you've been trying to clean. i also have traveled. i just got back from paris where we met with the wto. the message was similar to. it was deficits do matter and are coming down. great to be here. >> i know they are. >> morning, mr. president. thank you for the opportunity to serve at sba. i can tell you that as i haven't been traveling internationally but traveling around the country. and what i'm continuing to hear is this renewed optimism from small businesses higher than it's been in about 16 years. so those people returning to the workforce a lot of them are because small businesses are creating new jobs. so portfolios are up. mentoring and our outreach with other programs are being so successful. we're on a good trajectory. still a lot of work to do. >> and behalf of the entire senior staff around you, we

thank you for the opportunity and blessing you've given us to serve your agenda and the american people and we're copying to work very hard every day to accomplish those goals. >> it's an honor to serve as your cia director. it's a privilege to lead the men and women providing intelligence so we can do the national security mission and in the finest tradition of the cia, i'm not going to say a damn thing in front of the media. >> here here. >> mr. president, thank you for your support and commitment to honoring our responsibility to america's veterans. i know that this is personally very important to you. i have the great honor of being able to represent the 21 million american veterans that have done such great things for this country. i've worked every day to make sure we're honoring that responsibility. >> thank you very much. >> mr. president, it's been a great honor to work with you. thank you for the strong support of hud and for all others around

this table that i've worked with. we're making tremendous progress and converting to a business model, already seeing tremendous savings there. this month is national homeowners month. and therefore, i'll be ringing the bell on wall street at 4:00 which means i have to leave at 12:00. >> good morning. while we brag about international travel, i just got back from mississippi. they love you there. and i want to congratulate you on the men and women you've placed around this table, the holistic team working for america is making results in each and every area working with secretary ross and ambassador lighthouse and secretary knmnuc. this is a team that's working hand in glove for the betterment of america. these are great team members and

we're on your team. >> thank you. thank you. >> thank you, mr. president for the great honor traveling with you around the country for the last year. and an even greater honor to be here serving in your cabinet. on behalf of everybody at the treasury, we are focused on creating sustained economic growth, sweeping tax reform and fighting terrorism with sanctions in all of the programs within our control. >> thank you. thank you all very much. thank you. thank you, everybody. thank you very much. >> thank you. thank you very much. >> good day and welcome to "andrea mitchell reports." i'm kristen welker in for andrea who is on an seenment. here in washington, president trump is balancing the business of running the country with the growing lists of controversies facing his administration. moments ago, you just saw it at the white house, the president tried to project stability in touting his record in a meeting with cabinet officials and senior staffers to map out

policy goals, but over the weekend, mr. trump couldn't resist taking yet another political shot at ousted fbi director james comey, keeping their public feud in the headlines with the sunday tweet. and now his attorney general jeff sessions set to testify before the senate intelligence committee on the russia investigation tomorrow afternoon. but first, a new problem just down the street. the attorneys general for dc and maryland speaking this hour announcing a lawsuit "the washington post" reports will detail alleged violations of charges in the constitution. halle jackson, pete williams and nbc's garrett haake with new details on attorney general jeff sessions' testimony tomorrow. so garrett, let me start with you. what are you hearing about it. >> you can start the count down clock. sessions will be here on capitol hill at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. after a lot of discussion over the weekend, he will be testifying in an open session much like former fbi director

james comey did last week. we expect this hearing to largely mirror what we saw last week. the attorney general will be even in the same hearing room where are this took place. he'll be questioned by democrats and republicans on this committee. we don't know the yet about a closed session that might follow and don't know what republicans will ask him. a number of democrats have been telegraphing some of the issues they want to get to with the attorney general. you can expect him to be asked about his own meetings with russians during the course of the campaign. something the democrats wanted to follow up on from his confirmation hearings. expect him to be asked about any role he might have had in the firing of james comey. comey said he was around the oval office meeting and was one of the people who stepped out of the room on fa fateful meeting between comey and the president. all these topics are expected to come up. you'll see possibly a split screen of james comey's answers and jeff sessions' answers when he's here tomorrow afternoon. >> and it means it's going to be another busy day for everyone here in washington, including

pete williams. i understand you're hearing from the justice department. what are you hearing? >> reporter: they just said, kristin, they wanted the hearing to be open and thought the public should hear what he has to say. >> pete, what are the implications of the fact that he's going to testify in open session? >> the implications are he'll be able to respond to whatever mr. comey said that he didn't like or disagrees with. he had originally said that he was originally scheduled to testify about the budget. before two different appropriation subcommittees. he sent them letters saturday saying look, i think i should respond in the intelligence committee because everybody wants to ask me about what mr. comey said. maybe that's the right place. there was a question whether it would be open and now we know it will be. >> hallie, i want to head to you at the white house. and just remind viewers what they were just witnessing. the president meeting with all of his cabinet officials. the first time by the way, since they've all been confirmed. what is the white house saying

about jeff sessions testifying in open session and what could it mean for president trump? >> yeah, so i think that taking that second part, kristin, this cog help shed some light especially if it is an open session around some of the questions that members of congress have had for the attorney general more broadly, but let me go back to the first part of your question. you can't understate what an interesting moment just happened we just witnessed here. the president, his team, the people who have been in the headlines that we have been talking about for days and weeks all together in one room here. and you see, there's so much tea leaf reading that goes into this. secretary mat dison one side, secretary tillerson on the other, by many accounts jim mattis is one of the cabinet members close with the president talking with him considered in washington circles perhaps a moderating influence for him. you've got secretary tillerson at this time and the president is facing so much incoming from european leaders. and there are a lot of questions

including from people like john mccain about america's leadership role in the world. i don't know if the shot is going to pull out. you see everybody else around this table including reince priebus, not interesting he's at the table. but what he said, talking about how it is a blessing on behalf of the senior staff to be there and working for the president at a time when there is continued speculation about all of the palace intrigue as you know well. soapy think that this is kind of a very interesting when you look at it from an optics perspective, an interesting moment here from the president. then he's promising that news conference in two weeks related to what he describes as the fight against isis. you might remember, kristin, three weeks ago when they were overseas with the president, the president then also promised a news conference focused on isis. if it happens, many questions we would like him to answer. >> undoubtedly. a lot of big headlines out of that. thank you for breaking that down. i want to go back to pete williams. in just moments, we're expecting a news conference from the attorneys general of d.c. and

maryland. they're essentially going to accuse the president of breaking the emoluments clausz. how unprecedented is this? what are you expecting? >> everything about this question and this president is unprecedented. he's certainly the wealthiest president in modern times. it raises lots of questions. he's already been sued once over this. the question here is two problems for the states. one they have to show how they're directly injured by mr. trump's continued business dealings. and the second is whether normal payments, commercial payments to one of his businesses in fact violate the constitution, kristin. >> pete, thank you. quayle go to the d.c. attorney general and listen in. >> domestic government entities. never in the history of this country have we had a president with these kinds of extensive business entanglements or a president who refused to adequately distance themselves from their holdings. president trump's businesses and

his dealings violate the constitution's anti-corruption provisions. known as the emoluments clauss. the framers included these twos anti-corruption provisions to prevent foreign and domestic entities from seeking to influence the president by bestowing money or other things of value on him. why did the framers include these clauses? it was all about corruption. as alexander hamilton wrote, one of the weak sides of republics among their numerous advantages is that they afford too easy an inlet to foreign corruption. the framers knew that government entities, for foreign and domestic, would, of course, try to use things of value to influence or induce the president to do their bidding.

instead of that of the american people. and now we see it every day. my office window is just a few floors above where we're sitting today. and i can tell you as i look out the window and see the tower of the trump international hotel, we know exactly what's going on every single day. we know that foreign governments are spending money there in order to curry favor with the president of the united states. just one example. the kingdom of saudi arabia whose government has important business and policy before the president of the united states has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at the trump international hotel. and that hotel is but one example of how president trump's vast global businesses and that empire he has is entangled with foreign and state government interests. we are a nation of laws, and no

one, including the president of the united states, is above the law. no one, not even the president, can be allowed to endanger our democracy and erode our faith in our institutions. but just as at the time they're needed the most, traditional checks and balances are failing us. first, by not divesting from his businesses, the president has chosen to put himself and our country in the situation we find ourselves today. and every time the president has spoken about drawing a line between his presidency and his businesses, he's walked his promises back. second, the republican-controlled congress has wholly failed to fulfill its responsibility of serving as a check and balance on the president. and has thus far given the president a total pass on his

business entanglements. state attorney generals answer to the people of their jurisdictions, and we have a duty to enforce the law. and that's why we're taking action today. like the unfairly maligned press corps and the courts, state attorney generals are serving as a necessary check and balance in the trump era where others fail. we are the officials who brought the lawsuits that stop president trump's unconstitutional and un-american muslim travel ban. we also called on the department of justice to appoint a special prosecutor in the russia investigation. today, we continue that tradition. attorney general frosh will now speak a bit more about why the e eemolument clause is so vital to our democracy. brian? >> first, thank you very much, carl.

it has been a great collaboration with you and your team. we appreciate it very much. thanks also to my staff and to norm eisen and his team. this case is about the right of hundreds of millions of americans to honest government. elected leaders who serve the people and not their own financial interests are the indispensable foundation of our democracy. and the president above all other elected officials must have only the interests of americans at the heart of every decision. our constituents must know that a president who orders their sons and daughters into harm's way is not acting out of concern for his own business. they must know that we will not enter into a treaty with another nation because the president owns a golf course there. they must know. >> you're listening to the

attorneys general from washington, d.c. and maryland outline their case for why they say president trump has violated the emoluments clause of the constitution which effectively says that an elected official cannot accept money everyone foreign governments. you heard carl racine of washington, d.c. say that everyone from congress to the president has failed in this regard. and that congress has failed to prove and provide a system of checks and balances against this administration. no one including the president of the united states is above the law, says carl racine. here with me now to discuss all of this is rick tyler, republican strategist and msnbc political analyst and sarah fagen. sarah, i want to start with you. thanks for joining me here on set. what was your reaction to what we just saw? very powerful words from carl racine. is this something that stands up

legally? >> well, i'm not a lawyer. so -- but i can tell you politically, you know, it seems lining well coordinated by the democrats to put yet another distraction on top of an administration that is facing so many distractions. >> two democrats important to point out. >> that's right. it seems fairly ridiculous that president trump would send troops into war because a kingdom bought some hotel rooms from him. i think the basis of it to the public seems like a ridiculous case to me. but again, it's a distraction. we're not talking about tax reform. we're not talking about health care. we're talking about this. that's a problem for trump. >> rick, weigh in on that very point because this comes amid a number of other controversies that the president is currently dealing with as it relates to his government which as sarah points out is making it complicated for hip to carry out his agenda. >> it is a big deal in that as you say, it's going to thwart

his ability to get a legislative agenda done. the republicans will have real trouble running on anything substantial in 201. it is interesting the emoluments clause. i don't think it's been successfully tested. it will be interesting to see it run its course if the court takes it up. i'm not sure trump -- trump will probably win this case. in all the cases, the people who are buying trump services at their properties are getting thing this return. they're not directly making payments to the president. so i don't see that it's going to end up being a big problem for him. >> may win this case. it could drag out. politically it's the headlines that could be problematic. let me shift to another headline for the president which has to do with james comey's testimony last week, the broader russia probe. the fact he's dangling the possibility that there may in fact be tapes out there. i want your take on this. does this help him politically? it seemed like initially he was

using to hang over the head of james comey. now it's just reminding people of another president who taped people. that didn't work out so well. >> comey seemed excited about the prospect of tapes which certainly leads me to believe he's very confident in his notes. i think that the more donald trump talks about james comey, tapes, no tapes, notes, lawsuits, the worse it is for him. the best thing he can do right now is to let the investigation play out. take the time that bob mueller is going to take to interview people, and not speaking about this again until he's forced to. talk about his agenda. that's his best chance for success. >> you're hearing so many republicans echo that same point. they want him to stay on message. and he's got a spokesperson in his son, don junior who is weighing in on all of this over the weekend. and notably, he weighed in on the part of james comey's testimony in which comey says the president urged him to drop

the investigation into michael flynn. he seemed to actually corroborate comey's version of events. take a listen and i'll get your reaction. >> when i hear the flynn comment, we both know my father a long time. when he tells you to do something, guess what, there's no am big jute ute in it. i hope this happens but you've got to to do your job. that's what he told comey. >> did don junior help or hurt his dad? 1993 hurt him because he wasn't very clear at all what he was trying to say. was he saying that the president was clear about directing comey to stop the flynn investigation or saying absolutely it did happen, he was mocking the way it was out there? but look, donald trump says he has tapes. if he does have tapes, it would clear everything up right away. right now it's a he says, he says with the credibility of both people on the line and right now, donald trump is losing ha game of credibility because it looks like comey has a lot more credibility and telling the truth than donald

trump does. >> rick, in your gut, do you think those tapes exist? >> no. >> two noes. okay. there you have it. >> i should mention, kristin, back to the just for a second, if the attorneys general are successful in getting his tax returns subpoenaed, that could present a very big problem for president. >> very quickly, sarah, jeff sessions testifying in open session. how big of a deal is that? is that a good thing for the administration. >> in this case, it makes sense because there's so much speculation what he's going to say. i read sessions events around the russians as really him being at events. him being pulled aside while there's 40 people approaching you trying to talk to you, they're not really meetings at least in the two cases where they were at an event. that could be easily cleared up. >> thanks so much for your insights. president trump heads to miami on friday where he's expected to

announce a new u.s./cuba policy. it is anticipatedal tighten rules on trade and travel rolling back obama's efforts to normalize ties with the communist nation. andrea mitch is in havana and joins us now. i know you've had a long trip there. what are you hearing on the ground and what are you expecting the president will announce ultimately? >> reporter: we're expecting that on friday in miami, the president will deliver on a big campaign promise, kristin. you know how important this was to him during the campaign. how frequently he said in miami that he would roll back the executive orders that president obama ordered in in establishing much more relaxed policies on travel and trade with cuba. we're expecting he's going to do exactly that. he's going to frame it in a human rights argument saying in his perspective, from his perspective, because cuba has not yet delivered on what he believes to be a democratic

opening, small d democratic openings and human rights, there therefore they're going to roll back anything connected to the government in the form of the cuban military. the problem of course, is that here in cuba, a lot is run by the military. as in many countries. the cuban military for instance, when raul castro was the defense minister, he ran economic reform here. so hotels and the airport and a lot of other institutions that would be private in the united states are in fact, public here. so if you're going to roll back anything connected to the cuban military, are you basically going to shut down a lot of travel. >> and andrea, just to put this into a broader perspective. >> noisy intersection here. >> with a lot of cars behind you that we see, that's right. andrea, how broad is this going to be? is he going to close diplomatic relations and you were there for president obama's historic visit when he effectively announced the opening of diplomatic

relations. can you compare the mood right now? what's it like compared to then? >> we're already creating an stir on this corner in this neighborhood. but things are bustling. in the last two years since the first executive orders and then the establishment of relations, the economy has really changed in that there is a lot more privatization. people have had more freedom to open b & bs, things of that nature. diplomatic relations we understand will not be shut down. that is not going to happen. the embassy here will not be closed. compared to what existed before the flags were raised and the two anthems were played when we were here with obama and castro. there will be big change. we've gone to b & bs, talking to hotel people to american tourists. and people are coming here for the first time from the u.s., one woman i traveled here with who had not been back since 1968 and people liking that will

still be able to come. this was her first trip back. the fact is, that the people to people exchanges willen different and people who have opened b & bs and now renting out rooms as many as ten to 20 rooms to american travelers will have a very different experience. we talked to a coup who are running a dance program here. they're in touch with american dance schools. people are coming from america and taking sal sal lessons here. it's quite wonderful to watch. i can't tell you that i have succeeded in that, but a lot of other people have. and that kind of thing is very much going to change. >> andrea, i bet you're going to squeeze it in before you leave if i know you. quickly before i let you go, because i'm getting a hard wrap here. how much influence did marco rubio have over this decision? president trump certainly campaigned on this, but as you know, they just met recently at the white house. >> reporter: they had dinner

last week. this is really what marco rubio wanted. i should say marco rubio no longer represents florida at large. he does, of course, in the senate. that is not what the polling is telling us about what people have now evolved to. even people who were hard liners against. they see the economic benefits going both ways. the agriculture states, senator grassley and others, there is a majority of the senate including many republicans now in favor of lifting the entire embargo and not changing these executive orders. >> andrea mitchell, thank you for that remarkable reporting. appreciate it. >> thank you, kristin. coming up, tea for two. is president trump's state visit to the uk off table? we'll go live to london next. that's right here on "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc. ready or not, here i come.ek.) ♪

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the white house is disputing reports today that president trump is considering canceling his state visit to the uk until the british people support him. the president reportedly told british prime minister theresa may in a phone call he doesn't want to visit england if there will be large scale protests.

white house sources tell us there has never been a plan for a july stop by president trump and nothing postponed. jeremy corbyn tweeted cancellation of trump's state visit is welcome especially after his attack on london's mayor and withdrawal from paris climate deal. keir simmons is live in london and glenn thrush the white house correspondent for the "new york times." thanks to you both for being here. keer, theresa may saying president trump's invitation has not been rescinds. the white house saying they're trying to work out a date as there is this petition signed by almost 2 million people claiming essentially president trump would embarrass the queen. where is the truth here? >> reporter: yeah, it's a little confusing, isn't it? i'm being told by one well placed official source that it is broadly true to say that the president has indicated to the british government that he does not want to come on this state visit if he is not going to be

welcome, if he's going to face protests. there aren't -- there isn't a sense of celebration that he is here. now, that tallies with a report from the guardian newspaper here over the weekend, and our sister broadcaster itv news is reporting that president trump has actually made those sentiments clear on a number of phone calls with the british. or at least his team has. so i think probably the truth in this is that indeed, the visit itself has not been called off. it is delayed if you like or later in the year. they've always said it would happen at some point in year, maybe in the fall. it is looking more and more difficult. and i think on both sides of the tlak, there is an impending sense maybe we'd better this just went away not the least because of how difficult politics is here with the british government now a minority government. and really clinging on to power.

>> that's a really important point you bring up. glenn, let me toss it to you. in addition to everything keer just located out, you have that feud essentially between president trump and london's mayor in the wake of the terrorist attack when he accused him of downplaying the attack. what are your sources telling you? >> look, theresa may doesn't want him to come and donald trump doesn't want to go. the british are very decorous. trump folks are a little less so. i think there is a sense in the white house that that guardian report was leaked by somebody in theresa may's office to signal stuff. who the heck knows what the actual machinations are. let me tell you the bottom line. the invitation was extended by the queen to the president soon after inauguration and it has never been scheduled. there is a reason why it has not been scheduled. they thought they would tack it onto the g-20.

logistical problems precluded that. hen they thought closer to the summer again. my sources told me fairly definitively yesterday the president is waffling, kind of souring on it. it has to do with a bunch of different reasons, not just the issue in london but also his reticence to travel and a source of mine said to me, we know this from seeing the amazing cabinet spray, the president likes foreign leaders to come to him. he doesn't like to go to them. >> there was a sense after that nine-day foreign trip that it was almost too long. some folks are saying within the white house. that the president wants his foreign travel to be shorter. kier, let me go back on a point you made which is the fact that politics right now are very complicated in the uk. british prime minister may is seen as being weaker after last week's election. compare that to someone like macron who was emboldened and part of how he energized his crowd was taking aim at

president trump and his policies. could it benefit may if president trump trch stays as the home and doesn't come to visit? >> that would be the consensus view amongst many people. it's interesting, you can draw a line actually between macron between jeremy corbyn who came very close to winning power here in the uk and with president trump. every one of them in their campaigns were able to portray themselves as not a politics, as something outside as the maverick. that's what the public seemed to want. generally on both sides of the atlantic and europe and in the u.s., the public seemed sick of anyone of politicians and anyone who looks like or smells like a politician. however, you know, look, having said that, there isn't discussion here whether the trump effect had an effect on the british election buds did you see of course, president trump kind of intervening when he criticized the london mayor over when those terrorist attacks happened here in the uk

during the election campaign. it generally -- presidents intervening in uk politics don't go very well. it's not just about president trump. president obama intervened in the brexit vote, that back fired pretty badly most people think. i think his visit if it happens will be you know, have all the pomp and ceremony that the british are so good at. there will also be protests and it's a difficult diplomatic dance they'd have to do if indeed it does happen. >> great conversation. kier and glenn, thank you for joining me. appreciate it. coming up, home intermediate home. melania and barron trump officially make the move to the white house. laura bush's former chief of staff anita mcbride joins me next right here on "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc. e using smart traps to capture mosquitoes and sequence their dna to fight disease.

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and their 11-year-old son baron waking up in the white house. >> mr. president -- >> their official move to 1600 pennsylvania avenue coming 4 1/2 months after the president took office. on twitter, the first lady posting this picture overlooking the washington monument saying she is looking forward to the memories we'll make in our new #moving day. the photo appears to be taken from inside the executive residence looking out over the true man balcony on the south lawn. the first family arrived together in washington, d.c. on sunday stepping off air force one at joint base andrews after spending the weekend at the trump national golf club in new jersey. baron is the first boy to live in the white house since 1963 when john f. kennedy junior was just 3 years old. he was playing with a fidget spinner when he arrived and wearing a t-shirt that read "the expert." for months the first lady those to stay at trump tower so baron

could finish the school year. >> baron, thank you very much for being here. >> reporter: this morning "the washington post" is reporting baron will be attending the private st. andrews episcopal school in maryland. baron's grandparents also arrived with the family at the white house. there are reports the couple may help care for him in much the same way michelle obama's mother looked after sasha and malia when president obama was in the white house. but the couple is not expected to move full time to d.c. and joining me now is anita mcbride former chief of staff to laura bush and executive in residence at the center for congressional and presidential studies at american university. thank you so much for being here. >> thank you, kristin. anytime. >> let's thut this move into context. she is coming in at a time when things are very difficult for her husband. politically. could she help sort of stabilize at least the optics of the white house? >> well, absolutely. there is no substitute tort sanctuary of family life in the

white house and having your kids around you, your spouse. it really -- it helps. and it helps with the tough days and it really helps to also buoy you on the days that are great. >> i think a lot of people wonder what her practical influence will be. i want to play a circle ip from the first lady when she was a candidate's spouse and get your reaction on the other side. >> sure. >> what's the one one habit you wish he would give up? >> let's see. the tweeting. >> i love how she does -- it's a great moment. do you think she can get him to put down the twitter more effectively than maybe top aides have been able to. >> perhaps. look at the time we've seen them together the most. nine days they were on the foreign trip. we were there. there were very few tweets that cape out of that. they were on a busy schedule, of course but also were together. maybe it's an example of the

influence that a spouse has. i definitely have seen that. >> and we've talked about this, the fact she has actually mapped out what she would like to do as first lady. she wants to speak out against bullying and wants to focus on children. we also saw that on display during the first foreign trip. what are you going to be watching for? >> i think first of all, let's say this. she did set the tone by saying i'm going to take my time in putting together an experienced staff and making my move to washington, it was family first. the public events she has done already here in washington going to children's hospital and hosting women on international women's day, she's already shown us some things she is interested in doing. i expect now she's here full-time, you have the staff time to work together to really pull those resources together. >> yet, the spotlight gets even brighter when you move into 1600-pennsylvania avenue. ivanka trump commented on that today. listen to that. >> there's a level of

viciousness that i was not expecting. i was not expecting the intensity of this experience. but this isn't supposed to be easy. some of the distractions and some of the ferocity was -- i was a little blindsided by on a personal level. >> and it gets even tougher when you're raising a child. >> absolutely because you're try and shield them from all of this. we recognize that's very hard to do. this is, i'm sorry to say, welcome to washington. it's tough and politics is tough. the thing is as a family, you know, that's where you come together and you realize we know who we are. we're going to face this. we have a big job to do. days will be good and days will be tough. >> she has kept a relatively low profile. we saw it get a little bit bigger during the foreign trip. do you think incrementally we'll start to see her step out more or could this be a case of someone who will keep a profile?

>> here's the great thing about being first lady of the united states. you know this from watching various white houses. they pick and choose how had he want to do it. everybody rewrites the position description in a way that if is them. when you do have a young family, that's your focus first. we have that example with mrs. obama, as well. my suspicion is this. she is embracing this role as being first lady of the united states. and think about it, she's only ten years, she's an american citizen. now she gets to represent us at home and abroad. that's a big responsibility and opportunity. >> all right. anita mcbride, thanks you for your insights. great to see you. >> my pleasure. coming up, donald trump line one. fired u.s. attorneyern preet baja ra call opens up about what he calls his unusual interactions with the president. right here on "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc

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president and i refused to return the call. >> it's a very weird and peculiar thing for a one-on-one conversation without the attorney general without warning between the president and me or attorney, who has been asked to investigate various things. >> and that's former u.s. attorney preet bharara speaking out about president trump's attempts to establish a cozy relationship with preet bharara before firing him back in march. let's get the inside scoop from sam stein, and thanks to both of you for being here. you listened to him, and it sounds like james comey. how do you think that compounds the white house, the president's problems? >> i think it adds to them obviously. it sets up this pattern for president trump and potentially crossing boundaries that

normally you wouldn't cross. so i think that's the issue. it also kind of sets up this idea of whether, you know, this attorney was fired because he didn't take one of president trump's calls, but when they were making the argument against comey, they were saying if comey didn't want to the president, he didn't have to. so it sets up this dichotomy, do the people that work under the president, do they have to take his calls and talk to him? >> it's a little bhit of the cherry picking we've seen the white house engage in. sam, you have republicans, including paul ryan, saying hey, he's new at this. you can't expect the president to know the boundaries. does that argument hold up? >> i think that argument is a terrible indictment of donald trump, the fact that you're new to the presidency. first of all, no president who becomes president knows the presidency.

secondly, trump has, during the campaign trail, repeatedly said that he alone could fix things, that he would bring in this business minded knowledge that no one else possessed to fix the country's ills. but thirdly, if your plea is that he's ig nornorant of the process, there are real world implications where this is bad. it was reported that trump did not know that there were 10,000 troops stationed in qatar. if you're saying he's new to this. yeah, that's dangerous if you are the commander in chief and you have troops in qatar and causing a crisis with that nation. >> the white house has said he did know. but to your point, it becomes a difficult argument to make, and i want to ask you in terms of what we heard from one of trump's attorneys over the weekend, saying he would consider firing robert mueller, that that's a possibility.

but regardless, the optics of making that kind of a statement. >> oh, yeah. it's just a fundamental disregard for both the norms and the independence of the judiciary. this extends not just to preet bharara but james comey. the idea that you can put your thumb on the scales and instruct prosecutors to go where you want them to go, that you can ask for their loyalty. it shows that you do not understand fundamentally the separation of powers that exist in this country. he might be within his powers to do this. but it would fundamentally shake the foundations of u.s. government in the process. >> all of this comes as there's more palace intrigue centered around reince priebus. nothing new. we've had this conversation every couple of days. >> if it's monday. >> we saw him in the cabinet meeting, head of the table. what are you hearing about this? it seeming unlikely that the president right now, when he's dealing with so many difficult issues at once, would have a staff shakeup. but you never know. >> as you said, this has been brewing under the surface for a

while. but i think the issue would be that if you get rid of reince, who do you replace him with? so the idea is that the administration has had some difficulties finding people who would be willing to come in, specially when you have these legal issues. so whoever comes in, they would likely have to lawyer up. >> and the one thing that could protect his job is a big legislative win. something like health care. >> and progress is being made in the senate, very much under the radar, hidden from public view. but increasingly, the democrats i talked to on the hill are waking up to the reality that this thing could pass. i will say one thing, trump from a managerial perspective likes it when his top aides like it when they think their job is at risk. perhaps that's an old trick that makes you perform better. >> what are you hearing about progress on the health care and the president's broader agenda?

>> it does seem leak they are making moves on health care. i think there's hope there will be a vote before the july fourth recess. so that would be a big deal if they get it through the senate. >> it would be huge and huge in terms of the implications for tax reform, well. thank you. great conversation. >> great new studio. and on a more serious note now, coming up, one year later, remembering the 49 victims of the pulse nightclub shooting and the survivors who will be forever changed. >> you have to prepare. you have to train. you have to drill. >> i feel like i have to be a voice behind the horror. >> watching it transform into a permanent memorial to honor them, it's what gets me out of bed. >> forgiveness is the key to move forward. i will forgive. i will never forget. oh, millies. trick or treat! we're so glad to have you here.

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one year ago today, 49 people were killed in the pulse nightclub massacre in orlando, florida. the worst mass shooting in u.s. history. at this hour, hundreds are gathered outside of pulse to remember the victims, on what the city of orlando has deemed orlando united day. a day of love and kindness. families and friends of those killed gathered overnight for a private memorial service at the club. all 49 names of the victims were read aloud at 2:02 a.m., the exact time the attack began a year ago. on sunday, the owner of pulse

turned on the club's exterior lights for the first time since last year's attack. she says the club will remain as a memorial to forever honor the victims. and we do today. and that does it for the decision of "andrea mitchell mitchell." chris jansing is up next. it is another busy monday. >> as it always is. i'm in for craig melvin. at this hour, capitol hill now gearing up for another day of high drama. attorney general jeff sessions now says he will testify in an open hearing in front of congress tomorrow. what will he say about that reported third meeting with the russian ambassador? suing the president. two attorneys general file a lawsuit they claim that president trump violated the constitution, making money off his businesses. pure politics or could they make a case? cosby closing arguments. they're going on right now in the bill cosby sexual assault trial. the surprising