Politics

The following is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent, on “Face the Nation” that aired on July 7, 2024.

ROBERT COSTA: We’re joined now by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. He joins us from Burlington, Vermont. Senator Sanders, Good morning. You just heard from some Democratic voters in those battleground states, you’re a leading voice on the left in this country. Does President Biden now have your full support?

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: President Biden can clearly defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in the history of this country. And the choice is quite clear. You got in Trump, somebody wants to take away a woman’s right to control her body, who thinks that climate change is a hoax, And it has turned his back on the working class of this country. And on the other side, you have Joe Biden, first president in American history to walk a picket line; we have put more money into fighting climate change than any time in the history of this country; we’re rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. But this I do want to say and where I am critical of the Biden campaign: it’s one thing to talk about your record over the last three-and-a-half years, which is a strong record, but the American people are hurting. Sixty percent of our people living paycheck to paycheck. Twenty five percent of elderly people are trying to get by on $15,000 a year or less. The American people want an agenda for the next four years that speaks to the needs of the working class of this country. So frankly, I don’t think the President has brought that agenda forward. He has got to say, I am prepared to take on corporate greed, massive income and wealth inequality and stand with the working class in this country. He does that, he’s going to win, and win big.

ROBERT COSTA: So that’s your advice for President Biden, you want him to stand with working voters, talk about labor, talk about the minimum wage and those issues. But politically, can he count on you to be on the campaign trail for him this summer and fall? Can he count on your support?

SEN. SANDERS: I’ve already done six events in Wisconsin, we’ve been to New York, I’ve been to Ohio. And let’s- let me say this, and maybe the most important point, Bob, I want to make this morning: what we’re talking about now is not a Grammy Award contest for best singer. Biden is old, he’s not as articulate as he once was. I wish he could jump up the steps on Air Force One. He can’t. What we have got to focus on is policy. Whose policies have and will benefit the vast majority of the people in this country? Who wants the guts to take on corporate America? Who is talking about expanding Medicare so we cover dental, hearing and vision? Who’s talking about raising the cap on the taxes that people pay into Social Security so we can raise social security benefits and extend the life of Social Security for 75 years? Who’s talking about a permanent child tax credit to cut childhood poverty in America by 50%? Those are the issues he’s talked about. He’s got to bring them up in the floor. He’s got to promise the American people that if they give him a Democratic Senate, a Democratic House, reelect him, he’s gonna do that in the first 100 days. That’s what I think the American people want.

ROBERT COSTA: No doubt, Senator. This campaign, about the issues about how policy affects people. It’s also about how people see the stakes. Let’s listen to what President Biden had to say on Friday about what happens if Pres- former President Trump wins the election.

[BEGIN SOT]

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: If you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you’re warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: BIDEN: I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.

[END SOT]

ROBERT COSTA: You just heard that Senator Sanders. How would you feel if former President Trump wins in November?

SEN. SANDERS: Well, I would feel awful as somebody who has opposed virtually all of Trump’s policies. And I would feel awful if the American people lost the democracy, which we’ve had for 250 years. And I would feel awful if we turned our back on the existential threat of climate change. But this is not about how I feel, it’s not about how you feel, it is not even about how Joe Biden feels. It’s about how we win this election. And maybe what we should be doing is creating a Democratic Party with Biden at the top that stands with the working class of this country. I will tell you this, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent: the American people are disillusioned, they are angry, they think that government is busy paying attention to the rich and wealthy campaign donors. And by the way, I find it personally insulting that The New York Times and all these media organizations go out front page “This is what the billionaire campaign donors feel.” Well, to hell with the billionaire campaign donors. Let’s worry about the working class of this country and what their needs are. And let hopefully–

ROBERT COSTA: –Is he- is he President Biden talking to you–

SEN. SANDERS: –Biden put his agenda that speaks to their needs. He will win–

ROBERT COSTA: –We know the Pres- is the President talking to you? You’re traveling the country talking to working voters. I’ve seen all the video of you meeting with union members. Has he spoken to you in recent days? And is the White House listening to your advice at all, the campaign?

SEN. SANDERS: Yes, he has spoken to me in recent days and I hope to be meeting on a regular basis with the White House to hammer out an agenda that speaks to the needs of the vast majority of the people who believe that both parties have turned their backs on them. Right now, we have more income and wealth inequality than we’ve had in the history of this country, the billionaire class has never done better. Hey, how about standing up for the working class of this country for a change? If Biden does that, he’s going to win, he will win big.

ROBERT COSTA: Senator Warner of Virginia is collecting colleagues to have a discussion about the future of the ticket. Have you been invited? Will you participate? And what do you think of those talks?

SEN. SANDERS: No. Look, Mark is a friend of mine, I like Mark, is one of the more conservative members of the Democratic Caucus. No, I have not been invited. No, I will not attend. I think right now, look, I understand. Biden had a terrible debate performance. I think he’s done better since, he’s got to do better again. And I know that that is a legitimate concern. But I think most importantly, now, this is not a beauty contest, it’s not a Grammy Award contest. It is a contest of who stands with the vast majority of the people in this country, the elderly, the children, working class, the poor. And that candidate is obviously Joe Biden.

ROBERT COSTA: Senator Sanders, I must ask, I covered you closely in 2016 and 2020. You’ve run national campaigns. You’ve been a presidential candidate. You know what it takes. If for whatever reason President Biden ever decided to withdraw from the race, would you be open to being considered as the nominee?

SEN. SANDERS: Well, right now I am running for reelection to the great state of Vermont as their senator. That’s where my focus is right now.

ROBERT COSTA: Senator Sanders, we appreciate your time and Face the Nation. We’ll be back in one minute. Stay with us.

The following is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, on “Face the Nation” that aired on July 7, 2024.

ROBERT COSTA:  We go now to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. He joins us from Seneca, South Carolina. Senator Graham, good morning. You just heard from your colleague, Senator Bernie Sanders, he said he’s not going to meet with Senator Warner and those Democratic colleagues about the future of the ticket. You’ve been talking to former President Trump, your ally, in recent days, you’ve even played a little golf with Trump. What’s the view from Senate Republicans and especially from former President Trump about what’s happening across the aisle?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Well, I think most of us are concerned with the national security implications of this debate about President Biden’s health. Bernie Sanders’ problem with Biden is he’s not liberal enough. 70% of the public believes that President Biden is not mentally and physically capable of being President. 70% of the people believe the nation is on the wrong track. Most Democrats are worried about Biden winning the election. I’m worried about Biden- Biden being the commander in chief for the next four months. We’re having a meeting with NATO in Washington next week. On October 7th Israel’s attacked by Hamas. On October 8th President Biden gives an interview to the Special Counsel, where they determined him to be a nice man with a bad memory and you couldn’t convince a jury. He did anything wrong. I want those tapes released. So what I’d like to see is President Biden take a cognitive test. I think everybody going forward in the line of succession should-

(CROSS TALK)

ROBERT COSTA: Should have a President Trump as well? 

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Yes, yes, I think both. All nominees for President going into the future should have neurological exams as part of an overall physical exam. I think people in the line of succession should have a neurological exam. My predecessor, Senator Thurman was a very vigorous man, but he was 100. He was the speaker pro tem of the Senate. This is a wake up call for the country. We need to make sure that the people who are going to be in the line of succession are capable of being commander in chief under dire circumstances. Here’s what I worry about, that our allies see a compromised Joe Biden, that our enemies see a compromised Joe Biden, and I’m offended by the idea that he shouldn’t take a competency test given all the evidence in front of us. He is not only in denial, this is a dangerous time for the American people to have somebody at the ship- leading the ship of state who seems to be compromised. So at a minimum, take a competency exam became President Biden and Trump.

ROBERT COSTA: Speaking of a wake up call, many Democrats are alarmed at what the Supreme Court did this past week in terms of ruling on presidential immunity, saying that presidents effectively have immunity when it comes to official acts. You are very close to former President Trump. This is someone who pushed to overturn the election in late 2020, early 2021. He pushed officials who are working in official capacity like then Vice President Mike Pence to the brink in terms of how to use their official powers. How will Trump use power in a second term in the wake of this Supreme Court ruling?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Well, you’re gonna have the NATO leader on next. I think what President Trump will do when it comes to NATO is pick up where you left off. Pay more, about 18 members of NATO pay the 2% required. Sam Nunn had a proposal in 1986–

ROBERT COSTA: But I’m talking about senators and how he’s going to use power inside the White House and the administration. 

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM::  I think he’s going to use power to get NATO to pay more. I think he’s going to secure the border by using executive action. I think he’s going to be a damn good president to write this ship. I think he opened up American to oil and gas exploration. I think he’s gonna do undo all the problems created by Biden. The question is, will it be on a revenge tour, he’s going to be on a success tour. He’s going to get us energy independent, he’s going to control our borders. He’s going to get our NATO allies to pay more. We have to deal with China. We’re the sole supplier of arms for Israel. NATO should pay more. I’m a big internationalist in terms of a Republican. 

(CROSS TALK)

ROBERT COSTA: What gives you confidence about that, Senator Graham.

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I want to tell- because of what he did before.

ROBERT COSTA: Well he’s had a lot of grievances on social media and his speeches in recent weeks. 

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: When he was President of the United States, he had the most secure border in American history. When he was President of the United States, we had Arabs making peace with Israel, when President of the United States, we were energy independent, inflation was down. The best indication of what Trump will do in the future, policy wise, is what he did in the past. I love a policy debate. You know, Senator Sanders wants a policy debate, bring it on. The policy of socialism versus the policy of freedom. 

ROBERT COSTA: Senators– 

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: That’s what this is about. bUT, I’m worried right now about the capability of our president to be commander in chief.

ROBERT COSTA: 

Senator Graham, you want to make this about policy and that’s- that’s a fair point to make as a US Senator, but in recent weeks, former President Trump on his social media has been amplifying calls, circulating posts, calling for televised military tribunals. That’s his phrase that he amplified on his social media for people like former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, you say he’s not going to be on a revenge tour. But he’s been posting on his social media about not only taking revenge, but having televised military tribunals and you’re someone who has served this country in uniform. Do you agree with his push, an amplification of those proposals?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Here’s what I know. I know we’re not going to have televised tribunals or trials of Liz Cheney or anybody else. Here’s what I do believe. I do believe that the country is at an inflection point. This is the most important election, literally in decades, maybe ever. If you want to change the course we’re on, you need to go back to President Trump. Policy does matter. I am confident that if he’s President of the United States, very quickly, we’ll get our border under control, we’ll become energy independent again. And we’ll bolster our allies and we’ll put our enemies on their back foot. This is a very dangerous time. I do not believe, I like President Biden. But what I’ve seen, I am very concerned that this man is not capable of being commander in chief for four more months. So let’s have testing to resolve this debate. Let’s test Trump. Let’s test Biden. Let’s test everybody in the line of succession.

ROBERT COSTA: You’ve made that clear. Senator Graham, you’ve played golf with former President Trump. We all know you support Senator Tim Scott, your colleague from South Carolina to be Trump’s running mate. 

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Yeah. 

ROBERT COSTA: One has Trump decided privately on his running mate, and who’s- who are the front runners in your view?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I don’t think he’s decided. I’m a big Tim Scott fan because I’m gonna expand the map. Now, I believe before this is all said and done, that President Biden most likely will be replaced. And Kamala Harris is going to be very vigorous, but she’s for the green New Deal. She’s for Medicare for All. She’s more like Bernie Sanders on policy. But if I were president Trump, I would make sure I pick somebody that could add value in 2024. Expand the map, take- prosecute the case against the liberals–

ROBERT COSTA:  Who should that be? If it’s not Senator Scott, if not, Senator Scott, who should it be?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Well, there’s three people being talked about. Burgum solid as a rock in North Dakota. JD Vance would be- is aligned with President Trump in many ways. He could be a good wingman. Can he expand the map? Marco Rubio, you got a problem in Florida. I think he’s a very articulate conservative that could help a President Trump enormously. but somebody’s not being talked about that should be in my view, is Younkin from Virginia. If we win Virginia, we win. It is over. So I’m hoping President Trump is looking for a VP pick that not only can carry on the American first agenda after he leaves, but also win in 2024. I think the VP pick by both parties if Biden steps down, Harris is going to have to pick somebody to help her. If she does become the nominee. This is a dramatically different race than it is right now today. I hope people are thinking about that on our side.

ROBERT COSTA: Senator Graham. Thank you. I know somebody in Richmond, Virginia right now is perking up their ears at that mentioned in this season. We’ll be right back with a lot more Face the Nation stay with us.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — President Biden is back in Pennsylvania on Sunday for a series of campaign events after canceling his planned speech at the annual conference of the National Education Association in Philadelphia.

Mr. Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived in Philadelphia around 10 a.m. ET, where they were met at the airport by Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman. The Bidens and mayor then traveled to northwest Philadelphia, where the president is scheduled to speak during a church service.

After the speech in Philadelphia, the president and first lady will travel to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a community event with union members and local Democrats. According to Biden’s campaign, he’ll meet with Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. John Fetterman and others throughout the day.

Mr. Biden, who traveled to Philadelphia in May with Vice President Kamala Harris to launch their “Black Voters for Biden-Harris” initiative,” was originally scheduled to appear Sunday at the annual NEA conference in Philadelphia. That speech was canceled after the NEA’s union, the National Education Association Staff Organization, announced a strike and set up picket lines around the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia Friday.

Mr. Biden, who is fighting to save his endangered reelection effort, had planned to speak at the NEA conference, but his campaign said the president is a “fierce supporter of unions and he won’t cross a picket line.” 

The picket line effectively ended the weeklong convention, canceling the last three days of programming, the NEA said.

The NEA, which has school employee union affiliates in every state, has endorsed Biden.

The union announced it filed two unfair labor practice complaints over what it says is NEA’s failure to comply with basic union requirements, and is accusing the NEA of unilaterally removing holiday overtime pay and failing to provide information on outsourcing $50 million in contracts.

In a statement, the NEA said it remained fully committed to a fair bargaining process. It also said it was “deeply concerning that misinformation has been shared” that misrepresented contract negotiations.

Mr. Biden’s dual-city visit Sunday comes as the president works to shore up support for his reelection campaign following a shaky debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month.

According to a CBS News source, following the debate and suggestions that Mr. Biden drop out, the president told campaign staff in no uncertain terms that he doesn’t plan to leave the race. “Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can and as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running. I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party. No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving,” he said, according to one source.

By now, you know where things stand: President Biden says he’s all-in. And no one – well, almost no one – can convince him otherwise. Asked by George Stephanopoulos of ABC News last Friday whether, if he were convinced he could not defeat Donald Trump, he would stand down, Mr. Biden replied, “Well, it depends – if the Lord Almighty comes out and tells me that, I might do that!”

On Friday he told a cheering crowd in Madison, Wisconsin, “Let me say this as clearly as I can: I’m staying in the race.”

President Biden’s decision comes as some Democrats are urging the 81-year-old to get out following last month’s debate.

But beyond the headlines of hand-wringing in Washington, this moment also has the whiff of history. Two past presidents offer Mr. Biden a playbook of sorts of how to handle tough questions about age, stamina, and politics in a reelection campaign. “I think history gives us two ways of thinking about this extraordinary moment,” said Doris Kearns Goodwin.

In 1944, she notes, Franklin D. Roosevelt, facing concerns about his health, was determined to stay in the race for a fourth term as World War II raged. “He decided that he had to stay in the race for the good of the country, because he felt that in a certain sense that he was like a soldier who could not give up his post if the country decided they wanted him to run,” Goodwin said.

FDR made an effort to show the country he had energy, though it wasn’t always easy. “He looked much older than he actually was,” Goodwin said. “He was only 62 years old. The presidency ages everybody. But he knew what he was facing, and he made the decision that somehow, even with that ill health, that he was the one who was best-equipped, and he barrelled through.  So, he made a decision that he was going to go out among the people.”

Then in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson made the decision to withdraw as pressure mounted, announcing on March 31, after the New Hampshire primary, that he would not seek nor accept his party’s nomination for president. “He decided, for the good of the country, that he was in such difficulty, that he wanted to bring peace in Vietnam. Thunderstruck was the country by that decision,” Goodwin said. “But it was for the good of the country, he believed, and there was an extraordinary reaction to it. He said he was happier than he’d been in his entire presidency.”

As with FDR and LBJ, Biden’s challenge, she said, is showing the American people he’s up to it, not just with a single interview, but by showing command of what is, perhaps, the hardest job in the world.

“President Biden has a right to be proud of, is that he has a character that has humility,” Goodwin said. “He’s had resilience. He has empathy toward other people, toward parts of the country, toward people in trouble, and he’s had accountability and responsibility. So, I think, keeping that idea that what he wants most of all is for that character to be remaining and be part of his legacy will factor into how he decides this thing. Only he can really decide that. It’s a really hard decision he’s going to have to make in these days and weeks ahead.”

     
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Story produced by Jon Carras. Editor: Karen Brenner. 

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