good morning. it's sunday, march 5th. i'm michael steele filling in this morning for my friend ali velshi. well, a party is over. cpac, the annual gathering for concerned -- is officially wrapped up for the year. this year was more a mother conference for donald trump and his allies. many key republican figures and possible 2024 presidential contenders didn't even bother to show up. we have more from cnn. >> the scene at cpac last night made it very clear despite nikki haley already jumping into the presidential race and others in the party considering

challenges, it will be no easy feat to crack many conservative activists support. >> last night, donald trump grabbed the harness of the maga base. >> i'm thrilled to be back at cpac. >> all type of activists he's relying on to catapult him back into the white house. >> we're going to see this battle through to ultimate victory. we are going to make america great again. >> at cpac, the annual conservative gatherings, a wild scene of republican enthusiasts and a crowd overwhelmingly supportive of trump's 2024 bid. >> donald trump. >> i'm a maga guy through and through. >> there is no stopping him. >> what are people coming to buy? >> it's like 30 to 1 trump over desantis. >> an arena most other possible contenders opted to avoid except for nikki haley, the only major declare challenge to trump. >> if you're tired of losing, put your trust in a new generation. >> haley heckled by several on her way out.

a straw poll taken at cpac shows attendees favoring trouble for florida governor ron desantis by more than 40 points. desantis didn't attend cpac and is yet to announce the presidential run. >> why should -- >> he can be if he wants to be. >> why should folks not choose him if he makes the case of being a new generation? >> i think i've done something that no one else has been able to do. >> the conference here is filled with trump allies including former brazilian president jair bolsonaro. bolsonaro made on substantiated claims of a stolen election in his home country. his supporters attacked the capitol on january. he gave us his first on camera interview with the u.s. tv outlet since losing his reelection bid. would you urge others around the world to resist the election denialism that we have seen play out in america? but we want transparency, he said. we want to respect the will of the people. former president trump also affirmed last night that he would not drop out of the

presidential race. if you were to be indicted any of the multiple restoration surrounding him, including those related to his own election denial claims. >> thanks to nbc's vaughn hillyard. joining me now is lucy caldwell. she previously served as the campaign manager for former public investment joe walsh. this was against donald trump. she is also a board advisor for the three new democracy initiatives. also that is molly fast, a special correspondent for vanity fair and host of the podcast fast politics. welcome to you both. molly, i know you have been tracking and paying attention to cpac. you have been tweeting about it. even having a little fun along the way. what was your take away? what is your assessment of these last few days? >> i think cpac, like with donald trump, you ignore them at your own peril, right? cpac is the same thing. there are lots of photos of

empty chairs. there are a lot of people saying, well, they don't matter anymore. the truth is, we saw a lot of ideas and we've seen this historically floating at cpac. i have sat there and watched them try out different things that you see throughout the year. for example, this year, i thought there was a really soft authoritarian. we saw with bolsonaro, we saw -- i watched the panel where we saw one of the average citizens saying that hungary was a shining city on the -- if that isn't scary, i don't know what it is. >> lucy, during the gaggle with reporters before a speech, trump was asked if he can -- even if he gets indicted. he said, quote, he wouldn't even think about leaving the race. that would certainly be an unprecedented space for us to be in. what do you take and make of that, particularly when you put that up against the idea that

he is not going to support the nominee if it's not him? >> first of, all the credit to molly for braving cpac this year. i was saying right before the segment that the last time was in 2020. i actually sat with molly as she buried and patiently set to. asked for trump, whether trump would be indicted, i think i'm not the first person to say this. an indictment almost assures that he will stay in. this is how this guy operates. he is victim, victim, victim. he's telling his colt that he's fighting the good fight, that he is this political victim and warrior. will he stay in if he is though he may be on the the american people, we saw from cpac that he is very much in with his base. it's maga, maga, maga.

>> molly, you had trump last night waxing poetically for about two hours. he was spewing out a whole lot of stuff. in the course of the, it's not only mentioning any of the possibilities of 2024 contenders. someone take that as avoidance. others would take that as just ignoring. how do you assess any pressure at all but he might feel from competition which might enter this race and how he would handle it? >> >> here's the thing about trump. trump has this very here is the thing about sticky trump, he has his base. all the people who are these sticky face. republican thought leaders all of the people who are like, we can who are these republican leaders just switch to say we can switch to desantis, they seem to forget that desantis. trump is trump. he's not they forget trump's a person who has ever trump, taken the high road he's never taking the ever. the high road ever. the world in which trump says, okay, world in which trump says desantis has desantis won this primary fair and square and i'm going has won the primary to go variants square and i will go off and play golf, off and play golf it seems very slim. i'm more seems slim. the more likely likely scenario is that scenario i think is the trump says trump says desantis has stolen this desantis has from a, i stolen this from may

and i will run as a third party will -- candidate. i don't think trump necessarily needs to be the candidates to be in danger. he is in danger whether or not he winds to these republicans. of, course the good news for democrats is that he will not go quietly, i think he's quite happy to destroy the party on his way out. i mean, i think that is what we are seeing, that's what we will continue to see from them. >> you know, molly makes an interesting point about how trump sort of assesses these big names. there's also how the big names assess trump. it was very clear that by their absence, a number of them think it was better for them to skip cpac this year, as opposed to being prepared, engaged. given your background, and as you noted, having a tendency that in the past, do you think that was a good decision, a

right decision? sure they always get out in front of ron desantis, mike pence, go in front, in the lions den and you know, tried to convince them? >> i think that ron desantis [laughter] and mike pence and others have a very different incentive, right? but mike pence knows that walking into cpac, he is not welcome their. if nikki haley is a person trying to regain relevance, you know, he is probably better speaking, better speaking opportunities. maybe she wants a book deal? i understand the incentives of these people, that is why someone like nikki haley gets in, goes to cpac, gets on the stage and is booed at. guess what? none of us were talking about nikki haley two months ago. now, we are talking about her. politicians are creighton, what else is new? i think in terms of absence or not absence from c back, it is slightly complicated for the

fact that cpac itself is a conference, it is embroiled in scandal. not only because of its coziness with people like viktor orban and authoritarians, but also because its leader, matt schlapp has been accused of some really credit -- terrible stuff, that's not been addressed. cpac is messy. of course for ron desantis, i am happy to be wrong about this. i do not think ron desantis will even get into this race. i think he is enjoying the limelight. it is good for someone like ron desantis to speculate about whether he will run. i do not think that he will run. i think he's probably choosing his opportunities carefully, curating them to keep his options open without having to make a commitment one way or the other. >> molly, one quick last one to you on that point. ron desantis has played very well in his own backyard, for sure. but florida is not america, despite the fact that a lot of floridians think it is, it is not. so how do you see a ron desantis, to lucy's point, translating outside of florida?

particularly, given some of the policies he is pushing? >> we are seeing a lot of people all in on ron desantis even though he has not announced, right? we saw murdaugh, on him. we have seen a lot of donors, pretty excited about him. i mean again, he is really untested, nationally. he is kind of, you know, he lost a debate to charlie chris. that is pretty amazing stuff. i do not know, look. i think a lot of these people in the republican party are panicking. because they know that trump has lost them elections, we know trump will not go quietly. i think they are sort of hoping that they can find another candidate around. >> lucy caldwell, and molly, thank you for starting us off this morning, thank you. while much of the political focus this weekend is on cpac, president biden will spend his sunday in southern alabama to

commemorate 58 years since bloody sunday. coming up, a deep dive into the arc of history from summer and the civil rights struggle, to the current battle for voting rights. but first, we will go live to summer, where the city is preparing for the presidents visit in just a few hours. just a few hours. ♪ i like to move it, move it ♪ ♪ you like to... move it ♪ we're reinventing our network. ♪ ♪ ♪ fast. reliable. perfectly orchestrated. the united states postal service. detect this: living with hiv, i learned i can stay undetectable with fewer medicines. that's why i switched to dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen.

detect this: no other complete hiv pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable than dovato. detect this: most hiv pills contain 3 or 4 medicines. dovato is as effective with just 2. research shows people who take hiv treatment as prescribed and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. don't take dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients, or if you take dofetilide. taking dovato with dofetilide can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. hepatitis b can become harder to treat while on dovato. don't stop dovato without talking to your doctor, as your hepatitis b may worsen or become life-threatening. serious or life-threatening side effects can occur, including allergic reactions, lactic acid buildup, and liver problems. if you have a rash or other allergic reaction symptoms, stop dovato and get medical help right away. tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you are, may be, or plan to be pregnant. dovato may harm your unborn baby. use effective birth control while on dovato.

do not breastfeed while taking dovato. most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. detect this: i stay undetectable with fewer medicines. ask your doctor about switching to dovato. next on behind the series... that performance was legendary. they just piled it on. roast beef, ham, oven roasted turkey. all on the subway club. three peat - that's great. three meat - that's epic. the subway series. the greatest menu of all time. my most important kitchen tool? my brain. so i choose neuriva plus. unlike some others, neuriva plus is a multitasker supporting 6 key indicators of brain health. to help keep me sharp. neuriva: think bigger. >> right now, president joe

biden is getting ready to travel to selma, alabama to participate in the city's commemoration, 58 years since the bloody sunday attack on civil rights demonstrators, at that time. on march 7th, 1965, civil rights icons, including dr. martin luther king, and 25-year-old john louis, let some 600 demonstrators on a peaceful walk across salma's bridge, protesting for the right to vote. as they tried to cross, they were met with violence. white state troopers hit them

with tear gas, and beat them with whips and lily clubs. that day became a pivotal moment in the fight for voting rights, and those indelible images of bloody sunday changes nation. it galvanized public support for the passage of the rights act of 1965. joining me now live from selma is nbc's antonia hylton. good to see you. the president has selected to arrive in selma in a few hours. what can we expect today? >> good morning. that is right, we expect president biden to arrive at 3:30, eastern time. and secret service is already on the ground, setting up for today's events. it will look like biden will address the community here in some of, during a connection between what happened here, 58 years ago, and the continued struggle across the country, in many communities like this one, here in selma, for access to the ballot box. you know, according to the

brennan center, across this country, more than half of the states here are looking at bills, about 150 of them which could further restrict voting rights for communities. particularly, in historic, black communities like the one i am in right now. this is an issue of urgency. people here i have spoken to said they want to hear the president talk about this, recommit from the administration to fight, to push lawmakers, to pass for example the john lewis voting rights act. but also, this is a pivotal moment here in selma. this community was devastated just six weeks ago by a tornado, that has left many people grieving in many ways, with extreme loss, waiting for additional federal dollars. i got to speak with one woman who came here from ekalaka, not a long drive, to come and be part of this. she's taking part in the march before. i spoke to were about what this moment represents, take a listen. >> right now, across the

country, in various states, there are about 150 different bills which would restrict voting rights, happening at this moment. are you surprised ever by what happened in 2023, when you think back to what happened here 58 years ago, how do you feel about the current moment? >> i feel like there's been a lot of changes, but there is still work to do. and it takes time for work. i think the president is doing what he can, and others in washington, but there is more work to do. >> we expect the president to address voting rights and to take a look at some of the disaster here in selma, and likely give some of that personal angle, that personal touch here as he knows this community has suffered so much in recent weeks. he will also take part in this march. we expect in the next couple of hours, for people to pour into some of from all kinds of parts of the state, but also from

around the country to take part in this march. you know, 58 years, almost 60 years. also, the relationship so many people have with for example, john lewis. you mentioned he was just 25 years old at the time. people coming here to remember his legacy, do remember his work as a congressman. so it is that national conversation, the urgency around voting rights, but also the personal connection here to selma, that we expect the president to engage in on the ground. >> all right, nbc's antonia hylton in selma, thank you very much. 58 years after bloody sunday, and america still can't get it right when it comes to votin rights, and access to the ballot. still to come, the record number of attempts of restrictive voting rights, it might shock you. then again, it might not. , it might not we'll have you saying... am i a big deal? because it's a big deal when you get a big deal. wayfair deals so big that you might get a big head.

because with a sale this big, you can get your dream sofa for half the price. shop wayfair's spring savings now through march 6th! ♪ wayfair you've got just what i need ♪ ♪♪ we all have a purpose in life - a “why.” maybe it's perfecting that special place that you want to keep in the family... ...or passing down the family business... ...or giving back to the places that inspire you. no matter your purpose, at pnc private bank, we will work with you every step of the way to help you achieve it. so let us focus on the how. just tell us - what's your why? ♪♪

♪ ♪ ♪♪ voltaren. the joy of movement. ♪♪ when cold symptoms keep you up, try vicks nyquil severe. just one dose starts to relieve 9 of your worst cold and flu symptoms, to help take you from 9 to none. for max-strength nighttime relief, nyquil severe. >> this week, a whole new slate

of anti-trans bills passed in

states across the country. tennessee and mississippi both passed bills that ban gender affirming care for minors. at least 15 more bills attacking trans rights and the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual americans were introduced this weekend, two dozen for anti-trans bills moved through state legislatures as well. these bills target health care, bathroom access, the ability for trans kids to play sports, i.d. laws and same sex marriage. now, up until recently, most of the rhetoric coming from service has focused on apparent concerns for children. fear that children are rushing into, or even being pushed into gender affirming care. but now, state legislatures are coming for adult health care as well. this week, oklahoma's house republicans approved a bill that would prohibit any facility that receives public funds from providing gender affirming care to anyone of any age. the bill would also block insurance from covering gender

affirming care, a sister bill would make it a felony for any physician in oklahoma to provide gender affirming care for anybody younger than 26. yet, another bill in tennessee would block medicated from covering gender affirming care as well. these bills are an outright attack on the rights of trans americans. also, they could have terrible physical health consequences as well, as they may force trans people to transition and safely, if they are unable to access physician care and medication. for more on this, i'm joined by the ordering journalist, amarah jones. she is founder of trans slash media, chair of the transgender law center, and host of the trends lash podcast. welcome, america. so good to see you. over the past few weeks, more legislation has been introduced which would prohibit gender affirming care, as i mentioned. but not only for minors, not just for minors, but for adults as well. a lot of this rhetoric has

focused on children. are you surprised to see this transition, now focusing on adults? >> no. as we explored in our other podcast, the anti-trans hate machine, which is an investigative series, we uncovered the fact that this is now a major pillar of the republican party. that's the organization that you know, the charity foundation, the alliance of freedom, and so many others. they have worked for almost a decade to push this issue to the center of the republican party. that is why it is not a surprise that it is being expanded right now. and you know, even in the washington post article about the fact that adults are now a focus of this legislation, it was quoted, the american principles project. they were the ones who, in 2018, this focus group, this particular issue, to say that the way into undermining the

idea of trans rights in america would be to start with children and then to move on to adults. sadly, i'm not surprised by any of this and we will just see more. >> so imara, help us put some focus on what animates a lot of this conversation, a lot of these bills. because these bills involve a lot of fearmongering, a lot of this information about children being allowed to make sudden, impulsive and irreversible medical decisions about their gender. so help us understand what these narratives are getting wrong about this process, and what these children are seeing, understanding about themselves. >> well michael, as you know, a key way to undermine the rights of people is to engage, an intense campaign of disinformation. so, you are right to target, let's unpack a lot of what is behind this. you know, the fact is that by the time that a trans child has

been able to begin to engage and transition, any type of transition services, equal access to medicare, most of the major, interventions, they are reserved until after 16 and even after 18. this is according to guidance from the american medical association, the american academy of pediatrics, the american psychological association, the american immigrant society. there are nearly four decades of research on the best way for this to happen. and just like an abortion, the fact is that what is happening is what they want to do is to insert the government in the conversation which is between parents and doctors, therapists and a child. and only when there is a consensus, is there a movement towards any type of engagement in these services, in the later teenage years. and no surgeries until well after that. i mean, this is disinformation. this is disinformation, designed to create doubt, and

that doubt makes way for fear which can be exploited, for any religious, ideological or political purpose. that is what is going on. >> a lot of people kind of come at this, and they might not be as connected into the conversation as many are. they may see this as something, nothing more than just a limitation of bathroom use, or just some restrictions for gender, queer kids. do you speak about the true impact that these bills are having, not just in terms of access to medical care, but the emotional, mental and developmental sides of this conversation, but oftentimes gets lost? >> i know that most people do not understand us. but the bottom line is that trans nurse israel. there are four decades of research, and even longer, even since the recorded history of humankind, we have been recorded, or our brains and bodies are at alignment. and what happens through a

process of self discovery and a lot of work and then help from others, including medical professionals. and that this alignment gets aligned. so what will happen, and what does happen when that process is disrupted by a government, legislators who do not understand this, is that suicides increase. that self harm increases. self marginalization increases. and we know from experience, in addition to the individual self harm, that this is harming families. what we are doing through these bills, we are creating political refugees in the united states. where the parents of trans kids all across the country have to determine where and how they can flee to other places in the united states in order to protect their children. that is the impact of these bills. the impact of these bills is having harm, harmful and families, and it is highly

harmful to the fabric that holds our communities and our society together. >> imara jones, i appreciate you coming in, bringing some knowledge. thank you so much. more than 7 million americans rely on insulin to survive. yet, the average cost of the medicine is so absurdly high, that many people with diabetes actually ration their insulin. next, i will talk to the deputy director of the national economic council about the need to make lifesaving drugs accessible, and affordable for everyone. le for everyone [alarm] >> instructor: veer right. [ringing] >> instructor: and slow down. >> tech: so when he got a cracked windshield, he turned to safelite. we're the experts at replacing glass and recalibrating your vehicle's camera, so automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning work properly to get you back on the road safely. >> instructor: and that means a lot! >> tech: schedule now. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ inner voice: (kombucha brewer): when i started my new kombucha business...

... i thought there would be a lot more kombucha... ...and a lot less business. inner voice (graphic designer): as a new small business owner... ...i've learned that trying to be the “cool” boss... ...is a lot harder when you're actually the “stressed” boss. inner voice (furniture maker): i know everything about my new furniture business. well, everything except... ...the whole “business” part. not anymore. with quickbooks, you can confidently manage your business. new business? no problem. yeah. success starts with intuit quickbooks. moderate to severe eczema still disrupts my skin. despite treatment it disrupts my skin with itch. it disrupts my skin with rash. but now, i can disrupt eczema with rinvoq. rinvoq is not a steroid, topical, or injection. it's one pill, once a day. many taking rinvoq saw clear or almost-clear skin while some saw up to 100% clear skin. and, they felt dramatic and fast itch relief some as early as 2 days. that's rinvoq relief. rinvoq can lower your ability to fight infections, including tb.

serious infections and blood clots, some fatal, cancers including lymphoma and skin cancer, death, heart attack, stroke, and tears in the stomach or intestines occurred. people 50 and older with at least one heart disease risk factor have higher risks. don't take if allergic to rinvoq, as serious reactions can occur. tell your doctor if you are or may become pregnant. disrupt the itch and rash of eczema. talk to your doctor about rinvoq. learn how abbvie can help you save. we're here today to set the record straight about dupuytren's contracture. surgery is not your only treatment option. people may think their contracture has to be severe to be treated, but it doesn't. visit findahandspecialist.com today to get started. a ballet studio, an architecture firm...

and homemade barbeque sauce. they're called 'small businesses.' but to the people who build them there's nothing 'small' about them. that's why at t-mobile for business... you'll save more than $1,000 versus verizon. and with price lock guarantee, we'll never raise your rate plan. so you can keep your focus on toe-turns and making sure the sauce is extra spicy. at t-mobile, there are no small businesses. ♪♪ >> pharmaceutical giant eli lilly, announced wednesday they were kept out of pocket cost of insulin at $35 a month. diabetes affects almost one in ten americans, and more than 7 million americans rely on daily insulin to survive. for many people, insulin is extremely expensive. a 2021 study based on a cdc survey found nearly one in five

u.s. adults with diabetes resorted to rationing their insulin to save money. according to the american diabetes association, people with type one diabetes need, on average, 2 to 3 vials per month. for the uninsured and those with poor coverage, a month's worth of insulin can cost, on average, $1,000 or more. before the drug was discovered in the early 19 twenties, people with diabetes did not live long. there was not much doctors could do for them except encourage a strict diet. and even in, the prognosis for most diabetic people was not good. so one insulin was discovered, they got an american pant, and so before a grand total of get this, $3. $1 for each of the inventors. that is it. they knew it was going to save lives, and they wanted to be sure it was accessible. but, as patents have expired, and the drug has been tweaked and improved, three major

companies have driven the price of a vial of insulin through the roof. in the last 20 years alone, the average price of insulin has increased more than 200%. some insulin product prices are increasing by 1000% in the same timeframe. so, what is behind eli lilly's sudden change of heart? well, it is not just altruism. first, there has been increasing public and political outrage. second, there have been policy shifts at state and federal levels. for example, last year, provision in the inflation reduction act attempted to cap the cost $35. republicans blocked the provision for anyone not on medicaid. finally, eli lilly gladly wanting to get ahead of looming market competition. in the last few months, a non profit generic drugmaker announced it will begin producing insulin for no more than $30 per vial. then, california announced a plan to produce its own insulin, kept at $30 per mile as well.

whatever the motive, the potential for this decision to spur a race to the bottom for insulin prices could bring us back to the inventors intent, that this lifesaving drug, this is life saving drug is accessible for all who need it. joining me now is -- the deputy director of the national economic council. thank you for being here, but not. really good to see you, man. so, where do you foresee drug companies flowing, moving, going after eli lilly made this announcement? >> well, as you laid out very nicely at the top of the segment, this will make a massive difference in the lives of millions of people. i think it is really a direct result of the presidents use of the pulpit, remember for years now over one year the president has been calling out the fact that the price of insulin is way higher than the cost it

takes to manufacture it. a vial of insulin costs about $10 for the manufacturers to make. as he pointed out, they turn around, and could charge hundreds, even thousands of dollars a month for people to use the drugs. people end up rationing it. tragically, people end up losing their lives because they don't use the insulin they need because of the cost. so the president has been banking out those facts now for a one year. we are glad to see a company like eli lilly voluntarily go ahead and impose this 35-dollar cap for people of all ages. we would encourage the other major manufacturers of insulin to follow their lead, do the same thing. remember, as you pointed out, we have been pushing, democrats have been pushing to impose his 35 dollar cap by law. we had that in the bill that went to the house of representatives. senate republicans stripped it out, limited it only two people on medicare. we will come back at this and make sure every single american, by law gives a 35-dollar cap. >> so let's pick up on that point, bharat. because you got lawmakers,

physicians, certainly, patients have been calling for this capping of insulin for years. so why, why is this happening now? why does momentum seem to be aligning on the good side of health for people? >> well as you pointed out, i think the public pressure led by the president of the united states has now been mounting for months and months. a lot of these manufacturers are starting to feel that push. i want to point out, i know we are focused on insulin, this is not the only area we have seen companies respond to the presidents spotlighting of improper, and reasonable corporate behavior, and falling in line. we have seen it in the family seat in fees, that american in frontier airlines have charged people, just to sit next to their kids. they voluntarily gotten rid of those fees, follow the president, calling them out in the state of the union. what you see here is a concerted effort by the president of the united states to go to bat for american consumers, to take on improper,

unreasonable corporate behavior. some corporations are following suit. i want to point out, none of this is a substitute for getting a lot in place. corporations can change their mind, leadership changes. the only foolproof thing here is a law that says the insulin is kept at $35 a month. democrats are fighting for that law, we hope republicans join us. >> so, help me understand why this is so hard. you know, the inventors got $3. and you rightly noted, it costs $10 to manufacture a vile. why is it so hard for people, for these companies to put on the market these lifesaving drugs. not just insulin, there are other drugs which fall into this, i don't think insulin is the exception to this in terms of the impact that it has. why is our health community so at odds, the business community so at odds, the health community, to get these in the

hands into americans who need them? >> well, corporations feel like their obligation is to maximize the amount of profits they make every quarter. and if they can chart next dollar, an extra $100 for lifesaving medications, they probably will take advantage of that opportunity. it is on us. it is on the people, the political process to rein that kind of behavior in. we are glad to see that some corporations like eli lilly are voluntarily changing these unreasonable practices, lowering costs for american families. like i said, we encourage other companies that manufacture insulin to follow their lead, do the same thing. but we have been fighting, democrats have been fighting to take on a ridiculous cost of prescription drugs, for the last two years under the presidents leadership. remember, for the first time, democrats got into law a requirement that medicare be able to negotiate drug prices. so starting soon, every year,

medicare programs will negotiate the cost of ten different drugs, every year, bringing down the cost to some critical prescription drugs. that'll make a real difference in the lives of seniors overtime. we need to deliver not only that provision, but make sure we cut prescription drug costs for everyone who relies on them, not just seniors. the eli lilly move is a big step, but we want to deliver more through the legal process. >> all right, bharat ramamurti, think you so much. really appreciate it. up next, remembering bloody sunday and why the best way to do so might be for congress to pass the john lewis voting rights act. voting rights act there's the philly, the monster, the boss. if i hadn't seen it in person, i wouldn't have believed it. eating is believing steph. the subway series. try subway's tastiest menu upgrade yet. (psst psst) ahhhh... with flonase, allergies don't have to be scary. spray flonase sensimist daily for non-drowsy,

long lasting relief in a scent-free, gentle mist. (psst psst) flonase. all good.

i brought in ensure max protein with 30 grams of protein. those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks. uhhhh... here, i'll take that. [woo hoo!] ensure max protein, with 30 grams of protein,

one gram of sugar and nutrients for immune health. >> on the morning of sunday, march 7th, 1965, around 600 people met in selma, alabama, to begin a 54 mile march to montgomery. it was a peaceful demonstration against the systemic racism

that engulfed the jim crow south, and a call to action for voting rights legislation which would ensure african americans could not be denied the right to vote. but, their piece was met with violence. police and local citizens attacked marchers attempting to cross the edmund pettus bridge in selma. including the late congressman, john lewis, whose skull was cracked by troopers. the barbaric images filled newspapers and were broadcast on television. and that is how the day came to be known as bloody sunday. that was 58 years ago. and after all of this time, the issue of equal access to voting is still unresolved. the 2023 legislative sessions have begun in all but two states. and state lawmakers have introduced a record number of restrictive voting laws. according to the brennan center for justice, since the end of january, state legislators have pre-filed or introduced 150 restrictive voting laws which

would make it harder for eligible americans to vote, and 27 election interference bills have been introduced as well. one glimmer of hope that we see is lawmakers in at least 34 states have proposed 274 bills which would expand voting access. restrictive voting laws often disproportionately impact voters of color, currently there are 150 attempts and counting, to make it even worse. joining me now is judith brown the ends of civil rights attorney, and the executive director of the advancement projects national office. also with me is when the wiser, as president for the democracy program at the brennan center for justice. welcome to you both. so, wendy. this is a record number of restrictive bills which have been introduced so far. and we are just in march! so what can we expect for the rest of this legislative ear,

and the rest of the calendar year? >> well, it is really concerning, these bills only introduced in january, more have been introduced since then. there is a real surprising risk that a lot of these will pass. in georgia, we just saw a bill to ban all drop a boxes in that state, go barreling through the legislator. so i think that this will be a continuing push in about half of the country. we have seen in recent years, half of the country over the past couple of years, continuously put in place barrier over barrier, which makes it harder to vote. and in the other states, we now see efforts to make it easier to vote, to improve the election administration process. >> so, you have this sort of

balancing act, i guess, judith, in some respect, to note wendy's last point, you have states trying to put more open minded laws, with respect to voting. but many of these bills are likely to become law, a lot of these that ones are. what happens when they do? how do they change the landscape for voters? >> well, michael, it becomes more difficult for voters to participate in our democracy. today, i am here in selma, alabama with the civil rights community, because we know that our work is not done. because what is happening is a power grab, an attack on our democracy. and it is really a triple threat to our democracy. first, people have gerrymandered in the states to maintain their power for decades to come. then, what they do is they pass these restrictive laws to make

it harder to vote. then, they impact the words of judges who are eviscerating our voting rights protections. so this triple threat to our democracy is something that we should be really concerned about. because we are on the eve of another election, 2024. we know january 6th was an indicator of how far they will go to maintain their power. so we will see these restrictive laws passing, because we know we turned out in record numbers in 2020, and they just want it to be harder for us to turnout in 2024. >> wendy, judith makes a number of interesting points there in terms of how this landscape is evolving. largely, it is because republican legislators, especially, have really figured out how to capitalize on the loopholes we see in a lot of these state laws, these voting laws. how do you counter a strategy like that? what is the way to stopgap

against filling those loopholes with these types of laws? >> well, that is a great question. it is getting increasingly hard, for the reason that judith said. that the courts, the u.s. supreme court in particular has been systematically cutting back on, eviscerating protections for voting rights in american law. there are two very important cases pending before the supreme court right now. one, which could really further threaten the remaining provisions of the federal voting rights act, the historic law which was passed in the wake of the attack in selma, alabama. and we are seeing an attempt to just completely avis rate the accomplishments of those brave americans, in the voting rights act. and another case which will actually make it harder for state courts and state constitutions to rein in abuses

of power by these state legislatures. and we are seeing so many of them. they are having a negative impact, despite the fact that we are seeing historic voter turnout, it is not the same for all voters. we are seeing an increase in the racial turnout gap. for example, in georgia, our turnout went up for several points for white voters. they went down for black voters, despite the fact that they were prominent african american candidates on the ballot for statewide office in both political parties. so we are seeing real concerning impacts. we are trying to study how much of an impact this is having. but, this is not, this is not a welcoming environment right now for voters in much of the country. and to other things to note, there is an increasing climate of political violence. and, we see not just january six, but harassing of election

workers, people making it easier, more seamless for people to vote and participate in the elections process. we even see state legislatures making it easier for partisans to metal in election administration, and vote counting processes. this event is quite significant right now. >> and, judith, it is interesting, what wendy just said now, particularly with respect to how this is impacting black and brown voters. what is your message to those voters? how do they guard themselves against this system, being set up to deny them their access to the ballot box, particularly as we talk about commemorating the crossing of the edmund pettus bridge, and all that went into securing this right to vote, what should these black and brown voters themselves be prepared to do? >> first of all, we need to

know that these tactics, while they seem like, and this is what the supreme court says, you are getting an equal opportunity to vote, we are taking job boxes from everyone. but we know who that impacts the most, we know where the long lines are, where drop boxes are held, right? so we know that it is not fair. that we have to jump over higher barriers, because we are black and brown voters, because we are stepping into our power. here is the thing, we have to stay the course. we know that the demographics of this country are changing. we know that young people are seeing themselves in solidarity with one another, and that the work we have to do is to continue to push on congress, for the voting rights advancement act, named after john lewis, the biden administration has increased opportunities for voter registration. let's make sure we register to vote, and that we turn out in record numbers. because it is only a matter of time before this democracy is

inclusive. we cannot ignore the numbers if we show up and we vote. >> judith brown pianos, and when the wiser. i thank you both for this important conversation. so, cpac has wrapped up with the republican party's de facto leader closing up the conference last night, with a keynote speech. up next, donald trump's message to america. spoiler alert -- it is bleak and super weird! i mean, like, weird! another hour of velshi starts, after a quick break. after a quick break. whether you like the flavor of cinnamon bun after sunset. or prefer to wake up to a little eggs and bacon. day or night, it's always time for crepes. for a limited time, buy one, get one free with five flavors that are delicious any time of day. only from ihop. download the app and earn

free food with every order. (woman) oh. oh! hi there. you're jonathan, right? the 995 plan!nd earn yes, from colonial penn. your 995 plan fits my budget just right. excuse me? aren't you jonathan from tv, that 995 plan? yes, from colonial penn. i love your lifetime rate lock. that's what sold me. she thinks you're jonathan, with the 995 plan. -are you? -yes, from colonial penn. we were concerned we couldn't get coverage, but it was easy with the 995 plan. -thank you. -you're welcome. i'm jonathan for colonial penn life insurance company. this guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance plan is our #1 most popular plan. it's loaded with guarantees. if you're age 50 to 85, $9.95 a month buys whole life insurance with guaranteed acceptance. you cannot be turned down for any health reason. there are no health questions and no medical exam. and here's another guarantee you can count on:

guaranteed lifetime coverage. your insurance can never be cancelled. just pay your premiums. guaranteed lifetime rate lock. your rate can never increase. pardon me, i'm curious. how can i learn more about this popular 995 plan? it's easy. just call the toll-free number for free information. (soft music) ♪ ♪♪ allergies don't have to be scary. (screaming) defeat allergy headaches fast with new flonase headache and allergy relief! two pills relieve allergy headache pain? and the congestion that causes it! flonase headache and allergy relief.

psst! psst! all good! in order for small businesses to thrive, flonase headache and allergy relief. they need to be smart... efficient... agile... and that's never been more important than it is right now. so for a limited time, comcast business is introducing small business savings. call now to get powerful internet for just $39 a month, with no contract, and a money back guarantee. all on the largest, fastest, reliable network. from the company that powers more businesses than anyone else. call and start saving today. good morning it is sunday, comcast business. powering possibilities.

march 5th it is 11 am in the east it him in the last i am michael still filling in this morning from my friend, ali velshi. donald trump made his grand return to the cpac stage last night to close out this year's conference. predictably he came a speech that depicted america and the bleak's terms possible and prepaid himself as the only person that can save the country. >> this is the final battle. they know it, i know it, you know, it everybody knows! this is it! either they win or we win. if they win, we no longer have a country. in 2016 i declare and i am your voice. today i add,