alanvirginia congressman mollohan on reforming federal prisons. -- inss before one week less than one week from the iowa caucuses, our guest is benjamin ginsberg. >> good morning, everyone. donald trump will not attend the fox news debate thursday night in des moines, iowa over the network standing by. megyn kelly is one of the moderators. before the hawkeye state votes first in this primary battle, tedy bruschi of texas said it's -- ted cruz of texas said it's like not showing up for a job interview.

host: he talked about -- in this news conference, he said he was most likely going to be skipping the debate. it was later confirmed by his campaign manager. listen no what donald trump had to say yesterday in iowa. >> well, fox is playing games, yeah. fox is going to make a fortune. i'm not a fan of megyn kelly. i think she's a third rate reporter. i think she's not good at what she does and they could do a lot better than megyn kelly and i'm going to be making a decision with fox. i see that they picked me as number one, not only as number one, number one by far.

i won't be doing the debate. i'm going to have something else in iowa. we will raise something for the veterans and the wounded warriors. we will do something simultaneously with the debate. i didn't like the fact that they sent out press releases toying, talking about putin and playing games. i don't know what games roger, ls is playing. when they talked about, i said what are these people playing games? so most likely, i won't be doing the debate. >> and the trump campaign said they will not be doing thursday's debate in des moines, iowa. we want all of you to give us your thoughts on this this morning.

they said the ayotollah and putin both treated him unfairly. a source tells us that trump has his own secret plan to replace the cabinet to see if he should even go before the meeting. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016]] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] mr. trump asking should i do the g.o.p. debate? with 38,000 votes tallied, 52% in response answered yes and 48% answered no. they will hold this event at the same time somewhere in iowa to raise money for military veterans and wounded warriors. george in bloomington, iowa, a republican. what do you make of donald trump skipping this debate? caller: good morning and pardon for c-span. i think mr. trump is perfectly within reason in view of the statement put out by fox which was a very -- very

unprofessional. i've always from a distance, admired roger els. i know about him. i intended to purr fass the autobiography that came out two or three years ago but i didn't get around of doing it but he has a very interesting history. i've worked in the class background and made it to the top. his profession. megyn kelly has played roger els like a ukulele. i think she's about to be history. i don't have any respect for her. she appeared on howard stern's show and disgraced herself in doing so as far as i'm concerned. , mr. trump the issue said he would skip the debate.

host: should the candidates be able who the moderators are? caller: no, i don't. he's not dictating anything. he's just choosing not to participate in the debate for reasons that i think are justified. caller: she was smart in the arena. he was on the stage. she was merely the panelist. host: so you think she's become too much of a story? caller: absolutely. and i'm a crew supporter and i've been supporting senator cruz and are still going to do

so and are going to vote for him. megyn kelly has got an little big big for her britches. host: is this good for senator ted cruz on thursday night's debate that he doesn't have to respond to donald trump. you think this is good for him if donald trump doesn't show up? caller: well, it may be. but i don't think the outcome of this presidential primary should turn on megyn kelly. and that's what it's become. and she has manipulated this whole thing and the situation that it has become. and i think she's history. i don't think she's going to last long and rupert murdoch is going to get rid of roger ailes too. host: i'm going leave it there. i want to share this with our viewers. fox put out another statement it g that they write that

violates all journalist -- journalistic standards as do threats. -- host: host: allan, good morning to you. your turn go. ahead. caller: hi, good morning, greta. it doesn't bother me that the donald does not going to make the debates. i just don't see them as necessary. personally when i watch the debates, i didn't really get a lot out of them. i'm talking in general about all

the gets. when they started asking the candidates like what would you give your campaign name? and jeb bush has to say yes. i mean, i'm really learning a lot about foreign affairs and what their opinions are. russia has more than a 50 year relationship with syria. none of the candidates brought this stuff up. to me, there was -- i'm not going to say that there wasn't any -- [indiscernible] they are no longer doing anything for me and i really think that if donald stays out of it, it's really going to do anything. it'll be their zero effect -- [indiscernible] host: ok. caller: on megyn kelly, she's a young gal. she's trying to make her mark in the world. she's intelligent. i understand that. i get it.

the little girl doesn't have a lot of wrinkle on her face. let her make her debut. it's just not that big of a deal to me. host: allan, you're an independent. who are you leaning on voting for? caller: i really don't know but the only person that seems interesting is trump. i will not last a debate if -- watch the debate if he's not in it. host: homer in louisiana. a democrat. how are you this morning? caller: yeah, donald trump ain't nothing but bullying. we've been in america, we've been bullied and bullied other people till we just don't know. host: we're listening. caller: i say all we done is we're bullying other people now. he just using it against us. the whole united states. he just -- he ain't nothing but a big bully and we don't know who bullying is. he got the biggest acting and the biggest whip and he just

whipping. host: ok. cal in new york, a republican. cal, what do you think? caller: hey, greta, good morning. thank you for c-span. i don't think it's going to affect trump not to be on the debate. and my issue with megyn kelly during the first debate was i think they were after trump that they try to knock him down in the sense that they want to try o get jeb bush up there. i am going to -- i like to see benjamin ginsburg or chris christie in there. so it really doesn't matter to e. host: are you still going to watch? caller: oh, yeah, i'm going to watch because i want to see what everybody else has to say. i don't much care for cruz. he's a lot like governor perry. i don't like when somebody comes on the stage and they've got

that smarter alec action. i don't like that. the persona that they put out there, i don't much care for it. i want somebody that's real, somebody that's speaking from the heart. and i really believe that ben carson is the one that speaks from the heart just like i've heard him say before that when he gets up and does a debate, he don't have to have something written down. he speaks from the heart because god gives him what he needs to speak. host: let's listen to senator ted cruz because he was on mark levin's show and he responded to donald trump and he challenged him to a one-on-one. >> the fact that he doesn't want his record questioned, that reflects a lack of respect for the men and women of iowa. that he's unwilling to go to des moines and be questioned. where is iowa right now? it is a dead heat between donald and me. e are effectively tied and

monday, six days from now, iowa will decide. and if donald is afraid of megyn kelly, i would like to invite him on your show to participate in a one-on-one debate between me and donald, mano a mano. we could have you moderate it, mark. we could have sean hannity moderate it. but if he's afraid of megyn kelly. if he's afraid of you and hannity and rush, then we could be it without any moderator whatsoever. imwilling to go me and donald with no moderators any time before the iowa caucuses. that's what a candidate who actually wants to work for the people, wants to earn the support of the people will do, will stand up and defend your record. and so i would invite donald -- and by the way, he's been saying this past week that he thinks

i'm stupid. that he should do very well in a debate with someone who's so stupid away from moderators that he is so afraid of. host: senator ted cruz challenging donald trump to a one-on-one before the iowa caucuses, which is this monday, ebruary 1. saying this isn't fair to iowa voters. jeb bush saying exactly erica kinsmanson's -- eric erickson's -- we want to know what all of you think about this. with senator ted cruz there is something he will continue to hit on leading up to the iowa caucuses on monday and we will have coverage, of course of him today, 7:00 p.m. eastern time. part of the road to the white house. coverage that you can see here on c-span and that will be today at 7:00 p.m. eastern time on

c-span, c-span radio and c-span.org. front pages of "new york times" this morning. they report this. it was the most intense confrontation yet between two mutually dependent but increasingly antagonistic power houses of media and politics. mr. trump who has made the presidential race into a riveting television spectacle was overtly exploit the ratings leverage his candidacy has created to try to bend fox news to its will. let's see how much money fox is going to make in the debate without me. meadows to flushing in flush, an independent. what is your take? caller: good morning. i don't know what new things this next debate is going to bring. but for donald trump, no showing up is not a wise thing to continue to you know why? is he a man whether we like him or not, he is succeeded in changing political course of this country.

so everything on his side, whether channel -- you're going to be a new question which -- they will love it. but by not showing up, he becomes -- [indiscernible] donald trump until now, -- by not showing up, he not going to get anything. for me, i'm not his advisor. come on, dufment let us see you. et the folks make money. and money makes business. so don't be disappointed by watching channel five. t's nothing new. host: who's your candidate? caller: well, if you want to be -- there is nobody in the republican who can really go like this zero press except donald trump. he rest of the guys are loser.

it seems like most republicans trust donald trump. host: ok. i'm going to leave it there. a caller says trump knows exactly what he's doing. media all focused on him as usual. he only cares about himself. karen in iowa, a republican. carol works are you supporting and what do you make of donald trump not being at this debate in des moines, iowa, on thursday night? caller: i'm a trump supporter and i believe he's doing the right thing. host: you do. tell us why. caller: well, because the corporate media, which is corporate, it's not a republican, it's not democratic. it's corporate. nd yeah.

i hate to tell you, but cruz needs to go back to canada. trump knows exactly what he's doing. and if you see the crowds that he has out here, yeah. it's trump all the way. host: ok. so carol, describe your priorities as a republican. what's the most important to you? are you a christian conservative? what are your issues? caller: i'm a christian and i'm a conservative. i wholeheartedly believe second amendment all the way. borders all the way. host: you like the way of his tough talk? caller: yeah, i do. it's time for it.

host: lewis in chicago. what do you think? caller: good morning. host: you're on the air, lewis. caller: yes, i would like to say trump is wrong as far as not going to the debate. that's what the gets are for. we're not interested in just him. all this is a look at me. if y'all don't treat me right, i'm going to take my ball and go home like a little 7-year-old child. but there's one question i would really like to ask trump. at what time in american history is he talking about when he said he wants to make america great again? is he talking about -- host: lewis, who's your candidate? caller: i'm swinging between hillary and bernie. host: ok. what do you think about now democrats having another debate, this one supposedly is

unsanctioned by the party leaders but in -- on february 4 ahead of the new hampshire primary, looks like the new hampshire union leader and msnbc . ll be hosting another debate hillary clinton and martin o'malley said great. bernie sanders ced if there's no punishment from the party, he would be there too. the moderators will be rachel maddow and chucked to. what do you make of them adding nother debate? caller: well, the democrats have not had enough debate as far as i'm concerned. if not, i don't think the d.n.c. should qualify them from the next debate. host: yep. caller: that's what we are looking at. we're trying to what what you say, read the candidate, get a feel of the candidate in order to find out what they're going

to do to carry the country forward. i say forward. we're not in the mood with listening to somebody stand up, hollering what they're going to do, bomb, bomb, bomb, make the desert zow all this type of thing. these people that i hear on hear that are going for the republicans at any pace, they don't know the republicans are consistently putting them up to a war. you ever heard of the term subliminal suggestive behavior? host: got your point on this. the democrats having another debate. this is from the "washington times." liberal groups argue that the six debates was intend from voters from getting a good look at candidates challenging hillary clinton.

host: and here's the "wall street journal" with more on this saying that the criticism of the democratic party's chairwoman is building. she has come under scrutiny to limit the number of prblet debates and a revolt on tuesday, a newspaper and msnbc said they would host another one on sanction. the original decision to limit the candidates six debates was seen by some as an effort to smooth the path to hillary clinton who wasserman schultz supported in 2008. caller: i think that any time you have an opportunity to speak in front of people and you have the opportunity to share your story and your ideas, if you

don't take that opportunity, you leave the people that are either attending or watching to move forward whatever their ideas are of why you weren't there. and then that needs to just stick. the other stuff with megyn kelly and all that, that's irregardless. if you have the opportunity, tell your story. give your opinions and you miss that opportunity for whatever reason. history will move forward and record that you were not there and there's not going to be any changing of that. and if he's willing to accept that, that's perfectly fine. host: ok, michelle. you're an independent. who's your candidate? caller: i am really -- i have to be honest with you. i'm very undecided at this time. i really am. i couldn't even say -- i have always been here in florida. i'm going to be honest. i've loved when jeb bush was governor here, i was happy with jeb. i'm not really sure. he's kind of changed a little

bit since he was here. so i'm not so sure about that. at times, bernie sounds good. hillary, even though i'm a woman, i'm not just going to come count south and say oh, yes, hillary, hill rich there's some things i like about her too. and to be honest, i think mr. trump is a -- a breath of fresh air as far as the new way of being a politician. but going back to what i called, i still think if he shows, then that has to stand for whatever it means and there will be no backpedaling after that. host: ok, michelle. front page of the "new york times" has this piece. the headline "infighting lists trump and cruz and it's alarming the g.o.p. leaders." e republican leaders are alarmed that they are attacking one another and they fear that times running out for any of them to emerge as a credible alternative to donald trump or senator tedy ted. leaders of the republican

establishment made up of elected officials, lobbyists and donors are sending a message to the so party leaders are worried that the established candidates are attacking each other. and not the front runners. michelle, what do you think? caller: i think that that's exactly what should happen. that's part of the process. and it's going to be that the one that really wants it, the one that really works hard to get it is going to survive it. i mean, one that for whatever reason, we all rationalize why we step out. and that once again, will tell our story. the history books will record what are reads and when we don't taken a opportunity, whatever reads in that will be recorded and observed by people and we will move forward from that.

host: all right, michelle. "new york times" say 35 million has been spent by the establishment candidates attacking each other and there's no sign that they plan to relent any time soon. j.r. munford, tennessee, a republican. you are next, j.r. good morning to you. aller: good morning. you got trump. he brought some purpose into the debate. i like what he was saying about some things. and he brought some discussion about it. after following him so long, because i was planning on voting him but after following so long, i've come to find out that he's a narcissist. he's unreal. and for him to act like he's acting, like a 10-year-old kid who's going to poop his lips up and take his ball and go home if he doesn't like what's going on,

and again what, kind of negotiating skills does he got? this negotiation that he was trying to do with fox what, kind of negotiation skills is that when he loses? if he doesn't have enough courage and everything to stand up to a reporter asking questions, then how -- how is he going to stand up to world leaders? host: ok, j.r. one said right wing conservatives are turning against fox news. never thought i would see the day. "new york" magazine reports this. for trump, the political risks are obviously. his absence from the fox stage four days before the iowa caucus provides his rivals with a prime time platform with no chance for him to fire back. immediate the risk is --

ann is in des moines, a democrat. good morning, ann. what do you think? caller: well, i think that donald trump came to iowa and he told iowans he doesn't care if your marriage this trouble. he doesn't care if it's cold outside. he doesn't care if you're sick. he doesn't care what is going on with you. you better get out in caucus for him. that's what he told iowans. he also told iowans how stupid are you? well, we're not that stupid, donald. you don't come to debate, and we definitively will not be caucusing for you. host: ann, you were a democrat. were you going to caucus for him? caller: no, my husband is but i will do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't.

host: what are you going to do? caller: i'm a wife. i've got plenty to do. [laughter] host: point taken. who are you going to caucus for monday night? caller: hillary clinton. host: tell us why. caller: she is my girl. well, actually, i was really kind of going back and forth between hillary and bernie and after i watched her do the benghazi in front of congress, i was locked. she's my girl. i'm going with her all the way. host: ok. that's ann in des moines, iowa. we'll be covering the democratic caucus and republican caucus monday night. tune into her coverage here on c-span and c-span2 and c-span.org. on the democratic side, front page of the "washington times," bernie sanders praises obama says that his claims in the debate on monday night write obama care -- his corporate supporters

saying that's not true that he helped write this legislation. so that's in the front page of the "washington times." i want to share this with you that bernie sanders will be meeting with president obama today at the white house ahead of an event that he's having ater on tonight. says the two men have crossed paths dozens of times and bernie sanders more than 40 visits to the white house -- host: by the way, bernie sanders with two events in minnesota yesterday and st. paul and duluth, the crowds up to 20,000 people in that state.

it also says in this "washington post" an article that in the three years since leave the state department by contrast, hillary clinton has had two small meetings with sexaum a breakfast with vice president joe biden as well as an exclusive invite after a party n january of 2013. let me go to mark in des moines, a republican. what do you think about donald trump not showing up for the debate and who are you supporting? caller: well, i intend to caucus and vote for donald trump on the north side of des moines, iowa, on monday. host: ok. caller: and i think donald trump and the presidency is so much bigger than megyn kelly and she really needs to step down from officiating this function. she is not that important. and this is a very important election this time around. host: ok.

well, why do you think a candidate should be able to say just because he perceived bias for megyn kelly but why do you think a candidate should be able to say who is the moderator? caller: because she's biased. she's unfair. and that's the last thing that somebody, a journal -- journalist should be. a journalist should be very neutral. she's not. host: do you think other fox anchors and moderators are neutral? caller: i think jarrell is. other than that, i think they all have something against trump. i think that they're against his success. and kink that's really what america needs right now and we need an anti-politician and i think that's donald trump. host: listen to what megyn kelly had to say on her show last night. >> trump is not used to not controlling things as a chief executive of a large organization. but the truth is he doesn't get to control the media. and while he's made his position

clear about me after that first debate, roger ailes made his position clear too. and, you know, when trump started it up again this past saturday and resumed it again and again and again, he was told repeatedly our debate team is settled and then came that instagram video he put out today followed by the company statements. host: that was megyn kelly responding to donald trump not going to be at the fox news debate on thursday in des moines. that is just days ahead of the iowa caucuses on monday, february 1. we're asking your thoughts on that this morning. in other news, eight are arrested and one is killed in oregon siege. the leader of the armed seizure was arrested and one person was killed. tuesday afternoon in a traffic stop in rural oregon, the f.b.i. and the oregon state police said the confrontation came after

more than three weeks of growing tension that put the tiny community of burns from portland into an international debate about homegrown right wing militias, public land and constitutional rights. they developed the names occupied the refuge about 30 miles southeast of burns in harney county on january 2. and then there's also this on the papers. exit strategy for afghanistan fades. the u.s. military shifting its mindset. the official need for a long-term troop commitments in that country. probably more to come on that. in the front page of "the washington post." and there is also this in the "new york times" this morning. indictment deals and other blows to the g.o.p. campaign against planned parenthood. a grand jury indictment on monday of two abortion owns recorded officials is the most