed Galen: of keeping something that had no

business whatsoever being. 298 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:41,620 Reed Galen: It was a tragedy. 299 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:42,520 Reed Galen: Don't get me wrong. 300 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:45,680 Reed Galen: But to bring it up all day, every day, 301 00:14:45,940 --> 00:14:46,320 Reed Galen: four years. 302 00:14:46,900 --> 00:14:50,440 Reed Galen: And that was something that they had to tie her to sort of tangentially. 303 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,060 Reed Galen: I'm talking about things that you don't have to make up. 304 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,320 Reed Galen: All of these things are happening and they're happening in real time. 305 00:14:57,900 --> 00:14:58,580 Reed Galen: I would haul. 306 00:14:59,140 --> 00:14:59,760 Reed Galen: You know what? 307 00:15:00,460 --> 00:15:01,680 Reed Galen: Maybe maybe I'm wrong. 308 00:15:01,940 --> 00:15:04,360 Reed Galen: You know, you need to find a House legal scholar. 309 00:15:04,940 --> 00:15:06,320 Reed Galen: I would impeach Pete Hegson. 310 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,260 Reed Galen: He is a disaster for the force and for the country. 311 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,440 Reed Galen: And he's dangerous because he's the guy when Donald Trump says, you know what? 312 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:17,940 Reed Galen: maybe it is a good idea to throw a tactical nuke at some mountain in Iran. 313 00:15:18,650 --> 00:15:20,000 Reed Galen: The Secretary of Defense 314 00:15:20,170 --> 00:15:21,400 Reed Galen: is supposed to be the one that says, Mr. 315 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:21,740 Reed Galen: President, 316 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:23,200 Reed Galen: that is a really bad idea, 317 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:24,260 Reed Galen: and we should not do 318 00:15:24,380 --> 00:15:24,460 Reed Galen: that. 319 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:26,940 Reed Galen: And none of the people that work for me think we should do it either. 320 00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:28,580 Reed Galen: I have no idea what 321 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:29,200 Reed Galen: he's doing. Now, 322 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,780 Reed Galen: I get the sense some clips I've seen today, Bryan, 323 00:15:31,940 --> 00:15:32,900 Reed Galen: that he thinks he's probably 324 00:15:33,260 --> 00:15:35,900 Reed Galen: short for this world. So he's trying to figure an exit strategy out. 325 00:15:36,460 --> 00:15:37,480 Reed Galen: But I think that they have to 326 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,280 Reed Galen: match that desire. 327 00:15:39,490 --> 00:15:39,600 Reed Galen: Again, 328 00:15:39,860 --> 00:15:40,520 Reed Galen: if corruption, 329 00:15:40,910 --> 00:15:42,140 Reed Galen: as you noted a few minutes ago, 330 00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:43,140 Reed Galen: was at the top of the 331 00:15:43,140 --> 00:15:43,420 Reed Galen: list, 332 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,900 Reed Galen: then you need to lay that bare while at the same time, 333 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:48,980 Reed Galen: I'd say this for Congress and, you know, 334 00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:50,060 Reed Galen: and for the federal government,

335 00:15:50,540 --> 00:15:54,540 Reed Galen: they need to curtail the things that enrich them when they 336 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:55,260 Reed Galen: go to Washington, 337 00:15:55,740 --> 00:15:58,580 Reed Galen: that they have frankly been very loath to do. Because of course, 338 00:15:59,200 --> 00:15:59,840 Reed Galen: if you make the 339 00:16:00,020 --> 00:16:00,140 Reed Galen: rules, 340 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,140 Reed Galen: why would you ever make rules that make your life more difficult or don't allow you to do the 341 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:05,040 Reed Galen: things you want to do? 342 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,760 Bryan Schott: I saw this on social media today, 343 00:16:07,980 --> 00:16:10,880 Bryan Schott: and I wish I would have thought of this, 344 00:16:10,940 --> 00:16:20,700 Bryan Schott: But someone was suggesting because there are now ads in Washington where the House committees are trying to hire lawyers for investigative. 345 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:21,580 Bryan Schott: This guy said, 346 00:16:21,940 --> 00:16:26,180 Bryan Schott: why don't you get investigative journalists to do this for you? 347 00:16:26,620 --> 00:16:30,220 Bryan Schott: There are a bunch of them in Washington who don't have jobs right now. 348 00:16:30,260 --> 00:16:32,680 Bryan Schott: They have the skill set to do this sort of thing. 349 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:34,220 Bryan Schott: Why don't you do that? 350 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:36,260 Bryan Schott: I think that's a tremendous idea. 351 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:38,740 Reed Galen: I think it's a great idea, too. 352 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,460 Reed Galen: I mean, Bryan, you've been a journalist most of your professional life. 353 00:16:42,530 --> 00:16:44,560 Reed Galen: And the thing that journalists have, I used to think about this, 354 00:16:44,740 --> 00:16:46,680 Reed Galen: you have the ability to 355 00:16:46,710 --> 00:16:47,900 Reed Galen: get information out of people, 356 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:48,920 Reed Galen: not unlike spies, 357 00:16:49,710 --> 00:16:49,800 Reed Galen: right? 358 00:16:50,780 --> 00:16:52,420 Reed Galen: And I say this in the best possible way. 359 00:16:53,020 --> 00:16:57,320 Reed Galen: You all have a very keen understanding of a source's psychology, 360 00:16:58,290 --> 00:16:58,980 Reed Galen: if that makes sense. 361 00:16:59,140 --> 00:16:59,500 Bryan Schott: Yes, it does. 362 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:05,280 Reed Galen: And you have that ability to ask that question and to let the silence hang and to have the 363 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:06,660 Reed Galen: source fill the space for you, 364 00:17:07,220 --> 00:17:07,360 Reed Galen: right? 365 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,459 Reed Galen: As I think it's a brilliant idea. 366 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:10,920 Reed Galen: I think it's a brilliant idea. 367 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:12,020 Reed Galen: Listen, 368 00:17:12,339 --> 00:17:13,880 Reed Galen: they're not going to make they don't make very much. 369 00:17:14,060

--> 00:17:17,439 Reed Galen: So they're not going to be a huge bearing on the taxpayer. 370 00:17:18,300 --> 00:17:20,959 Reed Galen: You're going to put people to work who know this business. 371 00:17:21,140 --> 00:17:22,180 Reed Galen: They're going to know the sources. 372 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:30,740 Reed Galen: And my guess is, Bryan, then there might be a bunch of people in the administration who might want to talk if they thought maybe down the line that there might be, you know, 373 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:32,320 Reed Galen: maybe a little bit of, 374 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:33,120 Reed Galen: you know, 375 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:35,380 Reed Galen: safety on their side. 376 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,560 Reed Galen: Maybe a little bit of not absolution. 377 00:17:37,740 --> 00:17:39,660 Reed Galen: That's not the word I'm looking for. But you understand what I'm saying, 378 00:17:40,110 --> 00:17:42,100 Reed Galen: that they might be protected from, 379 00:17:42,340 --> 00:17:45,860 Reed Galen: say, a prosecution or having to be publicized. 380 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,520 Reed Galen: But they you know, they're look, 381 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,500 Reed Galen: the rats are going to get off the sink and ship here. 382 00:17:50,150 --> 00:17:50,620 Reed Galen: The question, 383 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:52,480 Reed Galen: you know, now for just to make, 384 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,080 Reed Galen: you know, go back to staffing for a second. 385 00:17:54,890 --> 00:17:58,760 Reed Galen: Excuse me, is where the hell are you going to get staff for 260 members of Congress? 386 00:17:59,550 --> 00:17:59,640 Reed Galen: Right. 387 00:17:59,940 --> 00:18:02,720 Reed Galen: And all the committees and same within Texas. 388 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:03,620 Reed Galen: in a lot of these places. 389 00:18:03,630 --> 00:18:05,220 Reed Galen: A lot of these places have not had Democrats 390 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:07,560 Reed Galen: in state office in a long time. 391 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,980 Reed Galen: They're gonna be looking for everybody they can 392 00:18:09,990 --> 00:18:11,500 Reed Galen: just to sit at desks. 393 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:13,540 Bryan Schott: I agree with that 100%. 394 00:18:13,780 --> 00:18:14,940 Bryan Schott: Last thing I wanna ask you, Reed, 395 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,000 Bryan Schott: you are a resident here in Utah. 396 00:18:17,130 --> 00:18:18,760 Bryan Schott: You live up in the Park City area. 397 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:22,040 Bryan Schott: What do you make of the blue tsunami 398 00:18:22,540 --> 00:18:25,700 Bryan Schott: actually impacting things here in Utah last night? 399 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:27,740 Bryan Schott: It looks like the Democrats might, 400 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:29,520 Bryan Schott: they have a really good chance 401 00:18:29,530 --> 00:18:32,440 Bryan Schott: of breaking the Republican supermajority in the House. 402 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:34,840 Bryan Schott: for the first time since 1992. 403

00:18:36,390 --> 00:18:42,000 Bryan Schott: The 1992 election is the last time the Republicans did not have at least 50 seats in the House. 404 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,400 Bryan Schott: They're on track to flip around 13 of them right now. 405 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,380 Bryan Schott: Utah's probably going to elect a couple of independents to the House. 406 00:18:49,820 --> 00:18:54,000 Bryan Schott: They've never elected a nonpartisan candidate to the legislature. 407 00:18:54,380 --> 00:18:55,680 Bryan Schott: Looks like we're going to get two of them. 408 00:18:55,930 --> 00:19:01,680 Bryan Schott: And they were the only candidate running against a Republican. 409 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,320 Bryan Schott: What's your take on this state, 410 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:14,900 Bryan Schott: the solidly GOP state voting that way and basically catching this wave that was sweeping across the entire country? 411 00:19:15,860 --> 00:19:18,920 Reed Galen: I think a lot of it comes down to two words, Bryan, 412 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:23,160 Reed Galen: arrogance and corruption or the appearance of corruption or self-dealing, 413 00:19:23,390 --> 00:19:25,960 Reed Galen: whatever whatever euphemism you want to use. 414 00:19:25,980 --> 00:19:28,340 Reed Galen: if you don't want to go all the way to just flat out bribery, 415 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:30,180 Reed Galen: that, 416 00:19:30,550 --> 00:19:30,660 Reed Galen: yeah, 417 00:19:30,860 --> 00:19:30,920 Reed Galen: look, 418 00:19:31,540 --> 00:19:32,040 Reed Galen: in this state, 419 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,620 Reed Galen: voters really don't have much of an option in a lot of places. 420 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:36,480 Reed Galen: And they said, well, 421 00:19:36,940 --> 00:19:38,080 Reed Galen: I don't want you anymore. 422 00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:41,080 Reed Galen: And so if I got to vote for that person, because that's the only other 423 00:19:41,300 --> 00:19:42,920 Reed Galen: option I got, that's the person I want. 424 00:19:43,420 --> 00:19:44,640 Reed Galen: Because as you said, 425 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:45,860 Reed Galen: you know, this has been, 426 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:46,660 Reed Galen: I've been in 427 00:19:46,670 --> 00:19:50,300 Reed Galen: this state 11 years, and the 11 years I've been here, Bryan, this is a dictatorship of the 428 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:50,780 Reed Galen: legislature, 429 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:51,620 Reed Galen: right? 430 00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:54,400 Reed Galen: The governor has to go along to get along, 431 00:19:54,690 --> 00:19:55,440 Reed Galen: because he's going to get, 432 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:56,080 Reed Galen: You know, 433 00:19:56,420 --> 00:19:58,900 Reed Galen: if if if something he vetoes something, 434 00:19:59,480 --> 00:19:59,620 Reed Galen: you know, 435 00:19:59,780 --> 00:20:00,940 Reed Galen: it's going to get overturned. 436 00:20:01,630 --> 00:20:04,760 Reed Galen: I think that you saw with what's his name, 437 00:20:05,260 --> 00:20:07,500 Reed Galen: the the Senate president. 438 00:20:08,050 --> 00:20:08,180 Reed Galen: Right. 439 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,080 Reed Galen: I think you saw Adam. Thank you. 440 00:20:10,780 --> 00:20:11,280 Reed Galen: Stuart Adams. 441 00:20:11,850 --> 00:20:13,600 Reed Galen: He lost, I think, because of corruption, 442 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:15,460 Reed Galen: because of self-dealing and arrogance. 443 00:20:15,890 --> 00:20:16,600 Reed Galen: I think that, 444 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,500 Reed Galen: you know, we shouldn't overlook the you know, 445 00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:25,400 Reed Galen: the the both the public lands and the and the the data center. 446 00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:25,860 Reed Galen: issues, 447 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:26,780 Reed Galen: which is, 448 00:20:27,180 --> 00:20:29,480 Reed Galen: no, we don't want these things in our houses. 449 00:20:29,710 --> 00:20:29,840 Reed Galen: No, 450 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:31,620 Reed Galen: we don't want mining concerns 451 00:20:31,940 --> 00:20:33,880 Reed Galen: going into Grand Staircase Escalante. 452 00:20:34,580 --> 00:20:35,500 Reed Galen: And they showed, 453 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,720 Reed Galen: the Utah people showed, I think, what they 454 00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:38,520 Reed Galen: always have, which is, 455 00:20:39,110 --> 00:20:39,320 Reed Galen: you know, 456 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:41,320 Reed Galen: a level of common decency, 457 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:42,900 Reed Galen: which I've always found in the years that 458 00:20:42,940 --> 00:20:43,400 Reed Galen: I've lived here. 459 00:20:43,980 --> 00:20:44,320 Reed Galen: But also, 460 00:20:45,540 --> 00:20:46,840 Reed Galen: as you know, as conservatives, 461 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:47,960 Reed Galen: small C conservatives, 462 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:48,820 Reed Galen: they don't 463 00:20:48,940 --> 00:20:49,820 Reed Galen: like massed power, 464 00:20:50,650 --> 00:20:50,800 Reed Galen: right? 465 00:20:51,020 --> 00:20:54,280 Reed Galen: The whole idea of conservative, remember back in the day how 466 00:20:54,300 --> 00:20:56,900 Reed Galen: quaint it feels now, Bryan, like local control, 467 00:20:57,820 --> 00:20:59,580 Reed Galen: right? We don't want people in Salt Lake City 468 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:01,020 Reed Galen: making decisions for us. 469 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:04,640 Reed Galen: We don't want those unelected bureaucrats in the Capitol deciding 470 00:21:04,820 --> 00:21:06,000 Reed Galen: how we're going to live our lives. 471 00:21:06,540 --> 00:21:09,040 Reed Galen: Well, that's what the legislature has done since 1992. 472 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,320 Reed Galen: And I think it finally came home to roost. 473 00:21:12,620 --> 00:21:17,300 Reed Galen: Do I think it's a broader indictment of the Utah 474 00:21:17,620 --> 00:21:21,060 Reed Galen: legislature? I think it's too soon to say, but I think there's certainly room to grow there. 475 00:21:21,940 --> 00:21:23,100 Bryan Schott: I

appreciate your perspective. 476 00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:24,500 Bryan Schott: I've mentioned your other projects. 477 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,660 Bryan Schott: I've neglected to ask you about your new project, Civic Forum. 478 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:34,140 Bryan Schott: Talk about what you're doing there because it's really a fascinating idea, 479 00:21:34,330 --> 00:21:36,820 Bryan Schott: and I'm glad that someone is doing this. 480 00:21:38,140 --> 00:21:38,960 Reed Galen: Yeah, no, thank you. 481 00:21:39,020 --> 00:21:48,740 Reed Galen: So Civic Forum, Bryan, came from the idea of watching too many people like Alex Karp or Sam Altman or choose your banker, 482 00:21:49,380 --> 00:21:49,480 Reed Galen: you know, 483 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:50,340 Reed Galen: Jamie Dimon, 484 00:21:50,770 --> 00:21:51,680 Reed Galen: sitting on a stage, 485 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,240 Reed Galen: you know, with a smug look on their face in New York City, 486 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:55,460 Reed Galen: talking to, 487 00:21:56,040 --> 00:22:03,100 Reed Galen: you know, a famous moderator in front of a couple thousand other elites about how the world works and how they know better than everybody. 488 00:22:03,220 --> 00:22:06,560 Reed Galen: And I said, why is it that only these people get to hear from really smart people? 489 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:08,320 Reed Galen: And so for me, 490 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:09,960 Reed Galen: my annoyance became an idea. 491 00:22:10,180 --> 00:22:10,920 Reed Galen: And that idea is, 492 00:22:11,340 --> 00:22:12,220 Reed Galen: let's take smart people. 493 00:22:12,420 --> 00:22:13,760 Reed Galen: Maybe they're not the most famous people. 494 00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:14,260 Reed Galen: Fine. 495 00:22:14,820 --> 00:22:16,320 Reed Galen: But in this time, 496 00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:21,020 Reed Galen: right, I think we have the next 18 months that is going to be the most 497 00:22:21,460 --> 00:22:23,120 Reed Galen: wide open ideologically, 498 00:22:23,340 --> 00:22:23,760 Reed Galen: culturally, 499 00:22:24,020 --> 00:22:24,440 Reed Galen: economically, 500 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,620 Reed Galen: politically that this country seen as we saw 501 00:22:27,820 --> 00:22:30,900 Reed Galen: last night in a long time and that we might see again, as you noted, 502 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:31,820 Reed Galen: in our lifetimes. 503 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:41,500 Reed Galen: Why aren't we using that time now to get out and talk to people not in New York City or Washington, D.C. or L.A., but in Toledo or Pittsburgh or Orangeburg, 504 00:22:41,660 --> 00:22:42,060 Reed Galen: South Carolina, 505 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:43,360 Reed Galen: Albuquerque, New Mexico? 506 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,920 Reed Galen: And so, you know, I've already started. I've been to Richmond, 507 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:46,240 Reed Galen: Virginia. 508 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:47,460 Reed Galen: I've been to Columbia, 509 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:48,200 Reed Galen: South Carolina. 510 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:49,660 Reed Galen: I'm going to Georgia. 511 00:22:49,940 --> 00:22:50,860 Reed Galen: I'm going to New Hampshire. 512 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,100 Reed Galen: And we're going to we're going to have these conversations about these issues. 513 00:22:55,860 --> 00:22:57,500 Reed Galen: And a friend of mine said, 514 00:22:57,820 --> 00:23:01,500 Reed Galen: you know, in a conversation the other day, you know, hard conversations are supposed to be hard. 515 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:09,560 Reed Galen: and it's not that i'm antithetical to this whole disagree better stuff Bryan but like i think it's 516 00:23:09,670 --> 00:23:14,840 Reed Galen: okay to disagree i think it's okay to have a perspective and for your perspective to be here's 517 00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:19,620 Reed Galen: what i believe do you believe that if you don't what is it okay if you don't have an idea then 518 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:26,220 Reed Galen: let's figure it out but i think also we have to get rid of a lot of the sort of happy talk and 519 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,060 Reed Galen: artifice that occupies so much of our discourse. 520 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,460 Reed Galen: It's like, oh, we have a wealth gap. 521 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:32,980 Reed Galen: No, we don't. 522 00:23:34,860 --> 00:23:38,600 Reed Galen: Talking about a wealth gap assumes that people on both ends of that spectrum have wealth. 523 00:23:39,020 --> 00:23:40,740 Reed Galen: Only one end of that spectrum has wealth. 524 00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:42,520 Reed Galen: The other people don't have enough money. 525 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:48,360 Reed Galen: And I think that what we're seeing now is where I have been, you have people who are willing to 526 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:51,740 Reed Galen: talk. They want to talk about the issues that are facing us. 527 00:23:52,110 --> 00:23:54,200 Reed Galen: But I think, too, we have to have a 528 00:23:54,180 --> 00:23:56,600 Reed Galen: whole different conversation about where we're going here. 529 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:57,940 Reed Galen: I think that, you know, 530 00:23:58,120 --> 00:23:58,600 Reed Galen: if you think 531 00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:00,340 Reed Galen: that the FDR era, 532 00:24:01,180 --> 00:24:02,820 Reed Galen: you know, to be a history nerd here for a second, 533 00:24:02,980 --> 00:24:03,100 Reed Galen: Bryan, 534 00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:04,400 Reed Galen: lasted from about 1933 535 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:05,760 Reed Galen: to about 1975. 536 00:24:07,180 --> 00:24:09,780 Reed Galen: And now from 1975 to let's say 2015, 537 00:24:10,740 --> 00:24:11,740 Reed Galen: right, we had this sort of, 538 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:12,500 Reed Galen: you know, 539 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:13,480 Reed Galen: neoliberal, 540 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:14,040 Reed Galen: you know, 541 00:24:14,360 --> 00:24:15,480 Reed Galen: globalization era, 542 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:16,620 Reed Galen: deindustrialization. 543 00:24:16,820

--> 00:24:18,360 Reed Galen: Trump has been God knows 544 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:19,440 Reed Galen: what, but the rich have got, 545 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,380 Reed Galen: the only, the only constant in that is that the rich have gotten 546 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,100 Reed Galen: richer and everybody else has been left behind. 547 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:26,860 Reed Galen: Is that the system that we should still be operating 548 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:27,160 Reed Galen: under? 549 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:29,740 Reed Galen: I was even talking to a guy, 550 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,120 Reed Galen: frankly, as a donor of mine, as a private equity guy. I said, 551 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:34,820 Reed Galen: do you really think that in 2026, 552 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,340 Reed Galen: we can have the same discussions about American economic life that 553 00:24:38,420 --> 00:24:39,860 Reed Galen: we've been having for the last 50 years? 554 00:24:40,540 --> 00:24:41,560 Reed Galen: Nothing is the same. 555 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,200 Reed Galen: Why would we keep having those 556 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:43,580 Reed Galen: discussions? 557 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:44,700 Reed Galen: Here's a big one. 558 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:47,080 Reed Galen: Let's say that AI does continue to grow. 559 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:48,380 Reed Galen: Like, Bryan, what are we 560 00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:49,020 Reed Galen: going to do with all the people? 561 00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:53,020 Reed Galen: Like, it seems to me that we only talk about one side of that ledger. 562 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:57,140 Reed Galen: Like, oh, it's got the ability to build data centers and do this and do that and maybe blow 563 00:24:57,260 --> 00:24:57,620 Reed Galen: up the world. 564 00:24:58,080 --> 00:24:58,180 Reed Galen: Okay. 565 00:24:58,420 --> 00:25:00,900 Reed Galen: But it's also going to put all these people out of work. It could put millions 566 00:25:00,940 --> 00:25:02,180 Reed Galen: and millions of people out of work. Like, 567 00:25:02,860 --> 00:25:03,840 Reed Galen: are they going to starve to death? 568 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:04,720 Reed Galen: Like, 569 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:05,420 Reed Galen: what's the outcome? 570 00:25:05,940 --> 00:25:10,480 Reed Galen: And of course, nobody wants to talk about that because the answer is probably something that I 571 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,520 Reed Galen: would guess vested interests don't like. 572 00:25:12,820 --> 00:25:12,920 Reed Galen: Well, 573 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:13,620 Reed Galen: too bad. 574 00:25:14,540 --> 00:25:17,200 Reed Galen: And so, you know, Civic Forum is an 575 00:25:17,220 --> 00:25:19,900 Reed Galen: attempt to really start to strip away, 576 00:25:20,580 --> 00:25:20,780 Reed Galen: you know, 577 00:25:20,940 --> 00:25:21,740 Reed Galen: the BS that, 578 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:23,600 Reed Galen: you know, occupies so much stuff and 579 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:24,500 Reed Galen: ask real questions, 580

00:25:24,740 --> 00:25:25,220 Reed Galen: hard questions, 581 00:25:25,740 --> 00:25:29,120 Reed Galen: and then create a cadre of people across the country who can then 582 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:31,360 Reed Galen: ask those questions of people who would wish to lead us. 583 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:32,660 Reed Galen: And I think that, 584 00:25:33,180 --> 00:25:33,400 Reed Galen: you know, 585 00:25:33,980 --> 00:25:34,120 Reed Galen: we, 586 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:34,900 Reed Galen: if, 587 00:25:35,020 --> 00:25:36,560 Reed Galen: if somebody goes to a state, 588 00:25:37,100 --> 00:25:40,700 Reed Galen: you know, let's say they want to be president and they get up on a 589 00:25:40,820 --> 00:25:41,760 Reed Galen: stage and they talk about, 590 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,020 Reed Galen: oh, we're going to destroy the ballroom or I'm going to fix the 591 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:45,640 Reed Galen: Oval Office, 592 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:46,660 Reed Galen: sorry, 593 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:47,500 Reed Galen: disqualified. 594 00:25:47,860 --> 00:25:48,980 Reed Galen: It's not serious enough. 595 00:25:49,660 --> 00:25:51,000 Reed Galen: Like, I don't, you know, like, fine, 596 00:25:51,260 --> 00:25:51,600 Reed Galen: fix the 597 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:52,920 Reed Galen: Oval Office. I don't really care. 598 00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:54,420 Reed Galen: Nobody's tearing down the ballroom. 599 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:54,920 Reed Galen: It's BS. 600 00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:56,280 Reed Galen: If somebody builds it, 601 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,620 Reed Galen: nobody's tearing it down so you can spend more money to rebuild, 602 00:25:59,240 --> 00:25:59,860 Reed Galen: right? I'm sorry. 603 00:26:00,060 --> 00:26:00,340 Reed Galen: That's the 604 00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:00,560 Reed Galen: truth. 605 00:26:01,260 --> 00:26:02,360 Reed Galen: And so I think, 606 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:03,360 Reed Galen: to me, 607 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,820 Reed Galen: it is like, let's take this opportunity. 608 00:26:06,180 --> 00:26:07,340 Reed Galen: Because if we don't take 609 00:26:07,340 --> 00:26:07,800 Reed Galen: it now, 610 00:26:08,540 --> 00:26:10,140 Reed Galen: and the same people who've been in charge, 611 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:11,700 Reed Galen: Republican, Democrat, 612 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:12,280 Reed Galen: or otherwise, 613 00:26:12,540 --> 00:26:13,000 Reed Galen: are going to 614 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,660 Reed Galen: keep being in charge and saying, no, no, no, everything's really okay, 615 00:26:16,060 --> 00:26:17,640 Reed Galen: then my worry is that 616 00:26:17,820 --> 00:26:17,920 Reed Galen: in, 617 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,380 Reed Galen: say, not 2028, but maybe 2032, 618 00:26:20,860 --> 00:26:22,920 Reed Galen: we're going to get something worse than we've got now. 619 00:26:23,799 --> 00:26:28,020 Reed Galen: And the answer to chaos is not calm necessarily. 620 00:26:28,580 --> 00:26:32,800 Reed Galen: And the answer to a system that we all came up in 621 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:37,480 Reed Galen: that no longer works is not, well, let's try and put the education department back the way it was. 622 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,680 Reed Galen: And so Civic Forum will not only be live events, 623 00:26:40,860 --> 00:26:42,920 Reed Galen: we're going to put out information so people 624 00:26:42,940 --> 00:26:43,980 Reed Galen: can have their own meetings. 625 00:26:44,620 --> 00:26:45,060 Reed Galen: Yes, 626 00:26:45,340 --> 00:26:46,100 Reed Galen: you mentioned the podcast. 627 00:26:46,340 --> 00:26:47,580 Reed Galen: The podcast is relaunching 628 00:26:48,140 --> 00:26:50,120 Reed Galen: next month or next week. 629 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:50,680 Reed Galen: Sorry. 630 00:26:51,380 --> 00:26:52,660 Reed Galen: Under the Civic Forum banner, 631 00:26:52,860 --> 00:26:54,420 Reed Galen: I will have all sorts of fascinating 632 00:26:54,620 --> 00:26:54,800 Reed Galen: guests. 633 00:26:55,470 --> 00:26:56,560 Reed Galen: And so I'm very excited. 634 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:57,480 Reed Galen: I'm hitting the road. 635 00:26:58,140 --> 00:26:58,260 Reed Galen: You know, 636 00:26:58,500 --> 00:26:59,440 Reed Galen: I love talking to people. 637 00:26:59,620 --> 00:26:59,980 Reed Galen: I've been 638 00:27:00,340 --> 00:27:01,400 Reed Galen: I've been to 48 states, 639 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,380 Reed Galen: so I'm hoping I can get to Kentucky and North Dakota on this deal. 640 00:27:05,830 --> 00:27:05,980 Reed Galen: Those 641 00:27:05,980 --> 00:27:06,720 Reed Galen: are my last two. 642 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:10,220 Reed Galen: And I'm really excited about it. I certainly appreciate you asking. Go to 643 00:27:10,220 --> 00:27:12,160 Reed Galen: civicforum.org. We're a nonprofit. 644 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,080 Reed Galen: Certainly always could use the help keeping us on the road 645 00:27:15,260 --> 00:27:17,320 Reed Galen: and certainly hope to be able to talk about it again. 646 00:27:17,580 --> 00:27:19,220 Bryan Schott: Well, I think that this idea that you've 647 00:27:19,380 --> 00:27:21,840 Bryan Schott: had a pit upon, I think that there's a hunger out there for that. 648 00:27:22,060 --> 00:27:23,800 Bryan Schott: I think people want to be 649 00:27:24,679 --> 00:27:27,900 Bryan Schott: knowledgeable about what's happening in there in the country, 650 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:29,160 Bryan Schott: what's happening with their 651 00:27:29,460 --> 00:27:31,540 Bryan Schott: government. I really think that there's a hunger out there. 652 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:34,340 Bryan Schott: And this is at least one way to help 653 00:27:34,620 --> 00:27:39,180 Bryan Schott: feed that. And one of the reasons I do this live stream is because people come in and they want to 654 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:45,480 Bryan Schott: ask questions about what the hell is happening and how government works that people want to 655 00:27:45,740 --> 00:27:46,200 Bryan Schott: understand. 656 00:27:46,820 --> 00:27:51,900 Bryan Schott: And if you meet people where they are and offer them intelligent conversations, 657 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,660 Bryan Schott: I don't think that you can really go wrong. So that's why I'm really excited about this project. 658 00:27:56,780 --> 00:27:57,940 Bryan Schott: And I'm giving you really, 659 00:27:58,380 --> 00:28:02,400 Bryan Schott: really big kudos for launching it because I think it's something that 660 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:03,300 Bryan Schott: we really need. 661 00:28:03,940 --> 00:28:04,820 Reed Galen: Thank you so much, Bryan. 662 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,220 Reed Galen: Always great to be with you. Where can people find you 663 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:07,600 Bryan Schott: on social, 664 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:09,000 Bryan Schott: especially your TikTok. 665 00:28:09,310 --> 00:28:11,120 Bryan Schott: We need to get you some more followers there. 666 00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:11,260 Bryan Schott: Oh, yeah. 667 00:28:11,790 --> 00:28:11,880 Reed Galen: Okay. 668 00:28:12,010 --> 00:28:12,100 Reed Galen: So, 669 00:28:12,260 --> 00:28:12,320 Reed Galen: yeah. 670 00:28:12,460 --> 00:28:18,660 Reed Galen: Most places at Reed Galen, R-E-E-D-G-A-L-E-N, except for Meta Products, 671 00:28:19,420 --> 00:28:20,500 Reed Galen: at Reed underscore 672 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:21,800 Reed Galen: Galen USA. 673 00:28:22,140 --> 00:28:22,240 Reed Galen: Yes, 674 00:28:22,420 --> 00:28:25,140 Reed Galen: I am bad at this. 675 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:26,860 Reed Galen: I'm good at Twitter. 676 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:28,140 Reed Galen: I'm bad at everything else. 677 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:29,320 Reed Galen: So please be gentle. 678 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:30,020 Bryan Schott: Anyway. 679 00:28:30,430 --> 00:28:30,520 Bryan Schott: Okay. 680 00:28:30,610 --> 00:28:30,700 Bryan Schott: Well, 681 00:28:30,860 --> 00:28:32,400 Bryan Schott: thanks for your time so much, Reed. 682 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,040 Bryan Schott: It's been a pleasure to have you on, and we'll talk to you again soon. 683 00:28:35,740 --> 00:28:36,100 Reed Galen: Thanks, Bryan. 684 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:36,500 Bryan Schott: All right. 685 00:28:36,570 --> 00:28:36,660 Bryan Schott: Cheers.