that does it for me. catch me right here weekdays at 3:00 p.m. i'll be back on the beat tomorrow. up next, joy reid with a very special interview. vice president-elect kamala harris. don't go anywhere. we have a big show for you tonight. in a moment we'll get to my conversation with vice president-elect kamala harris. it comes on a very busy news day. under scoring what the biden harris administration will inherit in just 30 days. when senator harris will be sworn in as first woman. first african-american, first asian american vice president of the united states. meanwhile the pandemic continues to rage across the country. surpassing 18 million cases. and 319,000 deaths.

in the united states. there's another sign of hope on the horizon. a second tool in the fight against covid. doses from the first shipment of moderna vaccine went out to hospitals across the country. moderna says about 20 million dotes will be delivered by end of the year. second vaccine makes its debut at a critical moment. dozens of countries begin cutting off travel from the united kingdom after a new mutation of the virus there. today in delaware president-elect joe biden received his first dose of the pfizer vaccine on camera. doctor jill biden received her first dose. and vice president-elect and her husband will get theirs next week. this morning vice president-elect in all important in georgia. campaigning for the two democrats. reverend warnock and jon ossoff. in the critical january 5 run off election there. for the two seats that will determine control of the united states senate.

>> as far as i'm concerned, georgia, columbus. 2020 ain't over until january 5th. that's when we'll get this done. everything is at stake. >> should democrats take those two seats that would make harris the tie breaking vote returning to her other duty as california senator. vice president-elect is back in washington for a vote on the days other big development. after months of senate republicans drag their feet. congress is voting tonight on a needed covid economic relief package. after congressional leaders reached a deal on a $900 billion package yesterday. including direct payment of $600 to americans making less than 75,000 a year. and $300 a week in unemployment insurance. rental assistance, billions for small business, college and school. and extension of the federal eviction moratorium until

january. president-elect called it an important down payment. i spoke with kamala harris and asked her about all of that and about making history. >> vice president-elect harris, it is so great to talk with you. thank you so much for being here. >> it's so wonderful to be with you. and be back with you. having a conversation. >> i have to ask you to start off. have you had the opportunity to everyone take it in the history that you have now made that you will be making as the first woman, first black woman, first asian american woman to be vice president of the united states? have you taken it in. >> i have to some extent. probably the day that we get sworn in will be -- it will really hit me. since the day we found out we have been just moving.

trying to pull together a cabinet. and get the transition going as smoothly as possible. i'll keep you posted. yeah. >> you have been moving. you have been busy including you came back from georgia. from my good friends city of columbus. the beautiful city. campaigning for the jon ossoff as well as reverend warnock. talk about the stakes of that election. you have served in the united states senate. in a mitch mcconnell universe. president-elect biden knows what it's like to be vice president in a mitch mcconnell universe. what difference will it make pragmatically. you'll vote tonight on a bill that people feel is not enough. $600. not enough. what practical difference will it make if democrats control the united states senate come

january? >> so, i was in columbus, georgia, today. campaigning for jon ossoff and warnock. and one of the things i said to your point is in my time in the senate, the four years i have been here, i have seen the power of an individual senator. and highlighted probably most for me by that evening into the early morning hours on the senate well when there was a battle over whether or not we would retain or get rid of the affordable care act. and the late great mccain said no. and i talked about that in georgia today. they have the opportunity to elect not one but two senators who could change the ballot and in terms of the out come on issues about the affordable care act. working families, about the variety of issues that are presented today in the united states senate. and that's why i was there

president-elect biden was there last week. because we know that we intend to work closely with all people in the united states congress. regardless of party. on some issues we just know and have to believe that if we have the majority in the senate, it maybe easier to do things like fete the john lose voting rights act passed. and that's the reality of it. it is within the power of the people of georgia to determine how their voice will be reflected in the united states senate. i was urging everybody. make sure they did what they did in november. which is speak loudly in spite of those trying to suppress and intimidate and confuse people about the vote. people must a speak and voices must be heard. >> i think for a lot of democrats they have a will the of ptsd about the eight years in which president obama was president. and the parts of the

administration where mitch mcconnell was majority leader. he was essentially bound and determined to destroy the obama presidency. the amount of filibusters. it felt like the 1950s again. are you going in to this administration preparing to be in a fight to be in a constant war with mitch mcconnell and the republicans whether they are majority or minority? >> it is my hope and prayer and joe biden said it -- that we intend to work across party lines. the biggest challenge the crisis that are front and center in the nation don't see party line. and if we are truly leaders, each of us in the position we have to find a way to work together when it comes to the impact of the virus. and the public health impact the

need for the federal government to take responsibility for distribution of the vaccine. all people get it as quickly as possible. when it comes to building back up the economy. reopening. those businesses could care less how folks are registered to vote. they are suffering and need the leaders to see them. all of the children and parents and teachers. who need to go back to school in a safe environment. those children could care less who the parents voted for in the last election. that is our intention. to work as much as possible to get things done. we were elected to do a job we intend to do that job and hope we can do it with as many people as possible participating. >> i feel like if those two senators win in georgia you'll be breaking a lot of ties. you'll be president of the senate full-time. we'll see what happens. let's talk about the virus. it's catastrophic to talk about it. we have reached 18 million cases in the united states.

319,000 plus americans have did. that's hard to wrap your head around. i want to talk about that. there's been a lot of talk today. we watched president-elect biden get the vaccine. the shot in the arm. which is important. >> the vaccination. in his arm. that was important. just as a message to the country. and talked about the importance. people want you to get the vaccine. they want to see the incoming administration get it. you'll be moving into a sick building. a white house that's a hot spot. there's question and anxiety that people who stood with donald trump when he messaged gns taking precautions and modelled bad behavior and they followed him down the rabbit hole. pushing to the front of the line and getting the vaccine.

the rubios of the world and enable the bad behavior. how do you feel about some of the republican politicians being at the front of the line for the vaccine? >> honestly, i want that everyone gets it. and we can talk about where they have been on the issue. but i hope and i believe that anybody who is in a position of leadership should be urging all americans. again, regardless of party. it should be encouraging them. and they get the vaccine. and they get vaccinated. and the reality is that it is literally about saving lives. saving life. and joe and i the president-elect, we will be focussed as our highest priority when we after we take the oath to come into office and put resources into vaccine distribution.

and to equal distribution. i'm back in d.c. to vote on the covid relief bill. there's money in there for vaccine distribution. there needs to be more. i hope all the people who you are speaking of understand it is their responsibility. i dare say the moral responsibility. to understand the american people deserve just what they got. which is to have that vaccine. and have it distributed in a way that everyone regardless of where they live can get it. >> i know that yourself and husband are going to be getting the vaccine very soon. i don't know if you got a chance. you have been busy traveling. we are declaring the queen of twitter. she was on with my friend. she expressed red sense about getting the vaccine. a will the of people of color who really suffered under this

pandemic who are nervous about the vaccine. what do you say to people skeptical of the vaccine? >> i love dion war wick. we have to speak truth. the fact is that america has a history on the issue. that is a history that includes black people being treated very badly. we have to remember that history. we have to listen to people when they remember that history. and we have to address it. and do it in an honest way. this vaccine, these vaccines. pfizer and moderna. the two out right now will save lives. they will save lives. and i urge everybody. when we look at particular when we're talking about the racial demographic in terms of the impact, black folks, latinos,

they are so many more times likely to contract covid and die from it. and this vaccine again it will save their lives. and so, i'm going to put as much as i can into helping people trust what the public health experts are telling us. i'm taking it. i'm going to to be taking it next week. my husband will take it. because i trust the public health experts on this. i urge everybody to do the same. >> do you know which of the two vaccines you will be taking? >> which vaccine -- i'm not sure yet. i think it's all coming together. i will be taking the vaccine. >> let's talk about the other bucket. of resistance. president-elect talked about doing this 100 day push. this war against the vaccine. you talk about how important that is. you have a block of americans who again following the current president have even in some

cases violently resisted any measure to stop the spread. the basics. wearing a mask, distancing. they are refusing. how do you fight that kind of propaganda, that kind of it's hard to imagine people would make a vaccine into a political issue. people have. how do you fight that? >> we have to model better behavior. frankly. that's about everything that we have been doing. you have seen the president-elect biden has been modelling behavior he's asking of the american people. pleading with the american people. in previous times in our country, be it world war ii. the great depression. real leaders said to the people let's join together. we'll have to sacrifice. but let's do it in the sake of the strength of the country. and each other. so modelling good behavior a

real leader models by asking the american people to take the steps that are necessary. to strengthen our country and save lives. that's why joe biden is saying first 100 days everybody wear a mask. there's no punishment. it's not about penalty. if we value the essence of love your neighbor. it's the right thing to do. i got my mask here. i have my other mask. i have so many masks. nobody likes wearing masks. but it's what we need to do. it's what we have to do right now. when millions and millions of people are contracting this. people are dying. we're coming onto the holiday season. how many families are not going to have their -- there's an empty chair at the table. we can get through this. we really can. everyone has to be a part of it.

this disease again it doesn't know the difference between who we are in terms of our idea perspective and party affiliation. we have power. >> given the stakes on the virus, it's been a strange post election period. and i'm sure -- you have a president of the united states currently who doesn't accept the results of the election. and just met for the third time in four days with powell, a conspiracy theorist. a former lieutenant general. retired. michael flynn was pardoned for the lying to the fbi about meeting with the russians have been encouraging trump to declare martial law and rerun election ins the places he lost. this is what's happening now in the white house while this pandemic is going on. what do you make of this?

>> look, we are -- what i make of it is more of the same. it's sadly not surprising. but we are doing what we need to do. which is to work every day around the clock. around the clock. putting together a team. finalizing our plans for implementation on january 20. that will be about getting relief to folks in terms of both the vaccination. it will be about helping small businesses. it will be about helping to put in place a process where we can reopen schools. we'll focus on that. and the american people have spoken this election is over. we won. and so we are going to to do what is necessary. given that the american people said you are the next ones to take the helm and address the issues. that's where the focus will be.

not on what that stuff he's doing in the white house right now. >> if he was doing it on his own it would be bizarre. what you have are republicans -- i believe seven republican senators referred to joe biden as president-elect. before december 14. i don't know how many have approached you and been willing to openly call you vice president-elect. the republican party is in enthralled to this wing. this extreme wing. i wonder if you feel you'll have any partners in party that can't even call you and joe biden the president and vice president-elect. >> i have to believe that at some point reality will set in. and that everyone will understand that we need to govern. that the people of the country rely on our government to work

and function in a way that congress works with the executive branch and the white house. to solve their problems. and that's how we'll be focussed and where we'll focus. and there have been many of the republicans colleagues who have congratulated us. to me personally. even on the senate floor. and so, i think there maybe some posturing taking place in public. in private i think they are far more who understand that it is important we have a peaceful transfer of power. and we get on the with the business of running the country. >> coming up. much more of my interview with vice president-elect kamala harris. trump is working to sabotage the incoming administration. >> you are right. there has been i think a purposeful effort by the current administration to undo government. >> back with more of the "the

reidout" after this. never holdsk don't settle for silver #1 for diabetic dry skin* #1 for psoriasis symptom relief* and #1 for eczema symptom relief* gold bond champion your skin gold bond ...could be all your softf odor surfaces?ome... odors get trapped in your home's fabrics and resurface over time. febreze fabric refresher eliminates odors. its water-based formula safely penetrates fabrics where odors hide. spray it on your rugs, your curtains, your furniture, all over your home to make it part of your tidying up routine. febreze fabric refresher, for an all-over freshness you'll love.

want to sell the best burger add an employee.ode? or ten... then easily and automatically pay your team and file payroll taxes. that means... world domination! or just the west side. run payroll in less than five minutes with intuit quickbooks. (kids laughing) ♪ upbeat tempo ♪ sanctuary music it's the final days of the wish list sales event sign and drive off in a new lincoln with zero down, zero due at signing, and a complimentary first month's payment. and a complimentary the only thing a disaster can't destroy is hope.

donate now at redcross.org (burke)stomer) happy anniversary. (customer) for what? (burke) every year you're with us, you get fifty dollars toward your home deductible. it's a policy perk for being a farmers customer. (customer) do i have to do anything? (burke) nothing. (customer) nothing? (burke) nothing. (customer) nothing? (burke) nothing. (customer) hmm, that is really something. (burke) you get a whole lot of something with farmers policy perks. see ya. (kid) may i have a balloon, too? (burke) sure. your parents have maintained a farmers home policy for twelve consecutive months, right? ♪ we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪ (burke) start with a quote at 1-800-farmers. we're all finding ways to keep moving. but how do we make sure the direction we're headed is forward? at fidelity, you'll get the planning and advice to prepare you for the future, without sacrificing the things that are important to you today. we'll help you plan for healthcare costs, taxes and any other uncertainties along the way. because with fidelity, you can feel confident that the only direction you're moving is forward.

welcome back. more now of my interview with vice president-elect kamala harris. >> let me get a couple quick issues i know are important for the people who voted for you. criminal justice reform and electoral reform. you have got the john lewis voting act. is that going to be able to pass. will meaningful criminal justice reform be able to pass? we interviewed a woman who was mistreated by chicago police. left nude and hue mailuated by police for a lot of black folks that is the way almost you expect that as the way you'll be treated. can you see those two things happening? >> i can see it happening. i can see a day where it is

possible we'll have to fight for it. and in terms of criminal justice reform there is the work that we need to do is by way of legislation. back to the reason that i was in georgia today. and joe biden was there last week and urging everybody in georgia to vote. because if jon ossoff and warnock are elected, i do believe there's a sympathetic larger group of people who are sympathetic to the exactly the cases you described. and in terms of the voting rights act, they have refused to put it on the floor for a vote. it gets back to perhaps having a president in place who is going to say that he would sign it. and green lighting it in that way. which is contrary to what we have seen with good pieces of legislation. trump said he wouldn't sign it. and it didn't go forward.

so we will see. it's not going to happen easily. none of the remforms in history of the country have. we have been marching and shouting for criminal justice reform and the strength of the voting rights act for quite sometime. and it hasn't happened yet. it will not be easy. we are focussed on getting it done. >> while we have you, i want to get in as much as possible. there's a huge cyber attack against the united states by russia. we have a president who doesn't seem willing to admit to that. and has burroed into the federal government. a lot of people throughout the out going administration, who you are stuck with. whether at the state department or in the daepartment of justic. how to you undo that and make uz safe as a country and make people feel the government is

working for them? >> we start by putting in place professionals who know the job. know the business and are respected by peers. have the experience and the qualifications to exercise good judgment. that's starts with putting in place leadership at the top of the agencies which will attract folks who may have left. the professionals who left because of the politics to come back. about setting a standard in way of doing business that rewards professionalism. and good work. that's how we will do it. you were right. there has been i think a conscious and purpleful by the current administration to undo government. in every form. and we have a will the of work ahead of us. it is not only about progress like you mentioned if you think about criminal justice reform and voting rights act and restoration or advancing democracy, there's been a lot of

destruction that has happened in the four years. which the will require a will the of work for repair. much less leapfrogging over that to where we could have been. even if we moved incrementally. we have big task. joe biden and i and the team we're putting together we are fully aware of this. there's a lot to get done. again to your point, it will be about repair of what was broken. we're up for it. >> it will be a lot of work. i can't let the holiday week go by without asking a final question. i'm not going to presume he's doing it. i don't know if doug is cooks or you are cooking. are we doing indian food or jamaican food. ox tails? what are we doing? jewish traditional hanukkah food? what's being served at your household. >> yeah. right, right.

okay, so, i on christmas morning for a decade now, every christmas morning i make my mother's she had an incredible recipe for chili. i do that and we have bagels and everyone comes over for breakfast and brunch. and take a nap. and come back for dinner. we do a big dinner. that's our tradition. sadly, like so many, we're not doing it at that scale this year. it's going to be -- i'm trying to learn how to cook smaller for the holiday. it's really difficult.

my poor husband will gain ten, 20 pounds. >> he'll need to pull out the pants. we're doing korean. we're scaling it down. we're not gathering. >> yes, ma'am. since i was a kid. my mom always does curry. and turkey. we do a very -- >> yes, yes. >> you are invited any time. >> we'll share recipes. >> sounds like a plan. vice president-elect kamala harris. you take the good wishes of americans from all walks of life. all cultures all over the country with you into the new role. historic new role. thank you for spending time with us. >> thank you. great to be with you.

still ahead. the deafening silence from spineless republicans as trump encouraging antiamerican insurrection. [♪]

do you struggle with dull, dry skin, and find yourself reapplying moisturizer throughout the day? try olay ultra rich. olay's luxurious moisturizer melts into the skin. it's formulated with vitamin b3 plus peptides and shea butter, providing lasting hydration, for up to 24 hours. there's no need to reapply, and no greasy residue. and, for enhanced hydration, try olay serum. just 1 drop has the power to renew a million surface skincells. for deep, lasting hydration try olay. finding the right words can be tough.n it comes to autism, finding understanding doesn't have to be. we can create a kinder, more inclusive world for the millions of people on the autism spectrum.

go to autismspeaks.org. here's another cleaning tip from mr. clean. cleaning tough bathroom and kitchen messes with sprays and wipes can be a struggle. there's an easier way. try mr. clean magic eraser. just wet, squeeze and erase tough messes like bathtub soap scum... and caked-on grease from oven doors. now mr. clean magic eraser comes in disposable sheets. they're perfect for icky messes on stovetops... in microwaves... and all over the house. for an amazing clean, try mr. clean magic eraser, and mr. clean magic eraser sheets.

have you had the opportunity to even take it in the history that you have now made that you will be making as the first woman, first black woman, first asian american woman to be vice president of the united states. have you taken it in? >> i have to some extent. probably the day with get sworn in it will hit me. because since the day we found out, we have been just moving.

trying to pull together a cabinet and get the transition going as smoothly as possible. >> here we reaction to the interview with vice president-elect kamala harris. staff writer for the new yorker. and contributor to show time the circus and former white house communication director. for president obama. thank you for being here. i actually still haven't gotten my head around what it means in the big picture to have this woman now occupying the seat of the vice president of the united states. and i wonder as a historian have you -- this is a black person. have you taken it in? >> no. i don't think i have. when we have. inauguration and what my experience with obama the grand ceremony didn't really bring it home. when i saw him doing the most

mundane, daily aspects of the presidency, it really occurred to me this person was the president. out touring a factory and wearing a hard hat. things no president gets excited about doing. walking around and em bodying. by necessity, the century long struggle for recognition of our equal humanity. i think that's probably going to have the same effect for me in other people when we see kamala harris executing the most basic, easily over looked aspects of the vice president si. >> one thing she'll have to do. president of the senate is the official title of the vice president of the united states. the actual job. he's probably if georgia goes the way she and joe biden want it it go. she'll preside over the senate.

what she said about dealing with mitch mcconnell. >> this bill cannot and will not be the final word on congressional relief from the coronavirus pandemic. this is an emergency survival package. when we come back the number one job will be to fill in the gaps by the bill. that was chuck schumer. let's try again. >> okay. that's okay. no worries. we'll go fo you. one of the things that happened after the 2016 election, is that i think for a will the of women, they looked back and sat back and said america hates women. the fight that was against hillary clinton felt like a fight against women wanting too

much. wanting power. and that seemed to be a big part of the issue that clinton faced. for you as a woman and a woman who worked in the white house, has it really hit you that we're getting the first woman and getting her with all of the rest of the history. she's the first woman, woman of color, asian, african-american. thrown onto one woman. >> it's a lot of pressure. she carries it with joy. after 16, women thought wow, if we can have this out come, if donald trump can win and can beat clinton. the most qualified to run for president. we're playing by the wrong set of rules. we'll throw away the rules and make our own path. two times when she was named the

running mate. i admire her as a senator and presidential candidate. i realized centuries of history giving way to this woman. she's going to be the one. and i was in delaware the night the two of them that saturday night. they were declared the winner and watching her walk out as the first woman, black woman, black person to be vice president of the united states. and the power of example really matters. we have watched her with you tonight. a will the of joy, joy. from the two of you. great to see. talking about the vaccine. and understanding when she gets the vaccine and other black people who have concerns. they see her getting the vaccine it will have a big impact. we see her pre-virgsiding over senate. that will have an impact. the bad leadership on the country and mow hope is on the

way. >> the thing is, i call the temptation. when obama won. there was so much expectation to change everything. he was like super-man. he inherited super-powers when he became president. i wonder about that pressure to deliver on criminal jus it is reform, deliver the voting rights act. this is the senates job. the focus -- people will be watching kamala harris. >> sure. they will. if you think back to how -- certainly the way was received. they were both seen as really pandering. people thought this was -- even question about their abilities of the qualification. i don't think people got passed any of the aspects to ask the

questions. it was just this is a ploy to get female voters. one measure of the position that senator harris finds herself in. vice president harris finds herself in. that's not the dominant narrative about her. especially the surge of donations and excitement when she was named running mate. this was a person who they were thinking about the base the democratic voters had been thinking about and really wanting to see in the position. for a long time. as it pertains to the functioning of the senate. georgia is so crucial. the potential of 2008. with obama. or 2010. >> that's right. we shall see. georgia is everything. thank you both. coming up. as trump and his political allies radicalize supporters the

appalling silence from republican lawmakers needs to end. calling out complicity on trumps antidemocratic endeavors. that's next. actually was. dust mite droppings? ewww. dead skin cells? gross! so now, i grab my swiffer heavy duty sweeper and dusters. dusters extends to 6 feet to reach way up high... to grab, trap and lock away gross dust. nice! for dust on my floors, i switch to sweeper. the heavy duty cloths reach deep in grooves to grab, trap and lock dust bunnies... no matter where they hide. no more heebie jeebies. phhhhew. glad i stopped cleaning and started swiffering.

there is perhaps no other individual who has helped donald trump advance his political agenda more than out going hand of the king william barr. even trumps transactional relationships come to an end. he are signed after falling out of favor with the mad king. after refusing to advance the election fraud. and voting machines. >> i see no basis now for seizing machines. by the federal government. wholesale see sure of machines. if i thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool and appropriate, i would name one.

i haven't. i'm not going to. >> so the last part about a special council. that was in reference to powell. the "new york times" trump discussed naming her as a special counsel to over see an investigation of the voter fraud. whose fight to preserve his reign includes a conspiracy theory about the scheme to rig voting machines in the u.s. what involves chavez. who cannot comment as the former venezuela president died seven years ago. one of her clients is former national security adviser michael flynn. who trump recently pardoned. according to "new york times" flynn and powell were present at a white house meeting friday where trump sullied the oval office. inquiring about martial law as a tactic for rerunning the election. the temperature tear substitution of military authority for civilian rule.

last after pearl harbor. still, that grand old party remains silent. why silence is complicity. that's next. your daily dashboard from fidelity -- a visual snapshot of your investments, key portfolio events, all in one place. because when it's decision time, you need decision tech. only from fidelity. (kids laughing) (dog barking)

♪ sanctuary music it's the final days of the wish list sales event sign and drive off in a new lincoln with zero down, zero due at signing, and a complimentary first month's payment. and a complimentary every time you touch a surface, bacteria is left behind. now, consider how many times your family touches the surfaces in your home in 24 hours. try microban 24. spray on hard surfaces to kill 99.9% of viruses

and bacteria initially, including the virus that causes covid-19. once dry, microban forms a bacteria shield that keeps killing bacteria for 24 hours, even after multiple touches. try microban 24. this has been medifacts for microban 24.

to all the businesses make it through 2020... thank you for going the extra mile... and for the extra pump of caramel. thank you for the good food... and the good karma. thank you for all the deliveries... especially this one. you've reminded us that no matter what, we can always find a way to bounce forward. so thank you, to our customers and to businesses everywhere, from all of us at comcast business. trump's co up attempt, which first failed in the courts, then evolved into floating martial

law as a method to sustain power is a normalized event in the u.s. and now you have the republican party's silence to thank for that. at which point one has to ask, is this just trump's little old coup or an attempted coup by the entire gop? joining me now, former u.s. attorney joyce vance. let's go back for a second and dig deeper into the coup thing. joyce, the idea that donald trump, one of his last-ditch ploys to try to stay in power, naming sydney powell, qanon conspiracy theorist, as some sort of special counsel, that cannot happen, right? can you just explain how special counsels work? that doesn't sound like that's something he has the authority to do. >> well, sure. special counsels are actually governed by regulations that specify that when there's an investigation being conducted by the justice department, and there's a conflict of interest, the attorney general might know someone who is involved or we

could have the situation that we had with bob mueller, where the president has just fired an fbi director, so you bring someone in to avoid the conflict of interest. that's the first big hurdle to appointing a special counsel in this -- any of these situations, really, that the president is talking about. any investigations that are being conducted right now are being conducted presumably by trump's political appointees. so, there really is no problem, nothing that he could raise where he could say that the justice department wouldn't be fully investigating the cases in a way that would warrant a special counsel. >> yeah. it almost feels, charlie, like he's making up rules in his own head that he thinks should govern the presidency. the problem is that people are feeding him additional ideas. michael flynn -- i don't know what happened to this guy. he was head of the defense intelligence agency at one point. he was the star of fast-rising member of the united states army. now you had to have a joint

statement by the army secretary on friday saying that, you know, there is no role for the u.s. military in determining the outcome of an american election. that should go without saying. the fact that they had to say that, because michael flynn is saying give us martial law and you've got a guy named clay higins, representative to congress, republican, saying if biden is inaugurated as the 46th president of the united states on january 20th, it will mark the final hour of skrpsy to dismantle the american selection process. i don't understand how you govern a country with them still in any power at all. >> yeah. it's a weird stew of insanity and sedition, isn't it? crazy here. i have to say, though, reading an account of this raucous moment in the oval office, the president talking about naming someone as crazy as sydney powell as special counsel. the president of the united

states is talking to this crazy person. keep in mind, this is hard core. these are the dead enders who are still there. and it's just now occurring to them who donald trump is, that donald trump surrounds himself with the craziest of the crazy? they just now realize that the president of the united states is so arrogant, so desperate, so autocratic that he's actually talking about bringing in the military to row run the election? if only they had been warned. i have a limited amount of sympathy for them as for the republicans who are silent about this, the chairman of the joint chiefs staff gave a speech about a month ago where he went through in great detail and said look, we in the military are unlike any other military. we don't swear an oath of allegiance to a dictator, a tyrant or a king. we swear allegiance to the constitution. if the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff at the leaders

of the uniformed military services who can be fired by the president, if they're willing to say this, if they're willing to remind us what kind of a country are, why can't members of congress do this, especially knowing that donald trump is out? my only guess is they're just waiting it out, figuring, okay, we've gone this far. the guy is crazy. the guy is dangerous. but you know what? only 30 days to go. this is a disgraceful moment in american history. and i'm afraid on january 6th the republican party is is going to disgrace itself even further by further indulging the mad king's delusions in his desire to overturn our constitutional democracy. >> they take an oath, too, right? >> they do. >> just as members of the military do, to uphold the constitution. i asked vice president-elect harris about this rock that's now deep in a lot of these agencies that the biden/harris administration is going to take over. trump is leaving leads behind all over the place, people

they're going to have to root out. there's an op-ed in "the new york times" by somebody they left in the justice department, an attorney there, saying i am haunted by what i did as a lawyer in the trump justice department. lawyers like me were complicit. we owe the country our honesty about what we saw and should do in the future. do you -- in your opinion, should the incoming administration purge out the people who -- not only the active bad guys but the people who were complicit and start over, including at justice? >> yeah. i think it's important, and i'll talk in the context of justice, that we make a distinction between political appointees and career folks who are part of the civil service. obviously, political appointees leave with the change in administration. so we're not talking about that. we're talking more about career civil servants. and i think this op-ed is interesting. you know, most civil servants don't actually play any role in propping up an administration,

and at doj career folks across the country went about their business, protected the american people, made communities safer without ever having any impact or any exchanges that involved this president's unconstitutional leanings. the person who wrote this op-ed was in the office of legal counsel where a lot of work was done that propped up this presidency. >> yeah, yeah. >> and i think people who made those sorts of decisions need to engage in some serious soul searching. look, this president didn't make any secret of who he was during the campaign. >> yeah. >> i'm proud that i resigned the night before the inauguration. i think anyone who pretends they didn't see it coming is just fooling themselves. so there has to be some sort of accountability. i don't think we need to purge people in government. that, i think, is dangerous territory. i think we assign people to positions that are appropriate with their judgment. >> i think that is -- those are wise words.

charlie sykes, joyce vance, thank you both for being here. mark your calendars. you are not going to want to miss wednesday's show. we've got something very special for you. we're just going to call it an early christmas present. i can't give too much away but it involves the amazing leslie jones, twitter and a certain christmas classic, updated by yours truly. tune in this wednesday. that is tonight's "reid out." "all in with chris hayes" starts now. tonight on "all in," maga world floats insurrection. >> within the swing states if he wanted to, he could take military capabilities and place them in those states and basically rerun an election in each of those states. >> tonight, trump' obsession with overturning the election, the people helping him plot and the distress signals from inside the white house. then -- >> one of the