Plus, one of Donald Trumps codefendants in georgia has just pleaded guilty, striking a plea deal with prosecutors. The question is, could more deals be on the horizon . What it all means for the former president. Also, the joint chiefs chairman did not mince words in his retirement speech today, Calling Trump A Wannabe dictator without naming him. Former Vice President mike pence is here to respond to that in moments. Im kaitlan collins, and this is the source. The u. S. Is on the brink of a Government Shutdown tonight, with really no plan in sight. With all the infighting, all the f bombs, all the votes that have been happening and also not happening on capitol hill, right now there is still no deal to keep the government open after tomorrow at midnight. House speaker Kevin Mccarthys own conference sank his last ditch plan earlier today, and tonight he emerged with this mes message for the senate. I think if we had a clean one without ukraine on it, we could probably be able to move that through. I think if the senate puts ukraine on there and focuses ukraine over america, i think that could cause real problems. Of course the keyword there is probably. So far the far right of mccarthys party has not relented. Theyve been blocking him at every turn. And on the prospect of a shutdown and what it means for regular americans, some of whom, unlike members of congress, may miss their paycheck after tomorrow night, congresswoman Marjorie Taylor greene said this. I promise you, most americans arent too worried about the government shutting down, which is a serious problem. But this is because democrats shut down the country. Of course there is a real life impact. Millions of federal employees wont get paid, on top of a million active duty troops. Those who rely on Food Assistance may not have access to it. There could also be serious disruptions to air travel with flights delayed, completely cancelled. The ramifications can be spread far and wide. And lets get straight to the source tonight with the former Vice President and current 2024 president ial candidate, mike pence. Mr. Vice president , thank you for being here. We appear to be just 24 hours away from a Government Shutdown. Do you believe that its worth shutting the government down for these demands from the lawmakers on the far right . Will the party be any better off after a shutdown happens . Well, first, let me say, you know, we have a debt in this country now for the First Time Since world war ii. And i welcome efforts by republicans in the house and the senate to take a stand for fiscal responsibility. But, you know, i have been through one of these Government Shutdowns during our administration. Ive been through a few back when i was a member of congress. Kaitlan, im confident that theyll sort through it. Whats disappointing to me and, i think, millions of americans is that all the arguments that will lead to this shutdown and may lead may have the government shut down in terms of nonessential workers and programs for some days or even weeks as we saw in the past, at the end of the day were still not talking about the primary causes of the national debt. And i truly do believe that the time has come for us to elect leadership to the white house that will square with the American People and bring common sense reforms to the Entitlement Programs that are 70 of the federal budget. Essentially what were driving toward a Government Shutdown over only touches 10 of the federal budget. And i think the time has come to put our nation back on a path of fiscal solvency. Joe bidens policy is insolvency. He wont even talk about entitlement reform. In fairness, former president trumps policy is identical to joe bidens. Im willing to take it on if im president of the United States. Well bring those reforms for younger americans and put Social Security and medicare on a Solid Foundation as well. I know thats something youve criticized both of those leaders for before. When it comes to these negotiations, we just heard from Speaker Mccarthy a few moments ago saying the senate needs to drop the ukraine funding from its plan in order to pass the house. Youve heard from Senator Mcconnell who says, he believes theres no excuse for congress not to support more aid to ukraine. Do you believe that Speaker Mccarthy is wrong here . Well, i think, you know, kaitlan, i was and have been one of the strongest voices in the republican field for continuing to provide the Ukrainian Military with the support they need to defeat and repel the russian invasion. I think, frankly, i think any faltering support among republicans is more a reflection of the fact that joe biden has done a terrible job explaining what our National Interest is. We hear these speeches about democracy and the world, when i believe that giving the Ukrainian Military what they need to defeat that russian invasion is in our National Interest because i have no doubt if Vladimir Putin overruns ukraine, its not going to be long before he crosses a border of a nato country that our soldiers will be required to go and fight. So, i believe in that old Reagan Doctrine that, if youre willing to fight the communists in your country, well give you the means to fight them there so we dont have to fight them. So, i stand strongly for the principle. Its important, with accountability, not a blank check. But its important that the United States continue to provide the Ukrainian Military what they need. And i am hopeful, as they move forward, resolving this budget impasse, that some level of funding will be able to continue to support ukraines effort against the russian invasion. I heard that comment about a blank check also on the debate stage on wednesday night from people like governor ron desantis. I dont know anyone whos advocating for a blank check for ukraine. But also you didnt hear a ton of specifics from your fellow 2024 republican candidates on what the one who is dont advocate for more funding for ukraine, as far as how to resolve this on wednesday night. What did you make of that . Yeah, i mean, i heard ron desantis say hes going to end the war and never said how hes going to end the war. Donald trump says hell end the war in a day. The only way you could end the ukraine war in a day is if you gave Vladimir Putin everything he wants. And that actually is what Vivek Ramaswamy is proposing. Let him keep what he has grabbed through this brutal and unconscionable invasion and promise him that ukraine will never be in nato. Look, there is no substitute for American Leadership on The World Stage. This is wione of those moments that i believe America Needs to continue to exercise our role as leader of the free world, marshal our allies in the west to do even more than theyve done before. Because as i said, in that same debate that got a little sporty and got a little loud, i still wanted to make the point that, boy, if Vladimir Putin rolls over ukraine, thatll and we allow it to happen that will give a green light to xi and comm Communist China to roll into taiwan. I think the best way forward for peace on The World Stage is to continue to provide american support and American Leadership, as ukraine fights for their territory and sovereignty. Sporty is one word for it. Speaking of the military, today in washington, general mark milley swore in the next chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. He made this comment in his parting remarks from his role. We dont take an oath to a country. We dont take an oath to a tribe. We dont take an oath to a religion. We dont take an oath to a king or a queen or a tyrant or a dictator. And we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We take an oath to the constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that, as america, and were willing to die to protect it. It was quite clear who he was talking about there. What was your reaction to that moment . Well, look, i havent agreed with every decision that the chairman of the joint chiefs has made in the last two years with a lot of the woke politics that have made their way into the pentagon. But i expect all of thats coming out of the biden white house. And im grateful for General Milleys long career of service in the uniform of the United States. Kaitlan, i dont know who he was referring to there, but i must tell you that Donald Trumps recent comments regarding General Milley were inexcusable. When you think of General Milleys incredible year of service in the uniform of the United States, to make the kind of statements the former president made are just unacceptable. Its one of the reasons why i everywhere i go across the country and i think it might be a reflection of the way ive tried to carry myself over my career. People come up to me and they thank me for commitment to civility. They i think the American People long for us to restore a threshold of civility and move past this season of personal invective that, frankly, has its infected our politics for a whole lot longer than during the year of our administration. Its been around for a while, and i think the American People want to see better. But we saw it really at the forefront. It is very clear that he was talking about former president trump. I mean, do you agree that donald trump is a wannabe dictator . Well, what i agree with is what General Milley said about the oath men and women in uniform take. My sons a captain in the marine corp. My soninlaw is a lieutenant in the United States navy. And kaitlan, as i recounted in my book, in the days leading up to january 6th, two and a half years ago, my son, the marine, looked at me at one point and said, dad, you took the same oath i took, and that is to support and defend the constitution of the United States. I know by gods grace i did my duty that day. I cant affirm or comment on what or who General Milley was referring to. But i can affirm his eloquent reference to the men and women who served in the uniform in the United States today and throughout the history of this country. Ill just say clearly Vice President , clearly trump thought he was referring to him because he responded to that after, calling General Milley a moron. He added that the man he picked to be defense secretary, mark esper, called him a, quote, woke fool. Obviously this is after what you referenced there. Trump implied that General Milley should be executed for treason. Are those comments Beyond The Pale in your view . As i said, his earlier comments regarding General Milley were inexcusable. And really have no place in the public debate. But i think its one of the reasons why, despite what some of the National Polls may show, i think republican primary voters know that we need new leadership, not just in the white house, but in the Republican Party. And thats why ill be back in iowa first thing in the morning, and were going to continue to take our case of a commitment of that broadbased Conservative Agenda thats defined our movement for years. But also, you know, i was inspire bid Ronald Reagan to become a republican and it was his Conservative Agenda. It was his optimism, and it was his civility, i think, that made it possible for him to lead an administration that revived the country. You talk about civility changed the world. You talk about civility at length and you said, you think Republican Voters know. Do they . Right now trump is running away with the race. Lately he has called for the Parent Company of a news network to be investigated for treason. Hes vowing retribution if he wins. Hes saying he will go after and target his political opponents. With comments like that, do you believe that he is a threat if he returns to the oval office . Look, i you know, i spent four years trying to explain Donald Trumps words, and im out of that business now, kaitlan. What i can tell you is but you know him better than anyone else who was on that stage. Everywhere i go, Republican Voters believe that joe biden has weakened this country at home and abroad. I mean, were struggling in this economy. We have the worst Border Crisis in american history. That disastrous withdrawal from afghanistan. With all due respect, this isnt about President Biden. Its about the republican front runner, mr. Vice president. I hear you and i know you love to focus on National Polls. Ill tell you whats happening on the ground is a lot more dynamic than it looks in the day in and day out polling you might see. Im convinced that well more than half republican primary voters know that we need a change. And im going to continue to work my heart out to earn the right to be our standard bearer and to carry us to victory. One of the polls i really liked recently, kaitlan, had me beating joe biden 5246 by the widest margin by any others in the field. Well continue to carry that message. I have great confidence in republican primary voters and caucus voters in iowa. Ive heard you say that before. But its not just one cherry picked poll or Something Like that. The polls roundly show that trump is ahead, and hes making comments like that, accusing the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, implying that he has committed treason. Today he was making light of an attack on a prominent political figures spouse in california. Obviously former speaker pelosis husband. With those comments and saying that News Networks should be investigated for treason, is that someone who you believe is unfit to be back in the oval office . Is it a threat to the United States if hes back there . Well, im running for president of the United States because i believe our party and our country need new leadership. And ive been very clear about that. But no republican will really directly criticize him. I think thats what stands out to people when they watch a debate stage like they did on wednesday night. There are these thinly veiled, kind of, criticisms of donald trump. No one is sounding the alarm about the comments hes been making. Well, i think if you rewind the tape, youre not the first person ive spoken to about General Milley. Ive been very forthright about that. Ive been very critical of Donald Trumps plan to pass a 10 tax on all imports into the United States of america. And of course i said from the time that i announced for president going forward, i think no one who puts himself above the constitution should ever be president of the United States. And im going to continue to speak plainly about that. But i have to tell you, republican primary voters are less focused on the field of republican candidates and the former president as they are on the disastrous policies of the biden administration, kaitlan. But, as this fall continues to go forward, as the caucus happens on january 15th, New Hampshire after that, i think people are going to continue to focus, to dial in. And im more convinced than ever that republican primary voters know that donald trump had his time, but joe biden doesnt even know what time it is. And we need leadership in the white house that can bring our country back. The comment specifically that im asking you about your former boss, someone that you know very well. Say again. You it what was your question . I just think its i understand that your focus is on President Biden. Hes the current occupant of the white house. But to actually run against President Biden, donald trump is far and away the front runner. And i just think its notable youre not specifically addressing these comments, the ones on paul pelosi, the ones on going af