reporters there. what will he say when he's caught off guard? i think that will be far more illustrative and far more instructive. kasie. >> and we should note of course, jeff, the permit that was given to mr. kessler was for upwards of 400 people. he showed up with just two dozen. jeff bennett, thanks very much for your reporting. we'll be checking back in with you tonight. >> sure. >> meanwhile i want to welcome in my panel with me on set, former rnc chairman and political analyst, michael steele. whouts reporter for l.a. times and nbc political analyst eli stokols. polster and msnbc political analyst cornell belcher and the president of the national urban league and former mayor of new orleans, mark morial. thank you all for being here tonight. michael steele, i want to start with you as somebody who is -- there is a lot being ascribed to what i think is still your party, although you have had some major differences over the course of the last year. >> we're working that out. >> but what do you read into what you saw today with this frankly dismal showing, and what the president had to say about it so far?