Former governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, discusses his break with Trump, his changing position on abortion and Ukraine, and the evolving dynamics of the Republican party. They also explore the importance of bipartisanship and leadership, and touch on the topics of abortion and gun control.
Chris Christie believes that Donald Trump's conduct disqualifies him from being president, and he remains committed to speaking the truth and making the case against Trump.
Christie prioritizes bipartisanship and building relationships with lawmakers from both parties to achieve effective governance.
Deep dives
Chris Christie's Candidacy and Motivation for Running
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is running for the Republican nomination for president, believing that the country is in a different place compared to his previous run in 2016. Christie wants to make the case against Donald Trump, arguing that his conduct disqualifies him from being president. Christie's motivation was fueled after the January 6 attack on the Capitol, which he saw as the final straw in Trump's behavior. Despite facing boos from audiences when criticizing Trump, Christie remains steadfast in his commitment to speaking the truth and believes that the Republican party has undergone changes but still supports his candidacy.
Views on Trump's Legal Troubles and the Justice System
Christie believes that Donald Trump's conduct, rather than the indictments themselves, disqualifies him from the presidency. He does, however, question the motives and judgment of individual prosecutors involved in Trump's cases. Christie is concerned about the declining trust in institutions in the justice system within his party. As president, he would work towards keeping politics out of the justice system and appointing an attorney general who upholds the rule of law. Christie also criticizes the Biden Justice Department's handling of the Hunter Biden case, citing either gross incompetence or political interference.
Bipartisanship, Leadership, and Cooperation
Christie believes that leadership is the cure to polarization and the decline of bipartisanship. He criticizes past presidents for lacking the time, effort, and energy needed for bipartisan cooperation. As governor of New Jersey, Christie worked with people he disagreed with, emphasizing the importance of tackling challenges together. He expresses concern about the lack of bipartisanship in recent administrations and believes that, as president, he would prioritize building relationships and working collaboratively with lawmakers from both sides to achieve effective governance.
Policy Positions on Climate Change, Gun Control, Abortion, and Foreign Policy
Christie acknowledges that climate change is real and that human activity contributes to it. He supports a multi-faceted approach to energy production, including nuclear, solar, and wind energy sources, while utilizing the country's oil and gas reserves responsibly. Regarding gun violence, Christie emphasizes the importance of enforcing existing laws and cracking down on violent crime, both at the federal and local levels. He believes that abortion policy should be determined by the states and opposes federal intervention in such matters. On foreign policy, Christie advocates for providing robust support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
The former governor of New Jersey is running to be the Republican nominee for president for a second time, having lost to Donald Trump in 2016. In an interview with The NPR Politics Podcast, Christie says both he and the GOP have changed in the intervening years, but his break with Trump and Christie's positions on abortion & Ukraine increasingly put him out of step with the party he hopes to lead.
This episode: politics correspondent Susan Davis and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith.
This episode was produced by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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