>> good morning. it's saturday, march 4th. it's 11 a.m. in the east, may they get in the west. i'm michael steele, filling in today for my friend, ali velshi. tonight, former president donald trump will take the stage to give the keynote speech to close out the final day of cpac, an annual gathering of conservatives from around the country. it usually draws a broad range of republicans making it obvious top four presidential hopefuls every few years. nikki haley, for example, who announced her bid last month, spoke of the converse yesterday. so did mike pompeo. they were really the only notable presidential hopefuls who showed up around this time. so, cpac is usually dominated this year by trump loyalists

like representative jim jordan, marjorie taylor greene, and matt gaetz. keri lake for, example, a prominent election denier who lost the governor's race in arizona last year, was also a guest speaker. so or steve bannon and pillow salesman mike lindell. key republican leaders like house speaker kevin mccarthy, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell, and our and see chairwoman, rhonda mcdaniel, did not take part in cpac this week. meanwhile, other presidential candidates possible presidential candidates set out the conference in favor of a different event this week. a sign of the republican party remains somewhat splintered with some members trying to charter new path forward and leaving donald trump far behind. instead of cpac, florida governor ron desantis, former vice president mike pence, south carolina senator tim scott, and new hampshire governor chris sununu opted to attend a private retreat with donors hosted by the conservative organization club for growth.

the group has publicly to ties with trump and didn't even bother to invite him to his event this weekend, which is, you know, being held just a few miles down the road. from mar-a-lago. joining me now is nbc's vaughn hillyard, standing but at the cpac event, the brave van halen. he's been there for the last few days. vaughn. they for. cpac. what's the latest, my friend? >> and still day is the big one. donald trump, michael, will be taking the stage here to cap it off here. later on this evening, but when you look at the lineup that has a tendency at cpac here, they are by and large allies of donald trump now. , yes, there's nikki haley, who of course was at one time in ally of donald trump, when serving as the u.n. ambassador during the trump administration, but she did walk into the arena here and she never named him by

name, yet suggested that the folks here should look to a new generation of american leaders. it's notable because a lot of others didn't come here, but when we're talking about the ideas, there's a wide range of issues being discussed here over the last couple of days here. michael, there was a general conservative commentator who was just on stage, he said that's real marriage, in his words, was between a man and a woman. he said that quote, transgender -ism should be eradicated from public life. there is the full breath of concepts that are being promoted here from the stage. of course, marjorie taylor greene is one of the donald trump allies who is here and in the last week, she suggested there should be a national divorce between red states and blue states, essentially, there should be a separation within the country. i was able to catch up with her yesterday, and i try to ask her for some clarification. there was some walk back. i want to let you listen to part of the exchange when i pushed her on the fear. take a listen. >> you actually say those two

governments, to federal governments. >> i think what i want to see is a very reduced down version of the federal government. of course, maintaining a strong department of defense and all our military branches, and maintaining its functions as in the constitution. but i want to see a lot more power to the states, and they want to see red states ramp it up and really get their policies in place. >> and one other notable feature, speaker here this afternoon, michael would be the formal brazilian president, bolsonaro, who will take the stage some walking down the hall. just a bit ago, of, course he left his country after losing his presidential election, and the current administration in brazil's fault to have him return here to the country, he is currently here on the visa. there are many questions we could put forward to him, as he has found refuge here in the united states of america, in the meanwhile. michael? >> i'm just curious what happens when a red state becomes a blue state, or a blue state becomes a red state, but i digress.

nbc's vaugh hillyard. ovando, put in a call with matt to push you a happy birthday. so i think it's you, brother. happy birthday, my friends. >> oh, they're all eager to, i have no doubt. thank you, michael. i appreciate it, my. friends >> vaughn at cpac. take care of yourself. i'm joined now by olivia troye, she previous toward the homeland security adviser and counterterrorism adviser to former vice president mike pence. also with us jennifer reuben, a opinion writer for the washington post and msnbc political analyst. welcome to you both. olivia, this is sort of the entry level question here. it's still early in this 2024 presidential race, but are you beginning to pick up concerns the either you may have four others may have that this is actually going to wind up being just a repeat of 2016? we'll end up with donald trump as the gop nominee again? >> yeah, absolutely.

i think that is the direction this is heading. i think while we are seeing a rift where you have the traditional, and i say that in quotes, because they have some pretty extreme policies there exposing as well, out there, trying to claim they are a different type of republican, but look. when you look at nikki haley showing up at the cpac circus of disinformation allies, as i refer to it now, she knows exactly what he's doing. she is catering to that crowd, knowing that's where a lot of the base is, and she is angling their, i think, right there. she's running for vice president, whether it is trump possibility or if it's another candidate like desantis. she knows exactly the type of base she is courting. >> jennifer, olivia races a couple of insisting points with nikki haley. we've seen her this past weekend, as well as other republicans calling for a quote, a new generation of leadership. what do you think of that

message? well a breakthrough, or is it the political fodder you expect a candidates to come out with early in the campaign? >> well, it would be nice if there was a new generation of republicans who were sane, who harken back to actual conservative policies, but what they're espousing there is just crazy stuff, as i'm part. it's not conservatism in any sense of the word. but even the people running against trump aren't running against trumpism. i think nikki haley is the perfect example of that. she knows better, but she is suddenly adopting the language of woke, adopting the culture wars, even something like kristin -- who certainly knows better goes on sunday shows and sets out, yeah, i'm against this wokeness. when he's pressed to describe what he actually means by that, he can't. none of these people are going to break out, something sounding trump like. if people want trump, they will get the real thing. it's only one someone gives a

stark contrast, shows some metal, shows some toughness and says, i'm not going to talk about all this garbage. we've got real problems, and here are my solutions. i don't see anyone like that on the stage. literally, at cpac, and certainly in the field. i think this is going towards either trump or a close imitator of trump. i think he is going to get indicted, and, then it's going to be the real test whether the republican party decides to have a criminal defendant as its nominee. >> i think, olivia, jennifer races interesting point that relate to your former boss, mike pence, who was asked if he supports trump, if he was the 2024 republican nominee. let's take a listen to his answer. >> if that standard bearer is the former president, if he is the nominee, would your support him? >> i think a lot better choices. i really trust republican voters to sort it out. again, i'm very proud of the work of the trump pence administration.

i think nobody could've defeated hillary clinton in 2016 other than donald trump. but i think different times call for different leadership. >> that's not a yes. in terms of supporting trump. >> i'm very confident we'll have better choices, come 2024 and, i'm confident our standard bearer will win the day in the member of that year. >> he doesn't exactly say no. now to supporting trump in 2024. i just understand why that is such an odd thing to do. what are your thoughts on his non answer there? >> again, i think he is already alienated whatever trump base there is that would support mike pence. the correct answer for my former boss should be flat out no, i will not support a man who tried to kill me and my family, and put members of congress in danger and lives were lost on january six, and try to overturn an election. for some reason, that's incredibly hard for mike pence to say out loud. i think again, the calculus of how does he get to that oval

office? i don't see a path for that. why is he doing? is he trying to secure the vp slot again? how pathetic does this be? it's so infuriated to me, michael, as you know, because i was very close to mike pence in my role! i supported him, and i view some of his conservative beliefs, i don't agree with all of them, but again, he is unwilling to call this man out, even though he knows firsthand the danger that this man has lived in. >> that's the part that's the most stunning for me, in the way you answered that the beginning. look. you put my life in trouble. no, i'm not supporting it for reelection. that's the space we find ourselves in, jennifer. you're talking about how much of a group the president may have on this party. some argue it's weakened, others argue it's still a strong. that clearly is a case with control to the base. how does the party move itself forward, or try to create a new

lane with trump leaving him behind, if this group is still there? >> michael, are you just stunned by the absolute spinelessness? it makes ted cruz, who wouldn't defend his own father, his own wife, looked like a tower of courage! that is just so pathetic, what we saw there. but i think the grip is going to go on, in part because they had this reflexive, stupid answer, which is i support the policies of donald trump. what policies are those? was that covid denial? was that -- what are these great policies they keep touting? separating children at the border? i'm scratching my head. what are these policies? it's become so reflexive in their, well, i don't like him, but i like the policies. someone should ask them which ones of them they actually like! this is not going to be a way to get him to go away. these people are cowards,

spineless cowards, comical cowards. mike pence is just about the worst of them. my goodness? so, so long as they are so reticent about taking him on, they are not going to get very far. you don't beat somebody by not taking them on. this is a strange kind of presidential race, where you don't take on the weaknesses of your opponents. how do you supposed to win? how are people supposed to refer to you to the other guy? it's really kind of mindless. >> yeah, i haven't been able to figure that out, as the former chairman. that was always the first go to, this guy is we, cut him off at the knees and move on. they keep finding a way to give them a crutch. olivia troye and jennifer reuben, thank you both very much for coming on. coming up, walgreens vows -- walgreens bows to pressure from antiabortion lawmakers and says it won't distribute safe, effective, and frequently used abortion medication. and unless -- a lesson in self awareness from none other, no other, ben, i'm

sorry, marjorie taylor greene. she just confuses me. plus, you've got some homework, but it's fun. we'll tell you the next three velshi banned book club titles, coming up. ming up. ♪ ♪ get directv with a two year price guarantee.

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governor bill lee has officially signed a bill that will make some drag show performances a criminal act. this legislation is the first of its kind and bans quote, adult cabaret entertainment on public property, or a locations in can be viewed by minors. but law goes into effect on april 1st, first time offenders of a lot will face misdemeanor charges. subsequent offenses will be classified as felonies, and can result in prison sentences, get this, of up to six years. as nbc's antonia hylton reports, more states could soon follow. more state s could soon♪ ♪ ♪

>> for 24 years, -- has built a career performing interact shows. >> all you already for a fabulous show? ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the trans woman from royal tennessee, she stayed -- dry k for a community. but that community is on edge. >> it struggling. very scary. i think our security to walk us through the cart now. i never did that before. >> this week, tennessee became the first state to pass a law that will restrict drag performances on public property, or anywhere a child could see them. conservative say drag shows expose children to sexually suggestive content, all performers here say the law is discriminatory, and feels designed to push them back into the closet. >> i hate it. i absolutely hate it, because i can't be myself anymore. i have to beat what they think i should be. >> the bill sponsor, jack johnson, argues this law isn't meant to target the lgbtq community. it's about protecting children. >> are you trying to send a signal?

>> of course not. >> sometimes the community, sometimes people, aren't welcome here in tennessee? >> the only signal i'm trying to send is that you shouldn't be doing sexually graphic, you shouldn't be simulating sex acts in front of children. >> the law targets performances that are harmful to minors. it doesn't say how performances will be determined to be harmful to all riders or sectional. >> who's going to decide what sexually explicit, what's inappropriate? >> the same way any law is enforced. with our law enforcement, our district attorneys, the same way they prosecute any other criminal offense. >> ken peters is a pastor and a parent. he organized demonstrations in support of this law. >> i think it's ridiculous for folks to think that we christians shouldn't push our values and our ideology just like the lgbtq movement has a right to push there. we christians feel targeted. i know they might feel targeted from the situation, that's really not our heart. we feel like our lifestyle, our culture, is -- >> you are the majority. most of lawmakers agree with you! how could you feel targeted? >> we feel targeted in the

country as a whole. maybe not in tennessee. that's why we moved here! >> across the country, similar laws are in the works. with conservative lawmakers in at least 13 other states advancing bills to restrict drag. four deedee, tennessee is home. her family is here. she says her only option is to stay and fight. >> any kind of a discriminatory bill like this, they are trying to bully you. we are a very, very strong community. we are not going anywhere. >> our thanks to antonia hylton for that report. for all these people who say they feel threatened by drag shows? i have an idea. maybe don't go to them. that would solve your problem. be sure to join me tomorrow, i'll be speaking with amari jones, the foremost journalist in the country on transgender is -- if you sit at the dramatic escalation and attacks on trans rights. right after the break, walgreens says it will not dispense safe, effective abortion medication in 20 states, including some where

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rights in america, walgreens, the second largest pharmacy chain in the nation, has announced it will not dispense abortion pills in several states, including some states where they are still legal. that decision came a few weeks after nearly two dozen republican states attorney generals front to walgreens, threatening legal action if the company distributed their drug, the drug in their states. the medication abortion is safe, effective, and is now the most common method for abortion in the country. but threats to access to abortion medication extend beyond this decision by walgreens. a conservative federal judge in texas is expected to rule soon in a case that could reverse fda approval of a key abortion drug.

whichever way this texas judge rules, his decision will likely be appealed and could eventually make it to the supreme court. more broadly, this decision could potentially undermine the current process of regulating pharmaceuticals and could eventually give court significant control over the fda and drug regulations. joining me now is mark aaron's, senior counsel for the center for reproductive rights. he argued the landmark supreme court case, hold women's health versus jackson, with challenge to constitutionality of a texas law that outlines, outlaws abortion after six weeks. thank you so much for being here this morning. this all means decision not to sell abortion pills, even in some states where abortion is still legal, a, doesn't surprise you that walgreens take this position and bottle under that kind of pressure, but what can we expect from that action by walgreens? >> well, look.

that decision was a reaction to pressure, intimidation tactics that are part of a larger strategy by antiabortion activists and politicians to try to sow confusion about medication abortion, including in states where it is legal. right now, the case that is pending in the federal district court in texas, there is a case where the plaintiffs are asking to revoke the fda's authorization of medication abortion. this is an extremely safe and extremely effective way to end a pregnancy. it has been used by the work of 4 million women. the majority of abortions done right now are medication abortions. and this decision could affect, let me be clear. we're not just talking about states where abortion has been banned. that plaintiffs aren't bringing

an extreme lawsuit asking for medication abortion to be banned nationwide. that includes california, that includes new york, illinois, massachusetts, they're trying to take away women's ability to choose how they want to experience an abortion. >> so, let's zoom out a little bit on this texas case that he referred to, the decision on the fda reversal of this abortion medication. what are the not tunnel implications? is this, in effect, a way of putting a place on national ban on abortion? >> so, this is an attempt to impose, by some anti abortion extremists, who are asking a federal judge to end that light the majority of abortion in this country is performed, and that is by taking pills. again, that is a nationwide thing they are asking for. most courts would have thrown out of that case already.

the claims are ludicrous. we know that medication abortion is extremely safe and effective. it is safer than over the counter pain medications. it is safer than viagra. and yet, we are facing a looming threat on a judge this guiding that second guessing a decision the fda made over 20 years ago, we have over 20 years of experience, of use of this drug. it is absurd. >> i think one of the questions that pops to mind for some folks is, are there legitimate questions about the legality or the safety of the pharmacies carrying and dispensing these medications directly to patients? what has been the experience in that space? >> so, that is a question that we should all trust, trust the science and the fda looked at the science and decided that it is safe.

it is safer positions to write a prescription, and for patients to be able to pick up the prescription at the pharmacy. and again, that is a question of science. the science here is indisputable. medication abortion it's extremely safe and effective. again, it's safer than other over the counter medications! it has been available for decades in this country! >> marc hearron, thank you very much. we really appreciate it. still ahead, the face of incivility in the post january six era. we'll talk about extremism, disinformation, and the line between violent rhetoric and actual violence. tual violence. appens. that's why visionworks gives you 100 days to change your mind. it's simple. anything else i can help you with? like what? visionworks. see the difference. wondering what actually goes into your multivitamin? at new chapter, its' innovation, organic ingredients, and fermentation. fermentation? yes. formulated to help you body really truly absorb the natural goodness.

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have you ever heard of -- right now the? >> now. >> he was the crown prince of genovia. >> what about him? >> edward kristoff philippe gerard renaldi was your father. >> yeah. sure, my father was the prince of genovia. you're joking. >> why would i joke about something like that? >> no! because if he's really a prince, and i'm -- >> exactly. you are not just amelia

thermopolis. you are amelia mean that thermopolis renaldi, princess of genovia. >> me? a princess? shut up! >> that was a little clip from the princess diaries, millennial mainstay and called classic based on the novel written by the beloved american author, meg cabot. don't worry the, princess diaries has not been banned yet i cannot miss an opportunity to show the princess of genovia what i'm feeling in on velshi. but meg cabot has faced numerous challenges and bans for many of her books. including next week's velshi banned book club feature, titled ready or not. meg cabot and your 80 plus staple of published works to find an entire generation of young readers, especially women. by reexamining so-called chick lets and reclaiming it, cabot

was among the first to skillfully join a strong woman, join a strong woman protagonist with the ferocious readability of a romance novel. all cabins books are, of course, the medically very, most feature leading women who are funny, strong, and unflinchingly sex positive. ready or not centers around one such woman, 17 year old sam, who is beginning to explore what a consensual sexual relationship looks like with her boyfriend, who also happens to be the president's son. don't miss this important and timely conversation with meg cabot next weekend, on the velshi banned book club. bill she has two other books on tap in the weeks. you sound like a white girl, the case for rejecting assimilation bite to alyssa arts, and how the garcia girls lost their accents by julia alvarez. please pick up your copies and email your questions, comments, and thoughts to my story at velshi dot com.

but first, civility, extremism, and double standards. a peak inside the maga wing of the republican party, yet, that is coming up next. coming up next. >> we either get this government back on our side or we defund and get rid of abolish the fbi, cdc, atf! doj, every last one of them, if they do not come to hear! >> and gambling to be introducing my bill, the -- protect children's -- act, that will make it a felony to perform anything to do with gender affirming care on children. >> we're told our country is foul, roughing, and full of hate. joe and kamala even say america is -- wokeness is a virus more dangerous than any pandemic, hands down. whoo, this bed is dreamy. you're kelly clarkson? yes. and you're in our bed?

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and qanon supporter, marjorie taylor greene, is extolling the virtues of civility and tolerance this week after reporting that she was attacked for her views. greens ascribe the alleged incident in a tweet saying quote, i was attacked at a restaurant tonight by an insane woman who screamed at me, by her adult son. they had no respect for the restaurant or the staff or the other people dining or people like me, who simply have different political views. they are self righteous, insane, and completely out of control. people used to respect others, even if they had different views. not anymore. our country is gone. >> greens deputy chief of staff says restaurant staff eventually remove the woman and her son from the scene. adding quote, the congresswoman deserves to be able to eat at a restaurant in peace. all reasonable people can agree with this sentiment. greene, like everyone else, deserves to dine in peace

without fear of intimidation or harassment. but, there's a disturbing assumption that underlies this outrage, leaving you wondering whether greene believes recent victims of her own victory all, mainly democrats, black people, jews, and muslims, are worthy of the same basic dignity and respect that she knows claims for herself. additionally, greene's reaction reflects a glaring lack of accountability for the work she did that arguably contributed to the extreme polarization of america today. here's just a partial list. a partial list of some of the things greene has said and done in recent years. in 2019, just weeks after the parkland school shooting in florida that left 17 people dead, she followed survivor david halford nearly two minutes in the washington, d.c., the ratings of an 18 year old for reading with u.s. senators with gun regulation. >> we'll have the american

citizen? i'm a gun owner. i have a concealed carry permit. i carry a gun for protection. for myself, and you are using your lobby and the money behind it, and the guns to try to take away my second amendment rights. you don't have anything to say for yourself? you can't defend your stance? how did you get over 30 appointments with senators? how did you do that? how do they get major press coverage on this issue? >> about three weeks and ten years of congress woman, greene faced calls for her resignation after passengers months of political violence and extremism or uncovered on facebook. those included support for executions of democratic leaders and fbi agents. in one january 2019 post, greene like the calm of advocated for a bullets to the head of house speaker nancy pelosi. in 2020, political uncovered hours a facebook video showing greene expressing racist and islamophobic views. >> there is an islamic invasion

into our government offices right now. okay? you saw after midterm elections, what we saw so many muslims elected. i don't know the exact number, but there were quite a few. >> greene, was never denied endorsing violent online discourse, claimed at the time that many people run her facebook page, and that some of the pages her team allegedly interacted with do not represent her views. so, when those violent rhetoric like greene's become problematic, and what does the double standard reveal about extremism in america today? for that, i'm joined by kelly carter jackson, the social perfecter of africana studies at wesley college. and author of force and freedom. black abolitionists and the politics of violence. also joining is reena shaw, republican strategist who is among the first of her story to publicly come out against

donald trump, including going on record to say she would vote for hillary clinton, if trump became the party nominee. she is the principal and founder of relax strategies and advisor for renewed democracy initiative. welcome to you both. reena, let's start with you. what were your initial thoughts when you first heard about greene's experience at the restaurant? because i know what mine where. if i'm curious about your. >> well the first thought that came to mind is, gosh look who's playing victim. this is so interesting from today's gop that they go right to the victimhood stuff. yet they don't realize what they've done to others for the fast few years, particularly in this era of. trump they have turned the tables on the left. they said the left is a problem, and now, they want to hide under table saying look at us, we're being attacked. it's an odd play but it's all aim towards a base that once they give these small dollars to fight the fight for them. that is what cpac is about this year.

cpac's already been crawling towards the spheres. but now, if you hear the words from the stage, you know their intention is not to go fight a good fight on capitol hill for these people out in flyover country, or on the coast, what have you, it is to go right for their pocketbooks and continue fueling the rhetoric and amping up every single argument that they can make so that their personality shines there, and they can get more money to build this celebrity from congress. it is done with the roots of victimhood, and it's sick. it's also nonsensical, totally nonsensical! >> well yeah, they nonsensical part of that is a whole other on the conversation. kelly, rita puts her finger on a very important element. -- there's also part of this movement that's belittling its base and fearmongering. what role does that type of aggressive rhetoric play in

actual acts of violence. here's the bottom line. does, or at some point, does the speaker hold the responsibility for that? >> you know, to some extent i would say yes. the violent sort of racist, and sometimes vapid rhetoric that comes out of greene's mouth is disturbing. and what it does is that it contributes to a culture of anger, of rage, of view out over and over again, and i really think it does shape part of the culture and it does inspire people to commit heinous acts. when i'm thinking about the past, most of the violent and massive shootings that we've seen come from the extremist right. -- when we hear this rhetoric to me it's terrifying to know that someone could be inspired by the things she says, i'm motivated to commit heim.

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so good to see. reena, here is the deal. according to a uc davis poll, conducted last spring, one in five americans say the use of force or violence is sometimes justified to quote, advance an important political objective, and quote. what do you think about the incendiary kind of conversations that we're seeing coming out of folks a green playing into normalizing political violence? >> that figure tells me that people are frustrated, and they don't think that there's any way this moment, in this environment, this really really unbelievable moment in time where our political violence is somewhat normalized, it seems. people are just so frustrated, we don't know what to do. so to that i say, you know, we have to be solution oriented. marjorie taylor greene is not. this gop, unfortunately, michael, i mean other devoid of the desire to govern. they're devoid of solution. so do they have to do? they have to go to the low

hanging fruit, the stuff that just feels right today by day, there is no long term strategy here. that's what i said earlier, it's nonsensical. it's just no match up to a long term goal here. what i see is problematic is that the gop talks about religious freedom on one hand, yet on the other, they other americans like me, they look at my last name and assume i muslim, they tell me i'm indian when i'm american and born in southern virginia. this is an issue where i say, if you're this frustrated, talk about systemic reforms. i've had the great privilege of traveling the country for over a decade and talking to younger conservatives who have an appetite for things like you know, overturning citizens -- getting big money out of politics, ending gerrymandering, but one i think there are two things that younger conservatives can start to talk about that can get rid of people like marjorie taylor greene and that is grandchild voting, and introducing a term limit. that is something i turned about at cpac over decades ago. u.s. term limits convention that advocated for. that there are ways, it's a matter, one that's all it is. >> so, kelly, these attacks are

also directed at republicans who don't hold that far-right worldview. we've seen -- receive calls to his house directly threatening his wife and his newborn baby at that time. what could be, what more could be done, rather, to address these types of approaches in our politics to go after people that way? >> well, we have to call it out. i think we have to call it. even in my own career as a historian, i've gotten postcards with dust thrust on them, alarmist emails in response to an op-ed that i wrote, or in response to the book that i wrote. it's terrifying. i think that what we realize is that the republican party is playing the role of the bully, and it's trying to intimidate, it's trying to get people to stop speaking, or speaking out, or blowing the whistle, and i think that has to stop. i think, when we realize just how dangerous this could be, when we think of the fact that

real people could be hurt, and could be harmed, this is just unacceptable. what i'm afraid of is if this continues to snowball, if we don't really work hard to call this out and to say, this is unreasonably alarmist and you are wreaking havoc on american culture and society, then i think we're going to continue to see not just violent rhetoric, but violent acts. >> reena, kelly really puts her finger on a very important expect on this for me, that doesn't get a lot of attention because people think free speech comes into play and therefore, fill in the blank, but the concern that i have is the role that social media companies are playing in all of this, their platforms, and their private organizations i get that and understand that. but how should we, as a country, begin to address and deal with those platforms. are they to blame, are they, should they be held accountable for some of the spike in

violence if they're pushing the stuff out there every day with impunity? >> yeah, there are algorithms that are there to of course help these companies succeed and get people coming back for more. you know, i've always thought the individual responsibility is key here. one thing i really believe that we learned during the trump era is the intention around free speech. how do we talk about that, because when intention comes into play it makes a whole conversation so many. do these social media companies intend to get more profits with more eyes on their platforms, of course they do, does an individual person running out there and saying certain things intend to do one thing at the other, we don't know what's in the heart. that's why hear from people in the gop all the time. i say take it back to this, for now, for the foreseeable future, the republicans are going to run on demonizing the democrats. that is going to stick, we can't change, but what we can do is take some individual responsibility, i think we can look at people. look, i'm in my fourth decade of life almost, and i say i need to be careful in my use of certain things because it normalizes certain things in my

mind. so i encourage people, parents especially, white shell eight great to get your kids a smart phone with apps. don't let them on social media. when we know the affects of things, we can choose not to participate, we can push out a rhetoric that is more positive, and saying let's go for solutions, let's not to demonize a fellow american based on certain things about them. i think that's how we get to a better place. >> color, your historian, so you look at a time lapse that a lot of us don't necessarily see or get through. but that is your job, you focus on this. how should we, as a society, begin to deal with these officials who wink and nod at these acts of political violence, push this stuff out, these platforms, what is the historic perspective that we should bring to current and future conversations and dealing with this? >> i mean, it's scary to me because a lot of that rhetoric is so, not only encouraging

violence, but it's wholeheartedly on american. we know how to have disagreements, we know how to have to different sides and come together as adults, and find a compromise, and find ways to talk about things we disagree about. there's just a level of blatant disrespect, a level of disregard of basic humanity that i think, you know, sometimes disturbs me, quite frankly. i think about how the level of compromise and bipartisanship we had, just two, three decades ago, and it's sort of startling to see how we have become so divided as a country. i think that we don't have to keep repeating these things. we don't have to have a civil war. the civil war was not inevitable. all these real big moments in history, i say that they don't have to happen. what we have to work for is positive progressive change that benefits all people. until we get to that point, i think you're going to continue to see people pushing for more

extremist views. it leads to a path of destruction. >> kelly carter jackson, and reena shaw, thank you for taking the time for coming on. that does it for me, thanks for watching, ali pay for double, so i'll be back here and canceled morrow filling in for ali velshi in his new time slot, 10 am to noon eastern. stay right where you are, alex witt reports begins right now. >> and a very good day to all of you, from msnbc world headquarters here in new york. welcome everyone to alex witt reports. developing for you this hour, a new bombshell report could unravel republican efforts to prove the government has been weaponized against conservatives. a report from the democrats on the house judiciary committee alleges the first three witnesses to testify privately, before the gin joint lent committee, are not whistleblowers. instead, democrats say they