let's get to work. ♪ ♪ >> i spoke with raul castro. >> in a historic shift in u.s. policy to cuba. >> reestablishment of diplomatic relations. >> this entire policy shift is based on an illusion. >> i'm under no illusion. >> put pressure on the regime. >> it is good for us but very bad for the united states. >> freedom is not free. >> i'm under no illusion. ♪ ♪ good to have you with us tonight folks. thanks for watching. isn't this freedom on the march. isn't this what we try to do all over the world? make things right for all people. tonight we start with historic news at the united states makes a big policy shift with cuba. earlier today cuban government released american contractor alan gross from prison. this was the lynch pin of the

whole deal. negotiations had gone on for years. gross spent five years in prison for a plot to destroy the revolution. humanitarian grounds were cited for the reasons for his release. other senators return home. he met with secretary of state john kerr when he got off the plane and earlier delivered a short statement following his arrival in washington, d.c. >> what a blessing it is to be a citizen of this country. and thank you president obama for everything that you have done today and leading up to today. i want to ack nonowledge the extraordinary efforts of my wife, judy, 44 and half years we've been married. i know you're not 44 and half any more. but. and my lawyer and personal moses

scott gilbert. and their efforts to restore my freedom. >> those who don't think this is a good deal, can you at least feel good for that family. ask yourself the question, would you like to come home? >> cuba has also released a u.s. spy who was in jail for 20 years. united states released three prisoners convicted 15 years ago. it has brought historic change with cuba. a new day dawning. on tuesday president obama spent45 minutes with raul castro and earlier he delivered the news. >> today the united states is changing its relationship with the people of cuba. and it's the most significant change in more than 50 years. we will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed our

sister and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries. i've instructed connect kerry to immediately reestablish diplomatic relations that have been severed since january 1961. the u.s. will reestablish an embassy in havannah. we will advance shared issues on health, counter terrorism, drug trafficking and disaster response. >> cuba will also be able to join the summit of the americas. americans, you and i can now send up to $2,000 to cuba. the state department will review cuba's designation as a state department of terror. the administration is taking steps to increase travel and communications in the country. it is important it note travel ban on tourism, and the embargo

can only be lifted by congress. earlier today raul castro delivered a statement on the news. >> translator: as a result of a dialogue at the highest level, including a telephone conversation, which i had yesterday with president barack obama, we have been able to make headway in the solution of some topics of interest to both nations. >> not everyone is excited about today's changes, mainly republicans. house speaker john boehner saying this. senator marco rubio also had harsh words today for the news. >> one of my greatest hopes to live to see the nation of cuba and its people become free and

open and democratic and that's exactly why today's announcement from the white house is so profoundly disappointing. it is a victory for the oppressiowe pressi oppressive cuban government but setback for the cuban people. the white house gain no commitment on the part of cuban regime to freedom of press or freedom of speech, or elections, no binding commitment was made to truly open the internet, or to even begin asemblance to transition to democracy. >> typical republican response, we got to have it all right away or no steps at all. we can't take small steps. after 54 years it has to be total change, it's our way or the highway. that's why they don't get

anything done. jeb bush said this. bottom line here folks. no matter how you view this, today marks a turning point in american history. so why did the president of the united states do this now? >> proudly the united states has supported democracy and human rights in cuba through these five decades, primarily through policies that aim to isolate the island preventing the most basic travel and commerce that americans can enjoy any place else. though this policy is root in the best of intentions no other nation has joined us in imposing these sanctions. today cuba is still governed by the castros and the communist party that came together half

century ago. >> the president did the right thing for this country and for cuba. you can't look in the rearview mirror. what if we took this position with germany, china, or vietnam. this is progress. we have to move forward. after 54 years it hasn't been good by either country and that is a real admission by castro that it isn't working for us. get your cellphone out. is this the right policy shift for cuba, text a for yes, b for no, we will bring you the results later in the show. i want to bring in more with our guests. thanks for being with us. mr. canton, you first, marco rubio says this is a step backwards, what's your response to that?

>> this is a historic moment, there's no question about that. the u.s.-cuba relationship has always been driven by the embargo and the lack of dialogue with cubcuba, and now that chan everything. also between u.s. and latin america. over the last five decades, has been driven by that policy. this is a completely new ball game. this will open dialogue with cuba. the only way to advance is through dialogue. can you not do it in isolation. >> you think this will have a hemispheric effect. >> absolutely. >> there will be a domino effect in other markets? >> absolutely. >> what do you say to those who say they have been a repressive

regime. and shouldn't have recognition. >> this is not about recognition. the cuba and castro regime, it's right of freedom of assembly and association, the list goes on, no question about that, but the issue is how to engage with the government, with the country, in order to advance human rights and democracy and isolation is not an option. the only way you can do it is with dialogue and now is the time for dialogue. >> how much of an effect will it have on the cuban people. >> we hope it will have a direct impact. the embargo has not been lifted yet but let's hope it will be lifted. normally embargos that last four or five decades effect more the cuban people than the government. >> in 2003 i went on a agriculture mission to cuba with

other dignity aries and there were agriculture deals done with cuba, they need to feed the tourists that come from around the world, a lot of people do vacation down there, and that is where castro has put a lot of his resources because he lost the funding of the soviet union over decades. so will these people see a better life as time goes on? is this something that is really going to open the door? and how do you think this will be received by the cuban people that we are now going to have diplomatic relations with them? >> it will depend a lot on the way the cuban regime, castro presents this issue. raul castro is very good and open. so hopefully that is the message sent to the cuban people. if that's the case i think it

will go smoothly and markets will also open that will ben filt the cuban people, i have no doubt. >> it's all about the future. a dif vided community in florid. describe it for us. >> there's the elderly cuban-american community who are very much pro-embargo and will continue to be and there's the newer generation and those who believe after five decades of trying something where it hasn't worked, it has made their regime stronger, in the sense they are still there and no change has come. today's announcement, it will do great things, for latin america as well. and the business community is for this announcement. the farm bureau has said it. the cham berp of commerce has said it. it puts republicans in a real

predicament when you have rubio criticizing even the pope not just the president. >> well the pope was very intergal in this deal, which i think speaks volumes. mitch, what about marco rubio's position on this? what's the political take here as to why he is so critical of the president here and says there's no upside that this does not set us forward to any kind of democraticization at all. >> he took the hard line which is to be predicted. he also had a problem with jeb bush doing skplort torii committee. those hard core folks are on the same side with rubio and bush. so he is boxed in effect. he can't agree with anything the president does. it is enhanced by the fact can't

run free election. the generation from the original folks from the early 60s their children and grandchildren in south florida, care more about the quality of life than they do about foreign policy from an ancient perspective, as they may hold it back then. also a lot of cuban-american who's live in tampa have never held that view. so i think marco rubio is boxed where he is, kind of where he is in the past, in effect and how jeb bush plays will be interesting. you have another play here. that is other folks running for president can go lock step in this but that group was already taken up by jbush. some like rand paul may take a different event looking to be on the commerce side of this because he thinks perhaps he can't get any further with the jeb bush folks. >> yeah. >> one other quick point. i think it is very interesting, the timing of this. i give the white house either

kudos for great timing and luck or i prefer to think they are very, very smart. had this happened two weeks ago before the oil crisis and the drop in all the worldwide markets for oil, maybe, maybe not. because that has devastated russia's already fragile economy. we know today their currency is in trouble and programs the white house had extra timing, by saying, we're going to wait until we look like a better suitor than russia and with the oil crisis coming it is further devastating the russians market. we look stronger, they look weak zbler what is the position of rubio. should we have not moved forwards with vietnam and japan through all these generations. the policy of 54 years of just

butting heads and making no head way with a country that has human rights violation. how do we reverse that? sit there and do nothing? >> well jeb bush gave a speech a few weeks ago right here in miami and he said we're not to the right enough, not conservative enough in our policy towards cuba and he thinks we should go even more hard line. so today rubio did more of the same thing, criticizing the president and the pope. they don't get that it is a day of celebration and it is great that it is hanukkah and alan gross is home with us. i'm very happy about that. also now the cuban government will allow anyone to import to us. imagine the openness of them being able to watch this show on the internet. to go on websites and hear different points of views.

that's exactly what we want. the fact the red cross will be there now and all thesedifferent organizations will be allowed to watch over them. we will put much more emphasis on the bad things cuban government does to people and they cannot use the excuse that the united states has this thing over our head. no longer an excuse. >> great to have you with us tonight. i appreciate all of your time so much. remember to answer today's question. share on twitter and facebook. coming up we're looking back at cuban history and its impact in the united states. plus the last order of business for the least productive congress in history could be their worse move ever. stay with us. sheila! you see this ball control?

you see this right? it's 80% confidence and 64% knee brace. that's more... shh... i know that's more than 100%. but that's what winners give. now bicycle kick your old 401(k) into an ira. i know, i know. listen, just get td ameritrade's rollover consultants on the horn. they'll guide you through the whole process. it's simple. even she could do it. whatever, janet. for all the confidence you need. td ameritrade. you got this.

we are about to make more gooddeliveriesverybody. to more places than anybody on earth. we have the speed. we have the technology. y

you. welcome back to "the ed show." today's historic decision on cuba has been more than half century in the making ever since castro took power and hundreds of thousands of cubans fled to the united states cuba has played an important port in american history. >> fidel castro's rise to power led to quickly deteriorating relations with united states.

>> president broke off diplomatic relations with a message. >> there is a limit to what the self respect can endure. >> the bay of pigs worsened relations. >> the assault has begun on the dictatorship of fidel castro. >> this is a struggle against a cuban dictator. >> we made it repeatedly clear that the armed forces of this country would not intervene in anyway. >> foreign minister accused the united states of unleashing an invasion. says the invading soldiers train in florida. >> on that unhappy island as in so many other arenas in the contest for freedom the news as grown worse. >> cold war fears led to intense stand off after america planes

discovered soviet missiles 90 miles from soil. >> we know soviet has decided to transform cuba into a base for communistic aggression. >> it shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from cuba against any nation in the western hemisphere as an attack by the soviet union on the united states. >> cuba became the focus of world attention. the critical threat of global war since years ago. >> 1980 saw a wave of over 100,000 cubans seeking asylum in the united states following a economic down turn. >> a fleet of boats sailed across the craribbean to florid. washington first said it was

illegal but in a decision it said is political changed its mind. >> for five months, boats from cuba have brought about 120,000 cuban refugees to the united states. many good people but some from cuba's jails and mental hospitals. >> president obama eased traffic restrictions. >> now a million and half cuban americans will be able to fly to their homeland as often as they like. the obama administration will link u.s. and cuba with satellite radio and tv. >> still many are critic zblal my issue not what kind of economy they have i want them to have the same basic freedoms and fundamental rights to its citizens.

>> the cuban regime is a rotten core of brutality and deprivation and fear. >> thank you for being with us this evening gentleman, thanks so much. >> good to be with you. >> thank you, ed. >> how is this day going to be remembered? how big is this considering the history between the two countries and also considering how we have amended things with other countries that we've had a tough history with. >> you know, ed, a lot of stuff we talk about is urgent at the moment but doubt people will remember days from now but this day will be in the history books hundreds of years from now. you really under scoreed it with the bay of pigs, the cuban missile crisis, where many of us

feared that we might blowup the world. so this is a very big deal. i think it is also historic in another sense, which is, it reflects a real generational change within the american-cuban community. this policy wouldn't be possible without that change. older cuban americans very angry still at the castro regime who came here are dead set against this policy. the younger generation has a more pragmatic view of how to change this policy change. they are making it happen. >> considering the atrocities we have had with other countries in times of conflict why can't some cuban-americans put this behind them and view this as a new opportunity of change and give it some what of a ray of hope for a better life for cubans in cuba. >> well, i think actually, as ej noted, we are seeing is this big

generational shift. so wlaz amazing is really how many people are very excited about this. how many cuban-americans are excited. this is very much a pro-family effort by the president. if you think of it that way. because this is going to allow for more travel by american cubans,a can you down to cuba. it will allow folks to do things like help their family members buy dish washers, refrigerators, the basics of living a good life. i actually think when we look at polling in florida and across the country this is popular with all folks, particularly with latinos and increasingly popular with younger cubans. >> isn't this barack obama's "tear down this wall, mr. castro" that kind of a moment. if change can take place with

the soviet union why not with the cuban people here? so there's going to be american influence, which is the best highway to convincing people, as i think, totally different from what we've had over the last 54 years whax do you make of it? >> that's exactly right. sorry ej. that's exactly right. this is about the things that america will bring to cuba. we're so much larger has a country, people will go there on tourism. we will see opening you have internet access. we seen 50 people in the process of being released from cuban prisons. this is really an opening up. and i have to say, if anyone thought that president obama after the election was going to go into a shell, wow! he has made, just huge steps with immigration reform and now with this. this is exciting times. >> it is.

and he did say in the state of the union address that 2014 was going to be a year of action. this is action, no doubt about it. >> this duck isn't lame. >> no, no, that's exactly right. ej, what does raul castro do from here? what are expectations? >> well, see, i think that's the hope here, and why i hope after this initial response against it from some of the more conservative parts of the cuban community, they will see the communities that henry describes. we tried the other thing for over 50 years and this regime hasn't changed. you saw little cracks today. there is no reason to believe that having diplomatic relations means that all pressure on them goes away. they want congress to get rid of the sanctions in any even. and i think this increases pressure on the cuban government to move in the direction of freedom. the increase of exchanges with

americans both mcommercial puts pressure on the regime to let up. i like that you used the word freedom because i do think after a policy that didn't work we might actually have one that has a chance. >> i think this is freedom on the march. and i think in the back rooms the republicans are a little bit disappointed that this didn't happen on their watch. that they are not the party that moved forward with this. president obama, i think history will judge him very well on this. this is the correct move. you can't have a failed policy go on and on year after year. and into americans will be hurt by this. no americans will be hurt by this. >> a lot will be helped. >> that's right. >> thank you gentleman for being with us. coming up, the era of the do-nothing congress ends. find out what's in store for

boehner-mcconnell joint venture in january. dads don't take sick, dads take nyquil. the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, best sleep with a cold, medicine. hey! so i'm looking at my bill, and my fico® credit score's on here. we give you your fico® score each month for free! awesomesauce! wow! the only person i know that says that is...lisa? julie?! at discover, we treat you like you'd treat you. get the it card and see your fico® credit score. wow! [ narrator ] on a mission to get richard to his campbell's chunky soup. it's new chunky beer-n-cheese with beef and bacon soup. i love it. and mama loves you. ♪

and mama loves you. and cialis for daily useor you. 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.

but the comfort it provides is it's justimmeasurable.ece the america red cross brings hope and help to people in need every 8 minutes, every day. so this season give something that means something. he found it cleans everything... whefrom stove tops...d writing a book about his magic eraser ...to scuffed shoes, and more. and when ran out of pages, he made a website instead. share your tips at mycleanbook.com

we are back following breaking news at this hour. a sony spokesperson tells us it is pulling the movie," the interview" sighting security concerns. they released statement a short time ago. on tuesday hackers who call themselves, the guardians of peace, mentioned 9/11 while threatening to attack theaters around the country showing the movie. u.s. officials say there is no credible evidence of any terror plot. the movie is a comedy about the fictional assassination of north korean leader kim jong-un.

the film stars dropped out of publicity appearances this week including the tonight show and late show with seth myers on nbc. keep it here, a lot more coming up on "the ed show" we're right back. right now, you can get a single line with 3 gigs for $65 a month. 3 gigs ... is that a lot? that's about...100 app downloads, 45 hours of streaming music, and 6 hours of video playing. (singing) and five golden rings! ha, i see what you did... (singing) four calling birds...three french hens...

(the guys starts to fizzle out) two... turtle... doves... i really went for it there ya you did... you really, really did now get 3 gigs of data on one line for $65 a month. switch to at&t, buy a new smartphone and get $150 credit per line. when electricity is generated here's awith natural gasu: instead of today's most used source, how much are co2 emissions reduced? up to 30%? 45%? 60%? the answer is... up to 60% less. and that's a big reason why the u.s. is a world leader in reducing co2 emissions. take the energy quiz -- round 2. energy lives here. he told me there's a whole new way to treat sensitivity. he suggested i try new crest sensi-stop strips. [ male announcer ] just apply to the gumline of sensitive teeth for a quick 10 minutes. the special ingredient forms a lasting barrier

that provides immediate relief and up to one month of protection. see why dental professionals endorse crest sensi-stop strips to treat sensitivity. that's 1 strip. 10 minutes. and up to 1 month of protection. satisfaction guaranteed. [ woman ] life opens up when you relieve sensitivity. it's not about how many miles you can get out of the c-max hybrid. it's about how much life you can fit into it. ♪ the ford c-max hybrid. with an epa-estimated range of 540 miles on a tank of gas. and all the room you need to enjoy the trip. go stretch out. go further.

...the getaway vehicle! for all the confidence you need. td ameritrade. you got this.

>> welcome back to "the ed show." thanks for watching tonight. the bar has never been lower for incoming members of congress. the 113 passed just over 200 bills in 2 years. their approval rating, in the toilet. the very definition of a do-nothing congress. they haven't passed legislation for the american people but on their way out are set to spend a cromnibus spending bill with a provision written by citigroup. one senator has the guts to stand up against the bank. >> there's a lot of talk about how dodd frank isn't perfect. a lot talk from citigroup that says dodd frank isn't perfect. a agree with you, dodd frank isn't perfect. it should have broken you into pieces.

>> the worse part is the 114th congress isn't going to be looking any better. mitch mcconnell is gearing up to take charge next month when the new gop takes over. on tuesday he gave us an idea of what his priorities are. >> we'll be starting next year with a job-creating bill that enjoys significant bipartisan support. first item up in the new senate will be the keystone xl pipeline. >> which is not a job creator, not for the long hall. he also gave us a taste how he will run things. >> i will hope that senators on both sides offer energy-related amendments but there will be no effort to try to micromanage the amendment process. >> mcconnell says he's ready to use his new position to bull doze any opposition to keystone.

president obama has signalled he will veto that. bottom line the first item isn't a jobs bill, it's manufacturing a confrontation of the president of the united states for the first month of the republican-controlled congress. joining me now senator from ohio. great to have you with us. >> good to be back. >> what expectations or hopes do you hold for january and february, the first quarter of 2015 to get some things done? >> i listened to mitch mcconnell's speech on election night, i took him at his word that he wants to do things bipartisanly and i hope that means to go back and look at congress what they did when they were working bipartisanly. we passed minimum wage. it was signed by president bush. a long term transportation bill that will really matter to put people back to work on an

on-going way. not just the trades, building the bridges and infrastructure but also long term economic growth. those are the kind of things we have had in this body historically. i hope he looks at that instead of trying to appeal obamacare or dodd frank. >> if you listen to him it's like an our way or the highway road map do you think ha is the way it will be that way? >> i hope not. give him the benefit of the doubt in january or february and sew what he puts out. if his idea of bipartisan means trade agreements which means more outsources jobs, a tax bill that's continues incentives to shut down in dayton and move it to wuhan. then no deal there. i hope he looks at thing that's have been bipartisan that the country agrease on. the country agrees on.

infrastructure and minimum wage. i hope that's the way he goes. >> what are your thoughts about the spending cuts of $1.1 trilon that hits the middle class. the funding of some of these pensions are not the way people want them to be 30 years from now. why should someone who is getting to retire in 30 years will have to take a real cut for something they have been counting on here in the next several years. >> i voted against, that was part of the cromnibus bill. i voted no for a number of reasons. i'm hopeful that instead of congress talking about reducing corporate tax rate part of that is what are we going to do on pension security. a real cost of living adjustment with social security. my legislation that i will introduce in january, it means working on these pension issues in a way that the government, i wish the government had as much

interest in people in this town to dress like this and made good salaries had as much interest in helping middle class workers with their defined pension benefits as they did when they helped the banks five years ago. if we talk tax reform don't leave out middle class and earned income people and health care tax credit and child tax credit. that needs to be the debate. that's what you will hear a lot from us. >> what's not getting focus, there's no new tax increase or new money coming into the country coming from the wealthiest americans but in this $1.1 trillion-spending bill is a cut to those who put obama in office. it is almost unbelievable that these american who's believed in the hope and change and all this talk about fighting for the middle class and only 21 democrats would say no to this.

how disappointing is that? >> this whole congress has been a disappointment. because of philibusters. because of blocking of the kinds of things that focus on middle class and low income workers. that's what will be front and center next year. we will talk about social security in terms of retirement security. we're going to talk about pensions, a trade policy that works for working class americans, instead of just this more top down kind of trickle down economics, which is what our trade and tax policy has been in this town for far too long. >> senator the news on cuba what do you make of this major policy shift that the president has delivered. >> good news obviously for alan gross and his family. good news, i think, for the u.s. i think it is good for jobs in this country. we will see more back and forth between the u.s. and cuba in terms of trade and travel all that. good move by the president.

something that some of his predecessors should have thought about doing earlier. >> senator of ohio, have a great holiday if we don't see you again. thanks so much. appreciate it. coming up special delivery. hard times for the united states postal service just in sometime for the holidays. wow! [ narrator ] on a mission to get richard to his campbell's chunky soup. it's new chunky beer-n-cheese with beef and bacon soup. i love it. and mama loves you. ♪

and mama loves you. ime know i'm doing a good job.ts i like it when my toothpaste lets me know too. that's why i went pro. go pro with crest pro-health. for an intensive clean. i can really feel it deep cleaning my mouth. for a 4x better clean try these products together. that was a great check up. thanks. ♪ [ male announcer ] fedex® has solutions to enable global commerce that can help your company grow steadily and quickly. great job. (mandarin) ♪ cut it out. >>see you tomorrow. ♪

we are about to make more gooddeliveriesverybody.

to more places than anybody on earth. we have the speed. we have the technology. and we have the team. we made over 15 billion successful deliveries last year. 15 billion! football has a season. baseball has a season. this is our season. welcome back to "the ed show" it's time to correct the record. last time on this program we showed a picture of chris christie and cowboys owner, we thought it was from sunday's game in philadelphia but it was actually from last year. we asked if chairman prevus had attended the game and were told he was in d.c. that night we

should not have used the photo. that was our mistake. the picture we know now was from last year's giants game. last year's giants game. we apologize for the

hey what are you doing? last year's giants game. we api was thinking about taking this speed test from comcast business. oh yeah? if they can't give us faster internet or save us money, they'll give us 150 bucks. sounds like a win win. guys! faster internet? i have never been on the internet and i am doing pretty well. does he even work here? don't listen to the naysayer. take the comcast business speed test. get faster speeds or more savings, or we'll give you $150. comcast business. built for business. welcome back to the ed show. this is the story for the folks who take a shower after work. this is of course the busiest time of the year for the postal service. what is congress doing? they're forcing them to pump on the brakes. you may do this in your local

community. i did it in mine. i women to postal service in detroit lakes, minnesota. the post office. and there was a sign on the door that read, no more passports. now, the employees were telling me that they weren't giving any explanation why but if i may speculate, it might have something to do with closing the facilities. you see, the united states postal service is ham strung. the postal service plans to shut down 82 processing centers in january. the country is going to be left with one-third of the locations we had a decade ago. the closures could cost over 7,000 jobs nationwide. congress is trying to cripple the postal service with the requirement to funnel their health care retirement 75 years into the future. no other business operates like this. but of course, it was a mandate from congress. now services across the country are going to be scaled back in rural america and going to hit some areas pretty hard.

since 2012, 9,000 post offices have seen a reduction in hours. customers are compromised and workers are losing wages. this is the wrong direction and it is unnecessary. for more, let me bring in mark, the president of the american postal workers union. good to have you with us tonight. what is going to happen when these 82 facilities are going to be shut down. they are going to be reduced. congress didn't do anything about it. there were attempts by some to reverse this. what is the postal service going to be like in rural america after the first of the year? >> well, the plant closings go through. it is obviously going to leave more diminished and more degraded services. and at a time of the holiday season we're all reminded how valuable this national treasure called the national post office is. and our christmas seasons will never be the same of along with the plant closings, the postal

service is implementing on january 5th, you understand the radar, the people need to know about this. they're implementing the way in which mail will be processed for everybody in this country. whether you're in a city or town where these plant closings are taking place. there will be no more overnight first class mail. everything else will be pushed back ask slowed down at a time the people of the country want things faster, sooner, and the promise to the american people is prompt, reliable and efficient services. and under the leadership of this postal management, that is going out the window. i wouldn't assume the plants would definitely close, the people and the workes have a lot to say and we're still working to turn it around. >> it is a fact the postal service made a profit last year if you take away the obligation of having to fund the future health care retirees. is that correct? >> that's correct. $1.4 billion operating profit to the good. and package deliveries have gone through the roof this holiday

season. this is just scratching the surface of ecommerce. >> so what happens to rural america? does service really slow down in smaller towns across the country? i mean, there are a lot of small towns across the country. >> absolutely. when they close, plan to close processing plants and put mail on trucks to go 200 miles to get processed, rather in the city, 20 miles away or 10 miles away, mail service is obviously going to be slowed down. that daily newspaper, instead of getting to the mailbox the next day, may take two or three days. the greeting card, actually, if the service standard changes go through january 5th, how long it takes to get mail from point a to point b, people will not be able to get an overnight letter from one side of the town to the other. that includes greeting cards, letters, medicines, paying bills, so on and so forth. >> so it shifts to the private

sector, correct? >> that has to be the intent of those who want to slow down the mail and undermine services. someone who can make a profit off the public. turn it over to the 1% of wall street. >> and of course the prices for shipping and delivery will go up for small businesses around america. it will be interesting next year, what will happen to the catalogue business. i go home and i have a stack of catalogs this thick. you name it. everybody is trying to sell me a shirt or whatever. what will ham to that industry? >> well, look. this is the great opportunity for the postal service. mail is changing. but the internet takes in one hand and gives with package delivery. there was just a gallup poll. not only is the postal service the most highly regarded government agency with 75%, 80% ratings of approval from the population. the ratings were highest among

the young people and that's a reflection of the great public infrastructure in the day of ecommerce. it is the young people shopping on the internet more than anyone. >> this is going to cut jobs. thousands of jobs across america. what hope do you hold out quickly that there will be a new majority in congress? >> a some point there will be a new board of governors. we're hoping with public pressure to turn it around. stop the changes and the mail sortation, and delivery system so it doesn't get slowed down. there's no good reason. if we are looking ahead, we need the plants, package there's fill it up so we're hoping, we look at this as bipartisan. it deeply affects rural america and city america. this is not a partisan issue.

we're going to be calling on congress as well to act, to serve the american people as they should. >> president of the american postal workers union, great to have you with us tonight. >> thank you. >> it is unnecessary that we're going through this. congress can do something about it. that's "the ed show." >> good evening. thank you for tuning in. we start tonight with breaking news on president obama's historic move to reset relations with cuba. 50 years after the severing of diplomatic ties, it is a monumental achievement. overall decades cold war policy designed to damage the regime of fidel castro. today president obama said, it is time for a new era. >> today, the united states of america is changing its relationship with t