Mark Halperin

They're talking about it because it's flattering.

You can raise money, get more speeches, maybe get a book deal.

But to run for president, knowing what you have in your background in this day and age,

super risky because it could knock you out of the race.

It could knock you out of flight society.

Look at John Edwards ran for president, kept in the race, knowing that he'd had an affair with his photographer.

And eventually she gets pregnant.

I mean, to run for president with that stuff in your background is bonkers.

And I'm just telling you, I'm just telling you, watching George H.W.

Bush knock away that question, not answer it.

That's from a bygone era, ladies and gentlemen.

Surprising he got asked given the era, but he did.

But now the questions will come.

And this is a massive part of what's happening now as people consider about whether to run or not.

And it's massive with the Epstein files too.

Massive.

Because all these people are having stories written and they're trying not to answer or they're putting out pro forma statements.

Watch what happens on Epstein.

Watch what happens for 2028.

This issue of handling negative stuff, how you respond, and then how everybody else responds, it's a massive and under-discussed story.