And our greatest ally across the atlantic had an uproar against the social medias media post. Another busy night in this administration as the 11th hour gets under way. Good morning again, nbc news headquarters here in new york. Day 315. We have breaking news at the top of the forecast on the matter o f the russia investigation. Late tonight, the New York Times posted this headline. Trump pressed Top Republicans to end russia inquiry and whether Trumps Campaign helped them in any way. Senator richard burr said in an interview that mr. Trump told him he was eager to see an investigation that has over shadowed much of the first year of his presidency come to an end. It was something along the lines of i hope you can conclude this as quickly as possible mr. Pbur said. He replied to mr. Trump that when we have exhausted everybody we need to talk to, well finish. Senator roy blount, a member of the Intel Committee to end the investigation swiftly. Mr. Trump called other lawmakers over the summer with requests that they push mr. Burr, the inquiry, the senator who was alarmed of hearing words on the president s plead, they should urge mr. Burr to bring the russia investigation to a close. The senator declined to reveal which colleagues mr. Trump had contact with the request. The comment from the administration tonight is this. Quote, at no point had attempted to apply undo influence on committee members, there is no evidence of collusion and these investigations must come to a fair and appropriate completion. Several republicans interviewed by the time says trumps appeals came across as words of al political newcomer who do not know whats appropriate. Listen to this from tonights Rachel Maddows program just how significant this is from joyce vance. The president tried with senator burr was not access null and proceeded to go everyone around him in an effort to put pressure for him. Rachel, one thing we have to remember that unlikely well see a bob mueller indictment the president. It is more like lie that well see this evidence packaged in some sort of a report that goes to the then will be used by folks in the house to gain whether or not impeachment is appropriate. Important stuff right there. More on that later. Attorney Jeff Sessions met with the house Intel Committee behind closed doors behind the russian matters. The democrats were less than thrilled with how he answered their questions. I asked the attorney general whether he was instructed by the president to take any action that he would believe hinder the russia investigation, he declined to answer the question. The attorney general is one of the most forgetful person out of the white house. Jeff sessions answered questions today the same way he had before saying he never been directed to do anything illegal or proper. Nbc news is reporting donald trump jr. , will meet with the same committee next week. Now to our lead off panel, michael crowdly and National Security and jennifer rogers, former assistant of u. S. Attorney for the Southern District of new york. And ken thomas, White House Reporter from the associated press, welcome to you all. Michael, well begin with you, we knew that russia set the president off. We know that the president used the same kind of reasoning with comey face to face as he thee testified. We did not know about a telephone lobbying campaign of the investigation on this. We did know he made phone calls to other members. Not only on capitol hill but for instance, figures in the intelligence committee, cleaning a similar case. So it is with the pattern on the president. I think that a various piept th point that there is a lot of circumstantial evidence. There is still circumstantial. We have george stephanopoulos, was there really a collusion in it is the weaker part of the president. Where as the obstruction of justice evidence is piling up and piling up and is really starting to look crystal clear. There is a very consistently discernible pattern. Whats interesting to me is despite all of that and a lot of it has come out in a factual and credible way. It does not seem as though republicans in congress maybe the bar order of the president s faith are bothered by it. They seem to be describing behaviors like this by americans come and arriving in london and driving on the side of the road and does not know what hes doing. And not that they think this is some true transgression that deserves this statement. Talk about the president calling burr but the people around burr. If everything is reported in the New York Times tonight is correct, were any laws broken . This is good evidence for the obstruction of justice is taken. I dont think it is Strong Enough for a separate case. But, what he was doing here and definitely trying to persuade but he did not have the same sway over congress as a political blanch ovranch. I suspect it is not quite as Strong Enough. It is very good evidence of his intense and motivation and other obstruction case with firing comey. I think it is important. I dont think it sets up a separate criminal case. I have a recollection of being a young man and hearing from a Police Officer through my car window that ignorance of law is no defense. People are saying look, he was new to government and the way the federal government, is that a defense . Not to me. It is also not a defense in this case because we know that before this happened over the summer, he already fired comey in a block back from that led to the mueller investigations. We know that he knew by now that you are not supposed to obstruct investigations where they are into you and your campaigns. So that does not fly at all. Ken, how surprise were you to see these on the record quoting from burr right there from the New York Times tonight. I thought that was one of the most striking parts of the piece that senator burr fell compel to talk to the time on the record and there were other senators who were helping to paint the picture as well. This comes in advance of some important meetings on the hill. Donald jr. Will be meeting with the house next week. Senator burr says he also wants to meet with don jr. Before the end of the year. This could be a way for the Senate Republican to make clear that the president was in fact lobbying and trying to make them move a certain way. Michael, the verbiage i am looking at side by side quotes. The president to comey. The president to senator burr as quoted by the principles as turned around and reported by the news media. Patterning does not make something true but patterning mak makes subsequent cases available. Thats right. The president exhibited this behavior towards a variety of people. The fundamental question is, is this a man that truly believes that this is all over blown and unfair and should be wrapped up because of some kind of great and justice or this one has something to hide. The former, the reason to take seriously of the ladder case is the number of inconsistent and inaccurate and false statements that we have been getting about their behavior since the campaign and the inauguration stories thats changed and updated and people have not been forthcoming. The benefit of the doubt right now is not with the president and his associates. When you see this behavior, you have to ask yourself is this case where there is really is something to hide. Hes trying to paint it as a knee for a quick commexoneratio. This is diminishing my statute and my ability to lead the nation so do it for the good of america. You have to wonder what that is really about. Jennifer, the new york time piece, it takes aim to point out some of these calls were made without the president. A lot of the business of the presidency has conducted with the crowds list. You got your chief of staff, what would be the indicator there . He says he knows what hes doing when he makes these call and he administers these pressures. And telling them to wrap it up is problematic because they are investigating him. It tells me he knows hes not supposed to do that and thats why he does it without answering him. Can his defense be, i truly do not believe there is any collusion and i am in it to get the best for our country and this is a distraction. Again, i dont think we have a case of obstruction based on this conduct with the senators. This adds to the pile. It adds to the pile. If he fires the fbi director, thats more than just lets move this along. Thats like lets take out the person whos leading this charge. I dont think it is credible with respecting to fire comey. He can try it but it would not fly in the court of law. Ken, the building behind you today scheduled the state of the Union Address for 2018. The president s First Official state of the union as president , set the scene on the evening where all of our attention is gathered beneath the dome and the president walks in the house chambers. It will be interesting a that point and well list investigation is still cranking away and you know lawyers for the president have, you know, assured him that in all likelihood this investigation will wrap up by the end of the year, perhaps the beginning of the year but i think this is the story is another example of why this investigation and the work being done behind me is likely to drag on. These committees are not going to file their reports and release their findings to the spring and the mueller investigation, it seems like we peel more of the onions and find more. When we does go in the building and deliver the state of the Union Address. He very well can be dealing with this issue. Jennifer, you are not speaking. Do you think in plain english, we are Getting Started here. Absolutely. The newsroom is like Michael Flynn is cooperating so we are just getting under way. So uconn cyou concur. We have been hearing similar things that the president s lawyers are telling him that mueller could exonerate him by the end of the year. It seems impossible of that case. Why would his lawyer be telling him that and telling media that. It is raising this expectation thats unrealistic. I find it a bit puzzle. Thanks to michael and ken thomas and general ter rogers. It is been called the special relationship be with just his cell phone. How much damage has the president done to americas friendship with the u. K. Will Rex Tillerson be the next to go and who would take over as secretary of state . The latest from the west wing and beyond when the the 11th hour continues. Alright, off you go. Casual fridays at Buckingham Palace . Surprising. Whats not surprising . How much money nathan saved by switching to geico. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. His case is a much more than a business executive. Do you want Rex Tillerson on the job, mr. President . Do you want him to stay in his job . Thanks everyone. Thats a quick snapshot of the evolution of President Trump relationship with the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, former ceo of exxon mobile. Today New York Times broke this story detailing a secret plan being ouster and replaced by pomp pompeo. Public disclosure of mr. Kellys transition plan may have been met as a signal for the secretary to go. Secretary tillerson have not been on the same page as the president. You will recall this nbc news report. Tillerson openly disparaged the president and referring to him as a moron. The white house was all public denials on any plans to push the president out. When it comes to questions like this. A senior staff and will the secretary no longer be here . I can tell you that chief of staff kelly called our department this morning and said that the rumors were not true and those reports are not true. A Senior Administration official did tell nbc news that tillerson has been discussing a year end departure with colleagues. A Washington Post reports from josh roggin says cia, pompeo has already been preparing to take over the chief department and also what tillerson said a month ago. Some day i feel like i need to do that. Brings us to our panel to talk about this today. Peter baker, and white house correspondent, and rick engel, former secretary of state and public affairs. El with come welcome to you. Is this fish wrapped in paper and a bullet proof vest. Thinks the most public message signal to Rex Tillerson . The president has been on the outs of the secretary now and with several months there would have to come a reckoning. It feel that is reckoning maybe coming up the next few weeks. Close to the end of the year or afterwards. The secretary was at the white house and he went for two different meetings. Hems pl hes planning to go to europe and dealing with foreign counter parts and wondering will he be around much in the new year and what if it matter fs ths with t make a deal with him. The president is asking if you want Rex Tillerson on the job and his response is quote, rex is here and in ducted to the halloffame. Not an endorse menendorsemen. If you listen to sarah sanders, she says there is no personal announcement to be made at this time. Well see what tomorrow brings and tomorrow or a week from now brings. John kelly is putting together a plan and hes looking into the future and he see as future which Rex Tillerson is not secretary of state and mike pompeo seems to have the president s favorites and he impressed the president as a cia director and to replace him. We are thinking that could be. Thats what the people from the white house telling us or tom cotton. Anita, pompeo brings an interesting resume. What would he bring to state that tillerson does not. They differ very, very much. All these things that the president differed from Rex Tillerson oconn north korea ande deal. This is something that pompeo is much more on the same page with the president and less about diplomacy which is an interesting job for him to be taking the top diplomatic job in the United States. It would very much change the tone and tenure of the state department. A lot of people i talk to and people that support him and thinks hes a smart and nice guy, finds it curious that he would get this job. Everyone during transition when theyre trying to find a place for him. There was talk about him taking the secretary of states job. The president has gotten closer to him over this full year here where as peter mentioned they had these daily Intelligence Briefings every morning and he often sticks around the white house and the president personally likes him. Rick, i know it is hard for you to watch your formal colleague. The diplomats are gone. What would it be like if there is a change of power at the top to deal with. The more i think about this, this first year of the trumps presidency maybe looking back at the year of the moderates in the trump administrations. Every time someone leaving is replaced by someone. The way the state department as an institution, it will look at pompeo as how it will regard the state department as an instituti institution less so in terms of what his policy is. Hes much more of a hard liner and tillerson was globalists and mode modestist. People should write down that quote. Peter baker on your story by your newspaper tonight of the phone calls that the president was making on the russia investigation, other than the apparent integrity and forthrightness of senator burr of north carolina, what stands out to you. It reminds how much this is be ughi bugging him and aside from his believes that there is no collusions and nothing to investigate. He worries that it will hinder his ailment and people sees this investigation and influences and interactions on the important issues like syria. Thats what he will hear from the president s defender. At the same time, the idea that you go to congress to knock it off and you tell republicans to shut down an inquiry, it does cross the line and most president s recognize it is dangerous and they would not do it. My words and not there, is a rookie mistake and not knowing the way of government. It is no defense as we established earlier in the broadcast but in this case, well end up making things worse. Yes, i think unfortunately, he conducts the presidency as though hes still a real estate dealer. I look back at months and gravity and that it is going to change. It has not changed one bit. It made him more than it is. I dont think he understands the laws and norms and hes bothered by this. He had a pebble in his shoes and wanted to get out. Anita kumar, how do you part the reaction statement to the New York Times article tonight, do you find the words curious . What are they going to say . We heard about him trying to circumvent the investigation other times. They adopt hadont have much to. It is yjust a normal conversatin or whatever. It is damage story for them. Terrific conversation based on tonights breaking news with three great guests. Peter baker, anita kumar an and the damage is done and to what we call a special relationship when the 11th hour continues. That youll ever need staying ahead isnt about waiting for a chance. Because one is. Its about the one bold choice you make that moves you forward. That you ever need the one and only Cadillac Escalade. Come in for our seasons best offers and drive out with the perfect 2017 Cadillac Escalade for you. Get this low mileage lease from around 899 per month. was supposed to be a wakeund reup call for our government . Sh people all across the country lost their savings, their pensions and their jobs. Im tom steyer and it turned out that the system that had benefited people like me who are well off, was, in fact, stacked against everyone else. Its why i left my Investment Firm and resolved to use my savings for the public good. But here we are nine years later and this president and the Republican Congress are making a bad situation even worse. They wont tell you that their so called tax reform plan is really for the wealthy and big corporations, while hurting the middle class. It blows up the deficit and that means fewer investments in education, health care and job creation. Its up to all of us to stand up to this president. Not just for impeachable offenses, but also to demand a country where everyone has a real chance to succeed. Join us. Your voice matters. We are the driven. The dedicated. The overachievers. We know our best investment is in ourselves. We dont take no for an answer. We fight for what we want. Even for the things that were once a given. Going to college. Buying a home. And not being in debt for it for the rest of our lives. But were only as strong as our community. Who inspires and pushes us to go further than we could ever go alone. Sofi. Get there sooner. This christmas, on the basis of what we already know about th this, action is needed now. Cancel the states visit. The president was stupid . What he did. Donald trump hes a racist and in co compete competent. Can you believe what they are saying in parliament as the white house continues to standby, antimuslim videos shared by the president and relations between the United States and one of its oldest and closest allies have deteriorated since President Trump retweeted videos originally posted by a group called britains first. The organization has been condemned by the british government. The white house today acknowledged the president was not familiar with the group before retweeting and they had this defense. Look, i think what hes done is elevate the conversation to talk about the real issue and a real threat and thats extreme violent and terrorism, something that we know to be very real and something the president felt strongly talking about and bringing up and making sure it is an issue everyday that we are look the best way to protect americans. The telegraph in the u. K. Reports a working visit planned for january is off. Quote, the trip, a scaled down version of a state visit with no meeting with the queen was intended for mr. Trump coming the u. K. While avoiding the mass protests a full state visit would likely trigger. However, the telegraph can reveal that the trip has been pushed into the long grass with no new date in the diary picked. With us to talk about this tonight, jeremy bash, former chief of staff at cia and an msnbc National Security analyst. German jeremy, you are often with us when we cover the moment of the terrorist attack and you had the opportunity to point out the lightning fast and constant communications between Scotland Yard and the United States, between the u. S. And the u. K. As part of that relationship. Really their goal is getting together to form a safer world. Talk about the relationship and how much damage this could cause. Brian, in episode encapsulate the trumps presidency. First, he embraces his theories and embrace his quotes, alternative facts and downright lies and appearing to a right nationalists part of the country of the world. Third, hes under mining our ally, our key ally, the most critical that have fought and died with under the circumstances us over the field all over the globes and hes putting our own personnel at risk and troops at risk. I cannot think of a single active thats more irresponsible and dangerous for the u. S. Of what the president did today. The quote that you led the peace with, thesose are our friends talking. Just imagine what our adversary would say. It gives credence and the jihadists and radicals to rise up. When our president used conspiracy theorists and under mine our allies, that give us an open field to our adversaries to do the same. The one that i left off of the bio, with that in miend, i ask you about the new yonew yo times tonight making a call that can we wrap it up and let it go. My reaction for that, when you are under investigation for foreign obstruction of justice, it is not a good idea to engage in obstruction of justice. If people destroyed documents or tamper witnesses, thats a violation of federal law and the president putting the arms on senators to shut down this investigation is not much different. Jeremy bash. It is always a pleasure to have you. Thank you very much for joining us on a thursday night. Coming up, some drama tonight in the u. S. Senate that the republican in charge were not counting on. A late line report when we come right back. David. Whats going on . Oh hey thats it . Yeah. Everybody two seconds dear sebastian, after careful consideration of your application, it is with great pleasure that we offer our congratulations on your acceptance. Through the Tuition Assistance program, every day mcdonalds helps more people go to college. Its part of our commitment to being americas best first job. Americas Small Business owners. And heres to the heroes behind the heroes, who use their expertise to keep those businesses covered. And heres to the heroes behind the heroes behind the heroes, who brought us delicious gyros. Actually, the gyro hero owns veros gyros, so he should have been with those first heroes. Ha ha thats better. So, to recap Small Business owners are heroes, and our heroes help heroes be heroes when theyre not eating gyros delivered by ah, you know what i mean. Somesend you and your family overwhelrunning. Y can. Introducing febreze one for fabric and air. No aerosols. No dyes. No heavy perfumes. It cleans away odors for a pure light freshness. So you can spray and stay. Febreze one, breathe happy. Whstuff happens. Old shut down cold symptoms fast with maximum strength alka seltzer plus liquid gels. Trouble in the u. S. Senate tonight for the republican tax bill that we were prepared to come on the air, reports rolling along to eventually passage. What happens is this, a projection thatll add a trillion dollar to the federal deficit. It looks like some republican senators have been deficit hawks. Those deficit hawks maybe digging in. They hoped to schedule a vote tomorrow. Mercifully, we have someone with us tonight who can explain all of this as she does everyday, thats kelcy snow, congressional reporter for npr. Kel kelcy, whats happening tonight and whats going on and what does the future hold, perhaps . Leaders say it is a hiccup and they hit a bump along the road and theyre going to fix this problem over night. A group of these deficit hawks decided that they wanted to make sure that this bill was not going to add to the deficit in the longterm, in the future. There is a problem though that they got a score from the congressional scorekeeper from the jct that says this bill would only do a third of the work that they thought it would to grow in the economy. They had a bunch of money they needed to make up and they were starting to feel a bit squirmish. Theyre going back the drawing board and trying to fiend ways o make it. We saw corker that surrounded him and johnson and flake and collins and if too much of that happens, 5248 starts to go away really fast. It does. We should note that senator collins did kind of stay in line through all of this. Shes one of the people that wants to get to, yes. She talks about how leaders are coming her way and how shes feeling comfortable of this. What we see further away is the two important people who are r retiri retiring. Jeff flake and bob corker. This maybe one of their last acts. They want to put a stamp down saying they Left Congress and the economy in a place that they can respect. While i have you on the Sexual Harassment front of the issue thats quickly approaching for 2017 and beyond, john conyers, what are the big names that have come out and called for the senior most man in the house to step down . Well, we see speaker ryan and nancy pelosi says it is time for him to step down and we see many of his colleagues. They have staked out a space over decades as being people who see themselves as protector of women and champions of moving women up in powerful positions. It is hard for them to come out and say one of our own to have these allegations against them. Th it is not a situation they want to be in now. Two years away from his 90th birthday. Kelcy snell, it is always a pleasure. Thank you for explaining everything for us tonight on capitol hill. The american president believing in Conspiracy Theory and picking a fight from our closest allies. Thats where Steve Schmidt comes in. Hes back with us when we come back. What concerns me is the American Press of this end less attempt of labeling the guy as a cooke. I think hes crazy and unfit for office. The same man, republican senator graham of South Carolina today and rewind to february 2016 using the exact same language. President trump earned grahams support and hes now working score points among the gop base. Steve schmidt is become with us tonight. I think it is fair to say members of our onair family hopes senator graham can be a bull work and a firewall and not a yes, man. If you dont mind from quoting from your twitter feed, quote, always entertaining and never boring. What is it that you are voting for . They have zero idea and none. Every single gen x should be outrag outraged. The beggaring of the country for special interest donations is immoral. We are seeing total collapse of any rigger around the policymaking process in this country. We are a nation of 330 million people. This legislation afenfects everybody. The number one economic challenge of our time thats striving so much turbulent in our politics and extremism in the parties and the fact class seen a real wage increase in a generation. It is creating a crisis of competence in free market american capitalism, for millennials, its so many other americans. And it can have a profoundly bad effect for future opportunity in this country. This bill does nothing about that problem. It does nothing to drive economic growth. What it does do is, it lowers Corporate Tax rates. No one pays the statutory rate in the first place. And it does it by loading up another trillion and a half dollars on the National Credit card that will be paid by my kids and grandkids and your kids and grandkids, and its just a travesty. Steve, if weve got folks watching tonight who went off to war as young men and fought sidebyside with british soldiers, fought to keep the british isle free of tyranny and save the world, what would you say to them about what has become this week of our relationship with our greatest ally . Well, the relationship the relationship is so much bigger than donald trump. The enduring ties between the british and american peoples, and i think tonight about the towering statue of fdr in london, wearing a naval cape. The indispensable partner to churchill in saving the world from the darkness. The statue built by the melted down pennies and small donations of ordinary british men and women. The British Parliament and their condemnation is righteous. What the president of the United States did, in tweeting out this video from a fascist, british extremist paramilitary group, a white supremacist group, which exalted in the president of the United States recognition of it, for them to say hes not deserving of a state visit, though it breaks my heart to say it, i agree with them completely. If you look at it from the british perspective, to see this disgrace in the white house, in the oval office, to be standing next to her majesty, the queen, the assault on her dignity, that his presence would represent, the divisiveness that his visit would cause, the protests it would spark and the stain that it would leave on the relationship isnt worth it. And by all means, they have every right to cancel the proposed state visit. He earned it. Steve, finally, your reaction to the reporting in the New York Times tonight that the president made more than a round of calls to say, in effect, cant we just shut this thing down and move on, about the russia investigation . Well, its completely inappropriate for him to be doing so, and as we as we look at this at this investigation, whether its the mueller investigation, which seems to be moving closer and closer to the oval office on the question of russia, but this just seems to me to be more evidence and im not sure if its criminal evidence, but more evidence of a constantcy of an effort to obstruct the inquiries in finding out what happened in this election. When we think tonight about the question you previously asked, brian, what excitement Vladimir Putin must have to see the condemnation in the British Parliament of an american president. He probably cant believe his good luck and his good fortune to see the damage that this president is doing to americas essential alliances all over the world. Powerful stuff, a sobering thought to end on. Steve schmidt, thank you, friend. A final break for us. And coming up, how the white house plans to get the president as close as possible to a visit they said he would not make. Well explain, right after this. Im the one clocking in when youre clocking out. Sensing and automatically adjusting to your every move. Does your bed do that . Im the new sleep number 360 smart bed. Lets meet at a sleep number store. Last thing before we go here tonight has to do with a crafty move by the Trump White House that seems to allow the president to campaign for roy moore in alabama in that senate race without really campaigning for roy moore. In fact, without really setting foot in the state of alabama. The Washington Post was the first to report that come next friday, donald trump will travel to pensacola, florida, for a political rally. Pensacola, as you may know, is in the panhandle, often regarded as the de facto extension of southern alabama, and pensacola, just about 20 miles from the alabama line, shares a local news media market with mobile in alabama. The post reports trump is buoyed by moores standing in the polls and feels his support for moore, gets the credit for that. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said the president s schedule wouldnt allow a trip to alabama, but apparently theres time to go to florida. At the rally, the president is expected to attack National Democrats and doug jones, the democrat running against roy moore. For his part, roy moore denies any wrongdoing and has, in, changed his story in recent days, after first, you may recall, telling sean hannity he remembered two of his accusers, even called one of them a good girl. Hes now saying hes never met any of his accusers. The special election in alabama is december 12th. That is our broadcast for a thursday night. Thank you so much for being here with us. Good night from nbc news headquarters here in new york. Weve been working all day on the assumption that by this time this evening, quite possibly in this hour, doctoring our show, wed be looking at one of these latenight showdown monumental down to the wire votes in washington. Thats what weve been expecting all day. As of now, that is not happening but we literally got reporters standing by on scene in the event this gets started up again. The details on why they are not voting right now and what went wrong in republicans plan to try to pass gigantic legislation tonight, the first legislation they will have passed in the trump administration, those details about what went wrong, that story about whats happened over the course of tonight, its pretty dramatic. Were going to have that story coming up in a second. I also want to let you know that attorney general Jeff Sessions testified today to the house intelligence committee, he