senator romney: in their instance, mr. mcconnell is the leader of the republican caucus and what he's able to do at his age is really extraordinary. i'm the first term senator, even as a second term senator i would not be a committee chair or ranking member but a junior person trying to get stuff done and fight through the regular order of process. i was able to break through that with this gang that came together but he's in a position to make a real difference at his age, which you know, if i was a majority leader of the senate, i might reach a different decision, too, but i'm not. reporter: in the excerpt from the book at least the leader of mcconnell, are you disappointed by the leadership you've seen in the republican party particularly with the impeachment trial and in dealing with trump? senator romney: no, i have a great deal of respect for the leader mcconnell and one mystery is why he's so unpopular in national polls. he's the cingular reason we have a conservative supreme court, i hope people recognize that. and

i think if romney genuinely felt, and i don't know mitt romney, i don't speak for him. think if it seems to me that if a man like mitt romney thought look, if i stay another four or five, years i can really make the difference, i can turn this around, there are other people i can link arms with. i think what you are hearing from romney, in his interview with my colleague -- . he just doesn't think that's possible. and i think in some ways, he is kind of agreeing with dean, that, although he politely says my wing of the party, i think he knows the party is gone, it's over. and, there is no room in for somebody like mitt romney. and you know, if you're 76, and you have a lot of grand children staying in washington, and having to not obviously roll your eyes and cough with discuss every time josh hawley speaks, that's not a good use of your time. >> well, speaking of josh hawley, romney, he went after folks like j.d. vance, josh hawley, and a few others. he described a large portion of the gop that doesn't believe in the constitution, and he acknowledged that they were pow

he isn't sure romney will be safe. romney and immediately texted the senate majority leader mitch mcconnell, telling him about the call from king. quote, there are calls to burned on your home, mitch, to smuggle guns into d. c. , and who stormed the capitol. i hope that sufficient security plans are in place, but i am concerned the instigator, the president, is the one who commands the reinforcements bait d. c. and capitol police might require. what did mitch mcconnell say? never even bothered to respond. so just imagine how mitt romney and his other colleagues, who receives this mornings, we're feeling going into the capital on january 6th. and when he was rushed off the senate floor after rioters breached the building and nearly ran straight into the violent mob. capitol police officer eugene goodman guided him to safety, as you can see in the snow infamous clip. romney and the rest of the senators spent hours hunker down and as a court location, while the mob rampage at the capitol assaulting officers, including goo

he was the next mitt romney.the party. so there are probably more out there than there are made from me. i think this is a genuine instinct that he has that is right, but it is actually still going to require the voice of mitt romney, and others who are mitt romney supporters like me, inside the party to really crystalize that message, and play a bigger role going forward. >> it is, did i mean, you've been a republican operator for a long time. i know you're in the private sector now. what gives you hope? is there anything that gives you hope about the future of the party? >> while, i am certainly optimistic that we can make, we can have our arguments about public policy where i can say jen psaki is wrong, not jen psaki as bad intentions for this country. i think that it's increasingly, we have to find forms that provide that type of platform for people who disagree. i am hopeful that that could continue. i do think that some of the lines that mitt romney has identified, they still need work. >> thank you for joi

mcconnell did not respond to romney.romney running down a hallway to escape the mob after a police officer told him to turn around. romney says he thought the trump fever might break after that horrible day. but by then, romney says, fealty to trump was no longer just about political calculations. quote, after january 6th a new more existential brand of cowardice had emerged. one republican congressman confided to romney that he wanted to vote for trump's second impeachment for the january 6th insurrection but chose not to out of fear for his family's safety. you can't do that, romney recalled someone saying. think of your personal safety, said another. think of your children. the senator eventually decided they were right. and then there's how romney talks about his republican colleague, josh holley. romney was sitting beside holley in the senate chamber when he stood up and urged lawmakers to not certify the 2020 election results. this is just hours after rioters were cleared from the capitol, when bodies were taken ou

who is the next mitt romney?es like the back ramaswamy. that's not a rip mitt romney wing of the party. there are probably more vexed out there right now than there are mitt romney's i think this is a genuine instinct that he has that's right. it's still going to require the voice of a mitt romney and others who are inside the party to really crystallized the message and play a bigger role going forward. you have been a republican operative for a long time you're out in the private sector now. what gives you hope about the future of the party? >> i still remain optimistic that we can make and have arguments about public policy where i can say jen psaki is wrong, not jen psyche has bad intentions for this country. so, i think increasingly we have to find forums that provide that type of platform for people who disagree. i am hopeful that can continue. i do think that some of the lines that they've identified, they still do very much -- >> thank you for joining me today. it was such an interesting read. it showed u

michelle, what does it mean for mitt romney, what does it mean to excommunicate mitt romney?esn't necessarily mean he was going to lose a primary that's popular in utah. even mitt romney who at every stage of the trump administration was consistently sure there was some sort of alternative, that there was some sort of bubble that was going to pop, that there was the responsibility of a patriotic republican party, has basically seen the writing on the wall and said, you know, that he can't do it anymore. >> i'm a man without a country. my question is, though, if he is so disheartened, disaffected, you know, with the republican party, why not be more clear about what's happening inside it? in this worth from mckay coppins, he effectively gossips, if you will, about the ways in which other senior republicans including mitch mcconnell understand trump to be a pox on the party. and yet, you know, in his big announcement, he's leaving, you're gnat not hearing any of that. >> although he's not quite keeping it to himself. >> it's going to be on sale. >> right because he knows obviou

look, he's an enemy of mitt romney, because mitt romney voted twice to impeach him. as romney said today, you know, there are some people who are all about grievances and retribution. and that's exhibit a. >> one of the other things that's interesting here, it's a text that has mitt romney saying, if i ran for re-election and won, i would be in my mid 80s at the end of my term, and saying basically, he said clearly that biden and trump should step aside for a new generation. but basically, we shouldn't have people in their 80s in the senate. >> you know that's been a topic of conversation for a very long time, not just when it comes to the people running for president. some of the senators, their ages are being discussed, as well. i tend to -- i appreciate what he said. i appreciate that he's addressing it on the nose. but i also will say look, you know i support biden. he's very sharp and he's proven time and time again while people have concerns about his able, he's been able to do a lot of things historically that other presidents haven't been able to. so i'm pret

of course, i saw the announcement made by senator romney. very clear from the outset, at the conclusion of this trial, and i had a chance to say this is senator romney personally -- i thought that he chose country over party, and that his decision to vote to convict in both impeachments was a brave one, and one that will be recalled by historians long into the future, my future generations, as an act done in defense of our republic. and the fact that there were other republican senators who knew that the president, former president trump, what is guilty of the charge in which he was impeached for, but analysts chose to acquit him anyway -- i think it is a very concerning, and, i think it concerns every american. >> congressman joe neguse. always good to talk to you, sir. thank you very much. >> thank you, chris. >> joining me now philip bump, columnist for the washington post. -- one of the things that is hard is, what is the thing here, right? you can't have a one sentence. there's a bunch of things they've laid out. there's a few categorie

, if you will, mitt romney?oing to lose a primary. he's quite popular in utah. i think what it means is that mitt romney has given up on the republican party. like even mitt romney, who at every stage of the trump administration was consistently sure that there is some sort of alternative, that there was some sort of bubble that was going to pop, that there was the possibility of a patriotic republican party has basically seen the writing on the wall and said, you, know that he can't do it anymore. >> i'm a man without a country. my question though is that if he is so disheartened, disaffected of -- with the republican party, why not be more clear about what's happening inside it? in this book that's been forthcoming from mckay coppins, romney, iraq and, he tells mckay coppins what he really thinks. he goes on -- effectively gossips, if you, will about the ways in which other senior republicans, including mitch mcconnell, understand trump to be a pox on the party. and yet, it is, you know, big announcement he's

seven or -- senator mitt romney gets tonight's last word. the 11th hour with stephanie ruhle starts now. ruhle starts now >> tonight, the push from fani willis for all 19 georgia defendants to be tried together. plus, another setback for mark meadows and his attempt for a federal case. and mitt romney announces his retirement, calling for a new generation of leaders. what his departure from congress could mean for the gop. then tech titans descend on capitol hill, talking a.i. and regulation, jake ward is here to break down what happens, as the 11th hour gets underway on this wednesday night. ♪ ♪ ♪ good evening once again, i'm stephanie ruhle, live from san francisco. we begin this evening with the next steps in the sprawling election interference case down in georgia. tomorrow, the judge there will hold another televisit hearing on legal motions from defendants kenneth chesebro and sidney powell. and we could learn more about where this entire case is headed next. d.a. fani willis wants all 19 to be tried together, but the judge has already

. >>> mitt romney's stunning announcement he will not seek re-election. the 76-year-old former republican presidential standard bearer saying, it's time for a new generation. both donald trump and joe biden should not be running. >> i don't have any question on my mind that i don't want to run again. i don't think we need another person in their 80s. >> more big revelations from mitt romney coming up. >>> speaker mccarthy today lashing out at the far right members of his own conference in an expletive-laced reaction to their decision to hold up critical spending bills. this one for defense. >>> the economy could face a major blow as the nation's top three car companies are up against a midnight strike deadline tonight from the uaw. the two sides still far apart. ♪♪ >>> good day, everyone. i'm andrea mitchell in washington. a lot going on today. we are getting a better sense of when donald trump could stand trial in georgia. this morning, the superior court judge scott mcafee granting motions by two co-defendants to separate their trials. the two are sidne

michelle, what does it mean the g -- mitt romney and the gop, the ex communicate mitt romney?ld lose a primary. he's quite popular in utah. i think what it means is that mitt romney has given up on the republican party. even mitt romney, at every stage of the trump administration was sure that there was some kind of alternative, some type of bubble gum to pop, that there was the possibility of a patriotic republican party has basically seen the writing on the wall and said that he can't do it anymore. >> a man without a country. my question is, is he so disheartened, disaffected with the republican party, why not be more clear about what is happening inside it? in this book that is forthcoming, romney, a reckoning, he tells mckay kopplin what he really thinks. he effectively gossips, if you will, about the ways in which other senior republicans, including mitch mcconnell understand trump to be a pox on the party, and yet in his big announcement that he's leaving, you're not hearing any of that. why have the indignation if you keep it yourself? >> although, he's not keeping it

mitt romney gets it, as well. he was told the number one priority in terms of his decision making process by one of his colleagues is, will this help or hurt my re-election? that seems to be the, you know, the driving motivation for a lot of the lawmakers we see now. of course, in the senate, there's a little bit more room for some moderation, for some more traditional conservatives, as you just named, although a lot of them are now leaving. they are a dying breed. in the house, obviously, because of the way these districts have been created, you know, lawmakers can get away with being far more controversial, hard right, and, you know, these players that we've seen rise up in this maga universe. but as romney also says, at the end of the day, what are people like ted cruz, josh hawley, jd vance getting? they're becoming famous senators. what does that mean in the broad context of the world? i think that also gets at this final point, which is, you know, is government now the most effective vehicle for change? that

mitt romney puts it bluntly. he says a large portion of my party doesn't believe in the constitution. do you think part of his decision today is that he doesn't feel like there's room for him in today's republican party? >> well, i think mitch is speaking his mind here. what he says is what he says. i think his off the record and on the record are pretty much the same now. look, mitt romney was right in 2016 when he came out in the spring and said this about donald trump. think about where the country would be, where the world would be if others of any kind of courage at all in the republican party had followed him. he had been a previous nominee. he had standing. and i think it is fair to say that he was surprised that more didn't follow him. and it's been an historical collapse of a moral governing force of what was once a serious party. >> you mentioned that surprise. part of this excerpt talked about when romney first came to the senate, he was surprised at how many people agreed with him about trump. they we

mitt romney did. mitt romney's -- he didn't get sent to a camp. >> he got pushed out of the party, didn't he? >> well, i think if more had been willing to put the oath of office they took, to put country over party, maybe you lose a primary. what does that mean? you don't get to be ten ted cruz's colleague anymore? it not better to defend the country? when you think about the legacy that this generation of republicans inherited from the greatest generation, i mean, they have just squandered that. it is really so un-american and amazing what they have done. i think it's going to go down as history as one of the great betrayals of what it means to be an american. mitch mcconnell has led that parade. >> it's not just about the threats of losing a primary and losing the race. it's also about physical threats. he says that he talked about being heckled at a rally in utah. a mother who had her kid by her side, there is video of where he was heckled, with screaming at him, and essentially, you know, other pe

rachel scott was among the reporters right there, pressing romney on his decision, but here's romneyonight, first, on politicians in their 80s. >> i just don't think we need another person in their 80s. i'm a little long of tooth already, we don't need more like me. the issues of the day relate to china, climate change, a.i. but i do think that the times we're living in really demand the next generation to step up and express their point of view. >> reporter: i wonder if you can speak to where the republican party is now. when you look at the republican party, particularly where the house of representatives is, do you feel like this is a republican party that is be-holden to former president donald trump? >> well, there's no question, but the republican party today is in the shadow of donald trump. he is the leader of the greatest portion of the republican party. it's a populist, i believe, demagogue portion of the party. look, i represent a small wing of the party, if you will, i call it the wise wing of the republican party. and i don't believe we're going away. i think ultimately,

a text from mitt romney to mitch mcconnell. he sent this on january 2nd, about his concerns that angus king, his fellow senator, had asked please call me. he calls him and then he sends this text, romney does to mitch mcconnell. in case you have not heard this, i got a call from angus king who said he had spoken with a senior official at the pentagon who reports they're seeing disturbing social media traffic regarding the protest on the 6th. they're planning to burn your home to storm the capitol. i hope sufficient security plans are in place, but i'm concerned the instigator, the president, is the one who commands the re-enforcements the d.c. and capitol police might require. mcconnell never responds. we have some video of what happened with mitt romney on that day, when he was saved by capitol police as they helped him run out of there. i think we have that video. what do you make of the fact that the leader of the senate at the time, mitch mcconnell, who appears a lot in this article, seemed completely unwilling to respond t

is senator romney the hero of this story? he voted twice for trump's conviction in the senate, but in the past, he also took an endorsement from trump when he was running for president. he endorsed trump in 2016, trying to get a job from him. he's never apologized for being complicit in trumpian birtherism. he has been good in many ways. how do you assess it? it's complicated. >> it is not even >> -- the only reason we throw around a loaded term like hero for it mitt romney is because the conservative movement with their own assessment of the excerpt has been so extreme, the bar has been so lowered that if you simply hop over it in protection of our constitution and in a free and fair election, which mitt romney did, and we praise him for, it you're seen as a hero. as you laid out, this man has been utterly complicit in helping to nurture, enable, and create the modern conservative movement and republican, which according to the excerpt, has turned against him in such a violent way, mehdi, that he has to shell out $5,000 a da

the romney of it all. the pelosi.s saying pretty clearly, it's time for us boomers to move on. >> i agree with him. i admit, i'm a little said. i like mitt romney, last time i saw him, we were at a fund-raiser for liz cheney before she lost her primary. and george and i go way back, we were talking about this in the green room. the republican party we new is kind of different, would you say? it's changing so, i think romney is correct on the generational issue. i think he threw big shade at the president, and in trump today, basically, you guys need to follow suit. i do think that gen x, our generation, has not really stepped up just yet. the boomers have been on the stage so long. i would like to see more of us run for office and be in office and get involved as well as millennials. >> george, estonia would saying, both of you, can i call you republican ex pats. >> yeah, kind, of sort of. >> for folks like you, this exit of romney from the stage is a different kind of moment. and he made a really bold statement today

charlie, what do you think of romney's announcement?ey was running for president, that was your boy. that is when you felt great about the republican party and its leadership. >> mitt romney was the countenance of the republican party, which meant he was a very lonely man. he, clearly, as given a lot of thought to the position that he took took, and it was willing to do that. so, he's lost his considerable. because what you are seeing is the voluntary exit of so many a decent, principled republicans and their place being taken by the ted cruz is, the josh hawley, and the j.d. vance's. on one level, i hope he enjoys his retirement. but there is no question about it, that the republican party will be diminished and radicalized with his departure. >> juanita, it's not just mitt romney. just today, david ignatius of the washington post wrote a column called, quote, president biden should not run again. and his argument is that the presidents age is a big concern for voters. i am not trying to be ageist in any way. but he is saying, voters c

that is the contrast and yet this is what romney said yesterday. take a listen. >> i think it would be a great thing if both president biden and former president trump were to stand aside and let their respective party pick someone in the next generation. president biden when he was running said he was a transitional figure to the next generation. time to transition. >> and to some degree when you listen to roll any, he spoke to biden privately and made clear that he would prefer biden if forced in that situation.any, h biden privately and made clear that he would prefer biden if forced in that situation. yet he still wants him to leave. romney saying i'd just like anybody else. >> and how interesting that they talked. >>> this morning biden campaign aides are terrified of the very real prospect that he could lose in a highly likely trump/biden rematch. a new cnn report says the fear is palpable throughout the democratic party and the concerns go beyond complaints about biden's age and mental capacity. it is that many voters are expressing indiffer

and romney is absolute -- you look at romney, and he's being very, very reflective here on that in thisk, and you see in him a humility and a humanity and a patriotism that is just almost absent now in the rest of the party. >> one of the things i'll never forget about mitt romney is the historic vote for ketanji jackson, and only he and lisa murkowski and susan collins voted for her to be elected. he was clapping and the other republicans were walking out the door angry. that never would have happened 30 years ago. the voting rights act, george walker bush was the last president to sign the extension. his daddy before him signed it. it was never a question. these things would pass 100-0, 90-0. the first black supreme court justice would have got 70 votes on a bad day. now the republicans walk out on history. i don't recognize this party. i think that people like us who do a lot of talking and thinking and analyzing are going to have to step up. i'm definitely interested in doing that a little later down the road. not much later. i think they're going to have to be a new generation of p

and mitt romney gets that as well.decision-making process by one of his colleagues is, will this help or hurt my reelection. and that seems to be the driving motivation for a lot of the lawmakers that we see now. of course in the senate as a little bit more room for some moderation for some more traditional conservatives that you just named. although a lot of them are now leaving. they are a dying breed. in the house obviously because of the way that this district has been created, lawmakers can get away with being far more controversial, hard right, and these players rise up in this market universe but as romney also says, at the end of the day what are people like ted cruz, josh hawley, j.d. vance getting? they are becoming famous senators. what does that mean and the broad context of the world and i think that also gets at this final point which is government the most effective vehicle for change. and that seems to be something that romney doesn't believe anymore. other than the fact that his colleagues don't believ

>> well it saddens me, because i happen to admire mitt romney. supported him for president when he ran. i know there is a certain part of the republican base right now that has a certain amount of disdain for him. but, look, we're in a situation right now where really good members, the mitt romney's of the world, the fred uptons of the world are beginning to move into the next chapter of their lives and leaving washington. it is sad to me because these are true statesman. these are people that have made a difference in our country, that have been successful by any means and i hate to lose their wisdom and leadership and expertise as they move on to the next part of their live. >> steve womack of arkansas. thank you. >>> as republicans take this impeachment route, is it too late for democrats to intervene? >>> and plus new video of the inmate in pennsylvania that escapee now in custody, thank hen. dressed if a white robe and barefoot and handcuffs and plans to make sure this time he stays behind bars. >>> plus nearly 60 years after the tragic assa

i haven't talked to mitt romney for years.hee chen, a former mitt romney public policy director and cnn opinion contributor. great to see you. he made these comments on a week when he also announced his retirement saying he would not run for reelection. why do you think or what has been the inspiration for romney to now i guess turn up the heat in his criticism of the former vice president ain the way in which he did. >> i don't think it's just the former vice president that he's being critical of. i think he is shedding light on a whole bunch of relationships that he has had within the republican party and identifying elements that he seeing are troubling. when he retired, he made a statement to the effect of, listen, it's time for a new generation of people to take over but i think that mitt romney over these next 16 months he has left in the u.s. senate, he is going to be completely unconstrained by politics, he's going to be completely unconstrained by the usual factors that frankly i think impact how most politicians act

it's not romney's party anymore. you'll see more and more. the only vested left still in leadership right now is mitch mcconnell and there are questions about how much longer he can stick around. make no mistake, romney was going to face a tough primary next year. he would have had to make real concessions to win that primary. >> jonathan: it's astounding to see the republican critics who have come up and taken on donald trump fall by the wayside, beginning when he was president the jeff flakes and the bob corkers, i mean, it's mitch mcconnell and he's not anti-trump these days. he doesn't talk trump at all. >> we saw a speech that mike pence gave just a couple of weeks ago on populism versus conservativism, so he's also in that realm trying to maintain the old grip of the republican party that no longer exists. we see where mike pence is in the polls, we see -- >> 2% or 3%. >> right, maybe. low single digits and mitch mcconnell, also, separately, trying to maintain a very foreign policy-focused component of the republican party, separate fro

to your point, what you're saying, mitt romney is very much a republican.and moving forward. and the people in charge right now, the republican party, the trump party. don't want to have any of it. they don't want to have actual laws that they have to abide by. they don't want to play by the rules. but that does provide an opportunity to see what he wants. more individuals, young, commitment to the party. what would that would? like we were talking off air, if it mcmillon ran as an independent in utah, and he ran as an independent. it will be interesting to see if he throws his head in the ring. and this could be a way for him to -- for mitt romney to make way for -- >> there was a recent poll, dan jones and associates paul, it was actually conducted last month. and it found that 54% of utah voters approve of trump's performance. so sarah, carrying on from what maria teresa kumar said, do you think there is an appetite for a romney-esque or evan mcmullin kind of person, because there were also some far-right candidates and iota i can imagine or thinking abo

we have used you as a voice over the years on mitt romney's thinking. you talk about why he said all of this now and what he hopes it means for the party? >> well, poppy, it's an expression, you know, the frustration as well as the challenges that the last couple of years have demonstrated. but, you know, mitt romney is a man of conscience. always been a monday of conscience. i have written about this and sort of thinking about him not just as the conscience of the senate, but of the country on many issues. you know, it's going to bothersome people and not everyone will agree, but his decisions is well founded, i think it is thoughtful like everything else he has about done in his political career. i guess i am not surprised, but in a lot of ways i am saddened because it's a loss for the country. certainly a loss for the senate. i do hope that this passing of the baton won't be a baton that ends up dropping, unfortunately, begin the kind of leadership we are seeing out of washington right now. >> to that point, you see a lot of people who retire and say

there are plenty, i think, critiques to make of mitt romney's career international politics.h disdain and contempt for so many of his fellow senators, and so many of his fellow republicans. i think correctly identifying the wheel cowardice those colleagues have displayed with regards to trump, a willingness, as he describes, to criticize trump in private, and even mock trump in private, but do not bring that energy to the public, do not speak with a full chest, as you might say, when it comes to addressing trump in public. and i find that striking and remarkable, and kind of irrespective of what i think of romney. >> yeah. and your distinction of -- to try to get people to focus on the difference between what we call democracy in america, and the constitution -- those are two very different things. the constitution has some profoundly anti democratic -- which is to say, anti-democracy -- components, like the electoral college in the two senators per state, for example. >> that's right. i like to remind people that the constitution is not the first american constitution. there

romney could have retired to his car elevator and grandchildren olympics.oming the only republican senator to vote to convict trump, the first to vote to convict a president of his own party. the gop elected official with the most clear-eyed rationale, the one most willing to openly attack the trump minions like george santos who have infested the capitol. tim, expand a bit more on what washington and in particular what the republican party will be missing once senator romney steps off the stage? >> yeah, it was already a very small and meek conference of republicans in congress who were willing to speak out about donald trump before mitt romney made this announcement. if you go back to look at those who impeached trump many of them particularly on the house side were flushed out either in the last election and adam kinzinger and liz cheney and others, and this is i think basically, you know, the last person, you know, who was in there who has had the courage in his convictions and made the moral case against trump. others have spoken out from time to time,

the new york times columnist javale billy has heard mitt romney's confessions, and has a response. ) the first fda-approved rsv vaccine. arexvy is used to prevent lower respiratory disease from rsv in people 60 years and older. rsv can severely affect the lungs and lower airways. arexvy is proven to be over 82% effective in preventing lower respiratory disease from rsv and over 94% effective in those with these health conditions. ( ♪♪ ) arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. those with weakened immune systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. the most common side effects are injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and joint pain. rsv can be serious. talk to your doctor or pharmacist about arexvy today. rsv? make it arexvy. (smelling) ew. gotta get rid of this. ♪tell me why♪ because it stinks. ♪have you tried downy rinse and refresh♪ it helps remove odors 3x better than detergent alone. it worked guys! ♪yeahhhh♪ downy rinse and refresh. my most important kitchen tool? my brain. so i choose new neu

romney, aye. the clerk: mr. daines, aye. vote: the clerk: mr. rounds, aye. the clerk: mr. bennet, aye. the clerk: mr. mcconnell, aye. mr. barrasso, aye. the clerk: mr. schumer, aye. the presiding officer: on this vote, the yeas a 92, the nays are 1. the motion is agreed to. mr. schumer: madam president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mammogram, i have eight requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval the majority and minority leaders. the presiding officer: duly noted. mr. schumer: madam president, i understand there is a bill at the desk and i ask for the first reading. the presiding officer: the clerk will read the title for the first time. the clerk: h.r. 3935, an act to amend title 49, united states code, to reauthorize and improve the federal aviation administration and other civil aviation programs

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biden himself called mitt romney also as romney himself believed it was time for both democrats to move on from joe biden, republicans to move on and donald trump to mova, and it is a new generation and people of his age should not be in politics and they should be propping up those other leaders and it is very difficult, wolf. he thinks he could have run even though a lot of people, trump is up porers would have targeted. y want have jeff jones and, what is the senate losing with his retirement? >> i think it's losing a whole lot. let's start with a true legislator and a true statesman. mitt romney in one six-year term is slightly shy of that. he's only in his fifth year has done what many senators have not done for much longer. he's been a part of siggive in cannot rgz and he's broken from his party and he's shown true expectance is a dying up on the an at combho is willing to break with our party, particularly in the yeara of donald trump, and just thinking of his time as a governor in a liberal state and he became the presidential nominee in 2012 to his time in the senate and he's h

i have known mitt romney for 20 years.ton in 2006 or 2007 and asked me to be the strategy on his presidential campaign. i ended up voting for barak obama. mitt romney is a flawed person. i criticized him. you can't deny he is a person of character. the struggles he went to and opening up the okay on what all republicans are saying behind the scenes and so many of the statements saying how hard is it to tell the truth and that one statement when he says i don't think the majority of the people in the republican caucus believe in the constitution anymore. it is a great example of our democracy, how dependant it is on people of character and integrity. when you don't have people of integrity and character, which the republican caucus doesn't seem to have anymore basically democracy begins to falter. >> a very large portion of my party does not believe in the constitution. we were a few months away from the instigated coup. ted cruz could give him a run for his money. they were too smart to believe that trump won the 2020 elec

but to mitt romney's point, two-thirds of americans don't want a trump-biden rematch.choices. so there is a lot of energy around, okay, if this doesn't make sense, what is the alternative. >> so you think no labels should shut down he was efforts? >> i'm a numbers by. but numbers -- >> yes, you are. >> but numbers do -- every set of numbers i've seen is a snapshot of a moment in time. >> so that is a maybe? >> who knows. the numbers i've seen suggest that someone running would increase the chances of trump winning. >> you have said that you think biden should debate not just kennedy but others. should a democrat challenge biden at this point? >> 100%. >> who? >> governor newsom, governor whitmer, governor prits sker, governor murphy, governor cooper -- >> all who have pledged complete support to biden. >> we know would love to throw their hat in the ring if the dnc hasn't said hey, guys, we're going to support biden, wait your turn and it biden has a health problem maybe it is you. the fact is there are only two things that can happen. the american people say you know

it is 76-year-old senator mitt romney. a man that many see as one of the last true republican statesmen left in washington and he will not run again. >> times we're living in redemand the next generation to step up and express their point of view and make decisions that will shape american politics over the coming century. having a bunch of guys, baby boomers, around in the post-war era, we're not the ones to make decisions for tomorrow. i think it would be a great thing if president biden and former president trump would stand aside and let their party pick someone for the next generation. president biden when he was running said that he was a transitional figure to the next generation. well, time to transition. >> the elder states man is calling for a youth movement as washington grapples with a generational malaise it seems. latest cnn polling shows that roughly three quarters of americans say they are seriously concerned about president biden's ability to serve out another full term. 66% is seriously -- 68%, excuse me,

w bush, george romney, that is all gone. one thing. we learned romney gave interviews to the atlantic published this week, and we learned a, how often there were times trump has gone into konta the -- has gone into talk to the republican congress, he left and they all laughed contemptuously at him. there are also members who are going to vote to convict on the impeachment, but they are afraid that their families might get assassinated and they knew their vote would not make a difference. we are way beyond the bounds of normal democratic governance when that is even on the minds of members of congress. geoff: and senator romney says he pays something like $5,000 a day in personal security because of threats he and his family face. as we pine for the days of yesteryear, in the 10 seconds we have left, is there a way back? david: yes, and it is called leadership, particularly among republicans. geoff: all right, great to see you all as always. david: thanks, geoff. ♪ amna: remember, there is a lot more online, including a look

mitt romney is gone. i always wondered, mitt romney never seemed like a match for utah.o your announcement? >> you are right, never really was a match. that was the thing we called out. i announce my candidacy four months ago and we were not shy about calling out his record. he claimed he was going to push to a balanced budget, end illegal immigration, stop federal spending and overreach, appoint conservative justices, his record did not reflect those promises, people know me. for ten years, i've been running my community and given them a true conservative alternative, and these last four months, people are excited. we saw a list of endorsements locally but also nationally, we pick up charlie kirk, mark levin, carey lake coming out here monday to do a rally and give support to us and picked up the endorsement of rick grenell. this is amazing, folks are ready for in america first candidate, and a true conservative back in the senate, someone like mike lee, someone who should be representing the state of utah. rachel: i'm thinking about how mitt romney got elected, he's up

they were trying to lick their wounds from mitt romney's loss.y were engaging on talks on immigration reform and passing a bill out of the senate. they were doing an autopsy at the rnc to figure out the path forward to broaden the appeal of the republican party nationally. and look at where the republican party is ten years layter as mit romney says good-bye to a political career in a party that he says many in his party don't believe in the constitution. i mean, think about that. this was the standard barer of the republican party a little more than ten years ago. he's now saying that that party he was the leader of, many people don't believe. >> i don't -- yes, i definitely heard him say this is a multiyear, multidecade project. how does that even happen if it veers off in a way that he doesn't want it to veer in the near term? >> that's such a good point, because at the psalm time, if if you read that piece, he's acknowledging a big part of the reason he stay ed in the senate was to try to be a role model, to give confidence to these other rep

senator mitt romney announcing he won't run for re-election. what's that all about? >> reporter: lester, that announcement coming as a surprise today. romney saying he would be in his mid-80s at the end of his next term, and that it's time for a new generation of leaders. he has been an outspoken critic of former president trump, now the republican presidential front runner, and romney likely would have faced a tough primary. lester >> peter, thank you. >>> we are just one day away from what could be a crippling strike for the u.s. auto industry. both sides are making clear they are ready for what could be a first of its kind walkout at all big three automakers at once jesse kirsch is at the detroit auto show and brings us more. >> reporter: with less than 30 hours until their contracts expire, tonight the united autoworkers at the big three are getting ready to walk off the job. >> if we don't have a fair contract by midnight on thursday night, we will strike. >> reporter: a strike looming from union halls outside detroit to a plant in kokomo, indiana. >> me and my

and romney specifically cited his age. 76, as one of the deciding factors. capitol hill correspondent ryan nobles joins us with the latest on this one. ryan, good morning? >> hey, craig, good morning. among the many reasons that mitt romney has decided that it's time for him to retire is a desire to hand over power to the next generation. and as he slowly steps away from public life, he's revealing plenty of details about what goes on behind the scenes in politics. >> reporter: on capitol hill, senator mitt romney, known for breaking ranks with his party says it's time to move on. >> frankly, it's time for a new generation of leaders. >> reporter: the gop nominee for president in 2012 -- >> i accept your nomination for president of the united states! >> reporter: romney now doesn't recognize his party. >> the republican party today is in the shadow of donald trump. he is the leader of the greatest portion of the republican party. it's a populist, i believe, demagogue portion of the party. >> reporter: it's part of why he decided to step away. frustrated by t