Transcripts For MSNBCW PoliticsNation 20210110

And welcome to politics nation. Tonights lead, ten days. It is the sunday after a violent mob breached our nations nerve center. Triggering a bedlam in and around the u. S. Capitol from which five people have died. But only very few have been arrested. And we stand as the participants ran back to every corner of the country, and tonight, nbc news is reporting that the fbi and the new York Police Department passed information to the Capitol Police about the possibility of violence during wednesdays protests. And that the fbi even visited more than a dozen extremists already under investigation to urge them not to travel to washington. It should sink in by now that so many deeply held assumptions about what this nation is need to be readdressed. If not dissolved, as we think about what to do next this week after. This week ahead, for their part, nearly 240 Congressional Democrats have settled on impeachment as the only course, expecting to introduce an article as early as tomorrow. Charging President Trump intentionally threatened our government, but of course, the timing, a week and a half before joe bidens inauguration, is less than ideal, if viable. Regardless, five days after their lives were threatened, only two republican senators have called for the president s resignation, while only one gop congressman has even entertained the impeachment call. Instead, we have only got more outrage, but nothing outlined from republicans on just how they intend to hold the president accountable. But then, to be fair, why would they start now . But as the gop struggles on how to save face and democrats unite on how they intend to save the country, our nation wonders if this was a dress rehearsal for another day of horror when joe biden is finally inaugurated this month. In a minute, ill talk to the mayor of washington, d. C. About how her city has become a literal battleground under President Trump, as the country staggers through his last ten days. But first, we start tonight with congressman hakeem jeffries, chairman of the Democratic Caucus and member of the judiciary committee. Thank you for being with us, congressman. Good evening, receiverend al. Great to be with you. This morning on meet the press, you told my colleague chuck you were called for, quote, immediate removal of the president. That boils down to three options. Impeachment, resignation, or invocation of the 25th amendment. You were a democratic floor manager during the last impeachment trial. Whats new now . Well, the president should have been removed from office last year, had the republicans actually taken their oath of office and duty to protect and defend this country seriously, as opposed to continuing to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the donald trump presidency. Now theyll have a second time, i believe, to get this correct, because the house is prepared to act, articles of impeachment charging the president with the incitement of insurrection and sedition will be filed tomorrow. That will start the clock on our being able to consider them within 48 hours. Because this is a president that is a clear and present danger to the health and safety and wellbeing of the American People. We have seen it time and time again. And now his actions have provoked a violent insurrection, an attack on the congress, the capitol, the country, and the constitution. And we have to put an end to it before he can do any more damage in his remaining days in office. Now, i hear you say insurrection and sedition. And i think its important we frame this and well talk about this later in the show as well, because this is not just a disturbance. This was an attempted coup. I mean, when you look at what they did, they were trying to stop the transfer of power that was voted on by the American People. And that was stoing the Electoral College to be certified. And when you look at that, congressman, what do you make of the reports that an arm of the republicans attorney general association sent out robocalls encouraging people to march on the u. S. Capitol, and today, we hear that Louisiana Attorney general jeff landry also was tied to a group that summoned patriots to the capitol to, quote, stop the steal. The attorney general from louisiana should resign if that in fact is the case. Its disgraceful. Hes supposed to be an officer of the law, upholding the rule of law. And hes doing the very opposite. You are correct, reverend al, that the reason why this is an insurrection and an attempted coup is because it began with the big lie perpetrated by donald trump that he actually won the president ial election. And that the presidency is being stolen from him, as part of an effort to try to artificially remain in office against the will of the American People. The American People elected joe biden in clear and convincing fashion. More than 80 Million People voted for him. The Electoral College results was decisive. Court after court after court, including many trump appointed judges, have dismissed the president s allegations of voter fraud as baseless. Yet he continues to perpetrate this lie, and that is why those rioters, those seditionists, that reckless mob stormed the capitol to try to stop the congress from certifying the election of joe biden and stop the peaceful transfer of power. If thats not insurrection, i dont know what fits the definition. And i had on last night one of your colleagues, congressman hank johnson, who graphically explained that they were all, 30, 40 members of congress, were in a room, and that they were trying to get through. There were these insurrectionists that were trying to get into the speakers lobby, breaking windows and had not one officer fired in the air, and they had gotten through, they didnt know if they were going to try to take them hostage, in the u. S. Capitol. If we saw this in any capitol other than the u. S. , in the world, we would be calling it an attempted coup or calling it sedition. That is exactly right. I believe that representative johnson along with several of my colleagues were trapped in the gallery of the house floor. Myself and others were on the actual house floor, participating in the debate with respect to the phony objections to the counting of the Electoral College results from arizona, when that count was halted, the speaker and other leaders were evacuated. And then we were told to secure our gas masks, be prepared for a forced entry, and god knows what else may have gone down at that point. This was an attack at the heart of the democracy of the United States of america. We have seen those individuals tear down the United States flag and put in place the trump flag. Others were carrying the confederate flag. These arent patriots. These are traitors. And they should be prosecuted as domestic terrorists. All right. Thank you very much, new york congressman hakeem jeffries. Joining me now is the mayor of washington, d. C. , muriel bowser. Thank you, madam mayor, for people with us tonight. I know, ms. Mayor, madam mayor, you have been asked this all week. But for our audience, please take us through what wednesday was like for you. Having watched this kind of violence for the better part of last year, now it reaches what we hope was its climax our capitol violated, dozens of your officers injured and several people dead. And i know how meticulous your office goes through protests. I have had some, you and i have talked even last year before the big march, and you all tried to make sure that federal agencies work with you and cross every t and dot every i. And for whatever reason, it seems like the Capitol Police and others fell apart on this. I know thats not how your city has operated under you. Take us through how you dealt with this. Well, thank you, al. And thanks for those questions. And i think certainly Many Americans have had the experience of going to a protest or demonstration in washington, d. C. And we work with our federal partners all of the time to help support those events. And i think what we have been talking about all week is what happened here at the United States capitol. The events that we saw, unfortunately, they were contained in the capitol building, and we saw traitors to our nation try to overthrow our government. And we have to continue to say that. All 535 members of congress were in that building, and the Vice President of the United States. And these arent run of the mill protesters. Many of these people demonstrated training for charging and breaking into a building. I think were going to find a lot of them had military or other Law Enforcement training. And they meant to get into that building to terrorize our lawmakers who were performing their constitutional duty. And so thats why i have called on the department of Homeland Security to take extra steps for the upcoming inauguration, because what we know is that they have said they intend to come back. And so part of that, reverend al, is expanding the security perimeter for the inauguration so that the United States secret service would be in charge of the capitol and its grounds as well. And extended the time period federal agencies have to work with us. Now, i think for Many Americans outside of the district of columbia, this week illustrated just how much your city has to coordinate with the federal government on basic issues like security. And when it got bad, it was your City Police Officers that stepped in to secure the capitol. But if those officers actually live in the district, they, like the rest of its residents, have no voice in congress at all because the district is not a state. What would statehood mean for the district, and how might it have changed the events of this week, madam mayor . Well, that was the sad irony, reverend al, that our officers put their lives on the line, as is their sworn duty, and their responsibility, and theyre proud to do it, but our residents did not have a single vote in the proceedings that day in congress because were not a state. Also, because were not a state, we dont have a National Guard. So saying d. C. National guard is kind of a misnomer because the d. C. National guard is actually the president of the United States guard. So any time i have to deploy the d. C. National guard in washington, d. C. , i have to make a request to the president. Any time i have to change their mission, i have to make a request to the secretary of the army. So being a state means that that wouldnt happen. I would be a governor or the chief executive of our new state would be a governor, and would be able to deploy our National Guard just like every state. And that National Guard would be accountable to us. To the people of the district of columbia. Not to the president of the United States. Now, you mentioned the announcement by some that theyre coming back on inauguration day. What, to your knowledge, has been put in place and you hope to be put in place to make sure we dont see the inauguration of joe biden and Kamala Harris as president and Vice President be in any way disrupted and that violence occur there and an attempt to stop the government from proceeding, and overthrow those proceedings . Absolutely, al. As i mentioned, i have asked the department of Homeland Security to have stepped up efforts with federal personnel, protecting federal buildings and federal interests. I think that is going to be a huge asset for the capitol and all federal buildings. And it would allow our police, the metropolitan police department, to focus on d. C. Streets and neighborhoods. And we will, of course, request, as we always do, Law Enforcement that surround washington, d. C. To back us up as well for Law Enforcement. But i think what we have seen is that we need and this is unusual. And this is going to be an unusual inauguration. But having more integration between the executive branch and the legislative branch on securing our federal interests and our inauguration is paramount. All right, the mayor of washington, d. C. , muriel bowser, thank you for joining us. With us now, political strategist, republican michael steele, a former head of the rnc. And democrat teamo omara. Let me go to you first, michael. Thank you both for being with us. Take a listen to senator pat toomey, a republican. He was on this morning with meet the press. Because i want to get your perspective on where the Republican Party is ten days before the inauguration. I think the best way for our country, chuck, is for the president to resign and go away as soon as possible. I actually do believe that the president has disqualified himself. I dont think hes a viable candidate for office ever again. Former chairman of the Republican Party steele, where is the party when you have toomey saying that, you have some republicans have political laryngitis, others are saying they will not impeach . What is the state of the party . Well, its good to be with you, rev. The reality of it is fairly straightforward. Pat toomey, senator sasse, ben sasse, mitt romney, theres a very, very small cohort of senator republican senators who would align themselves with those words, that sentiment at this time. We have seen that. The party is still very much by its actions this week on the heels of this horrific act reelecting Ronna Mcdaniels as chair woman of the Republican National committee, handpicked by the president. The National Committee itself is largely aligned itself with the president , just check out their website. Theyre still, you know, acting as if this election is a matter to be contested. So the party is, i wont say fractured because it really isnt. The pieces that have broken off are largely small and individualistic, theres not been a wholesale shift away from donald trump. Folks need to stop expecting that to happen. Theres not going to be this grand fight inside the gop in which the battle lines will be clearly drawn. The party is largely aligned against the words that you heard from senator toomey. And thats going to be, as i said it would be, by the actions on wednesday, sealing the party inside the tomb that donald trump has built for it. Teama, back to those three options available to congress, as far as the president s removal. And again, that would be impeachment, resignation, or the 25th amendment being invoked. As a democratic strategist, is there a potential downside for your party in pursuing any of those . No. I mean, i think for our country to be able to move forward, and im in support of impeachment, senator joe manchin on one side of the Democratic Party came out in support of it, as did alexandria ocasiocortez on the other side of the Democratic Party, and i certainly agree with both of them and many of the members who will be voting for impeachment this week. Simply because we need to send a message to every single fascist in training in this country that to incite an insurrection like what happened last wednesday can absolutely never happen again, and that there will be punishment, there will be accountability. And what i can also say with the republicans who have been going on tv and tweeting out that it is on the democrats to create unity, healing, and by moving forward with impeachment, that is actually divisive to the country. That is laughable, unacceptable, and quite frankly is the height of abusive behavior. I say its abusive behavior because its the gop leadership and its elected officials like Mitch Mcconnell, mccarthy, and others who have done harm. They have enabled, promoted, defended the comments, the behaviors, and the words from trump that have led that led to last wednesdays insurrection. And have done nothing since then to apologize, to even put in any Accountability Measures for those who contributed to what happened last wednesday. And at go on. Finish your sentence. I was just going to say that the gop, the party of personal responsibility, should take actual personal responsibility for its actions and hold their own leader accountable by impeachment. We cannot move forward as a country unless we do that. Im going to hold it there. Well have much more with michael and teama later in the show. But i do wonder, what happened to those that are running around saying Blue Lives Matter, when we saw Law Enforcement being attacked physically on wednesday. I am sure i missed it. Im sure all of the Police Unions and Blue Lives Matter crowd came out. I just missed it. Coming up, a final farewell to all of the president s men and women from the cowards to the enablers. I got a Little Something for everyone. But first, my colleague richard lui with the days other top news stories. Richard. Some of the stories were watching for you this hour. Health experts warn january may be the most dangerous pandemic month so far. The record was broken thursday with over 4,000 deaths in one day. And for the second straight day, a Record Number of new cases. 278,000 saturday. That surpasses fridays oneday record of 269,000. And amazon announced that social media platform parler is off their hosting service. Apple and google made that same decision, all cite unmoderated violent posts as reasoning. Parler has become known as a Virtual Meeting place for those with farright beliefs. More politics nation with reverend al sharpton right after the break. Eak. Its a reason to come together. Its a taste of something good. A taste we all could use right now. So lets make the most of it. And make every sandwich count. With oscar mayer deli fresh and mits moving day. Andount. Are doing the heavy lifting, jess is busy moving her xfinity internet and tv services. It only takes about a minute. Wait, a minute . But what have you been doing for the last two hours . Delegating . Oh, good one. Move your Xfinity Services without breaking a sweat. Now thats simple, easy, awesome. Xfinity makes moving easy. Go online to transfer your services in about a minute. Get started today. Bringing you the completion of trumps dirty dozen. The worst of the worst. Those Administration Officials who stuck by his side for four long years. Well, almost four years in a few cases. So ill start with one such coward, secretary of transportation, elaine chao. Who tendered her resignation this week rather than work within the cabinet to remove an unfit president. Perhaps chao simply decided her work was done, after she managed to use her special liaison to fast track at least 78 million in projects benefitting her husband, Mitch Mcconnells reelection bid. Though her department claimed no favoritism existed. Education secretary betsy devos also boarded before the bell this week, before the final bell, i should say. During her tenure, she funneled covid relief money away from Public Schools and the to the coffers of private schools. Now to those who appear to be sticking with trump to the bitter end, Senior Adviser stephen miller, who in leaked emails showed a knack for spouting White Nationalist talking points, not to mention his proposal policy proposals that led to unspeakably cruel policy of family separation at the southern border, and then there is the president s soninlaw, jared kushner. You could say he had no choice but to stay. Though we havent seen him much lately. Kushner is inexplicably put in charge of covid testing plans early on. But the boy genius lost interest in testing when it appeared the virus was hitting blue states the hardest. And kushners wife, ivanka, is no exception. The president overruled protocol to get his favorite child a top security clearance. Her own laughable president ial ambitions are no secret. But they may have hit a snag this week when she tweeted then deleted a statement calling armed rioters at the capitol, quote, american patriots. Last but not least, is Vice President mike pence. A loyal lap dog who enabled trump at every turn. The head of the Coronavirus Task force who spent one of the deadliest weeks of the pandemic on vacation, and who has so far refused to enact the 25th amendment over this weeks events. Perhaps pence is under the illusion his certification of the Electoral College vote this week will absolve him of his wrongdoing over the past four years. In some, the shakespearean tragedy of this administration doesnt offer redemption for its actors, and like the bards that lady macbeth, these people will soon discover there are some spots that dont come out. To chao, devos, miller, kushner, ivanka, and pence, americans will always remember your despicable deeds and your silence as evil was done in your name. I gotcha. Type 2 diabetes like emily lower their blood sugar. A majority of adults who took ozempic® reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. Heres your a1c. Oh my a1c is under 7 announcer and you may lose weight. Adults who took ozempic® lost on average up to 12 pounds. I lost almost 12 pounds oh announcer for those also with known heart disease, ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death. It lowers the risk. Oh and i only have to take it once a week. Oh oh, oh, oh, ozempic® announcer ozempic® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. 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The visionary lexus nx, lease the 2021 nx 300 for 359 a month for 36 months. Experience amazing at your lexus dealer. Lease the 2021 nx 300 for 359 a month for 36 months. Dad i got a job im moving out. [laugh] dream sequence ending no in three, no two, keep packing one. Less sick days cold coming on . Zicam® is clinically proven to shorten colds highly recommend it zifans love zicams unique zinc formula. It shortens colds zicam zinc that cold as millions of americans watched in horror wednesday, the president of the United States directed his followers to march on the United States capitol in service of his lies about the election he lost. Less than 50 miles away, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott reached out to his counterpart in washington, d. C. To offer what assistance he could. Scott didnt mince words, saying the riot was, quote, an attack on our democracy and an act of treason. This is what White Supremacy looks like. Joining me now is Brandon Scott, the mayor of baltimore, maryland. Thank you for being with me, mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you for having me. We all watched this summer as peaceful black lives matter protesters were beaten by police, tear gassed and arrested by the hundreds. Meanwhile, the primarily white insurrectionists on wednesday were mostly allowed to leave freely, some of them even assisted by Law Enforcement. What does that say about the state of race and policing in this country, mr. Mayor . Well, it says that we know that White Supremacy, reverend sharpton, has always been the biggest terrorist threat and the biggest threat to our democracy, and it remains. It also remains that we have a lot of work to do. This is why mayor bowser is right for saying she should have control of the d. C. National guard and d. C. Should be our 51st state so things like this are just not allowed to happen because we have a racist in the white house, and it shows that for many people, if you are thinking that reverend sharpton and i could walk up to the door and walk in like that, we would have been dead before we made it up the stairs. Thats the reality, reverend sharpton, that in this country, since the existence of this country, folks have treated black lives like they dont matter, and when folks say they should matter, they get beat. We have to face that reality now in this moment or we may never truly understand what race in this country means. Now, as mayor, one of the options you have in the event of a disturbance or a riot, and this was that and more. This was a coup as far as an attempted coup. If you were faced with disturbances, a riot like wednesday, one of the things you can do is appeal to the governor for the National Guard for reenforcements. Despite offers of this assistance from maryland and other states on wednesday, the pentagon reportedly denied approval for d. C. Do you think this is an argument that would support what you just said, that you want to see statehood for your sister city . Absolutely. I reached out to mayor bowser directly and offered our support. Baltimore stood ready. We were working through the state to offer support of our officers. I reached out to my Governors Office asking him to offer support, but they couldnt do anything immediately because the request was denied. Its shameful that a sitting mayor in the United States, in d. C. , in our capitol, could not protect the city when the federal government was choosing not to because we have a racist president , reverend sharpton, who refused to do his duty to protect the seat of the United States congress. It was just ignored. I will also be reminded we have to remind ourselves, what happened to sister carry in 2016, when she ran a car into a barrier and was shot and killed with her kids in the car, let alone a group of black people walking up. This is the reality we have in this country. D. C. , the mayor should have the power over the institute. I have to ask you this, i keep up with you, with our National Action network folk in baltimore, larry young and others, and you recently went viral for asking a heckler at a press conference to put on his mask. Can you tell me about that moment and how your team is using it to spread a Public Health message . Well, listen. Shorty is someone, reverend sharpton, who all of us in baltimore know. Im pretty sure hes done the same to you when you were here. Hes an activist whose name is shorty, i want to be clear about that, but the context was lost on people out of town. The Silver Lining in this going viral is millions of people are hearing a message they need to hear because covid19 is real. Covid19 is impacting neighborhoods, black communities, in ways its not impacting others, and to have it get to them in remixed form, sway the remix god, dj big l, all the folks making the songs about it, thats all that matters to me. I want people to hear the message because this thing is taking our people out. You took it it and used it for a Good Public Service announcement, and shorty became useful, and tell him happy new year for me. He always greets me when i come. I will do that. Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott, thank you for being on tonight. . Now we want to go to georgia where according to nbc news exit polls from the weeks senate runoffs, 92 of black georgians voted for jon ossoff over david perdue, and 93 of black voters voted for Rafael Warnock over kelly loeffler. Black turnout was crucial for this double democratic win. Nbcs julia jesk has been covering the race for nbc and joins us from in front of the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in atlanta, a place i have been many times. Dr. King used to pass through there. Julia, this victory by democrats in georgia showed a sign of unity and a sense of togetherness that we have not seen in the white house for a long time. And it happened, i dont want it to be covered over this week when we saw such ugliness in washington, that there were blacks and whites that voted in big numbers and elected the first jewish senator and black senator from the state. What are georgia voters hoping to see change in the next few months in washington . Good evening, reverend. Thats a great question. And i have been talking to voters across georgia about that. Now, im here outside Ebenezer Baptist church where warnock today gave his first sermon as a senatorelect, and touched on a lot of what voters were looking for. He talked about the need to build community, but not without addressing the need for change, saying theres. No transformation without truth. You cant solve a problem without first diagnosing it. One of his parishioners told me it was a perfect word for a Perfect Moment because that is what voters here in georgia are looking for, healing and unity. Thats not just democrats. Its republicans, its black voters, white voters. As you mentioned, turnout here was sky high, not just for the democrats but statewide, and so voters are hoping that warnock can not only heal as well as ossoff, but that their new Democratic Senators can also deliver on policy. Specifically with covid19 relief. The democrats had a unified message this entire campaign, often really focusing on the pandemics impact here in georgia, especially on the black Community Disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. And so whether it was 2,000 stimulus checks or the promise to take the pandemic seriously, voters are really hoping change will come in washington now that they have ossoff and warnock representing them. And that Mitch Mcconnell is no longer the gate keeper of what legislation hits the floor. And it goes beyond just the bills. Its about the rhetoric. This was a very Heated Campaign here in georgia. And i heard from a lot of voters who were swing voters that they were turned off by the negative rhetoric, especially from senator kelly loeffler, who often attacked reverend warnocks faith and his sermons like the one he just gave today. And so theyre hoping that with the democrats elected, with their unifying message that theyll take that to washington and provide some results for georgians here, because they turned out in droves and numbers, and now theyre hoping that their senators will return that investment back into them. All right. Well, thank you for that reporting, julia jester from atlanta, georgia. Back with me are our political strategists, republican michael steele, and democrat atima om a omara. You have seen the Republican Party change vastly over the past couple years. In a posttrump administration, what do you think Republican Leaders need to do in order to win over some black voters who have run away from the right side of the political aisle . When you hear this report of even some independents and republicans in georgia were turned off and those are blacks and whites, but in a posttrump Republican Party, if we are possibly headed there, can they do to appeal to black voters . Well, its going to take some work, reverend. I have been in this space for 30some years. And this is what we got, you know, along with a lot of other africanamerican republicans, some elected, some not, political as well as, you know, folks who are active on the ground, you know, who have tried to pull the party in the direction of expanding its conversation within the community. Its not enough to say to us, you know, your unemployment is the lowest it has ever been when our young men are being killed on the streets by cops. Its not enough to say that, you know, we have given you an opportunity zone, when you tell me, well, when it comes to the kkk, theyre fine people on both sides. So you have got to reconcile your own truth with respect to the black community. Do you really want black folks in the party . Do you really want to support an agenda that is a lot less white, a lot less, you know, rural or suburban, but actually more universal . And i think the moment they come to grips with that truth, and thats not at the federal thats not at the top level. Were talking grassroots. Were talking folks in counties, in cities, not just having a state party or a National Chairman go out and say these things. But having it believed on the ground by people who are out there working the vote and trying to grow the party. Thats one, and two, you have to reconcile who you are next. You have to figure out what kind of republican you are and what that means before you go talk to black folks. Atima, what can we expect to see come out of the Biden Harris Administration in terms of dealing with the issues of Police Brutality and the fallout the pandemic has had disproportionately on the black community . How will this new white house create solutions and better the lives of black americans who voted for them in such huge numbers . Yes. Well, i think certainly biden is well aware, given his comments last week after the insurrection, recognizing what would have happened had it been black lives matter protesters that had stormed the capitol. As opposed to predominantly all white people. And one of those things i think that was interesting in all of what was happening last week is the people he appointed to lead up the doj, Merrick Garland having been the lead lawyer on the Oklahoma City bombing white supremacist case, you have anita gupta, crispen clark, and they all have great civil rights bona fides. One of the things im hopeful to see and has been the disconduction among black civil rights leaders is the fact we have to get serious about the counterintelligence were doing to actually review Police Officers who have white supremacist ties, to oath keepers or proud boys or neo nazis or klansman. We dont do that. To work in the d. C. Metro area, to work in the federal government, you have to have the highest security clearances going through your finances, who your family is, and why shouldnt that apply to people who wear a badge as well . And i think on the pandemic, certainly, really engaging in significant Public Health education about wearing a mask, probably partnering with a lot of black and brown organizations that have been leaders on Public Health in their communities. On how to make sure people know how to protect themselves against this virus, especially if theyre frontline workers who are the most affected for those reasons. And deal with education on the vaccines because of a lot of the apprehension there. Michael, the turning point of the Biden Campaign was when House Majority whip jim clyburn endorsed him. Looking ahead, what can we expect to see from the new administration in your opinion in terms of rewarding black voters and political leaders that helped pave the way in 2020 for a Biden Victory . I think atima is right. Those of us in civil rights leadership have worried about specifics, but what about on the political side with the people like clyburn and jeffries and cory booker and now others that are coming to office . I think, reverend, thats such an incredibly important point because thats where we always miss the opportunity. We get invited to the room, but then were asked to stand up against the wall. You know, we get invited to the table, but then were not allowed to, you know, take notes or to put our agenda there. I think where biden can really turn an important corner, particularly after what africanamericans have done from the very beginning of this Campaign Season to just this week on behalf of his efforts, is to not just invite us in the room, not just to give us a seat at the table, but to give us the ability to lay on that table an agenda that is an american agenda. Yeah, it may look a little bit more dark chocolate than youre used to, but it is an american agenda nonetheless, and i think that thats going to be an important way to get that expression, whether it is an honest discussion around issues like d. C. Statehood, which people want to look at in the political context as opposed to what it means to have people as a native washingtonian, i know this growing up there, being disenfranchised yet paying the same bills and being involved the same way as every citizen, to more important issues your wudiscussing around health care, economic impact, how were impacted disproportionately to the negative on those things, and having that be a part of the real discussion, i think, could be an important turning point, not just for this administration but for future administrations as well. Atima, were out of time, but i need to ask you this. Joe biden has famously said he would always reach out across the aisle to republicans. Does that become more difficult given the insurrection, the failed coup this week . And many republicans, most republicans in the senate and the house staying loyal to the president in a blatant coup that had serious racial overtones when you had nooses hanging in the capitol . Yeah, i think it is very hard to, you know, consider unity or reconciliation and reaching out across the aisle when there isnt even an accountability or acknowledgment from the gop as to what has happened. What Mitch Mcconnell and mccarthy, leader mccarthy contributed to. And so, you know, hes probably going to have to find a way to navigate, if he still wants to talk to republicans who didnt champion any of the stuff that happened, but thats not looking great after wednesday. I hope he navigates after they prosecute all involved and that encouraged it and incited it. Michael steele and atima omara, thank you for being with me. Up next, my final thoughts. Stay with us. Or ten. Then easily and automatically pay your team and file payroll taxes. That means. World domination or just the west side. Run payroll in less than five minutes with intuit quickbooks. They were able to give me a personal loan so i could pay off all of my credit cards. I got my mortgage through sofi and the whole process was so easy. Express yourself express yourself what happened wednesday in washington, let me be very clear, was not just a disturbance and not just a riot. Disturbances and riots are wrong and illegal within themselves. It was more than that. This was an attempted coup. Look at the definition of coup and it will fit this description. It says coup is a sudden, illegal and often violent change of government. That is what they attempted to do by going on the day that the United States congress was going to certify the Electoral College vote count that would have officially made joe biden and Kamala Harris the president and Vice President elect of the United States of america. By coming in violently to try and stop that proceeding was to attempt to derail an election by the American People and to maintain a government which is if any incumbent head of state anywhere in the world had people stampede and storm the capitol to keep them in power, we would have called it a coup. We must not minimize what was attempted here because it failed. We must not look for these people like they just were some people that got out of hand. They came with the announced purpose to overthrow the process of a certification of the Electoral College and to stop a transition of power that was voted on by the American People. It would be a coup anywhere else in the world. It was an attempted failed coup here and they ought to be treated like the people that attempted to do that. The reason that it is important is because those that sit in the congress, those that sit in the heads as heads of the Republican Party that could be silent in the face of an attempted coup on this country need to be looked at through those eyes and looked at in that respect that theyre not being quiet on a political issue. Theyre not being quite about a donald trump versus joe biden. They are being quieted about the absolute cementing and belief and stabilizing of the United States government and the will of the people. Well be right back. The people. Welbel right back. Trelegy for copd. Birds flyin high you know how i feel breeze drifting on by you know how i feel [man coughing] its a new dawn, its a new day. No matter how you got copd its time to make a stand. And im feelin good start a new day with trelegy. 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