Good morning. It is 11 00 a. M. Eastern. 8 00 a. M. Pacific. Im jose diazbalart. We begin with breaking news. Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein, the longest serving woman in the senate, died at the age of 90. Were awaiting president biden, who will be speaking at a ceremony honoring the service of the chairman of the joints Chief Of Staff mark milley. Well bring you that live when it begins. On capitol hill, were closely following any developments as congress barrelsowards a federal Government Shutdown. And we begin in washington where reaction continue to pour in amidhe loss of Senator Feinstein. In a statement, feinsteins office said, she passed ay at her home in washington, d. C. Last night. Quote, there are f women who can be called senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mom and grandmother. Senator feinstein was a force of nature. Heres what we heard just this morning from Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer. We look at that desk and we know what we have lost. But we also give thanks, thanks to someone so rarified, so brave, so graceful a presence, served in this chamber, someone like that served in this chamber for so many years. Feinstein announced in february she planned to retire at the end of her term next year. She had faced calls to resign amid her Ongoing Health challenges and now the nation mourns the powerful force that was Senator Feinstein, a trailblazer in politics, a fierce defender of civil rights and a mentor to thousands of women in Public Service. Joining us now, chief White House CorrespondentPeter Alexander, nbc news capitol hill correspondent ali vitali, susan paige, usa today Washington Bureau chief, former senator Heidi Heitkamp and an in a annie carney. Condolences are pouring in. What are we hearing. Reporter one of those moments where all Party Politics are put aside, jose in remembrance of this trail blazing senator, Dianne Feinstein of california. You mentioned there the remarks that Chuck Schumer gave, getting choked up in the chamber. There were many of her colleagues who took to the senate floor to remember her. Lisa murkowski of alaska saying that this is a woman who joking she probably would have appreciated the recent legislating around the dress code. Feinstein always coming in, dressed to the nines, whenever we saw her here in the senate halls. Her colleague mitch mcconnell, the Top Republican in the chamber, saying that theres the word often thrown around in washington and no one really means it that way. But for him and his wife elaine chao, he was friends with Dianne Feinstein and her late husband. Now, though, they get to be together in the next phase of this. I have to say that the most jarring, i think, reaction that we saw was from former speaker of the house nancy pelosi. This is what she said this morning. Its very sad for all of us. May she rest in peace. She left voting the last day. Pelosi there rose through the ranks of California Politics alongside feinstein. And i think today, so much, jose, as it often is about legacy, but i think when we talk about Dianne Feinstein, the thing im struck by is 1984, she was one of two women who was in the mix to be a Vice President ial candidate with then democratic nominee walter mondale. Ultimately he chose geraldine ferraro, but that was such a striking moment because there were so few women who could have been considered for a position of that caliber. Now the day that feinstein leaves us, it is so striking to see the number of women who can stand on that senate floor and point to her as someone who blazed a path for them to get into Public Service and, of course, it is not just in the senate chamber. It is in the house chamber. And it is throughout the ranks of california and National Politics as well. And you contributed to the obituary for Senator Feinstein in the new york times. Ali was talking about legacy. What is it some of her most Important Service to our nation that, you know, contributed to this long legacy of service . I think there is two things shes best known for in the senate, being the author of a 1994 assault weapons ban, chris murphy, the senator from connecticut who is a lead advocate for gun Safety Measures credited her with the entire Gun Safety Movement that has sprung up since then. And the other is authoring the Torture Report as head of the senate intel committee. This was a real act of bravery, took real spine, she was under pressure from the Obama Administration not to release this report that would embarrass the cia, it would embarrass the administration and she took her duty seriously, Doing Congressional Oversight and released it. It gave her this real moral authority she was willing to buck her own party and tell the truth about the u. S. Use of torture. Those are kind of the two main things. She was also known for legislation that created Yosemite National park. She was the first woman mayor of San Francisco, before she came to the senate. And she had the a huge legacy. And one thing that in recent years as we have seen her ailing and frail and not really able to do the job on her own anymore, one of the biggest concerns i heard from people close to her is that it would overshadow what is really a huge and impressive legacy that she had. Indeed. And, senator heitkamp, i want to thank you for being with us. What is it that you want to share with us about your experiences with Senator Feinstein . Well, i think, imagine this, you take a young woman from north dakota who wants to be a senator and you host her, you mentor her, you reach out to her, even though we didnt agree on everything. She was truly a friend to so many of us. Excuse me. She was a force of nature. And, you know, did it with an amazing level of grace and thought about not only what happens in this country. I remember a dinner we had, one of the first women, she convened women in the senate for dinner and she was talking about what we could all do working together in a bipartisan way. And talking about the women of afghanistan, concerned about what would happen after we left. I know that haunted her, given her interest in human rights and womens rights across the country. She i think that the most important thing to remember is that she truly was a friend to so many. She embraced all of us. She tried to understand where we were coming from, tried to find out where we could work together. She was kind of the glue for Women Senators that held us together, that made us laugh and really led with such grace. She will be incredibly missed by so many of us. Yeah, and, senator, im wondering, she was the first in so many things, in so many ways. And, you know, and you were talking about just how broad her interest and her leadership and her knowledge of, you know, being the chair of rules and select committee on intelligence, so many aspects of her were firsts, and im just wondering, senator, you know, you talk about how she often spoke about bipartisanship. And the need to be able to speak to everyone, even people you dont agree with. And im just thinking thats such a it seems a lost art now, in politics, but she kind of epitomized a lot of that. Well, and she took a lot of criticism for it. You know, assuming that youre going to be the overliberal coming from california, but she was incredibly pragmatic. I remember probably one of the moments that i remember with such clarity when i served, do you sit in the chair, you preside over the senate, i was presiding when she presented the Torture Report and as she was talking, john mccain came to the floor to support her. And two giants of the senate, doing the right thing, against a lot of odds and against a lot of criticism. Where is that courage today and i hope that as john has passed and she has passed that people in those seats think about the legacy of courage under fire. Grace under fire and the ability to get things done. And so i where i consider dianne a great friend and mentor, i think she is an incredible example for how we need to lead in this country again. Yeah. And, susan, you were talking about some of the things that she, you know, was she broke so many barriers. What kind of doors did Senator Feinstein open for women and in Public Service . Yeah, you know, jose, it is easy to forget how different times were when she got into politics and the list of firsts illustrates that. The first woman mayor of San Francisco, the first woman senator from california, the first woman to chair the senate rules committee, the first woman to chair the Senate Intelligence committee. These things did not come easy. When she was elected to the senate, in 1992, there were two women in the senate. Now there are 24, 25 women, so lots of change, not quite parity, but not easy for her. It is also we should remember her persistence in defeat. She was defeated twice for mayor before she was elected mayor, she ran for governor of california, 1990, lost, came back and ran for the senate the next year. So a real legacy of determination and a willingness to take on established forces to give women a seat at the table. And, susan, i just ive been thinking this morning, you know, i want to hear from you, because, you have studied and reported on, learned so much from so many Public Servants in our American Society and reality. What do you think her just role in being someone who broke so many barriers and role as a leader and someone who could be a trailblazer for so many others. You know, i remember actually the first time i met her, which was in 1984, Democratic Convention in San Francisco, now, that was a disastrous year for democrats. Walter mondale went on to lose 49 states. But that was a good convention. You know who was running it . Dianne feinstein, the mayor of San Francisco and nancy pelosi, then a political volunteer who was leading the host committee. And it was hard to miss, even then, the kind of energy and competence and possibility that they brought to their political careers that followed. Peter, what are we hearing from the white house about the loss of Dianne Feinstein . Well, i do think, jose, as you noted at the top of this how we expect to hear from president biden, as soon as the next couple of minutes. Were keeping a close eye on that as he celebrates the conclusion of the term as joint chiefs chair mark milley departs. But the president did post a ent that was shared with us a short time ago, celebrating his friend Dianne Feinstein as a cherished friend, a true trailblazer and he said, a pioneering american. Often the only woman in the room, dianne was a role model o Many Americans and jobs she took seriously by mentoring countless Public Servants, many she had an immense impact on n. Younger female leaders for whom she generously opened doors. Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared and never pulled a punch. But she was also a kind and loyal friend and thats what jill and i will miss the most. Were keeping a close eye on the flags here above the white house, with the expectation that they will be lowered to halfstaff anytime now and certainly a president ial proclamation that would go along with that. Im told by those close to the president that he and feinstein had spoken several times over the course of the last several years the last year, earlier this year he reached out and spoke to her a couple of times when she was out to make sure she was doing well. When she returned to the senate . In may, he checked in with her again. He reached out to her again last month, but was unable to reach her, instead sharing his thoughts to her and of her with a member of her staff, jose. I was thinking, susan was talking about how when she got there in 1992, there were two women, things have changed, but still, a lot more needs to be done. But im wondering, in those years of essentially being one of a handful of women, she was so instrumental in being in specific places, in specific times in our history, to make a difference. Im thinking of her role in judiciary and so many of the things that she led on were fundamental because they were because it was her at that specific time in our history. Well, she was always clear on why she was there. It wasnt about her, it was about the cause, it was about what she was fighting for and she didnt flinch. She grew up in the rough tumble politics of San Francisco. As susan said, she had to fight to get that job. She had to fight to Democratic Party establishments in california. So she came in, understanding that, yes, you come in, being friendly, but you also might have to throw some sharp elbows, and i think it steeled her for her work later on, on the Torture Report, for her ability to stand on the floor, and fight for the Gun Legislation that she knew was essential. She really, i think, not only because she is a woman, but how she governed, and how she did not flinch. And you see that both, theyre in rooms where some people would expect that they would listen and not talk, never was that her legacy. She commanded the room. When she walked in, you knew who the boss was. And, you know, because she, as the president said, was always prepared, always willing to speak her mind, and led with conviction and not ego. Listen and dont talk never accepted. Thats so great. It is so wonderful. I want to welcome california congresswoman Maxine Waters who joins our coverage this morning. Your thoughts, first. Well, i just left the senate chamber, where her colleagues were making remarks and speaking about her and her time there. And her leadership and all of those comments were just so complimentary, so strong in recognizing the tremendous role that she has played as a United States senator from california. Ive known her since she was a mayor in San Francisco. And dont forget, San Francisco has always been a place where things were happening for the first time. Leadership in different ways. The Lgbtq Community was stronger, et cetera, et cetera, and she knew how to deal with all of those issues. She had conviction. And i want to tell you, any democrat will tell you we didnt always agree. But she knew how to work across the aisle. She was dignified. She was committed. She was always prepared. And no matter if you did not agree at some particular time, you knew that she had the best interests of california and this country in mind. Congresswoman, what do you think it is and, you know, it is so clear and evident sometimes that individuals can make a huge difference in our collective existence. And it is what is it about these individuals that are able to do so much for so many, even when they are fighting against these huge tidal waves of barriers and walls that have been there for generations, what is it about someone like the senator that makes them that effective . Well, youre describing an unusual individual. What youre describing is someone who has the courage of their convictions. Youre talking about someone who has the independence to not fear when what she is leading may not be accepted by everybody. Youre talking about someone who is willing to stand up, to engage, to be in the fight, but also to negotiate. And you dont have a lot of that, even, you know in the halls of congress. You have an individual that is unusual in the way that they understand themselves, believe in themselves, and willing to do what they believe is the right thing to do. And so she was that kind of individual. And there were times when i did not agree with her. But i had the highest respect for her. And i love the fact that she was so dignified. As a matter of fact, i was a little bit reticent when i first decided to run congresswoman i didnt think i could be like Dianne Feinstein. Congresswoman, im sorry to interrupt you, but the president is speaking. Lets go to that right now. Trailblazer for women, a great friend. Dianne made her mark on everything from National Security to the environment, gun safety, to protecting civil liberties. The country is going to miss her dearly and so will jill and i. Ill have more to say about her later today. Vice president harris, our second gentleman, Secretary Austin, members of congress, leaders of the Department Of Defense, both current and former, friends and officials from around the world, thank you for being here today to mark the change of responsibility and to c