Midterm election predictions, “fake news” and President Trump’s golf game—no topic was off-limits at this morning’s Big “I” Legislative Conference General Session Breakfast.

In a political one-on-one after Vaughn Graham, Big “I” chairman, delivered his State of the Association speech, Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO, sat down with FOX News Channel's Bret Baier to discuss the current political landscape and what it means for members.

Baier is FOX News Channel's chief political anchor and anchor of “Special Report with Bret Baier," the top-rated cable news program in its timeslot and consistently one of the top five shows in cable news. Based in Washington, D.C., he joined the network in 1998 as the first reporter in the Atlanta bureau.

Rusbuldt: It’s hard for Americans to tell the difference between commentary and reporting. You’re one of the few who has maintained a reputation as a pure journalist—you’re respected by Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. How have those lines blurred in recent years?

Baier: I do think there is a hunger for a source where you know you can get all sides. That’s what we try to do and that’s what I’m responsible for, so I put my blinders on and focus on that. I trust that the viewers know I’m not Sean Hannity. He’s a great guy, he just obviously comes from a perspective. When people tune into him they know what they’re getting. But opinion has dripped into a lot of mainstream reporting, especially with this Administration and this President, who does create a lot of news—so much that sometimes it’s like drinking from a fire hose.

I’m a member of the 24/7 news media, and it does have a role in riling people up, getting people into corners. Twitter can be a very dark place. Social media is very powerful. It can move people, but I think it has also separated people. That mentality of “You’re with me or you’re against me”—we need to get back to the human aspect. I think we can encourage that by empowering straight journalism and news that looks at all sides without really pushing an opinion.

Rusbuldt: Why does Fox News consistently have the best ratings compared to other cable networks?

Baier: For 16-17 years, we’ve been No. 1 across the board, sometimes two to one over our nearest competition. At the beginning, we didn’t have all the bells and whistles of a major network. We just wanted to hire people who didn’t talk down to viewers, who brought them into a conversation like you’re sitting in a living room together. That created a very loyal viewership.

Rusbuldt: How has Washington, D.C. changed since you started your career?

Baier: I think it’s gotten worse as far as civility goes. Obviously, the President has a lot to do with that in the way he deals with folks, but he is essentially a counterpuncher from New York, and that’s what he brought to Washington. That mentality is now bleeding over to a lot of others who are looking at that saying, “Well, it’s working for him.” But civility and bipartisanship were already a problem. There are a lot of lawmakers and Administration folks who go to their corners so they can make a play for the next election.

Rusbuldt: Let’s talk about the 2018 midterms. Everybody’s talking about the Democratic wave that’s coming. Will Democrats take the U.S. House of Representatives? The U.S. Senate? Can Republicans stop it?

Baier: My bet is 60/40 that Democrats take the House. There are now 43 Republicans who have either retired, resigned or are running for another office. The Democrats only need 25. There are just a lot of different districts that are more in play than they would have been. Of course, a lot can change between now and November. You’ve got a lot of variables—tax law and how that sits, North Korea and the possibility of a diplomatic maneuver to take some of that threat away, it could be a foreign policy success.

I think the Senate goes other way—70/30, Republicans hold on to the Senate. Those seats are positioned a lot better for Republicans, and the red state Democrats who are up for reelection are running in states where Trump won 80% or more of the counties. They have nothing to hold on to as far as legislative accomplishments. That’s a tough sell.

Rusbuldt: There are some Republicans who are not convinced that President Trump will run for reelection. What do you think?

Baier: I’m not convinced either. I don’t think it’s 100%. I would say 60/40 he runs again, but he’s unpredictable. If he can characterize it as a win, he may say, “I drained the swamp, I got the tax law done—I’m out of here. I’m going to go back and make money.”

Rusbuldt: Is there dissension in the ranks of the President?

Baier: Every White House has dissension—people jockeying for a position, looking for edge, looking for access. This Administration just happens to be more transparent or is leaking more to reporters about it. I could have done similar stories about the Bush Administration, but this President is the most transparent president we’ve seen. We know what he’s thinking four times a day in 140 characters or less. Sometimes we don’t want to know what he’s thinking about, but he tells us anyway. The challenge for us is to push this White House to continue to open up.

Jacquelyn Connelly is IA senior editor.