Bloomberg talks impeachment and 2020 with Margaret Brennan

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, once considered a possible Democratic candidate, had stern words for the current 2020 field of Democratic contenders, saying the Democrats currently running for president are not doing enough to work across the political spectrum to better the country

“I have my reservations about the people running and their campaigning the promises they’re making that they can’t fufill and their willingness to admit what is possible and what isn’t and their inconsistency from day-to-day…this is not the ways to run a railroad,” admonished Bloomberg during The Atlantic’s “City Lab DC” panel with “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan. 

He added to a room full of applause, “This country is in real trouble, we need somebody to pull people together and when they say, ‘I’m not going to talk to somebody across the aisle,’ this is our country. What do you mean you’re not going to talk to somebody from across the aisle. We’ve got to work together and I don’t see that.”

Bloomberg did not throw his name into the 2020 race despite widespread speculation he’d join the packed Democratic presidential field. He has since thrown millions into more philanthropic endeavors like climate change, gun reform and health care.

When Brennan previously asked him when he will make an endorsement of a specific candidate, Bloomberg noted there are “15 months” until the election. “Certainly not going to worry about it today,” he said. He made similar comments on Monday, saying his comments in March haven’t changed.

“So you’re kind of closing the door?” Brennan asked Monday. “Well I didn’t say that,” Bloomberg responded coyly. The former mayor said he would be voting but would not say firmly yes or no if he was absolutely ending his political aspirations. 

Highlights from Margaret’s interview with Bloomberg:

• Bloomberg reverses course on impeachment: The former NYC mayor said that while he previously sided with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in treading lightly on launching a formal impeachment trial, he says he now feels “at this point there’s been so much information it leads one to think there’s reasonable chance something wrong was done, we should have a trial.”  
• Asked about his former fellow mayor Rudy Giuliani, Bloomberg said as a personal choice, he wouldn’t delve into Giuliani’s controversial role in the Ukraine fallout: “Rudy Giuliani, when he was mayor brought crime down, brought homelessness now, and after that I have no idea what he’s doing,” Bloomberg commented.