limits the drn. >> okay. i get the idea. i get the idea. >> so that there was stacey abrams, spellman university graduate, truman scholar, yale law school school, offering a primer on the georgia voter suppression laws to senator john no relation kennedy of louisiana. to take us off the air tonight. with that, that is our broadcast for this wednesday with. our thanks for being here with us on behalf of all my colleagues at the networks of nbc news, goodnight. >> happy to have you here. it was a big news day today. president biden announced that we just hit 200 million doses of vaccine administered. you will recall he initially said he wanted 100 million shots, to be administered in his first hundred days as president. then when he hit that really

early, he doubled the goal and said ok not 100 million shots, but 200 million shots in 100 days. today's announcement means that he hit that even that doubled goal, more than a week before the deadline. and this comes of course when things are not all smooth sailing on the vaccine front. this comes as we are expecting some word from the u.s. government, from the cdc in the fda by the end of the week about whether or not the johnson & johnson, one shot vaccine, is going to come back into use. but even with the administration of that one shot vaccine still on pause, for almost two weeks now, we apparently today to hit 200 million doses administered anyway. which is phenomenal. today president biden also announced a new tax credit. and i know you're thinking, why is rachel talking about tax policy at the top of the a block. it relates to the covid thing. it's super interesting to me. he announced a new tax credit

today, that will fully reimburse employers who give their employees paid time off, to go get vaccinated. apparently polls show that about a quarter of people who have not yet been vaccinated say they would go get their vaccine if they could get paid time off of work to go get it done. they just cannot afford to not show up for a shift to take time off of work to go do it. well this new tax credit, will make that basically a cost neutral option for small and medium sized businesses, all across the country. to offer them paid leave. paid time off. to go get a vaccine. the irs released the detailed instructions today for how small and medium sized businesses all across the country can claim that tax credit, for their employees, if they're willing to do this for their employees. but the president made the announcement amounted today from the white house. at the same time he was announcing we have hit 200 million doses administered. big day. really big day today. tomorrow, is going to be an

even bigger day, tomorrow the president will be hosting this international climate summit. that he promised during the campaign. the list of attendees for this thing includes so many leaders for this country it doesn't even seem like a real thing in the real world. it certainly wouldn't be a real thing if these leaders were trying to me in person instead of on zoom. but because they're meeting on zoom, it's like a who's who. that climate summit is going to be a very big deal tomorrow. the washington post reporting that biden will announce a pledge that u.s. emissions will drop by half, by the end of this decade. i just eight years from now. which is a very tall order. it tells you impart, why the biden administration wants so badly, the infrastructure bill done in quickly so they can start working on some of the stuff right away. cutting u.s. emissions in half, by the end of this decade, that's a big deal, in this

summit is coming up. i feel like there hasn't been all that much coverage of it as the date of the summit has been approaching. that is going to happen tomorrow. it's going to be a really big deal when it happens. we'll have a little bit more on that coming up later on this hour. today in the senate, republicans failed in their efforts to block the confirmation of civil rights attorney, vinnie to ghouta, to become one of the top officials of the justice department under lieutenant maryland -- mitch mcconnell insisted, that there would be zero republican votes for even eat a gupta but he was wrong and it's never a good sign vanita gupta for a leader in congress win -- and that vote count is wrong. when it came down to it today, republican senator lisa murkowski of alaska crossed over and voted with democrats to support vanita gupta confirmation. gupta was confirmed in a bipartisan vote, even though

mitch mcconnell and his whole leadership team on the republican side of the senate said that was not possible and she wouldn't get any republican votes, in fact she did. her confirmation today marks the first time a civil rights lawyer, the first time a woman of color will be associate attorney general, which is a big deal. it's the number three position at the u.s. department of justice. and you know, substantive we that means, wow there's a really accomplished civil rights lawyer at those fights of the u.s. justice department. that is a very big deal. procedurally, politically, it also means the republicans in the senate are losing their own members, and biden confirmations. that's not a good sign for them on anything. if they don't know what their own caucus is going to do, it's worth watching that space in particular. internationally, today's news started to look like we might be seeing the start of a good size war breaking out, on the eastern edge of europe. we have been watching for a few weeks now as russian president

vladimir putin has been building up a huge number of of troops and tanks and military aircraft and missiles and ships and other forms of armed menace. right on the border of the ukraine. you can recall putin invaded ukraine and took part of ukraine for part of russia not that long, ago in 2014. putin actually has more troops amassed on the ukraine border now than he did before that invasion seven years ago. the ukrainian president, zelensky, has given us a pinch to his country, warning the citizens of the ukraine, that russia may be about to invade again, promising essentially a full scale war in a fight to the last man if that happens. for his part putin gave a speech today threatening the west. pounding the proverbial shoe of the podium saying russians enemies quote, will regret what they have done, more than they have regretted anything for a

long time. i'm sure that wasn't at all intended to portray his own worry over tens of thousands of russians turning out all over that country, more than 100 and cities and towns to shout things like, putin is a thief. and russia without putin. and to show their support for the opposition leader navalny who putin has jailed, it is apparently starving to death inside a russian prison. tens of thousands of russians turning out on the street today to support him. to demand his release. to demand to be given medical care. and i'm sure putin is actually quite unhinged threats to annihilate all his enemies today. i'm sure that was just par for the putin. i'm sure he's not at all worried about a country that really may not be all that into him anymore, as he maneuvers to try to hold on to power for another 20 years or so. in part by trying to kill everybody who opposes him. we will have more on that ahead

tonight as well the pictures of the protester kind of amazing, giving the kind of threat the russian security services are posing to the people who they arrest at this protests. today reporting that more than 1000 people were arrested today by russian security services. here at home, in the aftermath of yesterday's dramatic guilty verdicts for the former vanier plus police officer who killed george floyd last spring, the killing that of course set off nationwide and ultimately worldwide protests, today attorney general mary garland, announced the u.s. justice department will start a federal investigation into the minneapolis police department, and whether that department as a whole engages in what they call a pattern or practice, of using excessive force. it is a serious thing for a whole police department, particularly a whole police department in a big city like minneapolis, to come under federal justice department investigation, the sort of thing could lead to wholesale and mandatory changes, for how

policing is conducted in that city. clearly that is something they are contemplating already, in minnesota in the wake of the killing of george floyd, in the trial over the killing of george floyd, and the wake of the other police killings in minnesota that proceeded george floyd, and have continued sense. the reason i say this is something they're contemplating already, is because here's minnesota attorney general former congressman keith ellison speaking on that point, in a way that i think is very powerful and very, not just insightful, thought-provoking. watch. >> we need to use this verdict as an inflection point. what if we just prevented the problem instead of having to try these cases. we don't want any more community members dying at the hands of law enforcement in their families lives ruined. we want, we don't want any more law enforcement members facing criminal charges in their

families lives ruined. we don't want any more communities torn apart. one way to prevent this, is to get into a new relationship, where we as a society reexamine the use of force. and our old set of assumptions. this verdict demands us to never give up the hope, that we can make enduring change. generations of people said slavery would never and. generations said jim crow would never end. generations said women would never be equal to men. generations said, if we are different anyway, you can never be a full and equal member of our society. today, we have to end this travesty, of recurring, enduring deaths at the hands of law enforcement. the work of our generation is to put, unaccountable law enforcement behind us. it's time to transfer the relationship, transform the relationship between communities and the people who are sworn, to protect them, from one that is mistrustful,

suspicious and in some cases terrifying, into one that is empathetic, compassionate in confirming. with that will benefit everyone, including police officers who deserve to serve in a profession that is honored, and departments where they don't have to worry about, colleagues who don't follow the rules. now that work is in your hands. the work of our generation is to say goodbye to old practices that don't serve us anymore. and to put them all behind us. one conviction, even one like this one, that creates, even one like this one can create a powerful new opening to shed old practices and reset. i do hope the people step forward, in understand that nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something. you can do things like help pass, the george floyd justice and accountability act. it's in your hands. let's get the work done.

>> work of our generation is to say goodbye to old practices that don't serve us anymore. we have to end this travesty of an occurring in deaths at the hand of law enforcement. the work of our generation. smart remarks. and i think the attorney general said those in the immediate wake of the verdict yesterday. and they've sort of been rattling around for me our sense. this idea of possibility. of something practically doable. even as it feels endemic, and it's something that we can't rule out, no matter how we work at it. this idea of renewing, not just hope, but a sense of possibility, in an ability to put one foot in front of the other to get rid of one thing that no longer serves us. we are at this inflection point as he said there. and today, especially, the day after the verdict, really not knowing as a country, if this ordeal we have just been through, has been enough of a

shock to the system. if there is enough momentum, that is practical enough, and concerted enough, and dedicated enough. that we could actually start to do things differently. that we could undo some of the stuff that we've got that we don't want. to make something new instead. it may be starting with the national bipartisan reform bill name for george floyd. but today in minneapolis, it is also the eve of the funeral for daunte wright. 20 years old, black, shot in the chest by a police officer during a traffic stop. some in the chest and killed during the trial of the officer who killed george floyd, just a few miles from the courthouse. daunte wright's funeral is tomorrow. in minneapolis. and today, all over the country, all day long, in prepping for the show, and reviewing the news of the day, we watched police press conferences today, all over the country, police press conferences, one after

the other, after the other about police officers killing black americans. in this did not all happen today because of the george floyd trial verdict yesterday, this is just another day, this is just what the news is in our country on wednesday. >> our goal is to provide as much information, as quickly as we can, and provide the information that we have access to. again the state of ohio, the attorney generals office, bc is conducting a criminal investigation into this incident. but we know it's important to let our community know the facts that we know, in the facts that we can share. today we are going to increase the number of body worn camera video that we can show you today. >> it's indeed a tragic day here, what we are looking for this time, will be accurate answers, and not fast answers.

we're going to wait for the full in complete investigation. >> will you release the body cam footage? >> i do not. no leg special agent rogers stated, it is tremendously early in this investigation. with all these questions are asking, and i know you all the answers, they will come out. they will come. out >> because this is an officer involved shooting, it's a reason we prioritize and focused on getting this out. this shooting happened inside a school. the shooting involved a child. those are all reasons to cause me to prioritize to cause this case and make it a very quick and thorough turnaround. i also want to tell you, one of the reasons that i have responded so quickly, is because it is my response to this community, there have been media, there's been community

leaders, there's been politicians, there's been activist groups, that have all demanded answers, which they are entitled to. you are all entitled to them. everybody has demanded those answers right now. >> knoxville tennessee today, the police shooting of 17 year old, anthony jay thompson jr., 17. before that there was about the police shooting of andrew brown junior. before that it was columbus ohio about the police shooting of 16 year old, makhia bryant, that's all just today. and yes today does happen to be the day after the george floyd trial verdict in minnesota, but honestly, this is just wednesday. this is just what is in the news, on a weekday, in america. in the relationship between police departments and black communities in this country. and you know, the justification for police shootings, and almost all of these cases and cases like them, is that the person ended up shot because

there was a perception that they posed some kind of threat, threat to other civilians on the scene, more often a perceived threat to the police officer responding to the scene, a threat, real or perceived, that was enough to justify or at least explain why this african american person was shot to death by police because of their perceived danger, because of the perceived threat that they pose. what about that idea, threat to police. today in washington d.c., a federal judge revoked the ordered release of one of the january 6th defendants. in his ruling, the judge summarized what the defendant is accused of having done on january 6th. this is how he summarized it. quote, as officer lay on the ground, mr. within began striking at the group of officers with a metal crunch. as d.c. police officers

attempted to defend themselves against the member of the mob who were converging on them with that weapons, mr. whitson crimes overall -- while standing over top of him, grabbed different officer by the head and held him over another officer and dragged him face first down the u.s. capital steps into the violent mob. approximately 20 minutes after those attacks on officer, he allegedly engage in another round of assault against d.c. police officers. per prosecutors, body worn cameras footage and u.s. capital surveillance footage can confirm that he walked up to a police line, was confronted by a protester who told him and others to stop and he retreated but then ran back to the line of officers, kick them and yelled, you're gonna die tonight. now that is a threat to police officers. that text is from a court

ruling ordering that man to be jailed today. because even though those are the allegations against him, that's what he was arrested for allegedly doing. the day after he was arrested he was ordered released from jail. he is facing multiple felony charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon which means that he is facing a 20-year prison sentence. there are multiple camera footage supporting this. he also talked publicly about his participation in these assault expressing no remorse. boy did he not get shot in the course of doing any of that. that was not a risk for him. afterward prosecutors say he did on january six, participating in those multiple attacks on police officers,

including dragging one down the stairs face down, face first to throwing to a mob, hitting another one with a weapon, with a metal crunch, telling police officers that were gonna die that day. after prosecutors say he did those things, would happen to him that day? he went home. he was only arrested a few weeks later. did one day in jail before a judge in georgia ordered that he should be released. only now, weeks after his initial arrested of federal judge look at his case and say how is this guy let out of prison? how do we handle threats to police in this country? nobody believes that police officers should put themselves in more danger than they need to be in the line of duty. nobody believes that police officers aren't entitled to

work in departments and to work in a profession that is honored. and that it is as safe as it can be. but it is the idea of a threat to the police that undergirds so many of the police shootings that are wallpaper for the daily turn of news in this country. but real threats to the police, including concerted attacks by police, on police, they are not all met with bullets from the police. my god. certainly not in this country, certainly not in this year in which it seems like everything is getting clearer and clearer with every passing day. whether or not we get any sort of substantial reform in this country in the wake of those verdicts, in the george floyd trial and in the wake of the nationwide protests have followed his killing, whether we get any substantive, big deal reform that remains to be seen. what do you think the prospects aren't? 50 50? 25, 75? you really think the

republicans are going to help with this? but i will tell you, when they want to do stuff to get it done. where republicans are in control around the country they have taken action already, this week, lightning fast to make it, among other things, a crime to protest when things like this happen. to make it not a crime to killed you while you are protesting something like this happening. man, what a time we are in. we've got more on that specifically and much more on this busy tuesday, stay with us. bipolar depression. it's a dark, lonely place. this is art inspired by real stories of people living with bipolar depression. emptiness. a hopeless struggle. the lows of bipolar depression can disrupt your life and be hard to manage.

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and that ending was so intense. you've been looking for i know, i didn't even see it coming. are you gonna watch? eventually! you know the drill. (humming) never fear, girl-who-has-yet-to-watch-her- friends-favorite-shows -and-films-of-the-year, it's time to celebrate the biggest week in television. now you can see these shows. and their unforgettable moments, for free. so you can finally talk about them with your friends. get ready for watchathon week, free starting april 27th. download the xfinity stream app to get ready to watch. >> the family of george floyd

came out to speak to the present one after the other they all express gratitude to all the people who had made those verdicts possible, the prosecutors who work to present the case, the people who supported the family for this last terrible year and they all thanked americans who protested. people who took to the streets in the weeks and months after george floyd's death, who kept george floyd's memory alive, who kept the pressure and demanded justice for his killing. the family, one after another credited those protest for ensuring that there would be some measure of accountability for his murder. which is why you might put it in the category of shocking but not surprising to see this headline in the new york times today. quoted gop bills target protesters, and absolve motorists who hit them. here's a lead of the story

quote, republican legislators in oklahoma and iowa have passed bills granting immunity to drivers whose vehicle strike and injured protesters in public streets. a republican proposal in indiana would bar anyone convicted of on lawful assembly to hold employment including elected office. a minnesota bill would prohibit those convicted of on lawful protesting's from receiving student loans, unemployment benefits or housing assistance, the measures are part of a wave of new anti protest legislation sponsored by republicans in the 11th month since black lives matter protests with the country following the death of george floyd. republicans responded to a summer of protests by proposing a raft of punitive new measures governing the right to lawfully assemble, republican lawmakers in 34 states have introduced 81 different anti protest bills.

and it is florida, blessed florida, that is really leading the way here. this week as the jury started deliberating in the derek chauvin trial, they made florida the first state in the nation to sign into law one of these bills granting immunity to drivers who drive into protesters on the road. florida law basically gives you a get out of lawsuits free card if you run your car into protesters, provided the people that you've hit with your car were engaged in a riot at the time. now you may ask what exactly does right mean in this circumstance, when does a protest become a right? hopefully this new bill massively expense the definition of what it means to riot, it now only takes three people to make a riot now in florida. the law also creates a new felony category of riding it

creates a whole new crime called mob intimidation, it makes the crime of blocking a highway a felony offense, and just for good measure the law denies bail to arrested protesters and it creates new protections for confederate monuments. because it wasn't on the nose enough already. harsh new penalties for protesting, new protections for confederate monuments, it is a felony to block a highway and immunity for drivers who plow into protesters. florida democrats tried in vain to stop this bill they pointed to the death of heather hire who was killed while protesting against the white nationalist neil nazi gathering in 2017, with the neo-nazi guys who drove his guy into the protesters and killed her, would he have been protected under this new law? that is terrifying right which is the whole point, to make protesters feel like they are

at a risk not only because you could be arrested and charged with a felony for all sorts of stuff that doesn't seem like a felony but also because drivers that could be hostile or scared of you would know they have special legal protection if they deliberately run you down with their car. federal lawsuit filed today against governor claims that this new law is unconstitutional for exactly that reason because redefined protective first amendment speech as rioting, it uses the threat of consequences. we'll see if this law survives in the court. it is an important indicator that it is already been the source, the subject of a lawsuit when it was only signed two days ago. but just stepped down from this and think about where we are as a country, what we have just been through with this trial for george floyd, this collective sigh of relief among so many americans that there was a guilty verdict in that case, everybody from george

floyd's family to activists to face leaders to elected officials including the president talking about the need for police reform and racial justice legislation so we can stop the cycle of these things constantly happening. in our generation we can stop it somehow, we can stop telling ourselves that it is and navigable we can take action to stop it. and then, republicans, across the country have decided that with their priorities are is the crackdown on protesters and protect people who ran their cars into them. this bill in florida was house bill one, it was their first priority, the very first bill that republicans weren't done in the session it was the top of the agenda. after florida's governor signed a new law, they held a press conference on their own, states have -- opened the event by talking about priorities. >> show me where you place your time and.

energy analysis of your viral bees our response to injustices in our country's protests but there are responses to criminalizes when the recourse for us is to turn to the streets to make our voices heard in this unjust system. government actions today goes to show that he is not concerned about the lives of black and brown people. who so happen to be citizens of this diverse state that many of us call home. he ignored us today, and our cries from the senate floor and also from the house for. if he was concerned he would've dress the killings a black man by the hands of police officers. >> that is florida state senator shiffrin jones who joins us live now. senator jones thanks so much for making time to be here tonight. it's a pleasure to have you sir. >> thank you for having me. >> so first let me just ask you

if i got anything wrong in the way i described this new law on your state, if there's anything i miss that you think we should know about this. i'm obviously looking at this from outside considering in the context of a lot of other states seeming to follow for it is lee. did i screw any of that up? >> no you did not score any of it up. i'd also like to add that the bill also hinders local government, from having the ability to be able to alter any of their public safety budgets. which deputize the hands. now you put a nonpartisan body in their decisions in the hands of a partisan governor. which is unfortunate. because of this, many of our cities and municipalities have spoken out against the saying that how do we alter our budgets if we need to put dollars in another silo. we can't. we have to go through the governor's office to try to do that. you are spot on. >> public safety budgets, in local communities around the

state, are now restricted, by order of the governor, local authorities are not allowed to make changes, in their budgets around public safety issues, without getting essentially permission from him? >> that's correct. he also said in his press conference, we laura ingraham, on fox news yesterday, that anyone who is against this legislation, these are the same individuals who wants to defund police. will by my do, let's be extremely clear about something, in the district in which i represent, the largest district in the state of florida, the third largest in the country, there is serious concern, when these cities have to alter their budgets to be able to put dollars in other silos. i'm sure there's other cities across the state of florida, who fall into this category. so yes with the governor has done, is literally taking the ability of cities to be able to alter their budgets and they have to go through him. >> one of the things that is,

so, that is most shocking about this bill, and you saw that it made the headline in the new york times today, is this idea that, that this republican, bill announced state line florida, singles out people who use their cars to run over protesters. for a specially designated form of immunity. the freaking out quite a magazine, when he used to exist, used to advise al-qaeda adherents that a great way to terrorize lots of americans is to use a readily available large tool, mainly a car or truck, to rundown americans as a way of committing terrorist attacks in this country. by putting such a spotlight on that, and singling it out for immunity, are there are concerns that this is creating a clear and present current public safety threat? around that type of way of hurting people?

>> it does creative. that that situation happened in miami last year during the demonstration of the george floyd riot, someone drove their car in miami through a crowd of demonstrators. under this current law that we're looking at right now, that individual can ask for immunity in that. let's be extremely clear, the governor has created, a piece of legislation that no one has asked for. instead of the governor doing what needs to be done, to protect the lives of black people within this state, who is included within the 22 million people in the state of florida, you begin to create these penalties that will do nothing but create more -- in our criminal justice system, and continue to crowd up our jails. it does nothing. >> florida state senator chevron johns. thank you so much for joining us. i'm glad this is getting national attention.

i'm interested to see how this fares in the courts with a lawsuit against it already. thanks for being here. today >> thanks so much racial. i'm looking forward to this going to the highest courts to call the governor out on this. >> i think you can count on. we have much more ahead tonight. do you stay with us. night. do you stay with us. ♪ ♪ it's the biggest thing that ever happened to small. visit your local mercedes-benz dealer for exceptional lease and financing offers. not every president is a great

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public speaker. frankly being a good public speaker frankly does not make you a good or bad president. but when you really get out, it can matter in important individual moments. watch this. this is not an english, it's subtitled. so you do have to watch it. but still, even with that, is sort of speaks to the power of, it you can get the drama here. you can get the grave power of this moment. watch. >>

>> shoulder to shoulder, that was the president of ukraine, volodymyr zelensky as russia continues to mask this military presence on their border. he is essentially telling the people in his country that a war is coming and he is calling on the rest of the world to not just stand by and say we support you but to actually help, to stand together as he says directly on the field, shoulder to shoulder. as ukraine tries to hold on another attack as they try to shield the rest of europe from russia. on the heels of that very dramatic very well delivered speech from the ukrainian president, the president of russia spoke today as well, putin gave his annual address to the federation in which he seems a little alarmed. he warmed of a swift and harsh consequences for any country

that dares to cross rushes red line. he defines with the red lines are. it is a threat that is hard to ignore because russia does appear to be inching closer to starting something in ukraine. it is also hard to ignore this, this is what eastern russia looked like today. russia with no putin is wet the protesters were chanting. this was directly outside the kremlin, they are chanting down with the sar, down with the sar. tens of thousands of people took to the street not just to protest putin seemingly endless grip on power in russia but also to support alexei navalny, the russian opposition leader who the kremlin appears to be slowly murdering in prison. and these protests were not just happening outside putin's office they were really all

over the country. this was central moscow tonight, people with their flashlights on their phone living up. their chao shouting get a doctor to navalny. they chanted in many streets, this one says one for all in all four one. they carried the call of his name all over to siberia, free election of on the. joining us live from moscow is and simmons who is the bureau chief, and covered some of these protests. thank you so much for staying up late, i appreciate you having -- >> what was it like among the protesters, what did you see and how would you compare to previous protests? >> protesters were really excited today they were out on the streets in support of

alexei navalny, they were chanting that they want mr. navalny to be able to see a doctor, the opposition figure is currently hospitalized within the prison system. people were putting on their flashlights on their phones, they had basically defied police orders not to come out because it was an unsanctioned rally. but people said enough is enough, we are here and we should be allowed to peacefully protest without any repercussions. >> the associated press reported that they believe that there was more than 1000 protest today and while that is not necessarily a surprising number giving the size of the protests today there are obviously concerns about what happened to people after they get arrested in protests now. that has to be a fear factor among protesters given the way that people arrested in

previous anti putin protests have been treated once they are in custody. >> yes, for example, earlier this year there were massive protests when mr. navalny returned from germany and he was basically recovering from poison attack. those were the largest protests in about a decade in russia. and there are thousands detained, and what happens after that is, lots of people are released but then there are repercussions. there are finds. other people are sent to court to be tried and then others have had their homes raided, they have had problems as their jobs. they have had police or security forces come into their offices. so there certainly is this aspect of intimidation and fear. but that has not prevented people, as you said from coming out across the country because there were thousands of people out on the streets in various russian cities today.

>> it makes it very moving given what you just described, people saying navalny is not afraid, we are not afraid, because clearly there is reason for fear both for him and for the people who are coming out to support him. one of the things we talked about a couple of days ago, and, was the prospect of whether or not vladimir putin and his government feel any pressure about the treatment of navalny and him potentially dying in prison? obviously countries around the world including the united states, germany and some other countries that have important relationships with russia have been pressuring the government about navalny's treatment. there is this new kind of pressure now as evident in the streets. do you think they have any concerns about internal pressure about repercussions among their own people if navalny dies? >> mr. putin and the government

in general are concerned about keeping up the level of support. there are upcoming parliamentary elections in september in the government certainly wants to make sure that the ruling party wins enough seats. but mr. putin came out talking tough today. he was talking about foreign policy, obviously. but also sending a message to his own people, that russia is strong, we're not going to back down in the face of any kind of challenge. mr. putin definitely feels -- he realizes that he wants to support of his people and that to do that there has to be some kind of social measures taken, financial help and his speech today was predominantly one based on domestic policy. he promised financial aid to women who are pregnant, for example, because russia is trying to increase the number of its population and its

dwindling birth rate. he promised help to struggling families, he promised to put funding into infrastructure development. now this is important because over the years many people have complained in russia about falling living standards. in fact, last year, real incomes declined by about 10% compared to 2013. so many russians are struggling. many feel that the social contract that they had with the government which basically says that if we support you, we will be taken care of. they feel like that social contract has been broken. so mr. putin does need to do something in order to encourage people to still support him. i should add, however, rachel, that is approval ratings, the approval ratings of the russian president still remain quite high, compared to leaders in

other countries. and also his trust rating. so he does have this kind of level of support among a certain portion of the population. >> including the large question of the population who has never known another ruler ask he has been in office from the turn of the country. and simmons, wall street journalist, thank you so much for being here with us, i appreciate your time. >> thank you, rachel. >> we will be right back, stay with us. with us. [doorbell chimes] thank you. [puck scores] oooow yeah!! i wasn't ready! you want cheese to go with that whine?? >> starting tomorrow and

continuing into friday, 40 heads of state are going to gather at a summit organized by the white house on the issue of climate. this event, this virtual event has quite the lineup includes the leaders of 40 countries including china's president and the prime minister of india, and the aforementioned president bloodier putin, which

is awkward. today he's promising to annihilate the west if anyone crosses his red lines that he is amassing an army, tomorrow he's zooming into the white house climate summit. this is interesting, until a little while ago tonight we also expected that pope francis would be there, he was among those scheduled to speak tomorrow. that said, in the past few hours, to state departments website has dropped pope francis as a scheduled speaker for tomorrow. he is no longer on the schedule, we're not exactly sure what that means but we are currently trying to find out. at the summit president biden will announced plans to cut american emissions in half, in less than ten years, by the year 2030. the summit will be livestreamed starting tomorrow 8 am eastern it is going to run for a big chunk of the day both tomorrow and friday, it's going to be like the zoom calls you have to do for work but except they're going to have like the pope and putin and the king of saudi arabia. place your bets on who won't realize they are on mute. we will be right back, stay with us.

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are you gonna watch? eventually! you know the drill. (humming) never fear, girl-who-has-yet-to-watch-her- friends-favorite-shows -and-films-of-the-year, it's time to celebrate the biggest week in television. now you can see these shows. and their unforgettable moments, for free. so you can finally talk about them with your friends. get ready for watchathon week, free starting april 27th. download the xfinity stream app to get ready to watch. >> thanks for being with us on this busy news day today. i think it's going to be busy news day through the rest of the week, apples you tomorrow night, i'll see you then, now it's time for the last word with lawrence o'donnell. >> good evening rachel. you grew up on the west coast so you have a sense of the distance i'm talking about. a maginnis self in california thinking about harvard college, 2800 miles away, but, you're