immigration caravan message, popular with the base and those at president trump s rallies but also controversial and divisive, particularly with independents. the people who made their decision over the last few days voted democratic by a 12-point margin. christian, you were talking about this a minute ago saying that the political pressure shifts to the democrats, but i do wonder is that if the wall and immigration is going to be what defines this shutdown, is there a cautionary political note for republicans there in what just happened in the midterm elections? not really, no, because 86% of republicans favor what trump is doing on the wall, so he is actually doing what his base and what those who elected him want him to do. frankly, again, the democrats are the opposite, the negative of that. they are 90% opposed if you look at polls to building a wall. so why nancy pelosi has chosen this issue to fight on. the congressman made a good point i think, which is to lead in the new
money for his fence altogether rather than give the department of homeland security a year of funding at the same level as last year. i m joined now by democratic congressman john garamendi of california and christian whiteman is a former senior adviser to presidents trump and bush. thank you both for being with us. christian, let me start with you. it has to do with the reporting we were showing from liberal groups now telling house democrats hey, no money at all. this $1.3 billion that democrats had previously been willing to sign off on for what they say would be fencing along the border, they say not a wall but fencing, now you ve got liberal groups including the aclu saying, hey democrats, offer nothing, not even that. it gets to what david frum i don t know if you were listening said in our last segment. he was basically saying trump ultimately doesn t have any leverage in this. he s going to have to keep backing down. do you agree with that assessment? no, i think he does
reporting that a coalition of liberal groups are pushing democratic leaders to deny the president money for his fence altogether rather than give the department of homeland security a year of funding at the same level as last year. i m joined now by democratic congressman john garamendi of california and christian whiteman a senior advisor to presiden president bush. we had a little reporting from some liberal groups now telling house democrats, hey, no money at all. this $1.3 billion that democrats had previously been willing to sign off on for what they say would be fencing along the border, they say not a wall but fencing, now you ve got liberal groups including the aclu saying, hey, democrats, offer nothing, not even that. it gets to what david frumm said in our last segment. he was basically saying trump ultimately doesn t have any leverage in this. he s going to have to keep backing down. do you agree with that assessment? no, i think he does have
party, according to winston. the closing focus in the final days of the campaign was on the immigration caravan message, popular with the base and those at president trump s rallies but also controversial and divisive, particularly with independents. the people who made their decision over the last few days voted democratic by a 12-point margin. christian, you were talking about this a minute ago saying that the political pressure shifts to the democrats, but i do wonder is that if the wall and immigration is going to be what defines this shutdown, is there a cautionary political note for republicans there in what just happened in the midterm elections? not really, no, because 86% of republicans favor what trump is doing on the wall, so he is actually doing what his base and what those who elected him want him to do. frankly, again, the democrats are the negative of that. they are 90% opposed if you look at polls to building a wall. so why nancy pelosi has chosen this issue to figh
in cuba there are billboards everywhere with the cuban five. they are hailed as heroes. they were convicted of espionage in the u.s. two have been released back to cuba after serving their time. martha: let s go to former state department seem yoarp advisor christian whiteman. what s your rethroocts release of a what s your reaction to the release of alan gross. i m happy he s coming home. but you have to ask what the obama administration is up to. he was traded for three actual spies. this is part of a very likely part of a process of restoration of full normal relations with cuba, ending the trade embargo