Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part of the big news this week in our state
has been the selection of Nebraska redwell A County McCook,
Nebraska for an ice detention facility known as the Kornosker Clink,
which it's the name itself has caused some pearl clutching,
but at any rate, that is part of Adrian Smith's district,
(00:22):
Nebraska's third district congressman. And Adrian joins us for a
few minutes this morning. That's right, Adrian, that's in your district, right,
that is correct? Yes, So what do you think of
that you got a problem with it?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I do not. I think that showing some capacity there
to be a part of the solution. We know that
the current Trump administration is very serious about the immigration issue,
unlike the previous administration, and addressing this in a straightforward
fashion I think is good and I think, I mean,
(00:56):
I can't predict and say for sure, but I think,
given and how serious disadministration takes the immigration issue, I
look for a resolution to this in a fairly speedy fashion.
And I doubt that this is a long term situation, right.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Well don't I don't, and I don't think it's a
long term situation for any of the individuals. They're going
to be processed as quickly as possible. I believe, hey,
you're you're inviting you're involved in some legislation relative to
E fifteen gasoline, And I'm interested in that in a
way because I was traveling a couple of weekends ago
(01:36):
and as I went through South Dakota there was E
fifteen and the pumps. I haven't seen that here. So
you're looking to make this a national standard, Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, it would be a national option for folks, for
retailers to have to market to their customers, not mandate.
But right now there's unclear language. Well, there's a waiver
that the President signs to allow it for the summer months, say,
but our legislation, my bill would allow the sales, not mandate,
(02:14):
but allow the sale on a year round basis, long term.
That gives the opportunity for folks to invest in the
pumps that are needed. In this case, sometimes it's a
blender pump, you know, to allow our customers to choose
a blend of their choice. But the fact of the
matter is E fifteen can help bring down the cost
(02:36):
of fuel to consumers, and certainly these days that's a
good thing.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Yeah, I haven't tried it. I usually go with the
E ten because I think that's I haven't noticed a
big difference in how much it burned, how fast you
burn through it. But E fifteen I haven't tried. That
might be you know, there's a cost benefit ratio if
you fill up with something and then all of a
sudden your tank's empty right away. Well, how much of
you say? Why don't you go for E fifteen and
(03:01):
help the state out a little bit? Can we have
it even here? I haven't seen it here? You know,
why don't you be a part of it? Is?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
It is around Nebraska, not as much as I would prefer, obviously,
but I think you know, the lack of consistent policy
for a year round a basis that contributes to less investment.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
All right now, Adrian, let's get back to the cornscar
clink for a second. A are you happy with that?
Do you do you like that nickname? Or would you
prefer they not say so? And secondly, how much money
are we talking about here? This could be a revenue
stream for the state of Nebraska. How much money is
the federal government spending on this facility that we get.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I am I'm asking for those numbers and I expect
to get those soon. The you know, I didn't coin
the phrase, obviously, probably something that I wouldn't use, but
these things are bound to happen, and I don't get
too anxious about that. But I I am impressed though
(04:02):
with overall we see illegal border crossings down some ninety
percent from what they were during the Biden administration. And
that's just changing presidents that didn't add a foot to
the wall vertically or horizontally. That that was simply the
message of hey, we are serious about this. And I
(04:25):
think that the processing facilities like we're looking at here,
that just sends another message of how serious they are.
I was at the border during the Biden administration one time,
watching people come across and wade across the river, crawl
through the razor wire as they would, shed layers of
(04:46):
clothing and hop into a waiting fifteen passenger van. Doors
open and the van would fill up. They'd pull away,
and we were told they were taken to a processing
center to be given a court date some seven or
years down the road.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Right, Yeah, they do it different. They went to a
federally funded MgO and they took care of him the
country now, speaking of the wall, how much have we
started building it again? And how much can this get
done between now and the time Trump leaves office.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Well, I think when you see what all was done
during Trump's first term, I think there's there's a lot
to build on from that. I haven't seen the latest
details in terms of actual construction since we passed the
big beautiful bill, but immigration and enforcement was part of that.
(05:38):
And moving forward though, it's amazing how just the message
out of the White House with our new president compared
to the last one. Just that messaging probably changes things
more than anything else.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Talking with a third district representative, Adrian Smith for another
minute here, Adrian, our economist are frequent Kabab contributor Ernie
Goss has been warning about this, and he's out with
another report on on the rural economy, and he's seeing
in Nebraska that there is continued stress and UH and
(06:11):
a lot and a lot of grain farmers are reporting
that their cash flow is down. They can't they're they're
having difficulty dealing with this. What do you attribute that to?
Are you seeing that in your district? And what federal
policy can address it?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Well, a few things. One is, you know, farmers are
still feeling the inflation due to the cost of inputs
going up. That is very significant. Course, input costs are
so high and the crop prices are low, and we've
got trade policy pending right now that you know, the
soybean farmers, for example, they're getting they're getting hit, probably
(06:48):
harder than most. And I think it's important to note
that we need to land a plane on trade policy,
and I think the President is certainly heading in that direction.
We know, and I'll I'll be very transparent with you.
I'm not a fan of tariff and for various reasons.
I will also say that President Trump has gotten other
(07:09):
countries to move their trade policy in a better direction
and that stands to help us. I mean, the UK
a while back, not that long ago, was saying they
didn't want to move on anywhere in our direction on agriculture,
and now we've seen them.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
They have, they have.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But China has beef ethanol.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Right, China has not. That's a big one.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
China is a big one, you.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Bet it is, and I don't I don't know they
they that's huge. I mean, they haven't imported one oat
or one one being from US one OAT Adrian Smith,
third District Representative, Nebraska, Thanks so much,