‘What could possibly go wrong?’: Swalwell’s desire to implement mobile phone voting scrutinised

Key Concepts

• California Gubernatorial Race: Discussion of potential candidates and their platforms.
• Voting by Phone: A proposed method of casting ballots via mobile devices.
• Eric Swalwell: A prominent figure in the California race, facing scrutiny over past associations.
• Fang Fang Affair: A past scandal involving Eric Swalwell and a suspected Chinese operative.
• Russia-Ukraine War Peace Deal: Analysis of President Trump's proposed peace plan.
• Territorial Concessions: A key element of Trump's plan, requiring Ukraine to cede territory.
• NATO Article 5 Style Security Guarantee: A potential security framework for Ukraine within Trump's plan.
• Jeffrey Epstein Files: Investigations into individuals with ties to the convicted pedophile.
• Clinton Testimony: House Republicans' demand for Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify regarding Epstein.
• Pleading the Fifth: The legal right to refuse to answer self-incriminating questions.
• Clinton Family Scandals: Historical controversies surrounding Bill and Hillary Clinton.
• Democratic Party Evolution: The shift of the Democratic party towards the left.
• Hillary Clinton's Public Appearances: Analysis of her recent media engagements.

California Gubernatorial Race and Voting by Phone

The discussion begins with the upcoming California gubernatorial race, acknowledging it as a one-party state dominated by Democrats. Two prominent candidates are highlighted: Katie Porter, whose campaign is described as having "imploded" after a "friendly CBS interview," and Eric Swalwell.

Eric Swalwell's Proposal: Voting by Phone Swalwell has put forth a bold idea: allowing Californians to vote by phone. He argues that if citizens can conduct financial transactions, healthcare appointments, and banking online, they should be able to vote via their phones.

Critique of Swalwell and Voting by Phone The speaker expresses strong skepticism regarding Swalwell's proposal and his candidacy.

• Intelligence and Past Scandals: Swalwell is characterized as having an IQ "one and a half standard deviations below the mean on a good day." More significantly, the "Fang Fang affair" is brought up, referring to Swalwell's past romantic involvement with a woman identified as a Chinese operative. This is presented as a disqualifying factor for public office, with the speaker stating Swalwell has "never offered a square explanation for that entire scandal."
• Security Concerns: The idea of voting by phone is deemed "quintessentially really really stupid" and an "additional layer of insecurity" to already perceived insecure elections. The speaker questions the reliability of mobile carriers like AT&T and Verizon for casting votes, humorously suggesting "a million to two million things that could possibly go wrong."
• Disqualification: The speaker asserts that the Fang Fang affair should have disqualified Swalwell from public office for life.

Russia-Ukraine War Peace Deal Analysis

The conversation shifts to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with a focus on a proposed peace deal.

Marco Rubio's Optimism and Trump's Plan Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about negotiators reaching a deal after meeting with a delegation from Kyiv in Geneva, stating the issues were "not insurmountable." President Trump has presented a 28-point proposal, though some provisions have been previously rejected by Ukraine. Trump is quoted as saying, "We have to get it ended. So, I do want to Well, then he can continue then he can continue to fight his little heart out." He has set a deadline of Thursday for an answer from Kyiv.

Analysis of Trump's Peace Plan The speaker provides a detailed breakdown of Trump's plan:

• Territorial Concessions: A key element of the plan is that "Ukraine's going to have to give up territory." The speaker has been advocating for this for at least two years, stating bluntly that "Ukraine is not going to gain back territory." The difficulty of convincing Russia to relinquish acquired territory is highlighted as a "non-starter" for many.
• Critique from the Left: The speaker dismisses criticism from "leftwing media" like The New York Times and MSNBC, labeling them "hacks" and "hardcore Slava Ukraine crowd," who are calling it a "Putin plan." The speaker asserts that Trump is a "realist" who "lives in reality."
• NATO Article 5 Style Security Guarantee: This is presented as a part of the plan that the speaker is "less confident of" and "not certain of yet."
  • Potential Support: The speaker finds the potential 10-year time limit on this guarantee appealing, as it's "not a perpetuity commitment."
  • Concerns: The primary concern is that if Russia were to invade within those 10 years, the guarantee would commit US, British, and French troops, which is described as "potentially a very serious thing." More details are needed before offering enthusiastic support.
• Overall Assessment: Despite reservations about the security guarantee, the speaker finds the plan "clever" and believes it "broadly speaking map[s] out with what I've been thinking a a possible peace deal could look like for the past couple years."

Jeffrey Epstein Files and Clinton Testimony

The discussion turns to the ongoing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's connections.

House Republicans' Demand for Clinton Testimony House Republicans, including James Comer, have ordered Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify next month regarding their ties to the convicted pedophile. It is noted that Epstein was a "staunch Democrat."

Likelihood of Clinton Testimony The speaker is highly skeptical that the Clintons will testify in person.

• Pleading the Fifth: The prediction is that they will "plead the fifth... until eternity."
• Bill Clinton's Reluctance: "Slick Willie" is not expected to want to be near a microphone, especially when asked about his numerous flights on Epstein's plane, the "Lolita Express."
• Hillary Clinton's Potential Appearance: While Hillary Clinton has been making media appearances, the speaker believes her chances of testifying are "pretty low." Her motivation for media appearances is speculated to be seeking another "multi-million dollar book deal" or an "insatiable appetite... to sit before the cameras and pin."

Epstein's Political Affiliations and Trump's Relationship The speaker emphasizes that Jeffrey Epstein was a "hardcore Democrat" who "hated Trump."

• Texting During Michael Cohen Hearing: Evidence is cited of Epstein texting US Virgin Islands congresswoman Stacy Plaskett during the 2019 Michael Cohen hearing, seeking "get Trump talking points in real time."
• Trump's Ousting from Mar-a-Lago: Epstein's animosity towards Trump is attributed to Trump having "kicked him out of Mara Lago" because Trump became successful without involvement in "horrific pedophilia and child sex trafficking operations."
• Hypocrisy of Democrats: The speaker criticizes Democrats like Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Ro Khanna for not applying the same scrutiny to Bill Clinton's ties to Epstein as they do to Donald Trump, citing a lack of "intellectual consistency."
• Michael Wolf's Account: Michael Wolf is mentioned as a "vehement anti-Trumper" who stated that Epstein believed Trump may have alerted authorities to his activities, leading to his hatred of Trump.

Hillary Clinton's Recent Media Appearances and Political Relevance Hillary Clinton's recent media appearances, including her "daydreaming about a goodbye Trump announcement," are discussed.

• Desire for Trump's Departure: The speaker acknowledges the sentiment of wanting a definitive end to the Trump era, likening it to a national announcement that "the problem and we have solved it. He is gone."
• Clinton's Enduring Presence: The question is raised whether Hillary Clinton is still a "force to be reckoned with" and why Democrats believe she still has "sway with the American electorate."
• The "Clinton Crime Family": The speaker expresses a long-standing frustration with the Clintons' continued media presence, referring to them as the "Clinton crime family" and having dealt with "crimes here for almost a half century," dating back to Whitewater in the late 1970s.
• Party Shift: The Clintons, once considered "famously moderate Democrats," have moved "considerably far to the left" to align with the party's evolution.
• "Star Power": Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are identified as the two most famous Democrats alive, possessing "superstar power" and "quote unquote star power," in contrast to Joe Biden.
• Epstein Scandal's Potential Impact: The speaker expresses a hopeful, albeit potentially "pollyannaish," belief that the increased focus on Epstein could lead to "Hillary entering stage left" and a resolution to the "Clinton related Epstein drama."

Conclusion The segment concludes with a thank you to Josh Hammer for his insights, with the understanding that the situation will be monitored.