American alliances are what keep us, america, safe. It is the value that puts other nations up for working with us. If we turn our backs on israel, its just not worth it. Part of President Bidens address Last Night Urging Americans and congress to continue to support ukraine and israel in the vastly different war each is fighting. Well go live to israel for the latest on the expected Ground Invasion of gaza. Meanwhile, republicans are somehow creating even more chaos on capitol hill. With another speakers vote scheduled for this morning, it comes as the temporary speaker is getting fed up and is now threatening to resign. Plus, well get expert legal analysis on the surprise guilty plea from one of the many defendants in the Georgia ElectionInterference Case. Thats a big one. Good morning. Welcome to morning joe. It is friday, october 20th. Id love to get both you and willies reaction to the president s Speech Last Night. I thought it was really effective, part teacher, Part Influencer, in trying to spread the word of democracy. I mean, part comforter. I mean, theres no doubt, willie, that last nights speech, you never know what to expect with the president s speech. You think sometimes there are going to be platitudes here, platitudes there. Im talking any president. Last night was a significant speech. This was a speech that was delivered on the heels of china and russias leaders getting together, russias Foreign Minister and kim jongun getting together, iran and hamas coming together. We heard the term back in 2003, axis of evil. Right. If that word is offensive to people out there this morning, well make them spit out their lattes. Well just say, there is an axis of antiAmerican Forces out there that are coming together, that want to recreate the world in their own tyrannical image. Against that backdrop, joe biden gave a historic Speech Last Night. It was a speech that talked about americas role in the world at a time that a lot of republicans on the far right and a lot of democrats on the far left want to retreat. Joe biden is not for retreating. He also was a comforter in chief. I thought it was very moving when he said, if you are hurting out there, whether you are jewish or muslim, i hear you. You are part of our family. You are an american. It was an incredibly important thing to say, and im so glad he said it. He actually called the father of the 6yearold child who was brutally murdered. Yeah. Senselessly murdered, comforted him, let him know that he and jill were praying for his wife. Ive got to say, it was a surprise of a speech for me, and it surprised some people who arent joe biden fans. Brett called it remarkable, and, by far, a critically important speech and the best speech of the president s career. This president has had, it seems, absolute clarity on this issue since the war, actually going back to ukraine, but especially in the last two weeks since hamas attacked israel. There has been no equivocating in his support for israel. The way he talks about americas relationship with israel. He flew into a hot war zone to stand shoulder to shoulder with the prime minister. That was on display, i think, last night. At a time you have Putin Meeting with president xi, you have houthi rebels, different iranbacked groups attacking american troops, trying to use drones, it feels like a heavy, dangerous moment for americans watching this play out and wondering where our place is in this. Youre right, the president was trying to settle people a little last night and say, we have an Important Role to play. Were the United States of america. But we can do this. We can continue to support ukraine. Heres a reminder why that is important. And we must support israel. Heres why that is important, if youre wondering. He did something we heard president bush do in the days after 9 11, was trying to reassure muslimamericans that they are a part of all of this, that they have a safe place to be and to talk about the beautiful 6yearold boy who was murdered just for being muslim. So it have it was a very extraordinary speech. He is in the moment and understands the assignment clearly from his decades of experience, and mistakes made in Foreign Policy over time, its brought him to this place where he truly understands the mission here. Here is President Biden calling on americans to support both israel and ukraine in their respective wars and explaining why its critical to our National Security. Hamas and putin represent different threats, but they share this in common, they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy. Completely annihilate it. Hamas stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of israel and the murder of jewish people. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian People. Hamas uses Palestinian Civilians as Human Shields and innocent palestinian families are suffering greatly because of that. Meanwhile, putin denies ukraine has or ever had real statehood. He claims the soviet Union Created ukraine. I know these conflicts can seem far away, and its natural to ask, why does this matter to america . Let me share with you why making sure israel and ukraine succeed is viral for Americas National security. You know, history has taught us, when terrorists dont pay a price for their terror, when dictators dont pay a price for their aggression, it causes more chaos, death, and more destruction. They keep going, and the cost and the threats to america and the world keep rising. If we walk away and let putin erase ukraines independence, wouldbe aggressors Around The World would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread into other parts of the world. In the indopacific, in the middle east, especially in the middle east. Iran is supporting russia in ukraine, and it is supporting hamas and other Terrorist Groups in the region. Well continue to hold them accountable, i might add. Tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us, and are waiting for us. But time is of the essence. I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We cant let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like hamas and tyrants like putin win. I refuse to let that happen. Lets bring in the host of way too early, White House Bureau chief at politico, Jonathan Lemire. And president emeritus on the council of foreign relation, Richard Haass. I was surprised by the scope of this speech, the importance of this speech. You had a democrat, a democratic president going out there, actually, well, sounding a lot like Ronald Reagan in the middle of the cold war. Saying, we cannot let tyranny win. It sets up a real battle for republicans between the reagan wing of the party and the josh hawley Charles Lindbergh wing of the Republican Party. Last night, joe biden was quite forceful and said, the dots, whether you like it or not, the dots do connect from hamas to iran to russia to china to north korea across the world. What will be the impact, richard . Look, as you would expect, given my dna, i like the fullthroated support of internationalism, the rejection of the word isolationism, even though i dont think he explicitly used that word, joe. I wonder how many minds it would really change. I dont think that many exactly to those wings of the party as you talked about. What about, though, richard, on the world stage . Again, the world stage right now is looking at a Republican Congress that seriously couldnt make a bowl of oatmeal, and wondering where the United States is. They see the president of the United States speaking, again, in such a fullthroated way, and commentators on fox news praising him, the senior commentators praising him for that. I mean, the audience the contrast. The audience is not just the neville chamberlains of the party. It is also an International Audience watching this, is it not, especially people who consider america their enemies. It is. The only thing that doesnt reassure people internationally is when people look at us and i get this about three times a day people Around The World, particularly our friends, no longer know whats the normal and whats the aberration. They hear joe biden, and this is exactly what they want to hear from the United States. What they dont know is if theyre only going to be hearing it for 12 more months. You know, theres no doubts about him given ukraine and israel. What there are doubts about is exactly what youre pointing to. To what extent does he still represent america . To what extent can our friends in the world bank, that what he talked about will still be u. S. Policy come 2025 . Thats the only reason it doesnt have the reassuring effect that you suggest. Let me say two other things, joe. One argument i wish the president had introduced into the speech was the idea that, not only we should do what he was talking about, but we can afford it. The biggest criticism i run into all the time, its kind of the old guns versus butter, if we spend all this money on ukraine or israel, look at all the domestic needs that are going unmet. What the president could have done was explain how historically weve been able to do both, how during the cold war, we spent a far, far higher percentage of our gdp on National Security. The last i checked, the economy and the society did well during those decades. I wish he connected that to take on that argument. Second of all, you talked about how the United States has to make sure both israel and ukraine succeed. For a lot of people, what is still uncertain is what is his definition of success . Yes, ukraine must be independent, but does that mean the ukraine and the United States should be funding ukraine to regain every square inch of its territory . Yes, israel must be safe from terrorist attacks, but what does that mean, visavis what is happening in gaza. Im not sure he settled that. The president can only get so specific. That would have been a lot. Yeah. He can only get so specific. I thought the president framed it well when he talked about ukraine by saying, Vladimir Putin thought he was going to march into kyiv and take over the entire country in three days. He has failed. For us, thats the definition of success. Even Holding Putin where he is keeps him from his main objective, keeps him from all of his objectives. Willie, it seems to me, thats what the United States has to do. We cannot allow a russian tyrant to march into neighboring capitals. And he made the point, you cant allow a Terrorist Organization, hamas, to go unchecked in a moment like this. John, its a critical case to make because, today, the president is going to request up to 100 billion in aid for ukraine and israel, combined package. By the way, doing that in front of a congress that is in complete chaos right now, as republicans try to find a Speaker Of The House, for starters. Do you think he made that case . When he asks for that much money for two foreign conflicts, think hell come up with the cash . This was a tricky speech to deliver, to try to sell americans on these two distant wars, why it matters so their National Security here at home. To that point, about letting terrorists or dictators go unchecked, he said, if they do, they cause more chaos, more death and destruction. They keep going, and the cost and threats to america continue to go up, too. It was a key line, suggesting this matters on our shores, even though these conflicts feel so far away. The president s aides said he spent a lot of time on the speech in the last couple days. You could tell he warmed to it as he went along. He got more personal when he talked about americans, arabamericans, palestinians, and how the u. S. Feels their plight. He rallied, and the speech got better as he went along. Now, the other side of the pennsylvania avenue, 100 billion is a lot of money. The president made a forceful case to sell it. Its israel, ukraine, taiwan, Border Security, other domestic programs, as well. It cant go anywhere without a House Of Representatives. The president didnt make the point, try to score political points. He took the high road, was the global statesman, but nothing goes through until the republicans get into order. The question is, mika, are republicans willing, some are, to let Vladimir Putin win in ukraine . I know some are. Yeah, literally with him. Literally are with him. You listen to what they say. It could be coming out of Russian Television in primetime. Do they want israelis to fail in their effort to push back against the Hamas Terrorist Group . Well see. Maybe they do. Do they want fentanyl to flood in over the border when joe biden wants to spend a lot of money to protect the border from that . Also, theyve asked for Border Security. Were talking about 14 billion in Border Security in the southern border. Do they want to vote against that, as well . I mean, maybe they do. Like i said, maybe i overestimated them. Maybe not only can they not make a bowl of oatmeal not even instant. But theyd hurt themselves trying. Definitely get burned, yeah. Keep the blender away from them. This is a group of people that, ive never seen such incompetence and confusion. Richard makes a good point, which is, the world is watching. They want to know, are we going to bow down to Vladimir Putin . Are we going to bow down to hamas . Are we going to retreat from the world . Its a very, very important question to be answered. Right now, it is the Republican House of representatives thats not answering that question because they cant even elect a speaker. For most of them, their guy just got another really bad piece of legal news out of georgia, which well get to. In one minute, we have full coverage of the breakdown of kraken lady . Yeah. She cracked. She cracked big time. Yeah. Gripping capitol hill, republicans have 221 members in the house, and they cant pick a single one of them to lead their party. Not one. The latest on the failing efforts to choose a House Speaker when we come back in 60 seconds. Historic incompetence. I think it may be remembered as one of the best, if not the best speeches of his presidency. He was firm, unequivocal, strong, as he has been particularly in recent days before he went to israel and while he was over there. I was struck by the fact that he spent as much time as he did on ukraine. I think it was a good thing that he did. That can deliver clinical remission and endoscopic improvement. Serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine or plan to. Liver problems may occur in crohns disease. Control of crohns means everything to me. Ask your gastroenterologist about skyrizi. Control is everything to me learn how abbvie could help you save. Ah, these bills are crazy. She has no idea shes sitting on a goldmine. Well she doesnt know that if she owns a Life Insurance policy of 100,000 or more she can sell all or part of it to coventry for cash. Even a term policy. Even a term policy . Even a term policy find out if youre sitting on a goldmine. Call Coventry Direct today at the number on your screen, or visit coventrydirect. Com. The path to a new House Speaker for republicans remains uncertain this morning following a new series of surprising, chaotic developments. Come on, man. There is another, new house vote for speaker scheduled at 10 00 this morning. That guys supporters. Lets stop right there. Election denier. Lets stop. That guy right there, his people are calling the wives, texting the wives of republican members and threatening them. Ken buck, got a report that ken bucks lease in his local office got canceled because he didnt support jim jordan. Pressure is mounting from all over, from rightwing freaks. Let me say it again, rightwing freaks who are threatening, threatening republican members if they dont support the speaker. Listen, im not good at politics, willie. Thats not really a good way to win friends and influence fellow members of congress. In fact, in the words of aristotle, be ye careful, ye may piss them off. I didnt know ye was used in ancient greek, but, you know what . I think he was right. Harassing peoples wives as a political tactic, as a way to twist arms to get their vote. Thats a good one. Who would have thought . It is backfiring spectacularly on jim jordan. All these members are going public with the stories and saying, ther