Economy, our health, our children, the kind of country we live in. Its all on the line. Good day, im Andrea Mitchell in washington. You hear the music. The Democratic National convention is getting under way today as the party tries to make a virtue of being virtual bringing in hollywood stars and emcees. Hoping for no technical glitches and injecting as much youth as they can to energize young voters to come out to the polls including joe biden doing an interview with rapper cardi b. Oh, snap. Is this real . How ya doing . Hi. How are you . How are you . The names joe. I love ya, joe the massive virtual effort we will see throughout the week is the democrats big chance to grab an audience and make their chance that joe biden is the right man to lead the country reeling from a coronavirus pandemic and a crippling recession. The latest snapshot of the race. Our new nbc news wall street journal poll part of a clearer pictures we see in three other major polls. Biden hitting 50 or higher among registered voters with the president needing to make up some ground, but with a smaller lead than just a month ago for biden and warning signs for him as the president is still ahead on the ability to handle the economy. A key factor. The Biden Campaign is kicking off tonights big opening with two governors getting high marks for their handling of the pandemic arn drew kwo pandemic andrew cuomo and Gretchen Whitmer from michigan leading up to republican prior Governor John Kasich and the most popular democrat in the country. Michelle obama. President trump will spend dnc week breaking from all tradition. Instead of hanging back, he visits four key swing states and even appear in joe bidens hometown of scranton, pa, in al yawn important battleground state when biden is delivering his acceptance speech virtually on thursday from wilmington. As all of this action is playing out, the other huge political story, whether the president and his handpicked postmaster general are trying to cripple the post office to suppress the vote. In a rare move, nancy pelosi announcing shes calling back the house from its august recess to try to vote end of this week to protect the post office from further cuts. This, as President Trump continues to attack mailin voting. Postmaster general, a big donor to you, to slow the mail . Not at all. Wouldnt do that. Now, i have encouraged everybody, speed up the mail. Not slow down the mail and i also want a post office that runs without losing billions and billions of dollar as year, as it has been doing for 50 years. Joining me to lead us off, weekend today cohost kristen welker, and Donna Edwards and Kimberly Atkins from the boston globe. Kristen first to you. Thought wed be in milwaukee. Instead youre in wilmington, delaware. What will we see tonight . Reporter andrea, an Unconventional Convention. Democrats will try to bring about some of that same time of energy you would typically see at a convention, but theyre going to do it virtually. The sce theme tonight is we the people. Were going to hear from some of the biggest names in the party including senator Bernie Sanders. Those outside the party, republican john kasich and, of course, former first Lady Michelle obama. In terms of the technology, stephanie putter, executive of this event, said that success will be if no satellite feeds go down. Backups to the backups to the backups to try to make sure this goes out without any glitch. In terms of how the actually going to look, some of the speeches will be prerecorded, like former first Lady Michelle obamas, including former president bill clinton who is going to speak tomorrow night, but most of the major speeches will be live, including from former president obama, senator Kamala Harris will speak on wednesday and then, of course, the big keynote address by joe biden on thursday. Theres going to be a virtual roll call, andrea, with delegates stretched out all across the country, and then theyre going to be watch parties as well all across the country. Im told these watch parties were sent production kits by the dnc to get shots out virtually and the night of that big address on thursday, im told there are going to be watch parties and drivein theaters. The stakes could not be higher here. Both technically speaking, also in terms of the messaging. The goal to try to unify the party and also to try to introduce the country to this historymaking ticket, joe biden, and Kamala Harris, and to the issues that they are fighting for. They are going to make this about leadership as relates to covid19, as you just talked about, andrea. Of course, on Racial Disparities as well as the economy. They will try to cast themselves to the counterpoint to President Trump. So it is high stakes as this convention gets under way, like we have never seen before. Andrea . Indeed. And donna, talk about the speakers. Gretchen whitmer, a finalist in the Vice President ial sweek sta scene staix, kicking it off in the 10 00 hour and credit for tough handling on the pandemic. Bernie sanders sews party unity. Explicit and going to be over the top. Unlike he was in the runup tore the 2016 campaign, the biden camp worked closely with him. Explain john kasich, as well, from highway, thats a key state, but john kasich, a republican in such a prominent role on the kickoff night for democrats. You know, i think i mean, what youre going to see tonight and america is going to see is the breadth and depth of the Democratic Party and special inviteers who found themselves alienated by this president. I think that the addition of john kasich, i know its, you know, met with some considerable derision in parts of the party, but i think it is important and it speaks to joe biden and it speaks to the kind of test for governing that joe biden wants to build. Tent for governing that joe biden wants to build and at the same time, Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama saying heres who we are as democrats. What we value. Value our unity going into november, november 3rd. And then were going to come out and make sure that we can create a party for governing. I think its a really, you know, impressive lineup, when you consider the depth and breadth and says something about the kind of Democratic Party that joe biden and Kamala Harris want to unite going into november 3rd. And kim atkins, the other democrat in the spotlight, of course, is Kamala Harris. Shes already been repeatedly attacked by the president with racist probes including flatly rejecting a live birther conspiracy when Kelly Odonnell really pressed him on this saturday night in bedminster. Let me play his answer. I just dont know about it. But its not something. Reporter you do know, sir, you do mr. President you know. You can certainly clear this up. Dont tell me what i know. Lem put it differently. Put it differently. To me, it doesnt bother me at all. I dont know about it. I read one quick article. The lawyer happens to be a brilliant lawyer, as you probably know. He wrote an article saying that there could be a problem. Its not something im going to be pursuing. Reporter is she i just told you. I have no gone into it in great detail. If shes got a problem, you would have thought she would have been vetted. So, kim, he was given every opportunity to say i know thats not true, and he keeps putting out hes a brilliant lawyer, this is a column thats been now newsweek even disavowed what they put up, and extraordinary that they even put it up in the first place. Hes a controversial lawyer. Youre a lawyer. He doesnt believe in birthright citizenship. He is an outlier to start with. Its not true. Its totally false. And its a racist Conspiracy Theory that is a lie. This begins and ends with the fact that Kamala Harris was born in california. Point blank, period. Theres nothing more to say about that and nothing more to learn about that issue. What we is the failure when given repeated opportunities not just the president but the people who speak on his behalf all morning yesterday on the political shows were given ample opportunity to say not only is that not true institutionally not true but that it is racist attack and denounce it and say they want to do nothing with it, and announce the person making it. Opportunity at a time yesterday which is sadly just the latest a person of color super citizenship and donna, talk about Michelle Obama. She had has memorable slogan you go low. We go high last time. How does that message evolve tonight . I think, you know, tonight what were going to have is a Michelle Obama who she says, i mean, no longer sort of, you know, in the white house, but she certainly is a leader of our party. Her voice is so incredibly important. Not just to democrats but to americans. I mean, shes admired across the political pespectrum and i thin her remarks tonight will set the tone both for the week and for the entirety of his campaign period. Im really looking forward to it. Weve been watching her over these last several months really come into herself, and i think that shes going to deliver a very powerful message for democrats tonight. And delivered a very powerful message already on instagram supporting Kamala Harris against these conspiracies and against the angry woman racist trope as well. Thanks to you all so much. Kristen welker in wilmington and looking for you tonight and throughout the day and tonight. And kim atkins and Donna Edwards. Before leaving for minnesota this morning, President Trump told reporters he may hold a small Memorial Service for his brother, robert trump, at the white house this friday. Robert trump passed away over the weekend at the age of 71. Youngest of fred trump seniors five children. Served Senior Executive in the trump organization. Real cause of death erased. President trump said in a statement in part he was not just my brother he was my best friend. Condolences to the president s and his family upon hearing the news. Joe biden tweeted his condolences saying in part, i know the tremendous pain of losing a loved one and know how important family is in moments like these. And coming up next, House Speaker nancy pelosi calling members back to washington for an emergency vote. A rare decision to call them back in the middle of august recess. Vote on the Postal Service and cutbacks. Senator Mitch Mcconnell says the post office is going to be just fine. Our reporting is next. Plus, more on tonights big kick jaup of the Democratic National convention. Michelle obama, the big headliner. Does she plan to take on President Trump . Youre watching Andrea Mitchell reports on msnbc. Tech well fix it right with nocontact service you can trust. 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Were providing affordable Internet Access to low income families through our internet essentials program. And this summer, xfinity is creating a Virtual Summer camp for kids at home all on xfinity x1. Were committed to helping all families stay connected. Learn more at xfinity. Com education. In an emergency move Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the house back from their august recess to vote on a bill to try to stop President Trumps attempt to force Service Cutbacks at the United States post office ahead of the november election. The speaker is accusing President Trump of a campaign to sabotage the election by manipulating the Postal Office to disenfranchise voters. Thats a quote. Over the weekend the president falsely claimed results from the election may not be known for months even years. Even though he has voted by absent ooee ballot, virtually t same and voting agains this year by absentee ballot. Joining kne ining me, president historian michael boeseschlosbe. Talk about the special place the constitution, in the founders concept how to tie these colonies together and create a more Perfect Union. Sure does, andrea. Never seen a president in American History showing this kind of selfish contempt for a sacred Democratic Institution like the post office, almost wholly in our history. Ben minh franklin first postmaster general 1775. The constitution specifically says that our government has to provide post offices and post roads just as you said, andrea, to draw the very different states of our union together. Donald trump took an oath to defend that constitution. Hes violating it by breaking up parts of the post office are and denying people the kind of service that they deserve. And the fact is, this postmaster is a prolific fund razor, cut jobs, is cutting back right and left. But nancy pelosi is calling them back to vote on a bill to protect the post office from further cuts, but if Mitch Mcconnell doesnt pick up that bill, its not going anywhere and the president would likely veto it. So you know, whether shes coming back to put pressure as well on the board of governors of the post office. A new letter has gone out to board of governors saying if dejoy, postmaster general doesnt cooperate with the oversight committee, they have authority to fire him. Which she should do if that happens. He and the president argue they have to make the post office profitable. Its a joke. What this obviously is, a transparent attempt to sow chaos in this election so that it donald trump may be able to slip through. Thats something we have never seen before in American History. As far as the profit thing is concerned the government promises in the constitution to provide for the common defense. Provide us all with safety and defense. If the Defense Department is not a Profit Center in the a given year, does the president say, all right. Were going to deny defense to cincinnati or st. Louis . This is ridiculous. One thing the president just said today was that the Postal Service lost money for 50 years. Well, thats true, but in 50 years no president has ever tried to make such cuts that they could be cripple and not able to have a mailin election in the middle of a pandemic, and someone pointed out they handled the christmas mail in a short period of time, which is probably more intense than the voting mail as well. Take a look at what mitt romney a republican senator had to say about the, why the president is against voting by mail. I heard some people say they think that the reason the president doesnt want people to vote by mail is that polls show that people who wanted to vote by mail tend to vote for Vice President biden. People who tend to want to vote in person tend to want to vote for President Trump, and so this is a political calculation. And Geoff Bennett joins us now. Geoff has been in charge of a new nbc unit, really digging into this. Geoff, youve done all the reporting i think joining us by phone tell us some of the most egregious effects youve seen of some of these cutbacks especially veterans getting their medicines and some other critical functions no longer happening in realtime. Seeing it already in our mail here in d. C. Reporter right about that, andrea. Military veterans too depend on the vanch. A. For prescription d. Fills prescriptions to veterans through the u. S. Postal af al s. Its all over the country. Spoke to one veteran last night lives in indiana. Air force veteran. Former secret Service Agent who has to drive two hours round trip to pick up lifesaving heart medication, because of the delay in the mail was just so long. Hes now wait are fog a medical device normally takes three to five days in the mail once sent from the v. A. And now taking some three weeks. This is an issue even as the president continues to attack the post office and continues to target mailin voting because he sees mailin voting as an existential threat to his political standing in the gop, the consequences of these delays extend far beyond the Election Year and stretch out to medications, people who still rely on the mail for their checks. And so what you heard there from mitt romney, its interesting. The president actually said as much in an april interview he did to a conservative media outlet. If you have all mailin voting you can never have a republican elected in this country again. There is no real evidence to back that up, but that is the way the president sees it. Voting by mail makes it easier for people to vote and more people vote, more people will vote for democrats. Thats how the president sees it and that is basically what instructed the entire approach to this mailin voting issue. I want to share with all of us something that Brian Williams learned in talking to general Russell Honore last week on what happens to veterans. Hes a 37year veteran, locked down in new orleans. He saved new orleans for everyone, of course, during katrina. This is what he had to say about how had now has to go out and try to find his medicine because of this mail delay. You know it soldiers and sailors, marines ashds the world rely on the post office. As a veteran i rely on the oeft pofs. My delivering on time. They news the post office. I have the option to drive to the store. What about my buddies that have no one to take them to the store when their medicine dont show up. This has to stop. A graphic example. Geoff bennett what options does pelosi have if Mitch Mcconnell doesnt take it up . Reporter there really is no option legislatively beyond that. The other option, raise public attention. Thats the time of which hes doing calling for this vote now on saturday. Its happening saturday, thats between the two nominating conventions. The two Party Nominating Conventions and then tomorrow House Speaker is asking members to hold a day of action at post offices around the country. The post office is apolitical. Its history post office are and every should be invested in preserving it. Thats the message, the takeaway ive gotten. Geoff bennett and michael boeschloss. Thank you to both of you. Appreciate your being here. This year its more important than ever we are allinformed how, when and where to vote. Nbc created an interactive statebystate plan your vote guide with everything you need to know about casting your ballot in the 2020 president ial election. Its really terrific. Go to nbcnews. Com planyourvote for more. And we have a lot more on what democrats are doing to ensure every vote is counted this november. Congressman cedric richmond, the Biden Campaign cochair joining me next. Youre watch wering Andrea Mitchell reports. This is msnbc. This is msnbc. As democrats are return to washington to pass a bill to try to protect the postal afs ahe a ahead of the election its not clear what Mitch Mcconnell would do in the senate and also unclear, the new postmaster general, democrats want limb to testify about the budget cuts, how will this affect making sure theres a fair vote . Joining us congressman cedric richmond. Cochair of the Biden Campaign also. Thank you for joining us. First, the fight over the post office, what democrats can do what can the Biden Campaign do to make sure that votes are counted and that the election is not tampered . Well, first of all, our leadership thank you for the question. Our leadership is calling us in to service on saturday, and we will pass a bill to give the post office the funding that they have articulated that they need. Thats their board of governors, appointed by trump. This is not partisan at all. This is giving the post office what they said they need to make sure that u. S. Mail delivery is on time and reliable. Remember, the United StatesPostal Service is not a forprofit business. It is a service. It is a Vital Service to the american people. So it is critical that we make sure that it is reliable. Small businesses depend on it. Our people depend on it. Our election, our democracy depentsd depends on it. Were going in and make sure we pass legislation to protect it. Send it to the senate. Mitch mcconnell will do usually whatever President Trump tells him to do. Im not very optimistic it will get swift access, but the people will know who the on their side and whos on the side of Small Business and others that depend on reliable Postal Service. I want to turn your attention to where joe biden stands in our new nbc news wall street journal poll, and chuck todd coming up at 1 00 will have even more poll numbers from this poll. Joe biden is behind trump on the economy by ten points. Ahead on the pandemic, on race and other issues. Why hasnt biden been able to close the gap on the economy given the way this has been handled by this president , and record level unemployment . Well, i think that the Vice President , the next president , will get a chance to make his case on the economy today. The numbers on the economy have gone up and down in sort of peaks and valleys. But i think that he will have a week to make his point on the economy is the coronavirus response, and you cant separate them out. I think that you have to look at those two numbers together, because this pandemic has crashed our economy. It crashed the economy that Vice President biden and president barack obama left to trump, and so i think that those numbers are just ebb and flow, but more importantly, i dont think you can look at them isolated. I think you have to combine it with pandemic response, because they are related. Also i wanted to ask you about this birther lie from, conspiracy here toists the presidethe theorists, given ample opportunity, the president leaves us hanging out there even though its completely untrue about Kamala Harris. Its unfortunate. The the real problem is he is exactly who he shows himself to be every day. Thats a guy who has racial issues. You can classify him as a racist, but also a person who lies to get whatever they want. You know, we, tonight, our convention is about we the people. Donald trumps mantra is me the people. Hes all about himself no matter who he hurnts, harms, no matter lost 160,000 people so far to this pandemic, no matter that over 5 Million People have been infected. He still thinks hes doing a good job in the pandemic response, but we have so many families that have been affected, and he just doesnt care. So for him to come back and go out with another birther movement, birther lie or give it view is very consistent to give him attention in the first place, to attack president barack obama. Hes just he has challenges, and he cant grow into the position. Hes uncapable of leading the country and hes incapable of just acknowledging the truth and that everything is not about donald j. Trump. Congressman, were hearing now from the New York Times, from katie rogers, the Republican NationalCommittee Filed for a permit to have a fireworks display at the Washington Monument on the night the president gives his Convention Speech at the white house. Whats your reaction to that . I would borrow a line from your last guest, general honore. Stuck on stupid. It appears they will not rise to the occasion. People are dieing every day. Our sole focus should be on making sure we have a medical response to this pandemic that saves lives. That we address it economically so that people dont continue to be evicted and go bankrupt. And that we make sure we have a safe and Fair Election and transition of power. Thats what we should be focused on in this country. But they cannot get past Donald Trumps ego. And so its just more of the same, and its just its unfortunate. I think at some point even most republicans would just stand up and say, enough is enough. This is about we and not just about me as in donald trump. I guess the National Parks service has to give that permit. Wait and see if they stand up to the president. I want to the ask about the progressives and bringing the Party Together, the job at the convention. Bernie sanders we understand absolutely explicit about the need to bring the Party Together and his endorsement. What about aoc and the fact at least reportedly shes only being given one minute . Isnt that a waste of one of the more important progressive, young voices in the party . Well, lets just start here. Its a twominute i mean a twohour convention. Not what weve ever seen before, but my colleague and friend aoc comes on right before Bernie Sanders and it is a strong nineminute segment where we will talk about progressive issues, talk about uniting the country. I believe im only on for a little over a minute tonight, because this is not about us. This is not about elected officials. This is about we the people. You will see a lot of content from ordinary people, and so, you know, as much as elected officials are leaders, this convention, this election, its about the people, and we want to make sure that people understand that. So for every segment of the population thats out there, we will have some of their leaders speaking tonight telling them, reaffirming to them how important this election is and why joe biden specifically and now senator Kamala Harris are the best to lead us to a more Perfect Union and a more equitable union. So thats what i think youll hear tonight from a number of people. Cedric richmond, cochair of the campaign and of course, the congressman from louisiana. Great to have you. Thanks very much. Good luck tonight. Well all be watching. Thanks for having me. And an Unconventional Convention to say the least with this years party mostly all online and can the democrats get the traditional Convention Bump . s wlat and whats going to happen in wisconsin and milwaukee . We hear from them necessary. And obamas are back with first Lady Michelle obama, the big headliner delivering the big speech tonight in prime time. More on that ahead. Plus, coming up at 1 00 eastern, much more from the man who knows all of this. The latest nbc News Washington journal poll with chuck todd. Im Andrea Mitchell only on msnbc. And theyre always glad you came you want to be where you can see the troubles are all the same you want to be where Everybody Knows your name applebees. All your favorite burgers, all just 8. 99. Now thats eating good in the neighborhood. All your favorite burgers, all just 8. 99. Ior anything i want to buy isk going to be on rakuten. Rakuten is easy to use, free to sign up and its in over 3,000 stores. I buy a lot of makeup. Shampoo, conditioner. Books, food. Travel. Shoes. Stuff for my backyard. Anything from clothes to electronics. Workout gear. I even recently got cash back on domain hosting. You can buy tires. To me, rakuten is a great way to get cash back on anything you buy. Rack it up with rakuten, sign up today to get cash back on everything you buy. Woi felt completely helpless. Hed online. 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Part of our countytocounty project including Milwaukee County where we thought the convention would be held and where we find nbc news correspondent Garrett Haake who talk told voters to see how theyre feeling about tonights virtual convention. A lot of disappoint economically. Hammering mia ing milwaukee. The pandemic means we cant all be in milwaukee but at least you are. Reporter right, andrea. A recognition among voters how the nominee in this case joe biden handles the convention is informative how he would handle country. The pandemic an issue around every voter you talk to around the country and thats the case here. People want money into communities. A lot of voters want more stimulus checks, more unemployment benefits. Responsible leadership in the time of a pandemic, issues voters will use and watching closely who they will support in 2020 or indeed if theyll vote at all. Voters here were heavily focused on hearing from africanamerican voters. A big dropoff in turnout. Some of the things driving southernout have to do with the moment in the country including killing of george floyd and protests after. Heres what one voter said this morning about that. Yeah. Because its like everybodys woke now. Everybody gets to what weve endured, going through, for so many years. So now it also shows by the last election that our vote does count. Our voice does need to be heard, because without it, its like you also are probably like part of the problem. Instead of being part of the solution. And being a part of the solution is getting out and voicing your opinion and getting your vote out there. Reporter andrea, i and clearing this around the country. Being apolitical, things like the protests are galvanizing communities across the country. We see that play out as election season begins in earnest now. Garrett haake in a key area, milwaukee, wisconsin, where the convention was to have been held. Thanks, garrett. Joining us, former White House Press secretary for president obama and an msnbc political analyst. Robert, great to see you. Well, can you think of a good to see you. This virtual convention. Were not on the floor of the convention, not in usual positions but watching a show, and theyve had more time to prepare, because they were being so careful about the pandemic, which they think is one of their calling cards in this campaign. This is a highwire act. Isnt it . Absolutely it is, but i think you mention e, theres been a lot of planning. I think it will take a little getting used to. I dont think youll see a lot of really long speeches, except maybe a couple each night. I think youre going to see a lot of sort of shorter speeches that frame different debates. Look, i think the real thing the democrats have to do in this convention is not focus on defining donald trump. I think the nbc news poll shows donald trump is fairly well defined. People understand that country is moving in the wrong direction. What they need to get out of these four days for democrats is a sense of what joe biden would do. Who he is as a person. And instill confidence in him as a president come january of 2021. So, to me, thats the big business that has to be done here virtually or sort of from milwaukee. In the middle of a recession, with unemployment so high, why do you in that joe biden is still lagging well behind President Trump on handling the economy, which is such a key factor . Well, as you mention. Its the most important issue in the nbc poll, and i think it just shows it shows the challenge that i think the Biden Campaign still has with this election. 2020 hasnt been like any other year in almost anything, and certainly not in politics. We havent had rallies. We havent had policy speeches to the degree were used to. This is a time in which youre generally going to have the focus and attention of voters in this country, and now is the time to put forward a plan for what you would do to get the economy moving, for National Strategy around coronavirus, what youre going to do to improve Race Relations and how youre going to get all of this is done. That, to me, as you said, thats the big piece of business that the Biden Campaign has over the next four days and well see and measure that effectiveness. Again, i dont think its how you define trump. Trumps fairly well define and certainly will be defined in some of these speeches, but how are they going to define joe biden . And what is your reaction to the fact that the president is trying to get a fireworks display at the Washington Monument the night he does his acceptance speech at the white house . Can the democrats look i dont think, i dont any voters will make up their minds on who has the best Fireworks Show or who has the biggest boat parade. I think what theyre going to look for is who do they feel like they are most confident in getting this country back on track. We are badly off the rails. We have had a disastrous response to coronavirus. Its imperative that voters feel some sense of confidence in going forward. I wouldnt focus too much about fireworks. Thats something that will come and go quickly. Theyll focus instead what is said at each convention and what the plans are for going forward. Trumps never laid out, still hasnt laid out, what he would fill the next four years with. Now its joe bidens chance to fill that slate in for us. Robert gibbs, a pleasure to have you. Thanks so much. And thank you. Next, an inside look at President Trumps battle and his security within his own camp. Youre watching Andrea Mitchell reports on msnbc news. Ll reports on msnbc news. Voltaren. The joy of movement. For spending a perfectly reasonable amount of time on the couch with tacos from grubhub . 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National security adviser insisted on meet the press that the director of National Intelligence found china, iran, russia were trying to interfere in the november election. Once again, the report that has not come out before, detailed the influence and efforts of china and much iran to denigrate President Trump and make sure he is not reelected. Also talked about russian interference. As i have said as the president made clear, were against every party, Foreign Party trying to get involved in our elections, whether it is the communist chinese, Vladmir Putins russia, the theocracy in iran, we want them all to stay out of our election. Heres the fact check. The statement said they prefer President Trump be defeated, didnt say they had taken action. To the contrary, they said russia is the one country already taking action to hurt joe biden and help donald trump by interfering already in the election. Joining me now, writer for New York Times robert draper. His new book to start a war. Theyre trying to create equivalence amongst three countries, theres only one, russia, led by vladimir putin, already trying to interfere in the election. Now our reporting is that the president wanted to even invite putin to the u. S. For a white house summit before the election. All right. Youre right, andrea, essentially two dynamics are being conflated. Iran and china have a preference perhaps, perhaps would like to see joe biden win, but theyre just trying to influence campaigns in this above board way, china by hiring lobbyists. Iran doesnt possess oneone hundredths of russian sophistication. Russia is trying to do it through trolls, bots, disinformation, voter suppression, hacking infrastructure. These are very different things. But it is not a coincidence theyre all mentioned in the same breath. Theyre mentioned in the same breath, the story i wrote recently references President Trump believes that any discussion about russias interference in the 2016 election and in the upcoming one calls into question his legitimacy as president. He doesnt want to hear it. Theyre trying to drown out that stark fact by bringing in china and iran who are just not important actors in this election. And this was central to him forcing out dan coats, previous director of National Intelligence. Yeah, thats right. And coats was on that occasion and others simply stating facts that russia had interfered in 2016, that russia had a preference for the current president for 2020, and this is of a piece, andrea, with former director of National Intelligence coats, simply stating the facts. For example, isis has not been defeated, that north korea is not intending to give up its Nuclear Capabilities anytime soon. When he stated those things in a worldwide threats testimony in late january of 2019, trump called him on the carpet for that. Thats when coats knew his days were numbered. Again, not by registers any opinion. Those are assessments the Intelligence Community has held with virtual u nnanymity. Thank you very much. That does it for this edition of Andrea Mitchell reports. Nbc has coverage of the Democratic National convention. Prime time coverage begins 7 00 p. M. Eastern. Ill be on your local nbc station as well and the network for coverage of the convention with lester holt, savannah guthrie, chuck todd. First, chuck is up next for the new hour of mtp daily here on msnbc. F mtp daily here on msnbc. Try wayfair. You got this perfect. Youre welcome. I love it. Howd you do all this . Told ya wayfair. Lets talk dining tables. Yes blow it up. Wayfair youve got just what i need i wondered. Could another come around the corner . Or could it play out differently . 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At comcast business, we want to help you not just bounce back. But bounce forward. And now, were committed to helping you do just that with a powerful and reliable internet and voice solution at a great price. Call or go online today. If its monday, nothing says 2020 like the packed day we have. We are following several breaking stories, just released numbers, more numbers from a the wall street journal poll with revelations how americans are losing confidence in the accuracy of the vote as democrats prepare to kickoff the convention. Speaker pelosi plans to hold an emergency session of house of representatives in attempt to pressure republicans in the white house and vote on legislation to address the post office crisis. Democrats would like to see hearings featuring the post master general. Well see if he agrees. Welcome to monday. It is press