it can :00 a.m., the house returns for work on a bill that would block certain transactions in relation to passenger aircraft to.. -- to iran. ♪ host: good morning. 1 is wednesday, november 6, 2016. the senate is set to reconvene at 2:30 p.m. one week removed from america waking up to a president-elect donald trump. setoth parties in congress their leadership lineups and we are the congress -- asking our viewers today, what do you want to see from your members of congress when it comes to dealing with the trump administration?

our phone lines are open this morning. democrats can call 202-748-8000. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. you can also catch up with us on social media, on twitter, on facebook. good wednesday morning to you. how should congress work with president-elect trump? some comments already coming into our facebook page this morning. katie writeson -- in -- below that, john scott -- from bill kingt

-- we want to hear from you come on twitter and on the phones as well. .emocrats, 202-748-8000 republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. in both chambers are holding their leadership elections, going through the process of choosing those leaders to lead them in the 115th congress. we turn to elana schor from politico. good morning to you. guest: been morning, john. -- good morning, john. host: house gop conference held their elections. they walked into a room with

"make america great again" hats on the chairs there. release set the tone because we have a happy house gop conference. they are expanding rally at this point because their losses were quite minimal and they were prepared to lose as many as 20 seats. paul ryan has struggled for basically the whole year since he was elected to win over conservatives. host: four paul ryan, the process does not end yesterday. run through what happens from here. guest: it was just house republicans. in order to be speaker of the house, he has to pass a floor vote. he has to get a majority of members voting in both parties.

house republicans lost less than expected. it is technically another hurdle he has to climb. host: run through the results from yesterday. these are mostly familiar faces. guest: certainly. the most surprising vote was on the democratic side. pelosi has continued to the factcongress -- that it is under consideration is a sign of how rattled and uncertain they are p. host: this was originally expected to happen tomorrow. correct? guest: yes. it was. they met today and it was unclear whether they would hold a vote.

it happened very fast and they tried to delay it. 20 member signed onto to a letter asking pelosi to delay. it doesn't seem like a lot, but given her reputation, it was a lot. we don't know all the folks leading the charge. ryan says he is stepping up because people are asking him to. gallegog we heard ruben and set molten that -- host: there was some discussion before the election, a challenge from the conservative freedom caucus. do they have a voice in the house republican leadership? they don't have a voice in the higher echelon of the ranks, but they have a lot of allies there. they're very close with doug collins, the vice-chairman.

they are looking at reforms for the house republicans during committee, the group of folks to pick the leaders. host: those elections taking place today. any surprises there that we are looking for? surprise in the senate will be what patty murray does. as late as yesterday come as she was unwilling to tell dick durbin has had a love-hate relationship with schumer. him,rray tries to leapfrog that at serious tension -- adds

serious tension. , a bigrepublican side election for them, they are not making any changes unless they feel like they have to. they had a great election day. only losing two seats. host: elana schor of politico. politico.com is where you can see her work. we are asking our viewers, how should congress work with president-elect trump? democrats, 202-748-8000. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. doris is up first from chicago, illinois. a democrat. doris, good morning. caller: good morning. i do have a message for democrats. they need to stiffen their

americand put some steel, a rod up there so they can stand straight and they need to become the party of no. republicans were the party of no for eight years. they are, they are controlling all three branches of government. president obama and the democrats proposed infrastructure builds for eight years and republican said no. president obama proposed a jobs bill and republican said no. thinks they can bow down and work with his party will findand misogyny themselves in big trouble in 2018. that sentiment is out there. democrats better listen to the message or they will be in more trouble than they ever were. host: being a party of no works and gets a party back in power?

we will go to steve in california. independent. good morning. caller: good morning. i have a difficult topic to it involves white slavery. my issue with the new president would be employment. to make be a good cause sure white slavery does not impose any sanctions in this country. and that globally, it is eliminated. it affects all human mankind. host: what is white slavery? explain that. indecent behavior, treating of human beings for whatever reason, giving them nothing at all.

it does happen in the united states. it's been going on for more than hundreds of years. it still does happen in this country. host: sean here in washington, d.c. a democrat. caller: what your previous caller was talking about was human trafficking. with thishould work president-elect who knows very little about the federal government. to hear paul ryan expels his ouse his agenda, he did very little to assist the current sitting president. it will be interesting to see with thework president-elect and how aggressive or assertive they are getting the republican agenda through.

you will be interesting to see put theirngress imprint on this president. host: one of our previous callers on our line for democrats said she wants to see the democratic party become the party of no. do you think that is something that would be effective for democrats? caller: i think it will. 112-114, the republicans were the party of no. they were the obstructionist congress. filibusterd the new where those who were out of could not filibuster certain legislation coming through congress. i think they should be the party of no. host: is the lesson from this

election being the party of no can win majorities back in congress and the white house? caller: i think so. what the democrats have to do, they have to be as mean and as nasty as the republicans. the republicans did not get anything done under this president, who has a real positive agenda. we need someone like you mitch mcconnell who basically spent makeyears trying to president obama a one term president. how can we continue to send people at the specter congress? -- like this back to congress? host: did you think that was bad for government when that was happening? caller: i thought it was horrific for government.

it has showed that the republicans who lost power weren't willing to govern the as according to the constitution. host: yet come of that strategy is something you want to see democrats take? caller: congress in general has been derelict of duty. under george w. bush, they were derelict. under this current president, they were derelict of duty. republicans really showed their hand. they weren't willing to work with president obama. it's hillary would have been elected, that would have been the first thing out of the mouth s of mcconnell and ryan and all the other republican sitting up there. you cannot continue to govern the country in this manner. an have more people here th

-- one in five our food deprived. what's really troubling about this election is the number of seen hatee they've and discontent -- but does the, ,ilver spring -- bethesda silver spring, the hate and discontent is beginning to rear its ugly head. host: line for republicans. , fortin hollywood appeared good morning. -- hollywood, fort appeared good florida. good morning. caller: hillary clinton said she wanted more jobs for more people. especially women. but, if you hear what she was talking -- donald trump one a

jobs for everyone. in the african-american community and the hispanic community, which is more dominant in my area, there are more women and more african-american women that are more dominant in the work area. hillary clinton was mostly speaking on caucasian people moreshe said she wanted jobs for women. because come in my area, more males have less jobs. happy for donald trump. .voted for donald trump hillary clinton was a big feminist and was not for all, she was more for women. host: greg in louisiana. independent. what advice would you give to your member of congress when it

comes to working with or not working with the incoming trump administration? worked in the energy industry for 25 years and i'm pretty well on my predictions of politics. term limits will be imposed. that will cause everybody to roll up their shirtsleeves and go to work for their constituents so they leave a legacy of their name in congress or on the hill. the point of it is going to become a it is not going to be a dictatorship like a lot of people are afraid of. things are going to be run like a business. trade and other things. dealing with other countries. of they optimistic future. i believe both sides will work together to finally get this

country out of the ditch that we are in. after the war, it is just like after vietnam -- there's a lot of soldiers but come home and are out of work. it's a mess. host: why so sure about term limits? how does he get congress to pass legislation that would limit themselves -- caller: they have to take the money out of politics. we had a senator from louisiana -- he stayed in there as long as he possibly could, then he made a deal with the drug companies, took $5 million cash up front as a starting bonus, not to mention his pay, to go to work as an advisor for a pharmaceutical company --

host: you're talking about the revolving door here? caller: exactly. we have to take the money out of politics. the only way to do that is through term limits. when people know they only have a certain amount of time to be in that office, whether it is the house of representatives or in the senate, they know it is a legacy. that they want to uphold and be proud of. they will do the best that they can. host: some tweets from members of congress yesterday. talking about working with or not working with the trump administration. first up from cathy mcmorris --gers a comment from john shimkus.

bernie sanders with a tweet yesterday -- those go tweets -- those coat tweets from harry reid -- him -- tweet from bannon, a reference to donald trump's newly appointed top

political adviser, stephen bannon. getting a lot of attention from democrats and several groups outside of congress. the anti-defamation league has long identified anti-semites and racists who look on the internet and in underground hate groups that condemned a leader of that -- theon the internet anti-defamation league said that strongly oppose the appointment .f steve annan strongly oppose the appointment of steve bannon. emmanuel is up next in maryland. democrat. good morning. caller: good morning. how are you going? host: doing well.

go ahead. thatr: what we learned is donald trump paints a dark picture of this country. thoseled people names -- have a future should thebe exposed to such -- democrats should work with him. they should use it as an some ofity to expand the things he has said and done he bashes the media every he doesn't want

them to expose some of the things that he is hiding. media --e he is in the the freedom of the press in this country, that is what makes this country great. --has run his campaign on certain things in the media he doesn't like, he will bash against them. i don't think the president of should be doing everything he can to block the freedom of the press. that is the only way we as citizens can get information about our leaders. calls coming your up in just a minute. as our viewers on c-span know can a president obama is traveling overseas, he is in athens currently in giving a major address.

let's show our viewers a little bit of president obama live in athens. [video clip] press to obama: a free expose injustice and corruption and whole leaders accountable. religion. we are all equal in the eyes of god. independent judiciary to a pulled the rule of law and human rights. best uphold the rule of law and human rights. separation of powers. free and fair elections. for people to choose their own leaders. sometimes your candidate doesn't always win. tot: you can go www.c-span.org to check out the full speech. you can always go online for all of our coverage and updates drop today.

-- throughout the day. how should congress work with president-elect trump? sydney is waiting in north carolina. a republican. good morning. caller: good morning. i think they ought to work with president trump. these people talking about the party of no, that is the biggest joke. they've been saying no for eight years and see where it got them. pressn talking about the all the propaganda they were putting out and the lies they were putting out -- harry reid is the biggest embarrassment of ever seen. he and nancy pelosi ought to get married because they are the biggest jokes.

host: carl in chicago, illinois. a democrat. good morning. caller: i've been listening to some of your colors. -- some of your callers. and're calling on c-span they don't seem to know how the government works. i don't know what the house is going to do. it is like the blind leading the blind. half the house members, they are to party people, they don't know how to govern. donald trump doesn't know how to govern. need to make a list of these five demands. because yout these did not win the popular vote. close to two thirds of the country wants these five demands.

infrastructure with the minimum wage tact on it. tax cuts, but we will make sure it includes increases of social security and medicaid. these, we are not going to work with you. remind the callers -- the republicans for eight years, even before president obama took the oath, said we will not work with them. 90% of the time he was president, they voted no. , they went out and tried to kill public support . the democrats need to make this known, you need us. , it's beenfew years the democrats who've saved the republicans from themselves.

host: randy is in fort worth, texas. randy, good morning. caller: thank you for taking my call. theld congress work with elected president? yes. should the president work with congress? he won the electoral votes. he campaigns nationwide and won the presidency. we are starting off on the wrong foot already. congress under house speaker boehner and ryan gave into a lot of obama agenda. they said they weren't going to work with them. everything obama asked for, he got. i believe president trump is putting together a super cabinet. hopefully we can get our country back in line. the question this morning should become is congress going to work with the president?

several stories about names that are being floated, cabinet positions that have come up and speculation about that, a story from "the financial times." being talkedngress about for various positions. for secretary of state, bob corker. one of a handful of republicans not to sign a letter to iran -- for treasury secretary, a texas congressman since 2003. for defense secretary, jeff sessions. those are some of the members of congress, other names mentioned

for all those various positions. when other position that is talked about in a new york times secretary, ae v.a. name being mentioned, jeff miller. donald trump has said he is considering congressman miller to run the agency as the chairman of the house committee on veterans affairs committee as how to the agency for failing to enact meaningful changes. back to your calls. john is up next in new york. independent. good morning. caller: i would like to congratulate the folks for the great -- host: rose in michigan. good morning. caller: good morning. i agree with the caller who was to callers before the last 1 --

i don't think we will have the working congress. somehowht, when they showed a donald trump going out , he was getting a standing ovation with the people clapping for him and he turned around and makes a remark to his , don't worry, i will lower your taxes. what does that tell the american people? this was shown live on msnbc. this is showing the people right now where he stands. he's showing his true colors as being the president of the united states. host: what does that mean for and congress person in more -- in warren, michigan? caller: it would not pay for the

democrats to work with the republicans because they outnumber the democrats. they can try to work with them. i've seen so many people lose their homes because of that fraud banking. everything that happened. andle leaving their keys mailboxes, they cannot handle the house payments. you will turn around and put some like this in office? the working-class people that will findn office themselves losing everything they worked so hard for. they will think twice. warren, ohio, al is on our line for republicans. they are losing what they've got now. donald trump said he would give tax breaks to everybody. question?

caller: i have a question and a congress has to get together because they haven't in the last eight years. nothing ever moved, the interest rates, nothing. a guyu guys going to have on to talk about letting into many immigrants? manytting in too immigrants? channel have a whole devoted to american history, american history tv. we always look for suggestions for topics. we are showing you a shot of the capitol dome, a major announcement yesterday from the architect of the capitol about the dome, the restoration of the

u.s. capitol dome officially completed on tuesday. it was the first comprehensive repair and restoration of the national landmark in more than half a century. the story from "the washington times." more than 1000 construction workers, restoration experts come artisans performed the cleaning and repairs. 1215 gallons of paint were used to repaint the dome with three coats of paint. the rest more than 1.1 million and more scaffolding than 75,000 tools and pieces of equipment used throughout that restoration project. if you want to see an architect

of the capitol tour that dome, c-span cameras were there for that, you can go to www.c-span.org. as we haver calls about 10 minutes left in this opening segment of "washington journal" this morning. dennis has been waiting in oklahoma. independent. how should congress worked with president-elect trump? , they: one thing there can stop the racial rhetoric on the house floor, such as harry i thought that-- was really no place in our congress for that kind of remark. why not give donald trump a chance? people are second-guessing every word he says, everything he does already. come on, let's get together on this thing and open your eyes

and try to work together. get rid of the racial rhetoric. just start working as americans together to make this country great again. , thehe last eight years hasn't been a decent cost-of-living increase for social security. we have over 6 million people out here living in poverty. just like myself, living on a fixed income, it is pretty hard. when congress gets up there and will work together to try to salvage social security, they would rather waste taxpayer time wonmoney talking about who the world series or something. come on, guys.

let's stick together and work together on this thing and start doing something for the country instead of laying politics that's playing politics all the time. ont: harry reid's comments the floor of the senate yesterday -- here's a bit from harry reid's comments. [video clip] he was a champion of white supremacy, the number one cnn, whiteg to nationalist leaders are praising donald trump decision to name his chiefon as strategist. driverwas the main behind breitbart becoming a

white supremacist propaganda mailer -- court filings stated that bannon doesn't like jews and doesn't like the way they raise their and he be whiny brats did not want his girls to go to school with jews. that is a court document. placing a champion of white -- what is trump say to a young girl who woke up afraid to be a minority in america? host: that is harry reid.

the senate republicans and democrats holding their leadership elections for the 115 congress today. the senate expected to reconvene officially at 2:30 this afternoon. we will have live coverage here on c-span. robert and harrison, arkansas. a democrat. caller: i emphasize i'm a democrat. when these trump supporters get they people in there and come to get these 20 million mexicans that have been working, the first thing they ought to do is show them where they been working. these employers, these homeowners some these businesses open and dollars -- owe billions of dollars in workers comp. said they were this committing against mexico -- our

congressman wrote the bill to repeal country of origin labels. when they go after the affordable health care act, they need to go after all of it. c-span ought to have a program that says how much money should personn be that can a make before the are disqualified from all subsidies? these congressmen stand up there with $150,000 the year that we subsidize them. these preachers stand up with millions of dollars -- we subsidize them. you work for a business that has enough cash flow they can give insurance to their people, that comes on the expense side, it is a subsidy. my real question is, how much money should a person make to be disqualified from all subsidies?

host: charles from texas. republican. good morning. caller: i am sick and tired of hearing people complain about the president that was voted in by the people. it seems to me they are being childish, there being like kids, they want to fuss about everything. we voted in a president, let's get behind the president. saidi was in school, they you don't say anything bad about the president. these people getting out in the , throwing a fit about the upction, they need to sit dust set up a system so they interviewed these people come and get their names and phone numbers and everything and check them out to see if they're getting any county, city or state or government handouts.

if they are, they need to immediately cut them out forever. there would be no more writing -- rioting. a lot of these people are on programs, they are not working. there all night, they don't work -- host: why is it obvious they are on subsidies? can you be up all night and be out on the street all day and be working? you have to have some kind of income. they're certainly not working a regular job like im to stay up all night on the street. and tired ofck them destroying other people's property. ofthey want to have one

these organizational meetings or march or something, why don't they get in a park and walk around in the park or something? anybody that wanted to see them march could come out and stand and watch them march. they are taking advantage of us when they get out in the streets and block the street and jerk people out of the car and beat them up. i have a gun license. they would not beat me up like that. that guy should have had a gun license. caller -- coming up next, we will be joined by andressman mark meadows later, we will be joined by brenda lauren. newly elected rivers of compass are going through their congressional orientation process. there a picture of their class photo from yesterday.

we caught up with a few of them outside of a lunch event. [video clip] >> for those that aren't familiar with the 15th district, wherei in texas is it? >> it starts at the border with mexico and goes up to san antonio. >> a district that would be impacted by those efforts to build the wall. can you talk about the border issues in the 15th district? >> a wall will not work. if it did, i would be for it. we've done a good job of securing our borders, particularly in texas. the state has done a good job. we have state troopers throughout our border region. security is much more control than people imagine. we need to improve it and make it better. good,er wall sounds

campaign rhetoric, but in terms of reality, i would invite donald trump to come down and see things for himself. i think you might have a different point of view. host: what advice are you giving to the democratic leadership in congress, specifically on the immigration and border security issue? >> we need to find common ground with the other side. i'm here to move our region forward. we have an immigration policy that does not work. a policy in place now has divided families. we have parents and children living in different countries. ishas broken families, it not who we are as a country or a region. that is something we need to continue to work on. i've been practicing law for almost two decades in texas. >> any immigration cases? my cases ended up having

immigration issues because a lot of the people i represented had immigration issues, even though i was representing them in civil cases. there was time we could not get a hold of one of the family i wouldor relatives have to travel across the border to get documents signed because orks who had legal actions were beneficiaries in the u.s. not come across to sign a simple document. like?t is that process traveling across the border has been a tradition for hundreds of years in texas. we do a lot of commerce. they are our largest trading partner. it has become more dangerous and we need to work on that. we need to engage the government and the state across

our border to make it safer than it ever has been before. , it was a loto safer than it is today. in terms of security in south texas, we are one of the safest communities in the state. people who come down and visit say the same thing. >> have you thought about your committee assignments? >> we start at the top. we are asking for appropriations. my predecessor was on the financial services -- he will leave a point after he is gone. transportation is a big issue. to very interested in trying implement a fast rail from san antonio to the valley, the border area. those are some important things. agriculture is huge. these are all committee assignments i'm asking for and hopefully will be fortunate -- >> thank you for your time.

>> "washington journal" continues. host: congressman mark meadows is at our desper desk. should this be read as a signal that you, your fellow conservatives, those in the -- is this a sign that you guys are fully behind this new leadership group? guest: the vast majority of americans want something to get done here in this city. they are tired of gridlock, they are tired of fighting. for me, it's all about trying to make sure that we return washington to its rightful owner , the american people. at what iss looking important to the american people, whether it is jobs, national security, fighting isis, immigration -- we are

focused wholeheartedly on trying to make sure that we not only advanced that agenda but we are ready. we have a few weeks before we take a break. we have to hit the ground running. host: you are a member of the freedom caucus. do the priorities of the freedom caucus align with the priorities of the house republicans leadership? >> the priorities for the house freedom caucus have not changed. it's about giving a voice to millions of americans who feel like their elected official has forgotten them. that has not changed. in terms of policy differences, certainly there are policy differences, just like there are differences in constituency. my district in western north carolina may be very different than a district in michigan. have two different that it

should not stop us from being able to find common ground. i serve in a committee with brenda and we've been able to look at those issues that are important to her people that she represents, some that are important to mine. those don't always align. ,ust like in a gop conference the priorities for my district may not align with leadership, but it is incumbent upon me to not only find a common ground, to influence the leadership know what is significant so we can work on those pieces of legislation. host: does the freedom caucus holds formal elections? guest: we do. those elections will be happening after thanksgiving. new boardminated members, we have four new board members that will be elected. . from there, a chairman will come out of that. -- wee created those coat have created two new positions.

we will know the votes of our members and where they are on particular items. becoming a little more focused and official. host: you've expressed interest about running the freedom caucus should the current chairman step down. guest: he is one of my best friends in congress. we met last night to discuss some things. if he decides to stay on, he will have 110% of my support and backing. the decisions have not been made. it's not even something we've taken to our freedom caucus members at this point. there's lots of speculation on, will he stay on, will i step up? it's about who can best serve as a voice for the rest of the caucus and bring us all together. our strategy may be has shifted a little bit to more of a policy driven focus.

what we are going to before for, how we advance that and make sure that we work hand in glove with the new administration. lines are open if you want to talk with congressman mark meadows. democrats, 202-748-8000. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. you talk about the new to the goals of the freedom caucus align with those you are hearing from the incoming trump administration? guest: some of them do. job security, border security, all of thoserity, things are important, helping our veterans and making sure that we have a robust veterans administration that actually fulfills the promises we made to

our military men and women. all of those align very closely. there's been a lot that has been talked about -- really, when we start to get a robust economy, some of those decisions become much easier to address. istainly deficit spending not something murmurs of the freedom caucus would support. that members of the freedom caucus would support. it's like a mortgage you have on your home. if we know we have a plan to get that debt paid off, we are willing to make up decisions in the short run to make sure that on the back end of that, we are fiscally sound and we do what is right on behalf of our children and grandchildren. host: tough decisions like raising the debt ceiling? guest: there has not been in opposition to raising the debt ceiling -- if there is a plan.

we continue to raise a debt like having a 30 year mortgage and saying now i have a 40 year mortgage, now i have a 50 your mortgage. you are never making the payments to pay it down. if we have a plan to pay it down, we understand the deficit -- the debt ceiling will increase in the short run to bring in better fiscal policy. host: and in florida. in florida. a republican. good morning. caller: there is so much, so many things going on lately. c-span is wonderful. i just can't get over how wonderful you guys are. first of all, i would like to say something in my opening year or thislast year before the election when the caucus that i'm forgetting

which caucus shut down the house and had the private telephone with nancy pelosi -- was at the black caucus that the that? -- that did that? host: are you talking about this in an over gun issues? caller: yes. we watched it on c-span. can you address something like that ever happening again? that whole scenario seems very bizarre. since you are on the transportation, the situation regarding building the wall and all that -- i watched on c-span about the weeklong program they did on immigration issues. can't wait tax that huge incoming infrastructure down there a little bit more to pay for the wall? it is huge, the trucks daily that come through that area.

are segmented we did in laredo to talk about the trade. -- our segment we did in laredo. guest: there is an unbelievable amount of trade that comes across our southern border. i've been addressing that from a visa and national security standpoint and i was surprised to see 82 million different transfers back and forth across the southern border on an annual basis. it is a significant amount. as we look at that come apart of what president-elect trump has talked about in his nap the renegotiation is looking at -- as we look at that, part of what president-elect trump has talked about in his nafta renegotiation is looking at that. to pretend to speak on behalf of the new administration coming in as they

look at that. but i do know that he is committed to renegotiating nafta. it is not just with regards to the border security wall. as we look at those components, how do we paper that -- pay for lookingnumber of us are at appropriating money right away to start the construction. the american people want to see something happen. the second part of that was about the city and -- the sit in as it related to the democrats protesting the lack of initiatives on gun control in light of what happened in orlando. that was a violation of house --es as we start to see that there were fundraising off of that. see some real penalties and consequences that come as a result of those who were

fundraising off of that. you could actually have a reprimand from the house ethics committee. there would also be other areas that could potentially be a violation -- we have rules that say we cannot use official duties to be able to raise money. even making a phone call come i cannot do that in my office if it is campaign related because and thetes the ethics federal election laws as we start to look at that. some of that will be addressed. we have additional rules that we will be passing here very shortly. i know that speaker ryan has worked with his colleagues on the other side of the aisle to strengthen those to make sure the decorum of the house is followed the way that it should be. host: we are getting further

thatfrom the sit in happen. when you expect the penalties to come down? guest: you would think if you were going to address it -- some of the people will be leaving. anything that would have to be addressed would need to be addressed in this congress. any rules that go fourth would be for future congresses. and he consequences would have to be addressed in the coming days. north carolina, gutierrez is an independent. caller: i'm calling to let you this pasthat presidential election was stolen in places like michigan, arizona, north carolina, ohio. these were republican held states. due to suppression and the purging of the vote, the republicans were successful in winning the general election. we need to get rid of the electoral college.

the last two elections have been stolen through corruption that's going on within these elections. like my vote -- my boat has been stolen twice out of the lasix seniors. that isn't right. has been stolen twice out of the last 16 years. that isn't right. people are out here protesting because they feel like their vote has been stolen. this election was stolen by the republicans. host: what do you say to that concern? guest: making sure that we have proper voting to be able to do that is key. of our voting system is key.

having lost anse election with fraud. i was in selma, north carolina with president-elect tromp in your area seven or -- president each wrote in your ar seven or eight hours away from where i live. place ire cars and cannot imagine there were that many people that will show up. as we looked at that, all of us needed to standup whether we are democrat, unaffiliated or republican against voter fraud. what i found as many people do not exercise the privilege. for example,lina, 60% of people registered to vote voted. you have a good 32% of people who could have shown up at made a difference.

it is more apathy than voter suppression of from. host: north of chicago, john is a democrat. good morning. caller: good morning, congressman meadows. if you have a pencil there so you can jot this down. i'm hoping to get your response to both of these. i've like to mention something about the last caller. itfirst comment/question of, i read it that president-elect trump was going to put his business interests is as you probably has more than any president would have had, puts it those interests and he has of his children. he feels that is a blind trust, which is bizarre. it sounds like he is asking for security clearance for his 2 eldest sons. you have to wonder, why. number 2, the people responsible

for making profits in his companies are also going to have globalto situation about and national information. that is the first thing. i what is it that your feelings on the potential for scandal. term -- thise the is what the americans want. the americans clearly wanted this. to realize that many studies have looked at as shown in congress, which you are part of, there is no statistical correlation with weather 50% or more of americans want a piece of legislation or not. the currentple is state of marijuana. to the last caller, i do not think he was talking so much about fraud, he may not be able

to put it this way. people in wyoming, many red states are small states. people in wyoming to get three electoral votes. each of those represent about 165,000 people. in california, each electoral vote represents 700,000 people. in wyoming, each voter like that, their voter has 3.5 times of the purchasing power than the california. aboutind of thing talking it being great. i do not want to get rid of the electoral college. -- that kind of thing talking about it. very insightful analysis. let me hit at the second one first and then the blind trust. the electoral college aspect. if indeed, there are a lot of people every year that we have an election, every four years,

people say we needed to get rid of it and go straight with the popular vote. if we did that and taking your analogy, essentially the inpaigning would happen three states. it would happen in california and new york and texas. the rest of the country, perhaps, would be left out of all of that. , there were ait lot of campaign and probably 10 or 12 swing states as we saw the election, to a close. -- come to a close. even the campaigning then it gets into population centers around new york city, perhaps around chicago and illinois if you added in. and around los angeles, these mega-urban centers. that is not really representative of the country as a whole. system, thet the

best system we have to make sure both majorities and minorities that, voice and as we see if you look at a map and you can see what states voted for what, you can see that in this election from a popular vote standpoint, hillary clinton is leading in the popular vote. it looks like she will have won the popular vote. if you look at the blue areas that she wanted compare -- won, compare to the red parts across the state, it is very different and illuminating in terms of the pockets of where the votes came from. it is important that every state, every citizen has it. your point is valid in making sure it is fair in terms of representation. let me get back to the blind trust. one of the things as a member of congress i found when i got here

is i ended up having to -- i was in the real estate business. i have to not only divest my interest,ut to the there was a potential conflict of interest aspect. putting assets and running a blind trust is something not only president-elect trump is committed to do but it becomes difficult to do. he has such a vast holdings and given those to his children. it is not just there, a lot of accountability in terms of the ethics requirements, financial disclosures, every quarter we are feeling doubt. there is a number of watchdog groups. -- filling out. in on conflicts in regards to insider trading. we have to make sure we hold and in the blind trust

because he has so much knowledge of what is going on. the longer he is in office, the less he will know about any in turn runnings about that. host: an option for you are your colleagues to turn over business to your children? it is now. for example, i couldn't turn it over to my children or wife, in terms of a business. -- i could turn it over to my children or wife, in terms of a business. is there are ethics or lost that come into that. if it is in my wife's or ,hildren's name for paperwork as they frown on that. in fact, it is fraudulent so you cannot do that. not only a paper transaction, it is truly he will have to divest himself of the decision-making. ofnow there will be a number -- i have actually talked to

president-elect trump before he was elected. he is committed to this country. the interview the other night where he is not going to take a -- i have never heard of that. that speaks to the heart of who he is to make sure he serves this country and the best way cap. to silveride of d.c. spring, maryland. good morning. joseph, are you with us? caller: yet. -- yeah. i was listening to the previous caller. the one about voter fraud. public a lot of the should be involved in the voting process. , you docandidate lost not have to protest. i do not know why they are protesting. they lost clearly.

iso, the electoral map [indiscernible] state-by-state and my question for the congressman to how is congress going work with the president-elect? i think really what it is going to require is to make sure we hit in the ground running. the other part of that is to take of those four or five we areies and make sure ready for that. i will give you one and this will probably prompted some calls on the repeal and replacement of obamacare. very passionate on both sides. we are working right now to do the work in a committee so in the first couple of weeks when we, back, we can put before the vote not only a repealing

the also a replacement to vote as well. as we look at that and get it to the senate, we are working on a to provide a tool to allow a lower threshold in the senate so we do not run into a 60 vote closure issue. you are going to see a whole lot of front end work to do that. willnk the first 100 days be the most productive we have seen in modern history. when you get beyond that, that is when some of the differences kle that how you tac strategically and make it work. there is a lot of interest in a real way. to people who may not have voted for donald trump in congress to get our economy moving again a making sure national security is paramount. i, for one am committed to

working and the halls of congress to make sure we have a good plan. thank you for your comments on the electoral college and how it works. host: jill is a democrat. good morning. caller: good morning. my question for the representative and all the ,egislature in washington is how are you going to pay for it? you keep talking about raising the the debt ceiling. , how areese policies we going to pay for the wall? how are we going to pay? please be specific. i am so tired of the rhetoric of, oh, well, we will have to reach across the aisle. how are we going to pay for all of these policies? guest: jill, thank you so much. a lot of people talk in general relatives. let me be specific.

i can probably speak to that better because on one of my subcommittees and we of look at that. it has been a conversation that i've had with the john delaney of maryland who is a democrat. inand i have talked, we came at the same time four years ago. we talked about in infrastructure bank and whether or not we do that. some of the payment there on infrastructure can of the look that terms of repatriation of earnings in some of our corporations are abroad. i do not want to suggest i am setting national policy here on c-span this morning. you asked for specific and here is one of the ideas. we can look at the $2.4 trillion, some suggest it is that are abroad in foreign earnings that are being invested their -- there and provide of

vehicle for those two come back at a much reduced or zero tax to get them back to the united states. all for that as a vehicle to ,erhaps provide a stimulus which would be the largest stimulus we have ever seen in terms of the economic bone -- boon and have that where it is invested back in infrastructure. whether it is invested in infrastructure or other capital improvements is a decision that will be made by the president-elect and vice president-elect and their cabinet. and then confirmed by senate and congress. that is one of the specific areas that we have that. i know president-elect trump has talked about the wall and doing that in terms of either a transportation tariffs as it comes across the southern border that one of the previous caller's talked about. all of that will have to be

debated. there are other vehicles besides increasing taxes. the other thing is this. when we get back to a 4% gdp growth, which would be a healthy but robust economic growth, what we will see is tax revenues go up. we have seen that throughout history. we will see additional dollars that will come in on the normal cost or rates we have right now. at that, it will provide a little bit of relief in those areas that have been very, very tough to stretch of the dollar. a great question. the devil is in the details. weeds on how we do it. we will a debate at that in the first 90 days for sure. calling. for

host: as the policies get put into place, a lot of folks on people donald trump picks to surround himself with as he implements the policies. i am sure you saw harry reid on the senate floor, his comments about donald trump's political advisor, steve bannon. here's the story in "the washington post be bank -- washington post." do you know steve bannon, personally? guest: i know him personally. we do not have a long relationship which i find is interesting. one of the things i can say is i serve on the foreign affairs committee, the middle east subcommittee. the reason i asked for that is my love for israel and the jewish people. am inou look at where i terms of my particular point of view, i will be speaking in new york on anti-semitism and the

rise of it in our world and how we need to not only condemn that but how we needed to fight to that. some of the comments made about stephen bannon do not represent who he is as an individual. theink that is one of travesties that any pick you will get over the next 30 days is going to be met with resistance. steve bannon -- host: how did you get to know him? guest: on the campaign trail. we had numerous visits to north carolina. we were there in selma with the donald trump and his team. here is an individual who is not and more soft-spoken analytical in the way that he does that. but really brings out the best in those people around him. i think that has been the fascinating thing is to see the way they have worked on the

team. when you have reince priebus and steve bannon willing to work together and complement each --er the hunted their backs behind in their backs. when the cameras weren't rolling , it makes for a great team. what we sometimes do is look at the diversity of opinion and start to criticize that. racism, those kind of things being alleged in minette the headlines have no type of business and any administration. i know steve bannon would agree. host: a couple of minutes left with congressman mark meadows. a republican, good morning. caller: good morning at thank you for taking the call. i have a couple of quick comments and 2 quick questions. host: may not have time, can you pick one? caller: i hope the republican side do not blow it as bad as george w. bush's who passed on

to trillion dollars -- $2 trillion. the questions i have, i looked taxresident-elect trump's plan and i voted for trump and support him early on. i see for my tax bracket i get a 3% reduction in taxes. to 25%.28% down i would like to ask the congressman about paul ryan speakership. if you go online and you go to is anart.com, there article that says basically 76% of all democrats support paul ryan and only 34% of republican support. i would like to put the congressman on the hot seat, do support paul ryan? caller: thank you for putting me

on the hot seat. yesterday, paul ryan was nominated by our republican conference. they key is as long as paul ryan's agenda is that of the american people and really wanting to make sure those agendas are first and foremost, which he has articulated and support, i am going to support our leadership. the minute it goes a different direction, we are in a situation where it is not supporting those things important to you in washington or anybody else, moms and dads across the country, we need to make sure we keep our focus there. we also needed to make sure as we look at this, we do not grow government and we do not fumble the football. it is time we bring it into the end zone and make sure we hold the government accountable to the american people. i am not sure what to the other focused ons, was

that. host: that is ok. we are running out of time. the wife that caller. congressman mark meadows, always appreciate your time. we will beext -- joined by democratic congresswoman brenda lawrence of michigan. to catch upefforts with the new congress members after the lunch event, including a republican who went from owning a gun shop to being elected in cal -- north carolina. >> we are with ted of north carolina ample for ran a gunshot. how does one go for running a gun shop to running congress? >> i think of myself as an entrepreneur. that's what we did. we race her hand a volunteer. people like i've never been in office before. -- i raised my hand a volunteer. >> you came as an outsider, how do you keep that label? >> you have to create value for

people. do i revisit the people well and that is what i want to do. home and look people in the eye in represent their best interests? they think people -- they think government is too intrusive, especially businesses. i have entrepreneurs coming to me saying i have to reduce the size of my business and turn people away to be more profitable such as obama care. run a gun range, pretty good at shooting a weapon? do you plan on using it here? >> i hear there is one of rayburn. i am new to the place, so i will find my way down before too long. >> have you talked to your new colleagues about going down with you? campaign forn quite a while so they might be all better shot than me. >> do you plan a bonding, made any friendship so far? >> we have.

we are meeting people both sides of the aisle. the freshman class, we make a great friends and i love for to that. >> your committee priorities, what you hoping to get? >> not making any commitments at this point. it is presumptuous. as of this is personal, i can offer a lot of value in different options. chris thank you for the time. -- chris thank you for the time. host: we are joined by congresswoman brenda lawrence, democrat from the detroit area. i want to start with michigan and donald trump's victory in the electoral college for a state of that was supposed to be part of the blue wall and has voted democrat in presidential elections for over 2 decades. what happened in michigan? guest: a lot of people are asking that question. michigan was reflective

of what happened across the country. whitewas a segment of the that income population typically are not polled were considered in elections that really came out. i know i won my district for hillary clinton, but to the people have spoken. we are doing a lot of analysis and what is the democratic message? host: do you consider what happened in michigan a donald trump victory or a hillary clinton loss? focus the creditor victory? guest: i see it as a hillary clinton loss. the people i know, i've ran statewide as lieutenant governor. when i talk to the people in michigan and know their issues, i think they were given the other candidate a shot. as they do not hear their voice or see their place.

they went with the alternative. host: would a better message from hillary clinton would've helped in michigan? guest: obviously, we have to do something different because our in,, the whites, the lower have been our base for decades. -- lower income have been our base for decades. why did they leave us? it is something we are analyzing. i'm committed to working with the democratic party because our core values and what we believe in it and fight for represent -- all of the citizens of this great country. but this segment did not stay with us. that is a wake-up call for us. we heard a loud and clear. host: opening the phones from callers. congresswoman brenda lawrence for about half an hour.

democrats (202) 748-8000. republicans, (202) 748-8001. and independence, (202) 748-8002 . you said we have to do something different, does it mean different leadership of the democratic party? beenrship roles have pushed later this month, are you looking for change at the top? changei am looking for in direction. i have a lot of faith in our current leadership. , wecurrent leadership is cannot continue to operate a message the same way. we have an opportunity here to not lay down and cry about what happened. the people spoke. when they speak, we should listen. what is the desire of the democratic party? to be a voice and fight for those who are sometimes left out.

well the history of being the voice of conscious -- conscien ce. host: the black caucus is a powerful voting bloc. guest: we are larger now. host: what are you hear from your colleagues? guest: my colleagues have been very involved in the leadership and the direction of the democratic party. we are very much engaged in the looking at, will our new leadership that we elect or reelect be able to be comprehensive to stand to make adjustments in the direction we are going? to be able to lead. this is something that is very telling about a trump administration. the democratic party has a

responsibility to be the voice of so many people. if you go on his election are not included in the trump vision seeing it not represented and the predilection of his administration. though voice and power of the black caucus, we call ourselves the conscience of congress. to be extremely important. host: are there other names that interest you, a couple of weeks away from the election, somebody else you are looking doubtful could possibly? guest: no, i have not been given any other names, but with been in a clear dialogue with our current administration leadership that we have been in a clear dialogue with our current administration leadership that we cannot continue to do things at the same way. host: an independent. good morning.

caller: everybody keeps saying mr. trump does not have a mandate. that whendy remembers president obama was elected, the american people gave him a mandate in both houses. a super majority, gave him two years to do anything he wanted to. host: i think we lost to david. does president trump has a mandate? guest: i hope that is a mandate that i heard, the rhetoric i heard it through the campaign is not the mandate. that is not the america i know. it is very concerning to me. continues totrump the candidate trump with his divisive and racist and sexist agenda that is not the mandate of america. and absolutely not.

that is why his administration is a little unsettling because what is going to be his agenda? he says the agenda, the rhetoric he used to get elected will not reflect upon his administration. people who know him say that is not the donald trump is that we will see as president. we do not know. host: i want to get your thoughts on some of the protests. the front page of a paper out of michigan. one of the signs held up by one of the students who attended. yesterday, here in washington, there were thousands, thousands of young people from high schools who walked and protested. something to that has been very telling and i hope donald trump

really sees the young people, the millennials, they do not embrace racism. they do not embrace stereotypes. sos new generation is so -- loving and accepting of different people. it is unacceptable to them. hate,e the love trumps they are not talking about foreign policy. as are talking about how you treat people that are emotionally differ from you. how do you bring people to the table? how do you create equality in america? there is a major concern that this president-elect must address. host: let's go to republican. linda, good morning. caller: i am going to go on to say -- she is still talking. this is the thing i have to say. i was a democrat and i changed

to republican. one of this election started, it proved to me every reason why i changed. every single, solitary reason i changed. we are sick and tired of this wall not being built and immigration people are just blatantly, the president on down, ignoring people comic care, breaking the law. it is the law, you do not come here, you get in line. -- ignoring people coming here, breaking the law. you do not get 40, free, free forever. we are sick and tired of it. 60 yearsrked, i am old, i will work until i'd i. i am sick and tired of these young kids just like you saw that have been babied from the

time they are little. it is not about love so much. uneducated about what it really takes to run a ,ountry, to have safety security, job security. there's a lot going on in this lovingnd not just about and hating people. i am a christian. i love people. i will tell you what i do not love -- i do not love when people are breaking the law and everybody in congress is fighting up there like the democrats fighting for the wall. the ugly things that are saying about trump that is a racist and of your termsick that you throw out. people are sick of it. host: a couple of issues. guest: thank you for calling. let me address immigration. president obama has deported more criminals and illegal

immigrants than any other president on record. the democratic administration has clearly embraced if you are a criminal in the united states and you are not a citizen, you will be deported. secondly, the wall, the concept of a wall, how is he going to build it, who will pay for? versusg a wall increasing the budget for ice, for customs is more of a priority than me down a wall. young people, every generation, will do find this country. i am a baby boomer. we were very concerned about medicare, social security, national security. it is not a good thing for america to discount to the voice of this next generation who will be eventually rolling and making

this -- ruling and making decisions. is is this a generation that has been given more than me as a baby boomer? who have to work for everything i got? and understand the value of hard work? -- and understand the value of hard work? this will be the next generation. who will be making decisions? --t: this on the front page washington times. illegal immigrants prepared to ask president obama to part of 750,000 dreamers, saying is the last best hope. leaders are planning a rally today in new york. september, immigrants had been approved for obama's program that grants young adults illegal immigrants a two-year

stay of deportation. something you think president obama should do? guest: i think he shall look at it. we are not talking about criminals. we are not talking about people who are here -- as are dreamers. their people -- parents brought them here. they do not have a legal status. talkoubles me when we about immigration, is the only thing we talk about the wall. why haven't we as a country policy?hed immigration this has been something i have been asking for since i've been in congress. until we get a policy we can enforce, it is all over the place. president obama was criticized because he enforced some executive orders because of that was in lieu of nothing. we need immigration plans. how do we deal with the influx of immigrants into our country who want to stay here?

some of them working. we criticize immigrants and then we employ them. how many of these immigrants are actually building and our new construction and landscaping. have skills and tell us they bring from their other countries, but we have a backlog and when it comes to processing people for citizenship in this country because we do not have the staffing. we do not have policies that we are enforcing. , a wall, ito a point do not know the value of that. i know there is extreme value in establishing and i hope donald trump who is a made immigration a major part of his campaign, i order to comee forward and make it immigration plan so that we in america has

an expectation. people are having to make decisions or criticism about people here in this country who are law abiding when it's they are here. some are being born in this country, their parents are not citizens. we need to address of that. to label people with as wide brush when we know sometimes as they are living in our neighborhoods, working in jobs and we are hiring them. host: your home state michigan, andrea is walking -- waiting. democrat am a register but i did vote republican. i have been disappointed in the representation even for my own congressperson brenda lawrence. i voted on the platform and i do not see how -- what is the biggest issues in addition to immigration is abortion.

how we are breaking people over here but killing millions of babies. i am a christian also. i want to know how with a straight face the democratic party can support the planned parenthood. they tried to started off as women's health issues. i am talking specifically on abortion. hillary was for full-term and partial-birth abortion. i have been very disappointed and that is one of the main reasons that donald trump won overwhelmingly. we have lost all morals and respect for life. i think that was the biggest thing. evangelists came out of more than ever before this time in the election. and i wish the democratic party what stop making excuses. people rioting.

there is nothing wrong with protesting. they are burning and hanky the things of donald. i think it is plain why don't want. hangingare burning and things of donald. caller: -- guest: i have been your mayor and am currently your congresswoman. some people make political decisions based on one issue. i've heard a number of people say it was based on gay rights and abortion. i am a christian as well. amazinggiven me 2 children i was able to give birth to. i have never considered an abortion. but i've never been raised, i've never been a victim of incense. -- myr had to look at

husband and i say the choice between my life and the baby's life. for anyone when who has to the issue in their life, i want them to be able to make a decision. i wanted them to have that choice. i do not apologize for that. i am not in favor of abortion just for recreational purposes, i changed my mind kind of thing. whereare clear examples women must have this decision about her own body. we do not legislate that men have vasectomy's. we do not legislate man who use viagra. we are very comfortable legislating what do with their bodies and their decisions that today mate. there are discussions about women not having a birth control. this is a slippery slope. i am notarenthood, going to apologize for my

support. they have been in areas and given women health care in areas where there was nothing else for them. that 1% of what they do our abortion, as a women have areasy babies in rural where they do not have any other care. they screen for breast cancer. there are hospitals, health care .ystem that provide abortions but look at all of the health care they provide in people's lives and to give healthy births. the support of all of my constituents but i am not going to say that i am foot and my issue. i feel very strongly about a woman's right to choose and i will continue to support that. if donald trump received votes questionngle issue, i the voter. there were so many other issues.

if you are african-american and your child is subject to stop and frisk or you are a muslim and you are now being called a terrorist or a hispanic and immigration issues, but you do not care about anything that happens your family or the community at large or you have daughters and that rhetoric did not mean anything to you, you are voting for one single issue. that is your right. i look at the whole candidate. i look at all of those issues to make my decisions. host: daniel is waiting. and independent. caller: good morning. thank you, congresswoman for your service. i will keep it easy on you. i am independent and i voted for the first time in my life, i voted for neither one of the candidates. i had a right in candidate and i voted for rand paul. the question i have for you, i

heard you say that the democrats -- i changed my party from democrat to libertarian and now i'm independent. one of the things you said was democrats are for all people. midwest handshe down voted for donald trump, it and white racism. when you say you want to bring the country together, how do you address that? and second is california. to change it like total popular vote and introduce legislation. how can you bring that when you have california that we know for a fact that has well over 500,000 undocumented illegals,

whatever you want to call them, illegal aliens, but you have to change that for rhetoric? with all of those people in mexico that camera mexico flag, i would like your answer. when you say you are trying to bring america together, california is not the united states of america. until we get a hold of illegal citizens, however you want to do it, that is what matters. i thank you for your service and being humble and i know you will do big things in congress. i agree with a lot of your message. host: let the congresswoman answer. i have numbers in front of me from a story today about illegal immigrants in the state of california. almost 25% of the nation's immigrants stay in california.

with an undocumented population of almost eight -- 815,000. los angeles has more than any county in the state. guest: first of all, let's talk electoral versus the popular vote. you should know the history of water we established the electoral vote. part of what day you talked ,bout is that if we do that certain parts of the country will have a greater influence on the outcome of the election. it was established, the intent was to make sure every state has an equal vote in the process. we are looking at that now. we have 2 candidates. one won the popular and one won the electoral. i am not opposed to looking data. i am concerned about making sure that every state has an equal

voice. let's talk about the state of california is clearly part of the united states. ofcalifornia, who has a lot agricultural industry, it is interesting to me how we undocumented but we employ them. are we going to put a penalty on all of those companies who hire and employee these individuals who are here in america? that is something i think should be on the table as well. sayinger thing about bringing to this country i see demo trump as an opportunity after one of the worst elections i have seen in my lifetime.

inhave debated issue so hard the pre-presidential election. andthen we come together with them the policies and what we want for our country. we have been so off-track in talking about the rhetoric of women, hispanics, immigrants, we ever not talked a lot about policy. donald trump has an opportunity, he said it tonight -- the night of the election that he will be a president of all people. that means you respect the fact that half of this country or more than half are women and women should be treated equally. you have to respect the fact that there are different religions in the united they and you must respect to that. you must have a comprehensive immigration plan for all of these individuals who are coming and are a part of our communities every day.

every immigrant is not a criminal. you are going to have to lead mr. president-elect to make sure we move this country forward. if you truly do not want to govern on what you campaign on, you are going to have to show us what you do. host: one more call. mike is waiting in wisconsin, a republican. caller: i wonder if you can comment, you mentioned before the statistics. it is amazing because of media machine and the 2 parties are using the same logic that cause them both to miscalculated election. i called in a couple of months of one the discussion secretary clinton passed through the fbi investigation. determinedit was that no reasonable prosecutor would bring charges.

the process moved forward. my question is, we look at these protesters, primarily millennials, and i wonder if that is the bloc that through the election. they feel disenfranchised by how the dnc treated the candidate that statistically they supported. i am not quite sure we say the dnc, the dnc he was support of hillary clinton. supporthe dnc was in of hillary clinton. a lot went into investigation of hillary clinton. it was frustrating to me to watch because i sat on the oversight committee. and i repeatedly saw the questions being asked and pooling and the fbi director because he did not render the decision that republicans out he showed. and to watch them in the middle of election come and put out a

off so manyat threw people and vote and came back and retracted it. that fbi director is questionable in his ability to lead. let's talk about, we now have a president-elect that has two hearings, two criminal hearings or trials, court dates. who had beenate cleared of any criminal activity. they said it was not the smartest thing to do with the best decision to make but nothing criminal. this country has a lot to look at in how we evaluate and what we are placing on our candidates here. donald trump has some criminal allegations he must address.

he is our president-elect going into office. host: will have to end it there would congresswoman brenda lawrence from michigan. always appreciate your time. up next -- the question we started our show with today, how should congress work with president-elect trump? phone lines on your screen. democrats can call at (202) 748-8000. republicans at (202) 748-8001. and independents at (202) 748-8002. what advice would you give? more for my interviews with the newly elected members of congress luncheon that took yesterday. electare with congress scott taylor, a republican. tele's how orientation is going for you as you get to know the new job. >> a lot a bipartisan level, they are helpful and want you to

be successful. i have been impressed. in armer navy seal district that has a big navy presence. tell us about the second district. navalhave the largest facility in the world. we cover every single service. we have more military that any congressional district anywhere. >> a district impacted by sequestration. can you talk about that? >> it has affected our district for sure. people have been for a load and laid off. training and everything like that. it hurts our national security. my district and the nation. it is coming back. i am comic character may make sure we do something about it to make sure we protect our national security and my area. >> how do you make of that argument? >> i think they are willing to listen. they understand. ,ou have to make the argument

the argument that you have to build to thread a needle between physical and military and we can do that. i am looking forward. lessons do you tie for being a navy seal to a member of congress? >> i have had the pleasure with serving with some of the greatest people have known, who have taught me honor. and the abilities to navigate through chaos with clarity. i do not get overwhelmed. i remain calm and make decisions. >> what are your thoughts about president-elect trump and the role he will take on as commander-in-chief? guide.s a practical you will see a lot of things changed. he articulated, a lot of people in the nation were feeling. i have high hopes that i am confident he will be able to bring people together. >> you defeated a seven term senator and the primary. how do you defeat -- for those

who do not follow, how do you defeat a seven term congressman who has been here is so many connections? >> hats off to him. we took our message to the people. a lot of people know me and the area. we worked really, really hard. people had confidence in my bedroom and what i wanted to do. ford is looking -- is being looked at as the naval leader? >> i think is a capable guy. i wish him the best. >> have you thought about your committee assignments? >> illogical committee for my background and education and district would be how to armed services, foreign affairs. that is plan b. is appropriations. virginia would be without an appropriator for 102 years.

>> for viewers who do not understand the difference rankings of different committees on capitol hill and the wall most sought after, wise appropriations the one always at the top? >> it is hard for freshmen to get that, but we have a good case for the average person, a lot of committees authorized what is going on but the appropriators move the money around. that is where money comes from. it is very sought after committee. ofwhat are other examples other hard subcommittees? energy and commerce, of course. those are a committees. not typical for freshmen to get. we're working hard. >> thank you for the time. announcer: washington journal continues. return to this question up for the next 25 minutes on "washington journal" on how

congress should work with president-elect donald trump? if you could give advice to your member of congress, some guidance, what would it be? here are some comments from one member of congress. he is in today's op-ed section of "usa today.' he is a democrat from arizona. he writes in today's paper --

that is one member of congress ahead of the progressive caucus in how he plans to deal with a trump administration. you, are beauty is, from our facebook page. in --ites jeffrey's advice that -- a few other comments on our facebook page as well if you want to follow along. you can also call in. democrats, (202) 748-8000. republicans, (202) 748-8001. independents, (202) 748-8002. a republican. good morning. isler: point number one, it insane to insinuate that donald

trump is a racist. if you look at his work, it is the face of the united nations. he is not a racist. the person caught in a racist does not know what he is talking about. he is in the dark. -- rhetoric,ted donald is known to put his foot in his mouth. his heart is bigger than anything that man can dream about, that congressman you are talking about. i hope to see the congress cooperate with the mr. trump and congresse republican dealing with republican president who thinks like a democrat. his closeness -- closest friends in new york were dick schumer's and the clintons. until the campaign, the trumps and clintons were quite friendly. i would like to see the congress cooperate with mr. trump and his

idea of rebuilding the school systems in the inner-city's. raising a child in the inner-city myself, i saw how those little children were robbed of an education by those teachers unions that almost render them as uncompetitive for the rest of the world when they graduated from the 12th grade. when i was in school as a young , differential equations were part of the curriculum. you're lucky if you get out of or in the inner-city schools. and those children are no more competitive with the world then the dummies are. host: let's go to larry from portland, oregon. what advice would you give to your member of congress? caller: good morning. out -- iike to point am in my mid-60's. i am a baby boomer.

i want to point out to a lot of people that we all need to get the beans out of our ears and listen to one another. there's a lot of misinformation flying around right now. chileguatemala chi facebook, social media, etcetera, which spreads as much disinformation information.ue and we've got polarizing in this country right now. you cannot get democrats to can't to republicans, you get republicans to listen to democrats. we all think we're being fair, our side is the true side

and the other side is wrong, but to start really listening to one another. first.ll americans donald trumpng for because i think he's in way over his head. head.er his host: a democrat from portland, oregon. raul's piece in "u.s.a. today," here is a story from the "new york times" in the of the republican leadership, house leadership took place at yesterday. ongressional republicans make america great hats on tuesday, celebrated impending control of the dawn oflcome to a new unified republican conversation," speaker paul ryan a news conference after the meeting where he was renominated for speaker. a government focused on turning resident-elect's victory into

real progress for the american people," and that story in the quoting former," peaker of the house, john boehner asking him what donald trump stands for, what his policies will be. boehner says, nobody barely knows, he could arely be a democrat, nobody know where is he is going. that story in today's "new york times." brooklyn, new york, an independent, john, good morning. morning.good good morning. this c-span? host: yes, sir, go ahead, you're the air. caller: i'm not from this immigrant, i an came from another country and a veteranars ago, i'm and everything of the united states army. election,seen in this this election was nothing but election, this presidential race was all about america.n

donald trump is a racist. of adolf hitler. host: if you run into your congress in brooklyn, new york, what do you say to that member? what do you want the ongressman -- caller: in 1936, let me give you adolf hitler 1936, was racist against the blacks, jesse owens and them, back in those years. in the biggest racist world is a guy by the name of strom, the republican party, there is no more republican party, that is a nazi party. american nazi party. host: all right, let's go to maryland.aurel, line for republicans. go ahead. taking my nk you for call. i have been so happy about the elections. i'm an immigrant, just unlike hat the guy just before me

called and said, this is the a republican, 'm i'm an indian from a third-world disagree d i cannot more with what this guy is saying. american dream. and i think this country is great. to give donald trump a chance. see. appalling to i'm from maryland, i see leaving school, going out and demonstrating. what are they demonstrating? this is legitimate election. the teachers have to teach them way the ell them the elections are done, how a elected, sitting in class and learning, they're out streets the demonstrating. a good example for

the congressmen, for the for that at least party that opposed donald trump to be sending a message. you say want you to give members of congress hould give donald trump a chance, can you describe what "a chance" is? absolutely. host: how will donald trump promise?hese caller: absolutely. thank you so much. first and foremost, i'd like to the republican party is unified. frankly, i'm a conservative, i've been a republican all my life. disgusted with the last republican congress. they were fight withing each other, they were disagreeing with each other. they need to learn from the how unified they are. my point here would be that the should get together and there are certain things that hope donald trump

lives to his promise. things, his infrastructure. build the infrastructure all ver the u.s. and secondly, bring back jobs. people are suffering, they need it is white, need jobs.an, we all i think the congress, at least they should stop all this hetoric about racism, sexism, it's over. the campaign is over, they need that and thank you so much for taking my call. edmundo is next in ohio, a democrat, good morning. caller: good morning, sir. am calling you from ohio, the rust belt, northeast ohio. watch third degree area dissent great for 25 years. i'm a conservative democrat and a democratic true liberal in the sense of thomas jefferson. time and itrump this

to do so because of everything i've seen that was character ttack his and so forth and i said, you know what, if the republican $42 y gave mitt romney million to campaign and donald $zero, there is something this guy has. cross want them to do is party lines and everybody say, hey, you know what, what happened, happened. we need to go ahead and heal these wounds between democrats and conservatives and get back to work. we need a conservative work progress administration type program again. we need to make this country great again and that is why i voted happened, happened. we need to go ahead and heal go down the for gutter, i've seen ford, g.m., steel mills go. and that is kasich,

our governor, governor kasich, would not even back donald a vote for rew in john mccain, you know that is -- that is exactly what wrong and i want to tell my please work with mr. trump, all these allegations made against him are irrelevant. boehner said about donald trump is irrelevant and greholva, not good. sorels based spokesperson, i say that as first generation hispanic that in america.e host: all right. in miami, florida, line for independents. what would you tell your when it comes to working with donald trump? caller: hi. ace of you to let me talk for few seconds. i would just like to say our it very fathers made explicit to keep religion and

and i am separate sick and tired of what i the right wing ryan, and , such as guy's name? other huckabee, nd mike mong the many who put their religious beliefs down the throats of others. i personally believe that of rance of the knowledge these people and their religious fanaticism is upsetting and say.s all i have to god bless america. host: all right, a few tweets as we've been having this conversation this morning. rnold writes, democrats should give donald trump same support gop gave obama, none. steve writes, let's give trump a remember when it was

said let's give bush a chance. hell, is what he says. greg, a republican from next.nsin, you are up caller: good morning. thank you for c-span. at ll address the question and, but first make a comment with everybody listening. you hear the comments from republicans and conservatives say the democrats or liberal point of view. his morning, at least, the conservatives seem to be open-minded and want to have many of houghts, where liberal point of view, like brooklyn, are quite nasty and have no care at all for sharing. my point to congress would simply be, let's get back to the rule of law, guys, we are a nation of laws. there are things we have not been enforcing, thank you,

need to get ma, we back to to make our country more back.rous and bring jobs thank you for c-span. host: few minutes left in this segment. question, how e should congress work or not work with president-elect trump. want to hear your advice for monopoly of congress. pensacola, florida. line for democrats. caller: good morning, i have a comment. i think they should work with him. i don't know what kind of person he is, i don't think he will make a good president, i don't think he will do anything for people of color. woman that hat the worked with him was his manager, her a position in there, he's a dangerous man, too everybody to see how dangerous he s. i pray for him, he will need pensacola, florida. line for democrats. caller: good morning, i have a comment. i think they should work with him. a rayer, you run business because don't mean curun the free world. praying ake a lot of and i think he's a danger to this united states.

-- really host: when you say that, you also say they should work with im, why do you think they need to work with him if you think he's a danger? caller: i'm talking about his party, he got the house, they didn't work with president with, maybe they will work him. one thing that really hurt me was ryan. be an honorable man and he voted for a man that women, i en, touch don't understand that. that is my thing. what would i tell my daughters, my sons, it is all right to touch a woman because ou're a star, because you got money? we got a president, a man -- i of my ring his name out mouth, never in this world. i just don't ld, understand how could you put omebody in there, he's a acist, he don't show it, but he's a racist.

cecile, in new to hampshire. good morning. caller: good morning. my thoughts on this are, if i were to be able to speak to my congressman, i would let him know that i want him to revolt against every one of this man's policies and the policies that all these other republicans are oing to try to bring forward into our nation. cecile, in newdestroy us, hampshire. good morning. caller: good morning. my thoughts on this are, if economically, and in foreign olicy, we're just going to be so messed up. say,o scared and i have to with enior citizen, serious health issues, and that to help on my medicare me. going to happen now, ryan is talking about already, socialoing to get rid of security, medicaid, medicare, everything. what is going to happen to those

have paid in for this, but it is going to be taken away. 10 years t will be before implemented, but that -- what is going to happen to the people behind me? going to that are counting on this, they will not be able to afford healthcare. i continuing is wonderful that congress and all of our, you of our federal employees have great healthcare, that at about those of us are at the bottom and have nothing. are we going to -- is this going be america, where you see people dying in the streets? more try to get in one call. sam in missouri, a republican. am, what would your advice be to your member of congress? caller: pardon? be : what would your advice to your member of congress when with donald orking trump? caller: to reach out to everybody in congress and quit arguing and and

get on the same playing field nd get something done this year. i'm bringing a different view to the election. a godly election, the republican platform was godly, anti-godly, was that is why our country is in the mess it's in. okay, sam our last caller in this segment of "washington journal." spotlight our weekly magazine series with a look today at recent piece in pacific on food inspection in the united states, but first, more from our interviews incoming members of congress, among those joining the house in january is former of florida, vernor who was elected to congress as a democrat. >> we're with congressman elect crist, former florida governor, former attorney senator. former state are you the man in the room with the most political experience in

freshman class? >> i really don't know, i know his, though, a lot of good people are in this class and want to work hard and do what is right. work together,we that we don't separate by republican, democrat, independent, realize we're all we now have a duty more than any other time in our the civil cept maybe war, to bring this country together. people are counting on us. orientation on capitol hill, is it like the first day of school? so, yes.much that is a good analogy, you learn where your office might your ying to find out who staff might be. it is very exciting time, it really is, everything is new. what advice do you give fellow freshmen member necessary dealing with press, political pressure offing in office, one of advice, what would it be? >> be true. peak from your heart and you don't have to wor bewhat you are saying, you will be fine, just

honest. >> david jolly ran on issues of politics, campaign finance, is that an important issue for you, something you eel like you can make changeos on capitol hill now? is very inuing important issue. overturning citizens united is important. dark politics, we have to get that out of here and return, they call the house of representatives the people's return it to to the peep and he will make sure they are represented. they are the ones we're fighting and we understand they are the boss. >> speaking of being the boss, be one of pared to 435, as opposed to the boss in the state of florida? >> absolutely. i'm an old football player, i forest.terback at wake being part of a team is a lot of fun. when you are governor or chief can be lonely sometimes. this is a lot of fun, i'm enjoying my new colleagues. congressman crist, thank you for your time. >> announcer: "washington continues.

host: each week in this segment of the "washington journal," we different recent magazine piece. this week's spotlight on magazines comes from the september/october issue of "pacific standard" magazine, the and ine is "spoiler alert" the author is kathryn miles, who joins us from boston. kathryn miles, the story pulling the curtain back on the federal to prevent food illness outbreaks. might be interesting to start how you originally planned to approach this story. >> sure, we thought it would be important for consumers to understand exactly the processes that their food goes through, farm to table. and in many cases, particularly when talking about produce, the is a foreign farm. so our initial idea was to take a breakfast item, item like a banana and follow it goes, trail, as from grower to our breakfast. discovered, that was

frankly impossible to do. the f.d.a. denied our requests so we found d ourselves kind of trying to go in through the back door to this process, where the loopholes are, where we're consumers and where we need to ask harder questions. host: the back door was through border patrol facility you visited there, one f 15 federal agencies involved in the rules and the inspection process. your story notes, 3000 people died because of in aminated food each year the united states. to is food-born illness hard police? >> i think there are multiple answers to the question. atback historically and look food safety as it happened in the united states for 200 years, really. been a vizintine process agriculture ican ahead of american consumers. i think there are obvious reason

yes we want to protect american agculture when president lincoln established food safety mechanism, it really was seeds and soil p safe for our growers. that continues to be something invest in. along the way, the role the consumer plays has been underfunded and kind of underrepresented. what we have, as you said, multi-facetted system, where a single product coming into the united states fact need to be examined y multiple agencies, some of whom do not talk to one another along the way. e have a series of underfunded agencies, both the f.d.a. and inspectors have just sort of massive employment gaps, eally, offices and positions that are currently understaffed. coming from of food other country, sometimes coming from multiple countries, a single product.

combination of lack of resources, a lack of i think investment of both we ncial and ideology, and just have just this flood, really, that would take quite a stem.o host: viewers, if you want to call during the segment as we're kathryn miles about her story in pacific standard magazine, phone lines, democrats, 202-748-8000. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. to give the , just viewers a sense of the maze of federal agencies that navigate this process here when it comes to food inspection, want to read story paragraph from your that notes most of the food coming in falls under purview of food and drug administration, responsible for regulating 80% of what we eat. fruits, like vegetables, rice, grains, dairy products, the f.d.a. has

oversight over fish and shell fish, except catfish, falls agriculture,ent of food, sxaft inspection service. if the food is imported, customs patrol is responsible for screening shipment upon arrival. usda may need to inspect it, as well, that is agencies of the involved in this process w. all that inspecting, all the involved, about what percentage of food that comes into the united states is looked at and inspected? guest: it varies on the type of food, safe estimate is less than of all food that comes into the u.s. is physically inspected. determines whether a shipment of food coming into the united states actually gets eyes on it? guest: right now, the best means algorithmic software called predict. it looks at country of origin, it looks at whether some ingredients in the food are

high risk, whether he person importing it has had other infractions and then they -- a number shows up, ercentage number and based on how high the number is, that sort of determines how likely it inspected. we mention, serious new policies being undertaken right ow as result of the 2010 fisma act, which is really changing how food safety works. shifting is doing, responsibility of inspecting the food to producers themselves and going to see significant changes, i think, in terms of where and why and when if that inspection happens. host: fisma, food safety modernization act and we'll talk in this segment about means and what it could entail. .ring in the callers start with alex in garland,

good democrat, alex, morning. caller: how are you doing? host: you are in with kathryn miles, go ahead. caller: i have -- born premature mother that has kidney failure, so preventing food born illness is a great idea. prevent others from getting sick. bring you feel about nothing food from across the world and how does it look -- to come expected across the u.s.? guest: thanks. you bring up a really important point, i appreciate you sharing your personal story. that is people with compromised r more sensitive immune systems, people who have chronic diseases like kidney disease, old areho are young and

t higher rate of contracting a foodborne illness, the populations are on the rise now. more singly, we have potentially unsafe food, we have more people who are particularly it.ceptible to that is a really important point. in terms of policing or trying sure we have safe food, think that right now a lot of consumers.lies on we need to do due diligence to purchase the food we is safe. this is not at all a problem that restricted to imported food. you look at some of the most egregious foodborne illness have been with domestic products. core, huge pineapple problem with wisteria, a few ago.s it is looking at industrial practices we're undertaking in his country and saying, are we

okay with it. host: kathryn miles notes, millions of containers, ships, hundreds of scientists, 30 laws, 15 federal prevent thewe can't next foodborne illness outbreak. about your experience at the customs border patrol facility, what you saw when you ent there and what process you were going to look at? guest: these are people who are frontlines and doing really good work. customs and border patrol, their food division, as it were, is divided into two sections. this is indemmic of the problem. he produce imported spo the u.s. is inspected by the agricultural branch of the border patrol, looking for paths that might be a threat to american agriculture. were i was there, they looking at a huge shipment of europe.rom so, what they're trying to do is protect our agricultural

things like m beatles, fungus, things like that, as well. he process their system undertakes to look at food we consume is very different. much more paper trail. those are the sorts of people are looking at tariff issues, looking at where food a passed through, there is lot of anti-dumping right now that is happening, where avoid es are trying to taxes on certain items like the , for instance, is example i use in the article. we tax foreign producers of honey. to the heir product in country, at lower rate, what hey will do, ultimately smug telein as something else to avoid paying tariffs. hat means that product is completely removed from the system of potential inspection, we don't know what is coming in. what they are doing, sort of following the paper trail. when they find something that suspicious, they are f.p.a. in the

enforcement and sometimes destroying food if they find it unsave. questions u have about the federal efforts to fight foodborne illness topic.ak, our phone numbers, 202-748-8000, democrats. republicans, 202-748-8001. independents, 202-748-8002. john in ohio, democrat, good morning. morning, and thank you for c-span. bean.lima, ohio, like the host: thank you, john, i'll remember that. caller: okay. i was just concerned on, it i've watched you everyday, is that the republican enoughesn't want to have people, you know, onboard it inspect everything. heck, they don't, look at the chicken place, they pull right ors out of there now. i mean, we're up against a wall don't ese people that

worth at our safety is enough to invest in the people, enough people to at least cover us, you know, cover our backs. i'm just wondering what the heck are we supposed to think, they e.p.a. soet rid of the everybody can pollute. take away healthcare, if you are pay or die.you to it is on and on with this kind of stuff. do, if you public don't mind? thank and you i'll take your comment offline. miles.kathryn guest: i think you are right to be concerned. frankly hat demanding that the government is investing in safety is one of the first things that we can do. through this election cycle, this issue, which the g.a.o. of the most dire in the country, on the most-watched list. it is an issue that never came up. frankly, we have no idea how the new administration will tackle this.

i think is really is our responsibility as citizens and talking nts to be regularly to elected officials right ought to be food security, to say access to ood and food saift, access to safe food. host: is it as black as white as its?viewer put he says republicans want to trim inspectors and democrats want break otection, does it down along party lines that simply? guest: i think historically, you could probably find some trends. it is worth noting that last group did ependent fairly sort of critical study of funding of usda nspectors and found similarly, something close to 40% of some of those inspection positions unfilled, either through attrition or attempt to save money. don't think the democrats get off scott free in this, the mportant thing is to pay

attention to the coming administration and make this a priority, you know, healthy utterly crucial to the country and there is no better way to ensure pelthy than to feed them well. i think we need to put feet to issue.re on the host: some 48 million americans become sick each year because of ate, we're hey talking about efforts to fight that. ohio, an elsonville, independent. go ahead. --ler: yes, i don't know why what, lynn? caller: why they want to trim, i never heard that before. you know, words are so cheap, there.an be threw out in theird in feed lots own poop, that is p-o-o-p, okay.

they get e.coli, okay. e.coli, why d with aren't the animals out in a some grass, instead of standing in their own poop? we get environmentalists, they what they want, why aren't they looking more at our food food. i think this is where agencies have broken down, not done their for the first place, that is what we are seeing more today. job.e are not doing their so many agencies, no oversight, all ould you look over these people and believe me, if you are not looking over people, part, many don't do their job. kathryn miles. guest: i agree frankly. i will say i think as consumers of the some responsibility, you mention cattle, that is a huge issue and

one we should be talking a lot about. as americans we consume meat and wemount of really want our meat to be cheap. the only way to grow cheap meat do it on feed lots. i think the question is, are we meat, to eat less willing to pay the price, frankly, it is going to be a steeper price to buy grass fed humanely raised cattle. the decision my family has made, we feel strongly about. isis a decision frankly that economic economically hard for a lot of americans. to do, are we ng willing to subsidize humanely grown meat?bly are we willing to only eat meat twice a week? need to questions we be asking while we're asking for on federalng frankly level. host: head to illinois, where pat is waiting, line for democrats. on with kathryn miles. guest: i'm call nothing regard

fracking in california, hey gave free water to some of the almond growers, the trees i wonder how that will food, the nuts we're consuming. mean, it just seems like that is not right, either. host: kathryn miles, a little outside the scope of your article, but something you have the past?in guest: actually, yes, my forthcoming book, i can do a plug, looking at earthquakes and fracking is a of it.art i've done research for the book. ascinating problem i don't think anybody saw coming, multiple organic farm necessary have lost their clien teleand could conceivably ose their certification as

organic farms because of fracking and i don't think was coming.ght that this seepage in water is something we're only beginning to understand. water crisis in general, i think is a large part of why we're here and in this position. caller mentioned california, obviously in a terrible drought toht now, a drought expected get much worse in the next 12 months. as that happen, we'll look to places like south america for our fruits, nuts, things like that, too. it is a huge sort of cyclic situation to take a look at. calls for hard questions in terms of sustainability. i drink almond milk in my lattes, is that defendable in climate? i'm not sure that it is. as a consumer, it is my responsibility to say, is this right choice right now. host: speaking of kathryn miles's book, author of "super storm," nine days inside hurricane sandy, her work appeared in the best american

essay series "outside magazine," the "new york times" and others, with us for the next 25 minutes until the house ga the day.or raton, florida. caller: hi. tie nating, interesting in thanksgiving issue to environment. mainly ion is does this point, you're saying it is a responsibility of consumers. point to us as consumers being more subsistent, areas, our our neighborhoods so we can grow the things and oversee the types of soils that we have. we will not be pay og foreign sources. of greedave -- because

for fossil fuels, when we had an pportunity a long time ago to go electric. and we've killed car, even now that tesla is having it. but what you have pointed out environmentally is very this issue to g the environmental aspect of what we're facing worldwide. host: kathryn miles. guest: thanks for that. me clarify, having reported on this issue and seeing how studies, the lab studies of foodborne illnesses that., i totally support one shift we're seeing with third-party certification. i spent a day in a wonderful lab incredible,are doing molecular work to look at particular strains of illness, things like that, incredible sophistication, i do upport that, i totally support

policing, as well. as the caller said, i really do of full s is a matter can have the accounting, we need to be looking at things frankly carbon miles and things like water. the degree to which we can back to the era of the garden and take responsibility sorts of lpos all level from food safety to the environment to frankly our own cost.ial host: take us back to the f.d.a. facility that you visited. happens when a imported food item is found to be some safety violation, if they decide they need to get rid of it? process?alk about that guest: sure. the f.d.a. denied all attempts facilities.ir host: i'm sorry -- customs and border patrol? uh-huh. work nothing conjunction with the f.d.a. and usda, when they item for whatever reason has not passed a test, let me well, if to callers, as

you are interested in the items, he f.d.a. keeps a really good, thorough list that is accessible to the public, their red list, that has e everything been denied entry in the past onth, for instance, it is from places we don't necessarily expect. i was looking this morning in preparation for the interview saw that just yesterday a huge shipment of peppers from rejected.re this is not necessarily, i think we think of this as chinese or american problem tis very much a global one. items are found to be somehow not in keeping with the standards we have because of pesticides or illegal chemicals, a couple of different things can happen, we can refuse the shipment, it is importer's responsibility to send shipment cases because what is found is particularly prenittious or because of the importer's track record or because to be somehow not in keeping with the

can choose to just destroy the item, render it inedible, basically. i say in the article, a variety of wayss they can do this, the colorful way i have found, they have a facility they drive and again with steam roller until it is crumbled basically. that d if i could visit and they said no, for security reasons. host: would have made for good with the story. tynburbank, california, republican, good morning. caller: good morning. in accordance with your guys preventing foodborne illness, at what point and i'm pecifically referring to the american population. at what looking at thert growing theirople own food? being self-sustainable? i know that within the past number of people that have learned to have a home

has dropped dramatically. think that in an effort to prevent foodborne illness would needt be a conversation we to have at some point of people becoming a little bit more growing their e, own vegetables, even some of eggs, other at, things like that? what point, what would that look be a hat this would serious conversation that we would have to have and i'll take thanks.wer offline, guest: it is a great question and a question that we should be asking. requires just a huge shift for us speaking, we are a country that loves ready-made everything. hether premade decks we can assemble in under an hour or frankly our meals, look at the amount of fast food, prepared

food we eat right now as a nation, it would require huge shift. 'm conscious of the fact that we're a nation that lives more in cities than in rural areas at history.nt in our i think access to the ability to grow is something that is important. think economic initiative, i'm mindful of the single parent who is possibly work it would go jobs and relying on public transportation, is that person going to be able to grow beets and prepare the beets for dinner? have to make e sure this does not become a class issue, as well, that we're making sure that good healthy food is available to everybody regardless of their socioeconomic position. i think having that conversation holistic way f that takes into account things like that, access in terms of time, money and actual growing space is really important, as well. host: again, for the viewers, if you want to read "spoiler alert," that kathryn miles wrote, september/october edition "pacific standard", there is the cover of that edition for

our viewers. clarence in ohio, democrat, good morning. caller: good morning. sorry i got into your conversation late, i missed the beginning of it. are a small farm, been a 1938.y farm since we raise grass-fed lamb and things like try and that. our food that we eat and we 100% clean. of the poor county we live in, but at the same a lot of my neighbors are big ag. poor county, they get a million and something dollars to run their farms. we get nothing. help for us. raise in the u.s. to small hange back

farmers producing. if it does that, you will have affordable nd more food, but you're going to have to pay for it in some way or the other, because big ag is all they give to. is so why their stuff cheap. you're not paying for the part ic, environmental whaf they do. nobo this is something that needs to change. host: are you on your farm right now? caller: yeah, yeah. host: how much -- how your ustained is household? on your do you grow farm versus have to buy and your house? caller: if i want a beef of meat a lamb or chicken, i have to buy a piece of fish, that's all. have a neighbor 100% organic

and we do share with her, we buy vegetables to her. for a year's supply, $500 and of everything we want. me and my wife. we raise our meat. and r's mark ets they use food stamps and amounts market, tubl the of food stamps for the people so we can afford to buy what have. a lot love it. smalltime. feeding probably 30 or 40 now, with our meat. a lot of what we make. ost: thanks for the call from ohio. give kathryn miles a chance to respond. guest: thank you. farmers like you who really do tremendous amount haverk to make sure we can good, clean food. i think that is really important. one.ubsidy issue is a huge

we see both in terms of as i mentioned earlier, tariff coming in ith food and also with the ways in which we're choosing to subsidize. growing practices and some crops over others in this is a y and i think that question on the table for quite sometime, the wonderful documentary "king corn" that out 10 or 15 years by now, really i think called that into question. consumers and constituents, we should be asking questions where monsebest spent? i grew up in the midwest, have farmer necessary my family, know important it is to keep american farmers going. farmers hat american take their soil very seriously and some industrial products required to being use by contract are really destroying their soil and rankly destroying their family legacy, a lot of farmers welcome the opportunity to have less well, rial processes, as too. so absolutely. and the extent to which we can

lamb farmers out there, i think we're all doing something really great, both for and of great, easy political action, which is buying food we believe in. in mannington, west virginia, an independent, trish, good morning. good morning. my question relates to antibiotic resistance being ostered through the confined feeding operations for the large stock. how does that relate to the to impact thelity policy? guest: that's a little beyond scope of my article, but i can say generally speaking that one of the are things inspectors are looking at or the usda, a group called fsis that is looking at food and they basically take, receive a here are the ays types of antibiotics and levels acceptable in the food and they are testing the meats to make sure they are within those scopes.

question that again, we should be asking, are we okay with those levels? strictly personally, i'm not. i make point of buying meat that antibiotics or anything in there. so again, i think it is a question of what the market will you know, right now with the market wants more than food.ng is cheap and so i think the way to get that frankly, as we've talked lot , with the seed situation, is requiring the use of antibiotics just because of conditions being used. so are we willing, are we able meat? more for clean host: your article focuses quite a bit on food safety modernize 2010, six years on, is that act fully implemented? guest: not even close. there was actually a federal lawsuit that was brought about food safety, for f.d.a. was dragging its feet in erms of coming up with the rules they would enforce, let alone the enforcement. in law decision was found

favor of the center and f.d.a. that.sically forced to do they're still finalizing the rule and implementation will go about 2020, 2022. trying to re doing, phase in way that will have least impact on small farmers. will be the last to implement new food safety olicies and i think that is an important point. i certainly support farmers markets, i support local farms has had csa for quite sometime. but that is not necessarily the we still need to do due diligence as consumers and make farms are maintaining good dproeing practices and safe handling practices. will not be enforced through ffsma until six years, again, that is a place it is going to be beholden on us as consumers. is csa?at guest: community share agriculture, wonderful program

you contract with a farmer week her get a box every of meat or vegetables or you have credit system. it is a program that gives farmers money up front when they beginning of the growing season and allows you to interact with the farmer meaningful way. a lot of farms include recipes, great to it is really literally see where your food is oming from and get to know the people growing it. it builds community in an important way. host: rush city, minnesota, independent, good morning. caller: good morning. regards to yourn foodborne illnesses. in the beginning you said that are inspected when they first come in. vehicles cern is the that are transporting airplanes, semi's, those are never to know why ike

that you're controlling of the stops with the inspection in the beginning? guest: good question. we should say that one of the major changes that comes with modernization y act is that importers will be to demonstrate cleanliness of their facilities your question about transportation and how things are moved is a really good question. don't know that ffsma figured that out, we're asking people to demonstrate the front-end, their processing facilities are safe. where is the know, dirt, if i may say, we're talking about path gens, the form most often in of produce and fields. asking about containers and how important,shipped is particularly considering some products are being shipped multiple times back and forth

oceans. take a look at fish processing right now, and chicken we're sending full animals over to asia, to be back, sent back again. some of these items are traveling tens of thousands of are reaching hey our table. ost: orange virginia is next, kathy, democrat. caller: thank you for taking my call. a lot of the previous callers base on the same things i did, about growing your own which i grow a lot of my own. i'm on five acres and have ability to grow things that come back every year, i'm grateful for that. and the at fast food fast food industry has a lot to are in the the cows place where is they are stored until they are eaten. and then there is a lot, like kathryn miles said, information consumer does ar not know about, food th orporated, gas lands, 11

hour, a lot of information out here that they can see and it will make you understand that hamburger that you get at the restaurant isn't one cow, it's thousands of cows and it concerns me a lot. i have my own chickens, grown my i eggs for a long time and think we need to think about having our own security and our own backyards. thank you. kathryn miles, on that point, the fast food industry, can you talk about their impact this issue of n food safety? obviously, huge, right? i think a lot of your remember all ly too well jack in the box scare that woke up this country in terms of safety, particularly with meat. and that outbreak actually prompted a lot of changes, as well. so we have huge drivers, we saw and ther with chipotle, norovirus outbreak, they have

impact enormous number of people quickly because because asly chains, your caller mentioned, one cow might end up in thousands of burgers, so looking at that and looking at practices, we see a shift in terms of the some kind of outbreak to spread rapidly. there are companies we should say that have excellent safety policies and certainly that rewarded, as well. this idea, any step a product through complicates food safety and brings a product back temperature where something can grow. it adds something in. so the more complex the final is, chicken mcnuggets is n obvious example, the more steps, more places for contamination to happen. that is very different obviously apple, washing it and eating it, a much simpler less likely to have

contamination. michigan, a republican. good morning. caller: hi, thanks for taking my call. or kind of questions statements. one, as far as the food safety odernization act, when these containers come in from overseas grown or not ally in other places, are these radiated, according to the food safety modernization act so the food we are getting radiated? one. another within is, why did the or why are they considering classifying walnuts drug? another one is, with research, verybody wants money for research for cancer, but nobody pesticides in the id's food they eat as causing illnesses? that's a foodborne illness. other thing is with the

ndustry itself, the amount of waste from these big agra, the waste of and, the resources, the over production, production, over we don't need that much and i'll air.your answers off the thank you. host: kathryn miles, a lot there. go for it. issue of raise the drugs, that is something we haven't touched upon yet, it is important. the food and drug administration, and part of how we got into this mess is frankly, i think there is not necessarily an easy relationship and the he food arm drug arm of the f.d.a. one of the reasons that i think difficulty gaining access to any f.d.a. facility is hat the f.d.a. is currently frankly run like a drug company and if you look at the people who are making the decisions f.d.a., these are people who definitely come from the sort of drug arm of

research. so, yes, we're seeing much greater emphasis being placed on medical devices than we are in food. i ay in the article, in the think seven to 10 senior f.d.a., only he one is dedicated to food safety and that position is split food safety and veterinarian safety. that should tell you something. looking at food and giving it importance we give drugs is absolutely something we be doing. whether or not food is radiated depending on actual food food goes through a cold storage and that is considered sufficient. will have to do research on the walnuts and drugs, i'm not familiar with that. host: just a few minutes left the house gavel necessary for the day. we'll try to get to as many wait.while we joel, river falls, wisconsin, ahead.or republicans, go caller: good morning. i want to comment that i could

wrong, but it seemed to me canada, thereed to was already a template in place that could be used toward food organic food, which biotics, olve antibiotic necessary our food and so on and so forth, by the again, i could be wrong, subsidize people to even waterfalls and lawns, and beautify the ou take and transfer that into personal/private food plots and is big in america, well, what do these people do? the elderly, do a list of things, let's have a situation grown on a s community level beginning. wonderful, we have a wonderful farmer's market here.

me the food m to and plants and veggies are terribly expensive and i know a of the apples and such, so seems like maybe in your ravels, in your studies, an nswer would be to try to use that template that i witnessed in canada toward growing food and being safe and organic and -- host: kathryn miles, last minute ahead.go guest: it's a great idea. i agree, i can't think of anything more beautiful than beds with broccoli and kale in them. i want to make sure that is accessible and doable for all mericans, regardless of class, regardless of what their life looks like on a daily basis. i want to make sure we make sure for everybody. host: mary in kentucky, mary, make it quick?

caller: i have professional experience as a baker and the thing that i noticed the worst is washing your hands and how hard it is to get the e.coli off hands. host: kathryn miles. need this is why we kind of safety, if you have had e.coli, you never want it again. host: kathryn miles, if you want story in e september/october edition of pacific standard, "spoiler alert." ppreciate your time on "washington journal." guest: my pleasure, thanks for me.ing host: we'll take the viewers to capitol hill. live coverage of the house floor on c-span. see you back here tomorrow morning on the "washington 4 rnal" at 7 a.m. eastern, a.m. pacific.