us whether advice was and did the democrats follow it? guest: i actually think that they did follow it. not because of me, but i'm glad you read the column. the first piece of advice is if you look at midterms, general midterms, the party in power loses a vast number of seats and you lose about 12 points off of your vote total between the presidential year and these first few years. if you win by 12, if biden won by 12 or less, you have to put yourself in the category of someone who is going to lose, and you have to run like you are behind, and i think democrats did that. you also have to go on the offense on cultural issues like abortion.

and the other was pastor agenda. make everything gets passed. by august, all of those things had really gotten to the president's desk. >> right now, we know that the democrats will hold the senate with either 51 or 50 votes. but the control of the house is still up in the air. my question to you, it democrats don't control the house, is nancy pelosi still democratic leader, or democrats turn to someone else? guest: i think nancy pelosi will stay as leader. i may be wrong. but the choice is going to be hers. i think if democrats lost 20 or 25 states, which would be the norm, she would've left. she would have left on her own. in this situation, it is a

vindication again for her. since 1995, democrats have had nancy pelosi. republicans have had more than half a dozen. this ability within the democratic caucus has been really hallmarked. my guess is she stays. there are a group of democrats in the wings rate to take that spot. host: so if she doesn't stay, who take that stop that spot? guest: my guess is hakeem jeffries. right now there would be a battle between him and adam schiff of california. he probably has done a better job of rounding up votes at this point and that is what you need to do. so he would be the next leader is my guess.

host: let me take time to remind our viewers that they can be part of this conversation. we are going to open up our regular lines which means that democrats, you can call (202) 748-8000. republicans, (202) 748-8001. independents (202) 748-8002,. keep in mind, you can always text us at (202) 748-8003. and we are always reading on social media, on twitter, and c-spanwj. now, can president biden claim any kind of mandate following the 2022 midterm elections? historically, his party would have been swept out of power in both houses of congress and it didn't happen. can he claim a mandate? guest: i think he can.

he can claim the mandate of trying to get rid of extremism, making sure that election deniers don't get into places the power. now, he has got a very, very closely divided congress. the betting money is that the house is going to go republican, just barely, but this is a president that right now, he has got the wind at his back, he should feel very good and feel like i can move forward, i don't need to make a lot of changes. host: that brings us to my next question. should there be any changes that president biden should be looking at given the results of the midterm election? once again, his party was not swept out of power but going into the last years as president, he had not stellar

approval ratings. any changes he should be looking at? making some changes, or at least making an effort to raise awareness of what they are doing. immigration, crime and on the economic era, i think they done a good job they probably need to bring some folks in outside from the business area as they are battling inflation. in the business area, that is when they understand inflation and supply chain. you get to see that on the economic team. it crime is definitely an issue that worked against democrats unfairly, crime rates in republican places are are higher than democratic states. inflation took place. i think democrats should be looking at that and says this is a place we need to sure

ourselves of. host: is there anywhere you can immediately work on republicans quickly? guest: i think you'll see something in the electoral count act and may be something along same-sex marriage. if there is going to be republican leadership and the house, the house republicans are going to have to figure something out. are we going to lean towards the marjorie taylor greene of the party that is very extreme, very strident, very conspiracy theory focused. or are they going to look at the new seats in places like new york where to keep them they will have to have a moderate agenda and work with the president. if you want to keep your majority, you have to take care of your moderates in the swing places.

if you want to get had wings on redwing media, you go to conspiracy theorist. in a certain sense, this is going to be up to a potentially new house republican leadership, should they take the majority. host: let's get some of the callers in this conversation. let's start with chuck on the republican line. good morning. caller: good morning, gentlemen. i finally got in to talk to jeff kessler. first thing i like to say is, biden did not win on anything. what have bidens candidates -- one of bidens candidates is the fact that the republican party did not offer anybody anything. they are only interested in the money that they can get because trump gets all of the money.

that is all he has done for them. plus, now he is into protection for his own neck because of what he has got himself into with all the court cases and everything else that is going on. i am a democrat, of course as we all know. two things. number one, fear. which is something hitler's had back in world war ii. the republicans wanted to put it into our minds, plus abortion, they are going after all of the rights. people, most of women were fearing if the republicans get in and trump runs again then they are already attacking, throwing books out of our libraries, banning them. hitler's did that in world war ii. he put fear in people's minds,

chaos, fear, that is what republicans are going for. the candidates say they offered up with trump backing his candidates. guest: i think chuck has a point. normally midterm elections are a referendum along the president of power. this became less a referendum and a choice between the two parties. voters got a chance to look at them and say, ok, i do have a choice. it is not just, how do i feel about inflation and other things that make me feel a little sour. when they look at what republicans are putting up, they were noncompetitive candidates in semi-competitive states. you look at somebody in new

hampshire, maggie hassan, margaret democrat. so, you have the situation. even if joe biden's relatively unpopular in that states, it does not matter if the republican candidate is so bad and so mismatched. that is one of the reasons why republicans lost and they will continue to lose if they put out candidates like that. host: michael: from saint augustine, florida on the independent line. good morning. caller: good morning. i am a independent voter. i like being independent because i have a open mind. i just want to see who is the best candidates and go from there. i have been seeing a lot of hype.

i want your opinion on this. i'm seeing a lot of hype with this ron desantis character, basically, i supported and voted for. i have voted for democrats as well. this is a situation i see in the media that the national media ignores. a ron desantis did not get the majority of the republican votes . some republicans did better than ron desantis. so, it is like to me when the media says on the local florida media that you have a white suburban educator voter clause ron desantis, i do not understand when they say they want to pick ron desantis for republicans.

why would they push trump to ron desantis when it sounds like they are pretty much the same. guest: michael, i think it is very interesting. there is a wing of the republican party that wants to get rid of trump. they have come cited the way to do it is we really need to elevate one candidate in particular to make it a one-on-one match. they have a ron desantis. you can see that coming over the way over the last five to six months. he got some big numbers. the race was not expected to be that close. in the end, voters are going to decide. in 1980 41 a lot of the media was anointing john glenn was going to be the democrat, he did

not get out of new hampshire. i would just think, beware of candidates that are peaking 18 months before the first primary vote is cast. i think ron desantis is peaking early right now. host: speaking of 2024 presidential election coming did you think president biden should run for a second term? guest: i think he should run. he has earned the right to run. he had one of the most successful legislative two years of any president, going back to ronald reagan. huge wins on the international stage. he basically stripped the bars off of vladimir putin. what is going on in ukraine, though a tragedy, is a major loss for russia because of what joe biden did.

he is the right candidates. he is a moderate. obviously, the one thing people worry about him is his age. he is about the same age as donald trump. who is a republican nominee. i think you should run. i think he could win. host: in this exit poll we have coming from the midterm elections, two thirds of midterm voters, including 40% of democrats would prefer that biden would not seek reelection in 2024. this is from edison research. even on election day, 43% of democrats say biden should not run for reelection. guest: i do not want to discount that completely. at this point in 1982, the same amount was saying ronald reagan should not run for reelection either. he was unpopular.

it was 10% unemployment. he was considered too old. he ended up winning 49 out of 50 states. let's not take these polls to seriously. what are people really saying when they are giving that answer. they might be saying i am a little bit dissatisfied with the country where i am concerned somewhat about age. that is a portrayal they are on it. i think in the end, voters are going to come around. on the democratic side if he runs, there was not going to be a challenge. it is simple. host: let's say he does not run, that opens up a completely different world. who becomes the presumptive nominee or is there a presumptive nominee? or will there be a democratic

convention? guest: i do not think there is a present of -- presumptive nominee, the favorite would be, harris and she would be a --kamala harris. a request do not do coronation very well. the few times that we have been trying to do coronation's, we lost the general. it was sort of ate attempt to clear the field and have her really not run against anybody. bernie sanders came in and beat her. al gore was a coronation, he lost to george w. bush. i think kamala would be a favorite. if she won a nomination, she would have earned it and come out as a stronger candidate. i guess there would be others that would run as well. the key to when a democratic

primary is winning african-american voters in the south. who is the candidates and who can do that. right now i think it could be kamala. host: let's talk to patricia in tennessee on the republican lines. caller: yes. i was a lifelong democrat up until this election. i did not vote for biden because i did not think biden knew that much when he was a vice president. what would make him a good president? so far he is frail, i do not mean that to be disrespectful because i am 76 years old. i just feel that he is just not

only ball. he does not speak up like he needs to speak up. he stumbles. he stumbles when he talks. her i find that re-disturbed -- really disturbing. guest: joe biden stumbled when he talked when he was 32 years old. he is overseas right now. you see him on the international stage. he is definitely the leader of the free world. he is strong, stable, he has outmaneuvered vladimir putin and has recited over a very difficult point in the united states and economically through

covid in a effective manner. i think the reports of him having a few miles per hour off of his fastball, i think that is overrated somewhat. he has a beat donald trump in the debates. he has passed his entire legislative agenda through congress. these are the things that presidents do when they are at the top of their game. he is not a young man, but he has been extraordinarily effective, both domestically and internationally. i think he has proven he is well up to doing this job. host: one of our social media followers have texted in a question. which congressional district are still undecided that could when if democrats control the house?

what races are you looking at that could win democratic's the control of the house? guest: there is a couple in california. if i say the numbers i would get them wrong. california, 23. california, 41. do not quote me on that. although you just did. host: california is 41. guest: they are neck an d neck. the one in arizona is very close. host: colorado eight? guest: the reporting would go through those seats in host: particular. what chances do you think democrats have a hold in the

house? is this something that is a dream or something that could happen or something that you think democrats come back and control both the senates and the house? guest: 20% chance that democrats get to 218. if you look at the way that these tight races happen breaking, the smart money said it was going to be 222 or 230. we can see that. the state that we just won in washington state, that was on some people's vehicles card -- bingo's card, but it was not on

many. host: let's talk to jerry from chester, virginia on the democrats line. good morning. caller: i am listening to this and i have to laugh. these guys from the corporate wing party. come on, man. you are now fully nobody here. you know? you said joe biden's legislation was the best since ronald reagan ? i have to laugh. joe biden 12 raise the middle range $15 an hour.

get rid of all student debt. he did not do any of that. he did not even pass those build back better. he did not pass any of it. i do not know what the hell you are talking about. guest: i think joe biden had a pretty successful two years. the bipartisan infrastructure bill was successful and groundbreaking. we have been trying to have infrastructure week for about three decades, we finally had it. the build back better bill, which became the inflation reduction act had climate revisions in there that we should be thankful for and provisions to show off the affordable care act, chips bill will create manufacturing jobs throughout the u.s. and other parts of the country and will help us compete with china with

many technological areas in which we are falling behind we managed to even pass a bipartisan uncontrolled bill -- gun-control bill. gun-control legislation is not easy to pass. nothing has been passed previously. joe biden had 50 democrats in the senate. a 50-50 split. and a majority in the house . to get those, it is the narrowest majority that any president has ever had and he managed to get major pieces of legislation to congress. host: one of our social media followers pointed out that there were not 50 democrats in the senates and they want to bring this up. i believe there are two senators that are independent currently. how does that play into the count for control of the senate?

bernie sanders is the independent. how does that play in control with the senate? guest: when they are running at home, they run on a independent line, sometimes on a independent and democratic depending on the state. . while in the senate they are democrat. host: back to our phone lines and talk to jane who is calling from south carolina on the independent line. james, good morning. caller: morning. as a democracy, we can't be all things to all people. some people would expect as to be that. my question is, these initiatives from the state they can get the federal government or the state through their legislature, is that the

increase for direct voting representation and by having valid initiatives increasing? guest: you know, it varies by state. states have very different laws about how easy or hard it is to get a ballot initiative on the ballot. what that valid initiative -- valid initiative is allowed to do and whether -- ballot initiative is allowed to do. certain states in california is really a ballot initiative. other states, southern states, many fewer ballot initiatives they are that are allowed within state law. i think it is a positive trend, where we are seeing in some places, we are seeing raising minimum wage, protecting abortion rights. it is a good trend. i would like to see more of it. host: leonard in graham,

washington on the republican line. good morning. caller: good morning. i am a first time caller. i have been watching washington journal for a while. it is the first time i have called. how this man can sit there and tell all of these lies in front of those people just really outrageous. biden is not fit to be president, he was not fit to run for president. thank you. guest: thank you for your call. one of the things i think is interesting with our media is, if you watch certain channels, you are good to see a depiction of the president looking a certain way and looking bad. if you are looking at other channels that are more to the left, you are going to see depictions of republicans

elected officials that make them always look ridiculous or doddering or whatever. all i would say to viewers in both places, get a more broad view of what you are watching and seeing. vladimir putin may have thought, joe biden does not have it all together. what joe biden did to putin by the classifying information predict the -- in ukraine, months in advance, public-key warning -- publicly warning the world, getting nato ready. when people were saying this was not going to happen, there was a genius move. that is the ability that this president has. it is not going to be on every single thing.

just the way he completely outmaneuvered vladimir putin, shows that this guy is playing at the top of their game. i do not care what you are seeing on other networks. host: cracks will control the senate. they will control the presidency. is it time for several supreme court justices to retire while the democrats hold the presidency and the senate? guest: can i pick which justices? host: i suspect justices on the conservative wing will not consider this a time to retire. there are talks about justice sotomayor is thinking about retiring. perhaps others are thinking about retirement during the democratic senate.

guest: justice sotomayor , i think she is my age. it is so critical in confirming judges, all the way down to the federal -- is very important. i know that is super important to my formal loss and a of -- boss and top of mind for him. i do not think the supreme court are at a retiring age. i want to be real about that. it does mean, if one of the older conservative judges on the court retires or passes away, democrats would be able to fill the seat. host: back to our phone line and talk to georgia who is from marietta, georgia on the democratic line.

good morning. caller: i am calling because i wake up every morning happy, very happy that joe biden is our president. we finally have the most experience -- experienced president we had in a long time. age does bring wisdom, and i cannot be happier. i get so angry when i hear these jokes about his speech impediment, him messing up the language. maybe he messes up a little bit. i could not be happier, because he knows what he is doing. the last time we had a president, he did not know anything he was doing. this is a professional man. we should think our lucky stars

and quit making fun of him and appreciate what we have. guest: georgia, you look at the record, he looks like a guy at the top of his game domestically, internationally and i agree with you. he has been making verbal stumbles for as long as he has been in public life. he will continue to make verbal stumbles if he runs again next term. he seems to be a president who is playing the game at the highest level. host: product that you once worked for chuck schumer, what type of legislative challenges will democrats face if the republicans take over the house? if anything gets passed between now and at the presidential election? guest: i think things will get past.

it will not happen right away. i expect the first 10 to 12 months of a new congress to be rather ugly. then there's going to be a point where house republicans will be thinking, if we are going to keep our majority, we have to show we can get something done and a compromise that we will get something to be president and we will sign. you need to take accomplishments for voters. if you look at where republicans won the majority, it is in places like new york where they picked up a bunch of seats. they are going to have to deliver to keep those seats. i do not have high hopes for 2023. i could see the first half of 2024 of things getting done. the happen under clinton in 19 95 and 96, the dam broke. host: dallas texas -- dallas,

texas on the republican line. caller: good morning, america. i love america. make sure you get your college paid for. i would hate to hear that he is promising college people -- that is why they voted. my sister in law, she wants her college paid for, that is why she voted for joe biden. thank you, sir. guest: that student loan debt forgiveness. i do not know how much that is really effective. it may work for younger voters in some places. it is now in the hands of the court. we will see if it happens again.

host: one thing we have not talked about is the one major senate race left. raphael warnock versus herschel walker. what does he need to do to win the race and give the democrats they edge of the senate? guest: you know, some of herschel walker's votes where the people who voted for brian kemp, the republican governor. herschel walker while in the booth was going to vote for herschel. this is the gap between candidate equality is the greatest throughout the country. raphael warnock, top-notch candidate, very accomplished, herschel walker, i will be polite. several abortions, other

domestic violence background. the enthusiasm for him is not going to be that great in my feeling about this, especially the fate of the senate does not hang in the balance. he knows how to win a runoff. he will raise the money and get his team out there. host: we would like to thank jim kessler, the vice president for the third wing from being with us this morning and discussing