thank you, kate. welcome to "inside politics." i'm john king. thank you for spending your day with us. donald trump and immigration and security issues. >> this budget focuses on keeping america safe, keeping out terrorists, keeping out criminals and putting vie legislate offenders behind bars or removing them from our

country altogether. >> as they await the big speech, republicans are both ee bar and anxious. they need the president's help sorting internal fw op fights on health care, tax reform, and more, and yet they often cringe at his approach and at his words. >> now, i have to tell you it's an unbelievably complex subject. nobody knew health care could be so complicated. >> oh. nobody knew. there's no such divide among the democrats. they already don't like the speech they won't hear until nine hours from now. >> 40 days after his inauguration president trump and the republican congress will have not lifted a finger to create jobs or raise wages for hard-working american families. instead the president has pull wall street first, he has tried to make america sick again, he has instilled fear in communities 'cross america and he's allowed russia's grip on

his administration to jeopardize our national security and undermine our democracy. >> with us to share the reporting and their insights, ashley parker of the "washington post," cnn's jeff sellny and others. let's begin with the big things driving today's politics, most of all this. president trump says tonight's prime-time speech is a chance to improve on his early report card. >> i think i've done great things, but i don't think -- i and my people, i don't think we explained things well enough. in terms of speak, i'd give myself an a but maybe a c or c plus. >> how do you change that? >> maybe during the speech. >> he gave himself a-plus for effort. quickly around the table, grade the president grading himself. >> i would add that c wasn't

really to himself. i think that was to sean spicer and some of his actual communications team. i'd give him a b. >> a b. do you think that refers to the travel ban folks? >> that sounds familiar. president obama also said the policy's spot on. it's the sales pitch that needs work. i think this president is following in that example. but i've not heard him say "c" before. that's pretty interesting that this president would acknowledge room for growth. >> that's exactly right. every president says this at some point, we need to communicate the issue better. but what has he done, what is he going to do. that message hasn't gotten through. >> and it went so well when obama did it. i went completely fine. no. one of the deferences here is some of these policies aren't even formed yet. they're not even pitched. we don't know what he's talking

about on some of these very critical issues. >> right. he has signed these. he wins wlrks it's in washington or out in the country, everybody's talking about it. one thing we do know tonight, we ee going to ask what's the president's tone. talking to the people inside the room. how much is an outside game, talking to people at home. one thing we're certain of, the democrats already don't like it. you heard it at the top of the show, nancy pelosi. here's the flip side in the senate, chuck schumer. >> he talks like a populist but governs like a procore i'd log. >> what do they do. it's a celebration for republicans of power. they control the white house and both chambers. they have a lot of internal parties to deal with. what's the challenge for the

democrats? >> they certainly don't stand and clap with a ton of frequency. one thing is donald trump pleads to a room and a group. that's how it often is. i wonder how by the democrats not being this cheering frenetic crowd he's used to can kind of affect that interplay that he needs to elevate his speech. >> can he get it with the virtual reality? >> for him it's a small crowd. for most it's a big room. for him it's a small crowd. but, look, democrats are in a much different place than they were six weeks or so ago. those things are outside the window. i do think they do not want to be an obstructionist. what would those be? i can't think of anything in

tonight's speed. >> first i want to know if there's going to be an argument over the size of the crowd. there were more than 500 people there. it'sen in been seen before. this is a president since the election night when he had the line one president being for all americans has been seen as passing up opportunity after opportunity. now the democrats will be right in front of him which does create a theatrical opportunity if he wants it. >> how will that be? it won't be as dark and sobering as carnage. will he do that? is it a smart political strategy to know they're going to say no anyway to come in and have combat? >> it doesn't seem like he's made an effort to reach out to

democrats. at the same time. they're not reaching out to him. at the same time, they're allowed to bring a guest in the gallery which is above where the president speaks. there are people on daca, worrying about losing their health care, immigrants who have had trouble. they're going in with the issues they don't like on the president and what the president has pushed. they're not reaching back. >> it's a two-way street. they don't like each other. it will be out of focus as it will be about the speech. there's sum posed to be bibi partisan investigations and whether trump associates reached out during the campaign. but already especially on the house side, you have this.

>> there's no evidence i have had contact with anyone from the trump campaign. >> we're still in the process of examining documents. we've had no witnesses no, subpoenas. it's the beginning of the investigation, not the end. >> you have the bipartisan tensions. they see it as shutting it down before it beginbegins. some of that is politics. how does that affect the mood in town right now? >> i think for starters, it's not great for the white house. even if they want to be exonerated by the investigations, which they claim they will be, you cannot have that sort of partisanship. if they want to be partisan, it's something the white house is going to have to make sure occurs. >> somebody hip me with this. for the second day in a row

george w. years is back. he's not coming out to criticize president trump. he's coming out to help with something that's important to him. when he's coming out, he's giving interviews and tells "people" magazine this. >> i'm interested in where this ends up. yes, i don't like name calling or people feeling alienated. nobody likes that. we've had it before. we always have had a way to come out of it. >> doesn't necessarily criticize president trump. that's our last republican president. >> this is a completely different one. you can see how he was careful toe say certain things, not say other things. doesn't criticize the president, speaks up for the important of the reporters and brings up on

his inside. by the way, the elephant in the room. it was a rather effective message. >> when the president gave his first speed to the joint conference in 2001 and read the news accounts, he did reach out and extend a hand. of course, the country was very divided then, too, on the heel os a recount and things. but his presidency gave rise to the tea party through spending and other things. >> right. >> so as this pretty stands up there and gives his list of the proposals, the president is saying how are we going to do this or pay for that. that's one more example of where the rubber meeting the road. >> we'll deal with some of those questions. up next, a divide seems to be going. will they bridge the gap or widen the internal family feuds.

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welcome back. there are two big audiences for the president tonight. the lawmakers listening and the american people watching at home. let's focus on the inside for a moment. one of the president's urgent challenges tonight is to manage and shape crackling internal party feuds that threaten his first year agenda. a growing list of house conservatives are raising doubts about their racing plan saying it leaves too much in washington and too much to chance. >> i want a full 100% repeal of obamacare. i don't want nevanneveany vesti left behind. >> why not? >> because i don't want to watch it being reconstructed all again. >> look at it right there. a series of tweets pushing for

faster action on obamacare repeal. so the president speaks tonight. yes, the democrats will be in room, but his biggest immediate challenge, he wants to be a man of action. the republicans have a circle firing squad over obamacare. is the president going to do that? could he have a tea party revolt? >> we'll see. he could. the governs. he has had a lot of ideas from governors in his ear. they do not want a rollback. two top advisers to the president are not convinced of the house plan. but gerald kushner, the

son-in-law, is on it. >> it takes more time to get it done. look. democrats see this opening. they see the republicans have a bunch of different ideas. the president has boxed republicans in in some regard during the campaign saying i want you to keep some of the most popular and expensive parts. chuck schumer is trying to poke them. take a listen. >> who would have fight after the fight, it's the republicans, not the democrats who are in disarr disarray, pointing at each other like an "abbott & costello" shosho show. i believe the odds are very high we will keep the aca. it will not be repealed.

>> stylistic point first. i think they would win an argument if they didn't read everything they say. if you keb remember the "abbott & costello" line. chuck schumer, it will not be repealed. >> you'd think. that's something that they've promised and something you're -- >> they voted to do it when you had a democratic president. >> but they caught the car. they don't know what to do with it. they don't want to create another entitlement. that's what you hear from the most conservative. they say it's very, very expensive. >> tax credited to some. here's how you get your health care. washington h get the money.

that's part of it. who is donald trump? we still don't know. house speaker paul ryan who's been very loyal said there's no way we can say we're conservatives unless we deal with social security and medicare. president trump said, no, there's no way you can touch that. paul ryan said if we don't start bending the curve in the out years, we're hosed. his new republican president says don't touch. >> which is what he campaigned on. this president campaigned, cast

an image as a kind of classic movie president who pounds his fist on the table and tells people what they have to do for good of the country. if they do that, he has to decide what they actually want in terms of the good of the country, what that actually means. whether he wants a balanced budget or wants a particular obamacare replacement or not. >> does he sacrifice his principles or gives the president a lot of what he wants? >>. >> i think it's an open question. he says, i'm not going to touch any entitlements. i'm not going to do anything by creating taxes. there is a magical thinking and while donald trump has upended everything every step of the way, it's hard to imagine he can upend the realities of the

numbers and budgets and paul ryan knows that better than anyone. >> he talks about military. he says we're going to cut elsewhere to increase the military. never mind that. he has problems with the republican family. john mccain says it's not enough. the white house says it's a 10% increase. you're basically saying trump is weak. >> you have military hawks saying why are you cutting the state department? it doesn't save that much money and it costsauses a lot of influence. >> we say it flippantly. he's new to this. it will be interesting to see how he addresses the family feud first. we'll get to that next. the challenge of a polarizing country and how trump stacks up

in a court of public opinion.

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welcome back. it's not officially a state of the union address but the speech is a golden opportunity relished by others. the president has by far the lowest approval rating of six presidents. ronald reagan, 65%, george h.w. bush, 51%, clinton, 51%, george w. bush, 62%, obama, 59%, trump at 44%. trump starts with good economy. that's a good thing. the other thing to think of, when the president talks, a lot of those on the coast don't like it. when he talks about immigration

sku security plays well. as we prepare for tonight's speech, let's take a little walk down memory lane sfloo by the year 2020% of our income will be health care. our families will never be secure. our businesses will never be strong and our government will never again befully solvent until we tackle the health care crisis. we must do it this year. >> i hope you'll join me in standing firmly on the side of the people. you see, the growing sur mrs. exists because taxes are too high and government is charging more than it needs. the people of america have been overcharged, and on their behalf, i'm here asking for a refund. >> while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, we are living through difficult and uncertain times. tonight i want every american to know this. we will rebuild.

we will recover. and the united states of america will emerge stronger than before. >> it's interesting to go back. some issues, a, never leave us. bill clinton talking. watch this. this is a new view, an opportunity to set the stage, set the terms of the debate. yes, the inaugural speech gets a lot of play but this is a big opportunity to talk more specifically. i guess back to the question, what's the biggest challenge? >> first of all, one thing that's been fascinating is republicans on capitol hill are desperate for specifics because they don't know where he stands. he says one thing. his vice president or cabinet says something slightly difference.

what we're hearing is it's not going to be a lot of specifics, the doughnut hole and the bear claw. it allows him not to get bogged down but that's not what -- >> you can't do that to me. you said doughnut hole and bear claw. >> give them something to sell. the master salesman needs to give a pitch and give his people something to talk about, a cohesive message. right now it's been sort of scatt scatter shot. he hasn't given them something to sell. >> he wants to say we have a security issue. his agenda is quite ambitious. he can't get this done without help from congress. will they build a wall along the

border? take two on the travel ban. obamacare. roll back regulations, tax. increasing military bending, rewriting trade relationships around the world, it's complicated stuff and yet the republicans want some help, but this president also wants to -- this is a chance to convince people 40 days in when he knows a lot of people are not so sure about him whether he's making progress. >> that archival tape remiejds us this is a ritual. some things don't stand. each person is standing in front of the flag, the vice president, asleep or awake. this is a very unique president who has not said a lot about what he thinks about democracy

or the current system other than he wants to disrupt or blow out. this is a moment when a president who comes from outside of the system gets absorbed by the system. does he embrace that or join them. >> i think meeting the moment, he still has a lot of supporters out there. a lot of people want disruption. the market is on fire, so he enters this evening with a ton of advantages. i think the question is can he meet the moment. looking back, we see how young they look. this is a 70-year-old president here who's going o grow in office. tonight is a chance for him to put some order to his presidency

and reframe the opening moments here if he wants to or if he can simply use it as a chance to fire up hiss base. we've been told again and again. that's optimistic. >> if he wants it, that's very important. a lot of people have said, when is he going to reach out to the clinton supporters and the democrats in town. if you're donald trump and you know they're not going to come your way, what do you do? this has been about the fie dilt of the people who sent him here and everyone else can wait. >> absolutely. everybody hopes it's going to be

a teleprompteteleprompter. whether he reads off the tell prompt ter or read as message, he sold it creditably sort of like the salesman and showman that he is. i have no doubt that's something he can convey. is he a steven miller populist world view. >> we focus as we work here we stress the importance of president and congress. some of these things are out of the president's control. one of the reasons the market is rolling is because they think they're going to get tax breaks. when we come back at one year, two years, three years, and we're gearing up for 2020, this is bittest question. >> i think the numbers are going

to come from a revved up economy. the gdp was 1%. if i could get that up to 3% or 4%, that's a whole didn't ball game. >> he's right. it's a whole different ball game. if they cut taxes there's more coming in and it's a booming reall. we talk about the maneuvering in washington. >> without question. many are looking to embrace tax reform, what specifically is that going to be. i'm told by each in capitol hill, they're expecting an quick.

will that be support? i don't believe so. look what he says tonight. that's what's in it. >> we'll see if the can. you can watch here live on cnn and coverage. our special coverage starts at 8:00 p.m. eastern. up next. democrats are peddling scandal with no facts. it's not over without the debate. visibly reduced in 4 weeks. chest, neck, and face cream from roc®. methods, not miracles.™ on a perfect car, then smash it into a tree. your insurance company raises your rates.

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welcome back. if the goal is open minded, it's refreshing if something goes like this. generally resides with the democrats. >> i talked with two or three yesterday. they're absolutely committed. i talked with marco rubio, he said i'm not going to be part of a white wash or a witch hunt. that's a good way to put it. >> it is a good way to put it. it's capitol hill after all. it's not all come biya. even some republicans are asking. on the house side there's open tension between the republican chairman and the intel commi committee's top democrat. >> that's complete nonsense. because you haven't started it yet, you should never start it

because you don't have it. that's nonsense. >> they can say whatever they want at the end of the day. i hold the gavel. they're in the minority. they ooh going do what they're going to do. we have the votes. if that ever changes, then obviously that would be different. >> ouch. it's a partisan town. there is gambling in the casino and partisan politics in washington. but this is interesting in the sense that these things seemed like on the senate side they were off to a good bipartisan turn down the temperature start but there's a lot of suspicion right now. >> because richard burr was asked to knock down a story by the white house. when you talk with people around that senate committee, you find democrats as well as republicans who take richard burr seriously who take him at his word and maybe beyond his word that he wants a serious investigation here. a remark was made earlier on

this program which was, true, though, the senate investigation hasn't really begun. they're still talking with the intelligence agencies about what they would investigate, about what documents they would ask for, what information they would get and the important thing there is it's so very, very, very early, which means if there is a serious investigation, it's going to be a very long drip, drip, drip for the white house. >>en the senate side, susan collins said we have to be careful about creating any appearance that the integrity has been compromised. but she accepts, gets it. own the house side, dennis nunez is saying why i don't they have evidence when to stephen's point, they're just starting. he keeps saying there's no evidence. democrats are mumbling he has no

say here. >> i'm not sure it's all that helpful for the chairman to be saying that but on the senate side, senator bur, i this think is also -- i would be surprised to see him have any more contact with the white house, calling reporters and things. this is something that's going to go on for a long time. and to your poiblts, this is something that's going to be background music, if you will, potentially for -- i don't know if the whole year, but i i guess beyond that. this is one of the issues in which there have been a lot of leaks in town and the president doesn't like leaks. it's not just about the investigation. the president doesn't like the leaks. there's been leaks about white house infighting and that. listening to him on fox news.

>> you never know what's exactly happening behind the scenes. you know, i think president obama is behind it because his people are certainly behind it and some of the leaks possibly come from that group, you know, some of the leaks which are very serious leaks because they're very bad in terms of national security, but i also understand that's politics and in terms of him being behind things that's politics and it will probably continue. >> >> that's pretty awesome power for a former president if that's true. >> behind the leaks, the mass protests, he's certainly keeping busy. let's keep in mind they don't like the part looking into their contact potentially with the rugs but investigate in the actual leaks and where they came from. that is something the white house is very eeg gar to get to the bottom of and this investigation could help and we

can find out if it's president obama or not. >> to be fair to what the president is saying, his former political organization is organizing them to go out. there are a lot of obama holdovers in the government. they've been so slow filling, these are important jobs. >> you have them leaking. you have presidents who have a long running relationship with the media. can i just speak up for leaks for just a moment? >> amen, brother. >> obviously we've got an interest here. i toejts mean every leak. some are bad. some are horrible secrets but we live in a democracy. and one of the ways we have a public discussion about sensitive issues is through people talking anonymously from time to time. >> i want to work in one more issue. we talked earlier how the democrats have decided they don't like this speech before they hear it. the question is will the president reach out at all? in the 15i78 interview, we talk

about nancy pelosi. >> i've been watching nancy's tape. i think she's incompetent if you look at what's going on with the democrats and the party. it's getting smaller and smaller. i like a two-party system and we're going to have a one-party system. i think a two-party system is healthy and good. but she's done a terrible job. >> she's wrong. >> i don't think she's a good spokesman. she's certainly wrong. >> my favorite part is i've been watching nancy's tape. he's a good tv guy. >> i think he's wrong in the sense that we're a one-party system. as the census comes up during his presidency, the district is going to be redrawn. he's right in the sense the republicans have an upper hand. of course, that changes every

time. if you go back and look, most of them in their first speech had a member of their own party behind them. that changes in the midterm elections. 2018, now that far behind. >> i think the republicans would love it if we dealt with a one-party system. coming up next, the president making a trip to the blue state. the reason for that road trip? it's up next. you get delicious, premium veggies, steamed to perfection. now! ♪ ahhhhhhhhhhh... mmmm heavenly, right? birds eye steamfresh. so veggie good. and her new mobile wedding business.tte at first, getting paid was tough... until she got quickbooks. now she sends invoices, sees when they've been viewed and-ta-dah-paid twice as fast for free. visit quickbooks-dot-com. my advice for looking get your beauty sleep. and use aveeno® absolutely ageless® night cream with active naturals® blackberry complex.

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welcome back.

let's go around the table. ashley carter. >> i look back at what people think about president trump five weeks into his presidency. the trump supporters like what he's done. they've praised the immigration ban to me, the border wall, the one complaint i heard is he hasn't stuck by general flynn. that's another reminder he has two audiences, the people in the room and the people back at home who would like him to keep his campaign promises. jeff? >> this president trump is taking his message on the road this week. a f his speech he ee going to virginia, first time visiting the blue state since his election. he's spent a lot of time in the red states. he will be giving a speech on the military aboard the uss gerald ford, i'm told. the thing that hangs over his entire presidency, can the move that got him to the white house

happen? will his supporters of the movement actually propel some of those republicans along here? he begins that even though it's in a blue state. a lot of republicans in southern virginia. he starts that later this week. >> that will be fun to watch. president on the road. steve? >> i've been thinking about automation. much larger, for example, than trade deals. it's something on the minds of bill gates and elon musk and people in congress i've talked with. no one has figured out how to talk about it in a political sense. how you do address that lot of jobs when jobs are supposed to be at the center of the agenda. >> nobody's figured out a way. it's an interesting point. jackie? >> we've been talking about trump's hardest sell might be with republican and mark meadows, the head of the freedom caucus who opposed the republican plan of the draft that's come out indicated how

hrd it would be. told roerters that more than 22 members oppose this plan. i mean they don't have the votes yet to get this through. when asked if he could convince them, he's starting a n a tough place. >> that's interesting. we'll circle back tomorrow. tonight isn't just a first for president trump. democrats get their first opportunity to respond to a prime-time address. the perfect opportunity to show case a fresh face, right? instead they chose a 72-year-old governor of kentucky. kentucky. from a messaging standpoint there's good logic to this choice but it's also a pretty stark reminder. house democratic leader nancy

pelosi is 76. democratic leader chuck shuker, 66. and the democrats control 15 of the governorships. governor bashir's response, a pretty stark reminder. thanks for joining us today on "inside politics." we'll be back here tomorrow. wolf blitzer with much more. he'll talk with lawmakers on both sides. all that right after a quick break. full value of your totaled new car. the guy says you picked the wrong insurance plan. no, i picked the wrong insurance company. with liberty mutual new car replacement™, you won't have to worry about replacing your car because you'll get the full value back including depreciation. and if you have more than one liberty mutual policy, you qualify for a multi-policy discount, saving you money on your car and home coverage. call for a free quote today. liberty stands with you™. liberty mutual insurance.

hello. i'm jim sciutto in for wolf blitzer. it's 1:00 p.m. in washington. from wherever you're watching around the world, thanks very much for joining us today. donald trump preparing for the most crucial speech for his presidency so far. you're looking at live pictures

from capitol hill where the president will address a joint session of congress tonight. the stakes are very high but the president trump says his goal is simple. >> all i can do is speak from the heart. >> the white house says the president will strike a hopeful tone in contrast to images of american carnage, you may remember, in his inaugural address. the theme of tonight, renewal of spirit and optimism for all americans. the president says it is a chance to better get his message across. >> i think i've done just about more than everybody in the first four weeks. i think e've done great things, but i don't think i and my people, i don't think we've explained it well enough to the american public. i think i get an a in terms of what i've actually done. in terms of messaging, i give myself a c or c plus. >> h