Oct 17, 2019, 5:55 PM ETInterview, Fireside Chat

Mitt Romney, US Senator from Utah

Romney identifies two key traits for effective leaders:
- A reliance on "cold, hard data and solid analysis" rather than gut instinct, which he found more successful when anticipating disruptions.
- A genuine, operational concern for employees, citing Bill Marriott as a prime example who builds loyalty by personally engaging with staff across 700,000 employees at 5,000 hotels.
Romney notes that effective leadership requires both sound decision-making and the capacity to attract, retain, and motivate great people.

Romney contrasts the executive authority of a governor with the deliberative, slower nature of the Senate, describing the body's function as a "saucer" that cools the "boiling tea" of the House of Representatives to ensure continuity.
He accepts the Senate's role in fostering bipartisan agreement to prevent drastic policy reversals (e.g., shifting corporate tax rates between 21% and 40%) whenever election majorities change.
Contrary to expectations of a prickly environment, Romney describes the Senate as "collegial and friendly," citing immediate welcome from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand upon his arrival.

Romney asserts he is willing to face criticism and "attacks" from the President, viewing controversy as a mechanism to amplify his point of view.
He identifies as a fiscal hawk within the party, prioritizing:
- National debt and deficit concerns.
- Hardline stances on Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
- The importance of character in leadership.
Regarding the impeachment process, Romney refuses to prejudge the outcome, stating he will wait for evidence, witness testimony, and a formal trial process before forming a verdict.

Romney forecasts continued economic growth, driven by the 21% corporate tax rate, corporate repatriation of funds, and stimulus spending, though he acknowledges corporate hesitation due to tariff uncertainty.
He acknowledges global economic slowdowns in China, Asia, Germany, Italy, and the EU but maintains they are insufficient to overcome domestic stimulative factors and trigger a recession.
Romney highlights the long-term risk of the national debt, noting:
- Interest payments on federal debt reached $300 billion last year, a figure projected to surpass the military budget ($700 billion).
- Two-thirds of federal spending is "automatic" (entitlements and interest), leaving only one-third subject to annual congressional voting.
He advocates for adjusting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to be sustainable for younger generations, suggesting:
- Higher-income recipients receiving reduced benefits relative to lower-income recipients.
- Potential increases to the retirement age.
Romney predicts the deficit and entitlement crisis will not be a central topic in the upcoming presidential election due to a political "truce" against austerity, and he is working with a Democrat to establish a bipartisan process for addressing it post-2020.

Romney argues the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is "fatally affected" by the removal of the individual mandate, creating adverse selection that drives up costs and reduces participation.
He proposes shifting to a state-based solution via block grants, allowing states to design their own plans for the 10-15% of the uninsured population rather than a federal mandate.
On climate change, Romney argues for aggressive action based on a "nine out of ten" probability of human causation, stating that even a 1-in-10 risk of catastrophe justifies mitigation efforts.
He contends that US-specific regulation is insufficient without global cooperation, particularly involving China, India, and Brazil, and proposes:
- Prioritizing innovation in energy, transportation, cement, and steel manufacturing.
- Using carbon taxes, tax credits for breakthrough technologies, and increased research funding to drive adoption of low-emission technologies globally.

China: Romney supports confronting China but criticizes the unilateral approach, advocating instead for a collective strategy with global allies (Europe, Japan, Australia) to counter China's industrial policies and authoritarian goals.
Syria: He characterizes the withdrawal of support as a "betrayal" of Kurdish allies, arguing that US stability in the region is vital to prevent mass migration to Europe and disruption of Israel, noting that approximately 2,000 troops provide necessary stability.
Iran: Romney supports the pressure campaign and rejects the Obama-era nuclear deal, advocating for sustained sanctions and military responses to provocative acts (e.g., shooting down a drone) to impose costs without escalating conflict.
Saudi Arabia: He supports the kingdom's capacity to defend itself but opposes US military attacks on their behalf, suggesting the US should limit involvement to diplomatic support.