Putin Releases Hostage, Earns US Praise as Humanitarian

>> THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER," LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. KAILEY: TONIGHT, AIA EUPHORIA, THE ENTHUSIASM GETS A FRESH BOOST FROM ENCOURAGING RESULTS FROM META AND TESLA. MEANWHILE, MARK ZUCKERBERG HIS FUTURE IN CALIFORNIA IN THE STATE'S BILLIONAIRE TECH SITE. WE DISCUSSED WHAT IT COULD MEAN WITH A GUEST. PLUS, PRAISE FOR PUTIN -- RUSSIA AGREES TO RESUME TALKS WITH UKRAINE AND THE U.S. AND STEVE WITKOFF CALLS VLADIMIR PUTIN A HUMANITARIAN FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF AN AMERICAN. WE WILL GET MORE WITH A GUEST. AND, ANOTHER RED STATE RALLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP IN SOUTH CAROLINA TONIGHT TO CAMPAIGN FOR SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM, SISTER OF THE LATE LINDSEY GRAHAM. IT'S A RACE THAT REPUBLICANS SUDDENLY CANNOT TAKE FOR GRANTED. WELCOME TO "BALANCE OF POWER," I'M KAILEY LEINZ ALONGSIDE JOE MATHIEU. JOE: WE BEGIN WITH BIG TECH AND BLOCKBUSTER EARNINGS. TESLA AND META REPORTED STRONG THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS AND ED LUDLOW JOINS US FROM SAN FRANCISCO WITH THE NUMBERS. WE ARE THINKING CAPEX AND FORECAST, THEY SEEM TO BE GOING WELL. ED: IN META'S CASE IS MULTIFACETED BUT THE CORE BUSINESS IS STRONG. THE STOCK IS PUSHING HIGHER AND AFTER HOURS AND THE DATA, RECORD QUARTER FOR REVENUES, GROWTH IN THE ADVERTISING BUSINESS, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES RANGE HAS NARROWED TO 45 BILLION AND THERE'S NO FORMAL GUIDANCE GOING INTO 2027 BUT ALL OF THE COMMENTARY FROM THE META LEADERSHIP IS THAT THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL IS GOOD, AI IS ADDING A LOT OF VALUE TO THE CORE BUSINESSES AND IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE BIG RED HEADLINE AND THE QUESTION ABOUT MARK ZUCKERBERG, WHICH YOU TELL ME IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO. KAILEY: I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT INS UP BEING IN THE EARNINGS RELEASE, WISE IT PERTINENT TO THE COMPANY AND NOT JUST MARK ZUCKERBERG'S CHOICE OF RESIDENCE? ED: META ISSUING CLASSY SHARES IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE REGULATORY FILING FOR PROP 40, WHICH IS ON THE BALLOT IN CALIFORNIA FOR A ONE-TIME 5% TAX ON BILLIONAIRES. HE MADE KNOWN TO THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD AT META THAT IF PROP 40 WERE TO PASS HE WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE COMPANY IS DOING THIS CLASS C SHARE ISSUANCE WHERE EVERY OWNER GETS ONE EQUIVALENT C SHARE, TO MAKE ZUCKERBERG WHOLE AND ACCOUNT FOR THAT TAX BILL AND IN THE PROCESS KEEP HIM AT THE HELM OF THE COMPANY BE THAT IN CALIFORNIA OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE FUTURE. BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT CAME OUT IN THE EARNINGS RELEASE AND THE FILINGS, IT WAS CONFUSING. THEY SEEMED DIFFERENT BUT THEY ARE COMPLETELY THE SAME. JOE: BRING US INSIDE THE TESLA REPORT. YOU'RE LOOKING AT FREE CASH FLOW, GROWTH MARGINS BEATING ESTIMATES AND MRS. AGAIN -- HOW COME? ED: MISSED BUT SPENDING WAS LESS THAN EXPECTED IN THE QUARTER SO FROM A CASH FLOW PERSPECTIVE, SURPRISE POSITIVE CASH FLOW FOR TESLA, THE STOCK IS SURPRISINGLY FLAT. IN THE LANGUAGE THEY TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS SPACEX DID, COMMITTED TO BUILDING OUT COMPUTE FOR AI AMBITIONS BUT THE COURT TV BUSINESS IS BASICALLY STAGNANT. SLIGHT MISS ON THE TOP LINE, SLIGHT BEAT ON ADJUSTED EPS BUT THERE'S NO WONDERFUL MACRO STORY OVERHANGING THAT. BUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM SO TO SPEAK IS WHETHER MUSK IS AFTER A SPACEX AND TESLA MERGER AS HE WAS ASKED ABOUT ON THE SPACEX CALL 24 HOURS AGO. KAILEY: HE REITERATED THAT HE THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA. ED, THINK YOU FOR JOINING US. TURNING TO THE COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP SET FOR ANOTHER RALLY IN ANOTHER RED STATE TONIGHT. HE LOOKS TO DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR HIS HAND-PICKED SUCCESSOR TO THE LATE SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, HIS SISTER DARLENE WHO WAS IN A TIGHTER THAN EXPECTED SENATE RACE. LET'S BRING IN JOSH WINGROVE. WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT STUMPED FOR HER IN THE PRIMARY, AND HELPED PULL HER OVER THE LINE, WHAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE THINKING? JOSH: THEY SEEM CONFIDENT BUT THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THIS IS IN PLAY. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHERE TRUMP WEIGHED IN, ONE WAS TEXAS, KEN PAXTON'S VULNERABILITIES ARE LEAVING THAT SENATE RACE MUCH CLOSER VAN REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE FOR COMFORT. THE WIDENING HAS HAPPENED AS DIESEL PRICES SHOOTS UP. I THINK WE WILL HEAR THE SPEECH HE'S BEEN GIVING PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY. AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET SENATOR DARLINE GRAHAM OVER THE LINE ELECTION DAY. SHE WAS ON FOX NEWS EARLIER APPEALING FOR DONATIONS, SAYING SHE'S BEING OUTSPENT BY HER OPPONENT. WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES. THERE ARE SOME DEEP RED STATES THAT ARE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. JOE: WE ARE HEARING FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN THAT HE'S WILLING TO TALK PEACE WHICH WE'VE SEEN MANY TIMES, STEVE WITKOFF CALLED HIM A HUMANITARIAN WHICH IS A REMARKABLE THOUGHT VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE SPOKE TO THIS IDEA EARLIER. >> AND AGREE WITH STEVE WITKOFF SAYING SOMETHING NICE TO A PERSON WHO RELEASED AN AMERICAN HOSTAGE. HE IS A DIPLOMAT AND HIS JOB IS TO GET A JOB DONE. I HEAR MUCH LESS ABOUT BRINGING AN AMERICAN HOSTAGE HOME TO HIS FAMILY. WE SHOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT HE SAID TO GET IT DONE. JOE: JOSH, WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT THE RHETORIC AROUND THE RELEASE OF THIS TEACHER, WRONGFULLY HELD AND DETAINED IN RUSSIA, AND THERE'S A NEW FRAMEWORK TODAY, DO WE KNOW WHAT'S IN IT? JOSH: WE DON'T THE COMMENTS HAVE BASICALLY BEEN THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS. TRUMP TODAY BOASTED THE AMERICANS DIDN'T GIVE ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR THE HOSTAGE RELEASE BUT OBSERVERS WILL SEE A DOTTED LINE AT A MINIMUM. TRUMP HAS BEEN STEADILY MOVING THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS MORE TOWARD THE RUSSIAN POSITION OR AWAY FROM THE UKRAINIAN POSITION . PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SAYING ALMOST A WEEK AGO NOW THAT THE U.S. IS PRESSING FOR AN END TO THE WAR. WHAT IS RUSSIA GETTING IN EXCHANGE FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE? TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. QUESTIONS ARE SWIRLING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DISTANCED ITSELF FROM THE REPORTED MOVE BY ELON MUSK TO CURTAIL SOME SUPPORT SERVICES, STARLINK SUPPORT SERVICES TO UKRAINE. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SIGN THAT THE AMERICANS ARE STANDING FIRMLY BEHIND UKRAINIANS OR THAT THE RUSSIANS HAVE ANY PARTICULAR INCENTIVE TO END THE WAR. JOE: APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. JOINING US FOR MORE ON ALL THE ISSUES MAKING NEWS TODAY, FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, JIM GILMORE, SERVED AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AMBASSADOR FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE DURING HIS FIRST TERM. GREAT TO SEE YOU. I WANT TO GET TO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STORY AS WE CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE OF GEOPOLITICS. WE GOT WORD THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS SENDING AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR NON-EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN SAUDI ARABIA. THERE WERE EARLIER REPORTS OF A HOUTHI ATTACK ON SAUDI ARAMCO -- WHAT ARE WE PREPARING FOR? MR. GILMORE: THE HOUTHIS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL CONTINUE ATTACKING SAUDI ARABIA. WHILE THEY DID NOT DAMAGE FACILITIES TODAY THERE WERE DEATHS AND IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT IT IS IN DOUBT. ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE A LOOK AT TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF COUNTRIES ARE RALLYING TO SAUDI ARABIA ON THIS AND THAT'S NECESSARY FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. YOU HAVE THE PROGRAM OF TURKEY AND PAKISTAN THAT ARE BEGINNING TO RALLY UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENT. THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS SAID THEY WILL HELP PROTECT SAUDI ARABIA. THE U.S. IS A MAJOR SECURITY PERSON BUT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THERE. FRANKLY THIS IS A MAJOR GEOPOLITICAL ADVANCE ON BEHALF OF SAUDI ARABIA. I WOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE FACT THAT IRAN THROUGH ITS PROXIES ARE DISCERNING THAT IN THE ONGOING DAYS THEY WILL CONTROL OR AT LEAST INFLUENCE THE SUPPLY OF OIL AND ENERGY OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST. THIS WILL CONTINUE. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE EUROPEAN ASPECTS BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT. KAILEY: WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT, THE DEADLIEST WAR SINCE WORLD WAR II IS ONGOING. I WONDER AS A FORMER DIPLOMAT YOURSELF WHAT YOU MAKE OF STEVE WYCOFF'S CHARACTERIZATION TODAY AS VLADIMIR PUTIN AS A HUMANITARIAN. YES, A HOSTAGE WAS RELEASED BUT IS PUT IN A HUMANITARIAN ON THOSE GROUNDS? MR. GILMORE: NO, PUTIN IS A WAR CRIMINAL AND HE SHOULD BE TREATED AS A WAR CRIMINAL. YOU CAN THANK SOMEBODY FOR RELEASING A HOSTAGE IF YOU REALLY THINK THAT SOMETHING TO PRAISE THEM FOR. I WOULD NOT BE FLATTERING ON THE WORLD STAGE, VLADIMIR PUTIN. I THINK THE BIGGER PICTURE IS WHERE ARE WE HEADED? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT -- WHERE ARE WE TRYING TO GET TO? THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC REVERSAL OF U.S. POLICY WITH RESPECT TO THE UKRAINE WAR. VERY DRAMATIC. I WAS TRAVELING OVERSEAS WHEN I HEARD ABOUT A LOT OF THIS. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE DIESEL AND OIL PLAN THAT WILL PUT MONEY INTO THE POCKETS OF THE RUSSIANS BUT DRAMATIC PAUSING OF THE SANCTIONS BILL THAT WAS PASSED, THE GRAHAM SANCTIONS BILL PASSED. SULLINS KEY WAS ASKED BY THE PRESIDENT TO STEP DOWN WHICH I THINK IS ASTONISHING. I BELIEVE PERSONALLY WE NEED TO BE STANDING BEHIND UKRAINE. IF THERE'S ANOTHER PLAY AT WORK I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS. JOE: WE SELL WHAT YOU WROTE IN THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S APPROACH TO UKRAINE AND YOU SAID IS PAST TIME FOR THE PRESENT YOU -- PRESIDENT TO ASK LANE WHAT WORLD HE'S TRYING TO BRING ABOUT AND WHAT IS HIS GOAL? DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN ANSWER BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THIS PRESIDENT? DOES HE NOT SEEM TO BE SUPPORTIVE RUSSIA? MR. GILMORE: HE SEEMS TO BE FRIENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE RUSSIA BUT LISTEN, I WAS A SOLDIER DURING THE COLD WAR IN WEST GERMANY. I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE RUSSIANS ARE IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRIES, REESTABLISHING THEIR EMPIRE WHICH I BELIEVE IS WHAT PUTIN WANTS TO DO. IF THERE'S A COUNTERVAILING DEAL WE OUGHT TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT, IT'S A FOREIGN POLICY ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING THE FUTURE OF EUROPE AND OUR ALLIANCE AND FRIENDS AND FREEDOMS. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT AT STAKE. I THINK WE ARE ENTITLED TO EXPLANATIONS ON THE 180 DEGREE REVERSAL WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WEEK. KAILEY: IN ADDITION TO YOUR EXPANSE AS AN INVESTOR IN THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST TERM, AND YOUR SERVICE, WHICH WE THINK YOU FOR, YOU WERE A GOVERNOR IN THE CHAIR OF THE RNC AND WITH YOUR POLITICAL HAT ON, CONCERNED WITH GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES, WHY AMERICAN VOTERS SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE 180 DEGREE TURN ON UKRAINE? IF THE PRIMARY ISSUE AT HOME IS AFFORDABILITY AND THEY SEE THE PRESIDENT TRYING TO ADDRESS DIESEL PRICES BY ALLOWING MORE RUSSIAN DIESEL ON THE MARKET, WHY IS THAT A BAD THING? MR. GILMORE: AMERICA IS ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ISSUES AND I THINK THEY ARE IN THIS CASE AS WELL. I THINK THEY'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES GOING ON AND PARTICULARLY THIS DIRECTION TOWARD SUPPORTING PUTIN AND HIS WORK CRIMES AND AGGRESSIVE ATTACK ON UKRAINE. I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGER WE HAVE IF RUSSIA CARRIES OUT THEIR MISSION AND THAT'S THE POSITION I'VE TAKEN CONSISTENTLY. I ALSO THINK BIG PICTURE, THERE'S A LOT OF INSTABILITY GOING ON. JUST FINISHED TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND I BELIEVE THE EUROPEAN WAR IS THE PIVOT TO THE FUTURE. WE JUST SAW A DEMONSTRATION NEAR TAIWAN, THE NORTH KOREANS HAVE MOVED BACK TOWARD THEIR SOUTHERN BORDER TO CREATE INSTABILITY. THERE'S A UNIFICATION OF COUNTRIES THAT DON'T LIKE THE WESTERN ORDER THE UNITED STATES LEADS. I WILL ALSO SAY, AS LONG AS WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES WITH US ACROSS THE WORLD WE WILL BE FINE. BUT THERE'S A BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD AND WE WILL LEARN A LOT IN THE COMING ELECTION. JOE: LASTLY, ALECTO OR POLITICS. SPECIFICALLY IN VIRGINIA, WE SELL REMARKABLE NUMBERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ELECTION LABS TRACKER WITH NEARLY 13 MILLION AMERICANS ALREADY CASTING BALLOTS, THE STATES OF GEORGIA AND VIRGINIA ARE LEADING REPORTING SO FAR. WHAT DOES THIS EARLY ENERGY SIGNAL TO YOU WHEN IT COMES TO OUTCOMES IN NOVEMBER? MR. GILMORE: I DON'T KNOW YET, WE CAN'T SAY BUT WE SEEM TO BE, IF VIRGINIANS ARE MOTIVATED TO GO OUT, THIS IS MUCH MORE OF A BLUE STATE PARTICULARLY WITH THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON, D.C. SUBURBS. I THINK THE STATESMANLIKE TONE FROM THIS POINT ON, WITH AN UNDERSTANDING AND EXPLANATION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN EUROPE AND THE KEY IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP WORLDWIDE, WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND REALITY OF BEING WORLD LEADERS. I BELIEVE WE ARE AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE. IT'S THE ONE THING THAT CAN KEEP US AWAY FROM A REAL GLOBAL CONFLICT AND I THINK THE RUSSIANS AND CHINESE AND OTHERS ARE ANXIOUS TO DO. AMERICAN LEADERSHIP MILITARILY, ECONOMICALLY AND MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY AND WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WILL PREVENT A MAJOR WAR IN THE FUTURE AND I HOPE THE PRESIDENT CAN LEAD IN THAT DIRECTION BETWEEN NOW AND THE MIDTERMS AND AFTER THE MIDTERMS. KAILEY: WE WILL LEAVE IT ON THAT NOTE. JIM GILMORE, THINK YOU FOR JOINING US. STILL AHEAD, THE FINAL DEBATE IN THE NECK AND NECK MICHIGAN SENATE RACE SET TO KICK OFF IN A FEW HOURS. WE WILL BREAK DOWN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN. THIS IS "BALANCE OF POWER." >> WE'VE GOT TO END THIS, I DON'T THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO US AND IS NOT HELPFUL TO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. >> I'M NOT AGAINST TARIFFS, I'M AGAINST DELMA TARIFFS. >> THINK HOW FAST THIS HAS ADVANCED. >> A I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIRE WEAPONS OR FIRE YOU OR DENY YOU HEALTH CARE. KAILEY: THIS IS BALANCE OF POWER. THOSE ARE MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATES FINDING COMMON GROUND. REPUBLICAN MIKE ROGERS AND DEMOCRAT ABDUL EL-SAYED PUSHING BACK ON TRUMP'S TARIFF STRATEGY AND CALLING FOR GUARDRAILS ON AI BUT DON'T EXPECT AGREEMENT TONIGHT IS THE RETURN TO THE DEBATE STAGE FOR THEIR SECOND AND FINAL SHOWDOWN. FOR MORE, OUR ANALYST. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE VOTED EARLY, HOW HIGH ARE THE STAKES TONIGHT FOR THESE CANDIDATES? ARE THEIR MINDS THAT MIGHT BE CHANGED? >> I THINK THERE'S A SLIVER OF A SLIVER OF A SLIVER OF MINDS TO BE MADE UP IN MICHIGAN, IT WILL BE A NASTY FIGHT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, THERE HAVE BEEN CHARGED ACCUSATIONS LEVELED BY MARK ROGERS TOWARD ABDUL EL-SAYED ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND. THIS CAME UP IN THE PREVIOUS DEBATE. THERE ARE ADS ON TV HINTING AT THAT AND I IMAGINE THAT WILL BE A BIG TOPIC IN THE DEBATE. THE POLLS ARE TIED IN THIS TOSSUP RACE. IT'S A MUST WIN FOR DEMOCRATS IF THEY ARE ABLE TO WIN THE SENATE, THEY MUST HOLD THIS RACE AND WIN FOUR OTHER SEATS. YOU'VE GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS POURING INTO THIS RACE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE DEBATE TONIGHT. JOE: IT WILL BE INTERESTING AND YOU FAST-FORWARD THREE DAYS AND BARACK OBAMA WILL BE ON STAGE WITH ABDUL EL-SAYED, WHO PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS MOHAMMED, A TERRORIST AND JIHADIST. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, WHAT CAN HE LEARN FROM BARACK OBAMA'S APPROACH? >> FLASHBACK TO 2008, THERE WERE SIMILAR A TALKS AGAINST OBAMA, SUGGESTING HE WAS ARAB OR MUSLIM AND JOHN MCCAIN PUSHED BACK IN THAT FAMOUS MOMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2008. WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND A LOT OF THE ISLAMOPHOBIA IS COMING FROM THE TOP. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MIKE ROGERS HIMSELF. I THINK OBAMA IS GOING TO BE A NECESSARY FORCE IN THAT RACE, GALVANIZING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND CALLING THIS OUT FOR WHAT IT IS, IT HAS NO PLACE IN A RACE LIKE THIS, STICK TO THE ISSUES. I THINK THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR MIKE ROGERS. KAILEY: I WONDER WHAT IT SAYS TO YOU THAT IT'S A QUESTION THAT HE IS MUSLIM MORE SO THAN TYING HIM TO SOCIALISM. NIA: I THINK IT'S A SIGN OF DESPERATION. THE ISSUE SET IS NOT GREAT FOR MIKE ROGERS. IN MICHIGAN WE'VE SEEN HIM MOVE AWAY FROM DONALD TRUMP ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES. THE WAR AS WELL AS TARIFFS. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT UNFORTUNATELY RESONATES WITH A CERTAIN SET OF VOTERS. I THINK IT DOES STICK TO HIM AND IT WILL BE INCUMBENT ON ABDUL US YET TALKING ABOUT HIS FAITH AND HIS BELIEF IN A HIGHER POWER. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS HE WILL HAVE TO KEEP DOING TO ASSUAGE SOME FEARS. JOE: ENTER A PACKET MAY BE AGAIN AS THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS THIS GROUP THAT IS ALMOST NEVER BACKED REPUBLICAN IN A COMPETITIVE GENERAL HAS STARTED CONTRIBUTING TO A PRO ROGERS SUPER PAC AND PLANS TO SPEND AS MUCH AS $9 MILLION ACCORDING TO TWO PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THESE PLANS. WILL IT MAKE A DENT? THAT SLIVER WILL DECIDE THE RACE? NIA: MONEY STARTS TO MATTER AROUND THE MARGINS AND THESE ARE ALL MARGINAL RACES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING -- SOMETHING LIKE THIS, A BIG INFUSION OF CASH, ADDS ONLY AIR AND GET OUT THE VOTE ORGANIZING. KAILEY: DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VISIT TO MICHIGAN ON SUNDAY HELP MIKE ROGERS? NIA: I THINK IF DONALD TRUMP CAN GALVANIZE HIS VOTERS THAN ABSOLUTELY BUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS A FRACTURING OF THE MAGA BASE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG MEN FED UP WITH THE WAR AND FED UP WITH TARIFFS, THEY DON'T TRUST THE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF THE EPSTEIN FILES. BUT IT CAN'T HURT MIKE ROGERS TO THE EXTENT IT WILL BE ABLE TO REMIND REPUBLICANS TO COME HOME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS. JOE: THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE BELLWETHERS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE EVENING WHEN YOU WILL BE A WITH A SELECTION NIGHT, I'M SO DELIGHTED YOU WILL BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT REPORTING. WE THINK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR BEING WITH US. A LOT MORE AHEAD, DEMOCRATS EYEING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IF THEY GET THERE. CALIFORNIA WRESTLES WITH A BILLIONAIRE TAX THAT COULD SEND ONE OF ITS RICHEST RESIDENTS PACKING. A CONGRESSWOMAN WILL JOIN US NEXT ON THIS META-EARNINGS NIGHT ON "BALANCE OF POWER." JOE: IT IS BALANCE OF POWER. A FRESH WARNING THIS EVENING FROM ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S TECH TITANS, META. MARK ZUCKERBERG COULD MOVE HIS PRIMARY RESIDENCE OUT OF THE STATE IF VOTERS APPROVE PROPOSITION 40. THE FIGHT OVERTAXING BILLIONAIRES HEATING UP AS DEMOCRATS LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF THEY TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND EVEN THE AFRO MENTIONED MARK ZUCKERBERG. THIS JUST CAME UP ON THE META CONFERENCE CALL. WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY BUT I NEED TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS HEADLINE. MARK ZUCKERBERG LEAVING THE STATE? WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS AND WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE? >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MULTIPLE THINGS CAN BE TROOP YOUR EVERYONE SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY AFRAID OF LOSING HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS TO JOBS IN HEALTH CARE IN GENERAL. IT'S IMPORTANT YOU HAVE A BILL THAT OFFERS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR LONG-TERM PROBLEMS. THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPOSITION 40 BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-TIME TAX BUT THESE ARE LARGER ISSUES. I WOULD SAY IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT MARK ZUCKERBERG WOULD PICK UP AND LEAVE, I THINK CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO HIM. TO THE INDUSTRY IN HIS COMPANY. IT SHOWS THAT THESE KINDS OF QUESTIONS DESERVE A SOLUTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL SO COMPANIES AND PEOPLE LIKE ZUCKERBERG CAN'T CHERRY PICK STATES. KAILEY: ARE YOU CONCERNED THIS BEING A ONE-TIME TAX AS YOU MENTIONED MIGHT RAISE REVENUE IN THE SHORT TERM BUT IN THE LONGER TERM THE STATE WILL LOSE REVENUE IF THEY HAVE A LOWER BILLIONAIRE POPULATION TO TAX ON A REGULAR BASIS? >> THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND OUR TAX CODE IN CALIFORNIA IT'S A VERY VOLATILE SYSTEM AND WE RELY ON THE SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF TAX REVENUE TO THE STATE. THAT BRINGS WITH IT VOLATILITY. HOW WE CAN REFORM THAT SO IT'S MORE FAIR AND MORE EQUAL IS IMPORTANT AND TO YOUR POINT WE HAVE LONG-TERM CHALLENGES THAT DESERVE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS AND BILLS LIKE PROPER 40 INTO THE WAY THEY ARE WRITTEN MIGHT NOT OFFER THE FIX PEOPLE WANT. JOE: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE MIDTERMS, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OUT, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TOWARD THE L.A. COUNTY BALLOT PROCESSING CENTER YESTERDAY WITH CONCERNS ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY AND A DOJ THAT INDICTED 28 PEOPLE OVER VOTING CRIMES. DID IT GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE? >> ABSOLUTELY, WE TOWARD STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY WITH MAJOR INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE AND COUNTY. THE BALLOT PROCESSING FACILITY IS COMMITTED TO SAFETY AND TRANSPARENCY. YOU CAN WATCH HOW YOUR BALLOTS ARE BEING VERIFIED AND PROCESSED AND COUNTED VIA LIVESTREAM. THERE WAS HUSTLE AND BUSTLE IN THAT PLACE, LOTS OF GLASS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING. LOTS OF VERIFICATION CHECKS. MULTIPLE CHAINS OF CUSTODY. THEY HAVE SO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THIS SYSTEM. WE HAD A VISIT FROM THE TOP RANKING DEMOCRAT FROM ONE OF OUR HOUSE ADMIN COMMITTEES AND HE SAID IT'S A MODEL FACILITY AND SHOULD BE REPLICATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. KAILEY: ON THE SUBJECT OF L.A. COUNTY, THE REGISTRAR ISSUED A STATEMENT ABOUT RECORDS THE DOJ HAD PROVIDED A SUPPOSEDLY 21,000 NONCITIZENS ON THE VOTER ROLLS. THE REGISTRAR FINDING THAT'S ONLY 33% HAD ADDRESSES WITH IN L.A. COUNTY. A PRELIMINARY SAMPLING FOUND APPROXIMATELY 43% HAD CANCELED VOTER REGISTRATIONS AND MORE THAN 70% HAD NO VOTING HISTORY. ARE YOU ENCOURAGED OR SHOULD WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 30% THAT HAD A VOTING HISTORY? >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DURING THE TOUR OF THE FACILITY. THERE WERE 208I THINK ARRESTED OUT OF 23 MILLION VOTERS -- THERE WERE 28 I THINK ARRESTED OUT OF 23 MILLION VOTERS. THE COUNTY REGISTRAR'S OFFICE WORKED WITH THE DOJ BUT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS IN TERMS OF KEEPING VOTER FILES SAFE AND TO YOUR POINT, THE NUMBER OF FOLKS LISTED AS CANCELED OR NON-ACTIVE REGISTERED DID NOT RECEIVE A BALLOT. I FEEL CONFIDENT BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD COMING BACK TO ME THAT THEY ARE ON THE CASE. JOE: YOU WERE ONE OF 100 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING A MYSTERIOUS WHITE POWDER RECENTLY. FOR THOSE OF US IN WASHINGTON A MINUTE, WE REMEMBER THE PRESCRIPTIONS OF CIPRO THAT WENT OUT FOLLOWING ANTHRAX ATTACKS -- THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. HAVE YOU BEEN REASSURED YOUR OFFICE IS SAFE? >> MY OFFICE IS SAFE AND I WANT TO THANK LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CAPITOL POLICE FOR BEING INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE. THINGS LIKE THIS IMPACT NOT ONLY MEMBERS, BUT STAFF, FAMILY MEMBERS OF STAFF, EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING, AND FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S A VERY STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE. THANKFULLY NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT WAS DANGEROUS. WE HAD A SECURITY BRIEFING CALLED YESTERDAY WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IDENTIFIED IN ANY OF THESE LETTERS. KAILEY: THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR AS WE CONSIDER RISKS BEING POSED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS DOMESTICALLY. THERE'S ALSO THE QUESTIONS OF NEWS POSED TO AMERICANS INTERNATIONALLY, WE GOT NEWS TODAY THAT FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE STATIONED IN FAMILY ARABIA HAVE GUIDANCE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND THE HOUTHIS. IS THE THREAT LEVEL IN THE MIDDLE EAST GROWING DESPITE A LULL IN ACTIVE KINETIC ACTION BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN? >> YOU KNOW, WOW. WE ARE GATHERING INFORMATION. IT'S DISTRESSING WHEN YOU HEAR FOLKS IN THE EMBASSIES ARE BEING ASKED TO LEAVE. THAT'S THE FIRST ALARM THAT THINGS ARE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL. THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL AMERICANS ABROAD. I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS AN INDICATION OF THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP COMING FROM THIS WHITE HOUSE. THE ACTIONS COMING FROM TRUMP I THINK ARE PARTLY WHY WE SEE A MORE DESTABILIZED REGION AND NO CONTINUED PUSH FOR PEACE. THE WAR THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO END, THE INABILITY TO CREATE PEACE DEALS THAT ARE LASTING, THIS IS A MAJOR POINT OF ALARM. JOE: WILL SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH BE IMPEACHED AND YOU RETURN TO WASHINGTON AFTER THE MIDTERMS? >> HE WILL BE ON THE HOT SEAT. FOLKS ACROSS THE AISLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS INCOMPETENCE, SO MANY QUESTIONS AND SO LITTLE ANSWERS, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU MANAGE MILITARY OR OPTICS OVERSEAS, THIS IS NOT HOW WE KEEP MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS SAFE. KAILEY: WOULD YOU BE A YES ON TOM MASSEY'S IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION? >> 100%. IT WAS UNFORTUNATE MIKE JOHNSON SENT US HOME BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE ON IT. KAILEY: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. COMING UP, A REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN AD SO PERSONAL EVEN SOME IN THE PARTY SAY IT GOES TOO FAR. VICE PRESIDENT VANCE HAS A MESSAGE FOR THE CRITICS -- STOP WHINING AND WIN YOUR RACES. THE FIRESTORM IN OHIO IS NEXT ON "BALANCE OF POWER." >> POLITICS IS A TOUGH BUSINESS AND MY MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW ELECTED REPUBLICANS IT'S IF YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN THE THINGS YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE IN, STOP WHINING ABOUT AN ADVERTISEMENT AND GO WIN THE RACE AND 13 DAYS. KAILEY: WELCOME TO "BALANCE OF POWER." THAT WAS VICE PRESIDENT VANCE WITH A BLUNT MESSAGE TO REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST ONE OF THE MOST PERSONAL ATTACK ADS OF THE MIDTERMS. IT FEATURES THE MOTHER OF A DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, WHO SHE IS ESTRANGED FROM OVER ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. >> SHE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, SHE IS A LIAR, SHE LIES ABOUT HER PAST, NONE OF THAT IS TRUE. SHE'S LIGHT HER ENTIRE LIFE. MY DAUGHTER NEEDS HELP AND SHE CAN'T HELP YOU IF SHE NEEDS HELP HERSELF. KAILEY: HER OPPONENT CONFIRMING HIS CAMPAIGN PRODUCED THE AD AND IS POURING MILLIONS INTO GETTING THAT MESSAGE ACROSS TO VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE. AMY ACTON IS LEADING VIVEK RAMASWAMY BY SEVEN POINTS. WE KNOW THE AD AND THE BLOWBACK HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION BUT HOW IS IT ACTUALLY INFLUENCING THE CLIMATE IN OHIO? >> THAT'S THE QUESTION, WHETHER IT MOVES ANY VOTES. THERE WAS A SENSE THAT AMY ACTON HAD A LEAD IN OHIO IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BUT REPUBLICANS WOULD COME HOME AT THE END AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY WOULD PULL IT OUT. BUT THIS AD LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE VOTING I THINK RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS WILL MOVE FOLKS ON THE FENCE OR NOT PLANNING TO VOTE, IF THEY WILL GET INVOLVED NOW. JOE: AMY ACTON'S BROTHER CONDEMNED THE AD AS DESPICABLE. THE FACT THAT THE CAMPAIGN IS DOUBLING DOWN WITH A $4 MILLION AD BY MEANS PEOPLE WILL BE SEEING THIS AD A LOT. IF HE LOSES THE RACE, WILL IT BE BECAUSE OF THIS CHOICE? MARK: IT'S HARD TO SAY IF IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS CHOICE, THE CONTEXT IS THIS COMES AFTER MONTHS OF NEGATIVE ADS FROM THE VIVEK RAMASWAMY CAMPAIGN DEPICTING AMY ACTON AS A DRUNK AND INCOMPETENT, QUESTIONING HER MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS. IT'S BEEN A VERY NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN SO THIS IS ON TOP OF THAT. THERE'S THOUGHT THIS MIGHT GENERATE SOME SYMPATHY FOR AMY ACTON GIVEN THAT THE RACE HAS BEEN SO NEGATIVE. PARTICULARLY THE USE OF HER MOTHER CALLING OUT HER DAUGHTER AS A LIAR. THERE'S THOUGHT THAT SOME WOMEN VOTERS IN PARTICULAR WON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A MOTHER BEING USED THAT WAY. JOE: IT'S PRETTY HEAVY. MARK, GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK. JOINING US IS OUR POLITICAL PANEL. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU WITH US. WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THIS SPLASHES BACK ON VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND HELPS AMY ACTON? >> I THINK THAT'S HIGH. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND I THINK AMY ACTON IS A GREAT CANDIDATE AND THIS AD IS DISGUSTING AND A SIGN OF HOW COMPETITIVE THE RACE IS AND REPUBLICANS THINK THEY ARE IN A VULNERABLE POSITION. THIS IS NOT THE CLOSING MESSAGE OF A WINNING CAMPAIGN AND I THINK THAT'S WHY AMY ACTON HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF BECOMING THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN OHIO FOR MANY YEARS. NOT ONLY IS THIS AD AND EXAMPLE OF WHY VIVEK RAMASWAMY SHOULD NOT BE THE GOVERNOR, I ALSO THINK HE ISN'T SIMPLY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS CONCERNING OHIOANS MOST, HE CALLS OHIOANS MEDIOCRE AND LAZY. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE SHOWING HE DOESN'T CARE FOR FOLKS THERE. KAILEY: ASIDE FROM INFLUENCING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, DO EXPECT THIS COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT JOHN HOUSTON WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST SHERROD BROWN? LISA: NO QUESTION THAT THE TOP OF THE TICKET HAS AN INFLUENCE. I DON'T THINK A SPLITTING OF THE TICKET IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN. IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO THAT JD VANCE RAN AS A VERY UNPOPULAR REPUBLICAN FOR U.S. SENATE AND WON HANDILY. SO ALL THE NOISE HAPPENING IN OHIO, OHIO IS STILL A RED STATE. AS MUCH AS I AGREE THIS IS A DESPICABLE ADD, I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS IN PLAY. JOE: JD VANCE SUGGESTED HE MIGHT WANT TO MEET AMY ACTON AT A BAR IF HE WANTS TO FIND HER, ONE KNOCK AFTER ANOTHER. BRING US INSIDE THE SAUSAGE MAKING FACTORY -- SHOULD WE BELIEVE THIS IS TESTING WELL INTERNALLY? IT WAS RUNNING AT ONE POINT WITHOUT ANY ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHO MADE IT. FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO TAKE CREDIT AND THEN PUT A $4 MILLION AD BUY BEHIND IT, IT MUST BE DOING SOMETHING. LISA: REPUBLICANS SEEING ADS ARE SEEING IT IN THEIR OWN ALGORITHM. THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY ARE SEEING THAT AD INTO SEEING THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PERSON, I SHOULDN'T CROSS OVER AND VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT. HE SEES THAT SOMETHING POPULAR AND HE THINKS IT WILL GET THE VOTES OUT IN OHIO TO SUPPORT HIM FOR GOVERNOR AND I THINK FACTS DON'T NECESSARILY MATTER FOR HIM. KAILEY: I WANT TO RETURN TO THE NOTION OF TICKET SPLITTING AND IF WE WILL SEE THAT BUT THAT'S A QUESTION NOT JUST IN OHIO BUT A NUMBER OF PLACES, IOWA FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE A DEMOCRAT GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE MOMENTUM AND THAT POTENTIALLY AIDS THE SENATE RACE. IS THAT HOW YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT? OFRIAH: I DO THINK DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ARE PARTICULARLY STRONG THIS YEAR AND THAT MEANS COATTAILS FOR FEDERAL CANDIDATES. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE THE MOST POPULAR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THEIR STATES SO FAR. OHIO, IOWA IS ANOTHER STATE THAT'S A TOSSUP. THERE'S A STRONG RACE. A ONE IN A MILLION CANDIDATE WHO IS AN HONOR THAT WANTS TO CLEAN UP CORRUPTION. I THINK PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHAT HAS DECADES OF REPUBLICAN CONTROL GOTTEN ME? ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO SEEMS FOCUSED ON ANYTHING BUT LOWERING YOUR COSTS THAT HE PROMISED TO LOWER ON DAY ONE. I THINK THERE ARE STRONG HEADWINDS FOR DEMOCRATS. JOE: WE TALKED ABOUT MICHIGAN, KANSAS WILL HAVE A DEBATE WITH SENATE CANDIDATES. DOC MARSHALL HAS WEATHERED TOUGH ADS ABOUT PURSUING PATIENTS FOR UNPAID BILLS -- IS THAT WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PASTOR ADAM HAMILTON TONIGHT? LISA: NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, IT'S ABOUT CARE AND COSTS. IT'S CUTTING THROUGH AND THE MESSAGE IS WORKING. PEOPLE ARE FEELING THE PINCH IN THEIR POCKETS, HOUSEHOLD COUNTS -- COSTS, INTO THE MESSAGE DELIVERED WELL WILL WIN AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE WILL HEAR TONIGHT IN THE DEBATE. KAILEY: KANSAS HASN'T SAID A DEMOCRAT TO THE U.S. SENATE SINCE 1932 BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS IT'S BEEN ALMOST A CENTURY SINCE DEMOCRAT HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE SENATE BUT THEY HAVE A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR. HOW DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR THIS, CAN YOU MAKE IT WORK IN THE SENATE RACE? OFRIAH: I THINK SO. GOVERNOR CAREY USED TO BE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH FOR KANSAS. PEOPLE REMEMBER BROWNBACK AND THE TERRIBLE AGENDA. I THINK SHE HAS A STRONG MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD APPROACH. EIGHT YEARS OF HER GOVERNANCE I THINK HAS SHOWN FOLKS IN KANSAS WHAT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP MEANS. I THINK SHE'S LAID GOOD GROUNDWORK FOR US TO HOLD THE SEAT BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY ELECTED SOMEBODY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL. JOE: THE PRESIDENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA TONIGHT AND AT THE WHITE HOUSE THEY ARE RECONSIDERING THE IDEA OF HAVING THE PRESS CORPS IN THE WEST WING. THIS HAS COME UP IN A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIONS BUT REPORTING TODAY BY THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT THE PRESIDENT -- THIS WAS BEFORE KAROLINE LEAVITT LEFT -- THE PRESS TO BE KICKED OUT OF WHAT WE USED TO CALL THE OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING IN THE BRIEFING ROOM BE RETURNED TO A SWIMMING POOL AS IT WAS IN THE 1930'S. THERE'S NOTHING DIFFERENT IN THE ROOM, THERE'S JUST NO SEATS AND IT'S WATER. YOU HAVE TO PICTURE THIS ON BLOOMBERG RADIO. IS THIS THE NEXT STEP, NO PRESS IN THE BUILDING? LISA: IT FEELS THAT WAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT PUTTING THE PULLBACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER TIME. WHAT WE'VE SEEN CONSISTENTLY OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION IS THE INTEREST IN DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM HAVING WHITE HOUSE PRESS SO CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CRITICISM IN HE DOESN'T LIKE CRITICISM. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN SEE AS A POSSIBILITY AFTER MIDTERMS ARE THROUGH. JOE: WHEN IT WILL MEAN FOR THE COVERAGE AND THE PENTAGON. KAILEY: THE PHYSICAL REMOVAL. AFTER THE MIDTERMS, HOW DO YOU EXPECT IT TO RESONATE, HOW DO YOU COUNTER IF YOU ARE A FREE SPEECH PROPONENT? OFRIAH: HOPEFULLY DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE BACK THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO WHAT WE ARE RUNNING ON -- LOWERING COSTS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE PRESIDENT IS FOCUSED ON ANYTHING BUT MAKING YOUR LIFE BETTER. KAILEY: WOULD THERE BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO A POOL CONVERSION? [LAUGHTER] OFRIAH: I THINK WE ARE BETTER SPENT MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE REAL THE PROMISE WE'VE MADE TO THEM AND LEARN FROM THE PRESIDENT'S INABILITY TO DO THAT. LISA: ONE REPORTER TOLD ME AFTER THEY MOVED REPORTERS OUT OF THE PENTAGON, THE LEEKS STARTED COMING FAST AND FURIOUS. THE PRESIDENT THINKS THIS WILL WORK WELL, IT MIGHT WORK AGAINST HIM. JOE: WE'VE HAD MORE EFFECTIVE REPORTING ON THE PENTAGON SINCE THE REPORTERS WERE THROWN OUT OF THE BUILDING. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE MIDTERMS AND SHORTLY AFTER THE SHORT-LIVED PRESS SECRETARY WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING FOLLOWING THAT ILL-FATED MOVE, YOU WONDER IF THERE WILL BE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESS. LISA: THE BRIEFINGS HAVE BEEN SO SHORT AND INFREQUENT ANYWAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAY THE PROCESS HAS GONE ON ME CHANGE BASED ON HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ACTING. KAILEY: WE MENTIONED THE KANSAS DEBATE TONIGHT, THE OTHER DEBATE IS IN MICHIGAN. WHILE WE WATCH ABDUL EL-SAYED AND MIKE ROGERS, ABDUL EL-SAYED WILL BE ON STAGE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA THIS WEEKEND AND MIKE ROGERS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. OFRIAH: BARACK OBAMA IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATS AND OUR PARTY AND HE HAS THE ABILITY TO ENERGIZE FOLKS. I'M REALLY INVESTED IN JOCELYN BENSON WHO I THINK HAS STRONG RACE. LOOKING BACK TO THE PRIMARY, DEMOCRATS HAVE SUCH ENERGY IN TERMS OF PRIMARY TURNOUT WHICH IS I THINK FOREBODING OF THE OUTCOME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THE ENERGY AND I KNOW ABDUL EL-SAYED WILL MAKE NO BONES ABOUT MAKING HIS CASE TONIGHT. JOE: I BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE. WHEN BARACK OBAMA IS WITH HIM THIS WEEKEND, WHO IS HE BRINGING INTO THE FOLD? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT STRUGGLES WITH THE BLACK VOTE IN AGAIN -- CAN BARACK OBAMA HELP HIM? THAT COULD INTO THE RACE AGAINST MIKE ROGERS. LISA: THERE'S NO GREATER AND MORE AUTHENTIC SPEAKER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAN THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. HE BRINGS NOT ONLY THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AND LOOK MORE LIKE HIM, HE ALSO BRINGS THOSE LOOKING FOR A MESSAGE THAT WILL CUT THROUGH THE NOISE AND HE ABSOLUTELY CAN DO THAT QUITE WELL. KAILEY: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO BOTH OF YOU. WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE TESLA EARNINGS CALL, BREAKING NEWS -- TESLA CUTTING ITS TARGET FOR THE YEAR TO $20 BILLION, IT HAD PREVIOUSLY SEEN $25 BILLION AFTER THE NUMBER WAS LIGHTER THAN EXPECTED IN THE THIRD QUARTER. IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF MONEY FOR TESLA TO SPEND AS IT TRIES TO MAKE A PIVOT TOWARD THINGS LIKE ROBOTICS AND AI. JOE: I THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS WORRIED ABOUT CAP X BEING TOO HIGH BUT WE WILL LET THE ANALYSTS FIGURE IT OUT OVERNIGHT. WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW ON "BALANCE OF POWER."