one's michael beckel joins us now for a discussion on congressional leadership pac's and how congressses the money that flows through the. before we get to that report, remind viewers what issue one is. guest: issue one is a relatively based here in washington, d.c. dedicated to political reform. that makes usngs unique as we are certainly bipartisan and our mission. we have put together coalition of former members of congress, former governors, more than 200 from all 50 states, both parties, almost a 50/50 split between democrats and republicans, all urging for more transparency in election, more government accountability, so we are very active on ethics issues and political reform issues. host: and how do you go about doing that? guest: we do a number of things. we have got a small policy team working here in washington at the capital, pushing for new legislation. and i am the head of our research program. i am a former reporter who spent a long time covering money in politics, and we are issuing a number of different reports, tracking some of the trends that we are seeing as well a

using -- for expenses, michael beckel.f we just look at the last tragic act, we are not doing a service to our veterans. i said today at the coalition to prevent veterans homelessness, we need to take a strong look at homelessness, addiction, and mental health. at the v.a. for mental health is $9.5 billion, yet we have not even reached the spot next stage in this country -- the spot next stage in this country in terms of getting our arms around it. i support a whole health approach to tackle veterans suicide. the great tragedy for me is of commitveterans who suicide, one or two are on active duty every day. another 10 we have never seen before. we need to work closely with the states and localities, nongovernmental organizations, veterans who we have no contact with, and i have seen in many cities, places like new orleans, jacksonville, houston, where the charities go where the v.a. can't. and i think that will be one of the keys in getting our arms around it, but again, it is much larger than veterans. we must be the visi

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michael beckel will talk about his group's report examining the loophole federal lawmakers are using to pay for personal expenses. watch washington journal live saturday 8:00 eastern -- saturday at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> cindy mccain gave the commencement address at george washington university. she says her husband john mccain taught her about dignity and character. this is 15 minutes. minutes. [applause] >> thank you. thank you so much. i am so deeply honored to be here and especially to be here to enjoy this afternoon with the graduates. i want to thank you for inviting me to join you on this special day. it's a privilege for me to add my voice to the chorus of congratulations you'll receive today, to celebrate your achievements and to share a little of you, your and your family's joy. you have acquired a quality education which no doubt demanded considerable effort on your part. well done. you deserve all of the nice things people will say to you today and i get to be one of the first to say them, thank you. and congratulations are also in order as has been mentioned before today

michael beckel will talk about his group's report examining the loophole federal lawmakers are using to pay for personal expenses. watch washington journal live saturday 8:00 eastern -- saturday at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> cindy mccain gave the commencement address at george washington university. she says her husband john mccain taught her about dignity and character. this is 15 minutes. minutes.

he will go with the first lady, to beckel ham ball lass. that's a skate 1 dinner. this has been delied so many movrntds, so many protests today is about pomp. tomorrow is all about politics the president is also meeting with cerese is a may the president has weighed in, thousanding his support behind london mayor or secretary. he's said that he thinks that michael is goingling to wide on friday that makes us walkward but thank you. >>> an out-of-control cruise ship ran into a vok in venice. one of the cables broke, causing it to career off officials say there were 140 people on the ship they are using this as a canal >>> awarding to the fa, 737 max, may have faulty wring parts. the edge can be susceptible failure or cracks.nning to replay customers to its countries. police shared this of a compromise levee warning that the prize are laster let's go to gabe gutierrez >> there is a watt all of that tatter but totter extends more than yo can see here at ryan but, ol' ol'. it's up to rooftops and not expected done per day. >> reporter: we toured ft. smith. and homes we

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we are talking with michael beckel this morning on issue one. charlie from new york, on the independent line? caller: good morning. to change the corruption in our government, we will have to change words. when somebody gives a politician to pay this, it is called a bribes. yet we are calling it we will be right back. money. we should call it what it is. it is the power of words. and this will help us get what we need. this money out of our government. guest: it is a very important issue. i think there are a lot of semantics and word games played in washington. clearly, we know that contributions to leadership pacs are part of the way that money flows into politics from very well-connected special interests. and most constituents and americans who might be inclined to make a small-dollar donation to their preferred candidate are not the people funding most leadership pacs. clearly, the relationship between money and policy outcomes is of the concern to us at issueone. host: as part of them way that these groupsfrom to politicians, can you tell u

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also joining us, michael beckel of issue one.e talk about the new report, examining the loopholes federal lawmakers are using to pay for personal expenses. watch c-span's washington journal live 7:00 eastern. join the discussion. expertsmiddle east talk about president trump's -- for iran, posted by the public -- the hudson institute. this is an hour and 30 minutes. >> good afternoon. thank you for coming. we have a fantastic panel here. we have a fantastic c-span audience, as well, so welcome. let me just introduced briefly our esteemed panel. all the way to the left is my colleague, michael doran. j solomon, author and journalist , also a fellow at the washington institute. to his right, rebeccah heinriches at hudson institute. and to my left is my friend and colleague, ray takeyh, joining us from the council on foreign relations. so the subject of our panel is mexican -- maximum presse.