Media and politics these days and leads to real world violence and murder. Ill talk about it an author. Good evening. Im mehdi hassan. Since this show launched in october ive been warning about the crisis of democracy that has been engulfing this nation. And im sorry to have to report this to you. But the past week has brought even more confirmation that the crisis continues to get worse. In texas despite the slight reprieve republicans remain determined to pass a bill that would enact new and horrific restricts on voting. Governor greg abbot says the bill will be back in november. Its one of nine bills to restrict voting now in the lone star state. Texas republicans were fully prepared to sign the measure into law at the end of may had House Democrats not successfully staged an 11th hour walkout to block the measure. Republicans are being shamed to make the bill better. A provision to take away early voting on sunday to hinder church goers, absolutely not. One of the bills architects he says it must be a typo. If so its an awfully long and very specific typo. What about another provision that would make it easy for judges to overturn elections without any proof . Why . That would be a horrendous policy says the same texas gop lawmaker. Amazing. Both of these things this lawmaker claims to be against he helped put in the legislation. Actually fight back against republican and to have a spine because this week we saw Senate Democrats joe manchin and Kyrsten Sinema continue to hold the partys agenda to hostage. Manchin was completely unmoved after a meeting with black civil rights leaders after his opposition to the Voting Rights bill known as the for the people act. But enjoy this offering of his meaningless word salad. Ive got to go take care of this meeting. Did it change your mind . What we had was great, respectful, it was very good conversation we had. And its the starting of a good relationship, it really was. Dont worry, though, because House Speaker nancy pelosi is convinced that manchin a man who keeps saying he will never change his mind on this issue might still change his mind. She says it. He wrote i believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy and for that reason i will vote against the for the people act which is hr1. When democrats literally dont have one vote to spare and you read that from joe manchin, how are you going to get it passed in. I dont give up an joe manchin. I think he left the door open. I think its a jar. Im not giving up. Its not just nancy pelosi. Senator Diane Feinstein declared this week she also backs joe manchin on keeping the filibuster and said ridiculously, quote, if democracy were in jeopardyi would want to protect it but i dont see it being in jeopardy right now. They couldnt do it if some of these democrats werent shamefully in denial about it, shrugging their shoulders over it. This was also the week we discovered trumps Department Of Justice seized the data of at least two democratic members of congress in 2017 and 2018. And Slate Magazine pointed out, this would be a remarkable set of circumstances under any administration, but as usual that it happened during the Trump Administration would make it even worse. Appear to have occurred at the same time that the Justice Department was fighting a congressional subpoena for trumps personal financial records to say nothing of the administrations Stone Walling during the houses first impeachment and the department openly flouting congressional oversight throughout trumps term. Rarely do we get such a stark example of the asymmetry of power between the two branches. On friday Attorney GeneralMerrick Garland unveiled a plan to protect Voting Rights. Good. But bidens Attorney General has also sparked anger with his unwillingness to break with a lot of trump doj policies and practices. For example, defending the former president in a Defamation Case brought by women accusing him of rape. Accusations the former president denies, but the doj is defending himself. So the Question Stands are democrats in congress up to this fight . Is Merrick Garland at the doj prepared to do everything it takes but also hold the attackers including the former president to account . Ultimately history will judge if the Democratic Party rolled over when it mattered most. One democrat who isnt sitting idly by is beto orourke. Hes touring 22 cities across texas to rally for Voting Rights ahead of a Special Session planned by gop governor greg abbot. I spoke with him earlier when he was on the road. Beto orourke, thank you so much for joining me on the show. I know its humid and hot in houston so i appreciate you taking time out. The Texas Democrat strategy of walking out of the State Legislator and denying a quorum to get their voting suppression bill through, that was only a temporary reprieve. Isnt it inevitable theyll get it through at some point and itll be devastating to free and fair texas elections. Their courage in the political minority against overwhelming odds and everyones complete certainty the Voter Suppression bill in texas was going to pass, their willingness to walk out at the 11th hour and stop that bill from becoming law has purchased us some time. Now its incumbent upon all of us not just here in texas but across the country to make the most of it. And the person who can do the most at this time is President Biden. The most powerful man on the planet who we want to help use that capital he has and help the senate to pass the for the people act which will stop Voter Suppression in texas, georgia, across the country and open up elections to eligible voters and make sure all of us can participate in our democracy. So lets talk about some of that politics you allude to. Nancy pelosi, House Speaker said this morning shes confident joe manchin will come around on the for the people act even though i see no signs of him shifting it all. Democrats can basically organize their way through higher turnout which is nonsense. Arent you worried, beto, that the leadership of your party in d. C. Isnt taking this ongoing attack on our democracy seriously our urgently enough . You may be doing a 22 city tour of texas to push Voting Rights, but they seem to be too complacent in d. C. Worrying is not going to get us anywhere. If dr. King and john lewis had just sat there and worried in 1964 or 1965 we never would have had the Voting Rights act signed into law by President Johnson who was frankly compelled to do so by their struggle and their sacrifice. We need something along those lines in 2021. Next sunday in june were rallying at the Texas Capitol in austin to make sure our representatives in washington, d. C. And the president of the United States hear us loud and clear. Understood. At the center of Voting Rights in this country. Are they being urgent enough . Do you believe democrats in d. C. Are taking this urgently enough . Absolutely not. But i cant just worry about that or complain about them. Ive got to do my part to push them. Thats why were traveling the state of texas red counties and blue, urban and rural bringing people out. We want to give President Biden the power to do the right thing. This could not be more critical because if we fail if we fail this summer we may not get democracy back. Because youre right, mehdi, these Voter Suppression bills will roll forward in Special Session in texas and in what Abraham Lincoln called the last best effort of earth will perish on the planet. Weve got to do all we can where we are. Many of our viewers i would assume think its serious. Do you think joe manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and Diane Feinstein who said this week, she doesnt see democracy, quote, of being in danger right now. Are they guilty of not just blocking Voting Rights like in texas but disregarding them . This is the toughest state in which to register to vote and in which to participate in an election. And its not tough for everyone equally. Its disproportionate borne by black voters, voters of color, those with disabilities, the very young, very old and those who live in big cities. You cannot have a democracy in which everyone who is eligible cannot participate in it. I believe in those three senators you mentioned. And im confident once theyve exhausted every effort to bring in bipartisan cooperation theyll put this country before party, before their political career and before themselves and theyll do the right thing because the alternative is unthinkable. But all of us have the opportunity to help them reach that conclusion. So lets push them as hard as we can. Yes. In terms of the pushing i do wonder do you regret in hindsight not running against texas republican john cornyn for the Senate Last Year . Because if you had and won you wouldnt have to be criticizing manchin or sinema from the side lines. Youd be the 51st vote in the senate. Theres nothing i can do unt the past. Ive got to do what i can where i am. And what that means for me is fighting for our democracy and Voting Rights right here in texas. Ive giving it all ive got as i know millions of My Fellow Americans are at this same moment as well. This fight is the one that will define us and this country, this generation and everyone that follows. We cannot be found wanting. So lets get after it. Agree. And fair enough you cant review the past. Lets talk future. 30 seconds left, will you be running for the governor of texas as a lot of reports suggest against abbot next year . Im going to see this fight through the to finish, and after that im going to see how i can serve texas either as a candidate or a supporting candidate. One way or another im supporting texas. Beto orourke, thank you for your time tonight. Appreciate it. Thanks, mehdi. Coming up, its a Historic Campaign and picking up what some are calling maya momentum. Ill talk to her about her chances of becoming the first black female mayor of New York City. And its official. Benjamin netanyahu is no longer Prime Minister of israel, but will his replacement be any better . Ill dive into it ahead. Y better ill dive into it ahead. The air, so you smell them later. Ew right . Thats why febreze created small spaces. Press firmly and watch it get to work. Unlike the leading cone, small spaces continuously eliminates odors in the air and on surfaces. So they dont come back for 45 days. Just imagine what it can do with other odors. Wondering what actually goes into your multivitamin . At new chapter, its innovation, organic ingredients, and fermentation. Fermentation . Yes. Formulated to help you body really truly absorb the natural goodness. New chapter. Wellness, well done. [ ] looking to repair dry, damaged hair without weighing it down . Try pantene daily moisture renewal conditioner. Its colorsafe formula uses smart conditioners to microtarget damage helping to repair hair without weighing it down. Try pantene. Early voting is officially under way in New York Citys mayor primary. Just weeks ago civil rights attorney and former Bill De Blasio counsel maya wiley was trailing in the polls. Now with aoc and senator Elizabeth Warren wiley has surged into second place. What some are calling mayamentum. Lets put this race into perspective. New york city has a population higher than 40 states and the Biggest Police department in america and gdp is 1. 5 trillion, the largest economy of any metro area in the country. So it matters who governs the big apple. Maya wiley joins me now. We reached out to other candidates and welcome them on this network anytime. What is the reason behind this momentum . Do you credit it to endorsements like from people like aoc . Look, we have mayamentum because im the progressive that can win this race. Endorsements have been extremely important proof points in that very coin. Yes, everyone from 1199, the most powerful local union in the country, Progressive Union of our Essential Workers from nurses to Home Health Aides endorsed me in february. Were so excited to have the entire brooklyn delegation to congress including congressman hakeem jeffries, congresswoman yvette clark. And, yes, congresswoman aoc. Thats all we have to call her. And jamal bowman. The proof point is the Progressive Change that my campaign is putting forward as the choice in this critical election. Okay. Given what youre saying there, recent polls show that voters who are supporting the most progressive candidates in the race represent the largest voting bloc in the city. If those voters dont consolidate around one candidate, the race could be split, left in the air, ranked Choice Voting with just days to go until election day. Why should progressives choose you . Whats the most progressive policy that youre pitching that no one else in the race is . Frankly, our whole platform is the most progressive set of policies on any issue. Take, for example, the fact that im going to shift 1 billion from New York CityPolice Department because it is poorly managed. It is not focusing our resources by keeping us safe from crime and Police Violence. As a black woman and civil rights lawyer i know its a false choice to say we have to have one or the other. We need to support Mental Health crisis response. Show this country how its done. Show this city how we can be safe from both those problems. Look, housing, we have a crisis of affordability in this city before covid. Now we have 400,000 more new yorkers facing eviction. Im the candidate that has a rent subsidy plan in addition to building more permanently Affordable Housing with our Capitol Construction budget that ill double, but im going to subsidize the rent for families earning 54,000 or less so theyre not paying more than 30 of their income on rent. You mentioned Police Violence in your answer. Thursday during a debate you were asked if you would consider taking guns away from the nypd. Have a listen. So will you take the guns away from the nypd . Im not prepared to make that decision in a debate. I am going to have a civilian commissioner and a civilian commission that will hold the Police Accountable and make sure were safe from crime but also Police Violence. Maya, your spokesperson said the question was ridiculous and clearly you would not take guns away from officers. But on stage that didnt seem clear. Can you clarify where you stand on disarming Police Officers . Absolutely. I am not, nor have i ever said in this race that i would. And, frankly, part of why it was so far out of left field is that its simply not a conversation that any candidate, any progressive candidate has even raised. I wanted to focus my one minute on the actual conversation, which is how we grow public safety. Keep people safe by doing things like addressing the Mental Health crisis we have in this country. Ill give you one specific exampleal right now, which is justin wallace, a 10yearold boy shot and killed on the rockaways. One of the most effective ways weve had of preventing a gun from being shot in the first place was Community Violence interruption. Saying what they need are social workers and Trauma Informed Care and Mental Health response to keep communities safer. Thats what we need to be talking about in this race, and thats what im going to do as mayor. Were almost out of time. Elections are all about changeman on the one hand you do represent change. You would be New York Citys first female black mayor. On the other hand, you used to work for Bill De Blasio. Why should new yorkers not see you as an extension of the de Blasio Mayorty . First of all i dont think weve ever had a child of civil rights activists that grew up with pickets than picnics. Not on