>> WELCOME TO THE DEBUT OF BLOOMBERG WEEKEND.

SPECIAL COVERAGE FROM THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK.

CHRISTINA: THERE IS ONE STORY THIS MORNING

AND THAT IS IRAN. BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR, THE

U.S. AND ISRAEL LAUNCHED JOINT STRIKES ON IRAN.

IRAN HAS RETALIATED AND THE STRIKES ARE ONGOING AND HERE IS

THE LATEST. >> BREAKING NEWS ON THE SATURDAY MORNING, PRESIDENT

TRUMP SAYS THAT U.S. LAUNCHED MAJOR COMBAT

OPERATIONS IN IRAN.

>> IT HAS BEEN MASS TERROR AND WE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH IT ANY

LONGER.

>> AIRSTRIKES HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE U.S. AND ISRAEL.

RESIDENT MOB -- PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CALLING ON IRANIANS TO

OVERTHROW THE REGIME AND HE WARNS THAT AMERICANS COULD DIE

AS A RESULT OF THE OPERATION.

>> THE LIVES OF COURAGEOUS AMERICAN HEROES WILL BE LOST

AND WE MIGHT HAVE CASUALTIES.

>> IRAN RETALIATE SAYING THAT THERE ARE NO RED LINES AND ALL

TARGETS ARE ON THE TABLE. THERE ARE REPORTS OF STRIKES ON

AND AROUND THE MIDDLE EAST. CHRISTINA: LET US GET -- DAVID:

LET US GET STARTED WITH THE LAIUS AND FOR THAT WE GO TO

LISA MATTEO. LISA:

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS URGING IRANIANS TO TAKE OVER THE

GOVERNMENT. THAT IS ONCE THE MILITARY

CAMPAIGN COMES TO AN END. HE SAID THE MILITARY OPERATION

BEGAN AFTER IRAN REFUSED TO RENOUNCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW.

SEVERAL LARGE EXPLOSIONS EXPECT -- SEEN IN THE CAPITAL AND NOW

SIREN SOUNDED THROUGHOUT ISRAEL AND IRAN STATE MEDIA SAID THAT

THEY HAD LAUNCHED A WAVE OF MISSILES ATTACKS AND THE ISRAEL

ARMY HAS REPORTED ATTACKS. THE MILITARY AND DEFENSE

SYSTEMS WERE OPERATING TO INTERCEPT EVERY ATTACK.

ISRAEL MEDIA REPORTING A NEW WAVE OF MISSILE ATTACKS ON

SOUTHERN ISRAEL.

THE ISRAEL DEFENSE MINISTER IS DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY

IN THE COUNTRY. WHAT WE ALSO WANT TO SAY IS

THAT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BAHRAIN AND QATAR

HAVE ISSUED SINCE SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDERS FOR ALL

OF ITS PERSONNEL AND U.S. CITIZENS IN THE AREA.

I WANT TO GET TO THE AIRSPACE. ISRAEL AND IRAN HAVE CLOSED

THEIR AIRSPACE AND THE UAE ENACTED A PARTIAL CLOSER OF ITS

AIRSPACE AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AND BLOOMBERG

INTELLIGENCE AVIATION SAYS THAT TRAVELERS CAN EXPECT SEVERE

DISRUPTIONS IN THE AREA. THE U.S.

NAVY ADVISED SHIPS ALREADY IN THE AREA AS WELL, EXERCISE

EXTREME CAUTION AND BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY QUERIES.

AT THAT SAME NOTE WE ARE HEARING A BIT MORE ON BAHRAIN

WHERE WE ARE REPORTING THAT IRANIAN MISSILE ATTACKS

TARGETED THE U.S.. NO FURTHER DETAILS ARE

AVAILABLE. IF WE GO TO OUR LATEST UPDATES.

AFTER EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD IN KUWAIT, THE NATIONAL OIL

COMPANY SAID THAT REFINING AND PRODUCTION ARE PROCEEDING

WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.

DAVID AND CHRISTINA, IT IS UNCLEAR WHERE, WHEN OR IF

PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SPEAK. HE IS AT HIS RESORT. DAVID:

THANK YOU. OUR CONTROL ROOM IS TELLING ME

THAT QATAR SAYS THEY HAVE INTERCEPTED A THIRD WAVE OF

MISSILES AND WE WILL HAVE MORE FOR YOU ON THAT.

WE DO HAVE GLOBAL COVERAGE WITH REPORTERS AND ANALYSTS FROM

WASHINGTON TO TEL AVIV AND BEYOND.

I WANT TO PLAY YOU SOME OF THE MESSAGE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP

DELIVERED THIS MORNING IN THE VERY EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING

DIRECT TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> WE SAW IT REPEAT -- WE SOUGHT REPEATEDLY TO MAKE A

DEAL. WE TRIED, THEY WANTED TO DO IT,

THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO IT AND THEN THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO IT

AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THEY JUST WANTED TO

PRACTICE PEOPLE. IRAN REFUSED JUST AS IT HAS FOR

DECADES AND DECADES. THEY REJECTED EVERY OPPORTUNITY

TO RENOUNCE THEIR NUCLEAR AMBITIONS, AND WE CANNOT TAKE

IT ANYMORE. INSTEAD THEY ATTEMPTED TO

REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING

LONG-RANGE MISSILES THAT CAN NOW THREATEN OUR VERY GOOD

FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN EUROPE, OUR TROOPS STATIONED OVERSEAS,

AND COULD SOON REACH THE AMERICAN HOMELAND.

JUST IMAGINE HOW IT THIS REGIME WOULD BE IF THEY ACTUALLY HAD

AND WERE ARMED WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS A MEANS TO DELIVER

THEIR MESSAGE. FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, THE

UNITED STATES MILITARY HAS UNDERTAKEN A MASSIVE AND

ONGOING OPERATION TO PREVENT THIS VERY RATED -- WICKED AND

RADICAL DICTATORSHIP FROM HURTING AMERICA AND THEIR

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

INTEREST. WE WILL RAZE THEIR MISSILE INDUSTRY TO THE GROUND

AND IT WILL BE TOTALLY AGAIN OBLITERATED.

WE WILL ANNIHILATE THEIR NAVY AND ENSURE THAT THE REGION'S

TERRORIST PROXIES CAN NO LONGER DESTABILIZE THE REGION AND THE

WORLD AND NO LONGER USE THEIR IED'S OR ROADSIDE BOMBS, AS

THEY ARE SOMETIMES CALLED SAYS SO GRAVELY WOUNDED AND KILL

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY AMERICANS.

AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT IRAN DOES NOT OBTAIN A NUCLEAR

WEAPON. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE.

THEY WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

THIS REGIME WILL SOON LEARN THAT NO ONE SHOULD CHALLENGE

THE STRENGTH AND MIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

DAVID: JUST PART OF AN EXTRAORDINARY

EIGHT MINUTE SEGMENT THAT WAS POSTED ON TRUE SOCIAL AND WE

WILL PLAY MORE OF IT. I AM GOING TO BRING OUR GUESTS

TO START THE SHOW. WE HAVE PAUL WALLACE, ETHAN

BRONNER, JOE ON VERSACE AND HERE WITH US ON SET IN NEW

YORK, THE COANCHOR A BALANCE OF POWER.

JEFF MASON, LET ME START WITH YOU AND THIS EXTRAORDINARY TURN

OF EVENTS.

WE SAW THE DIPLOMATIC TRACK IN PLACE AND WHY DID THE PRESIDENT

MAKE HIS DECISION WHEN HE DID? JEFF: A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, IN ADDITION TO ANNOUNCING THE NEWS OF THE

DECISION THAT HE MADE, HE WAS ALSO MAKING A SALES PITCH TO

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND POLITICAL BASE, TALKING ABOUT

WHY HE WAS DOING IT AND GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DECADES

IN TERMS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRAN OF THE UNITED

STATES AND THE TENSION THERE. PRESENTING HIMSELF AS THE

PRESIDENT WILLING TO DO THIS, COMPARING HIMSELF TO OTHER

PRESIDENTS, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH AS MO WHEN HE MAKES THE

DECISIONS. -- BIG DECISION.

I CANNOT THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTATE HOW YOU SAY THIS IS

THE BIG THING FOR HIS PRESIDENCY.

THIS IS A MAJOR MILITARY OPERATION THAT CARRIES HUGE

POLITICAL RISKS FOR HAM, AND BIG POLITICAL RISKS FOR THE

MILITARY AS WELL. THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY

ALONG THOSE LINES, IF A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

WARNS AMERICANS THAT THERE MIGHT BE CASUALTIES OF U.S.

TROOPS, THERE IS A REASON. AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE

QUESTIONS HE HAS NOT ANSWERED IN TERMS OF HAS HE CHANGED HIS

MIND ABOUT GROUND TROOPS? DOES HE HAVE THINKING BEYOND

THE ASSETS ALREADY IN THAT REGION?

THOSE ARE QUESTIONS WE WILL BE ASKING.

THE FACT THAT HE FLAGGED IT MEANS THAT HE IS PREPARING THE

UNITED STATES FOR A LONGER WAR. CHRISTINA:

THE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS OPENLY CALLING FOR REGIME

CHANGE. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE HEARD

FROM HIM. HE TOLD -- HE SPOKE TO THE

AMERICAN PEOPLE INTO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE SAYING DO NOT

STAY HERE -- LEAVE YOUR HOMES AND WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED TAKE

OVER YOUR GOVERNMENT AND IT WILL BE YOURS TO TAKE AND THIS

IS PROBABLY YOUR ONLY CHANCE FOR GENERATIONS.

>> THE ORIGINAL JUSTIFICATION FOR MILITARY ACTION WAS TO

PROTECT THE PROTESTERS. HELP WAS ON ITS WAY AND THAT

WAS WEEKS AGO. SINCE THEN TENS OF THOUSANDS

HAVE BEEN KILLED SO THERE IS A BIG QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS

WILL BE RECEIVED ON THE GROUND. FOR ANYONE WHO WONDERED IF

BLOOMBERG TV AND RADIO NEEDED A WEEKEND SHOW WE ARE NOT ASKING

THAT QUESTION ANY LONGER AND I THANK YOU BOTH FOR BRINGING

THIS TO AIR. WE WILL BE WATCHING CONGRESSIONAL REACTION AS

LAWMAKERS WAKE UP AND IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS A

SUPPORTIVE ROGER WICKER, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE ARMED

SERVICES COMMITTEE BUT THERE IS A WAR POWERS RESOLUTION WAITING

FOR A VOTE.

SENATOR ANDY KIM JUST A SHORT TIME AGO, "THE SENATE SHOULD

VOTE ON THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY."

THERE WILL BE A CALL TO BRING THAT TO THE FLOOR. DAVID:

AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HELLS SAYING THAT THEY TEND TO

VOTE. AND OH MOM -- OMAN'S FOREIGN

MINISTER SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR MORE.

LET US GO TO DUBAI. WE HEARD FROM THE SUPREME

LEADER THAT ANY ATTACK ON IRAN WOULD KICK OFF A REGIONAL WAR.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE SEEING THAT.

GIVE US THE LATEST THAT YOU ARE HEARING AND SEEING. JOUMANNA:

IT IS A TENSE DAY. WE WOKE UP IN THE MORNING WITH

NOTHING HAPPENED OVERNIGHT AND THE ASSUMPTION THAT WHEN WE

WENT TO SLEEP YESTERDAY THAT IF IT WOULD BE MILITARY ACTION IT

WOULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENING WHICH HAPPENED WITH THE 12 DAY

IRAN AND ISRAEL BORE A YEAR AGO LAST JUNE.

BUT THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF

THE MORNING IT SEEMED AS THOUGH ISRAEL HAD LAUNCHED THE ATTACKS

ON IRAN. SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ANTI-RON. -- TEHRAN.

THE U.S. CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAD PARTICIPATED AS WELL, AND NOT

SO LONG AFTER THAT YOU GOT A VERY SWIFT IRANIAN RESPONSE.

THIS IS ANOTHER BIG DIFFERENCE TO THE LAST BIG WAR, THE 12 DAY

WAR. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR

IRAN TO ORCHESTRATE THE RESPONSE.

THIS TIME AROUND THEY WERE READY TO GO AND FIRED BACK AT

U.S. BASES AROUND THE GULF.

I AM TALKING ABOUT QATAR, BAHRAIN, KUWAIT, ABU DHABI WITH

EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED IN VARIOUS OF THOSE BASES AND CITIZENS

WERE RECEIVING FIRING WARNINGS AND WARNING THEM THAT AN ATTACK

WAS IMMINENT. MOST OF THE MISSILES AND DRONES

THAT WERE FIRED AND DIRECTED AT THE GULF STATES AND THE BASES

WERE INTERCEPTED AND WE HAVE HEARD OF ONE CASUALTY IN ABU

DHABI PROBABLY HIT BY SHRAPNEL. I WILL SAY THAT THE STRIKES ARE

ONGOING AS WE SPEAK. WE HEARD ANOTHER STRIKE

DIRECTED TOWARD STILL HOT AND ALSO THE BASES IN IRAQ.

IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO BE A JUST U.S.

AND IRAN WAR. THERE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE

THE RISK OF BROADER REGIONAL INVOLVEMENT AND WE ARE VERY

MUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RIGHT NOW WITH THE ATTACKS ON

ISRAEL AND THE ATTACKS ON THESE VARIOUS UAS -- U.S. BASES.

DAVID: THAT WAS -- CHRISTINA: THAT WAS A CONCERN WITH ALLIES

AND PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE A CONFLICT IS

UNLIKELY TO STAY BETWEEN THESE TWO.

WE ARE SEEING REPORTS OF HITS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND WE

ARE TRYING TO ASSESS THOSE AS THEY TRICKLE IN.

WE WILL VERIFY THAT AS SOON AS WE CAN.

ETHAN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU, LIKE MANY PEOPLE, MY PHONE RANG

AT 1:30 A.M. WITH A SOURCE IN TEL AVIV

TELLING ME THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING BUT THEY

WERE GETTING RED ALERTS ON YOUR PHONE TAKE SHELTER AND THIS IS

PROACTIVE. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR

MORNING WHAT YOU HEARD AND SAW AND HOW THIS UNRAVELED ON THE

GROUND. ETHAN: CERTAINLY.

AT THAT EXACT HOUR WE HAVE SIRENS GOING OFF.

I AM HERE IN TEL AVIV. IT WAS A: 30 OUR TIME.

AND I AM NOW IN MY SAFE ROOM, WHICH IS THE PART OF MY

APARTMENT WHICH IS REINFORCED WITH CONCRETE AND IT HAS METAL

FOR THE WINDOW AND A METAL DOOR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IF A MISSILE

HITS MY BUILDING I AM NOT GOING TO SURVIVE, BUT ANYTHING 100

METERS AWAY OR SO, THE IMPACT WILL BE PROTECTED FROM.

SO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH A PLACE

ARE IN IT.

MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE IN SUBWAY SYSTEMS AND UNDERGROUND

PARKING AREAS. THERE HAS BEEN ALL DAY LONG

SIRENS AT THE NORTH AND SOUTH. SO FAR, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS

IN THE LAST HOUR I HAVE HEARD, ONLY ABOUT 40 MISSILES HAVE

LANDED, AND THERE IS A RANGE OF PREDICTIONS ABOUT HOW BAD IT

WILL GET, I WAS JUST LISTENING TO ONE ANALYST SAY THIS IS JUST

THE BEGINNING. THEY WILL HAVE CRUISE MISSILES,

BALLISTIC MISSILES AND DRONES AND IT WILL GO ON AND GET ROUGH.

OTHERS ARE SAYING THAT IN ISRAEL AND THE U.S.

CHOSE TO ATTACK NOW IS BECAUSE THE IRANIANS HAD SUFFERED A LOT

IN JUNE AND COULD NOT REBUILD ENOUGH TO REALLY COME BACK AT

THESE GUYS. WE SHALL SEE.

IT IS CERTAINLY A VERY BIG DAY IN THIS CONFLICT.

AND, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THEY ARE NOW TALKING RELATIVELY

OPENLY ABOUT REGIME CHANGE, AND SORT OF ASSERTING THAT THESE

ATTACKS ARE GOING TO ENCOURAGE IRANIANS TO RISE UP AGAIN IN

THE STREETS. A CONTROVERSIAL NOTION.

TYPICALLY WHEN A FOREIGN POWER ATTACKS A COUNTRY, PEOPLE RALLY

AROUND THE FLAG RATHER THAN AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT.

BUT THAT CALCULATION IS THAT IT MIGHT BE OTHERWISE. DAVID:

PAUL, LET ME TURN TO YOU TO LONDON AND YOU HEAD UP THE

MIDDLE EAST COVERAGE. WE IT IS -- WHAT IS THE SENSE

THAT THIS MIGHT PLAY OUT. WE HEARD A CALL FOR THE MEETING

OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT IS GOING

TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD? WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE SENSE

OF TIMETABLE? PAUL:

THE SENSE IS THAT THIS CANNOT BE A SHORT DAY IS LONG CAMPAIGN

IF TRUMP IS SINCERE AND HE IS EFFECTIVELY CALLING FOR REGIME

CHANGE, AND CALLING FOR IRANIANS TO TAKE OVER THEIR

GOVERNMENT'S AND WHEN THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY.

IF THAT IS HIS AIM, AND WE LISTENS TO AND YOU PLAYED CLIPS

OF HIS VIDEO FROM MAR-A-LAGO AND TIM TALKING ABOUT

DESTROYING IRAN'S NAVY AND ITS BALLISTICS PROGRAM COMPLETELY,

IF THAT IS HIS AIM, HE WILL NOT ACHIEVE THAT IN A MATTER OF

DAYS. WE COULD BE LOOKING AT

SOMETHING THAT TAKES MORE THAN A WEEK PERHAPS, EVEN SEVERAL

WEEKS. THAT IS THE THINKING. THIS IS BIGGER AND LOOKS BIGGER

THAN WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR IN JUNE WHEN ISRAEL STRUCK IRAN

AND STARTED A 12 DAY WAR, WHICH THE U.S. JOINED AT THE END.

CHRISTINA: I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU

BECAUSE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD GOING INTO THIS IS THE

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MADE A BOLD CLAIM AND SAID THAT THEY

HAD DESTROYED IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES IN THE LAST ATTACK, SO

WHAT ARE THE TARGETS AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING AFTER?

DO WE KNOW WHAT THEY HIT OR WHAT THEY ARE AIMING FOR?

AND I WANT TO ASK YOUR TAKE ON THE CALL FOR REGIME CHANGE.

THE U.S. DOES NOT HAVE A GREAT HISTORY.

DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT IT COULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL?

JOUMANNA: LET ME START WITH THE FIRST

PART WHICH IS WHAT WE UNDERSTAND THE FIRST WAVE OF

STRIKES WERE ACTUALLY DIRECTED TOWARDS PERSONNEL AND

INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS, THE INTELLIGENCE HEADQUARTERS, LESS

SO MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE. AS THE DAY PROGRESSED IT SEEMED

THAT THE LATER STRIKES WERE ALSO TARGETING MILITARY

INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. FROM THE WARNING STRIKES WE

UNDERSTAND THAT THEY TARGETED A KEY AREA, ONE OF THOSE KEY

LOCATIONS WITHIN IRAN AND -- WHERE THEY DO HAVE A NUCLEAR

CENTRIFUGE AND THE CAPABILITIES THAT ARE SOME POINT FIRING OR

NOT. THAT IS ALSO VERY PERTINENT TO

THE DISCUSSION. AND WE HAD EVEN REPORTED AND WE

PUT OUT A PIECE ABOUT THIS. ABOUT SATELLITE IMAGERY

SUGGESTING THAT IRAN WAS LOOKING TO RECONSTITUTE PART OF

THAT NUCLEAR REACTOR SYSTEM, SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT WAS ONE

OF THE SITES. IN TERMS AS WHO IS ACCOUNTED

FOR AND WHO IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR, WHAT WE UNDERSTAND SO FAR

IS THAT THIS IS PER THE NEWS PUT FORWARD BY THE SEMI

OFFICIAL IRANIAN NEWS AGENCIES. THE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN

MINISTER HAS BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. WE DO NOT KNOW YET ABOUT THE

SUPREME LEADER HIMSELF -- HIMSELF, AND WHETHER HE IS

FULLY SAFE OR HAS BEEN INJURED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE

IS WATCHING FOR VERY CLOSELY FOR CONFIRMATION.

I THINK WHAT IS CLEAR, FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SPEECH

OVERNIGHT AND THE VIDEO HE POSTED AND HE IS EXPECTED TO

SPEAK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS WE WILL GET MORE COLOR ON

WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. IT IS SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT

THEY WENT FOR WHICH WAS A SURGICAL LIMITED STRIKE ON THE

NUCLEAR FACILITIES. HE IS DIRECTLY SPEAKING TO THE

PEOPLE LIKE WHAT ETHAN WAS SAYING AND SEES THIS AS AN

OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE CHANGE. NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO REGIME

CHANGE, THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT IS EASIER SAID

THAN DONE. WITHIN IRAN, THERE IS AN

UNDERSTANDING AS WELL, THE AYATOLLAH IS 86 YEARS OLD AND

THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HIM NO

LONGER BEING THERE. THEY HAVE ACTUALLY THOUGHT

ABOUT A SERIES OF SUCCESSORS AND WHAT TO DO WITH THE

GOVERNING STRUCTURE SHOULD HE NO LONGER EXISTS.

IT IS NOT AS EASY AS REMOVING A FIGUREHEAD AND REPLACING IT

WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND THEN CUTTING A DEAL WITH THE NEW

LEADERSHIP SIMILAR TO THE VENEZUELAN MODEL.

IT IS A MUCH MORE CHALLENGING SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

IT IS A POPULATION OF 90 MILLION, BUT NOT HOMOGENOUS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE A CHUNK OF 200,000 SECURITY

FORCES THAT ARE VERY ALIGNED AND -- AND IDEOLOGICALLY

OPPOSED TO CUTTING A DEAL WITH THE UNITED STATES. DAVID:

I WANT TO GET MORE INTO THE PRESENT THINKING'S GOING INTO

THIS AND YOU SAID HE TALKED ABOUT THE GRAVITY OF U.S.

FORCES GETTING INVOLVED AND LET US SEE WHAT HE HAD TO STAY --

TO SAY.

>> MY ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN EVERY POSSIBLE STEP TO MINIMIZE

THE RISK TO U.S. PERSONNEL IN THE REGION.

EVEN SO, AND I DO NOT MAKE THIS STATEMENT LIGHTLY, THE IRANIAN

REGIME SEEKS TO KILL. THE LIVES OF COURAGEOUS

AMERICAN HEROES MIGHT BE LOST, AND WE MAY HAVE CASUALTIES,

THAT OFTEN HAPPENS IN WAR. WE ARE DOING THIS NOT FOR NOW,

BUT WE ARE DOING THIS FOR THE FUTURE. IT IS A NOBLE MISSION.

CHRISTINA: THAT IS REALLY REMARKABLE.

DAVID: I AM CURIOUS HOW HE HAS AND

WILL CONTINUE MAKING THAT CASE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE LISTEN TO THE STATE OF THE UNION AND IRAN HAD REALLY IN

THE BROAD SCOPE OF THAT TWO HOUR SPEECH AT A GLANCING

MENTIONED. -- THIS IS RATCHETING UP WHAT

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S OBJECTIVES

ARE. NOW THAT WE HAVE THESE REMARKS

AND WHAT WE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, YOUR

SENSE OF HOW THIS HAS EVOLVED AND WHAT A TAP -- APPETITE IF

ANY IF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS FOR THIS KIND OF ADVENTURISM.

JEFF: HIS POLITICAL BASE DOES NOT

HAVE APPETITE. WHEN HE WAS REFERRING TO

POLITICAL RISK AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE

BIG QUESTIONS FOR HIM.

THE PRESIDENT IS HEADING INTO MIDTERM ELECTIONS THIS NOVEMBER.

IF THE WHITE HOUSE, PARTICULARLY HIS CHIEF OF STAFF

WANTED HIM TO BE FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY.

HE WAS IN TEXAS TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ENERGY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AMONG FOLKS

AROUND HIM, AND AMONG HIS POLITICAL BASE THAT HE WAS

SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON FOREIGN POLICY.

HERE HE IS NOW MAKING A CHOICE TO START A WAR.

THIS IS NOT UNITED STATES SUPPORTING ISRAEL AT WAR WITH

IRAN BUT A U.S. WAR, AND HE IS USING THE

LANGUAGE AND TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL CASUALTIES.

THIS IS NOT JUST SUPPORTING AN ALLY, THIS IS BEING PART OF IT

AND BEING THE AGGRESSOR. AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE SALES

PITCH AND TALKING ABOUT WHY AND SUGGESTING THAT THE UNITED

STATES MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE MISSILE

TECHNOLOGY. I THINK YOU WILL CONTINUE TO

HEAR THAT AND HE WILL CONTINUE MAKING HIS CASE.

THE RISKS AGAIN POLITICAL AND CERTAINLY TILL LIVES.

AND LISTENING TO EVEN TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT

HE HAS TO TAKE IN ISRAEL RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL

HAPPEN IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL LIVES LOST, BOTH FROM ALLIES

AND AMERICAN TROOPS AS WELL. CHRISTINA:

THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING

NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA AND INDIRECT TALKS OF THE U.S.

AND IRAN ARE IN DIFFERENT ROOMS AND THE MESSAGING COMING OUT OF

THE MEETING FROM THE OMANIS WAS THAT THIS WAS GOING WELL, THAT

THEY HAD SOMEWHAT OF AN AGREEMENT AND ONE OF THE THINGS

THEY HAD AGREED TO IS TO GIVE UP THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS

PROGRAM. AND THAT WAS PROGRESS BECAUSE

EVEN IN THE JCPOA THAT WAS NOT IN CLEAR TERMS AND THAT SEEMS

LIKE A BIG HURDLE THAT HAD BEEN OVERCOME AND THEN THEY WERE

SCHEDULED TO DO TECHNICAL TALKS AND THEN THE STRIKE HAPPENED.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT? WAS A U.S. SERIOUS ABOUT THESE

NEGOTIATIONS? JOE: THAT IS SUCH A GREAT QUESTION

AND NOBODY KNOWS OUTSIDE OF STEVE WITKOFF, JARED KUSHNER

AND DONALD TRUMP. THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ON THE

PRECIPICE OF SOMETHING THAT COULD AMOUNT TO A BREAKTHROUGH.

THIS HAS BEEN THE MO FOR TRUMP, 10 OR 15 DAYS AND WE HAVE A

MEETING ON THE BOOKS AND THEN MISSILES START FLYING.

THAT IS THE TIMING OF HIS CHOICE.

THIS IS GOING TO GET MORE DIFFICULT, POTENTIALLY WHICH

EACH DAY. -- WITH EACH DAY. POLITICALLY SPEAKING THIS IS

ABOUT DURATION. WHAT STEVE BANNON GOING TO BE

SAYING ABOUT THIS? WHAT ARE MAGA CANDIDATES GOING

TO BE SAYING? REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO

MAINTAIN A MAJORITY ON CAPITOL HILL AND MANY REPUBLICANS HAVE

NO APPETITE TO BE STARTING A NEW WAR.

ADD THAT TO THE EXTENDED DEPLOYMENT THAT WE ARE SEEING

FOR THE USS GERALD FORD WHO HAS BEEN AT SEA FOR 11 MONTHS AND

THEY ARE HAVING PLUMBING PROBLEMS AND SAILORS ARE IN

LINE FOR THE BATHROOM. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR MORALE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANALYSIS, WHAT WE ARE PAYING JUST TO

MAINTAIN THESE TWO CARRIERS, SALARIES AND GAS AMOUNTS TO

ALMOST $30 MILLION A DAY. THAT IS BEFORE ONE MISSILE IS

SHOT. DAVID: THESE WERE STRIKES THAT WERE

POINT -- PUT OUT BY E THE U.S. AND ISRAEL.

LET US SEE WHAT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID ON THE HEELS OF

THESE FIRST STRIKES THIS MORNING?

>> ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES LAUNCHED A JOINT CAMPAIGN,

OPERATION LION'S ROAR. IT IS TO PUT AN END FROM -- TO

THE THREAT OF THE AYATOLLAH REGIME.

THE IDF IS ATTACKING TARGETS OF THE OPPRESSIVE REGIME AND

FACILITIES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD ALONG WITH THE UNITED

STATES MILITARY TARGETING BALLISTIC MISSILE SITES THAT

THREATEN ISRAEL AND U.S. FORCES. THE OPERATION WILL CONTINUE AS

LONG AS NECESSARY. DAVID:

I ASKED ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT'S THINKING IS ON THIS.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT WAS CONVINCED BY

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU'S FEELINGS ABOUT THIS.

WE SAW HIM IN THE U.S. A FEW DAYS AGO MEETING WITH THE

PRESIDENT AND CONVEYING TO HIM THAT HE WAS NOT ENTHUSIASTIC

ABOUT THE U.S. PURSUING DIPLOMATIC TALKS WITH

IRAN AND SWITZERLAND. TALK ABOUT THAT EVOLUTION IN

THE CASE THAT HE WAS MAKING AND HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT FROM

YOUR VANTAGE. PAUL: LOOK, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT,

IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THIS PLACE WHERE I AM LIVING, THE

IDEA OF WAR IS NOT CONSIDERED THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN.

THE SURVIVAL OF THAT GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERED A MUCH MORE

DANGEROUS LONG-TERM SITUATION THAN A RELATIVELY SHORT-TERM

WAR. I AM NOT OFFERING MY VIEW. THIS IS A VIEW OF THE PEOPLE

HERE. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT

PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO HAVE AGREED THAT THE FUTURE OF THE

UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES ARE BETTER SERVED BY DOING THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES IT FEELS LIKE A

DEEPLY POLITICAL QUESTION BUT IT FEELS LIKE A GEOSTRATEGIC

ONE HERE IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE TOOK OUT MADERO IN VENEZUELA.

THE IDEA THAT IF YOU ARE A RICH COUNTRY THAT IS AN ENEMY OF --

THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT UNITED STATES ON TRUMP WANTS TO

DO SOMETHING ABOUT. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT FROM

ISRAEL'S PERSPECTIVE YOU HAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT BY

AROUND ON ITS PROXIES LIKE HAMAS, AND OCTOBER 7 ONE HAMAS

ATTACKED ISRAEL SO BRUTALLY. FROM ISRAEL'S PERSPECTIVE, TO

GET RID OF IRAN AND THIS REGIME IS SO CLEARLY IN THE INTEREST

OF IT AND THE UNITED STATES. AND THAT IS THE CASE THAT HE

MADE TO THE PRESIDENT. THIS COUNTRY WAS NOT A

DIFFICULT CASE TO MAKE AND THIS IS NOT A NETANYAHU PROBLEM.

MUCH OF THIS COUNTRY IS GRATEFUL FOR THE UNITED STATES

TO BE DOING THIS. IT IS PROBABLY A MAJORITY BUT

IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A MAJORITY. CHRISTINA:

I JUST WANT TO SAY ON OUR AUDIENCE ON YOUTUBE,

INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL THAT VIDEO IS FROM THE IDF.

PAUL, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WE ARE TRILL -- STILL TRYING TO SORT

OUT THE LEVEL OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE U.S. AND ISRAEL.

I AM LOOKING ABOUT STORIES FROM OUR REPORTING TEAMS THAT THE

STRIKES WERE PLANNED FOR A WEEK -- FOR MANY WEEKS.

IF THAT IS THE CASE AND THE STRIKES HAVE BEEN PLANNED OUT

FOR MANY WEEKS THIS GOES BACK TO MY PREVIOUS QUESTION, WAS

THE U.S. EVER NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH

WITH IRAN? PAUL:

THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION, AND THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PLENTY

OF DOUBTS ABOUT HOW SINCERE THE U.S.

WAS BEING, BUT IT SAID THAT IT DID WANT THE TALKS TO RUN THEIR

COURSE AND FURTHER TALKS TO BE GIVEN A CHANCE.

I MEAN, BOTH THINGS COULD BE RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS MILITARY PLANNING GOING ON IN THE

BACKGROUND. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MILITARY

PLANNING GOING ON SINCE THE JUNE 12 DAY WAR, AND ALSO THE

U.S. AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST ON TOP OF THE

EXISTING MILITARY PLANNING THAT TOOK PLACE.

AND, EVEN WHILE, YES, THESE TALKS WERE GOING ON AND THE U.S.

WAS KNOCKING OUT -- PUTTING OUT A HUGE NUMBER OF FORCES IN THE

MIDDLE EAST REGION AND NOW WITH THESE TWO AERIAL CRAFT -- AIR

CARE -- AIRCRAFT CARRIER GROUPS THERE AND A LARGE NUMBER OF AIR

-- WARPLANES AND REFUELING PLANES AND NOW HAS ITS BIGGEST

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN PLACE ANYWHERE SINCE THE 2003 IRAQI

INVASION. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHY

WOULD YOU DO THAT? IF YOU DID NOT PLAN TO USE IT

IN SOME WAY? AND THIS WILL BE PEOPLE'S

QUESTION FOR TRUMP WITH REGARDS TO THAT.

IRAN ITSELF WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE BY

THE STRIKES THIS MORNING.

IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT HAS LONG WARNED THAT IT WILL BE READY AT

A MOMENTS NOTICE TO RETALIATE AGAINST U.S.

STRIKES, AND THAT HAS PROVED CORRECT WITH A VERY SWIFT

NUMBER OF COUNTER STRIKES ON ISRAEL AND U.S.

BASES IN QATAR, BAHRAIN, THE UAE AND THINGS.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDERING IF THE TALKS WERE A

SHAM TO LULL IRAN INTO SOME KIND OF SENSE OF COMPLACENCY,

AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE SAYING THAT TRUMP PLANNED THESE

STRIKES ALL ALONG, OR AT LEAST SINCE AROUND A MONTH AGO WHEN

HE TOLD THE IRANIAN PEOPLE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE

PROTESTS THAT HELP WAS AT HAND. DAVID:

LET ME TURN TO YOU ON THIS ISSUE OF DUELING EXISTENTIALISM.

YOU HAD THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL COUCHING THIS IN

EXISTENTIAL TERMS AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE IRANIAN REGIME

AND YOU LOOK AT THE RHETORIC THIS MORNING CHARACTERIZING

THIS AS A FIGHT BEING EXISTENTIAL. JOUMANNA:

CHRISTINA: NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS AND THE

TARGETS -- NO TARGETS ARE OFF THE TABLE. DAVID:

CAN YOU TELL US THE PERILS OF THAT? JOUMANNA:

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED PAUL IS THAT

WHETHER THE U.S. WAS ENGAGING IN THIS IN GOOD

FAITH. I WOULD ALSO ADD THE NAME OF

THE IRANIANS AND WONDER IF THEY WERE ENGAGING IN THESE

NEGOTIATIONS OF FULL FAITH AND GETTING TO A DEAL.

THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RESPOND SO QUICKLY AS WAS -- IS

BECAUSE THEY WERE PREPARING MILITARILY FOR THE POSSIBILITY

OF AN ATTACK. BOTH SIDES WERE VERY AWARE.

THEY WERE OF AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE WOULD

NOT BE -- NOT HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH AND THAT IS

INTERESTING GIVEN THE RHETORIC COMING OUT OF THE MEDIATOR

YESTERDAY.

THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE IRANIANS ARE IN A MUCH WEAKER

POSITION THAN A WE ARE -- THAN A YEAR AGO.

THIS IS AN EXISTENTIAL SITUATION FOR THEM.

JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE

POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNAL REGIME CHANGE.

PROTESTERS WERE BRUTALLY PUT DOWN BY THE REGIME.

THAT IS ACTUALLY THE ORIGIN FOR WHY -- ORIGINALLY THE PURPOSE

WAS TO BRING HELP TO THE DEMONSTRATORS ON THE STREETS.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.

THE IRANIANS WANTED ONE THING WHICH IS SURVIVAL.

THE INTRINSICS OF THAT IS SANCTIONS RELIEF BECAUSE THE

SANCTIONS HAVE CRIPPLED THE ECONOMY. THE CENTER OF THESE

DEMONSTRATION IS BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS ON ITS RIGHT NOW.

RAMPANT INFLATION, GDP IN A STATE OF DECLINE.

VERY UNHAPPY YOUNGER POPULATION, RISING UNEMPLOYMENT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SOCIOLOGICAL PRESSURE ON THE REGIME.

IDEOLOGICALLY WHAT UNDERPINS THEIR PHILOSOPHY IS THIS

RESISTANCE WHICH IS KEY TO WHAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO CREATE A

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, RESISTANCE IN THE

REGION OPPOSED TO THE VERY EXISTENCE OF ISRAEL.

THE SAME SECURITY OFFICIALS THAT WILL REGULARLY SAY "DEATH

TO AMERICA," FOR THEM HAVING ANSWERS TO THE

ARSENAL OF BALLISTIC MISSILES AND THE CAPABILITY TO FIRE UP

THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS IF THEY NEED TO DO SO IS INTRINSIC TO

THEIR IDENTITY. CHRISTINA: SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

WE WANT TO TELL OUR AUDIENCE THAT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS

SAYING THAT ONE OF THE STRIKES TOOK PLACE NEAR THE OFFICE OF

THE SUPREME LEADER. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THE STRIKES WERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT SOME OF THE

STRIKES HAVE LANDED CLOSE TO THAT FACILITY. DAVID:

JOE, YOU INVOKE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WAR POWERS

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE LEGACY OF WHAT HAPPENED IN VENEZUELA

AND THE ATTACK THAT WE SAW ON IRAN.

I AM CURIOUS WHAT YOU WILL BE LISTENING FOR FROM LAWMAKERS

THIS MORNING AS YOU CONSULT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS TO SEE

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE

WILL BE A COALESCING MESSAGE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS THAT IS

DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN? JOE:

I THINK THE QUESTION WILL BE WILL THERE BE A REPUBLICAN

JAILBREAK BECAUSE THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION WILL LIKELY

GET TO THE FLOOR. MIKE JOHNSON WILL ISSUE A

STATEMENT PROBABLY WITHIN THIS PROGRAM AT SOME POINT THIS

MORNING THAT WILL GIVE US A SENSE OF WHERE HIS MIND IS.

HE AND JOHN THUNE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF

LAWMAKERS INCLUDING TIM KAINE IN THE SENATE.

WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH LAWMAKERS INCLUDING DON BACON AND THE

CONGRESSMAN FROM NEW YORK. THERE ARE DIFFERENT PIECES OF

LEGISLATION THAT CAN LEAVE THIS HERE.

KEEP IN MIND WE SAW REPUBLICANS

ACROSS THE AISLE ON HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS AND TARIFFS.

IS THERE A MAGA FRIENDLY GROUP OF REPUBLICANS OR FREEDOM

CAUCUS THAT DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THIS WAR?

I WOULD SUGGEST YES. CHRISTINA:

THIS IS ALSO DIFFERENT FROM A TARGETED STRIKE.

WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE PRESIDENT, THIS IS GOING TO BE

A MUCH LONGER CAMPAIGN. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KEEP

FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY AND DOMESTIC ISSUES.

JOE: AUTHORIZATION OF THE USE OF FORCE IS LIKELY JUSTIFIED IN

THIS CASE. IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT

DURATION, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS

TALKING ABOUT. DAVID:

JEFF, YOUR SENSE FROM YOUR REPORTING, AN EXTRAORDINARY

STATEMENT WE SAW THE PRESIDENT POST ONLINE.

PERHAPS YOU WOULD LET THAT SPEAK FOR ITSELF IN THE HOURS

AHEAD. JEFF: IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT

THE STATEMENT WE HAVE SEEN IS ONE THAT HE POSTED.

HE DID NOT SPEAK IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF REPORTERS.

THAT WAS NOT LIVE. I AM NOT EXPECTING THEM TO DO

ANY LIVE COMMENTS BUT HE COULD ALWAYS DO ANOTHER STATEMENT.

DAVID:

WE WILL SAY GOODBYE TO PAUL, JOUMANNA. PLEASE STAY SAFE.

OUR COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE WITH JOE AND JEFF ON SET.

>> THE U.S. AND ISRAEL HAVE LOST AN ATTACK

ON IRAN. MULTIPLE PROVINCES HAVE BEEN

HIT. IN A VIDEO ON TRUTH SOCIAL THE

PRESIDENT SAID THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEFEND THE AMERICAN

PEOPLE.

>> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES IN

PARTICULAR LIGHT ADMINISTRATION THAT THIS TERRORIST REGIME CAN

NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

>> SOURCES TELL US THAT U.S.-ISRAEL STRIKES HAVE

ALREADY TARGETED MISSILE SITES THAT COULD STRIKE THE PERSIAN

GULF. PRESIDENT TRUMP URGED IRANIANS

TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT WHEN A MILITARY CAMPAIGN COMES

TO AN END. NETANYAHU AND PRESIDENT TRUMP

SAYING THAT THE JOINT STRIKES ARE TO REMOVE AN EXISTENTIAL

THREAT AND THAT IRAN MUST BE DENIED ACCESS TO NUCLEAR

WEAPONS.

HE CALLED ON IRAN TO REMOVE LEADERS OF THEIR REGIME.

TEHRAN ALSO TARGETED A U.S. BASE WITH EXPLOSIONS HURTING

QATAR KUWAIT AND QATAR.

QATAR SAID THE INTERCEPTION -- SAID THEY INTERCEPTED ATTACK

FROM THEIR TERRITORY. RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY

CALLING THE ATTACK ON IRAN A PREPLANNED AND ON ACT OF ARMED

AGGRESSION THAT VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL LAW.

WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. DAVID:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOKING AT THAT LIVE BLOG THAT

LISA JUST MENTIONED, IRAN APPEARS TO BE DELEGATING POWERS

TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO KEEP THE STATE FUNCTIONING.

THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE STATE NEWS SERVICE.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET A PICTURE OF WHAT THE SITUATION IS ON THE

GROUND IN IRAN. CHRISTINA:

THE LONG-STANDING QUESTION ABOUT COMMAND AND CONTROL

ESPECIALLY THE IRGC. HERE THEY ARE ACTIVELY

DELEGATING CONTROL AND THAT COMMAND DECISION TO DIFFERENT

GROUPS IS INTERESTING AND WOULD BE CONCERNING IF I WERE AT A

U.S. INSTALLATION RIGHT NOW. DAVID:

WE WILL KEEP TRACKING THAT AS HE LOOK TO HOW THIS IS

HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES. WE WILL GO TO MAR-A-LAGO WHERE

THE PRESIDENT RECORDED THAT STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED IN

THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

WAKING UP EARLY TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WEIGH

IN ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED. CHRISTINA:

WE WILL GO TO BLOOMBERG'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT WHO WAS IN

MAR-A-LAGO WITH THE PRESIDENT AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER

IN WASHINGTON, D.C. COURTNEY, WE ARE A LITTLE

CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THIS ALL WENT DOWN.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS VIDEO JUST POPPED UP.

NORMALLY THERE IS A PROCEDURE FOR THIS, A STATEMENT OF THIS

CONSEQUENCE WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING WARD TO THE AMERICAN

PUBLIC AND IS DONE IN FRONT OF REPORTERS.

WHERE THERE ANY JOURNALISTS IN THE ROOM?

HOW WERE YOU INFORMED THAT THE VIDEO WAS POSTED? COURTNEY:

WE WERE INFORMED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

WE WOKE UP TO THE NEWS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

WE HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO

RECORD THIS VIDEO. WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. OUR CALL TIME TO GATHER FOR US

TO GO OVER TO MAR-A-LAGO HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TWICE SO FAR.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM ABOUT ANY PLANS FOR A PRESS

CONFERENCE. IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE SO FAR

LATE IN -- LETTING THE MESSAGE THAT THE PRESIDENT DELIVERED ON

VIDEO PLAY OUT. DAVID:

WE SAT DOWN WITH HAKEEM JEFFRIES YESTERDAY AND IN THAT

CONVERSATION WE ASKED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF THE U.S.

GOING TO WAR AND THE PLANS THAT HE HAS FOR A VOTE ON THE WAR

POWERS RESOLUTION.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS ON

THE OTHER SIDE.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS RECLAIM OUR AUTHORITY AS A

SEPARATE AND COEQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE DECLINED.

>> HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> WE CAN DO THAT BY BEGINNING TO ACTUALLY BRING LEGISLATION

TO THE FLOOR THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VALUES OF OUR FRAMERS.

THEY GAVE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE AUTHORITY

AS IT RELATES TO APPROPRIATIONS BECAUSE THEY KNEW TAXATION AND

SPENDING WERE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND THE HOUSE WAS THE

CLOSEST INSTITUTION TO THE PEOPLE.

THEY ALSO GAVE US THE AUTHORITY AS IT RELATES TO TRADE AND

TARIFFS AND THEY GAVE US THE AUTHORITY AS IT RELATES TO THE

POWER TO DECLARE WAR. UNFORTUNATELY OVER TIME WE HAVE

SEEN AN EROSION OF CONGRESS EXERCISING THAT AUTHORITY.

OUR COMMITMENT ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS TO REGAIN

THAT.

>> CAN YOU DO ANYTHING TO STOP A PRESIDENT WHO DECIDES TO TAKE

MILITARY ACTION LIKE THIS?

>> WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN ON BEHALF OF THE

AMERICAN PEOPLE BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CLEARLY KNOW

THAT THE LAST THING WE NEED AT THIS MOMENT, WHEN THEY ARE

LITERALLY STRUGGLING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING RENT, BUYING

GROCERIES OR GETTING TO GO SEE A DOCTOR WHEN THEY NEED ONE,

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE LAST THING WE NEED IS ANOTHER FAILED FOREIGN FOREVER

WAR WHICH CERTAINLY WOULD BE THE OUTCOME IF DONALD TRUMP

DECIDES TO GET US ENTANGLED IN IRAN IN THE MIDDLE EAST. DAVID:

COMMENTS FROM THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE BEFORE THE

PRESIDENT LAUNCHED THESE ATTACKS.

WE HAVE BEEN SIFTING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA POST AND REACHING

OUT TO CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES FOR REACTION.

YOU CAN HEAR THE CIVICS LESSON THAT THE MINORITY LEADER MADE

AT THE TOP. IT WOULD STRIKE A LOT OF

AMERICANS AS NOVEL IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

HOW HAS THE CONVERSATION SHIFTED ON THE HILL IN THE FEW

HOURS THAT THE SUN HAS BEEN UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C.?

>> WE ARE SEEING PREDICTABLE REACTIONS FROM THE LEFT AND THE

RIGHT. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE

CENTER.

THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS CALLING FOR A MEETING VOTE AND TIM

KAINE CALLING FOR A SENATE VOTE. BASICALLY DEMOCRATS POINT TO

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE VENEZUELAN SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A

SUCCESSFUL SENATE VOTE.

VENEZUELAN WAR POWERS THEIR RESOLUTION INITIALLY AND THE

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CHANGED SOME OF THEIR TACTICS.

THEY CALLED IT THE SECOND STRIKE THAT NEGOTIATED WITH

MARCO RUBIO BEFORE THE SENATE TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF.

WE ARE SEEING A STATEMENT FROM MARK WARNER, THE INTELLIGENCE

TOP DEMOCRATS SAYING THAT WE NEED JUSTIFICATION AND THIS

ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO COME FORWARD AND FULLY BRIEFED

CONGRESS AND SAY WHY THEY ARE DOING THIS.

THIS MIDNIGHT VIDEO IN A GOLF HAT BY THE PRESIDENT IS NOT

SUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATION. THE STATE OF THE UNION BARELY

MENTIONED IRAN. THEY WANT TO HEAR MORE AND WE

WANT TO FIND OUT IF THESE VOTES WILL GO FORWARD NEXT WEEK IN

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ON A WAR POWERS RESOLUTION.

THE PRESIDENT CAN VETO THE ORIGINAL WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

WAS NOT ABLE TO BE VETOED. BUT IT COULD PUT PRESSURE ON

HIM TO LIMIT THE STRIKES IF THERE IS A STRONG SHOWING FROM

REPUBLICANS SHOWING THAT THEY ARE NOT ON BOARD WITH THIS.

DAVID: THAT IS ERIK WASSON WHO COVERS

THE NEWS AND COURTNEY SUBRAMANIAN WHO COVERS THE

WHITE HOUSE. SHE IS IN MAR-A-LAGO WITH THE

PRESIDENT COVERING HIS MOVEMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF

THESE NEXT TWO DAYS. CHRISTINA: THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH AND THANK

YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR EMAILS VERY EARLY THIS MORNING.

WE HAVE MICHAEL ALLEN JOINING US THIS MORNING.

HE SERVED UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.

WE WANT TO START WITH YOU. I AM WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK

THE AIM OF THE STRIKE WAS. THERE IS A SUGGESTION THAT THIS

WAS AN EFFORT TO DECAPITATE IRAN'S LEADERSHIP WHICH IS

SOMETHING THE U.S. HAS SO FAR AVOIDED IN THESE

STRATEGIC STRIKES. WHY DO THAT NOW AND DO WE THINK

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE? MICHAEL:

I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED MYSELF HOW EXPLICIT PRESIDENT TRUMP

WAS IN HIS REMARKS, CALLING OUT THESE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS

AND TRYING TO SET THE CONDITIONS FOR REGIME CHANGE.

HE WENT BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL JUSTIFICATION TO GET INVOLVED

IN IRAN. REMEMBER WEEKS AGO WHEN HE SAID

WE WERE LOCKED AND LOADED AND READY TO HELP THE PROTESTERS.

IT IS REMARKABLE THAT HE SAID PLEASE, PEOPLE STAY IN YOUR

HOUSES FOR NOW BUT WHEN THE BOMBING IS OVER, YOU SHOULD GO

BACK AND TAKE OUT YOUR GOVERNMENT.

IN A SENSE THIS IS CLASSIC TRUMP .

GO BIG AND THAT IS WHAT HE HAS DONE. DAVID:

I'M CURIOUS OF WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE IRAN

PROJECT AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIME CHANGE.

THERE IS HOPE FOR IT. SOME HAVE BEEN AGITATING FOR

THIS KIND OF MILITARY ACTION. WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE

EVOLUTION THAT WE SAW THIS ADMINISTRATION TAKE THIS TIME?

MICHAEL: I THINK WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS

THE STATE OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART RAINY IN

ECONOMY PLUS WIDESPREAD DISAFFECTION AMONG EVERY CLASS

AND GREED ACROSS THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC.

THE PROTESTS AS YOU ALL ARE WHERE WERE THE MOST BROAD-BASED

IN OUR ANCESTRY SINCE 1979. -- IN IRAN'S HISTORY SINCE 1979.

IF YOU PUT TOGETHER A GROWING BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM AND A

PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO DO BIG THINGS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP I

THINK IN GENERAL HAS USED MILITARY FORCE AGGRESSIVELY.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT SET THE CONDITIONS FOR THE UNITED

STATES GETTING INVOLVED AND GOING BIG.

I THINK IT WAS A HEAD FAKE WHEN PEOPLE LEAKED A FEW DAYS AGO

THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO SYMBOLIC STRIKES.

HE IS GOING LARGE, HE IS GOING AFTER THEM.

WITH THE HELP OF ISRAEL I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE

SUPREME LEADER AND DECAPITATE THE REGIME. CHRISTINA:

THE GOAL OF ALLIES -- THE GULF ALLIES ARE NOT FRIENDS OF IRAN.

THIS REGIME HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR A LOT OF FOLKS,

EVEN WITH DIRECT -- EVEN THOSE WITH DIRECT DIPLOMATIC

RELATIONS. I WONDER WHAT THIS MEANS FOR

THOSE IN THE REGION. THE DIPLOMATS FROM THOSE

COUNTRIES REALLY DID NOT WANT THIS ACTION FOR A COUPLE OF

REASONS. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT COMES

AFTER IF THIS REGIME FALLS. THERE IS NO CIVIL SOCIETY IN

IRAN. THERE IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE CIVIL SOCIETY IN IRAN.

THAT STRUCTURE DOES NOT EXIST. THEY ARE AFRAID OF A POWER

VACUUM THAT THEY HAVE SEEN IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND WHAT

THAT DOES TO REGIONAL STABILITY. I AM WONDERING WHAT THAT DOES

TO THE U.S. RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE ALLIES.

THOSE ARE LOCATED IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

WE HAVE A BASE ON THE BIGGEST IN THE AREA IN QATAR.

WE HAVE REPORTS THAT NAVAL OPERATIONS WERE STRUCK.

WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR AMERICA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GULF ALLIES?

MICHAEL: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THESE

ALLIES WERE NOT THRILLED BECAUSE THEY ARE READY TO MOVE

ON TO GROW THEIR ECONOMIES. THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN A

GEOPOLITICAL FIGHT AROUND THE REGION.

SECOND I THINK THEY WANT AND VALUE STABILITY NOT ONLY FOR

ECONOMIC REASONS BUT FOR THEIR OWN REGIMES.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE EXAMPLE OF POPULAR UPRISINGS TOPPLING

MONARCHIES, IF YOU WILL. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THEY WERE

NOT THRILLED WITH THIS. THEY ARE NOT FRIENDS OF IRAN

AND IF THINGS TURN OUT TO BE A GREAT SCENARIO, I THINK THEY

WILL REJOICE. I THINK PRIVATELY RIGHT NOW

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT AND AS YOU KNOW, IRAN WENT BIG ON

RETALIATION THIS MORNING. THEY HIT AS MANY AS FIVE EUROPE

COUNTRIES. IRAN CLEARLY VIEWS THIS AS AN

EXISTENTIAL THREAT. THEY ARE MAKING GOOD ON THEIR

PROMISES TO ATTEMPT TO REGIONAL ALLIES THE WAR.

I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER REASON THE GULF STATES ARE

UNCOMFORTABLE. DAVID: WE WILL BRING IN RETIRED

GENERAL JOHN ALLEN TO THIS CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE MILITARY MIGHT THAT WAS

MARSHALED TO THE GULF AHEAD OF THE STRIKES, WHAT YOU WERE

THINKING AS IT HAPPENED AND HOW YOU ARE THINKING THROUGH THE

NEXT STAGES. THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN

CENTERED ON HOME LONG THIS WILL LAST -- HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST

AND THE REACTION GOING FORWARD. HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT

THOSE TWO THINGS? THE U.S. PREPAREDNESS AND HOW LONG IT IS

GOING TO BE? JOHN: IT WILL GO ON AS LONG AS THE

U.S. BELIEVES THAT ITS TARGETS LIST

NEED TO BE SERVICED. WE ARE STRIKING COUNTERFORCE

TARGETS AND THE MILITARY TARGETS WE ARE STRIKING COMMAND

AND CONTROL. ISRAELIS OUR GOING AFTER

LEADERSHIP. WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIKE

THOSE TARGET LISTS AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE THAT OUR PURPOSES

AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE SERVED BY THAT.

WITH REGARD TO THE REGION, FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING

WITH OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES IN THE REGION TO HAVE A NETWORKED

COUNTER MISSILE DEFENSE, AIR DEFENSE AND MISSILE DEFENSE

CAPABILITIES. MANY OF THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE

SIMILAR CAPABILITIES TO OURS. OUR DESTROYERS IN THE REGION

HAVE THE SM3 AND THE CAPABILITIES TO ENGAGE

BALLISTIC MISSILES ACROSS THE REGION AS TO OUR PARTNERS.

WE ARE GOING TO WANT TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AS BEST WE CAN.

IRANIANS NOT SURPRISINGLY WENT INTO HORIZONTAL ESCALATION

IMMEDIATELY ATTACKING U.S. BASES AROUND THE REGION.

WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT OUR ALLIES AGAINST ONE OF THE

REALLY GREAT THREATS THAT IRAN HAS APART FROM ITS NUCLEAR

PROGRAM AND THAT IS THE DESTABILIZATION OF ITS SUPPORT

TO TERRORISM BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT TO TERRORISM.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE IRANIAN PROXY GROUPS IN IRAQ AND OTHER

PLACES THAT OFFER A DESTABILIZING THREAT TO OUR

PARTNERS. WE WILL SUPPORT THEM IN

COUNTERTERRORISM AND WE WILL SUPPORT THEM IN COUNTERING

BALLISTIC MISSILES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVICE OUR

TARGET LIST UNTIL WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OUR OBJECTIVES.

CHRISTINA: GENERAL, I WANT TO ASK YOU

ABOUT THE PROXY GROUPS AND ABOUT IRAN'S RESPONSE AND

MILITARY CAPABILITIES. WE HAVE HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS AND

THE HOUTHIS. BUT IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MUCH OF A

STOCKPILE LEFT AFTER THESE BACK-AND-FORTHS WE HAVE SEEN

BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN. THEY HAVE ROCKETS, INTERMEDIATE

AND SHORT-RANGE WEAPONS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE STICKING

POINTS OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS IS THE U.S.

ALWAYS WANTED THESE ON THE TABLE.

THEY WANTED IRAN TO GET RID OF THOSE AND THAT WAS LIKE A

NONSTARTER FOR TEHRAN AS WELL. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE

U.S. CAPABILITIES ARE AND HOW LONG

THE U.S. CAN LAST IN THIS. DO WE TO KNOW HOW LONG IRAN CAN

FIGHT BACK AT SOME LEVEL THAT IS DANGEROUS? JOHN:

WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE IRANIANS WILL DEPLETE THEIR

ROCKET AND MISSILE INVENTORIES IN RETRIBUTION AND

COUNTERATTACKING THE AMERICAN ATTACK.

THEY WILL ATTACK AMERICAN FORCES IN THE ARAB STATES.

THEY MAY GO FOR THE ARABIAN CAPITALS THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE QUITE VULNERABLE. THE ARABS HAVE CAPACITY TO

DEFEND THEMSELVES BUT WE HAVE NETWORK TO THIS AS MUCH AS WE

CAN. I DON'T THINK WE KNOW EXACTLY

HOW MANY MISSILES AND ROCKETS IRANIANS HAVE.

MISSILES ARE GUIDED. THE ROCKETS ARE BALLISTIC.

THE IRANIANS HAVE A REALLY FORMIDABLE ARSENAL WITH THOSE

CAPABILITIES. I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SEE THEM

STRIKING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

REMEMBER, THEIR CAPACITY TO PROJECT ANY LEGITIMACY TO THEIR

PEOPLE IS GOING TO BE HOW THEY APPEAR TO BE DEFENDING IRAN

FROM THE AMERICANS AND FROM THE ISRAELIS.

THE MOMENT THAT IT APPEARS THAT THE IRANIAN SKIES ARE WIDE OPEN

AND BY AND LARGE THEY ARE WIDE OPEN FROM THE PREVIOUS STRIKES

TAKING OUT THEIR CAPABILITIES AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE

UNABLE TO DEFEND IRAN AS AN ENTITY, THEY BECOME

ILLEGITIMATE VERY QUICKLY AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET WE

KNOW FOR A LONG TIME HAVE BELIEVED THAT THIS REGIME HAS

GOT TO GO. I THINK ONE OF PRESIDENT

TRUMP'S OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS WHEREBY

THE POPULAR SUPPORT TO THE REGIME CAN ULTIMATELY OVERCOME

THE REGIME ITSELF. DAVID: THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK

YOU TO MICHAEL ALLEN AS WELL FOR HELPING US PIECED TOGETHER

WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND THE LIKELY PATH FORWARD.

TOP OF MIND AS WELL AS WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY,

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE MARKETS. IT IS SATURDAY BUT A LOT OF

THOUGHT IS GOING INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING ON MONDAY MORNING

WHEN THE MARKETS BEGIN TRAINING -- TRADING ONCE AGAIN.

TOM KEENE JOINS US ON SET. AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS, WE THINK

OF ASSETS LIKE OIL. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

TOM: WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS DUBAI

BEING SHUT DOWN WHICH IS NO SURPRISE WITH THE PROXIMITY TO

IRAN. IT WILL BE DESTRUCTIVE TO ALL

THE LOGISTICS AND SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE.

IT DOES NOT START MONDAY MORNING.

IF YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS, MONDAY IS 5:00 P.M.

SUNDAY NIGHT. AT 5:00 P.M. SUNDAY WE WILL GET A GOOD LOOK

WITH BRENT CRUDE OPENING IN LONDON.

THERE IS SPECULATION OUT THERE, I DO NOT WANT TO QUOTE A NUMBER

BUT CLOSING AT $73 ON BRENT CRUDE. WHERE WILL THAT GO?

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE. WE HAVE TIME TO WORK THAT OUT

FOR THE LONDON OPENING. WITH THE 10 YEAR YIELD WELL

UNDER THE 4% LEVEL, I HAVE TO SAY WHEN IN DOUBT, FOLLOW THE

SWISS FRANC. THAT WILL BE THE METER HERE.

DAVID: THE CLASSIC HAVEN ASSET. PERHAPS INDICATING THAT THEY

CAN PRODUCE PRODUCTION IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.

WE HAVE SEEN MARKETS SO ENURED TO THESE EVENTS LATELY.

VENEZUELA. WHAT IF YOU MAKE OF THAT --

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? TOM: THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

THE CLEAREST MEMORY BEING IN THE BLOOMBERG CONTROL ROOM, WE

HAD A GEOGRAPHIC ATLAS AND I OPENED IT UP AND I SAID, YOU

HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME.

IRAN IS THE SIZE OF FIVE FRANCES.

IRAQ IS A QUARTER OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF IRAN. CHRISTINA:

IT IS NOT JUST IRAN'S OIL SUPPLY. WE HAVE SEEN THEM STRIKE

AGAINST U.S. ALLIES. WE HAVE SEEN THEM HIT SAUDI

FACILITIES BEFORE. COULD IT BE A BIGGER ISSUE?

LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT SAY THIS COULD BE A PROLONGED

CONFLICT, ARE THE MARKETS MORE LIKELY TO REACT TO THAT THAN A

TARGETED STRIKE? TOM: WE HAVE TO SEE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECULATION ON THAT.

ONE OF THE GREAT SERIES I SAW IN THESE EARLY HOURS IS MICHAEL.

HE SAID THIS IS ONLY GOING TO BE FROM THE AIR.

THE QUESTION HERE THAT YOU HAVE IS WHERE IS THE BOOTS ON THE

GROUND AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PLANS FOR THAT. DAVID:

WE WILL GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE MORNING.

NOT WHAT WE HAD PLANNED BUT WELL-POSITIONED TO COVER.

CHRISTINA: IT WAS NOT BUT THIS IS WHY WE

ARE HERE ON THE WEEKENDS AND WE WANT TO BRING YOU EVERYTHING

YOU NEED TO KNOW AS THESE STORIES UNFOLD. DAVID:

TOM KEENE IS WITH US. WE WILL GO BACK TO JOE MATHIEU

AND JEFF MASON, RECAPPING THE NEWS. THE U.S.

LAUNCHING STRIKES IN CONCERT WITH ISRAEL ON IRAN.

AS THE SUPREME LEADER OF THAT COUNTRY PROMISED, MISSILES ARE

FLYING ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST. DUBAI AND WHAT IS HAPPENING

THERE, A LOT OF ANXIETY. CHRISTINA:

IRAN SAYING ANYTHING IS ON THE TABLE AND THERE ARE NO RED

LINES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE

U.S.? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE MIDDLE EAST?

WE HAVE MORE IN THE NEXT HOUR STARTING NOW. STICK WITH US.

♪

CHRISTINA: WELCOME BACK TO BLOOMBERG "THIS

WEEKEND." I'M CHRISTINA RUFFINI. DAVID: WE ARE COVERING A LOT OF

BREAKING NEWS OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST. THE U.S. TAKING

EXTRAORDINARY STRIKES ON IRAN. WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE

PRESIDENT HE POSTED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANALYSIS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS MORNING.

AS WE WILL EVERY WEEKEND ON BLOOMBERG TELEVISION, BLOOMBERG

RADIO STREAMING, ON THE BLOOMBERG BUSINESS APP, AND AT

BLOOMBERG.COM AS WELL. WE WERE WELCOMED EARLY BY ALL

OF THIS NEWS. CHRISTINA: QUITE EARLY.

THIS IS NOT QUITE THE SHOW WE HAD PLANNED, BUT THIS IS WHY WE

ARE HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS

OF BEING OUT BLOOMBERG. I WAS UP STARTING AT 1:30.

I THINK YOU WERE SHORTLY AFTER US. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO LISA

MATEO, WHO IS GOING TO CATCH US UP ON THE HEADLINES. LISA:

A MASSIVE OPERATION IS UNDERWAY AND THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT

TEHRAN DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THE MILITARY OPERATION BEGAN AFTER IRAN

REFUSED TO RENOUNCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

HE AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CALLED ON

IRANIANS TO OVERTHROW THE REGIME.

SEVERAL LARGE EXPLOSIONS WERE REPORTED IN TEHRAN.

IRAN QUICKLY RETALIATED. MISSILES TARGETING U.S.

BASES AND INTEREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THAT INCLUDES THE

UNITED ARAB INTERESTS -- UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, BAHRAIN.

AND QATAR AND THE UAE REPORTED INTERCEPTIONS INTO THEIR

TERRITORY. U.S.

EMBASSIES IN BAHRAIN AND QATAR HAVE ISSUED SHELTER-IN-PLACE

ORDERS FOR ALL OF THEIR PERSONNEL, BUT ALSO U.S.

CITIZENS IN THE AREA. SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN THE AREA

CLOSING THAT AIRSPACE AND THAT IS DISRUPTING COMMERCIAL

FLIGHTS IN THE AREA. I WANT TO POINT OUT OIL AS WELL.

OPEC-PLUS IS NOW CONSIDERING A LARGE SUPPLY INCREASE WHEN KEY

MEMBERS ARE MEETING ON SUNDAY. QUICK NOTE ON THE BLOG.

RESIDENTS IN DUBAI REPORT SOUNDS OF BLASTS.

ALSO TO GIVE A SENSE OF THE SCALE OF U.S.

AND ISRAELI STRIKES, THEY TARGETED MORE THAN 20 OF THE

COUNTRY'S 31 PROVINCES. NO WORK ON IF OR WHEN THE

PRESIDENT WILL SPEAK ON THE BUT WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON

THAT. CHRISTINA: WE ARE GETTING AN EMAIL FROM

OUR COLLEAGUE, JOUMANNA BERCETCHE.

SHE SAID SHE HEARD THE LAST STRIKE HAPPENING IN THE UAE.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF MORE STRIKES IN THE UAE AND QATAR.

WE WANT TO PLAY SOME MORE OF THE SOUND FROM THAT STARTLING

ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES STATEMENT THE PRESIDENT DROPPED ON SOCIAL

MEDIA THIS MORNING. HE DID NOT CALL THE PRESS POOL.

HE DID NOT NOTIFY EVERYONE. WE TALKED TO TOWER REPORTER IN

MAR-A-LAGO, AND SHE SAID SHE FOUND OUT WHEN THE REST OF THE

WORLD THAT. SOME OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS

IN THAT STATEMENT, INCLUDING A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST IRAN.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS CAMPAIGN COULD COST AMERICAN

LIVES. AS BAMA THE LIVES OF COURAGEOUS

AMERICAN HEROES MAY BE LOST THEN WE MAY HAVE CASUALTIES.

THAT OFTEN HAPPENS IN WAR. BUT WE ARE DOING THIS NOT FOR

NOW, WE'RE DOING THIS FOR THE FUTURE.

AND IT IS A NOBLE MISSION. WE PRAY FOR EVERY SERVICE

MEMBER AS THEY SELFLESSLY RISKED THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE

THAT AMERICANS AND OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER BE THREATENED BY A

NUCLEAR-ARMED IRAN. THE ASK GOD TO PROTECT ALL OF

OUR HEROES IN HARMS WAY AND WE TRUST THAT, WITH HIS HELP, THE

MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES WILL PREVAIL.

WE HAVE THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD AND THEY WILL PREVAIL.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD.

THE ARMED FORCES. AND ALL OF THE POLICE.

I SAY TONIGHT, YOU MUST LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND HAVE

COMPLETE IMMUNITY. OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE PHASE

CERTAIN DEATH.

SO, LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS. YOU WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY,

WITH TOTAL IMMUNITY, OR YOU WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH.

FINALLY, TO THE GREAT, PROUD PEOPLE OF IRAN, I SAY TONIGHT

THAT THE HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND.

STAY SHELTERED, DON'T LEAVE YOUR HOME.

IT IS VERY DANGEROUS OUTSIDE. BOMBS WILL BE DROPPING

EVERYWHERE. WHEN WE ARE FINISHED, TAKE OVER

HERE GOVERNMENT. -- OVER YOUR GOVERNMENT.

IT WILL BE YOURS TO TAKE. THIS WILL BE, PROBABLY, YOUR

ONLY CHANCE FOR GENERATIONS. FOR MANY YEARS YOU HAVE ASKED

FOR AMERICA'S HELP, BUT YOU NEVER GOT IT.

NO PRESIDENT WAS WILLING TO DO WHAT I AM WILLING TO DO TONIGHT.

NOW YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS GIVING YOU WHAT YOU WANT.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW YOU RESPOND. AMERICA IS BACKING YOU WITH

OVERWHELMING STRENGTH AND DEVASTATING FORCE.

NOW IS THE TIME TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY AND TO

UNLEASH THE PROSPEROUS AND GLORIOUS FUTURE THAT IS CLOSE

WITHIN YOUR REACH. THIS IS THE MOMENT FOR ACTION.

DO NOT LET IT PASS. GOD BLESS THE BRAVE MEN AND

WOMEN OF AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES. MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA. THEY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. DAVID: THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THAT

EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT THIS MORNING, RELEASED WELL BEFORE

DAWN. I'M GOING TO BRING IN DAN

WILLIAMS, A JERUSALEM-BASED CORRESPONDENCE, JOE MATHIEU,

AND JEFF MASON, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT IN NEW YORK.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING THESE

STRIKES WHERE YOU ARE SITTING. I WANT TO GO TO THAT ENTREE

FROM THE PRESIDENT, URGING IRANIANS TO LAY DOWN THEIR

WEAPONS. THESE ARE AIRSTRIKES.

ONE WONDERS WHAT THE NEXT LOGICAL STEPS WOULD BE.

I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

THE PRESIDENT CALLING FOR IRANIANS TO RISE UP, CALLING ON

THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD. WHAT MECHANISM IS IN PLACE?

TALK ABOUT THAT IN THESE NEXT FEW HOURS AND DAYS.

>> IT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE. FROM WHAT WE CAN GATHER THE

RETALIATION THAT ALL OF THE SKULL STATES HAVE SEEN AND

WITNESSED OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS SUGGESTS THE IRANIAN

REGIME IS NOT GOING TO GO QUIETLY.

HAVE BEEN READYING THEMSELVES FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF MILITARY

ACTION. THEY HAVE RESPONDED QUICKLY.

IN THE 12 DAY WAR THE -- IT TOOK THEM TIME TO CALIBRATE THE

RESPONSE. THIS TIME THEY WERE READY TO GO

ON THEY HAVE TARGETED MULTIPLE COUNTRIES.

I'M IN DUBAI AND I HEARD A COUPLE OF BLASTS.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY ARE NOT SPARING ANY GULF STATES.

INSOFAR AS U.S. HAS ASSETS IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE UAE, QATAR, JORDAN, KUWAIT, IRAQ.

ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE INVOLVED.

IT HAS BECOME A REGIONAL WAR. WHAT WE KNOW FROM AUTHORITIES

IN THESE COUNTRIES IS THAT MOST OF THE MISSILES AND DRONES HAVE

BEEN INTERCEPTED. THE GUNTER. -- FOR FEAR TO BE ANY CIVILIAN

CASUALTIES. THERE HAS BEEN ONE CASUALTY IN

ABU DHABI ON THE BACK OF SHRAPNEL.

BUT THAT IS THE BIGGER ISSUE HERE, BECAUSE A SHORT WHILE AGO

IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER DID MAKE A

CALL TO HIS COUNTERPARTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES AND WON THEM

ABOUT THEM ALLOWING THE U.S. TO USE THEIR BASES TO LAUNCH

FURTHER STRIKES ON IRAN.

THIS WOULD SUGGEST IRAN ARE WRITTEN ON RETALIATING.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEMONSTRATORS, A MONTH AGO

THERE WAS AN UPRISING. IT WAS BRUTALLY PUT DOWN, AND

THE UNOFFICIAL NUMBERS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH -- WE DON'T

KNOW THE EXACT DEATH TOLL, BUT THE NUMBERS PUT FORWARD BY

HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCIES SUGGEST MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE WERE

KILLED IN THESE MINISTRATIONS -- DEMONSTRATIONS.

THERE IS A WARINESS IN TEHRAN AMONGST THE POPULATION AND A

REAL QUESTION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY U.S.

ASSISTANCE LOOKS LIKES AND IF THE FOCUS IS TO TARGET MILITARY

INFRASTRUCTURE, PERHAPS KEY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE REGIME.

BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUAL SUPPORT ON THE GROUND, WHAT DOES THAT

LOOK LIKE? ONCE AGAIN, THE STAKES ARE HIGH

AND THIS IS A REGIME THAT IS VERY INTENT ON ITS OWN SURVIVAL.

IT IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THEM.

THEY WILL NOT GO DOWN EASILY. CHRISTINA:

IRANIAN EX-PATS I HAVE SPOKEN TO RECENTLY WHO DESPISE THIS

REGIME WITH EVERY FIBER OF THEIR TEAM STILL HAVE FAMILY IN

TEHRAN. I TALKED TO A WOMAN WHO SAID

HER FAMILY, SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN TO THEM IN DAYS DURING THE LAST

ROUND OF STRIKES BECAUSE THEY HAD GONE TO THE MOUNTAINS.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO

APPEAL TO, AND AT THE SAME TIME THESE ARE PEOPLE BEING PUT IN

HARM'S WAY, AS WELL AS OUR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS

THROUGHOUT THE REGION. DAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE

OUTSIDE AND SAFE. I HOPE YOU HAVE EMERGED FROM A

SHELTER. I WONDER IF WE ARE HEARING

ANYTHING MORE FROM THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT THIS MONEY?

I REACHED OUT TO THE EMBASSY AND THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT

SPEAKING IT. I WONDER IF YOU ARE HEARING

ANYTHING ON YOUR SIDE OF THE WORLD? DAN: AS OF NOW, NO.

THERE HAVE BEEN PROCEDURAL UPDATES, FOR EXAMPLE FROM THE

TRANSPORTATION MINISTER. THE ISRAELI AIRSPACE IS CLOSED,

AS ARE THE HEIRS BASES OF OTHER RELEVANT COUNTRIES IN THE

REGION. THAT WILL AFFECT AIR TRAFFIC,

TRAVEL, AND THE LIKE. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN CALLED TO

SHELTERS REGULARLY. USUALLY DIVVIED UP BY SECTOR

COME ABOUT COMMUNITY, BY PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THE ISRAELIS HAVE BEEN WEATHERED TO SUCH ATTACKS,

GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1991, THE GULF WAR.

OF THOSE 3.5 DECADES, THEY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING A SOPHISTICATED

SYSTEM THAT HOMES DOWN TO THE AREAS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY

ANY SPECIFIC LAUNCH. BASICALLY, IF YOU ARE IN THE

LINE OF FIRE WHERE YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE OR POTENTIALLY IN THE

LINE OF FIRE FOR DEBRIS THAT COULD EMERGE FOR THE

INTERCEPTION OF A MISSILE INTENDED FOR ANOTHER PART OF

THE COUNTRY, YOU WILL RECEIVE A TIMELY WARNING TO GO DOWN TO

SHELTERS. THAT HAS HAPPENED A HALF-DOZEN

TIMES SINCE THIS BLEW UP JUST PAST 8:00 A.M.

THIS MORNING JUST PAST 10:00 IN THE GULF.

IRANIANS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN SCORING STRIKES IN THOSE GOLF

TARGETS.

IT COMES DOWN AS MUCH TO RANGES ANYTHING ELSE.

ISRAEL IS WELL OVER 1000 KILOMETERS AWAY.

THOSE GOLF TARGETS ARE IN SOME CASES JUST A FEW HUNDRED

KILOMETERS AWAY FROM THE IRANIAN LAUNCH POINTS.

THAT MEANS THERE IS FAR LESS TIME TO PREPARE FOR THOSE

MISSILES, TO MOUNT AN INTERCEPTION.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU ARE ACROSS THE REGION, THEN IT IS EASIER

TO TRACK THOSE MISSILES. I SUSPECT AFTER PRIME MINISTER

NETANYAHU PUT OUT THAT MESSAGE VERY CLOSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S

MESSAGE -- IN FACT, THE CONTENT TRACKING ALMOST EXACTLY WITH

WHAT TRUMP SAID -- THE ISRAELIS ALSO CALLING ON THE IRANIAN

PEOPLE OF ALL COMMUNITIES AND SECTORS TO RISE UP AND TAKE

HOLD OF THEIR DESTINY. NOW THAT THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT

IS APPARENTLY RECEIVING A DRUBBING AT THE COMBINED HANDS

OF THE U.S. AND ISRAELI FORCES.

WE WILL NOT HEAR BACK FROM HIM AT NIGHTFALL WHEN THE JEWISH

SABBATH ENDS. CHRISTINA:

IN JUNE DURING THAT 12 DAY BACK-AND-FORTH WE DID WATCH THE

IRON DOME VERY SUCCESSFULLY INTERCEPT MOST OF THOSE

MUNITIONS. THERE WERE A FEW THAT GOT

THROUGH, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS THE

INTERCEPTORS GOING OUT AND TAKING OUT THOSE.

YOUR HONOR THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY AND RECALCULATED

WHAT THEY WOULD STRIKE. DAVID: LET ME TALK ABOUT THIS THEME OF

SURPRISE.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT LAWMAKERS AND HOW SURPRISED THEY WERE.

JACK REED IS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

AND WAS GIVEN NO ADVANCE NOTICE. ONE WONDERS ABOUT THE GANG OF

EIGHT, THE LEADERSHIP FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THE LEADING

MEMBERS OF THE SELECT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES AS WELL.

ANY INDICATION IF THEY WERE GIVEN A HEADS UP? JOE:

WE LEARNED THAT THE DID GET A HEADS UP ON THIS, WHICH DID NOT

HAPPEN, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE U.S. WENT INTO VENEZUELA.

THERE WAS A BIT OF OUTRAGE WHEN MARCO RUBIO SUGGESTED THAT THEY

COULD NOT TRUST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO NOT LEAK THAT

INFORMATION. THE GANG OF EIGHT IS QUITE

WELL-KNOWN KNOWN FOR NOT DOING THAT.

THESE ARE THE TWO PARTY LEADERS IN EACH CHAMBER AND LEADER AND

RANKING MEMBER OF BOTH INTEL COMMITTEES.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE MARK WARNER, WHO IS OUT WITH A STATEMENT

DEMANDING WAR POWERS VOTE. IT COMES BACK TO THIS IDEA OF A

PROLONGED ENGAGEMENT, WHICH AT PRESENT AND IS CLEARLY

TELEGRAPHING. THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WAS

ALSO BRIEFED, AS WE UNDERSTAND. I SUSPECT THAT CAME FROM THE

SAME PLACE. WHETHER THERE IS GOING TO BE A

CLASSIFIED BRIEFING FOR ALL MEMBERS, WE DO NOT KNOW.

CHRISTINA: THAT IS A DEPARTURE FROM WHEN

THE U.S. STRUCK IRAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES

LAST SUMMER. I HEARD A LOT OF GRIPING THAT

THEY HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

>> JUST TO TAKE A BROADER LOOK, YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT USE THE

LANGUAGE AND WORLD WAR. CONGRESS HAS THE RIGHT TO

DECLARE WAR, AND THAT COULD BE ANOTHER MAJOR TENSION POINT

POLITICALLY IN WASHINGTON. FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT, THOUGH

SOME LAWMAKERS MAY HAVE GIVEN -- BEEN GIVEN A HEADS-UP, YOU

DIDN'T ASK PERMISSION. HE DIDN'T ASK CONGRESS TO GET

BEHIND THIS. HE WENT AHEAD AND DID IT.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CONGRESS, WHICH IS CONTROLLED

BY REPUBLICANS, GIVING UP POWERS THAT THE CONSTITUTION

GIVES THEM TO THE EXECUTIVE. THAT HAS BEEN TRUE WITH TARIFFS

AS WELL. THIS IS ON A MAJOR FOREIGN-POLICY LEVEL.

CHRISTINA: DEBATE ABOUT THE WAR POWERS

DOES NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THIS PRESIDENT.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE COVERED WASHINGTON THIS HAS BEEN

SOMETHING CONGRESS HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT.

USUALLY WHEN YOU HEAR PRESIDENTS ANNOUNCE STRIKES

LIKE THIS THEY DANCE AROUND THE -- THIS SPECIFICALLY.

WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU ABOUT THE POWER DYNAMIC IN CONGRESS AND

WHITE HOUSE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING THIS IS A WAR, IT

COULD BE PROTRACTED, AND THERE COULD BE CASUALTIES? JEFF:

IT IS THE STRENGTHENING OF THE EXECUTIVE THAT HAS HAPPENED

UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND TERM.

HE HAS CLAIMED POWERS IN MANY WAYS THAT ARE NOT HIS.

HE HAS USED EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO GOVERN MORE SO THAN LEGISLATION.

IT IS NOT TO DOWNPLAY THE LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES HE HAD IN

TERMS OF TAX CUTS. THAT HAS BEEN A TENSION POINT

IN WASHINGTON. IT HAS BEEN A TENSION POINT

WITH DEMOCRATS.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO RISE

UP AGAINST THAT AS WELL. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IF THIS

WERE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT IN OFFICE THEY WOULD NOT BE

STANDING FOR THIS.

BUT HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO

PRESIDENT TRUMP ABOUT VS SECOND TERM. THEY DO NOT STAND UP.

WILL THIS BE A LINE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE CROSSED? TBD DAVID:

YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE STATEMENTS FROM PRIME

MINISTER NETANYAHU AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I WONDER HOW GO FOR LEADERS HAVE MADE THEIR CASE TO PRESENT

TRUMP IN THE LEAD UP TO THIS?

THERE IS SOME INHERENT INEFFECTIVENESS HERE, BUT WHAT

IS THAT QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION LIKE BETWEEN GULF

LEADERS IN THE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW? JOUMANNA:

YOU'VE GOT TO BE THINKING THEY ARE WORKING ON THE CHANNELS.

WE JUST GOT A STATEMENT FROM THE SAUDI MINISTRY CALLING FOR

A DE-ESCALATION, SAYING THEY STAND IN UNITY WITH THEIR GOLF

ALLIES. ONCE WHO HAD BEEN TARGETED.

FOR GOLF STATES, LOOK, THIS IS OF UTMOST PRIORITY.

DE-ESCALATION IS OF UTMOST PRIORITY.

I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN, I WOULD

NOT SAY THAT THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF LOVE LOST BETWEEN

MANY OF THESE GOLF NATIONS AND THE IRANIAN REGIME.

THAT SAID, FOR THEM WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IN THE REGION IN

THE CONTEXT OF THEIR OWN ECONOMIC VISIONS -- BECAUSE

MANY OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE UNDERGOING ECONOMIC

TRANSFORMATION -- IS POLITICAL STABILITY.

THAT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT THEME.

IF YOU SPEAK TO THE LEADERS IN THESE GULF STATES THEY WILL

TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T WANT THIS CRISIS TO SPIRAL OUT OF

CONTROL.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, 2020 THREE THERE WAS A MEDIATION

THAT WAS BROKERED BY CHINA BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAN

TO RESTORE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIPS OR BOTH SIDES

PLEDGED NONINTERFERENCE. THAT WAS A BIG MILESTONE IN THE

REGION BECAUSE YOU MAY ALSO

RECALL THAT IN PRIOR INCIDENTS SAUDI FACILITIES WERE ALSO

SUBJECT TO RETALIATION FROM IRAN.

THIS TIME AROUND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING AGGRESSIVELY TO ENSURE

THAT THOSE TYPE OF STRIKES DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

YET HERE WE ARE ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, WHERE EVERY SINGLE

U.S.-BASED MILITARY BASE -- NOT EVERY SINGLE, BUT EVERY SINGLE

COUNTRY HOSTING A U.S. BASE HAS BEEN TARGETED.

WITH IRANIAN RETALIATION. THERE WOULD BE LOOKING UPON

THIS WITH A LOT OF CONSTERNATION AND CONCERN ABOUT

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

LOOSELY PUSHING FOR BEING -- BIG DE-ESCALATION HERE.

IT IS UNLIKELY AT THIS POINT THAT THINGS CAN CALM DOWN OR

DE-ESCALATE, BECAUSE THE MESSAGING THAT HAS COME

THROUGH, AT LEAST FROM THE ISRAELI SIDE, IS THAT THIS IS

AN OPERATION THAT IS GOING TO ON FOR DAYS.

AS LONG AS THAT HAPPENS YOU WOULD THINK ALSO THAT THE GULF

STATES AND THEIR ASSETS, THE U.S. ASSETS IN THE REGION WILL

CONTINUE TO BE TARGETS. CHRISTINA:

I ALSO WANT TO UPDATE OUR AUDIENCE.

COURTNEY SUBRAMANIAN CONFIRMS WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GET

FURTHER REMARKS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY.

AGAIN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU AND ASK ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIM AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.

THIS HAS BEEN TWO LEADERS THAT WERE CLOSE AND THEN HAD A BIT

OF A TIFF. THE ROMANCE SEEMS TO BE OVER,

AND IT HAS REIGNITED IN RECENT MONTHS.

THE PRIME MINISTER WAS RECENTLY AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND SOURCES

WERE TELLING ME YEARS REALLY OFFICIALS -- IS REALLY

OFFICIALS WERE COMING OUT OF THAT MEETING GIDDY.

FLASH FORWARD AND WE HAVE THIS JOINT STRIKE ON IRAN.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AND HOW MUCH

INFLUENCE YOU THINK NETANYAHU HAS OVER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN

IT COMES TO TAKING ACTION IN IRAN?

>> I THINK HE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE.

THERE WAS SOMETHING OF A FALLING OUT BETWEEN THE TWO

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S. FAMOUSLY TRUMP THEN OUT OF

OFFICE IN MAR-A-LAGO USED TO THE F-WORD ABOUT NETANYAHU.

THE PRIME MINISTER BEING QUICK TO RECOGNIZE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S

PRESIDENTIAL WIN.

THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO REALLY ENJOYS SUCCESS AND ADMIRES

SUCCESS.

AFTER THE ISRAELI MILITARY WERE BLINDSIDED THAT HAMAS ATTACK

TWO YEARS AGO, ENGINE AND ANY HOPE, THE LONGEST-SERVING PRIME

MINISTER, WITH HIS EYE ON HIS HISTORICAL LEGACY AND NEEDS OF

THE COUNTRY IN THE GIVEN MOMENT, PUT HIS MIND NOT JUST A

TURNING ROUND THE SITUATION IN GAZA, BUT EFFECTIVELY

REVOLUTIONIZING -- BRINGING ABOUT REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE IN

THE MIDDLE EAST AT LARGE. ISRAEL WENT ON THE OFFENSIVE ON

SEVERAL FRONTS AGAINST HIS REIGN -- AGAINST IRANIAN ALLIES.

HAMAS HAS ENJOYED IRANIAN PATRONAGE CERTAIN GROUPS IN

SYRIA UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.

AND THE HOUTHIS ARE ALSO ALIGNED WITH IRAN.

AND NOW TAKING ON IRAN DIRECTLY. WHAT IS CLEAR HERE IS THAT

TRUMP HAS BEEN PERSUADED. IT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM OTHER

FORCES. IT MAY HAVE BEEN HIS READING OF

HISTORY. HE WILL BE SOMEONE WHO WILL

REMEMBER THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION, WHEN THE U.S.

EMBASSY WAS TAKEN OVER AND MANY OF THE STAFF HELD HOSTAGE FOR A

LONG TIME. HE WILL BE AWARE OF THAT.

THERE ARE ALSO U.S. ALLEGATIONS THAT IRAN HAS BEEN

BEHIND ASSASSINATION ATTENDS, OR AT LEAST ONE AGAINST THIS

PRESIDENT , WHO SURVIVED TWO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS IN

RECENT MONTHS. IT WOULD APPEAR A COMBINATION

OF THE COUNCIL OF THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, A PRIME

MINISTER HE TRUST TO GET THE JOB DONE AND POTENTIALLY GIVE

HIM A SOLID ACCOUNTING OF THE REALITIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST.

AND HOW U.S. INTERESTS MIGHT BE SERVED BY

SEEING A REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE

COALESCED. SIX MONTH AGO IN JUNE THEY

STRESS TESTED THIS RELATIONSHIP BY JOINING A SURPRISE ATTACK

AGAINST IRAN. NOW THEY JOINED IN AT THE

OUTSET WITH THE U.S. PRE-POSITIONING PLANES IN

ISRAEL, WHICH ITSELF IS WITHOUT PRECEDENT. THERE IS A VERY TIGHT

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE MEN THAT GOES WELL BEYOND THE

REPORT TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF THE

MIDDLE EAST. DAVID: AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS ONE TENDS

TO LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PRECEDING DAYS.

YOU WERE ON CAPITOL HILL FOR THE STATE OF THE UNIT, WATCHING

THE PRESIDENT ADVISORS COME IN. CHRISTINA:

THAT SEEMS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. DAVID:

MARCO RUBIO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AS WELL.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE STILL HAVING A PLAN TO GO TO ISRAEL

OVER THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK. CHRISTINA:

THEY HAVE NOT PULLED DOWN THE TRIP YET. DAVID:

I WONDER HOW YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, JOE?

I KEEP GOING BACK TO THIS THEME OF SURPRISE.

WHAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED ABOUT YOUR APPARATUS SURROUNDING THIS.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT, BUT THE DEGREE TO

WHICH HE HAS BEEN ENGAGING WITH THEM.

WE HEARD FROM HIS ADVISORS ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND DIPLOMACY.

JOE: AT THAT POINT WHEN WE WERE IN

THE CAPITAL FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION THE STORYLINE WAS ONE

OF OPTIMISM. THAT THEY WERE GEARING UP FOR

TALKS ON THURSDAY. THE PRESIDENT SAID 10 TO 15

DAYS. THIS IS 10 DAYS ON THE SPOT.

WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING. CHRISTINA:

AND NOT THAT MUCH ABOUT IRAN IN THE STATE OF THE UNION. JOE:

THAT IS ALSO TRUE, AND NO INSIGHT INTO JUSTIFICATION.

IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT AMOUNTING TO WHAT WE HEARD IN THIS VIDEO

OVERNIGHT. THEY CLEARLY KNEW THIS AND HE

HAD A BRIEFING BY THE CENTCOM COMMANDER ON THURSDAY.

LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT WAS PROBABLY A BRIEFING ABOUT HOW

THE ATTACK WAS READY TO GO. LOOK, THIS IS GOING TO PLAY

DIFFERENTLY WITH DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE CATNIP.

YOU POINTED OUT MARCO RUBIO REMINDING EVERYONE OF THE

TENSION BETWEEN MARCO RUBIO AND JD VANCE.

THE POTENTIAL HEIR APPARENT OF THIS PRESIDENT AND MAGA.

THIS IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR JD VANCE TO TELEGRAPH

PUBLICLY. IS GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT

THIS AS A MEMBER OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT TO MAKE THIS AN AMERICA FIRST DOMESTIC ISSUE FOR HIM,

KNOWING HE WANTS TO RUN IN 2028, IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

CHRISTINA: I WANT TO PLAY YOU MORE SOUND

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS THIS MORNING.

I WANT TO PLAY YOU SOUND FROM THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING

YESTERDAY. IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS.

LISTENING TO WHAT HE SAID DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION,

LISTENING UP TO THIS SPEECH, WHEN I HEARD THIS I THOUGHT,.

PRES. TRUMP: THAT IT WANT TO GO FAR ENOUGH,

AND THAT IS TOO BAD. WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH THEM

FOR 47 YEARS AND THAT IS A LONG TIME.

THEY HAVE BEEN BLOWING THE LEGS OFF OF OUR PEOPLE, THE FACES,

THE ARMS. THEY HAVE BEEN KNOCKING OUR SHIPS, ONE BY ONE.

EVERY MONTH THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE.

WE CAN PUT UP WITH IT TOO LONG. WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE

NEGOTIATION. THEY DON'T WANT TO SAY THE

KEYWORDS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

CHRISTINA: WAS THAT THE PRESIDENT TIPPING

HIS HAT THERE FOR PEOPLE LISTENING?

AND WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS FOR THIS AS WE LOOK AT THAT

YEAR -- THE BIGGER GEOPOLITICAL STRATEGY?

AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO CHINA?

AND ALSO RUSSIA AND UKRAINE? DOES THIS IMPACT THAT? JEFF:

I THINK HE WAS TELEGRAPHING IT. THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO HAS

MADE CLEAR ALMOST FROM DAY ONE THAT HE IS INTERESTED IN

GETTING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, AND YET HE IS ALSO A PRESIDENT

WHO IS VERY INTERESTED IN USING THE FORCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE

TO HIM IN TERMS OF MILITARY POWER.

HE HAS CERTAINLY DONE THAT NOW IN IRAN.

ON THE BROADER GEOPOLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, I THOUGHT IT WAS

INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT RUSSIA'S REACTION WAS TO THIS.

SOME WOULD CALL THAT VERY RICH, TO HAVE RUSSIA'S SAYING THIS IS

AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK AND NOT IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL NORMS,

CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE.

BUT THAT, AGAIN, DOES HAVE RAMIFICATIONS FOR THIS.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE TRUMP

ADMINISTRATION'S ABILITY TO FORM A PEACE DEAL THERE?

WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HE WANTS.

HE RIGHTLY SAID THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO CHINA IN ABOUT A

MONTH. THERE IS ALWAYS THIS THREAT OR

CONCERN OF CHINA POTENTIALLY INVADING TAIWAN.

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THE UNITED STATES STRIKE ON ANOTHER

COUNTRY SEND TO CHINA ON WHETHER THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTED

OR ACCEPTABLE? JOE:

OUR COLLEAGUE WHO HEADS UP OUR RUSSIAN COVERAGE WAS MAKING A

GOOD POINT. THAT WHAT THIS SHOWCASES IS THE

REDUCED CAPACITY OF RUSSIA AND VLADIMIR PUTIN TO DEFEND ITS

LONG-STANDING ALLIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. I WONDER WHAT YOU

THINK ABOUT THAT?

WE HAVE SEEN DAMAGE TO ITS PROXIES IN THE REGION, AND

RUSSIA WAS A PATRON OF THESE COUNTRIES. CHRISTINA:

AND WE SAW THIS IN SYRIA. IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THE

REGIME CANNOT HOLD ON. RUSSIA DID NOT HAVE THE

BANDWIDTH TO SUPPORT THAT REGIME IS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.

I REMEMBER I WAS THERE YEARS AGO THERE WERE PICTURES OF THE

AYATOLLAH, THE IRGC LEADERS ALL OVER THAT AREA.

THAT IS NOT THERE ANYMORE. JOE: IT REMINDS US OF THE DISRUPTION

WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST YEAR IN THE SECOND TERM.

THERE IS A LOT OF OVERLAP HERE, AS YOU ARE POINTING OUT.

HOW THIS IMPACTS A POTENTIAL PEACE DEAL AROUND UKRAINE, THE

WAY IT MAY BE INFORMING THE CHINESE WHEN IT COMES TO TAIWAN

ARE HUGE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE NOT EVEN BROUGHT UP

GREENLAND SINCE WE CAME ON THE AIR THIS MORNING. CHRISTINA:

IT IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES YOU AND I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED

GREENLAND SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER, JOE. DAVID:

I WANT TO GO TO JAY KAUSHIK LOSS -- CONGRESSMAN OPTION

CLASS.

A QUESTION WE HAVE BEEN POSING TO A LOT OF OUR GUESTS, IS HOW

THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THIS. I WONDER IF YOU COULD WALK US

THROUGH THAT AND GIVE US YOUR SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN

THE CRUCIBLE OF CONGRESS. WE KNOW THERE ARE VOTES

HAPPENING ON MORE POWERS. IT MAY BE BROUGHT TO BEAR OVER

THE NEXT FEW HOURS?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK ON. THE WAY I SHOULD HAVE FOUND OUT

ABOUT THIS IS THE PRESIDENT COMING TO CONGRESS TO REQUEST

AN AUTHORIZATION FOR MILITARY FORCE AND REPRESENTATIVES

DEBATING IN PLAIN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC THE MERITS OF

AIRSTRIKES, THE NATURE OF IRANIAN SELF-DETERMINATION, AND

RISKS AND BENEFITS THEREOF.

THE WAY I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THIS

MORNING, WAS OPENING THE HEADLINES AND SEEING THAT A

RECKLESS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HAD STARTED A WAR OF CHOICE WITHOUT

CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION AND WITHOUT EXPLAINING THE

STRATEGIC ENDGAME. THIS IS GOING TO BE TACTICALLY

OVERWHELMING. AMERICA DOES HAVE AIR DOMINANCE

IN IRAN, BUT IT IS STRATEGICALLY OPEN-ENDED, AND

CONGRESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THIS

PRESIDENT IS ASKING. CHRISTINA: DO YOU THINK THIS WAS AN

ILLEGAL ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT? >> YES, HE DOES NOT HAVE

AUTHORIZATION TO DO THIS. UNDER THE WAR POWERS THE ONLY

WAY A PRESIDENT CAN COMMIT U.S. FORCES INTO HOSTILITIES AS IF

THERE IS AN IMMINENT THREAT. THERE IS NO IMMINENT THREAT

FROM THE AS RUM OR PUBLIC. THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC HAS AMID

IS RATED -- HAS AN MS. RATED AND REPRESSED ITS PEOPLE.

-- E MS. RATED AND REPRESSED ITS PEOPLE.

BUT IT IS NOT A THREAT TO THE U.S. HOMELAND.

DAVID: I'M GOING TO ASSUME YOU HAVE

WATCHED THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT AND THERE IS THE PART

AT THE END WHERE HE RAISES THE POTENTIAL OF THERE BEING LOSS

OF U.S. LIFE. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A

RESERVIST. HOW DID THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THAT

STATEMENT RESONATE WITH YOU AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT

NOW, I GUESS POST-THIS HAVING TO JUSTIFY THE ACTIONS TO THE

AMERICAN PEOPLE?

>> THE AMERICAN TROOPS DESERVE A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WHO HAS TO

LAY OUT HIS RATIONALE IN FRONT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.

WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR THE U.S. MILITARY YOU UNDERSTAND YOU MAY

BE RISKING YOUR LIFE FOR THE FLAG AND CONSTITUTION, BUT YOU

EXPECT YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND OFFICERS TO FOLLOW THE RULE

OF LAW, TO ENNOBLE THAT RISK YOU ARE TAKING.

HE IS FAILING TO DO SO. CHRISTINA:

YOU MENTIONED, WHAT IS THE END GAME HERE? IS IT CLEAR TO U.S.

FORCES WHAT THE MISSION IS HERE? IS THAT MISSION REGIME CHANGE?

DOES THE U.S. STILL DO THAT?

>> THAT IS A TERRIFIC QUESTION. I CAN REMEMBER BEING A YOUNG

LIEUTENANT IN AFGHANISTAN, PATROLLING TALIBAN-CONTESTED

VISION -- VILLAGES IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN.

AND GIVING COMMANDS TO MY PLATOON AND NOT BEING ABLE TO

NEST THAT MISSION STATEMENT UP INTO A HIGHER COMMANDER'S

INTENT ABOUT, WHAT IS IT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE?

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU UNDERMINE READINESS AND ESPRIT

DE CORPS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES.

AND YOU MAKE IT HARDER FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS TO

EXECUTE . THIS PRESIDENT OWES A CLEAR

RATIONALE TO CONGRESS AND CONGRESS OWES THE AMERICAN

PEOPLE A DEBATE. FOR REGIME CHANGE, IF THAT IS

THE PRESIDENT'S INTENT, HE ALREADY LIVE TO THE IRANIAN

PROTESTERS ONCE. HE SAID HELP IS ON THE WAY.

THIS TIME AROUND WHAT IS THE NATURE OF SUPPORT HE WANTS TO

PROVIDE? IS THAT MEAN BOOTS ON THE

GROUND? DOES THAT MEAN COVERT ACTION?

CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE TO DEBATE THAT AND JUSTIFY IT TO OUR

CONSTITUENTS. DAVID:

CONGRESSMAN, WE SPOKE TO HER HAKEEM JEFFRIES, AND HE LAID

OUT A VERY GOOD CITIZEN -- CIVICS LESSON ABOUT THE ROLE

CONGRESS IS SUPPOSED TO PLAY HERE AND WHAT HE HOPES TO

HAPPEN. THERE ARE MANY AMERICANS,

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, WHO ARE DISPIRITED AT THE ROLE

CONGRESS HAS PLAYED IN RECENT YEARS.

I THINK THEY MIGHT PERCEIVE IT AS BEING LESS TRUTHFUL AS THEY

HAVE IN THE PAST. -- TOOTHFULL AS IT HAS IN THE PAST. WHAT

WOULD YOU SAY IN LIGHT OF THIS AND HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR PARTY

WORKING TOGETHER TO RESPOND TO THIS?

>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A RIGHT TO BE FRUSTRATED WITH A

CONGRESS THAT HAS SIDELINED ITSELF AND ITS ARTICLE ONE

PREROGATIVES. WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE

CONGRESS REASSERTING ITSELF ON TARIFFS, WITH TARIFF AND VOTES

IN THE HOUSE, ON THE EPSTEIN FILES.

THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WITH A WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

NEXT WEEK FOR CONGRESS TO RECLAIM ITS FUNDAMENTAL POWERS

THAT THE FRAMERS UNDERSTOOD BELONGED TO THE PEOPLE'S

REPRESENTATIVES AND NOT TO A CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

ULTIMATELY, I DO NOT EXPECT SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON TO BE

BRAVE. BUT I DO EXPECT IS FOR THE

AMERICAN PUBLIC TO DECIDE THAT IF HE WILL NOT BE BRAVE THEY

ARE GOING TO SEND PEOPLE TO CONGRESS WHO WILL BE AND

DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WIN THE MIDTERMS AND WE WILL HOLD THIS

ADMINISTRATION TO ACCOUNT. CHRISTINA:

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS THE SAME ONE I ASKED LEADER JEFFRIES --

WHAT CAN CONGRESS DO? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO

STOP A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO TAKE THIS ACTION?

SOME OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WILL AFFECT AND JOIN

YOU, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SAYING THAT IS NOT A

POSSIBILITY UNTIL THE MIDTERMS. REP. AUCHINCLOSS:

I THINK SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE MAY.

THIS WAR POWERS RESOLUTION WE ARE VOTING ON NEXT WEEK IS A

BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION. WHETHER IT GETS ENOUGH

REPUBLICAN VOTES IN THE HOUSE, TO PASS AND TO COMPEL ACTION IN

THE SENATE, IS ANOTHER MATTER.

BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE

CONGRESS FULLY ASSERT ITS ARTICLE ONE POWERS.

THEY SHOULD NEVER EXPECT A BUNCH OF CONGRESSIONAL

REPUBLICANS TO BE THE COURAGEOUS LEADERS AT -- THAT

THIS MOMENT DEMANDS. DAVID: DO YOU LOOK AT THIS IN

ISOLATION? I RECALL AFTER THE U.S.

CAPTURED NICOLAS MADURO THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT

HAPPENED THERE COULD BE A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE

WORLD.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S INCLINATION FOR ADVENTURISM, DO

YOU SEE THIS AS PART AND PARCEL AS A BROADER TRACK?

DO YOU WORRY THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO MORE ADVENTURISM?

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IN A BROADER CONTEXT?

REP. AUCHINCLOSS: THE MIDDLE EAST IS COMPLICATED

ENOUGH. I DON'T TEND TO ANALOGIZE FROM

OTHER REGIONS, BECAUSE THE MIDDLE EAST HAS ITS OWN CONTEXT

WE HAVE TO BE HUMBLE ABOUT. BUT, JUST FOCUS ON THIS REGION,

I THINK WHAT IS CRITICAL IS FOR THERE TO BE A CONSISTENT

BIPARTISAN BLUEPRINT FOR HOW WE ARE APPROACHING IRAN.

WHAT I WOULD POSIT IS THAT TWO THINGS ARE CRITICAL.

FIRST, WE NEED AMERICAN AIR SUPREMACY IN THAT REGION.

THAT IS VITAL TO AMERICAN INTERESTS.

IRAN CANNOT RAIN DOWN TERROR FROM THE SKIES.

AND AMERICA DOES NEED TO SUPPORT IRON DOME, AND I WOULD

ARGUE A REGIONAL SYSTEM.

BUT NUMBER TWO IS, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER A POLICY OF

MUTUAL NONINTERFERENCE WITH IRAN THAT SAYS, YOU STOP

MESSING AROUND IN SYRIA, IN IRAQ, OF COURSE WITH ISRAEL,

AND WE WILL NOT MESS IN YOUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

HE WILL SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO HAVE FREEDOM OF

SPEECH, FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, WE WILL NOT ATTEMPT REGIME CHANGE

SO LONG AS YOU STOP MESSING AROUND IN OTHER PEOPLES'S

AFFAIRS. CONGRESS COULD GET BEHIND THAT

BLUEPRINT AND HE COULD SIGNAL TO MODERATE SUCCESSORS VYING

FOR POWER AFTER THE AYATOLLAH DIES THAT THERE IS A PATH TO

BETTER RELATIONS AND AN IMPROVED ECONOMY.

BUT THAT CANNOT HAPPEN IF WE HAVE ONE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

OFFERING MILITARY ACTION WITHOUT STRATEGIC RATIONALE.

CHRISTINA: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THESE

NEGOTIATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING BETWEEN STEVE

WITKOFF, JARED KUSHNER, AND IRANIAN COUNTERPARTS.

THE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKING THIS MORNING IS, WAS THE U.S.

NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH? WE HAVE REPORTING THAT THE U.S.

AND ISRAEL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PLAN FOR WEEKS.

THEY LEFT THOSE TALKS, SCHEDULING ANOTHER ROUND OF

TALKS NEXT WEEK. YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION

WAS EVER SERIOUS ABOUT FINDING A PEACE DEAL WITH IRAN?

REP. AUCHINCLOSS: I THINK THEY WERE ABOUT A

SERIOUS ABOUT IT AS THEY WERE ABOUT DRUG INTERDICTION BEING A

CASUS BELLI IN VENEZUELA. CHRISTINA:

WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR U.S. CREDIBILITY WHEN IT TRIES TO

ENTER NEGOTIATIONS ELSEWHERE? I'M THINKING RUSSIA-UKRAINE,

I'M THINKING THESE CONFLICTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES LIKE

TO TOWN AS A PEACE DEALER. -- TOUT AS A PEACE DEALER.

REP. AUCHINCLOSS: THE BIGGER PROBLEM FOR U.S.

CREDIBILITY IS WEAKNESS, ACTUALLY.

THIS PRESIDENT IN UKRAINE IS FUNDAMENTALLY NEGOTIATING FROM

A SELF-IMPOSED WEAK POSITION. AS OPPOSED TO AUTHORIZING

LONG-RANGE STRIKES AGAINST OIL FIND AREAS AROUND MOSCOW, FOR

EXAMPLE. AS OPPOSED TO TAKING RUSSIAN

ASSETS AND INVESTING THEM. AS OPPOSED TO SANCTIONING

RUSSIAN OIL EXPORTS. HE IS BASICALLY CEDING TO

RUSSIA'S TERRITORIAL DEMANDS. THAT IS OUR CORE WEAKNESS.

THE RECENT NATIONAL SECURITY DOCUMENT WAS A BACKPEDAL STANCE.

THAT IS OUR CORE ISSUE. THE CREDIBILITY ISSUE IS THERE,

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE THERE SO LONG AS THIS GUYS PRESIDENT.

WEAKNESS IS MORE A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY. DAVID:

CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU. THAT IS JAKE AUCHINCLOSS.

CHRISTINA, THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR FOCUS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

HOW THOSE TWO DUELING WAR RESOLUTIONS WILL PLAY OUT IN

CONGRESS. CHRISTINA: FOR AN INTERVENTION IS NOT

SOMETHING THAT WAS AT THE CORE OF THIS PARTY ORIGINALLY.

WE HAVE SEEN IT EXPAND A BIT, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS

POPULAR WITH REPUBLICANS RUNNING IN THESE MIDTERMS AND

TRYING TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY, ON THOSE KITCHEN TABLE

ISSUES THEIR CONSTITUENTS CARE ABOUT THAT.

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW A PROLONGED INTERVENTION IN IRAN IS GOING

TO PLAY WITH THAT DOMESTIC AUDIENCE. DAVID:

WE ARE FAR FROM THE AFFORDABLE -- AFFORDABILITY ON THIS ISSUE.

I WANT TO GO TO LISA MATEO. LISA:

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY RELEASED ITS ANNUAL EARNINGS.

ITS ANNUAL REPORT.

AND THAT CEO LETTER FROM GREG ABELL. LET'S GET TO THE EARNINGS

FIRST. FOURTH-QUARTER OPERATING EARNINGS, 10 POINT $2 BILLION

VERSUS 14.3 BILLION DOLLARS YEAR-OVER-YEAR. THAT IS DOWN 30%

YEAR-OVER-YEAR. A BIG PART OF THAT WAS

INSURANCE UNDERWRITING PROFITS.

FOURTH-QUARTER INSURANCE OPERATING ON -- INCOME, FOUR

POINT FIVE 6 BILLION. THE COMPANY TOOK A 4.5 BILLION

DOLLARS IMPAIRMENT ON ITS KRAFT HEINZ OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM

HOLDINGS. ITS CASH PILE FELL.

NOW, AS FOR THE LETTER, I WANT TO GET TO THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS

THE FIRST FROM ABEL AFTER TAKING OVER FOR WARREN BUFFETT.

HE OPENED THE LETTER WITH A TRIBUTE TO BUFFETT.

HE PROMISED TO MAINTAIN BROOKSHIRE CULTURE, CONTINUE

OPERATING THE WAY THEY WORK FOR YEARS.

BUFFETT DOES REMAIN THE LARGEST SHAREHOLDER.

ABEL WILL BE THE ONLY ONE ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

BUFFETT IS GOING TO BE WATCHING FROM THE FLOOR WITH THE REST OF

THE BOARD. THESE NUMBERS CLOSELY WATCHED

BECAUSE BROOKSHIRE'S BUSINESS DOES PROVIDE CRIME OVERVIEW OF

THE ECONOMY. THAT IS WHY THIS IS SUCH A

BELLWETHER FOR THE INDUSTRY. DAVID: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS LISA MATEO JOINING US ON SET.

THIS NEXT SEGMENT IS GOING TO BE BEST LAID PLANS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANTHROPIC IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

JULIA IOFFE.

WE WILL GET INTO THE COMPLEMENTARY BETWEEN WHAT IT

-- BETWEEN THIS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE.

YOU COVER NATIONAL SECURITY UP LUMBER.

WE SELL REPORT SUBSTANTIVE -- STENTS OF CYBERATTACKS AS WELL.

DO YOU TRACKING? JULIA: I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT CLAUDE.

CLAUDE IS ON MAVEN SMART SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE OPERATING

SYSTEM U.S. MILITARY OPERATORS WILL BE

USING RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION,

BATTLE OVER WHAT THE ROLE OF -- ROLE IS IN COMBAT OPERATIONS.

THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE U.S.

GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS, YET THEY ARE PROBABLY USED RIGHT NOW.

IN TERMS OF CYBER OPERATIONS IT IS A WAIT AND SEE.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A SENSE THAT A LOT WILL BE SUPPORTING THESE

MILITARY OPERATIONS.

DAVID: JUST WANT TO PUT A FINE POINT

ON THIS.

I WON'T EVEN CALL IT PARTICULAR TIMING.

IT IS STRANGE TIMING THEY WOULD -- THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

>> I'M ASSUMING THEY COULD DO THIS ANALOG STYLE, BUT THERE IS

A SENSE THEY ARE STILL ACTIVELY USING THIS SOFTWARE RIGHT NOW.

KATRINA: FOR THE CYBER OPERATIONS?

CLAUDE? CLAUDE IS ON THE MAIN MILITARY

SYSTEM THAT IS USED AS A GATOR BATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

IT IS NOT THE KEY TOOL IN ANY WAY, BUT IS USED TO ANALYZE

DATA, BRING DATA TOGETHER, AND DO WHAT WE DO WITH CHATBOTS,

SUMMARIZE THINGS.

IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS ON CLASSIFIED CLOUD, AND OF COURSE

THE PRESIDENT GAVE THEM SIX MONTHS TO GET OFF, AND THEY

HAVE NOT HAD AN OFFICIAL

REQUEST TO HAVE THAT SUPPLY CHAIN RISK THAT PETE HEGSETH

TALKED ABOUT AARON BUT THEY WILL BE BEING USED RIGHT NOW

AND THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE THEM STOP.

THE EXECUTIVE OF ANTHROPIC SAID, WE WANT TO CONTINUE

SUPPORTING IN ANY TRANSITION. CHRISTINA:

JULIA, TAKE US OUT FOR THE BIG PICTURE.

HAVE TALKED ABOUT AMERICAN TRUSTWORTHINESS.

HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS COULD IMPACT OTHER CONFLICTS.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IT HAD A KNOCK

ON EFFECT IN OTHER PLACES. WHAT DOES THIS CONFLICT DO FOR

OTHER CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD? JULIA:

OH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS I WAS REMINDED OF THE

WINTER OF 2021-2022, WHEN THE U.S. WAS TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH

RUSSIA DIPLOMATICALLY FOR MONTHS, GOING BACK IN

DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS OVER UKRAINE. CHRISTINA:

I WAS THERE IN GENEVA. JULIA: THERE YOU GO, RIGHT?

AND THE RUSSIANS WERE SAYING -- PEOPLE WERE SAYING, THE

RUSSIANS ARE NOT NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH, THEY ARE GOING TO

INVADE ANYWAY, AND THE RUSSIANS SAID, NO, WE HAVE NO PLANS, WE

HAVE NO PLANS TO INVADE UKRAINE, WE ARE TRYING TO --

AND UKRAINE CANNOT BE IN NATO,

THEY CAN JUST NOT BE IN NATO, WE ARE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD

FAITH. IT TURNS OUT THEY WERE NOT.

THEY WERE GOING TO INVADE ANYWAY AND I CANNOT HELP IT HE

REMINDED OF THAT THIS MORNING. THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS, IT

SEEMED LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ASKING THE IMPOSSIBLE OF

IRAN WHILE BUILDING UP THESE FORCES IN THE REGION.

LIKE CHEKHOV'S GUN, RIGHT? IF YOU PUT THAT STUFF THERE IT

HAS TO GO OFF, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO USE IT.

YES, BUYING TIME BECAUSE OF COURSE OUR RESOURCES WERE

STRETCHED THIN. THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER GERALD

FORD WAS IN VENEZUELA. CHRISTINA:

WE HAVE BEEN A BIT OF -- A BIT BUSY IN VENEZUELA COMING UP.

JULIA: TIME TO GET TO THE MIDDLE EAST,

BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO GIVE HIMSELF AS A MAN OF ACTION.

WE HAVE BEEN TWO MONTHS WITHOUT MILITARY INTERVENTION.

NO, IT IS A LONG TIME. CHRISTINA:

FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THAT I WAS TALKING TO A REPUBLICAN AND HE

SAID TO ME, THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T MOVE YOUR FIREPOWER TO

VENEZUELA, BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS NEED THAT FIREPOWER IN THE

MIDDLE EAST. DAVID: I'M LOOKING AT A STATEMENT FROM

EMMANUEL MACRON AND PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER

CONDEMNING THE MILITARY ACTION IRAN HAS TAKEN IN THE PAST BUT

NOTING WE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE STRIKES.

JULIA, ON THAT POINT, I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU SEE WHAT HAS

HAPPENED HERE REVERBERATING AROUND EUROPEAN CAPITALS?

WE HAD HOPED TO BRING YOU ON TO TALK ABOUT UKRAINE ON THE

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION THERE.

STILL VERY MUCH EUROPE'S FOCUS. NOW HAVING TO NAVIGATE THIS

ATTACK. JULIA: TO ME THAT WAS ONE OF THE HINTS

THAT TRUMP WAS GOING TO DO THIS ANYWAY, BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR

EUROPEAN PARTNERS AND ALLIES DO STILL HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE

IRANIAN REGIME, DO HAVE DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN IRAN.

CHRISTINA: THEY ACT AS OUR PROXIES AND

HAVE FOR YEARS. JULIA: WE COULD HAVE USED THEIR HELP

IN THIS IF WE HAD BEEN ACTUALLY NEGOTIATING.

I THINK THIS IS YET ANOTHER SIDELINING OF EUROPE.

ANOTHER KIND OF TRYING TO RELEGATE THEM TO IRRELEVANCE.

I THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION SEES THEM AS WEAK AND FECKLESS

AND PROBABLY EFFEMINATE, GIVEN HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION TENDS

TO VIEW THINGS. AS FOR OUR ALLIES, I THINK IT

IS INTERESTING THAT THE SAUDI'S CAME OUT AND SAID THEY SUPPORT

THIS. CHRISTINA: THE CANADIANS AS WELL.

MARK CARNEY HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT.

I HAVE A STATEMENT IN FRONT OF ME.

JULIA: SO, I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING

HERE, MARK CARNEY SPOKE AT DAVOS AND SAID, WE ARE

BASICALLY OUT OF THIS. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN USING OUR

ALLIANCE AS A TOOL AGAINST US, WE ARE OUT OF PAX AMERICANA.

ESSENTIALLY, PEACE, GUYS. NOW THEY ARE ON BOARD, THE

AUSTRALIANS ARE ON BOARD. THE SIGNAL THIS IS LIKELY

SENDING TO TRUMPETS, THESE GUYS TALK A BIG GAME, BUT THEY ARE

GOING TO SUPPORT US ANYWAY.

I THINK THIS IS, JUST LIKE VENEZUELA, REINFORCED THIS,

JUST LIKE HIS AIRSTRIKES IN IRAN IN JUNE REINFORCED THIS

IDEA, THAT HE CAN GET AWAY WITH THINGS.

IF HE PUSHES HARD ENOUGH PEOPLE WILL GO ALONG WITH IT, NO

MATTER WHAT.

DAVID: KATRINA, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE

MILITARY MIGHT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO BEAR IN THE GULF.

COULD YOU PULL BACK THE CURTAIN AND GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THE

U.S. MIGHT BE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO

ATTACKING CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN IRAN? KATRINA:

THE WAY CYBER OPERATIONS HAVE EMERGED IS, THEY DON'T YIELD

THE CATASTROPHIC BLOW. THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN

TRAILING FOR YEARS. THAT CYBER COULD BE A KIND OF,

ALMOST THE SAME AS THE 9/11 ATTACKS. IT IS NO CYBER 9/11.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE RUN-UP TO THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF

UKRAINE, IN THE WAY THE U.S. USED CYBERATTACKS, AND I

SUSPECT WHAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY LEARN HAS HAPPENED HERE, IS

THAT CYBER IS A PRECURSOR TO MILITARY OPERATIONS.

IT SOFTENS THE GROUND. IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR KINETIC

ACTION -- THAT IS WHAT THE U.S.

USES, THE WORD USED TO SUGGEST EXPLOSIONS.

IT MAKES THOSE EASIER SO THAT IRAN FINDS IT HARDER TO

RESPOND, TO LAUNCH ITS OWN MISSILE DEFENSES AND LAUNCH

ATTACKS. CLEARLY THEY ARE LAUNCHING

ATTACKS. CYBER CANNOT STOP EVERYTHING.

IT IS THE WAY ONE WOULD SUSPECT TO SEE A TOOL LIKE CYBER USED.

YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE AN ESSAY INVOLVED AND CYBER

COMMAND. CHRISTINA:

IN ADDITION TO CYBER AND MILITARY COOPERATION AND

DIPLOMATIC COOPERATION, THERE IS ALSO INTELLIGENCE SHARING.

IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING COMPLICATED BY THESE UNILATERAL

MOVES BY THE U.S. FIVE EYES IS UNDER STRESS.

REGIONAL ALLIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO SHARE THINGS WITH THE U.S.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH U.S.

GULF ALLIES? I THINK ABOUT THE JORDANIANS IN

PARTICULAR. AND WITH OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES,

USUALLY WOULD BE BACKING UP AN OPERATION LIKE THIS? KATRINA:

-- JULIA: AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE

AT MUNICH. WHEN I HEARD THERE WAS, FIVE

EYES, THE INTELLIGENCE SHARING ARRANGEMENT, IS UNDER STRESS

AND UNDER DOUBT.

ALL KINDS OF INTELLIGENCE SHARING IS UNDER QUESTION.

IS THE THING WE VERY MUCH NEED RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THIS IS A AMERICA-FIRST, AMERICA-ALONE,

AND YOU GUYS GET IN LINE. I THINK MARCO RUBIO'S SPEECH

LAID THIS OUT PERFECTLY. HERE IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO

THIS. IF YOU WANT TO GET ON BOARD,

GET ON BOARD. IF NOT, GET OFF, LOSERS, WE ARE

DOING THIS ANYWAY. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING THE

SAUDI'S FALLEN LINE, CANADIANS, -- FALL IN LINE, THE CANADIANS,

IT REINFORCES THIS. DAVID:

THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST. THANK YOU BOTH FOR

JOINING US HERE IN NEW YORK AS WE CONTINUE TO COVER THIS

BREAKING NEWS ON THIS SATURDAY MORNING.

THOSE UNEXPECTED STRIKES BY THE U.S. ON IRAN.

THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. NO AUDIENCE IN THE ROOM FOR

THOSE REMARKS, BUT INDICATING THIS IS GOING TO BE A SUSTAINED

ATTACK AND EXPLAINED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THERE COULD BE

U.S. CASUALTIES. CHRISTINA: THIS IS A SOCIAL MEDIA

PRESIDENT AND HE HAS LEARNED HE CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY TO HIS

AUDIENCE WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF US.

WE WILL HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FROM LAWMAKERS AND ANALYSTS AND

OUR REPORTERS. WE HAVE GOT COVERAGE ALL OVER

THE GLOBE. STICK WITH US. WE WILL BE HERE.

♪

CHRISTINA: WELCOME BACK. WE ARE TRACKING BREAKING NEWS

THE MIDDLE EAST THIS MORNING. STRIKES IN IRAN.

A JOINT MILITARY OPERATION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE UNITED

STATES. WE ARE HEARING ABSTRACTS CLOSE

TO OR ON U.S. INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE

REGION. OUR COLLEAGUES IN TEL AVIV HAVE

BEEN TAKING COVER SINCE THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING.

DAVID: CHARTING WHAT THIS MEANS FOR

THOSE COUNTRIES, WHAT IT MEANS POLITICALLY AND MARKETS AND THE

ECONOMY AS WELL, I WANT TO BRING IN OUR COLLEAGUE, A CHIEF

EMERGING MARKETS ECONOMIST. AS WE THINK THROUGH WHAT THIS

MEANS FOR OIL IN PARTICULAR, WHAT SHOULD WE BE PAYING

ATTENTION TO?

IN THE RUN-UP TO THIS THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THIS

MEAN FOR THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. IF YOU LOOK ON THE MAP AND SEE

THOSE TANKERS THERE IN THE REGION, THE HEADS OF THOSE

SHIPS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR

THE OIL MARKET?

>> THERE ARE STILL OPEN QUESTIONS.

IN THE LAST 12 HOURS I THINK WE HAD FOUR KEY QUESTIONS WHEN IT

COMES TO IRAN.

THE FIRST QUESTION WAS, WILL THE U.S. AND ISRAEL ATTACK IRAN?

YES, THEY HAVE. THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, WITH

THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT SURVIVED THE ATTACK?

THE ANSWER IS, YES, THEY HAVE. THE THIRD QUESTION IS, WILL THE

IRANIAN RETALIATION BE SIGNIFICANT, OR SYMBOLIC, LIKE

PREVIOUS WARS? ACTUALLY, THEY WENT FOR

SYMBOLIC. THE LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT WILL

IRAN RETALIATE AGAINST? WILL IT RESTRICT ITSELF TO U.S.

BASES IN ISRAEL, OR EXPAND TO ALL FACILITIES IN THE REGION?

SO FAR IT HAS ATTACKED U.S. BASES ACROSS THE REGION AND

ISRAEL, BUT YOU CANNOT RULE OUT ATTACKS AGAINST ALL FACILITIES

AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IN THE COMING HOURS AND DAYS.

CHRISTINA: WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SANCTIONS.

THE AMERICAN ECONOMY HAS BEEN SUFFERING UNDER U.S.

AND INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS. WE HAVE SANCTIONS EARLIER THIS

YEAR. WHAT IS THE STATE OF IRAN'S

ECONOMY AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF A PROLONGED CONFLICT LIKE

THIS GOING TO DO ON AN ECONOMY THAT IS ALREADY UNDER DIRE

STRAITS? ZIAD: THERE ARE TWO THINGS HERE.

THE FIRST IS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE IRANIAN ECONOMY, IT'S STATE

IS ALREADY DIRE. THAT HAS LED TO PROTESTS.

THIS WAR IS NOT ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

FOR THE RAINY AND LEADERSHIP THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVAL AND IT

IS ABOUT MORE MILITARY THAN ECONOMIC.

IF THEY CAN SURVIVE THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, IT IS A QUESTION OF

NOT WHETHER THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN

TERMS OF INFLATION, IN TERMS OF CURRENCY, BUT WHETHER THEY CAN

SURVIVE THE MILITARY ATTACK AND COUNTERATTACKS.

THAT IS THE KEY QUESTION FOR IRAN MORE THAN THE ECONOMY IN

THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS. DAVID:

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, HOW INTEGRAL IS IRAN TO THE GLOBAL

OIL MARKET? WE HAD AN OPEC PLUS DELEGATE

INDICATING PRODUCTION COULD INCREASE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MARKET HOLISTICALLY, HOW IMPORTANT IS

IRAN TO OIL PRODUCTION GLOBALLY? ZIAD:

IRAN IS SIGNIFICANT, BUT IT IS NOT IRREPLACEABLE.

IRAN PRODUCES ABOUT 5% OF THE GLOBAL OIL SUPPLIES, YOU KNOW,

PUT THROUGH THE WORLD. THAT IS NOT THE KEY ISSUE.

THE KEY ISSUE IS THE WIDER REGION.

ONCE YOU EXPAND THE WAR YOU NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT

SAUDI ARABIA AND UAE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE THIRD

OF GLOBAL OIL SURPRISE -- SUPPLIES.

THE STRAIGHT OF HORMUZ, BASICALLY 20% OF GLOBAL OIL

FLOWS GO THROUGH THAT, AND THAT IS DIFFICULT TO REPLACE.

OPEC-PLUS MAY DECIDE TO INCREASE THEIR QUOTAS, BUT

THESE ADDITIONAL QUOTAS COMING FROM SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAQ AND

THEY CANNOT EXIT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THEY MAY NOT BE

EFFECTIVE, AND HEDGING THE LOSSES FROM THIS WAR. CHRISTINA:

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT OF STRIKES COULD BE, BUT

WHAT IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON PRODUCTION HERE?

WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME OIL FIELDS SHUTTING DOWN

PREEMPTIVELY. COULD THAT HAVE JUST AS BIG OF

AN IMPACT AS PRODUCERS DO NOT WANT TO SEND THEIR SHIPS AT THE

MOMENT? THEY ARE PULLING THEIR PERSONNEL OUT OF HARM'S WAY?

HOW BIG AN IMPACT COULD THAT HAVE? ZIAD:

I THINK THE PHYSICAL, SORT OF THREATS, OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN

PSYCHOLOGICAL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST WAR IN

THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE LAST 2.5 YEARS. CHRISTINA:

THIS IS A GOOD POINT. ZIAD:

THE MIDDLE EAST HAS BEEN IN ALMOST AN CONTINUOUS STATE OF

WAR. YET OIL PRICES TODAY, ON FRIDAY

THEY CLOSED AT $72 A BARREL. IN 2023 THERE WERE $85 A BARREL.

I THINK ON THE PSYCHOLOGY, MARKETS ARE SORT OF GETTING

USED TO THE GEOPOLITICAL ESCALATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE KEY QUESTION HERE IS IF WE ARE GOING TO GET PHYSICAL

DISRUPTION. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST

SERIOUS TEST IN THE LAST 2.5 YEARS.

DAVID: I JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT HE

MENTIONED THAT THERE, THE FACT THAT IRAN'S ECONOMY WAS IN SUCH

A REDUCED STATE GOING INTO THIS. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE RINDS WE

SEE TO PAST TIMES WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN THESE NEGOTIATIONS

SURROUNDING IRAN, A REALLY HUGE DISTINCTION THIS TIME AROUND

WAS HOW UP AGAINST THE WALL IRAN WAS BECAUSE OF HOW REDUCED

ITS ECONOMY WAS. CHRISTINA: WE HAVE SOME NEW HEADLINES

CROSSING HERE ON THE TERMINAL. TURKEY IS DISTANCING ITSELF

FROM THE U.S. AND ISRAELI CAMPAIGN AFTER IRAN

THREATENED TO TARGET ANY COUNTRY THAT SERVICES THESE

ATTACKS. THE U.S. FREQUENTLY USES SOME OF THEIR

MILITARY BASES. THE NATO MEMBER SAYS IT DOES

NOT PERMIT ANY OF ITS AIR, LAND, OR MARITIME ASSETS,

INCLUDING ITS AIRSPACE, TO BE USED FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES

IN WAR IN WHICH IT IS NOT A PARTY. DAVID:

WE ARE DOING THIS MORNING IS COLLATING AND GOING THROUGH THE

REACTION IN THE UNITED STATES. CERTAINLY FROM LAWMAKERS, BUT

LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL.

WE MENTIONED THE REACTION WE HAVE SEEN FROM FREDERICK MERS,

FROM KEIR STARMER, FROM EMMANUEL MACRON, ACKNOWLEDGING

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, BUT EMPHASIZING THERE WERE NOT PART

OF THE STRIKES. HE BROUGHT UP TURKEY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO SUSTAIN FOCUS IN THE WORLD

AHEAD. HOW THE WORLD RESPONDS TO WHAT

THE U.S. HAS DONE WITH ISRAEL. CHRISTINA:

THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN ISOLATED CONFLICT.

WE ARE HERE AND TRACKING HOW THE WORLD RESPONDS. DAVID:

THE NEXT HOUR OF BLOOMBERG "THIS WEEKEND" STARTS NOW.

DAVID: THIS IS THE DEBUT OF BLOOMBERG

"THIS WEEKEND." WE DO SPECIAL COVERAGE OF WHAT

HAS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THE EVENING, STRIKES ON IRAN.

CHRISTINA: WE ARE HERE WITH LISA MATEO.

THERE IS REALLY STILL ONLY ONE STORY WE ARE COVERING THIS

MORNING, AND THAT IS IRAN. EARLY THIS MORNING, BEFORE MOST

OF US WERE AWAKE AND BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR THE U.S.

AND ISRAEL LAUNCHED A STRIKES ON IRAN. DAVID:

IRAN, WE HAVE SEEN RETALIATE. THOSE STRIKES ARE ONGOING

ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST. I'M GOING TO TURN TO OUR COLLEAGUE,

LISA MATEO. LISA:

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SAYING A MASSIVE OPERATION IS UNDERWAY

TO ENSURE TEHRAN DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

HAVE BOTH HE AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER AND JIM, THEY CALLED

ON IRANIANS TO OVERTHROW THE REGIME. HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW.

THERE WERE SEVERAL LARGE EXPLOSIONS IN TEHRAN.

IRAN QUICKLY RETALIATING. A WAVE OF MISSILES AND DRONES

TARGETING U.S. INTEREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THAT INCLUDES THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, QATAR, AND KUWAIT.

BAHRAIN SAID AN AMERICAN BASE IN THE COUNTRY HAD COME UNDER

ATTACK AS WELL.

QATAR AND THE UAE REPORTED INTERCEPTIONS IN THEIR

TERRITORY. WE DID HAVE RESPONSES FROM

WORLD LEADERS. MARK CARNEY SAID HIS COUNTRY'

IS POSITION REMAINS CLEAR, THAT IRAN MUST NEVER BE ALLOWED TO

DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE WANT TO GET TO OUR OTHER TOP

STORY FOR TODAY. THAT IS BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY.

IT HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL REPORT, FOURTH-QUARTER

EARNINGS, AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM CEO GREG ABELL.

THE OPERATING PROFITS FELL NEARLY 30%.

IT IS ONE BUFFETT'S LAST QUARTER AS CEO.

IT BIG PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT WAS DROP IN INSURANCE

UNDERWRITING. THOSE PROFITS HAD SLUMPED.

THE COMPANY TOOK A $4.5 BILLION IMPAIRMENT ON ITS KRAFT HEINZ,

OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM HOLDINGS. ITS CASH PILE FELL TO $373

BILLION. AS FOR THAT LETTER, IT IS THE

FIRST FROM ABEL AFTER TAKING OVER FROM WARREN BUFFETT.

HE OPENED THE LETTER WITH A TRIBUTE TO BUFFETT.

PROMISED TO MAINTAIN BURKE SHIRE -- BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY

CULTURE. THERE IS A SHAREHOLDER MEETING

IN MAY. BUFFETT WILL BE WATCHING FROM

THE FLOOR WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD AS WELL. CHRISTINA:

WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO THAT MORE ON MONDAY.

WE WANT TO GET TO THE NEWS OF THE HOUR, AND THAT IS THIS

CONFLICT IN IRAN. THIS MORNING WE SAW A VIDEO

DROP FROM MAR-A-LAGO. NO REPORTERS WERE PRESENT.

HE IS WEARING A HAT. HE IS SPEAKING IN FRONT OF A

PODIUM. DAVID: THAT IS PRETTY WILD.

THE VIDEO DID DROP AND WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT WEARING A USA

GOLF CAP. CHRISTINA:

THEY DID NOT CALL THE POOL, THEY DID NOT GET ANY SORT OF

WARNING. REALLY REMARKABLE STATEMENT.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS A SHORT TIME AGO THE U.S.

MILITARY BEGAN A COMBAT OPERATION IN IRAN.

OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO DEFEND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BY ELIMINATING

IMMINENT THREATS FROM THE IRANIAN REGIME, A VICIOUS GROUP

OF HARD, TERRIBLE PEOPLE. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE TRIED

TO MAKE A DEAL. PRES. TRUMP:

WE SAWED REPEATEDLY TO MAKE A DEAL. WE TRIED.

THEY WANTED TO DO IT, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

AGAIN THEY WANTED TO DO IT, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

JUST WANTED TO PRACTICE PEOPLE. IRAN REFUSED, JUST AS IT HAS

FOR DECADES AND DECADES. THEY REJECTED EVERY OPPORTUNITY

TO RENOUNCE THEIR NUCLEAR AMBITIONS, AND WE CAN'T TAKE IT

ANYMORE. INSTEAD, THEY ATTEMPTED TO

REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THE

LONG-RANGE MISSILES THAT CAN NOW THREATEN OUR VERY GOOD

FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN EUROPE, OUR TROOPS STATIONED OVERSEAS.

AND COULD SOON REACH THE AMERICAN HOMELAND.

JUST IMAGINE HOW EMBOLDENED THIS REGIME WOULD BE IF THEY

EVER HAD AND ACTUALLY WERE ARMED WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS A

MEANS TO DELIVER THEIR MESSAGE.

FOR THESE REASONS THE UNITED STATES MILITARY IS UNDERTAKING

A MASSIVE AND ONGOING OPERATION TO PREVENT THIS VERY WICKED,

RADICAL DICTATORSHIP FROM THREATENING AMERICA AND OUR

CORE NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.

WE ARE GOING TO DESTROY THEIR MISSILES AND RAISE THEIR

MISSILE INDUSTRY TO THE GROUND.

IT WILL BE TOTALLY, AGAIN, OBLITERATED.

YOU'RE GOING TO ANNIHILATE THEIR NAVY.

WE ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE REGION'S TERRORIST PROXIES CAN

NO LONGER DESTABILIZE THE REGION OR THE WORLD.

AND ATTACK OUR FORCES. AND NO LONGER USE THEIR IED'S

OR ROADSIDE BOMBS, AS THEY ARE SOMETIMES CALLED, TO SO GRAVELY

WOUNDED AND KILL THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING

MANY AMERICANS. WE WILL ENSURE THAT IRAN DOES

NOT OBTAIN A NUCLEAR WEAPON. IT IS A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE.

THEY WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

THIS REGIME WILL SOON LEARN THAT NO ONE SHOULD CHALLENGE

THE STRENGTH AND MIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

DAVID: THAT WAS THE PRESIDENT IN A

STATEMENT HE RELEASED AFTER THOSE STRIKES BEGAN.

THE PRESIDENT AT MAR-A-LAGO IN FLORIDA.

COVERING THIS IN NEW YORK WE HAVE JOE MATHIEU ALONGSIDE JEFF

MASON. JOUMANNA BERCETCHE IS WITH US

AS WELL. JEFF, LET ME TURN TO YOU.

I HEAR THE PRESIDENT USING THESE COUNTERFACTUAL SPIRIT

IMAGINE IF IRAN HAD A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

HE SAID IN THE STATE OF THE UNION THEY WILL NEVER BE

ALLOWED TO HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. LEVEL SET FOR US.

WE SAW THOSE STRIKES IN JUNE. THE U.S.

AND ISRAEL ATTACKING IRAN TO DO AWAY WITH THAT PROGRAM.

HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE HE HAD DONE THAT.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF PLAY? IS THE PRESIDENT TRAVELS AROUND

THE COUNTRY, HAS TO SELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON WHAT HAS

HAPPENED HERE, HOW EASY IS THAT GOING TO BE TO DO IN LIGHT OF

WHAT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND WAS? JEFF: