the 6:00 p.m. eastern hour, america crumbles, our special series you'll see those reports. to oh our viewers thanks for watching. i'll wolf blitz ner the situation room. erin burnett outfront starts right now. outfront next wrb breaking news the white house admitting trump's comments about dirt from foreign adversaries was a mistake as the president tries to justify what he said. plus more breaking news. justice department's friday night dump releasing its justification for keeping trump's tax returns secret. are democrats out of options? and the treasury secretary steve mnuchin controversial wife? did her attempt at damage control massively back fire? let's go outfront. and good evening i'm erin burnett outfront tonight the breaking news a source close to the white house telling cnn tonight there is frustration inside the white house over the president's interview with abc news. according to the source, the clips which include the president saying he would

happily take dirt on political opponents in the 2020 election, dirt from russia have, quote, been tough. this comes as the president today is offering two strange justifications for that answer, vofgt foreign interference and aid during the election. here is the first one. from a phone interview on fox this morning. >> first of all, i don't think anybody would present me with anything bad because they know how much i love this country. nobody is going to present me with anything bad. >> so the fact that trump said he would listen to whatever foreign adversary had to say doesn't matter because they won't call him because he loves his country. well trump of course said he loves his country many times and said so many times before russia reached out to his son last campaign. >> i love this country. >> i love this country. >> i love the country. >> i love this country. >> all that love didn't stop russia from reaching out and it

didn'tscopy stop trump's campaign from ego early taking the meeting in trump tower. let's move to the president's second attempt to justify his remarks. >> number two, if i was -- and of course to look at it because if you don't look at it you don't know if it's bad. how do you know if it's bad. but of course you'd give it for the fbi or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that. but of course you'd do that. you wouldn't -- you couldn't have that happen with our country. and sv understands that. if i thought anything was incorrect or badly stated, i'd report it to the attorney general, the fbi, i'd report it to law enforcement, absolutely. >> so the president of the united states says he will take the information from the russians, see what they have tp do with it what he wants and tip off the fbi only if the information is incorrect or badly stated? in his judgment? so he decides what the fbi should know about when it comes to a foreign adversary trying to

tip the scales in an american election. tonight trumps remarks he would accept information offered by the foreign governments raises concerns. the chair wom issuing a scathing statement reminding everyone it's illegal to receive foreign assistance in elections. i'll speak for the chair woman ellen winona traub but first abbey phillips outfront live outside the white house. what more are you learning about the reaction to the president's attempts to i don't know what it is, justify, explain it, clean it up? well, erin it has been a tough couple much days for the white house. that's the candid acknowledgement i and my colleague jim acosta hear from a.i.d.s. in the building. they acknowledge this has been a difficult few days in part because the president answered those questions, a series of questions posed by george stephanopoulos about what he said do in that situation. they acknowledged he didn't answer the questions well. he created in whole fire storm for the white house that they have now spent the last 12 hours

trying to clean up. but at the same time, you know, a.i.d.s. tell mean they think on the -- on the mark that matters the most to president trump, they don't think that the fallout from in has been that bad. this aide told me that they believe that the president supporters are not necessarily going to take what the president said literally and that this controversy they believe is more -- more or less limited to democrats and the media. they are discounting some of the criticism coming from even republicans on capitol hill. and you can see in the president peace response in afternoon as he tweeted a thank you to senators marsha blackburn, the senate majority leader mitch mcconnell he thanks people on the hill he noted are defending him, stepping out there and blocking democratic efforts for example to pass a bill that would require campaigns to report this kind of activity to the fbi. so there is a sense among the president's aides that they would have preferred that this

interview not happen, frankly. they would have preferred the president didn't answer the question in way. but given the cards they've been dealt i think they think the fallout is going to be fairly limited to a sort of inside of the beltway type of reaction to what the president had to say erin. >> abbey, thank you very much. and let's go flou to the chair of the federal election commission. ellen weintraub, a exact appointed by a republican president george w. bush. and chairwoman thank you for your time. let's listen to part of the comments we heard. he says of course i'm getting you have to look at it because if you don't look it at it you're not foeg if it's bad. refrlg referring to dirt offered to him by russia about an opponent. that's how he explains or justifies taking the information in and then deciding whether to call the fbi. would you think that's okay? or advise a candidate to look at the information first to see if it's, quote, bad before calling the fbi? >> well, erin, first, thank you for inviting me on.

i'm just here in my capacity as chair of the fec. part of my job is to make sure everyone understands the law i'm happy to have the opportunity to explain to the american public. i don't want to comment on any particular comment or conduct by any individual candidate. but i do want to emphasize that the law is completely clear that it is absolutely illegal for anyone in the united states to solicit accept or receive anything of value from a foreign source in connection with an election. >> right. i mean that is literally the quote i'll put it up on the screen. let me just be clear. information, right, of value is something of value, correct? i mean it -- we're not talking about getting a box from tiffanys although i'm sure we could be. we're talking about information. that's a things of value, correct. >> it can be. >> so when -- when mueller in his report did not charge the president on the issue of collusion or conspiracy, in part

he said because he would have had a hard time calculating the value. so the mueller report says chairwoman, the office would encounter difficulty proving yord that the value of the promised documents and information exceeds the $2,000 threshold for a criminal violation as well as the $25,000 threshold for a felony punishment. how hard is it to put a price tag on information? >> well, again, not commenting on any particular information, the fec has a long history of putting values on information. and information in the opposition research category is something that has a market value. people pay money for it. hire people to do opposition research. so there is a mechanic for it. there is a value for it. and we have look at things that are hard to value in the past. and found a way to value it. >> all right. so information has a value. and you think we can get to numbers when we need to. let me just read your statement, chairwoman again. you in part said let me make

something 100% clear to the american public or anyone running for public service. it is illegal to solicit except or receive anything of value from a foreign national in kweks a u.s. election. your tweet said i would not have thought i needed to say this. obviously you owe say it on the heels of the president's comments about not calling the fbi. why did you feel the need to speak out now. >> as i said it's part of my job to make sure all candidates understand the law. and i want to make sure the law is completely understood by everyone. because this is a particularly important law. it is fundamental to our system that we have the right as american citizens to select our candidates and our office holders. and we should not be tolerating any kind of foreign interference from a foreign country from any foreign national but particularly from a foreign government. the founding fathers understood in. that's why we have protections written into law to make sure

that in doesn't happen. >> when congress is now dsh you know you've got democrats talking about adjusting the law do you think there needs to be more clarity around this issue of putting a value on information? sfl any change in the law that would help you at this point? or do you think that it works the way it is? >> well, i think the law is pretty clear as it is. but i certainly think it could be supplementwood greater protections to ensure that we are not having our democracy threatened from abroad. and there are a variety of bills that have been introduced in the house and the senate. i wish that all members of congress would come together putting aside partisanship, bus this really is not a partisan issue. we all should be able to agree on keeping foreign intervention out of our elections. >> we should be -- i have to ask you. as the chair of the federal election existing, when you heard the president make those comments were you surprised to hear that? that he would maybe not call the fbi? >> again, i'm not going to comment on any particular comment. but i thought it was appropriate

in my official capacity to make smur that every candidate understood what the law is. >> all right. well chairwoman weintraub i appreciate your time thank you so much. >> thank you. >> and next trump thanking senator mitch mcconnell tonight after the majority leader said this. >> they just can't let it go, laura. i said weeks ago case closed. >> so why is mcconnell protecting trump on this? plus a former cia director says trump has violated the oath of office. why? leon panetta is outfront next. and breaking news the battle over trump's taxes escalating. the justice department in more than 30 minnesota page memo rejecting democrat's demands for the president's taxes. >> announcer: erin burnett outfront, brought to you by fastsides, more than fast, more than signs. ate a better visitor experience. improve our workflow. attract new customers. that's when fastsigns recommended fleet graphics. yeah, and now business is rolling in.

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president trump praising the senate majority leader mitch mcconnell for defending his comments that if he opened dirt for a to to rival. >> thank you mitch mcconnell for not playing it straight on the witch hunt hoax if the senate. mcconnell did not have the slightest bit of criticism. >> they just can't let it go, laura. i said weeks ago case closed. he gets picked at every day over every different aspect of it. but the fundamental point is

they are trag to keep the 2016 election alive and the investigation alive when the american people have heard enough. they got the mueller report. they would like for us to do some business. >> outfront now former republican senator and presidential candidate rick santorum and jan voens a adviser of president obama and host of the van jones show and the redemption project on cnn. van shouldn't this have been an easy thing for senator mcconnell to tell president trump he was wrong about? >> well, i mean, yeah. part of the thing is you would hope at this point that someone like senator mcconnell would be able to -- say, listen i'm a senator in charge of one of the most important legislative bodies of the history of the world. we are under attack from foreign powers our dpkz is in perfectly i'm not wait wasting time what the defendant president sasz i'm bringing everybody together get something done. i understand i tries to defend the indefensible and even president trump won't defendway he said.

which is unfortunate, ridiculous, but we are losing sight of the fact that we are 18 months away from an election we're going into toemgtsly defenseless with foreign powers swirling around on being egged on by the president and the majority leader. it's unfortunate. >> senator? >> well, i don't think we're totally defenseless against foreign power on our election process. i think we have a relatively strong election. and the reality is that mitch skmaunl is like most republicans they're tired of having to respond to every day to something outrageous the president says. and they'd rather not do that. they'd rather do what mitch mcconnell's job to do, try to get some things done in the united states senate. and that's what mitch was focused on. he is up for re-election himself. what we see is the preoccupation of the democrats all they want to talk about, and media talks about is the latest ridiculous thing the president says. and i agree, look the president shouldn't have said that yesterday. he says he shouldn't have said it yesterday. i don't think. >> except for he is not really he is not saying he shouldn't

have said it. ep says now of course i'd take the information and if badpyly stated or incorrect i'd call the fbi. i guess for him that's maybe changing it a little bit because he can't say i'm sorry i was wrong. >> well. >> it's not taking it back and saying he was wrong. >> he said he would turn it over to the fbi. and i -- the president, again, language is not precise. and so he says bad, and uses rather simple words. what i think what he means is that if -- if this is information that -- that is obviously something that -- that a government is transferring to us and by the way, the russian government isn't to going to say say hey i'm from the russian government i'm somebody official and i'm going to give you in information. i mean that's not how information -- opposition research. >> often no. although in the case of trump tower meeting it was pretty much that direct, it was the russian government. >> no it was not. >> it wasn't a government official. so, the idea, look, that this

is -- this is a real threat that be e, that the government itself is going to start communicating or will communicate with us, it's just not a reality. and if that were the case, it would be pofb to -- that you would not take that information. >> okay. but here is the thing. it should be obvious and should be intuitive as john no one the number two republican in the senate said. but of course it isn't. and now there is a tout out there again. john no one said there is an easy answer if you get a question. the answer is no you report it to the fbi mitt romney came out as you both know and said it would be unthinkable for a candidate for president to accept that involvement to encourage it. it would strike at the very heart of our democracy. which is why some people think that this isn't just another day let the president say something whatever words you want to use. inartful, awful, whatever it is. mitt romney thinks it strikes at the heart of our democracy. what would it take van for mitch mcconnell to speak out at this point. is there anything that for mitch mcconnell would strike at the heart of the dpkz from this

president? >> you know, i sometimes think when we look back ten years from now, 20 years from now as bad as people may see some aspects of the trump presidency, i think that mitch mcconnell may not look very good. he may look as bad. because you need leadership now. and you don't have to attack the president trump. i understand it's hard to attack a sitting president. that's -- when -- of your own party. but the which you do it is you just get out in front of the president. you convene the summit. you bring together -- you reach out to nancy pelosi and say let's pull together a bipartisan kwon veeng on this. this election protection question. let's get the best thinking of private sector of both parties. you don't have to attack the president but you can lead him to a better place. he won't even to that. and my understanding is part of it fear of that is he is afraid that if he does that it's seen as an attack on the president. somebody has to do something here and not enough is being done. >> because -- it will be an attacken the president let's be honest all the pieces of

legislation designed to be attack on the preponderate and you just heard the fec commissioner, you heard the f. krechlt kbhirgs err saying there are laws in place dealing with all this. >> she did say she would welcome a supplement although happy with what she had to be cheer that's what she said. but senator i'm curious, because all right i understand the point you make about the sitting president now he is a president. i talk to mitch mcconnell back on june 2006, the majority leader trump was not the official nominee things were different for him for trump. but he sounded completely different senator here he is. >> he is now one of the two people that are going to be president of the united states of america. and he needs to begin act like a presidential candidate. i have listed all of last week every occasion upon which i differed with donald trump. particularly attacking people on the basis of their ethnicity. totally inappropriate. >> senator, that mitch mcconnell is a real mitch kpaunl. right that's what he thought and felt he wouldn't say that now.

>> well. >> why? >> well a couple of things. mitch mcconnell is up for re-election in kentucky. kentucky is a very strong pro trump state. and there is no reason for mitch mcconnell to go out there and -- and find -- and be divisive when it comes to the president. it's not good for him politically to do so and i suspect he is not going to do it. and it's not an irrational thing for mitch mcconnell to do. it's not that as you have seen mitch mcconnell has not called the president out on numerous occasions over the past several years. it's just no reason to do it in this case. >> well i'm glad you said that because i had a whole bunch cued up we are out of time but i had several examples fs mitch mcconnell refusing to call him out great to have you. and this weekend on cnn don't miss the redemption probability, sunday night at 9:00. you don't want to miss it. and next breaking news. a u.s. official citing more evidence tonight that iran was behind the brazen attack on two oil tankers. president trump leaving no doubt where he stands.

>> well, iran did do it. and you know they did it because you saw the boat. irgs one of the mines didn't explode. >> former defense secretary and cia director leon panetta outfront next. the justice department on why president trump should not turn over his tax returns. feel the clarity of non-drowsy claritin and relief from symptoms caused by over 200 indoor and outdoor allergens. like those from buddy. because stuffed animals are clearly no substitute for real ones. feel the clarity.

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and see the secret life of pets 2 in theaters. breaking news. u.s. officials telling cnn they have even more evidence that iran is behind the attack on two tankers in the gulf of oman. the attack escalating tensions between the u.s. and iran. and michelle kusinski outfront. >> a tanker still smolders in the gulf of oman after it was attacked thursday. while a u.s. official tells cnn's barbara starr is trying to prevent it from being towed. another official saying when an american drone tracked iranian boats prior to the attacks op be two ships iran fired a surface to air missile at it. it missed. the source did not say the drone captured the iranian boats conducting the actual attack. a string of incidents now gnat u.s. squarely blames on iran.

>> iran did do it. and you know they did it because you saw the boat. >> the president referring to this extraordinary video shot from u.s. aircraft and released by the pentagon showing what u.s. officials say is a boat from iran's elite revolutionary guard coming up to the hull of the japanese tanker hours after it was rocked by an explosion and remove whag a u.s. official says was an unexploded mine to hide the evidence iran was behind it. in photos you see the daniel to the hull from the first explosion. one senior diplomatic source from a u.s. ally telling cnn it is now virtually certain iran did this. that same source pointing out though there seems to be what they call a straight line from u.s. actions leaching the iran nuclear deal, sanctioning iran, increasing the military posture in the region, to what is happening now. the iran is feeling the pressure. and lashing out but not changing behavior not coming back to the

negotiating table, at least not yet. the president today insisting his policy is working. >> they've changed since i've been president. i can tell you now all of a sudden they're pulling back. they're pulling back from everywhere. >> sources tell cnn there is evidence that iran feels the financial pinch, its oil sales hampered by sanctions and it's tougher for iran to fund many proxy operations overseas. >> we have an international situation there in the middle east. it's not a u.s. situation. >> yet attack the like these continue to send the message to the u.s. in threat and fire that iran won't be deterred for now. >> and iran defies any involvement saying that the u.s. toes not have a shred of evidence. of course the u.s. think it's evidence is crystal clear, not so clear though, what does the u.s. do next? say the acting secretary of defense saying the immediate fwoel wagon to build consensus internationally that iran was behind this. from u.s. allies what we hear is

agreement with the u.s. assessment but not the same kind of blatant blaming of iran at least for now. and remember, the european countries they want to keep what's left of the iran nuclear deal. and in the investigation that came out of the last tanker attacks that happened only weeks ago, those countries that were involved concluded only that a state actor was likely to blame. but they did not name iran. >> thank you very much, michelle. outfront now leon panetta former second secretary of defense and direct under president obama. cia director. thank you for being with me. if secretary of state poch oyan president trump are right and the iran is behind the attacks on tankers in the middle east, when you see the images, it is disturbing. it does seem that things escalate,right. i mean here is some video. iranianens that the united states say this is the iranian unloading an exploded mine from

a tanker. the japanese shipping companies from a tanker says a crew member saw a flying object. it looks like there are various interpretations. but when you see the video of what happened here, do you look and say, this looks like the work of iran? or do you have doubts? >> no, i really don't have very many doubts about, you know, what you saw. the fact is the iranians, their whole effort has been to establish the smaller vessels that are armed with mines and with other military equipment and -- and usually swarm these small ships into the straits of hormuz. that's their tactic. i think clearly it does represent a dangerous moment, because what -- what concerns me and what ought to concern the president and everyone else is that there is a real risk of

miscalculation here. that once these incidents take place they're going to be countered with other efforts to make clear that this can't happen. and that means escalation. and so the real question here is how long is in pressure going to continue? how long are we going to test each other? and when are we going to be able to find some kind of diplomatic solution. >> i want to ask you, director, about the president saying that he would take dirt on political opponents in the election and take it from foreign adversaries including russia. and he wouldn't necessarily call the fbi. in fact he said he has never called the pib, who would. take a listen. >> i think you might want to listen. there is mog wrong with listening. if somebody called from a country, norway, we have information on your opponent, oh, i think i'd want to hear it. >> you want that kind of interference in our elections. >> it's not interference. they have information. i think i'd take it.

>> obviously he is the sitting president of the united states of america. does this qualify in your mine as an impeachable act? >> well, you know, the president of the united states swers an oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. and to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic. and for him to take a position that is against the law in this country, i mean the law says that no one should receive any kind of benefit, any candidate who receives a benefit from any foreign country is violating the laws of our country. that's clear. it's a violation of law. and for the president of the united states to say he would be willing to take that information and not have to call the fbi, i think represents a violation of

the oath of office that this president took. >> president trump gave a confusing answer this week again taking on his intelligence agencies it seems. there was a report, right, the cia had recruied kim jong un's half brother kim jong nam as a informant and when kim jong un found out that he was a cia informant that was why he had him killed, which of course we knew he had killed him obviously a while back. but we now know he was a cia informant. here is what the president said when he heard. >> i saw the information about the cia with respect to his brother or half brother. and i would tell him that would not happen under my -- under my auspices that's for sure. i wouldn't let that happen under my auspices. >> then the president later said, oh, when i said it's not what i meant it's what i said and then never actually said what he actually meant. if i'm making sense here. you were -- did you were obviously the director of the

cia for 2009 to 2011. i mean, did you know kim jong nam was used as an informant? >> well, i -- as the director i cannot comment on who was or was not an asset, because all of that is classified information. but having said that, if we could get into, you know, putin's family, if we could get into assad's family, get into kim jong un's family, then the ability to get there and get that kind of intelligence is incredibly important to our ability to be able to defend ourselves against those draefrss. for the president to say he wouldn't do it i think is just another reflection the president doesn't understand miss responsibility to defending in country. >> i mean, why -- because i'm trying to understand why would he say that? >> i mean in a sense i'm -- i'm friends with kim jong un -- i mean as a former director of the cia when you hear that how do

you get your head around it. >> well, it's been a strange presidency with in president. and the intelligence agencies. at some point he has to learn the support the intelligence agencies. otherwise he will notable able to protect our country, period. >> director panetta, thank you very much. >> good to be with you. outfront next breaking news, the justice department says congress has no rights to trump's tax returns. the top democrat leading the charge on the taxes responds here next. plus elizabeth warren about to take the stage in new hampshire tonight as she rises in the polls. is this why? >> i've got a plan for that. the good news is i've got a plan for that. and i got a plan for that.

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short, 33 pages. . they laid out the argument. why does the doj say it's okay to defy this subpoena. >> erin, the heart of the argument here is that the text of tax code may say one thing but reality is another matter. as we've reported chairman neil has been at war with the the justice department and irs for months getting with getting the taxes. he says he needs them to look at legislative proposals on tax law and auditing. the justice department says that's all non-sense says it's not legislate him congressional oversight and the exacting whatever they can to make the taxes public something the justice department dismisses as pure politics and therefore says that secretary mnuchin basically had a duty to deny chairman neil's request. and the language is really sweeping. i just want to read part of it where the justice department says the committee stated purpose blinks ram. it's pretextual, no one could reasonably believe the committee seeks six years of president trump's tax returns because of a

newly discovered interest in legislating on the presidential audit process. of course this isn't the end of the story. chairman neil so far hasn't made any moves to get his subpoenaed enforced in court. but that's where all of this is skt is likely headed. today as opinion from the justice department shows an aggressive stance this administration plans to take the keep the tax returns under wraps, erin. >> laura thank you very much. and i want to go to the democratic congressman from lloyd doggett sitting on the house ways and means committee. here we are, congressmaning with defying your subpoena. you just heard what laura said. they are saying look, no one could believe gnaw guys want six years of the president's tax returns because you suddenly are interested in quote legislating on the presidential audit process. which of course was one of the justifications given. what's your reaction when they just tell new 33 pages, take a hike. >> well, erin, i know that if the opinion hadn't denied our request the attorney general would never have issued it. i wouldn't expect anything else

but excuses from someone who has really become the taxpayer finance personal attorney for donald trump. i believe that despite this 33 pages of what is legalese but same the excuses zpoit all that shall means shall. we have a very legitimate interest in getting information to assure audits are being done properly. we know the audit was not done properly in the nixon years. and what really trump and in justice opinion are saying is much like the old nixon claim that whenever the president does it that means it's not illegal. we have a number of legitimate purposes, one which has been enumerated by mr. neil. and there is nothing this this opinion that justifies defying the returns. and i think it's important to note that in is the same office which years back opined that a sitting president couldn't be

indicted. and that's the opinion that handcuffed bob mueller from dieting president trump. i just -- this is just noerp chapter in the total obstruction strategy and it underscores why we democrats need to take bolder action to hold the president accountable. >> i know you talked about starting formal impeachment proceed progresses. >> yes. >> if you continue on this path you fight the subpoena, the chief deputy whip sitting with you on the house waist and means committee. he says this fight in court go over a year. you might not get in my they will until after the election. >> that's right. >> if there was a impeachment proceeding could you get them more quickly. >> well, you know, this request was not made until april. there's been no action in court. there -- it is strerdly unlikely that we would get the returns this year. it's a challenge to get them before in term of congress ends. and it's all the more reason why we should proceed with an

impeachment inquiry. this president does not believe that he is accountable to anyone, that he is a law unto himself. he has a former campaign finance chair, mr. mnuchin seeking opinions from someone who acts as his personal attorney. and it's also very important to note. >> okay. >> that they already got a -- an opinion from the internal revenue service tax counsel that reach the contrary conclusion, that these documents needed to be provided. >> okay. >> they didn't like that one so they sought foreone. >> congressman, i appreciate your time. >> thank you erin. >> congressman doggett from the mouse ways and means committee. next the elizabeth warren the senator gaining momentum in the police. and president trump taking notice. >> now i see that poshe is doin >> an interview meant to rehab image but did the controversial

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tonight, the fight for 2020, senator elizabeth warren has been rising in the police with a successful strategy of remining

voters she has plen of plans she is speaking here live and this is what she said moments ago. >> we need to attack the corruption head on. just go after it. call it out and go after it. and i have a plan for that. >> jessica dean is outfront. >> elizabeth warren is a candidate on the rise. >> it's going to take big structural change. >> senator warren has spent months steadily taking her message to voters, snapping selfies with any and all who ask. in a crowded 2020 democratic field, the massachusetts senator has a clear message. >> i've got a plan for that. >> the good news is i got plan for that. >> in fact i got a lot of plans. >> yes, she does. warren is the 2020 policy pace setter. so far she has rolled out 21 proposals including plans to tackle student debt, break up

big tech and provide universal child care. >> for people much color, even rockier and even steeper. >> today she unveiled a new proposal for minority entrepreneurs. which would use $7 billion to create to provide grants to entrepreneurs of color, paid for by what she calls an ultra millionaire tax. >> by golly, when you make it really big, the top one-tenth of 1%, pitch in two cents so everybody else gets a chance to make it in america. all right. >> reporter: another area where warren has been a trend setter among 2020 democrats? calling on congress to begin impeachment proceedings against president trump. >> i took an oath to the constitution of the united states, and the constitution makes clear that the accountability for the president lies through congress, and that's the impeachment process. >> reporter: warren has not been shy about taking on her fellow

candidates either, specifically the front-runner, former vice president joe biden. the two clashed on bankruptcy legislation in the 2000s, and that remains an issue where warren draws a contrast. >> senator biden was on one side in that fight and i was on the other, and you better believe i didn't hold back. >> hello, bedford! >> reporter: warren's strategy appears to be paying off as polls show her jockeying for second place with senator bernie sanders behind biden. a new quinnipiac national poll shows warren with 15% support to sander's' 19%. the critical first caucus state of eye way, a cnn poll of likely democratic iowa caucus goers show warren at 15% to sanders' 16%. a monmouth poll from nevada shows warren in second place with 19% to sanders' 13%. even president trump is acknowledging her climb in the polls, talking about warren directly for the first time in weeks. >> i would love to run against her, frankly. >> reporter: as her campaign

gains steam, warren is keeping her focus on the road ahead. she says it is too early to be talking about polls and said she wants to keep her focus on her plans that she believes can make a difference. we will see her travel next to south carolina this weekend, erin, where she will join a handful of other 2020 candidates to speak to the black economic alliance forum. >> jessica, thank you very much. next, the wife of treasury secretary steven mnuchin. ah. you know, it is like, you know, something like that is going to solve all of the problems, right?

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reabut we all know we'rely paying too much for it. enter xfinity mobile. america's best lte, with the most wifi hotspots combined for the first time. when you're near an xfinity hotspot you're connected to wifi, saving on data. when you're not, you pay for data one gig at a time. use a little, pay a little. use a lot, just switch to unlimited. it's a new kind of network. call, visit or go to xfinitymobile.com. tonight damage control. the controversial wife of treasury secretary steve mnuchen attempting to rehab her image with a wide-ranging interview. indicate bennett is outfront. >> reporter: of all of the cabinet spouses in donald trump's administration --

>> what are you looking forward to? >> everything french. >> reporter: there is perhaps no one like louise lynn ton, the actress, movie producer and wife of treasury secretary steven mnuchen. linton, who infamously instagramed herself deplaning a government jet two years ago, pointing out the designer clothes and accessories she was wearing, has since opted for a lower profile, trying to rehab her image. but a revealing new interview in "los angeles" magazine shows that linton, now based in l.a., is still making waves. >> she says, if i was doing this right i would bewaring a swim sweater set and pearls, but that's not her. she's an actress. she lives in hollywood. so in some ways she kind of does break the mold. >> reporter: like unprovoked, deciding to jump into her swimming pool in the middle of the interview. what is clear, washington, d.c.

with its politics and protocol was not linton's favorite place, telling the magazine, quote, "i felt very lonely and isolated. i didn't have any friends there. i never got much guidance. you know that movie "the princess diaries" where a mentor held her hand saying, walk this way, talk this way, don't do this, don't do that? well, i didn't have anyone like that." true, but perhaps a guide shouldn't be necessary to stop once from holding money in the u.s. mint wearing leather gloves. her reason for the designer duds? the chill. quote. you have heard of cold cash, right? they call it that because it is kept freezing cold there. i was warned ahead of time so i came prepared. >> i think she felt a need to explain herself or just separate herself from the stereotypical image that we have of her. in some ways she did, i think in some ways she didn't. >> reporter: linton seems to

understand why she's understand scrutiny. it sucks being perceived as a person that you're not. it sucks being hated. look, i made some rookie mistakes. i understand why people are angry about me getting off that government plane tagging fashion brands. it was a stupid thing to do. now days she says she is recovering from washington life, even changing the channel when her husband is on discussing government news and she is fresh at work on a new screen play for a movie in which she intends to produce and star. the plot, linton says, it is loosely based on my own life. the working title is "celebrity." so louise linton did just have an audience with the queen. she was with the secretary, secretary mnuchen in london at buckingham palace. she is enjoying some of the perks of the job, but one of those figures that's sort of refreshingly honest and sort of a different way i guess than most people in washington. very, very unique person, louise linton. >> it seems so. it is definitely worth an interview, fascinating to read.

thank you so much, kate. by the way, tonight on cnn kate has a fascinating look at the life of the first lady in her documentary "woman of mystery, melania trump." it is at 9:00 and you don't want to join us. "ac 360" with john berman in tonight starts now. breaking news tonight. his advisers privately admit he is handling questions on this poorly, and even as they do the president of the united states might just be proving their point. he just thanked a top lawmaker for making it easier than it would otherwise be for him to break the law if he wants. easier to do what he said just two days ago he is open to doing, colluding with foreign governments to win reelection and never mind the fbi. john berman here in for anderson. these two items on collusion and private doubts inside the west wing broke at the end of the day of what some were calling a walk-back by the president, a cleanup of a