selfishness, not violence, not fear, but love makes us who we are. all right. that does it for us here "the cycle." martin bashir, all yours. >> makes you who you are, crystal. thank you very much. tuesday, september the 17th. and as we confront yet another american mass shooting, the portrait of the gunman includes a history of psychiatric illness. >> what president obama called -- >> yet another mass shooting. >> eye-witnesses report that the shooter took up a position overlooking a massive atrium. >> we have him on the fourth floor. multiple shots fired, multiple people down. >> three gunshots, pop, pop, pop. >> 13 fatalities, including the shooter. >> confusion and chaos. >> one again, the nation is searching for answers. >> what drove aaron alexis? >> how did he get these weapons into this navy yard? >> he was discharged in 2011 over a pattern of misconduct. >> mental health, gun control.

>> there is something evil in our society. >> what, if anything, comes from this? >> my hope is this senseless killing will help us break through the gridlock. >> the president supports common sense measures to reduce gun violence. >> these are men and women who were going to work. >> we have to work together to get rid of it. >> their patriots. ♪ >> they're patriots. it's a difficult day in washington. it's a difficult day for the nation. with the grief and anguish warped by a deadly shooting rampage, only matched by frustration over failed efforts to prevent the repetition of these violent acts. this morning, secretary of defense, chuck hagel, laid a wreath for the 12 victims at the navy memorial, before ordering this afternoon a review of physical security and access at all u.s. military installations worldwide. and today, investigators are at

the navy yard, combing through every bit of evidence to try to piece together a motive for the shooting spree that transformed an ordinary monday morning into mayhem. we're learning that the former navy reservist identified by authorities as the gunman was cited at least eight times during his navy career for misconduct. aaron alexis was discharged and working as a contractor that got him an access card and on to the grounds. at a federal briefing this afternoon, authorities offered more on what happened next, and the deadly weapons that he used. >> at this time, we believe that mr. alexis entered building 197 at the navy yard with a shotgun. we do not have any information at this time that he had an ar-15 in his possession. we also believe mr. alexis may have gained access to a handgun

once inside the facility and after he began shooting. >> those bare and basic details only begin to scale the mountain of questions that remain after such brutal and senseless violence. >> what caused this individual to kill so many innocent men and women, how did he carry out and plan this attack, how did he get access to the weapons? what could have been done to prevent this tragedy? and most importantly, whether anyone else aided or assisted him wittingly, or unwittingly. >> this afternoon, the president is being briefed on the investigation by his national security team, including fbi director james comey, and attorney general eric holder. even as reports grow more troubling about alexis' mental health, his record with the law, including reports that he called rhode island police just last month, saying he heard voices in his hotel room. the that people were following

him, sending vibrations to his body. let's get right to nbc news national investigative correspondent, michael isikoff, in washington. mike, we're hearing kidisturbin reports today that in the weeks before the shooting, alexis was reportedly hearing voices, a sign potentially of schizophrenia. seeking treatment for mental illness. what can you tell us about that and his clearance on to this secure military base? >> right. and that clearance is getting a lot of on capitol hill today. in fact, i just got a letter from senator claire mccaskill, overseeing an investigation into the granting of security clearances, and she has written the office of personnel management, demanding to know how it is that alexis got these clearances, who granted them, whether proper review procedures were followed. and were investigators, these background investigations, aware of what she calls this pattern of misconduct, including his

reported arrests on firearms charges, both in 2004 and then again in 2010. i should point out today that u.s. intelligence officials confirm that alexis was granted that secret security clearance in march of 2008. that's less than four years after that initial arrest in seattle for blowing out the tires with gunfire of a honda accord, and then saying he blacked out because he was fueled by anger, and in which, according to the seattle police report, his father said he had anger management problems. so all that was a matter of public record at the time that alexis got this security clearance. he was able to keep this security clearance for ten years. even though he was -- and take it with him, even after he was discharged by the navy for this pattern of misconduct. what officials have described as a pattern of misconduct in january, 2011.

>> and mike, there's been reporting that this individual was somewhat affected by the events of 9/11. because he went to assist people informally. have you been able to run down any evidence on that particular claim? >> i don't think we have any confirmation of that, that comes initially from this seattle police department report in which his father said that he assisted with 9/11 rescue operations. but i don't think we've seen any hard confirm medication ation he, in fact did. >> nbc's michael isikoff. thank you so much, mike. >> thank you. just nine months after the massacre at sandy hook elementary school and with another mass shooting in the headlines, democratic senator dick durbin spoke out today from the senate floor, calling for an accounting of the values our nation is seeking to protect.

>> what happened yesterday brings into question some important values in america. if we value our right for ourselves and our families and our children to be safe, if we value this constitution, if it we value the right of every american to enjoy their liberties with reasonable limitations, then we need to return to issues that are of importance. >> i want to go now to colin godard, a survivor of the virginia tech massacre, and a senior policy advocate for mayors against illegal guns. good afternoon, colin. i understand that you are in washington for a series of meetings, in efforts to renew a gun reform push. but we heard majority leader harry reid today say, and i'm quoting him, we don't have the votes on background checks. i'm assuming that's got to be deeply disheartening to someone like you, who survived a horrific mass shooting on a day like today, 24 hours after yet another one.

>> it is disheartening. but i do take solace in the fact that we did have a vote in the united states senate earlier this year. and despite the headlines, we had a majority of u.s. senators vote for expanding background checks to all gun sales. we just didn't meet the knew merrick number. >> but colin -- >> we had a majority vote for it. >> mr. goddard, you know, there were 55 votes, and that was not enough to break a gop potential filibuster on it. everybody knew that. that was the fundamental problem that prevented any change. >> at least we got the vote that we deserved. we have not even had a hearing in the house. and there has been no movement in the house of representatives to address any of these issues. while we continually have these mass shootings continue to arise, more people continuing to die. and yet nothing is happening on that side of this. this is unbelievable. >> what do you say to those -- what do you say to those house members who literally continue

in the same posture of doing nothing, no new legislation, no attempt to even, as you say, hold a hearing on gun safety. what do you say to them? >> we say, look, there is a vast majority of your constituency that supports some common sense measures to keep guns away from dangerous people, like background checks. you know, we talk about the members in their own district, and then we bring them people who have been personally affected by gun violence. put a face to a problem that most people think won't happen to them. i thought this wasn't happen to me until i sat in my virginia tech french class and was nearly killed. so i understand the sentiment of most americans. but coming to understand now, when we allow guns to be sold, unchecked, it allows anyone to obtain them. and anyone to go on a shooting spree. and because of that, people are at risk anywhere they go. and so these common sense measures supported by the vast majority of people in this country, supported by law enforcement across the board, is what we need to not -- to not prevent the shooting that already happened. we already failed the people here. these people have already been killed.

what we need to talk about is how to stop the shooting that will happen tomorrow and the day after that and the month after that. what we can do to stop these situations from happening in the future is why we're here in d.c. >> and to your point, our attention, obviously, becomes focused by these big tragedies. but your group released a study with the unfortunate statistic that mass shootings have occurred in this country on average once a month since 2009. and yet month after month after month, nothing changes. what will it take? >> well, nothing changes in this small city here in washington, d.c. but what is changing is a conversation people are having across america. people are realizing that we don't do background checks on all gun sales. i was shocked to learn we didn't do that. and when i learned that, that compelled me to spend time up here lobbying and organizing to get other people to have that same understanding. so when people are beginning to realize that, we're starting to get the phone calls and e-mails and handwritten letters and

in-person meeting with members of the committee that we have been lacking. and that will carry us to a day where most people in washington, d.c., most elected officials realize, they need to vote for something like background checks. something that's common sense, public safety laws that will keep everyone safe. >> colin godard, thank you for person fying some optimism and such determination. thank you for joining us, sir. >> thanks. coming up, how does congress side with the public opinion on an issue like syria and yet remain so defiant when it comes to gun reform? perhaps a member of congress can explain this strange dichotomy. that's next. ♪ don't leave me ♪ all by myself once upon a time, an insurance clerk stumbled upon a cottage. [knock] no one was at home, but on the kitchen table sat three insurance policies.

the first had lots of coverage. the second, only a little. but the third was... just right! bear: hi! yeah, we love visitors. that's why we moved to a secluded house in the middle of the wilderness. just the right coverage at just the right price. coverage checker from progressive. some kind of... this is... an alien species. reality check: a lot of 4g lte coverage maps don't really look like much at all. i see the aleutian islands. looks like a duck. it looks like... america... ish. that's a map. that's a map of the united states. check the map. verizon's 4g lte is the most reliable, and in more places than any other 4g network. trade in your old device and trade up to america's most reliable network. i've got the good one! i got verizon! that's powerful. verizon. ♪ you make me, make me, make me go crazy ♪

♪ you make me, make me, make me go crazy. ♪ ♪ even superheroes need superheroes, and some superheroes need complete and balanced meals with 23 vitamins and minerals. purina dog chow. help keep him strong. dog chow strong.

the economic issues that continue to face the nation. it was also expected that he would make some brief mention of syria. then a man with a gun and a history of mental illness walked on to the naval facility, where he had recently started work as a civilian contractor and opened fire, killing 12 people and injuring several more. and so the president's planned remarks had to be preceded by what he called, quote, yet another mass shooting. thinking of syria for a moment, when roughly 60% of americans told their representatives in washington that they were opposed to a military strike, congress heard them loud and clear. but when 90% said they wanted expanded background checks for those purchasing firearms

suddenly congress could no longer hear their constituents. perhaps it was the deafening sound of the nra that suddenly rendered congress unable to hear anyone, other than wayne lapierre. joining us now is a member of congress, representative loretta sanchez, a democrat from california. good afternoon, ma'am. >> hello, martin. how are you? >> i'm good. we'll discuss syria in a moment. but first i wanted to ask you a simple question. why is it that when the american people say they don't want to get involved in military action in syria, congress is unwilling to go against popular sentiment? yet when nearly the entire country wants more gun safety legislation, congress is unable to pass anything. >> well, those are two very different subjects. the issue with respect to syria and going to war there, i

believe, part of it is that the opposition or the republicans want to make probably president obama's life a little bit miserable, so they with hold their votes. you have a lot of democrats who really understand that people don't want to go in to another war. so that's where you really see that coalition of a majority of the congress people saying, listen, no. but on the fact of the -- >> but sorry -- but congresswoman, just on that point, so what you're saying is, the premise of the question is completely wrong. because nobody in congress listens to the people anyway. it's simply and purely about the republican opposition finding ways to undermine the president. is that right? >> well, not in everything, but sometimes there are some. i mean, that's a generalization. i think that i honestly believe that most of my colleagues try at least to understand what the people they want, what the

people want they represent. i would say on gun control, it's -- it's actually been more than that sometimes. people come here, they almost decide immediately, am i going to be pro gun, am i going to be for gun control. and it almost seems like those are two real opposites here in the congress. and so you begin to develop a record in which you are, let's say pro gun. it's very difficult then to move down the spectrum of getting closer to some sort of gun control. so i think a lot of my colleagues, some of them are hesitant. they also come from areas where it's a very -- it's a gun culture. and if you have been to those areas, i have a daughter and a son-in-law who live in a gun culture state. and they have adapted to that, be even though she wasn't from there. so it's what you grow up with, it's what you are with, and those people in some sense are voting their districts.

now, there are some good members who have said, listen, enough is enough. some decent gun regulation is a necessity, and we need to put our efforts behind that. and i applaud those who have been able to move a little down the spectrum to say common sense is what we need for this country. but most of my colleagues aren't there yet. >> okay. well, let's move on to syria, if we can. you were not necessarily in favor of a military strike. what are your feelings about an agreement in which president assad turns over his chemical weapons and vows never to use them again? should this satisfy the american people, or should we be wary of a deal that, frankly, has been broken together by presidents putin and assad? >> as i have said before, we work in many ways with russia and we must continue to work with them.

the new s.t.a.r.t. treaty, for example, non pro liberation of nuclear weapons. these are issues, even though sometimes we feel a lot of tension between the two countries, we still need to agree as big players in the world, that we need to work together. so i applaud that putin was able to move forward and say, let's get this deal done. getting the deal done is difficult. even if assad has said yes, you know, the devil is in the details. can we get that done, can we get -- can we get the chemicals out, how do we protect the people in there trying to do that type of work. so we're a long way from getting this deal done. but certainly, when the president came to the american people, he said, these chemical weapons are the reason i want to go in. and if that's the reason, then getting these weapons under control, out of the hands of assad, serves the purpose the president wanted. so i applaud him in moving forward with it. >> okay. well, republicans, as you know, have opposed any gun safety

legislation. they have also severely critici criticized the president for what appears now to be some kind of agreement on chemical weapons. the president did eventually speak about the economy yesterday. after acknowledging these budget debates are always difficult, he went on to say that it was now more difficult than ever. take a listen to the president. >> i cannot remember a time when one faction of one party promises economic chaos if it can't get 100% of what it wants. >> he's right, isn't it? that's what we're facing, economic crisis chaos, if republicans don't change their tune on things like the debt ceiling. >> well, even my friends, conservative as they are, over on the other side who have been in congress for a while, understand we need to make a deal so that we can move beyond this and not make this a crisis. it's about our markets, it's about confidence by the consumer and americans and our economy. and yet they tell me when they walk out of the rooms with all

of the republicans, especially in the house, that there is a faction of them that just would prefer to see the government shut down. and they shudder at that thought. these conservative, what i now call the moderates on the republican side. so it is a group of people. it's a large enough group that it's making speaker boehner's life difficult. but speaker boehner is going to have to find the solution to this, because we cannot shut down the government, and we cannot let the markets and our credit go down once again as it did a couple years ago when the these new freshmen type of members with ideas of shutting down the government had their way. >> representative loretta sanchez, thank you so much for joining us. >> thank you. still ahead, they are the latest victims of an american gun epidemic. how much protein

does your dog food have? 18 percent? 20? new purina one true instinct has 30. active dogs crave nutrient-dense food. so we made purina one true instinct. learn more at purinaone.com

bob will retire when he's 153, which would be fine if bob were a vampire. but he's not. ♪ he's an architect with two kids and a mortgage. luckily, he found someone who gave him a fresh perspective on his portfolio. and with some planning and effort, hopefully bob can retire at a more appropriate age. it's not rocket science. it's just common sense.

from td ameritrade. see who does good work and compare costs. it doesn't usually work that way with health care. but with unitedhealthcare, i get information on quality rated doctors, treatment options and estimates for how much i'll pay. that helps me, and my guys, make better decisions. i don't like guesses with my business, and definitely not with our health. innovations that work for you. that's health in numbers. unitedhealthcare. his day of coaching begins with knee pain, when... [ man ] hey, brad, want to trade the all-day relief of two aleve for six tylenol? what's the catch? there's no catch. you want me to give up my two aleve for six tylenol? no. for my knee pain, nothing beats my aleve.

♪ the nation is honoring the 12 victims killed in the washington navy yard shooting on monday. their ages range from 76 to 43. they are three women and nine men. they're mothers and fathers. there's even a grandfather of nine among them. they're also sons and daughters. brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. they were working on behalf of their fellow americans. the president described them as patriots, in various jobs, requiring a wide variety of skills. until today, they were largely anonymous individuals, working hard for themselves, for their

families, for their nation. and in the days to come, we'll no doubt learn more about them. and we'll find out whether part of their legacy, in addition to their public service, will be to turn the tide of gun violence in this nation, or whether their names will simply be added to that miserable list of mass shootings that continues to accumulate every year. ♪ i want to live life bjorn earns unlimited rewards for his small business. take these bags to room 12 please. [ garth ] bjorn's small business earns double miles on every purchase every day. produce delivery. [ bjorn ] just put it on my spark card. [ garth ] why settle for less? ahh, oh! [ garth ] great businesses deserve unlimited rewards. here's your wake up call. [ male announcer ] get the spark business card from capital one and earn unlimited rewards. choose double miles or 2% cash back on every purchase every day.

what's in your wallet? [ crows ] now where's the snooze button? [ male announcer ] now, taking care of things at home is just a tap away. ♪ introducing at&t digital life... ♪ ...personalized home security and automation... [ lock clicks ] ...that lets you be closer to home. that's so cool. [ male announcer ] get $100 in instant savings when you order digital life smart security. limited availability in select markets. ♪

from taking cover to speaking out. here are today's top lines. there's something wrong here. >> there's something evil in our society. >> it happened again. another mass shooting. >> there's something wrong here. >> a lone gunman went on a deadly shooting rampage at the washington navy yard. >> when we have these multiple

shootings, these multiple injuries. >> 12 people were killed. >> there's something wrong. >> 13, if you include the alleged shooter. >> we do now feel comfortable that we have the single and sole person responsible. >> a former naval reservist in texas. >> a heard a woman screaming there is a shooter, get out of the building. >> the other thing, perhaps most interesting we have heard so far, he was a devotee of violent video games. >> he played a lot of online games where they were shooting all of the time. >> there is something wrong. the only thing i can say, we have to work together to get rid of it. >> i was like, wow, you know, you're shooting people a lot, you know. and we would joke about that. >> obviously we're going to be investigating thoroughly what happened. >> three gunshots straight in a row, pop, pop, pop. these are men and women who were going to work, doing their job. protecting all of us. >> three seconds later, it was pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.

and we just started running. >> they're patriots and they know the dangers of serving abroad. but today they face the unimaginable violence that they wouldn't have expected here at home. >> something evil in our society that we as americans have to work to try and eradicate. >> let's get right to our panel. joining us is joy reid, managing editor of thegrio.com. >> and professor at lehigh university. joy, the doctor in washington and i was here when she was speaking at the very moment she said those words, she caused quite a stir, because some people have objected to her suggesting she is meddling in politics when her role is -- should remain as medical director of that hospital. what's your view? >> well, that sentiment that she had, i think it expresses the exasperation and frustration that people in the front lines of this war who are the only people who care anymore, right? it's the people chose children are being blown away, family

members being blown away. the people afraid to give somebody a pink slip, because it could mean they come back and massacre everyone in the workplace. and what she said, the only thing i would object to, not something inherently wrong with americans. we're the most violent country on earth. we murder 15,000 people in this country a year. but those video games are in japan, there are violent video games in england where my in laws live, all over the world. why are we different? we have the means. we are awash in guns. we're awash in weapons of war, which used as directed, are meant to kill people. ar-15s, they're not meant to kill deer. used as directed, they are meant to kill humans. and we're very good at it. >> we are. professor peterson, the pope issued a statement this week, explicitly calling on his flock, and i'm quoting him, to mettle in politics. in fact, he calls politics one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. and to his point, professor, if people from all walks of life do not speak up, how are we going to make any progress?

i mean, i'm reminded of what doctor martin luther king said, in objecting to what was happening to vietnam, where he said silence is betrayal. >> that's right. and silence on the issues of violence, particularly gun violence in america, at this point in time, is betrayal. that's silence at the political level, coming from congress folk and elected people, as well as silence from citizens concerned or not. one thing we learned over the last couple years, this can strike any demographic. it can have impact in any community, and it's random and arbitrary the ways in which it crops up. joy is right here. the people who were criticizing dr. orlowski on politics are debt wrong. is she a concerned citizen, yes. is she someone who has had to experience the awful consequences of gun violence? that is treating gunshot wounds, those are great surgeons she is working with there. what they have had to deal with and what they have seen out of this particular tragedy, not to mention what they encounter just

being in a hospital in d.c. in the first place has shown her that we have got to start having a different conversation. we have to continue to be vigilant about these particular conversatio conversations. we've got to have a different kind of conversation and action around some of the policies that make us the nation we are. >> and joy, isn't it the case that the reason for why people like doctors, highly skilled doctors, feel compelled to say something is because congress is site? it's paralyzed. >> exactly. you hit the point exactly. the people who should be meddling in politics. colora total consensus on background checks. there is a faction in this country no level of deparagraphty, sickness, mass murder, will move them off their political point they will not brook one change in our gun laws. and if anyone tries, as they did in colorado, they will try to punish them and find 9,000 people to come out and vote in a special election to unseat them. the people who have passion on

this issue are the ones meddling in politics. because 90% of us don't want our children to have to face mass murder, don't want to go to work afraid of any random person, because they play video games, they can act out their fantasy or their sickness or their mental illness by killing us. they're the ones meddling in politics. >> absolutely. >> that's right. >> joy reid and dr. james peterson, thank you both. coming up, we'll switch gears to the economy and the great american pyramid that divides the haves from the 99%. >> 95% of income gains since the recovery have gone to the top 1%. but -- >> audience: ooh! >> i know. i want to cheer too. but don't fret not rich people. you will get your share. because our economy is like, um -- it's like a pyramid, okay? we rich are at the peak, and soon the money will start trickling down to you people, so be patient. and if you're good, you can be

buried with me in my pyramid. [ male announcer ] campbell's homestyle. mmm! this is delicious katie. it's not bad for canned soup, right? pfft! [ laughs ] you nearly had us there. canned soup. [ male announcer ] they just might think it's homemade. try campbell's homestyle soup. there's a lot i had to do... ... watch my diet.

stay active. start insulin... today, i learned there's something i don't have to do anymore. my doctor said that with novolog® flexpen, i don't have to use a syringe and a vial... or carry a cooler. flexpen® comes prefilled with fast-acting insulin used to help control high blood sugar when you eat. dial the exact does. inject by pushing a button. no drawing from a vial. you should eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting novolog® (insulin aspart [rdna origin] injection). do not use if your blood sugar is too low, or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. severe low blood sugar can be serious and life-threatening. ask your health care provider about alcohol use, operating machinery, or driving. other possible side effects include injection site reactions and low potassium in your blood. tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. flexpen® is insulin delivery my way.

covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. find your co-pay cost at myflexpen.com. ask your health care provider about novolog® flexpen today. you raise her spirits. we tackled your shoulder pain. you make him rookie of the year. we took care of your cold symptoms. you take him on an adventure. tylenol® has been the number 1 doctor recommended brand of pain reliever for over 20 years. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol®. [ male announcer ] some things are designed to draw crowds.

others are designed to leave them behind. ♪ the all-new 2014 lexus is. it's your move. my position is, folks in this town want a grand bargain, how about a grand bargain for middle class jobs? >> a grand bargain for the middle class as the president suggested on monday is long overdue. a study found the richest 1% of americans consumed natural 100% of all the income gains since the recession's official end in 2009. while the middle class continues to dwindle, republicans in congress remain content to do absolutely nothing. joining us now is karen finney, the host of "disrupt with karen finney" and jerryd bernstein, a fellow at the budget priorities. jerryd, if i might be perm

personal with you, i come from a country where the have nots outnumber the haves. where the class system has traditionally decided what a person does with his or her life. and it occurs to me the whole point of the revolution you had in this country was to get away from that kind of social structure, and yet 237 years later, this seems to be the world that we in america are moving towards. >> yes. i'm not going to blame you for bringing that over here. but that is the way it's worked out. in fact, if you actually look at the numbers on income mobility, that is the likelihood that someone is going to end up in the income scale pretty near to where they start, the u.s. is a particularly poor performer in that regard now, compared to other advanced economies. and actually, a touch worse than the other poor performer, which is the u.k. >> thank you for that. karen, there's a lot of talk that republicans are going to shut down the government or force a default, as you know.

here's mitch mcconnell, talking about the battle over the affordable care act. take a listen to this. >> i think it's safe to say, every republican thinks it was a huge mistake and would like to get rid of it. the question at this point is, what will the house send us? and that is the first step. what will the house send us over with the continuing resolution. it's up to them. >> so karen, a lot of people criticized the president for calling out the house republicans yesterday during the shooting. but here's mitch mcconnell saying it's all up to them. >> well, yes, he is. although remember mitch mcconnell is facing a challenging primary, so he's perfectly happy to have the problem happen over in the house and not actually and sort of kick the can down the road before he actually has to deal with it. look, i think there's a couple things here. i think the republicans recognize part of the reason i think we're hearing them talking about now holding the affordable care act implementation hostage to the raising the debt ceiling. i think politically, they think

more people understand what it means when you talk about shutting down the government than this raising of the debt ceiling. i think they don't think people have as much of a direct sense of what impact that will have. so from my strategic perspective, from my messaging perspective, i think that's why they're going that route. but let's be clear. the problem in the house is that john boehner does not control his caucus. there were reports over the weekend that now even moderate republicans -- >> yeah. >> are going to him and saying, hey, you've got to cut this out. we've got to get these guys under control. >> yeah. jerryd, the big problem in the united states is that people are working more and getting less. we just learned from the census bureau today that median household income has fallen 9% since 1999. and yet speaker boehner, eric cantor, just as karen just said, they can't be bothered to do a deal for the middle class, a bargain, grand bargain. why not? >> well, first of all, let me just underscore one of those numbers you said, because i think you need to hear that stuff a few times for it to get

locked in. you correctly pointed out that the median household income, or oh the income of the household, right in the middle of the income scale. so call it middle class household income, fell 9% between 1999, okay. so we're going back 13 years in 2012. that's $5,000. we learned today that the median household income was $51,000 in 2012. $56,000 in 1999. after -- over a period, by the way, where gdp, the overall value of the economy, is up 23%. so it's -- i think it's a very clear case of how economic growth is failing to reach the middle class. and you're absolutely right. how we fix that is the key political question, one which nobody is dealing with. >> karen, do you think -- do you think that they will push through and attempt to hold the debt ceiling hostage in the way they have described? >> absolutely. >> you really think they will.

>> i really do. because i don't think they care. remember, martin, they don't see their job as making government work. they see their job as blowing things up. but here's the thing, martin. and i think this is a real question for democrats. what are you going to do about it? we know that the republicans are fractured, we know that they can't quite decide on their strategy about defund or delay obamacare, shut down the government, the debt ceiling. but democrats have got to get together on a strategy to try to push something through. maybe that means reaching out to some of these moderate republicans in the house who cannot afford to have nothing happen, yet for yet another cycle. >> karen finney and jerryd bernstein, thank you so much, both of you. and, of course, a reminder you can catch "disrupt with karen finney" every saturday and sunday, 4:00 p.m. right here on msnbc. coming up, our next guest sees gun violence as a public health crisis. so how do we stop the bleeding? [ male announcer ] when it comes to doing what you love,

more is better. that's why we designed the all-new nissan versa note, with more technology, to get you into, and out of, tight spots. and more space so that you always have your favorite stuff. and just for good measure, an incredibly efficient 40 mpg highway. so that when you're doing more, you're spending less. the all-new nissan versa note. your door to more.

♪ your door to more. building animatronics is all about getting things to work together. the timing, the actions, the reactions. everything has to synch up. my expenses are no different. receiptmatch on the business gold rewards card synchronizes your business expenses. just shoot your business card receipts and they're automatically matched up with the charges on your online statement. i'm john kaplan, and i'm a member of a synchronized world. this is what membership is. this is what membership does.

it's on days like today, and there have been far too many lately, that americans look at their representatives in washington and wonder when congress will finally do something about the epidemic of gun violence. the outrage outside of the capitol is so deeply felt, the chief medical officer of the washington, d.c. hospital treating the victims of yesterday's shooting felt the need to veer from the normal script and add some of her informed views on the gun violence that she sees every single day. >> but there's something wrong here when we have these multiple shootings, multiple injuries, there is something wrong. the only thing i can say, we have to work together to get rid of it. i would like you to put my trauma center out of business. >> for more now, i'm joined by democratic strategist julian

epstein in washington and dr. omar bolat, associate director of trauma, also a u.s. army colonel. dr. bolat, it struck me that for people like yourself, trauma injuries in war zones would be one thing. but they would be very much more pronounced than the kind of things that one would see on the streets of this country. and yet according to that doctor, there's not much of a variation between the two anymore. >> not much at all. the caliber of the weapons may differ, the volume of bullets exchanged may deliver slightly, but at the end of the day, when a piece of led passes through your body, a piece of led passes through your body and will injure you in the same fashion. >> isn't that a terrible indictment of where we are now with gun violence domestically on the streets of this nation? >> let's face it. there is too much of it. we all do too much when it comes to taking people wounded with guns and from gun violence. it's -- it's got to stop at some point, and yeah, i agree. i would be happily put out of

business as a trauma surgeon. the gun violence has to stop. >> sure. julian, the president yesterday referred to this in his words as yet another mass shooting. do you think we're growing too accustomed to stories about a group of people, young children, adults, going to work, going to school, never making it home, because their life was taken by a gunman with a, you know, powerful weapon? >> i think that's an excellent question. and i think, yes, the remarkable thing about the tragedy yesterday was, in fact, how unremarkable it was in the following sense. we have 33 americans that are massacred every single day on american streets. we are awash in a blood bath right now. and that is largely due, any sensible reading of the data show it is loorjly due to the ridiculously permissive gun laws we have in this country. you hear a lot of people talk

about mental health and mental health is important. let's also consider the data we have in these mass shootings. in three quarters of the mass shootings, the shooter would have been able to get the gun and pass a mental health check. in most of these cases involving the mass shootings, you see assault weapons and these clips. so while mental health is very important, you hear a lot of commentators talking about how we need to improve mental health. obamacare, by the way, large expansion of mental health. mental health alone will not take care of the problem. the problem is, and, again, all of the data show this. that it is ridiculously permissive gun laws that predictably will result in 33 americans getting massacred every day and a mass shooting like this occurring about once a month. >> doctor, final question to you. if you can be brief. do you think we are seeing increasingly severe injuries because the weaponry that is now used on the streets of this country is that much more sophisticated, more powerful, more able to carry more

magazines? >> you know, usually when you see someone shot, they're shot with one, two bullets. i don't think it's the volume of a magazine that will injure an individual. it allows them to injure more individuals. the calibers are the same calibers that have been around since the 1960s. and we have seen them with varying spikes over the years. right now we're experiencing a huge spike in it. and you know, it just speaks to the volume of guns in this country. what, 300 million guns in this country? it's a huge volume of weapons to deal with. >> dr. bholat and julian epstein, thank you both. we'll be right back. gone throug. these symptoms may be nothing... but they could be early warning signs of a gynecologic cancer, such as cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer. feeling bloated for no reason. that's what i remember. seeing my doctor probably saved my life. warning signs are not the same for everyone. if you think something's wrong... see your doctor.

ask about gynecologic cancer. and get the inside knowledge. ever ybody has different ideas, goals, appetite for risk. you can't say 'one size fits all'. it doesn't. that's crazy. we're all totally different. ishares core. etf building blocks for your personalized portfolio. find out why 9 out of 10 large professional investors choose ishares for their etfs. ishares by blackrock. call 1-800-ishares for a prospectus, which includes investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. read and consider it carefully before investing. risk includes possible loss of principal. help keep teeth clean and breath play close.fresh and close. with beneful healthy smile snacks. with soft meaty centers and teeth cleaning texture ...it's dental that tastes so good new beneful healthy smile food and snacks you raise her spirits. we tackled your shoulder pain. you make him rookie of the year.

we took care of your cold symptoms. you take him on an adventure. tylenol® has been the number 1 doctor recommended brand of pain reliever for over 20 years. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol®. diarrhea, gas, bloating? yes! one phillips' colon health probiotic cap each day helps defend against these digestive issues... with three strains of good bacteria. [ phillips' lady ] live the regular life. phillips'. from capital one... boris earns unlimited rewards for his small business. can i get the smith contract, please? thank you. that's three new paper shredders. [ boris ] put 'em on my spark card. [ garth ] boris' small business earns 2% cash back on every purchase every day. great businesses deserve unlimited rewards. read back the chicken's testimony, please. "buk, buk, bukka!" [ male announcer ] get the spark business card from capital one and earn unlimited rewards. choose 2% cash back or double miles

on every purchase every day. told you i'd get half. what's in your wallet? told you i'd get half. i tthan probablycare moreanyone else.and we've had this farm for 30 years. we raise black and red angus cattle. we also produce natural gas. that's how we make our living and that's how we can pass the land and water back to future generations. people should make up their own mind what's best for them. all i can say is it has worked well for us. time now to clear the air. and as the biography of the washington naval yard shooter emerges, we're learning some ominous details about aaron alexis' history of mental illness. according to briefings, the

34-year-old had suffered with a host of possible psychiatric issues, including paranoia, sleep disturbance, and the sound of voices in his own head. and that's to say nothing of his shooting out the tires of a neighbor, and reports that he had difficultees with anger management. this is not in any way to justify his actions in randomly killing innocent public servants at a naval yard. but the shooter's mental health may well explain what he did. and that's why the affordable care act, yes, that signature achievement which has been blighted and loatheed by republicans, could make such a crucial contribution. you see, for months we have been hearing that many americans don't care much for the affordable care act. just yesterday, our latest nbc news wall street poll found that 44% of respondents believe the act is a bad idea. and 45% believe that it will it have a negative effect rather than a positive effect on the nation's health care system. but when it comes to mental

health issues, which, by the way, afflict one in four adults or 56 million people during the course of a given year, the affordable care act is already making a real difference to the issue of psychiatric illness. first, you cannot be denied coverage of a preexisting condition. something that those with mental illness have always struggled for in the past. second, psychiatric treatment comes as standard, and every health plan sold through an exchange has to cover 10 essential categories, including mental health and substance abuse. third, preventive care also comes as standard. and since those with serious mental illness are often at risk for other diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, the affordable care act mandates routine check-ups and screenings with no co-pays or deductibles. the debate over gun safety has produced some of the most har n

hardened opponents, intractable enemies on both sides of the argument. the one thing that everyone agrees on from the nra to mayors against illegal guns. from democratic senators to house republicans, is that mental health is an area that needs to be properly resourced as a matter of urgency. and so, given that further implementation of the affordable care act is now only two weeks away, isn't it time that politicians stop the shameful point scoring and deliberate misinformation and decided instead to support the provisions in the law as they apply to mental health? because once aaron alexis is bound up in the annals of america's mass shootings, we can be certain of only one thing. that someone else who is paranoid, someone else who is hearing voices, someone else with uncontrollable anger will

reach for a gun. and god help us if we've done nothing on the issue of mental health. thanks so much for watching. ed schultz and "the ed show" is next. good evening americans, and welcome to "the ed show" live from new york. let's get to work. the man police believe identified as aaron alexis. what is still unclear. why he shot and killed a dozen people. >> that's what we joked about, him being obsessed at his age. >> i think va games is a bigger problem than guns. >> tell congress they need to act and act in time. >> video games have a pernicious, destructive effect. >> there is something evil in our society that