one of my frustrations, talk dodd david remnick with "the new yorker" about this earlier today was the fact that we seem to be captive to just one person. and the failings of one person when, in fact, we have a democracy with three separate equal branches. we've got checks and balances. and yet, this president has refused to comply with congressional subpoenas from the start. >> right. >> of this administration. now, i know democrats are concerned about that. but republicans and small government, conservatives, people like myself, that have talked about madisonian democracy our entire lives about checks and balances and pushing back the imperial presidency should be concerned. how concern are you that they're asking for additional information regarding, quote, whether this is a political question or not? and how important is it that the supreme court does the right thing and actually curbs the power of the imperial presidency? so that republican presidents, democrat presidents and independent presidents can't ignore the request? >> you're so right, joe, stemming from the days when the

so, david remnick -- >> is someone going to tell him?ove reading what you wrote on election night. it was so prescient. this is what david posted at 2: 00 a.m. election night. the election of donald trump to the presidency is nothing less than a tragedy for the american public. a tragedy for the constitution. a triumph for the forces at home and aboard, of nativism, authoritarian, misogyny, and racism. trump's shocking victory -- i have to keep reading. his ascension to the presidency is a sickening event in the history of the united states and liberal democracy. david, of course, i'm always pollyannis pollyannish. i run around telling everybody it'll be okay. usually it is. i have to say, you nailed it on election night. you're calling this a precyst g i -- pre-existing conditions. we could have put in clips where he said, "article 2 gives me absolute power." this is his view of power. it is a completely ignorant view of power. he doesn't know the system better than anybody. in fact, you could look at those clips and say that perhaps he

joining us is david remnick. the "washington post," david ignatius. >> david, we were talking about the president of the united states not wanting -- david ignatius, we were talking about the president of the united states not wanting to hear facts that actually go against, go against what he is trying to rush. i would call it the propaganda that he is trying to push. we had an incident in the united states navy this past week, something that i know breaks the heart of many people from my hometown of pensacola, florida, a navy town, where you actually had a captain on a ship desperate to save the lives of the people on that ship. he got fired. you've actually spoken to the assistant secretary of the navy who stepped in it further questioned by attacking that captain. >> calling him stupid. >> now, you have many calling for his resignation. what can you tell us? >> joe, i've described this as a morality play at sea, and it is that. it invokes some of the great sea stories we grew up reading. here, we have the capt

ap's julie pace and the new yorker's david remnick.for being on this morning. >>> still ahead on "morning joe," while many countries locked down hard in the face of the pandemic, sweden opted for a different approach. nbc's richard engel is there with a look at what's working and what is not. "morning joe" is back in a moment. since 1926, nationwide has been on your side. we've been there in person, during trying times. today, being on your side means staying home... "nationwide office of customer advocacy." ...but we can still support you and the heroes who are with you. we're giving refunds on auto insurance premiums, assisting customers with financial hardships, and our foundation is contributing millions of dollars to charities helping with covid-19 relief. keeping our promise to be on your side. more than ever, your home is your sanctuary. that's why lincoln offers you the ability to purchase a new vehicle remotely with participating dealers. an effortless transaction- all without leaving the comfort- and safety of your home. that