from supporting lawsuits that strike on the affordable care act. on c-span3, the small business administration's inspector general testifies in a house subcommittee hearing on preventing fraud and abuse within paycheck text and loan program. there are several events streaming live on our website, thursday, at 9:15 a.m. eastern, the senate armed services committee examines the defense department's medical equipments of eye chain the coronavirus pandemic. at 10:45 a.m. eastern, nancy pelosi holds her news conference. at 1:00 p.m., our campaign 2020 coverage includes vice president pence speaking at an event in council bluffs, iowa. that is live at c-span.org. coming up, we discussed campaign 2020 and other news of the day with two members of congress.

first, democratic representative al green of texas, then scott perry of pennsylvania. "washington journal" is next. ♪ host: good morning. it is thursday, october 1, 2020. the senate convenes at noon, and the house is in at 9:00 a.m. eastern, which means we will be with you for two hours. we begin taking stock of tuesday's first presidential debate. with criticism pouring in from both sides of the aisle, the commission on presidential debates announced yesterday it would make changes to the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues. as we wait to see with those changes will be, we are asking you what you would suggest. how would you alter the debate format, if all? phone lines are split up as

usual. if you support the trump/pence ticket, (202) 748-8000 -- (202) 748-8001. if you support the aydin/harris ticket, (202) 748-8000 -- biden/harris ticket (202) 748-8000. for independents, (202) 748-8002 . .o text us, (202) 748-8003 twitter,lso find us on @cspanwj. you can start calling and now as we take you through a few of the headlines about tuesday's debate. from this morning's major national papers, here is usa today. there lead editorial, debate divines democracy downward. also from u.s.a. today, once was enough, make it stop. this from the washington post, the spectacle that nears -- --ealed the nations

commission on presidential debates, a presidential debate with a straight up mma cage matches what they write on the commentary section. and to the washington times as well, trump/biden debate baffles the world. those are some of the headlines this morning from the major papers. amid that criticism, this was the statement put out by the commission on presidential debate yesterday. the commission sponsors televised debates to the benefit of the american electorate. last nights debate made clear the additional structure to be added to the remaining format -- added to the format of the remaining debates. will be carefully considered -- considering the changes that it will adopt and

will announce that these measures shortly. the commission is grateful for chris wallace for the professionalism and skill he brought to last nights debate and intends to ensure the additional tools to maintain order. both asked about this issue and talked about it while they were on the campaign trail. we start with joe biden yesterday. >> last night was i think a wake-up call for all americans. what i tried to do last night, i tried to speak directly into the camera to the american people. to talk about their concerns, talk about one's on their mind, and talk about what i would do if i were president. plan, no ideas, didn't express a single plane he had about how he will move forward, and it made me realize that just how much is at stake. for 90 minutes, he tried everything to distract, everything possible. it just didn't work. i hope this next debate will be

in front of real, live people, a town hall. i'm looking forward to it. i hope we are able to add a chance to actually answer the questions that are asked by the persons in the room. but god only knows what he will do. host: that was joe biden yesterday on the campaign trail. president trump also on the campaign trail in minnesota at one of his make america great again rallies. he was the president for last night. pres. trump: last night, i did with the corrupt media has refused to do, hell joe biden accountable for his 47 years of lies -- held joe biden accountable for his 47 years of lies and 47 years of failure. i held them accountable for shipping drugs and dreams abroad and bowing to the violent mob at home. can you imagine how these people think about -- think in these democratic states. did you see last night?

name oneleepy joe, law-enforcement group that supports you, and chris wallace says, don't do that, that's -- can you believe this? i was debating two people last night. debating two people last night. joe biden is too weak to leave this country. are saying,porters he should cancel the rest of the debates. let's see what happens. i don't think that will be a good move. host: president trump last night in minnesota. this is the front page of the wall street journal, debate chaos sparks review. some of the potential changes that could happen to ensure better discussion of the issues. it could include tweaking how much time a candidate could speak or whether the moderate could shut off a candidates microphone, according to one member of the commission board at the wall street journal. we are waiting for the official

announcement for the commission on presidential debates. as we do, we want to hear from you. what changes would you make? tony is first out of florida, on the line for those who support joe biden. good morning. caller: good morning. i have an idea. one idea is for the moderator to tell both candidates they will put a shock color -- collar. host: do you think they will actually agree to that? guest: -- caller: well it is necessary, because the whole world is laughing at us. this is a circus. , the dumpsteria fire, the list goes on and on. host: short of a shock collar, what is something that you think could actually be implemented that both campaigns would be ok with? ollar.: a mute c

mute is another button. trump is going to scream like crazy, but mute is another idea. another ideas time off. they are like little kids. i know ther -- i know they to old men, but if you want interrupt, give them a timeout. that's the only way, because this is ridiculous. the whole world is laughing at us, we are like a laughingstock. host: tony in florida. this is ted in washington, new jersey. good morning. caller: good morning. i would like to say a couple things if i may. first of all, joe biden appears he is not for the people. he's against trump. all he talked about -- he sounded like nancy pelosi or chuck schumer. the bottom line is, we had a moderator up there who is a democrat. we have to have a moderator who

is completely, 100% neutral. chris wallace kept trying to back off of biden. biden did not answer the question about stocking the court, didn't answer the question about the green deal. he said he's against the green deal. he didn't answer those questions. then he gets away with saying shut up on national tv. i work with kids. this is a very bad precedent to tell somebody to shut up. he doesn't even -- biden doesn't even have the class or dignitary. host: would you do anything to change the format going forward? haver: all i would do is -- i would explain to them in the beginning that this is the way it is. you are given two minutes and you can respond to whatever the person said, but there will be no interrupting. if you interrupt, your mike will be muted temporarily. just go that's -- mic will be muted temporarily. just go that way. they are adults. host: so you say you want a mute

button. do you think that might increase criticism about future moderators on when they choose to use that button? caller: no. i think what happens, like anything else when we moderate something, even when you are working with children, you have rules and regulations. people don't necessarily abide by rules and regulations because they are adults. you have to set up guidelines. the whole thing got out of no --l because there was there didn't seem to be any rules there. chris wallace, he was totally out of control. when biden said shut up, man, called him a clown, trump did not insult him one time. i'm not just defending donald trump. joe biden -- people tout him like he is some great man. he said he's the face of the democratic party. he is the democratic party, but he doesn't answer questions about stacking the court, the green deal. host: we got your point.

that is ted. this is tina out of north carolina for the line who support joe biden -- on the line who supports joe biden. caller: these debates are to benefit the american people. this is our opportunity, and we only have three to four opportunities to actually hear what they have to say. i will make one suggestion regarding the format change. donalds universe pageant is so affectionate about, we need to have soundproof booths or glass booths around both of the candidates. do not put the pressure on the moderator to determine the time limit. just like in that pageant, it will be automatically timed where they have two minutes. while the other person is speaking, they will not have opportunity to interrupt. that is no matter what. it could be republican or

democrat. i think there will be equal time you willssion, then allow that time back, according to the rules of the team. having watched the debate, , iing two senior citizens will say that it is not impressive. potusularly, the current is a disgrace to our country. host: you said these debates are supposed to benefit the american people. you don't think tuesday benefited the american people? caller: i do not. i think it embarrassed us, because it did not represent the best of us. host: if these continue not to benefit the american people, do you think they are worth continuing? caller: we need to improvise. americans are strong. we don't give up, we just change the way things are done. those soundproof booths, like miss universe had, would be a

definite solution and would take the moderator off the hook. host: that's teen in north carolina this morning. this, from the pages of the washington post in this discussion about how to change the debates or whether to continue the debates. this, from russell riley, a presidential historian at the university of virginia miller center. my reaction, this doesn't need to happen again. he argues this is an example of why debates have outlived their value as a means to inform voters. it doesn't serve any useful purpose. it is ugly and reflects poorly on our political system. whether it reflects poorly or not, it was watched by quite a few americans. yesterday, the ratings officially in, 73.1 million people watched tuesday's vice presidential debate. ship than the first presidential debate of the 2016 cycle -- viewership then

the first presidential debate of the 2016 cycle when president trump squared off against then former secretary of state hillary clinton. john is out of bridgewater, new jersey. good morning. caller: good morning. i will try to stick your question, whether changes should be made. it should not be changed. fighting for the most important job in the world. if they can't spend 90 minutes talking, debating, wrestling, then there is something wrong with us. let them go at it. sometimes unseemly, but democracy is often unseemly. that is my answer. thank you. host: before you go, we are talking about making a better informed, public. you are saying let them do what they do, people can make their choices anyway and be informed,

even by what we saw on tuesday? that as information to how people vote or what they know about these candidates? caller: sure. we find out a lot. we know where trump stands, we know are biden stands. it was pretty clear. side, he would not admit to packing the court. valuable information came out. about what joe biden would do. host: all these headlines we read this morning, that it is time to end this, that is -- is that a matter of not trusting the american voter? caller: i trust the american voter. the american voter is a lot smarter than the media. the media, certainly mainstream because -- mainstream, and i hate to say this because it sounds stupid, but they are trying to go one way. the american voter who voted for trump last time we'll probably

do it again. what else can they say? they see what's going on. who is a veryn, nice guy, can stand up to these guys. that will be a problem. -- there should be let the best man win. host: you are talking about steve scully who will be hosting the presidential debate. caller: nice boy, nice man. host: you said you hope he stands up to them, what do you mean by that? caller: these guys are tough. maybe his persona will lower the temperature. obviously chris wallace doesn't like trump, we all know that. c-span is neutral.

i think that is a part to good choice, by the way. we know you guys are neutral. if you're not neutral, then the world is over. you know. i think the tone will be different with a different moderator, yes. host: john, thanks for the call from new jersey. mike in florida, on the line for those who support joe biden. caller: how are you? host: doing well. should youhink they the microphones, especially in trump's case. he's a bully who's not going to opinion. to voice your he doesn't follow rules. his is the way he has been entire life. that's really the only way, in my opinion, to keep them from acting like the jerky is. -- jerk he is. e the when do you mut

microphones. caller: whatever the rules are. you have two minutes to state your opinions and so forth, and if the other guide cuts in like trump did constantly during that debate, you mute is microphone. he's not going to follow the rules. host: on tuesdays debate, when they started a category of questions, there was that two minutes, but then they were supposed to have a free-flowing discussion. would you take away the flea following -- free-flowing discussion and make it you have time now, stop, you have time now? caller: i would have your two minutes to state your position, then after that, you have a free-flowing discussion, but trump does not even abide by the two minute rule. he refuses to follow the rules. he is a bully. he does not deserve to be president of this country. host: if there is a mute button, should it be used at all during

the free-flowing discussion? caller: no. i don't think that is the case, no. host: thanks for the call. this is mickey out of l.a.. -- l.a. thanks for getting up. caller: thanks for taking my call. in regards to changing the debate rules, it does not matter when somebody follows the rules, it doesn't matter what the rules are. i'm calling on supporting donald trump because i voted for him in happy -- i was not there has been a series of things that has led me not to want to support trump. i still can't come to the point of voting for joe biden and kamala harris. to talkrump continues about hunter biden. who cares about hunter biden. about people's families. hunter biden is not on the ballot. no one is voting for hunter biden. i was hoping for some policy

discussion. the best question and answer where with regards to supreme court, where joe biden answered simply. many people have called so far today and said joe biden will pack the court, increase the number of justices, but that requires the democrats to win the senate and have 60 votes to make that change. i don't think that will happen. that issue is moot. hope that steve -- i understand steve scully will be moderating the next debate and there will be questions from the public, so i hope trump will adhere to answering directly those questions that concern the americans. he's a businessman, he will come and change washington, will relax regulation. some of that he has done and i have been happy, but his personality along with acting secretaries in his cabinet, the

generals who have left, the issues regarding paul manafort in ukraine. it keeps talking about ukraine and russian money, but it is paul manafort in jail, not hunter biden. see,he changes, i don't the muting of the buttons, if they break the rules, donald trump is so boisterous he will over talk the microphone. that is my opinion. host: that's mickey out of l.a. this morning. coast,20 on the east and we are taking your phone calls in this first hour of the "washington journal." asking you, how should the presidential debate format be changed, taking your suggestions on phone lines, split up depending on who you support in the presidential ticket. as you call in, i would note we are not in a government shutdown . that was a possibility yesterday , if the senate did not pass

stopgap spending bill -- a stopgap spending bill and president signed it. both of those happened. president signing that bill late last night, and the senate passing the bill which keeps the government funded through december 11, which was passed yesterday on a 84 to 10. the house passed that see our continuing resolution about a week ago. that happening late last night, pushing off discussions of the federal budget until after the election. also, to watch on the hill today, as we noted, the houses in at nine a clock a.m. eastern and the senate is in at noon. note -- 9:00 eastern and the senate is in at noon. come toto potentially an agreement between nancy pelosi and steve mnuchin. they have been speaking this week. they are not there yet.

having discussions about the final number of a potential stimulus bill. democrats are pushing for something in the area of $2.2 trillion, down from the $3.4 trillion offer they made in may with their heroes act. senate republicans, pushing for a lower number in the $1 trillion range. we will see where those discussions meet, or if an agreement can be made before --gress leaves, and have leaves ahead of the election. week.nate will be in next more nominations they are considering. that is where we are today. something we will watch for on capitol hill and talk about in our 8:00 our. two members of -- hour. two members of congress joining us, al green will join us at 8:00 a.m. then, scott perry from pennsylvania. back to your phone calls. this is kendall out of

tallahassee, florida, on the line for those who support joe biden. good morning. caller: good morning. host: go ahead. how would you change the debate? caller: first of all, i think at this point the debate, after the embarrassment of tuesday night, i think it is redundant to have these debates. think, after seeing two grown men yell at each other and go at each other like children, after seeing months of the same thing online in digital spaces, my twitter feed, on every kind of news space, i'm so tired of it. i just think that, if they are going to continue, which unfortunately they might, they definitely need to implement, i don't know, maybe high school debate rules for people that act like high schoolers. people that act like children. have a set time that you are

allowed to speak. during that time, they will probably have to mute the microphones of both candidates, but especially president trump's . absolutelyr was embarrassing. it was atrocious, and so unprofessional. host: you think free-flowing discussions are a thing of the past, a go ahead and have a topic andthe question each other and probe and discuss. do you think they can do that? caller: i don't think these two can. i think it may something that can happen with people that can act professionally and can have professional discussions and act like adults. i just don't think, for this particular election, that it will happen. oft: this is alan out newark, ohio. good morning. caller: good morning. i'm glad to talk to you, folks. host: glad to talk to you.

caller: the debate was a disgrace. the way they need to control it is give commentators better control. there should be a switch at the commentators table that turns on the mic. once he turns on the microphone, he shuts the other one off. when the other is ready, throw the switch the other way and it turns on the opposite mic. have a time button or something along the line, where the two candidates are. to show them how much time they have left. if they want to respond to the other person's question, they need to have a button the bush so they cannot interrupt -- push so they cannot interrupt. this is not a unique problem we have had. have had it a number of times. oft: so the moderator tuesday's debate, chris wallace, getting a lot of criticism from even callers this morning about that debate. how do you think he handled it? caller: it was very difficult

for him to handle it. he was not totally in control because nobody really thought this problem out. it puts him in a bad spot. and to be challenged unjustly. i think the man did the best he could, and when you are under attack like that, it makes it hard to function. , one ofd case on that biden's had to be reminded several times by the commentator that we are not talking about that, we are talking about this. biden had to say ok, and then he would say something else. i look at candidates that, if we are attacked by a foreign country, i want somebody that is not distracted, that is vicious and will go at them and not quit. trump has display that. biden shows confusion and was getting sidetracked from time to time. host: do you think having a switch to go back and forth between the candidates will add increased focus on the moderator

, increased criticism about when to flick the switch, went to jump in and say it is the other person's time to talk now? we have a button over here on this system, our phone system, that allows us to move on to the next caller, and some of the most criticism that we get as moderators of this program is making that decision of when to go to the next person. do you think that will increase focus on the moderator as opposed to the two candidates who are trying to garner votes? caller: you're making a personal choice. that's your end. what i'm saying is an automatic choice. they don't have any choice. they have two minutes, that is exactly what they have. there should be a countdown and once they get to the last 10 seconds, they have a different light flash to let them know they are going into that. but you have to take it out of the hands of any individual, just like you folks. take it out of the hands, do it automatic, and you do it by what you hear.

we have to step up you on that and make it automatic. once a person understands they have exactly this amount of time, they will try to focus on what they really want to say, instead of attack. they know they will not be able to interrupt. they know they cannot interrupt ash if they know they cannot interrupt, it will be better for everyone to hear. now, they have to focus to use the best part of their time that they are allotted. host: thanks for the call from ohio this morning. speaking of chris wallace, his statement to the new york times, this is what he said about his experience tuesday night. "i've never been through anything like this. i'm just sad with the way last night turned out. i never dreamt it would go off the tracks the way it did." scott is next out of fort myers, florida. good morning on the line for those who support president trump. caller: good morning. let's first set the record straight. -- everyone go back

and watch the debate. donald trump spends two minutes uninterrupted, joe biden spends two minutes uninterrupted. the next part, donald trump answers a question, and he doesn't even get into it 30 seconds, and joe biden calls his name, interrupts him three different times. what we are experiencing is what happened with the sporting events. the one guy is cheap shouting, retaliates anduy he's the one they throw the flag on. that's it. if you want to say who started this, it was joe biden. you can't argue that. go take a minute and watch it. as for changing the debate, i was on team usa versus u.k. 40 years ago. that is how it is done. people get at it, it gets personal. what chris wallace should have done is simply ask the question and his mike should have been shut off, not theirs -- mic

should have been shut off, not theirs. watch the debate again and see how many times when it was modeled, it was chris wallace constantly talking and turning over. he has to have his mic. your guy, the next time, i hope he asks the question and shuts up. if they want to embarrass themselves, if joe biden or trump -- i don't care who you vote for or you care for, but let the two gentlemen behave and do what they need to do, and lets america see that. we did not see either one of these guys, because joe biden started the dogfight, as they planned. i knew he would. all of a sudden, trumpets flag because america, like in most sporting events, doesn't see the cheap shots or doesn't want to. caller: great program, you'll have a great day. host: before you go, did you say you are on an international debate team 40 years ago? caller: i was on team usa versus

u.k.. i was a college student and they picked the top undergraduate and top loss tool -- law school students, and we debated one member from u.k. and ireland. we went around seven different places. we used u.s. rules in some of them and u.k. rules in other. i was about 40 pounds overweight, and they spent the entire time talking about me and how i spent too much time going to the cookie jar. it gets crazy. but it is fun. host: question for you, scott. what was the debate topic supposed to be about? caller: it was about human rights back then. host: thanks for the call, fort myers, florida. the variousng about campaign strategies on the line for those who support president trump. i want to note the statement to mark talk put not yesterday -- tim murtaugh put out yesterday about the issue about changing

the debate format. he said they're only doing this because there guy got pummeled last night. president trump was the dominant force, and now joe biden is trying to work the rest. they should not be moving the goalpost and changing the rules in the middle of the game. his statement in u.s. news.com -- usnew.com. jesse is next on the line for those who support joe biden. good morning. caller: good morning. [inaudible] they get a certain amount of time to get their point across or answer the question and be quiet. that's the way it's supposed to be. [inaudible] his mind's made up, what you can ado, how you gonna do it. and that's that.

don't change anything. dearborn --s bruce the is bruce in dearborn on line that supports trump. caller: i think it's a binary choice. i don't think it's so much the form about the questions. why are they not asking the question about forced vaccinations? there are protests throughout the world saying we don't want to be force vaccinated, and trump has not clarified himself on that. how about newt gingrich when he asked why are we not arresting george soros for financing antifa? why isn't trump doing something about it? finally -- i have many questions, but i think this is probably the most important one, why are we allowing big tech to censor anti-globalist speech? this has got to be affecting the election.

we have a globalist media, unfortunately, and all of our candidates, leaders, media, and big tech are controlled by the child's and rockefellers through the united nations. why are we not asking these questions? host: host: host: that's bruce out of michigan -- host: that's bruce out of michigan. here are comments from facebook. silence the microphone after they answer the question so there is no yelling for two or three people -- yelling or two or three people talking. john saying by having an actual debate format and not whatever that was on tuesday. brad saying, and it. no use biden evading a rude be any necessary value to voters. 99% of us have already decided and many voted already. doubt anyying i conceivable format change will change president's behavior. it would best serve all of us to

cancel remaining debates. they neither inform or change people's mind. sayingter, if you are thank you to c-span for the comments today. i have heard many suggestions since the first debate, and this fewer like the shock collar idea so far the best. jeffrey out of auburn, new york on the line for those who support joe biden. you are next. caller: good morning, john. debates? [laughter] i did not watch the debate. i knew what was coming. it was going to be a hot mess. i prefer to get my filtered debate and news information from the late-night comics, jimmy fallon, stephen colbert, and jimmy kim. much more entertaining, and it does not raise my blood pressure. if you do have a debate, i would like traditional debate rules, points. and as a rule, felicia's

, hastyts ad hoc generalizations, and hyperbole earn you negative points. so if you are going to rate people and say this guy won or that kai lost, i think logic and reason -- this guy one or that's kai lost, i think logic and reason are the way to go. my opinion in this day of the internet, debates do not sway opinion. people in the audience that are undecided, have i doubt, i would them look at things in their collegiate dictionary, like seven words, rhetoric, semantic, fallible.lacy, and trump thinks he is infallible, which is why a debate will never work. i don't know what else to say. winners never cheat, and cheaters never win. pay your taxes and vote. thanks.

host: this is daniel in phoenix, arizona. the morning. on the line for those who support others. who are you supporting? caller: good morning. i didn't get your name, but i am in tucson. i called a couple months ago about decriminalization, trying to run as an independent for president. according to your question, you are talking about the debate were twot seems there or three racists on stage, because of the crime bill in 1994 and the over racism of debate fore have a hours and 20 minutes so each issue can be -- four hours and 20 minutes, so each issue can be explored. that's all i have to say today. -- indaniel in our zona arizona, talking about the issue of racism.

here's one of the lead stories in washington times. the presidents proud boys remark is anna faris metoo's supporters . claiming proof of racism with that statement. a lot of focus on the president's comment about .tanding down and standing by the president was asked about the comments as he was leaving the white house yesterday. this is what the president said to the press at the white house. pres. trump: i don't know who the proud boys are, you'll have to give me a definition. i can only say let them stand on, let law enforcement do their work. law enforcement will do the work more and more. as people see how bad this radical liberal democrat movement is law enforcement will come back stronger and stronger. i don't know who the proud boys are, but whoever they are, stand down and let law enforcement do their work. >> in the speech you said

standby. pres. trump: law enforcement will do their work. they have to stand down. everybody. whatever group you're talking about, let law enforcement do the work. antifa is the real problem. the problem is on the left. biden refuses to talk about it. he refuses to issue the word law & order. he saw that last night when he choked up. he can't say the word because he will lose the rest of the left. he has got to condemn antifa. white supremacists clearly love you and support you. pres. trump: i want law and order to be a very important part. it is a very important part of my campaign. to take carent has of that. they should stop defunding the police like they have done in new york. >> but do you denounce them? i hi denounce any form --

denounce any form of that's, you have to denounce. but i have to say joe biden has to say something about nt tebow. it is not a philosophy. these are people that hit people over the head with baseball bats. he has to come out and be strong, and condemn antifa. host: that was president trump yesterday at the white house. taking your phone calls this morning, another 20 minutes left in this segment, asking you how you would change the presidential debate format, if at all. line forcarolina, the those who support president trump. good morning. caller: i have a question here, and i would have each candidate uninterrupted, answer a 30 minute questionnaire to preview the debate. happened with these officers. we need them as runner ups to the presidency, distributed down

to the county, government, and schools, and the courthouses, to fight child trafficking. host: that is david in north carolina. our next caller is on the line for those who support joe biden. caller: good morning. i wish joe biden would have responded to trump's question during the debate, what police support you. i wish you would've referenced the september 24 letter signed by 489 republicans, former national security officials, who are endorsing biden and calling trump dangerously unfit to lead this nation because of his lack of character, incompetence in handling covid, and the level of corruption in his administration. so there is that. that is law enforcement for you, backing biden.

debate format, perhaps there should be some sort of referee who rains in the candidates, who can shout down petulant children like trump. retains thetime, it drama and spectacle factor, which makes it less boring, admittedly, but at least viewers can hear fully what each candidate says. host: what do you think the role of the moderator is? caller: the moderator is the journalist. they are supposed to ask substantial questions -- sub stance of questions. he doesn't have to be the stantivene -- sub questions. he doesn't have to be the discipliner. i think it abuses the rules too much. especially in the case of trump, who does not respect boundaries,

you have to keep pushing just so that -- he has to keep pushing so he can obscure what is candidates are saying. host: who would you pick for the referee role if there are two different roles? give an example of someone who you think would be good at that. caller: i almost think somebody almost from the sports world. that sounds ridiculous, but somebody who can have a loud boundaries,he willing to play that role. wwa.ody from a referee, literally get a referee. [laughter] i just thought of this this morning listening to you, so i haven't thought more thoroughly through. host: thank you for the call from white plains. this is timothy out of new york on the line for those who support president trump. support trump

he has done everything he has promised he was going to do. host: i'm listening, timothy. caller: i feel that if democrats get in office, they won't do a damn thing in office. congressman, congressman, congressman have not done anything in office. have just been putting off everything, everything, everything, everything. that is my comments. host: congress yesterday did put off a government shutdown, passing a continuing resolution to fund the government through december the 11th.

they will have to come back and figure out what to do with government financing after the election. we will see what happens. taking your phone calls with about 15 minutes left in the segment, asking how should the presidential debate format should be -- format be changed. carl wrote in saying no changes, continue the debates. steve says no roaming and no wandering. aboutd says the caller presidential -- high school debates is not the same as presidential debates. presidential debate should exhibit the highest level of professionalism. another says i want my boring politics back. unfortunately, i don't think it will happen. the gop and their cult like the jerry springer format. taking your questions on social media, you can send us attacks, or we have phone lines put up by who you support. (202) 748-8000 is the number if you support joe biden in kamala

harris. (202) 748-8001 if you support president trump and mike pence. you can keep all thing in -- calling in, but as we continue, we want to keep you updated on what is happening in capital hell. in the senate judiciary committee yesterday, james comey concedes failings in the carter page case, the headline from usa today. he defense his work to the senate panel. he was on capitol hill, defending the inquiry he initially helped launch, calling it essential. at the same time, the former fbi director conceded there were significant and important failings in the bureaus reported pursuit of authority to track carter page as part of their investigation. james comey in the high-profile casted itsuiry which investigation into russian interference in the 28 -- 2016 --ction as a politically

here is from yesterday's hearing. >> are you aware, director coming that not one of the -- director comey, that not one of the criminal counts from the molar investigation relied on the steele dossier? >> i have read that. >> i think that makes the case that all of this attention on the steele dossier, as fascinating as the document may be, does not have direct relevant of the conclusion the russians were interfering in the 2016 election or indictments that follow from the mueller investigation? is my time up? >> no. >> thank you. let me ask if i might on a statement made by the attorney general. let's see if i can find this. let me make sure i have this accurately. attorney general barr gave a quote at the press conference

saying "what happened to the president in the 2016 election and the first two years of his administration was abhorrent." it was a grave injustice, unprecedented in american history. the attorney general went on to say the law enforcement apparatus were advancing a false and utterly baseless russian collusion narrative against the president. he then went on to say the proper investigative prosecuted the department of justice were abused, in my view, to reach a particular result. director comey, would you comment on that statement made by general barr about the men and women in the justice department? >> i have no idea what on earth he was talking about. this was an investigation appropriately predicated and opened, that had to be opened. it was conducted in the right way, picked up by the special counsel, led to the indictment of dozens of people.

finding by your colleagues in the senate that the head of was funnelinggn information to a known russian intelligence officer. the notion the attorney general believes that was an illegitimate endeavor to investigate that mystifies me. host: james comey with the senate judiciary committee yesterday. if you want to watch that hearing in its entirety, do so at our website, c-span.org. back to your phone calls. we hear from you about the presidential debate format and how you think it should be changed, if at all. gregory in california on the line who support joe biden. -- for those who support joe biden. caller: i have a great idea for a debate format that would raise real entertainment to the debates while challenging the candidates on their level of knowledge about a whole range of issues and their ability to think on their feet, namely a

big roulette wheel. questionsnd it has 60 on a circumference that have been submitted by americans, previously submitted online, and who knows where the wheel will stop and what question on any number of topics to the people vying to be our president, vice president, and guiding us into the future on all of these issues. i would love to see that happen. i think it would bring people to the debates, and be both entertaining and elusive. host: gregory, everybody loves a big wheel, but we have the town hall debate coming up when individual americans, 15 to 20 actually in that town hall with president trump and vice president biden -- former vice president biden, they will be asking their own questions. does that sort of satisfied for you in terms of getting them to

answer questions from the public? caller: well, for now it does. i want to find out how i can submit a couple questions. inealize the debate formats the next two debates is probably baked in, but i think this is nine-day to add a fourth debate in the current cycle or try it in the future. hopefully, we will have more presidential elections every four years. host: give me one question you would like asked. doler: what are you going to to drastically reduce the climate change emissions, carbon, methane, and greenhouse gases from this country from the way we live our lives over the next 10 years, to stabilize omissions before we totally destroy climate stability and create a future world that is so awful to live in that every future generation is going to curse us on infant item, into the 22nd/23rd century and

beyond. host: cindy is next on the line that -- on the line for those who support president trump. caller: i agree with scott in florida. my husband and i got into it about who was breaking into who was talking. i said it was trump and he said it was biden. we replayed it and it was biden, three times. to change the format, i think we ought to do away with the interpreter. host: the moderator? caller: everyone out there knows steve scully worked for joe biden at the capital for long time, so he will not be there -- he will not be fair. internshipwas an for, as i understand it, several weeks, part of a couple jobs

when steve was on capitol hill, when he worked up there. as i understand, he never met the man, when he was in office, but certainly not a paid employee for a long time. steve did work on capitol hill for a while, though. caller: yes he did. i think they ought to get somebody neutral that is not a republican, not a democrats, and the one guy that said about the wheel, i agree with that one. i'm seeing some of these so-called people that come down there and ask questions. it is always lopsided. always lopsided. i've been watching this, these debates for years. all the way back to richard nixon, and that gives you an idea of how old i am. whenever they do that, it is usually somebody that is a liberal. host: who was the best debater in all of those presidential debates you watched? caller: chris wallace.

[laughter] not chris wallace, his dad. his dad was good. and the one gentleman from pbs, the dark haired gentleman, i can't remember his name. host: cindy in kentucky this morning. him out of minnesota, the line for those who support others. good morning. hey, john. i would like to see, number one, if i'm not mistaken, the democrats and republicans own the debate commission. i will have to check that. i would like to see all of the candidates debate, because i just finished my ballot, and there is more than joe biden and donald trump on the ballot. there is like six or seven other candidates. those of the two main things, and then i would like -- i liked the suggestions of the previous two people, that the american people should be asking questions. not a moderator from fox, cnn,

or msnbc. host: are you looking forward to the town hall format where americans get to ask their questions? caller: yes, i like that a lot. i think that is a great idea. host: thanks for the call. this is sandra out of birmingham, alabama. the line for those who support joe biden. caller: good morning. people aree to say calling in saying former vice president biden started it. he did not. the timeeam picked limits, two minutes. trump and first ended his two minutes. when biden did his two minutes, trump said to him, you don't know where you are. that is what started it. biden kept talking. then, trump came in with something about his son. that was not fair, because biden did not bring trump's family into it.

he's talking about the policy, and what he would do as the president with him and kamala harris. i don't think it is fair for the people accusing biden for what trump started. it wasn't fair. if we want to talk about -- trump wanted to talk about biden's son, but trump's son, after the convention, his girlfriend, trump junior, went to paris and charged the taxpayer $64,000. talk about that. stop talking about hunter biden. hunter biden is not our president, not running for president, and whatever it is, god bless him and take care -- for trump to take care of the world, which he is a part of. he is the president, not biden. supposed to state what supreme court justice. i didn't is not the president now area that is between -- now.

that is between him and the present to he will pick the supreme court. host: greg out of ohio, good morning, on the line for those who support president trump. caller: good morning. how are you? host: i'm well. caller: i'm a little nervous, so i apologize. do biden and the democrats know what they will do with biden gets in? if biden gets in the presidency, the democrats are going to need him up and spit him out. hunter, theyon, are going to take him and demolish him. areoe biden, if you listening, i would give up if i were you. thank you. host: raymond in michigan is next, the line for those

undecided. go ahead. caller: how are you doing? host: i'm doing well. some people want to know about undecideds at this point. what will to it for you? we are under 35 days until election day. what are you looking for? caller: i'm looking for a better debate than what it was, because i did not appreciate how [inaudible] biden reached in his jacket with his hand, and there was a hidden mike underneath -- mic underneath. it was showing on national television. host: a lot of people have pointed to that as a crease in his shirt. why do you think he had a hidden microphone? caller: if you zoom in on it, you can see the wire underneath. i had friends that showed me on

facebook and on twitter, and on tiktok. do you think it is worth watching the next two debates? caller: yes. i'm really interested in the next ones, but i want to make sure it is legitimate. you should not have a hidden microphone. host: that's raymond in michigan. our last caller in this last segment of the "washington journal." plenty more to discuss. we talked at two members of congress about 2020 campaign and the continued negotiations over covid relief legislation. first up, we talked to al green, a democrat of texas, and later, scott perry of pennsylvania. we will be right back. ♪ >> trump telling us not to

worry. that the virus will disappear in that a miracle is coming. a national strategy. a president who is willing to lead, willing to be a role model for the nation. >> joe biden said at the national convention that no miracle is coming. we actually think we might just be a short time away from when the firstll produce safe and effective coronavirus vaccine and we will begin to deliver it to the american people the moment it is approved. >> watch the debate between mike pence and kamala harris, live, wednesday, at 9 p.m. eastern from the university of utah at salt lake city. and then stay tune the second town hall with president and

former vice president joe biden, taking questions at the adrian arts center for the fall -- performing arts. watch the debates. live on c-span. listen live on the c-span radio app and go to c-span.org/debates. for live streaming of c-span coverage of the debates. there's a link to each debate question and answer. presidentiall debate video from the c-span video library. >> sunday at noon eastern on in-depth, our live to our conversation with jill lepore, whose most recent book is "if then." other titles include "the secret history of wonder woman," "these ages.," and "a book of watch "in-depth" sunday at noon

eastern on book tv on c-span two." -- 2. host: joining us once again by zoom, texas democrat al green. want to run through some of the big issues appear first, starting with the latest on negotiations on a new coronavirus relief package. where do you understand the negotiations to be in your conversations with leadership? well, based upon what i ite read in the news, appears that negotiations are still ongoing. as you know, we have been in a stalemate for some time. at one point we had a package of $3.4 trillion. our friends across the aisle had a package of $300 billion.

we are trying to get our friends to come up. there is another package for $1.5 trillion being offered through the problem solvers caucus. that is something that appears to be getting a little bit of traction. it is all being negotiated and until we can get a final word from negotiators, it's hard to say where we will end up. as negotiations continue, we are not in a government shutdown today. the president signed that last night, so the continuing resolution goes through december 11. that youdent are you will be anymore able to come to some sort of an agreement or a deal by december 11, after the election? guest: obviously, the election will have a lot to do with it.

that there will be an opportunity to compromise, but as you know, many things are happening. we have a supreme court position that is being considered and it has an impact on politics. as well as just the notion of funding the government requiring appropriation and there are some who want to do it their way and others that understand that in time such as this when we have pandemic, we have to do things to help the people of the country who cannot go to work, many of them, because there is no job to be had in their industry. and others who are going about without the ability to pay rent and as a result of this, there are many things that are happening and it is really going to depend on how the election eventually turns out.

my hope is that we will be able to compromise. host: stepping away from capitol hill, i know that you were off cop -- off capitol hill this week. you were in kentucky, louisville amid the made us -- the latest on the reallocate -- breonna taylor case. we now expect the audio to not be released until tomorrow. can you give us your thoughts from being on the ground out there? guest: thank you very much. let me thank the people who were there to assist me. , there was theey kingdom fellowship life center. just a wonderful person, very knowledgeable, very much respected. he gave me the tour that i needed. i had an opportunity to speak to the head of the urban league .here

she is the president and ceo of the urban league. to the memorial. i did go out to where she actually lived. thed the opportunity to see apartment that she lived in. not from the inside, but from the outside. i spoke to some of the people protesting. the protesters that i talked to were peaceful and concerned her, what is happening to saying that she was treated unfairly. that's a gross understatement if you talk to the protesters. they believe that she was treated not only unfairly, but unjustly. that injustice has been perpetrated upon her and her family and all of society. towas an opportunity for me gain a lot of intelligence from the people that were there. to see the apartment help to me

to understand why one officer recklessed with the that he exhibited shooting through the glass. if you see the apartment, you can see how that area was somewhat perpendicular to the area where the other officers were and where they were shooting into that unit. i was very revealing and, if may, one of the things that became very clear to me after talking to the pastor, pastor it's that the system isn't broken. we say this and i think we all have the best of intentions when we say the system is broken. to say that the system is broken , that is to indicate that at some point the system worked fairly and treated african-americans fairly.

1619,d i know that in when it started in the americas , at that time when we had slavery, african-americans were being killed for trying to seek freedom. the people in the ancestry that we commonly call white, they would chase and hunt african-americans and they could impose a punishment of their choice just because a person was seeking freedom. after we finally got the 13th amendment thanks to abraham lincoln and the radical republicans, week got the 13th amendment and there were black specificallyre designed for black people. it allowed black people to receive harsh punishment.

leasing that is another form of slavery. in houston, texas, 95 people were found in a grave and they have been identified as having been identified with leasing. and then we had discrimination, forms of segregation. we still had the systemic institutionalized racism. we can't say it's broken because it never has function fairly for african-americans. that it hasn'tse functioned fairly, the system is doing what it appears to have been created to do. the best example and the best way to get people to understand without insulting people, hopefully, i don't choose to do this but i want to speak truthfully and i want to do things to help make it better. breonna taylor was in her home.

at the midnight hour she was there with her companion. she was an innocent person, not armed. there was a knock at her door, i suppose, and she and her companion would seek to investigate at some distance. i'm not sure what it was. her companion was armed. persons came into her home, members of the constabulary. were not dressed in police uniforms, they were plainclothes officers. she lost her life. she didn't shoot at anyone. she was there in her home. they were assuming that they were being invaded and she lost her life. three white officers intruded and she lost her life. well, the best way to understand it is to say and assume that this is a 26-year-old innocent, white female. assume that she's in her home.

with all the facts listed, she's innocent, she's done nothing wrong. three african-american officers in plainclothes come into her home and shoot and kill her. with this be a tragedy? of course it would be a tragedy. it's a tragedy under any circumstances. but would it be a tragedy and also a crime if this were a white female? all the evidence seems to indicate to me that it would be a crime of some sort. i won't get into what the crime would be, but it appears it would be a crime. i have done my investigation. i cannot find a circumstance where a white female is killed by an african-american officer and goes uncharged. in houston, texas, we have a similar circumstance. when african-american officers went into a unit where there were white persons and persons were killed, those officers are

charged. across the country, when you find a black officer killing a white female or a white person generally speaking, there is a trial, there is a charge. there is some suspension. something happens. host: well, congressman -- close if a -- if i may with this, if we turn the tables , it may cause us to see that the system is functioning as intended. black people get punished, they still do. white people still get preferential treatment. host: plenty of viewers are already calling into chat with you. i will give the phone lines. (202) 748-8000 for democrats. (202) 748-8001 four republicans. .ndependents, (202) 748-8002 we go right to bonnie in starkville, mississippi.

you are on with congressman greene. caller: yes. first off, i would like to say that i am old enough to know to go back to when they in school taught history and the first person to own slaves was a black man. as far as racism, in the civil thatt was the confederates were made up of democrats and still, they wanted, after everything was over, some states , butot want to have slaves the confederates wanted slaves and they still want slaves. against, i lost

my train of thought, let me go this way. me,nd the police means, to to take away their money. now i agree that the police department needs to be reformed they needcertain -- to be trained and everything, in order to bring the temperature down. does,y policeman that just like with george floyd. host: that's bonnie, congressman. i will let you jump in. guest: thank you. the caller covered a lot of turf. let me start with the black person that owned slaves. it is true that there were some

black people that own slaves and i would condemn them to the same extent that i would condemn anyone else that took a person as chattel and held them in bondage. there's no reason to provide an excuse because of their color. with reference to the democrats versus the republicans, around 1868, when lincoln was assassinated, it was the radical republicans who pushed for some sort of reform for african-americans, africans in america at that time. they were fighting for the 13th amendment, which actually freed the slaves. the emancipation process was a help. but these were not the same .eople in terms of mindsets the philosophies of the political parties have changed over the years. you cannot associate the republicans at that time with republicans of the day or democrats of the time. and really dod

want people to understand that this systemic discrimination that exists is something that black people have to cope with and contend with. it's a mindset in this country and it is very prevalent among many in the constabulary. not all. my uncle was a deputy sheriff. but it is simply understood this way. black people cannot talk back to the police. give me your badge number, i'm going to turn you in. that kind of behavior from a black person to a white officer many times will cause the officer to engage in a very violent way. officers believed that black people must show them a level of respect that they don't always require of others. i have seen it happen myself. i want people to understand that there is something going on.

the system isn't broken. ,hat prosecutor in louisville he was the judge, the jury, and the prosecutor. he decided what they would see. the grand jury that prosecuted them, he decided what to present. he presented the case as he sought. the cover-up does not mean that he didn't have a bias. it is unfortunate, but many times african-american peace in a vociferous way thanafrican-americans white police officers. become thelet color question. there is a mentality that relates to black people in general and they are not expected.

not in the way that white people are when they have these encounters with police. not often, but too often they become a lack of respect that causes black people to be harmed and a white person simply a lot -- is simply allowed to have their say with the police. mark, carlisle. caller: the breonna taylor case, get to the facts. first of all, she was on the search warrant. second of all, it was not a no knock search warrant. they knocked, they announced. number three, her boyfriend, husband, whatever he was, he shot first. when you shoot, i mean these cops, what do you want them to do, dodge bullets? let's get to my second point. you talk about the stimulus package.

let's be honest here. you are holding it up, asking for too much money. go with the bipartisan bill. ,umber one, democrats to me being honest, are responsible for these cities burning down. they are not prosecuting these hoodlums. we need law and order in these countries -- this country. host: got your point, mark. where do you want to take it up? guest: i will start with what he called the facts. it is true that her companion said that he shot first. questions about the entry into the apartment. i was there. i saw the other apartments and how close they are to the door of her apartment. as can -- breonna taylor's companion contends they

didn't hear the officer. 10 or more people in the area didn't hear the announcement. there appeared to be one person, unidentified, who initially indicated that he didn't hear the police officer announce who they were, but later on after some time lapsed, changed the story and said he did hear it. these are the kinds of things that a jury cannot resolve. the prosecutor made his conclusion. we will find out soon what he actually said to the jury or recommended to the grand jury. i absolutely believe that this is one of those cases that should have gone to a trial jury and they would determine what the facts are. those officers entered that apartment unannounced. they were, in effect, carrying out a no-knock warrant. whether it was such on paper or not, it was in fact a no not if they entered without announcing

who they were so that people on the others, she and her companion, would know clearly that the police were coming in. in this case, the person who was shot, she was shot, her companion was not. they have the right to defend themselves. this is a stand your ground cane and in such persons shoot if persons are intruding. if the police have not properly announce themselves, they have a right to shoot first and not be charged. tampa, florida, democrat, good morning. congressman, thank you so much for being on this morning. interesting article in "the new york times" about the nature of the death of breonna taylor, he said that she was killed based on the disastrous war on drugs that has

been racialized and that these warrants were issued by a judicial system that unjustly, based on this targeting of, or harassment of black folks for ,rug violations, i want to know did you understand the same thing is happening at the level -- i'm a pharmacist, ok? the same thing is happening at the level of black-owned pharmacies. particularly in texas and in florida, where the black-owned pharmacies have been targeted by the drug enforcement agencies. we reported it to the black caucus. to congressman hank johnson. and your office here. particularly in texas. like i said. based on these same types of fictitious warrants, basically

for practicing pharmacy while black. we wanted to know, what are you going to do? we need to have hearings on this kind of thing. what has happened, this has become like tampa down here and around in texas, tulsa, if you open up a black business as a pharmacist and all of a sudden you get a visit from the drug enforcement agency and they come together all of these fictitious like warrants and then you find that your businesses have been ruined, they come in and they seize your property and these kinds of things -- host: got your point, billy. congressman? guest: we are honored to receive a privacy relief form from you. if you contact our office we will give that form and it gives us the opportunity to do something with the facts and the

indications that you give us. we look forward to receiving it. with reference to the discrimination, it exists beyond policing, beyond banking. who are qualified into happen to be of african ancestry, they go into get a loan, they thought that they would have a high interest rate theyhey get even less than would have thought from the loan than someone of european ancestry. empirical evidence can be gathered. the truth is, there is systemic discrimination and it is institutionalized in certain circumstances and it is something that we have to confront and one of the best ways to confront it is what -- is with what i call a department of reconciliation. there was never reconciliation in this country.

there was an attempt in 1868 but still, we need to reconcile. they must report directly to the president and to the department of labor. with this person having to function every day going into the office to end discrimination. in all its forms, by the way. not just racism. in all its forms. quite frankly, the climate is right for this to occur after the election. host: less than five minutes left with congressman al green. this from twitter, "does the congressman support law & order"? guest: of course. and i don't support order law. there's a difference. law & order means that the law is there and that the law, the constabulary is supposed to adhere to it, as well as the

citizens. i support this. what i don't support is what the president has, in his clever way, signaled to persons he has talked to, peace officers. he told them that when you are arresting a person, you don't have to be so nice. he was sending a message to them that you could have a person within your care, custody, and control, and you can disc -- disrespect that person, palpably harm the person. that's not the kind of thing we want the president to say, do whatever you can to impose order and i will find the law to support it. sheriff arpaio is a good example. he said he would use his awesome .ower that's what the president wants. wand, make up whatever

order he has to to take care. host: time for maybe just one or two more calls. canton, north carolina, go ahead. person iou are the would like to talk to about this, al. i want to use my city of asheville, north carolina as a starting block. here that them children have to wake up every morning walking around dirty hypodermic's and used condoms. it's up racism that the children get up and have to deal with the winos, the crackheads, the heroin dealers. it's not racism that those children have to deal with the pimps and the gang bangers. the elderly of those communities, people like you, that failed those children. you failed the children because

all you think about is [indiscernible] barack obama is a great example of this. he got to where he was because his rich white ram parents took care of him while his deadbeat -- rich white parents took care of it -- grandparents took care of him while his deadbeat dad was not around. guest: a lot of what i do is my love for this country -- is from the love i have for this country. we helped to build it. we made america great, the cotton king. we did a lot for our founding fathers and mothers they were not acknowledge. -- acknowledged. what he said about the paraphernalia, the needles, i don't approve of any of that. in areas whereat white people are disposing of

needles. i have been the skid row. you should go there. arecan see the people who down and out and need a lot of help. i don't approve of that kind of behavior. what i do say to you is this, if you examine the empirical evidence, you will find that insidious discrimination exists in banking, health care, walks of life where we have not ordinarily brought to the forefront and discussed it. i don't mind the slings and arrows thrown at me, but someone has to speak truthfully about what's happening to african-americans in this country. i assure you, i too have been a victim of police misconduct in terms of how they told me to behave and stand with your hands on the car. these things happen to us. thank god for the body cameras.

the cameras are revealing what we have been saying. the unfortunate thing is -- if the camera had been on when the officers entered breonna's apartment, we might know what the true facts are. the cameras were on when they came back later. they should have the technology that is available to helpless get more evidence. unless the officers are caught red-handed with the cameras on and the knee on the neck and you can actually see it, the get the benefit of the doubt and that is unfortunate because a lot of times we do not deserve it. i have great respect for police but there are some that are bad officers and they have to be dealt with. we cannot allow that to continue. i am grateful to c-span for the opportunity to be on. c-span is one of the great

institutions in this country where speech, sometimes unpopular, can still be presented. i thank you so much. host: al green, democrat from texas, i am sure we will have you on c-span again down the road. guest: thank you. host: we will continue our discussion about campaign 2020, the stalemate on covid relief legislation. we will talk with republican congressman scott perry. stick around. we will be right back. ♪ telling us not to worry, that the virus will disappear that a miracle is coming. joe biden saying we need a plan. a national strategy. a president who is willing to lead. willing to be a role model for our nation. >> while joe biden said at the national convention that a

miracle is coming -- no miracle is coming, we might think we might just be a short time away from when america will produce the first safe and effective coronavirus vaccine and we will begin to deliver it to the american people the moment it is approved. >> watch the vice presidential debate between vice president mike pence and senator kamala harris live wednesday from the university of utah in salt lake city. stay with c-span for the second presidential debate town hall with president and former vice president joe biden taking audience questions in miami, thursday, october 15. watch the debates live on c-span, listen live on the c-span radio app and go to c-span.org/debates for streaming of debate coverage. there is a link to each debate

question and answer. watch archival presidential debate footage from the c-span library. are watching c-span, your unfiltered view of government, created by america's cable television company as a public service and brought you today by your television provider. >> washington journal continues. ist: congressman scott perry back with us. he is a republican from the keystone state, sitting in what has been rated as a battleground house seat. good morning. guest: good morning, thank you. host: can we start with covid-19 relief legislation, where are we right now with coming to a deal and what is the 10th district in pennsylvania need right now when it comes to additional relief? guest: where we are right now, i think, it is ever-changing, we

are continuing with negotiations and it is primarily centered around the continuous relief the different states need and different industries need across the country. in pennsylvania, we have a governor who has spent more onerous than other governors and or has been a pervasive lockdown for many industries in pennsylvania, the restaurant industry in particular. those owners, businesses and their employees have been struggling to get by since march. whether it is ppp or unemployment compensation, those things in many cases have run their course, but yet the employees and employers are still struggling. you have the charter bus industry, i have a few of those located in the district i represent, there is no passengers, nobody going to washington, d.c., nobody going to new york city, that is a

similar circumstance. they are struggling and have all of their stuff sitting in the parking lot and i cannot move it, there are no customers. move it, there are no customers. funds wenspent ppp would like to get up that has been authorized and appropriated. sincemeframe to apply has lapsed. that money is just sitting there and we are urging the speaker to move that out so we can get some of this relief to folks. while that is happening, the negotiation is ongoing with the administration, house and senate floor for a package that includes increased ppp. i would hope it include liability. everybody has that issue. certain industries have been impacted and in certain states,

as well, based on the process or the policy of individual localities. that is what we are working on. we are running out of time. the house will be in recess soon, the senate will go into administrative session dealing with the supreme court justice nomination and those hearings. not saying that can't be changed, we can come back in, but people are hurting right now and it would be great if we could come to some agreement. one problem we are having right now is our good friends on the others of the aisle are offering bills that do not meet the mark. the bill that is used currently on the floor later today, we passed a rule last night for it, it gives a bunch of money to people who are here illegally and encourages them to stay, pays them and gives them work permits. we have americans out of work and trying to get back to work

and trying to rely on unemployment, we are allowing, literally, people who do not have any legal right to be in the country to take those jobs and then paying them otherwise. those things are hard to reconcile and it seems like we should be able to get to some agreement, based on the minimum things that make sense. so far, we are not there. host: congressman scott perry with us until not :00 a.m. eastern, that is when the house is expected -- until 9:00 a.m.. republicans, (202) 748-8001. democrats, (202) 748-8000. independents, (202) 748-8002. is there a dollar number when it comes to a limit for a new package that you would not go above? guest: i don't think so. it is based on what the needs are. the local,ry, privately owned transit bus

system, these are the buses that take your kids to sporting events out of state. you might get on a trip and go to new york city or something like that. they know what the revenue loss is for the entire year, at least since march when everything was locked down, and they can closely predicted. the restaurant industry, just look at last year's revenue to to some sort of benchmark know about where they would be, as long as it is reasonable, and it looks like it is dealing with the industries that have been most impacted, the people that have been most impacted, i think every member of congress can see their way to saying, this is reasonable. i think many of us are concerned about the debt and the deficit, but government has taken livelihoods and lives, the ability to earn a living away from people in my government does that they have

to compensate people. it is no different than eminent domain. in this case, we have taken their livelihood away, there unemployment or their business away from them, we have to compensate them. as long as we can see the metrics, i think almost every member would vote for that. when the bills like this are moving, other things get put into it that are completely irrelevant to the situation at hand and that is when you start losing people. there are so many things in the bill being offered by the speaker right now that we do not have an agreement. they can pass it out of the house i would suspect on a partisan basis, but that would be the end of it and what have we accomplished? nobody out there struggling gets anything so that falls very short of the mark. host: we will get right to the calls. maryland, democrat, good morning. caller: how are you doing today. knowe question is, i don't -- my personal opinion, i had a

job in the restaurant industry since i was 13 years old. i don't think i have had a vacation for the past five or six years. i am a bartender now. helpnk what needs a lot of are the people in the restaurant industry, almost 50% of restaurants listed on yelp are permanently closed in our area. i don't know what it is like in your district, but in this district, it is kind of tough right now. i just wanted to know if there is anything, maybe, looking toward helping people in that area? guest: i sure hope so. we have $138 billion, which is a lot of money. it is probably not enough to cover everybody, but it is sitting there and there is no reason we should not vote for that. it has already been approved by

congress. the deadline to approve has expired. it takes literally a flip of the switch and we can get that money current orso don' former -- the current or former employee could ring them back and pay. the unemployment compensation as well. finding out the sweet spot, what we unfortunately found with the federal match on that is some people were making more money out of employment than they were making in employment and that is not helpful, because employers want to bring their folks back. but in states like maryland and pennsylvania, where the restaurant industry in particular is locked down or very limited, employers want their people to come back to service the people who want to visit that restaurant, either they are not allowed to or there is not enough business because of the restrictions. one frustration that citizens of

lawmakers have is we don't get to see the metrics that drive the decisions our executives make. in maryland and pennsylvania -- i don't know if maryland is a lot to see -- but in pennsylvania, we have asked for the metrics that say that restaurants can open until 10:00 at night but not beyond that. to determine how did you decide that was the correct policy? only the restaurant industry, not other industries where the paint store might be open -- it is not to pick on the paint store, but how come restaurants are the only ones susceptible to moving covid among the population and not some other enterprise? how did you determine that? it is not congruent. business, own this their livelihood and their employees and their customers are just as important to them as this industry over here when this one is open, this one is

either closed or throttled. we would like to see that and i think that is appropriate. we don't serve the government, the government is supposed to serve us. host: about 15 minutes left with congressman scott perry. a republican from pennsylvania. one of those tossup races in a state that is considered a tossup state. week,lvania in focus this joe biden spending four of his five train stops yesterday in the keystone state. the latest polling has joe biden ahead by almost nine points in a poll that came out this week. a college poll had it nine points, biden. where do you think things stand in pennsylvania? guest: it is hard to know what the polls say, we heard this last time and he did not work out that way. go, itth 30-some days to

will tighten up. it is an indicator that vice president biden -- if it were nine points, which is pretty amazing in a country that is so divided, where elections are so close -- if it is nine points, why is he making four separate trips to pennsylvania? i suspect their internal polls show it differently and they feel they have to go there. there is a reason they are there. look, americans and pennsylvanians are smart people, we can figure this out for ourselves. we know what the polls say but we know what our neighbors say and what we feel in our hearts so we will make a decision for ourselves. host: do you think president trump will make a visit to your district? would you want him to campaign in your district? guest: the president was in the district last weekend, he was at

middletown airport outside of the city of harrisburg and we had a huge crowd, i was in attendance, as well. it is a tossup district, so to speak, by registration and the way the supreme court, in my opinion, unconstitutionally drew the lines. people respect people that show up and understand their concerns. we don't always agree on everything, that is american, they respect people who will listen to their concerns and be honest with them and i think that is what they are really interested in. they know one person cannot appeal to everyone, districts are very different. it is hard for one person to appeal to every need in the district and get it exactly perfect for every person in the district. you have to be present, respectful, willing to listen and willing to do the best you can for every person in a district. host: california come republican, good morning.

caller: hi. i agree with you. i think if we give illegals checks, they will be coming from everywhere for free checks. the bubonic plague went away and so did the spanish flu. i would like to tell our democratic friends, open up the economy. thatknow people who need $600 and they do not want to open. out theo have you write check and give it to someone else and they take care of it. people are making money on that $600. guest: i think the numbers out of the department of labor -- i can't remember -- but from 2019's unemployment compensation fraud is tenfold. fraud inthe amount of

2019 under the unemployment compensation to 2020. the fraud component is 10 times as much. government has to be accountable and responsible to our bosses taxpayers' money and we are not doing a great job with that because the system is so overwhelmed. you have these opportunities out there for some folks who will game the system. we want to take care of the folks who need it. it seems like an obvious disincentive for people to make more money out of work than they would with their employer. you certainly can't blame someone for improving their economic circumstances. every person in the country, in the world wants to do that. but we have businesses that want to be open, some of them are not allowed, some, the customers have not come back because of the lockdowns other places. for the ones that want their employees to come back, the

employees have no incentive to come back if you are making more staying on unemployment and staying home or doing whatever else you would do instead of being at work, and that is not helpful to our country, our society. we simply cannot keep going every couple of months and printing money and giving it to our citizens who are not working. the better opportunity is to reduce the risk of covid and open up our economy as much as possible. we are a country that is accomplished somebody great things and it seems to me we can run two trains at the same time -- we can reduce the risk of covid-19, we know a lot now that we did not know early on, and we can get our families back to a sense of normalcy, and that includes going back to work as much as possible and that is what we should be striving for. host: we were asking viewers about the commission of presidential debates announcing there will be changes coming to

the format of the next two presidential debates. do you think changes need to be made? if so, what changes do you need to make? guest: i am not a debate expert, i have never hosted one. i have an open mind, let's see what they offer, demand or require, however that goes. i would hope both sides need to agree. this is about showing the american people are bosses, the people who will vote, what the candidates are about, who they are, what they believe in and so on and so forth. it is not necessarily about the debate or the administration of the debate or the moderator, that is not the focus. the focus is what is on the candidates want to say. if we are going to use the rules to silence -- i think everyone who watches thinks the question was biased against the person they are supporting. of the all in the eye beholder. i think the best opportunity and

the best way we learn about the things that are important to us is to let the candidates be the focus and let them speak. if we disagree with them or how they come across, that is what it is about. i think we need to focus on that as opposed to the administration of the debate and i would be concerned if that is now the focus. host: fort lauderdale, florida, democrat, good morning. caller: good morning and thank you for letting me have this opportunity to say something which i think is very important. first of all, i love my country very much. my father fought in the korean war. my grandmother, who lived to be 100 i, escape from nazi germany. , every timeassed president trump would come on the television, she would say this is exactly what hitler used to say. this is how he spoke to the people of germany and this is how he took power. i will tell you something, it is

very, very scary. not so much donald trump -- he will eventually need to go even if he succeeds in a second term -- what is most gary is the republican part -- what is most scary, is the republican party that has led us to almost losing a democracy, tens of thousands of people died on the battlefields to create this beautiful thing that is an experiment, have allowed it to come to this point. it breaks my heart to see americans against americans. and is a political cult president trump is the leader of this political cult. unfortunately, we will never be able to get out of this until the parties on both sides see what a danger this man is to the security of this nation. host: congressman perry. guest: i love my country.

i have served in military uniform for over 38 years and i am appreciative of your family's service to our country and your patriotism and that regard. -- wek it is inflammatory all have our opinions and that is fine -- but it is very inflammatory and it is hard to justify to compare the president of the united states -- any president of united states -- nazi germany. sure,e a smart guy, i am you know that fascism, socialism, communism, all of those political constructs exist on the left of the political spectrum. individual freedoms in the constitution, those exist on the right of the political spectrum and i don't think you can find or cite one example where this president has supported any of those policies of nazi germany.

i think it is important. i appreciate your opinion, but it is important for us to feel free to speak out about what we think is true without fear of reprisal from big tech, neighbors or the media. we can disagree and we can be disagreeable respectfully. we have to come together as a country and determine what the things are we agree upon. i think they should be -- i think there should be constitutional law, knowing the country is imperfect, but we have a system that allows us to make it more perfect. i hope we can at least agree on that and that sometimes we disagree with you our neighbors and the majority of the people in the country voted for. that has happened to every single one of us, but we can still love our country and respect our neighbors and get along together, even though it is someone who might be in charge that we disagree with. host: just over five minutes

until the house comes in for the day. we will go there. until then, your phone calls with scott perry. independent, good point. guest: hey, tom. caller: those are some respectful words, the statement just sent to the gentleman before me. hard to get it is true information whenever 90% of the media is owned by five corporations in the nation. it is hard to get the facts you need to get, period. one of the things i would really like to know is, about this whole debate situation, is white on the get a true independent, working -- is why don't they get a true independent, working-class american to moderate the debates?

they know the problems that are working, unlike the rest of you guys in the offices, fighting like children. why can't someone, a true independent, get up there and moderate instead of someone like chris wallace? guest:guest: really? i don't think that is -- caller: really? guest: i don't think that is a bad suggestion. side,ndependents, each they will say they are not truly independent, they lean one way or the other. i think we can offer something like this -- a true independent that is right-leaning and a true independent that is left-leaning to moderate a debate. some working-class folks, of which were many, many years, i counted myself, i was down in a ditch digging. people who have the most to lose and the most at stake in these

things. i don't know if we need professional moderators. to me, the focus is what the candidates have to say, not the moderators. unfortunately, these are systems we are right to question, be skeptical of, just like the information you talked about. you are not sure where to get it in america today. we have to multi-source our information, check here, check there, see what is in the middle and figured out for ourselves because we do not have the trust that we use to in our news outlets and media outlets. i think it is great to think outside the box and do things differently and i think it would invigorate america in this electoral process to know somebody off the street was facing the president and asking the questions we want to hear. i encourage you to continue to think outside of the box and be heard. host: virginia, sarasota, florida, republican, go ahead. caller: i would like to know

what joe biden got from china --h his two quid pro quos one for him and one for his son. i think he should be under investigation, not running for president. the man is totally corrupt. guest: those are strong allocations and we live in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty, but i would say this -- i am concerned think the president try to bring this up in the debate, about the relationship between hunter biden, ukraine, china, taking money from the mayor of moscow, what does that mean? it is right to bring that up. corruption exists. it is close to the vice president, who is now running for president. if that is the case, we need to know that. it is not to disparage the vice president but we need to know if that is the case and i think it

is right to ask those questions. unfortunately, while the president brings it up in the debates, nobody in the mainstream media seems to want to talk about that. we are not trying -- how else are we going to get the information? if these things did indeed occur, what does that mean? are we wrong to ask that question? i don't think so. we are trying to make an informed decision and the president is frustrated that he knows this and nobody refutes it, it has never been investigated fully, so where do we stand? we don't know what we have an election in 30-some days and we all have to make a choice and we all go forward with imperfect information. that is something that seems like we should know more about it. this is a person that could potentially be running our country, and if there is corruption involved on either side, we to know that to make an informed decision. host: about one minute or so

until the house comes in for the day. i know you drop a series of bills trying to combat chinese influence in the u.s., do you want to run through those? andt: we want to see a free autonomous hong kong. theant it recognized as autonomous nation as it is and was and has been taken over by china. we want to see taiwan allowed back in the world health organization and have a seat. when covid started, they were ringing the alarm bells and no one would listen. i think we need to separate and get our minds wrapped around this -- the people of china, the vast majority of the population from the chinese communist party,, they are a criminal organization, i will be releasing and introducing a bill to label the common just party of china as a transnational criminal organization so we can get to the individuals in the

common just party that steal our intellectual property, that dump products on our country and run our businesses out of business and those type of things. we really need to get serious with china. host: we will have to end it there. congressman scott perry, republican of pennsylvania. appreciate your time. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the the peaker pro tempore: house will be in order. the chair lays before the house from the ation speaker. the clerk: october 1, 2020, i hereby appoint the honorable day, cuellar on this signed, nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: order of thehe house of january 7, 2020, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. the chair will alternate recognition between the parties. with time equally allocated