BATTLING WHAT IS A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT FOR DONALD TRUMP’S
SUPREME COURT PICK.
WE’LL BRING THAT TO YOU LATER IN
THE SHOW.
THE SHOW. >>> THE OTHER PIECE IS THE ALARM
BELL RUNNING FROM WITHIN THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. HERE IS THE BOTTOMLINE, IF
YOU’RE JUST JOINING US, A SENIOR
OFFICIAL DESCRIBING AN ACTIVE
SENIOR -- THWARTING DONALD
TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY.
TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY. THIS ISN’T A JOURNALISTIC REPORT
THAT UNCOVERED THE EFFORT, IT’S
AN ADMISSION, A CONFESSION MADE
IN THE PAGES OF THE "NEW YORK
TIMES" JUST WITHIN THE LAST FEW
HOURS AND THE TIMES, THIS IS
IMPORTANT, SAYS IT HAS VERIFIED
THAT THIS PERSON IS, INDEED, A
SENIOR TRUMP OFFICIAL AND IS
RISKING THEIR JOB.
THIS PERSON SAYS THIS EFFORT TO
THWART IS INDEED A SECRET,
QUOTE, RESISTANCE, BUT THEY GO
ON TO WRITE IT’S NOT ABOUT
POLITICS IT’S ABOUT PATRIOTISM.
WHAT WE’RE LEARNING TODAY, A
GROWING NUMBER OF PUBLIC
SERVANTS AGHAST AT THE MORAL AND
SECURITY RISK POSED BY THIS
PARTICULAR PRESIDENT.
PARTICULAR PRESIDENT. LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH IT, A
QUOTE RESISTANCE INSIDE THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT
THEY’RE PART OF AND IT’S FORMED
BY OFFICIALS VOWING TO DO WHAT
THEY CAN TO PRESERVE OUR
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS WHILE
THWARTING TRUMP’S MOST MISGUIDED
IMPULSES UNTIL HE’S OUT OF
OFFICE.
OFFICE. THE WRITER IS PLENTY BLUNT ABOUT
THE PRESIDENT THEY SERVE SAYING
HE’S IMPETUOUS, ADVERSARIAL,
PETTY AND INEFFECTIVE.
THE PROBLEM IN THIS TELLING GOES
WELL BEYOND STYLE.
THE WRITER CONCLUDES, QUOTE, THE
ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE
PRESIDENT’S AMORALITY.
PRESIDENT’S AMORALITY. THIS UNUSUAL ALARM BELL HAS
CAUSED INSTANT REACTION.
IN THE MERE TWO HOURS OR SO
SINCE THIS WAS PUBLISHED I CAN
TOLE YOU THE PRESIDENT HAS
SPOKEN OUT ABOUT IT PERSONALLY.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS ON DEFENSE, A
FORMER TRUMP TOP AIDE CALLED
INTO MSNBC TO ADDRESS THIS, AS
DID OUR OWN RACHEL MADDOW.
AMERICANS PORING OVER THIS ESSAY
AND WHAT IT MEANS TONIGHT ARE
GOING TO HAVE PLENTY TO DEBATE.
DONALD TRUMP’S CRITICS SEE THIS
AS A VALIDATION AND PUBLIC
CONFIRMATION OF WHAT SO MANY
HAVE WONDERED ABOUT.
WHAT LENGTHS THAT WE DON’T EVEN
KNOW ABOUT ARE PEOPLE IN THIS
GOVERNMENT GOING TO IN ORDER TO
BLUNT, TO STOP, TO SOMEHOW
MITIGATE THIS PARTICULAR
PRESIDENT’S MORE EXTREME
DEMANDS, EFFORTS AND IDEAS?
SOMETHING AT ISSUE IN THE NEW
BOMBSHELL BOOK BY BOB WOODWARD
WE’VE ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THERE IS
ALSO SOMETHING HERE FOR TRUMP
SUPPORTERS, THE NOTION THAT
PERHAPS THERE IS, INDEED, A
SECRET KABAL OF PEOPLE IN THIS
GOVERNMENT TRYING TO UNDERMINE
HIM.
HIM. THEY ASK HOW OBAMA SUPPORTERS
WOULD FEEL IF THE SAME NEWS
BROKE ABOUT HIM.
THERE’S A REBUTTAL FROM TRUMP
CRITICS AS WELL, WHICH IS
SIMPLE, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS
NEVER DONE ONE TENGTTH OF THE
THINGS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE
WHICH THESE OFFICIALS FEEL THEY
NEED TO STOP.
THIS TRUMP OFFICIAL WRITES IT
MAY BE COLD COMFORT BUT
AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE
ARE ADULTS IN THE ROOM.
WE FULLY RECOGNIZE WHAT IS
HAPPENING, AND WE ARE TRYING TO
DO WHAT’S RIGHT, EVEN WHEN
DONALD TRUMP WILL NOT.
AS FOR DONALD TRUMP, HIS NEW
RESPONSE.
RESPONSE. >> CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS?
WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN WHO I CALL
THE FAILING "NEW YORK TIMES"
THAT’S TALKING ABOUT HE’S PART
OF THE RESISTANCE WITHIN THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL
WITH.
WITH. AND, YOU KNOW, THE DISHONEST
MEDIA, YOU PEOPLE DEAL WITH IT
AS WELL AS I DO.
IT’S REALLY A DISGRACE.
>> NOW, TRUMP CALLS MANY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRITICS,
DISHONEST, AND HE’S OFTEN WRONG
ABOUT THAT ACCORDING TO OUR
REPORTING.
REPORTING. BUT ALSO LET’S BE CLEAR HERE
THIS SENIOR OFFICIAL IS
ADMITTING TO KEEPING THESE
ONGOING EFFORTS SECRET IN ORDER
TO FIGHT FOR A SUPPOSED GREATER
GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY.
AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN
ROCKED FROM ALL SIDES THIS WEEK.
THIS IS A BAD WEEK FOR THEM
EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS PROGRESS ON
THE SUPREME COURT FIGHT.
DONALD TRUMP’S FORMER SPECIAL
ASSISTANT WAS HAMMERING THE
CREDIBILITY OF THIS PERSON, THIS
WRITER WHO FEELS THIS STRONGLY,
BUT WON’T STEP OUT FROM THE
SHADOWS.
SHADOWS. >> I DO THINK IT’S A LITTLE
CONCERNING THAT WE DO HAVE
SOMEONE WHO IS UNNAMED, THAT IS
MAKING THESE KINDS OF
ALLEGATIONS, IF THEY ARE SO
CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE,
THE PRESIDENCY, THAT THEY WOULD
MAKE THESE CHARGES YET NOT SO
MUCH THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO
RISK THEIR OWN JOB FOR IT BY
PUTTING THEIR NAME NEXT TO IT OR
STEPPING DOWN, I THINK THAT
THERE’S A BIT OF A CREDIBILITY
ISSUE THERE.
ISSUE THERE. >> DO YOU RECALL CONVERSATIONS
LIKE THIS IN THE HALLS OF THE
WHITE HOUSE?
WHITE HOUSE? >> NO.
>> NO. >> NO.
>> NO. BUT WE ARE TOLD THE
CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING.
I WANT TO BRING IN A SPECIAL
PANEL HERE, EUGENE ROBINSON, A
PULITZER PRIZE WINNING
COLUMNIST.
COLUMNIST. HEIDI PRISON
HEIDI PRISON HEIDI PRIZBOLA, A POLITICAL
RESPONDENT FOR MSNBC NEWS.
WE LIVE IN A HYPERBOLIC ERA, I
WANT TO BE CLEAR HISTORIAN
MICHAEL BESCHLOSS, SAYS I’VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY, DAN
RATHER, KABOOM, NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT.
MAYBE SOMEONE IN THE ANDREW
JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE
WRITTEN SOMETHING WITH HIS QUILL
PEN WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE THEN.
THIS IS TOTALLY EXTRAORDINARY,
SOMEONE WHO WAS INSIDE.
I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF IT WERE
NOT SOMEONE QUITE HIGH RANKING.
I DON’T THINK "THE NEW YORK
TIMES" WOULD HAVE GRANTED
ANONYMITY TO SOMEONE WHO WAS A
MIDLEVEL OFFICIAL.
MIDLEVEL OFFICIAL. >> HOW HIGH DO YOU THINK?
>> I THINK VERY HIGH.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY
VERY HIGH.
VERY HIGH. IF I WERE THE EDITOR OF THE
EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE "NEW YORK
TIMES," I WOULDN’T GRANT
ANONYMITY EXCEPT TO SOMEBODY WHO
WAS AT THE SENIOR LEVEL.
>> THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
YOU’RE IN ROOMS THAT MANY OF US
AND MANY OF OUR VIEWERS ARE NOT
IN AS A JOURNALIST MAKING THIS
DETERMINATION.
DETERMINATION. YOU DON’T THINK "THE NEW YORK
TIMES" WOULD GIVE THIS OUT TO
SOMEBODY WHO’S 120 ON THE LIST?
>> NO, I DON’T THINK SO, AND
I’VE BEEN IN PLENTY OF MEETINGS.
I’VE BEEN A SENIOR EDITOR AT THE
POST BEFORE.
POST BEFORE. THAT’S JUST -- THAT’S MY
OPINION.
OPINION. YOU KNOW, IT FLESHES OUT WHAT WE
SUSPECTED, WHAT WE KNEW,
ACTUALLY, THAT THAT IS CRAZY
TOWN INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.
AND IT’S A DANGEROUS CRAZY TOWN.
WHAT WE READ IN THE MICHAEL
WOLFF BOOK, THAT WAS SLOPPY, SO
IT GOT DISCREDITED, WE READ IT
IN THE OMAROSA BOOK, SHE’S
OMAROSA, YOU DIDN’T GIVE HER
CREDIT FOR THAT.
>> THAT’S TRUE, SHE IS OMAROSA.
>> THEN WE READ IT IN THE BOB
WOODWARD BOOK, THE GOLD STANDARD
FOR ACCURACY, I’VE KNOWN HIM FOR
30 YEARS, BELIEVE ME, IF HE SAYS
HE’S GOT THE GOODS, HE’S GOT THE
GOODS AND NOW WE HAVE SOMEONE
INSIDE SAYING NOT ONLY THAT THIS
IS TRUE, BUT THERE IS AN ACTIVE
EFFORT TO KEEP DONALD TRUMP FROM
EXERCISING HIS WORST IMPULSES
BECAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHE THAT
WOULD BE FOR THE COUNTRY.
IT’S EXTRAORDINARY.
IT’S EXTRAORDINARY. >> AND YOU USE THE WORD -- THE
SOUND OF BOB MARLEY, MY PHONE,
WHICH SHOULD BE OFF BY NOW, YOU
USE THE WORD CATASTROPHE.
HEIDI, LET ME READ TO YOU MORE
FROM THE PIECE.
QUOTE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO
EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES SENIOR OFFICIALS WILL
PRIVATELY ADMIT THEIR DAILY
DISBELIEF AT THE COMMANDER IN
CHIEF’S COMMENTS AND ACTIONS,
MOST WORKING TO INSULATE
COOPERATIONS WITH HIS WHIMS,
MEETINGS GO OFF THE RAILS.
OCCASIONALLY RECKLESS DECISIONS
THAT HAVE TO BE WALKED BACK.
I WANT YOU TO PUT THIS IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE OTHER BIG DENIAL
FROM THE WOODWARD BOOK, WHICH
EUGENE BRINGS UP, WHICH IS DO WE
HAVE A POLICY TO ASSASSINATE
FOREIGN LEADERS OR NOT, WAS
THERE A HIT ORDERED ON ASSAD IN
SYRIA, AND THEN WAS THAT
OVERRULED BY THE MILITARY IN
EXACTLY THE FORMAT THAT THIS
ARTICLE DESCRIBES, PEOPLE HAVING
AN ACTIVE SECRET KIND OF
RESISTANCE TO ORDER?
>> ARI, THIS IS JUST THE
EXCLAMATION POINT ON A YEAR AND
A HALF OF REPORTING ON SIMILAR
ANECDOTES THAT HAVE COME FROM
ANONYMOUS SOURCES IN THE "NEW
YORK TIMES," IN THE "WASHINGTON
POST."
POST." ON THIS NETWORK AS WELL AS IN
ALL OF THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN
PUBLISHED.
PUBLISHED. THE NEWS HERE IS THAT THIS IS
SOMEBODY INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE
SAYING WE KNOW IT, WE KNOW THE
KING HAS NO CLOTHES, AND TELLING
US THIS IN HIS OWN VOICE.
WE ARE ALL AT THIS MOMENT TRYING
TO PROCESS WHAT IS THE END GOAL
HERE?
HERE? WHAT DOES -- WHAT ACTION IS THIS
PERSON TRYING TO PRECIPITATE?
AND WHO IS THIS MESSAGE TO?
DAVID AND I WERE DISCUSSING THIS
IN THE BREAK, YOU KNOW, WAS THIS
BECAUSE OF THE WOODWARD BOOK?
BUT LOOK AT WHO HE MENTIONS IN
THE STORY, HE OR SHE MENTIONS IN
THE OP-ED, THEY MENTION McCAIN.
I THINK THIS IS A MESSAGE,
ACTUALLY, TO CONGRESS
POTENTIALLY BECAUSE THEY SAY IN
THE OP-ED THIS IS NOT ABOUT
TRUMP, THIS IS ABOUT WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE ALLOWED TO
HAPPEN, WHAT HAS --
>> RIGHT, AND THIS AUTHOR THOUTS
AS POSITIVES THE TAX REFORM AND
DEREGULATION, THEY SEEM TO BE AN
ECONOMIC CONSERVATIVE.
ECONOMIC CONSERVATIVE. SENATOR JOHN McCAIN PUT IT BEST,
AMERICANS SHOULD HEED HIS WORDS.
WE MAY NO LONGER HAVE McCAIN,
BUT WE WILL ALMS HAVE HIS
EXAMPLE TO RESTORE PUBLIC LIFE
IN OUR NATIONAL DIALOGUE.
TRUMP MAY FEAR SUCH HONORABLE
MEN.
MEN. WE SHOULD REVERE THEM.
ANY CASUAL VIEWER WHO HASN’T
HEARD ABOUT THE PIECE YET HAS
GATHERED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
DAVID FRUM, YOU THINK IT’S BIG,
BUT PROBLEMATIC, WHY?
>> I THINK THE SITUATION WILL BE
WORSE AFTER THIS PIECE AND THE
SITUATION WILL BE WORSE BECAUSE
OF THIS PIECE.
WHAT WILL IMMEDIATELY HAPPEN, OF
COURSE, IS THAT EVERYONE
SUSPECTED IN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION OF POSSIBLY BEING
THE AUTHOR WILL HAVE TO PROVE
LOYALTY, THEY WILL CLEAVE CLOSER
TO THE PRESIDENT, NOT FARTHER.
THERE WILL BE A HUNT FOR MOLES.
THERE WILL BE A HUNT FOR
LEAKERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE
NORMAL, MORE PATRIOTIC, LETS
CORRUPT WILL FIND THEIR JOBS IN
GREATER JEOPARDY.
GREATER JEOPARDY. TRUMP WILL TAKE MORE ADVICE FROM
THE WORST PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
HE WILL SPEND MORE TIME ON THE
PHONE WITH HIS WORST CRONIES.
AND WE HAVE NOT MOVED THE BALL
TOWARD WHAT THE LOGIC OF THIS
PIECE IS.
PIECE IS. IF THIS PRESIDENT SHOULDN’T BE
PRESIDENT, YOU SHOULD DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT -- AND THAT MEANS
RISKING A LITTLE SOMETHING.
>> LET ME PUSH THAT.
I DON’T WANT TO SIMPLIFY YOU.
YOU ARE A MUCH MORE NUANCED
SPEAKER THAN I AM.
IF YOUR COMPLAINT ABOUT DONALD
TRUMP IS HE BREAKS THE RULES,
THE WAY YOU FIGHT THAT SHOULD
NOT BE BREAKING THE RULES?
>> I’M NOT SAYING THAT.
THERE ARE NORMS THAT WILL GIVE
WAY ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THIS
PRESIDENCY.
PRESIDENCY. WHAT I’M SAYING IS IF YOU MAKE
YOUR RESIGNATION COUNT, DON’T
SKULK OFF, DON’T LEAK.
>> LET ME KEEP YOU ON THIS, YOU
THINK THIS PERSON SHOULD BE
FIRED AND SHOULDN’T DO IT THIS
WAY?
WAY? >> NO, I THINK THIS PERSON
SHOULD --
SHOULD -- >> COME FORWARD.
>> COME FORWARD AND TESTIFY TO
CONGRESS, GIVE CHAPTER AND
VERSE, CONFRONT EVEN THIS CRAVEN
SUPINE COMPLICIT CONGRESS.
>> I WANT TO GO TO EUGENE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THIS PERSON
WHO WOULD SAY THIS IS BIGGER
THAN WHAT THEY WOULD TESTIFY TO
CONGRESS, THEIR GOAL IS BEING
ACHIEVED BY SOUNDING A HISTORIC
ALARM BELL.
ALARM BELL. >> GIVE US THE SPECIFICS.
THE DETAIL IN THE WOODWARD BOOK
THAT STRUCK ME WAS THE STORY
ABOUT GARY COHN, THE FORMER
CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER, TAKING A
PIECE AFTER PAPER OFF THE
PRESIDENT’S DESK BY WHICH THE
PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO VOID A
TRADE AGREEMENT, A DISASTROUS
DECISION, AND WHEN THE PAPER
VANISHED THE PRESIDENT DIDN’T
NOTICE OR REMEMBER IT WAS GONE.
PRESUMABLY THAT STORY COMES FROM
GARY COHN OR HE SIGNED OFF ON
IT.
IT. WHAT DID GARY COHN DO ABOUT IT?
NOTHING.
NOTHING. HE SHOULD HAVE WALKED OUT THE
DOOR, TOLD CONGRESS THE
PRESIDENT IS MENTALLY DISABLED.
>> GENE.
>> GENE. >> WELL, I THINK YOU REFER TO
THIS CONGRESS AS CRAVEN AND
SUPINE.
SUPINE. THAT WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, I
THINK, DAVID.
THINK, DAVID. >> COMPLICIT.
>> COMPLICIT. >> COMPLICIT, TOO.
THAT BEGINS TO GET TO WHERE THIS
CONGRESS IS.
CONGRESS IS. YOU KNOW, SO I WAS THINKING
ABOUT THIS, AND MY FIRST
REACTION WAS YOURS, WELL, THIS
PERSON SHOULD COME FORWARD,
SHOULD GO TO CONGRESS AND DEMAND
TO TESTIFY, AND CONGRESS WOULD
DO NOTHING.
DO NOTHING. THIS CONGRESS WOULD DO
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. ESPECIALLY NOW, COMING UP TO THE
ELECTION, THE CONGRESS WOULD DO
NOTHING.
NOTHING. AND WHAT I FEAR IS THAT THIS
PERSON CAME OUT AS A WAY OF
TRYING TO HEAD OFF SOME SPECIFIC
ACT OF CRAZINESS THAT IS THAT
DONALD TRUMP IS --
>> THAT’S COMING.
>> NAME A SINGLE ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIAL WHO HAS EITHER RESIGNED
OR EVEN JUST BEEN PUSHED OUT AND
LEFT THE ADMINISTRATION, AND
THEN SPOKEN OUT.
YOU CAN’T.
YOU CAN’T. >> NO.
>> NO. >> AND IN MANY WAYS, THAT WAS MY
FIRST REACTION AS WELL IS THAT
THIS, MANY MANY WAYS, DOES
EPITOMIZE THE PROBLEM, THAT IT’S
NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN THE WHITE
HOUSE WHO RESIGN OR ARE PUSHED
OUT AND WON’T SPEAK OUT, IT’S
EVERYONE ON CAPITOL HILL.
AND, AGAIN, THAT BRINGS ME BACK
TO WHAT IS THE PRECIPITATING
EVENT FOR THIS?
WELL, WE’VE LOST THE ONE PERSON
WHO -- OTHER THAN MAYBE BEN SASS
AND JEFF FLAKE WAS DOING THAT ON
CAPITOL HILL.
CAPITOL HILL. >> RESIGNATION IS AN ART.
IF YOU BASICALLY SUPPORT THE
GOAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT
YOU HAVE SOME POLICY POSITION
THAT YOU’VE -- FAMOUSLY DEAN
ACHESON WHEN HE RESIGNED FROM
THE ROOSEVELT ADMINISTRATION IN
1942 OR ’43, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
SAID HE RESIGNED LIKE A
GENTLEMAN, MADE CLEAR HIS
ENDURING SUPPORT FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. BUT IF YOU DON’T FEEL THAT WAY
YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR
RESIGNATION COUNT.
RESIGNATION COUNT. YOU NEED TO MAKE IT BLOODY.
YOU NEED TO GO IN A GROUP, YOU
NEED TO BE SPECIFIC.
IF THERE’S SOMETHING YOU’RE
TRYING TO HEAD OFF, YOU SAY WHAT
IT IS, YOU SAY WHAT IT IS.
>> AND IN SOME WAYS THE
CREDIBILITY OF THE MEDIA IS ALSO
AT STAKE.
AT STAKE. WE’RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THE
FALLOUT IS FROM THIS BUT YOU SAW
HOW TRUMP ACTUALLY USED LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS A
BACKDROP TO SLAM THE FAILING
"NEW YORK TIMES," AND HE’S GOING
TO MOBILIZE HIS BASE NOW AS
USING THIS AS IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE
HOW THE MEDIA IS TRYING TO
UNDERCUT HIM WITH ANONYMOUS
SOURCES.
SOURCES. >> ARE PEOPLE GETTING WISE TO
THAT?
THAT? GENE, YOU MENTIONED YOUR
COLLEAGUE, WOODWARD, YOU THINK
HIS STORIES ARE CORRECT, NOT
FICTION U HE HAS A STORY ABOUT
JIM MATTIS TRYING TO PREVENT A
FIFTH GRADE EDUCATED IDIOT
PRESIDENT INTO WAR.
DISCUSSING WHO WILL REPLACE
MATTIS AT THE PENTAGON, WITH
WOODWARD’S REPORTING THAT MATTIS
TOLD ASSOCIATES HE ACTED LIKE HE
HAD THE UNDERSTANDING OF A FIFTH
GRADER, INTERNAL SPECULATION
ABOUT MATTIS’S POTENTIAL
DEPARTURE HAS INTENSIFIED.
THERE’S DONALD TRUMP ATTACKING
THE MEDIA AND THEN DONALD
TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION SWIFTLY
DOING WHAT THE MEDIA REPORTS.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS
THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH WHITE
HOUSE COUNSEL DON McGAHN, HE’S
ANNOUNCED OUT, SAME WITH MATTIS.
>> APPARENTLY THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR AN EVENTUALLY REPLACEMENT TO
MATTIS.
MATTIS. THE PRESIDENT CAME OUT TODAY AND
BECAUSE OF THAT REPORTING SAID
NO, NO, MATTIS WILL BE AROUND
FOR A LONG TIME.
WHO KNOWS?
WHO KNOWS? THEY COULD ANNOUNCE TOMORROW
THAT HE’S LEAVING.
I JUST GET -- I KEEP COMING BACK
TO THE NATURE OF THIS PRESIDENT,
THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THIS
PRESIDENT, AND THE FACT THAT --
I THINK WE PROBABLY KNOW LIKE
HALF OF WHAT HE’S CAPABLE OF.
I THINK WE -- I THINK WE
PROBABLY DON’T KNOW YET HOW --
JUST HOW CRAZY IT IS IN THERE.
>> YOU’RE SAYING HOW CRAZY IS
CRAZY TOWN?
CRAZY TOWN? >> YEAH, I THINK CRAZY TOWN --
>> YOU KNOW IT’S A TOWN THAT
BEGINS WITH THE WORD CRAZY.
>> WE HEAR ABOUT 30-MINUTE
RANTS.
RANTS. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
30 MINUTES IS A LONG TIME.
IT’S A LONG TIME.
IT’S HALF YOUR SHOW.
>> WITH NO COMMERCIAL BREAKS.
>> RANTING FOR HALF YOUR SHOW?
>> THIS GOES TO WHETHER THERE IS
THE FEELING THAT PEOPLE HAVE
AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT BEING
SCARED, THAT BEING ANGRY, THAT
QUESTIONING THE VERY LEGITIMACY
OF THIS PRESIDENCY IS THE
RATIONAL CHOICE AND THAT
ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT IS TO
REALLY MISUNDERSTAND THE ERA
WE’RE IN.
WE’RE IN. AND THAT COMES, AGAIN, AGAINST
THE BACKDROP OF WHAT WE’LL BE
COVERING LATER IN THE HOUR
WHETHER THIS PRESIDENT SHOULD
PUT ANOTHER LIFETIME SUPREME
COURT APPOINTMENT.
COURT APPOINTMENT. WE DON’T REGULARLY PULL TRUMP
TWEETS AND POST THEM.
THERE ARE MANY TWEETS EVERY DAY
AND WE RARELY FEATURE THEM.
MY CONTROL ROOM TELLS ME THERE’S
A BIZARRE RESPONSE.
THE ALL CAPS "TREASON?"
.
. NOW, HEIDI, AGAIN, RATHER THAN
NORMALIZING THAT ALL CAPS
STATEMENT, IF BARACK OBAMA OR
ANY OTHER PRESIDENT RESPONDED TO
THIS KIND OF REPORT WITH I CAN
TELL YOU A LEGALLY FALSE CHARGE
BECAUSE THERE’S NO CONDUCT THAT
HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH TREASON,
HEIDI WHERE DOES THAT FIGURE
INTO THE VERY REAL CONCERN THAT
THE PRESIDENT, ACCORDING TO MANY
AIDES, IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO
QUOTE/UNQUOTE LOSING IT?
>> I THINK WE’VE BEEN AT THAT
POINT MANY TIMES.
BUT I WILL SAY TO YOUR QUESTION
ABOUT WHAT EFFECT THIS IS HAVING
AND WHETHER WE KIND OF REACH A
CRITICAL MASS AND WHETHER THIS
IS IT, THERE WAS SOME POLLING
INFORMATION OUT WITHIN THE PAST
WEEK OR TWO, ARI, THAT SUGGESTS
THAT THIS IS, TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT, BACKFIRING FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. WE SPENT MONTHS SAYING IT’S
WORKING, THEIR EFFORTS TO
DISCREDIT MUELLER ARE WORKING,
BUT THE POLLS SHOW THAT NOW 60%
OF AMERICANS WANT THIS
INVESTIGATION TO GO FORWARD,
THEY APPROVE OF THE COURSE THAT
IT’S TAKING, AND THINK IT NEEDS
TO BE SEEN TO FRUITION.
SO YES, I THINK THIS PIECE, IF
IT JUST STANDS AS IT IS AND THE
AUTHOR IS NOT IDENTIFIED, I
THINK WILL BE ANOTHER KIND OF
SENSE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WHO ARE ALREADY DEEPLY
CONCERNED, THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING OFF THE
RAILS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I
THINK THE PRESIDENT WILL USE IT
AS A WEAPON TO FIRE UP WHATEVER
THAT NUMBER IS, THAT 18 TO 30%.
>> AND WHERE THIS FITS INTO ALL