REPORTING OF INFIGHTING BETWEEN A KEY WITNESS AND THE MUELLER
PROBE.
PROBE. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS A UNITED
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT IN
WASHINGTON, MANY NEWSCASTS WOULD
BEGIN WITH THE LATEST FROM THE
PRESIDENT WHO HAS A LOT OF POWER
OR HIS GOP ALLIES WHO RAN GONG
CONGRESS
CONGRESS -- CONGRESS.
-- CONGRESS. THAT ALL CHANGES TONIGHT.
THAT CHANGES NOW.
THE MOST IMPACTFUL NEWS COMES
TONIGHT FROM A DEMOCRAT AND
INCOMING SPEAKER HOLDING A LOT
OF CARDS AND OUTLINING PLAN TO
TRY TO RE-OPEN THE GOVERNMENT
TOMORROW.
TOMORROW. >> TOMORROW WE WILL BRING TO THE
FLOOR LEGISLATION WHICH WILL
OPEN UP GOVERNMENT.
IT WILL BASED ON ACTIONS TAKEN
BY THE REPUBLICAN SENATE.
WE HAVE GIVEN THE REPUBLICANS A
CHANCE TO TAKE YES FOR AN
ANSWER.
ANSWER. >> THEY ARE NOW FEELING THE
HEAT.
HEAT. IT IS NOT HELPING THE PRESIDENT.
IT IS NOT HELPING THE
REPUBLICANS TO BE THE OWNERS OF
THIS SHUTDOWN.
THIS SHUTDOWN. >> WE’RE ASKING THE PRESIDENT TO
OPEN UP GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE GIVING HIM A REPUBLICAN
PATH TO DO THAT.
WHY WOULD HE NOT DO IT?
>> WHY?
>> WHY? DEMOCRATS ALSO TELLING THE WHITE
HOUSE TO STOP HOLD THINGS LIKE
FOOD STAMPS AND ASSISTANCE FOR
FARMERS HOSTAGE.
FARMERS HOSTAGE. THE MEETING TODAY DONALD TRUMP
GOT VAGUE ABOUT A NEGOTIATION
STRATEGY.
STRATEGY. >> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE
GOVERNMENT WILL STAY PARTIALLY
SHUTDOWN?
SHUTDOWN? >> COULD BE A LONG TIME AND
COULD BE QUICKLY.
COULD BE A LONG TIME.
>> IS THERE A NUMBER BELOW 5
BILLION THAT YOU MIGHT BE
WILLING TO ACCEPT IN ORDER TO
RE-OPEN THE GOVERNMENT AND GET
THIS MOVING FORWARD?
>> I’D RATHER NOT SAY IT.
>> HOW LONG WOULD YOU KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN? >> AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
>> THE DEMOCRATS WILL ATTEMPT TO
PASS THE STOPGAP SPENDING BILL
BY TOMORROW EVENING.
FUNDING MOST OF THE GOVERNMENT
THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
THROUGH SEPTEMBER. THEN WHAT THE PLAN WOULD DO IS
SEPARATE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH
OVERSEAS THE BORDER AND ONLY
FUND THAT FOR A FEW WEEKS.
THE STRATEGY THERE WOULD BE TO
RE-OPEN THE GOVERNMENT WHILE
ADMITTING THERE IS MORE
NEGOTIATION TO BE DONE BETWEEN
THE PARTY ON BORDER ISSUES.
POLITICALLY TO STICK REPUBLICANS
FOR THE SHUTDOWN IF THEY WON’T
EVEN DO THAT.
THIS, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, IS
VINTAGE PELOSI.
VINTAGE PELOSI. IT’S TOUGH, CRISP AND SEEMS TO
BE OUTLINING CONSEQUENCES.
WHILE DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE A
LOT OF NOISE ABOUT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HE DOESN’T GET ALONG WITH
INCLUDING MITT ROMNEY.
THERE ARE SIGNS WE WANT TO SHOW
YOU HE SEEMS TO NOW REALIZE THE
INCOMING SPEAKER HAS REAL POWER
AND HE’S GOT TO DEAL WITH HER.
NOTE HOW TRUMP’S TUNE HAS
CHANGED WHEN DEALING WITH PELOSI
OR TALKING ABOUT HER FROM THE
OVAL OFFICE TO INTERVIEWS ON FOX
NEWS.
NEWS. >> I’M NOT HOLDING NANCY TO
THINK BUT SHE SAID YOU’LL NEVER
GET THE REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR
IT.
IT. >> YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE A TRUMP
SHUTDOWN.
SHUTDOWN. >> A WHAT -- YOU SAID TRUMP.
>> YOU HAVE A WHITE HOUSE.
>> YOU STAYED IN WASHINGTON,
D.C. THROUGH CHRISTMAS, THROUGH
NEW YEARS.
NEW YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN NANTY TYCY PELOSI I
HAWAII.
HAWAII. >> WE HAVE TO HAVE BORDER
SECURITY.
SECURITY. A WALL IS PART OF BORDER
SECURITY.
SECURITY. >> THAT THE PRESIDENT CHOOSE TO
SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE
HAVE A TRUMP SHUTDOWN AS A
CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
CHRISTMAS PRESENT. >> IT IS EARLY IN THIS NEW
CHAPTER BUT AS YOU SEE THERE
DONALD TRUMP DOING SOMETHING
THAT’S RARE.
THAT’S RARE. KIPPING THE OPPORTUNITY FROM A
FORCED FED FOX NEWS QUESTION TO
LIT BACK AT SOMEONE WHILE PELOSI
HAS SEEMED TO TAKE A PAGE FROM
TRUMP’S OWN PLAY BOOK, THE ART
OF THE DEAL.
REMEMBER THAT IN THAT BOOK HE
WROTE BULLIES MAY ACT TOUGH BUT
THEY ARE REALLY CLOSET COWARDS.
THE ONLY PEOPLE BULLIES PUSH
AROUND ARE THE ONES THEY KNOW
THEY CAN BEAT.
CON FRONT A BULLY AND IN MOST
CASES HE’LL FOLD LIKE A DECK OF
CARDS.
CARDS. WE’LL GET INTO THE BELOEPELOSI
STRATEGY AND I HAVE A REASON WHY
THIS IS DONALD TRUMP BREAKING
HIS PROMISE ON THE WALL.
DONNA, YOU LOOK AT THE LAY OUT
HERE.
HERE. YOU LOOK AT INCOMING SPEAKER
PELOSI
PELOSI PELOSI.
PELOSI. WHAT IS THE KEY TO DEMOCRATS
MOVING THE BALL IF DONALD TRUMP
CONTINUES TO SPEAK VAGUE LIKE HE
DID TODAY THAT THIS COULD GO ON
FOREVER.
FOREVER. >> MY HAS THE LANDSCAPE CHANGE.
BY NOON TOMORROW WITH SPEAKER
PELOSI AT THE HELM, I THINK WHAT
WE’LL SEE IS DEMOCRATS SAYING
WE’RE WILLING TO PUT ON THE
TABLE WAY TO OPEN UP THE
GOVERNMENT AND REPUBLICANS YOU
CAN TAKE YOUR DEAL OR NOT.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS GOING
TO GET THE FULL SWATH OF THE
IMPORTANCE, THE IMPORT OF NANCY
PELOSI’S LEADERSHIP.
PELOSI’S LEADERSHIP. SHE WILL HAVE A UNITED
DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDING BEHIND
HER.
HER. >> ON THAT POINT, THE UNITY
SEEMS CLEAR.
SEEMS CLEAR. LISTEN TO PELOSI SAYING, LOOK,
THEY MAY NEGOTIATE ON CERTAIN
THINGS BUT WALL FUNDING IS NOT
ONE OF THEM.
>> ARE YOU WILLING TO COME UP
AND GIVE HIM SOME OF THIS MONEY
FOR THE WALL?
>> NO.
>> NO. >> THAT’S THE STICKING POINT.
>> NOTHING FOR THE WALL.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BORDER
SECURITY.
SECURITY. >> NOTHING FOR THE WALL BUT THAT
MEANS --
MEANS -- >> WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS BACK
AND FORTH.
AND FORTH. NO.
NO. HOW MANY MORE TIMES CAN WE SAY
NO.
NO. NOTHING FOR THE WALL.
>> JULIAN.
>> JULIAN. >> THE CLIP THAT YOU PLAYED WITH
PELOSI AND SCHUMER LOOKED LIKE
TWO ADULTS TOYING WITH A RIDALIN
DEPRIVED TEENAGE.
DEPRIVED TEENAGE. THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN
AND THE NEW SHERIFF IS A LOT
SMARTER THAN THE OLD SHERIFF.
THEY ARE CLEARLY WINNING THE WAR
HERE.
HERE. THEY ARE WINNING THE BLAME GAME
ON THE SHUTDOWN.
THEY ARE WINNING THE PUBLIC
ARGUMENT ABOUT THE WALL.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT CLINTON
EXPERIENCED IN 1998 WHEN HE WAS
FACING AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL,
THE DEMOCRATS STUCK WITH HIM.
YOU’RE SEEING REPUBLICANS
STARTING TO CAVE.
YOU’RE SEEING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY WING, MATTIS AND KELLY
HEADED FOR THE HILLS.
YOU SEE THE TRADITIONAL
REPUBLICANS LIKE ROMNEY COMING
OUT AND SAYING THE PRESIDENT IS
DEBASING THE PRESIDENCY.
YOU’RE SEEING A LOT OF CRACKS IN
THE WALLS.
THE WALLS. THESE CRACKS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR
A WHILE.
A WHILE. THEY ARE GETTING WORSE AND THEY
MEAN SOMETHING NOW THAT YOU HAVE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TRUMP’S
PROFESSIONAL LIFE, HE HAD TO
DEAL WITH AN OPPOSITION WHO WILL
CONFRONT HIM, HOLD HIM
ACCOUNTABLE AND REALLY IS A LOT
SMARTER THAN HE IS.
YOU’RE SEEING IT BECAUSE THIS
THING ABOUT SERVING UP TO TRUMP
A REPUBLICAN PASS, THE SENATE
PASS REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVE AND
LETTING HIM SAY NO TO THAT,
THEY’RE TOYING WITH HIM.
THEY ARE GETTING THE BETTER OF
HIM.
HIM. THEY’RE SHRINKING HIS 40%
SUPPORT THAT HE HAS.
IT WILL PROBABLY SHRINK AS A
RESULT OF THIS.
THEY’RE JUST TOYING WITH THE
PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW.
THEY WILL WIN THIS FIGHT.
>> MICHAEL, YOU’RE NOT IN A
COMPETITION WITH JULIAN BUT HE
DID COMPARE THE PRESIDENT TO
BABY WHO NEEDS A TOY TO A
RIDALID ADDRIDALI
RIDALID ADDRIDALI RIDALIN TEENAGER.
RIDALIN TEENAGER. THAT’S HIS VIEW.
YOU USED TO RUN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
PARTY. YOU HAVE BEEN INDEPENDENT ABOUT
MANY THINGS YOU DISAGREE WITH
THIS PRESIDENT ON.
WHAT IS YOUR ANALYSIS ON WITH
DONALD TRUMP, IF NOTHING ELSE
FAILS, CLAIMS HE KNOW THE DEAL
PART.
PART. HE MAY NOT KNOW THE BUREAUCRATIC
PART.
PART. HE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT
TAKES A LONG TIME TO WITHDRAW
TROOPS AND NOW WE’RE LEARNING
HE’S BACKING OFF THAT.
HE SAID HE KNEW THE DEAL PART.
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A GUY CLOSE
TO GETTING A GOOD DEAL?
>> THIS IS GAYUY WHO HAS NO IDEA
WHAT THE DEAL IS.
HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THE GOOD
DEAL IN FRONT OF HIM WHICH WAS
PRESENTED WHEN THE CONGRESS
PASSED THE SAME LEGISLATION THAT
THE HOUSE IS GOING TO PASS
TOMORROW AND WAS PREPARED FOR
HIM TO SIGN OFF ON.
THE SENATE WAS BEHIND IT.
THE DEAL WAS DONE.
THEN RUSH LIMBAUGH AND OTHERS
SAID YOU DON’T WANT THIS DEAL.
THAT’S HIS REALITY.
HIS REALITY IS THAT PART OF THE
BASE THAT HE STILL HOLDING ONTO
BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO FEED THEM
AND THEY NEED TO FEED HIM.
THAT’S HOW SBIMYMBIOTIC THAT’S
BECOME.
BECOME. THAT’S WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> I APPRECIATE YOU INTRODUCING
THE CONCEPT OF SYBIOSIS THIS
EARLY IN THE HOUR.
>> I TRY.
>> I TRY. >> IT TAKES TIME.
YOU’RE SAYING SOMETHING I HEAR A
LOT IN YOUR TOWN, WASHINGTON.
THIS IS FOR THE BASE.
BEFORE DONALD TRUMP I DON’T
REMEMBER CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS
CLAMORING FOR THINGS THAT WOULD
TAKE EXTRA TAX DOLLARS OR SHOULD
BE PAID FOR BY ANOTHER COUNTRY,
NOW THEY SHOULD BE PAID FOR
AMERICANS.
AMERICANS. IS THAT REALLY WHAT THE LARGE
CENTER OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE
WANTS OR IS THERE A ZOMBIE TRUMP
MIND MELD WHERE THEY GO I GUESS
MEXICO WAS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR
IT BUT IT’S A GOOD THING WE’LL
PAY FOR IT.
>> THEY’RE NOT LOOKING AT IT IN
THAT CONTEXT.
THAT CONTEXT. THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING MEXICO
WILL PAY FOR THE WALL.
HE IS STILL REPEATING THE SAME
MANTRA.
MANTRA. THEY ARE STILL BELIEVING AND
BUYING THIS IDEA THAT’S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
HAPPEN. WE HAVE GONE FROM A WALL TO
SLATS.
SLATS. I’M WAITING FOR THE PRESIDENT TO
COME OUT AND ANNOUNCE HE WILL GO
WITH ALUMINUM SIDING.
THIS IS HOW THIS THING IS GOING
TO MOVE.
TO MOVE. EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY THAT
BASE WILL BE WITH HIM WHICH IS
WHY WHAT MITT ROMNEY SAID WAS SO
IMPORTANT IN CREATING A BREAKING
POINT FROM THIS MIND TRAP THAT A
LOT OF REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY
IN THE SENATE, FIND THEMSELVES.
>> MARK THOMPSON, IS THIS ANY
WAY TO GOVERN?
>> NO, IT’S NOT GOVERNING AT
ALL.
ALL. ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ON DONALD
TRUMP SIDE, THE EXTREME CONSERVE
CONSERVATIVE SIDE, I DOESN’T
WANT GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION ANY
WAY.
WAY. THEY LOVE TO SABOTAGE IT IN
EVERY WAY.
EVERY WAY. >> IT’S LIKE A BONUS.
IT’S NOT WORKING.
GREAT.
GREAT. >> THERE’S BEEN A HISTORY OF
THAT GOING BACK TO THE CIVIL
WAR.
WAR. WHAT ALSO IS HAPPENING, NETFLIX
IS DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM
TAKING THE BIRD BOX CHALLENGE.
THAT IS WALKING AROUND TRYING TO
FUNCTION WITH A BLIND FOLD ON.
IT’S TOO LATE FOR DONALD TRUMP’S
BASE.
BASE. HE SAID MEXICO WOULD PAY.
MEXICO’S NOT PAYING IT.
HOW CAN YOU BE IN DENIAL ABOUT
THAT IF YOU ELECTED SOMEONE TO
DRAIN THE SWAMP.
HE’S SAYING THAT PART OF THE
WALL IS BEING BUILT.
THERE IS NO PART OF THE WALL
BEING BRAKE LIGHT.UILT.
THERE’S NO SLATS.
MICHAEL SAID ALUMINUM SIDING.
I THINK SOON WE’LL BE AT
ALUMINUM FOIL.
ALUMINUM FOIL. ANYTHING TO SABOTAGE.
NANCY PELOSI IS WINNING.
WE ALL KNOW HOW BRIGHT SHE IS.
SHE’S SERIOUS.
SHE’S SERIOUS. SHE BARELY HAS TO DO ANYTHING.
SHE LITERALLY CAN JUST STAND
STILL DOING WHAT SHE DID TODAY
AND SAY SHE IS PUTTING ON THE
TABLE TOMORROW THE SAME BILLS
THAT REPUBLICANS ALREADY PASSED.
THE PERSON WHO IS REALLY ON THE
HOT SEAT IS MITCH McCONNELL.
HE HAS TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT
WHAT HE’S GOING TO LEAD THE
SENATE REPUBLICANS TO DO.
I’M SURE THERE’S A LOT OF
DISCUSSION NOW ABOUT WHAT THAT
IS.
IS. 2020 ISN’T THE GREATEST MAP FOR
REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS. THEY’VE GOT TO DECIDE RIGHT HERE
AND NOW WHETHER THEY WILL JET
JETTISON TRUMP OR RIDE OFF INTO
THE SUNSET.
THE SUNSET. HE WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS UP
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
MILLER TIME IS EVERY FRIDAY.
ANYTHING THAT WILL BLUNT ANY NEW
INFORMATION AND YOU JUST GAVE A
TEASE ABOUT A SECOND STORY.
ANY INFORMATION OR ANYTHING THAT
COMES OUT, HE CAN USE THIS TO
CONTINUE TO DISTRACT HIS BASE
AND KEEP THE BLIND FOLD ON.
>> THAT’S A SHELL GAME OF HAVING
WORKED IN CONGRESS.
IN THE BEGINNING, THE SHUTDOWNS
DO NOT HAVE HUGE SCALEABLE
CONSEQUENCES.
CONSEQUENCES. PARTLY BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS BUILT TO RUN IN
EXTENEX
EXTENEX EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
PEOPLE WILL START RUNNING OUT OF
FOOD THIS WEEK.
FARMERS BY NEXT WEEK WILL LOSE
DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE. THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
GOT HIT BY A DISASTER.
THEN TAKE THE IMMIGRATION COURT
IS WHAT DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO
IMPROVE.
IMPROVE. THE SHUTDOWNS PARALYZE THE
IMMIGRATION COURTS ALLOWING
SEVERAL HUNDRED UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS TO DODGE DEPORTATION
ORDS
ORDS ORDERS EVERY DAY THIS CONTINUES.
WALK US THROUGH THAT CONTEXT,
JULIAN.
JULIAN. >> SHUTDOWNS GENERALLY HAVE A
PARTY THAT GETS BLAMED FOR IT.
THE SHORT TERM PAIN IS BEARABLE.
THE LONG TERM PAIN IS
UNBEARABLE.
UNBEARABLE. TRUMP HAS ALREADY CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SO WE’RE
KIND OF PAST THAT.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM TRUMP HAS IS
HE’S NOT MAKING AN ARGUMENT THAT
PEOPLE SUPPORT.
PEOPLE SUPPORT. PEOPLE DON’T SUPPORT THE WALL,
GENERALLY.
GENERALLY. THE PUBLIC DOESN’T SUPPORT THE
WALL.
WALL. HIS BIGGER PROBLEM IS THE WALL
IS KIND OF AN EMPTY TOTEM.
HE SAID HE WOULD GET MEXICO TO
PAY FOR THE WALL.
HE TOLD THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT
THAT HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THE
WALL.
WALL. THE WALL WILL DO VERY LITTLE
ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
IF YOU WERE SERIOUS, YOU WOULD
DEAL WITH VISA OVER SAYS.
YOU WOULD DEAL WITH EMPLOYER
SANCTIONS WHICH IS WHAT KEEPS
UNDOCUMENTED HERE.
UNDOCUMENTED HERE. YOU WOULD TREAT MEXICO HAS AN
ALLY AND NOT AS AN ENEMY.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE COMING
FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.
MEXICO HAS SENT BACK OVER
100,000 UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE
CROSSING INTO MEXICO TO TRY TO
MAKE IT TO THE U.S.
MOST OF THE UNDOCUMENTEDS ARE
NOT MEXICANS.
NOT MEXICANS. MEXICO COULD BE AN ALLY.
ANYBODY SERIOUS SEES THIS AS
NOTHING MORE AS A SIMPLE.
THE PUBLIC DOESN’T SUPPORT IT.
WITH HIM HAVING TO BEAR THE
BLAME AND REPUBLICANS, I
MENTIONED THE RETIREMENTS,
ROMNEY, OTHER REPUBLICANS THAT
ARE SHOWING GREAT DEAL OF
DISCOMFORT WITH THE FACT THEY
ARE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A
LOSING ARGUMENT HERE.
AT SOME POINT THEY WILL CRACK.
IT’S HARD FOR ME TO SEE HOW
TRUMP COMES OUT AHEAD.
THIS IS JUST A PREVIEW OF A LOT
MORE TO COME WITH THE DEMOCRATS
CONTROLLING THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
>> DONNA, YOUR VIEW ON THOSE
POINTS.
POINTS. >> I THINK JULIAN IS RIGHT AND
YOU’RE GOING TO ACTUALLY BEGIN
TO SEE THE DOWN SIDES OF A
SHUTDOWN AND IT’S GOING TO
BECOME EVIDENT.
BECOME EVIDENT. ON JANUARY 12th CHECKS NEED TO
BE CUT TO THOSE 800,000 FEDERAL
WORKERS WHO WILL NOT HAVE A
PAYCHECK TO PAY MORTGAGES AND GO
TO THE DRY CLEANERS.
ALL OF THOSE CONSUMER THINGS.
YOU’RE SEEING THE NATIONAL PARKS
IN ALL THOSE WESTERN STATES THAT
ARE REALLY IMPACTED.
THE BUSINESSES AROUND THEM WILL
BE TOO.
BE TOO. TRUMP WILL BEGIN TO HEAR THAT
AFFECT AND I THINK THAT’S GOING
TO HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT
AFFECT ON SENATORS AND THIS IS
NOT SUSTAINABLE.
NOT SUSTAINABLE. TRUMP SHUT DOWN WILL END BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DEAL
THAT WAS THE SENATE DEAL AND GET
THAT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE AND ON TO THE PRESIDENT.
HE’LL SIGN IT.
HE’LL SIGN IT.
HE’LL SIGN ANYTHING.
>> ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE