Harry Reid and John Boehner are unlikely co-headliners. But they shared the stage yesterday at the Bellagio.
The former Nevada Democratic senator and the former Republican speaker of the house were in town to discuss the evolution of American labor during a symposium called Investing in America: The Future of Work, put on by MGM Resorts Public Policy Institute at UNLV.
Except the two former Congressmen didn’t really talk much about the American workforce. They left that to the CEOs and policy wonks who spoke later in the event.
Instead, they talked politics, mostly at the prompting of "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd, who moderated the discussion and emceed the symposium.
Reid spoke out about the country's ballooning deficit and subtly warned against an impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, saying it would take away from any policy advancements.
Boehner was asked to talk about the panel he created to investigate the attack on U.S. government facilities in Benghazi in 2012, and mentioned how the louder voices of the extreme right and extreme left can hurt progress.
The two former politicians also shared personal stories and seemed chummy on stage.
While Reid and Boehner talked about politics, the rest of the symposium focused on the workforce of the future and how education will play a part in developing that workforce.
Mike Prevatt, producer, KNPR's State of Nevada