♪ >> from our studios in new york city, this is "charlie rose." charlie: he plays a transgender woman on the msn show. the new york times causes performance of revelation. it has and him numerous awards including a golden globe. -- starredly started in "arrested development >." and pleased to have him. having seen you and that you on the morning show, great to have

you here. are you surprised by the response to this? jeffrey: absolutely. when i was a little kid, i went downstairs in the garage and practice doing autographs, and i would actually do talk shows. this was the day of jack parr and steve allen. i would pretend i was the and iiewer or interviewee would make the sound of the audience laughing. my poor parents, i'm surprised they did not arrange an exorcism. i thought the ultimate be-all and all was to sign an autograph. but this is amazing. i'm 71 years old. it is such a time. it is still amazing. 71?n't look charlie: how did you know. jeffery tambor: because i could read people.

this is a great time. i have been giving the role -- given the role and responsibility of a lifetime. atrlie: but you said, it was of the jeffrey tambor technique that, you did not have anything to rely on for this character. i hady tambor: accent jeffrey tambor and the heart of jeffrey tambor, and the vulnerability. the surprise to me was that i got to use more of jeffrey tambor then i have ever been able to use in a role. charlie: what part of you are you using? jeffery tambor: me, the part that is not gender specific. charlie: male side, female side. jeffery tambor: more like the spiritual side. it is a surprise to me. i thought the hard part was going to be the external. the wig, and the costume, the pedicure. i was actually easy.

-- and actually fun. the part that was interesting was the heart and soul. there is an adage. it goes like this. you are stuck with a character, but the character is also stuck with you. i thought, i have a lot to bring to her. i am in many ways, her. charlie: explain that. jeffery tambor: i can't. i actually can't. there is something intuitional about it, something -- there is a bunch of work that you do, a bunch of people you talk to, bunch of books. at a certain point, it is you. as certain point it comes out and you say, i understand her. charlie: what do you understand? jeffery tambor:jeffery tambor: her heart, her yearning to be herself. free, to be understood. otherized.ade

to be comfortable in her close for the first time. to not take it here to be a woman. -- to not take it. to be a woman. charlie: the country has come along way on transgendered. i feel likeor: yes, we are more of an arrow that got shot into this zeitgeist, and it blew up. understand the year -- we had katelyn -- caitlyn jenner's show, reality show. and we have exploration of this. and they all seem to meet. as i'm driving to you today, i'm on the internet and i and seeing it is alive and fluid, and the world is changing. charlie: and there are new challenges.

jeffery tambor: absolutely. i had a gentleman come up to me on the airplane the other day, de was very watched, anf ringed, and he came up to me, and i thought i was going to get it. and he said, thank you. thank you for introducing me to an area and subject i had no idea about. i said, there is a revolution. charlie: you said you were reading something on your iphone on the way over here? the capacity to access so much. of everything. jeffery tambor: unbelievable. amazing. charlie: for someone who grew up in a small town in north carolina, who had just dreamed about cities and places around the world, to be able to go here, and to connect. go today, between now

and an hour from now, and see so much. just one thing of what you have done professionally. jeffery tambor: that is rather daunting. thelie: daunting, but interesting thing, i'm really two new 60 minute pieces, one on artificial intelligence and the other on gene editing. this is the frontier of where technology and science is. extraordinary stuff. both fraught with being to be managed -- meaning to be managed well, but it is extraordinary. jeffery tambor: when i grew up in san francisco, all i wanted to do was go to the library. i still do love libraries. cried when it who kids got their library cards. that was the place i went for solace and connection. the west portal library.

book this read a size, this size. --an actually read a book and i'm a reader. i am actually co-owner of a bookstore. charlie: where? jeffery tambor: in los angeles. skylight books. charlie: what kind of book stories it? jeffery tambor: it has all. have you written your book? charlie: no. jeffery tambor: what's going on? charlie: i'm busy. [laughter] [laughter] book?ou raising your -- written your book? jeffery tambor: no, maybe you and i should have a copy. i know at the title is. guy said to me as i was coming out the stage door when i was on broadway. i walked out the stage and he anybody?" you

and i said, "no." and i said, whatever just happened, i have to fix. charlie: have you written anything other than that? jeffery tambor: no. it's hard to talk about yourself. charlie: how has this changed your life? -- now say, are you anybody you are. in terms of this perception, you are known. people knew your face, and they knew your character. now if you say jeffrey tambor, people know. jeffery tambor: except the guy who loves my work in the levy today, he said i love you work on "curb your enthusiasm." [laughter] charlie: what is part of your story that you think is important to tell in this memoir you are now writing? jeffery tambor: that's interesting.

stick to your guns. stick to your dreams. help people. open your heart, and teach. i think there are only two things we have in this world, teaching and learning. you are either a teacher or learner. that is how i approach it. i think you are a teacher. i watched you. i do watch you. charlie: in the morning? jeffery tambor: and i watch you on this. i am actually a fan. the whole problem with being jeffrey tambor right now -- charlie: exactly, what is the problem? jeffery tambor: with whatever this is, aside from the " curb your enthusiasm" reference, my father always said, don't

celebrate, because they will take it away. charlie: as good as that could be? celebrate the joy of alan alda's company and friendship. that is who you are. jeffery tambor: i totally disallowed myself -- when people win, or in the basketball game, they say, yes! we should do that. charlie: that was tiger woods' move. can't do it anymore. there's another thing about the turn of life, because of injuries. to be the best. to be the best in the world at what you do, a lifetime of learning, competing, growing. and then, because of a couple of expectation, your one having to do with behavior,

one having to do with injury, you can't do it as well. as you used to. jeffery tambor: but you do something different. charlie: but you are still young. it's not like you are 80 and you say, i can't this like i used to. jeffery tambor: i feel i have mye access to myself, and strokes and keys on the piano, i think they are different. i enjoy them. i enjoy playing more. i like the sense of humor. it is interesting. charlie: but beyond the idea of "fame", has itd opened up other things for you? jeffery tambor: i have four kids at home. i think i'm a better parent. i think i'm more present. i'm more aware of things. i see more aspects of things. i see more aspects of me.

i think i'm a different parent. at 70, she made a break for freedom, the character. she is different also. charlie: here's the thing, no one can imagine anyone else as nora but you. theythey think of this -- say, how could they have thought of anybody else, he is perfect. what a genius, these people are. jeffery tambor: thank you. people, to me on the street at times, and they will say -- sometimes, they will say some things, but first they will say, i saw the show. i didn't know what to expect. which i think is code for -- i used to think it was code for the transgender movement. i think it is code for me playing the role, of saying, are

you going to handle this right? i am also the actor who did , and they oscar bluth say, i like it. that is important to me. usually they will say, they will talk about their family. not just a transgender conversation -- charlie: they think you are a listening, giving, carrying human being. jeffery tambor: yes. -- this is very family centric. jill is a wonder. working under her baton is the safest set i have ever been on. charlie: meaning you can take more risk because it is protective? jeffery tambor: totally protective. there is no wrong or right. there is the next take. it's not like woodstock, it is very specific, but -- i have talked about it before.

there is that thing the actors do. they say, let's do it, they do the take, and then the director says, this one is for you. sort of take is sid power starting premise. it is very free, and a very transformative set. charlie: before you got to this, you were a happy man. you were a working actor. jeffery tambor: i am the jewish son of russian hungarian parents. happy is not on the menu. [laughter] had -- you are mr. happy, i am mr. glum. i thought it was going to be the opposite. i watch you in the morning, and you look straight ahead into the next q, i study you. i do.

charlie: you could learn a lot doing that. jeffery tambor: [laughter] i have happy. when i'm happy, my kids in the morning, and my wife. charlie: you get to live another day. jeffery tambor: i get to live another day. they are my teachers. they are so happy to be alive. they are so exuberant. they are 100% there. charlie: you have said before, compliment you can say to an actor is to say, it does not look acting. it looks sound. -- found. that is a word i did not understand. just, itambor: it is just has come together at that moment. there is an opening scene, of episode one of the second season, where our family gets together for a wedding portrait.

playing the photographer, i think he made a mistake, or not, but he called me serve. in the middle of the scen -- sir. sir, in these me middle of the scene. and i said, did he call me sir? the whole family walks off. i know a lot of directors would yell cut at that point. let it go. it turned into one of the most wonderful moments. everyone capitalized on that. charlie: was that you being spontaneous? jeffery tambor: absolutely. that is found. the moment is found. worknk, in watching jill's in her wonderful movie, the moment seemed found and not rehearse.

i have no problem with performing. i went to a broadway show last night, it performed beautifully. i have no problem with that. there is something about this family, that that is our ethic, it is almost like you are watching life. ♪

charlie: has acting been everything you expected?

jeffery tambor: i lived across the street from the theater. san francisco state college. i grew up in san francisco. i used to go across and wash the sectors, 90-year-old actors. years old.d 11 they would let me help them. i remember thinking, whatever this is, they would move a rock, and i would move it. there was the light of the foot light -- that should tell you how long ago to was -- it was something about how they treated each other as gentlemen. and i went, whatever this is, i have got to be part of this. i felt truly connected. the other irony is, during all of this, i had a lisp. charlie: and you got rid of it? jeffery tambor: i got rid of it. i think it is because of that lisp that i became an actor.

charlie: you can't have that and be an actor. jeffery tambor: no. i remember doing anthony and cleopatra. , something you would say in shakespeare. daresay this i am called." i remember saying to myself, this has got to change. charlie: should you have played more shakespeare? jeffery tambor: i play a lot of shakespeare. this is my lear. i would love to play that. you think a career is this, but it is always this. said, lifehn lennon is what happens when you are doing something else. i used to watch

them walk into the park at 4:00. charlie: yoko and john? jeffery tambor: yes, they would hand-in-hand.park another person walking down the street on the other side, was kazan. in his overcoat. i was a wonderful time to be in new york. i was thinking about today, i was driving, i said, how did i ever do it? were in lower manhattan. i was thinking about my first commercial audition there, where i walked in and said, i am here to play the father. and they said, no you are here to play the waiter, and this is your line. [laughter] --ent, do you know i got very nervous. ice?"k my line was, "more

i delivered it with that gravity. i said, should i leave my picture and resume? she said, if you must. that was my kickoff. [laughter] charlie: that could turn you around. [laughter] more ice.mbor: charlie: take a look at this. this is our first video, first erman familypfeff attempting to have a wedding video. [video clip] >> everybody ready? >> everybody say, cindy lou! >> cindy lou. >> how about a jewish reference? >> scher, everybody say, i want a little wine. >> just take the picture. >> that's a little pejorative.

>> tried to lighten up. hanukkah!dy say, >> none of these words and in a end in a smile. ait! >> go back to the boat, captain. >> excuse me, do you want my chin up or down? i can't hear you. >> what do you think? >> you look beautiful. >> one more. >> i think we paid for more than one photograph. charlie: after that, you left? saidry tambor: yes, they chin up, sir. and then i said, that's enough.

what is interesting is, that is all contained in one shot. that is a gutsy move. charlie: gutsy for acting as well. it's easier when they do it the other way. "birdman?"en those longshots. it was incredible. michael keaton would say, if you could do it perfectly, but somebody along the way could mess it up. jeffery tambor: if you don't hit those marks, that is gone. charlie: do you get joy from the process? jeffery tambor: i love the process. jeffery tambor:the life between action and cut is where i think i am most organized, and most myself. the rest, i need the charlie rose phone call in the morning. [laughter] charlie: i can help you. i can make your life --

[laughter] wouldn't it be funny if you became my spiritual healer? charlie: they have life coaches today. jeffery tambor: i know. charlie: i met a wanted other day, she said, i have a life coach. she is like, 25. an actress. coach? what is a life she said, i may be having a problem. she would call me up and tell me, this is what you have to do. she will give me -- she is like 23. she does not have a lot of life. maybe wisdom might help. you have had a lot of life. jeffery tambor: i do. charlie: a life coach is what you are to your kids, you would hope. you are a coach for them. jeffery tambor: yes. they are actually more of a life coach for me. because of the exuberance. the first thing to go in life is exuberance. charlie: you have it at 71.

jeffery tambor: i know. i'm lucky. i know i am lucky. i think this is very odd. what is happening at this age, i thought was going to happen at 35. it is very surprising. charlie: but quite happy. jeffery tambor: yes. you keep harping on this happiness thing. what did i come to? [laughter] charlie: you set it up. jeffery tambor: i am happy. charlie: could this only have happened on something like amazon? jeffery tambor: absolutely. there's no doubt about it. it was so interesting, they are so gutsy and talented. theygot jill soloway, understood her genius and beauty of what she was doing. and the people at amazon, they picked it up and ran.

and not only for one year, for two years. and i sit here -- it is just unheard of. you go to a television set and easy chairs and chairs, people with ideas. we don't have any of that. it's just like, go, go, we trust you. go. charlie: larry sanders was fun. jeffery tambor: it was. it changed my life. gary shandling did a show. i remember watching it and saying, whatever he is doing is what i think comedy is. it's a little messy, little unstructured. sometimes you have to lean in. past aassed a joke -- joke, to something else. and then cut to, i'm in his office, and auditioning, because they couldn't find it. charlie: they couldn't find someone they like?

jeffery tambor: they could not find anyone they liked. i auditioned. i remember, i left my house at 12:00. i had a 3:00 audition. i kept circling. [laughter] charlie: what were you thinking? jeffery tambor: i was just getting it and getting it. i walked in, and i gave it, that was the best audition. charlie: did they come after you and say, it is yours? jeffery tambor: there was a who was sore hank, nervous -- gary read with me. he started to leave. him,ome reason, i stopped i took an entire couch and put it in the door to block his way. i remember gary turning to francine and going like that. and i said, i have it. i called him later that afternoon, around 4:00, or much later, and he was at the gym.

i said, i have never done this before, but i have to play this role. i have never made a call like this. i had the role. charlie: did it make you happy? jeffery tambor: yes, charlie. i was happy. god. [laughter] i was very happy. came "arresteden development." jeffery tambor: it's like the trifecta. it is really something. i know that. nature called me and said, can you come down and play the father? i actually had another series in the works. i played with jason babin that day, ijason bateman that put on the orange jumpsuit, and i had a great time. my other project pulled through.

they said, we are going to do a 13. how many would you like to do? i said, 13. [laughter] charlie: tell me this. looking at you today, avenue one, you seem to me -- has been the personification of a talented actor who was always working. that was your life. loved the profession. loved everything about it. a great life, great family. thereen all of a sudden, comes a role that elevates you to a different place. jeffery tambor: yeah. charlie: couldn't happen to a better guy. jeffery tambor: what a nice thing to say. thank you. i always thought i was going to exist between -- when we grew up, there was a character prototype, fred clark was one. the "r guy, mel, from

dick van dyke show." i said, i will be that character. i'm bald. i went bald when i was 18. i never expected this. i thought it was just good to be, the bald guy. charlie: it is this. being this. jeffery tambor: and you know what? i'm happy. charlie: thank you for coming. jeffery tambor: you are fantastic. you are not good, you are fantastic. inc. you. charlie: thank you. back in a moment, stay with us. ♪ the only way to get better is to challenge yourself,

and that's what we're doing at xfinity. we are challenging ourselves to improve every aspect of your experience. and this includes our commitment to being on time. every time. that's why if we're ever late for an appointment, we'll credit your account $20.

it's our promise to you. we're doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your life. not the other way around. charlie: spike lee is here. his thumbs have become synonymous with new york city. he turned his focus from brooklyn to the windy city, and his newest film, "chiraq". the new york times turned -- calls it urgent, surreal, funny, and an improbable triumph. here is the trailer. [video clip]\ >> this is an emergency. >> homicides in chicago thenois, have surpassed death toll of american special forces in iraq. aq.welcome to chir

♪ land of pain, misery, and strife. riskingbody is everything, all for the bang bang. >> it all started with a gorgeous nubian sister. a woman like no other. >> you just tried taking away their guns. my gun will go boom. >> what else do they love? >> repeat after me. i will deny all rights of access or entrance. >> i will deny all rights of access or entrance. >> she had them all take up a solemn oath. >> lock it up! >> stop the murder madness, or there would be no more.

that's right. you get none. we are going to make sure these fools put down the guns. ♪

charlie: i am pleased to have spike lee back at the table. welcome. you have been so many times. spike: this table could talk. charlie: we would have a bestseller. spike: how are you doing? charlie: thank you for coming. what brought you to this? cowriter, who is also a filmmaker, upper first the -- a professor, he had this ideal, and we tried to get the script made six years ago. upon thept is based .reat play by aristophanes this play is about women using sex to stop the war. we took that premise. charlie: we give you no sex, you have to stop the war. spike: it's locked up.

[laughter] and we took that premise and moved it to the south side of where, i am not bragging about it, but chicago is the murder capital of the united states. part of chicago, not the whole city. the south side is the murder capital of the u.s. today. charlie: there is a lot of gun violence there. why is that? spike: i have been trying to figure this out since i started doing this film. i still don't have the answer, but it is true. what i want people to take away with this film is that we have to, as americans, do something about guns in this country. it is crazy. 88 americans die every day due to gun violence. our images that it is only in

the hood, it is black and hispanic. that is wrong. gun violence affects every american in this country. year.ay, that is 32,000 a americans are no longer here, due to gun violence. charlie: by definition, you believe, if you take guns away, if you could eliminate that, it would make a huge dent. spike: what i would like to see is not infringe upon american citizens' second amendment rights. i just wish it would be more stringent. if you grew up where i did, you might have become a hunter. spike: true, but hunters don't hunt with ak-47s. charlie: right, we're not talking about that. spike: it's the same thing. i think there are many

things we can do. shouldfilm, i think we talk about title guns like cars. there are so many things we can do to bring the number down from 88 per day. charlie: you know the mayor, rahm emanuel, is not happy about the title. spike: we met in may. at this moment, i think the title is the least of his problems. with the feds coming in to look at the police. from top to bottom. and the police commissioner already resigned. is 10 to one, the title of this film is at the bottom. charlie: of the problem for this mayor. spike: yes. and then, for whatever reason,

they sat on that tape. that is a horrific tape. charlie: for a year. spike: for over a year. for me, that is a snuff film. and now, they have another tape that cannot yesterday. i saw that tape, of the guy in san francisco. charlie: video has opened our eyes to examples of -- spike: and who is to say, we don't know what happened before. for me, the first time something i saw was the rodney king tape. where ae first time tape became a national thing. charlie: did make life difficult for you in chicago? spike: no. we had the police with us. charlie: everybody helped you? spike: yes.

there was an alderman giving us a hard time, trying to stop us forhaving a block party, things that i financed myself. trying to make us be disqualified for the tax rebate, because of the title of the film. both of those were unsuccessful. charlie: tell me the story. back -- is story goes charlie: yes, i know that, but here. spike: the women are tired. they live in the southside of chicago. they are tired of the killing. their families are being destroyed. they say, we are going to come together, and lock it up. but the whole strike is a metaphor. in no way are we saying this is the way to stop gun violence in chicago. no one is saying that. woman won a nobel

peace prize using that tactic secondhers, to stop a civil war in liberia. for me, the film is a heightened reality. we have musical numbers, people speaking in verse. in no way are we saying this is reality."o be " charlie: this is also a new arrangement with amazon. first yes, it it is there the article release. they believed in the project. the film came out december 4, and it is doing well. eventually it will go to amazon prime. it is in theaters first. there is a lot of confusing. they think automatically it is straight to their homes. charlie: there will be a delay.

samuel jackson, what do you get? spike: [laughter] the biggest star in the history of cinema, if you go by the amount of money that his films have made. charlie: is that right? more than harrison ford? sam beats them. he beat everybody. he works a lot. [laughter] he's doing a lot of ads also. spike: i directed one of those. charlie: as a favor to him? [laughter] spike: no, he asked me to do them. actually -- charlie: the advertising agency? spike: i direct them. we have not worked together since "jungle fever."

the commercials have brought us back together. so thank you, sam. charlie: this film is about a serious subject. but it is a satire. as you know, this is not the first film in the history of cinema where satire is used to deal with a serious subject matter. one of my favorite films is strangelove," about the new gear holocaust. charlie: stanley kubik. spike: yes. what could be more serious than the destruction on god's planet, and yet, that film is hilarious. it is hard to do, but i think we were very successful. if ite: you were saying was about nuclear weapons, you can do it about guns. spike: yes. but you have to find the right balance between crying and laughing. charlie: in terms of doing

satire, john q sex character -- cusack's character. spike: yes, a white, roman catholic priest, in the south side of chicago, he has been there for 40 years and the obligation is all black. amazing human being. he has been at the forefront of cigarettes,lence, alcohol, he has been at the forefront. he has been a blessing to the film. he was the one who came to chicago. he showed me who to talk to, who i should meet with. he has a real stamp on this film. that is to the character is based upon. charlie: and you have wesley snipes. spike: yes, we worked together before. angela bassett, we worked together on "how can ask." --

"malcolm x." i like to have a team, seasoned veterans, with the youth. charlie: take a look. , explainingstrata her plan to the other women in the neighborhood. here it is. [video clip] >> i'm down for the cause, but how? men to exercise is, by exercising total abstinence from knocking their boots. >> you really think something like that could bring peace? >> you know the problem we have just withholding a day. a week. imagine a month. a year. they are going to bring the peace. >> suppose that they just dump us? >> if we all hold out, who can

make up for it? >> the hoes. >> we will and less than two. if we want to drive, we have to organize. repeat after me. rights of access or entrance. >> i will deny all rights of access or entrance. lover, orery husband, male acquaintance. >> from every husband, lover, or male acquaintance. >> who comes to my direction in erection. >> [laughter] who comes to my direction in erection. spike: that is one of the things we kept in the play. multiple first, inverse.

verse.iple in charlie: was it hard? spike: it wasn't hard, but we , it was spoken word -- two. a couple of times, they would get with it. charlie: did you get that idea from hamilton? spike: no, we wrote this before hamilton. i have seen that six times. screening foral the company. charlie: a special screening? cast, and the company of "hamilton." they loved it. that is a work of genius. charlie: it really is. spike: they've done it again. that's amazing work. charlie: what is next for you? i have to continue to

teach class. charlie: you are a tenured professor at nyu. spike: tenured professor at nyu graduate film school, sir. [laughter] teach third-year students getting ready to do their thesis. charlie: there is a great school at southern cal. [laughter] spike: they will kick their ass in football, but when it comes to film, nyu is numero uno. in the world. charlie: are you living in manhattan or brooklyn? spike: i have lived in and hunt for the past 16 years. charlie: because of your kids? spike: no, my wife said we had to move. everybody knew where we lived. so people were ringing the bell

4:00 in the morning. my brothers and sisters cousin went to school with you, and seventh grade, and we were a landmark. we had to go. but my office is still in brooklyn. charlie: you go out there every day? spike: every day. that is where we do work. charlie: how many movies have you made? spike: i don't know the number. 25?lie: spike: more than that. "jungle fever" came along after three or four years. five years. have you made the great movie you wanted to make? that is a funny question.

charlie: it's just a suggestion that somehow you have been working on in your mind, at some you wantedoject -- x,."ke " malcolm spike: there were two films i wanted to make an work on, but for whatever reason, i did not do it. one was a film about jackie robinson. and the other was about james brown. charlie: they both got made. spike: but not by me. charlie: [laughter] now?ou get financing spike: i think so. i am very grateful to amazon that they wanted to do this. charlie: they have a contract with you, with woody. spike: but that is tv.

i'm grateful to amazon. it was rough until they said ok. charlie: you are perfect for them. they are building a huge empire. an emmy.e one i spike: i like that show very much. i would like to do tv for them. charlie: i suspect that can be worked out. congratulations on this. thank you very much. spike: great to see you. next question? [laughter] i'm excited, 7'1", 23 years old. spike: just turned 20. he can shoot a three, he's got game. -- dirk nowitzki was skinny too, but sensational.

who playedd guess the most points? spike: i was not one of those people crying. charlie: were you there? you knew he was going to be good. spike: i'm not saying that, i just wasn't crying. charlie: have you become a huge carmelo anthony fan? spike: i've always been a fan. come onehe lakers time. usually they came later. but they came early this year. there was a feeling in the garden that this might be kobe's last, the world's most famous arena. garden.square sorry that we won't see him there again. not on the court.

charlie: best team in the nba? spike: you know the answer to that. what team is undefeated? [laughter] the warriors. i love the way they play. i love stephen curry. they don't even have their coach. charlie: he's under contract for under armour. spike: i'm putting that aside. but he could play. charlie: lebron just signed a lifetime deal with nike. how much do you think that is worth? spike: what did the wall street journal say? more than i got. more than me and you both. charlie: is great to have you. thank you for joining us. see you next time. ♪

>> last night, the road to the white house led through las vegas. tonight, it detours through next day analysis. oneliners front and center. performances right. now, this stage is set for the final republican debate next day analysis this year, and america's opinion is at stake. john: on the show tonight, the 2016 candidates on the attack, and some republicans holding