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The next is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Mark Warner, chair of Senate Intelligence committee, that aired on Nov. 12, 2023.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re again now with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner of the state of Virginia. And the Democrats were- had been celebrating what occurred in Virginia this previous week together with your elections. You mentioned it was- you instructed the White Home, what occurred in Virginia was the primary election of the 2024 nationwide election cycle. What do you imply by that?
SEN. MARK WARNER: Effectively, I meant that whereas there was loads of concentrate on the Wisconsin Supreme Courtroom race, the Ohio abortion query, and Virginia, a purple state, the place not solely abortion, however gun rights, voting rights had been all on the poll by way of Democrats’ positions versus the Republicans’. And I feel it units the stage effectively for the President. And I feel one of many issues that has not gotten into the evaluation, I imply, clearly abortion was a giant difficulty. However I additionally assume Virginia, very reliant on the federal authorities, and loads of protection institution, loads of federal employees. I feel the general craziness that is come out of the Home of Representatives left a message that even when the Republicans in Virginia would attempt to seem reasonable, I feel Virginians had been afraid in the event that they acquired complete management of the state authorities, it could be the extremists, the MAGA crowd, that will drive the bus the identical method that is taking place, sadly, on the nationwide degree. And I feel that performed into the Democrats, you understand, taking again the Home, holding the Senate and stopping a few of that agenda.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the President’s personal approval score is low. So, when folks draw a direct line and say Democrats did effectively right here, so due to this fact, a yr from now, President Biden’s coasting to victory. Do you agree with that? Or do Democrats have a Biden downside on condition that his approval scores are- are usually not excessive?
SEN. WARNER: The president’s approval scores are powerful; I’m the primary to acknowledge that. However I additionally assume the President has repeatedly mentioned, on the finish of the day, this isn’t a alternative between Joe Biden and an ideal various, notably if the selection is between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. I feel Virginians- I feel People will reject that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That additionally comes right down to a query of enthusiasm and turnout, proper? In tight elections. And we have seen some notably younger progressives, on this difficulty, we have been speaking about Israel and Gaza, be very vocal of their frustration. And in tight races, states, like Michigan matter so much. And there are over 200,000 Muslim People in that state. Do you see this divide on this difficulty hurting the President with Democrats?
SEN. WARNER: I feel it has a possible to and that is why I feel all of us are urging Israel. Clearly Israel has the correct to defend itself, has the correct to take out Hamas. Hamas is holding most of the Palestinians, folks utilizing them as shields. However we also- these photos in your present as we speak. They’re horrific. So, what Israel has to appreciate, and because of this we have been pushing for these pauses, why we have been pushing to make it possible for the settler violence on the West Financial institution is managed. This can be a battle for hearts and minds for Israel, not only a army battle. And people hearts and minds go throughout our nation. They go throughout the area. And in the event that they are- if there’s no more consideration about Palestinian casualties, you may see this already tragic occasion, spill over into violence on the West Financial institution, popping out of Lebanon, and clearly making it more durable in America to keep up our conventional assist for Israel.
MARGARET BRENNAN: America’s Israel’s primary arms supplier. That is what we do. So, does one thing want to vary by way of this potential assist bundle that’s being debated within the Senate?
SEN. WARNER: Effectively, I feel questions have been raised about how this assist might be used. I’ve raised a few of these questions privately. We additionally need to pair that with humanitarian help. And that’s completely crucial. We have, once more, seen these horrific photos. However I additionally assume as we take into consideration this bundle, we additionally want to appreciate I hear loads of the Republicans who need to bash Iran, bash Iran, bash Iran, and I get it, alright. The Iranians are unhealthy guys. However they then appear to overlook the connection between Iran and Russia, and a few of these exact same people who need to assist Israel, however then need to stroll away from Ukraine. I feel strolling away from Ukraine at the moment could be a historic mistake that will pay unfavourable repercussions actually for years to return.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you assured that bundle, Ukraine and Israel and border and Taiwan, can cross?
SEN. WARNER: I am assured if we will put all these items collectively. And I imagine that not solely cash, however we do must make some coverage modifications on border. The satan’s within the particulars, however I feel if we get that bundle mixed, it would undoubtedly cross.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll take a break and are available again and speak to you on the opposite aspect of it. So, please stick with us senator. We have now extra Face the Nation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Nation. We proceed our dialog now with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia. You- in your place as head of the Intelligence Committee have been cracking loads of the competitors with China, notably within the expertise house. The White Home appears to be very targeted on reestablishing army to army ties with China. What are you looking ahead to out of this summit with Xi Jinping?
SEN. WARNER: Effectively, I do assume reestablishing these army ties or communications are essential. As a result of we noticed once we shot down the Chinese language balloon, no person picked up the cellphone on the opposite finish. And in contrast to Russia, the place we have had 75 years of conflicts, however numerous back-channel communications, as a result of our- our contest with China is newer, we do not have that degree of communication. So, I feel that is essential to be reestablished. I additionally assume the President must push President Xi on the persevering with mental property theft, that some years accounts for near $500 billion of mental property being stolen. And I firmly imagine once we’ve seen no retreat from China, by way of its degree of expertise funding, I completely imagine that nationwide safety within the twenty first century is greater than tanks and weapons. It’s who wins the battle for synthetic intelligence and quantum computing, and superior power that the extent of Chinese language funding, for instance, on uncommon earth minerals popping out of Africa is big. And we want to have the ability to counter that with America and with our buddies.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you need guardrails, I imagined, setup with China on synthetic intelligence and the like. However legislating round loads of that is actually onerous, and never transferring in a short time.
SEN. WARNER: Effectively Margaret, let me let you know, I did the invoice that was terribly bipartisan. 13 and 13, Democrats, Republicans about saying we want an strategy that is not merely targeted on TikTok however on all international expertise that may pose a nationwide safety danger from China or Russia or Iran. And abruptly, we had the extremes on each the left and the correct come out in opposition to that laws. It wants to maneuver. As a result of, notably now, as you see, actually 40% of younger folks get all their information from TikTok. So, I hope these sorts of points will be- we will get some power behind them now coming after this summit. However this expertise competitors, we have had army rivals like Russia, we have by no means had an economy- it is making the investments the way in which China is in these new expertise domains.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Microsoft this week got here out with a report that mentioned Russia, Iran and China will intrude within the 2024 presidential race. Not- they had been sure about this, and different shut presidential races worldwide. Is your laws going to cease one thing like that?
SEN. WARNER: I feel our laws will tackle a problem like a TikTok, which is, I’m afraid, could possibly be used as a propaganda channel. For the CCP, the Communist Celebration of China and my beef is with the CCP. It isn’t with the Chinese language folks with the Chinese language diaspora. However round synthetic intelligence, the place I feel we should be humble, as a result of candidly, we have executed nothing on any guardrails on social media and on expertise writ massive. The 2 areas the place synthetic intelligence may have huge unfavourable impact tomorrow is interfering in our public elections. But it surely additionally may have a instrument by way of interfering in our public markets. And I have been stunned we have not seen extra manipulation, for instance, of shares utilizing AI instruments. So my hope is probably we will get a coalition between those that favor ensuring public markets and honoring a good and with in addition to those that are involved about interference in our elections to construct the type of coalition as a result of taking up massive tech, I have been there for years and acquired a just about zero document and no person in Congress has acquired a superb document on this. I feel we want that type of coalition as a result of the election interference could possibly be huge.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In a short time- is that Washington Submit report that Ukraine was behind the assault on Nord Stream correct and is attacking civilian infrastructure acceptable?
SEN. WARNER: Margaret, I am not going to touch upon something that comes out of categorized intelligence. We do know that Russia has a historical past of misinformation and disinformation, however we’ll proceed to observe that difficulty.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, thanks to your time as we speak.
SEN. WARNER: Thanks.
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