Skip to main content

tv   Deadline White House  MSNBC  August 10, 2021 1:00pm-3:00pm PDT

1:00 pm
york. thank you so much for your time and insights, i greatly appreciate it. that wraps up the hour f me. i'll see you right back here tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. eastern. "deadline white house" with nicolle wallace starts right now. hi there, everyone. it's 4:00 in the east. the breaking news, "the new york times" today described as an astonishing reversal of fortune for one of the nation's best known leaders. new york governor andrew cuomo is resigning amid a cascade of allegations over sexual harassment and abuse, answering a chorus of calls for his exit from within his own party, in the new york state legislature, among the state's u.s. senators, all the way up to the president, president joe biden. it all came after a report from new york's attorney general last week concluded that cuomo sexually harassed nearly a dozen women, including current and
1:01 pm
former government workers. cuomo's announcement comes as he was facing the prospect of impeachment and forced removal from office. but in a press conference this afternoon, he framed his resignation effective two weeks from today as anything but an admission of guilt. "the times" adding this, the governor framed his resignation as one of political necessity, given the firestorm of controversy surrounding his continued leadership, including an impeachment inquiry that he referred to as a distraction from pressing issues, pressing the state as it recovers from the pandemic. here was outgoing governor andrew cuomo in his resignation announcement to new york this afternoon. >> there is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual harassment. now, don't get me wrong, this is not to say that there are not 11 women who i truly offended.
1:02 pm
there are. and for that i deeply, deeply apologize. in my mind, i have never crossed the line with anyone. but i didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing. and i cannot be the cause of that. the best way i can help now is if i step aside and let government get back to governing. and, therefore, that's what i'll do. because i work for you. and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you. >> governor cuomo will be succeeded by the state's current lieutenant governor, kathy hochul, who will become the first woman governor of new york
1:03 pm
state. she said in a statement this afternoon, quote, i agree with governor cuomo's decision to step down. it is the right thing to do and in the best interest of new yorkers. as someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in line of succession, i am prepared to lead as new york state's 57th governor. already the reaction is pouring in. karen hinton, who accused governor cuomo of inappropriate touching tweeted that she was not celebrating cuomo's resignation, but added, i do celebrate the power of women who came forward. cuomo of course has denied her allegations. new york attorney general letitia james saying this in a statement. quote, today closes a sad chapter for all of new york, but it's an important step towards justice. from new york city mayor bill de blasio, quote, make no mistake, this is the result of survivors bravely telling their stories. it was past time for andrew cuomo to resign and it's for the good of all new york. it's a message that was echoed
1:04 pm
today by the white house. white house press secretary jen psaki saying in today's briefing, quote, our view is that this is a story about these courageous women who came forward, shared their stories, and an investigation overseen by the attorney general that of course concluded today in an outcome that the president called for just last week. president biden adding just in the last hour that he respects cuomo's decision to resign. the dramatic downfall of new york governor andrew cuomo is where we start today. we are joined by former u.s. attorney barbara mcquade, also new york state senator, and shelly banjo. senator, let me start with you. you have so many connections to the story. including some history with it as well as your official function. your reaction. >> well, nicolle, thank you for having me on. what i'll say is i truly have never been so relieved to be
1:05 pm
wrong because i never thought that i would live to see the day that governor cuomo would resign. but i want to also just orient this moment on the 11 women who have come forward who did everything that they could despite really being in a position to have everything to lose in the face of intimidation and retaliation to speak the truth and also to hold accountable a governor who has been found to have sexually harassed these 11 women. so i think what today is about is about creating and implementing a culture where every single human being has the ability and the right to pursue a career in a safe work space and without being treated with harassment or retaliation for speaking out or speaking up. >> i wonder if the impeachment proceeding that's under way, the impeachment investigation that's under way, what happens to it, madam senator? >> so listen, i think that
1:06 pm
resignation alone does not equal accountability. even though resignation is an important step because obviously our state has a lot to do, we are in the throes of covid relief. we have a lot of people relying on state government to make sure that we can actually be responsible for their livelihoods and for their lives. but resignation is not accountability. so i think that the legislature has to continue to move forward with impeachment proceedings. why? because we do need a full -- of the many ways that governor cuomo has harmed not only the 11 women but our government and our state. right now just resignation means that he is permitted to run for office again. so we have to ensure that that is not the case. >> barb, one of the most interesting lines of what was -- i have to just say this. i was sitting down watching the news, watching our network, not sure where to start today. this news came as a surprise to me. we're going to talk about
1:07 pm
whether we were all sprietzsurpy that in a moment, it certainly seems that way. the clip i played, barbara, he talks about in his mind thinking he never crossed lines but now realizing that the lines have moved. i just want to explore that a little bit. i was kind of under the impression that the lines were abundantly clear after the last five years that we've all lived through and after women came through as the senator is saying at great risk to their reputations and these incidents, the alleged incidents are all very, very recent. what did you make of that comment? >> yeah, i think it fails on two levels, nicolle. first, the one you identify. where have you been, andrew cuomo? the me too movement occurred a couple of years ago with harvey weinstein. for someone who is so political savvy to say i had no idea these statements and touching would be offensive just doesn't stand up in my mind. secondly, even if that statement were true, as a matter of law it
1:08 pm
doesn't matter because the legal standard for sexual harassment is whether a reasonable person in the employee situation would perceive it to be harassing. no doubt that is the case here with all of these 11 women. so it may be the kind of thing that sounds good when you're talking to the guys and trying to say, you know, i didn't mean any harm, i just made a mistake. that is not a legal excuse under these circumstances. >> and shelly, i want to come to you on -- i mean this is your reporting expertise far more than mine. but was this expected by anyone? and was this known by anyone? how closely held was the resignation today? >> the resignation was definitely closely held. i think the one thing that we still haven't figured out is what was the tipping point. to me it must have been, you know, this idea that cuomo kind of is standing alone now. everybody kind of deserted him to a certain point. after the assembly came out yesterday and said we are marching toward impeachment, he
1:09 pm
sort of had to make this decision by himself. what we still don't know is what really was the deciding factor. but during his press conference today, i can speak personally, i was not sure if he was going to resign or not because for the first hour, his personal attorney, you know, went one by one on each of the women and talked about how their claims were wrong or erroneous. and then he kind of comes up on the stage and starts talking about how the report was false and how it wasn't his, you know, essence to go and resign or anything like that. and then all of a sudden the tone switched and the press conference became about resignation. so i think it was quite a surprise to a lot of people who have come to know andrew cuomo as someone who is going to really stick it out until the very last moment. >> yeah, i mean, senator, that's the conversation you and i had late last week that in your
1:10 pm
view, you felt he should resign but in your core you did not think he ever would. i had the same reaction. i was watching it and i thought -- i want to read for anyone that wasn't watching this morning. this is some of that sound that shelly is talking about. i'm not going to play it but i'm going to describe it. so his lawyer stood there at the podium in front of the state seals and said the report got key facts wrong, it omitted key evidence, it failed to include witnesses that did not support the narrative, that it was clear this investigation was going to weave from day one. the past few days it's been a pile-on. let me show you something president biden said. i want to be really fair to the president here. this was a specific question that said if you take the a.g. report, the allegations from the 11 women aside, what do you think of everything else governor cuomo did? let me play that and we'll talk about it on the other side. >> well, he's done a hell of a job. i mean both on everything from
1:11 pm
access to voting to infrastructure to a whole range of things. that's why it's so sad. >> i'll give you a two-part question there. one on sort of the lawyer defending against the pretty meticulous report from the state attorney general, and then the president when asked specifically and directly to set aside all of this, and the president called on him to resign last week, saying take that aside, there's some good things in the legacy. >> you froze for a second. thank you, sorry. so i think my response to what president biden said is really unfortunate and here's why. for those of us who have lived in the government of andrew cuomo, what that has meant is that it has not just been about these 11 women that he has sexually harassed, 11 women that we know of, but it has been a
1:12 pm
series of harms, whether it is with regard to changing numbers for nursing home, whether it's with regard to the buffalo billions, the moral commission, you can pick a topic and go down the line of things that andrew cuomo has done wrong or been unable to do. it's not to say he hasn't done anything well but the point i'm trying to make is he has caused a lot of harm. and anybody in politics today, whether you've been here for a year or a day knows that there has been a very well-kept secret that andrew cuomo is about the politics and is vin dikt -- vindictive if you cross him. his statement about he didn't know where the lines were is very unfortunate and misleading to the public. the lines were part of a bill that i wrote that he signed. and so that's the same bill that the attorney general's report is saying that he actually violated
1:13 pm
the law from. and so i think the point here is that the words of andrew cuomo and the actions of andrew cuomo cannot be trusted. even today after he resigns, it's very curious that he is making this very serious case that the assembly should not move forward with impeachment. why? because that is how we hold andrew cuomo accountable. that is one of the important ways that we do that. so i think we have to be very cautious when we hear his words and listen to what he says and pause and think to ourselves, okay, what does resignation really mean for andrew cuomo? is he actually going to step outside of our government or is he going to try to return? and whether or not that's the case, we still as a legislative body have a responsibility to hold him accountable. >> i mean, barbara, that is one of the arguments we heard during the two efforts to impeach the ex-president. i want to ask you about the culture, because i think we're talking about lessons learned, all of us, living through the
1:14 pm
last four years. there is often, not always, but in most cases a culture that enables this conduct. i want to read you, this was ahead of the resignation but some reporting in "the washington post." the developments followed the abrupt resignation sunday night of cuomo's top aide, melissa derosa, the person most closely involved in coordinating his response to the allegations. a person close to derosa who spoke anonymously said that the long-time cuomo advisor did not think the governor could survive politically and that she had reached a breaking point. you know, surprised as we all were, barb, there were canaries in the mine. the president dropping his support, his advisers starting to resign. in hindsight maybe it's not so surprising at all. >> well, i think i was surprised today only because his lawyer came out and spent 45 minutes defending him. >> right. >> but i now think that that was probably damage control for the impeachment, to try to get them to stand down and any civil cases that may come and
1:15 pm
certainly the criminal investigations that are going forward. but when you talk about culture and compare what president trump was able to get away with, what andrew cuomo was not able to get away with, what is the difference? i see it as enablers within their own party. donald trump had enablers who were going along with a huge amount of misconduct. in andrew cuomo's case, we saw leaders in his party calling on him to resign. so i think without political support from his own party, he knew that he was increasingly isolated and that maybe this was inevitable. especially i think there was signals from the legislature that they were serious about impeachment. they hired the firm of davis polk, a firm that hires many former federal prosecutors. so they meant business in the impeachment and it's seen that that was inevitable. so this way he tries to go out in a way on his own terms, preserving his legacy and perhaps preserving his ability to run for public office again. >> barbara mcquade, you just
1:16 pm
said one of the most important things about this story in a political context. obviously as the senator has pointed out, the victims and the women are the most important part of the story as it exists about a story about power and abuse. in terms of this moment in our politics, you are absolutely right. the ex-president was credibly accused of sexual harassment and sexual abuse by two dozen women and it wasn't even a top burner issue. it caused no political pain for anyone in his party. it didn't cause anyone at the top, middle or bottom of the republican party. does that show up? does that bleed into efforts to hold alleged harassers or abusers accountable in a criminal proceeding? >> i don't think so. when it comes to a criminal proceeding, it's a jury of 12 people who are selected for their lack of bias based on the voir dire process. so i don't think it matters in
1:17 pm
terms of a criminal case. i think that there the evidence will speak for itself. certainly it's a high burden of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but these political wins are less relevant there. you still have to find 12 jurors willing to convict someone of a crime and in our highly polarized times maybe that's more difficult. based on the juries i have selected, you are able to excuse anyone that demonstrates a political bias. >> shelly, is criminal liability a real possibility for the now outgoing governor? >> right. so the albany police chief has said that he is looking into this criminal complaint and you have four different district attorneys' offices looking into it as well. you still have ten women who have not come forward in terms of filing anything. you just have one woman who has done that. so the criminal and civil issues here are not going away. you know, maybe this is enough
1:18 pm
for some of these women to take him down, but maybe it's not and they want to go further. and i think that, you know, the difference for cuomo is that, you know, the people -- his allies, his closest people that he was able to kind of make -- do his bidding for him finally deserted him. and that is the difference maker here. that's what we didn't have with donald trump or even in march when these allegations first came out. it wasn't until this report came out that cuomo's most close political allies really stayed -- really left him. >> shelly, tell us about new york's new governor, governor hochul will become the state's first female governor. new york has a bit of a difficult history with resignations of high-powered statewide office holders.
1:19 pm
she has the opposite reputation. she comes from years of public service. what do we know about her? >> kathy hochul could not be more different than governor andrew cuomo. and she very politically -- was very politically savvy over the last six months, completely distanced herself with him, was not seen with him, continued to go around the state and to serve and purposefully did not align herself with him and reserved judgment either way because she didn't want to be seen as tipping the scales one way or another. she's going to be the first governor in a very long time, i think since roosevelt, to not be from new york city or its suburbs. she spent a lot of time outside of the state, really -- outside of new york city and around the state, really has her pulse on the rest of the state. and she doesn't have the same -- but she doesn't have the same gravitas or power that andrew cuomo does. the senator can probably state
1:20 pm
more eloquently about that one in the sense that she has a different way about her and i don't think people are going to be afraid to primary her in 2022 when the race comes again. >> senator, what do we know about new york state's first governor and every conversation that you and i have had about outgoing governor cuomo, you have talked about all the challenges facing the state. it seems that she has kept her focus there. >> she absolutely has. the lieutenant governor is known as somebody who is hard working. she is dedicated. she is also compassionate and incredibly kind, but she's also tough. i think it's really important that as she comes into this role as the first female governor of the state of new york, which is an incredible historic moment, that the people who are around her in government, including the
1:21 pm
legislature, support that leadership. why? because the state of new york relies on it. i mean we have so many issues before us. and yes, of course to be the governor of new york is an incredible challenge. it's an incredible feat and it's especially more challenging in a moment like this where we have a resignation, where we have a transfer of power hopefully, which will be peaceful and cordial and also collegial, but at the same time, again, i think that she is somebody who is capable of this moment. she's very focused on the hard work. i think that that is what she's been known for so i have very high hopes for her. i intend to work with her and i hope that all of my colleagues in not only albany but throughout government do the same. i think time will tell whether or not she has proven to be the leader that we know that she can be. but it matters. the same kinds of behaviors i think that we've seen with the
1:22 pm
cuomo administration, if any of those things were to continue, then it's clear what the outcome will be. i do not think that will be the case but we are in the beginning stages to transfer this power from governor cuomo to the future governor, kathy hochul. >> you couldn't be more right about all the challenges facing the state of new york and some of its most populated regions, as kids head back to school amid more covid worries. my sincere thanks to barbara mcquade, state senator biaggi and shelly banjo. thank you so much for starting us off on today's breaking news. when we come back, it seems every day we're learning more about the ex-president, donald trump's desperate 11th hour plot to overthrow president biden's legitimate election victory. as multiple committees in congress are actively investigating that, our next guest says it's time for a criminal investigation into the
1:23 pm
ex-president. dan goldman will be our next guest. and president biden delivering on his landmark bipartisan legislation. a clear win for this white house achieving something that the last guy never even came close to. plus later in the program, local leaders defying red state governors who are threatening the health and safety of our kids. all those stories and more when "deadline white house" continues after a quick break. don't go anywhere. after a quick break. don't go anywhere. ♪ ♪ ♪ hey google, turn up the heat. ♪ ♪ ♪ rugs starting at $39.99. but you'll make 'em look like a million bucks.
1:24 pm
home. there's no place like it. at pnc bank, we believe in the power of the watch out. that's why we created low cash mode, the financial watch out that gives you the options and extra time needed to help you avoid an overdraft fee. it's one way we're making a difference. low cash mode on virtual wallet from pnc bank. low cash mode on we did it again. verizon has been named america's most reliable network by rootmetrics. and our customers rated us #1 for network quality in america according to j.d. power. number one in reliability, 16 times in a row. most awarded for network quality, 27 times in a row. proving once again that nobody builds networks like verizon. that's why we're building 5g right, that's why there's only one best network.
1:25 pm
for years, i struggled with anxiety and depression. but when i was ready for help, finding the right care was nearly impossible. luckily, he had us.
1:26 pm
as mental health professionals, we could help him navigate the system. not everyone has that. that's why i started cerebral. online mental healthcare, without the high cost and wait times. with our affordable care model, you can get meds prescribed and delivered. and talk with a licensed therapist on your own time. with cerebral, everyone gets a care team. get your first month for just $30 at getcerebral.com. we cannot leave the violence of january 6th and its causes uninvestigated. the american people deserve the full and open testimony of every
1:27 pm
person with knowledge of the planning and preparation for january 6th. if those responsible are not held accountable and if congress does not act responsibly, this will remain a cancer on our constitutional republic. undermining the peaceful transfer of power at the heart of our democratic system. we will face the threat of more violence in the months to come, and another january 6th every four years. >> it doesn't get much clearer than that. that was republican congresswoman liz cheney displaying her now trademark moral clarity that the vast majority of her republican colleagues seem to lack and warning there in that clip that without accountability for those who incited the insurrection, there will be another january 6th. in the days and months since the january 6th insurrection, at which point it was already clear that donald trump had abused his power and betrayed his oath of office by inciting a deadly insurrection, we have seen a
1:28 pm
steady stream of revelations that trump campaigned his own government to toss out and overturn the results of an election he clearly lost. we see it for what it was, a desperate push to cling to power and use the levers of government to do so. just a few days ago, his final attorney general, named jeffrey rosen, testified before congress for seven hours about a steady pressure campaign waged against him and his team to cajole the justice department into declaring the 2020 election result fraudulent and corrupt. all of it has led our next guest to say that the investigation by the january 6th select committee is not enough. and that it's time for a criminal investigation into you know who, the disgraced, twice impeached, ex-president, donald j. trump. let's bring into our conversation dan goldman. he served as lead counsel for the democrats during trump's first impeachment as well as former u.s. district attorney
1:29 pm
for the southern district of new york. he's also an msnbc analyst. i thought so much about the two impeachments. i covered them, both of them for their entireties and spent a lot of time wondering if john bolton had come and testified in full view of the republican members in the senate that the first impeachment might have ended differently that you led as lead counsel and i wondered after reading the seven hours of testimony mr. rosen gave on saturda at the senate judiciary committee if the second impeachment would have ended differently. there were bipartisan votes for impeachment in both cases but they came up short. you come at it from a different view point. as a prosecutor, you think it's time for a criminal investigation and possibly prosecution of him. explain. >> well, i think it's essential to do both. i think congress needs to take a very close look at what happened, because congress can and should pass laws that provide narrower guardrails on
1:30 pm
our elected officials so that this can't happen again. that's part of the reason why the two voting rights laws are so important, to make sure that there isn't voter suppression, and not only that, that elected officials aren't empowered to overturn the vote of the people. adam schiff has the protect the democracy act which has a lot of reforms in the post-trump world. but none of them go -- those reforms go to what occurred on january 6th and perhaps even more importantly, what occurred in the lead-up to january 6th. so it's not an either/or, it's that both need to happen. what is becoming clear is that donald trump was not on the outside looking in while some domestic violent extremists who supported him were concocting this plan to raid the capitol. no. he was at the front of this push and this effort to reverse the
1:31 pm
election results. and what we're starting to see is the drip, drip, drip of all of his efforts to do it. and in particular, and perhaps most egregious to date because we will find more, but to date is what he tried to do with the department of justice, which was to take an independent agency, traditionally independent, and use it as his political legal arm to undermine the confidence in the election so that he -- knowing, of course, that there was no truth to it, but so that he could use it for corrupt purposes. that requires a deeper criminal investigation into not only donald trump, but all those under him. it's not enough to go after the oath keepers, the 3%ers and other domestic extremists where the january 6th criminal investigation has focused, it must continue until it determines what the root causes of january 6th were as well.
1:32 pm
>> do we know that it isn't happening? >> no. it very well could be. and it probably is. i would assume it is. and a lot of these revelations have come very recently in part because the department of justice determined that jeffrey rosen and five others were not bound by limitations of executive privilege. so they could testify. so that's all happened within the last two weeks. so it's quite possible that the criminal investigation does include this. i would caution, though, that if i were a prosecutor, i would not be thrilled for a witness, a key witness to be providing testimony to multiple other agencies or departments, such as the department of justice i.g.'s office or the senate judiciary committee. not that he can't, but it's just from a prosecutor's standpoint,
1:33 pm
you don't want to have so many inconsistent statements that are bound to occur when you have multiple times testifying under oath or not. but, you know, perhaps this is a bigger issue and the senate judiciary needs to hear from him, the department of justice needs to analyze its own regulations and how its own employees behave. but it's entirely possible that it's ongoing and we just don't know about it. that would be the usual course, of course, but in this day and age of leaks, such as the confidential i.g. investigation, we know that rosen spoke to the i.g.'s office, which should be kept confidential. the fact that we don't know that it's part of the criminal investigation is a little bit concerning for those who believe there should be a criminal investigation. >> so you have done this. lisa monaco has done this, the deputy attorney general. and correct me if i'm wrong, but all investigations are sort of housed under her, right? is that the way it works? >> yes. she oversees the day-to-day
1:34 pm
operations of the department of justice. >> so an office like the one you worked in, sdny, we think it would be more likely that the washington office would be doing this investigation. let's take it from the other side. how could they not now -- if they're following the evidence, if a federal investigation just follows the evidentiary sort of guidelines and takes a criminal investigation where it leads, we've seen the defendants say they were there because donald trump told them to go there. the ones who assaulted police said they were there because trump invited them there and the police officers were in their way. take it from the other -- how could they not have followed that evidence to donald trump's doorstep? >> well, a lot of it is perception. you know, what donald trump's intent was is different -- i shouldn't say is different, but could be different from how someone else interprets what he was doing. it's a high bar to prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt with admissible evidence. his statements on january 6th
1:35 pm
certainly help, but the types of efforts to coerce department of justice officials in advance of january 6th reveal a lot about his intent. and so those -- that type of evidence now starts to move this investigation from a focus on domestic violent extremism, which if we are going to get technical with the department of justice would be housed under the national security division. a public corruption investigation, a criminal corruption would be housed under a different division of the department of justice, which is the criminal division. and so at some point the public integrity section within the criminal division will need to pair up with the u.s. attorney's office in washington, d.c., which is running the january 6th investigation because at some point this goes beyond national security issues, domestic violent extreextremism, and it into public corruption and efforts to incite an insurrection and potentially and
1:36 pm
most seriously seditious conspiracy. >> so i have one more question about intent, because we were -- you know, the proverbial sort of dog chasing his tail and trying to understand why robert muller ever interviewed donald trump but robert mueller could never prove intent because he didn't interview donald trump, we never understood why they couldn't answer the question of intent but it was never clear they sought an interview to understand his intent. in this case it seems what's coming out is clear intent. just declare the election corrupt and leave the rest to me and our congressmen. you've got the whole tape with raffensperger where he tells him to find 11,780 votes. there's still evidence emerging about contacts with other state election individuals. the intent is staring all of us in the face, isn't it? >> well, that's how an ordinary prosecution would prove intent.
1:37 pm
it's not usually through interviewing a witness or putting them in a grand jury. it is usually based on statements made by other witnesses which are admissible in court. what we're learning the last couple of weeks is remarkable, we have that recording. you identified this last week, nicolle. a little recognized tidbit from "the washington post" is that donald trump called over to the department of justice nearly every day toward the end of december and early january. so we're aware of the notes that richard donoghue took of one conversation, but we don't know everything that donald trump was doing himself. we don't know what conversations mark meadows was having at the behest of donald trump. so there's a lot that we don't know that would likely be helpful to prove intent. and that's the traditional way of proving intent.
1:38 pm
it's not through grand jury testimony or the prosecutor interviewing the defendant. it is from statements made by the punitive defendant to other witnesses who would testify to them. >> and the final thought, we know -- whatever his intent was, it was too much for bill barr and he left. so we don't have any of his notes -- >> by the way -- >> yeah. >> jeffrey rosen would have been in meetings that bill barr had with donald trump. he was the deputy attorney general at the time. so the reason he testified for seven hours is not just this one conversation. i am certain they asked him soup to nuts everything that he knows. >> we will stay on it with your help. dan goldman, it was a tweet from you that inspired this conversation, so keep tweeting, keep coming on this show. thank you so much for spending some time with us. up next, 19 republicans joined all 50 senate democrats in putting president biden one step closer to his first major big-time bipartisan win.
1:39 pm
a win he said this afternoon that is something every american wants. how this white house got it done when those who came before it could not. that story is next. that story is next balanced nutrition for strength and energy. whoo hoo! ensure, with 27 vitamins and minerals, now introducing ensure complete! with 30 grams of protein. i'm dad's greatest sandcastle - and greatest memory! ensure complete! but even i'm not as memorable as eating turkey hill chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream with real cocoa. well, that's the way the sandcastle crumbles. you can't beat turkey hill memories. [singing] oven roasted cooold cuts cooold cuts if you have moderate to severe psoriasis, little things can become your big moment. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not a cream.
1:40 pm
it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines, and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ♪ ♪ otezla. show more of you.
1:41 pm
emergency planning for kids. we can't predict when an emergency will happen. so that's why it's important to make a plan with your parents. here are a few tips to stay safe. know how to get in touch with your family. write down phone numbers for your parents, siblings and neighbors. pick a place to meet your family if you are not together and can't go home. remind your parents to pack an emergency supply kit. making a plan might feel like homework, but it will help you and your family stay safe during an emergency.
1:42 pm
i want to thank the group of senators, democrats and republicans, for doing what they told me they would do. they said they're willing to work in a bipartisan manner. and i want to thank them for keeping their word. that's just what they did.
1:43 pm
after years and years of infrastructure week, we're on the cusp of an infrastructure decade that i truly believe will transform america. >> that was president biden last hour on today's passage of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that he says will create millions of jobs, a giant political win for him any way you slice it. of course the real winners of the country are the inhabitants. we all live in this country where crumbling roads, neglected bridges and unreliable public transportation have been accepted norms. but the political side of this is an undeniable victory for the president and his commitment to bipartisan governing. the infrastructure deal enjoys wide support of the american public. nearly two-thirds approval. it is to be followed by a massive bill but that package enjoys 62% approval.
1:44 pm
let's bring in white house reporter for the associated press jonathan lemire and jackie, author of the powerup news letter at "the washington post." >> jonathan, victory lap, i told you so, i can still do big things with republicans. what is the mood at the white house? >> the news is exultant on the infrastructure bill even though of course there are real concerns and the president said this today about the continuing rise in coronavirus infections across the nation. but on this, this was a victory lap and it was i told you so. in fact president biden even talked about press clippings he had found when he took office. he went back and looked and people were very skeptical, he said, of his ability to get this done. so he was crowing a little bit about that. it's an undeniable victory. it's a huge win for him. it validates his faith in being able to work across the aisle and get something done. he campaigned on that, he has governed on that. there are many moments in the last six plus months where it didn't look like this day would
1:45 pm
come and he faced opposition from republicans and democrats alike. democrats who thought he was wasting time trying to reach out to republicans and get this deal done. he is now saying, look, it's worth it. i think a lot of democrats will run on this during the midterms next year. we should note. this isn't the final thing just yet. there's a lot of work to be done in the house to make sure this does get passed. we talk a lot about this status of the senate, 50/50 with the vice president breaking that deadlock. but in the house, democrats have a very slim margin there and a lot of diversity in terms of where they stand on the political ideology. with real moderates and real progressives. it's going to take a lot of work from this white house and speaker pelosi to hold that altogether. they can't afford to lose any votes. >> jackie, i want to read you something that max boot wrote about what is clearly becoming this president's philosophy on governing at this moment in washington. max boot writes biden has
1:46 pm
refused to indulge in the kind of abrasive rhetoric that would thrill democrats. republicans continue to denounce biden as a tool of the radical left democrat communist party. that's a quote. but the charge isn't sticking. centrism got him into the white house and can keep him there. there is nothing more dangerous for our democracy than a trump comeback. biden needs to stay popular to keep that from happening. when you look at the infrastructure package, it's clear that while the strategy and i've called it the biden doctrine seems to be deliverables, a needle in your arm, a check in your account, bridges and roads. roads, bridges, major projects, energy grid, passenger rail, broadband, water that's clean, ports and waterways, i don't
1:47 pm
know where you could live that you don't have major complaints about most things on that list. to bet big on the kinds of things that are easy to explain to a voter in the midterms seems like at this point the smartest not just policy but politics. >> yeah, nicolle, although i take one issue with max boot's argument, which is that this is a centrist policy and agenda because it might come across and be communicated by joe biden because of who he is, what he looks like and how he speaks as a centrist policy, but many of these policies that have been implemented and passed and put into legislation, enacted like the covid relief bill and now potentially the bipartisan infrastructure package are really transformative packages. they have helped cut poverty rates, cut child poverty by the greatest rate in history. these are some of the biggest chunks of money that the federal government has spent since the
1:48 pm
new deal. i think it's actually on its face really these are progressive policies. that being said, it's a little soon for president biden to be taking a victory lap here. house speaker nancy pelosi is threading a very fine needle when it comes to a vote on the infrastructure bipartisan deal. that is not a done deal until the reconciliation bill is passed by the senate and the sinema and manchin factors are still wild cards. we are waiting on their votes as the vote-a-rama takes place right now. nancy pelosi realizes she doesn't have many votes to lose when it comes to the progressive caucus. that has been really instrumental to getting some of these popular policies sold with the public, especially in recent weeks the eviction moratorium is really at the top of a lot of people's minds. >> such a good point. these are huge transformational government programs, you're
1:49 pm
right. the person selling them, though, seems to get away with coming across as a moderate. jackie, jonathan, thank you so both much for sharing your reporting with us. when we come back, as jonathan lemiles an hour just mentioned with the summer surge is coming, new details on a rift between the white house and facebook, next. white house and facebook, next
1:50 pm
i'm evie's best camper badge. but even i'm not as memorable as eating turkey hill chocolate chip cookie dough creamy premium ice cream and chasing fireflies. don't worry about me. i'm fine. you can't beat turkey hill memories. across as a moderate. next. across as a moderate next the airport can be a real challenge for new homeowners who have become their parents... okay, everybody, let's do a ticket check. paper tickets. we're off to a horrible start. ...but we can overcome it. we're not gonna point out our houses, landmarks, or major highways during takeoff. don't buy anything. i packed so many delicious snacks. -they're -- -nope. would you say, ballpark, when group two is gonna get boarded? 2 hours and 58 minutes.
1:51 pm
progressive can't protect you from becoming your parents, but we can protect your home and auto when you bundle with us. someone should've left home earlier. ♪ but we can protect your home and auto when you bundle with us. someone once told me, that i should get used to people staring. so i did. it's okay, you can stare. when you're a two-time gold medalist, it comes with the territory. ♪ ♪ when technology is easier to use... ♪ barriers don't stand a chance. ♪ that's why we'll stop at nothing to deliver our technology as-a-service.
1:52 pm
♪ jon amid this fourth covid wave,
1:53 pm
driven almost entirely by the 93 million eligible but unvaccinated americans in our country, "the new york times" says that misinformation peddlers are seizing on it all. according to mentions on social media, cable and other online outlets, phrases prone to vaccine misinformation have increased five fold from june to july. today twitter blocked marjorie taylor greene from tweeting for one week because she told her followers the shots are failing. they most certainly are not failing which is why the biden white house remains frustrated with facebook's handling of false propaganda, still inducing vaccine fears all over facebook. times reports this, quote, at one recent meeting, the biden team emphasized that vaccination efforts had stalled, medical officials were at risk and deaths could rise without more enforcement from the company. people familiar with the matter said they left without any concrete solutions. joining our conversation is "new york times" political and investigative reporter nick confessore.
1:54 pm
nick, we talked about facebook over the years in the context of election disinformation. why isn't there a stronger hand taken with facebook, which is one of the most sort of prominent malign influences in the disinformation space? >> well, look, the big problem here is that there is no law saying what facebook has to do here, nicolle. but the broader problem, the central problem with facebook and covid is the same as the central problem with facebook and the big lie, which is basically the same as the problem with facebook and russian misinformation. facebook is a uniquely powerful platform for spreading lies. it is not the only one, it is the biggest, and there's a big constituency of americans that want to voice what they're thinking about the vaccine and their suspicions and worries and fears. to answer your question, nicolle, i think that, you know, the smaller group of superspreaders of misinformation on covid are easier to tackle in some ways than the larger group
1:55 pm
of casual misinformation spreaders, average joes, people on facebook who are skeptical or curious or not getting the wheels of the covid vaccine, so to speak. it is hard to shut all of them down in real-time. this is their own customer base for facebook, and they're worried about being too tough on their own users. >> i mean i heard this, you hear this in the context of why police union won't more forcefully defend the four officers mutilated and attacked and the four who have taken their lives by suicide. you hear it in every walk of life. when will people use the tools they have to ask someone to take a side? facebook thinks they're good -- the craziest part of the story and you know this from writing about facebook, they think they're good, they think they do good stuff and they're awful. they're working against our democracy and the work to end covid. where does support come from in the political space, nick? >> i'm not sure they have a lot of friends in washington on either side of the aisle.
1:56 pm
i will say, look, the biden administration is in a tough place here. the vaccine is not spreading as fast as it should. people are still reluctant. that's a huge problem for the biden administration. what they're doing is pushing on every lever they can, including hitting facebook, rapping them to try to get facebook to take a tougher line. what they have is the bully pulpit and this kind of pressure you write about in my colleague's story to get facebook to be tougher. again, there's no set of rules and regulations that dictates what information facebook can and cannot put up there. that's where we are. >> it shouldn't take a rule or regulation for a company to not want to harm the country in which it operates. it is an unbelievable story. it is a great piece of reporting and you are the perfect person to talk to about it. nick confessore, thank you for spending time with us on it today. the next hour of "deadline: white house" starts after a short break. don't go anywhere. we are just getting started. ce, it was no cost to them.
1:57 pm
>> woman: really? >> tech: that's service you can trust. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ we did it again. verizon has been named america's most reliable network by rootmetrics. and our customers rated us #1 for network quality in america according to j.d. power. number one in reliability, 16 times in a row. most awarded for network quality, 27 times in a row. proving once again that nobody builds networks like verizon. that's why we're building 5g right, that's why there's only one best network. at pnc bank, we believe in the power of the watch out. the “make way, coming through”... great. the storm alert... dad. and the subtle but effective ding. that's why we created low cash mode. the financial watch out that gives you the options and time needed to help you avoid overdraft fees. it's one way we're making a difference. because we believe how you handle overdrafts should be in your control, not just your banks.
1:58 pm
low cash mode on virtual wallet from pnc bank.
1:59 pm
2:00 pm
♪ ♪ in many ways i see the world through the eyes of my daughters, cara, mariah and ma kayla. they are 26 and 26, twins, and 23. i have seen the look in their eyes and the expression on their faces, and it hurt. i want my three jewels to know this. my greatest goal is for them to have a better future than the generations of women before them. it is still in many ways a man's world, it always has been. we have sexism that is cultureallized and
2:01 pm
institutionalized. my daughters have more talent and natural gifts than i ever had. i want to make sure that society allows them to fly as high as their wings will carry them. >> hi again, everyone. it is 5:00 in the east. nearly four years since the me too movement that saw powerful men across business, entertainment and politics be held accountable for their inappropriate and in some cases illegal conduct with women. we're now seeing another elected official step down. new york's governor andrew cuomo resigning one week after an investigation by the state's attorney general concluded he sexually harassed 11 women. calls mounted from members of his own party including from president biden for cuomo to step aside, and the governor faced an increasing likelihood of an impeachment trial. "the new york times" describes his fall like this. quote, for years andrew cuomo amassed power ruthlessly and effectively, crushing his opponents, real or perceived,
2:02 pm
using any extraordinary means he deemed necessary. but one week after a report released by the new york attorney general's office, the man who had controlled albany politics with an iron fist for more than a decade was out of moves. cuomo's resignation means that for the first time the new york governor's mansion will be home to a woman. her name is kathy hochul. in a brief statement she called cuomo's decision, quote, the right thing to do and in the best interests of new yorkers. a recent "new york times" profile of her painted a picture of a leader with a vastly different style than the one she will replace in two weeks time. quote, ms. hochul has established deep reservoirs of political good will, spending much of her tenure on the road, highlighting the agenda and engaging extensive on-the-ground politicking. she has taken pride in visiting each of new york's 62 counties each year and has friends across the state. she is a practiced and popular retail politician who seems to take genuine delight in meeting
2:03 pm
people and has always been this way, said a former u.s. representative for whom she worked in the '80s. state senator who has been outspoken in her calls for cuomo to resign tweeted this in the news today, quote. survivors did this. women did this. bravery and courage in the face of abusive power did this, and in 14 days we welcome our first female governor to get back to the work of serving new yorkers. that is where we start this hour with some of our favorite reporters and friends. new york state senator sandra bruk is here. democratic strategist and former executive director of the new york state democratic party baz ill smikle is with us and contributing columnist for "the washington post" donna edwards is here. i want to ask you, donna edwards, about this broader cycle that we're living through. what was your reaction? most people were surprised that this ended in a resignation. >> well, i was surprised, but also when i listened to andrew
2:04 pm
cuomo's statement i was a little bit offended. we are the same age, which means that andrew cuomo and i grew up in a time where since we were in kindergarten sex discrimination and harassment in the workplace has been unlawful. for him to cast this generational line on his behavior i thought was offensive and continued to blame women as somehow women are responsible for his bad behavior. i don't think that there was an acceptance of what he did, and i think that there is accountability and resignation, but there may have to be more accountability for a man who doesn't seem to recognize the lines have never been drawn where he said during his adult lifetime. >> madam senator, first your reaction and then i would like your thoughts about new york's
2:05 pm
next governor. >> yeah. i think i, like many folks, was surprised to hear the governor resign today. i think that comes off the heels from watching that prerecorded powerpoint presentation that we all watched just a few days ago where it really seemed like he was digging in his heels and truly not taking any accountability for his actions and the pain he has inflicted on these women and perhaps those that have not come forward as well. so there was a shock and a surprise, but i think also there's a collective sigh of relief, right. we wanted to move forward and move past this as quickly as possible, and this turns out will be the fastest way for the state to start to heal and to actually move forward and start going back to the jobs that we were elected to do, which is to represent new yorkers and their best interests. >> senator, what can you tell us about the new governor? >> i have a lot of respect for
2:06 pm
kathy hochul. it is no surprise everyone knows we are both native western new yorkers and there's certainly pride that comes with that. you know, in my short tenure so far in the state senate i have had several chances to meet the lieutenant governor. she has made it a point to really come to rochester and champion a lot of the things that we're fighting for, and i think one of the things that really stands out about her to me is just her work ethic. she is a very hard-working woman, and to be honest i think she is this palate cleanser that new york needs right now, you know, a woman in this position now, a woman without, you know, a history of transgressions like our current governor, and one who i believe won't get distracted but will be really focused on getting back to the work that we need to do as legislators in albany. >> basil, a hard-working palate cleanser i believe has been -- parallels can be drawn to this president.
2:07 pm
but, of course, this president, part of the story of andrew cuomo's fall, calling for him to resign was viewed by many outside new york as what seemed like a last straw. you have more knowledge of the state than i do. your thoughts? >> well, i agree with all that was said before. i tell you, it is an old tableau, isn't it, a powerful political figure who many could say has done some good things but felled by scandal and at the end of the day bereft of friends and allies to keep him in power. and if you really look at that press conference today, that juxtaposition i think is really telling and sort of sums up his time as governor. he tried to center women in his remarks, but before that his personal attorney went after each and every one of the accusers and then pointed to the attorney general, a woman, african-american woman in tish james, to basically discredit her and her staff and the report itself. so, you know, we can look back and say, you know, early in his
2:08 pm
tenure he got a clean push for marriage equality passed, he actually did build bridges in this state, but, you know, if you talk to a lot of legislators who have been around him a long time, a lot of leaders, he did the things that he was able to accomplish what he did because of a strong bullying style that turned a lot of people off. i will tell you that i don't -- this wasn't a surprise. i thought he would go out before he was pushed out, but at the end of the day it says a lot that as progressive a state as new york purports to be we will have -- we have had our first african-american governor, our first african-american attorney general and our first woman governor after the scandals of white men in spitzer, in attorney general -- former attorney general eric schneiderman and in andrew cuomo. so i do hope to the senator's point this is a bit of a palate
2:09 pm
cleanser and that it really does change the culture of the state government. >> you just gave me a chill with that. i'm going to read one more thing to you, basil. it is such a smart point. this is in "the bulwark" today and i want your thoughts. andrew cuomo resigned because democrats are not a cult. it is written by benjamin parker. it says this. the democrats have active internal politic goes, even perhaps especially in a democratic-dominated state. new york attorney general letitia james had no reason to fear reprisal for investigating the allegations against cuomo and reporting her findings. the democrats in the state house probably figured their prospects as a party would improve without the weight of cuomo's alleged misdeeds around their ankles. no doubt many felt similar in 2019 even if they didn't say-so. in the republican party disappointing or contradicting the dear leader is an offense worthy of expulsion, if not
2:10 pm
worse. it is not to say that dennis protskos don't have some internal competition, but to the degree such competition exists it is between actors showing fealty to the supreme leader who is himself above and insulated from any such challenge. there is a sense i think it is really hard for the state. i think you saw the president grappling with some of what you articulated. it is, as the senator said, about the survivors, it is about the women, but it is also what a functioning political party looks like, basil. >> that's absolutely right. i think one of the -- one of the really damaging points that i have heard someone make criticisms of the governor was that his behavior is very trumpish. i know a lot of people didn't -- wouldn't want to say that out loud, wouldn't want to attack him publicly, particularly as he was becoming america's governor during the crisis, but at the end when you -- when people are reflecting, when so many are reflecting on his behavior, how
2:11 pm
he treated the press, how he went after his enemies and how he treated his friends, they would -- you know, that's a conclusion that many have been able to come to, that his behavior was somewhat trumpish. it is -- but i would also say that the party has a very deep bench in new york, the aforementioned attorney general tish james, the state comptroller tom danapoli and the incoming governor, lieutenant governor, where andrew cuomo eschewed retail politics she has been a force for it. we have a primary in june. we will see what happens and who gets into it. i assume it is a lot of folks. >> yeah. >> but i think in the short term, i think it really is a breath of fresh air for so many in the state. >> donna edwards, obviously your thoughts on anything we have already discussed, but let me put up for our viewers more
2:12 pm
information about the biography of new york's first woman governor, kathy hochul. has been the lieutenant governor since 2015. she denounced cuomo's behavior, alleged behavior as repulsive and unlawful. she was a congresswoman, spent time in washington, 2011 through 2013, and was the erie county clerk, 2007 to 2011. her statement today made clear she has worked in government at all levels, traveling around the state. makes clear that she is going to govern for the whole state, not a sort of new york city centric world view. i wonder your thoughts? >> well, i knew kathy hochul when she was in the congress, and i just think that she is a bright light for the state of new york. i think she's going to make an excellent governor, and i have had the privilege of being able to work with her since my time and her time in the congress. and so i think this is a stark contrast from andrew cuomo, and
2:13 pm
kathy hochul is really engaging. people like her, and i think the best foot forward for her is that she starts out with a lot of good will and she will serve new york proudly. >> senator, what happens to the impeachment proceedings that are underway? >> yeah, a lot of us have opined on what will happen next. i certainly being in the state senate won't speak for the leadership in the assembly where that would need to originate, but i will say that i think a lot of us understand the need for accountability, not just for his transgressions with sexual harassment but nursing home deaths, right. there are a number of things that we just heard from the leadership in the new york state assembly that would have been an expansive impeachment investigation. so, you know, i really think about, you know, these 11 survivors, potentially more, who came forward to share these stories. you know, they deserve some sort of justice. we have to hold this governor
2:14 pm
accountable and also with the understanding that removing one's self through resignation does not preclude one from running for office again. i think we have all come to a conclusion as new yorkers by and large this is not someone we believe can hold a seat in elected office in our state again. so that's an important distinction, that continuing on with impeachment would allow that to come through. but, again, i can't speak for an entire body, but i do hope we can get clarity on that in the coming days. >> basil, if i could get you to react to something barbara mcquade said about the story in the last hour, along the lines of "the bulwark" piece about the democratic party not functioning as a cult. there's a different standard, and it is a good one, that the democratic party holds its leaders to. the ex-president was credibly accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault by close to two dozen women. what are your thoughts about that disparity?
2:15 pm
>> well, you know, i did see somebody tweet earlier, you know, that the democrats actually do believe in accountability, you know, whether it is presidents, governors, mayors, they've resigned, they've gone through impeachment processes, what have you. i have to tell you, i honestly don't think that's enough. i'm going to be critical of my own party here. i mean we -- yes, i do think that we have acted and behaved in ways that are light years above what we have seen and leaps and bounds ahead of what we have seen in republican circles, particularly under trump's leadership. i will tell you as a black man in the state of new york, it does bother me when i see someone who is active in the party, it bothers me we have this level of turmoil. when andrew cuomo took office in 2011, he was the third governor in four years because we just had this kind of tone. but it just as a public servant, i can just say this is not good for the voter. this kind of turmoil is not good for folks that care about and in
2:16 pm
public service, but the truth is that we have seen the institutions act. we saw the assembly act in the press conference yesterday talking about we're not doing any deals, we are going to move forward. the senate was prepared to act as well. so what i do have is faith in the future. i do have faith that there are really good people who have seen, as you talked about in the beginning of the segment, the me too movement, other movements that have taken place to really push us toward better accountability and transparency. i'm confident that the young folks, as i feel like i'm getting older in this business, that there are people that are taking over now that are actually about the business of the voter. that is actually quite reassuring. >> people like you, madam senator. donna, i want to get you in on this question, and as the only one of the four of us that spent time in the other political party. let me tell you, it is a sign of its rot that the ex-president, the most senior person in the
2:17 pm
party at one point, endorsed roy moore, an alleged person with alleged sexual relations with very, very young women, that matt gaetz is now under scrutiny for alleged sex trafficking. i mean it is a sign of that party's rot. when i described the republican party as not a functioning governing party, part of it is that lack of accountability, but there is an emotional reaction, donna, to that disparity. i wonder what you thought about that today? >> well, there is, and i mean it is one of the first thoughts i had because even -- >> right. >> -- as -- >> that's why i asked you. >> -- legions of democrats were calling on andrew cuomo to resign, and there was deafening silence when it came to donald trump and almost an acceptance that his behavior was okay within the party and you could still survive politically. some people have said, well, even if andrew cuomo is not impeached that he would be able to run again. i think in a democratic party
2:18 pm
that is not possible. our party is simply not going to tolerate this kind of behavior, and it seems like completely the opposite. so it is both the rot at a, you know, base level, tolerating insurrection, but also a rot tolerating really immoral, aggressive, abusive behavior. >> senator, i will give you the last word, and you can look back at the resignation this morning or look forward to what happens in two weeks. the floor is yours. >> thank you. yeah, you know, i think this has been a really, really dark chapter. if you could imagine the first eight months in office, and this is what we have got, i think we've got a path forward now. i think we've got a woman at the helm and we know women in leadership get things done, so i'm looking forward to that as well. i will continue to talk about holding this man accountable for what he has done to so many women, some that we know the names of and some that we don't. i just want to say again thank
2:19 pm
you to all of them for their courage and bravery. we would not be here without them. we wouldn't be exiting this dark chapter if not for their courage. >> state senator brouck, donna edward and basil smikle. thank you for starting us off. we will look back on this historic moment. when we return, the extreme steps red state governors are taking with their own political futures ahead of the health and safety of the children in their states. that's next. plus, one of the democratic lawmakers behind a new effort to protect the right to vote in america, under assault by republicans from coast to coast. we will talk to him. another new billion dollar defamation lawsuit brought by dominion voting systems against the pushers of the big lie. we will tell you about it. "deadline: white house" continues after a quick break. don't go anywhere. okay, imagine this... your mover, rob, he's on the scene and needs a plan with a mobile hotspot.
2:20 pm
we cut to downtown, your sales rep lisa has to send some files, asap! so basically i can pick the right plan for each employee... yeah i should've just led with that... with at&t business... you can pick the best plan for each employee and only pay for the features they need. millions of vulnerable americans struggle to get reliable transportation to their medical appointments. that's why i started medhaul. citi launched the impact fund to invest in both women and entrepreneurs of color like me, so i can realize my vision and give everything i've got to my company, and my community. i got you. for the love of people. for the love of community. for the love of progress. citi. what happens when we welcome change? we can make emergency medicine possible at 40,000 feet. instead of burning our past for power, we can harness the energy of the tiny electron.
2:21 pm
we can create new ways to connect. rethinking how we communicate to be more inclusive than ever. with app, cloud and anywhere workspace solutions, vmware helps companies navigate change. faster. vmware. welcome change. helen knew exercise could help her diabetes... but she didn't know what was right for her. no. nope. no way. but then helen went from no to know with freestyle libre 14 day, now she knows what activity helps lower her glucose. and can see what works best for her. take the mystery out of your glucose levels, and lower your a1c. now you know. freestyle libre 14 day. now covered by medicare for those who qualify.
2:22 pm
comcast nbcuniversal is investing freestyle libre 14 day. in entrepreneurs to bring what's next for sports technology to athletes, teams, and fans. that's why we created the sportstech accelerator, to invest in and develop the next generation of technology that will change the way we experience sports. we've already invested in entrepreneurs like ane swim, who develops products that provide hair protection so that everyone can enjoy the freedom of swimming. like the athletes competing in tokyo, these entrepreneurs have a fierce work ethic and drive to achieve - to change the game and inspire the team of tomorrow.
2:23 pm
if the last 18 months were chronicled and placed inside a time capsule and studied 100 years from now, the fork in the road for the human race will be the politicization of a four-inch piece of fabric with two strings attached to it. red state governors have made masks in schools their latest slash-and-burn cultural issue, depriving kids, parents, schools and teachers of one of the best known safety tools as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a third school year in the deep south. governors in texas and florida defiant against the surge of cases and hospitalizations in their respective states are actively banning mask and vaccine mandates, now leaving schools to take matters and the safety of their students into their own hands. both states are seeing multiple
2:24 pm
school districts bypassing the governor's bans and enacting mask mandates on their own. one county superintendent in florida penned and op-ed in "the washington post" about the challenges she faces. quote. through universal masking we can limit the number of students and teachers out sick or in quarantine, which means more instructional time and better educational outcomes. more importantly, universal masking will promote the health and safety of those inside and outside our school walls. the florida constitution says the state has a paramount duty to provide safe and high-quality public schools. it is one of the highest constitutional standards for public education in the nation. we hope and expect that our state leaders will live up to that duty. joining our conversation, charlie sykes, columnist and editor at large at "the bulwark" as well as an msnbc contributor and dr. rob davidson, emergency room physician in west michigan, executive director of the committee to protect medicare. let me start with some breaking news that we just got here.
2:25 pm
the federal government through its federal stockpile has just sent 200 ventilators and 100 high-flonaseal canula kits, smaller devices used to aid in breathing, and related supplies to florida this week to help that state respond to the surge in covid hospitalizations. the devices came from the federal government's national strategic stockpiles. why would a state in crisis, dr. davidson, be entrusted in making that crisis worse? >> it defies logic. you know, as a director of a national doctors' group, i talk to physicians down in florida and i have seen people telling me that they're running out of high-flow nasal cannula kits. it is a way to deliver a high percentage of oxygen so you don't have to put someone on a ventilator, and some hospitals are saying they're running out of them. they're being forced to sterilize and reuse them when
2:26 pm
they're not intended to be used that way. they're in the midst of a crisis and frankly governor desantis is doubling down on a strange political plan he has to go with some base that, frankly, if they keep listening to him is going to dwindle away because they're all going to get covid and they're going to end up dead. >> well, i mean there is a political stupidity that is sort of quintessential desantis, charlie. but there's also, i think, a misread -- i mean freedom means freedom to go back to school in person. freedom means freedom not to put a child on a ventilator. freedom means freedom to get back out there, and the only way to get back out there is everyone over 12 to get vaccinated and everyone else to wear a mask, full stop. >> no, it really is amazing. first of all, you look at the numbers, what is happening in texas and florida, and then you look at the reaction of the governors whose policies right now and behavior is reckless, callous and demagogic. you have governor abbott who signed a ban on vaccine mandates
2:27 pm
and mask mandates. you have ron desantis, who is suing the cruise lines to stop private companies from being able to require vaccines. not only are they not serious about confronting the reality of the crisis, as the president has made it clear, they're actively making it worse. i think what has happened is they've become prisoners of their own memes. they've become prisoners of their own culture war here. because, you know, other governors around the country, republican governors like asa hutchinson in arkansas, is willing to admit, you know, i signed a mask ban and it was a mistake. i'm going to change directions. you have the governor of west virginia who is pushing the vaccines. then you have ron desantis, who is all in, in apparently the belief that he can mount a presidential bid by being as reckless as possible here. not to mention, by the way, the definition of freedom. you know, watching republican
2:28 pm
governors tell private companies what they can't do, wiping out, attacking local control of these fundamental decisions is really, really remarkable. not only have they politicized the issue, they've abandoned any pretense that they're doing it based on conservative principles. >> well, let me just press you, charlie, because that's how they would like to go school board to school board, district to district and ban the teaching of our nation's racial history. but at the top they want to ban one of the only known public safety measures that actually works to get kids back in the classroom. when does it start to be a -- you know, when do you think it sinks in to an electorate that the republicans are the reason, they're what stands in the way of life getting back to normal? >> well, when they see their neighbors on ventilators or in morgues. that's what is going to have to happen tragically. when they realize that these
2:29 pm
policies, in fact, are keeping us from getting back to our lifts and are responsible, you know, there's actually this very strange narrative we are seeing among some folks who say, well, why should the vaccinated care about the unvaccinated? why should you care if your neighbor doesn't do it? the doctor can speak to this better than i can, but, number one, just morally we ought to care about americans that are getting sick and dying. we ought to care about children who are vulnerable and might get sick and, quite frankly, we also ought to care about whether or not they're incubating the next variant on all of this. this whole notion that we shouldn't care is callous, but i also think it is self-defeating. but i have to say watching these two governors is really remarkable, and you have asked the key question. at what point does reality intervene? i think one of the lessons we have learned over the last five or six years, nicolle, is there
2:30 pm
are political folks out there who are completely immune to reality. unfortunately, it is deadly this time. >> dr. davidson, can you take me inside when reality intervenes for a patient? i mean i have seen, i have watched and i have broadcast a few of the sort of tragic death bed pleas with people to get vaccinated because they didn't and they learned the hard way. i mean what is happening inside emergency rooms with unvaccinated people who come in very, very sick? do they leave? i mean when they recover do they leave converted? >> listen, i treat them on the front end in the emergency department. i don't see them with they leave. unfortunately, i'm still seeing people who don't believe it is anything they have to worry about, people who i am trying to get vaccinated because we're offering the vaccine hotel me, well, you're going to give me covid with that vaccine or, if you test me you are just going to tell me it is positive so your hospital can get $100,000. now, they're not hearing that from dr. fauci or the local
2:31 pm
health department or any doctor in my community. they're hearing it on fox news, on facebook, from folks with something nefarious in mind to try to keep people from getting vaccinated, keep them getting sick. when we talked about the last governors, everyone said, well, it is old people dying, they lived out their life expectancy, we can sacrifice them for the sake of the economy, for the bizarre freedom to not wear a simple face covering. we have to ask now are we willing to sacrifice these kids. you know, the pediatric icus are filling up in texas and in florida. it hasn't started by me yet, but i work in a county with about 40% vaccination rate. you know, it is coming to every little corner of this country eventually. these places that are largely unvaccinated are going to see it, it just depends on when. we are going to play whack-a-mole for years to come with this pandemic. >> thank you for talking to us part of your efforts. we are thank you for talking to us, dr. davidson.
2:32 pm
charlie is sticking around. when we return, we will talk to senator alex padilla about his plan to protect the right to vote. t to vote i was drowning in student loan debt. then i discovered sofi. lower interest rate. my principal is going down. sofi is a place where you can start to tackle those money goals today. ♪♪ those money goals today. verizon launched the first 5g network and now we want to be the first to give everyone the joy of 5g, by giving every customer a new 5g phone. old customers. new customers. families. businesses. every customer. from these bakers to these bakers. hello! new 5g phones when you trade in your old ones. cracked, busted, sticky buttons and all thank you. upgrade your phone. upgrade your network.
2:33 pm
(laughter) i am robert strickler. i've been involved in communications in the media for 45 years. i've been taking prevagen on a regular basis for at least eight years. for me, the greatest benefit over the years has been that prevagen seems to help me recall things and also think more clearly. and i enthusiastically recommend prevagen.
2:34 pm
it has helped me an awful lot. prevagen. healthier brain. better life.
2:35 pm
they only see an opportunity and a power grab in some of our urban centers and that's what they're focused on. you know, it shouldn't be our fight, but the reality is it is our fight. on top of that, you're right, there is always this division because, sadly enough, we always want to be the good guys, right.
2:36 pm
so there are those that are like, oh, let's kumbaya with our colleagues from the other side of the aisle. i'm saying a kumbay arkts to me is making sure people's rights are protected. that's how we can start to come together, is by getting on the right side of history. instead of continuing to disenfranchise people. >> that was texas democrat jasmine crockett on this broadcast last week. i think it was me laughing at some of her phraseology there. with a stern message to her fellow democrats in the united states senate, urging them to put voting rights above any desire to work with the republican party that is actively working to disenfranchise their voters. crockett and her texas democratic colleagues are in the midst of a major new legal battle with texas governor greg abbott and the state's republicans over the democrats' decision to leave the state to block the gop from passing that state's restriction laws.
2:37 pm
"the washington post" is quoting this. the supreme court of texas on tuesday halted a ruling that protected absent democratic lawmakers from arrest. they could be detained and brought to the house. it leaves the texas democrats in limbo. a handful are asking for help in washington. moments ago the texas house voted to send law enforcement after those missing democrats. joining our conversation california democratic senator alex padilla. thank you for spending time with us, sir. i know you have a proposal and i would like to get to that in a moment, but, first, i have had four or five of the texas democrats here who have taken great reputational risk and now it seems some of them may face arrest, and they've asked for an inch. they haven't asked for a whole package.
2:38 pm
do you think that the united states senate is capable of producing a bill that gives them an inch? >> god, i hope so. so for anybody watching who thinks we've been exclusively focused on infrastructure, we have not. we made progress on infrastructure and we will talk about that in a minute, but we have also been working on a refined voting rights proposal. you know, we brought the for the people act forward. not a single republican voted to begin discussion or debate, and so we do have to -- if it means going it alone as democrats, figure out a way to protect our fundamental right to vote. we see the attacks in texas, in georgia, in so many other states across the country. yes, time is of the essence. >> sir, tell us about your proposal in working with your colleague senator ossoff. >> right. so we have this proposal with senator ossoff that would, you know, put it -- you know, make it abundantly clear that our fundamental right to vote is protected in federal law.
2:39 pm
believe it or not, that's not exactly the case as it exists today. in the meantime, i'm also hud willing with senator ossoff's counterparts in crafting the newest alternative to voting rights and ensuring voters in every state in the country can benefit from online voter registration, same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration through dmv as well as multiple opportunities for being able to cast your ballot, whether it is early in person, on election day, of course, or even vote by mail. we saw so many of the reforms work so well in the 2020 election, but, sadly, too many states are trying to go backwards on voting rights and opportunities to vote. we need to enshrine a baseline of voting rights and access to the ballot for every voter in america. >> sir, respectfully, the republicans aren't trying. they're done. they've passed 22 laws. there are 389 proposed in 49 states, and i say this with remorse, but it is the most
2:40 pm
successful state-by-state republican legislative push in my lifetime. i spent almost 20 years in the republican party, and it sounds like as democrats you are still spit balling policy ideas. is there a single bill that you have all democrats on board for? >> not spit balling ideas here. trying to find a pathway given the current rules of the senate, which in my opinion should change. for any democrat who says, no, we will be able to convince ten republicans, let's put it to the test. i think sometime tonight or tomorrow, if the for the people act was too comprehensive, that's what some republicans argued, let's take up specific elements at a time. how about taking the dark money out of politics and shed more light on money in politics? will they be able to stand up for that? what about gerrymandering? you know, redistricting next year is critical, not just for balancing out districts by way of population but ensuring voting rights for historically
2:41 pm
disenfranchised communities. it should not be a partisan process. will they stand up for that? it is not just further informing public opinion but helping influence my colleagues we have to find a way other than regular order to get this done, then that's part of building momentum. >> so i just want to understand the strategy, is to build more public support so you have wind at your back as with the covid relief package to make this politically uncomfortable for republicans. you see putting some of these pieces to a vote to get them on the record before looking at potentially doing away with the filibuster? is that the legislative path? >> look, i'm open to any path that gets it done. so we tried the normal order. obviously it didn't work. we are going to try this and we will keep trying because our right to vote as the late congressman john lewis said is practically sacred, and without it our democracy is in deep trouble. we are seeing the attacks in state after state across the country, and, you know, we're going to have to defend it. >> a big bipartisan
2:42 pm
accomplishment today, infrastructure. this was something that became the butt of a lot of jokes in washington. this president got it done. is its passage a guarantee at this point? >> so the bipartisan infrastructure package was approved today after four years of infrastructure week, to your point, congress finally acted. so the senate voted it out, and it is a great proposal. i know for california, we're seeing -- we have, yet again, record wildfires. there's money in here for resiliency of the electrical grid. not just combatting wildfires but combatting climate change by investing in more resilient, sustainable infrastructure, water systems, broadband deployment, transportation, transit, and as big and historic at the bipartisan package is we know it is not enough. we are already immediately at work on, you know, using the budget reconciliation process, the budget process to advance a
2:43 pm
democrats-only infrastructure package that invests in housing, in health care, in education, child care and more to really give working families a shot at prosperity for decades to come. >> senator alex padilla, i leave you with one request. viewers of this program have, i think, a lot of concern that voting rights legislation doesn't seem to be moving as quickly as some other bills and it sounds like you are talking about things that we can't see, things happening behind the scenes, which is very encouraging. i would ask you do come back and keep us updated on any and all progress, if you would. >> absolutely. and one request on my part, if you can let my wife know i may not be home for dinner tonight. >> i just saw the rain. if it is weather related, i can vouch for it. looks like a big storm. thank you for spending time with us, sir. >> thank you. up next for us, another huge in terms of dollars defamation lawsuit against the big lie's biggest propagators including
2:44 pm
new maxed accused creating an alternate reality, where up is down, pigs have wings and dominion stole the election by rigging the vote. that story next. ok everyone, our mission is to provide complete, balanced nutrition for strength and energy. whoo hoo! ensure, with 27 vitamins and minerals, now introducing ensure complete! with 30 grams of protein.
2:45 pm
as someone who resembles someone else... i appreciate that liberty mutual ensure complete! knows everyone's unique. that's why they customize your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. [ nautical horn blows ] i mean just because you look like someone else doesn't mean you eat off the floor, or yell at the vacuum, or need flea medication. oh, yeah. that's the spot. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty ♪ [relaxed summer themed music playing] ♪ ♪
2:46 pm
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ summer is a state of mind, you can visit anytime. savor your summer with lincoln. trelegy for copd. ♪ birds flyin' high you know how i feel ♪ ♪ breeze drifting on by you know how i feel ♪ [man: coughing] ♪ it's a new dawn, it's a new day... ♪ no matter how you got copd it's time to make a stand. ♪ ...and i'm feelin' good ♪ start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd medicine has the power to treat copd in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler, trelegy helps people breathe easier and improves lung function. it also helps prevent future flare-ups. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition
2:47 pm
or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. it's time to start a new day. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy. and save at trelegy.com. why choose proven quality sleep from sleep number? because a quality night's sleep is scientifically proven to help boost performance. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy. the new sleep number 360 smart bed senses and automatically adjusts to keep you both effortlessly comfortable. the sleep number 360 smart bed is on sale now. the fight against the big lie has taken another step as the voting machine company at the center of the baseless claims of fraud is now suing more news networks accusing them of deaf mapgs. dominion voting systems filed lawsuit it against conservative media networks newsmax and one
2:48 pm
american news accusing them of airing false reports suggesting their voting machines changed votes from donald trump to joe biden. they're seeking $1.6 billion in damage, citing lost profits and losing $90 million in contracts. dominion is also suing former chief executive of overstock.com patrick burn for his repeated claims that the company's voting machines were attempting to steal the election for joe biden. these are the latest defamation lawsuited filed by dominion. they've sued fox news, rudy giuliani, sidney powell and my pillow's guy mike lindell for related debunked claims regarding the 2020 election. oh, it is raining really hard at the white house right now. lucky for us charlie sykes is back with us. charlie, these defamation suits have sort of the characteristic, slow grinding, sometime opaque virtues of a lawsuit, but they really are where the rubber meets the road between the big lie and the defamation and those
2:49 pm
who were the biggest purveyors of it. >> yes. if there's ever going to be accountability, it probably unfortunately will be in these lawsuits. there's something about a billion dollar lawsuit that tends to focus the mind. by the way, my pillow guy is having his big symposium right now livestream. this is the symposium where he is supposed to reveal all of the evidence that is going to be so compelling that the supreme court will rule 9-0 to reinstate donald trump. i mean this is a big day for these folks. unfortunately, i'm going to apologize in advance for my language, you know, what you are seeing here though is this flood of disinformation, flat-out lies, conspiracy theories, gibberish, flatout -- that has been one of the great cons of american politics. i am not a lawyer and i won't play one on this show, but i
2:50 pm
have to imagine that when this gets into a court of law the things that might have played on twitter or in the, you know, darker corners of, you know, the facebook feeds or the imagination of the guy in mar-a-lago is not going to stand up well to scrutiny in a courtroom where truth actually matters where they basically say okay, you held up this piece of paper and say it was truth that the chinese hacked the election, in fact, turns out to be complete gibberish and nonsense. i think these lawsuits could have a significant effect. i am hoping it will have an effect and clear li the folks having a lot to lose and paying close attention. >> charlie, i hickory with all that including your choice of language. here is a part that really sort of blows my circuit. i spend a career of politics
2:51 pm
believing photos are smart. and it is straight up stupidity to think that the ballot is broken along the line. the ballot has your choice for president and district and every person living in their congressional district. it is gibberish and bs, they sold it to the voters. the voters believe that the only line that got bambooing it from china was the vote on that one line. it says something depressing as what republican voters will accept as true. >> depressing is a mild term. we live in a world, we have said post-truth and post-factual
2:52 pm
world but we are seeing how far it can go. when people believe the nonsense, it is really difficult to talk them out of it. where i live there is people with bumper stickers that the election was stolen and joe biden is not the president of the united states and the fact that people actually believed this. we talked about challenges of democracy and electorate willing to believe anything, it is the most fundamental challenge you can imagine. >> i don't know. you always enlighten and depress me, charlie sykes. i know you are not a lawyer and i would say i am not a meteorologist, it is raining very hard at the white house right now. a quick break for us, we'll be right back on the other side. k e right back on the other side [sighs wearily] here, i'll take that! woo-hoo! ensure max protein. with thirty grams of protein, one gram of sugar, and now with two new flavors!
2:53 pm
♪ someone once told me, that i should get used to people staring. so i did. it's okay, you can stare. when you're a two-time gold medalist, it comes with the territory.
2:54 pm
♪all by yourself.♪ you look a little lost. i can't find my hotel. oh. oh! ♪♪ this is not normal. no. ♪♪ so? ♪♪ right? go with us and find millions of flexible options, all in our app. expedia. it matters who you travel with. okay, we're not gonna ask for expedia. discounts on floor models, demos or displays. shopping malls can be a big trigger for young homeowners turning into their parents. you ever think about the storage operation a place like this must rely on? -no. they just sell candles, and they're making overhead? you know what kind of fish those are? -no. -eh, don't be coy. [ laughs ] [ sniffs, clears throat ] koi fish. it can be overwhelming. think a second. have we seen this shirt before? progressive can't save you from becoming your parents. but we can save you money when you bundle home and auto with us. but you know what? i'm still gonna get it.
2:55 pm
get exactly what you want on wayfair! cute table! kelly clarkson?! like a multifunctional find that does it all. that's cool. a lot of storage in a small space. hi! is it weird if i buy the same one because i maybe just did. woohoo! and a kitchen refresh in a snap! side table, food wagon - it does it all! a drink drink bar? one quick swap. bam, it's a whole new look. shall we? yes we shall! what happens when we welcome change? we can transform our workforce overnight out of convenience, or necessity. we can explore uncharted waters, and not only make new discoveries, but get there faster,
2:56 pm
with better outcomes. with app, cloud and anywhere workspace solutions, vmware helps companies navigate change-- meeting them where they are, and getting them where they want to be. faster. vmware. welcome change. the new poll out today finding high levels of trusts and nurses for healthcare workers. at least seven out of ten americans say they trust doctors and pharmacists to do what's right for them and their family. while high level of trust and healthcare workers could be a political tool to encourage americans get vaccinated. the groups with the lowest rate of vaccinations including young
2:57 pm
adults and uninsured. those groups may be least likely to have interactions with healthcare workers. something to think about. we'll be right back. workers something to think about we'll be right back. ed nutrition for strength and energy. whoo hoo! ensure, with 27 vitamins and minerals, now introducing ensure complete! with 30 grams of protein. ensure complete! we did it again. verizon has been named america's most reliable network by rootmetrics. and our customers rated us #1 for network quality in america according to j.d. power. number one in reliability, 16 times in a row. most awarded for network quality, 27 times in a row. proving once again that nobody builds networks like verizon. that's why we're building 5g right, that's why there's only one best network. i'm so glad you're ok, sgt. houston. this is sam with usaa. do you see the tow truck? yes, thank you, that was fast. sgt. houston never expected this to happen.
2:58 pm
or that her grandpa's dog tags would be left behind. but that one call got her a tow and rental... ...paid her claim... ...and we even pulled a few strings. making it easy to make things right: that's what we're made for. usaa. what you're made of, we're made for. get a quote today.
2:59 pm
so many people are overweight now usand asking themselves,f, we're made for. "why can't i lose weight?" for most, the reason is insulin resistance, and they don't even know they have it. conventional starvation diets don't address insulin resistance. that's why they don't work. now there's golo. golo helps with insulin resistance, getting rid of sugar cravings, helps control stress, and emotional eating, and losing weight. go to golo.com and see how golo can change your life. that's g-o-l-o.com. every single day, we're all getting a little bit better. we're better cooks... better neighbors... hi. i've got this until you get back. better parents... and better friends. no! no! that's why comcast works around the clock constantly improving america's largest gig-speed broadband network. and just doubled the capacity here. how do things look on your end? -perfect!
3:00 pm
because we're building a better network every single day. thank you for letting us into your home during these extraordinary times. "the beat" with ari melber starts right now. andrew cuomo is resigning. the governor announced the news today, his resignation takes in effect in two weeks. we have the latest on that story. we'll get to that in a few moments. we begin with major national news. the white house dubbing a major victory of the change the american people voting for. >> madame vice president, your reaction to the bill passing? >> elections

92 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on