welcome back. with former attorney general jeff sessions ousted this week, the president seems to have found the loyalist he always wanted. acting ag matt whittaker, will he now have the protection he always sought from the escalating mueller probe. back with me "new york times" editorial board member mara gay, author and fordham university professor greer, mike steel and joining me msnbc legal analyst paul butler. let me go to you first, paul. there's a question of whether or not he is constitutionally in line to be in the position he's in. what is your view? >> so the constitution requires a principle officer to be confirmed by the senate. a principle officer is someone