distractions. >> thank you for getting us through it. thank both of you. we're out of time, but thank you so much for watching today and every day that. does it for our hour. i'm nicolle wallace. "mtp daily" with my friend chuck todd starts now. ♪ if it's wednesday, where on earth is american leadership as international hot spots get hotter and pro-democracy protests get bigger? the calls for president trump to say something let alone act get louder. plus, from turmoil abroad to economic fears at home, recession fears field a stock market route today. and the president is, of course, lashing out at others to blame. plus, could this be the moment where there is movement in washington on guns? why there's reason to believe the white house and congress might actually reach some sort

of deal. welcome to wednesday. "meet the press daily." good evening. i'm chuck todd here in washington. president trump didn't want america to be the world's police. well, we got to ask this question. is this what it looks like when there is no american cop on the beat? there are clashes in hong kong between pro-democracy protesters and riot police. there are decades-old tensions reemerging between japan and south korea. at a moment they should be focused on north korea. there are populist and xenophobic riots rocking the globe. russia is testing nuclear powered missiles. there is now russian missile technology inside turkey, a key na nato ally. and i haven't even mentioned your just sort of run-of-the-mill whether it is middle east peace or latin american, especially where some demonstrators are singing our national anthem like we've seen

in hong kong. i didn't even bring up the democracy movements we have nothing about to say in russia. a top administration official actually said the hong kong matter is an internal matter for china. any other modern president would also be strenuously opposing missile launches or rebuking allies or trying to ease tensions in kashmir or trying to ease tensions between japan and south korea. instead, the message this american president is sending to foreign governments is it's your business if you want to crack down on protesters or journalists or sow disinformation. the unwillingness of washington to help diffuse flash points is one of the clear signs of the erosion of american power and global influence under mr. trump. let me turn to some experts. we'll start with david ignashous who has the terrific peace,

jason johnson is politics editor at theroot.com. all of them are msnbc contributors. david, i want to start with you because this has been one of those -- we've been talking about this inside our own news room for quite some time going there is this giant foreign policy problem sitting at the president's desk. but it's hard to articulate because the problem is inaction. you did a good job of articulating it in this big picture, but this isn't the easiest story to explain to the public. explain what we mean by by inaction? >> so, chuck, it is a complicated world. today's a day when we felt as if the world was on fire. but it's a day when i was reminded that president trump's response to the world to this complicated difficult world from the day he took office has basically been retreat, his

preferred instrument in dealing with countries he doesn't like is to slap them with tariffs or economic sanctions. he expresses no commitment to the traditional american role of leadership, of moral guidance. he doesn't stand with protesters in hong kong or it seems anywhere else. and i do think we are seeing today, it's a day to watch it, the consequences of those two years of retrenchment of america first, of selfish policies that don't really stand for anything larger than our own particular national interest. what really bothered me in my column this morning, the central theme, is where are the democrats? here is a perfect opening for the democrats to offer an alternative vision. as i said this morning we need a little more jfk leaning out into this troubled world and a little less democrats repeating they don't want to have anything to do with trade agreements, that they're as protectionist as donald trump. that's not the right answer,

especially today. >> david, let me do the, what some may push back on when they hear all of us arguing this sort of, well, america, whether we like it or not we are the world's policemen. they may push back and say to what end has that worked? we lost blood and treasure in afghanistan. why should we get involved, right? that is the donald trump foreign policy philosophy. frankly, that is probably where 40% of the country sit on these issues. >> so, people are right that this is not a moment when we should engage in the sense of looking for new wars overseas. i've been thinking the last couple weeks attending conferences about china and the threat that china poses. the answer to that chinese challenge is to get our own house in order. every theme that democrats express in this campaign, you

know, improving our schools, making ourselves a more inclusive, diverse and welcoming country makes sense in particular in the context of having a stronger country and political system that works to push back against a rising china that, through the rest of our lifetimes, you and me and our children, too, is going to be probably the biggest thing we have to worry about. so it's not that we want to go back to jfk, pay any price, you know, with troofs all over the world. it's to begin solving the problems, being stronger and more unified and then being able to compete better. >> i want to unpack two things that you introduced here with these folks here. one is the china story, and i want to get that in a second. but, michael, let me start with you. if there is one rhetorical area left that republicans will contradict this president on, it is apparently it is still foreign policy. here's kevin mccarthy, who is basically with trump now on most

things. and he said to the thousands of young people in hong kong who are speaking up for human rights and speaking out against the communist party of china. that is the house minority leader of the republican party, not the president of the united states. >> so, i mean -- does this matter that -- >> it doesn't matter because first off, it's been a majority of the leaders, not the president of the united states. so whether you have lindsay graham or kevin mccarthy or any of these others and we love them to fill the space with that noise, but it matters that the president is not with them on this. he's not leading with that. that wasn't his tweet. that was not the president's tweet. if the president had tweeted that, we'd be in a whole different conversation right now. and i think the world would look at this a little differently. >> see, that seems to be -- this republican party, we know they

don't like the tariff front. they have decided not to say anything. they don't like his foreign policy, but they don't know how to criticize. >> there's a slightly higher comfort level within the gop. and we've seen mccarthy not go after the president but just something that doesn't directly contradict or push back against what the president said. part of the reason that this conversation is important and that republicans are at odds with the president in many way, particularly members like marco rubio, is that the issue in hong kong is predominantly about human rights. those are very low on the priority list for this president. >> american exceptionalism. i keep coming back to this phrase. when i hear the phrase american exceptionalism, means we are the ones that identify the good guys and punish the bad guys. >> they're not just singing the national anthem in china. they are singing songs from hamilton. they are singing "can you hear

the people sing." >> that's "le mis." [ laughter ] >> this is the point where the real danger here and the president not speaking up is when that vacuum is open, then these democracy forces, they become radicalized. they're waiting for us to come in and say, look, we have your back. you can push things a little bit farther now because we're there. if you have dissidence, we'll step in. >> david, can you explain, you know, i don't think it's an accident that mody did what he did in india with kashmir. i don't think it's an accident what we've seen with japan and south korea that without an american president to be there to sort of to lean on, i'm thinking about doing this, you know, mody, i'm in the middle of china, get out of afghanistan, we have a lot of things going on there, i don't need this now,

how much of this do you think is happening because we just walked away for now? >> when an american president is not prepared to be a forward-leaning global leader, mischief happens. in an america first world where the organizing principle of foreign policy is just selfishness, india is going to decide, mody is going to decide india first. he's going to go after his traditional view that kashmir must be suppressed. you are going to find that all over the world people will put their own small national interests first, and donald trump simply isn't a credible arbiter. in the case of india and its moves in kashmir, i have a particular worry that donald trump helped get this going with some very and prudent off-the-cuff comments during the visit of the pakistani prime minister who kind of

gratuitously threw out the idea that we'd be a moderator. but the basic point that you make that when we don't have strong american leadership, japan and south korea fall into their traditional national rivalry, and there's no america that's a credible peacekeeper, if you will, not militarily but diplomatically. >> all right. i'm going to dig deeper in this conversation on the political side of things with ben rhodes, like how did the democrats do this. betsy, is it worth them making this case or not? because there are a lot of people like, no, no, no, focus on home, focus domestic. maybe they don't want america first, but they want your eye on the domestic ball. >> the reality is that most swing voters are not going to vote based on what's happening in hong kong. they aren't really going to vote based on the iran deal. but what this provides as an opportunity for these democratic candidates is a moment to be part of this national conversation and to present more of a contrast with the

president. so even though they probably aren't going to see their poll numbers change in south carolina or iowa based on the messages and the tweets that they put out about hong kong, what they can do is paint a more stark picture of how the united states can work differently under their leadership. >> all right. but, jason, i am curious how do -- i think this china issue is complicated for democrats. they don't know how to basically say he's mismanaging it. even though we agree we got to get tough on china. like, okay. well, you're at least on the same side. like, it's hard. >> the people who weren't working at the chevy cruise station in youngstown ohio don't get it. mayor pete or joe biden would love this debate. they are the two who can step forward and, look, i have experience in this area, i have been vice president, i have served overseas, this is a hot potato for the rest of the democrats. given some of their own

weaknesses, i don't think they'd want to touch it. >> the other point of entry for democrats say that our party traditionically agrees, and when it comes to human rights stuff, they can actually position themselves as tougher on china than trump. it's the only sector of the china conversation. >> to go with human rikts rights. >> i think you laid it out just now. we support this effort to reign china in. but here is the limit of that. and a lack of leadership beyond that by this president is causing these particular problems. so they can identify that they just need to step into the game. >> david, i am going to ask you the question that you may feel is impossible to answer, but where does hong kong go next? >> well, so, there have been signs that the protesters realize that they may have gone too far, may be alienating support in hong kong by some recent actions. i think china is going to be

very reluctant to send in troops, the troops have been massing just over the border. but i've been talking here at a conference in la jolla, california, with experts who know everything about china and hong kong, and they say china is going to be very careful. the one point i'd make about trump's statements, there's a moral hazard problem here. we don't want to imply to those protesters in the streets that we'll come in to help them if the troops come out because that's clearly not true. but we do want to say that the world is watching that these disputes should be solved without resort to force. that's a standard line for an american president. and i honestly have been shocked that president trump has not said that basic thing. he's almost seemed to be inviting them to come in and crack down. he needs to say the world is watching. we expect this to be resolved without violence, and, you know, i think those students that are singing the american songs, that

will really resonate in the campaign if trump doesn't do something. >> boy, it's interesting you say that. it does feel almost as if he wants to bait the chinese to overstep. all right, david ignatius, you laid this out as well as anybody has laid this out, so get over to "the washington post" and go check it out. jason, betsy, and michael, you guys are sticking around. up ahead, the democrats have been blasting the president's first hong kong, but how are they speaking up? and is there a foreign policy to articulate that's worth their time. and later the white house and congress working together. why there's reason, some think, that this is the time something might happen about guns. we shall see. we'll be right back. i got liber. they customized my car insurance, so i only pay for what i need. then i won the lottery, got hair plugs, and started working out. and so can you!

only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ a wealth of information. a wealth of perspective. ♪ a wealth of opportunities. that's the clarity you get from fidelity wealth management. straightforward advice, tailored recommendations, tax-efficient investing strategies, and a dedicated advisor to help you grow and protect your wealth. fidelity wealth management. to help you grow and protect your wealth. and you're still not sure if you want to make the trade?. exactly. alright, call td ameritrade's trade desk. they can help gut-check your strategies and answer all your toughest questions. call for a strategy gut check with td ameritrade. ♪ we really pride ourselves on making it easy for you >> tech: at safelite autoglass,

to get your windshield fixed. with safelite, you can see exactly when we'll be there. saving you time for what you love most. >> kids: whoa! >> kids vo: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace ♪ hi, do you have a travel card? we do! the discover it® miles card. earn unlimited 1.5 miles on every purchase, plus we'll match your miles at the end of your first year. you'll match my miles? yeah! mile for mile! and no blackout dates or annual fee. nice! i was thinking about taking a scuba diving trip! i love that. or maybe go surfing... or not. ok. maybe somewhere else. maybe a petting zoo. can't go wrong. can't get eaten. earn miles. we'll match 'em at the end of your first year. plus no annual fee or blackouts. the discover it® miles card.

this is a moment when american leadership really matters. you know, it is important for america to be a voice for peace, for human rights, for freedom and for stability. but we're having a hard time

doing that right now because it's not even clear whether we back that at home. >> welcome back. that was pete buttigieg, and he's been one of the few 2020 candidates unafraid to take on foreign policy on the campaign trail. this is "the washington post" david ignatius who we just spoke to. if democrats stopped running scared on foreign policy, they would see that this is an issue that can unite the country. how about that. ? well, with me now is ben rhodes who is deputy national security adviser under president obama. never really got involved in politics i believe until obama '08, and he's now an msnbc political contributor. mr. rhodes, long time no chat. nice to see you. >> nice to see you, chuck. >> so let's start first with i'm sure on one hand you have a lot of ways you would like to backseat drive this administration. on the other hand i know you don't want to make this whole thing on this. but, and maybe i'm just throwing you a softball here.

but what does an american president, what can an american president do that would keep india and pakistan from suddenly back to talking about a hot war? what does an american president to do to keep south korea and japan from allowing historical differences, how does an american president do that? >> well, the fact of the matter, chuck, is just if the american president was engaged in the normal type of diplomacy and engagement around the world, the defense of democracy and human rights advocacy for an international system with rules of the road that other nations are following, if we were engaged in that kind of behavior and india would know that it would face a cost for engaging in something like taking control of kashmir and rolling in the troops. china would know that it would be under a much greater microscope if the u.s. was going to be organizing not just our own statements but other countries. japan and south korea would know that the united states would be

right in there mediating their disputes. not only are we not doing that, but the kind of nationalist and authoritarian brand of politics that trump promotes at home, that's what these leaders are doing abroad. so whether you're narendra modi or xi jinping. >> fill in for me the message gap where you have an exhausted public when it comes to getting involved in overseas conflicts which then when they hear, hey, we don't want to be the world's policemen, we think, oh, god, we're coming home. you know, this is where the nuance and unfortunately the way our politics works, sometimes is nuance is hard to get at. how do you articulate that message that we don't want more wars but -- >> chuck, i actually go back to my 2008 experience in politics and you covering us at the time. obama had two very resonant

messages on foreign policy that were not contradictory. one is that he wanted to wind down and end the war in iraq and the other was that he wanted to restore america in the world. but they knew intuitively that we had lost some respect from other countries. that is even worse today. i think americans who even aren't following the intricacies of all these issues understand we seem to have a president who is more comfortable with dictators than with our allies. we have a president who will not stand up for democratic values. we have a president who frankly is an embarrassment on the world stage. i actually do think there is a politically resonant message to be delivered that america should stand for something in the world. we should stand for democracy, that america should be respected in the world. and, frankly, i have looked at some of the public opinion polling. there are actually some soft trump voters who might align with some of his cultural direction, who might align with some of his policies but are worried that we may lose something in the world and what

we stand for. >> i would like to get your reaction to something kamala harris said to me on "meet the press" sunday about looking through the issue of race through a national security prison. take a listen. >> and they tried out a bunch of different things, and you know what caught heat? the issue of race. so russia exposed america's achilles hill. and all of a sudden then, guess what. for those who want to marginalize the conversation about race and racial inequities and say that's this or that, guess what, now it is also a national security issue. we need to deal with it. >> i find that both compelling and also hard to make a campaign out of. >> well, there are two issues here, chuck. very specifically there's the issue of white nationalist terrorism which is now, according to the fbi director, perhaps the number one issue our country faces.

that is making us less safe. that is a security argument. but then, chuck, these people are running for the biggest office in the world. they need to put forward a big vision. and i do agree that they need to be talking more about this. and what they need to do is connect what they are saying at home with what they would stand for abroad. we stand for democracy. that means that there should be voting rights in this country for african-americans and it means we stand with protesters in hong kong who want the right to vote where they live. so essentially the way in which you can make yourself a bigger figure, the way in which you can transcend these debates back and forth in the primaries about this policy or that is to offer a vision of how what you're going to do in the united states is connected to what you want to do in the world and how that is a part of trying to bring about a leadership that, again, is inclusive that respects democratic values that frankly, chuck, takes the terrain that the republicans have had since reagan that we stand for human rights, we stand for democracy,

the democrats should be taking that space. i think there really are important voters who are looking to hear that message. >> let's go down the list of things. the presidential candidate came to you and said, look, on china, i don't like what the president's doing, i also don't want folks in iowa to think i'm on china's side. this is one of those where is our politics, is there enough gray area in our politics where you can successfully argue against, side with the president and argue against his mechanics? >> well, you know, here i'd have a little criticism for the democrats. i don't think it's right to say, well, we agree with what trump has done with china, but we have this difference. the fact is actually what democrats should be arguing now is that the economic downturn that is likely coming and perhaps coming soon is in large part because of this president's reckless china policy, which, by the way, chuck, is hurting farmers in. >> aye. and those farmers in -- iowa -- and those farmers in iowa know that. but the way to stand up to china

is not through some kind of reckless trade war. it's by organizing the rest of the world to stand with us. >> ben, do you think that that almost is the fundamental evidence that we have with some of these campaigns? they know the -- i could argue the number one foreign policy challenge is the relationship with china right now because of the impact it's having on the economy. do you think they're just so fearful of that trade issue? jtsd well, some of them are. and i think they need to take it on. it doesn't mean that you're a free trader around the world. it's just to say if we want to stand up to what china's doing to break the rules of international trade, the way we do that is we mobilize the rest of the world and europe and asia to apply pressure on china with us. >> do you think joe biden made a mistake? >> yeah. i think you have to make an argument. and you could say i'm going to try to get better terms in tpp to get into it, right? so i understand the politics of this. people may want to say i'm going to get an even better deal. that's what obama did frankly on the free korea trade.

but i think we have to make an argument that what trump is doing is not working. and you know this about voters. they understand something about trump. they understand that he's reckless and they are kind of nervous about it. and so if you take something that people already believe to be true around the president, they say look what he's done in china. he could bring about a recession, he could really hurt you. he's already hurting american farmers. american consumers are already paying more. you have to be willing to make those arguments and say, yes, i will stand up against what they're doing to break the rules on trade, but we're going to do that by getting the whole team together here around the world. >> it sounds like you're tough on the entire field here. you think the entire democratic field has basically been too hesitant on this topic in particular? >> well, they're going to need a contrast, chuck on, china. they can have all the strong language in the world, the stealing of the intellectual property, unfair trade practices, giving americans a raw deal. but i think you have to have a

different answer than trump especially when what trump has doing has been so disastrous. when we want to confront china over what they're doing, we are going to do that with europe and asia standing with us so that we have more leverage and that the chinese are going to have a harder time going tit for tat with us. >> ben rhodes, deputy national security adviser to president obama. thanks for coming on and sharing your views. up next, a 2020 candidate who apparently wants to still keep running in 2020, but he might have a different office in mind. in mind just a chair. that a handle is just a handle. or -- that you can't be both inside and outside. most people haven't driven a lincoln. discover the lincoln approach to craftsmanship at the lincoln summer invitation. right now, get 0% apr on all 2019 lincoln vehicles

plus no payments for up to 90 days. only at your lincoln dealer. but we're also a company that controls hiv, fights cancer, repairs shattered bones, relieves depression, restores heart rhythms, helps you back from strokes, and keeps you healthy your whole life. from the day you're born we never stop taking care of you. switching to the aarp auto insurance program let's take a ride with some actual customers and find out. hey, well tell me about your experience when you switched to the hartford. - when i switched to the hartford, i'm sitting there, like, man, i should've turned 50 years ago. they saved me a bunch of money. you can't beat that. - what blows me away about the hartford is their lifetime renewability benefit.

now this is their promise not to drop you, you know, even if you have an accident. - i know when i'm driving, i'm covered. - [announcer] drivers 50 and over can save hundreds of dollars when they switch to the aarp auto insurance program from the hartford. not an aarp member? the hartford can help you join in minutes. to get your free no-obligation quote and see how much you could save, call the hartford at the number on your screen. or go to the website on your screen. the buck's got your back. it's tsleep numberbiggest sale360 smart bed.n the you can adjust your comfort on both sides your sleep number setting. can it help us fall asleep faster? yes, by gently warming your feet. but can it help keep us asleep? absolutely, it intelligently senses your movements and automatically adjusts to keep you both effortlessly comfortable. so you can really promise better sleep. not promise... prove. and now, all beds are on sale! save 50% on the 360 sleep number limited edition smart bed. plus 0% interest for 24 months on all beds.

only for a limited time. he borrowed billions donald trump failed as a businessman. and left a trail of bankruptcy and broken promises. he hasn't changed. i started a tiny investment business, and over 27 years, grew it successfully to 36 billion dollars. i'm tom steyer and i approve this message. i'm running for president because unlike other candidates, i can go head to head with donald trump on the economy, and expose him fo what he is: a fraud and a failure. jimmy's gotten used to his whole room smelling like sweaty odors. yup, he's gone noseblind. he thinks it smells fine, but his mom smells this... luckily for all your hard-to-wash fabrics... ...there's febreze fabric refresher. febreze doesn't just mask, it eliminates odors you've... ...gone noseblind to. and try febreze unstopables for fabric. with up to twice the fresh scent power, you'll want to try it... ...again and again and maybe just one more time. indulge in irresistible freshness.

febreze unstopables. breathe happy. welcome back. tonight in 2020 vision, former colorado governor john hickenlooper may end one campaign to start another. >> if the senate's so good, how come all those senators are trying to get out? [ laughter ] the senate doesn't attract me at this point. it just doesn't attract me. it sure looks like john hickenlooper may be changing his mind about that. the new york times "reports hickenlooper is now considering ending his white house bid and instead focusing on a run for the u.s. senate in colorado. the former governor is polling at 61% in a crowded primary to take on the very vulnerable republican incumbent cory gardner. now compare that where hickenlooper is struggling to

crack single digits. even he is acknowledging he may be a short-timer on the presidential campaign trail. >> at a certain point if, you know, if i can't get myself beyond 2%, i'd be a fool to spend two years doing it. that's for sure. >> obviously hickenlooper is not the only 2020 democrat who some democrats are trying to convince to switch races. there are still recruiting steve bullock and beto o'rourke to run in their home states of montana and texas. we'll see about that when we come back. we'll dig into an issue that candidates are all talking about. guns.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ oh, come on. flo: don't worry. you're covered. (dramatic music) and you're saving money, because you bundled home and auto. sarah, get in the house. we're all here for you. all: all day, all night. (dramatic music) great job speaking calmly and clearly everyone.

that's how you put a customer at ease. hey, did anyone else hear weird voices while they were in the corn? no. no. me either. whispering voice: jamie. what? some big news from mr. clean. stop struggling to clean tough messes with sprays. try new clean freak! it has three times the cleaning power of the leading spray to dissolve kitchen grease on contact. and it's great for bathrooms! just keep pumping the power nozzle to release a continuous burst of mist and make quick work of big jobs. it even works on stainless steel. it cuts through 100% of dirt, grease and grime. available with easy-to-swap refills. to get three times the cleaning power, try new clean freak from mr. clean.

we've sent our legislation to the senate that sent our legislation to the senate. moscow mitch says -- [ laughter ] >> that he is the grim reaper.

imagine describing yourself as the grim reaper that he's going to bury all this legislation. well, we have news for him. all of this legislation is live and well in the general public. >> welcome back. that was house speaker nancy pelosi in today's slamming senate for blocking legislation and calling on the public to push the senate to pass some new gun regulations. this could be a kemt moment for gun legislation in washington. still aides to several key senators have been meeting with senior white house officials in what is clearly the most substantive talks this administration has had yet on gun regulations. and the president himself has spoken with senators interested in pursuing bipartisan legislation including democrat chris murphy of connecticut. and of course there's manchin and toomey. after attacks in daytonnd voicing support for background

checks. mcconnell has vowed to pass something. well, we don't know what that is. so is this the moment and what will the moment look like? joining me now is somebody who has had this experience of dealing with the aftermath of gun violence all too often in her state. and that is florida congresswoman debbie wasserman schultz. congresswoman, good to see you. >> you too, chuck. thank you. >> so, first i want to get into the legislative back and forth that's coming. you have heard what mitch mcconnell said. the fact that he said they have to pass something is him moving the ball somewhere. the question is is it the democrat house strategy to wait to see what he does, or do you pass even more bills to send to him, or do you say we passed our bill. if you want to pass something and we can, you know, how a bill becomes a law, we'll go to committee and see what happens. what is the democratic strategy here? >> well, i mean, i think the way

we need to approach this is as if -- let's think about how we would approach this if you had international terrorists coming into our schools, our movie theaters, our festivals, our cligt clubs and mowing people down, tens of dozens of times all across the country, nearly every week. and we had a terrorist act after -- on 9/11, 2001, in which the entire congress came back, the federal government mobilized, chuck, we stood up an entire new agency, the department of homeland security to protect the homeland because we treated it like it was an international crisis and our homeland security was at stake. congress's job is to make sure that whether it's domestic terrorism or international terrorism that we keep people safe. that to me is job one. the house has done our job.

we've sent two pieces of legislation, the bipartisan background checks act and the expanded background checks act to the senate, and, look, i am certainly hopeful that mitch mcconnell will do something. i don't trust what that something is. but we have a responsibility to protect people. and the gun violence madness has to be brought to an end. and as someone who's spent my entire legislative career focused on passing safety legislation to keep people safe from harm that could come to them accidently or through no-fault of their own, the least we can do in an issue that draws the support of nine out of ten republicans and nine out of ten gun owners is make sure that no one who shouldn't have a gun by law can get one and close all the loopholes. that's on mitch mcconnell and so is the blood on his hands with every subsequent mass shooting that occurs if he refuses to pass comprehensive background check legislation.

>> i'm curious, what is the -- i've never understood the argument among those that would you be open for instance if the background check had a sunset clause? like, can we try it for ten years and see what happens and then renegotiate -- >> we did that, remember? >> with the assault rifle weapons ban, that is what was done. what is their case for what they're afraid of with the background check bill? i don't understand the case. >> oh, the case is that they're afraid of the nra. that's very clear. it's certainly not that they're afraid of gun owners because nine out of ten gun owners support background checks. nine out of ten republicans support background checks. heck, 82% of trump supporters support background checks. so they are cowering in the corner fearing the wrath of the nra. and, look, what has happened

throughout the time that trump has been president and even before that with republicans is that they care more about holding onto their own power than they do about making sure they can keep people safe or do the right thing. and that is dangerous and it's killing people. >> why do you think florida republicans, enough of them buck the nra when they did, and no one's sitting here saying -- but they did more than anybody expected at the time following both parkland and pulse. is it because it happened back-to-back? >> and because of the march for our lives kids went up to tallahassee and spent time in the faces, sadly this happened, but particularly beneficial if anything could be beneficial is that it happened right when the legislative session was about to begin and the legislature was in session and they had hundreds and hundreds of kids and parents go up there, sit in the gallery, and they had no choice because

they had to -- they would have had to turn those kids down right in their face. that was untenable for them. >> very quickly. you began by saying if this were an international terrorist ring breaking into our schools, should these mass shootings, should they be classified as domestic terrorism? i know in some cases they say, well, sometimes they're targeting one person and more than one person gets shot, that's not terrorism. okay. i know there's some debate about what should these be call. at one point is it not terrorizing people? >> i mean, it should be characterized as domestic tear enzyme, particularly when there is an obvious intent to, as in many, many of these shootings, the intent is to kill as many people as possible. but that's sort of besides the point because that is determinitiv of how you treat the person who is the shooter. we need to do what we can to put

obstacles in the paths of these vicious killers which means we need to limit their ability or prevent them from being able to get access to weapons. we need to require jamie's law, but no one checks to see whether someone can legally purchase ammunition. no ammunition, no ability to kill someone with a gun. so that has to pass. we need to limit the magazine capacity. there's so much that can be done. but at the very least, let's close all the loopholes and make sure that in any purchase situation, if you are prohibited by federal law from purchasing a gun, we do a background check so that you can't. >> if you're an honest person, you shouldn't be afraid of a background check. >> let me point out one other thing. we have so many mass shootings now that the year before parkland, if you remember, fort lauderdale airport had a mass shooter that flew across the

country from alaska and killed five people and injured 13. and that's been all but forgotten about because we've had so many more mass shootings with so many more people being killed. this is a crisis and congress has to deal with it. >> as you just pointed out, we have two in the same county taking place in less than a year apart. we have lots of counties in this country. and two in a weekend. >> thanks very much. i appreciate you coming on, sharing your views. up ahead, that volatile stock market and the response from our volatile president. great riches will find you when liberty mutual customizes your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. wow. thanks, zoltar. how can i ever repay you? maybe you could free zoltar? thanks, lady. taxi! only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪

who got an awful skin condition. with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis, you feel like you're itching all the time. and you never know how your skin will look. because deep within your skin an overly sensitive immune system could be the cause. so help heal your skin from within, with dupixent. dupixent is not a steroid, and it continuously treats your eczema even when you can't see it. at 16 weeks, nearly four times more patients taking dupixent saw clear or almost clear skin compared to those not taking it, and patients saw a significant reduction in itch. do not use if you are allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, a severe reaction. tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision. if you are taking asthma medicines, do not change or stop your asthma medicine without talking to your doctor. help heal your skin from within. ask your eczema specialist about dupixent.

[baby cooing on baby monitor] psst.... it's 8 pm on a saturday. we gotta go, the guys are waiting. here. old spice. shhhh. bring back potato skins.

with advil liqui-gels, what stiff joints? what bad back? advil is... relief that's fast. strength that lasts. you'll ask... what pain? with advil liqui-gels. the first person to survive alzis out there.ase and the alzheimer's association is going to make it happen by funding scientific breakthroughs, advancing public policy, and providing local support to those living with the disease and their caregivers. but we won't get there without you. join the fight with the alzheimer's association.

welcome back. tonight i'm obsessed with being prepared but not quite as obsessed as a guy i read about in the new york times. meet larry hall. he's a real estate developer who just completed a new 15-story condo project, except it's 15 stories underground and built into a former nuclear missile vault. yep, larry wants to sell you a survival condo. and, seriously, larry's thought of everything. there is the deluxe movie theater. there's tv screens that mimic windows, an underground waterpark. these are not cheap. the least expensive condo is $1.3 million. it's left us wondering why haven't we seen any ads for survival bunkers on television? >> the end times may be coming, but you can get a fresh start with a luxly doomsday condo.

experience better living at sunken heights subterranean lofts, conveniently located atl. sunken heights incredible amenities will turn "apocalypse now" into apocalypse wow. tone your doomsday body in our survival of the fittest health and wellness club. indulge in our underground spa, complete with tanning beds and an roma therapy masks. tempt your taste buds with the finest cuisine as unmatched as it is nonpperishable. be among the most important people on earth because you'll be the only people on earth. sunken heights subterranean lofts because no one should have to choose between life and depth. >> look, you better act now because the timer might be on

the clock. these units won't last, perhaps like earth. clock. these units won't last, perhaps like earth your allergy pills? flonase sensimist. nothing stronger. nothing gentler. nothing lasts longer. flonase sensimist. 24 hour non-drowsy allergy relief doprevagen is the number oneild mempharmacist-recommendeding? memory support brand. you can find it in the vitamin aisle in stores everywhere. prevagen. healthier brain. better life. it's tsleep numberbiggest sale360 smart bed.n the you can adjust your comfort on both sides your sleep number setting. can it help us fall asleep faster? yes, by gently warming your feet. but can it help keep us asleep? absolutely, it intelligently senses your movements and automatically adjusts to keep you both effortlessly comfortable. so you can really promise better sleep. not promise... prove. and now, all beds are on sale! save 50% on the 360 sleep number limited edition smart bed. plus 0% interest for 24 months on all beds.

only for a limited time. my dbut now, i take used tometamucil every day.sh it traps and removes the waste that weighs me down, so i feel lighter. try metamucil, and begin to feel what lighter feels like.

mno kidding.rd. but moving your internet and tv? that's easy. easy?! easy? easy. because now xfinity lets you transfer your service online in just about a minute with a few simple steps. really? really. that was easy. yup. plus, with two-hour appointment windows, it's all on your schedule. awesome. now all you have to do is move...that thing. [ sigh ] introducing an easier way to move with xfinity. it's just another way we're working to make your life simple, easy, awesome. go to xfinity.com/moving to get started.

welcome back. the hallmark of the trump economy and the trump predscy is volatility. check out the stock market the last two days. yesterday the dow rose a few hundred points as trump announced a delay in tariffs on chinese imports. stocks fell sharply today after the bond market flashed a massive recession warning sign. jason, betsy and michael are

back. jason, first of all, the president has been tweeting up a storm and his people are trying to spin this and the only way they know how. they have unenemy they're going to blame. here it comes. >> this is basically the federal reserve's problem volatility. they are causing this because when jay powell got in as chairman, he proceeded to raise interest rates too far too fast. and even though the trump economy is rock solid, it slowed us down a bit because of those higher interest rates. >> look, as you know, there's a tweet for everything. 2011 trump, this is back when obama was president, the feds reckless positions of low interest and flooding the market with dollars needs to be stopped or we will face record inflation. anyway, i don't know if the president's instincts on the fed are based in pure reality other

than his own i think personal if he's paying more money on the interest rates, he wants the fed to lower rates. if he's doing well, he's happy with the fed. >> here's the thing. you get in trouble politically when people experience change. right? we don't have to be in a recession. but isn't this like the first time we've heard this word in about eight months. >> in a real way. >> by the stock market people saying it. >> exactly. >> not just an occasional columnist. >> the not just we remember the great recession. the most dangerous time for any politician is thanksgiving. that's when everybody gets home and talks about the economy. that's where you talk about, hey, do you have a job when you graduate this spring. if this r word starts torts trickle into public discourse by fall, this is probably -- because that will be the bottom that could potentially drop out of a trump second term. >> betsy, i know the president's reflexes find a scapegoat. in this case, it's jay powell

it, person he appointed ironically the person whose interest rates he misses are the previous occupant. but he maybe jessica yellin wasn't his flavor. i don't know. i think the fed is an arcane place to be battering, that i don't know if the public comprehends it the way he would think. >> there's an interesting sector of the republican party that weirdly cares about the fed though. remember the ron paul and rand paul. >> it's in the paul wing of the party. >> it's not across the board. >> no. >> you don't go to cpac and have conversations with people about the fed chair. >> that is the place where you talk about the fed. >> they want to audit the fed and go to the gold standard. >> it's kind of a nearby area of interest. trump is likely to export that the because he's treating powell the same way he treat mueller which is saying here's somebody, an independent actor and i could fire him but i probably can't therefore, he's the guy ruining everything. >> michael? >> look, i think you both said

it. the markets are telling you and telling the president the policies that you've put in place between trade and china tpp, all the things we've talked about today is now starting to come home. >> markets are speaking. > you don't go from 300 up to 2800 down in 24 hours unless the markets are really concerned. >> you know, it's funny. politically, jason, sometimes every day we have like this to me is an explanation of why joe biden seems impenetrable no matter how many gaffes he makes or all this stuff. biden is the candidate of no drama. >> stability. >> and no matter how many gaffes he makes. the gaffes make him more stable. >> there's no drama and he gets to say i'm the guy who pulled us out of this last time. senator harris can't say that, mayor pete or bernie sanders

can't say that. he can say we saw that train before. we and president obama saved you from it. >> experience suddenly matter. >> exactly. >> experience is ever a selling point, it's if a recession is coming. > experience and somebody who can beat trump as people might start to feel the magical trump economy is no longer persisting, trump co trump economy in scare quotes. >> it's michael, the democrats' reputation on the economy with voters is pretty positive. over the long period of time the long arc. trump and bush have volatility. obama, he inherited volatility, it entup. >> he inherited volatility, he stabilized the marketed. they started to grow. that's the argument biden can make. for me it's not about being the future of the country but transition back to stability. >> it's one of those things. transitional figure might be what is france formational.

>> jason, betsy, and michael great intellectually challenging day. you were a great panel. if it's wednesday, there's a new chuck todd cast. download it wherever you get your podcast. we'll be back tomorrow with more "meet the press" daily". good evening, ari. >> we begin with breaking news in a nation still reeling from gun violence. philadelphia police say five officers have just been shot. they've been taken to the hospital. an official spokesman says at this hour, they believe these officers are based on the nature of the wounds expected to survive. all of this new information we're getting the police say the shooter is currently hoed up inside a building. hence it's what we call an active shooter scenario. temple university also on lockdown. local transit is skipping the area. the atf is currently on the scene assisting these local police as i mentioned, philadelphia police having already taken five injuries on their force according to local