Full transcript of

On this “Face the Nation” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan: 

• Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida 
• Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat of Nevada
• CBS News director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto
• David Becker, Samantha Vinograd and Chris Krebs

Click on here to browse full transcripts of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”   

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MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.

And this week on Face the Nation: It is all the way down to the ultimate hours of marketing campaign 2024, and election night time is shaping as much as be an epic cliffhanger.

Barnstorming the battlegrounds on Saturday, each presidential candidates stumped for each final vote, with their arguments starting from the intense…

(Start VT)

KAMALA HARRIS (Vice President of the US (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate): This isn’t somebody who is considering easy methods to make your life higher.

(CHEERING)

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: And that is somebody who’s more and more unstable, obsessive about revenge, consumed with grievance.

(CHEERING)

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: And the person is out for unchecked energy.

DONALD TRUMP (Former President of the US (R) and Present U.S. Presidential Candidate): We obtained to place America first.

(CHEERING)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And we’ll cease unlawful immigration as soon as and for all. We won’t be invaded. We won’t be occupied. We won’t be overrun. We won’t be conquered.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: … to the foolish.

(Start VT)

MAYA RUDOLPH (Actress): I’ll vote for us.

(LAUGHTER)

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: Nice. Any probability you might be registered in Pennsylvania?

(LAUGHTER)

MAYA RUDOLPH: Nope, I’m not.

(LAUGHTER)

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: Effectively, it was price a shot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARGARET BRENNAN: The day capped a wild week on the marketing campaign path stuffed with distractions that drew America’s consideration to 2 key voting blocs, Latinos and ladies, first the fallout from a racist joke that fell flat.

(Start VT)

TONY HINCHCLIFFE (Comic): A floating island of rubbish in the midst of the ocean proper now, sure, I feel it is known as Puerto Rico.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Democrats jumped on the Trump marketing campaign misstep, however when the present president bungled his social gathering’s message of inclusion…

(Start VT)

JOE BIDEN (President of the US): The one rubbish I see floating out there’s his supporters.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: … the previous president performed up Biden’s unforced error and sharpened his plea for the hotly contested Latino vote.

(Start VT)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I like the Hispanics. I like them.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: The battle of the sexes, at the least within the voting sales space, can be thought-about essential in these closing days.

(Start VT)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I’ll do it, whether or not the ladies prefer it or not. I’ll defend them.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Harris is already operating nicely forward in relation to ladies. Will the gender hole widen with Trump’s sexist feedback and his violent rhetoric, like this point out of Liz Cheney?

(Start VT)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: She’s a radical struggle hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with 9 barrels capturing at her, OK? Let’s have a look at how she feels about it when the weapons are skilled on her face.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We are going to discuss all of it with two key senators, Florida Republican Marco Rubio and Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto.

Plus, actuality checks on the state of the financial system and election safety.

It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.

Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.

Greater than 76 million People have voted already. That is virtually half of these anticipated to. Our CBS News polling up to date in a single day reveals what we’ve recognized for a while. The contests within the seven battleground states are all primarily tied, as they’re throughout the margin of error.

Now we have reporters in all seven states, and we’ll hear from 4 of them at present, beginning with our Caitlin Huey-Burns, who’s in Greensboro, North Carolina – Caitlin.

CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: Margaret, former President Donald Trump campaigned right here in Greensboro final night time and is returning to the state at present and tomorrow, all an indication that this state is up for grabs.

(Start VT)

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We won’t take an opportunity of dropping the good state of North Carolina.

(Finish VT)

CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: The Tar Heel State has been dependable for Republicans. No Democrat has received it since 2008.

However of all of the states Trump received in 2020, his victory in North Carolina was the closest. And each campaigns are competing for voters on the identical turf. The truth is, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris touched down right here on the similar time yesterday. Their planes actually parked subsequent to one another on the tarmac.

And Democrats hope the state’s altering demographics and voters’ views on abortion entry work of their favor. Republicans, in the meantime, are inspired by the variety of their voters who’ve already solid ballots. Early voting ended right here yesterday.

NIKOLE KILLION: I am Nikole Killion in Georgia, the place each candidates are making last-minute stops this weekend. The Peach State has been in place since President Biden flipped it in 2020.

In keeping with the secretary of state, over 4 million ballots have been solid. That is greater than three in 4 who had been anticipated to vote this yr. A few of the highest participation totals are coming from Republican strongholds exterior of Atlanta, one thing GOP sources inform us they’re inspired by.

However high Democrats on this state imagine they’re additionally aggressive. Plus, greater than 1,000,000 black voters have solid ballots. That may be a vital demographic, notably for the vp, though the previous president is making an attempt to siphon off assist.

This weekend marks the final time that Harris and Trump will seemingly be in Georgia, however their operating mates can be right here. And each campaigns have occasions deliberate by way of the election, with the objective of capturing this state’s coveted 16 electoral votes.

KRIS VAN CLEAVE: I am Kris Van Cleave in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Already statewide, practically half of registered voters have solid their vote both in particular person early or by mail. And that comes after a push by each events to get individuals out early, and consists of virtually everybody at this Vance rally in Scottsdale, on the poll, a carefully watched Senate race and abortion.

Voters leaning in the direction of Trump inform us immigration and inflation are key points. Voters leaning Harris see completely different options for the border and are targeted on ladies’s rights and defending democracy. One place the place either side agree is issues over voter fatigue resulting from a longer-than-usual poll that would result in delays for these voting on Tuesday.

Native leaders say safety can be tight.

WEIJIA JIANG: I am Weijia Jiang in Philadelphia, the place the Harris marketing campaign says volunteers have knocked on practically a million doorways in Pennsylvania within the final 24 hours alone.

Her crew believes that an aggressive floor sport will drive up Democratic turnout amongst her base, whereas the Trump marketing campaign has additionally labored to increase assist from voters of colour, particularly black and Latino males.

One other high line right here in Pennsylvania, the battle of the sexes. A Trump marketing campaign senior adviser says they’re banking on a giant increase from males and going after those that normally do not vote, particularly in rural areas.

However the Harris crew is assured that girls, together with average Republicans, will seal the deal for a victory. One group of Harris supporters we spoke with made up of ladies who determine as lifelong Republicans say they’ve talked to hundreds of so-called silent Harris voters within the suburbs who plan to vote for the vp, regardless that they will not admit it, even to their husbands.

(Start VT)

WOMAN: Now we have had lots of ladies categorical a real discomfort or virtually a worry of telling different individuals of their lives that they will vote for Kamala Harris.

(Finish VT)

WEIJIA JIANG: However a senior Trump marketing campaign official tells us they don’t imagine there are sufficient of these voters to make an actual distinction.

Each nominees plan to carry a number of occasions in Pennsylvania earlier than Election Day. The truth is, Harris will spend all tomorrow storming the state, with a number of stops ending proper right here in Philly for her grand finale marketing campaign rally – Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That is Weijia Jiang in Philadelphia.

We go now to Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio.

Good morning to you, Senator.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO (R-Florida): Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: In latest days, the Harris marketing campaign has mentioned they’ve seen favorable motion in the direction of them with Latinos and with undecided voters, notably following that New York rally we referenced there, with the insult remark, making remarks about Puerto Rico.

You’ve got been targeted on outreach to Hispanic voters for the Trump marketing campaign. Are you involved that this unforced error harm outreach?

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Effectively, there was no unforced error. I imply, a comic made a joke, and it was tasteless, nevertheless it wasn’t Trump that mentioned it.

It wasn’t – this man isn’t going to be in his Cupboard. I imply, this comic isn’t going to be a member of his authorities. He is actually not operating for something. It was a comic who tells tasteless jokes on a regular basis. I encourage everybody to, nicely, I suppose watch segments of the Tom Brady roast, and you will see the sort of jokes he tells. He is an insult comedian.

Look, there is not any new outreach to…

MARGARET BRENNAN: At a Trump rally.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Sure. I imply, I do not know.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Employed by the marketing campaign.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: He spoke two hours earlier than Trump.

Effectively, once more, I feel what’s extra related, if you wish to say – so, it needed to be achieved in hindsight, the man most likely does not get invited, OK, particularly with a joke like that.

However I feel extra related is the truth that the sitting president of the US mentioned out loud what most individuals within the Democratic Get together and hierarchy imagine, and that’s that anybody who votes for Donald Trump is rubbish, is a racist, is a hater, is a Nazi, as – because the vp candidate of theirs has accused anybody who attended the Madison Sq. Backyard rally.

MSNBC was operating photos of Nazi rallies from Germany facet by facet with photos from Madison Sq. Backyard every week in the past. So, there – you requested me, why are they so assured?

When you’re so assured about victory, the best way that the Harris individuals say they’re, then why would you be on the market attacking not Donald Trump, attacking anybody who is considering voting for him by labeling them as, in case you vote for Donald Trump, you are this evil, horrible human being?

That does not appear to be just like the actions of a assured marketing campaign. It appears to me just like the actions of a scared one.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, I used to be talking particularly about that – that outreach that you’ve got been doing to Hispanic voters. It sounds such as you assume that is negligible.

However let me ask you about ladies voters, as a result of we’re seeing in our information that the Trump marketing campaign might have a problem there.

Here is what former Trump administration U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley mentioned this previous week about that Madison Sq. Backyard rally.

(Start VT)

FORMER GOVERNOR NIKKI HALEY (R-South Carolina): This bromance and this masculinity stuff, I imply, it borders on edgy, to the purpose that it is going to make ladies uncomfortable. You’ve got affiliated PACs which might be doing commercials about calling Kamala the C-word. Otherwise you had audio system at Madison Sq. Backyard referring to her and her pimps.

That’s not the best way to win ladies.

(Finish VT)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you share the previous governor’s issues that it is a vulnerability?

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Effectively, to begin with, I need to level out, and nobody talks about this, Kamala Harris has a much bigger drawback amongst males than Donald Trump does amongst ladies.

Are there ladies which might be going to vote for Kamala Harris? After all. Are there ladies that do not like Donald Trump? After all. Are there ladies which might be going to assist Donald Trump? Sure, there are, lots of them.

And I feel you will see that bear out on Election Day. In the end, the underside line is that what this election goes to be about, when individuals go vote, they don’t seem to be – they will be voting on three issues which might be vital to them. How a lot does it value to dwell on this nation, and might you afford the issues that individuals work arduous to have the ability to afford? As a result of during the last 4 years, they haven’t.

Do you’re feeling secure and safe? And the reply is, no, individuals don’t face – really feel secure and safe, when you’ve harmful prison components coming into this nation throughout the open border that Kamala Harris allowed. And quantity three is, how shut is that this nation to being dragged into some type of world battle?

We now have troops from North Korea facet by facet with Russians on the bottom in Ukraine. We’re edging nearer each single month to some broader world battle that would contain the US. And guess who’s going to should go struggle in these wars? The sons and the daughters and the kids of the people who find themselves going to determine this election, and that features over half the nation, which is ladies voters.

That is what is going on to be on individuals’s thoughts, and that is what ought to be on their thoughts, as a result of that is what’s at stake on this election.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, when it comes to security and safety, that sound chunk a second in the past from Donald Trump speaking about coaching weapons on the face of Liz Cheney, the Trump marketing campaign…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: That is not what he mentioned.

MARGARET BRENNAN: … says that was about international coverage.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: It was…;

MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, we simply performed it for our viewers and listeners who heard it.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Proper.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is not it attainable to make the case with out utilizing rhetoric like that?

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: However Donald Trump does not speak like somebody who’s been in Washington for 30 years.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Coaching weapons on her face?

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: He does not say it the best way I might have mentioned it. No, however that is not what he mentioned, Margaret. You guys know that. Come on.

I imply, everyone is aware of precisely what he was saying. What he was saying is…

MARGARET BRENNAN: We performed the sound chunk.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: … you are a lot in favor of struggle.

Sure, you – no, you performed a chunk of the sound chunk, as a result of, in one other piece of it, he mentioned he would give her a gun to go stand in battle as nicely. You do not usually give a gun to somebody that’s going to be dealing with a firing squad, which is what a lot of the media made it sound like.

The purpose he was making isn’t a brand new level. It’s a level that has been made by individuals in each events for many years. And that’s, you are all for struggle, and it is easy to be for struggle if you’re in some fancy constructing and also you’re secure and sound in Washington, D.C.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Let’s have a look at how a lot you might be for struggle if you your self get deployed into fight. That is the purpose that he was making.

That he makes use of language that perhaps isn’t what we sometimes hear from somebody that works at a assume tank…

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: … nicely, high-quality.

However I feel it is actually, not simply unfair, it is egregious to see that reported the best way that it was, together with different issues which might be on the market. I’ve by no means seen such a concerted effort.

And, look, I’ve at all times believed there’s bias, as a result of nobody’s unbiased, however I’ve by no means seen such a concerted effort like what I’ve seen, particularly within the final two weeks, amongst a number of media retailers on this nation to, in some circumstances, breathlessly distort and lie about what’s being mentioned and to create and manufacture these gotcha moments towards Donald Trump.

I’ve by no means seen it earlier than.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: It is excessive.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, you’re the rating member on the Senate Intelligence Committee. You additionally know that former commander in chief isn’t just some man off the road, and phrases matter.

U.S. intelligence has particularly warned…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: They do matter. They do matter.

MARGARET BRENNAN: … particularly warned in regards to the threat of political violence on this nation, a few of it stoked by international adversaries, Iran making an attempt to do this, Russia making an attempt to do this, within the days after the election.

Are you assured within the safety and the integrity of the election?

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Effectively, I am assured within the safety and integrity of the elections, and particularly as a result of we’ve robust programs throughout this nation.

It is unfold throughout 50 states. That does not imply there aren’t going to be issues. We noticed issues earlier within the week in Pennsylvania, they usually had been resolved by a courtroom, the place individuals weren’t allowed – being allowed in a single county from accessing their on-demand mail poll on the spot. There are going to be points like that.

They’re being confronted on the entrance finish, and people issues are being checked out. Look, within the state of Michigan, we all know now – and this isn’t me making it up. I am unable to imagine it hasn’t acquired extra protection. A Chinese language nationwide registered to vote and voted. And now he is being charged for doing that. However guess what? His poll goes to rely.

We all know at the least one noncitizen’s poll goes to rely in Michigan as a result of they do not know which poll it’s they usually cannot retrieve it. These are info. Now, whether or not that is widespread or not, I hope not, however these are issues which might be taking place, they usually should be watched at.

So far as international adversaries, positive. I imply, Iran needs to kill Donald Trump. Iran – this has been totally documented. They’re making an attempt to kill Donald Trump. You discuss violent rhetoric. He is the one candidate on this race, and never as a result of I want this on anyone else, who’s had not one, however two assassination makes an attempt towards his life.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. So…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: So, after all we’re all involved about it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.

By way of the case you talked about in Michigan, we’ve tracked that. The secretary of state of that state has really introduced costs, has made that public. That particular person may very well be deported…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Sure. However that vote’s nonetheless going to rely.

MARGARET BRENNAN: … may very well be deported as a result of there are legal guidelines on this nation that punish individuals…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: They’re. However the vote nonetheless counts.

MARGARET BRENNAN: … when they’re unlawful, they usually attempt to vote in federal elections. That 19-year-old goes to face some penalties.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Appropriate. However the vote nonetheless counts.

He’s. And he’ll – however his vote nonetheless counts. His vote will nonetheless be counted.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. I am simply making an attempt to clarify that there are programs…

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: However that is a giant deal. I feel that is a giant deal.

MARGARET BRENNAN: … as you pointed to, because the courts are additionally taking part in a job right here.

I must ask you about China, although. This huge and pervasive hacking by China of U.S. telecom firms is critical. Your colleague Mark Warner mentioned it is probably the most important breach he has ever seen in his complete time on the committee.

Are you aware if China has been in a position to entry the audio of People’ cellphone calls?

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: Effectively, I am not going to touch upon what they entry, however I agree with Mark Warner’s assertion.

It’s an egregious, outrageous and harmful breach of our telecommunications programs throughout a number of firms. I’ll depart it at that. I feel, as time goes on, we will study extra about it. A few of it will likely be made public. I feel there’s extra that is nonetheless being gathered.

It is a very severe state of affairs that we face and I feel one that’s fairly threatening, perhaps not on to the election…

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: … per se, however actually to the nationwide safety of our nation shifting ahead. It is a vulnerability that nobody imagined or anticipated.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO: However right here it’s.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.

Senator Rubio, thanks to your time at present.

We’ll be again in a minute.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined by Nevada Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who joins us from Las Vegas.

Good morning to you, Senator.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (D-Nevada): Good morning.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be monitoring your state very carefully and all six of its electoral votes.

On this early vote, we have seen half of Nevada’s lively registered voters have solid ballots, and there is some anxiousness amongst Democrats as a result of Republicans presently have a lead statewide. Are you assured the remaining ballots will shut that hole and ship the state to Harris?

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: Effectively, Margaret, I can let you know a few issues.

One, I’m optimistic that we’re going to win, not just for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, however for Jacky Rosen, on this state. I’m completely assured in our floor sport, in our canvassing and knocking on doorways and speaking to our voters, as a result of that is actually what issues right here, is ensuring that our voters, who’re paying consideration now in a swing state like Nevada, that any individual is speaking to them, as a result of there’s a lot data on the market.

And now could be the time for us to attach with our voters and speak to them in regards to the points that they care about. So, sure, I’m very, very assured.

And the one different factor, let me say this, Margaret, is, you understand, I used to be reelected only recently, and there was a Republican benefit in my race, in my midterm, and I received. Not solely did I win. Our congressional delegation received. And so we additionally received our – our state seats in our state Home.

So what we all know in Nevada, it’s actually about that group. It is knocking on these doorways. It is phone-banking. It is speaking to our voters.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: We even have a big inhabitants of our voters who’re nonpartisan. Over a 3rd are nonpartisan. And people are the independents in different states, they usually lean Democratic. They leaned my approach.

And so I’m very, very assured that, as we’re working our floor sport, we will manage our technique to victory right here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You – you talked about your victory in 2022. That was simply by 8,000 votes. So this – this may very well be a good one as nicely this time round.

The Trump marketing campaign talks about making inroads with the working-class inhabitants, specifically, on the problem of the financial system. Your state has the second highest unemployment fee within the nation. The vast majority of voters should not have a university diploma.

Why should not the Trump marketing campaign be assured that they’re making inroads with this key demographic?

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: Effectively, a few issues, Margaret. You talked about my – my tight race. They’re at all times tight in Nevada. It is a swing state. They’re at all times shut. It is at all times throughout the margin.

And that is why it will be important you get out and speak to voters and you do not take anybody with no consideration. And also you’re proper. A big a part of our inhabitants, our service trade, these are excessive school-educated people. That is my household. They labored on this trade.

And these are the people we need to speak to. However we even have been partaking them on the problems that matter to them. And in case you take a look at our robust organized labor, which is the culinary, which is made up many of the service trade, together with our constructing trades, they’re knocking on these doorways in favor of the Democrats, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

So there’s this outright concerted effort by everybody to verify our voters perceive who’s – what’s at stake right here. And there is a stark distinction. I imply, you understand, let me simply say…

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: … as a result of that is essential for voters to know this, that Kamala Harris has already talked about, she needs to signify everybody. She needs to raise everyone up.

Irrespective of who voted for her, she’s going to signify them. She’s going to begin day one with a to-do listing to how she works on the problems that she is aware of that many citizens are challenged with. Donald Trump goes to stroll within the Oval Workplace with an enemies listing. There is a distinction between the 2.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: And if you speak to voters about it who’re anticipating that in Nevada, in a swing state, that makes the distinction in whether or not or not we’re going to win. And we’re going to win.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However does your social gathering – we performed what the present president, Joe Biden, mentioned about Trump supporters, and a few have in contrast that, Republicans have in contrast that to what Hillary Clinton mentioned a few basket of deplorables.

Does your social gathering have a disdain drawback in speaking all the way down to working class voters specifically?

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: Effectively, I can let you know right here in Nevada typically – to begin with, let’s simply say, however – we all know this, that President Biden clarified his assertion, and Kamala Harris has made it very clear she needs to signify everybody, irrespective of…

MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, he quibbled about an apostrophe within the transcript.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: However – however Kamala Harris made it very clear shifting ahead that she needs to signify everybody, proper, irrespective of whether or not you voted for her or not.

And whoever you vote for, you should not be criticized for that. And he or she’s made that very clear.

What – what I hear from voters in Nevada – and that is the place the – the place it is related, not the spin rooms, not the polls, not what you are listening to on the nationwide information, however what are voters saying, and what do they care about? And so they’re listening.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: And I can let you know, my voters in Nevada that I speak to, which is admittedly a big inhabitants of not solely our blue- collar, however minority Latinos, a – excuse me, Asian American Pacific Islanders, a vibrant Black group, Native People – they’re listening to, what are the problems?

Who’s bringing the options, proper? Who has the options to deal with the reasonably priced housing subject? That is Kamala Harris.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: Who has the problems to deal with how we decrease well being care prices and preserve them low for all People? Kamala Harris. Who has the thought about how we defend the Reasonably priced Care Act and never repeal it? That is Kamala Harris.

So these conversations matter to my voters in Nevada, and that is what’s related on the finish of the day and the way we will make this occur.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And your state additionally can be key to observe. You do have abortion on the poll.

Despite the fact that it is already authorized in your state, there’s discuss enshrining it within the Structure, primarily based on what occurs Tuesday. We’ll be following that and what occurs along with your social gathering.

Senator, we’ve to depart it there for time. Thanks.

We’ll be again with much more Face the Nation, so stick with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Make sure you tune into CBS News on Tuesday night time, once we can be dwell from our election headquarters in New York Metropolis. I can be there, together with Norah O’Donnell, John Dickerson, Gayle King, and the remainder of our political crew for what’s prone to be a really lengthy night time.

Our protection begins at 4:00 p.m. Jap on CBS News 24/7 Streaming, 7:00 p.m. Jap on the CBS tv community.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We can be proper again with much more Face the Nation.

Stick with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION, and our panel of election regulation and safety consultants.

David Becker is the chief director of the Heart for Election, Innovation and Analysis. Chris Krebs is the previous head of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company below the Trump administration. And Samantha Vinograd was most lately a counterterrorism official on the Division of Homeland Safety below the Biden administration.

Good morning to you all.

Setting the desk for a consequential week.

Chris, I need to begin with you.

We’re in that 48-hour window that Microsoft warned was going to be rife with makes an attempt to hack individuals’s minds. We have seen at the least 4 faux movies the FBI and U.S. intelligence have warned are supposed to manipulate. Yesterday, the FBI mentioned there have been two on the market which might be faux. Earlier than that we had disclosed that Russia was behind a Bucks County, Pennsylvania, faux video and one concentrating on voters in Georgia, falsely claiming that Haitian migrants had been – had been voting.

How do these techniques that Russia is utilizing now examine to what you noticed in 2020 and again in 2016?

CHRIS KREBS: Effectively, they’ve advanced their methods from producing and launching content material from, as an example, St. Petersburg. That is what we noticed in 2016. You had the web analysis company working out of an workplace constructing, virtually like, you understand, a traditional enterprise.

Over time, although, given the enhancements within the intelligence group, cyber command, and our personal consciousness of the actions and what they’re doing, they’ve began to push the boundaries out. And they also’re really producing content material after which they’re laundering it successfully by way of different platforms, like Telegram and even now what we’re seeing is a big quantity of laundering by way of X.

After which U.S. residents choose up this data and choose up these movies, after which they put it up for sale on their very own accounts and on their very own social media platforms, like Fb. So, they’re shifting it out. They’re avoiding the methods that U.S. regulation enforcement intelligence has deployed and developed. And they also’re not nearly as good although. So, lots of these movies that we’re seeing, they’re really fairly amateurish. That is to not say they can not have higher content material coming ahead, however actually they’re simply sort of flooding the zone and making an attempt to distract.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And confuse and sow – and sow mistrust of our establishments.

Sam, U.S. intelligence has been briefing and disclosing. That is a part of what they’re doing to attempt to counteract this.

We additionally noticed early on warnings about Iran and what they’re doing. The evaluation Iran favors Harris, Russia favors Trump.

What type of affect are we seeing?

SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, Iran has two principal targets on this election cycle. First, to denigrate President Trump. They’ve expressed current – excuse me, a desire for Vp Harris primarily based upon Trump’s document in workplace and their notion of what Mr. Trump would do if elected. That is goal one.

Goal two is to sow discord. And so they view undermining notion about thein integrity of our election as an efficient instrument. So, they’re utilizing affect operations to denigrate Mr. Trump and to sow discord utilizing AI- generated content material actually targeted specifically on, for instance, allegations of voter fraud. We must always anticipate Iran to proceed more and more subtle affect operations associated to perceptions of an absence of election integrity. That can final nicely after polls shut, Margaret. That is probably the most attenuated election safety associated menace setting we’ve seemingly seen in historical past.

MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of it isn’t about simply altering votes. It is about not trusting our democracy.

SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Proper.

MARGARET BRENNAN: David, 76 million People already voted. So, can we are saying these numbers present the adversaries are failing, or are the election staff you are talking with actually involved about what’s to return?

DAVID BECKER: Effectively, it is – it has elevated our capability to be resilient towards the disinformation. The extra individuals who vote early, they’re successfully inoculated themselves towards disinformation that is likely to be inclined to be meant to assist them self-suppress their vote or confuse them about easy methods to vote. So, the truth that we have had over 76 million vote already, and that is going to extend by a number of million extra as soon as all of the mail ballots are in, as soon as there’s even early voting happening at present, nonetheless in about 27 states and D.C. So, that is excellent. Meaning the variety of individuals that also must vote on Election Day, when disinformation is likely to be very targeted on them, making an attempt to get them confused with little or no time for them to be resilient towards that disinformation, that is going to have an effect on fewer voters. That is an excellent factor. And I feel we’re seeing, particularly in states like Georgia and North Carolina, nicely over 4 million votes in every of these states has been solid. Tens of millions of votes in lots of different – of the swing states. And to this point, only a few issues regardless of efforts to create issues maybe from our adversaries abroad.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And you’d level individuals to the secretaries of state themselves, their web sites, for dependable data?

DAVID BECKER: Sure. Everytime you want data, go to your state election web site. That is normally the secretary of state’s web site. Typically, in North Carolina, Wisconsin, there’s an election fee or an election board. Go to your native election web site if you understand your nation or locality the place elections are happening. And in case you need assistance, go to vote.gov. That can navigate you there finally. Go – simply rely on these sources solely for data.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Chris, if you had been in authorities, we did see, again in 2018, disclosure by the overall on the head of then Cyber Command and the Nationwide Safety Company say that – that the federal government at the moment arrange a small group to mainly knock Russia offline, to bodily cease them from a few of these affect operations.

Can the U.S. undertake offensive operations like that now?

CHRIS KREBS: Completely. I do assume although that the infrastructure that the adversaries or the Russians and the Iran have put into place might not be the place it as soon as was. It has moved. Remember the fact that earlier this yr the Division of Justice took offline a disinformation group that we monitor as Doppelganger, they took their varied web sites offline. And so they did it in a approach that was timed in order that they might not rebuild these web sites and reestablish the engagement with these web sites in time for the election. So, there have been steps taken to make sure that the unhealthy guys cannot execute their methods.

And within the meantime, you’ve organizations, like SISA, which might be doing extra with extra jurisdictions on election safety than at every other level beforehand. So, they’ve lots of confidence across the resilience of the system.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However what you mentioned about utilizing People to unfold disinformation.

CHRIS KREBS: Sure.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Individuals are changing into unwitting brokers of a international adversary primarily by re-tweeting or reposting a few of these faux movies.

CHRIS KREBS: Now we have seen that, proper? So, there was one other Division of Justice announcement {that a} media outlet, primarily based out of Tennessee, was receiving funding from the Russians, from RT, a cutout (ph) –

MARGARET BRENNAN: Tenet Group.

CHRIS KREBS: Tenet Group.

Now, to David’s earlier level, that’s the reason it’s so critically essential that American voters, once they’re in search of details about the election, they go to their related native or state official. They know what is going on on. Go – in case you’re in Georgia, Brad Raffensperger and Gabe Sterling are most likely operating the tightest ship in relation to elections within the nation proper now. They’re extremely efficient. They’re on the market. They’re placing data within the palms of the American individuals in order that they perceive what’s taking place.

And so when Russian operations just like the Haitian voters pops up, they had been on it instantly they usually knocked it down. That’s massively efficient in sustaining belief of the method.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sam, we’ve seen issues about bodily safety, although, as nicely at voting places. The Democratic governor of Washington state has activated the Nationwide Guard, put them on stand-by, citing normal and particular data and issues about violence and unrest. You probably did have that drop field in Vancouver that broken lots of of ballots. There was an incendiary system there. Are there particular plots the federal authorities is aware of of right now?

SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, it’s a usually heightened menace setting, each when it comes to complexity and the size of time that terrorism associated threats, prison threats and affect operations by nation states will final associated to the election. It’s simply prudent planning, Margaret, on this menace setting for officers in any respect ranges of presidency, federal, state and native, to have interaction in detailed operational planning. State and native officers are within the lead for the safety of their jurisdictions.

Now, in my expertise, notably publish January sixth, these operational plans should embody a full sense of all out there regulation enforcement sources. Nationwide Guard is the final resort. You might have native sources, state sources after which, as crucial, Nationwide Guard, in addition to a transparent sense of who to name when in order that there aren’t communication failures.

Federal officers have invested some huge cash and time in doing workouts, lots of them with state and native officers, sharing intelligence and data, and making an attempt to share greatest practices. However on the finish of the day, the state and native officers are within the lead and will have clear operational plans for a spread of situations which will come up, specifically massive scale safety incidents which will come up with little or no warning. We discovered classes from January sixth. And from my conversations with former colleagues, that operational planning has been underway for years, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: David, I need to rapidly get you to answer what Senator Rubio was elevating throughout our interview. He was speaking in regards to the costs introduced by the secretary – or I discussed the charged introduced by the secretary of state towards the person he highlighted had solid a vote regardless of not being a citizen.

DAVID BECKER: Proper.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How is it that somebody who’s not a citizen might register and solid a poll? How did that even occur?

DAVID BECKER: Effectively, we’ve a number of protections in place to verify it’s totally, not possible that is going to occur. We have seen locations like Ohio, which has documented solely six circumstances of non-citizen voting over a decade, courting again to 2014. Now we have locations like Georgia, that has documented 9 circumstances of non-citizen voting since 2008. So, it does occur, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily uncommon. And I am positive Michigan goes to undergo the method of evaluating precisely what went fallacious on this one explicit occasion.

But it surely’s additionally essential to notice, that is one case. It was very swiftly handled. This particular person goes to lose his administration on the College of Michigan. He’ll be prosecuted. He would possibly go to jail. And he is virtually actually to be deported.

It is a cautionary story. It is one of many causes we all know that non-citizen voting is extraordinarily uncommon. It is not zero, nevertheless it’s very near zero as a result of the potential profit to the one who perpetrates that crime, one vote in an election with 160 million ballots is way outweighed by the potential threat that they are dealing with of deportation and different jail time, et cetera.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks for that.

I needed you to elucidate the method, as a result of I feel explaining how our courts work –

DAVID BECKER: Proper.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How the programs are set as much as cope with these items is essential.

One of many issues disclosed within the U.S. intelligence report put out by the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence was that Russia’s amplifying these claims of non-citizen voting.

DAVID BECKER: Proper.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, that is what occurs.

DAVID BECKER: Proper. That is what occurs. And there are many protections in place to guarantee that that is extraordinarily uncommon. As near zero as it may be.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks. Thanks to your perspective. I do know we’ll preserve you on velocity dial all through the week.

We’ll be proper again.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS:

MARGARET BRENNAN: To dissect a number of the new financial indicators we have been seeing, we’re joined by Mohamed El-Erian. He’s the chief financial adviser at Allianz.

Welcome again to this system.

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: (Chief Financial Advisor, Allianz): Thanks for having me.

MARGARET BRENNAN: , we noticed on Friday this jobs report that indicated job creation stalled a bit in October. There have been some complicating elements, like hurricanes and a strike at Boeing. However what’s your perspective on what this means for the following president of the US?

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: So, many of the report, as you identified, was distorted in a extremely essential method by the strikes by the hurricanes. The underside line, Margaret, is we’ve an financial system that has been rising robustly. Inflation is coming down. And the primary problem for the following administration isn’t just to take care of what is named financial exceptionalism, as a result of we’re outperforming all different superior economies, but additionally to proceed to reposition it for the engines of tomorrow’s prosperity. And that is completely vital.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, we all know the Federal Reserve is assembly later this week, might transfer on rates of interest once more since inflation is round or getting near that 2 % goal. However for common individuals, they see housing costs are excessive, they see grocery costs are nonetheless excessive. The place’s the situation the place these costs really come down?

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: Sure, and that is what everyone’s anticipating, nevertheless it’s not going to occur.

Look, the excellent news is rates of interest will proceed to return down. The excellent news is inflation, which is the speed of improve of the price of dwelling will come down. But it surely’s very arduous to carry down costs. And that is one political drawback is, if you inform individuals inflation is coming down, of their head they assume costs are coming down, not the speed of improve of costs. So, it is a misunderstanding, sadly. However you’ve got to watch out what you would like for, as a result of if costs come down considerably, we’re then in one thing a lot worse economically.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And that misunderstanding getting used rather a lot on the marketing campaign path, Mohamed, as you understand.

I do know the inventory market isn’t an indicator of what is taking place with the financial system, however it’s forward-looking. This week what ought to we expect as a response to the end result of this election?

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: So, imagine it or not, lots of buyers are simply on the sideline. They see so many potentialities, be it for the presidential race, be it for Congress, and even the extent to which what’s promised by presidential candidates will change into coverage. There stands to be a giant hole between the 2. So, fairly a number of buyers have mentioned, you understand what, there’s approach an excessive amount of uncertainty. I am simply standing on the sideline and ready to see what emerges.

MARGARET BRENNAN: A spot between what’s promised and what’s delivered is a really diplomatic approach of placing campaigning there, Mohamed. However neither candidate is even making a gesture in the direction of lowering the debt burden on this nation. And when it comes to what’s being promised, the plans that the vp has put ahead is estimated by this Committee for a Accountable Funds to extend the federal debt by practically $4 trillion by way of 2035. Donald Trump’s plans would improve it by practically $8 trillion.

Congress, as you steered there, they’ll put the brakes on something right here. However does this continued promise of spending and no promise of lowering it concern you?

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: It does. It does in a giant approach.

Look, it was unthinkable that we might have virtually 30 months of unemployment at 4 % or under and we would run fiscal deficit of six to eight %. Bear in mind, John Kennedy mentioned, when the solar is shining you repair the roof. As an alternative, the solar has been shining on our financial system and we have created extra roofs. Our debt to GDP is 120 % of – our debt is 120 % of GDP.

Look, each candidates, whether or not they prefer it or not, are going to should discover a technique to average deficits and debt and critically, Margaret, to create operational flexibility within the price range. The price range is changing into an increasing number of inflexible, which signifies that it is tougher to answer unanticipated shocks.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Unanticipated shocks.

By way of one of many issues that we’ve heard from the Trump marketing campaign rather a lot is that this pledge to make use of tariffs to create earnings for the federal government someway. That is how Donald Trump suggests utilizing them.

Do you view tariffs as a regressive tax that may harm poor individuals by elevating costs for them, or do you view them as someway, you understand, a rising tide that floats all boats?

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: So, tariffs are a harmful instrument. They’ve restricted use, but when they’re overused, they change into counterproductive. It’s – it isn’t a good suggestion to vow the usage of tariffs to ship all types of issues. Be it a decrease deficit, be it defending home producers, be it placing stress, leveraging affect on different international locations. Tariffs have a job to play, however to not the extent – and related for the opposite facet. Industrial coverage and regulation, they each have a job to play.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN: However watch out of overreach.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. Honest level.

Mohamed El-Erian, thanks very a lot to your evaluation. The financial system persistently the primary subject for American voters on this election.

We’ll be again in a second.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Becoming a member of us now for a preview of what we’ll all be in search of on Tuesday is our govt director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto.

Anthony, that is neck-and-neck. You’ve got been telling us that for weeks now. What’s it that the campaigns are specializing in and what we ought to be in search of?

ANTHONY SALVANTO: Hey there, Margaret. So, begin with this. Right here is the map. The states in white are all these razor-tight battleground states. However let’s get past the margin of error for a second and take a look at a number of the political potentialities. And we are able to present you that in our polling fashions.

Begin with this, what I feel is likely one of the key dynamics on this race. There are voters who say they didn’t vote in 2020 and plenty of of them, actually about 4 in ten, say that they undoubtedly will this time. Amongst them, particularly the boys amongst them, are for Donald Trump. And the Trump marketing campaign is making an attempt to show them out.

So, we questioned, what occurs if he does? And I am going to present you. On this map we will run that situation by way of our CBS fashions. And if he does end up lots of these non-voters, these males, they increase him, he would do nicely throughout the solar belt, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and flip Pennsylvania, and that might be sufficient to place him excessive and provides him the win. That is a hypothetical, nevertheless it reveals you the way a type of marketing campaign dynamics might play out.

Now, on the opposite facet, there’s one other essential dynamic, and that’s the gender hole. We have talked about it loads. And I am going to present you a slide from considered one of our latest polls that illustrate that. So many extra ladies voting for Kamala Harris.

Effectively, you’ve got seen the Harris marketing campaign on the market making an attempt not solely to get ladies turnout, but additionally some crossover from Republicans, and specifically Republican ladies. So, we mentioned, what occurs if she will be able to get these Republican numbers to match nearer to what Joe Biden obtained in 2020, pushed largely by ladies and Republican ladies. If I put that situation into the map right here, our fashions present that she would maintain the blue wall states throughout the higher Midwest, preserve Georgia in her column, even flip North Carolina, and that might give her an Electoral Faculty victory.

All of this, once more, hypothetical. But it surely places it in political phrases, a number of the dynamics that would play out, and we’ll be watching, on election night time, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And you will be watching in actual time as the information is available in to the desk.

What’s it that we ought to be monitoring all through the night time?

ANTHONY SALVANTO: So, we will present you the whole lot because it is available in. And the very first thing I’ll present you is the place the votes are, as a result of generally, and I am going to pull up the 2020 map right here in Georgia simply for example, you are going to see crimson areas, Republican, you are going to see blue areas, Democratic. However I am at all times going to point out, there are extra individuals in a few of these place than others. If I take this map and I rotate it, you will – what you will see within the instance of Georgia is, the upper bars mirror extra votes, and there is extra voters in Atlanta and metro Atlanta. And Democrats must do nicely in locations like that. Actually get lots of turnout there. Whereas throughout rural areas, you see it is extra flat on the map right here. Not as many votes however Republicans very persistently sort of add to their margins there. That is a method we will present you the state in full.

The opposite factor I’ll watch is patterns, shifts from the final election to this one. Once more, for example, if I had been to point out you the shift that occurred from 2016 to 2020, in Georgia, Democrats, Joe Biden on the time, obtained lots of these counties round metro Atlanta shifting blue, these rural areas shifted crimson, Republicans. We’ll see if one thing like that occurs once more. So it is the place the votes come from, how they shift and the very last thing, in a short time, Margaret, I am going to remind everyone is, endurance. If I had been to take that very same Georgia timeline and present you what it seemed like at say 9:00 p.m., simply after ballot closed, a pair hours, you see a lot uncounted votes nonetheless in Georgia, Metro Atlanta hadn’t counted but, et cetera. If this sample comes out once more on election night time, we’ll need to say, maintain on, let’s look ahead to all of the votes to get counted earlier than we all know the winner.

Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Endurance is a advantage.

Anthony, thanks.

We’ll be proper again.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us at present. Thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week. For FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)