VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 88
AIR DATE 09 20 2019
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
The Democrat
((SOT))
((Rep. Katie Porter, California (D)))
The results of this election suggest that there's an appetite
for electing a diverse Congress.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
The Republican
((SOT))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Minnesota (R)))
I want to make sure that, in Congress, we legislate to benefit
and help our farmers, not burden them.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
The Political Businessman
((SOT))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
People call me a political entrepreneur. You know, I’ve said,
I don’t want on my tombstone that I was a souvenir
salesman because hopefully, you know, I’m more than that.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((Banner: VOA has been following two members of
Congress as they navigate their first year on Capitol Hill))
((PKG)) CLIMBING THE HILL -- (R) PETE STAUBER
((Banner: Climbing the Hill -- Republican))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Jeff Swicord))
((Additional Camera: Arturo Martinez))
((Drone: Marcus Harton))
((Producer: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Duluth, Minnesota))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I was born and raised in Duluth Minnesota. Duluth is blue
collar workers, just like the rest of Minnesota. “Minnesota
nice.” It sits on the western edge of that greatest freshwater
lake in the world, Lake Superior. That's where our recreation
happens. That's where our shipping takes place. That's
where our fishing…it's just beautiful.
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
My family has always been in community service. I ran
because I wanted to bring that common sense conservative
values to Congress. The greatest generation gave us a
wonderful country. It's incumbent upon my generation now,
to make sure that we leave this United States in better shape
to our kids and grandkids, so they have a prosperous and a
free future.
((NATS
Stauber: It’s the greatest fresh water lake in the world right
there, Lake Superior.
Jodi: Pizza!
Addilyn: You look so good, Isaac.
Jodi: Best night ever.
Stauber: You know with the four kids, my wife and I, I mean
we enjoy it. It’s organized chaos.
Jodi: You’re done eating already?
Levi: Yeah.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Levi, our oldest son is 19. He's playing junior hockey at
Michigan Tech University in Houghton, Michigan. Our
second oldest son is Luke. He'll just be graduating this
spring and he wants to go into aviation and be a pilot. And
then, of course, our 16 year old son Isaac. He's the light of
our lives. He’s an unexpected blessing. He's our child with
Down syndrome. And then our daughter Addilyn is 12 years
old.
((NATS
Jodi: Isaac, it’s your favorite, isn’t it. Pizza.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
My wife has a passion for serving as well. She served in the
military at Duluth’s 148th fighter wing. She's also an Iraq
war veteran. I'm so grateful for her support in allowing me to
serve. Without her 100 percent committed support, I would
not be here.
((NATS
Jodi: Okay, about 12 minutes, maybe do 11, because that
looks pretty well cooked.))
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
Isn't it crazy? It's been, like, two years now since, maybe a
little over two years since we started the conversation about
running for Congress.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
We went to Washington to meet with some members of
Congress to see if, you know, what it's like, and can your
marriage survive? Can you still be the parents that we want
to be, serving as a member of Congress?
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
One of the concerns I had, when we first started talking
about this was, how are we going to maintain our family life
and stay close with the kids and each other? It takes a lot of
juggling and it's a complicated situation, with working in the
district when you're home and working in
Washington. We've never had a 9-to-5 family. Shift work
has been part of our life with both of our careers at times.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
It's not easy. We always talk about in the military, when the,
you know, the individual service members serve, so does his
or her family. In this case, it's the same. As I serve as a
member of Congress, you, by extension are serving also.
But I remember, when we decided that we were having the
conversation and you looked at me and you said, ‘I'm not
sure I signed up for this when I married you.’
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
That's right.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
But if you don't have your spouse, if I don't have your 100
percent committed support, it's not going to happen, you
know. And I also talked about this cannot interrupt our
marriage or me being a father. If it interrupts those two, then
it's not worth it.
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
I think it would have been, it would have been a challenge
for me to continue working because we have a son with
special needs, and the bottom line is, you know, he needs
extra care and extra attention and cannot be left on his own.
So, it's really a huge blessing that I have been able to focus
on our home and our family and our marriage and be able to
feel like I can provide that stability for all of us.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
And you do, yeah.
((Location: PolyMet Mining, Hoyt Lakes, Minnesotta))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
In Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, mining is our past,
our present and our future. We've been mining for 150-
some years. We talk about the Iron Range in
Minnesota. That's where the iron ore was mined to make
the steel. It helped us win World War II. Close to 70 percent
of the steel that's made in this country is mined by
Minnesota's Iron Range. So, we're very proud in Minnesota
when it comes to steel making.
((NATS))
((Jimmy Lovrien, Duluth News Tribune))
The last, you know, weeks of the Obama administration, you
know, they said, "No more", you know, "mine exploration in
the Superior National Forest.”
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune, Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS))
((Jimmy Lovrien, Duluth News Tribune))
Trump comes in, pro-industry, announced, you know, sitting
next to different mining executives, “Let's reopen the
Superior National Forest in that area to mineral
exploration. Let's not hold back.”
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune, Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
So together, we can unleash the economic engine in
northern Minnesota.
((Jimmy Lovrien, Duluth News Tribune))
And I think, Trump, kind of, mirrored that with, “Let’s do it.”
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune, Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS
Stauber: Thank you, Mr. President.))
((Brady Slater, Duluth News Tribune))
The visit, to me, was a pretty galvanizing moment for
Stauber. It showed all of the Trump supporters that Pete
was their guy.
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune; Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS:
Stauber: Thank you. God bless America.))
((Location: Enchanted Dairy, Little Falls, Minnesota))
((NATS
Ron Miller: They have a family back at home and they
need a better life for them. They’re just hardworking folks.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
In Minnesota's 8th District, the western and the southern part
are mostly farms.
((NATS
Ron Miller: They go from that little calf to those big, you
know, in just two months.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Farmers, they feed us, not only locally, they feed this nation
and they feed the world.
((NATS
Ron Miller: I don’t know if you can read Spanish but that
means feed once a day.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I understand the stresses that they have every single day.
And I want to make sure that, in Congress, we legislate to
benefit and help our farmers, not burden them.
((Ron Miller, Owner, Enchanted Dairy))
One of the, our concerns is hiring people and the importance
of the Hispanic worker and trying to get an immigration
policy that works. The present system obviously is broke,
and I think there’s a real opportunity.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
The whole campaign, what I've been hearing since, you
know, I was elected, the ability to bring workers in, to work at
farms, you know, that want to work.
((Ron Miller, Owner, Enchanted Dairy))
Amen.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Because the workforce, we're short right now.
((Ron Miller, Owner, Enchanted Dairy))
Yes.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Not only here in Minnesota, but across the nation, we’re
hearing that in all the committee hearings. We're into
workforce development and training people, you know…..
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I support legal immigration. Our country was built on legal
immigration and legal immigrants still enhance this country
today. Some of our farmers and some of our seasonal
businesses in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, the
resort owners, they're looking for those migrant workers to
help out because they're short of workforce.
((NATS
Ron Miller: So appreciate that you did come and took the
time for us.
Stauber: Oh, absolutely.))
((Location: Washington, D.C.))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
When I was sworn in, it was just amazing. I’ve been blessed
in my life to do a lot of neat things. Being a member of
Congress is something that is just surreal. It goes to show
you that, in this country, that we can do wonderful things.
((NATS: Swearing in party, Stauber’s new DC office
Stauber: This is my daughter Addilyn. Congressman
Mueller.
Mueller: And you can whip all of them, right?))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
My big goal is to make sure that legislation that we put forth,
number one, is bipartisan and moves the country forward.
I'm hoping for a really, really good infrastructure bill that
brings our roads and bridges up to safe standards they
need.
((NATS: Stauber’s new DC office
Man: Do you know how proud I am of you?))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I want to make sure that rural broadband is implemented
throughout this country. I want to sure that our military has
what they need. I want to make sure that Medicare and
Social Security are solvent for many generations. And I
want to make sure that our special needs population has a
voice at the table, always. I'm an open-minded person. I'm
talking to a lot of people on both sides of the aisle.
((NATS
Man: I represent the rail workers.
Stauber: Oh yes.
Man: I am from North Dakota.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I am going to attribute it to Gov. John Kasich out of Ohio
when he said, “The Republican Party is my vehicle, it is not
my master.” And I follow that because I serve everybody. At
least I try to serve everybody.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Freshman Democrat
((SOT))
((Rep. Katie Porter, D - California))
I think the most memorable part of it was having to leave my
own birthday party and go back to the halls of Congress and
vote to try to reopen our government.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) CLIMBING THE HILL -- (D) KATIE PORTER
((Banner: Climbing the Hill -- Democrat))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Jeff Swicord, Carolyn Presutti, Arturo Martinez,
Adam Greenbaum, Arash Arabasadi, Miguel Amaya, Marcus
Harton))
((Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Orange County, California))
((NATS))
((Location: Washington, D.C.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I've always had an interest in government service. I'd
always thought that my path to government was probably
getting appointed to something or as a civil servant. I hadn't
really seen myself as a candidate until after President Trump
ran and won. I grew up in Iowa on a farm. The University of
California, Irvine founded a law school. And so, I was asked
to come out and be part of the early faculty and have lived
there ever since, absolutely love it.
((NATS
Porter: Hello!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
That is such a busy day when you're sworn in. It was my
birthday, January 3rd. I think the most memorable part of it
was having to leave my own birthday party and go back to
the halls of Congress and vote to try to reopen our
government. That really drove home for me, what a
responsibility I have to the American people in this job.
((NATS
Smile!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
The results of this election suggest that there's an appetite
for electing a diverse Congress. The class that I am part of,
this historic group of freshmen women, is notable not only for
its size, but also for its diversity and its strength that comes
from that diversity. This is a very traditionally male
institution. A lot of stuff in the world and in Congress is, kind
of, designed with men in mind, but we're changing that. Half
of America are women and we all have different
experiences.
((NATS
Girl: I made a mini superhero!
Porter: You did!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I'm here as a middle class, single mom of three school age
children. And so, naturally, I'm really interested in a lot of
those topics, like the costs of childcare. I definitely faced a
lot of questions about what would happen to my children
when I were elected to Congress, as if something would
actually happen to them. And the answer is, well, they'll
probably come and watch me be sworn in, and they did.
And they'll probably, you know, continue to go to school and
participate in Scouts, and do the activities they've done. I’ve
been a working parent for my whole career and this job is a
little bit different, no doubt about it. But, I think, my children
ground me. I think they remind me why I'm here, what I'm
fighting for.
((NATS
Porter: Bye guys!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
Now that I'm in Congress, some of the questions that I used
to hear as potentially, maybe, hostile to me as a mom, I now
hear as genuine curiosity. I think they're actually asking for
advice, and I would appreciate those parenting advice too. I
think it’s a community of parents that we’ve elected in this
Congress.
((March 2019))
((Location: Orange County Register))
((NATS
Chief Editor: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino,
Riverside counties. I’m going to be at the convention later
today and then all day tomorrow.))
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
When you were out meeting up today with Katie Porter, did
she say why she thinks they won?
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
She talked, in particular, about engaging a new group of
voters that previously haven't been engaged. This question
was asked about how she convinced people to flip, and she
thought it was more about getting out the group of people,
particularly young people.
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
We know that they focused a lot on UC, Irvine where she's
been a professor. They had an office setup there, right?
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
to try to get those voters out, and so, and they did. And they
came out in big numbers, bigger than normal.
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
Still not as big as the general population.
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((NATS))
((Location: University of California, Irvine campus))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
The 45th district is home to a lot of families, has really strong
public schools, the largest employer is the University of
California, Irvine. This is definitely a place that values
education, that values science, that values thoughtfulness
and research. It's a very diverse place. We have a large
Latino population, a large population of Chinese, Koreans,
Indians, Iranians. I love the diversity of my community and, I
think, that too lets me do a better job here in Congress.
((NATS
Porter: How are you all?))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I use a lot of different tools to reach out to my constituents.
We've had six town halls here in the first six months and we
have several more planned.
((NATS
Porter: I wish we were here with a better topic. This is a
tough situation that we're in, in Orange County and around
the country, with the Trump tax law))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I care a lot about tax fairness. Orange County, my
community, was hit very hard by the President Trump's tax
plan.
((NATS
Porter: So, there were clearly a lot of people who didn't
want to do their taxes this year, and I was one of them))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I like those events because they give me a chance to
communicate with a large group of people, to hear a diverse
group of opinions, all in one setting.
((NATS
Porter: So with that I will stop and we’ll take some
questions. Is that okay?
‘Why are you fighting the president? Why don't you want to
represent all of your constituents and try to work with him?’
I am not fighting the president. I've never had the chance to
meet him, except at the State of the Union address and I
didn't campaign on President Trump, one way or the other
particularly. I campaigned on representing Orange County
families and I felt like we had a representative. I felt like we
had a representative who put the president before the
people of her district. So, when I see this president, when I
see this president stand up and do things that, I think, will
help the people of Orange County, then I will stand by that
president.))
((NATS))
((April 2019))
((US Capitol House Financial Services Committee Hearing))
((Courtesy: YouTube / Financial Services Committee))
((NATS
Mr. Gonzalez: With that, I’ll yield the balance of my time.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California’s 43rd
District: The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Porter is
recognized for five minutes.
Porter: Thank you Madame Chair. Mr. Dimon, you’ve
shared lots of opinions recently about how the U.S. should
budget its resources, how families should budget their
resources. And so, I'd like to ask for your help on a problem.
I went to monster.com and I found a job in my hometown of
Irvine at JP Morgan Chase. It pays $16.50 an hour.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I'm on the Financial Services Committee, and one of the
challenges that we face is a lot of the topics we tackle are
pretty technical. So, I often begin preparing for hearings a
couple weeks in advance. As soon as we know the topics,
and then, particularly, as soon as we know the witnesses,
we'll start to identify some possible lines of questioning.
((NATS
Porter: She had $2,425 a month. She rents a one-bedroom
apartment. She and her daughter sleep together in the
same room in Irvine, California. That average one-bedroom
apartment is going to be $1600. She spends $100 on
utilities. Take away the $1700 and she has net $725. She's
like me. She drives a 2008 minivan and has gas. $400 for
car expenses and gas, net $325. Department of Agriculture
says a low-cost food budget, that is Ramen noodles, a low
food budget is $400. That leaves her $77 in the red. She
has after-school child care, because the bank is open during
normal business hours. That's $450 a month. That takes
her down to negative $567 per month. My question for you
Mr. Dimon is how should she manage this budget shortfall
while she's working full time at your bank?))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
These are topics that should matter to everyday Americans
and I want them to be engaged in the work that our
government's trying to do.
((Location: Concordia University Town Hall, Orange
County, California))
((NATS
Speaker: Help me welcome Concordia’s new congressional
district representative, Katie Porter.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
The most important priority to me is listening to and staying
connected to my constituents.
((NATS
Porter: Thank you for sharing your story.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I also care a lot about access to mental health care, making
sure that it’s actually covered by insurance and that it’s
actually affordable. And I also, of course as a mom, do a lot
of work on childcare and the supports that working men and
women need to be able to continue to earn a living.
((NATS
Speaker: Our representative, Katie Porter. Thank you.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
Someone in my life said to me, ‘You know, you don't have to
wait for other people to create opportunity. You have the
opportunity. You just need to step up and run and take
advantage of it.’
((NATS
Porter: Having taken these skills to Congress…..))
((NATS
Assistant: Hello, this is Representative Porter’s office.
How can I help you?))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))I
think just the incredible responsibility that I'm taking on for
my kids, for everyone's kids, for this country. This is a big
job and it's an important job of the American people.
Regardless of their party affiliation, they're counting on us to
help improve their lives.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Businessman
((SOT))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
How about an ice cream shop called Presidential Scoops.
It's a scoop of news and its scoop of ice cream and a friend
said, “Making America Sweet Again.”
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) DESCENDING THE HILL -- JIM WARLICK (PIA)
((Banner: Descending the Hill))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Courtesy of Jim Warlick))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
My first trip to Washington was 1965. I was in the eighth
grade and I wanted to come see John Kennedy's gravesite.
I think that the Kennedy assassination really affected me into
being aware of politics and I purchased a little souvenir. It
was a little John Kennedy bust.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
I dropped out of college four times to work in political
campaigns. That was my dream, come to Washington,
being an advisor to a congressman or senator. I wanted to
go to a national convention. And so, I designed five Jimmy
Carter campaign buttons and they were big hit locally and I
made more money in one week than I did in a year with my
congressman. So, I went back home and I said,
Congressman, I’m going to have to quit because I'm going to
travel. I want to see the country. I want to sell buttons all
over the country and I'm going to make more money than if
I’m working for you.
((NATS))
((Courtesy of Jim Warlick))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
And I opened a little kiosk, sold old political collectibles. The
kiosk was a success. So, then I opened the full store. The
store was a success. So, I decided open more. So, at one
time, I had six of these memorabilia stores. When
President-elect Obama won in ’08, then I opened the store
across the White House, called the Obama Inaugural
Store. And then, after the inaugural, turned that into the
White House Gift Store. So, we get almost as many as,
average 3,000 people a day.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
Just outside the White House gift store, we have a gallery,
and we take people's photos in an Oval Office setup and a
presidential podium, and people love that, and they post on
social media. They talk about the store, but they say when
they get to come over to have a photo made, it's great.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
A little store opened across the street. The company went
out of business. It was defensive for me because I thought
someone is going to move in there and open a gift shop and
compete with me. So, I decided I'll get that space, but I
didn't know what I would put in there. But then, with all the
news every day, what's the latest scoop, what's happening, I
thought, how about an ice cream shop called Presidential
Scoops. It's a scoop of news and its scoop of ice cream and
a friend said, “Making America Sweet Again.” And it's a fun
store. I plan to take the profits from that and put back into
some charities that I've been working with.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
People call me a political entrepreneur. You know, I’ve said,
I don’t want on my tombstone that I was a souvenir
salesman because hopefully, you know, I’m more than that.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Pop-Up captions over BRoll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 88
AIR DATE 09 20 2019
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
The Democrat
((SOT))
((Rep. Katie Porter, California (D)))
The results of this election suggest that there's an appetite
for electing a diverse Congress.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
The Republican
((SOT))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Minnesota (R)))
I want to make sure that, in Congress, we legislate to benefit
and help our farmers, not burden them.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
The Political Businessman
((SOT))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
People call me a political entrepreneur. You know, I’ve said,
I don’t want on my tombstone that I was a souvenir
salesman because hopefully, you know, I’m more than that.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((Banner: VOA has been following two members of
Congress as they navigate their first year on Capitol Hill))
((PKG)) CLIMBING THE HILL -- (R) PETE STAUBER
((Banner: Climbing the Hill -- Republican))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Jeff Swicord))
((Additional Camera: Arturo Martinez))
((Drone: Marcus Harton))
((Producer: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Duluth, Minnesota))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I was born and raised in Duluth Minnesota. Duluth is blue
collar workers, just like the rest of Minnesota. “Minnesota
nice.” It sits on the western edge of that greatest freshwater
lake in the world, Lake Superior. That's where our recreation
happens. That's where our shipping takes place. That's
where our fishing…it's just beautiful.
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
My family has always been in community service. I ran
because I wanted to bring that common sense conservative
values to Congress. The greatest generation gave us a
wonderful country. It's incumbent upon my generation now,
to make sure that we leave this United States in better shape
to our kids and grandkids, so they have a prosperous and a
free future.
((NATS
Stauber: It’s the greatest fresh water lake in the world right
there, Lake Superior.
Jodi: Pizza!
Addilyn: You look so good, Isaac.
Jodi: Best night ever.
Stauber: You know with the four kids, my wife and I, I mean
we enjoy it. It’s organized chaos.
Jodi: You’re done eating already?
Levi: Yeah.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Levi, our oldest son is 19. He's playing junior hockey at
Michigan Tech University in Houghton, Michigan. Our
second oldest son is Luke. He'll just be graduating this
spring and he wants to go into aviation and be a pilot. And
then, of course, our 16 year old son Isaac. He's the light of
our lives. He’s an unexpected blessing. He's our child with
Down syndrome. And then our daughter Addilyn is 12 years
old.
((NATS
Jodi: Isaac, it’s your favorite, isn’t it. Pizza.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
My wife has a passion for serving as well. She served in the
military at Duluth’s 148th fighter wing. She's also an Iraq
war veteran. I'm so grateful for her support in allowing me to
serve. Without her 100 percent committed support, I would
not be here.
((NATS
Jodi: Okay, about 12 minutes, maybe do 11, because that
looks pretty well cooked.))
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
Isn't it crazy? It's been, like, two years now since, maybe a
little over two years since we started the conversation about
running for Congress.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
We went to Washington to meet with some members of
Congress to see if, you know, what it's like, and can your
marriage survive? Can you still be the parents that we want
to be, serving as a member of Congress?
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
One of the concerns I had, when we first started talking
about this was, how are we going to maintain our family life
and stay close with the kids and each other? It takes a lot of
juggling and it's a complicated situation, with working in the
district when you're home and working in
Washington. We've never had a 9-to-5 family. Shift work
has been part of our life with both of our careers at times.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
It's not easy. We always talk about in the military, when the,
you know, the individual service members serve, so does his
or her family. In this case, it's the same. As I serve as a
member of Congress, you, by extension are serving also.
But I remember, when we decided that we were having the
conversation and you looked at me and you said, ‘I'm not
sure I signed up for this when I married you.’
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
That's right.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
But if you don't have your spouse, if I don't have your 100
percent committed support, it's not going to happen, you
know. And I also talked about this cannot interrupt our
marriage or me being a father. If it interrupts those two, then
it's not worth it.
((Jodi Stauber, Spouse))
I think it would have been, it would have been a challenge
for me to continue working because we have a son with
special needs, and the bottom line is, you know, he needs
extra care and extra attention and cannot be left on his own.
So, it's really a huge blessing that I have been able to focus
on our home and our family and our marriage and be able to
feel like I can provide that stability for all of us.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
And you do, yeah.
((Location: PolyMet Mining, Hoyt Lakes, Minnesotta))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
In Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, mining is our past,
our present and our future. We've been mining for 150-
some years. We talk about the Iron Range in
Minnesota. That's where the iron ore was mined to make
the steel. It helped us win World War II. Close to 70 percent
of the steel that's made in this country is mined by
Minnesota's Iron Range. So, we're very proud in Minnesota
when it comes to steel making.
((NATS))
((Jimmy Lovrien, Duluth News Tribune))
The last, you know, weeks of the Obama administration, you
know, they said, "No more", you know, "mine exploration in
the Superior National Forest.”
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune, Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS))
((Jimmy Lovrien, Duluth News Tribune))
Trump comes in, pro-industry, announced, you know, sitting
next to different mining executives, “Let's reopen the
Superior National Forest in that area to mineral
exploration. Let's not hold back.”
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune, Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
So together, we can unleash the economic engine in
northern Minnesota.
((Jimmy Lovrien, Duluth News Tribune))
And I think, Trump, kind of, mirrored that with, “Let’s do it.”
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune, Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS
Stauber: Thank you, Mr. President.))
((Brady Slater, Duluth News Tribune))
The visit, to me, was a pretty galvanizing moment for
Stauber. It showed all of the Trump supporters that Pete
was their guy.
((Courtesy: Duluth News Tribune; Clint Austin, Adelle
Whitefoot))
((NATS:
Stauber: Thank you. God bless America.))
((Location: Enchanted Dairy, Little Falls, Minnesota))
((NATS
Ron Miller: They have a family back at home and they
need a better life for them. They’re just hardworking folks.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
In Minnesota's 8th District, the western and the southern part
are mostly farms.
((NATS
Ron Miller: They go from that little calf to those big, you
know, in just two months.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Farmers, they feed us, not only locally, they feed this nation
and they feed the world.
((NATS
Ron Miller: I don’t know if you can read Spanish but that
means feed once a day.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I understand the stresses that they have every single day.
And I want to make sure that, in Congress, we legislate to
benefit and help our farmers, not burden them.
((Ron Miller, Owner, Enchanted Dairy))
One of the, our concerns is hiring people and the importance
of the Hispanic worker and trying to get an immigration
policy that works. The present system obviously is broke,
and I think there’s a real opportunity.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
The whole campaign, what I've been hearing since, you
know, I was elected, the ability to bring workers in, to work at
farms, you know, that want to work.
((Ron Miller, Owner, Enchanted Dairy))
Amen.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Because the workforce, we're short right now.
((Ron Miller, Owner, Enchanted Dairy))
Yes.
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
Not only here in Minnesota, but across the nation, we’re
hearing that in all the committee hearings. We're into
workforce development and training people, you know…..
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I support legal immigration. Our country was built on legal
immigration and legal immigrants still enhance this country
today. Some of our farmers and some of our seasonal
businesses in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, the
resort owners, they're looking for those migrant workers to
help out because they're short of workforce.
((NATS
Ron Miller: So appreciate that you did come and took the
time for us.
Stauber: Oh, absolutely.))
((Location: Washington, D.C.))
((NATS))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
When I was sworn in, it was just amazing. I’ve been blessed
in my life to do a lot of neat things. Being a member of
Congress is something that is just surreal. It goes to show
you that, in this country, that we can do wonderful things.
((NATS: Swearing in party, Stauber’s new DC office
Stauber: This is my daughter Addilyn. Congressman
Mueller.
Mueller: And you can whip all of them, right?))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
My big goal is to make sure that legislation that we put forth,
number one, is bipartisan and moves the country forward.
I'm hoping for a really, really good infrastructure bill that
brings our roads and bridges up to safe standards they
need.
((NATS: Stauber’s new DC office
Man: Do you know how proud I am of you?))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I want to make sure that rural broadband is implemented
throughout this country. I want to sure that our military has
what they need. I want to make sure that Medicare and
Social Security are solvent for many generations. And I
want to make sure that our special needs population has a
voice at the table, always. I'm an open-minded person. I'm
talking to a lot of people on both sides of the aisle.
((NATS
Man: I represent the rail workers.
Stauber: Oh yes.
Man: I am from North Dakota.))
((Congressman Pete Stauber, Republican - Minnesota))
I am going to attribute it to Gov. John Kasich out of Ohio
when he said, “The Republican Party is my vehicle, it is not
my master.” And I follow that because I serve everybody. At
least I try to serve everybody.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Freshman Democrat
((SOT))
((Rep. Katie Porter, D - California))
I think the most memorable part of it was having to leave my
own birthday party and go back to the halls of Congress and
vote to try to reopen our government.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) CLIMBING THE HILL -- (D) KATIE PORTER
((Banner: Climbing the Hill -- Democrat))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Jeff Swicord, Carolyn Presutti, Arturo Martinez,
Adam Greenbaum, Arash Arabasadi, Miguel Amaya, Marcus
Harton))
((Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Orange County, California))
((NATS))
((Location: Washington, D.C.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I've always had an interest in government service. I'd
always thought that my path to government was probably
getting appointed to something or as a civil servant. I hadn't
really seen myself as a candidate until after President Trump
ran and won. I grew up in Iowa on a farm. The University of
California, Irvine founded a law school. And so, I was asked
to come out and be part of the early faculty and have lived
there ever since, absolutely love it.
((NATS
Porter: Hello!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
That is such a busy day when you're sworn in. It was my
birthday, January 3rd. I think the most memorable part of it
was having to leave my own birthday party and go back to
the halls of Congress and vote to try to reopen our
government. That really drove home for me, what a
responsibility I have to the American people in this job.
((NATS
Smile!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
The results of this election suggest that there's an appetite
for electing a diverse Congress. The class that I am part of,
this historic group of freshmen women, is notable not only for
its size, but also for its diversity and its strength that comes
from that diversity. This is a very traditionally male
institution. A lot of stuff in the world and in Congress is, kind
of, designed with men in mind, but we're changing that. Half
of America are women and we all have different
experiences.
((NATS
Girl: I made a mini superhero!
Porter: You did!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I'm here as a middle class, single mom of three school age
children. And so, naturally, I'm really interested in a lot of
those topics, like the costs of childcare. I definitely faced a
lot of questions about what would happen to my children
when I were elected to Congress, as if something would
actually happen to them. And the answer is, well, they'll
probably come and watch me be sworn in, and they did.
And they'll probably, you know, continue to go to school and
participate in Scouts, and do the activities they've done. I’ve
been a working parent for my whole career and this job is a
little bit different, no doubt about it. But, I think, my children
ground me. I think they remind me why I'm here, what I'm
fighting for.
((NATS
Porter: Bye guys!))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
Now that I'm in Congress, some of the questions that I used
to hear as potentially, maybe, hostile to me as a mom, I now
hear as genuine curiosity. I think they're actually asking for
advice, and I would appreciate those parenting advice too. I
think it’s a community of parents that we’ve elected in this
Congress.
((March 2019))
((Location: Orange County Register))
((NATS
Chief Editor: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino,
Riverside counties. I’m going to be at the convention later
today and then all day tomorrow.))
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
When you were out meeting up today with Katie Porter, did
she say why she thinks they won?
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
She talked, in particular, about engaging a new group of
voters that previously haven't been engaged. This question
was asked about how she convinced people to flip, and she
thought it was more about getting out the group of people,
particularly young people.
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
We know that they focused a lot on UC, Irvine where she's
been a professor. They had an office setup there, right?
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
to try to get those voters out, and so, and they did. And they
came out in big numbers, bigger than normal.
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((Brooke Staggs, Staff Writer, Orange County Register))
Still not as big as the general population.
((Andre Mouchard, Politics Editor, Orange County
Register))
Right.
((NATS))
((Location: University of California, Irvine campus))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
The 45th district is home to a lot of families, has really strong
public schools, the largest employer is the University of
California, Irvine. This is definitely a place that values
education, that values science, that values thoughtfulness
and research. It's a very diverse place. We have a large
Latino population, a large population of Chinese, Koreans,
Indians, Iranians. I love the diversity of my community and, I
think, that too lets me do a better job here in Congress.
((NATS
Porter: How are you all?))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I use a lot of different tools to reach out to my constituents.
We've had six town halls here in the first six months and we
have several more planned.
((NATS
Porter: I wish we were here with a better topic. This is a
tough situation that we're in, in Orange County and around
the country, with the Trump tax law))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I care a lot about tax fairness. Orange County, my
community, was hit very hard by the President Trump's tax
plan.
((NATS
Porter: So, there were clearly a lot of people who didn't
want to do their taxes this year, and I was one of them))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I like those events because they give me a chance to
communicate with a large group of people, to hear a diverse
group of opinions, all in one setting.
((NATS
Porter: So with that I will stop and we’ll take some
questions. Is that okay?
‘Why are you fighting the president? Why don't you want to
represent all of your constituents and try to work with him?’
I am not fighting the president. I've never had the chance to
meet him, except at the State of the Union address and I
didn't campaign on President Trump, one way or the other
particularly. I campaigned on representing Orange County
families and I felt like we had a representative. I felt like we
had a representative who put the president before the
people of her district. So, when I see this president, when I
see this president stand up and do things that, I think, will
help the people of Orange County, then I will stand by that
president.))
((NATS))
((April 2019))
((US Capitol House Financial Services Committee Hearing))
((Courtesy: YouTube / Financial Services Committee))
((NATS
Mr. Gonzalez: With that, I’ll yield the balance of my time.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California’s 43rd
District: The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Porter is
recognized for five minutes.
Porter: Thank you Madame Chair. Mr. Dimon, you’ve
shared lots of opinions recently about how the U.S. should
budget its resources, how families should budget their
resources. And so, I'd like to ask for your help on a problem.
I went to monster.com and I found a job in my hometown of
Irvine at JP Morgan Chase. It pays $16.50 an hour.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I'm on the Financial Services Committee, and one of the
challenges that we face is a lot of the topics we tackle are
pretty technical. So, I often begin preparing for hearings a
couple weeks in advance. As soon as we know the topics,
and then, particularly, as soon as we know the witnesses,
we'll start to identify some possible lines of questioning.
((NATS
Porter: She had $2,425 a month. She rents a one-bedroom
apartment. She and her daughter sleep together in the
same room in Irvine, California. That average one-bedroom
apartment is going to be $1600. She spends $100 on
utilities. Take away the $1700 and she has net $725. She's
like me. She drives a 2008 minivan and has gas. $400 for
car expenses and gas, net $325. Department of Agriculture
says a low-cost food budget, that is Ramen noodles, a low
food budget is $400. That leaves her $77 in the red. She
has after-school child care, because the bank is open during
normal business hours. That's $450 a month. That takes
her down to negative $567 per month. My question for you
Mr. Dimon is how should she manage this budget shortfall
while she's working full time at your bank?))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
These are topics that should matter to everyday Americans
and I want them to be engaged in the work that our
government's trying to do.
((Location: Concordia University Town Hall, Orange
County, California))
((NATS
Speaker: Help me welcome Concordia’s new congressional
district representative, Katie Porter.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
The most important priority to me is listening to and staying
connected to my constituents.
((NATS
Porter: Thank you for sharing your story.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
I also care a lot about access to mental health care, making
sure that it’s actually covered by insurance and that it’s
actually affordable. And I also, of course as a mom, do a lot
of work on childcare and the supports that working men and
women need to be able to continue to earn a living.
((NATS
Speaker: Our representative, Katie Porter. Thank you.))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))
Someone in my life said to me, ‘You know, you don't have to
wait for other people to create opportunity. You have the
opportunity. You just need to step up and run and take
advantage of it.’
((NATS
Porter: Having taken these skills to Congress…..))
((NATS
Assistant: Hello, this is Representative Porter’s office.
How can I help you?))
((Representative Katie Porter, Democrat - California))I
think just the incredible responsibility that I'm taking on for
my kids, for everyone's kids, for this country. This is a big
job and it's an important job of the American people.
Regardless of their party affiliation, they're counting on us to
help improve their lives.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Businessman
((SOT))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
How about an ice cream shop called Presidential Scoops.
It's a scoop of news and its scoop of ice cream and a friend
said, “Making America Sweet Again.”
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) DESCENDING THE HILL -- JIM WARLICK (PIA)
((Banner: Descending the Hill))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Courtesy of Jim Warlick))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
My first trip to Washington was 1965. I was in the eighth
grade and I wanted to come see John Kennedy's gravesite.
I think that the Kennedy assassination really affected me into
being aware of politics and I purchased a little souvenir. It
was a little John Kennedy bust.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
I dropped out of college four times to work in political
campaigns. That was my dream, come to Washington,
being an advisor to a congressman or senator. I wanted to
go to a national convention. And so, I designed five Jimmy
Carter campaign buttons and they were big hit locally and I
made more money in one week than I did in a year with my
congressman. So, I went back home and I said,
Congressman, I’m going to have to quit because I'm going to
travel. I want to see the country. I want to sell buttons all
over the country and I'm going to make more money than if
I’m working for you.
((NATS))
((Courtesy of Jim Warlick))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
And I opened a little kiosk, sold old political collectibles. The
kiosk was a success. So, then I opened the full store. The
store was a success. So, I decided open more. So, at one
time, I had six of these memorabilia stores. When
President-elect Obama won in ’08, then I opened the store
across the White House, called the Obama Inaugural
Store. And then, after the inaugural, turned that into the
White House Gift Store. So, we get almost as many as,
average 3,000 people a day.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
Just outside the White House gift store, we have a gallery,
and we take people's photos in an Oval Office setup and a
presidential podium, and people love that, and they post on
social media. They talk about the store, but they say when
they get to come over to have a photo made, it's great.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
A little store opened across the street. The company went
out of business. It was defensive for me because I thought
someone is going to move in there and open a gift shop and
compete with me. So, I decided I'll get that space, but I
didn't know what I would put in there. But then, with all the
news every day, what's the latest scoop, what's happening, I
thought, how about an ice cream shop called Presidential
Scoops. It's a scoop of news and its scoop of ice cream and
a friend said, “Making America Sweet Again.” And it's a fun
store. I plan to take the profits from that and put back into
some charities that I've been working with.
((NATS))
((Jim Warlick, Owner, White House Gift & Presidential
Scoops))
People call me a political entrepreneur. You know, I’ve said,
I don’t want on my tombstone that I was a souvenir
salesman because hopefully, you know, I’m more than that.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
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((NATS))
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Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
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We cover it
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