senator blumenthal is here with me. also, how the republican obsession with aoc may actually get bipartisan legislation to clean up lobbying. i m not joking. later, a disturbing report about one of donald trump s favorite authoritarians, rick stengel is here and news about the mueller report. something special, that comes later. of course, it s friday. you re watching the beat on msnbc. you re watching the beat on msnbc. [farmers bell]