and absolutely, it is fair scrutiny to say the person who has to know the most has participated the least. and no, in my 20-plus years of doing this, i've never seen anyone who cares about someone who goes missing not having anything to do with the search. that cannot be seen as dispositive or even indicative of guilt. there is no crime here. this is a search. it just has to be really discomforting for the loved ones of gabby to hear that the person they need to hear from most is gone. and his family didn't know for three days. you'd think, all the strain, all the stress. if he did nothing, you know, anything here to be culpable about. they must be keeping tabs on him. they must be worried about him. three days? and then you call the police and say you don't know where he is? um, it's very upsetting.

it's very curious. and the search will continue. "don lemon tonight" with its big star, d lemon, right now. >> i was watching tonight and when he said that, my -- i -- my mouth went -- i was like, what? i can't believe he has been -- they haven't seen him for that period of time? listen. i know this isn't -- as i was spoking to the police chief down in florida -- um -- last night. this isn't like the -- the -- the police show you you see on television, like law and order. they can't even question this guy because of his attorneys, and that doesn't happen with everybody. you know what i am saying? >> well, they can't question him because of his rights. they don't even have a crime. and something that people, you know, really just don't know because you are not familiar with the process. you got to be careful about making an arrest because you don't keep getting bites at the apple. um -- and right now, they have nothing. >> uh-huh. >> because even if they had found things in the van or they had proof or the family had told

them something for indication, they would now be moving him to being a suspect and they haven't. >> person of interest. >> so, he is now missing. the fbi which is, you know, that's the best we have, they are looking for these people. but just imagine being the family of gabby petito and this family that you thought you knew now waits three days before they say that this kid is gone. >> yeah. >> and they don't know where he is. >> well, the thing is we don't know what happened. and we don't know, you know, what the boyfriend -- if -- if he had anything to do with it, we don't know that. but still, it's just odd to me that someone is not talking, at this point, even through an attorney. you would want to share as much as information, especially if someone is missing. you know what i mean? >> i have never seen this, before. >> yeah. >> now, i will tell you what i have seen. i've seen people who were guilty, who did participate in the search. and say that they didn't know what happened and made up some story. but i have never seen a

missing-person situation where somebody was with them or simply just cares about the person, let alone intending to marry them, and was not involved in leading the search to find the person. so, it is unusual, at the least. >> i just hope in -- that the -- that the best of all scenarios plays out. that she somehow shows up but we will see, chris. i was -- stunning interview, watching it. thank you, sir. >> got to feel for the families, brother. have a good weekend. >> well, i will be seeing you this weekend. >> i love you, d lemon. >> i love you more. thank you very much and we hope everything works out with that family. we really do. this is "don lemon tonight" on a very busy news night. it is the eve of that so-called justice for 6th rally which, let's remember, is in defense of the blood-thirsty insurrectionists who on january 6th tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power. and there is a lot of concern tonight about potential for more violence tomorrow at the scene of the crime. we have also got major news

tonight on covid boosters. a key-fda panel voting to recommend a booster dose of pfizer's vaccine six months after full vaccination but only for people 65 and older and those at high risk of severe covid. a setback for the president who had announced a plan for every adult to get a booster shot. just over 25% of americans are still unvaccinated. one republican governor saying tonight, get a vaccine or keep piling up body bags. >> we're gonna run to the fire and get vaccinated right now. or we're gonna pile the body bags up until we reach a point in time to where we have enough people that have natural immunities and enough people that are vaccinated. >> governor justice has been on the right side of this whole covid vaccination -- um -- thing and masking up the entire time. whether it's our inability to get a grip on covid or the rally at the capitol, we are sick as a

result of a toxic-political culture. the toxicity exploded into violence at the seat of our democracy. our nation's capitol. just eight months ago when blood-thirsty, trump-supporting rioters tried to overturn our election forcing lawmakers to run for their lives, and beating police officers trying to defend our capitol. capitol police saying that they are ready, this time. and they say that they want their officers who were under brutal attack from their fellow americans in january to feel confident that the department is prepared this time. >> we are trying to get in front of every single police officer in -- in the u.s. capitol police department. and the reason was to brief them on our plan. and the whole purpose behind that was to instill confidence -- um -- that -- that the department has prepared this -- has prepared for this -- um -- event. >> and that toxic political culture we are talking about. well, it is on full display as one ohio republican, a

conservative republican, who voted to impeach the second time around along with nine other republicans now says that he will not run for re-election in 2022. anthony gonzales putting out a statement blaming the toxic dynamics inside the republican party. and telling "the new york times," the former president is, and i quote here, a cancer for the country. saying, quote, i don't believe he can ever be president, again. most of my political energy will be spent working on that exact goal. and just like clockwork, he demonstrates exactly how toxic our politics are right now. blasting the congressman, of course, and lobbying a -- a threat about -- well, there being nine to go. okay? well, two of those other nine are firing back tonight. liz cheney, for one. tweeting he is at war with the constitution. adam wi adam kinzinger calling him a weak man who preys on fear. and then, there is the literal toxicity to america of anti-vax and anti-mask rhetoric.

three texas women were arrested here in new york yesterday after they allegedly assaulted a hostess at a popular restaurant, carmine's on the upper west side. you got to watch this because the whole thing was caught on camera. >> [ bleep ]. [ bleep ]. >> look. they are believed to be tourists. take that back to where you came from. new york city. we're about having people vaccinated here, and following the rules. the restaurants will be fined if they don't follow the rules. the 24-year-old hostess had asked them for proof of vaccination which is required for indoor dining in new york city. so, she was literally doing her job trying to keep patrons safe. now, according to the police report, the women hit the employee, quote, multiple times with closed fists and she suffered bruises and scratches to her face, her chest, and arms.

it is unclear in the video who are the attackers and who is the victim. okay. but this is -- what is absolutely clear here is that it's toxic. it is toxic. you have to stop this. you cannot just go into a restaurant if you're not vaccinated. it doesn't work that way. if you don't want to do it, eat outside or stay home. order in. and if you are not from new york city in a place that doesn't require that, don't come here. now, the restaurant has hired private security for the hostess booth this weekend. so, come on, people. you punch a -- a 24-year-old who asks you for proof of vaccination so you can eat in a restaurant? toxic. that toxicity is infecting us, just as surely as covid. and that has got to stop. okay? it's got to stop. if you are driving and a police officer -- you get pulled over

for some violate -- or something. just say can i see your driver's license? you don't beat them up. you show them the driver's license. it's the same thing. if a hostess says i need to see your proof of vaccination, you show it to them. and if you don't have one, you leave. it's that simple. that's not all, though, when it comes to toxicity. there is the toxic misinformation, otherwise known as lies, coming out of the pro-trump right wing. whitewashing what we all saw, with our own eyes, when those rioters overran the capitol on january 6th. now, they want you to believe, you know, that it was just like a tourist visit. and that those who were arrested shouldn't face criminal charges. >> watching the tv footage of those who entered the capitol and walked through statuary hall showed people in an orderly fashion staying between the stanchions and ropes. if you didn't know the tv footage was from january 6th, you would actually think it was

a normal-tourist visit. >> that was no tourist visit. i mean, they may have been visitors to -- to d.c., to the capitol, but it was no tourist visit. and the charges against them are not excessive. "the new york times" reports nearly half of the more than 600 people charged have been accused only of misdemeanors and at least 50 have pleaded guilty. then, there is the toxic lie that the rioters are political prisoners. >> the big problem is we don't actually know where all the political prisoners are. and so, if we were to actually be able to go and try and bust them out -- and let me tell you, the reason they are trying to take these political prisoners is they want to make an example. they don't want to see the mass protest going on in washington. >> yeah. he is a congressman. believe that. he is an elected official. "the times" reports only about 15% of those arrested have been denied bail and remain in custody. so, there is a lot of hyperbole and lies going on around this. and the talk about toxic texas

lieutenant governor going on the fox-propaganda network to push the racist white replacement theory. here it is. >> they are allowing this year probably 2 million -- that's who we apprehend and maybe another million -- into this country in 18 years, if every one of them has two or three children, you are talking about millions and millions and millions of new voters. and they will thank the democrats. and -- and biden for bringing them here. who do you think they are going to vote for? so this is -- this is trying to take over our country without firing a shot. >> you know what that is. do i have to explain it to you? do i have to explain it to you? the brown people are coming. the brown wave. look. the fact is that there is real problems. we have real problems at the border. there are nearly 14,000 migrants crowded underneath the del rio international bridge in texas. the mayor calling it a nuclear bomb alarm. okay? it's a serious problem.

don't get me wrong. but you understand why he is doing that. but we're not going to solve it by resorting to toxic political battles. >> and let's be very clear. the democrat party, the democrats in washington are sick and twisted individuals that are destroying this country right now every single day. >> like i said, toxic. the lies about our politics. the lies about race. the lies about january 6th. lies about covid. the toxicity is infecting us just as surely as the virus. so i want to bring in now cnn chief national affairs correspondent, mr. jeff zeleny at the white house tonight. jeff, good evening to you. so good to have you here this evening. so, this was a very tough day for the president -- for president biden. let's be honest. you know, the fda vote on widespread boosters. the crisis of migrants at the border that i just talked about. infrastructure hitting roadblocks. take us through what's gone wrong if -- i mean, that's -- i

don't know. it may take you the entire newscast with what happened today. >> well, don, it is a long list but it reminds us that there are limits to a president's power, limits to what a white house can do. let's talk about the fda. i mean, the white house announced just a couple weeks that starting september 20th, next week, they thought that boosters could be allowed for every person who had received a vaccine. the fda said today, no. only 65 plus -- 65-year-olds and over can receive the vaccine. so that is a big shot to what the biden administration was, indeed, hoping for. but again, it shows the limitations of simply what this administration, what this white house can do. but you go down the list. this is one of the most critical periods of the biden administration in terms of trying to pass its agenda. we talk a lot about the infrastructure bill. talk a lot about this $3.5 trillion, you know, larger bill, economic agenda. which would do everything from free pre-k, free preschool to free community college to climate change. there is some serious questions

among democrats, alone, about the price tag of all of this. and of course, at the end of the day, as well. suddenly, this white house, this democratic white house, this president in a fight with the french. the -- the president of france, emmanuel macron, recalled the ambassador. brought the ambassador from the u.s. back to france all because of a -- a dispute over a submarine deal with australia. you might be saying what is going on here? but it simply is a sense that a lot of things are converging on this white house. the president actually is not here behind me tonight. he is taking the weekend away in delaware at his beach home in rehoboth beach. certainly, a lot on his plate but i'm told will be working throughout the weekend on all of these challenges. and, don, i can say, they are mounting here nine months into his term in office. >> yeah. well this is what -- this is what being president is. so listen. the most tragic, jeff, the bomb strike in afghanistan that killed civilians, instead of isis -- isis-k members, i should say. the president had to -- had hailed the strike as evidence of

the u.s. can confront threats without having -- um -- boots on the ground. has the white house responded to this tonight? >> don, utter silence from the white house. utter silence from the president on this. the pentagon did explain this really abrupt reversal. calling it a tragic and horrible mistake. the top commander in afghanistan, general mackenzie, talking about this. the defense secretary, as well. really saying -- apologizing for this drone strike. they thought that this was isis-k back on august 29th. it was so chaotic, of course. you know, the immediate withdrawal there. but turns out, it was a -- an afghan man who worked for a u.s. aid group. and his family. loading water into his toyota. the u.s. intelligence followed him around for eight hours or so by surveillance. and they -- it was the last missile struck in afghanistan, and killed ten civilians. so the pentagon apologized but, don, tonight, of course, the commander in chief, the white house has not said a word. >> jeff zeleny, we'll be waiting

for word. jeff zeleny at the white house for us this evening. jeff, thank you very much. so, we expected a rollout of booster shots for all adults but today's announcement dialed that back. pfizer boosters only for people 65 and over, or people who are high risk. so, what about younger people? and anybody who got the moderna or the j&j shot? and how all of this is going -- how is all going to sound to people who were already vaccine hesitant. >> the only thing that i have in my arsenal that will make this get better is for you to get vaccinated. that's all i've got. ying. ♪ there's an america we build ♪ ♪ and one we explore one that's been paved and one that's forever wild but freedom means you don't have to choose just one adventure ♪ ♪ you get both. introducing the all-new 3-row

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today, an fda advisory committee recommending covid-booster doses of the pfizer vaccine for people 65 and older and for those at high risk. but saying no to pfizer boosters for everyone else 16 and older and it's a setback for the white house. i want to bring in dr. peter hotez, professor and dean of tropical medicine at baylor college of medicine. doctor, thank you so much for joining. i appreciate it. so, a yes vote for boosters for people 65 and up and for health-care workers and other people at risk. why was this decision and -- why did they do this? and why not for everyone? >> well, don, it wasn't quite the decision i was expecting or -- or hoping for. i would have taken an intermediate position between those two. here's why. you know, we've been talking since the beginning of the year

that this was going to be a three-dose vaccine. we knew that because we gave the first-two doses so close together. and when you do that, you don't get long-term, durable protection so it was a matter of time before we were going to accept -- expect a third immunization in order to give a really important boost in antibody responses, virus neutralizing antibody and durability of protection. so, we knew this was coming. and then, on wednesday, israelis published in new england journal of medicine an important study showing those 60 years of age who only received two doses were going into the hospital at -- at pretty high rates and lots of breakthrough covid infections. where if they got a third immunization, they -- they did much better and there was a 20% decline in hospitalizations, tenfold decline in cases. so at a minimum, i would have thought they would have brought that down to 60 years of age. and then, today, the centers for disease control in their mmwr,

morbidity mortality weekly reports, put out information showing that the -- the decline and effectiveness of the vaccine had gone f-- and the reason that's important is because with all the breakthrough cases, we are seeing, presumably, a lot of long covid and we have learned so much about long covid in the last year and a half, including an important study from the uk looking at people 40 and up showing gray matter brain degeneration and cognitive declines that resemble those who are much older. and so, on that basis, i would have thought that we would have at least gone down to 40 years of age in order to prevent the impact of long covid. but there is really no discussion of long covid that i heard in the whole meeting. so i think they missed that component so we will see how it goes. this is an advisory group. we will see if the cdc goes along with it. i think they probably will. but i would expect over time, as we collect more data -- um -- that we'll see a mid-course correction in that recommendation. >> so, your compromise is

everybody 40 years and older. everyone get a booster? is that your compromise? >> that's right. >> okay. >> and i understand the high-risk groups. the problem is who is a high-risk group is going to be very squishy and leaky and open to a lot of interpretation. so i think if -- unless we can kind of put brackets around that, it's going to be very confusing for a lot of people. >> but won't you get people just going in and saying, i'm diabetic. or making up something. who is going to question them, right, in getting a booster shot, am i wrong? >> yeah. i don't know how you operationalize that, don, which adds to the complexity. um and -- and so -- so we'll see. there is still a couple of more steps left. the fda actually has to make a formal recommendation and then this goes to the centers for disease control advisory committee on immunization practices. so presumably, between -- between those two gates, we are going to get some additional clarity. >> okay. so let me ask you -- drill down on that. a more specific question that relates to what i just asked you. if people are seeking out a

third dose on their own, is that harmful? should they not do that? >> well, the -- the reason the -- the -- i think the committee was quite conservative in making the recommendation was they -- they had their eyes on myocarditis has a potential complication. so, it's a rare complication. in young people, we have seen it at the rate of around 12 per million. so one in about 79,000, one in 80,000. i think they wanted to see more data to convince themselves that by giving a third immunization, that that rate of myocarditis doesn't go up exponentially. i doubt it will but you never know. but -- but presumably, there was enough doubt there. and that rate of myocarditis was higher after the second dose than the first dose. would the third dose really, really top it off? again, i don't think so but i think that was probably a big reason why they -- they held back a bit and why you want to be careful about going too rogue on this. >> okay. so you mentioned earlier about going from 90%, right,

effectiveness, efficacy, whatever, to 71% if i am using the right terms. so -- um -- there is new data that -- that was released and i just want to put out what you said. that shows moderna's vaccine is slightly more effective than pfizer's in keeping people out of hospital. moderna provides 93% protection. pfizer provides 88%. johnson & johnson, 71%. they are all good at keeping people out of the hospital but how should people interpret these differences? you said it's in the 70s. i mean, that still does provide protection. obviously, it's not as great as the 90s but you know? >> yeah, i think the committee focused a lot on hospitalizations and deaths. and i understand that. but i think there could have been more consideration to long covid and the devastating neurologic implications. and -- and -- and i think that's -- that's got to be factored into all of this. i know, with the moderna vaccines, it's -- may be holding up a little bit better and part of the reason may be because

there is more mrna in the vaguen t vaccine than the pfizer vaccine and they spaced about an extra week apart. so that may account. moderna has applied for a third immunization, as well. and the vrpc will continue that, separately. i also think we will be looking at a second dose of the j&j vaccine which i always looking at the data early on from the phase one and phase two data, i always thought that was a two-dose vaccine, as well. >> yeah. hey. listen. i hate to give this short trip but this is the last question. i hear people and it -- it just -- it disturbs me because i want people to be informed when they say this -- this vaccine is new and whatever. the mrna technology is not a new technology, right? this is something that has been worked on for a while. maybe -- covid -- covid-19 vaccine, right, because it's novel, was a novel virus, it's new. but the technology through which this was developed is not something that was developed overnight. >> well, there is two pieces to this.

first of all, you know, we have been working on coronavirus vaccines for over a decade and our group and others were able to determine that the spike protein is the target -- the appropriate target of the vaccine. how you deliver the spike protein. how you induce virus-neutralizing antibodies. so right off the bat, that's a decade of research that -- that went into this which is a timeframe that goes along with other vaccines. and then, you have the fact that the discovery that mrna can induce an immune response. that discovery's made in 1961. so, this builds on decades of research. i think part of the problem, don, was when the ceos released their press releases. you know, when they are sending out a press release, they're not writing them for you or for me, don. they are writing them for their shareholders and they tend to spectacularize their accomplishments and orderly, that works for a pharma company but was tone deaf to the public health imply kags and the fact that we have a very aggressive anti-vaccine movement that is looking for any excuse to create

discord and to -- and to -- um -- provide very aggressive anti-vaccine disinformation and -- and that's working against us now. >> yeah. part of the technology in the 1960s. the other one, a decade for coronavirus -- decade. so it's not just something that was developed overnight, people. all right? those are the facts. get it right. thank you, dr. hotez. i appreciate it. i will see you soon. capitol police preparing for the possibility of violence at tomorrow's far-right rally in support of january-6th rioters. fence up outside of the capitol building tonight. you are looking at live pictures now. will it be enough if things get out of hand? ww has taught me how to live a great, sustainable lifestyle. i can eat the foods that i love. with ww, i have lost 78 pounds. ww. weight loss that works. wellness that works. get four months free at ww.com. hurry, offer ends september 20th!

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you know, it's getting close. we are just hours away from tomorrow's far-right rally at the capitol in support of the january 6th rioters. and there are concerns about potential for violence but the head of the u.s. capitol police force says that his department is ready to make sure the rally is peaceful and prepared to move as quickly as possible if violence does break out. let's discuss now. cnn law enforcement analyst charles ramsey is here. the former-washington, d.c. police chief, right? that should not be -- we should make sure we point that out. and also, chris weeker, former fbi assistant director for the criminal investigative division. d.c. police are fully activated temporary fencing up at the white house. there are road closures. tsa ramping up security at d.c.'s reagan national. are the appropriate steps being taken to prevent another riot? >> i think so. i mean, i haven't seen the operational plan but clearly

they are on high alert, fully activated both the capitol police, the metropolitan police. they have brought in agencies in the national-capital region. it seems like this time around, the intelligence is being shared. federal and -- and local -- um -- and disseminated down to the rank and file. i think they are about as prepared as they can be. >> chris, the department of homeland security issuing a warning about the potential for violence from people involved in or opposed to this january 6th -- j 6th rally, i should say. or justice for j 6th rally. may not come to pass but after what happened in january, officials can't be sure, right? >> right. after what happened on january 6th, they are going to prepare for the worst. and -- and i know chief ramsey knows tom manger, as i do. he -- he is a new capitol police chief. he will not be caught flatfooted. i can guarantee you that. it would not surprise me if the -- if the protestors weren't outnumbered by law enforcement.

as -- as was just mentioned, the intelligence is flowing this time. i don't think there is any question about who's in charge. the incident command is set up. the -- the fence is up. i -- i -- you know, i really don't expect to see anything close to what we saw on january 6th. >> chief ramsey, capitol hill police chief, tom manger, talked about how his department is aware of the -- the toll january 6th took on the frontline officers. this is what he said. >> we're trying to get in front of every single police officer in -- in the u.s. capitol police department. and the reason was to brief them on our plan. and the whole purpose behind that was to instill confidence -- um -- that -- that the department has prepared this -- has prepared for this -- um -- event and that they will have the resources, the training, the equipment. and -- and we will have the staffing that we need -- um -- so that everyone, including the police officers working this event, can remain safe. >> so, ptsd after january 6th

for many of these officers. i mean, it -- it's real. how important is it that -- that these officers feel prepared and supported by their department? >> it's incredibly important. and tom manger's one of the best chiefs in the country. when i came to d.c. in '98 as police chief, he was the chief of fairfax county police, and then later took over montgomery county. so we have worked together for over 20 years. i know what his capabilities are. as was said earlier, he is not going to get caught flatfooted and i think the communication with the rank and file, which was missing on january 6th. they know what the operational plan is. they know they have enough help. they have enough support. this isn't gonna happen again, like it did on january 6th. they are not getting inside of that capitol, i can guarantee you that. it doesn't mean we won't have some issues outside because mpd has to be very much alert and aware but i'm sure they even have mobile platoons ready to move wherever they need to in the city, should trouble pop up. >> there is a bit of news that i want to ask you about, chris. and that's this high-ranking

capitol police officer, vocal donald trump supporter told those under his command not to wear riot gear on january 6th. that is according to internal documents reviewed by cnn that detail allegations submitted to an officer tip line. a lieutenant who gave the tip believes at least one officer was sent to the hospital because of that decision. what action should be taken against that officer? >> well, if -- if that is true, that's egregious and -- and, you know, i think at minimum, he ought to face -- he should be fired. i mean, he -- you should -- a man in a leadership position and in the capitol police, under those circumstances, displaying that kind of behavior, i think is almost borderline prosecutable. >> hmm. do you agree, chief? >> well, i mean, i don't know enough about the circumstances under which he said that. it certainly doesn't make sense in light of what we know happened on january 6th. that's for sure. i have been in situations where a protest tried to start off in

what we call a soft uniform, not the hard gear. and then, you always elevate to that but i don't know the circumstances. if he did it because in somehow he was connected with this group, sympathetic to this group or what have you. that is a different ball game, then yeah it should be some disciplinary action. if that wasn't the reason, then that's different. you have to take a look at it from a different perspective. >> chief ramsey, chris wecker, thank you so much. i appreciate it. retiring gop congressman who voted to impeach says that the formerer president is a cancer to the country and that's a quote. now, more members of his party are weighing in.

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one of the ten house republicans who voted to impeach now says that he won't seek re-election. ohio congressman anthony gonzales acknowledging toxic dynamic in the gop factored into

his decision. telling "the new york times" the former president is, quote, a cancer for the country. trump gloating in a statement, saying that one down, nine to go. joining me now to discuss is matthew dowd. he is a former adviser to george w. bush and the author of the new book "revelations on the river." thank you for joining. i don't know why we care what donald trump says. but anyways, um, good evening. i mean, seriously. like, if he said something positive about something or that actually made sense, then that would be news. but that he said something toxic and ignorant is certainly not news, after all these years. so, matt -- >> he's consistent. he's consistent. >> yeah. he is consistently ignorant. so, congressman gonzales is far from the first. trump didn't drain the swamp. he made it radioactive, no? >> well, absolute -- well, he made it radioactive for the republican party. but i think the republican party, there was radiation fomenting before donald trump showed up which is why the --

you know, the godzilla emerged from the -- the -- the swamp. and, you know, has destroyed -- tried to destroy democracy. so, republicans have only themselves to blame of how they ended up in this place. and people like the congressman who decided not to run for re-election is a unicorn. they -- he understands, as i think many republicans do but not all, that that is now the party. all in -- 100% the party is the party of what trump represents. >> does the departure of lawmakers like gonzales open the door for another qanon and big lie believing radical just to step right in? >> well, i -- i -- i think even if he hadn't left, he would have probably been beaten by a qanon, you know, non-science, non-truth autocratic radical. i think that's what the republicans face today. and i think the republicans -- you know, i think about this -- they're not afraid of donald trump and what donald trump

would do. or what -- when or not he would send out a statement or whatever. they are afraid of their own voters and that's really what this is about. they're afraid of the radicalization of their voters. and that radicalization has been done by gop leaders like donald trump but it's also been done by things like fox news and own and "breitbart." they have radicalized the voters now in a place that, you know, enlightened the moderate republicans who stand for the country can't survive anymore, don. they just can't survive anymore in that party. >> yeah. gop congresswoman -- speaking of moderate -- liz cheney tweeting that -- actually, she is very conservative but she is tweeting that trump is at war with the constitution over his gonzales comments. a adam kinzinger adding and i quote here, i couldn't imagine being his age and obsessing about myself so much, knowing my legacy was destroyed. i mean, that was a great quote, adam kinzinger, by the way. but it's like the hunger games.

how long can any republican on trump's revenge list hold on? >> well, i -- i think the question for them -- people like adam kinzinger and liz cheney who have stood on principle against donald trump. the question is they have to ask themselves is do they belong to a political party -- um -- that no longer exists? i mean, that -- the party they used to think existed no longer exists and a party they are out of step with. i think they are. i think everything is pointed in that direction. um, i don't think -- i think it's going to be very difficult for those two to survive in the party. so i think they have to say what can we do? and in my viewpoint, don, this is my viewpoint, i think we need two enlightened political parties that are for the constitution. we don't have those today. there is only one party that supports the constitution today, the democrats. and who support the idea of the common good. the republicans don't. and either, you are going to go as these -- as former republicans enjoin with the democrats or you facilitate or you enable what's going on in the republican party. and so, you -- the longer you

try to maintain a position in the republican party, in my view, makes it worse. you're not gonna change what's already changed. >> yeah. i don't know why. i'm not quite understanding why people don't understand that. maybe, it's just that they do but they don't want to. the democratic speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, weighing in on the gop drifting further right this week. i want you to take a listen to this. >> my republican friends and i do have some. take back your party. don't let your party be hijacked by a cult. essentially, that is what is happening. and it isn't good for the country. >> listen. she is talking about a cult of ps personality. she is not the first to say that there is even a pretense any longer that policy matters to republicans. it's really trump or nothing. and the criticism from republicans is -- is that, you know, the democratic party moved

too far to the left. it's really the republican party that has moved to the extreme right and has become the party of trump. and -- but -- and if they don't believe it, they are too afraid to speak out about it which may be worse. >> well, you know, as i listen to nancy, speaker pelosi. i mean, she's done a yeoman's work of trying to stand in the door, protect, you know, our democracy as exists. but i think one thing she is wrong about is there's no possible way any republican right now can fix the republican party. the only fix to the republican party today is they lose so badly in a series of elections, they have to fix in order to survive. and i think that's the point we're at. and everybody -- democrats and republicans -- everybody has to acknowledge that place we are. and in that fix of it. and i think that, to me, is the path -- once we acknowledge that and once we come to accept that. then, the question becomes what do you do to fix it? because as we have been talking about, the party -- the republican party -- we want --

we need two vibrant, enlightened political parties. we don't have those. and as left as people think the democratic party has moved. the fight today is not over issues or policies specifics. we can all argue about those later. the fight is between a party that still believes in democracy, and a party that no longer believes in democracy. that's the fight today. and so, i -- i -- i make it akin to your house on fire. we need to put the fire out. and then, we can argue over what color we are going to paint the bathroom walls and whether or not we are going to have marble in the kitchen. those are secondary conversations to the fight over the existence of our democracy and the principles and ideals upon which the constitution was founded. that's the fight. everything else pails to that. >> no fix. matthew dowd said it. no fix for the republican party. thank you, matthew. >> there is no fix. >> yeah. thank you. i appreciate it. a new book says that the former president's top general had to explain to him what an insurrection was. i mean, that's not shocking, is

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president that he had an insurrection on his hands, and according to the book, that's when the joint chiefs chairman, general mark milley, stepped in and told the president what an insurrection actually looks like. they used spray paint, mr. president, milley said. that's not insurrection. that guy up there -- he pointed to the portrait of abraham lincoln on the wall in the oval office. that guy up there, lincoln, had an insurrection. milley cited the militia bombardment of ft. sumter in 1861 that started the civil war. we're a country of 330 million people. you've got these pennypack et protests, milley said, saying the situation was not even close to being at threatening as the 1968 riots in washington, d.c. and the elsewhere. now, fast forward eight months,

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lots of news ahead tonight. an fda advisory board recommending a booster dose of the pfizer vaccine. people 65 and older and for those at high risk, but saying no to boosters for everyone else. and we're now just hours away from the far-right rally at the capitol in