anywhere. about one of the things to speak to dr. camper's, it's a statement before about how the judgment in that law is that it's not the abortion, it is the medical necessity in a reasonable doctors -- reasonable medical assumption or opinion. like, who decides what is reasonable? we know that we have doctors out there who think that you should always do a surgery for ectopic pregnancy. we know there are people who think that a person should remain pregnant and hold on to not having chemotherapy until their past the second trimester. we know there are doctors who think that vaccines are wrong. we know there are doctors who think that they cause autism. we know that there are bad doctors out there. how do they decide what is reasonable medical judgment? >> this is continuing to be a complicated issue. you help me understand a lot better. robin, thank you for. that thank you for joining, us

doctor -- is a professor at ufc san francisco's collaborative research group. inventing new standards and reproductive, health a professor at advancing new standards of reproductive health. the author of no real choice, how culture and politics matter for reproductive autonomy. robbyn marty is the operations -- west alabama woman. center also the author of the new handbook for a post-roe america. i will discuss the latest on the debt ceiling standoff with democratic senator, chris coons of delaware. he says that defaulting would have a quote, catastrophic effect on the country and must be taken off the table. another hour of velshi begins right now. good morning, it's saturday may 20th, as the old saying goes, if i don't succeed, stop following the republican playbook. you would think that after just one bat election cycle, the gop would have regrouped and reassess its shortcomings so it could rebound. but it's been nearly seven years since the republicans

last truly significant win. donald trump's electoral college victory in 2016. and since, then the losses have kept piling up. a blue wave help democrats take back the house in 2018. two years later, joe biden took over the white house, and key victories in both of georgia senate races gave democrats control of that chamber as well. and although republicans took back the house last november, i predicted red wave never materialized. and the republicans delicate coalition was exposed by the bitter 15 round battle for the speakership last january, it continues to be warning signs for republicans in smaller elections as well. on tuesday, democrat, donna deacon, run the mayor's race in jacksonville, florida, a surprising victory and what was america's largest city with the republican mayor until now. it is a historic win, not only is she the first woman to be elected mayor of jacksonville, she is also only the second democrat to hold that position and 30 years. it is clear and understandable why republicans lost in these races, since trump's

presidential victory, the extremist win of the republican party has trafficked and hyperpartisan reddish -- across every level of american politics. they double in the so-called culture wars which are more accurately described as a tax on the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable and marginalized americans. these kinds of attacks energize some sort of base, but they are very divisive and often downright unpopular with the broader base of the american electorate. it is not most republicans, but because of the -- that party in this country's extremists hold sway on pivotal elections that can decide elections. that is most evident about what we're just talking. about the abortion issue. the 11 month since the supreme court overturned roe v. wade, republicans lost numerous races because they have not shifted their stance on an issue that we now have known for decades is popular with the american people. supporters of abortion rights remain vigilant yet republicans continue to push for draconian

measures to show cough access to abortion care services across the country. this, week people turned out to protest for abortion rights in nebraska, where a 12-week ban was folded into an anti-trans bill in that state. it was passed yesterday. in north carolina, protesters showed up on the capitol as republican super majorities of voted to override governor roy cooper's veto of the states own 12 week abortion ban. republicans in neighboring south carolina are still determined to push through an abortion ban. despite the fact that some of their own members thwarted an effort to do so for the third time, just a few weeks ago. then there is the weaponization subcommittee, chaired by ohio republican, jim jordan. they scheduled a hearing for this week that touted that it would feature fbi whistleblowers who had information about the agencies bias against conservatives. it sounds really interesting, but it turns out to be less interesting than advertised. two of the self-described whistleblowers where fbi agents who had their security clearances revoked because they undermined the agencies january

six investigations with baseless right-wing conspiracy theories about the insurrection. and that has all been happening on a national level. the extreme right wing of the gop, the chaos caucus is threatening to push the country into an historic default that would have devastating consequences for the united states and the global economy. even as the white house engages in discussions to avoid that possibility, with less than two weeks before the june 1st deadline, members of the chaos caucus are continuing to hold the american economy hostage. refusing to allow our debts to be paid, without a separate deal to cut america's spending. now, that is a valid argument. and there is a time and a place and a process for that argument. congress has the power to appropriate the budget for the federal government that does not involve bringing america to the brink of economic disaster. extremist republicans are a very loud and disproportionately influential minority who would like the rest of us to believe that there are actually part of what we used to think up as the

silent majority. but that is not the case. and the positions that they hold our untenable for the republican party and for the country as a whole. but they remain relevant and influential because of donald trump. the de facto leader of the chaos caucus who has given his stamp of approval on this extremist position over the last week. bragging that he was quote, able to kill roe v. wade. characterizing himself as a victim of, quote, the complete weaponization of justice and imploring republicans in all caps to, quote, not make a deal on the debt ceiling unless they get everything they want including the kitchen sink. i'm joined now by the senator, chris coons, of delaware. he's a member of the senate appropriations committee. the foreign relations judiciary and small business and entrepreneurship committees. senator, good to see you. >> thanks, great to be on with you this morning. although given that run, in terms of all the different issues that you laid out that we're confronted in congress, sometimes i wonder why i want to keep serving in the senate. given how difficult it is

dealing with this house majority. >> this is the kind of thing that causes people to not want to follow the news because it sounds like chaos. but in, fact this is the normal business of the house and the senate. you are on the appropriations committee, that is the process by which we fund the government and prior to that we had a budgeting process, and this is ongoing conversations about how much we should spend and whether we should raise revenue or lower spending, they are valid discussions and i'm sure yes but a lot of years having. they generally don't lead us to this point, where we may be about to default on our obligations. i just need to get from you why this is a serious as it is. >> well, first, ali, it is as serious as it is because the united states benefits from the fact that for the rest of the world, investing in our treasury instruments in the borrowing done by the u.s. government by our president department is viewed as the safest place to put their money. not just in the united states but for the rest of the world. that keeps our cost borrowing

low. we have never defaulted. and if two weeks from now we actually default, or even come close to defaulting, it will immediately raise the cost of burrowing for every american. not just the department of treasury. we -- credit card interest. your cost will go up immediately. janet yellen and other leaders in our economic sector, janet yellen, the secretary of the treasury, have predicted that full default would cost 8 million jobs throughout our economy into a recession and impact our standing in the world. ali, just this week on that appropriations committee, where i serve, we had the secretary of defense, secretary of state, secretary of commerce in front of our full committee. debating what we should be doing to make america stronger in the face of the chinese threat. the single worst thing we could do is default. it would confirm xi jinping's assessment that we have a

flawed and broken political system, that we can't solve our most basic challenges, and it would weaken us in the eyes of the rest of the world. so why would default be bad? it would hurt every american at home and abroad. >> thank you for that clarity, we don't have a gold standard. we use that expression, a lot through described the best of something. we don't have a real gold standard in america. we don't measure the amount of money we print against a store of gold, but one of the reasons that has work is because we've never defaulted. the american dollar and the ability to pay our debts is in fact the global gold standard. it is why you get less money for investing for buying american dollars than you do for any other currency because it is secure. the full faith and credit of the united states government backs that dollar, and once you put a crack in that. you may not be able to cover that crack again. >> that is, correct and ali, when i was serving in the senate early on, in 2011, we came very close to defaulting in a previous standoff, much

like this current one. and just coming close increased our borrowing cost by billions of dollars. so speaker mccarthy has to take default off the table. you are right, we have annual negotiations about how much to spend in our appropriations process, and several times over the last decade, we have had a federal government shutdown when we can't come to an agreement between the parties. that is bad enough to have the federal government shut down. that is something that has happened several times. but it's not catastrophic. default would be catastrophic. so i know our president is researching, considering, preparing for alternative paths. in the event that we can't get to an agreement, and the most important essential staff of our president is currently negotiating at the table with the congressman from louisiana, the speaker has chosen trying to get to an agreement. we have very little time. given how many votes it took

for the chaos caucus, as you call, them to confirm speaker mccarthy, i'm worried that if we don't have a reasonable responsible deal on the table and able to begin voting this coming week, we are going to miss this window and we are going to default. in that case we need to be prepared with an alternative. but my hope is that we will carve a deal that will get democrat and republican votes in the senate and house within the next two days. >> i just want to be clear to my viewers, there are three options, one, what you just described, getting a deal, -- groups, the lights just went out on senator coons. did we just lose senator coons? oh, there he. as >> i am still here. >> you are still with. us there's three, options the one you just, describe getting the, deal and the second option is what some democrats are putting forward, the concept of the discharge position, where enough people to sign it and it goes to the senate and it goes to the house and gets passed without mccarthy putting it there. but that would mean that a few republicans would have to come

over and say, we don't want the country to go to default, i think as we get closer to june 1st, that may happen. and of course, the third is the 14th amendment which says that u.s. deaths have to be paid. and there is some discussion around that. can you just handicap all of those for me? >> sure, so there is a provision in the 14th amendment in the fourth clause that says the public debts of the united states shall not be questioned. but that has never been tested as a constitutional basis for saying that we cannot default on our debt. the rest of that clause speaks to the united states government not being compelled to take on the debts of the former confederacy. or any deaths associated with the ending of slavery. so it is not clear whether it is directly on point. and this is something that legal scholars, like larry, tried and have researched and debated. it's unclear what the current supreme can serve -- conservative majority would do

with this. whether they would say it is a political question, and say it's not up to the supreme court, we're gonna leave it to the elected branches. or whether they would overturn it and say that the president overreached. that is a big risk to take and something the treasury secretary yellen has urged us not to try, because the consequences of throwing this issue into the supreme court might not be good. second discharge position, something that members of the house are working hard on. would allow a discharge to get around the speaker, it would require every democrat and a few republicans to vote on the floor to send a clean debt ceiling to us. also difficult. and getting a deal, also difficult. i would say all of these are difficult. there is a small group in the house majority caucus insisting that the bill they've already passed, which would slash spending on everything from veterans to health care to the environment to education, that

be their only position. that could not possibly pass in the senate. so we have three fairly difficult pathways here and not a lot of time. it is important that representatives of both parties here default is not an option and that we pursue a responsible deal. i think the path forward is through our appropriations process. and passing a clean debt ceiling. >> senator, good to see you as always. thank you for being. with us democratic senator, chris coons of delaware. i still ahead on velshi, the u.s. as it will now allow the transfer of f-16 fighter jets to ukraine. and allow ukrainian pilots to fly. that i will speak with the former u.s. ambassador to ukraine about this critical change in the u.s. policy and what it means mean for the future of the war. and today's meeting at the velshi banned book club is coming up, the club's motto, is reading as resistance. this week we saw another kind of resistance. parents, authors, one of the biggest publishers came together to file a lawsuit against the school district that has been snatching folks off the shelves. i'll be joined by two others

involved in the suit. you will definitely recognize. them george m. johnson, author of all boys aren't blue. and ashley perez, author of out of darkness. we feature both of them on the velshi banned book club. calls to get rid of their books have only intensified since then. johnson sums up why. >> it's simple, my book tells the truth. my book tells the truth about the black experience. it tells the truth about the queer experience and it tells the truth about the black spirit queer experience. spirit queer experience. i love what i'm seeing here. that's some well-coached chicken. you done, peyton? the subway series just keeps gettin' better. one prilosec otc each morning blocks heartburn all day and all night. prilosec otc reduces excess acid for 24 hours, blocking heartburn before it starts. one pill a day. 24 hours. zero heartburn.

we really don't want people to think of feeding food like ours is spoiling their dogs. good, real food is simple. it looks like food, it smells like food, it's what dogs are supposed to be eating. ♪ when you really need to sleep. you reach for the really good stuff. supposed to be eating. zzzquil ultra helps you sleep better and longer when you need it most. its non-habit forming and powered by the makers of nyquil.

(woman) with verizon's new myplan, i get exactly what i want. and only pay for what i need. (man) now i'm in charge... ...of my plan. (vo) introducing myplan from verizon. you get exactly what you want and only pay for what you need. and it all starts at just $30. it's your verizon. (vo) sail through the heart of historic cities and unforgettable scenery with viking. unpack once, and get closer to iconic landmarks, local life, and cultural treasures.

because when you experience europe on a viking longship, you'll spend less time getting there and more time being there. viking. exploring the world in comfort. your best defense against erosion and cavities is strong enamel- nothing beats it. new pronamel active shield actively shields the enamel to defend against erosion and cavities. i think that this product is a gamechanger for my patients- it really works. we moved out of the city so our little sophie gamechanger for my patients- could appreciate nature. but then he got us t-mobile home internet. i was just trying to improve our signal, so some of the trees had to go. i might've taken it a step too far. (chainsaw revs) (tree crashes) (chainsaw continues) (daughter screams) let's pretend for a second that you didn't let down your entire family. what would that reality look like? well i guess i would've gotten us xfinity... and we'd have a better view. do you need mulch? let's go now to japan, where what, we have a ton of mulch.

ukrainian president for -- that he plans to join talks at the g7 summit. he met with the prime ministers of the united kingdom, india and italy earlier today, tomorrow he's expected to address the summit at large. focusing on the russian war against his country. and zelenskyy's trip to japan comes on the heels of the u.s.

and its allies saying that they will allow the transfer of american made f-16 fighter jets to ukraine. it's not clear which countries will provide the plains, or when, or how many. but the white house says america will help training ukrainian pilots on them, which is a reversal of policy, after the u.s. held off from complying with ukraine's request for f-16s over the last year. joining me now from hiroshima, nbc news chief white house correspondent, kristen welker. kristen, something that has happened, the ban has been lifted. i'm not talk to you for such a long time, i'm glad to see you, my old friend. let's talk about this potential transfer of the f-16s, which is a big reversal in american policy. a lot of people had been arguing for them in ukraine and around the world. but joe biden and the americans have sort of said, not so fast. >> you're absolutely right, ali, first of all, it's so good to be back with you. it's always good to be with you. look, i think a couple of factors led to this reversal. one, there was growing pressure

amongst european allies. i also think the u.s. calculation changed a bit, in understanding of what was needed on the ground in ukraine. remember, president biden had said consistently, he didn't think ukraine needed these f-16 fighter jets. no, this shift in part, because they don't necessarily see the fighter jets as part of the short term strategy, but potentially, a part of a long term strategy. it's an acknowledgment that this conflict could stretch on into the next year. if not longer. the u.s. had consistently been opposed for a range of additional reasons, ali, these are costly, they're difficult to train pilots, and perhaps one of the biggest reasons in concerns that sending these f-16 fighter jets could actually provoke russia. could be seen by russia as an escalation. the kremlin is responding, saying, the jets are, quote, a colossal risk. peter alexander and i had a chance to interview national security council spokesperson, john kirby, on today.

he responded, take a listen. >> we have had multiple conversations with ukrainians. about the risk of escalation here. nobody wants to see world war iii. and we have made it clear, we're not going to encourage ukraine to strike inside russian territory. >> ali, i want to go back to a really good point that you made, which is that we had seen the president resist this for months. we know president zelenskyy's been asking for these jets for over a year now. this is a bit of a pattern for the united states. they said they're not going to send weaponry and then they change their mind. we saw this most recently with the abrams tanks. for example. the question is, what message does this send? does it send a message that if you ask long enough, if you ask forceful enough, ultimately, the u.s. will comply. as you said, president zelenskyy is here in person. that is hugely significant, last year, he was addressing the leaders virtually. he'll be here in person,

undoubtedly, asking for more aid and more military support. even as he praises this significant move. elie? >> let me ask you about this, that's an interesting question. the west seems to require some proof of concept every now and then. so, what happened on monday in kyiv, 18 hypersonic missiles, which we were 100 and sure they were intercept-able missiles, all 18 intercepted, later in the week. 20, 30 missiles. 49 were intercepted, overnight, 18 drones going into kyiv, all 18 intercepted. so, part of it is this whole, okay, what can you do with what we give you, so, perhaps we'll give you more, maybe? >> yeah, absolutely. i think that's right. again, it goes to this long term versus short term calculations, ali. everyone knows that these jets are not going to get there tomorrow. could take months, if not longer, particularly when you factor in the training. we are seeing this stepped up assault by russia.

we also know that ukraine starting its spring counteroffensive, so, the u.s. wants to help bolster ukraine. they're gonna do that, in part, with president biden also announcing a new 375 million dollar aid package that will also include new weapons, ali? >> kristen, thank you as always. my friend, great to see you. kristen welker, our chief white house correspondent. >> you do, thankfully. >> right after the break, i'll speak with a former united states ambassador to ukraine, marie yovanovitch on whether the additional support from the u.s. will turn the tide of this deadly war in ukraine. ukraine. eh, pretty good! (whistles) yeek. not cryin', are ya? let's tighten that. (fabric ripping) ooh. - wait, wh- wh- what was that? - huh? what, that? no, don't worry about that. here we go. - asking the right question can greatly impact your future. - are, are you qualified to do this? - what? - especially when it comes to your finances. - yeehaw! - do you have a question? - are you a certified financial planner™? - yes. i'm a cfp® professional. - cfp® professionals are committed to acting in your best interest. that's why it's gotta be a cfp®.

find your cfp® professional at letsmakeaplan.org. whoa. okay. easy does it. we switched to liberty mutual and saved $652. they customize your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. with the money we saved, we thought we'd try electric unicycles. whoa! careful, babe! saving was definitely easier. hey babe, i think i got it! it's actually... whooooa! ok, show-off! help! oh! only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ (cheering) only pay for what you need. imagine you're doing something you love. rsv could cut it short. rsv is a contagious virus that usually causes mild symptoms, but can cause more severe infections that may lead to hospitalizations, in adults 60 and older - and adults with certain underlying conditions, like copd, asthma, or congestive heart failure. talk to your doctor and visit cutshortrsv.com.

>> woman: why did we choose safelite? >> vo: for us, driving around is the only way we can get our baby to sleep, so when our windshield cracked, we needed it fixed right. we went to safelite.com. there's no one else we'd trust. their experts replaced our windshield, and recalibrated our car's advanced safety system. they focus on our safety... so we can focus on this little guy. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ welcome to my digestive system. it's pretty calm in here with align probiotic. you see... your gut has good and bad bacteria. and when you get off balance, you may feel it. the bloating, the gas - but align helps me trust my gut again. plus, its recommended by doctors nearly 2x more than any other probiotic brand. just one a day naturally helps promote a balanced gut. and soothe occasional bloating gas and discomfort. align probiotic.

welcome to an align gut.

the subway series is elevating your favorite subs. why mess with the sweet onion teriyaki, chuck? man, this aint messin', it's perfectin'! with marinated chicken and double cheese. sweet and savory... ...kinda like you and me, chuck. bye, peyton. try the refreshed favorites at subway today. (woman) with verizon's new myplan, i get exactly what i want. and only pay for what i need. (man) now i'm in charge... ...of my plan. (vo) introducing myplan from verizon. you get exactly what you want and only pay for what you need. and it all starts at just $30. it's your verizon. before the break, we were discussing ukrainian president, lotteries lynskey's arrival in hiroshima, japan. where he's been meeting with world leaders at the g7 summit. this comes as a senior biden administration official tells the united -- united states and its allies will allow the transfer of f-16 fighter jets to ukraine, which

paired with the american supplied patriot missile defense systems, could help ukraine achieve a long desired goal of closing the skies. or, potentially, opening the skies to ukrainian air travel and jets. it all continues to be dearly needed, as russia has been launching daily aerial accounts on cities that are on the frontlines, including the southern port city of odessa in the capital city of kyiv. joining me now, the former u that estates ambassador to ukraine, marie yovanovitch, she's a former united states ambassador to armenia, kurdistan, a senior fellow at the russia and eurasia program and -- for international peace. and the author of the important book, lessons from the edge. a member, ambassador, good to see you again. i haven't seen you since we were both together in kyiv. so, thank you for being with us this morning. >> nice to be on with you, elie. >> i have to say, as somebody who has worked in diplomatic circles, putting aside all the stuff that you and i'm about to talk about about the ukraine war, the g7 used to be the g8, russia was part of it.

it's not part of it because it invaded ukraine in 2014, and took over crimea. so, vlad ripon is not there, volodymyr zelenskyy is. there's just some kind of poetic justice to the fact that volodymyr zelenskyy is sitting around with the leaders of the world and glenn reporting is not there. >> you are so right. not so many years ago, we would been watching putin descend those airplane stairs. now, this year, zelenskyy. this doesn't just happen. it happens because ukraine, led by president zelenskyy, is having diplomacy on steroids. traveling on the world. i think i heard that he's traveled 10,000 miles in the last week alone. not only visiting european allies, but also the middle east, parts of asia now. so, where he's meeting with brazil and india as well. so, i think we can see the results of that very effective campaign. >> --

was telling me, probably or ago, where he said, things that sound like they're impossible now will be in the rearview mirror pretty soon. and that now seems to be coming to pass. probably, with the f-16s. my producer was just saying in the break, ever talk to kristen welker about, that the initial resistance to provide f-16s an l willingness to do so. because ukraine has met certain milestones, or is using this western weaponry to great effect. my producer said something, maybe this shouldn't be like a video game, we have to reach the next level in order to win. what's your take? >> yeah, i think there should be a plan that is known. a plan, an american plan, our ukrainian plan. that calls for ukrainian victory in this war. in russia's defeat. and, you know, along with that comes the support from united states and allies and others to help ukraine. so, it isn't, a guessing game. we need to be very clear with

the american people, what the stakes are. this is a war about ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial territory. it's also about much more. it's about global security. that's what volodymyr zelenskyy told us. back in december, when he addressed congress. he said, investing, insisting ukraine, is not a charity, it's investing a global security. that's exactly right. >> so, joe biden in 20 years may be remembered as the u.s. president who brought russia to its knees and reunited nato. but you were americas main person in ukraine. you are the face of america to ukraine. until a former united states president decided to interfere in ukraine's issues, in a way that was inappropriate. i only bring this up because that could happen again. there is not a guarantee that america's support for both nato in ukraine will sustain if joe biden is not the president of united states in 2024. >> yeah, that's absolutely

right. we heard the former president make that explicit about a week ago. so, i think we need to think, all americans, need to think really clearly about what the choices are going for in our domestic elections. not only for what it means for america, internally. but also our foreign policy. and our national security. >> tell me, just because you get a bill to articulate this better than anyone, -- was here a little while ago, former congresswoman, who said this is a national security imperative for america. for a lot of americans, ukraine was not couldn't find on a map. let's be fair. and that's why, i understand that. it did occur to a lot of people. why is this a national security imperative that ukraine does prevail? >> because if ukraine, god forbid, does not prevail, russia will keep on going. we've seen that as a pattern of what blood rapid does. over the last 20 years, he attacked georgia, to parts of georgia in 2008. started with ukraine in 2014, 2050.

there was a cease fire called, which was not very successful, but it was called. and so, he kept a low level war going, until he thought the moment was right to start a total war on ukraine. in february of 2022. and if he is successful, by being able to keep territories he's illegally taken over the last 15 months, if he successful in anyway, he is going to do the same thing again. he's going to weigh, he's gonna -- regroup, he's gonna rest. and when he thinks the worst is looking away, he is going to strike again. certainly, at ukraine. but perhaps in other countries as well. if you look at what he has said over the last couple of years, and certainly what is written as well, so, we know that the instability will continue. moreover, i think other leaders are also watching what is unfolding in ukraine. and will russia get away with it? is the west, is the united states, standing up for our allies? for our interest? for our values?

if we don't, if ukraine falls, i think you can expect more of the same from other leaders. we have demonstrated that we are not serious enough about standing our ground. >> that business about expecting more from other leaders is important. autocracy around the world is not shrinking. ambassador, always a treat to see, thank you so much, marie yovanovitch form united states ambassador to ukraine during trump and obama administrations. the velshi banned book club's motorway, we're talking a two familiar faces, one of our first ever authors in the club, george m. johnson the author of all boys aren't blue. and ashley ho perez, the author of out of darkness. johnson and perez's book have been challenged again and again across the nation. they, along with p.e.n. america and penguin random house, took matters into their own hands, and filed federal lawsuit against the school district in florida. the last time perez was on, velshi banned book club, back in july of last year, i asked her about the nature of book beginning, her answer still rings true. >> the fact that people get

worked up about what young people are reading has to do with fear and control. no one in the school board meetings is talking about the cell phones that are in their kids pockets. they have immediate access to so much content. and what i think is important about literature, and has been in the case of all the books you mentioned and many other works of literature, is the opportunities it creates for young people. hydrates better than the expensive stuff i don't live here, so i'm taking this and whatever's in the back. it's already sold in the us. but i'm not taking any chances. the uk's #1 skincare has crossed the pond. one prilosec otc each morning blocks heartburn all day and all night. prilosec otc reduces excess acid for 24 hours, blocking heartburn before it starts. one pill a day. 24 hours. zero heartburn. (woman) with verizon's new myplan, i get exactly what i want.

blocking heartburn before it starts. and only pay for what i need. (man) now i'm in charge... ...of my plan. (vo) introducing myplan from verizon. you get exactly what you want and only pay for what you need. and it all starts at just $30. it's your verizon. as americans, there's one thing we can all agree on. the promise of our constitution and the hope that liberty and justice is for all people. but here's the truth. attacks on our constitutional rights, yours and mine are greater than they've ever been. the right for all to vote. reproductive rights. the rights of immigrant families. the right to equal justice for black, brown and lgbtq+ folks. the time to act to protect our rights is now. that's why i'm hoping you'll join me today in supporting the american civil liberties union. it's easy to make a difference. just call or go online now and become an aclu guardian of liberty. all it takes is just $19 a month.

only $0.63 a day. your monthly support will make you part of the movement to protect the rights of all people, including the fundamental right to vote. states are passing laws that would suppress the right to vote. we are going backwards. but the aclu can't do this important work without the support of people like you. you can help ensure liberty and justice for all and make sure that every vote is counted. so please call the aclu now or go to my aclu.org and join us. when you use your credit card, you'll receive this special we the people t-shirt and much more. to show you're a part of the movement to protect the rights guaranteed to all of us by the us constitution. we protect everyone's rights, the freedom of religion, the freedom of expression, racial justice, lgbtq rights, the rights of the disabled. we are here for everyone. it is more important than ever to take a stand.

so please join us today. because we the people means all the people, including you. so call now or go online to my aclu.org to become a guardian of liberty. do you struggle with occasional nerve aches in your hands or feet? try nervive nerve relief from the world's number one nerve care company. nervive contains ala to relieve nerve aches, and b-complex vitamins to fortify healthy nerves. try nervive. and, try nervive pain relieving roll-on. let's talk about -- county in florida, western panhandle, it's largely republican, it's top between alabama on the west in the gulf of mexico on the south. it's home to about 220,000 people, there are numerous libraries across the county, and a total of 69 schools. it has removed or challenged at least 160 books at every single

one of them. this county, specifically in florida, more broadly, has become a national symbol for ultraconservative efforts to ban books. florida state in a state level approach to literary censorship, this past year alone, the governor ron desantis has passed three laws aimed at limiting educational material, including access to books. the laws in their guidelines are insidiously vague, with potential for serious repercussions for educators who violate them, including up to five years in prison. florida and it struck one and state laws are not just a sign of dark days to come, they are a sign of dark days. they're already here. members of the velshi banned book club will recognize many of the titles on their list of books targeted by the county school district. they are traditional classics, contemporary masterpieces, books that have contributed to the very fabric of this society in our country, including two that would featured on the velshi banned book club. all boys aren't blue, by george m. johnson, and out of darkness, by ashley ho perez.

been a little while since we featured those two books on the velshi banned book club, so i will remind you, all boys aren't blue, is a more comprised of a series of personal essays following johnson's life from childhood to adulthood. both a celebration and a hard look at the realities of what it means to be black and queer in america. out of darkness is fiction, with an historical backdrop. a story of first love between a black boy in a mexican american girl. out of darkness explores scenes of family dynamics, racism, abuse and sexual assault. the books are very different. riding styles, authors, genres. yet, both books grapple with the shattering realities of sexual assault, the searing pain of racism, the complicated feelings of discovering who you love, targeted again and again and again for their equally stark looks at these painfully real topics. our model here at the velshi banned book club's reading as resistance. opening the pages of johnson and perez his books, studying the words, understanding the

metaphors, seeing yourself in the protagonists. is a form of resistance. now, we're seeing a new form of resistance. against florida's literary censorship. the publishing giant, penguin random house, free speech organization pin america, some american parents -- including johnson and perez came together this week and filed a federal lawsuit against florida's escambia county school district courts book bans. alleging that the district and its school board violated the first amendment, by removing these books from shelves. the lawsuit asserts, in part, quote, ensuring that students have access to books on a wide range of topics and expressing a diversity of viewpoints supports a core function of public education, for preparing students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens. in contravention of these basic principles, the lawsuit alleges, escambia county has set up to exclude certain ideas from their school libraries, by removing or restricting books, some of which have been on the shelves for years, even decades.

right after the break, i'm joined by two of the authors, to look at these crucial, books returned to library shelves, for soonest have rightful access, all boys are blue, author george m. johnson, out of darkness author ashley ho perez, do not miss this conversation. online. so you can get back to your monster to-do list. really? get a quote at progressivecommercial.com. at t-mobile, your business will save over $1000 bucks. what are you going to do with it? i could use a new sign. with t-mobile for business, save more than $1000 bucks versus verizon. and get the new samsung galaxy s23 plus free with no trade-in required. [♪♪] free with no if you have diabetes, it's important to have confidence in the nutritional drink you choose. try boost glucose control®. it's clinically shown to help manage blood sugar levels and contains high quality protein to help manage hunger and support muscle health. try boost® today. meet the outdoorsies. wayfair's outdoor deal experts.

the gardener... goes to wayfair for gardening basics that... aren't so basic. the entertainer... her place might look expensive. don't let it fool you. and me, the lounger... i get just what i need with a tap on the wayfair app. get outdoorsy for way less at wayfair. ♪ wayfair, you've got just what i need ♪ so, you found the no7 then... it's amazing! hydrates better than the expensive stuff i don't live here, so i'm taking this and whatever's in the back. it's already sold in the us. but i'm not taking any chances. the uk's #1 skincare has crossed the pond. when moderate to severe ulcerative colitis keeps flaring, put it in check with rinvoq, a once-daily pill. when uc got unpredictable, i got rapid symptom relief with rinvoq. and left bathroom urgency behind. check. when uc got in my way, i got lasting, steroid-free remission with rinvoq. check.

and when my gastro saw damage, rinvoq helped visibly repair the colon lining. check. rapid symptom relief. lasting, steroid-free remission. and a chance to visibly repair the colon lining. check. check. and check. 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 1 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. put uc in check and keep it there, with rinvoq. ask your gastro about rinvoq. and learn how abbvie could help you save. when it comes to your hair, ingredients matter. that's why herbal essences is packed with naturally derived plant ingredients you love, and none of the stuff you don't. our sulfate-free collections smell incredible...

♪ and leave your hair touchably soft and smooth. ♪ herbal essences shingles. some describe it as an intense burning sensation or an unbearable itch. this painful, blistering rash can disrupt your life for weeks. it could make your workday feel impossible. the virus that causes shingles is likely already inside of you. if you're 50 years or older, ask your doctor or pharmacist about shingles. before the break, i told you about the federal law should bring -- against a florida district, for numerous removing numerous books for sexual identity and

sexual assault. tournament are two others who are plaintiffs in that suit. both featured on the velshi banned book club. before, george m. johnson, author of all boys are blue. one of our first ever featured books, at ashley hope perez, is the author of out of darkness, welcome back to both of you. it's such a treat, it was auditory to talk to you the first time, it's a treat to talk to the second time. but always for the wrong reasons. i would love to one day celebrate the velshi banned book club in the rearview mirror. and we consider and talk about how, remember back in the 20 twenties, we needed a banned book club? but alas, we do. and then let me start with you, use of sync statistically articulated this for us when you are on. about the fact that this is fear and control. but it's running amok. >> yes, it absolutely is. it's so exciting to finally be getting to take a stand for young people, not just a stand against the book bans. and i think that, in addition to how powerfully incorrectly

you characterized our works, one of the things that we're trying to draw attention to, over and over, even as our books deal with these incredibly painful issues, they are bridges to hope and redemption as well. for our characters, for our lives that we portray, but also, for readers. i think that one of the things that these folks in florida want to stop, is young people seeing queer lives, black lives, non dominant lives as possible. and we are here to make sure that kids do see those lives as possible. >> i would have thought that you were writing would've done the job, your both very popular on the circuit. you've been interviewed by a lot of people, it's a lot of bragging rights for me. george, when people say, oh, i just saw this book, by ashley hope perez or george m. johnson, every talk to them, it's good. tell me, now, how this came to be. you georgia, long with several

other authors, some parents, pan america, free speech organization that we all rely on a great deal, random house, they've all sued the escambia county school district and school board, tell me how this came about, and why? and sort of how you got involved? >> yeah, i mean, this all came about because enough was enough. at some point, it was like, wait a minute. now, we're in school districts, where you have people just basically submitting these lists of 100 books, 200 bucks, 300 books. people have not read the books. people who don't have kids, in the counties. people who don't even live in the counties. and this is something that we start to notice, that was happening. at first, this was a quote unquote, parental rights issue. which we know it's not. that's like the straw man argument. but then we started to notice, there were people who had no kids, no to this fight, that we're also being able to get books banned. and then i think the second

thing was, we were starting to notice, even when some of our books, like my book, was actually being saved by the school boards, the superintendent would overrule it. or some other government official would overrule the practice that the school board was following it to keep the books on the shelves. so, all of us decided to come together, this one particular county, it was like, the perfect storm. this list of 150 30 books, that were like, submitted. the more clear policies and procedures that were in place that were not followed. then, i believe, even when i spoke with him -- msnbc the other day, the school board members just, like we were just following desantis's law. yeah, but following that law, that unconstitutional, still makes this unstuck unconstitutional. so, that is how this all really came to be. because, in this particular county, it was like the perfect storm of we don't want these books, and we're just not gonna follow any type of policy or

procedure as we try to get rid of your books. and as we noticed it, this became like the perfect place for us to set the president, and to band together to say that we're not gonna allow this to continue to happen. >> that's amazing. what is successful? look to you was? the end result of this? what happens after this, this feels like one stop in what is turned out to be quite a journey for you both. >> yeah, so, we are looking at escambia, we care about readers, right there in that county. but the hope is to send a signal to district across the country, to do the right thing for learners, i think over and over, school boards have gotten disoriented to lost their bearings and hair started listening to really loud voices. instead of putting learners first. so, what we're really looking forward, a change of conduct, by these boards another boards across the country, so that young people can read the books

that matter to them. have the difficult conversations they're ready for. and make a better world. and create spaces for everyone to matter and belong. and i think that, as far as the rule of penguin random house, having a strong message from the industry that says, we're not going to let these conversations in these works of literature be silenced, is really powerful in pushing back on the chilling effect that has had in publishing. where editors and publishers are weary of books that deal with difficult topics. >> i think this alliance of people who are involved in this lawsuit makes this very interesting. not just penguin random house, but washington post columnist greg sergeant published an op-ed, title desantis's book burners face a tough new faux, angry moms with lawyers. he writes, in one of the big political surprises of 2023, pockets of stiff resistance have sprung up to defend teachers, textbooks, novels and

libraries against censorship efforts across the country. this liberal counter vocalization is substantially less organized than the rights culture warring, but it is great untapped potential for democrats. i know, george, we're not gonna make this a partisan issue, but everybody should be against brooklyn. no matter what happens. but it is interesting, there is everything from a grassroots component to this thing, to authors, to publishers. >> yeah, also, literally trusting the way they word of it. i have spoken publicly about the fact that the silence of democrats, during, this has also been kind of like a dog whistle to what is also happening. so, i've also been very critical of the republicans. and these groups that are trying to ban the books. also, the other side, for some reason, does not see what is actually happening as this is a national fight. as we continue to go through this, you know, we did have to

mobilize together. i think that people look at, you know, these small groups, the small pockets that are within a lot of counties, specifically, the moms for liberty, they have over hundred 15,000 members. and again, they just generate these lists, and they sent him out, and they look well organized. but i think for us, we want to also show that we are just as organized. we are just as strong. and that we will also defend books and book banning. i also think when you look at the school board meetings, you see that the support is overwhelming. for those who do not want books to be banned. it is usually just the loudest melt in the room that are getting these books removed. that the smartest melts in the room that are able to protect the books. that's also why we wanted to show ourselves as a unit, because, it becomes a possibility battle across the country, for others who may want to file lawsuits or for others who may want to start to

go to school board meetings to be able to protect the books. >> possibility model, i love that. since we last had you both on, the velshi banned book club, one thing i like about, it my own little figure or, to anybody banning a, book people watch the, show that they go by your book. we often hear that people see a spike in their book sales right after. however, in both of your cases, the calls to be on both of your books have actually intensified since the last time i talk to you. tell me about that, ashley, what does it mean to you? >> i, mean it just means more lost access for the readers, we care about the most. the one that we're waiting for. i love middle class women, buying my books, that's great. everyone, you, anyone. but i'm writing for my former students. i'm writing to make sure that those shelves are full of a wide range of representations of youth experiences. that honor the complexity and challenge of their lives and give them hope. and a sense of agency. so, i'm not going to stop, until i see those readers

getting a hand on the books, and unfortunately, we're seeing the bands intensify and be enabled by things like desantis's legislation. even though it's not supposed to apply to libraries. which should have even broader discretion for young people to read what they want. >> i hope that these interviews, this interview, and the ones i do with you last year, become archived somewhere and our antiques that we all look back and say, what was this band book nonsense? but for the moment, we're in, and i appreciate both being in it. it's going to see about again, thank you for being with me, george m. johnson is the author of all boys aren't blue, and ashley hope perez is the author of out of darkness. that does it for me, thank you for watching, we'll be back here tomorrow morning, 10 am, to noon eastern, do not forget velshi is available as a podcast, subscribe and listen for free, wherever you get your podcast, it's not the same as the tv, show in the podcast i wear that vest. stay where we were, alex reports begins right after this break. hi break. his is fernando, ♪ ♪ searching savings with a click. ♪ online or in-store,

for your health and your wallet. 85% of scripts are under ten dollars. cvs pharmacy. healthier happens together. life... doesn't stop for diabetes. be ready for every moment, with glucerna. it's the number one doctor recommended brand that is scientifically designed to help manage your blood sugar. live every moment. glucerna. the chase ink business premier card is made for people like sam who make...? ...everyday products... ...designed smarter. like a smart coffee grinder - that orders fresh beans for you. oh, genius! for more breakthroughs like that... ...i need a breakthrough card... like ours! with 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more... plus unlimited 2% cash back on all other purchases! and with greater spending potential, sam can keep making smart ideas...

...a brilliant reality! the ink business premier card from chase for business. make more of what's yours. ♪ did you know 80% of women are struggling with hair damage? dryness and frizz that keeps coming back, could be damaged hair that can't retain moisture. you need pantene's miracle rescue deep conditioner. it's filled with pro-vitamins to help hair lock in moisture, visibly repairing six months of damage in just one use, with no weigh-down.

guaranteed, or your money back. for hair that looks healthy and stays healthy. if you know, you know it's pantene. (woman) with verizon's new myplan, i get exactly what i want. for hair that looks healthy and only pay for what i need. (man) now i'm in charge... ...of my plan. (vo) introducing myplan from verizon. you get exactly what you want and only pay for what you need. and it all starts at just $30. it's your verizon. millions have made the switch from the big three to the best kept secret in wireless: xfinity mobile. that means millions are saving hundreds a year with the fastest mobile service. and now, get the best price for two lines of unlimited. just $30 per line. there are millions of happy campers out there. and this is the perfect time to join them... save hundreds a year over t-mobile, at&t and verizon. and get the best price for 2 lines of unlimted. good day to all of you from visit xfinitymobile.com today.

msnbc headquarters here in new york. welcome everyone to alex witt reports. we begin with new reaction to president biden's plan to send american f-16 fighter jets to ukraine. president zelenskyy flights into the meeting in japan today for face to face meetings on the sidelines. he has already met with leaders of the uk, france, italy and india. french president, macron says

that his