Interview With Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX);
Interview
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"Well, Jim, thank you so much for focusing on this issue.
Which really is a life-or-death issue for women in Texas, in Kentucky, and a number of other Republican-run states, where abortion and health care, reproductive health care for women is essentially banned unless a woman goes and begs for her life before a judge.
And even then, that's -- we are seeing Texas. Women's future and women's reproductive futures are really what is going to be decided by a very conservative Supreme Court.
But bigger than just what's happening in Texas, Jim, this really should provide a significant wakeup call for women and for Americans who want to have reproductive freedom in our country.
And we have -- (AUDIO PROBLEM) -- want for women. And they're not going to stop just at states like Texas, Kentucky, elsewhere. Republicans want a national ban.
And thankfully, we have a president and a vice president today in the White House wanting to protect us. But this is a wakeup call for 2024, as well.
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The Biden administration, both the president and the vice president, have been very clear on this issue. And they stand with protecting the freedoms for American women, including reproductive freedom.
And it is my hope that the Department of Justice does something around this issue.
But we also have to think about the future, and future elections, because elections matter. And there will only be one candidate, one team on the ballot next November for the White House that will protect women.
But, yes, in the meantime, it is my hope that the White House continues to exert its influence and its pressure.
I hope that the Department of Justice is watching carefully as women's rights are being ripped away from them in Texas.
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This is a really dangerous moment, Jim. Ukraine is really depending on its strongest ally to come through. And we have Republicans in Congress today who are basically willing to hand over Ukraine to Putin unless Democrats cave and give into some of their most extreme proposals.
And I have to say, Jim, no one wants solutions on immigration and border policy more those of us who live and work on the U.S./Mexico border. We know the system is broken, we know we have to reform our laws and policies. This is not the way to do it.
It's important to work in a bipartisan manner, in fact, in a bicameral manner, the House and the Senate together, to solve some of those long-standing issues. But holding Ukraine's aid hostage is not the way to do it.
And ultimately, there is a greater price to pay if Republicans continue down this path. And we could be basically handing Ukraine over to Putin if they don't just pass the president's supplemental.
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Well, I'm proud of President Biden's leaning in on going after Donald Trump, because it appears that Donald Trump -- there's nothing that's going to stop him from being the Republican nominee.
Not his 90-plus indictments, not the fact that a judge has identified him as a rapist, not the fact that he's acknowledged that he's willing to be a dictator and throw our democracy away for his own personal gain.
He is probably going to be the Republican nominee.
This contest next November is a real test for democracy, for our freedoms, for women, for democracy not just at home, but abroad, as well.
And the president is -- you are seeing him now really lay out very specifically what's at stake with Donald Trump. And it is -- the stakes could not be higher.
And we cannot afford for anyone to stay home next November. We cannot afford for anyone to vote for some third-party ticket. We -- this is a choice between preserving democracy or throwing it away. Preserving our freedoms or throwing them away.
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You know, I'm not sure. We have seen the president express
his profound love for his son. Any parent knows that the love that you have for your child is immeasurable.
And the president has never abandoned his son. No parent should abandon their child.
But the -- the president's relationship with his son and his love for his son is something wholly separate from the stakes that exist for us in America, in the 2024 election."
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