Arthel we begin with the air and sea search underway now for seven american sailors missing for 24 hours after a collision between a u. S. Navy destroyer and a japanese container ship off the coast of japan. The warship was heavily damaged in the crash, and crews still cannot reach parts of the vessel. Lucas tomlinson joins us live from the pentagon. Hi, lucas. Reporter hi, arthel. Well, its sunday morning in japan, just after dawn, and the search continues. But already some officials are fearing the worst, that some of those seven missing sailors were trapped and unable to escape from those compartments which flooded after hitting a 700foot cargo ship which was headed into port before turning around for some reason. It flooded two birthing compartments where dozens of american sailors were sleeping at 2 30 a. M. Local time. There was also flooding in the auxiliary space and the ships radio room. The Commanding Officers tateroom was also stateroom was also damaged. Its been a tough day
Cost . There will always be a costbenefit analysis but this week events, hearts and prayers go out to those who are affected and staff people on capitol hill. I spent a lot of time on capitol hill and you can tell the mood there is very somber discouraged feeling and naturally so. We do need to ask if security measures for every member of congress are adequate, do they understand how to properly hold Public Events where security risks might be present but it is also a good time to reflect on the tone of our political discourse, whether we are fostering the type of opinions of one another that are healthy so this is something we can look in the mirror but it is a good question we have to consider across the political aisle if security measures are adequate. When you look at the situation it is a balance between trying to keep our lawmakers safe but at the same time they are supposed to be out with our constituents, supposed to be accessible, that is what democracy is about. Somebody com
Hear. We know the president will address the nation from ft. Myer, outside of washington. He announced on twitter saturday that he made a final decision in that regarding afghanistan after he met with his National Security team at camp david last friday. The president has been presented with a number of options. Defense secretary james mattis was at the camp david meeting. Heres what he had to say about the president s decision. I would not be willing to make significant troop lifts until we made certain what we knew was the stratstrategy, wha the commitment going in in that regard, the president has made a decision. He wants to announce it to the American People. Ill stand silent until then, until that point. So this is a big moment for the president here, jim. Hes essentially asking the american america to trust his decision regarding afghanistan. All of hthis comes after one of the worst weeks of his presidency following the comments he made about the violence in charlottesville wha
The administration said the working vacation will be more about governing and less about golf and the president working the phones talking with senators, republican senators perhaps and democratic senators, trying to get a majority to pass that big Senate Tax Cut and tax reform bill. Its already passed in the house and it would have to go to a Conference Committee to come out with an agreeable joint bill and then the president , of course, would just love to sign that into law before years end. It would be a Major Campaign accomplishment. Ill take it. What do you think about twitter going to 480 characters . We move on now. Were expecting a president ial thanksgiving to the nation, arent we . We are. Last year as president elect donald trump put out a video message on the wednesday before thanksgiving. Since he hasnt done it yet we expect it will happen today. It was indicated by Sarah Huckabee sanders the press secretary that it was probably going to be happening this week. Last year
Senate to talk more about the end of the year agenda and georges says he is confident they can get on the same page for tax reform. I am very confident to work out our differences. We are more united than we are divided on this issue but we are on the same page. Can we have some differences to get this worked out we are very determined i dont think any three years miss majority has been more determined to do something and this. I am sure the congress man knows he is talking about the republicans what about the democrats . There is only horsetrading down to the wire but at this point white House Democrats said the bill produced by the house is not good public policy. Here is more. It is a concentration of the wealth of the wealthy and the poor left out of the equation because that inevitable tax cut that the tax bill will lead to program cuts because there is the extraordinary deficit created by a the tax cut under way in the house and the senate. Democrats several legislative prioritie