be willing to force a government shutdown over the issue. chuck schumer knows the mueller protection bill has bipartisan support. it's sponsored not just by democrats but also by republicans, and jeff flake, who is an outgoing senator, so perhaps doesn't have as much influence, has called for the legislation to be brought to the floor. this is a pressure tactic by schumer and democrats to force republicans on the record at a time when their earlier arguments that there was no need for mueller protection bill may no longer carry as much weight given jeff sessions has been fired and the person who at least temporarily has replaced him has openly expressed criticism of the russia probe. >> do republicans have the votes to push this? yes, you have the flakes who have expressed public support for this, thom tillis as a co-sponsor, but you still have the senate majority leader, and he, again, stated that mueller does not need protection. is there any new move post election in this direction? >> i think it certainly is the