Mike Pence served a subpoena; State of the Union makes an influence : NPR

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

We flip now to NPR senior editor and correspondent Ron Elving.

Ron, thanks very a lot.

RON ELVING, BYLINE: Good to be with you, Scott.

SIMON: The tragic earthquake in Syria and Turkey dominates the information. There’s an pressing want for assist, an outpouring from the world. Will the true take a look at be in coming weeks, although, when the information cycle strikes on?

ELVING: Sure, certainly. We’ve got a lot to be glad about on this nation in any season. However once we see this type of tragedy, and coming in such waves, battering some of the long-suffering areas on the planet, it’s humbling.

SIMON: Let’s transfer to home affairs right here – single labeled doc that the FBI turned up on the house of former Vice President Mike Pence in Indiana. What do you make of it?

ELVING: In all probability not a lot, not at this level. You recognize, the spasm of nationwide anger and angst over stray and lacking labeled paperwork has weakened over the numerous months. A consensual search at Mike Pence’s simply would not have the identical influence as a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago or on the non-public house of President Biden. Certain, Pence had mentioned he did not have any paperwork, after which an aide discovered some. However there’s simply no comparability right here to the battle that Pence’s previous boss has mounted to cover labeled paperwork in far larger numbers, denying having them in any respect, going to courtroom to maintain them. However the extra we hear about Pence and Biden having this materials, the extra the story loses focus and other people ask why so many paperwork have been labeled within the first place.

SIMON: After all, Mike Pence additionally acquired a subpoena from the particular counsel investigating the January 6 riots and the labeled paperwork discovered at former President Trump’s resort.

ELVING: Pence’s testimony about Jan. 6 is one other matter, totally. We’re instructed that Trump pressured him for days, maybe weeks, to participate on this scheme to invalidate the 2020 election. Now, you keep in mind, this was about setting apart the Electoral Faculty vote and having the Home, only one chamber of Congress, choose the president as a substitute. And we have heard this from many sources over time. And, clearly, the particular counsel want to have it on the report, immediately from Pence. It could be key testimony in opposition to Trump.

And that is why this name to testify places Pence in such a clumsy and troublesome place. He is nonetheless speaking about being a candidate for president himself. He doesn’t need to testify in opposition to Trump and alienate each remaining Trump supporter by doing so. There are questions right here about govt privilege. We’ll hear that argument. There will even be questions of whether or not any sort of privilege applies to a dialog that is primarily a proposed conspiracy to commit against the law.

SIMON: President Biden bought numerous good opinions for his State of the Union tackle. Any signal you see of political influence?

ELVING: It appears like about 27 million individuals watched reside. That is down from final 12 months. However tens of hundreds of thousands extra have seen information studies about it since, and social media reactions. Now, way more individuals see the protection than see the occasions, Scott. And the protection has been fairly persistently constructive for Biden. He had an excellent evening. And he wanted one as a result of polls have been exhibiting that a lot of the nation would not know what he is accomplished to date.

However he bought his message throughout Tuesday evening. He was helped by the boorish conduct of some of the Home Republicans. And he was even ready at one level to get the entire Congress on its toes by asking them to face up for seniors. And after they have been all on their toes and cheering, he mentioned, let’s all agree to guard Social Safety and Medicare, and there all of them have been. Let’s pay attention.

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PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: So tonight, let’s all agree, and we apparently are, let’s rise up for seniors.

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BIDEN: Arise and present them we is not going to lower Social Safety, we is not going to lower Medicare.

SIMON: After all, bought to ask – one other high-altitude object got here into U.S. airspace simply yesterday. And this time, President Biden would not hesitate to order the army to have it shot down.

ELVING: That is proper. The balloon had – that crossed the nation final week – the favored obsession, not simply within the media – we’re nonetheless analyzing the wreckage from that episode. So this new intruder, a lot smaller, much less compelling, and naturally, you could not see it out of your yard. However coming when it did, and being as distant from inhabitants senators – facilities, reasonably – because it was, there was little hesitation to bringing it down. We nonetheless do not know the place it got here from, however we’re left to surprise, will all this surveillance result in a serious confrontation with China or one other overseas energy? Will the world’s two largest economies confine their rivalry to market competitors, or are we drifting to extra of a army confrontation?

SIMON: NPR’s Ron Elving. Thanks a lot.

ELVING: Thanks, Scott.

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