full exchange had to do with a gag gift of vladimir putin-themed calendars. manu raju asked senator johnson whether it had all been a joke. he said, quote, it's a real possibility. we asked senator johnson to come on the program but never heard back from his staff or any secret society. i asked democratic congressman jim himes about it. >> these are all faux scandals that are thrown out there for the sole purpose of causing some americans to say, golly, i wonder whether the fbi is on the up and up because at some point bob mueller may come through with some conclusions. and it's important to the president's supporters to have that uncertainty out there. >> back now with our panel. joining us also is mike rogers and carl bernstein. dana, this is the second time we've heard from senator johnson. you first time you would think after kind of floating this secret society idea and having it really turn out to be kind of a joke and also making claims about an informant backing up the claims, that informant seemed to have disappeared or not been in on the joke.