Settle the Donald Trump University lawsuit, the administration announced three major job picks. One of them is mike pompeo to be cia director, well received by both parties. The other two picks are creating controversy. Sessions for the job of u. S. Attorney general, and Michael Flynn for White House National security adviser. The first requires confirmation, the second is not. Both have records of a commerce men and were among trumps earliest supporters. Loyalty,eward for that but they are both under fire for statements considered racially charged, a problem that has plagued three out of the first five people trump wants to hire for his administration. ,ets start with Jeff Sessions denied a judgeship because he inflammatory statements and disparage organizations such as the naacp and aclu. Ofzabeth warren said instead embracing the bigotry, i urge President Trump to reverse his apparent decision to nominate senator sessions to be attorney general of the United States. Fall refuses, then it will to the senate to exercise fundamental moral leadership for our nation and all its people. It is rare to use such language. The democratic congressman from South Carolina followed with his own scathing statement saying, his civil rights record is appalling and should disqualify him from senate confirmation. Cable news is suggesting there could be a fight over sessions. He is expected to be a major player in enforcing Donald Trumps immigration policy. A fears combatant, a little partisan. Troubling given his background. Inworded of using the and saying the kkk was ok. I think he believes in the rule of law and will probably get confirmed. Mark he got support today from his republican colleagues in the senate, including flake and lindsey graham. Given the senate rules, a majority would confirm sessions, so is this a good pick and how controversial will it be . Donny he will get confirmed. Three out of our five first picks from trump have a genuine history of racism or antisemitism. About always talk appointees, and talk about steve bannon, now we have Jeff Sessions. Very simple, a history of it. He did not get appointed confirmed as a federal judge because of it. I dont know when we got to the point where somebody who could not be the ceo of a company or a principle of an Elementary School based on things they have said and done. We are now, well, but, well, but. Politics aside, just as a dad, i am disturbed and concern. Will beu say he confirmed, and i suspect he will at he will be present hearings to explain the statements he has made in the past that kept him from being confirmed. I think, as i have said about he will have to explain himself. I dont think his answers that he gave will be good enough for this. I think he will have to give better answers. We can run through what these statements are, but people can read about them, he said i dont remember saying that or i did not say that. The attorney be general of the United States unless he shows people that in his heart that whatever he said in the past, that he believes in equal protection under law and will not treat religious statements casually. He will not make them himself. If he performs poorly in the hearing, he will not be confirmed. Donny there is a fact that hate crimes are already up, particularly in schools. He has given air cover, and we has givenabout flynn, air cover for this, and if we can behave properly with each other, we there is an alarming pattern happening here. Studying that they sequenced the announcements this way. Stunning. Keep gettingts better. Moving on to Michael Flynn. That position does not require confirmation, but he is taking flak for antimuslim rhetoric. Tweetedtenant general the fear of muslims is rational. Consulting business has reported ties to middle eastern countries, and he took a paid speaking engagement with a Russian Television network. Mark the president is entitled to someone who he trusts. If you took these controversial things away, you just look at his record of military service, the fact he has challenged authority, the fact that Donald Trump Trust them, i think he would be a good pick. There are questions about his temperament, and if Donald Trump Trust him, Donald Trumps temperament is similar, these statements mutts be explained must be explained. When he has been ask about these things, he has been evasive. He should explain forthrightly. He should have the confidence of the nation and not hide behind the fact that hes not required to be confirmed by the sentiment. On twitter, he has reach we did from people, crazy alt sot, his son tweeting africanamericans can have be et , but whites can have their own dating site. Weekterrified that one into a Trump Presidency we get attacked because they want an overreaction. I think the jihadist are salivating because they want to get the party started, and we need restraint. He is doubling down. I am terrified. I am not inexpert. Im just a guy who watches people. There was less, one controversial pick donald tomp made today, mike pompeo be cia director. He is not as prominent of a figure, but his resume is impressive, west point, harvard law, and a seat on the house intelligence committee. He was also on the committee that investigated the benghazi, libya attacks, where he accused the Obama Administration of a coverup and was one of the harshest critics of Hillary Clinton. Why was heaven and earth not moved at the initial sound of the guns . Maybe even putting tankers in the air from oconnell air force base . You did not that know how long it would continue or the risk would remain. You will have to ask the Defense Department these questions. Did get somepeo love from democrats today despite his benghazi hearing performance that some have criticized. Soderberg, adam schiff, both had reservations about his hardnosed, partisan path, but called him a respectable choice. Pompeo could be a perfectly fine cia director. He knows the agency, and that is a good thing. I think mike is a bright guy, hardworking, so he is a solid pick. Mike can be partisan, as you saw in the benghazi hearings, and he will have to set that aside, but i am confident he can do that and is a capable choice. Of the three today, he was the most solid pick. On the meritsk and how controversial will he be . People,hen i was hiring i started with one thing, smart. I like that he is relatively fresh phase. He seems to have a great reputation. He seems to have the right demeanor about him. He still thinks benghazi was politicized. If it was up to him, it would still be going on, but i think it is a good pick. Aggressive on an benghazi, donald trump would be disqualified. I knew he was on intelligence, but i did not know about his background. It is really impressive. It is helpful to have members of congress in the administration. One thing that has hurt our Foreign Policy is the failure to relationsbipartisan between the executive and legislative branch. This seems like a good pick. It is curious that he made this pick without announcing who secretary of defense and secretary of state will be. You want a team that can work together. Donny it is his management style. Pick people against each other and see where that math leads. Mark i guess i dont get the logic of clustering these three today, but maybe there is no logic. Donny Eric Schneiderman put out a statement saying donald trump pay fraud drop allegation lawsuits related to his Trump University real estate seminars. This was a big issue during the campaign, and trump touted himself as someone who would rather fight litigation. Mark, what does it say that he settled this case . Mark it is a big surprise to me. He said he would never settle. To me, it is a good sign. Donald trump is someone who not in the past looked at the kind of distractions a normal president would see and say we have to get rid of this, attacking john mccain, attacking megyn kelly. This is potentially a good sign. He needs to be less encumbered as president from distraction. This to me is assigned today that maybe he gets that he needs to clear the decks. Donny he says when you settle, you lost. No, you made a business decision. Lets say there was some really nasty stuff in there, certainly not good for his presidency. Ben if he felt he would exonerated, it was still the right thing to do. Even if it cost him 25 million, he has to get this out of the way. You have an obligation to get it out of the way, and i think you did the right thing. Mark based on the news reporting that was done on this, he of those people some money. That university was a scam in many ways, and while it may not have been as worthless as the critics said, he of those people some money. Up, a previewing of Donald TrumpsWeekend Getaway plans and what it means for your weekend traffic and weather together right after this. There are some things that you just can imagine happening in your life. This is one of them. Trumps donald Magnificent Hotel and having his endorsement is a delight. I am so honored and pleased to have his endorsement, and of course im looking for the endorsement of the people of nevada. Mark that was mitt romney in 2012 excepting the endorsement of one donald j. Trump. We talked about Donald Trumps planned teteatete with mitt romney. The meeting is on. Several sources say this is not for show and will be a serious discussion about a possible cabinet position, secretary of state most mention. So far, the reaction to the prospect of mitt romney as secretary of state has been met with very favorable views, including capitol hill, though one source said this meeting is in fact just for show. Im not sure where it stands, but as i said, the reactions have been positive, so what is your got on whether this is real and whether he might end up with the job . Up toldomeone very high me it was very real. They were very excited about it. We talked about this yesterday. This would be such a tremendous gesture, put so many people at ease. The godzilla factor keeps going up. Some very scary figures. A guy like romney, his biggest deficit was his calm. It would give a lot of people it is comfort, and if just for show, a head fake, that is mark frightening in and of itself. E picks someone dont mark if he doesnt pick someone that people are comfortable, it will be a problem. How well people have reacted, democrats, republicans, foreignpolicy is mittnd the reality romney is not soft on foreignpolicy. He is aggressive on foreignpolicy. His views deviate from Donald Trumps, but not the fundamental ones. Donny he was the first one to say correctly that russia is our geopolitical enemy. The reason it feels so good as we are dealing with such an unknown now. Everywhere we go, wow, that smells kind of funky, and to put someone in there, ok, hes a grown up. He is smart. He has been around. It is comfortable. Mark it will be interesting to see what kind of reporting comes out of the meeting. If trump wants to pick him, he will pick him pretty soon. , ify my only question is he is not going to pick him, if he was going to pick them, it would be a surprise. Show coming up, we will you how Donald Trumps meeting with the japanese Prime Minister was covered in japan, right after this. Donny it has been a madhouse at trump tower. Therters are watching people go up and down those gilded elevators. We went over to get a sense of what it is like at a trump stakeout. This is how the media is coping. I am here at the trump tower to learn all the new rules on how the press can cover donald trump. Rule number one, live shots must be across the street. I am press. Can i come through here . Cant go this way. Walking down fifth avenue, we saw all the press vans. It hit us like, this is why the they are here. Public space, terrorists, foreign dignitaries, cops, big guns, trump america, right . We had to go through some security. A bunch of press were camped out waiting to see who is who and if anyone important is coming. Could be a celebrity, could be a tourist from oklahoma. Are there any rules . Know, and there is a lot of us here. One reporter was trying to sit on the floor, and they are not allowed to. There is an adequate seating. Are you using starbucks wifi . Yes, blazing fast wifi because of starbucks. Yorkers think we are the center of the universe, and in some ways, we are. This is the most important city in the most important country, and the press is grappling with logistics there. It is untenable. Donny it is. Here is the reality. Im talking after the inauguration, im hearing that donald trump is three king about is thinking about spending weekends here. This. Not built for he has an obligation to new york city and his voters. Once again, you come here once in a while, but this cannot be his home away from home. Not a skyscraper in the heart of midtown manhattan. It is not just disruptive and a is noty problem, but it a rational thing. There is nothing sensible about it, except he wants to be home. Elect has president fielded congratulatory calls from all over the planet. Yesterday, he held his first facetoface meeting with a foreign leader, with the lucky or skillful japanese Prime Minister shinzo abe. We could show you how the u. S. Networks cover that tv sit down, but we were more interested in how it is perceived abroad, so lets take a look at trump japan style. In order to meet, prime arrives, we have our reporter live in front of trump tower. Has justister abe appeared, heading to trump tower for the first facetoface meeting. Onside cameras captured a horizontal long box wrapped with a ribbon. Could it be a president for mr. Trump . What could be in the mysterious long box. Media coverage was not permitted. Furthermore come the time and place of the meeting were officially announced by mr. Trump only after the Prime Minister departed japan, adding to the list of unusual arrangements requested. After seeing when Prime Minister hand,ook Donald Trumps interiors are adorned in gold, this is Donald Trumps residence. I have been convinced that president elect mr. Trump is definitely a leader that can be trusted. That i can trust. Gato very big drama or a to our colleague helping us to translate that news coverage. I think Donald Trumps personality gives him a chance to have instant rapport with foreign leaders. Donny absolutely. Interesting. Is a worldwide celebrity becoming a president , and even World Leaders get taken with celebrities. , after thehis way iowa primary, he called to thank me for predicting it. By the end of the conversation, you,saying, how can i help buddy . He is a charming guy, huge presence, and i think that is will serve him well. Mark there are two people who like him and 98 dont, and he talks to the two who like him. You said, not as just because he is famous. He has a big personality. Why did Hillary Clinton say she went to Donald Trumps wedding, because he is fun to be around. If your barack obama its like youre the kid in the room. He is a guy who fills up a room. He is presold. I think his status in that way helps him. Mark a lot of these World Leaders are unsettled now. When they get in the room with him and see that he is a calm presence ahead of mitt romneys meeting with donald trump, we will check in with some reporters who covered his 2012 race right after this. John were joined now by phil rocker. Scott lehigh. Let me start with you. Reporting, ar scale from one to 10. Where are we on romney . May be a four or a five. It doesnt seem very firm. Something could happen. My understanding it is more general conversation. He wanted his advice on the transition to power. They are going to discuss the position of secretary of state. Will see if trump actually decides to even offer him the job. I am sure you did not cover our National Security advisor. How do you imagine a temperament , those personas working together . Not particularly well. Approaches. Fferent they have different patterns of behavior and views on issues like muslims for example. If romney were to be secretary of state he would try to be cerebral and diplomatic. That would be a clash with the National Security advisor. I do not know how they would work that out. Omney in 2012 sided russia as our number one geopolitical foe. Clearly there is a dissent disagreement there is a disagreement. What about his background, his interest would make him want to give up the grandkids and travel the globe as secretary of state . It seems to me what they are doing is offering and all of branch to the establishment wing of the party by bringing in people for meetings. It is hard to see how temperament ali temperamentally, what he things about russia and what donald trump things about russia. Trump things that Global Warming is a hoax. Mitt romney has flip and flop a few times but the last speech he gave, he said it was a serious problem we had to address. I cannot see it happening. Mark i hear your point of view. But i ask this question, you are telling me if donald trump offers it to him he will turn it down . See donald trump saying to him given his view of , isia and Global Warming dont see why he would offer it to him . Mark his cabinet is going to have people who support the free trade, who support nato as it stands. You say these are fundamental. I think that the view on russian is so diametrically opposed, you cant have a foreignpolicy team that has completely opposite views on what our nations relationship or posture towards russia should be. He sees russia as a strategic partner. I dont see how you reconcile that. I dont think it is one of those differences you can meet in the middle. Donny i want to go back to you on flynn. He was fired for contentious management style. On whatnside baseball he was like . There was a change in his behavior based on what his former colleagues say. He was a decorated Intelligence Officer and regarded as highly credible and good at his job. His behavior changed in the last few years, especially since he left the government. He has gravitated to these french elements. His twitter feed is like Donald Trumps twitter feed on steroids. It is a lot of breitbart articles and conspiracy things you would not expect from a threestar general with the kind of background that he had. Mark any sense of are other people in donald trump scampi war viewing this as a positive and real prospect than others . It is unclear to get information that is real about where Donald Trumps head is on this. People around him have been saying this is not real. But it could be. There is potential here. They are going to be discussing something. I think you were there a a year and a half ago, he did a slideshow presentation about Foreign Policy, about how he would reorganize foggy bottom. This is something he has given thought to. His friends tell me he is interested in getting back into government service. Secretary is the one job he would want. Mark do you think he will stay supportive of the administration or if he is not inside he is going to be a critic . I think he will try to be a responsible, bring trump into more what met thinks of as responsible republicanism rather than toward the french elements where he seems to lean. Let me mitt would say try to mold this guy, be supportive and nudge him towards the policy he thinks is prudent. Donny you have been great. Thank you. We will bring in some cool strategists snack. Strategists next. You can listen us on the radio. We will be right back. By a were joined now republican strategist in our nations capital. Adam hodges the Communications Director for the Democratic National committee. , from jeb bushs campaign. I continue with my of session whether mitt romney will be secretary of state. Does the prospect make sense to you . It makes a lot sense. It would send an amazing message to the world, a comforting message which is shook up a little bit about this election. I think it would make a lot of sense. He has a dense deep and abiding sense of history. He believes in the goodness and america, and the goodness america represents to the world when it is strong. Have no idea if it would happen. His love of country would motivate him to listen to the conversation, to provide feedback and see if it would be a good fit. I think it would be a genius stroke to bring in governor romney. Mark my guess is when we discuss the picks today you are not going to be big fans. How would you feel . I would love to be a fly on the wall for that first meeting in the oval office between the two of them. Or when donald trump and mitt romney go backandforth about the terrible things they said about each other a few short months ago. I think that is going to be tough. Mark as an american and concerned about americas future, will you welcome mitt romney . Mr. Trump would be best served having as many adults in the room as he can get. Mitt romney has his own challenges from his past, and his own record that i think would deeply concerning a lot of the folks on our side. We will have to see what happens with his nomination and his confirmation. People will have some tough questions. Mark if donald trump said should i pick mitt romney what would you tell him . I would say yes. Jeff sessions is going to be the most powerful attorney general we have had. That is a great find for conservatives. Were going to have an attorney general understands our issues and has the air of the president. Or someone like mitt romney named secretary of state is another great find for secretary of state looking for the decisions president elect trump makes. It is a powerful message within the Republican Party. We criticized our nominee. Hillary clinton had all of these scandals. Democrats would never criticize her. To come together with someone who criticized him quite strongly would be a powerful message, the Republican Party is going to lead this country and will help americans fix some of these problems. Donny i want to shift gears to your party. It is a 14 chance rheingold is up against pelosi. I would give it to him. Democrats need some fresh faces. The coach from you have to move the coach out. I think she has done a great job. One could argue on freshness alone they need fresh faces there. Quite she has been the most tenacious fighter for our party. I would listen to what the president said himself. That we would not have gotten health care done without nancy pelosi. We need a lot of strong leaders to continue the fight in the next congress. The House Democratic caucus is going to make their choice. There can be no question about what kind of a fighter she has been for our party. This is a great example. Hillary clinton had scandal after scandal. She was a week nominee even in the primary and stomach democrats pushed everyone out to make sure that Hillary Clinton had to be the nominee. When scandal after scandal hit her in the general election nancy pelosi to was there saying we have to stand by Hillary Clinton. No one can possibly criticize her. That is why they are in the position they are in at the white house and down ballot where republicans have the congress, 31 states, and democrats are left with five. I want adam to respond. There is that argument. I think what we need is as many champions and fighters as we can have with us in the u. S. Congress. Has beenancy pelosi that leader throughout her career. I think id is the people we are going to need standing up to mr. Trump in the next administration. Donny lets switch back to secretary of state. Lets assume mitt romney does not get it. Give him three good picks. Gosh. Maybe general petraeus. Lindsey graham. Nikki haley. I think we have to have an adult. He only has so many people in the inner circle. He looks like he is putting people in jobs already. You have sessions already lined up. He is going to have to expand outside of his circle. We need some fresh faces a route mr. Trump around mr. Trump. He is capable of bringing in diverse opinions and listening. He is showing himself at this point to be open to talking to a lot of people he has not talked to throughout the process. It was a tough campaign. If he can move into a new direction, and bring in some ideas and debate, with maybe a different worldview, we could have a successful Foreign Policy going forward. More successful than we have had. Mark why should someone like Jeff Sessions who could not be confirmed by the senate be made attorney general . That talking point has gotten so silly. This is back on the democrats were testing their strategy. They blocked bork. This is what democrats have been doing back then. Calling them racist. Not much has changed by the way. Strategy then. Od Jeff Sessions is a wellliked senator. It is going to be hard for the senators who have worked for him for years to suddenly say we are not confirming him. Think you look at the record of mr. Sessions, that was not borking. There were serious concerns raised about his temperament and the things quite frankly ofhe prosecuted the leader the kkk. He also said the kkk, he was ok with them until he said they found marijuana. He made a joke. Sarcasm is lost. Mark is the dnc going to spend money and mobilize in the grassroots base to stop sessions from being confirmed. Fight are going to see us as aggressively as we can. After the progress we have made under mr. Obama, we cannot afford to turn back the clock to mr. Sessions who would go back 50 years. Look at his record and the things he has fought against. It is no surprise mr. Trump would pay cam to be his attorney pick him to be his attorney general. Ihe is not someone the American People can trust to be there attorney general. Mark thank you. He should not be confirmed. Mark thank you. Thank you. Emily jane fox talks about next. Trumps soninlaw donny one of the most influential people in Donald Trumps campaign is married to his daughter. We are joined with a staff writer from vanity fair, emily jane fox. Thank you for being here. You have been following jerod and ivanka for a while. Your pieces were about the wall breaking down around ivanka. Describe him as a guide. All we hear as a guy. I am struggling to understand who jerod is. He is mildmannered. Very nice. Well bred. I think the assumption is he is not the sharpest tool in the box. Donny that is not the assumption. That is what i am finding out. His father give a large donation to get him into harvard. His grades were not stellar before then. He took over his fathers business when his father was behind bars. Now he wound up donny there is a 11 year. Period. There wasnt that much time between when he started running the kushner company. To geterver was a play him in new york society and take overthe s that had take the press ahead taken down his family. Mark most of his friends did not vote for donald trump. Ared kushner was a democrat. I think their Social Circle is very small. They are a very insular couple. They are not your typical 30yearold couple, out socializing with other 34yearolds. They are with their family. They spent a lot of time together. They have three young children. This is not really a social scene couple. This is a family goal oriented couple. Mark with young kids. Three young kids. They just had a baby in the spring. Great tragedys a hear that a lot of this is about him retribution be on the christies tough to reclaim that name kushner. He was affected by his dad going to prison. How much behind this saide person i spoke to the ultimate goal here is to get a pardon for his father. He used to visit him every single weekend. Christiethat he ousted and all of the christie allies in the transition tells you a little bit about how serious he is. Tok people have taken pains say that was in his doing. Your reporting suggests otherwise. My reporting does suggest otherwise. Donald is his own man at the end of the day. He has a lot of people in his ear. Jared kushner is a loud voice and that here. You hear reports of a civil war within the campaign. Does he want to go to washington because he is ambitious, he wants to help his father in law . Some people say he wants the proximity to power which is intoxicating. Other people say he is just a loyal family guy, and his father in law it is so early. We will see. I dont think anyone is clear on what the motivations are. Donny thank you. We will be right back. Keep refreshing bloomberg politics. Com. That is where you will find all of Donald Trumps white house moves. Bragging have you ever been on entertainment tonight. Mark has been on it. Mark more than once. It is part of my demo. Donny you are pushing back a little back on the christie thing. I have to believe he was the guy. Mark they have denied it. It is a mystery why he was so close to the transition. Christie and gingrich are not getting jobs. Donny ok. Bloomberg technology is next. Sayonara. Lets begin with a check of first word news. President elect donald trump has agreed to settle fraud lawsuits over Trump University for 25 million. The suit alleged the university failed to deliver the education it had promised. The deal doesnt require mr. Trump to acknowledge wrongdoing. President obama is blocking the sale of drilling rights in the arctic and atlantic for five years. Oil and Gas Companies have been seeking new offshore options. Joined theepublican rest of her states congressional delegation in criticizing the move, calling it shortsighted. Since the ceasefire collapsed in syria, more than 1000 people have died in the besieged city of aleppo. That is according to a monitoring group. The death toll includes more than 230 children. Turkeys staterun News Agency Says 76 academics have been detained in istanbul. It is part of the Ongoing Investigation into the movement allegedly responsible for that