>> michael: coming up, a speech progressives have heard before and have been waiting to hear again. the president talks drones and gitmo. let's see ho the follow-through. i'm michael shure and you're in "the war room." [ ♪ theme music ♪ ] >> michael: today marks a major turning point in the president's second term, and in america's foreign policy. more than a decade after 9/11 after a thousand troops killed and 1 trillion-dollar spent the president said the national security threat has shifted and alqaida has been weakened. he announced he'll put in restrictions on drones strikes

to limit when and where they can be used. the president has received criticism from the right and the left for using drones strikes. today the president responded. >> obama: it is a a fact, for the families of those civilians no words or legal construct can justify their loss. for me and those in my chain of command, those deaths will haunt us as long as we live. but as command center chief i must weigh these heart-breaking tragedies against the alternatives. to do nothing in the face of terrorist networks would invite far more civilian casualties. >> michael: president obama has also faced criticism that the drone strikes are illegal but today he argued they were legal

because after 9/11 congress authorized the use of force in the war. >> in the intelligence gathered at bin laden's compound we found that he wrote that we could lose the reserves to enemy's airstrikes. we cannot fight airstrikes with explosives. >> michael: today's announcement comes after the white house confirmed that the drone strikes have killed four americans since 2009. eric holder identified them yesterday in a letter to the senate view dishary committee.

the spoke today and said he was orchestrateing the blowing up of an airplane. >> obama: i would have detained and prosecuted alaki and as president in my duty i would have been derelict in my duty if i had not authorized the strike to take him out. >> michael: big words from the president. things got really heated when a code pink protesters interrupted the press conference. >> can you talk about guantanamo guantanamo. >> obama: why don't you sit down and i'll address it. >> include many. >> obama: thank you, thank you

ma'am, thank you. you should let me finish my sentence. >> michael: it struck me that it was national defense university and they could not even defend against the code pink person coming in. this was, in fact, a very personal decision for the president. he had not touched the issue for years after promising to close guantanamo bay the very day he came in to president in 2009. that was thwarted by congress and he allowed it to stall. he saw the hunger strikes undergoing there and the the inserting of a feeding nose was considered torture. many on the hunger strike said they were doing it because they had lost hope that the president would do anything to help them. hillary clinton added her voice to the debate when she left in january she sent a two-page confidential memo urging the president to close the prison. this is a sensitive issue and

while republicans like john mccain have issued their support in closing gitmo others are gearing up for a battle senator saxby chambliss from georgia: for the detainees at guantanamo, it might be a solution. with me today karl frisch, a friend of the war room, who joins us from washington, d.c. welcome back, karl. >> hi, michael. >> michael: do you think he'll follow through on this or was he just justifying what he has already done? >> maybe a little bit of column a and column b. i think that's okay. i think it's important for the president to talk about these important issues in very clear detail. i think that's what he was attempted to do. this is a balancing act between protecting civil liberties

advancing law and doing what is smart for national security. when we first talked about closing guantanamo you had military generals saying guantanamo prison was the leading recruiter for terrorism abroad. i'm sure that remains the case today and it's all the more reason it should be closed and the president is putting the weight of the white house behind his wanting to have it shut down. >> michael: karl, let's look at this there the glass that we tend to look at it things through, and that is the lens of the progressive. how should that be viewed throw those glasses. >> i think it's important that they continue to hold the president accountable on this issue, the congress, too. this congress has seen fit not to do much of anything. which makes 2014 all the more important. yelling at someone in a crowd

never elected to office, never defeated anybody who is standing in her way to progress, so if progressives unify and fight to take back control of congress, with a very clear aim they want to replace the people there standing in the way of closing guantanamo, of having a rational foreign policy the president said here is what we're going to do with drones. here's what we're not going to do. there is an eternal playbook they've got now. it's the responsibility of congress to codify that playbook so other presidents don't go further than this one has. furthermore, if we want to get clear on what we're doing in terms of foreign policy, we should take the president's lead and make the changes we need with the authorization to use force and get rid of the authorization to use force that exist. republicans likes saxby chambliss and those who say the president has acquiesced to terrorists they're not right in

the head and they should not lead this issue. >> michael: are the conservatives going to be happier if these detainees are in yemen or in a maximum prison in illinois which they fought tooth and nail last time. >> which ever one they think they can get the most mileage out. it doesn't matter what the president does the conservatives are going to be opposed to it. if he took his daughters ice skating over the national mall over the holidays they will accuse him of trying to be like jesus and walking on water. it doesn't matter, they'll be opposed to it. >> michael: karl, the progressives have been uncomfortable, many upset, a lot ofwho iknow and like are upset with the president and he lost them on these drones. is this enough. >> short of completely dropping the use of them, i don't think there are certain elements in the progressive movement that would be happy. but i can tell if you the president is putting out there

that he's setting up the special rules, it's the responsibility of congress to act and codify those so the president sticks to his word and future presidents don't overstep their powers. but without a new congress we want--we can't hope for that change to happen. the president really needs to get out there and sell this speech to the american people directly. this president is stronger when he's on the stump taking his message directly at conservatives and advancing a progressive version. he's more likely to win congress back in 2014 if he does something like that. >> michael: the follow through that's the issue to what you're saying, the issue is he has been a great candidate. today he was a candidate in a way, now he has to go back to the office and be president and then he'll bring people along with him. people who have been frustrated are the people who say yes he gives a good speech. he ran a great campaign. where is the beef in a way. >> if ed royce the congressman

from california said the president is laying down for the terrorists. the president should be in california next week giving a speech about how this congressman is crazy and how the truth is much different than these republicans are saying. >> michael: that's a tremendous point. >> people support the president and don't trust congress at all. >> michael: we see that many times, the republicans in congress think the numbers are going to drop but we don't. we see popularity. i want to give you the numbers on the immigration debate and i want to get your reaction. many support the pathway to citizenship. over all 58% back status for illegal immigrants. 70% of democrats believe there should an path word and only 42%

of republicans do. the reform bill would create such a pathway but the bill still needs to pass the house and that could be hard especially since some republicans voters are threatening not to support congressional candidates who vote for the bill. house minority leader nancy pelosi made her pitch for it. >> by and large we are a nation of immigrant. every generation of immigrants who come to this countries with their hopes dreams, and optimism for their future makes america more american. the sooner we can pass the bill more fully we can avail ourselves and our country all of us for the future. >> michael: she had received support in an unlikely place. the heritage foundation which backs the pathway for citizenship for different

reasons. they argue immigration reforms positive impact on population growth, labor force growth housing and other markets will lead to more rapid economic growth this in turn translates into a positive impact on the federal budget. while there may be signs of a coalition forming one group that will not be included is gay couples. to get the bill passed the senate patrick leahy was forced to withdraw his amendment which would have allowed u.s. citizens to apply for green cards for their same sex partners. it was a bridge too far for conservatives and sadly some democrats as well. as we promised we turned back to karl frisch. karl you know, interesting this increasingly public support for reform, how will this impact--listen, we've seen it on background checks with guns, we've seen it how they approach the budget. they don't seem to listen to the public. how is this going to inform how

the house will act here? >> probably not very much. in 1994 republicans made rush limbaugh an honorary member of congress, he seems to be pulling strings there. i am asked often why immigration reform might fail. we have not been as honest with the american people as we should be why the immigration reform might fail. we need to be honest with the american people, and it's because republicans are bigots. okay? that's why immigration reform would fail. that's why it wouldn't pass in the house. that's why republicans refuse to include lgbt couples in this legislation to begin with because they're a little more bigoted against lgbt people than people of color. >> michael: those are strong and i dare say accurate words. let's talk about the lgbt amendment that patrick leahy was

putting up there. jeff lake, republican of arizona, and lindsey graham, republican of south carolinaer south carolina, have said that's a deal breaker. if it's in there they're not going to be able to-- >> it's really unfortunate. jeff lake has a gay son and lindsey graham is a confirmed bachelor it's unfortunate not to see those guys not standing up for lgbt people. this is why they're losing sway. if we don't get immigration reform this year or next year it's only a matter of time before we do because the republican party is old and white, and dying. if they don't change their policies, nothing can save them. they've got to get better on gay issues not because they're going to win gay voters overnight but because independents and women look at them like they're crazy. >> michael: it's not just about getting the voters in that coalition, that's what they're so blinded by, but it's about

other people who see what they do and how they behave towards those coalition of voters. what is the reaction to the gay community to leahy having to pull that part of the amendment. >> i think it's goner, we would have liked to have been included. the lgbt community for all the talk we're hearing about marriage and the progress we're making on that front we're used to being disappointed by our politicians. you know, until president obama came along there had never been a federal law passed to protect lgbt people in any shape way or form until hate crimes passed. we're used to waiting but we're tired of waiting. our hope now is that the supreme court has to overturn doma, the defensive of marriage act. otherwise these couples will be waiting for years before they can be united. >> michael: at least you're not

tired of weighing in the fight. karl frisch who joins us regularly, thank you for joining us tonight. from shock to grief in 72 hours since tornadoes tore through oklahoma. help is pouring in, and social media is leading the way. i find comparison of obama to nixon foolish, bone headed and a little wacky even though i'm tugging at my shirt collar a billet over his relationship with the press. the president and the prom. new pictures of the command center chill. it's "the war room," and we'll be right back. going to do the young turks. i think the number one thing that viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. they know that i'm not bs'ing them with some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know that i'm going to be the first one to call them out. they can question whether i'm right, but i think that the audience gets

that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us.

>> if you believe in state's rights but still support the drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day. >> do you think that there is any chance we'll see this president even say the words "carbon tax"? >> with an open mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned "great leadership" so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter). >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. current tv is the place for true stories. with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> michael: funeral services will be held for the first of 24 victims of the oklahoma tornado. antonia was one of seven children who perished. her family has taken some comfort that she was with her best friend when she died. as her parents and many others come to term with the human cost of the tornado the state of oklahoma is examining the physical damage. some 13,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. insurance claims could top $2 billion. which actually seems low to me. in the meantime charities like the red cross have set up campaigns to provide humanitarian aid for the thousands of oklahomans in need. crowd founding services like fundly and go fund me make it easier for individuals to share their stories and appeal to

others for help through social media. joining us tonight from san francisco to talk talk about the brave new worried is dave boyce. you're a native oklahoma so you have a personal connection to the state. give us an overview of exactly how crowd funding is helping the people affected by the tornado. >> sure, thanks, michael, i am, i grew up in oklahoma. i was an elementary school kid at will rogers elementary school in oklahoma. when the signers would go off they would take us in the hallways and put a textbook over the back of our head and neck and hope nothing terrible would hallelujah. i can't imagine if the roof had been lifted, the walls had disappeared--this is a horrific thing for oklahoma and oklahomans. now it's all about recovery. that's where crowd funding comes through. that's what fundly does. you can launch a campaign and

within five minutes have up loaded a video and appeal, what you're raising money for and be taking credit cards. it connects to your facebook, twitter, e-mail accounts and mobile phones so you can reach out to your friends and raise money and fill in the gaps for things not provided by insurance and other aid organizations. >> michael: you know, we talk a lot about the way these groups and the impact they're having, you know, in a kick start-way. they are charities, but you're still operating a for-profit business. fundly takes a cut of every dollar donated. >> yes, if you wanted to launch a campaign you would have to buy software spend thousands of dollars to get the credit card processing software and other software but today we just launch it. you don't have to pay anything

to start it. but we do take a percentage as the funds come in. it's a small range from 7.9% and 5.5% and we pay visa and credit card for you. we're funded by venture capitalists so we don't have to make a profit on every campaign that launches. it's only there as a way for non-profit organizations and individuals to be able to reach us through social media. >> michael: it's typical of any charity, others who are skeptical saying they're taking $0.07 of every dollar, why would they be doing that but to make money for themselves. but in fact every charity hayes overhead and yours does as well. >> it's the cheapest way to get money in the door, honestly. you spend more money collecting and opening and depositing checks than doing it this simple and easy way. >> michael: how does it cut

into--i look at the boston marathon bombing, for example. there was the one fund that people were giving a lot of money to, a major fund. then there were fundly or go fund me, these other sites giving directly to a victim specifically to a family, etc. do the big groups and little groups work together that way? >> they did actually. the one fund boston actually had people out raising money for them but using sites like fundly to do it. so mr. there were runners, for instance, who in honor of the boston victims were running a marathon in new mexico or in california or arizona and then dedicating their run to one fund boston and funneling it back. these are all vehicles that didn't exist before. in the end of the day we'll help people raise $2 million to $3 million to help the victims of oklahoma.

it will pale in comparison in what was raised elsewhere but it helps to fill in the gaps. aid organizations can't help every family. so it will be the real realtors ocean of oklahoma will help the realtors and there are unions who will help ruin members. there was a teacher who reached out with a campaign to help get a new car. >> michael: one interesting thing about your site it's being used by many fundraisers. mercury one has raised $711 million to buy supplies for those in oklahoma. there are individuals raising money like you mentioned one campaign started by a teacher who has raised more than $4,500 to replace her car that had been destroyed in the tornado.

is there an appeal. >> there really is. this is not about command and control. it's about individual people wanting to band together to use their social networks for something that is good and effective. this is something that you can do with facebook that actually helps. and then wherever those people see the need they can steer their efforts and like you said, it's a whole range of things. we have novice ability of that until people who are extraordinarily creative, they come up with interesting things that need to happen, and they launch campaigns. i'm happy to be able to provide the platform to make that easy. >> michael: and it seems so, and it seems like its frontier in the way that people raise money on behalf of others. the report done by math solution said donation sites like yours grew 45% in 2012. forecasts estimate more than $1 billion will be raised by crowd funding sites this year. why is it so popular now? >> there are three reasons.

it's direct, it's immediate, and its rewarding. direct meaning i know exactly where my funds are going. not all the layers it will filter through before something happens with it. i'm helping to fund libraries in schools or helping wells to be dug. victims can launch a campaign and be collecting within minutes of a disaster. right on the spot. then it's engaging in the sense that i get feedback. when i contribute to one of these crowd funding campaigns i become a subscribing the way you follow something on twitter. when it reaches a milestone i'll get updated. when the campaign succeeds i get to celebrate with everyone else and i'm encouraged to share it on my foreign social network. >> michael: i know from giving through your competitor in

boston you get to see those updates, and you see what is happening, there is nothing wrong with that. that's what charities are. you give money and you don't know where that money is going and you don't get updates. dave boyce is the ceo of fundly. thankthank you for being on the show today. keep up the good work and good luck to oklahoma. apparently the fifth estate could in the get enough of james garfield. that did not last long. the relationship between the president and the press is always set on simmer and now it's a straight up boil. stick around while we look into that. you know who is coming on to me now? you know the kind of guys that do reverse mortgage commercials? those types are coming on to me all the time now. (vo) she gets the comedians laughing and the thinkers thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. you would rather deal with ahmadinejad than me. >>absolutely. >> and so would mitt romney. (vo) she's joy behar. >>and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were

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alright, in 15 minutes we're going to do the young turks. i think the number one thing that viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. they know that i'm not bs'ing them with some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know that i'm going to be the first one to call them out. they can question whether i'm right, but i think that the audience gets that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us. [ ♪ theme music ♪ ] >> michael: the white house and reporters are always at odds it seems. reporters want fresh and exclusive stories. the administration wants control and order. earlier this week we learned fox news reporter james rosen was

named as a possible coconspirator in relating to his dogged reporting on north korea. he has not been charged with anything. this comes on the heels of who leaked information to the associated press about counterterrorism efforts. many are outraged a at the seizing of the reporter's theft records. back in 2011 san francisco chronicle political reporter karla marinucci showed bradley manmanning breaking out in song. that squeezed her out of events. we don't squeeze her out here in "the war room." now we have our own san francisco chronicle reporter karla maranucci.

an interesting story that you have a history with this. it must ring true to you. >> you know, michael, there have been so many jokes about the cosy relationship between obama and the media and we've seen the covers have been pulled off this cosy relationship. there has been a lot of hostility. this has been an administration that started out promising the most transparency in history but i got to say i've been doing this for 20 years guys and these guys are tougher to cover less access and less understanding of what the media has to do, and more restrictions than we ever saw with president clinton, president bush. i think it's all blowing back on them now when the ap scandal broke, the rosen scandal broke the administration is starting to see how the folks in the pressroom really feel.

they are not happy with the way their organization has been treated and their news gathering has been treated and its starting to show. >> michael: you say it's different even from clinton and bush. the press has always complained and the white house has always complained, but how is that different in the obama administration versus the clinton and bush administration. >> when he came to california, which he did 76 times the clinton administration invited us to ride with him and the motorcade went to every fundraising event he did whether it was small or big. he took many questions from reporters. we got access to the guy. the same thing was true of bush. i recall him doing press conferences. we did events with him up and down the state. obama is another animal entirely. you really have to sign your life away to be part of the local pool with obama as you saw

with that video. look, we've been using video for a long time as reporters. other people in that audience took out their cellphones and tapes, those demonstrators, but we got really seriously in trouble with the white house for doing that. the fact is that president obama has been out here. he was just here. he's coming out again. he doesn't do public events. mostly fundraisers that's the california aspect of it, but the fact is you don't get a chance to ask him questions. we're outside of the beltway. the beltway is where the action is with the white house and the press, but the president's relationship with the media all over the country in all these markets, and we've got 14 major markets here in california, we don't get the chance to ask him the questions that we should get to ask him and we did with previous presidents. >> michael: that's got to be--it's been such a difference. >> michael: that has to be so frustrating. what does it mean to get in trouble with the white house? as a reporter what is that like.

>> when they're calling you up saying i'm not sure we can use your news organization for the pool any more, that became a huge blowout because my editors got involved. my executive editor really took them on. he said look, this is the way we do news out here. we're not going to sugarcoat it for you guys. they basically said well, then we're not going to use you. they denied that, and that made headlines because our paper called them on it in print and in editorials but the fact is for about a year we were not invited to do local pool reporting for the white house. we're back doing it now but it took about a year. >> michael: it's amazing to think the white house not allowing san francisco chronicle to do local pool reporting for them. that speaks volumes for our viewers and for me, i don't know how that works and to hear that side of the story is interesting. i want to talk about what you've been reporting on this week not

that, but the rise of millennial in politics. how have they changed the tune in the debate. >> we sea it here, particularly silicon valley where you see the rise of the millennial voters. obama was elected with the hope of those young voters. they no longer want to belong to the political parties major political parties we see what is happening with how baby boomers have run washington. it's political gridlock. they were the generation that ran the world for a long, long time but look, my generation was about don't trust anyone over 30. it was a very polarized passionate about political activity but it's my way or the highway with the baby boom generation i think we're seeing a lot of political leaders in washington that is being manifested. younger millennials are a civic generation, they're the largest

and most diverse generation in history, and we're finally starting to see these folks come up through the political process right here in silicon valley. you can look at mark zuckerberg the tech leaders who have started their own super pac and it's a bipartisan effort in every way. itit does not identify with one political party. these young tech leaders who are millennials don't play in the same political sandbox as they do in d.c. one year they're hosting christie. the things week they're hosting obama. the motto of this younger generation is what can we do working together. i think that is a big change from the baby boomers. >> michael: that is a good change and it's refreshing. but when i hear about a new younger group of voters in america it seems that there is one party that is paying attention or even if they're not paying attention there is one that is clearly not paying attention. it's encouraging to note there is such bipartisanship even at that level. karla mariniccui.

thank you for joining us on "the war room." up next, strike, fast food workers are tired 69 quality of life on the lower rungs of american labor and they're doing something about it. that story and more right after this. [ ♪ music ♪ ] >> what a way to start the day. (vo) followed by "talking liberally with stephanie miller" >> this is big for me. only on current tv. (vo) later tonight current tv is the place for compelling true stories. >> jack, how old are you? >> nine. >> this is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. (vo) with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines, way inside. (vo) from the underworld, to the world of privilege. >> everyone in michael jackson's life was out to use him. (vo) no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current.

very, very excited about that and very proud of that. >>beltway politics from inside the loop. >>we tackle the big issues here in our nation's capital, around the country and around the globe. >>dc columnist and four time emmy winner bill press opens current's morning news block. >>we'll do our best to carry the flag from 6 to 9 every morning. >> look at that. look at that coke. it barely fits in there. oh. [ bleep ] look at that. look how big that thing is. look how big that french fry is. that thing is like four feet tall. >> michael: that movie was great. morgan spurlock 2004 documentary "supersize me," and it painted a

graphic portrait of america's addiction to fast food and its affect on the human body. fast forward to today and the fast food consumption is hardly in decline. americans are lured in by its enticement and it's fast and even damn tasty sometimes. but those who are making the big macs nacho supremes, the people who make these serve over a hot grill and serve impatient salivating customers often at deplorable wages. to no surprise they're fed up. milwaukee was the fifth american city to see hundreds of fast food workers walk out because of low wages and poor treatment. chicago and new york last month these non-union strikers are demanding a raise to $15 an hour and the right to unionize without intimidation. following the story since it's

inception is josh eidelson. he joins us today as he has in the past from new york. josh, welcome inside "the war room"." >> thank you for having me u.n. your article you write about the unique strategy of these strikes, walking a careful line to keep the risk of actually losing their jobs at a minimum. what is the strategy they're employing. >> that's right. we should keep in behind under the national labor relations act it should be up to you and your coworkers. if the majority of your coworkers want to bargain collectively with the boss you're supposed to be able and not be retaliated for trying. that promise has proven broken. instead union and groups have had to find tactics to force companies to bargain in good faith or attempt to. what we see are strikes that are tailored to have the most impact for the least risk. they're one day strikes which makes the workers harder to

permanently replace. there are strikes where workers say they're motivated in part by fighting back against retaliation or other crimes by the boss which gives them more legal protection than they would have otherwise. these are strikes by minorities of the workforce so you don't wait until you can get a majority ready to take that risk but instead you get a minority the of the workforce go out take that risk and do it in a way that is designed to engage more of the public. these are strikes that are a conscious recognition and they're talking about the company's brand. >> michael: it's interesting the way you talk about this. there is a striking sophistication to how these workers have organized yet they don't have an union. how have they been able to initiate these strikes and organize that way.

>> in each of these campaigns these fast food campaigns there is a common significant player, the international union one of the country's largest unions. in each case you have affiliates and labor groups working with community organizations. so in many cases you have a community group like in new york, a a descendant of acorn who is doing the face-to-face organizing but with the support of clergy groups and aciu. one group said they went door to door fighting against fair hikes in public transit and what we heard back was i don't like the fare hikes but what would really solve the problem for me is to get paid more at work. you see groups organizing in these communities in many cases around other issues, moving in the workplace and doing it in

collaborations with unions who have been organizing in other secretary fors or related secretary fors for a long time. >> michael: youryou're talking about putting more money in the economy, and the workers are demanding a raise to $15. this is almost double the minimum wage of the states where these strikes are taking place. and even president obama got lots of push back for trying to raise the federal rate itself. is their goal of $15 attainable? >> well, to get any major concessions from these companies would be a tremendous uphill battle. we're talking about corporations where while the employees often on paper are employed by the franchiseee it's the organization calling the shots on the decisions. it would be a massive concession for a corporation like mcdonald's to allow anywhere

any significant raise increase and allow collective bargaining. it's a tremendous uphill battle. if it were to happen, if any kind of big concession would happen, workers say they have received small concessions issues around scheduling and small races. but if any big concession were to happen it would require strikes on a much larger scale in terms of the number of workers involved, the number of cities, and it would have to involve a larger campaign as through media pressure, consumer pressure, legal pressure, but these companies are not going to cave easily. when they feel like they have to though, we should expect companies should try to give up a little money rather than giving up power because that's what companies do. >> michael: they're feeling push back even even though these are one- one-day strikes. very quickly i want to ask you do the strikers here have any lynch over those restaurant and

companies, what do you think the outcome will be? >> the leverage that they have is a combination of the ability to go after the company's brand. sometimes to disrupt their operation, the ability to hurt these companies' growth ambition to get out on the streets and connection with their customers and they've rather to go after the whole industry rather than one player. that has pros and cons but it's a strategy that many others will be watching. >> michael: and josh eidelson, you're watching it very closely yourself. we rely on you and thank you for your diligent reporting on this story. thank you for being on this show. we'll take a break and then the best of the rest, which includes the president's prom pictures and the rest, brett erlich. >> coming up, drones, the irs tornadoes, and pervs. who do you hate more don't go

away. drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day. >> do you think that there is any chance we'll see this president even say the words "carbon tax"? >> with an open mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned "great leadership" so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter). >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. hershey's simple pleasures chocolate. 30% less fat, 100% delicious.

you know who is coming on to me now? you know the kind of guys that do reverse mortgage commercials? those types are now. (vo) she gets the comedians laughing and the thinkers thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. you would rather deal with ahmadinejad than me. >>absolutely. >> and so would mitt romney. (vo) she's joy behar. >>and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking?

>> michael: it's that time of year where millions of awkward high schoolers head off to their prom and president obama is not helping. today "time" magazine published photos from the president's senior prom where he is looking like mr. cool. that 17-year-old barack obama with the big hair and white sport coat. what no flowered tuxs in hawai'i? he has the flowered something the leis around his neck. the photos came from kelly almond. that is her in the fellow dress. she was part of a double date. she gave time access to her yearbook where the president wrote she was extremely sweet and a fox. you really deserve better than clowns like us. even at 17 president obama knew how to play the modest card. finally an update to our atheist stories, pope francis might be

cool with atheism, kind of. the new pontiff used a homily to tell the story of a catholic wondering if atheists could do good. he said yes, of course they can. doing good is a duty and the world needs more of it regardless of religious affiliation. that's a good reminder after we've seen the destruction in oklahoma. we have brett erlich calling in sick tomorrow and we should count our blessings that we're going to get anything from him today at all. calm down, everyone brett's talking now. >> life is a game, and sometimes you wish you were the coach of that game so you could take the idiot who is are playing sit them down and say you're done. first up, lois lerner the director of the irs, you're done

pleading the fifth amendment. do you have any idea how frustrate it is when people refuse to talk? [ silence ] it's frustrating. you're done. next up. west point sergeant michael mcclendon, you're done filming female cadets in the shower. if that's what your he in to, google people in the shower and one of the first images is people in the shower. google image plus anything will show you people doing anything weird in the shower. next tornadoes you're done. finally drones you're done killing people. you're scary. you're in the air nobody is driving you. that's horrifying. and it's not fair because you could just pick anyone who said something bad about you hover over them, and vaporize them.

i brought this on myself. >> he's done talking forever. >> michael: thanks as always brett. one little piece of news we want to bring you, charles ramsey, the hero of that case in cleveland, ohio, where amanda berry had been held captive for so long. he let her out. he had been eatingality mcdonald's at the time. mcdonald's has offered him free burgers for the rest of the year. we thank you for joining us in "the war room" tonight. have yourself a great memorial day weekend and stay tune for cenk uygur. honest. they know that i'm not bs'ing them with some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know that i'm going to be the first one to call them out. they can question whether i'm right, but i think that the audience gets

that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us. they think this world isn't big enough for the both of them. but we assure you - it is. bites. little greatness.

[ ♪ theme music ♪ ] >> to butting books on the ground is less likely to result in civilian deaths or less likely to create enemies in the muslim world. it's a hard fact that u.s. strikes have resulted in civilian casualties. for the families of those civilians no words or legal construct can justify their loss. for me and those in my chain of command, those deaths will haunt us a