hackett herself. the flip side of the coin, you might receive the benefits but you have to prove you are looking for a work. who are these people? these are people that have been out of work for 27 weeks and more, a half of year dell. so this allows them to keep looking for a job. and the president with all of those faces around him cheering him on when he talked about how much they wanted to find a job. >> thank both of you. 12:15 east coast time. the president speaking for approximately 25 minutes. when we come back, we'll talk about what a lot of you are talking about, that being that it is very, very cold outside. we'll talk about what is driving these cold temperatures. the ongoing cleanup efforts and how the fallout could effect the safety of americans >> are dangerous amounts of radioactive water, leaking into the pacific eververyday? >> join america tonight's michael okwu for an exclusive four part series, as we return to fukushima only on al jazeera america >> are dangerous amounts of radioac

my name is katherine hackett, and i am from mudus, connecticut.i am very grateful that president obama invited me here today in response to a letter that i wrote to him about the discontinuation of federal unemployment insurance. i am unemployed. and i will be significant liv lived -- significantly affected by this decision. i am working very hard every day to look for a position. in the interim, unemployment benefits have been absolutely essential to cover my bare necessities. i have cut expenses everywhere possible, and i am not just sitting home enjoying the good life. my cuts incloud heating my house to 58 degrees, wearing a hat and a coat to stay home because oil is expensive. i have lost weight because food is expensive. as a single mother, i worked many different jobs, and never asked for a handout, while i raised two wonderful boys. both of my sons are serving in the u.s. military. it was very hard for me to let one of my boys serve a year in afghanistan, but i did, and he was proud to serve his country. i hope our leaders in washington ca

hackett. >> reporter: that's right. she personified the issues and this is something that communication specialists do quite often. she rebutted one of the principle republican arguments and arms from opponents of this extension of those long-term benefits that you talk about, and that is unemployment benefits discourage people from going out and finding a job. there is a great deal of terror controversy about that. president obama went out of his way, as well as ms. hackett, to state that was fault. here is basically where we are, tony. on december 28th because congress did not act to extend those long-term unemployment benefits. keep in mind this is an extension beyond six months. if you get on unemployment officially you get six months from your state. after that the federal government in tough times will extend those benefits. this time congress before leaving for the holidays did not extend the benefits, the results o1.3 million people including ms. hackett oh lost their unemployment bene

it is really the right thing to do and smart thing to do because people like katherine hackett, there with the president, she and 1.3 million others didn't get their check yesterday. they are making unconscionable choices between their food and their heat. she talked about keeping the heat at 58 degrees and always having to wear a coat and hat. she's lost 15 pounds during her remarkably tragic journey. she's looking for work every day. and that's what people are doing. and this lifeline they are getting has been cut off. we need to restore it. >> is there any hint -- you've been in meeting with the president today and others in the white house, any hint though of real talks going on? any compromise going on behind the scenes there? >> well, again, the president is always open to good ideas and we -- he continued yesterday talking to members of the senate. he will continue to talk to others and frankly he's had a number of things on the table in terms of investing in job creation. there's been a number of people saying you don't have a plan for jobs -- actually, that's not right. the p

robin hackett, who does have weed, america. she has not run out.ingold, thank you both very much for joining me tonight. >> thanks for having me. >> thank you.

but, you know, people like kathryn hackette and others have already lost their lifeline. and they can't afford to wait three, four, five weeks while you find long-term solutions. that's why it was so important, and i'm so heartened by the fact that the senate acted today. >> so is that a yes, you are open to that potential compromise, you're willing to at least consider offsets in spending in order to pay for this? >> well, again, i hope that the congress does what senators heller and reid have put forth today. i think that's the preferred way to go, because people are in a catastrophe. a state of catastrophe. >> i know that's your preference. but i'm only asking if you can't get that through the house of representatives, would he be willing to compromise? >> i think we should cross those bridges when we come to them. i'm confident that when people continue to hear from their constituents at home, which they have been hearing from, they're going to see that we need to act now. and we need to do this extraordinary fix, and then we need to solve the problem in the long-term

robin hackett, who does have weed, america. she has not run out., thank you both very much for joining me tonight. >> thanks for having me. >> thank you. >> chris hayes is up next. >>> good evening from new york. i'm chris hayes. the first battle of the year, extending unemployment insurance will get a vote tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and today the battle lines were being drawn. today congress is back in session with the first big fight of this election year. the issue, extending unemployment insurance to 1.3 million of the long-term unemployed who have lost their benefits just three days after christmas. democrats want the benefits extended.

joining me now is katherine hackett, who met with president obama today. thank you for coming on "the ed show" tonight. >> it's my pleasure. >> katherine, what did you talk to the president about? what did you tell him? >> in my letter or do you mean today? >> today. >> today, i thanked him for reading my letter because i really didn't think that letters to the president were looked at, but here i am today. it's been quite an experience. i see that he's quite the advocate for those of us who are looking for jobs and i think he totally understands that this is a great necessity to keep people like me going while we are looking for a job, which i do daily. >> katherine, what do you think has been your biggest stumbling block getting back into the economy? >> for me, it's the jobs that i'm able to do. there's quite a few stumbling blocks. i'm a nursing home administrator. there's only 241 nursing homes in the state of connecticut. i'm hoping new jobs are made available through the affordable care act that i may qualify for. >> what happens if you don't get th

robin hackett, who does have weed, america. she has not run out. robin hackett and john ingold, thank you both very much for joining me tonight. >> thanks for having me. >> thank you. presidents can invade countries, not that that's a great thing that i would advise him to do. i think a president has to approach every new year and every new day with the idea of being the protagonist and of trying to move forward an agenda. and the president has tools to do that. >> howard, he said he is an introspective individual. cover him the way that covering him the way you have, do you think he looks at 2014 as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, and if so how then to move forward? >> i think he has been in washington long enough to know there are no clean slates anymore. and i don't think he is naive enough to think he has one coming into the state of the union address later this month. but i also think president obama plays a deep game. he plays a long-range game. he has a -- as aloof as he can be, he has the gift of perspective. and i think that he wan

my name is kathryn hackette and i am from connecticut.eful that president obama invited me here today, in response to a letter that i wrote to him about the discontinuation of federal unemployment insurance. i am unemployed. and i will be significantly affected by this decision. job loss is devastating, and i am working very hard every day to look for a position. in the interim, unemployment benefits have been absolutely essential to cover my bare necessities. i have cut expenses everywhere possible, and i am not just sitting home, enjoying the good life. my cuts include heating my house to 58 degrees, wearing a hat and a coat to stay warm, because oil is expensive. i have lost weight, because food is expensive. as a single mother, i worked many different jobs, and never asked for a handout. while i raised two wonderful boys. both of my sons are serving in the u.s. military. it was very hard for me to let one of my boys serve a year in afghanistan, but i did. and he was proud to serve his country. i hope our leaders in washington can find

the owner, robin hackett is one of the many sellers rationing their product. >> unless the department of revenue makes some changes, we'll be out of marijuana in the next ten days. >> reporter: adding to the green rush, tourists from all walks of life. >> many professionals and many doctors -- many wealthy people. >> reporter: and the industry is growing elsewhere, washington state plans to allow recreational pot sales by this summer. alaska may vote on it later this year. and by 2016 we could see ballot measures in oregon, california, maine and massachusetts. >> this is going to be one of the great social experiments of this century. >> reporter: critics say the budding business is marketing to young people, and while the government is letting states make their own rules, pot is technically illegal under federal law. marijuana users in colorado can still be fired for failing a drug test. >> employers do hold all the cards now. if businesses want to discipline people harshly for their off-duty marijuana use, they can. >> reporter: but that's not deterring buyers. >> this is what we co

. >> reporter: there was catherine hackett, mother of two servicemen, who keeps her thermostat on 58 degrees while she looks for work. >> the unemployment benefits have been essential for me to have basic necessities. >> the way you qualify for the program is that you work and then you are let go. >> and they call it a three-month extensioning is a band-aid. >> there is no reason to pass unemployment legislation without creating good, high level jobs. >> and because the democrats want to raise the taxes instead of cutting government, it is still difficult to get to yes. >> reporter: 50 years after democrat president lyndon johnson put a war on poverty, president obama is hoping that democrats will say yes for pushing unemployment benefits. most republicans are betting that the bigger issue is obama care that they charge is causing unemployment. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, capitol hill. >>> and virginia lawmakers are headed back to work right now in a violent incident involving one of their own is to set the agenda for mental health treatment that could keep people safe in the com

my name is catherine hackett and i'm from connecticut. i'm very grateful that president obama invited me here today in response to a letter i wrote to him about the discontinuation of federal unemployment insurance. i am unemployed and i will be significantly affected by the decision. job loss is devastating and i'm working very hard every day to look for a position. in the interim, unemployment benefits have been absolutely essential to cover my bare necessities. i have cut expenses everywhere possible and i'm not just sitting home enjoying the good life. my cuts include heating my house to 58 degrees, wearing a hat and a coat to stay warm because oil is expensive, i have lost weight is food is expensive. as a single mother, i have worked many different jobs and never asked for a handout while i raise two wonderful boys. both of my sons are serving in the u.s. military. it was very hard for me to let one of my boys serve a year in afghanistan, but i did and he \was proud to serve his country. i hope our leaders in washington can find a s

hackett yesterday who was talking about what it is like to put gas in your car or heat your house or wear a coat in your home so you can turn down the thermostat. i think the president was spot on when he suggested some of the lawmakers give up their checks and see what it's like. one of the lawmakers did just that. we'll that later on this in the program. >> good to be with you as always. >> you bet. it doesn't seem like it's going to come all down to boehner. there are these six senators who are starting to balk. they want cuts too. >> senator reid wants a 90-day extension while we talk about what can be done on a longer term. 90 days to make sure these 1.3 million people, which 20,000 are veterans, unpaid for. why? because it's an emergency. why? because stimulating on the one hand and depressing on the other, the economy doesn't make sense. we'll talk about that. but right now, we need to pass immediately an extension where we'll get these 1.3 million people with some sustenance. >> is he tone deaf to this? >> i can't speak for what his thoughts are on that. i think that's lower

that meant 1.3 million people lost insurance benefits including as you saw there katherine hackett in the white house today. the president pushed the house of representatives, republicans there still digging in their heels, and the senate still has to vote on this in final passage. he pushed them both to move the ball forward. let's listen. >> the americans who join me at the white house today and millions like them who are laid off in the recession through no fault of their own unemployment insurance has been a vital lifeline. for many it's the only source of income they have while they look for a job. these aren't folks who are just sitting back waiting for things to happen. they're out there actively looking for work. >> so the president making the case that it's morally the right thing to do to extend unemployment benefits, it's the right thing to do economically to put money in the pockets of the unemployed so they can go out and put money in the economy while the economy continues to recover. >> mike, good to see you. thank you. a push for peace in south sudan as the world's new

katherine hackett, served -- shared her story. she has two sons in the mill tear. she was laid off through no fault of her own yet she needs elp. mr. courtney: yet this house left without taking up unemployment ex-tenses. i spoke to a man yesterday 20 years in the u.s. army, laid off last april, looking for work, his unemployment was cut off on december 28. the majority leader issued his agenda for the month of january, not a word in that agenda about extending unemployment for 1.3 million americans. every economist tells us that's a mistake. these individuals need help. it is time for this house to focus on the immediate needs of the american people and extend unemployment insurance for 1.3 million americans. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognize for one minute. >> january is national slavery prevention mont

. >> hey there, hackett! should we fear for our lives? our instincts screams danger.do you look on us with such anger? >> have i not reason for you to act on your own and not consult me is like treason. how dare you scheme and plot on affairs of witchery and death with the skills of mere mortals such as macbeth. >> it's a nice two-way collaboration. i think that's very important for the segregated population in particular, a chance that their voices are heard. that there's an audience awaiting what they are writing. the authors there have been very much aware that they want to speak to the general population through shakespeare's language. >> it's not a vacation. and time we dare not waste. >> this is the first time iras white, one of the writers of the play, has seen his work performed. >> when he was speaking, i knew everything -- i knew the words as he was saying it, right, it was crazy to hear it. that's when i told you back there, to see the words come to life, make you want to continue to do it. it's like art imitates life, no doubt. >>> up next -- >> i was the

her name is katherine hackett from kentucky, unemployed, looking for work. she raised her two sons on her own and both of them right now are serving in the u.s. military. >> i have cut expenses everywhere possible. and i am not just sitting home enjoying the good life. my cuts include heating my house to 58 degrees, wearing a hat and a coat to stay warm because oil is expensive. i have lost weight because food is expensive. as a single mother, i worked many different jobs and never asked for a handout. while i raised two wonderful boys. both of my sons are serving in the u.s. military. >> when we've got the mom of two of our troops who is working hard out there but is having to wear a coat inside the house, we've got a problem. and it's one that can be fixed. >> joining us now is senator jeff merkley, democrat of oregon. senator merkley, thanks very much for being here tonight. i know that you were a yes vote on extending those unemployment benefits, so congratulations on that vote today. >> thank you very much, rachel. you're giving the senate republicans w

my name is katherine hackett and i am from connecticut.a invited me here today in response to a letter that i wrote to him about the discontinue yags of federal unemployment insurance. i am unemployed. i will be significantly affected by this decision. job loss is devastating and i am working very hard every day to look for a position. in the interim, unemployment benefits have been absolutely essential to cover my bear necessities. i have cut expenses everywhere possible and i'm not just sitting home enjoying the good life. my cuts include heating my house to 58 degrees, wearing a hat and coat to stay warm, because oil is expensive. i have lost weight because food is expensive. as a single mother, i worked many different jobs and never asked for a handout. while i raised two wonderful boys, both of my sons are serving in the u.s. military. it was very hard for me to let one of my boys serve a year in afghanistan but i did. and he was proud to serve his country. i hope our leaders in washington can find a solution to help families like min

. >> catherine hackett wrote to the president last month after she was laid off in july from her jobrsing home administrator. >> i was blichbdsided. >> reporter: next month she is scheduled to shift to long-term unemployment. if congress fails to act, she will lose the weekly check that's keeping her afloat as she searches -- >> i'm spending $42 a week on food, which isn't a lot, but i'm also keeping my house at 58 degrees and wearing a hat and coat, just because oil is really expensive. i don't buy anything. >> and she told a very compelling story here today at the white house, wolf. we should also mention that for the first time harry reid, the top democrat in the senate is signaling he may be opened to a cost offset that house democrats are demanding. while reid says he is personally opposed to such an offset, if the republicans have a plan, he will take it to senate democrats for a look. >> chuck human ser signaled something along those lines earlier today. he didn't necessarily rule it out, brianna, thanks very much. >>> let's get more now with the chairman reince priebus, who i

my name is catherine hackett and i'm from connecticut. i'm very grateful that president obama invited me here today in response to a letter i wrote to him about the discontinuation of federal unemployment insurance. i am unemployed and i will be significantly affected by the decision. job loss is devastating and i'm working very hard every day to look for a position. in the interim, unemployment benefits have been absolutely essential to cover my bare necessities. i have cut expenses everywhere possible and i'm not just sitting home enjoying the good life. my cuts include heating my health to 58 degrees, wearing a hat and a coat to stay warm because oil is expensive, i have lost weight is food is expensive. as a single mother, i have worked many different jobs and never asked for a handout while i raise two wonderful boys. both of my sons are serving in the u.s. military. it was very hard for me to let one of my boys serve a year in afghanistan, but i did and he was route to serve his country. i hope our leaders in washington can find a s

aken hackett to your credit card to fundamentally at its core of this is id theft and to make it worser e-mail account and start firing a mouse. that's why they encourage you not to open any yahoo e mills at this time. one to its open they have access to other people that are desperate as well. this is really big. a luncheon which should do. i think fundamentally is about your credit card or summer us and the same posture and as go ahead and change it. i think that's safe to say that the good first step. >>: how many people use yahoo mail still? >>: 273 million people use a whole. if it's not number one its no. 2 as far as e- mail accounts. that's why if you think worst-case scenario. even if this a 70 million like target's that's a large amount and it spreads. and that's why we just have to find out. yahoo all they are st. they issued a statement is yes we are aware of the situation and we're working with the federal government. like as they go ahead and change your accounts for other things like credit cards online statements to banks. max weight is waking up in san quentin for the f

introduced the president, and the president talked about her a lot during his remarks there, katherine hackettnecticut. worked for a long time, ross her job, two sons in the military, just needs a little help, you know, paying the mortgage and getting back on her feet. says she would take a job in a heartbeat if she could find one, but she can't find one. how do you say, i mean, americans are not hard-hearted people. how do you say that somebody like that shouldn't get some more unemployment benefits? >> well, first of all, unemployment is not an entitlement, an unfunded entitlement. it's supposed to be a kind of insurance program where you put in money, and then you get it back when you get unemployed. and these benefits have run out for a long time for most of these people. but i'm not necessarily against extending unemployment benefits, i think you could make a case for it if it was part of an overall package of how do you reform the system. but there's an inherent contradiction here. whenever any critics of the president say that the recovery was paltry or that the economy is not doing wel

introduced from catherine hackett who wrote to him as someone effected by the failure to extend. >> good a few weeks ago i said that 2014 could be a breakthrough year for america. think about it. five years ago this month our economy was shedding 800,000 jobs just in one month. but as americans buckle down and worked hard and sacrificed we began to come back. and our businesses have created more than 8 million new jobs since we hit the bottom. our auto industry has gone from bust to boom. manufacturing is rebounding. the housing markets are rebounding. stock markets are restoring. retirement accounts, the promise of energy independence sack chully in sight. health care costs eat up less of our economy. over the past four years costs have grown at the slowest rate on record. and since i took office we've cut our deficits by more than half. so america is getting stronger and we've made progress. the economy is growing and we've got to do more to make sure that all americans share in that growth. we've got to help our businesses create more jobs. we've got to make sure those jobs offer the