my panel mike lupica and elise jordan still here.ve seen it but i want to play it again. here's what white house press secretary sean spicer had to say. >> just very plainly, a yes or no answer, does president trump believe that the russian government interfered in the 2016 elections? >> i think i have not sat down and talked to him about that specific thing. obviously we've been dealing with a lot of other issues today. i'd be glad to touch base. >> how? how is that the answer? they were dealing with a lot of other issues like crowd sizes and calling the national parks association. this is a real answer from sean spicer? or is this a lawyered-up answer from sean spicer? >> it may in fact be real or lawyered up, we don't know, but it connects to all of those other reports that you mentioned. it's so extraordinary, that as "the new york times" reported the cia director is briefing the president about russian intelligence with someone in the room, mike flynn, who the cia, the national intelligence and the fbi agents all believe to be c

joining me now is elise jordan. in new york today and stephanie cutter, welcome both. se, lawyering up, it is what people should do, they need their own attorneys, the white house council is representing the institution of the white house and the offices. does it send a signal of any kind of nervousness as this probe is clearly preding. >> dick whenny didn't have to have his own four months into his first term. it is somebody extraordinary that so many high ranking officials are having to lawyer up in this way as they prepare for the russia probe to heat up. the president is not doing any favors by his twitter handle. >> why are you all focusing so much on his tweets about mueller, he is also tweeting about apprenticeships and other things, but this is very news worthy. these are statements by the president of the united states. he is also attacking hillary clinton in a campaign that i think ended -- >> putting aside he can't let the election go, i think the reason you're covering the tweets is because it is highly unusual for a president being investigated to be making

let's bring in elise jordan, an msnbc analyst, and peter emerson, a veteran of three democratic administrationsyou both, we'll go ladies first with you here, elise. he's been pushing this witch hunt angle for some time. does anyone believe it? >> well, i think that donald trump certainly believes that he is the source -- is the target of a huge witch hunt. and, you know, the comparisons to the salem witch trials are a little bit funny in comparison, but he certainly seems to be on edge about this investigation. you can just tell from -- if you're judging by his twitter account, which really is the main purveyor of his thoughts and his general direction of the presidency. everything comes from his twitter account and he has just been in overdrive all week, tweeting about this investigation, the unfairness of it, and also going back to hillary clinton. and i find it staggering that he is still talking about his vanquished competitor six months after he's been in the oval office. >> you kind of think that could be let go by this point. that said, peter, legally speaking what has the president open

let's bring in elise jordan, msnbc political analyst and columnist for "time" magazine and peter emersona huffington post reporter who has worked for three democratic administrations. we'll go ladies first with you, elise. does this look to you like the republicans are trying to discredit comey before he even testifies? and take it a step further. does it signal to you that comey might have something damaging on the president? >> i think senator graham is just trying to set expectations for what to expect when comey comes and testifies, because, you know, it could -- a lot of what he needs to discuss might still be classified. it's going to be interesting to see what he has to offer when he does -- when he provides his testimony on thursday. i think it's going to be one of the most watched congressional testimony of all time perhaps just because everyone is so eagerly awaiting what he has to say. however, he has been fairly measured in his previous public comments, so i do wonder how much he's going to feel -- you know, he's going to have liberty to disclose at this time. >> so, peter, t

elise jordan, columnist to rand paul's presidential campaign, matt, let me start with you. a lot of striking things. let's go back to that famous january dinner where we got this incredible detail. the president wanted comey to pledge his loyalty. the family was invited and then disinvited. comey assumed other people would be there. you reported that comey did not want to be alone with donald trump. tell us about it. >> you can see it as we look through the testimony. you can see that building. that james comey did not want to be alone with the president. he made a point of saying this is not normal. this feeling is not just me not wanting to be alone with the president. i was alone with president obama and i didn't take notes on my interaction with president obama. he's recognizing there's something weird about this and it couple minute it is a on february 15 where he pulls jeff sessions aside after the morning threat briefing and he says, you cannot leave me alone with that guy. it is inappropriate for the president to be meeting with me one on one. we're doing this inves

elise jordan, you and i both had jobs as communicators.nicate your way out of this russian bank story for jared kushner? >> well, telling the truth is always the optimal solution, but this white house is known to have a problem with that. you look at their communications response on the story, though, they had days before shauean spr gave his first press conference since the foreign trip. refused to offer a plausible explanation. day really are staying completely away from it. the president on some level has not been as robust in his defense, as he was, saying in nordstrom's cut of ivanka's line. it makes me wonder what kind of footing jared kushner is on within the family -- >> you think he's in trouble? >> i think he clearly has a problem. you made the point i really am looking at -- >> that's not good for either of us when you say -- >> this is bipartisan agreement, jared kushner, because what we're really saying here is either way it really doesn't matter. if he was meeting about business, it's not like this guy that he's meeting with

. >> let's bring in a huffington post administrator and elise jordan, msnbc political analyst and formern adviser. he's new to this? >> that was just astonishing. the fact that we're saying, oh, well, the president is new to the job. steep learning curve so we don't care about the rule of law or presidential norms. let's let him do whatever he wants because he's learning on the job. you know, maybe in some situations he can get away with that, but in others such as sending men and women to battle, i want the president to know what his job is and ignorance is not much of a defense. >> or think about anybody else who has broken the law and says, i was new to this and not familiar with the legal ramifications. law enforcement would say that's a joke. peter, to put this into perspective for us, have you ever seen lack of experience as a claim to clean uppin somethin like this? >> no. when i got my license, i explained to the officer that i just got my license and i was new to this. it didn't go well. i got a ticket. no, i haven't. the excuse that ryan is giving is both very telling because i

elise jordan, msnbc political analyst, and former senior advisor for senior rand paul. also back with us, aiesha from reuter's. the republicans are not willing to work on anything that will have the words repeal obama care nor it. >> you can't ask democrats to work with them to repeal one of their signature achievements that share most proud of. i think the common ground needs to be found with the american people. they are almost unanimous in their dislike of this big and they're not wanting to repeal the health care they currently enjoy. republicans really need to take a hard look and they will get to this week when they go home. major protests are happening. we're talking about protestors in senator gardener's office while they turn the heat up. they are in cheelchaiwheelchair children, elderly, and they're staying there to get it done. they're going to get home and face really loud music on this. >> the senators are one thing, but whatever they do they will have to send it back to the house. a lot of them ran on appealing obama care and they are voting on districts t

. >>> let's bring in health care reporter katelyn owens, erin dellmore for bustle.com and elise jordan, a former adviser to senator rand paul's campaign and "time" magazine columnist. elise, which of the five senators that have openly said they are against this is really against this, if you will, not in the bargaining space, axios was writing this morning senator dean heller was just trying to get something done, a little pork. >> you know, i really don't question the sincerity of the senators who are coming out and opposing. and you see how these are some staunch conservatives and then more moderate gop senators that we don't know where they are aligned. senator rand paul is going to oppose the bill. >> that's one person you know. >> it's amazing to work for someone who is so principled, because it's easy to say this is what he's going to do based on what his principles are, in this specific scenario. but this is disgraceful this is the best that gop congress put out there, nothing to attack the crony capitalism that is so embedded in the american health care system. it's been stunni

elise jordan, "time" columnist and adviser to rand paul's campaign. and my friend donnie back at the table. we've had a lot of conversations in private. let's not have them all on tv. >> the show has been great -- >> that was a great intro. >> seriously, you know, i think of all of us here you probably know trump the best personally. at a personal level, what is it about him that cannot do what i just said. who cannot say with confidence my victory was legitimate and i am going to be tough on russia? >> two reasons. think of an inflatable doll. if you put a pin in it it will shrivel like this. his self-esteem is so fragile that any blemish, any wart, brings into question his totality. the other thing, instead of us sitting here going he is not asking about it, he is asking about it, he just knows where it's going to go. he knows the more you connect russian meddling and donald trump -- i've said many times that this all comes down to his financial dependency on very questionable russian characters in his real estate business. follow the money. that's

. >> joining us now, jeremy bash, and also joining us, elise jordan a speech writer for condoleezza ricemsnbc political analyst. alise, a couple of things here. ted lieu says felony. some of the democratic members of the house say at least revoke the security clearance. what do we have here. >> it's at the president's discretion. he can give anyone he wants to work in his white house a clearance essentially, which is why this is so tricky. the president hags so much power to say who he wants to work in his administration. you look, already six white house staffers have left because they had their clearances revoked. he's not clearly doing that with jared kushner. he has a interim clearance. he can have that for a long time. >> what does interim mean? >> while the fbi is still conducting the full field background investigation. as of the most recent press reports, my understanding is that mr. kushner has an interim clearance. that would mean that he has access to the west wing, access to intelligence, but he doesn't have the final clearance. >> jeremy, given everything that's been reveale

. >> elise jordan is a former adviser to senator rand paul, matt cooper from "newsweek" and neera tanden from the center for american progress. good to see you. it would seem in almost six months we have gone exactly nowhere on health care. do you expect a bill or are we right back where we started? >> i think kasie had it right. it's pretty tough, it's on the skids now. there's a lot of division among republicans and i think when you have this many conservatives balking and this many moderates balking, there's just no deal to be had at the moment. >> i want to go back to something else kasie alluded to, the cbo score. they actually looked at what it would look like if you repealed and tried to replace separately, basically no mandate, no subsidies, no medicaid expansion. that would leave 32 million more insured, uninsured, about a 100% increase in premiums. that's far worse than the senate bill that exists now. 22 million uninsured, decreases premiums although through skimpier plans. why float this idea? why float separate repeal and replace right now? >> i think the republicans are rea

amy holmes, bill frist, analyst, elise jordan has worked for the state department, the national security council and the rand paul campaign, thank you so much. juan was being diplomatic, to put it lightly. he had a hard time saying yes, i do trust the president. >> well, the president hasn't shown himself to be worthy of trust by putting out so much false information and by being an embarrassment to his response in the attacks in london and showing a side of his character that really makes you question the human, basic human d.c. enspi we should have to our strong friends and allies. >> what do you make of him going after mayor sadiq khan? >> well, the mayor had tweeted a year ago something unflat ordering the mr. trump. >> is it appropriate to go after the mayor at this time? >> i think the important point was made with political capital. that's something that is very precious and very easily whittled away. >> on the question of trust, i would say there are a lot of voters who do trust that president trump realizes the threat facing the united states of america. the previous president c

. >> elise jordan. and princeton university professor, just as happy to have you. joining me from washington, my friend, chief national correspondent for "the new york times" mark liebovitz. you have to join us at the table next time. >> i probably will. >> we'll call you and book you a flight as soon as this show ends. >> i'm ready. >> what do you do with the president who does not understand the conservative policy making impulses of a republican president when it comes to crafting legislation? i mean, what is mitch mcconnell supposed to do now? >> i think if i were in his shoes, i'd want the president to go away. talk about infrastructure. >> go where? >> anything else. golf. tweet. whatever. just stay away from health care. and i actually would want this bill to fail. i think whoever owns health care as a party is going to suffer for it. and people forget yes, obama was re-elected after passing obamacare. the democratic party suffered six straight years of electoral reversals because it owned obamacare. as a political matter, putting the policy question aside,

post," jonathan swan, action yous political reporter, jake sherman, senior politico editor and elise jordanto senator rand paul's campaign, also an msnbc political analyst. let's start with health care and we'll talk about other news of the day here. as we listen to senator warren there on the floor, jake sherman, this would seem to be a preview of what we're going to see and hear play out over the next week or so as this bill is debated publicly. if you were a betting man, would you bet this bill gets a vote before july 4th? that's my first bet question. my second, if you were a betting man would you bet this bill or a bill like it gets passed out of the senate? >> i'm not a betting man, as you know. >> i didn't know actually. >> i'm kidding. it's illegal. number one, i would say that's the beginning of elizabeth warren's presidential campaign, it certainly sounds like. that's a pretty sharp speech about health care. number two, listen, the one thing, if i were mitch mcconnell that i would be worried about is members of congress saying i'm going to go home and talk to my constituents about

let's bring in elise jordan, nbc political analyst and a contributor for "time" and peter, a veterancratic administrations. with a big welcome to you both. peter, do you agree with the president? do you think the gop will push this bill through? >> no, i don't. i think they may get very close. mitch mcconnell, i think, may be one of the great majority leaders of the all time in the sense that he knows how to play the inside game. he's got a goody bag, a bag full of all sorts of wonderful candy for those recalcitrant senators. he's going to be doling them out over the next couple of days but i still think it's 60/40 against that that bill will past. >> i've heard that sentiment but i've also heard from someone who i respect a lot who says mitch mcconnell's going to get this through because republicansment to get on to tax are reeform. what part that? >> i think there's a good chance he's going to try to do everything he can and he wants to because they're in a great position to diminish the number of democratic senators in the 2018 elections but at the same time i think it's going ton

msnbc senior security analyst, juan zarate, former advisor to rand paul's campaign, elise jordan and frank bruni. frank, we were talking before we came on the air that i think original sin will be on my brain for the whole hour, but if you're talking about sessions testifying, don't you have to rewind the clock to the change in the gop platform, which for the first time ever included language pleasing to the russians, to ease the consequences for the russians for their actions, for their incursions against their neighbors. don't you need to know if sessions was part of those conversations? >> we're so hyperfocused on the early conversations and what they may or may not have shown to sway the election but there's this whole other track which is how much of it had to do with donald trump's policy and the gop's policy toward russia. they have taken a warm turn toward russia that i think is not based on what's going on in the world or any kind of common sense policy or philosophy. >> you think it's based on common sense? >> no. i listen as carefully as you do and it has not been articula

and former adviser to rand paul's campaign, elise jordan. saho, when you break these numbers down, they're stark. 22 million people will lose their insurance over the next ten years over the senate plan. how do moderates -- >> these are tough politics, stephanie. certainly 22 million people over ten years. in 2018 alone it will be 15 million alone according to the cbo. a $770 million medicaid cut, making republicans nervous. some people in states like west virginia and ohio have opioid epidemics and the medicaid cuts would hit some of the most vulnerable among them. mitch mcconnell has a tough fight to get to 50 votes in the senate. there is a path, however, and i would keep a close eye on this for the conservatives, mike lee, ted cruz, ron johnson, more deregulation, more flexibility, more opt-outs for states could get the job done with them. for the moderates, some of these numbers in opioid states, mitch mcconnell has about $200 billion that he can spare given the reconciliation rules and based on what the cbo says. this bill saves more c

there is a political analyst by the name of elise jordan.sked by the host these tapes apparently didn't exist between the president of the united states and mr. comey. and then she has the sound bite of the day. listen to this. >> it's a sad day when you cannot depend on the president's word and my advice would be just to republicans who do cozy up to him it's like hugging a suicide bomber he blows you up in the process with him. ainsley: that's a little harsh. i was proud of the host craig said that's a little strong. she doubled down. she said hugging a suicide bomber, what? ed: steve scalise and others shot on baseball field. others saying we are going to tone down the rhetoric. we are going to reach across the aisle. everyone needs to tone down look at johnny depp and what hollywood is saying. >> trump i think he needs help. [laughter] when was the last time an actor assassinated a president? [cheers] >> i'm going to clarify, i'm not an actor. [laughter] >> i lie for a living. however, it's been a while. and maybe it's time. steve: extra

and elise jordan. welcome back, good to see you.r wray to be the new fbi director. he served george w. bush. >> in a couple of hours, dan coats is set to testify this morning. the meeting came less than a week after coats have been sworn in and two days after james comey testified at capitol hill that the fbi is investigating of the trump campaign and possible collusion of russia. >> he sent a statement, "he has never felt pressured by the president or anyone else in the administration to influence any intelligence matters or ongoing investigations. >> comey told jeff sessions that he do not want to be left alone with president trump. >> comey approached sessions back in february, the day after being pressured by the president, comey reported t the -- the suggestion from the president was inappropriate. new details this morning on torney general jeffessions falling out ofavor with the president. abc news was first t report, at one point, sessions offered to resign. the new york times report, he told the president that he ne needed f

elise jordan said supporting trump is like hugging a suicide bomber. after the mock stabbing of president trump at a play in central park, new york, sponsored by "the new york times," sponsored by time warner. the outrageous severed head incident from the so-called comedienne, kathy griffin. and they won't stop. we've been saying it for months, the left can't keep its trump hatred bottled up. it is so virulent, it bursts out all over. the democrat leadership should tell them that, a, you are creating an atmosphere of violence and it's dangerous, knock it off; and, b, we're fed up with; and, c, it's not helping you. doesn't look like senior democrats understand this. their language remains inflammatory. johnny depp still spews his nonsense. i guess they just can't help themselves. the third hour of "varney & company" is about to begin. ♪ ♪ stuart: we have just received this from the white house, a statement in response to the comments from johnny depp. p quote, president trump has condemned violence in all its forms, and it's sad that others like johnny

. >> joining us, elise jordan. >> this is very important.ski? >> pretty awesome. >> i love that dress. i would be very happy to borrow that dress. >> well, biana has this and told me to get it. >> how honored are you to be here in her presence? isn't it a blessing? >> it's more funny when we do it to you. nbc legal correspondent ari melber. >> blessed, blessed. >> capitol hill justice department spokesperson and msnbc justice and security analyst matthew miller. also nbc chief white house correspondent, hallie jackson. hallie, we'll start with you. chris ruddy firing back at the white house, what is he saying? >> he's essentially saying, yeah, i'm one of the few allies you have left. don't try to undermine me. in a statement to nbc news, basically pushing back on the pushback from sean spicer talking about the source he he has spoken with regarding this apparent consideration of the president firing potentially bob mueller, as mr. ari will explain, the president doesn't have the authority to do that. in the sense i get from talking with sour

bush white house, elise jordan, and donny deutsch is with us. played out on our show yesterday morning, president trump's renewed push for a travel ban following the terror attack on monday. on saturday night he tweeted, we need the travel ban as an extra layer of safety. yesterday morning he fired off a series of tweets evidently responding to a segment on msnbc's "morning joe" as the "wall street journal" editorial board points out. he called the travel ban a watered down version of the original and criticized his own department of justice. last night he said, that's right, we need a travel ban for certain dangerous countries. legal experts say trump's tweets could complicate the administration's effort to defend that travel ban in court. even george conway, a prominent conservative lawyer and the husband of white house adviser kelly aanne conway is suggestin the president's comments could significantly hurt his case. he writes, quote, these tweets may make some people feel better, but they certainly won't help the office of the slis tore john

bush white house elise jordan, and chairman of the department of african-american studies at princeton, he heddie, and nbc n capitol hill reporter casey hunt. also with us from washington, and we might as well give you a quick swing at this, what do republicans on the hill think when you have the president who has them running around ignoring the russians meddling in our election side of it, instead let's just look at the leaks and on the other side the political fight possibly of some of their lives on health care reform. they jump over a cliff or president trump and then president trump over the weekend says the bill they passed was mean. >> reporter: look, i think they would rather he maybe stay out f of it a little bit for a little while while they finish counting the votes. there are some people he could call that would help. i think there is a feeling he is not aware of the landscape and could potentially do more harm than good, shall we say, if he were to try to make changes to this. i think there's a sense he doesn't necessarily have his head around the policy that will lead to

still with us, mike barnicle, sam stein, elise jordan, and joining the conversation in washington, jakeake. we're hours away from seeing the draft health care bill. many of those voting on it are still waiting to read it. they want the details. and yet, majority leader mitch mcconnell will seek a vote before the end of the week. -- end of next week. a discussion draft of the bill is reported to include deep cuts to federal medicaid funding, a repeal of all aca taxes except on high-cost cadillac plans and it eliminates all federal funding for planned parenthood. it is believed to differ from the house bill in that it ties federal insurance subsidies to income, not age, provides more gradual cuts to the state's expanded medicaid funding than the house bill while offering deeper long-term medicate cuts. unlike the house, it will let federally subsidized health care plans cover abortions. last night in iowa president trump told his supporters he urged senators to craft a more expensive bill than the one passed by the house. >> i think, and i hope, can't guarantee anything, but i hope we're