Salena Zito, National Political Reporter for The Washington Examiner has an article out on the meeting with Senator John Fetterman at the White House.
I thank Scott shot An hour two Sean Hannity Show, eight hundred and ninety four one, Shawn a number. If you want to be a part of the program, I know a lot of you want to weigh in on the hearings that took place today. Every American is going to walk away from this and just realize, these these people in DC are some of the dumbest people that you will ever meet in your life. They care about the superfluous, They care about nothing of substance. They know nothing about the topics of which they are discussing. I've got to admit I've been surprised by one Democrat, and only one, and it is Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. And John Fetterman. I've listened to his comments about Israel. I've listened to his comments about energy, I've listened to his comments about immigration. I've listened to his comments about President Trump having you know, should should be having the right to have the cabinet after a duly won election. And clearly there is a lot of resentment building towards him among the Democratic rank and file, because I guess they want everybody to just kind of be, you know, in the in the Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff, Tim Kaine, who you know, a bumbling idiot, you know, questioning Pete at length about his personal life. I'm like, weren't you Hillary Clinton's running mate back in the day. I'm just just saying, you know, are you really the right person to be lecturing people? Anyway, John Fetterman met with President Trump. President Trump said publicly that he was very impressed with the meeting, and anyway, Fetterman says, you know, states the obvious, which is why is it controversial to meet with Donald Trump's nominees. Here's what he said, is this cozy Gabbert one of the nominees that you could vote for.
Well, you know, I'm with her. In fact, I think I've met with virtually all of them and the ones that I haven't there on my schedule AREFK and Governor KNOWM. So I'm happy to meet with all of them. And that's also part of this. I don't know why that was controversial. I mean I got a lot of blowback just you know, even to meet with them, and to me, I see that as just doing my job and I'm going to have a conversation with anyone that would like to have a conversation with me, and if if I if someone believed everything that's been written or said about me it was true. I mean, you can't possibly know me or I think I could know her either just based on someone read. But I want to sit down and have a conversation. And I'm really glad that I've done that. And some of these nominees I'm going to vote for already. In fact, you know, whether it's my our colleague Rubio are Representative, Stephanick or even Sean Duffy, you know, I expect to vote for him as well too, and Brook Rollins for agriculture again, so there's a lot of them I can say right now here on Fox I'm going to vote for them.
I mean, pretty spectacular, especially in light of the show hearing that we had earlier today. And really that's all it is, because I think this is an exercise and futility and it's just a show. And what did I tell you yesterday would happened today that Democrats would revert to form, they would go back to their just NonStop patriot of all things Donald Trump, and they would return to Bork, they would return to Justice Thomas, They returned to Kavanaugh. They just they can't help themselves if they wanted to anyway. Joining us now is our friend Selena Zito. And Selena, of course, is the national political reporter for the Washington Examiner. Nobody knows Pennsylvania as well as she does, and she's had a long term relationship with John Fetterman. Knows everything about the state of Pennsylvania. Was very confident that it would go read very early on in this process.
So I can tell you that private.
It was a private conversation, but I might as well give you credit now because you weren't saying publicly what you were telling me, But you were pretty confident and you turned out to be right as usual.
Yeah, you know, well, there there is a benefit. You know, people think it's a benefit to be a reporter in New York in Washington, and there is when you want access to power, But when you want to understand people and sentiments, you oftentimes there's a better benefit to living in western Pennsylvania. And so I think that's what gave me my insight. And and that's the thing about John Fetterman.
And by the way, and how many miles did you put on your car during this last election year, and how many how many places did you visit in this last election year? It was almost like you yourself were running for office.
Problem forty fifty thousand miles. And that wasn't just in my state of Pennsylvania. I had gone to North Carolina and Florida UH, and Wisconsin, Michigan UH, and out to Arizona, the only swing.
I would assume.
I would assume you got on an airplane for those trips. I'm assuming you didn't drive all those days.
Oh I did. I drove?
You drove to every one of those states.
Oh? Yeah, it helps me. Look, here's why. And I don't take interstates either. So I take US routes and I take state routes. Sometimes I end on a dirt road and don't lowher and the heck I'm gonna end up. But here's why I do that. You cannot see and feel, You cannot understand subtangible if you drop in or even if you take an interstate, because you know each each interchange is the same thing, right, a gas station or restaurant and maybe a strip mall right, you don't really understand how things are changing. Well, if you're not on a back road, going through different counties, seeing what's prospering, seeing what's not working, seeing what you know or what or what the challenges are, and that has helped make you know what is happening in the country. Very instructive and look, and I will tell you that is how John Fetterman travels. But also that was also how Dave McCormick traveled throughout this election. He was just like either in his bus or in the truck, driving on the back roads and just talking to people. And Fetterman is very good at that, and so is Trump. Trump. You know, he is the first president in forever that went to Eerie or Reserve. Nobody ever goes to Butler or Johnstown or out Ambridge. I mean, these are the towns that he showed up in Indiana, Pennsylvania. I can't remember the last president that went there. In fact, the only two because I did this research for my book, the only two presidents to ever go to Butler County, to the city of Butler, where Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy and that was it. I mean other presidents went, but it was after they were presidents. So that just sort of shows an understanding and the value of making sure people feel seen. That's why I've always believed his inflection point, meaning President Trump, happened when he went to East Palestine in February of twenty twenty three. You remember he was not doing all that great in the polls then, but that all changed within a week after going to East Palestine.
I think it is very, very vital if you're a public servant, and we elect public servants. Although I think that you know, it was on display today that a lot of these people want to serve themselves or put on a show for their party that they don't they're not putting the interests of the country first and foremost. Certainly, you know, the one topic that should have been discussed in way more detailed today was national security, a gap of vulnerability, hypersonic missile technology, the next generation of warfare, awoke, military recruitment, and I just sit there and to be honest, I got bored by all of it in a pretty short period of time. But I think you're right. I think it really is about people. I mean, I think this is what we're watching unfold out in California right now, and that is a massive failure of government, and so many people put their faith, hope, and trust in government. But back to Fetterman for just a minute. I was, as you know, a big supporter of doctor Oz in that race. I do believe that a big impact. I think that it was Doug Mostreano's no exceptions for rape, vincest mother's life. I think hurt the entire Republican ticket that year. I'm not saying he's a bad guy. I think it's an untenable position politically, and I guess that's his heartfelt view. But with that said, I mean he lost by the largest margin to a non incumbent Democratic candidate since the nineteen forties, and I think that hurt the rest of the Republican ticket of Fetterman to his credit, I mean, I will be very, very honest. I never thought he'd make the recovery that he seems to have now made. I'm happy that he made it. I even said at the time I wish him the best in terms of his health. I think it was horrible what he went through. I'm glad he's doing better. But what's happened to him? Is it that I was wrong about him the whole time? Or has he changed now?
This was always who John Fetterman was I've been covering Fetterman. I would argue that the only time Fetterman wasn't his true at self was when he was in recovery. I think other people had a hand in, and that was during the general election between him and Oz. I think other people at a hand in suggesting a message that was more progressive than John has ever been. And once he recovered, not just from the stroke but also the depression, right, we had to remember that he recognized that he was depressed and placed himself in doctor's care for to recover from that.
He By the way, if all of a sudden you have an inability to communicate and talk and you suffer a stroke and your whole life has been turned upside down and you struggle to get words out as he was struggling at the time, it's kind of understandable to me that that would be very frustrating and somebody at that point in time would would get very down over that. That does not seem unusual to me, No, it's not unusual.
Plus, you have to remember it was a heart condition that led to his stroke. And then many of us know who know someone that has a heart condition heart when you have a heart condition, you are almost always depressed. It's just part. It's just something that goes hand in hand. So I think that was you know, I mean, I'm not a doctor, but I suspect that contributed to it. So Betterman as a mayor was you know, when he ran for mayor for en Braddock in two thousand and five, I remember covering it. He won by one vote. It was an absentee ballot, and so he was He never ever was part of the establishment. They never wanted him to run for Senate in twenty sixteen, They never wanted him to run through lieutenant governor. People forget that he upended a sitting lieutenant governor and a primary Tom Wolf's governor. And so he's never been anybody's boy, right, Like he's never been anybody's guy. He's our guy, right, He's not anybody's guy. He's not the left, he's not the right. He's just a very pragmatic person who you know, if you've ever driven down Braddock Avenue in Braddock, Pennsylvania, you know you have to be very very good at governing and not very very good at being an ideological profit.
So do you believe that this is real. I mean, I know Joe Manchin personally. I like Joe Manchin, and Joe Manchin, you know, oftentimes in the end gave into the pressure of the Democratic Caucus. The Emflay Reduction Act be in the probably the the most recent big example, because he was dead set against it. He said he wasn't going to vote for it. He eventually capitulated he did vote for it, and I thought, and his popularity had never been higher when he was opposing it, and then when he in fact changed his position, his popularity never got lower.
That's exactly right. Look betterman walks the lock. I mean, he says it, and he does it, and and he he stands up for his you know, he if he's going to tell you, hey, I'm not doing that unless this, this and this happens, and this, this, and this doesn't happen, he's not going to do it. He doesn't care. He never has. He does what And and look, people forget that the job of a US Senator, or the job of a member of Congress, or even a state local rep and senator is to represent your state or your district. And somewhere along the line it became the things became twisted and now you're supposed to represent your party and Susan wants nothing to do with that. And you know, look, without I will I will stand by this statement. Lake and Riley Act would have never gotten where it was it is if it be if he hadn't been the first Democrat to say I'm supporting it.
Last question, and I have to run. Do you think you'll ever become an independent or a Republican?
I don't think. I mean, look look at the history of that happening in our state with Arlen Spector right arlet director was moved by you know, offered you know, flowers and gold and chocolate by by Obama kidding obviously Obama and Biden. Then as soon as they got his vote, they never talked to them.
Are are they good? I don't think that's going to be the case with Republicans.
I think they're gonna need him on energy, borders, Israel, defense nominees. I think they're gonna they're definitely gonna need his help. Selena, we appreciate you being with us.
Thank you.
Eight hundred and ninety four one, Shawn our number if you want to be a part of the programmer and you'll be glad you did. On top of everything. All right, let me go to Pete Hegseth from earlier today. So much of this was just predictable, gratuitous revert to form, you know, radical Democrats that that that just they they they's just so predictable. It's all about smear, slander, PRIs merchment. They have no ideas what this is. What the conversation should have been about all day today was America's gap of vulnerability, created in large part by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. You know, how come China has hypersonic missile technology with maneuverability, and we don't know what is the next generation of warfare going to look like? Because I doubt it's going to be on a battlefield in years to come, and and and these wars will be fought in offices, you know, by people pushing buttons, And are we prepared for that next generation of warfare? Are we using artificial intelligence? There was there was so much that they could have discussed that they didn't want to discuss because they're they're more interested in just scoring cheap political points and trying to bruise up and beat up you know, Pete hegseth for a time in his life where he acknowledges he was not a perfect person and how his life has changed. They don't want that part of the story. Americans are, on the other hand, they love redemption stories, and they believe in redemption, and they believe in second chances, and they believe in you know, the Latin derivative or repentances to change your heart. And he testified at length about his his faith. At one point, you know, he talked about this coordinated smear campaign it's happened since the day he was announced, the left wing media against him.
And here's what he said, mister chairman, thank you for that opportunity.
You are correct. We undertook this.
Responsibility with an obligation to the troops to do right by them, for our warfighters. And what became very evident to us from the beginning, there was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. That was clear from moment one. And what we knew is that it wasn't about me. Most of it was about President Donald Trump, who's had to endure the very same thing for much longer amounts of time. And he endured it incredibly strong ways, so we in some ways knew it was coming, we didn't understand the depth of the dishonesty that would come with it. So from story after story in the media, left wing media, we saw anonymous source, anonymous source based on second or third hand accounts, and time and time again, stories would come out and people would reach out to me and say, you know, I've spoken to this reporter about who you really are, and I was willing to go on the record, but they didn't print my quote. They didn't print any of my quotes. Or I've worked with you for ten years, or i was your accountant, or I was your chief operating officer, or I was your board member, or I was with you on one hundred different tour stops for Concerned Veterans for America. No one called me, no one asked about your conduct on the record or off the record. Instead, a small handful of anonymous sources were allowed to drive a smear campaign an agenda about me because our left wing media in America today sadly doesn't care about the truth.
This is why good people never want to go into public service. People don't want to endure that. And one of the things I know about Pete, having worked with him, having been a colleague of his for so long, is he just doesn't.
Back away from a fight.
It's not who he is, it's not in his DNA, and it's a guy that lives, breathes sleep the military, as evidenced by his entire life and career. This is his life's passion. He spoke at length, and it was only during his time when he got to give his opening statement that we got his vision for the Department of Defense on how we're going to rebuild the military, re establish deterrence, that peace through strength will come back responsibly in wars, and how the DoD standards will achieve peace through strength.
He goes into detail.
This is what matters in a hearing for a Secretary of Defense, but not if you're a liberal Democrat.
We're going to rebuild our military, always matching threats to capabilities. This includes reviving our defense industrial base, reforming the acquisitions as you mentioned, mister chairman, no more value of death for new defense companies, modernizing our nuclear triad, ensuring the Pentagon can pass an audit and rapidly fielding merging technologies. And number three We're going to re establish deterrence. First and foremost, we will defend our homeland, our borders, and our skies. Second, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo Pacific from the communist Chinese. And finally, we will responsibly end wars to ensure that we prioritize our resources to reorient to larger threats. We can no longer count on reputational deterrence. We need real deterrence. The Department of Defense under Donald Trump will achieve peace through strength, and in pursuing these America First national security goals will remain patriotically apolitical and stridently constitutional, Unlike the current administration. Politics should play no part in military matters. We are not Republicans, we are not Democrats. We are American warriors. Our standards will be high, and they will be equal, not equitable, that's a very different word. We need to make sure every warrior is fully qualified on their assigned weapons system, every pilot's fully qualified and current on the aircraft they are flying. And every general or flag officer is selected for leadership or promotion purely based on performance, readiness, and merit. Leaders at all levels will be held accountable, and war fighting and lethality and the readiness of the troops and their families will be our only focus.
It was very heartwarming to actually see a lot of Navy Seals and other veterans and patriots that showed up on Capitol Hills today to support Pete Hesth. Two of them are with us now, Navy Seals Rob Sweetman and Bill Browner with US and their partners in Seals, veterans, patriots for Pete Hegseth. Guys, welcome to the program, Thanks for.
Being with us, Thanks for having the show.
Oh, it started out great.
I think how many people got kicked out before the thing even really got started about three or four.
Absolutely, we had a strong contingent of Navy Seals and combat veterans that we were out here at four thirty in the morning and freezing our butts off because we get up early to fight for what we believe in. None of the leftis are going to wake up early. So we built the entire Senate room. We had a couple of pinkies we called them because they were in pink stuff and they just looked bizarre, they smelled, and it wasn't long before mister Hegseth began to speak, that they had loud outbursts, disrespecting the entire process. They were immediately. My hats are off to Capitol Police because they've moved very quickly and got them out of there immediately, and we stayed there in peaceful silence, just showing our support for mister Hegseth. And that's what we're doing. We support them.
Rob Why do you support Pete and why is there so much support among rank and file? I would argue it's probably my guest because he comes from there.
That's absolutely right. And we're a little bit sick of what we've seen, right with Secretary of Austin. We've got Afghanistan, we've got an open border, we've got the force jabs that eight thousand service members, including many of my friends, were exited from the military, lost their careers. It's sickening. So when we look at getting a fresh start, we want somebody that's a war fighter that knows what it's like down range. And that's why sixty Keo Romeo, our organization, sponsored this whole event. We brought everybody out under the guidance of Bill Brown, who's just a legend and bringing our guys together, but also men and women, and every branch was out here. All also had a march from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial towards the Capitol. Just a beautiful show of our support. Because this is the right guy. We need somebody who understands the warfighter. It is going to bring it back to a status lethality where people aren't afraid to join the military because of some transgender thing and they're going to have some weird vaccine shoved in them. Just want to get out there and serve our country, plain and sim point, Pete can bring that to us.
Quick break, We'll come right back. We'll continue.
Navy Seals, Rob Sweetman and Bill Brown, who showed up in favor of Pete Hegseth at the hearing earlier today. More with them on the other side. We'll get to your calls coming up. Ran Paul also as well. Eight hundred ninety four one. Shawn is on number. As we continue.
The final hour of the Sean Hannity Show was up next.
Hang on for Sean's conservative solutions. All right, we continue now, Navy Seals, Rob Sweetman, Bill Around and many others showing up in support of Pete. Hegg said that the hearings earlier today, Bill, what's your take on what the events today and what was your take to on the superfluous personal questioning and the lack of substance by so many of these people.
Well, you know, if you don't have a point, that's what you do. You become a draw McQueen. You know, we were the adults in the room. We were the adults in the confirmation hearings. We were the dolts out here in the what we did our march, we were you know, we held the more high ground. There's a serious problem lack of judgment the Congression investigations to anybody who had any type of decision making power up to.
That, you know, loot, I look at where we need to prioritize. I am so worried about this military gap of vulnerability and not being prepared for the next general ration of warfare. Bill, When when I talk about that, am I wrong? Because I feel like we've fallen behind and I feel like if Kind and Russia have weaponry that we don't have. You know, that scares me. The amount of investment is going to be massive. I want the best and brightest minds on it. I think artificial intelligence, we'd better stay ahead of the curve of our geopolitical foes or else they'll surpass us very very quickly. Do you feel that we are that we're achieving military preparedness at the level we need to and do you agree with me that the next generation of warfare is likely going to be fought in an air conditioned room?
Problem we have. There's two things you need to be successful in war. One is the tactical vantage and two is disciplined vantas. And guess what, you can't have discipline when you don't have accountability. You saw the fiasco in Afghanistan then spy balloon over sensitive military installations.
Yeah, we got a lot of noise in the background. Rob Sweetman, let me go back to you same question.
Yeah, I absolutely think that the warfare is changing and we're going to have to address that aggressively. If we're falling behind with bureaucratic policies and basically politicians that are leading the warfighter, then we're going to be two steps behind when we are facing an actual first world threat. I hope and I pray that we never go to war at that level but when are we ready? Are we really ready for that? And I think that taking a look at the choices that we've made recently, leaving behind military equipment at that level, while continuing to support Taliman, you know, fundamentally with finances, and then just leaving the border wide open, so we don't even have a check and balances on who's coming across and who's I mean, what are our threats? We were just talking about small militarized portable weapons systems that could be brought over the border.
What if that happen?
What are we going to do? And I think that the Pentagon has a responsibility take a look at all of these threats. And it's not going to be somebody who is I would say in an air conditioning room. It's going to be somebody who's aggressive, full of energy, can show us leadership and vision, somebody that the warfighters can get behind, whether it's digitally with drones or on the ground.
Who's on ground, Well, you're always going to need intelligence on the ground, You're always going to need some boots on the ground. But I do believe technology now is advancing to a point where the real victory in warfare is going to be. It's gonna be technology, and it's going to be the ability to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy by pressing buttons and offices. I really believe that, and I also believe the President Trump's vision for you know, the biggest iron dome ever created by man to protect the entire country from hypersonic Hypersonic technology is going to be a big part of it too, and it may even go down a great as legacy. Guys, I'm glad you showed up there today. Rob Sweetman, Bill Brown, appreciate you both. Eight hundred and nine four one.
Sean.
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