let me start with you, charlie sykes, charlie psywhches. 's your reaction to paul ryan's announcement? >> well, i've kno for 20 years, which means i'm old enough to remember when he was the future of the republican party. so it's kind of a bittersweet moment. he had the worst job in american politics. he has an uncroabl caucus and a completely undisciplined esident. and i think he tried to make the very, very best of it. but, ultimately, the-- you be, the reality is that the american republican party right now is donald trump's party, not paul ryan's party. and the base was just not into many of the things that he wanted to do. >> woodruff: chris buskirk, he tried to make the best of it. how do you sethi announcement? >> well, i don't know. i don't drink, but if i did, iwo d have had champagne for breakfast this morning. i think it's a good day for the party. i think anything-- you kno it's a bit of both i think heading into the midterms. but if anything,nk it's slightly positive. i mean this-- what we have seen with paul ryan i somebody wh

many of you recognize charlie sykes from his time on msnbc started when his name came to our attention by conservative radio talkshow host in milwaukee wisconsin he has written a polemic how the right has lost its mind. a reagan biographer is

charlie sykes, you recognize him from his time particularly now on nbc and msnbc. started in his name first came to all of our attention as the conservative radio talk soho in milwaukee, wisconsin. charlie has written a book entitle how the right lost its mind. and craig shirley, a renowned reagan biographer, is actually presenting two books today, his most recent look, on reagan,

charlie sykes, someone who has known him a very long time and randy bryce running for paul ryan's seatwant to start with you, charlie. your reaction to today's news. >> i was surprised that he decided to do it now as opposed to later. but it was pretty obvious that paul ryan was not going to be the next speaker of the congress. it certainly is an inflection point for the republican party when you think about it wasn't that long ago that paul ryan was the future of the republican party. but i also want to say, you know, that you remember, chris, that you and i were actually together in this way. on the night of october 7th, 2016. that was the day the access hollywood video came out. >> i know that day. >> we all remembered that day. but you remember that that day, we were talking about what would happen. and the next day, trump was scheduled to appear with paul ryan down in racine. i remember telling you that it wouldn't happen. it would not take place. i didn't know how it was not going to take place but i knew this was going to be a red line. and than that paul ryan was deeply offende

attorney. >> let me go with that to charlie sykes., the president today watched the prosecutor, the guy he doesn't like at all, that's bob mueller, light the fuse. that fuse leads right into what's his name's office, cohen's office, michael cohen's office. all that stuff is in there. it's about to ignite against him. all the stuff he tried to keep from us in terms of his tax returns. he is very -- and i don't blame him in a sense. new york business, i can't even imagine what it's like, who you have to pay to get something put up to get one stone put on top of another. i don't know what it costs to move anything in new york with the unions and who knows what in the underworld and the councilmen and the crapola of politics up there. what do you make of it? should he fire the guy now? shoot the moon, fire everybody, fire all the way through rosenstein or through sessions, get to mueller, get him out of there and hope he has a better chance with another prosecutor. nixon did it. he ended up with jaworski. he still got thrown out. >> david

charlie sykes. let me start with you, kasie where the news broke. there were rumors and stories about the possibility of ryan leaving the speaker. why today? >> reporter: there had been rumors and that because the speaker was talking to people about whether or not it was a good idea to stay on. his official team would deny, deny, deny, deny that he was going anywhere. of course, that's sort of the political reality you find yourself in when something like this is going on. we just came back from a two-week easter recess. the speaker said he was going to discuss with his wife what he was going to do. the process in wisconsin for getting on the ballots kicks off april 15th. this was a decision he ahehad t make. the timing is interesting because it's risky. it sets up a six month period where the fighting could be fieging among itself. you could have a conservative insurgency try to say they don't want him to be speaker for this intervening time. gh he gets to leave on his own terms instead of losing the majority and his gavel. he said that he wanted t

charlie sykes, i'm going to resist the tempt taking to say swamp, swampy, swampier, swampiest. on this scott pruitt scandal. >> well, you know -- i won't resist the temptation. because the swamp keeps getting swampier. you know, this is a president who's surrounds himself with grifters so there's a pattern here. there's no question that this is the kind of behavior that we've seen so common within this administration. but i suspect pruitt might survive because, number one, what he's doing so is central to the trump agenda. the president sees him as effective. he's popular with the conservative base. he's getting air cover from conservative media. in what alternative universe do we think that donald trump is going to hold members of his cabinet to a strict standard of ethical probity? i've often thought if it wasn't for the russia investigation, we would be talking about the kleptocracy, the self-dealing, the nepotism, the use of government power to enrich themselves. but, you know, this is -- this is the new normal here in the trump swamp. >> eugene, and but, you could say all

joining me now, charlie sykes, longtime conservative radio host, author.on't know if you, like me, describe yourself as a recovering or non-practicing republican, but those are words. those are just words. not one of those men has done anything to protect bob mueller's investigation. >> that's exactly right. this is a moment where they have to draw that red line now because you know that donald trump thinks this is an existential threat to his presidency, and all the voices in his head are telling him, fire mueller. fire rosenstein. and, you know, all the accounts that we're getting are these he's thinking about it. he's moving toward it. there's no grown-up in the room that i know of who is laying out what a disaster this would be. it's good that they're speaking out, but it's not sufficient. until mitch mcconnell and paul ryan make it absolutely clear that this is their red line, that they won't tolerate this, and by the way that's also -- that's the smart political move. yes, it might tick off the president. there might be a tweet storm about all of thi

and charlie sykes of course is contributing editor for the weekly standard and msnbc contributor. t me go to charlie in the field in milwaukee. what do you think? is this dance with the one mr. president, you're losing your audience if you don't build the wall a wall? >> if only somebody warned ann coulter before she wrote "in trump we trust." this president is never going to get that far from his base. obviously he spent the weekend with the menagerie of misfit toys that were whispering in his ear. you lost on the wall. you to do something. you to blame somebody. you need to go back to this playbook of blaming the chinese or blaming the mexicans. and i think that's what he is doing. i'm actually not sure that anne coulter is right. what we've seen about the trump base is that they don't seem to hold him accountable for whether he actually accomplishes anything. they just want to see him fighting. and i think that's what you're seeing over the weekend, you know, his easter celebration by talking about deporting young children and the whole daca thing. i think again this is the conc

charlie sykes and beth eddie and elise. the climate may be changing quickly for the epa administrator another bad headline came out in the past few minutes. could another cabinet secretary be on his way out under the slew of controversies. at planters, we put fresh roasted flavor into every can, which has its drawbacks. guys, know anything about this missing inventory? wasn't me! the cheeks don't lie, chet... irresistibly planters. >>> republicans con proehl both chambers of congress but that is not stopping hopefuls from ramping up the anti-washington rhetoric. this ad from west virginia attorney general patrick morici running the republican soebts primary. >> let's take on washington with our west virginia conservative values. let's not just change washington, let's blow it up and reinventing it. we'll take up washington and keep their hands on our guns and stop the proabortion agenda. i'm the conservative fighter. >> he just destroyed the white house. but it doesn't mean anti-trump. he was seated next to the president to

charlie sykes with the weekly standard and msnbc contributor. and eugene robinson, columnist at "the washington post," also an msnbc contributor. kristen, this story is this new or is this something you've been enterprising for several weeks, like calling the president an idiot or making fun of his lack of knowledge. that a fresh development or something you've only now been able to report? >> well, it's something we've been working on for several weeks, chris. but i can tell you we've spoken to a number of current and former administration officials who say that he has used that term over a period of time, going back to charlottesville. you remember the big controversy surrounding the president's comments in charlottesville. and then most recently as you just talked about, when they were discussing daca, trying to get a deal done on immigration. and of course those talks fell apart. privately john kelly using the term "idiot" to describe the president. publicly some of those frustrations bubbled up into public view. remember, john kelly went on

charlie sykes. and jonathan lemire, white house reporter for the associated press. every one of you an msnbc contributor. thank god for us. let me start with you on these two big sort of chunks of what is now public, but obviously was known and perhaps something you assumed for a long time. bob mueller is not freelancing. he was given direction from deputy attorney general rod rosenstein and we know a little bit more about the scope of that investigation, but it specifically included getting to the bottom of whether or not paul manafort colluded with russia. >> yeah. so manafort's defense has been to attack the special counsel, mueller. his defense has been, you're indicting me for a real estate transactions in brooklyn, dude, i thought you were supposed to be focused on russian collusion. what mueller responded is that's exactly what i'm focused on and your real estate transactions and your dealings in the ukraine, they're all about collusion, they're all about obstruction, and he has his footnote six, mueller does, we law professor love footnotes, footnote six say

. >> joining me, host of the daily standard pot cast, charlie sykes. enior advisor to jeb bush and former spokesman for michael boehner, michael steele. welcome, both. charlie, out there in normally red -- i guess it is not always red -- wisconsin -- >> purple. >> -- purple wisconsin, let's talk about the trump factor. it is fascinating both parties are filtering everything true trump, just obviously taking different sides. >> yeah. we are a bellwether state here in wisconsin. that supreme court election earlier this week was -- we're way past a wake-up call now this is a frickin' red flag for republicans. because there is no question about it this national trend which democrats and liberals are more motivated is showing up in these elections. i'll tell you, there are a lot of folks who are saying that on the freak-out scale of 1 to 10, that this is a 10. again, the irony as you pointed out is that even while this is happening, even while you have liberals more motivated and republicans losing some of the independents, particularly in the suburbs, what'

many of you recognize charlie sykes from his time on msnbc started when his name came to our attention by conservative radio talkshow host in milwaukee wisconsin he has written a polemic how the right has lost its mind. a reagan biographer is presenting two books ronald reagan and every authorized biography the making of a reagan conservative. [applause] i will start asking the authors and the impact they hope it would have. >> it is a joy to be with you all. i am a scholar of public opinion with the conversations that i have liar people getting things wrong or making the choices that they are? in my mind if you take that to the extreme we are not capable to have that democracy so instead of asking what are they getting wrong how are they understanding their world? so the book is focused on wisconsin but people in rural small towns research was in wisconsin and to listen to people so i wrote the book so look at what the small places in my state to understand the feeling that many people have about not being respected and overlooked how that comes from real experience hoping for somethi

. >> charlie sykes, good to see you, victoria defrancesco, good to see you as well. >>> why a house republican is comparing the investigation into russia, including his own, to the tv show "gossip girls." hello mom. amanda's mom's appointment just got rescheduled - for today. amanda needs right at home. our customized care plans provide as much - or as little help - as her mom requires. whether it's a ride to the doctor or help around the house. oh, of course! tom, i am really sorry. i've gotta go. look, call right at home. get the right care. right at home. vojimmy (shouting): james!as been jimmy's longest. he's survived record rain and a supplier that went belly up. so while he's proud to have helped put a roof over the heads of hundreds of families, he's most proud of the one he's kept over his own. brand vo: get the most out of your money, whether you're using quickbooks smart invoicing to get paid twice as fast or automatically tracking your mileage. smarter business tools for the world's hardest workers. quickbooks. backing you. >>> russian media is reporting today president trump has in

charlie sykes, you recognize him from his time particularly now on nbc and msnbc. started in his name first came to all of our attention as the conservative radio talk soho in milwaukee, wisconsin. charlie has written a book entitle how the right lost its mind. and craig shirley, a renowned reagan biographer, is actually presenting two books today, his most recent look, on reagan, reagan rising and a new authorized he biography of newt gingrich. citizen newt, the make offering a reagan conservative. please joan my in welcoming our panelists. [applause] >> i want to start with asking each of the authors to share with us why they wrote the book they wrote, and the impact they hoped it would have. i'm going to start with kathy. >> thank you so much, caroltime it's a joy to be with you all. thank you for inviting me. i am a scholar of public opinion, which means often time his conversations that i have are about why are people getting things wrong. people ask in why are make make thing choices they are, what is wrong with them? i don't like that question because in my m

charlie sykes said, look, give him credit for the stiff upper lip, but no he didn't, referring to accomplishing what you came to do. it will be trumpism over ryanism and that must be a bitter pill to swallow. >> i don't see things like that. one of the first things that i did was tax reform and it was not done since i've gotten my driver's license. it's done. since becoming speaker, i spent great time with our intelligence community, becoming greatly concerned about the state of the military. and so i really focused on the rebuild of the military and that is you in done and under way and i am very, very pleased with that. enterprise zones. i worked with enterprise zones when i worked with jack kemp. there are so many things and the one thing that obviously i care a great deal about is entitlement reform and in particular health care entitlement reform. i feel gratified that ever since i was budget chair of the house, every term passed a budget to balance the budget and pay down the debt. we have not gotten it through the senate or the white house. he passed the health care bill through the hous

i want to bring back peter alexander, and charlie sykes, host of the daily standard podcast and msnbc contributor as pete waits for the briefing to get under way. let me ask you, charlie, about this back and forth. clearly a lot of this is getting under the president's skin. in the "new york times," maggie haberman wrote, for years mr. trump treated mr. cohen with gratuitous insults, dismissive statements at least twice threats of being fired. he tweeted against her, which is not new. it's not like it's shocking that he goes out against the "new york times." having said that, what do you think this is striking such a nerve and would he consider a pardon for his old friend? >> well, it hits a nerve, because, look. michael cohen has the crown jewels. this is why they are so concerned about all of this. because -- what's interesting, by the way. it's worth repeating, that not even the president's strongest supporters are saying, hey, the president's completely innocent. michael cohen has nothing that would be embarrassing or incriminating. the assumption, he would flip and it would be a

i want to bring in charlie sykes, an msnbc contributor hope tapes. [ laughter ] >> look, sean hannity had no legal obligation to disclose his relationship with michael cohen, but if there is anything remaining of journalistic ethics at fox news, he certainly needed to disclose that fact when he was going on and on and on talking about michael cohen, the raid on michael cohen and this entire, you know, legal proceeding here. in your previous discussion, are there any standards any longer? we've talked a lot about being in a post-factual political world. you kind of wonder whether over there you are in a post-ethical political world as well. >> eric deggins makes a point there are rules for people like me who are journalists and there should be some rules, accepted standards for people who are pundits. and you are one. but sean hannity walks a slightly different rope. he's on -- he may be on the other side of even those standards that apply to normal pundits. but i guess a lot of people are these days, charlie. >> well, that's true. this is one of the ways which we have changed our unde

. >> charlie sykes summed up one of the biggest dumpster fire days in twitter history yesterday when he said -- and it's only thing i tweeted other than being very excited about the "homeland" finale starting. the lack of self awareness is jarring. >> yeah. so i was on vacation last week. i deleted my twitter app from my phone, unplugged and turned it on on sunday. >> no. >> i have to do that for my job. it was like walking into a bar fight. i had no idea why everybody was at each other's head. revolving door, turn right around and walk out. >> you should have went back on holiday. >> i almost did. i feel like that's what people who don't saturate themselves in the news cycle. we might overinflate. >> it's a tough room, it's a tough business. i understand the pressure she was under. that wasn't my cup of tea. it's art. i don't like judging art like that. >> by the way, as my law professor always taught me about the first amendment, it's time, place, manner. for instance, if they had invited linny bruce to come speak during, you know, the early kennedy years, they would get lenny bruc

c-span shirley and charlie sykes life coverage on booktv. [inaudible conversations] >> welcome to the tenth annual tucson book festival if you were here with us in gallagher hall and watching us live on c-span today.