all right. that will do it for me this week. join me back here next sunday at 4:00 p.m. reach out on social media at any time throughout the week. i'll hand it over now to reverend al sharpton and "politics nation." good evening, and welcome to "politics nation." tonight's lead, as most americans prep for the workweek ahead, more than 800,000 federal workers are wondering how they'll pay rent, buy food and stay warm. but as the longest government shutdown in american history heads into its fourth week, with no end in sight, president trump is adamant that congressional democrats are to blame, because they won't fund his border barrier. the real injury to america,

according to him. we'll get into that in a moment. because allegations about the president's dealing with russia continue to mount on the heels of a "washington post" report that president trump concealed conversations he had with russian president vladimir putin. even from his own administration. speaking by phone with fox news judge janine pirro saturday, the president didn't exactly help his case. >> are you now or have you ever worked for russia, mr. president? >> i think it's the most insulting thing i've ever been asked. i think it's the most insulting article i've ever had written. >> if you were waiting for denial, folks, so was i. we have a lot to unpack tonight, so let's get started. joining me now, siriusxm radio host and columnist with the daily beast, dean habadala, dr.

wendy osafo, professor of political science at johns hopkins university and a contributor to "the hill" magazine. and joe watkins, gop strategist and former white house aide under president george w. bush. let me go to you first, joe watkin watkins. a republican and as a minister of the gospel, we've known each other several years, is it not a real frightening kind of circumstance that we find ourselves in that the president of the united states has so many serious questions about his dealings with russia, who many of us have always grown up to see and in our adult life continue to see add an adversary to american interests?

>> the answer is yes, reverend al. this is a very serious and difficult time for the country. it's unfortunate for the country that we can't move on with the business of the country and get federal workers back to work again. but instead we're dealing with all these investigations and all these allegations of possible abuse or collaboration with a foreign enemy. and this is a serious, of course -- these are serious allegations. serious enough that the fbi saw fit to undertake its own investigation. very troubling indeed. and clearly, it just muddies the water, because you've got 800,000 americans that need to go back to work, who work for the federal government, who need to go back to work. plus millions of others who are sadly impacted by this impasse that can be solved pretty quickly if only the president and congress would get together. >> now, i'm going to get to the whole shutdown. clearly, that's a major part of our concern and of the show.

but why won't republicans call out this president to come clean, come outright, become very transparent about all of these questions with the russians? i mean, all of this about this is an insult -- did you or did you not deal in any way, shape or form with the russians? he's already lied about involvement with building a hotel there. why aren't republican leadership in the senate, in the congress and the party calling them out on this, if, in fact, they believe russia is an enemy to the united states interests? >> great question, reverend al. the answer for the most part is self interest, i think, on the part of so many elected republicans in both the house and the senate. they're concerned about themselves and, of course, their own re-election interests. and they're not necessarily

willing to jeopardize those positions by challenging the president. and challenging what he has said or what may be happening right now. so that's why at this point you see so few republicans speaking out. it would be better if they did. at the end of the day, you get elected to represent not only your district or your state, but the best interests of the united states of america. and in a perfect world, they would be willing to come out and call it as they see it and to ask all the tough questions that they would ask of any american president under these circumstances. >> well, wendy, i'm not even asking for a perfect world. in a normal world, you would think that people that preach patriotism and has all kinds of sermons about loyalty to the flag, that some of them, five, six -- i'm not asking for everybody -- would stand up and say this is outrageous. we're talking about the president of the united states meeting with the president of

russia and somehow not disclosing what the conversation was. i mean, we've never heard of this in american history. >> we have never heard of this in american history at all, reverend al. you bring up a great point. there is even some conversation around the fact that there was an interpreter present when he was having a phone call with vladimir putin, and he told the interpreter, do not state what was stated within this conversation. when the president of the free world can say that -- when he's talking to someone who represents theoretically the enemy of the state, that we are in dire circumstances. and the fact that the republican party cannot stand up and say, mr. president, what you are doing is not only putting our party in jeopardy, but our country and our democracy in jeopardy. speaks volumes to the ways in which this issue not only extends to the president of the united states, but it trickles down to the republican party. and let us just be clear. this is outside of trump.

when it comes time for election, all republicans are going to be held accountable, because they are standing by this. and quite frankly, you know, if you are standing by when someone is doing an injustice to the country that you yourself also have blood on your hands. >> now, we're looking at this, dean. you've got the russian question where the republicans are not calling out the president to come -- whatever it is. >> sure. >> i mean, they're not even putting any pressure on them. and you've got the government shutdown, 800,000 people. that's not including the contractors, subcontractors and those that work for them. 800,000 people have already gone through three weeks, heading into our fourth, not being paid over a wall that they won't stand up to for the people saying, first of all, a wall by many experts has nothing to do

with enhancing border security. everybody wants border security. no one is talking about open borders. i mean, how do the republicans go into an election season next year where they are in the vulnerable seats in the senate? how do they explain this? >> it's as if we didn't have a midterm election in november where donald trump made immigration and a hawkish line on it the issue. and democrats want a record number -- they want 40 house seats and got the most votes in any midterm ever. 800,000 federal workers now don't now how they will pay their next bill. only 40,000 americans have $4,000 in their savings account. if you didn't get paid for three weeks, your rent is due, car payment, i've spoken to people on my radio show almost in tears, saying i have deductibles for my children he hai have to and i'm running out of money. and sadly, trump doesn't care. because polls show the gop base, even today polls came out, are fine with this.

and americans are hurting, but trump does not want to be the president of the united states. and i say this honestly, not hy hyper bollcally. he wants to be king of his base. he doesn't care if other americans suffer. and it's beyond the 800,000. the fda can't do inspection of seafood, lettuce and other high-risk foods. people can get sick. the fda can't do redundant inspections for aircraft. this is leading to a very dangerous place. and forget a recession could happen. it can happen very easily. >> we're already there. and wendy, i received a call this morning on my radio show, and a lady said, reverend, you have got to understand, this is not even about my next bill. it's about buying milk for my children. i can't go to the grocery store and offer a letter from the government that i'll be paid by and by. i can't put gas in a car.

she lives in a city with no mass transit. we're talking about basic staples when you are dealing with a lot of people, if not the majority of federal workers, living paycheck to paycheck. there are no savings that you can come with. you can't pull up to a gas station and say, i'm a federal worker, i'll pay you when i get paid, fill up my tank. so how do you even remain mobile? i mean, we're talking about common human decency here. >> absolutely. and if i can even extend that, there's people who cannot even buy medicine. like people's health are at risk. this is a dire issue. and right now in washington, d.c., where some of the federal workers live, we just had a snowstorm. so let's compound the issue of these individuals not being able to get milk, gas, not being able to get medicine. now we have a snowstorm that may prohibit them from being able to get out of their house and buy other necessities. so this issue that we are seeing here with all of these individuals, over 800,000 of

them not being able to go to work, this, again, speaks tantamount about the trump administration. and if you think that he cares, he does not. because he is doing all of this because he wants a frivolous wall that we have to -- statistics show will not decrease border security in any way. so right now, we are faced with an issue where we need the president and his party to be held accountable for someone to sit here and say, you need to open up the federal government for people to be able to live, because the wall is not something you hold at ransom at the behest of the american people. it's not apples to apples comparison here. if you want to talk about border security, we can do that, because you're elected officials. but you cannot hold people, their lives, their children, for ransom, just so you can get a political point for your party. >> joe watkins, as i said earlier, not only are you a republican strategist, you're a

minister. where is the moral issue? where are all the evangelical ministers that stood by this president that ignored the fact that you have people that can't buy medicine, as wendy said, that can't deal with buying staples, milk for their kids? i mean, where -- were they in the pull pipits this morning sa, i may support you, mr. president, but there is a moral issue here, beyond the political issue. forget the politics. we're talking about human beings being able to function and the fact of the matter is that there are less people coming across the mexican border now than there were. there is no crisis, mr. president. you are creating a domestic crisis for federal workers. >> well, sadly, there are so many eadvantavangelical ministe. in charlottesville, where were

the ministers speaking up? where were the ministers calling the president to task for not condemning the racists who attacked the people in the march? and then here again, we have a situation where people are suffering. not just the federal workers, but all the contractors, all the -- there are just tons of people, grantees who are millions -- something like 13 million americans are impacted by this government shutdown. and it gets worse every day, because people who have food stamps, people who need medication are all impacted by this government shutdown. and ministers ought to be standing up. mr. president, we supported you, and we want you to hear now that people are suffering and you've got to do something to get government back up and running. >> these are their parishioners, the ones that give in their offerings and pay tithes. dean, do you see any way we

could break this? i mean, the situation that the president has us in, do you see any way that anyone can get this president to understand? i mean, the congress proposed, let's do a 30-day -- >> sure -- >> -- bring the government back, and we can debate it and figure out a way. he wouldn't even do that. my wall, or forget all of these people. >> maybe with all of the information about trump and russia, maybe get russia to pay for the wall to help donald trump out at this point. here's what it's going to take. something you're not going to hear from the right. political courage from republicans in the senate. those who have -- because trump says these are democrats. that's not true. 80% of those furloughed or working without pay are out of the maryland, d.c., area. lisa murkowski from alaska saying i have 15,000 workers in my state out of work. cory gardner, a senator from colorado. thom tillis. >> trump voters.

>> thom tillis and cory gardner are up in 2020. so it's going to take leadership from the gop to go to donald trump and say we are going to vote to fund the government. and if you veto it, we're going to embarrass you and override your veto for the first time in your presidency. donald trump, the one thing he doesn't like is being embarrassed. and i think that's the only way. barring that, he said yesterday, he's going to continue this for weeks and weeks. imagine having no salary for weeks and weeks. >> no, it's incredible. well, they raised the question, could he relate. he said, yes, i can relate. and we've always adjusted, let them adjust. thank you, dean, wendy and joe. if the president is watching, adjust your screen. i'm not finished with this yet. coming up, i'll ask congresswoman from colorado, why she doesn't want to get paid until this is over. we'll be right back. we'll be right back.

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it's shutdown day 23. congress will be back in sessions tomorrow with no end in sight to this border wall fight. so who is to blame for the turmoil? well, according to a new "washington post" abc news poll, 53% of those surveyed blame president trump and the republicans in congress. while only 29% say democrats are the reason.

joining me now is congresswoman diana degette, democrat of colorado and member of the house committee on energy and commerce. she is also just one of the many congressional leaders who say they will reject their own paychecks during the shutdown. congresswoman, why have you decided to join others in congress in turning down your paycheck? americans are not blaming you. why are you taking this position? >> hi, reverend. my view is that if the federal employees aren't going to get paid, we shouldn't get paid either. you know, in my district, which is denver, we have thousands of federal employees, epa employees, and in the west here we have people who are employed in the federal lands and national parks. and, of course, denver international airports in my district. we have people who make tsa

employees, who make $35,000. these are folks living paycheck to paycheck. all of the members of congress are hearing about the hardships families are facing, not just hardships paying their mortgage or buying food, but even worse, getting medication for their kids. i talked to someone the other day who was having trouble getting insulin for their child. i mean, that's like life and death. and so this is really serious. and the president has to stop trying to make his political point on the backs of these federal employees and the american people. he needs to reopen the government, and he needs to talk to us seriously about security at the border and what will really work and stop just laughi latching on to this wall, which won't work. and he's just intractable about it. >> what do you think and what do you hope that by you and other members of congress turning down their paycheck until the federal

workers get theirs? what do you hope that message sends to both the president and to the workers who are suffering from no pay? >> well, number one, i hope it sends a message to the workers that we are in solidarity with them. and to the president, i hope it says, you know, you are really talking about real people here that you are hurting by your political whims. >> you know, as an activist all my life, i admire people that, you know, puts what we would say skin in the game. i mean, in the marches i had, i was always out front, if i had to go to jail, i would go. and i think the example being set by congress people shows a real sincerity that we're not playing politics here, because one of the things that makes me so passionate about this shutdown is you are talking about ordinary people that are suffering. these are not pawns in a political game.

and that's how it's being played. and i think that that is an outrageous thing. that is the most despicable thing to me about this. >> reverend, one thing i'm hoping is that the republicans, like my own senator cory gardner of colorado, will realize what you just said. will realize that their constituents -- not just the federal employees -- but the contractors, the people who use these services. the people who fly on the airlines, whose security could be compromised if this goes on much longer. all of these people are being impacted by what the president is doing. and i'm hoping that these republicans, particularly in the senate, will say enough is enough. you have to negotiate with us, mr. president. but the first thing you have to do is reopen the government. >> now, how do you respond to people that say, oh, just give them the wall so everybody can go back to work?

>> i don't know anybody who -- i mean, he is saying right now he wants $5 billion for this wall. number one, the wall won't work. it's not going to work. number two, it's not going to cost $5 billion. it's going to cost tens of billions of dollars. and it sends a terrible message to the world. if you really cared about border security and surely democrats and republicans care about border security, we should all sit down and figure out what we need to actually have border security. that involves electronic surveillance, it involves personnel at the border. it involves, in some places, barbed wire, and even in some places, it might involve a wall. but if you really cared about border security and not some political promise you made to your base, then you would sit down and try to work this out. and this is something that we could work out in a bipartisan way. >> i think you said it, and it bears raising the question to

repeat it. we're not talking about open borders. >> right. >> there is no doubt we want border security. but the wall has nothing to do with really securing it any further than -- >> somewhat -- >> go ahead. >> i was going to say, someone said to me the other day, well, you know, he made this as a campaign promise. why not give it to them? well, look, he made a campaign promise of a wall, which is just something that's not going to work. and that's going to cost tens of billions of dollars. think of all of the preschool programs you could pay for, the hot lunches you could pay for. think about all of the support you could give to refugee children for tens of billions of dollars. who -- which conservative, fiscally sound republican would say, oh, let's just take tens of billions of dollars and throw it down the hole? i don't think so. >> congresswoman diana degette, thank you so much for coming on tonight. >> thanks. coming up -- >> you bet.

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and now for this week's gotcha. for days now, conservatives have been trying to distance themselves from iowa congressman steve king. after his latest racist remarks in a recent interview with the "new york times," quoting him saying, as wondering just what is so wrong with the terms white supremacist and white nationalist. but this is not the first or second or even tenth time that steve king has made comments like that, and yet republican party leadership has let him skate. until this week. and why condemn king now, yet do nothing for two years to rebuke this guy? >> you know what i am? i'm a nationalist, okay? i'm a nationalist.

nationalist nothing -- use that word. use that word. >> you say, both steve king and donald trump have proven to be sympathizers, or at least sympathetic to white nationalists and neo nazis and congressional republicans, if you really felt that comments like steve king's had no place in our government, you wouldn't keep rewarding him with committee assignments and star status within the party. you would be able to simply say that king is, in fact, a racist and should resign. so at this point, post trump, please drop the act of pretending to care about the racism running rampant in your caucus. unless you're willing to confront its electoral end results. in other words, please don't act brand-new, republicans. because it's getting really old.

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he pulls the plug on the legislative option. and i think we're almost there. i would urge him to open up the government for a short period of time, like three weeks, before he pulls the plug, see if we can get a deal. if we can't at the end of three weeks, all bets are off. see if he can do it by himself through the emergency powers.

to my republican colleagues, stand behind the president if this is his last option. he ran on this. >> all bets are off. that was senator lindsey graham giving his recommendation for what the president should do to the end -- to end the government shutdown now that it's headed into its fourth week. president trump has said he may decide in the next few days whether to bypass congress and declare a national emergency to build a border wall. joining me now is new york congressman and house democratic caucus chairman, huh keakin jef, member of the budget committee. mr. chairman, you know i take pride coming from brooklyn, calling you that. let me ask you to respond to what senator graham proposed. open it up for three weeks and then if that does not come or lead to a solution at the border, use the emergency powers

that you have. >> the first part of what senator graham said is something that house democrats have already proposed to do. we believe that we should reopen the government immediately, including passing bipartisan appropriations bills with respect to all of the other departments that have been shut down, that have nothing to do with this discussion around border security, which relates only to the department of homeland security. so, for instance, reopen the irs, the department of treasury, so everyday americans can get access to their tax refunds that they rely upon to make it through the year. and all of the other departments. and perhaps do a short-term continuing resolution that would reopen the department of homeland security for a few weeks so we can have a mature discussion about how to resolve our differences around the border. >> now, with the president in his meeting with both speaker pelosi and minority leader of

the senate, schumer, he seemed inflexible. he continues to tweet and make statements that continues to show that inflexibility. do you think the american people understand how severe this is to those 800,000-plus? because we're talking about contractors and subcontractors and their employees that are not in this 800,000. i mean, this is really, really a problem for people to go day-to-day now. >> absolutely. and we're going to have to continue to do a good job of communicating with the american people what exactly has transpired here. donald trump threatened to shut down the government in december. he then followed through on that threat, has shut down the government, simply to try to extract billions of dollars for medieval border wall that would do nothing to improve border security down in the southwestern part of our country. we as democrats are willing to put forth money for a

21st-century solution to improving our border security by doing things like enhanced technology, satellites, drones, increased scanners in order to detect the drugs that actually come through the legal ports of entry, which is where the overwhelming majority of drugs come into the united states of america. >> the legal ports. >> that is exactly correct. >> and -- >> through legal ports of entry and air travel. donald trump should understand that. his secretary of homeland security should understand that. but they instead try to project falsehoods to try to gin up the xenophobic nature that seems to appeal to many in his base. >> and congressman, you represent a district in brooklyn, where i'm from. and there are immigrants all through your district, always has been, since you were a child and before that when i was a child. they're talking about this like this is a mexican policy. we need immigration policy that

goes across the board. why are we just talking about one border? there's two borders? they'll build bridges to canada, so you can go gamble. i mean, we've got to have a policy that would be for all immigrants, not just mexicans. otherwise that's just basically racist. >> that's correct. and we have two borders, and as you pointed out, along our northern border in canada, there are more terrorists who have been apprehended on the canadian border than on the mexican border and yet you never hear anything about that. so, yes, we have a broken immigration system. yes, with he need comprehensive immigration reform. yes, we should fix it in a bipartisan way. democrats and republicans working together. but we can't have a mature discussion about these issues in the middle of a reckless trump shutdown where he's holding 800,000-plus workers and the american people hostage at the same time. >> now, you're in the judiciary committee in the house, and i certainly have known you when you were a lawyer, even before you went to the state assembly,

you worked with us in many civil rights cases. >> and as a member of nan. >> as a member of national action network. thank you for bringing that up. the question i have, how do you respond to these reports of the president -- there was an inquiry, the fbi started, there was concern that he was acting on behalf of russia against american interests. i mean, how do you respond to that as one on the judiciary committee and one that's a lawyer? >> well, the possibility that there is a russian asset, not only in 1600 pennsylvania avenue, but sitting in the oval office as the president of the united states should be deeply frightening to all americans, regardless of whether you're a democrat, an independent or a republican. but we're going to continue to make sure that the mueller investigation is allowed to proceed, run its course, investigate the facts, come to a logical conclusion, present that

information to the american people, and then we'll see what happens in terms of what the consequences should be thereafter. >> now, you have always been one that said let's be deliberate, let's not rush to judgment. either way, even if it was unpopular in your base. but once there was some conclusion, you wanted to see justice done. i can say that i've known that about you since you were a youngster. what do you and other members of congress want to hear from people like michael cohen and others that are now being subpoenaed? what is it, good or bad, that you're looking for that would give you the key to whether or not we should proceed with impeachment or more? >> well, i think what we've seen over the last two years was that the republicans in the house conducted themselves like the coverup caucus. like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the trump administration, as opposed to a separate and coequal branch of government. as in article 1 independent branch in the house, we have an

obligation to serve as a check and balance on an out of control executive. and so by putting forth testimony as elijah cummings, the chairman will do, with respect to michael cohen, he will just allow the facts to be presented to the american people. so they will have an understanding of the individual who is sitting in the white house in the highest office in the land. >> now, 2020. we're already hearing people announcing, julian castro, others have announced. others are getting ready to announce. are you seeing anybody that attracts your attention, let me put it that way, and what type of candidate do you think the democrats must come up with for next year? >> well, i think a dynamic, fresh-faced candidate that doesn't necessarily mean age, but just in terms of ideas, is going to be incredibly important. actu tulsi gabbert, recently announced. >> she's going to formally

announce i think this week. >> that's right. so she's a phenomenal member of congress, and i think will surprise many once the american people get to know her. it's going to have to be a campaign on issues. we can't allow donald trump to drag our candidates into the mud, because i think he realizes that the only way for him to win is to basically concede, i'm bad, but try to make the democratic candidate even worse. i don't think he'll be able to successfully do that now that the american people have experienced a long national nightmare that is donald trump as president. but if we can keep the focus on issues, house democrats, we're fighting the lower health care costs, put forth a real infrastructure plan, protect people with preexisting conditions, the issue that helped us win control of the house of representatives. clean up corruption in washington. then i think we'll continue to be successful, as democrats in the house majority, and

ultimately our presidential candidate will be successful. >> all right. congressman hakeem jeffries, we'll see you next week. up next, she served 15 years in jail for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was a teenager. now granted clemency. why does she need to wait another seven months before she is set free? that's next. be right back. 's next. right back. i don't keep track of regrets. i never count the wrinkles. and i don't add up the years. but what i do count on, is staying happy and healthy. so, i add protein, vitamins and minerals to my diet with boost®. boost® high protein nutritional drink has 20 grams of protein, along with 26 essential vitamins and minerals your body needs. all with guaranteed great taste. the upside- i'm just getting started. boost® high protein be up for life. but how do i know if i'm i'm getting a good deal? i tell truecar my zip

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we learned last week that sentoria brown, the woman who received a life sentence for killing a man who picked her up for sex when she was just a teenager, she will be released from prison in august. now bishop joseph walker iii, a long-time advocate for miss brown, promises that his church will help her transition into her life after prison. but first, he questions why she should wait until august. bishop walker joins me now. thank you for being with us tonight, bishop. first, tell us why you and your church got involved in trying to

help and ended up counseling the governor of tennessee, who did finally, after an extended phone conversation with you and other people advocating on her behalf, give her conversation gave her clemency. >> thank you, reverend al. mount zion church has been involved in the plight of those who have been incarcerated through our prison ministry. and we partnered with the take one prison ministry. it's a mentoring program in the department of corrections in tennessee that helps mentor inmates while they're in prison and even as they are released. it is a program designed to assimilate them. we were all touched by the extraordinary circumstances around this unique case, with cyntoia. it is something we have been focused in on and praying about and this really is the result of the cumulative efforts of so many people around the world, not just in nashville, not just in tennessee but the united states and around the world. i had an opportunity at the 11th

hour in the month of november knowing that the governor had to make this decision prior to leaving office to really have a conversation with him. the governor took my call, called me back. and we had a real conversation about this case and the implications of it. the governor had not made up his mind to that point. he's a very good governor, he had really listened to both sides of the argument and literally 2 million people were reaching out the him. but we had a long standing relationship since he's been in office and i thought i'd give him a call and to have a personal conversation to help break through some of the questions he was wrestling with and he was wrestling with several questions about why cyntoia and not some other person who was similarly situated that it was a crime that was committed, someone did die and why should we release her and the moral implications of that and of course we worked through that and i was able to

talk to him and pray with him. and really help him see that this was bigger than cyntoia. that this was about bringing awareness to this issue of many of our young people who have been sentenced unjustly in a system that needs redaction. not just in tennessee, but even around the united states. so i felt that cyntoia would be the face for so many, the voice for so many voiceless people that we could actually leverage this case and really go in to various states and really make a difference around criminal justice reform. >> that is two things that struck me in talking to you is that one, that we all have different roles and advocacy and for that matter ministry. and you could do with a call what millions wanted to do and were doing in their other ways. and we should not get in the way of how people decide to do what they decide to do. as long as it's right. and you said we cannot act as

just though one case is a victory. we have to deal with the whole policy and the whole system and she's a symbol. so that we do not have to depend on celebrities or on cause celebres to really deal with the fact that this is happening to unknown people that nobody is raising their names and we've got to correct that system. >> absolutely, right. i totally agree. i think there are people in the streets every day advocating for those who are in those situations and hey, listen, this is really something that cyntoia is passionate about and we're looking forward to supporting her as she goes out and really supports those folks in the trenches doing this kind of work. she's the most amazing selfless, giving individual and all she's thinking about is getting out and going to work. she's not thinking about anything else but getting out and working on behalf of other people who have been -- who are in the same situation she was in. >> and your church is going to be working with her and she's turned her whole life around i

understand while she's been incarcerated and has become a real worker in terms of helping to rebuild other inmates. >> absolutely. absolutely. she is truly one of the most amazing young women you would ever meet. and who is passionate about really correcting a lot that has gone wrong in the criminal justice system. she's worked inside the prison. she has been a tremendous, positive force of good. i believe she's believe going to be a star of hope for so many people who have been overlooked. >> thank you so much, bishop joseph walker iii. up next, my final thoughts. o ♪and shakin' me up so ♪that all i really know ♪is here you come again, and here i go, here i go♪

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we're working to make things simple, easy and awesome. . starting this tuesday, the senate judiciary committee will begin hearings on the confirmation of the nomination of william barr to be the attorney general of the united states nominated by president trump. it is my hope that they will bear down on his views on the mueller investigation and he's reportedly made comments on. and whether he because of those statements will recuse himself. they must also question him on voting rights and how he will enforce those rights and make sure that the kind of suppression and the impediments we saw in last year's midterms

particularly in georgia and north carolina and others the justice department will fight. he must deal with the continued problems of mass incarceration. prison reform. and police reform. make him go on the record and make him clear to the american public where he stands as the attorney general. the republicans may have the vote, but the people will be governed and the law will be enforced or not enforced by who sits over the justice department. so rather whether or not people consider this a fait accompli, the senate has the vote with the republicans. they must seriously let the american people know what we are or are not getting if william barr is confirmed as the next attorney general.

thanks for watching. see you next saturday and sunday at 5:00 p.m. conversation and like us at facebook.com/politicsnation and follow us on twitter @politicsnation. up next, "meet the press" with chuck todd. this sunday, when will this end? the government shutdown now in its 23rd day. negotiations going nowhere. >> our meeting did not last long. >> and he just got up and said, then we have nothing to discuss and he just walked out. >> president trump says he can declare a national emergency. >> i haven't done it yet. i may do it. if this doesn't work out, probably i will do it. >> then insists he doesn't want to. >> i'd rather not do it because this is something that congress should easily do. >> with neither side giving in and congress not even in town, is there any way out of this mess? joining me this morning, republican senator ted cruz of texas and democratic senator tim kaine of virginia.