Transcripts For MSNBCW The Beat With Ari Melber 20190103

History, now 55 members. Tonight its worth noting that while donald trump ran on banning muslims and issued a travel ban limiting immigrants from several muslim majority countries, voters responded by electing the first Muslim American ever to the United States congress. And while trump continues to bait Elizabeth Warren over native american issues, voters also elected the first native American Woman to ever serve in the u. S. Congress. You look at this, and you look at whats happening, you look at a historic day for america, and i can add that sometime we may reach a point where this type of diversity is not worth noting. Someday the people in power may so thoroughly reflect the people of this nation that we dont even think to note it. But tonight we do note it, and as someone reporting the news, i can tell you people in both parties today gave the requisite and merited props to a legislator who made history as the first woman ever to be speaker of the house and the second woman to ever be speaker of the house. Let me be clear House Democrats are down with ndp, the once and future speaker. Total number of votes cast is 4 30 of which the honorable nancy pelosi of the state of california has received 220. And to the speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, i extend to you this gavel. Pelosi returns to the speakership with more experience and fame than when she first took the gavel in 2007. Pelosis path to this day stretched back decades when she shattered a Glass Ceiling that capped a long journey learning politics from her father, here they were with jfk at the white house in 1961, the future speaker taking in the scene right there behind the president. She learned how power worked and rejected the sexist argument that a womans place isnt in the house. When i was running for office, the comment even in progressive San Francisco was well, whos going to be taking care of your children . We need many more women in congress. For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. Im particularly proud to be a woman speaker of the house of this congress which marks the 100th year of women having the right to vote. We all have the ability and the privilege to serve with over 100 women members of congress. The largest number in history. 100 years the right to vote. 100 women in the house. And this midterm voter turnout was the highest in over 100 years meaning you have to go back to before women could legally vote to find a higher turnout. That means you have to go back to a time when half the country wasnt allowed to vote at all. As her allies stress, her many accomplishments go beyond breaking barriers. She passed obamacare and. On politics shes the first politician to win another stint as speaker in over 60 years. And thats a another whole thing. This job tends to grind people down. Ask john boehner or paul ryan. None of them had the support within their party to return to the speakership. Tonight pelosi is the first speaker to come back to the title in 60 years. You might say pelosi has become the drake of the Democratic Party. Back to back like im on the cover of lethal weapon. Back to back like im jordan 96, 9. And sometimes thats a sign youre effective, the haters. Pelosi will tell you that too. You yourself are quite the lightning rod. The republicans have spent over 137,000 ads had my name on it in the last election. What comes next . Today pelosi drew two key lines in the sand for trump. His power is equal to the independent judiciary in her house which includes incoming chairs like adam schiff and elij elijah cummings. Even if he doesnt care about when the government reopens, she does. The legislative branch is article one, the first branch of government so equal to the presidency, and to the judiciary. Democrats will be offering the Senate Republican appropriations legislation to reopen government later today. Im joined now by the editor and publisher of the nation magazine. It he lights some of the new proprogressives in the house. Im also with Donna Brazile who was meeting with nancy pelosi today and spoke with chairman m Maxine Waters. Nancy pelosi receiving the gavel, and clearly the Record Number of women and minorities serving in congress, not just in terms of their numbers. The fact that they are going to bring muchneeded change in terms of the legislative agenda to capitol hill. They will chair powerful committees, science and technology, appropriations, Homeland Security. This is a remarkable day. Having to see not only the speaker today, her family sitting up in the gallery, i bought my ticket because this is a historic day. But going up to mr. Clyburns office. The new whip of the house. Imagine that. The whip, and in his office there are pictures of all the African Americans who have served on capitol hill. Starting in reconstruction, and then passing by to go over to hoyer, and seeing the honorable shirley chism, and to be an intern on capitol hill when interns were not paid to now to going into office after office and saying im back, im ready to be an intern. Will i get 15 an hour . Yes. Its an incredible day for the country, and its an important period for democrats, and i believe pelosi has a good agenda. She has the caucus behind her, the Reform Efforts that theyre about to undertake. Starting with the reopening of the government, and then next week a bill that will come on the floor, h. R. 1 to strengthen Voting Rights and the democratic reforms and onto gun violence. This is a Democratic Congress that is ready to work and ready to reopen the government. This is a new day in america. This is an extraordinary day as most days there is history that lies behind it. These women who have been elected stand on the shoulders of other women. I think back also to the womens march of 2017 and how many women were moved not just to march but to run, the electoralization of movements is critical. Im excited not just by the diversity but by how progressive the incoming women representatives are. The progressive caucus, the largest values based caucus in the house has about 90 members. Its going to control 13 committees and other Sub Committees. It can drive the issues of our time whether its medicare for all, a green new deal, higher free tuition education, taking on the gun violence issue, and i think empowering workers, because theres going to be oversight. There must be of this predators ball of an administration, the corruption is rampant. But dont lose sight of providing markers to counter and offer alternatives to trumpism and in oversight dont lose sight of the damage how trump and trumpism hurting working people in this country. So i hope today is a day of celebration. It is a year of the woman 2. 0, but lets not lose sight of the issues that elected so many women, so many progressives to this historic congress. Well, and what does it tell you that some of the most popular new members are young people including young women who challenged incumbent democratic establishment figures. Many of them were men, and challenged the Democratic Party saying not youre evil or youre as bad as trump but we dont have to wait to get rid of trump to have an intramural debate thats increasing progressives power. Change is coming. I think of iana pressly. She said, you know, i am change. I represent change. I look like change. And i think you have it tell me im wrong, but i think this correct me if im wrong is ten years the new incoming class is over a decade younger. Thats good. Its very good, and i think its time. It reminds like 1974, Younger Generation comes in, but youth nancy pelosi got hammered for age, and i think you need all shades of blue at the table, and you need all ages at the table. And i think that aoc as we call her at the nation, cortez, shes going to it would be wise for her to work with an older and Younger Generation. But to me the other exciting thing i have to say about this new congress, and we saw it in the close of the last one. Congress is once again reasserting the role in matters of war and peace. Thats right. I think nancy pelosi is going to put a war powers resolution on the floor in the next few days and people like chris murphy and those in the house who fought so hard to reassert congresss role as it should be have played a major role as activist groups and movements have to get to this moment. Donna, speak to that and to the interview where they talked about how donald trump is going to reckon with a woman in power. Take a look. A new day has dawned in america. You said in august you thought he might be afraid of you and the women in congress. I dont know if he knows how to deal with women in power and women with strength, but well see. Lets hope for the best. Donna . Well, Maxine Waters on the cover of the national journal. Yes, hes going to have to deal with women. Women who are extremely im going to let you finish. I have to note, i can tell youre excited about your time on the hill. You brought visual aids for each of your answers. I am a creature, as i tell people, im a hill rat. I started my career there in 1981. For me its like going back to the place where i learned so much, and the members are incredible. I want to pick up on the freshman members. I was worried that they might not be able to get on capitol hill and find their offices and hire staff and get ready. They are ready. They are so anxious to help lead this country. And i dont think that President Trump is capable of understanding that these members are coming from districts that want to have good representation. They want to see good leadership in washington d. C. Theyre not come to rubber stamp his agenda, and by the way, theyre not frightened of his name calling, his bullying tactics, and the nastiness that he projects on twitter and other venues. They are experienced, and theyre about to get down to business. The business of the American People. Its about the people. I want to also say that i saw you you call her aoc. Well, aoc ran over today to john lewis, and i could tell what she was saying. She said i have a seat. Would you like to take my seat. He said no, you take my seat. It was incredible seeing the old members, the o. G. S, and the new members working together, sitting side by side. Lucy macbeth was sitting next to others. This was a great day to see people coming together. Many of the veterans, who many of us helped to elect across the country, again, they were sitting next to people who i would call a couple doves, but theyre working together. Armed services. You call them o. G. S . Im an o grg. Didnt ben franklin say you need the ogs and you know it. He also had the shades. Not just the clear spectacles. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I just want you to know i got okay. Okay. I got it. But this was a great day, and i want also to give a shut out to hakeem jeffreys. It was like church in there. Church. Yeah. There was a lot. I saw that. We played a little bit of that. That energy with the spectacles, you look right for the 100 bill if theyre making any nominations for new faces. What im going to do is have you both stay with me. For more from the washington perspective and how it relates to the race to replace donald trump we have Jason Johnson camped out as well in front of the capitol. Editor for the root. I want to ask you about the swearing in and the historic numbers. First, listen to Elizabeth Warren in her first interview with Rachel Maddow since announcing her candidacy. As she talks about vanquishing donald trump. How do you fit in with the Democratic Party . And where do you see your party right now . I dont think of it so much in terms of party. I think of this as people who want to see change. And the kind of change they want to see. This is going to be the fish or cut bait year for the democrats. And its going to be how do we think government should work and who do we think government should work for. What is Elizabeth Warren doing in your view, jason, and what does it say about where the field is at that she didnt even wait the few days for the pelosi spotlight today because is view is you have to get out and start running against trump . She threw down the gaunt letlet and the mike. Warren has been having private off the record meetings with black press and Everything Else. Im faculty at morgan state where she gave the winter graduation speech a couple weeks ago. Clearly establishing herself as i can talk to minority voters. Shes also laying out an ideological line. Shes saying whoever ruends up running in to 2020 yr, you have show you can demographically and policy wise carry this party. I think warren given her background and intellectual background, it sets the bar high. I think youre going to get a lot more people who decide to run f. If you asked me six persons the first person to announce, i would have said cory booker. The fact that someone i thought was on the fence was the first to announce speaks volumes about how many people will be in the race. I think its fair to say that don d donna is about the party. She used to run the party. Youre known to be about policy, and as you put it earlier, whats the Progressive Agenda . Do you see warren as the most likely progressive leader in that part of the pry snare. We start primary . We started the ideas primary this week. Thats what were covering. I think Elizabeth Warren is going to be a key player in what i might Call Building out the inclusive multiracial populism. She has stood with people who feel shafted in this country and feel left behind. She speaks against a rigged system that leaves people behind. I think she has very strong, powerful ideas. I dont think shell be alone. I hope the media and we talked about this earlier, media malpractice we saw in 2016 is sup planplanted by more coverag ideas. I think youll see Bernie Sanders and sherrod brown. Warren persists and perseveres and has powerful, strong ideas. What youre calling ideas is also what people call a Kitchen Table. Shes the classic Kitchen Table candidate. When you look at the midterms, i think donna would agree. The bread and butter Kitchen Table issues propel democrats in parts around this country you wouldnt have expected to victory. Thats part of what were witnessing today. To lose sight of those issues is a mistake. Were witnessing people who have come into congress, this is an exciting day. But boy, lets not lose sight of connecting a vision to bold policy that will drive into 2020. And thats going to be key and work for the people of this country. Were over on time, and donna and i still had three or four other wild statements we wanted to make. Were almost out of time. Jason, take a look before i let you go as we talk about the intersection of what pelosi is doing in 2020. Look at the new members of congress. We talked a lot about the year of the woman. Its also the year to be clear of the democratic woman. I would love to report 35 and 35 in both parties. I would love to. Thats not the facts today. What we see is the diversity in this Congress Overwhelmingly on one side of the aisle. Your thoughts on that before i let everyone go. Well, its clear that the Republican Party has been getting older and whiter. Weve seen that. Its not just that youve got women who have come in as part of the freshman. Theyre engaged women. Oman has 1. 4 million twitter followers. These are a group of women coming into congress who say im going to take you through this process with me. And one thing that impressed me about what i saw this morning and other people i talked to. I talked to people here in 2006. A lot of the democrats in 06 had always planned to run. The people coming in now, they were inspired. They saw trump. They saw obama. They said i got to get in this fight right now. I think the women are leading the way. Its going to be a great opportunity. I think this is going to engage more people to run in 2020. You may say democrats put some of the most powerful candidates possible in the senate races and the governor races in 2020. By the way, its gods plan. Its drake. Its gods plan. Its gods plan. Come on. Lets go with drake. You believe that god has reached down and created this blue wave . Ive always known that god was bipartisan. Thank you. She is looking down and understanding today. You know, donna, theres a dead sea reference somewhere in here with the blue wave, but im going to leave it, and im going to say i dont believe to my knowledge, at least that weve been able to confirm that god is in either party, but my thanks to everyone. Katrina, donna and jason. Pelosi dropping a bomb in the debate about indicting a president , and later ill interview a lawmaker fighting for Donald Trumps tax returns. Well break down how pelosi as people in a corner about a vote looming. Well be with Lawrence Odonnell and a special behind the scenes look on this historic day. Youre watching the beat. Chin there goes our first big order. 44, 45, 46. How many of these did they order . Ooh, thats hot. You know, we could sell these. Nah. We dont bake. Opportunity. What we deliver by delivering. Each day justin at work. Walk. And after work. He does it all with dr. Scholls. Only dr. Scholls has massaging gel insoles that provide allday comfort. To keep him feeling more energized. Dr. Scholls. Born to move. With expedia, i saved when i added a hotel to our flight. So even when she grows up, shell never outgrow the memory of our adventure. Unlock savings when you add select hotels to your existing trip. Only with expedia. You might or joints. Hingur for your heart. But do you take something for your brain. 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Amarin thanks the clinicians and patients who participated in the vascepa Clinical Trials. Amarin thanks the clinicians and patients who participated i am a techie dad. N. I believe the best technology should feel effortless. Like magic. At comcast, its my job to develop, apps and tools that simplify your experience. My name is mike, im in Product Development at comcast. Were working to make things simple, easy and awesome. By taking power in the House Democrats are handing promotions to these chairs leading the investing, subpoenaing and scrutinizing of donald trump. Theres a new bill to protect mueller. They say Congress Must act. Pelosi saying the indictment of a sitting president is an open possibility. Do you believe the special counsel should honor and observe the department of justice guidance that states a sitting president cannot be indicted . I do not think that that is a conclusive, no, i do not. Yo so you think its possible that special counsel mueller could legally indict a sitting snth. Lets see what mueller does. That committee has also separately said they plan to get trumps tax returns. Pelosi says its one of the first things wed do. Lets get to all of it. Congressman starting with the speakers statement there, why do you think she is choosing this week to say the president can be indicted . Do you agree . Is that part of how the house is going to look at the potential legitimate outcome of the Mueller Probe . As youve discussed with donna, this is an exciting and hopeful day at the house, but were already at work an trying to end the shutdown. Next up is demanding accountability from trump and his corrupt administration. I think the speaker is correct, but the basic principle is not all the fine details that probably do need more study of the legal memos but the principle that no person, not even donald trump is above the law. Thats what we need to be speaking out about. And i dont think we ought to write off the possibility that the president could be indicted. Thats quite a statement, and not a normal way to start the Congress Talking about indicting president s, having the shutdown. But thats the trump era. On the taxes this is one of those things your committee can do under law without the republican senate. Theres been talk about it. I just said pelosi says she supports it. When do you see this Committee Led by your chair actually pulling the trigger on demanding his taxes . Well, i hope that it will be very soon. Over the course of the last year and a half, ive made motions that republicans have blocked, about half a dozen times in our committee. As you indicate, we no longer need a motion. We just need the signature of the chair of the ways and Means Committee on a letter to the Internal Revenue service. Its an almost century old statute. It doesnt raequire a subpoena. Its reasonable to be thorough and careful in the way we submit this. We have to take a look at how big a huge tax break estimated at maybe more than a billion dollars that republicans have already given the trump family through their huge tax bill last year, and its would you say youd do it by the end of the movant . Id like to see it done that soon. Its up to the chair as to when he makes the formal request. Ill certainly be encouraging prompt action, because though secretary mnuchin indicated in one interview that he was ready to release these, one could expect only obstruction and delay from the Trump Administration. So the sooner we make the request, the sooner we can begin the process. And i think we also need to see as we look at those records, whether the irs has properly audited trump. Thats the excuse we always used, that he needed to get the audits complete. Well, we need to look at how that auditing has been done. Do you think he might have been misleading the country about whether the audit was a reason to hold it back . I think donald trump misleads the country just about every day on the hour. Lies and more lies. Its a way of life for him. So yes, part of the misleading, part of the accountability and an end to impunity is to get the facts and let people see what they are. Initially with our careful and thorough thorough nonpolitical review and eventually releasing some of this information to the public. Youve been involved in this earlier. Now you have the power. Its interesting. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. What does Speaker Pelosi mean for trump and the gop . We have a congressional expert, Lawrence Odonnell, to discuss when were back in just thirtysecon thirtyseconds. Thirtyseconds when heartburn hits. Fight back fast with tums smoothies. It neutralizes stomach acid at the source. Tum tum tum tum tums. Smoothies. And introducing new tums sugarfree. Allow you to take advantage of Growth Opportunities with a level of protection in down markets. So you can be less concerned about your retirement savings. Talk with your advisor about shield℠ annuities from brighthouse financial, established by metlife. Democrats roared back to power in the house. There are several big developments unfolding all at once. You have Speaker Pelosi addressing the new congress in the corner. You also have the unusual backdrop of a closed federal government. Stocks plummeting today with uncertainty about the closed federal government among other issues and then over in the corner donald trump trying to squeeze back into the frame with a hastily called Border Security press conference. The shutdown is the story that immediately impacts the most people. Pelosis first action is pushing for support for a vote tonight to reopen the government. Not just any vote. Pelosi serving up a tough choice for republicans because shes using her power to make the house vote on the same plan that Senate Republicans passed two weeks ago. All in favor, say i. I. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. And that gop backed plan is what pelosi could send tonight for the senate to vote in putting republicans in a bind. Many backed off the same plan after trump shut down the government in that bizarre effort to hold the federal government hostage in order to break his promise to get mexico to pay for the wall. Im joined now by my friend and league, the one and only Lawrence Odonnell, host of the last word and also a foreigner senior staffer. Ive seen some of this shutdown action from the perspective of the senate floor, but ari, weve seen seen it like this before. Thats what we say in every trump situation. The big difference in this one is with all the past shutdowns is there wasnt a single participant in the processes that led to the shutdown who wanted a shutdown. Right. For example, on the republican speaker of the house john boehner didnt want a shutdown. Obama didnt want a shutdown. None of the players want a shutdown. But very various reasons, they found themselves locked into positions that they couldnt move out of in time for the shutdown. And so you had a shutdown. But everyone every minute of the shutdown was trying to figure their way out of it. Theres no evidence donald trump has spent one second trying to figure out his way out of this shutdown that he created. And promised to create on that extraordinary video from the oval office with nancy pelosi and schumer where he said i will do it and i wont blame you. With that in mind, walk us through what pelosis strategy is. Shes forcing the vote to hold them accountable for what they claim they were for in the senate. So none has ever been better equipped in a shutdown than pelosi right now. In the past that would mean shes on her way to winning the shutdown. In the trump world, you have no idea what hes capable of. Shes bringing to a vote something that every single republican in the senate voted for except for the freshman who werent there to vote for it last month. And all of whom would obviously vote for it. And so they then have to say heres why were not going to vote for the thing we already voted for. So ive never seen anyone with a stronger hand than nancy pelosi has when you look at this through all of the previous versions of shutdown, but this is a trump shutdown, so we have no idea all bets are off. Theres Something Else i want to ask you about. Youve been developing this point long before President Trump was the president. That is the misunderstanding why so many people, some in his part, some in the media, that he would be some kind of ideological figure. And youve argued against that interpretation. And i dont know if Speaker Pelosi watches the last word. Theres no evidence she does. I want that on the record. Shes never once quoted the last word. I dont know why. She made a point today that does overlap with a point youve made. She did it artfully by quoting Ronald Reagan. To make the larger american argument that when we have a country that welcomes people in, thats not left or right. Thats actually part of americas founding spirit. I want to get your analysis on that looking at both her and the late president reagan. Lets take a look. If we ever close the door to new americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost. He said if we ever close the door to new americans, our leadership role in the world will soon be lost. We draw our people, our strength from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so, we continuously renew and enrich our nation. I want you all to read it. Its a beautiful speech. Whats she doing there taking a moment out of her day, her spotlight to tip her hat to Ronald Reagan which isnt the easiest thing for her to do. Hes not supremely popular with the young base in this congress. His words are popular informal everything he said in that clip are popular with the democratic base, and she got applause from the full body if we had continued to roll the tape there including the republicans for quoting Ronald Reagan on that point. And so its one of those crucial reminders of how far the republicans have moved from what was once in effect their leader even after he was president. I mean, theres no one in republican history during my lifetime has been quoted more than Ronald Reagan by current republicans. Even after he was president theyve all stopped that now. You notice how you get up and you can watch your Senate Speech with republicans. You can watch your Campaign Speech with republicans. House republicans. Theres no quoting of reagan anymore. Donald trump destroyed Ronald Reagan. And destroyed Ronald Reagans power even after Holding Office and even after death in the Republican Party. Which was an extraordinary power that Ronald Reagan held for a long time. And youre talking about the power of example . Of his ideas. Republicans were living under reaganism for a few decades. Decad decades. They were living under republican principles that reagan lived by. And they were narrowing them all the time. I mean, reagan, for example, was in favor of raising taxes when it made sense to him, and it sometimes made sense to him. Hes not one who said we should never raise taxes, but the inheriters of the reagan legacy did. They didnt refine it very much. Trump blew it away, and blow si sh pelosi showed that today. I could go on and on. Come back at 10 00. Its called the last word with Lawrence Odonnell. Its one of the most popular shows on cable news. Youre hosting it tonight. That is the embalmed version of me. Do i join in this joke or not . That photograph was taken at some years ago. I think its a beautiful photograph. That guy looks embalmed. So me its west wing, that picture. Sure it is. It is. In more ways than one. Yeah. Youre very kind. Lawrence odonnell, always good to see you. As we say 10 00 a. M. , and well be right back with how donald trump has some republicans on the run and worried about their jobs. The run and worried about their jobs ood. But id rather be here with my little man than not be here because of migraine. I have three words for migraine. I am here. Aimovig, a preventive treatment for migraine in adults, reduces the number of monthly migraine days. For some, that number can be cut in half or more. The most common side effects are pain, redness or swelling at the injection site and constipation. Talk to your doctor about aimovig. And be there more. Allow you to take advantage of Growth Opportunities with a level of protection in down markets. 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This is a legislative body that as we reported tonight has more women, more diversity and now fewer republicans than the recent congresses. In a moment ill be joined by two men who served together over 30 years in congress. One whose tenure ended today. When Donald Trump Took Office there were 241 republicans in congress. Now theres 199. How does this new majority and minority handle a Trump Administration thats i can tell you something i just got in the news room. Youre looking at a live shot and the microphone, were zooming in on it. Speaker pelosi will be speaking. She has just announceed this press conference thats going to be in a few minutes. Were going to monitor to see if she makes any additional news on the shutdown. We reported the vote plan based on what we got from the new Speakers Office tonight. Lets get to it. A former florida congressman and byron dorgen who served before going to the senate. Were going to monitor pelosi in the corner. Let me start with you now former congressman c cover bellow. Did donald trump help reduce the number of republicans in congress . No question. When donald trump came on the National Stage, there were i think 247 republicans at the time. John boehner just helped elect the largest republican majority since the great depression. Today republicans are down to 199. No question that the trump effect has been bad for house republicans. The big question is that something you think donald trump deep down knows and is basically denying or is it something we doesnt even get as we look at this new congress coming in tonight which youre saying as a republican which is interesting hearing from you, as changed hands and gone blue because of trumps mistakes . Well, im not really sure. I think what the president would probably tell you is now the republican majority in the senate is larger and hed like to take credit for that. But without question in suburban districts all across america, there has been a backlash against the president , and thats why republicans have lost almost 50 seats since he came on to the National Stage and became the republican standard bearer back in 2016. Senator dorgen, your view. You have a lot of experience, but not with this kind of president. No. And let me say that he declared victory after the election, and its not much of a victory. I watched your coverage today. This is a political earthquake. It really, really is. And i understand that the speaker and the democratic majority in the house which is new and really important, they need to come up with a positive agenda that talks to the hopes of the American People. I understand all that. But its also very important to have oversight. And that oversight means the first three words of almost any oversight hearing which we havent had for a long time now is how do you justify it . How do you justify weakening election laws . How do you justify weakening laws that protect on clean air and clean water and so on . How do you justify a tax cut that allows corporations to buy back their stock and inflates the deficit while they do it . I think those how do you justify questions are so important, because the oversight role of congress has not been done now for the last several years. The republicans had no interest in providing any oversight on all the big issues. If i might make one more comment, the reason this happen second down clear. The American People wanted to create a brake pads with respect to this president and the worst impulses of this president. I think thats why theres a majority in the u. S. House, and i expect nancy pelosi and the new majority in the house will do really important things for the country. As youre speaking, were looking at what power on the move looks like. Speaker pelosi walking here with her security, and a member of the leadership flanking her, shaking her hand as she approaches the microphone. Any minute shes going to hold this press conference. I think were going to listen in and see if she makes news on the shutdown and come back to our panel. Mr. Hoyer, our distinguished chair of the Appropriations Committee and our chair of the Homeland Security Sub Committee of the Appropriations Committee. As you are aware, we have we are diligent, diligent and persistent in trying to open up government. As i said today on the floor, we will take ideas, good ideas from wherever they come, including the idea of the Appropriations Bills passed by the republicans in the United States senate. They passed six bills, four of them on the floor with over 90 votes. Two of them in committee, unanimously, and those six bills cover eight agencies, departments of government that could be opened just by the stroke of the pen of the president of the United States. Separate from that, we are sending what the senate also passed which is a bill to extend to have a continued resolution until february eighth, taking their exact date from the senate. That would cover Homeland Security, give us the weeks needed to negotiate an agreement to open up government in that department. Again, weve taken word for word, and im going to yield in a moment after mr. Hoyer to our distinguished chair of the Appropriations Committee to demonstrate how purely republican and senatorial these measures were. And so we have separated it out. Theyre two votes. One on the eight departments of government that could be opened now to meet the needs of the American People, to meet the needs of the American People to protect our borders and to protect our workers. And, again, the other bill is mostly about protecting our borders. And in that spirit i want to yield to our distinguished democratic leader of the house, mr. Hoyer, to talk about the need for us to open up government. Thank you very much, and congratulations, madam speaker. Weve been listening to what you just saw, nancy pelosi in her First Press Conference since returning to the speakership. She just handed it off. I want to bring back our panel. We have the Perfect Panel to help us understand what were seeing as pelosi says theres a new dawn, a new congress, and shes putting pressure on donald trump to reopen the government. Senator, having worked with her and served in the house, what are we seeing there . Shes going to send back to the senate. Shell get passed by her majority in the house and send back to the senate a piece of legislation that the Senate Passed nearly unanimously. In fact, by voice vote. You might republican a politician that was a democrat some years ago who said i voted for it before i voted against it . John kerry . Well, well, you might be in a situation here where if senator mcconnell would bring the bill to a vote, the bill thats going to pass the house tonight or tomorrow, it would put every republican senator in that saying i voted befofor it befor against it. Thats what i spoke about with odonnell. Were going to keep listening. Right now theyre just giving more volume to what wed heard earlier today, this plan. Senator, at a certain point is she forcing the Senate Republicans to do what they didnt have to do as often and as publicly in the first two years which is answer whether or not they share Donald Trumps strategy of often contradicting himself and being full of it . As you were explaining, they werent forced to take as many hard votes like this when the republicans were in charge of both i was one of the negotiators that went to the white house. We sat around the cabinet table with the president and the leaders of the house and senate day after day negotiating how we might open the government. Its really interesting to me, theres almost none of that kind of discussion going on anywhere and its important that we find a way to resolve this. Senator, ill bring your counterpart back into the conversation. The senator points out the grinding sort of complete disregard by the Trump Administration for the impact on peoples lives. Everyone thinks about the ideological debate. There isnt even an effort to appear to be spending each workday, each weekday negotiating over how to reopen the government as farmers lose disaster assistance, as people lose food programs for the hungry, as people lose access to all sorts of other federal lands and National Parks and Everything Else and will miss paychecks, for what . For something according to every other shoulddown they get paid afterwards and it becomes a huge waste, congressman. Shutdowns are a waste of resources. They make the economy more inefficient and obviously they hurt federal employees, but i think the broader question here is will these new members of congress or this new 116th Congress Show a willingness to do what these days is courageous in politics, which is to compromise. We know that any bill to pass requires a majority of votes in the house, 60 votes in the senate and the president s signature unless, of course, both chambers can override a veto with 2 3 of the membership in both chambers. If we are going to break this impasse there has to be a compromise. If were going to pass immigration reform, there must be a compromise. If were going to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions in this country, there must be a compromise so that is the relevant question. I think that this new Congress Getting sworn in today, a lot of people on the left are celebrating the new democratic majority in the house. I understand that. Maybe some people on the right are celebrating an expanded republican majority in the senate. What most americans want is for all of these politicians to compromise. Right. To meet somewhere in the middle, to get something done and to get government out of the front page for all of the wrong reasons and thats what i hope for this new congress. A lot of people out there, i think, on the extremes want democrats and republicans to fight. What i think most americans want is democrats and republicans to meet somewhere in the middle and get something meaningful done. In this case that means opening the government. The senator is youre the house member, hes the former center. The senator is concerned you may be getting a filibuster. They never taught us that in the house. My point is the power of the purse as you know belongs to the congress. Thats important. Its going to be hard to compromise for democrats especially to reach a decision to build a wall we dont need with money we dont have, especially when the president campaigned on it. This is all about politics, you know. Its about his Campaign Promise but his Campaign Promise was twofold, im going to build a wall and mexico is going to pay for it. The fact is mexico is not going to build a wall and i agree we dont need a wall. You make an important point. Let me press your republican counter part on that. Isnt that whats different . You talked about compromise. Donald trump is the first president not only in history but quite possibly i rarely talk about the future but quite possibly for the past and next 100 years to loudly, brashly, em bare bare rasingly shut down the government to break a promise rather than to uphold it, that the u. S. Would never have to pay for a wall. Ari, i voted against the bill to increase funding for the wall two weeks ago in the house chamb chamber. The reason i did that is because theres an obvious compromise out there that i wanted to protect and that is to increase Border Security funding while at the same time granting dreamers, Daca Recipients a future in our country. That is a very obvious compromise. Lindsey graham is now talking along those terms. That is the way out of this and thats why i voted against an extra 5 billion for the wall, but there is a reality here that we have to accept, ari. Before we go to the reality. Let me push you on this. Im going to give you time. Viewers watching might think, wow, this is a reasonable, thought full former legislator, fair . I hope so. I hope so. Okay. Yet the leader of your party publicly treated you with such disdain so i hate to be the one to play the tape for you as it were, but thats part of my job, so lets look at that and wonder what did you do to him to make him act like that . Or what is it inside him that treats other people like that even when theyre on the same team ostensibly. Take a look at what he said about you after the election . On the other hand you had some that decided to, lets stay away, lets stay away. They did very poorly. Im not sure that i should be happy or sad, but i feel just fine about it. Carlos cuebela. He put you there with some mispronunciation on the list of republicans who lost. Was he wrong in what he said there . Ari, the president gets zero points for style. Hes extremely divisive. He can be very petty. He takes everything personally. So theres no defending that, and i dont know very many people who do, but there is a reality here. This is a president who ran on this Border Security promise. Of course he did say mexico would he ran on a promise that mexico would pay for it. That was the promise. I mean, i could tell you both of you are politicians. No question. The government now hangs in the balance. The democrats here taking power, trying to reopen the government and we have a president who should down the government to break a promise. I just wonder whether thats getting through . I give you as we say on the hill, i give you the balance of your time back. This is very simple and, again, i voted against increased fundsing for the wall because there is an obvious compromise out there. And this is where republicans get to prove if theyre serious about increasing funding for Border Security and democrats get to prove if theyre serious about supporting dreamers. The young, undocumented immigrants that i worked so hard for every day during my four years in congress because i do want a solution for them and this is the perfect opportunity. Ive got to be fair. Let me let the senator in as well. Ari, as i said, this is a political earthquake. The u. S. House controlled by democrats. Were going to be seeing over sight hearings that are significant and difficult but important for the country. And let me say this, i hope some day very soon we get back to the central questions that affect people around the dinner table, do i have a good job . Does it pay well . Do i have job security . Do grampa and grampa have decent access to health care . Do i live in a safe neighborhood . All of these things are the most important things to people who live in this country and have hopes and dreams for the future. The quick jeer we get back, the better for our country. Different parties, different houses of congress. Appreciate you both being part of our special coverage tonight. Thank you. Thanks to both of you. Let me tell you where we are here as we wrap up an hour on the first day of this new congress. As i report for you tonight and as we wrap up the beat, we have the democratic leadership addressing reporters tonight. Theyre working obviously late into 7 00 p. M. In washington, d. C. , and making the argument that the Senate Republicans have to choose whether they agree with themselves and the funding bill they put forward two weeks ago or whether they agree with donald trump who doesnt agree with themselves as they argue and still wants to keep the government shut down. That is a very big fight that we are going to keep covering. The other piece of this as you look at the arrayed democratic leadership is something we discussed with several guests tonight and its our closing thought tonight. There is so Much Division in politics and so much discussion on whether anything matters anymore, particularly in the trump era. Youve heard us cover those stories. Today we can sit back, whatever your politics, whatever you think about which party should have more or less seats, we have a congress that looks more like america, that has more young people and that is now back to work in a very different way, divided government which may be a good thing for Holding Power accountable. Its something to think about as we reflect on why does this Congress Look a little different . Well, this is, as we mentioned at the top of our show, the highest mid term turnout in over a century so were hearing from more americans and this is the congress they chose. I wanted to leave you with that final thought. As always, thank you for watching the beat. Ill be back here at 6 00 p. M. Dont go anywhere as Congress Continues working, as the government remains closed. Hardball is up next. Madam speaker, lets play hardball. Good evening, im Steve Kornacki in for chris matthews. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the newly elected democratic leadership are currently speaking to reporters holding a press conference. We begin keeping an eye on that. We begin with the latest developments in what has already been a momentous day on capitol hill. Tonight that newly democraticled house of representatives is going to begin voting on a pair of shortterm bills to end the partial government shutdown. A clear signal if he needed one to p