Starting early tomorrow. The president will be speaking on Voting Rights, at 3 00. Should be a bignews day, tomorrow. I will see you again, here, Tomorrow Night. But now, its time for the last word with lawrence odonnell. Good evening, lawrence. Evening, rachel. Ow first Guest Tonight is going to be Representative Inohosa who on this program last week, gave us a little bit of a hint, in that i asked her, did they have any other secret moves up their sleeve . For this session. And she, kind of, said, yeah, we do. But im not going to tell you. And so, i think, now, we know what that move turned out to be. Its one of those days when you are like Looking at the headlines and you think, oh, yeah, there it is. I knew, thats what she meant. Yes. And rachel, thank you very much for getting David Fink to come on your program. Tonight. I was watching that hearing, today, that went on forever. And i so admired, the way he handled himself. The Way Judge Parker modeled sanity, when surrounded by insanity. Was just a remarkable thing to watch. Every once in a while, i mean, the courts dont always work this way. But every once in a while, the courts, by imposing rationality and factbased discourse, can bring up can, like, put gravity back into work in what is, otherwise, a totally out of control, Insane Maelstrom. And all the Election Stuff has been such an Insane Maelstrom from the beginning. When you force it through a factbased filter like you must in the court of law, it really does feel like it does feel like account act. It does feel like you regain your sense of which direction the horizon goes and that hearing, today, was one of those moments for me. Having covered this Election Nonsense every step of the way. Today was like a grounding moment. It really was. And Judge Parker has this huge advantage that no one anchoring shows like this has. Which is, when someone like Lin Wood wants to go on in an evercrazier way, the judge can simply tell him to stop talking. And she has to say it more than once but it did work. Yes. Seriously. As spare a thought, tonight, for the Court Reporter who has to deal with not only a Sixhour Hearing but a Sixhour Hearing, with nine effectively defendants. And all the attorneys representing those defendants. And the defendants are, themselves, lawyers. Plus, there is the judge Riding Herd over all of them and they were all on zoom. It wasnt even like they were all in the same room. So, you could pierce piece them together from the their voices coming from different places. The Court Reporter, in that case, has been asked to do absolutely heroic work and when we finally get the transcript of that hearing, its probably going to cost A Million bucks. And and and that moment, when the Court Reporter spoke saying, listen, you cant be interrupting Each Other because im just going to get a bunch of dashes here. Ive never seen a moment like that with a Court Reporter. But that she did heroic work, today, thats for sure. Yeah. You have you have to push a Court Reporter, really hard, before they get to that point. Yeah. Yep. Thank you, rachel. Thanks, lawrence. Thank you. Well, Texas House democrats are, in the words of a great texas lyricist, on the road, again. After blocking the Republicanvoting Bill by staging a walkout in may, today, at least 58 democratic members of the Texas House of representatives left the State Capitol to deny republicans the quorum needed to move ahead with a vote on their votingrestrictions bill, that could have happened as early as tomorrow. According to Nbc News, 51 members traveled To Washington On Two charter flights. While at least seven others traveled separately. Texas State RepresentativeJulie Johnson tweeted this photo from one of those planes. With our first Guest Tonight, State Representative. Last week, on this program, Representative Inahosa gave us a tiny hint of what was to come. Representative, did do the democrats do you have a strategy, going into this, that you can share with us . Or or might you have secret strategies that you can at least acknowledge but not share with us . Well, right. So, um, our strategies for gamesmanship Purposes Cant be broadcast on national tv. But um, yes. We are committed to fighting this with Everything Weve got. Using every tool in our toolbox to make it so that we protect Voting Rights. And not make it harder for texans to vote. And now, we know. Two hours ago, the Texas Democrats landed in washington. Nbc news reports that the unusual move, quote, will paralyze the Chamber Stopping Business until the lawmakers return to town. Or the session ends. The lawmakers plan to spend more than three weeks in washington, running up the clock on the session, which began thursday. And advocating for federalvoting legislation. Texas house democrats released this joint Statement Today, explaining their decision to leave. Saying, today, Texas House democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the republicanled Legislature Force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans Freedom to vote. We are now taking the fight to our nations capital. We are living on borrowed time, in texas. We need congress to act, now, to pass the for the people act and the John Lewis VotingRights Act to protect texans and all americans from the trump republicans nationwide war on democracy. Here is what Texas StateRepresentative Jasmine Crockett told Nbc News, on her way to the airport. The house democrats, here in texas, decided enough was enough. You know . We came back, in good faith, once again, trying to always be the bigger people. Um, and We Saw those hearings. You were there, all day. Saw those hearings. You saw people come from all over this state at a moments notice for the purpose of trying to educate um you know, the committees on their experiences with voting in this state. And sadly enough, you know, they may as well stayed at home because no one was listening to them. The Surprise Move followed marathonpublic hearings in the House And Senate over the weekend in texas with hundreds of witnesses waiting hours to testify against Voting Restrictions into the overnight and earlymorning hours. The hearing in the house lasted nearly24 hours. Texas has a long and ugly and racist history of Voter Suppression that continues to silence the the many vote votes and voices of everyday texans. S. B. 1 continues to be Nothing But Attack on texans Voting Rights under the guise of preserving election integrity. Nothing but a way to silence the black, brown, and young voices that showed up to vote in record numbers last fall. How many eligible voters can you squeeze out of our democratic process and be okay with it . I believe that answer should be zero. Formertexas Congressman Beto Orourke testified at the hearing on saturday. An Elections Bill that is premised on a lie, that there is widespread fraud in our elections, even though there is not. A solution in search of a problem. Its going to disproportionately hurt and harm some texans more than others. For those who support democracy, the democrats in this room, i encourage you to fight with all you have. Do whatever it takes to make sure that we preserve the right to vote in the state of texas. Texas democrats risked being arrested by fleeing the state, as Nbc News details. Quote, absent lawmakers can be legally compelled to return to the capitol, and the source said democrats expect State Republicans to ask the Department Of Public Safety to track them down. The Texas House speaker issued a statement saying, the Texas House will use every available resource, under the Texas Constitution and the unanimouslypassed house rules, to secure a quorum, to meaningfully debate and consider election integrity. The Texas Tribune reports, quote, even if democratic lawmakers stay out of the state for the next few weeks, the governor could continue to call 30day sessions or add Voting Restrictions to the agenda when the legislature takes on the redrawing of the states political maps, later this summer. During a discussion of Voting Rights, today, in michigan, Vice PresidentKamala Harris said this about the Texas Democrats who have left the state. I applaud them standing for the rights of all americans and all texans. To express their voice, through their vote, unencumbered. They are leaders, who are marching in the path that so many others, before, did when they fought and many died for our right to vote. I do believe that fighting for the right to vote is as american as apple pie. It is so fundamental to fighting for the principles of our democracy. So, i applaud them. Leading off our Discussion Tonight is Texas State representative. She was part of the texas democratic delegation that flew to washington, today. She is joining us from an undisclosed location of a moving bus somewhere in the washington, d. C. Area. Representative, thank you very much for joining us tonight and you have now made last weeks hint on this program, into todays breaking news. What happens, next . Well now, we go to the u. S. Capitol. And we urge the u. S. Senate, we urge congress to pass federalvoting Rights Legislation to to use all of their power. To protect texans, to protect americans, and preserve our Voting Rights and preserve our democracy. Now, can the speaker of the Texas House send Texas Law Enforcement to washington to track you down and bring you back . Well, its my understanding that they do not have authority in washington to do that. And so, um, we are here in a safe place to do the work advocating for our constituents. Advocating for texans, all texans, and to preserve our Voting Rights. And so, were here. This is a working trip. Um, it had the added benefit of keeping us safe from arrest. But it is a working trip, where we intend to be talking to lawmakers at the capitol, every day, about how the there there is urgent need to pass federal voting Rights Legislation, now. We can only hold the line for so long in texas, as the minority party. They have the power, as the majority party. And we need them to use their power, now. Nbc news is reporting that your delegation considered going to West Virginia and to arizona because Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema have opposed abolishing the filibuster to pass the for the people act. But that, your group feared that those states republican governors would help return you to texas. Do you feel that you will, still, make attempts in washington to Contact Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema . There was a delegation of House Members who came to washington a few weeks ago, after the first time we broke quorum, to meet with Senator Manchin. I, myself, went to West Virginia, about two weeks ago, to participate in a Voting Rights rally. Where the Freedom Ride the new Freedom Ride landed in West Virginia and heard from his constituents. They had hope and they were working with their senator. And urging him to do his part so that West Virginia could in passing federal voting Rights Legislation. Of course, im talking about the for the people act and the John Lewis VotingRights Act. You know, in 1965, there was a central Texas President , lyndon johnson, and he championed and he ultimately succeeded in having the texas voting Rights Act passed. And here we are, 50plus years later, fighting for the same rights. And again, we Look to washington for help. Texas has now become a leader in this fight because our our voters are being targeted. But West Virginia could, also, Step Up and lead in this federal fight for voting Rights Legislation. We might be losing your signal. I guess, its okay. One more question. The texas governor, greg abbott, issued a Statement Today saying as they fly across the country on cushyprivate planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state. What is your response to the governor . Well, i think thats just nonsense. We travel, the way you travel across the country. We flew. And theres a bunch of us so we needed a plane that could accommodate all of us. In this case, we got smaller planes and we had two planes that to accommodate all of us. And so, we left our families behind. We left our jobs behind. [ inaudible ] we dont we dont get paidprofessional salaries to do our job. We get paid about 7,000 a year. So many of us most of us have to go back to paying jobs and to families we have been away from for six months because weve been in session. So, this is a big sacrifice on our part. I have a colleague who was supposed to be getting married on thursday. Sh now will not be getting married this week. So we come at great, personal sacrifice but the fight for democracy, the fight for Voting Rights is that important. We are willing to make the sacrifices and we need washington to Step Up. Texas State Representative, thank you very much for joining us. Thank you for that hint, last week, and we really appreciate it. Thank you. Pleasure. Thanks for having me. Thank you. And joining our discussion, now, is democratic senator, amy klobuchar, of minnesota. She is the chair of the senate Rules Committee, which has oversight over federal elections. Senator klobuchar, thank you very much for joining us. Thanks, lawrence. It it Looks like that bus. I dont know. It might be coming your way. And some of those people might need to talk to you. I hope so. Yes. What what do you have to tell them as they arrive in washington . Well, i had met with the representative when she was here last time and i believe theyre doing whats right. They are trying to stand up, in whatever way possible, for the freedom of people to vote. And they are coming to the very place that theyre supposed to find salvation. And i really, actually, like that she brought up lyndon johnson, who along with Vice President hubert humphrey, pushed hard to get legislation through to protect civil rights in the 60s. When you have a concerted effort, across the country, not just in texas, but in georgia and in other places, dozens, states have passed votersuppression laws to limit Peoples Freedom to vote. Then, you know the answer should be in washington. Where the constitution, clearly, says the congress has the right to make or alter laws, regarding federal elections. And i dont know what cause is greater than doing that right now. This is the moment to get it done. I want to read something that politicos reporting from congressman Jim Clyburn. It says, biden could pick up the phone and tell Joe Manchin, hey, we should do a carve out, clyburn said, referring to the centrist West Virginia democrat who has resisted filibuster reform. I dont care whether he does it in a microphone or on the telephone. Just do it. So, theres Jim Clyburn saying, to Joe Biden, just do it. You have to get this this rule in the senate bent, at least for voting Rights Legislation. Well, you know, i would abolish the filibuster and i have come to that decision, after seeing obstruction, after obstruction, on so many important pieces of legislation. Things people need to get done to help their families, for childcare. To do something about climate change, as we are seeing record heat. But also, about Voting Rights. And Senator Manchin worked in such good faith with me on his version of this bill. We were very close to getting an agreement. It has all kinds of things. Sameday registration. Some very strong provisions. And i think that you when you listen to him, he talks about the standing filibuster. And changes that we could make to the reform the bill. So and reform the law so im, still, hopeful that we will see change. And i can tell you, in the meantime, im taking the Rules Committee for the first time in over two decade on the road. And we are going to georgia. Another place where youve seen Voter Suppression efforts. And i am also Looking forward to seeing president bidens speech, tomorrow. Joining Vice President harris who, today, was in michigan. This is such an important moment in time. And to just act like its not happening because of an archaicprocedural rule and to deny people the right to vote. We cannot do that. Our democracy cannot stand for it. I want to go back to that point you just made about the hearing in georgia. The Rules Committees going to have a Field Hearing thats called a Field Hearing when you go outside of washington. Ive never seen the Rules Committee go outside of washington. Just mentioned. And this is a Field Hearing on Voting Rights and you are going to have it in georgia. Why, that location . And what do you expect to accomplish . Well, as you know, lawrence, the legislature there has done everything they could to mess around with Voting Rights. And made it so that, literally, now, you cant give the Voters Water and food. Volunteers cant do that. All kinds of limits on their voting, that was completely irrational and unnecessary. Basically, buying into the Donaldtrump Lie that something was wrong with their election. When we know there wasnt anything wrong with their election. They just had a big turnout and two democrats, Raphael Warnock and jon ossoff, won the u. S. Senate race. And before that, Joe Biden won the president ial race. And so, whats their answer . Well, as Reverend Warnock likes to say on the senate floor, some people dont want some people to vote. And its to limit the number of voters. So thats why we are bringing the Rules Committee. We are going to have some excellent witnesses we announced today of a state legislator, a longtime advocate on Voting Rights. Um, as well as a voter. And hear from other voters, as well, over the weekend about what happened to them in their own, individual stories. Because when people hear the stories of the long lines and seniors waiting in line, hot. When they hear those stories, they know that theres only one path to go and, that is, the path toward a righteous democracy and allowing people to vote. Senate Rules Committee chair woman, amy klobuchar, thank you very much for joining us tonight. Thank, lawrence. Thank you. And coming up. Supporters of Donald Trump interrupted a Town Hall for families held, this weekend, by congresswoman Katie Porter. The Los Angeles times reports that Katie Porter rushed into the chaos to protect her supporters. Congresswoman Katie Porter will join us, next. In us, next. Not everybody wants the same thing. Thats why i go with Liberty Mutual they customize my Car Insurance so i only pay for what i need. cause i do things a bit differently. Wet Teddy Bears wet Teddy Bears here only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Theres an america we build and one we explore. One thats been paved and one thats forever wild. But freedom means you dont have to choose just one adventure. 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Donald trumps mind actually perverts political violence into love, itself. Donald trump did a Telephone Interview Yesterday with the Antivaccination Propaganda Network owned and operated by the fullyvaccinated group at murdock where the fullyvaccinated Donald Trump talked about seeing the, quote, love in the air. That was his phrase. Love in the air, produced by the Violenttrump Mob that attacked the capitol on january 6th. You see people trying to kill police officers, while chanting hang mike pence, and Donald Trump sees the love in the air. There was Donald Trumps kind of love in the air, yesterday, in irvine, california, at congresswoman Katie Porters openair Town Hall. The Los Angeles times reports, a melee broke out at representative Katie Porters district Town Hall meeting sunday. With her backers scuffling with supporters of formerpresident trump, who were loudly interrupting the congresswoman as she spoke. Porter rushed into the scuffle, wrapping her arms around an elderly woman near the scrum. Joining us now is democratic congresswoman Katie Porter of california. Thank you very much for joining us tonight. Really appreciate it. Thank you for having me. What happened yesterday . Tell us, in your own words, what happened yesterday. Go ahead, sorry. Yesterday, we had planned an openair Town Hall. We had had a lot of space for people to spread out and be safe. We advertised it as a familyfriendly event. And there were people who advertised a confront Katie Porter rally. They attended the event, as they were welcomed to do. But they began to shout and, eventually, violence broke out. Um, it was really disappointing and scary, especially for families and seniors and others who were there. And i think we need to hear from every single elected official, regardless of party, that this is not democracy. The group was led by a republican, whos running against you, who is a white supremacist, among other things, a nazi sympathizer. And when you when you saw this happening, and and you decided to run toward the chaos. What were you thinking, when you ran to protect that woman . Well, there were no police in the immediate area. There were police on the grounds. But they were not nearby. And i as it began to continue, you began to hear people cry for help. And so, i went up to we had a couple people with disabilities, people using walkers, who couldnt move out of the way. And i was very afraid that they were going to get knocked over. So, i simply put my arm around them. Told her to stand there. I was going to stand there with her, until the police were able to disperse the situation. Now, after january 6th, when there were people attacking the capitol. Looking for democratic members of congress, like you, to physically attack them. Possibly, kill them. We dont know what they were going to do when they got there. What is it like, when you see something like this break out in otherwisepeaceable irvine, california . I mean, its this is my home. So its incredibly disappointing to have it happen here. Irvine has been the safest city of its size for 15 years running. And, you know, we made sure that we had plenty of space for everyone to attend. We took steps to make sure that every single person had an equal opportunity to ask a question. Putting their questions in a Bingoball Spinner that we draw them from. I made very clear, at the beginning, everyone is welcome here. But we need to be civil and listen to Each Other. And it was incredibly heartbreaking when that happened. You know, i didnt after january 6th, its hard to feel safe in washington right now. And now, its hard to feel safe in irvine. And some of these people attacking your Event Yesterday may, very well, be recipients of the Childtax Credit starting this week. And they, presumably, will have no idea that they have you to thank for that. Well, we were trying to share with all of the audience about the Childtax Credit. And i think thats the real loss here. Everybody lost. Whether you agree with me, or disagree with me, you werent able to hear what i was saying. You werent able to get an answer to your questions because you were creating such a disturbance. And ultimately, there was violence. And so, i think, even for those who disagreed, they werent even to able to find out what is happening, how it will affect them and make up their mind. This event was really counter to the very purpose of a Town Hall. It also made it very hard for me to hear what constituents had to say over the shouting and the noise. Your you youre going to be having Town Halls. Presumably, you are trying to do this again. You are also going to be having a Reelection Campaign, next year. In the in these same places. Do you expect this to just follow you around . I, certainly, hope not. Were going to continue to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep anyone who wants to come hear me or speak with me safe. Thats regardless of their party, regardless of their views. What was really, particularly upsetting about yesterday was the fact that people on both you know, people from one side, supporters. And people who were there to confront were, all, dragged into it. Like i said, innocent seniors. Just simply, sitting there to listen, were nearly hurt. Congresswoman Katie Porter, if you had a minute, as you do, right now, to say the singlemost important thing that you wanted to say at your Town Hall yesterday. What would that be . The most important thing i wanted to tell people is that we have to focus on an economic recovery. That creates work and, also, helps workers. So we were talking not just about Infrastructure And Job creation but, also, about help for workers. Things like broadband and childcare. And that was really the message i was trying to convey and get feedback from my constituents about what kind of support, as workers, they needed. Congresswoman Katie Porter, thank you very much for joining us again, tonight. We always appreciate it. Thank you of. And coming up. Michael wolf will join us with his reporting on what Donald Trump was actually doing during the insurrection at the capitol on january 6th. Its in his new book about the final days of the trump White House. Thats next. White house. Thats next. Its a wishlist on wheels. A choice that requires no explanation. Its where safe and daring seamlessly intersect. Its understated, yet overdelivers. It is truly the mercedesbenz of sports sedans. Visit your local Mercedesbenz Dealer Today for exceptional Lease And Financing offers. I brought in ensure max protein, with thirty grams of protein. Those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks [sighs wearily] here, ill take that woohoo ensure max protein. 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After my car accident, neuriva. Think bigger. I wondered what my case was worth. So i called the Barnes Firm. When that car hit my motorcycle, insurance wasnt fair. So i called the Barnes Firm. It was the best call i couldve made. Atat t bararnefirmrm, our R Inry a Attneysys Wk Hahard i couldve made. Atat t bararnefirmrm, to get you the best result possible. Call us now and find out what your case could be worth. You u Mit Bebe Sprisised the Barnes Firm injury attorneys call one eight hundred, Eight Million tonight, journalist Michael Wolf joins us for his first interview about his new Book Landslide. The final days of the Trump Presidency. Michael wolf writes that, on january 6th, after 1 00 p. M. , as the capitol was being attacked. Quote, White House chief of Staff Mark meadows, Trump Lawyer eric herschmann, and trump twitter manager, Dan Scavino to admonish the protestors but his attention was elsewhere. Still, focused on the Vice President. Approaching 3 00 p. M. The pressure for the president to say something, quickly, mounted. The president , though, was digging in his heels. He remained singularly focused on the electoral challenge, and had blinders on to everything else. Almostevery stage of the panicked response, and everybodys push to get him to understand the urgency here, prompted the same reactions from him. Denial. This wasnt on him. He couldnt control what people did. Why couldnt his People Protest . It was mostly antifa. Begrudging capitulation. He shouldnt be blamed. But okay. Hed say something. Fighting back. Why should he say anything . People were upset. The election had been stolen from him and them. By 3 30 p. M. , he was telling callers that, yes, he had decided to say something. A video became the plan. The safest sort of statement with everyone in agreement. The President Couldnt go live. But back in his overcoat out on the portico even with his script in hand, he mostly defaulted to his worst instincts. At 4 17 p. M. , now with little question that the singular event of the Trump Administration was unfolding, the president tweeted out his video with his begrudging call that the rioters go home. Joining us, now, is Michael Wolf. Hes author of the new Book Landslide the final days of the Trump Presidency. Michael, thank you very much for joining us, tonight. And and i want to go with a kind of more basic question about this book. What did you learn, in reporting on this book, that you didnt, already, know about Donald Trump . That he was that hes even crazier than i thought he was. Um, and i think when one one of the things i mean, i from the beginning of this of this administration. From the beginning of my reporting on this this administration. It was clear that Donald Trump is not like you and hes not like me. Something is off. Something is broken. Um, but i think this comes to a head on November 3rd. He has an experience that that that he cant he cant get his head around, that he has lost this election. And from from November 3rd on through to january 6th, through to january 20th. I guess, we have a problem with michaels connection. If we can get michael on a telephone or reestablish that connection, we will get theres michael, you have us. Go ahead. Hello. Yes. How is this . Yes. Um um so, at any rate, what what happens is he creates this this new reality for himself. And it is a reality that nobody else is a part of. I mean, thats the the the extraordinary thing that that that this whole story plays out. This this this steal, the the election to try to challenge the election. And there is really, only one person in this bubble. Its Donald Trump. Well, and occasionally, with with Rudy Giuliani making it even more alarming. But there is nobody else here. Everybody everybody in his White House, in his campaign, in his family, is is kind of on the periphery. Watching this incredible meltdown. And in many instances, um, going out of their way to to undermine any efforts that that that that he is making. Donald trump is aloon. Donald trump is is crazy. We saw part of this show, today, actually in this extraordinary hearing in michigan. Where a federal judge is, now, considering sanctions against all of the Trump Lawyers who were involved in the michigan litigation. That would ban them from ever practicing law in michigan, again. You have passages in your book about about how Donald Trump picks up these kinds of lawyers. You you talk about him, actually, randomly asking people, do you know any good lawyers . I i wont quote the book. The passages are extraordinary, when you read them. But he is just kind of wandering around asking people about lawyers. Um, and and its important to note that he actually has good lawyers. There are good lawyers in the White House. There are good lawyers on the campaign. And they refused to have anything to do with this. So, he has to go out and find the the only lawyers that he can find, who will do this are, you know, along with with with Rudy Giuliani, completely marginal. Completely out there. Um um opportunists at a at a at at a at a degree that no longer makes them, in anyones mind, serious lawyers. I mean, this is, to put it mildly, the gang that couldnt shoot straight. The president formerpresident trump is now under Criminal Investigation by a a criminalGrand Jury in fulton county, georgia, for the Phone Call that he made to the Georgia Secretary of state. A Phone Call that weve, all, heard the tape of. We know what the Grand Jury is considering. You have reporting that he made more Phone Calls than that, including going around the attorney general. And making Phone Calls, directly, to u. S. Attorneys around the country. Is there any possibility we might ever be Hearing Tapes of those . I i theres always possibility. I mean, i think that anyone who speaks to Donald Trump should be, certainly, switching on their their phone. Their iphone to tape whats going on here. I think, everybody knows knows that lesson. But the the other thing and and why this becomes this will be a somewhat of a of a difficult thing to prosecute is that is that Donald Trump is always on the phone. Donald trump is always talking. Donald trump is only half aware of what hes saying. It just it just spews out. It there there is no rhyme, nor reason, to it. He talks i mean, the georgia Phone Call lasted i cant quite remember but it, certainly, lasted for for for close to an hour of of him just just repeating repetition, upon repetition. Him going going going out of the out of the lines and the boundaries of any logic. Um, you know, there were certain people, on that call, who are who are, you know, relatively astute politicians. Mark meadows, for for one thing. I mean, hes highly conservative and whatever you think of him. Um, i mean, you may politically disagree with him. But but he is a is a certainly, a professional. A political professional. What was he doing on this call . You know, and the only the only conclusion that i can come to is that all of these people are so used to Donald Trump just spewing meaningless, semideranged things, that no one really takes this takes this seriously. And i think thats whats whats what will be what the the result here and why this is going to be hard to prosecute is its just tHe Rantings of a crazy man. Michael wolfs new volume in his study inside the Trump Presidency is entitled landslide the final days of the Trump Presidency. Michael wolf, thank you very, very much for joining us, again, tonight. We always appreciate it. Lawrence, thank you. Thank you. And coming up. The two rivals for the latestdemocratic nomination. Most recent democratic nomination for president had a Oneonone Meeting Today at the White House and Bernie Sanders emerged saying they are on the same page. Thats next. Thats next. man ive made progress with my Mental Health. So when i started having unintentional Body Movements called tardive dyskinesia. I ignored them. But when the movements in my hands and feet started throwing me off at work. I finally had to say, its not ok. it was time to talk to my doctor about austedo. She said that austedo helps reduce Td Movements in adults. While i continue with most of my Mental Health medications. Vo Austedo can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or actions in patients with huntingtons disease. Pay close attention to and call your doctor if you become depressed, have sudden changes in mood, behaviors, feelings, or have suicidal thoughts. Common Side Effects include inflammation of the nose and throat, insomnia and sleepiness. Dont take austedo if you have liver problems, are taking reserpine, tetrabenazine, or valbenazine. Austedo may cause irregular or fast heartbeat, restlessness, movements mimicking parkinsons disease, fever, stiff muscles, problems thinking, and sweating. Man Talk to your doctor about austedo. Its time to treat td. Td is not ok. Visit askforaustedo. Com i think we are on the same page. My job is to do everything i can to see that the senate comes forward with the strongestpossible Legislation To protect the needs of the Working Families of this country, our kids, our parents. The deal with the terribleclimate crisis that we face, and to pass that bill, as soon as we can. Joining us now, eugene robinson, associate editor, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the washington post. Also with us, steven dennis, Senate Correspondent for bloomberg news. And, gene, the Budget Committee democrats, led by chairman Bernie Sanders, met at the Capitol Tonight with White House officials. Majority leader schumer. And they say they are close to an agreement, within the committee, about how to pass this democratsonly version. Yeah. Long meeting. And they you know, it Look. Bernie sanders went into this talking about a 6 Trillion package. And and the in recent days, everybodys been talking more about a 3. 5 trillion package. You know, a trillion here, a trillion there. Soon, youre talking real money. But and then, theres a question of how how its going to be paid for. And there will be dynamic scoring of the, you know, which we dont have to get into. But its, basically, the assumption that its going to make money for the economy. This is i think, democrats see this as their Big Shot to actually do something on climate, in addition to to the Human Infrastructure theyre theyre talking about. And so, theyre still going to, i think, try to go for what is really quite a big, big number. And and assume and think that theyre going to have all50 democrats onboard for this. So, steven, the the Budget Committee has Bernie Sanders at at representing one edge of the democratic partys argument. You have senator Mark Warner, probably, representing the other edge of it. And so, to come to an agreement, it would be a similar kind of agreement that Bernie Sanders would come to with Joe Manchin, wouldnt it . I think not quite. I mean i think what you are going to see is Mark Warner bringing this package probably in several you know, a few trillion probably less than Bernie Sanders might want, but then you can go be a bridge to Joe Manchin and try to bring Joe ManchinOn Board and say, hey, Look, it is not this big, scary thing that you originally heard about. Here are some things we can sell as moderates, but they dont yet have Mark WarnerOn Board, they dont yet have a deal. Theyre talking about coming back again Tomorrow Night and hopefully hammering out something Tomorrow Night, and they really want to have something ready to give to the budget crunchers, the staff on thursday so they can have the weekend to really write it and be ready to go as soon as next week in the committee. You know, with Joe Manchin here, you know, hes sort of still his own planet. You know, in the senate every senator is their own planet, and Joe Manchin is almost his own galaxy right now. When you talk about something like climate change, to get this guy On Board, this is a guy who before He Ran or when He Ran for senate the first time around, he took a copy of the cap in trade climate bill, the biggest climate bill in history, and he shot it with a gun. That sent a signal to folks in West Virginia that they could trust him to Look after their interests. So to get him On Board youre going to have to do some things in there that make him and make West Virginia feel like, hey, theyre getting something out of this. You know, theyve lost a lot of jobs anyways on coal and other things, so there are when you are talking about trillions of dollars in spending and trillions of dollars in tax changes, theres a lot you can do there for Joe Manchin. Theres a lot there you can do for West Virginia. So i think this is sort of a real opportunity for manchin and the democrats. They really dont want to mess this up. Theres a lot of momentum to do something, but, you know, right now is when negotiations are really starting to hit the road. The next month is going to determine whether Joe Bidens, you know, presidency is big and bold or whether it is going to be sort of, you know, a trillion here, not a Radical Change in american government. We are days away from knowing. Steven dennis, eugene robinson, thank you both for joining us tonight. Great to be here. Thank you. And after the biggest protests against the government in cuba in the last 60 years, occurred this weekend, republicans are cheering on their support of cubans standing up for freedom and democracy. Democracy is, of course, the form of government that republicans are now opposed to in this country. Thats next. With dupixent i can du more. Yardwork. Teamwork. Long walks. Thats how you du more, with dupixent, which helps prevent asthma attacks. Dupixent is not for sudden breathing problems. Its an addontreatment for specific types of Moderatetosevere Asthma that can improve Lung Function for better breathing in as little as two weeks. And can reduce, or even eliminate, oral steroids. And Heres Something important. Dupixent can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Get help right away if you have rash, shortness of breath, chest pain, tingling or numbness in your limbs. 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We are desperate. President biden issued a statement saying, we stand with the cuban people and their Clarion Call for Freedom And Relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by cubas authoritarian regime. Cuba refused to request international shipments of Covid Vaccine from the world health organization, but it has developed its own Covid Vaccine. As of now, only 15 of cubans have been vaccinated. The president of cuba, like the castros before him, blames all of cubas problems on this Countrys 60yearold Trade embargo with cuba, which was supposed to force cuba to the Tipping Point over 50 years ago. The embargo does allow american shipments of food to cuba, and cuba is free to trade with the rest of the world, but somehow The New York Times reports that cuba has run out of basic medicines like penicillin and aspirin. If the united states had been wise enough to remove the embargo 50 years ago, the cuban dictatorship would have had no convenient excuse for the Deprivations Cuba has suffered. Cubas agonies tonight are only partially assignable to the embargo and almost entirely the fault of 60 years of dictatorial by economic illiterates. Cubas problem is not too much socialism as republicans would have you believe. It is too much dictatorship, second only to North Korea at this point. The embargo is our longestrunning foreign Policy Mistake and a grotesque mistake at that. President obama took significant steps to loosen the embargo, which was actually signed into federal law only in 1996 by president clinton during his Reelection Campaign in which he won the state of florida. President biden does not have the legal authority to simply end the embargo, but he does have the authority to issue an order on the basis of emergency humanitarian relief to send one of our great Hospital Ships to cuba immediately. Let the u. S. Naval Hospital Mercy AnchorOff Havana where cubans can see it ready to help, and then let the cuban dictatorship make its decision whether Mercys Medicine can be delivered to the cuban people. That is tonights last word. The 11th hour with Brian Williams starts now. Well, good evening once against. Day 174 of t