of small business saturday. a day where you get to return that love, because shopping small makes a big difference. so, on november 25th get up, get out, and shop small. morning glory, america. i'm hugh hue wet. the president went abroad and his political momentum went south. lots of news this week. tennel of politico and courtney of nbc news. josh of the national journal. courtney, let's start. what is the biggest story of a very crazy week that began? >> it was a crazy week. the massacre in texas is my choice for the biggest story. for several different reasons. the element that i have been following and chasing is not just the horror of a shooting in

a tiny unknown town in texas and a baby being killed, unborn baby being killed, a little toddler but now the individual, devin patrick kelley got his weapon. he was kicked out on bad conduct discharge. terrible violence against husband wife, ex-wife and her son, an in tpapt, who he broke the infant's skull. >> cruelty to animals. >> yes. >> there is a long string -- >> of some sort of mental problems. yeah. but he was still able to purchase a weapon. several weapons, actually, when he got out, and was a civilian in texas. >> because? >> because there is a huge loophole that we are now learning about that exists between the military and the civilian law enforcement. it is a combination of things. one of the things i think we will find in this investigation is just the fact that there is a

difference in language. ucmj doesn't have a domestic abuse specification. >> josh, story of the week? >> to politics, a democratic sweep in virginia and new jersey which will set the stage for the 2018 midterms. the big takeaway is college educated voters swung overwhelmingly to the democratic ticket in northern virginia and just across the river from here. huge margins of victory for governor-elect ralph northam. >> any good news out there? utah special election stayed deep red. is that like the only straw in the wind for republicans? >> there are so many republicans. there is suburban moderate districts. paul ryan woke up wondering after the elections what his

hold on the majority is. >> tim alberta story of the week? >> i think both of those stories are extremely important. paul ryan is waking up this week wondering if in fact, republicans will be able to be on the board this legislative year. the senate version of tax reform very different from the house. they were going to see some differences but a relatively different version. look, you have a month ahead of you now where paul ryan will have to the deal with, among other things, only bus, debt ceiling, daca, spending caps. it will make one for one of a heck. kevin brady and paul ryan skr their work cut out. that's the best case scenario. senate passes their version.

the house passes their version. are they able to pass a tax reform bill or get to the lowest common denominator of tax cuts. >> james, biggest story of the week? >> obviously the shooting. really important not to diminish that at all. but the story that broke on thursday about alabama senate candidate roy moore. more than 30 interviews. women coming forward, a young girl 14 recounting a sexual encounter with this former chief justice of the alabama supreme court when he was 32, assistant district attorney. he approach her mom outside a custody hearing and said he would watch the teenager while the mom went inside. other people coming forward with similarly troubling stories. and that being significant because it plays into this republican battle. >> let me follow up on this. i read the story closely. i cannot come to any conclusion other than roy moore did that

and he is disqualified for any vote. have you read anyone who has read the story and comes to the conclusion that he is not guilty, guilty, guilty. >> we saw a real divide emerge. i don't know who read to theened of the story. we saw d.c. republicans and alabama republicans. the state auditor, republican national committee in alabama, a lot of county chairs coming pretty strongly and quickly to the defense of roy moore. and in d.c., mitch mcconnell put out a strong statement. john mccain went even stronger. saying if this is true, he should step aside. the white house trying to thread the needle. there is divide within the party. steve bannon came out and defended him saying it is a smear campaign. it really is in my view a test of character. >> it is a test of literacy. you have to be able to read or not read. for i have to say sunderland springs massacre is an important

story. the two most powerful in the world have been together, president xi and president trump. if you agree with me this is an unreported win for the president. he moved from south korea to china to vietnam. what do you think of this trip? >> the meetings in and of themselves are of course newsy and significant. but the way that his rhetoric has changed, he's talking more about potentially actually negotiating. there hasn't been a test. north korea hasn't tested in 54 days now. think about the last nine months what we have been seeing out of them. >> i want to show a clip of with what i did with leader mcconnell last week. here's what he said about senators who cannot win, candidates. >> this particular element you're referring to specializes

in losing elections. look, this is about winning elections. and the only way you make policy is win elections. people lose. people who win come here and make policy. so that's what this is about. >> so josh, what should the president say about roy moore? >> mitch mcconnell is right. the president said if the allegations are true -- >> that's not enough. should he say get out? >> he should. the reason they are offering a little bit of caveat, alabama is crucial. it would make a big difference in the ability to win back the senate. mcconnell is trying to offer a little. what's stunning is the disconnect between alabama republicans largely defending this allegation of opportunity. and almost every republican senator in washington who has

the same disgusted reaction. >> does trump have a write-in campaign? >> i think he does. i think it can be good predictive wise. for 24, 48 hours after "access hollywood" -- >> why did the president drop

out by then. >> within a week they were right back on the trump bandwagon. it would allow them to control government. they need republicans to hold that seat. if roy moore does not get out within a week -- >> this one is not a binary choice. we can talk about it of after the break. the most important person not named donald trump. up to a gillette shave. and at our factory in boston, 1,200 workers are starting their day building on over a hundred years of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. today we're bringing you america's number one shave at lower prices every day. putting money back in the pockets of millions of americans. as one of those workers, i'm proud to bring you gillette quality for less, because nobody can beat the men and women of gillette. gillette - the best a man can get. you myour joints...thing for your heart... or your digestion...

so why wouldn't you take something for the most important part of you... your brain. with an ingredient originally found in jellyfish, prevagen is now the number one selling brain health supplement in drug stores nationwide. prevagen. the name to remember. i love hanging out. with my friends. i have a great fit with my dentures. i love kiwis. i've always had that issue with the seeds getting under my denture. super poligrip free. it creates a seal of the dentures in my mouth. even well fitting dentures let in food particles just a few dabs of super poligrip free is clinically proven to seal out more food particles so you're more comfortable and confident while you eat. super poligrip free made even the kiwi an enjoyable experience try super poligrip free. ♪

throughout history, the one meal when we come together, break bread, share our day

and connect as a family. [ bloop, clicking ] and connect, as a family. just, uh one second voice guy. [ bloop ] huh? hey? i paused it. bam, family time. so how is everyone? find your awesome with xfinity xfi and change the way you wifi. welcome back. i'm hugh hue wet. you can hear me monday through friday 6:00 to 9:00 eastern. a pam of the four of the best in the beltway. today i have politico's tim

alberta, courtney cuby, and josh crash hour. our regular tpaoep, the most important person not named donald trump. >> it's paul ryan. and for this reason. you have unparalleled tracks. his entire career has been building towards this moment. it's something he has ownership of. other players are involved in this. ultimately tax reform will be his billion to get across the finish line. paul ryan speakership has been building towards this moment not just getting a big policy passed into law. but more importantly, how he handles one of these big crises moments where all of these different sticky situations converge. the month of december you have

conservatives on and off the hill licking their chops. they have to keep the government open, funding the government, csr payments, daca. nobody on the hill can answer that, including his closest allies. it will be a very difficult month for him. >> big stakes make big winners if he pulls it off. courtney? >> i have chose especially air force leadership. secretary wilson and chief of staff of the air force general goldfine. because of their response, they came out and they owned it. they accepted the fact that there was a loophole and they were not reporting this information. because of that, someone got a weapon and killed more than two dozen people in a church on a sunday morning. from the very beginning they have been as forth coming and transparent as possible. it's not something we're accustomed to right now. >> and it's a great standard. >> and they also now the entire

military is looking at it. we know this is happening across the services. the air force is leading the way. they are showing a lot of leadership. and i have to give them credit for the fact that they are not sheurbging from their responsibilities. >> great kudos from the air force. >> elizabeth guzman. who is that? >> yeah. >> a woman who immigrated from peru a couple of years ago, paid her way through college, has young kids. she decided to run for the virginia house of delegates against a 16-year incumbent, retired army colonel, popular republican, prince william county. she beat him handly and unexpectedly. the first latina in the virginia house of delegates. the kind of person who won on tuesday. a lot of people voted because they had a d after their name. now she is a politician.

and so there's -- she's the kind of person who could run for congress down the road. one of six people i featured in a piece, rising stars. liberian refugee got elected. >> my generation is fading away. new politicians are arriving every day for you to cover the next 40 years. >> the tax man, house ways and means kevin brady. they are obsessed with getting this over the finish line. it is a real challenge. a lot of blue statehouse republicans that could see some of their taxes raised because the local and state deductions would be eliminated and real estate deductions rolled back in the house and senate plans. a lot of the republicans in blue districts, clinton districts, people who are in trouble for

reelection. the tax plan they can get behind and ryan and bringing the votes. >> we had brady on a few times. one of the nicest, smartest guys in congress. he is an adoptive father. he voted to get away from the adoptive tax. crown prince muhammad ben salman. this is just wild what's going on there. >> so the bottom line is pay attention because there is the possibility war could break out. in a couple of quick sentences. he is consolidating his power in saudi arabia. he arrested dozens of clerics, high-level business people and royalty arrested. they're sitting in the ritz-carlton in some sort of a prison there. he is consolidating his power.

on top of that, to add confusion to the whole situation, the prime minister of lebanon, prime minister hariri resigned suddenly. and now there is some talk he must be in custody of the saudis. >> head of hezbollah, nasrallah, say they are preparing to launch a war in concert with the israelis. is this on the national journal's radar? >> the middle east is a tinder box. >> we have lots of reporters on the ground. >> same to you? >> politico is not open yet. i would volunteer for the assignment. this thing is fascinating. >> there's so many news. you begin with a massacre we lose sight of the fact that the war on that lebanese border could happen at any moment. when it comes, it will be an exclusion. when we come back, we will turn to what books washington is or should be reading. stay right there. ♪

[vo] progress is an unstoppable force. the season of audi sales event is here. audi will cover your first month's lease payment on select models during the season of audi sales event.

but on the inside, i feel chronic, widespread pain.like most people. fibromyalgia may be invisible to others, but my pain is real. fibromyalgia is thought to be caused by overactive nerves. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i'm glad my doctor prescribed lyrica. for some, lyrica delivers effective relief for moderate to even severe fibromyalgia pain. and improves function. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions, suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worse depression, unusual changes in mood or behavior, swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, muscle pain with fever, tired feeling, or blurry vision. common side effects: dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain, swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you.

those who've had a drug or alcohol problem may be more likely to misuse lyrica. with less pain, i can do more with my family. talk to your doctor today. see if lyrica can help. ththe next energyngs toto power our dreams,re will be american energy.

welcome back. whenever i have a panel of young journalists in on a saturday morning i ask what they are reading. but first my book because i always run out of time and it's not fine. "world without mind." josh is on the panel with me right now and he recommended it a month ago. and i have read it twice. once on i books and then i got a hard copy to annotate it. i cannot recommend it strongly enough. it is creepy how much silicon valley has a massed that. facebook is not a neutral thing to be using. it is guiding you and prompting you, as is google search machine and bezos is basically running the world. tim, what's on your bookshelf? >> i'll be honest, i am rereading something right now. charlie duff, won a pulitzer

back in the day, went to detroit. his home city had terrible family losses. decided to move home and work for the detroit news. he wrote "detroit an american autopsy." we are surveying one year after election day how tough won. people are looking at the rust belt. you're considering the factors over the last half century that fueled racial rement, job losses due to nafta. charlie does an unbelievable and really funny job on examining how america's decline can really be crystallized. it is an excellent book. >> when did it calm out? >> i believe in '14 or '15. >> there is renew al there by dan gilbert. has he updated it for the paperback edition? >> he has not. they have sort of lined their own pockets by remaking the

city. very interesting. >> courtney. >> mine will hopefully rein sre sreug rate. i have been reading mark lee greenblatt "valor." a lot of people now the "american sniper". but there is one in here i know. an army special forces captain working in afghanistan in 2006. he was doing this engagement with local villagers and bringing afghans to help out. one of the afghans he was serving with was killed. since that time, mike has been help to go support his family back in afghanistan. he had never met them. but he has been sending his money out of his paycheck. this is a book where in a difficult week, a difficult

political environment, if you want a renewed sense of faith in humanity. >> especially on veterans day. >> yes. this will do that. >> showdown in gucci gulch written about 1986 tax reform. came out in 1988. how a bill became a law. but it is interesting in the backdrop of tax reform and talks that are happening now just how different it was. ronald reagan had so much political captain than donald trump does. bill bradley, rust dan cow skeu. >> they can get a lot more done. >> a lot more behind the scenes. they raised corporate rates to cut personal rates. it was bipartisan. there are a lot of differences but it is a good book to understand how we got the tax code we have now. >> the once and future liberal by mark lilla.

it has a message that appeals to the broad middleclass. with the virginia election results behind us, that is what ralph northam did. he didn't play to the base. he had an emotionally moderate message. he talked about inclusively, diversity, things a lot of people can't really agree on. it fol >> wasn't virginia all about division. >> no. i think there were outside groups that tried to play and certainly gillespie got criticism for that type of message. but the democratic governor-elect was very re resistant. he wanted those who lean democratic but don't have the same progressive anger that a lot of others do. >> thank you for all coming in. a veterans day reminder. happy veterans day for all of you who have served. thank you for that service. keep the conversation going on

msnbc.com/hughhewett. see you next saturday morning here on msnbc. i just got my cashback match, is this for real? yep. we match all the cash back new cardmembers earn at the end of their first year, automatically. whoo! i got my money! hard to contain yourself, isn't it? uh huh! let it go! whoo! get a dollar-for-dollar match at the end of your first year. only from discover.

whatever it takes, wherever i have to go...i'm beating this. breast cancer treatment is continuing to evolve. ctca is definitely on the cusp of those changes. we really focus on taking the time with each individual patient so they can choose the treatment appropriate for them. i empower women with choices. it's not just picking a surgeon. it's picking the care team, and feeling secure where you are. visit cancercenter.com/breast appointments available now. for over 100 yearsaking like kraft has,al cheese you learn a lot about people's tastes. honey, what do you want for dinner tonight? oh whatever you're making. triple cheddar stuffed sliders. sold! juswho own them,ople every business is different. but every one of those businesses will need legal help as they age and grow. whether it be help starting your business, vendor contracts or employment agreements.

legalzoom's network of attorneys can help you every step of the way so you can focus on what you do. we'll handle the legal stuff that comes up along the way. legalzoom. legal help is here. firstthen you put yourselfareer. through school. got the degree. you've given it your all, to reach the goals you've set. don't let student debt hold you back. refinancing student loans with sofi can save thousands. so you can get where you've always been headed... sooner. see how much you can save with sofi. the leader in student loan refinancing.

good morning, everyone. i'm alex whit in new york. it is happening live for you in hanoi. >> you, the great people of vietnam, we have come a long way, the united states and vietnam. we've seen it from both sides of the picture. and this is the pleasant side. you are doing a spectacular job. your people are doing a spectacular job. and in the united states , likewise, we are doing very well. we have had the highest stock