inequality, give it definition coming up here in 2014. that's "the ed show." i'm ed schultz. "politicsnation" with reverend al sharpton starts right now. good evening, rev. >> good evening, ed. and thanks to you for tuning. in breaking news. we are expecting in this hour a key vote in the senate. it's the senate's first major test of 2014. a key vote to extend unemployment benefits for over a million people. families have been cut off for more than a week after republicans left for the holidays instead of fixing this. tonight the senate is back, and democrats aren't wasting time. this bill restores benefits to 1.3 million long-term unemployed americans. it includes retroactive benefits dating to december 28th when they were first cut off. it provides benefits for three months buying congress time to

create a longer fix. it all adds up to an economic lifeline for families feeling the pain across this country. >> i'm in a panic. i don't know what i'm going to do. >> i have bills to pay, and now i have no way to pay them. >> i've worked since i've been 13. i'm 72. i've always had a job. it's not a matter of being unfair. i just think the system doesn't accommodate people that are going through transitions. >> we've been struggling for the last almost year and a half, trying to just make everyday bills. >> you go from daddy i want to daddy knows you need. >> this bill is sorely needed. but the gop doesn't get it. senator rand paul's been out there saying it weakens the country. and it's a disservice to workers. here is the democratic response.

>> most of the people i meet who are on unemployment are people who have had jobs for 25 years, lost them, and they've been knocking on doors every week. i think it's a little insulting, a bit insulting to american workers when rand paul says that unemployment insurance is a disservice. they want to work. >> it is insulting. and you know what else is insulting? now they're saying this. >> i am opposed to having it without paying for it. i think it's wrong to borrow money from china. >> demanding spending cuts to help americans in need? wrong again. president bush extended jobless aid five times. and not once, not once did republicans demand offsetting cuts in return. this isn't about offsets. it's about right wing agenda that would rather play politics than help american families.

an ideology that says that if you're out of work, you're out of luck. five republican votes are needed to move this bill forward tonight. it's not clear if the votes are there. but no matter what happens tonight, the president is vowing to hold republicans' feet to the fire, starting with a big event tomorrow. his argument is simple. we're a better country than that. and tonight the senate has a chance to prove it. joining me now are democratic congressman emanuel cleaver from missouri and salon.com's joan walsh. thank you both for copping on the show. >> thanks, reverend. >> good to be with you, reverend. >> congressman cleaver, as we get ready for this vote, some on the right are saying unemployment insurance is a disservice. it's a disincentive. what is your response? >> it's disingenuous for them to even say that. i think a little mean-spirited.

look, that old liberal george bush, as you mentioned earlier, did it five times, in 2008 at the beginning of the recession. george bush, the old liberal believed that it was necessary to help americans who were going to experience long-term unemployment. and he did the right thing. unfortunately, we have a lot of people elected, in elective office who are not willing to help those in trouble. the recovery has been good for wall street. 1% of the american public has benefitted or had 95% of the recovery. 95% of the public has had no recovery at all. this is absolutely necessary. and the failure to do so i think is vulgar. >> now joan, this vote today, tonight, maybe within the next hour is just so that we can get to an up-and-down vote. >> right. >> what happens with the change

in the senate? i thought we had gotten past being able to have them roadblock things like this? >> well, not when it comes to legislation, reverend al. so they still have that power in place. harry reid might want to consider doing something than too. >> so you still need 60 votes on policy questions like this? >> yeah. it was for appointments that they changed the rules. >> right. >> so what is going on now is such a picture of the radicalization of the republican party. because as both of you have said, this was done as a matter of course under george w. bush. it was a bipartisan fix when the economy was tough. and as congressman cleaver says, this is a very, very uneven recovery. great for wall street. great for the top 1%, but really we still have persistent long-term unemployment. and really, the only time that we tend to cut these benefits back is when the number of long-term unemployed begins to fall. the economy is really starts to absorb more long-term workers.

the economy is that good. we never do this. and we also are in a time when the deficit is falling faster than at any time since world war ii. so it's completely disingenuous to say this is a budgetary necessity. >> you know, congressman, you said liberal george bush, and i know you were being facetious. but tea party members, some of them probably do consider him liberal. two weeks ago rand paul notoriously said extending jobless aid does a disservice to workers. now he is saying it's a disincentive. you listen to him, though. >> i'm not against having unemployment insurance. i do think, though, that the longer you have it, that it does provide some disincentive to work. >> now you have constituents. you have been in congress. you have been the mayor there in kansas city, and you pastor the church. in your experience with people

that have been long-term unemployed, that giving them aid is a disincentive? >> it is frustrating for many of them to receive aid because they are people who have been working on jobs. and many of them are struggling. they'll come to church, for example, and pray. when they receive unemployment benefits, they're receiving only about 47% of what they were earning. and that's only for a limited period of time when they receive the state payments. and most of those people are embarrassed and are wanting to do something. now senator paul knows better than that. he is from kentucky. a very poor state. in 1966, your former boss, rev, wrote a song called "say it loud, i'm black and i'm proud." i'm writing on a song now that i hope senator paul and others will sing. it's called say it loud, i'm stingy and i'm stuck, because i think that that's exactly what is going on here. >> i would love to see who makes the melody on that one.

>> let's work on that. >> but let me get back to policy with you, joan. extending unemployment benefits, you talked about how we have the deficit dropping. but the other part of this is that it actually would help the economy. >> yeah. >> it would create 200,000 jobs this year by boosting consumer demand. and not extending benefits really weakens the economy and costs 300,000 jobs. >> right. it actually does in the end more than pay for itself with its stimulative effects on the economy, reverend al. and that's why traditionally this is a measure that has been accepted by both parties. but it's really odd. i mean, my colleague brian boitler, this is not my idea. he suggested today they're happy to hurt the economy. they're happy to hurt the economy under barack obama. they're not rooting for a strong recovery. they refuse to see what is necessary. and they are going to, just like

their phony shutdown cost $24 billion, it took $24 billion out of the economy, this is going to take several billion out of the economy and shave points off the gdp. so it's really so stupid in so many different ways. i also want to add the economist, there is an economist that rand paul sites who has sueded the effect of long-term unemployment insurance. and this guy has come out and said please stop using my work, because that's not what i found. it's not a disincentive as congressman cleaver says. people are looking for work nonetheless. they just can't find it. >> congressman cleaver, even if we get by the vote within the hour, and we get up-and-down vote and we're able to find five republican votes and get out of the senate, it heads to the house. and it already looks like house kbop memb gop members are getting ready to block. tom cole said i think it's going

to be a pretty tough sell. what is your response to, that and what is your prediction if it gets to the house, what's going to happen? >> well, i can tell you that nancy pelosi and steny hoyer will be pushing speaker boehner to bring this to a vote. now there is an opportunity here for the republicans to demonstrate their willingness to help those who are hurting, those who are struggling. my fear is that it will never be brought to a vote. i am convinced, however, that if it is brought to a vote because of the november elections, only a few months away, i think many of the republicans will vote for it. because many of them are representing poor districts, poor people are struggling and need jobs, and we have a chance to help them. >> so the challenge is to get a vote? >> we got to get a vote. because the people out in the country are hurting. and the only way they're going to get help is to put pressure on congress. if congress was serious about

trying to create jobs, they would pass a transportation bill. >> all right, congressman emanuel cleaver and joan walsh. thank you both for your time. and we'll be -- we'll continue to watch the vote in the senate. and if we get that vote to the house, congressman, you might want to go on the floor given november election as you mentioned. playing another james brown tune called "the big payback." coming up, the year of action on fighting inequality on the minimum wage, on unemployment, on fairness. new details today on the effort coming from the left. and a big report out today on the koch brothers' massive donor network. we'll tell you what it means for president obama's agenda. plus, the republican national committee is delaying its annual meeting, and you will not believe why. and remembering the doctor who saved martin luther king

jr.'s life and saved history. stay with us. [ male announcer ] this is the story of the little room over the pizza place on chestnut street the modest first floor bedroom in tallinn, estonia and the southbound bus barreling down i-95. ♪ this magic moment it is the story of where every great idea begins. and of those who believed they had the power to do more. dell is honored to be part of some of the world's great stories. that began much the same way ours did. in a little dorm room -- 2713. ♪ this magic moment ♪

♪ this magic moment i'm bethand i'm michelle. and we own the paper cottage. it's a stationery and gifts store. anything we purchase for the paper cottage goes on our ink card. so you can manage your business expenses and access them online instantly with the game changing app from ink. we didn't get into business to spend time managing receipts, that's why we have ink. we like being in business because we like being creative, we like interacting with people. so you have time to focus on the things you love. ink from chase. so you can. peoi go to angie's listt for all kinds of reasons. to gauge whether or not the projects will be done in a timely fashion and within budget.

angie's list members can tell you which provider is the best in town. you'll find reviews on everything from home repair to healthcare. now that we're expecting, i like the fact i can go onto angie's list and look for pediatricians. the service providers that i've found on angie's list actually have blown me away. find out why more than two million members count on angie's list. angie's list -- reviews you can trust. there are new details about the vast conservative network backed by the billionaire koch brothers. that is committed to opposing president obama's agenda.

"the washington post" reports today on the huge political network. charles and david koch have built, and the complicated ways that supporters are hidden from public view. the network of 17 conservative groups the kochs raised $407 million in 2012. it's not clear how much money came from the kochs themselves. to be sure, groups on the left, particularly unions, raise a lot of money too. but the post says the koch network uses a system of, quote, unrivaled complexity to move money around. and the groups that get this funding go after democratic candidates and policies. >> tell senator shaheen it's time to be honest. obama care doesn't work.

>> it took the federal government more time to build a website than it took from the time when pearl harbor was attacked to the day germany surrendered in world war ii. why aren't we surprised? government-run health care doesn't work. >> and the creepy uncle sam ads are just the beginning in this election year. the conservative network will be very active. will democrats be ready to respond? joining me now is lisa graves, the executive director of the center for media and democracy and democratic strategist jamal simmons. thank you both for being here. >> happy new year. >> thanks for having us on. >> first, let me say we reached out to the koch brothers for comment today, and invited them to appear on the show. but we have not gotten a response back yet. lisa, what is important about

this post report? >> i think this is one of the most important stories i've seen in a long time. this is about a group that americans never heard of during the 2012 elections. and yet freedom partners and its allied groups basically spent $400 million during that election year primarily. and a lot of that is on the top of ads, the type of smear ads that you showed at the beginning of this segment. and i think when you see this, you see how the koch brothers and their cronies at these events where they're urging people to spend money on these sorts of operations are having a huge impact on our elections, are trying to influence the outcome of our elections through these ads. and yet the american people have no idea who the people are besides the kochs who are behind tease campaigns. i think it shows how our campaign finance is broken and i think it warrants a congressional investigation into how we can better protect the integrity of our elections from these type of shell corporations and shell games. >> now, when we say, that let me

read, lisa and jamal, the koch brothers gave a statement to "the washington post" about this story. their spokesman said, and i'm quoting, koch s involvement in political and policy activities is at the core of fundamental liberties protected by the first amendment to the united states constitution. this type of activity is undertaken by individual donors and organizations on all ends of the political spectrum. koch has been targeted repeatedly in the past by the administration, and its allies because of a real or in some cases perceived beliefs and activities concerning public policies and political issues. so lisa, they're saying, expressing themselves. they have a first amendment right. to do so. you're not saying that they're doing anything illegal here, and you're not saying they're violating anything here, are you? >> what i'm saying is that this

is an issue where the american people have a right to know more about who is trying to influence their elections. we have 40 years of law that was basically destroyed in part by an activist supreme court in the citizens united decision that has created a sort of wild west in the world of the so-called issue ads influencing our elections. i think the american people have a right to know who is behind ads like this that are clearly designed and timed to impact our election. and while they want to talk about their first amendment rights, i think the american people have the right to having integrity in our elections. congress has a right to investigate whether there is any civil or criminal violations. and i'm not suggesting that there are. congress has a right to investigate. and in fact in california where they investigated one of these groups, they did issue one of the biggest fines in the history of the country, a million fine to settle a case against the cppr group and one of its cohorts. >> jamal, we know since the citizens united decision, it opened the door for lots of money on all sides to be in the

political process. as a strategist, how does that change things, and what does that do in terms of voters? how does it change the whole voting and political process as we know it with all of this money now in play? >> you know, rev, the old system was bad enough when we had soft money and you could put all the corporate or individual big dollars. in we were transferring away from politicians and giving it to these people, these big bundlers and people who were able to raise it. this is even worse, because not even if is there a greater amount of money in the system, but now we don't even know who the people are who are raising it and giving it. we're removing any kind of accountability from these folks. it's going to be tougher from voters to know who they're combatting and for politicians to know who they're combatting until years later when all this stuff sifts out. what happens for democrats is the one note of strength here is that because the groups can't talk to the candidates, you have messages that are diffuse.

we don't know who is saying what and they don't know what week to put on which message. when you raise all the money inside of a campaign or inside of coordinated committees. you can go out and campaign in a much more structured way. and that's how president obama was able to beat these kinds of groups in the last election. >> now, you know, when you look at it, lisa, money or big money attracts big money, because "the washington post" spoke to one man who says he gave $100,000 a year to the koch efforts. he said, quote, they are pretty soft-spoken, not screamers or screechers. they provide the leadership, the staff without the framework. i wouldn't do it on my own. so even though all this money isn't coming from the koch brothers directly, how central are they to this, lisa? >> well, i think it's quite clear that they play a crucial role in this. though as you point out they're not the only funder of this network of groups. in fact, one of the right hadn't

man of charles koch, richard fink is on the board of freedom partners. mark short, who has been designated in the press as one of the guys that helps the money that is gathered at these koch events get spent and distributed is one of the leaders of freedom partners. when we took a look at the number of known staffers or freedom partners, we found a number of people who were connected to the kochs, worked for koch operations or for koch foundations, and were part of the koch effort to change our law and change our country. that's their vision is how to change our democracy in ways that fit their mold. and they have a bunch of donors like the doaner from chicago quoted in the story. >> right. >> who are along with them. i would call them chronis. >> we'll have to leave it there. we're going to keep watching the story. but i'm out of time for this segment. thank you both for your time tonight. >> thank you. >> thank you. breaking news from the senate. just moments ago, majority

leader harry reid delayed that critical test vote on extending jobless benefits. that vote is now set for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. at stake is unemployment benefits for 3.1 million americans. many senators were absent tonight due to travel problems connected with the weather. ahead, senator marco rubio's plans to address what he calls a failed war on poverty. this should be interesting. but president obama and the democrats have a real plan of attack on income inequality. and the fight is about to be on. stay with us. [ female announcer ] who are we?

we are the thinkers. the job jugglers. the up all-nighters. and the ones who turn ideas into action. we've made our passions our life's work. we strive for the moments where we can say, "i did it!" ♪ we are entrepreneurs who started it all... with a signature. legalzoom has helped start over 1 million businesses, turning dreamers into business owners. and we're here to help start yours.

[ chainsaw whirring ] humans -- sometimes life trips us up. sometimes we trip ourselves up. and although the mistakes may seem to just keep coming at you,

so do the solutions. like multi-policy discounts from liberty mutual insurance. save up to 10% just for combining your auto and home insurance. call liberty mutual insurance at... [ thump ] to speak with an insurance expert and ask about all the personalized savings available for when you get married, move into a new house, or add a car to your policy. personalized coverage and savings. all the things humans need to make our world a little less imperfect. call... and ask about all the ways you could save. liberty mutual insurance. responsibility. what's your policy? president obama and democrats are focused on making this a country that works for everyone.

>> the idea that a child may never be able to escape that poverty because she lacks a decent education or health care, that should offend all of us. and it should compel us to action. we are a better country than this. >> the year of action starts tonight. that's next. [ fishing rod casting line, marching band playing ] [ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat? campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. [ m'm... ] great taste. [ tapping ] sounds good.

campbell's healthy request. m'm! m'm! good.® campbell's healthy request. and it feels like your lifeate revolves around your symptoms, ask your gastroenterologist about humira adalimumab. humira has been proven to work for adults who have tried other medications but still experience the symptoms of moderate to severe crohn's disease. in clinical studies, the majority of patients on humira saw significant symptom relief, and many achieved remission. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, have happened. blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira, your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. ask your gastroenterologist about humira today.

remission is possible. they're about 10 times softer and may have surface pores where bacteria can multiply. polident kills 99.99% of odor causing bacteria and helps dissolve stains. that's why i recommend polident. [ male announcer ] cleaner, fresher, brighter every day.

we're just six days into the new year, but already the obama administration is getting down to business. just minutes ago, the senate confirmed the first woman fed chair in its 100-year history. janet yellin is a pick who is deeply concerned about fixing this country's unemployment. that makes her perfect for this white house. we have learned that president obama will make income inequality front and center during his state of the union address later this month.

and his democratic allies are on board. they're pushing legislation to raise the minimum wage above $10. they're all focused on making this a country that works for everyone. not just the 1%. now more than ever, the battle is worth fighting. this week we'll celebrate 50 years since the war on poverty began. there is still much to be done, but because of government policies, millions have been kept afloat. that's important. but to the gop, it's a waste. >> after 50 years, isn't it time to declare big government's war on poverty a failure. instead of continuing to borrow and spend trillions of dollars on government programs that don't work, what our nation needs is a real agenda. >> a real agenda? here is the gop's real agenda. it's called do nothing.

"the new york times" reports the do nothing congress is preparing to do even less, and plans to be in session just 97 days before election day that is unacceptable. and the president knows it. >> 2014 needs to be a year of action. we've got to build on the progress we have painstakingly made over these last five years with respect to our economy and offer the middle class and all those who are looking to join the middle class a better opportunity. and that's going to be where i focus all of my efforts in the year ahead. >> a year of action. and democrats are ready for the fight. joining me now are chrystkri kr and ryan grim. thanks for coming on the show. krystal, let me start with you. how does the president battle this do nothing congress in order to settle his agenda?

97 days between now and november's election? how do you battle this do-nothing congress? >> i think they're making moves in the right direction, because i do think that people are looking around as the economy starts to recover, and we have better signs that consumer confidence is up. gdp growth is up. unemployment rate is coming down. they're sort of picking their heads up and looking around and saying what kind of a country do we want to live in. because even though the economy is recovering, and it's doing great for some, we also see that a majority of the jobs created out of this recovery have been low-wage jobs. i think the president's message is right on the pulse of what americans are thinking about right now. pushing not just a minimum wage increase, but pushing the sort of policies that are going to create an america where everyone can succeed, where everyone has the chance to succeed, which is really what the american dream is all about. >> now, ryan, you know the democrats as i said, are talking about fighting for minimum wage above $10 an hour. the last time democrats ran on

raising the minimum wage, it was in 2006. that year they gained 30 house seats. so if they run on minimum wage this year, does that standard to say that it's very possible this could give them what they need in terms of trying to get it some traction to gain some seats, they only need 17 to take the majority of the house. >> it certainly plays to democrats strength and it plays against republican weakness, which is they don't care about the less fortunate. so making republicans come out publicly and oppose raising the minimum wage makes them look callous, and that plays into the narrative the people already have about the particularly house republicans. but senate republicans too. that certainly could work. and you're seeing a resonance around the minimum wage that you haven't seen in a very long

time. for four for or five years, huff post has been covering these economic issues, dedicating a couple of reporters solely to those. and we've never seen readers react to stories the way they are to the minimum wage stories that we're running now. it's orders of magnitude in terms of the reaction to them. something is going on out there where people are focused on this issue in a way that they haven't been. and i think marco rubio even having to address the issue of inequality, which he called immobility, but whatever, welcome to the conversation. just the fact that he had to address it shows that this is something that the gop cannot avoid. >> that's right. >> but you know, krystal, they never cease to amaze me, because there is a new right wing argument is that all this talk about inequality and the economy is a distraction. listen to this. >> he does not want to talk about obamacare. the president does not want to

talk about it. the democrats do not want to talk about it. therefore income equality, minimum wage, et cetera, et cetera. >> this is first and foremost an attempt to pivot away from something that is incredibly damaging to the administration, the so-called affordable care act in talking about raising the minimum wage and which doesn't affect a lot of american workers. >> so the fact that workers are only getting $7.25 now, the fact that 1.3 million have lost their benefits for unemployment. despite the fact you have this huge gap, that's just a distraction. >> right. >> it's health care that they really ought to be talking about so we can keep trying to demonize and denigrate that. i mean, is this something they don't get here? they're not listening to their own constituents? >> well, and it's funny, because i seem to recall the president giving quite a few speeches on health care and urging people to sign up and explaining to people the benefits of the law and what they need to do to get involved.

so i don't see any democrats really trying to shift the conversation away from obamacare. they want people to sign up. they want the law to work well. on the other hand, we can't ignore the fact that we have the worst inequality in this country that we have had since the '20s, since right before the crash and the great depression that is central to the conversation now. it's central to the future of this country. and i think that it's ultimately the thing that the president in my reading of him is really most passionate about dealing with actually health care as a piece of that conversation in alleviating inequality. >> you know, ryan, i want to go back to something that i mentioned in the introduction. the war on poverty. michael thomasski in the daily beast writes it's high time to say the war on poverty was a success, a wild success. indeed, by nearly every meaningful measure. but no one thinks so. and a big part of the reason is

that most democrats are afraid to say so. they damn well better stop. what do you say to that, ryan? i agree with them, i want you to know that it was success. i grew up around a lot of that. and i can tell you it was a success. >> you know, and the legislative boost for the war on poverty kind of started when rfk went, the rich guy from the northeast went and toured parts of the south and was just stunned by -- exactly, was stunned by what he saw. now lbj wasn't as stunned because he kind of grew up in that in west texas. but we still have problems in this country, and there is still a lot we need to do. but that type of deep and widespread abject poverty has been to a decent extent erad wa

eradicated by the war on poverty. the things rfk and jfk saw, we don't really have that anymore. >> krystal ball, ryan grim, thank you both for your time. >> thanks. >> thank you. >> be sure to catch krystal on "the cycle" weekdays at 3:00 p.m. eastern right here on msnbc. ahead, republicans begin the new year by going back to their old playbook, the culture wars from abortion to gay marriage, they're back. and remembering a man who saved dr. king's life and history. ♪ [ male announcer ] what kind of energy is so abundant, it can help provide the power for all this? natural gas. ♪ more than ever before, america's electricity is generated by it. exxonmobil uses advanced visualization and drilling technologies to produce natural gas... powering our lives... while reducing emissions by up to 60%. energy lives here.

♪ suddenly you're a mouth breather. a mouth breather! how do you sleep like that? you dry up, your cold feels even worse. well, put on a breathe right strip and shut your mouth. cold medicines open your nose over time, but add a breathe right strip, and pow! it instantly opens your nose up to 38% more so you can breathe and do the one thing you want to do. sleep. add breathe right to your cold medicine. shut your mouth and sleep right. breathe right.

i have a big meeting when we land, but i am so stuffed up, i can't rest. [ male announcer ] nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? alka seltzer plus night fights your worst cold symptoms, plus has a decongestant. [ inhales deeply ] oh. what a relief it is. we're gonna be late. ♪ ♪ ♪ oh are we early? [ male announcer ] commute your way with the bold, all-new nissan rogue.

♪ there's nothing like being your own boss! and my customers are really liking your flat rate shipping. fedex one rate. really makes my life easier. maybe a promotion is in order. good news. i got a new title. and a raise? management couldn't make that happen. [ male announcer ] introducing fedex one rate. simple, flat rate shipping with the reliability of fedex.

right wingers have kicked off the new year by going back to their old playbook, using the culture wars to fire up the base on issues like abortion, birth control, and gay rights. in washington, the republican national committee is delaying its annual meeting, just so members can participate in the anti-abortion movement's so-called march for life. out in utah where gay marriage is being argued in the courts, conservatives are warning against the scary homosexual agenda. >> the people of utah have rights too, not just the homosexuals. the homosexuals are shoving their agenda down our throats. the way you take back freedom in america is one county at a time. the sheriffs need to defend the

county clerks in saying no, we're not going to issue marriage licenses to homosexuals. >> and over on fox news, they're trying to claim that obama care's birth control coverage is somehow an attack on religious freedom. >> the battle over the obama care contraception mandate hitting religious groups. this are crippling finds, which really are taxes that would be leveed against your church. >> the obama administration decided to hassle nuns a little more. they have gone after the sisters of the poor. >> yeah. >> is this part of a larger trend for the administration having contempt for people's religious faith? >> so now affordable health care is a war on religion? give me a break. this is the same old stuff right wingers have been trotting out for years. attacking women, gays, and basically anyone else who doesn't agree with them. joining me now is elizabeth

plank, and msnbc contributor victoria soto. thank you both for joining me. >> thanks, rev. >> so elizabeth, now reince priebus is delaying the rnc's big meeting so folks can establish their anti-abortion credentials. are you surprised? >> i am surprised. i mean, i actually attended the march for life three years ago in 2010. not as a proponent, but as a protester. and what i saw there was very aggressive protesting, i actually a little bit feared for my life which was quite ironic. >> fear for your life why? >> because people were so aggressive. protesters were so radical. it's interesting to see these same radical people being able to convince really prominent republicans to basically side with them on an issue that is extremely anti-women. >> you know, victoria, they have wrapped up the attacks on abortion rights of the

republicans have on a state level. between 2011 and 2013, they passed 205 laws from 2001 to 2010, 189 laws were passed. republicans have passed more anti-choice laws in the past three years than in the prior decade. they've really ramped this up, victoria. >> they have. and what is worrisome here, reverend, is not just that choice is being chipped away at, but all the collateral damage that results from going after abortion providers. let's take texas, my home state, for example, where texas, in an effort to curb the access to abortion clinics, took away state money from planned parenthood. yes, planned parenthood would provide abortion access, but it also provided a litany of other services. and who does this impact disproportionately? poor women. and we're seeing a very serious impact with latinos in the south of the state where a number of clinics have had to close.

so it's not just the issue of abortion. it's health care in general. >> now, elizabeth, republicans have passed anti-choice legislation, and right wingers claimed there is no war on women. in fact, they claim there is a war on men. check outfox news. >> well, our next guest warns against a crisis of manhood in america. >> you have you to stand up for yourself. are you worried at all, because "duck dynasty" guys, they endorsed your book. they wrote the forward. are you worried about the fem nicing of men in our society? >> yeah, i think that's an issue. >> your response, is there a war on men? >> you cannot be a victim of equality. you can be a victim of inequality. and i think men in this country are not oppressed, and when you liberate a woman, you actually liberate a man too. everyone benefits from equality. so it's really sad to see that kind of spin on fox news being taken when quality is really good for everyone.

>> this is going to continue to ramp up, victoria. political reports that social conservatives want to intensify their efforts in 2014. plans include aggressive spending in primaries against republicans deemed squishy on social issues, and elevating social issues like abortion and gay marriage in conservative politics. it's going to get a little ugly this year, victoria. >> it absolutely, reverend. what we're seeing is the gop doubling down on the strategy of the culture war, the war on women. and this isn't a good strategy in order to appeal to a broad electoral base. we saw that it failed in 2012 in trying to get the white house. we saw that it failed in 2012 with the senate bids. even in tuition with gubernatorial races that being said, we know that it can work for some republicans in terms of mobilizing the base, because in 2014, all of the house of representatives is up for election.

and because of all the gerrymandering in place, especially in 2010 with the tea party nation, we know there is very deeply red districts. and the culture war, regrettably is something that can really mobilize the base. they've put their chips down on this. >> now, does this mean, elizabeth, that the democrats want to ramp up and are you hearing from the democratic side or the liberal side in answering this that is out there particularly in trying to get states to change the laws? >> i think it's very clear that most americans actually are not in line with this very radical marginalized perspective that the republicans have taken. if you look at birth control, 99% of women at some point in their lives who are sexually active have used birth control. it's the same thing with abortion.

3/4 of americans believe in abortion, at least in certain instances. the viewpoint that the republicans are taking is not in line with what most americans believe. >> do you feel, victoria, that the political outcomes in various states could hinge on these culture issues? >> i do. because of that mobilization issue. ironically enough, with the issue of abortion, we see here in texas that men are more anti-choice than women are. so it's very much an issue that is being driven by a broader political agenda, not necessarily looking out what is best for women, but what is the most strategic way to get at the 2014 election. >> well, we're going to have to leave it there. i keep saying they're going to change. we're still waiting. elizabeth plank and victoria soto, thank you both for your time tonight. >> thank you, reverend. >> thanks, reverend. coming up, why is

congressman steve stockman scrubbing his web page? he gets the gotcha endorsement, next. and years before the dream speech, martin luther king jr. was nearly stabbed to death. tonight we remember the last surviving surgeon who saved his life and saved history. [ male announcer ] this is the story of the dusty basement at 1406 35th street the old dining table at 25th and hoffman. ...and the little room above the strip mall off roble avenue. ♪ this magic moment it is the story of where every great idea begins. and of those who believed they had the power to do more. dell is honored to be part of some of the world's great stories. that began much the same way ours did. in a little dorm room -- 2713. ♪ this magic moment ♪

we have an update on steve

stockman's consent campaign. he is the far right texas congressman challenging senator john cornyn in the primary. he is also the guy who invited the infamous rodeo clown in a president obama mask to texas. and the guy who handed out an impeach president obama book to every member of congress. so why is he scrubbing his website? it was touting some strong endorsements like the national rifle association and conservative activist howard phillips, along with 12 other groups. but there is just one little problem. many didn't actually endorse him in this race. stockman's website listed as, quote, past and present endorsement. but in this race, it turns out the nra endorsed his opponent and "the washington post"

reports conservative activist phillips passed away months before stockman even entered the race. and at least seven of the 12 groups also didn't endorse him. so this is what his endorsement page looks like now. maybe they should add this guy to the site. how is that for ringing endorsement? or maybe he'll surprise us all, scrub himself from his own website. congressman stockman, did you think we wouldn't notice your texas-sized scrubbing? nice try, but put this one on your site. we got you. yes! well, i found this new thing called... [ dennis' voice ] allstate quickfoto claim. [ normal voice ] it's an app. you understand that? just take photos of the damage with your phone and upload them to allstate. really? so you get [dennis' voice] a quicker estimate, quicker payment, [normal voice] quicker back to normal. i just did it. but maybe you can find an app

that will help you explain this to your...father. [ vehicle approaches ] [ dennis ] introducing quickfoto claim. just another way allstate is changing car insurance for good. before those little pieces would get in between my dentures and my gum and it was uncomfortable. [ male announcer ] just a few dabs is clinically proven to seal out more food particles. [ corrine ] super poligrip is part of my life now. if you have a business idea, we have a personalized legal solution that's right for you. with easy step-by-step guidance, we're here to help you turn your dream into a reality. start your business today with legalzoom. we're here to help you turn your dream into a reality. those little cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment is right. cialis is also the only daily ed tablet approved to treat symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess.

side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or any allergic reactions like rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a free 30-tablet trial. [ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat? campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. [ m'm... ] great taste. [ tapping ] sounds good. campbell's healthy request. m'm! m'm! good.® finally tonight, remembering the man who saved the life of reverend dr. martin luther king jr. dr. john cordis was the last

surviving surgeon that was part of the team that saved dr. king from a nearly fatal stab wound in 1958. cordis was offduty in brooklyn when he was told to rush to a harlem hospital to treat an important person suffering from a life-threatening injury. that person was dr. king, stabbed by a letter opener from a mentally disturbed woman while he was at a book signing. the blade missed his aorta by millimeters, and doctors say even a sneeze would have killed him. years later, dr. king talked about that in his last public speech before his assassination. >> if i had sneezed, i wouldn't have been here in 1963. the black people of birmingham, alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation and brought in to being the civil rights field. if i had sneezed, i wouldn't

have had a chance later that year in august to try to tell america about a dream that i had had, if i had sneezed. >> a moment that changed the course of history. if dr. cordis hadn't saved dr. king's life that day, we might never have seen that march from selma to montgomery. we might never have read that letter from birmingham jail. we might never have heard dr. king's dream. dr. cordis saved a life, and he helped save the soul of america. he passed away last week. he was 94 years old. two doctors, one doctor answered the call from brooklyn to go to harlem hospital to save a patient. another to answer the call in birmingham, in selma, in memphis. they just were doing their job. sometimes when you just do your

job, you do great things. that's our challenge for 2014. it's our job. and can our job produce great things. thanks for watching. i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. ready, reset, go. let's play "hardball." >> good evening. i'm michael smerconish in for chris matthews. chris returns tomorrow. president obama has returned from a two-week vacation in hawaii, kicking off a critical month for his presidency. if you need a refresher, here is where things left off. at the last press conference before he left, he was repeatedly asked to reflect on what some people described as his worst or toughest year in office.