Katelyn Beldsoe Goes Inside the Congressional Baseball Game with Members of Congress

members that everybody said it was going to be. So, really. And let me tell you, they did a phenomenal job. They're both highly athletic, but I got to give extra roundy points to Mr. Mr. Schmidt. He caught a ball and wed for it and just completely do for it. He busted his note. It was open and all. So, lots of credit there. It was quite the, yeah, it was quite the catch.

“The Senator from Missouri, which comes here, right? Yeah. I think he'd even made it”

in screwneus piano highlight. I'm sure he did. It was incredible. All of us watching it were just, it stunned. It was amazing. Well, so, you know, you've been a big part of helping Americans, prosperity, celebrate America, 25th birthday this year. It's been something that's been ongoing throughout the year. It's been fun. We've been in events together and we're going to get to do it.

Americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so. This is American Potential. Hey, everyone. Welcome to the American Potential podcast. I'm your host, David Braun. Today we're talking sports, partially about a charity baseball game. Engineer Matt, did you ever play baseball?

I never played baseball. My biggest experience with baseball was softball in school as a kid.

I'm probably, you probably wouldn't want to trust me hitting those balls. They'd hit windows, the break stuff. You don't want me around baseball. I'm just saying. Man, I, baseball is always in my favorite sport. Like, I grew up playing baseball, loved it. I was actually good at it. That was quite the picture on my dad and my little team

“won the, the town championship. I think my, sometime in middle school, and I had a great”

play, which was very exciting. It was a high-light on my childhood sports career, but I love baseball. I lived a block and a half north of left field in Ridgleyville. This north of left field in Ridgleyfield for three years in my 20s, which was a pretty magical thing to do. And it was an amazing time to watch the cubs. I'd stand so soon to play off. And it was just electric. And I've just always loved baseball. It's for the

special sport to me, you know, the national pastime. It's just a sport that I really love. And I tried to pass down to my kid. So I'm excited for us to get busy and talk about two things I really like politics, Congress, and baseball matched up together. To clarify, you did say you were good at baseball, right? We'll talk about that today with Caitlin Bletsow, who's Americans for Prosperities, Vice

President of External Affairs. Our woman in Washington, and now our sports correspondent.

“Hey, little welcome. Hey, David. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.”

Yeah, we're always excited. And it's been so much fun having you kind of reporting on what's going on our nation's capital and some of the really fun stuff. And this is obviously the congressional baseball game is almost a little kind of like a holiday on Capitol Hill. It's so cool. It's become such a great tradition. So glad that you were there. So in the trip, I gave a little bit of the history of how the congressional baseball game got started.

But besides just being for fun, what's going to the other focus of the game? So the big focus of the game is it's a massive charity event. This year, it broke records.

They raised $3.2 million for local DC charities, which is, which is absolutely amazing.

It has a huge impact in the city. But the other part is it's just the one night in Washington where we're Democrats and Republicans come together and just have a great time. They're supportive of one another. There's a lot of camaraderie throughout the entire park. And it's just it's nice to see. I wish there were there were more nights like like congressional baseball. That's so cool. And it's in that spark, right? I mean, right downtown. It is

right in that's park, which is a surreal setting. If you've never been in it, I can't imagine any more patriotic stadium. Then a stadium that overlooks the Capitol and is all red white and blue with the, the Nazi presidents running around. So it's, it's a beautiful park. It's awesome. It is a wonderful place to see a game. So you've got to go to the game.

What was your favorite part of it? My favorite part of the game was always the first pitch.

If there's something really special about it, the entire stadium is standing and watching. And it's also just really cool to see your members of Congress out there on the field. And it's actually very impressive. I mean, I don't think a lot of people, they don't just show up to play this game. They are a batting practice months ahead of time. It's taken very seriously. It's a big time allocation. You know, when they're not passing bills and reading

through different pieces of legislation and fighting for their constituents, they're a batting practice. I mean, it is going to be incredible to me, like the level at which some of these some of these guys play at because think about it. Like if you went to a school of 435 people, that's a pretty small pool to draw a good baseball team from. And yet they, you know, they have

Democrats at some point get some new members who join the team because the last few years have

“been quite a blowout for sure on the by their Republicans. Well, I'm just playing. I think we have”

in Texas. There's a former, you know, all-star Yankees players likely to win for Congress. So their Republicans might be looking at even better win. Get a bigger rigor, huh? Yeah. All right. So you've got to talk to some of the members of Congress during batting practice. The first, we wanted to get score predictions. And this is what some of the members of Congress had to think. My guess is probably 11 to 2. That's my, that's my best guess. I would love to pitch a shout out.

We, I did that two or three years ago. So I'm saying 21 and nothing is my call. I think we'll put about 14 or 15 on the board. And I think we're going to do very well. You know what? I think they took away the stealing runs part of it last year. So the score was a little lower. But I think when the score over 10 runs and we probably want to allow over three or four, but that's just my prediction. We've got the same team and they've got the same teams.

So there's not really any difference in talent. For us, it's just playing basic defense into the blocking and tackling a baseball just ensuring that you get ground balls and you catch five balls and pitcher's pitch strikes. And we just hit, we have a really good hitting team. So we'll hit the ball. And, and I will score runs. So it's just a matter of playing a good defense.

If we don't make errors in the field, we always win. So okay. What did, what did the score end

up being? So the score ends up being 11 to 2. We're publicans winning. And the best part about

“that outside of the win, of course, was Mr. Burluson called the score in our interview.”

Oh, he called it 11 to 2 and I was like, why did you so somebody on that score serve it the following day? But now it was, it was another blowout for sure. Well, I, I want to, though, point out to everybody. They can tell there that our intrepid correspondent Caitlin had to deal with the rain. So I give you a ton of credit for getting some great interviews. Put the umbrella in the rain. You know, we got to give the grassroots what they want it. They wanted it inside a look.

It's a congressional baseball and we were going to give it to them. But yeah, it was not just it was David. It was pouring rain. I mean, I, there was one point where Mike Morrison, he was our video guy. He was there with me, looked at me and he was like, all right, I think this is when we wrap. It was just we were being melted by rain. But you know what, it was, it was, it was a fun experience. So the dedication is not displayed. So now, you know, a lot of stadiums, all the players

picked their own walk walk up music, but they don't get walk up songs in this, but I, but you asked members what theirs would be if they had walk up music. So before we hear what they said, what do you think yours would hit? Ah, yeah, that's a good question. You know, oh, oh, clear winner here, American, American woman, the Lenny province for his own, for sure. It's 1850.

We got a, yeah, that's, that seems perfect. I love that one. I always thought mine,

I have always gone back and forth. I want to stop believing just because it's inspirational. But then if I'm feeling a little darker, I think it'd be crazy trained by Aussie Osborne. One with a great guitar solo and two,

“I think sometimes my life is a crazy drink.”

But that's good options. All right, well, here's what the members had to say. Unfortunately, they don't let us do it. Yeah. Because there's so many different guys in the rotate you guys in and out.

Mine would be no fear by John Reddick. That's fantastic. I walk up some of them. Oh, we'd be probably welcome to the jungle. That's a good one.

That we've even heard that one yet today. That's a good one. No, it's opening notes of that are just really intimidating. Probably simple man by Leonard Skinner. It's Ted Nugent Stranglehold is at every Trump rally in all my rallies.

That's that number of years ago that became my walk up song. So yeah, Ted Nugent Stranglehold guitar riff is great right at the beginning. Oh, my gosh. One of the rocky ones for sure. Yeah, Ivan Tigers is just like my goal is going to be classic.

Just give a classic. Yeah. That's awesome. That was a good one. Those of us.

Those of us. Those of us. Those of us. Those of us. Those of us.

They're walk up music would be. You know, I wish they would love them do what I totally get why it would take out too much time. But we got some good answers. Those are some fun songs. Yeah, fun too.

Hodom. So, all right. So every game has an MVP. And US members, if they had some predictions on who might be the MVP this year. So let's take a listen, see what the member is going to say.

Skipers are really good about whoever did good in the game last year.

It was flueger because he had a diving catch on third.

I can remember that. When I hit the home run, the guy hit the home run, I was the VP because of the home run. So who knows? I mean, if somebody plays well, hits the ball well, like Senator Schmitt was hitting

the ball well and the P2 days ago.

We'll see. Well, it's probably going to be, it won't be me. I can tell you that. If Tim Marchet gets in, it means we're way ahead, or the skippers taken up drinking. It'll probably either be a Stubby or Flueger.

Ah, that's good. I can play ball.

I'm never wonderful in there, friends of mine.

So I couldn't be happy. My guess is it's either going to be flueger or it's going to be steamy. Those guys are studs. We hear that. We've been hearing that a lot today.

They're just a different caliber of talent. And so yeah, it's really great to turn on the team. You know, it was a Mr. Stubby and Senator Eric Schmitt, which was actually the two members that everybody said it was going to be. So really.

And let me tell you, they did a phenomenal job. They're both highly athletic. But I got to give extra roundy points to Mr. Schmitt. He caught a ball and went for it and just completely do for it. He busted his nose open and all.

So lots of credit there. He was quite the. Yeah, I was quite the catch. The Senator from Missouri comes very right. Yeah.

“I think he'd even made it into an ESPN highlight.”

It was such a good catch. I'm sure he did. It was incredible. All of us watching were just it's stunned. It was amazing.

That's awesome. Mm-hmm. So, you know, you've been a big part of helping Americans prosperity, celebrate America, 250th birthday this year. It's been something that's been ongoing throughout the year.

It's been fun. We've been at events together and we're going to keep doing it because it's a great celebration. So you asked members of Congress what this year means to them.

And so here's what they had to say.

You know, I think for me, it's that principle of self-determination. You know, the amazing thing is is we had forefathers that said, you know what? We are, we are bucking a millennia of belief and tradition that those rights that come down from God go to a king or a royal family or someone other than us as individuals. And, you know, that understanding, that no, that power, that God given, literally, God

given right to self-determination comes to us, not to someone else. And I think that's a guiding principle that just drives everything. Man, my daddy fought for this country and killed people, my mama lost her brother so it's the whole thing. I think it is inspired by God and we just better have enough sense to keep it in place.

I actually spoke with the appropriations committee last night. Reminded people that this is my 20th anniversary as a U.S. citizen. So I am very proud of that. Very grateful to this nation when we celebrate 250 years and we have the pursuit of happiness, right?

That for me is one of the ones that, but what is that? It's pursuing your American dream.

“My dad was a bus driver, that's what he did here in the U.S.”

And when you look at that, that was his pursuit of happiness. To be able to come here, do that, give me a shot at the American dream. And he was able to do that. My sisters chose their path as well, private sector, my other sisters, and she works for a church.

So that's our own pursuit of happiness, right? So I'm just having that ability, keeping government small so that individuals can go on and create their own American dream stories.

I always say that the government does not create American dream stories.

Individuals do. The government needs to set up an environment where small and people can go out there and be a bus driver, be a teacher, be a doctor, be a lawyer, be a clergy, be a member of Congress. Whatever you want to pursue, be able to do that. Thomas Jefferson just, he was selected to draft it because of his pinmanship.

And obviously, the respect he had of the other founders. And just that those opening clauses that, you know, were our countries based on freedom and that we received from our creator, I think, tells a lot about the foundation, the bookle and Christian foundation of our country.

“I obviously a lot of people kind of forget that, but that's how it was back then, and I think”

that's strong. Like the reference to kind of like, marketing back to John Locke, that we're all created equal, is a profound thing. In all of human history that you have a government that recognize something that really upended thousands and thousands of years in human history and understanding that, and

belief that false belief that, you know, kings are given some kind of, you know, divine right. And so to me, that's the, I mean, that is the underpinning of the entire declaration. So what, what do you mean to you to be at the game? I know it's a special moment always, I know it's a, has a place in your heart, but then

in this year, much of America turning to into 50 years, what do you mean to you? You know, I think this year, when we got to go to batting practice, morning of congressional baseball, I kind of took a moment and just reflect it on exactly that. And I think being able to stand in our nation's capital at Nationals Park, those patriotic

the American experiment, it's working, we have a lot to course correct on, we've learned

a lot of the last 250 years, but there's a lot of amazing things happening when you look

“at democracy and the way people help you to other out in circumstances, I think, you know,”

it's been absolutely amazing to just reflect upon it this year. And I hope that, you know, we have some more moments to do that. I think, you know, we, well, there's a lot of things about barbecue's and fireworks and, and don't give me wrong. I love, I love both of those things, but I think we'll, we'll miss the moment if we

don't take a chance to reflect upon, you know, the amazing things that have happened and what's, what's to come? Yeah, I think, you know, I probably share this with you that I've been really blessed by being involved in the America's 250th birthday activities because, you know, and then doing it, talking about a lot on the show because it's caused me to actually think about,

you know, and reflect on our founding principles and what it means to be American, you know, exceptionalism of America and it's been cool, I've been really blessed by it. I love the time with baseball because I'm a huge baseball fan.

I mean, I've always loved baseball, they're my favorite sport forever.

And it's always been intertwined with Americana, you know, and I mean, just in terms of just the length, you know, of being American pastime, just the kind of the tradition of it, but even stuff like, you know, Jackie Robbins, you know, breaking the color barrier was just so important societal and it's just, it's just been a such cool thing. So I love that we're able to tie it together with the congressional baseball game and

people kind of put the partnership aside for a day and just play, you know, a great sport, get along and, and then, you know, there's a way to celebrate our 250th birthday. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Greenmore. All right, so our last question was that you asked the members of Congress to pick

a founding father to play in the team who would have been and there was one that kind of kept coming up. So let's hear what they had to say. George Mason. That's a good thing. That's a good thing. That's a good thing. That's a good thing. Most people forget about George Mason but you wouldn't have this, you wouldn't have all of the Bill of Rights if without George Mason. I mean my god, that guy, he's the most overlooked and best

family father in my opinion. What, what, what, what, what position, what do you buy? Oh, he's continuous? I, I'm my guess he, it's he'd be a closer. Nice. He'd be the closer. Just like he was with the Constitution. There it is. That is a great lie. I'm just going to be in Franklin. I put him at catcher because he was kind of a player, you know, everybody, everybody's like

“this wholesome dude. He's kind of a player but you need a main guy at the plate and I think”

he could handle it and he's a big, he was a big dude, he blocked the bag. George Washington

is a pretty solid guy. I mean, if, if he could fight in the revolutionary war the way he did,

I'm sure he could play a pretty mean first base. I missed his movie last night, but my family went to go watch a young, uh, Washington. So it's, it's an amazing movie. So that's been the top of my mind. How can you not have the founding father of our nation on your team? And I think he would probably be, I don't know, based on the movie last night probably a short stop or middle, you know, maybe center field where you can get all over the field,

just a great athlete I would say. George Washington, because a he was big athletic and he, I don't know, he might be a pitcher. He's, he's that kind of leader. Lots of George fans tonight, but it varies on the physician's side. I don't think anyone's going to be picking John Adams. I mean, he was like, James Madison, because he was a little guy. So I feel like he could get around the base. Pretty scrappy. No, I think I want the big athletic

type. You know, at our Thomas Jefferson might have been, uh, you know, another one, but yeah, George is my guy. Well, that was, uh, I love your suggestion about James Madison, because I think he'd be a lead off hitter, maybe second baseman, little guy. Great.

“That's what I thought. I was like, he's, everybody knows he was a small guy. So I feel like”

he could run around real quick and get the job done. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I don't know. I, as a good virginian, you might be paying the price not picking Thomas Jefferson. You know, I thought about that. But I don't know, James Madison University. So I got a, I got a stick of my guy. That's great. And you had the constitution included to boot. So it was also a big deal. Like, yeah, federal papers, you know, few things. Yeah. Yeah. Well, okay,

then I'm so, we're so appreciative that you were able to go out there, get, you know, these interviews, talk to members of Congress. I love just kind of showing. Like, these are just guys suit guys on suits. Are you on the floor, Congress? You know, these are regular dudes and having a good time for a great purpose. I can't believe how much money they raised. That's amazing. A ton of money was raised, but also 32,000 people were in the

stands. They also broke that record for attendance. You know, there are some major league baseball games that don't get 32,000 attendees. So it was just a big night overall. And if he's really

feeling, thanks so much for bringing us that kind of content and kind of going and connecting those

“of us who couldn't be there to a great fun time. Thanks again. Happy to do it. Thank you.”

Awesome. Well, folks, if you like this episode and like to stay connected with the podcast,

be sure to like and subscribe to our channel, as well as following us on Facebook and Instagram and

“you. And all of you remember, Liberty and Freedom are easily picked up. Don't take them for granted.”

Go out there and defend freedom, Liberty. Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you on the next episode.

Thank you for listening to American Potential. You may listen to more stories from Americans

“working every day to expand freedom and opportunity in their communities by visiting”

of americanpotential.com.