This acutely. They understand the catastrophe at the border is affecting everyone, and it is top of mind for all the American People for that reason. Again, the First Priority of the country is our border and making sure its secure. I believe the president can take Executive Authority right now today to change that, and ive told him that again today in person as ive said to him many times publicly and privately over the last several weeks. Its time for action. So that was Speaker Mike Johnson yesterday following an Oval Office Meeting with the president and other congressional leaders. But in reality it is johnson, hes the one standing in the way of action on the border by blocking a bipartisan deal passed by the senate. Well bring you more about that meeting including the pressure on the speaker to avoid the looming Government Shutdown. Plus, well go through the primary results out of michigan and look ahead to Super Tuesday which is just around the corner and the latest on ceasefire negotiations between israel and hamas as both sides are now downplaying any progress towards a deal. Good morning and welcome to Way Too Early on this wednesday, february 28th. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. As expected President Biden easily won the state on the democratic side. The only real opposition he faced came from voters protesting his handling of the israelhamas war with more than 100,000 people casting ballots for uncommitted. You see now the total about 13 . The votes are still being counted. Meanwhile, on the republican side donald trump racked up another large victory over nikki haley. But the former u. N. Ambassador still received a significant share of the vote. Its done somewhat in michigan, 26. 5 . Still more than 30 of republicans did not cast their ballot for trump, and the gop primary only 16 of the statess 55 delegates were up for grabs yesterday. The 39 others will be decided saturday at state part convention. A reminder the state Republican Party of michigan a kploot mess. Now, despite her loss, haley has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday, thats next week when 16 states will cast their ballots. Among them is minnesota where haley made her pitch to voters there in a local Radio Interview yesterday. The democrats are salivating. Because they know they can defeat him. They defeated him in 2018. They defeated him in 2020. They defeated him in 2022, and they know theyre going to defeat him again in 2024. Joe biden is not going to be the candidate. Youre going to find the democrats still put someone younger in, and were going to be stuck with another loss and a president Kamala Harris. That is what will happen if donald trump is the nominee. How much of the hate and the divisiveness in the country right now do you think is because of the tone that was set when donald trump was the president and the tone that continues today. Completely. I mean look at it. Ia look at not only that i came from michigan. Completely divided Republican Party, completely like all the anger, all the hatred, and because of that theyve lost the governors mansion, the statehouse, the state senate, and everything that they had when in 2012 they were a beacon of light. You look here in minnesota, the same thing. Suburban voters have decided they are not going to vote for democrats, so democrats have started to win everything here in minnesota. I mean it is continuing to be a toxic situation for republicans. And all thats doing is helping the democrats. Joining us now, National Politics reporter for bloomberg, christian hall, whos been covering the race out there in michigan. Christian, good to see you this morning. So lets start with haley. You know, her team has said she has said shell be in through Super Tuesday now six days away bhch until then she continues to play an Important Role here. Shes delivering these attacks on trump to audiences that normally wouldnt hear them. But do we think next week is the end of the line . Republicans you speak to, haley advisers to they think after Super Tuesday assuming she doesnt stun us with a bunch of victories, will that be the end . Well, look, i think that the future of haleys campaign is becoming a little bit more cloudy right now. Im sure both of us know as she gets further away from the early primary states where Retail Politics can really change the game for her, its looking more difficult to see a path forward, any type of victory for haleys campaign right now. I mean its really difficult to see how she can move forward in this race past Super Tuesday. I mean a lot of the Super Tuesday states are a winners takes all approach to the delegate count, and coming close to donald trump is not enough. And we saw last night that she did not even come close to donald trump, so its really difficult to see a path forward of victory for nikki haley postSuper Tuesday next week. Yeah, and some of her top donors have started to abandon her. Shes still got money. She can stick around for a while, but even that will change at some point, but perhaps shell choose to stay in just in case something happens with trump and his legal maturs or something else. Lets switch to it democrats. Obviously we all know it would be an easy win for President Biden last night and it was. Its really about the uncommitted campaign, people putting a protest vote out there to object to how the president has handled the situation in gaza as weve been chronicling for a while now. They put up 13 , which is substantial but certainly not overwhelming. Its well north of the 10,000 they had asked for. It was about 100,000. Whats the reaction youre hearing from democrats as to that number . Well, last nights results for democrats were certainly a warning sign for President Biden and his campaign. And, look, i think if biden didnt see it before he realizes it now that hes running in a big ten party. Youngers voters, progressive voters, voters of color, Arab Americans are really concerned of his handling of this conflict, but i think its also very important for us to realize that today is very far away from november, and things can change with the conflict. But also a lot of these voters were simply sending a message to president joe biden. I mean we dont know what they will do in november. We dont know if they will vote for donald trump. We dont know if they will sit out completely in november. So its important not to read too deeply into the results of last night. But it also shows that there is a lot of concerns from a key constituency of joe bidens ahead of november. And he cannot afford to lose them. A lot of these voters will have a decisive role in novembers outcome. We should note the last time a democratic president ran for reelection, that was barack obama in 2012, in michigan the vote was 20 . In an election its supposed to be so close remember every little bit counts. Certainly democrats watching these results. Christian hall, thank you so much for starting us off this morning. Were going to Turnover Seas now, and israel is downplaying President Bidens repeat comments that significant progress has been made to pause the fighting and release the remaining hostages in gaza. On monday the president told reporters in new york he hope tuesday see a ceasefire by next week coinciding with the start of the muslim holy month of ramadan, but israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu says hamas is still making, quote, outrageous demands. Hamas wants to include an end of the war, israel is against that. In an effort to save lives in gaza three u. S. And israeli officials tell axios the white house gave israel until midmarch to sign that letter. If the deadlines not met, the reporting goes, the u. S. Will pause its ongoing transfer of weapons. Meanwhile, the kremlin is now warning that direct conflict between nato and russia would be inevitable if the alliance sends Combat Troops to ukraine. Russias warning came after french president Emmanuel Macron said he could not rule out the possibility of putting troops from nato countries in ukraine even though he acknowledged there was no consensus. Other european leaders proved him right because they were quick to reject macrons idea and rushed to distance themselves from the suggestion. Meanwhile, the Russian Military is now inching death by death into ukraine as they absorb huge losses in order to make small gains on the battlefield. One Senior Western official says this is because Russian Forces have a different threshold of pain and an unorthodox view of acceptable levels on military losses, which is chronicled well in the New York Times last night. At this stage the casualty numbers on both sides are difficult to verify, but russia is making slow progress on the battlefield. Feels like theyve got some momentum. And elsewhere, former toss illian Prime Minister malcolm purp pm bull is weighing in on the relationship between former President Trump and russian president vladimir putin. Take a look at what he said during an interview this week. The Republican Party under donald trump and particularly the right wing of the Republican Party are very sympathetic to vladimir putin. I mean ive been with trump and putin. Trump is in awe of putin. When youve seen trump with putin as i have on a few occasions, hes like the 12yearold boy that goes to high school and meet the captain of the football team. My hero. It is really creepy. It is really creepy. Strong and disturbing words there. Still ahead on Way Too Early well have much, much more on results of last nights michigan primary. Plus the latest on the fallout after an Alabama Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Well look at how republicans are scrambling to now protect ivf, at least in some ways. And in georgia a key witness returned to the stand in a hearing that will determine if the top prosecutor in former President Trumps Election Interference Case will be able to stay in place. Those stories and a check on sports and weather when we come right back. And weather when we right back crowd cheers sore throat got your tongue . Mucinex instasoothe sore throat medicated drops. Uniquely formulated for rapid relief that lasts and lasts. Thats my babyyy ow get mucinex instasoothe. Its comeback season. [coughing] copd hasnt been pretty. 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Help fuel today with boost high protein, complete nutrition you need. Without the stuff you dont. So, heres to now. Boost. Welcome back. Well have more fruch the michigan primary in just a little bit, but now we turn to some of the mornings other top headlines. Alabama republicans are pushing bills now to protect invitro fertilization treatments in light of that States Supreme Court recent ruling. High court decided frozen embryos are children leading to some Fertility Clinics in alabama to sus spend treatments. Now, two bills have been introduced in the state senate and house. They would protect doctors who perform ivf treatments from civil and criminal prosecution. The measures, however, stop short of saying embryos should be considered, quote, potential life and not human life. Meanwhile, an effort in paugs to have federal preces for ivf appears to be run into roadblocks from some republicans. Meanwhile, in georgia a key witness is back on the stand in a hearing that will determine if the top prosecutor in former President Trumps Election Interference Case will stay in place. Nbc news senior Legal CorrespondentLaura Jarrett has all the details. Reporter this is the man Defense Attorneys in the Georgia Election interference case were hoping would establish the time line of the romantic relationship between Fulton County d. A. Fani willis and lead prosecutor nathan wade. I do not have knowledge of it starting or when it started. Reporter on the stand for the second time this month Terrace Bradley Deemed A Potential Star Witness for donald trump and his codefendants as wades former divorce attorney. Bradley confronted with Text Messages he sent suggesting the relationship began before willis hired wade to lead the trump case. But on the stand i was speculating. Reporter he tried to walk that back. When did you first get knowledge of their relationship . Ive said it over again that i was not i didnt have any personal information where i could personally say when it started. Reporter at issue for the judge to resolve, whether willis benefitted financially from hiring wade as Defense Attorneys have highlighted the pairs vacations together. It is a lie. It is a lie. Reporter willis and wade testified expenses were split and that the relationship only began after the wade was hired. But willis former friend cast doubt on that. You have no doubt their romantic relationship was in effect from 2019 until the last time you spoke with her . No doubt. Reporter the state opting not to question bradley. Our thanks to nbcs Laura Jarrett for that report. Up next well turn to sports and yet another upset in college hoops. Plus, well bring you a sensational Buzzer Beater in the nba. Those highlights and a check on the forecast when Way Too Early comes right back. Heck on the forecast when Way Too Rleay comes right back. s to gg better with age. Heres to beating these two every thursday. Help fuel today with boost high protein, complete nutrition you need. Without the stuff you dont. So, heres to now. Boost. No, my dentures uncomfortable dracula, lets fight back against discomfort. With new poligrip power max hold comfort. It has Superior Hold Plus keeps us comfy all day with its pressure absording layer. Time for a bite if your mouth could talk it would ask for. Poligrip. You cant have anybody get an easy shop. Gets it back. Dunked inside washington, puts it in. They have to go 94 feet. From the court, do you believe this that is probably the best Buzzer Beater youll see all season. Max strus connects from well beyond half court to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers 121119 win at home over the Dallas Mavericks last night. According to the Basketball Reference website strus has has shot from 59 feet away, hes the second longest game winner ever in the threepoint era. Remarkable stuff. To boston now. The League Leading celtics continued lets all enjoy that shot. Bang in. The celtics continued their domnngs over the 76ers Last Night Outscoring by double digits to break open a close game in the second half and extend their winning streak. Jalen brown and jason tatum combined for 60 points in a 11799 victory as boston racked up its 25th Consecutive home win over its Eastern Conference opponent. T