spinner they had to make a drive. >> there are good people out there. >> think you will ever you are, they didn't leave a note. >> thank you for joining us, 22 starts right now. >> sandra: fox news alert, president trump is about to have lunch with members of the senate finance committee as lawmakers return to capitol hill with a past agenda. tax reform at the very top of the list. this is "outnumbered." i am sandra smith in here today, harris faulkner. post of kennedy on fox business, kennedy. democratic strata just in fox news contributor jessica tarlov and today's #oneluckyguy, former trump hispanic advisory council member and fox news contributor steve cortez is here and he is outnumbered. we'll go back to everybody on the couch, happy things giving weekend everybody. happy cyber money. >> harris: happy spending money on gifts. >> steve: i'm happy to be outnumbered today.

i've been outnumbered my entire life. i grew up with four sisters. >> harris: that's a talk show. speaker have a wife and three daughters. i am regularly told by four women what to do. so i anticipate that's what's going to happen here in this hour. >> harris: we don't always listen. >> sandra: get to work. president trump about to have lunch with several members of the senate finance committee. they'll likely be talking tax reform ahead of the crucial vote in the senate. "the washington post" reporting potential changes to its plan to appease a few senators on the fence. senator lindsey graham of south carolina is sounding optimistic. >> failure is not an option when it comes to the remote can party taxes to every republican senator, the faith of the party is in our hands as well as the economy. the tax cuts and the republican party is to deliver so i think we will get there. >> sandra: president trump tweeting "back in d.c., big week for tax cuts and many other

things of great importance to our country. senate republicans will hopefully come through for all of us grade tax cut bill is getting better and better. the end result will be great for all." to congressional correspondent mike emanuel staying on top of it all for us from capitol hill. mike, good afternoon. >> good afternoon to you. a big developing on tax reform is kentucky senator says he forced us in a plan "i have fought for and received major changes for the better and i plan to vote for this bill as it stands right now. i urge my colleagues to do the same. i urge you that her constituents to make sure they hear from you. some senators to watch as leadership works to get the 50 yes votes, john mccain, jeff flake, susan collins, ron johnson, and bob corker. remember, g.o.p. leadership can only afford to republican nose and still pass tax reform. >> we are still looking through also aspects but i can imagine we are not going to support this

as a whole and as a senate. i'm still working on some specific parts of it. what i call a debt backstop to be able to make sure that that's in place and other aspects of it. this will get done, we have got to get this done for the nation. the copresident trump tweeted about earlier, the tax cut bill is coming along very well, a few changes, some mathematical. the middle class and job producers can get even more in actual dollars in savings and the pass through provision becomes simpler and really works well. >> we feel like all senators are looking to try to get the yes on both inside. we are all really disappointed that we don't have democrat members looking to provide tax relief for middle income families and corporate beliefs we can bring jobs back to this country. that's probably probably our biggest obstacle. >> top senate democrat from a high tax state illinois does not sound impressed. >> taxpayers for the wealthiest people in america and the biggest corporations, meanwhile the tax breaks for working families, half of them will see

an increase in the tax break. those disappear a senator graham just mention what the text works for the wealthiest people are permanent. >> finally, the congressional budget office estimates the senate plan would increase the deficit by $1.4 trillion over the next decade. the senate has budgeted 1.5 billion so they have a little wiggle room if they need to negotiate a bit in the coming days. >> sandra: mike emanuel life on capitol hill for us. steve cortez on the couch. i wanted to point out to our audience that while your heavy into politics these days in the trump administration and otherwise, you have a huge business background. i know you had an opportunity to look at these numbers. first of all, do you like what is being presented to the american people as far as tax reform and tax cuts? >> steve: i do like it. i don't love it, it would show a more aggressive particularly on the individual side i don't like, senator derman who is my senator in chicago couldn't be more wrong. a lot of high income people and places here were like new york or places like illinois or

california are going to see the taxes go up. i don't want that to happen and everyone in america. having said that, i have some small problems with the tax bil bill. on the hole, i think it's fantastic. it's so pro-growth. on the business side and i think that's where we need to see most impetus in america, small business has been hampered by massive regulation and bite on her on her wrist. he doesn't get attention for this one has all ready, he can on a regulatory relief side and it's been emancipated really. now we need to take away the confiscatory tax. >> sandra: copy in the corporate tax rate. susan collins is indicated that she thinks that dropping into 20% is too low. we don't even know where that's going to end up. >> kennedy: she can't be make you pay about every single thing and i agree, there are about as firm as oatmeal, freshly cooked, not the kind of spent hardening in the pot for several hours and

what's unfortunate because they really need to just look at what things will most dramatically boost the economy, lowering the tax rate, of course is number one but also that several republican senators have pointed out, you need to raise that tax the rate for small businesses. go ahead, how about a big tax cut for the highest bracket? who cares? tax cuts for everyone. he talked about this several times, there are some issues with certain provisions. susan collins, picky and fickle mistress, she is nervous about the $10,000 property tax deduction because it may cost republicans $100 billion over the next ten years. if you want to offset that, don't worry about taxes in recent times on the other side, why don't you cut spending to offset that? speak as i'm sure are republicans who would like to cut spending that we will stand in your way at any cost.

that said that a million times. that's totally fine. >> kennedy: democrats howling about the deficit right now. >> jessica: susan collins big issues with the repeal of the individual mandate. next we talked about the 10,000. >> kennedy: what doesn't she have an issue with? >> jessica: i think. there are spending issues and i appreciate you admitting there needs to be more done on the individual rate. if a public incident want democrat to message from a is there an individual cut homes as it should be and you're going to rely on trickle down? i should've just done it in the first place. the fact that i go to 2027 and we have two studies coming out that we can see up to 50% are not having their individual rates lowered is a big problem not only does on a p.r. front but for average americans. it all trickles down. tax cuts are trickle down. >> sandra: that's not what what trickle down economics is. >> sandra: this is such a

crucial point. that sort of invokes what we're talking about. they don't pay that rate anyway. they are so sophisticated in the way that they manage their finance. they don't pay the rate. did you know who does pay that rate? the local dry cleaner. i prefer to call the business tax cut rather than corporate. by the way, specifically i think this is so important for minorities as hispanic. hispanic business isn't going the way it should be. why? because not enough capital, confiscatory tax structures, too much regulation. i think once we take those barriers away, what we are going to see happen in minority small business and all small businesses in the country is going to be incredible. >> harris: just real quickly, you mention the fact that some of these are going to go away for individuals, these tax benefits, the few people who will feel that long-term but most of it will roll away in a few years. why not head to bed as republicans and say we are not going to make the corporate ones

permanent either, let's make those temporary and give those the same oxygen for ten years and let it shake out and prove the ground on how they work? >> steve: i think that's a great point. >> harris: then you don't need as much of a big reach into these other things like a pass-through taxes for small businesses because then you'll be paying for less to offset the debt. >> steve: i think you're right. i do hate the phrase because i hear that a lot from people on capitol hill. it's our money in the first place. >> harris: the bigger point that i'm making is why don't you make it equal for everybody so that they expire or roll out or do whatever they do. anything can be permanent. >> sandra: we are left with that question. will that get done? going to be a big week for sure. development meanwhile in the sexual harassment allegations rocking congress. senator al franken breaking the silence saying he is ashamed and embarrassed as he has back to work. plus, even more accusers coming forward as democratic leader nancy pelosi rejects calls to

congressman john conyers to resign. she says the ethics committee should judge him. >> we are strengthened by due process. just because someone is accused in one accusation, i think there has to be -- john conyers and the icon in our country. >> sandra: some fellow democrats don't appear to be on board. they say the system is broken. >> i'm not really sure the ethics process as it exists right now is appropriate to deal with these issues. people would stare. psoriasis does that. it was tough getting out there on stage. i wanted to be clear. i wanted it to last. so i kept on fighting. i found something that worked. and keeps on working. now? they see me.

see me. see if cosentyx could make a difference for you- cosentyx is proven to help people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis... ...find clear skin that can last. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting cosentyx, you should be checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms. or if you have received a vaccine or plan to. if you have inflammatory bowel disease, tell your doctor if symptoms develop or worsen. serious allergic reactions may occur. never give up. see me. see me. clear skin can last. don't hold back... ...ask your dermatologist if cosentyx can help you find clear skin that lasts.

your insurance on time. tap one little bumper, and up go your rates. what good is having insurance if you get punished for using it? news flash: nobody's perfect. for drivers with accident forgiveness, liberty mutual won't raise your rates due to your first accident. switch and you could save $782 on home and auto insurance. call for a free quote today. liberty stands with you™ liberty mutual insurance.

>> harris: a fox news alert, big developments for two lawmakers caught up in sexual misconduct scandals. congressman john conyers to step down as the top democrat on the house judiciary committee. senator al franken returned to work for the first time since four women accused him of groping. in an interview, senator franken says the allegations have been embarrassing but he's rejecting calls to resign. >> i'm someone who hugs people. and i've learned from these stories that some of these

encounters, i have crossed the line. i know i have a long way to go in terms of regaining the trust of people that i went down, and i know that isn't going to happen, not going to happen overnight. there aren't any magic words i could say. >> harris: in the house, democratic leader nancy pelosi waved off demands for congressman conyers to step dow down. >> we are strengthened by due process. just because someone is accused in one accusation, i think there has to be -- john conyers is an icon in our country. he has done a great deal to protect women and violence against women. the right wing is now quoting me is praising him for his work on that and he did great work on that. >> harris: twitter lit up with fire. pelosi later issued a statement in writing in part "we are all having a watershed moment on this issue and no matter how great an individual's legacy, it

is not a license for harassment. i commend the brave women coming forward." congressman conyers said he looks forward to vindicating himself before the house ethics committee. he stepped away from house judiciary because he said he didn't want to have a conflict of presence, paraphrasing him there. jessica, did you see twitter and pelosi? >> jessica: even liberal twitter wasn't happy. the follow-up statement should have been what she said on "meet the press," that there is no excuse for this. if democrats want to maintain the high ground on this issue which is something that we pride ourselves on, we are the party for women, that our policies are better for women. you can laugh, but we say that. she should've lead with, it puts her in a terrible position when there were a lot of people. >> harris: why do you think she would say something like that? >> jessica: she's known john conyers a long time, there's a mutual respect there, they've been colleagues, there was a mistake. it puts the al franken situation into more of a precarious position as well. at the end of the day, john

conyers used office funds to pay and settle. you can get rid of him on that basis. >> sandra: do you remember his rationalization of that? it wasn't millions. >> steve: you said she's known him a long time. this is important upon point out. he was elected 50 years ago. he's not a swamp creature. he's a swamp fossil. he probably had to take the train to washington, d.c., when he got elected because there were no planes. we cannot have people. >> harris: who was the longest serving member of all of congress? it brings up to me this kind of that freshman freshness in thec party, new message, new. >> jessica: >> kennedy: i thinks narcissistic predatory behavior. people who prey on victims are lured by the process of power. whether it be law enforcement or

politics or working for a church youth group for being an offensive coordinator in major football. exactly right. the point is, this personality type are drawn to these and that's what we have to look after. we have to look for these vulnerable victims who are terrified about speaking. now we are at a watershed moment because their people coming forward to say i had the exact same thing happened to me, what's inappropriate is the response like that. it's blaming the victim, it's people like lena dunham, people all over the place to protect their person because i happen to be in the same political party. >> sandra: was interesting to me, al franken is back to work today. >> kennedy: and also hoping it goes away. >> harris: a much more precarious position, al franken. >> steve: here's the other thing. republican or democrat, the fact

that congress constructed for itself a secret activism to confidentially use taxpayer money to pay off the victims of sexual harassment is almost unbelievable. it's hard for me to think less of the congress and i do think less after this revelation. using our money to harass victims, silence them, then pay them off with taxpayer money. >> harris: did you hear al franken say i'm someone who hugs people? we'll see what happens. >> jessica: we should all hug less professionally. >> harris: i'm not touching that one. meanwhile, prominent female lawmakers and business leaders on both sides of the political aisle are demanding swift action against sexual harassment saying the system does not protect the victims. >> that whole process is designed to protect politicians, democrats and republicans alike, to protect the institution and to make next to impossible for woman or in some cases the young

roy page to come forward. because the media in corporate america has been firing people. we have to have the same kind of standards when credible people come forward. >> it was a system set up in 1995 to protect the harasser. this is not a victim family process. >> harris: congresswoman jackie spiro along with kristen gillibrand introduce legislation for they are this month that would overhaul policies to report sexual harassment on the hill. so you were just saying we should hug a lot less. i'm talking about personal responsibility. that's where i stopped. i wanted to get to that point in this kind of where you were going to. >> steve: what it reminds me too and it reminds me of a catholic as it reminds me of the catholic church. first rather than transparency, rather than honesty with its problem with sexual harassment, it paid an incredible price both literally and figuratively. standing financially and otherwise. i think we need a similar

reckoning on capitol hill. unfortunately, it's being forced upon them and not doing it of their own volition. >> harris: what does this look like with regard? because it's a good question, the thing that's really and comfortable for everyone involved in this and everyone on capitol hill is that is one thing that has to be bipartisan. you cannot have one of the action or one side and another for your own. that is unacceptable and inappropriate and that's what these rationalizations. you're absolutely right about the personal responsibility to people who come forward as victims on capitol hill, there were the ones who were sent to sensitivity training. there were the ones who were essentially sent to purgatory before they're allowed to come forward and make any sort of claim. and that's just a financial claim amount but where is the responsibility because as we have seen, if someone is accused of something, an angry mob goes after their sponsors. and in that person is unceremoniously taken off. there is no mechanism like that for elected officials and it absolutely has to be. >> sandra: is not the easy answer and that's the problem.

nobody has an easy fast solution to this problem. the fact that there could be an avalanche of revelations still to come, they're going to be dealing with this in real time. and it's hard. because they're going to have to be coming up with things on the fly because the system has not been set up right. >> steve: the other point that i really take issue with with pelosi's when she said due process. of course his due process and there are false accusations but he had to process. these claims were paid. it was in secret, i don't like that but there was a process. the claims were paid because if he agreed to pay these claims or have a taxpayer i say pay those claims and they were invalid, that was an atrocity he should've never allowed that. >> jessica: we talked about this last week on the couch that there are claims that get settled in all industries, corporate and politics work they pay with no admission of guilt. that's what he's claiming happen here. exactly. we have to keep that in mind. i agree with you my thing nancy pelosi completely fumbled

this. >> sandra: no contest payments with taxpayer dollars? >> jessica: i think john conyers should resign. i'm not saying that. he didn't admit guilt. what i wanted to say on the hub front. it was really taken by the storm the woman, the first accuser of al franken who said that they took a photo up together, set also taken a picture with another congressman that day who asked her before the picture was taken where would you like me to put my hand? would you like me to put my hand on your shoulder on your waist? and it was something that i thought was a credibly thoughtful. i had heard that before. and you know that people. the point is that we need to all be -- if you don't want to be lumped in with these people who do things like grab, be sensible, be polite and be thoughtful. we talk about grabbing a lot. >> steve: i think this is important also. al franken's accuser said that his tongue was down her mouth. that doesn't happen from a hug.

>> harris: let's leave it there, shall we? will circle back to this conversation i'm sure eventually. coming up on "outnumbered" over time, i will talk live with one of the congress john conyers accused. an attorney who work with the house judiciary committee. she said back in the 1990s, the congressman publicly berated her and also called her into his office and was in his underwear when she arrived. keep it right here atop the next hour for that. confusion and protesting are erupting the white house responds to remove appointees to take control of the critical federal agency. new details on the memo that just went out to federal workers on this. when democrats forcing a showdown over immigration. they may shut down the government on this topic. we'll talk about it, stay close.

>> sandra: fox news alert, a government shutdown is looming as lawmakers try to hammer out a deal to fund the government. the current spending bill expires next month. many democrats are saying they will only vote to fund the government if the spending package includes a fix for daca, the obama era plan that let immigrants come in illegally as children. the protective status is at the last next year. a democrat from illinois and republican senator lindsey graham both think lawmakers could include fix. i'm not prepared to go home for the holidays until we get our work done. we believe the dream act we can put together a bipartisan coalition to pass it and make that part of the end of the year effort. >> i'm not going to vote for spending bill that doesn't dramatically increase defense spending. the dream act if he get's strong border security and a braking chain migration. if you can put those three things together and put it on the end of the year spending bill, that be back up in a

compliment. >> sandra: many republicans are against tying in immigration fixed the spending bill. under south dakota's one of the them. >> i don't think that ought to be in this bill. it ought to be about funding the government. daca is a big issue, immigration is a big issue. there's a lot of sympathy for assisting those young men and women who are in this country through no fault of their own who are here legally through no fault of their own appeared at the same time, doing something about border security. those issues need to be coupled but that's a big issue, that is a consequential legislative issue that needs to be dealt with but it shouldn't be dealt with in the context of the year and spending bill. >> sandra: daca could make it and if there's concessions to border security like building the wall for example. >> sandra: that makes perfect sense. the idea that you put this in a sort of afterthought, one sentence within a budget bill is ludicrous. this is an immigration issue. i agree and i disagree quite friendly with a lot of people in the white house and a lot of

people on team trump who don't want don't want daca extended. period and the president thankfully is more in my line of thinking. we do want daca extended. these people did not choose to break the immigration laws, they were brought here as children. is it different category. however, there's no reason that the president should extend that or make it permanent without some concessions coming back the white house is way, mainly maurice is worse and into chain migration. >> harris: having been on the hispanic counsel for mr. trump, no doubt you talk to the president about this issue. what happened if you do nothing? lets part of the conversation republicans could be having. >> steve: what happens as these people are in limbo. we are not going to round them up and deport them. it's not the right thing to do. what happens is they are in limbo and up with them in a precarious situation as far as working and i think that's the most part about doing nothing. we want them working, we want them in school. this is good for our country but again, the president it's no

credit for the compassion that he has shown because many people within his white house argue the other way. i was able to thankfully make a case directly to the president on why it's important to try to make this permanent but i also told him we need to get things in return. we need the wall need an end to sanctuary cities and we need it into chain migration. >> jessica: i think this is a great opportunity for democrats to speak to an issue that i think is integral to why we lost in 2016 which is border securit security. i won't go with donald trump is compassion on this issue perspective. he is more nuanced i think that a lot of republicans on it. the border wall thing and deporting everyone is not compassionate but if democrats came to the table and feels like what we had in the gang of eight bills thing were going to send thousands more troops, born security guards to the border, let's talk about chain migration, will talk about more deportations, certainly of criminals. spend it.

we saw a ralph northam reverse and on century cities on the virginia race that he still won. i think that's really smart. i do think that we need to address daca as soon as possible and that's what the spending bill is fine but democrats should deal here because then we can say at the election came to the table on this and we heard you, that you're scared about the border. >> kennedy: this should be the first part into parts of comprehensive immigration reform. you could get bipartisan support both for saving the daca program and border security and that's where democrats are being really hypocritical to your point because you just can't throw open the border and enjoy entitlements. >> harris: you guys are working it out over here. >> steve: this is crucial. as pro-immigrant as i am and i'm the son of an immigrant, so is donald trump, as pro-immigrant as i am, we are not doing immigration right rated >> kennedy: that the second part of the two-part plan. the first part is fixed for 15, fund border security, not the

wall because that's a big waste of money and is not necessarily going to work. after that, you have to fix immigration. >> steve: half of them are receiving welfare. that is an atrocity and that cannot happen. we need merit-based. >> sandra: starting businesses businesses. >> kennedy: we are awaiting a judge's ruling on the consumer watchdog leadership battle and an obama era official is now suing the trump administration trying to stop the president from appointing his budget seat's new director of the consumer finance grossing doing so violates the law that that the agency into place. it all started when they named a successor last week when he suddenly retired. in a press secretary sarah sanders pushing back following where the agencies agrees with the administration. issued the statement. the bureau's own general counsel was hired under richard has notified the bureau's leadership that she agrees with the administration and doj's reading

of the law, there should be no question that director mick mulvaney is the acting director. meantime, former congressman barney frank is defending the agency he cosponsored the law which created the agency after the 2008 financial crisis. he is praising the agency's track record in taking a shot at the president. >> if you look at it, it's very relevant. it is not a single criticism of a single action they have taken that says they went too far. and the reason that i want to give examples is they would then have to defend overcharging on credit cards or abusive student loan collections, et cetera. nothing could be more contradictory than donald trump being the friend of the little guy and trying to undermine the most effective agency for the consumer that we ever had. >> kennedy: is it really that effective? >> steve: no, in a word. i think is the idea of the swamp at work. my favorite stevens of all movie was hard to kill. the swamp is hard to kill.

the idea that the pure cats think because they were signed and that they could to appoint their own successor rather than the president is an absurdity. >> jessica: is supposed to be an independent board because the board necessary at all? the gum flapping that we just saw from former congressman frank, it seems like that board is actually not necessary and that's a great example of the swamp manifesting as too much needless government. >> steve: does the government protect the financial system? look no further than the housing crisis which i would argue was almost 100% greeted by too much government insight and intrusion into the mortgage crisis. the government protect the consumer? of course not. what it does is create a bureaucracy for its own benefit, for its own self-aggrandizement does very little. >> sandra: apparently meant but when he showed up with a bag of doughnuts this morning to give to the boss. >> harris: one had a caption of maybe this could help. you had two bosses show up for work technically today.

i don't know if the visual was there but the technicality was. the woman who suing over the whole thing gives receipt which none of us owns our seat at work just saying. but her whole point as she wants a language change. she wants the portion that would prevent that office from the director whose outgoing to the president being able to use the vacancy of that. so she wants us never to even be a part so she could slide or anybody could slide into that seat on exiting director. >> harris: it sounds like it. >> jessica: i think the most important plank of the argument from the left here and what barney frank was saying is the independence that you brought u up. any sort of thing on capitol hill. barney frank makes a good point that there are on the ground complains that people are making about it in the city's right to raise this issue right now because we noticed a few weeks ago in the middle of the night,

republicans voted to scale back consumer protections from wall street and we know that republicans are more a fan of big banks necessarily. >> kennedy: that's actually not true at all. you look at the money that barack obama has taken since he left office. >> jessica: i'm talking about wall street and tax rates for the rich and things like that. >> sandra: i think those of the talking points of this but the concern for the american people is the consumer which needs to be the concern when you look at the spiro. somebody's got to get back to actually protecting. >> kennedy: dodd-frank has only rebuffed these giant banks who have snapped at community banks used to give money to individuals and small businesse businesses. >> jessica: mick mulvaney think this is a silly thing, that this is a joke. why do you have people in charge of bureaus that do not think they should exist?

>> harris: we've got to go. oh, my gosh, . you saved by the harris. >> kennedy: going more defiant when they sing in a rally tonight. some saying the president should ask moore to step aside from its sexual harassment allegations. the key senate seat, coming up in moments.

alright, i brought in high protein to help get us moving. ...and help you feel more strength and energy in just two weeks! i'll take that. -yeeeeeah! ensure high protein. with 16 grams of protein and 4 grams of sugar. ensure. always be you.

♪ think of your fellow man, ♪ lend him a helping hand, ♪ put a little love in your heart.♪ ♪ you'll see it's getting late, oh please don't hesitate...♪ ♪ put a little love in your heart.♪ ♪ in your heart... ♪ in your heart... ♪ in your heart... ♪ in your heart. (vo) going on now, our subaru share the love event will have donated over one hundred fifteen million dollars to those in need.

weland you look amazinglyes! youcomfortable. . when your v-neck looks more like a u-neck... that's when you know, it's half-washed. add downy to keep your collars from stretching. unlike detergent alone, downy conditions to smooth and... ...strengthen fibers. so, next time don't half-wash it. downy and it's done. >> sandra: senator al franken returning to work today and we are just getting a warning that he is going to be stepping up to a microphone to speak live at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. this is the first appearance back on capitol hill's form and accused him of groping and unwanted sexual contact. he has an interview said he's embarrassed and ashamed by his past behavior in a pledge to work to regain the trust of women and his constituents. he will be speaking about 15 minutes from now, we are told

at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. we will take that life. senator franken when he begins. >> harris: giving interviews all over with minnesota press yesterday so this will be interesting. and we will watch for it. senate candidate way more is remaining defiant in the face of calls to step out of the race following sexual harassment allegations against him. he plans to hold a rally tonight with just two weeks in one day to go until voters to the polls. just today, he released this data. here it is. >> five state campaigns, 40 years of honorable service, roy moore has been intensely scrutinized and not a hint of scandal but four weeks before the election, false allegations, a scheme by liberal and a republican establishment to protect their big government. >> harris: a white house official is telling fox news president trump says "nothing on his schedule or has nothing on his schedule at this time in regards to campaigning for moore

but the president continues to slam his opponent doug jones posting to twitter just yesterday tweeting the last thing we need in alabama and the u.s. senate as a schumer-pelosi puppet who is weak on crime, we can't order, bad for military and bad for our second amendment and wants to raise taxes to this guy. jones would be a disaster. some republicans like senator john zuma say they agree with the president but only up to a point. >> he is right that the democrat wins, going to be a vote for the pelosi-schumer agenda but the other alternative is a growing more wins and comes to the senate in january, there is going to immediately be an ethics investigation which is going to be a cloud that he will be operating in this going to be a distraction for us and for our agenda. it would be in their best interest in the country's best interest and certainly the best interest of our agenda for the president uses influence to try to get more and more step side. >> steve: tough situation here. i wish jeff sessions were still

a center for alabama a couple of reasons. >> harris: i think they asked him and he didn't want to do it. >> steve: is a terrible attorney general but number two, we wouldn't be in this mess. he's completely bungled of the russia. >> harris: when i don't think we jeff sessions for the allegations against wymore. >> steve: i think he's done a poor job as attorney general and should've never recused himself. hillary clinton should be actively investigated grade >> jessica: that the first mention of hillary today. >> steve: i wish you were still asunder. i think president is playing this as carefully to as quickly as he can. can we get wholeheartedly behind wymore? is a tough pill to swallow but on the other hand, so is doug jones that he doesn't remotely represent the values of alabama and the senate and on top of that, neil gorsuch is on the court, huge win for donald trump in the first year. very likely going to be able to replace kennedy and the court in the coming months, perhaps in the coming years. we need to maintain control of that senate. >> harris: was interesting about this is that you also have sitting out there senator john mccain who has

said not only just go ahead and let alabama make decision as voters but not only might you see his ethics investigation into roy moore was to get this and if he wins, you also would see the pushback from john mccain to constitutionally unseat him. >> steve: to that point, i think it would be good to be adjudicated as that of his accusations the media. for instance, one more at one point that he was going to sue "the washington post" of the initial story. i think you should. >> harris: you're looking for closure. >> steve: those definitions. i think that his accusers should sue him civilly. so that's the way that we get real investigations rather than just in the window in the media to what the truth really is. i would say that roy moore. i think so. of the president is hugely popular now and the fact that he sent a lot in favor of moore but he sang a lot against jones. as hugely influential in the state of alabama. >> jessica: i think it matters as well. things that people who say they're going to sue news

outlets for these stories, then donald trump should follow through and he should sue as well since he said he was going to sue everybody when he was accused by 16 women. if you look at the politics average right now, his neck and neck. jones has a .8 edge. it will be a turnout game there. i was surprised at the president didn't take the opportunity to say when this all started breaking i endorse luther strange. let's talk about a right and campaign because everybody basically agrees except roy moore. >> kennedy: having strange dropouts, so with trigger a special emergency election and inserting jeff sessions that way which i think would've been the best idea strategically from an outside perspective but i'm an outsider. i'm not from alabama and i feel bad for the people in that state because they put in the position and someone with her vote with their waist defending roy moore. their prominent republicans in that state who've done a really

embarrassing drop of that but it's unfortunate that they don't have another alternative at this point. >> harris: that closure that c was talking about, you run the risk of circumventing the voters of alabama. >> sandra: that's where it is right now. what are we, two weeks away from the selection? the top clock is ticking. >> steve: in your opinion, i'm not defending roy moore because the allegations seem credible. how do i know? the yearbook photo, the signature, why will that not be turned over? >> harris: got to watch the case and see what they do. by the way, senator al franken waiting for him to step to the microphone. we will bring you that live. what will you say? for women accusing him of groping and other things and at the top of the hour in our coverage, you heard on tape him saying i'm someone who helps people. what will he say to the public as we watch him step to the microphone and go live? we will bring it to you here on

fox news channel. stay close.

>> sandra: senator al franken is set to speak at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. we are just being told that he would be stepping up to a microphone shortly. to share some words.

at the first time that he is back on capitol hill since for women accused him of groping and unwanted sexual contact. he said he is embarrassed and ashamed by his behavior and he has pledged to regain the trust of women in his constituents. we are watching because he will be making some sort of announcement or making a statement i should say at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. we will go to that when it begins. meantime, kennedy, maybe i can go to you. your expectations. here we are returning from the long thanksgiving weekend, members of congress returning to capitol hill to start, clouds still hanging over washington. >> kennedy: it hasn't been enough because the story continues to grow and i realize that represented of conyers has given up his spot on the judiciary committee. his senior leadership role, and the denial and the rationalizations of the house in particular for a part of that was to position itself as the most pro-women and pro-victim.

so i think one of these men at some point going to have to resign up the party is really going to take itself seriously. but again, the kind of people who commit these atrocities are also the kind who want to hold onto their power. they're very narcissistic and i would be shocked. >> sandra: the exact wording is senator franken will address the media at 1:00 p.m. this will be happening outside of his office as you can see the microphones are set up. he will be stepping up there shortly. >> steve: i have to say obviously somebody philosophically i disagree with on almost everything but even outside of that, he's also been very smug for a long time, very dismissive of the president, certainly of his appointees and confirmation hearings in the senate. i think is going to have to really eat some humble pie here for the press and going to have to to the people of why they should still trust him. >> sandra: really interesting to point out the timing of all of this because we've got an alert in this hour that the president lunch with the senate finance committee was underway,

that was expected to begin around 12:30. so less than a half hour ago, that began. you can assume the president is there. the lunch started, we were told. i didn't see the senators actually arriving but this is a busy week on capitol hill. a lot going on. senator al franken about to speak. your expectations. >> jessica: my expectation is that he's not going to resign. i don't think that's going to happen. it's going to take a little bit more than what was seen already. but i do totally take kennedy's point on this and something that i think democrats are really struggling with in order to hold that upperhand and why it's on nancy pelosi's comments with chuck tabb were so damaging even though she did reverse it. we need to continue to talk about it for sure every matter where they are is protected. and i think there has been bipartisan agreement there. he saw roy comstock on the other side talking about the issue as well. i don't expect their resignation. i expect that humble pie and it will be a court of public

opinion for a long while i thin think. >> kennedy: to jessica's point and as you were addressing, the more you talk about these things, the more allegations, the more lawmakers who come forward, the less time we are spending in the public discourse talking about tax reform. in government shutdown and some of the monumental problems that we have in congress alone and really getting this country back on track. i feel like russia and sexual harassment issue kind of go hand-in-hand because they are bipartisan, people are very hypocritical when i talk about the issue that faces their party versus their opponents and they are a giant unfortunate distraction for what they are tasked with as lawmakers. >> steve: in spite of this congress which is so dysfunctional, which is largely a do-nothing congress, is great news on the ground in america on main street. economically, this economy is accelerating. consumer confidence is soaring. the stock market is sowing, be a

fantastic black friday spending. i suspect today's cyber monday is going to be as good if not better. great things are happening on the ground. the trump agenda is rolling this country, the enthusiasm is palpable. we can get too wrapped up in dysfunction on capitol hill. >> jessica: i agree with you and i don't want to dispute numbers so the economy is doing well and we can say who is it is but i'm happy that people are optimistic and that they are shopping and saving and doing all these great things. but we are at an important juncture as a society about what's going on here because it is every industry that is crawling with sexual harassment, so i think this is actually incredibly important for capitol hill to be talking about and a great opportunity for them to do better to raise the discussion and raise the bar. >> sandra: i want to remind everybody what we are looking at here. this is a live shot, you can see the microphones there outside. the democrat from minnesota's office senator al franken, he returned to capitol hill today. he did not decide to step down after four women stepped forward

accused him of sexual misconduct. he returned to work, that he was embarrassed and ashamed. what we just learned a few moments ago was that he would be making a statement, media availability happening at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. just a few moments from now. we don't know yet what the senator will say to be also don't know whether or not he will take questions but that is a live shot outside of his office. microphones set up him and we await senator. to find out what happened >> steve: this is an important point. al franken, while he is now a senator used to be part of the media elite. we have been lecture too, we as americans have been lectured to forever by media elites about how the simpletons among us aren't respectful enough of women's rights. so you're saying that hypocrisy right here on vale by people like al franken, certainly by harvey weinstein. it's very interesting. i'm tired of being lectured to by hollywood elite. >> sandra: steve cortez, good to have you on the couch they.

thank you to everybody for joining us on "outnumbered." continuing coverage as we await senator al franken, press availability happening any moment proud, now. let's go to harris faulkner. >> a fox news alert, we are awaiting democratic senator al franken. returning to work today on capitol hill for the first time since being hit with those sexual misconduct allegations, four women on the list of those accusing him of groping and other activities. franken told the minnesota "star tribune" yesterday that he is embarrassed and ashamed by his past behavior and is pledging to work to regain the trust of women and his constituents. i'm harris faulkner. among the other things, we knew yesterday that he would be giving this press avail just in his home state of minnesota. among the other things he responded to, he was asked