road block. let's play "hardball." ♪ good evening. i'm chris matthews in washington. let me start tonight with this. getting to know chris christie who had been until now best hope of a non-tea party republican running in 2016. has become a troubling matter. once the great moderate, questions now abound. did he shut down traffic leading to the george washington bridge? did he tell them to exact punishment to a mayor on the new jersey side to let him know the governor's feelings were hurt when he didn't pony up for the re-election? did he?

or did the two guys he put in charge of the bridge take the initiative to cut off traffic causing the big backup? how does christie get past this traffic jam in his own career plans? how does he get past this democrat version of benghazi. they're already tuning up for use against secretary hillary clinton. and now senator jay rockefeller says he's investigating this matter in addition to seeking a federal probe by the department of transportation. the pattern of scandal is taking shape. now the traffic mess. then the stories in the newspapers. then the hearings. then the revelations. then the verdict. if this continues on course, the man many of us considered the best asset the republicans have for national leadership may be going to the rand paul types who have little chance to win the presidency simply by being out there raising their mischief. jonathan capehart is an opinion

writer. and chairman michael steele is former rnc leader. i read the column in the "washington post" today. i looked at "the new york times." the great lady has yet to rule on this from new york on "the new york times," but it looks like this governor who i thought had political moxie doesn't. he's stuck with what could be a little story, maybe. but begins to blossom every day. >> but reading the stories from a distance here in washington but having been a reporter in new york for 16 years at "the daily news," i read the story and thought -- >> how old are you? >> i'm not -- 46. >> i thought you were much younger. >> it reminded me of the sort of

typical story you read about new york, new jersey area politicians. one politician doesn't do something for another politician and they exact revenge. sort of your typical petty political thing. but most politicians in that area don't have national aspirations or if they do, they never come to fruition. chris christie has credible aspirations and suddenly those things that seem typical and petty through the presidential lens become very problematic. >> in other words, no new jersey governor will get impeached in jersey for doing righteous vengeance against the guy who didn't help him? >> right. and that's not saying what the aides did. >> the time they shut down that traffic coming to the bridge, it's a huge bridge. it's one of the most amazing places in the world. everything goes to new york every hour in the morning. >> thousands. >> and my question, suppose there had been an accident because of that? suppose somebody had a heart

attack in one of the cars waiting in line, or a stroke. these things happen all the time. the risk these bozos, whether or not the push from the governor, is reckless stuff. >> i think we need to wait and -- >> we know it was done. >> we know it was done, but we don't know whose fingerprints are where. >> okay. >> so let's don't jump to conclusions. >> let me go by the rules of this table. when health care got blown up and messed up which we all agree happened, the guy at the top took the heat. >> i'm not saying that -- >> it's the same rules. >> i'll play by your rules. but i'm saying we don't know what we don't know yet. let's just see exactly where the fingerprints are on this yet. >> that doesn't mean chris christie should be blameless. >> before anyone turns the channel because we're getting murky, let me tell you something. the two top guys he gave jobs to, six figure jobs, i don't know what to do except stop traffic on the jersey side when he calls. these guys did it and they've all quit. why'd they quit? because of this. >> yeah. probably because christie said

you're fired for doing what you did. >> and? >> and what? that's the end of it. >> did he do it? >> i don't know. let's ask him and find out. >> what began as a local brush fire has now ignited a political storm. baroni and wildstein resigned at the top. denied having any involvement. he also dismissed accusations made largely by democrats it was a form of political retribution blamed at fort lee's democratic mayor for refusing to endorse christie's re-election. the senate commerce committee aannounced they're laujing an investigation. jay rockefeller about to retire, a democrat for west virginia, told the port authority that quote, the gravity of this situation demands a comprehensive investigation. it doesn't look good for christie.

that's me talking. and the political fog has begun. the larger than life governor has built an image as a reasonable non-crazy republican. but as richard cohen wrote beautifully today in the "washington post," quote, the damage has been done. christie's all but declared presidential campaign has taken a hit. his bona fides a certain swagger and sureness, worse he unaccountable lacks affection for the media and sometimes shows it. lots of politicians play hardball. christie plays bean ball. throws at the batter's head. >> as somebody who's gone toe-to-toe with governor christie on "morning joe," i know how he plays bean ball. and the way he has --

>> is he personal? >> he doesn't get personal. but he does try to sort of slam the messenger rather than address the message. when it comes to in the early days, early moments of this george washington bridge lane closure thing, he tried to bluster his way through it. he tried to pretend it wasn't happening until people kept -- reporters kept doggedly going after -- >> we have to change here. >> can i just say this? could you two just have a glass of eggnog and call me in the morning? i cannot believe you're blowing this up to some national, you know -- >> the guy is going to be running for president. >> okay, mother superior. let me ask you a question. now that you're looking down at us two. push your vestments aside for a moment and answer this question. you're sitting with the guy, you're his guy, you're his best friend. okay. what would you tell him to do right now if he's watching this show? because i think there are things he can do. i'm not sure he didn't give this guy a wink and a nod and tell

these guys this. or this. i can't stand that damn mayor. what's the problem with that guys. and the aides heard it and acted. it could be that innocent. why doesn't he say so? >> i think he should say so, number one. and i advise taking the first step if his hands was the one that caused the firing of these two people. good. put that out there and tell people why you did that. >> because they went beyond my instructions. >> and there were no instructions. they shouldn't have and they paid the price. >> he's caught in the cross fire now because he is a man caught in the modern politics of the 2013 to '14 reality we're living in right now. he's somewhat in the center. christie has faced constant fire for not being a real conservative. now he's facing an onslaught from the democrats because democrats fear this guy on the national stage. because they see an opportunity to bring this guy low. because they think he's a guy that might be able to beat hillary clinton if she runs.

the dnc, your old opponents, recently released a two-minute web video. these are free, by the way, attacking christie. here's a sampler. ♪ >> but i actually was the guy working the cones. >> well, the pro-hillary group called correct the record has jumped on board as well. communications director for correct the record told the hill, quote, there's no question -- i love this -- that chris christie is classified and assumed to be a front runner. should he run, we have an eye on him. this is something we're keeping an eye on. they released this graphic of showing christie next to a traffic sign that reads political retribution.

then the tag line. the emerging facts aren't lining up with the administration's story. this is a weak stew so far of attack. but it's beginning to give us a sense that he's going to get hit from the hillary people who see him as the biggest challenge potentially. and the people on the right who also see him as a challenge. >> they love you until you do something. all these folks were praising chris christie. he's wonderful to politics. now he's gotten over his election and the presidential frontier lies before him, now he's this crazy politician and bully. >> i may excuse myself. i have nothing against the guy. i sort of like his prospects, i like his personality. i guess i like him though i hardly know him. but this bullying does not look good and will not sell outside of jersey.

i'm not sure it will sell in jersey. your thoughts. >> exactly. this is the problem chris christie has always had. the act, this blustery act works well in the new york media market, it works well down here. the moment he takes that to iowa, new hampshire, south carolina, you think primary voters will go -- >> except if he takes it to iowa and new hampshire. >> the other problem chris christie has here is that with the lane closures thing, this is just one story. if he or his aides were willing to take such petty action against someone who didn't support the governor in his re-election, who's to say there aren't other stories out there. >> let's also stipulate something. if they did it to help him or hurt his enemies, it was bone headed. >> right. >> because they're hurting people. and the people are not going to like this. every time there's a traffic jam going into the lincoln tunnel or the george washington bridge, they're going to blame it on the governor. thank you. >> governor of new york didn't seem to take it as far as it's been taken in this conversation this evening. so if governor cuomo is okay with this --

>> because he has to work the other half. >> -- then i'm okay with it. >> is he your leader now? i'm going to call andrew cuomo tonight and say he's got a new recruit. thank you. i'm sure he's never reaped revenge on anybody. thank you jonathan capehart and michael steele. coming up, the assault on voting rights both north carolina and ohio are back at it again making it easier to purge voters, restrict early voting, and end same-day voting. reduce the vote by making it harder for minorities and older people to vote. how's that for politics? that's worse than jamming up the bridge. also over its governor, barring insurance companies from offering coverage for abortion even in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the health of the mother unless women pay extra. gretchen whitmer is among those denouncing the ban. >> i'm about to tell you something that i've not shared with many people in my life.

it's something i've hidden for a long time. but i think you need to see the face of the women that you are impacting by this vote today. >> wait until you hear this story. gretchen whitmer joins us later. plus president obama tells us he also planned to impose more on the nsa even before a federal judge questioned the phone records. now what? and stephen colbert takes on the nsa records in the sideshow. and this is "hardball," the place for politics. my mantra? family first. but with less energy, moodiness, and a low sex drive, i saw my doctor. a blood test showed it was low testosterone, not age. we talked about axiron. the only underarm low t treatment that can restore t levels to normal in about 2 weeks in most men. axiron is not for use in women or anyone younger than 18 or men with prostate or breast cancer. women especially those who are or who may become pregnant and children should avoid contact where axiron is applied as unexpected signs of puberty in children or changes

in body hair or increased acne in women may occur. report these symptoms to your doctor. tell your doctor about all medical conditions and medications. serious side effects could include increased risk of prostate cancer; worsening prostate symptoms; decreased sperm count; ankle, feet or body swelling; enlarged or painful breasts; problems breathing while sleeping; and blood clots in the legs. common side effects include skin redness or irritation where applied, increased red blood cell count, headache, diarrhea, vomiting and increase in psa. ask your doctor about axiron. well, there's mixed news for president obama in the latest abc washington post poll. 43% approving. 55% disapproving. but mr. obama has climbed back into positive territory on whether he understands the problems of most americans and whether he's honest and

trustworthy. that's both good news. things are looking up for the health care law itself. 46% now approve of the law. 49% oppose. not great, but a huge improvement from just a month ago. and we'll be right back.

welcome back to "hardball." this year alone legislation to suppress the right to vote has advanced or implemented in 36 states altogether. in each case the voter suppression bills were introduced by republicans. north carolina's are the strictest in the country and include voter photo requirements, shortened early voting, and the elimination of same-day registration. and now a federal judge has ruled restrictive voting laws won't come to trial until 2015. that means these impediments to vote all except for the voter i.d. requirement which kicks in 2016 will affect the 2014 midterms there.

as reported on msnbc.com, quote, there's little question that the law hits minorities especially hard. blacks make up 23% of the state's registered voters but 34% of those don't have an i.d. issued by the dmv. studies show black voters in north carolina are also more likely than whites to vote early. already the republican led house and senate in columbus passed a bill that makes it easier to purge voter rolls and reduces the number of voting machines. republican governor john kasich is expected to sign it. and here's what's coming up. cuts to early voting, the end of same-day registration, and making it harder to vote absentee. what do they have in common? they're purposing, swing states, have republican-controlled legislatures, and they're making it harder to vote especially if you're a democrat. dale ho and nina turner. running for secretary of state which would have a lot of say in

her state of ohio. let me start with mr. ho. tell me about north carolina and what's going on there. i went to grad school down there. i love that state. but it seems like there's something turning really hard right in the legislature which is already effecting the university system down there. but tell me about the voting system. it seems to me to reduce the number of black votes down there, they can knock around that senate seat by simply it seems to me reducing the size of the electorate to the republicans' advantage. >> well, north carolina passed as you noted, chris, the most suppressive voting law last year that the country saw. it may be the most suppressive voting law in any state in decades. and in our view, this is a case, an issue that needs to be resolved in advance of the midterm elections in november. north carolina doesn't see it that way. they want to put this case off until 2015. but if they really believed in

election integrity which is what they say they believe in, they'd join us in our sense of urgency. if a court leader decides this law is unconstitutional or violates the federal voting rights act, there's no way to undo that and get the right back after they lost it. >> is there a cause for this, a cause of alarm. is there voting violations in that state, corruption, voting, cheating of some kind. vote stealing, whatever, ballot box packing. any significant example of why they have to move so quickly to implement this law? >> there's absolutely no evidence of any systemic voter fraud in north carolina. and there's no system of voting fraud that preventing students from registering to vote would address. that ending same-day registration would address. so there's no serious problem in north carolina. and these proposals that they have have no rational relationship to any hypothetical problem. >> if someone goes to school at charlotte or chapel hill or durham at nc central university there or one of those schools,

they wouldn't be able to vote where they go to school. they have to get in a car or truck and get home to vote. right? that's the idea. to screw them. >> they're making it harder for people to vote where they go to school. now, the law is very clear that if you can register to vote and cast a ballot at the place where you live while you're in school. north carolina tried to make that harder and some local boards of election tried to make that harder to no avail earlier this year. and we don't expect them to implement those changes successfully. >> senator turner, tell us about what ohio is up to. we're seeing this pattern, we talk about on this program because i think sometimes there's a lot of -- most political debate is reasonable. you can argue about the size of the debt. you can argue about foreign policy. i don't think there should be a debate on whether or not you get the right to vote. >> i agree. >> that's out of bounds of the usual democrat/republican fight. that's why i take one side on this. the right to vote. that's my side. >> i agree with you, chris.

i mean, there should not be partisanship when it comes to voting. it should be whether or not what we implement expands and protects the vote. but as you can see in places like north carolina, texas, and even ohio, republicans are out to crush the demographics. the points that you bring up, chris, about african-americans, hispanic, poor people, working class people. these types of bills have a disproportionately negative impact on those communities. and in 2008, for example, in ohio, 56% of african-american voters utilize early in-person voting. and what are the gop targeting? early in-person voting. absentee ballot applications. shrinking the numbers of machines. making it easier to purge people from the voting rolls. >> let's talk about that, senator. i'm sorry to interrupt. i was in south africa for those

historical elections in 1994. i watched people as i said it was biblical. people lining from one horizon to another. but those votes were over in four hours. then i hear about in the united states where we have the best technology in the world available to us and people waiting 11 hours to vote. i mean, incredible times. it's chilling to think how long people had to stand outside to vote. >> that's right. >> you go to cuyahoga county and a lot of minorities live there. what's the game plan? they take away the voting booths so you have to drive further to vote? >> they did that in 2004 which is why a lot of folks here can't understand why they're trying to regress instead of progress. you may remember in 2004 ohio made all headlines for all the negative reasons. some people standing in line for up to 11 hours. in knox county at kenyon college, 1300 voters, two voting machines. one broke down. the last voter voted at 4:00 a.m. in the morning. communities like huff in cleveland, people standing outside in the rain for four and

five hours. the same thing in columbus. chris, this is deliberate. and that is why everybody who cares about the sanctity of our democracy should be up in arms. we should have a righteous indignation because our country is founded upon one woman, one man, one vote. we can't stand for this. >> i think the good republicans watching should say the end doesn't justify the means. >> that's right. >> you start playing these games to win elections, that's not going to help you in the long run. since the supreme court's decision in june to strike down the voting rights act that provided clearance, changes in certain areas primarily in the south. the following states have implemented new restrictions. texas, mississippi, alabama, florida, south carolina, north carolina, virginia have all gone there. mr. ho, talk about the patterns like they jumped like the cherokee strip. here's votes we can steal. they just moved on a dime with the supreme court rule. >> the thing is, chris, it's not just those states you highlighted. i like to say that voter suppression in the south -- the south is not like las vegas when

it comes to voter suppression. what happens there doesn't stay there. so when you see proof of citizenship laws that force people to show a copy of their birth certificate when they register to vote in georgia and alabama, those laws spread to kansas and other states outside of the south. i don't carry a birth certificate around with me walking down the street. these laws are aimed at preventing voter registration drives. i think there's a segment of our elected officials who have decided as the electorate gets more diverse and younger instead of trying to compete for those votes which is what you're supposed to do, they're trying to squash those voices. and we don't think that's the best way. >> i'm glad you're here and on top of this story. i promise you senator and dale we'll stay on top of it. dale ho and senator nina turner. this "hardball," the place for politics.

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in a desperate bit to find out how much intel snowden took, nsa officials recently floated the idea of offering snowden amnesty. just come back with all the intel and all is forgiven. i'll tell you what, to make you feel safe we'll meet you on a special amnesty zone. >> that looks like a rat trap. anyway, time for the sideshow. that was stephen colbert last night on edward snowden who still has temporary asylum in russia. while the nsa and the white house have come out against an amnesty deal, snowden, the agency was struck a blow after u.s. district court judge approved a preliminary injunction against the surveillance program describing it as orwellian technology. more on that later in the show. and a white house meeting with white house technology ceos yet.

for a look at the season of "house of cards." here's what the president had to say about that. >> i'm just wondering if we brought the advanced of "house of cards." >> you want to do a cameo? >> well, i wish things were ruthlessly efficient like that. it's true. i was looking at kevin spacey thinking man this guy's getting a lot of stuff done. >> that's the show he kills his enemies. season two won't be released until february. here's a clip from the latest trailer president obama may not make a cameo but you may see another familiar face.

>> the road to power is paved with hypocrisy. and casualties. >> i need to prove what the vice president is keeping. >> i know you'll do whatever you think is best. >> mr. president, you would be making a disastrous mistake. >> this goes all the way to the white house. >> it might. >> i told you to stop that. >> i can turn this around, sir. >> you are out of line, frank. >> for those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy. and the butchery begins. >> it's time to buy netflix. that's right. i make a cameo appearance this season in an episode directed by robin wright who stood here in this room directing me. we had a lot of fun shooting that scene back in september. but i can assure you, i have no idea what happens in season two any more than you do. finally, despite recent problems behind the background of santa claus, fox news isn't the only one weighing in on the war of christmas.

jay leno weighed in on it last night. >> political correctness full swing this holiday season. seems an elementary school in frisco, texas, has banned christmas trees and renamed its christmas party the winter party. and listen to this. the kids can't even call santa's helpers elves anymore. it's going to be undocumented little people. times are changing. according to a new survey, 21% of us now say happy holidays. compared to 56% who say feliz navidad. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics.

welcome back to "hardball." this week michigan became the latest state to pass an extremely restrictive law barring insurance companies from offering coverage for abortions unless women choose a separate insurance payment. what's so extreme about this law in seven similar states is it does not include the rape or incest. she would have to pay for abortion out of her pocket unless she purchased additional

insurance. the democratic minority leader of the state senate gretchen whitmer blasted her colleagues for endorsing the bill in a speech that has gone viral. she revealed something very personal about herself. >> so i'm about to tell you something that i've not shared with many people in my life. but over 20 years ago i was a victim of rape. and thank god it didn't result in a pregnancy. because i can't imagine going through what i went through and then having to consider what to do about an unwanted pregnancy from an attacker. and as a mother with two girls, the thought that they would ever go through something like i did keeps me up at night. i thought this was all behind me. you know how tough i can be.

the thought and the memory of that still haunts me. if this were law then and i had become pregnant, i would not be able to have coverage because of this. how extreme -- how extreme does this measure need to be? i'm not the only woman in our state that has faced that horrible circumstance. i am not enjoying talking about it. it's something i've hidden for a long time. but i think you need to see the face of the women that you are impacting by this vote today. >> minority leader gretchen whitmer joins us right now along with a national reporter for msnbc.com. thank you, ladies, for talking about this and bringing it to our attention the extreme nature of this law. senator, give us a sense of what your colleagues on the republican side of the aisle had to say in response to your tragic story. >> nothing. they said nothing.

and i think that was the whole point. i didn't know that i was going to share something so personal until i actually looked across the aisle and saw these guys never had a committee hearing, they never heard from any women, they never heard from any health care providers, the doctors. even people of faith. they never thought for a second who this was going to impact and that's really why i shared my story. the amazing thing was not one republican stood up and had the temerity to say this was a good law, to defend the vote that they were taking. not one single one of them stood up to defend what their vote was. >> well, this is always tricky. i'll try to ask the logical questions for those conflicted on the issue of abortion rights, certainly for their rights. they have the concerns about abortion itself. they try to be reasonable and i think they try to be empathetic. now, how can you not be empathetic to a woman who's violated, who's assaulted, raped

or the victim of an in-family incest situation where the woman or the girl obviously has no power in this situation because of a relative's strength of the male involved inevitably. and the health of the mother may have nothing to do with the fact that the woman is pregnant. these are situations that arise from being a human being in a society where there can be tragic behavior among people. but it's not about choosing to have unprotected sex. it's not about the decision that believed that abortion is morally less serious than it is for some other person. and that's what i have a hard time with. why are the legislatures on the other side of the aisle pushing this end of the stick? what are they doing this for? who's this appeasing or playing to? >> well, i think this is, you know, an extreme agenda that was drafted by a right to leave of michigan. they put something like this forward earlier this year. our republican governor, a guy with whom i don't always agree,

vetoed it because he said it was too extreme to insist that a woman who is raped had the forethought to purchase a special insurance rider. so who are they appeasing with this? i think it's just the extreme interests. there are republicans and democrats and men and women who've shared stories with me that think this is outrageous. many of whom self-identify as pro-life have said this doesn't make sense. there's no exception for rape or incest or a planned pregnancy that develops abnormally and requires a medically necessary dnc in a hospital stay. that, too, is impacted here. this is so extreme that i think it's this one interest group that is running their anti-choice agenda and they'll do anything they can. >> tell me how this fits into the pattern of the way states have adopted the new health care law and the attitudes towards

life choice questions here. >> chris, this is a coordinated and systemic attack on women's health care. it starts with abortion but it doesn't end with abortion. as we saw in the contraceptive cases, it's also about people wanting to deny insurance coverage for contraception which helps prevent abortions. whether it's women who are raped. whether it's women who lose their jobs or who their husband leaves them or there's a serious fetal anomaly. no one really plans to have an abortion. and it's not even clear that these so-called riders that women are being asked to buy even exist. that any insurance companies will offer them. this is something that has passed in eight states. >> what happens in those eight states? so people understand this issue. it's new for most people. in those eight states including now michigan where the coverage of the regular insurance coverage doesn't cover these situations of rape, incest, or even health of the mother. in those cases, how does a woman buy that coverage or get it ahead of time?

>> she doesn't. i have spoken to health care experts who have been trying to find any insurance company or any insurance policy holder who has been able to purchase a so-called rider. >> what happens to a young mother in childbearing state and she's having kids, planning to have kids. how does she insure herself low income women from using their medicaid to pay for it. i have interviewed families that have been completely financially devastated by having to have a planned pregnancy because of a serious fetal anomaly. we're talking about in those cases thousands of dollars. >> let me go to senator woodward. what's going to happen. is there a court ruling that might be coming here or something that will get in the way of this decision by this legislature? >> i think there will be legal challenges.

this came up in the strangest way, talk about undemocratic right to life use a loophole in michigan law where they collected just 4% of the signatures of voters in michigan got this before the legislature and it passed on a simple majority, sized up the governor and never went to the vote of the public. >> good luck with your political career, it's great to have you on "hardball." i wish we didn't have it under these circumstances. up next, you don't like the nsa collecting phone records? neither does a federal judge out there and this is "hardball" the place for politics.

today president obama a member of the country's major technology executives at the

today president obama a

>> young people rightly are sensitive to the needs to preserve their privacy and maintain internet freedom.

lawrence o'donnell is my colleague here on msnbc and the host of the last word at 10:00 p.m. eastern. what do you think about the generational aspect of this? because it's true, we know it's true. what do you think about young people who are particularly sensitive to the metadatic issue. >> i was quite struck by the expectation of privacy. those of us who grew up with all sorts of mob prostitutions and wiretaps and all that stuff. i never had an expectation of privacy involving televisions. this judge said that he believes there is now an expectation of

privacy and he maintains that the ruling 34 years ago by the supreme court was done in such a different technological era that it had a different expectation of privacy. and in that ruling the supreme court said that it was perfectly okay to collect phone record data that does not include the actual contents of the call simply, what number called what number. that was collectible without a warrant 34 years ago. and this judge yesterday said in 34 years, enough has changed that we have to reconsider that. but i was struck, chris, by one passage of the judge's opinion which i hope other judges don't do. and that is he cited one of the founding fathers. now, he said that he -- >> madison. >> he thought james madison would being aghast at this, but james madison was a slave holder

who 226 years ago at age 36 wrote the constitution and it is this judge who's saying, we can't rely on what the supreme court was thinking 34 years ago, but we can rely on what this virginian slave owner was thinking a and what we presume he would think today. this guy was thinking 226 years ago in writing these provisions. >> quick question, why does anybody care that somebody's got medidata on them, it's hotted a hot mail junky called someone else. why would that concern a 22-year-old grad student that somebody knew that about them? >> it isn't really that clear in the polling exactly who is worried about this in what way. this thing has to be approached, the opposition to what the nsa

is doing has to be approached in principle because there is no particular case in practice that anyone can point to at the nsa and say look, this is the bad thing that they have done with this metadata. this is all self reporting mistakes that the nsa workers are finding themselves. they're saying we crossed this line here when we shouldn't have. we will probably never know enough about exactly what the nsa is doing to completely comfortable. >> lawrence, tell us about the deaths of -- outpouring of generosity, we have raised over $6 million now since we started the program. it puts desks in classrooms in africa which you know have never seen desks.

you've been there, you worked in africa as a peace corps volunteer, and you know, as you and i have talked before, that that kind of experience changes you, you can't go into those countries and leave without feeling some kind of -- we do it at the last word at msnbc. -- at our website, that's where you can go, and we'll talk about it tonight on our program. >> thank you, lawrence o'donnell. we'll be right back after this. . i used to scrub the floor on my knees. [ daughter ] i've mastered the art of foot cleaning. oh, boy. oh, boy. oh, boy. [ carmel ] that drives me nuts. it gives me anxiety just thinking about how crazy they get. [ doorbell rings ] [ daughter ] oh, wow. [ carmel ] swiffer wetjet. you guys should try this. it's so easy. oh, my. [ gasps ] i just washed this floor. if i didn't see it i wouldn't believe it. [ carmel ] it did my heart good to see you cleaning. [ regina ] yeah, your generation has all the good stuff. [ daughter ] oh, yeah.

let me finish tonight with this, i have hoped and still do that the republican party will find itself back to its traditional place on the american political spectrum. i would like to know that the people of this great country get to face a reasonable choice when it comes to who they wish to rule, especially whom they wish to see in the presidency. i think of ted cruz and rand paul and wonder how bad things have to get this country for a majority of us to choose either of those guys. and right now it's entirely possible that the republican party will find itself unable to find candidate who is can beat them. i had and still hold hopes for governor christie. i believe he showed rare leadership in the way he's teamed with president obama in facing the need for action after hurricane sandy. the one popular picture in the 2012 election was the picture of these two politicians walking the hard hit beaches of new

jersey. here's hopes that our political leaders can work together like these two did. and this is the message of my new book, kip and the gipper. that's "hardball" for now. thanks for being with us, all in with chris hayes started right now. good evening from new york, i'm chris hayes. over the past several months we have watched the right wing cycle through a series of increasingly desperate obama care scare -- go after obama care the way they went after a.c.o.r.n. >> the embedded men and women in the white house to help you enroll in the obama care --