fire mueller. the trump tax plan passing today. republicans celebrating that. their first big legislative win of the whole year. i had a discussion with a republican against bob mueller and we had that conversation here. a lot here. tomorrow we have a special breakdown on new leverage bob mueller might have on "the beat." but right now "hardball" is up next. warner's warning. let's play "hard ball." good evening, i'm chris matthews. in washington president trump has maintained he's not considering firing special counsel robert mueller whose investigation into potential collusion between the trump campaign and the kremlin could progress well into next year, however, democrats are still bracing for the worst. in light of the recent wave of right wing attacks on the special counsel's probe,

virginia's senator mark warner, the ranking democrat on the senate intelligence committee, delivered an urge gent message on the floor of the senate late today. >> firing mr. mueller or any other of the top brass involved in this investigation would not only call into question this administration's commitment to the truth but also our most basic concept rule of law. it also has the potential to provoke a constitutional crisis. in the united states of america no one, no one is above the law, not even the president. i hope my concerns are unfounded. in many ways, i hoped i would never have to make this kind of speech, but there are troubling signs. it is critical that all of us and as citizens speak up against

these threats now before it's too late. >> i ended this show monday night by saying there are moderates like warner and richard bur the ranking republican of the intelligence committee. senator warner said this would represent an abuse of power and urged his colleagues to hold the president accountable. >> congress must make clear to the president that firing the special counsel for interfering with his investigation by issuing pardons of essential witnesses is unacceptable and would have immediate and significant consequences. >> to fire mueller president trump would not only need to remove the man overseeing the russia probe, deputy attorney general rob rosenstein but he would have to have someone carry out his order. i'm joined by hallie jackson. how is this going to sit with

the white house, this direct warning from the top democrat on intelligence, don't do this thing. don't fire mueller? >> reporter: right, especially given how vocal senator warner was about it and how public he was about it. here's the deal. right? there are folks i know who are close to the president, folks who are talking a lot with his white house who know what a bad idea it would be for the president to actually do this, to go through and set a directive or figure out a way to get bob mueller off the job. there is a real understanding of the political fallout that that would -- that that would have, right? there's an understanding of what would happen over on the hill just down pennsylvania avenue with members of the president's own party. so there are those forces that are acting almost as a brake in this instance. you point out rightly that the president has said repeatedly now that he does -- has no plans to fire bob mueller, isn't considering firing the special counsel, but as you know, this is also an unpredictable president who at times has done

things that even his closest aides haven't wanted to see. how will this warning from the senator sit with the white house? not going to love it presumably, but i also think that because obviously he's a democrat there will be them pointing to the partisanship that they might see at play here. >> thank you so much, hallie jackson at the white house. i'm joined by richard bloomenthal, ken delaney and paul butler, former federal prosecutor and msnbc legal scholar i must say. thank you. i love having you on. let me go to senator blumenthal. what's trump up to? i'm hearing from jackie spieres that trump has an itchy trigger finger and he has to protect jared kushner, his son-in-law. >> there is a fear that the president could fire the special counsel or issue a pardon. this i hope will lead to

republican colleagues saying the same kind of warning because clearly that kind of rash, impulsive action from the president of the united states would trigger a firestorm. >> would that begin -- what began with the saturday night massacre back in '73, would this lead to an impeachment move? >> it would lead to a constitutional conflagration, a crisis that is looming right now. let's be very clear, chris. there's no question in the intelligence community that vladimir putin attacked our democracy so as to elect donald trump. the question for the special counsel has been will there be sufficient evidence to take action against the president based on collusion? >> without naming names, do you think the moderate -- i shouldn't say moderate. that makes it sound like moderate is better than radical. good republican senators, people like richard burr, will he take action if he tries to fire everybody prosecuting him?

>> my colleagues on the republican side tell me that they would simply not tolerate, it would be unacceptable for the president to fire this special counsel, but the president's proceeding on two tracks. one is to say, oh, well i have no intention of firing robert mueller, but the other is to encourage his subservient chorus of defenders, particularly in the house, to attack the special counsel and the fbi. >> it was like a ceremony for the winter solstice. it was the weirdest thing in the world. they're celebrating how they're stealing all the money from regular people and everybody had a white shirt on today. they were so up for this thing. paul, i don't know about you, but i look at the republican behavior and i didn't see a lot of independents. i do believe the best of the republicans, morally and patr t patriotically will stand against the firing of mueller. >> only if he can't convince his

republican colleagues to rise to the occasion. the president obstructs justice by firing robert mueller, he should be impeached. that much it clear. we should also note that there's no direct route that trump has for firing mueller. >> give me the route. >> he'd have to go through the attorney general, who is recused, so that steps it down to the -- to rob rosenstein. he has telegraphed if -- >> does he have to fire sessions, his buddy? >> no, he wouldn't. sessions is already recused. if he fires rosenstein, then he goes down to the deputy attorney general. >> he has to have somebody fire this special counsel. anyway, let's go ahead. "the washington post" said the president approves of the recent attacks that they have leveled against mueller. the president has enjoyed these attacks. in recent weeks he has spoken to

a number of fox news hosts, republican lawmakers and others who have castigated mueller's team. there's a democratic bias from members inside the team. let's take a look at some of these attacks. >> i think it's safe to say we never know that we have the most corrupt fbi, the most corrupt justice department in our country's history. >> this bias is like an infection. it's like an incurable cancer that's inoperable. we've got to end this mueller probe. >> the only thing that remains is whether we have the fortitude to not justifier these people immediately but to take them out in cuffs. >> we're looking at this seeing more and more that this is an attack on the presidency at levels we've never seen before. >> we may now have proof the investigation was weaponized to destroy his presidency for partisan political purposes. and to disenfranchise millions

of american voters. now if that's true, we have a coup coupe on our hands in america. >> the fix is in from the beginning. >> they're talking about the candidate trump, the hecklers in the audience, take them out, beat them up, whatever. now the president's son donald trump jr. is also saying investigate this part of, catch this, rigged system. more third world talk. according to "newsweek" there is and there are people at the highest levels of government that don't want to let america be america. my father talked about a rigged system throughout the campaign and you're seeing it. do you have a suspense about this and how you see it. very serious guy, mark warner. he's no lefty because he makes that. he represents virginia and it's a moderate state. it sounded to me like history, that this is laying down the cards to the president.

don't you dare. >> i agree with you, chris. going back to what you just played, this is really a struggle for the soul of the republican party because you had rob rosen stein, good republican and explaining that he saw nothing improper. robert mueller, a decorated vietnam war veteran was operating within the -- then you saw chris christie on air. mueller may have made some mistakes, he may have hired people who contributed to hillary clinton which christie doesn't like. they're talking about a coupe and accusing mueller with no evidence, no basis, in fact, of doing something stupid. he's encouraging it. he's saying, he's not going to fire mueller.

only rob roddenstein can do that. you can fire a special counsel for certain reasons. if rosenstein wouldn't do it, rachel brand would do it, she's a partisan republican. it remains to see if we're going to have a saturday night massacre type of situation. that's what it would take. >> the president seems to think that the prosecutor who's prosecuting him serves at his pleasure, an imperial notion. >> it is an imperial and totally fictitious notion but in the meantime, chris, the tableau of deception that you just played is accompanied by republican colleagues in the house doing the same thing, attacking the mueller investigation, and it is designed to discredit, o to poison the well, to sabotage the

investigation. by discouraging witnesses, from impugning the integrity of the fbi. think of it for a minute. our premiere law enforcement institution with dedicated men and women who put their lives on the line risk those lives every day and they are being challenged by the like of what we've seen here. >> i wonder if this isn't poisoning a jury pool. if what you say happens and there's a constitutional crisis, it's like trump every day and his minions are saying don't trust the justice system no matter what they've discovered. sometimes next summer they come through with an indictment of the president. we knew this was coming. >> he selected all the high level officials so two things. the fbi remains the world's best law enforcement agency, and they're not above criticism. i have concerns about what comey said about hillary clinton, the e-mail scandal. >> sure. >> i don't like the issues about them investigating black lives

matters. this particular critique is misguided. the fbi and the agents have done nothing wrong including having political opinions and exchanging those messages that's allowed under the rules. the fbi brought down richard nixon eventually. >> and there's no evidence whatsoever that any of the views of fbi agents or any of these vagal will he gagss have had any impact on the special counsel. >> you don't have the law, you pound the table. it's great to have you in our team. front lines, first team, in fact. paul butler, great having you here at the table. coming up, president trump and the republicans are celebrating -- like a druit celebrates at the winter solstice. it was weirdly ritual is stick. all of the guys showed up with white shirts on. this is a direct indication. it's ugly on the inside. they know what they're talking about. this is going to ship billions.

it ought to. also in 2020, plus two former members of congress, one democrat and one republican debating the tax bill and what it means for the americans. republicans are more than happy to help the wealthy donors, but what about the 9 million kids who are going to lose their health insurance. this is the tiny tim, kids, poor kids, near poor kids losing their health coverage to pay for these tax cuts. democrats are fighting mad about this tonight and that's why they're democrats. you won't like it, but this is "hardball" where the action is. everything you buy, not just airline purchases. seriously, think of all the things you buy. great...is this why you asked me to coffee? well yeah... but also to catch-up. what's in your wallet?

well, president trump's first full cabinet meeting earlier this year members of his administration took turns lavishing praise on their boss. listen to that. >> mr. president, it's an honor to serve the country. it's a great privilege you've given me.

>> i can't thank you for the privilege you've given me. >> i want to thank you for getting this country moving again and also working again. >> we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing that you've given us to serve your agenda and the american people. >> earlier today trump held his final cabinet meeting of 2017. this time around vice president pence dished out the tributes all by himself. >> thank you for seeing through the course of this year an agenda that truly is restoring this country. you've restored american credibility on the world stage. you've unleashed american energy. you've spurred an optimism in this country that's setting records. i'm deeply humbled as your vice president to be able to be here. i want to thank you, mr. president. i want to thank you for speaking on behalf of and fighting every day for the forgotten men and

women of america. >> well, that's loyalty of a sort. it turns out that the timing was just a warmup for what we saw on the white house south lawn earlier this afternoon. that's next and we'll be right back. i am totally blind. and non-24 can make me show up too early... or too late. or make me feel like i'm not really "there." talk to your doctor, and call 844-234-2424.

welcome back to "hardball." a celebration at the white house with them busting into cheer the biggest legislative victory so far of the trump administration. the tax bill that passed congress today. the president, of course, praised the legislation. let's watch him. >> i have a whole list of accomplishments that the group behind me have done in terms of this administration and this congress, but you've heard it before. records all over the place, and that will continue and then some because of what we did. but $3.2 trillion, just think of it, in tax cuts for american families. paul ryan and mitch, it was a little team. we just got together and we would work very hard, didn't we? >> yes, we did.

>> it seems like -- it was a lot of fun. it's always a lot of fun when you win because when you think of it, we haven't even been a year and we did the largest tax cut in our history. >> the president has a long way to go selling the plan, of course. polls show it's deeply unpopular with the american public. only 24%, less than a quarter in the latest wall street journal poll say it was a good idea. one reason the largest tax breaks do go to the big corporations and the rich americans like donald trump. anyway, today the president trying to sound a populus message about the bill saying the larger exemptions for the estate tax aren't for rich people to give money to their kids but to safe family forums. that's what he says. the corporate tax cuts are all about jobs, jobs, jobs, not the corporate coiffeurs. let's watch him. >> one thing very important for the farmers, the great farmers and the great small business owners that were forced to sell their businesses at bargain basement numbers. we have provided for the most

part estate taxes wiped out so they can keep their farms in the family, and that to me is a very big factor. this is -- this is going to mean companies are going to be coming back and i campaigned on the fact that we're not going to lose our companies anymore. they're going to stay in our country. that means jobs. i guess it's very simple. when you think you haven't heard this expression, but we are making america great again. you haven't heard that, have you? >> well, will that message play to the american people? i'm joined by jason johnson and robert costa. let me tell you, robert, this guy, you want him to sell your house some day or your old car because he's one hell of a salesman. but today i saw a lot of republican guys, mostly guys in the congress and senate with white shirts on, all dressed up for the occasion. do you think celebration is the right message for a tax cut that goes mostly to the top? >> they're going to have to rely

on the president to be their salesman ahead of the mid term elections. that's at stake in the 2018 elections. democrats believe by bringing that corporate rate down from 35 to 21, they excel on the left as something that's against the working class, that's for the corporations. but they're going to rely on trump because he has the connection with the working class voters to make those stark shirt republicans on the hill seem a little more popular. >> it's a late night. my favorite notion of politics, late night, had a couple of beers. sitting along a bar route 40 or somewhere out in the country or somewhere and they're talking about trump, right? >> right. >> one guy says, i don't know about this tax thing. what's the other guy say, of course it is. who's going to say, no, it's for us? will they say, hey, i got my piece, i don't care. >> right. >> is that what they're going to say, i've got my piece? >> it doesn't work.

the people not involved in politics who i talked to, they went to the tax calculator and they're like, am i going to get anything? most people, they're not. >> yeah. >> if next april everyone looks around and says, my gosh, i'm making money, now they're not. >> what they're not getting is a postcard short firm. i used to remember being single trying to do my taxes. i do it on my own, the night before, april 14th. i would sit there doing all the math and everything, but i never thought it was simple. and he said he was going to make it a really simple tax form, fill it out, a postcard. what happened to that? >> it's gone. >> it's more complicated than ever. >> it's certainly not a postcard. republicans have the challenge will the jobs come back? they're lowering the corporations. that helps corporations here at home. does it actually bring jobs back to the sunbelt and the southwest, does it bring jobs back to the rust belt? that's going to be the challenge for the republicans. they know the suburban republicans are with them because their 401ks are doing

well. >> it drives salaries up, labor shortages. >> right. >> go to five people, beg people to work for you. at the white house republicans took the mike one at a time to praise the president. this is a strange ritual. they were all doing what they always do. it seems like he has to get these hosannas from these people all the time. let's watch the hosannas. >> mr. president, you made the case for the tax bill but this has been a year of extraordinary accomplishment for the trump administration. >> something this big, something this generational, something this profound could not have been done without exquisite presidential leadership. >> i truly do believe, mr. president, that this will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the life of our nation, but honestly i would say to the american people, president trump has been making history since the first day of this administration. >> come february check your

check because that will be the pay raise of the vote for donald trump. >> mr. president, i have to say that you're living up to every -- everything i thought you would. you're one heck of a leader. >> and we love all of you, and we're going to keep fighting and we're going to make this the greatest presidency that we've seen, not only in generations but maybe ever. >> paul ryan just said how good was that? >> trump, even in that manic moment when orrin hatch, fairly straight conservative, he is what he is from utah, he's saying something apparently from his heart. trump says, good sales pitch. even trump can't accept a legitimate praise. he sees it all as pr. >> all as pr. we were talking about him scowling as mike pence is supplicating in front of him. i don't think the president is capable of appreciating how much other people work for him and

appreciate it. >> why is he like this? robert, you are my trump expert. why does he have to -- he's not god. you don't pray to him, but these people seem to pray to him. the stuff they say to him at his face is prayer like. >> the republican party presented a united front today, but it has not been a united year for the gop. >> why are they doing that? >> because they need to present to their base the image of auk ses. >> are they tying their values -- are they tying their wagons to -- >> 100%. you doo you don't stand in the white house against the president. they don't have control of their base. they're relying on him to give him the boost to go into 2018 with the tax cut. >> that's like trump talking about people wanting his money and they won't believe anything. at the end of the day, they're all going to tie themselves to trump.

when i ask my friend in ohio, he's clean about the swamp but my tow truck company, when it comes to tax time, they blow it off. praising him doesn't make it any easier. >> even senator corker and others who have had differences with him. they're standing right there with them. >> republicans don't fall in love they fall in line. today it looked like he was frightening. >> thank you, jason johnson. up next, president trump once said the republican tax bill would cost him a fortune and it wouldn't help the wealthy at all. that's clearly not true. will the tax plan hurt the wealthy? that's my question for tonight. this is "hardball" where the action is. "dear sebastian, after careful consideration of your application, it is with great pleasure that we offer our congratulations on your acceptance..."

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i'm milissa graver. the pentagon confirms multiple ground operations are underway in yemen. the defense department says it doubled in size in the war torn country. three members of the same family including an 11-year-old boy are among 12 people killed when a bus filled with tourists crashed. a mexico state prosecutor says the crash was caused by the driver's negligence and excessive speed. al franken will resign from the senate january 2nd. his replacement tina smith will be sworn in january 3rd. back to "hardball."

back to the biggest story of the day. welcome back. as president trump and republican lawmakers continue to celebrate the most sweeping tax overhaul since the '80s, many americans are wondering what exactly this bill does for them. the legislation delivers deep and permanent cuts for corporations while delivering only temporary tax cuts for individual americans. that's the big deal. it's accepted. according to the nonpartisan tax policy center taxpayers earning less than $25,000 a year would receive an average tax cut of 60 bucks. those earning between 49 and $86,000 a year would get an average cut of $900. those receiving 300 to 700,000 would receive 13,000. donald trump said it would hurt him. he actually said that. let's listen. >> tax reform will protect low income and middle income

households, not the wealthy and well connected. >> the rich will not be gaining at all with this plan. we're looking for the middle class and we're looking for jobs. >> i think the wealthy will be pretty much where they are. pretty much where they are. >> in all fairness, this is going to cost me a fortune, believe me. believe me. this is not good for me. me, it's not -- i have some very wealthy friends. not so happy with me, but that's okay. >> the opposite of what he said. slashing corporate rates from 35% down to 21%. that's a big help to the rich. by one estimate more than half of all-americans, 53% would actually end up paying more in taxes by 2027. it would get rid of obamacare's mandate which will increase premiums that leave 13 million people out in the cold. 13 million people out in the cold because of this tax cut without any health care. despite all of that, the republicans persuade the general public this bill is a good deal. i'm joined by dave jolly.

former republican congressman and donna edwards. you two have been matched up before so let's see what you think. congresswoman, you're here now. i don't see that the winning thrill here for regular people, and i mean by regular, anybody up to 100 some in joint incomes, i don't see what they're cheering about. 80 bucks after all of this hoopla and mar-a-lago delight. who's benefitting here? >> if you look at your chart, middle income earners, you're talking about $80 a month. when i was raising my son i could buy one pair of shoes, two pair of shoes a month for 80 bucks because he changed shoes all the time. so this is really not -- >> you have to go to the outlets to do that. >> exactly. you look at health care. 13 million people are going to be left without, but you didn't include the number of people whose premiums are going to skyrocket because of what they've done. exactly.

so this is a disaster. >> let me -- david, you've been a republican, you probably still are. >> sure. >> what is it that makes republicans republicans? most republicans who vote republican, some of them are regular people, working people, they like trump. they're not benefitting from being republican. if you want to live like a republican, vote like a democrat. i'm sure you won't agree with that. your thoughts. why do regular income people who are republican like this tax cut? >> so, listen. donald trump -- those are all lies, we know that. at the end of the day it's very true, chris because this tax bill actually does reduce taxes for virtually everybody. but the important thing here is why is it so unpopular? i think it's so unpopular because a year into the trump administration there's a historic distrust for the republican party. >> go ahead. >> there is a historic level of distrust for the republican party here. we see that now. >> what about the $60.

you say everybody gets something. 60 bucks a year isn't a whole lot? >> no, of course it isn't, which is why the tax plan is polling at 25 or 30%. here's what republicans are banking on. this is historic reform for the corporate community. it is not historic reform for the individual taxpayers, we know that. what we saw today is very dangerous for democrats. it's this. this was a unifying moment for republicans. secondly, all elections are about contrasts and going into 2018 republicans are now going to say it's less important that they cut your taxes, it's more important that democrats want to raise your taxes. they're going to try to pin this week's votes in the house and senate saying they voted for higher taxes or for lower taxes and in a 28 second commercial that works. >> donna, you're running for office again. you're going to have to face the voters and the republicans say in effect you voted to raise taxes because you voted against the tax cut. >> well, i didn't vote for anything but i'm going to tell you this. >> because you're not in the house anymore?

>> that's right. on state, local, income and property taxes, i know the people where i live, probably half of them are going to see their taxes go up because of that cap. and you look at things like the give away -- the -- what i call the real estate -- the corker kickback, right? the real estate windfall, $414 billion that actually went to people who voted for that legislation. people are going to find in that 1100 -- >> the republican senators? >> republican senators, and they're going to find in that 1100 pages that there are all sorts of things like that that enrich individuals and enrich the highest income earners and multi-millionaires, multi-billionaires. it's not going to help them. when they're going to find that out is next year because every one of us knows our own paycheck and we're going to look to find it. >> fair enough. according to a new cnn poll, republicans face an uphill battle. 56% say they favor a democrat in their district while just 38%

say they prefer a republican. that's an 18 point edge for democrats. david, what do you think of that? let me go after another question i have for both of you. the democratic party isn't as left as the british labor party who are very much selfish, they don't like the rich making anymore. americans are sort of like if i'm doing okay, i'm not mad at anybody. do you think this time around when the tycoon is president, who seems to be sloshing around in money, luxury, back and forth to mar-a-lago. i call them the romanoffs. it's such an image of pigging out that this time the average joe or jane is going to say, i don't usually care how the rich live. i don't like them doing it at my expense. >> it should be. the american people are right. donald trump is a president that has lied to the american people since he got into the office. republicans tried to repeal obamacare without a plan to

provide health care to the under served communities. we saw roy moore who was accused of sexual offenses against minors. republicans nominated him. today we see a tax bill that favors the rich, not the working class. the challenge is this, chris. donna knows this. yes, it's good. where is the message? >> i'm with you. >> where is tim ryan's plan to say this is our tax plan? because at some point they need to see a contrast and say i can go with a democrat. >> you just threw the football to donna edwards. congresswoman, when are we going to have a picture of the democratic program. that's a program. is there one for 18 -- i know it's called a better deal but is that enough? does that say enough? >> i think what democrats have to do is go out and talk to the american people about protecting and saving your social security and medicare because we know

that that's going to come under attack in the next go around in 2018. >> is that the next go around? >> no. we want to create jobs and opportunities. >> how are you going to create jobs? >> investing in infrastructure, for example, investing in domestic manufacturing. these are things we have to do. you have to have the resources to do it. >> i'm completely with you. i don't have a picture of it. i want a democratic picture. paint it for me sometime. >> i'm going to take you over every road and pothole and crumbling bridge and that will paint your picture because that's where we need to invest. >> thank you, david jolly. thank you my friend donna edwards. up next, republicans were quick to pass a tax cut that benefits the wealthy. meanwhile, millions of children in need of health insurance can be left out in the cold this christmas. this is a program called chips. it's for kids just at the poverty level and a little bit above who need health care and aren't getting it.

this is really if you think about it tiny tim stuff. democrats are demanding action tonight. you're watching "hardball."

welcome back to "hardball." democrats have pointed out that the republican focus of the tax bill has made them put the children's health insurance on the back burner. the program is running out of money. democratic lawmakers held a press conference today where they held lumps of coal demanding that they reauthorize the program before the holidays. let's watch. >> this is the ultimate bad christmas carol story. this may be the most shame full day in the history of congress. we're going to put 9 million kids in this country at risk. so what we're doing here today is basically saying, wealthy americans, big, fat christmas present for you. tiny tim, we're taking your

crutch away from you and all the other kids in this country. and we're putting a lump of coal into your christmas stocking. >> well, here's tonight's roundtable with ginger gibson. amy linsky and sun min kim is with politicpolitico. let me talk about the democrats having a problem. did they really fight the tax cut? should they have fought it at the cost that you are not going to get certain things you know the government has to deliver so some people can make an extra killing? >> i think democrats threw a lot at it but what they really need to be doing is how they message it in 2018. if they don't start telling voters it's bad for you. they've been given a gift. a bill that passed with 30% public approval. that is worse than the aca was. >> affordable care act. >> affordable care. democrats have an opportunity to message it, get people riled up.

if they miss it, they'll be looking at 2018 as a missed opportunity. >> traditionally you don't miss by cutting taxes. they'll take the sliver rather than nothing. i wonder about trump slopping around in the white house, the romanoffs. this is very tycoon rich loving the fact that they can give breaks to people like themselves. >> potentially signing it in mar-a-lago surrounded by the wealthy splendor. that's certainly on the table as something that is possible. he very well may sign it in mar-a-lago surrounded by his opulents. to your point about chip, what a contrast that would be to be in this sort of room, not a taxpayer room but a gilde dodd-frank ro d room. >> it's really true. i try to read it every christmas. it's about a guy coming home, little tiny tim on the frozen

sidewalk of london. basically, get out of the way, kid. i want to go home and have my soup. basically he would love to squeeze a little more money out -- aren't there prisons and more houses. let's put the people there, the poor people. it's horrible stuff. >> the failure to reauthorize is another example of why congress cannot just do the basic thing. you have a program that is widespread, it affects 9 million children in low income families. orrin hatch and ted kennedy created it. >> so they didn't vote? >> they didn't vote. what happened was in the house, house republicans had a chip plan except it was paid for through partisan measures which didn't get the support of democrats in the chamber. why did pass it was dead on arrival in the senate. it's gotten nowhere outside of the committee. so it's really a failure congress here. >> meanwhile, they have time to jam in ted cruise's home

schooling program. that's congress in kentucky. >> there should be no -- versus hillary clinton's baby as well. that plan is -- that's her -- the answer to the health care plan that failed. you do kind of wonder when you mention these legacy programs, that's her legacy. >> a chance to -- >> exactly. that's kind of how it was. >> by the way, taking it 13 million people out of obamacare, the people that are young and healthy, just get out while they're young and healthy. don't wear a helmet. enjoy. nobody has to bother me. those people are the ones you want in the insurance program. they're all going to get scott free now. the republicans love it because it's under financing obamacare. >> the problem republicans were talking about years ago, which is that these uninsured people can show up in the emergency room and the care that everyone pays for is going to return to

that. >> it's scrooge. >> roundtable sticking with me. they'll have some scoops to enjoy throughout the holidays. you're watching "hardball." the day after chemo might mean a trip back to the doctor's office, just for a shot. but why go back there, when you can stay home, with neulasta onpro? strong chemo can put you at risk of serious infection, which could lead to hospitalizations. in a key study, neulasta reduced the risk of infection from 17% to 1%, a 94% decrease. applied the day of chemo, neulasta onpro is designed to deliver neulasta the next day, so you can stay home. neulasta is for certain cancer patients

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the middle ages -- by lot. essentially a coin toss or another game of chance. and that process is expected to take place within the next week. that should be interesting. and the outcome of that tiny kosz will decide control of the virginia house of delegates. that is democracy. either republicans will maintain their control in the house or it will be split 50/50 between both houses and i think that the governor will have something to say about that. the democratic governor. and we'll be right back. ♪ give ancestrydna, the only dna test that can trace your origins to over 150 ethnic regions... ♪ ...and open up a world of possibilities. ♪ save 20% for the holidays at ancestrydna.com. i love you, droolius caesar, but sometimes you stink. febreze car vent clip cleans away odors for up to 30 days.

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i am totally blind. and non-24 can throw my days and nights out of sync, keeping me from the things i love to do. talk to your doctor, and call 844-214-2424. we're back with the "hardball" roundtable. ginger, tell me something i don't know. >> senator cardin sent a letter today calling for more action for the situation in myanmar. two of my coworkers reuters reporters are being detained. we don't know where they are. they have not been allowed to communicate with anyone. this is a serious situation and something everyone should be paying attention to. this was journalists doing journalism, arrested for doing that. >> thank you. annie? >> so, i've been very interested in the tax debate about -- it's a bit wonky, but the carried interest loophole.

>> oh, yeah, the one for the -- >> for the hedge funds, yes. this is something that donald trump campaigned on closing. lo and behold, the tax plan, you know, arrives and that continues to exist. i was at a breakfast with gary cohn this morning and we asked him about that. and he said up until monday, the president was still trying to debt it closed. s and gary cohn, the president's chief economic adviser pointed the finger to republicans in the house from new york as the -- >> i know. because although they got hit with the state and local tax loss, it'll keep the donors happy. it's about the donors. >> that's right. >> chris, you and i have talked about the issue of president trump personally interviewing u.s. attorney candidates, particularly in new york and school district district of columbia. a group of reporters sat down with senator rubio earlier today and i asked him, do you know if he had interviewed candidates for the southern district of

florida, where mar-a-lago is located, and senator rubio says that he does not know that the president has done that, but he said if he were trump's lawyer, he would strongly advise against doing that. >> because he cut some deals down there? >> he has interviewed candidates where he has some business interests. >> of course, he also worries about prosecution. >> thank you all. when we return, let me finish tonight with trump watch. not going to like this, baby, and you're watching "hardball." my dad's.

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trump watch. wednesday, december 20th, 2017. like the druids celebrating the winter solstice, the trump kins had their ritual today on the back steps of the white house. there we were, the men in what shi white shirts, lined up on the truman balcony to sing the song of their sun king, donald j. trump. men and women decked out in their sunday best saying things about the president they could either not possibly mean or that they have been forced by the trumpkins back home to believe and like it. look at this tax bill they're lauding and applauding. look at it. it's the largest transplant of money in the history of the republic. trillions of dollars being shoved up to the top to join where most of the money already sits. the cuts and corporate taxes joins the cuts already slashing around in corporate drawers. the big dollar cuts in the top tax rate. the elimination of the corporate minimum tax that makes companies pay at least something. that's gone.

the huge cut in estate taxes, which mean millions more owned by the rich will be kept in their families, ensuring rich kids comforted by grandpop's millions for generations to come. how about that one? and there they were today, gleaming in the sunlight, worshiping their sun king, glorying in the shortest day of the year. the day they chose to celebrate the greatest shorting of the american people in history. that's "hardball" for now. thanks for being with us. "all in with chris hayes" starts right now. tonight on "all in." >> president donald trump delivered. >> exquisite presidential leadership, mr. president, thank you. >> you're one heck of a leader. >> reporter: democrats and republicans agree, republicans own this. >> if we can't sell this to the american people, we ought to go into another line of work. >> the brand-new tax cut for the wealthiest americans that destroys health care for millions. >> we essentially repealed obamacare, because we got rid of the individual mandate.