The Senate Committee on health, education, labor and pensions will come to order. Let me get to the point of this hearing. Today in our country, over 60 about where people are living paycheck to paycheck. And millions are working for starvation wages. Unbelievably, despite an explosion in technology and huge increases worker productivity, the average American Worker is making 50 a week less then he or she made 50 years ago after adjusting for inflation. Unless we change the nature of the way our economy works, it is all too likely that our Younger Generation will have a lower standard of living then their parents. What this means in reality is that workers throughout our country are struggling to pay for housing, struggling to pay for health care, and prescription drugs, struggling to put food on the table. Struggling to pay off their student debts and to deal with other basic sensitize of life basic necessities of life. And while that is the reality for the working class of this count
officially opens in 24 hours in iowa, where it s cold outside, but the race for the republican presidential nomination is catching fire. right now, the leading gop contenders are making their final pitches to voters, ahead of tomorrow s caucuses in the state. and despite facing a mounting of legal issues, donald trump appears to be the overwhelming favorites, pulling nearly 30 points ahead of his closest rivals, nikki haley and ron desantis. according to the latest nbc news des moines iowa, des moines register iowa poll, out of iowa, in just a few minutes, i ll talk to the chair of the democratic national committee about that. and, about iowa, and about the caucuses colliding with martin luther king holiday tomorrow. and about what his party needs to do, to not just unify against the eventual republican nominee, but to bring disaffected democrats, black voters specifically, back into the fold, ahead of november. let s check on the latest from iowa, however, with nbc s priscil
let s take a look at the week s top stories. as you know, i can t talk about particulars of this or any other ongoing criminal manner. as i said when i appointed mr. smith i did so because it underscored the justice department s commitment to an oath independents and accountability. mr. smith is a veteran career prosecutor. he has assembled a group i ve experienced and talented prosecutors. and agents, whose share his commitment to integrity and the rule of law. any questions about this matter will have to be answered by their filings in the court. attorney general, merrick garland, with some breathe where it s for the first time since donald trump s federal indictment. is it just may or willie are we starting to see again. not a complete breaking of ice. but a more thawing of ice? this is horrible. it s bad, but i m gonna pardon him. day three, too early to talk about pardons. because you know the news came out. i m sure mike pence saw the new jersey nightmare. the p
just days before the iowa caucuses. the former new jersey governor declining to endorse any of his republican rivals, at least for now, even as he urges he supporters to choose a candidate with character. this comes as we re just now a few hours away from cnn s republican presidential debate later tonight, nikki haley and ron desantis about to come face to case for the final time before the iowa caucuses. it s a critically important test as both candidates try to close the gap with donald trump. i m wolf blitzer, you re in the situation room. announcer: this is cnn breaking news. it s major breaking news indeed, with chris christie suspending his run tonight. the race is on for other candidates as to try to pick up his supporters. kylie atwood is with us. the remaining campaigns are clearly interested in bringing voters over to their side. what are you hearing? reporter: they are indeed. there was a hot mic moment that wasn t actually included in that speech that we
We have a lot of folks on the roster so i want to get right into the program. There we go. So, we are going to hear from u. S. Senator from nevada jacky rosen, lets save applause for the end. Directive the director of the Mccain Institute, the white house domestic policy advisor, susan rice, and the special advisor on security, rabbi walker. An author historian and professor, who will also be receiving the please join me in giving a warm welcome to the senator. Good afternoon everyone. I want to say i am a former synagogue president. Im used to this. Usually were just giving the announcements, but lunch is great. Its so great to see all of you, and to be here with all of you today at the National Leadership summit. I looked out and i see friends, some old and some new, i see some las vegas lost begins over here, so people from chicago. Im sure there are this way out there. But i want to thank all of the leaders here at the adl, including all of our friends, the National Director Jonath