Transcripts For MSNBCW MTP Daily 20201201

To speak with nancy pelosi on this same topic right about now. Well keep a close eye on these stories as they develop but as we wait for the president elect, we start the show today with something that might be flying under the radar a bit. It could have serious and lasting consequences for american politics well beyond 2020. President trump is lashing out at republicans who arent helping him overturn Election Results in states he narrowly but clearly lost. We should repeat, that he wants them to reverse the results. Just think about that. An american president. Right now trump is going after the republican governors of georgia, brian kemp, and arizona, doug ducey, after both states certified their Election Results as wins for joe biden. Reporters actually heard governor ducey ignore what appeared to be a phone call from the white house yesterday as just as he was certifying, the states results, the president says hes ashamed he endorsed kemp and is warning that, quote, republicans will long remember what ducey has done. To be clear, these governors are simply doing their jobs. Sort of fulfilling constitutional obligations. Trump has also repeatedly attacked georgias republican secretary of state. Basically going after everyone who will not indulge or entertain his attempts to thwart the u. S. Constitution and overturn this election. And many republicans are indulging in his attempts, their embrace of trump has put them in a position they cannot survive without him and his base. And the dilemma facing the gop is that President Trump is signaling he, in losing, still wants to lead the party even after he leaves the white house. And he may do it by becoming the face of the gops opposition to biden. Thats something this Republican Party wants in 2021 . May not matter because they may get it. All of that could impact everything. What does that mean for the georgia runoffs . What does that mean for the future of the Republican Party or for a President Biden or for the Democratic Party or for the future of our democracy . Joining me from georgia is my nbc colleague blayne alexander and robert costa for the washington post, msnbc analyst, of course, and host of Washington Week and michael steel, a former aide to jeb bush and john boehner. In some ways weve seen the concern now of Georgia Republicans about what is happening as the party, as you get the governor and the secretary of state being attacked, part of some conspiracy that goes back to 2013 and hugo chavez. To believe it, you would have to essentially go into an institution, i think, to believe that sort of series of events. But it is serious lly roiling republican politics down there. What is the fallout . You know, chuck, not only is this something that republicans dont want to be talking about right now. Its something they cant afford to be talking about. The sort of infighting between President Trump constantly and almost relentlessly attacking the republican governor here in georgia, governor brian kemp. I was texting with a republican source of mine who was saying that, one, its impossible to ignore. There was something that even though they are really fighting, republicans are fighting tooth and nail to maintain control of the senate, its something they cant ignore. But theres a sense of frustration among republicans that i talked to because this is something that, as one source told me, theres so much on the line they need every person to be fired up. Theres not just one frustration of the president attacking governor kemp, but also making so many claims about georgia well, blayne . Yes, chuck, back to you. I have to interrupt you. Sorry, guys. The announcement of joe bidens Economic Team looks like its finally about to get under way. We see everybody seated except for the president elect right now. Let me go to mike memoli very quickly here. If i have mike memoli. Let me check that we do. We do not have mike memoli yet. All right. We are awaiting here. We thought this was about to start. As everybody took their seats. And yet here we are awaiting the president elect right now. As you can see, there is his Economic Team there. Unclear whether any of these folks will speak. My guess is unlikely. All of them, most of them, about half of them have to go through an actual confirmation process. Some will be the political appointees on the council of economic advisers, those dont have to go through the Senate Confirmation there. But you see janet yellen, obviously, the headliner as treasury secretary, former head of the fed going over to treasury. Not something you see every day. Should really make it a lot easier for her to get confirmed and youre already seeing that. The toughest confirmation on there is going to be neera tanden for office of management and budget. And with that, my vamping is over. Let me go to the event with the president elect. Enjoyable and safe thanksgiving. Even if it was far from the traditional large gathering of family and friends. Apart from many we loved. But i hope you had a good thanksgiving. And i know times are tough, but i want you to know that help is on the way. Last week, i announced the nominations and staff for critical Foreign Policy and National Security positions. A first rate team thats going to keep us safe and secure. And today, i have the pleasure i have the pleasure of announcing key nominations and appointments for the critical economic positions in the administration. First rate team thats going to get us through this ongoing economic crisis and help us build the economy back, not just build it back, but build it back better than it was before. The team thats tested and experienced. And includes groundbreaking americans who come from different backgrounds, but who share my core vision for Economic Relief here in the United States of america. Being given a fair shot and an equal chance, theres nothing we all believe theres nothing beyond the capacity of the American People. Lets not forget who built this country, working class, middle class people built this country, and unions built the middle class. And from the most unequal economic and job crisis in modern history, we can build a new American Economy that works for all americans, not just some, all. We need to act now, though. We need to work together. You know, in the weeks since winning the election, Vice President harris and i have covered meetings with a number of people. We convened meetings with labor leaders and ceos at the same time. Mayors and governors of both political parties. Theres a consensus out there that as we battle the covid19 disease, we have to make sure that business and workers have the tools, resources and guidance and the health and Safety Standards to be able to operate safely. The goal is simple, to keep businesses and schools open safely. And for millions of americans who have lost their jobs or ours and have had to claim unemployment, we have to deliver them immediate relief. That includes Affordable Health care for millions of people who have lost it and are in danger of losing it. Child care, sick leave, family leave. So workers dont have to choose between work and family. Relief from rent and student loans. We need to support Small Businesses and entrepreneurs who form the backbone of the communities that we live in that are teetering on the edge. Theres an urgent need to fund state and cities so they can frontline workers on those jobs can stay on those jobs. The founders are pretty smart. I could have gotten this lesson from the future secretary of the treasury. Theres a reason why all the states and localities have to have a balanced budget but were allowed, federally, to run a deficit in order to deal with crises and emergencies as we have in the past. And we have to keep Vital Public Services running. We have to give aid to local and State Governments to make sure they can have Law Enforcement officers, firefighters, educators. As we did in the recovery act of 2009. And right now, the full congress should come together and pass a robust package for relief to address these urgent needs. But any package passed in a lameduck session is likely to be, at best, just a start. My Transition Team is already working on what ill put forward in the next congress to address the multiple crises were facing, especially our economic and covid crisis. And the team im announcing today will play a Critical Role in shaping our plan for actions starting on day one and move forward to revive this economy. Theyre going to help me help us, help the country lay out my build back better plan. A plan that an independent analysis from moodys, a wellrespected wall street firm projected would create 18. 6 million jobs. Its based on a simple proposition, reward hard work in america. Not wealth. Time to invest in infrastructure, clean energy, climate change, manufacturing and so much more that will create millions of good paying jobs. Its time we address the structural inequities in our economy that this pandemic has laid bare. Economists call this current economy in recovery kshaped. Well, like the two lines coming off of a k, some people are seeing their prospects soar upward while others are watching their economic prospects drop sharply. For those at the top, jobs have come back. Their wealth is rising. For example, luxury home sales are up over 40 compared to last year. But for those in the middle and the bottom, its a downward slide. They are left figuring out how to pay the bills and put food on the table. Almost 1 in every 6 renters was behind in rent payments as of october. Let me be clear. With this team and others, well add in the weeks ahead that were going to create a recovery for everybody, for all. Were going to get this economy moving again. Were going to create jobs, raise incomes, reduce drug prices, advance Racial Equity across the economy and restore the backbone of this country, the middle class. Our message to everybody struggling right now is this. Help is on the way. My dad, you heard me say this before when he lost his job in scranton, when i was a kid, and we eventually moved the family not far from here in delaware, just the outskirts of wilmington. He used to say, joey, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. Its about your dignity. Its about respect. Your place in the community. Its about being able to look a kid in the eye and say honey, its going to be okay and mean it. He also used to say, joey, i dont expect the government to solve my problems, but i do expect them to understand my problems. This team understands. For secretary of treasury, i am really pleased to be able to nominate janet yellen. No one is better prepared to deal with these crises. I wish it werent as much of a crisis, future secretary. But shell be the first treasury secretary who is also chair of the Federal Reserve, vice chair of the Federal Reserve and chair of the president s council of economic advisers. Janet is one of the most important economic thinkers of our time. She has spent her career focused on employment and the dignity of work, which is really important to me and to all of us. She understands what it means to people and their communities when they have good, decent jobs. Respect across being looked at by their neighbors and being respected. It matters a lot to them. And respected across party lines and around the world by main street and wall street. An educator, a mentor, above all, the daughter of a working class brooklyn neighborhood who never forgot where she came from. Her husband george is pretty good, too. Hes won a nobel prize, but hes the one that married up. Janet will be the first woman to hold this office. We might have to ask Linmanuel Miranda who wrote the musical about the first treasury secretary hamilton to write another one about the first woman secretary of the treasury yellen. Thats what im working on right now, janet. For director of office of management and budget, i nominate neera tanden. You know, ive known neera a long time. A brilliant policy mind with critical, practical experience across government. She was raised by a single mom on food stamps and an immigrant from india who struggled, worked hard and did everything she could for her daughter to live out the american dream. Neera did just that. She understands the struggles that millions of americans are facing. And shell be the first woman of color from south asia and i think that to lead omb. We also have another one of those women as Vice President of the United States of america. And so, look, ill be very serious. Shell be in charge of laying out the budget that will help us control the virus, deal with the economic crisis and build back better. But, above all, she believes what i believe, a budget should reflect our values. Again, quoting my dad for real, my dad, people would say, let me tell you what i value. Hed look at them. A high school educated guy. Very well read. He said dont tell me what you value. Show me your budget. Ill tell you what you value. Thats what youre going to do for us. As deputy secretary of treasury, i nominate wale adeyemo. I tell you what, senator warren really likes you. She highly recommended you, but i wasnt sure she worried that i stole you as well. Thank you for being willing to do this. A skilled leader and thinker on issues from macro economics to Consumer Protection and from National Security to international affairs. I have worked with wale during the Great Recession. That was my excuse to the senator saying thats why i wanted to steal you, and i saw him tackle one big job after another. Deputy and National Security adviser to president obama, Deputy Director for the National Economic council, former chief of staff to elizabeth warren, where he helped create the Consumer Protection bureau, financial bureau, which has done so much good. Its designed to protect consumers and working people from unfair, deceptive Business Practices and now wale will be the first africanamerican ever to hold this post. And the highest ranking africanamerican in the treasury departments history. An immigrant from nigeria, son of a nurse and an Elementary School principal. He understands everything we do is basically for the people, for families, hard working people. To understand their struggles and, most of all, their dreams. And he understands both. I want to thank you, wale, for being willing to do this. For chairperson of the council of economic advisers, i nominate, a very distinguished professor at princeton, a joke, my children who went to penn always used to joke about. But cecilia, cc rouse, one of the most distinguished. Labor, race, politics and education. Dean of the Princeton School of public and international affairs. A member of the council of economic advisers to president obama and adviser to president clinton at the National Economic council. More than that, shes a proud daughter whose mom, a school psychologist, encouraged her to pursue her pursue economics, and her dad, one of the countrys first africanamerican astrophysicists who dared her to dream. Shes done both. If confirmed, cc will be the first excuse me, the fourth woman to lead the council of economic advisers and the first africanamerican ever to hold that post. And as cea chair, shell serve as a member of my cabinet as well. As a member of the council of economic advisers, we also appoint jerod bernstein, an told friend who has been with me a long time. Quick wit with a heart as big as his head. And a heart he got from his mom, an educator who raised him correctly. A social worker turned economist, jerod is one of my closest economic advisers and friend. He served as my chief economist during the vice presidency. He was there in that foxhole during the Great Recession with the economy on the brink and our country on its back. I couldnt think of anyone else who i would want to be at my side to face the challenges ahead. Jerod will be one of the leading voices in my administration on economic policy. I can always count on him to deliver straight from the shoulder as his hero fdr used to say. Straight from the shoulder. The one thing i can assure you is working people always have a voice with jared in this council. As a member of the council of economic advisers, i appoint heather boushey. Heather, thank you for all the help you had in the Transition Team and getting me here. Shes one of the foremost economists working to make sure we build an economy that works for all americans. The daughter of a union family. No wonder she believes so deeply in the idea that leave no one out. Leave no one behind in this economy. During the campaign, i relied on her counsel on addressing structural inequities, and ill do so again as president. Thats one of the central issues of our time. To this team, thank you for accepting the call to serve again. You are to your families and to your i thank them for their sacrifices because its a real sacrifice. We could not do this without you. And to the American People, this team will always be there for you and your families. This is family oriented team. Weve got to make sure ordinary people get a chance to do well because they have never when given a chance, theyve never, ever, ever let the country down. 11 years ago, president obama and i entered office during the Great Recession. And implemented the recovery act. Saved us from a great depression. I didnt see the map of america at the time, nor did he in terms of blue states and red states. We only saw the United States of america. We work with everyone, for everyone. And were going to recover and rebuild together as one nation. Vice president harris and i will do that all over again with an outstanding team. They are ready on day one. To the United States senate, i hope those outstanding these outstanding nominees will receive a prompt hearing and that we will be able to work across the aisle in good faith. Move forward as one country. So lets begin the work to heal, to unite, to rebuild an economy for all americans. They deserve and expect nothing less. Thank you. May god bless you, and may god protect our troops. And now i turn this over to the new team, starting with our next secretary of treasury, janet yellen. Again, janet, thanks for accepting. Appreciate it. I think theyre going to clean this off for us here. Thank you, mr. President elect and madam Vice President elect. Its my great honor to have this opportunity to serve you and the American People and to join this incredible Economic Team at this moment of great challenge for our country. Mr. President elect, when you reflect on what your father taught you about how a job is much more than a paycheck, i hear my own father who raised our family in working class brooklyn. When he graduated from medical school during the great depression, he looked for a home and a place to hang his shingle near the brooklyn docks. Back then, Bush Terminal on the upper new york bay was a thriving hub for manufacturing and transportation. And for the Union Workers whose livelihoods depended on them. Knowing they didnt have cars, my father found a home near a bus line. He started his Family Practice in the basement while we lived on the floors above. At the end of the day, he would talk to me, my brother and my mom about what work meant to his patients. Our friends and neighbors, especially if they lost a job, the financial problems, the family problems, the health problems, the loss of dignity and self worth. The value of work always stuck with me. So much so that i became an economist because i was concerned about the tool of unemployment on people, families and communities. And i have spent my career trying to make sure people can work and achieve the dignity and selfworth that comes with it. Mr. President elect, i know youve done the same. I saw that understanding during the last Great Recession and the recovery act that followed. And now were facing historic crises again. The pandemic and economic fallout that together have caused so much damage for so many, and have had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable among us. Lost lives, lost jobs, Small Businesses struggling to stay alive or closed for good. So many people struggling to put food on the table and pay bills and rent. Its an american tragedy. And its essential that we move with urgency. Inaction will produce a selfreinforcing downturn causing yet more devastation. And we miss we risk missing the obligation to address deeper structural problems. Inequality. Stagnant wages. Especially for workers who lack the college education. Communities that have seen industry disappear with no good jobs replacing lost ones. Racial disparities and pay. Job opportunities, housing, Food Security and Small Business lending that deny wealth building to communities of color. Gender disparities that keep women out of the workforce and keep our economy from running at full force. Its a convergence of tragedies that is not only economically unsustainable, but one that betrays our commitment to giving every american an equal chance to get ahead. But i know this team will never give up that commitment. As you have said before, mr. President elect, out of our collective pain as a nation, we will find collective purpose to control the pandemic and build our economy back better than before. To rebuild our infrastructure and create better jobs, to invest in our workforce, to advance Racial Equity and make sure the economic recovery includes everyone. To address the Climate Crisis with American Ingenuity and american jobs. Working together with the outstanding National Security and Foreign Policy team, you announced last week, to help restore americas global leadership. And above all, we share your belief in the american dream. Of a society where each person with effort can rise to their potential and dream even bigger for their children. I pledge, as treasury secretary, to work every day towards rebuilding that dream for all americans. And to the great Public Servants of the treasury department, i look forward to working with you and wale to rebuild the public trust. To the American People, we will be an institution that wakes up every morning thinking about you. Your jobs, your paychecks, your struggles, your hopes, your dignity and your limitless potential. Thank you. Youve been listening to the rollout of president elect bidens Economic Team there. Again, its not often you hear from a you see a former chair of the Federal Reserve become the nations treasury secretary. But i thought it was quite important we also hear from her as well. Theres no doubt the markets are very happy about the janet yellen news and have been since it happened. And so is a lot of folks on capitol hill. Lets bring in mike memoli who covers the Biden Campaign for us and Leigh Ann Caldwell who covers capitol hill for us. Let me start with you, mike and the rollout of this Economic Team. It does feel like, to borrow a badly used cliche. Very much a goldilocks Economic Team trying to please the center of the the center of the Democratic Party, the center right of the Democratic Party and the center left of the Democratic Party. It does feel like they seem to hit all of those notes but, of course, its always easy on announcement day to look that way. Yeah, thats right, chuck. The obvious name drop there of senator warren as he was referring to wale adeyemo for deputy treasury secretary. He mentioned a few weeks ago, as well, when he revealed he had chosen a treasury secretary that he thought it would be acceptable across the party. But you know, chuck, you know this as well. Joe biden has defied some easy categorization in terms of the left, center left, center spectrum on the economy talking to folks who work with him in the white house over the years. He was always really somebody who was challenging in every meeting. He often challenged the sort of economist, the Ivy League Educated experts in the room because he considered his lived experience growing up in scranton a much more better read of the economy than what youd learn in the theoretical. And so what you heard across the board here, i think, was what we heard as well in the campaign. This idea of park avenue versus scranton, trying very much focus on the middle class. Very much focus on working class. Whenever joe biden is quoting family members you know hes really feeling it. So this is something i think especially is much more in the biden wheelhouse, the biden expertise in trying to speak to what he has often said his own party has sometimes not spoken to. Sometimes falling into elitism. This is a group that, yes, probably runs the gamut in terms of ideology but it passed the biden test of whether or not they can be focused on ordinary middle class working concerns. Theres no doubt the background, the personal backgrounds of janet yellen and neera tanden in particular stood out to me. And as way way of joe biden finding someone ground with them. Mike, before i move to capitol hill and the confirmation fights, weve got two big holes that a lot of people are wondering about, right . Weve got we know state. We know treasury. Of the big four, were waiting on pentagon and justice and some people say its a big five now, if you throw in dhs which we know the dhs. So pentagon and justice, is that something well get this week . I dont think this week, chuck. I think as you see the clear prioritization from biden as hes rolling out the different staff and cabinet level appointments we see the Pandemic Task force early on, moving on to the National Security and diplomacy field last week. This week, the economy. I think the next obvious thing to expect potentially is on the health and Human Services front. The finding the jigsaw puzzle as theyve been putting together this cabinet, we know also what we saw on display today is important as well. Which is diversity. And so i think of those big four, theres been a premium on trying to find especially africanamerican nominee for one of those big four. Its one reason why perhaps Michelle Flournoy who seemed like a knock for defense secretary a few weeks ago, why theres been some delay there. But we know that there are some nominees under consideration for both the Justice Department and for the pentagon that would potentially put an africanamerican in one of those top jobs. Or you have a guy like jeh johnson who is on both lists if you talk to some people. Thats right. When it comes to justice and the pentagon. And somebody who does carry actually qualifications that would make it pretty easy confirmation in either direction they go. Speaking of confirmations, mike memoli, thank you. Let me go to Leigh Ann Caldwell. Look, janet yellen, that looks like i dont think theres anything as unanimous anymore in our polarized politics but janet yellen looks like somebody that can get half the republicans to vote for her, minimum, given theres many of those republicans that voted for her before. To confirm her as chair of the Federal Reserve. I guess the question is, and republicans already decided to single out neera tanden, a, why is that and, b, is that a reflection . If thats the fight theyre going to pick, that means everybody else theyre happy with . Well, republicans are also in a very difficult position because they are not even acknowledging many of them are not acknowledging that joe biden is the president elect. And then theyre on capitol hill being asked to respond to joe bidens nominees. So theres some of the senators who are keeping their powders dry saying they will cross that bridge in january. They are talking about the senators john thune and senator blunt, both members of leadership. But then you hear from members like senator john cornyn of texas who is also already come out calling neera tanden radioactive saying thats someone that republicans will not support saying that her past twitter history, criticizing republicans, is a problem. Of course, that is forgive me for laughing. Im sorry, leigh ann. I mean, i to have i mean, are there really elected republican senators who with a straight face are going to use mean tweets as a reason not to confirm somebody . Its sort of if that is really the bar theyre going to set, do they have any fear of being laughed at . Well, apparently not. I mean, its quite rich considering that we have spent the last four years saying that the republicans saying, oh, policy is not done by twitter. I do not read president Donald Trumps tweets. I dont follow twitter on and on and on. So, yeah, i mean, its pretty incredible. The standards have definitely changed. Senator cornyn has also said it might have helped if joe biden consulted with some republican hoss ns on his omb like neera tanden and then we might not be in this position. Theres a lot of hypocrisy and a lot of forgetfulness over the past few years, chuck. Its that amnesia that im fascinated by. You can argue that donald trump lowered the bar, that anybody is confirmable now. So then the question is how do the republicans try to create a standard without being laughed at . We shall find out. Mike memoli, Leigh Ann Caldwell, thank you both. Let me bring back blayne alexander, Michael Costa and michael steel. We were talking about georgia, the focus of sort of donald trump and how he can be this disruptive force, forcing the georgia Republican Party to be divided in two right now. And this fear that saturdays rally, which the Georgia Republican Senate Candidates desperately need the president out there getting his base out, that hell use it to trash the election system in the state of georgia. You know, as one republican source tells me, chuck, the president has tremendous power in this moment to be either really helpful or really hurtful. And you know, the source is saying it really does come down to what he says on saturday. And so, you know, they are saying, if he goes out, what republicans really need, the messaging from the president to be, is to essentially talk down the democratic opponents but not to sow distrust in the election. There are two components here. One, of course, theres this continued relentless attack of the republican governor, brian kemp. Also this attack on the validity of the election. And republican sources telling me that if people see these attacks and say, hey, you know, youve got the president saying this is a rigged election, that the results should be overturned, there is concern among republicans that some may choose to sit out in protest and thats something that republicans simply cannot afford. Now i will say on the flip side, democrats see this as a tremendous boon. This was essentially nothing but helpful. Youll remember that secretary of state brad raps beffensbergeo there were those who voted absentee in the primary but not in the general election. President trump almost kind of shot himself in the foot by sowing distrust in the election. Democrats hope that trend continues when we go into january 5th, chuck. Michael steel, and im going to ask a question that we all know the obvious answer to in some ways, but ive got to put up the two tweets from President Trump yesterday that singled out doug ducey and brian kemp. Ill put them up. The doug ducey tweet. Why is he rushing to put a democrat in office when so many horrible things concerning voter fraud are being revealed at the hearing right now and he cites onn. What is going on with doug ducey . Republicans long remember. Then on on kemp. Why wont brian kemp use his Emergency Powers which can be easily done to overrule his obstinate secretary of state and do a match of sig achs on envelopes which will be a gold mine of fraud. Its amazing how many elected republicans are shrugging their shoulders at the president s demand that other elected officials violate the constitution. Yeah, i think, look, lets start with the bottom line. Both of these Republican Senate candidates in georgia are probably going to win in these runoffs. Very likelihood that any other lower turnout election, they had on eelection day. On election day joe biden was winning the state. These two democratic Senate Candidates couldnt win. Theyre unlikely to win in january. A lot of republicans want the president to do the right thing. They want him to get behind the party and instead hes airing his own grievances, talking about his own conspiracy theories and thats not helpful to either his legacy, his political future or the Republican Party in general. And it isnt clear. I take your point on your confidence that republicans are the you know, and theres a reason i would make them threepoint favorites, but i dont know if anything is a given, given these days on that front. But its it is sort of makes the makes this more head scratching is that theyre snatching defeat perhaps from the jaws of victory. Robert costa, does anybody have the president s ear right now, or is he just so onetrack mind on just trying to make himself feel better about the election, set himself up and hes now just reveling in the idea that he has successfully snowed half the country that somehow something nefarious happened that didnt . The person hes speaking with the most, im told, is Rudy Giuliani. And its giuliani and President Trump near the same age, with the same grievances, with the same view, the same conspiracy theories thats driving this entire process. Those two men, more than anyone, its not so much people in the cabinet. Its not chief of staff mark meadows. Its not his soninlaw jared kushner. All these people are participants to some level, but its giuliani and trump. My goodness. Youre describing we all have that relative in our family. Were like, whats happened to them in some ways. And i feel like Rudy Giuliani, individually is the avatar for every family in america who is like, hey, i remember when uncle rudy or grandpa rudy, he didnt always be like this. I mean, is that the headskraeching thats going on with Rudy Giuliani right now, robert . There is a view of those close to giuliani that this is actually who giuliani has always been to some level. That he has met the moment at different times, at 9 11, but going back to his days as new york mayor, hes always had a street ethos. Hes bonded with donald trump from page 6. They were in the same circles and have the same personality. If he wants a pardon, which means hes going to commit a crime, will he get it . I dont have fresh reporting on that, but President Trump has been, im told, very willing to give pardons to friends and confidantes and giuliani is at the top of that list of friends and confidantes at this time. I would not rule it out, but i dont have fresh reporting on it. Yeah, and again, all these people that may want pardons in their back pocket, it means theyre admitting they have committed crimes if they want those pardons. I hope thats something theyve thought about. Thank you all. That was a long a block there. 40 minutes. Nice work, guys. Well be right back. K. But we didnt stop there. We made a cloud flexible enough to adapt to any size business. 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Dr. Scott atlas, one of the white houses most controversial coronavirus officials has resigned. He had no background in epidemiology is a proponent of herd immunity and questioned the efficacy of masks. Was on a 130day detail set to expire this week. November was the darkest month of the pandemic so far with more than 4 million infections reported. More than double the number of cases in october. The u. S. Is averaging more than 160,000 cases a day. To put that in perspective, were seeing more cases every day than the nation of japan has seen over the entire pandemic. Ill say that again. We see more cases in a day in this country than japan has seen for the entire pandemic. Also doubling over the last month, hospitalizations. Nearly 100,000 people are hospitalized with covid19 in this country. Its a record high for at least three days in a row. Governors across the country from california to new york and everywhere in between are warning that hospitals are nearing capacity. Rhode island has already reached that point and they sent an alert to residents that hospitals are full. And are now having to open two field hospitals. Of course, the issue isnt just beds. Who is going to service those patients in those beds . Hospital staff issue is really the crisis were staring at right now. And with that, were going to take another break, and well be right back. Im norm. Im szasz. [norm] and we live in columbia, missouri. We do consulting, but we also write. [szasz] we take care of ourselves constantly; its important. We walk three to five times a week, a couple miles at a time. Weve both been taking prevagen for a little more than 11 years now. After about 30 days of taking it, we noticed clarity that we didnt notice before. Its still helping me. I still notice a difference. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. Welcome back. This holiday season, more than ever, its important to give back to those in need if you are in a position to do it. Thats why this giving tuesday, all of us at msnbc are highlighting organizations that are lifting up their communities amid the pandemic and their organizations that we are personally involved in trying to help out as best we can. In this case, Food Insecurity is at record highs and climbing. One of those organizations, that my regularly is the Arlington Food Assistance Center in our home, Arlington County, virginia. They provide free groceries to struggling individuals, a third of whom are children. The need has never been greater as nearly 26 million americans dont have enough to eat, as thousands wait in food drive lines that can stretch for miles. Joining me is the director and ceo, charles ming. Its good to have you on. I come biweekly to drop off we do an additional shopping list, you provide one to the community to say what food, so she shop off your list. And every week that we go by and drop off ive noticed the line does get longer over the last six months. So just tell our viewers what you have experienced. The line has gotten longer. When the pandemic started we saw a 45 increase in the number of families. Right now were serving over 2,500 families each week and we see another 1,000, almost 3,600 at some time during the month. So, it is a significant increase. Those lines have just gotten longer. Almost by the day. And youre noticing a lot of first time. There may be some folks you have serviced in the community before, but im sure i know youve been seeing a lot of firsttime users of this food assistance. By the way, its something people shouldnt be embarrassed about. You need food. Thats what were here for. In fact, were here to help. Were committed to serving everyone who comes to our door in need. Thats just not a question. Yes, were seeing a lot more families who dont typically come or need to come to a food bank like us. People that had jobs but have been laid off, due to the pandemic, obviously, restaurant workers in particular, the service industries, and a whole number of people who have never been to us. I want to assure everyone that we and all of the food pantries across the nation are here to help and are committed to help in this difficult time. Whats been your biggest challenge during the pandemic to service the greater need . Has it been supplies . Has it been volunteers . What is it you need more of, besides everything . You need everything, but you get my question here, charles. Yes, i do. I think the most important thing right now is financial support. Your dollar when it comes to apac or any food pantry will go farther than if you donate food. Much of us purchase food through wholesale dealers, wholesale suppliers, and we can get food a lot at much lower cost than you can in your local grocery store. So, thats really the main thing that we need, but also food donations are 40 of the food that we distribute, and volunteers are essential in afacs case to making sure families in need get the food that they want and will eat. How do you work with local government and how do you work with State Government and federal government . And what kind of support are they providing that you could use more of . Well, number one, the federal government doesnt supply support to food banks like us. The federal government addresses Food Insecurity through the s. N. A. P. Program, the supplemental nutrition assistance program. This is where the federal government can help individuals very directly by supporting s. N. A. P. And increasing s. N. A. P. Benefits. In our case in virginia, the state also provides no assistance to food pantries like us. Our county government, Arlington County government, is very generous. They supply 500,000 to us, but it takes 7. 5 million to operate afac. We really do rely on the generosity of our donors and individuals. Both individuals, foundations, and essentipecially businesses. Well, charles, im curious, are you able you know, youre run, a food pantry, but this has been theres needs for health care, theres needs for Mental Health care, and there are other organizations near and dear to our heart in the community that do that. Are you able to identify that help and able to pass it on . How much of anabili ability do have to help folks who come to you for more than just food help . Thats a little different. We operate a little differently than most. What we really want our families to do is go to their local department of Human Services where they can get evaluated. And whatever theyre eligible for, whether thats s. N. A. P. , tanif or other Unemployment Benefits and those kinds of things. Our objective is to get them into the system so they can get those resources theyre eligible for. And get a referral back to afac for food. Thanks for taking a few minutes to help us shine a light on what you do at the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Much appreciated. Keep it up. I want to thank you, todd, for your help and the help of all of your listeners. Thank you. Absolutely. I also want to single out manna, a florida in northwest florida, my wifes hometown. Its another organization that helps fight hunger. This has been our focus for the last year, both in our home here in arlington and my wifes home in the pensacola area. Be sure to check them out as well. Covid19 and Hurricane Sally have led to a need for food in north florida as well. Check out nbcnews. Com givingtuesday. Thank you all for being with us this hour. Well be back tomorrow with more meet the press daily. Msnbcs coverage continues with katy tur after this break. Katy tur after this break. Its still warm. Thanks, alice says hi. For some of us, our daily journey is a short one. Save 50 when you pay per mile with allstate. Pay less, when you drive less. Youve never been in better hands. Allstate. Click or call for a quote today. I was just fighting an uphill battle in my career. So when i heard about the applied Digital Skills courses, im thinking i can become more marketable. You dont need to be a computer expert to be great at this. These are skills lots of people can learn. I feel hopeful about the future now. Try optum perks. Its a new way to save up to 80 . And everyone can do it. Its from optum, a Health Care Company thats trusted by millions of people. You dont have to sign up for anything. Just go to optumperks. Com. And get a coupon to use at your pharmacy. Thats it. I opted in. I opted in. You can, too. Opt in and save big today. To your friends. Your family. To your teachers. In that spirit of giving, chevys proud to give our employee discount to everyone. The chevy price you pay,. Is what we pay. Not a cent more. Because giving,. And giving back, is what the holidays are all about. Use the chevy employee discount for everyone to get a total value of over eight thousand four hundred dollars on this silverado. Get the chevy employee discount for everyone today. Good afternoon. Im katy tur. Its 11 00 a. M. Out west and 2 00 p. M. In the east. The cdc is holding a meeting to see who should get the covid19 vaccine first. Moderna and pfizer are waiting for them to give them emergency use authorization, and once that happens, 1 million doses can be shipped across the country for them to be distributed. They are meant to help who gets it first. This timeline, the fastest a vaccine has ever been developed is not enough for the trump administration. Nbc newsas