Sen. Coons Defends USAID Spending $20 Million on Sesame Street in Iraq: ‘It‘s a Show that Helps Teach Values’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT SMERCONISH Is ░░░░░░░░ Sesame Street a judicious ░░░░░░░░ of soft power COONS ░░░░░░░░ Michael the way you ░░░░░░░░ it is the way ░░░░░░░░ hope folks considering your ░░░░░░░░ today will think about ░░░░░░░░ This isn t just ░░░░░░░░ a kids show for ░░░░░░░░ Millions of children in ░░░░░░░░ like Iraq It s ░░░░░░░░ show that helps teach ░░░░░░░░ helps teach public health ░░░░░░░░ prevent kids from dying ░░░░░░░░ dysentery and disease and ░░░░░░░░ push values like collaboration ░░░░░░░░ cooperation In a society ░░░░░░░░ the alternative is ISIS ░░░░░░░░ and terrorism And to ░░░░░░░░ point it s pennies ░░░░░░░░ the dollar The U ░░░░░░░░ Department of Defense has ░░░░░░░░ annual budget of about ░░░░░░░░ billion USAID was spending ░░░░░░░░ 30 billion It is ░░░░░░░░ small proportion of our ░░░░░░░░ federal spending And as ░░░░░░░░ nye would often say ░░░░░░░░ s not just soft ░░░░░░░░ it s smart power ░░░░░░░░ me leave you with ░░░░░░░░ other quote Michael if ░░░░░░░░ could Jim Mattis who ░░░░░░░░ a four star marine ░░░░░░░░ general and Trump s ░░░░░░░░ of defense in his ░░░░░░░░ term in a hearing ░░░░░░░░ then, said, if you—“