Karl Rove: Economists predicting economic collapse aren't helping

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Now, softwood lumber, which is used in American home construction, and we did it on the basis of national security concerns. Now, how that fits, I don't know. Last time we built a warship out of wood was like in the 1860s. So if we took that tariff off, it would reduce the cost of lumber that would go into a housing, thereby reducing housing and making it more accessible. The good thing is a lot of communities are starting to look at their rules and regulations regarding development and saying, why are we making it more difficult for people to build housing and more expensive for them to build housing? And we, you know, even, you know, sort of liberal enclaves, here I live in Austin, Texas. You talk about it's Moscow on the Little Colorado River. But even here in a liberal town, they're thinking, why do we have all these rules and regulations and these delays and allowing people to build housing that local residents can afford? And I think that's a healthy movement. And it's happening all across the country. So to your point, consumer confidence actually went down this month. So it was at 91% it went down to 89.2%. It doesn't help when 60 of 61 economists at Bloomberg predict that the economy is going to suffer in 2025. And they were wrong. It doesn't help when Goldman Sachs. twice said that we're heading towards a recession that doesn't help does it no it doesn't it does not and look We've got to place this in perspective. Yes, these were great numbers. And yes, those economists were wrong. I mean, you know, economists are sort of like lawyers. On the one hand, this and on the other hand, that. But we have the makings of a strong economy. We just need to stay at it. We had some unusual circumstances that made the 4.5 or 4.3% better than expected and strong. Let's not kid ourselves that we're not going to be able to necessarily repeat that again, but we can have above-trend growth if we stay focused on pro-growth policies. The administration, for example, is doing a terrific job behind the scenes of getting rid of the regulatory burden imposed upon us by the Biden administration. Think about this. The Biden administration, and I'm going to be off on the number, and maybe like a trillion eight in additional burden on the economy in four years. That is twice as much as was done by Obama in eight years. And this administration, which in its first, President Trump in his first term, undid a lot of the unnecessary red tape and regulatory excesses. His people are quietly going about that work again, and that's going to help next year. Understood. Across the country, United Health Group is working with local partners to build healthier communities every day. That includes helping partners like the Goodacre provide 45,000 meals and lower A1C in the Twin Cities. And helping Hello Family Dool Us deliver 44% fewer underweight births in Spartanburg. Because building healthier communities starts by giving people access to the care and services they need to live healthier lives.

Learn more at UnitedHealthgroup.com slash commitment. Nearly home. Isn't home where we all want to be? Reba here forreelter.com, the pro's number one most trusted app. If you're hearing me, I'm going to assume you're awake. And if you aren't, Because while you're snoozing, someone else might be finding your dream home. That's where Realtor.com comes in. With over 500,000 new real listings straight from the pros every month, that's a lot of chances to find the place you've been dreaming of. Whether you're searching for a two-story mid-century with a pool or a little extra space with a spa-inspired bathroom, Realtor.com can help you find it today. So quit hitting that snooze button. Realtor.com isn't sleeping on finding your dream home. and neither should you. Download the Realtor.com app today because you're nearly home. Make it real with Realtor.com. Pro's number one most trusted app based on August 2024 proprietary survey. Over 500,000 new listings every month based on average new for sale and rental listings, February 24 through January 2025. I want to go over to Venezuela and what our objective is. We have now put, they say, a CV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft, which are used by special operation forces, have flown into the region from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. I was talking to a special operator already. He says, no, their special ops are now on these ships ready to go. Here's what Marco Rubio said yesterday. Cut 15. The current status quo with the Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States. The status quo, that they operate and cooperate with terrorist organizations against the national interests of the United States, not just cooperate, but partner with and participate in activities to threaten the national interest of the United States. So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic. So it's intolerable to the status quo. So you've seen these standoffs before. You're also not naive to the downside. Should something happen? Your thoughts. Well, I think the administration is pushing this policy appropriately. I think Marco Rubio is exactly right. This is a threat to the United States security interests. We have a regime that openly participates with our enemies, and not only that, but is illegitimate. You know, when the international community, almost to every nation, says the last several elections have been illegitimate, you know something's wrong with the people who are in power there. And it is in our national interest to have this vital part, this vital part of our hemisphere to be governed by a government that is democratic and legitimate, representative of its people, and a friend and ally of the United States. They have the largest reserves of oil in the world. Why would we not want that to be in the hands of friends of the United States rather than adversaries of the United States?

And I think the administration is playing this well. I bet you that by the that then in the coming year, Maduro is out of power and democracy and freedom returns to Venezuela. And when it does. Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are going to have been the architects of it. No question, but people get worried about Libya. They see Libya. They see the regime change. It's still chaotic there. They worry about some other situations. Mike Pompeo, I asked him, what is our responsibility? He's a former Secretary of State CIA. What is our responsibility should Maduro go? Cut 25. It'll be the Venezuelan people's responsibility, but there's many things we can do to support them. Most importantly, we can help rebuild what's been a disastrous set of policies about their economy that's destroyed their capacity to thrive, which is their oil sector. So American companies can come in and sell their products. Slumberjay, Halliburton, Chevron, all our big energy companies can go down to Venezuela. build out an economic capitalist model, which will restore Venezuela to what it was. You and I remember, it was a great economy for so long, and this knucklehead has destroyed it. And the thing is, I guess he feels as though if he lasts this long, I think something's got to let him know that you could either go to Belarus, Turkey, Moscow, or you could end up in jail the rest of your life. Somehow that's got to be given him, he's got to be given that choice. Yeah, well, first of all, three things. Venezuela was once the democracy, the democratic and prosperous example of what the Western Hemisphere could be, of what South America could be. And they were once prosperous. They're the most prosperous nation in South America. And what happened was along came two despots, Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, and they ruined the economy, destroyed the freedoms, and centralized it, centralized the authority in the government. The third thing is, is remember how he stays in power. He ships cheap oil to Cuba and return the Cuban secret intelligence services provide him the bodyguards and security apparatus to keep him in power and the military guidance to keep his military under his thumb. And again, to keep him in power. So by breaking the flow of cheap oil from Venezuela to Cuba, we're pressuring not only the Cubans, but we're also pressuring. the Venezuelans because they can no longer afford to pay the Cubans. So again, it's going to take time to roll out. There are going to be lots of opportunities to go sideways. And I think Secretary Pompeo is absolutely right. It's going to take American involvement in to help them through that difficult period. But the Venezuelans turned out in the last several elections and overwhelmingly voted to throw Maduro out of power. And he had to dummy up.

the election returns in order to claim that he could stay in power, so gross that even the international community rejected his claim to power. No question. Lastly, JD Vance got the endorsement of Turning Point USA's Erika Kirk and probably that whole, you know, all the people that attended 30,000 plus and maybe people watching around the country. Is it his nomination to lose? Well, look. It was a great get for him, particularly since the Turning Point announced that it was going to organize all 99 counties in Iowa for him. And JD Vance is smart enough to know there are several geological ages that are going to come and go before the 2028 contest frames up. The Mesozoic, the Paleozoic, the Jurassic. And he's smart enough to know, don't take it for granted. Yes, Vice presidents of sitting presidents tend to have, if they want the nomination, they get it. It was 1960. Richard Nixon wanted the Republican nomination. He got it. 1968, Hubert Humphrey wanted the Democratic nomination. LBJ was leaving office. He got it. In 1988, George H.W. Bush wanted Ronald Reagan's slot, and he got the Republican nomination. 2000 Al Gore. You see a pattern developing here? Having said that, only in twice in American history has the sitting vice president succeeded the president in whose administration he served. Martin Van Buren in 1836 and George H.W. Bush in 1988. And JD Vance is smart enough to know that there's a lot between now and 2008 that could make that nomination both his or not his and worth having. And he's focused on trying to make it worth having. And how Trump finishes could really help JD Vance if he finishes strong, right? And he is a player in the administration. Carl Rove, always great, insightful. We love having you on. Thanks so much, Carl. Have a great Christmas. You too, buddy. Merry Christmas to you and yours. You got it. Cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at Fox Newswineshop.com with code FN Radio 20. 20% discount excludes wine club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31st, 2026. Must be 21 order to order. Please drink responsibly.