senator joni ernst facing a

. >> here here. [ applause ] >> reporter: iowa's other senator joni ernst jeered at her town meeting. >> do your jobs! >> reporter: leaving after just 45 minutes, protesters following her to her car. >> shame on you! shame on you! >> reporter: the common theme, concerns about republican efforts to repeal and replace obamacare. >> let me explain to you what the problem is. the problem is obamacare has just collapsed. >> no way! boo! >> no, it hasn't! boo! >> reporter: the senate's top republican confronted in kentucky. >> the veterans are sick. the veterans are broken down. they're not getting what they need. if you can answer any of that i'll sit down and shut up like elizabeth warren.

senator joni ernst was looking at an uphill climb throughout. there was reporting after that town hall that she cut it short. but we're hearing from her office today that what ended up happening is she tried to answer as long as possible but it was hard to speak with that crowd. >> people feel like they pay their congress people's salaries. patricia murphy just wrote a column about the winners and losers in all of this. and angela ryan, former director of the congressional black caucus. nice to have you all here. let me begin with you, patricia. you made this list of who wins and who loses. who wins, someone like joni ernst or marsha blackburn who get screamed at, or the people who just don't show up? >> the winners are members of congress who show up and take the criticism. mark sanford stayed for three hours at a town hall meeting over the weekend, fielding people's complaints. people are upset, anxious, confused about what might be happening in congress over the next several months. and congressman sanford just listened and answered to the be

this town meeting in iowa, with senator joni ernst is one of many. voters are demanding to know what is the replacement for obamacare if it goes. others investigating who is investigating russia's meddling, and voters putting these missing signs on milk cartons to call them out. tonight t white house is calling some of these voters professional protesters. president trump with a different description. abc's matt gutman leading us off. >> reporter: across the nation, scenes like this. long lines of people filing into town hall meetings venting their frustration at the republican congress and the republican president. >> you work for us! you work for us! >> reporter: in iowa, senator charles grassley confronted with questions about president trump. >> i am so unsettled. it feels like we've got a juvenile running our country. >> here here. [ applause ] >> reporter: iowa's other senator joni ernst jeered at her town meeting. >> do your jobs! >> reporter: leaving after just 45 minutes, protesters following her to her car. >> shame on you! shame on you! >>

senator joni ernst facing a pretty hostile full house. she ended up slipping in a side door.he called on mostly veterans. when she abruptly pulled the plug, protesters actually chased her to her car. >> shame on you! shame on you! >> not everyone is having that approach, though. some are really having a good time with this. virginia republican david brad also faced a typical rally crowd at these town halls who jeered as he took dozens of questions for more than an hour. unlike his colleagues, he enjoyed that back and forth. he said i don't mind the boisterousness, i'm having fun. and even lawmakers who are not holding town halls are being targeted by angry voters. these protesters lined up outside of a hotel in bakersfield, california where they were attending a closed-door republican fund-raiser. some people who showed up at town halls wear stickers to prove that they are constituents not political operatives like some republicans are claiming. president trump is not buying it. he tweeted this out writing, quote, the so-called angry crowds at home districts of some republica

shame on joni ernst thinking she could help veterans at an army town hall.e, i don't know where to go with this. this was about helping veterans. she never got a chance to spell out exactly how. it is what it is. what do you think of it? >> there's nothing to fix at the va. no problems, no scandals. joni ernst served our country 23 years and served in support of operation iraqi freedom. she's not scared of protesters. she wanted to have a town hall on how to fix the v.a. instead, she got protesters screaming at her. she never had a chance, never had an opportunity to talk to her constituents against a contentious issues like the v.a. the protesters didn't care and wanted to make a political point. >> neil: these are going on all across the country. some republicans have pondered, look, maybe it's not worth it to hold these town hall meetings. i think they're important to hold, but i worry about protesters coming in, whether there from the one congressman woman's district or state in the case of the senate, because some of them are so well-organized and plann

very rough meeting of the minds in iowa for senator joni ernst today. here's the thing to take away from that experience, from just seeing how that went today. that happened in a place called maquoketa, iowa. i've been practicing saying it. maquoketa is population 6,000 people. that's the reception she got in maquoketa today from that mostly older mostly white crowd. it's easy to get bowled over with what's going on in washington with the radical shift that's happened in our national politics with this new presidency. but there's as radical a shift in the rest of the country in the opposite direction. it's an equal and opposition reaction. it's just everywhere. it's in the courts, it's in the streets, it's in the lives of our elected officials. it's everywhere to the point that even that dynamic is starting to feel unpredictable and starting to feel a little overwhelming as well. but watch this unfold over the course of this week. watch what it's going to be like for these reprentativeand senators at home this week. this whole week is going to be like t

. >> watching video of a town hall in iowa have senator joni ernst was forced out. she had to cut it short by 45 minutes and ran out in the parking lot where she was chased by protesters. frankly, we haven't seen this much influence from democrats in some time. we didn't really see anything like this during the campaign. what do democrats now do to try to translate this into votes in 2018 and 2020? >> well, i think it will be interesting to see to what extent this has to do with obamacare specifically. as republicans really try to take away that signature achievement of president obama. are these protests related to that, or are they just partisan sort of grass roots being frustrated? or can they really turn it into opposition, to a real policy agenda that donald trump and the republicans are going to have? i think that will be really important for them going forward, if they can sort of keep that energy focused. you'll remember after 2009 which is the last time we saw this kind of energy at town hall meetings where democrats are trying to pass obamacare. and now re

. >> here here. [ applause ] >> reporter: iowa's other senator joni ernst jeered at her town meeting. >> do your jobs! >> reporter: leaving after just 45 minutes, protesters following her to her car. >> shame on you! shame on you! >> reporter: the common theme, concerns about republican efforts to repeal and replace obamacare. >> let me explain to you what the problem is. the problem is obamacare has just collapsed. >> no way! boo! no it hasn't! boo! >> reporter: the senate's top republican confronted in kentucky. >> the veterans are sick. the veterans are broken down. they're not getting what they need. if you can answer any of that i'll sit down and shut up like elizabeth warren. >> i hope you feel better now. >> i do! >> what do we want? >> town hall! reporter: dozens of republicans have avoided holding public events in their districts at all during the congressional recess, critics plastering their faces on milk cartons. for a second day in a row, hillary clinton taking aim. this time at the lawmakers avoiding their constituents, clinton tweeting, "if you can't stand the heat, get

we're going to give you sort of a layout of what is at stake tonight with the likes of joni ernst. we have richard trumpka and his views and what the unions say about the president's plans. congressman louis gutierrez of illinois not liking what he sayses from the. unlike other democrats. not too many. nothing like the case with the inauguration. blake burman has more on what's on the line nor the president tonight. hey, blake. >> hi, neil. a busy day for the president. he signed four executive orders throughout the afternoon. now he gets to turn his attention to this major speak before congress about five hours from now. grabbing the headlines at this hour leading to the speech tonight is the possibility that the president could make a push for an immigration bill, one that would require both back and forth on both sides of the aisle. we talked about taxes and what we could hear from the president tonight in regards to that. i spoke to a white house official a little while ago asking what the president might say tonight in regards to taxes. i was told when the president brings it

i want to you take a look at senator joni ernst's town hall.ou can see the moment she walked out, that crowd let her have it. it was an uphill climb for her. she did manage to have a back and forth. there were some questions that she managed to answer, but when she ended it after 45 minutes, there were some extremely loud boos. her office says that 45-minute end, that was always the plan, jake. certainly how this is all happening, what we've seen at least appears to be organic. jake? >> all right, thank you so much. the battle over who will lead the democratic party in the era of trump and president trump is giving a shout out to one of the contenders for dnc chair. the guy who picked him to win. of course. that story next. severe crohn's disease,... ...i was always searching for ways to manage my symptoms. i thought i had it covered. then i realized managing was all i was doing. when i finally told my doctor, he said humira was for people like me who have tried other medications,... but still experience the symptoms of moderate to severe crohn

senator joni ernst's town hall. it didn't start well. iowa constituents' anger often drowning out the senator. as the senator left -- >> happy retirement, joni! >> reporter: -- the jeers followed her all the way to the parking lot and into a car. >> shame on you! shame on you! >> reporter: overflow town hall crowds in georgia to nebraska. >> do your job! >> reporter: virginia congressman dave bratt getting an earful when he claimed obamacare collapsed. behavior that disgusted one of the congressman's supporters p. >> you guys are idiots. >> reporter: just a snapshot of one day of voter outrage, prompting the president to tweet the so-called angry crowds and n. home districts of republicans in some districts are actually in numerous cases planned out by liberal activists. sad." organized, yes. but at numerous town halls from california to virginia what we've seen is empowered constituents. these virginia beach town hall attendees are so upset at charges that they're political operatives they wore stickers with their home zip codes to prove

joni ernst, who has been a terrific senator. very talented woman. >> thank you. >> and deb fisher.nk you very much. thank you very much. we also have senator morosso and senator woosman, deb we said hello, heidi, hello. senator jim enhoh. senator pat roberts. senator dan sullivan. bill schuster and representative lamar smith. we really appreciate you being here. of course we have our newest ba director linda mcmahon and secretary devos. lot of talent. today i'm signing two bills that promote women entering and leading the stem field, science technology engineering and math. currently only one in four women who gets a stem degree is working in a stem job. which is not fair and it's not even smart for the people that aren't taking advantage of it. we have so many american women who have these degrees but yet are not being employed in these fields. i think that's going to change. it's going to change rapidly. protecting women with stem degrees, all americans with stem degrees, very important. it also means you have to crack down on off shore, it's a tremendous job that displaces many

gop senator joni ernst of iowa didn't like it so much. off her town hall early after a heavy dose of this. [ chanting "shame on you" ] >> there are questions out there about replacing obama care, questions about jobs and the economy, questions about immigration and at these republican events, no shortage of opposition to the new president and his team. >> some democrats are saying this is their seeds of a comeback, that this is similar to the tea party energy we saw in 2009 and 2010. most republicans are rolling their eyes at that, saying these are just -- it's labor unions or other progress si groups getting these people to pack republican events. this is a big tbd for me. >> i think some of the people are activists. that is true. we've all seen the emails. remember, in 2010 when republicans -- when the tea party was going on, they were careful to not try to immediately coopt. they were very nice to them. they were pleasant to them. they were kind of like we'll carry your message for us. come on over here because some of the people pox o

[crowd boos] >> sandra: senator joni ernst running into anti-trump resistance in iowa. [chanting] investigate trump. >> sandra: president trump tweeting the so-called angry crowds in home districts of some republicans are actually in numerous cases planned out by liberal activists, sad. but republican congressman justin omosh pushing back saying they are our fellow americans with concerns. we need to stop acting so fragile. i'm proud to defend liberty and the constitution. republican congressman david brat who faced a raucous crowd in virginia says he doesn't mind it telling reporters he is having fun. enjoys the spirited debate as does jesse watters. it is interesting to watch this happening. is this more of a knee-jerk reaction that we are seeing from the liberal community or is there more to it than that? >> jesse: i think there is more to it but i love town hall drama. i love it. i don't care if it's move on that's doing it or the tea party that's doing it. it's entertaining and i think all congressman should face the wrath of theirs constituents. >> sandra: enterta

meetings come on the heels of similar protests at events by republican senators chuck grassley and joni ernstof iowa, florida congressmember dennis ross, tennessee congressmember marsha blackburn, and senate majority leader mitch mcconnell of kentucky. thousands of pages of newly released emails reveal how epa administrator scott pruitt closely collaborated with koch brothers-backed oil, coal and gas companies to rollback environmental regulations during his time as oklahoma's attorney general. the documents were released just days after pruitt was sworn in as the new head of the epa, the agency tasked with curtailing pollution and safeguarding public health. the trove of new documents shows how energy companies drafted language for pruitt's attorney general office to use to sue the epa over environmental regulations. we will have more on scott pruitt's emails after headlines. we will speak with lisa graves, which successfully sued for the mess release. the supreme court overturned the death sentence of a texas prisoner wednesday after ruling his own defense team presented a jury with racist

. >> reporter: i also had a chance to speak with joni ernst about this. she is a republican and veteran and she's declining to take sides. she just hopes everybody can work together to improve the military. heather? >> heather: all right peter. so tell us about this. democrats taking sides in the fight. >> reporter: yeah. democratic senators are taking senator mccain's side. we know that because we polled a few of them over in the hallway. these democrats are telling us that they suggest mccain's knowledge of things like counter terror raids is just deeper than president trump, they think. and in a very rare show of support for someone from another party in the senate, this is what they're saying. >> i think anybody who questions john mccain understanding of the military and understanding of courage and a military context is not paying attention. >> when president trump assaults senator mccain, he better watch out because this is a guy who knows what he's talking about. and not only has he walked his talk, he's been there. >> reporter: minority leader chu

the issue for him now is republicans in congress have sent these guys, tom cotton, joni ernst to theirtricts without a clear agenda. chuck grassley said yesterday there are three or four replacement plans in the work. while people like the farmer were expressing their dismay, chuck grassley took the question, where you compare it to marco rubio, where an event in tampa where activists are holding an empty chair town hall because he's not there. it's a contrast between these two places. >> are these lawmakers going to take this message back to washington or just going to try to sweep it under the rug? >> reporter: chuck grassley, we asked him afterwards. he said what he's taking and listening to, he understands these are democrats and independents and he's taking in people are disgruntled about being on your parents' health care plan until 26, having pre-existing conditions. he said those are the issues, i hear the voices and we'll make sure those get through in this potential replacement plan. >> you've been traveling the country. talk to me about what trump supporters are hearing righ

joni ernst has been a terrific, terrific senator, very talented woman -- [inaudible conversations] >> mr. president, thank you. >> military person. and jeff fisher, thank you very much. >> thank you. >> we also have senator barrasso e and senator boozman, joni, we said hello, heidi heitkamp. thank you, heidi. senator jim inhofe, senator pat roberts, senator dan sullivan, representative bob gibbs and representative lamar smith. we really appreciate you being here. and, of course, we have our new sba director, linda mcmahon -- [applause] we have a lot of very talent talented -- udible] today i'm signing two bills to promote women leading and entering the s.t.e.m. fields, science, technology, engineering and math. currently, only one in four women who gets a s.t.e.m. degree is working in a s.t.e.m. job which is not fair, and it's not even smart for the people that aren't taking advantage of it. it's unacceptable that we have so many american women who have these degrees but yet are not being employed in these fields. so i think that's going to change, and it's going to change very rapidl

. >> reporter: which is different from a lot of the republican senators, joni ernst, chuck grassley,arco rubio is one that avoided town halls but engaged and talked to their constituents. >> i love the pastor made a reference to prime minister question time. that's one of my favorite things that happen overseas. you get to tune in, watch the prime minister go in and debate things in parliament with other members of parliament. cal perry, north dakota. vaughn hillyard in north dakota. great work. >>> moving on, we're asking in today's microsoft pulse question, it's on topic, though, do you plan on attending a town hall meeting with your member of congress? you can weigh in on our pulse question at pulse.msnbc.com. if you do, please post your videos on our facebook and twitter pages. mine specifically, if you'd like. we'd love to see democracy in action. and we're going to move on now and go to the lawmakers having to face these town halls. joining me, congressman mark sanford, republican from south carolina, and scott taylor from virginia. both have faced feisty crowds at their own to

it happened for senator joni ernst when she went back to iowa. mitch mcconnell. chuck grassley. and listened to it. trying to imitate the movement of the tea party. steve: very effective. brian: take ted kennedy seat gave the house to the republicans when they have held sense. this seems manufactured. this seems paid for. that's what lawmakers are saying behind closed doors. ainsley: here is the danger of this. lawmakers. got to the polls. talk to local officials. >> you want to talk to them. get the word out how you want them to vote or what is important to you. they go up to the podium and dry to find out with you. you have these folks with action organizations and getting paid to do this, right? brian: in some cases. ainsley: they are screaming. you can't get anything done. and your local official, they don't want -- now they don't want to approach you. they don't want to ask you because they are scared they are going to get this backlash. steve: last night on tucker's show he had organizers from the group refuse fascism. he wanted to ask this hard-hitting question. it is wha

joni ernst, who has been a terrific, terrific senator, very talented woman. >> mr. t, thank you. >> and deb fisher, thank you very much. >> thank you. >> we also have senator barrasso and senator. joni, heidi kamp. thank you, heidi, senator jim inhoff, senator dan sullivan, representative bob gibbs, bill shuster. we really appreciate you being here. and, of course, we have our new sba director, linda mcmahon and secretary devos. today i am signing two bills that promote women entering and leading the stem field, science, technology, engineering and math. currently only one in four women who gets a stem degree is working in a stem job, which is not fair and it's not even smart to the people not taking advantage of t it's unacceptable. we have so many american women who have these degrees but yet are not being employed in these fields. i think that's going to change and change very rapidly. protecting women with stem degrees, all americans with stem degrees, very important. it also means you have to crack down on offshoring, because the off d offshoring is a tremendous

we go to iowa continuing down the environment and public works republican roster where senator joni ernst could here from a iowa state university who told a united nations conference that climate change was already affecting iowa farmers. this isn't just about the distant future, he said. iowa state has published extensive research and i'll just quote the title of it. global warming, impact of climate change on global agriculture. iowa state's prestigious leopold center, quote, views climate change not merely as warming but as a worse rching de-- worsening destablization of the climate's environmental systems, end quote. climate change isn't just warming. it is, quote, a worsening destabilization of the planet's environmental systems and yet the good senator voted to move this climate denying industry tool forward to be our e.p.a. administrator. a worsening destabilization of the planet's environmental systems, they call it, that will create -- an quoting from them again -- aggravated and unpredictable risk that will challenge the security of our agricultural and biological systems. aggra

. >> reporter: in iowa senator joni ernst faced a similar scene protesters following her to her car anducky the top republican in the senate was the target. >> they're broken down and not getting what you need. if you can answer any of that i'll sit down and shut up like elizabeth warren. >> reporter: some held their own meetings asking questions to cardboard cutouts and empty chairs. president trump dismissed it as so-called angry crowds planned out by liberal activists and referred to so-called angry crowds at these town halls. is he suggesting this is manufactured anger? this is not real anger and real concern? >> i think there's a hybrid there. i think some people are clearly upset. but there is a bit of professional protester manufactured base in there. just because they're loud doesn't necessarily mean there are many. >> reporter: no question liberal groups are encouraging these raucous town halls, moveon.org dubbed this week resistance reset and published the lists of address and times and places for these town hall meetings, but, george, at several of these town halls you see co

you know what by all means, protest but i'm still here peter peter joni ernst had a town hall the veteransget to speak. abby: that's what's sad about it. pete: conversation that needs to be had doesn't happen. mainstream media lap up one side. speaking of mainstream media. kellyanne conway is sidelined from tv. steve: i saw that. this as she actually heads to cpac with vice president pence to speak at big event tonight. abby: griff jenkins is there with all of these details. good morning. big day at cpac. >> reporter: it is a big day, steve, ache buy, and pete. good morning. right now there is only me and a zamboni getting ready for it. cpac largest gathering of republicans in the country. reclaiming america's promise. and kellyanne conway, you mentioned, will open this conference. there were reports that she had been sidelined from tv. she took to hannity last night to address those reports. i imagine we will hear something from her on the stage. but the real draw at the big event is president trump. consider this. a year ago candidate trump did not come here. he skipped it because he was