riddance to 2014, universally agreed on as the year the white house would like to forget. he sought to turn the page and lay out hopes for a new can do spirit in 2014. >> a lot of our legislative initiatives in congress have not moved forward as rapidly as i've liked. i completely understand that, which means i'm going to keep at it. i firmly believe that 2014 can be a breakthrough year for america. >> democrats will start the new year with a renewed focus on addressing rising inequality, specifically an effort to extend expiring long-term unemployment benefits and raise the minimum wage. they will be joined in that effort by democratic groups who plan to launch a major message and push into america's living rooms with tv ads over the christmas break. >> you know who had a merry christmas? the richest 1%. that's who. republicans in congress made sure of that protecting billions in taxpayers giveaways. for those facing tough times republicans stripped 1.3 million

americans of jobless benefits. folks who want to work but cannot find a job. >> meanwhile republicans would rather keep the focus on any and all problems with the affordable care act forever and ever and ever. >> obama care right now causes people to spend more money, have less choice, have a higher deductible and less freedom. what i would say is we need to change health care. but what they have done, you can't fix this mess. >> okay. today the health care law reaches the critical enrollment deadline. since this is officially the last day people can sign up to get coverage that starts january 1st. over a million people have now signed up on the federal exchange a dramatic improvement from the roll out of early days still below original goals laid out by administration. republicans intend to highlight that as well as draw attention to any new website flaws and stories of plan cancellations and premium increases. democrats meanwhile will counter with anecdotes about people signing up for affordable

coverage, many for the first time. still at the end of the day senior democrats like chuck schumer believe the party's emphasis on economic opportunity will prevail. >> the number one issue in the 2014 election is not going to be obama care or the deficit. it is going to be who can get the middle class going again. who can expand middle class incomes, jobs, that's far and away the issue most americans care about. >> joining me today senior editor and staff writer for new yorker rick hertzberg, distinguished fellow bob herbert, white house correspondent for "washington post" juliette alpern. this is dichotomy. when it comes to affordable care it is outsized factoring into the news of the administration so it is important. >> it's hugely important. it's going to be a few months before we have a sense of the

impact both in terms of individuals and their insurance and how many people sign up, there's no question that the administration is working overtime trying to ensure that they can tweak it enough to make it a success or at least something democrats aren't on the defense about in 2013. >> there's a "wall street journal" poll that says what's most likely to shape your person of president obama in 2013, 50% said health care, 25% said economy, 23% said government shutdown, down from there. domestic issues like immigration and guns 14%. less than one in ten said nsa and privacy. obviously health care has an outside influenced on how the president is perceived. he's not up in 2014. the democrats are up. >> schumer aside democrats may want to talk about inequality or economy, especially if the economy is doing better but the coverage is going to be on obama care on two tracks. one, the republicans are going to be pushing the issue to the

nth degree as you pointed out. they are never going to stop. still the end story what's happening with obama care. it's going to be -- i think it's going to be a tough year even if the affordable care act is ultimately successful there's still a lot of hurdles to overcome. it's going to take a while. >> i wonder, robert, on the other side of that. if that narrative might not be slightly not true. even though i never disagree with bob, never, ever. the reality is that the affordable care rollout won't be the same next summer as it is now. republicans singular focus on that. the risk to that, right, is the other issues like inequality might actually rate. there is some polling on people's feelings on raising the minimum wage. nbc "wall street journal," we did a poll on it. raising minimum wage to $10.10, 63% favor it, only 36% oppose it. you have tom harkin and george

miller, raising onto 2013 in three steps. starting in twochlt 2016 minimum wage indexed to inflation, raised for tipped worker from $2.13, which is stunning that's what it is to 70% of the minimum wage. if democrats are able to get any traction at all on this issue, it's something that could leave republicans stuck on aca track. >> republicans are going to ride the wave of obama care's problems throughout 2014. that's going to be their lead issue. i think you're right, joy. there's other issues, probably economic inequality. republicans have to have some kind of counter, alternative plan. pay attention to rumblings in the republican party look. at paul ryan making major speeches on poverty. mike lee from utah doing the same. i think republican leadership is cognizant they are going to have another issue to talk about but they still don't have a major plan to run on on poverty and inequality but at least making noise in that direction. >> that's the issue. democrats are formulating specific plans on inequality and

addressing poverty, two of which are dealing with the minimum wage and unemployment. those are specific issues republicans could be put on the spot with right away in 2014. >> republicans don't have any specific plans about any issues. if the story for the next year is going to be a two-track story, it's going to be obama care. but if the story is oh, they have got a problem. oh, they are fixing it. it's getting a little bit better, a little better still. if that's the obama care story and inequality story is what it is now with the democrats being the only ones who actually had some thoughts on what to do about it, besides making speeches pointing out that it exists, that's not such terrible news for the democrats. i can think of a lot better situations they could be in but that one is not so terrible. >> lets look actually at it from the point of view of the red states specifically. democrats and republicans could have to deal with inequality issues.

four states where the minimum wage is a ballot initiative, likely on the 2014 ballot. alaska, obviously begich in trouble, arkansas, mark pryor, south dakota retiring senator and idaho, which is actually solid gop. you do have four states where you could test this as a ballot issue but a turnout mechanism theoretically for democrats. >> yes, you could see it. obviously as you pointed out, alaska and arkansas would be the most important places where you could see that happen and have interesting dynamics. alaska you don't have as huge a population. when you have a boost in turnout and off year, that could matter. arkansas used to be a blue state. obviously republicans have made tremendous gains there and that will be very important. >> have you to figure clintons are going to go in and play a little bit. just a little bit. robert, are republicans cognizant getting away from president obama aspect, they want to national liz but on a state level, this minimum wage

issue actually holds some danger for them. >> that's true. i think republicans are aware of that. right now it's not acceptable within most of the republican party to really be articulating a new position on minimum wage. i don't think republicans are going to have that fight with democrats. they will let democrats have their rallying cry on it but republicans aren't going to really get involved. i think you're right. the broader point about president obama, i think republicans, when you listen to their rhetoric on obama care, they are not zeroing in on the president, they are zeroing in on the law, because the president retains popularity. really trying to get down to brass tax on the law that's not easy for republicans. they get right back at the president for better or for worse. >> also i'm struck by the fact republicans are dealing with the base. the inequality argument may not resonate. there is a pew poll that talks about what is more to blame if people are poor. republicans, circumstances only 28% said circumstances are to blame if you're poor. 57% said it's lack of effort.

democrats it's the reverse. democrats 61% say circumstances, 24% say lack of effort. even if to robert's point republicans are aware the inequality issue is potent for them and aware they can't just run on affordable care act, their base is not necessarily open to an argument about inequality. >> i question whether inequality is a potent issue. this is something i've cared about for a long time. you start talking about poverty, minimum wage, that sort of thing, this has been a big issue with me for a long time. it's never had real resonance in terms of national elections. the reason that i think the affordable care act will tend to trump these issues, i could be wrong, the reason it will trump these issues, if the democrats or the country has problems signing up younger, healthier people under the affordable care act, and if ordinary people, middle class people, working

people, who have health insurance start seeing their premiums increasing, you see additional cancellations, all of those issues, i think, politically will trump issues, even minimum wage increase, which is popular. >> see, i'm wondering if that's true only in the sense we haven't had a great recession like we had in 2008 where so many people who thought of themselves as middle class have now found themselves really identifying with the poor, right, identifying with people who are struggling because now they themselves are facing it. i'm wondering if you think inequality issue is more potent because typically it isn't. >> bob is right about the lack of political on the poverty issue. that's been true sense the end of the war on poverty era. there is salience to the middle class issue. you hear that in the rhetoric, they talk more about the middle class than the poor. that's where their approach has some real potential because

middle class people are scared of becoming poor people. >> right. >> and the things -- >> a lot of them are becoming poor people. >> a lot of them are. obama care, minimum wage, these are things that actually do prop up the middle class. >> at the end of the day minimum wage about people -- >> inequality. nobody believes in full equality. everybody believes you've got to have some equality to make it work. nobody is in favor of total inequality. it's been getting really, really out of hand. >> absolutely. that's one of the reasons you see the administration the medicaid piece, 4 million people signing up and emphasizing minimum wage, which is about wages. >> we're going to talk more. coming up after the break, we have to take a break. white house busy at the border. we'll discuss possibility of comprehensive reform in 2014 and look at the deported when buzz

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fiscal 2013 obama administration deported fewer immigrants than any time since the bush administration. the decrease is not exactly good news for undocumented workers. with 1.9 million deportations so far president obama is on track to preside over more deportations than any previous administration. numbers many of the president's political opponents on the right continue to say are not enough. in a detailed account of a real life consequences of country's deportation obsession buzz feed

john stanton spent 13 days documenting how poverty, disease, drug trained often greet workers from the united states back to mexican border towns. stanton writes if illegal deport is a is tidal wave then riptide. day laborers, restaurant managers, cousins from the roots they laid down in the u.s. and washing them back. as one immigrant described life on the border. i'm afraid to be here because of my kids because of all that happened. because i'm alone i'm afraid to be here but i have no other options. i have no one else. when it comes to the nation's on-again, off-again dance with immigration reform, there may finally be hopeful signals. in his year end press conference friday the president was bullish on prospects for reform. >> we can get p immigration reform done. we have a concept that has bipartisan support. lets see if we can break through the politics on this. >> senate majority leader harry reid had a bolder prediction.

why wouldn't he is the question immigration advocates have been asking all year. but for once they may have real reason for hope as republican tom cole said, "we just saw a budget deal with progress that brought people together from both sides and different perspectives and i suspect that can be done on immigration as well." if republicans need an example how it can get done they need look no further than new jersey where governor and potential 2016 presidential candidate chris christie signed a document allowing for changes. buzz feed, john stanton, thanks for being here. >> good to be here. >> describe for us, what are the dangers to people who wind up being pushed back on the other side of the border. >> particularly places like

tijuana and juarez, pretty much every possible facet of their life is a difficulty. they don't have id or other kinds of identification. it's very difficult for them to get a job. they can't secure housing. the state doesn't do much to help them get back on their feet. so they are preyed upon by gangs, by the cartels to use them as drug mules, prostitutes. they can't find places to live. in tehuano many end up in an area that's a giant sewage ditch. they even have difficulties getting money from their family because they don't have identification. if they are trying to get, say, money wired to them to take a bus someplace, they have to find someone who has id to go into a bank and get money. oftentimes people take the money or charge exorbitant finders' fees. every part of their life is essential lay danger. >> john, yet the political imperatives seem to be on border security. there doesn't seem to be much traction in the house to move on senate reforms. i want to ask you about senate

reforms. the senate bill they proposed, 13 year pathway to citizenship, increase the spending $46 billion on border security. it would have mandatory workplace verification for workers, new visa programs for low skilled workers. i ask you, with the federal government spending $12 billion on customs and border enforcement to put people exactly in the place you've described in your piece, would reform even help? >> it would shortly have short-term help. when those people, the 11 million undocumented people in the united states are put on a legalized path they would not get deported. you would probably see a short-term cessation or slowing down of deportation to places like tijuana. in the end, you're right. it's going to come back. illegal immigration is never going to be stopped. when you go to the border, you can see it with your own eyes. the fence doesn't extend along the border. there are plenty of spaces where people can walk across. really the fence doesn't do that

much to end illegal deportation. people will find a way to get into the country. they are coming from oftentimes absolutely horrible conditions in southern mexico and other states in latin america. they feel they have to do this no matter what the risks or challenges we might throw up. i do think in a few years you're back in a situation where you're going to be having thousands of people deported to border towns. >> i'm going to ask robert this question. for republicans it has been difficult to move on the immigration for obvious reasons. there's not a lot of support for it, for a lot of republicans in their base, particularly the house with primaries coming up. do you see the prospects for stories like this moving some members on the house to at least allow john boehner to allow the senate bill up? >> i think john boehner is not going to bring up the senate bill. what you're going to see republicans do likely in 2014 do piecemeal reform from republican version of the dream act. anything more than that is really going to be a long shot.

john boehner as speaker has very limited political capital right now with the republican conference. conservatives are wary of boehner. the way he went after the tea party on the budget deal, now if he's going to try to get them to come on board on immigration, it's going to be difficult. >> talking about the state level, the idea the states may start to solve the problem him self. chris christie potentially running for president did this deal on college tuition. but the last guy who did that was a guy named rick perry. i just want to play some sound of rick perry from one of the republican debates and looking at the response he got. if we can play that sound. >> you say we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they have been brought there by no fault of their own, i don't think you have a heart. this was a state issue. texans voted on it, and i still support it greatly. [ applause ] >> you heard the boos there,

john. the idea not just a problem at the federal level, not true. even at the state level governors like christie or rick perry face a huge backlash if they try to change this as well. >> you're right. governors are handling this in a variety of ways. in arizona they are taking a very hard line on immigration, whereas places like texas and other states they have tried to find middle ground. you know, at the state level, these same kinds of fights are going on. sometimes in a much more sort of divisive manner. in congress i think a vast majority of people believe something needs to be done. what that is is the question. at the state level in a lot of state houses, people, the only thing they really want to do in some cases is try to crack down harder on illegal immigrants and not find a way to bring them in or end the problem as a whole or find some way to make it less of a difficulty for people. >> john, when you go and talk to the people in these board rooms, people in these situations, are

there advocacy groups standing in washington, people down there trying to organize, you know, at least to get these stories out and get them in front of lawmakers in washington or at the state level to try to make a difference? >> not very much, to be honest. the jesuits are one of the biggest groups working along the border with deport he's. there are some doctors that work in some places and regular folks in these border towns. but the problem for the deport he's is that once they leave the united states, as far as the united states is concerned, the government and the population, they are no longer a problem. for the mexican government, they don't want the problem. they don't really have the resources to deal with it. so they try to ignore it to a certain degree. they are, as one doctor called them invisible people. they no longer have a state to call their own really. >> so if now not having a great deal of hope at the state level and not a great deal at the congressional level, we have

seen a lot more with immigration. there are rumblings there may be further executive action and can the president do much about this problem just through his executive authority? >> he did take actions on dreamers, for instance. activists now make the case those same kinds of executive reforms should be applied more broadly to all people that are in the country so that they are no longer any more deportations. president resisted that strongly. i would be spreefd thurprised i far. pressure harder and harder. majority leader nancy pelosi came out they need to slow down or stop deportation. we may see something like that. >> john stanton, thank you for your great reporting. >> thank you. coming up, president obama considers taking further action to protect americans in a war-torn city after evacuation mission leaves four u.s. troops wounded. latest on the crisis in south sudan next. oil...or cream?

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more than a dozen americans were airlifted sunday out of a contested city in southern sudan after a mission to evacuate the group came under gunfire a day before. civil unrest is intensifying in south sudan with a rebel force taking hold of territories in the northern part of the country. on saturday three u.s. aircraft came under heavy fire while trying to reach american citizens in the city. special ops forces had to abort their mission. yesterday u.n. and u.s. leaders worked with south sudanese government and opposition to ensure safe passage for remaining americans who identified themselves. in the past week 380 americans have been moved out of south sudan as well as 300 residents of other nations. a top u.n. official said 3,000 citizens from britain, canada, kenya are still at the u.n. base. lanza went on to describe the situation in the city saying we saw some of the most horrible

things you can imagine. people lined up and executed in summary fashion. president obama left the door open to further action in south sudan sending a letter to congress reading, "as i monitor the situation in south sudan, i may take further action to support security of u.s. citizens, personnel and property including our embassy in south sudan. after the break, it's become a key focus of u.s. security and recruiting some of its members on american soil. take a look at al shabaab's home grown reach next on "now." ♪

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shabaab took the lives in the bombing. the militant group comprised of several thousand fighters lost its grip in several cities and thought by many to be in decline. the attack at westgate changed this. in the aftermath u.s. killed two senior shabaab operatives in a drone strike in october. weeks after navy s.e.a.l.s failed to capture an al shabaab leader. traveled to minneapolis to report on tactics on soil. ronin joins us to talk about his reporting. what have you got? >> reporter: on september 14th terrorist attack on a bus in kenya killed five passengers. i was on assignment in nairobi during the attack and saw the devastation firsthand. al shabaab has claimed responsibility for this attack,

too. where have these terrorist been recruiting from? closer to home than you might expect. >> this is the best place to be, honestly. >> i came from the states. >> i support jihad anywhere you can. >> reporter: this al shabaab recruiting video targets somali american community in minnesota where these young men are frcom. the al qaeda affiliated group targets america. one was this boy. he was featured in this video. >> he was an american kid. avenues very good student. he had never had any record of any problems. >> his uncle says he grew more isolated before disappearing in 2008 when his family reported him missing. in 2009 his life ended like those of many who are radicalized, killed in somalia.

>> tell me about the moment of finding out that news. >> it was very intensive moment. my sister handled that very well. i mean, you could see the pain in her face. but what she told me is finally she got some sort of closure. >> explained how extremist recruiters prey on kids' feelings of isolation. >> they assume how these young men are challenged because of lack of resources and mentorship. they become the mentors. >> he was one of 20 young men the fbi estimates were recruited from minnesota, many from this neighborhood. this is little mogadishu. in this quiet minneapolis neighborhood and others like it across minnesota, tens of thousands of somali americans go

about ordinary midwestern lives. this is also ground zero for terrorist recruitment in the united states. keith eleison, the first muslim to serve in congress, represents minneapolis and is aware of this recruitment in his community. >> they want to go to young people and say this world doesn't want you. it won't even employ you. you're being discriminated against. life is unfair. join us. you can be part of our clique. >> this test here. >> groups like this and the executive director try to provide alternatives to jihad. last year the group mentored 10,000 kids. >> we play a role, we try to engage before they think about joining gangs or al shabaab. >> tell me what it is that you are trying to prevent, what it is you fear? >> my biggest fear is really having anything happen like we've seen overseas on our american soil here. >> reporter: after a recent al shabaab attack killed more than 60 people in kenya, congress

seemed interested in the terrorist groups efforts to recruit americans. >> we need to get ahead of al shabaab's efforts to radicalize vulnerable youth. >> al shabaab demonstrated a remarkable ability to recruit somali americans. >> i'm concerned about the threat to the homeland. >> americans should be concerned. >> what more can we do to target those communities. >> mr. farrah, who received fbi director's community leadership award in 2012 testified at that hearing in october. >> how can we fight al shabaab when they have millions of dollars and you've got entities running on e pretty much. federal government is mia, missing in action. >> have you seen any follow-up? is anyone in washington taking any interest in this? >> no, i've not seen follow-up. >> former member of fbi task force investigating al shabaab believes more federal funding countering terrorist recruitment here in america would be a good investment.

>> do you agree there's a need for more resources on this issue? >> anybody who can be prevented from leaving, whether by law enforcement or community organization is one less potential future threat for the united states. >> what is the threat to america? what could happen. >> al qaeda recruitments never go away. they are watching what we do. we have momentum now. no matter what i'm afraid every night we lose the momentum. as soon as we go away, they will come back. recruitment will stop. >> ronin, lets take a step back for a moment and talk about the threat posed to the u.s. talking about the westgate attack. "however it ends, the attack will have lasting implications far beyond kenya just as the 1998 bombing of the u.s. embassy in nairobi was the opening salvo in the war on terror so this attack marks revolution of islamic away from pyrotechnics of al qaeda and towards butchery as practiced by nigeria.

does it represent an al qaeda style threat to u.s. security? >> the group formally affiliated itself with al qaeda a few years ago. it was created in response to america unseating a regime in somalia. their agenda is anti-american from its inception. they have cited america's involvement in recent attacks and they continue to threaten the un. as the quote alluded to, they are the face of a new and more vicious style of attack. i talked to first responders there the day of the grisly westgate shooting who talked about the shape bodies were in, the type of bullets used, with an aim of creating gory visuals broadcast around the world, really tearing people apart. this is something that is as brutal as anything we've seen from an al qaeda affiliate. counter-terrorism experts i spoke to said despite the threats they are not yet capable of striking on american soil. as you heard in that segment fear lingers they might be eventually.

>> not able to strike on american soil but obviously interested in recruiting inside the united states and using that fertile ground within minnesota, the somali population there being the largest in the united states, a population of 32,000. you have an organization that's still got some money to bring to bear. a 70 million to $100 million in 2011 with their income. why the focus on recruiting in the united states? >> i asked a lot of people working in the counter-terrorism arena this question, and i asked a lot of people in minnesota why they thought they were target for recruitment. one, it's among the largest somali american populations in the united states. so there are strong links between that community and folks back home in the horn of africa. part of that creates a financial link. a lot of these families send remittance payments back home to their folks. a lot of the aim of that is quite innocent, to support their families back home. however, some of those dollars end up in the hands of terrorists. >> were you able to talk to some young members of the somali community in minnesota just

about how this impacts them. are they seeing this happen to their friends? are they seeing the recruitment? are they feeling pressure to get involved because this is a link to their country back home or their parents' country? >> they are like kids anywhere else. they want a sense of community. they want a source of livelihood. in the current economy, too many of them aren't finding that. more than half the young somali americans in the twin cities that i talked to were unemployed. that means they are the most isolated and most likely to be targeted as recruiters. >> talked about hearings in okay, congress, members of congress voicing concern about this. are there practical things the government seeing able to counter this kind of recruitment? >> i do had think this is a case where we need to keep a closer eye on the threat. senator moran proposed an amendment to defense authorization act that would have called for a renewed look at the al shabaab threat. obviously amendments won't be going through due to the amount of congressional gridlock we're seeing. but that kind of a turning over

of the intelligence we have is called for. i think a renewed look at whether we need to be spending some of our counter-terrorism budget right here at home in the united states to combat recruitment is also called for. >> msnbc's ronin ferrell, thank you. >> thank you. coming up, a more positive turn and look back at another great year at "now" just ahead.

unique sar torl choices, lively panel and even some twerking. maybe not twerking. we'll bring you the best moments of 2013 next. and now my journey across the country has brought me to the lovely city of boston. cheers. and seeing as it's such a historic city, i'm sure they'll appreciate that geico's been saving people money for over 75 years. oh... dear,

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officially the deadline for americans to sign up for health insurance starting january 1st was to expire tonight at midnight. the white house just announced an extension to that deadline by

one day. those that select the plan through tomorrow will still be eligible for coverage january 1st. julia, i've got to get your take because you did some coverage. >> they did this quietly without telling anybody they changed the computer system so people who sign up as of before midnight east coast time tomorrow will be able to get insurance starting january 1st. insurers are a little upset about it. it's another move that's happened without any heads up and it shows you how much the white house wants to boost those enrollment numbers and make the law work. >> they will get the numbers even though republicans go ballistic. the team could not let 2013 come to a close without giving that report but also without reliving some of the most memorable moments of the show over the last 12 months. here is a look back on 2013 on "now." >> and thank you to my -- i almost said my favorite panel. in trouble. my friends. my friends. >> joining us now to give us the

straight dope diehard kanye west fan nbc's luke russert. i say that, my friend, because we couldn't play the actual track. >> you won't pay the money for the royalties. >> are we going to do the big cat? lets show americans the big cat. the boy wonder on buzz feed. former deputy white house press secretary, executive vice president global strategy group and former obama money bunny, the man with a very long title, bit burton. >> a lot of hats. >> a lot of hats. >> got their own mugs and everything. >> very personalized. >> you made it, girl. >> do we get to keep the mugs? >> you do get to keep the mugs. >> do i get to come back? >> you're invited back. you get to keep the commemorative cup. >> "now" alex wagner leading the

conversation. >> invited back. >> my friend, i'm really happy to see the hat is back. >> thank you. >> i have to say i never knew -- i don't expect it but i'm happy to see it. >> it's at home. i wear it in my home. >> you and i love exchanging compliments with one another. >> you look fantastic. >> you're beautiful. lets be honest, true. >> you're hot. >> sam, awfully quiet. >> this is my ho ho no. >> that is a fetching color for you, chairman. >> thank you. ho ho hey. >> i don't think you're talking about miley. were you? >> we were. i guess i'm google to cancel twerking segment. >> in a commercial break i'm going to come out and check out your twerking, see if your up to snuff. >> for the record i was pulling for miley cyrus in every meeting. >> you were ready to twerk. >> i would tweet my own twerk. i was planning on it. >> thank you for having me. you're right upstairs, downstairs like the brady bunch.

>> television magic. >> only in america. >> we'll pretend you're on capitol hill right now. >> we'll have more for that on you next more for you on that. there's more. >> i've made a name for myself with my pronunciation challenged meeting. >> i'll see you here tomorrow, not tomorrow, i'm making words up. monday. monday. >> vice president. i can mess it up because you're my friend. coming up, he brought us oops. his goal is -- oops. i'm having an oops moment. >> file it under endoctrination texts. endoctrination texts. >> they tried to replace me with a robot but i have stood firm. i'm not a psychiatrist but i play one on television. >> i brought in professional consultants. >> >> you sound bullish on immigration reform.

>> i actually think we have a 55% chance to pass. >> bullish. >> slightly bullish. >> fabulous t-shirt. >> i need a huge xerox. >> i have to get to the cookbook. if you cook, what is the thing you cook? >> i have an apron i put on. i have to take off the ring. >> any time you want to cook for me 2chainz. >> in 1979 a young player named magic johnson from michigan state, the young player from indiana state played larry byrd. >> i went to penn, i was in the stands in 1979, we lost 103-69. >> i was the last person in my family to get a masters. people are like congrats. no, i'm actually the underachiever in my family. >> eva, i don't have a masters degree but i hope one day your family will accept me. >> "dancing with the stars," which is something -- i'm ready

to do it if anybody wants to offer the invite. apparently you have a comedy album. is it called "out-of-bounds." i was in a sketch comedy group although i'm entirely unfunny in college called out-of-bounds. >> which came first, alex. >> that's a good question we won't reveal on national television. >> i understand why you couldn't have me and eric bannon on the same panel, too much male magnetism. >> too much hand some in one certain square footage. it's true. we have to make the tough calls sometimes. >> on that note, #uncomfort annual for everybody. >> thank you alex wagner for. name of your program is "now." thanks, alex wagner, a pro at this discussion. i must say you're dead right on everything you said. i'm so glad you're here. >> not just -- >> maybe you're right, i don't think so. thanks, alex wagner, sometimes right. >> chris matthews a national treasure. >> u.n. security council, had

translation like -- people would be furious. i have to ask expert sports journalist you, who wins tour de france first, sam or star. >> money on starr. >> you know what, i'm going to pay sam to ride for me. >> according to jerusalem post, ben smith is the 28th most important vow in the world. >> thanks for mentioning that on the air. >> you're welcome. it's a big title. >> action wrapping up on this show. i forgot we had to end it. >> check please. >> thanks to my rockets panel. >> ezra klein thank you for the wisdom on financial services industry and symbiotic skill of expressing in that fashion. >> you're blanking welcome, alex. >> before we let you go, standing in the place you're most comfortable, a high school cafeteria.

i had to -- >> what? >> i'm sorry. it's not that i don't love you. >> alex, alex, i ate a refectory not a cafeteria to remind you. >> to quote michael steele, ho ho hey. it's the end of the year. anybody final thoughts favorite moments of the year. >> covering the show a great moment, republicans in disarray a fun two weeks. >> republicans get the last word. take that msnbc. thanks so much to everybody. that's all for "now." i'll see you tonight at 5:00 p.m. eastern when i'm hosting ed show. reports with kristen welker in for andrea next. what if we could keep enough plastic waste to cover mt. rainier

out of landfills each year? by using one less trash bag each month, we can. and glad forceflex bags stretch until they're full.* so you can take them out less often.

right now on "andrea mitchell reports," exchange rate, facing the deadline to enroll in obama care exchanges

and have coverage on january 1st. consumers are checking health care off their christmas list. the chief concern for the administration and insurance companies, who is enrolling. >> if we don't get those young healthy people into the system, that could cause problems for everybody else buying insurance. >> political prognosis, success or failure of the health care law will have ripple effects sure to be felt on capitol hill. >> do you think that obama care will be a major factor in determining the success of democrats in 2014. >> i'm very close to our democrats who are up right now. even the republicans who are my friends. they are using that. they think that's a great advantage they have. the democrats right now are feeling the weight of it. >> surveillance stalemate. lawmakers are split on what changes need to be made to nsa programs ahead of the president's january announcement. we'll talk