kate >> hans nichols. the president was not alone cheering on team usa today millions of people around the world glued to the tv watching them beat the netherlands to claim their fourth championship. kelly cobiella is in france. what's next for the women? >> reporter:on the u.s. women soccer team is the best in the world. another victoro fight for it not a single goal in the first half against the under dogs from the netherlands then nearly an hour in, a penalty of alex morgan and megan rapinoe with a roaring goal >> reporter: not long after, rose lavelle threw two defenders. the red, white and blue drowning out in a sold-out stadium of nearly 60,000. in the u.s., fans across the country cheering the two win an emotional megan rapinoe won player of the match, the golden boot and the golden balfour tl h best player of the tournament. >> we can take on more and play better and play anything it is time to move that conversation forward for the next step. >> as the players danced, president trump tweeted congr

hans nichols is at the white house. hans >> reporter: kate, it's believed coats will leave august 15th, marking the end of a tumultuous relationship between him and the president he served. dan coats oversees 17 different agencies but his tenure was often at odds with president trump over issues, including north korea and russia. >> the white house announced on twitter that vladimir putin is coming to the white house in the fall >> say that again. [ laughter ] >> vladimir putin coming to the -- >> did i hear you -- >> yeah, yeah. >> okay. >> yeah. >> that's going to be special. >> reporter: coats publicly contradicted the president on kim jong-un's willingness to give up his nuclear weapons. >> north korea will seek to retain its wmd capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities. >> reporter: the president announcing coats' replacement, congressman john ratcliffe, who impressed him during the mueller hearing last week. >> donald trump is not above the law. he is not, b

" may propose tomorrow freezing iranian assets to directly target the regime in tehran jose >> hans nichols, thank you very much. >>> president trump working the phones over another international incident this one involving an american rapper jailed in sweden. the president even offering something of his own to bail out the entertainer. here's nbc's morgan worldwide. ♪ pockets loaded but now asap rocky is making headlines for anything but the music. after video of this june 30th fight on the streets of stockholm landed the 30-year-old harlem, new york native in a swedish jail the rapper claims self-defense posting this video moments before he says the fight broke out. >> you don't want no problem with these boys they keep following me >> reporter: but swedish prosecutors say asap whose real name is rah kym mayers, must remain behind bars as they investigate. his situation sparking support from social media, all the way to the oval office. >> i have been called by so many people asking me to help asap rocky. actually, the one who knew about asap rocky was our first lady right? she was tellin

reject racist ttacks against him and support his steadfast leadership." >> thne was nbc Ñiws's hans nichols-ok trump's tweets causedxd backlash.+z]çó at one point t(#çó7t(áq!altimors trending. you can pull up our page to ad more. >>> police have charged a 17-year-old boy with stabbingxd his father to death in a moving v. barcia caromaxd isçóedko charg first-degree murder. the pair share the same name. officers say theye1 got into a fightok while inside an suv in in the area detectives say the teen thenc dragged his father's bodyt( int the woods andnbater admitted t the crime. >>> two people including a boy shot in broad daylinht i the district this afternoon.xd this is the crime scene. we'lsl show you here on kennedy street in the brightwood park neighborhood. d.c. police foundÑi the adult shooting victim a block away on ingram street. w heas conscious when he wase1 rushed to the hospital. police say somebody walkedoráhe boy to the hospital, and they do not have information aboutfá th shooter at this point.> >> we'll show you live pictures this evening of union station. m alarming securi

let's go to hans nichols. >> reporter: in the rush hour, commuters competing with the rushing waters torrential rains bringing flash floods, washing out roads and stranding cars kids carried to safety by adults. washington receiving almost a month's worth of rain in a single morning, 3.3 inches in one hour more than an inch of rain than the previous daily record, set back in 1958. a stream in alexandria, virginia rose more than 11 feet in one hour. backyards looking like lakes and pools morphing into muddy ponds. in the metro system, a waterfall cascading from the ceiling while the elevators at the pentagon stop looking like showers >> people made the mistake of trying to drive through high waters >> reporter: in washington, no deaths were reported. and residents are keeping a sense of humor. >> you trying to go fishing? >> reporter: hans nichols, nbc news, washington >>> tonight, also developing in washington, as president trump is firing back after highly critical leaked comments about him by the british ambassador to the united states andrea andrmitchell has that story >> reporter

nbc's hans nichols has more from seoul. >> reporter: for donald trump the first step towards kim jong-un's position may be the easiest. while president trump says he isn't in a hurry, there are major issues before them the biggest, complete denuclearization his critics call it show man ship, casting the impromptu meeting as an elaborate photo op >> it's worrisome this president erratically sets up ameeting without the staff work being done it seems like it's all for show. it's not substantive >> reporter: some arguing trump's dramatic approach will falter as a diplomatic tactic. >> this is a ruthless dictator and when you go forward, you have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. >> reporter: american intelligence agencies have concluded that north korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear arsenal as mr. trump has demanded full agreement by kim for complete and verifiable denuclearization, experts warn, may be a stretch, but it could lead to some progress. >> does that mean this is a deal that is going to lead to denuclearization no, but it's an interim deal >> they neede

administration can build on this image and strike a deal with kim jong-un and his regime nbc's hans nichols has more from seoul. >> reporter: for president donald trump, the first step of kim jong-un's step in north korea may be the easiest while president trump says he isn't mar issues before them the biggest,t show manship, casting it as a photo op >> it's worrisome this president sets up a meeting without the staff work being done. it seems like it's all for show, it's not substantive >> reporter: some worry trump's tactic will falter >> this is a ruthless dictator when you go forward, you have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. >> reporter: american intelligence agencies have concluded that north korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear arsenal, as mr. trump has demanded full agreement by kim for complete and verifiable denuclearization, experts warn, may be a stretch, but it could lead to some progress. >> does that mean this is a deal that is going to lead to denuclearization no but it is an interim deal. >> they needed some way to get back to the talks, and this

nbc's hans nichols is at the white house with new rction to the controversy. >> reporter: president trump trying to stoke conflict between nancy pelosi and four minority congresswomen, tweeting go back and fix the crime-inrosted placeswhich they came. mr. trump added, progressive democrat congresswomen who originally came from countries whose governments are complete and total catastrophe. the women singled out one of the women, ms. omar, before. she's from somalia. the only one of the four congresswomen born outside the united states. >> i'm looking at this omar from minnesota. she shouldn't even be i office. >> reporter: speakey pelosi todanounced mr. trump's tweets as xenophobic comments meant tona divide our ion, while omar accused the president of stoking while nationalism because you are angry that people like us are serving in congress. other house democratsncluding the assistant house speaker rallying to their colleagues' defense. that's a racist tweet. >> reporter: and the field of 2020 democratic hopefuls piled on. >> what he's trying to do isme make aca hate again. >> it's real

hans nichols at the white house, always appreciate your reporting, thank you, hans. mr. stephens, dan balz, your colleague, at the "washington post," he sees impeachment as essentially a dead issue after the hearings yesterday. he writes, quote, some democrats were advocating long before mueller wrapped up his investigation that the party's focus should be on the 2020 election rather than impeachment. that now is the only realistic course for settling the question of the future of trump's presidency. brett, what say you? does the responsibility to hold this president accountable now lie squarely at the feet of democratic voters in 2020? >> it lies at the feet of the american public, not just traditional democratic voters, but a lot of republicans or in my case former republicans who can look at the behavior that's described in the mueller report and say, whether or not it is impeachable, which is a legal and political term of art, it is unquestionably disgraceful. and that's how i think democrats should have been moving actually for months now, really since the mueller r

house correspondent jeff bennett who was there on the south lawn and also nbc news correspondent hans nichols us in new jersey. hans, let's start with you. i heard a lot in that press conference. we heard about plastic straws. we heard about the congresswoman, we heard about china. but we also heard about iran. can you tell me what is the white house working on in terms of a response? >> well, the white house appears to have an inconsistent message at this point. you heard the president hipted that at one point he said iran is going to work out great, it's going to be fine. in another moment he said iran is in big trouble right now. it's hard to square those two things. now the president didn't necessarily amp up his rhetoric. he gave a tour of what he thinks is the situation inside of iran. that is an economy is cratered. that's bolstered by the facts. the president gave us a little something new there that iran is bringing some of its troops back home. that's an indication that the president thinks he has iran on the ropes. >> and we also heard him talk repeatedly about these attacks on the

hans nichols at the white house. kelly, to you first. al green, the congressman, said the house will vote or take up in some way the impeachment articles he has introduced. there's option says on the table, though, for speaker pelosi. walk us through them. >> reporter: yes, hallie. congressman green has attempted this before. >> yeah. >> reporter: but this is the first time he is doing so with democrats in power. so that is a change of dynamic. obviously it's in a new context with the events of the post mueller report, period and all of the kopbt verse related to the president's tweets and so forth. what this means, it's the type of resolution that requires action within a limited time. so we know it will happen this afternoon. a couple of options. one to move to table it which would basically throw it in the recycling bin. another would be to send it to the judiciary committee, which would then begin its own process. and the third would be to begin an actual impeachment inquiry. let's step back and look at this. the ultimate decision is

with that joining me now from the white house is nbc new's hans nichols. good to talk to you this afternoon. we obviously have this back and forth between aoc, alexandria ocasio-cortez, ilhan omar and with the president. the president said that he disavowed the chants. he reiterated that. but then said the congresswomen should be more patriotic. take us through what took place. >> it seems like the president's message shifted ever so slightly. the first time he said it, he was trying to put a little distance between himself and that chant. he didn't go so far as to reprimand or rebuke his supporters. because he's very sympathetic to his crowd. >> these are people that love our country. i want them to keep loving our country. and i think the congresswomen, by the way, should be more positive than they are. i'm not happy about when i hear a chant like that. and i've said that and i've said it very strongly. but i will tell you the congressmen and women also have a big obligation in this country and in every country, frankly. but they have a big obligation. a

let's turn to our experts nbc correspondent hans nichols, he joins us from the white house here on setcorrespondent for "the washington post," phillip bump, republican strategist, susan del percio, and in washington former democratic congressman joe crowley. let me start with you. you understand the internal dynamics of the democratic caucus in the house better than anybody on this show right no, so let me ask you this question. on the record right now, there are 88 democrats, 88 of your former colleagues who say they want to go forward with impeachment. there's also that one independent justin amosh. there's also the most recent polling on this asking americans should there be impeachment or not, 37% yes, 59% no. and there is a looming congressional recess in august. is this the last opportunity for the pro-impeachment side to get the momentum they need for impeachment to happen? >> i think we start talking, steve, in last chances. that kind of does set up the scenario of a horse race and all sides to the corner so to speak. i think what, you know, speaker pelosi has been saying all a

joining me now to break this down is hans nichols from washington, d.c. what's the feeling there on the ground now? >> it was a little soggy, very warm here and then the skies opened up. all these people coming in i. cooled things down so it's more manageable. there are two windows to think of for the rest of the afternoon. number one, the faa is opening up a window where they're going close the air space and that could allow the fly overs. b-2s, f-35s. blue angels are on tap as well. that's from 6:15 to 7:45. the other window is what the skies do and whether or not the weather cooperates. we've had thunderstorms for the last hour and that's been a challenge and will present a challenge for any sort of air show. now another thing to think of is is a lot of people got here early and they're wait ng line and monica has been b talking to them all morning and listen to the enthusiasm of some as they're trying to go. >> signifying our independence is fabulous today. it's a great use of our military. and showing what we're all here for. and what we're celebrati

with him, and he doesn't mind using the most insane, inane idealogy to accomplish it. >> nbc's hans nicholsent. he's in brooklyn heights, new jersey. hans, welcome to you. is it clear where the president stands on all this, because he appears to be sending mixed messages. >> reporter: alex, it's clear the president's position is moving ever so slightly. he almost seems agnostic at this stage about the "send her back" chant. he tried to disavow. it wasn't firm, but he was putting some space. then he said his real unhappiness is the four congresswomen he finds offensive. and he said he was not particularly happy with that chant. he is trying to be transparent and say he doesn't know how it will play politically. >> i don't know if it's good or bad politically, i don't care. i don't care about politics, i don't care about it's good or bad about politics. many people say it's good. i don't know if it's good or bad. i can tell you this. you can't talk that way about our country. not when i'm the president. >> reporter: so, alex, in the three different iterations we had of the president on this,

hans nichols has more from the white house. >> reporter: dan coats oversees 17 different intelligence but his tenure was often at odds with president trump over issues including north korea and russia. >> the white house has announced on twitter that vladimir putin is coming to the white house in the fall. >> say what again? >> vladimir putin coming to the -- >> did i hear you? >> yeah, yeah. >> okay. that's going to be special. >> coats also publicly contradicted the president on kim jong un's willingness to give up his nuclear weapons. >> north korea will seek to retain its wmd capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities. >> the president announcing coats replacement congressman john ratcliffe, who impressed him during the mueller hearing. >> donald trump is not above the law but he shouldn't be below the law. >> reporter: the president's nominee to be the head of the dni. he does sit on the house intelligence committee so that does give him a familiarity of the issues. going ahead of the senate intelligence committee for his co

hans nichols is live for us in virginia. hans, this was a president trump true to form, defiant and unapologetic, even in the face of criticism, including some inside his own party. >> reporter: he's here. he's coming to jamestown to celebrate 400 years of democracy on our shores. he is doing it by having a fourth day of attacks against elijah cummings. it is clear the president likes this fight. he's in it. he wants to stay on it. listen to what he told reporters just before leaving on mr. cummings. >> what elijah cummings should do is he should take his oversight committee, bring them down to baltimore, and invest all of -- and really study the billions and billions of dollars that's been stolen. it's been wasted. it's been stolen. >> reporter: so this is an historical event. i will keep my voice down. john meacham, at times a trump critic, is speaking about the founding of jamestown. the question and the challenge for trump, will he keep his remarks today on what we're celebrating here in 1619 or will the president go off

hans nichols has more. hans? >> reporter: iran releasing dramatic video claiming to show its revolutionary guard seizing a british oil tanker. commandos wearing ski masks and machine guns rappelling to the ship's deck. the search for ways to de-escalate the tension. >> we're very clear that we will do what it takes to secure the safety of the shipping. >> in iran, continued defiance. ali arouzi in tehran. >> it shouldn't surprise that they seized the british tanker on the 4th of july. it provoked a furious response from the supreme leader here, calling it an act of piracy by the evil english and vowed not to let it go unanswered. >> iran challenging president trump's claim about downing an iranian drone. >> no doubt about it. we shot it down. >> state tv broadcasting this footage purporting it was from that very drone with the u.s. navy ship boxer clearly in view. the pentagon promising more troops on the way. mike pompeo that the diplomatic door is still open. >> we hope, as president trump has said, they will d

hans nichols is with us. hans, the government is preoccupied by this battle that he is waging against elijah cummings and reverend al shopper ton. >> reporter: he is expanding the playing field. when you look at the white house's justification, they are saying it's retaliation, not racism. it is clear the president wants to go after and have someone to really pick a fight with. we are in day three going after cummings. he went after al sharpton as well because he is going after the president. so this is retaliation lean from the president. we don't know, hallie, whether or not the president actually believes this is good politics. he talked about going after members of the squad and how he says he doesn't know if it will help him at the ballot box. what's clear is the president likes a fight. his own aides are having to explain this. look how mick mulvaney tried to offer some sort of justification for what the president has been tweeting about. >> it has absolutely zero to do with race. does the president spea

hans nichols is at the white house. hans, what do you know about this?reporter: the white house has been largely silent about the scope and size of the raids and whether or not they should be considered raids. what the president said on friday is this is a law enforcement action. now, the president put the number at the thousands, not the millions. there's been a market shift from the white house in how they're talking about this round and what happened two, three weeks ago where the white house was clearly telegraphing that they were going to do this. the president pulled back and said it was part of a deal with congress. now, they have gotten additional money thor foes detention centers all across the border there. the question is here, what's the white house's reaction going to be? are they going to celebrate this or tout this? are they going to try to couch this simply as a law enforcement action to ensure that america's borders are secure, all part of what the president wants to run and base his re-election campaign on? jo. >> jonathan allen, nation

nbc news correspondent hans nichols is in berkeley heights, new jersey, where the president is this weekend. hans, those who are following european leaders would say, okay, this is an ambassador to the united states who minds his p's and k'q's. he's been around for four decades and many european leaders have weighed in with similar criticisms of this president. on the flip side, has the white house, has president trump reacted to these reports because he's known, at least by critics, as having fairly thin skin? >> reporter: nothing from the white house yet or the president. he will be flying back here to washington, d.c., shortly and he'll end up at the white house this evening. we'll see if the press pool will have a chance to engage the president and get his view as well as a variety of other topics. he this is before you had public diplomacy. they're trying to explain their government positions to royal imperial courts or ambassadors or republics or democracies. they have a job of gathering information and explaining what's happening inside the country. all ambassadors do it. we saw the

. >> joining me new correspondent hans nichols and the former director of the national terrorism center also msnbc security and intelligence analyst. hans, this has obviously been in the works for a while, but what's the back story? was there one particular incident that moved this from long held speculation to reality nf not that we know of but that's a heavy hedge. there were months of mounting frustration, mutual frustration, we should say, both sides contradicting each other. earlier in the year dan coats tried to resign and mike pence talked him out of it. it went both ways. it wasn't a good fit. you saw that play out publicly, not just the moment where you have this moment of candor there dan coats. even when coats was testifying before congress talking about how north korea was unlikely to give up any of its missiles, any of its ambition. an indication of ultimately they decided to go in a different direction. as to an actual probable cauxim, we don't have any reporting on that but the president could tweet something out any moment. >> that's a very important caveat to add. nick,

deborah pearlstein, katie phang, hans nichols, thank you all for joining me today. >>> tonight, watchller repo report: what you need to know with ari melber" at 9:00 p.m. eastern only on msnbc. we'll be right back. back. award winning interface. award winning design. award winning engine. the volvo xc90. the most awarded luxury suv of the century. has been excellent. they really appreciate the military family and it really shows. with all that usaa offers why go with anybody else? we know their rates are good, we know that they're always going to take care of us. it was an instant savings and i should have changed a long time ago. it was funny because when we would call another insurance company, hey would say "oh we can't beat usaa" we're the webber family. we're the tenney's we're the hayles, and we're usaa members for life. ♪ get your usaa auto insurance quote today. check out this time-space wormhole i created. - how's it work? - let me see your togo, and i'll show you. - burt! you have my lunch. - introducing togo's new hot chicken trio. the new brewpub chicken with grilled chick

nbc hans nichols has the details on that and more. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the challenge for the president in his legal team this morning is trying to figure out some sort of strategy that can pass legal muster to include that citizenship question, but the clock is ticking. the census forms are already being printed without that question on it. before leaving washington for his golf club in new jersey, president donald trump refusing to surrender on including a citizenship question on next year's census, raising the pocket of ab executive order to do so. >> it's one of the ways we're thinking about doing it very seriously. >> is the president considering his options, his lawyers are playing for time. telling a judge on friday they know what they want to do, but not how they want to do it. and trump is interpreting last week's 5-4 supreme court ruling against the citizens ship question as a temporary setback. >> i have a lot of respect for justice roberts. he didn't like it but he said come back. essentially he said come back. >> reporter: trump's focus on th

with me from the white house is hans nichols.say, this is not as full throated a defense as president trump often gives of people accused of things. what is the white house looking for before completely coming down on one side or the other? >> appears they are doing some sort of review. that's what the president is hinting at there. acosta was part of the plea agreement which allowed epstein to spent 13 months in prison, in the county prison. cross currents, number one, it's clear he wants to run on the re-election and he thinks acosta is doing a good job. he wants to run on the jobs and economy and it's difficult to fire your secretary of labor if that is the main stay of your election. also something we've seen with numerous trump cabinet officials and that is the president likes to bunker down. they get in this bunker mentality and try to defend whoever it is that is being attacked because that is their first instinct. now, we have seen some sectors eventually part ways with the president, but not after a long, drawn out perio

offends democrats, but this one is striking a deeper chord, with many decrying this as racist hans nicholsas more from the white house. >> reporter: president trump trying to stoke conflict with nance pelosi and four minority liberal congresswoman tweeting, go back and fix the totally broken and crime-infested nations from which they came. he added so interesting to see the progressive congresswomen who originallye countries whose governments -- representative omar is only one of the four congresswomen born outside the united states. >> i'm looking at this omar from minnesota. she shouldn't even be in office. >> reporter: speaker pelosi denounced mr. trump's tweet as xenophobicments, meant to divide our country, while omar accused the president of stoking white nationalism because you are angry people like us are serving in congress. others rallying to their colleagues' defense. the field of 2020 democratic hopefuls piled on. >> what he's trying to do is make america hate again. >> he's doing something that's so anti-american. >> this country is facing another bigot who is trying to divide

but at some point during the negotiation, things can happen. >> that was nbc's hans nichols reporting. >>> with less than seven hours, salesforce transit center will reopen. the center has been closed since last september after cracks were found in two steel beams. officials hope they can put the problem behind them at the $2 billion center. bus service is expected to resume there in early july. our investigative unit has been uncovering issues at that trouble ed transit center. you can watch all of our reports by going to our website, nbcbayarea.com. >>> firefighters and police officers across the bay area are gearing up for a big week. they're going to be out in force, trying to stop people from using what you're looking at, illegal fireworks. only a few bay area cities allow safe and sane fireworks. in san jose, the city has activated its online reporting tool. that allows people to report illegal fireworks directly to police for the computer or from the smartphone. last year the city received more than a thousand online reports of illegal fireworks activity. only four citations, t

hans nichols is at the white house with the latest on this back and forth. ns, no surprise the president is punching back. it's what he does. help us understand exactly what's going on here. >> this morning the president, stephanie, is escalating the fight. he's making it more personal, directly attacking ambassador derrick in strong language and also making a broader charge against the may government that the ambassador was part of theresa may's failed negotiations over brexit. so he's turning it into something much bigger than just a back and forth and, frankly, asymmetrical fight for an ambassador who for diplomatic reasons cannot publicly challenge the president and the president is blasting him on his twitter feed. let me read it to you -- the wacky ambassador foist upon the united states is not someone we're thrilled with. a very stupid guy. then he wents ton to say i told theresa may how to do that day but she went on her own foolish way. i don't know the ambassador but have been told he's a pompous fool. stephanie, it's highly unusual of the president

hans nichols and ned price are joining me. hans, let's start with you. some of the comments are dated from 2017 to present day. many are skacathing. what more are you learning and reaction from the administration? >> reporter: there's no official reaction from the administration, we have a chance to potentially talk to the president when he leaves here in new jersey and heads back to the white house. you can imagine this would be one of the first questions the reporters traveling with the president would ask. for the ambassador, this has to be a difficult moment. diplomats are essentially note takers and note passers. what happened is the equivalent of an elementary school note being intercepted. we know a little bit from this to what extent u.s. diplomats do something similar. that's what they are paid to do. they are paid to listen. they are paid to represent their country and foreign capitals. but they are paid to gather information and write these colorful notes. colorful they are. it's remarkable for its candor. in a lot of ways what he is saying co

hallie. >> hans nichols. i'm joined by former florida republican david jolly, president and ceo of center for american progress. also speak with a member of congress in just a minute. i want to get your reaction what you saw and heard overnight developing this morning. >> i realize we want to put these things in political context, i really think last night is going to have the imagery of the seminal moment of the last 50, 60 years. you have a president of the united states ramping up a crowd to basically tell a woman, a refugee, a woman from africa to go home. the ugliness of that crowd really represents, i think, in the future our grandchildren will look at that and see the ugliness of people who stood in the way of civil rights. honestly, i think the political discourse does not manage how tearing at the fabric this is that the president of the united states does this. i don't think it's a political issue, civil rights issue. >> you talk about politics a lot. seems like you are personally troubled by this.

i want to bring in nbc's hans nichols at the white house and david ignatius, a columnist who covers foreign affairs for the "washington post" is also with me. hans, what is the administration saying about all of this? >> reporter: after a day of silence yesterday when the president was up at his golf resort the president himself unloaded before he was leaving and listen to what he had to say on the tarmac. >> i would say that the uk and the ambassador has not served the uk well. i can tell you that. we are not big fans of that man and he has not served the uk well. so i can understand it and i can say things about him, but i won't bother. >> reporter: now, it bears noting that ambassadors do have some pretty good access typically with any administration, right now the president is receiving new ambassadors, giving them their credentials and receiving them in an official way. from the uk side theresa may is saying that she she has full confidence in their ambassador and they are saying that this is, quote, a matter of regret. so it's unclear whether or not there will be an official apology.

hans nichols is at the white house for us. he was at that wide ranging impromptu and back and forth. we have a msnbc senior political analysts. david jolly a former republican congressman from florida, also an msnbc contributor. and former federal prosecutor carol lamm is with me and so is nbc's investigation reporter tom winter. hans, i'll start with you there at the white house. you were there with the president in that gaggle. what did we learn? >> we learned that the president accepted the resignation. that was unclear when the president came out, i almost thought at first he wanted to sing alex acosta's praise. then he said he accepted the resignation. he also made it clear that he wants to drew a line under this epstein affair, he wants to move on. and president donald trump is clearly trying to distance himself from mr. epstein. listen to how he described their dispute without actually going into the details of it. >> andy have a falling out a long time ago. the reason doesn't make any difference, frankly, but i haven't

>> hans nichols, thank you very much.tory and you will be bringing it to us as it develops. i'm in for ali velshi. i will see you right back here at 6:00 p.m. eastern for "the beat with ari." it's a long day for me but i'm loving it. thank you for watching. you can watch or listen on sirius xm radio, tune in to msnbc.com/now and msnbc app and anil tv. "deadline: white house" with nicolle wallace starts right now. >>> aloha and namaste, everyone. i apologize i'm not nicolle wallace. i'm john heilemann. it's 4:00 in new york and i'm here for miss nicolle, who has the day off today. a democrat going where no house democrat has gone before. jerry nadler suggesting his committee is already in effect conducting impeachment inquiries against donald trump. >> just saying there's no difference between what you're doing now and impeachment debate, right? >> a new development in the impeachment debate, demanding more of

we turn to hans nichols also in seoul. >> reporter: for president donald trump, the first steps toward kim jong-un's position in north korea may be the easiest while president trump says he isn't in a hurry, there are major issues before them the biggest, complete denuclearization his critics call it showmanship, casting the meeting as an elaborate photo op. >> it's worrisome that this president erratically sets up a meeting without the staff work being done it seems like it's all for show. it's not substantive >> reporter: some arguing that trump's dramatic approach will falter as a diplomatic tactic. >> this is a ruthless dictator and when you go forward, you have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. >> reporter: american intelligence agencies have concluded that north korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear arsenal, as mr. trump has demanded full agreement by kim for complete and verifiable denuclearization experts warn may be a stretch, but it could lead to some progress. >> does it mean this is a deal that's going to lead to denuclearization no but it's an int

>>> hans nichols, nbc news washington. >>> and tonight also developing in washington has president trump firing bafttish ambassador to the the united states. in a brutal critique of president trump going back two years, telling downing street the president radiates insecurity, calling his administration inept and uniquely dysfunctional. the president tweeting today i do not know the ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the u.s. we will no longer deal with him. the good news for the wonderful united kingdom is that they will soon have a new prime minister. the front runner to become prime minister, the president's favorite, boris johnson. contrary to the president's tweet, the ambassador's highly thought of british officials. >> i dt thoughtsing .se leak and looking inside to atck either from russia or iran. this as the u.s. and britain face a new threat from iran set by the iran nuclear deal moving a step closer to possibly a n nuclear weapon. president trump abandoned the deal last year and is threatening more sanctions. >>> here in southern california the after sho

hans nichols is tracking the president and his movements in new jersey today. and ali ruzzi joins us from iran. we saw these new pictures that were released. tell us about it. >>. >> reporter: the speed boats has always been a concern for the u.s. helicopters are flying above. they're propelling on to the deck of the ship, it's provocative. that's exactly what iran wanted everyone to see. it's a clear message from tehran that if their assets, their interests in the persian gulf, in the backyard are put under danger, if they can't sell their oil, they're going to make life very difficult and very expensive for everybody else that wants to use that vital waterway. because if there are so many incidents there, the price of insurance goes up, if you're talking about military escorts, that costs a lot of money. and when tensions like this spike so does the price of oil that's not good for the u.s., it's good for iran, who sell limited oil. they'd like to sell it for more. part of the statement that came out from the revolutionary guard which isn't shown in that vide

william barr didn't capture the context, nature and substance of his report kate >> all right, hans nichols, thank you turni to entertainment news, it was a big weekend at the box office with the lion king breaking a record for the biggest july opening ever, with $192 million made. but it's another disney movie that's smashing the ultimate hollywood record here's candace gibson. >> we owe it to everyone who is not in this room to try >> reporter: not only did "the avengers" try, they succeeded. >> everybody -- >> reporter: the president of marvel studios saying, thanks to you, avengers end game is the biggest film of all time the movie smashing the ultimate box office record to date, surpassing 2009's avatar as the highest grossing film of all time with an estimated $2.79 billion in one week >> every movie opens at number one, they all hit -- generally hit a billion dollars worldwide. >> reporter: but avengers end game became the first film to soar past $1 billion in its debut weekend. but its out of this world haul partly attributed to something very earthly, infla ttikets sold, avengers w

hans nichols has the la latest. >> reporter: before returning to washington after a weekend at his bed minister golf resource, he sharpened his attacks, characterizing four women, even suggesting they're irredeemable. today democratic lawmakers returned fire. >> do youelieve president trump is a racist? >> i believe he is -- yes, no doubt about it. hend i tried to give him t benefit of the ioubt. >> h somebody using race like a weapon to divide our country against itsself. >> reporter: but white house advisers defended the position. >>un fmentally disagree with the view at if you criticize somedy and they happened to be a different color color skin that that makes it a racist criticism. >> we're not going anywhere. >> vice president pence was unclear whether mr. trump would stay silent, like he did for 13 seconds last week his supporters repeat their chant "send her back." >> the president was clear. >> was he? >> that he wasn't happy about it, and if it happened again, he would make an effort to speak out about it. >> hans is with us now. democrats have called special counsel robert m

hans nichols joins us from the bed minister golf clubn new jersey where mr. trump spence the week end. ynot confirmed bbc news, it may cause diplomaticdamage. that's because there'sde tanding flattering comments dati back to 2017 up to present day. in one of the early cables, the ambassador suggested that president trump might be in debt to dodgy russians, and that he was inept and insecure. the british foreign office has specifically confirmed these cable, but they are trying to distance themselves, and they ha confirmed there will be a investigation begun. >> the ambassador has not served the uk well. i can tell you that. >> rorter: the president also great lated the women's team on their world cup victory and now back at the white house. >> thank you. the president was not alone in cheering on team usa. millions of pple around the world were glued to their tv set watches u.s. women's laeam beat the nethernds to claim their fourth championship. kelly cobiella i in lyno, france, with the celebration and what's next for the women? >> repter: tonight they're t

hans nichols has this report. >> reporter: tonight iran releasi dramatic video, claiming to show the revolutionary guards seizing a briti oil tanker. commandos wearing ski masks and machine guns preparing toappel down on to the ship's decks. in london, a search for ways to de-escalate the tension. >> we're very clear that we will do what it he's the secure the safety and security of british and international shipping. >> reporter: in iran, continued defiance. >> reporter: it shouldn't come as a surprise that iran sees the british tanker on the fourth of jy an iranian super tanker was seized by the u.k. it provoked a response by the sprewell leader violence and vowed not to let it go answered. >> reporter: >> no doubt about it. no. we shot it down. >> reporter: theta ste tv showing this footage proposing it s from that very grown it clearly i view. and the pentagon announcing more u.s. troops on the way to the region. with secretary of state mike pompeo insisting that the diplomatic door is still open. he>> these are not t actions of a country that looks like it is headed in the right

nbc's hans nichols has more. >> reporter: president trump trying to stoke conflict between house speaker nancy pelosi and four minority liberal congress women. tweeting, go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came mr. trump added, so interesting to see progressive democrat congress women who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe. the president has singled out one of the women, miss omar before she's from somalia, the only one of the four congress women born outside the united states. >> i'm looking at miss omar from minnesota. she shouldn't even be in office. >> reporter: speaker pelosi denounced mr. trump's tweets as xenophobic comments meant to divide our nation while omar accused the president of stoking white nationalism because you are angry that people like us are serving in congress. other house democrats, including the assistant house speaker rallying to their colleagues' defense. >> that's a racist tweet >> reporter: in the field of 2020 democratic hopefuls piled on >> what he's trying to

nbc's hans nichols has more. >> reporter: the leak first published by the daily mail and nbc news may cause diplomatic difficulty because of president trump dating back to 2017 up to present day the united kingdom ambassador suggested that president trump mighbe in debt to dodgy russians he warned that president trump was, quote, inept, and insecure. hasn't explicitly confirmed the coent of these cables, but they are trying to disnce themselves from them and they have confirmed to nbc news that there is an investigation that will be initiated. present trump weighed in on the controversy. >> the ambassador has not served the u.k. well. i can tell you that. we're not defending that man >> reporter: before leaving new jerseythe president also congratulated the u.s. women's national team for their world cup victory. ra >> hans, thank you >> good news for president trump as the race for 2020 heats up. a new poll shows the president at his highest approval ratings ever thanks to a booming economy. however, over half of americans still disapprove of his performance. and that same poll shows

would be pursuing all options, but the government has started printing census forms without it >> hans nichols with theew president in new jersey today. thank you. >>> good news about the economy this evening the labor department saying 224,000 jobs were created last month. that's far more than expected though the unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.7% because more people were looking for jobs but the economic picture isn't so bright for everyone tom costello reports on who is working and who's still struggling. >> reporter: a long holiday weekend in chicago today where gabrielle stewart says times are good >> we have a wedding comup so, this booming economy has allowed us to save for it and have the opportunity to have a good wedding good times for millions of americans. >> reporter: today's jobs numbers suggest good times for millions of americans. the unemployment rate remains at 50-year lows government, transportation, manufacturing, and construction. though retailers june saw robust hiring in health care, government, transportation, manufacturing, and construction though retailers contin

nbc's hans nichols has more. >> reporter: dan coats over sees 17 different intelligence es, but his tenure was often at odds with president trump over issues including north korea and russia >> the white house has announced on twitter that vladimir putin is coming to the white house in the fall >> say that again? [ laughter ] >> vladimir putin -- >> did i hear you? >> yeah, yeah. >> okay. [ laughter ] >> that's going to be special. [ laughter ] >> reporter: coats also publicly contradicted the president on kim jong-un's willingness to give up his nuclear weapons. >> north korea will seek to retain its wmd capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities. >> reporter: the president announcing coats' replacement, congressman john radcliffe who impressed him during the mueller hearing last week. >> donald trump is not above the law. he's not but he darn sure shouldn't be below the law. >> reporter: amid the internal turmoil, the preside politics on twitter. doubling down on attacks against a baltimore congressman, calling him racist elijah cum

one week after his initial tweet was called racist by critics nbc's hans nichols has more. >> reporter: before returning to washington after a weekend at his bedminster golf resort, president trump sharpened his attacks on four democratic lawmakers of color characterizing them as weak and insecure, even suggesting that they are irredeemable. i don't believe the four congress women are capable of loving ourthe president tweeted. democratic lawmakers returned fire >> do you believe president trump is a racist? >> i believe he is -- yes, no doubt about it i tried to give him the benefit of the doubt >> he is somebody that is using race like a weapon to divide our country against itself >> reporter: but white house advisors defended the president, accusing democrats of playing the race card. >> you fundamentally disagree with the view that if you criticize somebody and they happen to be a different color skin, that that makes it a racial criticism >> reporter: both sides now digging in, preparing for a long battle >> we're not going anywhere. >> reporter: vice-president pence was unclear w

>>> hans nichols, nbc news washington. >>> and tonight als developing in washington has president trump firing back after highly critical leaked co ents about him by the british ambassador to the the united states. andrea mitchell has that story. >> reporter: tonight the u.s. and britain in an uproar over a diplomatic bombshese, et cables leaked to a british tabloid. in a brutal critique of president trump years,back two telling downing street the president radiates insecuricalling his administration inept and uniquely dysfunctional. the president tweeting toy i do not know the ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the u.s. we will no longer deal with him. the good news for the wonderful united kingdom is that they will soon have a new prime minister. the front runner to become prime minister, the president's favorite, boris johnson. contrary to the adresident's tweet, the ambass's highly thought of british officials. >> i do not share the esident's thoughts of the u.s. administration but i do defend his right to make tha frank assessment. >> reporter: the it brh gov

nbc's hans nichols is in florida. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you guys. president arrived back in the white house after traveling to ohio and accepting the resignation of the secretary in the morning. he departed under controversy. he's the first to leave for a decision made during the bush administration. this morning president donald trump hoping to put his past with jeffrey ensteen behind him by parting ways with his current labor secretary. >> i just want to let you know this was him, not me, because i'm with him. >> reporter: alex acosta resigning amid fallout from a 2003 plea deal with epstein which he tried to defend earlier this week. >> the goal here was straightforward, put epstein behind bars. >> reporter: but acosta faced mounting criticism for the deal he helped broker as united states attorney which resulted in epstein spending only 13 months in prison for soliciting prostitution from a minor. >> i did not think it is right and fair for this administration's labor department to have epstein as a focus rather than the incredible economy we ha