Fau fauci. He asked you to serve as his chief medical adviser. Will you do that . Did you say yes . Absolutely, i said yes right on the spot. Fauci there my colleague Savannah Guthrie, this as we just broke a single day record for covid19 deaths again. We lost more than 2800 americans to this virus on thursday. And a new cdc projection says we can see up to nearly 20,000 covid19 deaths in the week of christmas alone. Well start on capitol hill where Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to give us an update on where things stand for another round of Coronavirus Relief at any moment. Garrett, let me start with you. We know that nancy pelosi finally spoke to mcconnell yesterday. Mcconnell using language that, while it may seem understated when people read it, its pretty significant for him. Hes very careful with his words. Where do things stand at this hour . For those of us who consider ourselves mcconnell code breakers, or at least we try to be, the idea that he and Speaker Pelosi are southwested in getting an outcome, suggest were in a serious negotiating phase. For months theyve been accusing each other of essentially operating to score political points and not taking the pandemic seriously enough. The fact that the two of them are now personally engaged in negotiations and that everyone seems to have put aside the political talking points, at least for the moment, with one week to go in terms of getting this done shows the seriousness of it. When pelosi takes the mic today, does she view this 908 billion package negotiated by this Bipartisan Group as a floor, as in they will go no lower than that number, or a ceiling that they can go no higher. A lot of republicans would be scared off if they get that number above a trillion dollars. If it stays in the range theyre in right now, if thats something shes cobble with, we could be looking at a package that could pass and help a lot of people. Right. Thats my sense, too. That 1 trillion figure is very important as we watch these lastminute negotiations play out. Jo ling kent, while were waiting for pelosi to start focusing on coveed relief, youve been talking to people who need help. This pandemic has been so long and so hard for so many families. What have they said to you about what they need congress to do and whats going on in their lives right now . Reporter kasie, unemployed workers tell me they have a simple message for congress regardless of party. Please do your job and please help us because we want to get back to work. The message is really simple. If you look at the numbers, economists were expecting 440,000 jobs to be added last month. Instead, it was habit half of that. Take a look at labor force participation. Thats the number of people participating in the workforce. Thats down still significantly below covid levels. This is a really tough situation because when you look at that Unemployment Rate number, that 6. 7 , that does not count the people who have stopped looking for work because theyre unable to, that theyve given up. I talked to two women who have been unemployed now, and this is what they had to say about their situations and what theyre going through as they try to navigate a possibility of a future with no additional aid. Theyre out of touch with reality. Theyre worried about, oh, going after this side, going after that side instead of thinking whats best for the american people. They need to understand that we have bills to pay for. We struggle. I have Student Loans to pay for. They dont care. They still want their money every month. I shouldnt be having to say that, if tomorrow my husband goes in the hospital, that im going to have to decide do i pay his medical bills or pay my mortgage. Im asking for help. Its just a lift until you get me back on my feet and everybody else around me. Get us back on our feet. We can do this. Im just looking for a little help. The woman just speaking to me has an incredibly compelling story. Shes the breadwinner of her family, providing insurance. She also has melanoma and shes been unable to go to the doctor to get a regular fullbody scan for a checkup that she does very much need right now. Thats the sacrifice people are going through by losing health insurance, losing their ability to pay for their mortgages and rent, visiting food shelves. These stories are so very common. The number that represents that from the jobs report today is this, 385,000. Thats the number of newly longterm Unemployed People as of november. So youre talking about people who have been jobless for longer than 27 weeks. So you as you look at this sacrifice and as capitol hill tries to hopefully figure out a plan here, these are the voices who are saying the reason we need this is just to be able to help this economy bounce back and bring ourselves back to just a standard of living where we can get by month to month, kasie. Its these people who have been caught in the political crossfire that has been taking place as members of congress are focused more on elections, whether the one that just happened or the one happening in four years or two years, depending on who you are. I think its an important incredibly important reminder to have those voices from people who are waiting on members of congress to do this. Garrett, i do get the sense that while leadership has had incredibly toxic relationships around this. Nancy pelosi and President Trump, very toxic. Pelosi and mcconnell havent been in the regular communication you would expect if were getting a big deal, its pretty clear everyone went home over thanksgiving and heard from people like who jo talked to in their own states and own districts who said to them this is not acceptable. Reporter i think thats absolutely right. This is unescapable, the scope of the pandemic now, in a way that perhaps it wasnt earlier in the summer. Youre seeing as we watch cases spread across the midwest, across the upper midwest, in places like north dakota even, as this has become an issue in states across the country, not just big cities like it felt like to some of these lawmakers, earlier on that has changed the state of play here. I think its notable that bill cassidy from louisiana louisiana, a doctor, someone who represents a very red state, really hit hard by this pandemic, has been one of the people involved in this process and will potentially be really important to bringing other republicans on to this. Everybody sees the real nature of this problem across the country, but translating that into political momentum has been almost impossible really since a few weeks after the c. A. R. E. S. Act passed back in the early spring. Its a great point. Garrett, were going to pause just a second and listen in to pelosi who has started talking about the massive bill thats going to Fund Government and possibly covid relief. Shelby on the senate side have come to great agreement on the 302bs, more appropriations talk and how they would proceed, theyve made great progress, more needs to be done. And at the same time, simultaneous with that, were working on the covid package. On wednesday with our deadliest day every day that anyone dies is a complete tragedy for our country. 2,800 americans lost. We believe that one of the saddest parts of it is the neglect that this administration has played, delay, denial, distortion, hoax. And now finally we have a new dynamic, a new president in a little more than a month, committed to crushing the virus. A new dynamic, a vaccine, a successful vaccine. More than one successful vaccines to make all the difference in the world. That is imminent until the inauguration and the emergence of the vaccine which will be soon, but not for everyone, just because of the quantity needed and the money needed to go from vaccine, from the lab to vaccination, to the arm. Thats going to require more than were talking about now. But what joe biden has been talking about. We believe leader schumer and i believe that the fraechl work, the bipartisan framework unveiled by the senators in a bipartisan way with the support of house members on both sides of the aisle could be a basis for real bicamera negotiations. Its not text yet. Its a framework. So as they work on the text, we hope it will take us very close to something we can put into the only bus which is at the same time being president elect biden has said that this package would be just, at best just a start. And thats how we see it as well. Its less money, but over a shorter period of time, and we need to do it to save lives and livelihood with the hope that much more help is on the way. Again, we will this vaccine has had such high 95 was the Pfizer Vaccine and the moderna vaccine, give us great hope. But again, we have to have the resources to exercise our options that we have to buy the vaccine. I would hope that the president would immediately exercise the call upon the defense production act to produce the vaccine. Thats what is going to require to have the amount that we need. And then have the logistics, the money there for the states. That further highlights the need for funding for state and local government because we can pay for the vaccine. We can pay for its delivery. But the administration of it by Health Care Professionals and others still needs to be funded as well. Thats good news and help is on the way from joe biden who sees the need. We had some notsogood news on the job front that further necessitates our taking action to crush the virus, to open up the economy, to open up our schools. But in order to do so we must do so safely. Sciencebased in our approach on all of it. You probably did see the jobs report this morning which is indicative, is indicative of the need for us to crush the virus so the economy to get going. All of that is to come to this place to say there is momentum. There is momentum with the action that the senators and house members in a bipartisan way have taken with them. It could provide meaningful relief for millions who are suffering economically, personally, hentwise. So im pleased that the tone of our conversations is one that is indicative of the decision to get the job done. With that, ill take any questions you may have. I heard what you said about momentum. Realistically, how soon do you and leader mcconnell need to have a deal in order to have a package to vote on before the holidays . We have the time to do it. Again, we want to have it on the only bus. We have to have an am bus, and were hoping that that will accelerate the discussions on the only bus. We are going to keep government open. Were not going to have a continuing resolution, but we need to take the time to do that and then, as i said, we saw a framework. Theyre putting now they have to turn it into text, and then well take the time we need, and we must get it done and we must get it done by this before we leave. We cannot leave without it. About a week . It doesnt matter. Well take the time that we need. The question is when will the text be ready so we can combine it into the the only bus is not finished yet. We have a number of what we call ash and trash. Its a lot of other issues that need to be resolved, and theyre in the course of doing that. I dont want to in any way undermine the great bipartisan negotiations going on between the democrats and republicans, senator shelby as the chair of the Appropriations Committee in the senate, the chair of the house, their staffs working together. Dont worry about a date. It will be in sufficient time for us to get it done. The sooner the better, but not at the expense of the initiatives that we need to address in the bills. Just to be clear, you said no continuing resolution. If you are on the precipice of getting a coronavirus it will be before that. The Problem Solvers Caucus had a much larger bill a few months ago, you didnt like it. What has shifted that theyre now on board . Perhaps you missed what i said earlier. Joe biden committed to ending and crushing the virus and having a bill that an initiative, build back better, a vaccine. Answer to our prayers. To an answer to our prayers, 95 effectiveness in terms of pfizer and moderna, and there may be others coming forward. That makes that is a total gamechanger. A new president and a vaccine. So theres nothing these are different what was then before was not more of this. This has simplicity. Its what weve had in our bills. Its for a shorter period of time, but thats a okay now because we have a new president , a president who recognizes that we need to depend on science to stop the virus, a president who understands that americas working families need to have money in their pockets in a way that takes them into the future without any of the contraptions of any of the other bills that the administration was associating itself with. We feel very excited about the prospect that theres a bipartisan bill. I told members, im not bringing anymore bills that are not bipartisan. We wanted to show what needs to be done in the interest of negotiation. Theyre negotiating. Its a good product. Its not everything we want. Dont get me wrong. I dont want the republicans to think that this is a dream come true. It is not. But it is a path forward. Months ago all right. We have been listening to the house speaker, nancy pelosi, who has been briefing reporters at the state of Coronavirus Relief negotiations. Something that millions of americans have been waiting on for months. Garrett haake is still with me on capitol hill. Garrett, lets talk about what we heard there from nancy pelosi. She was explaining a little bit about why not in terms of accepting a compromise that previously democrats had basically said wasnt good enough, didnt spend enough money, didnt go far enough, didnt have the right policy in it. She said that, while the difference is that joe biden will be president in january and were going to have a vaccine, she left out any mention of what happened to democrats in the election. Whats your take on how she explained that and what else we just learned from her . Reporter a little spin about the circumstances that have changed. Make no mistake. If youre a fan of this 900 billion bipartisan framework, what you just got from Speaker Pelosi was very good news. You heard the speaker essentially describing that package as a bridge to a biden administration, a bridge to get them into the spring, it doesnt have everything they want. But it may have enough to help this country get through this dark winter and get to a place of the new administration, when the vaccine is being distributed, they can come back to the well later and get more. I suspect thats the way pelosi will be selling this framework to her members who wanted to see more who are wanted to see a more robust package. She also talked about the timeline. We dont need to get bogged down in the congressionalese of all this, they will find a way to get this done before the holidays, however they have to stretch this timeline, attach it to the big spending bill and get this done. She said she wants to wait and see the text of the bill, which makes a lot of sense. The devil is always in the detail of these things. That could come as early as monday. Other than that, she kind of indicated shes trying to stay out of the way. Let this Bipartisan Group continue to work in the manner in which they have done, and that they seem to be on a path to get at least some relief to the american people, possibly passed by as early as the end of next week. I dont think we can overstate how dramatically different the tone is this week coming from leaders on the hill about whether theyre going to get this done. Your point is well taken. Its not finished until every detail is nailed down and finished, and obviously President Trump is a significant wildcard or at least he has been. Certainly the confidence right now from congressional leaders that were actually going to see something before christmas is in a much, much better place for those people waiting for relief than it was. Garrett haake, thank you so much. Always great to have all your up to date reporting. Well get an update from president elect joe biden on the job numbers today. Plus, california is at a crisis point. The governor says theyre dealing with a surge on top of a surge in covid cases. Well take a look at the states tough new restrictions to try to get things back under control. First, president obama back on the campaign trail sort of. How hes working to boost turnout in the Georgia Senate races. Since 1995, seniors have opened their doors to right at home for personalized care. To be their guide. To steer them through uncharted territory. And when it comes right down to it, to keep them safe at home. After all, home is the best place to be. Right at home, navigating whats to come. Coto build a house, you need ary ststrong foundation. [music playing throughout] the same is true for building a business. Blackowned businesses are an integral part of americas foundation. They lay the groundwork for other black businesses like mine that turns concrete into something beautiful. Im kimberley robles, and im the owner and founder of robles concrete design. The Citi Foundation is helping our Community Partners facilitate more loans to blackowned businesses. Research shows people remember so to help you remember that Liberty Mutual customizes your Home Insurance, heres one thatll really take you back. Its customized Home Insurance from Liberty Mutual only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. To your friends. Your family. To your teachers. In that spirit of giving, chevys proud to give our employee discount to everyone. The chevy price you pay,. Is what we pay. Not a cent more. Because giving,. And giving back, is what the holidays are all about. Use the chevy employee discount for everyone to get a total value of over eight thousand four hundred dollars on this silverado. Get the chevy employee discount for everyone today. Welcome back. The center of the political universe, thats just about how everyone is describing georgia right now. Today really underscores why. Former president barack obama is taking part in a virtual rally this afternoon with Democratic Senate candidates jon ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Vice president mike pence will be in the state with republican senators Kelly Loeffler and david perdue. President trump heads there tomorrow. Nbcs blayne alexander is following all of it for us in atlanta. Blayne, its great to see you. Weve got a lot of competing campaigning going on here, all overshadowed by President Trump and some of his allies, or at least outside supporters, who have been encouraging Republican Voters not to vote in this primary, which is really creating a problem for Republican Leaders in washington. Whats the latest on the ground . Reporter well, kasie, it puts an added burden on republicans senlsly. In a time when theyd really rather be focusing all their efforts, all their energy on saying, come out and vote, support senators david perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Theyre now add ld with this additional burden of reassuring voters that the election process is secure and their vote will be counted. All of this underscores the issue that republicans are dealing with. Theyre having to thread this kind of line or walk this kind of line rather of, yes, getting people out to vote but also managing the president s repeated and unfounded claims of Election Fraud in the state of georgia. As for the president s visit tomorrow, there are a couple of different camps as to whether this is going to hurt or help republicans. Certainly the incumbent senators are welcoming his rally tomorrow down in valdosta. Thats down in south georgia. Theyll be appearing with the president. A number of other republicans will be speaking as well. E expect there will be a good turnout. Certainly theres that school of thought. Some republicans ive spoken to are concerned that, well, it could hurt or it could help. I spoke with gabriel starling, the official weve heard a lot from this week, the Elections Official who had strong words for President Trump. I asked him pointblank, do you think this is good or bad for republicans . He told me who the heck knows at this point. That echoes what were hearing from other republicans, hoping the president s message will be focused on senators leffler or perdue and less of airing his grievances here in georgia, kasie. A really tough spot for republicans to be in in georgia with the Senate Majority on the line. Blayne alexander, thank you for that update. Lets talk more about this with tiffany cross, msnbcs newest anchor and, of course, the author of the book say it louder black voters, white narratives and saving our democracy. I just want to say congratulations. Thrilled to have you a colleague. Thank you so much, kasie. Ive appeared on the screen with you so many times. Thrilled to be able to call you a colleague. Appreciate that. We cant wait to see what youre going to do on saturday mornings. Tiffany, lets talk about Stacey Abrams. She tweeted in the last 24 hours a million voters have requested their ballots a Million People asking for ballots. That seems to say a lot about the enthusiasm. We also know that democrats have been much more likely to vote by mail. Whats your take on what this means for this upcoming runoff . I think Stacey Abrams has done so much work on the ground. I would also say there are folks like latasosha brown and these confined digital spaces where people are encouraging the voters of georgia to exercise their Civic Engagement this way. I do want to say as well, the asianamerican Pacific Islanders vote in georgia is quite significant, also. There are 300,000 people of api descent in georgia. I think thats where youre going to have to rely on Coalition Building and gotv efforts. When you look at the people doing the work on the ground through that lens, i think victory is possible. You have to consider the disinformation campaigns being run by republicans, thats only hurting themselves when you have sydney powell at a gop event saying dont vote because its a rigged election. Shes saying this to the Republican Senate base. Theres also discord within the Republican Party in georgia. Kelly loeffler was by all evidence a carpet bagger. She pretty much bought this seat by flooding millions of dollars into the gop pockets there. Thats why the republican Governor Brian Kemp fought the system by tapping her over doug collins, by all means a trump ak light on capitol hill. Theres not unit on that side. So i do think you can see victory happen on the democratic side and senate. It says something, that the power of the senate will be determined by the rising majority of america, the new american electorate, people of color. Certainly i know thats how Kelly Loefflers critics certainly tagged her in georgia. Theres also been frustration among georgia officials at doug collins in the wake of this as they try to focus on getting these two republicans elected and he continues to side with President Trump. Tiffany, let me ask you about Raphael Warnock specifically. Its really unique that we have a black candidate who is facing this runoff with an electorate, as you say, that is more and more engaged. What do you think it means to them to have warnock on the ticket . Is he going to be the one who is helping out jon ossoff here as the two of them Campaign Together . I think theyre both going to help each other. Jon ossoff ran for the georgia congressional 60sth district, a district where i grew up actually. I think the voters got to know him during that process. Raphael warnock, being someone who went to morehouse and still passed through the Martin Luther king church there, deep roots in the Atlanta Community and i think statewide people have gotten to know him. I think these two candidates certainly help each other. They certainly campaign well. I had them on the show when i was guest hosting for joy reid on am joy and they did a great job complementing each other. I think warnock has done a great job in combating some of the Kelly Loeffler ads. He had the great ad where he was walking the dog, got ahead of the as nine attacks that weve seen come out of the republican campaigning. Time will tell if this is going to become effective. Given all evidence weve seen so far the race is certainly tight and nobody should operate as though the wind is at their back. I wonder if this will be like the president ial election. Will we mow the results on january 5th or will we have to wait a few days to find out. I think that remains to be seen. Indeed. We have just about a month left of this race. Tiffany cross. Thank you so much for your insights today. And congratulations on the new show again. Tiffanys show premiers saturday, december 12th at 10 00 a. M. Eastern right here on msnbc. And our friend Jonathan Capeharts new show will debut the next day, sunday, december sp 13th. Were thrilled to have tiffany and jonathan on the team here at msnbc. This afternoon, president elect joe biden is set to address the nation about that final jobs report of the year. And with the need for help more urgent than ever, hes throwing his weight behind the stimulus compromise coming out of congress and also making major moves when it comes to how his administration is going to handle this pandemic when they take office in 47 days. Nbcs mike memoli is in wilmington, delaware, ahead of the president elects speech. Mike, its always great to see you. Can you take us through what we expect to hear from the president elect about this jobs report . The reality is i think it really underscores the unbelievable projects and challenges facing him when he takes office in just a few weeks. Thats absolutely right, kasie. I think well see two things. One, starting with what you just mentioned, the slower pace of hiring, the fact were still very much an economy under strain calls for what biden has been calling for both in that interview last night, but really over the course of the past week, which is for congress and republicans specifically to come to the table and he offered his support for that 906 billion package thats moving its way through capitol hill. It really sets up this dynamic, casey, thats very different, especially after listening to Speaker Pelosi there than what youve been covering for four years, which is Republican Leaders on capitol hill very wary, very reluctant to endorse anything in terms of legislation without having the explicit support of President Trump. They never wanted to get ahead of him. Here you clearly see coordination between Speaker Pelosi and the president elect about this legislative package. I think youre also going to see something that weve heard really throughout the campaign from joe biden, which is this idea that you cant get the economy fully reopened until you get control of the virus. We herd him last night talking about the idea of asking americans to mask up in the first 100 days of his presidency, getting away from the idea of mandates and requirements, calling as a patriotic duty. He also talked about, of course, asking dr. Fauci to stay in his position and actually broadening his portfolio to be a chief medical adviser for him. Then he got into this discussion of vaccines and the importance of setting an example on his part by getting the vaccine himself. Lets take a listen to what biden had to say about this last night. Id be happy to do that. When dr. Fauci says we have a fact covid19 th vaccine that is safe part of what has to happen, and you know as well as i do, people have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work. Already the numbers are staggeringly low. This vaccine discussion also speaks to something that you heard the speaker talk about as well, which is that this interim stimulus package, this 900 billion package is the beginning. Its a down payment. Biden talking about what a tremendous financial undertaking it will be to get the vaccine manufactured and distributed across the country. But theres a lot more that needs to be done in bidens economic program. Hes going to be talking about the need for that in the next congress as well, kasie. Just an incredibly tough time. I think a lot of republicans have been hope that this economy would take a vshaped recovery and a lot more wouldnt need to be done its clear at this point were way past that. Mike memoli, thank you so much, my friend. Always great to see you. Thanks for your reporting. Meanwhile, california could be days away from new lockdowns as coronavirus cases surge and their icus are getting dangerously full. 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The bottom line is, if we dont act now, our Hospital System will be overwhelmed. If we dont act now, well continue to see a death rate climb, more lives lost. Here is what we are introducing today. Regions where the icu capacity is falling below 15 , we are now mandating that we are implementing a stayathome order for three weeks. Now, kasie, this new order divides the state into five regions, and essentially once those regions begin to run out of icu capacity, drop below 15 , we get into this restriction. Northern california, the rural far Northern Edge of the state is below 19 , approaching 15. It will probably go first. Basically all of california is expected to hit that 15 mark in the coming days and weeks. Here come these new restrictions. Suddenly retail must be down below 20 capacity. All restaurants must be delivery and takeout and all nonessential businesses, hair salons, gyms, all kinds of things, will close. Now, schools that have already been open can remain open. Theres going to be a lot of gritty enforcement work that goes on here, too. Weve already heard several churches talk about the recent Supreme Court decision in the new york case in which they basically struck down new yorks right to restrict worship to outdoor gatherings. Well, in this case, california is making the same argument. So were seeing some of that happening, too. So a lot to be sorted out here, kasie. So scary to think that hospitals might be at capacity for people facing not just covid but all sorts of Health Problems and, of course, people still struggling to get by. Jacob ward, thank you so much for your reporting today. I want to bring in dr. Uche blackstock now to talk more about this. Dr. Blackstock, the cdc is predicting there could be up to 19,500 new covid deaths the week of christmas alone. This morning dr. Fauci warned that the surge from thanksgiving could coincide with people starting to get on the road for Christmas Holiday plans and that could make it worse. How worried are you about that possibility . First, kasie, thank you for having me. Im deeply concerned. Were already seeing hospitals at capacity, resources stretched, Health Care Workers incredibly overwhelmed. I think were reaching a breaking point. This is where were going to need governors to step in and put in those restrictions, just as Governor Newsom has done, closing those nonessential businesses. But keeping schools open, hiking available, that people can still enjoy the outdoors. Were heading into some critical time and we should all be deeply concerned. So, doctor, i want to show you a little more about what dr. Fauci had to say to my colleague Savannah Guthrie when he appeared with her this morning on the today show. She asked about joe bidens plan to ask people to wear masks for the first 100 days of his presidency. Lets take a look at what he said and well talk about it. I spoke to him about that. He wants to get uniform. Hes saying, hey, folks, trust me, everybody for 100 days. It might be that after that were still going to need it. He wants everybody for a commitment for 100 days. I discuss that with him and i told him i thought that was a good idea. Whats your take on that policy . Do you think its a good idea . What chance of success do you think it has . I think president elect biden is trying to get buyin from those folks who dont really believe in masks. By saying 100 days, i think hopefully theyll be amenable to that. Obviously we know Wearing Masks works. We have the data. It can save tens, even hundreds of thousands of lives. I know that biden is opposed at this point to putting in a nationwide mask mandate. Im hoping we wont get to that point. Hes going to need to work with governors around issuing mask mandates on a state level. We know mask mandates are only one bart of a wider strategy to controlling the virus. Before i let you go, i know you do so much work with health equity. Im wondering about the vaccine and particularly faith that people of color will have that the vaccine is safe for them and the work that needs to be done to convince them that thats the case. Whats your sense of whats going to be needed in that realm and would you take the vaccine yourself to encourage people to do it . Well, yes, yes, i will take the vaccine. Taking the vaccine, i take it out of love, a love to protect others. I will say that health care and Health Care Institutions have really proved untrustworthy historically and even in current day to black communities and other communities of color. Its truly up to vaccine manufacturers, departments of Public Health to get out there with outreach and messaging to black communities and communities of color to explain why this vaccine is safe, the importance of taking the vaccine, even transparency about the process of Vaccine Research and development will be incredibly key. We need federal funding to go towards campaigns around outreach and messaging as well. All right. The founder and ceo of advancing health equity, dr. Uche blackstock. Thank you for being with us today. Coming up next here, well have new details from the New York Times about Trump Associates caught up in a potential pardon scheme. Thats next. Aids, our extended release melatonin helps you sleep longer. And longer. Zzzquil pure zzzs all night. Fall asleep. Stay asleep. You can crush ice, make nismoothies, and do even more. Chop salsas, spoon thick smoothie bowls, even power through dough, and never stall. The ninja foodi power pitcher. Rethink what a blender can do. I was just fighting an uphill battle in my career. So when i heard about the applied Digital Skills courses, im thinking i can become more marketable. You dont need to be a computer expert to be great at this. These are skills lots of people can learn. I feel hopeful about the future now. I feel hopeful about t future now. 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It reports the Justice Department investigated what roles abbe lowell, attorney for jared kushner, and Elliott Broidy, trump fundraiser, may have played in an alleged bribery scheme. A california Real Estate Developer enlisted their help, he died in 2018. An attorney general for Elliott Broidy reads in part, quote, mr. Broidy is not under investigation and has not been accused by anyone of any wrongdoing whatsoever. Lowells attorney said, abbs role was honorable, predictable, ethical lawyering. It was utterly predictable given the task he was given to accomplish. If he approached the White House Office for clem envir it w vivv it was ultimatterly routine. No one has charged in connection with the Justice Department investigation. Lets bring in peter baker, chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times and an msnbc political analyst. Peter, its great to see you. We should point out so our viewers know, a Justice Department official told nbc news earlier this week that no Government Official is or was subject or a target of the investigation as well. I want to make sure were clear about that, for standards purposes. But you have covered many a president , many an administration. They said there was nothing unusual about this in that statement for abbe lowell. Do you agree with that . I mean, it seems like many things in the Trump Administration to be in fact rather unusual. There are two things here. First of all, there has been the elimination of the traditional pardons system under this president. This is not illegal, theres nothing prosecutable about it. But the Justice Department is no longer sending clemency applications to a president who is reviewing them and then deciding who deserves clemency based on preemptions frrecommen the career staff. Thats been blown away. People who have gotten clemency from this approximatpresident h them because they were friends of the president , because they were a cause among conservatives, that may be unorthodox but nothing illegal about it. If abbe lowell passes along a request on behalf of this person, this Real Estate Developer, that by itself wouldnt presumably be illegal. The question is whether a contribution was promised for exchange for that. That doesnt mean abbe lowell would have known that necessarily, or that anyone else would have necessarily known that. But theyre investigating whether this Real Estate Developer had offered a substantial political contribution to some unknown entity in exchange for a pardon. That would be illegal. So far as we know it, no charges have been brought so we dont know if that was ever fulfilled or continued. The Real Estate Developer died in 2013, so theres no evidence that that scheme continued afterwards. And the purported beneficiary of the scheme never did get the clemency and served two years in prison. So we dont know how it all played out. But it raises questions, again, people think that the pardon process under this president is something where youre better off through connections and perhaps even through some other means to get clemency rather than going through the old channels that previous president s used. Right, the official channels, so to speak, weve all learned the unofficial channels to President Trump are how you actually, as you point out, get him to do something. Peter, can we talk broadly for a second about bill barr . Because we seem to be on fire by tweet watch for him here in the last in the waning days of this administration. What do you know about where the president s head is in terms of whether he wants to fire bill barr and what are advisers telling him behind the scenes about whether or not that is a good idea . Weve seen this scenario before, weve watched this movie before, again and again, right . The president is upset with one of his own appointees who doesnt fulfill his desires, in this case not only did bill barr contradict the president about Election Fraud, he says theres no evidence of Election Fraud on a scale that would have overturned the election, contrary to what the president is saying. Hes also mad at bill barr because he didnt do anything before the election to tarnish his democratic opponents by either trying to charge them, investigate them, or release a report by john durham about the origins of the russia investigation which is what the president is still very consumed by. So hes upset, bill barr, even though bill barr has done a lot of things that benefitted the president and his friends. Youre right, we are on tweet watch. His advisers are telling him its not a good idea, theres less than 50 days left, i dont think it would hurt bill barr to lose his job 50 days before hes going to lose it anyway, it may actually help him reputationally. Its one of the things things where you see a president lash out because hes angry, frustrated, and anxious and doesnt want to accept an election that he lost. All right. Peter baker, thank you so much as always for your reporting and insights here, we really appreciate you being on this morning. And that is going to do it for us here this hour. Coming up next, Andrea Mitchell will talk to Atlanta Mayor keisha lance bottoms. Dont go anywhere. So let me jus . This aveeno® moisturizer goes beyond just soothing sensitive skin . Exactly jen calm restore oat gel was designed for sensitive skin. Uh its incredible we formulated it with a super nurturing ingredient. Prebiotic oat. It soothes skin and strengthens its moisture barrier, too. Uh i love it i love it aveeno® healthy. 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