>> how much money is this lawsuit going to take up this year? millions? >> i don't know the amount of money it will take, but i'll tell you it's hard to put a price tag on preserving democracy. you know what, that's why i concluded it would be irresponsible not to do this. >> jackie speier, claire this sunday, russia and the growing pressure on president trump. republicans win the release of mccaskill, they called it a silly distraction and jackie former fbi chief's james comey's memos. >> this is a big, big beginning to the end of what has been a witch-hunt. >> but the memos reinforce speier has seen all of this said it's ill conceived, not in the comey's version of events. interest of the american people. what would you tell them? >> i love the two democrats, they're great people. >> it is certainly some evidence we're working to help re-elect of obstruction of justice. them and i disagree with them >> and they reveal president preserving our democracy is priceless. trump's obsession with when you have elections that disproving the steele dossier. have been attempted -- you see attempted interference in the past. reference to prostitutes. they're going to do it again. >> he'd bring it up repeatedly. by the way, i would love to >> plus, could michael cohen be introduce them to some of my pressured into helping the mueller investigation? colleagues on the dnc. at the end of this, they were trying to bring about chaos, >> i still has to be concerned chuck. and they did. about cohen flipping on him.

we had people on my team at the >> my guests are marc short and dnc who got death threats. and you know what? republican senator susan collins when you try to do that to our of maine. also, the democrats lawsuit. team, yeah, i'm going to punch back. the dnc sues the trump campaign i'm punching back not only for my colleagues. i'm punching back for democracy. russia and wikileaks for that's what we believe in as democrats. allegedly conspireing to sabotage hillary clinton's elections should be fair. i understand people may agree or presidential bid. i'll talk to the chairman of the democratic national committee, disagree. but you know what? we're fighting for them. >> okay. tom perez. tom perez, chair of the dnc. and saying good-bye, to thank you for sharing your views. >> always a pleasure. when we come back, why democrats should feel optimistic friends and family and nation, about 2020 and why republicans former first lady barbara bush. should feel every bit as >> people admired her and loved her so. optimistic about 2020. this is the ocean. >> joining me for insight are chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell, the christian broadcasting network's david brody. amy walter, national editor of the cook political report and just listen. democratic pollster cornell belcher. welcome to sunday. (vo) there's so much we want to show her. we needed a car that would last long enough to see it all. it's "meet the press." (avo) subaru outback. ninety eight percent are still on the road after 10 years. >> from nbc news in washington, the longest running show in television history. this is "meet the press" with come on mom, let's go! chuck todd.

>> good sunday morning. hey, i'm curious about your social security alerts. perhaps we shouldn't be oh! we'll alert you if we find your social security number surprised that it feels as if sometimes we're living in a tabloid presidency given the on any one of thousands of risky sites, so you'll be in the know. president was raised in a new york tabloid culture so we ewww! imagine our own tabloid being in the know is very good. headlines this week. don't shake! ahhh! sign up online for free. the president charges that comey discover social security alerts. broke the law. he claims that the president told him vladimir putin said quote, we have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world. rudy giuliani is back. this time joining the president's legal team. a porn actress causes a spectacle at a court hearing involving the president's lawyer and fixer, michael cohen. it's revealed in that open courtroom that one of cohen's three clients is sean hannity fox news host. there's open debate if cohen will flip and testify to avoid a possible jail sentence and now the democratic national stay at la quinta. committee sues the trump where we're changing with stylish make-overs. campaign, alleging they conspired to help trump get elected. then at your next meeting, set your seat height to its maximum level. >> it seems like tabloid fun, bravo, tall meeting man. start winning today. it's deadly serious business, book now at lq.com

start winning today. and the country is deeply divided and the president appears increasing in peril. brbut how will his dentured to thicope with... >> there was no collusion with russia. >> president trump is lashing a steak. out tweeting james comey illegally leaked classified luckily for brad, this isn't a worry documents to the press in order because he's discovered to generate a special counsel. super poligrip. therefore, the special special it holds his denture tight and helps give him 65% more chewing power. counsel was established on an illegal act. a president under siege, leaving brad to dig in increasingly agitated as the and enjoy the tastiest of t-bones. squeeze is put on his long-time super poligrip, personal lawyer michael cohen helping you enjoy the foods you love. whose office, home and hotel room were raided by the fbi last week. >> mr. president, can michael cohen flip? >> cohen told "vanity fair" in september i'm the guy who would take a bullet for the president. >> i would do anything to protect mr. trump. >> but now the legal advisers are warning the president that cohen may cooperate with federal prosecutors if faced with criminal charges. >> he has to be concerned about two possibilities, number one, cohen flipping on him. and not only singing but composing and making up stories.

and second, files that are seized. >> adding to mr. trump's concerns the justice department pressed by house republicans welcome back. released 15 pages of memos from the former fbi director and an data download time. intimate look at the we've reached a big milestone in the last couple of months. relationship between mr. trump we are less than a thousand days and comey in the months leading from 2020 presidential election. you're excited too, aren't you? never too soon to start having a up to his firing. the memos document the little fun with our electoral president's efforts to get the college maps with the country's demographics undergoing fbi to drop the criminal case significant shifts how will it against fired national security adviser michael flynn. >> it's certainly some evidence look different than 2016? of obstruction of justice. >> and they detail the obsession thanks to the report on the with disproving the steele america's electoral future, we dossier, particularly an unsubstantiated claim that the actually have some answers based on a few scenarios. now, the country is growing more russians had tapes with diverse, so by the time the 2020 election rolls around white prostitutes -- voters are projected to make up >> my sense is he's based on the personal piece. >> according do the memos it was a smaller share of eligible mr. trump who brought it up in voters than they did in 2016. the meetings on january 6, it's a trend that we have seen for decades and while african-americans, hispanic and asians will make up a larger share. january 27 and february 8th and how will the changes play out in said that the hookers thing is

a few different scenarios? nonsense, but that putin had told him we have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world. as a reminder here's what the 2016 map looked like. many of mr. trump's allies claim that the comey memos vindicate donald trump flipped six states him. >> this is a big, big beginning obama won including three in the supposed big midwestern blue to the end of what has been a wall. witch-hunt from pretty much day pennsylvania, wisconsin and michigan. one. so what happens if democrats are >> but after a week long media able to recreate the blitz, that at times veered into african-american turnout that they saw in the 2012 election? the petty and sensational -- >> you referenced trump's possible self-tanning, the size of his hands. >> the detailed memos ended up well, with more black voter s adding credibility to mr. in 2020, they would take back wisconsin, michigan and comey's account. pennsylvania and guess what, as one republican critic worries with a 2020 turnout they would about the president's stepped up get georgia a state they haven't won since 1992. campaign on law enforcement. along with a few other states >> tearing down the justice department or the fbi is not a that trump carried in 2016. democrats would win the electoral college by about the good thing for our nation. obama margin from 2012. >> joining me is the chief congressional negotiator marc short. but what if the african-american welcome back to "meet the press." vote stays the same and >> thank you for having me back republicans continue to grow again. their advantage among whites >> all right. we have a ton of stuff to get. without a college degree while i'll start with the russia probe simply because over the last 48 hours half of the tweets have democrats grow their s simply been on russia and comey among whites with a college degree? well, republicans would see a and then sporadic ones on a

whole other number of issues scenario much like 2016. that we'll get into though. they'd hang on to all of those but his focus this weekend in blue wall states plus they'd even flip new hampshire. particular on the russia probe democrats would win the popular it seems to be as almost as if vote but the republicans would it's consuming him. likely take the electoral why is that? college by a wide margin. >> chuck, i think he's 309-229. responding to a lot of the what if everything stays the coverage that mainstream media same except voters who went with a third party candidate come home to the party they typically vote with? is put on this. but i think the administration remains focused on doing the things that we promised. i think you see that the economy had unemployment at 4.1% the guess what, dems would take back lowest in 17 years. you see 5 million americans have received either a bonus or a pennsylvania and mitch and wage increase since the tax plan passed. maine. oh, yeah, we'd have a 269-269 tie. yeah yeah. deregulation continues. we're continuing to make laugh it up. progress in putting the you think this is what us conservative judges on the political prognosticators dream of. courts so the administration we do. stays focused on the business. >> does it hurt your ability to tell those stories when the president spends his time focused on russia? >> i just did. the bottom line, the country is i mean, no, i don't think it getting more diverse, which does hurt our ability. means states are going to change. we are making the case as democrats are starting to gain a foothold in the sunbelt and thousand the tax plan is helping georgia and arizona are coming into the battle ground and americans and how deregulation republicans are going to hold a slight advantage in the midwest is helping the economy and how we have a booming economy with probably for years to come. 3% gdp. back with "end game" and an so i think the american people emotional farewell to a beloved are feeling it around first lady. appreciating it.

>> here's one from friday night, james comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a special counsel? therefore the special counsel was established based on the illegal act. what does that mean? >> chuck, i remember there's a time when republicans opposed special counsels in principle because they felt they had unchartered terrain and no check and balance on them. we have seen special counsels that have abused their roles, both democrats and republicans. republicans fell in love with the special counsel when a experience lexus safety system plus standard whitewater investigation turned into the investigation about a 21-year-old intern having sexual in the 2018 lexus es and es hybrid. relations with the president in lease the 2018 es 350 for $399/month for 36 months. the oval office. special counsel have challenges that go wide ranging and this experience amazing administration has cooperated, provided thousands of documents. at your lexus dealer. taxpayers spent millions on this let's team up to get the lady of the house back on her feet. and help her feel more strength and energy investigation. and to date, we continue to in just two weeks cooperate without evidence of yaaay! collusion. the complete balanced nutrition of (great tasting) ensure so yes, i think the president expresses a lot of frustration with 9 grams of protein and 26 vitamins and minerals. with where this investigation ensure. is. always be you. >> does he believe the scope has you totanobody's hurt, new car. been fair so far?

but there will still be pain. it comes when your insurance company says they'll only pay >> i think we have frustrations and this the scope has gone well three-quarters of what it takes to replace it. beyond what was intended to be investigations into the meddling what are you supposed to do? in the election. i think the house and the senate drive three-quarters of a car? have had their own now if you had liberty mutual new car replacement™, you'd get your whole car back. investigations and the house i guess they don't want you driving around on three wheels. have completed theirs and smart. anxious for the senate to with liberty mutual new car replacement™, complete theirs. we'll replace the full value of your car. >> jeff sessions has said if rosenstein is fired he'll liberty stands with you™. resign. >> i have no information. liberty mutual insurance. >> do you believe that republicans on capitol hill would be supportive if the president fired mr. rosenstein or mr. sessions? >> you know, chuck, i think that i have been on your show, i'm grateful, we have the same conversation about when's the president going to fire one of the guys. >> no, he himself brings it up. like we don't -- we don't imagine it. >> okay, when is he going to fire rosenstein or mueller, we

have the same conversation. as far as i know the president has no intention of firing these individuals. >> right. >> you know how far off the investigation is going to veer, he has no intention of firing them. we have the same conversation again and again. the president says i have no intention of firing them, but the media every single da day, every single week when is the president going to fire them? we have no evidence of collusion. >> why was it so important for the president to have the comey ♪ memos released? back now with "end game." >> i don't think it was so one of the reasons we call it that because we want to get to a important -- pushed by the house bunch of issues fairly quickly. republicans and i think they were anxious to show that i want to start with the dnc comey himself saying the president said to him if there's evidence of russian interference lawsuit. i want you to get to the bottom of it. cornell belcher, is this good i think that is countered to the politics for 2018? narrative in the media that the that seems to be -- i'm a sin i president is trying to obstruct can. justice or the investigation. this looks like a stunt. >> there are bigger things in that memo shows the president politics at play. the dnc was attacked. specifically was advising comey people hacked them. to get to the bottom of it. we had lives destroyed. >> no, in fact i concur. you had, you know, an attack by it seemed like he was saying

investigate the dossier. a foreign adversary on the dnc. would you go as far as say -- agreeing that that's what the memos indicate? they have a right to hold someone accountable. i put politics aside. >> perhaps. this is bigger than politics. i can't say what comey was >> would it have been more thinking in his own words but effective had there been the perhaps that's fair. individuals who were impacted? >> i want to move to north korea and i want to put up what ari those are the victims, the individuals as a whole. dnc makes it political. >> the dnc as a whole was fleischer, veteran of the bush administration, he writes this, impacted. i think our election was call me a cynic, but based on impacted by this hacking. history they'll suspend today and again tomorrow. it's bigger than politics. >> this is too wide. 66 pages, they've named so many two, they have alternative ways to carry out thur mission. different people 12 apostles, 7 they are lying now or will lie tomorrow. this is how nk behaves. dwarves. there is everybody. what has the united states gotten from north korea? on collusion and russia, inside this document, in this lawsuit he's done temporary everything they talk about how the trump but he's not made a pledge on denuclearization this last time. administration has or they were concerned the trump he hasn't released the hostages administration has policies that yet. would support the kremlin. have we -- we have given him the meeting. but the last time i checked, that in itself is a huge give. didn't we just bomb syria, one of russia's allies? what have we gotten in return? >> i would say that what, one, didn't we expel diplomats? an agreement to stop testing which is something that north didn't we continue with sanctions on russia? korea has not done before. the point is there doesn't seem we have cautious optimism, chuck.

to be any there-there at this point. >> fair enough there. we are cautious. let me ask you about rudy you heard the president say many times we're going to keep up maximum pressure. we're not going to stop that giuliani. he's back -- yeah, you did drop until they denuclearize. the mic. we all live on the point. he said i can walk away from the table, but chuck, more important rudy giuliani, president's reasons why with need a legal team. secretary of state confirmed what's interesting about it is a sooner rather than later. lot of people are bringing back these are important to the the fact that rudy giuliani american people. seemed to know that, quote, >> but denuclearization, what does that mean to the president comey 2, the reopening of the investigation was coming before and what do you think that means the rest of us did. to the north koreans? do you think you agree on what if that is indeed confirmed, that leaks were going to him, is the word even means? >> i think they have to sit down he going to be able to rename and get to that point but from the president's lawyer? our perspective, it means no >> this whole thing to me speaks longer having nuclear weapons that can be used in warfare much more about the president against any of our allies. wanting a security blanket than >> all right, another topic wanting a legal voice. he knows rudy giuliani, he's here, mitch mcconnell was asked comfortable around him. he'll tell him what he likes to about that you're working with hear. he may go on tv and say those things. house republicans on, a to your point, i think it makes it harder for rudy giuliani to rescission bill which means -- be a front person because he's it's simply pulling going to get asked that same back some of the spending that question you just asked me over you guys agreed to in that bill that i know the president wasn't and over again. happy with. seems to me he's the behind the here's what mitch mcconnell said about it. scenes person that he can hold onto ragtder than the real >> you can't make an agreement voice. >> but he's a counter puncher.

one month and say, okay, we don't mean it and come back the and he can go on another network next month and say, oh, we didn't mean our agreement. and not be asked those difficult >> you were in the room, you questions and just keep agreed to the negotiations. i mean, are you guys -- why expounding what the president wants to see. >> which one is that? >> it's about judgment, right? should democrats ever negotiate it shows incredible poor with you again? >> sure. judgment. rudy giuliani lies about hillary several things. clinton not showing up at ground zero 9/11. one we would ask the senate to he's someone we're probably look at the pack an that gets going to find out the leaks went sent up. did you know between president ford and president clinton there to, right? this is -- his judgment is poor. are over 1,200 recisions i mean, this is a ka ball of submitted to congress. >> why did mcconnell said you corruption and lies at this don't want to do it? point. i don't think it's helpful at >> he hasn't seen the package. i think you what you will see us all. >> i agree with amy. putting forward are dollars not being utilized and second, we it's relational. he has relationship with had a negotiation and a top line mueller. trump knows business 101, be agreement what we should spend on military and how we should relational. >> they want to make andrew get the first funding to build the wall in over ten years and mccabe a big deal. nobody saw the text. if giuliani is a recipient of big leaks -- >> that has to be a p.r. the president said that. problem. >> kabal of corruption. >> all right. nobody saw the text of the bill let's end on a note that seemed within 24 hours because the to bring the entire country process in congress is broken. the last time congress finished together, even for a brief an appropriations on time was 22 minute. i want to put up this photo that years ago.

was put on twitter by george then they dump an appropriations h.w. bush. bill and they can either keep bush 41 surrounded by members of all of the current living the government open or shut it presidential administrations. down. so it's a switch that the you have the clintons, the owe president has to face. bam as, melania trump, george if congress would do its job and get a appropriations bill on bush, george w. bush. time, there probably wouldn't be andrea, you were there. a rescissions package. as i said, it felt like america was burying its grandma. >> there's news that indeed the >> it did. it was also a tribute to a person he was renting a room different political era. from, a lobbiest he was renting nobody is going to question that a room from did have something the george bush campaign in '88 before the epa, did have an owe wasn't a tough willie horton fishl meeting with him. campaign. they played politics hard. but barbara bush and the way that's not very drain the both bushes evolved and embraced swampy. >> that's fare, but scott pruitt the clintons and that authentic is doing competent job. >> what would it take for him to lose confidence? relationship after that crushing >> that's a hypothetical. defeat in '92 to the bushes, and he's doing a great job at the epa. what jeb said in his eulogy, the we're excited to have him there. eulogies were beautiful. >> the president's chief the church service was congressional aide. thanks for coming on. beautiful. what jeb said about her >> that bipartisan bill that kindness, her generosity, lack would protect special counsel of, you know, lack of meanness, from being fired is expected a committee vote this week. her spirit. it was such an implicit rebuke,

there's an important person standing between it and the frankly, to the trump era. >> can i just put up a moment senate floor, still there seems here? i want to show barbara bush to be some republican disagreement over the outcome. >> this is a piece of holding an aids baby in march of 1989. legislation that's not necessary >> right. >> and amy walter, this was such in my judgment. i'm the one who decides what we take to the floor. an important moment. that's my responsibility. we won't be having this on the people forget 1989, this is floor of the senate. before magic johnson was >> the views of the majority leader are important to diagnosed. there was this perception that, consider, but they do not govern what happens here in the oh, my god, if you just touch an judiciary committee. if consideration on the floor aids patient, you, too, might was a standard for approving a get aids. >> what better image for a mother to be holding a child, bill in committee or not, we wouldn't be probably moving any right? at its core. i want to also get back to what bills out of this committee. andrea said which is >> republican senator susan fascinating. collins of maine joins me now. she represents and that funeral welcome back to the show. >> thank you, chuck. represented the central para docks we have in our political >> i'm going to ask about that time, we want a return to that very question, mcconnell said i decide what goes on the floor, civility, the decency, but we it's not happening. don't want to return to political dynasties. and that's what we continue to where are you on this bill? >> i believe it's important to fight against. you want some of it without the other. >> and also about that aids -- that image, the reagan white have a debate on the bill in order to send a clear message to the president that congress does house was so late to come to not support his taking any action with regard to mr. grips with aids and really resisted that.

so, barbara bush broke through. mueller's investigation. >> huge moment. thank you, guys. now, i don't think there's any before i go, quick programming note, tonight don't want to miss this. special investigative edition of chance in the world that the president is going to sign the bill. "dateline" headed up by my good pal savannah guthrie. and there are some legitimate constitutional issues that have olympics gymnastics scandal. been raised. but i think that message is an she interviews national team important one. coordinators. the karolyis, bella and martha, olympic gold medallist, mckayla >> well, you and i know we can attach stuff to must signed pieces of legislation. maroney, the sexual abuse by president obama got to pass larry nassar. bills that he didn't want pass that is tonight 7:00, 6:00 because the other parts were eastern. always that's all for today. more important and you could do we'll be back next week. if it's sunday, it's "meet the something like that. >> we could but i think the press." >> announcer: you can see more president might veto the "end game" and post game on the entire bill that it's attached mtp facebook page. more end game to and also the possibility it would be struck down. but the message is an important one. >> that's why you want this debate. you think having this public debate, what about mitch mcconnell's pledge not to bring it to the call? >> it's his call, but i hope he might reconsider after the judiciary committee reports the bill. >> let me ask you a larger question, when i saw the house decided to add adjourn a day

early, it feels as if washington is almost paralyzed by the mueller probe. and i know that -- or at least it's a pall that makes everything hit -- everybody is hitting the pause button. can't seem to focus on a lot of other issues. is it consuming washington? ancestrydna has 5x more detail than other tests... the mueller probe. more end game ...and it's now on sale for just $59. >> well, there's certainly a lot ancestry of interest in it and in some ways i think people are it can lead you on an unexpec ted journey... following the daily ...to discover your heritage. developments, but we are getting work done in other areas. get ancestrydna for just $59. i'm optimistic that this year we the lowest price of the year. may finally return to a regular appropriations process. we just passed the sex trafficking bill. >> by the way, you brought up -- what do you make of this decision to potentially repeal some spending, a recisions bill that you heard talked about? you cut a deal with the democrats and with everybody and what kind of deal makers would you be if you pulled the rug? >> i would advise the president to focus on the coming years -- appropriations and not try to

relitigate. >> you won't support this? >> no, i will not. >> that means with the razor thin margin, doesn't that send a message this isn't going anywhere? >> well this is what's an agreement that all the parties were in the room, both chambers and the administration agreed to. i don't think anyone should renege on it. we should focus going forward on the appropriation bills before us. >> i want to ask you about your role in the senate intelligence committee. michael cohen, he has made one appearance before the intel committee in closed session. what's your sense of michael and it's also a story mail aabout people cohen's connection to this and while we make more e-commerce deliveries russia probe? to homes than anyone else in the country, >> that's a very difficult we never forget... that your business is our business question to answer. the united states postal service. there's been one interview of priority: you michael cohen. it has not been released to the public. i'm not at liberty to say what t, ♪ ♪ i want some more of it. he said. but let me just say that i don't ♪ i try so hard, ♪ i can't rise above it see him as being a central figure in this. ♪ don't know what it is 'bout that little gal's lovin'. ♪ the fact that the special ♪ but i like it, i love it, counsel referred the allegations ♪ i want some more of it

against mr. cohen back to the justice department and was ♪ referred to the u.s. attorney suggests to me that it's not intimately connected to the we know you love it, russian probe. so get more of it, >> do you feel as if special with applebee's new bigger bolder grill combos. now that's eatin' good in the neighborhood. counsel robert mueller has expanded his probe beyond the scope of what he was assigned or do you feel like he's staying within the parameters? >> i believe he's staying within the parameters. ♪ ♪ and the proof of that is when he came across the allegations against mr. cohen. he did refer them back to the justice department and they're welcome to "kasie d.c." i'm kasie hunt. now being handled by a u.s. we are live from washington attorney in the southern every sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 district of new york. he didn't keep those. p.m. eastern. tonight it turns out the most >> james comey's book tour, what consequential thing released do you make of james comey and from james comey this week was probably not his book. what do you make of the -- plus, climate change and the what's the lesson now you're president's legal team. the outlook is cloudy for taking way from perhaps -- what advice would you give a future michael cohen. fbi director by watching comey the attorney general and rod and the book tour and how he's handled this? rosenstein. and later, we are witnessing >> if i were advising a future a genuine thaw in relations with north korea or are we witnessing fbi director i would say, follow the art of the deal as written

the department's protocols and by guide lines which unfortunately james comey did not do in the hillary clinton investigation and he did not do when he leaked fbi work documents to a friend of his knowing they would go to the press. and so that would be my first advice. the second would be don't write a book in the middle of an investigation. >> do you think this is potentially disruptive to the mueller probe? >> that's what worries me. i cannot imagine why an fbi director would seek to essentially cash in on a book when the investigation is very much alive. he should have waited to do his memoir. >> the senate confirmation process on everything seems to be more and more difficult all the time. let me ask you about mike pompeo. you voted to vote him as cia director. any reason you wouldn't vote for him for secretary of state? >> i would vote to confirm him. >> any concern s at all?

>> i worked closely with him as a member of the intelligence committee. i don't agree with every position he has taken but i believe he has an extensive knowledge of world affairs. it's been enhanced by his time at the cia. >> gina haspel, the nominee to replace mike pompeo, dianne feinstein came out against. have you made a decision? >> i have not. i want to wait until we had the meetings. i had a lengthy meeting with her last week. i want to know her role in the destruction of the videotapes which had been a major concern of mine. >> of potential torture. >> exactly of detainees. >> exonerated her as far as destruction of the tapes but we still have a lot of questions to ask of her. >> before i let you go can you share with us -- i know you attended a memorial service for barbara bush. who is a long time -- a part-time resident of your hometown state of maine. tell us about the service.

>> it was a heart warming tribute to barbara bush. it included beautiful liturgy. wonderful tributes to her. lots of grandchildren. and representatives from the first families, so going back to lyndon baines johnson's family. that was -- and to president kennedy's family as well. and that was heart warming as well. to see people putting away partisanship and coming together to honor a truly wonderful woman who had a huge influence on this country and my state and i'm very grateful that i was able to be there. >> it felt like america said good-bye to its grandma. >> exactly. >> susan collins, senator from maine, thank you for coming on. much appreciated. when we come back, if the president and his businesses have done nothing wrong, why is there so much talk about michael cohen flipping? the panel will talk about that and about the return of a trump ally to the president's legal team. rudy giuliani who says he wants

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welcome back. david brody host of faith nation and amy walter and chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell and democrat ic pollster cornell belcher. all right. i have to start with the president, russia and the larger atmosphere we're in right now. amy, it feels as if all of washington -- he's consumed by it. for obvious reasons, but is washington almost paralyzed now? >> yeah, it does feel that way. although let's be really clear i think. the moment that we saw the speaker of the house say that he was retiring, it was to me an admission that nothing is going to get done. we're done doing anything except for focus on the mid-term elections. that has been really -- and i think that mcconnell is saying the same thing.

so some of it is about russia, but a lot is the environment is so bad. we're not going to get anything done in here. let's go out and at least try to make our case on the campaign trail. >> except the president keeps bringing attention back to russia. >> he's not helping. >> a point i made before with short. >> exactly. james comey has been donald trump's best friend this week. i don't think there's any question about it. look, he says he doesn't leak and then he leaks. and he calls the president morally unfit and oh, by the way he's under investigation himself. he wants justice and he's going out on a book tour during an active investigation. i mean, this to a degree is comey's comedy of errors and it goes to all the tweets that everybody laughs at, witch-hunt, that donald trump talks about. here it is, in the red world of trump's base it's deep state gone off the rails and we haven't gotten to andrew mccabe yet who had a bit of a lack of candor. >> i think susan collins is the best tell on this when she said

that he should not have written the book in the middle of the investigation and should not have her words cashed in. >> rough language, yeah. >> she is -- she is so down the middle on this. and that is a real indicator to me. i disagree on the quote leaks because i think he had every right to write memos to self and they were not classified at the time, they were not leaks. he could share his, he could share them given the fact he had not yet been fired. so that i disagree with but that's the narrative that certainly is out there. and i think that by getting personal by not writing a legalistic book, by speaking about hands and hair and other affects it's too novelistic. >> here is i think the problem with the comey thing for the president that's larger. the quinnipiac poll, 63% disapproving of the president's handling of the russia problem and the comey thing doubles down on that. what i found striking how

focussed the president was on personal. both republicans and democrats were saying russia is aggressive and they're attacking on us. he was focused on his own self-interest. i think for middle america that's a problem. >> right. >> i do want to bring up michael cohen because the president he was really animated about that michael cohen story. he got really upset with sam nunberg's quotes but not roger stone who said this about michael cohen. donald goes out of his way to treat him like garbage. the president pushed back really hard in a series of tweets, amy. >> yeah. >> going out of their way to destroy michael cohen and me and his relationship with me in the hope that he will flip. a businessman for his own account, hint, hint. i don't see michael doing that. referring to flipping. boy is he nervous. >> to make the case, this may the about his own business, it's not about my business. if he sings, to get out of those problems he's going to make stuff up. you have heard a number of other

folks say that too. well, you know, he may -- cohen may feel really pressured to say stuff to get out of this. but it's clear we've moved far away from russia and that's the question i want to understand is what are voters going to think when what was ostensibly started as russian interference turns into learning more about the president's personal business behavior? what are voters -- are they going to say, well, we kind of -- i think that's out of bounds or are they going to -- >> that's precisely why mueller as senator collins said that's why it was referred to manhattan to the state prosecutor and that's -- you know, to the new york case. that's why he -- she has said it's not gone beyond. we don't know where it's gone but it's not gone beyond the original brief. >> i don't thing think people will know that though. >> amy brings up a good point and i want you to touch on this. mueller needs to produce what

the connection is probably. if he doesn't it may lead people to believe, wait a minute this looks like they're just trying to get him. >> right now -- we say that, but right now when you look at public opinion on this, they think there's a there on that. we may never get to where it holds up to collusion in court, but for people, common sense, something is going on there it's not right. >> and then i would say there -- it doesn't seem like they're getting there. that's the problem. real quick on michael cohen. i have known him for seven years and pretty well, actually. let me be clear i don't see him flipping at all. and this whole roger stone comment, look, donald trump has an up and down relationship with everybody. >> that is a fact. i can attest to it myself. >> you're in garbage one day, penthouse the next day. >> i feel like the bigger issue is that the president -- if washington isn't completely gridlocked which i think it is, the president is completely consumed by this. during times that we have had the -- you know, the chemical attacks in syria and this -- in fact the nuclear -- >> with north korea. >> he keeps getting back to this

and keeps focusing on it and this is what comey memorialized in the memo. he was not asking about the russian attack on the electoral system. he was asking about him and michael flynn and the hookers, the hookers in moscow. >> a year from now what do you think we'll be talking about -- cohen or north korea? what was more substantive? >> i think two years from now. >> i think the people will say they got more money in their paychecks. >> they're not feeling that yet. >> the polling shows you know it's the economy, it's immigration. it's not this. >> this is a conversation we'll touch on later. sort of the democrats' focus. is it on russia or is it on the economy. very quickly, north korea. there seems to be a split even in the trump administration. the president is gung ho, his advisers are like grabbing the rein, aren't they? >> most are saying that kim jong-un has played this so smartly. he has a meeting on friday with the south koreans and he's pitching himself as the great

negotiator and the conciliator, the base in the north was not liked by china, they'll get rid of that. they're popping up elsewhere underground or wherever. we have bad intelligence on it. we didn't know how many weapons they already have. he's not giving up anything that's real. he hasn't tested in months and months. this so-called freeze on testing is what was already taking place. >> we shall see. the president never has a bad personal one-on-one meeting, what does that mean for kim jong-un. democrats accused the republicans and russians of an act of previously unimaginable treachery. tom perez will be here. to talk about that. we want to bring you a moment from jeb bush's tribute to his mother, first lady barbara bush yesterday. >> mom got us through difficult times with consistent take it to the bank unconditional, but tough love. she called her style the

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welcome back. the 2016 presidential campaign never ends, does it? it won't. well, 2050 we'll be arguing about it but on friday the democratic committee filed a lawsuit against the donald trump campaign and russian fwost and wikileaks, alleging they engaged in a conspiracy to sabotage hillary clinton and help him become president. joining me is the chair of the dnc tom perez. welcome back to the show. >> always a pleasure to be back with you, chuck. >> let me start with this, why this lawsuit right now? the democrats are quick to say let the mueller probe run the course. and this to me is a lawsuit -- you're making a claim that

mueller hasn't made yet. why not wait for the mueller probe to end before you file your lawsuit? >> sure. well, there are three basic reasons. number one, you'd have to file claims in a timely manner. under the statute of limitations. i don't know when director mueller's investigation will end nor would i ask him because i want him to do a thorough job. >> when was this going to expire, how close to the deadline with you? >> again, i don't know when director mueller is going to file his complaint. whatever action he takes. >> you couldn't have filed a lawsuit if you waited a couple weeks? >> well, again, but we don't know when director mueller is going to act. again, i don't want to ask him when he'll act. secondly, we did our homework. a year ago people said file a lawsuit then and i didn't do so because i believe in doing the homework. we have seen a mountain of evidence of collusion between the campaign and the russians to basically affect our democracy. and so we did our homework and

we brought our civil case. then finally, i'm worried about the midterm elections because they did this with impunity. you know, general mcmaster said that we haven't -- we failed to impose sufficient costs on russia. well, we know why i think they have failed to impose sufficient costs on russia for this dramatic and reckless and unprecedented hack. because this administration is compromised. i want to make sure we send a very clear signal. >> i'm curious of who you chose to include in the lawsuit and who you didn't. you have donald trump jr., jared kushner, roger stone, you don't have michael flynn? i'm curious, why is he not included. no steve bannon, no corey lewandowski or kellyanne conway. what was the decision-making who got in and who didn't? >> we brought the case against the people who we feel there's sufficient evidence to move forward in the civil case. that does preclude us from

moving to amend the case as we discover more evidence. >> you don't think there's enough evidence on michael flynn? >> again, i'm a big believer in making sure i have confidence in every aspect of my case. and in the watergate case that was brought by larry o'brien, former chair of the dnc that was amended over time. i'm confident we will file an amended complaint over time. >> did hillary clinton push you to do this? >> you have to ask her -- >> you don't know if she's supportive of the move or not? >> i have not consulted hillary clinton to ask her permission to file a complaint. the buck stops with tom perez and we filed this complaint because our democracy is at risk. this was an assault on our democracy and we have to protect that. >> i spoke with a legal expert on my show on friday who said he believes under federal law that your claims if it does come to trial will have to be decided by a judge, not a jury. you won't get a jury trial because of the statute that you're using. are you concerned if you don't get a jury trial?

>> i'm confident we'll get a jury trial and we have had plenty of legal experts look at this. >> you don't believe this -- >> i don't agree with that at all. >> let me ask you a few different reactions to this. first, let me put up what donald trump's campaign manager for 2020, brad parse kale said. this is a bogus russian collusion claim claim filed by a desperate, dysfunctional and insolvent committee. are you using the lawsuit to raise money? >> no. i'm laughing, chuck, because those are the precise quotes we heard from the nixon campaign. in 1972 when this was filed. we're bringing this lawsuit to seek justice and expose the truth and we're deterring future behavior. we have elections coming up. they tried to interfere, they interfered in 2016. they did it with impunity and they're trying to do it again. we have got to deter it. this is an attack on our democracy. we can fight for good health care, we can fight for good jobs

and we can fight to preserve our democracy. in fact, we must do that. >> all right. let me ask you a question that apparently came up on a conference call that you had with some state party leaders. and this was from slate. it said i just mentioned this to a county -- this is referring to somebody when don't know who it was on the call, but a state party official, i just mention this to a county chair and her response was how can we spend all that money? can you address that, the financial burden that's on us? i will ask you how much money will this cost the dnc? how much money are you taking from 2018 to focus on 2016? >> we can't afford not to do this and when you look ahead and what was done before and what they're trying to do again, our democracy is at stake. it's hard to win elections when you have interference in elections. we have been winning elections. we know how to walk and chew gum and we have boots