Iming about to talk to a man had has figured out how to fight back with a bang. Plus did you ever talk about something on your phone and suddenly start seeing ads for it . Is it a coincidence . Or are our smartphones spying on us . And a look back at some memorable moments on both sides from 2017, including everybodys favorite blooper by yours truly. George pappadopolous. Im a dope, im a dope. But first, were almost one year into a trump administration. And the end of any year is a time for assessing especially this one. Mike allen had an interesting observation this week in his axios newsletter. He pointed out how little President Trump and perceptions of him have changed in the last year. Roughly the same number of people support him today as did at the beginning of his administration. The russia probe has remained constant. The elected republicans remain compliant. The elected democrats still dont like him. The war with the media has never subsided and neither have his twitter fingers. All true. But theres a temptation in those observations to conclude that his administration, the passage of the tax bill notwithstanding, is static, gridlocked. That nothing is getting done in a polarized climate. That would be a mistake. In fact, if the pace of change continues for the duration of trumps presidency, however long that might be, i think he could become the most consequential president in the modern era. S could convention meaning most important and significant. Having the biggest overall impact. As with the criteria that Time Magazine uses when determining its person of the year. This is not necessarily a good thing. Think about it. A Supreme Court position that was by rights a democratic pick, instead went to trump. And his influence on shaping the federal judiciary is far greater than just neil gorsuch on the nations highest court. He broke a Senate Record by confirming a dozen new u. S. Circuit court judges, the most during a president s first year in office in more than a century. At the rate hes going, by next year, more than 12 of federal cases heard will be by trumpappointed judges. Those picks will be his longestlasting legacy. The tax bill that hes just signed is the first Major Overhaul of policy since the reagan era. Whatever the effect, that wont be undone any time soon. And by ending the individual mandate, President Trump has felled a major domino that will upset the economic viability of the Affordable Care act. How can you provide coverage for those with preexisting conditions if you dont have everybody in the insurance pool . Trump has made cutting federal regulations a priority. Hes revoked 67, hes delayed or derailed more than 1500 others. Hes pulled out of the paris climate accord. Okd the keystone pipeline. Recognized jerusalem as the capital of israel and refused to recertify the Iranian Nuclear deal. On his watch, the iraq Prime Minister just declared victory over isis. The New York Times ross dothet called it a war trump won. Immigration enforcement, i. C. E. Has arrested more than 100,000 people who entered the u. S. Illegally. 70 of whom were already convicted criminals. His state department has undergone shrinking. For better or for worse. And dont forget about the influence that ideologically driven members of his cabinet are having out of the spotlight. Betsy devos in education, scott pruitt at the epa. Jeff sessions at justice. Now, Time Magazine got it wrong. When not naming the president its person of the year in 2017. By their own definition the person who most affected the news and our lives for good or ill and embodied what was important about the year, was absolutely donald trump. Joining me now to discuss, Douglas Brinkley, a president ial historian and history professor at Rice University and larry sabato director of the center for politics at the university of virginia. Larry, hes getting lots done, but without popular support. Can that continue . I doubt it. Look how difficult it was to get that tax bill passed. And he never could get obamacare repealed. I know about the individual mandate being abolished, but thats not the same thing as abolishing obamacare. This is with a new presidency usually coming with some kind of honeymoon. Republican majority in both houses, i grant you thin majority in the senate. But still most majority, gate a great deal done. While certainly trump has accomplished some things, i agree with you on the judiciary, he could have accomplished a great deal more if he were a different kind of president i dont know about being the most consequential. But ill tell you this, hes the most different president in the modern era. I think everybody could agree on that including the president. Douglas brinkley, theres a lot to be said for that which takes place through inaction. Differentiate between action and inaction and what it means for this presidency. Just take a look at what he said pulling out of the paris accord. Yes, he did that. What does that mean in the end . It means that donald trump has turned his back completely on Climate Change what history may show is the overridingly important issue of our time. I mean weve had unusual wildfires, hurricanes, glaciers melting. The planet is alarmed right now and donald trump decides it doesnt exist, i dont want to believe and listen to the scientists. So by that very inaction this year, were losing momentum. Were not educating the society on what to do to make the changes on Climate Change. I just pick that one. You can go all over and see you know, hes gutting the Environmental Protection agency by 33 . You could save money right now and you could make money mining and leasing the public lands. What does that mean longterm . What does that mean 100 years from now when we start willy nilly desecrating public lands for quick gain profits . Conservation is always about our childrens children. Theres a lot that went on this year that wont shine well on history. Hell be remember fod charlottesville, pocahontas, nfl. Issues that divide race and identity. You know what occurs to me, laory, is that everything that Douglas Brinkley the historian says might be true and yet it will be seen differently in different parts of the country. The laundry list of the negatives will be embraced by the 46 who put him in office. Youre probably right about that. At least most of the 46 . He has dropped somewhat. Maybe you could exaggerate it up to 40, based on the fact that the polls often underestimate his support. He has lost support. Why is that . Because as doug was suggesting, he is terribly divisive. Instead of trying to bring people together, and this is not an era when you can bring people together. But he could have won a few percent more, he could have won over some people who are kind of in the middle about him to begin with. Instead, because of what he has done and because of the way he does it, michael, he has divided people, i think more than any time since perhaps the last year of Richard Nixons presidency. That is not a good thing. It is not good thing that we are now truly the divided states of america. Red states over here, blue states over there. And oddly enough, those purple competitive states . Theyre also choosing up sides. Gentlemen, is it possible to put this in some Historical Perspective . I want it show you what the president said yesterday and then douglas, ill ask you to respond first. Roll the tape. Legislative approvals, for which ive given no credit in the mainstream media. If harry truman had more legislative approvals than any other president. We beat him on legislative approvals. For which i get no credit. Historian Douglas Brinkley. He references harry truman, who comes to your mind, if anyone . Well just harry truman created the c. I. A. The joint chiefs of staff. The National Security council. The pentagon, the department of air force. The secretary of defenseship. I could go on and on. What did donald trump create this year . What is he going to be remembered for . I mean john f. Kennedy in his first year in office, michael, did some bold things, he said were going to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade and he started getting money put into states like huntsville, alabama and houston, texas. Infrastructure money on technology that worked with the space program. Kennedy created his first year, the peace corps, alliance for progress. Whats trump known for . All over the world hes seens a bully. Thats the net takeaway at the end of the year. And perhaps a bigot. And so its very hard to see why history is going to be shining a great flashlight on a president with a 35 approval rating, the lowest since polls have been taken. Whose big home run was the tax bill. That doesnt really excite people. It is a success at the end of the year and he did get gorsuch in. But its been a very rocky first year. Dr. Sabato, i think hes achieved is that what he said he was going to do. Which is largely for better or worse, to reverse obamaera policies. Youre correct on that, too, michael. Lets talk about what that means, though. When you base your presidency around your base, your party base, and you are unable or incapable of bringing some people from the other party in, in the long run that means the same thing is going to happen to donald trump. What karma. Thats happening to barack obama. Obamas presidency is being deconstructed, piece by piece. Trump and his appointees are pulling out by the roots, obamacares policies and regulations and programs. Look, at some point, i dont know when, is it 2020, 2024, cant tell you. At some point you will have a democratic president , a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House again and i can almost guarantee you, i can almost guarantee you that the Democratic Base will insist that the democratic president and congress do the very same thing to whatever is left of trumps legacy. Can i just say as a final word to both Douglas Brinkley and larry sabato, i worry most about a crisis, knock on wood, weve really not had one in the first year of his watch. I worry about what happens in a very polarized setting. In one of those moments when in another time we would most certainly rally around the flag. Happy holidays to both of you, i appreciate your expertise. Perfect guests for today. Thank you. Thank you, michael. What are your thoughts . Tweet me smerkonish. I will read responses. Can you give the trumpbashing a break . Why not point out the positive facts versus negative opinions, smerkonish. Trisha, are you blanking me . That was the most i wrote every word of it myself. That was the most even presentation of what this year has been that you will find anywhere. Thats not an msnbc view. Thats not a fox view, thats a straight down the middle assessment of for better or worse, here is what has just transpired. And it gets frustrating for me for people who hear what they want to hear, hear what they think they hear and dont listen clearly. One more if weve got time for it. Your paean of trump was disgusting. Rajiv can you get together with the last tweet centre and maybe the two of you can work it out. Its remarkable how people hear the same thing and take away from it different conclusions. Up next, its peak Package Delivery season which means porch pirates are in full fevery mode but one man hopes to thwart them in an explosive new style. Is it wrong that i laugh every time i see that . E and netflix. Right now when you get an unlimited family plan, netflix is included. Wow tmobile covers your netflix subscription, so you can catch the hottest new movies and shows all year long on us. Amazing and its your last chance to buy any of these hot new Samsung Galaxy phones and get a 2nd one free. Thats one samsung for you and one to gift. Just in time to finish off your list. Tmobile. Holiday twogether. Give a little bit give a little bit. Hello. Give a little bit. Of your love to me oh, haha. Theres so much that we need to share so send a smile and show that you care ill give a little bit of my love to you a trip back to the dthe doctors office, mean just for a shot. But why go back there, when you can stay home with Neulasta Onpro . Strong chemo can put you at risk of serious infection. Neulasta helps reduce infection risk by boosting your white blood cell count, which strengthens your immune system. In a key study, neulasta reduced the risk of infection from 17 to 1 , a 94 decrease. Applied the day of chemo, Neulasta Onpro is designed to deliver neulasta the next day. Neulasta is for certain Cancer Patients receiving strong chemotherapy. Do not take neulasta if youre allergic to neulasta or Neupogen Filgrastim . Ruptured spleen, sometimes fatal as well as serious lung problems, allergic reactions, kidney injuries, and capillary leak syndrome have occurred. Report abdominal or shoulder tip pain, trouble breathing or allergic reactions to your doctor right away. In patients with sickle cell disorders, serious, sometimes fatal crises can occur. The most common side effect is bone and muscle ache. So why go back there . If youd rather be home, ask your doctor about Neulasta Onpro. This Holiday Season with all the packages being shipped around the country, what can be done about the growing problem of porch pirates . U. P. S. Estimates it will deliver 750 million packages this christmas, thats a 50 increase from five years ago. 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I need that stuff like you dont know. And now that you do, please give at cancer. Org. train whistle blowing aunt joy . I want a rabbit. What about you . Well, i want an iphone. Make sure you get that on verizon. Its the most awarded network ever. And if anyone asks, i want a bigger train next year. vo give the gift of iphone 8 and get one on us. Jack and jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. All because of a burst water pipe in their house that ruined the Hardwood Floors in their kitchen. Luckily the Geico Insurance agency had helped them with Homeowners Insurance and the inside of their house was repaired and floors replaced. Jack and jill no longer have to fetch water. They now fetch sugarfree vanilla lattes with almond milk. Call geico and see how affordable Homeowners Insurance can be. On a hotel just go to priceline. They add thousands of new deals every day at up to 60 off. Thats how kaley and i got to share this trip together at this amazing hotel. Yeah ash and i share everything dresses, makeup, water bottles. We do . Mmhmm. We share secrets, shoes, toothbrushes. What . Yeah i forgot mine so ive been using yours. Seriously . Whats the big deal . I mean, we even dated the same guy. Who . uh, go to priceline and get the hotel deals you wont find anywhere else. That caused me one of my only absences see, its live tv. From the only day i took off this year was for our daughters wedding. There were several who worried or maybe hoped that i had been fired. To whom i say, not yet. Mine was an excused absence. Our daughter was being married. For once i didnt sit in the middle. I sat on the brides side. Boogying to scarlet begonias. Merry christmas and happy new year to everybody and i will see you i hope in 2018. Still to come, your final tweets and Facebook Comments of the year. Like this one smerkonish your pappadopolous moments are some of my favorites. Hey, diane, wait until you see what mistakes i will make next year. Businesses are thinking. Factories are thinking. Even your toaster is thinking. Honey, clive owens in our kitchen. Im leaving. Oh never mind, hes leaving. But what if a business could turn all that thinking. Thinking. Endless thinking into doing . To make better decisions. Make a difference. Make the future. Not next week while you think about it a little more. But right now. Is there a company that can help you do all that . I can think of one. Helping small businesses. Ut, jamie damage your vehicle . We got you covered. [ glass shatters ] Property Damage . Thats what general liabilitys for. What . injured employee . Ow. Workers comp helps you pay for a replacement. Whats happening . This is carla. Hows it going . And if anything comes up, our experts are standing by. Boo at tmobile when you holiday twogether, great things come in twos. Like tmobile and netflix. Right now when you get an unlimited family plan, netflix is included. Wow tmobile covers your netflix subscription, so you can catch the hottest new movies and shows all year long on us. Amazing and its your last chance to buy any of these hot new Samsung Galaxy phones and get a 2nd one free. Thats one samsung for you and one to gift. Just in time to finish off your list. Tmobile. Holiday twogether. But when we brought our daughter home, that was it. Now i have nicoderm cq. The nicoderm cq patch with unique extended release Technology Helps prevent your urge to smoke all day. Its the best thing that ever happened to me. Every great why needs a great how. Fotheres a seriousy boomers virus out there thats been almost forgotten. Its hepatitis c. One in 30 boomers has hep c, yet most dont even know it. Because it can hide in your body for years without symptoms, and its not tested for in routine blood work. The cdc recommends all baby boomers get tested. If you have hep c, it can be cured. For us its time to get tested. Ask your Healthcare Provider for the simple blood test. Its the only way to know for sure. Now what . Well, after your first reaction, consider your choices. Go it alone, against the irs and its massive resources. Hire a law firm, where youre not a priority. Call your cpa, who can be required to testify against you. Or, call the tax law firm of moskowitz, llp. I went from being a cpa to a tax attorney because our clients needed more. Call us, and let us put our 30 years of tax experience to work for you. Hey. Please remember to follow me on facebook and twitter. Heres some of whats coming during the course of this program. Smerconish, lay off the eggnog. Trump is the most damaging president to usa. Debbie, i knew when i wrote that opening commentary where i argued that he is the most consequential president of modern era. That some would interpret the term, consequential, in a favorable light. I went to Great Strides to say that im using the same that Time Magazine uses, but respectfully, i say youre kidding yourself if you think that this is not a, avery impactful presidency. I laid out all the reasons why. But i think youre misinterpreting the way i delivered it. Hit me with another one. By your assessment, Osama Bin Laden should at one point have been b times person of the year. Vaughn, absolutely. Absolutely. And the year was 2001. And ru drk y wurdy was the time the year and i understood that and had tremendous respect for Rudy Giulianis impact. But would you really argue that in 2001, Osama Bin Laden wasnt the person who had the greatest impact on world events . Of course he was. And in this instance, time took the easy way out because im sure there would have been norm blowback if they pinned that on bin laden. Many people regard it as an honor when it isnt. Whats next . My neighborhood has at least 20 packages stolen every day. One person has been packing up cat pop in hers. I like it. I like the cat poop. If you combine the cat poop with the blank box that gentleman was here sell, come on, lets watch it again. Yeah. Little cat poop in there, then the explosion would be terrific. Give me another. Heres the issue. Who eats lemon pie in the first place . Very suspicious. That was one of my radio listeners. Then theres guy who needs an oil change and he says so then the next thing that happens is that ads pop up for an oil change. My son came home from School Sporting a growth now being hit with beard ads. I said did you google beard produc products . No, dad, i didnt. Whats next . Peter piper picked a peck of picked papadopoulos. On radio, i never struggle with it. Its only on television. Time for one more. Better be a good one. This is the final tweet of the year. What have you got . Now that mr. Trump has given me permission, may i wish you a Merry Christmas and happy new year . Wait a minute, did mr. Trump give me permission to wish you a happy new year . Greg, i dont know. So im wishing everybody happy holidays, Merry Christmas, happy kwanza. New year, whatever youre celebrating. I hope youre safe, happy, youre with friends and family and youll come back to us in 2018. Thanks, everybody. Give a little bit give a little bit. Hello. Give a little bit. Of your love to me oh, haha. Theres so much that we need to share so send a smile and show that you care ill give a little bit of my love to you i am totally blind. And non24 can make me show up too early. Or too late. Or make me feel like im not really there. Talk to your doctor, and call 8442342424. You are live in the cnn news room. Im pamela brown. Two major stories unfolding this hour. President trump attacking deputy fdirector following news mccabe will retire in the coming months. Trump not mincing words about him on twitter. More on that, but first, the white house denying a report in the New York Times that claims that during an oval office meet ng june, the president became so enranged by the number of people receiving visas, he began to unleash on