and doesn't spy on your searchs and duckduckgo lets you browse like chrome, but it blocks cooi and creepy ads that follow youa from google and other companie. and there's no catch. it's fre. we make money from ads, but they don't follow you aroud join the millions of people taking back their privacy by downloading duckduckgo on all your devices today. it is time for closing arguments. three days away too in iowa. tonight on laura coates live.

>> we are three days away until i republicans turn out to choose their candidates . the forecast is for the temperature to feel like 30 or 40 below zero, what could possibly go wrong? >> fasten your seatbelts, it is going to be a bumpy night. >> bette davis reference on a friday night , no other show, people. that is for sure, it might be a bumpy night, republican presidential hopeful, a lot fewer of them these days. it is all eyes on iowa as we speak. the candidates make their closing argument and take pot shots at each other. >> ron does not beat joe biden, trump is head-to-head monica day he might be up by two points. i defeat biden by 17 points.

>> donald trump not willing to show up on the debate stage . does he come to communities to answer questions, has he gone to all 99 counties, has he gone the nine counties? >> unconstitutional witchhunt . election interference at the highest level, it is a disgrace. it is interference, political interference and it is something that should not be allowed. >> it should be noted front- runner donald trump making himself scarce on the campaign trail instead making his closer during closing arguments in the courtroom for one of his several trials. whose argument will win out? like bette davis said, fasten your seatbelts. i should have done my hair like that using that reference. let's talk about it, former congressman with the white flag podcast, joe walsh and commentator and democratic strategist maria cardona. there is a lot to go, only three days left, i can't believe we are here. what do you make of that trump

iowa strategy? it contrasts significantly to desantis. >> it is cold in iowa. i don't think there are any closing arguments. i campaigned in iowa four years ago hopelessly against trump. at this point it is getting your people out. trump has a heck of an organization can desantis does too. donald trump this time has a great organization so i expect his people to come out. >> it is funny because we hear about his absence in iowa can it must mean he does not have the ground presence compared to nikki haley or desantis talking about going to all 90. what is his ground game? >> his campaign team has been there for months . you can see the difference with how they approach i/o at this time from how they did when he first ran. you can also see it in the

polls, he is 30 points ahead, even more than that even if he is not been there as much as desantis has. you can also see they are paying attention because they are a bit worried he has been visiting iowa more than he said at the beginning that he would. he is running a ton of ads against haley, at the beginning against desantis. going into this weekend, i think he has the advantage because he also has the most dedicated voters are the most dedicated supporters which is what you need when you have 30 degree below weather. >> i have been a little comparison, look at the screen about how many times governor haley went to iowa versus trunk look at vivek ramaswamy, 306-20 what is the spread, nikki haley in 3rd+ -- third place, i'm sorry, second place.

that means in my mind, that governor from florida is all in on iowa. every day he was there, he would not stay in south carolina or new hampshire. >> desantis as an organization, he is a lousy candidate which is why nikki haley surpassed him. this is a battle for second place. trump well in iowa, it is a matter of how big. if nikki haley gets a bump going to new hampshire. >> the problem is because desantis went all in on iowa, this is it, this is the hill that he dies on or not. if he does not come second, he is done because he can't go to new hampshire. they said he is going to south carolina before new hampshire. he will try to one up nikki haley in south carolina regardless of what happens in south carolina. >> listen to this, a voter talking to desantis.

>> he tends to unite the democratic party like nobody else . if he is not in the race , have the democrats stay home. >> he is talking about trump. the polls say that trump is ahead but a poll only as good as the people who responded to that poll and show up in these frigid temperatures. if you are trump, you want people not to take for granted, you are a candidate that is a runaway, people might say, you need to have me there, they will win anyway. that could work against him. >> that is why the organization is so crucial, it does not matter how many times trump has been there, everybody in the universe knows who he is. >> does that mean, the organization? >> precinct by precinct, the deputies, the deputy captains making calls and emails, knocking on doors, getting people out. the trump team is doing at this time and they did not do it the

last time. he did not win the iowa caucuses in '16. it will not happen. >> the organization piece is more important to go deeper on what you're saying, especially with this weather and they can know who will be at the caucuses or not, they have a list of the most avid supporters, would be caucus goers, they can call them, laura, we talked to you last week, you said you would go, you have not gone, do you need a ride, with the need for us to get you there? i think that will be critical as they make their list of calls to figure out who is there who isn't and who they need to show up. >> desantis has i can nikki haley does not. that is crucial . the thing trump has, the most dedicated supporters. >> who is going to win? talk about second place, i think desantis hearing the report earlier in south carolina, not new hampshire, does not need nikki haley is a foregone closer second in new hampshire is not iowa?

>> i think that is what it means. i think desantis, let's say he gets a close second or second or close third, he will focus on south carolina. he wants to embarrass nikki haley in her own home state because donald trump is so far had a both of them, his he can get second place in south carolina, that is a huge embarrassment for nikki haley. >> if desantis gets second in iowa, it defies expectations. >> isaac it means he does not think he is a big chance in new hampshire, he is not made a big investment in new hampshire . >> laura, it is really cold in iowa. we don't know what is going to happen, it is cold. >> i have to tell you, i'm from minnesota, we pride ourselves on being it was -10 and i went out. i wonder if it has the same effect. i don't know. >> i talked to my friend who is the chair in iowa it has not been this cold during iowa

caucus. i think people like to say iowans are used to this, they have four-wheel drive, all of that. this cold is life-threatening whether it could be different. >> thank you so much . the iowa caucuses are meetings run by political parties that get underway monday night at 7:00 p.m. local time with caucus goers government high school gyms, community buildings and churches across the state. voters cast a ballot for their preferred candidate and those votes will be tallied. iowans are bracing for an arctic blast raising questions about turnout. let's turn to senior political writer and analyst harry who is at the magic wall who is with me . you have a coat on? >> reporter: unfreezing. goodness gracious. >> it will be bone chilling in iowa . what will the impact be?

>> reporter: i want to take my jacket off. >> i like that affect, laura coates love sake coat. >> reporter: what a turn of phrase. looking at the wind chill during iowa caucuses, the warmest was 30 degrees eight years ago, the coldest before this year was 14 degrees. the forecast for monday, the forecast for monday, minus 28 degrees. it is on a completely different planet, that is why i was wearing the coat. that is why i may have to wear one of these as well. it is freezing. >> that number tells you everything . republicans expected to be a flurry, d.c. what i did, flurry of activity in the closing days. how has cold weather affected turnout in the past? it is iowa, they know what it

feels like to be cold. >> reporter: you're exactly right can you look at the highest turnout for iowa gop caucuses, the highest was the warmest in 2016 but the second highest was the coldest in 1988 in terms of turnout. we have not had anything like what we expect monday. generally speaking, iowans turned out even when it gets cold. >> who might benefit the most ? >> reporter: take a look here, this might give an idea, the choice of the gop nominee in iowa by likeliness to attend the caucuses. donald trump 52% with the fox business poll last month. among those who adeptly attend, 52%, not much of a change in trump support. desantis saw a rise of 22% from 18% while haley sought a drop. desantis might benefit a little bit from the cold weather because his folks more likely to turnout. i will note, the fact is they will drive to the caucus. a lot of cars in iowa and new

hampshire. the fact is i'm not concerned the cold weather will impact turnout all that much. >> wear the hat anyway, harry enten, thank you so much . i can't wait to spend caucus night with you at the magic wall. thank you. up next, how donald trump used the legal system to its benefit for the last 50 years. now it seems to be due our diet . will he get what he wants?

we have heard it time and time again, didn't we just hear it yesterday? former president donald trump claiming in new york courtroom

the civil fraud against him, that case, there was a witchhunt at stake and at play. he repeatedly tried to tie his legal entanglements to what he says is a political persecution . my next guest argues it is trump himself who has used the legal system for his own benefit more than five decades. i went to bring political senior writer, staff writer michael cruz, thank you for being here. his latest piece is called, this to him as the grand finale. donald trump's 50 year mission to discredit the justice system. this is a fascinating read, it takes such a step back and dive into the psychology at play, the tactics and strategy. when you go through a heap of cases involving trump all the way back to 1973 when the federal government sued him and his

father for alleged racist rental practices. most people don't think of trump as a legal mastermind. big picture, what did trump learn in those early days that seems to have shaped how he has been attacking and grinding down the legal system? >> reporter: what we saw yesterday in the courtroom in new york was a brief version of what we saw in the same courtroom in november in new york, it is an extension of something donald trump has been doing and quite effectively in many ways since 1973. october 1973, the federal government, the department of justice sued donald trump and his father for racist rental practices. donald trump, not fred trump, donald trump specifically went out and hired roy cohen, the notorious attorney at the time,

most notorious because of his status as the former 8 and attorney to senator joe mccarthy in the '50s. he was known as legal executioner in new york which is what a young 27-year-old donald trump wanted in that case. during that case is one right and came with the possible exception of his father, donald trump's most indispensable mentor, most lasting influence because of the lessons he was able to impart traffic case that lasted for years dropped the mid-70s, attack, deny, most importantly delay. all of those things in the playbook, donald trump learned greedily in the '70s and some extent employing them ever since. as i point out in the piece, first he learned from roy cohn and searched for

another roy cohn when he died in 1986 from complications of a.i.d.s. in many ways has become his own roy cohn. >> sticking in my brain, deny, attack, delay. those three words are very characteristic and descriptive of the strategy trump has employed perhaps as a businessman but certainly recent days as a politician and candidate, defendant in all these matters. it strikes me as fascinating, the idea of replacing roy cohn, where is my roy cohn? you say he found one in himself when he could not find it externally? >> reporter: it is him, it is not michael cohen or rudy giuliani, it is not anybody. out of the many attorneys that represented donald trump over the last 50 years, it is donald trump himself who was his own roy cohn, perhaps his best pupil

. he learned those lessons while starting in '70s and throughout the decade of the '70s into the early '80s. roy cohn is in his corner and at his side. >> it is fascinating to think about the student outdoing the teacher . does it reveal a flaw in the legal system, someone could so easily master away to muddy the waters, gum up the works by bringing not only at times frivolous litigation he is accused of but also spinning things. one of the biggest rules in politics is to do find them, your opponent, but for the defined themselves. it seems like his opponent is the justice system itself and he is defining at time and time again as it relates to him as political persecution, as a witchhunt. what do you make of that? >> it is important for people to understand as we watch what is happening in various

courtrooms as we go to the coming months, this is something donald trump has been preparing for for 50 years. he is more prepared for this than anybody else involved on either side. it is true he faces more legal jeopardy right now than he ever has without question. four criminal cases, fighting for his freedom in some sense. he is also very, very savvy and effective how he used and abused the legal system for 50 years. he used it on defense, he has used it on offense. he has identified, in some ways accurately, the very integrity of the system is its vulnerability. the time it takes, the care it takes, the rules the judges and prosecutors and attorneys frankly, have to follow. more than the rules, norms, shared

good faith. if that stuff does not mean as much to you or it does not mean anything to you, it does give you an advantage. time in particular. we are seeing a situation develop. where the calendar is of the essence. >> what a fascinating article you have written, what a deep dive . terrifying to think about the integrity being it's a very vulnerability to be exploited to some degree at this moment in time. michael kruse, thank you so much. next, new u.s. strikes against iran backed militants in yemen tonight. now there is anger and building across the region inincluding in . to duckduckgo on all your devie

duckduckgo comes with a built-n engine like google, but it's pi and doesn't spy on your searchs and duckduckgo lets you browse like chrome, but it blocks cooi and creepy ads that follow youa from google and other companie. and there's no catch. it's fre. we make money from ads, but they don't follow you aroud join the millions of people taking back their privacy by downloading duckduckgo on all your devices today. get over here kids. join the millions of people ttime for today's lesson. wow. -whoa. what are those? these are humans. they rely on something called the internet to survive. huh, powers out. [ gasp ] are they gonna to die? worse, they are gonna get bored. [ gasp ] wait look! they figured out a way to keep the internet on. yeah! -nature finds a way. [ grunt ] stay connected when the power goes out, with storm ready wifi from xfinity. and see migration in theaters now.

spekko need tonight, a second set of air strikes on ionian backed houthi targets in yemen a day after the u.s. and uk with the support of four other countries bombed more than 60 targets in 30 iranian backed houthi militant locations across yemen. some republicans on capitol hill applauding president biden for the strikes while some democrats are upset the president did not ask hungers for authorization of the use of that force. retired colonel and military analyst cedric layton, we continue to lean on your expertise. there are more strikes happening even today heading dozens of locations, where are these locations. >> one of the key things, most

locations are concentrated starting out to the north and have also moved into the western part of the country. this is the same area the houthis control the territory so they have this area, mountainous in these parts here on the coastal area, the coastal mountain ranges. they have access to overlook the red sea so strategic and tactical reasons to attack these areas. a lot of bases and installations for the launching of missiles as well as drones from all of these areas and all of the ranges they have of those weapons can cover areas like right through here and what that means it affects all of the shipping for the red sea. >> strategic region, international commerce from the indian ocean to the red sea, what are the weapons being used? >> a lot of different weapons used, the difference is all of the weapons listed right here

in this part are ballistic missiles provided by iran to the houthis. you also have some weapons which are cruise missiles and you have munitions and uavs, all of these different munitions are part of the uranian arsenal and all of these, this is a small sample of the ones that made it from iran over the last few years or decades into the hands of the houthis. >> what does retaliation look like ? >> talking about retaliation, you need a lot of intelligence to do that . if the utes not go after us, we have to look at them through various means that we have. those means include things like the global hot, satellite, the predator drones so these two drones cover tactical and strategic targets, more strategic targets or satellite imagery, intelligence, those kinds of things are the bread and butter of the intelligence

picture that we need for the area, very hard for us to get human intelligence resources in there because it is a dying area to us for the most part. these technical means allows to intercept medications and take images of the different things we need to see before we go in there. >> it sends a shiver down the spine what is truly at stake and what the commander-in-chief has to do and work with. thank you for your time is always. ahead she rose to fame in the '90s sitcom living single, starring in new film american fiction. i will go behind the scenes with actress erica alexander next.

that was a new clip from the comedy drama american fiction, african american novelist tired of his books not selling well books of racial stereotypes are flying off the shelves. what happens when he decides to do something about it? american fiction in theaters right now and stars erika alexander, who is getting serious oscar buzz for her brilliant performance and i do

mean brilliant. you may know her as the iconic maxine shaw from the '90s sitcom living single, talking my generation, my time. i want to go behind the scenes with american fiction actress and extraordinary one, erika alexander. i'm so excited you are here and show you all the love because there should be many. >> oh, my goodness, thank you . i'm glad to be here, this is a great pleasure and i admire you and love you so much. i appreciate you. >> thank you for saying that and for coming. when i saw the preview for this movie, i cannot tell you, where can i go, when is it coming out ? i bought the ticket, i wanted the whole row, i was so excited. when you look at what the messages, this movie, it uses satire to challenge the way

black people and their stories are per trade in mainstream entertainment. why did it resonate so much with you? >> because it is true . i think black people talking about narrative and the identity crisis we have been locked in since we got here, talking about 1619 and after reconstruction, fighting that narrative keeping us in the cheap seats. spectators of our own life, i think your life is more complicated and complex rather than the shallowness. victims of our own success, had to be these things to be successful in very market-driven , market driven by narrative that is comfortable for other people but does not really say the troop authenticity of who we are as full black people and human beings on this earth. >> that is such an important point because we hear the pigeonholes, the idea that

somehow everyone else can have stories that are expansive, holistic, demonstrate all facets of the human experience. our window, our little zone is a teeny tiny pigeonhole and you play car line, girlfriend to jeffrey wright character. i want you to see part of it here. >> car line, you sit across from mother . okay >> i'm happy you're not white . >> me too. >> the way you built up that scene, that was a little bit brilliant. walking around the table, your screen presence is so divine. i was figuring out, leaning in

to hear what you would say next. you said this movie was healing for you, active resistance. what do you want people to take away from this? >> i'm hope , hoping it is compelling. not afraid to have this conversation, it lays at the feet of people who promote community affected by it but don't know much about it, don't see how we have to deal with it and what the results are. i don't know why we want to see black people in this stereotype. i think we need to talk about that but it is also funny. props to leslie, she has been in the business 76 years. last year, 2023, american cinema celebrated its 100th anniversary, she has been in it three-quarters of it, can you imagine anybody can tell it better than her? i think we are looking for more

durable self-sustaining universe definitely and reject what has come. but also not so much that we don't recognize, i think there has been complicity. so many things but overall i want people to laugh, it is generational, not made for black people, it is made for americans, it is called american fiction and people should enjoy it. >> that actually have been, you hold a mirror up to society, you will find it is disarming for people to laugh at what is true and what they see. some people sing it with that reflection through the safe space in many respects of cinema, it makes it more of indelible mark for them to know, wait, i can see that relatability shocks you. you talked about somebody else in the game for decades, it was 30 years ago that you had the role of maxine shot in the iconic

'90s sitcom, living single. you are one of the leading ladies, a lot of passion in the courtroom, stockbroker, lawyer, entrepreneur, magazine editor, comedy, everything. let's watch a little bit to remember. >> oh, lord, okay . >> that is it right there, that panther. sleek and black and poised ready to attack. trying to get a rose, a little something more permanent. try to about a big uterus on my shoulder? is that enough for you? >> you are strong and funny , maxine. that character has inspired the likes of ayanna pressley, stacey abrams to pursue careers in law and politics. how does that feel?

>> extraordinarily feeling . i'm in a fictional world and they are real. props to bethany bowser, paved the way, first african american woman to create a show on prime time. i think queen latifah and kim coles, john hinton for making it real. the truth is, we stand on other peepers -- people's shoulders. i worked with whoopi goldberg, the cosby show, many people came and created that especially with sitcom. i'm very proud that these women grew up and saw it and saw themselves in her, the braids. those are called new locks, doing my hair in yarn. all of these things we bring over to create ourselves. what happens is they saw the strength and power within her and it was unapologetic. a lot of people talking about the word

since martin luther king and whatnot and malcolm x. she embodies that because so many people pave the way. the writer and director of our film now is extraordinary for this debut. he is also getting his material from percival everett and made this incredible story and made it concentrated and told the story he wanted to tell. we are really happy he recruited such genius performers and other collaborators and things like that. i'm glad to be there with jeffrey wright and sterling k. brown, there are people we don't talk about, wonderful actors. it takes a village and this proves that. >> you are so humble and giving with your artistry and the accolades you are spreading with great justification. i have to tell you, genius, irreverent, the idea, thinking

about intellectual, unapologetic, creative, artist, erika alexander, nice to see you again. >> thank you, my darling . appreciate you. up next, girl power in st. paul, minnesota. swearingen all go city council for the first time in city history. they will join me nenext.

time for our friday night

high-five for the first time in history, all of the seats on the st. paul, minnesota city council are billed by women. most of them are women by cut -- of color. they were sworn in on tuesday and this is their first official work week. there are facing issues like housing, economic development, climate change, really, you name it, they are on the front lines of local issues. joining me now, the seven counsel members. ladies, hello. nice to see all of you. congratulations. you have all made history and i have to say i am very proud to see that it is in st. paul, minnesota, in particular. i cannot wait for you to accomplish all the work ahead

of you. for the next four years, the seven of you will make some important decisions. what does it mean to be a group of diverse, phenomenal women? >> what i feel excited about is the chance to really meet our community's needs in this critical time. we have a more young community than ever, a more diverse community than ever. what i hope is that this counsel which reflects us more than ever keeps that relationship >> people have to see you and have the idea they are all having a seat at the table. the first woman was elected to the st. paul counsel in the 1950s. before that it was entirely male. now it is entirely female. what is the reaction?

>> it has been really energizing. this is not anything new for each one of us. we have been on the coalition of building more representation when it comes to women. i get to be the second african- american woman on this counsel, in this seat. it has just been very energizing and a beautiful opportunity to show how women can work together. >> one of the communities everybody thinks about with st. paul. there is historical significance, as well. this is not just about being all women, which of course you all are, but also in an age where we are talking about the age of politicians, you are all also under the age of 40 years old. i am no longer, but i feel a kinship, nonetheless. the senior states woman, what kind of learning curve do you expect for the new members?

>> my birthday is on february 1. i am just sneaking in under 40. i think there is a huge learning curve. they are coming into office, campaigning is one thing. you talk about the things you hope to do. you come into government and realize the reality of getting things done and the challenges and constraints. i am looking forward to helping my new colleagues. all of them are so competent, talented and connected to their communities. >> what do you say to critics who have the audacity to say that there are no men and that it is also all democrats on your counsel. >> i think this past election cycle there were so many folks running for these he then there were people all of all genders and races. but the people of st. paul chose to elect us. they chose to elect us because

of the expertise we bring in the work we have done in our community and the work we will continue to do. >> give the people what they want! what is your message to women across the country who are hoping to also break down their barriers in their respective states? >> i would say never be satisfied with just one. as we are going to build this coalition and build this movement, it took quite a few of us to work together, not only here in this space, but the movements we carry when we go back home to our wards. there is a lack of comfort in things being the status quo, what they will continue to be or even predictions and what they will continue to be in the future. >> there is an important part, that is feeling as though they can elect a candidate of their choosing, one who is qualified and one who will represent what they see in themselves. how important is this diverse group of women in particular? >> i think at -- it has been

said already, but all of us have a diverse set of experiences, organizers across the board, executives, we have a civil engineer on city council. what we bring to the table in terms of our representation really reflects the whole of the city and that allows us to push forward policy that is much more reflective of the constituents here in st. paul. >> every time we speak to each of you, we see a different representative of the city of st. paul. they have chosen each of you to steer the ship. what is your message to people who are feeling sometimes as though politics is something to opt out of? to throw up their hands and no longer want to engage because they think maybe it is a full's errand. what is your message to people to stay engaged however the

outcome in terms of who they vote for. how do you keep them motivated to participate? >> that is such a great question. for me as i reflect on my lived experiences, as a daughter of refugees, that feeling of feeling like our voices so small or how to stay engaged or even how does -- how to even get started. this is something we all know very well. we know that is something that has to stop. policies and politics is very personal. that is what has inspired so many of us to start taking action and start getting involved. but we are committed to is making sure we bring people along in this work and doing the best we can to bring justice and equity for all people. council members, congratulations. all politics is local. i am glad it is my hometown

that shows us that thank you for watching, our coverage continues. to duckduckgo on all your devie

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