and brian mcguire. he served as chief of staff for senate majority leader mitch mcconnell from 2014 to may of this year. he's now a lobbyist. welcome to both of you. we appreciate your coming. michael steele, how serious do you think this split is between the president and republican leaders? >> well, i think you have the look at it differently than almost anything we've seen in american history. president trump is unique. he's the first american president who nerve served in elected office or in high military office. so we shouldn't expect his relations with congressional leaders to be the norm. that having been said, these attacks, this tension is stupid. it is counterproductive. it doesn't help get big things done for the american people. so at this point i know congressional leaders are continuing to work, to do the hard work on things like tax reform and infrastructure to get those things done. the president right now simply isn't helping. >> woodruff: brian mcguire, how serious, how real is this s