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On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut
- Former Vice President Mike Pence
- Cindy McCain, U.N. World Food Programme enforcement director
Click here to browse afloat transcripts from 2026 of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan successful Washington.
And this week connected Face the Nation: The diplomatic creation betwixt the U.S. and Iran continues, arsenic Ukraine makes an impassioned plea for much assistance from the U.S.
We spoke exclusively with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who issued a warning:
(Begin VT)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY (Ukrainian President): When we cognize that Russia prepares a big, monolithic attack, definitely.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And urgently requested anti-ballistic rocket weaponry from the U.S., whose proviso is already stretched bladed by that warfare with Iran.
Back home, arsenic midterm matchups hole for their November contests, does quality number anymore erstwhile it comes to politics? We volition speech with erstwhile Vice President Mike Pence, arsenic good arsenic Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. They some person caller books out, and they some person thoughts connected the aboriginal of their respective governmental parties.
We volition besides perceive from the outgoing caput of the U.N.'s World Food Program, Cindy McCain, connected the trouble of feeding the satellite successful challenging times.
It's each conscionable up connected Face the Nation.
Good morning, and invited to Face the Nation.
As we await developments successful the back-and-forth betwixt the U.S. and Iran implicit a model for a truce successful the now-three-month-long war, CBS News has learned that the president made further edits to the U.S. connection connected Friday, and mediators present hold connected Iran's response.
We statesman contiguous with Ukrainian fears that Russia volition soon signifier a monolithic onslaught connected Kyiv, which sources archer CBS News could see strikes connected the statesmanlike bureau and authorities buildings.
When we spoke exclusively to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy connected Friday, helium told america astir the accrued attacks from the Russians successful caller weeks and the dire request for assistance from the U.S.
(Begin VT)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY (Ukrainian President): We deliberation that we volition person a large onslaught from Russian broadside utilizing drones, utilizing cruise missiles and ballistic.
And we spot the preparation. Always, we spot the preparation. By the way, we are thankful to United States and European partners erstwhile they stock with america intelligence. So, erstwhile we cognize that Russia prepares a big, monolithic attack, definitely, our partners besides know, possibly not a batch of details, but we know.
We person each time onslaught from the Russian broadside connected civilians, and, of course, connected battlefield. And 2 times a week oregon 2 times per 10 days, they person big, monolithic attacks with ballistic and et cetera.
Last monolithic attack, conscionable to understand, it was immoderate days ago. It was 600 drones, Iranian drones, Shaheds. And they had astir 35 – astir 30-plus ballistic missiles. And, successful total, it was 90 missiles and much than 600 Iranian drones. So it was precise hard to destruct it.
We usage each our weapons, what we have, what we produce. And, of course, we usage anti-ballistic missiles. This is the biggest shortage for us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We're proceeding from European countries that Russia is taking much and much operational risks successful Europe. Why bash you deliberation Vladimir Putin is taking these risks astatine this moment?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: First of all, it's not the archetypal clip helium has – helium is doing specified pressure. I deliberation it's governmental pressure. It's messages from Russia, don't assistance Ukraine.
I deliberation this is the astir – the astir accustomed meaning, what helium used. Don't – if you volition assistance Ukraine, I volition bash these specified steps.
So, helium statesman – helium tried erstwhile crossing. At the precise opening of this war, helium did it successful Romania, and past a small spot later, it was successful Poland, erstwhile they utilized 21 drones. Usually, we effort to drawback each the drones adjacent erstwhile they spell – erstwhile their – absorption to different countries similar Romania, Moldova oregon the absorption of Poland.
We effort to drawback everything. If we can't, of course, we springiness these messages to our partners. We effort to assistance them, and besides the aforesaid with the Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia. So, Russia uses this conscionable to onslaught politically and by limb unit connected NATO countries to look and their reaction.
So, the reaction, we – I deliberation the absorption has to beryllium much beardown from the unity of NATO countries. And I deliberation that Putin is comparing however this absorption and however it's changed during this 1 twelvemonth oregon 2 year, 3 year.
This is the mode however – and helium besides – the investigating of aerial defence of different countries, NATO countries which are bordering america oregon bordering Belarus oregon Russia. So, he's investigating what aerial defence they have. Can they destruct each the – each the missiles oregon drones? This is what I think.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You sent a idiosyncratic missive to the White House and to Congress wrong the past fewer days explaining that ballistic missiles, arsenic you enactment it, stay Vladimir Putin's past large battlefield advantage.
You request a surge of interceptors to instrumentality these missiles out. Have you gotten a effect from America?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: This is the biggest – this is the precedence for us, and big, large challenge.
We had precise difficult, pugnacious winter. Russia attacked america by tons of ballistic missiles connected our vigor infrastructure, h2o supply, schools. It was – it was precise difficult.
Now we spot large deficit. Of course, 1 of the reasons it's the concern successful the Middle East with the Iranian war, and we spot that the shortage is increasing, and we request to hurry up, to unreserved and to nonstop messages and meetings and bash a batch of meetings with different partners.
We don't spot capable missiles successful accumulation of the United States. We spot that this is – it tin beryllium situation successful the world, including Middle East, of course. I hope, God bless, that the cease-fire volition beryllium agelong and lasting peace. I privation it to Middle East countries and to the United States.
And I anticipation that President Trump and his squad and American broadside volition negociate cease-fire. But what we see, we person to hole for the challenges. And we, successful Ukraine, we don't person cease-fire, we person agelong five-years war, and we spot that Russia is expanding their interior production, the accumulation of ballistic missiles.
And we person shortage with anti-ballistic. This is large problem. I sent a missive to the White House and Congress of the United States, and I anticipation that they volition recognize and volition answer, respond. And this is precise important. We request to summation the production.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of State Rubio precocious said that Ukraine has the strongest subject successful each of Europe. The Army caput of the United States called the Ukrainian battlefield the Silicon Valley of war, praising however you've integrated A.I. and anti-drone technology.
So, you person this borderline connected this benignant of warfare. Can you usage it successful immoderate mode to instrumentality down these Russian missiles, oregon are you solely babelike connected American manufacturing to help?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: Well, we've got messages to assistance successful the Middle East to support immoderate bases with American soldiers and besides infrastructure of Middle East countries similar Saudi oregon Emirates, et cetera.
And I came with – with our groups. We sent 2 – much than 200 our experts, specified a level of benignant and antithetic benignant of interceptors, radars, systems of physics warfare, and cipher has. And caput is right. So we person – and we tin destruct each kinds of drones.
We tin destruct a batch of antithetic missiles, but we don't person – still, successful our full programme and system, we don't person anti-ballistic. This is the biggest problem. Yes, we are connected the way.
By the way, I wanted to say, we volition physique it, I know, but we request clip for this. But during this time, we suffer people. And we retrieve that United States helped america from the precise opening of this war, so, of course, we are precise thankful, and we are acceptable to stock what we have.
But until the infinitesimal we volition nutrient our European anti-ballistic system, until this moment, we request enactment from the United States.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Rubio said determination are nary negotiations scheduled betwixt Russia and Ukraine. He seems to beryllium acknowledging this is wholly stalled.
President Putin's spokesperson said it is excessively aboriginal to talk successful specifics astir the extremity of the war. Do you deliberation Russia tin ever travel to negociate an end?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: Yes, of course.
We are acceptable to talk bilaterally with Russia. I'm acceptable to conscionable with Putin if helium volition beryllium ready. I deliberation we request much sanctions. I deliberation we request much pressure. And you asked erstwhile they volition beryllium acceptable and if, if they volition beryllium ready. Theoretically, I think, yes, much sanctions, much pressure, they volition beryllium acceptable for the dialogue. Even now, they person losses, 30,000, 35,000 soldiers, Russian soldiers, per month.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Wow.
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: And it's a immense fig of losses. Really, we accrued this number. We – I mean, they accrued the fig to onslaught us, and that's wherefore the fig of losses is precise big.
And, each month, you person to cognize that they mobilize I deliberation the aforesaid precise comparable fig with losses. So this is simply a occupation for them, the shortage of people. And they are connected the mode to the large situation with the people. I deliberation each these things volition propulsion them to the dialogue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When is the past clip you heard from Secretary Rubio, oregon Steve Witkoff oregon Jared Kushner, the president's bid envoys? And volition they ever travel to Kyiv?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: Yes, we number connected their coming to Kyiv.
I anticipation that they volition find a anticipation to travel present successful 2 weeks. But astatine slightest I person got specified connection from my dialog group. They told maine that they had contacts with Steve and Jared. And they said that they are acceptable to travel to Ukraine and to speak, if, of course, if, ever if, you know, Margaret. And, today, if, it mean Middle East.
So I don't cognize what volition beryllium successful the Middle East and however you adjacent to negotiations, affirmative one. Again, anticipation so. So, I don't cognize if – but that – I deliberation that we request to spot American dialog radical successful Ukraine. They've ne'er been here.
I deliberation it's important not each – besides for us. It's utile for them to understand, to see, to spot people, that their beingness is going on. But we privation to halt this war. It means to halt Russia. They've been respective times successful Moscow. I said antecedently astir it, if they privation to spell this clip to Moscow, they person to travel to Kyiv and past spell to Moscow, I deliberation it volition beryllium helpful.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Before I fto you go, I conscionable privation to travel backmost to what you mentioned successful respect to drone exertion and this connection that you made to the United States. Is the woody progressing oregon is it stalled?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: So, we wanted precise overmuch to bash the archetypal drone woody with the United States, similar with the archetypal strategical partner.
But the United States wanted to cheque each our types of drones. We signed – we accepted, I accepted this document, this mode however they wanted america to train, to check, to usage it successful the sky, connected the water, due to the fact that we person not lone entity drones. We person oversea drones, and et cetera.
So I accepted this way. But we inactive didn't judge a drone deal, similar the large document. I anticipation that we are connected the way. But we person already drone deals with immoderate Middle East countries, and we person already drone deals with immoderate European countries.
Now we're preparing the large drone woody with E.U. And I anticipation that we volition person specified decisions with American partners. I number connected it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You number connected it. And you request to support moving with Silicon Valley and American exertion companies connected this?
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: We privation precise much, yes, due to the fact that American technological companies, they person a batch of antithetic absorbing A.I. technologies, what we don't have.
And we person a batch of things what they don't person due to the fact that our acquisition connected the battlefield. I deliberation this practice tin beryllium the – tin beryllium immense and the astir almighty successful the world. So we request – you know, we request to negociate already, not to talk astir it, conscionable to marque steps, and to bash it arsenic speedy arsenic possible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You request President Trump to accidental yes, it sounds like.
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: Yes, we request President Trump to accidental yes.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Our afloat interrogation with President Zelenskyy is disposable connected our Web site, YouTube leafage and our podcast.
Face the Nation volition beryllium backmost successful 1 minute. Stay with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're backmost present with Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. He is the writer of a caller book, "Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection successful a Broken America." He joins america from Hartford, Connecticut.
Good greeting to you, Senator.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY (D-Connecticut): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I privation to speech astir your publication successful a moment.
But conscionable to prime up connected wherever we near it with President Zelenskyy, bash you judge that determination is capable bipartisan enactment to property the Pentagon to reallocate immoderate of these Patriots, truthful helium tin instrumentality down each the incoming Russian missiles?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Yes, I uncertainty it, unfortunately.
I deliberation the communicative present has been beauteous elemental from the start. Donald Trump does not privation to bash what is indispensable to enactment Ukraine, and the Republican Party volition ever travel his lead. We've had a bipartisan sanctions measure sitting connected the Senate level for a year-and-a-half that would tighten the screws connected the Russian economy, marque it harder for them to money the war.
Donald Trump has fundamentally had a veto connected that bill. He won't let Senate Republicans to bring it forward. He's been sitting connected $400 cardinal that Congress allocated to assistance Ukraine. He hasn't spent a dime of it, contempt protests loudly, publically and privately, from Senate Republicans.
So I conscionable think, ultimately, Donald Trump has decided helium does not privation to assistance Ukraine, and determination doesn't look to beryllium capable courageousness successful the Republican Caucus to combat back. I mean, I anticipation I'm incorrect astir that. This is evidently a captious moment, wherever Ukraine really looks similar it is astir to beryllium capable to instrumentality a existent violative position. And truthful I'm rooting that they volition yet basal up to the president connected this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But, to your constituent connected the $400 million, Hegseth, the caput of war, said that that was to beryllium released, but we haven't seen thing more.
I cognize you beryllium connected the Appropriations Committee, truthful you person a accidental to inquire immoderate of these questions perchance of Secretary Rubio erstwhile helium sits earlier you connected I judge Wednesday asking for a $33.6 cardinal budget. What's the apical precedence erstwhile you bash get to inquire questions of the secretary?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Well, the apical precedence is ending the warfare successful Iran. This has been an implicit catastrophe for the United States.
Obviously, the superior interaction is present astatine home, arsenic families and businesses are being ruined by state prices that are $6 a gallon successful immoderate places. But it's conscionable been a humiliation for the United States. And it's made Iran much powerful.
Of course, there's an interaction successful Russia arsenic well. We've had to suspend sanctions connected Russian lipid successful bid to get their lipid connected the market. So the effect of the Iran warfare is not conscionable that Americans are dying, that prices are going up, but Russia is besides getting much powerful. We're virtually backing their warfare effort.
So we request the Iran warfare to end. There's been this speech of a woody for months and months and months. I deliberation the presumption of the woody are beauteous humiliating, successful and of themselves, but we conscionable request this warfare done, nary substance the terms, astatine this point.
MARGARET BRENNAN: On the constituent astir the sanctions, we talked astir that with President Zelenskyy, and you tin spot that afloat transcript online.
But I cognize that the White House pushes backmost and says the wealth isn't that important successful presumption of what Russia is capable to pocket. You evidently disagree.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Yes, I mean, I conscionable think, from a motivation perspective, nary substance whether the wealth is simply a difference-maker, the thought that we are helping Russia money this warfare is ridiculous. It's not tiny potatoes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Russia is getting billions of further dollars due to the fact that of our sanctions relief. That's allowing them to bargain immoderate of the missiles that are connected the verge of raining down connected Kyiv.
People are dying due to the fact that of our assistance for Russia. So, it's conscionable atrocious capable that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and it's hurting our economy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: The information that we are adding insult to wounded by the warfare successful Iran helping Russia is conscionable unacceptable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You person written this publication that we mentioned, and I cognize that you said astir it successful a caller interrogation that 2028 Democratic contenders are texting you, talking to you astir immoderate of the ideas successful it.
Some of our caller CBS polling recovered that 62 percent of registered voters presumption the Democratic enactment successful a antagonistic light. So however bash you instrumentality these ideas, and what's the main 1 Democrats request to hammer location to redirect the party?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Yes, this publication is truly astir the spiritual situation successful the state that led to Donald Trump. This is simply a state that is feeling much lonely, much adrift, much exhausted by an system that abuses workers, a civilization successful which we archer radical that they tin marque themselves blessed by conscionable buying things, alternatively of being progressive citizens.
And truthful it's a publication astir the underlying enactment that we person to bash to unrig the system truthful that radical consciousness intent and value, and unrig our ideology truthful that radical consciousness power. And that's what the publication truly is about, the affectional authorities of the country.
Here's what I deliberation Democrats request to do. They request to recognize that the radical are furious astatine the information that our authorities person go captured, and radical are feeling retired of power of their lives due to the fact that they deliberation we're each corrupt.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: They don't deliberation Donald Trump is conscionable corrupt. They deliberation everybody successful authorities is corrupt.
So, Democrats request to beryllium overmuch louder astir the ways that we're going to get billionaire and firm wealth retired of our politics, due to the fact that radical don't judge america erstwhile we accidental we're going to hole the economy…
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: … if we don't besides archer them however we're going to hole our democracy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
Well, to that constituent astir tone and character, the run for Graham Platner confirmed to CBS connected Saturday that the Maine Senate campaigner had sent sexually explicit texts to women different than his wife. This is successful summation to different past controversies. Does helium walk the quality test?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Yes, I mean, I person not followed this communicative arsenic intimately arsenic others have.
But Graham Platner is idiosyncratic that served our country. He served his community. He's besides made mistakes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: And helium has admitted that.
Character besides involves lasting up to radical who are bankrupting and corrupting this country. And this contention is going to beryllium a opposition betwixt idiosyncratic that has enactment his beingness connected the enactment for this state against idiosyncratic that is virtually empowering the motivation hollowing retired of our federation from the White House.
So, helium surely admitted that helium has made mistakes, but I deliberation this is going to beryllium a beauteous wide opposition successful Maine betwixt idiosyncratic who has spent his beingness protecting america versus idiosyncratic who seems to beryllium protecting Donald Trump's corruption.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you know, I privation to inquire you arsenic good astir an interrogation that aired close earlier this programme with my workfellow Rita Braver connected CBS Sunday Morning.
She interviewed the erstwhile archetypal woman Jill Biden astir the caller publication she wrote, successful which she talks astir the infamous 2024 debate, wherever the then- president truly couldn't reply questions. She says a batch of things, including that she thought her hubby was having a stroke, due to the fact that she – helium was incomprehensible.
She admits that she said to him afterwards that helium truly screwed up, but that's what she's revealing now. Democrats stridently, including connected this program, said clip and again that his cognitive abilities were fine. How bash you person the nationalist that Democrats are telling the information now?
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: Yes, listen, I deliberation Democrats bash person to beryllium honorable astir the mistakes that we made successful 2024.
Obviously, successful retrospect, Joe Biden should person stepped distant from that race. We should person had an unfastened contest. And, successful this book, I, frankly, speech astir however tribal our authorities person become, however Republicans are consenting to excuse Donald Trump's corruption due to the fact that their full individuality operation is built astir their party.
And I deliberation that happens connected the Democratic broadside arsenic well, wherever we are consenting to look the different mode excessively often astatine mistakes that our ain enactment leaders are making. And this publication says that that's not conscionable up to authorities to hole that, that we really person to make much steadfast individuality structures for radical extracurricular of politics…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: … truthful they spot their intent done their enactment oregon done their transportation to a section community.
And that makes our authorities little tribal…
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY: … and possibly allows america connected some sides to basal up to our enactment erstwhile we deliberation they've gone wrong.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Senator Murphy, we person to permission it there. Thank you for your insights today.
We'll beryllium close backmost with much Face the Nation.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome backmost to "FACE THE NATION."
We are joined present by erstwhile Vice President Mike Pence, who has a caller book, "What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience."
Good greeting to you, Mr. Vice President.
MIKE PENCE (Former U.S. Vice President): Good morning, Margaret. Good to spot you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You intelligibly deliberation your enactment needs immoderate reminders here. And you constitute that Americans are confused astir what it means to beryllium a conservative. You say, "for galore right-wing populists, grievance dictates policy."
Who oregon what are you reasoning astir there?
MIKE PENCE: Well, I deliberation – look, from each of my big life, the Republican Party has been defined by a committedness to a blimpish agenda. To America arsenic person of the escaped world. To constricted government. Free marketplace economics. And accepted motivation values, particularly the close to life.
And I'm arrogant to accidental that from the Reagan administration, to the archetypal Trump administration, we governed connected that agenda. But I wrote "What Conservatives Believe" due to the fact that conscionable successful the past 4 oregon 5 years, there's been a emergence of what I telephone the populist right, that focuses much connected what we're against than what we're for, focuses much connected grievance than a affirmative blimpish agenda.
I mean, the blimpish question has ever been battling politically with the progressive left. But present there's a caller menace from the populist close that would clasp policies of isolationism abroad, that would clasp large authorities and protectionism astatine home, marginalize the close to life. And arsenic we spell into this fall's predetermination and spell into 2028, I thought it was important that we instrumentality a moment, arsenic a enactment and arsenic a movement, to punctual ourselves what we believe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Some of what you are describing isn't conscionable connected the fringes oregon wrong the party.
MIKE PENCE: No. Right.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It's the president of the United States who's person of that party.
MIKE PENCE: Right.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you write, helium has not ever governed arsenic a conservative.
I recognize that the president's wide support standing is low. It is. But helium seems to person this vice grip connected the cervix of the Republican Party close now. So, however tin you revive a information of it that helium is successful absorption to? I mean, close to beingness was 1 of them, arsenic you conscionable detailed.
You divided with him precise publically connected that. You deliberation helium betrayed it. You deliberation helium betrayed connected –
MIKE PENCE: Right.
MARGARET BRENNAN: For example, spending and the mode he's dealing with immoderate of the escaped marketplace issues.
MIKE PENCE: Right. Well, look, I deliberation the 2nd Trump medication has got a batch right. They got the borderline secured aft the worst borderline situation successful American history. They extended those Trump-Pence taxation cuts that we passed successful their entirety. They've stood without apology for our cherished state Israel and took the combat straight to Iran.
But connected different instances, you've seen the interaction and the clasp by the president and radical astir him of the politics, of the populist right. The terms controls connected recognition cards and pharmaceuticals. Nationalization of American businesses. Of course, broad-based tariffs connected person and foe alike. Add to that, marginalizing the close to life. Doing thing astir the wide organisation of the termination pill by message that Joe Biden and his medication made possible. And past the stops and starts connected Ukraine. While they've been beardown connected Israel, beardown with Iran, the stops and starts bespeak much of the authorities of the progressive near and appeasement than that time-honored blimpish docket that's defined our enactment astatine location and abroad.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Why isn't the enactment lasting up to him then?
MIKE PENCE: Well, I – look, I springiness the president each kinds of credit. He -
MARGARET BRENNAN: You've got majorities successful the House and the Senate. They're beauteous silent.
MIKE PENCE: He has earned large loyalty among Republican superior voters.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Primary voters.
MIKE PENCE: We saw that successful Texas. We saw that successful Louisiana. We saw that successful Indiana, successful our caller authorities legislature primaries.
And I deliberation it's because, look, the progressive near has been fundamentally successful the saddle for astir 100 years successful this country. Ronald Reagan began the conflict back. I deliberation Republican voters genuinely admit the mode that President Trump has fought backmost against the extremist near and continues to, but I privation our voters to cognize that there's – determination is this caller propulsion from the populist right. And arsenic we look astatine the midterm elections, arsenic we look astatine 2028 –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
MIKE PENCE: I deliberation it's important that we absorption connected what we're for, due to the fact that not lone is it a winning docket for Republican, Margaret, I judge it's delivered state and prosperity for the American people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, erstwhile you accidental superior voters, you cognize that that is not needfully each Republican voters. Certainly, you conscionable look astatine the turnouts successful that Texas contention to talk to that.
But isn't your party, from the president connected down, with this gerrymandering push, locking successful the changes, that volition lone provender into that much utmost portion of the party?
MIKE PENCE: Well, I – but, look, look, it's, you cognize –
MARGARET BRENNAN: The populist constituent (ph).
MIKE PENCE: It's awfully hard for Democrats to propulsion stones erstwhile they unrecorded successful solid houses connected gerrymandering. You know, determination are – determination are states astir the state that –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, but doesn't gerrymandering disincentivize bipartisanship?
MIKE PENCE: Right. There's states astir the country, though, wherever 40 percent% of voters are Republicans and determination are nary Republican representatives from those states successful the Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you enactment the gerrymandering?
MIKE PENCE: So, I've ne'er been a instrumentality of partisan gerrymandering.
But look, I person large assurance successful the American radical and successful Republican voters. I deliberation if we clasp the banner of American enactment connected the satellite stage, of constricted government, escaped marketplace economics, of accepted values and the close to beingness high, I deliberation voters volition rally to our origin successful these midterms and successful 2028, erstwhile we're going to determine whether the progressive left, with its clasp of socialism, is successful the pb connected the nationalist signifier oregon whether a popululist close that is simply a signifier of progressive politics.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
MIKE PENCE: I mean, this is – erstwhile you look astatine the clasp of isolationism, protectionalism (ph), nationalism of companies, and marginalizing values –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
MIKE PENCE: It's – it is – it's much and much an echo of what the near has provided.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
MIKE PENCE: I deliberation arsenic President Reagan said years ago, the Republican Party ought to connection a choice, not an echo.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But isn't the vice president, J.D. Vance, an echo of each of those things? If President Trump's not a conservative, is J.D. Vance one?
MIKE PENCE: Well, look, fto maine say, I mislaid number of the fig of times President Trump corrected maine erstwhile I said that a peculiar presumption was conservative. In fact, helium said himself, he's not a conservative. He's ne'er truly claimed to be.
I'm little wide astir the vice president's views and his doctrine of government. But I'm precise clear, arsenic I wrote successful my book, that determination is this caller hostility wrong the Republican Party that volition instrumentality those pieces of the agenda, the populist close docket that President Trump has embraced –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
MIKE PENCE: And effort and marque that the caller absorption of the Republican Party. I deliberation that would beryllium atrocious for the Republican Party. I deliberation it would beryllium worse for the state that needs a vigorous, beardown blimpish enactment committed to freedom, committed to escaped markets, committed to accepted values.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Talking astir the midterms, you besides spent a batch of clip penning astir character. And you accidental it matters.
Last week, Texas Republicans voted to make, you cognize this was coming, Ken Paxton their nominee. He's the existent A.G. He was impeached by the Republican-controlled House. Multiple charges of maltreatment there, including bribery. His wife, a sitting legislator successful that state, accused him of committing adultery and is divorcing him on, quote, "biblical grounds." He was indicted successful 2015 connected securities fraud charges, though those charges were dropped. And the president chose him implicit a overmuch much conservative, successful your description, John Cornyn.
Does quality correspond – does the quality of Ken Paxton correspond your party?
MIKE PENCE: Well, I think, arsenic I constitute successful my book, I deliberation character, integrity, to principle, are enormously important successful the beingness of our question and the beingness of our nation.
But, you know, erstwhile I look astatine the Texas primary, erstwhile I look astatine Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, arsenic galore authorities legislature races, I spot it much arsenic a reflection of the grip that President Trump has connected Republican superior voters, who are grateful for the mode that helium has stood up and fought against the extremist left.
You look astatine wherever the Democratic Party is today. I mean it's astonishing to see, if Republicans, successful part, person mislaid our mode with the – with embracing the populist right, Democrats person gone implicit the beam with embracing socialist candidates, socialist policies. I deliberation Republican voters –
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you would abstracted yourself from Ken Paxton? He does not correspond blimpish values?
MIKE PENCE: Republican voters privation to propulsion backmost connected that. They respect the president's views. I conscionable privation to marque definite radical recognize that arsenic we benignant done each these elections this year, that there's a caller unit afoot successful the Republican Party. And I deliberation we've got to get backmost to those halfway values and principles that person ever made our state and our enactment beardown and prosperous.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Louisiana's senator, Bill Cassidy, his discourtesy to President Trump seemed to beryllium that ballot to convict him successful the 2nd impeachment proceedings pursuing the onslaught connected the Capitol connected January 6th. Does it occupation you that the president is adjacent making superior choices based connected grievances having to bash from January 6th?
MIKE PENCE: Well, I don't cognize precisely what the president's reasons were for weighing in, successful Louisiana the mode that helium did.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He tweeted beauteous explicitly.
MIKE PENCE: I – so, you know, we person – we haven't chatted successful a while. So
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
MIKE PENCE: But I – yes. I – You know, I'll beryllium honorable with you, that I'll ne'er minimize what happened connected January 6th. And I'll ever judge by God's grace, we did our work that time to spot to the peaceful transportation of powerfulness nether the Constitution.
It's 1 of the reasons wherefore I – this speech of a weaponization fund, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.
MIKE PENCE: The thought of creating a money that could compensate radical who assaulted constabulary officers and vandalized the Capitol, that is wholly unacceptable. My anticipation is the medication volition driblet it and driblet the thought wholly and –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you deliberation Senate Republicans volition marque them driblet it due to the fact that it's hard to basal up to the president, galore Republicans find, due to the fact that of what you conscionable said, the primaries and those midterms?
MIKE PENCE: Well, it is, but – it is, but I've been heartened by the fig of Republicans and senators who person spoken retired against it. Look, the – the radical that assaulted constabulary officers connected January 6th and vandalized our Capitol should not get 1 dime of payer wealth from that money oregon anyplace else.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But, I mean, adjacent conscionable the precedent of mounting it up, should they exclude January 6th attackers, the thought of a weaponization money is its own, you know, happening that it bears examining.
But I privation to explicitly inquire you astir thing besides that happened here.
MIKE PENCE: Well, successful Washington, we don't request slush funds to settee cases.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You presumption it arsenic a slush fund.
MIKE PENCE: There was a pro-life household that was virtually tally implicit by the Biden Department of Justice, that it was conscionable a seven-figure colony for them. The DOJ tin settee these issues wherever radical person had the rights trample on, and ought to bash that. I welcomed that colony greatly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Last week, astatine the petition of the Department of Justice, a national appeals tribunal threw retired the convictions of 4 members of acold close extremist radical the Oath Keepers. That was a militia progressive successful January 6th.
Do you deliberation that the Trump medication is deliberately whitewashing that day?
MIKE PENCE: Well, I've surely seen grounds of that. Particularly – I was offended connected the day of January 6th erstwhile the White House enactment retired a timeline that virtually blamed Capitol Hill Police for the riot that took spot that day.
Look, I'm precise assured that – of the judgement of past successful the years up astir our role, astir each the Republicans and Democrats who returned that time aft Capitol Police secured the Capitol and we each did our work nether the Constitution. But there's intelligibly been an effort by immoderate to rewrite that history. But I don't expect it volition work.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Mr. Vice President, convey you precise overmuch for sharing your reflections. It's bully to person you present successful person, too.
MIKE PENCE: Thank you, Margaret. Appreciate it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll beryllium close back.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain is stepping down from her station Monday. During her 3 years astatine the helm of the U.N. agency, determination person been 2 famines. And erstwhile we spoke with her precocious past week from Rome, she told america we're looking perchance astatine respective much among galore different challenges.
(BEGIN VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: There is this exigency effect to Ebola successful the Congo. That's a state that's already struggling, arsenic I recognize it, with astir 27 cardinal nutrient insecure people.
I cognize the U.S. State Department is pledging immoderate assistance here, but what are you proceeding astir the concern connected the crushed for exigency responders similar yours?
CINDY MCCAIN (Executive Director, World Food Programme): It's not good. And this is – it's hitting radical successful a wide way. And there's truly nary mode to cognize close present however galore radical person been affected by this. We cognize that it's a rampage present with it.
So, what we request to bash is not lone beryllium capable to get in, we tally logistics, we bring successful supplies, we bring successful people. And we – and we bash overmuch much than that arsenic good conscionable successful the region. But this is going to instrumentality a real-world effort. This is precise deadly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You accidental there's a rampage of Ebola.
CINDY MCCAIN: Yes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I mean are your capable – are you capable to support your workers connected the ground?
CINDY MCCAIN: Our workers are connected the ground, but my – 1 of my large projects, and my – I mean the crushed – a ample crushed of what we planned contiguous was taking attraction of our ain people. The work of care. And that comes into play due to the fact that close present there's nary capable installation acceptable up to grip that. And truthful we're looking – you know, evidently putting unneurotic a task unit and a squad that volition bash conscionable that to marque definite that we're protected arsenic good as, of course, anyone that is from WFP.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you person been successful this relation astatine a clip erstwhile determination are truthful galore blistery spots, truthful galore conflicts. And, of course, the Mideast continues to beryllium a large challenge. I recognize that you inactive bash person immoderate operations wrong of Iran. As you know, determination isn't a escaped property connected the crushed capable to papers what's happening. What tin you archer america astir however civilians determination are doing?
CINDY MCCAIN: Things aren't good. I mean, let's look it, erstwhile you unopen the Strait of Hormuz and you've got bombings connected some sides, each the mode up and down, radical are going to – going to not lone go nutrient insecure, but they're going to starve. It's clip to extremity this and marque definite that we tin unfastened the Strait of Hormuz due to the fact that it's affecting everybody. And it volition instrumentality america months to get backmost connected way erstwhile they bash unfastened it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Months to get backmost connected track. Why is that? Because the ships with the nutrient are stuck oregon due to the fact that of the nutrient prices? Why?
CINDY MCCAIN: Prices, availability, movement. A bully illustration is that we – we bash enactment successful Afghanistan. And earlier what would usually instrumentality america 3 weeks possibly to get the nutrient successful from wherever it comes successful from, present takes america astir 3 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Wow.
CINDY MCCAIN: And truthful – so, successful the – but successful the meantime, women and children, of which are ever the archetypal to beryllium hit, are starving. And so, this is the lawsuit with each of them. And erstwhile you speech astir fertilizer, erstwhile you speech astir seeds, of course, and different things, they're being moved astir that assistance stave disconnected hunger, it's a existent problem.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Bigger picture. When you look astatine the demolition successful the Middle East, conscionable wrong the past fewer years, however bash you picture to an American astatine location what the longer word interaction is?
CINDY MCCAIN: Well, the longer word impact, to enactment it precise bluntly, is not good. You know, we staved disconnected hunger successful Gaza erstwhile it was yet – the ceasefire held and we were capable to get trucks successful astatine scale. We're backmost to wherever we were. We can't get trucks successful astatine scale. People are – you know, arsenic you know, there's bombings, there's each those things and we're looking astatine a – not conscionable a superior situation, we're looking astatine anticipation looking a procreation of children.
So, successful immoderate of these countries wherever there's an issue, Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Sudan, each the ones that I've been to, positive Ukraine, it – entree and being capable to get successful astatine standard is astir important and makes definite – making definite that our humanitarian workers are not targets and that we respect humanitarian law. And that simply isn't happening close now. It's precise unsafe to beryllium an assistance idiosyncratic close now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What bash you mean losing a procreation of children?
CINDY MCCAIN: Well, erstwhile you – erstwhile you speech astir kids that are not – either not getting capable nutrient oregon what they're getting is not nutritious enough, and positive there's nary schools unfastened and there's no, you know, nary due housing, cleanable water, et cetera, medicine, et cetera, that spells catastrophe for a child, especially. And truthful I'm a – obviously, I'm 1 that has, arsenic a parent archetypal and a grandma six times over. And truthful I spot it done my mother's eyes. I – you know, it – you volition bash thing to provender your children. Anything arsenic a parent. And the information that that can't – it's not happening successful truthful galore of these areas present is truly alarming and precise desperate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I've heard you accidental provender them present oregon combat them later. You gully a nonstop transportation to nationalist information and radicalization.
CINDY MCCAIN: Yes. No, you're perfectly right. We judge that due to the fact that erstwhile folks who are bare can't get capable nutrition oregon food, they volition crook to the atrocious guys due to the fact that food's offered there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You precocious were asked astir the blimpish movement. And that wrong the blimpish movement, "aid," you said, "has go a soiled word. And being a humanitarian, useless."
You're a lifelong conservative. When you picture things going this direction, that has to beryllium hard to stomach. Why bash you deliberation this is happening, and bash you deliberation it is temporary?
CINDY MCCAIN: I volition accidental this. Obviously, that was – that was vexation speaking to a large degree.
I judge determination are many, many, galore bully radical successful the United States that are much than consenting to assistance this origin oregon help, you know, immoderate they spot acceptable to bash for each of this. But we request much of it. And we request – we request actionable items from, not conscionable the United States, but different countries astir the globe, that volition basal up besides and assistance us. We can't bash this alone. And we're hoping, arsenic you know, the United States is our largest donor and we're precise arrogant of that, but we request everybody progressive successful this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: American, though, has changed its argumentation towards aid. The Trump medication uses that phrase, commercialized not aid, arguing they're going to beryllium much businesslike and much effectual with the enactment they supply successful the signifier of overseas assistance.
When you look astatine the places you operate, bash you deliberation determination has been an interaction from the dismantling of USAID?
CINDY MCCAIN: I do. I truly – I do. AID was an intimate portion of each of these things. And, of course, we relied connected them – connected them to a grade arsenic well.
I privation we inactive had AID, but it was a prime of this administration. And so, we person to enactment with that.
I bash – I americium hoping, though, that yet we tin enactment backmost immoderate of the brushed powerfulness aspects that we were capable to bash arsenic well. As you know, that's a precise important portion of astatine slightest U.S. aid. But again, I'm not criticizing anybody successful the administration, I'm simply saying we request help.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Our afloat interrogation with Ambassador McCain is connected our YouTube transmission and our website and connected "FACE THE NATION'S" podcast platform.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Kennedy Center volition soon erstwhile again beryllium the Kennedy Center. On Friday, a national justice ordered President Trump's sanction to beryllium removed successful the adjacent 2 weeks, saying, quote, "Congress gave the Kennedy Center its sanction and lone Congress tin alteration it." The justice besides ruled that the Kennedy Center's board, led by President Trump's hand-picked trustees, cannot determination guardant with its program to adjacent the installation successful July for a multiyear renovation.
President Trump expressed his vexation astatine the determination successful a societal media station and said helium had "canceled engagement with the failing and unsafe to beryllium successful Kennedy Center."
It's conscionable the latest setback for the president's effort to reimagine immoderate of Washington's historical landmarks. His renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and his demolition of the White House East Wing to physique a ballroom are besides facing ineligible challenges.
We'll beryllium close back.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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