cash prizes will be awarded. grand prize of $5000 will go to student or team with best overall entry. .he deadline is january 18th get contest details at studentcam.org. >> c-span, where history unfolds daily. 1979, c-span was created as a public service by america's television companies and is brought to you today by your satellite provider. >> "washington journal" continues. host: nathan gonzales, editor of "inside r politics," and an election for roll call newspaper joins us for on the 2018 election, house and senate races, now a over 10 months away from the election. we've been spending time in about how s talking

the tax bill will affect wallets, what could and could not happen. how will the tax bill affect the election, what do you think the biggest impact will be 10 months out? far as the i as economy and impact on real people, we have to wait and see. to me, both ng sides are so certain they know what is going to happen, this will re certain be terrible and there will be political backlash, republicans savior for is the 2018. we have to wait and see. was nk that this, there talk about victory for republicans in the white house. was just one is battle, now over the next 10 both sides will sell their argument to the american peep and he will how the people eel about the economy is more important how it impacts them. macro-level re a lesson taken from 2010, spring passed after democrats

affordable care act and going into the midterm, lessons for both side? yeah, two polarizing pieces of legislation, time lines are a little different. democrats hasn't passed the affordable care act yet at this point in that cycle. back to, i keep coming once democrats passed the affordable care act, i don't they did a good job of selling it, they passed it and started talking about other and also president obama, i don't think did a lot to sell it. ballot in 2010, he still wanted to stay out of the partisan fray. with now, one thing we know about president trump, he loves to be out among the people, loves to be at rallies. he will be out there trying to delivered on this luxuriouspromise, most tax cut ever passed in the history of this country. to ill do his job to try pass it, this will really never be a popular piece of ifislation, i think, though,

the president can keep his loyal supporters, those republicans him, are first loyal to keep them excited and have them vote in 2018, when he's not on ballot, republicans might have a bad year, but not a terrible or catastrophic year. we know that you do at "inside politics," is give or may on of what may not happen in the upcoming election. where do you have the house and senate right now? guest: both are firmly in play, i mean, let's start with the house. intory tells us the house is play. history tells us democrats are in a good position based on how the president's party usually loses midterm. one thing i struggle with and about the generic ballot, if you like, one thing i truggle with, we are seeing national numbers, national generic ballot or president's rating. job approval one thing we should have learned, we don't have national country.s in this presidential race is not national, fight for congress is not national, what is most

are the numbers in each individual district, particularly those competitive how it is going to play out. the house is in play. in senate is definitely play, particularly now that democrats won in alabama and got one seat closer. host: for viewers this morning, talk about the house or senate quizions, that you want to nathan gonzales on. phone lines are open, happy to talk about them. republicans, it's 202-748-8002. democrats, 202-748-8000. independents, 0205 are the morning.his you mentioned generic ballot. , explain what that is and how you read it. some of the numbers from generic polling, from real clear politics, the poll has democrats recent reuters poll, democrats plus 12, recent cnn poll, democrats plus 18. what do we take from those?

generic numbers are what today.d there are derivatives of the question, it is trying to fundamental ople's sense of who they want to be in control. can be ink it instructive on the number of seats, not precisely which numbers are ose big. the clear politics average is democrats, plus 13, on the question. mentioned cnn, 18, those are big numbers. about what concerns me extrapolating too much about those is that are those numbers skewed by voters in los angeles or new york city, places aren't competitive congressional districts for the sake of the fight for the house, voters don't matter as much. know there has been limited congressional district polling and democrats have advantage of eneric ballot, but isn't at seeing now one're

the national level. host: viewer consist go to "inside politics" and look at the individual races, you mention house and senate, in your prediction right now. what is the path for democrats specifically rity post the alabama special election? net gain ofrats had two seats, 51-49 majority for them right now. starts with re-electing all of their own. emocrats are on the defensive, defending twice as many seats as republicans and they need to defend all of their own incumbents, including 10 democratic senators run nothing carried in d trump 2016, and that is not an easy task. hat has gotten glossed over months. last the majority starts with and need a netse gain of two seats. you could argue alabama was the because now t one they have arizona, the arizona open seat where jeff flake is

for re-election and likely democratic nominee. dean heller of nevada, the only inublican up for re-election a state hillary clinton carried has a primary against danny tarkanian, we have seen run many times before, it doesn't mean he win this primary, that seat is in play. democrats are embolden about places, getting randon presley in mississippi, where roger wicker is running re-election. oroark from texas is challenging cruz. they can challenge everywhere. the path is there, it is less likely democrats take the senate than win the house, even though they need more seats in the house. the just because of playing field and number of opportunities? guest: again, democratic states, this ump is time of extreme polarization

electorates and those are big electoral holes for senators to dig out of. have their own brand. i don't think all of them are going to survive. come back to a few specific races. alabama, line for democrats, robert, you are up first. caller: good morning, i would that i believe the democrats are misunderstood. misunderstood. rush limbaugh and conservative people have brainwash body 5% of the electorate into thinking that democrats advocate abortion. abortions. democrats hate abortions, far ore than republicans and we're the only really pro-life party. to republicans have nothing do with child after its born, take away insurance, they don't want to educate them, they do everything against a poor

baby. i want to say. democrats need to explain what stand for instead of allowing these republicans to lie. your point in ot alabama. let's talk about the abortion issue and how it played out in alabama special election and in that template for this issue races?r guest: how much time do we have this morning to unpack the abortion issue. robert, abortion and choice are one of the issues that still i think the s, country and two political parties who interesting in the race, which i'm sure robert was voting and a part of, nominee, , democratic senator elect was pro-choice and taking t people are different things from that. there is a sense that choice and abortion doesn't matter, democrats shouldn't be afraid of that stance. had a y, think if jones different position on abortion, pro-life, he probably would have

margin that some republicans, more republicans would have been able to vote for of their conscience if he had a different stance on it. to voters, particularly conservative republican voters, pro-life is your most have ant issue, democrats a very tough time selling, convincing them they are the party that robert was describing. host: what was the total turnout for the special election? guest: one interesting thing i voting t, look at total age population, who could have voted, not just registered talking about 35% of the people who could have voted in alabama, voted in the special election. host: this was special election the entire country fofs cussed to it.months leading up talkine michael on twitter asked, can democrats keep emotional level the 2018 election

cycle? answer think the short is yes, just a matter to what degree. democrats, this is a divide in democratic party. when the party doesn't have the white house, no clear leader, searching for the best strategy to get out, one thing uniting have, one factor, president donald trump, even if democrats are divided on things, they agree something needs to be done to counteract president donald trump in the white house. think that is some energy we are seeing in the special lections, some of them at the federal level, particularly in the state elections. in virginia, there was a that helped e raff /*am win that race. host: explain what is happening the delegate? guest: pick a name out of the film canister. the house of delegates with tight chamber and

states have older rules that this is how we decide happens to be what will decide a chamber. host: can the loser challenge the 50/50 pick? guest: i think they could, but counted, have been tallied, recounted, i think this is how it's going to be. out tomorrow late morning. guest: and this is good example. say, my vote e doesn't matter, who cares, you know, this is a good example of vote.ou should ost: jim, franklin, you are on with nathan gonzales. aller: just the symptoms of the electorate, jesus christ, and either we have biblicalorld view or a world view and i urge all the

out there to view the truth project put out by focus understand y to this. go : the 2018 election, ahead. caller: pardon? host: bring me up to the 2018 do you think people will be voting values more in 2018? caller: well, people always vote heir values, whether they are believers or not. host: nathan gonzales. guest: going back to alabama, moore, this was part of roy moore's message about what type what type of country we should have and how much that government should be biblical values and teachings of jesus and show there.s a following there is a -- that resonates of a poor group particularly republicans, but there is, for voters that is heir priority, they are going to vote for the republican party, but lots of different voters believing different

faiths, believing different roles, different roles for fate in government and that is why we have a very divided nation. host: another jim in missouri, for democrats. jim, go ahead. caller: good morning. your speaker earlier touched on a generalence between poll and local elections. talking gerrymandering for cycles, the republicans , but eceived less votes more seats. electoral college traveled the job.ote, he got he alabama election, i find interest i interesting, voter turnout was overcome the gerrymander. hope going of

forward that more and more vote. will their earlier speaker talked 70 million republicans in the country, that is less than a electorate. i'd say one thing to all of nonvoters nnials and out there. you may not find something to is always ut there something to vote against. this jim in missouri morning. guest: one thing, jim, couple ycles ago, republicans -- democrats received more house votes total when you went across nationally. the last couple cycles, republicans won more seats and in the of those national house balloting. redistricting and gerrymandering is something i republicansabout why are going to hold majority, locked districts are so

in one -- for one party or another and what is important to the districts are drawn, parties don't draw safe seats, they trau safe enough seats that are supposed to elect an individual from the normal electoral conditions, but if we don't have a normal election, there is wave backlash against sitting president, for example, suddenly the seats supposed to safe, suddenly become in play and the battleground is wider democrats have better opportunity than what it might seem because of what we have cycles.past host: sitting president tweeting earlier this morning saying on the fact unfair and unpopular individual mandate has of tax minated as part cut bill, repealed over time, obamacare, the democrats and come together l and develop a great new healthcare plan. let's talk about the issue of heading into the 2018 election.

republicans have been talking about repealing the affordable care act for eight years or seven years, since it passed by the democrats and they haven't been able to do it. hey swung and missed multiple times under the previous administration and in the first year of president trump, the individual mandate president referred to was in there, i on't know times under thethat, guess he w count it as victory, i don't know if that counts. to me,ng that sticks out he's basically talking about, i hink republicans taking up healthcare in the 2018 election r 2018 year right before an election. they have already passed one unpopular tax bill they will sell and dive into healthcare again. it's possible, but i'm not sure appetite for that, among republicans on the hill, electorate.he host: you don't think mitch mcconnell is viewing that tweet pleasure this morning? guest: i don't know if this is the christmas present he was

for.g host: jerry in texas, line for republicans. aller: thanks for taking my call, i voted the first time in 1956. 2016 election, there was votes passed. states have more voters than have registered voters and trying to get voter registration from california to it.ease they filed a lawsuit there. the 2000 election on c-span and there was a woman got the reason we have hanging chads, when you put 12 want to n there, they all punch out. you also have a young man, student, on c-span, that ade the remark, he voted in college and he also voted in his parent's home state. and they got fraud

on and vetted him. his has been going on for a long time. host: let's give nathan gonzales chance to talk about voter voters, how lent big of a problem is it from the information you watch and you lot of time looking at the races. guest: we see the argument from sides. we see argument jerry is bringing up from his point in texas, about too many voters. i have think from what seen, those fleshed out or been born out with the reality of the situation. democratic side, hear about voter suppression and thing when tabulating votes that way. a good ack to this is example of why people should vote, when we talk about the race in virginia and voter fraud, there are different in place to combat that best waysk one of the

to combat voter fraud, get your friends and family out to vote go at it that way. insideelections.com, and click on the rating, the me, you age in front of can see how nathan gonzales and his team at "inside politics" races ll of the various happening this cycle, in the note your ant to ranking for the tennessee race as ot quite as competitive some others who look at elections. friends.e are host: -- as others, explain what is going on in tennessee and why hesitant here. guest: senator corker is not running for re-election, the have a primary, i think the leading candidate is marsha blackburn, steven fincher is in the race, and former governor bill this is, elected twice,

democrats. i think tennessee is a epublican state, the state has changed since governor brettison in 2002, re-elected a 2006, in what wasn't serious race. frankly, honest with you the whole time, i'm concerned about is rust on governor bretison's campaign and part of his is because maybe we saw last cycle efore strickland, r democrats thought it was great and it didn't worked, he ended crushed by portman or senator evan bye, who had been elected multiple times.

different ime, landscape, he ended up losing that race. notopen-minded, ratings are set in stone, i think the burden bretisonthis, is a real race. host: another seat that has if en attention, i wonder the race will get attention, al election seat, special that has to happen, is that going to be competitive at all? competitive.ld be just flipping from tennessee, skeptical about republican statewide change necessary minnesota. candidate rump, then trump came close, i think he had unique appeal i'm not sure is easily replicated by a republican candidate. to see how 'll have if senator franken leaves here days and tina smith, ball all accounts, looks credible ill be a senator and she says she will run for the full term, we'll see as a he ends up being

candidate. with the republican side, talk about former governor tim polenti, someone eshg lected statewide, with less than 50% of vote, i think one of the explain, i tend to fall back on fundamentals. is uncertainty. fall back on fundamentals and republicans have struggled in statewide in minnesota and up to them to prove it is real. individual bout any race you want to talk about, nathan gonzales great person to do that with. coming up 9:30 on the east coast, he will be with us until program.d of the phone lines, 202-748-8002, republican. democrats, 202-748-8001. 202-02-0205, ts,

numbers a little different this morning. are you with us? caller: what's that? carol, line for democrats, new york, is that you? yes, my question about new york 22nd congressional -tirm tea between first type and her challenger, whether you have any special that election? thank you. guest: i love it, let's dive in. is one of the most competitive races in the country. tilting t in the republican category, i think the fascinating. challenged enney richard hannah, almost defeated him in the primary. hannah didn't run for re-election, she ran again won the open seat. it surprised democrats because she's a polarizing figure, there

republicans who don't like her brand or her style of donald trump did very well in the 22nd district her.o, i think that helps now fast-forward to next year, brandisi, democrats him, n love with assemblyman that has done well in that district. is soft spoken, but proven track record of being elected to a district. i think this will be a great ace, type of district the democrats have to win if they are going to be in the majority, fruit low-hanging contrast to later down our ratings get more difficult. host: we're diving into specific houses, talk about kentucky six. candidate, democratic candidate, not the only amy mcgraff.

>> when i was 12 years old, i what i wanted to do when i grew up, fly fighter jets and carriers, that is the toughest flying you can do. 13, my congressman told me i couldn't fly in congress thought women ought to be protected and combat.wed to serve in i never got a letter back from my senator, mitch mcconnell. then wrote every member of the house and senate armed services committee asking them to change the law. i said they hadn't met me yet and i knew i could do it. couldn't.em told me i then i got into the naval economy and wouldn't you know, law.changed the i'm amy mcgraff, i love our ountry, 20 years as u.s. bombing al issions, qaeda. and i got to land on aircraft carriers.

for congress g against andy barr, in my kentucky.f he says he will vote to take healthaway. host: that is in her race in kentucky. andy not running against barr yet, although she is, but has a race to win beforehand, going on here? guest: this is good example of republican leaning, by numbers partisanship they have strong candidates. that video, went viral in democratic circles and raised considerable amount of more than most democratic candidates around the country. complicated, ore when mayor jim gray entered the race, as well. jim gray ran against rand paul, but won this , district there is

divide on how much support does mcgraff have. gray, being mayor and won district in senate race, proven track record. focus on andy barr, they have to fight amongst themselves in the primary. host: are primaries a bad thing? guest: again, john, how much we have? we focus on primaries being egative, we know the outcome, it produces someone who is an ulectable candidate. can be healthyes and helpful. it can force candidates to get up and running, refine messaging, it takes money, but i 2008 presidential race is a good example of how it can be positive. between he primary barack obama and hillary clinton 2008d barack obama win the general election in states, particularly states like indiana where you arolina, had in the primary, two full well-funded campaigns, voters, getting them

out in the primary and translate broader pool of democratic voters in the general election because you had that. think the parties treat primaries like the plague and i actually think they can be helpful. if you can't win, former tom reynolds, could have been tom davis, i apologize to the tom's. can't win a primary, how election?e you in the host: line for independents, joan is waiting, good morning. is john.his host: go ahead. caller: okay. good morning, america. i question this, why the run, ates have desire to and there is this other thing i ant to bring out, the influences of this country in state. to church and allegiance and both

parties wear cloth of roman catholic hiker ark and he combine these things. again, it is insurgency, example of wisconsin, what is on with paul ryan and it ought to be focused on, the activities of this activity. neo-alter path -- your okay, i think we got point john. nathan gonzales. john,: i think it was why do people run, and that is important question because of what candidates go through. running for congress is hard, we on't need to say that, but kandzida candidates put their lives on hold, jobs on hold. average cost of congressional race? guest: millions of dollars for a house race. i mean, senate races have become many presidential races. races senate races in

terms of financing, unless you means to invest your own money, spend time on the eople for money phone and when you are done, go for event and ask people money. most normal people don't want to can't blame them. it does influence the open type outsiders te, maybe don't want to do it and the quality of candidate, i want to country, i don't want to put myself or my family through that. goes back to role view rch, your role, your of how church should be in government and that is why we have elections to decide which are on. host: caller brought up speaker again, which uns now there is question about it, a challenge? guest: both primary and general election, had primary last cycle. was amazed, it was paul

was getting questions about paul neyland, about paul ryan, he was for amnesty, seals.g baby this is from paul neyland's ampaign, but it was from breitbart media, this shows where alliances are. speaker ryan ended up winning easily, and the general guy bryce, viral stash, raised iran the district is republican and i think speaker ryan has advantage, but we have speaker foley losing in waves in previous cycles, it possible, but i don't think it is likely. host: do you think he's likely stick around? guest: boy, i don't know, to be honest, i don't have special insight, i don't think paul ryan

wants to do this forever. go ng to figure out when to out after policy, the policy goals are done and balancing wouldn't y, it surprise me. host: to the bronx, anthony is an independent. go ahead. hispanic ah, the -- community, look at the way he indiana.t the judge in s don't think ican about the future, four years, they will pay a big price. at the way they -- black african american, what -- it was crazy. the only thing about the base, the don't think about in future, they are going to pay big price. to vote y kid not republican, think about it. thank you. a st: anthony, you bring up good point, in 2016, a lot of people, including analysts and democrats, thought that the time

for reckoning on your point 2016, candidate trump would be punished for things he said and republican fall particularly among latino and hispanic actually candidate trump did better among voters han what mitt romney did in 2012 and so i think the important lesson i take from demographics aren't necessarily destiny or not happening at the speed with hich we thought it was happening, but i believe the long-term s do have a problem that if you are doing worse among the populations that growing, that is going to be tough to sustain that over a period of time. term, in the short republicans might have a problem primaries, steve bannon promising challenges of republican candidates, backed by primary.onnell in the yesterday on abc's this week, what is e talked about

this k to the party if tension continues, here is what jeff flake had to say. >> most definitely. definitely. when you look at some of the audiences cheering for you look s sometimes, out there and you say, those are dying party, a when you look at lack of dive e depends sometimes, where you are. by and large, we're appealing to white men and they're just know, number and, you ang sxer resentment are not a governing philosophy, you have govern and do something. , you know, we have something else. nathan gonzales, how does that primaries coming up? guest: i get confused sometimes he steve bannon, clearly, is anti-establishment, i believe

oversee nnon wants to the destruction of the republican party. i think he wanted to do that even donald trump became the nominee for the republican party for president. specifics lk about and the way steve bannon is able o impact races, first of all, senate races, limited number, we started cycle, eight republican up for re-election, two of them are now not running, but then when you move to the others, i think the broad set, , will challenge everyone .hallenge cruz wicker, non, and roger chris mcdaniel might run again, extreme orrin hatch, situation wrshgs it looks like the president is trying to keep incum be bent in place because

to run for hatch's open seat. does that mean the president and same bannon aren't on the side? i get confused there. i f fisher in nebraska, sure haven't heard about serious baroso, er and john there are a couple republican donors and eric prince from betsy ter, related to devos, it is possible, but i just wonder about the targeting the money comes from. host: did the alabama loss by steve bannon's ability to make this run at primary?ns in the that it seen impacted -- there is there is always someo

to blame for abandoning roy moore. there is always someone to blame. steve bannon can convince ealthy republican donors, this is a cause worth fighting, the money can be there. before thenutes left program ends today. city.waiting in new york line for democrats. us?you with stick by your phone, rob, we'll diane.to connecticut --

ost: christmas hangover sorted out for you. talk about house members. you talk about the low-hanging the house and the house members that democrats need to going to take back the majority, what is some of the more reaches, there is candidates, house republicans who haven't been in races for a long time, find themselves in competitive races, talk about a of those. guest: some are in districts illary clinton won, such as john culberson. rorbacher, new jersey, new jersey's 11th district, the numbers have been competiti competitive, particularly from presidential standpoint. the question in my mind is whether they are going to ramp their campaign operations in order to meet difficult fight about to face, they are facing all of them have

credible, if not multiple democratic challenges and they will face the race of their lifetime, if you don't transition, it is difficult. we have seen in other cycles, florida, h, of pennsylvania, people who just this really caught on to new fight they are going to face seats because ing of it. host: who isn't ready from the ata you are seeing, fundraising? guest: we wrote about my "inside politics" just wrote about texas races, the race, he is losing fundraising battle. incumbents, if you rely on one will have more money and he conceded there are four have more money cash on hand at the end of september than he did and i that is concerning. culberson, republican from

"inside politics," seventh district to watch down at the end there. to the phones. linda, tennessee, independent. good morning. morning.ood i was just going to tell you, polls do not work. surveys a and four day here. when you answer the phone, they cut off.hey it does not work. it, ay that when trump got too. e the people are the ones that gets out and works for the candidates. thank you. host: linda, thank you for the call. uest: we could do a whole hour on polling. ctually the polls, my take, linda mentioned 2016, i think the polls, it wasn't the polls ere wrong, first of all, nationally, the polls had hillary clinton winning by three winningpoints, ended up

popular vote. polling, didn't have enough poll necessary minnesota, pennsylvania, n, and ohio and virginia, it would like that, have shown a closer race, more oss-upstates than candidate donald trump had and so i think polling ost a lack of or poor polling analysis. district, matter more than national polls. real clear politics --

culberson. --st: it shows democrats are job approval gets low as what it s, probably 13%, people disagreeing for different reasons. you have democrats disagreeing, republicansike him, disagreeing, they don't like the job the president is doing, but the 2018 lly for election, part of big piece is republicans going to be all republica don't like president trump, but also didn't vote for hillary clinton and president's loyal supporters. if they, if they like the president, but believe congress problem and e they're not doing enough to pass his agenda, why are they going in 2018 when president isn't on the ballot. that is where republicans have and say, nancy

.elosi, nancy pelosi few tweets. writes, democrats lost in 2016, running on hey, we're trump, wouldn't suggest that angle again. james this morning, not to gambling, i'm taking wageros control of the house, emocrats offer nothing is what james has to say. tommy is waiting in tennessee. line for democrats. go ahead, tommy. tommy, good morning to you. on tommy. caller: the tweet about, we're democrats i think learned a lesson. tommy is back. watched the alabama race and everything between -- host: just talk through your phone we can hear you. alabama race.e

caller: i was just wondering, know, doug jones won the race and everything by one and a half percent. i was wondering how did george get the seat for the alabama race? nathan gonzales. guest: i think you might be talking about luther strange. once president trump appointed jeff sessions that took him out vacancy, ate, created governor robert bentley, republican governor at the time strange, but her that got messy because luther strange was partially in charge investigating governor his ey, ethical issues of own. strange was under a cloud of rouble and voters didn't like that, felt like it wasn't right for the governor to appoint to one investigationing him

do that. governor bentley resigned from lieutenant kay ivy became governor and set the date for special election and that is how things started there. host: any indication that doug match up her strange could happen down the road in i with that would be election would be. guest: that seat won't be on the 2018.t in could have set the lection for 2018, republicans are miffed, that could have given strange time to establish but that senator, is -- i guess luther strange but run again, republicans, alabama is full of and up for re-election, that republican nomination will be very valuable asset. host: back to phones with 10 minutes left this morning. line in new york city, for democrats, rob, good

morning. caller: good morning. host: yes, sir. caller: great. ust the system of campaign donations in this country is the oot of all evil in american politics. that's the swamp, to be drained, a peep from hear this president about draining he swamp of campaign contributions to both republicans and democrats. 2018 mocratic message for and 2020, should be reducing the lowering the national debt. this is a failed experiment businessman in the white house, but the recent push tax bill to benefit the rich is the result of donors republican threatening not to pay campaign to ributions and donations the republican party if they ass them as tax breaks, which added 1.5 trillion authorize to

the national debt. that the democrats should be running on should be dealing with lowering the lowering the debt. thank you for c-span. democratic on the line, talking about debt and deficit, usually a message we from the republican party, it shows we have cycles, it depends where you stand and here you sit in terms of ajority and minority in congress, but these are big issues we're constantly talking about. to come back to, as long to upreme court continues rule that spending in elections s a former freedom of speech, then all we're doing with the laws is changing how the money how much is spent. we need to take, maybe move, rob didn't say this specifically, move to public financing system, take out the ask and give and take of the money, then people, you have to ask

yourself, do you want your tax ads or nasty or mailers you are get nothing your mailbox? unintended consequences with every election. alabama, line for independents, robin, good morning. caller: c-span audience, i have question for the guest. i have a question about the electoral e over the college. i was under the impression that was for oral college people in the 1700s that ouldn't vote out in the wilderness, wasn't able to cast a vote right on the spot and the electoral college was invented. my question is, do you think we go back to just the popular vote and forget the and also, ollege where are the russians going to be in the 2018 elections? thank you. host: nathan gonzales. russians to ect the

be in moscow and surrounding areas. electoral vote, the college is fundamentally supposed to make sure voter populated areas are represented and not just cities.s contrast to big i'm agnostic on what the system should be, i think that it is unlikely that the system is changed, it would require change to our institution right now, right now the two parties can't agree on lunch today, or let alone changing the constitution, i think that i now democrats are saying popular vote, why don't we go to popular vote, unintended as well, es there, even if perception that if we go popular vote, every voter will get equal amount of ttention and i think the democratic nominee for president would spend his or her time in six cities and never leave and that could win the the rules ou play by that are set out, but i don't

think it would mean someone in and l.a. are going to get the same amount of attention from the candidates, it wouldn't that way. host: what about the russia nvestigation as 2018 issue for senators and incumbents, house embers and senate republicans, as well? guest: i think part is where it endss, where and how and who is implicated over the next year, slowly creeping to the president, but until i think it gets to the himself, his loyal supporters dismiss it and say, it's whoever it may be, but if someoned, closer to the president, the president himself was that has some be consequence. i think it is still partisan issue. democrats believe everything is -- everything about it is implicating the president, republicans are just wanting

something else. host: patrick in illinois, line independents, patrick, what do you want to talk about? caller: how's it going? i was calling, i'm interested alabama, election in doug jones, you had charles not to at a -- for granted and i wonder if that was that a message democrats were taking seriously actually could shift if anything could cause it to don't actually deliver on their promises? the patrick, thanks for question. guest: yeah, i think democrats what the ing with party looks like in the post-president obama era. to ident obama was able rally african american voters in very unique and historic way, really translated to the elections when he wasn't on the 2014 and 2016 ng

election. i think democrats have to, i i don't think , we're close to black voters turning toward republicans in mass, but are they going to turn out in the same way, they did urn out in significant way in alabama as patrick was talking bout, but can that be replicated over multiple districts and states at one time also the i believe the african american population of alabama is about 27%, i think voted in 29% in the alabama senate race, but that is than most ly higher of the competitive senate races. i think the african american of montana, where democrat is running for e-election, is 1% and that is rounding up. so the formula is going it look different for different because running just states rse area, diverse and districts. host: another issue that impacted alabama special sexual assault, sexual

allegation, talk about about -- there are several races this is, i think this one ion, historic for and that is the sexual misconduct and see who else is kindcated in this and what of districts and states they leave behind. al franken will be leaving democratic leaning senator, t then nevada nevada congressman, democrat who re-election, g for fourth district is competitive, particularly as an open seat and vulnerability e for democrats and republicans are going to have and i keep ies coming back to whether this is house o be akin to the banking scandal from the early

parties bers from both were caught up in it and if it is more bipartisan scandal and democratic chances of a bigger wave. i think democrats will do very couple seats se a based on members, their things ual members doing inappropriate and can't keep their hands to themselves. an drea ramsey? democratic as a candidate, she decided to end her campaign when there were sexual harassment prior to her run for congress, h.r. of a d of company and encouraged c-span learn more o and about that, including her side of the story. it was enough to where the party said, you need to step aside. and there is two democratic in the race, more of bernie sanders' candidates. and you have yoder, competitive

suburban district. ranking thatre you specific district? guest: that district we have as republican and, you know, these are not set in stone. would expect it to get more competitive, just based on the demographics of the district, see whether these two candidates, whoever received attention, what they end up being like. insideelection.com, to follow nathan gonzales and their stoppingappreciate you by. see you in the new year. guest: merry christmas, happy year. host: that is the show today, we'll be back tomorrow morning, have a great e, tuesday.

tonight at 8:00 eastern new york city mayor bill de blasio. >> i will tell you something very simple. a progressive democratic candidate with a clear strong message will go to the grassroots, that is the republican's worst nightmare. >> wednesday night at 8:00 eastern, debate on the first amendment and hate speech in philadelphia. >> it's important for students to the learn how to criticize people but i think an important part of what the university teaches his civility. not just that you need to be able to defend your ideas, you

need to be able to defend your ideas in a way that does not offend people that is when people get angry at each other they become unable to have the sorts of debates we value. >> celebrity activists including ashton kutcher on modern slavery . ryan philippi on military caregivers, and the jennifer garner on early child education. >> they sit babies in front of the television and i've seen it over and over again. the child quietly goes to sleep inside their mind. walt mossberg on tech sector trends. enterprise.hip if you've ever watched star trek, there's a computer. it exists in the starship and it understands your idioms. it knows everything. honest to god, they all watched star trek.

this is what they are gunning for. >> all this week in prime time on c-span. >> c-span's student cap, the tweets say it all. student cam in action. for constitutional documentaries. it'sgroup showed us how done. two stellar interviews in one day. hard hittingd about immigration reform and the dream act. asking events to choose a provision of the u.s. constitution and create a video illustrating why it's important. our competition is open to all middle school and high school students, grades six through 12. $100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. the grand prize of $5,000 will go to the student or team with the best overall entry. cap contest details on our website at student cam.org.

cornell west and allender show alan-- cornell west and dershowitz debate whether the boycott and divestment and sanctions movement will help bring about in and to the conflict. the bds aims to end political pressure on israel. the debate center at old parkland in dallas hosted this hour and 10 minute event. [applause] >> good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here. it is my privilege to moderate this evening's event. a few housekeeping notes. you saw signs on the door when you came in, we are being recorded by c-span. they will be occasionally audience.he if anybody does not want to be seen on c-span for whatever reas,