that president obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets well iran north korea the middle east peace process all among the many challenges that the u.s. president will have on his plate in twenty eighteen at home investigations into alleged links between russia and trump's campaign also remain open our washington correspondent carson phenomena sent us this report on what lies ahead in u.s. politics this year. there is little dolls who will dominate the headlines in the united states this year once again donald trump like him or not the president has up and it's washington's way of doing business we broke every record it's the largest i always say the most massive but it's the largest tax cut in the history of our country tax reform might be trump's only big legislative achievement so far but the president has used his many powers to change the u.s. for years to come the environment consumer rights immigration foreign relations trade and the judiciary have all been affected donald trump has even changed the way journalism works these days this is arguably the mos

north korea. small rocket man or something like that and certainly certain hostility towards iran but concretely what has president trump did aside slat slapping north korea part of iran leadership with more sanctions we've seen sanctions being you know thrown around from the united states for many many years perhaps these are stronger sanctions than before but sanctions through art has not worked that worked in curtailing or in downsizing korea's north korea's nuclear. program nor did it in containing iran in the region so really lots of talk on the part of trump but no strategy until today i still can't don't figure can't figure out what is the strategy to contain iran and what is a strategy to undo north korea's nuclear program because we hear all the words and we hear sometimes when we read the twitters of the tweets of course but in the end of the day as i said there is no clear strategy and certainly there's no actionable strategy because strategies needs alliances and they need long term bringing various people together on the same table eventually but we see none of that and then the day. pre

iran hasays, contracted out its nuclear weapons development program to north korea while it is technicallyank the iran -- opening the iran nuclear agreement provisions. it's doing everything it's not supposed to do with north korea. you were at one point being considered for fbi director. is there a position you would like now? sen. lieberman: that was a terrible surprise. i'm very happy doing what i'm doing. more time with the family, i'm practicing law part-time, i'm on . couple of corporate boards if a president asks you to serve, you have a responsibility to think about it seriously. i did at that time. that would be my answer. i'm not yearning for anything in the federal government. vonnie: the michael wolff book, has it changed your perception of the job the president is doing? sen. lieberman: i take the book with a grain of salt, frankly. i didn't know much about michael wolff. now, the book is startling -- i haven't read it, but the reports in the media -- let me hear more about michael wolff. he doesn't have a reputation for being the most responsible journalist around. he tends t

we also need to examine our response to international challenges like iran and north korea, as well as the dangerous state of u.s.-russia relations. we must not unnecessarily convert significant diplomatic challenges into security crises as seems to be happening today with iran and north korea. we will post a version of these remarks, a longer version of these are marks that n.t.i. but today, i'm just going to start a conversation that we will be having with john and with you with five broad messages, and then a few remarks on the issues du jour, iran, and north korea. so these five points i'd like to make -- first, the combination of advances in technology, tensions between nations, terrorism and cyber dangers, must challenge traditional thinking about nuclear weapons policies, the risk of nuclear weapons use, the configuration and deployment of our forces and the priorities of our investments. maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable deterrent is necessary in today's world but is not sufficient. the risks of miscalculation should be at the forefront of our thinking, and an important

most of us in congress, when it comes to our adversaries, russia, iran, north korea, would say slap thembviously we're talking about meddling in the election, so that's not what north korea is accused of or iran, it's russia. and so it's just sometimes confusing for the american public to try to understand why the president isn't using the full force of the white house to put sanctions. >> there's a lot of things going on on the world stage. when it comes to north korea, we need pressure -- >> yeah, what about russia? >> right now north korea is the biggest threat we have to world security. whether it's china or whether it's russia, there's a reason that rocket man is in the position he's in. >> you're okay with deflecting to north korea and not focussing on russia? >> north korea is the bigger threat and i would trust secretary tillerson and our president to do what's best to keep our country safe and strong at the same time. >> congressman collins, thank you very much. >> good to be here. >> chris? >> this is a very provocative question, how this administration deals with russia or ref

rex tillerson talking about iran north korea and syria they haven't mentioned russia being on the agenda. there will be security analyst bridge does so there is some merit in what the general said. there is something of course to what the general actually says and that is that first of all. the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment inequality that quitman is at a pitifully low level and so therefore you have to have some sympathy perhaps for this man if you forgive me if i'm wrong but it's about money it's not just russia of course we're talking about north korea or iran or the other bogeyman that are used for this notwithstanding that i mean it's very interesting that we hear that the russian threat today is actually not thousands of miles away but on the doorstep of europe actually the reason for that is because russia has moved its because nature of course has moved much much closer over the last twenty years towards the borders of russia so it's a slightly ironic thing to say i think. finally this hour it

apparently trying to trying to do with this is what their policy they believe is about now also iran and north korea also on the list of the bad guys but they have been there for a while now and so they are just keeping their sort of a placeholder places really so this is this is what is doctrine in short this is what it is about so many explosive statements made there by mattis let's get more analysis now and bring in our guest without joins live by jennifer breeden an attorney specializing in foreign policy. thank you for joining us on r.c. international now what do you make of the new defense strategy that's been outlined by james mattis in the past hour or so and what kind of consequence is the on tests apace. well i mean a lot here you know i think this shows first of all this shows again a lack of understanding of just the foreign structure that many people in the u.s. government have including general mattis and lack of what's going on the threats of the world i mean keep in mind this statement came where he's saying basically that the war on terrorism or terrorism itself is no longer a great

morning with new questions about the stability of two of the scariest countries on the planet, iran and north korea. in iran, things seem to be getting worse as protests get bigger and bigger. and in north korea, the situation might actually be improving. beginning in south korea where the leadership is offering to start new talks one week from today. an attempt to capitalize on kim jong-un's suggestion that 2018 could bring north and south korea closer together. nbc's kelly cobila is in south korea. how big of a deal is this? >> this is a huge deal. these two countries haven't sat down for high-level talks in over two years. 2015 was the last time they met. it didn't go particularly well. here's the proposal. south korea is saying that the two sides should meet in the demille temilitarized zone next. they would meet in a place called truce village. not the official name of course. but sort of the nickname that it goes by now. the topic of discussion, the olympics. the logistics behind sending north korean athletes to south korea. the symbolism behind that. keeping in mind of course that these are

rex tillerson talking about iran north korea and syria they haven't mentioned russia being on the agenda. security analyst. there is some more the general said. there is something of course to what the general actually says and that is that first of all. the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment in the quality of that quitman is at a picture from a low level and so therefore you have to have some sympathy perhaps for this man if you forgive me if i'm wrong but it's about money it's not just russia of course we're talking about north korea or iran or the other bogeyman that are used for there is not withstanding that i mean it's very interesting that we hear that the russian threat today is actually not thousands of miles away but on the doorstep of europe actually the reason for that is because russia has moved its because nature of course has moved much much closer over the last twenty years towards the borders of russia so it's a slightly ironic thing to say i think. by finally it does turn out that the nort

rex tillerson talking about iran north korea and syria they haven't mentioned russia being on the agenda. security analyst charles she bridge does believe there is some truth to deter to the general speech saying the u.k. is armed forces are underfunded there is something of course to what the general actually says and that is that first of all. the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment and according to that quitman is at a pitifully low level and so therefore you have to have some sympathy perhaps for this man if you forgive me if i'm wrong but it's about money it's not just russia of course we're talking about north korea or iran or the other bogeyman that are used for this notwithstanding that i mean it's very interesting that we hear that the russian threat today is actually not thousands of miles away but on the doorstep of europe actually did reason for that is because russia has moved it's because nato of course has moved much much closer over the last twenty years towards the borders of russia so it's

let's note the difference between iran and north korea. table government without nuclear weapons. north korea is unstable with nuclear weapons. that's a very significant difference. the reason we have that difference is because we have a nuclear deal with iran that caused iran to give up its new orleans. >> laura: obama hung those people out to dry. i want to stay on north korea for a moment. i think there is something else going on with these tweets back and forth. i don't think it's just firing off a tweet about north korea. do you? >> the president made it clear the only solution to north korea is denuclearization, no new orleans. oo nuclear weapons. since there is zero chance of that, it requires dramatic action by china. >> laura: china is cheating. >> if you leave north korea with nuclear weapons or look at military force, that option has to be on the table. the president needs to not tweet about, but move forces to the region. the only way to get china and north korea to take this potential use of military force seriously is make it

brown that he basically rolled on this we leave from obsession to obsession from russia china iran north korea. across but iran is the longest obsession that has been going on for thirty eight here. so when you are obsessed about something you. judge. it what's going on that iran is a complicated country there are different groups basically and some of these groups are demanding things which are quite contrary to the state's want you know that there are conservatives in the run who want to go and to be more conservative than it is now and the figures twelve people killed during the protests there were days when the united states by its drone attacks killed more people because the reality of just thinking here mark is that when they were vents going on in ferguson there wasn't no one in the with the russians the chinese or the french or the british they didn't call for the united nations security council to convene because there were riots inside the united states but the united states seems to think that each it has the moral responsibility to protect protesters in iran when they don't even pr

boris johnson and rex tillerson meeting for talks today in london they're discussing iran north korea and syria they haven't mentioned russia. right let's delve a little deeper into this nie because security analyst charles schumer bridge has taken the time to join us hi charles good to have you on the program and just down the brass tacks to all this you know when it comes to money why is there such at this graph and see between the government's assessment and the armies when it comes to funding because the army is essentially asking for much more here. well you're right this is i think a subtext of what you're asking if you forgive me if i'm wrong but it's about money and what we've got here is a situation where interestingly today even those sections of the u.k. media quite a large section of the media actually that regularly in fact even on a daily basis in many cases likes to play up the so-called russia threat amongst their headlines today i'm talking prick xampp of the b.b.c. the guardian if not amongst the headlines but something deeper inside their analysis pieces on this spe

counterpart rex tillerson they're going to be talking about iran north korea and syria russia isn't on the agenda french prison guards have launched a nationwide strike over security fears that story much more still to come your watching or to interest. plenty. plenty. plenty. plenty. plenty. of dropping bombs brings peace talks forcing you to fight the battles but don't believe that you stopped by to tell you that the because of the public but i felt a little pointlessly. telling me you are not cool enough to buy their products little. things all the hawks that we along with our lives were. says r t international a prison officers across fred blockaded dozens of jails in protest over a lack of security and that's after numerous attacks by inmates on staff are too troubled to penske as the latest from prayers this is a nationwide strike of prisons across france with union saying that around one hundred thirty of france's one hundred eighty eight prisons took place in this particular strike europe's largest prison which is just south of paris the protesters there actually blockaded the

let's begin with iran, this is front and center right now as well as north korea. david, to you. the president of iran points his finger, rouhani is pointing his finger at outside forces, namely the united states one might imagine and saying "our progress and development has angered our enemies" but also conceding, look, there is real economic pain you're feeling. you've got 13% unemployment in iran, you've got measures put in place that will make, fuel a lot more expensive, food a lot more expen expensive. how significant are the protests, david? >> quite significant. like what arwa said it's interesting how many place this is is occurring n cities across the country. it doesn't appear to be a single leader, and i think it shows the economic pressure the iranian people are under. i think this is a large challenge for rouhani in particular trying to balance himself, portray himself as more moderate. is he actually going to deliver for the people that elected him president of yiran? >> one of the interesting things is, you know, whether or not -- one of the interesting argument, ge

rex tillerson talking about iran north korea and syria they haven't mentioned russia being on the agenda. security analysts say there is some truth to what the general said but there is something of course to what the general actually says and that is that first of all. the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment according to the quitman is a pitcher for the low level and so therefore you have to have some sympathy perhaps for this man to forgive me if i'm wrong but it's about money it's not just russia of course we're talking about north korea or iran or the other bogeyman that are used for this notwithstanding that i mean it's very interesting that we hear that the russian threat today is actually not thousands of miles away but on the doorstep of europe actually the reason for that is because russia has moved its because now it's of course has moved much much closer over the last twenty years towards the borders of russia so it's a slightly ironic thing to say i think. now it does turn for the north korean po

you said miss grammont if united states actually violates the iran deal it has grave consequences for north korea and generally international trade agreements like that but is there a possibility under what circumstances can this agreement be saved without united states in it discussions with the europeans to come up with a formula you know reimposing of sanctions and violating it by mr trump would not kill the deal in one hundred twenty days. well google is was more than agreement this deal can not be implemented to even first some of its members just use what it was that refuses from implementing it. and everyone understands this and our european colleagues would. scold muesli but it's. this is a very important issue and as you've said the north koreans are looking at what's happening with iran with the iran's nuclear deal because iran's stopped its nuclear those are some grogram and it's sanction and there was a sanctions relief. on the. eve but it's not just iran is becoming nothing more than the bargaining chip. in other integrated geopolitical game. the north korea will realize that the sam

counterpart rex tillerson they're going to be talking about iran north korea and syria russia isn't on the agenda security analyst patrols told us of the biggest road facing the u.k. military is under investment not russian aggression. what we've got here is a situation where interestingly today even those sections of the u.k. media play up the so-called russia threat amongst the headlines months the deeper insight that analysis pieces on this speech from that car today there's some degree of cynicism about what it is that he's actually saying and the reason for that is because of this conflict this below the surface conflict that is going on and particularly acute at this time when a defense spending review is underway about to get under way yet another phase of the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment inequality that quitman is at a pitifully low level and that is a situation entirely of the u.k. defense establishment is making because they have instead of opting for equipping soldiers with the best equip

as we deal with north korea and the issue of iran, we need to project strength. need to involve as much as we can the international community. i think that's happening with respect to north korea. these regimes around the world that have nuclear capabilities and have the wherewithall to use them that would be harmful to the world have to be dealt with. it's going to take a concerted effort. i think we made in roads. i think the president and his team have been very good in the way they have gone about handling what our crisis situations in the world and protecting american strength and letting the dictators know we won't set buy and allow them to acquire the most dangerous weapons. >> a 51-49 split in the u.s. with a democrat now representing alabama. how worried are you about this year's mid-term elections? >> you have to go into an election year when you have the majority and it's a mid-term election, that the party that is in power typically loses seats. given that, i think the best way for us to overcome what might be some of those historical trends is for us

counterpart rex tillerson they're going to be talking about iran north korea and syria russia isn't on the agenda security analysts to trolls troubridge are told the biggest threat facing the u.k. military is under investment not russian aggression. what we've got here is a situation where interestingly today even those sections of the u.k. media play up the so-called russian threat amongst the headlines months the deeper insight that analysis pieces on this speech from that car today there's some degree of cynicism about what it is that he's actually saying and the reason for that is because of this conflict this below the surface conflict that is going on and particularly acute at this time when a defense spending review is underway about to get under way yet another phase of the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment and the quality of that quick money is at a pitifully low level and that is a situation entirely of the u.k. defense establishment is making because they have instead of opting for equipping s

before he can tackle that, flare-ups with iran, north korea and pakistan demand his attention. live reports on those stories next. 6 parr >>> the white house with foreign focus as 2018 dawns. expanding anti-government protests in h iran and in a twist, potential talks next week between north and south korea. >> president ready to tackle an ambitious agenda. no shortage of domestic issues with another government shutdown looming over funding. >>> one thing with bipartisan agreement, it is cold. very cold. and it's going to stay very cold, at least throw the weekend. more of "early start's" worldwide coverage begins right now. welcome back to "early start." christine romans, happy new year. >> happy new year to you, good to have you back. you ready? are you ready for the president and you go from 75 degrees, palm beach to zero. >> that's something. >> minus 3 i think with the wind chill in d.c.le good morning everybody. let's start with the president back in d.c. where it is frigid this morning. january alone, what to do about dreamers infrastructure, entitlements, children's hea

you've got boris johnson and rex tillerson meeting for talks today in london they're discussing iran north korea and syria they haven't mentioned russia. live from british capital this summer our. thank you. to something a little different during the hucks hold shores isn't exactly everybody's idea of fun is that the though one russian cosmonaut might beg to differ the following are pictures sent from the international space station showing him hovering around on a vacuum cleaner. if you ever wondered what cosmonauts and astronauts to on their downtime there you go using to use direct from your with r.t. international more program started in just a moment i'll be back with the latest update in thirty. i'm after towns and we're going underground just twenty four hours before the global political elite to mix with actors and musicians in this risking result to davos for the annual world economic forum coming up in the show with sales to the world's most repressive regimes increasing by nearly half of the break we speak to british conservative m.p. and member of the u.k. committee for arms export c

counterpart rex tillerson they're going to be talking about iran north korea and syria russia isn't on the agenda well security analyst charles schumer bridge believes the u.k. faces a genuine problem with investment in its armed forces. what we've got here is a situation where interestingly today even various sections of the u.k. media play up the russian threat amongst the headlines mugs the deeper insight that analysis on this speech from that caucus today there's some degree of cynicism about what it is that he's actually saying and the reason for that is because of this conflict this below the surface conflict that is going on and particularly acute at this time when a defense spending review is underway about to get under way yet another phase of the british state of the british military in terms of the number of its personnel the number the amount of its equipment and the quality of that quick money is at a picture for you know nothing is bad is a situation entirely of the u.k. defense establishment is making because they have instead of opting for equipping soldiers with the be

knox and allied there was no mention of the russian investigation but there was mention of iran and north korea but the president ended with a familiar message and it's the people who are making america great again the democrats' reply came from the son of a famous family congressman joe kennedy his great uncle was president john kennedy their record is your view to our highest american ideal. the belief that we are all worth that we are all equal that we all can't. want to bring the country together and believes this speech will help democrats want to see if his actions intentions . ok let's get their reaction now from help from the from ramallah rather not west bank with them wrong so. the friends of the us seem to very clearly take a style when it comes to the palestinians so what is their reaction likely to be their. well the reaction is likely to be exactly the same as it has since the announcement of the move of the u.s. embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem and after pence's visit which recognized jerusalem as the capital of israel is that the u.s. has actually picked a side in this conflic

the reason iran and north korea have ballistic missile programs is to deliver nuclear weapons. he ultimate purpose. i think you've got to focus on the nuclear issue. i think that's what iran is focused on, because they know there's a new reality out there and it's not good for them if we ever get this deal. >> shannon: a little bit better behavior by then. what you make of five the better behavior by north korea? >> i think there on a propaganda roll right now? if they are going to march with the south korean team as if that makes a difference on nuclear weapons. they've done this before the summer games in 2000, 2004. i don't think they want the military exercises to stop that role. if they want to do the full military exercises, i think they can do it in two or three months. i don't buy the argument that the sanctions have bitten into them enough. if these military exercises are critical for them and it's only a question of getting past the olympics. >> shannon: maybe we see a different version of them after the olympics? >> absolutely. >> shannon: thanks for stopping in. good

reform, immigration, infrastructure, and national security, including nuclear threats from north korea and iran. in north korea. north korea is watching us in iran. 2018 will be a year of opportunity and extreme danger. >> reporter: back home, democrats have their own agenda. >> we have to worry about pension, health care. >> also the dreamers, daca issue. >> reporter: pro tension for young immigrants brought here illegally as children runs out in march. to keep them here republicans want money for border wall. >> we have to do this together. we can have smart solutions to border security. >> reporter: may also revisit tax reform. >> i think what we will see is a real push to make the tax cuts for individuals permanent. i think you'll see a vote on that in the first 30 days of the new year. >> reporter: another year of big challenges clouded by the russia investigation and another budget deadline in less than three weeks. but get that budget done, avoiding a government shut down could be a little bit more challenging this year, but two new democrats onar tracie potts, nbc news, washington. >>>

he also faces foreign relations challenges in iran and north korea. nine more people were killed in iran in protests overnight bringing the death toll to at least 20. this morning mr. trump tweeted, the people of iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt iran regime. people have little food, big inflation in the watching. another challenge dealing with north korea's warning that its nuclear forces -- force is now a reality. the president tells the regime i will never let you hit the u.s. with your missile. >> we have a chance to deliver some fatal blows in 2018. if we blink [ indiscernible ] >> next week the president will invite congressional leaders to camp david to discuss the legislative agenda. >> today the president will have lunch with vice president mike pence and tomorrow the senate returns from its christmas break >>> in minnesota democrat will also be sworn in replacing senator al franken who resigned amid sexual misconduct accusations. stories because it is something to cling onto right now. i want to hear about him and soak it

gina mentioned north korea and iran but north korea i mean he is using hashtag diplomacy in a very dangerous way to try to threaten north korea and i think that this point we need to really look at what's going on here and he was propping up bannon before and now saying he lost his mind in some ways the president lost his own mind. >> jessica i think hashtag diplomacy shows we're in a social media world. >> we definitely are you have to say that all the time. >> the disarray, however you want to characterize this, is this going to derail some things like the infrastructure, a lot of the leaders of the infrastructure council are members of blue states, are they democrats they want to put this forward this is really not a republican traditional measure. do you think this infrastructure bill goes through? >> i really hope that it does. i'm cautious to say that i think it will because i think that democrats have shown a capacity or an interest in digging their heels in and resisting at every turn but i think it would be a really big solid win for both sides here. there are a lot of republicans w

north korea. north korea is watching us in iran. s are watching the way he engages with north korea and vice versa, so we've got a chance here to deliver some fatal blows to really bad actors in 2018. but if we blink, god help us all. >> the he in that is the president. the we've seen the president tweeting about north korea. we've seen him tweeting about iran. in terms of foreign policy, his strategy here, what do we know? what challenges confront him? >> well immediately what we're seeing specifically on iran is that president trump is really -- while he's -- his foreign policy is still emerging comparing to president obama's realism. where as he was mostly silent, president trump has been very vocal. obama was slow to condemn human rights abuse trump has been very vocal. president trump has inserted us into that conflict ongoing. le so, i would expect going forward president trump should deal with the exact inverse of everything obama did in 2009. >> lindsey graham added you can't just tweet here. you have to lay out a plan. that

so i will make a few comments on iran and north korea. obviously we are on the precipice of a new crisis if the president refuses to approve the sanctions waivers and united states fails to meet its commitment under the deal. it puts a straitjacket on the activities with the jc poa misses the most important feature such as 15 year limitation of the tee11 where iran could have no more than 300 kilograms of uranium enriched. this is a very tight constraint. and then to cover every stage of their activities that is what is missed and deserves repeating the heart of the jc poa the international verification provisions it is ironic iran has constraints on the nuclear program of any nation on the planet and the most demanding verification regime but the president could take action imminently to remove these with no alternative. opponents are fixated on those provisions as they underplay or ignore the importance of the commitments that don't expire a permanent prohibition or the weaponization program through protocols with a time window to respo

morning with new questions about the stability of two of the scariest countries on the planet, iran and north koreagetting worse as protests g

had made against north korea and iran.accused the united states of provoking tensions on the korean peninsula, and as you mentioned, he warned of what he called the catastrophic consequences of such recklessness on iran. sergei lavrov, the russian foreign minister, warned the united states not to go back on the controversial nuclear deal. because he said that that would be negative for future agreements with other countries, particularly north korea where such agreements are entered into. so yes, it was a marked change in tone from the foreign minister compared to what we saw a year ago when president trump was inaugerated where lavrov was very much looking forward to better relations with the u.s. >> it hasn't happened. let's talk a little more about sergei lavrov's comments and the developments involving north and south korea. bob barrons, a former political analyst, senior correspondent clarissa ward. bob, let me start with you. before we get to the russian issue, i want to talk about north korea. i want to talk about w