GETS UNDER WAY ON A THURSDAY NIGHT.
NIGHT. >>> WELL, GOOD EVENING ONCE
AGAIN FROM OUR NBC NEWS
HEADQUARTERS HERE IN NEW YORK.
DAY 854 OF THIS TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. WE’VE LEARNED TWO THINGS IN JUST
THESE HOURS BEFORE OUR AIR TIME
HERE TONIGHT.
HERE TONIGHT. FIRST AND IMPORTANTLY, ROBERT
MUELLER APPARENTLY WISHES TO
TESTIFY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHEN
HE GOES BEFORE THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. THE CHAIRMAN, NEW YORK
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JERRY
NADLER THEORIZED ON THIS NETWORK
TONIGHT THAT MUELLER WANTS TO
AVOID A MEDIA CIRCUS OF LIVE
COVERAGE.
COVERAGE. MUCH MORE ON THIS IN THE MINUTES
TO COME.
TO COME. SECOND, DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED
THAT HE HAS ORDER THE NATION’S
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO FULLY
COOPERATE WITH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
GENERAL GENERAL’S INVESTIGATION INTO THE
ORIGINS OF THE MUELLER INQUIRY.
AGAIN, MORE ON BOTH OF THESE
STORIES IN A MOMENT.
FIRST ON THIS DAY WE HAVE JUST
WITNESSED THE DIRECT ATTACKS THE
PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE ARE ENGAGING IN AGAINST
EACH OTHER OUT IN THE OPEN.
TRUMP GOT OFF TO AN EARLY START
ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS MORNING.
THERE IT IS.
ACCUSING DEMOCRATS OF SEEKING A
"REDO OF THE MUELLER REPORT" AND
OF BEING THE "DO NOTHING PARTY."
HE ALSO WROTE THAT HE WAS
"EXTREMELY CALM YESTERDAY WITH
MY MEETING WITH PELOSI AND
SCHUMER KNOWING THEY WOULD SAY I
WAS RAGING."
WAS RAGING." WHAT TRUMP DID AND SAID
YESTERDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE WAS
ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF
CONTENTION BETWEEN THE SPEAKER
AND THE PRESIDENT.
>> THE PRESIDENT AGAIN STORMED
OUT.
OUT. I THINK, WHAT -- POUND THE
TABLE, WALK OUT THE DOOR.
I THINK WHAT REALLY GOT TO HIM
WAS THESE COURT CASES AND THE
FACT THAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS IS NOT ON A PATH TO
IMPEACHMENT AND THAT’S WHERE HE
WANTS US TO BE.
>> SHE SAID I WALKED RIGHT INTO
THE ROOM RIGHT NEXT DOOR
YESTERDAY AND WALKED IN AND
STARTED SCREAMING AND YELLING.
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
I WALKED INTO THE CABINET ROOM.
YOU HAD THE GROUP, CRYING CHUCK,
CRAZY NANCY.
CRAZY NANCY. I TELL YOU WHAT, I’VE BEEN
WATCHING HER, AND I HAVE BEEN
WATCHING HER FOR A LONG PERIOD
OF TIME.
OF TIME. SHE’S NOT THE SAME PERSON.
SHE’S LOST IT.
>> SO THEN TRUMP DID THIS.
HE PUT HIS SENIOR AIDES ON THE
SPOT SO ONE BY ONE THEY HAD TO
COME FORWARD TO SAY HOW CALM HE
WAS YESTERDAY.
WAS YESTERDAY. >> KELLYANNE, WHAT WAS MY
TEMPERAMENT YESTERDAY?
TEMPERAMENT YESTERDAY? >> VERY CALM.
MR. PRESIDENT, WHY WOULD YOU
HAVE TO RAISE YOUR VOICE?
>> YOU WERE VERY CALM AND YOU
WERE VERY DIRECT.
>> WHAT WAS MY ATTITUDE
YESTERDAY AT THE MEETING?
>> KELLYANNE SAID, YOU WERE VERY
CALM.
CALM. >> WHAT WAS MY TONE YESTERDAY AT
THE MEETING?
THE MEETING? >> VERY CALM.
I’VE SEEN BOTH, AND THIS WAS
DEFINITELY NOT ANGRY OR RANTING.
VERY CALM AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> GOOD.
>> GOOD. SO IT’S DECIDED.
PELOSI HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HER
DISCORDANT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
STEERING HER FELLOW PARTY
MEMBERS AWAY FROM THE IDEA OF
IMPEACHMENT RIGHT NOW, URGING
THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR
INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH HAVE
RANKLED THE PRESIDENT.
HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ON
THOSE TOPICS.
THOSE TOPICS. >> THE WHITE HOUSE IS JUST
CRYING OUT FOR IMPEACHMENT.
THAT’S WHY HE FLIPPED YESTERDAY.
THE PRESIDENT’S BEHAVIOR IN
TERMS OF HIS OBSTRUCTION OF
JUSTICE
JUSTICE JUSTICE, THE THINGS HE’S DOING,
IT’S VERY CLEAR.
IT’S IN PLAIN SIGHT.
IT CANNOT BE DENIED.
IGNORING SUBPOENAS, OBSTRUCTION
OF JUSTICE.
OF JUSTICE. YES, THESE COULD BE IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSES.
OFFENSES. >> THE WHOLE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS
VERY MESSED UP.
THEY HAVE NEVER RECOVERED FROM
THE GREAT ELECTION OF 2016, AN
ELECTION THAT I THINK YOU FOLKS
LIKED VERY MUCH.
RIGHT?
RIGHT? WELL, NANCY PELOSI WAS NOT HAPPY
ABOUT IT.
ABOUT IT. AND SHE IS A MESS.
WE WENT THROUGH TWO YEARS OF BOB
MUELLER WITH 18 PEOPLE THAT
HATED DONALD TRUMP.
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE CONTINUE
TO GO DOWN THIS PATH.
I DON’T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO STAND FOR IT.
>> THE SWIPES BECAME EVEN MORE
PERSONAL AS EACH QUESTIONED THE
OTHER’S TEMPERAMENT AND FITNESS
TO LEAD.
TO LEAD. >> I PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
I WISH THAT HIS FAMILY OR HIS
ADMINISTRATION OR HIS STAFF
WOULD HAVE AN INTERVENTION FOR
THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU DON’T START HONORING YOUR
OATH OF OFFICE, I CAN’T WORK
WITH YOU.
WITH YOU. THAT’S BASICALLY WHAT HE’S
SAYING.
SAYING. MAYBE HE WANTS TO TAKE A LEAVE
OF ABSENCE.
OF ABSENCE. I DON’T KNOW.
I ACTUALLY ARDENTLY PRAY FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. >> IT WAS SAD WHEN I WATCHED
NANCY ALL MOVING, THE MOVEMENT
AND THE HANDS AND THE CRAZINESS,
AND I WATCHED IT -- THAT’S BY
THE WAY A PERSON THAT’S GOT SOME
PROBLEMS.
PROBLEMS. >> THEN IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT
TRUMP TOSSED OUT THIS.
>> I’M AN EXTREMELY STABLE
GENIUS.
GENIUS. >> THE SPEAKER RESPONDED
QUICKLY, AND WE QUOTE.
"WHEN THE EXTREMELY STABLE
GENIUS STARTS ACTING MORE
PRESIDENTIAL, I’LL BE HAPPY TO
WORK WITH HIM ON INFRASTRUCTURE,
TRADE AND OTHER ISSUES."
THEN THERE IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT
JUST A FEW HOURS AGO.
AGAIN, THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS
SECRETARY RELEASED THIS
STATEMENT, AND WE QUOTE.
"TODAY AT THE REQUEST AND
RECOMMENDATION OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
DIRECTED THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY TO QUICKLY AND FULLY
COOPERATE WITH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL’S INVESTIGATION INTO
SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES DURING
THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ALSO
BEEN DELEGATED FULL AND COMPLETE
AUTHORITY TO DECLASSIFY
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS
INVESTIGATION, IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LONG-ESTABLISHED
STANDARDS FOR HANDLING
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION."
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION." NOW, THAT LAST PART IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE A.G. WILL BE BOUND
BY EXISTING LAW BUT THIS IS PART
OF THAT EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE
THE INVESTIGATORS GOING BACK TO
THE TIME BEFORE MUELLER.
MORE ON THIS IN A MOMENT.
AND FINALLY, TRUMP AND HIS
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH
THIS OVER THE LONG MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND.
WEEKEND. "THE NEW YORKER" IS ON THE BOARD
WITH A BARRY BLITT CARICATURE
COVER OFFERING A DEVASTATING
DEPICTION OF THE PRESIDENT’S IS
UP PLIKANTS GRAHAM, BARR, AND
McCONNELL.
McCONNELL. IT’S TITLED "THE SHINING."
WE ARE HAPPY TO WELCOME
TONIGHT’S GUESTS TO OUR LEAD-OFF
DISCUSSION ON THIS THURSDAY
EVENING.
EVENING. ALL FOUR RETURNING VETERANS.
KIMBERLY ATKINS SENIOR
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT FOR
WBUR, BOSTON’S NPR NEWS STATION.
KELSEY SNELL, CONGRESSIONAL
REPORTER FOR NPR.
ROBERT COSTA, NATIONAL POLITICAL
REPORTER FOR THE "WASHINGTON
POST," MODERATOR OF "WASHINGTON
WEEK" ON PBS.
OF HIS MOUTH AND SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS.
>> ROBERT COSTA, LET’S GO BACK A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
IF YOU’RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER
EARLIER TODAY, LET’S TALK ABOUT
THAT.
THAT. HOW ARE TRUMP-LOYAL FORCES
THINKING ABOUT THEIR GUY’S
PERFORMANCE TODAY?
PERFORMANCE TODAY? >> THEY KNOW HE’S IN A TOUGH
SPOT AS THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.
BUT MANY TRUMP ALLIES I’M
TALKING TO TONIGHT JUST GOT OFF
THE PHONE WITH RUDY GIULIANI,
THE PRESIDENT’S LAWYER.
MARK MEADOWS, HIS TOP ALLY IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THEY’RE TRYING TO SWING THE
SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM THESE DRAMAS
WITH SPEAKER PELOSI AND BRING IT
BACK TO THE ORIGINS OF THE
RUSSIA PROBE.
RUSSIA PROBE. THIS HAS BEEN A MONTHS-LONG
EFFORT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE TO
TRY TO BRING SOME HEAT ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THERE’S ALWAYS THIS TALK NOW ON
THE RIGHT WING ABOUT A SO-CALLED
COUP IN THEIR EYES AGAINST THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THIS EFFORT, THIS LANGUAGE, IT’S
ONLY ESCALATING TONIGHT, AND IT
COMES AMID THESE TENSIONS WITH
CONGRESS WHERE YOU HAVE THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
IN ESSENCE WALKING AWAY FROM
INFRASTRUCTURE TALKS AND HAVING
AN ALL-OUT WAR OVER THE
POSSIBILITY OF IMPEACHMENT.
>> KELSEA, LET’S REMEMBER THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES TODAY AGAIN PUBLICLY
DECLARED HIMSELF A STABLE GENIUS
AND THEN IN ORDER TROTTED OUT
SENIOR WHITE HOUSE STAFF TO
SPEAK OF HIS CALM YESTERDAY.
THE WAY PELOSI IS HANDLING THIS,
IN YOUR TIME ON THE HILL DO YOU
THINK THIS MIGHT BE A COALESCING
MOMENT FOR HER?
BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE’S BEEN SOME
DISPARITY IN THAT DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS.
CAUCUS. >> WELL, THERE’S CERTAINLY BEEN
SOME DISPARITY, BUT I’VE HAD IT
DESCRIBED TO ME AS A VOCAL
MINORITY OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS
WHO WANT TO MOVE TOWARD
IMPEACHMENT.
IMPEACHMENT. AND THE MEETING THAT PELOSI HAD
YESTERDAY WHERE SHE BROUGHT ALL
OF HER MEMBERS TOGETHER ACTUALLY
DID SEEM TO TAMP DOWN THAT TALK
FOR A LITTLE BIT.
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE PELOSI
IS DOING THIS THING WHERE SHE IS
MORE OR LESS TRYING TO TALK TO A
PARTY OF TWO BASES.
THERE’S THE BASE OF HER PARTY
THAT IS MUCH LIKE HER
CONSTITUENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO,
VERY PROGRESSIVE.
VERY PROGRESSIVE. AND THE OTHER BASE, THE MORE
MODERATES FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THAT ESSENTIALLY DELIVER
HER THE MAJORITY.
AND SHE HAS A TOUGH LINE TO WALK
OF SATISFYING BOTH OF THEM.
AND IN LARGE PART THAT’S WHAT
SHE’S TRYING TO DO WHEN SHE
TALKS ABOUT COVER-UPS BUT ALSO
TALKS ABOUT WAYS TO KIND OF GET
THE INFORMATION DEMOCRATS WANT
WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OFF THE
CLIFF TOWARD IMPEACHMENT.
IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO
BE DIFFICULT FOR HER TORE SUREFO