CASES RISE.
BRET?
>> Bret: JONATHAN, THANK YOU.
MEANWHILE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
IS APPEALING THAT FEDERAL RULING
TO REINSTATE A MASK MANDATE FOR
TRAVEL.
LET’S BRING IN TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG.
MR. SECRETARY, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.
>>
>> Bret: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN AND WHAT YOU
ARE WORKING ON BUT I DO WANT TO
ASK YOU ABOUT THIS COVID THING
ARE YOU GOING TO THAT WHITE
HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE DINNER THIS
WEEKEND.
>> I THINK I WILL, YEAH.
>> THE FACT THAT DR. FAUCI IS
NOT GOING, DOES THAT SEND A
SIGNAL?
DOES IT SAY SOMETHING?
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE INTERPRET
FROM THAT.
>> I THINK AS HE SAID THAT’S HIS
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT OF HIS
PERSONAL RISK AND I THINK WE ARE
MOVING INTO A PHASE WHERE THAT’S
WHERE A LOT OF THE
DECISION-MAKING IS GOING TO LIE,
RIGHT?
WE ARE SEEING OF COURSE THERE
ARE UPS AND DOWNS AND MAYBE
THERE WILL BE MORE, BUT
GENERALLY WE HAVE SEEN A MOVE
WHERE YOU HAVE GOT FEWER AND
FEWER GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
EVERYBODY AND MORE AND MORE IT’S
ON YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS A
SHOPPER, AS A TRAVELER.
>> Bret: I GOT IT WHEN I
INTRODUCED YOU I WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
APPEALING THAT RULING TO KEEP
THE MASK MANDATE FOR PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY.
>> YEAH.
>> Bret: DON’T YOU THINK VOTERS
WILL LOOK AT THAT AND HOLD THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OR
DEMOCRATS KIND OF RESPONSIBLE
FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY
DON’T WANT?
>> WELL, THE MAIN CONSIDERATION
THERE ISN’T THE POLITICS OF IT.
IT’S MAKING SURE THERE’S CLARITY
ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY
THAT THE CDC HAS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT TO PURSUE EVEN IF THEY
ARE NOT GOING TO USE IT, RIGHT?
EVEN IF THEY DETERMINE TALKING
ABOUT PLANES, TRAINS, BUSES THAT
THE MANDATE IS NO LONGER NEEDED
AND AS YOU RECALL ACTUALLY SET
TO EXPIRE WITHIN A FEW DAYS
RIGHT NOW ANYWAY.
>> Bret: I KNOW.
IF YOU ARE SITTING AT HOME YOU
JUST TOLD ME YOU ARE GOING TO
THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS
DINNER.
THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO THE
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE
DINNER.
NOT MANDATED TO WEAR MASK THERE.
THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE SAME
TIME IS FIGHTING A LAWSUIT TO
MANDATE PEOPLE TO PLANES AND
BUSES TO WEAR MASKS.
SO LIKE IF YOU ARE SITTING AT
HOME THERE IS A DISCONNECT HERE.
>> WELL, I THINK MOST OF US
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A HOTEL BALLROOM AND AN
AIRPLANE AND, AGAIN, A LOT OF
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT AUTHORITY
DOES THE CDC HAVE?
EVEN IF THEY DON’T THINK WE
DON’T NEED IT AT ALL, THEY WOULD
STILL WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
CLARITY IN COURT ON THE
LEGALITIES OF IT.
LOOK AS A PRACTICAL MATTER AND I
KNOW THIS IS CONFUSING IF YOU
ARE GETTING ON AN AIRPLANE IT’S
YOUR CALL, IT’S UP TO YOU.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT
NOW IS THAT EVERYBODY IS TREATED
WITH RESPECT.
THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK
AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO.
>> Bret: IT’S UP TO YOU IF THE
ADMINISTRATION LOSES THE APPEAL.
>> IT COULD BE EITHER WAY.
BECAUSE, IF IT EXPIRES THEN EVEN
IF THE CDC HAS THE AUTHORITY,
THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO USE IT
THE LEGAL SIDE IS ABOUT
CLARIFYING THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW
IN THIS COUNTRY THE PRACTICAL
SIDE TRAVELERS WANT TO KNOW WHAT
TO EXPECT WHEN THEY ARE GETTING
ON A PLANE, BUS OR SUBWAY.
>> Bret: MOVING ON.
WHAT HAS, IN YOUR MIND, THE
ADMINISTRATION DONE TO FIGHT
INFLATION.
>> WELL, A WHOLE LOT.
AND I WILL MENTION A FEW AREAS.
ONE, WHAT I WORK ON A LOT, OF
COURSE AROUND SUPPLY CHAINS.
ONE OF MANY, MANY THINGS THAT IS
PUSHING PRICES UPWARD IS
SHIPPING COSTS.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SLOW DOWN
ANY INEFFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM
IS GOING TO HELP.
THAT’S WHY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON BOTH LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENTS AND SHORT-TERM
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT, LET’S ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT
CAN HAPPEN ON THE POLICY SIDE
THAT WOULD REDUCE COSTS FOR
AMERICANS IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE
ARE WORKING ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN
OR OTHER PIES OF IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRESIDENT HAS
SUPPORTED A MOVE TO LOWER THE
COST OF INSULIN.
HOUSE PASSED A BILL.
A FEW REPUBLICANS EVEN CROSSED
OVER TO VOTE WITH DEMOCRATS ON
THIS.
TO CAP THE COST OF INSULIN AT
$35.
AND THAT’S SOMETHING I THINK
MOST AMERICANS WOULD AGREE, AT
LEAST FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT
ARE COUNTING ON INSULIN IS THE
SORT OF THING THAT TAKES THE
PRESSURE OFF WHEN YOU ARE SEEING
HIGH PRICES PUTTING PRESSURE ON
OTHER PARTS OF THE FAMILY
BUDGET.
LOOK, THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF
THE ECONOMY THAT ARE MORE
RESPONSIVE THAN OTHERS.
TO POLICY CHOICES.
RIGHT?
WE KNOW RIGHT NOW WE COULD LOWER
THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
LOWER THE COST OF THINGS LIKE
INSULIN.
LOWER THE COST OF CHILD CARE
THAT’S A LONGSTANDING POLICY OF
OUTSIDE.
AND I’M WORKING ON LOWERING THE
COST OF SHIPPING.
>> Bret: WITH FEDERAL SHIPPING
THOUGH FEDEX OWNER, FOUNDER, CEO
FRED SMITH RECENTLY SAID IF I’M
GETTING A GOVERNMENT CHECK LESS
INCENTIVE TO GO INTO THE
WAREHOUSE.
HAD WE PASSED BUILD BACK BETTER
THAT BILL BIDEN WANTED MY GUEST
WE WOULD BE CAR MARCH GERMANY
25% INFLATION RATHER THAN 9% OR
10%.
I ASKED ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> SECRETARY SUMMERS BASICALLY
FOREWARNED OF THIS IN FEBRUARY
OF 2021.
INSTANT REDUCTION OF DEMAND AND
THEN THE STIMULUS THIRD STIMULUS
PAYMENT ABOUT A YEAR AGO CREATED
A SIGNIFICANT LABOR SHORTAGE.
ALL OF THOSE WENT TOGETHER TO
CREATE THE SITUATION WE HAVE
TODAY.
>> Bret: HIS POINT IS THAT THE
SOLUTION BY SPENDING MORE MONEY
AND NOW THERE IS THIS TALK ABOUT
WIPING OUT STUDENT LOAN DEBT
DOESN’T REALLY AFFECT INFLATION.
>> LOOK, THE DECISIONS THAT WERE
MADE TO RESCUE THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY, I THINK ARE RIGHTLY
CREDITED WITH WHY WE HAVE LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT TODAY AND WHY MORE
AMERICANS HAVE MORE MONEY IN OUR
POCKETS.
AND, YES, THAT MEANS AMERICANS
ARE BUYING A LOT.
THAT CREATES A LOT OF DEMAND AND
WHEN SUPPLY CAN’T KEEP UP, THAT
IS AN INFLATIONARY PRESSURE.
BUT IT’S INTERESTING THAT
GERMANY WAS MENTIONED, RIGHT?
SO, IN MODERN DAY GERMANY, IN
MODERN DAY EUROPE, YOU ARE
SEEING THE SAME INFLATIONARY
PRESSURES THAT WE’RE SEEING IN
THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS LARGELY A GLOBAL
PHENOMENON.
WE ARE SEEING THE SAME THING
WITH FOOD PRICES.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOBEL PRIZE
WINNING ECONOMIST WHO’S VALUATED
THE PRESIDENT’S FISCAL POLICIES
BELIEVE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY
SERVE TO EASE INFLATIONARY
PRESSURES.
EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO THEIR
OPINION.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE ARE
WORKING AGAINST INFLATION WITH
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOT.
>> Bret: I WANT TO ASK YOU
QUICKLY THIS ISN’T UP YOUR ALLEY
BUT DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS SAID
TODAY THAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION HAS, QUOTE:
EFFECTIVELY MANAGED THE BORDER
CRISIS.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> I THINK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY AND ACROSS THE
ADMINISTRATION HAVE DONE
REMARKABLE WORK UNDER EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE
CHALLENGES CONTINUE.
THEY MAY CHANGE.
THEY MAY GROW, ESPECIALLY AS YOU
SEE PANDEMIC-RELATED
RESTRICTIONS SHIFT LIKE THE
CONVERSATION AROUND TITLE 42.
I’M NOT UP ON ALL OF THE
SPECIFICS.
>> Bret: I DON’T WANT TO GO DOWN
THAT ROAD.
HE SAID IN PRIVATE IN AUGUST
THAT HE TOLD THE BORDER PATROL
AGENTS THAT THE SITUATION WAS
UNSUSTAINABLE.
AND YOU HAVE TO WATCH AS A
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE WHAT’S
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER AND
WHERE THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING.
>> NO QUESTION.
THAT’S WHY WE HAVE BEEN CALLING
FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR
YEARS.
LOOK, WE HAVE GOT A BROKEN
SYSTEM.
AND TRUTH IS ONLY CONGRESS CAN
FIX IT FOR GOOD.
I AS A TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
AND AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WOULD
LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
>> Bret: WE REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU COMING ON.
AND I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT
THIS: DID YOU SEE THIS "THE
WASHINGTON POST" THING WITH THE
TOP 10 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES FOR 2024?
>> LAST THING ON MY MIND RIGHT
NOW IS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
>> Bret: ALL RIGHT, BUT YOU ARE
NUMBER TWO AHEAD OF VICE
PRESIDENT HARRIS.
IT SAYS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY
MOVES AHEAD OF HARRIS AND WOULD
ENTER 2024 WITH MORE HEFT AS A
CABINET SECRETARY TO THE EXTENT
PEOPLE DON’T WANT BIDEN AND
HARRIS HE IS NEXT IN LINE JUST
IN TERMS OF SHEAR PLAUSIBILITY.
THINKING ABOUT IT AT ALL?
>> NO.
WHAT I’M THINKING ABOUT IS HOW
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER
HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF
VALUE OUT OF THE FUNDING THAT
HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO US BY
CONGRESS AND THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS ASKED ME TO ENSURE WE GET
THE TRANSPORTATION PART OF THIS
RIGHT.
THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO
OCCUPY MORE THAN 100 PERCENT OF
MY ATTENTION AND CAPACITY AND
THAT’S WHERE MY ENERGY IS GOING.
>> Bret: FAMILY IS GOOD.
>> THEY ARE REAL GOOD.
THANKS FOR ASKING.
8 MONTHS AND COUNTING.