don't they like. >> a national emergency, a big problem requires a big solution. you can talk about the dollar amount, but let's talk about the harm that that is designed to address. >> this is what governing looks like. this is what a public messaging campaign looks like. biden and harris want to go big, and they are betting on the proposition that addressing an exhausted nation like adults, explaining that help is on the way, and not getting caught up in d.c. partisan squabbling is how you deliver the ultimate victory. if you happened to catch "the beat" say last night, we are actually reporting on another piece of news after another divisive election we all lived through and a very rough january, it was news that joe biden was surging to the highest presidential approval rating in four years. it's not only news, it also cuts against some of the talk that the country is hopelessly and inevitably divided on everything. now, when we reported that to you, we did it like we do a lot of things, as a piece of information, perhaps something we thought was interesting, but as facts. we didn't know that actually to some degree, joe biden was going to make it a centerpiece point in his advocacy at that big town hall and pushing back on the washington, d.c. claims that everything must always be politically divided. >> i take issue with what everybody says about the division. for example, my plan on covid. 69% of the american people support it. 69. the nation is not divided. you go out there and take a look and talk to people, you have fringes on both ends, but it's not nearly as divided as we make it out to be. and we have to bring it together. >> how about that? when someone says it's not as divided as they make it out to be, it could be just the political claim that they want to make for their side. but this this case, as we were reporting before joe biden started leaning into this, it's also a true development. and what he is talking about there, this is important. the they could include angry losers of the election who actually need division or its perception in order to have effective obstruction to try to stop joe biden in governing where those right wing fringe groups couldn't stop him at the ballot box. they could also include some of the d.c. purveyors of this conventional wisdom, something we try to warn about here, even as we cover and interact with plenty of people in washington. this news is about rising support for biden, and that news itself is not partisan. it's just a fact about where americans are headed right now. and the fact that there is this bipartisan support out there, out of washington is far from automatic. after another recent bruising election, the new president donald trump had an approval rating at this similar point in his presidency, february 27 at a measly, and yes, polarized 41%, far less than half the country, even less than the people who voted for him at that point, roughly. tonight biden surging here to the 62%. that's over 20 percentage points better. that's 10s of millions of more people, and of course it's higher than anything trump ever achieved in all four years. that's where the nation is. those are a type of collective facts, even if it's not always the most exciting thing to note that people are somehow agreeing a little more than they used to, or at least agreeing on the way joe biden is doing in one month with a focus on covid. no one is saying these numbers are permanent or won't be criticism, perhaps justified of other things he does in the future. but the point here is there is a fight playing out within the republican party alongside this bad news for the republican party. there's those who want to break the trump. there are those saying trump should go to prison, and then there are the others rallying around him. the biden team here is calculating that obsessing over any of that is actually a old framework and it might be bad politics. and if republicans want obstruction, well, they can get it, but they won't just be trying to go in the face of joe biden. they'll be going in the face of a rising number of independents, conservative, and yes, registered republicans who as he said in the polling shows actually want the federal government to do something about covid and the attendant recession. imagine that. we're going get into this now with people who know the issues well. we are joined by james carville, a veteran of presidential campaigns, bill clinton's lead campaign strategist, and man who does believe politically and otherwise the government ought to do things, as well as pulitzer prize winning columnist gene robinson. these are important times. we set up a pretty big picture, and james, take it away. >> well, you said big picture. we sure don't want the president to tell us that we're hopelessly divided. i completely agree that he should talk about unifying the country and that his program to deal with covid relief is going to go across a broad spectrum of america. and, you know, he should be a little bit of a cheerleader. the only way we're going to be more united is if we have a president that tells us we're more united. i agree with the messaging here. i hope it's correct. i pray it's correct. but i don't think a good leader can stand up there and say well, you know what this we're hopelessly divided. we're just going to ram this thing and to heck with it. i don't think that's what the people are looking for right now. and i think he is correctly surmised the situation. >> i have another political question for you, james, but it's sort of a layup, but it's fair. what do you think accounts for the fact, james, that in one month, joe biden has produced much higher approval ratings than donald trump ever managed in four years as president, even during crises that sometimes used to have a rally around the flag phenomenon? >> because he is a really good leader. he is a humane, decent man. he is not a jerk. and that's good for 20 points in american politics. you have a jerk -- a humane, decent person, it's worth 20 he is clocking in where he should be. i'd like to see him a little higher. that performance he had last night, he is doing well and he is appealing to our better instincts. and that's what i think a lot of the american people want to appeal to, their better instincts. how long it lasts, i have no idea, but we'll take it while we get it, and i think it's well deserved on his part. and he is contrasting well with the previous occupant. >> well, gene, in '92, carville told us it's the economy, stupid. in 2020 he reminded me on this very program it's the pandemic, stupid. and here in '21, he gives us a different memorable thought, not being a jerk is worth 20 point, gene. >> yeah. i guess that's the carville jerk equation. i think it's absolutely right. i've done the math, and i think it checked out. you know, joe biden is being exactly who he said he would be. he told the american people this is what you were going get. and that's what you're getting. you're getting a democrat who wants to try to reach across the aisle to republicans and bring people together and believes in an older style of politics and wants to bring it back. now whether he can or not, again, and as james said, i don't know if he can, you know, he understates i think deliberately the extent to which there is division in the country. but what else should he possibly do? he has to -- he has to cheerlead for unity, and he's good at that. and that essential sort of goodness in him comes through to people who even might not even like his policies or like his party. and i think that's going to help. >> yeah. well, gene, there is a distinction as well we all know how divided we are about so many things, and i think if you have a snap poll about race or certain other issue, you're going see that polarization. no one here with the reporting we do claiming otherwise. but when that becomes -- when most of the time becomes all the time, even people who write and talk about this for a living are making a mental error. it's a cognitive error. when you ask people wait a minute, what about money to make up for all the lost business, or what about a robust federal covid plan, suddenly it does shoot up. in that vein, gene, take a listen to vice president harris, as i mentioned, in her tour today. >> sometimes we talk about hurricanes and then what we need to do relief afterwards. this hurricane is still raging. we still have people dying on a daily basis, and we've got to address this. we've got to help our country heal and survive through this crisis so we can get back on our feet. we need to act, and we need the act now. >> gene? >> well, you know, ari, it was always the case, even during the darkest days of the trump years that when you asked people about actual issues, actual, you know, issues that affected them, kitchen table issue, asked them about health care, ask them about minimum wage, ask them about things that joe biden is talking about, there is a lot more agreement than you would have thought given the anger and the conflict in our politics. we just had a president who was good at one thing. donald trump was good at one thing in politics, and that was driving wedges. you're either with me or you're against me. and you put a lot of people on his side of that chasm, even if their views on what we should be doing were closer to the other side. and it's a big deal when the president of the united states isn't deliberately trying to divide people. i mean that alone i think makes a big difference. >> yeah, exactly. and now of course you have more of the divisions. the great divider, the way you are both putting it, no surprises, sowing divisions even though he is not saying all that much. you have senator lindsey graham warning if republicans don't follow trump on everything in the future, they're going to lose. keep in mind they did try following him and lost. >> i know trump can be a handful, but he is the most dominant figure in the republican party. we don't have a snowball's chance in hell of taking back the majority without donald trump. >> that is a backward-looking approach to the future. our panel stays, but i want to show the other thing that we're seeing pick up steam. we want to put a light on it and expose it is trying to change who gets to vote. tonight we can report since the election republicans at the state level have proposed over 100 bills that would restrict simple foundational rights to vote. party leaders in arizona and pennsylvania have been leading that effort. also new tonight, the rnc announcing a committee on election integrity. james carville, you've been around plenty of bare knuckled politics. nothing new and nothing trump specific about some of these efforts. how much should everyone keep an eye on this or push back while also doing all the other priorities? >> as close an eye as you can keep on anything. and when it comes to people having a franchise, a right to vote, it's just not enough. the democrats need to be involved. corporate america has to be involved. people need know when you're taking away somebody's vote, costing you as shareholders, people employees. it's not just enough for people like gene and i to come out of the woodwork and say hey, you can't do this, it's not right. it has to be people that really have a stake in the future of america. i see a lot of these companies and a lot of these groups want to be associated with good things. well, my idea is get associated with the right to vote, and that way you're going to be on god's side of everything. just let my people vote. it's just that simple. all people, just let them vote. and when these bills come up, it's not going to be enough to have the usual suspects come up. they're going to be from all over the community and all the stakeholders saying let people vote. we had counting. it was a very honest election. of course they tried to suppress the vote. just let people vote. count them, and let's go from there. that's what we got to do. you can't let doh that without letting people vote. you have to be very vigilant. very vigilant. >> gene? >> i think that's right. this is kind of going to be warfare in the states over these encroachments on the franchise, which in some places look like they're going to be serious attempts. but it will help the forces of democracy if as james says corporate america, which seems to be getting the message, speaks out on this. so we need to hear ceos coming out and saying, you know, we're going put our money where our mouth is on this. and we're going to not put our money into -- behind politicians that are trying to deny people the right to vote. and, you know, as corporations have said, they're going to stop giving to politicians who still parent the big lie about the election having been stolen by voter fraud and this and that. that's got to not just continue, i think it's got to grow. but if it does, i think this can be beaten back. >> yeah, i think you both lay it out. and it's the clarity from the jim crow roots to january 6, the very literal attack on democracy to what some of the energy is out there, which is why we're putting it up on tv so everyone can see. i want to thank james carville and gene robinson for kicking us off on more than one topic tonight. thank you both. >> thank you. when we come back in just 30 seconds, we get into the biden agenda with cedric richmond, senior white house adviser to president biden, in 30. the lexus es, now available with all-wheel drive. this rain is bananas. lease the 2021 es 250 all-wheel drive for $349 a month for thirty six months. experience amazing at your lexus dealer. welcome back to "the beat." i'm ari melber. we are juggling a couple of different stories tonight, and we still will hear from presidential adviser cedric richmond. we're going to be talking covid, racial justice and a lot more. you may have seen them moments ago at the white house. we're figuring out that interview. i guarantee it will be within this hour of "the beat." first, we're going turn to another story and it's one i bet you're familiar with, this disaster in texas. millions still without power after a deadly storm, snow, ice, freezing temperatures that have been pounding the electrical grid in the state and 16 lives already lost. residents scrambling. a local furniture store in houston has turned into an impromptu warming station to try to help people during this humanitarian crisis. others have been huddling in their cars for basic warmth or to charge phones, to keep in touch with family or emergency services. there are long lines understandably at gas stations. some people have been melting snow in order to obtain clean water in their homes. you can see homemade footage of that. also, people storing snow in their bathtubs as a backup to have water given the ongoing problems and uncertainty in many communities about what comes next. others starting fire in their yards in order to cook meals, stranded without power. then there are questions about why texas, which of course is also a major energy producer is so unable to withstand this particular storm, plus plenty of political recriminations. some texas conservatives have been pushing conspiracy theories and false claims, trying to blame renewable energy for these problems. the big story tonight, though, and where we are focussed is on the real people trying to get through this. >> 40% of austin energy customers are still without power and facing another night of single digit temperatures. >> the only way to stay warm is inside a church van parked in their driveway. >> the sign on the house, it's almost minus 2, minus 1. it's really cold inside. >> reporter: for some, candles replace stove tops. the adela family is making dinner. >> we made it grabbing snow and boiling it so we can flush our toilet. >> the meals, everything. you need to send us some help now because we need some help out here. >> people need help. a former representative there, texas congressman beto o'rourke are saying the texans are suffering without power because those in power have failed. >> if there is no accountability, if there is no justice for the lives that are being trafficked by those decisions of public trust, then you can bet that this will continue. we'll lose lives. we will lose our way of life, and we'll lose our very democracy. that's all on the line right now. >> let's get into it with a view from the ground. i'm joined by austin city council member vanessa fuentes. thanks for being here. >> thank you for having me. >> many people around the country, of course, have seen some of these image, heard about it, know people going through it. we showed some of it. but first, tell us what you seeing? what do you know about what's going on there? >> yeah, quite frankly, texans and austinites are not prepare in order level of pandemic and winter storm that we're having. we -- i travelled to one of our shelters earlier today, and the roads are in hazardous conditions. many are not able to get food from grocery stores because the hours have been shortened, and hundreds and thousands of austinites are without power and have been without power for days. >> when you see the larger debate roiling here, there, and around the country, what's your view? how much of that is important to have right now, too early to have? obviously, when this many people are suffering, people will hold leaders accountable. so we've seen quite a rush to blame various forces, as i mentioned. >> absolutely. we need to hold our leaders accountable. the fact of the matter is so we knew this was coming. we knew that this winter storm was coming, and we were unprepared. we did not communicate to our community what to expect and thou prepare. and quite frankly, our residents, our neighbors are wanting to know when will our power get restored. at this moment we don't have answers for them. i know that austin energy is doing all that they can. but ercot, which is our state operator, has not made it clear when texans can expect to have their power restored. and as i mentioned earlier, we have many families that have been without power for days. >> yeah. let me read a little bit on the regulation side of this, because you mentioned whether people are prepare and what are the incentives for that. "washington post" reporting the texas grid got crushed because its operators didn't see the need to prepare for cold weather, siting a financial structure for power generation that offers no incentive power plant operators to prepare for winter. in the name of deregulation and free markets, the state puts an emphasis on cheap prices over reliable service. your response? >> that's true. the state of texas has failed to invest in education. the state of texas has failed to invest in health care. and when it comes to our energy infrastructure, it is the same. the state of texas continues to fail texans. and because of that, we are unprepared to handle this magnitude of a winter storm, and now texans are suffering. and we need to make sure that our leadership is doing all that they can to respond and to demand accountability and transparency for texans. >> vanessa fuentes with an informed view from local government, i want to thank you for joining us. we now turn to nbc news' gabe gutierrez who has been reporting this tough story live from houston, texas. gabe? >> reporter: hey there, ari. we're on the north side of houston now, i-45. behind me there was a line a few minutes ago, people lining up for propane. actually because of the chilly temperatures actually had gotten inside their cars. ari, this is something we've seen throughout the day. people here are so frustrated that they have not -- they don't have a timetable for when this power will be restored. now they're being asked to boil their water. many are asking how do you do that if you don't have power? and it's something you've heard over and over again today. ari, within the past few minutes, i actually spoke with ercot's ceo. that's a nonprofit that operates the power grid here in texas. i asked him point-blank, how could they not see this coming? the ercot ceo argues that they did see this coming, that there were warnings over the past week or so. the temperatures were dipped. but then on sunday, they just got hit across the state with these subfreezing temperatures, and they just could not meet the demand. they had some generators knocked offline. and they then made the decision sunday into monday to have these rolling outages to prevent a future catastrophe that the grid could be offline, potentially for months. so a lot of people here in houston, they really don't understand what is taking so long or why they didn't see this coming. of course as you've been reporting, texas is the only state that has its own power grid. right now official here is in houston say more than a million people just in this region are without power. of course, this is just the houston area. the dallas area, you know, they have more snow on the ground. here in houston, we have seen some freezing rain here throughout the day, but thankfully, ari, the temperature has risen just a little bit. it's now in the mid- to upper 30s, and that is very good news for this area, because the concern from the officials here is once it drops below freezing, the ice could come back out on the roads, and there are a bunch of other problems that come with that. but again, right now, many people here without power. people are gathering in parking lots and taking shelter in a furniture store not from here on the north side of houston, and they're trying to figure out how to deal with the outages potentially for the next several days. ari? >> gabe gutierrez, thank you very much for the reporting and stay safe out there. we have a lot more in the program. up ahead, an interesting story on a trump casino literally imploding. there are metaphors. some new indictments dealing with the january 6 riot. trump reemerging amidst even calls from republicans to jail him. but first, as promised, senior adviser to the president cedric richmond on "the beat" next. what about here? here? here? daddy, is that where we're from? well, actually... we're from a lot of places. you see we're from here and there and here... turn questions you've always had into stories you can't wait to share; with ancestry. we made usaa insurance for members like martin. an air force veteran made of doing what's right, not what's easy. so when a hailstorm hit, usaa reached out before he could even inspect the damage. that's how you do it right. usaa insurance is made just the way martin's family needs it with hassle-free claims, he got paid before his neighbor even got started. because doing right by our members, that's what's right. usaa. what you're made of, we're made for. ♪ usaa ♪ stay restless with the icon that does the same. the rx crafted by lexus. lease the 2021 rx 350 for $429 a month for thirty six months. experience amazing at your lexus dealer. struggling to manage my type 2 diabetes was knocking me out of my zone, for thirty six months. but lowering my a1c with once-weekly ozempic® helped me get back in it. ♪ oh, oh, oh, ozempic® ♪ my zone? lowering my a1c and losing some weight. now, back to the show. ozempic® is proven to lower a1c. most people who took ozempic® reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. and you may lose weight. adults lost on average up to 12 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take ozempic® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking ozempic® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. once-weekly ozempic® helped me get in my type 2 diabetes zone. ask your health care provider how it can help you get in yours. ♪ oh, oh, oh, ozempic® ♪♪ you may pay as little as $25 for a 3-month prescription. welcome back, and joining me now from the white house lawn, cedric richmond of the white house office of public engagement, and many viewers may recognize him as the former chair of the congressional black caucus. a lot of expert in both branches of government. i understand you were meeting late in the day with president biden. thank you for making time for us, sir. >> thank you for having me. >> let's start with the covid relief that is on everyone's mind. in your new role, you have your eye on some of your old colleagues. does this plan get past the way the president wants it? what's on your mind this week? >> yes, we think this plan is going to get past. a lot of it is going to be because of the hard work that the president and vice president putting in articulating the need for this plan to members of congress, but also because the public is so vocal about the need for it and the fact that we need it right now, we shouldn't wait, we shouldn't delay. and i think that is having a big effect. the public support for it will help us get it through. >> on the issues of police reform and criminal justice reform, which you've worked on, again, as i mentioned, throughout your career, the president spoke about this at his town hall. he did earlier executive orders than some other recent presidents, but you and others have acknowledged nothing easy about getting this all done. to refresh everyone's minds, i did want to play a little bit of your heartfelt advocacy. some people remember this, congressman gaetz. this was in last summer's controversial police reforms. take a look. >> i'm absolutely sitting here offended and angry as hell. you do not know what it's like to be an african american male. do not come in this committee room and make a mockery of the pain that exists in my community. we're not interested in watered down version of this bill. this is a crisis. people are losing their lives. >> are you suggesting that you're certain that none of us have nonwhite children? >> men, stop. i'm not about to get sidetracked about the color of our children. black people in the streets that are getting killed. and if one of them happens or the your kid, i'm concerned about him too. and clearly i'm more concerned about him than you are. >> you're claiming more concern for my family than you are? who in the hell do you think you are. >> was that a nerve? >> we all live through it in different ways. it's near and dear to you. what is going to get done in your view this year from president biden's white house with or without some of those republicans we just showed on the issue of police reform? >> look, we're going tackle that issue head-on in the serious manner it deserves. there are too many people losing their lives at the hands of police officers. and what makes that special and different than anything else is that those are the people who took an oath to protect and serve the community. and there needs to be a real action. this president is committed to starting that and seeing it through. look, nobody thinks it's going to be easy, but we support what they're going to do in congress, and we're going weigh in because we know that it's needed. and president biden, like he said on the campaign trail, understands the harm and the hurt and the pain that is there, and we're going deal with it. >> yeah. i mentioned your history on the issue because it's something that so many people care about, including yourself. i have to warn everyone, this is difficult video, but we put a spotlight on it because it's important, a case that now is proceeding in colorado regarding the detention later ruled to be wrongly done by colorado police of a family including some young children. i'm going play this. >> there's kids. on kids. >> i want my father. [ crying ] >> can i have my sister next to me? >> now, mr. richmond, in any other year, a case like that is still hard to bring against the officers. what's different now is they reformed one of the shields for police qualified immunity in that state. so there actually a case moving forward that otherwise would not be. that hasn't happened yet, that change in congress. will president biden endorse support, advocate for an end to federal qualified immunity for police? >> the president has said on the campaign trail, and i think he reiterated lately he does think there needs to be changes to qualified immunity. i think that the bill that congress will push forward does change qualified immunity, and we'll see how it comes out when it gets to the senate or leaves the senate. but we recognize that it has to change. and that video is disturbing. i think it's disturbing to anybody who watches it. anyone who hears the cries of those kids. there are much better ways to police communities in this country than we're doing right now. and president biden is committed to addressing that, and we're going to do it in the right way. we're going to bring everybody to the table. we're going to make sure that we that we are reimagining how we have interactions between police and the communities that they police, because it has to change. this is absolutely unacceptable. >> and one more follow-up on that, which, again, i think we benefit from your level of experience, because you were in the congress. you co-sponsored one of the house versions of that bill, along with congressman amash and others. so what would this look like in your view? is it president biden going down there and lobbying these members, giving speeches about it? we just showed something that a lot of people wouldn't stand by. on the other hand, as you know when you start talking about changing these police protections, you do run into a lot of pushback on that. >> look, it's like i started, it is not going to be easy. this is going to be difficult to change things that have been in existence for a long time. but i think the will of the country is there. i think the george floyd 8:46 on his neck was a changing moment in this country. i think it was the bloody sunday, the philadelphia, mississippi of our lifetime. and i think it's making people come together to look at real reform. and the president is going to put his weight behind real reform so that these things don't happen and that when they do happen, families are able to get justice and get their day in court. >> on a busy, busy time for the white house, presidential adviser cedric richmond. your first time on "the beat" in this role. i hope you'll come back. i appreciate you making some time for us. >> absolutely i'll be back. in other white house news, we're going get into kamala harris' big nbc interview. and tonight, a special interest on new pressure to hold donald trump accountable for the riots, regardless of what happened in the senate trial. that's coming up. ing up e. this is my granddaughter... she's cute like her grandpa. voya doesn't just help me get to retirement... ...they're with me all the way through it. voya. be confident to and through retirement. up at 2:00am again? tonight, try pure zzzs all night. unlike other sleep aids, our extended release melatonin helps you sleep longer. and longer. zzzquil pure zzzs all night. fall asleep. stay asleep. (burke) at farmers, we know how nice it is to save on your auto policy. but it's even nicer knowing that if this happens... ...or this... ...or even this... ...we've seen and covered it. so, call 1-800-farmers and get a quote today. ♪ we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ this is how you become the best! ♪“you're the best” by joe esposito♪ ♪ [triumphantly yells] [ding] don't get mad. get e*trade. covid's still a threat. and on reopening schools, we know what happens when we don't put safety first. ignore proper ventilation or rates of community spread, and the virus worsens. fail to provide masks or class sizes that allow for social distancing, and classrooms close back down. a successful reopening requires real safety and accountability measures. including prioritizing vaccines for educators. parents and educators agree: reopen schools. putting safety first. when will it end? when will it all be over? we all want to know. we're all wondering. government tries to project. president biden thinking about covid timelines is moving back the projection for when the country might get back to normal in this covid battle. >> by next christmas, i think we'll be in a very different circumstance, god willing, than we are today. >> next christmas? well, that's a long time. that would make 2021 similar to 2020. we all lived through the times when people used to think this year would be different by virtue of being a different calendar date. but this is hard stuff. no one is saying that anyone in government or in science can tell you exactly when it's going to be. indeed, dr. fauci, widely respected, who held the line now in two different organizations is predicting herd immunity by springtime, once upon a time. we also want to show you news in the vaccine distribution. president biden says by the end of july, the united states will have 600 million doses, which means anyone in the united states who wants a vaccine can get one. no more shortages, no more projected delays, which of course are what everyone was warned would happen, the, essential worker, the medical professionals would get it first because there aren't enough to go around. vice president harris echos this same issue in her new interview. >> we have a vaccine now, and that is great, but we need to get it in the arms of all americans. and as the president said last night, we expect that that will be done in terms of having the available supply by the end of july. >> that's the timeline. what about how it's going? and an issue we've covered along with a lot of other dog and journalists and other public interest organizations is it equal, is it fair? this goes to the issue of what some call immunity inequality or seemingly disparities. again, it's not about politics. we're seeing them in states that are blue and run by democrats for quite some time, like new york, where new data shows that the city of new york is in a situation where the wealthier and majority white neighborhoods, up to 70% of adults have been fully vaccinated in contrast to lower income and minority oriented neighborhoods as low as 2% in low-income neighborhoods of color have reached full vaccination. this in fact is something that we raised with dr. fauci back in december when he joined us. >> it needs to be equitably distributed and shared. and ict equitably means you do it on needs. the cdc invariably gives the recommendation from that community. >> this is not about blame or headlines, it's about, of course, lives, safety, fairness, and getting the facts so that you can have solutions if things aren't being done as well as possible. now vice president harris is acknowledging there is a lot more work to be done. >> we have a whole program that now is that we've rolled out, getting one million vaccines to pharmacies. we are getting vaccines to community health centers, very important, to supplement what the states are doing. we still have people dying on a daily basis, and we've got to address this. we've got to help our country heal and survive through this crisis so we can get back on our feet. >> that's a covid update that we wanted to share. now is the trump brand imploding? well, the answer is on your screen. it's a metaphor and video with the trump plaza in atlantic city going down. we'll show you more of the tape and the context before "the beat" is over. but. first, new indictments in that maga insurrection. we have a very special guest, when we return. rn ♪ ♪ be right back. with moderate to severe crohn's disease, i was there, just not always where i needed to be. is she alright? i hope so. so i talked to my doctor about humira. i learned humira is for people who still have symptoms of crohn's disease after trying other medications. the majority of people on humira saw significant symptom relief in as little as 4 weeks. and many achieved remission that can last. humira can lower your ability to fight infections. serious and sometimes fatal infections, including tuberculosis, and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores . don't start humira if you have an infection. be there for you and them. ask your gastroenterologist about humira. with humira, remission is possible. ask your gastroenterologist about humira. everyone is at risk for enamel loss. when you drink or eat something that's acidic it sucks the minerals out of the tooth's surface. pronamel is formulated to help deliver minerals to the tooth's surface to help reharden and strengthen your enamel. good morning, mr. sun. good morning, blair. [ chuckles ] whoo. i'm gonna grow big and strong. yes, you are. i'm gonna get this place all clean. i'll give you a hand. and i'm gonna put lisa on crutches! wait, what? said she's gonna need crutches. she fell pretty hard. you might want to clean that up, girl. excuse us. when owning a small business gets real, progressive helps protect what you built with customizable coverage. -and i'm gonna -- -eh, eh, eh. -donny, no. -oh. feel the clarity of non-drowsy claritin. -and i'm gonna -- -eh, eh, eh. and 24-hour relief from symptoms caused by over 200 indoor and outdoor allergens. try claritin cool mint chewabls for powerful allergy relief plus a cooling sensation. live claritin clear. ♪ ooh la la by cherie ♪ the moxie showerhead speaker. only from kohler. you can't plan for your period's... what the gush moments. but the right pad can. only always ultra thins have rapiddry technology and, they absorb 40% faster. the gush happens fast. that's why always absorbs faster. when you've got a business, you don't want to worry about slow internet or confusing cybersecurity. so get comcast business internet with fast, reliable speeds, and add the advanced security of comcast business securityedge. it combines the speed you need with threat protection. plus there's 24/7 support. it's internet and advanced security - made simple. so bounce forward - with comcast business. get started with a powerful internet and voice solution for just $64.90 a month. and ask how to add comcast business securityedge. call today. we've been covering what sometimes feels like the first big week of the president biden era. and we're joined now by senator ben cardin, chair of the small business and entrepreneurship. i say that, senator, because you and your colleagues were quite busy with the unusual but important process of a senate trial. that's now behind us. but accountability goes forward, particularly for the folks who did storm the capitol, as we saw in that dramatic testimony, tried to potentially harm you and your colleagues, new indictments here that i'm going to read about, jeffrey sable, peter steger, michael lopatic willfully and knowingly engaged in an act of physical violence by assaulting metropolitan police officer. did this take away from the trial where your were a senate juror? >> ari, it's good to be with you. every person that is responsible for the insurrection that occurred on january 6 should be held accountable. those who entered the building and caused physical harm, death, stole property, damaged property, and those who incited the insurrection. so i was very disappointed by the outcome of the impeachment trial because it was clear that president trump incited the insurrection. you don't have to take my word for it. look at what senator mcconnell said. and i quite frankly don't understand why he didn't vote for conviction. so everyone who was part of this insurrection needs to be held accountable so these criminal indictments i'm glad to see that we are with those people that we have good evident that were involved in this. we need to make sure that we continue this investigation and everyone's held accountable. >> was mcconnell suggesting that trump should go to prison? >> well, it might well be. he clearly said that president trump is now -- could be held to a criminal standard or civil action, now that he's left the presidency. so, yes, i think he was suggesting that there's a way of holding him accountable. senator mcconnell clearly said, as i think we all understand, the president was the person who caused that insurrection. he was the one who incited it. >> yeah, it was really striking. as promised, we want to get you on one more than one topic. a lot of issues affecting americans these days. student debt is one, particularly during a pandemic recession. take a listen to president biden last night. >> i do think that in this moment of economic pain and strain, that we should be eliminating interest on the debts that are accumulated, number one, and number two, i'm prepared to write off the $10,000 in debt, but not 50. >> $10,000 isn't going to cut it for a lot of people's outstanding debt, if the idea is to give them any fresh start. indeed, interestingly, chuck schumer, who has historically been a little bit more of a moderate democrat, also represents wall street, and elizabeth warren, linking arms today saying, no, it's time to act. they want a lot more than the number biden is putting out. so with you here with us, senator, who's right? president biden or the schumer/warren plan? >> well, i think we've got to be bold. there's no question the amount of student debt that's out there. it's the second largest amount of debt held by americans today. we need to provide significant relief. but at the same time, i want to go further. i want to help the current cost of higher education. you should not have to borrow money to go to a four-year college education in america. and i have introduced legislations on my colleagues have, dealing with national service and ways in which a person can go to a college and not have to borrow money in order to be able to go to that college. and i think we need to do that at the same time, we look at how we can forgive the burdens that are already out there. >> how do you think president biden is doing so far? and do you have a sense with your colleagues that anything is turning a corner, because one of the things i've been discussing with our experts and our guests here, at least in the last two nights is, it's pretty striking. i don't know if anyone would have predicted such a search for him in approval, which is a contrast to some of what your republican colleagues have been acting like. >> well, ari, the way president biden is listening to us is so refreshing, that's true for democrats and republican members of the united states senate. i've been to the white house, we've talked about the infrastructure package. he's reached out to both democrats and republicans. i think the way that he is conducting business is not only getting him a lot of just positive comments, the members of congress, but also from the freedom. we were thirsty for this type of a president. one in which has the right demeanor, who levels with us, listens to us, and wants to develop policy for the whole country. >> yeah. really interesting. senator ben cardin, thanks for spending some time with us tonight, sir. >> ari, it's good to be with you. stay well. >> you, too, sir. now we turn, as promised, to one more thick. the trump implosion. it may have been figurative, but now it's literal. this may be the ultimate metaphor for the trump era. you are looking at his very first atlantic city hotel and casino, brought down by 3,000 sticks of dynamite today. this was a schedule demolition. you can see it crashing down with the plumes of smoke. atlantic city mayor marty small recounting that he got, quote, chills watching this icon of trumpism crumble. in fact, last year, if you run the tape, he was telling us why he wanted it demolished. >> it became an eye sore, and more important, imminent safety hazard. anytime we got a northwest wind, debris flew off the building, sheet metal, large chunks of concrete. and the last thing that we needed was someone to be severely injured or a fatality. >> and you heard it there. an eyesore and a safety hazard. he's talking about the building, you guys. we're going to fit in a break and one more thing when we come back. and one more thing whe come back. wanna build a gaming business that breaks the internet? that means working night and day... ...and delegating to an experienced live bookkeeper for peace of mind. your books are all set. so you can finally give john some attention. trusted experts. guaranteed accurate books. intuit quickbooks live. ♪ ♪ water? urgh! (rocket ship) hey! hey! heads up. thank you! water tastes like, water. so we fixed it. mio my body is truly powerful. i have the power to lower my a1c. because my body can still make its own insulin. and trulicity activates my body to release it, lowering my blood sugar from the first dose. once-weekly trulicity responds when my body needs it, 24/7. trulicity is for type 2 diabetes. it's not insulin. it isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take trulicity if you're allergic to it, you or your family have medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, changes in vision, or diabetic retinopathy. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with sulfonylurea or insulin raises low blood sugar risk. side effects include indigestion, fatigue, belly pain, decreased appetite, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting which can lead to dehydration and may worsen kidney problems. i have it within me to lower my a1c. ask your doctor about trulicity. ♪ the calming scent of lavender by downy infusions calm. laundry isn't done until it's done with downy. ♪ ♪ when the chapstick goes on. it's on. get yours on at chapstick.com ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ deposit, plan and pay with easy tools from chase. simplicity feels good. chase. make more of what's yours. want to brain better? unlike ordinary memory supplements— neuriva has clinically proven ingredients that fuel 5 indicators of brain performance. memory, focus, accuracy, learning, and concentration. try our new gummies for 30 days and see the difference. did you know you can go to libertymutual.com to customizes your car insurance so you only pay for what you need? really? i didn't-- aah! ok. i'm on vibrate. aaah! only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ we've been keeping an eye on all of those problems out of texas. before we go, we want to share one more point that beto o'rourke made right here on msnbc about the emergency. >> the real problem was with coal, gas, and to some degree nuclear frozen instruments and frozen supply lines. obviously, we need to look at some of those long-term solutions that i mentioned earlier, weatherizing, having additional capacity, joining the national grid, and then taking climate change seriously and making policy that addresses it and especially these communities who are on the front line of its impacts. >> in the short-term, everyone looking at the emergency response. in the long-term, those discussions of policy also important. we'll see you tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. eastern. you can always find me online @ari melber on social media and "the reidout" with joy reid starts now. good evening, everyone! we begin "the reidout" tonight with the big kabloom! today in new jersey, trump plaza, the last remnant of donald trump's failed casino empire, literally imploded. trump's jersey casinos had been an embarrassing financial failure, marked by multiple bankruptcies. not to do a joke here about how you've got to be

Related Keywords

Ri Melber On Social Media , Times , The Beat , Homes , Joe Biden , Piece , Vice President , Harris Making A Push For Their First Big Coordinated Effort , Business , Americans , Administration , Hi , Nicolle , It , Kamala Harris , White House , Show , Union Leaders , Last Night , Relief Plan , Meeting , Trillion Covid , Wisconsin , Biden Fresh , Town Hall , 2 Trillion , Trillion , Plan , Everything , Rhetorical Question , Joke , Polling Data , Who , Harm , Talk , Don T , Emergency , Problem , Dollar Amount , Solution , The Way , Help , Adults , Nation , Messaging , Campaign , Proposition , Want To Go Big , Election , Bad News , Squabbling , Victory , D C , Lot , Country , Things , Some , Approval Rating , Cuts , Four , Something , Facts , Advocacy , Centerpiece Point , Degree , Information , People , Division , Issue , Everybody , Example , 69 , Fringes , Ends , Take A Look , Side , Someone , Claim , Case , Reporting , Losers , Development , Order , Obstruction , Couldn T Stop Him , Fringe , Perception , Ballot Box , Wing , Purveyors , Fact , Support , Wisdom , Donald Trump , Point , Presidency , Automatic , 27 , February 27 , Points , Measly , 62 , 41 , 20 , Course , Thing , Anything , Type , Millions , 10 , No One , On Covid , Numbers , Won T , Criticism , One , Trump , Fight Playing , Prison , Republican Party , Others , Republicans Don T Follow Trump On Everything In The Future , Team , Face , Politics , Framework , Obsessing , Government , Republicans , Number , Polling , Conservative , Independents , Yes , Registered , Issues , Veteran , James Carville , Oman , Campaigns , Recession , Campaign Strategist , Bill Clinton , Picture , Gene Robinson , Pulitzer Prize , Relief , Program , Covid , Bit , Spectrum , Cheerleader , Leader , Situation , Question , Sort , Approval Ratings , Accounts , Layup , Jerk , Humane , Crises , Flag Phenomenon , Rally , Person , American Politics , Idea , Instincts , Performance , Higher , Gene , Pandemic , Part , Occupant , Economy , Stupid , 2020 , 92 , Thought , Carville Jerk Equation , 21 , Math , Democrat , Aisle , Bare Knuckled , Style , Extent , Unity , Policies , Party , Goodness , Distinction , Snap Poll , Polarization , Race , Money , Error , Most , Living , Listen , Hurricanes , Vein , Tour , Crisis , Act , Basis , Feet , Hurricane , Health Care , Kitchen Table Issue , Them , Wage , Agreement , Conflict , Wedges , Anger , Chasm , Doing , Views , Deal , Isn T , Difference , President Of The United States , Divisions , Great Divider , Lindsey Graham , Surprises , Mind , Figure , Handful , Warning , Hell , Majority , Approach , Chance , Panel Stays , Pick Up Steam , Snowball S , State , Bills , Level , Flight , Rights , 100 , Nothing , Party Leaders , Effort , Pennsylvania , Arizona , The Rnc Announcing A Committee On Election Integrity , Everyone , Eye , Push , Efforts , Specific , Priorities , Democrats , Vote , Franchise , Corporate America , Right , Somebody , Shareholders , Employees , Stake , Woodwork , Groups , Companies , God , Community , All , Counting , Suspects , Stakeholders , Let S Go , Doh , States , Kind , Warfare , Democracy , Places , Forces , Attempts , Encroachments , Saying , Message , Mouth , Ceos , Politicians , Corporations , Voter Fraud , Big Lie , Clarity , Energy , Tv , Attack , Jim Crow , January 6 , 6 , Cedric Richmond , Topic , Biden Agenda , 30 , Rain , Dealer , All Wheel Drive , Bananas , Lexus Es , Es 250 , 49 , Thirty Six , 2021 , 349 , 250 , Stories , Justice , More , Couple , Talking Covid , Power , Snow , Story , Texas , Temperatures , Ice , Interview , First , Storm , Electrical Grid , Disaster , Lives , Houston , Furniture Store , Cars , Station , Warming , Warmth , Residents Scrambling , Huddling , 16 , Water , Family , Gas Stations , Melting Snow , Emergency Services , Lines , Footage , Touch , Phones , Problems , Communities , Meals , Backup , Uncertainty , Bathtubs , Yards , Questions , Conservatives , Energy Producer , Recriminations , Conspiracy Theories , Austin Energy , Claims , The Big Story Tonight , Customers , 40 , House , Reporter , Sign , Digit Temperatures , Driveway , Single , Candles , Church Van Parked , Cold Inside , Stove Tops , Minus 2 , Minus 1 , Dinner , Toilet , Texans , Beto O Rourke , Suffering , Representative , Accountability , Line , Decisions , Life , Public Trust , View , Ground , Vanessa Fuentes , Thanks , Austin , Austinites , Image , Winter Storm , Roads , Many , Order Level , Shelters , Conditions , Food , Debate , Hundreds And Thousands , Leaders , Rush , Matter , Neighbors , Residents , Answers , Families , Ercot , State Operator , Siting A Financial Structure , Grid , Regulation Side , Power Generation , Operators , Weather , Incentives , Washington Post , Service , In The Name Of , Winter , Power Plant Operators , Incentive , Deregulation , Markets , Prices , Emphasis , Education , Same , Response , Energy Infrastructure , Leadership , Transparency , Magnitude , Gabe Gutierrez , Nbc News , Propane , Line A , North Side , Hey There , I 45 , 45 , Timetable , Coming , Nonprofit , Ceo , Power Grid , Point Blank , Generators , Hit , Warnings , Demand , Catastrophe , Outages , Region , A Million , Area , Temperature , Dallas , Upper 30s , Concern , News , Officials , Freezing , Parking Lots , Bunch , Shelter , Indictments , Stay , Safe , Metaphors , Trump Casino Literally Imploding , Senior Adviser , Calls , Trump Reemerging , Next , Daddy , Members , Insurance , Usaa , Hailstorm Hit , Ancestry , Martin , Air Force , Neighbor , Damage , Icon , Rx , Lexus , 350 , 429 , 29 , A1c , Don T Take Ozempic , Zone , Type 2 Diabetes , 2 , Weight , Oh , 7 , Medullary Thyroid Cancer , Type 1 Diabetes , Needles , Share , Pens , Reuse , Diabetic Ketoacidosis , 1 , 12 , Side Effects , Stomach Pain , Lump , Neck , Changes , Reaction , Pancreatitis , Swelling , Vision Problems , Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome , Stop Ozempic , Provider , Insulin , Kidney Problems , Blood Sugar Risk , Sulfonylurea , Diarrhea , Nausea , Dehydration , Type 2 Diabetes Zone , Health Care Provider , Vomiting , Prescription , 25 , 5 , 3 , Viewers , Expert , Chair , White House Office Of Public Engagement , Welcome Back , Lawn , Congressional Black Caucus , Role , Sir , Branches , Colleagues , Work , Need , Congress , Public , We Shouldn T Delay , We Shouldn T Wait , Police , Reform , Career , Effect , Criminal Justice , On , Presidents , Executive Orders , Minds , Done , Police Reforms , Congressman Gaetz , Spain , Bill , Mockery , Version , Committee Room , African American Male , Children , Color , Sidetracked , Streets , None , Men , Stop , Kid , Ways , Nerve , Head On , Police Officers , Hands , Manner , Action , Oath , Nobody , President , Campaign Trail , Video , History , Spotlight , Kids , Detention , Colorado , Father , Sister , Immunity , Mr , Officers , Richmond , Hasn T , Change , End , Advocate , United States Senate , Anyone , Anybody , Cries , Interactions , Table , Experience , Which , Versions , Look , Speeches , Wouldn T Stand By , Congressman Amash , Hand , Pushback , Police Protections , George , Will , Existence , 46 , 8 , Lifetime , Bloody Sunday , Philadelphia , Mississippi , Court , Interest , Accountable , Pressure , Nbc , Trial , Retirement , Doesn T , Way , Granddaughter , Riots , Grandpa , Ing Up E This , Voya , Melatonin , Sleep Aids , Release , Try Pure Zzzs , Zzzquil Pure Zzzs , 00 , Farmers , Auto Policy , Quote Today , Bum , Pa Dum , Burke , 1 800 Farmers , 800 , You Re The Best , Best , Ding , Don T Get Mad , Triumphantly Yells , Joe Esposito , Threat , Class Sizes , Reopening Schools , Rates , Virus , Community Spread , Ventilation , Safety First , Masks , E Trade , Vaccines , Educators , Safety , Reopening , Distancing , Classrooms , Measures , Prioritizing , Schools , Parents , Timelines , Projection , Covid Battle , Circumstance , Similar , Dr , Stuff , Virtue , Science , Fauci , The End , Organizations , Herd Immunity , Vaccine Distribution , Springtime , Once Upon A Time , July , Two , 600 Million , Vaccine , Shortages , Essential Worker , Aren T , Delays , Doses , Professionals , Arms , Harris Echos , Timeline , Supply , Terms , Dog , Journalists , Disparities , Call Immunity Inequality , Contrast , Neighborhoods , City , Wealthier , Data , New York , 70 , Vaccination , Income , Low , Minority , Ict Equitably , Cdc , Headlines , Invariably , Blame , Recommendation , Solutions , Fairness , Community Health Centers , Pharmacies , One Million , Brand Imploding , Covid Update , Metaphor , Atlantic City , Tape , Context , Answer , Screen , Trump Plaza In , Insurrection , Guest , Doctor , Crohn S Disease , Moderate , Rn , Remission , Infections , Humira , Symptoms , Humira Saw , Medications , Symptom , Ability , 4 , Areas , Nervous System Problems , Liver , Blood , Have , Cancers , Reactions , Heart Failure , Lymphoma , Tuberculosis , Hepatitis B , Tb , Gastroenterologist , Infection , Risk , Sores , Minerals , Surface , Tooth , Pronamel , Loss , Place , Enamel , Chuckles , Crutches , Gonna , Sun , Blair , Lisa , Small Business , Eh , Progressive , Coverage , Girl , Non Drowsy Claritin , Wait , Gonna Need Crutches , Donny , Claritin , Chewabls , Allergens , Allergy , Mint , Cooling Sensation , 24 , 200 , Ooh La , Moxie Showerhead Speaker , Cherie , Gush , Pad , Kohler , Ultra Thins Have Rapiddry Technology , Internet , Security , Speeds , Protection , Cybersecurity , Fast , Comcast , Business Securityedge , Speed , 24 7 , Comcast Business , Voice , 64 90 , 4 90 , Call Today , Big Week , Biden Era , Ben Cardin , Process , Entrepreneurship , Folks , Testimony , Capitol , Jeffrey Sable , Peter Steger , Michael Lopatic Willfully , Police Officer , Violence , Building , Juror , Property , Impeachment Trial , Death , Outcome , Word , Conviction , Senator Mcconnell , Investigation , Who Incited , Student Debt , Biden Last Night , Debt , Debts , Strain , Number One , 10000 , 0000 , Chuck Schumer , 50 , It S Time , Senator , Schumer , Linking Arms Today , Warren Plan , Elizabeth Warren , Wall Street , Amount , Cost , College , College Education , Legislations , Burdens , Experts , Approval , Guests , Sense , Search , Corner , Listening , Comments , Infrastructure Package , Policy , Listens , Levels , Freedom , Demeanor , Trump Implosion , Figurative , Schedule Demolition , Casino , Dynamite Today , Hotel , 3000 , Mayor , Recounting , Trumpism , Chills , Smoke , Plumes , Crumble , Quote , Safety Hazard , Eye Sore , Sheet Metal , Concrete , Important , Chunks , Debris , Northwest Wind , Fatality , Guys , Thing Whe , Break , Books , Build A Gaming Business , Bookkeeper , Night And Day , John , Intuit Quickbooks Live , Attention , Set , Wanna , Peace Of Mind , Rocket Ship , Heads Up , Urgh , Body , Stop Trulicity , Blood Sugar , Dose , Mio , It Isn T , Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome Type 2 , Taking Trulicity , Vision , Diabetic Retinopathy , Indigestion , Belly Pain , Appetite , Fatigue , Laundry Isn T , Infusions , Scent , Downy , It S On , Chapstick Goes On , Chapstick Com Deposit , Simplicity , Tools , Chase , Memory Supplements , Gummies , Indicators , Concentration , Brain Performance , Memory , Ingredients , Learning , Accuracy , Neuriva , Focus , Liberty , Car Insurance , Aah , Aaah , Pay , Libertymutual Com , Vibrate , Supply Lines , Instruments , Gas , Coal , Msnbc , Climate Change , Front Line , Capacity , National Grid , Weatherizing , Emergency Response , The Reidout , Impacts , Discussions , Eastern , Joy Reid , Remnant , Bankruptcies , Failure , Jersey Casinos , New Jersey , Trump Plaza , Big Kabloom , Casino Empire , Literally Imploded ,