ambassador to the united nation, john bolten, judith mill eric and ed qlien.e begin with the close door ie on benghazi that lawmakers say raises more questions than ever that the obama administration insisted the attack was the response of a demonstration prompted by rage over an anti-islam video. fox news correspondent with the latest on what lawmakers saw and heard today from the country's top intelligence ficials. >> the closed classified briefing brought together seen your state department, intelligence, and counterterrorism officials for a report on e three-month old investigion into the benghazi terrorist attacks. >> to the degree there was planning involv, something done over days, weeks, or over hours? no indication of long term planning here. >> the attacks cnology was laid oillet in a multimedia presentation with drone surveillance and video from the consulate of the cia and annex. >> this is supposed to be sovereign u.s. territory, and if people walk in on us like that without resistance really makes your blood boil because you think to yourself wha

enter john bolten, former u.n. ambassador under george w. bush.e's not convinced of clinton's illness. >> you know, every foreign service officer in every foreign ministry in the world knows the phrase i'm about to use. when you don't want to go to a meeting or a conference or an event, you have a diplomatic illness. and this is a diplomatic illness to beat the band. >> victoria nuland responded saying bolton doesn't know what he's talking about. in bolton's case that's all a reasonable, safe assumption. >>> up next, is the horror of newtown marking the beginning of the end of the nra's dominance over the issue of gun control in this country? you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. >>> welcome back to "hardball." has the political power of the nra peaked in the wake of the newtown shootings or are they just laying low waiting for the storm to pass. since friday they've been absent from the discussion on guns. today they released a statement saying they've been quiet, quote, as a matter of common decency, but they are planning -- in fac

enter john bolten, former u.n. ambassador under george w. bush.e's not convinced of clinton's illness. >> you know, every foreign service officer in every foreign ministry in the world knows the phrase i'm about to use. when you don't want to go to a meeting or a conference or an event, you have a diplomatic illness. and this is a diplomatic illness to beat the band. >> victor yu newland responded saying bolton doesn't know what he's talking about. in bolten's case that's all a reasonable, safe asumps. up next, is the horror of newtown marking the beginning of the nra's dominance over the issue of gun control in this country? you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. ♪ aww man. [ male announcer ] returns are easy with free pickup from the u.s. postal service. we'll even drop off boxes if you need them. visit usps.com pay, print, and have it picked up for free. any time of year. ♪ nice sweater. thank you. ♪ [ male announcer ] it started long ago. the joy of giving something everything you've got. it takes passion. and it's not letting up

the former ambassador to the u.n., john bolten, says that he believes that hillary clinton is basicallying her ill annessd that's why she won't come in to testify about this report. here's what he said. >> every foreign service officer in every foreign ministry in the world knows the phrase i'm about to use. when you don't want to go to a meeting or a conference or an event, you have a diplomatic illness. and this is a diplomatic illness to beat the band. i mean i certainly hope it's nothing serious. >> he both says it's a diplomatic illness, i.e. faked, to beat the band, but then hopes it's nothing serious. do you agree with him that she's faking her injury? >> no. she was scheduled to testify today. i understand the situation. i do expect and want to have her as secretary of state testify in public, in person and on the record. and you know, even "the new york times" today soledad, has called for that in an editorial as soon as she is well, which i hope is very, very soon. >> senator barrasso joining us this morning. nice to see you, sir. thank you for your time. >> thanks for having