loans, and rental insurance. if you're at home thinking that doesn't sound like much for the millions struggling to survive, you're not alone. alana presley had this to say on thursday. >> our families deserve direct cash, real survival cash. $600 is hardly sufficient. it's an insult. we must act to save lives now. the pandemic has not lifted in its hardship. >> as a reminder, this is why americans are so desperate for congress to iron out the details of this relief bill. just this week alone, nearly a million new jobless claims were filed. nearly 8 million americans are now living in poverty after a dramatic increase over the summer, and according to a census bureau report, about one-third of all u.s. households say they're at risk of losing their homes within the next two months. joining me now is senator chris coons of delaware. senator, thank you so much for joining me. i know you guys are hard at work on the senate. i have to ask you for the millions of people watching right now, when exactly can we expect a vote to pass this bill? >> well, tiffany, i am waiting for that final vote with the same level of anxiety, concern, even anger that so many from delaware have been calling me about. it is still days away. i think we will finally pass this package on monday or tuesday here in the senate. we're here this weekend to vote on more judges, but we frankly should be closing this deal and delivering billions of dollars of assistance to americans who are facing eviction, hunger, joblessness, and homelessness. it's going to be a roughly $900 billion assistance package. it's going to send about $25 billion to the 6 million americans who are behind on their rent. it's going to extend the eviction moratorium. it's going to send about a $300-a-week additional federal payment for unemployment that includes an expanded group of people who are unemployed. and that $600 check is for everyone who's eligible including adult dependents and children if you're below the income threshold. so for a family of four, it could end up being a $2,400 payment ffrmt those behind in their rent, facing unemployment, and dealing with hunger, this is going to be a significant down payment on the relief the american people really need and deserve. >> i've got to be honest, senator. i think those are all great things, but for many families that sounds like a drop in the bucket. let's just say we get to a few days from now. will you pass another extension or a bill? what happens if you don't get consensus? >> well, tiffany, there's two different things going on here. one is trying to pass the annual spending bill that keeps the federal government open. we could pass that today. we could have passed it yesterday. majority leader mcconnell is holding that up until we get this additional $900 billion covid stimulus package. the first one that keeps the government open, that's about $1.4 trill. that will get passed. the $900 billion, there's little things that some members are raising at the last minute. we should have gotten this done months and months ago. i'll remind you, tiffany, the house passed more than six months ago a $3 trillion relief package that would have met all these human needs, and we waited month after month while mick mcconnell insiftd on no more than $5 billion. what we're ending up with is closer to $1 trillion and will end up with a down pavement what we do know is when joe biden and kamala harris take office in january, we're going to have to come back and do this again. >> let's pretend people are watch dwhoejt read eight newspapers a morning, who do not follow senate procedure, who are not familiar, how do we keept ending up we negotiations. here we are again on the brink of a shutdown, food lines are getting longer, winter is coming, people don't know how to pay their rent. how is it the government is in this position repeat lid? >> i'll remind you, tiffany. democrats control the house and passed a big spending bill months ago and republicans control the senate and refuse to agree. so their proposal months ago was $500 billion. the democratic proposal was $3 trillion. and trying to get anywhere in the middle is what has occupied eight months or seven months of fighting now. we are getting almost double the $500 billion that was offered by the republicans, but there are two dozen republican senators who think we should not be doing any more stimulus, who don't see the need that you and i see every day. >> right. >> and that's been our major problem because they contr. because they control the senate, they can refuse. >> you're talking to a woman, 35, a single mother of two, double have any money, $35 in her bank account, she's worried about paying her rent, and she's wondering when will the bill pass that we can expect payments? can i nail you down on a date when we can answer her question? >> i believe the bill will pass on tuesday, but i'm not the person who's holding it up. i'm the person showing up every day and saying we cannot go home until we deliver that leaf to her. the main impact it will have on her life will be extending the eviction moratorium so she isn't facing eviction and sending money that will help pay for that rent and sending additional individual stimulus payments. if she's got a filed income tax for the last year, if she got the check from last march, she will get that new check of $600 or in her case maybe $1,800, very quickly, probably in january. >> all right, senator. i know you're hard at work on capitol hill just behind me, and i want to impress upon you the desperation of the american people. i appreciate your taking the time to talk with us this morning, and do keep me posted on when the bill might pass. thank you so much. joining me now is congresswoman. miya. i know you've been holding the line. i want to start with housing. a record millions of people stand too be homeless. what in this bill addresses that need? >> yeah. thank you, tiffany. and thank you for the focus you're bringing to the frustration of millions of people across the country including those of us in congress who have been trying to hold the line saying, no, we have to get money in people's pockets. >> on housing, the mortatorium will be extended in this package and there is $25 billion of rental assistance that's part of this package. i have to tell you this is not sufficient. we're going to have to invest with the next ads ministration hopefully with a democratic senate who won't hold up these relief bills. we're going to have to invest much, much more into housing. people don't fall into homelessness. they don't fall into poverty. those are policy choices. we allow for mass unemployment to happen. we allow for poverty to rise. we allow for evictions to happen. and so this is on us, on the federal government. we've got to step up and step in. and, frankly, yes, it is absolutely the case that donald trump and the republicans have been cruel and intransigent. it's why it's so important for voters to turn out in georgia and make sure we have control of the senate so we can pass a $3.5 trillion, $4.5 trillion package when we get back in january or february because that's really what families across the country need, money in their pockets, money in their pockets, food on their table, a roof over their heads. simple, simple, necessary things. >> i'm glad you brought that up because really this one-time $600 payment is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. people are going to have do decide on food, shelter, or medication. what resource can you offer to people who -- it's the holiday season and they're just desperate. they're desperate and they're looking to the federal government for help. >> it's heartbreaking. this is why the congressional caucus held the line. 48 hours before the relief checks were announced -- i call them survival checks -- were announced, there was nothing in the package. we held the line, we whipped our members and said if this bill does not contain direct relief checks and expanded unemployment insurance, will you vote no, and our members, you know, universally said we're not voting for a package without these direct payments to people, without unemployment insurance. we -- i mean that was what got those checks into the package to start with. and also thanks to senator sanders and senator holly for saying the same thing. this isn't even a partisan i. it's a bipartisan belief that we have to have that in there. what do i say to the constituents writing in every single day like the mom you mentioned. i say to them we will help you get access to every program that there is, city, state, and federal so you can stay in your homes. but at the end of the day, we just need more. our city in seattle has been generous with people, and so there are some local programs that people can talk to their congress members about trying to get access to. but hang if there. just hang in there. we're going to do a little bit right now. hopefully that gets us through the next month . in the midst of a snowstorm, you'll be able to pay another month of heat bills, put food on the table, and we've got to come back in january and pass something that is significant and that meets the scale of this crisis. >> one of the compromises that was made was there's no money going to state and local aid. now, that money helps pay for frontline workers and all kind of essential services. why was that such a non-starter for the gop? >> they're holding that money hostage to a liability shield waiver. now, for the average person out there, what the heck is that? that says that if you're a worker and you, you know, have a lawsuit to file against your employer for violating your rights, workers' rights on the job, things prescribed by law that people can't do, nobody can bring a lawsuit for 18 months in that situation, not even related dough individual. and you know we have workers right now who are having their employers completely violate the laws, and they're getting covid. this isn't related to covid. but even those workers wouldn't be able to bring any lawsuits. it's absurd. that's why the republicans basically knew the democrats wanted the state and local money and they said, nope, we're going to hold that hostage, and unless you give us this ridiculous liability shield waiver, we are not going to let you have the state and local money. now that said, there is money for states to have vaccine distribution, there is money for child care, there is money in there that will end up going to states, but localities in particular are going to be really hurt, and states as you know have all of the safety net services to administer to people in times of need, and they're going to probably still end up having to lay off millions of people right when we need the state government to function fully. >> congresswoman, there are people right now hanging on by a thread. at your best estimate, when can people expect these payments? when can a vote pass? when can people get some relief? >> i think it will be a few weeks. i think if we pass this bill on monday or tuesday as senator coons said -- >> do you think it will pass on monday or tuesday? >> yeah. if it passes on monday or tuesday, then i think it will be another three weeks before those checks go out, you know. the other pieces of it -- unemployment assistance, i think, will be eligible right away, so most people in ton employment rolls can just continue to apply for their unemployment. that's huge. and people who are -- you know, you mentioned a million people a week that are getting laid off, which, by the way, i want to say again, that's a policy choice. i had a bill back in march called the paycheck recovery act that would have kept people in their jobs and would have prevented mass unemployment. so i think that that is -- you know, people will get that unemployment relief more quickly, but the checks will probably take a little bit longer. the eviction moratorium, obviously, will be in effect right away. that will help people stay in their homes. but i have to say to millions of people who are watching right now, hang if there. we are with you. the republicans' cruelty in this moment is stunning, but then we have a president who allowed 300,000 americans to die. so this is the situation we're in, and we've got to fix it with this next administration. be bold, make structural changes, and really fundamentally change the dynamics so people have a shot at a decent life. >> well, congresswoman, i watch the bills coming out of the house. the rent is due on january 1st, and i completely know how that is. but thank you so much for joining us and trying to bring sense to all of this. for those of you watching at home, i completely understand the situation some of you may be in and i'll continue to ask the questions that are relevant to you in this urgent situation right now. so my thanks again to congresswoman jayapal, and we hope this bill gets passed soon to get money in the pockets of american people who need it so badly right now. another desperate situation is happening right now with covid-19, and as a new vaccine is on the way, i'll give you the details up next. stay tuned. ed (soft chimes) - [announcer] forget about vacuuming for up to a month. shark iq robot deep cleans and empties itself into a base you empty as little as once a month. and unlike standard robots that bounce around it cleans row by row. if it's not a shark, it's just a robot. s- uh um... >>it's shiori. sh-ori. thank you, that's great. ♪ shiori. i really love it. you're choosing to get connected to the most to xfinity mobile, reliable network nationwide, now with 5g included. discover how to save up to $400 a year with shared data starting at $15 a month, or get the lowest price for one line of unlimited. come into your local xfinity store to make the most of your mobile experience. you can shop the latest phones, bring your own device, or trade in for extra savings. stop in or book an appointment to shop safely with peace of mind at your local xfinity store. ill be covid. they're not in the icu because we've run out of space upstairs. >> with the pandemic surging in states like california where the icu capacity is now at zero percent. you heard it correctly. the food and drug administration has authorized the emergency use of a second covid vaccine clearing the way for nearly 6 million doses to be shipped across the weekend starting this weekend. the moderna vaccine follows the pfizer vaccine but it can be distributed more widely because it doesn't need to be stored in the ultra-cold temperatures. but while the vaccines are desperately needed, several states were notified their second pfizer shipment would be drastically cut. the trump administration has suggested the company is having trouble with production, but pfizer says, no, that ain't it. it has millions of doses sitting in its warehouse but has not received any shipping instructions for additional doses. and many of you still have questions about the vaccine itself, and we have two people who can answer them. paging now, dr. michelle chester. she administered the first coronavirus in new york. we were all watching along. and dr. vin gupta, a pulmonologist and msnbc political contributor who received the vaccine live on the tortd show. i watched both of those. i want to start with you. we just talked with congresswoman jayapal and senator chris coons. i want to ask you about this bill. is the money that's being held up, will that help to expedite the shipment of vaccines to the states who so desperately need them? >> good morning, tiffany. of course, it's going to help. ultimately at the end of if day, once we start distributing this to the general population, we're going to need more trained staff. we're going to need more robust state and local departments of health [ indiscernible ] so, of course, extra public health funding is going to help build that infrastructure we need now and in the long term to help with the vaccine drives, to help with future pandemic preparedne preparedness, so, yes, absolutely. >> dr. gupta, i want to stay with you for a second. is there a difference between the moderna vaccine and the pfizer vaccine? is there a different between the side effects one may feel? what do you say? >> tiffany, this is a rapidly evolving landscape in terms of our knowledge, let me start by saying that. are there differences? from what we know and a lot of what we know is based on press releases, but now we actually have these briefs that have been produced for the fda, we know that both of these vaccines are very safe and very effective in preventing severe infection. we know there's rare instances in the pfizer vaccine where there might be -- if you've had a predisposition to an allergic reaction, you may have an adverse event that's readily treatable. these appear to be very rare. with moderna there doesn't appear to be any major side effects in addition. really, there's only a mild side effect profile, headaches, low-grade temps, things of that nature. moderna provided early signs that their vaccine -- if that bears ritss out to be true, that's a big deal. faizer is answering that question right now. if they can provide against transmission, that's a big deal. if you become vaccinated, there's a less chance of you transmitting the virus and ending up in the icu. >> we've seen people get the first vaccine. we want to see what happens when they get the second vaccine. a lot of people are in my inbox with ridiculous things. dr. chester, you're overseeing the inoculation of the staff which includes doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers. i'm curious will others have to show up to get the vaccine, the janitorial staff, cafeteria work, the food workers. are those people going to have to get the vaccine as well? >> absolutely. we basically rolled out this vaccination program in a phased approach. we're looking at your job risk, your age. there are difference factors that contributed to how the phased approach is being taken. at the end of the day, the goal is to have all of our staff members, all of our team members vaccinated. that is our goal because everyone -- everyone counts, everyone is valuable, and everyone is needed there for our community. >> dr. chester, let me stick with you. so there's a lot of people -- i think this whole vaccination campaign is one of the most ambitious in american history. there's an issue of producing the vaccines, getting them where they should go, navigating the political bureaucracy of the country, and then convincing people to take it. in your expert opinion as you've been on the front lines inoculating people, what of these issues do you think is the biggest challenge facing us right now in terms of vaccinating people? >> i guess it's knowledge. everyone needs to understand what this vaccine is. you know, to quote martin luther king partially, you know, science investigates, you know. it gives -- science gives manpower, knowledge, which is power. science deals mainly with facts. and this is what we want the community, everyone, to understand. look at the science behind the vaccines. it's proven to be effective, and this is what we need everyone to understand. the science speaks for itself. you know, give it an opportunity so that, you know, we can get back to some sort of normalcy. >> all right. i think that's the main thing. and i have to say, dr. chester, the image of a black woman administering this shot to another black woman i think did go a long way because completely understandably the black community has a particular distrust in the medical community. so i think community validaters are going to play a huge role. dr. gupta, let me go back to you. probably how many people percentage-wise need to get this vaccine before, god willing, we can get to some sort of sense of normalcy again in society? >> well, tiffany, it's that constant herd immunity, which is a phrase that unfortunately -- it's seared into our minds now for the last several months. we think that number is about 70% of the population, and there are estimates -- the suggestion is if we can do this rapid-firely and efficiently and there's no hiccups and we have a few more vaccine candidates the the pipeline, awaiting approval from johnson & johnson and astrazeneca and a few others, we hope to get there, we think, sometime by june at the latest. and so then -- >> dr. gupta, i want to make sure i'm hearing correctly. you think 70% will be inoculated by june? >> that's the estimate if there are no hiccups. the beginning of summer to the end of summer. sometime in the time frame of summer, hopefully on the beginning side of it, we'll reach that point. again, that's optimistic. that's asisuming everything goe correctly and no hiccups. >> all right. i think we have a long way to go. this has been extremely helpful. i hope you guys come back because so many people have so many questions, and i think vc your faces on screen certainly helps address those. i thank you for helping bring light in the challenging situation and informing the american people. thank you, dr. michelle chester and dr. vin gupta for all of your insight. next up, make it make sense. keep it right there. make it ma. keep it right there. at dell technologies, we started by making the cloud easier to manage. but we didn't stop there. we made a cloud flexible enough to adapt to any size business. no matter what it does, or how it changes. and we kept going. so you only pay for what you use. because at dell technologies, we stop...at nothing. ♪ all right. it's time for the inaugural edition of make it make sense where i open the floor to your burning political questions. i have to tell you guys, the best part of the week was looking through all of your awesome videos and questions, so keep them coming. you never know when we might answer your question. this week we got a great question about senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. >> hi, tiffany. my name is beverly from long beach, california. my burning question is the senate majority leader, how did he or she become so powerful in this country? it is not a nationally elected position, and yet they seem to have more power than even the president. they get to decide what happens ant doesn't legislatively, and that's not fair. how does this happen? where in the constitution is that stated? and how do we as citizens help get this changed? thank you. hope you have a great show. much appreciate you. >> thanks a lot, beverly. that's a great question. the answer is in the title. majority rules. whichever party has the most members in the senate control as lot. and this is why those down ballot races are so important. for the past five years there have been more republicans in the senate than democrats, so republicans get to pick the majority leader and that's mitch. it could change if georgia sends two more democrats to the upper chamber. the majority leader plays a central role in shepherding bills. they decide essentially what bills come to the floor for a development and they can decide what amendments for those bills can even be considered. you're right. the senate majority position is not even in the constitution. it was born in congress in the 20th century, and as you note in your question, today that position holds more power than at any other point in the senate's history. why? it's all about that paper boy. imagine if you're the person controlling the senate. everybody with deep pockets wants to keep you draped in gucci and gold. his coffers stay overflowing. his last election, he raised over $55 million. but the money train doesn't stop there. he also raises millions of dollars for other candidates. and how do those senators repay their ben factor? by re-electing the majority leader and falling in line with his agenda. mitch calls himself the grim reaper. his senate is where legislation proposed by democrats passed in the house goes to die. he was able to stop president obama from appointing a supreme court justice, a power that is described in the constitution, and that's what mcconnell calls his proudest moment. oh. and he made sure donald trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial. so when it comes to the senate, pretty much what mitch mcconnell says goes. now, how do regular citizens help erode that power? by making noise. if the republican senator in your state who serves at your pleasure and is paid by your taxes is doing something that runs contrary to your interest, call them and let them know. outside pressure goes a long way. you can also help their opponent when their six-year term is over. you can canvass, phone bank, or even contribute financially if you can afford to do so. the most important thing we can do as regular citizens is understand the system. even if it's only to disrupt its inequality and radically reimagine it. that was a great question, beverly. i really hope i answered it for you. you can always learn more about the senate procedure on the senate's website, and you watching at home f you have a question, get at me. get that cellphone filter right and share the screen with your girl. you can post it using t the #crosstalk or email it to us at crosstalk@nbc uni.com, and today we will make it make sense. after this short break, a liberal fire brand wanting to take her place in the people's house. i'll reintroduce you to her next. i'll reintroduce you to her next ♪ we'd be closer to the twins. change in plans. at fidelity, a change in plans is always part of the plan. for members like martin. an air force veteran made of doing what's right, not what's easy. so when a hailstorm hit, usaa reached out before he could even inspect the damage. that's how you do it right. usaa insurance is made just the way martin's family needs it with hassle-free claims, he got paid before his neighbor even got started. because doing right by our members, that's what's right. usaa. what you're made of, we're made for. ♪ usaa subway is open and serving footlongs contact-free. order in the app for quick and easy pickup. or, get contact-free curbside pickup! staying home? 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(announcer)ways to get do you washed pounds? stress? do you want to flatten your stomach? do all that in just 10 minutes a day with aerotrainer, the total body fitness solution that uses its revolutionary ergonomic design to help you maintain comfortable, correct form. that means better results in less time. and there are over 20 exercises to choose from. get gym results at home. no expensive machines, no expensive memberships. go to aerotrainer.com to get yours now. ...who takes care of yourself. so why wait to screen for colon cancer? because when caught in early stages, it's more treatable. i'm cologuard. i'm noninvasive and detect altered dna in your stool to find 92% of colon cancers... ...even in early stages. tell me more. it's for people 45 plus at average risk for colon cancer, not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your prescriber or an online prescriber if cologuard is right for you. i'll get on it! that's a step in the right direction. we'll have more people of color than any cabinet ever. we'll have more women than any cabinet ever. we'll have a cabinet of barrier breakers, a cabinet of firsts. >> president-elect joe biden has named ohio congresswoman to head the department of housing and urban development. now, she still has to go through senate confirmation, but that hasn't stopped at least three contenders from throwing their hats into the ring to secede fudge in congress. one of those people is a very familiar face that you'll all know. joining me now i'm happy to say is former ohio state senator and former co-chair of bernie sanders presidential campaign, nina turner. nina, i'm so glad you're joining me today. thanks for sharing the screen with me. i'll start out asking -- >> congratulations. >> thank you. thank you so much. i appreciate that. you know, i was born in cleveland, so i'll start out by asking you, my hometown girl, you have been such a powerhouse outside of congress, and so wor worst-case scenario let's say the republicans still hold the senate, you could be facing a gridlock in government. why would you want to be part of an institution where you may not be as effective as you might want to be instead of staying outside where you've been able to organize millions of people across the country. >> we can always find a way, tiffany, somebody who has served where my republican politics have that majority. i do think it's important to continue my service on that level of government and bring toward the 11th congressional building on the district as you know and your family is still, from congress miami stokes to congresswoman marcia fudge to hopefully me. but the strong value proposition of fighting for people who need a champion, i want to continue that tradition and take it to the next level and bring a strong progressive voice to my community. >> i have to say my mom was a secretary for congressman lewis stokes back in the '80s. i spent a lot of time in that office in the early '80s. i do have to ask you, you've been highly critical of president-elect joe biden, and some of the things you're advocating for and there are a lot of people in your courts who want to see those things happen, they might come down to an executive order particularly if the republicans still hold the senate. you called joe biden like eating a bowl of sugar honey iced tea. how do you want to work with this administration after being so vocally critical about them during the campaign? >> at that moment, tiffany, i was thinking about the suffering of people. sometimes i can be a hell-raising humanitarian and a little brazen at times, but no one can question my integrity for standing up for people. in that moment i was thinking about the suffering of people, lack of health care, especially in a pandemic where we know we absolutely need to have universal health care in this country, folks not having clean water. it's those kinds of things swirling in my head and my mind at that time. disagreement does not mean you can't work with someone. i want to give a real example of the vice president-elect. we all may recall during the debate she really called out vice president biden's record saying i was that girl. but now she is the vice president-elect. so that is just one example how you can have fierce disagreement with someone, you can go hard with somebody or ham as the young people say and still be able to work with people. i have a proven record of doing. tiffany, i declare today i will and can work with anybody that is willing to stand up for the least of these, the poor, the working poor, and barely middle-class in this country. that's why i'm running to serve. and the recauley-stein trance that you bring up of the republicans really has been the biggest barrier to the opportunities that we must provide for the people of this great nation. >> so when i told people i was talking to you today, there are people in the district even, you've been really critical of the democratic party as well and a lot of people tweeted me and dm'd me and wanted to ask, are you a democrat? >> well, let's see. let's check the receipts because my loyalty, tiffany, overall is to the people i have served and continue to serve and not necessarily to a party, and that they're not mutually exclusive. if being a democrat means acquiescing, that's a different thing. working with somebody and holding people accountable is go different things. let's talk about the receipt including city councilwoman, democrat is party. ohio state senator, democratic party. democratic nominee for 2014. democratic party. delegate to the dnc for first senator barack obama and then president barack obama twice, 2008 and 2012. so, yes, i am a democrat. i will continue to hold my party accountable, and that is the great tradition of this country. another example, tiffany, our ancestors have fought in every war in this country just as they fought to preserve this country, they also challenged this country when it came to how we were being treated or mistreated if you will. so those two things, both serving in and serving with but also challenging to do better, they go hand in hand. they're not mutually exclusive. >> right. and the people define the party. the party doesn't define the people. so, nina, i have to tell you, i have like eight more questions for you, but we're running out of time. please come back. the questions are so helpful and i appreciate you joining me this morning. >> i heard that rumor you went through a hurricane together. >> we did. i was jeb johnson's producer. we drove through a hurricane. i've been this this business a long time. that was ten years ago. i can affirm that vicious rumor. i hope you come back, and i hope you and your family have a happy holidays. don't go anywhere for those watching at home. coming up, we'll talk about joe biden's cabinet and how they'll unite the democratic party. we'll tackle that one after the break. atic party we'll tackle that one after the break. still fresh unstopables in-wash scent booster downy unstopables here. the need for food. shelter. compassion. this year, it just happens to be greater. more families than ever are facing poverty. if you need help, please reach out. if you can give help, please reach within. ♪ less sick days! cold coming on? zicam® is clinically proven to shorten colds! highly recommend it! zifans love zicam's unique zinc formula. it shortens colds! zicam zinc that cold! i think we will finally pass this package on monday or tuesday here in the senate. we're here this weekend to vote on more judges, but we frankly should be closing this deal and delivering billions of dollars of assistance to americans who are facing eviction, hunger, joblessness and homelessness. >> you heard it right here on the "cross connection" first. senator chris coons tell us they won't vote on a relief package until monday or tuesday earliest. much more throughout the day on msnbc. and a packed three hours with congresswoman val demings and others. first, stay tuned for more of the "cross connection." mornings were made for better things than rheumatoid arthritis. when considering another treatment, ask about xeljanz... a pill for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis when methotrexate has not helped enough. xeljanz can help relieve joint pain and swelling, stiffness, and helps stop further joint damage, even without methotrexate. xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections. before and during treatment, your doctor should check for infections, like tb and do blood tests. tell your doctor if you've had hepatitis b or c, have flu-like symptoms, or are prone to infections. serious, sometimes fatal infections, cancers including lymphoma, and blood clots have happened. taking a higher than recommended dose of xeljanz for ra may increase risk of death. tears in the stomach or intestines and serious allergic reactions have happened. don't let another morning go by without asking your doctor about the pill first prescribed for ra more than seven years ago. xeljanz. subaru created the share the love event.n years ago, where our new owners could choose a national or hometown charity. and subaru and our retailers would proudly make a donation. but now, in times like these, companies are having a hard choice to make. but subaru is more than a car company. and as charities struggle, we cannot just stand by. which is why we plan to donate over twenty four million dollars, again this year. the subaru share the love event, going on now. we started by making the cloud easier to manage. but we didn't stop there. we made a cloud flexible enough to adapt to any size business. no matter what it does, or how it changes. and we kept going. so you only pay for what you use. because at dell technologies, we stop...at nothing. ♪ bbut you can work out anything wowith comcast business.w. get fast, reliable, and secure internet on the nation's largest gig speed network. flexible tools - like wi-fi you control. voice solutions that connect you from anywhere. and expert advice here, here, or even here. be fast. be flexible. bounce forward with comcast business. get started with a powerful internet and voice solution for just $64.90 a month. plus, for a limited time, ask how to get a $500 prepaid card when you upgrade. switch today. representation truly does matter, and it will matter, it mattered on this ticket. it will matter in the white house. it will matter moving forward and all the decisions that, in all the decisions that president joe biden and vice president kamala harris will make. welcome back to the "cross connection." i'm tifanny cross. today president-elect joe biden officially introduces his newest cabinet nominees including congresswoman deb haaland, his pick for secretary of the interior and michael regan, choice to lead the environmental protection agency. if haaland is confirmed she'll be the first native american to head a cabinet-level agency, and she will take charge of a department that is historically contributed to the dislocation and abuse of indigenous communities and also was the first nate ish american woman to serve in congress. and then there's regan, top environmental regulator in north carolina. he will be the second african-american to lead the epa. representation matters. and biden has promised his administration will be the most diverse in history, but there are still questions about how he will fill key posts that remain open and how these appointments will deliver on the issues important to a changing america. joining me now to discuss this and more is alycia garza, co-creator of black lives matter and principle of black futures lab, jiosi ross from a podcast on indigenous radio and congresswoman from maine and president and ceo of klamitos u.s. kick it off enough to, supreme court allowed president trump to keep undocumented immigrants out of the census. one of those issues that punctuates the point why diversity is so important in the cabinet. i want to ask you how do you anticipate the biden administration will address his issue, since trump essentially has been allowed to do it, and where do you think is most important to place a latino cabinet member, given that the census comes out of the department of commerce? >> yes. well, congratulations to you. so excited for you and your show. a pleasure to be on with you. look, there's so much at stake right now, and, of course, we were disappointed with the supreme court's decision on the krens bcensus but the not a major victory for trump, just a reprieve. it's highly unlikely the trump administration will be able to do what it wants before the election. basically, time is running out. all the more reason why a new administration is going to have the authority, i think, to reset and review. but you're right. who leads the department of commerce and so many of these agencies right now that we know intersect with our communities, because, it's really important. so obviously, we want someone who's going to be secretary of commerce that will have a great sensibility about what the importance of the census means to everyone, and the importance and essential matter that every person be counted. so we'll certainly be eager as and very hopeful someone overseeing the census that will fundamentally understand the importance of counting every person and how that is a constitutional matter that is, has to be followed. >> congresswoman grace maine, to you next on this. you know i read your letters that you send to the administration and that you've always been very vocal about having asian-american pacific islanders representation. i have to say, your letters you, you get gangster saying, hey, we count, too. i want to ask you, how do you feel? this is first time so far there has not been an asian-american pacific islander with a secretary title, but have been some cabinet-level positions named. where do you stand onation when the biden cabinet? >> sure. i want to echo my congratulations to you and this new show we are so excited for you. >> thank you. >> and for the census, quickly, you know, it is literally in the constitution that every single living person, regardless of status, is counted in the census. this is just trump's yet another way for him to make people who, quite frankly, look like all of us today, feel like they are not truly americans. look, you know, our asian-pacific american community is the fastest growing community in this country. we turned out in historic and record numbers during this past election. we are simply asking president-elect biden to keep his campaign promises to put in a cabinet that reflects and looks like america. when we're talking about diversity, that has to include asian-pacific americans also. and so there are four positions -- three positions left and i just want to put a plug in for my amazing colleague colleagues, so proud of them. but we need to make sure that this is a cabinet, like every single administration for the past 20 years has a secretary in the cabinet that is asian-american. >> and i know this week the congressional asian-pacific caucus in congress chaired by congresswoman judy chu is advocating for julie su, secretary of labor to be biden's secretary of labor pick. has you or the caulkous heard that? >> we haven't heard back specifically on named we submitted. we know the biden transition team administration has been in contact with nominees like julie su, but we really plead we've given them dozens of names at least for various remaining positions, and we just want to be included. >> alycia, i turn to you. you and i talk a lot about the black agenda you penned. we co-authored a few op-eds together. i want to ask, you represent a few different constituencies here, quite honestly. where are you on the diversity with biden's cabinet? >> first, again, to say congratulations. this is amazing and i'm so glad to you here with you this morning. we we stand with relation to we see these cabinet positions as important not just because of representation involved but because of the values that come along with that representation. and i think what we've learned over time, right, is that it's important for us to have both. it's important for us to have people who represent and reflect the diversity and the complexity of this country, and people who have the experiences of what it means to be left out and left behind, and, therefore, can legislate in a different kind of way. and i think for us, our persecutive on this is that we really want to see appointments all throughout the cabinet and all through the administration that really reflect both of these positions, and that is incredibly important for black communities. specifically what we know is that we can have black faces in high places and it can turn out to not be great for us. right? like, in the case of what's happening with daniel cameron, in kentucky. and yet -- >> right. >> -- we also know that people like congresswoman deb haaland would be an incredible resource, right, for the secretary of interior, because of her experiences and because of what she represents in terms of the make jum of this country. so that's what i think is at stake here, is making sure that we're matching values and representations, simple and substance. >> jesse, turn to you. thrilled to have you on the show. i love your commentary and pieces and podcast. so we finally have a native american woman, which is a first, historic, deb haaland, a member of the in a going na unuo in new mexico. where do you stand? asian-american and native americans frequently are left out of the conversation and it's kind of unfair. where are you on how his cabinet can reflect the new american electorate? >> thank you, and thank you for having me on this panel. congratulations, queen. >> thank you. >> and speaking of congratulations to queens, deb haaland. congresswoman deb haaland, future secretary deb haaland is historical, it's powerful. it's validating that we have something to offer. all of those things are very important, but it's also important to recognize that it's not simply about representation and diversity. it's also about competence that a person who historically has, you know -- that a person be choosing to head up the secretary of the interior, who has been charged, formally the department of war, that was the relationship of the department of interior to native people, and now is charged with taking care of the interior, the resources of native people. that's a matter of competency. similarly, i think it's important that it's a matter of competency, you know, when we're talking about attorney generals. department of justice coming up. >> right. >> black folks have been connected, have been the spark, have been the impetus, the inspiration for every single significant justice movement in america since this nation has been a nation. so it makes sense that -- that attorney general would be a black person who models the value as we move past this defendancy, reliance on the carceral state and there's a lot of amazing attorneys. even former prosecutors, who respect the rule of law, but also say, you know what? we're about rehabilitation. we're about making the family whole. and similarly, i wanted to make a couple of plugs there as obviously kimberly gardner. there's marilyn mosby and out here in the pick northwest there's an amazing black attorney, defense attorney, former prosecutor named james curtis. and there's a whole selection of folks absolutely competent by their experiences and their world view who would bring absolute value to those positions. >> i appreciate that. and i take your point. and i have a little personal beef when this happens in politics and want all of your perspectives. this effort to reach republicans. you know, there was rumors that a named republican in the cabinet, i know i look at it like, yo, dance with the wuones who brung you. where do you stand on the need for republican outreach or republican representation in this cabinet? >> look, i think ultimately bipartisanship is important. there's going to be tough legislative initiatives that will need support from both sides of the aisle, but i do believe that the biden administration can make overtures that are meaningful and he needs to look at his cabinet to represent ultimately the interests that he represents, but also the people who delivered him to the presidency. >> right. >> so for me, i believe it's really important to make sure we're seeing the diversity and those who worked hard for him to see this great moment. as relation to latino and la te teen -- latinas, gender, within our diversity, it's very important in the hispanic community to see a latina in the cabinet. we've had so many opportunities to really see latinas contribute. not just in helping elect joe biden but in different sectors in industry. i know whether business, including commerce or sba, we'd love to see that, and need to see a latina on this cabinet. >> all right. running out of time. alycia, this question to you. is it possible for you, the faces on this screen are the faces of the new american electric. changing democrat graphics of america. is it possible for all of you us to individually advocate for our respective communities and also continue to ally with each other? i say, yes, but i just want to give somebody a chance to weigh in on that. >> absolutely. not only is it possible but it's necessary. you know, when i think about how we got here, i think about the fact that it has, for more than 300 years, been old, white men making decisions about you and me, and you know, for me, this level of diversity, this level of complexity in positions of power is important for all of us. it's not only is about reflecting the diversity of america, but it is fundamentally about undoing the rules that have been rigged against our communities for generations. and what we know is that we have the impetus to do that. and that that actually also benefits white communities in this country, so, yes it is possible. >> right. >> but it does require that we align and that we don't do an either/or but must be a both/and. from my perspective we need more of all of us ththese positions and it's income bond upon all of us to make that happen. >> thank you for contributing to a very necessary conversation. we'll have these conversations ongoing on this show always. because this screen represents the rising majority of america and i want people who have int intellectual curiosity to tune in on the conversation. it impacts white americans as well and for the better i would argue. thank you all for joining me. and thank you all and after this short break, some advice for the millions of americans facing a very different holiday season. you don't want to miss it. stay tuned. when you switch to xfinity mobile, you're choosing to get connected to the most reliable network nationwide, now with 5g included. discover how to save up to $400 a year with shared data starting at $15 a month, or get the lowest price for one line of unlimited. come into your local xfinity store to make the most of your mobile experience. you can shop the latest phones, bring your own device, or trade in for extra savings. stop in or book an appointment to shop safely with peace of mind at your local xfinity store. isolation, there's a kind of punishment for us. we can prevent crises. we don't want people to get to the poicht where they feel like there's nowhere to turn, nothing they can do and they feel driven to take their own life or to use heavy drugs. we don't want people to reach that stage. there's always hope and there's always help. you just have to reach out. that's the first step to getting out of the sorrow, out of the sadness, out of the pain that we're in. >> this year has been tough on all of us, from losing jobs to losing loved ones to just losing out on a normal life. the holiday season in 2020 hits different. with the difficult winter still ahead, knowing how to get help for yourself or others just might save a life or help us better manage all of this. myself included. so joining me now are dr. jeff gardere, clinical psychologist and professor at the college of osteoproject and author of a book. we talked about extremes, but i think there are a lot of people who might not be feeling suicidal but it's just a sad time. we're experiencing something tragic and experiencing it collectively. you wake up to thousands of deaths every day to just sadness all around you. so for the people who might not be that extreme but are having challenges managing life, and they don't have health insurance, perhaps, what are some concrete solutions for those people to just survive the season? >> i think it's very important that they stay connected with other people. certainly socially distancing doesn't mean social isolation. so get online and stay with people. check on them. and make sure that you do the things that empower you. find the hobbies. get some self-discipline in your life. going to bed same time every night. waking up same time every morning. certainly eating healthy meals, exercising, meditation and yoga, but staying true to yourself what your mission is in this world, and keep that eye of the tiger there. >> tina, turning to you. thank you for joining us. i know you were coming back from a flight last night so i thank you for making it in time to join this show. i want to ask you, for the people who are syding at home and just struggling, financially struggling, mentally, spiritually struggling. how do we survive when we're in the thick of it? especially around the holidays when you'll be isolated? the human mind is not designed to live in isolation. what's your advice? >> well, first i want to say, congratulations on the show. i'm looking forward to watching. >> thank you. >> regularly. >> thank you. >> and when we are in times of helplessness and uncertainty your power is in your attitude. those are not just nice words. hope in a sense of possibility are not sentimental. they are strategic ways of working with yourself. so when it comes to attitude, realize that this, that we're going through, this pandemic and the deaths, this has happened in life since, i think it's 3000 b.c. so this is not happening to us. this is not happening to you. this is happening. that helps to put it in context. the next thing is, as the doctor said, it becomes super important that you be able to have community, and community is not just the person that you speak to. you know? whether it's a friend or a family member, but for you to use your own relationship with yourself to build a better, stronger sense of self. your identity must not be conflated on these difficult times. you must remember that you are going through times. you might be experiencing sadness, you might be feeling overwhelmed, but to identify the feeling as opposed to conflate it, and say that you are sad. that this is never going to change. it locks you into a perspective that narrows your ability to breathe and most importantly to hope and have a sense of what's possible. in a journal, write down what you want to do or how you want to use this time to become better. how can you use this time, when you come out of covid, you know, and into the next year, who do you want to become? how do you want to be able to say that you managed and navigated these times? write that down. and then remember that that's who you want to be, and you'll begin to act in accordance with that vision more and more and more. >> i'll stick with you, tina, a minute but a question to ask you both. talk about myself and testify a moment if i can. there were marnings you wake up feel on top of the world and others when you feel the world is on top of you. something that keeps me grounded is thinking about what other people are going through. take the focus af off me and how can i be a benefit to other people. peach watch at home and fee helpless answers hopeless. how can i help other people's min minds, curious what you offer to be responsible for each others peace when we're told to stay away from everybody? >> yeah. that's a fantastic question and it starts with listening. being willing to listen without being quick to have advice for someone. we all just really want to be able to say how we're feeling, and have someone say, i hear you. so start practicing the -- the little statement, "i hear you." and also, you can, again, you know -- i was just thinking that there's nothing more fun than connecting with family when you're going through difficult times. if you don't have the kind of family that you wish you had, then identify one other person that you can reach out to and make sure that they're doing okay. in fact, you might even try doing what with a family member that you're estranged to. don't be -- don't be connected to how they're going to respond. just make sure that in your cart, your intention is to extend love. extend a presence so that in case they need to say, i'm not doing well. i just need to say i'm not doing well. you are there as a listening voice to hear that for them. >> so that, going back to you. for the people, saying, connect with family and friends. sometimes family is very toxic. sometimes family, you know, i say people are in two categories. contribute to your joy or steal your joy. sometimes family's in that category that steals your joy at a time when everybody misses being with their family and friends, whats's your advice ho to protect each others peace? >> follow what tina is saying. this thing is something that's bigger than us. this is an evolution in our lives. and it's a very quick evolution. and that's why it's important that we be able to reach out to others through volunteer work. but even dealing with family members, toxic family members, it is about listening to them. it's about not owning their pain but allowing them to be able to express that and then being able to support them in a positive attitude, positive mental attitude, but together finding commonality, a common ground. look, face it. in the united states we're all family. we're all a dysfunction family, and in the past four years divisive. we all need to heal. the way we do that is by reaching out to one another but having the empathy to understand, not own, but understand, what that other person is going through. there are a lot of programs out there, tiffany where we could check on elders. we could check on people in nursing homes. what we call volunteers, that's what we call bringing other people into our human circle, but it also gets us out of our own heads and allows us to see how other people are living and how we can be supportive to all of them. >> tina, back to you. i think there was a person, or a creature who walked in your shot, and i say that -- dogs, i really feel the oxytocin released from my body when i'm around dogs. i'm obsessed with them. >> absolutely. >> when you feel down, both of you guys are, steeped in mental health. when you feel down what is the thing that lifts you up and maybe we can take a cue from your own mental wellness? >> yeah. yeah. so it is really important to know that when we are going through difficult times, we must interrupt the patterns that help us spiral downward. so when i find myself stuck in some sort of different thinking pattern or feeling pattern, i'm practiced enough at my inner health and well-being now that i see those tendencies. i see the signs and the signals, and i know how important it is to immediately step in and interrupt that pattern. you must interrupt it by shifting to a higher, a higher intention, a more -- not noble, but a more noble sense of yourself. so, for an example. when you find yourself ruminating. when i find myself, you know, driving and for ten minutes my mind is someplace else and then i focus in and i see i've got some old war going on inside of myself, i immediately shift to what i want. instead of ruminating on what i don't have, or the past, i shift to what i do want. i reaffirm what's important to me, and then i envision how i might take a small step to get there. >> right. >> just, but interrupting that pattern is crucial. if you don't sbruinterrupt it, will own you without any relief. you have to interrupt it. >> someone gave me advice operate as if the universe was tilted in your favor. hoping to get a better look at dog. told my my producers the dog hasn't been through hair and makeup and declining to appear on the show. disappointing. we'd love to have the dog back on another segment. this is an ongoing conversation. you guys have to promise to come back, both of you especially after the hol tidays to check i on folks. feel free to drop me a line on twitter or instagram and hopefully you'll both be around to answer questions online. thank you for joining me. before we go i want to sincerely say if you or anyone you know needs help get free, confidential and 24-hour spouupt calling or texting the numbers on the screen. no shame in this. you don't have to go through this alone and don't feel shame asking for help. even i feel like the world is on top of me sometimes. you're not alone in any of this. up next, representation matters, even in christmas movies. stay with us. with us. -well, audrey's expecting... -twins! grandparents! we want to put money aside for them, so...change in plans. alright, let's see what we can adjust. ♪ we'd be closer to the twins. change in plans. okay. mom, are you painting again? 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watch it yet? finally i watched it and am completely obsessed. i love it. lynn, question to you. one of my favorite parts the look of the set. this victorian look with these african subnotes through the the movie were amazing. i know you produce all of your husband's projects. what went into the inspiration behind what it looks like? >> oh, my goossh. we coined the phrase afro victorian and wanted to show an amazing, magical world but luring in our heritage. set in the 1800s, you're only one or two generation where you would have came from. so i wanted to infuse those fabrics from ghana and nigeria and amazing costume designer michael wilkinson, we wanted to be bright and beautiful, but also have this grounded palette as well. it felt very classic and familiar at the same time. >> well, you achieved that goal, because i was like, what city is this? sigh want to live there. so i definitely loved it. david, let me ask you. the best part of this story i think is that you talked about the netflix executive who said, yeah. don't think about budget. just create. they really got out of your way and i think films like this is what happens when people get out of the way and just let people of color create, and that's what you did here. so tell me what that was like to just have free rein to do what you wanted to do? >> well, it was like -- learning to walk and talk again, creatively. i mean, used to always, with our stories, were asked to make a lot out of a little. you know? it's usually you have $2 to make this happen and go for it. have at it. good luck with that, but it was important for netflix executives, they understood t t that -- that you know, there is a whole big audience out there, international audience of people of color that want representation when you sit down and we watch shows over the holidays, after we have good food and good family we want to see a good movie but we want to see ourselves on the screen. so they spared no court and gave me all the resources i needed. >> i think the diversity of the cast is one of the most beautiful things. the cast looked like america. i mean, everybody was represented. they looked beautiful on-screen. so great. one thing i found really interesting is that it took you 20 years to bring this story to life, and i think -- often i say this is why rappers, first album so dope. took 20 years. they have 20 years of material to produce. this is how you came out with a banger like "jingle, jangle." why did it take two decades to come up with it? >> automatic. you know? so, but, you know -- you know, things take time to marinate like a good pot of gumbo. you throw all the ingredients in there but it doesn't taste good the first day. after it sits there away and flavors and seasons connect, for me, that's what life needed to season me. love. i needed to become a father. all of these things needed to season me so i could tell this story. >> lynn, david said he needed seasoned like a cast iron skillet. you seasoned him girl with your love! >> that was it. >> so, lynn, let me ask you, because the casting was amazing. madam queen, phylicia rashad and everything, everybody loves her. and forest whitaker, could cut a rug so well. a great dancer! let me ask, what was the thinking behind the casting? what went into that? >> we really wanted to not only have our legends that we know and those familiar faces that make our hearts feel all warm but break new talent, madeleine mills plays journey, and kieran, plays edison. and ms. johnson, it was a way to, you know, forest whitaker started the whole party by him coming to the table and wanting to do that, this with us. it opened it up for everyone else to loves him and wants to work with him. phylicia rashad was the first person on the wall, deduced the grandmother. >> and hugh bonneville. keegan michael key. ricky martin the voice of juan mont ye montiego. phenomenal to feature them and showcase their talents. a lot of people didn't know forest is opera trained. >> right. >> he's a singer. he just came out and started singing. but he is, and phylicia rashad coming from, we know her, all of our mothers. you know? >> right. claire huxtable. >> right. >> and time to dance, forest didn't need choreography. a black man with a black barbecue, family reunion dance. he just did it. >> let me ask you, right now a lot of couples are spending a lot of time together. right? everybody is stuck in the house. so i'm curious, because you guys are clearly spending a lot of time together. is there of a disagreement, creative disagreement, how you approach a project and if show, how do you handle it? >> always, but during the pandemic, love is overrated. life -- life is what you need. to survive you've got to like each other. know what i'm saying? and this woman makes everything better in my life, and in me personally. and in the home. so, you know, i got a good pillow to sleep on the couch when i get out of line. and we get through it. keep it moving. i eventually get back up in bed. >> end of the day, we're both pining for the same thing. that's what brings us back to our center. we want the same things, the best for each other and cuss many times especially crazytively because we're fighting for the project could be better. >> i love it. i know you have accompaniments we're showing. looks great. four unfortunately out of time. this is on netflix. we have peacock streaming at this network. bring some of that goodness over this way. >> oh, okay! >> sure there's an executive in my inbox. tiffany, you don't green light deals. just putting it out there. so thank you so much, you guys. >> congratulations! >> thank you. i appreciate it. this is such a holiday classic, and i know my mother is thrilled right now watching you guys talk about it. so thank you, guys, for joining us, david talbert and lynn. more "cross connection" coming up after the break. " coming up after the break. oud e. but we didn't stop there. we made a cloud flexible enough to adapt to any size business. no matter what it does, or how it changes. and we kept going. so you only pay for what you use. because at dell technologies, we stop...at nothing. ♪ subut when we realized she wasn hebattling sensitive skin, because at dell technologies, we stop...at nothing. we switched to tide plus downy free. it's gentle on her skin, and out cleans our old bargain detergent. tide pods plus downy free. safe for sensitive skin with eczema and psoriasis. he was ushered over there to get the first vaccine in the state of rhode island. [ applause ] >> hey. okay. >> and some cheers there as that coronavirus vaccine is add ministered, and yasmin, right along with you and everyone there. veryone there. i think we will finally pass this package on monday or tuesday here in the senate. we're here this weekend to vote on more judges, but we, frankly, should be closing this deal and delivering billions of dollars to, of assistance to americans who are facing eviction, hunger, joblessness and homelessness. >> you heard that here at the beginning of the show when senator chris coons of delaware broke the news el telling us the senate won't vote on a relief package until monday or tuesday at the earliest nap me. that means americans could wait weeks to get this money. much more on these negotiations throughout date on msnbc. before we go do break. i want to make a correction. earlier in the show we spoke an an effort to have julie su nominated labor secretary. she is the country circuit of labor for the state of california, however made a mistake and showed a photo of congresswoman choo instead. chair of the congressional caucus is leading the push for su's nomination. this is how that graphic should have looked. we regret the error and i sincerely apologize to secretary su and congresswoman choo. i am a huge fan of the congresswoman and she knows that. so more of the "cross connection" after the break. my neighbor gave to me ♪ ♪ 9 chicken-seals screaming i'm sorry! i'm sorry! duh, duh, duh. [ gasps ] go to watchcroods.com. pepto bismol coats and soothes your stomach for fast relief ♪ and get the same fast relief in a delightful chew with pepto bismol chews. oh, you know, like -- like, i want representation. not this kind of representation. a lot of people saying that, because -- you know, we're, asians are sort of -- you know, we -- we're still, like in a stage where we're not, like, we're not, making a lot of stuff. people aren't really telling that many asian-american stories still. so every little bit still is scrutinized, still looked at, a lot of judgment right now. >> it's that time of the show when we take a second to give props to the people and ideas making this world just a little bit better and more inclusive. who is that this week? without a doubt, blogger and pot kastor jeff yu and fellow american stories. "they call us bruce" giving a shine to a community that really gets its due. and also "all the agents on star trek." so excited. i read "angry asian man." i didn't know your name. i want to talk to you. my first question has to be, why you so angry, bra? >> i mean, how long is this segment, tiffany? >> [ laughter ]. >> i think in the year 2020 we've got a lot to be angry about, and, you know, i started my blog "angry asian man" it will be 20 years next year. but when i started it, it was because i wanted a place to just talk about the things i was feeling and process some of the stuff -- i was thinking about in terms of my asian-american identity, my community and america at large. so i think often asian-americans are -- not really given a voice. rendered invisible in a lot of ways, via all forms, so i think i just wanted 0 place where the space was mine to talk and say what i wanted. you know? >> i love your blog and one of the things i find interesting and i completely understand. when you have so little representation people expect you to be all things to all people, right? they expect you to be political, to be entertainment and expect you to be academic. you manage beautifully to do that at angryasianman.com and you talk about all of these things, they're relatable and talk about it through an asian-american lens. so how's the traffic? how are people responding? after 20 years everybody i mention it to in the asian-american community knows about it but not outside. so i hope more people check it out. >> yeah. i mean it started when i was much younger than i am now. so i had a little more energy back then a lot more anger i think. the fire burned a little hotter. it's been a really cool thing that i feel like i've been able to build up from the ground up, and create a voice for myself. i think it's kind of slowed down a lot in the later years now as life and other things have gotten in the way and i've diverted the energy towards podcasting and other stuff. other writing. but it's weird -- one guy -- just one guy with one opinion. so -- but i feel like what it really has given as people, people are always thanking me, because, thanking me for speaking out which i think a lot of asian-americans don't get an opportunity to do. >> and i think it's an important note. i always have to tell people. when we do things that center people of color that does not mean that it's exclusively for people of color. it just happens to be about people of color. everybody should have some intellectual curiosity about our fellow countrymen and i think your blog does that. folks not familiar, it's the root, like cree o but centers asian-american communities. i love all the asians on "star trek." a clever idea. what made you do that? >> it's probably the nerdiest thing that i do. that i've created. it's very specific. one of the things i'm very interested in is the representation of asians, asian-americans in hollywood and entertainment, and also i love st "star trek." unabashed collision of those two interests and where i interview asian-american whose have been involved in the "star trek" franchise. and just let them have their moment and have a story. up know? it's a really fun -- it's the nerdiest thing i do but i've had a blast doing it. >> and millionals who are trekkies check out this pad kovrt. i am into it and i'm not a trekkie. i love the idea. your other podcast "they call us bruce" know gem. how did you come up with that name? >> my co-host jeff yang and i friends a long time. sitting down over a beer, talking about issues in the asian-american community. talking about hollywood representation, politics, whatever. like many podcasts let's turn the conversations into something in, just hit record and share that. the name they "call ut brus bru alludes to one. famous asian-americans of all-time, bruce lee and our fraught relationship with him as a figure. called bruce lee on the playground but it's somebody we respect. building off that tension and acknowledging that. >> i love it. so final question. what do you have next? what's coming up? where can people find you? >> in addition to the podcasts, and the blog, currently in the throes of writing a book with jeff yang and my other co-author fill philip wang. calmed "rise." from the '90s to now, covering ideas of people that shaped asian-american communities from a certain perspective. >> awesome. >> yeah. >> when that book is out you have to come back on the show. love to have you back. thank you so much. i think these conversations are so important as we navigate the new rising majority. i appreciate you coming on and check out his blog, angry asian man, handle on instagram and tw twitter. two hours flies when you're trending! definitely back next saturday at 10:00 a.m. for more krsh"cross connection." sian on the gram in a few minutes. stay tuned for my friend alex witt, a packed show. keep it right here on msnbc. if you have postmenopausal osteoporosis and a high risk for fracture, now might not be the best time to ask yourself, 'are my bones strong?' life is full of make or break moments. that's why it's so important to help reduce your risk of fracture with prolia®. only prolia® is proven to help strengthen and protect bones from fracture with 1 shot every 6 months. do not take prolia® if you have low blood calcium, are pregnant, are allergic to it, or take xgeva®. serious allergic reactions like low blood pressure, trouble breathing, throat tightness, face, lip or tongue swelling, rash, itching or hives have happened. tell your doctor about dental problems, as severe jaw bone problems may happen. or new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh, as unusual thigh bone fractures have occurred. speak to your doctor before stopping, skipping or delaying prolia®, as spine and other bone fractures have occurred. prolia® can cause serious side effects, like low blood calcium, serious infections, which could need hospitalization, skin problems, and severe bone, joint, or muscle pain. don't wait for a break, call your doctor today, and ask about prolia®. a very good day to all of you from msnbc headya headquart new york, welcome to "weekends with alex witt." breaking news on capitol hill. 11th hour negotiations under way now as lawmakers scramble to pass a bill before tomorrow's deadline. congress averting a government shutdown overnight after negotiations hit another road block. this morning, senator coons says the much-needed relief may not come until next week t. . >> it is still days away. finally pass it monday or tuesday here in the senate. we're here this weekend to vote on more judges but we, frankly, should be closing this deal and delivering billions of dollars of assistance to americans facing eviction, hunger, joblessness and homelessness. >> and this comes as the nation takes yet another monumental step in

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