washington journal continues. host: welcome back. we are joined by armstrong williams, a columnist, tv talkshow host and entrepreneur. guest: good morning. host: you have been largely supportive of president trump's

actions this first month in office. tell me why, and why you think trump 2.0 as it is being called is different from the first. guest: first as a broadcaster and a media owner it's not about being supportive of the president or not i think it is the media's responsibility to be more of a referee and just tell the facts about what any administration is doing weather is biden/harris or trump/vance. i think when you look at the legal border crossings and when you think about the fact that on the southern border you have less than 269 people crossing a day vs. 11,000 when vindman harris were in the white house, you cannot ignore that as progress for the american people, and that is one of the things the american president promised he would deal with 20 to 20 for president, and that has happened even when you talk about doge, he and elon musk

campaigns together and made it clear that they were going to reduce the waste and fraud in government. they want to make sure the taxpayer money works better for them. obviously meeting there's a lot of chaos in the process, obviously that people have to be terminated. that probably should not have been terminated, obviously there is some harm done but in chaos, particularly at the speed that trump is moving, obviously you're going to have to have some corrective courses. and this is why it is necessary that cognitive, unlike the last congress, ceded so much of their responsibility to the white house. this is why we have a check and balance system in place and the congress to balance out with the president does. because the president cannot shut down a federal agency that is funded by congress. that is congress' role. and i think congress has given over -- host: but usaid has been shut down and those programs have been stopped, even the site has

been taken down. guest: this is true, the usaid is sort of unique in its own way, and we understand that. but there's a lot of waste, fraud and abuse in usaid as well as other government agencies. the conversation that we should have, and we should criticize the president constructively, that is what a democracy is. but if you just look at the whistleblowers when you talk about the waste, the checks being written because they've been written this week or so long, you can't even question if it is a terrorist organization or going to people in need. that may not seem like a lot when you think about the budget for the u.s. government, but it is a start. i will take my own example. as someone in the media when companies community action agencies around the country, you have people that go to these agencies to make sure they are able to have their water turned

on, they cannot pay rent on time. sometimes what agencies will do is pay this than three or four months in advance and people come back the same time because they don't use the money that they have to pay for the expenses. a lot of these things go on and on and what is needed is better management. yes, we know these agencies do a lot of good. but sometimes they are in need because the systems that become so corrupt and so mismanaged that the people that really need it don't get it. so the fact that the president and elon musk are pursuing this government efficiency accountability and responsibility is a good thing. and as a ceo of a business, i understand. we can talk about working from home and the benefits that has, but there's nothing like being in person, coming up with ideas, having these exchanges, running back to the office, when you're talking face-to-face, there is nothing like human interaction.

the government, when the federal government to shut down, it affects tourism, it affects the economy, it affects everything. yes, there maybe some people who do need to work from home. people being at work is like an economy in and of itself. host: as you said, you are a businessman and you have questioned elon musk not to approach the federal government as he would in sizing one of his businesses. what you see is the fundamental difference there of how elon musk should approach the good objective of reducing fraud? guest: this is a piece that was in the baltimore sun on sunday, and while you may have these noble intentions, you cannot run a private business the way you run the federal government. you can go in and you can cut and slash, but in government,

you've got to respect the processes. elon musk, as well intended as he may be, he has to work with congress. he has to work with people within these agencies that you have to trust the circuits that are billing. there are people willing to tell you where the waste and fraud is you cannot just go and shutdown agencies and not realize the harm you could do in the long run because that becomes the narrative. you cannot become a dictator when it comes to the government because you will lose. as well intended as he may be, he will fail in the process and because what he's is doing is so important, he should respect the different processes that are in place that could better help him accomplish the goals he is trying to achieve. host: if you'd like to join a conversation with armstrong williams, start calling in now. (202) 748-8001 for republicans. (202) 748-8000 si for democrats. (202) 748-8002 for independents. you just mentioned the baltimore

sun, this is on the front page of the paper for today. christian leaders grapple with new trump policies targeting of anti-christian bias, eradication of di programs reactions from maryland clergy. explain that article. guest: castor al hathaway who a prominent pastor is quoted throughout the article. he talks about the bible endemically understanding. listen, when donald trump evaded death where the bullet grazed his ear and he could see the blood, even he has said that god saved him and it was an act of god. many christians will see that as not having a greater purpose for donald trump. and so therefore donald trump is a president of destiny and it was destiny that he won. but also you could look at his character and you can they that would donald trump does in his moral life and is personal life

is not necessarily what christians adhere to. but then they also pointed david who is in adulterer and how he betrayed his wife but don was able to use and for the greater good. host: he also repented. guest: i'm not saying the president has not repented, i don't know what he does in his private life. but when you think about his extraordinary journey, what he has gone through, the indictments, lawsuits, people have given up on him, the fact that he could come back after surviving an assassin's bullet and become president again for christians, that has a very spiritual and strong foundation for them and they think there is a greater good. and that is why they believe that there is a possibility that he could usher in a golden age. but i would say you have to be cautious with that because listen. the bottom line is trump's human and sometimes you don't want to become a sycophant for the, that everything he does you support and you turn a blind eye to the

things that the caution to be a better person. you don't want to be an enabler. and while i would say that he is a much calmer president, not sending out the crazy tweets, not attacking people the way he has attacked them, you do see a more laid-back anymore measured president, and i say that is progress. but still, i do think that trump from his experience as a businessman, you've got to have some compassion about his policies. because the bible tells you don't allow your good to be even spoken of. so trump needs to be very measured. i like the fact that he is getting on very well with elon musk, that is sort of a surprise. i like the fact that he is working well with congress, they all seem to be on the same page. the people who are upset seem to be the democratic members of the media but for the most part americans, 55%-60% are willing to give him a chance to see if his policy works in the long run for the american.

how long are they willing to suffer the inconvenience and live in fear? that remains to be seen, but i do think that the american people believe that these are the promises made, the promises kept. with give him a chance. i just don't know how one this honeymoon will last. host: let me ask you about di efforts. are you supportive of president trump's efforts to essentially take that out of the federal government completely? guest: i think that is what he promised to do. host: that is happening, they are all closing. guest: look, it's one thing to talk about equality. i think we all believe in equality. but equity is a different thing. i don't want anyone to give me an advantage because of what they perceive my race as. i want to go back to the dream of dr. king where a man is judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of the

character. but let me also caution that races and figure street -- and bigotry is not dead. people still harbor that in their hearts and people are not always going to do what is in the best interest of people because sometimes they cannot let go of the baggage of their ancestry, but still, the government needs to be accountable. i don't like filling out a form with someone asking me what my race is. i do want somebody to perceive just because some kid got to college on a scholarship they got there because of their race. i think it cheapens those who fight hard, work hard. not only in the classroom, but wherever they are. i do think that we live in a country today were we should be judged not by the color of our skin, not by our sexual preference, but by the content of our character in our work ethic and our sacrifice and edges of -- and air discipline. host: and you think that is going to happen during the next four years? guest: nothing happens overnight.

justice, equality. host: are optimistic that it is moving in the right direction? guest: i am cautiously optimistic. i don't have an issue with with the president is doing because i find it shocking that some of his campaigns made all these promises and are actually in them. the problem is the democrats and others do not taken seriously and for the speedy is working in his late 70's, his focus, his organization, the latest d has been in place putting this together, these executive orders, it did not happen overnight. donald trump is prepared. whether congress is prepared or not, that is a different western. host: i want to show you a clip of hakeem jeffries talking about the programs and then you can respond. >> diversity, equity and inclusion are american values. it is about economic opportunity for everyone.

we support merit for everyone based on what you know, not who you know. the problem that seems to be unfolding is that there are some in this country who want an america of the billionaires, by the billionaires, and for the billionaires. not for working-class americans, middle-class americans or everyday americans. a country of the billionaires, either billionaires, and for the billionaires. diversity, equity and inclusion are about economic opportunity for everyone, even if you are not wealthy, well or well-connected. these are values that everybody in this country should embrace. host: what do you think, armstrong williams? guest: listen, i was with him

until he got to the billionaires. we can talk about these di programs, you ask how the average low income person benefits from these programs. how much does government really change the lives for the biden and harris is in the white house, or trump-pence in the white house, how much does it really impact progress? unfortunately, the people who were poor red biden and harris were in the white house, they are poor now. what he is talking about our contracts that go to their friends and colleagues. you are talking about rules that we have to abide by that you cannot have a conflict of interest. with companies that come before the legislative body. and it wasn't until recently that the civil rights law that he applies -- alludes to applied to congress. i don't want to call him a

hypocrite but this is political grandstanding. they are the minority, they lost. and until they learn the lessons of that election, to try to support donald from where he is, they try to improve di and bees program that he speaks of where they work across the board and they don't figure some illogical thing like race or gender, where it works with people because they are qualified, they have got to realize this messaging that they have the last election was profoundly defeated. they need to face the reality they lost and they need to find a new message that resonates with the american people because until they do so, they will continue to lose and lose again. the democratic party has been decimated because they lost touch. they used to be the party of the working class of america and the middle class of america. that demographic voting for trump. blacks, hispanics, even people in michigan who consider themselves to be muslim and people said how in the world did

you support donald trump at his policies? it seems to go against your best interests, but they are voting for family values. it's not just about the economy, it is about what is gender affirming. you're talking about drag queens teaching children in the classroom. you're talking about parents cannot have a say so and their children talking about if they are going through some kind of sexual evolution. the bottom line, america still cares about traditional values until hakeem jeffries and the democratic already get a message that resonates with the majority of americans, they will continue to remain in the minority. host: homer is a republican in florence, massachusetts. good morning. caller: amen and hallelujah to everything you said. you are highly intelligent. i'm wondering why it's ok for joe biden fight federal workers for not getting a vaccine but now it's not ok for trump to fight people and i also noticed that bill clinton fired 400,000 federal employees, and trump is

not even close to that. so i don't know why he's complaining. i'm just curious, 283 million people active on social security , there's only 340 million people in the country. 383 is a lot more. that's ridiculous, we got to look into these things. i love the election deniers are called in for the democrats now and it's all ok because it was racism and misogyny and sexism. can you guys please tell me why that is ok, that you let those people go on and on same race x-men thank you for not -- guest: there is a larger point. this criticism of trump using executive orders, this criticism of his cabinet that he put forth before the senate and all of them are going to be confirmed, this criticism about trump embracing billionaires and the like like elon musk, and nobody talks about why men harris

embracing george rose and bill gates and jeff bezos. host: since you bring it up, he's got a trifecta. why not go to congress and some of these things, why depend on the executive order that can be reversed by the next president? guest: we agree. but we know trump. trump feels that congress does not move fast enough for him. it would be better for him to wait. his attitude is that the american people cannot afford to wait. and wife and something in place that three or four years later another administration come in &? i agree with you, but trump is not like any president that we seen in emory never seen such a frenetic way of so many executive orders because he wants to change it, and he also knows that a lot of these things that are pushing will probably go through and become effective, and once that happens, people

will billy needed to believe it is having an impact on their lives in particular may come to the economy, it will remain lace. because remember it does not matter whether it is a president or congress, their boss is the american people, and the american people, we have awakened a sleeping giant and they are not going back to sleep. they are more educated, more into them they have ever been before. host: james, democrat in chicago. caller: yeah, people to make them out say anything. all this fraud and waste, is anybody going to jail? has anyone been accused of this? and since he brought the lord, the man on the stage with him, that he had a purpose for that? thank you. guest: when it comes to what donald trump is doing, it takes time before you find out what

the fraud is and who the culprits are. that doesn't mean that someone won't be held accountable down the road. and listen, i don't try to understand the ways of god. my heart goes out to that person that died on that stage. you ask yourself why is it that the toronto plane that crashed in the snow, everyone survived, but those of the potomac a few weeks ago, everybody died? god has ways that many of us cannot understand. i don't get into trying to that because you know why? some things you cannot explain. host: i want to ask you about a posting on x that elon musk wrote in response to the 60 minutes interview. he says 60 minutes are the biggest liars in the the engaged in deliberate deception to interfere with the last election. they deserve a long prison sentence. i want to ask you since you are the owner of the baltimore sun

now, if one of your journalists did an interview that elon musk disagreed with, how would you respond if you posted on x that they deserve a prison sentence? guest: i would vehemently push back. you cannot judge cbs for immediate institution by a 60 minutes interview with kamala harris and obviously the media is biased, there is no question about that. obviously many people believe that it was in the tank with biden and harris and they feel as though their policies are more active of the agenda they want for america, but i would defend the state at every turn. i would defend that because many of these reporters, they do their jobs very well and they put a lot of aligned to do those jobs. host: should and what changes

should we expect the baltimore sun? guest: we are fortunate because david smith, made business partner, we are working with a terrific group of people. people perceive the baltimore sun as being this liberal paper and us being conservative but is -- it is generalist integrity. finding the voices that represent all voices in the community, and when you want to deal with commentary that reflect her people are and getting a lot of attention to local issues, the local dishes that people are about that affect their way of life immediately it's not only about what is going on on the national stage. we put together were collaboration with the baltimore sun. i've never worked with a greater group of people that i work with the baltimore sun. host: fairfax, virginia, and dependent line. caller: how are you doing, thank you for taking my call. first time caller, so i appreciate your time.

wanted to do a quick plan highlight michael asian -- the department of education. there are warning schools that take consideration according to scholarships. not ti necessarily, but culturally-based aspects. sororities or fraternities or something like that. i just want to know president trump, all politics generally have been ok with generalizing. not a sleeping giant like myself, i don't think i represent that population, the hardware, now you want to shut down hybrid asian, that kind of will impact i think a part of society that your guest could

sort of illuminate on where the department of education may be going a little too far maybe. host: ok. and i just want to show you what i think he is talking about, this is the new york times or the headline education department gives schools two weeks to eliminate race-based programs. it says the department office for civil rights warned that it would line that consider race in scholarships, hiring, and an array of other activities. guest: i actually think the president is correct. i think that is favoring certain americans over other americans. you have a new leader in town that is donald trump. he made it clear that during his campaign this is exactly what he would do, and i think it would be wise for the department of education to adhere to these guidelines. host: since talked to mark next in florida, republican. caller: good morning, thank you

very much for taking my call and i agree a lot with what your guest has to say, mr. williams. and i am in favor of what is going on with elon musk, president trump and doge. and the biggest thing that i would contradict your guest on is there is a way the private industry works and the way that they go through their process, and there is the way that the government works. and i question the government's process. when i say that, do you think that there are 9000 certified? these are certifications that the federal government requires private business to be in order to conduct business with them, and i don't think they have the same standards. i can speak to this because i was in the industry for almost early nine years. i worked for the largest defense contractor in the world, and

there are some good government employees, don't get me wrong, but there's a lot of absentees, a lot of cruisers. they will pass on their test and tells you it takes an act of congress to fire them. nobody in their job in the private sector thinks like that or works that way. i mean, no matter how important you think you are at the general worker, if god forbid you would die that day, the stock is not going down one penny because you died, that is a fact. so the government needs to work at a more efficient rate and that might mean slashing complete areas because it is redundancy. and the private sector, they make us look at ourselves as to how can we be more efficient? every single year, how could we squeeze out more efficiency and get better at what we do? and unless you are trying to practice continuous improvement, then you are just doing the same thing over and over again looking for a different result,

and they keep doing it the same way. why? because that is how they have always done it. guest: he makes an excellent point. and this is why you have to create chaos in government, because they've created this preponderance of layers where they are protected and it has created a lot of incompetency. they know where the duplication is, and what many of these government workers should be doing now is working with the government, with the president and the white has to say this is where we can do better. this is where we are ineffective. these other programs that are working. they know this. the bottom line is that nothing remains the same. change is necessary and our government is not effective, not as accountable, not as responsible and not as efficient as they could be. this is a start. no one knows how it is going to play out, but donald trump has

the right attitude. and don't forget we still face this trillion dollar deficit that america could go if we don't get our financial house in order. caller: joanne in tulsa, oklahoma, democrat. caller: i just want to tell this guy that there is only one god and his name is definitely not trump or williams. thank you for your time, have a nice day. his lips keep moving and the let's keep flowing. guest: and i absolutely agree with her that trump is not god, never will be. he is just a man like anybody else but he just happens to be president of the united states host: here is maria, independent in maryland. caller: good morning, can you hear me? host: yes we can. caller: this is what i don't understand. i don't like anyone having my social security number because the nra has taken a lubin of

money out of my checking account. we don't look at the small thing. the nra was moving money from my checking account without my permission, i can imagine what somebody else was going to have my social security number, what they are going to do. but the main thing that i don't understand is what happened to the values of the adults here in this country. the president of the united states, all of you act like this is something to applaud. you should be ashamed of yourselves for even thinking about that. he is a registered sex offender. so how do you feel about that? guest: i don't think the president is a registered sex offender. we do know that the president is flawed, we know the president

has had more challenges like all of us, but the american people understand this better than anyone else. i think it is because he was -- and they thought that the government targeted him until they became his protector until the last presidential election. i think they know exactly what he is and i think that is why he was elected, because they realize they would rather have an imperfect man to do their bidding than someone who professes something very different. host: here is jesse and babylon, new york, republican. caller: yes, good morning. mr. williams, you are a very interesting man to listen to. i just want to ask you, do you support mr. trump 100%? guest: as a broadcaster, i support journalism. i am a referee, i am not a coach. it is our responsibility to present both sides without

manipulative the facts, they bridging facts, -- favorite facts and let you come to your conclusion. i'm not here to do bidding for donald trump or for the democrats. my bidding is bringing the facts forget to make your own determination. host: i want to ask you about mayor eric adams, the trump administration's department of justice has asked that all the charges of corruption against him be dropped. what was your reaction to that? guest: obviously a lot of top prosecutors resigned over this. there are two schools. donald trump believes because of his own journey and prosecution in court that he feels it was a witch hunt, that this happened to mayor adams because the biden the ministration -- host: even though the

prosecutors said they had been investing allegations of corruption before he said anything? guest: yes, i believe that also. but i don't believe that governor hogan will -- governor hochul should have the power, because she's trying to make the decision of whether to remove governor adamson office. i don't think the governor should undo the will of the people. we have an election that is coming up. donald trump wants to have someone he can work within new york because that is a very important sanctuary city and immigration is very important. it could have been done a little differently. some of these top prosecutors that stepped down were republicans. these people had just been recently appointed by the president himself. you've just got to let this play out. mayor adams is very defiant. he feels he's done nothing wrong but in the end, the president has the justice department to drop the case, there's been a fallout, we will just have to see where it goes.

guest: lisa, democrat, you are next. caller: yes, i've been very upset with what is going on with what trump is doing. i find that he put elon musk in place to do what he is doing because trump likes to get other people to do his dirty work, so he could have elon musk do the dirty work so he can say i have nothing to do with that, and with what is going on with russia and ukraine, it is pretty disgusting because russia started it. russia started it. and putin is not scared of

trump. trump is scared of putin. and if he gives putin everything he wants, no, this is wrong. and you know what, you are right. god lets trump live that day because he does pile it up. he will get him in the end. guest: let me respond because i think she said something that really need to be addressed. listen, the only people who pay the price for war are the innocent families who lose their sons in this war. jd vance gave a speech in europe that was defiant, but it was truthful. the germans did not like it. france called it emergency meeting. but listen, politics are really out of control.

they could use knives, they could attack you, they could beat you, they could assault you, and you have no rights. if you punch back you are going to jail. the fact that europe has not carried its weight, if they don't like that in particular leader is about to be elected, they suspend the elections. i think jd vance gave europe a reality check. the bottom line is donald trump maintained a relationship with putin. say whatever you want to say about that but it is because of that relationship that you stay in contact, you are able to bring ukraine and russia to saudi arabia -- host: ukraine is not there. guest: marco rubio said they will be at the table, and i'm going to take his word for it. but still, it is best to cut out the bureaucracy in russia and ukraine and europe to bring a close to this so people stop dying in the infrastructure is destroyed. but i heard the foreign minister of the e.u. say as early as this

morning let's try to work with the united states instead of fighting against her and bring some kind of resolution to the situation when innocent people continue to die. if it were your son or somebody else dying in this war, someone steps in like donald trump and says let's bring a close to this, marco rubio said it is not going to happen, but this is where we should be instead of innocence continuing to die. host: let's talk to mark in clearwater, florida, independent line. caller: i have a question for the gentleman here. i was watching one of your shows a few weeks back where it was about the insurance thing and this and that. you had one on the phone and one at the table and she was going to make a statement about the subsidies that government gives to corporations and i looked it up and the government gives to corporations $500 of insurance coverage for the company to put out there coverage, $1200 for two people and then x number for a family. the gentle man, does he take

subsidies for insurance coverages, and is the government going to look into those fraud and abuse and why the american people are paying companies subsidies for their employee insurance? guest: what is not talked about enough, it is not just people who did not support people on the lower rung of the ladder, the people of the federal government that have been impacted by trump policies, there are a lot of businesses, farmers who hire these workers were not showing up for work because they feel that ice is going to come along and pick them up. you've got these venezuelan migrants who are not extending their work visas which really impacts a lot of companies in this country. listen, i don't do work with the government. i went through this thing called no child left behind early on in my life and almost got left behind and i vowed after that i would never have any kind of business with the government. i'm in the private industry. we cannot allow our operation to

be run by the government because we would not be a business. you could not allow your household to run a certain way. we provide health care coverage for our employers, not because we have to, because we choose to, because it is the right thing to do. this only so much government to do in people's lives and i do think for private corporations that you well, you should take care of your employees first. the government can only do so much with people who are struggling. corporations to a lot to lift up lives that are struggling, particularly in the economy that we are in right now. but i think everything is open in terms of government in terms of what elon musk is trying to do because they are looking for transparency. host: i want to ask you about a criticism of president trump that says one of the biggest concerns of the american people during the campaign was the economy and inflation, and that president trump has not done enough or has not focused enough on bringing prices down at the grocery store. guest: it is a slow process and

he has admitted that it may have been able over exaggerated during the campaign but i do think when you cut out waste and abuse, when you cut out the number of migrants were crossing the borders, i think many people felt that way on their way of lives related to housing and other things. i think those things let release, what you just mentioned, that is a slow process that must take place. it's not going to happen overnight and people have to be patient. host: gary in georgia, republican. caller: good morning mr. williams, how are you this morning? you know, when i was young, we always took a vacation up to smoky mountains and we were all piled into the station wagon and go. and back then, they would allow you to feed the bears right on the side of the road, and it got to be a big thing and it went on for years and years. well, when they stopped that, all of the bears just stood out

on the side of the road because they didn't know how to feed themselves. you know, if you've got a man that is going to teach you how to fish, and you've got a man that is going to give you a fish and you come back to him tomorrow for that fish, which man are you going to be with? guest: guest: the best department of education and welfare that i had growing up as my mother father much of what is happening today, why there is so much pain in society, these young boys have no idea what it means to be a man, no idea of right and wrong and we must strengthen the family again. not only do we need men in the households, but we need them in the school system. because where you have men in the school system teaching these kids, especially these young boys, they react differently. you have less behavioral problems, less crime, less homicide, less rape.

so we've got to get back to the understanding and the work ethic, discipline, sacrifice. and that is something that can be taught in the family. this only so much that government can do and only so much the government can help unless you already built yourself a stable foundation and every now and then you may struggle. but at least because you have a stable foundation the government is better prepared to help you. but if you are just solely dependent on the government and not bringing anything else to the table except the government, that is not going to work for you in the long run. host: you said there should be more men in the classroom. how do you encourage more men to be teachers especially if there is no department of education? guest: i'm not going to save is not going to be a department of education. i do believe the states to a federal job -- better job in the federal government. host: so how can states encourage men to be teachers? guest: you must make them

realize the value of being in the classroom because this is a job that you take life someday this is a child i could marry her daughter someday. i think men want to be in the classroom but you got to give them better pay. i think teachers should be paid like ceos. i think they have more of an impact on the lives of these kids than the ceos who make millions of dollars. we need to show more spec for teaching because it has become a war zone. that is what it is. host: carolyn in baltimore, democrat. caller: good morning, i'm glad i got through, thank you for this information. two comments and a question. i'm a retired federal government worker. i wish people would stop trying to demonize federal government workers, we work hard and we had a lot of credentials to get to the positions that we have i do see, and there were people who didn't work, but those were few, and i have an issue with the indiscriminate firings that are going on.

you have people who are working hard and they shouldn't be fired just because some random issue. second, the media has always been biased. i hope you show more black people doing well. they seem to focus on the ones that are not, and there's more of us doing well with christian values, family values, and i wish she would focus more on that because i'm tired tonight that. my question is 63 years old, when i was coming up, our community taught us we had to be twice as good as other populations to get a job. so as far as dei is concerned, and adding to that, i personally trained at least two white people who got promoted over me. so my question is regarding dei, do you actually think of the people who are hired under these programs are incompetent and got the position only because they

are black, because i would say that is not the case. guest: absolutely the majority not. i think most people would get there on their own merit, that's why you don't necessarily need dei, but i really appreciate you calling from baltimore because we have over the last few weeks than focusing on very successful americans who happened to be black and how they contribute to the better way of life in baltimore. and i would encourage you also to subscribe to the baltimore sun. i had to get that in there. host: armstrong williams, his website is armstrongwilliams.com, also the owner of the baltimore sun. guest:washington journal contin. host: welcome back. we are joined now by elie mystal , a justice correspondent and columnist for "the nation." guest: thank you so much for

having me. host: i want to start with this associated press article with the headline "trump administration once a supreme court to let the firing of whistleblower agency had proceed." could you get us up to court on -- up to speed on what that case is about and what the question is? guest: trump likes to fire people and he think because he is president he can fire anybody wants for any reason whether they were not just because he feels like it and remembers it from his tv days, right. there are laws regarding how you can fire people when they work for the federal government. who you can fire, what the proper process is and all that sort of thing. he wants to ignore those laws, a north people who have the positions that are authorized by congress, and fire people willy-nilly and he is hoping for the supreme court to let them let them do that. there are specifically laws in place to protect whistleblowers from retaliatory firings.