>> Just off her third win for U.S. Senate, Wisconsin Democrat
Tammy Baldwin says she has not yet received a call from her
Republican challenger, Eric concede this week, but it came
two weeks after the election and he continued to cast doubt on
the razor tight results. Senator Baldwin is back in Washington
and joins us now. And thanks very much for being here.
>> It's my pleasure to join you. >> So congratulations on your
win. Thank you. What is your reaction to Eric Hovde
continuing to cast doubt, though, on the election process?
>> Look, it was a free and fair election and the results are in.
I stand by what the Wisconsin voters have done in terms of
placing their trust in me for another term, but also electing
Donald Trump as their presidential candidate. And I
think it's incumbent upon all candidates to stand by the
results of a free and fair election.
win? While Kamala Harris fell short?
also as a candidate for reelection, is to travel the
state extensively, show up matters. Showing up matters. I
listen deeply to people, and then I deliver results. And I've
done this now for years. I don't just go to Blue parts of the
state. I go to deeply red parts of the state, rural areas,
suburban areas, urban areas. And I think showing up really does
matter. And I think that it takes time to build trust and to
build relationships. And that's what I've invested in, clearly,
out of the new Trump administration, we're looking at
some seismic policy shifts with Republicans taking both chambers
and the presidency. >> What can you and others in
the minority meaningfully accomplish?
this session the same way I have all the time. I'm fighting for
Wisconsin, and there are things that I can do in a bipartisan
basis to fight for the people of this state, as I have in the
past. I've served in both the minority and the majority party
in the United States Senate. And when there are things that this
administration offers that are not in the interests of the
people of Wisconsin, I will stand up to them. And that's
always what I've been, what I've done, regardless of who is
president and regardless of which party is in control of the
Senate, so as to president elect Trump's cabinet picks, what is
your reaction to some of those nominated?
Gabbard for National Intelligence, Pete Hegseth for
defense and RFK Jr for Health and Human Services.
>> I expect that these candidates will be vetted first
and then we will have hearings. I'm already thinking about the
type of questions I would want to ask somebody like the
nominee, Kennedy, to head Health and Human Services. I mean,
Wisconsinites rely upon, you know, vaccines to prevent things
like measles and mumps. We rely upon the national Institutes for
health to be doing cutting edge research, to try to create
better treatments for cancer and cures for disease. We rely on
the centers for Disease Prevention for preventative
clear understanding of how these nominees would steward these
agencies. And so I expect that the process of advise and
consent will take place, and I will fight for that, and I will
scrutinize these nominees very carefully.
Sean Duffy was selected for transportation secretary. How
>> Well, we have passed the bipartisan infrastructure law,
and we have a number of really vital projects that are going on
in the state. Among them efforts to build out broadband so that
every resident in Wisconsin has access to high speed internet.
We have a bridge project in northern Wisconsin connecting
the city of superior with the city of Duluth. In Minnesota.
The Blatnik bridge replacement project. There's $1 billion of
federal funding going into that project. We have amazing things
happening throughout the state, including major investments in
public transit. And I think having a Wisconsin candidate
filling that position is something that would be very
helpful in terms of advocacy for completion of those projects.
>> What real concerns do you have that the Affordable Care
Act, which you were so involved in, will be scratched and what
would be the implications of that?
>> Well, I certainly worry, as I have heard, you know, within the
last year, President elect Trump talk about repealing the
Affordable Care Act. It would have devastating results. There
are tens of millions of Americans who have health care
because of the Affordable Care Act. The fact that we have told
the powerful insurance companies that you can no longer
discriminate against people based on a preexisting health
condition or existing health condition, has meant that so
many can now get health care. Who couldn't in the years before
the Affordable Care Act? But I think we also have to build upon
it. And so we have to fight against any efforts to repeal.
But we also have to make it even more accessible and affordable
for Americans. >> You just voted on three
resolutions to block arms sales to Israel. Why?
>> You know, the measures that were before the Senate did not
achieve the goals that I have articulated time and time again.
So, first of all, Israel has the right to defend itself. The
attacks on October 7th by Hamas terrorists were horrific.
hostages being taken, including some American hostages. But the
conduct of the Netanyahu government in executing its war
in Gaza has caused the lives of too many innocent Palestinians
to be lost. And I have called for a cease fire for nearly a
year now. That has to happen. The hostages must be released.
We must surge humanitarian aid into Gaza. Those are the goals
that I have. And the vote options before me yesterday did
not achieve those goals. >> What will be your Sharpe
focus now that you're back in Washington?
>> All right. So it's definitely fighting for Wisconsin. And it's
the kitchen table issues that I've been hearing about for
throughout this campaign. And throughout recent years. You
know, the affordability of things that people need
groceries, their health care, their prescription medications,
housing, childcare, those things are vital. And a champion for a
plan to restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land.
>> What is your message to Wisconsin so narrowly split
politically, so purple? >> Look, I still think we have a
lot more in common than we do that separates us and I know a
lot of people are still in disbelief that Wisconsinites
place their trust in me. But also opted to elect Donald Trump
both by narrow margins. But I think it is about, you know,
that we have much more in that we have much more in