Gingrich on alleged Clinton-Russia connection; Pruitt: Trump sending a pro-growth, pro-environment message

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," March 28, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: Welcome to Hannity. In just a few minutes, we'll check in with Newt Gingrich, Monica Crowley and Ainsley Earhardt.

But first, the House Intelligence Committee continues its ongoing investigation into whether Russia meddled in our Presidential Election. Earlier, President Trump, he called out the Clinton's for their alleged ties to Russia. It's the story that the all-left radical anti-Trump propaganda media will not be covering but we will, and that is tonight's "Opening Monologue".

All right. So, last night, President Trump, he took to Twitter and he wrote, "Why isn't the House Intelligence Committee looking into the Bill & Hillary deal that allowed big Uranium to go to Russia, Russian speech money to Bill, the Hillary Russian "reset," praise of Russia by Hillary, or Podesta Russian Company. Trump-Russia story is a hoax. Make America great again."

Now, putting aside the embarrassing Russian reset strategy that Hillary Clinton tried and failed to enact as Secretary of State. That's irrelevant right now. Tonight, I want to focus directly on what could be the single- most damning connection between the Clintons and Russia. In other words, the rarely covered scandal. Ted Koppel probably didn't cover it. Now tonight, for weeks now we've been telling you there is zero evidence of this eight-month-old media conspiracy narrative that President Trump and his campaign were secretly colluding with Putin and the Russians. Zero evidence. Now tonight, I want to focus on the real scandal that is rarely covered by this all-left propaganda destroy Trump media, and it does involve the Clintons and an enormous mining company called "Uranium One".

Let me give you some background. Uranium One is a Canadian-based multi- national operation. Now, they extract Uranium, which of course, is a key material that's used in nuclear weapons. They do it from Asia, Africa, and Australia. Now, Uranium One is responsible for one-fifth of all Uranium production right here in the United States.

Here's the back story. Back in 2013, a company directly tied to the Russian government purchased Uranium One, a move, by the way, that was approved impart by Hillary Clinton's State Department. That's a very big deal. Now, this move allowed Russia and Vladimir Putin to control 20 percent of all Uranium production right here in the United States. And you're thinking, "That sounds weird", right? If you haven't heard this before, you're probably watching the mainstream media.

And it gets a lot worse. In 2015, even the New York Times, they broke a bombshell report, the headline was "Cash Flowed To Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal". Now, according to the Times' findings, Ian Telfer who was the chairman of Uranium One, made huge, massive donations to the Clinton Foundation. Now, the Times writes, "As the Russians gradually assume control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show a massive flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation." And while millions of dollars flowed into the Clinton Foundation from the chairman of Uranium One. The Times also reported that Bill Clinton racked up massive huge speaking fees in Moscow.

The Times writes, "Shortly after the Russians announced their intentions to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Mr. Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin that was promoting Uranium One stock." Now, right here on this program, Clinton cash best-selling author Peter Schweitzer. He provided even more damning information into the Clinton connections Uranium One. Remember, Putin and Russia as a result of Hillary Clinton signing off, millions of dollars going to Clinton Foundation and Bill Clinton, they got 20 percent of all uranium as a result of this deal. Watch Peter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: The Uranium One deal is the greatest example where Vladimir Putin now has control 20 percent of our uranium resources which is insanity, and there was how much paid in that deal when all said and done?

PETER SCHWEIZER, POLITICAL CONSULTANT: Well, you have - yes, Sean, you have nine individuals connected with this tiny uranium company that wants to be sold to the Russian government, which Hillary State Department signs off on, in addition to other government agencies, but no other government agency had a head who had nine individuals connected to that company that sent a combined $145 million to the Clinton Foundation. I mean, that is a massive conflict of interest.

HANNITY: I'm starting to believe -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Massive amount of money. They got a huge payback, and they now control 20 percent of America's uranium. Now, here's a big question, "Why aren't the Democrats that have been pushing the theory that's false with no evidence for eight months? Why aren't members of the all-radical left destroy Trump media? Why aren't they worried about what is the real alleged Russian Association?

They're so worried about Russia meddling in the election. Isn't this far more worthy of an investigation? I wouldn't hold your breath. Now meanwhile, liberal lawmakers, they're not trying to impugn the character of the House Intelligence Committee chair, and that's Devin Nunes. Now, last week, Democrats were outraged after the congressman announced that he had briefed the president on new information he had received that proved the Obama administration did in fact surveil President-elect Trump and his transition team.

Now, on this program, Chairman Nunes said it was his duty to inform the president. Yesterday, Democrats up in arms because they learned that Nunes met his source on the White House grounds. All right. It sounds nefarious, not really. Congressman Nunes said he did it in order to be near a secure location where he could properly view the material provided by his source, but that's not good enough for liberal democratic snowflake lawmakers. Many, like House Minority Leader Pelosi, are now calling for Nunes to recuse himself like Senator Snowflake Schumer calling from to be replaced. This is nuts. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK SCHUMER, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM NEW YORK: If Speaker Ryan wants the House to have a credible investigation, he needs to replace Chairman Nunes. Chairman Nunes seems to be more of a partisan for the president than an impartial actor. He is not been cooperating like someone who was interested in getting to the unvarnished truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Yet they don't care about the truth, neither does media. Now, Congressman Nunes to his credit, he's not backing down. Here's what he said earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to stay as chairman and run this investigation?

DEVIN NUNES, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Well, why would I not? You guys need to go ask him why there - you know, why things are being said.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But can this investigation continue as you as chairman?

NUNES: Why would it not?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because -

NUNES: Aren't I briefing you guys continuously and keeping you up - and keeping you up to speed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But they're saying that it cannot run as you as chair - with you as chairman.

NUNES: You got to go talk to them. That sounds like their problem. I don't have - you know, my colleagues are perfectly fine. I mean, there's - they know we're doing an investigation and that will continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: And earlier today, Speaker Ryan was asked if Nunes should recuse himself. He said, "No. Congressman Nunes better be ready because the Democrats, they'll pull out every dirty trick out of their hat to impugn his character and his integrity. The real story the media won't tell you. That's what this is about. You want corruption? Look at the Hillary Clinton Foundation, the Clinton family foundation. Look at the money that went in Bill's pocket, and she had to sign off 20 percent of America's uranium going to Putin and Russia? Oh, I thought the media was concerned about this.

Here with reaction, author of the bestseller "Treason" Fox contributor, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Mr. Speaker, we got one donation, $31 million from this Canadian Frankie Astra who went to Kazakhstan with Bill Clinton, and this was in the lead up to the deal. And then also, when you look at the money that was given over a period of time, millions were donated to the Clinton Foundation. Bill gets twice as general speaking fee and Hillary signed off on Russia getting 20 percent of America's uranium, which is used to make nuclear weapons. What are your thoughts?

NEWT GINGRICH, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: You know, well, look, I think it's very strange that both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees are chaired by Republicans and yet all the noise is about phony charges involving Donald Trump. I mean, you have real evidence, as you pointed out, Peter Schweitzer's book is amazing. Since then, we've had all the WikiLeaks; we have an enormous amount of evidence. Man, I do think it's legitimate for the American people to want to know about all this foreign money, where is it going, who's it going to, et cetera.

But, I think, a totally one-sided witch hunt by the elite media spurred on by liberals inside the permanent bureaucracy and then with the shrill partisanship of Schumer and Pelosi, neither of them to the best of my knowledge, ever called for an investigation of Bill Clinton's money and investigation of Uranium One, an investigation of all the different dealings. I think the country deserves a really thorough exploration of the issue of foreign money gradually corrupting our system, but that ought to be an even-handed serious look, and it has to include as part of it, really delving into the Clintons and their network of millions and millions of dollars. And I'm frankly mystified why the Republican leadership in both the House and the Senate have been so timid and so unwilling to just open up a straight out investigation.

HANNITY: Yes, that's a great question. It seems, to me, that's a quid pro quo, a Secretary of State signs off on letting Russia have ownership of 20 percent of our uranium? That is insanity me. And if Donald Trump did it, I guarantee you that what is now an eight-month-no- evidence conspiracy, it would be Watergate on steroids. Let me ask you this, we now learn from James Rosen and John Solomon and Sarah Carter, all investigative journalists for decades of experience that, in fact, there was surveillance at Trump Tower, and went on in November, December and January, and it may have even happened before the election. Time will tell.

Shouldn't that concern every American that their surveillance and that probably the sitting president at the time, President Obama and his closest aides, knew exactly what's going on in Trump Tower, and they didn't tell him?

GINGRICH: Well, look, I think this whole process should concern everybody. The use of the intelligent systems, the level of hostility to Trump, the number of leaks, which are felonies are clearly illegal. The whole process by which the President Obama apparently - I mean, we only look at the decision memos, who decided that they would - because remember, these are not hard serious facts, they've changed the rules so you could pick up the dumbest, weirdest gossip, and now you're going to distribute it to all the different agencies knowing that making of that available almost guarantees it will leak.

I mean, there's something -- this is all done in early January after they lost the election, and there's a whole series of these kind of things where you have to believe that the deep state and the Obama team were in collusion, doing things designed to undermine and weaken the person who the American people had elected to be president. I think it's very troubling. And I think it deserves very serious investigation.

HANNITY: Let me ask an important question, though, about healthcare. I think this was mishandled from the start. In other words, nobody in the Congress got to see the bill that was being scored by the CBO. It -- consensus was not built ahead of time. Rumors came out before the bill was released, people were vocal about expressing - I hope that's not in there. I hope that's not in there. Then, a public Civil War emerges on T.V. because there is such disagreement. All right. What's the right thing for them to do now because this was a major promise? They had eight years to do this. To me, I think it was rolled out in the worst way imaginable. I'm holding them accountable like I promised. How can they fix this?

GINGRICH: Well, first of all, I just put on foxnews.com a fairly long outline of exactly what went wrong and exactly what we should now do drawing on the lessons of Eisenhower, Reagan Thatcher and what we did with the contract with America. I think that they - first of all, I think they should pick up immediately and work on infrastructure because it will bring Democrats in to talk in a serious practical way about working together.
That opens the door to have Democrats talking about the tax bill. That sets the stage for a totally new approach to healthcare. Don't try to use in a reconciliation and try to get through in a narrative -

(CROSSTALK)

HANNITY: How did they get away not using reconciliation? They're not going to get any Democrats to vote for it.

GINGRICH: You - look, if you and I are right and then the president is right and Paul Ryan is right about how bad Obamacare is for rural America, then we should be able to do a better deal for North Dakota that is so vivid and so clear that Senator Heidi Heitkamp was up for re-election next year has no choice, either votes for it or she gets beaten next year. Now, I would - I'm happy to wait if I have to until right after we wipe out an entire wing of the Democratic Party to pass it in January or February 2019.

(CROSSTALK)

HANNITY: And that means Claire McCaskill and Joe Manchin.

GINGRICH: But (INAUDIBLE) able to do is write a bad bill - Now, I know is I put the bill up now, I'd fight over the bill every day from now to election, but if we can do better for rural America, the senator from Missouri has a real problem. The Senator from Montana has a real problem. I can go down the list. There are 8 or 10 Democrats who are going to get wiped out because they are seen as anti-healthcare, but that means House and Senate Republicans have got to focus on communication. This was as badly designed a process as I have seen -

(CROSSTALK)

HANNITY: I think the president was ill served here.

GINGRICH: And I tell you, I believe, having won a number of elections that we are lucky that they did not vote last Friday because that bill was at 17 percent, and they might well, have lost the majority next year if they put their people out to walk the plank.

HANNITY: All right. Mr. Speaker, always good to see you. We'll see you later this week as well. Thank you.

And coming up, we're still calling on CBS news to release the full 45+ minutes sit down I did with Ted Koppel. Just a few weeks ago, they only had y at 70 seconds. Laura Aidan weighs in next. Plus, Senator Sessions calling on sanctuary cities to abide by federal laws, otherwise, they may get federal funding cut off. But some liberal mayors are vowing to resist.

Also tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you can say one thing to your mom right now, what would it be?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really sorry I got arrested last night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you get arrested for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smoking dead. Dope, bro.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Not a great sorry "I got arrested, mom." We'll play part two of our series exposing spring break. You won't believe what these trouble kids are getting into. Ainsley Earhardt joins us, and by the way, you may not want to give them the money next year. Straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: Hi, welcome back to "Hannity." So, last night in this program, I told you a CBS NEWS veteran, Ted Koppel, said I was, quote, "bad for America." They only aired 70 seconds of what was like a 50-minute-sit-down interview that was taped earlier this month. Well, this was not the first time that CBS has been called out for editing interviews.

Now, back in September of 2012, after the Benghazi attack in Libya that killed four Americans, CBS sat down with President Obama the day after that attack. But when they first aired the interview, they didn't get into any details about Benghazi.

Now, fast-forward, about a month during a debate with Mitt Romney, well, President Obama was challenged on whether or not he had called the Benghazi attack a "terror attack" from the very beginning. The president said he did. Romney said he did not. Three days later, CBS, they came to the rescue and they aired a previously unaired clip from their interview with the president where he said this. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You're right that this is not a situation that was exactly the same as what happened in Egypt. And my suspicion is that there are folks involved in this who were looking to target Americans from the start.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: It doesn't say it's a terror attack. It appears to back up the president's claim that he called the terrorism from day one, even though he really didn't. So, why didn't CBS include that in their original reporting?

Then, a few weeks later, right before the 2012 election, CBS quietly posted an extended clip of the Benghazi conversation on their website. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE KROFT, CBS NEWS 60 MINUTES CORRESPONDENT: Mr. President, this morning, you went out of your way to avoid the use of the word terrorism in connection with the Libya Attack. Do you believe that this was a terrorist attack?

OBAMA: Well, it's too early to know exactly how this came about, what group was involved, but obviously, it was an attack on Americans. And we are going to be working with the Libyan government to make sure that we bring these folks to justice, one way or the other.

KROFT: This has been described as a mob action, but there are reports that they were very heavily armed with grenades. That doesn't sound like your normal demonstration.

OBAMA: As I said, we're still investigating exactly what happened. I don't want to jump the gun on this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: So why did CBS wait so long to put that out when it was part of a debate a month earlier? Were they trying to cover for the president? This is why we continue to demand that CBS News release the full interview that I have with Ted Koppel. What do they have to hide? Anyway, we reached out to the network today, but shockingly, have not heard back.

Joining us with reaction, editor-in-chief of LifeZette, nationally syndicated radio host, Fox News Contributor -- big smile on her face -- Laura Ingraham. You've - we've dealt with this our whole lives, but they -- in that particular case, they had the answer to a big question in a big debate. They wouldn't air it. Why?

LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, well, because it doesn't work with the CBS worldview. I mean, to play the entire -- or at least a fairly edited representative tape of your interview hurts the worldview of the left, which, sadly, oftentimes, CBS amplifies and airs, which is that, you know, you do an aggressive show. You hold the left accountable, you hold conservatives accountable.

HANNITY: The republicans.

INGRAHAM: You to criticize --

(CROSSTALK)

HANNITY: Yes. So do you.

INGRAHAM: Republicans. And you've held -- you held George Bush accountable. You've talked about failures and communication and strategy in the current administration, and the challenges that they face. And you're also a conservative. You're very candid that you're a conservative. The problem with CBS and so many other news organizations is that they will mask the fact that most of the people working for the network -- most, not all, but most -- are liberals. The way they choose stories, the way they produce stories, the way they choose not to cover certain stories, is always going to be done through a more liberal perspective in a liberal lens.

And you don't make any bones about the fact that you're a conservative. A totally different way to analyze the situation, but that doesn't -- to make those more nuanced points, that kind of blurs what CBS really wants to do here. They want to delegitimize you. Ted Koppel, he's been up to this old trick, delegitimizing Fox, he's been up to this for years. He's been giving interviews about how bad journalism today is for -- really for years and years. This is nothing new. You're just the most recent victim of it.

HANNITY: You know, it's so sad. The reason they're not going to release this, Laura, after the first question, I gave a substantive answer.

INGRAHAM: Right.

HANNITY: He goes "I'm not going to air that answer." Michael, why am I my sitting here? Do you want my real opinion or not? And all throughout the rest of the interview, I'm taunting him. "Are you going to keep this in, Ted? Are you going to keep that in? Are you going to edit that out, Ted?" And it's like, of course, they don't want to air that part. So, you know.

INGRAHAM: Sean, you know what you have to do next time. Next time, if you ever agreed to do one of these interviews, you have to have your own crew. They're videoing, and then you say, "OK. We can let just both video it just for - just for fun." And then, if they don't, and then release the whole thing. That has to be your ground rule.

HANNITY: Yes, you're right.

INGRAHAM: Isn't that sad.

HANNITY: My mistake.

INGRAHAM: But it does. The same thing with phone interviews with people. You say, "Look may I -- permission and also tape this because I just can't trust you to do a representative fair peep. And I'd also add that in 2015, Ted Koppel told Stephen Colbert that he does, oftentimes, more serious studies on serious subjects than other media figures. Again, bemoaning the fractured nature of media. Yes, that's what it does.

HANNITY: All right. I'm not holding my breath. All right. Laura, stay with us. We're going to keep you back for the next segment, and coming up, after the break.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF SESSIONS, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES: Countless Americans would be alive today and countless loved ones would not be grieving today if these policies of sanctuary cities were ended.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: The Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, calling on sanctuary cities to abide by federal law, but some democratic mayors, they're vowing to resist. Laura Ingraham, Monica Crowley, they'll react.

Plus, President Trump signs a new executive order about energy independence. We get reaction from the EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt.

And part two of our series exposing how dangerous spring break is for your kids that you're paying for. That's all straight ahead with Ainsley Earhardt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARIANNE RAFFERTY, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Live from America's news headquarters, I'm Marianne Rafferty. President Trump isn't giving up on his health care plan despite last week's failure to bring it to a house vote. Speaking to senators at the White House, the president voiced optimism about the possibility of a future bipartisan deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP, R-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know that we're all going to make a deal on health care. That's such an easy one. So I have no doubt that that's going to happen very quickly. I think it will actually, I think it's going to happen because we have all been promising, Democrat, Republican, we have all been promising that to the American people.

RAFFERTY: Trump also saying he sees potential for working with Democrats on other projects like infrastructure.

And severe storms in west Texas killing three storm chasers. It happened as they raced to film a reported tornado in Spur. Police say one of the storm chasers ran a stop sign, colliding with the others.

I'm Marianne Rafferty. Now, back to "Hannity."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We will work every day to remove the gang members, drug dealers, and violent criminals from the communities. We already are. They'll be moved very quickly. In fact, General Kelly, as you know, has done a fantastic job on the border. Down 61 percent since inauguration, people coming in, down 61 percent, which is a tremendous number. My highest duty as president is the security of our people, the security of our nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: That was the president earlier today. He's vowing to end sanctuary cities, deport criminal illegal immigrants. Yesterday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed this issue. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF SESSIONS, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Failure to deport aliens who are convicted of criminal offenses puts whole communities at risk, especially immigrant communities in the very sanctuary jurisdictions that seek to protect the perpetrators. Countless Americans would be alive today and countless loved ones would not be grieving today if these policies of sanctuary cities were ended.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Some big city Democratic mayors are vowing to fight the Trump administration. We continue with Laura Ingraham. Joining now also is conservative commentator Monica Crowley. Monica, I'll start with you. L.A. San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, all right, they want to aid and abet criminal aliens. That's a crime. I spoke to a father today. His 21- year-old son was killed in a convenient store by a criminal illegal immigrant that had previously raped and held -- and kidnapped a woman for an entire week. We didn't deport him and he ended up killing his son.

MONICA CROWLEY, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: One of main reasons why President Trump was elected president was during the campaign he was unafraid to speak very uncomfortable truths about illegal immigration and what he was going to do to enforce the law, enforce the border, protect the American people and our sovereignty. That is one of the main reasons why he is sitting in the Oval Office today. And he means it.

There is uniform immigration law under the federal government in this country. The Supreme Court for over a century has held that the federal government has exclusive power to make and enforce immigration law in this country.

HANNITY: There is no statutory limitations.

CROWLEY: He is not doing anything outside the boundaries. And by the way, when President Obama was there, he had the federal government sue states like Arizona for wanting to enforce federal immigration law, remember that. And now the federal government under President Trump is being resisted in terms of trying to make states and cities enforce the law.

HANNITY: Laura, I look at this, and I am saying this is aiding and abetting crime. If any of the three of us did this, at least in my case, I would be handcuffed, perp-walked, mug-shoted, throw away the key, and you guys would have to visit me with a cake and a file.

INGRAHAM: Think about the Rockville rape case. These thugs were allowed to go free at the border, allowed to go free. They were held for a week and then released to their, quote, "sponsors." When this happens under any president's watch, under any homeland security secretary, this policy, when this occurs, the individuals responsible for this policy -- I think they have blood on their hands. I really do.

We have enough problems in the United States, enough crime committed by American citizens -- even if it's down in some cities, I understand that, and that is good news. But in places like Baltimore, in places like Chicago, L.A., the poorest Americans, the working poor who have already been dealt a difficult hand in many circumstances -- now we go to them and say, you know, we know a lot of these jobs, a lot of those were shipped overseas, but now we are going to put the welcome mat out for all these illegal immigrants, many of them bringing in gang affiliations, drugs, and other problems, we are going to bring them in, and we're going to see how your life turns out because we feel like it is our noble duty to resist Donald Trump. So we just hope it works out for you. And if someone in your family dies, I guess that is just the price we have to pay.

HANNITY: Thank you both as always. We will have you both back soon. Appreciate it, thank you.

Coming up, today, President Trump signed an executive order related to energy independence. I've been saying this for years. The EPA administrator Scott Pruitt will join us next exclusively to explain what is going on. And also later tonight --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get ready to drink hella water because we are about to be hung over as. You are going to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Part two of our series exposing spring break, your kids absolutely wasted and hammered and plastered. Ainsley Earhardt is here with that dangerous report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The action I am taking today will eliminate federal overreach, restore economic freedom, and allow our companies and our workers to thrive, compete, and succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time, fellas. It has been a long time. I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion, and to cancel job killing regulations.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: That was President Trump speaking earlier today after keeping yet another campaign promise by signing a new energy independence executive order that will roll back the Obama administration's energy regulations. Here with reaction, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is with us.

SCOTT PRUITT, EPA ADMINISTRATOR: Hi, Sean.

HANNITY: Sir, I have been saying for years, we have all this natural gas and coal and oil underneath our feet and we are begging countries that hate us for our energy, the lifeblood of our economy. Explain what this executive order will do and what it means for America's goal towards energy independence.

PRUITT: Sean, what a great day at the EPA today. The president, as you indicated, came to our agency and signed an executive order, and how wonderful it was to see a collection of coal miners from across the country stand behind the president as he signed that executive order because it was a message across the country that we are going to do exactly what you said, Sean. Make sure that we are good stewards of natural resources that we've been blessed with as a country, that actually harvest and use those resources to bless the American people.

And so it's a great day to make sure that we send a very pro-growth, pro- environment message. And that's what started today with the president's executive order.

HANNITY: Let me ask. It's very interesting. If you listen to the left, especially Al Gore, this is the same Al Gore, sir, that I caught on a gulfstream three which is one of the least energy efficient models of private aircraft in the sky. Then he'd get off with only two people. It seats 15 or 16. He got off the plane into his private limo. So I guess he bought carbon offsets.

But he recently suggested the civil war in Syria and Brexit are caused by climate change. How do you answer this insanity?

PRUITT: I think that is a keyword, Sean. There has been a lack of common sense, a lack of sanity with respect with how we've done regulations in this country in the last couple years. Until this past administration the Environmental Protection Agency worked with states across the country to advance an environmental agenda that was about clean air and clean water, but it also understood that we didn't need to be antagonistic to economic growth and jobs.

Since 1980, Sean, we have seen a 65 percent reduction in air pollutants across this country while at the same time growing an economy. So it was this past administration that made us put on jerseys. It was this past administration that said if you are pro-environment, you are anti-energy. If you're pro-energy, you are anti-environment. The president is saying we are going to reject that narrative. We're going to have a different path forward. We are going to be pro-growth and pro-jobs and pro-environment and get back to the core EPA originalism, if you will, Sean, the core mission of the agency, advancing air quality, advancing water quality, but doing so with the sensitivity to create jobs.

HANNITY: Sir, many years ago I was a contractor and I bought an old providence gas company van. It was the best $200 I ever spent in my life. It did have some body damage, but I fixed that myself. I was able to do it. It was a vehicle that had a run -- this was back in the early '80s, that used to be run on natural gas. It runs cleaner, as I understand it, than, for example, gasoline, and we have more than the entire Middle East has oil combined. Do you see America maybe moving towards natural gas run vehicles? How much with the average American save and how many jobs would be created?

PRUITT: I think that's happening. We are in the process of that technological revolution if you will, Sean. What the president did today that I think was very key is he declared an end to the war on coal. He declared an end to the war on fossil fuels. He recognized that we've been blessed as a nation with natural gas, oil, coal, renewables, nuclear, and the rest. And we're going to make sure that we use all forms of energy to generate electricity so we can grow our manufacturing base.

But as you indicated, Sean, giving consumers the option with respect to fuel efficiency and choosing vehicles that are run on natural gas. But we need to have a renewed focus with hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, making sure we take advantage of natural gas but also the coal industry and the rest. The last administration picked winners and losers.

HANNITY: And how many millions of jobs will be created do you think? If we go with this all the above strategy, because energy is the lifeblood of any economy, how many years would it take America to become fully energy independent, and how many jobs will be created if we keep clean coal and natural gas and drilling and maybe even nuclear at some point, and by the way, new developments and new technologies that emerge as well?

PRUITT: When you think about, Sean, the announcement last week with the keystone pipeline. What is great about what the president did today is it is going to unleash an American spirit with respect to energy innovation in the transportation network --

HANNITY: Can you guess how many millions of jobs might be created?

PRUITT: You really can't because the manufacturing base is going to be reinvigorated. We're going to keep these jobs in this country. And again, the coal miners that were at the EPA meeting today is they heard the president speak, they were very emotional because their industry has been under assault for last several years.

And so for the first time in a long time, Sean, when you talk about optimism, there's optimism and hope that we're going to create jobs across all sectors of the economy because of what the president did today.

HANNITY: Sir, this is a big day.

PRUITT: It's a good day, it's a good day.

HANNITY: This may be probably the single biggest jumpstart to the economy up to date that the president did. A huge win. And you will come under fire, but don't worry, I'm sure the civil war in Syria and Brexit is not a result of climate change. Thank you for being with us.

PRUITT: Thanks, Sean.

HANNITY: Up next, tonight, right here on "Hannity."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I get these just for making out with guys. Don't worry, mom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you crying?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I am not crying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Up next, the dangers facing your kids. Part two of our series on spring break. You won't believe what our cameras caught on tape in South Padre Island in Texas. Ainsley Earhardt is back with us tonight with part two of our investigative series.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." So last night we showed you part one of our exclusive look into what is really happening at college spring break as college students all across the country head to tropical destinations to let loose. Last night we saw a lot of risk risky behavior. Tonight we'll bring you part two. But be warned, what you are about to see is shocking. You may want to tell the kids to go get some cookies. Three, two, one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really sorry I got arrested last night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you get arrested for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smoking that dope, bro.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When did you start drinking today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At 12:00 p.m.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get ready to drink hella water because you are about to be hung over as --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are going to die.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are going to die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We started drinking at like 7:00 in the morning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is the craziest thing you've done since you've been here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of coke.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are there a lot of people doing coke or are they just mostly drinking?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of people are drinking, doing anything. Spring break.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there any molly?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, there is everything. Yes. Anything you can think of. Am I going to get arrested for this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have fun, get -- up. It's hard being an alcoholic 24/7 but I know you guys can do it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone here, they are insane. I'm never coming back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sex on the beach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's a thing. That's like a straight up thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some guys gave them to make out because they thought I was cute.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My beads were free, but if you have beads, but if you have beads and you're not me, you're a whore.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me why you have so many beads.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I made out with 14 people

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The best spring break ever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got these just for making out with guys, don't worry, mom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you crying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I am not crying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No one is winning in the situation. I'm sorry, mom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Joining us now is "Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt. They were talking about molesting, sex on the beach, cocaine, marijuana, and to me, just my observation, everybody is plastered.

AINSLEY EARHARDT, FOX NEWS HOST: I know. So more people are now going to South Padre Island which is in Texas in the Gulf of Mexico.

HANNITY: Did we chase them there from Panama City Beach?

EARHARDT: Probably because they've seen an increase in students going there. Not that they're not going to Panama Beach they've got to find another place where everything goes and anything goes here. You are allowed to even bring kegs on the beach here. You are not allowed to drink anymore on the beach in Panama City. They are bringing kegs on the beach. Four people died during Texas week. Texas week is the biggest week in the month of March. They call it Texas week because most of the universities have spring break that week. It is between March 11th and March 18th. They had 100,000 people, those are estimated numbers, there that weekend alone.

HANNITY: And four died from what?

EARHARDT: They made $30.5 million. Four people have died. There was a shooting at Clayton Beach Bar, which is one of the two places where the kids fell on the beach. There is Rock Star Beach and then there is Clayton Beach Bar. They have concerts there. And that's where the shooting happened, at Clayton. They do molly, they do cocaine, keg stands everywhere. You see them drinking alcohol off each other's body.

HANNITY: How many of these kids end up in the hospital?

EARHARDT: I sure a lot. I don't have the number in front of me.

HANNITY: Look, some are freshman, some of sophomores. They are not 21, and all this is going on. The biggest thing, and we got into this a little bit last night, is people outside of the area, really bad people, they come in and it their idea is to prey. You went into how, for example, nobody knows they are selling, quote, "ecstasy." It is not ecstasy. They're selling molly. It's not molly. We don't even know what's in these drugs.

EARHARDT: That is twofold. We do not know what is in the drugs because they are synthetic and it's not exactly the same makeup with every batch. Therefore the officers last year were telling me down in Panama City that what happens there is you can't arrest someone necessarily because it does not test as cocaine. It doesn't test positive as molly. They don't even know what's in these drugs. It's just a combination of stuff. So you are trusting these drug dealers to sell you stuff and you could die because no one knows what is in the drugs.

HANNITY: So dangerous. A great job, as always. We did get the laws changed in Panama City Beach. And the bar owners, the bar owners hate both of us.

EARHARDT: They don't like us. But the parents do.

HANNITY: They do.

EARHARDT: And that's all that matter, keep the kids safe.

HANNITY: We have more "Hannity" as we continue. And yes, we will get to your mean-spirited, hateful, and some nice comments on the "Hannity" hotline straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: Time for our "Question of the Day," and it's simple. Do you think it is safe for your kids to go on spring break? Are you going to fork over the money for them to go have that great time and get hammered and smashed and be at risk in a lot of different ways? Just go to Facebook.com/SeanHannity, @SeanHannity on Twitter, let us know what you think. By the way, time for you to play those mean, horrible messages you keep leaving on the "Hannity" hotline. My hair is off. I wrinkle papers. All right, let's hear it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sean, yours is the one show I can't watch because you are so negative and mean and hateful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really don't agree with you about the spring break. Those guys are there just to blow off steam. If they act a little crazy, as long as they aren't hurting anybody, it's not wrong. I think you shouldn't really be making a big story about it. Haven't you been to spring break? Come on, man. It's all about having fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: I'm not against fun, but when kids get alcohol poisoning, bad drugs because people are preying on them, girls have been raped, people have been killed. I want them to have fun, but safer fun. You don't have to be totally wasted to have fun.

As far as being mean and hateful and negative, I try not to be. Anyway, have something to say, nice or mean, doesn't matter, call the number on your screen, 877-225-8587.

That's all the time we have left this evening. We shall see you back here tomorrow night.

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