senator blumenthal is here with me. also, how the republican obsession with aoc may actually get bipartisan legislation to clean up lobbying. i'm not joking. later, a disturbing report about one of donald trump's favorite authoritarians, rick stengel is here and news about the mueller report. something special, that comes later. of course, it's friday. you're watching "the beat" on msnbc. you're watching "the beat" on msnbc. [farmers bell]